UMASS/AMHERST 


31EDbbDllfi2bfi20 


I^ETfc* 


1998 


"vr.     *; 


__ 


HSU* 


315 


UNIVERSITY  OF  MASSACHUSETTS 
LIBRARY 


F 
72 

B8 

H9 


STRAY 

PLATE 

IN    BACK 

POCKET 

HISTOKY 


OF 


BRISTOL  COUNTY, 


MASSACHUSETTS, 


WITH 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES 


OP    MANY    OF    ITS 


Pioneers  and  Prominent  Men. 


COMPILED    UNDER   THE    SUPERVISION    OF 

D.     HAMILTON     HURD. 


ILLUSTRATED. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

J.   W.    LEWIS    &    CO. 

188  3. 


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Copyright,  1883,  by  J.  W.  Lewis  &  Co. 


PRESS   OF 

J.    B.    LIPPINCOTT    &    CO., 

PHILADELPHIA. 


PREFACE. 


The  province  of  the  historian  is  to  gather  the  threads  of  the  past  ere  they  elude  forever  his 
grasp,  and  weave  them  into  a  harmonious  web,  to  which  the  art  preservative  may  give  immortality. 
Therefore,  he  who  would  rescue  from  fast-gathering  oblivion  the  deeds  of  a  community  and  send 
them  on  to  futurity  in  an  imperishable  record,  should  deliver  "a  plain  unvarnished  tale," — 

"  Nothing  extenuate, 
Nor  set  down  aught  in  malice." 

In  such  a  spirit  have  the  compilers  of  the  following  pages  approached  the  work  of  detailing 
the  history  of  the  territory  embodied  herein,  and  trust  they  have  been  fairly  faithful  to  the  task 
imposed 

It  has  been  their  honest  endeavor  to  trace  the  history  of  the  development  of  this  section  from 
that  period  when  it  was  in  the  undisputed  possession  of  the  red  man  to  the  present,  and  to  place 
before  the  reader  an  authentic  narrative  of  its  rise  and  progress  to  the  prominent  position  it  now 
occupies  among  the  counties  of  New  England.  That  such  an  undertaking  is  attended  with  no 
little  difficulty  and  vexation  none  will  deny.  The  aged  pioneer  relates  events  of  the  earlv  settle- 
ments, while  his  neighbor  sketches  the  same  events  with  totally  different  outlines.  Man's  memory 
is  ever  at  fault,  while  time  paints  a  different  picture  upon  every  mind.  With  these  the  historian 
has  to  contend,  and  while  it  has  been  our  aim  to  compile  an  accurate  history,  were  it  devoid  of  all 
inaccuracies,  that  perfection  would  have  been  attained  which  the  writer  had  not  the  faintest  con- 
ception of,  and  which  Lord  Macaulay  once  said  never  could  be  reached. 

From  colonial  and  other  documents  in  the  State  archives,  from  county,  town,  and  village 
records,  family  manuscripts,  printed  publications,  and  innumerable  private  sources  of  information, 
we  have  endeavored  to  produce  a  history  which  should  prove  accurate,  instructive,  and  in  every 

■ 

respect  worthy  of  the  county  represented.  How  well  we  have  succeeded  in  our  task,  a  generous 
public — jealous  of  its  reputation  and  honor,  of  its  traditions  and  memories,  of  its  defeats  and 
triumphs — must  now  be  the  judge. 

AVe  desire  to  acknowledge  our  thanks  to  the  editorial  fraternity  generally  for  much  valuable 
information  which  has  greatly  lessened  our  labor  in  the  preparation  of  this  work,  to  each  and 
every  one  who  has  assisted  us  in  the  compilation,  and  would  cheerfully  make  personal  mention 
of  each,  but  it  is  impracticable,  as  the  number  reaches  nearly  a  thousand. 

D.  H.  H. 

Philadelphia,  May  4,  1883.  iii 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    I.                                    page 
Geographical  and  Descriptive 1 

CHAPTER    II. 
Indian  History 2 

CHAPTER    III. 
Bench  and  Bar 8 

CHAPTER    IV. 

Medical  Histort. 

Bristol  North  and  South  Districts  of  the  Massachusetts  Medical  So- 
ciety...       35 

CHAPTER    V. 

Military  History. 

The  Third  Regiment— The  Fourth  Regiment— The  Seventh  Regi- 
ment— The  Eighteenth  Regiment — The  Twenty-third  Regiment 
— The  Twenty-sixth  Regiment — The  Twenty-ninth  Regiment— 
The  Thirty-eighth  Regiment— The  Thirty-ninth  Regiment— The 
Fortieth  Regiment — The  Forty-seventh  Regiment 39 

CHAPTER    VI. 

New  Bedford. 

Geographical — Topographical — First  Record  Reference  to  Old 
Dartmouth — Early  Settlement — Indian  Deed — Wasamequen  and 
Wamsutta  to  William  Bradford  and  others — Incorporation  of  the 
Town — The  First  Representative — Other  Early  Representatives — 
The  Rus'ells— King  Philip's  War 48 

CHAPTER    VII. 

New  Bedford. — (Continued.) 

Persecution  of  the  Quakers — "  Presented"  for  Non-attendance  at 
Church — Various  Rules  and  Regulations — Punishments — Fine 
for  Attending  Quaker  Meeting — Arthur  Rowland  fined  for  making 
"  Motion  of  Marriage" — The  Kemptons — Other  Early  Settlers — 
The  Russells — Pioneer  Whaling — Early  Locations — Joseph  Rotch 
— Isaac  Howland — Privateers — View  of  the  Village  upon  the  Eve 
of  its  Destruction  by  the  British 52 

CHAPTER    VIII. 

New  Bedford. — (Continued.) 

War  of  the  Revolution  :  New  Bedford  a  Rendezvous  for  Privateers — 
Arrival  of  the  British  Fleet — Burning  of  the  Village — Gen.  Charles 
Grey's  Official  Report — Account  by  Judge  Edward  Pope — Elijah 
Macomber's  Account — Reminiscences  of  John  Gilbert — Reminis- 
cences collected  by  Capt.  Lemuel  S.  Aiken — Statement  of  Charles 
Grinnell — List  of  Property  Destroyed — Some  Doubtful  Points — 
The  Extent  of  the  Calamity — Personal  Sketches — Gen.  Grey's 
Life  and  Character — Facts  and  Incidents 55 

CHAPTER    IX. 

New  Bedford. — (Continued.) 

The  Whale  Fishery:  The  First  New  England  Whaling — Cape  Cod — 
Nantucket— New  Bedford  in  1T40— Early  Settlers— The'  "Ten- 
Acre  Purchase" — Bedford  Village— Growth  Checked  by  War  of 
Revolution — Privateers — Close  of  the  War — Returning  Prosperity 
— Edmund  Gardner— The  Ship  "  Rebecca"— Early  Voyages— The 
Development  of  the  Business — Success — Highest  Point  reached 


PAGE 

in  1857 — Destruction  of  Whalers  by  Confederate  Cruisers — List  of 
Vessels  Destroyed — The  Disaster  of  1871 — The  Whaling  Interest 
in  1883 66 

CHAPTER    X. 

New  Bedford. — (Continued.) 
Ecclesiastical  History :  First  Congregational  Society,  Unitarian 
Church— The  North  Congregational  Church— The  Trinitarian 
Church— First  Baptist  Church— The  North  Baptist  Church— The 
Second  Baptist  Church — Salem  Baptist — County  Street  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church— The  Front  Street  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
— Allen  Street  Methodist  Episcopal  Church— Pleasant  Street 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church— African  Methodist  Episcopal  Zion 
— African  Methodist  Episcopal  Bethel — Grace  Church — St.  James' 
Church— North  Christian  Church— Middle  Street  Christian  Church 
— South  Christian  Church — Christian  Union  Church — Spruce 
Street  Christian — The  Universalist  Church — Society  of  Friends — 
Seamen's  Bethel — Roman  Catholic  Churches — Portuguese  Church 
— Howland  Chapel  —  Second  Advent  Church  —  Union  Church, 
Plainville — Olivet  Chapel — Rockdale  Union  Free  Chapel  Associa- 
tion— Missionary  Chapel — Extinct  Churches:  Pacific  Church, 
Third  Christian,  Cannonville  Union  Church,  Mount  Pleasant 
Church 73 

CHAPTER  XL 
New  Bedford. — (Continued.) 
Press,  Educational,  Banks,  etc.:  The  Medley,  or  New  Bedford  Marine 
Journal— The  Mercury— The  Standard— The  Whaleman's  Ship- 
ping-List— The  New  Bedford  Signal — Numerous  other  Newspapers 
— Friends'  Academy— Free  Public  Library— The  National  Bank 
of  Commerce — The  Merchants'  National  Bank — The  Mechanics' 
National  Bank — The  First  National  Bank — The  Citizens'  National 
Bank — Institution  for  Savings— Five-Cent  Savings-Bank— Water- 
Works— New  Bedford  and  Fairhaveu  Street  Railway — Post-Office 
— Wamsutta  Mills — Potamska  Mills — Grinnell  Mills — Gosnold 
Mills,  etc. — Masonic — Star  in  the  East  Lodge — Eureka  Lodge — 
Adoniram  Chapter  R.  A.  M. — Sutton  Commandery — Early  Physi- 
cians— Fire  Society,  1809— The  Ship  "  Rebecca" — Miscellaneous...     94 

CHAPTER  XII. 
New  Bedford. — (Continued.) 
Civil  History — Military  History:  Incorporation  of  the  Town — Set- 
ting off  of  Fairhaveu — Part  of  Dartmouth  annexed  to  New  Bed- 
ford— Part  of  Acushnet  annexed  to  New  Bedford — Incorporation 
of  the  City — List  of  Mayors — City  Debt — Military  Record — War 
of  1812 — War  of  the  Rebellion — Representatives  to  General  Court 
— List  of  Soldiers — Roll  of  Honor — Soldiei-s'  and  Sailors'  Monu- 
ment   114 

CHAPTER   XIII. 
Acushnet 161 

CHAPTER    XIV. 
Berkley 174 

CHAPTER    XV. 

Dartmouth. 
Geographical — Bartholomew  Gosnold — His  Visit  to  these  Shores  in 
1602 — The  Grant  of  Dartmouth — Original  Bounds — Origin  of  the 
Name — Ecclesiastical  Troubles — Resisting  Taxation — Court  Or- 
ders— Stringent  Laws — The  Town  Indicted — Imprisonment  of  Se- 

•  v 


VI 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

lectmen  of  Dartmouth  and  Tiverton— Petition  to  the  King— The 
Taxes  Remitted  and  Prisoners  Released— History  of  Early  Set- 
tlers and  Proprietors 191 

CHAPTER   XVI. 

Dartmouth. — (Continued.) 

Documentary  History 197 

CHAPTER    XVII. 

Dartmouth. — (Continued.) 

War  of  the  Revolution  :  First  Action  of  the  Town— The  Town-Meet- 
ing of  1774— The  Resolves— Patriotic  Women— They  Resolve  to 
Discontinue  the  Use  of  Tea— Interesting  Incident— Revolution- 
ary Soldiers— Extracts  from  Town  Records 200 

CHAPTER    XVIII. 

Dartmouth. — (Continued.) 

Ecclesiastical  History:  Apponegansett  Meeting— First  Christian 
Church— Congregational  Church— The  South  Dartmouth  Baptist 
Church— The  Second  Christian  Church— Methodist  Episcopal 
Church— Smith  Mills  Christian  Church— Christian  Church  in 
Bakerville 203 

CHAPTER    XIX. 

DlGHTON 214 

CHAPTER    XX. 

Dighton  . — {Coyilinued.) 
First  Deed  of   Philip,   Chief   Sachem  of   Pokanoket,  to  William 
Brenton  and  others  of  Land  in  the  South  Purchase,  heing  the 
upper  Three  Miles 256 

CHAPTER    XXI. 
Fairhaven 267 

CHAPTER    XXII. 
Freetown 283 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 
Fall  River. 
Geographical— Topographical— Original  Purchase  of  1656— The  In- 
dian Deed— The  Pocasset  Purchase  in  1680— Incorporation  of 
Freetown  and  Tiverton — Disputed  Boundaries— division  of  Po- 
casset Purchase— Early  Settlers— Col.  Benjamin  Church— John 
Borden— The  Pioneer  Grist-,  Saw-,  and  Fulling-Mill— Early  Valu- 
ations—Slow Growth  of  the  Settlement— The  Village  in  1803— 
Increased  Population— Census  of  1810— The  First  Cotton-Fac- 
tory—Col. Joseph  Durfee— Fall  River  in  1813— A  New  Era 308 

CHAPTER    XXIV. 

Fall  River. — (Continued.) 
War  of  the  Revolution  :  Reminiscences  of  Col.  Joseph  Durfee— Early 
Incidents— 1777— Fall  River  exposed  to  the  British— Organization 
of  a  Guard  of  Safety— The  British  approach  the  Town  by  Boats- 
Fired  upon  by  the  Guard  at  the  Bay— Retreat  of  the  Guard— Pur- 
suit by  the  Enemy— Battle  near  the  Bridge — The  Enemy  defeated 
— Burning  of  Buildings  by  the  British— Capture  of  Richard  Borden 
— Retreat  of  the  Enemy 311 

CHAPTER    XXV. 

Fall  River. — (Continued.) 

The  Manufacturing  Interest:  The  Pioneer  Cotton  Manufacturer  in 
Fall  River— Col.  Joseph  Durfee— The  First  Mill— The  Fall  River 
Manufactory— The  Troy  Cotton  and  Woolen  Manufactory— The 
Pot-asset  Manufacturing  Company — The  Annawan  Manufactory — 
The  Metacomet  Manufacturing  Company— The  American  Linen 
Company — Union  Manufacturing  Company — The  Granite  Mills 
—The  Robeson  Mills— The  Tecumseh  Mills— The  Durfee  Mills— 
The  Davol  Mills— The  Merchants' Manufacturing  Company — The 
Mechanics'  Mills— The  Stafford  Mills— The  Weetamoe  Mills— 
The  Slade  Mills— The  Richard  Borden  Manufacturing  Company — 
The    Wampanoag    Mills — The    Narragansett    Mills — The    King 


page 
Philip  Mills— The  Crescent  Mills— The  Montaup  Mills— The  Os- 
born  Mills— The  Chase  Mills— The  Flint  Mills— The  Borden  City 
Mills— The  Sagamore  Mills— The  Shove  Mills— The  Barnard 
Manufacturing  Company — The  Conanicut  Mills — The  Globe  Yarn- 
Mills— The  Bourne  Mill— The  Laurel  Lake  Mills— The  Barnaby 
Manufacturing  Company— The  Fall  River  Bleachery — Wamsutta 
Steam  Woolen  Mill— The  Wjwming  Mills — The  Massasoit  Manu- 
facturing Company— Fall  River  Merino  Company— Fall  River 
Spool  and  Bobbin  Company — The  Fall  River  Iron-Works  Com- 
pany— Fall  River  Machine  Company — Hargraves  Manufacturing 
Company — The  Fall  River  Gas-Works — The  Manufacturers'  Gas- 
Light  Company — Watuppa  Reservoir  Company — American  Print- 
ing Company — Union  Belt  Company — Globe  Street  Railway — The 
Quequechan  Mills —An  Old  Landmark 314 

CHAPTER   XXVI. 

Fall  River. — (Continued.) 

The  Banking  Interest:  The  National  Union  Bank — The  Fall  River 
National  Bank — The  Massasoit  National  Bank — The  Metacomet 
National  Bank — The  Pocasset  National  Bank — The  First  National 
Bank — The  Second  National  Bank— The  Fall  River  Savings-Bank 
—  Citizens'  Savings-Bank — The  Fall  River  Five-Cent  Bavbias- 
Bank — The  Union  Savings-Bank 328 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 
Fall  River. —  (Continued.) 
Miscellaneous:  The  Fall  River  Monitor — The  Moral  Envoy — The 
Village  Recorder — The  Patriot — The  Archetype — The  Gazette — 
The  Argus— The  Flint  and  Steel — The  Mechanic— The  Wampa- 
noag— All  Sorts — Journal — People's  Press — The  Labor  Journal — 
L'Echo  du  Canada— The  Spark— The  Fall  River  News— The  Daily 
Evening  News — The  Fall  River  Daily  Herald — The  Advance— The 
Daily  Record— The  Daily  Sun— The  First  Stage  Line  between  Fall 
River  and  Providence — The  Fall  River  Line  of  Steamers — The 
Clyde  Line— Voters  in  1830— The  Fire  of  1843— List  of  Buildings 
Destroyed — Custom-House  and  Post-Office — The  City  Hall — Edu- 
cational—Schools in  1703 — Present  Conditiou  of  Schools — Mrs. 
Mary  B.  Young's  Gift — The  Public  Library — The  Skeleton  in 
Armor — Water-Works — Fire  Department — Oak  Grove  Cemetery 
— The  North  Cemetery — Civil  History — Incorporation  of  Town — 
Name  Changed  to  Troy — Subsequently  to  Fall  River — Incorpora- 
tion of  the  City— First  Officers— Mayors  from  1854  to  1884 — 
Members  of  Congress  Residents  of  Fall  River — State  Senators — 
Representatives  from  1803  to  1884— Town  Clerks  from  1803  to 
1854— City  Clerks  from  1864  to  1884— Present  City  Officers- 
Valuation  from  1854  to  1882— Population  from  1810  to  1882 332 

CHAPTER    XXVIII. 

FALL  River. — (Continued.) 

Ecclesiastical  History  :  The  First  Congregational  Church — The  Cen- 
tral Congregational  Church — The  Third  Congregational  Church 
—The  First  Methodist  Episcopal  Church— St.  Paul's  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church — Brayton  Methodist  Episcopal  Church — The 
North  Methodist  Episcopal  Church — Quarry  Street  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church — Maple  Street  Methodist  Episcopal  Church — 
Primitive  Methodist  Church — North  Main  Street  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church — The  First  Baptist  Church — Second  Baptist  Church 
— Third  Baptist  Church— Church  of  the  Ascension — St.  John's 
Church — Christian  Church,  Franklin  Street — North  Christian 
Church— Church  of  the  New  Jerusalem — Society  of  Friends — 
United  Presbyterian  Church — Hebrew  Worshipers — Roman  Cath- 
olic Churches 347 

CHAPTER   XXIX. 

Fall  River.— (Continued.! 362 

CHAPTER    XXX. 
Eastox 416 

CHAPTER    XXXI. 
Easton. — (Continued.) 422 

CHAPTER    XXXII. 
Mansfield 435 


CONTENTS. 


VI 1 


CHAPTER    XXXIII. 

Rehoboth.  page 

Geographical — Indian  Purchase — Original  Bounds — The  First  Pur- 
chase— The  Second  Purchase — The  North  Purchase — The  First 
White  Settlers — First  Meeting  of  Original  Planteis — Valuation 
of  Original  Lands — Names  of  Proprietors — Early  Townsmen — 
Documentary  History — Deed  from  King  Philip — Names  of  Inhab- 
itants in  168'J 463 

CHAPTER    XXXIV. 

Rehoboth. — (Continued.) 

Indian  History:  Rehoboth  in  the  War — Garrison-Houses — Burning 
of  the  Town — Pierce's  Fight — Philip  Slain  at  Mount  Hope — Cap- 
ture of  Annawan — Annawan's  Rock — Col.  Benjamin  Church — 
His  Account  of  Annawan's  Capture 468 

CHAPTER    XXXV. 

Rehoboth. — (Continued.) 

War  of  the  Revolution 474 

CHAPTER   XXXVI. 

Rehoboth. — ( Continued.) 
Eccksiastico  i  #&«,„,.   First  Congregational   Church— Oak  Swamp 
Church— 'The  Hornebine  Church— The  Irons  Church— Methodist 
Episcop:tl  Church— The  Union  Baptist  Church 477 

CHAPTER    XXXVII. 

Seekonk. 

Geographical — Incorporation  of  the  Town — Act  of  Incorporation — 
The  First  Town-Meeting — Documentary  History — Fortification  at 
Kettle  Point — Representatives — Senators — Changing  of  Bound- 
ary—Military History — Names  of  Soldiers 494 

CHAPTER   XXXVIII. 

Seekonk. — (Continued.) 

Ecclesiastical  History  :  Congregational  Church — The  Baptist  Church 
—The  Hebron  Church 497 

CHAPTER    XXXIX. 

Attleborough. 

Rehoboth  North  Purchase — How  and  by  whom  Purchased — Bound- 
aries— Wamsutta'8  Deed — Thomas  Willett,  Character  and  Ser- 
vices— List  of  Proprietors — Proceedings  of  Proprietors — First 
Regular  Division 506 

CHAPTER    XL. 

Attleborough. — (Continued.) 

Incorporation — Origin  of  the  Name — William  Blackstone — His  His- 
tory, Settlement,  etc. — John  Woodcock — His  Garrison — First  Ordi- 
nary— History  of  his  Settlement  here — First  Mill  in  Town— Attack 
on  Joshua  Barrows — His  Petition  for  Allowance  of  Land — Grant 
Made  to  him — Agents  Employed  in  England  on  Disputed  Boundary 
— Angle  Tree — Angle  Monument 514 

CHAPTER    XLI. 

Attleborough. — (Continued.) 

Indian  War — Pierce's  Fight;  or,  Battle  on  the  Blackstone — Nine 
Men's  Misery — Threatened  Attack  on  Wrenthaui 524 

CHAPTER    XLIL 

Attleborough. — (Continued.) 

First  Parish  and  Church  in  Town — Notices  of  Habijah  Weld,  Wilder, 
and  others — Division  of  the  Town  into  two  Parishes — East  Parish, 
its  History — Notices  of  the  Ministers — North  Baptist  Church — 
Notices  of  its  Pastors — Notices  of  Modern  Religious  Societies 527 

CHAPTER    XLIII. 

Attleborough. — (Continued.) 

Revolutionary  War — Proceedings  of  the  Town 537 


CHAPTER    XLIV. 

Attleborough. — (Continued.)  page 

Genealogical  Notices  of  some  of  the  Early  Settlers — List  of  Repre- 
sentatives of  the  Town  from  its  Incorporation — Biographies  of 
Daggett,  Maxcy,  Mann,  May,  Ide,  and  Others— List  of  Graduates 
in  Brown  University,  etc. — Dr.  Hebert  Mann's  Death,  and  Wreck 
of  the  Brig  "General  Arnold" — Miscellany — Topography,  etc. — 
Character  of  Early  Inhabitants — Their  Condition,  etc. — Con- 
clusion   543 


CHAPTER    XLV. 

Attleborough. — (Continued.) 
Schools — Industries — Societies,  etc 


556 


CHAPTER    XLVI. 

Norton. 
Geographical — Original  Purchasers — Original  Bounds — Petition  for 
Precinct — Incorporation   of  Town — The   First  Settlements— Ex- 
tracts from  Records — Early  Settlers 599 

CHAPTER   XLVII. 

Norton. — (Continued.) 
The  Heroes  of  Five  Wars :  The  Old  French  War— 


Military  History 
The  French  and   Indian  War — War  of  the  Revolution 
1812— War  of  the  Rebellion,  1861-65 


-War  of 


605 


CHAPTER  XLVIII. 

Norton. — (Continued.) 
Ecclesiastical  History — Educational :  The  Congregational  (Unitarian) 
Church — The  Trinitarian  Congregational  Church— The    Baptist 
Church — Wesleyan  Methodist  Church — The  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church — Roman  Catholic  Church — Wheaton  Seminary. 610 

CHAPTER  XLIX. 

Norton. — ( Continued.) 

Manufacturing  Interests 618 

CHAPTER  L.      , 
Norton. — (Continued.) 
Miscellaneous :  Physicians— College  Graduates— Stocks  and  Whip- 
ping-Post—Gas-Works— Runaway  Wife — Witchcraft — Masonic — 
Post-Office— The  Town  Hall 020 

CHAPTER  LI. 
Norton. — ( Continued.) 
Civil  History— Military  History  :  Representatives— Selectmen — Town 
Clerks— Deputy  Sheriffs— State  Senators— Councilors— Judges  of 
Court  of  Common  Pleas— Judges  of  Probate— Judge  of  Sessions 
— Register  of  Probate — Members  of  Congress— Taxes— Population 
— Military  Record 624 

CHAPTER    LII. 

Somerset. 
Geographical— Shawomat  Purchase,  1680— The  First  Meeting  of 
Purchasers— List  of  First  Purchasers— Early  Schools— Schoolmas- 
ters—Incorporation  of  Somerset— The  First  Town-Meeting— Offi- 
cers Elected— The  First  Representative  to  the  General  Court- 
Valuation  and  Tax-List  for  1833— Present  Valuation— Somerset  in 
1848— Representatives— Ecclesiastical  History— Society  of  Friends 
—The  First  Baptist  Church— Methodist  Episcopal  Church— Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church,  South  Somerset— The  First  Christian 
Church— The  First  Congregational  Church— Roman  Catholic 
Church— Military  History 635 

CHAPTER    LIII. 

Swansea. 
Geographical— Incorporation  of  the  Town— "  Wannamoisett"— 
Documentary  History— Early  Inhabitants— Division  of  Lands- 
King  Philip's  War— Original  Grant— Capt.  Thomas  Williams' 
"Proposals"— Admission  of  Inhabitants— First  Deputy  Elected— 
John  Allen— Town  Officers  of  1670— Extracts  from  Early  Records 
—Revolutionary  War— Committee  of  Inspection — Various  Votes 


via 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

concerning  the  Revolutionary  Period— Election  of  1780 — Pioneer 
Schools— First  Schoolmaster— John  Myles— 1702,  Town  Fined  for 
not  Having  School 652 


CHAPTER    LIV. 

Swansea. — (Continued.) 
Pioneer  History — King  Philip's  War 


657 


CHAPTER    LV. 

Swansea. — ( Continued.) 

Ecclesiastical  History :  The  First  Baptist  Church — The  Non-Sectarian 
Christian  Church — Christ  Church,  Swansea  Village — The  Six- 
Principle  Baptist  Church — The  Universalist  Church 664 

CHAPTER    LVI. 
Westpoet 678 

CHAPTER    LVII. 

Raynham. 
Geographical — Early  History — The  First  Iron-Works  in  America — 
The  Leonards — Indian  History — Pioneer  Families — The  Old  Leon- 
ard House — The  Revolutionary  War — Votes  of  the  Town — Names 
of  Soldiers — Seth  Dean — Ecclesiastical  History — The  Congrega- 
tional Church— The  Baptist  Church — The  Unitarian  Church — 
Educational — Early  Schoolmasters— Their  Salary — School  Money 
in  1777 — List  of  College  Graduates— Militia  Officers — Early  Mer- 
chants— Physicians — Longevity — Justices  of  the  Peace — High 
Sheriffs — Villages — Incorporation  of  the  Town — First  Town-Meet- 
ing— Officers  Elected — Selectmen — Representatives  and  Town 
Clerks  from  1731  to  1884— Early  Votes— Military  Record 707 

CHAPTER  LVIII. 

Taunton. 
Boundaries — Topography— City  Organization — Population 728 

CHAPTER   LIX. 

Taunton. — (Continued.) 

Early  Explorations— First  Settlement — Acquisition  of  Territory 729 

CHAPTER   LX. 

Taunton. — (Continued.) 

Military  Affairs  During  the  Colonial  Period 736 

CHAPTER   LXI. 
Taunton. — (Continued.) 749 


CHAPTER    LXII. 

Taunton. — (Continued.)  page 

The  Farms  of  Mr.  Hooke  and  Mr.  Street— Notices  of  Early  Settlers.  770 

CHAPTER   LXIII. 

Taunton. — (Continued.) 

Ancient  Burying-Grounds  and  Inscriptions  from  Old  Gravestones — 
List  of  Officers,  1638-91 781 

CHAPTER    LXIV. 

Taunton. — (Continued.) 

Ecclesiastical  History 786 

CHAPTER    LXV. 

Taunton. — (Continued.) 

The  Educational  Interests  —  Bristol  Academy  —  Taunton  Water- 
Works — Taunton  Lunatic  Hospital — The  Old  Colony  Historical 
Society — Public  Library — Bible  Society — Good  Templars — Hu- 
mane Society — Early  Physicians — Mount  Pleasant  Cemetery 799 

CHAPTER   LXVI. 

Taunton. — (Continued.) 

Civil  History— Representatives  from  Taunton,  1693  to  18^  *~ Citv 
Officers — Postmasters — Councilors 817 

CHAPTER    LXVII. 

Taunton. — ( Continued.) 

Manufacturing  Interests 822 

CHAPTER    LXVIII. 

Taunton. — (Continued.) 
Corporations,  Banks,  Societies,  etc 840 

CHAPTER   LXIX. 

Taunton. — (Continued.) 

Taunton  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution— The  War  of  1812-15— Taun- 
ton Companies  and  Men  in  the  Rebellion 844 

CHAPTER   LXX. 

A  Sketch  of  the  Courts  and  Bar  of  Bristol  County 887 

CHAPTER   LXXI. 
Homoeopathy  in  Bristol  County  and  its  Practitioners 893 

CHAPTER   LXXII. 
Miscellaneous 897 

Eeeata 922 


CONTENTS. 


IX 


BIOGRAPHICAL. 


PAliE 

Abbe,  E.  P 151 

Alden,  Cyrus 31 

Aldricb,  J.  M 397 

Alger,  Isaac 596 

Almy,  Charles 153 

Almy,  Frederick 214 

Almy,  Thomas 207 

Almy,  Thomas 382 

Almy,  William 206 

Ames,  Oakes 429 

Ames,  Oliver,  Sr 428 

Ames,  Oliver,  Jr 430 

Amlros,  Rev.  Thomas 191 

Archer,  J.  J 390a 

Babbitt,  William 1S7 

Bacon,  Rufus 34 

;:-',,<:■■  *- *eo 

Barker,  ^'" 'am,  Jr 208 

Barney,  E.  » ls 

Barnes,  D.  ^ 25 

Bartlett.  i-  H 137 

pu>     it,  Anselm 27 

iJassett,  Ezra 9 

Battelle,  Hezekiah 31 

Baylies,  Alfred 863 

Baylies,  Edmund 861 

Baylies,  Francis 26 

Beauvais,  J.  A 145 

Bennett,  E.  H 28 

Blackinton  Family  (The) 576 

Blaisdell,  J.  C 32 

Blake,  Mortimer 871 

Blanding,  W.  W 489 

Bliss,  Abiah 493 

Bliss,  George  W 491 

Boomer,  F.  A : 30 

Borden,  Christopher 700 

Borden,  Cook 379 

Borden,  Jefferson 411 

Borden,  N.  B 370 

Borden,  Richard 374 

Borden,  T.  J 393 

Borden,  Alansen 18 

Bourne,  Jonathan 144 

Brabrook  Family  (The) 867 

Braley,  H.  K 33 

Brigham,  L.  F 17 

Briggs,  D.  S 190 

Brown,  Joseph 502 

Brown,  J.  P 877 

Brown,  W.  A 676 

Brownel),  E.  P 702 

Buflinton,  Darius 651 

Buffinton,  James 414 

Buffi D ton,  Edward  P 390b 

Capron,  J.  W 580 

Case,  S  0 506 

Chace,  A.  H 308 

Chace,  Augustus 399 

Chace,  Oliver 378 

Chaffee,  Oliver 502 

Chace,  Edmund 388 

Church,  Nathaniel 280 

Clark,  C.  E 173 

Clifford,  C.  W 20 

Clifford,  J.  H 12 

Cobb,  W.  H 2t 

Cobbett,  Sabiu 461 

Codding,  Abiel 587 

Coffin,  T.  G 8 


PAGE 

Colby,  H.  G.  0 9 

Congdon,  J.  B 135 

Covel,  Benjamin 405 

Crane,  A.  B 189 

Crane,  G.  B 631 

Crapo,  H.  H 129 

Crapo,  W.  W 18 

Crocker,  George  E 137 

Crocker,  Oliver 137 

Crocker,  S.  L 858 

Cushmau,  Hercules 34 

Cummings,  J.  W 33 

Daggett,  H.  N 538 

Daggett,  John 33 

Daggett,  L.  W 583 

Danforth,  H.  L 27 

Davis,  A.  H 211 

Davis,  Nathan 650 

Davis,  R.  T 386 

Davol,  Wm.  C 413 

Davol,  Stephen 386 

Dean,  Barzillia 433 

Dean,  C.  H 415 

Dean,  E.  G 885 

Dean,  L.  W 581 

Dean,  Theodore 864 

Dean,  Thomas  H 433 

Deane,  L.  B 632 

Drake,  H.  P 434 

Dunbar,  S.  0 885 

Durfee,  Nathan. 412 

D welly,  Jerome 399 

Earl,  Benjamin 408 

Earle,  L.  S 402 

Earle,  Weston 262 

Eddy,  W.  H 34 

Eliot,  T.  D 10 

Eldridge.E.  H 884 

Ellis,  James 26 

Emery,  S.  H 872 

Fales,  Samuel 2i 

Fessenden,  C.  B.  H 146 

Fish,  II.  H 868 

Fisher,  S.  P 579 

Fletcher,  P.  H m 

Ford,  James 28 

French,  Job  B 388 

French,  George  R • 389 

Gifford  Family  (The) 697 

Gifford,  Benjamin. 70° 

Gifford,  George  H •• 698 

Gifford,  William 6" 

Greene,  D.  R 133 

Greene,  William  S 413 

Grinnell,  Joseph 139 

Gooding,  C.  II 263 

Gordon,  William  A 208 

Hall,  John  W.  D - 886 

Harris,  J.  George 147 

Haskell,  Edward 159 

Hathaway,  Joseph 34 

Hatheway,  Nicholas 32 

Hathaway,  Washington 34 

Hatheway,  E.  P 34 

Hathaway,  G.  H 3°4 

Hathaway,  Alden,  Jr 407 

Hathaway,  John  B 407 

Hathaway,  Samuel 377 

Hathaway,  William,  Jr 156 

Hawes,  John  A 28° 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

Hawes,  J.  C 159 

Hawes,  Simeon 158 

Hayward,  C.  E 598 

Henry,  James 406 

Hicks,  Andrew 696 

Holmes,  Charles 32 

Holmes,  G.  B.  N 34 

Horton,  Danforth 401 

Horton,  E.  J 595 

Horton,  E.  S 593 

Horton,  N.  B 492 

Howard,  A.  F 873 

Howland,  A.  Franklyn 46 

Hunt,  C.  D 282 

Huttlestone,  Henry 279 

Jennings,  A.  J 33 

Jones,  E.  U 878 

Jones,  Samuel 726 

Keith,  Edwin 886 

Kilburn,  E.  C 395 

Kimball,  John 433 

King,  George  W 724 

Koowles,  Joseph 136 

Knowlton,  IF.  M 21 

Ladd,  Warren 155 

Lawton,  George 706 

Leland,  P.  W 377 

Leonard,  C.  H 138 

Leonard,  Cromwell 630 

Leonard,  Ebenezer 173 

Leonard,  E.  T 414 

Leonard,  J   M 051 

Leonard,  Daniel j:; 

Leonard,  W.  A 33 

Lincoln,  J.  T. 384 

Lindsey,  C.  E 394 

Lindsey,  William 391 

Lothrop,  T.  J 877 

Lovering,  Willard 859 

Luther,  S.  M 404 

Mackie,  Adam 20 

Mackie,  Andrew l.">2 

Mackie,  J.  H 153 

Macomber,  Israel 705 

Macomber,  Leonard 701 

Mandell,  Thomas 131 

Mars  ton,  George 16 

Marvel,  William 403 

Mason,  William 391 

Mason,  William 865 

May,  E.  G 592 

Medbery,  Vaill 503 

Merritt,  H.  D...: 590 

Morse,  E.  J.  W 431 

Morton,  Marcus 26 

Morton,  J.  M 33 

Morton,  Nathaniel 27 

Newcomb,  Nathaniel 629 

Nichols,  T.  G 306 

Nichols,  W.  D , 188 

Nye,  Obed .' 283 

Osborn,  J.  M 401 

Osborn,  Weaver 400 

Parker  Family  (The) 133 

Parker,  Frederick 160 

Parker,  J.  A 127 

Paul,  A.  W 265 

Padelford,  S 23 

Page,  J.  II.  W 12 

Paine,  R.  T 22 

Perrin,  P.  1 884 

Perry,  Albert 402 

Perry,  Otis 491 

Perry,  William  F 45S 

Pierce,  Alfred 596 

Pitman,  R.  C 18 


TAQE 

Phillips,  J.  M 870 

Phillips,  W.  H 869 

Phillips,  William 149 

Pierce,  E.  W 45 

Porter,  Burrill,  Jr 590 

Pratt,  Horatio 27 

Presbrey  Family  (The) 875 

Prescott,  Oliver 16 

Price,  George 577 

Read,  H.  C 591 

Reed,  H.  G 866 

Reed,  Milton 390b 

Reed,  Washington 305 

Reed,  C.  1 27 

Richards  Family  (The) 588 

Richards,  E.  H 598 

Richards,  H.  M 572 

Richardson,  Stephen 573 

Robinson,  Charles 718 

Robinson,  Enoch 719 

Robinson,  Willard 575 

Rogers,  John .. 4T.7 

Rotch  Family  (The) ',4l 

Russell,  J.  S 9 

San  ford,  S.  T 704 

Shaw,  N.W 722 

Sherman,  C.  E.  W 593 

Skinner,  N.  H 8li 

Slade,  Abner 673 

Slade,  A.  P 649 

Slade,  Jonathan 647 

Slade,  John  P 405 

Slade.  Nathan 705 

Slade,  William  L 648 

Slocum,  William  R 209 

Smith,  Irani 392 

Smith,  T.  1 561 

Spooner,  N.  S 171 

Standish,  T.  D 266 

Stanley,  S.  0 578 

Staples,  A.  B 868 

Staples,  S.N 882 

Stevens,  F.  S 674 

Stetson,  T.  M 19 

Stone,  S.  A 

Sturdy,  W.  A 634 

Swift,  R.  N 172 

Swift,  W.  0.  X -..  150 

Sproat,  James 24 

Stone,  J.  C .'. 16 

Taber,  C.  S 280 

Taber,  E.  T 281 

Taber,  Henry 148 

Talbot,  G.  II 635 

Tillinghast,  Nicholas 25 

Tracy,  John 727 

Ti afford  Family  (The) 213 

TrafiTord.W.  B 381 

Tripp,  B.  F 703 

Towne  Family  (The) 720 

Tucker,  Joseph 212 

Vickery,  C.  R 803 

Warren,  C.  H 9 

Weaver,  Stephen 678 

Wheaton,  Laban 627 

Wheaton,  L.  M 629 

Wheeler,  J.  F 884 

White,  D.  D 724 

White.  J.  W 723 

White,  Samuel 21 

Whiting,  W.  D 584 

Wilbar,  Joseph 860 

Wilbur,  Daniel 648 

Wilcox,  L.T 20 

Wilkinson,  Ezra 34 

Williams  Family  (The) 879 


CONTENTS. 


XI 


PAGE 

Williams,  A.  K 884 

Williams,  Eliab 29 

Williams,  M.G 723 

Williams,  J.  M 25 

Williams,  .7.  R 15 


PAGE 

Williams,  Lemuel g 

Wing,  B.F 210 

Wood,  C.  L i31 

Wood,  N.  M 675 


ILLTJSTBATIOITS. 


PAGE 

Abbe.  E.  P facing  151 

Aldrich,  J.  M "  397 

Alger,  Isaac "  597 

Almy,  Charles "  153 

Almy,  Frederick "  214 

Almy,  Thomas "  207 

Almy,  Thomas "  382 

Almy,  William "  206 

Ames,  Oliver,  Sr "  428 

Ames,  Oliver,  Jr "  430 

Ames,  Oakes "  429 

.v'.i..';.,  J-'   J "  390a 

Babbitt,  Wii'ijam «  186 

Bail.-y,  G.  E  "  460 

Barker,  Wi  iliam,  Jr "  208 

Bartlett/I.  H "  137 

"•..i.es,  Alfred "  862 

Baylies,  Edmund "  861 

Beauvais,  J.  A "  145 

Bennett,  E.  II "  27 

Blake,  Mortimer "  871 

Blackintui),  Willard "  576 

Blackinton,  William "  577 

BlandiDg,  W.W "  490 

Bliss,  Abiah "  493 

Bliss,  George  W "  491 

Boomer,  F.  A "  30 

Borden,  Cook "  379 

Borden,  Christopher between  700,  701 

Borden,  X.  B facing  370 

Borden,  Richard "  374 

Borden,  T.J "  393 

Bourne,  Jonathan "  144 

rook,  George "  867 

Braley,  H.  K "  32 

Brigham,  L.  F "  17 

Briggs,  D.  S "  190 

Bristol  County,  map  of "  1 

Brown,  J.  P "  876 

Brown,  Joseph "  502 

Brown,  51.  A "  676 

Brownell,  E.  P "  702 

Burhuton,  Darius between  650,  651 

Case,  S.  0 facing  506 

Capron,  J.  W "  580 

Chace,  Augustus "  399 

Chase,  Edmund "  388 

Chace,  A.  H "  308 

Chace,  Oliver "  378 

Chaffee,  Oliver "  503 

Church,  Nathaniel "  281 

Clark,  C.  E "  173 

Clifford,  C.  W "  20 

Clifford,  J.  II "  12 

Cobbett,  Sabin "  461 

Codding,  Abiel "  587 

Congdon,  J.  B "  135 

<  \<\  el,  Benjamin "  405 

Crane.A.  B "  189 

Crane,  G.  B "  631 

Crapo,  H.  II "  129 

Crapo.W.  W "  18 

Crocker,  George  E between  136, 137 

Crocker,  S.  L facing  858 

Crocker,  Oliver between  136,  137 


PAGE 

Daggett,  II.  N facing  885 

Daggett,  John "  33 

Daggett,  L.  W "  583 

Davis,  Nathan "  650 

Davis,  B.  T «  387 

Davol,  Stephen  "  386 

Dean,  Barzillia 434 

Dean,  C.  H facing  415 

Dean,  E.  G between  884,  885 

Dean,  Theodore facing  864 

Dean,  L.  W "  581 

Dean,  Thomas  H 434 

Deane,  L.  B facing  632 

Dighton  Kock  (The) "  250 

Drake,  H.  P »  435 

Dunbar,  S.  0 "  885 

Dwelly,  Jerome "  398 

Earle,  L.  S "  402 

Earle,  Weston "  262 

Eliot,  T.  D "  10 

Eldridge,  E.  H between  884,  885 

Emery,  S.  H facing  872 

Fall  River  in  1812,  5Iap  of. between  310,  311 

Fish,  H.  H facing  868 

Fishers,  S.  P "  579 

Fletcher,  P.  H "  187 

Freuch,  Job  B between  388,389 

French,  George  R "        388,389 

Gilford,  Benjamin facing  700 

Gifford,  George  H "  698 

Gifford,  William between  698,  699 

Gifford,  William  H "        698,  699 

Gilmore,  E.  W facing  420 

Gooding,  C.  H "  263 

Gordon,  William  A between  208,  209 

Greene,  D.  R facing  133 

Grinnell,  Joseph "  139 

Haskell,  Edward "  159 

Hathaway,  John  B "  407 

Hathaway,  Alden,  Jr "  307 

Hathaway,  G.  H "  304 

Hathaway,  Samuel "  377 

Hathaway,  William,  Sr "  156 

Hawes,  John  A "  280 

Hawes,  J.  C between  15? 

Hawes,  Simeon '. facing  158 

Hayward,  C.  E "  598 

Henry,  James "  406 

Hicks,  Andrew "  696 

Horton,  Danforth "  401 

Horton,  E.  J "  595 

Horton,  E.S ...     "  594 

Horton,  N.  B between  401,  493 

Howard,  A.F. facing 

Howland,  A.  Franklyn "  46 

Hunt,  C.  D "  282 

Huttlestone,  Henry "  279 

Jones,  E.  U "  878 

Jones,  Samuel "  726 

Keith,  Edwin "  886 

Kilburn,  E.  C "  395 

Kimball,  John "  433 

King,  George  W "  725 

Knowles,  Joseph "  136 

Ladd,  Warren "  155 


xn 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

Lawton,  George facing  707 

Leland,  P.  W "  376 

Leonard,  C.  H "  138 

Leonard,  Cromwell "  630 

Leonard,  Ebenezer between  172, 173 

Leonard,  J.  M "        650,  651 

Lincoln,  J.  T facing  384 

Lindsey,  C.E "  394 

Lindsey,  William '  390 

Lothrop,  T.  J "  877 

Lovering,  Willard '  859 

Luther,  S.  M "  404 

Macomber,  Israel '  706 

Macomber,  Leonard "  701 

Mackie,  J.  H "  152 

Maudell,  Thomas "  132 

Marston,  George '  16 

Marvel,  William "  403 

Mason,  William "  391 

Mason,  William 865 

May,  E.G "  592 

Medbery,  Vaill "  504 

Merritt,  H.  D between  590,  591 

Morse,  E.J.  W facing  431 

Morton,  Marcus "  26 

Newcomb,  Nathaniel "  629 

Nichols,  T.  G "  306 

Nichols,  W.  D "  188 

Nye,  Obed "  283 

Osborn,  J.  M between  400,  401 

Osborn,  Weaver '. facing  400 

Parker,  Frederick '  160 

Parker,  J.  A "  127 

Parker,  Ward  M • "  134 

Paul,  A.  W "  265 

Perry,  Albert "  462 

Perry,  Otis "  492 

Perry,  William  F "  458 

Perrin.P.  I "  884 

Phillips,  J.  M "  870 

Phillips,  W.  H "  869 

Phillips,  William "  149 

Pierce,  Alfred "  596 

Pierce,  E.  W "  45 

Porter,  Bun-ill,  Jr "  590 

Presbrey,  S.  D "  875 

Price,  George "  578 

Bead,  H.  C "  591 

Beed,  H.  G "  866 

Eeed,  Washington "  305 

Richards,  H.  M "  572 

Richards,  J.  D "  589 

Bichardson,  Stephen "  573 

Robinson,  Charles "  118 

Robinson,  Enoch "  719 

Robinson,  Willard "  575 


PAGE 

Rogers,  John facing    457 

Rotch,  W.  J "  141 

Sanford,  S.  T "         704 

Shaw,  N.  W "         722 

Sherman,  C.  E «•         593 

Slade,  Abner "  673 

Slade,  A.  P "  649 

Slade,  Jonathan "  647 

Slade,  John  P between  404,  405 

Slade,  Nathan facing    705 

Slade,  William  L .' "         648 

Slocum.  William  R "         209 

Smith,  Irani "         392 

Smith,  T.I "  561 

Skinner,  N.  H "         874 

Spooner,  N.S "  171 

Standish,  T.  D "  266 

Stanley,  S.  0 between  578,  579 

Staples,  A.  B "  868,809 

Staples,  S.N "         882,883 

Stetson,  T.  M facing      19 

Stevens,  F.  S "         674 

Stone,  S.  A '  Wi 

Sturdy,  W.  A •     "         634 

Swift,  R.  N "  172 

Swift,  W.  C.  N "         150 

Taber,  C.  S between  '.?80,  281 

Taber,  E.  T "         28n,  >L„ 

Taber,  Henry facing    148 

Talbot,  G.  H "         635 

Taunton,  Map  of between  768,769 

Towne,  E.  15 facing     721 

Tracy,  John "  727 

Trafford,  W.  P. "         381 

Tripp,  B.  V "  703 

Tucker,  Joseph "  212 

Vickery.C.R "         803 

Weaver,  Stephen "  678 

\Vl,,aton,  Laban "  627 

Wheaton,  L.  M "         628 

Wheeler,  J.  F  "  883 

White,  D.  D "         724 

White,  J.  W betweeu  722,  723 

Whiting,  W.  D facing    584 

Wilbar,  Joseph "         860 

Wilbur,  Daniel between  04.S,  649 

Williams,  A.  II facing     881 

Williams,  A.  K "  882 

Williams,  Eliab "  29 

Williams,  Francis "         879 

Williams,  Francis  K "         880 

Williams,  John  R between  880,  881 

Williams,  M.  G "         722.  723 

Wing,B.  F facing     210 

Wood,  C.  L "         131 

Wood.  N.  M "  675 


HISTORY 

OF 


BRISTOL  COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

«. ■  KOGRAPHICAL   AND    DESCRIPTIVE. 

Bristol  County  is  situated  in  the  southern  sec- 
ti-ir.  of  Massachusetts,  its  centre  thirty-five  miles  from 
Boston,  and  two  hundred  miles  from  New  York.  It  is 
bounded  on  the  north  by  Norfolk,  and  east  by  Ply- 
mouth Counties,  on  the  south  by  Rhode  Island  and 
the  Atlantic  Ocean,  and  on  the  west  by  Rhode  Island. 
Its  area  is  about  six  hundred  square  miles.  It  was  in- 
corporated in  June,  1685,  bearing  the  name  of  its 
shire-town  until  1746,  when  Bristol,  Barrington,  Little 
Compton,  and  Warren  were  set  off  to  Rhode  Island 
by  a  new  division  line  drawn  between  the  two  States. 
In  1675  the  county  included  but  eleven  towns,  viz.: 
Attleborough,  Berkley,  Easton,  Dighton,  Dartmouth, 
Freetown,  Raynham,  Norton,  Rehoboth,  Swansea, 
and  Taunton,  aggregating  a  population  of  twenty- 
two  thousand  five  hundred  and  seventy-one.  Fall 
River,  New  Bedford,  Acushnet,  Fairhaven,  Mans- 
field, Somerset,  Seekonk,  and  Westport  had  not  been 
incorporated. 

Taunton  was  made  the  capital,  or  shire-town,  where 
all  courts  were  held  until  1828,  when  New  Bedford, 
having  become  an  important  seat  of  navigation,  with 
a  population  of  six  thousand  three  hundred  and  thirty- 
two,  the  largest  town  in  the  county,  by  legislative  en- 
actment was  created  a  half-shire  town,  with  its  court- 
house and  other  county  appendages.  In  1860  another 
line  was  drawn,  severing  Pawtucket  and  a  portion  of 
Seekonk  from  this  county,  adding  them  to  Rhode 
Island,  and  in  exchange  taking  a  portion  of  Tiverton 
to  Fall  River  from  that  State.  In  1877,  Fall  River 
havinggrown  into  an  important  manufacturing  border 
city  of  forty-six  thousand  inhabitants,  it  was  assigned 
by  legislative  grant  the  third  seat  of  justice  in  the 
county,  and  a  court- room  fitted  for  that  purpose. 

There  are  three  cities  and  sixteen  towns ;  three 
senatorial  districts,  with  three  senators ;  ten  repre- 
sentative districts,  with  eighteen  representatives  in 
the  Legislature  from  this  county.  The  population  in 
1776  was  26,700;  in  1790,  31,709;  in  1800,  33,880;  in 
1 


1810,  37,168;  in  1820,  40,908;  in  1830,  49,592  ;  in 
1840,  60,195;  in  1850,  76,192;  in  1860,  93,794;  in 
1870, 102,886  ;  and  in  1880, 139,040 ;  showing  a  gradual 
progressive  increase  for  a  hundred  years,  or  since  the 
Revolution.  The  valuation  (as  appears  by  State  De- 
partment records)  of  the  county  was  in  1800,  $234,- 
410.27;  in  1810,  $321,036.24;  in  1820,  $398,581;  in 
1830,  $11,346,916;  in  1840,  $19,493,685;  in  1850,  $39,- 
243,560 ;  in  1860,  $66,294,256 ;  in  1870,  $80,425,791 ; 
in  1880,  $100,029,138 ;  exhibiting  a  larger  relative  pro- 
portionate increase  in  wealth  than  in  population. 

The  southern  coast  of  the  county  is  indented  with 
numerous  streams,  inlets,  bays,  and  harbors,  affording 
great  facilities  for  navigation,  commercial  intercourse, 
fishing,  and  maritime  trade.  Several  rivers  flow 
through  the  county, — Taunton  River  being  the  prin- 
cipal, taking  its  rise  in  Norfolk,  flowing  through  the 
west  part  of  Plymouth,  draining  the  east  section  of 
this  county,  and  emptying  into  Mount  Hope  Bay, — 
furnish  motive-power,  co-operating  with  steam,  for 
the  extensive  manufacturing  interests,  especially  cot- 
ton, iron,  and  jewelry.  The  surface  of  the  territory 
is  diversified,  undulating,  rocky,  hilly,  but  generally 
level  in  the  northern  and  western  portion,  with  a 
sandy  and  clayey  soil,  not  very  productive,  but  in  the 
middle  and  southern  rather  prolific.  The  geological 
formation,  granite,  carboniferous,  feldspathic,  con- 
glomerate, etc.,  with  frequent  evidences  of  glacial 
visitations  in  past  ages,  from  the  numerous  boulders 
observed  in  the  central  section  of  the  country.  Bog- 
iron  ore  is  also  largely  developed  in  many  northern 
locations,  which  from  one  to  two  hundred  years  ago 
was  extensively  utilized  into  bar-iron  and  cooking 
utensils. 

The  Old  Colony  Railroad  threads  in  systematic  net- 
work nearly  all  the  cities  and  towns  of  Bristol  and 
adjoining  counties,  furnishing  accommodations  for 
freight  and  travel,  and  facilities  of  communication 
with  all  the  cities  and  localities  in  the  State,  and  the 
great  thoroughfares  north,  south,  east,  and  west.  The 
Boston  and  Providence  Railroad  also  passes  through 
the  northwest  part  of  the  county. 

There  are  in   this  county,  according  to  the   last 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


census,  30,015  families  and  22,093  dwellings;  1025 
manufacturing  establishments;  number  of  persons 
employed,  34,068;  wages  paid  during  the  year,  $11,- 
125,200;  capital  invested,  $42,128,950;  amount  of 
stock  used,  $24,884,704;  value  of  products,  $46,127,- 
452.  Number  of  persons  employed  in  agriculture, 
5161;  farms,  2730;  value  of  farms,  $8,631,243  ;  value 
of  live-stock,  $759,892;  acres  of  tilled  and  meadow 
land,  97,222 ;  woodland,  77,480 ;  tons  of  hay  per  year, 
30,057;  bushels  of  potatoes,  248,256;  bushels  of  corn, 
117,294;  gallons  of  milk,  2,339,682;  pounds  of  butter, 
313,040;  cheese,  5584;  dotens  of  eggs,  846,624;  value 
of  annual  farm  products,  $1,554,456.  In  the  manu- 
facture of  cotton  goods  there  are  50  establishments 
and  19,273  persons  employed;  wages  paid,  $5,154,331; 
capital  invested,  $29,368,558;  stock  used,  $11,599,735; 
value  of  product,  $21,412,623.  In  cotton  and  woolen 
goods,  4  establishments  and  21  persons  employed; 
wages  paid,  $58,332;  capital  invested,  $3,966,385; 
stock  used,  $2,637,708;  value  of  products,  $5,600,000. 
In  metals  and  metallic  goods,  224  establishments; 
persons  employed,  5849;  wages  paid,  $2,478,318;  cap- 
ital invested,  $5,070,921 ;  stock  used,  $4,252,932  ;  value 
of  product,  $8,621,697.  Machines  and  machinery,  31 
establishments,  1419  persons  employed;  wages  paid, 
$686,150 ;  capital  invested,  $1,232,625;  stock,  $891,907 ; 
value  of  product,  $1,756,509.  In  lumber,  45  establish- 
ments, 158  persons  employed;  wages  paid,  $39,100; 
capital,  $147,200;  stock,  $71,037;  value  of  product, 
$158,480.  In  9  brick,  etc.,  manufactories,  119  per- 
sons employed  ;  wages  paid,  $28,274;  capital  invested, 
$105,100;  stock,  $14,095 ;  value  of  product,  $60,930. 
Carriages  and  wagons,  57  establishments,  133  per- 
sons employed ;  wages  paid,  $106,164;  capital,  $184,- 
750 ;  stock  used,  $135,516  ;  value  of  products,  $323,151. 
Food  preparations,  68  establishments;  persons  em- 
ployed, 385;  wages  paid,  $144,935;  capital,  $475,200; 
stock  used,  $1,715,215;  value  of  product,  $2,143,612. 
Printing  and  publishing,  22  establishments,  213  per- 
sons employed ;  wages  paid,  $95,446 ;  capital,  $172,- 
400  ;  stock  used,  $107,616  ;  value  of  product,  $274,300. 


CHAPTER    II. 


INDIAN   HISTORY.1 


That  distinguished  chieftain,  the  great  and  good 
Massasoit,  resided  at  Pokanoket,  that  subsequently 
became  the  township  of  Bristol,  now  in  the  State  of 
Rhode  Island,  but  which  until  1747  formed  a  part  of 
Bristol  County,  Mass.,  wherein  it  was  the  shire  or  county 
town  for  the  term  of  some  sixty-two  years.  What 
therefore  at  the  landing  of  the  Pilgrims  in  1620  was 
the  seat  of  empire  to  the  Indians  throughout  the 
widely  extended  domains  of  Massasoit  became  the 

l  By  Gen.  E.  W.  Peiice. 


chief  seat  of  justice  to  those  European  settlements  in- 
corporated in  1685  as  the  county  of  Bristol. 

Although  Bristol  County  was  not  formed  or  incor- 
porated until  some  fifteen  years  after  the  death  of 
Massasoit,  English  settlements  had  been  commenced 
within  what  subsequently  became  its  limits  nearly  or 
quite  twenty-five  years  before  his  decease,  and  he 
lived  to  see  two  of  these,  viz.,  Taunton  and  Rehoboth, 
incorporated  as  towns.  Wamsutta,  as  chief  ruler  of 
the  Indians,  succeeded  his  father,  Massasoit,  at  the 
death  of  the  latter  in  or  about  the  year  1662,  and  the 
brief  reign  of  Wamsutta  ending  within  one  year  from 
its  commencement,  he  was  in  turn  succeeded  by  his 
younger  brother  Pometacom,  commonly  known  as 
King  Philip,  whose  reign  continued  about  fourteen 
years,  during  which  time  two  other  English  settle- 
ments, viz.,  Dartmouth  and  Swansea,  were  incorpor- 
ated as  towns.  The  first  or  earliest  communication  of 
white  men  with  the  Indian  inhabitants  of  that  8e"tf«6fi 
of  country,  subsequently  incorporated  as  thL  county 
of  Bristol,  probably  occurred  in  the  month  \srf  May, 
1619,  when  Capt.  Dermer  came  in  a  vessel  to  Panr^^j;. 
now  Plymouth,  where,  from  the  assistance  rendered 
him  by  an  Indian  named  Squanto,  he  was  enabled  to 
communicate  with  the  Indian  chieftain  Massasoit, 
whose  principal  place  of  residence  was  then,  as  after- 
wards, at  Pokanoket,  or  Mount  Hope. 

Capt.  Dermer,  in  a  letter  dated  Dec.  27,  1619,  thus 
described  the  event :  "  I  traveled  along  a  day's  jour- 
ney to  a  place  called  Nammastaquet,  where,  finding 
inhabitants,  I  dispatched  a  messenger  a  day's  journey 
farther  west  to  Pocanokit,  which  bordereth  on  the 
sea,  whence  came  to  see  me  two  kings,  attended  with 
a  guard  of  fifty  armed  men,  who,  being  well  satisfied 
with  that  my  savage  and  I  discoursed  unto  them, 
gave  me  content  in  whatever  I  demanded,  where  I 
found  that  former  relations  were  true.  Here  I  re- 
deemed a  Frenchman."  The  Nammastaquet  here 
named  was  doubtless  Nemasket,  now  Middleborough, 
and  the  two  kings  who  met  Capt.  Dermer  were  prob- 
ably Massasoit  and  his  brother  Quadequina. 

The  first  visit  of  white  men  to  the  locality,  now 
Bristol  County,  probably  occurred  in  June  or  July, 
1621,  when  Massasoit,  at  his  home  in  Pokanoket,  was 
sought  out  and  visited  by  Edward  Winslow  and  Ste- 
phen Hopkins,  accompanied  by  the  Indian  Squanto, 
who  acted  as  their  interpreter.  During  the  lifetime 
and  reign  of  Massasoit  his  sub-chiefs  appear  to  have 
been  called  or  ranked  as  captains,  though  sometimes 
sachems,  among  whom  was  Caunbitant,  whose  resi- 
dence was  at  a  place  then  called  Mettapoiset,  now 
known  as  Gardner's  Neck,  in  Swansea;  and  at  the 
visit  Mr.  Winslow  made  to  Massasoit,  in  March,  1623, 
on  coming  to  the  ferry,  in  Caunbitant's  country,  was 
informed  that  Massasoit  was  dead,  which  caused  the 
Governor  and  his  attendants  to  feel  considerable  un- 
easiness, lest  Caunbitant,  who  had  been  one  of  Mas- 
sasoit's  most  renowned  captains,  should  become  his 
immediate  successor  as  chief  sachem  or  king.     This 


INDIAN   HISTORY. 


uneasiness  and  fear  arising  from  the  fact  that  not 
long  before  Caunbitant,  being  at  Nemasket,  com- 
menced a  murderous  attack  upon  the  Indian  Squanto, 
who  appears  to  have  barely  escaped  death  at  his 
hands  ;  and  the  Ply mouthians  had  lost  no  time  in  send- 
ing out  fourteen  soldiers,  under  Capt.  Miles  Standish, 
which  force  so  harassed  Caunbitant  that  he,  in  Sep- 
tember, 1621,  had  felt  compelled  to  go  to  Plymouth 
and  submit  to  certain  demands,  and  signing  at  the 
same  time  a  treaty  of  amity  and  peace. 

The  English  still  considered  Caunbitant  as  being, 
at  heart,  their  enemy,  and  that  he  was  only  waiting  a 
convenient  opportunity  to  make  it  known ;  and  the 
Governor  and  his  attendants  feared  that  convenient 
opportunity  had  now  arrived.  Said  Mr.  Winslow, 
concerning  Caunbitant,  "  Although  he  were  but  a 
hollow-hearted  friend  toward  us,  I  thought  no  time 
so  fit  as  this  to  enter  into  more  friendly  terms  with 
him  and  the  rest  of  the  sachems  thereabout;  hoping, 
through  the  blessing  of  God,  it  would  be  a  means  in 
that  unsettled  state  to  settle  their  affections  towards 
us ;  and  though  it  were  somewhat  dangerous  in  re- 
spect of  our  personal  safety,  because  myself  and 
Hobbamock  had  been  employed  upon  a  service 
against  him,  which  he  might  fitly  revenge,  yet  esteem- 
ing it  the  best  means,  leaving  the  event  to  God  in  his 
mercy,  I  resolved  to  put  it  in  practice  if  Master 
Hamden  and  Hobbamock  durst  attempt  it  with  me, 
whom  I  found  willing  to  that  or  any  other  course  that 
might  tend  to  the  general  good.  So  we  went  towards 
Mattapuyst,  and  went  to  the  sachem's  comaco,  for  so 
they  called  the  sachem's  place,  though  they  call  an 
ordinary  house  wites ;  but  Caunbitant,  the  sachem, 
was  not  at  home,  but  at  Puckanokick,  which  was  some 
five  or  six  miles  off.  The  squa-sachem,  for  so  they 
call  the  sachem's  wife,  gave  us  friendly  entertainment. 
Here  we  inquired  again  concerning  Massasowat ;  they 
thought  him  dead,  but  knew  no  certainty.  Where- 
upon I  hired  one  to  go  with  all  expedition  to  Puck- 
anockit,  that  we  might  know  the  certainty  thereof, 
and  withal  to  acquaint  Conbatant  with  our  there 
being.  About  half  an  hour  before  the  sun  setting 
the  messenger  returned  and  told  us  that  he  was  not 
dead." 

When  Mr.  Winslow  and  his  friends  were  returning 
from  Pokanoket,  at  the  earnest  request  of  Caunbitant, 
who  accompanied  them,  they  stopped  and  stayed  one 
night  at  his  house,  in  what  is  now  Swansea  ;  and  Mr. 
Winslow  informs  that  they  never  received  better 
entertainment  from  any  Indians  than  they  then  had 
from  Caunbitant.  What  became  of  Caunbitant  is 
unknown.  That  section  of  country  now  Little  Coinp- 
ton  was  formerly  known  as  Seaconnet,  or  Seconet,  and 
here  the  Indians  for  a  time  were  under  the  direction 
of  a  woman  named  Awashuncks,  who  was  usually 
known  as  the  squaw-sachem  of  Seaconnet.  She  was 
wife  of  an  Indian  named  Tolony,  and  she  was  mother 
of  a  son  named  William  Mommynewit,  who,  being 
sent  to  school,  learned  the  Latin  language,  and  was 


intended  for  college,  but  prevented,  being  seized  with 
the  palsy.  She  had  another  and  older  son  named 
Peter.  Awashuncks  first  came  prominently  into  no- 
tice in  1671,  when  the  colony  of  Plymouth  planned  a 
warlike  expedition  against  her,  proposing  to  send  a 
force  of  one  hundred  and  two  men,  that  were  to  as- 
semble for  that  purpose  at  or  near  what  is  now  Asso- 
net  Four  Corners,  in  Freetown,  on  the  8th  day  of 
August,  1671  ;  but  the  war  was  prevented  by  articles 
of  agreement  signed  by  her  July  24,  1671. 

She  comes  again  prominently  into  notice  in  the 
spring  of  1675,  when  King  Philip  sent  messengers  to 
engage  her  and  her  people  to  unite  with  him  in  the 
great  and  bloody  conflict,  still  known  as  "  King 
Philip's  war."  Those  messengers  consisted  of  six 
Pokanoket  Indians,  who,  having  their  faces  painted 
and  hair  so  cut  as  to  represent  a  cock's  comb,  with 
powder-horns  and  shot-bags,  made  an  imposing  ap- 
pearance, and  influenced  Awashuncks  so  as  to  induce 
her  to  call  the  principal  of  her  people  together  to  a 
great  dance.  Capt.  Church,  the  soon  after  renowned 
Indian  hunter,  had  then  recently  settled  in  her  neigh- 
borhood, and,  singularly  enough,  Church  was  among 
the  guests  bidden  to  the  dance.  Taking  with  him  an 
interpreter,  Church  repaired  to  the  place,  where  he 
said  that  he  found  hundreds  of  Indians,  and  Awa- 
shuncks, in  a  foaming  sweat,  leading  the  dance. 
Church's  arrival  being  announced  to  her,  she  stopped 
short,  sat  down,  called  her  chief  men  into  her  presence, 
and  then  called  Church,  to  whom  she  communicated 
a  message  that  she  had  received  from  King  Philip. 
Church  advised  her  not  to  accede  to  his  request ; 
whereupon  she  called  in  the  six  Pokanoket  Indians. 
Church  then  told  Awashuncks  that  if  Philip  was  re- 
solved on  war  her  best  way  would  be  to  kill  the  six 
Pokanoket  Indians  and  place  herself  under  the  pro- 
tection of  the  English.  At  this  advice  the  Pokano- 
kets  became  silent,  but  two  of  Awashuncks'  men  that 
had  recently  been  to  Mount  Hope,  and  were  very 
favorably  inclined  to  the  proposed  measures  of  King 
Philip,  expressed  themselves  with  great  indignation 
at  the  rash  advice  of  Church,  and  one  of  Awashuncks' 
council,  called  "  Little  Eyes,"  was  so  enraged  that  he 
would  have  put  Church  to  death  had  he  not  been 
prevented.  Awashuncks  agreed  to  join  herself  and 
people  with  the  English,  instead  of  the  Indians, 
placing  herself  under  the  protection  of  the  former. 
She  sent  two  of  her  men  to  guard  Church  back  to  his 
house,  and  desired  him  to  go  to  Plymouth  and  com- 
municate her  decision,  which  he  did  on  the  7th  of 
June,  1675 ;  and  had  the  Plymouth  colony  govern- 
ment taken  immediate  measures  to  protect  Awa- 
shuncks, doubtless  she,  and  at  least  most  of  her 
people,  in  the  war  that  immediately  ensued,  would 
have  joined  with  the  English  instead  of  the  Indians ; 
but  neglecting  to  communicate  with  Awashuncks, 
she  was  soon  after  compelled  to  join  with  Philip,  and 
thus  continued  to  act  for  nearly  a  year. 

About  the  middle  of  May,  1676,   Capt.  Church 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


found  means  to  communicate  with  Awashuncks,  who 
agreed  to  serve  the  English  during  the  remainder  of 
the  war.  Quite  a  number  of  her  warriors  then  en- 
tered the  service  under  Capt.  Church,  and  she,  with 
the  non-combatants  of  her  tribe,  were,  for  the  time 
being,  ordered  to  take  up  their  residence  in  the  town 
of  Sandwich.  Peter,  a  son  of  Awashuncks,  was  her 
chief  captain  in  King  Philip's  war,  and  when,  in 
1676,  Awashuncks  re-engaged  herself  to  the  English, 
Peter,  her  son  and  chief  captain,  addressing  Mr. 
Church,  said,  "  Sir,  if  you  will  please  accept  of  me 
and  my  men,  and  will  head  us,  we  will  fight  for  you, 
and  will  help  you  to  Philip's  head  before  the  Indian 
corn  be  ripe."  These  peace  measures  saved  the  Se- 
conet  Indians  from  total  destruction,  so  that  some 
twenty-five  years  later  one  hundred  men  of  the  Se- 
conet  tribe  were  still  alive,  and  the  General  Court 
of  Massachusetts  appointed  an  Indian,  named  Nura- 
paus,  to  be  their  captain.  He  lived  to  be  an  old  man, 
and  died  in  or  about  the  year  1748.  Not  far  from  the 
year  1700  they  erected  a  meeting-house,  in  which  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Billings  preached  to  them  one  Sunday  in 
each  month,  and  besides  which  they  enjoyed  the 
ministrations  of  an  Indian  preacher  named  John 
Simon.  A  large  part  of  the  remnant  of  the  tribe 
were  swept  away  by  a  fever  that  prevailed  in  or  about 
the  year  1750,  and  at  the  beginning  of  the  present 
century  not  more  than  ten  families  remained. 

The  Indian  Seconet,  afterwards  a  part  of  the  town- 
ship of  Little  Compton,  formed  a  part  of  Bristol 
County  until  1747,  when  it  was  set  off,  and  has  since 
been  in  the  government  of  Rhode  Island. 

Adjacent  to  the  Seconet  tribe  were  the  Pocasset 
Indians,  their  former  home  being  in  what  afterwards 
became  the  township  of  Tiverton,  that  until  1747  was 
in  Bristol  County,  but  then  set  off  to  Rhode  Island. 
The  Pocasset  Indians  were  probably  more  numerous 
and  powerful  than  those  at  Seconet,  and  were  the 
subjects  of  a  squaw-sachem  named  Weetamoo,  who 
had  formerly  been  the  wife  of  Wamsutta,  older 
brother  of  King  Philip,  and  sister  to  Wootonekanuske, 
King  Philip's  wife.  Thus  connected  to  or  with  the 
royal  family,  one  would  have  supposed  that  Weetamoo 
would  have  been  among  the  first  and  foremost  to  have 
espoused  the  cause  of  King  Philip,  her  former  hus- 
band's brother  and  her  sister's  husband,  but  still  the 
evidence  is  quite  conclusive  that  this  was  not  the 
case ;  but,  instead,  that  she  demurred,  and  would 
have  kept  herself  and  those  over  whom  she  ruled 
entirely  out  of  the  conflict  if  she  could. 

Wamsutta,  as  before  remarked,  died  in  1662,  and 
Weetamoo,  thus  left  a  widow  at  some  time  before  1675, 
became  the  wife  of  an  Indian  named  Pentonowowett, 
whom  the  English  called  Ben,  and  Church's  history 
speaks  of  as  Peter  Nunuit. 

Weetamoo,  who  was  sometimes  called  Nanumpum, 
and  also  Tatapanum,  became  the  wife  of  Wamsutta, 
oldest  son  of  Massasoit,  in  or  before  1653,  and  during 
the  brief  reign  of  Wamsutta  in  1662,  Weetamoo  must 


have  been  queen  of  the  Wampanoag  nation.  At  the 
death  of  Wamsutta  in  1662,  his  brother  came  to  the 
throne,  when  Weetamoo  as  queen  was  succeeded  by 
her  sister  Wootonekanuske,  two  brothers  having  mar- 
ried these  sisters,  and  the  ex-queen  thenceforth  is 
mentioned  in  history  only  as  "squaw-sachem  of  Po- 
casset." At  the  commencement  of  King  Philip's  war 
(in  1675)  the  Pocasset  Indians  were  so  numerous  that 
Weetamoo's  armed  men  able  to  go  out  upon  the  war- 
path were  supposed  to  number  three  hundred,  and 
her  lands  at  Pocasset  were  deemed  to  be  of  great 
value.  She  had,  as  before  remarked,  in  her  widow- 
hood become  the  wife  of  an  Indian  named  Petonowo- 
wett,  who  could  not  by  King  Philip  be  induced  to 
join  with  him  in  the  war,  but  aided  the  English  in 
that  conflict. 

When  Capt.  Benjamin  Church  was  on  his  way  to  Ply- 
mouth, carrying  the  message  of  Awashuncks,  squaw- 
sachem  of  Seconet,  passing  through  Pocasset,  now 
Tiverton,  he  met  Petonowowett,  the  husband  of  Wee- 
tamoo. who  had  just  come  to  shore  from  Mount  Hope, 
and  unreservedly  told  Church  that  there  certainly 
would  be  war,  that  King  Philip  had  held  a  war-dance 
and  entertained  young  Indian  warriors  from  all  parts 
of  the  country,  and  had  promised  them  that  they 
might  on  the  next  Sunday,  when  the  English  had 
gone  to  meeting,  plunder  their  houses  and  kill  their 
cattle. 

Petonowowett  invited  Church  to  visit  his  wife  Wee- 
tamoo in  their  camp  on  a  hill  not  far  distant,  and  near 
what  is  now  known  as  Howland  Ferry  bridge. 

Church  accepted  the  invitation,  and  repaired  to  the 
Indian  camp,  where  he  found  Weetamoo  in  a  melan- 
choly mood,  her  warriors  having  left  her  and  gone  to 
Philip's  war-dance,  which  act.of  theirs,  she  declared, 
was  much  against  her  will. 

Circumstances  are  said  to  make  men,  and  why  may 
not  circumstances  control  women  ?  Weetamoo  evi- 
dently preferred  peace,  and  could  she  have  controlled 
her  warriors,  although  she  could  not  have  had  peace, 
she  could,  doubtless,  by  joining  with  the  English,  have 
saved  herself  and  them  from  the  almost  total  anni- 
hilation which  now  awaited  them  ;  but,  as  a  choice  of 
evils,  doubtless  she  accepted  that  she  was  least  able 
to  resist  by  joining  herself  and  her  fortunes  with  King 
Philip,  although  this  act  forever  separated  her  from 
her  husband,  who  adhered  to  'and  assisted  the  Eng- 
lish in  the  war  just  then  commencing,  and  for  his 
services  therein  was  by  his  employers  appointed  to 
take  charge  of  those  Indians  that  after  the  war  were 
permitted  to  reside  between  Sipecan  and  Dartmouth. 
And  thus  it  was  that  in  people's  minds  she  came  to  be 
chargeable  "next  unto  Philip  in  respect  of  the  mis- 
chief done." 

After  separating  from  Petonowowett  Weetamoo  be- 
came the  wife  of  Quinapin,  an  Indian  of  the  Narra- 
gansett  tribe,  second  in  command  in  the  great  swamp 
fight,  in  what  is  now  Kingston,  R.  I.,  Dec.  19,  1675. 
Quinapin  was  captured  in  1676,  taken  to  Newport, 


INDIAN   HISTORY. 


R.  I.,  and  shot,  and  Weetamoo,  the  wife,  fled  to  the 
Niantic  country,  or  what  is  now  Westerly,  R.  I., 
where,  being  pursued,  she  returned  to  Mettapoisett, 
now  Gardiner's  Neck,  in  Swansea,  where  she  was  be- 
trayed by  a  deserter  from  her  camp,  and  a  force  from 
Taunton  was  thus  enabled  to  capture  all  her  followers; 
but  Weetamoo,  with  a  resolution  equal  to  the  dis- 
tressing circumstances,  attempted  to  escape  upon  a 
hastily-constructed  raft  of  broken  pieces  of  wood  that 
perished  or  sunk  under  her,  when,  as  the  last  des- 
perate resort,  she  doubtless  attempted  to  swim,  as  her 
naked  corpse  drifted  ashore,  and  was  soon  after  found 
on  the  beach  of  Gardiner's  Neck,  in  Swansea. 

That  greatest  and  most  bloody  of  New  England 
conflicts,  although  waged  in  several  different  colo- 
nies, had  its  commencement  and  ending  within  the 
limits  of  what  became  Bristol  County,  Mass. 

On  Sunday,  the  20th  of  June,  1675,  open  hostilities 
were  commenced  by  the  Indians  in  the  town  of 
Swansea  by  plundering  the  houses  of  English  inhab- 
itants while  the  latter  were  absent  at  meeting.  On 
that  day  seven  or  eight  of  King  Philip's  Indians  went 
to  the  house  of  an  inhabitant  of  Swansea,  whom  they 
found  at  home,  and  requested  the  privilege  to  grind 
a  hatchet,  which  was  objected  to  on  the  part  of  the 
Englishman,  who  told  the  Indians  that  it  was  the 
Sabbath,  and  God  would  be  very  angry  if  he  per- 
mitted them  to  grind  the  hatchet  that  day,  to  which 
they  are  said  to  have  returned  the  answer  that  they 
knew  not  who  his  God  was,  and  that  they  would 
grind  the  hatchet  for  all  him  or  his  God  either.  The 
same  day  these  Indians  meeting  an  Englishman  upon 
the  road  told  him  to  do  no  work  on  his  God's  day, 
and  that  he  should  tell  no  lies,  and  then  suffered  him 
quietly  to  pass  on. 

Four  days  later,  as  the  English  were  returning 
from  religious  worship,  they  were  fired  upon  by  the 
Indians,  killing  one  and  wounding  two  others,  and 
two  men  sent  for  a  surgeon  were  overtaken  by  the 
Indians  and  slain.  Two  men  in  another  part  of 
Swansea  were  that  day  slain  by  the  Indians  and 
scalped,  and  thus  upon  the  24th  of  June,  1675,  were 
five  of  the  English  inhabitants  of  Swansea  killed 
outright  and  two  wounded,  and  an  Englishman  slain 
at  what  is  now  Falls  River.  The  first  succor  that  the 
English  at  Swansea  received  was  from  a  company  of 
seventeen  mounted  men  from  Bridgewater,  who  left 
their  homes  on  the  21st  of  June  and  arrived  at  a 
fortified  house  at  Mettapoisett,  now  Gardiner's  Neck, 
in  Swansea,  the  next  day. 

These  Bridgewater  troops  were  quartered  at  the 
house  of  a  man  named  Bourne,  where  were  also  col- 
lected seventy  of  the  English  people,  viz.,  sixteen 
men  and  fifty-four  women  and  children,  whom  they 
defended  till  reinforced,  when  the  house  was  aban- 
doned, and  the  non-combatants  for  greater  safety 
were  transported  to  the  island  of  Rhode  Island.  Great 
was  the  alarm  throughout  the  several  colonies,  and 
on  the  26th  of  June  several  companies  of  soldiers  left 


Boston  for  the  seat  of  war,  where  they  arrived  a  little 
before  night  on  the  28th. 

Plymouth  Colony  troops  had  been  ordered  to  ren- 
dezvous at  Taunton  preparatory  to  uniting  with  those 
from  Boston,  where,  although  so  far  from  the  chief 
seat  of  war,  they  were  severely  harassed  by  the  In- 
dians, and  Lieut.  John  Freeman,  in  a  letter  dated  at 
Taunton,  said,  "This  morning  three  of  our  men  are 
slain  close  by  one  of  our  courts  of  guard,  houses  are 
burned  in  our  sight,  our  men  are  picked  off  at  every 
bush.  The  design  of  the  enemy  is  not  to  face  the 
army,  but  to  fall  on  us  as  they  have  advantage." 

Among  the  houses  that  Lieut.  Freeman  said  were 
burned  in  their  sight  at  Taunton  was  probably  that 
of  John  Tisdale,  that  the  Indians  destroyed  by  fire 
June  27, 1675,  also  slaying  Tisdale  and  taking  his  gun, 
that  was  retaken  at  Rehoboth,  Aug.  1,  1675,  being 
found  with  the  body  of  an  Indian  there  slain. 

The  forces  assembled  at  Swansea  consisted  of  a  com- 
pany of  infantry  under  Capt.  Daniel  Henchman,  and 
a  company  of  hastily  collected  volunteers,  one  hun- 
dred and  ten  in  number,  under  Capt.  Samuel  Moseley, 
and  a  company  of  mounted  men  under  Capt.  Thomas 
Prentice.  These  three  companies  being  furnished  by 
the  colony  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  added  to  which  was 
a  company  from  Plymouth  Colony  under  Capt.  James 
Cudworth,  of  Scituate. 

The  house  of  the  Rev.  John  Myles,  a  Baptist  clergy- 
man, that  stood  near  a  bridge  in  what  is  now  called 
Barneyville,  was  so  strengthened  as  to  resist  attack, 
and  here  the  combined  forces  of  Massachusetts  and 
Plymouth  Colonies  were  assembled  and  placed  under 
the  command  of  the  ranking  officer,  Capt.  James  Cud- 
worth,  who  for  the  time  being  became  commander- 
in-chief. 

Flushed  with  their  successes  thus  far  the  Indians 
became  encouraged,  and  seemed  to  lurk  almost  every- 
where, shooting  at  all  passengers,  and  killing  many 
who  ventured  abroad,  venturing  so  near  the  gar- 
risoned house  as  to  shoot  down  two  of  the  sentinels,. 

A  detachment  of  the  cavalry  of  Capt.  Prentice, 
under  the  command  of  Quartermasters  Gill  and 
Belcher,  accompanied  by  Benjamin  Church,  was  sent 
forward,  but  were  no  sooner  over  Myle's  Bridge  than 
fired  upon  from  an  ambuscade,  when  William  Ham- 
mond the  pilot,  who  was  probably  a  resident  of 
Swansea,  was  killed,  Belcher's  horse  shot  under  him, 
and  both  himself  and  Mr.  Gill  wounded,  which  so 
surprised  and  terrified  the  troopers  that  they  became 
panic-stricken,  wheeled  their  horses,  and  fled  in  the 
utmost  disorder,  regardless  alike  of  the  threats  and 
entreaties  of  their  officers,  and  but  for  Gill  and  Church 
the  dead  body  of  Hammond  would  have  been  left  in 
the  possession  of  the  enemy. 

June  29,  1675.  The  Indians  appeared  boldly  in 
view,  and  by  their  shouts  and  yells  seemed  to  chal- 
lenge the  English  to  come  out  and  fight.  Capt. 
Moseley  with  his  company  rushed  furiously  upon 
them,  when   the   Indians  immediately  fled   to   their 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL  COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


coverts,  there  making  a  momentary  stand,  where, 
being  fired  upon,  they  again  fled.  Capt.  Moseley  pur- 
sued about  a  mile,  slaying  five  or  six  Indians  and  sus- 
taining no  loss  on  his  own  part  save  the  wounding  of 
his  ensign,  Mr.  Savage,  who  received  a  musket-ball 
in  his  thigh  and  a  bullet  passed  through  his  hat,  and 
even  this,  some  authorities  state,  was  by  mistake,  and 
that  he  was  fired  upon  by  one  of  his  own  company. 
Capt.  Moseley  pushed  on,  and  at  Keek-a-muit  his  sol- 
diers found  the  heads  of  eight  Englishmen  slain  by 
the  Indians  set  on  poles.  These  heads  they  took  down 
and  buried. 

The  English  now  traversed  Mount  Hope  Neck, 
found  King  Philip's  deserted  wigwam,  but  himself 
and  nearly  all  his  followers  had  fled,  and  with  their 
wives  and  children,  bag  and  baggage,  had  gone,  made 
a  good  and  successful  retreat,  and  taken  all  their 
canoes  with  them. 

King  Philip  had  outwitted  his  pursuers,  got  off  with 
little  or  no  loss  of  his  men,  made  a  change  of  base, 
gained  a  more  defensive  position,  and  by  going  over 
to  Pocasset,  as  he  had  done,  was  enabled  to  enforce 
the  squaw-sachems  Weetamoo  and  Awashuncks  to 
join  him  with  their  warriors;  in  fact,  he  had  out- 
flanked his  foes  and  commenced  to  deal  death  and 
destruction  to  those  who  thought  themselves  safe  in 
the  rear  of  the  English  army,  and  the  frontier  town 
of  Swansea  was  at  that  moment  the  safest  locality  in 
Plymouth  Colony. 

Capt.  Church  very  justly  said,  "The  enemy  were 
not  really  beaten  out  of  Mount  Hope  Neck,  though 
it  was  true  they  fled  from  thence,  yet  it  was  before 
any  pursued  them.  It  was  only  to  strengthen  them- 
selves and  to  gain  a  more  advantageous  post.  How- 
ever, some  and  not  a  few  pleased  themselves  with  the 
fancy  of  a  mighty  conquest.  A  grand  council  was 
held  and  a  resolve  passed  to  build  a  fort  there  to  main- 
tain the  first  ground  they  had  gained  by  the  Indians 
leaving  it  to  them,  and,  to  speak  the  truth,  it  must  be 
said  that  as  they  gained  not  that  field  by  their  sword 
nor  by  their  bow,  so  it  was  rather  their  fear  than  their 
courage  that  obliged  them  to  set  up  the  marks  of  their 
conquests."  Church  further  said  that  he  looked  upon 
this  act  of  remaining  and  building  the  fort  and  talked 
of  it  with  contempt,  and  urged  hard  the  pursuing  of 
the  enemy  on  the  Pocasset  side. 

Meanwhile  there  arrived  from  Boston  at  Swansea  a 
reinforcement  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  men  under 
Maj.  Thomas  Savage. 

June  30th,  Capt.  Prentice,  with  his  troop,  for  more 
convenient  quarters,  went  to  lodge  at  Rehoboth,  and 
as  they  Avere  returning  on  the  morning  of  July  1st 
came  upon  a  company  of  Indians  burning  a  house, 
but  taking  advantage  of  the  fences,  over  which  the 
horses  could  not  go,  the  Indians  escaped  to  a  swamp. 
Capt.  Prentice's  lieutenant,  Mr.  Oaks,  with  a  part  of 
the  troopers,  discovered  another  body  of  Indians,  that 
they  pursued  on  an  open  plain,  overtook,  and  slew 
four  or  five  of  them,  one  of  whom  was  Peebe  or  Phebe, 


who  was  one  of  the  counselors  of  King  Philip.  In 
this  action  John  Druce,  one  of  the  troopers,  received 
a  wound  in  the  bowels,  of  which  he  died. 

King  Philip  in  the  mean  time  was  laying  waste  the 
English  settlements  in  what  afterwards  became  the 
towns  of  Little  Compton,  Tiverton,  Dartmouth,  Free- 
town, Fall  River,  New  Bedford,  Westport,  Fairhaven, 
and  Acushnet,  and  frightening  the  English  inhabit- 
ants out  of  what  is  now  Berkley  and  Middleborough. 

Benjamin  Church  finally  succeeded  in  persuading 
the  commander  at  Myles'  garrison,  in  Swansea,  to  send 
under  Capt.  Fuller  a  company  of  thirty-six  men  to 
Pocasset,  in  hope  to  get  an  opportunity  to  treat  with 
the  Pocasset  and  Seconet  Indians,  which  force  soon 
after  arriving  divided,  one  part  starting  off  under 
Capt.  Fuller  and  the  other  under  Church. 

Fuller  encountered  Indians,  and  two  of  his  men 
were  wounded,  and  all  so  hard  pressed  as  to  be  obliged 
to  seek  shelter  in  a  deserted  house,  from  which  they 
escaped  to  a  vessel. 

Church  and  his  party  were  also  pursued,  and  driven 
on  board  Capt.  Goulding's  vessel,  and  thus  barely 
escaped.  This  was  on  the  8th  of  July,  1675.  The 
Indians  were  so  well  supplied  with  arms  and  ammuni- 
tion that  they  put  many  bullet-holes  into  the  stern  of 
Goulding's  vessel  and  through  his  sails  as  he  was  taking 
off  Church  and  his  men. 

Soon  after  a  detachment  of  soldiers  was  put  on 
board  a  sloop  and  sent  to  the  Quequechan  (now  Fall 
River),  there  disembarked  and  marched  into  Weeta- 
mo's  country,  overtook  and  killed  one  Indian  and 
alarmed  many  more  that  succeeded  in  escaping  to 
a  swamp ;  but  as  soon  as  the  English  were  ordered 
back  those  who  had  been  pursued  in  turn  became 
pursuers,  and  chased  the  English  back  to  the  sloop 
and  wounded  two  soldiers.  They  returned  the  next 
day  to  the  camp  in  Swansea. 

July  18,  1675,  an  expedition  was  sent  against  Philip 
in  his  camp  in  a  Pocasset  swamp,  now  Tiverton.  The 
English  forces,  arriving  late  in  the  afternoon,  discov- 
ered a  few  Indians  on  the  edge  of  the  swamp,  on 
whom  they  rushed  with  ardor,  the  Indians  meanwhile 
gradually  retreating,  and  thus  drawing  their  pursuers 
into  an  ambuscade,  by  which,  when  fired  upon,  fif- 
teen of  the  English  were  shot  down,  and  were  soon 
ordered  to  fall  back  and  give  up  the  pursuit.  One 
hundred  wigwams,  newly  constructed  of  green  bark, 
were  found  near  the  edge  of  the  swamp.  The  loss  in 
that  fight  sustained  by  the  Indians  was  probably  very 
small  when  compared  with  that  of  the  white  men, 
and  the  latter,  instead  of  renewing  the  contest  the 
next  day,  fortified  themselves  on  the  outskirts  of  the 
swamp,  and  there  remained  in  the  hope  of  starving 
the  Indians  into  submission,  and  extorting  from  King 
Philip  terms  of  capitulation,  neither  of  which  they 
were  able  to  accomplish,  as  about  the  last  of  that 
month  Philip  and  his  followers  one  night  suddenly 
decamped,  and  in  canoes  un pursued  reached  the  other 
shore  in  safety  en  route  for  the  Nipensic  country,  now 


INDIAN   HISTORY. 


in  the  county  of  Worcester.  King  Philip,  with  his 
forces,  would  have  got  off  not  only  unperceived  but 
unharmed  but  for  the  Rev.  Noah  Newman,  of  Reho- 
both,  who,  as  the  Indians  were  passing  through  that 
town  (Aug.  1,  1675),  brought  out  the  "  home  guards," 
who,  with  Oneko  and  some  Mohegan  and  Natic 
Indians,  did  some  spoil  upon  King  Philip,  slaying 
one  of  his  chief  men  called  Nimrod.  Oneko  was  the 
son  of  Uncas,  and  had  been  to  Boston,  where  he  had 
engaged  to  fight  for  the  English,  and  being  with  some 
Mohegan  and  Natic  Indians  en  route  for  Swansea, 
happened  to  be  in  Rehoboth  just  as  King  Philip  was 
passing  through. 

On  Sunday,  March  26,  1676,  was  fought  near 
Pawtucket,  but  within  the  original  limits  of  Bristol 
County,  a  sanguinary  battle  between  the  English 
under  Capt.  Michael  Peirce,  of  Scituate,  and  the 
Indians  led  by  the  chieftain  Canonchet.  Capt. 
Peirce  and  nearly  all  his  command  were  slain,  and  the 
loss  of  the  Indians  even  exceeded  that  of  the  English. 

Tuesday,  March  28,  1676,  the  Indians  burned  at 
Rehoboth  (afterward  Seekonk),  forty-five  dwelling- 
houses,  twenty-one  barns,  two  grist-mills,  and  one 
saw-mill,  and  slew  an  Irishman  named  Robert  Beers. 
King  Philip  is  said  to  have  been  present  at  the  burn- 
ing of  Rehoboth,  and  the  frame-work  of  an  ancient 
chair  is  still  preserved  in  which  tradition  saith  he  sat  to 
witness  the  conflagration. 

April  9,  1676,  Canonchet  was  captured  in  or  near 
Pawtucket. 

April  27,  1676,  Woodcock's  fortified  house;  in  what 
was  then  Rehoboth,  now  Attleborough,  suffered  an 
Indian  attack ;  Nathaniel  Woodcock  and  another 
Englishman  slain,  John  Woodcock  wounded,  and 
Nathaniel  Woodcook's  house  burned. 

Some  time  in  May,  1676,  four  Taunton  men  were 
slain  by  the  Indians,  viz.,  Sergt.  James  Philips,  James 
Bell,  Henry  Andrews,  and  Edward  Babbitt.  Thus 
were  left  thirty-two  fatherless  children. 

May  24,  1676,  Capt.  Thomas  Brattle,  of  Boston, 
with  a  company  of  about  fifty  mounted  men,  being 
joined  by  a  body  of  infantry,  marched  to  the  Paw- 
tucket Falls,  where,  arriving  on  the  easterly  side  of 
the  river,  the  Indians  were  discovered  on  the  opposite 
bank  of  the  stream. 

Leaving  the  infantry  at  the  falls,  the  cavalry  pro- 
ceeded up  the  river  to  a  fording-place,  crossed  over, 
proceeded  down  on  the  other  side,  making  a  sudden 
attack  upon  the  Indians,  killing  several  of  them  and 
capturing  an  Indian  boy,  taking  two  horses,  several 
guns,  and  some  ammunition.  Lieut.  Jacob  Elliot,  of 
the  cavalry,  was  wounded  in  the  hand,  and  one  cav- 
alry soldier  killed. 

The  Indians  first  attempted  to  retreat  through  the 
river,  but  discovering  the  infantry  upon  the  opposite 
side  hastily  turned  about,  retraced  their  steps  to  the 
shore,  and  took  refuge  in  a  swamp. 

June  19,  1676,  Swansea  was  again  attacked  by  the 
Indians,  and  nearly  all  the  remaining  houses  burned. 


Some  authorities  say  all  save  five  were  burned,  and  of 
these,  four  were  garrisoned. 

June  26,  1676,  the  Indians  captured  Hezekiah  Wil- 
lett  in  or  near  Swansea  ;  he  was  twenty-five  years  of 
age,  and  a  son  of  Capt.  Thomas  Willett.  The  In- 
dians cut  off  the  prisoner's  ears  and  nose  and  then 
set  him  at  liberty ;  he  probably  soon  after  died,  as 
some  of  the  authorities  state  that  he  was  slain  by  the 
Indians. 

A  negro  who  was  captured  by  the  Indians  at  Swan- 
sea, and  who  is  supposed  to  have  been  a  slave  of 
Capt.  Thomas  Willett,  escaped,  fled  to  Taunton,  and 
informed  the  people  that  the  Indians  proposed  at- 
tacking that  place.  Being  warned,  the  Taunton 
people  prepared  themselves  for  the  attack  that  was 
made  on  the  11th  day  of  July,  1676,  and  in  which  two 
houses  were  fired  by  the  Indians  and  one  Englishman 
slain. 

Aug.  1,  1676,  Wootonekanuse,  the  wife  of  King 
Philip,  together  with  his  son,  aged  about  nine  years, 
and  several  women  and  children,  were  taken  captives 
by  the  English. 

At  about  this  time  a  battle  between  the  English  and 
Indians  came  off  in  what  is  now  the  town  of  Norton, 
at  a  place  called  Lockety  Neck,  in  which  the  Indians 
were  defeated. 

Aug.  6,  1676,  twenty  Taunton  men  captured  at 
Gardiner's  Neck,  in  Swansea,  the  few  remaining  fol- 
lowers of  Weetamoo,  squaw-sachem  of  Seconet ;  she 
sought  to  escape  by  attempting  to  cross  Taunton 
River  on  a  hastily-constructed  raft,  but  was  drowned, 
and  her  dead  body  being  found  on  the  shores  in  Swan- 
sea, her  head  was  cut  off  and  carried  to  Taunton. 

Saturday,  Aug.  12, 1676,  early  in  the  morning  King 
Philip  was  slain  near  Mount  Hope,  in  Pokanoket,  now 
the  town  of  Bristol. 

Aug.  28,  1676,  Philip's  great  captain,  Anawan,  who 
had  in  like  capacity  served  his  father,  Massasoit,  and 
at  the  death  of  Philip  became  chief  sachem,  or  king 
of  the  Wampanoag  tribe  or  nation,  was  captured  by 
Capt.  Benjamin  Church  at  a  place  still  known  as  Ana- 
wan's  Rock,  in  the  easterly  part  of  the  town  of  Reho- 
both, a  few  rods  south  of  the  turnpike  road  leading 
from  Taunton  to  Providence,  about  eight  miles  from 
Taunton,  and  ten  from  Providence. 

This  rock  is  upon  the  northerly  border  of  a  wooded 
country  formerly  known  as  Squanakonk  Swamp,  an 
area  of  nearly  three  thousand  acres. 

Indian  Reservations.— When  what  subsequently 
became  Freetown  was  purchased  of  the  Indians  in 
1659,  reservations  were  made  for  the  Indians  Tabada- 
cason  and  Pianto;  the  first  for  the  benefit  of  those  In- 
dians that  maintained  a  ferry  across  Taunton  River, 
which  doubtless  was  to  remain  while  the  ferry  was  so 
kept,  and  the  other  for  planting  land,  the  Indian  title 
to  which  should  end  at  Pianto's  death.  That  first 
reservation  is  thought  to  have  been  a  point  of  land 
lying  between  Taunton  River  and  Barnaby's  Cove  so 
called. 


8 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL  COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Beside  these  reservations  was  another  of  nearly  two 
hundred  acres  lying  within  what  formerly  was  the 
township  of  Freetown,  but  now  an  easterly  part  of 
Fall  River,  at  what  is  sometimes  called  Indian  Town, 
and  is  still  appropriated  to  the  uses  of  that  race,  one 
lot  having  been  assigned  to  and  still  possessed  by  Mrs. 
Zerviah  Gould  Mitchell,  a  lineal  descendant  in  the 
seventh  generation  of  the  "good  old  Massasoit,"  king 
of  the  Wampanoags,  and  "Sassacus  the  Terrible," 
king  of  the  Pequots.  Mrs.  Mitchell  is  descended 
from  Massasoit  through  his  daughter  Amie  and  her 
husband  Tuspaquin,  known  in  history  as  the  black 
sachem,  chief  of  the  Assawampsett  and  Nunasket 
Indians,  who  was  slain  by  the  English  in  or  near 
September,  1676.  Amie,  the  wife,  was  a  sister  of 
Wamsutta,  alias  Alexander,  the  successor  of  Massa- 
soit and  Pometacom,  alias  King  Philip,  successor  to 
Alexander  and  Sonkanuhoo,  who  is  supposed  to  have 
been  slain  at  the  swamp  fight  in  Pocasset,  now  Tiver- 
ton. 

July  18,  1675,  Benjamin,  a  grandson  of  tbe  black 
sachem  Tuspaquin,  married  Mercy  Felix,  a  grand- 
daughter of  the  educated  Indian  John  Sassamon, 
whose  wife  was  a  daughter  of  Sassacus,  and  Benjamin 
and  wife  Mercy  were  the  grandparents  of  Mrs.  Zervia 
Gould  Mitchell,  who  now  has  her  home  upon  the  In- 
dian reservation  at  Betty's  Neck,  so  called,  in  Lake- 
ville. 


CHAPTER   III. 


BENCH    AND    BAR.i 


Among  the  prominent  agencies  which  give  shape 
and  order  in  the  early  development  of  the  civil  and 
social  condition  of  society,  the  pulpit,  press,  and  bar 
are  perhaps  the  most  potential  in  moulding  the  in- 
stitutions of  a  new  community  ;  and  where  these  are 
early  planted,  the  school,  academy,  and  college  are 
not  long  in  assuming  their  legitimate  position,  and 
the  maintenance  of  these  institutions  secures  at  the 
start  a  social  and  moral  foundation  upon  which  we 
may  safely  rest  the  superstructure  of  the  county,  the 
State,  and  the  nation. 

The  establishment  of  courts  and  judicial  tribunals, 
where  society  is  protected  in  all  its  civil  rights  under 
the  sanction  of  law,  and  wrong  finds  a  ready  redress 
in  an  enlightened  and  prompt  administration  of  jus- 
tice, is  the  first  necessity  of  every  civilized  community, 
and  without  which  the  forces  and  press  of  society,  in 
its  changeable  developments,  even  under  the  teach- 
ings of  the  pulpit,  the  directions  of  the  press,  and 
the  culture  of  the  schools,  are  exposed  to  peril  and 
disaster  from  the  turbulence  of  passion  and  conflicts 


1  The  editor  acknowledges  his  indebteduess  in  the  preparation  of  this 
chapter  to  Hon.  W.  W.  Crapo,  ex-Attorney-General  Geo.  Marstou,  Hon. 
E.  L.  Barney,  Thomas  M.  Stetson,  Hon.  Lincoln  F.  Brigham,  Charles  W. 
Clifford,  Esq.,  and  Rev.  S.  Hopkins  Emery. 


of  interest ;  and  hence  the  best  and  surest  security 
that  even  the  press,  the  school,  or  the  pulpit  can  find 
for  the  peaceful  performance  of  its  highest  functions 
is  when  protected  by  and  intrenched  behind  the  bul- 
warks of  law,  administered  by  a  pure,  independent, 
and  uncorrupted  judiciary. 

The  Bristol  County  bar  has  from  its  beginning 
numbered  among  its  members  able  jurists,  tal- 
ented advocates,  and  safe  counselors.  Here  many 
have  lived,  flourished,  and  died,  while  others  still 
are  upon  the  stage  of  action  who  have  been  promi- 
nent in  the  advancement  of  the  interests  of  the 
county  and  figured  conspicuously  in  the  councils  of 
the  State. 

New  Bedford. — One  of  the  earliest  members  of  the 
Bristol  bar,  and  a  leading  lawyer  of  his  day  in  the 
State,  was  Timothy  Gardner  Coffin,  who  was  born  in 
Nantucket  in  1790  of  humble  Quaker  parentage.  He 
early  developed  a  remarkable  degree  of  intelligence, 
brightness,  and  activity  of  mind.  He  was  educated 
at  Brown  University,  studied  law  in  the  office  of 
Kilburn  Whitman  in  Plymouth  County,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  1811.  He  opened  an  office  in 
New  Bedford,  and  very  quickly  became  a  leading 
lawyer  in  the  county  of  Bristol,  and  in  the  counties 
of  Nantucket,  Dukes,  Barnstable,  and  Plymouth,  and 
for  more  than  forty  years  was  engaged  in  almost  every 
case  of  importance  before  the  courts  of  these  counties. 
His  contemporaries  were  Marcus  Morton,  of  Taun- 
ton, William  Baylies,  of  Bridgewater,  L.  Eddy,  of 
Middleborough,  Charles  Holmes,  of  Rochester,  and 
N.  Marston,  of  Barnstable,  all  of  whom  were  eminent 
and  skillful  lawyers,  and  Mr.  Coffin  was  an  equal 
of  either  of  them.  He  was  very  quick  to  observe 
the  weakness  of  his  opponent's  cause  and  to  present 
his  client's  best  points.  At  times  he  was  eloquent. 
He  was  a  very  sharp  cross-examiner  of  witnesses,  and 
few  witnesses  could  evade  his  keenness.  He  was  very 
ready  at  repartee,  and  quick  to  answer  every  inquiry 
of  counsel  or  court,  and  his  arguments  were  difficult 
to  answer. 

He  was  married  to  Betsey,  daughter  of  the  Hon. 
John  Avery  Parker,  of  New  Bedford,  a  leading  mer- 
chant of  that  city,  and  at  his  death  the  richest  man 
in  New  Bedford. 

Mr.  Coffin  never  held  office  of  any  particular  con- 
sequence, but  confined  his  attention,  time,  and  skill 
to  his  profession,  and  at  his  death,  September,  1854, 
he  was  without  question  the  ablest  lawyer  in  South- 
ern Massachusetts.  It  is  said  that  Daniel  Webster, 
after  a  hard-fought  case  at  Nantucket,  in  which  Mr. 
Coffin  was  engaged  against  Mr.  Webster,  speaking 
afterwards  about  the  case,  and  in  answer  to  a  ques- 
tion, "  Who  is  Tim  Coffin?"  said,  "He  is  the  ablest 
lawyer  in  the  United  States.  He  is  one  I  should 
prefer  not  to  meet  of  all  others  I  know  of." 

It  is  said  that  he  once,  after  a  very  able  argument 
before  the  Supreme  Court,  in  answer  to  the  inquiry  of 
the  court  (Chief  Justice  Shaw),  "If  he  had  any  au- 


BENCH  AND  BAR. 


9 


thority  to  cite  to  the  court  to  sustain  his  view  and 
legal  points?"  replied,  "No,  your  honor,  that  is  for 
the  court  to  be  responsible  for  its  decision.  I  should 
prefer  not  to."  He  was  a  very  generous  and  liberal 
man,  with  a  very  kind  heart.  He  was  very  strong  in 
his  likes  and  dislikes,  so  that  he  was  a  most  ardent 
friend  and  a  very  disagreeable  enemy.  His  body  lies 
in  the  South  Cemetery,  New  Bedford,  and  where  a 
fine  monument  was  erected  to  his  memory  by  his 
children. 

John  S.  Russell  was  born  in  New  Bedford  in 
1797,  and  was  the  son  of  Charles  Russell  and  Martha 
Tillinghast.  He  studied  law  in  the  office  of  Lemuel 
Williams,  at  New  Bedford.  After  his  admission  to 
the  bar  he  practiced  law  in  Taunton.  He  afterwards 
moved  to  New  Bedford,  opened  a  law-office,  and  con- 
tinued in  practice  until  his  death  in  1834.  He  was  a 
well-read  lawyer  and  well  grounded  in  the  principles 
of  his  profession.  He  was  a  Quaker.  He  acquired 
the  reputation  of  being  an  honest  lawyer ;  by  that  I 
suppose  he  was  slow  to  advise  men  to  go  to  law,  acting 
out  his  religious  convictions  as  well  as  his  profes- 
sional observation.  To  this  day,  nearly  fifty  years 
since  his  death,  whenever  spoken  of  he  is  mentioned 
as  one  that  maintained  the  honor  of  his  professional 
life.  He  died  in  1834,  much  esteemed  and  regarded 
by  his  neighbors  and  fellow-townsmen. 

Lemuel  Williams  was  a  lawyer  who  practiced  in 
New  Bedford  some  fifty  years  ago.  He  was  at  that 
time  one  of  the  leaders  of  the  bar.  He  was  at  one 
time  collector  of  customs  in  New  Bedford,  but  many 
years  ago  he  removed  from  New  Bedford  to  Worces- 
ter, and  so  much  of  his  professional  life  was  spent 
out  of  the  county,  we  have  not  thought  it  proper  to 
say  more  about  him,  as  he  more  properly  belongs  to 
Worcester  County  than  to  Bristol. 

Charles  H.  Warren  was  also  one  of  the  early 
lawyers  in  New  Bedford.  He  occupied  a  very  hon- 
orable position,  was  an  able  advocate,  was  for  several 
years  district  attorney  before  1836,  afterwards  was 
made  judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  and  was 
an  upright  and  faithful  judge.  After  he  returned 
from  the  bench  he  was  made  president  of  the  Boston 
and  Providence  Railroad,  which  office  he  held  until 
his  death. 

Ezra  Bassett  was  born  in  Rochester,  in  the  com- 
monwealth of  Massachusetts.  His  parents  were  poor 
people.  He  studied  law  with  his  brother,  Anslem 
Bassett,  Esq.,  at  Taunton,  and  commenced  the  prac- 
tice of  the  law  in  Taunton.  He  also  for  a  short  time 
had  an  office  in  Attleborough.  In  1834  he  came  to 
New  Bedford,  and  there  remained,  having  a  consider- 
able share  of  the  law  business  until  his  death,  in  De- 
cember, 1843.  He  was  a  good  lawyer,  had  consider- 
able admiralty  practice,  and  was  earnest,  energetic, 
and  faithful  in  his  client's  interest.  He  had  a  large 
and  well-selected  law  library,  perhaps  the  best  law 
library  at  the  time  of  any  lawyer  in  New  Bedford. 
He  is  frequently  spoken  of  by  the  present  members 


of  the  bar  in  the  city  of  New  Bedford  with  much 
respect.  There  is  now  only  one  member  of  the  bar 
(Judge  Prescott)  at  New  Bedford  who  was  practicing 
law  at  his  death. 

Hon.  H.  G.  0.  Colby1  was  the  son  of  Rev.  Philip 
and  Harriet  (Sewall)  Colby,  born  1807  in  Hallowell, 
Me.  His  father  was  born  in  Sanbornton,  N.  H.,  July 
30,  1779,  and  he  was  the  son  of  Isaac  Colby,  a  farmer 
of  great  industry  and  strong  mind,  strict  integrity, 
stern  common  sense.  The  maiden  name  of  the  wife 
of  Isaac  Colby  was  Phebe  Hunt,  daughter  of  Philip 
Hunt,  of  Newburyport,  Mass.,  very  domestic  in  her 
habits,  and  of  a  very  tender,  loving  heart.  They  had 
nine  children.  In  the  year  1800,  Philip,  the  father  of 
Judge  Colby,  went  to  Portland,  Me.,  as  a  merchant's 
clerk,  and  afterwards  established  himself  in  mercantile 
pursuits  in  Hallowell,  Me.,  which  he  followed  for  eight 
years.  Six  of  these  years  he  had  been  married  to  his 
first  wife,Miss  Harriet  Sewall,  daughter  of  Mr.  Thomas 
Sewall,  of  Vassalborough,  Me.  They  were  married 
the  28th  of  June,  1804.  They  had  two  children. 
On  the  24th  of  October,  1810,  the  eldest,  a  lovely 
boy  of  five  years,  died.  "A  very  remarkable  boy," 
writes  Miss  Caroline,  a  daughter  of  Judge  Colby ; 
"  his  name  Hamilton  Van  Renssalaer."  In  February 
of  the  following  year,  the  28th,  1811,  the  mother  also 
died.  "A  woman  of  very  fine  and  most  lovely  char- 
acter," writes  again  Miss  Caroline,  adding,  "  these, 
the  mother  and  the  son,  are  buried  side  by  side  at 
Augusta,  Me." 

This  was  the  beginning  of  the  Christian  life  of  the 
father  of  Judge  Colby.  He  joined  himself  to  the 
church  of  Rev.  Mr.  Gillett,  Hallowell,  with  his  wife 
in  her  sick-room,  and  dedicated  not  only  himself  but 
his  family  to  the  Lord.  He  soon  relinquished  his 
secular  business,  and  removing  to  Salem,  Mass.,  spent 
nearly  four  years  studying  with  Rev.  Dr.  Worcester, 
of  the  Tabernacle  Church,  and  secretary  of  the  Amer- 
ican Board  of  Missions.  This  course  of  study  addi- 
tional to  his  academic  course  in  Gilmanton,  N.  H., 
and  supplemented  by  a  large  acquaintance  with  men 
and  things  in  a  long  mercantile  life,  above  all,  aided 
and  enforced  by  the  teaching  which  comes  from 
above,  well  furnished  him  for  a  successful  and  most 
useful  pastorate  with  the  church  in  North  Middle- 
borough,  Mass.,  continuing  from  the  summer  of  1817 
to  the  time  of  his  death,  Feb.  27,  1851,  thirty-four 
years. 

Harrison  Gray  Otis  Colby,  the  subject  of  our 
present  notice,  was  the  only  surviving  child  of  the 
first  marriage  of  the  minister.  He  gave  promise 
even  in  his  boyhood  of  future  eminence.  So  schol- 
arly was  he  that  his  mother's  brother,  the  eminent 
Dr.  Sewall,  of  Washington,  took  charge  of  his  educa- 
tion and  saw  him  through  college. 

After  completing  his  study  of  law  he  was  admitted 
to  the  Bristol  County  bar,  taking  up  his  residence  in 


i  By. Rev.  S.  Hopkins  Emery,  of  Taunton. 


10 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Taunton.  Subsequently  he  removed  to  New  Bedford, 
having  married  his  wife  there,  a  daughter  of  John 
Avery  Parker,  Esq.  Mr.  Colby  easily  took  rank  among 
the  foremost  of  the  lawyers  of  the  commonwealth.  It 
was  no  surprise  when  he  was  promoted  from  the  bar 
to  the  bench.  He  was  of  a  tall,  commanding  figure, 
resembling  in  this  respect  his  father,  and,  like  this 
father,  he  was  dignified,  courteous,  "  every  inch  a 
gentleman." 

His  daughter  Caroline,  in  1876,  writes  :  "  My  father 
died  Feb.  22,  1853,  and  is  buried  in  New  Bedford. 
Four  children,  three  daughters  and  a  son,  survived 
him,  the  latter  being  the  youngest  child,  and  now  an 
officer  in  the  United  States  navy.  I  have  the  honor 
and  privilege  of  being  the  eldest  of  the  family,  and  my 
mother  has  all  her  daughters  with  her,  except  the  be- 
loved sister  next  to  myself,  who  died  ten  years  since, 
leaving  a  daughter,  the  only  grandchild,  as  none  of  the 
others  have  ever  married." 

I  will  add,  the  widow  of  Judge  Colby  became  the 
wife  of  Rev.  Dr.  Lambert,  a  distinguished  clergyman 
of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  Charlestown, 
Mass. 

Thomas  Dawes  Eliot  was  born  March  20,  1808, 
in  Boston.  His  father,  William  Greenleaf  Eliot,  was 
of  a  Boston  family,  though  a  resident  of  Washington 
for  the  latter  part  of  his  life.  His  mother's  family 
for  many  generations  were  also  of  Boston.  He  was 
named  for  his  grandfather,  Judge  Thomas  Dawes,  of 
the  Supreme  Judicial  Court,  whose  father  was  Col. 
Thomas  Dawes,  of  the  Boston  Committee  of  Safety  in 
the  Revolutionary  period.  Mr.  Eliot  married  in 
1834,  Frances  L.  Brock,  of  Nantucket.  His  brother, 
Dr.  William  G.  Eliot,  is  chancellor  of  the  Washing- 
ton University,  at  St.  Louis,  and  has  been  long  known 
as  a  distinguished  Unitarian  clergyman  in  that  city. 
His  youngest  brother,  Capt.  Frank  A.  Eliot,  of  Phila- 
delphia, was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville  in 
1863. 

Mr.  Eliot  was  graduated  in  1825  from  Columbia 
College,  in  the  District  of  Columbia,  and  delivered 
the  Latin  salutatory  address.  He  soon  after  com- 
menced his  law  studies  with  his  uncle,  Chief  Justice 
Cranch,  of  the  Circuit  Court  of  the  district,  and  de- 
voted himself  to  a  profession  which  never  lost  its 
charms  to  him.  About  1830  he  went  to  New  Bed- 
ford, completed  his  studies  with  Judge  Charles  H. 
Warren,  then  in  full  practice,  and  upon  his  admission 
to  the  bar  was  invited  to  a  partnership  by  Mr.  War- 
ren. Alter  Mr.  Warren  went  upon  the  bench,  Mr. 
Eliot's  practice  became  very  large,  comprising  com- 
mon law  causes  in  Bristol,  Plymouth,  Barnstable, 
and  the  island  counties,  also  an  extensive  equity  busi- 
ness, and  employment  in  admiralty  causes,  then  be- 
coming very  numerous  in  Southern  Massachusetts. 
He  was  for  about  thirty  years  a  regular  attendant  at 
all  the  jury  terms  in  this  part  of  the  State,  and  in  ad- 
dition to  his  business  as  senior  counsel,  kept  up  his 
own  office  business  in  all  branches  except  criminal 


practice.  He  was  a  thorough  legal  scholar  as  well  as 
practitioner,  master  both  of  the  great  principles  of 
the  law  and  of  its  development  by  the  decisions  of  the 
court,  fully  equipped  and  ready  in  the  varying  as- 
pects of  a  trial  by  jury,  and  also  in  the  statelier  and 
more  scientific  debates  in  banc. 

Among  the  causes  which  attracted  public  attention 
in  which  he  was  engaged  we  note  the  great  litigation 
between  the  two  divisions  of  the  denomination  of 
Friends,  where  the  title  to  the  Quaker  meeting-houses 
in  Massachusetts  and  Rhode  Island  was  at  risk,  and 
in  which  the  usages  and  faiths  of  the  respective  sects 
underwent  legal  investigation  ;  also  the  contests  in 
this  county,  where  he  maintained  the  chartered  powers 
of  the  Massachusetts  Medical  Society  on  issues  raised 
by  physicians  of  the  homoeopathic  school.  We  note 
also  a  private  suit,  but  which  from  its  novelty  and 
magnitude  drew  general  professional  and  public  at- 
tention, as  the  result  depended  upon  the  execution, 
force,  and  effect  of  mutual  wills.  This  was  the  suit 
of  Hetty  H.  Robinson  vs.  Thomas  Mundell,  involving 
an  estate  of  three  millions.  The  subject  of  marine 
insurance  was  of  great  and  growing  importance 
during  his  practice.  The  whaling  fleet  of  New  Bed- 
ford alone  contained  about  four  hundred  vessels,  and 
we  find  his  name  in  the  reports  of  nearly  all  the 
causes  which  grew  out  of  the  losses  of  this  great 
fleet,  and  the  curious  peculiarities  of  whaling-ships 
and  whaling.  His  tastes  were  so  professional  that  he 
twice  declined  an  appointment  to  the  bench.  He 
had  no  desire  for  office-holding  as  such,  and  after 
serving  in  the  Massachusetts  House  of  Representa- 
tives and  Senate,  as  the  young  lawyers  were  expected 
to  do,  kept  aloof  from  political  action  for  many  years, 
devoting  himself  to  practice  in  the  courts,  where  his 
reputation  for  skill,  force,  and  honorable  methods 
was  an  enviable  one.  He  was  of  great  industry, 
close  application,  and  conscientious  fidelity  to  his 
clients,  and  never  lost  their  confidence. 

In  1854  he  was  invited  by  the  Whigs  of  the  First 
Congressional  District  to  become  their  candidate  for 
Congress  for  an  unfinished  term.  His  election  fol- 
lowed, and  he  took  his  seat  in  the  Thirty-third  Con- 
gress, in  the  midst  of  the  intense  excitement  attendant 
upon  the  introduction  of  the  Kansas-Nebraska  bill, 
took  part  in  the  debate,  and  his  printed  speech  was 
circulated  by  the  Whig  party  to  prove  its  concurrence 
with  the  growing  anti-slavery  sentiment  of  the  State. 
The  next  year  the  Whig  party  went  down  before  the 
Native  American  organization.  Its  State  ticket  and 
all  its  members  of  Congress  were  defeated,  and  the 
party  never  again  appeared  in  political  action. 

The  slavery  issues  were  now  engaging  political 
attention.  The  "Conscience  Whigs,"  so  called  in 
Massachusetts,  deemed  their  old  party  useless  for  the 
situation,  and  sought,  with  the  aid  of  the  Free-Soil 
organization  and  practical  anti-slavery  men  of  all 
schools,  to  organize  anew.  The  result  was  the  Re- 
publican party.     Mr.  Eliot  was  greatly  interested  in 


- 


^ 


BENCH  AND   BAR. 


11 


its  formation.  He  organized  the  first  meeting  of  the 
new  party  in  this  county.  He  was  unanimously 
nominated  as  its  candidate  for  attorney-general  of 
the  commonwealth,  but  declined  the  nomination,  and 
later  presided  at  its  State  Convention.  After  he  had 
been  absent  from  Congress  for  two  congressional 
terms,  the  First  District  again  elected  him  by  an 
immense  majority.  From  this  re-election  he  con- 
tinued in  Congress  without  opposition  till  his  refusal 
of  further  service  in  1869.  He  was  early  identified 
in  Congress  with  the  anti-slavery  spirit  of  the  North. 
In  1854  he  made  the  first  effort  for  repeal  of  the 
Fugitive  Slave  Law  by  offering  a  bill  for  that  pur- 
pose. In  the  session  of  1861-62  he  urged  the  adop- 
tion of  views  by  the  government  that  should  enforce 
its  loftiest  authority,  and  his  speeches  and  debates 
show  how  little  he  regarded  all  forms  and  traditions 
which  stood  in  the  way  of  the  safety  of  the  people, 
which  is  the  suprema  lex.  He  insisted  that  the  pro- 
tection of  the  endangered  national  life  justified  the 
strongest  measures.  He  ridiculed  the  idea  of  war 
upon  peace  principles,  and  the  notion  then  prevalent 
of  protecting  rebels  in  their  slave  property  when  those 
slaves  were  wanted  for  the  national  defense.  In  this 
session  he  introduced  a  resolution  declaring  the  right 
and  duty  of  military  commauders  to  emancipate  the 
slaves  of  rebels,  and  supported  it  by  a  speech.  In 
1862,  as  chairman  of  the  Select  Committee  on  Con- 
fiscation, he  reported  two  bills,  one  for  the  confiscation 
of  rebel  property  and  one  for  the  emancipation  of 
slaves  of  rebels.  The  former  was  passed,  but  the 
latter  passed  the  House  only.  In  1864  he  was  chair- 
man of  the  Committee  on  Emancipation,  and  reported 
and  advocated  the  bill  establishing  a  Bureau  of  Freed- 
men's  Affairs,  which  became  a  law.  It  was  in  the 
conception,  formation,  and  passage  of  this  bill,  and 
in  his  watchful  care  of  the  interests  of  the  bureau 
when  organized,  that  he  performed  a  service  which 
places  his  name  not  only  among  far-seeing  statesmen, 
but  among  the  wisest  and  best  philanthropists.  It  is 
one  of  the  enduring  honors  of  the  nation's  statute- 
book,  a  high-water  mark  of  the  humanities  of  civil- 
ized legislation.  It  was  vetoed  by  President  Johnson, 
and  was  only  carried  over  his  veto  by  the  unflagging 
zeal  and  devotion  of  Mr.  Eliot. 

He  was  the  author  of  the  Coolie  Bill,  and  its  pas- 
sage was  due  to  his  efforts.  The  system  of  importa- 
tion of  Chinese  coolies  bound  by  labor  contracts  was 
leading  to  a  system  hardly  less  abominable  and  degrad- 
ing than  actual  slavery.  Under  his  lead  the  Thirty- 
seventh  Congress  enacted  a  stringent  law  prohibiting 
American  vessels  from  engaging  in  this  trade,  a  result 
deemed  by  the  anti-slavery  sentiment  of  England  and 
America  as  second  only  to  the  abolition  of  the  African 
slave  trade. 

At  the  end  of  the  war  Mr.  Eliot  desired  to  leave  j 
Congress,  but  the  urgent  call  of  the  district  prevented,  | 
and  he  remained  in  failing  health  till  1869,  and  then 
absolutely  declined  a  renomination  after  a  service  of 


eleven  years.  He  then  hoped  to  resume  practice  at 
the  bar,  but  increasing  illness  prevented.  His  death 
occurred  June  14,  1870. 

Eminent  as  he  was  in  forensic  and  parliamentary 
debate,  he  was  not  less  so  in  conscientious  fidelity  to 
duty,  for  unselfish  patriotism  and  his  noble  advocacy 
of  human  rights.  He  had  the  well-won  esteem  of 
the  bar  and  bench.  In  public  life,  too,  he  was  com- 
pletely trusted  by  his  associates  and  respected  by  his 
political  opponents.  His  position  was  never  doubtful ; 
he  felt  it  the  duty  of  statesmen  to  try  to  lead  the  people 
where  they  should  go,  and  was  willing  to  take  the  risks 
of  such  a  course.  An  anecdote  may  be  in  place  here 
showing  how  the  astute  head  and  kindly  heart  of 
President  Lincoln  recognized  the  same  qualities  in 
Mr.  Eliot. 

A  citizen  of  Massachusetts  of  good  character  was 
indicted  for  embezzlement  from  a  post-office.  The 
trial  was  a  difficult  one  upon  evidence  mainly  cir- 
cumstantial, and  the  result  a  conviction  and  heavy 
sentence. 

An  application  for  pardon  was  made  to  the  Presi- 
dent by  the  neighbors  of  the  defendant,  who  had  long 
known  him  and  could  not  believe  him  guilty. 

Mr.  Lincoln  referred  the  topic  to  the  Law  Depart- 
ment, and  this  led  to  an  adverse  and  positive  report 
from  the  United  States  attorney  who  had  tried  the 
case.  Mr.  Lincoln  was  not  satisfied.  He  had  ac- 
quired doubts  of  the  propriety  of  the  conviction, 
partly  from  his  own  examination  of  the  case  and 
partly  from  the  zeal  of  the  prosecuting  officer,  which 
he  said  was  praiseworthy  but  might  be  too  partisan. 
At  last  he  wrote  upon  the  papers  "  referred  to  Hon. 
T.  D.  Eliot. — Abraham  Lincoln."  Mr.  Eliot  made  a 
careful  investigation,  was  convinced  that  the  verdict 
was  wrong,  and  so  reported  to  the  President. 

A  pardon  followed  with  a  promptness  that  sur- 
prised and  rather  provoked  the  prosecuting  officers. 
When  Mr.  Eliot  next  met  Mr.  Lincoln  the  latter  ad- 
vanced with  both  hands  extended  and  face  full  of  sat- 
isfaction, "  Well,  Eliot,"  said  he,  "we've  got  our  man 
clear." 

We  close  this  sketch  of  Mr.  Eliot  by  an  extract  from 
the  New  Bedford  Mercury,  written  at  the  time  of  his 
death  : 

"  Mr.  Eliot  was  pure-minded,  kind-hearted,  of  ster- 
ling integrity,  and  of  a  most  catholic  spirit.  In  our 
unreserved  intercourse  with  him,  we  can  recall  no 
instance  in  which  he  indulged  in  any  unkind,  un- 
charitable, or  disparaging  remarks  about  even  those 
who  had  maligned  him.  He  spoke  no  ill  of  his 
neighbor,  but  evinced  a  spirit  of  charity  as  beautiful 
as  it  is  rare. 

"  He  was  a  deeply  religious  man,  always  ready  with 
good  words,  and  as  ready  with  good  works.  Of  his 
labors  in  the  Sunday-school  of  the  Unitarian  Church, 
where  for  years  he  was  superintendent,  many  of  our 
readers  have  grateful  recollections.  His  heart  was  in 
the  work,  and  he  deeply  regretted  the  necessity  of  its 


12 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


relinquishment.  Thousands  will  call  to  mind  his  in- 
valuable services  as  president  of  the  National  Con- 
ference of  Unitarian  Churches  and  also  of  the  Amer- 
ican Unitarian  Association,  his  admirable  tact  in  the 
chair,  his  hearty  zeal  and  enthusiasm,  and  his  earnest 
and  successful  exertions  for  fraternal  union.  He  was 
a  generous  man,  prompt  to  give  to  every  good  object, 
and  foremost  in  his  contributions  of  money  or  of  labor 
to  sustain  all  benevolent  enterprises.  Better  than  any 
triumph  at  the  bar  or  the  highest  honors  won  in  po- 
litical life  is  the  simple  record  of  his  unselfish 
Christian  life.  He  rests  from  his  labors,  and  his 
works  do  follow  him." 

John  Ham  Williams  Page1  was  born  at  Gilman- 
ton,  N.  H.,  and  was  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in 
the  class  of  1826.    In  September  of  that  year  he  took 
charge  of  Friends'  Academy  at  New  Bedford,  where 
he  continued  until  the  spring  of  1829,  when  impaired 
health  compelled  him  to  resign  that  position.     After 
a  brief  season  of  rest  he  commenced  the  study  of  the 
law,  and  was  for  a  time  at  the  Dane  Law  School  in 
Cambridge.     He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  June, 
1832,  and  at  once  opened  an  office  at  New  Bedford, 
where  he  soon  acquired  a  remunerative  practice.    His 
vigorous  mind  and  capacity  and  method  of  applica- 
tion had  mastered  the  principles  of  legal  science,  and 
his  quickness  of  apprehension  and  practical  industry 
soon  made  him  familiar  with  the  details  of  business. 
His  vigor,  earnestness,  and  evident  ability  attracted 
and  retained  clients,  who  never  had  occasion  to  regret 
their  selection  of  counsel.     If  he  excelled  in  any  one 
branch  of  professional  service  more  than  another  it 
was  in  the  application  of  the  law  to  the  affairs  of  active 
business.     He  had  grown  into  ripeness  of  experience 
and  preparation  when  the  disturbed  condition  of  prac- 
tical affairs,  before  and  in  the  year  1837,  before  there 
was   any  insolvent  law    or  bankrupt  law,  furnished 
abundant  occupation  for  bright,  energetic,  and  capa- 
ble lawyers.    Mr.  Page  had  at  this  time  a  large  client- 
age, and  no  one  was  more  faithful  and  indefatigable 
than  he  was  in  his  employment.     He  maintained  a 
leading  position  at  the  bar  of  Bristol  County,  prac- 
ticing also  in  the  counties  of  Plymouth,  Barnstable, 
Nantucket,  and  Dukes  County,  until  he  removed  to 
Boston  to  assume  the  duties  of  treasurer  of  the  Law- 
rence machine-shop,  a  large  manufacturing  establish- 
ment, in  which  place  he  continued  for  many  years. 

Before  this  he  was  a  member  of  the  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives, and  was  chairman  of  the  Railroad  Com- 
mittee. During  his  service  there  a  charter  was 
granted  for  a  railroad  from  Middleborough  to  Sand- 
wich, as  the  Cape  Cod  Branch  Railroad,  in  which  Mr. 
Page  took  a  strong  interest,  and  a  few  years  later  he 
was  chosen  president  of  that  railroad  corporation,  and 
remained  as  such  until  his  death.  He  supervised  the 
financial  affairs  of  the  railroad  company  daring  the 
extension  of  the  road  from    Sandwich  to  Hyannis, 


and  assisted  largely  to  maintain  its  credit  and  make 
it  finally  successful.  He  was  vigilant  to  understand 
all  the  details  of  the  affairs  of  the  company,  and  was 
thoroughly  informed  in  railroad  management. 

He  took  a  deep  and  practical  interest  in  agriculture, 
and  was  for  a  number  of  years  the  president  of  the 
Bristol  County  Agricultural  Society,  which  was  never 
more  successful  than  while  under  his  efficient  manage- 
ment. 

While  Mr.  Page  showed  great  capability  in  all  the 
various  matters  with  which  he  was  concerned,  in  none 
was  he  more  conspicuous  than  as  a  lawyer.  It  was  an 
evident  mistake  that  he  left  a  profession  the  duties  of 
which  he  was  so  well  suited  to  fill  and  adorn  to  enter 
quite  late  in  life  upon  the  more  uncertain  field  of 
business,  and  in  which  he  was  not  wholly  successful. 
Mr.  Page  was  an  excellent  scholar  as  well  as  lawyer, 
and  his  social  qualities  endeared  him  closely  to  those 
who  knew  him  best  and  understood  him  best. 

John  Henry  Clifford,2  the  sixth  of  thirteen 
children  of  Benjamin  and  Achsah  (Wade)  Clifford, 
was  born  in  Providence,  R.  I.,  on  the  16th  of  January, 
1809,  and  graduated  at  Brown  University  in  1827. 
He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Bristol  County  in 
1830,  after  completing  his  course  in  the  study  of  law, 
under  the  direction  of  Hon.  Timothy  G.  Coffin,  at 
New  Bedford,  and  of  Hon.  Theron  Metcalf,  after- 
wards one  of  the  judges  of  the  Supreme  Judicial 
Court  of  Massachusetts  at  Dedham,  Norfolk  Co., 
Mass.  On  the  16th  of  January,  1832,  he  married 
Sarah  Parker  Allen,  daughter  of  William  Harland 
and  Ruth  (Parker)  Allen,  the  latter  a  daughter  of 
Hon.  John  Avery  and  Averie  (Standish)  Parker,  who 
was  a  descendant  in  the  sixth  generation  from  Capt. 
Miles  Standish. 

He  practiced  law  in  New  Bedlord  from  the  time  of 
his  admission  to  the  bar  to  the  day  of  his  death,  at 
first,  for  a  brief  period,  as  the  partner  of  Hon.  Timo- 
thy G.  Coffin,  subsequently,  for  nearly  ten  years,  as 
the  partner  of  Harrison  G.  O.  Colby,  Esq.,  his  class- 
mate in  college.  From  1845  to  1853  his  student  of 
law,  Lincoln  F.  Brigham,  now  chief  justice  of  the 
Superior  Court  of  Massachusetts,  was  his  junior 
partner,  and  after  1853  he  had  no  partner  in  the 
practice  of  law. 

His  first  appearance  in  public  life  was  in  1835, 
when  he  was  a  representative  of  New  Bedford  in  the 
Legislature  of  Massachusetts.  It  was  the  year  of  the 
revision  of  the  statutes  of  the  commonwealth,  and  he 
did  good  and  faithful  service  on  the  large  committee 
which  had  that  subject  in  charge.  In  1836  he  be- 
came one  of  the  aides-de-camp  of  Governor  Everett, 
and  retained  that  position  until,  by  a  single  vote  out 
of  a  hundred  thousand  votes,  Mr.  Everett's  chief 
magistracy  was  brought  to  a  close  in  1840. 

Before  Mr.  Everett  went  out  of  office,  however, 
in    1839,    he    had    conferred   upon    Col.  Clifford,    in 


1  By  Hon.  George  Mar-ton. 


-  By  Hun.  L.  F.  Brighiini. 


E*  -  '-by 


JmtcJ/r(7c$, 


BENCH   AND   BAR. 


13 


whom  he  had  the  highest  confidence,  the  appoint- 
ment of  district  attorney  for  the  Southern  District  of 
Massachusetts,  an  office  in  which  he  served  the  com- 
monwealth assiduously  and  successfully  for  nearly 
ten  years. 

Meantime,  in  1845,  the  county  of  Bristol  had 
elected  him  a  member  of  the  Senate  of  Massa- 
chusetts, where  he  gave  renewed  evidence  of  his 
ability  and  accomplishments  as  a  debater  and  a  legis- 
lator. 

In  18-19  he  entered  upon  the  duties  of  an  office 
which  was  to  be  the  field  of  his  longest  and  most 
distinguished  public  service.  In  that  year  he  re- 
ceived from  Governor  Briggs  the  appointment  of 
attorney-general  of  the  State. 

Early  in  the  following  year  it  fell  to  his  lot  to  con- 
duct a  memorable  trial,  with  which  his  name  will  be 
always  most  prominently  and  honorably  associated. 
No  trial  in  the  history  of  our  country  for  many  gen- 
erations, if  ever,  has  excited  a  deeper  interest  or 
challenged  a  more  anxious  and  critical  attention  than 
that  of  Professor  John  W.  Webster  for  the  murder 
of  Dr.  George  Park  man. 

In  Blackwood's  Magazine  for  June,  1850,  in  an 
article  on  "  Modern  State  Trials,"  being  one  of  a 
series  of  articles  from  the  pen  of  the  eminent  bar- 
rister, Samuel  Warren,  the  author  of  "  Diary  of  a 
Physician"  and  of  "  Ten  Thousand  a  Year,"  occurs 
the  following  passage: 

"  It  was  our  intention  to  have  included  in  this 
paper  a  sketch  of  a  great  American  trial  for  murder, 
that  of  the  late  Professor  Webster  for  the  murder 
of  Dr.  Parkman,  a  fearful  occurrence,  a  black  and 
dismal  tragedy  from  beginning  to  end,  exhibiting 
most  remarkable  indications,  as  it  appears  to  us,  of 
the  overruling  Providence  which  sometimes  sees  fit 
to  allow  its  agency  in  human  affairs  to  become  visible 
to  us.  All  we  shall  at  present  say  on  the  subject  is 
that  the  reply  of  Mr.  Clifford  for  the  prosecution 
cannot  be  excelled  in  close  and  conclusive  reasoning, 
conveyed  in  language  equally  elegant  and  forcible. 
Its  effect,  as  a  demonstration  of  the  guilt  of  the  ac- 
cused, is  fearful." 

In  the  autumn  of  1852  a  convention  of  the  Whig 
party  of  Massachusetts  nominated  Attorney-General 
Clifford  for  Governor  of  the  State.  He  accepted  the 
nomination  with  reluctance,  and  although  he  re- 
ceived nearly  twenty-five  thousand  votes  more  than 
either  of  the  opposing  candidates,  he  was  not  elected 
by  the  people.  On  the  meeting  of  the  Legislature, 
however,  he  was  chosen  by  the  votes  of  the  two 
branches,  and  was  inaugurated  as  Governor  of  Mas- 
sachusetts on  the  14th  of  January,  1853. 

In  his  inaugural  address  he  used  the  following 
characteristic  words : 

"The  law  is  our  only  sovereign.  The  loyalty  which  in  other  coun- 
tries is  rendered  to  the  mere  accident  of  birth  is  here  due  to  that  invisible 
but  omnipresent  power  which  we  have  voluntarily  enthroned  and 
established  for  our  protection  and  guidance  under  the  majestic  name 
of  Law."' 


Governor  Clifford  discharged  the  duties  of  the 
chief  magistracy  with  great  fidelity  and  dignity,  and 
it  was  only  for  him  to  say  whether  he  should  remain 
in  the  office  for  a  second  year.  But  his  interest  in  his 
profession  determined  him  to  decline  a  renomination, 
and  on  the  election  of  Governor  Emory  Washburn 
as  his  successor  he  was  at  once  called  on  by  him  to 
resume  his  place  as  attorney-general  of  the  common- 
wealth. He  continued  to  hold  that  office — by  execu- 
tive appointment  for  one  year,  by  legislative  election 
for  another,  and  again  for  a  third  by  the  choice  of  the 
people  of  the  State — until  1858.  He  had  thus  served 
the  commonwealth  as  its  highest  law-officer  for  a  full 
term  of  seven  years  in  all,  and  in  that  capacity  had 
certainly  rendered  his  best  public  service  and  acquired 
his  greatest  public  distinction. 

In  retiring  finally  from  his  position  he  did  not 
abandon  his  professional  labors,  but  was  frequently 
to  be  found  in  the  highest  courts  of  the  common- 
wealth and  of  the  nation  in  the  argument  of  impor- 
tant cases.  During  the  terrible  civil  war  which  soon 
afterwards  afflicted  the  country  he  omitted  no  efforts 
in  his  power  to  sustain  the  cause  of  the  Union  accord- 
ing to  the  convictions  of  his  own  conscience.  More 
than  once  he  was  summoned  to  Washington  to  hold 
council  with  cabinet  officers  in  regard  to  measures  in 
contemplation.  At  home,  too,  he  spared  neither  time 
nor  money  in  encouraging  the  soldiers  who  went  out 
from  his  own  city  or  county.  In  18G2  he  accepted  an 
election  to  the  State  Senate,  and  was  at  once  chosen 
president  of  that  body,  in  that  capacity  rendering 
conspicuous  service  to  the  commonwealth  at  the  most 
critical  period  of  the  war.  In  1868  he  was  one  of  the 
electors  at  large,  and  united  in  giving  the  vote  of 
Massachusetts  to  President  Grant. 

In  the  previous  year,  however,  1867,  he  had  en- 
tered upon  a  line  of  life  which  was  finally  to  separate 
him  from  further  professional  or  political  service,  and 
to  confine  him  to  the  routine  of  practical  business. 
Assuming  the  charge  of  the  Boston  and  Providence 
Railroad  corporation  as  its  president,  he  devoted 
himself  to  its  affairs  with  all  his  accustomed  earnest- 
ness and  energy. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  American  Academy  of 
Arts  and  Sciences.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the 
Massachusetts  Historical  Society.  But  he  rendered 
larger  services  to  Harvard  University  at  Cambridge, 
of  which  he  was  for  many  years  one  of  the  overseers 
and  repeatedly  the  president  of  the  board,  in  which 
capacity  it  became  his  duty  to  officiate  at  the  induc- 
tion iu  1853  of  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Walker,  and  in  1869 
of  Charles  W.  Eliot,  Esq.,  as  presidents  of  the  uni- 
versity. He  received  the  degree  of  LL.D.  from 
Brown  University  and  also  from  Harvard  University. 

Governor  Clifford  was  also  one  of  the  original  board 
of  trustees  of  the  great  education  fund  established 
by  the  munificence  of  George  Peabody,  his  personal 
friend,  for  the  impoverished  and  desolated  States  of 
the  South.     No  one  was  more  faithful  to  that  noble 


14 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


trust,  and  no  one  will  be  more  affectionately  and 
gratefully  remembered  by  all  who  were  associated 
with  him  in  its  labors  and  responsibilities. 

In  the  spring  of  1873  he  was  compelled  to  abandon 
all  occupation  and  fly  to  the  salubrious  airs  of  Florida. 
In  the  spring  of  1875  a  visit  to  Europe  was  recom- 
mended to  him,  and  he  sailed  for  Liverpool  on  the 
24th  of  April  of  that  year. 

Before  Governor  Clifford  embarked  for  Europe  he 
had  declined  appointments  as  United  States  Minister 
both  to  Russia  and  to  Turkey,  which  had  been  suc- 
cessively offered  to  him  by  the  administration  at 
Washington.  He  had,  however,  previously  accepted 
an  appointment  as  United  States  Commissioner  on 
the  Fisheries  under  the  arbitration  treaty  with  Great 
Britain,  and  had  always  contemplated  fulfilling  that 
appointment. 

But  his  work  was  ended,  public  and  private.  In- 
deed, he  had  hardly  reached  his  home  in  New  Bed- 
ford, after  a  brief  stay  in  Boston,  where  he  arrived, 
and  was  but  just  beginning  to  receive  from  his  old 
friends  and  neighbors  the  tokens  of  welcome  which 
had  awaited  him,  when  a  disease  of  the  heart,  which 
had  given  mysterious  indications  in  former  years, 
was  now  unmistakably  manifested.  A  very  few  weeks 
sufficed  to  bring  it  to  a  crisis,  and  on  the  morning  of 
the  2d  of  January,  1876,  he  died  at  New  Bedford,  in 
the  house  in  which  he  had  enjoyed  for  more  than 
forty  years  the  rarest  domestic  felicity,  although  from 
it  again  and  again  beloved  children,  in  the  most  en- 
dearing stages  of  their  lives,  had  been  taken  by  the 
angel  of  death.  His  wife,  two  daughters,  and  three 
sons_Charles  Warren  Clifford,  Walter  Clifford,  both 
members  of  the  bar  of  Bristol  County,  and  Dr. 
Arthur  Clifford,  since  deceased — survived  him. 

The  following  tribute  to  Governor  Clifford  was  of- 
fered by  a  distinguished  statesman  of  Virginia  (the 
Hon.  Alexander  H.  H.  Stuart)  when  his  death  was 
announced  at  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Peabody 
trustees  at  the  White  Sulphur  Springs,  in  Virginia, 
in  August,  1876  : 

"There  was  a  quiet  dignity  and  grace  in  every 
movement,  and  his  countenance  beamed  with  intelli- 
gence and  benignity.  To  a  mind  of  great  power  he 
united  a  heart  which  throbbed  with  generous  im- 
pulses, and  a  happy  facility  of  expression  which  gave 
a  peculiar  charm  to  his  conversation.  There  was  a 
frankness  in  his  bearing  and  a  genial  urbanity  about 
him  which  at  ouce  commended  confidence  and  in- 
spired good  will.  Every  one  who  approached  him 
felt  attracted  by  a  species  of  personal  magnetism 
which  was  irresistible." 

This  biography  of  John  Henry  Clifford  would  be 
inadequate  as  a  testimonial  of  his  life  and  career  if 
it  did  not  include  a  statement  of  the  following  public 
demonstrations  in  memory  of  him  which  upon  his 
death  emanated  from  the  political,  charitable,  literary, 
commercial,  and  professional  institutions  in  which  he 
had  exercised  conspicuous  and  beneficent  functions : 


Telegram  from  the  State  Department  of  the  United  States: 

"  Washington,  Jan.  3, 1876. 
"  The  announcement  of  the  death  of  your  most  excellent  father  is  re- 
ceived with  the  deepest  regret.  The  country  loses  a  good  and  pure  man. 
The  President  tenders  his  sincere  condolence.     Be  assured  of  my  sym- 
pathy and  sorrow. 

"  Hamilton  Fish,  Secretary  of  Stale. 
"Charles  W.  Clifford,  Esq.,  New  Bedford." 

Extract  from  Governor  Rice's  Inaugural  Message  to  the  Legislature  of  Mas- 
sachusetts, Jan.  6,  1876. 

"  Nor  can  you  or  I  forget  that  even  now  the  earth  is  receiving  to  its 
bosom  the  remains  of  a  past  chief  magistrate  of  the  commonwealth, 
who  embodied  in  his  character  and  exemplified  in  his  life  all  that  we 
recognize  as  highest  and  noblest  in  the  name  of  Christian  and  scholar, 
statesman,  gentleman,  and  friend." 

"In  Senate  of  Massachusetts,  Jan.  11,  1$>76. 

"The  committee  on  the  death  of  ex-Governor  Clifford,  to  whom  was 
referred  the  communication  of  His  Excellency  the  Governor,  report  the 
accompanying  resolutions: 

" '  Resolved,  That  in  the  death  of  John  Henry  Clifford,  ex-Governor  of 
Massachusetts,  the  commonwealth  has  lostone  of  its  most  useful,  accom- 
plished, and  distinguished  citizens.  Whether  his  varied  and  well-trained 
powers  were  exerted  in  the  cause  of  education  or  in  the  execution  of 
the  laws,  or  exercised  in  debate  in  either  branch  of  the  Legislature  of 
this  State,  or  tested  in  the  responsible  executive  duties  devolving  upon 
him  as  the  chief  magistrate  of  this  commonwealth,  in  all  the  positions 
of  public  trust  he  so  worthily  filled  he  illustrated  the  ardor  of  his  pa- 
triotism, the  vigor  of  his  intellectual  powers,  and  added  to  the  fame  of 
the  State  which  now  mourns  his  death  and  honors  his  memory. 

"'Resolved,  That  his  private,  no  less  thau  his  public,  life  bore  testi- 
mony to  the  wisdom,  strength,  beauty,  ami  grace  of  his  personal  charac- 
ter; dignified  without  austerity,  firm  and  decided  in  his  convictions,  yet 
courteous  and  deferential  to  those  of  his  associates,  with  a  power  to 
apply  his  varied  attainments  to  the  practical  affairs  of  business  life,  he 
added  to  the  prosperity  and  happiness  of  his  fellow-citizens  by  his  ser- 
vices and  counsel,  and  thus  exemplified  the  peculiar  republican  sim- 
plicity of  our  systems  of  government,  which  recognize  all  public  posi- 
tions as  temporary  trusts,  conferring  honor  only  upon  those  who  by 
wise  and  pure  administration  prove  themselves  worthy  the  no  less 
honorable  duties  of  private  life.' 

"  In  Senate,  Jan.  11, 1S76. 

"  Adopted.    Sent  down  for  concurrence. 

"S.  N.  Giffokd,  Clerk. 


"Concurred. 


"  House  of  Representatives,  Jan.  11,  1876. 
"  George  A.  Makden,  Clerk." 


Tribide  of  the  Trustees  of  the  Peabody  Education  Fund. 

"Annual  Meeting, 
"  White  Sulphur  Springs,  Aug.  5, 1876. 

"The  following  resolutions,  proposed  by  Hon.  A.  H.  H.  Stuart,  of 
Virginia,  and  seconded  by  Gen.  Richard  Taylor,  of  Louisiana,  were 
unanimously  adopted: 

" '  Resolved,  That  we  have  heard  with  profound  sorrow  of  the  death, 
since  our  last  annual  meeting,  of  Hon.  John  II.  Clifford,  one  of  our 
original  trustees,  appointed  by  Mr.  George  Peabody  to  superintend  the 
administration  of  his  munificent  donations  to  the  cause  of  education  in 
the  Southern  States.  We  feel  that  in  the  death  of  Governor  Clifford  we 
have  lost  the  services  and  co-operation  of  one  of  the  most  useful,  zeal- 
ous, and  efficient  members  of  our  body,  and  that  we  have  been  deprived 
of  the  society  of  a  gentleman  whose  eminent  talents,  liberal  attainments, 
dignified  and  affable  manners,  and  genial  temper  were  sources  of  con- 
stant pleasure  to  all  who  had  the  good  fortune  to  be  thrown  into  inti- 
mate association  with  him.  As  legislator,  attorney-general,  and  Gov- 
ernor of  Massachusetts,  he  gave  abundant  evidence  of  his  wisdom,  legal 
and  administrative  ability,  and  enlightened  patriotism.  As  a  sagacious, 
energetic,  and  public-spirited  citizen,  he  contributed  largely  to  the  de- 
velopment of  the  material  interests  of  his  native  State.  And  in  his 
private  life  there  was  a  continual  exhibition  of  those  manly  virtues  and 
attractive  graces  which  dignify  and  adorn  the  character  of  the  Christian 
gentleman. 

"  'His  seat  at  our  board  has  been  left  vacant.  The  places  that  have 
known  him  will  know  him  no  more.  He  has  gone  to  enjoy  the  reward 
of  a  well-spent  life.  All  that  is  left  to  us  is  the  memory  of  his  talents, 
his  eminent  public  services,  and  his  many  virtues. 


BENCH   AND  BAR. 


15 


" '  We  bow  with  humble  resignation  to  the  will  of  Him  in  whose  bauds 
are  the  issues  of  life  and  death,  and  with  sorrowful  hearts  we  now  de- 
sire to  inscribe  on  our  records  this  imperfect  tribute  of  reverence  and 
affection  for  the  memory  of  our  deceased  associate  and  friend.' 

"George  Pf.aboi>y  Russell,  Secretary." 

"  Tribute  of  the  Overse(rs  of  Harvard  University,  Jan.  26,  1876. 

"In  the  death  of  our  late  associate,  John  H.  Clifford,  we  recognize  the 
interruption  of  an  honorable,  useful,  and  happy  life.  Born  in  another 
Stale,  he  attained  the  highest  official  station  in  our  commonwealth; 
educated  in  another  university,  he  presided  for  many  years  over  the 
Overseers  of  Harvard  ;  trained  to  the  law,  he  reached  its  high  honors  a 
quarter  of  a  century  before  he  retired  from  practice  to  gain  equal  pre- 
cedence in  another  field  of  labor;  trusted  with  high  public  offices,  he 
held  in  private  social  station  an  equal  rank  ;  and  whether  in  public  or 
in  private,  he  held  no  place  which  he  did  not  adequately  fill.  Adminis- 
tering the  affairs  of  the  commonwealth  or  the  business  of  his  corpora- 
tion, he  was  wise  in  counsel,  conservative  in  action,  skillful  in  dealing 
with  men.  Presiding  in  the  Senate  or  in  this  board,  we  well  know  his 
tact,  his  courtesy,  his  impartiality.  In  his  profession,  to  the  strength  of 
a  sound  mind'  in  a  sound  body  he  did  not  disdain  to  add  the  grace  of 
clear  expression  and  of  silver  speech.  As  attorney-general,  he  gave  a 
dignity  to  the  office  of  public  prosecutor,  which  in  his  hands  partook  of 
the  nature  of  judicial  service.  In  private  life,  welcome  at  every  board, 
he  welcomed  bis  friends  to  bis  own  with  a  broad,  free  hospitality.  Suc- 
cess waited  upon  desert  throughout  his  life.  As  a  public  man,  no  malice 
assailed,  no  envy  touched  him.  In  his  profession,  the  successful  prose- 
cution of  a  great  criminal  in  a  cause  ctJUbre  gave  him  a  name  at  home 
and  abroad.  In  his  later  business  career,  he  left  the  corporation  which 
he  had  in  charge  at  the  head  of  its  kind  in  prosperity,  and  gave  to  our 
city  an  ornament  which  may  stand  as  a  monument  alike  of  his  good 
taste  and  his  good  judgment.  His  grace  of  manner,  the  expression  of  a 
kind  and  genial  nature,  attracted  hosts  of  friends,  whom  bis  real  worth 
retained  ;  and  in  the  sacred  circle  of  home  love  was  given  and  returned 
without  stint  or  limit.  He  carried  into  public  and  business  life  the  high 
sense  of  honor  which  is  too  often  left  at  the  home  threshold ;  and  the 
State-House,  the  court-house,  and  the  railroad  felt  its  presence  and  its  in- 
fluence. 

"Society  has  lost  in  him  a  noble  gentleman,  the  State  a  useful  citizen, 
this  board  an  honored  member,  and  many  of  us  a  dear  friend." 

Tribute  of  the  Boston  and  Providence  Railroad  Corporation. 

"  At  a  meeting  of  the  directors  of  the  Boston  and  Providence  Railroad 
corporation,  railed  for  Wednesday,  Jan.  12,  1S76,  owing  to  the  death  of 
the  Hon.  John  Henry  Clifford,  the  late  president  of  the  company,  which 
occurred  suddenly  at  his  home  in  New  Bedford,  on  Sunday  morning,  Jan- 
uary 2d,  in  the  sixty-seventh  year  of  his  age,  the  following  resolutions 
wen-  adopted  and  ordered  to  be  entered  upon  the  records.  The  acting- 
president  was  requested  to  send  a  copy  to  Mr.  Clifford's  family  : 

"In  the  death  of  their  president,  his  associate  directors  recognize  the 
loss  to  the  community — in  which  he  had  held  so  prominent  and  honor- 
able a  position  during  a  peculiarly  active  and  useful  life — of  a  distin- 
guished chief  magistrate,  of  a  pure,  able,  and  eloquent  public  servant 
in  the  Senate  and  the  forum,  of  a  valued  citizen,  and  of  a  most  genial, 
cultivated,  and  courteous  gentleman. 

"  His  presence  will  be  missed  from  the  academic  exercises  and  advising 
council  of  our  neighboring  university,  of  which  he  was  an  adopted  and 
favorite  son,  and  whose  honors  he  so  greatly  valued  ;  from  the  list  of  the 
loyal  living  suns  of  his  own  cherished  Alma  Mater,  and  from  the  board 
of  trustees  who  were  charged  with  the  liberal  educational  bequest  of 
the  late  George  Peabody. 

"  The  grief  of  the  house  of  mourning  for  its  beloved  head  is  known 
but  too  well. 

"The  general  government,  whose  proffers  of  diplomatic  life  he  felt 
obliged  to  decline,  the  commonwealth  and  the  bar,  with  many  learned 
bodies  of  which  he  was  a  member,  have  already  offered  their  tributes 
to  the  memory  of  Mr.  Clifford  ;  but,  as  intimately  associated  with  him 
in  his  official  position  as  president  of  this  corporation,  we  wish  to  make 
some  simple  record  of  the  attachment  and  bereavement  of  every  person 
connected  with  it. 

"  And  it  is  therefore 

"Resolved,  That  by  the  death  of  President  Clifford  the  stockholders 
of  the  Boston  and  Providence  Railroad  corporation  have  lost  the  services 
of  one  who  gave  of  the  best  years  of  his  life  to  their  interests,  and 
during  whose  administration,  marked  as  it  was  by  enterprise,  discretion, 
and  a  conservative  liberality,  the  prosperity  of  the  road  was  so  con- 
spicuous." .  .  . 


Tribute  of  the  Bar  of  the  County  of  Bristol,  Massachusetts. 

"  New  Bedfobd,  Jan.  6,  1876. 

"Hon.  George  Marston,  district  attorney,  presented  to  the  court  the 
following  resolutions  of  the  Bristol  County  bar: 

"  '  Upon  the  decease  of  the  Hon.  John  Henry  Clifford,  it  is  by  the  bar 
of  Bristol  County 

'"  Resolved,  That  while  we  are  saddened  by  the  affliction  which  has 
removed  from  our  sight  our  most  eminent  brother  and  leader,  our  recol- 
lection of  his  professional  career  affords  the  highest  satisfaction.  His 
love  of  the  law,  as  the  chosen  pursuit  of  his  life,  was  sincere,  ardent,  con- 
trolling, and  unabated.  His  ability  was  unquestioned  in  every  depart- 
ment of  his  profession.  His  learning  was  ample  and  his  skill  adequate 
to  every  exigency.  The  tone  of  his  practice,  whether  in  consultation  or 
in  his  addresses  to  the  jury  or  to  the  court,  was  always  in  accord  with 
the  purest  ethics.  His  fidelity  to  his  client  and  his  cause  was  only 
equaled  by  his  fidelity  to  the  best  standards  of  honor  and  duty.  As  the 
law  officer  of  the  commonwealth,  he  added  dignity  to  the  office  and  dis- 
tinction to  the  State.  The  fame  which  he  attained  as  a  lawyer  was  illus- 
trated by  the  noblest  qualities  of  personal  character.'" 

The  foregoing  biography  has  been  composed  mostly 
by  adopting,  in  substance  and  in  words,  parts  of  a 
memoir  prepared— agreeably  to  a  resolution  of  the 
Massachusetts  Historical  Society — by  Hon.  Robert  C. 
Winthrop,  who  became,  in  1836,  one  of  the  aides-de- 
camp of  Governor  Edward  Everett,  and  then  formed 
with  Col.  Clifford  ties  which  for  more  than  forty 
years  were  maintained  by  constant  correspondence 
and  familiar  friendship.  The  composer  of  this  biog- 
raphy is  one  who  regrets  that  the  necessary  limita- 
tions of  his  work  do  not  permit  him  to  do  justice  to 
the  charming  and  endearing  personality  of  John 
Henry  Clifford,  and  to  an  experience  of  his  abundant 
and  delicate  kindness  of  heart  during  more  than  thirty 
years  of  intimate  professional  and  affectionate  social 
intercourse  with  him. 

Joseph  Ricketson  Williams,  son  of  Richard  and 
Rebecca  (Smith)  Williams,  of  New  Bedford,  Mass., 
was  born  on  the  14th  of  November,  1808,  and  was  a 
lineal  descendant  of  Edward  Winslow,  the  Puritan. 
Under  the  instruction  of  Luther  B.  Lincoln  he  was 
fitted  for  Harvard  at  the  Sandwich  Academy.  He 
gained  a  high  rank  of  scholarship,  and  graduated  with 
distinguished  honors  at  Cambridge  in  1831.  He  then 
entered  the  law-office  of  Hon.  John  Davis  in  Worces- 
ter, with  whom  he  completed  his  studies  for  the  prac- 
tice of  law.  After  his  admittance  to  the  bar,  he  was 
offered  a  partnership  with  Hon.  John  H.  Clifford,  of 
New  Bedford,  which  his  uncertain  state  of  health 
induced  him  to  decline,  and  he  relinquished  his  pro- 
fession, and  in  1835  he  accepted  the  agency  of  an 
extensive  New  England  company  for  investments  in 
Western  lands,  and  went  to  Toledo,  Ohio.  There  he 
built  the  American  Hotel,  and,  with  Mr.  Pierre  M. 
Irving,  laid  the  foundation  of  the  Toledo  Blade,  and 
gave  it  its  significant  name.  In  1839  he  took  up  val- 
uable lands  on  St.  Joseph's  River  in  Michigan,  and 
built  a  fine  flouring  mill,  which  after  a  profitable 
business  of  several  years  was  destroyed  by  fire. 

From  1837  to  1853,  Mr.  Williams  was  largely  iden- 
tified with  the  political  interests  of  the  State  of  Mich- 
igan. Twice  a  candidate  for  the  United  States  Senate 
against  Gen.  Cass,  and  three  times  a  Whig  candidate 


16 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL  COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


for  Congress,  owing  to  the  overwhelming  strength  of 
the  Democratic  party,  the  Whigs  were  successively 
defeated.  He  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Constitu- 
tional Convention  of  Michigan  in  1850.  In  1853  he 
returned  to  Toledo,  bought  out  the  Blade,  which  then 
became  the  sturdy  advocate  of  Republican  principles. 
It  nominated  Salmon  Chase  for  Governor  of  the  State, 
and  did  more  for  the  party  in  Northern  Ohio  than  all 
the  other  papers  in  the  State.  After  three  years  of 
editorial  labor  his  health  again  failed  him,  and  he 
accepted  at  the  hands  of  the  Michigan  Legislature  the 
presidency  of  the  Agricultural  College  of  Michigan  at 
Lansing.  Few  men  had  written  with  greater  ability 
on  agricultural  subjects,  and  he  was  marked  as  the 
most  suitable  person  to  inaugurate  this  experiment, 
the  first  of  its  kind  in  this  country. 

The  undertaking  prospered,  but  after  a  year  of 
laborious  exertion  he  was  forced  to  abandon  the  work 
and  seek  relief  in  Havana  and  the  Bermudas. 

He  returned  in  1860  improved  in  health,  and  was 
elected  to  the  Senate  of  Michigan,  which  body  elected 
him  president.  His  speeches  to  the  Senate  at  the 
outbreak  of  the  Rebellion  are  models  of  patriotism 
and  eloquence. 

Mr.  Williams  was  a  writer  of  great  power,  his  ideas 
comprehensive,  and  his  words  fitly  chosen.  He  was 
a  man  of  great  heart,  generous,  and  deeply  sensitive 
to  the  misfortunes  of  his  fellow-men.  In  social  life  he 
was  a  most  agreeable  companion,  full  of  intelligence, 
with  a  large  acquaintance  with  books  and  extensive 
literary  acquirements,  which  served  to  adorn  his 
natural  powers  as  a  conversationalist.  The  precarious 
state  of  his  health  prevented  him  from  being  one  of 
the  men  of  mark  in  his  native  State,  and  returning  in 
a  large  measure  to  his  Alma  Mater  the  fruits  of  her 
planting. 

His  death  at  any  time  would  have  been  felt  as  a 
calamity,  but  it  happened  at  a  time  when  the  thoughts 
of  such  men  were  needed  to  give  tone  and  character 
to  the  public  acts  and  enterprises  of  the  age,  and  was 
felt  most  keenly  by  his  associates. 

Mr.  Williams  died  suddenly  on  the  15th  of  June, 
1861,  at  his  old  home  in  Constantine,  and  was  buried 
in  New  Bedford.  He  married  in  Buffalo,  in  1844, 
Sarah  Rowland  Langdon,  daughter  of  John  Langdon, 
and  grandniece  of  Gen.  John  Langdon,  of  New 
Hampshire. 

Hon.  Joshua  Clapp  Stone,  a  son  of  Henry  B. 
and  Elizabeth  [Clapp)  Stone,  was  born  in  Boston  on 
the  28th  of  August,  1825.  His  father  was  cashier 
and  president  of  the  Suffolk  Bank.  He  lived  in 
Boston  till  1838,  and  was  there  a  pupil  of  Mr.  T.  B. 
Haywood.  At  an  academy  at  Leicester,  Mass.,  he 
prepared  for  Harvard  College,  which  he  entered  in 
1840.  He  was  a  diligent  student,  and  his  gentlemanly 
manners,  honorable  bearing,  sympathetic  nature,  and 
genial  ways  won  and  retained  the  universal  respect 
of  the  faculty  and  his  fellow-students.  After  his 
graduation  in  1844  he  entered  the  Dane  Law  School 


of  Harvard.  In  1846  he  entered  the  law-office  of 
Col.  J.  H.  W.  Paige,  of  New  Bedford,  remaining  there 
till  1853,  when  he  associated  himself  with  Judge 
Brigham,  of  the  same  city,  remaining  with  him  till 
Mr.  Brigham  was  appointed  to  the  bench,  when  he 
returned  to  Boston.  The  attractions  of  New  Bedford 
for  him  led  him  back  to  that  city  in  1862,  when  he 
entered  into  partnership  with  Hon.  W.  W.  Crapo, 
with  whom  he  remained  till  his  death.  He  was  at 
one  time  justice  of  the  Court  of  Insolvency  for  the 
county  of  Bristol.  In  1866  and  1867  he  represented 
the  Eleventh  Representative  District  in  the  Massa- 
chusetts Legislature. 

Sept.  17, 1850,  Mr.  Stone  married  Elizabeth,  daugh- 
ter of  Nathaniel  and  Anna  Hatheway,  of  New  Bed- 
ford. He  died  in  that  city  Jan.  2,  1869,  leaving  a 
widow  and  five  children,  four  sons  and  a  daughter, 
all  of  whom  are  living.  Mr.  Stone  was  held  in  high 
esteem,  and  was  a  great  loss  not  only  to  his  family, 
but  to  the  social  and  business  community  and  to  the 
legal  profession.  As  a  counselor,  he  was  regarded  as 
honorable  and  upright;  as  an  advocate,  convincing, 
persuasive,  earnest,  and  logical ;  as  a  legislator,  pub- 
lic-spirited, zealous,  and  sincere.  His  associates  ot 
the  bar  had  a  high  appreciation  of  his  legal  knowledge 
and  keen  judgment ;  judges  before  whom  lie  appeared 
showed  their  appreciation  of  his  manliness,  ability, 
and  sincerity  ;  the  Legislature  felt  his  power,  and  was 
honored  and  strengthened  by  his  presence. 

Oliver  Prescott  is  now  the  oldest  lawyer  prac- 
ticing law  in  New  Bedford.  He  was  born  in  Mid- 
dlesex County,  Nov.  25,  1806,  was  educated  at  Har- 
vard College,  and,  after  teaching  at  the  Friends' 
Academy  in  New  Bedford,  and  studying  law  in  the 
law  school  at  Cambridge,  in  the  office  of  Lemuel  Wil- 
liams, Esq.,  of  New  Bedford,  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
at  the  June  term  in  1832.  He  was  appointed  judge 
of  probate  in  1835,  and  held  that  office  until  the  court 
was  abolished  in  1858.  He  was  in  1846  appointed 
judge  of  the  police  court  of  New  Bedford,  and  held 
that  office  until  1858,  when  he  resigned. 

He  has  always  been  a  careful,  wise,  and  discreet  ad- 
viser, and  has  had  more  experience  in  probate  matters 
than  any  other  lawyer  in  this  county.  He  has  always 
had  the  confidence  and  regard  of  his  brethren  at  the 
bar,  and  is  now  held  in  much  esteem  by  all  classes  of 
the  citizens  of  New  Bedford  and  adjoining  towns. 

Hon.  George  Marston. — When  in  the  winter  of 
1868-69  the  members  of  the  New  Bedford  bar  stood 
around  the  open  grave  of  Joshua  C.  Stone,  paying 
the  last  tribute  of  respect  to  one  who  from  the  first 
rank  in  the  profession  had  just  passed  away  in  the 
fullness  of  his  great  powers,  the  thought  must  have 
passed  through  the  minds  of  many,  "  Who  will  fill 
his  place?"  The  older  members  of  the  bar  had  then 
all  either  passed  away,  retired  from  active  practice, 
or  gone  upon  the  bench,  and  while  others  were  dis- 
tinguished in  other  branches  of  the  profession  the 
mantle  of  leadership  in  the  courts  had  fallen  upon 


Ijljlxl 


LL 


Ujlxj^C^ 


BENCH  AND  BAR. 


17 


Stone  and  Stetson.  To  this  high  position  made  va- 
cant by  the  death  of  Mr.  Stone  the  name  of  no  heir- 
apparent  appeared  upon  the  roll  of  the  New  Bedford 
bar,  which  at  this  time  was  very  limited  in  number, 
and  it  was  evident  that  Mr.  Stone's  successor  must  be 
found  elsewhere.  The  reputation  which  George  Mars- 
ton,  of  Barnstable,  then  district  attorney  for  the  South- 
ern District,  had  already  achieved  throughout  South- 
ern Massachusetts  determined  the  selection,  and  on 
Feb.  1,  1869,  Mr.  Marston  removed  to  New  Bedford 
and  took  the  vacant  chair. 

Burn  at  Barnstable,  Oct.  15,  1821,  he  was  educated 
at  the  common  schools  of  his  native  town,  and  com- 
pleted his  professional  education  at  the  Harvard  Law 
School,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  the  September 
term,  1845.  But  no  adequate  conception  of  his  op- 
portunities in  the  preparation  for  his  professional  ca- 
reer would  be  gained  without  remembering  that  he 
had  the  good  fortune  to  sit  at  the  feet  of  Nynphas 
Marston,  his  uncle,  whose  influence,  inspired  by  the 
respect  and  affection  and  confidence  in  which  he  was 
held  by  the  people  of  his  county,  was  said  to  be  so 
great  that  a  Barnstable  County  jury  could  not  give  a 
verdict  against  Nynphas  Marston,  and  it  was  un- 
doubtedly from  this  source  that  the  nephew  acquired 
those  characteristics  which,  on  a  wide  field,  enabled 
him  to  repeat  his  uncle's  experience.  While  a  resi- 
dent of  Barnstable  he  was,  from  March,  1853,  to  De- 
cember, 1854,  register  of  probate,  and  judge  of  probate 
from  1854  to  July  1,  1858.  For  nearly  twenty  years 
(January,  1860-79)  he  held  the  office  of  district  at- 
torney for  the  Southern  District  with  such  marked 
ability  and  conscientious  devotion  to  its  delicate  and 
responsible  duties  that  when,  on  his  promotion  to  the 
office  of  attorney-general,  he  resigned  this  office  to 
which  he  had  been  seven  times  elected,  the  bar  of 
Bristol  united  in  a  public  testimonial  of  their  appre- 
ciation of  his  public  worth  and  distinguished  services. 
Entering  on  the  discharge  of  his  duties  as  attorney- 
general  of  the  commonwealth,  January,  1879,  he 
was  three  times  re-elected,  and  having  in  the  fall  of 
1882  declined  a  renomination,  he  closed,  in  January, 
1883,  a  service  of  a  quarter  of  a  century  as  a  prosecu- 
ting officer  with  a  record  of  unsullied  integrity,  great 
ability,  and  the  affectionate  regard  of  all  classes  of 
people  rarely  equaled.  But  it  is  not  only  as  a  public 
officer  that  he  is  known  and  respected.  For  the  last 
fifteen  years  scarcely  a  cause  of  the  first  magnitude 
has  been  tried  on  the  civil  side  of  the  court  in  which 
Mr.  Marston  has  not  been  engaged,  and  in  which  his 
arguments  to  the  jury  have  been  masterpieces  of  fo- 
rensic ability.  Nor  has  his  work  been  confined  en- 
tirely to  the  strict  line  of  his  profession.  As  presi- 
dent of  the  Nantucket  and  Cape  Cod  Steamboat 
Company,  director  of  the  Old  Colony  Eailroad  Com- 
pany, the  Citizens'  National  Bank  of  New  Bedford, 
and  the  Quincy  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company,  he 
has  displayed  business  abilities  of  a  high  order. 

And  so  the  members  of  the  New  Bedford  bar  feel 
2 


that  the  question  which  was  in  their  minds  on  that 
beautiful  winter's    day  in  January,  1869,  has  been 
fully  answered,  and  that  with   untiring  energy  and 
pre-eminent  ability,  with  marvelous    resources    and 
quickness  in  their  use,  with  the  keenest  conception  of 
the  true  relation  of  facts  to  each  other,  with  an  un- 
limited fertility  of  expression  and  effective  and  per- 
suasive diction,  all  united  with  an  impressive  phy- 
sique, and  with  all  these  great  powers  held  in  place 
and  controlled  by  a  fullness  of  heart  which  has  won 
the   affection,   and  a  character   of  perfect  integrity 
which   has   commanded   the   respect,  of  all,  George 
Marston  has  worthily  and  completely  continued  the 
succession  of  the  leaders  of  the  bar  of  Southern  Mas- 
sachusetts. 

Lincoln  Flagg  Brigham  was  born  in  Cambridge 
(Port),  Mass.,  on  Oct.  4,  1819,  and  was  the  youngest 
of  six  children,  whose  parents  were  Lincoln  Brigham, 
son  of  Elijah  and  Ruth  (Taylor)  Brigham,  of  South- 
boro',  Mass.,  and  Lucy  (Forbes)  Brigham,  daughter  of 
Elisha  and  Hannah  (Flagg)  Forbes,  of  Westboro', 
Mass.  Lincoln  Brigham,  father  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  was  a  descendant  of  the  sixth  generation 
from  "  Thomas  Brigham,  who,  aged  thirty-two  years, 
embarked  at  London  for  New  England  April  18, 
1635,  in  the  ship  'Susan  and  Ellyn,'  Edward  Payne, 
master,"  and  was  a  "  townsman"  of  Cambridge,  Mass., 
where  he  died  in  1853,  leaving  three  sons,  who  upon 
the  second  marriage  of  their  mother  settled  in  Marl- 
boro', Mass.,  and  are  supposed  to  have  been  the  pro- 
genitors of  all  persons  in  the  United  States  bearing 
the  name  of  Brigham. 

Lincoln  F.  Brigham,  when  partially  fitted  for  col- 
lege, entered  the  counting-room  of  Samuel  Austin, 
Jr.,  a  distinguished  merchant  of  Boston,  engaged  in 
trade  with  Calcutta,  and  after  remaining  in  this  em- 
ployment between  two  and  three  years,  abandoned 
his  commercial  education  and  prepared  for  college 
under  the  private  tuition  of  Rev.  David  Peabody,  the 
husband  of  his  eldest  sister,  and  afterwards  Professor 
of  Belles-Lettres  and  Rhetoric  in  Dartmouth  College  ; 
entered  in  1838,  and  graduated  from  Dartmouth 
College  in  1842.  He  immediately  upon  leaving  col- 
lege entered  the  Dane  Law  School  of  Harvard  Uni- 
versity, and  there  remained  until  January,  1844, 
when  he  entered  as  a  student  of  law  the  office  of  Clif- 
ford (John  H.)  &  Colby  (Harrison  G.  O.)  at  New 
Bedford,  and  there  studied  law  until  he  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  Bristol  County, 
at  New  Bedford,  June  term,  1845.  H.  G.  O.  Colby 
having  a  month  previously  been  appointed  a  justice 
of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  Mr.  Clifford,  on  July 
1,  1845,  received  Mr.  Brigham  into  a  partnership  with 
him  in  the  practice  of  law,  which  continued  until 
Mr.  Clifford  became  Governor  of  Massachusetts  in 
1853,  when  he  appointed  Mr.  Brigham  to  the  office  of 
district  attorney  of  the  Southern  District  of  Massa- 
chusetts, comprising  the  counties  of  Bristol,  Barn- 
stable, Nantucket,  and  Duke's. 


18 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


On  Oct.  20, 1847,  Lincoln  F.  Brigham  married  Eliza 
Endicott  Swain,  only  daughter  of  Thomas  Swain,  of 
New  Bedford,  and  son  of  Thaddeus  and  Ruth  (Hus- 
sey)  Swain,  both  natives  of  Nantucket,  and  Sylvia 
(Perry)  Swain,  of  New  Bedford,  daughter  of  Dr. 
Samuel  and  Sylvia  (Clapp)  Perry,  and  their  children 
are  four  sons. 

Mr.  Brigham  held  the  office  of  district  attorney  of 
the  Southern  District,  under  his  original  appointment, 
until  1856,  when,  that  office  becoming  elective,  he  was 
elected  to  and  continued  in  it  until  he  was  appointed 
in  1859  by  Governor  N.  P.  Banks,  upon  the  estab- 
lishment of  the  Superior  Court,  to  be  one  of  its  asso- 
ciate justices,  and  served  in  that  office  until  on  Jan. 
28,  1869,  upon  the  promotion  of  Seth  Ames,  chief 
justice  of  the  Superior  Court  to  the  Supreme  Judicial 
Court,  Governor  William  Chaflin  appointed  Judge 
Brigham  to  the  chief  justiceship  of  the  Superior  Court, 
and  he  is  now  in  that  office.  Judge  Brigham  resided 
in  New  Bedford  from  1844  to  1860,  in  Boston  from 
1860  to  1866,  and  from  1866  to  this  time  in  Salem, 
Essex  Co.,  Mass.  Judge  Brigham  has  never  held  or 
been  a  candidate  for  any  political  office. 

Judge  Brigham's  career  has  been  one  of  constant 
success;  whether  at  the  bar  pleading  for  his  client, 
or  as  public  prosecutor  enforcing  the  criminal  laws  of 
the  commonwealth,  or  upon  the  bench  holding  with 
absolute  impartiality  the  scales  of  justice,  he  has  won 
the  unqualified  approval  of  all  with  whom  he  has 
been  associated.  But,  better  even  than  this,  his  per- 
fect mental  and  moral  integrity,  born  of  a  conscience 
which  palliates  no  deviation  from  the  highest  and 
most  exacting  standard  of  duty,  has  won  for  his  pro- 
fessional and  judicial  life  the  respect  and  admiration 
of  every  class  of  men  ;  while  his  courtesy  and  be- 
nignity, beaming  from  a  face  of  wonderful  attractive- 
ness, have  made  Lowell's  lines  as  true  of  him  as  they 
were  of  Agassiz,  that 

"  Where'er  he  met  a  stranger, 
There  he  left  a  friend." 

Alansen  Borden,  the  present  judge  of  the  Third 
District  Court  of  Bristol,  holden  at  New  Bedford, 
was  born  in  Tiverton,  R.  I.  (now  Fall  River)  in  1823. 
He  studied  law  in  the  office  of  Eliot  &  Kasson,  in 
New  Bedford,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  June, 
1849.  He  has  been  one  of  the  School  Committee  of 
New  Bedford  a  number  of  years,  was  a  member  of 
the  Massachusetts  House  of  Representatives,  was  as- 
sistant assessor  under  the  internal  revenue  law  in 
1864,  was  judge  of  the  police  court,  and  became  judge 
of  the  present  District  Court,  which  office  he  now 
holds.  He  was  mayor  of  New  Bedford  in  1877  for 
one  year. 

Edwin  Luther  Barney  was  born  in  Swansea,  in 
this  commonwealth,  on  the  1st  day  of  April,  A.D. 
1827.  His  father  was  Capt.  Edwin  Barney,  son  of 
the  reputed  ship-builder,  Moses  Barney.  At  a  very 
early  age  his  father  died,  and  his  mother  was  left  with 


three  small  children,  our  subject  being  the  eldest,  un- 
der the  age  of  seven  years. 

At  nine  years  of  age  Mr.  Barney  left  his  home  to 
get  his  own  livelihood,  and  from  nine  to  sixteen  years 
of  age  worked  upon  a  farm  for  his  living,  goiug  to 
school  winters,  some  four  months  each  year.  After 
about  sixteen  years  of  age  he  worked  upon  a  farm 
and  went  to  academic  schools  in  the  fall  with  the 
earnings  of  the  same,  and  in  the  winters  went  to 
school,  doing  chores  for  his  board,  and  thus  acquired 
a  sufficient  education  to  pass,  in  the  fall  of  1846,  ad- 
mission to  Brown  University.  In  March,  1849,  he 
came  to  New  Bedford,  where  he  has  since  resided, 
and  entered  the  law-office  of  the  late  Timothy  G.  Cof- 
fin, and  in  October,  1850,  was  admitted  before  the  full 
court  to  practice  law  in  the  courts  of  Massachusetts. 
Mr.  Barney  soon  afterwards  entered  into  partnership 
with  Mr.  Coffin,  and  from  November,  1850,  to  Janu- 
ary, 1853,  the  firm  was  Coffin  &  Barney.  Then  Mr. 
Barney  at  his  request  withdrew  from  the  firm  and 
commenced  the  practice  of  the  law  alone,  and  from 
that  date  to  this  time  has  been  engaged  in  all  the 
various  branches  of  his  profession.  He  is  now  in  the 
prime  of  life,  with  all  the  vigor  of  a  man  of  thirty 
years  of  age.     Democratic  in  politics. 

Robert  C.  Pitman  is  a  native  of  New  Bedford. 
He  came  to  the  bar  in  1847  ;  was  a  partner  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  with  Thomas  D.  Eliot,  then  a  leading 
lawyer  in  New  Bedford.  He  was  a  judge  of  the 
Police  Court  of  New  Bedford  for  several  years  ;  then 
he  went  to  the  State  Senate,  where  he  proved  to  be  a 
leading  man.  He  was  an  active  temperance  worker 
and  legislator,  and  then  he  worked  his  way  to  the  ap- 
pointment of  a  judge  of  the  Supreme  Court.  He  has 
an  excellent  judicial  mind,  and  is  in  every  way  quali- 
fied for  the  highest  court  of  the  commonwealth. 
Judge  Pitman  is  a  hard  student  and  honest  thinker 
not  only  in  law,  but  in  all  questions  of  interest  to 
humanity. 

Hon.  William  W.  Crapo,  one  of  the  leading 
members  of  the  Massachusetts  bar,  was  born  in  Dart- 
mouth, Bristol  Co.,  May  16,  1830. 

He  was  educated  at  the  public  schools  in  New  Bed- 
ford, prepared  for  college  at  Phillips  Academy, 
Andover,  and  subsequently  entered  Yale,  where  he 
graduated  in  1852.  Having  decided  upon  the  legal 
profession  as  his  life-work,  he  commenced  the  study 
of  the  law  in  the  office  of  the  late  Governor  Clifford 
at  New  Bedford,  and  also  attended  the  Dane  Law 
School  at  Cambridge.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
February,  1855,  and  commenced  practice  in  New  Bed- 
ford, where  he  has  since  resided.  In  April  following 
his  admission  to  the  bar  he  was  appointed  city  solic- 
itor, which  office  he  held  twelve  years. 

In  1856,  Mr.  Crapo  entered  the  political  arena, 
making  his  first  speeches  for  John  C.  Fremont,  the 
first  candidate  of  the  Republican  party  for  President. 
In  the  autumn  of  the  same  year  he  was  elected  to 
the  Massachusetts  House  of  Representatives,  and  the 


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BENCH  AND  BAH. 


19 


following  year,  1857,  he  was  solicited  to  become  the 
candidate  of  his  party  for  State  senator,  which  prof- 
fered honor  he  declined. 

Not  only  did  Mr.  Crapo  soon  secure  a  leading  posi- 
tion at  the  bar,  but  he  won  in  an  especial  manner  the 
confidence  of  the  citizens  of  New  Bedford.  All  move- 
ments tending  to  advance  the  interests  of  New  Bed- 
ford have  found  in  him  an  earnest  supporter.  He  was 
chairman  of  the  commission  on  the  introduction  of 
water,  and  from  1865  to  1875  was  chairman  of  the 
water  board. 

In  all  positions  where  business  capacity,  good 
judgment,  and  executive  ability  are  needed  his  ser- 
vices are  always  in  request.  As  guardian  or  trustee 
for  the  management  of  estates,  his  high  character  and 
business  talent  brought  to  him  the  tender  of  more 
business  than  he  could  possibly  undertake.  In  the 
larger  field  of  business  enterprise  and  the  manage- 
ment of  financial  affairs,  his  peculiar  endowments 
and  his  entire  trustworthiness  have  been  fully  recog- 
nized for  many  years.  He  has  been  for  twelve  years 
the  president  of  the  Mechanics'  National  Bank  of 
New  Bedford,  is  a  trustee  in  one  savings-bank  and 
is  solicitor  for  several  others.  He  is  a  director  in  the 
Potamska  Mills  and  the  Wamsutta  Mills  corpora- 
tions and  other  manufactories,  and  is  associated  in 
the  management  of  several  railroad  corporations. 
He  is  a  prominent  manufacturer  of  lumber,  and  has 
interests  in  shipping.  In  his  profession  he  is  pre- 
eminently a  business  lawyer,  being  familiar  with 
large  commercial  transactions  in  all  their  bearings. 
With  the  insurance  business  he  has  been  familiar 
from  a  boy  in  his  father's  office,  and  was  for  many 
years  a  director  in  one  of  the  old  New  Bedford  com- 
panies. He  is  also  president  of  the  Flint  and  Pere 
Marquette  Railroad  in  Michigan,  a  part  of  which  was 
organized  and  begun  through  his  father's  efforts. 

Mr.  Crapo  is  a  scholarly  man  of  great  mental  grasp, 
industry,  and  energy,  which  have  enabled  him  to 
master  and  successfully  carry  through  in  all  their 
detail  the  duties  devolved  upon  him  by  so  many 
varied  interests. 

He  was  elected  as  a  representative  to  the  Forty- 
fourth  Congress  to  fill  a  vacancy,  and  was  re-elected 
to  the  Forty-fifth,  Forty-sixth,  and  Forty-seventh 
Congresses,  declining  in  1882  to  longer  be  a  candi- 
date. Mr.  Crapo  early  took  a  prominent  position  in 
Congress,  and  in  the  Forty-fifth  Congress  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Committee  on  Foreign  Affairs,  and  in  the 
Forty-sixth  was  in  the  Committee  on  Banking  and 
Currency. 

In  the  Forty-seventh  Congress  he  was  chairman  of 
the  same  committee,  and  excited  the  admiration  of 
the  business  men  of  the  country  by  his  skillful  man- 
agement of  the  bill  for  extending  the  charters  of  the 
national  banks,  a  bill  which  was  successfully  carried 
through  under  his  leadership  in  spite  of  all  obstacles. 
In  the  tariff  legislation,  through  which  the  tax  on  the 
capital  and  deposits  of  banks  and  bankers  was  re- 


moved, Mr.  Crapo's  familiarity  with  the  subject  was 
of  great  service,  and  secured  the  direct  application  of 
the  law  to  the  national  banks.  Other  prominent  ser- 
vices might  be  recalled  if  the  limits  of  this  sketch  did 
not  prevent.  It  is  sufficient  to  say  that  his  value  as 
a  legislator  was  recognized  and  highly  appreciated, 
not  only  by  his  constituents,  who  knew  the  man,  but 
by  the  country. 

P.  C.  Headley,  in  his  "Public  Men  of  To-Day,"  in 
speaking  of  Mr.  Crapo,  says,  "  At  the  age  of  fifty  Mr. 
Crapo  finds  himself  well  started  in  political  life,  in 
the  full  maturity  of  his  powers,  and  possessing  what 
some  politician  has  so  neatly  termed  '  the  pecuniary 
basis.'  In  person  he  strongly  resembles  his  father,  a 
man  of  keenly  intellectual  physiognomy.  The  family 
is  of  French  origin,  regarding  which  there  is  a  ro- 
mantic tradition.  Both  father  and  son  have  a  type  of 
face  which  is  French  rather  than  English.  The  strong 
mental  as  well  as  physical  resemblance  of  the  son  to 
the  father  is  a  striking  illustration  of  Galton's  doctrine 
of  heredity." 

Politically,  Mr.  Crapo  is  a  Republican,  and  his  po- 
litical instincts  are  liberal  and  progressive.  He  is  an 
exceptionally  able  legislator,  and  one  of  the  most 
honored  citizens  of  the  commonwealth. 

The  degree  of  LL.D.  was  conferred  upon  him  by 
Yale  College  in  1882. 

Jan.  22,  1857,  Mr.  Crapo  united  in  marriage  with 
Sarah  Ann  Davis  Tappan,  daughter  of  George  and 
Serena  Davis  Tappan,  and  their  children  are  Henry 
Howland  Crapo,  born  Jan.  31,  1862,  now  in  senior 
class  (1883)  at  Harvard  University,  and  Stanford  Tap- 
pan  Crapo,  born  June  13, 1865,  now  in  the  freshman 
class  (1886)  of  Yale  College. 

Thomas  M.  Stetson.— Mr.  Stetson,  son  of  the  late 
Rev.  Caleb  Stetson,  of  Medford,  Mass.,  was  born  in 
that  town  June  15,  1830.  He  graduated  from  Har- 
vard University  in  1849,  and  studied  law  at  the  Dane 
Law  School,  Cambridge,  and  in  New  Bedford.  In 
1854,  immediately  upon  his  admission  to  the  bar,  he 
was  invited  to  join  one  of  the  oldest  law-offices  in  the 
State,  established  more  than  half  a  century  ago  in 
New  Bedford  by  the  late  Hon.  Lemuel  Williams  and 
Judge  Charles  Henry  Warren.  Later  the  style  of  the 
firm  was  Warren  &  Eliot  (the  late  Hon.  Thomas  D.), 
and  in  1854  it  was  Eliot  &  Pitman  (now  Judge  Robert 
C).  Mr.  Eliot's  absence  much  of  the  time  in  Con- 
gress created  the  need  of  an  additional  partner,  and 
the  firm  became  Eliot,  Pitman  &  Stetson,  continu- 
ing a  few  years  till  the  withdrawal  of  Judge  Pitman, 
when  it  became  Eliot  &  Stetson,  and  so  remained 
until  the  death  of  Mr.  Eliot  in  1870.  The  firm  now 
is  Stetson  &  Greene  (Francis  B.). 

Mr.  Stetson  at  once  took  high  rank  at  the  bar.  The 
law  never  had  occasion  to  be  jealous  of  him,  for  she 
never  had  a  more  faithful  and  devoted  lover.  Nothing 
has  been  allowed  to  interfere  with  his  legal  studies, 
and  as  a  pure  lawyer,  in  mastery  of  the  law,  great 
principles,  in  affluence  of  legal  and  other  learning,  in 


20 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


exhaustive  preparation  of  his  cases,  and  in  their  clear 
and  lucid  presentation  to  the  courts,  he  has  no  superior 
in  Southern  Massachusetts. 

Mr.  Stetson  was  married  in  1856  to  Caroline  Dawes 
Eliot,  eldest  daughter  of  the  late  Hon.  Thomas  Dawes 
Eliot. 

Adam  Mackie  is  a  Scotchman  by  birth,  and  in- 
herits a  Scotch  constitution.  He  is  now  about  sixty 
years  of  age.  He  began  life  a  poor  boy,  rose  by  his 
own  exertions  to  become  a  lawyer,  and  for  some 
twenty  years  had  a  large  and  lucrative  law  practice, 
especially  in  the  admiralty  courts.  He  often  ex- 
hibited considerable  skill  in  the  conducting  of  cases 
before  Judge  Sprogen.  His  social  qualities  made  him 
acceptable  and  welcome,  and  he  was  always  so  will- 
ing to  aid  another  that  none  can  say  aught  against 
him.  He  has  not  been  in  the  practice  for  some  ten 
years  past,  and  has  lost  his  health. 

A.  L.  West  was  for  some  years  in  practice  with  Mr. 
Mackie,  but  died  some  fifteen  years  ago  with  con- 
sumption. He  was  a  pleasant  and  agreeable  man. 
He  was  a  good  lawyer  and  safe  counselor. 

Lemuel  Tripp  Wilcox  was  born  in  Fairhaven, 
in  the  county  of  Bristol,  in  August,  1835,  was  edu- 
cated at  Yale  College,  and  graduated  in  1860. 

He  studied  law  in  the  office  of  Eliot  &  Stetson,  in' the 
city  of  New  Bedford,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  I 
June,  1862.     He  quickly  rose  in  his  profession,  and 
was  early  in  good  position,  and  is  now  a  leading  law- 
yer at  the  bar  of  this  county.     His  addresses  to  the  I 
jury  and  the  court  are  always  full  of  fine  sentences,  | 
clothed  in  the  most  polished  words.     He  is  now  in 
active  practice,  and  in  the  very  prime  of  life. 

Charles  W.  Clifford,  son  of  John  H.  and 
Sarah  Parker  (Allen)  Clifford,  was  born  Aug.  19, 
1844,  at  New  Bedford,  Mass.,  where  he  was  fitted  for 
Harvard  College  at  the  old  "  Friends'  Academy," 
then  in  charge  of  the  late  T.  Prentiss  Allen. 

Entering  college  at  the  age  of  seventeen,  he  soon 
won  the  respect  and  esteem  of  his  instructors,  as  well 
as  his  fellows,  and  after  having  borne  a  prominent 
part  in  all  the  literary  and  social  enterprises  of  his 
time,  graduated  with  full  honors  in  July,  1865. 

Never,  from  his  earliest  years,  having  had  a  doubt  as 
to  the  choice  of  a  profession,  he  at  once  began  the  study 
of  the  law,  which  he  pursued  under  instruction  from 
Hon.  E.  H.  Bennett,  of  Taunton ;  Hon.  John  C. 
Dodge,  of  Boston,  and  at  the  Harvard  Law  School, 
and  after  being  admitted  to  the  bar  in  New  Bedford 
at  the  June  term,  1868,  began  practice  in  the  office 
formerly  occupied  by  his  father.  Here  he  practiced 
alone  until  February,  1869,  when  the  firm  of  Marston 
&  Crapo  was  formed,  of  which  he  continued  a  mem- 
ber until  its  dissolution  in  April,  1878,  since  when  he 
has  been  an  active  partner  of  the  firm  of  Crapo,  Clif- 
ford &  Clifford,  one  of  two  firms  formed  principally 
from  the  members  of  the  old  firm  of  Marston  &  Crapo. 
On  May  5,  1869,  he  married  Frances  Lothrop, 
daughter  of  Charles  L.  and  Elizabeth  T.  Wood,  of 


New  Bedford,  who  died  April  28,  1872,  and  on  March 
15, 1876,  he  married  Wilhelmina  H.,  daughter  of  the 
late  Governor  Crapo,  of  Michigan,  and  sister  of  his 
partner,  Hon.  William  W.  Crapo. 

While  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Marston  &  Crapo, 
he  was  constantly  associated  as  junior  counsel  with 
Hon.  George  Marston  in  the  trial  of  important  causes, 
the  preparation  of  which  was  frequently  intrusted  to 
him,  and  the  training  and  valuable  experience  de- 
rived from  this  association  soon  bore  its  fruit  in  the 
recognition  of  a  legal  ability  of  a  high  order,  and  a 
maturity  of  thought  and  judgment  which  rendered 
him  a  wise  and  valued  counselor,  and  which  led  to 
his  appointment  as  one  of  the  commissioners  to  re- 
vise the  judiciary  system  of  the  commonwealth  in 
1876,  an  appointment  received  by  the  profession  as 
one  eminently  fit  to  be  made. 

Loyal  to  the  principles  of  the  Republican  party, 
and  earnest  and  energetic  in  maintaining  its  integ- 
rity and  influence,  he  has  ever  been  found  in  the 
front  rank  of  its  active  supporters,  and  several  times 
as  chairman  of  the  Republican  City  Committee  of 
New  Bedford,  as  delegate  to  and  assistant  secretary 
of  the  Republican  National  Convention  at  Chicago 
in  1880,  later  as  a  member  of  the  Republican  State 
Central  Committee  of  Massachusetts,  and  as  manager 
of  the  campaign  of  Hon.  William  W.  Crapo  for  the 
gubernatorial  nomination  in  1882,  has  shown  a  readi- 
ness and  ability  to  do  whatever  should  be  required  of 
him  as  a  supporter  of  Republican  principles,  and  in 
these  various  positions  has  rendered  valuable  service 
to  his  party. 

His  association  with  the  late  Charles  L.  Wood,  his 
father-in-law  and  one  of  the  leading  merchants  of 
New  Bedford,  following  upon  an  early  inculcation  of 
business  habits  and  methods  by  his  distinguished 
father,  enabled  him  to  obtain  a  practical  education  in 
affairs  such  as  is  acquired  by  few  lawyers,  and  this, 
coupled  with  a  natural  aptitude  for  business  questions, 
has  not  only  secured  for  him  many  clients  among  the 
business  institutions  of  New  Bedford,  but  has  been 
the  means  of  his  aid  and  counsel  being  much  sought 
for  in  the  organization  of  new  enterprises  and  in  the 
conduct  and  direction  of  those  already  established. 
He  has  also  charge  of  many  public  and  private  trusts, 
and  his  position  at  the  bar  and  in  affairs  of  business 
is  thoroughly  established  and  secure. 

Mr.  Clifford's  success  as  a  lawyer  is  due  not  less  to 
his  natural  and  acquired  ability  than  to  the  fact  that 
his  sphere  of  life  was  determined  by  himself  and  his 
parents  from  the  beginning,  and  it  may  be  truly  said 
that  he  commenced  the  study  of  his  profession  in  his 
earliest  boyhood.  To  a  clear,  discriminating,  and  ca- 
pacious mind  and  the  results  of  earnest  study  under 
the  best  teachers  he  adds  an  enthusiastic  love  of  the 
law,  most  vigorous  and  efficient  action  in  the  under- 
standing of  his  causes,  scrupulous  fidelity  to  his 
clients  in  all  emergencies,  and  a  chivalrous  sense  of 
professional  and  personal  honor. 


BENCH   AND  BAR. 


21 


Among  the  younger  members  of  the  bar  he  pre- 
serves all  the  freshness  and  humor  of  boyhood,  and 
among  the  seniors  he  sustains  the  dignity  of  a  recog- 
nized equal,  and  his  social  qualities  render  him  a  most 
delightful  companion  and  friend. 

Wendell  H.  Cobb  was  born  at  Sandwich  in  1838. 
He  is  the  son  of  the  Rev.  Asahel  Cobb,  was  educated 
at  Dartmouth  College,  and  graduated  in  1861,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1865.  He  was  a  law  part- 
ner with  Marston  &  Crapo  until  that  firm  was  dis- 
solved. He  is  now  associated  with  Mr.  Marston,  the 
firm  being  Marston  &  Cobb.  He  is  a  good  lawyer  and 
safe  counselor. 

Hosea  M.  Kjtowltox,  the  present  district  attor- 
ney for  the  Southern  District  of  Massachusetts,  was 
born  in  Durham,  in  the  State  of  Maine,  May  20, 1847. 
He  was  educated  at  Tuft's  College,  graduating  in  the 
class  of  1867.  He  studied  law  in  the  office  of  the 
Hon.  Edwin  L.  Barney,  in  New  Bedford,  and  at  Har- 
vard Law  School,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  upon 
the  motion  of  Mr.  Barney  at  the  Supreme  Court  in 
June,  1870.  He  had  an  office  in  Boston  for  one  year, 
and  in  1872  returned  to  New  Bedford  and  entered  the 
office  of  Mr.  Barney,  and  from  the  year  1872  to  1879 
was  a  partner  with  Mr.  Barney.  He  was  in  1876 
elected  to  the  House  of  Representatives  of  Massa- 
chusetts from  New  Bedford,  and  also  for  the  year 
1877,  and  the  following  years,  1878  and  1879,  was  a 
member  of  the  State  Senate.  In  February,  1879,  he 
was  appointed  district  attorney  (to  fill  the  place  of 
the  Hon.  George  Marston,  who  had  been  elected  to 
the  office  of  attorney-general),  which  office  Mr. 
Knowlton  now  holds.  He  is  an  excellent  advocate 
and  wise  counselor. 

The  present  members  of  the  bar  in  New  Bedford  are 
as  follows  : 


Almy,  Edward  C. 
Barney,  Edwin  L. 
Bartlett,  Frederick  C.  S. 
Bonney,  Charles  T. 
Borden, Alanson. 
Clark,  A.  Edwin. 
Clifford,  Charles  W. 
Clifford,  Walter. 
Codd,  Thomas  A. 
Cohh,  Wendell  H. 
Collins,  Alheit  B. 
Crapo,  William  W. 
Desmond,  Thomas  F. 
Devoll,  Daniel  T. 
Douglass,  Edwin  A. 
Fessenden,  Churles  I».  H. 
Gillingham,  .lames  L. 
Goodspeed,  Alexander  M. 
Greene,  Francis  B. 


Holmes,  Lemuel  L.  B. 
Hopkins,  Frederic  S. 
Johnson,  William  H. 
Knowlton,  Hosea  M. 
Luce,  Edward  J. 
Mackie,  Adam. 
Marston,  George. 
Milliken,  Frank  A. 
Palmer,  George  H. 
Parker,  William  C. 
Perry,  Arthur  E. 
Pierce,  John  N. 
Pierce,  Philip. 
Prescott,  Oliver. 
Smith,  William  B. 
Stetson,  Thomas  M. 
Sullavon,  Manuel. 
Tappan,  Francis  W. 
Wilcox,  Lemuel  T. 


Taunton.1— Hox.  Samuel  White,  the  youngest 
of  eight  children  of  Samuel  anrl  Ann  (Bingley)  White, 
was  born  in  Weymouth,  April  2,  1710,  and  graduated 
from  Harvard  College  in  1731,  at  the  age  of  twenty-one. 


The  following  notices  of  members  of  the  legal  profession  in  Taunton 
were  prepared  by  Rev.  S.  Hopkins  Emery. 


He  was  a  great-grandson  of  Thomas  White,  early  at 
Weymouth,  whose  son  Joseph  married,  Sept.  19, 1660, 
Lydia  Rogers,  and  was  the  father  of  Samuel,  born 
Feb.  14,  1666.  Anna,  sister  of  Samuel,  the  subject  of 
this  notice,  was  the  first  wife  of  William  Wilde,  whose 
only  child,  Daniel  Wilde,  married  Anna  Sumner,  and 
was  the  father  of  Hon.  Samuel S.  Wilde,  justice  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  Massachusetts. 

Hon.  Samuel  White  has  the  honor  of  leading  the 
profession  of  law  in  Taunton  in  the  order  of  time  cer- 
tainly. No  other  name  is  recorded  before  him.  Rev. 
Mr.  Dauforth  "  was  no  contemptible  lawyer"  in  the 
opinion  of  Mr.  Baylies,  and  there  were  other  men  in 
all  the  generations  who  could  do  "  law  business,"  but 
to  Mr.  White  has  generally  been  assigned  the  proud 
position  of  the  "  first  Taunton  lawyer."  His  contem- 
poraries, as  Mr.  Alger  suggests  in  a  valuable  article 
in  the  "  Collections  of  the  Old  Colony  Historical  So- 
ciety," 1879,  were  Elkanah  Leonard,  of  Middlebor- 
ough  ;  Stephen  Paine,  of  Bristol,  some  years  judge  of 
the  Court  of  Common  Pleas ;  Timothy  Ruggles,  of 
Sandwich,  and  James  Otis,  of  Barnstable,  the  father 
of  the  distinguished  patriot  bearing  that  name.  It  is 
not  quite  certain  when  Mr.  White  commenced  prac- 
tice in  Taunton,  but  probably  not  far  from  1739.  In 
1744  he  was  commissioned  as  justice  of  the  peace  for 
Bristol  County.  In  1746,  when  the  courts  first  began 
their  sessions  in  Taunton,  he  was  appointed  king's 
attorney  of  the  Court  of  Sessions,  holding  the  ap- 
pointment till  death.  Mr.  White  represented  Taun- 
ton in  the  General  Court  in  the  years  1749-53,  1756- 
59,  1764-65  ;  acted  as  Speaker  of  the  House  in  1759, 
1764-65,  and  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  Council  in 
1767-69. 

He  had  the  honor  of  presiding  over  the  House 
during  the  period  of  the  Stamp  Act,  when  Otis  and 
Adams  were  members  and  made  their  names  famous 
in  American  history.  It  was  the  circular  signed  by 
him  as  Speaker  which  led  to  the  first  Congress,  as- 
sembled at  New  York  in  1765.  Thus  the  initiatory 
steps  towards  the  American  Revolution  were  taken  by 
him,  whose  death  occurred  the  20th  of  March,  1769. 
The  following  inscription  is  found  on  the  slab  which 
marks  the  place  of  his  burial  on  the  "  Plain  :" 

"  In  memory 

of 

The  Hon.  Samuel  W'hite,  Esq., 

Colonel 

of 

a  foot  regiment  of  Militia, 

Barrister  at  law, 

and 

Member  of  the  Hon.  his  Majesty's  Council, 

who 

having  been  often  delegated  to  the  office  of  government, 

faithfully  served  his  God,  his  King,  and  his  country, 

and  exhibiting,  thro'  an  unspotted  course  of  life, 

the  virtues  of  a  patriot,  the  friend  A  the  Christian, 

fell  asleep  in  Jesus 

March  20,  MDCCLX1X., 

in  the  LIX. 

year  of  his  age. 


22 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL  COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


This  humble  stone,  small  tribute  of  their  praise, 

Lamented  shade!  thy  weeping  offspring  raise. 

Oh  !  while  their  footsteps  haunt  y°  hallowed  shrine, 

May  each  fair  branch  shoot  fertile  as  ye  vine. 

Not  with  thy  dust  be  here  thy  virtues'  tomb, 

But  brightening  still,  each  grace  transplanted  bloom; 

Sire,  sons,  and  daughters  share  alike  renown, 

Applauding  angels,  a  celestial  crown." 

Mr.  White  married  in  November,  1735,  Prudence, 
daughter  of  Samuel  Williams,  of  Taunton,  and  had 
the  following  children:  (1)  Experience,  born  1738, 
and  married  to  Hon.  George  Leonard,  LL.D. ;  (2) 
Anna,  born  1741,  and  married  to  Hon.  Daniel  Leon- 
ard;  (3)  Bathsheba,  born  1746,  and  married  to  the 
Hon.  William  Baylies,  M.D. 

The  White  homestead  was  on  the  old  road  to  the 
Weir,  now  Somerset  Avenue,  not  far  from  the  inter- 
section of  White  Street. 

Madame  Prudence  White  lies  buried  by  the  side  of 
her  husband,  with  the  following  affectionate  tribute 
to  her  memory  :  "  In  early  life  she  was  a  firm  believer 
in  the  Christian  religion,  and  lived  in  the  practice  of 
its  precepts.  By  her  amiable  disposition  she  secured 
the  esteem  of  all  that  knew  her.  With  a  conscience 
pure,  and  a  constitution  rendered  excellent  by  tem- 
perance and  regularity,  she  reached  the  ninety-eighth 
year  of  her  age,  and  relying  on  the  mercy  of  her  God, 
she  calmly  fell  asleep  in  Jesus,  June  VIII.,  Anno 
Domini  1808." 

Hon.  Robert  Treat  Paine,  LL.D.,  adistinguished 
Taunton  lawyer,  was  born  in  Boston,  March  12, 1731. 
His  father,  Rev.  Thomas  Paine,  was  born  in  Barnstable, 
graduated  at  Harvard  College,  1717,  and  ordained  at 
Weymouth,  but  in  consequence  of  ill  health  removed 
to  Boston  in  1730,  and  afterwards  resigning  the  min- 
istry, engaged  in  mercantile  affairs.  His  mother  was 
the  daughter  of  Rev.  Samuel  Treat,  of  Eastham,  the 
son  of  Governor  Robert  Treat,  of  Connecticut,  and 
granddaughter  of  Rev.  Samuel  Willard,  vice-president 
of  Harvard  College. 

Mr.  Paine  fitted  for  college  in  the  Boston  Latin 
School,  and  entering  Cambridge  at  the  age  of  four- 
teen, graduated  in  1749.  To  this  time,  as  an  only 
son,  he  had  been  well  supported  by  a  father  with 
abundant  means,  but  this  father  losing  his  property, 
the  son  was  thrown  upon  his  own  resources,  and  after 
keeping  school  for  a  year,  made  three  voyages  to 
North  Carolina,  acting  as  master,  and  in  the  last 
going  to  Fayal  and  Cadiz,  afterwards  going  as  master 
to  the  coasts  of  Greenland  on  a  whaling  voyage.  On 
his  return,  in  1755,  he  commenced  the  study  of  law 
with  his  relative,  Judge  Willard,  of  Lancaster,  giving 
also  his  attention  to  theology.  During  his  law  studies 
he  supplied  the  pulpit  at  Shirley.  Mr.  Willard  re- 
ceiving the  appointment  of  colonel  of  a  regiment  to 
be  raised  for  an  expedition  to  Crown  Point,  Mr.  Paine 
was  appointed  chaplain,  and  his  sermons,  both  at  Shir- 
ley and  the  camp  at  Lake  George,  are  still  preserved. 
He  was  admitted  to  the  Boston  bar  in  1757,  and  re- 
moved his  office  to  Taunton  in  1761. 


Although  residing  in  Taunton,  his  practice  was  not 
confined  to  any  such  narrow  limits.  His  clients  were 
in  all  parts  of  the  commonwealth.  Writes  a  descend- 
ant of  his,  "  He  constantly  attended  the  courts  at 
Boston,  Taunton,  Plymouth,  Barnstable,  Worcester, 
and  other  places.  His  great  powers  of  mind,  pro- 
found knowledge  of  law,  and  habits  of  thorough  in- 
vestigation brought  him  a  large  practice,  which  in- 
creased till  it  was  probably  not  exceeded  by  that  of 
any  lawyer  in  the  State."  Bradford,  in  his  "  History  of 
Massachusetts,"  ranks  him  "  among  the  most  eminent 
lawyers  of  the  province."  He  was  an  intimate  asso- 
ciate and  friend  of  such  men  as  James  Otis  and  Sam- 
uel Adams. 

In  1768,  when  a  convention  was  called  in  Boston 
by  prominent  men  to  consult  on  the  condition  of  the 
country,  and  the  assembled  wisdom  of  the  people 
was  needed,  Robert  Treat  Paine  was  the  choice  of 
Taunton  to  that  convention,  and  was  at  once  one  of 
its  leading  spirits.  In  1770,  after  the  Boston  massacre, 
Mr.  Paine  was  retained  as  prosecuting  counsel  by  Bos- 
ton against  the  British  soldiers,  and  conducted  the 
trial  with  signal  ability. 

This  year  he  was  married  in  Taunton  to  Sally, 
daughter  of  Thomas  Cobb,  Esq.,  and  sister  of  Gen. 
David  Cobb.  His  home  was  in  the  rear  of  what  is 
now  the  Taunton  Bank,  afterwards  the  residence  of 
Judge  Fales. 

Mr.  Paine  was  not  only  a  good  lawyer,  but  a  warm- 
hearted, zealous  patriot.  Absorbed  as  he  was  with 
cases  at  court,  he  could  not  be  spared  in  the  public 
service.  A  large  committee  of  the  citizens  of  Taun- 
ton was  appointed  to  attend  to  public  affairs  and  re- 
monstrate against  public  wrong,  and  there  was  no 
other  man  who  could  serve  so  well  as  chairman. 
He  drafted  the  high-toned  resolutions  which  were 
passed.  He  represented  Taunton  in  the  letter  to 
Lord  Dartmouth  and  in  the  address  for  the  Gov- 
ernor's removal,  and  he  was  chairman  of  the  com- 
mittee on  the  impeachment  of  Chief  Justice  Oliver. 

He  was  largely  instrumental  in  securing  a  Conti- 
nental Congress  in  1774.  He  was  one  of  the.Massa- 
chusetts  delegation  to  that  Congress.  His  associates 
were  Thomas  Cushing,  Samuel  Adams,  James  Bow- 
doiu,  and  John  Adams.  The  Congress  met  in  Sep- 
tember and  October.  Mr.  Paine,  on  his  return  to 
Taunton  in  November,  received  an  ovation  from  the 
Sons  of  Liberty.  In  1775,  in  the  winter  and  spring, 
he  attended  the  Second  Provincial  Congress  at  Cam- 
bridge, and  was  one  of  the  Committee  on  the  State  of 
the  Province.  In  April  he  attended  the  Congress  at 
Philadelphia,  which  met  in  May.  Mr.  Paine  was 
prominent  in  that  Congress,  chairman  of  the  Commit- 
tee on  Supplies,  and  devoted  himself  for  a  year  and 
eight  months  with  ceaseless  zeal  and  energy  to  the 
work  of  providing  equipments  for  the  army,  powder, 
cannon,  and  fire-arms.  He  published  an  essay  on  the 
manufacture  of  gunpowder,  which  was  very  service- 
able, and  devoted  himself,  body  and  soul,  to  the  busi- 


BENCH   AND   BAR. 


23 


ness  of  making  ready  for  the  men  in  the  field  the 
sinews  of  war.  He  served  on  a  committee  to  pur- 
chase clothing  for  the  army,  to  establish  a  hospital, 
and  was  one  of  a  committee,  with  R.  R.  Livingston 
and  Governor  Langdon,  to  visit  the  army  on  the 
northern  frontier.  On  the  4th  of  July,  1776,  he  was 
one  to  sign  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  He 
once  more  returned  to  Taunton,  Dec.  30, 1776,  crowned 
with  honor  in  the  eyes  of  his  countrymen  as  a  patriot 
who  had  not  spared  himself  for  his  country's  cause. 
Although  elected  to  subsequent  sessions  of  Congress, 
he  declined  the  honor,  and  contented  himself  with  a 
seat  in  the  Legislature  in  1777,  of  which  he  acted  as 
Speaker,  and  afterwards  accepted  the  place  of  attor- 
ney-general. In  1778  he  was  a  member  of  the  Hart- 
ford Convention  ;  in  1779  a  member  of  the  Executive 
Council,  and  a  member  of  the  committee  to  draft  a 
new  State  Constitution,  under  which,  when  adopted, 
he  continued  to  serve  as  attorney-general. 

The  duties  of  this  office  making  his  residence  at 
Taunton  inconvenient,  he  removed  to  Boston  in  1781, 
purchasing  the  estate  once  owned  and  occupied  by 
Governor  Shirley,  at  the  corner  of  Milk  and  Federal 
Streets.  In  1790  he  accepted  the  position  of  judge  of 
the  Supreme  Court,  which  he  had  declined  in  pre- 
vious years,  and  so  served  till  1804,  when  he  was  once 
more  elected  a  member  of  the  Executive  Council. 
After  one  year  he  declined  all  further  public  duties, 
feeling  that  he  had  earned  the  quiet  of  home,  till  life's 
close,  May  12,  1814,  at  the  age  of  eighty-three.  A 
most  honorable  and  useful  life  was  his,  twenty  years 
of  which,  in  life's  prime,  were  spent  in  Taunton. 
Judge  Paine  had  eight  children,  four  sons  and  four 
daughters.  Three  of  the  sons — Robert  Treat,  Thomas, 
and  Charles — graduated  at  Harvard  University  and 
were  educated  for  the  bar.  Robert  died  in  1798  of  the 
yellow  fever,  and  Thomas  took  his  name,  desiring,  as 
he  used  to  say,  a  "  Christian"  name.  He  died  in  1811, 
having  distinguished  himself  as  a  poet  and  writer  for 
the  stage.  Charles  was  the  father  of  Charles  C.  Paine, 
Esq.,  who  married  a  daughter  of  Hon.  Charles  Jack- 
son, judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  from  1813  to  1824. 
Antoinette  Paine  married  Deacon  Samuel  Greele,  of 
Boston.  Another  daughter,  Mary,  married  Rev.  Elisha 
Clapp,  also  of  Boston. 

Hon.  Daniel  Leonard  was  the  only  child  of  Col. 
Ephraim  Leonard  (by  his  first  wife,  Judith  Perkins), 
and  was  born  in  Norton,  now  Mansfield,  in  1740.  He 
graduated  at  Harvard  University  in  1760,  and  mar- 
ried, for  his  first  wife,  Anna,  daughter  of  Hon.  Samuel 
White.  His  second  wife  was  Sarah  Hammock.  Mr. 
Leonard  easily  took  high  rank  in  his  profession  and 
made  himself  prominent  in  political  matters.  First 
he  espoused  the  cause  of  the  people,  and  advocated  i 
republican  principles,  but  afterward,  as  was  sup- 
posed, through  the  influence  of  Governor  Hutchin- 
son, became  a  leading  loyalist.  Articles  which  he 
published  in  1774  an  1  1775  in  a  Boston  paper  called 
Draper's  Paper,  defending  the  king,  the  ministry,  and 


the  Parliament,  were  considered  very  able  and  worthy 
of  a  reply  from  John  Adams  under  the  signature  of 
"Novanglus."  Of  course,  in  the  high  state  of  polit- 
ical excitement,  Mr.  Leonard  found  it  uncomfortable, 
if  not  unsafe,  to  remain  in  Taunton.  The  house  he 
occupied,  afterwards  the  residence  of  Judge  Padel- 
ford,  bore  marks  of  mob  violence.  He  sought  shelter 
in  Boston,  proceeded  to  Halifax  in  1776,  thence  to 
England,  where,  as  a  reward  for  his  loyalty,  he  re- 
ceived the  appointment  of  chief  justice  of  Bermuda. 

After  discharging  the  duties  of  his  office  with 
ability  several  years  he  returned  to  London,  where 
he  died  in  1829,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-nine. 
He  left  no  children,  but  four  grandchildren,  the  chil- 
dren of  his  daughter  Sarah,  who  married  John  Stew- 
art, Esq.,  a  captain  in  the  British  army  and  afterwards 
collector  of  the  port  of  Bermuda.  Leonard  Stewart 
became  an  eminent  physician  in  London.  The  oldest 
son,  Duncan,  on  the  death  of  an  uncle  succeeded  to 
a  lordship  in  Scotland.  A  daughter,  Emily,  married 
a  captain  in  the  service  of  the  East  India  Company. 
The  other  daughter,  Sarah,  married  a  Winslow,  a 
descendant  of  Governor  Edward  Winslow,  of  the  Ply- 
mouth Colony,  and  was  connected  with  Lord  Lynd- 
hurst  as  private  secretary  during  his  chancellorship. 

Hon.  Seth  Padelford,  LL.D.,  was  a  native  of 
Taunton,  son  of  John  and  Jemima  Padelford.  He 
was  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1770,  and  honored 
with  the  degree  of  LL.D.  from  Brown  University  in 
1798.  He  married  Rebecca,  the  daughter  of  Abraham 
Dennis,  and  sister  of  the  wife  of  James  Sproal,  Esq. 
Their  children  were  as  follows: 

(1)  Mary  Dennis,  who  married  Mason  Shaw,  Esq., 
of  Raynham. 

(2)  Sarah  Kirby,  who  married  Nathaniel,  son  of 
Judge  Fales. 

(3)  Melinda,  who  married  Enoch  Brown,  Esq.,  of 
Abington. 

(4)  John,  who  died  whilst  a  member  of  Brown 
University. 

(5)  Nancy,  who  married  Samuel  Edgar,  son  of  Col. 
John  Cooke,  of  Tiverton,  R.  I. 

(6)  Harry,  who  married  Susan,  daughter  of  Robert 
Crossman,  of  Taunton. 

(7)  Rebecca  Dennis,  who  married  John  G.  Deane, 
Esq.,  of  Raynham,  afterwards  of  Portland,  Me. 

There  were  also  five  other  children,  who  died  young. 

Mr.  Padelford  was  judge  of  probate.  He  was  a 
highly  dignified  and  polished  gentleman,  of  great  in- 
tegrity of  character,  and  he  was  favored  with  a  wife 
who  adorned  the  society  in  which  she  moved.  Long 
after  they  ceased  to  be  among  the  living  of  earth  their 
praise  was  in  the  mouth  of  those  who  remembered 
their  wide  and  commanding  influence. 

Judge  Padelford  died  Jan.  7,  1810,  aged  fifty-eight 
years  and  one  month.  On  the  stone  slab  which  covers 
his  remains  on  the  "  Plain"  is  the  following  inscription: 

"For he  was  wise  to  know  and  warm  to  praise,  and  strenuous  to  tran- 
I   scribe  in  human  life  the  mind  almighty." 


24 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


The  Padelford  house  still  remains  near  the  court- 
house, although  unoccupied.  It  belongs  to  the  estate 
of  Mrs.  Richmond,  and  was  owned  by  Hon.  Daniel 
Leonard,  the  Tory  lawyer,  before  it  came  into  posses- 
sion of  the  Padelford  family. 

Hon.  Samuel  Fales  was  a  native  of  Bristol,  R.  I., 
and  was  born  Sept.  15,  1750  (the  son  of  Nathaniel 
and  Sarah  Fales,  a  graduate  of  Harvard  Univer- 
sity in  1773).  He  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  Col. 
John  Cooke,  of  Tiverton,  R.  I.  Their  children  were 
as  follows  : 

(1)  Nathaniel,  who  married  Sarah  K.,  daughter  of 
Judge  Padelford. 

(2)  Sally,  who  married  Hon.  Nathaniel  Hazzard, 
of  Newport,  N.  C. 

(3)  Eliza,  who  married  Dr.  George  Leonard,  of 
Taunton. 

(4)  Samuel,  who  married  Sally,  daughter  of  John 
West,  of  Taunton. 

(5)  Harriet  Leonard,  who  married  Hon.  James  L. 
Hodges,  of  Taunton. 

(6)  John,  who  died  single. 

(7)  Almira,  who  married  Jeremiah  Niles  Potter,  of 
Rhode  Island. 

(8)  Fanny,  who  married  Rev.  Swan  L.  Pomeroy,  of 
Bangor,  Me. 

(9)  Edward,  who  died  single. 

(10)  Ann,  who  married,  first,  Erastus  Learned,  son 
of  Rev.  Erastus  Learned,  Canterbury,  Conn. ;  sec- 
ond, Hon.  Jonas  Cutting,  Judge  of  the  Supreme 
Court,  Maine. 

There  were  five  other  children,  who  died  early  in 
life. 

Mr.  Fales  was  for  many  years  clerk  of  the  courts, 
and  afterwards  was  appointed  chief  justice  of  the 
Court  of  Common  Pleas.  He  was  succeeded  in  the 
office  of  clerk  by  his  eldest  son,  Nathaniel.  I  have 
in  my  possession  a  letter  from  Judge  Fales  to  Judge 
Davis,  in  1816,  in  which  he  copies  the  inscription  on 
Miss  Poole's  monument,  and  adds :  "  I  observed  to 
you  in  Boston  that  this  monument  was  erected  on 
a  small  knoll,  between  the  Green  and  the  meeting- 
house, a  little  distance  from  the  road.  A  few  years 
since  Dr.  Swift,  digging  a  cellar,  found  a  part  of  a 
coffin,  made  of  red  cedar,  under  which  were  part  of  the 
bones,  skull,  and  hair  of  a  human  body,  unconsumed 
by  time,  all  which  were  carefully  collected  and  re- 
moved to  the  common  burying-ground  north  of  the 
Green,  over  which  the  stone  was  placed,  bearing  the 
inscription  transcribed  for  you.  The  monument  is  of 
slate,  and  was  procured  by  the  late  R.  T.  Paine,  Esq., 
as  agent  for  J.  Borland,  Esq." 

Judge  Fales  died  in  Boston,  Jan.  20,  1818,  in  his 
sixty-eighth  year.  He  was  buried  in  Taunton, 
where  you  may  find  the  following  record  concerning 
him  on  the  "  Plain"  :  "  Useful  and  honorable  activity 
distinguished  the  progress  of  his  life.  Having  sus- 
tained for  many  years  various  important  offices  in  the 
legislative,  judicial,   and   executive   departments   of 


the  government  with  fidelity  and  honor,  he  died 
while  attending  his  duties  as  a  councilor  of  this  com- 
monwealth ;  and  though  his  tedious  toils  and  hoary 
hairs  seemed  to  demand  a  more  peaceful  succession  of 
closing  years,  his  friends  are  resigned  and  consoled  in 
the  hope  of  his  resurrection  to  immortal  blessed- 
ness." 

Mrs.  Sally,  wife  of  Judge  Fales,  died  Sept.  24,  1823, 
aged  fifty-eight  years.  It  is  said  of  her,  "  Among  the 
benevolent  and  liberal  she  ever  shone  conspicuous. 
The  Christian  spirit  enlightened  the  path  of  her  mor- 
tal pilgrimage,  and  at  last  sustained  and  blessed  her 
with  its  holy  peace  and  inspiring  hopes." 

The  Fales  mansion  in  Taunton  was  in  the  rear  of 
what  is  now  the  "  Taunton  Bank"  building,  the  former 
residenceof  Robert  Treat  Paine,  and  which,  after  it  was 
vacated  by  Judge  Fales,  was  known  as  the  "  Wash- 
ington Hotel." 

The  house  had  ample  grounds,  extensive  grass 
lawns,  a  vegetable  and  flower  garden,  and  was  an 
attractive  feature  in  the  objects  of  interest  around 
"the  Green."  Mr.  Charles  R.  Atwood,  in  his  inter- 
esting and  valuable  "  Reminiscences  of  Taunton  in 
ye  auld  lang  syne,"  published  by  Ezra  Davol,  Esq., 
thus  describes  what  he  calls  the  "  imposing  and  elegant 
mansion"  :  "  It  was  two  stories  high,  and  running 
back,  broad  and  deep,  with  a  long  building  connected 
with  the  main  house  in  the  rear,  two  stories  high,  and 
with  a  large  number  of  rooms  for  servants  in  the 
upper  story.  Adjoining  were  the  carriage-houses, 
barn,  and  sheds.  There  was  a  fine  front  yard  with  a 
handsome  and  substantial  fence  :  also,  a  sidewalk  and 
a  large  open  space  between  that  and  the  street,  wide 
enough  for  a  carriage-way  along  the  whole  front- 
age. On  the  border,  near  the  street,  there  was  a  row 
of  splendid  elm-trees  (now  no  more),  making  a  fine 
and  grateful  shade  in  the  summer  along  the  whole 
distance.  This  house  was  considered  at  that  time  to 
be  the  palace  of  the  town.  It  was  splendidly  fitted 
and  furnished.  In  the  rear  was  the  judge's  garden. 
It  was  filled  with  fruit-trees,  flowers,  and  shrubbery, 
and  highly  cultivated,  producing  the  choicest  of  the 
various  kinds  of  fruits  and  vegetables." 

James  Sproat,  Esq.,  was  the  son  of  Ebenezer 
Sproat,  of  Middleborough,  Mass.,  who  left  seven  chil- 
dren. James  was  born  in  1758,  December  7th,  and 
settled  in  Taunton.  He  married  Ann,  daughter  of 
Abraham  Dennis,  sister  of  the  wife  of  Judge  Padel- 
ford.    Their  children  were  as  follows: 

(1)  Rebecca  Dennis,  who  married  Alfred  Baylies, 
M.D.,  of  Taunton. 

(2)  Sarah,  who  died  young. 

(3)  Francis  Eloise,  who  was  one  of  the  originators 
of  the  first  Sabbath-school  in  Taunton. 

(4)  Emily  Ann,  who  died  early. 

(5)  Ann  Dennis,  who  married  George  B.  Atwood, 
of  Taunton. 

(6)  James,  who  married  (1)  Eliza  Ann,  daughter 
of  George  Baylies;    (2)  Lucretia,  daughter  of  James 


BENCH   AND   BAR. 


25 


Tisdale.     He  was  for  many  years  clerk  of  the  courts 
in  this  county. 

(7)  William  Alexis  Frederic,  who  married  Abby, 
daughter  of  Jonathan  Ingell. 

(8)  Clarissa,  who  died  early. 

(9)  Henry,  who  married  Priscilla  J.,  daughter  of 
Jesse  Smith. 

(10)  Adeline,  who  married  Samuel  B.  Harris,  of 
Smithfield,  R.  I. 

(11)  Ellen,  who  died  early. 

(12)  Theophilus  Parsons,  who  married  Mary  A., 
daughter  of  Henry  Baylies,  of  Dighton. 

James  Sproat,  the  father  of  the  above,  was  a  man 
of  ready  wit  and  the  most  amusing  mirthfulness.  The 
following  story  is  told  of  him  :  David  L.  Barnes,  Esq., 
was  once  addressing  the  jury,  when  it  occurred  to  him 
to  quote  the  Scripture  passage, — the  address  of  Satan 
to  the  Lord, — "Skin  for  skin, yea,  all  that  a  man  hath 
will  he  give  for  his  life,"  adding,  in  his  forgetfulness 
of  the  author,  "saith  our  Saviour."  Sproat  in  an 
instant  was  on  his  feet,  and,  turning  to  the  court, 
said,  "  He  may  be  Brother  Barnes'  Saviour,  but  he  is 
not  mine."  Mr.  Sproat  had  a  most  imposing  personal 
presence,  and  was  a  great  favorite  in  the  profession 
and  society  at  large. 

The  family  residence  was  what  is  now  known  as 
the  Wheaton  house,  adjoining  St.  Thomas'  Episcopal 
Church.  Mrs.  Sproat  was  a  most  remarkable  woman, 
of  large  intellectual  endowments,  and  highly  gifted 
as  an  authoress.  Her  series  of  books  for  children 
had  a  wide  circulation,  and  her  verses,  like  the 
"  Blackberry  Girl,"  reappear  every  year  in  the  holiday 
books  and  juvenile  literature  of  the  land.  Her 
"  Family  Lectures,"  published  in  Boston  by  Samuel 
T.  Armstrong,  in  1819,  made  her  famous.  In  the 
preface  she  gives  the  history  of  the  book :  "  It  has 
been  my  practice  on  the  Sabbath,  after  public  wor- 
ship, to  collect  my  family,  and,  after  attending  to  the 
Scriptures,  read  them  one  of  the  following  essays, 
previously  written  for  the  purpose."  And  so  she  dis- 
coursed to  them  on  "justice,  mercy,  humanity,  truth, 
prayer,  trust  in  God,  temptations,  intemperance,  pro- 
faneness,  unbelief,  gaming,  gratitude,  early  religion, 
filial  duty,"  etc.,  subjects  considered  in  forty-five  most 
sensible  and  profitable  lectures. 

Mr.  Sproat  died  Nov.  10,  1825,  in  his  sixty-seventh 
year.  His  wife  followed  him  the  next  year,  1826, 
January  18th,  aged  fifty-nine.  They  both  lie  buried 
on  the  "  Plain." 

Hon.  David  Leonard  Barnes  was  the  son  of 
Rev.  David  Barnes,  D.D.,  minister  of  Scituate,  Mass., 
who  married  Rachel,  daughter  of  Col.  George  Leonard, 
the  son  of  Judge  Leonard,  an  original  settler  and 
principal  proprietor  of  Norton.  David,  the  subject 
of  this  notice,  married  Joanna  Russell,  and  practiced 
law  in  Taunton.  He  subsequently  removed  to  Rhode 
Island,  where  he  received  the  appointment  of  district 
judge  of  the  United  States  Court  during  the  adminis- 
tration of  Thomas  Jefferson. 


Nicholas  Tillinghast,  Esq.,  was  the  son  of 
Nicholas  and  Mary  Tillinghast,  of  Providence,  R.  I. 
He  received  the  honorary  degree  of  Master  of  Arts 
from  Brown  University  in  1793,  and  from  Harvard 
University  in  1807.  Mr.  Tillinghast  was  one  of  the 
eminent  lawyers  of  Taunton  in  the  early  part  of  the 
present  century.  Judge  Morton  used  to  like  to  tell 
the  following  story,  in  which  he  figured,  recommend- 
ing short  pleas.  An  important  case,  which  had  been 
long  and  ably  argued  by  the  ingenious  and  learned 
counsel  of  the  opposite  side,  was  committed  to  the 
jury  by  Nicholas  Tillinghast  in  this  uncommonly 
brief  but  conclusive  style:  "Gentlemen  of  the  jury, 
Dr.  Padelford  says  as  you  have  heard,  and  Dr.  Barnes 
says  as  you  have  heard,  but  Dr.  Mansfield  says  as  you 
shall  now  hear,"  at  the  same  time  proceeding  to  read 
a  single  convincing  contradictory  statement  from  the 
noble  lord,  sufficient  authority  on  all  questions  of  law. 
"  Now,  when  doctors  disagree,"  asked  Tillinghast, 
sure  of  his  case,  "  who  shall  decide?"  The  jury  gave 
him  their  verdict. 

Mr.  Tillinghast  married  Betsey,  daughter  of  Amos 
Maine  Atwell,  and  had  the  following  children  : 

(1)  Fanny,  who  died  single  in  1817. 

(2)  Amos,  who  married  Miss  Jerould,  of  Pawtucket. 

(3)  Mary,  who  married  Pascal  Allen,  of  Warren. 

(4)  Susan,  who  died  single. 

(5)  Joanna,  who  married  Hon.  Silas  Shepard,  of 
Taunton. 

(6)  Elizabeth,  who  died  single. 

(7)  Nicholas,  who  married  (1)  Sophia,  daughter  of 
Rev.  Mr.  Ritchie,  of  Needham ;  (2)  Ruby  Potter,  of 
Dartmouth. 

(8)  William,  who  died  single. 

(9)  Joseph,  who  married  Cornelia  Armington,  of 
Pawtucket. 

(10)  Ruth  Phillips. 

Mr.  Tillinghast  occupied  a  house  where  now  stands 
the  City  Hotel,  and  his  office  was  in  its  rear.  Born 
Jan.  24, 1767,  he  died  April  24,  1818.  His  wife,  born 
Oct.  18,  1770,  died  March  19,  1834.  They  both  are 
buried  on  the  "  Plain." 

Their  son  Nicholas  has  distinguished  himself  as  a 
teacher,  having  been  principal  of  the  normal  school 
at  Bridgewater  several  years.  Mary  and  Joanna  also, 
before  their  marriage,  were  very  successful  teachers, 
the  latter  serving  as  preceptress  in  the  Bristol  Acad- 
emy. 

Hon.  John  Mason  Williams,  LL.D.,  the  son  of 
Brig.-Gen.  James  Williams,  graduated  at  Brown  Uni- 
versity in  1801,  and  commenced  the  practice  of  law 
in  New  Bedford.  He  afterwards  located  in  Taunton, 
where  he  received  the  appointment  of  judge  of  the 
Court  of  Common  Pleas,  of  which  court  he  was  chief 
justice  for  many  years.  Chief  Justice  Williams  re- 
ceived the  honorary  degree  of  LL.D.  from  Brown 
University  in  1843,  and  from  Harvard  University  in 
1845. 

He  married  Eliza  Otis,  daughter  of  Hon.  Lemuel 


26 


HISTORY   OF    BRISTOL  COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Williams,  the  first  representative  to  Congress   from 
his  Congressional  district.     Their  children  were: 

(1)  Elizabeth,  who  married  Hon.  Horatio  Pratt,  of 
Taunton. 

(2)  Maria,  who  married  Dr.  William  A.  Gordon,  of 
New  Bedford. 

(3)  Joseph  Otis,  who  married  Emily,  daughter  of 
Dr.  Keenan,  of  Springfield.     Two  others  died  early. 

Judge  Williams  was  eminent  for  his  urbanity  and 
sweetness  of  temper  in  social  life  as  for  his  learning 
in  the  profession  of  law.  He  was  beloved  in  his  life 
and  lamented  in  his  death,  which  took  place  Dec.  26, 
1868. 

Judge  Williams  occupied  a  modest  mansion  on 
Summer  Street,  which  also  became  the  home  of  Hon. 
Horatio  Pratt,  his  son-in-law. 

Hon.  Marcus  Morton,  LL.D.,  was  born  in  Free- 
town in  1784,  the  son  of  Nathaniel  Morton,  who  mar- 
ried Mary  Carey,  of  Bridgewater.  Mr.  Morton  grad- 
uated at  Brown  University  in  1804,  and  commenced 
the  practice  of  law  in  Taunton  in  1807.  He  repre- 
sented the  district  in  which  he  lived  in  Congress  four 
years,  occupied  a  seat  on  the  bench  of  the  Supreme 
Court  of  the  State  of  Massachusetts  fifteen  years,  and 
served  as  Governor  of  the  commonwealth  three  times. 
Once,  in  consequence  of  the  death  of  Governor  Eustis, 
in  1825,  the  duties  of  the  chief  magistrate  devolved 
upon  him  as  Lieutenant-Governor.  Again  in  1840, 
and  for  the  third  time  in  1843,  he  was  invested  with 
that  high  office.  He  acted  also  as  collector  of  the 
port  of  Boston  four  years.  He  received  the  honorary 
degree  of  LL.D.  from  Brown  University  in  1826,  and 
again  from  Harvard  University  in  1840.  Governor 
Morton  married  in  1807  Charlotte,  daughter  of  James 
Hodges,  of  Taunton.  Their  children  are  as  fol- 
lows : 

(1)  Joanna  Maria,  who  married  William  T.  Hawes, 
of  New  Bedford,  a  graduate  of  Brown  University. 

(2)  Lydia  Mason,  who  married  Rev.  Henry  W. 
Lee,  D.D.,  of  Springfield,  Mass.,  and  Rochester, 
N.  Y.,  afterward  bishop  (in  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church)  of  Iowa. 

(3)  Charlotte,  who  married  Samuel  Watson,  of 
Nashville,  Tenn. 

(4)  Sarah  Carey,  who  married  Hon.  Willard  Lov- 
ering,  a  manufacturer  of  Taunton. 

(5)  Marcus,  who  married  Abby,  daughter  of  Henry 
Hoppin,  Esq.,  of  Providence. 

(6)  Nathaniel,  who  married  Harriet,  only  child  of 
Hon.  Francis  Baylies. 

(7)  James,  who  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of 
Hon.  George  Ashmun,  of  Springfield. 

(8)  Susan  Tillinghast,  who  married  M.  Day  Kim- 
ball, of  the  firm  of  Faulkner,  Page  &  Kimball,  Boston. 

(9)  Francis  Wood,  who  married  George  Henry 
French,  of  Andover. 

(10)  Emily  Matilda,  who  married  Daniel  C,  son  of 
Dr.  Dawes,  of  Taunton,  a  resident  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

The  children's  children  are  forty-three,  of  whom 


thirty-two  are  still  living.  The  Morton  mansion  is 
on  Washington  Street  near  the  intersection  of  Broad- 
way. 

Th<j  three  sons  of  Governor  Morton,  Marcus,  Na- 
thaniel, and  James,  all  graduated  at  Brown  University, 
Marcus  in  1838,  Nathaniel  in  1840,  James  in  1843. 
They  were  distinguished  as  scholars  in  their  classes, 
and  became  eminent  in  their  chosen  profession  of  law. 
The  eldest  has  been  long  on  the  bench  of  the  Supreme 
Court  of  Massachusetts,  and  is  its  present  chief  jus- 
tice. 

Governor  Morton,  born  Feb.  19,  1784,  died  Feb.  6, 
1864.  His  wife,  born  Dec.  23,  1787,  died  Dec.  25, 
1873.  They  both  lie  buried  in  Mount  Pleasant  Cem- 
etery. 

Hon.  Francis  Baylies,  the  son  of  William  Bay- 
lies, M.D.,  and  grandson  of  the  Hon.  Samuel  White, 
the  first  Taunton  lawyer,  was  born  Oct.  16,  1783,  and 
commenced  the  practice  of  law  in  Taunton  in  1810. 
He  officiated  as  register  of  probate  (an  office  which 
his  father  filled  before  him)  seven  years.  He  was  a 
member  of  Congress  six  years,  and  during  the  admin- 
istration of  Gen.  Jackson  he  received  the  appoint- 
ment of  a  mission  to  Buenos  Ayres.  Mr.  Baylies  is 
well  known  as  the  historian  of  Plymouth  Colony. 
Few  men  in  his  time  were  better  versed  in  the  an- 
tiquities of  the  country,  and  he  had  a  passionate  love 
for  all  good  learning.  His  home,  a  pleasant  stone 
cottage  on  Winthrop  Street,  near  the  present  crossing 
of  the  railroad,  was  the  centre  of  attraction  to  all  who 
delighted  in  culture  and  good  cheer  down  to  the  day 
of  his  death,  Oct.  28,  1852,  aged  sixty-nine  years  and 
twelve  days.  > 

Mr.  Baylies  married  Elizabeth,  widow  of  David 
Dagget  Denning,  Esq.,  of  New  York  City,  daughter 
of  Howard  Moulton,  Esq.,  of  Troy,  N.  Y.,  and  sister- 
in-law  of  Gen.  John  Ellis  Wool.  Their  only  child, 
Harriet,  born  May  4,  1823,  married  Nathaniel,  son  of 
Governor  Morton,  Sept.  29,  1846. 

James  Ellis,  Esq.,  son  of  Rev.  John  Ellis,  a 
chaplain  in  the  Revolution,  afterwards  of  Rehoboth, 
now  called  Seekonk,  was  born  in  Franklin,  Conn., 
May  23, 1769,  graduated  at  Brown  University  in  1791, 
studied  law  in  Providence  with  Judge  Howell,  and  in 
Taunton  with  Judge  Padelford.  He  commenced  the 
practice  of  law  in  Seekonk,  but  being  appointed  dis- 
trict attorney,  removed  to  Taunton.  He  was  thrice 
chosen  State  senator  previous  to  1820. 

Mr.  Ellis  married  Martha,  daughter  of  Joseph 
Bridgham,  of  Seekonk,  and  sister  of  Hon.  Samuel  W. 
Bridgham,  an  eminent  lawyer  of  Providence.  Their 
children  were : 

(1)  John,  who  died  early. 

(2)  George,  who  married  Sophia  Morse. 

(3)  Horace,  who  died  early. 

(4)  James  P.,  who  married  Caroline  S.,  daughter  of 
John  Presbrey,  and  who  served  as  county  treasurer, 
town  clerk,  and  assistant  justice  of  the  police  court. 

(5)  Martha,  the  only  daughter,  a   young   lady  of 


C^^6&Z^C<£^ 


(L^^f^^ 


BENCH   AND   BAR. 


27 


uncommon  promise,  who  died  in  Taunton,  Nov.  24, 
1828,  aged  twenty. 

(6)  Samuel  B.,  the  youngest  son,  who,  a  member  of 
Dartmouth  College,  at  the  death  of  his  sister  left 
college  and  abandoned  all  idea  of  a  profession,  giving 
himself  up  to  inordinate  grief. 

Anselm  Bassett,  Esq.,  son  of  Thomas  and  Lydia 
Bassett,  of  Rochester,  Mass.,  was  born  in  1784,  and 
graduated  at  Brown  University  in  1803.  He  married 
(1)  Rosalinda,  daughter  of  Abraham  Holmes,  of 
Rochester,  Mass.;  (2)  widow  Lucy  Smith,  of  Troy, 
N.  Y.  Three  children  still  live, — two  daughters, 
Cynthia  C.  H.  and  Elizabeth  M.,  and  a  son,  Charles 
J.  H.,  who  has  been  long  connected  as  cashier  and 
president  with  the  Taunton  Bank,  and  who  married 
(1)  Emeline  Dean,  daughter  of  John  W.  Seabury,  of 
Taunton;  (2)  Nancy  L.  Gibbs,  of  Bridgewater;  (3) 
Martha  B.  French,  of  Pawtucket.  There  are  eight 
living  children:  (1)  John  S.,  (2)  Charles  A.,  (3) 
Louisa  B.,  wife  of  George  H.  Rhodes,  (4)  Henry  F., 
(5)  Rufus  W.,  (6)  Mary  R.,  (7)  George  F.,  (8)  Susie  A. 

Mr.  Bassett  served  many  years  as  register  of  pro- 
bate, and  secured  a  large  practice  in  his  profession. 
His  home  was  on  Main  Street,  the  second  house  west 
from  Chestnut  Street,  not  far  from  the  Church  Green. 
He  died,  leaving  the  homestead  to  his  daughters, 
Sept,  9,  1863. 

Horatio  L.  Danforth,  Esq.,  son  of  William 
and  Sally  (Leonard)  Danforth,  was  born  in  1801. 
His  father  owned  the  estate  which  now  constitutes 
the  Lunatic  Hospital  farm.  After  his  school  days  the 
son  was  employed  in  the  Hopewell  Rolling-Mill,  of 
which  his  father  was  superintendent,  until  eighteen 
years  of  age,  when  he  met  with  a  serious  accident  to 
his  athletic  career,  of  which  few  were  his  equals,  by 
the  loss  of  an  arm  taken  off  by  the  machinery  in  the 
mill.  He  then  commenced  his  education,  prepared 
for  college  in  Bristol  Academy,  and  was  graduated  at 
Brown  University  in  the  class  of  1825.  He  studied 
law  in  the  office  of  Hon.  Francis  Baylies,  and  com- 
menced practice  in  1829,  but  was  not  essentially  a  bar 
lawyer.  He  was  elected  county  treasurer  in  that 
year,  and  was  re-elected  annually  irrespective  of 
party  lines  for  twelve  years,  fulfilling  the  duties  with 
strict  integrity  and  general  satisfaction.  He  was 
superseded  in  1841  by  Dr.  Foster  Hooper,  the  Demo- 
cratic candidate.  He  then  spent  two  years  in  Illinois, 
and  on  his  return  in  1844  received  the  appointment 
of  high  sheriff  from  Governor  Briggs,  which  office  he 
filled  until  1851,  and  was  then  superseded  by  Lyman 
W.  Dean,  of  Attleboro',  appointed  by  Governor  Bout- 
well.  From  that  time  he  lived  in  retirement  with 
his  sisters,  enjoying  the  society  of  his  friends,  his 
books,  and  his  walks  until  disease,  a  dropsical  one, 
closed  his  life,  July  21,  1859.  He  was  frank  and  out- 
spoken yet  genial  in  his  intercourse  with  men.  He 
was  for  many  years  an  attendant  of  the  Episcopal 
Church.  The  above  facts  have  been  communicated 
by  his  friend,  Capt.  J.  W.  D.  Hall. 


Nathaniel  Morton,  Esq.,  son  of  Judge  Morton, 
and  son-in-law  of  Hon.  Francis  Baylies,  was  one  of 
the  most  brilliant  men  who  ever  flouished  in  Taun- 
ton. His  professional  career  was  a  brief  one,  but  he 
filled  a  large  place  in  the  hearts  of  his  many  friends, 
which  death,  alas,  too  early,  as  they  thought,  made 
void.  Born  Dec.  3,  1821,  he  died  Feb.  12,  1856,  and 
is  buried  in  Mount  Pleasant  Cemetery  by  the  side  of 
his  father. 

Hon.  Horatio  Pratt,  son-in-law  of  Chief  Justice 
Williams,  was  for  many  years  a  leading  lawyer  of  the 
Bristol  County  bar,  district  attorney,  and  a  member 
of  the  Massachusetts  Senate.  His  physical  constitu- 
tion was  weak.  He  struggled  long  with  bodily  in- 
firmities, and  died  at  a  comparatively  early  age,  May 
24,  1872. 

Hon.  Chester  Tsham  Reed,  son  of  William  and 
Elizabeth  Dean  (Dennis)  Reed,  was  born  Nov.  23, 
1823,  and  after  fitting  for  college  in  the  Taunton 
High  School  and  Bristol  Academy,  entered  Brown 
University,  but  through  limited  means  of  support  left 
before  graduation,  subsequently  receiving  the  honorary 
degree  of  A.M.  for  his  high  attainments  in  learning. 
He  entered  the  law-office  of  Mr.  Anselm  Bassett,  in 
Taunton,  and  was  invited  to  a  copartnership,  which 
he  accepted.  He  soon  took  a  prominent  position  at 
the  Bristol  County  bar,  and  earned  so  good  a  reputa- 
tion in  other  parts  of  the  State  that  he  was  nominated 
and  elected  attorney-general  of  the  commonwealth,  in 
which  office  he  served  with  great  credit  several  years. 

;  A  vacancy  occurring  on  the  bench  of  the  Superior 

j  Court,  Mr.  Reed  was  nominated  and  confirmed,  re- 
signing only  when  he  found  the  salary  could  not 
meet  the  expenses  of  a  growing  family,  when  he  re- 
turned to  a  lucrative  practice  in  Boston,  changing 
his  residence  from  Taunton  to  Dedham.  He  died  at 
White  Sulphur  Springs,  W.  Va.,  where  he  had  gone 
for  his  health,  Sept.  2,  1873,  in  his  fiftieth  year.    Mr. 

]  Reed  married  Elizabeth  Y.  Allyn,  of  New  Bedford, 
Feb.  24,  1851,  and  their  children  are  a  daughter, 
Sybil,  and  a  son,  Chester  Allyn,  a  graduate  of  Har- 
vard University  in  1882,  and  a  student-in-law  at  the 
present  time. 

Hon.  Edmund  Hatch  Bennett,  son  of  Milo 
Lyman  Bennett  and  Adeline  (Hatch)  Bennett,  was 
born  in  Manchester,  Vt.,  April  6,  1824.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  Manchester  and  Burlington  Academies 
in  his  native  State,  and  when  fifteen  years  of  age  he 

'  entered  the  University  of  Vermont  at  Burlington, 
where  he  graduated  in  the  class  of  1843,  and  from 
which  he  received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Laws 
(LL.D.)  in  1873.  For  a  short  time  after  graduation 
Mr.  Bennett  taught  a  family  school  in  Virginia,  and 
finally,  having  decided  upon  the  legal  profession  as  a 
life-work,  he  began  his  studies  in  Burlington,  Vt.,  in 
the  office  of  his  father  (at  that  time  an  associate  jus- 
tice of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Vermont).  He  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  Vermont  bar  in  1847,  and  in  the  spring 
of  1848  settled  in  Taunton,  where  he  has  since  re- 


28 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL  COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


sided.  Upon  locating  in  Taunton  he  entered  into  co- 
partnership with  the  late  Nathaniel  Morton,  which 
continued  nearly  three  years.  He  then  formed  a  part- 
nership with  Hon.  Henry  Williams,  which  relation 
continued  several  years.  For  the  past  fifteen  years 
he  has  been  in  partnership  with  Henry  J.  Fuller,  Esq., 
of  Taunton. 

Upon  the  incorporation  of  Taunton  as  a  city  in 
1865  he  was  unanimously  elected  its  first  mayor,  re- 
elected in  1866,  and  again  in  1867. 

Although  Judge  Bennett  early  took  a  leading  posi- 
tion at  the  Bristol  bar,  he  gave  much  attention  to  the 
study  of  the  law  as  a  science,  and  during  the  years 
1870,  1871,  and  1872  was  a  lecturer  on  various  topics 
at  the  Dane  Law  School  of  Harvard  University, 
Cambridge.  He  has  been  connected  with  the  Law 
School  of  Boston  University  since  its  organization  in 
1872,  and  in  1876  he  was  chosen  its  dean,  a  position 
which  he  still  occupies. 

Judge  Bennett  has  also  been  the  editor  of  nu- 
merous law  books,  numbering  over  one  hundred 
volumes,  the  leading  works  being  the  "  English  Law 
and  Equity  Reports,"  an  edition  of  Mr.  Justice  Story's 
works,  "  Leading  Criminal  Cases,"  "  Fire  Insurance 
Cases,"  "Digest  of  Massachusetts  Reports,"  Ameri- 
can editions  of  the  recent  English  works  of  "  God- 
dard  on  Easements,"  "  Benjamin  on  Sales,"  "  Inder- 
mann  on  the  Common  Law,"  etc.  He  has  also  been 
for  several  years  one  of  the  editors  of  the  American 
Law  Register  of  Philadelphia.  In  December,  1878, 
he  delivered  at  Hingham,  Mass.,  before  the  State 
Board  of  Agriculture,  of  which  he  had  formerly  been 
a  member,  a  lecture  on  "  Farm  Law,"  which  has  been 
very  extensively  republished  in  agricultural  journals 
and  elsewhere  throughout  New  England  and  the 
West.  In  May,  1858,  he  was  appointed  judge  of 
probate  and  insolvency  for  Bristol  County,  and  has 
held  the  position  to  the  present  time,  a  period  of 
twenty-five  years. 

Judge  Bennett  is  an  active  member  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church,  and  has  been  for  many  years  either 
a  warden  or  vestryman  of  St.  Thomas'  Parish,  Taunton, 
and  has  been  many  times  a  delegate  from  this  parish 
to  the  Diocesan  Convention.  He  has  also  been  three 
times — in  1874,  1877,  and  1880 — a  delegate  from  this 
diocese  to  the  General  Triennial  Convention  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  this  country. 

In  June,  1853,  he  united  in  marriage  with  Sally, 
the  second  daughter  of  the  Hon.  Samuel  L.  Crocker, 
of  Taunton. 

Judge  Colby,  who  is  claimed  by  New  Bedford  as 
one  of  its  lawyers,  and  will  be  noticed  under  that 
head,  was  for  years  a  resident  of  Taunton.  Chief 
Justice  Morton,  of  Andover,  was  born  in  Taunton, 
and  so  was  Judge  Wilde,  so  long  of  the  Supreme 
Court  of  Massachusetts.  Theophilus  Parsons,  the 
learned  Professor  of  Law  at  Cambridge,  once  lived 
and  practiced  law  in  Taunton.  Seth  Padelford  Sta- 
ples, of  New  York,  Henry  Goodwin,  attorney-general 


of  Rhode  Island,  Judge  Pliny  Merrick,  of  Worcester, 
Judge  Erastus  Maltby  Reed,  of  Mansfield,  Baalis  San- 
ford,  of  Boston,  Sydney  Williams,  of  Providence,  son- 
in-law  of  President  Messer,  were  of  Taunton,  either  as 
natives  or  during  some  part  of  their  professional  life. 

The  oldest  living  member  of  the  Bristol  County 
bar  residing  in  Taunton  is  the  Hon.  Henry  Williams, 
who  has  represented  his  district  in  Congress,  served 
as  register  of  probate,  and  distinguished  himself  as  a 
painstaking  and  most  accurate  annalist  and  historian. 
Samuel  R.  Townsend  also  has  been  long  a  member  of 
this  bar.  Their  associates  in  the  profession  are  Edmund 
H.  Bennett,  judge  of  the  Probate  Court,  which  posi- 
tion he  has  recently  resigned,  and  who  also- acts  as 
dean  and  chief  Professor  of  the  Law  Department  of 
the  Boston  University;  William  Henry  Fox,  judge 
of  the  District  Court ;  William  E.  Fuller,  register  of 
probate  and  associate. judge  of  the  District  Court; 
James  Brown,  who  has  served  as  State  senator ; 
Henry  J.  Fuller,  the  partner  of  Judge  Bennett; 
John  E.  Sanford,  for  some  years  a  member  of  the 
State  Legislature  and  a  portion  of  the  time  Speaker 
of  the  House  of  Representatives ;  James  H.  Dean 
and  Charles  A.  Reed,  partners-in-law,  the  latter  pres- 
ent city  solicitor ;  G.  Edgar  Williams,  associated  with 
Henry  Williams;  James  M.  Cushman,  city  clerk; 
Arthur  M.  Alger,  clerk  of  the  District  Court;  Lau- 
rens N.  Francis,  Sylvanus  M.  Thomas,  John  H.  Gal- 
ligan,  L.  Everett  White,  Edward  J.  Conaty,  Benjamin 
E.  Walcott,  W.  Waldo  Robinson. 

Fall  River. — James  Ford  was  born  in  Milton, 
Mass.,  Aug.  3,  1774.  In  1810  he  entered  Brown  Uni- 
versity, and  graduated  with  honor,  taking  the  saluta- 
tory address.  He  then  assumed  the  study  of  the  law 
with  Judge  Metcalf,  of  Dedham.  In  1817  he  removed 
to  Taunton  and  continued  his  studies  with  Judge  Mor- 
ton, who  was  then  ex-member  of  Congress.  He  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1818,  and  became  a  partner  of 
Judge  Morton.  In  1819  he  came  to  Fall  River  and 
opened  an  office  in  Central  Street. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  Legislature  in  1825,  and 
was  present  when  Gen.  Lafayette  laid  the  corner- 
stone of  Bunker's  Hill  Monument.  In  1826  he  deliv- 
ered the  Fourth  of  July  oration  in  Fall  River  the  day 
that  John  Adams  and  Thomas  Jefferson  died.  Mr. 
Ford  was  public-spirited  in  regard  to  matters  in 
general.  He  served  seven  years  on  the  school  com- 
mittees ;  and,  with  perhaps  three  exceptions,  admin- 
istered the  oath  of  office  to  the  members  of  the  city 
government  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  and  was  sev- 
eral times  elected  an  alderman.  He  was  one  of  the 
charter  members  of  the  Mount  Hope  Lodge  of  F. 
and  A.  M.,  and  always  manifested  a  lively  interest  in 
this  ancient  and  honored  order.  He  was  postmaster 
four  years,  and  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Franklin 
Savings-Bank,  was  special  police  justice  for  twenty 
years,  for  twelve  years  was  one  of  the  inspectors  of 
the  State  Almshouse,  and  for  twenty-five  years  he 
edited   the    weeklv  Monitor.      He  was   an  excellent 


rv  /  ;  t  l^ 


sin  wo*   «^ 


BENCH   AND   BAR. 


29 


lawyer  and  a  good  citizen.     He  died  July  27,  1873, 
lacking  only  one  week  of  seventy-nine  years  of  age. 

Eliab  Williams,  Esq.,  was  for  nearly  half  a  cen- 
tury a  member  of  the  Bristol  County  bar,  and  at  the 
time  of  his  death  the  oldest  and  one  of  the  most 
highly  respected  members  of  the  legal  profession  in 
this  portion  of  New  England. 

He  was  born  in  Raynham,  Mass.,  in  1803,  and  spent 
his  early  youth  in  that  town,  attending  school  there 
and  in  Taunton.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  he  entered 
Brown  University,  and  graduated  at  eighteen,  in  the 
class  of  1821,  intending  immediately  to  enter  upon 
the  study  of  the  law.  He  had,  however,  exhausted 
his  pecuniary  resources  in  the  acquisition  of  a  colle- 
giate education,  and  not  having  the  means  necessary 
to  carry  him  through  the  long  and  tedious  appren- 
ticeship then  required  to  enter  the  legal  profession  in 
Massachusetts,  he  went  South,  and  engaged  as  a  pri- 
vate tutor  in  the  family  of  a  gentleman  in  Virginia. 
While  there  he  learned  that  by  the  laws  of  that  com- 
monwealth a  person  could  prepare  for  admission  to 
the  bar  and  the  practice  of  the  law  without  spending 
a  certain  prescribed  time  in  the  office  of  a  counselor- 
at-law  simply  by  being  found  qualified  upon  an  ex- 
amination by  the  judges  of  the  Court  of  Appeals. 
He  thought  favorably  of  this  plan,  as  it  would  allow 
him  to  study  law  and  at  the  same  time  pursue  his 
vocation  as  a  teacher.  And  his  wishes  being  made 
known  to  the  attorney-general  of  North  Carolina, 
that  gentleman  drew  up  a  course  of  legal  study  which 
he  recommended  to  Mr.  Williams.  The  latter  imme- 
diately repaired  to  Norfolk  and  purchased  the  neces- 
sary books,  and  by  the  time  he  was  of  sufficient  age 
to  be  admitted,  according  to  the  laws  of  Virginia, — 
i.e.,  twenty-one,  —  he  had  prepared  himself  for  an 
examination.  The  mode  of  conducting  this  was  pe- 
culiar. Going  to  Richmond  when  the  Court  of  Ap- 
peals was  in  session  in  that  city,  each  member  of  the 
court  appointed  a  time  to  see  him  at  his  private  room, 
and  in  this  way,  at  intervals  for  about  a  week,  the 
examination  was  carried  on  by  each  judge  separately 
until  the  whole  bench  were  satisfied  with  the  qualifi- 
cations of  their  young  candidate,  and  after  taking  the 
necessary  oath  he  was  duly  admitted  to  the  bar. 

This  entitled  him  to  practice  in  all  the  courts  of 
Virginia;  but,  on  account  of  repugnance  to  the  insti- 
tution of  slavery,  he  decided  not  to  settle  there,  and 
returned  home.  Upon  his  arrival  here  he  found  that 
his  admission  to  the  bar  of  Virginia  did  not  avail 
him,  inasmuch  as  he  did  not  practice  in  that  State. 
So  he  entered  the  office  of  Hon.  Marcus  Morton  as  a 
student-at-law,  in  Taunton,  Mass.,  and  eked  out  the 
expenses  by  teaching  school.  The  first  winter  after 
entering  he  taught  in  the  district  where  he  had  at- 
tended school  when  a  boy.  At  the  close  of  his 
school  he  returned  to  the  office  of  Governor  Morton, 
and  remained  there  till  the  latter  retired  from  the 
profession  to  accept  a  place  on  the  bench  of  the 
Supreme    Judicial    Court   of  the    State.      He    then 


entered  the  office  of  David  G.  W.  Cobb,  Esq.,  then 
register  of  probate  for  the  county  of  Bristol,  and 
there  remained  till  the  term  of  court  in  September, 
1825,  when  he  was  admitted  to  the  Bristol  County 
bar. 

Mr.  Williams  first  settled  in  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession at  Dighton,  Mass.,  where  he  remained  till 
1827,  when  he  removed  to  Swansea,  the  latter  place 
being  then  a  more  favorable  field  for  the  profession 
than  at  present,  although  not  sufficient  to  afford  busi- 
ness for  two  lawyers,  for  we  are  told  that  he  was  in- 
duced to  go  there  because  he  had  heard  that  the  only 
lawyer  in  Swansea  had  removed  to  Fall  River. 

Fall  River  by  this  time  had  become  a  thriving  and 
promising  place,  and  lawyers,  no  less  than  mechanics, 
business  men,  and  members  of  other  professions,  were 
being  attracted  thither  by  its  rapidly-developing 
importance  as  a  manufacturing,  commercial,  and 
social  centre. 

Hezekiah  Battelle  had  been  some  time  in  the  pro- 
fession of  the  law  at  Fall  River,  and  had  acquired  some 
prominence  and  a  lucrative  practice.  It  was  through 
his  influence,  unsolicited  and  unexpected,  that  Mr. 
Williams  was  induced  in  1833,  after  having  been  six 
years  at  Swansea,  to  change  his  location  from  the 
latter  place  to  Fall  River.  As  Mr.  Battelle  was 
returning  in  the  summer  of  that  year  from  a  pro- 
fessional visit  to  Pawtucket,  passing  through  the 
village  he  met  Mr.  Williams  on  the  street,  and  pro- 
posed that  the  latter  should  come  to  Fall  River  and 
go  into  partnership  with  him,  saying  that  he  had 
more  business  than  he  could  attend  to  alone.  This 
fact  shows  that  Mr.  Williams  was  not  altogether  des- 
titute of  the  reputation  of  a  good  lawyer  even  then. 
The  conditions  of  the  proposed  partnership,  proffered 
as  they  were  by  one  of  ability  and  experience  in  the 
profession,  were  even  more  flattering,  for  they  pro- 
posed a  partnership  of  five  years  with  equal  profits 
in  the  business.  This  was  certainly  very  liberal  con- 
sidering that  Mr.  Battelle  was  fourteen  years  Mr. 
Williams'  senior,  and  had  already  attained  a  good 
practice. 

The  partnership  once  established  needed  no  further 
stipulation  as  to  duration  :  it  lasted  for  more  than 
twenty  years.  During  this  period  it  is  certainly 
within  bounds  to  say  that  the  firm  did  their  full  share 
of  the  legal  business  of  the  town. 

The  firm  of  Battelle  &  Williams  became  one  of  the 
best  known  in  this  section  of  the  State,  both  of  the 
partners  being  distinguished  for  the  thoroughness 
with  which  they  prepared  their  cases,  and  their  ex- 
treme fidelity  and  care  in  presenting  them  to  courts 
and  juries.  After  the  retirement  of  the  senior  partner 
Mr.  Williams  continued  business  in  the  well-known 
office  in  Granite  Block  until  failing  health  compelled 
him  to  retire  to  the  comforts  of  home. 

Mr.  Williams  was  the  oldest  member  of  the  Bristol 
County  bar  in  the  time  of  his  practice.  Towards  the 
latter  part  of  his  life,  when,  on  account  of  infirmities 


30 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


of  age,  he  Avas  seldom  seen  in  the  courts,  he  still  did  a 
large  office  business.  His  opinions  upon  knotty  legal 
points  were  always  highly  valued,  and  in  the  depart- 
ments of  conveyancing  and  equity  he  had  few  equals. 
His  relations  with  his  brethren  of  the  bar  were  always 
cordial,  his  well-known  form  and  face  always  com- 
manding respect  when  seen  in  assemblages  of  mem- 
bers of  his  profession. 

In  conversation  Mr.  Williams  had  a  peculiar  power 
of  presenting  points.  Usually  retired  and  reserved 
in  manner,  he  yet  had  a  few  intimate  friends  by  whom 
his  conversation  was  highly  prized.  His  reminiscences 
of  the  ancient  giants  of  the  bar — Webster,  Choate, 
Jeremiah  Mason,  Timothy  G.  Coffin,  and  others  less 
known  to  public  fame — were  exceedingly  interesting. 
He  lived  beyond  the  full  allotted  years  of  man's  life, 
but  he  still  preserved  his  noble  characteristics.  He 
was  a  man  of  marked  integrity,  always  true  to  his 
trust,  to  his  clients,  to  himself,  and  to  the  cause  of 
truth. 

The  Bar  Association,  which  convened  upon  the  an- 
'  nouncement  of  his  death,  adopted  the  following  reso- 
lutions : 

"  Resolved,  That  in  the  death  of  Mr.  Williams,  who  for  nearly  half  a 
century  has  been  an  honored  and  efficient  member  of  the  bar  of  this 
Commonwealth,  the  profession  has  lost  a  conscientious  and  wise  coun- 
selor a  faithful,  patient,  and  industrious  attorney,  an  earnest  and  care- 
ful advocate,  exemplary  citizen,  and  an  honest  man. 

"Resolved,  That  as  an  evidence  of  our  regard  and  appreciation  for  the 
worth  and  character  of  the  deceased  we  will  attend  his  funeral  in  a 
body,  and  that  an  attested  copy  of  these  resolutions  be  sent  to  the  family, 
and  the  Superior  Court  be  requested  to  place  the  same  on  its  records." 

The  trustees  of  the  Fall  River  Savings-Bank,  at  a 
meeting  held  April  15,  1880,  ordered  the  following 
memorial  to  be  placed  upon  their  records : 

"Our  old  tried  friend  and  honored  associate,  Eliab  Williams,  having 
departed  this  life,  it  becomes  us  to  pause  a  moment  to  contemplate  the 
distinguished  virtues  of  his  character  and  life. 

"  His  strict  integrity  and  high  sense  of  honor,  his  cool  and  deliberate 
judgment,  his  studious  application  to  the  business  of  his  profession,  his 
abiding  faith  in  the  divine  side  of  his  nature,  made  him  an  invaluable 
associate,  citizen,  and  friend. 

"During  the  more  than  forty-three  years'  service  with  this  institu- 
tion as  trustee,  secretary,  vice-president,  and  legal  counsel  he  was  always 
prompt  in  the  discharge  of  every  duty  devolving  upon  him,  having  but 
one  concern,  that  of  caring  for  and  protecting  the  interests  of  those  who 
intrusted  their  deposits  in  our  keeping. 

"We  mourn  his  departure,  and  in  sadness  reflect  that  we  shall  no 
more  have  his  wise  counsel. 

"  To  his  family  and  friends  we  tender  our  deepest  sympathies  in  this 
their  great  bereavement,  and  in  token  of  our  esteem  we  will  attend  his 
funeral  in  a  body." 

He  was  identified  with  the  Fall  River  Savings- 
Bank  as  trustee,  vice-president,  and  counsel  almost 
from  the  organization  of  the  institution.  He  was  also 
a  member  of  the  school  committee,  and  an  earnest 
friend  of  education. 

Few  men  have  transacted  more  business  in  the  set- 
tlement of  estates  of  deceased  persons  than  did  he 
during  his  life,  and  none  with  more  uniform  satisfac- 
tion to  all  concerned. 

He  was  for  many  years  a  member  of  the  First  Con- 
gregational Church  of  Fall  River,  a  man  of  pure  and 
spotless  private  life,  of  wonderful  firmness  and  self- 


possession,  and  possessed  of  courage  that  never  yielded 
to  chicanery  or  wrong.  His  departure,  like  his  life, 
was  patient,  gentle,  serene,  and  ready. 

"  Sure  the  last  end  of  the  good  man 
Is  peace.     How  calm  his  exit! 
Night-dews  fall  not  so  gently  to  the  ground, 
Nor  weary,  worn-out  winds  expire  so  soft." 

Mr.  Williams  was  thrice  married,  and  left  a  widow 
and  one  son,  the  latter  residing  in  Boston.  He  died 
April  14,  1880. 

Frederick  A.  Boomer  was  born  in  Tiverton,  R.  I., 
April  8,  1821,  and  died  in  Fall  River,  Mass.,  July  22, 
1871.  His  wife  was  Elizabeth  M.,  daughter  of  John 
Earle,  to  whom  he  was  married  July  8,  1857. 

Left  to  struggle  for  himself  at  an  early  age.  a  stu- 
dious disposition  led  him  to  adopt  teaching  as  a  pro- 
fession, for  which  he  prepared  himself  by  a  systematic 
course  of  study,  graduating  at  the  Massachusetts  State 
Normal  School  at  Bridgewater.  After  pursuing  his 
chosen  vocation  a  number  of  years,  the  advice  of 
friends  and  his  own  preference  led  him  to  study  the 
law,  which  he  commenced  reading  in  the  office  of  the 
late  David  Perkins,  Esq.,  and  subsequently  pursued 
with  Judge  Lapham,  on  whose  motion  he  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  of  Bristol  County.  After  his  admission  to 
the  bar  of  this  State,  Mr.  Boomer  became  a  resident 
of  Tiverton,  R.  I.,  from  which  town  he  was  twice 
elected  to  the  General  Assembly. 

Returning  to  Fall  River,  he  soon  became  interested 
in  educational  matters,  his  experience  as  a  teacher 
giving  him  a  lively  interest  in  the  public  schools. 
For  many  years  he  was  an  efficient  and  valued  mem- 
ber of  the  school  committee,  serving  with  earnestness 
and  zeal.  He  was  three  times  elected  to  the  office  of 
city  solicitor,  the  last  time  in  1870,  when  failing  health 
induced  him  to  resign  before  the  expiration  of  his  term 
of  office. 

In  the  fall  of  1870  he  was  elected  to  the  General 
Court,  it  being  the  second  time  he  had  been  selected 
by  his  fellow-citizens  for  that  important  office.  He 
was  chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Elections,  and  also 
a  member  of  the  Committee  on  Federal  Relations. 

As  a  legislator  Mr.  Boomer  was  liberal  and  pro- 
gressive in  his  views,  with  a  hearty  sympathy  for  all 
measures  calculated  to  raise  the  moral  standard  and 
lessen  the  burdens  of  the  laboring  masses.  Ready 
and  earnest  as  a  debater,  he  never  failed  to  obtain  the 
attention  of  the  House,  and  retain  the  respect  and 
confidence  of  his  fellow-members. 

Mr.  Boomer  was  a  director  in  the  Pocasset  National 
Bank  from  its  organization  till  his  death. 

As  a  man  and  a  friend  he  cannot  be  too  warmly 
spoken  of,  for  he  possessed  the  noblest  qualities  of  char- 
acter. So  manly  was  he  by  instinct  that  no  one  could 
deem  him  capable  of  a  mean  action,  so  charitable  in 
his  opinions  of  others  as  to  lead  him  to  overlook  their 
faults  and  forgive  any  injuries  he  may  have  suffered. 
The  feeling  of  vindictiveness  he  would  not  or  could 
not  cherish,  and  as  a  lawyer  he  would  never  encour- 


\^   €^-&r- 


<^Z_ 


BENCH   AND   BAR. 


31 


age  litigation,  preferring  the  loss  of  business  to  the 
loss  of  self-respect. 

He  has  been  spoken  of  as  a  true  Christian  gentle- 
man, religious,  but  not  bigoted,  exhibiting  grace  of 
heart  no  less  than  polish  of  manners.  Habitually 
cheerful,  he  was  an  agreeable  companion  and  friend, 
and  impressed  all  with  his  geniality  and  kindness,  no 
less  than  with  his  earnestness  and  decision  of  char- 
acter. 

Mr.  Boomer  was  fifty  years  old  at  the  time  of  his 
death,  and  had  grown  up  with  the  thrift  and  enter- 
prise of  Fall  River.  In  labor  and  sympathy  he  was 
fully  identified  with  the  best  interests  of  the  place, 
intellectual  and  spiritual,  as  well  as  material.  In 
whatever  offices  he  was  called  to  fill,  he  gave  to  the 
discharge  of  their  duties  his  best  abilities  and  his  most 
earnest,  conscientious  preparation.  When  quite  a  lad 
he  made  a  profession  of  religion,  was  baptized  by  Rev. 
Asa  Bronson,  and  received  in  the  membership  of  the 
First  Baptist  Church  of  Fall  River,  March  6,  1836. 

Hezekiah  Battelle,  for  so  long  a  time  a  promi- 
nent member  of  the  Bristol  bar,  was  graduated  at 
Brown  University,  in  the  class  of  1816.  He  read  law 
in  the  office  of  Hercules  Cushman,  Esq.,  of  Freetown, 
then  a  prominent  lawyer  of  the  Bristol  bar.  Upon  his 
admission  to  practice  he  became  a  partner  with  Mr. 
Cushman,  and  remained  there  a  few  years,  when 
he  removed  to  Swansea  village,  and  continued  in 
practice  there  till  1827,  wdien  he  located  in  Fall 
River,  and  here  passed  the  larger  part  of  his  life. 

Coming  to  Fall  River  in  the  vigor  of  manhood  and 
with  a  reputation  for  ability  and  fidelity  already  es- 
tablished, his  practice  rapidly  increased,  and  for  more 
than  a  quarter  of  a  century  he  was  regarded  as  one 
of  the  ablest  lawyers  in  the  country.  Perhaps  no  one 
in  the  county  exceeded  him  in  the  preparation  of 
cases  for  trial,  either  by  the  jury  upon  question  of 
fact,  or  by  the  court  upon  matters  of  law.  Mr.  Bat- 
telle took  a  deep  interest  in  the  moral  and  religious 
welfare  of  Fall  River,  and  in  the  prosperity  and  good 
government  of  our  common  country.  He  was  one  of 
the  representatives  from  this  town  in  the  Legislature 
in  1838  and  1848,  interesting  himself  at  the  latter  pe- 
riod with  the  question  of  boundary  between  the  States 
of  Massachusetts  and  Rhode  Island.  For  more  than 
fifteen  years,  however,  immediately  previous  to  his 
death,  he  took  but  little  interest  in  the  practice  of  law, 
but  devoted  much  of  his  attention  to  religious  matters 
and  questions  of  theology.  Mr.  Battelle  was  actively 
interested  in  the  organization  of  the  Unitarian  Society 
in  Fall  River,  and  was  one  of  its  earnest  supporters. 

He  died  Jan.  22,  1872,  at  the  age  of  eighty-two 
years. 

Cyrus  Alden  was  born  in  Bridgewater,  Mass., 
May  20,  1785.  He  was  fifth  in  descent  and  direct 
line  from  John  Alden,  the  first  of  the  Plymouth  col- 
ony to  step  upon  the  famous  rock  at  the  landing  of 
the  "  Mayflower"  Pilgrims  in  1620.  His  father  was 
Capt.  Joseph  Alden.     His  mother  and  grandmother 


were  members  of  the  Carver  family  and  also  of  Pil- 
grim ancestry.  He  was  one  of  a  family  of  nine  chil- 
dren, of  which  five  were  sons,  two  of  whom,  himself 
and  a  younger  brother,  were  graduated  from  Brown 
University,  the  one  to  follow  the  profession  of  the 
law,  the  other  that  of  divinity.  His  own  graduation 
took  place  in  1807,  his  education  having  been  delayed 
by  a  severe  and  protracted  illness.  He  studied  law  at 
Litchfield,  Conn.,  and  also  read  with  Judge  Whit- 
man, of  Marshfield,  and  Judge  Baylies,  of  Taunton. 
He  began  the  practice  of  law  in  Wrentham,  marrying, 
soon  after  his  entrance  upon  his  profession,  Mary 
Margaret,  daughter  of  Mr.  Alexander  Jones,  of  Prov- 
idence, R.  I.  After  a  short  residence  in  Wrentham 
he  removed  with  his  family  to  Boston,  residing  in 
Roxbury,  but  having  an  office  in  the  city  and  in  the 
same  building  with  Daniel  Webster,  a  most  noted  con- 
temporary, belonging  to  the  same  political  party,  the 
Whigs,  to  which  he  always  held.  He  here  published, 
in  1819,  a  book,  of  which  he  was  the  author  and  edi- 
tor, under  the  title  of  "Abridgment  of  Law,  with 
Practical  Forms,"  in  two  parts,  which  proved  accept- 
able and  useful,  but  has  now  been  superseded  by  later 
works  of  the  same  purpose.  In  1827  he  once  more 
removed  his  family  and  business,  and  this  time  to 
Fall  River,  which  he  afterward  served  in  the  Legisla- 
ture, the  town  then  bearing  the  name  of  Troy.  Here 
he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  dying  in  March, 
1855. 

In  addition  to  the  legal  and  judicial  qualities  of 
mind,  which,  with  a  marked  and  refined  wit,  he  pos- 
sessed in  a  great  degree,  he  had  also  poetic  and  inven- 
tive talents,  amusing  his  leisure  hours  with  the  former 
and  employing  the  latter  to  some  practical  result, 
being  the  inventor  of  hay-scales,  for  which  he  secured 
a  patent,  they  being  at  one  time  in  quite  general  use. 

An  obituary  written  by  a  fellow-lawyer  says,  "  For 
several  years  he  did  a  considerable  portion  of  Fall 
River's  judicial  business,  his  promptness  and  tenacity 
of  memory  being  remarkable.  He  rarely  took  notes 
of  testimony,  and  it  was  very  seldom  that  a  law-book 
was  requisite  to  him  for  reference  in  any  decision.  So 
thoroughly  imbued  was  his  mind  with  the  essential 
principles  of  our  laws  that  his  errors  in  stating  them 
from  memory  merely  were  most  infrequent,  and  it  has 
been  remarked,  not  without  point,  that  more  reliance 
might  be  placed  upon  the  opinion  of  Cyrus  Alden, 
Esq.,  than  could  be  upon  the  opinions  of  many  men 
with  both  books  and  laws.  He  was  an  author  as  well 
as  practitioner,  and  has  left  a  volume  as  a  memento 
to  his  brethren  in  the  department  of  his  profession." 

Louis  Lapham,  who  was  a  leading  spirit  in  Fall 
River  for  more  than  forty  years,  was  born  in  Burrill- 
ville.  R.  I.,  in  1810.  His  parents  were  poor  people, 
and  young  Lapham  had  to  earn  his  own  bread.  He 
acquired  a  good  common-school  education  for  his 
times,  and  learned  the  printer's  trade.  He  early  ac- 
quired a  taste  for  political  life,  and  was  a  Democrat. 
He  took  sides  with   the  Dorr  Rebellion  in  Rhode 


32 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Island  in  1840,  and  was  so  much  of  a  friend  of  Gov- 
ernor Dorr  that  he  became  very  obnoxious  to  the 
King  Charles  Charterists,  and  left  his  home  and  fled 
to  Fall  River,  where  he  followed  his  trade  for  several 
years.  He  was  a  friend  of  the  laborer,  and  always  on 
the  alert  to  defend  the  poor  man's  rights.  He  was  of 
quick  perceptions  and  had  a  ready  tongue,  and  was  a 
match  for  the  lawyers  and  merchants  of  Fall  River 
in  debate  in  town-meeting.  He  acquired  consider- 
able reputation  with  the  laboring  classes,  and  ambi- 
tious for  a  better  situation  in  life  than  that  that  was 
open  to  him  in  mechanical  avocation,  studied  law  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar. 

In  1852  he  was  appointed  judge  of  the  Police  Court 
of  Fall  River  by  Governor  Boutwell,  which  position 
he  held  until  the  court  was  abolished  and  the  present 
District  Court  created  in  1873.  He  was  an  upright 
judge.  He  was  not  a  profound  lawyer,  yet  he  had  a 
true  conception  of  what  was  right,  and  his  decisions 
were  just  and  proper,  if  not  always  exact  law.  Hav- 
ing earned  his  position  by  the  sweat  of  his  own  brow, 
he  had  not  such  regard  for  professional  etiquette  as 
perhaps  he  should  have  entertained.  The  people 
had  great  confidence  in  his  judgment  and  fairness, 
and  disposition  to  do  justice  by  them. 

He  was  one  of  the  original  Free-Soilers,  and  for 
years  was  a  prominent  person  in  that  party  in  the 
city  of  Fall  River.  He  was  several  times  a  candi- 
date for  mayor  of  Fall  River,  and  in  the  latter  part 
of  his  life  was  much  disposed  to  be  in  sympathy  with 
Democratic  principles,  and  nothing  but  his  hatred  of 
slavery  and  his  recollections  of  it  kept  him  from 
full  fellowship  with  them. 

He  was  of  very  generous  disposition  and  very 
ready  and  willing  to  help  those  in  need,  and  to  render 
such  assistance  by  word  and  deed  as  it  was  in  his  cir- 
cumstances to  do.  Indeed,  he  was  too  generous  for 
his  own  accumulation  of  property.  He  was  a  true 
friend.  He  had  strong  attachments  and  hopes,  but 
yet  his  love  of  justice  and  fair  dealing  was  a  control- 
ling element  of  character.  He  hated  show  and  shams, 
and  spoke  perhaps  too  strongly  at  times  in  condemna- 
tion of  political  intriguers  and  hypocrites.  He  was  a 
laborious  man.  He  frequently  wrote  for  the  news- 
papers, and  was  busy  in  his  profession.  He  died  in 
Fall  River  in  March,  1881,  aged  seventy-one  years, 
leaving  a  widow  and  several  daughters  to  mourn  his 
death  and  to  cherish  his  memory. 

Charles  Holmes,  father  of  Hon.  Charles  Holmes, 
was  also  a  leading  lawyer  of  Fall  River.  He  had  an 
excellent  legal  mind,  and  was  genial  and  courteous  in 
his  intercourse  with  his  fellow-men. 

Hon.  Josiah  C.  Blaisdell  was  born  in  Camp- 
ton,  N.  H.,  on  the  22d  of  October,  1820.  In  his  boy- 
hood he  attended  the  common  district  school,  and 
later  was  a  member  of  the  Literary  and  Scientific 
Institution  at  Hancock,  N.  H.  While  yet  a  young 
man  he  removed  with  his  parents  to  Methuen,  Mass., 
from  whence,  in  1843,  he  came  to  Fall  River  for  the 


purpose  of  entering  the  law-office  of  James  Ford, 
Esq.  Upon  the  completion  of  his  studies  he  engaged 
in  the  practice  of  his  profession,  and  has  continued 
its  active  duties  to  the  present  day,  rising  step  by 
step  until  he  has  gained  a  foremost  position  at  the 
bar  of  his  adopted  town,  and  has  become  generally 
well  known  in  this  section  of  the  State. 

His  first  entrance  into  public  life  was  in  1858, 
when  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Massachusetts 
House  of  Representatives.  In  1864  he  was  appointed 
by  Governor  John  A.  Andrew  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  State  Charities,  completing  an  unexpired  term  of 
two  years.  In  1866  he  was  reappointed  to  the  same 
office  by  Governor  Alexander  H.  Bullock  for  a  fur- 
ther term  of  seven  years,  but  resigned  after  serving 
two  years.  He  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  State 
Senate  in  1865,  and  again  of  the  House  in  1866. 

He  was  elected  mayor  of  Fall  River  in  1858,  and 
re-elected  in  1859.  Since  Mr.  Blaisdell's  terms  in  the 
mayoralty  and  as  representative  and  senator  he  has 
been  brought  by  official  life  more  or  less  continuously 
before  the  public,  and  in  1874,  upon  the  organization 
of  the  "Second  District  Court  of  Bristol,"  in  recog- 
nition of  his  qualifications  as  a  lawyer  and  a  man  of 
sound  and  discreet  judgment,  he  was  appointed  pre- 
siding judge.  He  has  since  that  date  filled  the 
position  ably  and  well,  to  the  satisfaction  of  his 
brethren  of  the  bar  and  the  public  at  large. 

Nicholas  Hatheway,  son  of  Elnathan  P.  and 
Salome  (Cushman)  Hatheway,  was  born  in  Freetown, 
Sept.  3,  1824,  the  eldest  of  seven  children.  He  was 
educated  at  Phillips  Andover  Academy  and  Pierce's 
Academy  at  Middleborough.  He  entered  Brown 
University  in  1843,  and  graduated  in  1847 ;  studied 
law  with  his  father,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
1850.  He  commenced  practice  in  Freetown,  where 
he  remained  until  1857,  and  then  accepted  a  position 
as  head  of  the  weighers'  and  gaugers'  department  in 
the  Boston  custom-house  under  Collector  Arthur  W. 
Austin.  Mr.  Hatheway  remained  in  this  position 
until  1861,  when  he  became  a  member  of  the  Boston 
Stock  Exchange,  and  continued  in  the  brokerage 
business  until  about  fourteen  years  ago,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Fall  River  and  resumed  the  practice  of 
law.  Mr.  Hatheway  has  taken  good  rank  at  the  bar, 
but  perhaps  is  best  known  as  a  criminal  lawyer.  He 
held  various  offices  while  in  Freetown,  was  twice 
justice,  and  held  that  office  until  it  was  abolished. 
He  was  also  a  school-teacher  in  his  native  town  and 
a  member  of  the  school  committee.  He  was  elected 
a  member  of  the  Legislature  from  Fall  River  in  1875, 
and  was  alderman  in  1874  and  1875. 

Politically,  Mr.  Hatheway  is  a  Democrat,  and  an 
earnest  and  outspoken  advocate  of  the  principles  of 
that  party.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  four  last 
National  Democratic  Conventions,  and  has  been  a 
delegate  to  most  of  the  State  Conventions  for  twenty 
years,  and  has  also  been  a  member  of  the  Democratic 
State   Central    Committee.     He  was   nominated    for 


'Ll 


j 


^^  o  f 


BENCH   AND   BAR. 


33 


Congress  in   the  fall   of  1882,   and  received    a  very 
flattering  vote. 

Mr.  Hatheway  is  prominent  in  Masonic  circles,  is 
a  member  of  Union  Lodge,  Dorchester;  St.  Paul's 
R.  A.  C,  Boston;  Council  R.  and  S.  M.,  Boston; 
Boston  Commandery,  and  of  the  Supreme  Grand 
Council  of  the  Northern  Jurisdiction  of  the  United 
States  and  its  Dependencies, — thirty-three  degrees. 

Mr.  Hatheway  was  married  Jan.  1,  1851,  to  Fanny 
P.  Dean,  of  Freetown,  and  has  two  children  living, 
— Nelson  D.  Hatheway,  M.D.,  of  Middleborough, 
Mass.,  and  Nicholas  Hatheway,  Jr.,  who  graduates 
this  year  (1883)  at  Brown  University. 

Hon.  He.vky  K.  Braley,  the  present  mayor  of 
Fall  River,  was  born  in  Rochester,  Mass.,  March 
17,  1850.  He  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Mary  O.  Braley, 
whose  ancestor,  Roger  Braley,  came  to  America  and 
settled  in  Freetown  in  1742.     He  was  a  Quaker. 

Mr.  Braley  attended  the  common  schools  of  his 
native  town,  and  subsequently  graduated  from  the 
Rochester  and  Middleborough  academies.  He  also 
taught  school  in  Bridgewater  four  years.  Having 
decided  upon  the  legal  profession  as  a  vocation,  he 
commenced  the  study  of  the  law  in  the  office  of 
Latham  &  Kingman  at  Bridgewater,  and  in  1873  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  at  Plymouth,  Mass.  He  soon 
after  located  in  Fall  River,  where  he  has  since  re- 
sided engaged  in  the  active  practice  of  his  profession. 
Mr.  Braley  is  an  active  and  aggressive  member  of  the 
Democratic  party,  and  was  elected  mayor  of  the  city 
of  Fall  River  in  1882,  and  his  popularity  and  worth 
as  an  executive  officer  was  clearly  evidenced  by  his 
re-election  in  1883  by  a  large  majority.  Although 
yet  a  young  man  Mr.  Braley  has  taken  a  leading 
position  at  the  Bristol  bar,  and  is  regarded  by  his 
brethren  as  a  rising  man. 

James  M.  Morton,  one  of  the  older  members  of 
the  bar,  is  a  close  student,  has  an  excellent  legal  mind,  | 
and  is  one  of  the  acknowledged  leaders  of  the  bar  in 
Southeastern  Massachusetts. 

Hon.  Andrew  J.  Jennings,  Mr.  Morton's  partner, 
although  a  young  man,  has  a  good  position  at  the  bar, 
and  is  popular  with  his  brethren  and  the  citizens 
generally.  He  represented  the  district  in  the  State 
Senate  in  1882. 

Hon.  John  W.  Ctjmmings  is  also  a  young  man,  but 
has  already  won  a  prominent  position  at  the  bar  and  t 
in  the  political  field.     He  is  the  present  State  senator 
from  this  district,  and  one  of  Governor  Butler's  most 
trusted  counselors. 

The  present  members  of  the  Fall  River  bar  are  as 
follows  : 

Nicholas  Hatheway.  John  W.  Cummings. 

Josiah  C.  Blaisdell.  Timothy  McDonough. 

James  M.  Morton.  Samuel  Ashton. 

Jonathan  M.  Wood.  Aria  N.  Lincoln. 

Benjamin  K.  Lovatt.  Patrick  H.  Wallace. 

William  H.  Pierce.  Warren  Aids. 

•  Milton  Reed.  Hugo  A.  Dubuque. 

James  F.  Jackson.  Edward  Higginson. 

Dennis  V.  Sullivan.  M.  G.  B.  Swift. 
3 


Andrew  J.  JeDiiings. 
Simeon  Borden. 
John  S.  Brayton. 


Frank  G.  Macomber. 
Henry  K.  Braley.1 


Attleborough. — John  Daggett.  He  is  a  native 
of  Attleborough,  descended  from  John  Daggett,  who 
came  from  Martha's  Vineyard  about  1707  and  settled 
in  Attleborough,  with  a  family  of  nine  children.  He 
was  the  son  of  Thomas  Daggett,  of  the  Vineyard,  who 
married  Hannah,  oldest  daughter  of  Governor  May- 
hew,  and  lived  and  died  on  the  island.  John  Daggett, 
the  author  of  the  history  of  Attleborough  in  this  work, 
was  the  son  of  Hon.  Ebenezer  Daggett  and  Sally 
Maxcy,  one  of  the  Maxcy  family  of  Attleborough. 

He  fitted  for  college  at  Day's  Academy  in  Wrentham, 
and  under  the  tuition  of  Rev.  Alvan  Cobb,  of  Taun- 
ton. He  entered  Brown  University  in  September, 
1822,  and  graduated  in  the  class  of  1826.  Soon  after 
leaving  college  he  commenced  the  study  of  the  law  in 
the  office  of  Joseph  L.  Tillinghast,  in  Providence,  a 
distinguished  member  of  the  Rhode  Island  bar  and  a 
member  of  Congress,  and  the  next  year  studied  in 
the  office  of  Hon.  J.  J.  Fiske,  of  Wrentham,  and  the 
third  year  attended  the  course  of  law  lectures  of  Hon. 
Theron  Metcalf,  of  Dedham,  afterwards  a  judge  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  Massachusetts,  and  author  of  several 
learned  works  on  jurisprudence.  At  that  place  he 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  January,  1830,  and  imme- 
diately opened  an  office  and  commenced  practice  in 
Attleborough,  where  he  has  continued  most  of  his 
time  since.  Subsequently  he  edited  a  paper  in  Ded- 
ham for  a  year  or  two,  and  then  returned  to  his  native 
town. 

During  the  early  years  of  his  professional  duties  he 
took  a  deep  interest  in  common-school  education,  and 
devoted  much  of  his  time  to  that  cause,  having  served 
as  chairman  of  the  town  school  committee  about  fif- 
teen years  in  succession. 

He  was  elected  representative  to  the  Legislature  for 
1836,  and  continued  for  four  years  in  succession.  In 
1850  he  was  elected  to  the  Senate,  and  served  on  the 
Railroad  and  Judiciary  Committees.  During  the 
latter  year  he  was  appointed  member  of  the  Valuation 
Board,  the  duties  of  which  occupied  four  months  at 
the  State-House  in  Boston.  He  was  also  a  member 
of  the  House  in  1866.  In  1852  he  was  appointed  by 
the  Governor  register  of  probate  and  insolvency  for 
Bristol  County,  and  was  afterwards  elected  to  the 
same  office  for  two  terms,  of  four  years  each,  holding 
the  office  for  the  period  of  eleven  years. 

Of  late  years  he  has  devoted  his  leisure  hours  to 
antiquarian  and  historical  research,  especially  on  the 
subject  of  the  settlement  and  colonization  of  the  Old 
Colony,  and  the  origin  and  history  of  its  people,  is  a 
member  of  the  New  England  Genealogical  and  His- 
toric Society,  and  one  of  the  original  members  of  the 
Old  Colony  Historical  Society,  of  which  he  is  the 
president.     He  is  the  author  of  some  local  histories. 

Freetown. — William  A.  Leonard,  from  Rayn- 

1  For  notices  of  J.J.  Archer  and  Milton  Reed,  see  history  of  Fall  River. 


34 


HISTORY   OF    BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


ham,  located  for  the  practice  of  his   profession  at 
Assonet  village,  in  Freetown,  in  an  early  day. 

Being  a  single  man,  he  boarded  in  the  family  of 
Col.  Benjamin  Weaver,  in  the  west  front  chamber  of 
whose  house  Mr.  Leonard  opened  a  law-office,  and 
there  remained  until  his  building,  constructed  for  tbat 
purpose,  could  be  finished,  the  materials  of  which 
were  obtained  at  Raynham,  and  brought  down  Taun- 
ton River  and  up  Assonet  River  to  Assonet  village 
in  Freetown,  and  set  up  a  little  south  of  the  Congre- 
gational meeting-house. 

Mr.  Leonard  did  not  long  remain  in  Freetown,  but 
returned  to  Raynham.  The  building  he  put  up  for  a 
law-office  was  afterwards  used  for  a  school-house. 

Washington  Hathaway  was  a  native  of  Free- 
town. He  was  a  son  of  Joseph  Hathaway  and  wife 
Eunice  Winslow,  and  born  Sept,  4,  1777.  He  was  a 
graduate  of  Brown  University,  Providence,  R.  I. 
His  law-office  stood  on  the  northerly  side  of  Water 
Street,  in  Assonet  village.  Commenced  practice  in  or 
about  1802.     Died  Feb.  10,  1818. 

George  Bonum  Nye  Holmes  was  a  native  of 
Rochester,  Mass.,  son  of  Abraham  Holmes,  Esq.,  and 
located  in  Freetown  for  the  practice  of  the  law  in  or 
near  the  year  1810.  His  law-office  was  the  building 
now  used  by  Mr.  Philip  C.  Bryant  for  a  grocery- 
store. 

Hercules  Cushman  was  a  native  of  Middlebor- 
ough.  He  studied  law  with  Hon.  Wilkes  Wood,  of 
his  native  town,  and  received  the  appointment  of 
clerk  of  Plymouth  County  Court.  Located  in  Free- 
town in  or  about  1813,  from  which  town  he  was  elected 
several  times  as  representative  to  the  General  Court, 
and  served  one  year  in  the  Governor's  Council.  He 
was  promoted  to  the  office  of  colonel  of  the  Fifth  Regi- 
ment in  the  local  militia  of  Bristol  County.  Honor- 
ably discharged.  He  returned  to  Middleborough  in 
1828,  and  there  died  in  1832. 

Ruftjs  Bacon  was  a  native  of  Rochester,  Mass. 
Came  to  Freetown  in  1814.  Occupied  as  a  law-office 
that  which  had  been  used  by  George  Bonum  Nye 
Holmes. 

June  13,  1818,  Mr.  Bacon  was  commissioned  cap- 
tain of  the  Assonet  Light  Infantry  Company,  which 
position  he  held  until  1824;  was  a  member  of  the 
Governor's  Council  one  year ;  chairman  of  County 
Commissioners  in  1828,  which  year  he  removed  to  the 
State  of  New  York. 

Elnathan  P.  Hatheway  was  one  of  the  leading 
members  of  the  Bristol  bar,  and  for  a  long  time  one 
of  the  most  prominent  Democrats  in  the  State.  He 
was  a  personal  friend  of  James  Buchanan,  and  also 
of  Judge  Randall,  father  of  Samuel  J.  Randall,  the 
distinguished  member  of  Congress  from  Philadelphia, 
and  ex-Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives.  He 
was  selectman  of  his  town,  commissioner  of  insol- 
vency, member  of  the  last  Constitutional  Convention, 
member  of  the  Legislature,  and  later  of  the  Senate, 
was  a   member  of  the  National  Convention  which 


nominated  President  Buchanan,  and  was  subsequently 
offered  the  collectorship  of  Boston,  which  he  declined. 
He  was  engaged  for  a  long  time  in  most  of  the  impor- 
tant cases  that  came  before  the  courts  of  Bristol 
County.  He  was  popular  with  his  brothers  at  the  bar, 
and  was  an  intimate  friend  of  Timothy  G.  Coffin  and 
William  Baylies. 

Mr.  Hatheway  was  a  direct  descendant  on  the  pa- 
ternal side  from  Ann  Hathaway,  the  wife  of  Shake- 
speare, and  on  the  mother's  side  from  Robert  Cush- 
man,  the  Puritan.  Elnathan  P.  Hatheway  was  a 
graduate  of  Brown  University  in  the  class  of  1816. 

Ezra  Wilkinson  came  to  Freetown  in  March, 
1829,  and  opened  a  law-office  in  the  building  that  had 
been  used  for  that  purpose  by  George  Bonum  Nye 
Holmes  and  Rufus  Bacon.  Mr.  Wilkinson  was  a 
native  of  Wrentham,  Mass.,  and  a  graduate  of  Brown 
University,  Providence,  R.  I.  From  Freetown  he 
removed  to  Seekonk,  and  from  thence  to  Dedham. 

William  H.  Eddy  was  a  native  of  Middleborough. 
He  located  for  practice  at  Freetown  in  1835.  His 
health  failed  him,  and  he  soon  after  returned  to  Mid- 
dleborough and  died. 

Joseph  Hathaway  was  a  native  of  Freetown,  and 
located  for  the  practice  of  law  in  Fall  River,  where 
he  was  once  elected  as  a  member  of  the  General 
Court,  Came  back  to  and  opened  a  law-office  at 
Assonet  village  in  1837.  Somewhat  distinguished  as 
a  temperance  lecturer,  claiming  to  be,  as  he  did,  a 
"  reformed  drunkard."  Went  back  to  the  practice  of 
law  at  Fall  River  in  1844.  Did  not  remain  long,  but 
again  returned  to  Freetown,  where  he  died  April  22, 
1865.  He  was  a  son  of  John  Hathaway,  of  Free- 
town, and  wife  Betsey  Winslow.1 

The  senior  members  of  the  bar  of  this  county  have 
many  of  them  made  up  their  records;  those  still  left 
are  soon  to  follow,  and  the  juniors  are  to  assume  their 
places  at  the  bar  and  on  the  bench  ;  to  them  will  soon 
be  committed  these  great  responsible  trusts.  The 
perpetuity  of  our  free  institutions  is  committed  to  the 
guardianship  and  keeping  of  the  bar  and  judiciary 
of  our  free  country,  for  the  history  of  the  world 
teaches,  and  all  free  governments  illustrate,  this  truth, 
that  to  the  profession  of  the  law  civil  government  is 
indebted  for  all  the  safeguards  and  intrenchments 
with  which  the  liberties  of  the  people  are  protected, 
that  legislation  is  shaped,  constitutions  enlarged, 
amended,  and  adopted  by  the  enlightened  administra- 
tion of  the  statesmen,  both  of  England  and  the  United 
States,  who  have  been  in  both,  and  are  in  all  free  gov- 
ernments, educated  for  the  bar,  and,  ascending  by  the 
inherent  force  of  their  disciplined  professional  life, 
they  become  the  directors  of  the  destinies  of  States 
and  nations. 

Military  chieftains  may  spring  into  power,  tyrants 
may  for  the  hour  dazzle  with  the  glamour  of  military 
parade,  the  pomp  of  war,  an  oppressed  and  frenzied 


1  For  Mansfield  lawyers  see  history  of  that  town. 


MEDICAL   HISTORY. 


35 


people,  bat  they  turn  as  the  cannonade  dies  away  to 
the  statesmanship  of  the  country,  and  call  to  the  Par- 
liaments and  congressional  halls  for  final  debate  the 
arbitraments  of  the  liberties  of  the  people.  From 
the  days  of  King  John  to  the  present  hour  the  bar 
and  the  bench  have  furnished  the  statesmen  who  have 
erected  the  bulwarks  of  constitutional  law,  and  ex- 
torted from  tyrants  the  Magna  Chartas  which  have 
secured  to  the  oppressed  the  guarantee  of  free  insti- 
tutions. Imbued  with  the  historical  traditions  of 
their  predecessors,  and  tracing  the  paths  they  have 
trod,  emulating  their  good  example,  it  should  become 
more  and  more  the  resolute  purpose  of  the  Bristol 
County  bar  to  so  walk  in  the  light  of  their  professional 
teachings  that  when  they  are  called  to  follow  them  to 
that  upper  court  and  file  their  judgment-roll  of  the 
great  trial  of  life  with  that  Supreme  Judge  from  whose 
bar  they  can  take  no  appeal, — 

"  Then  go  not  like  the  quarry-slave  at  night 
Scourged  to  his  dungeon,  but,- sustained  and  soothed 
By  an  unfaltering  trust,  approach  thy  grave 
Like  one  who  wraps  the  drapery  of  his  couch 
About  him  and  lies  down  to  pleasant  dreams." 


CHAPTER   IV. 

MEDICAL   HISTORY.* 

BKISTOL  NORTH  AND  SOUTH  DISTRICTS  OF  THE  MASSACHU- 
SETTS MEDICAL  SOCIETY. 

The  Massachusetts  Medical  Society  was  formed 
in  1781,  with  power  to  elect  officers,  examine  and 
license  candidates,  hold  real  estate,  and  "  continue  a 
body  politic  and  corporate  by  the  same  name  for- 
ever." 

The  society  is  intended  to  include  all  regular  phy- 
sicians practicing  medicine  in  the  commonwealth, 
and  admission  takes  place  according  to  the  following 
extract  from  Charter  82,  Massachusetts  Laws,  1859 : 

"  No  person  shall  hereafter  become  a  member  of 
the  Massachusetts  Medical  Society  except  upon  ex- 
amination by  the  censors  of  said  society ;  and  any 
person  of  good  moral  character,  found  to  possess  the 
qualifications  prescribed  by  the  rules  and  regulations 
of  said  society,  shall  be  admitted  a  fellow  of  said 
society." 

The  Massachusetts  Medical  Society  includes  seven- 
teen district  societies,  all  of  which  are  under  the  con- 
trol of  the  parent  society.  District  societies  consist 
of  the  fellows  of  the  Massachusetts  Medical  Society 
residing  within  such  districts  respectively  wherein 
the  communication  of  cases  and  experiments  may  be 
made,  and  the  diffusion  of  knowledge  in  medicine 
and  surgery  may  be  encouraged  and  promoted.    Dis- 


trict societies  "  may  appoint  their  own  officers,  and 
establish  regulations  for  their  particular  government 
not  repugnant  to  the  by-laws  of  the  general  society  ; 
and  shall  be  capable  to  purchase  and  receive  by  do- 
nation books,  philosophical  and  chirurgical  instru- 
ments, or  other  personal  property,  and  may  hold  and 
dispose  of  the  same,  exclusive  of  any  authority  of  the 
general  society." 

There  are  in  Bristol  County  two  such  district  soci- 
eties,— Bristol  North  District  Medical  Society  and 
Bristol  South  District  Medical  Society. 

Bristol  North  District  Medical  Society  was  or- 
ganized June  20,  1849,  and  "  consists  of  all  the  fel- 
lows of  the  Massachusetts  Medical  Society  residing  in 
the  city  of  Taunton,  and  in  the  towns  of  Seekonk, 
Attleborough,  Rehoboth,  Norton,  Mansfield,  Easton, 
Raynham,  Berkley.  Freetown,  Somerset,  Dighton, 
Swansea,  and  none  other."  By  a  change  in  the  State 
line,  March  1,  1862,  almost  the  whole  of  Pawtucket 
and  a  portion  of  Seekonk,  since  known  as  East  Prov- 
idence, were  ceded  to  Rhode  Island.  Prior  to  that 
date  fellows  residing  therein  were  members  of  the 
Bristol  North  District  Medical  Society,  but  at  that 
time  they  lost  their  membership  in  the  District  So- 
ciety and  became  non-resident  fellows  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts Medical  Society. 

The  first  meeting  for  the  organization  of  this  society 
was  held  at  East  Attleborough,  Jan.  20,  1849.  There 
were  present  at  this  meeting  Drs.  Benoni  Carpenter, 
of  Pawtucket ;  Seba  A.  Carpenter,  of  Attleborough  ; 
James  B.  Dean,  of  Taunton ;  Johnson  Gardner,  of 
Seekonk;  Thaddeus  Phelps,  of  Attleborough  ;  Menzies 
R.  Randall,  of  Rehoboth ;  Phineas  Savery,  of  Attle- 
borough;  Caleb  Swan,  of  North  Easton.  Dr.  M.  R. 
Randall  was  made  chairman,  and  Dr.  Benoni  Carpen- 
ter secretary.  A  committee  was  chosen,  consisting  of 
Drs.  Carpenter,  Gardner,  and  Phelps,  who  reported  a 
"  draft  for  by-laws,"  which  were  accepted  and  adopted 
in  the  usual  manner.  Thereupon  the  organization 
was  completed  by  the  choice  of  the  following  officers: 
President,  Seba  A.  Carpenter;  Vice-President,  Men- 
zies R.  Randall ;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  William  F. 
Perry  (not  before  mentioned);  Librarians,  Phineas 
Savery,  James  B.  Dean. 

Following  is  a  list  of  the  members  of  the  Bristol 
North  District  Medical  Society  from  1849  to  1883,  al- 
phabetically arranged: 


1  The  articles  on  the  Massachusetts  Medical  Society  and  the  Bristol 
North  District  Society  were  contributed  by  Silas  D.  Presbrey,  M.D.,  of 
Taunton,  and  the  article  on  Bristol  South  District  Society  by  Dr.  John 
H.  Mackie,  of  New  Bedford. 


o 

o  d* 

-<" 

C     CD 

~s 

Name. 

Residence. 

Died. 

—    <D 

Is 

8  « 

< 



6% 

1852. 

Alba,  Edwin  Mason. 

A  ttleboro',  afterwards 

Williamsport,  Pa. 

1854. 

1862. 

Allen,  William  George. 

Mansfield. 

1852. 

Aspinwall,  Thomas  W. 

Seekonk. 

1867. 

1882. 

Baker,  Harry  Beeclier. 

Dighton. 



1869. 

Baasett,  Elton  James. 

Taunton. 

1879. 

Battersball,  Josepb  Ward. 

1850. 

Blauding,  William. 

Rehoboth. 

1857. 

1852. 

Bronson,  John  Richardson. 

Attleborough. 

t 

1869. 

Brown,  Henry  N. 

North  Attleborough. 

1874. 

1878. 

Brown,  John  Peaslee. 

Taunton. 

36 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


o 

-*- 

o.£" 

■a=o 

§  2 

~S 

Name. 

Residence. 

Died. 

•r-   cu 

^  ^ 

CO    — 

a;    8) 

< 

^S 

1871. 

Bullanl,  Herbert  Cutler. 

North  Attleborough. 

1871. 

Burden,  Frederick  Lysander. 

North  Attleborough. 

1859. 

Burge,  William  B. 

Taunton. 

1861. 

1848. 

Carpenter,  Benoni. 

Pawtucket,  R.  I. 

1877. 

1863. 

Carpenter,  Marcus  S. 

Mansfield. 

1864. 

1845. 

Carpenter,  Selia  A. 

Attleborough. 

ls4s. 

Chace,  John  Bowers. 

Taunton. 

1NXL. 

1839. 

Clapp,  Svlvanus. 

Pawtucket,  R.  I. 

187-. 

1866. 

Cublj,  John  Edward. 

Taunton. 

lx— . 

1874. 

1858. 

Cogswell,  George  Badger. 

North  Easton. 

1844. 

Dean,  James  Brinton. 

Taunton. 

18—. 

1866. 

Deane,  Asahel  Sumner. 

Taunton. 

1873. 

Ellis,  George  Livingstone. 

Taunton,  afterwards 
Middleborough. 

1878. 

1856. 

Fobes,  Joseph  Bassett. 

Taunton,    afterwards 
liridgewater. 

1868. 

1840. 

Foster,  James  Wolcott. 

North  Attleborough. 

1869. 

Gage,  William  Hatliorne. 

Taunton. 

1882. 

Galligan,  Edward  Francis. 

Taunton. 



1843. 

Gardner,  Johnson. 

Seekonk,   afterwards 
Providence,  R.  I. 

1869. 

1882. 

Gerould,  Joseph  Bowditch. 

North  Attleborough. 

1858. 

Godding,  William  W. 

Taunton. 

LS77. 

1823. 

Gordon,  William. 

Tauntou. 

1852. 

1882. 

Golden,  Michael  Charles. 

Taunton. 

1835. 

Gushee,  John  Hathaway. 

Raynham. 

18— 

1843. 

Hatch,  Josepb  H. 

Attleborough. 

1855. 

1855. 

Ilolinan,  Silas  Atherton. 

Taunton. 

1SG2. 

1866. 

Howard,  George  C. 

Attleborough. 

1848. 

Howe,  Charles. 

Tauntou. 

1866. 

Hubbard,  Charles  Thacher. 

Taunton. 

is77. 

1861. 

Hubbard,  Henry  Babcock. 

Taunton. 

1870. 

1876. 

Hutchinson,  Marcello. 

Taunton. 





1854. 

Kimball,  Daniel  F. 

Rehoboth. 



1852. 

KiDg,  Dan. 

Taunton  and  Green- 
ville, R.  I. 

1864. 

1852. 

Knapp,  Ephraim. 

Attleborough. 

1860. 

1853. 

Larkin,  Silas  S. 

Attleborough, 





1819. 

Leonard,  George. 

Taunton. 

1865. 

1882. 

Mackie,  George. 

Attleborough. 





1862. 

Manley,  Edwin. 

Taunton. 



1874. 

1854. 

McCormick,  Edward  George. 

Taunton. 

1855. 

1877. 

Moore,  Frederick  C. 

Taunton. 

1S77. 

1852. 

Morton,  Lloyd. 

Pawtucket,  R.  I. 





1859. 

Murphy,  Joseph. 

Taunton. 

1854. 

Newman,  Albert. 

Taunton,   afterwards 
Kansas. 

1841. 

Nicholas,  Joseph  Dean. 

Taunton. 

1879. 

1852. 

Nicholas,  Thomas  Gilbert. 

Freetown. 

1883. 

1S64. 

Paige,  Nonius. 

Taunton. 



1869. 

Paun,  Amos  Bosworth. 

East   Taunton,    Mid- 
dleborough. 

1867. 

Payne,  Amesa  Elliot. 

Taunton,    afterwards 
Brockton. 

1872. 

1835. 

Perrv,  William  Frederick. 

Mansfield. 

1873. 

1853. 

Phelps,  Elisha. 

North  Attleborough. 



1841. 

Phelps,  Thaddeus. 

North  Attleborough. 

1879. 

1865. 

Presbrey,  Silas  Dean. 

Taunton. 





1852. 

Randall,  Daniel  F. 

Rehoboth,  afterwards 
Chesterfield,  N.  H. 

1852. 

Randall,  George  Henry. 

North  Rehoboth. 



1832. 

Randall,  Mcnzies  Rayner. 

North  Rehoboth. 

1882. 

1863. 

Ransom,  Nathaniel  Morton. 

Taunton. 

m 

1879. 

Richmond.  George  Barstow. 

Dighton. 

1876. 

Robinson,  Walter  Scott. 

Taunton. 

1867. 

Ryan,  James  C. 

Taunton,    afterwards 

East  Abington. 

187-. 

1867. 

1843. 

Sampson,  Ira. 

Taunton. 

1871. 

1841. 

Savery,  Phineas. 

Attleborough. 

1853. 

1865. 

Sproat,  Henry  Hamilton. 

Freetown. 

1833. 

Swan,  Caleb. 

Easton. 

1870. 

1835. 

Talbot,  Charles. 

Dighton. 

1880. 

1852. 

Thompson,  Charles  K. 

Attleborough. 

1876. 

Tilden,  Frank  Elmer. 

North  Easton. 





1880. 

Totten,  John  Edmund. 

Attleborough. 

1866. 

Turner,  Obed  C. 

Attleborough. 

1873. 

1846. 

Wellington,  James  Lloyd. 

Swansea. 





1869. 

Whitney,  James  Orne. 

Pawtucket,  R.  I. 

1881. 

Wilmarth,  Alfred  Warren. 

Taunton. 

1834. 

Wood,  Alfred. 

Taunton. 

1875. 

Yale,  Joseph  Cummings. 

Taunton. 

1879. 

June  20,  1849. — President,  Seba  A.  Carpenter;  Vice-President,  M.  R. 

Randall;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  William  F.Perry;  Librarians, 

Phineas  Savery,  James  B.  Dean. 
March  20,  1850. — President,  Johnson  Gardner;  Vice-President,  Joseph 

H.  Hatch;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Thaddeus  Phelps;  Librarians, 

Phineas  Savery,  James  B.  Dean. 
March  19,1851. — President,  Johnson  Gardner;  Vice-President,  Joseph 

H.  Hatch;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Thaddeus  Phelps;  Librarians, 


Phineas  Savery,  James  B.  Dean;  Councilors,  Benoni  Carpenter, 
Johnson  Gardner,  Charles  Howe;  Censors,  Caleb  Swan,  M.  R. 
Randall,  Phineas  Savery. 

March  10,  1852. — President,  Caleb  Swan;  Vice-President,  Joseph  H. 
Hatch;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Thaddeus  Phelps;  Librarians, 
Phineas  Savery,  James  B.  Dean  ;  Councilors,  Benoni  Carpenter,  Ira 
Sampson,  Charles  Howe:  Censors,  Phineas  Savery,  M.  R.  Randall, 
Daniel  King,  James  B.  Dean,  Joseph  D.  Nichols. 

March  9,  1853. — President,  M.  R.  Randall ;  Vice-President,  Ira  Sampson  ; 
Secretary  and  Treasurer,  William  Dickinson  ;  Librarians,  James  B. 
Dean,  Phineas  Savery;  Councilors,  Benoni  Carpenter,  J.  D.  Nichols, 
Daniel  King;  Censors,  Thaddeus  Phelps,  Charles  Howe,  J.  B.  Dean. 

March  8,  1854. — President,  Ira  Sampson  ;  Vice-President,  Thaddeus 
Phelps;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  William  Dickinson;  Librarians, 
Elisha  Phelps,  James  B.  Dean;  Councilors,  Daniel  King,  Benoui 
Carpenter,  Joseph  D.  Nichols;  Censors,  Thaddeus  Phelps,  Charles 
Howe,  James  B.  Dean. 

March  14,  1855.— President,  Ira  Sampson;  Vice-President,  Thaddeus 
Phelps;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Elisha  Phelps:  Librarians,  J.  B. 
Dean,  Albert  Newman  ;  Councilors,  Daniel  King,  Benoni  Carpenter, 
J.  D.  Nichols  ;  Censors,  Thaddeus  Phelps,  Charles  Howe,  Thomas  G. 
Nichols. 

March  12.1856. — President,  Thaddeus  Phelps;  Vice-President,  Benoni 
Carpenter;  Secretary  ami  Treasurer,  Charles  Howe;  Librarians, 
James  B.  Dean,  Albert  Newman;  Councilors,  J.  I>.  Nichols,  Benoni 
Carpenter,  William  Dickinson,  Caleb  Swan;  Censors,  Thomas  G. 
Nichols,  Lloyd  Morton,  Johnson  Gardner. 

March  11,  I>">7. — President,  Thaddeus  Phelps;  Vice  President,  Benoni 
Carpenter;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Charles  Howe;  Commissioner 
on  Trials,  Daniel  King;  Librarians,  James  B.  Dean,  John  11.  Bron- 
son ;  Councilors,  Benoni  Carpenter,  Daniel  King,  Joseph  D.  Nichols; 
i  Vnsors,  Thomas  G.  Nichols,  Johnson  Gardner,  Lloyd  Morton. 

March  10,1858. — President,  Benoni  Carpenter;  Vice-President,  Daniel 
King;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Charles  Howe;  Commissioner  on 
Trials,  Daniel  King;  Librarians,  John  B.  Chace,  John  B  Bronson  ; 
Councilors,  Daniel  King,  J.  D.  Nichols,  Johnson  Gardner;  Censors, 
J.  G.  Nichols,  Johnson  Gardner,  Charles  Howe. 

March  9,  1859. — President,  Benoni  Carpenter;  Vice-President,  Daniel 
King;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Charles  Howe;  Commissioner  on 
Trials,  Daniel  King;  Librarians.  J.  B.  Chace,  Thaddeus  Phelps; 
Councilors,  Ira  Sampson,  Thaddeus  Phelps,  Johnson  Gardner;  Cen- 
sors, Johnson  Gardner,  T.  G.  Nichols,  Charles  Howe. 

March  14,  1S60. —  President,  Charles  Howe;  Vice-President,  J.  R.  Bron- 
son ;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Thomas  G.  Nichols;  Commissioner 
on  Trials,  B.  Carpenter;  Librarians,  J.  B.  Chace,  Thaddeus  Phelps ; 
Councilors,  Johnson  Gardner,  Benoni  Carpenter,  Thaddeus  Phelps, 
Charles  Talbot;  Censors,  Johnson  Gardner,  Joseph  Murphy,  J.  D. 
Nichols. 

March  13,  1861. — President,  Charles  Howe;  Vice-President,  J.  R.  Bron- 
son; Secretary  and  Treasurer,  J.  B.  Chace;  Commissioner  on  Trials, 
Thaddeus  Phelps;  Librarian,  Thaddeus  Phelps;  Councilors,  John- 
son Gardner,  Thaddeus  Phelps,  Joseph  Murphy,  Benoni  Carpenter; 
Censors,  J.  B.  Chace,  H.  B.  Hubbard,  J.  R.  Bronson. 

March  12,  1862. — President,  John  R.  Bronson  ;  Vice-Presideut,  Joseph 
Murphy;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  J.  B.  Chace;  Commissioner  on 
Trials,  J.  Phelps;  Librarian,  Ira  Sampson  ;  Councilors,  Benoni  Car- 
penter, Charles  Howe,  Ira  Sampson,  Thaddeus  Phelps  ;  Censors,  J. 
B.  Chace,  H.  B.  Hubbard,  J.  R.  Bronson. 

March  11,  1863. — President,  John  R.  Bronson;  Vice-President,  Joseph 
Murphy;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  J.  B.  Cliace;  Commissioner  on 
Trials,  J.  Phelps;  Librarian,  Ira  Sampson;  Councilors,  H.  B.  Hub- 
bard, Charles  Howe,  William  G.  Allen;  Censors,  H.  B.  Hubbard,  J. 
B.  Cliace,  J.  R.  Bronson. 

March  9,  1864. — President,  Joseph  Murphy;  Vice-President,  H.  B.  Hub- 
bard; Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Nomus  Paige;  Librarian,  Ira  Samp- 
son; Councilors,  Thaddeus  Phelps,  J.  R.  Bronson,  William  G.Allen, 
Charles  Howe  ;  Censors,  J.  B.  Chace,  H.  B.  Hubbard,  J.  R.  Bronson. 

March  8,  1865. — President,  Joseph  Murphy ;  Vice-President,  Henry  B. 
Hubbard ;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Nomus  Paige ;  Commissioner 
on  Trials,  J.  R.  Bronson;  Librarian,  Ira  Sampson;  Councilors,  J. 
R.  Bronson,  Thaddeus  Phelps,  William  G.  Allen;  Censors,  H.  B. 
Hubbard,  J.  R.  Bronson,  J.  B.  Chace. 

March  14,  1866.— President,  Henry  B.  Hubbard;  Vice-President,  J.  B. 
Chace;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Nomus  Paige;  Commissioner  on 
Trials,  W.  G.  Allen;  Librarian,  Ira  Sampson;  Councilors,  Thad- 
deus Phelps ;  William  G.  Allen,  J.  B.  Fobes,  Obed.  C.  Turner  ;  Cen- 
sors, J.  R.  Bronson,  Joseph  Murphy,  S.  D.  Presbrey. 


MEDICAL   HISTORY. 


37 


March  13,1807. — President,  Joseph  B.  Fobes;  Vice-President,  Silas  D. 
Prcsbrey  ;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Nomas  Paige:  Commissioner 
on  Trials,  J.  R.  Bronson ;  Librarian,  Ira  Sampson;  Councilors, 
William  G.  Allen,  Thaddeus  Phelps,  Charles  Howe,  J.  B.  Fpbes; 
Censors,  Joseph  Murphy,  S.  D.  Presbrey,  George  ('.  Howard. 

March  11,  1868.— President,  William  G.  Allen;  Vice-President,  S.  D. 
Presbrey;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Nonius  Paige ;  Commissioner  on 
Trials,  Charles  Howe;  Librarian,  Edwin  Stanley;  Councilors,  J.  It. 
Bronson,  H.  B.  Hubbard,  Joseph  Murphey,  S.  D.  Presbrey;  Censors, 
Thaddeus  Phelps,  J.  B.  Chace,  0.  C.  Turner. 

March  10,  1869.— President,  Silas  D.  Presbrey;  Vice-President,  Obed.  C. 
Turner ;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Charles  T.  Hubbard ;  Commis- 
sioner on  Trials,  X.  Paige;  Librarian,  John  E.  Cobb;  Councilors, 
J.  R.  Bronson,  H.  B.  Hubbard,  Charles  Howe,  Joseph  Murphy  ;  Cen- 
sors, Thaddeus  Phelps,  J.  B.  Chace,  William  G.  Allen. 

March  9,  1870.— President,  Silas  D.  Presbrey;  Vice-President,  Nonius 
Paige ;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Elton  J.  Bassett ;  Commissioner  on 
Trials,  J.  R.  Bronson ;  Councilors,  Nonius  Paige,  Joseph  Murphy, 
Amos  B.  Paun,  Henry  H.  Sproat;  Censors,  J.  B.  Chace,  Thaddeus 
Phelps,  Charles  Howe. 

March  8,  1871. — President,  Nomus  Paige;  Vice-President,  Obed.  C. 
Turner;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  E.  J.  Bassett;  Commissioner  on 
Trials,  A.  B.  Paun;  Librarian,  H.  H.  Sproat;  Councilors,  S.  D. 
Presbrey,  Charles  Howe,  J.  R.  Bronson,  Joseph  Murphy;  Censors, 
W.  W.  Godding,  Benoni  Carpenter,  S.  D.  Presbrey. 

March  13,  1872.— President,  William  W.  Godding;  Vice-President,  F.  L. 
Burden;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  E.J.  Bassett;  Commissioner  on 
Trials,  Charles  Howe;  Librarian,  H.  H.  Sproat;  Councilors,  J.  R. 
Bronson,  Joseph  Murphy,  Benoni  Carpenter,  S.  D.  Presbrey ;  Cen- 
sors, Joseph  Murphy,  William  G.  Allen,  J.  B.  Chace. 

March  12,  1873. — President,  Benoni  Carpenter;  Vice-President,  Charles 
Howe;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  E.  J.  Bassett;  Commissioner  on 
Trials,  W.  W.  Godding;  Librarian,  J.  B.  Chace;  Councilors,  J.  R. 
Bronson,  Joseph  Murphy,  S.  D.  Presbrey,  Nomus  Paige;  Censors, 
Joseph  Murphy,  S.  D.  Presbrey,  A.  B.  Paun. 

March  12,  1874.— President,  Benoni  Carpenter;  Vice-President,  Charles 
Howe;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  E.  J.  Bassett;  Commissioner  on 
Trials,  W.  W.  Godding;  Librarian,  A.  B.  Paun;  Councilors,  J.  R. 
Bronson.  Joseph  Murphy,  S.  D.  Presbrey,  A.  S.  Dean  ;  Censors,  Joseph 
Murphy,  S.  D.  Presbrey,  George  L.  Ellis. 

April  22,  1S75. — President,  Charles  Howe;  Vice-President,  E.  J.  Bassett; 
Secretary  and  Treasurer,  A.  S.  Deane  ;  Commissioner  on  Trials,  H. 
C.  Bullard;  Librarian,  H.  II.  Sproat;  Councilors,  J.  R.  Bronson, 
S.  D.  Presbrey,  Nomus  Paige,  Joseph  Murphy;  Censors,  W.  W.  God- 
ding, G.  L.  Ellis,  N.  M.  Ransom,  S.  D.  Presbrey,  Joseph  Murphy. 

April  20,  1870. — President,  W.  W.  Godding;  Vice-President,  Nomus 
Paige;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  A.  S.  Deane;  Commissioner  on 
Trials,  J.  R.  Bronson;  Librarian,  A.  S.  Deane;  Councilors,  J.  R. 
Bronson,  Charles  Howe,  Joseph  Murphy,  S.  D.  Presbrey  :  Censors, 
H.  C.  Bullard,  G.  L.  Ellis,  E.  J.  Bassett,  W.  G.  Allen,  S.  D.  Pres- 
brey. 

April  19,  1877.— President,  W.  W.  Godding;  Vice-President,  Nonius 
Paige;  Secretary,  W.  S.  Robinson  ;  Treasurer,  Charles  Howe;  Com- 
missioner on  Trials,  J.  R.  Bronson;  Librarian,  A.  S.  Deane;  Coun- 
cilors, J.  R.  Bronson,  Charles  Howe,  Joseph  Murphey,  S.  D.  Pres- 
brey ;  Censors,  II.  C.  Bullard,  G.  L.  Ellis,  E.  J.  Bassett,  W.  G.  Allen, 
S.  D.  Presbrey. 

April  18, 1&78. — President,  Nomus  Paige  ;  Vice-President,  H.  C.  Bullard  ; 
Secretary,  W  S.  Robinson  ;  Treasurer,  Charles  Howe  ;  Commissioner 
on  Trials,  J.  R.  Bronson  ;  Librarian,  N.  M.  Ransom  ;  Councilors, 
J.  R.  Bronson,  Charles  Howe,  Joseph  Murphey,  S.  D.  Presbrey; 
Censors,  S.  1>.  Presbrey,  II.  < !.  Bullard,  G.  L.  Ellis,  N.  M.  Ransom, 
E.  J.  Bassett. 

April  17, 1879.— President,  II.  C.  Bullard  ;  Vice-President,  N.  M.  Ran- 
som; Secretary,  W.  S.  Robinson  ;  Treasurer,  Charles  Howe;  Com- 
missioner on  Trials,  J.  Murphy;  Librarian,  Charles  Uowe;  Coun- 
cilors, J.  R.  Bronson,  N.  Paige,  S.  D.  Presbrey;  Censors,  E.  J. 
Bassett,  Charles  Howe,  S.  D.  Presbrey,  N.  Paige,  J.  P.  Brown. 

April  15,  1880.— President,  II.  C.  Ballard;  Vice-President,  N.  M.  Ran- 
som; Secretary,  W.  S.  Robinson;  Treasurer,  Charles  Howe;  Com- 
missioner on  Trials,  N.  Paige;  Librarian,  Charles  Howe;  Council- 
ors, J.  It.  Bronson,  S.  D.  Presbrey,  Joseph  Murphy  ;  Censors,  E.  J. 
Bassett,  S.  D.  Presbrey,  N.  Paige,  Charles  Howe,  J.  P.  Brown. 

April  21,  1881.— President,  N.  M.  Ransom  ;  Vice-President,  J.  P.  Brown; 
Secretary,  George  B.  Richmond  ;  Treasurer,  Charles  Bowe;  Com- 
missioner on  Trials,  N  Paige;  Librarian, Charles  Howe;  Councilors, 
J.  R.  Bronson,  S.  D.  Presbrey,  Joseph   Murphy;  Censors,  Charles 


Howe,  E.  J.  Bassett,  A.  W.  Wilmarth,  W.  S.  Robinson,  J.  E. 
Totten. 
April  20, 1882.— President,  N.  M.  Ransom ;  Vice-President,  J.  P.  Brown  ; 
Secretary,  E.  F.  Galligan;  Treasurer,  Charles  Howe;  Commissioner 
on  Trials,  N.  Paige  ;  Librarian,  J.  B.  Gerould  ;  Councilors,  Joseph 
Murphy,  S.  I).  Presbrey,  J.  E.  Totten,  N.  Paige;  Censors,  Charles 
Howe,  W.  S.  Robinson,  E.  J.  Bassett,  J.  E.  Totten,  A.  W.  Wilmarth. 

According  to  Article  V.  of  the  by-laws,  adopted 
June  20,  1849,  the  meetings  of  the  society  were  quar- 
terly, and  holden  on  the  third  Wednesdays  of  June, 
September,  December,  and  March,  the  last  being  the 
annual  meeting,  at  which  meeting  all  officers  were 
elected.  Article  IV.  provides  that  "  the  society  shall 
hold  its  meetings  alternately  at  East  Attleborough  and 
Taunton."  But  this  article  was  amended  Sept.  13, 
1854,  so  as  to  read,  "This  society  shall  hold  its  meet- 
ings at  such  places  as  by  vote  it  shall  determine." 
Sept.  9, 1854,  both  these  articles  were  again  amended, 
so  that  there  should  be  but  two  regular  meetings  a 
year,  the  annual  in  March,  and  the  semi-annual  in 
September.  The  last  meeting  held  in  Attleborough  was 
on  Sept.  10,  1873.  Since  that  time  all  the  meetings 
have  been  held  in  Taunton.  At  a  meeting,  Sept.  16, 
1875,  a  new  code  of  by-laws  was  reported  by  a  special 
committee  which  had  been  appointed  to  suggest  the 
alterations  of  the  by-laws  necessary  to  make  them 
conform  to  those  of  the  parent  society.  According  to 
Article  VII.  of  that  code,  which  is  now  in  force, 
"The  annual  meeting  of  the  society  shall  be  held 
between  the  15th  of  April  and  the  15th  of  May,  and,  if 
not  otherwise  ordered,  it  shall  be  on  the  third  Thurs- 
day of  April.  If  in  any  year  this  day  should  be  less 
than  ten  days  before  the  annual  meeting  of  the  State 
society,  this  society  shall  fix  another  day  by  vote,  or, 
if  it  neglects  to  do  so,  a  day  shall  be  specified  by  the 
president.  A  stated  meeting  of  the  society  shall  like- 
wise be  held  on  the  third  Thursday  in  September. 
The  secretary  shall  call  a  special  meeting  on  the  writ- 
ten application  of  five  members. 

"  Meetings  for  scientific  improvement  may  be  held 
at  such  times  and  places  as  shall  be  determined  by 
the  society. 

"All  meetings  shall  be  held  in  Taunton,  unless  other- 
wise ordered  by  vote  at  a  previous  stated  meeting." 

A  careful  perusal  of  the  records  will  convince  one 
that  in  the  main  the  members  have  attended  faith- 
fully to  their  duty  in  "  communicating  any  instructive 
cases  which  may  have  occurred  in  their  practice,  any 
useful  discovery  which  may  have  been  made  in  medi- 
cine or  surgery  or  the  allied  sciences,  and  any  invention 
which  may  have  practical  application  in  the  same." 
As  touching  upon  this  point,  it  is  quite  interesting  to 
read  the  accounts  of  the  first  tentative  applications  of 
the  fever  thermometer,  which  has  since  become  the 
constant  companion  and  trustworthy  assistant  of  the 
practitioner.  We  read  also  with  interest  the  records 
of  the  first  use  of  the  hypodermic  syringe,  as  reported 
by  a  gentleman  who  was  a  pioneer  in  this  vicinity  in 
its  application  to  relieve  suffering.  The  record  de- 
scribes the  interest  of  the  members  in  the  instrument, 


38 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


and  goes  on  to  speak  of  the  many  questions  that  were 
asked  and  answered  regarding  the  method  and  results 
of  its  employment.  Numberless  instructive  cases 
have  been  reported,  which  have  stimulated  im- 
portant discussions.  At  nearly  every  meeting  an 
essay  has  been  read  upon  some  subject  of  interest  to 
the  members  and  importance  to  the  community. 

Following  are  the  names  of  active  members,  Janu- 
ary, 1883 : 


Names. 


Residences. 


Offices. 


Allen,  William  George Mansfield. 

Baker,  Harry  Beecher Dighton. 

Bassett,  Elton  James Taunton Censor. 

Battershall,  Joseph  Ward Attleborough. 

Bronson,  John  Richardson Attleborough. 

Brown,  John  Peaslee Taunton Vice-President. 

Bullard,  Herbert  Cutler Attleborough. 

Burden,  Frederick  Lysander.. Attleborough. 

Cogswell,  George  Badger North  Easton. 

Deane,  Asabel  Sumner Taunton. 

Foster,  James  Wolcott North  Attleborough. 

Gage,  William  Hathorne Taunton. 

Galligan,  Edward  Francis Taunton Secretary. 

Gerould,  Joseph  Bowditch N.  Attleborough. ..Librarian. 

Golden,  Michael  Charles Taunton. 

Howe,  Charles Taunton Censor  and  treasurer. 

Hutchinson,  Marcello Taunton. 

Mackie,  George Attleborough. 

Murphy,  Joseph Taunton Councilor. 

Paige,  Nonius Taunton Commissioner   of    trials 

and  councilor. 

Presbrey,  Silas  Dean Taunton Councilor. 

Randall,  George  Henry North  Rehoboth. 

Ransom,  Nathaniel  Morton. ..Taunton President. 

Richmond,  George  Barston. ...Dighton. 

Robinson,  Walter  Scott Taunton Censor. 

Sproat,  Henry  Hamilton Freetown. 

Tilden,  Frank  Elmer North  Easton. 

Totten,  John  Edmund attleborough Censor  and  councilor. 

Wellington,  James  Lloyd Swansea. 

Wilmarth,  Alfred  Warren Taunton Censor. 

Wood,  Alfred Taunton. 

Bristol  South  District  Medical  Society.— At  a 

meeting  of  the  councilors  of  the  Massachusetts 
Medical  Society,  held  at  Boston  April  3,  1839,  the 
charter  of  the  society  was  granted,  as  appears  by  the 
following  extract  from  the  records  : 

"To  Alexander  Read,  Andrew  Mackie,  Paul  Spooner,  Samuel 
Sawyer,  Julius  A.  Mayhew,  William  C.  Whitridge,  fellows  of 
said  society,  greeting :  Your  application,  made  in  due  form,  requesting 
that  a  district  or  subordinate  medical  society,  residing  in  the  following 
towns  in  the  county  of  Bristol,  viz.:  New  Bedford,  Fall  River,  Taunton, 
Freetown,  Fairhaven,  Dartmouth,  and  Westport ;  in  the  county  of 
Plymouth,  Middleborough,  Rochester,  and  Wareham  ;  in  Duke's 
County,  Chilmark,  Tisbury,  and  Edgartown  ;  and  Nantucket  was  duly 
considered  at  a  meeting  of  the  councilors  held  at  Boston  on  the  3d 
day  of  April,  a.d.  1839,  and  it  was  voted  that  your  requests  should  be 
granted. 

"Be  it  therefore  known,  That  pursuant  to  an  act  of  the  Legisla- 
ture of  this  commonwealth  entitled  '  An  Act  in  addition  to  an  act  en- 
titled "An  Act  to  incorporate  certain  persons  by  the  name  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts Medical  Society,"  'authorizing  the  councilors  of  said  society 
thereunto  a  distinct  or  subordinate  society  by  the  name  of  the  Southern 
District  Medical  Society,  is  hereby  established,  to  consist  of  those  fel- 
lows of  the  Massachusetts  Medical  Society  now  residents  within  the 
limits  aforesaid,  for  the  purpose  of  electing  officers  and  transacting  such 
other  business  as  they  shall  deem  expedient. 

"  In  testimony  whereof,  the  president,  pursuant  to  the  aforesaid  vote 
of  the  councilors,  has  hereunto  subscribed  his  name  and  affixed  the 
seal  of  the  corporation  at  Boston  this  18th  day  of  April,  a.d.  1839. 

•'George  C.  Siiattuck,  President. 

"Attest:  S.  D.  Towxsend,  Recording  Secretary." 

Since  the  grants  of  the  foregoing  charter  the 
society's  name  has  been  changed  to  the  Bristol  South 
District  Society,  and  consists  of  all  fellows  of  the 
Massachusetts  Medical  Society  residing  within  the 
following  cities  and  towns,  viz.  :  New  Bedford,  Fall 


River,  Westford,  Dartmouth,  Fairhaven,  Middle- 
borough,  Rochester,  Mattapoisett,  Wareham.  Nan- 
tucket, Edgartown,  Tisbury,  and  Chilmark. 

The  records  of  the  society  having  been  unfortu- 
nately lost,  it  is  impossible  to  give  a  list  of  the  origi- 
nal members  or  of  the  officers  of  the  society,  but  be- 
low is  a  list  of  all  who  have  been  members  of  the 
society  from  its  organization  in  1839  to  the  present 
time,  March,  1883  : l 


Adm. 

Name. 

Residence. 

Ret'd. 

Died. 



Age. 

1853. 

Abbe,  Edward  P. 

New  Bedford. 

1854. 

{Abbe,  Burr  R. 

Hartford,  Conn. 

1864. 

.... 

1877. 

Abbott,  John  H. 

Fall  River. 



1839. 

*Archer,  Jason  H. 

Wrentham. 

1834. 

1864. 

69. 

1837. 

Atwood,  George. 

Fairhaven. 

1839. 

fBartlett,  Francis  D. 

South  Dartmouth. 

1865. 

*•»• 

1833. 

*Bartlctt.  Lyman. 

New  Bedford. 

1865. 

57. 

1867. 

Bass,  William  M. 

Monument. 

1S5.-.. 

*Brackett,  W.  T.  S. 

Edgartown. 

1862. 

34. 

1867. 

Bowen.  Seabury  W. 

Fall  River. 

><>. 

1867. 

Butler,  Winthrop. 

Vineyard  Haven. 

.... 

1842. 

*Clark,  Johnson. 

New  Bedford. 

1861. 

.... 

1S80. 

Clifford,  Arthur. 

New  Bedford. 

1881. 

1881. 

•  ■»• 

1881. 

Chagiion,  W.  J.  B. 

Fall  River. 



•••• 

1847. 

*Colbv,  Elijah. 

New  Bedford. 

1856. 

58. 

1846. 

*Comstock,  William  W. 

Middleborough. 

1878. 

77. 

1829. 

f*Cornish,  Aaron. 

New  Bedford. 

1862. 

1864. 

74. 

I860. 

Cornish,  Aaron. 

New  Bedford. 

■  •.. 

1857. 

Cornish,  Theodore  0. 

Dartmouth. 

.... 

1840. 

*Crary,  William  11.  II. 

Fall  River. 

1853. 

*«•• 

1865. 

{Cleaveland,  Daniel. 

Middletown,  Conn. 

.... 

1866. 

{Collins,  William  D. 

Fall  River. 

1867. 

{Clark,  J.  Laing. 

Providence,  R.  I. 

.... 

1847. 

Davis,  Robert  T. 

Fall  River. 

.... 

1839. 

t*Doggett,  Perez  F. 

Wareham. 

1869. 

1875. 

68. 

1851. 

Dwelley,  Jeiome. 

Fall  River. 

1847. 

Drake,  Ebenezer  W. 

Middleborough. 

.... 

1863. 

{Eddy,  William. 

New  York. 

.... 

1866. 

Eddy,  George  S. 

Fall  River. 

.... 

1829. 

f* Fearing,  Elisha  P. 

Nantucket. 

1860. 

1876. 

91. 

1849. 

*Folsoin,  Levi. 

New  York. 

1853. 

.... 

1861. 

Fearing,  Benjamin. 

Wareham. 



.... 

1839. 

f*Glazier  Amory. 

Fall  River. 

1849. 

1852. 

69. 

1835. 

Gordon,  William  A. 

Dartmouth. 

.... 

1882. 

Gou. 
*Green,  Edward  W. 

1853. 

i860. 

1839. 

Rhode  Island. 

68. 

1841. 

{Hardy,  Benjamin  F. 

Sau  Francisco. 

1839. 

*Haskell,  Joseph. 

Rochester. 

1873. 

.... 

1854. 

Holmes,  Alexander  R. 

Canton. 

.... 

183S. 

*Hooper,  Foster. 

Fall  River. 

1870. 

65. 

1859. 

Hooper,  Frederick  H. 

New  Bedford. 

1866. 

Howe,  Woodbridge  R. 

Hanover. 

.... 

1837. 

{Hubbard,  Levi. 

California. 



.... 

1-:," 

Hai  thy,  James  W. 

Fall  River. 

1869. 

Hough.  Georg-  T. 

New  Bedford. 

....... 

.... 

1869. 

{Hayes,  Charles. 

New  York. 

1870. 

Hayes,  Stephen  W. 

New  Bedford. 

1871. 

Handy,  Benjamin  J. 

Fall  River. 



1849. 

♦Jennings,  John  H. 

New  Bedford. 

1882. 

.... 

1841. 

{Jones,  Alanson  S. 

New  York. 

1845. 

1877. 

Jackson,  John  H. 

Fall  River. 

.... 

1867. 

*  Johnson,  Henry. 

New  Bedford. 

1880. 

.... 

1848. 

King,  George. 

Franklin. 

.... 

1842. 

King,  John  B. 

Nantucket. 

1839. 

f{Ladd,  Azel  P. 

Iowa. 

1846. 

1839. 

Learned,  Ebenezer  T. 

Fall  River. 

w 

..    ■ 

1851. 

f*Leland,  Phineas  W. 

Fall  River. 

1862. 

1870. 

71. 

1879. 

Leonard,  Milton  U. 

New  Bedford. 

1831. 

*  Lucas,  Ivory  H. 

Edgartown. 

1870. 

1856. 

Leach,  William. 

Vineyard  Haven. 

1824. 

f*Mackie,  Andrew. 

New  Bedford. 

1861. 

1871. 

77. 

1850. 

Mackie,  John  H. 

New  Bedford. 

1822. 

♦Mackie,  Peter. 

Wareham. 



1858. 

72. 

1822. 

t*Mason,  William  B. 

Dartmouth. 

184:*.. 

1856. 

74. 

1830. 

*Mavhe\v,  Julius  S. 

New  Bedford. 

IS:  9. 

1845. 

Millet,  Asa. 

East  Bridgeuater. 

1876. 

McGrath,  Eugene  J. 

Fall  River. 

185H. 

*MarrisaI,  Felix  V. 

Fall  River 

1881. 

57. 

18112. 

{Nelson,  Abial  W. 

New  London,  Ct. 

1865. 

1866. 

{Noves,  George  H. 

Fall  River. 

is:,  1. 

*0akes,  T  Fletcher. 

Dartmouth. 

is:;,. 

O'Connell.John  D. 

Vineyard  Haven. 

1839. 

t*Perkius,  John. 

Middleborough. 

1854. 

1866.  ' 

88. 

1840. 

Pierce,  John. 

Edgartown. 

1875. 

Pierce,  A.  Martin. 

New  Bedford. 

1867. 

Prescotr,  Charles  1). 

New  Bedford. 

1869. 

Paun,  Amos  B. 

Middleborough. 



1  The  asterisk    (*)  denotes    deceased;    the   dagger    (f)    retired;    the 
double  dagger  (J)  removed  from  the  State. 


MILITARY   HISTORY. 


Adm, 


1844. 

1861. 

1873. 

1S79. 

1836. 

1845. 

lsvj. 

is:m. 

1846. 

1839. 

1851. 

1S4S. 

1821. 

1852. 

is:'.'.i. 

1862. 

1857. 

1846. 

1856. 

1866. 

1870. 

1874. 

1879. 

1878. 

L869 

1873. 

1875. 

1822. 

1867. 

1840. 

1849. 

is:,;. 

1881. 

1881. 

1839. 

183S. 

1822. 

1841. 

1832. 

1842. 

1S64. 

1867. 

1833. 


Name. 


Russell,  Henry. 

Kicketson,  Arthur. 

Redfearn,  Joseph. 
^Richmond,  Geo.  15.,  Jr. 
*Sawyer,  Samuel. 
*Shiverick,  Clement  F. 

Sherman,  Frank  M. 
*Sissou,  Benjamin  B. 
*Sno\v,  George  W. 
|  South  worth,  Newton. 

Spare,  John. 

Sparrow,  William  E. 
t*Spooner,  Paul. 
JSiickney,  Charles  D. 
*Sturtevant,  George. 

Sturtevant,  Charles. 

Swasey,  Charles  L. 
*Sweat,  William  W. 

Sawyer,  Frederick  A. 
*Smith,  Isaac,  Jr. 
*Sullivan,  Alexis  J. 

Smith,  Lawrence  S. 

Smith,  H.  B.  S. 

Tavlor,  William  II. 
JTuttle,  Charles  M. 

Tourtellot,  J.  Q.  A. 

Tucker,  Edward  T. 
♦Thompson,  Arad. 

Vermyne,  Jan.  J.  B. 

f* Washburn,  Lemuel  W. 

*  Webster,  Joseph  W. 

Webster,  Joseph. 

White,  A.  M.  W. 

Whitney,  E.  M. 
t*Well8,  Thomas  T. 
tWells,  William  R. 
*Whitridge,  William  C. 
♦Wilbur,  Thomas. 
•Willard,  Henry. 

Wiuslnw,  Charles  F. 
♦Wilson,  Benjamin  F. 

Whitaker,  John  B. 
*Yale,  Leroy  31. 


Residence. 


Sandwich. 
New  Bedford. 
Fall  River. 

Cambridge. 

Edgartown. 

Dartmouth. 

Westport. 
Middleho  rough. 
Iowa. 

New  Bedford. 
Mattapoisett. 
New  Bedford. 
New  Bedford. 
Middlebo  rough. 
Hyde  Park. 
New  Bedford. 
Mattapoisett. 
Wareham. 
Fall  River. 
Fall  River. 
Watertown. 
Middlebo  rough. 
New  Bedford. 
Littletown,  N.  H. 
Fall  River. 
New  Bedford. 
Middlebo  rough. 
New  Bedford. 
Wisconsin. 
Acushnet. 
Acushnet. 
Fall  River. 
Fairhaven. 
New  York. 
Middleborough. 
New  Bedford. 
Fall  River. 
Boston. 
Boston. 
New  Bedford. 
Fall  River. 
Tisbury. 


Ret'd.   Died.  Age 


1860. 

1862. 
1842. 
18391 

1859". 

1857. 

1867! 
1863. 

1862. 
1852. 

1873. 

is's'i'. 

If.MI. 

1843. 

isis! 

1876. 
1880. 

1842! 

1857'. 
1857. 
1855. 

1849". 

54. 

39. 


58. 
60. 


76. 
57. 

40. 


66. 

33'. 

70. 


52. 

73'. 
58. 
54. 


46. 


CHAPTER   V. 
MILITARY    HISTORY. 

The  Third  Regiment— The  Fourth  Regiment— The  Seventh  Regiment 
—The  Eighteenth  Regiment— The  Twenty-third  Regiment — The 
Twenty-sixth  Regiment— The  Twenty-ninth  Regiment— The  Thirty- 
eighth  Regiment— The  Thirty-ninth  Regiment— The  Fortieth  Regi- 
ment— The  Forty-seventh  Regiment. 

The  lightning  had  scarcely  flashed  the  intelligence 
to  the  expectant  North  that  Maj.  Anderson  and  his 
gallant  band  had  surrendered  as  prisoners  of  war  to 
the  Southern  Confederacy,  ere  the  patriotic  sons  of 
Bristol  County  were  rallying  to  the  support  of  their 
imperiled  country.  Men  and  money  were  promptly 
raised,  and  the  record  of  this  county  during  the  whole 
struggle  is  one  in  which  its  citizens  may  justly  feel  a 
patriotic  pride. 

The  Third  Regiment.— The  Third  Regiment  of 
three  months'  troops  was  composed  of  men  from  Nor- 
folk, Plymouth,  and  Bristol  Counties.  The  field-officers 
were  as  follows : 

Colonel,  David  W.  Wardrop;  Lieutenant-Colonel, 
Charles  Raymond;  Major,  John  H.  Jennings;  Adju- 
tant, Austin  S.  Cushman;  Quartermaster,  Edward  D. 
Allan;  Surgeon,  Alexander  R.  Holmes;  Assistant 
Surgeon,  Johnson  Clark ;  Sergeant- Maj  or,  A.  C. 
Maggi ;  Quartermaster-Sergeant,  F.  S.  Giffbrd  ;  all  of 
New  Bedford,  except  the  lieutenant-colonel. 

There  were  two  companies  from  this  county, — Com- 


pany D  from  Freetown,  known  as  the  "Assonet  Light 
Infantry,"  John  W.  Marble,  captain;  H.  A.  Francis 
and  John  M.  Dean,  lieutenants;  and  the  "New  Bed- 
ford City  Guards,"  Timothy  Ingraham,  captain ;  James 
Barton  and  A.  S.  Cushman,  lieutenants. 

The  regiment  left  Bftston  April  17th  for  Fortress 
Monroe,  where  it  arrived  on  April  20th,  and  two  days 
later  became  a  part  of  the  garrison  of  that  famous  old 
stronghold.  It  performed  garrison  duty  until  July 
5th,  when  it  crossed  Hampton  Creek  and  occupied 
the  town,  establishing  advance  posts  on  the  outskirts. 
The  regiment  remained  here,  performing  cheerfully 
its  duties,  which  were  arduous  and  harassing,  until 
July  16th,  when,  its  term  of  service  having  expired, 
it  embarked  for  Boston,  arriving  there  July  19th,  and 
four  days  later,  July  23, 1861,  was  mustered  out  of  the 
service,  and  resumed  its  place  as  part  of  the  militia 
of  the  State.  Companies  D,  E,  I,  and  M  re-enlisted 
for  three  years  and  remained  at  the  front. 

When  the  call  was  made  in  1862  for  a  draft  of  nine 
months'  men,  the  regiment  volunteered  at  once  and 
rendezvoused  at  "  Camp  Joe  Hooker,"  at  Lakeville, 
and  on  the  22d  of  October,  1862,  left  Boston  for  New- 
berne,  N.  C,  under  command  of  Col.  Silas  P.  Rich- 
mond, of  Freetown. 

The  companies  were  officered  as  follows : 

Company  A. — Captain,  John  W.  Marble;  First  Lieutenant,  Charles  P. 
Lyon;  Second  Lieutenant,  N.  Morton  (2d). 

Company  B.— Captain,  P.  B.  Griffith;  First  Lieutenant,  C.  A.  S.  Per- 
kins; Second  Lieutenant,  W.  S.  Briggs. 

Company  C. — Captain,  Elihu  Grant ;  First  Lieutenant,  Benjamin  A. 
Shaw;  Second  Lieutenant,  Charles  D.  Copelaud. 

Company  D—  Captain,  Andrew  R.  Wright ;  First  Lieutenant,  Thomas 
McFarland  ;  Second  Lieutenant,  George  Reynolds,  Jr. 

Company  E. — Captain,  John  E  Hawes;  First  Lieutenant,  Martin  E. 
Mason  ;  Second  Lieutenant,  John  L.  Sharp  (2d). 

Company  F. — Captain,  George  14.  Hurlbiirt;  First  Lieutenant,  W.  H. 
Allen;  Second  Lieutenant,  Jonathan  W.  Davis. 

Company  G—  Captain,  William  S.  Cobb;  First  Lieutenant,  Henry  W. 
Briggs;  Second  Lieutenant,  James  L.  Wilber. 

Company  H. — Captain,  Otis  A.  Barker;  First  Lieutenant,  Robert  Cross- 
man  ;  Second  Lieutenant,  Joseph  Gibbs. 

Company  I.— Captain,  B.  Ewer,  Jr.;  First  Lieutenant,  S.  R.  Eaton; 
Second  Lieutenant,  J.  M.  Lyle. 

Company  K. — Captain,  Samuel  Bates ;  First  Lieutenant,  Nathan  Fobes; 
Second  Lieutenant,  Charles  E.  Churchill. 

The  regiment  remained  at  Newberne  until  Decem- 
ber 11th,  when  it  started  with  the  expedition  to  Golds- 
boro',  which  lasted  eleven  days,  during  which  the  regi- 
ment marched  more  than  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles. 
The  regiment  participated  in  the  battles  of  Kingston, 
Whitehall,  and  Goldsboro',  and  had  these  names  in- 
scribed upon  its  banners. 

During  its  service  the  regiment  gained  an  excellent 
reputation  for  drill  and  discipline,  and,  in  the  lan- 
guage of  Col.  Jourdan,  "  was  always  ready  for  duty." 
During  its  brief  term  of  service  it  was  transported  by 
steamer  and  railroad  more  than  two  thousand  miles 
and  marched  more  than  four  hundred  miles.  Thirteen 
of  the  regiment  died  in  the  service,  two  were  killed, 
fifteen  wounded,  and  fourteen  taken  prisoners. 

The  regiment  left  the  front  for  home  June  11th, 
arriving  in  Boston  the  16th.  and  on  the  26th  of  June, 


40 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


1863,  was  mustered  out  after  an  honorable  and  effi- 
cient service. 

The  Fourth  Regiment  was  one  of  the  first  to  leave  ' 
Massachusetts  upon  the  original  call  for  three  months' 
men.  It  left  Boston  April  17th,  under  command  of 
Col.  A.  B.  Packard,  of  Quincy,  for  Fortress  Monroe, 
where  it  arrived  on  the  20th.  It  served  its  term  of 
service  and  returned  home,  and  in  August,  1862,  re- 
enlisted  for  nine  months,  and  was  sent  to  Camp  Joe 
Hooker,  at  Lakeville,  where  it  remained  until  Decem- 
ber 17th,  when  it  embarked  for  New  Orleans.  In 
March  it  joined  the  expedition  against  Port  Hudson, 
and  there  bore  an  important  and  conspicuous  part. 

The  Fourth  remained  at  Brashear  City  until  May 
30th,  when  orders  were  received  to  report  immediately 
to  Gen.  Banks,  before  Port  Hudson.  It  there  shared 
in  the  labors,  fatigues,  and  hardships  of  that  memor- 
able siege. 

In  the  assault  on  the  4th  of  June  two  of  the  com- 
panies— A,  Capt.  John  Hall,  of  Canton,  and  K,  Capt. 
W.  H.  Bartlett,  of  Taunton — were  detailed  with  three 
companies  from  other  regiments  to  carry  hand  gren- 
ades in  the  advance  of  the  attacking  columns.  The 
detail  was  under  command  of  Capt.  Bartlett,  who  fell 
mortally  wounded  upon  the  very  breastworks  of  the 
enemy,  while  he  and  his  command,  through  a  storm  of 
shot  and  shell,  were  heroically  endeavoring  to  scale 
them.  Capt.  Bartlett  was  a  pure  patriot  and  a  brave 
soldier.  The  other  companies  also  participated  in  the 
assault,  but  were  not  in  so  advanced  a  position. 
They  were  under  fire,  however,  and  were  also  in  the 
battle  of  Bisland.  In  the  attack  of  June  14th,  when 
Capt.  Bartlett  was  killed,  the  two  companies  suffered 
severely,  losing  in  killed  and  wounded  sixty-eight. 

Upon  the  surrender  of  Port  Hudson  the  Fourth 
Regiment  was  one  of  the  first  to  enter  the  fort,  and 
remained  inside  performing  garrison  duty  until 
August  4th,  when  it  embarked  for  New  England,  and 
on  the  28th  of  the  same  month  was  mustered  out  of 
the  service.  The  entire  loss  of  the  regiment  was  about 
one  hundred  and  twenty-five. 

The  Seventh  Regiment.1 — The  Seventh  Regiment 
was  composed  almost  entirely  of  Bristol  County  men,  ; 
and  was  recruited  by  Col.  (subsequently  Maj.-Gcn.) 
Darius  N.  Couch.     It  was  officered  as  follows  : 

Colonel,  Darius  N.  Coucli,  Taunton  ;  Lieutenant-Colonel,  Chester  W. 
Green,  Fall  River ;  Major,  David  E.  Holman,  Attleborough  ;  Surgeon,  S.  A. 
Ilolman, Taunton  ;  Assistant  Surgeon,  Z.  Boylston  Adams,  Farmingham  ; 
Adjutant,  Otlmeil  Gilmore,  Raynhnm  ;  Quartermaster,  Daniel  Edson,  Jr., 
Somerset;  Quartermaster-Sergeant,  David  Packard,  South  Abington; 
Commissary -Sergeant,  John  B.  Burt,  Fall  River;  Hospital  Steward, 
Horace  B.  Sherman,  Boston;  Principal  Musicians,  Thomas  Dolan,  Taun- 
ton, Robert  Sheehan,  Fall  River;  Leader  of  Band,  Zadoc  Thompson, 
Halifax. 

Company  A  (Fall  River). — Captain,  David  H.  Dyer;  First  Lieutenant, 
Jesse  F.  Eddy;  Second  Lieutenant,  William  H.  Nye. 

Company  B  (Fall  River). — Captain,  John  Gushing;  First  Lieutenant, 
Jesse  D.  Bullock  ;  Second  Lieutenant,  George  W.  Gifford. 

Company  C  (Taunton). — Captain,  Charles  T.  Robinson;  First  Lieuten- 
ant, Edgar  Robinson  ;  Second  Lieutenant,  George  F.  Holman. 

1  By  H.  A.  Cushman,  of  Taunton. 


Company  D  (Taunton). — Captain,  Joseph  Barney  Leonard;  First  Lieu- 
tenant, William  B.  Stall;  Second  Lieutenant,  William  M.  Hale. 

Company  E  (Scituate,  Dorchester,  and  Marshfield). — Captain,  Horace 
Fox  ;  First  Lieutenant,  Hiram  A.  Oakman  ;  Second  Lieutenant,  William 
W.  Carsley. 

Company  F  (Taunton). — Captain,  Zeba  F.  Bliss;  First  Lieutenant, 
James  M.  Lincoln;  Second  Lieutenant,  James  R.  Mathewson. 

Company  G  (Easton) — Captain,  Ward  L.  Foster;  First  Lieutenant,  A. 
W.  Lothrop;  Second  Lieutenant,  M.  F.  Williams. 

Company  //(Mansfield). — Captain,  John  R.  Whitcorab;  First  Lieuten- 
ant, John  W.  Rogers;  Second  Lieutenant,  William  F.  White. 

Company  I  (Attleborough). — Captain,  John  F.  Ashley;  First  Lieu- 
tenant, William  W.  Fisher ;  Second  Lieutenant,  Charles  B.  Des  Jardines. 

Company  K  (Abington). — Captain,  Franklin  P.  Harlow;  First  Lieu- 
tenant, George  W.  Reed ;  Second  Lieutenant,  A.  L.  Mayhew. 

The  regiment  rendezvoused  at  Camp  Old  Colony 
(now  known  as  Bristol  County  Agricultural  Grounds), 
Taunton,  where  it  was  mustered  into  the  United 
States  service  by  Capt.  J.  H.  Marshall,  U.S.A.,  June 
15,  1861,  and  shortly  after  left  for  Washington,  D.  C, 
previous  to  which  a  grand  collation  was  served  them 
by  the  citizens  of  Taunton  on  Taunton  Green.  Going 
to  New  York  by  Shore  Line,  they  embarked  to  Eliza- 
bethport,  N.  J.,  on  steamer  "  Kill  von  Kull,"  where 
they  took  cars,  passing  through  Baltimore,  Relay 
House,  and  other  points  of  interest,  reaching  Wash- 
ington, D.  C,  at  night,  encamping  near  the  capitol 
buildings  till  next  morning,  when  they  marched  to 
Camp  Kalorama,  near  Georgetown,  D.  C,  where 
they  remained  until  Aug.  6, 1861,  when  they  marched 
to  junction  of  Seventh  and  Fourteenth  Streets,  which 
was  christened  Camp  Brightwood,  D.  C,  and  went 
into  winter-quarters.  During  their  stay  there  the 
regiment  was  assigned  to  a  brigade  composed  of 
Thirty-sixth  New  York,  Second  Rhode  Island,  and 
Tenth  Massachusetts  Volunteers,  which  was  com- 
manded by  Gen.  Couch,  and  was  a  part  of  Gen. 
Buell's  division.  During  their  stay  at  this  location 
they  assisted  in  building  Fort  Massachusetts,  which 
formed  a  formidable  work  in  repelling  the  advance  of 
the  rebels  under  Gen.  Jubal  Earl}r  later  on  in  July, 
1864;  picketed  Rock  Creek,  and  learned  the  duties  of 
soldiers  under  the  successive  commands  of  Col.  Nelson 
H.  Davis,  now  inspector-general  United  States  army, 
Col.  Joseph  Wheelock,  who  resigned  shortly  after  his 
commission,  and  Col.  David  A.  Russell,  the  latter 
whom  the  members  learned  to  fear,  and  afterwards  to 
revere.  March  25,  1862,  the  regiment  embarked  on 
transports  for  Fortress  Monroe,  Va.,  marched  to  New- 
port News,  Warwick  Court-House,  thence  to  a  position 
in  front  of  Yorktown,  where  it  remained  until  Ma- 
gruder  evacuated  the  forts,  when,  after  severe  mud 
marches,  it  arrived  upon  the  battle-field  of  Williams- 
burg, Va.,  much  exhausted,  at  2.30  p.m. 

May  5,  1862,  under  a  severe  fire,  they  were  ordered 
to  the  support  of  the  exhausted  troops  of  Gen.  Peck's 
brigade,  and  at  nightfall  relieved  the  One  Hundred 
and  Second  Regiment  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  and 
without  blankets  or  fires  stood  in  a  drenching  rain 
during  the  night.  At  daybreak  a  detachment  from 
Company  K,  Capt.  Reed,  with  a  detachment  from  Gen. 
Davidson's  command,  occupied  Fort  Magruder;  loss, 


MILITARY   HISTORY. 


41 


one  killed,  two  wounded.  Encamped  near  Williams- 
burg, Va.,  till  May  9th,  when  marched  to  Roper's 
Church;  May  13th,  marched  to  Dr.  May's  farm;  May 
16th,  marched  six  miles  on  the  Richmond  road;  May 
17th,  formed  a  reconnoitering  party  under  Cols.  D.  A. 
Russell  and  Gregg  (of  cavalry  fame)  to  Bottom's 
Bridge  ;  May  19th,  moved  to  a  point  on  Richmond 
and  West  Point  Railroad  two  and  a  half  miles  from 
railroad  bridge  on  Chickahominy  River ;  from  May 
20th  to  May  24th,  skirmished  to  Charles  City  road ; 
May  25th  to  29th,  skirmished  to  Seven  Pines ;  May 
31st,  engaged  in  battle  of  Seven  Pines,  or  Fair  Oaks; 
June  2d,  encamped  near  Golding's  farm,  Chicka- 
hominy River;  June  5th,  engaged  in  a  skirmish; 
June  6th,  encamped  on  west  side  of  railroad;  June 
11th,  encamped  near  Seven  Pines;  June  25th,  en- 
gaged in  a  severe  skirmish  with  the  enemy,  losing, 
killed,  the  genial  and  warm-hearted  soldiers  Lieut. 
Jesse  D.  Bullock,  Company  B,  and  Private  John 
White,  Company  F.  Lieut.  Bullock  was  embalmed 
and  his  body  sent  home  to  Fall  River.  Private  White 
was  buried  near  the  camp.  June  27th,  broke  camp 
and  commenced  the  grand  retreat  of  Gen.  McClellan 
down  the  Peninsula;  June  28th,  engaged  in  severe 
skirmish  with  rebel  cavalry  near  Ellis  Church  ;  June 
29th,  arrived  about  2  P.M.,  near  James  River  at  Mal- 
vern Hill ;  July  2d,  marched  to  Harrison's  Landing, 
on  James  River,  Va.,  where  it  remained  in  camp 
until  Aug.  10,  1802,  when  it  commenced  its  march  to 
Fortress  Monroe,  or  York  River,  to  embark  on  trans- 
ports to  Alexandria,  Va.  While  at  Harrison's  Land- 
ing the  band  which  had  so  many  times  inspired  the 
members  of  the  Seventh  with  their  fine  music  was, 
by  general  order  of  War  Department,  mustered  out 
Aug.  11,  1802.  September  1st,  inarched  from  Alexan- 
dria to  Fairfax  Court-House,  Va.  Battle  of  Bull 
Run,  Va.  September  2d,  returned  to  Alexandria; 
from  September  3d  to  September  17th  marched 
through  Tenallytown,  Rusherville,  Seneca  Mills, 
Poolesville,  Barnesville,  Lickettsville,  Birkettsville, 
Boonesville,  Md.,  over  South  Mountain  to  Antietam 
battle-field.  As  a  part  of  a  division  under  command 
of  Gen.  Couch,  at  night,  September  18th,  was  placed 
in  front  line,  the  enemy  retreating  in  the  night.  Sep- 
tember 19th,  moved  to  Sharpsburg;  20th,  returned 
through  that  town  to  Williamsport,  Md. ;  23d,  en- 
camped at  Downsville,  Md.,  remained  there  until 
October  18th,  moved  to  Clear  Spring,  Hancock, 
Cherry  Run,  and  Williamsport.  Returned  to  old 
camp  at  Downsville,  October  29th.  November  1st. 
left  there,  passing  through  Berlin,  crossing  the  Poto- 
mac, passing  through  Wheatland,  White  Plains,  New 
Baltimore,  Catlett's  Station  to  camp  near  Stafford 
Court-House,  Va.  December  4th,  marched  to  Belle 
Plains,  Va. 

Up  to  this  time  the  loss  had  been  three  killed, 
twenty-six  wounded,  seven  taken  prisoners,  and  forty- 
eight  died  from  sickness. 

December  11th,  the  regiment  started  at  daylight  and 


marched  to  the  Rappahannock  River,  about  one  mile 
below  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  where  they  halted  until  5 
P.M.,  when  they  crossed  the  river  on  pontoons  under 
a  severe  fire  from  the  enemy.  The  Seventh  was  the  . 
second  regiment  to  cross,  acting  as  support  to  the 
skirmish  line,  and  advancing  about  a  mile  farther, 
driving  the  enemy  before  them.  They  remained  in 
this  position  during  the  night,  and  were  subjected  to  a 
severe  fire  from  the  enemy's  artillery  until  December 
15th,  when  they  recrossed  the  river  and  encamped 
near  Falmouth.  Loss  in  this  engagement  one  killed 
and  two  wounded.  December  18th,  went  into  camp 
at  White  Oak  Church,  Va.  At  this  camp  the  sad  in- 
telligence that  their  beloved  colonel,  David  O.  Russell, 
who  had  been  promoted  to  a  higher  position,  that  of 
brigadier-general  in  Gen.  Wright's  (now  chief  of  en- 
gineers, U.S.A.)  division,  was  to  leave  them  cast  a 
gloom  which  to  them  seemed  worse  than  all  the 
reverses  they  had  met  in  many  battles  and  weary 
marches. 

Educated  at  West  Point,  skilled  in  the  art  of  war, 
his  frontier  life  peculiarly  fitting  him  for  skirmish 
and  reconnoitering  duty,  possessed  of  a  warm  heart, 
strict  in  discipline,  but  acting  as  a  father  to  all  in  his 
command,  while  officers  and  men  rejoiced  at  his  well- 
earned  and  deserved  advancement,  they  sincerely 
mourned  his  loss.  He  rose  from  the  command  of  a 
brigade  to  a  division  commander,  and  his  worth  can- 
not be  better  portrayed  than  the  remark  heard  by  the 
writer  from  Gen.  Phil  H.  Sheridan's  lips,  when  he 
was  being  carried  by  on  a  stretcher  unconscious  and 
mortally  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Winchester,  Va., 
Sept.  19,  1804:  "  Revenge  for  Russell !  Revenge  for 
Russell !  No  better  officer  ever  slung  a  sword  in  the 
army  !"'  Gen.  Russell's  remains  were  carried  to  Sa- 
lem, N.  Y.,  where  they  were  buried  with  military 
and  civic  honors.  United  States  forts,  Grand  Army 
posts,  and  soldiers'  children  bear  his  name,  and  the 
name  of  David  A.  Russell  will  ever  be  revered  by 
officers  or  privates  whose  good  fortune  it  was  to  be 
in  his  command  as  long  as  a  hand  is  left  to  deck  the 
grave  with  choice  flowers  of  a  comrade. 

From  Dec.  18,  1802,  to  Jan.  20,  1803,  remained 
in  camp,  when  they  participated  in  Burnsides'  mud 
march  till  Feb.  2,  1803,  when  they  returned  to  old 
camp  at  White  Oak  Swamp.  From  then  to  May 
2,  1863,  remained  in  winter-quarters,  doing  camp  and 
picket  duty. 

May  2,  1803,  crossed  Rappahannock  River  into 
Fredericksburg  at  10  p.m.  May  3d,  a  beautiful 
Sabbath  morn,  the  regiment  was  detached  from  the 
brigade  and  took  position  in  line  of  battle  to  assist  in 
holding  the  city  against  an  attack  of  the  enemy 
which  was  imminent,  and  were  held  in  readiness  to 
lead  the  assaulting  column  on  Marye's  Heights. 
Directly  west,  out  of  the  town  of  Fredericksburg, 
was  a  road  which  finally  reaches  Chancellorsville, 
just  in  the  outskirts  of  the  town,  less  than  a  mile  from 
the  main  street.     This  road  ascends  a  hill  that,  while 


42 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


it  is  sufficiently  steep  to  render  the  ascent  toilsome,  is 
not  so  steep  as  to  render  any  less  effective  the  fire  of 
artillery  and  musketry.  This  is  Marye's  Hill,  and  at 
the  summit  of  this  hill  is  Marye's  house.  Near  the 
hill  a  road  leaves  the  Chancellorsville  road,  runs  to- 
ward the  south,  across  the  front  and  right  of  the  hill 
at  its  base ;  the  latter  road  had  a  substantial  stone 
wall  on  each  side  of  it,  and  these  roads,  with  a  little 
assistance  from  the  spade,  had  been  converted  into 
excellent  breastworks  by  the  enemy.  No  artillery  fire 
could  touch  those  walls,  for  it  was  a  sunken  road,  and 
though  the  walls  were  four  feet  high  in  the  road,  their 
tops  were  level  with  the  surface.  Behind  the  second 
line  of  pits  rises  the  hill,  and  around  its  whole  crest 
runs  a  well-constructed  earthwork,  in  which  was  one 
howitzer.  At  the  ascent  of  the  hill  it  is  a  mere  gulch, 
broken  and  stony,  and  an  awful  place  for  men  to  be 
packed  in  under  a  plunging  fire  of  grape  and  canister 
in  addition  to  musketry  fire.  Such  was  the  position 
the  gallant  Seventh  was  to  lead  the  assault  against. 

The  regiment,  after  crossing  over  a  small  bridge, 
instead  of  being  ordered  to  deploy  and  charge  the 
enemy,  were  allowed  to  charge  by  the  flank,  and  the 
enemy,  bewildered  by  such  a  movement,  reserved  their 
fire  until  the  regiment  were  in  close  quarters,  when 
with  artillery  and  musketry  from  rifle-pits  aud  houses 
they  dealt  death-blows  until   the  regiment  faltered, 
which  was  only  for  a  moment.     As  fast  as  men  were 
slain  the  depleted  ranks  would  be  filled,  and  those 
who  escaped  fairly  waded  through  fire  and  gore,  re- 
sisted by  the  Confederates  as  our  men  clambered  over 
the  walls  and  planted  their  colors  on  the  crest  of  the 
hill.     Col.  Thomas  D.   Johns,  who  succeeded  Gen. 
Russell,  was  wounded  here,  which  was  conceded  by 
his  command  as  a  just  punishment  for  attempting 
such  a  charge  by  the  flank  instead  of  deploying  his 
men  as  he  should.     The  Seventh  here  captured  two 
pieces   of    the  famous   rebel  Washington    Artillery. 
The  regiment,  with  Gen.  Sedgwick's  corps,  pursued 
the  enemy  to  Salem  Heights,  a  distance  of  four  miles, 
when  from  four  o'clock  till  darkness  they  wrere  severely 
engaged,  sleeping  on  the  field  that  night.     May  4th, 
was  again   engaged,  and  was  obliged,  owing  to  the 
enemy  flanking  the  corps  and  again  occupying  their 
works,  on  the  evening  of  May  4th,  to  retreat  to  Banks' 
Ford,  where  they  recrossed  the  Rappahannock.    Tues- 
day morning,  May  5th,  the  well-earned  victory  had 
been  turned  to  defeat,  and  the  result  of  the  3d  of  May 
carnage  carried  mourning  into  many  homes  in  Bristol 
County.    With  a  force  of  less  than  five  hundred  men, 
the  loss  of  this  regiment  in  this  bloody  field  was  two 
officers  and  twenty -one  men  killed,  nine  officers  and 
one  hundred  and  five  men  wounded  ;  Company  F,  on 
the  right  of  the  command,  losing  of  that  number  two 
sergeants,  one  corporal,  and  four  privates  killed,  and 
three  commissioned  officers,  five  corporals,  and  seven 
privates  wounded.     May  8th,  returned  to  old  camp 
near  Falmouth.     June  6th,  again  crossed  the  Rappa- 
hannock, and  were  left  as  rear-guard  while  the  army 


were  marching  to  Pennsylvania.  June  11th  to  July 
2d,  marched  towards  Washington,  into  Maryland,  and 
made  forced  marches  from  Frederick  City,  Md.,  to 
Gettysburg  battle-field,  where  they  arrived  at  6  P.M. ; 
immediately  took  position  in  support  of  extreme  left 
of  line.  July  3d,  was  moving  from  left  to  right  and 
right  to  left,  subjected  to  the  terrific  artillery  fire  of 
that  memorable  day  ;  here  it  was  that  Lieut.-Col.  F. 
P.  Harlow,  who  stood  next  to  Gen.  Russell  in  the  es- 
teem of  the  men  of  the  Seventh,  displayed  his  usual 
good  judgment  aud  bravery  by  scattering  his  men 
while  subjected  to  showers  of  shot  and  shell. 

On  the  morning  of  the  glorious  4th  of  July,  1863, 
which  was  the  end  of  a  hard-contested  but  well-earned 
victory  of  our  nation's  defenders,  the  regiment  was 
ordered  into  position  in  the  front  line  and  remained 
until  noon,  when  they  threw  up  a  line  of  rifle-pits 
and  bivouacked  for  the  night.  On  the  morning  of 
the  5th,  the  retreat  of  the  enemy  was  followed  about 
six  miles  as  advance-guard,  where  they  were  ordered 
on  picket  duty.  July  6th  to  14th,  marched  to  Funks- 
town,  Md.,  formed  line  of  battle,  and  were  in  time  to 
see  the  abandoned  wagon-trains  of  the  enemy  at 
Williamsport,  Md.  Continued  the  march  to  Warren- 
ton,  Va.,  where  the  regiment  encamped  until  Septem- 
ber, when  they  marched  to  Culpeper,  returning  to 
Warrenton.  Nov.  7,  1863,  the  regiment  with  the 
Sixth  Corps  moved  from  Warrenton  to  Rappahannock 
Station,  where  it  was  under  fire  supporting  the  attack 
on  that  fort  by  their  old  commander,  Gen.  Russell, 
who  carried  it  by  storm,  capturing  one  hundred  and 
thirty-two  officers,  fifteen  hundred  men,  four  guns, 
four  caissons,  and  eight  battle-flags ;  from  there  they 
marched  to  Brandy  Station,  Va.,  where  winter-quar- 
ters were  established.  At  this  camp  a  large  number 
of  men  re-enlisted  for  three  years  more.  November 
26th,  broke  camp  and  marched  to  Mine  Run,  Va., 
where  the  regiment  was  engaged  in  front  line.  De- 
cember 1st,  returned  to  old  camp  at  Brandy  Station. 

Feb.  27,  1864,  the  regiment  was  with  the  Sixth 
Corps  ordered  to  support  a  cavalry  movement  to  Char- 
lottesville, and  after  severe  marches  returned  again 
to  Brandy  Station,  where  it  remained,  performing 
routine  of  camp  and  picket  duty,  until  May  3,  1864, 
when  camp  was  broken,  and  it  marched  to  Germama 
Ford  and  Old  Wilderness  Tavern.  May  5th,  marched 
to  plank-road  in  the  Wilderness ;  in  the  afternoon  were 
placed  in  front  line  of  battle,  and  engaged  the  enemy 
till  nearly  dusk,  casualties  numbering  eighty-five.  At 
daybreak  May  6th  was  attacked  by  the  enemy,  Long- 
street's  corps.  The  fighting  was  in  a  dense  thicket 
and  was  indecisive,  both  lines  of  the  armies  swaying 
hither  and  thither  with  the  shifting  fortunes  of  the 
fight.  After  repeated  charges  and  retreats  the  Sev- 
enth were  relieved  and  ordered  to  the  right  of  the  line 
to  resist  a  threatening  attack  of  the  enemy.  At  dark 
moved  through  the  Wilderness  to  the  left,  marching  all 
night.  May  7th,  moved  to  North  Anna  River.  May 
8th,  the  regiment  with  the  Sixth  Corps  marched  to 


MILITARY    HISTORY. 


43 


Spottsvlvania  Court-House,  formed  a  line  of  battle,  and 
at  dusk  charged  the  enemy,  who  was  strongly  posted, 
broke  their  line  of  battle,  and  captured  the  color- 
standard,  color-guard,  and  thirty-two  men  of  a  Georgia 
regiment,  losing  one  killed,  four  wounded,  and  two 
prisoners.  The  latter  were  recaptured  while  on  the 
way  to  Richmond.  They  held* the  position  gained, 
and  bivouacked  on  the  field.  May  9th,  our  beloved 
commander,  Gen.  or  "  Uncle"  John  Sedgwick,  was 
killed  by  a  rebel  sharpshooter,  one  of  the  ablest  and 
oldest  commanders  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 
Both  men  and  officers  had  entire  confidence  in  his 
judgment  and  skill.  May  10th,  employed  digging 
rifle-pits.  May  11th,  were  ordered  to  the  front  on  the 
skirmish  line,  where  remained  two  days  on  constant 
duty.  On  the  13th  rejoined  brigade;  rested  till  2 
A.M.  May  14th,  when  marched  five  miles,  formed  line 
of  battle  left  of  Fifth  Corps.  15th  and  16th,  digging 
rifle-pits.  17th,  marched  all  night  towards  right  of 
the  army,  and  at  daybreak  May  18th  charged  the 
enemy,  which  was  unsuccessful  ;  renewed  the  assault, 
but  owing  to  strength  of  enemy  was  obliged  to  re- 
tire. May  19th,  crossed  the  Ny  River  and  encamped. 
Loss  the  18th,  six  wounded.  May  25th,  on  picket  at 
Noal's  Station.  May  26th,  was  ordered  to  the  ex- 
treme front  near  Little  River ;  with  other  regiments 
covered  the  withdrawal  of  the  Sixth  Corps,  crossed 
North  Anna  River,  and  marched  to  Chesterfield  Sta- 
tion on  Fredericksburg  and  Richmond  Railroad.  May 
28th,  crossed  Pamunkey  River;  29th,  marched  to 
Hanover  Court-House;  four  miles  from  there  threw 
up  rifle-pits,  May  31st,  near  Tolopotomy  Creek,  from 
where  the  regiment  marched  at  dark  all  night  to  Cold 
Harbor,  where  it  arrived  at  2  p.m.,  deployed  into 
line,  and  at  once  engaged  the  enemy  with  success, 
driving  them  from  behind  rifle-pits,  and  occupied  the 
field  for  the  night.  From  June  3d  to  June  14th  the 
Seventh  were  on  constant  duty,  losing  men  daily 
under  the  constant  fire  of  the  enemy,  and  when  re- 
lieved on  the  last  day  of  their  term  of  service,  being 
then  in  the  extreme  front  line,  a  member  of  Company 
G  was  instantly  killed. 

Having  been  reduced  in  numbers  by  the  serious 
casualties  of  the  campaign,  their  duties  being  unusu- 
ally arduous,  they  presented  a  sad  sight  of  the  havoc 
war  can  make  of  a  regiment  which  left  Massachusetts 
with  one  thousand  strong.  On  the  afternoon  of  the 
14th  marched  to  Chickahominy,  thence  to  Charles 
City  Court-House,  and  finally  bivouacked  on  the 
banks  of  the  James,  May  15th.  Their  term  of  service 
having  expired,  it  was  relieved  from  further  duty  and 
ordered  to  Massachusetts,  to  be  mustered  out  of  ser- 
vice by  special  orders,  headquarters  Sixth  Army 
Corps,  and  the  following  was  read  to  the  command  : 

"  Headquarters  Fourth  Bbigadk, 

Second  Division,  Sixth  COBPS, 
''June  14,  18154. 
"  Oircidar: 

"  As  the  term  of  service  of  the  Seventh  MassachusettH  Volunteer*  is 
drawing  to  a  close,  and  as  it  is  expected  to  return  lo  Massachusetts,  the 


colonel  commanding  the  brigade  deems  it  a  duty  as  well  as  a  pleasure  to 
testify  to  the  soldierly  hearing,  bravery,  and  efficiency  of  the  regiment 
up  to  the  last  day  of  their  stay.  The  colonel  commanding  has  witnessed 
with  satisfaction  the  coolness  and  steadiness  under  fire  of  both  officers 
and  men  ;  the  long  marches,  exposure,  and  the  many  hardships  they 
have  undergone  since  the  opening  of  the  campaign  have  been  borne 
without  a  murmur,  and  has  more  fully  established  the  reputation  they 
have  previously  won  as  a  regiment  that  could  always  be  relied  upon. 
They  go  hack  to  Massachusetts  with  thinned  ranks  and  tattered  colors, 
but  with  the  feeling  and  the  assurance  that  they  have  nobly  served  the 
cause  of  their  country  in  its  most  trying  hour. 
"  By  order  of 

"0.  Edwakds, 

"  Col.  CommamUiiy  Brigade. 
"  T.  G.  Colt, 

"  First  Lieut,  and  A.A.A.G." 

On  the  morning  of  the  16th  the  regiment  embarked 
from  Wilson's  Landing,  James  River,  Va.,  in  the  dis- 
patch steamer  "  Keyport,"  for  Washington,  D.  O,  and 
on  following  day  took  special  train  for  New  York  ; 
reached  Taunton  June  20, 1864,  and  was  warmly  wel- 
comed back  by  the  citizens,  who  turned  out  en  masse. 
June  27,  1864,  the  regiment  was  mustered  out  of  ser- 
vice, and  the  gallant  Seventh,  with  its  laurels  won  on 
many  a  hard-contested  field,  passed  into  history. 
Herewith  will  be  found  a  recapitulation  of  the  regi- 
ment : 

Killed  and  died 145 

Deserted 143 

Transferred 69 

Rejected  recruits 13 

Promoted 82 

Discharged 470 

922 
Mustered  out 407 

Total 1329 

The  surviving  members  of  the  Seventh  have  formed 
an  association  called  the  "Seventh  Massachusetts 
Veteran  Association,"  which  meets  June  15th  yearly. 
It  has  some  eighty  members,  and  affords  the  "  boys" 
of  1861,  now  gray-haired  men,  much  pleasure  to 
unite  and  rehearse  war  scenes  of  camp  and  battle  life. 
Any  information — as  long  as  he  is  living — can  be  ob- 
tained of  one  of  its  youngest  surviving  members, 
H.  A.  Cushman,  secretary  of  the  association. 

Maj.-Gen.  Darius  N.  Couch. — The  Seventh  Regi- 
ment of  Massachusetts  Volunteers  was  recruited  by 
Col.  Darius  N.  Couch,  of  Taunton,  who  was  a  native 
of  New  York.  He  graduated  at  West  Point  in  the 
class  of  1846,  and  was  assigned  a  second  lieutenant  to 
the  Fourth  United  States  Artillery.  He  served  under 
Gen.  Taylor  in  the  Mexican  war,  and  was  breveted 
first  lieutenant  for  gallantry  at  the  battle  of  Buena 
Vista  in  1847.  He  subsequently  was  assigned  to  a 
command  in  the  Seminole  war  of  1853,  and  made  a 
scientific  tour  in  Mexico,  the  result  of  which  was 
published.  In  1855  he  resigned  his  position  in  the 
United  States  army,  and  in  1859  became  a  resident 
of  Taunton,  having  married  the  daughter  of  Hon. 
Samuel  L.  Crocker.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  war  in 
1861,  Lieut.  Crouch  tendered  his  services  to  Governor 
Andrew,  and  was  commissioned  to  raise  a  regiment 
at  the  call  of  President  Lincoln  for  seventy-five 
thousand    men   to  suppress   the  Rebellion.     He   re- 


41 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


cruitecl  the  Seventh  Regiment  of  Massachusetts  Vol- 
unteers, headquarters  at  Taunton,  and  was  elected 
colonel.  He  left  with  his  regiment  for  the  seat  of 
war  (Virginia)  in  June,  1861,  and  joined  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac  under  Gen.  McClellan,  who  was  a  class- 
mate. 

On  their  departure  from  Taunton  in  Jul}',  1861, 
the  following  letter  was  received  by  Col.  Couch  from 
Governor  Andrew  : 

"Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts, 

"  Executive  Department, 

"  Huston,  July  16,  1861. 
"  To  Col.  D.  X.  Couch, 

'•  Commanding  Seventh  Regiment  Massachusetts  Volunteers  : 

"  Colonel, — I  wish  to  express  warmly  and  sincerely  my  regret  that  I 
could  not  make  an  opportunity  to  exchange  greetings  with  you  and 
your  fine  regiment  before  you  left  the  commonwealth  for  the  seat  of  war. 

"  My  reluctance  to  permit  any  regiment  to  depart  from  Massachusetts 
without  a  chance  to  bid  it  God-speed  was  so  great  that  I  was  even  in- 
clined to  delay  you  for  a  day  or  two  in  order  to  secure  such  an  oppor- 
tunity, but  on  reflection  it  seemed  to  me  unwise  to  postpone  for  a  mere 
sentiment  your  call  to  active  duty. 

"  I  beg  now  to  assure  you  that  you  and  your  command  are  held  by  the 
official  representatives  of  the  commonwealth  in  no  less  affectionate  regard 
than  other  regiments  which,  by  reason  of  their  proximity  to  the  capital, 
afford  easier  opportunities  for  personal  interviews  and  acquaintances ; 
that  we  shall  watch  your  career  and  rejoice  in  your  successes  with  no 
less  eager  interest  than  that  with  which  we  follow  those  regiments 
which  preceded  you  and  those  which  tread  in  your  footsteps.  And  to 
you,  personally,  I  wish  to  express  my  thanks  fur  the  quiet,  considerate, 
judicious  conduct  which  characterized  your  whole  action  in  the  organi- 
zation of  your  command. 

"  I  hope  I  shall  hear  often  from  you.  Any  support  which  I  can  afford 
to  the  regiment  under  its  national  auspices  I  shall  be  glad  to  extend, 
and  I  beg  you  never  to  hesitate  to  call  back  to  Massachusetts  whenever 
you  need  for  sympathy  and  aid. 

"I  am  faithfully  and  respectfully, 

"  Your  friend  and  servant, 

"  John  A.  Andrew." 

In  August,  1861,  Col.  Couch,  having  evinced  rare 
ability  in  disciplining  his  command,  was  promoted 
brigadier-general.  On  the  reorganization  of  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac  he  was  assigned  to  the  command  of 
a  division  in  Maj.-Gen.  Keyes'  corps,  and  distin- 
guished himself  in  the  battles  of  Fair  Oaks,  Malvern 
Hill,  and  Williamsburg,  and  for  his  bravery  and  gal- 
lantry was  promoted  major-general  of  volunteers,  July, 
1862.  He  participated  in  the  battles  in  command  of 
a  division.  At  Antietam  was  assigned  the  command  of 
the  late  Gen.  Sumner's  corps.  He  afterwards  distin- 
guished himself  at  the  battles  of  Fredericksburg  and 
Chancellorsville,  under  Maj.-Gen.  Hooker.  He  was 
assigned  to  the  command  of  the  Department  of  the 
Susquehannah  in  1863;  was  also  in  command  of  a 
division  in  the  defeat  of  Gen.  Hood  at  Nashville. 
He  resigned  at  the  close  of  the  war  in  1865,  and  was 
appointed  collector  of  the  port  of  Boston.  He  has 
resided  in  Norwalk,  Conn.,  about  twelve  years,  and 
for  several  years  has  held  the  office  of  adjutant-gen- 
eral of  that  State. 

The  adjutant-general  of  Massachusetts,  in  his  re- 
port of  1862,  referred  to  the  Seventh  Begiment  as 
follows : 

"  This  regiment  is  composed  in  great  part  of  Bristol 
County  men,  recruited  by  Col.  (now  Brig.-Gen.) 
Couch,  and  is  composed  of  very  excellent  material." 


The  following  letter  from  Gen.  Couch  to  the  mem- 
bers of  his  old  regiment  at  their  reunion  in  1874  will 
be  read  with  interest: 

"  Norwalk,  Conn.,  June  12, 1874. 
"  To  the  Association  of  Seventh  Regiment  Massachusetts  Volunteers  : 

"Gentlemen, — Seeing  in  a  Taunton  paper  that  the 'Seventh'  is  to 
have  a  reunion  on  the  anniversary  of  its  muster  into  the  service  of  the 
United  States,  it  occurred  that  I  might  add  a  trifle  to  the  interest  of  the 
meeting  by  writing  a  few  items  of  history  pertaining  to  the  regimental 
organization. 

"Your  regiment,  though  not  the  very  first  one  organized  for  three 
years'  service,  had  a  beginning,  I  fancy,  prior  to  that  of  any  other  from 
Massachusetts. 

"The  31st  of  December,  1860,  I  wrote  a  letter  to  the  adjutant-general 
of  the  State  to  the  effect  that  a  conflict  with  the  South  was  inevitable, 
and  tendering  my  services  to  the  State.  Gen.  Schouler  answered  Feb. 
1,1861. 

"  On  the20fh  of  April,  1861,  Hon.  Samuel  L.  Crocker  introduced  me  to 
Governor  Andrew,  at  the  State-House,  vouching  for  my  services  in  the 
Mexican  war.  The  Governor,  after  hearing  my  views,  referred  me  to 
Col.  Sargeant,  of  his  staff,  when  the  first  official  steps  were  taken  to  raise 
troops  in  Bristol  County. 

"  You,  the  old  members,  all  know  of  the  enthusiasm  shown  in  the 
various  county  towns,  the  squad-drills  by  night,  and  the  encouragement 
given  us  by  patriotic  gentlemen,  military  committees,  etc. 

"  Well,  we  succeeded  in  organizing  ten  companies,  which,  in  a  special 
order  of  his  Excellency  the  Governor,  were  named  respectively  as  con- 
stituting the  Fifteenth  Regiment  of  Infantry,  First  Division.  The  order 
was  i  if  date  May  21,  1861. 

"  An  order  of  the  same  date  from  headquarters,  First  Division,  Massa- 
chusetts Volunteer  Militia,  directed  the  company  officers  to  assemble  at 
the  Parker  House  May  21,  1861,  and  to  elect  field-officers  for  the  regi- 
ment. Orders  from  the  same  headquarters.  May  29,  1801,  stated  that 
officers  were  elected,  commissioned,  and  qualified,  as  follows  : 

"  Colonel,  Darius  N.  Couch,  of  Taunton. 

"  Lieutenant-Colonel,  Chester  W.  Green,  of  Fall  Eiver. 

"  Major,  David  E.  Holman,  of  Attleborough. 

"  It  was  thus  a  regiment  of  militia. 

"General  Order,  No.  12,  of  the  Governor,  May  22d,  cited  the  President's 
proclamation  for  the  raising  of  three  years'  troops,  and  that  the  quota 
of  Massachusetts  was  six  regiments,  the  Fifteenth  Regiment  Massa- 
chusetts Volunteer  Militia  being  accepted  by  the  Governor,  after  some 
delay,  as  the  Fourth  Regiment  of  Massachusetts  Volunteers,  and  went 
into  Camp  Old  Colony  to  fill  up  the  ranks  and  get  ready  for  active 
service. 

"  We  were  soon  after  changed  to  the  Seventh,  an  unsullied  name 
borne  in  aprotracted  struggle  of  four  years,  consisting  of  long  marches, 
hard  bivouacks,  closely-contested  battles,  and  retreats. 

"  May  you  long  live,  my  gallant  comrades,  to  enjoy  your  nobly-earned 

honor  is  the  sincere  wish  of  your  friend, 

"  D.  N.  Couch." 

The  Eighteenth  Regiment  was  recruited  mainly 
from  Norfolk,  Bristol,  and  Plymouth  Counties.  It 
was  mustered  into  the  service  Aug.  27,  1861,  and  left 
for  Washington  on  the  following  day,  under  command 
of  Col.  James  Barnes.  This  regiment  participated  in 
the  battles  of  Gaines'  Mills,  Second  Bull  Run,  Shep- 
ardston,  Fredericksburg,  Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg, 
Rappahannock  Station,  Wilderness,  Spottsylvania, 
Cold  Harbor,  Petersburg,  and  Weldon  Railroad.  The 
regiment,  after  a  service  which  was  distinguished  for 
bravery  and  good  discipline,  was  mustered  out  Sept. 
2,  1864,  and  those  soldiers  whose  term  of  service  had 
not  expired  were  transferred  to  the  Thirty-second 
Regiment. 

The  Twenty-third  Regiment  had  a  few  men  from 
Bristol  County.  This  regiment  left  the  State  Nov.  11, 
1861,  and  encamped  for  a  time  at  Annapolis,  Md. 
It  formed  a  part  of  the  Ikirnside  expedition,  and  en- 
gaged in  the  following  battles:  Roanoke,  Newberne, 


lr€.€^d 


MILITARY   HISTORY. 


■ij 


Ranle's  Mills,  Kingston,  Whitehall,  Goldsboro',  Wil- 
cox's Bridge,  Winton,  Smithfield,  Heckman's  Farm, 
Arrowfield  Church,  Drury's  Bluff,  Cold  Harbor,  and 
other  battles  before  Richmond,  and  Kingston,  Second 
Bull  Run.  Mustered  out  Sept.  14,  1864.  Remustered 
men  and  recruits  remained  in  the  service  under  the 
same  designation  until  June  25,  1865. 

The  Twenty-sixth  Regiment  was  mustered  into 
the  service  of  the  United  States  Oct.  18,  1861,  and 
was  mustered  out  Aug.  26,  1865.  It  had  about  one 
company  from  Bristol  County.  This  regiment  was  a 
legitimate  offspring  of  the  old  Sixth  Regiment,  which 
was  mobbed  in  Baltimore.  It  participated  in  the 
battles  of  Winchester,  Cedar  Creek,  and  Fisher's 
Hill. 

The  Twenty-ninth.  Regiment.— Seven  companies 
of  this  regiment  were  among  the  first  three  years' 
men  that  left  the  State.  They  were  sent  to  Fortress 
Monroe  to  fill  up  the  ranks  of  the  Third  and  Fourth 
Militia  Regiments,  three  months'  men,  and  when  the 
terms  of  the  above  regiments  had  expired,  the  seven 
companies  became  known  as  the  First  Battalion  of 
Massachusetts  Volunteers.  Subsequently  three  new 
companies  were  organized  and  attached  to  this  bat- 
talion and  it  was  made  the  Twenty-ninth  Regiment, 
and  Brig.-Gen.  E.  W.  Peirce,  of  the  Massachusetts 
Volunteer  Militia,  was  appointed  colonel. 

The  regiment  participated  in  the  battles  before 
Richmond,  Antietam,  Fredericksburg,  siege  of  Vicks- 
burg,  Jackson,  Blue  Springs,  Campbell's  Station, 
siege  of  Knoxville,  Cold  Harbor. 

This  was  not  a  Bristol  County  regiment,  but  Col. 
Peirce,  its  commander,  was  and  still  is  a  Bristol 
County  man.  In  one  of  Maj.  O'Neill's  reports,  in  re- 
ferring to  Gen.  Peirce,  he  says,  "  Col.  Ebenezer  W. 
Peirce,  who  lost  an  arm  in  the  battle  of  White  Oak 
Swamp,  has  my  sympathy,  and  in  so  soon  rejoining 
his  regiment  for  duty  proved  his  readiness  to  be  where 
a  soldier  should  be,  at  the  head  of  his  regiment."  It 
may  be  remarked  here  that  Gen.  Peirce  rejoined  his 
regiment  and  took  command  only  sixty  days  after  his 
arm  had  been  shot  off  at  White  Oak  Swamp. 

Nov.  12,  1862,  Col.  E.  W.  Peirce  was  detailed  upon 
recruiting  service,  and  ordered  to  report  to  Col.  Day 
at  Boston,  where  he  remained  until  relieved,  and 
immediately  resumed  command  of  his  regiment  at 
Newport  News,  March  21,  1863,  accompanying  it  to 
Paris,  Ky.,  when  he  was,  by  order  of  Gen.  Burnside, 
placed  in  command  of  all  the  Federal  forces  at  that 
post,  and  so  remained  until  July  20th,  when  he  was 
detailed  to  organize  the  First  Provisional  Regiment  of 
Massachusetts,  encamped  oil  Long  Island,  Boston 
Harbor,  and  returning  to  his  regiment  at  Nicholas- 
ville,  Ky.,  August  28th,  was  immediately  placed  in 
command  of  the  brigade  to  which  this  regiment  was 
attached,  and  commanded  the  brigade  in  Kentucky, 
Tennessee,  and  Virginia,  and  while  in  Tennessee 
was  for  a  time  in  command  of  the  First  Division  of 
the  Ninth  Corps. 


Ebenezer  W.  Peirce  was  born  at  Assonet  vil- 
lage, in  Freetown,  April  5,  1822,  and  is  a  lineal  de- 
scendant in  the  sixth  generation  from  Abraham 
Peirce,  who  emigrated  to  America  and  settled  at  Ply- 
mouth in  1623,  and  died  at  Duxbury  in  or  near  1673. 
Isaac,  a  son  of  Abraham  Peirce,  performed  military 
service  for  Plymouth  Colony  in  King  Philip's  war 
(1675  and  1676),  for  which  he  was  awarded  a  land 
grant.  Isaac  Peirce  died  in  what  was  then  Middle- 
borough,  now  Lakeville,  Feb.  28,  1732,  aged  about 
seventy-one  years. 

Isaac  Peirce  left  sons  Thomas  and  Isaac,  Jr.  The 
latter,  becoming  a  Quaker,  had  a  family  of  four  sons, 
all  of  whom  save  one  left  the  religious  faith  and  prac- 
tice of  their  father  ;  and  the  oldest  of  these  (Ebenezer 
by  name)  sent  three  sons  into  the  army  in  the  French 
and  Indian  war  (1755  to  1783),  and  six  into  the  pa- 
triot army  of  the  American  Revolution  (1775  to  1782), 
of  which  six  four  became  captains  in  that  service, 
and  one  lost  his  life  before  having  time  to  attain  pro- 
motion. Of  these  six  sons  was  Capt.  Job  Peirce,  who 
served  in  both  the  French  and  Indian  war  and  the 
Revolution,  and  who  had  one  son  in  active  service  in 
the  coast-guard  as  a  major,  and  another  as  a  captain  in 
the  last  war  with  England  (1812  to  1815).  Capt.  Job 
Peirce  was  the  founder  or  donor  of  the  Peirce  Acad- 
emy, in  Middleborough,  and  paternal  grandfather  to 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  who  upon  the  maternal  side 
is  of  the  sixth  generation  from  Lieut.  Samuel  Gardi- 
ner, who  distinguished  himself  in  King  William's 
war  (1689  to  1692),  and  is  the  earliest  town  clerk  and 
treasurer  of  Freetown  of  whom  there  remains  a  record, 
and  was  a  principal  proprietor  of  what  is  still  known 
as  Gardiner's  Neck,  in  Swansea.  The  mother  of 
Ebenezer  W.  Peirce  was  a  daughter  of  Col.  Benjamin 
Weaver,  of  Freetown,  an  officer  in  patriot  army  of 
Revolution,  and  a  stanch  upholder  of  the  govern- 
ment in  the  Shay's  war,  or  Shay's  rebellion,  so  called, 
in  1786,  and  for  some  thirty  years  justice  of  a  court, 
and  distinguished  for  considerable  scholastic  attain- 
ments. 

Ebenezer  W.  Peirce  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  town,  Peirce  Academy,  Middle- 
borough,  Mass.,  Bacon  Academy,  Colchester,  Conn., 
and  Durham  Academy,  at  Durham,  N.  H.  He  has 
been  elected  to  the  town  offices  of  selectman,  overseer 
of  the  poor,  assessor,  treasurer,  collector,  and  school 
committee,  and  appointed  to  the  county  offices  of  trial 
justice,  coroner,  notary  public,  commissioner  to  qualify 
civil  officers,  public  administrator,  and  prover  of  fire- 
arms, and  from  the  President  of  the  United  States 
received  the  appointment  of  collector  of  internal  rev- 
enue for  the  First  Congressional  District  of  Massa- 
chusetts. In  the  local  militia  of  Massachusetts  he 
has  held  the  commissions  of  lieutenant,  captain,  major, 
lieutenant-colonel,  and  brigadier-general,  and  in  the 
army  in  late  war  of  great  Rebellion  the  commission 
of  colonel. 

He  commanded  a  regiment  in  Virginia,  a  brigade 


46 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


in  Kentucky,  Tennessee,  and  Virginia,  and  for  a 
short  time  a  division  in  Tennessee.  His  right  arm 
was,  by  a  cannon-ball,  shot  off  near  the  shoulder  on 
the  30th  of  June,  1862,  of  which  wound  he  was  off 
duty  only  thirty  days,  and  participated  in  another 
battle  in  less  than  two  months.  He  was  before  and 
during  the  late  war  largely  engaged  in  sheep  hus- 
bandry and  raising  of  wool,  and  while  he  had  on 
hand  a  very  large  quantity  the  prices  of  wool  went 
up  from  twenty-eight  cents  to  one  dollar  and  eighteen 
cents  per  pound,  and  dropped  almost  as  much  imme- 
diately after  he  had  sold  out,  for,  said  he,  "  while 
most  people  advised  me  to  sell  I  would  not  dispose  of 
a  pound,  but  as  soon  as  almost  every  body  advised  me 
to  hold  on  I  made  haste  to  sell  the  whole  and  did  not 
get  rid  of  it  a  moment  too  soon."  From  youth  he 
has  given  much  time  and  attention  to  the  reading 
of  the  Bible,  making  it  for  several  years  the  rule  of 
his  life  to  read  it  through  every  twelve  months,  and 
is  yet  a  thoroughly  confirmed  materialist,  in  whose 
mind  reason  takes  the  place  of  revelation  and  science 
has  demolished  superstition.  Since  the  war  he  has 
written  considerable  for  newspapers  and  became  the 
author  of  several  books  upon  local  history,  biography, 
and  genealogy. 

Although  having  attained  to  more  than  threescore 
years  and  suffered  the  hardships  incident  to  nearly 
four  years'  service  in  the  late  war,  more  than  two 
vears  of  which  were  performed  after  the  loss  of  his 
right  arm,  he  still  enjoys  almost  unimpaired  health, 
and  is  practically  a  comparatively  young  man,  all  of 
which  he  ascribes  to  a  naturally  strong  constitution, 
abstemious  habits,  ever  totally  ignoring  tobacco  and 
all  forms  of  gambling,  and  that  he  has,  during  the 
most  of  his  life,  not  allowed  himself  to  be  incumbered 
with  the  burdens,  sources,  and  anxious  care  of  more 
than  one  world  at  a  time. 

The  Thirty-eighth  Regiment  was  mustered  into 
the  service  Aug.  24, 1862,  and  was  mustered  out  June 
30,  1865.  One  company  of  the  regiment  (H)  was  re- 
cruited in  the  southeastern  part  of  the  county,  princi- 
pally from  New  Bedford,  Dartmouth,  and  Westport. 
The  regiment  participated  in  the  following  engage- 
ments :  Cane  River,  Mansura,  Port  Hudson,  Opequan, 
Fisher's  Hill,  and  Cedar  Creek. 

The  Thirty-ninth  Regiment  was  mustered  into 
the  United  States  service  Sept.  4,  1862,  and  was  mus- 
tered out  June  2,  1865.  There  was  one  company  in 
this  regiment  from  Bristol  County,  Company  F  from 
Taunton.  The  Thirty-ninth  participated  in  the 
following  engagements:  Mine  Run,  Wilderness, 
Spottsylvania,  North  Anna,  Tolopotomy,  Bethesda 
Church,  Petersburg,  Weldon  Railroad,  Dabney's 
Mills,  Gravelly  Run,  and  Five  Forks. 

The  Fortieth  Regiment  had  one  company  from 
this  county,  chiefly  from  Attleborough,  Company  H. 
The  regiment  was  mustered  into  the  service  Sept.  5, 
1862,  and  was  mustered  out  June  16,  1865. 

It  participated  in  the  following  engagements  :  En- 


gagements on  the  Blackwater,  bombardments  of  Forts 
Sumter  and  Wagner,  siege  of  Charleston,  Olustee, 
Cedar  Creek,  Ten-Mile  Run,  Jacksonville,  Drury's 
Bluff,  Cold  Harbor,  Fort  Harrison,  Fair  Oaks,  and 
the  several  battles  before  Petersburg  and  Richmond. 
This  was  one  of  the  best  regiments  in  the  service. 

The  Forty-seventh  Regiment  (nine  months)  was 
recruited  chiefly  by  Lucius  B.  Marsh,  of  Boston.  Com- 
pany C,  Capt.  L.  T.  Starkey,  was  from  Attleborough, 
and  Company  D,  Capt.  A.  S.  Cushman,  was  from  New 
Bedford.  The  regiment  left  Boston  Nov.  29,  1862, 
and  proceeded  to  New  York,  where  it  remained  until 
December  21st,  when  it  sailed  for  New  Orleans,  ar- 
riving there  on  the  31st,  and  on  the  following  day  pro- 
ceeded to  Carrollton,  and  January  2d  went  into  camp. 
The  regiment  remained  in  the  defenses  of  New  Or- 
leans during  its  term  of  service,  its  loss  being  twenty 
by  death.  It  was  mustered  out  at  Readville,  Sept.  1, 
1863. 

The  Fifty-eighth  Regiment  was  recruited  at  Read- 
ville, and  left  for  the  front  April  28, 1864,  under  com- 
mand of  Lieut.-Col.  John  C.  Whiton.  There  were 
several  companies  from  Bristol  County  in  this  regi- 
ment. The  regiment  joined  the  Army  of  the  Poto- 
mac only  a  few  days  previous  to  the  advance  towards 
Richmond,  and  suffered  severely  in  officers  and  men. 

Capt.  Franklyn  Howland  is  a  descendant  of 
Henry  Howland,  who  was  in  Plymouth  Colony  as 
early  as  1624.  It  is  supposed  that  John  Howland,  of 
the  "Mayflower,"  and  Henry  were  brothers.  The  de- 
scent comes  from  Henry1  through  Zoeth2,  Nathaniel3, 
James4,  Thomas5,  Thomas6,  William",  Stephen8,  and 
Franklyn".  Zoeth'ssons,  Nathaniel,  Benjamin,  Henry, 
and  Nicholas,  were  among  the  original  proprietors 
and  settlers  of  old  Dartmouth.  They  were  sturdy, 
well  to  do,  highly-respected  men.  The  Howlands  of 
this  part  of  Bristol  County  all  trace  their  descent 
from  three  brothers.  Franklyn's  grandfather,  Wil- 
liam, above  mentioned,  married  Innocent  Wilber,  of 
Little  Compton,  R.  I.,  where  he  settled,  and  was  fre- 
quently honored  with  public  office.  Innocent  was  a 
daughter  of  William  Wilbor,  who  was  born  in  Eng- 
land in  1580,  and  whose  son  Samuel  was  one  of  the 
original  proprietors  of  the  island  of  Rhode  Island. 
Her  nephew,  Philip  Wilbor,  was  formerly  Governor 
of  that  State.  Her  cousin,  Jobn  Wilbor,  was  leader 
of  the  "  Wilborite"  faction  of  Friends.  His  father 
Stephen  married  Lucy  P.,  daughter  of  Rev.  Israel 
Washburn,  a  descendant  of  John  Washburn,  who 
was  a  resident  of  Evansham,  county  of  Worcester, 
England,  Secretary  of  the  Council  of  Plymouth  in 
England,  and  the  first  secretary  of  the  Massachusetts 
Bay  Colony  in  America.  He  subsequently  moved  with 
the  Plymouth  Colony,  and  was  one  of  the  original 
proprietors  of  Bridgewater,  the  descent  being  John1, 
John2,  James3,  Moses4,  Moses3,  Jr.,  Lettice6,  Israel7. 
Rev.  Israel  Washburn  was  born  in  Acushnet,  24th  10th 
month,  1796.  At  an  early  age  he  took  orders  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  continued  in  the 


J'y^TT^^^^^  i/wi«r{GytA*F~~ 


MILITARY    HISTORY. 


47 


itinerancy  most  of  the  time  till  he  died.     His  last  ap-  | 
pointment  by  the  Conference  was  to  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  in  Acushnet  village,  but  he  did  not 
live  to  move  to  it. 

He  was  an  earnest  advocate  of  all  moral  reforms, 
especially  of  total  abstinence  and  anti-slavery,  being 
classed  with  the  Garrison  abolitionists.  He  was  for  j 
many  years  a  resident  of  Acushnet.  In  1862,  then 
seventy-two  years  of  age,  he  offered  his  services  to  \ 
the  government,  and. was  made  chaplain  of  the 
Twelfth  Massachusetts  Volunteers  September  1st  of 
that  year.  At  the  battle  of  Antietam  he  contracted  a 
disease  of  which  he  died  April  23,  1864.  His  son, 
Capt.  A.  Gardiner  Washburn,  a  former  resident  of 
Acushnet,  a  graduate  of  Brown  University  and  the 
Albany  Law  School,  subsequently  a  newspaper  editor, 
also  died  of  disease  contracted  in  the  service.  A  re- 
markable incident  of  record  is  that  Moses,  Jr.,  was 
in  the  Revolutionary  war ;  his  son  Lettice  in  the 
Revolution  and  war  of  1812  ;  his  grandson  Israel,  his 
great-grandson  A.  Gardiner,  and  his  great-great- 
grandson  Franklyn  in  the  last  war.  A  United  States 
pension  was  granted  on  account  of  the  last  four,  and 
the  last  three  held  the  same  rank. 

Capt.  Howland  was  born  in  Little  Compton,  R.  I., 
but  became  a  resident  of  Westport,  Mass.,  the  follow- 
ing year.  His  opportunities  for  an  education  were 
exceedingly  limited.  With  the  exception  of  six 
months,  his  studies  were  pursued  in  a  mixed  country 
school,  "  much  of  the  time,"  he  says,  "  in  a  house 
where  daylight  could  be  seen  through  the  roof,  and 
high  winds  would  come  through  cracks  in  the  walls 
with  sufficient  force  to  turn  the  leaves  of  a  book." 
He  was  in  school  but  twelve  mouths  after  his  four- 
teenth birthday.  Since  then,  however,  he  has  allowed 
no  opportunity  to  pass  to  acquire  by  close  observation, 
by  careful  reading,  and  by  intercourse  with  intelli- 
gent minds  that  practical  information  which  has 
given  him  mental  power  and  success. 

At  sixteen  years  of  age  he  entered  the  employment 
of  an  i  in  porting  house  in  New  York  City,  and  con- 
tinued there  till  the  outbreak  of  the  Rebellion.  Pass- 
ing down  town  on  the  evening  of  the  19th  of  April, 
1861,  he  saw  bulletined  on  the  newspaper  boards  the 
exciting  news  of  the  attack  on  the  Sixth  Massachu- 
setts Volunteers  in  the  streets  of  Baltimore.  The  in- 
herited patriotism,  which  had  been  by  no  means 
dormant,  now  reached  a  white-heat.  He  enrolled 
himself  at  once,  being  only  eighteen  years  of  age,  as 
a  private  in  the  Fourteenth  New  York  State  Militia, 
of  Brooklyn,  where  he  resided.  The  regiment  was 
soon  ordered  to  the  front.  It  passed  through  Balti- 
more very  soon,  and  was  quartered  at  Washington 
in  the  Senate  chamber  of  the  capitol.  He  was  in 
the  first  battle  of  Bull  Run,  when  the  newspapers  re- 
ported him  killed,  but  he  received  only  a  flesh-wound. 
After  a  year's  service  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
(where  he  received  his  first  commission),  he  was  as- 
signed to  duty  in  the  Department  of  the  South   with 


the  Ninth  Army  Corps.  A  part  of  the  time  spent 
there  he  was  on  staff  duty  as  assistant  provost-mar- 
shal. During  his  service  he  was  a  prisoner  of  war 
nearly  a  year  continuously.  This  time  was  about 
equally  divided  between  Libby  and  Salisbury  prison 
pens,  under  Winder  and  Wirz,  and  New  Orleans. 
The  hardships  and  privations  endured  here  resulted 
in  a  sickness  which  nearly  proved  fatal,  and  left  him 
with  a  partially  paralyzed  condition  of  the  spinal 
cord.  Since  this  event  he  has  not  stepped  without 
assistance,  and  requires  a  constant  attendant.  He  re- 
signed in  April,  1864,  having  been  in  service  three 
years  on  the  19th  of  that  month. 

Though  totally  incapacitated  from  manual  labor, 
his  vigorous  mind  seeks  employment.  He  edits  the 
agricultural  department  of  the  New  Bedford  Standard, 
and  has  since  the  incorporation  of  that  department 
in  this  enterprising  paper,  January,  1876,  which  de- 
partment he  suggested  to  the  publishers.  He  has 
been  president  of  the  South  Bristol  Farmers'  Club,  a 
flourishing  agricultural  organization,  since  it  was  in- 
stituted. His  boyhood  was  passed  on  a  large  farm. 
Since  the  war  he  has  been  a  close  observer  of  agri- 
cultural and  horticultural  pursuits,  and  for  the  past 
ten  years  a  farm  on  which  he  resides,  situated  on  the 
Fairhaven  road,  in  the  town  of  Acushnet,  has  been 
cultivated  under  his  immediate  supervision.  He  is 
actively  interested  in  the  anti-liquor  and  Sunday- 
school  causes,  is  president  of  the  Acushnet  and  vice- 
president  of  the  Bristol  County  Sunday-School  Asso- 
ciations. He  is  now  engaged  in  preparing  for  the 
press  a  genealogy  of  the  Howland  family,  and  is 
working  up  a  complete  history  of  Methodism  within 
the  boundaries  of  old  Dartmouth.  The  use  of  a  pen 
being  extremely  difficult,  and  at  times  impossible, 
much  of  his  writing  is  done  by  an  amanuensis. 

He  studied  two  years  for  the  medical  profession, 
but  not  recovering,  as  he  had  hoped,  he  abandoned  it. 
He  has  no  aspirations  for  political  office,  but  was  on 
the  board  of  school  committee  of  Westport  for  two 
years,  and  was  a  candidate  of  the  anti-license  faction 
of  the. Republican  party  of  Westport  in  1869,  when 
five  of  his  competitors'  votes  would  have  secured  his 
election  at  the  polls.  He  was  a  justice  of  the  peace 
for  a  number  of  years. 

Capt.  Howland  married  Emma  H.,  daughter  of 
Capt.  James  H.  and  Emily  G.  Hallett,  of  Barnstable, 
Mass.  Her  father  was  a  master-mariner.  They  have 
had  three  children, — Grace  (deceased),  Le  Roy,  and 
Max.  Capt.  Howland  is  a  man  of  pleasing  address 
and  winning  magnetism.  He  is  often  called  upon  to 
address  various  bodies  and  public  assemblies,  and  has 
an  earnest,  convincing  oratory,  not  unmixed  with 
humor  and  wit,  which  always  serves  to  drive  home  a 
point.  As  a  writer,  he  is  graphic  and  concise,  evincing 
a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  subject  in  hand.  Labor- 
ing under  disadvantages  which  would  appall  many 
able  men,  his  perseverance  and  will  cause  him  to  ac- 
complish more  actual  labor  than  many  men  of  per- 


48 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


feet  health.     He  is  a  representative  man,  and  remark- 
able in  many  respects. 

Our  military  history  is  closed.  We  have  faithfully 
traced  the  history  of  the  various  regiments,  and  it 
has  been  our  honest  endeavor  to  place  before  the 
people  of  Bristol  County  a  truthful  record  of  her  gal- 
lant sons  who  risked  their  lives  in  the  defense  of 
their  country.  We  have  sought  to  deal  justly  with 
all,  and  give  deserving  credit  to  each  and  every 
regiment. 

While  the  history  is  a  record  of  many  of  the  severest 
battles  of  the  war,  it  is  not  in  any  particular  over- 
drawn ;  it  is  a  "plain,  unvarnished  tale."  It  has 
been  impossible  to  sketch  many  individual  acts  of 
heroism,  but  these  were  not  wanting. 

Bristol  County  may  justly  feel  proud  of  her  sol- 
diery, as  no  section  of  our  country  acted  a  more 
prominent  or  honorable  role  in  the  great  tragedy. 

Eighteen  years  have  now  elapsed  since  the  close  of 
the  Rebellion,  and  we  find  our  country  a  united  and 
prosperous  people.  Sectional  strife  is  rapidly  passing 
away,  and  the  same  hand  strews  flowers  alike  on  the 
graves  of  the  Blue  and  the  Gray. 

"No  more  shall  the  war-cry  sever, 

Or  the  winding  rivers  be  red ; 
They  banish  our  anger  forever 

When  they  laurel  the  graves  of  our  dead. 
Under  the  sod  and  the  dew, 

Waiting  the  judgment-day ; 
Love  and  tears  for  the  Blue, 

Tears  and  love  for  the  Gray." 


CHAPTER     VI.1 

NEW    BEDFORD. 

Geographical — Topographical — First  Record  Reference  to  Old  Dart- 
mouth— Early  Settlement — Indian  Deed — Wasamequen  and  Wam- 
sutta  to  William  Bradford  and  others — Incorporation  of  the  Town — 
The  First  Representative — Other  Early  Representatives — The  Rus- 
sells — King  Philip's  War. 

New7  Bedford  lies  in  the  southern  part  of  the 
county,  and  is  bounded  as  follows:  On  the  north  by 
Freetown  ;  on  the  east  by  Acushnet  River,  which 
separates  it  from  Acushnet  and  Fairhaven ;  on  the 
south  by  Buzzard's  Bay ;  and  on  the  west  by  Dart- 
mouth. The  surface  of  the  town  is  generally  level 
and  the  soil  fertile. 

The  first  reference  found  in  the  Plymouth  Colony 
records  in  relation  to  the  territory  of  Dartmouth  is 
under  date  of  Dec.  1,  1640,  twenty  years  after  the 
arrival  of  the  "Mayflower."  By  an  order  of  the  Gen- 
eral Court  of  March,  1639,  it  was  agreed  that  the 
purchasers  or  "  old-comers"  should  make  choice  of  two 
or  three  plantations  for  themselves  and  their  heirs  by 
the  December  court.     When  the  time  came  it  was 


1  For  the  greater  portion  of  this  and  the  following  chapter  the  editor 
is  largely  indebted  to  the  unpublished  manuscript  of  the  late  James  B. 
Congdon. 


found  that  the  choice  had  been  made,  and  the  returns 
of  the  three  tracts  selected  were  made  and  recorded. 
All  the  selections  were  upon  the  coast. 

The  following  description  of  the  tract  called  "The 
Second  Place,"  taken  in  connection  with  the  language 
of  the  conveyance  afterwards  made  by  the  Indian 
chiefs  Wasamequin  and  Wamsutta,  indicates  with 
sufficient  accuracy  that  it  was  intended  to  describe 
the  territory  that  twenty-four  years  afterwards  con- 
stituted the  town  of  Dartmouth.  The  language  and 
orthography  of  the  records  are  given. 

"The  second  place  of  a  place  called  Acconquesse 
als  Acokers,  wch  lyeth  in  the  bottom  of  the  bay,  ad- 
joining to  the  west  side  of  Poqnt  Perrill,  and  two 
miles  to  the  western  side  of  the  said  river,  to  another 
place,  called  Acqussent  River,  wch  entreth  at  the  west- 
ern end  of  Nickatag,  and  two  miles  to  the  eastward 
thereof,  and  to  extend  eight  miles  into  the  country." 

By  this  allotment  of  territory  no  title  was  acquired. 
It  was  owned  by  the  Indians  and  occupied  by  them. 

Early  Settlement  of  Dartmouth.— Dartmouth 
was  oue  of  the  last  towns  of  the  Plymouth  Colony 
incorporated.  The  first  record  which  we  have  of  it 
is  dated  two  hundred  and  twenty-nine  years  ago, 
thirty-four  years  after  the  landing  on  Plymouth  Rock. 
On  the  29th  of  November,  1654,  a  conveyance  was 
made  by  Wasamequin,  an  Indian  chief,  and  Wam- 
sutta, his  son,  of  the  territory  now  comprising  the 
towns  of  Westport,  Dartmouth,  New  Bedford,  Fair- 
haven,  and  Acushnet  to  William  Bradford,  Capt. 
Standish,  Thomas  Southworth,  John  Winslow,  John 
Cook,  and  their  associates,  the  purchasers,  as  "  old- 
comers."  The  tract  conveyed  is  thus  described  :  "  A 
tract  of  land  known  by  the  name  of  Accushend,  alias 
Aquset,  entering  in  at  the  western  end  of  Nakata,  and 
to  the  now  Cookset,  alias  Ackees,  and  places  adjacent, 
the  bounds  of  which  tract  fully  extend  through  miles 
to  the  eastward  of  the  most  easterly  part  of  the  river 
or  bay  Accushenak  aforesaid,  and  so  along  the  seaside 
to  the  river  called  Cookset,  lying  on  the  west  side  of 
Point  Perril,  and  to  the  most  westermost  side  of  any 
branch  of  the  aforesaid  river,  and  extending  eight 
miles  into  the  woods,  with  all  marshes,  meadows, 
rivers,  waters,  woods,  and  appurtenances  thereto  be- 
longing." 

For  this  large  tract  Wasamequen  and  Wamsutta 
received  thirty  yards  of  cloth,  eight  moose-skins,  fif- 
teen axes,  fifteen  hoes,  fifteen  pairs  of  breeches,  eight 
blankets,  two  kettles,  one  cloak,  two  pounds  of  wam- 
pum, eight  pairs  of  stockings,  eight  pairs  of  shoes, 
one  tin  pot,  and  ten  shillings  in  other  commodities, 
which  phrase  being  interpreted  probably  meant  rum 
and  tobacco.  The  grantors,  father  and  son,  agree 
within  one  year  to  remove  all  the  Indians  from  the 
tract.  This  condition  certainly  was  not  complied 
with,  and  it  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact  that  the 
Indians  were  not  removed  from  this  favorite  portion 
of  their  territory  that  the  two  chiefs  who  for  this  beg- 
garly inventory  of  breeches,  blankets,  and  other  com- 


NEW   BEDFORD. 


49 


modi  ties  undertook  to  barter  away  the  hunting- 
grounds  of  the  tribe  had  as  little  authority  to  make 
the  transfer  as  they  had  power  to  enforce  the  cruel 
stipulation  that  provided  for  the  banishment  of  the 
rightful  owners  of  the  soil.1  Previous  to  this  date 
there  were  no  doubt  some  settlers  upon  this  territory. 

As  early  as  1650,  Ralph  Russell  came  to  Dartmouth, 
and  in  company  with  Anthony  Slocum,  his  companion 
into  the  wilderness,  established  an  iron-works  at  Rus- 
sell's Mills.  They  were  from  the  neighboring  settle- 
ment of  Taunton. 

To  the  Russells  is  due  the  honor  of  having  been 
the  founders  of  this  community,  and  from  that  early 
day,  over  one  hundred  and  thirty  years  ago,  there  has 
been  no  time  in  the  annals  of  the  old  mother-town  of 
Dartmouth  or  of  the  vigorous  branches  of  the  parent 
tree  when  the  name  of  Russell  was  not  borne  by  many 
here  whose  enterprise  and  perseverance  proved  them 
worthy  descendants  of  him  who  pitched  his  tent  in 
the  wilderness,  and,  surrounded  by  the  wondering  and 
it  may  be  hostile  sons  of  the  soil,  caused  the  stillness 
of  the  forest  for  the  first  time  to  be  broken  by  the 
clangor  of  water-driven  machinery. 

In  1664,  Dartmouth  was  incorporated,  and  John 
Russell,  the  first  representative  sent  by  the  inhabitants 
to  the  General  Court  at  Plymouth,  took  his  seat  among 
the  rulers  of  the  people  the  next  year. 

John  Cook  seems  to  have  been  the  only  person 
named  among  the  grantees  of  the  territory  who  be- 
came an  inhabitant  of  the  town.  His  house  was 
situated  at  the  opposite  extremity  of  the  settlement, 
near  what  is  now  called  the  Head  of  the  River.  The 
second  year  he  took  Russell's  place  as  representative 
at  the  headquarters  of  the  Old  Colony,  and  from  that 

1  The  following  is  a  copy  of  this  deed: 

"  New  Plymouth,  November  the  29th,  1G52. 

"  Know  all  men  by  these  presents,  that  I,  Wesamequen,  and  Warn- 
sutta,  my  son,  have  sold  unto  Mr.  William  Bradford,  Captain  Standish, 
Thomas  Southworth,  John  Winslow,  John  Cooke,  and  their  associates, 
the  purchasers  or  old-comers,  all  the  tract  or  tracts  of  land  lying  three 
miles  eastward  from  a  river  called  Cushenagg,  to  a  certain  harbour  called 
Acoaksett,  to  a  Hat  rock  on  the  westward  side  of  the  said  harbour.  And 
whereas  the  Bald  harbour  divideth  itself  into  several  branches,  the  west- 
ernmost arme  to  be  the  bound,  and  all  the  tract  or  tracts  of  laud  from 
the  said  Westernmost  arme  to  the  said  river  of  Cushenagg,  three  miles 
eastward  of  the  same,  with  all  the  profits  and  benefits  within  the  said 
tract,  with  all  the  rivers,  creeks,  meadows,  necks,  and  islands  that  lye  in 
or  before  the  same,  and  from  the  sea  upward  to  go  so  high  that  the 
English  may  not  be  annoyed  by  the  hunting  of  the  Indians  in  any  sort 
of  their  cattle.  And  I,  Wesamequen,  and  Wamsutta,  do  promise  to  re- 
move all  the  Indians  within  a  year  from  the  date  hereof  that  do  live  in 
thesaid  tract.  And  we,  the  said  Wesamequen  anil  Wamsutta,  have  fully 
bargained  and  sold  unto  the  aforesaid  Mr.  William  Bradford,  Captain 
Standish,  Thomas  Southworth,  John  Wiuslow,  John  Cooke,  and  the  rest 
of  their  as«ociat<*s,  the  purchasers  or  old-comers,  to  have  and  to  hold  for 
them  and  their  heirs  and  assigns  forever.  And  in  consideration  hereof, 
we  the  above-mentioned  are  to  pay  to  the  said  Wesamequen  and  Wam- 
sutta us  folio  we  th:  thirty  yard*  of  doth,  eight  moose-skins,  fifteen  axes, 
fifteen  hoes,  fifteen  pair  of  breeches,  eight  blankets,  two  kettles,  one  cloak,  £2 
in  wnmpan,  eight  pair  stockings,  eight  pair  of  shoes,  one  iron  pot,  and  ten 
shillings  in  another  commoditie.  And  in  witness  hereof  we  have  inter- 
changeably set  to  our  bauds  the  day  and  year  above  written. 
"  In  presence  of  "John  Winslow, 

"Jonathan  Shaw,  "John  Cook, 

"  Samuel  Eddy,  "  Wamsutta.    His  jam.  mark." 


time  to  the  year  1674,  when  Indian  hostility  leveled 
every  habitation  and  drove  every  white  inhabitant 
from  the  territory,  the  two  Johns,  situated  at  the  ter- 
mini of  a  line  drawn  diagonally  across  the  town,  con- 
tinued to  discharge  the  duties  of  attending  to  the  in- 
terests of  the  good  people  of  Dartmouth  in  the  councils 
of  the  colony. 

Burdensome,  doubtless,  to  these  distant  settlers 
was  the  task  of  attending  to  the  affairs  of  state  at 
Plymouth,  and  it  was  found  necessary  in  those  good 
old  times  to  impose  upon  any  person  chosen  to  the 
office  of  Governor  who  should  refuse  to  accept  the 
same  a  fine  of  twenty  pounds.  It  may  be  with  pro- 
priety supposed  that  the  office  of  member  of  the  Gen- 
eral Court  was  not  sought  after  with  much  eagerness. 

These  hardy  pioneers  in  the  wilderness  well  knew 
that  although  legislation  was  a  very  good  thing  in  its 
place  and  not  to  be  neglected,  it  was  no  substitute  for 
the  axe  and  the  plow,  the  forge  and  the  anvil,  in  the 
great  work  of  preparing  the  land  to  become  a  com- 
fortable and  pleasant  habitation. 

In  the  periods  which  intervened  between  the  incor- 
poration of  the  town  and  its  destruction  by  the  natives, 
eleven  years,  John  Russell  was  five  years  and  John 
Cook  six  years  the  town's  delegate  to  the  court. 

For  about  three  years  there  is  a  blank  in  the  politi- 
cal annals  of  Dartmouth.  A  year  or  two  after  the 
close  of  the  war  with  Metacom  the  old  town  again 
comes  upon  the  stage,  and  the  reappearance  of  Rus- 
sell and  Cook  in  their  old  places  in  the  court-house 
at  Plymouth  conveys  the  double  information  of  the 
re-settlement  of  the  territory  and  the  continued  popu- 
larity of  the  men  who  had  shared  between  them  all 
the  honor  of  representing  the  people. 

It  was  in  1679  that  Dartmouth  had  so  far  recovered 
from  the  devastation  of  the  war  as  to  be  called  upon 
to  send  a  delegate  to  Plymouth.  Cook  was  that  year 
sent,  and  continued  to  occupy  the  post  until  1682, 
when  Russell  was  again  elected.  The  next  two  years 
Cook  sustains  the  burden,  and  then  for  the  first  time 
a  new  name  is  found  upon  the  records  of  the  Supreme 
Council  as  furnishing  the  Dartmouth  quota  of  the 
assembled  wisdom. 

For  one  year,  1685,  Joseph  Tripp  was  the  represen- 
tative to  the  General  Court.  Russell  does  not  again 
appear  as  a  public  man. 

John  Russell,  who  with  his  father,  Ralph  Russell, 
and  Anthony  Slocum,  operated  the  iron  forge  at  Rus- 
sell's Mills,  and  whose  death  occurred  in  1694,  did  not 
reside  within  the  limits  of  the  present  city.  His  son 
Joseph  was  born  in  1650,  and  during  the  war  lived  at 
the  Apponagansett  garrison,  where  his  twin  sons 
Joseph  and  John  were  born  Nov.  22,  1679.  He 
moved  from  the  Apponagansett  River  to  the  Acushnet 
prior  to  1711,  and  resided  at  what  is  now  the  corner 
of  County  and  South  Streets.  Joseph  Russell,  born 
at  the  garrison,  afterwards  resided  at  what  is  now  the 
corner  of  County  and  Bush  Streets,  where  in  my  boy- 
hood stood  the  "  little  school-house,"  in  whose  yard 


50 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


was  the  well  used  by  this  early  settler.  The  title  of 
the  lands  of  the  Russells  was  confirmed  by  Her  Majes- 
ty's (Queen  Anne's)  justices  of  the  Court  of  Quarter 
Sessions  for  the  county  of  Bristol,  May  25, 1711.  The 
survey  had  been  made  by  Benjamin  Crane,  who,  under 
the  "  eight  hundred  acre  division,"  established  the 
original  boundaries. 

The  son  of  the  last-named  Joseph  Russell,  also 
named  Joseph,  was  born  on  the  8th  of  October,  1719, 
and  died  on  the  16th  of  October,  1804,  aged  eighty- 
five  years.  We  may  fairly  consider  this  last-named 
Joseph  Russell  as  the  founder  of  New  Bedford.  He 
owned  the  tract  of  land  bounded  on  the  south  by 
land  of  his  brother  Caleb,  the  division  lines  being 
midway  between  the  present  Bedford  and  Russell 
Streets,  and  on  the  north  by  land  of  Manasseh  Kemp- 
ton,  whose  division  line  was  between  the  present 
Elm  and  William  Streets,  and  bounded  easterly  by 
the  river.  His  homestead  was  on  the  County  road, 
as  it  was  called,  between  the  present  court-house  and 
the  residence  of  Mrs.  Charles  W.  Morgan.  He  is 
described  as  "  a  man  of  great  industry,  prudence,  and 
enterprise,  and  of  strict  integrity  of  character,  a  large 
farmer  and  extensive  land-owner."  He  was  also  en- 
gaged in  mercantile  business,  owning  several  vessels 
trading  at  Southern  ports  and  the  West  Indies.  He 
was  the  first  to  engage  in  the  whale-fishery  and  to 
establish  a  sperm-oil  factory  in  New  Bedford. 

In  1686,  Cook,  for  the  twelfth  time,  was  returned 
as  a  delegate  to  the  General  Court.  He  was  the  last 
representative  sent  by  Dartmouth  to  Plymouth  under 
the  independent  charter  of  the  colony. 

For  a  short  period  the  despotism  of  Sir  Edmund 
Andros  saved  the  people  of  the  colony  the  necessity 
of  any  representation  in  the  government.  With  his 
administration  closed  the  political  existence  of  Ply- 
mouth as  an  independent  State.  United  with  Mas- 
sachusetts, its  history  is  mingled  with  that  of  this  an- 
cient commonwealth.  This  was  probably  the  end  of 
Cook's  political  career,  and  it-is  most  likely  that  the 
close  of  his  earthly  soon  followed.  In  a  confirmatory 
deed  of  William  Bradford,  Governor,  in  1694,  his 
name  is  not  mentioned  upon  the  list  of  proprietors. 

Both  the  others  who  had  with  him  shared  the  rep- 
resentative honors  of  the  town  are  named  in  the  in- 
denture. 

Anthony  Slocum  was  the  companion  and  business 
associate  of  the  founder  of  the  town.  This  individual, 
whose  descendants  are  numerous  upon  the  territory 
of  the  ancient  town  of  Dartmouth,  and  whose  name 
was  early  given  to  a  portion  of  that  territory  which 
it  still  retains,  does  not  appear  to  have  transmitted 
that  name  to  posterity  in  connection  with  the  occu- 
pancy of  public  station.  Two  of  his  descendants, 
however,  were  active  in  the  affairs  of  the  town, — 
Holder  Slocum,  Sr.  and  Jr.,  father  and  son.  The 
father  is  probably  entitled  to  the  notoriety  of  having 
been  elected  representative  to  the  General  Court  a 
greater  number  of  times  than  any  other  individual 


who  ever  was  clothed  with  the  honors  of  the  office. 
It  is  believed  that  for  a  period  of  nearly  thirty  years 
he  was  a  member  of  the  General  Court  of  the  com- 
monwealth. 

It  is  said  that  one  year  the  good  people  of  Dart- 
mouth decided  to  permit  Squire  Slocum  to  remain  at 
home.  This  strange  event  in  the  history  of  the  town, 
although  it  was  no.  doubt  well  known  to  the  person 
most  interested,  the  rejected  squire,  was  not  in  due 
form  communicated  to  the  old  mare,  the  faithful  ani- 
mal who  for  many  years  had  annually  borne  to  the 
metropolis  her  honored  master,  the  able  and  popular 
representative  of  Dartmouth.  The  time  for  the  meet- 
ing of  the  General  Court  drew  near,  and  the  well- 
trained  and  experienced  companion  of  the  Dartmouth 
legislator  instinctively  apprised  of  the  fact,  and  not  as 
usual  feeling  the  weight  of  her  master's  portly  person 
and  well-lined  saddle-bags  upon  her  back,  concluded 
there  was  some  mistake  in  the  matter,  and  without 
further  parley  or  delay  started  for  Boston. 

The  town  of  Dartmouth  was  slow  of  growth.  For 
the  farmer  it  had  few  attractions.  Much  of  the  soil 
was  poor,  and  it  was  long  in  recovering  from  the  blow 
which  was  given  to  the  settlement  by  the  extermina- 
ting hostility  of  the  Indians. 

Indian  History. — In  1676  this  locality  was  devas- 
tated by  a  cruel  Indian  war,  full  of  barbarity  and 
atrocity,  carried  on  by  King  Philip,  the  younger 
brother  of  Wamsutta. 

Five  years  previous  to  this  time  the  following  agree- 
ment was  made  at  the  Dartmouth  Indian  encampment 
under  date  Sept.  4,  1671 : 

"  Memorandum. — That  we,  the  Indians  living  near  about  the  town  of 
Dartmouth,  in  the  jurisdiction  of  New  Plymouth,  whose  names  are  here 
underwritten,  do  freely  own  ourselves  to  he  loyal  subjects  to  His  Majesty 
of  England,  and  to  his  Colony  of  New  Plymouth ;  and  do  hereby  sol- 
emn ly  engage  ourselves  and  ours  to  be  subject  to  His  Majesty's  authority 
there  established  and  to  behave  faithfully  and  friendly  towards  them; 
and  that  we  will  from  time  to  time,  if  we  hear  of  any  malicious  design 
aching  against  them,  discover  it  to  some  of  them  with  all  speed;  and 
that  also  that  we  shall  be  ready  to  afford  them  any  assistance  against 
their  enemies  according  to  our  ability,  even  as  we  expect  friendship  and 
amity  and  protection  from  them.  For  the  performance  thereof  we  have 
hereunto  set  our  hands  in  the  presence  of 

"  ASHAWANOMEETH. 
"NOMAN. 

("  Between  40  &  50  "  Mainokum. 

Indians   living   near  "Jeffrey. 

or    in    the    town    of  "James. 

Dartmouth.")  "John,  etc." 

The  names  of  the  Indians  making  this  engagement 
are  not  given.  Those  annexed  appear  to  have  been 
the  witnesses  to  the  instrument.  This  engagement  is 
important  in  its  connection  with  two  other  events  in 
the  annals  of  the  town, — the  conveyance  to  Cook  and 
others  by  Wasemequen  and  Wamsutta  in  1654,  and 
the  infamous  enslaving  expatriation  of  the  Dartmouth 
Indians  in  1676.  Here  the  right  of  the  Indians,  not- 
withstanding the  stipulations  of  the  gleed  from  the 
two  chiefs  to  a  residence  upon  the  soil,  is  clearly 
recognized. 

All  rights  which  the  Indians  may  have  had  were 


NEW  BEDFORD. 


51 


subsequently  violated  by  the  New  Plymouth  govern- 
ment, when  one  hundred  and  sixty  of  the  sons  of  the 
soil  were  seized  and  sold  into  slavery.  This  act  of 
treachery  naturally  aroused  within  the  breast  of  the 
Indians  feelings  of  most  bitter  hatred  and  deep-seated 
revenge. 

The  rulers  were  unprepared  to  defend  the  colony 
against  the  storm  which  they  had  brought  upon  their 
heads.  In  their  distress  they  again  called  upon  Capt. 
Benj.  Church,  who  had  been  treated  by  them  with 
ingratitude,  insult,  and  neglect,  because  he  had  dared 
to  raise  the  voice  of  remonstrance  and  condemnation 
because  of  their  treacherous  act.  He  was,  however, 
at  length  pacified.  Tradition  telis  us  that  he  whittled 
himself  into  the  belief  that  it  was  his  duty  to  protect 
the  settlement  against  the  threatened  destruction. 
Using  a  knife  for  some  trifling  purpose  he  cut  his 
finger,  and  regarding  this  event  as  an  indication  of 
the  will  of  Providence  that  he  must  lay  aside  all  pri- 
vate affairs  and  give  himself  up  to  the  service  of  his 
country,  he  threw  down  his  knife,  and  arming  him- 
self, proceeded  to  Plymouth  and  took  command  of 
the  forces  of  the  colony.  Having  made  a  treaty  with 
Awashuncks,  the  queen-sachem  of  the  Yaconts,  he 
succeeded  in  enlisting  a  number  of  her  tribe  into  his 
company,  and  having  obtained  enlarged  powers  from 
the  government  he  proceeded  to  a  vigorous  prosecu- 
tion of  the  war.  It  was  near  Horse  Neck  Beach  that 
Capt.  Church  entered  into  the  treaty  with  the  Indian 
queen  and  her  chiefs,  and  when,  in  pursuance  with  a 
previous  arrangement,  he  came  to  visit  the  queen,  he 
found  large  numbers  of  her  people  sporting  upon  the 
marble-like  surface  of  the  beach,  some  racing  horses, 
some  playing  at  foot-ball,  and  others  fishing  from  the 
rocks. 

On  one  of  his  expeditions  Church  pursued  his  ene- 
mies into  the  Accushena  territory.  Having  crossed 
the  river,  probably  at  the  spot  now  called  Acushnet 
village,  he  came  in  contact  with  a  small  band  of  the 
Saconet  Indians,  who  had  refused  to  become  a  party 
to  the  treaty  made  by  their  queen,  and  who  had  joined 
Philip  in  the  contest  that  was  then  raging.  The  party 
were  accompanied  by  Little  Eyes  and  his  family.  He 
made  the  whole  party  prisoners,  and  refusing  the  ad- 
vice of  his  Indian  allies  to  put  Little  Eyes  to  death, 
because  that  chief  had  once  threatened  the  life  of  the 
English  commander,  he  placed  them  all  on  an  island 
in  the  Acushnet,  and  left  Lightfoot  to  guard  them. 
The  island  was  probably  that  which  was  nearest  to 
the  shore.  Fish  Island,  as  this  temporary  place  of 
confinement  for  Indian  prisoners  is  now  called,  pre- 
sents at  this  time  a  very  different  aspect  from  what  it 
did  when  Little  Eyes  and  his  companions  in  captivity 
were  landed  upon  its  shore,  and  looking  upon  the 
main,  saw  their  conqueror  and  his  party  enter  the 
forest  which  skirted  the  banks  of  the  river,  as  he 
wended  his  way  to  the  south  on  a  visit  to  the  fortified 
station  at  the  head  of  the  Aponegansett.  They  passed 
the  night  near  Russell's  orchard,  which  was  in  the 


vicinity  of  that  place,  and  learned  in  the  morning 
that  a  large  party  of  Indians  had  the  same  night 
made  the  orchard  their  resting-place.  Ascertaining 
the  route  they  had  taken,  he  retraced  his  steps  to  fol- 
low them.  Coming  to  a  cedar  swamp,  about  three 
miles  from  their  halting-place  by  the  orchard,  the 
forces  were  divided,  and  the  ruins  of  John  Cook's 
house  at  Accushena  being  agreed  upon  as  the  place 
of  rendezvous,  the  two  parties  started  in  pursuit  of 
the  enemy.  The  company  under  the  command  of 
Church,  which  seems  to  have  been  composed  entirely 
of  English,  soon  fell  in  with  and  killed  and  captured 
sixty-six  of  the  enemy.  Church  was  now  informed 
that  his  mighty  foe  Metacom  was  near,  and  that  a 
party  of  Indians,  consisting  of  more  than  one  hun- 
dred, had  passed  across  the  river  and  marched  down 
upon  Sconticutt  Neck.  He  then  paddled  over  to  the 
island  where  Lightfoot  had  been  left  with  Little  Eyes 
and  his  party,  and  there  heard  a  confirmation  of  the 
fact  that  a  large  body  of  Indians  had  moved  down  the 
Neck.  They  were  soon  discovered  returning  from 
their  excursion,  and  Church,  concealing  himself  and 
his  little  band,  escaped  that  destruction  which  would 
probably  have  been  his  fate  had  he  been  discovered 
and  forced  into  a  contest. 

Church  now  took  his  prisoners  from  the  island  and 
proceeded  to  Mattapoisett.  There  he  halted  and  sent 
a  messenger  to  the  appointed  place  of  rendezvous,  the 
ruins  of  John  Cook's  house  at  Accushena,  to  ascertain 
the  fate  of  his  band  of  Indian  allies.  Here  the  sin- 
gular fact  was  ascertained  that  this  party  had  killed 
or  captured  the  same  number  (sixty-six)  that  had 
met  with  the  same  fate  from  the  company  under 
Church's  immediate  command.  The  Indians  joined 
their  commander  and  his  party  at  Mattapoisett,  from 
whence  the  whole  body  with  their  captives  proceeded 
to  Plymouth.  Of  the  subsequent  events  of  Philip's 
war  we  have  no  occasion  to  speak.  Philip,  broken- 
hearted by  the  captivity  of  his  wife  and  son,  fled  be- 
fore the  foe  who  was  bent  upon  his  destruction,  and, 
surrounded  in  a  swamp  near  his  residence,  was  shot 
through  the  heart  by  an  English  soldier.  This  put 
an  end  to  the  conflict.  Prisoners  continued  to  be 
taken,  and  when  they  had  all  been  disposed,  either 
by  being  hung  or  shipped  to  Bermuda,  the  rulers  and 
the  fighting  men  rested  from  their  labors,  and  the 
people  of  the  land  had  peace. 

A  portion  of  the  town  of  Rochester,  described  as  ex- 
tending from  the  westernmost  side  of  Sippican  River 
and  southwestwards  to  Dartmouth  bounds,  was  as- 
signed for  the  residence  of  the  Indians  who  had  not 
been  engaged  in  hostilities  against  the  colony.  They 
were  deprived  of  the  right  to  bear  arms,  and  strictly 
charged  to  confine  themselves  to  the  prescribed 
bounds  of  the  territory  which  the  clemency  of  the 
conquerors  had  assigned  them  for  a  habitation.  After 
this  time  we  have  but  little  about  the  Indians.  Their 
numbers  rapidly  decreased,  and  after  the  lapse  of  a 
few  years  only  here  and  there  a  solitary  individual 


52 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


remained  to  tell  the  story  of  the  good  Massasoit,  and 
the  brave  but  unfortunate  Metacom. 

Sarah  Obadiah,  an  Indian  woman  with  a  most  un- 
Indian-like  name,  was  the  last  of  the  race  who,  upon 
the  old  territory  of  Dartmouth,  lived  after  the  primi- 
tive manner  of  her  fathers.  The  costume  of  course 
was  abandoned,  but  in  a  wigwam  situated  near  the 
stone  ship  upon  the  rock,  a  spot  in  the  south  part  of 
a  village  Avell  known  to  most  of  the  inhabitants,  lived 
the  last  of  the  Dartmouth  Indians.  This  was  a  fa- 
vorite locality  of  the  Indians,  and  doubtless  has  been 
one  of  their  much-loved  hunting-grounds. 


CHAPTER     VII. 

NEW    BEDFORD.— (  Continued.  I 

Persecution  of  the  Quakers—"  Presented"  for  Non-attendance  at  Church 
—Various  Rules  and  Regulations—  Punishments— Fine  for  Attending 
Quaker  Meeting — Arthur  Howland  fined  for  making  "  Motion  of  Mar- 
riage"—The  Kemptons— Other  Early  Settlers— The  Russells— Pioneer 
Whaling— Early  Locations— Joseph  Rotch — Isaac  Howland — Priva- 
teers—View of  the  Village  upon  the  Eve  of  its  Destruction  by  the 
British. 

Among  the  orders  of  the  court  concerning  the 
Quakers  was  the  following  : 

"  If  any  person  or  persons  called  Quakers,  or  other 
such  like  vagabonds,  shall  come  into  any  town  in  this 
government,  the  marshal  or  constable  shall  appre- 
hend him  or  them,  and  upon  examining,  so  appear- 
ing, he  shall  whip  them,  or  cause  them  to  be  whipped, 
with  rods  so  it  exceeds  not  fifteen  stripes,  and  to  give 
him  or  them  a  pass  to  depart  the  government,  and  if 
they  be  found  without  the  pass  and  not  acting  there- 
unto they  shall  be  punished  again  as  formerly;  and 
in  case  the  constable  shall  be  unwilling  to  whip  them, 
and  cannot  find  any  one  to  do  it,  they  shall  bring 
them  to  Plymouth  to  the  under-marshal,  and  he 
shall  inflict  it." 

Another  regulation  says,  "  Whereas,  by  order  of 
court,  all  free  men  of  this  corporation,  as  Quakers,  or 
such  as  encourage  them,  or  such  as  speak  contemptu- 
ously of  the  laws  thereof,  or  such  as  are  judged  by 
court  grossly  scandalous,  as  liars,  drunkards,  swearers, 
shall  lose  their  freedom  in  this  corporation." 

1651.  Ralph  Allen,  Sr.,  and  wife,  George  Allen 
and  wife,  and  William  Allen  are  presented  with 
others  for  not  attending  public  worship  according  to 
law.  Arthur  Howland,  for  not  attending  public  wor- 
ship. This  Arthur  seems  to  have  been  a  troublesome 
fellow  to  the  strict  Puritans  of  the  colony.  Ralph 
Allen  and  Richard  Kirby  are  fined  five  pounds,  or  to 
be  whipped,  for  vile  sketches  against  ordinances. 

1655.  Sarah  Kirby  sentenced  to  be  whipped  for 
divers  suspicious  speeches. 

1656,  Sunday.  Persons  for  meeting  at  the  house  of 
William  Allen  are  summoned  to  answer  for  the  mis- 
demeanor. 


1656.  Sarah  Kirby  whipped  for  disturbing  public 
worship. 

1657.  Arthur  Howland,  for  permitting  a  Quaker 
meeting  in  his  house,  and  for  inviting  such  as  were 
under  government,  children  and  others,  to  come  to 
said  meeting,  was  sentenced  by  the  court  to  find  se- 
curities for  his  good  behavior ;  in  case  he  should 
refuse  he  is  fined  four  pounds.  He  refused  to  give 
bonds,  and  was  fined.  "The  said  Arthur  Howland, 
for  resisting  the  constable  of  Marshfield  in  the  exe- 
cution of  his  office,  and  abusing  him  in  words  by 
threatening  speeches,  is  fined  five  pounds."  And 
again,  Arthur  Howland,  for  presenting  a  writing  in 
court,  which  said  writing,  on  the  reading  thereof,  ap- 
peared to  be  of  dangerous  consequences,  he  owning  it 
to  be  his  own,  and  for  making  known  the  said  writing 
to  others,  was  sentenced  by  court  to  find  securities  for 
his  good  behavior.  We  have  uow  another  Howland 
upon  the  stage. 

1657.  "  Henry  Howland,  for  entertaining  a  meet- 
ing in  his  house,  contrary  to  order  of  Court,  is  fined 
ten  shillings."  And  still  another,  Loeth  Howland, 
"  for  speaking  opprobriously  of  the  ministers  of  God's 
word,  is  sentenced  to  set  in  the  stocks  for  the  space  of 
an  hour  or  during  pleasure  of  Court,  which  was  per- 
formed and  so  released  paying  the  fees." 

1657.  Ralph  Allen,  Jr.,  and  William  Allen  being 
summoned,  appeared  to  answer  for  a  tumultuous  car- 
riage at  a  meeting  of  the  Quakers  at  Sandwich  ;  their 
being  admonished  in  that  respect  were  cleared,  not- 
withstanding irreverently  carrying  themselves  before 
the  court,  coming  in  before  them  with  their  hats  on, 
were  fined  twenty  shillings  apiece. 

Here  is  the  case  of  the  whipping  and  fining  before 
spoken  of, — 

1658.  H.  Norton  and  John  Rouse  were  sentenced 
to  be  whipped  for  coming  into  the  jurisdiction  con- 
trary to  call.  The  sentence  was  executed.  "  The 
same  day  performed,"  is  the  language  of  the  record, 
and  the  under-marshal  requiring  his  fees  they  re- 
fused to  pay  them,  and  they  were  again  returned  to 
prison  until  they  would  pay. 

1658.  William  Allen  is  fined  forty  shillings  for  en- 
tertaining Quaker  meeting.  About  this  time  there 
was  a  part  added — demanded,  as  says  the  record — 
because,  among  other  things,  "of  the  letting  loose  as 
a  scourge  upon  us  those  gangrene-like  doctrines  and 
persons  called  Quakers." 

1659.  We  now  find  upon  the  records  the  follow- 
ing: "  The  Court  taking  notice  of  sundry  scandalous 
falsehoods  in  a  letter  of  Isaac  Robinson's  tending 
greatly  to  the  prejudice  of  this  government  and  in- 
couragement  of  those  commonly  called  Quakers,  and 
thereby  liable  according  to  law  to  disenfranchise- 
ment,  yet  we  at  present  forbear  the  sentence  until 
further  inquiry." 

1660.  Daniel  Butler  for  rescuing  a  strange  Quaker 
was  sentenced  to  be  whipped.  Joseph  Allen  fined  ten 
shillings  for  attending  a  Quaker  meeting.     Here  we 


NEW  BEDFORD. 


53 


have  some  wholesale  operations, — twenty-five  persons 
were  fined  ten  shillings  each  for  attending  Quaker 
meeting,  and  among  them  were  Joseph,  Benjamin, 
William,  and  Matthew  Allen,  Richard  Kirhy  and 
Richard  Kirby  (2d),  and  Daniel  and  Obadiah  Butler. 

1661.  The  obstinate  Howlands  are  again  intro- 
duced. Henry  Howland  for  entertaining  a  Quaker 
meeting  in  his  house  is  twice  fined  four  pounds.  Loeth 
Howland  breaks  the  Sabbath  and  is  fined  ten  shil- 
lings. 

1662.  Another  Howland  Sabbath-breaker.  Sam- 
uel Howland,  having  no  meal  in  the  house,  went  to 
the  mill  and  took  home  his  grist.  Fined  ten  shill- 
ings, or  the  whip. 

1664.  Arthur  Howland  is  again  in  difficulty.  But 
it  is  not  for  new  heresy  of  opinion  that  he  is  brought 
before  the  magnates  of  the  land.  The  following  is 
the  record :  "  Arthur  Howland,  for  inveighling 
Mistress  Elizabeth  Prince  and  making  motion  of 
marriage  to  her,  and  prosecuting  the  same  contrary 
to  her  parents'  liking  and  without  their  consent  and 
directly  contrary  to  their  mind  and  will,  was  sen- 
tenced to  pay  a  fine  of  five  pounds,  and  to  find  secur- 
ities for  his  good  behavior,  and  in  special  that  he 
desist  from  the  use  of  any  means  to  obtain  or  retain 
her  affections  as  aforesaid."  He  paid  his  fine,  a  pretty 
heavy  one  for  those  days,  and  gave  the  bonds  required 
by  the  sentence  of  the  court.  "  Arthur  Howland 
acknowledges  to  owe  unto  our  sovereign  lord  the 
king  the  sum  of  fifty  dollars ;  John  Duncan,  the 
sum  of  twenty-five  dollars;  Timothy  Williams,  the 
sum  of  twenty-five  dollars.  The  condition  that 
whereas  the  said  Arthur  Howland  hath  disorderly 
and  unrighteously  endeavored  to  obtain  the  affections 
of  Mistress  Elizabeth  Prince,  against  the  mind  and 
will  of  her  parents.  If,  therefore,  the  said  Arthur 
Howland  shall  for  the  future  refrain  and  desist  from 
the  use  of  any  means  to  obtain  or  retain  her  affections 
as  aforesaid,  and  appear  at  the  court  of  His  Majesty, 
to  be  holden  at  Plymouth  the  first  Tuesday  in  July 
next,  and  in  the  mean  time  be  of  good  behavior  to- 
wards our  sovereign  lord  the  king  and  all  his  liege 
people,  and  not  depart  the  said  court  without  license, 
that  then,  etc." 

The  next  year  we  find  him  again  before  the  court, 
and  again  coming  under  a  solemn  agreement  no  fur- 
ther to  offend  in  the  premises. 

Early  in  the  history  of  the  colony  we  find  the  name 
of  Kempton.  Manasseh  and  Julia  Kempton  are 
entered  upon  the  records  as  sharing  in  the  allotment 
of  the  cattle  in  1627.  These  were  the  ancestors  of 
the  present  Kemptons,  and  the  name  of  Manasseh 
Kempton  is  included  among  the  proprietors  of  the 
town  of  Dartmouth  in  the  confirmatory  deeds  from 
Governor  Bradford  in  the  year  1694.  In  that  docu- 
ment are  the  names  of  all  the  families  mentioned, 
and  many  others  which  always  have  been  and  still 
are  the  most  common  in  this  vicinity, — John  Russell, 
Manasseh     Kempton,     Benjamin     Howland,     John 


Spooner,  Arthur  Hathaway,  Samuel  Allen,  Joseph 
Tripp,  William  Shearman,  Joseph  Taber,  Seth  Pope, 
and  Jonathan  Delano.  Pele<r  Slocum  and  Abraham 
Tucker  are  names  which  in  the  four  towns  of  West- 
port,  Dartmouth,  New  Bedford,  and  Fairhaven  are 
familiar  to  all  the  inhabitants. 

In  the  first  part  of  the  eighteenth  century  we  find 
the  Russell  family  upon  the  soil  of  New  Bedford. 
At  what  time  he  came  is  not  known,  but  it  was  pre- 
vious to  the  year  1711,  when  the  Allen  and  Kemp- 
ton families,  which  at  the  opening  of  what  we  may 
call  the  local  history  of  New  Bedford,  shared  with  the 
Russells  a  large  part  of  the  town  and  all  the  territory 
of  the  village. 

History  is  almost  silent  respecting  the  affairs  of 
Dartmouth  from  the  date  of  Governor  Bradford's  ad- 
ministration to  the  commencement  of  the  war  of  the 
Revolution. 

About  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  century  a  large 
portion  of  the  lands  now  occupied  by  the  village  of 
New  Bedford  was  in  the  possession  of  two  families, 
the  Russells  on  the  south  and  the  Kemptons  on  the 
north.  To  Joseph  Russell,  son  of  the  first  settler 
John,  and  to  Manasseh  Kempton,  Her  Majesty's 
(Queen  Anne)  justices  of  the  Quarter  Sessions  for  the 
county  of  Bristol  gave  confirmatory  deeds  of  their  re- 
spective estates  dated  May  25,  1714.  Russell  was 
bounded  by  a  line  near  Clarke's  Cove  on  the  south, 
and  Kempton  by  a  line  near  Smith  Street;  the  divi- 
ding line  was  between  William  and  Elm  Streets.  The 
occupants  of  the  territory  north  and  south  of  these 
boundaries  it  is  impossible  to  ascertain.  Subse- 
quently we  find  the  Aliens  holding  the  land  from  the 
cove,  the  southern  boundary  of  Russell,  to  the  ex- 
tremity of  Clarke's  Point,  and  the  Willis  family  join- 
ing the  Kempton  on  the  north.  Beyond  this  were 
found  the  Peckhams  and  Hathaways.  The  inhabit- 
ants were  all  farmers  with  the  exception  of  the  Rus- 
sells. 

Joseph  Russell,  son  of  Joseph  Russell,  Sr.,  and 
grandfather  of  the  present  generation,  early  embarked 
in  the  whaling  business.  His  ships  of  forty  or  fifty 
tons  went  as  far  as  our  Southern  coast  on  their  voy- 
ages of  six  weeks'  duration.  At  the  same  time,  1751, 
there  were  several  vessels  engaged  in  the  same  pur- 
suit from  the  Apongansett  River.  Daniel  Wood,  a 
name  not  unfamiliar  to  the  New  Bedford  people  in 
connection  with  whaling  operations,  was  at  that  time 
the  owner  of  some  small  vessels  in  the  business,  and 
at  that  period  the  Acushnet  had  to  give  precedence 
to  the  Aponegansett  as  far  as  whaling  was  concerned. 
At  that  period  a  little  wharf  extending  from  the  shore 
near  the  foot  of  what  is  now  known  as  Centre  Street, 
and  a  shed-like  erection  which  was  used  for  trying 
the  blubber  brought  in  by  the  little  craft  in  their  six 
weeks'  excursion  upon  the  "  summer  sea,"  were  all 
the  indications  of  commercial  operations  which  our 
territory  exhibited.  That  little  shed  was  the  only 
building  in  what  we  now  denominate  the  village  that 


54 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


was  then  standing  except  the  farm-houses  of  the 
Aliens,  the  Russells,  the  Kemptons,  and  the  Willis, 
which  were  all  situated  upon  the  county  road.  From 
this  house,  which  from  its  elevated  situation  on  the 
county  road  overlooked  the  forest  which  covered  the 
whole  intervening  space  between  the  road  and  the 
shore,  the  first  of  the  Bedford  whaling  merchants 
could  take  an  extensive  view  of  the  waters  of  the  bay 
and  the  river,  and  when,  shooting  in  by  Hap's  Hill, 
he  discovered  his  sloop  pointing  her  bows  towards  the 
harbor,  he  could  be  seen  wending  his  way  towards 
the  little  wharf  over  the  cart-path,  which  was  then 
the  only  way  of  reaching  the  water.  The  blubber 
landed,  the  thick  column  of  smoke  which  rose  above 
the  street  which  skirted  the  shore  gave  notice  to  the 
inhabitants  on  the  heights  that  one  of  Joseph  Rus- 
sell's whalemen  had  arrived  from  a  successful  voyage. 

All  the  purchasers  of  land  from  Joseph  Russell  pre- 
vious to  the  year  1664  were  mechanics.  John  Louden, 
a  ship-carpenter,  bought  the  first  lot  disposed  of  by 
Mr.  Russell  from  his  homestead.  This  was  in  the 
year  1760.  The  next  year  he  built  a  house,  which 
was  situated  a  few  rods  south  of  the  four  corners,  and 
his  ship-yard  was  on  the  east  side  of  the  way.  Un- 
fortunately for  him,  and  unfortunately  for  his  descend- 
ants, he  choose  an  easier  mode  of  life  and  converted 
his  dwelling  into  a  tavern.  He  was  the  Boniface  of 
the  village  when  it  was  visited  by  the  British ;  his 
house  was  burnt,  and  he  returned  to  his  native  town 
of  Pembroke. 

The  same  year  another  mechanic  followed  Louden. 
He  had  formerly  been  a  dweller  upon  the  soil,  prob- 
ably in  the  north  part  of  the  Dartmouth  settlement, 
but  had  been  to  Nantucket,  and  had  there  been  initi- 
ated, in  the  language  of  the  indenture,  "  into  the  art, 
trade,  and  mystery  of  building  whale-boats."  His 
name  was  Benjamin  Taber,  and  was  beloved  by  all 
who  knew  him  as  a  worthy  and  venerable  member  and 
elder  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  and  a  most  upright  and 
valuable  citizen.  Many  of  his  descendants  are  still 
here.  The  young  boat-builder  from  Nantucket  took 
the  old  house  by  the  river-side  and  moved  it  up  the 
hill. 

It  was  the  far-seeing  policy  of  Mr.  Russell  to  en- 
courage such  men  to  settle  upon  his  territory,  and 
accordingly  we  find  the  next  settler  to  be  a  mechanic. 
He  was  a  carpenter  by  the  name  of  John  Allen,  and  pur- 
chased a  lot  on  the  south  side  of  what  was  formerly 
called  Prospect  Street.  It  was  the  corner  of  Union 
and  Water  Streets,  extending  from  the  last-named 
street  to  the  water,  and  included  the  site  now  and  for 
many  years  past  occupied  by  the  tavern.  Gideon 
Mosher,  another  mechanic,  purchased  opposite  to  him 
on  the  north,  his  land  being  that  which  extends  from 
the  "  shop  of  the  apothecary  to  the  shore."  This  he 
afterwards  sold  to  Benjamin  Taber,  next  north  of 
Louden.  Elmethan  Sampson,  a  blacksmith,  made  a 
purchase,  and  gave  for  a  lot  eight  rods  in  length  and 
four  rods  wide  the  sum  of  six  pounds  thirteen  shillings 


and  four  pence  lawful  currency.  Thus  was  the  infant 
settlement  begun  by  industrious  and  enterprising  me- 
chanics. North  and  east  the  lot  of  Sampson  was 
bounded  by  ways  left  for  streets. 

An  important  event  now  took  place  in  the  history 
of  the  new  settlement.  This  was  the  arrival  among 
the  settlers  of  Joseph  Rotch,  and  he  in  one  sense  fur- 
nished no  exception  to  the  class  who  laid  the  founda- 
tion of  this  thriving  community.  He  had  been  a 
mechanic,  and  animated  by  a  spirit  of  adventure  he 
left  his  residence  in  one  of  the  inland  towns  of  Mas- 
sachusetts while  yet  a  minor,  passed  through  the 
Dartmouth  territory,  and  took  up  his  abode  at 
Nantucket.  Engaging  with  characteristic  zeal  and 
energy  in  that  pursuit  to  which  the  people  of  the 
island,  and  in  which,  before  the  war  of  the  Revolu- 
tion, they  outstripped  every  other  community  in  the 
world,  he  soon  saw  the  many  disadvantages  under 
which  the  operations  of  business  was  carried  on  from 
that  place.  An  examination  of  the  neighboring  har- 
bors satisfied  him  of  the  superiority  of  the  settlement 
at  Bedford,  and  in  the  year  1665  he  transferred  his 
business  from  Nantucket  to  the  banks  of  the  Acush- 
net.  Having  obtained  a  "  local  habitation"  he  gave 
the  new  settlement  a  name.  It  had  arrived  at  a  de- 
gree of  importance  which  entitled  it  to  a  distinctive 
appellation,  and  out  of  compliment  to  the  original 
proprietor  he  called  the  new  village  Bedford. 

To  understand  in  what  way  this  could  be  construed 
into  a  compliment  to  the  Russells  the  fact  must  be 
known  that  the  family  name  of  the  Duke  of  Bedford 
was  Russell.  Had  he  called  the  rising  village  Rus- 
sell it  would  have  doubtless  been  more  grateful,  as  it 
would  have  been  more  just,  and  the  associations 
which  are  connected  with  the  historical  recollections 
of  the  name  of  Russell  are  not  dependent  for  their 
interest  upon  the  title  at  that  time  borne  by  that 
branch  of  the  nobility  of  England. 

Joseph  Rotch  made  a  large  purchase  of  land  of  his 
Russell  namesake.  One  lot  comprised  ten  acres  of 
what  is  now  and  always  has  been  a  portion  of  the 
most  valuable  real  estate  of  the  town.  He  built  the 
house  immediately  north  of  the  apothecary-shop,  at 
the  corner  of  Bethel  Court  and  Union  Street,  and 
another  on  the  spot  now  occupied  by  a  house  owned 
by  William  Rotch,  Jr.,  nearly  opposite  the  Merchants' 
Bank.  The  last-named  house  was  among  those  burnt 
by  the  British.  W.  Rotch  engaged  largely  in  the 
whaling  business,  and  under  the  influence  which  his 
capital  and  enterprise  gave  to  the  operations  of  the 
town  it  rapidly  grew  in  population  and  importance. 
But  these  bright  prospects  were  soon  overcast. 

The  war  of  the  Revolution  found  the  infant  settle- 
ment with  their  vessels  upon  the  ocean  and  their 
business  wholly  at  the  mercy  of  the  naval  superiority 
of  the  mother-country.  Joseph  Rotch  returned  to 
Nantucket,  and  with  the  commencement  of  the  con- 
test for  independence  all  the  business  operations  of 
the  community  were  brought  to  an  end.    At  this  time 


NEW    BEDFORD. 


55 


the  number  of  inhabitants  had  increased,  and  their 
dwelling-houses  and  places  of  business  covered  an 
extent  of  territory  which  gave  the  town  the  appear- 
ance of  thrift  and  opulence.  Besides  the  stores  of  the 
merchants  and  traders  and  the  work-shops  of  the 
mechanics,  a  "  rope-walk"  had  been  established  in 
the  south  part  of  the  town,  a  distillery  occupied  a 
site  near  the  Louden  ship-yard,  upon  the  lot  now 
covered  by  the  stone  buildings  of  Howland  &  Co., 
and  a  spermaceti  establishment,  whose  operations 
were  as  carefully  guarded  from  the  eye  of  the  multi- 
tude, and  were  under  the  immediate  care  of  Chaffee, 
who  had  been  sent  from  Boston  to  carry  on  the  mys- 
terious movement,  was  situated  on  a  lane  which  is 
now  known  as  Centre  Street.  Another  important  ac- 
cession of  capital  and  business  qualities  had  been 
made  by  the  coming  to  the  settlement  of  Isaac  How- 
land,  who,  moving  here  from  Newport,  brought  with 
him  the  means  and  the  enterprise  so  much  needed  in 
every  new  undertaking.  His  house  was  situated  on 
Union  Street,  and  when  erected  was  by  far  the  most 
elegant  and  costly  which  had  been  built  in  the  town. 
It  occupied  the  land  now  taken  for  Cheapside,  fronting 
on  Union  Street.  It  was  built  of  brick  and  was  three 
stories  high.  W.  Howland  was  the  proprietor  of  the 
distillery.  John  Howland,  one  of  the  Dartmouth 
settlers,  moved  to  this  place  as  early  as  1665. 

Such  was  the  condition  of  New  Bedford  when  the 
opening  of  the  drama  of  the  Revolution  cut  them  off" 
from  that  field  of  operations — the  ocean — upon  which 
they  so  exclusively  depended  for  support.  The  stories 
which  come  to  us  of  the  destitution  which  fell  to  the 
lot  of  many  of  the  fathers  of  this  community  almost 
surpass  belief.  Thus  ruined  in  business,  and  without 
the  means  of  a  comfortable  subsistence,  the  inhab- 
itants of  the  village  could  do  nothing  but  quietly 
await  the  course  of  events.  As  they  were  mostly 
Quakers,  they  could  not,  consistently  with  the  peace- 
able tradition  of  the  sect,  enter  into  the  contest  either 
in  person  or  in  feeling,  and  in  that  way  to  some  ex- 
tent neutralize  those  uncomfortable  reflections  which 
the  loss  of  property  and  the  breaking  up  of  their  hon- 
est and  wealth-conferring  industry  was  calculated  to 
produce.  But  whatever  may  have  been  the  result  to 
the  personal  operations  of  the  merchants  and  me- 
chanics of  the  town,  it  was  soon  evident  that  the 
appearance  of  activity  and  bustle  in  the  harbor  was 
destined  to  be  greatly  increased. 

The  facility  with  which  this  harbor  could  be  ap- 
proached soon  attracted  hither  a  large  number  of  the 
American  privateers,  and  in  a  short  time  the  waters 
of  the  Acushnet  were  covered  with  these  crafts,  whose 
appearance  at  that  time,  as  it  did  during  the  second 
contest  with  Great  Britain,  gave  such  grievous  offense 
to  peaceably-disposed  followers  of  George  Fox,  who 
made  up  so  large  a  proportion  of  the  inhabitants. 

The  prizes,  too,  of  these  vessels  were  continually 
sent  to  this  port,  as  well  as  many  captured  by  the 
American  and  French  vessels  of  war,  and  while  the 


Acushnet  was  covered  with  craft  of  this  description, 
the  store-houses  and  dwellingdiouses,  and  even  the 
barns  and  rope-walks,  were  filled  with  the  valuable 
cargoes  which  had  been  discharged  from  them.  Rum, 
gin,  brandy,  and  wine,  hemp  and  sail-cloth,  dry- 
goods  and  sugars,  the  produce  of  every  soil  was 
crammed  into  every  vacant  room  which  could  be 
found  in  the  village.  Purchasers  and  consignees, 
owners  of  privateers  and  merchants  from  all  quarters 
were  mingled  with  the  officers  and  crews  of  both  the 
captured  and  capturing  vessels,  so  that  the  streets  of 
the  village  and  the  house  of  entertainment  kept  by 
Louden  presented  a  sight  as  novel  as  it  was  disagree- 
able to  the  peace-loving  citizens.  Such  was  the  con- 
dition of  things  when,  on  the  5th  day  of  September, 
1778,  it  was  rumored  that  a  British  fleet  had  been  seen 
directing  its  course  towards  the  Acushnet. 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

NEW    BEDFORD.— (Continued.) 

WAR   OF  THE  REVOLUTION.! 

New  Bedford  a  Rendezvous  for  Privateers — Arrival  of  the  British  Fleet 
— Burning  of  the  Village— Gen.  Charles  Grey's  Official  Report — Ac- 
count by  Judge  Edward  Pope — Elijah  Macomber's  Account — Remi- 
niscences of  John  Gilbert — Reminiscences  collected  by  Capt.  Lemuel 
S.  Aiken — Statement  o*f  Charles  Grinnell — List  of  Property  Destroyed 
— Some  Doubtful  Points — The  Extent  of  the  Calamity — Personal 
Sketches — Gen.  Grey's  Life  and  Character — Facts  and  Incidents. 

On  the  5th  of  September,  1778,  a  hostile  British 
fleet  landed  upon  these  shores,  destroyed  the  shipping, 
and  burned  the  town. 

The  British  acted  in  the  matter,  there  is  no  doubt, 
from  motives  of  retaliation  and  punishment,  rather 
than  for  purposes  of  plunder.  The  same  expedi- 
tion afterward  proceeded  to  Martha's  Vineyard  and 
carried  off  large  numbers  of  cattle,  with  a  consider- 
able sum  of  money,  but  there  is  no  account  of  any 
property  being  carried  away  from  Bedford,  as  the  vil- 
lage was  then  called.  Our  harbor  had  from  the  be- 
ginning;  of  the  war  been  noted  as  a  rendezvous  for 
privateers,  and  the  damage  inflicted  upon  English 
commerce  by  the  whalemen  of  Dartmouth  had  ex- 
cited the  deepest  resentment.  As  early  as  May,  1775, 
but  a  few  weeks  after  the  battle  of  Lexington,  the 
British  cruiser  "  Falcon"  had  captured  in  the  bay 
three  vessels  belonging  to  Sandwich.  A  schooner 
was  fitted  out  from  here  under  the  command  of  Capt. 
Egery,  which  recaptured  two  of  these  vessels  with 
fifteen  British  officers  and  sailors.  The  privateer 
"  Providence,"  whose  name  is  associated  with  many 
brilliant  naval  achievements,  had  her  rendezvous 
here.  She  was  a  sloop  of  about  ninety  tons,  and  at 
one  time,  it  is  said,  she  was  under  the  command  of 
John  Paul  Jones.     Her  most  famous  exploit,  under 


l  By  15.  F.  H.  Reed. 


56 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Capt.  Hacker,  was  with  His  Majesty's  brig  "  Dili- 
gence," of  eighteen  guns,  which  she  captured  and 
brought  into  our  harbor  after  a  most  determined  and 
bloody  engagement. 

Maj.-Gen.  Grey,  under  orders  from  Sir  Henry  Clin- 
ton, at  New  York,  arrived  in  the  bay  and  anchored 
off  Clarke's  Point  about  noon  of  Saturday,  Sept.  5, 
1778,  with  two  frigates,  a  brig-of-war,  and  some  thirty- 
six  transports,  with  about  five  thousand  men.  The 
main  body  of  troops  was  landed  on  the  shore  of  Clarke's 
Cove  that  afternoon,  and  marched  in  the  course  of  the 
night  past  the  Head  of  the  River,  and  passing  on  a 
road  east  of  the  village  of  Fairhaven  direct  to  Scon- 
ticut  Neck,  the  troops  re-embarked  and  were  all  on 
board  the  fleet  again  before  Sunday  noon,  the  6th. 
On  the  march  a  detachment  turned  to  the  eastward 
from  County  down  Union  Street,  which  when  first 
laid  out  was  called  King  Street,  and  burned  the  stores 
and  many  other  buildings  near  the  foot  of  the  street, 
and  the  shipping  at  the  wharves.  A  good  many  of 
the  vessels  destroyed  were  prizes,  and  large  amounts 
of  prize  goods  were  burned.  Another  party  pro- 
ceeded to  McPherson's  wharf,  at  Belleville,  and  de- 
stroyed the  shipping  there.  There  was  a  fort  where 
Fort  Phoenix  now  stands,  and  the  garrison  spiked  the 
guns  and  retreated,  and  the  fort  was  blown  up  by  the 
British.  The  next  night  a  party  landed  at  Fairhaven, 
and  was  driven  off  by  the  troops  who  had  collected 
under  command  of  Maj.  Israel  Fearing. 

We  give  a  number  of  accounts  of  the  raid  by  eye- 
witnesses, commencing  with  the  report  made  to  his 
commanding  officer,  Gen.  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  by 
Gen.  Charles  Grey  : 

"Sir, — In  the  evening  of  the  4th  inst.  the  fleet, 
with  the  detachment  under  my  command,  sailed 
from  New  London,  and  stood  to  the  eastward  with  a 
very  favorable  wind.  We  were  only  retarded  in  the 
run  from  thence  to  Buzzard's  Bay  by  the  altering 
our  course  for  some  hours  in  the  night,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  discovery  of  a  strange  fleet,  which 
was  not  known  to  be  Lord  Howe's  until  morn- 
ing. By  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  the  5th  the 
ships  were  at  anchor  in  Clarke's  Cove,  and  the  boats 
having  been  previously  hoisted  out,  the  debarkation 
of  the  troops  took  place  immediately.  I  proceeded 
without  loss  of  time  to  destroy  the  vessels  and  stores 
in  the  whole  extent  of  Acushnet  River  (about  six 
miles),  particularly  at  Bedford  and  Fairhaven  ;  and 
having  dismantled  and  burnt  a  fort  on  the  east  side 
of  the  river  mounting  eleven  pieces  of  heavy  cannon, 
with  a  magazine  and  barracks,  completed  the  re-em- 
barkation before  noon  the  next  day.  I  refer  your 
Excellency  to  the  annexed  return  for  the  enemy's 
losses,  as  far  as  we  were  able  to  ascertain  them,  and 
for  our  own  casualties. 

"  The  wind  did  not  admit  of  any  further  movement 
of  the  fleet  the  6th  and  7th  than  hauling  a  little  dis- 
tance from  the  shore.  Advantage  was  taken  of  this 
circumstance  to  burn  a  large  privateer  ship  on  the 


stocks,  and  to  send  a  small  armament  of  boats,  with 
two  galleys,  to  destroy  two  or  three  vessels  which, 
being  in  the  stream,  the  troops  had  not  been  able  to 
set  fire  to. 

"From  the  difficulties  in  passing  out  of  Buzzard's 
Bay  into  the  Vineyard  Sound,  through  Quickse's 
Hole,  from  head  winds,  the  fleet  did  not  reach 
Holmes'  Hole  Harbor,  in  the  island  of  Martha's 
Vineyard,  until  the  10th.  The  transports,  with  the 
light  infantry,  grenadiers,  and  Thirty-third  Regiment, 
were  anchored  without  the  harbor,  as  I  had  at  that 
time  a  service  in  view  for  those  corps  while  the  busi- 
ness of  collecting  cattle  should  be  carrying  on  upon 
the  island.  I  was  obliged  by  contrary  winds  to  relin- 
quish my  design. 

"  On  our  arrival  off  the  harbor  the  inhabitants  sent 
persons  on  board  to  ask  my  intentions  with  respect  to 
them,  to  whom  a  requisition  was  made  of  the  arms  of 
the  militia,  the  public  money,  three  hundred  oxen, 
and  ten  thousand  sheep.  They  promised  each  of 
these  articles  should  be  delivered  without  delay.  I 
afterwards  found  it  necessary  to  send  small  detach- 
ments into  the  island  and  detain  the  deputed  inhab- 
itants for  a  time  in  order  to  accelerate  their  com- 
pliance with  the  demand. 

"  The  12th  I  was  able  to  embark  on  board  the  ves- 
sels, which  arrived  that  day  from  Rhode  Island,  six 
thousand  sheep  and  one  hundred  and  thirty  oxen. 

"  The  13th  and  14th  were  employed  in  embarking 
cattle  and  sheep  on  board  our  own  fleet,  in  destroy- 
ing some  salt-works,  in  burning  or  taking  in  the  inlets 
what  vessels  and  boats  could  be  found,  and  in  re- 
ceiving the  arms  of  the  militia.  I  here  again  refer 
your  Excellency  to  returns. 

"  On  the  15th  the  fleet  left  Martha's  Vineyard,  and 
after  sustaining,  the  next  day,  a  very  severe  gale  of 
wind,  arrived  the  17th  at  Whitestone  without  any 
material  damage. 

"  I  hold  myself  much  obliged  to  the  commanding 
officers  of  corps  and  to  the  troops  in  general  for  the 
alacrity  with  which  every  service  was  performed. 
"  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  etc., 

"Charles  Grey,  M.G." 

"  Return  of  killed,  wounded,  and  missing  of  the  detach- 
ment under  the  command  of  Maj.  Gen.-  Grey. 

"  1st  battalion  of  light  infantry — 1  wounded,  3  miss- 
ing. 

"  1st  battalion  grenadiers — 1  killed,  1  wounded,  3 
missing. 

"33d  regiment — 1  missing. 

''42d  regiment — 1  wounded,  8  missing. 

"  46th  regiment — 1  missing. 

"64th  regiment — 1  wounded. 

"Total — 1  killed,  4  wounded,  16  missing. 

"  The  enemy's  loss,  which  came  to  our  knowledge, 
was  an  officer  and  3  men  killed  by  the  advanced  par- 
ties of  light  infantry,  who,  on  receiving  a  fire  from 
the  inclosures,  rushed  on  with  their  bayonets.     Six- 


NEW   BEDFORD. 


57 


teen  were  brought  prisoners  from  Bedford,  to  exchange 
for  that  number  missing  from  the  troops. 

"Charles  Grey,  M.G." 

"Return  of  vessels  and  stores   destroyed  on   Acushnet 
River  the  5th  of  September,  1778. 

"  8  sail  of  large  vessels,  from  200  to  300  tons,  most 
of  them  prizes. 

"  6  armed  vessels,  carrying  from  10  to  16  guns. 

"  A  number  of  sloops  and  schooners  of  inferior  size, 
amounting  in  all  to  70,  besides  whale-boats  and 
others  ;  amongst  the  prizes  were  three  taken  by  Count 
D'Estaing's  fleet. 

"  26  store-houses  at  Bedford,  several  at  McPherson's 
wharf,  Crane's  Mills,  and  Fairhaven  ;  these  were  filled 
with  very  great  quantities  of  rum,  sugar,  molasses, 
coftee,  tobacco,  cotton,  tea,  medicines,  gunpowder, 
sail-cloth,  cordage,  etc. 

"  Two  rope-walks. 

"At  Falmouth,  in  the  Vineyard  Sound,  the  10th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1778. 

"  2  sloops  and  one  schooner  taken  by  the  galleys,  1 
loaded  with  staves. 
"  1  sloop  burnt. 

"In  Old  Town  Harbor,  Martha's  Vineyard. 

"  1  brig  of  150  tons  burthen,  burnt  by  the  'Scor- 
pion.' 

"  1  schooner  of  70  tons  burthen,  burnt  by  ditto. 
"  23  whale-boats  taken  or  destroyed. 
"  A  quantity  of  plank  taken. 

"At  Holmes'  Hole,  Martha's  Vineyard. 

"  4  vessels,  with  several  boats,  taken  or  destroyed. 
"  A  salt-work  destroyed,  and  a  considerable  quan- 
tity of  salt  taken. 

"Arms  taken  at  Martha's  Vineyard. 

"  338  stand,  with  bayonets,  pouches,  etc.,  some  pow- 
der, and  a  quantity  of  lead,  as  by  artillery  return. 

"At  the  battery  near  Fairhaven,  and  on  Clarice's  Point. 

"  13  pieces  of  ordnance  destroyed,  the  magazine 
blown  up,  and  the  platforms,  etc.,  and  barracks  for 
200  men  burnt. 

"  £1000  sterl.  in  paper,  the  amount  of  a  tax  col- 
lected by  authority  of  the  Congress,  was  received  at 
Martha's  Vineyard  from  the  collector. 

"  Cattle  and  sheep  taken  from  Martha's  Vineyard. 

"300  oxen.     10,000  sheep. 

" Charles  Grey,  M.G." 

"Return  of  ammunition,  arms,  and  accoutrements,  etc, 
which  were  brought  in  by  the  mi lit  in  mi  the  island  of 
Martha's  Vineyard  agreeable  to  Ma/.-  Gen.  Grey's  order, 
received  at  Holmes'  Cove,  Sept.  12,  13,  and  14,  1778. 

"  Tisbury — 132  firelocks,  16  bayonets,  44  cartridge- 
boxes  or  pouches,  11  swords  or  hangers,  22  powder- 
horns. 


"  Chilmark— 2  halbuts,  127  firelocks,  20  bayonets, 
30  cartridge-boxes  or  pouches,  12  swords  or  hangers, 
40  powder-horns,  2  pistols,  1  drum. 

"  Old  Town — 129  firelocks,  14  bayonets,  3  cartridge- 
boxes,  2  swords  or  hangers,  9  powder-horns,  2  pistols. 

"  Total— 2  halbuts,  388  firelocks,  49  bayonets,  77 
cartridge-boxes  or  pouches,  25  swords  or  hangers,  71 
powder-horns,  4  pistols,  1  drum. 

"  N.  B. — 1  barrel,  1  half-barrel  and  quarter-barrel 
of  powder,  a  great  number  of  lead-shot  or  balls  of 
different  sizes  in  bags  and  boxes,  and  a  great  many 
flints.  David  Scott, 

"Royal  Reg.  of  Artillery." 

Account  by  Judge  Edward  Pope. — "  While  the  town 
was  in  this  flourishing  state  the  British  troops,  to  the 
amount  of  four  thousand,  landed  on  the  west  side  of 
Clarke's  Neck  and  at  Clarke's  Cove  on  Saturday  even- 
ing, the  5th  of  September,  1778,  and  marched  round  to 
the  Head  of  the  River,  over  the  bridge,  and  down  the 
east  side  into  Sconticut  Neck,  leaving  the  villages  of 
Fairhaven  and  Oxford  on  the  right,  burning  on  their 
way  houses,  mills,  barns,  etc.  They  encamped  on  Scon- 
ticut Neck  until  Monday,  and  then  re-embarked  on 
board  their  shipping.  The  succeeding  night  they 
attempted  to  land  a  large  number  of  troops  at  Fair- 
haven, in  order  to  burn  that  village  ;  but  being  dis- 
covered by  Maj.  Israel  Fearing  (now  brigadier-gen- 
eral), who  had  the  command  of  about  one  hundred 
or  one  hundred  and  fifty  men,  and  determined  to  save 
the  place  if  possible,  or  lose  his  life  in  the  atttempt, 
and  placed  himself  and  men  behind  houses  and  stores 
near  where  he  supposed  they  would  land,  and  suffered 
them  to  reach  the  shore  with  their  boats  before  a  mus- 
ket was  discharged,  and  they  were  then  in  great  num- 
bers beginning  to  land,  and  had  set  fire  to  two  or  three 
stores  within  fifty  or  one  hundred  yards  of  Maj.  Fear- 
ing and  his  men,  who  then  fired  upon  them,  and  by 
the  screechings  and  track  of  blood  afterwards  discov- 
ered, supposed  many  were  killed  and  wounded.  They 
immediately  retreated  aboard  their  ships,  taking  their 
dead  and  wounded  with  them.  Thus,  by  the  bravery 
of  one  man,  that  village  was  preserved." 

Account  by  Elijah  Macomber .—"  The  fort  below 
Fairhaven  village  was  garrisoned  at  the  time  by  Capt. 
Timothy  Ingraham,  Lieut.  Daniel  Foster,  and  thirty- 
six  non-commissioned  officers  and  privates,  making 
a  total  of  thirty-eight  men.  There  were  eleven  or 
twelve  pieces  of  cannon  mounted  in  the  fort  and  about 
twenty-five  casks  of  powder  in  the  magazine,  twenty 
casks  having  been  procured  a  few  days  previous  from 
the  commissary  store  in  Bedford,  which  was  kept  by 
Philip  and  Leonard  Jarvis,  brothers. 

"About  one  o'clock  p.m.  Worth  Bates,  who  lived 
at  a  place  on  the  Bedford  side  calied  McPherson's 
Wharf,  and  who  had  that  day  been  out  fishing, 
landed  at  the  fort  in  his  boat  and  informed  the  cap- 
tain that  a  British  fleet  was  in  the  bay  and  nearly  up 
with  the  point.  In  a  few  moments  they  made  their 
appearance  by  the  point.     The  larger  ships  sailed  up 


58 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


the  river  and  anchored  off  abreast  the  fort.  About 
one-half  or  more  of  the  smaller  vessels  anchored  off 
Clarke's  Point,  and  the  remainder  dropped  in  to  the 
east  of  the  larger  vessels  and  commenced  embarking 
troops  in  a  small  cove  a  short  distance  to  the  east  of 
the  fort,  behind  a  point  of  wood  and  under  cover  of 
the  guns  of  the  larger  vessels.  The  fleet  consisted  of 
thirty-six  sail.  Immediately  upon  discovering  them 
three  guns  were  fired  from  the  fort  to  alarm  the  coun- 
try, and  a  dispatch  sent  to  Howland's  Ferry  for  rein- 
forcements. The  debarkation  of  the  British  troops 
commenced  about  two  o'clock,  both  to  the  eastward 
of  the  fort  and  at  Clarke's  Cove.  A  company  of  artil- 
lery from  Boston,  consisting  of  about  sixty  men, 
under  the  command  of  Capt.  (James)  Cushman,  was 
stationed  at  the  head  of  Clarke's  Cove,  which  upon  the 
landing  of  the  British  fell  back  and  retreated  to  the 
head  of  the  Acushnet  River.  (James)  Metcalf  was 
first  lieutenant  of  this  company,  and  was  shot  during 
the  night  at  Acushnet  village.  William  Gordon,  of 
this  town,  was  second  lieutenant  and  was  taken  pris- 
oner by  the  British,  but  made  his  escape  before  he 
arrived  at  the  Head  of  Acushnet.  The  troops  con- 
tinued to  debark  from  the  transports  lying  east  of  the 
fort  until  night,  but  neither  their  movements  nor  the 
motions  of  those  landed  at  the  cove  could  be  seen 
from  the  fort. 

"  Not  long  after  dark  the  detachment  from  the  cove 
commenced  the  work  of  destruction.  The  first  build- 
ings discovered  in  flames  were  the  rope-walks  of 
(owner  unknown)  and  the  distillery  belonging  to 
Isaac  Howland,  father  of  the  late  Isaac  Howland,  Jr. 
Soon  after  all  the  stores,  warehouses,  some  barns  and 
dwelling-houses,  together  with  every  vessel  they  could 
get  at,  were  in  flames.  There  was  a  large  number  of 
vessels  in  the  harbor  at  the  time,  a  large  English  ship 
having  been  brought  in  a  prize  by  the  French  a  few 
days  previous  and  then  lying  at  Rotch's  wdiarf,  as  well 
as  several  others  a  short  time  before.  Every  vessel 
was  burnt,  excepting  those  lying  in  the  stream,  which 
they  could  not  get  at,  and  a  small  craft  somewhere  up 
the  river.  The  number  of  vessels  destroyed  was  sev- 
enty. Among  the  dwelling-houses  burnt  was  (Joseph) 
Rotch's  and  Isaac  Howland's. 

"A  little  before  nine  o'clock,  or  between  eight 
and  nine,  and  after  some  of  the  vessels  which  had 
been  set  on  fire  on  the  Bedford  side  had  drifted  down 
towards  the  fort,  the  detachment  which  landed  on  the 
east  side  advanced  upon  the  fort  from  the  eastward. 
Two  guns  were  fired  at  the  fleet,  and  after  spiking  the 
guns  the  garrison  retreated  to  the  north,  leaving  their 
colors  flying.  The  British,  supposing  the  fort  to  be 
still  garrisoned,  opened  a  heavy  fire  upon  it  with  their 
artillery,  which  soon  ceased  upon  not  being  returned. 
The  garrison  were  at  this  time  ranged  along  a  low 
wall  a  short  distance  to  the  north  of  the  fort,  waiting 
to  discover  the  exact  position  of  the  enemy,  in  order 
to  make  their  retreat  successfully.  They  were  soon 
discovered  by  the  British,  who  fired  upon  them  and 


wounded  a  man  by  the  name  of  Robert  Crossman.  A 
ball  passed  through  one  wrist  and  across  the  other. 
A  hasty  retreat  was  then  commenced,  and  the  enemy 
not  knowing  the  exact  position  and  strength  of  the 
Americans,  did  not  make  a  vigorous  pursuit.  The 
whole  garrison,  with  the  exception  of  the  wounded 
man  and  two  others.  John  Skiff  and  his  father,  who 
were  taken  prisoners,  succeeded  in  making  their  escape 
to  the  woods  at  some  little  distance  north  of  Fair- 
haven,  where  they  lay  through  the  night,  and  until 
the  British  had  passed  them  from  the  Head  of  the 
River.  Before  the  fort  was  evacuated,  a  train  of  pow- 
der was  placed  from  the  magazine  to  the  platform. 
The  British,  upon  entering,  after  destroying  the  ram- 
rods, sponges,  etc.,  applied  a  slow  match  to  the  maga- 
zine, which,  communicating  with  the  train  left  by  the 
garrison,  was  blown  up  sooner  than  was  intended,  de- 
stroying one  man, — at  least  the  fragments  of  whose 
gun,  cap,  and  accoutrements  were  afterwards  discov- 
ered near  by.  After  burning  the  barracks,  guard- 
house, etc.,  the  detachment  moved  north,  destroying 
vessels,  stores,  etc.,  and  formed  a  junction  with  the 
detachment  from  the  west  side  somewhere  towards 
the  Head  of  Acushnet,  after  which  they  marched 
down  towards  the  fort.  They  were  out  all  night.  The 
next  day  they  re-embarked  near  the  fort. 

"The  leading  platoons  of  the  detachment  on  the 
west  side  of  the  river  fired  upon  three  men,  who  were 
armed,  near  the  house  of  Joseph  Russell  (father  of 
Gilbert,  Abraham,  and  Humphrey),  two  of  whom  were 
shot  down.  These  men  were  Abraham  Russell,  about 
forty  years  of  age ;  Thomas  Cook,  a  young  man  who 
lived  with  him  ;  and  Diah  Trafford,  about  twenty-three 
years  of  age.  The  British  advancing  rapidly  upon 
them  with  fixed  bayonets,  they  begged  for  quarter, 
which  was  refused.  Russell  was  killed  immediately, 
his  head  being  entirely  cut  to  pieces.  Cook  died  about 
daylight;  his  bowels  were  ripped  open.  Trafford  was 
shot  through  the  leg  and  severely  wounded  in  the  ab- 
domen by  a  bayonet.  He  died  the  next  day  about 
ten  o'clock,  after  making  some  statements  relative  to 
the  death  of  his  companions.  They  were  all  carried 
into  Joseph  Russell's  house  in  the  morning. 

"  The  prisoners  taken  stated,  when  they  were  re- 
leased, that  the  troops  which  landed  on  the  east  side 
were  delayed  some  hours,  in  consequence  of  their 
light-horse  and  artillery  becoming  entangled  in  a 
marsh  which  lay  at  the  head  of  the  cove  when  they 
landed.  This  accounts  for  their  delay  in  making  an 
attack  upon  the  fort. 

"  On  the  night  following  the  general  attack,  a  num- 
ber of  barges  were  discovered  coming  up  the  river, 
which  were  fired  upon  and  driven  back  by  the  force 
which  by  this  time  had  assembled  at  Fairhaven,  a 
detachment  having,  I  think,  arrived  from  Howland's 
Ferry,  and  a  body  of  militia  from  Middleborough, 
making  several  hundred.  It  was  supposed  that  their 
object  was  plunder,  and  that  the  expedition  was  not 
ordered  by  any  of  the  general  officers. 


NEW   BEDFORD. 


59 


"  I  returned  to  the  fort  in  two  or  three  days,  as  did 
the  rest  of  the  garrison. 

"William  Tallnian's  lather  was  taken  prisoner. 
Several  prisoners  were  taken  at  Acushnet  village. 

"  The  American  prisoners,  on  their  return,  reported 
that  the  whole  force  of  the  British  was  about  five 
thousand  five  hundred.  This,  it  is  presumed,  included 
the  number  composing  the  crew  of  the  several  vessels. 

"  The  detachment  on  the  west  side  must  have  nearly 
reached  the  Head  of  the  River  before  the  fort  was 
evacuated.  Both  detachments  had  artillery,  and  I 
think  light  horse. 

"  Obed  Cushman  was  here  with  the  militia  next 
day  ;  says  he  was  in  the  sloop  '  Providence'  awhile, 
all  cut  to  pieces  during  her  last  cruise. 

"  Isaac  Howland  stated  his  loss  in  shipping  to  be 
six  thousand  dollars." 

John  Gilbert's  Account. — "  On  the  5th  of  September, 
1778,  in  the  afternoon,  the  British  fleet  arrived  off 
Clarke's  Point.  It  consisted  of  two  frigates,  an  eigh- 
teen-gun  brig,  and  about  thirty-six  transports.  The 
latter  were  small  ships.  The  two  frigates  and  brig 
anchored  opposite  the  mouth  of  the  Acushnet  River, 
and  a  little  below  the  point.  The  transports  were 
anchored  outside  the  Great  Ledge,  and  opposite  the 
mouth  of  the  cove.  The  troops,  including  light-horse, 
artillery,  etc.,  were  landed  in  barges.  The  landing 
was  completed  a  little  before  night,  near  where  the 
present  almshouse  stands,  and  the  troops  arrived  at 
the  head  of  Main  Street  (now  Union)  about  dusk.  A 
part  of  the  troops  here  wdieeled  to  the  right  and  passed 
down  Main  Street  for  the  purpose  of  burning  the  town, 
while  the  remainder  continued  their  march  to  the 
north  on  the  county  road.  There  were  not,  at  that 
time,  more  than  fifteen  able-bodied  men  in  the  place, 
every  person  that  could  leave  having  gone  to  rein- 
force the  American  army  on  Rhode  Island,  where  at 
that  very  time  they  were  engaged,  the  cannon  being 
distinctly  heard  here.  I  was  at  that  time  an  appren- 
tice to  Joseph  Russell,  the  father  of  Abraham  Russell, 
and  had  been  sent  for  a  horse  to  carry  my  mistress  to 
some  place  of  safety.  On  my  return  she  had  gone,  as 
also  the  goods  from  the  house,  but  Peace  Akins  was 
there  (a  connection  of  the  family),  whom  I  was  di- 
rected to  carry  with  me.  The  house  stood  at  the  pres- 
ent corner  of  County  and  Morgan  Streets,  and  a  little 
within  the  fence  on  the  southeast  corner  of  Charles  W. 
Morgan's  lot.  By  this  time  the  British  had  appeared 
in  sight.  I  was  upon  the  horse  by  the  side  of  the 
horse-block,  urging  Mrs.  Akins  to  be  quick  in  getting 
ready.  She,  however,  made  some  little  delay  by  re- 
turning into  the  house  for  something,  and  before  she 
had  time  to  get  up  behind  me  four  light-horsemen 
passed  us,  but  without  paying  us  any  particular  atten- 
tion. Whilst  the  head  of  the  British  column  was 
passing  us,  and  whilst  Peace  was  in  the  very  act  of 
getting  upon  the  horse,  a  soldier  came  up,  and  seizing 
the  horse's  bridle  commanded  me  to  get  off.  I  made 
no  reply,  but  by  reining  the  horse  suddenly   round 


knocked  him  down,  which  left  me  perfectly  at  liberty, 
and  headed  to  the  north.  The  troops  occupied  nearly 
the  whole  of  the  road,  leaving,  however,  a  small  space 
on  the  west  side  between  them  and  the  wall.  Through 
this  open  space  I  attempted  to  pass  by,  urging  my 
horse  at  the  top  of  his  speed,  but  before  I  had  gone 
five  rods  a  whole  platoon  was  fired  at  me,  without 
hitting  either  myself  or  horse.  These  were  the  first 
guns  fired  by  the  British.  The  troops  now  opened 
from  the  centre  to  close  the  space  next  the  wall,  which 
reduced  me  to  the  necessity  of  passing  through  the 
centre  of  the  remaining  platoons.  This  I  effected 
without  injury,  in  consequence  of  the  speed  of  my 
horse,  and  being  so  mixed  up  with  the  troops  as  to 
prevent  their  firing.  About  twenty  feet  in  advance 
of  the  leading  platoon  were  placed  two  men  with 
fixed  bayonets  as  an  advanced  guard.  They  were 
about  six  feet  apart,  and  as  I  advanced  from  the  rear 
they  both  faced  about  and  presented  their  pieces, 
which  I  think  were  snapped  at  me,— they  did  not  fire. 
I  passed  through  between  them  and  made  my  escape, 
turning  up  the  Smith  Mills  road.  I  went  to  Timothy 
Maxfield's,  about  one  and  a  half  miles,  and  stayed  all 
night. 

"  I  afterwards  learned  that  upon  my  leaving  P. 
Akins  on  the  horse-block,  some  British  officers  rode 
up  and  assured  her  that  if  she  remained  perfectly 
quiet  nothing  should  injure  her.  She  remained  in 
this  situation  until  the  troops  had  passed  and  the 
officers  left  her,  when  she  went  over  to  the  east  side 
of  the  road. 

"  The  four  horsemen  who  first  passed  us  on  the 
horse-block  went  into  the  house  and  plundered  two 
men  whom  they  found  there,  the  goods  having  been 
already  conveyed  back.  These  men  were  Humphrey 
Tallman  and  Joseph  Traffbrd,  who  worked  for  Joseph 
Russell. 

"As  I  passed  up  the  Smith  Mills  road,  and  about 
one-fourth  of  a  mile  from  the  county  road,  I  met 
William  Haydon  and  Oliver  Potter,  both  armed  with 
muskets,  who  inquired  where  the  main  body  of  the 
British  then  were.  I  told  them  they  were  nearly 
square  against  us.  Upon  receiving  this  information 
they  cut  across  the  woods,  and,  as  I  was  afterwards 
told,  came  out  a  little  in  advance  of  the  British,  and 
near  the  west  end  of  the  present  North  Street.  The 
woods  were  very  thick  on  the  west  side  of  County 
Street  at  this  place,  and  under  cover  of  night  and 
these  woods  Haydon  and  Potter  fired  upon  the  sol- 
diers and  killed  two  horsemen.  This  I  was  told  by 
Haydon  and  Potter,  and  also  by  the  American  pris- 
oners on  their  return  home,  who  saw  them  put  into 
the  baggage-wagon. 

"A  few  minutes  after  these  men  were  shot,  Abra- 
ham Russell,  Thomas  Cook,  and  Diah  Traffbrd,  all 
being  armed,  were  discovered  by  the  British  attempt- 
ing to  leave  the  village  by  coining  up  a  cross-way  into 

< ' ty  Street.     When  at  the  corner  of  this  way  with 

County  Street,  or  nearly  so,  they  were  fired  upon  by 


60 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


the  British  and  all  shot  down.  Trafford  was  twenty- 
one  years  old,  lacking  fourteen  days,  and  was  in  the 
employment  of  Joseph  Russell,  with  whom  I  then  lived. 
He  was  shot  through  the  heart  and  died  instantly. 
After  that  his  face  was  badly  cut  to  pieces  by  the 
sabres  of  the  British.  Cook  also  worked  for  Russell 
by  the  month,  and  was  nearly  forty  years  of  age. 
He  was  shot  through  the  leg,  and  also  through  the 
bowels,  the  bullet  passing  through  his  bladder.  He 
died  about  daylight  next  morning.  Russell  was 
about  forty  years  of  age.  He  died  about  ten  o'clock 
next  morning,  at  the  house  of  Joseph  Russell,  where 
they  were  all  carried,  after  remaining  in  the  road 
where  they  were  shot  all  night.  Russell  and  Cook 
were  buried  in  Dartmouth  ;  Trafford  was  buried  on  a 
hill  by  the  shore,  a  little  north  of  the  old  rope- walk 
in  this  town.  This  was  a  sort  of  potter's  field,  where 
sailors  were  buried.  The  land  belonged  to  Joseph 
Russell. 

"  A  company  of  artillery,  consisting  of  about  eighty 
privates,  had  been  sent  from  Boston  for  the  protection 
of  the  place.  The  building  occupied  by  them  as  bar- 
racks was  the  poor-house,  which  stood  near  the  pres- 
ent site  of  Philip  Anthony's  dwelling-house.  It  was 
a  long,  low  building,  and  has  since  been  pulled  down. 
The  company  was  commanded  by  Capt.  James  dish- 
ing, of  Boston.  Joseph  Bell,  of  Boston,  was  first 
lieutenant;  William  Gordon,  of  Boston,  second  lieu- 
tenant, and  James  Metcalf,  of  Boston,  third  lieu- 
tenant. The  latter  was  mortally  wounded  by  the 
British  during  the  night  at  Acushnet.  This  com- 
pany, although  stationed  here,  had,  a  short  time  pre- 
vious to  the  landing  of  the  British,  been  called  to 
Howland's  Ferry  to  aid  the  Americans  against  the 
British  on  Rhode  Island.  But  during  the  day  of  the 
landing,  Lieuts.  Gordon  and  Metcalf  had  returned 
with  part  of  the  company  and  one  field-piece.  As  the 
British  advanced  they  were  under  the  necessity  of  re- 
treating. They  had  a  yoke  of  oxen  of  Joseph  Rus- 
sell's to  draw  the  cannon. 

"  The  officers  of  this  company  had  their  quarters 
at  and  boarded  with  Mrs.  Deborah  Doubleday,  a 
widow,  in  the  house  in  which  Judge  Prescott's  office 
now  is,  which  was  then  owned  by  Seth  Russell,  father 
of  the  late  Seth  and  Charles.  After  Metcalf  was 
wounded  he  was  brought  down  to  this  house,  where 
I  saw  him  the  next  day.  I  think  he  lived  three  days. 
I  was  at  his  funeral.  He  was  buried  on  the  hill  by 
the  old  meeting-house  at  Acushnet,  '  under  arms.' 

"  The  night  was  clear  moonlight. 

"  McPherson's  wharf  was  at  Bellville,  and  was 
burnt  by  the  British,  together  with  some  vessels  lying 
there.  A  brig  called  the  '  No  Duty  on  Tea'  was 
burnt  at  this  wharf.  She  drifted  down  the  river  after 
her  fastenings  were  burnt  off,  and  finally  sank  just  at 
the  north  of  Dog  Fish  Bar,  and  abreast  of  the  Bury  ing- 
Ground  Hill.  Several  other  small  vessels  were  burnt 
at  this  wharf  and  sank.    They  were  afterwards  got  up. 

"  An  armed  vessel  sank  on  the  west  side  of  Crow 


Island.  She  was  afterwards  got  up.  Her  guns  were 
got  up  by  some  persons  who  dived  down  and  fastened 
ropes  to  them,  when  they  were  hoisted  up.  Benjamin 
C.  Myrick  was  drowned  in  diving  down  for  the  pur- 
pose of  fastening  a  rope  to  the  last  one. 

"  There  were  only  two  wharves  in  Bedford  at  that 
time,— Rotch's,  the  largest,  and  Joseph  Russell's,  now 
Central. 

"  On  the  day  the  British  landed,  they  commenced 
carting  goods  about  the  middle  of  the  afternoon,  and 
carried  them  on  to  a  piece  of  cleared  land  containing 
about  one  acre  which  was  situated  in  the  woods  west 
of  the  jail,  and  surrounded  on  all  sides  by  swamps, 
heavy  wood,  and  thick  copse.  Many  others  carried 
goods  to  the  same  place.  After  moving  all  the  goods 
I  was  sent  for  a  horse  to  the  pasture  west  of  where 
the  jail  now  stands,  as  stated  before. 

"  On  Sunday  morning,  the  day  following  the  burn- 
ing of  Bedford,  a  small  force  in  two  barges  was  sent 
to  Padanaram.  Three  or  four  houses  belonging  to 
the  Akins  were  burnt,  and  a  brig  on  the  stocks. 

"  These  Akins  were  strong  Whigs,  and  it  is  supposed 
that  they  were  instrumental  in  driving  away  from 
there  three  men  who  adhered  to  the  British,  and  who, 
with  all  who  took  that  course,  were  called  Tories. 
The  names  of  these  men  were  Richard  Shearman, 
Joseph  Castle,  and  Eldad  Tupper.  These  men  went 
to  the  British,  and  as  two  of  them  were  pilots,  it  is 
supposed  that  they  pointed  out  the  channel  of  our 
harbor  to  the  British.  This  accounts  for  the  fact  that 
certain  houses  only  were  burnt  at  Padanaram." 

Reminiscences  collected  by  Capt.  Lemuel  S.  Akin. — 
"  While  the  British  were  marching  up  to  Bedford, 
William  Tobey,  once  postmaster  in  New  Bedford,  was 
driving  a  team  loaded  with  goods  for  a  safe  place  of 
deposit,  but  was  so  hardly  pressed  by  the  British  that 
he  unyoked  his  oxen  and  left  his  wagon  and  goods  a 
prize  to  the  enemy. 

"  Arrived  at  the  Head  of  the  River,  a  party  left  the 
main  body  and  went  north  as  far  as  the  old  gambrel- 
roofed  house  of  Dr.  Tobey,  still  standing.  I  believe 
that  it  was  a  general  baking-day  in  these  parts,  for 
here  they  found  in  the  cellar  an  oven  full  of  bread, 
and  pork  and  beans.  These  they  soon  dispatched, 
and  robbed  the  house  of  what  they  wanted,  and  en- 
deavored to  destroy  the  rest.  But  the  British  pilferers 
in  going  down  the  cellar  left  the  door  wide  open,  and 
that  effectually  prevented  their  seeing  another  door 
immediately  behind  it,  leading  to  a  room  where  their 
most  valuable  clothing  was  deposited,  and  by  that 
means  was  saved.  Another  instance  of  the  same  kind 
occurred  at  Bartholomew  Taber's. 

"  They  burned  several  houses  at  the  Head  of  the 
River,  among  others  one  belonging  to  Capt.  Crandon, 
who,  to  revenge  himself  on  the  British  marauders, 
would  not  suffer  his  new  house  to  be  placed  over  his 
old  cellar,  nor  suffer  the  cellar  to  be  filled  up  until  his 
son,  having  the  management  in  some  measure  of  his 
father's  business,  accomplished  it. 


NEW   BEDFORD. 


61 


"It  was  at  Acushnet  village  that  Lieut.  Metcalf 
was  mortally  wounded.  He  was  from  Boston,  and 
belonged  to  the  Continental  army.  Some  verses  were 
composed  on  his  death  at  the  time  by  a  Mrs.  Negus. 
She  had  not  the  inspiration  of  a  Sappho,  yet  they 
were  much  esteemed  at  the  time;  in  fact,  much  worse 
have  been  written,  and  printed  too. 

"The  first  building  they  burned  after  leaving  the 
Head  of  the  River  was  a  house  on  the  premises  now 
owned  by  David  Russell,  then  occupied  by  Col.  Pope. 
Eldad  Tupper,  a  Tory,  and  well  acquainted  in  these 
parts,  acted  as  their  guide,  and  could  inform  them  of 
all  holding  office  or  commissions.  As  they  proceeded 
south,  and  near  by,  they  came  to  Stephen  and  Thomas 
Hathaway 's.  The  latter  was  a  man  of  handsome 
property  in  those  days,  and  without  children,  but  he 
had  a  ward  living  with  him,  Jonathan  Kempton,  who 
eventually  inherited  it.  At  the  time  the  fleet  anchored 
he  was  at  the  lower  end  of  Sconticut  Neck,  and  left 
immediately  for  home  to  remove  the  household  furni- 
ture to  a  place  of  safety.  After  packing  up,  he  took 
a  small  trunk  containing  quite  a  valuable  quantity  of 
silver  plate,  and  as  he  stepped  to  the  door  to  leave  the 
house  he  was  met  by  their  advance-guard,  who  told 
him  they  would  relieve  him  from  any  further  care  of 
the  trunk.  After  taking  what  things  they  wanted 
from  the  house,  they  collected  beds  and  bedding  in  a 
chamber  and  set  fire  to  them,  and  very  luckily  shut 
the  doors.  They  took  Mr.  Kempton  a  prisoner,  and 
told  him  they  should  carry  him  to  New  York.  He 
entreated  them  to  let  him  have  his  liberty.  After 
carrying  him  to  the  end  of  a  long  lane  leading  to  the 
house  they  consented,  after  taking  one  of  the  two 
pairs  of  breeches  that  he  had  on  ;  that  he  had  two 
pairs  on  they  knew  from  having  robbed  him  of  his 
watch,  but  they  informed  him  they  must  fire  at  him 
as  a  deserter,  which  they  did,  but  whether  with  an 
intention  of  hitting  him  or  not  he  never  knew.  The 
ball,  however,  hit  a  large  cherry-tree,  one  of  a  num- 
ber that  lined  a  long  passage  or  lane  leading  to  the 
house.  Mr.  Kempton  returned  to  the  house  in  time 
to  extinguish  the  fire. 

"  Proceeding  on  in  something  of  a  hurry,  burning 
now  and  then  a  house  or  a  store  and  destroying  prop- 
erty and  frightening  men,  women,  and  children,  who 
generally,  Indian-like,  fled  to  the  woods  with  what 
little  they  could  carry  for  safety,  some  rather  laugh- 
able scenes  occurred  amid  the  terror  and  confusion. 
One  woman,  it  is  charitable  to  suppose  not  till  after 
mighty  efforts  and  years  of  longing,  at  last  procured 
a  brass  warming-pan.  This,  though  previous  to  Lord 
Timothy  Dexter's  venture  of  warming-pans  to  the 
West  Indies,  was  too  valuable  to  fall  into  the  hands 
of  the  rapacious  'regulars;'  accordingly  clothes, 
bedding,  household  furniture,  all,  except  the  warm- 
ing-pan, was  abandoned  to  its  fate.  With  this  she, 
with  many  others,  started  for  the  woods.  Fear  is  a 
great  creator  of  phantoms.  Arrived  at  the  woods, 
helter-skelter,  there  was  no  time  to  choose  their  way, 


onward  was  the  word.  The  bended  elastic  bushes 
and  limbs  of  trees  were  continually  striking  the  warm- 
ing-pan with  a  force,  in  their  judgment,  sufficient  to 
give  the  regulars  a  clue  to  their  whereabouts.  What 
was  to  be  done?  The  owner  must  leave  the  pan  be- 
hind or  must  herself  be  left;  the  former  she  would  not 
do,  the  latter  she  could  not  prevent,  and  every  one 
fled  from  woman  and  pan  with  as  much  eagerness  as 
before  they  fled  from  the  regulars. 

"The  British  fell  in  with  a  Quaker,  Jethro  Hath- 
away, father  of  the  late  Stephen,  and  took  his  broad- 
brim from  his  head,  hurled  it  in  the  air,  and  after 
making  much  sport  with  it  said,  '  Let  the  old  Quaker 
have  it  again.' 

"Bartholomew  Taber,  a  calm,  courageous  man,  re- 
mained by  his  house,  and  was  harshly  treated  by  the 
British  soldiery.  One  fellow  threatened  to  shoot  him, 
and  aimed  his  musket  several  times  at  his  head,  but 
perceiving  it  was  not  cocked  he  did  not  consider  him- 
self in  much  danger.  He  heard  the  bullet  whistle  in 
the  air,  fired  from  the  bushes  at  the  British,  which 
caused  the  burning  of  the  school-house  on  his  premises, 
and  heard  them  call  for  a  match  at  the  same  time. 

"  Near  the  Sconticut  road,  about  one  mile  east  of 
Fairhaven  village,  was  the  house  and  farm  of  Capt. 
John  Alden.  He  had  a  small  stone  building  some 
little  distance  from  his  house,  in  which  he  kept  gro- 
ceries for  sale.  He  had  moved  his  family  and  some 
goods  to  a  place  of  safety,  and  had  returned  with  his 
ox-team  for  more  goods  and  furniture.  A  neighbor 
came  to  purchase  some  rum,  and  while  in  the  act  of 
getting  it  the  British  arrived  and  relieved  him  of  the 
care  of  the  team.  They  drove  his  oxen  on  the  Neck, 
where  they  were  slaughtered  for  the  use  of  the  army. 
On  the  Neck  they  stopped  at  the  house  of  John  West, 
who  had  in  his  pen  a  large  fat  hog.  They  put  a 
bayonet  through  him  and  left  him  dead. 

"  Just  before  they  came  to  what  is  called  the  'Nar- 
rows,' in  a  cleared  field  where  there  were  several  stacks 
of  salt  hay,  they  left  a  detachment  of  their  army,  who, 
fatigued  and  sleepy,  after  setting  a  guard  and  scatter- 
ing the  hay,  lay  on  it  and  took- a  nap.  The  remainder 
continued  on  about  one  mile  to  where  the  Widow 
Dean  now  lives,  the  place  of  their  final  embarkation. 
They  had  with  them  at  this  time  an  active,  resolute 
person  by  the  name  of  Pease  as  their  prisoner.  He 
was  not  very  strictly  guarded,  and  as  they  were  sur- 
rounded by  woods  made  his  escape  to  the  east  side  of 
the  Neck,  and  headed  north  by  the  edge  of  the  woods 
and  marsh  until  he  came  to  the  Narrows,  where  he 
entered  the  road.  Being  ignorant  at  the  time  of  an 
enemy  near,  he  was  hailed  by  the  guard  in  the  road, 
and  immediately  advancing  to  him,  with  a  club 
secreted  under  his  jacket,  with  one  blow  over  the 
head  dispatched  him  and  effected  his  escape.  It  was 
supposed  the  act  was  witnessed  by  those  on  board  the 
fleet,  who  with  their  glasses  could  easily  do  it,  for  im- 
mediately after  the  blow  was  given  a  gun  was  fired 
from  one  of  their  ships.     There  is  little  doubt  the 


62 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


guard  was  killed,  as  a  grave  was  found  made  by  the 
British  near  the  spot.  Many  supposed  Pease  did 
wrong,  and  that  a  judgment  overtook  him  at  last,  as 
he  was  killed  by  the  falling  of  a  well-sweep." 

Statement  of  Charles  Orinnell— Charles  Grinnell 
made  the  following  statement  from  what  he  had  been 
told  by  his  mother  and  members  of  the  Howland 
family : 

"  Susanna  Grinnell  and  her  sister,  Sarah  Tucker, 
left  the  house  of  Mrs.  Grinnell  when  the  British 
landed,  on  horseback,  and  went  to  Mrs.  Tucker's. 
The  detachment  of  the  army  which  left  the  main 
body  and  turned  down  Main  Street  and  burnt  the 
town,  stacked  their  arms  in  front  of  the  old  brick 
house  occupied  and  owned  by  old  Isaac  Howland  (old 
Isaac  came  from  Newport).  Howland  invited  the 
officers,  Gen.  Grey  and  his  staff,  to  come  in  and  take 
some  refreshments.  While  they  were  thus  enjoying 
themselves  one  of  Howland's  men  came  running  up 
and  told  him  that  the  soldiers  had  broken  into  the 
distil-house,  had  got  to  the  rum,  got  drunk,  and  set 
the  distil-house  on  fire.  This  exasperated  Gen.  Grey, 
for  he  did  not  wish  to  have  the  property  of  his  host 
destroyed.  He  ordered  the  men  corrected  and  sent 
aboard  the  ship.  While  they  were  thus  resting,  some 
of  the  men  amused  themselves  with  firing  into  the 
east  end  of  Mrs.  Grinnell's  house.  The  ball-holes 
are  now  to  be  seen  under  the  shingles.  The  men 
broke  into  the  back  of  Mrs.  Grinnell's  house,  plun- 
dered it  and  set  fire  to  it.  A  faithful  black  woman, 
who  had  remained  in  the  house,  put  out  the  tire.  She 
was  in  the  cellar  while  they  were  firing." 

The  raid  on  Isaac  Howland's  rum  may  account  for 
some  of  the  men  missing  in  Gen.  Grey's  official  re- 
turn. 

List  of  Property  Destroyed.— The  following  docu- 
ment was  found  among  the  papers  of  Gilbert  Russell, 
in  his  own  handwriting : 

Shipping  Burnt  Sept.  5, 1778,  by  the  British  Troops,  viz. : 

Ship  "  Harriet." 

Ship  "Mellish"  (Continental). 

Ship  "  Fanny"  (French  prize). 

Ship  "Hero." 

Ship  "Leopard." 

Ship  "Spaniard." 

Ship  "  Ctesar." 

Barque  "  Nanny." 

Snow  "  Simeon." 

Brig  "  Sally"  (Continental). 

Brig  "  Rosin." 

Brig  "  Sally"  (fish). 

Schooner  "  Adventure." 

Schooner  "Loyalty"  (Continental). 

Sloop  "  Nelly." 

Sloop  "  Fly  Fish." 

Sloop  (Capt.  Lawrence). 

Schooner  "  Defiance." 

Schooner  (Capt.  Jenny). 


Brig  "  No  Duty  on  Tea." 

Schooner  "Sally"  ("Hornet's"  prize). 

Sloop  (Bowers). 

Sloop  "  Sally"  (twelve  guns). 

Brig  (Ritchie). 

Brig  "  Dove." 

Brig  "Holland." 

Sloop  "  Joseph  Russell." 

Sloop  "  Boxirow." 

Sloop  "  Pilot  Fish." 

Schooner  (the  other  side). 

Brig  "  Sally." 

Sloop  "  Retaliation." 

Sloop  (J.  Brown's). 

Schooner  (eastward). 

Dwelling-Houses. —  Benjamin  Taber,  2;  Leonard 
Jarvis,  1 ;  J.  Lowden,  1  ;  J.  Gerrish,  1 ;  W.  Claghorn, 
1 ;  V.  Childs,  1 ;  Joseph  Rotch,  1 ;  Joseph  Rotch,  Jr., 
1;  Joseph  Russell,  1. 

Shops,  etc.  —  Isaac  Howland's:  distil-house,  1; 
cooper's  shop,  1 ;  warehouses,  3.  Joseph  Russell's  : 
barn,  1;  shop,  1.  Church's  shop  (shoe),  1.  Joseph 
Russell's:  store,  1;  warehouses  (old),  2;  2  shops 
(small),  2;  candle-house,  1.  L.  Kempton.  1.  Rotch 
&  Jarvis :  shop,  1 ;  warehouses,  2.  Joseph  Rotch  : 
barn,  1 ;  chaise-house,  1.  Total,  20.  Rope-walk  and 
one  house;  A.Smith's  blacksmith-shop;  Benjamin 
Taber's  shop. 

Some  Doubtful  Points.— There  is  some  doubt  with 
reference  to  Mr.  Macomber's  statement  of  troops 
landing  east  of  the  fort.  It  is  not  mentioned  in  Gen. 
Grey's  official  reports  nor  in  other  accounts.  The  de- 
struction of  the  fort,  as  far  as  can  be  gathered  from 
Gen.  Grey,  was  accomplished  by  the  troops  who  had 
marched  from  Clarke's  Cove  around  the  Head  of  the 
River.  This  is  not,  however,  a  direct  statement,  and 
if  it  is  thought  to  be  settled  that  Mr.  Macomber  saw 
the  troops  leaving  the  vessels  and  steering  for  the  land 
in  Fairhaven  Cove,  his  account  is  conclusive.  On 
the  other  hand,  the  advance  of  the  column  from 
Clarke's  Cove  might  have  reached  Sconticut  Neck 
without  the  knowledge  of  the  garrison  in  the  fort, 
while  the  firing  detachments  delayed  at  New  Bedford, 
Bellville,  and  other  places;  and  having  thus  estab- 
lished a  base  for  re-embarkation,  the  attack  on  the 
fort  might  have  been  made  by  them  while  awaiting 
the  arrival  of  the  rear-guard  from  Bedford.  On  the 
whole,  however,  Mr.  Macomber's  statement  will  prob- 
ably be  accepted.  It  is  at  any  rate  full  and  circum- 
stantial with  reference  to  all  the  movements  of  the 
British.  The  people  of  Bedford  village  would  natu- 
rally have  their  attention  engrossed  by  the  landing  at 
Clarke's  Cove  and  the  burning  of  the  village  and 
shipping,  and  would  be  ignorant  of  operations  east  of 
the  fort. 

Mr.  Macomber's  statement  that  Isaac  Howland's 
house  was  burned  must  be  incorrect.  The  house  was 
on  the  north  side  of  Union  Street,  and  was  torn  down 
in  order  to  open  Cheapside,  now  Pleasant  Street. 


NEW   BEDFORD. 


63 


There  is  some  mystery  in  connection  with  the 
boat  attack  on  Fairhaven  as  related  by  Judge  Pope. 
The  affair  has  had  another  version  with  marvelously 
improbable  details.  Gen.  Grey's  account  of  an  ex- 
pedition to  burn  a  vessel  on  the  stocks  and  others  in 
the  stream  may  be  a  corroboration  of  it.  Judge 
Pope's  statement  is  probably  exaggerated,  as  there  is 
nothing  to  correspond  with  it  in  Gen.  Grey's  return 
of  killed  and  wounded.  There  was  a  house  standing 
in  Fairhaven,  on  the  southeast  corner  of  Water  and 
Centre  Streets,  a  few  years  ago,  in  which  was  a  bullet- 
mark  said  to  have  been  made  in  this  skirmish.  The 
bullet  appeared  to  have  been  fired  from  a  northwest 
direction. 

Judge  Pope's  statement  that  the  troops  remained 
at  Sconticut  till  Monday,  the  7th,  would  appear  to  be 
a  mistake,  as  Gen.  Grey's  official  report  and  an  ac- 
count written  at  the  time  by  Robert  Fanshawe,  fleet 
captain,  state  directly  the  contrary.  And  yet  the 
current  tradition  in  Fairhaven  is  that  the  destruction 
of  property  in  that  town  was  accomplished  on  Sunday 
forenoon,  the  6th  ;  that  the  troops  bivouacked  Sunday 
night  on  Sconticut  Neck ;  and  that  people  frightened 
away  from  their  homes  in  Fairhaven  Sunday  morn- 
ing remained  in  the  woods  all  night.  A  letter  written 
in  1874  by  the  late  Jabez  Delano,  a  noted  antiquarian, 
states  that  the  fort  was  destroyed  about  noon  on  Sun- 
day. 

The  Extent  of  the  Calamity.— The  object  of  the 
attack  being  to  destroy  privateers,  prizes,  and  prize 
goods,  comparatively  few  dwelling  -  houses  were 
burned.  Some  were  unavoidably  involved  in  the 
destruction  of  adjacent  warehouses.  A  few  residences 
of  prominent  patriots  were  burned,  and  some  may 
have  been  set  on  fire  by  soldiers  in  drunken  insubor- 
dination. But  that  the  destruction  was  general  and 
wanton  with  respect  to  dwelling-houses  is  not  a  fact. 
Probably  a  few  were  destroyed  that  are  not  men- 
tioned in  Gilbert  Russell's  list.  Among  them  was 
Barzillai  Merrick's,  on  the  east  side  of  South  Water 
Street.  The  British  official  account  states  that  sev- 
enty vessels  were  destroyed,  and  Mr.  Russell  enumer- 
ates only  thirty-four.  There  is  nothing  to  show  when 
Mr.  Russell's  list  was  written,  and  it  may  have  been 
a  good  many  years  after  the  conflagration. 

Capt.  Fansh awe's  report  says  prisoners  reported 
seventy  sail  of  vessels  destroyed. 

Another  fact  going  to  show  that  the  burning  was 
not  general  is  this,  that  in  1846  twenty-nine  houses 
were  standing  which  were  built  before  the  Revolu- 
tionary war  within  the  limits  of  what  comprised  the 
village  in  1778. 

A  careful  estimate  of  the  whole  loss  in  buildings 
and  wharves,  made  by  Judge  Pope,  places  it  at 
£11,241,  and  on  shipping,  merchandise,  etc.,  £85,739, 
making  a  total  of  £96,980,  or  $323,267.  Lieut.  Wil- 
liam Gordon,  of  the  provincial  artillery,  estimated  it 
at  $422,680. 

Personal  Sketches. — Elijah  Macomber  belonged 


to  the  garrison  of  the  fort,  and  was  twenty-one  years 
old  at  the  time.  He  served  as  private  from  March  to 
December,  1778.  He  formerly  belonged  in  Dart- 
mouth, but  the  last  part  of  his  life  was  spent  in  this 
town  and  Fairhaven.  He  died  at  the  residence  of  his 
son,  Lilley  Macomber,  about  two  miles  northwest  of 
Russell's  Mills,  Nov.  18,  1849.  He  was  an  illiterate 
man,  and  when  drawn  into  conversation  on  Revolu- 
tionary matters  he  became  much  excited  and  spoke 
in  a  rambling  manner.  It  was  impossible  to  obtain 
from  him  a  connected  account  of  the  invasion,  and 
his  statement,  which  was  written  by  Henry  H.  Crapo, 
must  have  been  the  fruit  of  many  conversations  at 
different  times.  Mrs.  Walter  D.  Swan  and  Mrs.  Ben- 
jamin Baker,  of  this  city,  are  his  only  surviving  chil- 
dren. 

John  Gilbert  was  fourteen  years  old  at  the  time 
of  the  raid.  His  parents  resided  in  Boston.  During 
the  latter  part  of  his  life  he  tended  the  wind-mill  on 
Mill  Street,  between  Hill  and  County,  and  lived  in  a 
small  house  east  of  building  southeast  corner  of  Pur- 
chase and  North  Streets.  Charles  Gilbert,  son  of 
John  Gilbert,  was  shot  dead  by  a  stupid  sentinel  be- 
longing to  a  Middleborough  company  when  the  town 
of  New  Bedford  was  garrisoned  in  1814.  Gilbert  was 
making  the  grand  rounds,  and  the  sentinel  fired  im- 
mediately after  the  first  challenge,  instead  of  waiting 
until  a  repeated  challenge  had  elicited  no  answer.  A 
daughter  of  John  Gilbert  is  now  living  in  the  alms- 
house. 

The  statements  of  Messrs.  Gilbert  and  Macomber 
were  written  in  1839,  and  were  never  printed  until 
now,  except  a  few  brief  extracts. 

Edward  Pope  was  a  judge  of  the  Court  of  Common 
Pleas,  or  perhaps  of  the  local  County  Court,  and  was 
the  first  collector  of  customs  at  this  port  under  the 
United  States  government.  William  G.  E.  Pope  is 
his  grandson.  He  lived  at  the  northeast  corner  of 
Union  and  Sixth  Streets,  in  a  house  now  standing  on 
Market  Street,  second  east  of  Sixth.  He  was  a  pris- 
oner in  the  hands  of  the  British  during  a  part  of  the 
memorable  night,  but  made  his  escape  before  morn- 
ing. 

Charles  Grinnell  was  a  cousin  of  Hon.  Joseph 
Grinnell.  His  mother  lived  in  1778  in  what  is  now 
the  Whitcomb  house.  Mr.  Grinnell  built  the  next 
house  west  on  Union  Street. 

Capt.  Lemuel  S.  Akin  lived  in  Fairhaven,  and  his 
account  of  the  ravages  of  the  British  in  that  town  was 
written  from  what  older  people  had  told  him. 

Israel  Fearing  belonged  in  Wareham. 

Isaac  Howland  came  from  Newport.  His  son  orig- 
inated the  house  of  I.  Howland,  Jr.,  &  Co.,  for  many 
years  the  leading  firm  in  New  Bedford  in  the  whaling 
business.  The  other  members  of  the  firm  were  Ed- 
ward M.  Robinson,  Sylvia  Ann  Howland,  and  Thomas 
Mandell.  Mr.  Robinson's  wife  and  Sylvia  Ann  How- 
land were  daughters  of  Gideon  Howland,  who  mar- 
ried a  daughter  of  Isaac  Howland,  Jr.    Isaac  Howland 


w 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


was  a  Tory,  had  been  in  the  slave  trade  from  Rhode 
Island,  and  brought  slaves  with  him  when  he  removed 
to  Bedford. 

Joseph  Rotch  came  from  Nantucket,  and  was  the 
founder  of  the  Rotch  family  of  New  Bedford.  His 
house,  which  was  burned,  stood  near  the  top  of  the 
hill  on  North  Water  Street,  The  house  of  Joseph 
Rotch,  Jr.,  was  south  of  it. 

Benjamin  Taber  was  a  boat-builder,  and  came  with 
Mr.  Rotch  from  Nantucket.  His  house  was  on  the 
north  side  of  Union  Street,  east  of  Water. 

John  Gerrish,  after  the  war,  kept  the  tavern  on  the 
east  side  of  Water  Street,  south  of  Commercial,  after- 
wards known  as  the  Cole  Tavern.  He  had  three 
daughters,  who  married  John  Alexander,  Capt.  David 
Leslie,  and  Preserved  Fish,  but  none  of  their  de- 
scendants are  now  here. 

W.  Claghorn's  house  was  on  the  west  side  of  South 
Water  Street,  near  Union.  He  belonged  to  the  same 
family  with  Capt.  George  Claghorn,  builder  of  frigate 
"Constitution."  George  Claghorn's  house  was  on 
the  east  side  of  Second  Street,  near  North,  and  was 
burned  in  the  great  fire  of  1859. 

Joseph  Russell  was  the  founder  of  Bedford  village, 
which  was  named  in  his  honor  by  Joseph  Rotch  in 
a  roundabout  complimentary  way.  The  family  name 
of  the  Dukes  of  Bedford  in  England  is  Russell,  and 
owing  to  this  circumstance  the  name  was  proposed, 
but  it  is  not  known  whether  the  New  Bedford  Russells 
are  of  the  same  family  or  not.  When  New  Bedford 
was  incorporated  as  a  town  in  1787  the  word  "  new" 
was  prefixed,  to  distinguish  it  from  Bedford  in  Mid- 
dlesex County.  Joseph  Russell  was  of  the  fifth  gen- 
eration from  Ralph  Russell,  the  original  settler  at 
Russell's  Mills.  His  candle-house,  which  was  burned, 
was  on  the  north  side  of  "  Centre  Street  Square."  It 
was  another  Joseph  Russell,  "of  Boston,"  whose 
house  was  burned.  The  house  was  on  the  east  side  of 
Water  Street,  where  Commercial  Street  is  now  open. 

Gilbert  Russell  was  a  son  of  Joseph,  and  father  of 
the  late  William  T.  Russell.  He  built  and  succes- 
sively occupied  the  houses  now  occupied  by  Dr.  Abbe 
and  S.  G.  Morgan. 

John  Lowden  was  a  calker  from  Pembroke,  and 
his  house  was  south  of  Claghorn's,  where  the  Hill 
house  now  stands.  It  was  the  first  house  built  in  the 
centre  of  the  village.  Mrs.  George  E.  Netcher  is  a 
granddaughter  of  John  Lowden,  and  Benjamin  F. 
Lowden,  formerly  a  photographer  in  this  city,  and 
who  was  drowned  in  steamer  "  Grace  Irving"  off  the 
Gurnet  in  1873,  was  his  great-grandson. 

Capt.  Timothy  Ingraham,  who  commanded  at  the 
fort,  was  grandfather  of  Robert  C.  and  Andrew  In- 
graham, and  of  the  late  Gen.  Timothy  Ingraham. 

Gen.  Grey's  Life  and  Character. —Gen.  Grey  was 
born  Oct.  23,  1729.  He  was  aide-de-camp  to  Prince 
Ferdinand  in  Germany  and  to  Wolfe  at  Quebec; 
appointed  lieutenant-colonel  June  27,  1761  ;  com- 
manded the  Ninety-eighth  Regiment  at  the  capture 


of  Belle  Isle  in  1763 ;  was  appointed  colonel  Dec.  20, 
1772,  and  accompanied  Howe  to  Boston  in  1775,  who 
gave  him  the  local  rank  of  major-general.  For  his 
important  services  in  the  Revolutionary  war  he  was 
made  a  lieutenant-general,  and  appointed  commander- 
in-chief  in  North  America  in  January,  1783.  He 
was  employed  in  Flanders  in  1793  ;  captured  Mar- 
tinique and  St.  Lucia  in  1794;  was  made  general  in 
1795;  was  raised  to  the  peerage  in  1801,  and  in  1806 
became  an  earl.  He  died  Nov.  14,  1807,  at  his  seat 
near  Alnwick,  Northumberland. 

At  one  o'clock  on  Sept.  21,  1777,  about  two  miles 
southwest  of  Paoli,  Pa.,  Gen.  Grey  surprised  Gen. 
Wayne  with  about  fifteen  hundred  men,  who  had 
been  detached  from  Washington's  army  after  the 
battle  of  the  Brandywine  to  annoy  the  British  rear 
and  attempt  to  cut  off  their  wagon-train.  His  orders 
then  were  to  rush  on  the  Americans  with  fixed  bay- 
onets without  firing  a  shot,  and  give  no  quarter. 
Wayne's  loss  was  one  hundred  and  fifty  killed  and 
wounded,  and  the  remainder  retreated  in  confusion 
toward  Chester. 

Oct.  4,  1777,  Gen.  Grey  commanded  a  large  portion 
of  the  left  wing  at  the  battle  of  Germantown. 

At  midnight,  Sept.  27,  1778,  he  surprised  a  regi- 
ment of  light-horse  under  Lieut.-Col.  Baylor,  en- 
camped in  barns  about  two  and  a  half  miles  south- 
west of  Tappan,  N.  Y.  They  were  sleeping  in 
unsoldierly  security,  and  when  captured  asked  for 
quarter,  which  was  inhumanly  refused  by  Grey,  who 
gave  special  orders  not  to  grant  it.  Many  of  the 
soldiers  were  bayoneted  in  cold  blood.  Out  of  one 
hundred  and  four  persons,  sixty-seven  were  killed  or 
wounded,  and  seventy  horses  were  foolishly  butch- 
ered. 

Gen.  Grey,  on  account  of  his  common  practice  of 
ordering  the  men  under  his  command  to  take  the 
flints  out  of  their  muskets  that  they  might  be  con- 
fined to  the  use  of  the  bayonet,  acquired  the  name  of 
the  '  no-Hint  general."  He  was  a  man  of  undoubted 
personal  courage. 

His  orders  issued  on  the  eve  of  the  attack  on  New 
Bedford  exhibit  his  contempt  for  the  Americans: 

"On  Board  the  '  Carysfort,' 
"Sept.  4,  1778. 
"  Major-Generdl  Grey's  Orders: 

"  When  the  enemy  are  so  posted  that  they  can  be  got  at,  the  major- 
general  commands  the  troops  that  are  ordered  to  attack  them  to  march 
vigorously  up  and  receive  their  fire  till  they  come  very  close,  and  upon 
every  proper  opportunity  they  are  to  rush  upon  the  enemy  with  their 
bayonets  immediately  after  they  have  thrown  in  their  fire,  without  wait- 
ing to  load  again,  in  which  method  of  attack  the  superior  courage  and 
strength  of  the  troops  must  always  be  crowned  with  glory  and  success. 
The  major-general  is  impressed  with  every  assurance  that  the  officers 
and  men  are  so  thoroughly  convinced  of  the  great  advantage  they  have 
over  the  enemy  in  this  mode  of  fighting,  and  their  great  zeal  for  the 
service,  that  the  present  expedition  cannot  fail  of  success  but  do  them 
honor,  and  answer  the  expectations  of  the  commander-in-chief,  whose 
opinion  of  these  troops  cannot  be  more  strongly  manifested  than  by 
sending  them  upon  this  essential  service.  In  case  of  bad  weather,  or 
other  accidents,  that  any  of  the  transports  should  be  separated  from  the 
fleet  and  fall  in  with  a  privateer,  so  as  to  make  an  escape  impossible, 
which  may  not  be  unlikely,  many  small  ones  being  lurking  about  upon 


NEW   BEDFORD. 


65 


the  watch,  the  major-general  desires  the  commanding  officer  of  each 
transport  would  oblige  the  captain  of  the  ship  to  hear  immediately  down 
upon  such  privateer,  running  him  directly  and  without  delay  on  board, 
the  troops  being  ready  at  the  critical  moment  to  enter  and  take  pos- 
session of  the  vessel.  This  being  properly  done  will  ever  succeed,  the 
enemy  not  being  aware  of  such  an  attack,  and  the  troops  so  superior  in 
every  respect  to  put  into  execution. 

"The  commanding  officers  are  to  be  answerable  that  no  houses  or 
barns  are  set  on  fire  by  the  soldiers,  unless  by  particular  orders  from 
Major-General  Grey." 

Earl  Grey's  son  and  successor  in  the  earldom  was  a 
distinguished  statesman  and  cabinet  officer,  and  won 
great  fame  by  carrying  through  the  parliamentary  re- 
form bill  in  1832.  The  present  and  third  earl  has 
also  been  in  the  cabinet. 

Additional  Facts  and  Incidents.— At  the  time  of 
the  invasion,  New  Bedford,  Fairhaven,  Acushnet, 
and  Westport  were  all  included  in  the  town  of  Dart- 
mouth. 

No  privateers  were  owned  at  Bedford  in  the  Revo- 
lution, but  the  port  was  the  rendezvous,  especially 
after  Newport  was  taken  by  the  British,  of  a  number 
belonging  in  Boston,  Rhode  Island,  and  Connecticut. 
Among  them  was  a  large  sloop  called  the  "  Broom," 
commanded  by  Capt.  Stephen  Cahoon,  of  Rhode 
Island,  and  carrying  twelve  guns ;  and  the  "  Black 
Snake,"  a  long,  low,  black  schooner,  owned  in  Con- 
necticut, and  mounting  eight  carriage-guns. 

Capt.  Hacker,  of  privateer  "  Providence,"  was 
afterward  a  Hell  Gate  pilot. 

Some  of  the  old  people  used  to  say  that  the  fleet 
moved  over  and  anchored  east  of  Egg  Islands  to  re- 
ceive the  troops  on  board,  where  no  square-rigged 
vessel  ever  went  before  or  since. 

The  ill-fated  John  Andre  was  an  officer  in  the  New 
Bedford  expedition. 

Russell,  Cook,  and  Traflbrd  were  buried  in  Dart- 
mouth on  the  farm  of  Jediah  Shearman.  The  prem- 
ises are  now  owned  by  the  heirs  of  Philip  Gidley. 

The  battle  of  Rhode  Island  was  just  one  week  pre- 
vious to  the  raid  at  Bedford,  and  this  accounts  for  the 
absence  of  so  large  a  portion  of  the  garrison  at  How- 
land's  Ferry,  now  known  as  the  Stone  Bridge,  at 
Tiverton. 

Mrs.  Doubleday's  house  was  the  building  now  oc- 
cupied as  a  paint-shop  and  restaurant,  9  and  13  North 
Water  Street. 

The  almshouse,  where  the  artillery  were  quartered, 
was  near  the  corner  of  Sixth  and  Spring  Streets. 

Morgan  Street,  mentioned  by  John  Gilbert  in  his 
statement,  is  now  called  Court  Street. 

Most  of  the  buildings  burned  in  Fairhaven  were  on 
Adams  Street,  east  of  Oxford  village,  and  on  Main 
Street,  north  of  the  junction  of  Adams  Street.  Among 
others  was  a  store  of  Obed  Nye,  grandfather  of  Thomas 
Nye,  Jr.,  of  this  city,  which  contained  a  large  amount 
5 


of  prize  merchandise.  It  was  on  the  farm  now  occu- 
pied by  Mr.  Nye's  son-in-law,  Mr.  Dana.  It  is  re- 
ported that  a  river  of  molasses  ran  from  the  store 
down  the  street  after  the  casks  were  consumed.  Mrs. 
Nye  took  her  children  and  fled  to  the  woods.  A 
house  belonging  to  a  West  family,  a  short  distance 
south  of  where  George  H.  Taber  now  lives,  was  one 
of  the  buildings  burned. 

The  house  of  Col.  Pope  was  on  the  place  recently 
occupied  by  the  late  Job  Sisson. 

The  old  John  Cooke  house,  one  of  the  oldest  build- 
ings then  standing  in  Fairhaven.  was  burned.  It 
stood  on  the  east  side  of  Adams  Street,  east  of  John 
M.  Howland's  residence. 

Stephen  Hathaway's  house,  mentioned  in  Capt. 
Akin's  collections,  is  now  standing  on  a  hill  east  of 
Main  Street,  a  short  distance  north  of  the  line  be- 
tween Acushnet  and  Fairhaven.  A  store  belonging 
to  Obed  Hathaway,  or  possibly  to  Micah  Hathaway, 
a  short  distance  south  of  this  house,  was  burned. 
Stephen  Hathaway  and  Bartholomew  Taber  were 
grandfathers  of  George  H.  Taber.  Bartholomew 
Taber's  house  was  on  the  spot  where  Josiah  Macy, 
Jr.,  now  lives.  The  school-house  burned  was  where 
George  H.  Taber's  house  now  stands. 

From  the  Head  of  the  River  to  Sconticut  Neck 
there  was  no  choice  of  routes.  Main  Street,  in  Fair- 
haven, had  no  existence  between  Spring  Street  and 
the  junction  of  Adams  Street  north  of  Oxford  vil- 
lage. The  pond  between  Bridge  and  Spring  Streets 
was  then  a  cove  open  to  the  harbor.  The  road  lead- 
ing from  the  Mattapoisett  road,  nearly  opposite  the 
Sconticut  road,  to  Main  Street,  near  the  Acushnet 
town  line,  is  also  a  more  recent  lay-out.  Conse- 
quently the  column  moved  southward  on  Main  Street 
and  Adams  Street  to  Spring  Street,  and  thence  east- 
ward to  the  Neck  road. 

The  house  of  John  Wood's  father,  on  the  spot 
where  Mr.  Wood  now  lives,  was  burned. 

The  farm  of  John  Alden,  mentioned  by  Capt. 
Akin,  is  now  occupied  by  Seth  Alden. 

The  house  of  John  West  was  standing,  until  re- 
cently, on  the  premises  now  owned  by  Boston  Col- 
lege. 

The  re-embarkation  took  place  from  the  farm  now 
owned  by  Daniel  W.  Dean. 

Besides  the  official  statement  of  Gen.  Grey,  there 
is  scarcely  anything  in  existence  of  a  documentary 
nature  written  at  the  time  of  the  hostile  visit  of  the 
British  referring  to  their  destructive  progress  through 
the  town,  and  the  foregoing  account  is  therefore  likely 
to  contain  many  unimportant  errors,  while  the  loca- 
tion of  some  of  the  buildings  destroyed  cannot  be 
fixed. 


66 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

NEW    BEDFORD.— {Continued.) 

THE  WHALE  FISHERY.! 

The  First  New  England  Whaling— Cape  Cod— Nantucket— New  Bedford 
iu  1740— Early  Settlers— The  "Teu-Acre  Purchase"— Bedford  Village 
—Growth  Checked  by  War  of  Revolution— Privateers— Close  of  the 
War— Returning  Prosperity— Edmund  Gardner— The  Ship  "  Rebecca" 
—Early  Voyages— The  Development  of  the  Business— Success- 
Highest  Point  reached  in  1857— Destruction  of  Whalers  by  Confeder- 
ate Cruisers— List  of  Vessels  Destroyed— The  Disaster  of  1871— The 
Whaling  Interest  in  1883. 

"Whaling.— The  history  of  the  New  England  whale 
fishery  is  so  interwoven  with  the  history  of  New  Bed- 
ford during  the  last  century  that  they  cannot  be  sep- 
arated, and  no  record  of  the  growth  and  business  of 
our  town  and  city  can  be  complete  without  it.  Our 
wealth,  our  population,  and  our  progress  have  been 
the  fruits  of  this  industry,  and  our  position  and  fame 
among  the  cities  of  the  world  is  due  to  its  successful 
prosecution. 

The  first  whaling  by  New  England  men  was  doubt- 
less done  by  the  inhabitants  of  Cape  Cod.  In  the  rec- 
ords of  Nantucket,  in  1690,  it  is  written,  "  One  Ichabod 
Paddock  came  from  Cape  Cod  to  instruct  the  people 
in  the  art  of  killing  whales."  In  Edward  Randolph's 
narrative,  written  for  the  Lords  of  Trade  in  October, 
1676,  in  describing  the  resources  of  the  colony  of 
New  Plymouth,  he  says,  "  And  here  is  made  a  good 
quantity  of  whale  oil,  which  fish  they  take  upon  the 
coasts."  The  business  was  then  carried  on  in  boats 
from  the  shore.  As  early  as  1715  we  find  the  people 
of  Nantucket  pursuing  the  whales  upon  the  ocean  in 
small  sloops  and  schooners,  making  voyages  of  a  few 
weeks'  duration,  and  bringing  the  blubber  home  and 
trying  out  the  oil  on  shore. 

In  1751  there  were  two  or  three  vessels  from  Ap- 
ponagansett  River  engaged  in  this  fishery.  These 
vessels  were  owned  by  John  Wady  and  Daniel 
Wood.  There  were  at  this  date  one  or  two  vessels 
in  this  business  from  the  Acushnet  River,  owned  by 
Joseph  and  Caleb  Russell.  Up  to  this  time  whales 
were  principally  taken  between  George's  Bank  and 
the  Capes  of  Virginia,  and  the  voyages  continued 
from  four  to  six  weeks.  Soon  after  the  whalemen 
extended  their  cruising-grounds  to  the  eastward  of 
the  Newfoundland  coast,  and  the  voyages  were  length- 
ened to  three  months. 

At  first  more  vessels  were  fitted  from  Apponagansett 
River  than  from  the  Acushnet,  but  soon  the  superior 
advantages  of  our  harbor  became  apparent,  and  the 
Apponagansett  vessels  were  fitted  here. 

Consider  for  a  moment  the  aspect  of  our  town 
when  these  two  or  three  little  sloops  were  fitting  for 
their  whaling  voyages.     The  present  site  of  the  city 

1  The  following  chapter  was  contributed  by  Hon.  William  W.  Crapo, 
being  a  portion  of  an  address  delivered  by  him  at  New  Bedford  July  4, 
1876,  and  is  an  invaluable  contribution  to  the  historic  literature  of  the 
State. 


was  a  forest.  There  was  a  "  try-house"  near  the 
shore  (at  the  foot  of  Centre  Street),  and  a  rough  cart- 
way led  through  the  woods  to  the  few  farm-houses  on 
the  County  road. 

The  Rev.  Paul  Coffin,  who  ten  years  later  (July 
21,  1761)  visited  the  place,  thus  describes  it  in  his 
journal:  "This  day  rode  to  Dartmouth,  a  spacious 
town.  Twenty  miles  will  carry  you  through  it. 
Rocks  and  oaks  are  over  the  whole  town.  Whortle 
bushes  and  rocks  in  this  and  the  two  former  towns  are 
the  sad  comfort  of  the  weary  traveler.  At  sunset  ar- 
rived at  Rev.  West's." 

In  17G0  there  commenced  an  immigration  to  this 
locality  which  indicated  that  its  future  was  to  be 
commercial  rather  than  agricultural.  In  this  year 
Joseph  Russell  sold  an  acre  of  land,  the  first  sale 
made  from  his  "  800-acre"  homestead  estate,  to  John 
Loudon.  The  spot  selected  was  a  few  rods  south  of 
Union  Street,  on  South  Water  Street,  and  on  it  a  house 
was  erected.  Mr.  Loudon  came  from  Pembroke.  He 
was  a  calker  by  trade,  and  his  purpose  in  coming  here 
was  to  engage  in  ship-building.  He  was  followed  by 
Benjamin  Taber,  who  purchased  a  lot  of  land  on  the 
north  of  the  present  Union  Street,  and  built  a  shop 
for  the  purpose  of  carrying  on  boat-building  and 
block-making,  which  trades  he  had  learned  at  Nan- 
tucket. The  same  year  John  Allen,  who  was  a  house- 
carpenter,  bought  a  lot  on  the  east  side  of  South 
Water  Street,  extending  to  the  river.  Upon  this  he 
built  a  house,  which  was  afterwards  sold  to  Barzillai 
Myrick,  a  ship-carpenter. 

The  next  year  (1762)  Gideon  Mosher,2  a  mechanic, 
bought  a  lot  on  the  north  side  of  Union  and  east  side 
of  North  Water,  and  erected  a  house  thereon.  The 
same  year  Elnathan  Sampson,  of  Wareham,  a  black- 
smith, purchased  the  lot  next  north  of  Loudon's. 
His  lot  was  bounded  on  the  "  north  and  east  on  land 
left  for  ways  or  streets."  These  are  now  known  as 
Union  and  Water  Streets.  His  north  line  was  eight 
rods  in  length,  and  his  east  line  four  rods,  and  the 
purchase  money  was  £6  13s.  id.  The  early  settle- 
ment was  at  the  Four  Corners,  as  it  was  known  and 
called  for  a  hundred  years.  This  was  the  centre  of 
the  young  town. 

I  have  been  somewhat  minute  in  this  description 
of  the  infant  settlement,  in  order  that  the  industrial 
character  of  the  pioneers  might  be  noticed.  The  men 
who  came  here  in  1760  to  build  up  a  town  were  me- 
chanics. Taber,  Allen,  Myrick,  Mosher,  and  Samp- 
son were  industrious  and  enterprising  mechanics,  and 
their  descendants,  inheriting  their  industry  and  enter- 
prise, have  been  and  are  among  our  worthiest  citizens. 
We  may  well  believe  that  the  earnestness  of  purpose 
and  the  devotion  to  their  trades  with  which  these 
young  mechanics  of  one  hundred  years  ago  sought  to 
improve  their  condition  affected  in  no  small  degree 


-  Mosher  took   no  deed  of  his  purchase. 
Joseph  Russell  directly  to  Benjamin  Taber. 


The  land  was  deeded  by 


NEW   BEDFORD. 


67 


the  character  of  our  local  institutions.  And  we  look 
back  with  satisfaction  to  the  intelligent  and  industri- 
ous character  of  the  skilled  and  honest  artisans  under 
whose  wise  influence  the  early  settlement  of  our  town 
was  made. 

But  there  was  one  thing  wanting  to  promote  the 
business  of  the  village.  Capital  was  needed.  Joseph 
Russell  had  means,  which  he  used  in  whaling  and 
freighting,  and  which  furnished  moderate  employ- 
ment to  the  villagers.  But  his  wealth  was  not  large, 
and  his  operations  were  necessarily  very  limited. 

The  required  capital,  so  necessary  for  the  activity 
and  growth  of  the  village,  came  in  1765,  when  Joseph 
Rotch,  an  enterprising  merchant  of  great  experience 
and  knowledge  in  mercantile  affairs,  selected  our  har- 
bor as  one  eligible  and  advantageous  for  the  prose- 
cution of  the  whale  fishery.  This  event  was  of  the 
utmost  importance,  and  this  acquisition  of  capital, 
accompanied  with  the  ripe  experience,  clear-headed 
sagacity,  and  skilled  methods  of  this  accomplished 
merchant,  gave  an  impetus  to  our  infant  industry 
which  insured  its  permanence  and  success. 

Mr.  Rotch  purchased  from  Joseph  Russell,  in  1765, 
ten  acres  of  land  in  one  tract,  besides  a  number  of 
smaller  lots  in  different  parts  of  the  town.  The  "ten- 
acre  purchase"  was  from  the  north  side  of  the  Russell 
farm,  and  next  to  the  estate  of  Manasseh  Kempton. 
It  commenced  on  the  shore  where  is  now  Hazzard's 
wharf,  and  its  north  line,  between  William  Street  and 
Elm  Street,  extended  nearly  to  Pleasant  Street  and 
Cheapside.  Its  south  line  was  bounded  by  the  pres- 
ent estate  of  Willard  Sears.  Its  river-front  extended 
from  Central  wharf  to  the  north  line  of  Hazzard's 
wharf. 

Up  to  this  time  the  village  had  no  distinctive 
name  ;l  it  was  simply  a  part  of  Dartmouth.  But  now 
its  increasing  importance  rendered  necessary  a  name 
by  which  the  locality  should  be  known.  At  the  sug- 
gestion of  Mr.  Rotch,  and  as  a  compliment  to  Mr. 
Russell,  although  somewhat  indirect,  the  village  was 
called  "Bedford."  About  this  time  there  were  other 
accessions  to  our  business  population.  John  How- 
land  had  moved  into  the  village  from  Apponagansett, 
and  Isaac  Howland  (the  senior  of  that  name)  had 
come  from  Newport,  bringing  with  him  considerable 
capital  and  business  enterprise.  The  latter  gentle- 
man resided  in  the  most  elegant  and  expensive  house 

1  That  part  of  Dartmouth  which  became  New  Bedford  was  known  as 
the  Acushena  country.  The  village  which  was  afterwards  known  as 
Cushnet  (the  name  is  spelled  in  half  a  dozen  different  ways  in  the  old 
records!  formed  one  of  the  three  territorial  divisons  of  Dartmouth,  and 
was  thus  recognized  for  all  the  purposes  of  municipal  arrangements 
and  taxation.  The  other  two  were  Ponagansett  (Dartmouth)  and  Coak- 
sett  (Westport). 

"Cushenag"  was  taxed  "for  the  publicke  charges  of  the  countrey,  as 
they  were  ordered  by  the  Court  for  this  yeare,  respecting  the  officers' 
wages  and  charge  of  the  magistrate's  table,  £1  10  0U."  This  was  the  terri- 
tory in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Acushnet  River.  "The  farmes  against 
Road  Hand"  were  also  taxed.  These  "  farmes"  were  upon  that  part  of 
the  territory  afterwards  called  Dartmouth  which  bordered  upon  the 
province  of  Rhode  Island. —  Old  Colony  Records,  1661. 


in  the  town.  It  was  built  of  brick,  the  first  of  that 
material  erected  here.  It  was  situated  on  Union 
Street,  and  was  torn  down  when  Cheapside  was  opened. 

The  little  village  of  Bedford  prospered.  Its  indus- 
tries were  successful,  its  population  rapidly  increased, 
and  its  merchants  added  largely  to  their  wealth.  The 
whaling  voyages  had  been  extended  and  new  grounds 
had  been  discovered.  During  the  ten  years  from 
1765  to  1775  the  whaling  fleet  had  increased  from  two 
or  three  vessels  to  fifty,  which  were  much  larger  and 
of  more  value.  The  vessels  sent  out  to  the  Falkland 
Islands  in  1774  were  fitted  and  owned  here.  It  was 
this  example  of  New  England  daring  and  enterprise 
which  inspired  Burke  in  the  House  of  Commons  to 
utter  that  eloquent  tribute  to  our  victorious  industry 
which  so  often  has  touched  the  pride  and  awakened 
the  enthusiasm  of  the  sons  of  New  Bedford  and  Nan- 
tucket. "  No  ocean,"  says  Burke,  "  but  what  is  vexed 
with  their  fisheries,  no  climate  that  is  not  witness  to 
their  toils.  Neither  the  perseverance  of  Holland, 
nor  the  activity  of  France,  nor  the  dexterous  and  firm 
sagacity  of  English  enterprise  ever  carried  this  peril- 
ous mode  of  hardy  enterprise  to  the  extent  to  which 
it  has  been  pushed  by  this  recent  people, — a  people 
who  are  still,  as  it  were,  in  the  gristle,  and  not  yet 
hardened  into  the  bone  of  manhood." 

The  war  of  the  Revolution  not  only  checked  this 
growth,  but  destroyed  almost  entirely  our  business. 
It  was  useless  to  send  vessels  to  sea  with  the  danger 
of  almost  certain  capture  ;  and  if  capture  were  avoided 
and  a  cargo  obtained,  with  no  market,  since  the  con- 
sumers in  Europe  could  not  be  reached.  No  town 
suffered  more  from  the  common  hazards  of  the  war, 
nor  by  direct  depreciations  of  the  enemy.  Joseph 
Rotch  returned  to  Nantucket  and  remained  there 
until  the  war  closed.  Joseph  Russell  lost  most  of 
his  property,  except  his  real  estate,  and  the  same  was 
true  of  the  other  merchants.  The  great  majority  of 
the  business  men  of  the  village  were  Quakers,  and 
could  not  conscientiously  engage  in  the  privateering 
adventures  which  otherwise,  as  a  seafaring  commu- 
nity, they  would  naturally  have  undertaken.  But 
the  advantages  of  our  harbor  were  recognized  during 
the  war,  and  it  was  found  to  be  a  convenient  port 
from  which  to  fit  out  privateers  and  a  safe  refuge  for 
their  prizes.  There  were  many,  too,  of  our  sailors 
and  citizens  who  were  quite  willing  to  engage  in  this 
hazardous  business,  prompted  both  by  its  rewards  and 
a  desire  to  cripple  the  commerce  of  the  enemy  which 
had  destroyed  their  peaceful  employments.  Before 
the  open  declaration  of  hostilities  between  the  two 
countries,  as  early  as  May,  1774,  exasperated  by  the 
capture  in  Buzzard's  Bay  of  three  vessels  belonging 
to  Sandwich  by  the  British  cruiser  "  Falcon,"  a 
schooner  had  been  fitted  out  of  this  harbor,  which 
recaptured  two  of  the  vessels  and  took  as  prisoners 
fifteen  British  officers  and  marines. 

Our  harbor  became  a  rendezvous  for  privateers, 
and   many  prizes  were  brought   here   and   valuable 


68 


HISTORY    OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


cargoes  landed,  either  to  be  stored  in  our  warehouses 
or  forwarded  into  the  interior. 

It  was  to  punish  the  people  of  the  town  for  their 
offenses  in  fitting  out  and  harboring  privateers,  and 
to  destroy  the  shipping  and  valuable  stores  which 
were  collected  here,  that  Maj.-Gen.  Grey,  under 
orders  from  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  made  the  raid  of 
Sept.  5  and  6, 1778,  which  destroyed  a  large  portion  of 
the  property  of  the  village  and  inflicted  a  blow  which 
crippled  it  for  years.  This  event,  which  is  the  most 
prominent  one  in  our  local  Revolutionary  history,  is 
faithfully  portrayed  in  Chapter  VIII.  in  this  work. 

But  at  last  the  war  was  ended.  When  the  news 
came  to  this  little  village  that  the  ship  "Bedford," 
Capt.  William  Mooers  master,  had  arrived  in  the 
Downs  on  the  23d  day  of  February,  1783,  the  very 
day  of  the  signing  of  the  preliminary  treaty  of  peace, 
and  had  straightway  proceeded  to  London  with  her 
cargo  of  five  hundred  and  eighty-seven  barrels  of  oil, 
displaying  there  for  the  first  time  the  United  States 
flag,  with  its  Stars  and  Stripes,  then  the  people  of  the 
village  believed  that  peace  with  its  blessings  had  come, 
and  they  were  ready  to  begin  again  the  work  of  re- 
building the  town.  This  ship  "  Bedford"  was  built 
by  Ichabod  Thomas  on  North  River,  Pembroke,  and 
delivered  to  Joseph  Rotch,  at  Bedford,  Jan.  13,  1772, 
as  appears  by  the  receipt,  which  is  still  extant.  She 
was  named  by  the  owner  for  his  adopted  town,  and 
sailed  from  this  harbor  before  the  war. 

It  was  a  remarkable  coincidence  that  the  war, 
which  had  been  precipitated  in  the  destruction  of 
the  tea  in  Boston  Harbor,  thrown  overboard  from  the 
"Dartmouth,"  a  ship  owned  by  Francis  Rotch,  of 
this  same  village,  and  built  in  1767  at  the  foot  of 
Middle  Street,  should  have  associated  with  its  close 
the  advent  in  English  waters  of  the  ship  "  Bedford" 
as  the  first  vessel  floating  the  American  flag  in  any 
British  port.  The  names  of  the  mother-town  and  of 
the  village  are  thus  made  memorable  in  our  Revolu- 
tionary history. 

Our  municipal  existence  as  a  separate  town  oc- 
curred in  1787,  when  both  New  Bedford  and  West- 
port  were  by  acts  of  incoporation  severed  from  the 
old  township  of  Dartmouth. 

To  show  how  carefully  our  fathers  protected,  even 
in  their  legislation,  the  feelings  of  the  minority  in 
matters  of  domicil  and  local  government,  let  us  quote 
a  sentence  from  the  act :  "  Provided,  nevertheless,  that 
any  of  the  inhabitants  now  dwelling  on  the  above-de- 
scribed lands,  who  are  or  may  be  still  desirous  of  be- 
longing to  the  town  of  Dartmouth,  shall  at  any  time 
within  two  years  from  the  passing  of  this  act,  by  re- 
turning their  names  into  the  secretary's  office  and 
signifying  their  desire  of  belonging  to  said  Dartmouth, 
have  that  privilege,  and  shall,  with  their  polls  and 
estates,  belong  to  and  be  a  part  of  the  said  town  of 
Dartmouth." 

New  Bedford  was  required  to  pay  all  its  arrears  of 
taxes  to  Dartmouth,  and  its  proportionate  part  of  the 


unpaid  beef  tax,  so  called,  together  with  its  propor- 
tion of  all  other  debts.  It  was  provided  that  the 
town's  stock  of  powder  and  other  town's  property 
should  be  estimated  and  divided,  and  that  New  Bed- 
ford should  pay  to  Dartmouth  for  the  workhouse 
standing  within  the  line  of  New  Bedford. 

The  population  of  New  Bedford,  according  to  the 
next  census  taken  in  1790,  was  three  thousand  three 
hundred  and  thirteen  ;  Dartmouth  had  two  thousand 
four  hundred  and  ninety-nine  ;  and  Westport,  two 
thousand  four  hundred  and  sixty-six. 

The  leading  business  men  of  this  period  were  Wil- 
liam Rotch,  Sr.,  the  wealthiest  man  of  the  town,  esti- 
mated to  be  worth  over  one  hundred  thousand  dol- 
lars, his  son  William  Rotch,  Jr.,  and  his  son-in-law, 
Samuel  Rodman.  Then  followed  the  various  mem- 
bers of  the  Russell  and  Howland  families,  Thomas 
Hazzard,  Jr.,  and  the  Hathaways,  who  were  all 
"  well  to  do."  There  were  others  without  the  pres- 
tige of  wealth,  but  yet  of  great  influence  in  the  town, 
such  as  Caleb  Congdon  and  Abraham  Smith,  and  not 
to  be  omitted,  the  Davis  family,  famous  for  its  Quaker 
preachers.  The  wealthy  people  were  models  of  in- 
dustry and  economy  ;  actuated  by  a  sense  of  duty, 
they  thought  it  necessary  to  show  an  example  of 
prudence,  diligence,  and  unostentation  to  others,  and 
their  influence  in  this  regard  was  of  the  greatest 
benefit  to  the  community.  Their  style  of  living  was 
plain  and  rational. 

In  1795  there  was  a  Congregational  meeting-house 
at  the  Head  of  the  River  and  another  in  the  Bedford 
village.  Dr.  West  officiated  at  each  on  alternate 
Sundays. 

At  this  time  there  was  one  doctor,  Ebenezer  Perry, 
the  son  of  a  physician,  and  called  a  "safe  doctor," 
who  charged  sixpence  a  visit.  There  was  only  one 
lawyer  in  the  village,  Thomas  Hammond,  rarely 
found  in  his  office,  and  concerning  whom  tradition 
says  that  shooting  and  fishing  were  his  favorite  pur- 
suits. There  was  one  schoolmaster,  Cornelius  Wing, 
and  one  schoolmistress,  Temperance  Jennings.  Mr. 
Wing  was  preceded  by  William  Sawyer  Wall,  of 
English  birth,  a  person  much  beloved,  and  who  ex- 
erted a  great  influence  in  the  community.  He  was 
first  and  foremost  in  the  educational  and  scientific 
efforts  of  that  day,  and  his  name  appears  as  the  first 
president  of  the  Dialectic  Society,  the  earliest  literary 
association  of  the  town,  and  which  did  much  for  its 
culture,  refinement,  and  scholarship. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  of  the  Revolution  our  people 
sought  to  regain  their  prosperity  and  commercial  im- 
portance. Although  crippled  in  resources  they  were 
not  disheartened,  but  sought  with  their  old  vigor  to 
re-establish  their  fortunes  by  their  former  pursuits 
upon  the  seas.  They  looked  to  the  broad  oceans, 
common  and  free  to  all  men  as  the  air  itself,  to  yield 
them  rich  harvests  as  they  had  in  the  past. 

But  there  were  other  difficulties  besides  the  replace- 
ment of  the  vessels  which  had  been  burned  bv  the 


NEW    BEDFORD. 


69 


British  or  had  rotted  in  disuse.  The  British  govern- 
ment, as  if  to  distress  us  even  after  peace,  imposed  a 
heavy  alien  duty  upon  oil,  which  rendered  it  impos- 
sible to  realize  a  profit  from  the  prosecution  of  the 
business.  Her  policy  was  to  force  this  industry  to 
her  own  harbors.  For  a  time  it  seemed  successful, 
and  many  Nantucket  and  New  Bedford  whalemen 
made  their  voyages  from  English  and  French  ports. 
But  the  persuasiveness  and  address  of  William  Rotch, 
Sr.,  secured  to  us,  first  from  France  and  then  from 
Great  Britain,  the  privilege  of  sending  our  oil  to  those 
countries  free  of  duty,  thereby  enabling  him — as  one 
of  his  biographers  has  said — to  carry  on  the  business 
with  the  highest  profit  and  to  benefit  his  neighbors. 

The  success  which  attended  the  efforts  of  our  citi- 
zens may  be  judged  by  the  statement  of  vessel  ton- 
nage owned  and  sailing  from  this  harbor  in  January, 
1804.  The  total  number  of  registered  vessels  was 
fifty-nine,  amounting  to  thirteen  thousand  six  hun- 
dred and  twenty-one  tons ;  and  of  enrolled  vessels 
there  were  five  thousand  five  hundred  and  twenty-five 
tons ;  making  an  aggregate  of  nineteen  thousand  one 
hundred  and  forty-six  tons.  The  freighting  business 
was  quite  important  at  that  time.  There  were  thirty 
ships  and  brigs,  averaging  two  hundred  tons  burden, 
owned  and  fitted  here,  employed  in  general  freighting, 
making  their  voyages  to  Europe,  South  America,  and 
the  West  Indies. 

But  the  work  of  developing  this  industry  of  the 
whale  fishery  during  the  early  years  of  the  nineteenth 
century  was  slow  and  difficult.  The  embargo  came 
and  ruined  many  of  our  merchants  ;  and  prior  to  that, 
in  1807,  in  consequence  of  the  Berlin  and  Milan  De- 
crees and  the  Orders  in  Council,  there  were  thirty 
ships  laid  up  in  New  Bedford  on  account  of  the 
hazards  attending  them  at  sea. 

There  was  no  marked  improvement  in  this  business 
until  after  the  close  of  the  war  of  1812.  The  politics 
of  the  inhabitants  of  New  Bedford  from  the  close  of 
the  Revolution  to  the  war  of  1812  was  Federalist,  and 
they  had  given  bitter,  decided,  and  partisan  expres- 
sion to  their  opinions  in  opposition  to  this  latter  war. 
This  may  perhaps  have  been  influenced  by  the  severe 
reverses  experienced  in  business.  Many  of  our  ships 
in  the  Pacific  were  captured ;  and  while  a  few  were 
recaptured  by  Porter  and  Downes,  most  of  them  were 
destroyed  or  used  as  transports  by  the  British. 

After  the  termination  of  this  war.  the  whale  fishery, 
especially  as  prosecuted  at  New  Bedford,  advanced 
with  great  rapidity  and  wonderful  success. 

But  before  proceeding  to  the  local  development  of 
this  industry,  I  desire  to  sketch  briefly,  in  chronolog- 
ical order,  the  seas  and  oceans  which  had  been  opened 
in  the  pursuit  of  whales.  As  early  as  1770,  Nantucket 
had  sought  the  "  right"  whale  off  Disco,  in  Green- 
land, going  as  high  as  81°  north  latitude.  In  1774, 
New  Bedford  had  sent  vessels  to  the  Falkland  Islands. 
In  1784  we  find  our  New  England  whalemen  taking 
seals  and  whales  around  Patagonia  and  in  the  Southern 


Ocean.  In  1789  they  are  about  Madagascar  and  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope.  In  1791  the  whaleships  entered 
the  Pacific  Ocean.  We  are  told  that  the  vessels  were 
small,  poorly  fitted,  and  insufficiently  prepared  for 
the  long  and  often  boisterous  passages  around  Cape 
Horn.  But  in  one  thing  they  excelled, — in  the 
character  of  the  men  who  engaged  in  these  perilous 
voyages.  History  cannot  point  to  an  enterprise  prose- 
cuted with  more  vigor  and  courage,  with  more  hardi- 
hood and  intelligence,  than  that  displayed  by  the 
pioneers  in  the  Pacific  whale  fishery.  I  cannot  for- 
bear mentioning  the  name  of  one  whom  you  all  re- 
member; for  his  genial,  courteous  manners,  his  kind 
and  obliging  heart,  his  clear  comprehension  and 
prompt  decision  endeared  him  to  us  who  knew  him  in 
his  old  age,  and  assured  us  that  the  commendation 
bestowed  upon  him  seventy  years  ago  for  "  his  pru- 
dence, courage,  and  fortitude"  were  richly  deserved. 
The  whale  fishery  has  produced  many  noble  men,  but 
none  more  praiseworthy  than  that  hero  and  veteran 
of  the  sea,  Edmund  Gardner. 

It  is  asserted  that  the  ship  "  Rebecca,"  of  New  Bed- 
ford, owned  by  Joseph  Russell  &  Sons  and  Cornelius 
Howland,  named  for  Joseph  Russell's  oldest  daugh- 
ter, the  grandmother  of  our  esteemed  fellow-citizen 
Daniel  Ricketson,  was  the  first  American  whaleship 
that  doubled  Cape  Horn.  She  sailed  from  this  port 
Sept.  28, 1791,  under  command  of  Joseph  Kersey,  and 
returned  with  a  full  cargo  of  sperm  oil,  obtained  on 
the  coast  of  Chili,  on  the  23d  February,  1793. 

In  1800  our  whalers  were  cruising  on  the  coast  of 
Peru  and  around  the  Gallapagos  Islands.  In  1818 
they  were  on  the  "  Off-shore  ground."  In  1820  they 
had  captured  whales  on  the  coast  of  Japan.  In  1836 
our  vessels  were  taking  oil  on  Kodiak,  the  northwest 
coast  of  America;  and  in  1848  the  bark  "Superior," 
of  Sag  Harbor,  Capt.  Roys,  passed  through  Behring 
Strait  and  opened  up  to  us  the  vast  wealth  of  the 
Arctic'  grounds. 

There  are  many  incidents  connected  with  the  earlier 
voyages  which  deserve  a  permanent  record,  and  the 
narrative  would  prove  an  entertaining  one.  I  will 
recall  one  or  two  of  the  "  good  voyages,"  as  they  were 
called,  of  forty  years  ago.  In  October,  1838,  the  ship 
"William  Hamilton,"  of  New  Bedford,  owned  by  I. 
Howland,  Jr.,  &  Co.,  commanded  by  William  Swain, 
brought  home  a  cargo  of  four  thousand  and  sixty 
barrels  of  sperm  oil ;  her  entire  catch  during  the 
voyage,  including  the  shipment  from  the  Western 
Islands  on  her  passage  out,  being  four  thousand  one 
hundred  and  eighty-one  barrels  of  sperm  oil. 

Capt.  Daniel  Wood,  remembered  by  many  in  this 
audience,  a  fine  specimen  of  our  whaling-masters, 
whose  clear  judgment  and  impartial  decisions  fitted 
him,  after  active  service  upon  the  ocean,  to  act  as 
port  warden  in  settlements  between  owners  and  under- 
writers, brought  to  New  Bedford  in  the  year  1833,  in 
the  old  ship  "  Braganza,"  nearly  four  thousand  bar- 
rels of  sperm  oil ;  and  George  B.  Worth,  another  of 


70 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


those  generous,  large-hearted  old  sailors,  brought  in 
the  "  Magnolia"  to  her  owners  three  thousand  four 
hundred  and  fifty-one  barrels.  But  in  those  days  of 
large  "  catch"  there  were  low  prices. 

In  the  prosecution  of  the  whale  fishery  New  Bed- 
ford has  surpassed  all  other  places  that  have  engaged 
in  the  business,  and  her  increase  in  wealth  from  this 
cause  was  rapid  and  large.  From  the  year  1820  until 
the  year  1857  her  prosperity  and  her  accumulation  of 
wealth  were  continuous  almost  without  exception. 

Space  will  not  permit  the  detail  of  figures  showing 
this  wonderful  increase  of  material  prosperity.  A 
few  must  serve  to  illustrate  our  progress, — 

On  the  1st  day  of  August,  1835,  our  tonnage  was....     73,9S2 
On  the  1st  day  of  August,  1845,  our  tonnage  was....  110,509 

At  this  last-named  date  New  Bedford  was  the  fourth 
tonnage  district  in  the  United  States, — New  York, 
Boston,  and  New  Orleans  alone  exceeding  it.  There 
was  more  than  double  the  amount  of  registered  ton- 
nage owned  in  New  Bedford  that  there  was  in  Phila- 
delphia. 

During  the  year  1844  there  were  brought  into  New 
Bedford, — 

Sperm  oil 54,309  barrels. 

Whale  oil 102,992      " 

157,501       " 
Whalebone 978,592  pounds, 

which  at  the  prices  of  that  time — low  as  compared 
with  the  present — yielded  a  total  value  for  the 
whaling  of  the  year  of  $3,063,324.15. 

About  this  time  our  people  thought  that  the  popu- 
lation, business,  and  commercial  importance  of  the 
town  entitled  it  to  receive  the  municipal  organization 
of  a  city,  and  New  Bedford  received  its  city  charter 
in  1847.  The  town  government  had  existed  sixty 
years.  The  population  had  increased  from  three 
thousand  to  fifteen  thousand.  Fairhaven,  which  had 
been  organized  as  a  separate  town  in  1812  from  the 
territory  of  New  Bedford,  had  at  this  date  a  popu- 
lation exceeding  four  thousand,  which  swelled  the 
aggregate  of  population  residing  upon  the  original 
territorial  limits  to  over  nineteen  thousand. 

The  whaling  industry  of  New  Bedford  reached  its 
highest  point,  in  capital,  in  vessels,  and  tonnage,  in 
1857.  Its  fleet  of  three  hundred  and  twenty-nine 
ships  and  whaling  outfits  was  worth  more  than  twelve 
million  of  dollars  and  required  ten  thousand  seamen. 

The  largest  importations  of  oil  and  bone  were  in 
1851  and  1853.  The  quantities  of  each,  with  the  prices 
realized  from  their  sale,  were  as  follows  : 

1851. 

99,591  barrels  sperm  oil,  at  $1.2714  per  gallon $3,991,980.75 

328,483  barrels  whale  oil,  at       .45*4  per  gallon 4,682,114.50 

3,966,500  pounds  whalebone, at      .341! 1,368,442.50 

$10,042,537.81 
1853. 

103,077  barrels  sperm  oil,  at  $1.24%  per  gallon $4,050,539.50 

260,114  barrels  whale  oil,  at      .bS%  per  gallon 4,702,524.77 

5,652,300  pounds  whalebone,  at      .34}^ 1,950,043.50 

$10,703,107.83 


I  have  mentioned  the  prominent  merchants  who 
were  identified  with  the  prosecution  of  the  whale 
fishery  in  its  earlier  years.  There  are  other  names 
which  should  not  be  omitted,  since  the  men  who  took 
the  places  of  the  pioneers  achieved  much  of  the  suc- 
cess. John  Avery  Parker,  George  Howland,  Isaac 
Howland,  Jr.,  Humphrey  Hathaway,  John  and  James 
Howland,  and  William  C.  Nye  were  men  of  great 
business  sagacity,  financial  skill,  painstaking  indus- 
try, and  unquestioned  integrity.  The  large  fortunes 
left  behind  by  many  of  them  show  how  fully  these 
qualities  had  been  exercised  and  how  abundantly 
rewarded.  From  1824  to  1830  there  were  new  count- 
ing-rooms opened,  representing  what  was  then  called 
the  "middling  interest,"  and, occupied  by  Abraham 
Barker,  David  R.  Greene,  Joseph  Bourne,  Alfred 
Gibbs,  and  others.  These  men  boldly  claimed  a  share 
of  the  whaling  business,  and  aided  materially  in 
making  its  progress  continuous  and  rapid.  We  have 
also  active  whaling  merchants  of  the  present  day, 
[><>s-essing  the  venturesome  business  enterprise  of 
their  predecessors. 

Two  events,  although  comparatively  recent,  must 
be  mentioned  in  order  to  render  complete  the  history 
of  our  fishery, — the  depredations  by  the  rebel  cruisers 
during  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  and  the  loss  of  our 
Arctic  fleet  in  1871. 

Early  in  our  civil  war  the  torch  of  the  rebel  cruisers 
carried  dismay  in  our  whaling  fleets.  In  the  summer 
of  1862  the  Confederate  steamer  "  Alabama,"  under 
command  of  Admiral  Semmes,  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
Azores,  burned  many  of  our  vessels,  and  during  the 
war  the  "  Florida"  and  "  Sumter"  added  to  the  de- 
struction. But  the  great  loss  occurred  in  June,  1865, 
when  the  "Shenandoah,"  having  recruited  at  Mel- 
bourne for  an  Arctic  cruise,  entered  into  Behring 
Strait.  Here  the  unsuspecting  whalemen,  pursuing 
their  vocation  amid  the  ice  and  fogs  of  that  frozen 
region,  were  suddenly  met  by  a  danger  which  they 
could  neither  resist  nor  avoid.  This  armed  steamer, 
the  "Shenandoah,"  Capt.  Waddell,  was  in  their 
midst,  and  the  work  of  destruction  was  rapid  and 
thorough.  Twenty-five  ships,  most  of  them  of  large 
size,  were  captured  and  burned,  besides  four  others 
captured  but  bonded  by  the  privateer  for  the  purpose 
of  furnishing  transportation  to  some  friendly  port  for 
the  eight  hundred  sailor  prisoners,  who  with  sad 
hearts,  fifteen  thousand  miles  from  home,  had  seen 
their  burning  ships,  with  the  products  of  their  toil 
and  danger  and  their  prospective  hopes  of  success, 
sinking  beneath  the  waves. 

Among  the  incidents  of  this  rebel  raid  should  be 
mentioned  the  praiseworthy  action  of  Capt.  Ebenezer 
Nye,  of  the  "  Abigail,"  after  the  loss  of  his  ship,  in 
saving,  as  far  as  possible,  the  fleet  from  destruction. 
The  "Milo"  had  been  captured  and  bonded,  and  had 
received  on  board  a  large  number  of  prisoners.  Dur- 
ing the  following  night  Capt.  Nye  organized  an  ex- 
pedition of  two  boats,  and  at  early  dawn  left  the 


NEW   BEDFORD. 


71 


"  Milo."  While  the  "  Shenandoah"  was  pursuing  her 
piratical  work,  these  brave  men,  following  along  the 
fields  of  ice,  pulled  north  in  their  open  boats  one 
hundred  and  eighty  miles,  and  there  found  a  number 
of  defenseless  whalers,  giving  them  the  information 
which  saved  them  from  capture.  It  was  a  gallant  act, 
prompted  by  the  humanity  and  executed  with  the  cool 
determination  of  the  hardy  sailors. 

Fifty  whaling  vessels  were  captured  by  the  rebel 
cruisers,  of  which  forty-six,  with  outfits  and  cargoes, 
were  burned.  Of  this  number  twenty-eight  sailed 
from  and  were  owned  in  New  Bedford.  The  loss  of 
ships  and  outfits  belonging  here  exceeded  one  milUon 
of  dollars,  and  of  oil  and  bone  on  board  four  hundred 
thousand  dollars. 

Following  is  a  list  of  whaling  vessels  destroyed  by 
the  "  Alabama"  and  other  rebel  cruisers  during  the 
Rebellion,  with  the  amount  of  oil  on  board.  All  ex- 
cept the  first  three  named  were  captured  by  vessels 
fitted  out  from  the  British  dominions. 


1861. 


Schooner  John  Adams,  Proviucetown") 
Schooner  Mermaid,  "  > 

Brig  Parana,  "  ) 


Sperm.  Whale. 
Bbls.     Bbls. 


215 


1862. 

Ship  Benjamin  Tucker,  New  Bedford 350 

Bark  Ebeu  Dodge,  "  clean 

Bark  Elislia  Dunbar,  "  " 

Ship  Levi  Starbuck,  "  " 

Bark  Virginia,  "  " 

Ship  Ocean  Rover,  Mattapoisett 710 

Schooner  Altamalia,  Sippican clean  

Ship  Ocmulgee,  Edgartown 250 

Schooner  Courser,  Provincetowu clean  

Schooner  Weather-Gage,  Provincetown "       

Bark  Alert,  New  London "       


50 


1310 


1863. 


Bark  Lafayette,  New  Bedford 170 

Bark  N.ve,                       "             350 

Schooner  Kingfisher,  Fairhaven 170 

Brig  Kate  Cory,  \\  estport 155 

Schooner  Rienzi,  Provincetowu 75 


920 


1864. 


Bark  Edward,  New  Bedford. 
Bark  Golconda,  " 


1037 


1037 


1865. 


30 


320 
275 


Bark  Abigail,  New  Bedford 

Ship  Brunswick,  New  Bedford 

Bai  k  Congress,  "  

Ship  Euphrates,  "  

Bark  Gypsey,  "  

Ship  Hector,  "  

Ship  Hillman,  "  

Ship  Isaac  llowlaml,  New  Bedford 160 

Bark   Isabella,  "  

Bark  J  ireh  Swift,  "  

Bark  .Martha  (2d),  "  

Ship  Nassau,  "  

Bark  Nimrod,  "  

Ship  Sophia  Thornton,        "  

Bark  Waverly,  "  

Ship  William  Thompson,  New  Bedford 

Bark  Favorite,  Fairhaven 

Bark  Covington,  Warren 

Bark  Catherine,  New  London 

Ship  General  Williams,  New  London 

Bark  Edward  Carey,  San  Francisco 275 

Brig  Susan  Abigail,  "  clean  

Bark  William  C.  Nye,        "  

Bark  Harvest,  Honolulu 300 

Bark  Peail,  '*         clean   

1710 


.clean 


50 


iillll 


50 


150 
10 


160 


100 
650 

750 


200 

360 

200 

50 

200 
480 
300 
400 
200 
100 
110 

400 
250 
200 
100 
200 
200 


150 


4100 


Sperm.  Whale. 


Bbls. 
25  New  Bedford  vessels 2742 

2  Fairhaven  vessels 470 

1   Mattapoisett  vessel 710 

1  Sippican  vessel clean  

1  Westport  vessel 155 

1  Edgartown  vessel 250 

6  Provincetowu  vessels 290 

1  Warren  vessel 

3  New  London  vessels 

3  San  Francisco  vessels 275 

2  Honolulu  vessels 300 


Bbls. 
4150 
210 
50 


100 
400 
150 


46  vessels 5192        5060 

But  the  most  memorable  of  all  the  disasters  which 
have  attended  this  perilous  business  was  that  of  Sep- 
tember, 1871,  when  in  a  single  day  thirty-three  ships 
were  abandoned  in  the  Arctic  Ocean,  hopelessly 
crushed  or  environed  in  the  ice.  This  large  fleet  of 
the  most  costly  ships  in  tlje  service,  caught  between 
the  jaws  of  the  ice  floes,  drifted  with  the  westerly 
gales  until  the  immense  fields  of  ice  reached  the 
shore,  when  they  were  crushed  like  egg-shells.  It 
was  a  sad  and  terrible  calamity,  not  merely  in  its  loss 
of  property,  but  more  in  the  hardship  and  suffering 
of  twelve  hundred  shipwrecked  men.  Hemmed  in' 
by  the  ice  which  lines  the  shores  of  a  barren  country, 
where  neither  food  nor  fuel  could  be  obtained,  these 
men  well  knew  that  if  driven  upon  the  beach,  ten  or 
eleven  dreary  winter  months  must  elapse  before  as- 
sistance could  reach  them,  and  that  in  the  long  inter- 
val death  would  come  to  most  of  them  by  starvation 
or  cold.  In  their  peril  an  expedition  of  three  boats 
was  fitted  out  under  command  of  Capt.  Frazier,  of 
the  "  Florida,"  to  go  south  over  the  ice,  and  if  possible 
find  vessels  in  the  open  sea.  The  written  appeal  for 
relief  which  these  shipwrecked  captains  sent  to  who- 
ever it  might  reach  was  full  of  touching,  pathetic 
eloquence.  It  was  the  appeal  of  brave  men  in  dis- 
tress to  brave  men  who  could  realize  the  fearful  peril. 

A  toilsome  and  anxious  journey  of  seventy  miles 
between  packs  of  ice  brought  the  little  expedition  to 
the  open  sea  south  of  Icy  Cape,  and  there  the  sight 
of  ships  gladdened  their  hearts.  It  needed  no  appeal 
for  succor,  no  promise  of  reward,  for  the  warm  hearts 
of  brother-sailors  were  ready  to  save  their  comrades, 
although  at  the  heavy  loss  of  an  abandonment  of  their 
own  voyages  and  the  earnings  of  a  year.  Capt.  Fra- 
zier returned  to  the  wrecks  off  Point  Belcher  with  the 
joyous  tidings  of  relief,  and  these  twelve  hundred 
men,  taking  with  them  in  boats  such  provisions  as 
they  could  carry,  made  their  way  over  and  through 
the  ice  fields  to  the  rescuing  vessels  without  the  loss 
of  one  of  their  number. 

Of  the  thirty-three  vessels  crushed  or  abandoned, 
twenty-two  belonged  in  New  Bedford,  and  were  val- 
ued, with  outfits,  without  the  oil  and  bone  on  board, 
at  one  million  and  ninety  thousand  dollars. 

Whaling  reached  its  culminating  point  in  1856  or 
1857.  Since  then  it  has  declined,  and  now  our  fleet 
numbers  only  about  one-third  of  the  vessels  it  once 
did.  There  have  been  disasters  in  connection  with 
this  pursuit,  The  captures  by  the  English  in  the  war 
of  1812,  the  captures  by  rebel  cruisers,  and  the  loss 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


of  the  Arctic  fleet  were  heavy  blows.  Natural  causes, 
which  need  not  be  mentioned,  have  led  to  its  depres- 
sion, almost  to  its  downfall.  But  the  historical  fact 
which  interests  us  is  that  New  Bedford  has  been  built 
up  by  the  whale  fishery.  A  large  share  of  the  wealth 
of  to-day  comes  from  this  source.  It  has  made  our 
community  what  it  is. 

This  large  accumulation  of  wealth  has  been  obtained 
by  the  well-directed  enterprise  and  persevering  in- 
dustry of  the  people  of  New  Bedford,  and  belongs  to 
the  people  of  New  Bedford.  The  capital  of  non-resi- 
dents has  not  aided  us.  It  has  been  drawn  from  the 
broad  fields  of  the  ocean  with  much  toil  and  manifold 
dangers,  with  perils  from  the  ice  and  fogs  and  storms 
of  frozen  regions,  and  exposure  and  disease  under  the 


hot  burning  sun  of  the  equator.  It  has  been  a  cre- 
ation of  wealth  by  the  skill  of  the  merchant  and  the 
hardy  daring  of  the  sailor,  and  not  a  mere  exchange 
of  wealth.  Without  surveys  of  the  seas  and  bays 
which  it  made  its  cruising-grounds, — for  our  brave  sea- 
men went  in  advance  of  exploration, — without  boun- 
ties, without  aid  from  government,  but  contributing 
largely  to  it  in  its  consumption  of  dutiable  articles, 
and  overcoming  European  competition,  the  people  of 
New  Bedford  obtained  the  control  of  the  whale  fish- 
ery, and  made  their  city  the  great  whale-oil  market 
of  the  world.  Few  parallels  can  be  found  in  this  or 
any  country  of  such  successful  enterprise. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  vessels  from  New  Bedford 
in  the  whaling  fishery  in  1882: 


Vessel's  Name. 


A.  R.  Tucker,  bark 

Abm.  Barker,  bark 

Abbie  Bradford,  schooner 

Adelia  Chase,  schooner 

Adeline  Gibbs,  bark 

Alice  Knowles,  bark 

Alaska,  bark 

Andrew  Hicks,  bark 

Arnolda,  bark 

Atlantic,  bark 

Attleboru',  bark 

Bart  Gosnold,  bark 

Belvedere,  steamer 

Bertha,  bark 

Caleb  Eaton,  schooner 

California 

Canton,  bark 

Cape  Horn  Pigeon,  bark 

Charles  W.  Morgan,  bark 

Charles  W.  Morse,  schooner. 

Cicero,  bark 

Com.  Morris,  bark 

Desdemona,  bark 

E.  B.  Con  well,  schooner 

Ellen  Rodman,  schooner 

E.  B.  Phillips,  bark 

Eliza,  bark 

Eliza  Adams 

E.  H.  Adams,  brig 

Europa,  lark 

Falcon,  bark  

Fannie  Byrnes,  schooner 

Fleetwing,  bark 

Francis  A.  Barstow,  brig 

Franklin,  schooner 

Gay  Head,  bark 

Gazelle,  bark 

George  and  Mary,  hark 

George  and  Susan,  bark 

Golden  City,  schooner 

Greyhound,  bark 

Helen  Mar,  bark 

Hercules,  hark 

Hope  On,  bark 

Horatio 

Hunter,  hark 

Isabella,  brig 

J.  A.  Howland,  bark 

James  Allen,  bark 

James  Arnold 

Jireh  Perry ... 

John  Carver,  bark 

John  Dawson,  bark 

John  Howland,  bark 

John  P.  West,  bark 

John  and  Wiuthrop,  bark.... 

Josephine,  bark 

Kathleen,  bark 

Lagoda,  bark 

Lancer,  bark 

Lottie  E.  Cook,  schooner 

Louisa,  bark 

Lucretia,  steamer 

Lydia.  bark 

Mabel,  bark 

Mars,  bark 

Mary  and  Helen,  steamer.... 

Mary  and  Susan,  bark 

Mattapoisett,  bark 

M.  E.  Simmons,  schooner 


Tonnage. 


145 
380 
115 
85 
327 
302 
347 
303 
340 
291 
179 
365 
440 
177 
110 
367 
239 
212 
314 
112 
226 
338 
236 
91 
73 
155 
296 
408 
107 
323 
285 
66 
328 
128 
77 
265 
273 
105 
343 
85 
178 
324 
311 
173 
349 
355 
132 
355 
348 
346 
316 
319 
173 
384 
353 
;;:ls 
385 
206 
371 
295 
82 
303 
312 
329 
188 
256 
508 
327 
110 
105 


Master. 


Agent's  Name. 


Gifford Joseph  &  William  R.  Wing.. 

Smith Joseph  &  William  R.  Wing.. 

Dyer Jonathan  Bourne 

Loum  Snow  &  Son 

Reed Jonathan  Bourne 

Foster John  P.  Enowles  (2d) 

Fisher Jonathan  Bourne 

Hicks Andrew  Hicks 

Jones Loum  Snow  &  Son 

Mitchell Joseph  &  William  R.  Wing.. 

Lavers William  Lewis 

Poole John  F.  Tucker  &  Co 

A  .lams William  Lewis 

Gilford John  F.  Tucker  &  Co 

Gifford Charles  C.  Pierce 

Brightman John  F.  Tucker  &  Co 

Sherman John  F.  Tucker  .V  Co 

Kelley William  Potter  (2d) 

Keith Joseph  &  William  R.  Wing.. 

Rose John  McCul  lough 

John   P.  Knowles  (2d) 

Wmslow Aiken  &  Swift 

Davis Aiken  &  Swift 

Costa Henry  Clay  &  Co 

Gifford Doane  &Co 

Francis John  McCul  lough 

Murray Jonathan  lion i  ne 

Howland Taber,  Gordon  &  Co 

Allen William  Lewis 

Baker Aiken  .V  Swift 

Thomas  Knowles  &  Co 

Silva Joseph  Olivera 

Heppingstone Joseph  &  William  R.  Wing.. 

Reed Philip  H.  Reed 

Avery Henry  Clay  A  Co 

Crapo lohn  P.  Knowles  (2d) 

Ludlow Swilt  &  Allen 

Sherman Jonathan  Bourne 

Knowles Aiken  A  Swilt 

Frates '   Henry  Clay  &  Co 

Allen !   Abbott  P.  Smith 

Bauldry Swift  &  Allen 

Mclnnis Aiken  &  Switt 

Borden Gilbert  B.  Borden 

Morse Taber,  Gordon  A  Co 

Barnes Jonathan  Bourne 

Blossom William  Lewis 

Penniman Aiker.  &  Swift 

Lake Gilbert  Allen 

Chase Taber,  Gordon  &  Co 

Chase Aiken  &  Swift 

Smith Thomas  Knowles  &  Co 

Warren Joseph  &  William  R.  Wing.. 

Green Ivory  H.  Bartlett  &  Sous 

Smith Simeon  N.  West 

Shiverick John  P.  Knowles  (2d) 

Long Aiken  &  Swift 

Howland Joseph  &  William  R.  Wing- 
Lewis Jonathan  Bourne 

Lewis ]  William  Lewis 

Vera Joseph  Vera 

Koon Ivory  II.  Bartlett*  Sous 


Mellen 

Frazier 

Kelley 


Smith 

Barker ... 
Slickney. 
Mandly.. 


William  Lewis 

William  Baylies 

William  Lewis 

Charles  C.  Pierce 

William  Lewis   

Ivory  H.  Bartlett  &  Sons.. 

Abbott  P.  Smith 

Loum  Snow  &  Son 


Date  of  Sailing. 


April  13,  1880. 
Oct.  26,  1875. 
June  15,  1882. 
In  port. 
Dec.  15,  1880. 
June  10,  1879. 
Sept.  14,  1880. 
Oct.  25,  1881. 
May  3,  1881. 
Nov.  2,  1880. 
Oct.  26,  1880. 
April  23,  1881. 
Aug.  17,  1880. 
Aug.  22,  1882. 
Nov.  1,  1879. 
May  20, 1881. 
Sept.  12,  1878. 
Aug.  24,  1880. 
July  13,  1881. 
Oct.  22,  1881. 
In  port. 
April  5,  1881. 
May  30,  1882. 
Nov.  12,  1880. 
June  8,  1881. 
May  24,  1881. 
May  28,  1874. 
Sept.  17,  1879. 
Sept.  28,  1880. 
April  7,  1880. 
In  port. 
April  24,  1882. 
Nov.  B,  1877. 
April  20,  1881. 
June  19,  1882. 
Dec.  6.  1881. 
May  11,  1880. 
May  20,  1881. 
Oct.  25,  1881. 
Oct.  13,  1881. 
May  14,1879. 
Julv  6,1876. 
Oct.  14,  1879. 
Oct.  19,  1881. 
Oct.  25,  1881. 
Sept  20,  1875. 
.lone  13,1882. 
Sept.  14,  1881. 
Sept.  7.  1881. 
Oct.  8,  1878. 
Sept  1,1879. 
May  18,  1880. 
June  12,  1879. 
Dec.  20,  1877. 
May  24,  1882. 
April  19,  1881. 
Oct.  7,  1880. 
Mav  5,  1880. 
April  11,  1882. 
June  20,1882. 
Mav  25,  1882. 
Sept.  29,  1881. 
Dec.  17.1881. 
Nov.  23,  1880. 
Sept.  13,  1881. 
In  port. 
Aug.  15,  1882. 
Oct.  <:,  1881. 
Oct.  26,  1881. 
Oct.  17,  1881. 


NEW    BEDFORD. 


73 


Vessel's  Name. 


Tonnage. 


Merlin,  bark 240 

Mermaid,  bark 273 

Milton :57i 

Minerva,  bark  :W7 

Morning  Star,  bark 238 

Napoleon,  bark 322 

Niger 412 

Northern  Light, bark 385 

North  Star,  steamer 489 

Ocean,  bark 2SK 

Ohio,  bark 205 

Ohio  (2d),  bark ::(.:; 

Osprey,  bark 173 

Palmetto,  bark 215 

Pedro  Varcla,  schooner 90 

Petrel,  bark I  257 

Pioneer,  bark I  228 

Platina,  bark i  214 

President  (2d),  bark 123 

Progress,  bark 358 

Rainbow,  bark SM 

Reindeer,  bark 357 

Rousseau,  bark 305 

Sea  Fox,  bark 166 

Sea  Ranger,  bark 273 

Seine,  bark 234 

Stafford,  bark 15G 

Stamboul,  bark 260 

Sunbeam,  bark 255 

Surprise,  schooner 53 

Swallow,  bark 320 

Tamerlane,  bark  372 

Triton,  bark 204 

Tropic  Bird,  bark 145 

Union,  schooner 60 

Yarnnm  H.  Hill,  brig 120 

Wanderer,  bark 303 

Wave,  bark 150 

William  Wilson,  schooner 92 

Young  Phoenix 355 


Master. 


Agent's  Name. 


Date  of  Sailing. 


Allen John  F.  Tucker  &  Co Nov.  17, 1881. 

Allen Andrew  Hicks June  1,  1880. 

Potter Taber,  Gordon  &  Co Oct.  6,  1880. 

Thompson lohn  McCuIlough Feb.  14, 1881. 

Joshua  C.  Hitch In  port. 

lonathan  Bourne.. In  port. 

Taber,  Gordon  &  Co I   In  port. 

Campbell lonathan  Bourne '  Sept.  22, 1880. 

Owen William  Lewis Aug.  2,  1881. 

May  22,  1879. 

Nov.  1,1881. 

Dec.  13,  1881. 

May  4,  1880. 


Lewis Ivory  H.  Barllett  &  Sons 

Benten Loum  Snow  &  Son 

Ellis Aiken  &  Swift 

Herrick Swift  &  Allen 

Tripp. John  F.  Tucker  &  Co ;  Juue  3,  1880. 

lficketson '  Gilbert  Allen, \  April  6,  1881. 

Claghorn Thomas  KnowleB  &  Co Oct.  19,  1880. 

I  hase Gilbert  Allen Aug.  17,  1880. 

Gilbert John  F.  Tucker  &  Co Aug.  31,  1882. 

Tripp Loum  Snow  &  Son j  July  18,  1881. 

Ivory  II    Bartlett  &  Sons I  In  port. 

Cogan Ivory  H.  Bartlett  &  Sons w Jan.  21,  1875. 

Baker Aiken  &  Swift April  12,1881. 

Wicka j  Aiken  &  Swift ....j  June  6,  1882. 

Gifford John  P.  Knowles  (2d) June  27,  1S82. 

Holmes Ivory  H.  Bartlett  &  Sous June  4,  1879. 

Maconiber John  P.  Knowles  (2d) i  July  22,  1880. 

King Joseph  &  William  R.  Wing I  Sept.  3,  1879. 

Keenan j  Joshua  C.  Hitch Nov.  12, 1881. 

Moulton '  Joseph  &  William  R.  Wing July  25,  1882. 

< irapo 

Sherman 


Chibls... 
Stanton. 
Foster... 
Silva.... 
McLaue 


Robert  G.  Churchill June  7,  1881. 

Aiken  &  Swift Oct.  15.  1S7S. 

Ivory  H.  Bartlett  &  Sons '  In  port. 

Joseph  &  William  R.  Wing Mav  3,  1882. 

Stanton  &  Hamhlin Sept.  29,  1881. 

Heurv  Clay  &  Co Jan.  30,  1882. 

John  McCuIlough '  Sept.  29,  1880. 

John  P.  Knowles  (2d) Aug.  29,  1882. 

Thomas  Knowles  &  Co In  port. 

William  N.  Church  In  port. 

Lapham [  Ivory  H.  Barlett  &  Sons Dec.  6, 1881. 


There  are  now  but  about  fifteen  hundred  barrels  of 
crude  Southern  whale-oil  in  the  country,  the  only 
holders  being  J.  &  W.  R.  Wing,  I.  H.  Bartlett  & 
Sons,  and  Taber,  Gordon  &  Co.,  all  of  New  Bedford, 
besides  one  small  lot  in  Provincetown.  This  is  used 
to  a  considerable  extent  for  oiling  stock  in  cordage- 
works.  Northern  whale-oil  is  almost  as  scarce,  the 
holders  being  J.  &  W.  R.  Wing,  Jonathan  Bourne, 
aud  Swift  &  Allen,  of  New  Bedford,  and  Hernan 
Smith,  of  Boston,  with  a  total  of  about  two  thousand 
eight  hundred  barrels.  Mr.  Smith's  oil,  some  two 
hundred  and  fifty  barrels,  has  been  on  hand  about  ten 
vears. 


CHAPTER    X. 

NEW    BEDFORD.— (Continued.) 

ECCLESIASTICAL   HISTORY. 

First  Congregational  Society,  Unitarian  Church — The  North  Congrega- 
tional Church — The  Trinitarian  Church — First  Baptist  Church — The 
North  Baptist  Church — The  Second  Baptist  Church — Salem  Baptist — 
County  Street  Methodist  Episcopal  Church— The  Front  Street  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church — Allen  Street  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  — 
Pleasant  Street  Methodist  Episcopal  Church — African  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Zion — African  Methodist  Episcopal  Bethel — Grace  Church — St. 
James'  Church — North  Christian  Church — Middle  Street  Christian 
Church — South  Christian  Church — Christian  Union  Church — Spruce 
Street  Christian — The  Universalist  Church — Society  of  Friends — Sea- 
men's Bethel — Roman  Catholic  Churches — Portuguese  Church — How- 
land  Chapel — Second  Advent  Church — Union  Church,  Plainville — 
Olivet  Chapel — Rockdale  Union  Free  Chapel  Association— Missionary 
Chapel — Extinct  Churches:  Pacific  Church,  Third  Christian,  Can- 
nonville  Union  Church,  Mount  Pleasant  Church. 

First  Congregational  Society  (Unitarian).— The 
village  at  the  Head  of  the  River,  now  called  Acushnet, 


antedates  New  Bedford  by  half  a  century.  As  it  was 
in  early  times  the  centre  of  population  and  business, 
religious  services  were  first  held  there,  and  as  New 
Bedford  became  settled  its  residents  were  in  the  habit 
of  going  up  to  the  Head  of  the  River  to  attend  wor- 
ship. But  in  the  course  of  time,  owing  to  the  greater 
increase  of  population  in  New  Bedford,  it  became 
necessary  to  organize  a  precinct  in  connection  with 
the  church  at  Acushnet.  We  find  by  the  records  of 
the  First  Congregational  Society  that  the  first  meet- 
ing held  in  relation  to  the  formation  of  the  precinct 
was  Jan.  31,  1795,  at  the  North  Purchase  Street  school- 
house.  The  officers  chosen  at  that  meeting  were  Jireh 
Willis,  moderator;  John  Spooner,  clerk;  Edward 
Pope,  treasurer.  It  was  voted  to  build  a  house  for 
public  worship,  in  forty  shares,  each  shareholder  sub- 
scribing six  pounds,  to  be  paid  in  cash,  labor,  or  ma- 
terials. Capt.  Gamaliel  Bryant  was  chosen  superin- 
tendent of  its  construction.  The  records  state  that 
the  first  lot  selected  for  the  location  of  the  church  was 
"a  quarter  of  an  acre  of  land  lying  north  of  Joseph 
Russell's  orchard,  and  west  of  County  road,"  pre- 
sented by  Ephraim  Kempton,  Sr.,  which  is  now  occu- 
pied by  the  County  Street  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  It  was  their  determination  to  build  on  this 
spot,  and  several  persons  were  buried  here,  the  de- 
sign being  to  set  apart  a  portion  of  the  grounds  as  a 
burial-place.  But  at  a  meeting  of  the  proprietors 
held  the  following  May  it  was  contended  that  it  was 
distant  too  far  from  the  village,  and  this  vote  was 
annulled,  and  it  was  decided  to  accept  alotoffered  by 
William  Rotch,  where  Liberty  Hall  now  stands.     The 


74 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


church  was  commenced  and  built  during  the  years 
1795-97,  by  Manasseh  Kempton,  Jr.,  and  Eastland 
Babcnck.  Meetings  were,  however,  held  in  the  church 
previous  to  its  completion. 

A  bell  was  purchased  Feb.  18,  1796  (the  one  for- 
merly in  use  in  the  tower  of  the  old  Liberty  Hall),  of 
Capt.  Silas  Jones,  of  Nantucket,  by  subscription,  at  a 
cost  of  two  hundred  and  fifty-five  dollars.  The  list 
was  headed  by  Thomas  Pope,  who  gave  ten  dollars. 
The  next  largest  sum  was  six  dollars,  and  was  given 
by  a  colored  man  named  Aaron  Chikls.  The  bell 
was  distinguished  for  clearness  of  tone  and  the  long 
distance  for  which  it  could  be  heard.  In  November, 
1854,  Liberty  Hall  was  destroyed  by  fire.  The  remains 
of  the  bell  were  collected,  and  several  citizens  had 
tea-bells  and  various  ornaments  made,  and  these  are 
the  only  relics  of  this  old  bell. 

The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  Dr.  West,  who  commenced 
his  ministrations  with  the  society  at  the  building  of 
the  church.  He  afterwards  received  his  dismission  on 
account  of  ill  health.  After  Dr.  West's  withdrawal, 
Rev.  Messrs.  Christy,  Holt,  and  Robinson  received 
calls  to  officiate  as  pastors,  but  whether  they  accepted 
or  not  the  records  do  not  state. 

In  1807  a  church,  called  the  Third  Church,  was 
organized  in  connection  with  the  precinct,  which  con- 
tinued until  1810,  when  the  society,  or  parish  com- 
mittee, as  it  is  termed,  presented  Rev.  Ephraim  Ran- 
dall to  the  church  as  a  candidate  for  the  pastorship. 
The  church  refused  to  elect  him,  and  the  society  per- 
sisting in  their  determination  to  employ  him,  the 
great  majority  of  the  church  voted  to  assemble  in  an- 
other place  of  worship,  which  they  accordingly  did, 
and  their  subsequent  history  will  be  found  under  the 
head  of  the  North  Congregational  Church. 

The  society,  with  four  members  of  the  church  who 
remained  with  them  and  organized  a  new  church, 
having  strengthened  their  position  by  a  decision  from 
ecclesiastical  authorities  that  they  were  justified  in 
insisting  upon  the  election  of  whoever  they  chose  to 
present  to  the  church  as  candidates  for  the  pastor- 
ship, proceeded  to  install  Rev.  Ephraim  Randall,  who 
preached  to  them  several  years.  After  him,  Rev. 
Messrs.  Channing,  Kibbey,  and  John  Brewer  were 
settled  over  the  society.  The  latter  was  for  some  time 
preceptor  of  the  Friends'  Academy. 

Sept.  17,  1816,  the  society  gave  Rev.  Jonathan 
Whitaker  a  call,  which  was  accepted,  and  he  preached 
to  the  society  until  Nov.  24,  1823,  with  great  accept- 
ance. At  that  date  an  invitation  was  extended  to 
Rev.  Orville  Dewey,  which  he  accepted. 

This  distinguished  clergyman  was  born  at  Sheffield, 
Mass.,  March  28,  1794.  He  graduated  at  Williams 
College  in  1814,  and  was  afterwards  a  student  of  An- 
dover  Theological  Seminary,  from  1816  to  1819.  On 
leaving  Andover  he  preached  for  several  years  as  the 
agent  of  the  American  Educational  Society,  but  de- 
clined any  permanent  settlement  on  account  of  his 
indefinite  opinions  in  theology  ;  subsequently  he  ac- 


cepted a  temporary  call  to  Gloucester,  at  the  same 
time  candidly  stating  his  unsettled  views.  Here  he 
became  a  Unitarian,  and  was  shortly  after  engaged 
as  the  assistant  of  Dr.  Channing,  in  whose  pulpit  he 
preached  two  years.  His  next  charge  was  this  so- 
ciety, over  which  he  was  ordained  Dec.  17,  1823. 

Dec.  5,  1833,  being  in  ill  health,  he  was  granted 
leave  of  absence  for  a  tour  through  Europe,  his  sal- 
ary being  continued.  Ralph  Waldo  Emerson  sup- 
plied the  pulpit  the  principal  portion  of  the  time 
during  his  absence. 

In  June,  1834,  Mr.  Dewey  received  a  call  from  the 
Church  of  the  Messiah  in  New  York,  and  asked  his 
dismission,  which  was  granted,  and  his  salary  paid  by 
the  society  up  to  December  ensuing.  Mr.  Dewey 
was  extremely  popular  with  the  society,  and  his  with- 
drawal was  a  matter  of  deep  regret. 

The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  Mr.  Angier,  who  was  or- 
dained May  20,  1835.  The  sermon  on  the  occasion 
was  by  Dr.  Dewey,  and  the  introductory  prayer  by 
Rev.  Mr.  Morgridge.  Mr.  Angier  asked  for  his  dis- 
mission April  8,  1837,  but  the  society  voted  unani- 
mously not  to  grant  it.  A  second  request  being 
made,  it  was  granted. 

The  structure  now  occupied  by  the  society,  on 
Union  Street,  was  erected  during  the  year  1836-38, 
and  dedicated  May  24,  1838,  on  which  occasion  Rev. 
Messrs.  Ephraim  Peabody  and  J.  H.  Morison  were 
installed  as  pastors.  Mr.  Morison  continued  with 
the  society  until  Oct.  6,  1844. 

Rev.  Ephraim  Peabody  was  born  at  Milton,  N.  H., 
March  28,  1807.  In  November,  1845,  he  received  a 
call  to  act  as  colleague  pastor  at  King's  Chapel,  Bos- 
ton, which  he  accepted. 

Few  clergymen  have  ever  been  as  successful  in 
winning  the  personal  regard  and  attachment  of  their 
people  as  Mr.  Peabody  was.     He  died  Nov.  28,  1856. 

In  December,  1847,  Rev.  John  Weiss  received  a 
call,  and  soon  after  commenced  his  labors  with  the 
society.  In  1852,  Mr.  Weiss'  ill  health  rendering  him 
unable  to  discharge  his  entire  pastoral  duties,  he  ten- 
dered his  resignation.  It  was  not  accepted,  and  Rev. 
Charles  Lowe  was  ordained  as  a  colleague,  Aug.  10, 
1852.  Mr.  Lowe's  health  failing,  after  an  association 
of  about  one  year,  a  leave  of  absence  was  granted  to 
him,  and  in  September,  1853,  he  left  this  city  for  Eu- 
rope. Before  his  departure  he  sent  a  letter  of  resig- 
nation, but  at  the  request  of  the  society  retained  a 
nominal  relation  as  pastor.  In  April,  1855,  he  wrote 
from  Paris,  asking  that  this  connection  should  be  dis- 
solved, and  the  society  complied  with  his  desire. 

Mr.  Weiss'  health  continued  very  infirm,  and  in 
April,  1858,  he  received  leave  of  absence  for  six 
months  and  went  to  Europe.  On  his  return,  finding 
that  his  strength  was  not  sufficiently  restored  to  war- 
rant him  in  undertaking  the  whole  duty  of  the  parish, 
,  he  tendered  his  resignation,  which  was  finally  ac- 
cepted, and  his  connection  with  the  society  ceased  in 
the  spring  of  1859. 


NEW   BEDFORD. 


75 


An  invitation  was  extended  to  the  present  pastor, 
Eev.  William  J.  Potter,  in  July,  1859,  which  he  ac- 
cepted, and  was  ordained  Dec.  28,  1859.  The  ser- 
vices on  the  occasion  were  as  follows:  Introductory- 
prayer,  Rev.  C.  Y.  De  Normandie,  of  Fairhaven; 
selections  from  Scriptures,  Rev.  T.  C.  Moulton ;  ser- 
mon, Rev.  Dr.  Furness,  of  Philadelphia ;  ordaining 
prayer,  Rev.  J.  F.  W.  Ware,  of  Cambridgeport ; 
charge,  Rev.  C.  H.  Brigham,  of  Taunton  ;  right  hand 
of  fellowship,  Rev.  A.  Woodbury,  of  Providence; 
address  to  the  people,  Rev.  Dr.  Dewey,  of  Boston  ; 
concluding  prayer,  Rev.  Moses  G.  Thomas. 

In  1863,  Mr.  Potter  was  drafted.  On  the  following 
Sunday  he  preached  a  very  powerful  discourse,  enti- 
tled "The  Voice  of  the  Draft,''  which  was  published 
and  attracted  great  attention  throughout  the  country. 
He  resigned  the  pastorship  and  entered  the  army,  in- 
tending to  take  his  position  as  a  private  soldier  ;  but 
on  reaching  W&shington  the  Secretary  of  War  assigned 
him  a  position  more  in  accordance  with  his  habits 
and  abilities.  The  society  declined  to  accept  his 
resignation,  but  granted  him  leave  of  absence  for  a 
year,  at  the  expiration  of  which  time  he  returned  to 
his  duties  here  and  has  officiated  as  pastor  to  the  pres- 
ent time. 

The  North  Congregational  Church.1— The  North 
Congregational  Church  was  organized  (in  the  meeting- 
house of  the  precinct,  formed  in  1795)  by  an  Ecclesi- 
astical Council,  Oct.  15,  1807. 

The  churches  represented  in  the  council  were  the 
Second  Church  of  Christ  in  New  Bedford  (Fair- 
haven),  by  Rev.  Isaiah  Weston,  pastor,  Joseph  Bates, 
delegate ;  and  the  First  Church  of  Christ  in  Rochester, 
by  Rev.  Oliver  Cobb,  pastor,  Jesse  Haskell,  delegate. 
Having  organized,  the  council  "proceeded  to  exam- 
ine the  standing  of  those  who  were  before  members  of 
churches,  and  also  candidates  for  admission  into  the 
church,"  and  laid  before  them  a  confession  of  faith 
and  a  covenant.  These  were  "  consented  to,"  and  the 
following  persons  "  were  then  regularly  formed  into  a 
church  by  the  name  of  the  Third  Church  in  New 
Bedford,  and  the  ordinance  of  baptism  was  admin- 
istered to  those  who  had  not  been  baptized : 

Elkanah  Michell.  Sarah  Kempton. 

Caleb  Jenne.  Joannah  West. 

William  West.  Elizabeth  Jenne. 

Joshua  Barker.  Joannah  Ayres. 

Edward  Pope.  Clarrissa  Crocker. 

John  Sheirman.  Pamela  Willice. 

Gamaliel  Bryant.  Abigail  Kempton. 

Abisha  Delanoe.  Elizabeth  Pope. 

Jireh  Willis.  Dorcas  Price. 

Ebenezar  Willis.  Catharine  Long. 

Cornelius  Burges.  Huldah  Potter. 

Cephas  Cushman.  Drusilla  Potter. 

Mariah  Jenne.  Fear  Crocker. 

Abigal  Samson.  Anna  West. 

1  By  Edwin  Emery. 


Aurilla  Barker. 
Deborah  Bryant. 
Mary  Peckham. 
Abigail  Michell. 
Susannah  Spooner. 
Lois  Hart. 


Abigail  Willis. 
Abiah  Garish. 
Mahittable  Willis. 
Hannah  Peckham. 
Anna  Burgess. 
Nancv  Howland. 


The  first  officers  of  the  church  were  chosen  May 
11,  1809,— Joshua  Barker,  first  deacon;  Cornelius  S. 
Burgess,  second  deacon ;  and,  it  is  presumed,  Cephas 
Cushman,  clerk. 

Rev.  Curtis  Coe  seems  to  have  preached  for  the 
church  in  1809,  and  other  clergymen  from  the  neigh- 
boring towns  to  have  administered  the  ordinances 
occasionally  during  the  following  year.  In  1809-10 
there  was  a  revival,  and  in  March  and  April  an  addi- 
tion of  twenty-two  members.  The  church  was  ap- 
parently in  a  prosperous  condition  ;  but  about  that 
time  an  "  unhappy  division  began  to  appear,"  which 
resulted  in  the  formation  of  two  churches,  the  one 
Trinitarian,  the  other  Unitarian.  The  majority  of 
the  church  was  dissatisfied  with  the  proceedings  of 
the  parish  committee,  and  also  with  the  candidate  for 
pastor,  who,  as  it  is  alleged,  was  not  sound  in  doc- 
trine ;  or,  in  the  language  of  the  memorial  presented 
to  the  council  protesting  against  the  ordination  of 
Mr.  Ephraim  Randall,  in  1814,  because  he  "did  not, 
in  the  opinion  of  the  church,  speak  the  things  that 
become  sound  doctrine,  or  those  that  harmonized  with 
the  professed  sentiments  of  the  church." 

A  committee,  consisting  of  Deacons  Barker  and  Bur- 
gess and  Jireh  Willis,  was  appointed  July  20,  1810, 
to  confer  with  the  parish  committee  with  a  view  of 
reconciliation.  On  the  7th  of  August  they  reported 
"  that  the  conference  with  the  parish  committee  af- 
forded no  satisfaction,  or  nothing  appeared  to  be  at- 
tending to  the  union  ;"  whereupon  the  following  vote 
was  passed  :  "  Voted,  that  we  meet  for  public  worship 
at  some  public  or  private  house  on  the  Lord's  day." 

At  that  time  there  were  nineteen  active  (male) 
members,  of  whom  five  were  in  opposition  to  the  ma- 
jority, one  took  no  part,  and  thirteen  were  united 
against  the  society.  The  fourteen  male  members  con- 
stituting the  church  that  separated  from  the  society 
were  Edward  Ayers,  Joshua  Barker,  Freeman  Bar- 
rows, Cornelius  S.  Burgess,  Joshua  Crocker,  Cephas 
Cushman,  Jesse  Haskell,  Roger  Haskell,  Isaac  Man- 
chester, Nathaniel  Perry,  Pardon  Potter,  Southward 
Potter,  William  West,  and  Jireh  Willis.  Caleb  Jenne 
had  joined  the  Friends  and  Ebenezer  Willis  was  dead. 
Those  fourteen  men,  with  not  a  great  abundance  of 
this  world's  goods,  entered  into  an  agreement  to  pay 
the  salary  of  a  minister  and  the  rent  of  a  place  of 
worship,  with  the  other  expenses  of  the  same. 

Soon  after  the  separation,  if  not  before,  Mr.  Sylves- 
ter Holmes,  a  licentiate,  began  his  labors  with  the 
church.  It  is  inferred  from  the  record  of  June  29, 
1811,  that  the  church  even  then  hoped  to  effect  a 
reconciliation, — 


76 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


"  The  church  being  together  according  to  appoint- 
ment, Edward  Pope,  Esq.,  chosen  moderator. 

"  Voted,  1st,  that  the  church  meet  at  Judge  Pope's 
on  Saturday,  27th  July  next. 

"  Voted,  2d,  that  the  meeting  be  dissolved." 

What  was  the  result  of  that  adjourned  meeting  we 
can  conjecture  from  the  fact  that  four  days  later  Mr. 
Holmes  was  ordained. 

Pursuant  to  letters  missive,  an  Ecclesiastical  Coun- 
cil convened  on  the  30th  of  July,  and  on  the  31st  or- 
dained Mr.  Holmes  to  "  administer  ordinances."  The 
exercises  on  that  occasion  were :  Introductory  prayer 
by  Rev.  Mr.  Stutson,  of  Plymouth  ;  sermon  by  Rev. 
Mase  Shepherd,  of  Little  Compton,  R.  I.,  from 
Matthew  xiii.  39 :  "  The  harvest  is  the  end  of  the 
world  ;"  consecrating  prayer  by  Rev.  Mr.  Craft,  of 
Middleborough  ;  charge  to  the  pastor  by  Rev.  Lemuel 
Le  Baron,  of  Rochester;  right  hand  of  fellowship  by 
Rev.  Oliver  Cobb,  of  Rochester ;  concluding  prayer 
by  Rev.  Mr.  Andrews,  of  Berkley.  The  several  parts 
were  very  appropriate  and  impressive,  and  the  assem- 
bly solemn  and  attentive. 

Services  were  held  at  first  in  the  North  Purchase 
Street  school-house,  then  in  the  South  school-house 
on  Walnut  Street,  and,  as  occasion  required,  at  the 
residences  of  church-members.  At  length  a  hall  over 
William  W.  Kempton's  store,  southwest  corner  of 
Mill  and  Second  Streets,  was  obtained,  and  the  church 
continued  to  worship  there  until  a  meeting-house  was 
built  in  1814.  That  house  was  one  story  high,  ten- 
foot  post,  with  end  towards  the  street,  door  in  middle, 
and  one  window  on  each  side  of  the  door.  Its  site 
was  next  south  of  Silas  Kempton's  house,  situated  on 
the  southwest  corner  of  Second  and  Elm  Streets. 

In  1812  the  five  church-members  who  had  remained 
with  the  society  adopted  a  covenant  differing  from 
that  of  1807,  and  with  the  society  installed  Rev. 
David  Batchelder  as  pastor  of  the  "Church  and  So- 
ciety in  Bedford  Precinct."  Two  years  later  Mr. 
Ephraim  Randall  was  ordained.  To  the  Ecclesiastical 
Council  convened  on  each  occasion  the  church  ad- 
dressed a  memorial,  setting  forth  the  facts  in  regard 
to  the  division,  and  protesting  against  such  action  as 
not  being  in  accordance  with  the  usage  of  Congrega- 
tional Churches.  To  the  second  memorial  the  coun- 
cil, of  which  Rev.  James  Flint,  of  Bridgewater,  was 
scribe,  replied,  "  We  consider  those  of  the  members 
of  the  church  who  retain  their  relation  to  the  Third 
Society,  of  which  also  they  are  a  component  part,  and 
hold  regularly  their  assembling  of  themselves  to- 
gether as  a  church  and  people  and  worshipers  in  the 
meeting-house  of  said  society,  as  being  distinctly  and 
properly  the  church  belonging  to  the  society,  but 
those  who  went  off  from  said  meeting-house  and  for- 
sook the  communion-table  as  having  abandoned  the 
society  and  relinquished  the  communion  and  fellow- 
ship and  ordinances  which  were  the  bond  of  their 
union,  and  therefore  as  having  no  control  or  right  to 
exercise  discipline  over  those  that   have   remained 


steadfast ;  and  also  as  the  remonstrants  have  them- 
selves ordained  a  pastor  independently  of  and  without 
paying  any  respect  to  the  society,  they  cannot  now 
with  any  propriety  interfere  with  the  ordination  for 
the  purpose  of  which  we  have  convened." 

Not  so  thought  the  remonstrants,  for  on  the  19th 
of  December  they  formally  excommunicated  Edward 
Pope,  Abisha  Delano,  Elkanah  Mitchel,  and  John 
Sherman  (Gamaliel  Bryant  had  died  a  few  months 
before),  because  they  "  have  for  more  than  two  years 
absented  themselves  from  our  religious  worship  and 
communion  at  the  Lord's  table  in  general,  and  have 
met  for  worship  and  attended  to  the  Lord's  Supper 
in  a  different  place,  and  have  refused  to  return  to 
their  duty  as  members  of  the  church,  notwithstanding 
they  have  been  labored  with  in  different  ways  at  sun- 
dry times,  in  obedience  to  the  holy  command  of  our 
Lord  concerning  any  brother  or  brothers  who  walk 
disorderly."  * 

Thus  ended  the  controversy  between  the  church 
and  the  society,  but  the  bitterness  of  feeling  engen- 
dered and  the  unchristian  spirit  aroused  ceased  not 
to  be  manifested  until  the  chief  actors  had  passed 
away. 

The  church  so  increased  that  a  larger  house  of  wor- 
ship was  soon  demanded  for  the  accommodation  of 
the  people.  In  1817  measures  were  taken  for  the 
erection  of  a  new  house  on  the  corner  of  Purchase 
Street  and  a  new  street  not  then  named,  now  Elm. 
The  frame  was  raised  May  7,  1817.  The  house  was 
built  by  Deacon  Barker,  "and  the  proprietors  met  the 
expenses  of  the  enterprise  by  a  payment  of  money, 
labor,  and  materials."  It  was  forty-eight  feet  by  sixty, 
exclusive  of  a  portico  seven  feet  deep,  supported  by 
four  large  pillars,  and  surmounted  by  a  handsome 
steeple.  It  was  finished  June,  1818.  On  Tuesday, 
the  23d  day  of  that  month,  it  was  consecrated  to  Al- 
mighty God  with  "services  extremely  appropriate 
and  interesting,  and  affording  much  gratification  to  a 
very  numerous  audience."  Rev.  John  Codman,  of 
Dorchester,  preached  a  sermon  from  Exodus  xx.  24: 
"In  all  places  where  I  record  my  name  I  will  come 
unto  thee,  and  I  will  bless  thee." 

The  Sunday-school,  organized  in  1819,  was  the  out- 
growth of  Rev.  Mr.  Holmes'  class  in  the  catechism. 
Probably  as  early  as  1811  he  began  his  work  as  cate- 
chist,  instructing  the  children  of  his  church  in  biblical 
history  and  the  doctrines  of  the  "  Assembly's  Shorter 
Catechism." 

In  1826  the  meeting-house  was  enlarged.  It  was 
cut  in  two,  the  west  end  moved  back,  and  fifteen  feet 
inserted.  At  the  same  time  the  old  meeting-house, 
then  used  for  school  purposes,  was  moved  from  Second 
Street  to  a  site  on  Elm  Street,  just  west  of  the  meet- 
ing-house. A  few  years  later  it  was  raised  one  story ; 
the  lower  part  was  fitted  up  for  a  vestry,  and  the 
upper  part  for  a  school-room.  After  John  F.  Emer- 
son had  taught  there  several  years  he  purchased  the 
house,  removed  it  to  William  Street,  and  remodeled  it 


NEW   BEDFORD. 


i  i 


into  a  dwelling-house,  which,  with  its  additions,  is 
now  occupied  by  Charles  R.  Sherman. 

By  an  act  of  the  General  Court,  approved  by  the 
Governor  Jan.  27,  1827,  Roger  Haskell,  William  W. 
Kempton,,  Henry  P.  Willis,  David  Briggs,  Ebenezer 
Hathaway,  Frederick  Read,  Ivory  H.  Bartlett,  Joshua 
Barker,  Cornelius  S.  Burgess,  Joseph  Bourne,  and 
their  associates  and  successors,  were  incorporated 
into  a  society  by  the  name  of  the  North  Congrega- 
tional Church.  At  the  first  meeting,  June  8th,  Wil- 
liam W.  Kempton  was  elected  clerk  ;  Joshua  Barker, 
Cornelius  S.  Burgess,  and  Haydon  Coggeshall,  trus- 
tees ;  and  David  Briggs,  treasurer  and  collector. 

The  distinctive  title  "  Third,"  given  in  1807,  was 
not  needed  after  the  incorporation  of  Fairhaven  in 
1812,  and  it  is  probable  that  after  1817  the  epithet 
"  North"  was  applied  by  way  of  distinction,  as  the 
meeting-house  was  north  of  the  old  meeting-house,  on 
the  site  of  Liberty  Hall. 

In  1830  it  was  evident  that  a  wider  field,  of  useful- 
ness was  opening  for  the  church.  The  population  of 
the  town  was  increasing,  the  pews  were  all  occupied, 
and  a  meeting-house  seemed  to  be  needed  in  the  south 
part  of  the  village.  "  The  indications  of  Divine  Provi- 
dence say  to  us  emphatically,  '  Strengthen  your  stakes 
and  lengthen  your  cords,'  "  are  the  words  of  those  in- 
terested in  a  new  place  of  worship.  In  1831  the  south 
meeting-house  was  built,  and  on  the  15th  of  Novem- 
ber sixty  members  were  dismissed  to  be  organized 
into  a  church.  Thus  the  Trinitarian  Church  had  its 
origin. 

On  the  11th  of  March,  1836,  the  corporation  voted 
to  erect  a  new  house  of  worship.  Work  was  begun  in 
April,  the  old  house  moved  so  as  to  front  the  north, 
and  the  foundation  of  a  granite  structure  of  larger 
dimensions  laid.  An  address  was  delivered  by  Rev. 
Thomas  Robbins,  of  Mattapoisett,  at  the  laying  of  the 
corner-stone,  Friday  afternoon,  May  13th.  The  house 
was  built  according  to  a  plan  furnished  by  Mr.  Bond, 
architect,  of  Boston,  under  the  superintendence  of 
Messrs.  Taber,  West,  Sawyer,  and  Underwood,  mas- 
ter-masons, and  Obadiah  B.  Burgess,  carpenter.  It  is 
of  the  Gothic  order  of  architecture,  with  square  tower 
and  battlements,  and  is  sixty-eight  feet  front  by  ninety 
in  depth.  The  interior  was  finished  with  great  sim- 
plicity, without  gallery,  except  for  organ  and  choir. 
The  total  cost,  including  lot,  was  about  twenty-eight 
thousand  dollars.  It  was  dedicated  Thursday,  Dec. 
22,  183(3.  An  audience  of  nearly  fifteen  hundred 
people  listened  to  a  highly  interesting  sermon  by 
Rev.  Dr.  Hawes,  of  Hartford,  Conn.  The  house  was 
first  occupied  Jan.  1,  1837.  The  wooden  building  in 
the  rear,  subsequently  occupied  as  a  stable  by  James 
Thomas,  was  destroyed  by  fire  about  twenty-five 
years  ago. 

Rev.  Mr.  Holmes,  having  been  invited  to  become 
the  general  agent  of  the  American  Bible  Society,  re- 
quested the  church  to  grant  him  a  leave  of  absence 
for  five  years,  provided  an  associate  pastor  be  settled. 


The  church  granted  his  request  Feb.  21, 1839.  At  the 
expiration  of  four  years  he  returned,  but  found  the 
church  desirous  of  severing  the  relation  existing  be- 
tween them.  Accordingly,  he  was  dismissed  by  a 
council  March  15,  1843. 

During  his  ministry  more  than  five  hundred  were 
received  into  the  church.  There  were  several  seasons 
when  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  descended  with  power, 
two  of  which  were  followed  by  large  ingatherings 
into  the  church.  (In  1831  sixty-six  united  with  the 
church,  and  in  1834  ninety-two,  of  whom  thirty-four 
were  received  May  4th.)  He  was  instrumental  in  re- 
viving the  old  church  at  the  "  Head  of  the  River" 
and  in  building  a  meeting-house  there. 

After  his  dismission  he  was  pastor  of  the  Pacific 
Church  nearly  six  years.  His  last  pastoral  work  was 
done  at  his  native  place,  South  Plymouth,  where  he 
preached  six  years.  Five  weeks  after  he  laid  the 
harness  off,  his  summons  to  depart  came  from  his 
Master.  He  died  in  this  city,  at  the  residence  of 
Ivory  H.  Bartlett,  Nov.  27,  1866,  in  the  seventy-ninth 
year  of  his  age,  and  was  buried  from  the  church 
where  he  had  preached  so  many  years. 

As  a  man,  Rev.  Mr.  Holmes  was  active,  untiring, 
enterprising,  commanding  in  appearance,  capable  of 
administration,  impatient  at  interference,  of  indomit- 
able energy,  "  which  the  bitterest  opposition  only  in- 
tensified ;"  as  a  preacher,  "of  acute  perception,  tena- 
cious of  his  theological  faith,  perspicuous  in  style, 
earnest  and  forcible  in  delivery,  effective  without  the 
grace  of  eloquence;"  as  a  pastor,  always  on  the  alert 
for  strangers,  that  he  might  bring  them  into  his  con- 
gregation, "  thorough,  kind,  affectionate,  sympathiz- 
ing." His  influence  was  felt  not  only  in  New  Bedford, 
but  also  in  the  Congregational  Churches  throughout 
Southeastern  Massachusetts. 

While  Rev.  Mr.  Holmes  was  absent,  Rev.  Thomas 
M.  Smith,  of  Catskill,  N.  Y.,  was  associate  pastor. 
He  was  installed  July  24, 1839,  Rev.  Leonard  Woods, 
D.D.,  of  the  Theological  Seminary,  Andover,  preach- 
ing the  sermon.  After  three  years'  service  he  was 
dismissed,  Aug.  31,  1842,  on  account  of  troubles 
which  arose  a  few  months  previous.  An  extensive 
revival  prevailed,  but  he  objected  to  some  extraordi- 
nary means  adopted  for  its  promotion.  The  council 
called  to  dismiss  him  "  laid  the  trouble  at  the  door  of 
excitement  growing  out  of  evangelists'  introducing 
desire  for  extraordinary  measures,  female  speakers, 
etc.,  which  he  opposed,  but  did  consent  to  a  protracted 
meeting,  and  one  was  held  under  an  evangelist,  but 
trouble  grew  in  the  church."  Hasty,  inconsiderate, 
not  understanding  the  principles  and  modes  of  action 
in  case  of  grievance,  the  church  was  manifestly  in 
error  in  the  course  pursued.  With  bitterness  of 
sorrow  at  a  later  period  its  members  viewed  their 
action,  and  of  it  heartily  repented.  One  hundred 
and  four  were  added  to  the  church  during  his  min- 
istry, thirty-six  of  whom  were  received  May  1,  1842. 

Rev.  Mr.  Smith  was  subsequently  Professor  of  The- 


78 


HISTORY   OF    BRISTOL  COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


ology  at  Kenyon  College.  He  died  Sept.  6,  1864. 
He  was  a  pastor  "  of  amiable  disposition,  of  wise  and 
discreet  deportment,  of  sterling  talents,  and  of  well- 
proportioned  ministerial  character." 

The  agitation  of  the  slavery  question  in  1843  was  a 
source  of  disturbance,  which  finally  resulted  in  the 
excommunication  of  one  of  the  deacons  and  another 
prominent  member.  The  need  of  moral  reform  was 
not  seen  and  felt.  Conservatism  characterized  the 
majority,  who  were  not  ready  to  follow  the  advance- 
guard,  because  the  enormity  of  the  sin  of  slavery  was 
not  comprehended.  A  resolution  and  a  vote  of  that 
period  show  the  attitude  of  the  church  upon  that 
question,  which  has  since  shaken  the  foundation  of 
our  government  and  drenched  the  land  "  in  fraternal 
blood,"— 

"  Resolved,  That  all  action  upon  or  discussion  of  these  subjects  (State 
rights,  national  policy,  and  slavery),  as  a  church,  or  in  meetings  ap- 
pointed by  the  church,  be  indefinitely  postponed." 

"  Voted,  That  the  church  do  not  think  it  expedient  to  pass  any  reso- 
lutions on  the  subject  of  slavery." 

Mr.  Robert  S.  Hitchcock  having  accepted  an  invi- 
tation to  assume  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  church, 
was  ordained  July  19,  1843.  His  father,  Rev.  C. 
Hitchcock,  D.D.,  of  Randolph,  preached  the  sermon. 

The  question  whether  the  pastor-elect  should  unite 
with  the  church  arose  during  the  session  of  the  coun- 
cil, but  was  indefinitely  postponed.  Against  this  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Codman,  of  Dorchester,  and  ten  others  en- 
tered their  protest:  "That  in  their  opinion  it  is 
proper  that,  according  to  Congregational  principles, 
the  candidate  for  ordination  should  become  a  member 
of  the  church  over  which  he  is  to  be  ordained." 

It  was  during  his  pastorate  that  twenty  members, 
feeling  aggrieved  at  the  action  of  the  church  in  rela- 
tion to  the  dismission  of  Rev.  Messrs.  Smith  and 
Holmes,  requested  to  be  dismissed  to  form  a  church. 
The  request  was  not  granted,  but  a  "  Union  Church," 
so  called,  was  formed  in  Fairhaven.  In  the  midst  of 
the  serious  troubles  that  threatened  the  church  a 
mutual  council  was  called,  and  the  difficulties  peace- 
fully adjusted.  Nineteen  were  dismissed  Oct.  8, 1844, 
who  with  others  were  organized  into  the  Pacific  Con- 
gregational Church. 

On  account  of  the  precarious  state  of  his  health, 
Rev.  Mr.  Hitchcock  tendered  his  resignation,  and 
was  dismissed  Dec.  9,  1845.  The  council  bore  testi- 
mony to  his  ability,  zeal,  and  faithfulness,  and  ex- 
pressed their  high  appreciation  of  his  talents,  acquire- 
ments, and  piety.  He  has  been  for  several  years  at 
the  head  of  the  Hollidaysburg  Female  Seminary, 
Pennsylvania. 

Nearly  two  years  elapsed  before  another  pastor  was 
settled.  On  the  15th  of  September,  1847,  Mr.  Aza- 
riah  Eldridge,  from  the  Divinity  School,  Yale  College, 
was  ordained.  His  brother,  Rev.  Joseph  Eldridge, 
of  Norfolk,  Conn.,  preached  the  sermon.  In  the 
winter  of  1850-51  the  interior  of  the  meeting-house 
was  remodeled  under  the  supervision  of  Mr.  G.  J.  F. 


Bryant,  architect,  of  Boston.  Side  galleries  and  new 
pews  were  put  in,  and  the  internal  appearance  greatly 
improved,  though  at  a  reduction  of  pews  from  one 
hundred  and  fifty-four  to  one  hundred  and  eight  on 
the  floor  of  the  audience-room.  The  expense  of 
alteration  was  about  six  thousand  dollars.  The  re- 
dedication  took  place  March  13",  1851,  when  Rev. 
Dr.  Edward  N.  Kirk,  of  Boston,  delivered  a  sermon 
of  great  power. 

In  1852  the  pastor  was  invited  to  take  charge  of  the 
Clinton  Street  Church,  Philadelphia.  Notwithstand- 
ing the  urgency  of  the  call  and  the  earnest  words  of 
Rev.  Dr.  Albert  Barnes,  who  appeared  in  behalf  of 
the  Philadelphia  Church,  the  council  convened  Jan. 
6,  1853,  did  not  feel  "  prepared  to  assume  the  respon- 
sibility of  dissolving  the  peaceful  and  prosperous  re- 
lation existing  between  church  and  pastor." 

Three  years  later,  however,  the  impaired  condition 
of  his  bodily  health  and  the  plans  of  study  abroad 
which  he  .had  fondly  cherished  induced  him  to  re- 
sign. He  was  dismissed  April  22,  1856.  During  his 
ministry  ninety-one  were  added  to  the  church.  He 
was  a  faithful  and  efficient  minister,  winning  the  con- 
fidence of  his  people,  by  whom  his  removal  was 
deeply  regretted. 

After  he  left  he  visited  Europe,  traveling  and  study- 
ing. On  his  return  he  was  settled  over  a  church  in 
Detroit,  Mich.  During  a  second  visit  to  Europe  he 
was  for  a  time  chaplain  of  the  American  Protestant 
Chapel  at  Paris.     He  now  resides  at  Yarmouth. 

His  successor,  Rev.  Henry  W.  Parker,  of  Brooklyn, 
N.  Y.,  was  installed  Aug.  8,  1856.  The  sermon  was 
by  Rev.  Roswell  D.  Hitchcock,  D.D.,  Professor  of 
Ecclesiastical  History,  Union  Theological  Seminary, 
New  York. 

The  stone  chapel  adjoining  the  meeting-house  on 
the  south  was  built  in  1857,  at  a  cost  of  about  three 
thousand  five  hundred  dollars.  During  the  winter  of 
1857-58  an  extensive  and  powerful  revival  occurred. 
It  began  to  develop  in  a  union  prayer-meeting  es- 
tablished through  the  instrumentality  of  Rev.  Mr. 
Parker,  and  as  a  result  there  were  added  to  his  church 
in  one  day,  May  2d, — memorable  in  the  history  of  the 
church, — seventy-seven  persons  on  professon  of  their 
faith.  There  were  one  hundred  and  fifty-nine  ac- 
cessions during  his  seven  years'  pastorate.  This  in- 
crease of  membership  rendered  his  duties  more 
arduous,  but  he  discharged  them  with  fidelity,  though 
with  health  impaired.  He  was  dismissed  July  27, 
1863.  He  is  now  Professor  of  Natural  History  at 
Grinnell  College,  Iowa. 

The  call  of  the  next  pastor,  Rev.  Alonzo  H.  Quint, 
D.D.,  is  sadly  suggestive,  not  of  strife  and  division  and 
spiritual  decline  in  the  church,  but  of  that  fearful 
national  conflict  which  well-nigh  dismembered  the 
Union.  Chaplain  Quint  accepted  his  call  by  letter 
dated  "Camp  of  the  Second  Massachusetts  Infantry, 
Tullahoma,  Tenn.,  April  20,  1864." 

In  that  letter  he  says,  "  It  is  a  greater  sacrifice  for  me 


NEW  BEDFORD. 


•!) 


to  leave  these  men  and  such  scenes  which  they  must 
pass  through  than  it  was  to  leave  a  beloved  home  and 
a  dear  church  at  our  country's  call.  I  cannot,  indeed, 
leave  until  my  term  of  service  ends ;  and  if  then  the 
regiment  should  be  engaged  in  active  service,  I  must 
reserve  the  right  to  remain  with  it  a  reasonable 
period." 

A  suggestion  of  the  letter  was  at  once  acted  upon 
and  the  treasurer  raised  by  subscription  nine  thou- 
sand dollars,  thus  promptly  canceling  the  debt  of 
the  church  and  corporation. 

Eev.  Dr.  Quint  was  installed  July  21,  1864.  The 
installation  sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  A.  L. 
Stone,  D.D.,  of  Boston.  His  ministry  continued 
eleven  years,  terminating  June  10,  1875,  though 
his  membership  still  continues.  His  ministry  was 
popular,  and  the  church  received  one  hundred  and 
forty-five  members. 

From  1855  to  1861  he  was  a  member  of  the  Mas- 
sachusetts Board  of  Education  ;  has  devoted  much 
time  to  local  history  and  genealogy,  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society,  is 
a  member  of  the  New  England  Historic-Genealog- 
ical Society,  and  a  corresponding  member  of  the 
New  Hampshire  and  New  York  Historical  Societies  ; 
has  published  two  volumes  pertaining  to  the  Rebel- 
lion, has  been  chaplain-in-chief  of  the  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic,  has  held  high  official  appointments 
in  his  denomination,  and  has  made  Congregational 
polity  and  ecclesiastical  law  subjects  of  special  study. 
In  1866  he  received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity 
from  his  Alma  Mater,  Dartmouth  College.  He  resides 
at  Dover,  N.  H.,  and  has  recently  represented  that 
city  in  the  Legislature. 

The  present  pastor,  Rev.  Albert  H.  Heath,  was 
installed  Oct.  19,  1876.  The  sermon  was  by  Rev. 
A.  J.  F.  Behrend^,  D.D.,  of  Providence,  R.  I.  In 
1878  the  galleries  were  fitted  with  square  pews  and 
furnished  with  chairs,  and  a  new  organ  was  placed 
in  the  church  at  a  cost  of  about  seven  thousand  dol- 
lars. In  1881  a  new  pulpit  was  built.  The  church 
has  flourished  under  his  ministrations,  and  up  to 
1883  had  received  two  hundred  and  fifty-five  mem- 
bers, ninety-five  of  whom  were  admitted  from  the 
Pacific  Church  after  it  disbanded  in  1878.  The  pres- 
ent membership  is  four  hundred  and  ninety-five. 

In  1857  the  semi-centennial  of  the  church,  and  in 
1882  the  seventy-fifth  anniversary,  were  celebrated 
with  interesting  and  appropriate  exercises.  A  series 
of  historical  sermons,  growing  out  of  the  latter,  is 
nearly  completed. 

Rev.  Mr.  Heath  is  a  graduate  of  Bates  College, 
1867.  He  was  formerly  a  Free-Will  Baptist,  but 
while  preaching  at  the  Roger  Williams  Church, 
Providence,  embraced  the  doctrinal  views  of  the 
Trinitarian  Congregationalists. 

The  following  ministers,  other  than  pastors,  have 
been  connected  with  the  church  or  Sunday-school : 
Freeman  P.  Howland,  1818,  ordained  in  Hanson  Oct. 


25,  1826;  Augustus  B.  Reed,  1825;  Thomas  Bailey, 
1827  ;  Clark  Cornish,  1829  ;  William  H.  Sanford,  1831 ; 
Henry  W.  Lee,  1835,  Episcopalian,  and  at  one  time 
Bishop  of  Iowa;  Pardon  G.  Seabury,  1836,  pastor  at 
the  "  Head  of  the  River,"  1830-33;  William  H.  Stur- 
tevant,  1840,  Tiverton  Four  Corners,  R.  I.  ;  Andrew 
Mackie,  Episcopalian,  dean  of  Northern  Indiana  at 
the  time  of  his  death  in  Laporte  in  1878  ;  John  Cot- 
ton Smith,  son  of  Rev.  Thomas  M.,  Bowdoin  College, 
1847,  Episcopalian,  Doctor  of  Divinity,  a  strong  and 
effective  preacher,  a  fluent  and  eloquent  orator,  an 
author  of  reputation,  died  Jan.  9,  1882:  James  F. 
Sisson,  1851,  Methodist ;  James  R.  Bourne,  1854,  pas- 
tor in  Sharon,  Conn. ;  William  H.  Dowden,  pastor  at 
North  Easton  ;  John  C.  Staples,  1857,  pastor  at  South 
Deerfield  ;  Ellis  Mendell,  1870,  pastor  in  Norwood ; 
Rufus  B.  Tobey,  1870,  recently  pastor  in  Harwich  ; 
Daniel  C.  Burt,  1872,  pastor  at  the  "  Head  of  the 
River,"  1833-57,  now  clerk  of  the  church  ;  Henry  M. 
Dexter,  D.D.,  1873,  editor  of  the  Congregationalist ; 
William  C.  Stiles,  1880,  pastor  of  the  East  Congrega- 
tional Church,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

Deacons. — Joshua  Barker,  May  11,  1809,  to  Nov. 
15,  1831 ;  dismissed. 

Cornelius  S.  Burgess,  May  11, 1809;  removed,  and 
died  in  Middleborough  Nov.  23,  1859. 

William  W.  Kempton,  Nov.  26,  1831,  to  May  4, 
1834;  died. 

William  Little,  Nov.  26,  1831,  to  June  25,  1868 
died. 

John  F.  Emerson,  Nov.  26,  1831,  to  Feb.  2,  1846 
excommunicated. 

Andrew  Mackie,  June    3,  1834,  to   May  2,   1871 
died. 

Sidney  Underwood,  June  3,  1834,  to  March  31, 
1842;  dismissed. 

Thomas  Nickerson,  June  3,  1834;  declined. 

Henry  P.  Willis,  June  3,  1834;  declined. 

David  Briggs,  June  29,  1834,  to  Sept.  5,  1841 ;  died. 

John  Bryant,  June  29,  1834,  to  June  2,  1879  ;  died. 

Tristram  R.  Dennison,  Dec.  24,  1851,  to  July  14, 
1858;  resigned  (city  missionary  since  1853). 

Edward  S.  Cannon,  July  21,  1858. 

Zachariah  Sturtevant,  May  3,  1867. 

John  Hastings,  May  3,  1867. 

Edward  Haskell,  May  3,  1867,  to  Dec.  11,  1882; 
died. 

Thatcher  C.  Hatch,  Jan.  5,  1872. 

William  F.  Butler,  Jan.  16,  1880. 

The  Trinitarian  Church.1 — Fifty-one  years  have 
passed  since  a  band  of  earnest  Christian  workers 
withdrew  from  the  mother-church,  the  North  Congre- 
gational, and  formed  the  nucleus  of  this  organization. 

The  reasons  for  the  withdrawal  of  this  church  from 
the  North  Congregational  cannot  be  better  stated 
than  by  the  following  letter,  dated  Nov.  17,  1830  : 

"  It  must  be  perfectly  apparent  to  every  observer  of  the  North  Con- 
gregational Church  and  Society,  and  the  rapidly  increasing  population 

1  By  Miss  Emma  J.  Ashley. 


80 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


of  this  town,  that  the  time  has  fully  come  when  another  house  of  wor- 
ship should  he  erected  aud  another  congregation  collected.  Our  present 
place  of  worship  is  all  occupied,  and  more  pews  would  be  taken  if  they 
were  to  be  had.  Under  these  circumstances  we  cannot  be  more  favora- 
bly situated  for  such  an  effort  than  we  now  are.  It  is  also  morally  cer- 
tain if  we  do  not  open  another  place  of  worship  some  other  persons 
will,  and  we  have  much  reason  to  fear  it  would  be  such  as  differ  widely 
from  what  we  believe  to  be  the  faith  of  the  gospel.  The  indications  of 
Divine  Providence  say  to  us  emphatically,  '  Strengthen  your  stakes  and 
lengthen  your  cords.' 

"  If  we  are  deaf  to  the  voice  of  that  God  who  has  done  so  much  for 
us  there  is  reason  to  apprehend  that  we  shall  not  only  neglect  an  oppor- 
tunity to  do  good,  but  we  shall  give  others  an  opportunity  to  do  that 
which  will  do  us  much  evil,  and  especially  the  cause  of  evangelical 
truth.  We  are  sensible  that  the  work  before  us  will  call  for  sacrifices, 
but  we  have  been  taught  in  years  that  have  gone  '  that  there  is  that  scat- 
tered and  yet  increaseth.' " 

Nov.  15,  1831,  an  Ecclesiastical  Council  met  at  the 
North  Congregational  Church  for  the  purpose  of  or- 
ganizing a  new  society. 

The  council  consisted  of  eight  clergymen,  among 
whom  were  Revs.  Oliver  Cohb,  Pardon  G.  Seabury, 
and  Thomas  Robbins. 

Fifty-nine  persons  entered  their  names  as  members 
of  the  new  church.     They  are  as  follows : 


John  C.  Almy. 
Sylvia  Almy. 
Phineas  Burgess. 
Betsey  Burgess. 
Simeon  Bailey. 
Ellen  J.  Bailey. 
Eliza  Billings. 
William  Bain. 
Joshua  Barker. 
Aurelia  Barker. 
Clarissa  Barker. 
Pensa  Barker. 
Eugenia  Barker. 
David  Briggs. 
Anna  Briggs. 
Hannah  Chaddock. 
James  Carver. 
Eliza  Carver. 
Susan  Carver. 
Charles  Coggeshall. 
Avis  Coggeshall. 
Henrietta  Cole. 
Benjamin  Clark. 
Ann  J.  Clark. 
Adeline  Crowell. 
Hope  Doane. 
Sarah  P.  Dunbar. 
Elizabeth  Freeman. 
Robert  Gibbs. 


Hannah  Gibbs. 
Louisa  F.  Gibbs. 
Joshua  E.  Gage. 
Julian  A.  Gage. 
Nancy  B.  Hawes. 
Nathaniel  Hathaway. 
Lucy  Hathaway. 
Nancy  Howland. 
Alfred  Kendrick. 
Abigail  Kendrick. 
Abbie  H.  Kendrick. 
Henry  C.  Hendrick. 
Almira  Keith. 
Phoebe  McKenzie. 
Nancy  McKenzie. 
Richard  A.  Palmer. 
Avis  Palmer. 
Frederick  Read. 
Sarah  Read. 
Thomas  Remington. 
Charles  P.  Sherman. 
Benj.  Thompson,  Jr. 
Eliza  Tobey. 
Caroline  Tobey. 
Mary  Taylor. 
Harriet  Taber. 
Marsena  Washburn. 
Samuel  Whitby. 
Avis  Whitby. 


Ann  B.  Gibbs. 

To  these  Rev.  Mr.  Robbins  presented  the  confession 
of  faith  and  covenant.  They  were  then  addressed  by 
Rev.  Mr.  Cobb.  Deacon  Daniel  Perry  presented  the 
right  hand  of  fellowship,  after  which  the  Lord's  Sup- 
per was  administered. 

Of  these  fifty-nine  original  members  but  five  are 
now  (1881)  known  to  be  living, — Mrs.  Avis  R.  Palmer, 


now  residing  in  New  York  City  ;  Mr.  Phineas  Bur- 
gess, the  architect  and  builder  of  this  edifice,  now  a 
resident  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. ;  Mrs.  Eliza  (Tobey) 
Evans,  now  living  in  Assonet ;  Mrs.  Caroline  (Tobey) 
Sanford,  of  Philadelphia;  and  Mrs.  Ellen  J.  Bailey, 
who  resides  in  this  city,  and  is  still  an  esteemed  mem- 
ber of  this  church.  We  remember  with  gratitude 
her  years  of  faithful  service.  Long  may  she  be 
spared  as  a  golden  link  binding  the  old  and  new  to- 
gether. 

Soon  after  the  organization  four  deacons  were 
elected.  Their  names  were  Joshua  Barker,  Frederick 
Read,  Charles  Coggeshall,  and  Simeon  Bailey. 

For  several  months,  while  a  new  church  edifice 
was  being  erected,  the  meetings  of  the  society  were 
held  at  the  houses  of  its  members,  principally  those 
of  Charles  Coggeshall  and  Joshua  Barker.  The  first 
meeting  was  held  Nov.  17,  1831,  at  the  house  of  Dea- 
con Charles  Coggeshall. 

The  church  building  was  completed  and  dedicated 
May  16,  1832.  The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  James  Aus- 
tin Roberts.  He  supplied  the  pulpit  from  May  26 
until  Nov.  14,  1832,  when  he  was  installed.  His  sal- 
ary was  fixed  at  twelve  hundred  dollars  per  annum. 
Mr.  Roberts  was  born  at  Trowbridge,  Wiltshire,  Eng- 
land, May  2,  1795.  April  5,  1843,  he  asked,  and  was 
granted,  a  leave  of  absence  for  one  year  to  visit  Eng- 
land. During  his  absence,  Rev.  Mr.  Dyer,  of  Fulton- 
ville,  N.  Y.,  supplied  the  pulpit.  In  July,  1844,  Mr. 
Roberts  wrote  from  London  asking  his  dismission. 
It  was  granted,  but  with  many  expressions  of  regret 
from  the  society  to  which  he  had  endeared  himself  by 
his  consistent  life  and  faithful  pastorate.  He  after- 
wards returned  to  America,  and  lived  and  died  in 
Berkley,  Mass. 

Feb.  10,  1844,  while  the  pastor  was  in  England, 
the  edifice  was  seriously  injured  by  fire.  The  first 
church  to  throw  open  its  doors  was  the  Unitarian. 
Their  kind  offer  was  accepted,  and  it  was  decided  to 
discontinue  the  Sunday-school  and  hold  the  Sabbath 
afternoon  service  in  the  Unitarian  Church.  William 
Street  Baptist  Church  also  generously  offered  their 
house  of  worship.  Subsequently  the  North  Congre- 
gational Society,  having  granted  a  leave  of  absence  to 
their  pastor,  Rev.  Mr.  Hitchcock,  invited  the  Trini- 
tarian Society  to  unite  with  them,  and  requested  that 
Rev.  Mr.  Dyer  supply  the  pulpit  during  the  absence 
of  their  pastor.  This  arrangement  was  finally  con- 
summated. 

During  the  fall  of  1844  the  pulpit  was  supplied  by 
Rev.  J.  H.  Towne,  of  Boston,  who  declined  to  become 
a  settled  pastor. 

Jan.  6,1845.  "By  request  the  church  and  congregation  remained 
after  services  in  the  afternoon  to  ascertain  their  wishes  in  regard  to  the 
church  giving  Rev.  George  L.  Prentiss,  of  Portland,  Me.,  an  invitation 
to  become  pastor  of  their  church.  The  question  having  been  put  and  a 
request  made  that  all  who  were  in  favor  of  the  church  giving  said  in- 
vitation should  rise,  it  appeared  that  all  had  risen,  and  that  there  was 
but  one  mind  both  in  the  church  and  congregation  in  favor  of  said  in- 
vitation." 


NEW    BEDFORD. 


81 


A  call  was  immediately  (Jan.  6,  1845)  extended  to 
Rev.  George  L.  Prentiss,  of  Portland,  Me.  His  salary 
was  fixed  "  at  twelve  hundred  dollars  the  first  year, 
fourteen  hundred  dollars  the  second,  and  sixteen 
hundred  dollars  the  third  year,  and  that  the  latter- 
named  sum  he  the  salary  after  that  time."  It  was 
also  voted  to  allow  him  an  annual  vacation  of  six 
weeks.  March  4th  a  meeting  of  the  male  members 
of  the  church  was  called  to  make  arrangements  for 
the  ordination  of  Mr.  Prentiss,  wdio  had  accepted  the 
call  so  unanimously  extended  to  him.  The  installation 
took  place  April  9th.  He  remained  pastor  of  the 
church  until  Sept.  30,  1850.  The  years  of  his  pas- 
torate were  those  of  great  prosperity  to  the  society. 
Fifty-five  new  members  were  added,  and  the  utmost 
harmony  prevailed  between  pastor  and  people. 

Oct.  15, 1850,  a  call  was  extended  to  Rev.  Wheelock 
Craig,  of  Newcastle.  Me.,  and  he  was  installed  Dec. 
4,  1850.  His  salary  was  placed  at  twelve  hundred 
dollars,  with  a  vacation  of  three  weeks.  He  remained 
with  the  church  eighteen  years,  during  which  time 
two  hundred  and  five  persons  were  added  to  the 
church  membership.  Many  of  these  joined  during 
the  great  religious  awakening  of  1857-59.  For  many 
months  during  this  revival  daily  union  prayer-meet- 
ings were  held  in  this  church,  over  which  Mr.  Craig 
personally  presided.  In  the  midst  of  this  interest,  in 
1858,  he  was  invited  to  the  professorship  of  modern 
languages  at  Bowdoin  College,  but  he  preferred  to 
remain  in  his  pastorate,  where  be  was  respected  and 
beloved  not  only  by  his  own  society,  but  by  the  com- 
munity at  large. 

In  1866  the  church  was  again  injured  by  fire. 
While  it  was  being  repaired  services  were  held  in 
Pierian  Hall. 

In  1868,  Mr.  Craig's  health  began  to  fail,  and  his 
church  granted  him  a  leave  of  absence  for  four 
months,  his  salary  to  be  continued,  and  his  pulpit 
supplied  during  his  absence  by  his  brother,  Rev. 
Henry  Craig.  He  sailed  from  New  York  May  23, 
1868,  landing  in  Ireland.  He  traveled  through  many 
countries  of  Europe.  His  health  appeared  to  improve 
until  his  arrival  in  Italy.  Finding  his  strength  fail- 
ing he  hastened  back  to  Switzerland  for  the  winter, 
but  after  several  weeks  of  rapid  decline  he  died  at 
Neufchatel,  Switzerland,  Nov.  28,  1868.  The  last 
words  of  Scripture  that  he  spoke  were,  "  There  shall 
be  no  night  there,  but  the  Lamb  which  is  in  the  midst 
of  the  throne  shall  be  their  light."  His  remains  were 
brought  to  this  city,  and  his  funeral  services  were  held 
at  his  own  church  Dec.  24,  1868.  His  funeral  sermon 
was  preached  by  Rev.  Dr.  Weld,  of  Boston,  from 
Psalms  xii.  1,  "  Help,  Lord,  for  the  godly  man  ceaseth, 
for  the  faithful  fail  from  among  the  children  of  men." 

Feb.  12,  1870,  a  call  was  extended  to  Rev.  Cassius 
M.  Terry,  of  New  York  City,  to  become  pastor  of 
the  church.  This  call  was  accepted  Feb.  16,  1870, 
and  he  commenced  his  labors  in  June,  but  his  instal- 
lation did  not  take  place  until  Nov.  3,  1871.  During 
6 


the  fall  of  1871  his  health  began  to  fail,  and  his 
church  was  grieved  but  not  surprised  when,  Feb.  25, 
1872,  he  wrote  a  letter  asking  his  dismissal.  His 
resignation  was  accepted  March  1,  1872.  During 
his  connection  with  the  church  he  had  received  forty 
persons  to  membership,  which  is  the  highest  percent- 
age per  annum  received  by  any  pastor  during  the  his- 
tory of  the  church.  He  afterwards  removed  to  Min- 
neapolis, Minn.,  but  change  of  climate  failed  to 
eradicate  the  seeds  of  disease  sown  by  the  east  winds, 
and  he  died  of  consumption  Aug.  18,  1881.  His 
memory  is  cherished  with  the  utmost  respect  and 
affection  by  this  people. 

After  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Terry  in  March  the 
church  was  supplied  until  October  very  acceptably 
by  Rev.  Dr.  L.  T.  Townsend,  of  Boston. 

At  a  meeting  held  Oct.  21,  1872,  it  was  voted  to 
extend  a  call  to  Rev.  Matthew  C.  Julien,  of  New 
York,  with  a  salary  of  three  thousand  five  hundred 
dollars.  It  was  accepted,  and  the  installation  took 
place  Dec.  11,  1872. 

Mr.  Julien  found  the  church  burdened  with  a  debt 
of  two  thousand  seven  hundred  dollars.  This  he  im- 
mediately took  measures  to  liquidate.  He  called  a 
meeting  of  the  church  and  society,  and  a  sum  more 
than  sufficient  to  cover  the  amount  was  raised  at  once. 
Since  that  time  no  debt  has  been  allowed  to  accumu- 
late. At  the  beginning  of  each  year  estimates  deemed 
sufficient  to  defray  the  expenses  for  the  ensuing  year 
have  been  made,  and  the  records  show  that  in  no  case 
have  they  been  exceeded. 

His  next  effort  was  to  reorganize  the  Bible  school 
on  a  new  basis.  In  this  he  was  eminently  successful, 
as  is  abundantly  proven  by  the  prosperous  condition 
of  the  school  to-day.  It  has  an  average  attendance 
of  upwards  of  two  hundred  pupils,  and  were  our  ac- 
commodations suitable  we  have  every  reason  to  be- 
lieve that  the  membership  would  be  greatly  increased. 

Extensive  repairs  and  alterations  were  made  in  the 
church  edifice  during  the  summer  and  fall  of  1879. 
The  organ  was  taken  from  the  rear  gallery  and  placed 
in  front  of  the  audience,  and  the  interior  of  the  church 
was  tastefully  frescoed  and  refurnished.  It  was  re- 
dedicated  Dec.  11,  1869,  with  interesting  and  appro- 
priate exercises.  Addresses  were  made  by  Rev.  Dr. 
Duryea,  of  the  Central  Congregational  Church,  Bos- 
ton, and  Rev.  Mr.  Heath,  of  New  Bedford.  The 
music  was  furnished  by  the  New  Bedford  Choral 
Association. 

It  may  be  well  here  to  mention  certain  legacies  that 
have  been  bestowed  by  members  of  the  church  now 
deceased.  The  silver  communion  service  was  the 
gift  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robert  Gibbs.  It  consists  of  a 
tankard,  two  plates,  and  four  cups.  Mr.  Ivory  H. 
Bartlett,  Jr.,  donated  in  his  will  five  hundred  dollars 
to  the  Bible  school. 

The  deacons  who  have  served  since  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  church,  including  those  previously  men- 
tioned, are  as  follows  :  Joshua  Barker,  Simeon  Bailey, 


82 


HISTORY    OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Frederick  Read,  Charles  Coggeshall,  Reuben  Nye, 
Gilbert  Richmond,  Joseph  Goodspeed,  Augustus  P. 
Hamlin,  Allen  Crowell,  William  G.  Edwards,  Ezra 
B.  Chase,  Eben  Nye,  Isaac  C.  Sherman,  William  0. 
Woodman,  Fred.  A.  Washburn,  Isaac  N.  Barrows. 

Among  those  who  were  conspicuous  in  the  earlier 
history  of  the  church  not  only  for  their  loyalty  but 
also  for  the  public  value  of  the  service  they  rendered, 
some  of  whom  have  already  been  referred  to,  may  be 
mentioned  the  names  of  Mr.  and  Mr.  Robert  Gibbs, 
Mrs.  Alfred  Kendrick,  Pensa  Barker,  Clarissa  Barker, 
Eliza  Tobey,  Dr.  Alexander  Read,  John  A.  Kasson, 
Jonathan  Fussell,  Marsena  Washburn,  Caroline  To- 
bey, Isaac  D.  Hall,  Deacon  Joshua  Barker,  Deacon 
Simeon  Bailey,  and  Deacon  and  Mrs.  Reuben  Nye. 

Mr.  Julien  has  now  been  pastor  of  this  church  ten 
years.  He  labors  with  this  people  with  great  faith- 
fulness and  acceptance,  and  fearlessly  preaches  what 
he  considers  the  truth  of  God.  The  perfect  harmony 
which  to-day  prevails  throughout  this  church  and  so- 
ciety, is  largely  due  to  his  influence. 

The  First  Baptist  Church  was  organized  June  30, 
1813,  with  the  following  members:  John  Brown, 
Elizabeth  Coggeshall,  Emily  Brown,  Susan  Macom- 
ber,  Alles  Tobey,  James  Tripp,  Susan  Tripp,  John 
Wrightington,  Philip  Cannon,  Jr.,  Deborah  Potter, 
Nancy  Hitch,  Pamelia  Stowell,  Catharine  Martin, 
Perivilla  Lowdon,  Mercy  Andrews,  Elizabeth  Tuell, 
Phebe  Cannon,  Hannah  Covell,  Sally  Greene,  Catha- 
rine Tallman,  John  Pickens,  Dolly  Wilcox,  and 
Huldah  Thomas. 

The  first  pastor  of  the  church  was  Rev.  George  H. 
Hough,  from  April,  1814,  to  January,  1815.  His  suc- 
cessors have  been  as  follows:  Revs. Silas  Hall,  1817-19; 
James  Barnaby,  1819-23;  Isaac  Chase,  1823-24 ;  Fran- 
cis Wayland,  supply  ;  Daniel  Curtis,  1825-26  ;  Gideon 
B.  Perry,  1827-30;  S.  P.  Hill,  John  E.  Weston,  and 
S.  Lovell,  supplies  ;  Asa  Bronson,  1831-33  ;  John  O. 
Choules,  1833-38;  M.  M.  Dean,  G.  J.  Carlton,  sup- 
plies ;  Henry  Jackson,  1838-45  ;  Rufus  Babcock,  D.D., 
1846-50;  John  Girdwood,  1850-65;  George  S.  Chase, 
supply ;  D.  D.  Winn,  1866-79 ;  H.  K.  Pervear,  1880, 
present  pastor. 

The  church  first  worshiped  in  a  hall  on  Second 
Street  near  Mill.  Upon  the  division  of  the  town  the 
old  town-house  at  the  Head  of  the  River  was  purchased 
by  the  society  and  removed  to  the  corner  of  South 
Second  and  School  Streets,  and  was  dedicated  July  3, 
1817.  This  was  occupied  until  Oct.  29,  1829,  when 
their  present  church  edifice  was  dedicated.  This  was 
enlarged  in  1833,  the  interior  changed  in  1841.  It 
was  repaired  in  1856  and  again  in  1879,  when  exten- 
sive alterations  and  repairs  were  made.  The  present 
membership  is  two  hundred  and  fifty. 

The  North  Baptist  Church1  was  organized  Nov. 
13,  1873.  The  corner-stone  of  the  church  edifice  was 
laid  the  following  spring,  the  religious  part  of  the 


i  By  Rev.  Charles  F.  Nicholson. 


exercises  being  conducted  by  Rev.  J.  D.  Fulton,  D.D., 
then  of  Boston.  At  the  formal  opening  of  the  house 
the  dedicatory  sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  George 
C.  Larimer,  D.D.,  then  of  Boston.  Rev.  O.  E.  Cox 
was  the  first  pastor,  and  retained  the  position  about 
two  years.  His  successor  was  Rev.  Charles  A.  Snow, 
who  continued  in  the  pastorate  six  years.  The  pres- 
ent incumbent  became  the  third  pastor  of  the  church 
Oct.  1, 1881.  There  have  been  two  baptisms  and  sev- 
eral additions  by  letter  during  the  past  year.  The 
present  membership  is  one  hundred  and  twenty-five. 

The  church  is  officered  as  follows :  Pastor,  Rev. 
Charles  F.  Nicholson  ;  Deacons,  Luther  G.  Hewins, 
Thomas  Pope,  Annibald  Dalrymple ;  Clerk,  Luther 
G.  Hewins,  Jr. ;  Sexton,  Samuel  T.  Eldridge. 

Most  of  the  original  constituent  members  (about 
thirty)  withdrew  from  the  William  Street  Baptist 
Church  of  this  city  for  the  express  purpose  of  starting 
a  new  church  interest,  which  was  felt  to  be  a  great 
and  immediate  necessity,  in  the  north  part  of  the  city. 

Mr.  Augustus  Green,  of  the  William  Street  Baptist 
Church  of  this  city,  has  from  the  first  been  an  ardent 
advocate  and  generous  contributor  to  the  North  Bap- 
tist Church  enterprise.  He  has  given  to  this  object, 
all  told,  about  seventeen  thousand  dollars. 

An  important  auxiliary  of  the  church  is  an  inter- 
esting Sunday-school  of  about  two  hundred  members, 
which  is  earnestly  at  work  studying  and  teaching  the 
word  of  God. 

There  is  a  pleasant  parsonage  adjacent  to  the  church 
edifice  on  County  Street. 

The  Second  Baptist  Church  was  organized  Jan. 
22,  1845,  and  in  the  same  year  their  first  house  of 
worship  was  dedicated.  The  first  pastor  was  Rev. 
Thomas  U.  Allen.  Among  others  of  the  early  min- 
isters were  Edmund  Kelley,  Elder  Jackson,  C.  Bray, 
Richard  Vaughn,  P.  Bowler,  T.  P.  Valentine,  and 
C.  Woodward. 

Salem  Baptist  Church. — This  church  was  organ- 
ized Dec.  7,  1858.  It  was  composed  of  ninety-five 
persons,  who,  with  their  pastor,  Rev.  William  Jack- 
son, withdrew  from  the  Second  Baptist  Church. 
Among  the  original  members  of  the  church  were 
William  Bush,  Scipio  Blackwell,  Peter  Nelson,  John 
C.  Dunlap,  Edwin  Lewis,  and  Anthony  G.  Jour- 
dain,  Jr.  The  pastor,  Rev.  William  Jackson,  was 
born  in  Norfolk,  Va.,  Aug.  16,  1818.  The  house  of 
worship  occupied  by  the  society  is  on  North  Sixth 
Street,  and  was  formerly  known  as  the  Centre  Chapel. 
The  church  has  had  but  two  pastors,  Rev.  William 
Jackson,  from  1858  to  1869,  and  Rev.  J.  H.  Lee,  from 
1869  to  the  present  time. 

The  Fourth  Street  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.'2 
— Every  branch  of  the  Christian  Church  worthy  of  an 
existence  deserves  to  have  its  history  recorded  for  the 
benefit  of  succeeding  generations,  and  for  its  own 
honor. 

2  By  Rev.  A.  McCord. 


NEW   BEDFORD. 


83 


This  church  was  built  in  1831,  and  dedicated  in 
February,  1832.  At  this  time  it  formed  a  branch  of 
the  Elm  Street  (now  the  County  Street)  Society. 
During  1831  and  1832,  Rev.  Asa  Kent  officiated, 
and  at  the  Conference  of  1832,  A.  D.  Sargeant  and 
Daniel  Webb  were  appointed  to  serve  both  charges. 

In  1833,  by  mutual  consent,  they  separated,  and 
Fourth  Street  became  a  separate  and  distinct  church 
under  the  pastoral  care  of  A.  U.  Swinerton,  who  re- 
mained two  years. 

Only  three  of  the  original  Acushnet  members  came 
from  Elm  Street  to  Fourth  Street,  viz. :  Z.  Cushman, 
B.  K.  Saver,  and  Bloomy  Holmes ;  the  last  is  still 
living. 

Rev.  Swinerton  was  greatly  prospered,  receiving 
forty -seven  into  the  church  by  profession,  and  twenty- 
nine  by  letter.  During  his  pastorate  the  church  was 
financially  embarrassed  for  years  with  a  debt  of  six 
thousand  dollars. 

In  1835,  Rev.  Sanford  Benton  was  appointed  to  this 
church,  and  labored  successfully  for  one  year,  when 
he  was  removed  at  his  own  request. 

In  1836,  Rev.  Phin.  Crandall  was  stationed  here, 
and  remained  two  years.  While  here  he  distinguished 
himself  in  a  controversy  with  Rev.  Mr.  Morgrige  on 
the  doctrine  of  the  Trinity  in  the  public  press. 

In  1838,  Rev.  W.  Emerson  served  this  church. 

The  records  of  this  pastorate  are  wanting. 

Rev.  Daniel  Webb  was  appointed  to  this  charge  in 
1839.     He  remained  but  one  year. 

In  1840,  Rev.  Mr.  Campbell  supplied  this  church. 
A  very  interesting  revival  of  religion  attended  his 
labors.  He  was  removed  at  the  end  of  his  first  year, 
and  afterwards  became  what  was  then  called  a  "  Mil- 
lerite." 

In  1841,  Rev.  George  Pool  was  appointed,  but  re- 
mained only  one  year,  when  he  was  appointed  prin- 
cipal of  the  E.  Greenwich  Academy.  He  was  very 
popular  with  the  church,  and  they  regretted  his  re- 
moval. A  general  religious  interest  prevailed  during 
his  short  pastorate,  and  his  removal  was  considered 
detrimental  to  the  prosperity  of  this  church. 

In  1842,  Rev.  Mr.  Swinerton  was  reappointed  to 
this  charge,  and  remained  two  years, — a  fact  which 
showed  the  high  estimate  in  which  this  church  held 
this  worthy  man.     He  raised  for  missions  §57.70. 

Rev.  Isaac  House  was  sent  here  in  1844.  He  was 
eloquent  and  popular,  drawing  large  audiences.  He 
became  sick  in  the  fall  of  this  year,  and  died  July  7, 
1847. 

Rev.  Daniel  Webb  supplied  the  balance  of  the 
year. 

In  1846,  Rev.  P.  Townsend  became  pastor.  He 
died  in  April,  1877,  at  his  home  in  Cochesett,  Mass. 

In  1847,  Rev.  Daniel  Filmore  became  pastor,  and 
served  with  great  acceptance. 

In  1849,  Rev.  W.  H.  Richards  came  to  serve  this 
society.     While  pastor  here  his  wife  died. 

In  1850,  Rev.  M.  Chase  was  appointed  pastor,  and 


his  ministry  was  very  successful,  adding  a  large  num- 
ber to  the  church.  At  the  end  of  this  year  he  reported 
two  hundred  and  ten  members  and  sixty-two  proba- 
tioners. The  next  year  he  reported  two  hundred  and 
sixty-seven  members  and  one  hundred  and  sixteen 
probationers.  At  the  close  of  this  year  he,  with  others, 
bought  the  Allen  Street  Church,  and  formed  a  new 
society  with  members  from  the  Fourth  Street  Society. 
The  above  figures  include  those  that  went  to  found 
the  Allen  Street  Society.  This  move  was  afterwards 
much  regretted,  owing  to  the  weakeningof  the  mother- 
church  by  it. 

In  1852,  Rev.  Richard  Livesey  became  pastor. 
This  year  thirty -five  removed  by  letter  to  Allen 
Street,  which,  with  the  number  before  removed, 
reduced  the  membership  at  Fourth  Street  to  one 
hundred  and  ninety-one  members  and  eighteen  pro- 
bationers. 

At  the  close  of  this  Conference  year  the  Providence 
Annual  Conference  was  entertained  by  this  society. 
Bishop  Janes  presided  and  Bishop  Baker  was  present. 

In  1853,  Rev.  J.  Mather  was  selected  for  this  ap- 
pointment, and  remained  two  years.  During  his 
pastorate  nine  were  received  by  letter  and  four  by 
profession.  Owing  to  the  number  removing  to  Allen 
Street,  the  membership  was  reduced  to  one  hundred 
and  seventy-two,  and  seven  probationers. 

In  1855,  Rev.  George  M.  Carpenter  was  stationed 
here.  He  remained  two  years.  The  membership 
was  reduced  during  his  pastorate  by  the  continued 
flow  to  Allen  Street  and  deaths  and  removals  to  one 
hundred  and  thirty-six,  and  six  on  trial. 

At  this  date  the  tide  to  Allen  Street  ceased  to  flow 
from  this  church. 

In  1857,  Rev.  Mr.  Baylies  was  appointed  pastor. 
This  was  a  year  of  general  religious  revival  through- 
out the  country,  and  quite  a  number  were  added  to 
the  church  ;  reported  one  hundred  and  thirty-two 
members  and  forty-two  probationers. 

In  1858,  Rev.  J.  T.  Benton  became  pastor,  and  re- 
mained two  years.  He  reported  one  hundred  and 
forty-two  members,  and  twenty-two  on  probation. 

In  1860,  Rev.  S.  F.  Upham,  since  elected  professor 
in  Drew  Theological  Seminary,  Madison,  N.  J.,  was 
appointed  pastor  and  served  two  years.  During  his 
pastorate  fifteen  were  added  to  the  church,  fourteen 
of  them  by  letter,  yet  such  was  the  decrease  by 
death  and  removal  that  only  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
four  members  and  fifteen  probationers  remained  at 
the  close  of  his  pastorate.  During  his  pastorate  the 
church  building  was  enlarged  and  remodeled  at  a  cost 
of  six  thousand  three  hundred  dollars. 

The  house  was  rededicated  in  February,  1861,  by 
Rev.  L.  D.  Barrows. 

In  1862,  Rev.  N.  Bemis  was  appointed  the  pastor. 

At  the  close  of  his  pastorate  he  reported  one  hun- 
dred and  thirty-seven  members  and  fourteen  proba- 
tioners. 

In  1863,  Rev.  E.  H.  Hatfield  was  appointed  pastor, 


84 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


and  served  two  years.  The  records  show  no  recep- 
tions into  the  church  during  his  pastorate.  There  is 
a  large  falling  off  in  membership  at  this  time  not 
accounted  for.  He  reported  one  hundred  and  thir- 
teen members  and  ten  probationers. 

In  the  spring  of  1865,  for  the  first  time  in  its  his- 
tory, Fourth  Street  was  left  "  to  be  supplied."  Rev. 
Joseph  Marsh,  a  local  preacher,  was  invited  to  serve 
the  church.  His  wife  died  during  this  pastorate. 
He  reported  the  tide  falling,— only  one  hundred  and 
five  members  and  eight  probationers. 

In  the  spring  of  1866,  Rev.  William  H.  Jones,  of 
the  New  Hampshire  Conference,  was  appointed  to 
this  charge.  At  this  time  a  debt  of  two  thousand 
four  hundred  dollars,  contracted  at  the  time  when  the 
church  was  improved.  He  reported  three  admitted 
by  letter  and  four  by  profession.  Total  members, 
one  hundred  and  ten,  and  thirteen  on  trial. 

In  1867,  Rev.  E.  S.  Stanley  was  sent  as  pastor. 
There  was  some  increase  during  this  pastorate.  He 
reported  one  hundred  and  eighteen  members,  and 
twenty-one  on  trial. 

There  is  a  break  in  the  records  here.  The  next 
report  is  that  of  Charles  Ryder,  who  supplied  this 
church  from  May  1,  1873,  to  July  1st,  and  then  re- 
signed. 

Charles  Morgan  supplied  from  Sept.  1,  1873,  to 
March  25,  1874,  and  reported  twenty-three  conver- 
sions. At  the  Conference  of  1874  he  was  returned  as 
pastor,  and  served  to  April,  1875. 

In  1875,  Rev.  R.  W.  C.  Farnsworth  was  appointed 
pastor,  and  served  until  April,  1878. 

In  1878,  Rev.  Asa  N.  Bodfishwas  appointed  pastor, 
and  remained  three  years.  He  reported  one  hundred 
and  thirty  members.  This  number  was  found  re- 
duced to  one  hundred  and  eighteen. 

In  1881,  Rev.  A.  McCord  was  appointed  pastor. 
The  outlook  was  exceedingly  gloomy.  The  church 
building  was  in  urgent  need  of  repairs.  The  pastor 
went  to  work  and  raised,  in  and  out  of  the  church, 
two  thousand  three  hundred  dollars,  and  thoroughly 
repaired,  painted,  and  refurnished  the  church  inside 
and  out. 

All  the  bills  were  paid,  so  that  at  the  close  of  that 
year  he  could  report  no  debt.  The  winter  of  that 
year  a  revival  started,  and  many  were  converted  and 
received  on  probation.  The  work  continued  into  the 
next  year,  and  during  the  second  year  he  received 
into  full  connection  fifty-five,  and  in  March,  1883, 
twelve  remain  on  probation.  Other  improvements 
have  been  made  in  the  church  facilities  and  paid  for. 
The  amount  expended  for  improvements  in  one  way 
and  another  during  the  two  years  has  reached  about 
two  thousand  five  hundred  dollars,  which  has  all  been 
raised.  The  church  feels  that  the  tide  has  turned,  and 
trust  in  God  as  their  hope  for  years  to  come.  The 
Sabbath-school  has  largely  increased.  The  member- 
ship of  the  church  is  one  hundred  and  eighty,  and 
twelve  on  probation. 


Allen  Street  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.— This 

house  of  worship  was  built  in  1842  by  William  and 
Joseph  Smith,  Christian  Baptist  preachers,  and  was 
occupied  for  several  years  by  that  denomination. 

Nov.  8,  1851,  it  was  offered  for  sale  by  Hervey  Sul- 
lings  and  James  A.  Tripp,  the  proprietors,  and  princi- 
pally through  the  exertions  of  the  Rev.  Moses  Chase, 
then  in  charge  of  the  Fourth  Street  Church,  it  was 
purchased  by  the  following  persons :  Stephen  Wood, 
Joseph  Brownell,  John  Allen,  Albert  D.  Hatch,  Ezra 
Kelley,  Rev.  Moses  Chase,  and  Thomas  R.  Peirce,  all 
of  whom  were  members  of  the  Fourth  Street  Church 
except  Mr.  Peirce.  They  obtained  a  supply  for  the 
pulpit  until  the  8th  of  December,  when  the  Rev.  An- 
drew McKeown  was  appointed  by  the  presiding  elder 
until  the  ensuing  session  of  the  Providence  Confer- 
ence. 

The  following  members  of  the  Fourth  Street  Church 
were  the  founders  of  this  society  :  Robert  A.  Sher- 
man, Eliza  R.  Sherman,  Henry  M.  Allen,  Phebe  A. 
Allen,  Solomon  Chadwick,  Nancy  W.  Cliadwick, 
Benjamin  Buffington,  John  Allen,  Sarah  W.  Allen, 
Matilda  C.  Anderson,  John  Tripp,  Polly  Tripp,  Sarah 
P.  Tripp,  Hope  Sherman,  Mary  E.  Macomber,  Mary 
E.  Miller,  Nicholas  Mack,  Frederick  A.  Chase,  Su- 
sannah Rogers,  Stephen  Wood,  A.  D.  Hatch,  H.  H. 
Tillson,  Alanson  Williston. 

The  following  persons  were  appointed  to  serve  as  a 
board  of  trustees,  viz.:  Robert  A.  Sherman,  Henry 
M.  Allen,  Solomon  Chadwick,  Davis  Thomas,  John 
Allen,  Stephen  Wood,  Warren  Howland,  Alanson 
Williston,  and  Benjamin  Buffington. 

The  house  of  worship  was  reopened  with  appro- 
priate religious  services  Jan.  22,  1852.  A  sermon  was 
preached  on  the  occasion  by  the  Rev.  Moses  Chase. 

Mr.  McKeown's  successors  have  been  as  follows : 
Revs.  J.  B.  Gould,  J.  A.  M.  Chapman,  Henry  Baylies, 
P.  T.  Kinney,  John  Livesey,  William  Kellen,  F.  J. 
Wagner,  E.  A.  Lyon,  Thomas  Ely,  Freeman  Ryder, 
J.  M.  Durell,  V.  N.  Matson,  Bradford  T.  Roy,  B.  P. 
Raymond,  J.  H.  Humphrey,  Charles  S.  Nutter,  and 
in  1881  Rev.  George  W.  Wright,  M.A.,  the  present 
pastor,  was  appointed. 

Rev.  George  W.  Wright,  the  present  pastor,  was 
born  at  Beekman,  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.  He  graduated 
at  Wesleyan  Academy,  Wilbraham,  Mass.,  in  the  class 
of  1868,  and  also  graduated  at  Wesleyan  University, 
Middletown,  Conn.,  in  class  of  1872.  He  studied 
theology  at  the  School  of  Theology  of  Boston  Univer- 
sity during  the  year  1873.  This  (ecclesiastical  year, 
1881)  year  was  characterized  by  an  extensive  and 
powerful  revival,  resulting  in  a  large  number  of  con- 
versions and  a  large  increase  in  numbers  and  interest 
in  the  Sunday-school. 

The  various  departments  of  the  church  are  health- 
ful and  vigorous.  The  membership  of  the  church  is 
one  hundred  and  eighty ;  probationers,  forty-eight. 
The  Sabbath-school  has  numbered  at  its  regular  ses- 
sion as  high  as  two  hundred  and  twenty-five. 


NEW   BEDFORD. 


85 


Mr.  Jethro  C.  Brock,  Esq.,  is  the  present  popular 
superintendent.  The  present  board  of  trustees  are 
Henry  M.  Allen,  Charles  E.  Cook,  J.  Harvey  Sher- 
man, Jethro  C.  Brock,  S.  D.  Robinson,  Charles  A. 
Tuell,  Frederick  D.  Bless. 

The  Pleasant  Street  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church1  of  New  Bedford,  Mass.,  was  organized  May 
24,  1S44.  In  the  spring  of  1843  the  Elm  Street 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  appointed  a  committee 
from  her  trustees,  who  purchased  a  lot  on  Pleasant 
Street,  and  erected  an  edifice  thirty  by  forty  feet  for 
the  purposes  of  a  Sunday-school.  Nearly  seventy 
members  from  that  society  volunteered  the  care  of 
this  new  mission  and  soon  established  social  meetings. 
The  organization  which  speedily  followed  was  effected 
without  dissension,  it  being  apparent  to  the  mother- 
church  that  the  step  was  fully  authorized  by  the  relig- 
ious necessities  of  that  part  of  the  city. 

Its  career  has  been  marked  by  great  religious  pros- 
perity. Hundreds  have  bowed  at  her  altars  to  the 
sceptre  of  Immanuel.  Her  Sunday-school  ranks 
among  the  largest  in  New  England. 

The  original  edifice  was  enlarged  during  the  pas- 
torate of  Rev.  John  Livesey,  which  extended  from 
August,  1843,  to  the  spring  of  1845. 

The  present  edifice  was  dedicated  July,  1849,  and 
improved  during  the  pastorates  of  Revs.  L.  B.  Bates 
and  E.  F.  Clark. 

The  following  have  been  her  pastors  :  John  Livesey, 
1843-45;  Samuel  Beedle,  1845-46;  S.  C.  Brown, 
1846  ;  C.  H.  Titus,  1846-48 ;  Jonathan  Cady,  1848- 
50;  John  Hobart,  1850-51;  H.  C.  Atwater,  1851-53; 
Frederick  Upham,  1853-55  ;  E.  B.  Bradford,  1855-57  ; 
John  Howson,  1857-59 ;  Charles  Nason,  1859-61 ; 
William  McDonald,  1861-63;  W.  F.  Farrington, 
1863-64;  N.  P.  Philbrook,  1864-66;  L.  B.  Bates, 
1866-69;  J.  E.  Hawkins,  1869-72;  W.  T.  North, 
1872-75;  T.  K.  Green,  1875-78;  J.  W.  Malcolm, 
1878-80 ;  E.  F.  Clark,  1880-83. 

County  Street  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.2 — 
This  society  was  organized  in  1820,  and  worshiped  in 
the  church  on  Elm  Street  (below  Purchase)  till  1859, 
when  the  new  building  on  the  corner  of  County  and 
Elm  Streets  was  completed,  and  dedicated  May  5th 
of  that  year. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  the  pastors,  with  dates 
of  their  service:  Jesse  Fillmore,  1820-21;  Solomon 
Sias,  1822-23;  Eph.  Kebby,  1824;  Frederick  Upham, 
1825;  Jacob  Sanborn,  1826-27;  Asa  Kent,  1828; 
Timothy  Merritt,  1829-30;  Daniel  Webb,  1831-32; 
Daniel  Fillmore,  1833;  Thomas  C.  Pierce,  1834-35; 
Shipley  W.  Wilson,  1836-37;  Isaac  Bonney,  1838-39; 
Joel  Knight,  1840-41 ;  John  Lovejoy,  1842-43;  A.  P. 
Wheeler,  1844;  David  Patten,  1845-46;  James  D. 
Butler,  1847-48;  Robert  M.Hatfield,  1849-50;  Daniel 
Wise,  1851-52;  E.  T.  Fletcher,  1852-53;  W.  T.  Har- 
low,   1854-55;    John    Cooper,    1856;    H.    S.    White, 


l  By  Rev  E.  F.  Clark. 


2  By  Leonard  B.  Ellis. 


1857-58;  Mark  Trafton,  1859-60;  William  S.  Studley, 
1861-62;  Mark  Trafton,  1863-64;  R.  W.  Humphries, 
1865-67;  D.  P.  Leavitt,  1868-70;  E.  McChesney, 
1871-73;  Luther  T.  Townsend,  1874;  W.  F.  Crafts, 
1875-76;  W.  F.  Whitcher,  1877-78  ;  W.  L.Phillips, 
1879-80;  E.  T.  Towle,  1881;  H.  D.  Kimball,  1882-83. 
The  church  officers  were  as  follows:  Stewards,  Ben- 
jamin Pitman,  Ambrose  Vincent,  George  G.  Gifford, 
George  M.  Eddy,  Benjamin  Anthony,  Charles  De 
Wolf,  Sylvanus  Bennett,  Savory  C.  Hathaway,  James 
Taylor;  Class-Leaders,  Addison  Woodard,  Caleb  L, 
Ellis,  Savory  Hathaway,  Frank  A.  Butts,  Jr.,  William 
J.  Sherman,  Josiah  Richmond,  Jona.  Covell,  Thomas 
H.  Soule,  Fred.  H.  Vinal,  Nathan  L.  Paine,  William 
B.  Dwight,  John  B.  Smith,  Job  Wade,  James  B.  Rus- 
sell, Timothy  M.  Gifford,  Joseph  R.  Slocum,  George 
T.  Allen,  George  T.  Hardwick,  George  N.  Dyer,  Chas. 

A.  B.  Peterson,  William  M.  Butler,  George  G.  Gifford, 
Jr.,  Mark  T.  Vincent;  District  Steward,  Ambrose  Vin- 
cent ;  Recording  Steward,  Benjamin  Pitman  ;  Secre- 
tary, Mark  T.  Vincent ;  Treasurer,  George  M.  Eddy  ; 
Collector,  Mrs.  Joseph  R.  Slocum  ;  Trustees,  James 
Taylor  (president),  L.  B.  Ellis  (secretary),  Benjamin 
Anthony  (treasurer),  F.  A.  Soule,  S.  T.  Perry,  George 
M.  Eddy,  S.  C.  Hathaway,  Job  Wade,  George  G.  Gif- 
ford ;  Local  Preacher,  Addison  Woodard. 

The  following  are  the  officers  of  the  Sunday-school: 
L.  B.  Ellis,  superintendent;  Savory  C.  Hathaway, 
Mary  E.  Austin,  assistants;  Benjamin  Pitman,  secre- 
tary ;  William  M.  Butler,  assistant;  Emma  C.  Austin, 
treasurer ;  Charles  L.  Paine,  librarian ;  Mark  T.  Vin- 
cent, Annie  L.  Almy,  Lillie  S.  Perry,  Mary  A.  Willis, 
assistants. 

African  Methodist  Episcopal  Zion  Church.— 
This  church  was  organized  March  5,  1850,  and  con- 
sisted of  the  following  members  :  Edward  Thomas, 
Alexander  Devol,  Isaac  Henson,  William  H.  Harris, 
Sarah  Harrison,  Jane  Thomas,  Mary  Ann  Devol, 
Harriet  Wright,  Mary  Harris,  Celia  Williams,  Cath- 
arine Henson,  Phebe  Henson,  and  Charles  Eaton. 

They  first  held  services  in  a  school-house  on  the 
corner  of  Eighth  Street  and  Mechanics'  Lane,  after- 
wards at  the  residence  of  Mr.  Alexander  Devol,  on 
Middle  Street,  until  1851,  when  they  removed  to  their 
present  house  of  worship.  The  pastors  have  been  as 
follows:  Rev.  Leonard  Collins,  H.  Thompson,  James 
Simmons,  Dempsey,  Peter  Ross,  Joseph  Hicks,  Clin- 
ton Leonard,  Samuel  M.  Giles,  W.  B.  Smith,  Na- 
thaniel Stubb,  Lucas  Sayler,  Thomas  Davis,  William 

B.  Smith,  George  H.  Washington,  J.  B.  Small,  W.  D. 
F.  Pyle,  John  F.  Lloyd,  Silas  A.  Mitchell,  William 
B.  Heath,  Daniel  Davis,  N.  H.  Turpin,  George  H. 
Washington,  and  William  B.  Bowens. 

African  Methodist  Episcopal  Bethel  Church  — 
Those  churches  styling  themselves  African  Methodist 
separated  from  their  white  brethren  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  at  a  convention  assembled  in  Phila- 
delphia in  April,  1816. 

This  church  was  organized  in  1842,  by  Rev.  Eli  N. 


86 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Hall,  of  Providence,  with  the  following  persons: 
Jacob  Thomas  and  wife,  John  Bailey  and  wife,  John 
Elsemore  and  wife,  Walter  Hawkins  and  wife,  James 
Oook  and  wife,  John  Williams  and  wife,  James  Allen, 
George  F.  Fletcher,  Grafton  Johnson,  John  F.  Chew, 
Jackson  Hawkins,  Henry  J.  Johnson,  Hatty  Peter- 
son, Porter  Hendrickson  and  wife,  James  Dyre  and 
wife,  and  Jesse  Richardson. 

During  the  same  year  a  house  of  worship  was  built, 
at  a  cost  of  eighteen  hundred  dollars.  This  was  de- 
stroyed by  fire  in  1854.  The  present  building  was 
commenced  in  1855.  The  corner-stone  was  laid  by 
Joseph  R.  Turner,  but  no  work  on  the  church  was 
done  for  seven  years.  Rev.  H.  J.  Johnson  at  length 
formed  the  "  One  Object  Society"  to  carry  out  and 
complete  the  work;  and  finally,  after  upwards  of  ten 
years'  persistent  effort,  aided  by  liberal  contributions 
from  the  public,  the  church  was  finished  and  paid  for, 
at  a  cost  of  about  four  thousand  five  hundred  dollars. 
Pastors,  Revs.  John  Butler,  Henry  J.  Johnson,  Rich- 
ard Robinson,  Leven  Tillman,  Peter  Gardner,  H.  J. 
Johnson,  Dayton  Doyle,  Thomas  M.  D.  Ward,  J.  D.  S. 
Hall,  Joseph  R.  Turner,  Lewis  S.  Lewis,  Jacob  Mitch- 
ell, Henry  J.  Young,  William  Grimes,  William  De- 
mond,  H.  J.  Johnson,  J.  P.  Shreeves,  J.  H.  W.  Hur- 
ley, John  R.  V.  Morgan,  Joseph  G.  Smith,  William 
H.  Johnson,  John  T.  Hayslett,  Stephen  V.  Douglass, 
P.  L.  Stanford,  E.  T.  Williams,  Joseph  P.  Shreeves, 
William  J.  Laws,  and  Rev.  William  H.  Hunter,  the 
present  incumbent. 

Grace  Church.1 — The  initial  step  in  the  formation 
of  a  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  New  Bedford  was 
taken  Oct.  2,  1833,  when  a  meeting  of  gentlemen  in- 
terested in  the  church  resolved  upon  its  establish- 
ment, elected  wardens,  vestry,  and  a  clerk,  and  took 
measures  for  securing  an  act  of  incorporation.  The 
project  was  largely  aided  by  the  advice  and  services 
of  Rev.  Mark  A.  De  W.  Howe  (now  Bishop  of  Cen- 
tral Pennsylvania),  who  was  present  at  the  meeting 
as  a  representative  of  the  Massachusetts  Convocation. 
The  parish,  at  first  called  Christ  Church,  was  incor- 
porated March  19,  1834,  under  the  name  of  "  The 
Wardens,  Vestry,  and  Proprietors  of  Grace  Church 
of  New  Bedford." 

For  some  two  years  the  new  parish  rented  as  a 
place  of  worship  a  building  on  Middle  Street  which 
was  owned  and  had  been  occupied  by  the  Second 
Christian  Society.  In  1834  the  subject  of  building  a 
church  was  agitated,  and  a  lot  was  bought  on  Union 
Street,  upon  which,  July  30, 1835,  the  corner-stone  of 
a  wooden  church  of  Gothic  style,  with  two  towers 
in  front,  was  laid,  and  the  building  was  completed 
and  consecrated  in  the  following  year. 

Immediately  upon  the  organization  of  the  parish 
Rev.  Nathaniel  T.  Bent  became  minister  in  charge  as 
a  missionary  of  the  Massachusetts  Convocation,  but 
after  the  lapse  of  two  months  was  elected  rector,  and 


1  Contributed  by  Col.  C.  B.  H.  Fessenden. 


faithfully  and  efficiently  served  as  such  till  his  resig- 
nation in  November,  1838. 

Early  in  1839,  Rev.  Theodore  W.  Snow  was  chosen 
rector,  but  was  obliged  to  resign  in  1841  in  conse- 
quence of  impaired  health,  affecting  mind  as  well  as 
body. 

In  March  following,  Rev.  Thomas  R.  Lambert, 
then  a  chaplain  in  the  United  States  navy,  was  called 
to  the  rectorship.  He  accepted  the  position  for  a 
year,  having  obtained  a  furlough  for  that  time,  and, 
that  being  extended,  re-engaged  for  another  year. 
He  was  then  elected  permanent  rector,  but  in  1845 
being  ordered  on  sea  duty  by  the  department,  he  re- 
signed. Rev.  Dr.  Lambert  is  now  rector  of  St.  John's, 
Charles  town. 

From  September,  1846,  to  February,  1848,  Rev. 
George  D.  Wilder  (now  rector  of  Christ  Church, 
Riverdale,  N.  Y.,  and  the  accomplished  secretary  of 
the  Church  Congress)  acted  as  rector. 

At  Easter,  1848,  Rev.  Sanford  J.  Horton  succeeded, 
and  held  the  position  till  November,  1851,  when  he 
resigned.  Dr.  Horton,  now  the  head  of  a  flourishing 
church  school  at  Cheshire,  Conn.,  was  greatly  beloved 
by  the  parish,  but  the  meagreness  of  his  stipend  com- 
pelled him  to  sever  his  connection  with  the  parish. 

In  February,  1852,  the  parish  called  again  its  first 
rector,  Rev.  Mr.  Bent,  but  failing  health  forbade  his 
acceptance,  and  Rev.  Charles  W.  Homer  was  chosen 
and  accepted  the  position.  At  this  time  the  parish, 
never  before  in  a  very  prosperous  financial  condition, 
was  at  low  tide  in  its  monetary  affairs.  The  rector's 
stipend  was  but  seven  hundred  dollars,  and  he  was 
fitfully  paid  ;  the  church  building  was  in  a  wretched 
state,  and  the  outlook  was  dreary  enough.  The  sec- 
ond year  of  Mr.  Homer's  incumbenc'y  a  spasmodic 
effort  was  made  to  secure  a  new  church,  one  of  stone. 
It  utterly  failed,  and  the  failure  left  the  parish  de- 
pressed and  well-nigh  disheartened.  The  rector, 
then  in  the  flush  of  youth,  was  unequal  to  the 
needed  struggle  for  success,  and  in  October,  1854, 
resigned.  He  is  now  rector  of  St.  James',  one  of  the 
largest  churches  in  Brooklyn,  L.  I. 

Rev.  Spencer  M.  Rice  followed  as  rector,  entering 
upon  his  work  in  February,  1855.  Coming  into  the 
church  from  the  Methodist  denomination,  Mr.  Rice 
brought  with  him  not  a  little  of  the  zeal  and  fervor 
of  that  sect,  and  a  shrewd,  practical  knowledge  of 
affairs.  He  was  remarkably  faithful  and  successful 
in  the  performance  of  parochial  duty,  and  a  wise 
counselor  and  indefatigable  helper  in  managing  the 
temporal  interests  of  the  parish.  It  goes  without 
saying  that  he  was  successful.  The  parish  income 
showed  it,  the  new  interest  in  church  work  manifested 
it,  and  the  complete  renovation  of  the  church  edifice 
and  the  extinction  of  the  church  debt  proved  it.  Mr. 
Rice  was  induced  by  the  state  of  his  health  to  resign 
in  1860.  He  is  now  residing  in  Jersey  City,  N.  J., 
having  lately,  after  a  long  rectorate,  resigned  the 
charge  of  Grace  Church  in  that  city. 


NEW   BEDFORD. 


87 


In  September  following  Rev.  Josiah  P.  Tustin,  D.D., 
became  rector,  and  resigned  in  April,  1862. 

Rev.  James  Mulchahey  succeeded  him  in  Septem- 
ber, 1862,  and  held  the  rectorship  for  some  seven 
years.  During  that  time  the  lot  in  the  rear  of  the 
church  was  bought,  and  the  old  house  thereon  con- 
verted into  a  commodious  chapel.  He  had  the  satis- 
faction of  leaving  the  parish  in  good  condition,  the 
result  of  his  intelligent,  faithful,  and  devoted  service. 
Rev.  Dr.  Mulchahey,  after  some  years'  residence  as 
rector  of  a  church  in  Toledo,  Ohio,  was  elected  an 
assistant  minister  of  Old  Trinity  Parish,  New  York, 
and  is  now  in  charge  of  St.  Paul's  in  that  city. 

The  next  rector  was  Rev.  Edmund  Rowland,  who 
assumed  charge  in  November,  1869.  In  May,  1871, 
he  resigned,  upon  the  invitation  of  Bishop  Coxe  to 
act  as  assistant  rector  of  St.  John's,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 
After  an  unsuccessful  attempt  to  fill  his  place  he  was 
unanimously  and  urgently  recalled,  and  resumed  the 
rectorship,  remaining  till  December,  1878,  when  he 
resigned  and  took  charge  of  Calvary  Church,  Clifton, 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where  he  now  resides.  His  term  of 
service  in  Grace  Church  was  longer  than  that  of  any 
of  his  predecessors,  covering  a  period  of  nine  years. 
His  rectorship,  though  marked  by  no  extraordinary 
achievement,  was  grandly  successful.  The  church 
grew  steadily  and  healthily  in  every  direction  ;  needed 
changes  and  improvements  in  church  and  chapel  were 
quietly  made ;  a  rectory  was  provided  by  a  few  mem- 
bers of  the  parish  ;  efforts  were  made  to  establish  a 
mission  in  the  north  part  of  the  city,  which  resulted 
in  the  erection  of  a  new  church  there,  and  the  germ 
of  the  new  Grace  Church  was  in  the  church  building 
fund  which  the  rector  started  and  so  hopefully  and 
patiently  nurtured. 

The  present  rector,  Rev.  George  A.  Strong,  assumed 
his  duties  on  Easter-day,  1879.  He  did  not  suffer  the 
project  of  building  a  new  church  to  slumber,  and  the 
gift  of  an  eligible  site  for  it  by  two  devoted  women 
of  the  parish  settled  the  success  of  his  appeals.  The 
Easter  offerings  of  1880,  appropriated  to  the  fund, 
amounted  to  sixteen  thousand  dollars,  which,  with 
the  four  thousand  dollars  gathered  in  Mr.  Rowland's 
time,  and  the  expected  avails  of  the  sale  of  the  old 
church  and  lot,  warranted  immediate  steps  for  begin- 
ning work.  The  corner-stone  of  the  new  Grace 
Church,  on  the  corner  of  County  and  School  Streets, 
was  laid  by  Rev.  Dr.  Rowland,  Sept.  11,  1880.  The 
building,  mostly  completed,  was  opened  for  service 
Nov.  11,  1881,  Rev.  Phillips  Brooks,  D.D.,  preaching 
the  sermon  ;  and  Oct.  19,  1882,  the  building,  finished 
and  paid  for,  was  consecrated  by  Right  Rev.  Benjamin 
H.  Paddock,  bishop  of  the  diocese.  The  cost  of  the 
church,  exclusive  of  the  lot  (the  market  value  of 
which  was  about  ten  thousand  dollars),  was  forty- 
seven  thousand  dollars.  Its  seating  capacity,  about 
six  hundred,  with  sittings  for  nearly  two  hundred 
more  in  the  adjoining  chapel,  is  none  too  great  for 
present  needs.     In  the  tower  is  a  chime  of  bells,  ten 


in  number,  weighing  over  eleven  thousand  pounds, 
the  gift  of  the  late  Stephen  G.  Driscol.  They  were 
rung  for  the  first  time  on  Christmas-eve,  1882. 

The  parish  to-day,  with  a  rector  in  whom  its  mem- 
bers are  thoroughly  and  heartily  in  unison,  with  its 
church  sittings  nearly  all  taken,  with  an  income  in 
excess  of  its  ordinary  expenses,  and  with  the  interest 
in  church  services  and  church  work  steadily  increas- 
ing, occupies  an  assured  position,  and  should  exert  a 
widening  conservative  influence. 

St.  James'  Episcopal  Church,  situated  on  County 
Street,  at  its  junction  with  Linden  Street,  has  been 
from  the  date  of  its  erection  one  of  the  attractive 
features  of  the  city,  partly  because  of  the  unique 
style  of  its  architecture,  and  in  part  because  of  the 
extraordinary  circumstances  connected  with  the  or- 
ganization and  growth  of  the  parish. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1878  there  was  a  movement 
among  the  English  operatives  in  the  Wamsutta  Mills 
tending  to  the  establishment  of  a  congregation  which 
should  be  distinct  from  the  old  parish  church;  situ- 
ated on  Union  Street.  Their  relations  with  the  older 
parish  were  most  amicable,  but  the  remote  distance 
of  the  church  from  the  mill  district,  the  rapid  increase 
of  the  population,  and  the  promise  in  a  near  future  of 
a  still  greater  addition  to  the  numbers  of  English 
church  people  in  the  city  favored  the  movement  for  a 
new  parish.  At  the  instance  of  the  then  rector  of  Grace 
Church,  the  Rev.  Edmund  Rowland,  and  under  a 
suggestion  from  the  Bishop  of  Connecticut,  who  is 
also  dean  of  the  world-famed  Berkeley  Divinity 
School,  the  Rev.  C.  H.  Proctor,  a  recent  graduate  of 
the  school,  and  at  the  time  doing  active  missionary 
work  in  the  mining  districts  of  Pennsylvania,  was  in- 
vited to  take  charge  of  the  whole  movement.  It  was 
proposed  to  make  the  organization  a  mission  chapel, 
to  be  supported  in  part  by  the  parish  of  Grace  Church, 
in  part  by  the  missionary  society  of  the  diocese,  and 
in  part  by  voluntary  contributions  from  the  people 
who  would  join  the  movement.  With  this  agreement, 
Mr.  Proctor  accepted  the  position  offered  to  him,  and 
held  the  first  service  with  the  congregation  in  a  hired 
shed  on  Purchase  Street,  near  the  mills,  on  the  10th 
of  March,  1878.  This  first  service  and  surroundings 
have  been  graphically  described :  The  cobwebbed 
beams  were  hidden  with  sheets  of  Wamsutta  cloth  ; 
two  packing-boxes  turned  on  end  and  covered  with 
calico  served  as  altar  and  pulpit )  the  alms  were  col- 
lected in  two  new  and  bright  tin  pie-plates ;  a  bor- 
rowed parlor-organ  and  an  extemporized  choir  of 
young  girls  furnished  the  music;  a  paper  screen  in- 
closed a  corner  for  a  vestry-room. 

The  names  of  about  forty  individuals  were  entered 
as  a  nucleus  about  which  to  gather  the  new  parish. 
Almost  at  the  outset,  and  before  the  new  minister  had 
fairly  taken  position,  it  was  discovered  that  the  Dioc- 
esan Missionary  Board  discouraged  and  repudiated 
the  whole  scheme  and  had  promised  it  no  support, 
and  at  the  same  time  as  an  adjunct  chapel  to  Grace 


88 


HISTORY    OF    BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Church  the  work  would  receive  no  possible  encourage- 
ment, and  Mr.  Proctor  found  himself  forced  to  face  a 
most  discouraging  outlook, — a  church  of  forty  souls, 
a  salary  of  three  hundred  dollars,  and  the  assurance 
that  his  work  must  be  independent  of  all  local  sup- 
port beyond  his  own  congregation.  This  was  the  be- 
ginning of  a  work  whose  after-history  is  said  to  have 
no  parallel  in  the  church.  Mr.  Proctor,  suffering 
with  distressing  ill  health,  but  nerved  with  determina- 
tion, called  his  people  together  on  the  28th  of  March, 
just  two  weeks  after  the  first  service,  laid  the  case 
clearly  before  them,  and  expressed  his  desire  to  ac- 
complish what  they  had  wished  and  planned,  and 
then  and  there  took  the  first  steps  in  organizing  the 
parish.  Articles  of  association  were  drawn  up  and 
signed  by  those  who  were  canonically  entitled  to  do 
so.  The  parish  was  christened  "  St.  James,"  com- 
memorating both  the  teaching  of  that  apostle  and 
also  the  memory  of  a  dear  friend  of  the  rector,  whose 
Christian  name  was  thus  incorporated  with  the  work, 
and  the  first  vestry  was  elected  as  follows:  Wardens, 
Andrew  Bannister  and  James  Boardman  ;  Treasurer, 
William  Smith;  Clerk,  A.  McCreary ;  Vestrymen, 
Sidney  Smith,  James  Slater,  William  Robinson,  Wil- 
liam Philips,  George  Ramsbotham.  Through  the 
kindness  of  the  heirs  of  the  Rodman  estate  a  disused 
school-house  was  loaned  free  of  rent  to  the  new  parish, 
and  from  this  date  services  have  been  held  continu- 
ously. Plans  for  the  erection  of  a  church  building 
were  taken  in  hand  immediately.  Subscriptions  were 
solicited,  and  an  almost  uninterrupted  flow  of  gifts 
and  donations  poured  down  upon  the  rector.  A  choir 
was  organized  under  Mr.  Proctor's  direction,  whose 
previous  study  of  church  music  in  the  English  cathe- 
drals proved  of  great  service,  and  a  feature  was  estab- 
lished in  the  rendering  of  the  services  of  the  church 
which  has  scarcely  since  abated  and  which  has  always 
been  a  strong  attraction. 

Minor  societies  were  put  in  operation.  The  St. 
James'  League,  organized  April  15,  1878,  with  Mrs. 
Sidney  Smith  as  president,  and  the  St.  James'  Sewing- 
School,  with  Miss  Ella  C.  Adams  as  president,  organ- 
ized soon  after,  have  both  assisted  largely  in  strength- 
ening the  work.  On  Easter-day,  April  21st,  upwards 
of  three  thousand  dollars  had  been  received  or  pledged 
for  building  purposes.  On  the  22d  of  May,  under 
the  direction  of  Judge  Alanson  Borden  as  justice  of 
the  peace,  the  parish  received  its  legal  organization 
and  title,  and  Mr.  Proctor  was  instituted  rector.  On 
Wednesday,  June  6th,  money  enough  having  been 
secured,  the  parish  purchased  and  secured  the  title- 
deeds  to  the  most  eligible  site  upon  which  the  church 
now  stands.  On  Saturday,  the  15th  of  June,  with 
religious  services,  ground  was  broken  on  the  new  lot, 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Rowland,  of  Grace  Church,  participating 
with  the  rector  in  the  exercises  and  giving  the  address 
of  the  occasion.  Mr.  Proctor,  breaking  the  first  sod, 
was  followed  by  Mr.  Rowland,  and  then  by  the  long 
line  of  people  on  both  sides  of  the  inclosed  space. 


Plans  for  the  new  edifice  were  adopted  from  those 
presented  by  W.  C.  Brocklesby,  architect,  of  Hartford, 
Conn.  On  Friday,  July  25th,  being  St.  James'  Day, 
the  corner-stone  was  laid  with  impressive  ceremonies, 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Mulchahey,  of  St.  Paul's,  New  York 
City,  giving  the  address,  followed  by  Mr.  Rowland,  of 
Grace  Church,  the  stone  being  laid  in  place  by  the 
rector  of  the  parish,  Mr.  Proctor.  On  Tuesday  even- 
ing, December  24th,  the  church  was  occupied  for  the 
first  time,  although  in  as  yet  an  unfinished  condition, 
the  workmen  not  entirely  leaving  the  church  until 
February,  when  the  rector  placed  the  last  and  upper- 
most brick  on  the  top  of  the  tower,  a  scaffolding 
being  especially  prepared  for  the  purpose.  So,  with- 
out the  aid  of  any  other  single  parish,  as  such,  and 
without  assistance  from  any  missionary  board,  dioc- 
esan or  otherwise,  St.  James'  Church  became  an 
established  fact  in  less  than  twelve  months'  time. 
With  the  advice  of  responsible  persons,  the  church 
was  completed,  with  its  tower  and  necessary  furniture 
and  some  of  the  ordinary  properties  of  a  church 
building,  adding  thereby  a  comparatively  small  debt 
to  the  original  undertaking,  but  which  without  these 
additions  would  have  been  almost  from  the  first  wholly 
free.  Sixteen  thousand  dollars  have  been  raised  in 
four  years  in  cash  offerings  and  memorial  gifts,  and 
the  fairest  promises  are  made  for  sustaining  the  work 
in  the  future. 

The  parish  has  been  self-sustaining  from  its  founda- 
tion, and  has  extended  its  influence  in  a  short  space 
of  time  from  forty  souls  to  near  four  hundred  families. 
The  parish  list  now  numbers  about  one  hundred  and 
fifty  families  immediately  connected  with  the  church, 
but  this  in  nowise  includes  the  large  community 
who  depend  upon  the  ministrations  of  the  rector. 
The  christenings  alone  in  St.  James'  average  nearly 
one  for  every  Sunday  in  the  year. 

The  rector  of  the  parish,  its  founder  and  first  rector, 
Charles  Hayden  Proctor,  is  an  M.A.,  graduate  of 
Trinity  College,  class  of  1873,  and  of  the  Berkeley 
Divinity  School,  class  of  1876.  His  qualifications  for 
the  position  he  holds  have  been  enhanced  by  the  ex- 
perience of  close  observation  and  study  in  English 
cathedrals,  and  during  a  recent  visit  in  England  his 
work  in  St.  James'  Church  and  among  the  English 
Church  people  received  most  cordial  and  substantial 
recognition  from  His  Grace  the  Archbishop  of  York, 
the  Bishop  of  Manchester,  and  more  recently  from 
the  late  Dean  of  Westminster,  and  also  from  the  late 
Archbishop  of  Canterbury.  While  in  the  Northern 
Convocation  he  was  specially  honored  with  a  license 
to  officiate  from  the  archbishop's  own  hand.  With 
a  natural  firmness  of  determination,  Mr.  Proctor  has 
been  enabled  to  accomplish  much  that  many  men 
would  have  shrunk  from  undertaking,  and  the  church 
established  under  his  hand  will  be  a  lasting  monu- 
ment, than  which  one  could  ask  to  deserve  no  greater. 

North  Christian  Church. — This  church  was  "  con- 
stituted  a   Christian    Church   Jan.    25,  1807."     The 


NEW    BEDFORD. 


89 


founders  of  the  society  were  formerly  members  of  the 
Baptist  Church  in  Dartmouth,  under  the  pastoral 
charge  of  Elder  Daniel  Hix.  The  following  are  the 
names  of  the  original  members:  Obed  Kempton, 
Ruth  Kempton,  John  Hathaway,  Edith  Hathaway, 
Jonathan  Haskins,  Sarah  Haskins,  Sarah  Strange, 
Lois  Hervey,  Patience  Hatch,  Remembrance  Wood, 
Nabby  Russell,  Nabby  Tobey,  Betsey  Chase. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  church,  Sept.  26,  1811,  Mr. 
Mandell  was  appointed  to  "keep  the  records,"  Obed 
Kempton  treasurer,  and  Abraham  Gifford  "  to  receive 
the  regular  contributions."  Jabez  Hammond  was  or- 
dained as  the  first  deacon  by  Elders  Hix  and  Taylor 
on  May  29,  1812. 

The  first  clergymen  of  whom  the  records  make 
mention,  who  preached  for  the  society  at  different 
periods  during  its  first  existence,  were  Elders  Daniel 
Hix,  Frederick  Plummer,  John  Gray,  Douglass  Far- 
num,  Benjamin  Taylor,  and  Abner  Jones. 

Elder  Benjamin  Taylor  was  the  first  settled  minis- 
ter of  whom  the  records  make  mention.  He  com- 
menced his  labors  with  the  church  in  1812,  and  con- 
tinued his  charge  until  1819. 

Aug.  19,  1817,  a  committee  was  selected  to  inform 
Elder  Elias  Smith,  who  had  occasionally  preached 
to  the  church,  that  he  could  no  longer  be  received  in 
that  capacity.  The  objection  to  Mr.  Smith  was  his 
tendencies  to  the  doctrines  promulgated  by  the  Uni- 
versalists.  Mr.  Smith  was  the  father  of  Matthew 
Hale  Smith,  and  one  of  the  founders  of  the  "  Chris- 
tian sect."  Another  noteworthy  item  in  connection 
with  Elder  Smith  is  that  he  was  one  of  the  origina- 
tors of  the  Herald  of  Gospel  Liberty,  the  first  relig- 
ious paper  ever  published  in  America. 

Sept.  4,  1819,  Elder  Taylor  dissolved  his  connection 
with  the  church  and  took  up  his  residence  in  Swan- 
sea. His  successor  was  Elder  Moses  How,  who  settled 
with  them  during  the  fall  of  1819. 

About  1820,  Elder  Simon  Clough  visited  the  church 
and  officiated  frequently ;  he  preached  during  the 
greater  part  of  1823-24. 

In  December,  1826,  Elder  Charles  Morgridge,  of 
Boston,  was  settled  as  minister.  The  pulpit  was  sup- 
plied in  the  interim  by  Elder  Hervey  Sullings. 

During  the  fall  of  1831,  Mr.  Morgridge  resigned  his 
pastoral  charge,  and  in  January,  1832,  Elder  Lovell, 
formerly  a  Methodist  preacher  of  Portsmouth,  N.  H., 
succeeded  him.     He  officiated  for  about  two  years. 

In  1833  the  church  was  reorganized,  and  a  charter 
of  incorporation  was  obtained  from  the  General  Court, 
dated  March  14th. 

On  retirement  of  Mr.  Lovell,  Rev.  Mr.  Morgridge 
again  renewed  his  connection  with  the  church,  and 
remained  with  it  until  the  spring  of  1841. 

During  August,  1841,  an  invitation  was  extended 
to  Rev.  Silas  Hawley  to  become  pastor,  and  he  con- 
tinued until  January,  1843.  At  this  date  Elder  P.  R. 
Russell  supplied  the  pulpit  for  about  a  year.  Soon 
after   his  withdrawal    Elder  A.  G.  Morton    became 


pastor,  and  continued  till  Dec.  29,  1851,  when  he 
withdrew. 

Nov.  11,  1852,  the  society  voted  to  extend  an  invi- 
tation to  William  R.  Stowe,  which  he  accepted,  and 
continued  with  the  society  until  January,  1854.  On 
his  retirement  Elder  David  E.  Millard,  of  Broom- 
field,  N.  Y.,  was  engaged  to  preach  for  the  society. 
He  entered  upon  his  duties  May,  1854,  and  in  Sep- 
tember of  the  same  year  received  and  accepted  an  in- 
vitation to  assume  the  pastorship.  In  July,  1855,  he 
tendered  his  resignation,  which  was  accepted.  At  a 
special  meeting  held  during  the  following  December 
Rev.  T.  C.  Moulton  was  elected  pastor.  Mr.  Moulton 
returned  no  answer  to  the  call  until  November,  1856, 
when  he  declined  the  invitation. 

For  upwards  of  eighteen  months  the  church  was 
without  a  settled  pastor,  the  pulpit  being  supplied  by 
a  committee.  Finally,  in  May,  1857,  Rev.  S.  W. 
Whitney,  of  New  York,  was  engaged,  and  remained 
till  some  time  in  1858. 

The  supply  of  the  pulpit  was  again  in  the  hands  of 
a  committee,  which  at  length,  in  September,  1858, 
succeeded  in  securing  the  services  of  the  Rev.  T.  C. 
Moulton,  and  he  continued  to  act  in  this  capacity 
until  March,  1859,  when  he  was  elected  pastor,  and 
remained  until  September,  1868.  He  was  succeeded  in 
November,  1868,  by  Rev.  Austin  Craig,  who  resigned 
Aug.  30,  1869.  His  successors  have  been  Rev.  A.  J. 
Kirkland,  Rev.  O.  A.  Roberts,  and  Rev.  S.  Wright 
Butler,  the  present  incumbent. 

The  society  first  worshiped  in  the  shop  of  Mr.  Obed 
Kempton,  on  the  corner  of  Purchase  and  Middle 
Streets;  then  in  a  rope-walk  in  the  south  part  of  the 
city.  In  1808  or  1809  the  church  on  Middle  Street 
was  erected  by  Mr.  Abraham  Gifford  and  others  for 
the  society.  It  was  used  by  it  for  a  house  of  worship 
until  1833,  when  the  large  and  commodious  church 
which  it  now  occupies,  opposite  the  Parker  House, 
was  built. 

The  church  has  always  been  liberal  in  the  support 
of  the  gospel  and  generous  in  its  charities. 

The  Middle  Street  Christian  Church.1— The 
Middle  Street  Christian  Church  was  constituted 
March  21,  1828,  of  members  who,  at  their  own  re- 
quest, were  set  off  for  that  purpose  by  the  North 
Christian  Church,  which  was  organized  in  1807.  The 
members  were  Abraham  Gifford,  William  Cranston, 
William  Whitten,  Warren  Maxfield,  Watson  Ellis, 
Ezra  S.  Kempton,  Samuel  James,  James  Barlow,  and 
Elder  Harvey  Sullings,  a  preacher.  They  met  at  the 
house  of  Obed  Kempton,  northwest  corner  of  Middle 
and  Purchase  Streets.  The  first  baptism  was  of  Mary 
Pease  and  Rebecca  Gifford.  The  first  settled  min- 
ister was  William  Coe.  The  first  meeting-house 
erected  was  on  Middle  Street,  south  of  Mr.  Kempton's 
house.  The  pastors  were  the  venerable  William  Coe, 
three  year.-.;  Luther  Baker,  a  man 'of "  holy  life;"  Isaac 


i  By  N.  SummerUell,  D.D. 


90 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Smith,  called  the  "  excellent  man  ;"  Moses  How,  under 
whom  a  great  revival  took  place  in  January  of  1837. 
Many  were  added  to  the  church,  and  in  1834  they 
moved  into  the  church  on  Middle  Street,  opposite 
Sixth  Street,  where  they  now  (1882)  worship.  Elder 
How  was  called  the  "  good  pastor."  He  continued 
with  this  church  till  July,  1844.  He  died  in  1882,  in 
the  seventieth  year  of  his  ministry  and  the  ninety- 
second  year  of  his  age,  honored,  respected,  and  be- 
loved through  all  New  England,  and  by  the  Chris- 
tians through  the  United  States. 

Elder  How  was  followed  in  1844  by  the  "good 
preacher,"  O.  E.  Morrill,  and  in  1848,  Morrill  was 
succeeded  by  Elder  Brown.  In  1849  to  1850,  John 
Taylor,  "the  tender-hearted  minister,"  preached,  and 
the  church  was  much  revived.  From  1850  to  1857 
the  aged  Benjamin  Taylor  was  their  pastor,  who  was 
succeeded  by  Elder  James  S.  White,  who  continued 
pastor  to  1861,  when  Benjamin  S.  Batchelor  was  set- 
tled, and  filled  the  pulpit  with  great  success  until 
1875.  A  young  minister  named  A.  A.  Kirkland  then 
supplied  the  pulpit  for  some  months  till  the  eloquent 
pulpit  orator,  Z.  T.  Sullivan,  was  settled,  who  con- 
tinued drawing  large  congregations  until  1877,  when 
he  accepted  a  call  from  the  Congregational  Church  at 
Brockton,  and  was  followed  by  Elder  Daniel  L.  Craft, 
who  filled  it  for  two  years.  In  1880,  N.  Summerbell, 
D.D.,  former  president  of  Union  Christian  College, 
was  settled.  More  than  forty  members  have  been 
added  up  to  this  time;  also  a  heavy  debt,  which  had 
been  accumulating  for  the  past  five  years,  has  been 
paid.  The  present  number  of  members  is  two  hun- 
dred and  thirty-four.  There  is  a  good  Sunday-school, 
of  which  Isaac  W.  Benjamin  is  superintendent,  and 
Frank  L.  Davis,  assistant. 

The  peculiar  characteristic  of  the  Cbristian  Church 
is  its  conformation  to  the  New  Testament  form  of 
Christianity.  It,  therefore,  accepts  the  Bible  as  the 
heaven-given  and  only  perfect  creed,  Christ  as  the 
only  heaven-appointed  leader,  charity  as  the  greatest 
Christian  grace,  and  Christian  union  as  a  duty.  It 
states  its  faith  in  Bible  language  with  the  exactness 
of  verbal  accuracy,  and  submits  to  no  additions  to 
the  Bible,  but  extends  fellowship  and  communion  to 
all  Christians. 

Rev.  Dr.  Summerbell,  the  present  pastor,  is  the 
well-known  originator  and  editor  of  The  Christian 
Pulpit,  a  monthly,  and  former  editor  of  the  Herald  of 
Gospel  Liberty,  Dayton,  Ohio;  is  the  author  of  many 
popular  works,  the  most  important  of  which  are  his 
"History  of  the  Christians,"  from  the  birth  of  the 
Saviour  to  the  present  time,  royal  octavo,  five  hun- 
dred and  seventy-six  pages,  and  his  "  Discussions," 
and  his  remarkably  popular  work  called  "Christian 
Principles,"  all  of  which  have  passed  through  many 
editions.  The  "Christian  Principles,"  after  passing 
through  eight  editions,  has  been  "  revised  and  abridged 
by  Rev.  R.  J.  Wright,  LL.D.,"  and  published  at  his 
own  expense  for  universal  distribution. 


The  church  has  been  much  strengthened  under  his 
labors,  and  its  former  distinction  as  a  church  of  revi- 
vals and  deep  religious  experience  has  returned.  The 
present  church  clerk  is  Frank  L.  Davis. 

South  Christian  Church. — The  house  of  worship 
on  the  corner  of  Sherman  and  Bonney  Streets  was 
built  in  1851-52  by  Booth  &  Hathaway,  at  a  cost  of 
about  four  thousand  dollars.  It  contains  sixty  pews, 
and  will  seat  about  three  hundred  and  fifty  persons. 
Meetings  were  first  held  in  the  vestry  in  February, 
1852.  June  9th  the  house  was  dedicated.  The  ser- 
mon on  the  occasion  was  preached  by  Rev.  George 
H.  Eldridge,  who  commenced  his  ministerial  services 
there  the  previous  April.  In  five  days  subsequent  to 
the  dedication  pews  enough  were  sold  to  pay  every 
bill  on  the  house  and  leave  a  surplus  of  four  hundred 
dollars  in  pew  stock  belonging  to  the  society.  During 
that  summer  it  was  organized  as  the  "South  Christian 
Society,"  and  in  September  following  it  was  "  con- 
stituted a  Christian  Church,"  consisting  of  the  fol- 
lowing persons:  Pardon  Wilcox,  Tillinghast  Sowle, 
Cranston  Wilcox,  Josiah  S.  Bonney,  William  Miller, 
Henry  T.  James,  William  H.  Macy,  Barbara  Sowle, 
Betsey  Wilcox,  Hannah  H.  Albert,  Phebe  A.  James, 
and  Sarah  Chace. 

Elder  Hervey  Sullings  was  an  active  member  of 
this  church  and  contributed  liberally  to  its  support. 
When  the  society  was  without  a  pastor  he  often  sup- 
plied the  pulpit,  and  was  favorably  received.  He 
died  in  December,  1859,  about  eighty  years  of  age. 

Rev.  George  H.  Eldridge  was  the  first  pastor,  and 
continued  his  labors  until  April,  1856.  For  nearly 
two  years  after  the  retirement  of  Mr.  Eldridge  the 
supplies  of  the  pulpit  were  irregular.  In  December, 
1856,  the  church  received  a  visit  from  Rev.  I.  H.  Coe, 
and  subsequently  extended  a  unanimous  call  to  him 
to  become  pastor.  The  invitation  was  accepted,  and 
Mr.  Coe  entered  upon  his  duties  April  1st  of  the  fol- 
lowing year,  and  has  continued  from  that  time  to  the 
present,  and  is  now  the  oldest  settled  pastor  in  this 
city.  He  was  born  in  Woodstock,  Conn.,  May  12, 
1818. 

The  Spruce  Street  Christian  Church  was  organ- 
ized June  28,  1869,  with  the  following  members: 
Nicholas  S.  Chadwick,  first  pastor,  William  Bosworth, 
Isaac  S.  Thomas,  George  L.  Dyer,  George  L.  Eldrige, 
Joseph  W.  Robertson,  Sarah  M.  Eldrige,  Mary  E. 
Ellis,  Lydia  Berree,  Susan  E.  Johnson,  Abby  Berree, 
Lydia  R.  Grimshaw,  Martha  G.  Turner. 

Jan.  25,  1880,  Rev.  Gardner  Devan  commenced  his 
labors  with  us,  and  Feb.  8,  1881,  resigned. 

July  14,  1881,  church  called  Rev.  Allen  Damon  to 
be  their  pastor,  who  is  serving  us  to  date,  Sept.  19, 
1882.  Church  as  now  organized  :  Allen  Damon,  pas- 
tor ;  Deacons,  Richard  E.  Macomber,  Isaac  S.  Thomas ; 
Treasurer,  B.  F.  H.  Reed ;  Clerk,  J.  S.  Thomas ;  Su- 
perintendent of  Sabbath-school,  Laurens  W.  Faunce; 
Chairman  of  Business  Meetings,  E.  J.  H.  Tripp. 

March  26,  1871,  Mr.  Chadwick  resigned.     Services 


NEW   BEDFORD 


91 


in  church  were  continued  by  different  pastors,  Elders 
Howe,  Murry,  Greenwood,  Peirce.  Rev.  Mr.  Kirkland 
supplied  three  months.  Joseph  W.  Thomas  was  pas- 
tor for  the  year  ending  Nov.  24,  1872. 

Dec.  1,  1872,  Rev.  Ellen  Gastin  commenced  her 
labors  with  us,  and  on  Feb.  23,  1873,  resigned. 

April  6,  1873,  C.  F.  Burleigh  commenced  preaching 
here,  and  on  July  9th  following  was  ordained  and  in- 
stalled as  pastor.     He  resigned  April  28,  1878. 

During  his  pastorate,  which  was  longer  than  any 
other,  the  church  has  seen  some  prosperity,  and  has 
also  been  called  to  pass  through  some  grievous  trials. 

The  church  now  numbers  fifty-eight,  together  with 
an  interesting  Sabbath-school,  with  prospects  of  much 
greater  growth  and  usefulness. 

This  church  differs  somewhat  from  all  others  in  the 
city,  as  it  does  not  own  the  church  property.  It  is 
held  by  the  Spruce  Street  Mission  Society. 

The  Christian  Union  Church,1  New  Bedford,  was 
organized  about  the  1st  of  January,  1875,  worshiping 
in  a  hall  for  one  year,  at  which  time  they  had  com- 
pleted a  house  of  worship  on  High  Street,  it  being 
dedicated  by  Rev.  Edwin  Burnham  on  the  12th  day 
of  January.  The  church  has  from  the  first  organiza- 
tion numbered  about  sixty,  some  being  added  and 
some  leaving.  Only  four  deaths  have  occurred  in  the 
eight  years  of  time  since  its  first  existence. 

There  is  connected  with  the  church  a  small  Sab- 
bath-school, numbering  about  forty  to  fifty  scholars, 
yet  in  a  good  healthy  condition. 

The  creed  of  the  church  is  the  Bible  only.  Its 
mode  of  baptism  is  immersion.  Its  test  of  fellowship 
is  Christian  character,  open  communion  to  all  Chris- 
tians, or,  as  its  name  indicates,  union  with  all  true 
Christians. 

Its  mode  of  government  is  adopted  from  Matt, 
xviii.,  accepting  no  human  forms.  Its  bond  of  union 
is  Christian  love,  allowing  all  or  any  members  to  leave 
when  they  cease  to  love,  and  return  on  the  same 
principles. 

The  faith  of  the  future  is  "  that  the  wages  of  sin  is 
death  ;"  "  the  gift  of  God  is  eternal  life  through  Jesus 
Christ." 

The  Universalist  Church.2— The  present  house  of 
worship  on  William  Street  is  the  second  house  that 
has  been  built  in  New  Bedford.  The  first  house  was 
erected  in  1836,  and  stands  on  the  southeast  corner  of 
Filth  and  School  Streets.  In  this  house  the  Univer- 
salists  held  public  worship  for  about  twelve  years, 
and  had  for  regular  pastors  John  M.  Spear,  G.  T. 
Farnsworth,  and  S.  S.  Fletcher,  who  were  very  good 
preachers.  In  1849  the  society,  having  become  much 
involved  in  debt,  sold  their  house  to  the  Catholics, 
since  which  it  has  been  known  as  the  St.  Mary's 
Church. 

In  1851  some  of  the  Universalists  of  the  old  church, 
with  others  who  had  come  to  New  Bedford  within  a 


1  By  A.  M.  Higgins,  M.D. 


2  Contributed  by  Hon   E.  L.  Barney. 


few  years,  who  felt  the  need  of  worshiping  God  and 
promulgating  the  doctrines  of  Universalism,  came  to- 
gether and  secured  the  services  of  the  then  Rev. 
Hiram  Van  Campen,and  held  religious  worship  each 
Sabbath-day  in  a  small  hall  (Sears'  Hall  it  was  called) 
on  Cheapside,  nearly  opposite  and  in  front  of  the 
City  Hall.  Here  Mr.  Van  Campen  preached  for 
several  years,  and  the  congregation  grew  and  in- 
creased. In  1854  the  Rev.  Mr.  Stevenson  was  em- 
ployed, and  under  his  ministry,  with  the  good  seed 
sown  by  Mr.  Van  Campen,  the  people  resolved  to 
have  a  house  of  worship,  and  in  August,  1855,  the 
present  house  was  completed  and  dedicated,  and 
since  which  time  public  worship  has  been  regularly 
held,  with  a  few  slight  intermissions  in  the  change  of 
pastors.  The  pastors  have  been  the  Revs.  B.  V.  Ste- 
venson, J.  J.  Twiss,  T.  G.  St.  John,  S.  L.  Rosepaugh, 
George  W.  Skinner,  I.  C.  Knowlton,  C.  B.  Lombard, 
J.  H.  Farnesworth,  William  C.  Stiles,  and  G.  F. 
Flanders,  D.D. ;  the  last  named  is  the  present  pastor. 
Mr.  Flanders  is  a  very  able,  learned,  and  eloquent 
preacher,  and  under  his  ministry  the  society  is  in  an 
excellent  condition. 

John  P.  Knowles,  G.  L.  Barney,  Benjamin  Alsey, 
Mr.  Van  Campen,  John  M.  Foster,  Benjamin  F. 
Brownell,  and  others  now  dead  have  been  the  most 
prominent  citizens  and  supporters  of  this  church  in 
the  past,  and  still  live  and  are  interested  in  the  soci- 
ety. New  members  have  joined,  such  as  John  P. 
Knowles,  Jr.,  H.  M.  Knowlton,  A.  G.  Walker,  and 
others,  with  many  excellent  ladies,  and  these  all  are 
the  friends  and  supporters  of  the  society.  It  is  but 
simple  justice  to  say  that  during  all  the  past  this 
church  has  maintained  the  doctrines  of  the  early 
founders  of  Universalism  in  America,  and  fervently 
adhere  to  the  fundamental  doctrines  of  the  Universal- 
ist denomination. 

It  has  always  aided  in  the  works  of  charity,  love, 
and  temperance  in  this  community,  and  sought  to 
elevate  man.  It  practices  the  exact  fatherhood  of 
God  and  the  brotherhood  of  man,  upon  which  basis 
alone  comes  all  the  workings  of  the  true  good  spirit 
in  man. 

Society  of  Friends. — Meetings  were  first  held  in 
the  village  of  Bedford  in  1772;  but  we  learn  that 
they  were  held  at  the  Head  of  the  River  as  early  as 
1725,  and  a  portion  of  the  meeting-house  now  occu- 
pied by  the  Friends  there  was  built  in  1727. 

They  first  met  here  in  a  school-house  which  stood 
upon  a  rock  just  east  of  the  northeast  corner  of  School 
and  Third  Streets.  This  was  the  only  place  of  wor- 
ship in  the  village  for  some  years.  Their  first  house 
was  built  in  1785,  on  Spring  Street. 

These  comprise  most  of  the  early  Friends:  Joseph 
Rotch  and  his  son  William  Rotch,  Sr. ;  Joseph  Rus- 
sell, who  owned  the  principal  portion  of  the  place 
eolith  of  Elm  Street;  William  Russell,  who  emigrated 
from  Nantucket  and  lived  to  a  very  advanced  age, 
being  nearly  a  hundred  years  old  at  his  death;  he 


92 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


built  the  fourth  house  in  the  village;  Seth  Russell, 
the  father  of  Seth  and  Charles  Russell,  whose  resi- 
dence was  on  the  west  side  of  Water  Street ;  Benjamin 
Taber,  grandfather  of  William  C.  Taber,  who  built 
one  of  the  three  first  houses  in  the  village;  Joseph 
Austin,  the  first  hatter;  Matthew  Howland,  father  of 
George  Howland,  deceased;  and  Daniel  Ricketson, 
father  of  Joseph  Ricketson,  who  was  for  many  years 
cashier  of  the  Commercial  Bank. 

Subsequently  we  find  as  members  the  following  dis- 
tinguished citizens:  Abraham  Smith,  William  Rotch, 
Jr.,  and  his  brother  Thomas,  Samuel  Rodman,  Thomas 
Hazard,  Elisha  Thornton,  John  Howland,  father  of 
Capt.  James  Howland,  Humphrey  Russell,  William 
Sawyer  Wall,  father  of  William  A.  Wall,  the  cele- 
brated artist  of  this  city,  and  Cornelius  Howland. 

The  preachers  of  whom  we  have  knowledge  are 
Thomas  Rotch,  James  Davis,  Elisha  Thornton,  Job 
Chaloner,  Lydia  Rotch,  afterwards  dean,  Mary  Card, 
Deborah  Otis,  and  Joseph  Davis.  The  above  persons 
are  deceased.  There  are  still  living  Susan,  Rhoda, 
and  Rachel  Howland,  Susan  R.  Smith,  Mary  Shove, 
Rhoda  H.  Taber,  Josiah  Holmes,  Jr. 

The  first  clerk  of  whom  we  have  any  information 
is  Caleb  Greene.  He  was  succeeded  by  Abraham 
Sherman,  Jr.,  who  held  the  post  twenty-six  years. 
The  next  was  William  C.  Taber,  who  officiated  nine- 
teen years;  after  him  Charles  R.  Tucker  and  Mat- 
thew Howland  served  a  short  time,  when  he  was 
again  chosen,  and  is  at  present  acting  in  that  ca- 
pacity. 

The  former  elders  of  the  society  were  Caleb  Greene, 
William  Rotch,  William  Rotch,  Jr.,  Francis  Taber, 
Barnabas  Taber,  and  Abraham  Sherman,  Jr.,  W.  C. 
Taber,  W.  P.  Howland,  Charles  R.  Tucker,  Matthew 
Howland,  and  Seth  K.  Akin. 

The  present  meeting-house  is  on  Spring  Street,  be- 
tween Sixth  and  Seventh. 

Josiah  Holmes,  Jr.,  Rachel  S.  Howland,  William 
Thompson,  Ruth  S.  Murray,  Rebecca  H.  Smiley, 
ministers;  William  C.  Taber,  Matthew  Howland, 
Seth  K.  Akin,  Betsey  P.  Wood,  Sarah  H.  Anthony, 
Deborah  Wing,  Mary  A.  Smith,  Anna  G.  Wood, 
Susan  T.  Thompson,  elders.  While  Friends  have 
their  recognized  or  recorded  ministers,  they  do  not 
hold  the  pastoral  relation  as  it  exists  in  other  re- 
ligious organizations. 

The  Seamen's  Bethel.— The  first  meeting  to  take 
into  consideration  the  expediency  of  forming  a  society 
to  promote  the  interests  of  seamen  was  held  at  the 
Merchants'  Insurance  office,  May  17,  1830.  Stephen 
Merihew  was  chosen  chairman,  and  H.  G.  O.  Colby 
secretary.  A  committee,  consisting  of  Messrs.  S.  S. 
Smith,  S.  J.  S.  Vose,  and  J.  F.  Emerson,  drew  up  a 
constitution,  which  was  adopted  at  the  same  meeting. 

Jan.  28,  1831,  a  committee,  consisting  of  Messrs.  B. 
Rodman,  T.  Riddell,  and  W.  C.  Nye,  reported  in 
favor  of  building  a  chapel  for  mariners.  In  May 
following  a  house  and  lot  on  what  is  now  known  as 


Bethel  Street  was  purchased  of  Mary  Rotch  for  four- 
teen hundred  dollars.  At  the  first  annual  meeting 
of  the  society,  held  June  7,  1831,  it  was  resolved  that 
the  form  of  worship  should  be  perfectly  unsectarian, 
and  that  all  denominations  should  have  the  privilege 
of  supplying  the  pulpit. 

Services  were  first  conducted  in  the  old  Town  Hall 
every  Sunday  morning,  each  of  the  clergymen  in  the 
place  officiating  in  turn.  The  first  meeting  was  held 
Sunday,  July  31,  1831.  About  this  time  the  house 
which  had  been  purchased  was  moved  to  the  south 
part  of  the  lot,  and  a  chapel,  forty-five  by  forty  feet, 
was  built  by  Mr.  Shaw  from  Bristol,  R.  I.,  under  the 
direction  of  a  committee  consisting  of  Messrs.  Samuel 
Rodman,  Jr.,  T.  Riddell,  and  W.  W.  Swain. 

The  first  chaplain  was  the  Rev.  Enoch  Mudge,  who 
commenced  his  labors  April  27,  1832.  May  4th  the 
society  was  incorporated  by  act  of  the  General  Court. 
Rev.  Mr.  Mudge  resigned  in  July,  1844,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Rev.  Moses  How,  who  remained  fifteen 
years.  The  present  efficient  chaplain,  Rev.  James  D. 
Butler,  was  his  successor.  Mr.  Butler  entered  upon  his 
duties  as  chaplain  and  agent  April  15,  1859,  and  re- 
mained until  1863,  when  he  resigned  and  became 
pastor  of  Trinity  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Paw- 
tucket,  R.  I.,  and  was  subsequently  pastor  at  New 
London.  In  1870  he  returned  to  New  Bedford,  where 
he  has  since  resided.  Mr.  Butler  has  now  served  the 
New  Bedford  Port  Society  seventeen  years,  and  his 
service  has  not  only  been  a  long  one  but  an  honor- 
able one.  A  writer,  in  speaking  of  him,  says,  "  As 
a  laborer  he  ranks  high  in  his  denomination.  His 
piety  is  of  no  ordinary  cast,  and  he  is  diligent  and 
persevering  in  all  his  duties." 

Rev.  Samuel  Fos  succeeded  Mr.  Butler  in  1863,  and 
remained  until  1869. 

In  March,  1866,  the  Bethel  was  partially  destroyed 
by  fire.  The  burnt  portion  was  immediately  rebuilt, 
and  the  whole  edifice  thoroughly  repaired.  July  26, 
1867,  the  church  was  reopened  with  appropriate  ex- 
ercises. A  sermon  was  preached  on  the  occasion  by 
Rev.  L.  B.  Bates. 

The  present  officers  of  the  Port  Society  are  as  fol- 
lows:  Hon.  George  Howland,  Jr.,  president;  Wil- 
liam Phillips,  Jireh  Swift,  vice-presidents ;  James 
Taylor,  recording  secretary  ;  James  D.  Butler,  cor- 
responding secretary;  Gideon  B.  Wright,  treasurer; 
Rev.  James  D.  Butler,  chaplain ;  Joseph  C.  Delano, 
Alexander  H.  Seabury,  George  B.  Richmond,  Oliver 
Prescott,  Edward  D.  Mandell,  C.  B.  H.  Fessenden, 
Abram  T.  Eddy,  Edmund  Rodman,  Samuel  H.  Cook, 
Henry  T.  Wood,  F.  A.  Washburn,  George  F.  Bart- 
lett,  Matthew  Howland,  Timothy  D.  Cook,  George  R. 
Phillips,  John  F.  Tucker,  Benjamin  Anthony,  James 
E.  Stanton,  Benjamin  T.  Cummings,  William  R. 
Wing,  John  P.  Knowles,  Jr.,  Louni  Snow,  board  of 
managers. 

St.  Lawrence  Roman  Catholic  Church. —  The 
first  pastor  of  this  church  was  Rev.  Father  Lavasey, 


NEW   BEDFORD. 


93 


who  built  the  first  church  edifice  on  Allan  Street  in 
1820,  at  a  cost  of  eight  hundred  dollars.  In  184!)  the 
house  was  sold,  and  the  TJniversalist  Church  corner 
Fifth  and  School  Streets  was  purchased.  This  was 
occupied  until  the  completion  of  their  present  church 
edifice  in  1870,  when  the  name  of  the  church  was 
changed  to  St.  Lawrence,  it  having  previously  been 
called  St.  Mary.  St.  Mary's  Church  is  now  used  for 
children's  mass  and  Sunday-school.  The  present  pas- 
tor is  the  Rev.  Hugh  J.  Smyth,  assisted  by  Rev.  Owen 
Kiernem. 

The  Church  of  the  Sacred  Heart  is  located  on 
Ashland  Street,  corner  of  Robeson,  and  Rev.  George 
Pager  is  pastor. 

St.  John  Baptist  (Portuguese)  is  located  on 
Wing  Street,  corner  Fifth.  Rev.  Antonio  M.  Freitas 
is  the  present  pastor. 

Howland  Chapel. — This  chapel  was  erected  in 
1870  by  Matthew  Howland  as  a  place  of  worship  for 
the  operatives  and  others  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Wam- 
sutta  Mills,  who  were  destitute  of  a  house  of  wor- 
ship. In  the  summer  of  that  year  Mr.  Howland  pur- 
chased a  lot  of  land  on  the  east  side  of  Purchase  Street, 
and  immediately  commenced  the  erection  of  the 
chapel,  which  is  thirty-six  feet  by  fifty-five  feet  in 
size. 

It  was  completed  and  furnished  at  an  expense  of 
little  over  seven  thousand  dollars,  all  of  which  sum 
was  paid  by  Mr.  Howland.  The  chapel  was  dedi- 
cated Jan.  13,  1871,  and  on  the  following  Sabbath  a 
school  was  opened  under  the  superintendence  of 
Henry  T.  Wood,  of  this  city,  and  in  the  evening  relig- 
ious services  were  held  for  the  benefit  of  all  who  in- 
clined to  come,  it  being  distinctly  understood  there 
was  no  tax  to  be  levied  or  contribution  called  for  or 
sectarianism  to  be  exercised.  It  was  remarked  in  one 
of  the  newspapers  at  the  time  that  "  the  chapel  was 
completely  filled  with  people,  who  showed  a  marked 
interest  in  the  exercises  of  the  evening."  In  a  short 
address  on  the  occasion,  Mr.  Howland  said  that  the 
erection  of  the  chapel  had  not  been  from  any  selfish 
motive,  but  to  furnish  a  comfortable  and  agreeable 
room  for  those  who  felt  destitute  of  a  place  of  wor- 
ship in  this  part  of  the  city  to  come  and  listen  to  the 
preaching  of  the  gospel  and  be  taught  the  simple 
truths  of  the  Bible. 

Since  the  organization  of  the  school,  twelve  years 
ago,  it  has  been  kept  up  without  omission,  most  of 
the  time  under  the  faithful  and  efficient  superintend- 
ence of  H.  T.  Wood,  who  resigned  about  a  year  since, 
and  was  succeeded  by  Robert  B.Taber..  The  average 
attendance  of  the  school  has  ranged  from  one  hundred 
and  twenty  to  one  hundred  and  fifty. 

The  expenses  connected  with  the  chapel  since  its 
erection,  such  as  warming,  lighting,  salary  of  sex- 
ton, fuel,  etc.,  have  been  paid  by  Mr.  Howland. 
Many  of  the  small  expenses  connected  with  the  school 
have  been  paid  by  little  contributions  from  the  chil- 
dren.    The  school  has  also  quite  a  good  library. 


The  Second  Advent  Church.— The  first  meetings 
of  this  sect  in  New  Bedford  were  held  in  1840,  by 
William  Miller,  of  New  York,  and  among  its  early 
supporters  here  were  Francis  Whitton,  Ellery  Rec- 
ords, Henry  V.  Davis,  William  B.  King,  William 
Gifford,  Stephen  D.  Jordan,  Dr.  Baker,  Asa  Coombs, 
Curtis  Gammons,  Pardon  Potter,  James  Baxter,  Hat- 
til  Kelley,  Jeremiah  Tripp,  John  F.  Vinal,  and  John 
Gammons. 

The  first  settled  pastor  was  Elder  Joseph  Turner. 
The  church  is  located  on  Kempton  Street,  near  County. 
E.  E.  Church,  Phineas  White,  deacons;  Phineas 
White,  Benjamin  Irish,  William  B.  Hambly,  Ezra 
Wing,  William  B.  King,  George  W.  Maker,  E.  E. 
Church,  Frederick  Stanton,  James  G.  Harding, 
church  and  finance  committee:  James  G.  Harding, 
clerk  and  treasurer. 

There  is  also  a  Union  Church  located  at  Allen's 
Corner,  Plainville;  Olivet  Chapel,  on  Acushnet  Av- 
enue, corner  of  Blackmer;  Rockdale  Union  Free 
Chapel  Association,  organized  March  19,1873;  and 
Missionary  Chapel.  South  Water  Street,  corner  of 
Leonard. 

Extinct  Churches.— The  following  churches  are 
extinct : 

The  Pacific  Church. — This  church  was  organ- 
ized Oct.  8,  1844,  with  the  following  persons;  Perry 
G  Macomber  and  wife,  Samuel  Bennett  and  wife, 
Ebenezer  Rider,  John  W.  Tripp  and  wife,  George 
Perry  and  wife,  John  S.  Holmes,  Mrs.  Susan  Perry, 
Laban  Thatcher,  Sarah  Allen,  Hannah  Chase,  Fanny 
Thomas,  Sarah  Slocum,  Sarah  Cobb,  Rebecca  Albert, 
Thankful  Hawes,  Almira  Ellis,  Abby  Copeland,  Susan 
Vincent,  and  Betsey  Holmes. 

October  13th,  Rev.  Sylvester  Holmes  and  wife,  Jon- 
athan Wheeler  and  wife,  Seth  C.  Nichols,  Eliphalet 
Daggett,  Esther  Sowle,  and  others  were  received  into 
the  church. 

Sabbath  afternoon,  November  3d,  the  following 
persons  were  admitted  to  membership  by  letter:  I. 
H.  Bartlett,  Joseph  Seabury  and  wife,  Deborah  C. 
Bartlett,  and  Miss  Abby  Jane  Clapp.  November  4th, 
Perry  G.  Macomber  and  Jonathan  Wheeler  were 
chosen  deacons. 

The  pastors  were  as  follows:  Revs.  Sylvester 
Holmes,  Mr.  Colburn,  Timothy  Stowe,  Bernard  Paine, 
T.  C.  Jerome,  I.  L.  Harris,  and  Rev.  C.  J.  K.  Jones. 

The  church  disbanded  April  17,  1878,  the  member- 
ship of  nearly  one  hundred  going  to  North  Congre- 
gational Church  and  Unitarian  Church,  almost  en- 
tirely to  the  former. 

The  church  property  was  sold  to  the  Second  Ad- 
ventists. 

Third  Christian  Church. — This  church  was 
organized  in  1826.  It  was  known  as  the  African 
Christian  until  1840,  when  the  name  was  changed  to 
Third  Christian.  The  house  of  worship  was  on 
Middle  Street,  and  was  dedicated  June  24,  1830 ; 
sermon  by  Elder  William  Quinn.     Shortly  after  the 


91 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


society  was  admitted  to  the  Christian  connection. 
The  names  of  those  constituting  the  church  were 
John  Christopher,  Joseph  Antone,  N.  Anderson, 
Moses  Sheperd,  Samuel  Wilson,  Charles  R.  Cook, 
Samuel  Richards,  Ruth  Johnson,  Dinah  Farmer, 
Rebecca  Bailey,  Sally  Antone,  Margaret  Sheperd, 
Catharine  Dixon,  Jane  Fute,  Avis  Williams,  Char- 
lotte Cook,  and  Abby  Christopher. 

The  following  were  the  pastors :  Rev.  Messrs.  Wash- 
ington Christian,  Jacob  Perry,  Isaac  Smith,  Luke  Wal- 
dron,  Haves,  Anthony,  Henson,  Francis,  Sunrise,  Be- 
man,  and  J.  B.  Smith. 

To  meet  the  expenses  of  repairs  the  property  was 
mortgaged  to  the  Five  Cents  Savings-Bank,  which 
foreclosed  the  mortgage  in  1859,  and  the  church  be- 
came extinct.  During  the  latter  part  of  its  existence 
it  was  known  as  the  Free-Will  Baptist  Church. 

Cannon ville  Union  Church  was  organized 
through  the  efforts  of  Messrs.  Edward  S.  Cannon, 
Charles  Cannon,  W.  H.  Sturtevant,  Ellis  Bartlett, 
Isaac  Bolles,  and  George  W.  Hathaway.  A  house  of 
worship  was  built  by  William  Wilcox,  costing  one 
thousand  dollars,  of  which  sum  seven  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars  was  raised  by  Messrs.  Cannon.  It  was 
dedicated  Dec.  9,  1841,  sermon  by  Rev.  G.  F.  Pool. 
In  the  spring  of  1842  a  church  was  formed,  having  a 
membership  of  forty-two. 

The  first  settled  pastor  was  Rev.  Edward  H.  Hat- 
field, whose  ministry  began  in  1849.  He  continued 
only  six  months  ;  supplies  were  then  procured  until 
the  next  session  of  Conference,  when  Rev.  Charles 
Noble  was  sent  to  the  church.  After  a  year's  service 
he  gave  up  the  keys  to  Mr.  Cannon,  and  Conference 
relinquished  the  station.  Mr.  Cannon  then  employed 
Rev.  W.  H.  Sturtevant,  paying  him  his  salary  out  of 
his  own  pocket.  In  April,  1852,  Rev.  Mr.  Tripp,  a 
Baptist  clergyman,  took  charge,  and  remained  until 
the  February  following.  Mr.  Edward  S.  Cannon  was 
the  mainspring  of  this  church. 

The  Centre  Church  was  organized  Feb.  12, 
1845.  The  following  were  some  of  the  original  mem- 
bers :  James  H.  Collins,  William  H.  Stowell,  Isaac 
Bly,  David  Ilsley,  Prentiss  W.  Cobb,  Benjamin  G. 
Wilson,  Robert  Luscomb,  William  Bly,  Ruth  Bly, 
Deborah  Simmons,  and  Eliza  Tubbs. 

It  was  at  first  attempted  to  form  a  church  of  the 
Christian  denomination,  but  the  clergymen  invited  to 
do  this  declining,  invitations  were  extended  to  Rev. 
Messrs.  Ephraim  Peabody,  Davis,  and  E.  B.  Hall,  of 
Providence,  by  whom  the  society  was  organized. 
Rev.  Charles  Morgridge  was  the  first  pastor ;  he 
preached  until  March,  1845.  The  next  was  Rev. 
Jonathan  Brown,  of  Naples,  N.  Y.,  who  officiated 
about  three  years  without  much  success.  The  church 
then  voted  not  to  employ  any  but  Unitarian  minis- 
ters. In  October,  1848,  Rev.  Moses  G.  Thomas  was 
installed.  His  pastorship  continued  until  1854,  when 
the  financial  affairs  of  the  church  became  so  full  of 
embarrassment  that  it  was  voted  to  disband. 


The  Mount  Pleasant  Church  owed  its  origin 
to  Noah  Tripp  and  some  twenty-two  others  from  the 
Pleasant  Street  Church.  The  house  was  built  in 
1852.  In  the  commencement  it  was  proposed  to 
make  it  free  to  all  denominations,  but  it  was  after- 
wards deemed  necessary  to  organize  as  a  Methodist 
Church,  which  was  done  April  19,  1854.  The  first 
pastor  was  Rev.  E.  W.  Dunbar.  He  was  followed 
by  Rev.  Messrs.  Gavitt,  Hinks,  Worthing,  and  Ham- 
len,  who  preached  a  year  each.  The  house  was  then 
sold  to  the  Baptists,  who  held  services  but  a  short 
time. 


CHAPTER    XL 

NEW    BEDFORD.— ( Continued.) 

PKESS— EDUCATIONAL— BANKS,  ETC. 

The  Medley,  or  New  Bedford  Marine  Journal — The  Mercury — The 
Standard — The  Whaleman's  Shipping-List — The  New  Bedford  Signal 
— Numerous  other  Newspapers — Friends'  Academy — Free  Public  Li- 
brary— The  National  Bank  of  Commerce — The  Merchants'  National 
Bank — The  Mechanics'  National  Bank — The  First  National  Bank — 
The  Citizens'  National  Bank — Institution  for  Savings— Five-Cent 
Savings-Bank  —  Water-Works  —  New  Bedford  and  Fairhaven  Street 
Railway  —  Post-Office — Wamsutta  Mills — Potamska  Mills — Grinnell 
Mills  —  Gosnold  Mills,  etc. —  Masonic — Star  in  the  East  Lodge — 
Eureka  Lodge — Adoniram  Chapter  R.  A.  M. — Sutton  Commandery — 
Early  Physicians — Fire  Society,  1809 — The  Ship  Rebecca — Miscella- 
neous. 

The  first  paper  published  in  New  Bedford  was  The 
Medley,  or  Neio  Bedford  Marine  Journal,  the  first  num- 
ber of  which  was  issued  Nov.  27,  1792,  "  printed  and 
published  by  John  Spooner,  at  his  office  near  Rotch's 
wharf."  It  was  a  small  sixteen-column  sheet.  The 
first  number  contained  news  from  Italy,  France,  and 
England,  and  a  record  of  the  proceedings  of  the 
Second  Congress  of  "  Confederated  America."  John 
Spooner  notifies  the  inhabitants  that  "he  has  just  re- 
ceived from  New  London  and  for  sale  the  following 
books."  In  the  list  were  "  Watts'  Hymns,"  "  Fen- 
ning's  Spelling-Book,"  "Vicar  of  Wakefield,"  "  Sea- 
men's Journals,"  "  Adventures  of  Gil  Bias,"  "  Fanny, 
or  the  Happy  Repentance,"  etc.  He  also  advertises 
for  sale  Dutch  quills,  wafers,  etc.,  and  will  take 
"  cash  or  any  of  the  above  books  given  in  exchange 
for  clean  cotton  or  linen  rags,  old  sail-cloth,  or  junk." 

Caleb  Green  advertises  "  Books  and  book-binding," 
while  William  Rotch,  Jr.,  "Respectfully  informs  his 
Customers  and  Friends  he  has  for  sale  wholesale  and 
retail,  at  his  store  in  New  Bedford,  sail-cloth,  coarse 
and  fine  sheetings,  pork  and  salt,  Philadelphia  and 
Russia  bar-iron,  paints,  etc." 

The  brig  "  Mary"  is  advertised  to  sail  for  Havre  de 
Grace,  Cornelius  Grinnell,  master;  and  the  sloop 
"  Mayflower,"  Gibbs  West,  master,  for  New  York  and 
Chesapeake. 

The  Neiv  Bedford  Mercury,  a  weekly  newspaper,  was 
established  in  1807  by  Benjamin  Lindsey,  who  had 


NEW    BEDFORD. 


95 


previously  worked  as  compositor  and  foreman  in  the 
printing-office  of  the  Palladium  in  Boston.  It  was  a 
small  sheet  of  sixteen  columns,  printed  "  on  good 
paper  and  in  fair  type,"  the  subscription  price  two 
dollars,  exclusive  of  postage,  and  "payable  half- 
yearly  in  advance."  In  his  address  to  the  public 
the  editor  says,  "It  is  our  wish  and  intention  to  pub- 
lish a  useful  and,  as  far  as  our  resources  will  permit, 
an  entertaining  journal,  embracing  all  those  objects 
which  properly  fall  within  its  scope,  etc.  ...  In 
politics  we  shall  adopt  the  truly  republican  principles 
of  Washington's  '  Farewell  Address,'  convinced  that 
all  Americans  are  alike  interested  in  their  support. 
Thus  doing,  we  shall 

"'  Nothing  extenuate, 
Nor  set  down  aught  in  malice.'  " 

The  first  issue  contains  "  very  late  foreign  news" 
(for  those  ante-clipper-ship,  ante-steam-power,  and 
ante-telegraph  times),  a  proclamation  by  Thomas 
Jefferson,  and  various  local  advertisements  by  Abra- 
ham Sherman,  Peter  Barney  &  Son,  and  Russell, 
Thornton  &  Co.  In  the  second  number  is  an  adver- 
tisement of  a  new  line  of  stages  between  New  Bed- 
ford and  Boston,  announcing  that  the  "stage  will 
start  from  Crocker's  tavern  in  New  Bedford  at  sun- 
rise on  Mondays,  Wednesdays,  and  Fridays,  and  ar- 
rive at  Boston  at  three  o'clock  p.m." 

The  founder  of  the  Mercury  conducted  it  alone  till 
1826,  when  his  son,  Benjamin  Lindsey,  Jr.,  was  asso- 
ciated with  him.  In  1831  they  started  the  Daily  Mer- 
cury (the  first  daily  established  in  New  Bedford),  and 
thesenior  proprietor  soon  after  retiring,  the  entire  man- 
agement devolved  upon  the  son,  who  published  it  till 
July  15,  1861,  when,  having  been  appointed  United 
States  consul  at  St.  Catharine's,  Brazil,  he  sold  the 
newspaper  establishment  to  C.  B.  H.  Fessenden  and 
William  G.  Baker. 

The  Mercury,  under  Mr.  Lindsey's  management, 
grew  in  importance  and  value,  was  edited  with  abil- 
ity, and  for  many  years  enjoyed  a  wide  circulation. 
For  a  long  time  it  had  no  competitor,  there  being 
then  no  evening  paper,  and  its  close  attention  to  the 
fullness  and  accuracy  of  its  ship  news  secured  for  it  a 
generous  list  of  subscribers. 

Fessenden  &  Baker  took  charge  of  the  paper  upon 
the  very  eve  of  the  late  civil  war.  It  was  not  an 
auspicious  time  for  such  an  undertaking  by  men  of 
limited  pecuniary  means  and  unacquainted  with  the 
details  of  newspaper  business.  But  the  new  proprie- 
tor- had  a  decided  taste  for  journalism,  and  lost  noth- 
ing in  reputation,  if  they  gained  nothing  in  money,  by 
the  venture.  The  character  of  the  paper  did  not 
suffer  by  the  transfer.  It  honestly  and  heartily  sup- 
ported the  Republican  administration  in  the  prosecu- 
tion of  the  war  and  afterwards  in  the  great  wofk  of 
reconstruction.  It  advocated  at  an  early  day  the 
arming  of  the  enslaved  negroes  and  their  emancipa- 
tion, one  of  its  editorials  having  the  caption,  "  We 


must  fight  them  or  free  them."  In  the  darkest  days 
of  the  Rebellion  its  leading  articles  were  cheery  and 
hopeful,  prophesying  progress  through  a  big  disaster, 
and  showing  unbounded  confidence  in  the  final  tri- 
umph of  the  nation.  Even  beyond  the  circumscribed 
limits  of  its  circulation  it  exerted  a  healthful  and 
conservative  influence,  for  its  columns  were  scrupu- 
lously kept  free  from  anything  that  would  offend 
good  taste  or  injure  public  or  private  morals,  and 
it  was  vigorous  in  its  advocacy  of  all  real  reform. 
It  was  persistent  in  urging  the  introduction  of  pure 
water  into  New  Bedford  as  a  sanitary  and  economic 
measure,  and  the  supplementing  of  the  loss  to  the 
city  from  the  inevitable  decline  of  the  whale  fish- 
ery by  the  increase  of  manufactures,  both  which 
have  gradually  come  to  pass. 

May  1,  1876,  the  Mercury  passed  by  purchase  into 
the  hands  of  the  present  proprietors,  Messrs.  Stephen 
W.  Booth,  Warren  E.  Chase,  and  William  L.  Sayer, 
who  now,  under  the  style  of  the  Mercury  Publishing 
Company,  conduct  it.  Mr.  Booth  had  for  years  been 
in  the  employ  of  Fessenden  &  Baker  as  clerk  and 
then  business  manager.  Mr.  Chase  had  large  expe- 
rience and  skill  as  a  compositor,  and  Mr.  Sayer  had 
graduated  with  honor  from  the  Mercury  office  as  re- 
porter. Young,  hopeful,  intelligent,  industrious,  and 
determined  to  succeed,  they  have  kept  up  the  tone  of 
the  paper,  and  in  many  respects  improved  its  appear- 
ance. Republican  in  principle,  it  is  independent  of 
party,  its  editor,  Mr.  Sayer,  approving  or  condemning 
measures  without  regard  to  their  party  origin  or  sup- 
port. The  paper  is  losing  nothing  of  vigor  in  its  old 
age,  keeps  up  with  the  current  of  opinion  on  matters  of 
public  concern,  is  breezy  with  local  news,  and  prom- 
ises to  grow  and  prosper  with  the  growth  and  pros- 
perity of  the  city,  because  it  supplied  a  public  need. 

The  Old  Colony  Gazette  was  started  in  October,  1808. 
In  1811  the  name  was  changed  to  the  New  Bedford 
Gazette,  and  again  in  1812  to  The  Bristol  Gazette,  when 
it  was  removed  to  Fairhaven.  It  was  discontinued 
July  10,  1813.  Billings  &  Tucker  and  David  Hollis 
had  charge  of  it  in  1810,  afterwards  Joseph  Gleason, 
Jr.,  until  Feb.  5,  1813,  when  it  passed  into  the  hands 
of  Paul  Taber. 

The  New  Bedford  Courier  was  established  June  12, 
1827,  by  Benjamin  T.  Congdon.  In  1833  the  words 
Weekly  Lyceum  were  added  to  the  title.  In  the  fol- 
lowing year  the  WorMngmen's  Press,  a  paper  first 
issued  in  May,  1832,  was  united  with  the  Courier. 
The  first  number  of  the  consolidated  sheets  appeared 
Feb.  26,  1834,  under  the  management  of  Harris  & 
Borroughs,  to  whom  Mr.  Congdon  had  transferred  his 
interest  in  the  paper.  After  the  publication  of  the 
second  or  third  number  the  paper  again  passed  into 
his  hands,  and  was  continued  by  him  under  the  same 
title,  New  Bedford  Weekly  Courier  and  WorMngmen's 
Press,  till  July  2,  1834,  when  he  sold  it  to  J.  George 
Harris  and  Charles  W.  Rexford,  who  changed  the 
title  to  New  Bedford  Gazette  and  Weekly  Courier,  and 


96 


HISTORY   OF   BRTSTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


published  it  in  connection  with  the  Daily  Gazette  until 
November  3d  of  the  same  year,  when  the  partnership 
was  dissolved  by  the  withdrawal  of  Rexford.  Mr. 
Harris  edited  the  paper  until  1838.  In  1838  the 
name  was  again  changed  to  The  New  Bedford  Weekly 
Advocate,  but  neither  this  paper  nor  the  Daily  Gazette, 
which  was  established  in  1833,  and  edited  by  Harris  & 
Rexford  and  J.  George  Harris,  were  published  in  1839.1 
Mr.  Harris  is  now  a  retired  pay  director  in  the 
navy,  residing  in  Nashville,  Tenn.,  with  summer 
residence  at  New  London,  Conn. 

The  Register,  daily  and  weekly,  was  published  by 
William  Canfield  in  1839;  Morning  Register  and  New 
Bedford  Register,  by  Canfield  &  Andros,  in  1841  ; 
Evening  Register  and  New  Bedford  Register,  by  Wil- 
liam Young,  in  1845. 

The  Daily  Evening  Bulletin  and  Semi-  Weekly  Bulle- 
tin were  started  in  1842,  edited  by  William  Eddy  in 
1843,  by  Charles  T.  Cougdon  in  1844,  and  by  Henry 
Tilden  in  1845-46. 

During  1846  the  evening  paper  was  published  tri- 
weekly, and  the  name  of  the  weekly  changed  to  The 
Weekly  Bulletin  and  Advocate. 

The  Seaman's  Reporter  and  Family  Visitor,  after- 
wards The  New  Bedford  Reporter  and  Whalemen's 
Weekly  Visitor,  edited  by  Joseph  H.  Smith,  appeared 
in  July,  1844.  He  was  succeeded,  in  1849,  by  Charles 
H.  Kingsford.  In  connection  with  the  weekly  Mr. 
Smith  also  published  from  July  2,  1847,  a  semi- 
weekly  called  the  New  Bedford  Reporter  and  Semi- 
Weekly  Democrat.  Kingsford  afterwards  issued  an 
octavo  sheet,  made  up  of  advertisements  and  circu- 
lated gratuitously. 

The  Daily  Evening  Standard  was  first  issued  on  Fri- 
day, Feb.  15,  1850,  and  was  a  sheet  nineteen  by 
twenty-seven  inches  in  size.  The  field  had  long  been 
occupied  by  the  Mercury,  and  many  attempts  to  es- 
tablish rival  newspapers  had  failed.  Mr.  Edmund 
Anthony,  the  originator  of  the  Standard,  was  a  native 
of  Swansea,  and  for  some  years  carried  on  the  print- 
ing business  in  Taunton,  where  he  founded  the  Taun- 
ton Democrat,  now  the  Gazette,  and  its  weekly  edition, 
now  called  the  Household  Gazette.  The  Standard 
rapidly  gained  in  patronage  and  favor,  and  Feb.  6, 
1851,  the  announcement  was  made  that  its  circulation 
in  the  city  of  New  Bedford  was  more  than  that  of  any 
other  paper.  As  a  consequence  the  postal  authorities 
awarded  to  it  the  advertising  of  letters  not  called  for, 
and  the  advertisement  appeared  in  its  columns  for  the 
first  time  April  16th.  The  Standard  has  been  en- 
larged several  times,— July  1,  1852,  Feb.  15,  1856, 
June  8,  1864,  Nov.  16,  1865,  Jan.  2,  1871,  and  Oct. 
23,  1879, — and  is  now  a  broad  sheet  twenty-five  by 
forty-two  inches.  With  the  extension  of  telegraph 
facilities  at  the  opening  of  the  civil  war  it  became 
advisable  to  print  more  than  one  daily  edition.  The 
hour  of  publication  had  been  three  o'clock.    Another 


i  See  biographical  department. 


edition  at  3.30  o'clock  first  appeared  June  1, 1861,  and 
was  continued  till  Nov.  7, 1868  ;  another  at  five  o'clock 
appeared  July  6,  1861,  and  is  still  regularly  issued. 
For  a  few  months  at  the  opening  of  the  war  a  morn- 
ing edition  was  printed,  and  for  a  number  of  summers 
previous  to  1870  an  extra  edition  was  published  at 
1.30  o'clock,  in  order  that  it  might  be  circulated  the 
same  day  at  the  great  summer  resort  on  Martha's 
Vineyard.  Increased  means  of  transportation  have 
since  obviated  the  necessity  of  this.  At  one  time  in 
the  course  of  the  war,  from  Sept.  2,  1864,  to  April  15, 
1865,  the  state  of  the  paper  market  was  such  that  the 
proprietors  could  not  obtain  paper  the  exact  size  they 
needed,  and  the  columns  were  temporarily  shortened 
about  half  an  inch.  In  January,  1864,  Mr.  Anthony 
commenced  the  publication  of  the  Springfield  Union, 
and  July  26th  of  that  year  it  was  announced  that  the 
Standard  would  appear  in  the  name  of  E.  Anthony 
&  Sons,  Edmund  Anthony  (Jr.)  and  Benjamin  An- 
thony being  admitted  as  partners.  Mr.  Anthony  dis- 
posed of  his  Springfield  enterprise  in  about  two  years 
and  returned  to  New  Bedford,  where  he  died  Jan.  24, 
1876,  at  the  age  of  sixty-seven  years.  The  style  of 
the  firm  continues  as  before,  E.  Anthony  &  Sons. 

The  Republican  Standard  (weekly),  published  on 
Thursdays,  commenced  at  the  same  time  with  the 
daily,  the  first  number  appearing  Feb.  21,  1850,  its 
size  beiug  twenty-two  by  thirty-three  inches.  Its 
prosperity  and  progress  have  been  proportionate  to 
that  of  the  Evening  Standard,  and  it  was  enlarged  Feb. 
16,  1854,  Jan.  3,  1867,  Jan.  5,  1871,  Jan.  4,  1877,  and 
Jan.  4, 1883,  and  its  size  is  now  thirty-five  by  forty-nine 
inches.  At  the  time  of  enlargement  in  1867  the  quarto 
form  was  adopted.  These  newspapers  are  the  largest 
of  their  respective  classes  south  of  Boston  and  east 
of  Providence,  and  their  circulation  is  larger  than 
that  of  any  other  papers  in  the  same  section,  the 
regular  issue  of  which  being  between  three  thou- 
sand five  hundred  and  four  thousand  copies.  The 
Evening  Standard  is  mostly  read  in  New  Bedford  and 
within  ten  miles  around.  Its  circulation  in  the  city 
is  about  two  thousand  nine  hundred  copies,  or  one 
for  every  nine  inhabitants,  men,  women,  and  children. 
Three-fourths  or  more  of  the  circulation  of  the  Repub- 
lican Standard  is  in  the  towns  of  Southern  Massachu- 
setts and  Eastern  Rhode  Island,  and  it  is  sent  regu- 
larly to  six  hundred  post-offices.  The  aim  of  the 
Standard  has  been  from  the  first  to  present  a  thorough 
digest  of  news  of  every  description  on  all  the  current 
topics  of  the  time,  giving  special  prominence  to  de- 
tails of  matters  of  local  interest.  In  politics  it  has 
been  in  affiliation  with  the  Republican  party,  except 
with  regard  to  the  tariff.  The  job-printing  depart- 
ment of  the  office  is  well  organized  and  does  a  large 
business.  Though  inaugurated  on  what  superstition 
has  marked  as  an  unlucky  day,  the  enterprise  has 
been  an  unbroken  success  in  all  respects,  and  has  be- 
come the  largest  printing  establishment  in  Southern 
Massachusetts. 


NEW   BEDFORD. 


97 


The  Whaleman's  Shipping-List  and  Merchants'  Tran- 
seript  was  founded  March  17,  1843,  by  Henry  Lindsey, 
and  conducted  by  him  until  his  death  in  18f>3.  It  then 
passed  into  the  hands  of  Benjamin  Lindsey,  and  was 
owned  by  him  until  1873,  when  it  was  purchased  by  E. 
P.  Raymond,  who  has  since  conducted  it  as  sole  editor 
and  proprietor.  Mr.  Raymond  has  had  the  editorial 
management  of  the  paper  since  1861.  It  is  the  only 
paper  of  its  kind  in  the  world,  and  its  circulation  ex- 
tends to  London,  Dublin,  Glasgow,  Canary  Islands, 
Paris,  China,  St.  Helena,  Barbadoes,  New  Zealand, 
Chili,  Tasmania,  Berlin,  Azores,  etc. 

The  New  Bedford  Signal  was  started  Dec.  14,  1878, 
by  George  Robertson  as  editor  and  proprietor.  It 
was  started  as  a  twenty-column  sheet,  but  has  been 
enlarged  to  twenty-four  columns.  It  is  independent, 
"  bound  to  no  sect,  ruled  by  no  party." 

The  New  Bedford  Times,  a  weekly  paper,  was  edited 
and  published  by  John  Frasier  from  1857  to  1861. 

The  following  papers  were  short-lived  :  The  Chris- 
tian Philanthropist,  1823,  edited  by  Melcher  and 
Rogers;  The  Censor ;  The  Record-  of  the  Times,  1830; 
The  Advocate,  commenced  in  1844,  published  by  Henry 
Tilden  ;  The  Union,  1857,  by  Henry  Tilden  ;  The  May- 
flower, 1844;  The  Independent  Press,  October,  1848; 
The  Harpoon,  edited  by  William  Miller  ;  The  Weekly 
Echo,  1849,  edited  by  Moses  Brown  ;  The  Whaleman, 
published  weekly  from  1854,  edited  by  William  S. 
Anderson;  The  Citizen,  Dec.  1,  1860;  The  City  Rail 
Advertiser,  1860-61,  and  The  Herald. 

Friends'  Academy.1 — Friends'  Academy,  now  lo- 
cated in  New  Bedford,  west  of  County  Street,  and 
between  Morgan  and  Elm  Streets,  is  a  day  school  for 
teaching  boys  and  girls  the  elements  of  ancient  and 
modern  language*,  of  mathematics,  and  of  natural  and 
moral  sciences,  with  certain  of  their  applications.  Its 
past  of  seventy  years  has  witnessed  many  changes  in 
teachers,  in  pupils,  in  text-books,  in  methods,  in  pros- 
perity, and  in  the  mode  of  realizing  the  purpose  of 
its  founders ;  but  that  purpose  itself  has  always  been 
kept  in  view.  The  internal  history  of  a  school  which 
has  touched  the  lives  of  two  thousand  pupils  would 
form  an  interesting  contribution  to  pedagogics,  but 
where  obtain  the  data?  Most  adults  remember  as 
little  of  school  life  as  of  infant  life.  The  world 
dwarfs  the  school  by  comparison  in  the  mind  of  the 
grown-up  man.  He  recalls,  at  most,  some  prank  of 
himself  or  his  fellows  ;  naturally,  he  knows  his  beard 
bettor  than  his  brain,  whatever  their  relative  import- 
ance. Nor  can  the  layman,  to  use  a  Germanism,  see 
that  the  moral  and  natural  sciences,  that  languages, 
even  the  so-called  dead  languages,  that  mathematics 
themselves  have  been  transformed  in  the  last  seventy 
years,  and  that  these  changes  have  been  reacting  in 
the  school.  Thus  it  happens  that  from  inquiries, 
from  catalogues,  from  reports  one  gets  so  little  that  is 
interesting  or  useful. 

i  Contributed  by  Mr.  A.  Ingrabam. 


The  external  history  of  the  academy  we  will  tabu- 
late at  the  end  of  this  brief  article,  and  gain  room  for 
a  glimpse  at  literary  New  Bedford  of  1810,  the  year 
in  which  the  village  that  had  owed  to  William  Rotch 
and  his  associates  the  greater  share  of  its  business 
prosperity  was  to  owe  to  him  and  to  them  its  strongest 
impulse  in  the  direction  of  thought  and  culture. 

Abraham  Shearman,  Jr.,  at  his  book-store  in  "  Four 
Corners,"  offered  for  sale,  among  other  books,  "  Frag- 
ments in  Prose  and  Verse,"  by  Elizabeth  Smith; 
"  Memoirs  of  Frederick  and  Margaret  Klopstock  ;" 
Barlow's  "  Columbiad  ;"  Beattie's  "  Elements  of 
Moral  Science ;"  Stewart's  "  Philosophy  of  the  Hu- 
man Mind  ;"  "  Lectures  on  Astronomy,"  by  Margaret 
Bryan;  Ewing's  "Natural  and  Experimental  Phil- 
osophy;" Gregory's  "  Letters  on  Taste,  Composition, 
and  Literature;"  Accum's  "Analysis  of  Minerals  ;" 
Scott's  "  Marmion  ;"  Dryden's  "  Virgil." 

Cephas  Cushman  "  respectfully  informs  the  public 
in  general  that  he  intends  opening  a  day  and  evening 
school  to  teach  the  art  of  writing." 

Elisha  Thornton  and  his  son,  Daniel  Thornton, 
"  propose  opening  a  school  jointly  on  the  11th  inst. 
(December,  1809)  at  the  Friends'  school-house  in  the 
village  of  New  Bedford,  for  the  instruction  of  the 
youth  of  both  sexes,  principally  in  the  higher 
branches  of  literature,  viz. :  English  grammar,  geog- 
raphy, use  of  the  globe,  the  several  branches  of  the 
mathematics,  as  geometry,  surveying,  navigation,  and 
astronomy." 

Among  the  laws  of  New  Bedford  South  School  we 
find  the  following:  "  The  common  branches  of  learn- 
ing to  be  taught  in  said  school  are  spelling,  reading, 
writing,  English  grammar,  and  arithmetic,  geography, 
with  the  use  of  the  globe  and  making  maps  upon  dif- 
ferent principles  ;  geometry,  trigonometry,  with  their 
application  to  the  mensuration  of  heights  and  dis- 
tances, navigation  and  surveying  of  land,  mensura- 
tion of  superfices  and  solids,  gauging,  dialing,  book- 
keeping by  single  and  double  entry  will  be  taught 
at  different  prices." 

The  Social  School  had  been  established  near  the 
"Head  of  the  River"  in  1798.  "In  this  school," 
among  other  things,  "  the  scholars  shall  be  taught  to 
accent  and  read  properly  both  poetry  and  prose,  be 
put  to  arithmetic  and  the  study  of  English  grammar 
as  soon  as  the  committee  and  preceptor  shall  deem 
them  qualified  therefor."  The  following  books  shall 
be  used  in  the  school,  viz. :  Webster's  "Institute," 
"  Young  Ladies'  Accidence,"  the  Holy  Bible.  "  The 
senior  class  shall  be  instructed  one  day  in  each  week 
in  epistolary  and  other  composition.  The  pupils 
shall  be  taught  to  make  and  mend  their  pens  on  their 
beginning  to  write  joining  hand."  It  is  enjoined  on 
the  teacher  "that  he  never  strike  the  children  on  the 
head,  nor  authorize  one  scholar  to  inflict  corporal 
punishment  on  another;"  and  also  "  that  he  frequently 
address  his  pupils  on  moral  and  religious  subjects, 
endeavoring  to  impress  their  minds  with  the  sense  of 


98 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


the  being  and  providence  of  God,  and  the  obligation 
they  are  under  to  love,  serve,  and  pray  to  Him  ;  their 
duty  to  their  parents  and  masters  and  respect  to  their 
superiors ;  the  beauty  and  excellence  of  truth,  justice, 
and  mutual  love ;  tenderness  to  brute  creatures,  and 
the  sinfulness  of  tormenting  them  and  wantonly 
destroying  their  lives." 

The  New  Bedford  Academy,  between  the  villages 
of  Fairhaven  and  Oxford,  had  been  established  in 
1799.  It  was  voted  by  the  trustees  in  1810,  January 
22d,  that  the  committee  be  directed  and  are  hereby 
authorized  to  make  arrangements  to  sell  the  house  at 
public  sale. 

In  October,  1810,  Cornelius  Wing  gives  notice  that 
he  intends  to  open  his  evening  school  at  the  South 
school-house  for  the  third  season. 

In  July,  1810,  the  New  Bedford  Library  Society 
confer  with  the  proprietors  of  the  Social  Library  on 
the  subject  of  incorporating  both  libraries  in  one. 

Member*  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Friends'  Acad- 
emy.—William  Rotch,  1812-28;  Elisha  Thornton, 
1812-16;  Thomas  Arnold,  1812-26;  Samuel  Elam, 
1812-13;  Samuel  Rodman,  1812-35;  William  Rotch, 
Jr.,  1812-50;  William  Dean,  1812-50;  Abraham 
Shearman,  Jr.,  1812-23;  James  Arnold,  1812-68; 
Samuel  Rodman,  Jr.,  1813-76;  Obadiah  M.  Brown, 
1813-22;  George  Howland,  1817-52  ;  Benjamin  Rod- 
man, 1817-76;  Joseph  Rotch,  1823-39;  Charles  W. 
Morgan,  1823-61;  Francis  Rotch,  1823-74;  Andrew 
Robeson,  1823-62;  Thomas  A.  Greene,  1826-67;  Wil- 
liam R.  Rodman,  1830-55;  Joseph  Grinnell,  1836-55; 
Samuel  W.  Rodman,  1838;  William  R.  Robeson,  1838; 
Benjamin  S.  Rotch,  1839-82;  Andrew  Robeson,  Jr., 
1839-74;  William  J.  Rotch,  1839;  William  Logan 
Rodman,  1855-63;  Lawrence  Grinnell,  1855;  Thomas 
R,  Rodman,  1856;  Edmund  Rodman,  1856;  George 
Hussey,  Jr.,  1864-72;  Horatio  Hathaway,  1864; 
Joshua  C.  Stone,  1866-69;  Leander  A.  Plummer, 
1868;  S.  Griffiths  Morgan,  1870;  William  Rotch, 
1870;  Morgan  Rotch,  1880;  Thomas  M.  Stetson, 
1880;  Frederic  Swift,  1880;  Edmund  Grinnell,  1880. 
Presidents  of  the  Board.— William  Rotch,  1812-28 ; 
Samuel  Rodman,  1828-32;  James  Arnold,  1832-36; 
William  Rotch,  Jr.,  1836-50;  Samuel  Rodman,  1850 
-76  ;  William  J.  Rotch,  1876. 

Treasurers  of  the  Board. — William  Rotch,  Jr.,  1812 
-50;  William  J.  Rotch,  1850. 

Secretaries  of  the  Board. — Samuel  Rodman,  1812-27 ; 
Samuel  Rodman,  Jr.,  1827-37;  Thomas  A.  Greene, 
1837-41;  Benjamin  S.  Rotch,  1841-46;  William  J. 
Rotch,  1846-56  ;  William  Logan  Rodman,  1856-64; 
Edmund  Rodman,  1864. 

Principals. — John  Maitland  Brewer,  1812-17  ;  Moses 
S.  Moody,  1817-18 ;  Thomas  A.  Greene,  1818-20 ;  John 
H.  W.  Page,  1827-29;  William  Howe  Sanford,  1829- 
31;  William  Mosely  Holland,  1831;  David  Mack, 
1831-36 ;  Isaac  N.  Stoddard,  1835-37 ;  John  V.  Beane, 
1837-45;  Simon  Barrow,  1845-46 ;  Abner  J.  Phipps, 
1847-58;  Edward  A.  H.  Allen,  1855-69;  T.  Prentiss 


Allen,    1858-64    (male   department) ;    John   Tetlow, 
1869-78  ;  Andrew  Ingraham,  1878. 

Assistants  (the  dates  are  approximate). — Thomas 
A.  Greene,  1817;  Joseph  Congdon,  1820;  John  F. 
Emerson,  William  Howe  Sanford,  Alanson  Brigham, 
Oliver  Prescott,  1829;  Samuel  A.  Devens,  Samuel 
Sawyer,  George  Washington  Warren,  Elizabeth  Dorr, 
Edward  Fabre,  1829;  Julia  Mack,  Joshua  Seixas, 
George  Ticknor  Curtis,  William  Mack,  Francis  B. 
Casas,  Samuel  Mack,  Henry  Washington  Lee,  Wil- 
liam D.  Taber,  P.  A.  Giraud,  J.  A.  Frentin,  Edward 
Seager,  M.  Moultrop,  Nathan  D.  Gould,  George  W. 
Winchester,  1835;  William  Mack,  Abby  Osgood, 
Samuel  Beane,  Phineas  Adam  Beane,  F.  P.  Wierz- 
biski,  Erastus  W.  Woodbury,  James  H.  Coggeshall, 
Charles  Peabody,  Albert  G.  Wicks,  Simon  Barrows, 
J.  B.  R.  Walker,  John  B.  Garland,  William  Hatha- 
way, J.  B.  Edwards,  Catherine  Kittredge,  Mary  Ann 
Willard,  Anna  W.  Weston,  Cyrus  Bartlett,  J.  F. 
Kelly,  John  Bennett,  Hannah  B.  Robinson,  Minerva 
Chase,  Mary  Washburn,  1845  ;  Luke  K.  Bowers,  Cli- 
mena  Wakefield,  George  H.  Fillmore,  Ivory  S.  Corn- 
ish, Lorenzo  D.  Blood,  William  T.  Goodwin,  Abby  L. 
Hitchcock,  1855 ;  Sophia  Shepherd,  Louisa  P.  Stone, 
Elvira  Johnson,  Martha  Russell,  Clara  Kempton, 
Cornelia  T.  Hart,  Annie  Gordon,  Edwin  P.  Seaver, 
William  Gordon,  D.  J.  Butler,  John  Tetlow,  Jr., 
Caroline  A.  Hinckley,  Emma  Saul,  Bessie  T.  Wing, 
Gabrilla  T.  Eddy,  Andrew  Ingraham,  Cornelius 
Howland,  Jr.,  Mrs.  H.  B.  Warner,  L.  Papanti,  M. 
Blanquet,  Max.  Eppendorf,  Max.  Richter,  Edward 
C.  Dubois,  Frances  G.  Henry,  A.  C.  Maggi,  1869; 
Celia  L.  Chase,  Mary  E.  Savery,  Lorette  M.  Furber, 
Maria  S.  Eaton,  Louisa  H.  Clapp,  1875;  Charles  J. 
Gardner,  Caleb  A.  Burbank,  Edward  H.  Cobb,  Charles 
Monier,  Arthur  Cumming,  J.  T.  White,  Mary  T. 
Spalding,  Maria  Maggi,  May  G.  Bonney,  Mary  S. 
Locke,  Mary  B.  Seabury,  Samuel  Lepoids. 

Chronology. — 1810.  A  school-house  erected  by  Wil- 
liam Rotch  on  a  lot  of  land  which  he  had  purchased 
at  the  corner  of  County  and  Elm  Streets,  in  the  vil- 
lage of  New  Bedford.  September  17th.  Preliminary 
meeting;  William  Rotch,  William  Rotch,  Jr.,  Sam- 
uel Rodman,  Samuel  Elam,  Thomas  Arnold,  James 
Arnold  agree  to  contribute  certain  sums  "  for  the 
purpose  of  establishing  and  endowing  an  institution 
for  the  instruction  of  Friends'  children,  and  such 
others,  as  it  may  appear  hereafter,  as  may  usefully 
and  safely  be  admitted  therein,  in  the  knowledge  of 
the  languages,  of  mathematics,  and  philosophy,  and 
such  other  branches  of  useful  literature  as  hereafter, 
upon  experiment,  may  be  found  within  the  compass 
and  means  of  the  institution  usefully  to  teach." 

1812,  Feb.  29th.  Charter  of  Friends'  Academy 
signed  by  Elbridge  Gerry,  Governor  of  Massachu- 
setts. 

1813,  Dec.  3d.  The  trustees  are  notified  that  Sam- 
uel Elam,  of  Newport,  had  bequeathed  to  the  academy 
all  his  printed  books  and  papers. 


NEW    BEDFORD. 


99 


1830.  Additional  land  presented  by  W.  Charles 
Morgan,  Esq.,  and  others. 

1855,  May  9th.  Repeal  of  the  first  article  of  the 
by-laws,  which  made  membership  in  the  Society  of 
Friends  a  condition  of  appointment  to  the  office  of 
trustee. 

1855,  Sept.  19th.  The  department  for  girls  made 
entirely  distinct  from  that  for  boys. 

1856,  June  11th.  A  building  committee  appointed 
to  erect  a  new  school-house  on  land  recently  pur- 
chased on  Morgan  Street. 

1857,  May  7th.     Dedication  of  the  new  building. 
1860.     The  building  enlarged  and  remodeled. 
1869.     Male   and   female  departments    completely 

consolidated. 

References  for  further  information :  Historical 
Sketch  of  the  Friends'  Academy,  prepared  for  the  j 
Centennial  Year,  to  which  is  appended  a  presentation 
of  the  course  and  methods  of  instruction  at  present 
pursued.  New  Bedford :  Fessenden  &  Baker,  Print- 
ers, 1876.  The  historical  sketch  was  contributed  by 
Thomas  R.  Rodman,  Esq.,  the  remainder  by  John 
Tetlow,  A.M.,  then  principal  of  the  academy.  His- 
tory of  New  Bedford,  by  Daniel  Ricketson,  Esq.,  pp.  j 
325. 

History  of  the  New  Bedford  Public  Schools  — 
The  first  movement  to  establish  a  regular  system  of 
public  schools  in  New  Bedford,  in  conformity  to  the 
laws  of  the  commonwealth,  was  made  in  1821.  Prior 
to  that  time  the  only  free  school  which  had  been  sup- 
ported at  public  expense  was  one  intended  for  the 
poor  alone ;  and  "  it  was  in  every  sense,"  says  Mr.  j 
James  B.  Congdon,  "  a  poor  school." 

The  wealth  of  the  town  was  intensely  hostile  to  the 
movement.  The  only  man  of  wealth  who  acted  with 
the  people  in  the  matter  was  John  Avery  Parker. 
But  the  attempt  succeeded.  A  school  committee  was 
appointed,  an  appropriation  of  twelve  hundred  dol- 
lars was  voted,  and  the  town  was  sub-divided  into 
school  districts. 

A  year  or  two  after  the  opponents  of  a  free-school 
system  rallied  their  forces  and  were  successful.  Upon 
the  question  of  appropriating  twelve  hundred  dollars 
for  schools,  the  friends  of  public  education  were  voted 
down.  But  the  triumph  of  the  contestants  was  not 
of  long  continuance,  for  the  very  next  year  the  neces- 
sary sum  was  appropriated  to  support  the  schools, 
and  active  opposition  to  them,  as  the  system  was  then 
constituted,  ceased  altogether. 

But  when,  after  an  interval,  there  was  a  movement 
for  the  establishment  of  a  High  School,  it  excited 
acrimonious  hostility.  Its  enemies  rallied  in  force, 
and  were  repeatedly  successful.  But  its  friends  as 
often  renewed  the  struggle,  and  finally  the  opposition 
gave  way  and  a  high  school  became  one  of  the  per- 
manent features  of  the  public-school  system  of  the 
town. 

From  that  time  forward  the  schools  grew  more  and 
more  deeply  in  popular  favor,  and  as  the  town  in-  I 


creased  in  numbers  the  appropriations  were  increased 
in  proportion,  until  the  original  grant  of  twelve  hun- 
dred dollars,  in  1821,  had  grown  to  the  sum  of  twenty- 
one  thousand  two  hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars  in 
1846,  when  a  charter  was  granted  and  accepted,  and 
the  town  became  a  city. 

Nothing  occurred  worthy  of  note  for  many  years. 
The  constitution  of  the  school  system  and  the  methods 
of  instruction  followed  closely  the  traditional  types 
then  prevailing  in  Massachusetts.  The  ideal  of 
"  school-keeping"  was  very  low  before,  and  even  for 
some  time  after  the  middle  of  the  century  the  phil- 
osophy of  education  as  exemplified  in  our  public 
schools  was  extremely  vague  and  indeterminate,  and 
many  of  the  methods  of  instruction  had  nothing  to 
recommend  them  except  that  that  was  the  way  chil- 
dren had  always  been  taught.  Horace  Mann,  in 
1840,  painted  a  humiliating  picture  of  the  average 
Massachusetts  public  school,  and' it  is  commended  to 
the  careful  study  of  those  fossilized  grumblers  who 
denounce  the  reformed  methods  of  instruction  as 
damaging  innovations  of  the  good  old  ways,  when 
they  themselves  went  to  school ;  but  although  the 
New  Bedford  schools  attempted  no  departures  from 
the  beaten  track,  they  had  at  all  times  many  teachers 
of  superior  ability,  who  verified  in  the  happiest  man- 
ner the  adage,  as  true  as  it  is  trite,  that  "  as  is  the 
teacher  so  is  the  school ;"  and  the  character  of  the 
schools  of  New  Bedford,  in  general,  was  no  doubt 
above  that  of  most  New  England  schools. 

It  was  fortunate  for  the  High  School,  in  the  days 
when  the  institution  was  regarded  by  many  as  a 
doubtful  experiment,  that  it  had  for  its  principal  Mr. 
John  F.  Emerson,  a  man  of  admirable  character,  fine 
culture,  and  peculiar  aptitudes  for  his  vocation.  Such 
a  man  will  make  any  school  which  he  may  undertake 
a  success,  and  Mr.  Emerson's  administration  concili- 
ated the  opponents  of  the  High  School,  and  multiplied 
its  friends,  until,  when  he  resigned  his  position  in  1861 
on  account  of  impaired  health,  after  many  years  of 
faithful  and  eminently  useful  service,  it  was  firmly 
established  in  the  favor  of  the  community.  His 
pupils,  one  and  all,  speak  of  him  in  terms  of  the  high- 
est respect  and  regard.  His  lifelike  portrait  hangs 
in  a  conspicuous  place  in  the  hall  of  the  new  and 
noble  High  School  house,  an  honor  which  he  richly 
earned. 

As  the  years  wore  on,  and  the  schools  increased  in 
size  and  number  as  the  city  grew  in  population,  the 
school  committee  found  the  task  of  supervision  too 
exacting  to  be  faithfully  performed  by  gentlemen  who 
had  each  his  own  personal  business  to  transact.  The 
result,  it  was  evident,  was  a  total  lack  of  system  in  the 
management  of  the  schools,  and  an  unjust  irregularity 
in  their  oversight.  Some  were  measurably  cared  for, 
others  were  almost  totally  neglected,  and  there  was 
lacking  a  central  force  to  give  unity  as  well  as  direc- 
tion to  the  whole. 

In  this  condition  of  affairs  the  plan  adopted  for  relief 


100 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


by  several  other  cities  who  were  in  like  circumstances, 
of  employing  a  superintendent  of  the  schools,  began  to 
be  discussed  and  gradually  to  grow  in  favor,  until  at 
length,  in  1861,  Mr.  Abner  J.  Phipps  was  elected  su- 
perintendent, and  was  placed  as  the  executive  officer 
of  the  school  committee  in  control  of  the  schools. 
Mr.  Phipps  had  won  an  enviable  reputation  as  a  gen- 
tleman of  excellent  ability,  critical  scholarship,  and 
capacity  to  govern  and  teach  youth  in  a  superior 
manner,  during  a  long  term  of  service  as  principal  of 
Friends'  Academy  in  New  Bedford. 

As  his  office  had  been  lately  created  and  had  yet  to 
establish  itself  in  public  favor,  he  pursued  a  judicious 
course  in  attempting  no  considerable  changes  in  the 
old  order  of  things.  He  was  content  to  let  system 
and  methods  remain  undisturbed,  satisfied  with  labor- 
ing to  supply  the  defects  in  executive  work  which  had 
specially  occasioned  his  appointment.  He  held  the 
office  until  the  beginning  of  the  year  1864,  when  he 
resigned  to  take  a  similar  position  in  the  city  of 
Lowell. 

In  February,  1865,  Rev.  Henry  F.  Harrington,  of 
Cambridge,  was  elected  to  succeed  him.    Mr.  Harring- 
ton had  passed  through  a  peculiarly  advantageous  ex- 
perience to  prepare  him  for  his  duties,  as  he  had  borne 
a  prominent  part  in  the  formation  of  the  school  sys- 
tem of  the  then  newly-founded  city  of  Lawrence,  had 
afterward  been  superintendent  of  its  schools,  and  sub- 
sequently an  active  member  of  the  school  committee 
of  the  city  of  Cambridge.     He  immediately  entered 
upon  the  duties  of  his  new  office,  and  as  soon  as  he 
had  acquainted   himself  with   the   condition  of  the 
schools,  began— having  the  sympathy  and  co-opera- 
tion of  most  of  the  leading  members  of  his  school 
committee — that  series  of  reforms  and  improvements 
which  have  secured  for  the  schools  of  New  Bedford  a 
distinguished  position  among  the  schools  of  the  State. 
It  has  been  claimed  by  the  New  Bedford  school  com- 
mittee, and  the  claim  has  never  been  disputed,  that 
their  schools  have   been   invariably  pioneers  in  the 
practical  exemplification  of  the  admirable  methods 
of  instruction  which  now  prevail,  that  there  is  not 
one  of  them  which,  so  far  as  New  England  is  con- 
cerned, did  not  have  its  origin  in  their  own  city. 

The  reorganization  of  the  primary  schools,  and  the 
substitution  of  intelligent  and  attractive  methods  of 
learning  to  read,  learning  numbers,  etc.,  in  place  of 
the  old  rote  methods,  were  accomplished  in  1865.  In 
1867  the  "New  Bedford  Manual  of  Instruction"  was 
prepared  and  adopted.  There  were  at  the  time  no 
hand-books  of  the  kind  in  New  England,  and  only 
two  or  three  in  all  the  United  States.  This  manual 
was  so  well  approved  that  it  was  copied  entire  into 
the  volume  of  the  reports  of  the  State  Board  of  Edu- 
cation in  the  following  year,  and  thousands  of  copies 
were  distributed  by  private  subscription  in  the  nor- 
mal schools  and  among  the  school  committees  and 
teachers  of  the  State.  It  was  the  source  and  basis  of 
wide-spread  reforms,  and  a  new  and  enlarged  edition, 


embodying  the  practical  wisdom  which  had  been  ac- 
quired meanwhile,  was  printed  in  1874. 

In  1869  a  beginning  was  made  towards  the  intro- 
duction of  supplementary  reading  in  the  shape  oi 
three  hundred  subscriptions  to  the  Nursery,  a  child's 
magazine,  for  use  in  the  primary  schools.  This  was 
the  first  practical  recognition  in  New  England  of  the 
great  principle,  now  so  widely  and  heartily  accepted, 
that  it  is  only  reading  much  which  can  confer  the 
ability  to  read  well. 

In  this  way  step  after  step  was  taken  to  rid  the 
schools  of  whatever  there  might  be  of  defect  in  the 
processes  of  study,  and  to  introduce  truer  and  better 
ways.  As  might  be  expected  from  this  earnest  and 
resolute  feeling  after  the  best,  mistakes  were  some- 
times made.  Experiments  were  tried,  some  of  which 
resulted  in  failure.  But  if  there  had  been  a  timorous 
halting  to  undertake  lest  the  result  should  be  disap- 
pointing there  could  have  been  no  vital  energy  of 
operation,  no  well-grounded  and  substantial  progress. 
It  is  to  the  great  credit  of  the  New  Bedford  School 
Committee  that  they  have  uniformly  allowed  their 
superintendent  untrammelled  opportunity  to  make 
proof  of  his  ideals,  willing  to  run  the  risk  of  an  occa- 
sional failure  for  the  sake  of  assured  successes.  Thus 
the  New  Bedford  school  work  is  the  first  of  actual 
experiment.  Nothing  is  practiced  because  recom- 
mended or  practiced  in  other  quarters  ;  nothing  is 
omitted  which  it  has  not  been  proved  to  be  judicious 
to  omit. 

The  studies  of  the  schools  are  selected  and  ad- 
justed to  each  other  on  clearly  defined  principles,  so 
that  all  the  school  work  has  a  direct  and  intelligent 
purpose.  The  most  important  study  is  considered  to 
be  language.  This  is  pursued  diligently,  having 
paramount  attention,  through  all  the  grades  and  de- 
partments of  the  school  system,  from  the  little  pri- 
marians  of  the  thirteenth  or  entering  grade  to  the 
young  men  and  women  of  the  first  or  graduating 
grade  in  the  High  School.  The  means  employed  are 
an  abundance  of  interesting  reading,  and  the  fre- 
quent writing  of  compositions  in  the  various  forms 
pertaining  to  that  exercise.  The  specific  ends  to  be 
gained  are  the  acquirement  of  a  full  and  ready  vocab- 
ulary and  the  capacity  of  easy  and  accurate  expres- 
sion through  speech  and  with  the  pen,  and  this, 
joined  to  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  four  funda- 
mental rules  of  arithmetic,  is  what  Edward  Everett 
called  "  an  excellent  education."  This  study  is  also 
intended,  incidentally,  to  develop  the  power  of  orig- 
inal thought,  and  to  lead  to  a  relish  for  pure,  inform- 
ing literature. 

The  perceptions  are  held  to  constitute  the  most 
trustworthy  instrumentality  in  the  acquirement  of 
accurate  conceptions  of  material  things,  therefore  all 
studies  are  to  be  illustrated  by  means  of  objects  to  as 
great  an  extent  as  may  be  conveniently  possible. 

No  study  is  to  he  pursued  merely  for  the  sake  of 
mental  discipline,  on  the  ground  that  there  is  no  time 


NEW    BEDFORD. 


101 


for  such  study.  Mental  discipline  is  recognized  to  be 
one  of  the  essential  elements  of  a  good  education; 
but  in  our  public  schools  only  so  much  can  justly  l>e 
furnished  as  can  be  attained  through  the  systematic 
pursuit  of  the  practical  information  which  is  provided 
in  the  course  of  study.  The  attention  given  to  arith- 
metic is  abridged  to  the  limit  of  the  few  topics  which 
are  desirable  for  practical  use  in  life,  while  the  com- 
paratively useless  details  in  geography  and  history 
with  which  the  text-books  on  those  subjects  are 
crowded  are  omitted. 

The  proper  relations  of  mental  to  moral  instruc- 
tion, that  vital  subject,  have  been  set  forth  in  a  late 
New  Bedford  Annual  School  Beport  as  follows: 

"  Mental  education  has  no  inherent  moral  force. 
It  is  the  obedient  vassal  of  character.  As  the  needle 
follows  the  lead  of  the  magnet,  so  the  intellect  follows 
the  lead  of  the  sentiments,  and  if  they  be  corrupt 
mental  education  becomes  only  a  promoter  of  evil. 
The  training  of  the  sentiments,  then,  is  incalculably 
more  important  than  the  training  of  the  mind;  and 
in  all  conflicts  between  mental  training  and  character 
training,  as  regards  the  appropriation  of  time,  of  effort, 
or  of  money  to  one  or  the  other,  mental  training  is 
always  to  give  way." 

The  efforts  thus  put  forth  for  the  best  possible  school 
system  and  school  work  have  received  an  incalculable 
advantage  from  the  benefits  derived  from  the  "Sylvia 
Ann  Howland  Fund."  This  fund  is  the  fruit  of  a 
gift  of  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  to  the  city  in 
the  year  1870  by  the  lady  whose  name  it  bears,  the 
income  to  be  divided  between  the  Free  Fublic  Li- 
brary and  the  public  schools.  It  is  an  admirable  pro- 
vision of  the  donation  to  the  schools  that  no  portion 
of  the  avails  are  to  be  devoted  to  any  purposes  which 
the  city  is  legally  bound  to  provide  through  taxation. 
The  city  pays  six  per  cent,  for  the  use  of  the  fund, 
and  thus  the  school  committee  have  had  in  possession 
annually  since  the  year  1870  to  expend  for  the  good 
of  the  schools  the  sum  of  three  thousand  dollars. 
They  have  been  enabled  to  supply  all  needful  appli- 
ances to  secure  the  best  possible  results  of  study, — 
books  of  reference  and  for  reading,  apparatus  and 
cabinets  for  scientific  illustration,  museums  for  ob- 
jective teaching,  maps,  globes,  musical  instruments, 
and  all  the  other  appurtenances  of  a  thoroughly  fur- 
nished school-room.  And  so  greatly  have  these  as- 
sistances given  interest  to  the  vocation  of  the  teachers, 
as  well  as  high  tone-and  character  to  the  teaching, 
that  several  teachers  who  have  been  offered  higher 
salaries  to  go  elsewhere  have  declined  on  the  sole 
ground  that  they  could  not  bear  to  surrender  the  ad- 
vantages derived  from  the  "Howland  Fund." 

It  is  a  singular  fact  that  the  only  three  instances  in 
the  history  of  Massachusetts  in  which  large  sums  of 
money  have  been  given  by  private  munificence  for 
the  good  of  public  schools  should  have  occurred  in 
Bristol  County, — in  New  Bedford,  Fall  Biver,  and 
North  Easton. 


The  organization  of  the  school  system  is  as  fol- 
lows: There  are  five  departments,  viz.,  High,  Gram- 
mar, Primary,  Country,  and  Mill  School  Departments. 

These  departments  (except  the  Mill  School)  are 
sub-divided  into  thirteen  grades,  whose  total  corre- 
sponds with  the  number  of  school  years.  Of  these 
grades  the  Primary  Department  includes  four,  the 
Grammar  Department  five,  and  the  High  School  De- 
partment four.  They  are  designated  by  numbers, 
the  youngest  in  the  list  being  the  thirteenth. 

There  are  twenty-two  public  school-houses  in  the 
city.  Of  these  a  portion  are  quite  old,  and  will  have 
to  give  place  before  long  to  new  and  better  structures. 
Others  have  been  reconstructed,  and  will  serve  their 
purpose  for  many  years  longer,  while  several  are  new 
and  are  replete  with  every  convenience.  The  city 
government  is  very  liberal  in  furnishing  additional 
accommodations  for  the  ever-enlarging  number  of 
pupils.  An  excellent  school-house  has  lately  been 
completed  at  a  cost  of  about  twenty  thousand  dollars. 

The  High  School  house  is  a  model  edifice,  of  im- 
posing proportions  and  a  striking  and  pleasing  style 
of  architecture,  while  the  interior  is  faultless  in  its 
carefully-studied  arrangements.  It  has  eight  school- 
rooms, two  art-  or  draughting-rooms,  a  library,  a 
philosophical  lecture-room  with  apparatus-room  at- 
tached, a  chemical  laboratory  thoroughly  fitted  at 
great  expense,  in  which  twenty-four  pupils  can  work 
at  the  same  time,  clothes'  room  and  dressing-room, 
and  a  hall  which  will  accommodate  more  than  a 
thousand  persons.  The  cost  of  the  building  was  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  thousand  dollars. 

The  Mill  School  is  an  exceptional  institution,  de- 
signed to  serve  two  purposes, — the  chief  one  to  give 
children  who  work  in  the  mills  a  more  fitting  educa- 
tion than  they  could  obtain  by  being  classed  in  the 
regular  grades,  the  other  to  allow  the  pupils  in  the 
regular  grades  who  are  constantly  at  school  the  op- 
portunity of  uninterrupted  progress  by  preventing 
the  drawbacks  which  would  be  incident  to  periodical 
increment  by  children  discharged  from  the  mills,  who 
are  not  capable  of  being  classed  with  regular  pupils 
without  clogging  the  wheels  of  progress.  The  Mill 
School  is  admirably  taught  and  highly  valued. 

The  total  appropriation  for  the  New  Bedford  schools 
for  the  year  1883  was  eighty-three  thousand  eight  hun- 
dred dollars.  There  were  in  service  during  the  year 
1882  one  hundred  and  fifteen  teachers,  of  whom  only 
seven  were  men. 

Aimwell  School  is  located  on  North  Street,  near 
Foster.  Mrs.  W.  H.  Knight,  principal ;  Mrs.  George 
O.  Buckley  and  Miss  Mary  L.  Smith,  assistants. 

The  New  Bedford  Free  Public  Library.— The 
commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  recognizing  from 
the  earliest  period  of  its  history  the  educational  influ- 
ence of  public  libraries,  gave  the  assistance  of  its 
legislation  in  the  promotion  of  their  establishment 
and  management. 

Early  in    the    present   century  laws  were   enacted 


102 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


giving  corporate  powers  to  the  proprietors  of  social 
libraries,  many  of  which  had  been  established  in 
various  parts  of  the  commonwealth,  and  under  the 
provisions  of  the  law  the  number  was  increased,  their 
•condition  made  permament,  and  their  management 
rendered  convenient  and  effective. 

But  a  few  years  after  the  incorporation  of  the  town 
of  New  Bedford,  the  want  of  books  and  the  inability 
of  most  of  the  inhabitants  to  procure  them  led  to  a 
combination  of  effort  for  that  purpose. 

The  early  settlers  of  the  village  of  Bedford  were 
intelligent,  as  well  as  industrious,  frugal,  and  virtuous. 
They  were  so  far  enlightened  as  to  understand  the 
value  of  books,  and  they  saw  clearly  that  the  remedy 
for  individual  inability  to  procure  them  was  such  a 
combination  of  means  and  efforts  as  would  render  the 
united  ability  the  property  of  each. 

Several  such  combinations  were  formed  in  New 
Bedford  previous  to  the  passage  of  the  act  conferring 
upon  them  corporate  powers. 

The  proprietors  of  Dobson's  Encyclopaedia  were 
the  earliest  to  form  this  social  and  profitable  arrange- 
ment. For  our  unlearned  and  isolated  people  this 
work  was  a  library  in  itself.  Eagerly  and  thoroughly 
were  its  pages  read  and  consulted,  and  the  well-worn 
volumes  now  in  the  Free  Public  Library  bear  testi- 
mony to  the  fact,  so  creditable  to  the  people  of  the 
village. 

The  Library  Society  followed.  This  was  a  more 
comprehensive  effort.  The  desire  for  books  had  out- 
grown the  ability  of  Dobson  to  satisfy.  The  Social 
Library  followed.  This  was  a  vigorous,  well-directed, 
and  well-managed  association.  The  good  sense  of  all 
recognized  the  wisdom  of  combination,  and  in  the 
union  there  was  found  strength.  The  three  associa- 
tions were  united,  and  the  New  Bedford  Social  Library 
had  a  long,  prosperous,  and  profitable  career. 

When  the  passage  of  the  State  law  allowed  the 
proprietors  to  become  a  body  corporate,  advantage 
was  taken  of  its  provisions.  For  nearly  half  a  cen- 
tury this  valuable  collection  of  books  was  the  princi- 
pal source  whence  wras  supplied  the  desire  of  the 
people  for  knowledge  and  intellectual  recreation. 
"Library-day"  was  always  a  welcome  day.  There 
was  in  attendance  generally  a  large  number  of  intel- 
ligent seekers,  and  the  result  of  that  intercourse  with 
books  for  which  this  library  provided  was  a  marked 
and  most  promising  and  interesting  feature  in  the 
characters  of  the  young  men  and  women  of  New 
Bedford. 

The  act  to  authorize  cities  and  towns  to  establish 
and  maintain  public  libraries  was  passed  by  the  Gen- 
eral Court  of  Massachusetts,  May  24,  1851. 

The  ordinance  for  the  establishment  and  govern- 
ment of  a  free  public  library  in  New  Bedford  was 
passed  Aug.  16,  1852. 

The  first  movement  in  the  undertaking  was  an  un- 
successful one.  It  was  made  in  the  City  Council  July 
8,  1851,  by  Warren  Ladd,  then  a  member  of  the  pop- 


ular branch  of  that  body.  The  order  was  only  to  con- 
sider the  expediency  of  the  measure.  It  passed  the 
Common  Council  without  a  dissenting  voice,  but  the 
aldermen  non-concurred.  It  will  be  seen  that  this 
movement  was  but  forty-five  days  after  the  passage  of 
the  enabling  act. 

On  the  27th  of  May,  1852,  a  large  petition,  headed 
by  James  B.  Congdon,  was  presented  to  the  Council. 

The  petition  was  referred  to  the  Committee  on 
Public  Instruction,  who  reported  on  the  14th  of  June. 
They  recommended  an  appropriation  of  fifteen  huu- 
dred  dollars  for  the  establishment  of  the  library. 

In  their  report  the  committee  attach  great  import- 
ance to  the  fact  that  they  had  been  assured  that, 
"  provided  the  authorities  should,  by  the  passage  of 
the  order  making  the  appropriation  asked  for,  estab- 
lish the  principle  that  the  maintenance  of  a  free  city 
library  for  the  continuous  education  of  the  people 
will  be  the  settled  policy  of  the  city,"  the  five  thousand 
volumes  of  the  New  Bedford  Social  Library  would  be 
transferred  to  the  city. 

Quoting  the  words  of  James  B.  Congdon,  through 
whom  this  offer  of  the  proprietors  of  the  library  was 
made,  they  say,  "With  such  a  foundation  to  build 
upon,  with  the  appropriation  now  prayed  for  to  give 
it  a  position  for  immediate  and  extended  usefulness, 
the  library  would  open  to  our  inhabitants  the  means 
of  innocent  enjoyment  and  of  valuable  acquisition, 
and  be  a  source  of  commendable  pride  to  our  citizens." 

But  the  Free  Public  Library  had,  in  fact,  been  es- 
tablished before  the  presentation  of  the  report.  The 
appropriation  bill  for  the  year,  which  had  already 
passed,  contained  an  item  of  fifteen  hundred  dollars 
for  the  library.  Councilman  Pitman,1  who  was  a 
member  of  the  committee  to  whom  the  petition  was 
referred,  had  anticipated  the  favorable  action  of  the 
Council,  and  had  introduced  and  carried  an  amend- 
ment to  the  bill  making  the  appropriation  as  above 
stated.  This  amendment  was  made  previous  to  the 
presentation  of  the  report  of  the  committee.  The  ap- 
propriation bill  passed  July  20,  1852.  The  date  of  the 
adoption  of  that  amendment  is  the  date  of  the  establish- 
ment of  the  New  Bedford  Free  Public  Library. 

The  library  was  opened  for  the  use  of  the  people 
and  the  delivery  of  books  on  Thursday,  the  3d  day  of 
March,  1853. 

The  number  of  volumes  at  the  opening  was  between 
five  and  six  thousand. 

It  is  an  interesting  and  creditable  fact  that  the  New 
Bedford  Free  Public  Library  is  the  only  public  library 
established  under  the  law  of  1851,  excepting  that  in 
Boston,  noticed  by  Edwards  in  his  elaborate  "  Me- 
moirs of  Libraries,"  published  in  London  in  1859. 

The  six  thousand  volumes  with  which  the  library 
opened  have  now  increased  to  about  forty-three  thou- 
sand. 


1  Hon.  Robert  C.  Pitman,  one  of  tlie  present  judges  of  the  Superior 
Court  of  the  commonwealth. 


NEW   BEDFORD. 


103 


The  building  now  occupied  by  the  New  Bedford 
Free  Public  Library  was  erected  in  1856-57.  Its  cost 
was  about  forty  thousand  dollars.  It  is  built  of  brick, 
with  granite  underpinning  and  steps  and  freestone 
ornaments. 

The  corner-stone  of  the  building  was  laid  on  the 
28th  of  August,  1856. 

Of  the  library  building  the  upper  rooms  only  are 
occupied  by  the  library.  The  principal  room  is  neat 
and  tasteful  in  its  architectural  features  and  conve- 
nient in  its  arrangements.  It  has  two  tiers  of  alcoves, 
one  on  the  floor  and  one  on  the  gallery,  which  is  car- 
ried around  the  whole  room,  excepting  on  the  north 
end  where  the  stairs  lead  to  it.  An  iron  railing  divides 
the  alcoves  from  the  visitors.  Reading-desks  outside 
the  railing  contain  the  periodicals,  which  are  acces- 
sible to  all,  and  seated  at  these  desks  the  visitors  are, 
in  addition  to  these,  furnished  with  any  books  they 
may  wish  to  consult.  The  delivery  is  at  a  table  at  the 
north  end.  A  stand  for  newspapers  occupies  a  central 
position  in  the  room.  Six  other  rooms  are  occupied 
for  library  purposes,  four  for  books,  one  for  the  trus- 
tees, and  one  for  the  convenience  of  the  librarian  and 
his  assistants. 

The  library  has  had  a  growth  unexpectedly  rapid, 
and  at  this  time  the  want  of  more  room  is  severely  felt. 

The  trust  funds  established  for  the  benefit  of  the 
library  are  three. 

The  first  upon  the  list  is  the  George  Howland,  Jr., 
Fund.  Its  amount  is  the  sum  of  two  years'  salary  of 
George  Howland,  Jr.,  as  mayor,  sixteen  hundred  dol- 
lars. 

Under  the  will  of  Charles  W.  Morgan  there  was 
paid  to  the  city  by  William  J.  Rotch,  his  executor, 
the  sum  of  one  thousand  dollars,  which  constitutes 
the  Charles  W.  Morgan  Fund. 

Under  the  will  of  Sylvia  Ann  Howland  the  city  of 
New  Bedford  was  paid  the  sum  of  one  hundred  thou- 
sand dollars.  The  testament  of  this  excellent  lady 
contained  the  following  interesting  item  : 

"  I  give  and  bequeath  to  the  city  of  New  Bedford 
the  sum  of  one  hundred  thousand  dollars,  and  direct 
that  this  sum  shall  be  invested  judiciously  under  the 
direction  of  the  City  Council,  and  the  income  there- 
from shall  be  expended  and  used  for  the  promotion 
and  support  within  the  city  of  liberal  education,  and 
the  enlargement  from  time  to  time  of  the  Free  Public 
Library." 

Of  this  bequest  fifty  thousand  dollars  were  set  apart 
for  the  library,  and  constituted  the  Sylvia  Ann  How- 
land Free  Public  Library  Fund.  Its  income  is  now 
the  chief  dependence  of  the  trustees  for  the  "  enlarge- 
ment" of  the  library,  as  the  appropriation  by  the  city 
barely  suffices  for  the  salaries  and  other  expenses  of 
the  institution. 

During  the  delay  which  attended  the  litigation  upon 
the  will  of  the  deceased  the  funds  of  the  estate  largely 
increased,  and  in  addition  to  the  bequest  of  fifty  thou- 
sand dollars  which  constitutes  the  fund,  about  ten 


thousand  dollars  was  paid  into  the  treasury  of  the  city 
as  interest  or  income  and  placed  to  the  credit  of  the 
library. 

Under  the  direction  of  the  trustees  of  the  library  a 
plain  white  marble  tablet,  commemorating  this  noble 
act,  was  placed  in  the  principal  room  of  the  institution. 

It  is  surrounded  by  a  frame  of  tasteful  design  and 
of  perfect  execution.  The  whole,  both  in  plan  and 
performance,  including  the  site  selected  for  its  erec- 
tion, is  one  which  commends  itself  to  the  good  sense, 
the  feelings  of  propriety,  and  the  grateful  emotions 
of  the  people  of  New  Bedford.  The  inscription  upon 
the  tablet  is  as  follows:  "This  tablet  commemorates 
the  enlightened  liberality  of  Sylvia  Ann  Howland, 
who  bestowed  upon  the  city  of  New  Bedford  the  sum 
of  two  hundred  thousand  dollars  ;  one  hundred  thou- 
sand dollars  to  aid  in  supplying  the  city  with  pure 
water,  and  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  as  a  fund 
for  the  promotion  of  liberal  education  by  the  enlarge- 
ment of  the  Free  Public  Library,  and  by  extending  to 
the  children  and  youth  of  the  city  the  means  of  a  wider 
and  more  generous  culture." 

It  will  be  seen  by  this  inscription  that  the  whole 
amount  bequeathed  to  the  city  of  New  Bedford  by 
this  lady  was  two  hundred  thousand  dollars.  One- 
half  the  sum  was  applied  to  the  construction  of  the 
New  Bedford  water-works,  the  other  was  equally 
divided,  forming  the  library  and  educational  fund. 

The  amount  of  the  several  trust  funds  established 
for  the  benefit  of  the  Free  Public  Library,  which  have 
been  severally  noticed,  is  fifty-two  thousand  six  hun- 
dred dollars. 

The  annual  income  is  three  thousand  one  hundred 
and  fifty-six  dollars. 

This  income  is  a  vital  element  in  the  existence  of 
the  library.  We  have  seen  that  the  ordinary  annual 
appropriation  is  necessarily  absorbed  by  the  expenses 
of  management.  It  is,  therefore,  mainly  upon  the 
income  of  the  permanent  funds  that  the  trustees 
depend  for  the  supply  of  books  and  periodicals,  and 
for  the  constant  renovation  which  the  active  use  of 
the  books  renders  necessary. 

Mr.  Robert  Ingraham  was  the  first  librarian  (Octo- 
ber, 1852),  and  has  officiated  in  that  capacity  to  the 
present  time,  a  period  of  over  thirty  years,  and  it  may 
truly  be  said  that  much  of  the  success  of  this  library 
is  due  to  Mr.  Ingraham's  zeal,  intelligence,  and  in- 
dustry. 

The  National  Bank  of  Commerce.— The  Bedford 
Bank  was  organized  in  1803  with  a  capital  of  $60,000; 
Thomas  Hazard,  president;  John  Pickens,  cashier. 
Capital  increased  in  1804  to  $150,000,  and  continued 
with  same  officers  until  1812,  when  charter  expired. 

The  Bedford  Commercial  Bank  was  organized  in 
1816  •with  a*  capital  of  $100,000;  George  Howland, 
president;  Joseph  Ricketson,  cashier.  The  capital 
was  increased  in  1821  to  $150,000;  in  1825,  to  $250- 
000;  in  1831,  to  $400,000;  and  in  1851,  to  $600,000. 
George   Howland   continued  as  president   until  his 


104 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


death  in  1852.  E.  M.  Robinson  filled  the  office  from 
1852  to  1860;  Thomas  Nye,  Jr.,  from  1860  to  1869; 
Thomas  S.  Hathaway,  from  1869  to  1878;  Francis 
Hathaway  was  elected  August,  1878,  and  is  the  pres- 
ent incumbent. 

The  bank  has  had  five  cashiers,  as  follows:  Joseph 
Ricketson,  1816-34;  James  H.  Crocker,  1834-38; 
Thomas  B.  White,  1838-73;  Benjamin  F.  Coombs, 
1873-76 ;  and  James  H.  Tallman,  1877  to  present  time. 

The  Bedford  Commercial  Bank  continued  until 
Dec.  19,  1864,  with  the  same  capital  ($600,000),  when 
it  was  organized  as  "  The  National  Bank  of  Commerce 
of  New  Bedford,"  with  a  capital  of  $600,000,  which 
was  increased  in  1874  to  $1,000,000,  its  present  capital. 

The  directors  at  the  time  of  its  organization  as  a 
national  bank  were  Thomas  Nye,  Jr.,  president,  Wil- 
liam J.  Rotch,  Thomas  S.  Hathaway,  George  Hussey, 
Matthew  Howland,  Charles  L.  Wood,  William  Hath- 
away, Jr.,  Thomas  Knowles,  Henry  Taber,  William 
C.  N.  Swift. 

The  present  (1882)  board  of  directors  are  as  fol- 
lows: Francis  Hathaway,  William  Hathaway,  Jr., 
William  C.  N.  Swift,  Matthew  Howland,  William  J. 
Rotch,  Henry  Taber,  Thomas  Nye,  Jr.,  Leander  A. 
Plummer,  Charles  W.  Clifford,  William  A.  Robinson, 
and  Morgan  Rotch. 

The  Merchants'  Bank  of  New  Bedford  was  or- 
ganized July  23,  1825.  The  first  board  of  directors 
were  as  follows:  John  A.  Parker,  Samuel  Borden, 
Job  Eddy,  Abraham  Barker,  Joseph  Bourne,  Win. 
H.  Allen,  David  R.  Greene,  John  Coggeshall,  Jr., 
Alfred  Gibbs ;  John  Avery  Parker,  president,  James 
B.  Congdon,  cashier. 

Mr.  Parker  was  president  of  the  bank  until  his 
death,  Dec.  30,  1853.  Mr.  Congdon  was  cashier  of  the 
bank  until  Jan.  1,  1858,  when  he  resigned.  Charles 
R.  Tucker  succeeded  Mr.  Parker  as  president,  and 
held  that  office  until  his  death,  Dec.  21,  1876.  Jona- 
than Bourne  succeeded  Mr.  Tucker,  and  is  now  presi- 
dent. P.  C.  Howland  succeeded  Mr.  Congdon,  and  is 
now  cashier. 

The  Merchants'  Bank  of  New  Bedford  was  reorgan- 
ized as  the  Merchants'  National  Bank  of  New  Bed- 
ford, Feb.  14,  1865.  The  board  of  directors  at  the  time 
of  reorganization,  Feb.  14,  1865,  were  as  follows: 
Charles  R.  Tucker,  Abraham  Barker.  David  R. 
Greene,  Gideon  Allen,  Thomas  Bradley,  Dennis 
Wood,  J.  Bourne,  Jr.,  William  P.  Howland,  An- 
drew Hicks. 

The  capital  stock  Feb.  14,  1865,  was  $600,000,  with 
a  surplus  of  $166,050.58.  The  present  (Sept.  11, 
1882)  board  of  directors  are  Jonathan  Bourne,  George 
F.  Bartlett,  George  R.  Phillips,  William  R.  Wing, 
Andrew  Hicks,  George  F.  Kingman,  Lewis  S.  Judd, 
Samuel  C.  Hart,  Thomas  H.  Knowles,  Gilbert  Allen, 
Abraham  H.  Howland,  Jr.,  Francis  B.  Greene,  Wil- 
liam N.  Church  ;  J.  Bourne,  president,  P.  C.  How- 
land, cashier.  Capital,  $1,000,000;  surplus  and  un- 
divided profits  (Sept.  11,  1882),  $488,177.43. 


The  Mechanics'  National  Bank.1 — This  was 
originally  a  State  bank,  incorporated  Oct.  3,  1831, 
under  the  name  of  "The  President,  Directors,  and 
Company  of  the  Mechanics'  Bank  in  New  Bedford," 
and  to  so  continue  until  Oct.  1,  1851,  with  a  capital  of 
$200,000. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  stockholders  was  held  July 
16,  1831,  and  the  first  meeting  of  the  directors  July 
23,  1831.  The  names  of  the  directors  were  as  follows: 
William  R.  Rodman,  Thomas  Mandell,  George  T. 
Baker,  Joseph  R.  Shiverick,  John  Perkins,  Edmund 
Gardner,  Pardon  Tillinghast,  Andrew  Robeson,  Dud- 
ley Davenport.  William  R.  Rodman  was  the  first 
president.  He  held  the  office  for  twenty  years,  re- 
signing October,  1851.  Thomas  Mandell  succeeded 
him,  being  elected  president  Oct.  11,  1851,  and  hold- 
ing the  office  till  his  death,  which  took  place  Feb.  13, 
1870.  Hon.  William  W.  Crapo  was  chosen  president 
June  1,  1870,  and  still  retains  that  position. 

Pardon  Tillinghast,  the  first  vice-president,  was 
elected  Jan.  10,  1866,  resigning  June  1,  1870.  Hon. 
Andrew  G.  Peirce  was  chosen  vice-president  June  1, 
1870,  and  still  holds  the  office. 

Joseph  Congdon  was  elected  cashier  Oct.  6,  1831, 
holding  the  position  till  Oct.  7,  1857,  a  period  of 
twenty-six  years,  when  he  resigned  on  account  of  ill 
health.  E.  Williams  Hervey  succeeded  Mr.  Congdon 
as  cashier,  being  elected  Oct.  7, 1857,  and  holding  the 
position  till  Aug.  9,  1S82,  when  ill  health  compelled 
him  to  resign  after  a  period  of  nearly  twenty-five 
years  as  cashier  and  twenty-nine  years  in  the  service 
of  the  bank.  James  W.  Hervey  was  the  third  cashier, 
being  elected  Aug.  12,  1882,  having  served  the  bank 
since  1857,  and  as  assistant  cashier  since  Oct.  8, 1859. 

Joseph  R.  Shiverick,  the  first  secretary,  served  till 
Oct.  5,  1859;  James  H.  Collins,  Oct.  8,  1859,  to  Oct. 
12,  1861;  Thomas  Wilcox,  elected  Oct.  12,  1861,  still 
retains  the  office. 

Of  the  original  board  of  directors  none  are  living. 
Of  those  who  have  served  the  interests  of  the  bank 
as  directors  but  not  at  present  connected  with  the 
bank  only  two  are  living,  viz.:  William  Watkins, 
elected  Oct.  6,  1852,  resigned  Feb.  8,  1879,  to  accept 
the  presidency  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  this 
city;  Edmund  Taber,  elected  Oct.  3,  1849,  resigned 
1861,  and  is  now  interested  in  the  oil  districts  of  Vir- 
ginia. 

The  capital  of  the  Mechanics'  Bank  under  the 
State  charter  was  twice  increased.  The  first  increase 
was  $200,000,  April  12,  1854,  making  $400,000,  and 
the  second  of  $200,000,  June,  1857,  making  $600,000, 
the  present  capital  of  the  Mechanics'  National  Bank. 
The  present  surplus  is  about  $250,000. 

In  March,  1849,  the  Legislature  was  petitioned  for 
a  renewal  of  the  original  charter,  which  by  limitation 
would  expire  Oct.  1,  1851.  The  Mechanics'  Bank  did 
not  cease  business  as  a  State  bank  until  the  31st  of 


1  Contributed  by  James  W.  Hervey. 


NEW   BEDFORD. 


105 


March,  1865,  although  the  bank  was  reorganized  as  a 
national  bank  June  3,  1864. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  present  board  of  di- 
rectors, with  the  dates  of  their  election  :  Hon.  William 
W.  Crapo,  Oct.  9,  1861  ;  Hon.  Andrew  G.  Peirce, 
John  R.  Thornton,  Jan.  8.  1867;  Jireh  Swift,  Oct.  3, 
1849;  Thomas  Wilcox,  Oct.  9,  1861;  Edward  D. 
Mandell,  Feb.  26,  1870;  Horatio  Hathaway,  June  3, 
1871;  Loum  Snow,  E.  Williams  Hervey,  June  9, 
1872;  Edward  Kilburn,  Jan.  9,  1883. 

The  present  officers  of  the  bank  are:  President, 
Hon.  William  W.  Crapo,  elected  June  1,  1870;  Vice- 
President,  Hon.  Andrew  G.  Peirce,  elected  June  1, 
1870;  Secretary,  Thomas  Wilcox,  elected  Oct.  12, 
1861 ;  Cashier,  James  W.  Hervey,  elected  Aug.  12, 
1882 ;  Assistant  Cashier,  Lemuel  T.  Terry,  elected 
Aug.  12,  1882;  First  Cook-keeper,  Nathan  C.  Hatha- 
way, elected  Aug.  12,  1882 ;  Second  Book-keeper,  Al- 
fred Thornton,  elected  Aug.  12,  1882. 

The  First  National  Bank.— The  Marine  Bank  of 
New  Bedford  was  organized  April  3, 1832,  with  a  capital 
of  two  hundred  thousand  dollars,  which  was  increased 
the  next  year  to  three  hundred  thousand  dollars,  in 
1851  to  five  hundred  thousand  dollars,  and  in  1855  to 
six  hundred  thousand  dollars.  Joseph  Grinnell,  Na- 
thaniel Hathaway,  Kimball  Perry,  Joseph  G.  Tilling- 
hast,  Alexander  H.  Campbell,  Ephraim  Kempton, 
Benjamin  Russell,  Joseph  R.  Anthony,  and  William 
W.  Swain  were  elected  directors.  Joseph  Grinnell  was 
president  from  the  organization  to  1864.  The  cashiers 
were  John  E.  Williams,  William  M.  Sisson,  and  John 
P.  Barker.  This  bank  was  among  the  first  of  the  State 
banks  to  adopt  the  national  system.  In  1864  it  be- 
came a  national  bank,  changing  its  name  to  the  First 
National  Bank  of  New  Bedford.  This  bank  com- 
menced business  with  the  capital  of  the  old  bank 
(six  hundred  thousand  dollars),  which  was  increased 
in  1869  to  one  million  dollars.  The  directors  were 
Joseph  Grinnell,  Ward  M.  Parker,  William  Gitford, 
Edward  W.  Howland,  Edward  C.  Jones,  Lemuel  Kol- 
lock,  George  F;  Barker,  Otis  Seabury,  and  J.  H.  Bart- 
lett,  Jr.  Joseph  Grinnell  was  elected  president,  and 
John  P.  Barker  cashier.  Mr.  Grinnell  was  president 
until  January,  1878,  and  was  succeeded  by  Edward 
\V.  Howland  and  William  Watkins.  Mr.  Barker  was 
cashier  until  1874,  when  W.  P.  Winsor,  the  present 
cashier,  was  elected.  This  bank  has  been  since  its 
organization  a  designated  depository  of  the  United 
States. 

The  Citizens'  National  Bank  was  incorporated 
May  17,  1875,  with  the  following  board  of  directors  : 
Joseph  A.  Beauvais,  John  P.  Knowles,  William  J. 
Kilburn,  Charles  Tucker,  Joseph  H.  Cornell,  L.  S. 
Judd,  and  John  F.  Tucker.  The  first  president  was 
Joseph  Beauvais,  who  has  officiated  to  the  present 
time.  T.  B.  Fuller  was  chosen  first  cashier,  and  is  the 
present  incumbent.  Capital  upon  organization  was 
two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars,  which  has 
been  increased  to  five  hundred  thousand  dollars. 


The  New  Bedford  Institution  for  Savings  was 
incorporated  in  1825  with  the  following  incorporators: 
William  Rotch,  Jr.,  Gilbert  Russell,  Cornelius  Grin- 
nell, Andrew  Robeson,  Haydon  Coggeshall,  Benjamin 
Rodman,  John  A.Parker,  Eli  Haskell,  Richard  Wil- 
liams, George  Howland,  Joseph  Bourne,  Abraham 
Shearman,  Jr.,  William  W.  Swain,  Thomas  Rotch, 
Thomas  A.  Greene,  Charles  W.  Morgan,  Samuel 
Rodman,  Jr.,  John  B.  Smith,  William  C.  Nye, 
Thomas  S.  Swain,  William  H.  Allen,  Lemuel  Wil- 
liams, Jr.,  John  Howland,  Jr.,  Charles  H.  Warren, 
William  P.  Grinnell,  Joseph  Ricketson,  Charles  Grin- 
nell, Nathan  Bates,  John  Coggeshall,  Jr.,  James  How- 
land (2d),  Gideon  Howland. 

The  first  officers  were :  President,  William  Rotch, 
Jr. ;  Treasurer,  Abraham  Shearman,  Jr. ;  Secretary, 
John  B.  Smith. 

The  first  board  of  trustees  were  as  follows  :  William 
Rotch,  Jr.,  Gilbert  Russell,  Cornelius  Grinnell,  Hay- 
don Coggeshall,  John  A.Parker,  Eli  Haskell,  Joseph 
Bourne,  Abraham  Shearman,  Jr.,  Thomas  Rotch, 
Thomas  A.  Green,  Charles  W.  Morgan,  Samuel  Rod- 
man, Jr.,  William  C.  Nye,  Thomas  S.  Swain,  John 
Howland,  Jr.,  William  P.  Grinnell,  Nathaniel  Bates, 
John  Coggeshall,  Jr.,  Gideon  Howland. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  officers  from  1825  to  1883: 
Presidents,  William  Rotch,  Jr.,  Abraham  Baker, 
Thomas  Mandell,  Pardon  Tillinghast,  William  C. 
Taber,  and  William  Watkins;  Secretaries,  John  B. 
Smith,  Abraham  Shearman,  Jr.,  Thomas  A.  Green, 
Joseph  Ricketson,  George  Howland,  Jr.,  James  B. 
Congdon,  Charles  R,  Tucker,  William  C.  Tate,  Ed- 
mund Taber,  and  Henry  T.  Wood  ;  Treasurers,  Abra- 
ham Shearman,  Jr.,  William  C.  Taber,  George  W. 
Baker  (William  C.  Taber,  treasurer  pro  tern.),  Reuben 
Nye,  William  C.  Coffin,  and  Charles  H.  Peirce. 

The  present  trustees  are  William  C.  Taber,  Wil- 
liam Hathaway,  Jr.,  Benjamin  T.  Ricketson,  John  R. 
Thornton,  George  A.  Bourne,  William  J.  Rotch,  Wil- 
liam Watkins,  Edward  D.  Mandell,  Matthew  How- 
land, Henry  T.  Wood,  Gilbert  Allen,  Andrew  G. 
Pierce,  Leander  A.  Plummer,  Charles  H.  Giftbrd, 
Asa  C.  Peirce,  Charles  Taber,  William  G.  Wood, 
j  William  C.  Taber,  Jr.,  Joshua  C.  Hitch,  John  F. 
Tucker,  Abraham  T.  Eddy,  Horatio  Hathaway, 
George  0.  Crocker,  Edward  S.  Taber,  Thomas  M. 
Hart,  Lemuel  M.  Kollock,  Abraham  H.  Howland,  Jr., 
Charles  W.  Clifford,  Isaac  W.  Benjamin,  Francis 
Hathaway,  William  A.  Robinson,  Charles  W.  Plum- 
mer. 

The  first  deposit  was  made  by  Rhoda  E.  Wood,  of 
Fairhaven,  Mass.,  of  fifty  dollars,  Aug.  15,  1825. 

Present  amount  of  deposits,  Jan.  3,  1883,  $9,474,- 
804.58;  undivided  earnings,  $317,457.67;  total  funds, 
$9,792,262.2.".. 

The  New  Bedford  Institution  for  Savings  has  never 
passed  a  regular  semi-annual  dividend  on  account  of 
any  of  the  financial  disturbances  which  have  occurred 
since  its  organization   in   1825.     The  trustees  of  the 


106 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


institution  have  always  pursued  a  conservative  policy, 
and  the  institution  has  the  confidence  not  only  of  the 
local  community  but  has  a  well-earned  reputation 
abroad.  There  has  never  been  a  "  run"  on  the  insti- 
tution at  any  time  of  financial  panic  in  other  cities. 

The  rooms  on  Hamilton  Street,  in  the  rear  of  the 
Merchants'  National  Bank,  which  were  occupied  by 
the  institution  in  its  earlier  history,  becoming  inade- 
quate to  its  increasing  business,  the  present  building, 
at  the  corner  of  William  and  North  Second  Streets, 
was  erected,  and  in  1854  the  office  was  transferred 
thither. 

The  whole  amount  of  dividends  paid  during  the 
existence  of  the  institution  is  eight  million  six  hun- 
dred and  seventy-six  thousand  three  hundred  and 
eighty-six  dollars  and  thirty-three  cents. 

The  New  Bedford  Five  Cents  Savings-Bank  was 
incorporated  May  5,  1855,  with  the  following  incor- 
porators: Thomas  B.  White,  W.  H.  Taylor,  L.  Kol- 
lock,  I.  H.  Bartlett,  A.  H.  Seabury,  Charles  Almy, 
Henry  H.  Crapo,  George  Howland,  Jr.,  and  Asa  R. 
Nye.  The  first  board  of  trustees  were  George  How- 
land,  Jr.,  Henry  H.  Crapo,  Alexander  H.  Seabury, 
John  P.  Barker,  Charles  Almy,  Thomas  B.  White,  I. 
H.  Bartlett,  Nehemiah  Leonard,  Andrew  Roberson, 
Jona.  P.  Land,  William  Phillips,  Edward  S.Cannon, 
Edward  W.  Howland,  Moses  Howe,  Joshua  Rich- 
mond, George  F.  Barker,  Dennis  Wood,  Charles 
Hitch,  James  Darfee,  Lemuel  Kollock,  Asa  R.  Nye, 
Edward  D.  Mandell,  William  P.  Howland,  Alden  G. 
Ellis,  T.  A.  Beauvois,  Moses  G.  Thomas,  Samuel 
Ivers,  Simpson  Hart,  Abner  J.  Phipps,  W.  H.  Tay- 
lor, Joseph  Taylor,  W.  L.  Rodman,  Horatio  Leonard, 
John  Wood.  The  first  officers  were  George  Howland, 
Jr.,  president;  H.  H.  Crapo  and  A.  H.  Seabury,  vice- 
presidents  ;  John  P.  Barker,  treasurer,  and  Charles 
Almy,  secretary. 

The  officers  from  the  organization  to  the  present 
time  have  been  as  follows:  George  Howland,  Jr., 
president;  Charles  Almy,  secretary  ;  A.  H.  Seabury 
and  H.  H.  Crapo,  vice-presidents  from  1855  to  1858  ; 
A.  H.  Seabury  and  Dennis  Wood,  vice-presidents 
from  1858  to  1874  ;  Dennis  Wood  and  Frederick  S. 
Allen,  vice-presidents  from  1874  to  1878 ;  Frederick 
S.  Allen  and  Lemuel  Kollock,  vice-presidents  from 
1878  to  1883;  John  P.  Barker,  treasurer  from  May, 
1855,  to  October,  1855;  T.  C.  Ricketson,  from  October, 
1855,  to  April  6,  1861 ;  B.  Ricketson,  Jr.,  from  April, 
1861. 

The  present  trustees  are  as  follows :  George  How- 
land, Jr.,  Fred.  S.  Allen,  Lemuel  Kollock,  Charles 
Almy,  William  Phillips,  James  Durfee,  Alexander 
H.  Seabury,  Samuel  Ivers,  Thomas  Wilcox,  William 
G.  Taber,  George  R.  Phillips,  John  P.  Knowles  (2d), 
E.  Win.  Hervey,  Warren  Ladd,  Joseph  Taylor,  Henry 
J.  Taylor,  William  J.  Kilburn,  William  R.  Wing, 
William  N.  Church,  James  P.  Macomber,  J.  Aug. 
Brownell,  Loum  Snow,  Jr.,  Frederick  S.  Gifford, 
Thomas   H.   Knowles,   H.   C.   Denison,  Samuel   H. 


Cook,  Samuel  C.  Hart,  Edwin  S.  Thayer,  C.  B.  H. 
Fessenden,  Thomas  B.  Tripp,  Benjamin  I.  Cummings, 
Philip  B.  Purrington,  Edward  H.  Allen,  George  F. 
Kingman,  Edwin  Dews,  Parkman  M.  Lund,  Frederick 
S.  Potter,  Edmund  Grinnell,  John  F.  Swift. 

The  first  deposit  was  made  May  26,  1855,  by  Horace 
W.  Barker,  of  $25.  The  present  (Dec.  29,  1882) 
amount  of  deposits  is  $3,109,118.64  ;  surplus,  $44,880.- 
76;  earnings,  $27,867.67;  reserve  fund,  $45,101.94. 
Money  goes  on  interest  the  second  Wednesday  of 
January,  April,  July,  and  October.  Dividends  are 
payable  on  the  second  Wednesday  of  April  and 
October. 

Water-Works.1— The  first  movement  towards  in- 
troduction of  water  in  New  Bedford  was  made  in 
March,  1860.  Various  plans  were  subsequently 
thoroughly  discussed  and  examined,  and  April  18, 
1863,  the  acts  for  supplying  the  city  with  pure  water 
were  passed  by  the  General  Court.  November,  1865, 
plans  as  hereinafter  described  were  adopted,  and  an 
ordinance  to  regulate  the  proceedings  of  the  commis- 
sion. William  W.  Crapo,  Warren  Ladd,  and  David 
B.  Kempton  were  appointed  commissioners. 

December  13th  a  board  of  commissioners  was  or- 
ganized with  W.  W.  Crapo  as  chairman,  and  James  B. 
Congdon  clerk.  The  years  1866  to  1869,  inclusive, 
were  occupied  by  process  of  construction,  and  water 
was  introduced  in  the  latter  part  of  1869. 

Water  is  obtained  from  a  storing  reservoir,  arti- 
ficially formed  by  constructing  a  dam  across  the  val- 
ley of  the  Acushnet  at  a  point  about  seven  miles 
north  of  the  centre  of  the  city.  The  area  of  water- 
shed of  the  storing  reservoir  is  three  thousand  three 
hundred  acres;  area  of  water  surface  of  reservoir  is 
three  hundred  acres;  capacity  of  reservoir,  four  hun- 
dred million  gallons  ;  elevation  of  surface  of  full 
reservoir,  forty  feet  above  high  tide. 

The  dam  is  six  hundred  feet  long,  twenty  feet  wide 
on  top,  with  slopes  two  to  one.  In  the  middle  is  a 
puddled  wall  from  six  to  twelve  feet  wide.  Inner 
slope  is  protected  by  lining  of  huge-size  stone.  Water- 
way, located  at  east  end  of  dam,  fifty  feet  wide,  con- 
structed of  rubble  hydraulic  masonry,  except  over 
fall,  which  is  hammer-dressed;  whole  rests  on  timber 
and  plank  platform,  and  that  upon  foundation  of 
puddled  earth.  Gate-chamber  located  at  west  end  of 
dam,  and  is  carried  out  into  reservoir  about  fifty  feet. 
Chamber  is  of  hammer-dressed  stone,  laid  in  hydraulic 
cement  mortar;  the  house  is  of  birch,  whole  rests  on 
timber  and  plank  foundation.  Soon  after  dam  was 
first  completed  leaks  began  to  appear  in  the  vicinity 
of  gate-house,  and  on  Feb.  15, 1868,  a  breach  occurred 
in  this  part  of  the  dam,  the  gate-house  and  over  one 
hundred  feet  of  the  dam  being  carried  away.  The  " 
cause  was  due  to  fine  sand  under  the  gate-house  and 
culvert  becoming  saturated  and  running  like  quick- 
sand.    This  trouble  was  obviated  in  rebuilding. 

1  Contributed  by  R.  C.  P.  Coggeshall. 


NEW    BEDFORD. 


107 


From  the  dam  at  the  storing  reservoir  the  water 
flows  by  gravity  through  a  single  ring  brick  conduit. 
The  conduit  is  in  form  of  an  egg-shape  oval.  Its  in- 
terior dimensions  are  three  and  four  feet,  the  lower 
end  being  a  semicircle  of  three  feet  diameter.  Its 
length  is  five  and  five-eighths  miles.  There  are  three 
overflows  on  this  line  of  conduit  for  the  discharge  of 
surplus  water.     The  grade  is  0.58  per  mile. 

The  outlet  of  the  conduit  is  into  the  receiving  res- 
ervoir. This  reservoir  has  a  capacity  of  three  million 
gallons.  When  filled  the  water  has  a  depth  of  twelve 
feet,  and  its  elevation  is  thirty  feet  above  tide. 

Its  embankments  are  twelve  feet  wide  on  top.  The 
outside  slope  is  two  to  one.  The  inside  slope  is  one 
and  one-half  to  one.  The  inside  slope  has  a  lining  of 
puddled  earth  four  feet  wide  at  the  top  and  ten  feet 
wide  at  the  bottom  of  the  reservoir,  and  carried  down 
three  feet  below  the  bottom.  The  inside  slope  is  pro- 
tected by  a  lining  of  granite  stone  one  foot  thick,  hav- 
ing the  joints  well  filled  with  fine  gravel.  From  the 
receiving  reservoir  to  the  pump-well  the  water  is  con- 
ducted in  a  stone  culvert.  The  length  of  this  culvert 
is  two  hundred  and  sixty-nine  feet.  The  dimensions 
of  the  pump-well  are:  length,  thirty-one  feet;  width, 
twelve  feet;  depth,  seventeen  feet.  There  are  four 
recesses,  five  by  six  feet,  for  the  pumps.  From  the 
pump-well  the  water  is  raised  a  height  of  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty-four  feet  to  the  distributing  reser- 
voir, through  a  sixteen-inch  force-main  two  thousand 
two  hundred  feet  long.  The  pipe  system  is  also  sup- 
plied in  the  lower  section  direct  from  the  pumps 
through  a  ten-inch  main.  The  distributing  reservoir 
has  a  capacity  of  fifteen  million  gallons.  When  filled 
the  water  has  a  depth  of  seventeen  feet,  and  its  eleva- 
tion is  one  hundred  and  fifty-four  feet  above  tide.  Its 
embankments  are  from  eight  to  eighteen  feet  above 
the  natural  surface  of  the  ground.  The  top  is  fifteen 
feet  in  width,  and  its  slopes  are  two  to  one.  On  its 
inner  slope  is  a  lining  of  puddled  earth  seven  feet 
wide  at  the  top  and  fifteen  leet  wide  at  the  bottom  of 
the  reservoir,  and  carried  down  five  feet  below  the 
bottom.  Upon  the  inside  slope  of  the  embankment 
is  a  wall  of  granite,  eighteen  inches  thick  at  the  bot- 
tom and  twelve  inches  at  the  top.  Between  the  back 
of  the  stone  facing  and  the  front  of  the  puddle  is  a 
layer  one  foot  thick,  composed  of  small  stones  and 
gravel.  There  are  two  pumping-engines.  The  larger 
engine  was  designed  by  William  J.  McAlpine,  C.E., 
and  was  built  by  the  Quintard  Iron-Works,  New  York 
City.  It  is  a  vertical  beam  condensing  engine,  with 
two  vertical  single-acting  pumps.  Its  general  dimen- 
sions are:  steam-cylinder,  thirty-eight  inches  diameter, 
eight  feet  stroke;  beam,  twenty-six  feet  long;  fly- 
wheel, sixteen  feet  diameter  and  twelve  tons  weight. 

The  pumps  are  placed  one  on  each  side  of  the  beam 
centre.  Diameter  of  pumps  twenty-eight  inches,  stroke 
four  feet  eight  inches.  The  beam  is  supported  by  a  cast- 
iron  hollow  column  which  serves  as  an  air-chamber. 
This  engine  is  supplied  with  the  "Sickles"  adjustable 


cut-off',  and  is  capable  of  using  steam  expansively  to 
any  desirable  extent.  It  passes  slowly  over  the  centres, 
thus  giving  the  pump-valves  time  to  close.  This  en- 
gine has  the  capacity  of  pumping  five  million  gallons 
in  twenty-four  hours.  In  the  line  of  duty  this  engine 
has  given  excellent  results.  The  smaller  engine  is  a 
Worthington  compound  duplex  engine,  of  a  capacity 
of  pumping  three  million  gallons  in  twenty-four  hours. 
In  1873  a  stand-pipe  was  erected  near  the  distributing 
reservoir.  Its  internal  diameter  is  five  feet,  and  the 
elevation  of  its  top  is  one  hundred  and  ninety-seven 
feet  above  tide.  The  distributing  pipes  are  partly  of 
cast  iron  and  partly  of  wrought  iron,  cement-lined. 
There  are  forty-four  and  one-fifth  miles  of  pipes  in  use, 
ranging  from  four  to  twenty-four  inches  in  diameter. 
Of  this  length  about  nine  and  a  half  miles  are  of 
wrought  iron,  cement-lined,  the  rest  being  of  cast 
iron.  There  is  also  about  one  mile  of  smaller  distrib- 
uting pipes,  ranging  from  one  inch  to  four  inches.  In 
December,  1882,  there  were  in  use  three  hundred  and 
ninety-one  stop-gates,  three  hundred  and  thirteen 
fire-hydrants,  four  thousand  two  hundred  and  three 
taps,  forty-one  mitres,  and  twenty-three  motors.  The 
average  daily  consumption  for  1882  was  two  million 
three  hundred  and  twenty-six  thousand  three  hun- 
dred and  fifty-two  gallons.  Bonded  indebtedness  is 
seven  hundred  thousand  dollars.  The  total  receipts 
for  the  year  1882  were  forty-six  thousand  seven  hun- 
dred and  sixty-six  dollars  and  nineteen  cents.  The 
cost  of  management  and  repairs  during  that  year 
was  twenty-three  thousand  four  hundred  and  forty- 
six  dollars  and  fourteen  cents. 

George  A.  Briggs  was  chief  engineer  and  superin- 
tendent from  the  commencement  of  the  works  until 
1871.  William  J.  McAlpine,  chief  engineer,  was  con- 
sulting engineer  during  construction.  Since  1871  the 
superintendents  have  been  as  follows,  viz. :  1871-72, 
Israel  C.  Cornish;  1872-77,  George  B.  Wheeler; 
1877-81,  William  B.  Sherman;  1881,  Robert  C.  P. 
Coggeshall,  present  incumbent. 

The  ordinance  to  establish  the  Acushnet  Water 
Board,  to  take  the  place  of  the  water  commissioners, 
was  passed  Oct.  1,  1869.  The  board  consists  of  five 
members,  and  reports  to  City  Council.  The  mayor  and 
president  of  Common  Council  are  members  ex  officio. 
Of  the  members  chosen  at  large  one  retires  each  year, 
but  the  retiring  member  is  eligible  to  a  new  election. 
The  following  citizens  have  acted  as  members  of  this 
board:  Hon.  William  W.  Crapo,  David  B.  Kemp- 
ton,  Warren  Ladd,  George  B.  Richmond,  Henry  F. 
Thomas,  George  Howland,  Jr.,  Henry  J.  Taylor, 
George H.  Dnnbar, Rufus  A. Soule, Fredericks.  Allen, 
Abraham  H.  Howland,  Jr.,  Thomas  Bennett,  Jr.,  Ed- 
win Dews,  Alanson  Borden,  William  H.  Matthews, 
Thomas  W.  Cook,  Thomas  R.  Rodman,  William  T. 
Soule,  Robert  W.  Taber,  George  Wilson,  J.  B.  Tomp- 
kins, Jr.,  George.R,  Stetson,  and  William  N.  Church. 
The  clerks  of  the  Acushnet  Water  Board  have  been 
James  B.  Congdon.  William  B.  Sherman,  and  Robert 


108 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


C.  P.  Coggeshall.  The  water  registrars  have  been 
James  B.  Congdon  and  James  H.  Hathaway.  In 
December,  1882,  the  name  of  the  water  board  was 
changed  from  "  Acushnet"  to  the  New  Bedford  Water 
Board. 

In  April,  1878,  the  General  Court  passed  an  act  en- 
abling the  city  to  increase  its  water  supply  by  taking 
such  an  amount  as  is  needed  from  either  Long  Pond 
or  Little  Quitticus  Pond.  It  was  afterwards  voted  by 
the  water  board  that  the  proposed  additional  supply 
should  be  taken  from  Long  Pond.  The  line  of  the 
proposed  conduit  has  been  determined,  and  the  land 
through  which  it  will  pass  has  been  taken  by  law. 
This  preliminary  action  leaves  the  work  in  a  condi- 
tion for  future  operations  whenever  it  becomes  neces- 
sary. 

The  New  Bedford  and  Fairhaven  Street  Rail- 
way Company  was  incorporated  Feb.  6, 1872,  and  on 
the  2d  of  the  following  month  was  organized  with  a 
capital  of  fifty  thousand  dollars.  The  board  of  direc- 
tors were  William  W.  Crapo,  Warren  Ladd,  Weston 
Howland,  James  V.  Cox,  George  Wilson,  Samuel  P. 
Burt,  Nathan  S.  Ellis,  Andrew  G.  Peirce.  Andrew 
G.  Pierce,  president  and  treasurer;  Samuel  P.  Burt, 
clerk  ;  Charles  A.  Gray,  superintendent.  Its  track 
commenced  at  Linden  Street,  on  Purchase,  and  was 
laid  south  to  School  Street,  and  east  on  School  to 
steamboat  wharf;  from  Purchase  on  William,  through 
William,  North  Second,  Middle  Street,  across  the 
bridge,  and  in  Fairhaven  to  the  station  of  the  Fair- 
haven  Branch  Railroad.  Total  length  of  road  three 
and  three-tenths  miles. 

Its  present  officers  are  as  follows:  Warren  Ladd, 
president  and  manager ;  Andrew  G.  Peirce,  treasurer ; 
Edward  T.  Peirce,  clerk  ;  Directors,  Warren  Ladd, 
Andrew  G.  Peirce,  William  W.  Crapo,  Weston  How- 
land,  George  Wilson,  James  V.  Cox,  Samuel  P.  Burt, 
Edward  Kilburn.  Capital  stock  one  hundred  and 
thirty-five  thousand  dollars. 

The  track  has  been  extended  from  School  on  Fourth 
to  Cove  Street,  and  from  William,  on  North  Second, 
through  Union,  Sixth,  Elm,  Summer,  and  Parker  to 
Cedar  Street.  Present  total  length  of  track  six  and 
four-tenths  miles. 

Post-Office. — The  New  Bedford  post-office  was  es- 
tablished Jan.  1,  1794,  with  William  Tobey  as  post- 
master. The  following  is  a  list  of  postmasters  from 
1794  to  present  time,  with  dates  of  appointment: 
William  Tobey,  1794;  Abraham  Smith,  June  20, 
1806;  Richard  Williams,  April  4,  1826;  Simon  Bai- 
ley, June  20, 1840  ;  Edward  W.  Green,  June  13,  1845 ; 
Simon  Bailey,  June  18,  1849;  Thomas  Coggeshall, 
Dec.  30,  1852  ;  Joseph  C.  Kent,  June  8,  1853 ;  John 
Fraser,  April  6,  1857;  Cyrus  W.  Chapman,  April  16, 
1861  ;  Edmund  Anthony,  Feb.  3,  1870;  Thomas  Cog- 
geshall, March  1,  1876,  present  incumbent. 

Wamsutta  Mills.— Long  before  .the  decline  of  the 
whale  fishery  it  became  apparent  that  this  industry 
could   not  furnish  a  sufficient   field    for  the  capital 


and  enterprise  of  the  town,  and  that  New  Bedford 
must  look  to  other  employment  for  growth  and 
progress.  Commercial  New  England  was  yielding  to 
manufacturing  New  England,  and  New  Bedford,  not 
relinquishing  her  control  of  the  whale  fishery,  sought 
to  add  the  machinery  of  the  manufacturer.  The 
first  really  efficient  move  in  this  direction  after  the 
cordage-factory  was  the  establishment  of  the  Wam- 
sutta Mills. 

The  beginning  of  these  mills  dates  back  to  1846, 
when  the  corporation  was  chartered.  A  stone  mill, 
now  called  the  No.  1  mill,  212  feet  by  70,  with  four 
floors,  was  built  in  1847,  and  in  the  following  year 
work  was  begun  with  15,000  spindles  and  300  looms. 
Six  or  seven  years  later,  or  about  1854,  the  increased  de- 
mands of  the  trade  required  an  extension  of  the  mills, 
and  another  four-storied  stone  building,  245  feet  Ions: 
by  70  wide,  was  erected  immediately  adjoining  the 
original  mill,  and  equipped  with  16,000  spindles  and 
300  looms.  But  the  demand  for  the  goods  gradually 
outgrew  the  increased  supply,  and  in  1865  a  duplicate 
of  mill  No.  2  was  put  into  operation  with  16,000  more 
spindles  and  300  more  looms.  The  close  of  the  war 
seemed  to  give  a  fresh  impulse  to  the  business,  for  it 
was  found  necessary  to  build  a  new  mill  in  1868  on  a 
grander  plan  than  the  older  structures.  This  was 
mill  No.  4,  which  is  of  brick,  with  granite  founda- 
tions, 495  feet  in  length,  75  feet  in  width,  and  five 
stories  high.  This  important  addition  almost  doubled 
the  productive  capacity  of  the  establishment,  the  new 
mill  containing  38,000  spindles  and  1100  looms.  It 
proved  to  be  sufficient,  however,  for  only  seven  years, 
and  in  1875  mill  No.  5  was  built.  It  stands  on  a  line 
with  No.  4,  and  is  substantially  uniform  with  it, 
though  its  dimensions  differ  somewhat,  being  shorter 
and  wider,  433  feet  in  length  by  93  in  width.  In  it 
were  placed  50,000  spindles  and  1000  looms.  In 
1881-82,  No.  6  mill  was  built  of  brick,  three  stories 
high,  569}  feet  long  and  95  feet  wide,  containing 
51,000  spindles  and  1072  looms,  and  employs  600 
hands. 

This  large  area  of  machinery  is  driven  by  several 
Corliss  engines  of  immense  power.  One  of  these 
monster  engines,  two  thousand  horse-power,  mightier 
by  six  hundred  horse-power  than  the  great  engine  at 
the  Centennial  Exhibition,  has  a  stroke  of  ten  feet, 
|  and  the  weight  of  its  fly-wheel  alone  is  fifty  tons. 

The  product  of  the  mills  is  chiefly  the  Wamsutta 
shirting  and  sheeting,  of  world-wide  fame. 

This  immense  establishment  employs  2400  persons, 
has  a  total  of  200,000  spindles,  and  4300  looms  rang- 
ing in  width  from  40  to  120  inches.  Capital,  $3,000,000. 
The  present  officers  are  as  follows :  Joseph  Grinnell, 
president;  Edward  Kilburn,  agent ;  and  Andrew  G. 
Peirce,  treasurer. 

The  Grinnell  Mill.— The  new  mill  of  the  Grinnell 

Manufacturing  Company  is  666  feet  long,  98  feet  wide, 

and  three  stories  high,  with  flat  roof,  and  a  basement 

i  about  six  feet  high,  two-thirds  above  ground.     The 


NEW    BEDFORD. 


109 


height  of  the  first  story  is  15  feet,  the  second  14]  feet, 
and  the  third  15]  to  17  feet.  The  whole  will  cover 
almost  an  acre  and  a  half.  As  stated  before,  it  ranges 
from  east  to  west  along  the  north  part  of  the  Rodman 
Dike  property,  at  the  south  side  of  Kilburn  Street. 
The  engine-house,  at  the  southwest  corner,  is  40  by 
50  feet,  a  single  story  28  feet  high.  The  boiler-house 
is  52  by  68  feet,  a  single  story  22  feet  high. 

The  picker  building,  117  by  98  feet,  and  from  15} 
to  17  feet  high,  is  situated  28  feet  west  of  the  main 
building.  In  the  southeast  part  of  this  structure  is 
the  picker- room,  77  by  62  feet,  and  it  also  contains  a 
repair-shop,  85  by  32  feet,  and  a  cloth-room,  85  by  36 
feet.  It  is  connected  with  the  mill  by  a  structure  28 
by  30  feet,  which  contains  the  main  entrance  to  the 
mill,  a  harness-room,  lap-elevator,  etc.  The  picker 
building  being  of  the  same  width  as  the  mill,  ranges 
with  it.  Farther  to  the  west  is  the  office  building, 
48  by  24  feet,  15]  feet  high,  and  containing  in  addition 
to  the  offices  a  supply-room  in  the  basement.  The 
united  length  of  the  connected  buildings  is  859  feet. 

The  mill  contains  1264  looms  40  inches  wide  and 
9600  spindles.  The  power  is  furnished  by  a  Corliss 
engine  with  two  cylinders,  each  thirty-two  feet  in 
diameter  and  six  feet  stroke. 

Potamska  Mills. — Potamska  Mill,  No.  1,  was  built 
in  1871,  and  went  into  operation  with  a  capital  of 
$600,000.  It  is  345  by  92  feet,  four  stories  high  ;  the 
weaving-shed  is  one  story  high,  108  by  97  feet ;  the 
picker-room  is  two  stories  high,  119  by  40  feet.  It 
has  48,000  spindles  and  1006  looms. 

No.  2  mill  was  built  in  1877,  the  main  building 
being  348  by  92  feet,  four  stories  high;  the  L  184  by 
92  feet,  two  stories  high  ;  the  weaving-shed  184  by  92 
feet,  one  story  high ;  and  the  picker-house  71  by  47 
feet,  two  stories  high  ;  all  built  of  brick.  This  mill 
has  58,328  spindles  and  1428  looms.  The  total  num- 
ber of  spindles  in  both  mills  is  106,328,  and  the  total 
number  of  looms  2424. 

These  mills  manufacture  fine  lawns,  satteens,  cre- 
tonnes, jeans,  and  print  cloths.  Both  mills  are 
driven  by  Corliss  double  twenty-eight-inch  cylinder, 
five-foot  stroke  engines,  of  eight  hundred  horse- 
power each,  both  mills  employing  about  twelve  hun- 
dred operatives. 

James  Robinson  was  the  first  president  and  treas- 
urer. He  was  succeeded  Aug.  27,  1875,  by  Horatio 
Hathaway,  who  was  succeeded  by  the  present  officers, 
— Andrew  G.  Peirce,  treasurer,  elected  in  1878,  and 
Edward  Kilburn,  president,  elected  in  1879.  Hiram 
Kilburn  has  been  superintendent  from  the  commence- 
ment. The  goods  of  these  mills  have  an  enviable 
reputation  for  honest  work  and  quality  of  material. 

The  Gosnold  Mills  were  incorporated  in  1848  and 
organized  in  1855,  With  the  following  board  of  direc- 
tors: Thomas  Nye,  Jr.,  Lemuel  Kollock,  William 
Phillips,  W.  J.  Rotch,  John  R.  Thornton,  James  D. 
Thompson,  Jonathan  Bourne,  Jr.,  and  Edward  B. 
Mandell. 


The  first  president  was  Lemuel  Kollock,  who  served 
until  April  20,  1865,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  James 
D.  Thompson,  and  April  21, 1875,  Mr.  Thompson  was 
succeeded  by  the  present  president,  Mr.  Joseph  H. 
Cornell. 

The  first  treasurer  and  clerk  was  Frederick  Bryant, 
who  was  succeeded  Feb.  17,  1856,  by  William  Phil- 
lips. In  1858,  Mr.  L.  M.  Kollock  became  treasurer 
and  clerk,  and  continued  in  that  office  until  April, 
1865,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  James  D.  Thompson. 
Mr.  William  W.  Webb  was  chosen  clerk  at  the  same 
time.  Mr.  Thompson  officiated  until  April  18,  1876, 
when  he  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  Joseph  H.  Cornell,  the 
present  incumbent.  Mr.  George  Wilson  was  elected 
treasurer  April  30,  1872,  when  the  following  new 
board  of  directors  were  chosen:  George  Wilson, 
James  H.  Cornell,  George  F.  Kingman,  James  M. 
Lawton,  and  John  B.  Little.  John  A.  Bates  was 
elected  secretary  April  15,  1873,  and  continues  to  the 
present  time.  Mr.  Little  was  succeeded  Aug.  1,  1874, 
by  Atmore  Holmes  as  a  director,  and  in  April,  1876, 
Mr.  Lawton  was  succeeded  by  William  G.  Taber. 
The  mills  have  had  but  two  superintendents,  John 
W.  Kingsbury  and  the  present,  Mr.  Henry  Howard. 

The  mills  manufacture  hoop,  band,  scroll,  rod, 
horse-shoe,  and  hame  iron  and  chains  of  every  de- 
scription. The  growth  of  these  mills  has  been  steady, 
and  from  a  comparative  small  beginning  they  now 
rank  among  the  representative  institutions  of  the  city. 

Masonic— Star  in  the  East  Lodge,1  F.  and 
A.  M. — This  is  the  oldest  Masonic  lodge  in  the  city, 
having  been  chartered  Dec.  10,  1823,  with  the  follow- 
ing charter  members:  Timothy  I.  Dyre,  Anthony  D. 
Richmond,  George  Randall,  Asa  Wood,  Alden  D. 
Stoddard,  Jonathan  Buttrick,  Oliver  Swain,  Charles 
Coggesliall,  Thomas  Cole,  Zaccheus  Cushman,  Sam- 
uel Hall,  Eastland  Babcock,  Timothy  G.  Coffin,  Reu- 
ben Swift,  Joseph  E.  Melcher,  James  Maddix,  Sam- 
uel James,  James  Mooers,  Mendell  Ellis,  Silvanus 
Ames,  and  Edward  T.  Taylor. 

This  venerable  lodge  has  always  quietly  and  faith- 
fully exemplified  the  beautiful  principles  of  Free- 
masonry, and  its  records  are  heavily  laden  with 
blessings  of  widows  and  orphans  who  through  a  long 
term  of  years  have  had  their  hearts  made  glad  and 
burdens  lightened  by  its  generous  aid. 

Its  officers  and  members  have  carried  on  the  good 
work  whether  the  prevailing  public  opinion  was  for 
or  against  the  fraternity,  and  it  is  one  of  the  honored 
lodges  that  met  regularly  and  duly  attended  to  its 
business  all  through  the  fanatical  Anti-Masonic  ex- 
citement. Its  roll  embraces  the  names  of  a  large 
number  of  our  best  citizens  iu  character  and  integ- 
rity, and  it  furnished  the  charter  members  of  Eureka 
Lodge  of  this  city,  as  well  as  many  of  those  of  Con- 
cordia Lodge  of  Fairhaven  and  Noquochoke  Lodge 
of  Westport. 

i  By  James  C.  Hitch. 


110 


HISTORY    OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


The  Past  Masters  of  this  lodge  since  its  charter  are 
Timothy  I.  Dyre,  George  Randall,  Oliver  Swain, 
Ephraim  Kempton,  Abner  Bourne,  Anthony  D. 
Richmond,  Thomas  T.  Wells,  John  Sargent,  Lucien 
B.  Keith,  Timothy  G.  Coffin,  John  Freeman,  Timo- 
thy Ingraham,  Samuel  W.  Hayes,  Henry  F.Thomas, 
Henry  Taber  (2d),  Isaac  M.  Richardson,  George  H. 
Taber,  John  B.  Baylies,  Shipley  W.  Bumpus,  Albert 
H.  W.  Carpenter,  William  W.  Arnold,  Wanton  T. 
Drew,  James  Taylor,  Ezekiel  C.  Gardiner,  Anthony 
D.  Hall. 

Its  present  membership  is  three  hundred  and  sixty, 
and  its  officers  are  Theodore  W.  Cole,  W.  M. ;  Fred- 
erick A.  Bradford,  S.  W.  ;  Frank  M.  Ashley,  J.  W. ; 
Edward  Stetson,  Treas. ;  James  C.  Hitch,  Sec. ;  Ben- 
jamin F.  Jenney,  Chap.;  Andrew  M.  Marts,  M. ; 
Washington  A.  Jenkins,  S.  D. ;  Bartholomew  Othe- 
man,  J.  D. ;  Thomas  R.  Brownell,  S.  S. ;  Ernest  A. 
Wheaton,  J.  S.  ;  George  Peirce,  O. ;  Ansel  F.  Blos- 
som, Tyler. 

Eureka  Lodge,1  F.  and  A.  M. — The  membership 
of  Star  in  the  East  Lodge  having  grown  so  large, 
it  was  deemed  advisable  by  members  of  the  fraternity 
to  have  another  lodge,  and  Eureka  Lodge  was 
chartered  May  8,  1857,  with  the  following-named 
members:  Timothy  Ingraham,  Isaac  M.  Richardson, 
Benjamin  Russell,  Moses  H.  Bliss,  Stephen  A.  Tripp, 
Moses  G.  Thomas,  Lineas  Wood,  James  C.  Tripp,  and 
Henry  F.  Thomas. 

It  has  always  been  prosperous  from  the  beginning. 
Its  Past  Masters  are  Timothy  Ingraham,  Henry  F. 
Thomas,  Isaac  M.  Richardson,  Amasa  L.  Gleason, 
Charles  W.  Seabury,  John  A.  Lee,  Abraham  H.  How- 
land,  Jr.,  Thomas  B.  Tripp,  James  L.  Sherman,  Ansel 
G.  Baker,  William  T.  Soule,  William  O.  Woodman. 

Its    present    membership   is   three    hundred    and 
twenty-six,  and  its  officers  are  Frederick  W.  Mosher 
W.  M. ;  William  H.  Waterman,  S.  W. ;  Edward  H 
Field,    J.    W. ;    Humphrey  A.    Gifford,   Jr.,  Treas. 
William  A.  Mackie,  Sec. ;  Edwin  Whittaker,  Chap. 
George  S.  P.  Bradford,  U. ;  Arnold  B.  Wady,  S.  D. 
Simpson  J.  Blossom,  J.  D. ;  Charles  L.  Tripp,  S.  S. 
Henry  L.  Dwight,  J.  S. ;  Thomas  J.  Borden,  I.  S. 
George  Peirce,  O. ;  Ansel  F.  Blossom,  Tyler. 

Adokiram  R.  A.  Chapter.1— This  old  organiza- 
tion has  been  imparting  the  impressive  and  delightful 
lessons  of  Chapter  Masonry  to  generations  in  this 
section  of  Massachusetts,  and  its  members  may  be 
found  in  all  parts  of  the  world,  carrying  on  the  work 
of  other  chapters  which  they  have  organized.  Its 
charter  is  dated  Oct.  4,  1816,  and  was  granted  to  the 
following  companions  of  Attleborough  and  vicinity  : 
George  Ellis,  Manning  Richards,  George  W.  Robin- 
son, Otis  Robinson,  James  Warren,  Richard  Carrigue, 
Jabez  Newell,  Edward  Richardson,  Obed  Robinson, 
Jr.,  Darius  Briggs,  Abiathar  Richardson,  Jr.,  John 
Whiting,  Daniel  Babcock,  Carlos  Barrows. 

1  By  James  C.  Hitch. 


It  was  moved  to  Taunton  on  the  5th  of  July,  1825, 
and  after  twenty  years  good  service  its  location  was 
changed  to  this  city,  Nov.  25,  1845. 

Its  Past  High  Priests  are  Richard  Carrigue,  George 
Ellis,  James  W.  Crossman,  John  Howard,  William 
W.  Crossman,  Samuel  Caswell,  Jr.,  Timothy  Ingra- 
ham, Moses  G.  Thomas,  Wanton  T.  Dew,  John  A. 
Lee,  Abram  H.  Howland,  Jr.,  William  W.  Arnold, 
Albert  H.  W.  Carpenter,  James  L.  Sherman,  Albert 
E.  Wright. 

Its  present  membership  is  three  hundred  and 
eighty-four,  aud  its  officers  are  William  M.  Thorup, 
H.  P.;  Ansel  G.  Baker,  K. ;  John  W.  Taylor,  S. ; 
George  R.  Stetson,  Treas. ;  H.  Wilder  Emerson,  Sec. ; 
Charles  H.  Brownell,  Chap. ;  Frank  M.  Ashley,  C.  H. ; 
Benjamin  S.  Jenkins,  P.  S. ;  Henry  C.  W  Mosher,  R. 
A.  C. ;  Joseph  W.  Chadwick,  Stephen  A.  Brownell, 
Charles  W.  Potter,  Jr.,  M.  V.  ;  Ansel  F.  Blossom, 
Tyler. 

Sutton  Commandeey  of  Knights  Templar,2 
and  the  Appendant  Orders.  This  commandery  was 
chartered  May  4,  1864,  with  the  following  members  : 
John  B.  Baylies,  Albert  H.  W.  Carpenter,  Gustavus 
Delano,  Wanton  T.  Drew,  John  Anson  Lee,  Charles 
H.  Sanford,  Elisha  C.  Leonard,  Joshua  B.  Winslow, 
Henry  Field,  Jr.,  Jacob  L.  Porter,  Francis  L.Porter, 
Robert  C.  Topham,  Jacob  B.  Hadley,  David  Brayton, 
William  E.  Mason,  Hiram  Wheaton,  Larnet  Hall, 
Jr.,  Stephen  W.  McFarlin,  Amasa  L.  Gleason,  John 
Valentine,  Jr.,  John  Fuller,  William  W.  Arnold,  An- 
dreas T.  Thorup,  Henry  G.  Pomeroy,  George  Bliss, 
James  H.  C.  Richmond,  William  A.  Searell,  James 
D.  Driggs,  William  O.  Woodmau,  Nathan  Lewis, 
George  R.  Paddock,  David  S.  Small,  Peter  Fales, 
Peter  D.  Cutter,  John  Terry,  and  Ansel  Tripp. 

It  has  been  very  nourishing  from  the  start,  and  the 
utmost  harmony  and  good  fellowship  has  existed 
among  all  the  Sir  Knights. 

It  was  named  in  honor  of  Sir  Knight  Gen.  William 
Sutton,  of  Salem,  who  was  much  interested  in  all  that 
pertained  to  Freemasonry,  particularly  to  Templar 
Masonry,  and  he  presented  Sutton  Commandery  with 
a  beautiful  banner. 

The  Past  Eminent  Commanders  are  John  B.  Bay- 
lies, Albert  H.  W.  Carpenter,  John  A.  Lee,  Abraham 
H.  Howland,  Jr.,  Gardner  T.  Sanford,  Henry  Field, 
Jr.,  and  James  Taylor. 

Its  present  membership  is  two  hundred  and  nine, 
and  the  officers  are  William  T.  Soule,  E.  C. ;  James 
L.  Sherman,  Gen.;  William  H.  Matthews,  Capt. 
Gen. ;  Frederick  A.  Bradford,  Prelate ;  Jacob  B. 
Hadley,  Treas.;  H.  Wilder  Emerson,  Rec. ;  Ezekiel 
C.Gardiner,  S.  W. ;  Edwin  Dews,  J.  W. ;  William 
H.  Sherman,  St.  B. ;  Theodore  W.  Cole,  Sw.  B. ; 
Henry  C.  W.  Mosher,  W. ;  Charles  H.  Wood,  3d  G. ; 
Benjamin  S.  Jenkins,  2d  G. ;  Thomas  L.  Allen,  1st  G. ; 
Ansel  F.  Blossom,  Sen. 

2  By  James  C.  Hitch. 


NEW   BEDFORD. 


Ill 


Early  Physicians. — Probably  tlie  earliest  physi- 
cian within  the  limits  of  the  old  town  of  Dartmouth 
was  Dr.  Daniel  Hathaway. 

Dr.  Benjamin  Burg  was  also  an  early  physician. 
He  died  Sept.  18,  1748,  and  was  buried  in  the  old 
cemetery  at  Acushnet. 

Another  well-known  physician  of  his  time  was 
Elisha  Tobey,  who  died  May  10,  1781. 

Dr.  Samuel  Perry  was  also  a  physician  of  consid- 
erable repute.  He  had  two  sons,  both  well-known 
practitioners  in  the  town.  Dr.  Samuel,  Jr.,  died 
Oct.  26,  1820,  and  his  brother,  Dr.  Ebenezer,  March 
18,  1822. 

Dr.  Silas  Tompkins  died  here  Dec.  21,  1853. 

Dr.  William  Gushing  Whitridge  was  born  in  Tiv- 
erton, R.  I.,  Nov.  25,  1784,  and  died  at  New  Bedford, 
Mass.,  Dec.  28, 1857,  in  the  seventy-fourth  year  of  his 
age.  His  father  was  a  distinguished  physician  in  his 
day,  and  his  surviving  brothers,  Dr.  Joshua  R.  Whit- 
ridge, of  Charleston,  and  Dr.  John  Whitridge,  of 
Baltimore,  rank  deservedly  high  in  the  cities  of  their 
adoption.  Dr.  Whitridge  entered  Brown  University 
in  1800,  but  subsequently  went  to  Union  College, 
Schenectady,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was  graduated  with 
distinction  in  1804.  He  entered  at  once  as  a  pupil 
in  his  father's  office,  and  attended  one  full  course  of 
lectures  at  Harvard  University.  He  did  not,  how- 
ever, at  that  time  take  a  medical  degree,  and  in  1847 
received  from  Harvard  the  honorary  title  of  Doctor 
of  Medicine. 

The  first  theatre  of  his  practice  was  Tiverton,  R.  I., 
where  he  continued  to  labor  with  success  until  1822, 
when  he  removed  to  New  Bedford.  Here  he  toiled 
in  a  widening  circle  of  professional  occupation  until 
death  bore  him  from  the  scene  of  his  labors.  His  per- 
sonal appearance  was  highly  prepossessing,  and  his 
manners  were  simple  and  unaffected.  He  possessed  a 
quick  and  ready  perception,  a  rare  faculty  of  analy- 
sis, and  a  remarkable  facility  in  the  attainment  of 
useful  and  important  facts  bearing  upon  his  profes- 
sion. The  public  confidence  in  his  skill  as  a  physi- 
cian was  very  great,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  he 
had  the  largest  consultation  practice  in  New  Bedford. 
Dr.  Whitridge  was  frequently  delegated  by  the  Mas- 
sachusetts Medical  Society  to  attend  the  sessions  of 
the  American  Medical  Association,  and  was  present 
at  those  of  Boston  and  New  York. 

Dr.  Alexander  Read  was  a  physician  of  high  stand- 
ing, and  one  of  the  leading  members  in  the  profession 
in  this  part  of  the  State.  He  was  born  in  Mil  ford, 
July  10,  1786.  He  was  graduated  in  1808  at  Dart- 
mouth College,  having  acquired  the  reputation  of 
good  scholarship  and  unblemished  morals.  He  pur- 
sued his  medical  studies  under  the  direction  of  Dr. 
Greene,  of  Worcester,  and  of  Nathan  Smith,  M.D., 
and  in  1811  commenced  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession in  New  Bedford.  He  soon  acquired  the  repu- 
tation of  a  skillful  and  attentive  physician,  and  re- 
ceived the  patronage  of  a  numerous  circle  of  intelligent 


and  wealthy  citizens.  'A  course  of  lectures  prepared 
and  delivered  by  him  on  chemistry  and  botany  with 
great  acceptance  was  a  happy  introduction  to  the 
youthful  portion  of  the  more  intelligent  population, 
and  many  of  the  attendants  remained  ever  after  his 
ardent  friends. 

Possessing  by  nature  a  sanguine  temperament,  and 
by  cultivation  and  intercourse  with  good  society  a 
refined  taste,  he  was  fitted  to  be  an  ornament  in  the 
circle  in  which  he  moved.  He  was  made  to  love  and 
to  be  loved.  He  was  kind,  conciliatory,  and  con- 
siderate. Naturally  modest  and  self-diffident,  he 
wondered  at  his  own  success.  He  seemed  to  live 
more  for  others  than  for  himself.  His  own  happiness 
was  an  incident  rather  than  an  end  in  his  pursuits. 
His  ruling  passion  was  to  promote  the  well-being  of 
those  with  whom  he  associated.  Hence  as  a  physi- 
cian he  was  ardent  in  the  pursuit  of  knowledge,  care- 
ful in  his  observation  of  the  changing  phases  of  dis- 
ease, kind  in  his  deportment,  courteous  in  all  the 
relations  of  life,  and  skillful  to  perceive  and  minister 
to  the  necessities  of  his  numerous  patients. 

In  1816  he  received  the  degree  of  M.D.  at  New 
Haven.  Dr.  Read  was  a  skillful  surgeon  as  well  as 
physician,  and  was  much  devoted  to  that  branch  of 
his  profession.  His  advice  was  much  sought  and  ap- 
preciated by  his  professional  brethren.  They  felt 
that  their  reputation  was  safe  in  his  hands,  that 
when  called  in  counsel  he  would  sustain  and  not  sup- 
plant them.  He  scorned  the  low  art  to  which,  it 
must  be  confessed,  a  few,  even  of  educated  men,  re- 
sort for  the  acquisition  of  business.  Quackery,- 
whether  in  its  infinitesimal  or  more  heroic  develop- 
ment, received  from  him  no  countenance.  He  pub- 
lished but  little.  His  remarks  on  the  mode  of  prep- 
aration and  uses  of  Datura  Stramonium  are  a  model 
of  simplicity  and  directness  in  medical  communica- 
tions. 

His  crowning  excellence  was  his  reverence  for  God. 
His  was  the  religion  of  the  Bible.  He  acknowledged 
its  claims  and  reverently  bowed  to  its  teachings,  and 
in  the  hour  of  affliction  and  sickness  he  was  rewarded 
by  its  abundant  consolations.  Religion  with  him 
was  an  abiding  principle,  not  the  fitful  vagary  of  an 
excited  imagination. 

Such  was  Dr.  Read, — a  good  husband,  kind  father, 
beloved  physician,,  and  in  every  relation  eminently 
a  good  man. 

His  fatal  disease  was  hematuria,  followed  by 
chronic  disorganization  and  protracted  suffering. 

Fire  Society,  1809.— The  following  is  a  "  Listof  the 
members  of  the  Bedford  Fire  Society,  with  ('A')  watch- 
word, June  10,  1809,  presented  to  the  fire-wards,  viz. : 
Joseph  Ricketson,  Elisha  Thornton,  Jr.,  Barnabas 
Taber,  Job  Eddy,  James  Allen  (2d),  Simpson  Hart, 
Cornelius  Howland,  Nicholas  D.  Greene,  Daniel 
Taber,  Nathan  Taber,  Abraham  Shearman,  Jr.,  Caleb 
Green,  William  Sawyer  Wall,  Jahaziel  Jenney,  Wil- 
liam   James,  Peter    Barney,  Josiah   Wood,  Francis 


Ill' 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Taber,  John  Thornton,  Peleg  Howland,  William 
Ross,  Gilbert  Howland,  Gilbert  Russell,  Sands  Wing, 
Caleb  Congdon,  Benjamin  Lincoln,  Freeman  Barrows, 
and  John  H.  Howland. 

"  By  order  of  the  society,  watchword  '  A.' 

"Caleb  Greene." 

Attached  to  this  list  is  the  following  notice: 
"  To  Caleb  Congdon,  one  of  the  fire-wards  for  the 
town  of  New  Bedford,  the  inclosed  list  of  the  mem- 
bers  of  the  Bedford  Fire  Society  with  its  watchword 
is  presented  thee  for  thy  government  or  direction,  to 
give  orders  to  said  members  at  any  fire  which  may 
happen.     The  watchword  is  not  to  be  divulged." 

An  Interesting  Document— The  old  borough  of 
Dartmouth,  England,  the  fishing  community  at  the  ; 
mouth  of  the  Dart,  gave  our  old  Dartmouth  its  name. 
Many  incidents  connected  with  its  name  and  history 
made  this  ancient  borough,  whose  franchise  dates 
back  to  the  reign  of  Richard  Coeur  de  Lion,  closely 
associated  with  the  commemorative  exercises. 

An  address  "  To  the  mayor,  recorder,  and  aldermen 
of  the  city  of  Dartmouth,  county  of  Devon,  England," 
had  been  prepared,  and  was  read  to  the  meeting. 
Having  been  signed  by  the  mayor,  aldermen,  Common 
Council  men,  and  clerk  of  the  city  of  New  Bedford, 
and  by  the  selectmen  and  town  clerks  of  the  towns 
uniting  in  the  celebration,  and  beautifully  engrossed, 
it  was  sent  to  its  destination. 

The  time  required  by  its  engrossment,  and  to  obtain 
the  large  number  of  necessary  signatures  of  persons 
dwelling  widely  apart,  brought  the  end  of  the  year 
'before  it  could  be  forwarded. 

It  was  not  until  Washington's  Birthday,  1866,  that 
the  mayor  of  the  city  received  a  response  to  this 
greeting  from  the  old  Dartmouth  of  America  to  the 
old  Dartmouth  of  Great  Britain.  But  when  it  was 
received  the  delay  was  not  cared  for  or  thought  of. 
The  reply  was  dated  on  the  "  Fourth  of  July,"  1865, 
was  signed  by  the  mayor,  recorder,  clerk,  and  bur- 
gesses of  the  borough  of  Clifton  Dartmouth  Hard- 
ness,  in  the  county  of  Devon,  England.  One  of  the 
councilors  bears  the  significant  name  of  John  Bully. 
It  is  a  well-written  document,  and  its  tone  is  kind  and 
manly.  In  these  respects  it  fully  met  the  circum- 
stances of  the  occasion  and  the  wishes  and  expecta- 
tions of  those  to  whose  greeting  it  was  an  answer. 
But  the  form  in  which  it  appeared  was  a  surprise  and 
a  delight.  Its  elegant  chirography  upon  vellum  is  a 
picture  in  itself;  and  this,  with  its  beautiful  illumi- 
nations of  border  and  other  chaste  ornamentation, 
give  the  whole  a  rare,  rich,  and  attractive  appear- 
ance. 

The  Ship  "  Rebecca."1— The  ship  "  Rebecca"  was 
the  first  ship  built  in  New  Bedford.  She  was 
launched  in  the  spring  of  1785.  George  Claghorn 
was  the  master-carpenter,  who  afterwards  built  the 
frigate  "Constitution,"  the  pride  of  our  navy. 

1  By  William  T.  Russell,  written  in  1814. 


The  "  Rebecca"  was  owned  by  Joseph  Russell  and 
his  sons  Barnabas  and  Gilbert  Russell.  The  timber 
of  which  she  was  built  was  chiefly  cut  in  the  south- 
westerly part  of  the  town,  now  covered  with  houses 
and  gardens.  She  measured  175f  J  tons,  which  at  that 
time  was  considered  so  immensely  large thatshe  was  the 
wonder  and  the  admiration  of  all  the  country  round. 
People  from  Taunton,  Bridgewater,  and  all  the  neigh- 
boring towns  came  to  New  Bedford  to  see  the  big 
ship.  There  was  a  woman  figure-head  carved  for  her, 
and  when  it  was  about  being  put  upon  her  a  number 
of  the  Friends'  Society  remonstrated  against  so  vain 
and  useless  an  ornament,  and  she  went  to  sea  without 
it. 

The  owners  of  the  "  Rebecca"  had  some  difficulty 
in  finding  a  man  of  sufficient  experience  to  trust  with 
the  command  of  so  big  a  ship.  Now  we  have  a 
schooner  of  larger  tonnage  running  to  New  York  as  a 
packet  (schooner  "Richmond"  is  one  hundred  and 
eighty  tons). 

James  Haydon  was  finally  selected  for  her  captain, 
and  Cornelius  Grinnell,  chief  mate.  She  sailed  on  her 
first  voyage  to  Philadelphia;  from  thence  to  Liver- 
pool. The  second  voyage  Cornelius  Grinnell  was 
captain,  and  continued  to  command  her  for  six  years. 

The  "Rebecca"  was  the  first  American  whale-ship 
that  doubled  Cape  Horn.  She  was  commanded  by 
Capt.  Kearsley,  and  made  a  successful  voyage,  ob- 
taining a  cargo  of  sperm  oil  on  the  coast  of  Chili,  and 
returning  in  about  twelve  months. 

The  "Rebecca"  finally  made  a  disastrous  end. 
She  sailed  from  Liverpool  for  New  York  in  the 
autumn  of  1798,  commanded  by  Capt.  Gardner  (the 
father  of  the  present  Capts.  Gardner),  and  has  never 
been  heard  of  from  that  time  to  this.2 


2  Capt.  Cornelius  Howland  and  Caleb  Greene,  the  schoolmaster,  were 
owners  in  the  "  Rebecca"  when  she  made  her  Pacific  voyage.  Some  of 
the  schooners  of  the  present  day  are  nearly  four  times  the  size  of  the 
"  Kebecca."  She  was  not  the  first  ship  built  in  Bedford.  The  building 
of  the  "Dartmouth"  has  an  earlier  date,  and  our  late  fellow-citizen, 
Thomas  Kempton,  said  that  a  ship  called  the  "Bedford"  was  built  on 
the  west  side  of  the  Acuslmet  as  early  as  1770.  This  could  not  have 
been  the  historic  "Bedford." 

Frederick  C.  Sanford,  of  Nantucket,  in  his  valuable  and  interesting 
article  in  the  Nantucket  Inquirer,  1852,  on  the  "  Pioneers  of  the  Whale 
Fishery,"  says  that  "  in  17'J1  our  ships  entered  the  Pacific."  This  is  the 
year  that  the  "Rebecca"  doubled  Cipe  Horn.  Accounts  differ  as  to 
which  took  the  lead  in  the  adventure,  Nantucket  or  New  Bedford.  In  a 
letter  dated  Aug.  27,  1876,  Mr.  Sanford  says  that  "in  consequence  of  the 
great  success  in  the  Pacific  of  ships  from  London  and  Mr.  Botch's  ships 
from  Dunkirk,  si*  ships  were  in  1700  fitted  lor  whaling  in  that  ocean  from 
Nantucket.  The  'Beaver'  sailed  first,  August,  1791."  The  first  start 
from  this  country  for  doubling  ('ape  Horn  was  no  doubt  from  Nantucket. 
The  "  Rebecca"  was  not  fitted  for  the  Pacific.  Information  obtained  on 
|  the  voyage  induced  the  captain  to  try  his  luck  there.  Which  of  the 
I  two  ships  first  rounded  the  cape  does  not  appear,  is  not  of  much  im- 
portance. 

The  following  extracts  form  a  part  of  the  conclusion  of  Mr.  Sanford's 
interesting  article.  His  description  of  the  vessels  and  the  men  employed 
in  this  bold  enterprise  will  apply  to  the  New  Bedford  as  well  as  to  the 
Nantucket  pioneers  engaged  in  it.  No  one  will  question  the  truth  of 
the  portrait  he  has  drawn  of  the  hardy,  bold,  and  enterprising  men  of 
Nantucket,  who  were  the  world-renowned  leaders  in  this  extraordinary 
branch  of  the  world's  industrial  pursuits.  The  story  of  the  whalers 
borders  upon  the  romance  of  history,  and  deserves  an  abler  historian 


NEW    BEDFORD. 


113 


Old  advertisement  in  Medley,  1794, — 

"  Lost. — On   Monday  evening  lust,  from  the  house-yard  of  the  late 
Mr.  Daniel  Smith,  a  huge  Bbass  Kettle,  with  a  crack  in  the  bottom,   i 
and  a  patch  thereon.     Whoever  will  give  information  so  that  the  kettle 
may  he  found  will  greatly  assist  a  distressed  family. 

"  Bedford,  April  4,  1704." 

Benevolent  and  other  Societies.— Association  for 
the  Relief  of  Aired  Women  of  New  Bedford;  Mrs. 
Matthew  Howland,  president;  Mrs.  Loum  Snow, 
vice-president;  Mrs.  Henry  T.  Wood,  treasurer ;  Mrs. 
Oliver  Prescott,  secretary ;  Mrs.  Joseph  Grinnell, 
Mrs.  Abraham  Russell,  Mrs.  George  Howland,  Jr., 
Mrs.  William  Phillips,  Mrs.  William  G.  E.  Pope, 
Mrs.  Joseph  R.  Read.  Mrs.  Cornelius  Howland,  Mrs. 
Caleb  Anthony,  Mrs.  B.  R.  Almy,  Mrs.  William 
Thompson,  Mrs.  James  Fisher,  Mrs.  William  J.  Rotch, 
Mrs.  James  Almy,  Mrs.  Edward  D.  Mandell,  Miss 
Louise  S.  Cummings,  Mrs.  Frederick  S.  Gifford,  Miss 
Susan  Snow,  Mrs.  Edward  C.  Jones,  Mrs.  William  G. 
Wood,  Mrs.  Horatio  Hathaway,  Mrs. William  A.  Dana, 
Miss  Gertrude  Baxter,  Miss  Anna  Clifford,  Miss  Mary 
T.  Howland,  Mrs.  George  Hussey,  Mrs.  Daniel  Wil- 
der, Mrs.  John  F.  Tucker,  Miss  Amelia  H.  Jones, 
managers ;  Thomas  Nye,  Jr.,  Oliver  Prescott,  Joseph 
Grinnell,  Edward  D.  Mandell,  Horatio  Hathaway, 
advisers. 

Liberty  Hall  Association,  organized  July  15,  1841. 
Hall  rebuilt  in  1865.  George  A.  Bourne,  president ; 
Thomas  Wilcox,  clerk;  Joseph  Buckminster,  treas- 
urer ;  Thomas  L.  Parsons,  agent ;  George  A.  Bourne, 
Thomas  Wilcox,  Joseph  Buckminster,  directors. 

City  Farm,  at  Clarke's  Point;  Peleg  S.  Macy,  su- 
perintendent ;  Mrs.  C.  S.  Macy,  matron  ;  Rev.  Isaac 
H.  Coe,  chaplain. 

Union  for  Good  Works,  established  Feb.  9,  1870. 
The  object  of  the  members  of  this  society  is  "  To  do 
good  and  to  grow  better." 

Young  Men's  Christian  Association  of  New  Bed- 
ford; Edmund  Rodmund,  president ;  Allen  F.  Wood, 
vice-president;  Charles  E.  Hendrickson,  recording 
secretary ;  C.  W.  Knight,  treasurer ;  Charles  W. 
Harned,  general  secretary. 

than  any  who  have  yet  attempted  to  relate  it.  Who  so  well  qualified  as 
the  writer  of  the  article  from  which  we  have  quoted  ': 

"In  1791  our  ships  entered  the  Pacific  in  pursuit  of  their  prey.  They 
douhled  Cape  Horn  in  a  class  of  vessels  that  would  be  considered  unsafe 
at  this  day  to  perform  a  summer  voyage  across  the  Atlantic,  small  in 
size,  not  exceeding  two  hundred  and  fifty  tons  in  burden,  heavy,  dull 
sailers,  without  copper  on  their  bottoms,  poorly  and  scantily  fitted,  in- 
deed, but  manned  with  men  of  an  iron  nerve  and  an  energy  that  knew 
no  turning,  and  here  again  they  were  successful. 

"I  am  fully  aware  that  New  Bedford  surpasses  all  other  places  en- 
gaged in  the  whale  fishery  in  wealth  and  prosperity.  Success  has 
followed  exertion  in  a  ratio  of  one  hundredfold,  and  there  are  very  few 
places  in  our  country  which  have  arisen  to  such  a  height  of  prosperity 
in  so  short  a  period.     It  seems  almost  the  work  of  an  enchanter. 

"Other  places  have  eclipsed  Nantucket  of  late,  but  the  well-earned 
fame  of  our  sires  knows  no  diminution,  but  brightens  their  laurels  as 
time  lessens  their  numbers.  Nantucket  may  with  an  honest  pride  look 
back  to  a  long  list  of  worthies,  men  filled  with  interminable  persever- 
ance and  an  energy  that  defied  and  overcame  all  obstacles, — a  list  that 
will  bear  no  unworthy  comparison  with  Samuel  Adams  and  his  Revo- 
lutionary companions,  as  deserving  of  her  pride  as  the  jewels  of  Cor- 
nelia." 

8 


Orphans'  Home,  organized  in  1842.  For  orphans 
in  both  sexes.  About  thirty  inmates.  Miss  Celia 
Brett,  matron  ;  Mrs.  Eliza  A.  Brett,  assistant  matron  ; 
Mrs.  William  C.  N.  Swift,  president;  Mrs.  William 
Crapo,  secretary  ;  Mrs.  James  D.  Thompson,  treasurer. 

St.  Joseph's  Hospital,  under  control  of  the  Sisters 
of  Mercy.  Sister  De  Pezzie,  superior.  The  following 
gentlemen  comprise  the  hospital  staff:  Rev.  Hugh 
J.  Smyth,  director ;  S.  W.  Hayes,  M.D.,  physician  in 
charge  ;  George  Atwood,  M.D.  (Fairhaven),  J.  H. 
Mackie,  M.D.,  E.  P.  Abbe,  M.D.,  consulting  physi- 
cians and  surgeons  ;  S.  W.  Hayes,  M.D.,  G.  T.  Hough, 
M.D.,  F.  H.  Hooper,  M.D.,  William  H.  Taylor,  M.D., 
visiting  physicians  and  surgeons ;  J.  J.  B.  Vermyne, 
M.D.,  ophthalmic  surgeon. 

Union  Lodge,  No.  7,  F.  and  A.  M.  (Colored). 

Annawan  Encampment,  I.  0.  of  O.  F. 

Acushnet  Lodge,  No.  41,  I.  0.  of  O.  F. 

Vesta  Lodge,  No.  166,  I.  O.  of  O.  F. 

Potomska  Lodge,  No.  1511,  G.  U.  O.  of  O.  F. 

Odd-Fellows'  Beneficial  Association  of  Southern 
Massachusetts ;  Samuel  C.  Hart,  president. 

Potomska  Stamm,  No.  182,  I.  O.  R.  M. ;  Martin 
Freundshu,  0.  C. 

New  Bedford  Lodge,  No.  667,  K.  of  H. ;  Joseph  E. 
Higgins,  P.  D. 

William  Logan  Rodman  Post,  No.  1,  G.  A.  R. ; 
Andrew  J.  Smith,  Com. ;  John  W.  Footman,  S.  V.  C. ; 
Thomas  E.  Ward,  J.  V.  C. ;  Benjamin  H.  Arnold,  Sur- 
geon ;  Charles  P.  Casmire,  Chaplain  ;  Frederick  A. 
Washburn,  Q.M. ;  Ezra  K.  Bly,  Adjt. 

New  Bedford  City  Guards  ;  J.  K.  McAfee,  captain  ; 
Z.  C.  Dunham,  first  lieutenant ;  William  R.  Spooner, 
second  lieutenant;  George  N.  Hall,  clerk  ;  Abner  P. 
Pope,  treasurer. 

Honorary  members  :  Edwin  Dews,  president ;  South- 
ward Potter  (2d),  secretary  and  treasurer;  Samuel  C. 
Hart,  William  Baylies,  James  E.  Blake,'  executive 
committee. 

Mount  Taber  Council,  No.  13. 

El  Bethel  Temple  of  Honor,  No.  24. 

Orient  Lodge,  No.  173,  G.  T. 

Liberty  Lodge,  No.  48,  G.  T. 

Acushnet  Division,  No.  87,  S.  of  T. ;  Francis  H. 
Greene,  W.  P. ;  Frank  P.  P.  Tuell,  W.  A. ;  William 
O.  Cross,  R.  S. ;  Adeline  Durfee,  A.  R.  S. ;  Charles 
D.  Tuell,  F!  S. ;  George  S.  Bowen,  T. ;  Isaac  Barnes, 
Chap.  ;  Charles  L.  Parker,  C. ;  Emily  B.  Butman,  A. 
C. ;  William  Robinson,  I.  S. ;  Samuel  Jones,  O.  S. ; 
S.  T.  Viall,  P.  W.  P. 

St.  Lawrence  Catholic  Temperance  Society ;  Michael 
Duggan,  President. 

Incorporated  Companies,  etc. — Acushnet  Co- 
operative. Capital  stock,  seven  thousand  five  hundred 
dollars.     Sylvanus  Bennett,  agent. 

Morse  Twist-Drill  and  Machine  Company,  located 
on  Bedford,  corner  of  Fourth  Street.  Edward  S.  Taber, 
president  and  treasurer;  Nathan  Chase,  Frederick  S. 
Allen,  Thomas  M.  Stetson,  Gilbert  Allen,  Andrew  G. 


114 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Peirce,  and  Edward  S.  Taber,  directors ;  Gilbert  Allen, 
clerk  of  board. 

Mount  Washington  Glass  Company,  located  on 
Prospect  Street.  Capital  stock,  eighty-three  thousand 
dollars.     Alexander  H.  Seabury,  treasurer. 

New  Bedford  Co-Operative  Saving  Fund  and  Loan 
Association,  41  William  Street,  incorporated  July  11, 
1881.  Authorized  capital,  one  million  dollars.  Isaac 
W.  Benjamin,  president;  Edward  Kilburn,  vice-presi- 
dent; Charles  R.  Price,  secretary;  Gideon  B.  Wright, 
treasurer. 

New  Bedford  Copper  Company  was  incorporated  in 
1860.  Capital,  two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars. 
Gilbert  Allen,  president;  William  H.  Matthews,  treas- 
urer; Henry  Field,  Jr.,  superintendent;  Gilbert  Allen, 
Edward  D.  Mandell,  Leander  A.  Plummer,  William 
J.  Rotch,  James  D.  Thompson,  Frederick  S.  Allen, 
Charles  W.  Clifford,  directors. 

New  Bedford  Cordage  Company  was  incorporated 
in  1846.  Capital,  seventy-five  thousand  dollars.  Wil- 
liam J.  Rotch,  president;  L.  A.  Plummer,  treasurer 
and  clerk. 

New  Bedford  Gas- Light  Company,  70  South  Water 
Street;  incorporated  in  1850.  Capital,  two  hundred 
and  twenty-five  thousand  dollars.  William  C.  Taber, 
president;  Gilbert  Allen,  treasurer;  Gideon  Wood, 
superintendent;  William  C.  Taber,  William  J.  Rotch, 
Jonathan  Bourne,  Jr.,  Edward  C.  Jones,  Joseph  C. 
Delano,  Charles  Almy,  Abram  H.  Howland,  Jr.,  Gil- 
bert Allen,  Lemuel  Kollock,  directors. 

New  Bedford  Ice  Company.  Capital  stock,  twenty 
thousand  dollars.  M.  E.  Hatch,  treasurer,  9  Fourth 
Street. 

New  Bedford,  Vineyard  and  Nantucket  Steamboat 
Company ;  incorporated  March  21,  1854.  Capital, 
seventy  thousand  dollars.  Edward  D.  Mandell,  presi- 
dent; Andrew  G.  Peirce,  treasurer;  Edward  T.  Peirce, 
clerk;  Edward  D.  Mandell,  Jonathan  Bourne,  Andrew 
G.  Peirce,  Samuel  P.  Burt,  New  Bedford;  Charles 
Bradley,  Vineyard  Haven,  directors. 

This  company  owns  and  runs  the  steamer  "  Martha's 
Vineyard,"  five  hundred  and  twenty-five  tons  burden, 
also  steamer  "  Monohansett,"  four  hundred  and  sev- 
enty-five tons,  between  New  Bedford  and  Edgartown, 
Oak  Bluffs,  Vineyard  Highlands,  Vineyard  Haven, 
and  Wood's  Holl.  Also  steamers  "  Island  Home" 
and  "River  Queen"  to  Nantucket. 

Botch  Wharf  Company;  office,  Botch's  Square. 
William  J.  Botch,  president;  Isaac  W.  Benjamin, 
treasurer;  Elisha  Gibbs,  wharfinger. 

Thayer  and  Judd  Paraffine  Company;  office,  Botch's 
Square.  Incorporated  May  1,  1872.  Capital,  three 
hundred  thousand  dollars.  Edwin  S.  Thayer,  presi- 
dent; L.  S.  Judd,  treasurer;  E.  S.  Thayer,  general 
agent ;  John  B.  Hussey,  E.  S.  Thayer,  L.  S.  Judd,  J. 
B.  Merriam,  William  Morgan,  directors. 

The  Southern  Massachusetts  Telephone  Company, 
organized  February,  1880.  C.  W.  Clifford,  president; 
Samuel  Ivers,  treasurer ;  Moses  E.  Hatch,  Samuel 


Ivers,  Edward  Grinnell,  Morgan  Botch,  Walter  Clif- 
ford, O.  P.  Brightman,  directors ;  M.  E.  Hatch,  gen- 
eral manager. 

Insurance  Company. — Bristol  County  Mutual  Fire 
Insurance  Company,  44  North  Water  Street ;  incor- 
porated A.D.  1829.  Jonathan  Bourne,  president;  Geo. 
N.  Alden,  secretary  and  treasurer. 


CHAPTEB   XII. 

NEW   BEDFORD.— {Continued.) 

CIVIL  HISTORY— MILITARY   HISTORY. 

Incorporation  of  the  Town — Setting  off  of  Fairhaven — Part  of  Dart- 
month  annexed  to  New  Bedford — Part  of  Acushnet  annexed  to  New 
Bedford — Incorporation  of  the  City — List  of  Mayors — Representatives 
to  General  Court— City  Debt— Military  Record— War  of  1812— War  of 
the  Rebellion — List  of  Soldiers — Roll  of  Honor — Soldiers'  and  Sailors' 
Monument. 

This  town  originally  formed  a  part  of  the  old  town 
of  Dartmouth,  and  was  incorporated  Feb.  23,  1787. 
It  retained  its  original  area  until  Feb.  22,  1812,  when 
the  town  of  Fairhaven  was  set  off.  A  part  of  Dart- 
mouth was  annexed  March  20,  1845,  and  a  part  of 
Acushnet  April  9,  1875. 

New  Bedford  was  incorporated  as  a  city  March  9, 
1847. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  mayors: 

Abraham  H.  Howland,  1847-51. 

William  J.  Botch,  1852. 

Bodney  French,  1853-54. 

George  Howland,  Jr.,  1855-56,  1863-65,  and  about 
three  months  of  1862. 

George  H.  Dunbar,  1857-58,  1873.  The  municipal 
year  was  changed  in  1857,  so  that  his  first  term  was 
nine  months. 

Willard  Nye,  1859. 

Isaac  C.  Taber,  1860-61,  and  to  Sept.  29,  1862. 

John  H.  Perry,  1866-67. 

Andrew  G.  Peirce,  1868-69. 

George  B.  Bichmond,  1870-72,  1874. 

Abraham  H.  Howland,  Jr.,  1875-76. 

Alanson  Borden,  1877. 

George  B.  Bichmond,  1878. 

William  T.  Soule,  1879-80. 

George  W.  Wilson,  1881-83. 

REPRESENTATIVES  TO   GENERAL  COURT   FROM  1788  TO  1883. 


Walter  Spoouer,  May  13,  1788. 

"  "  May  15,  1789. 

May  11,  1790. 

"  "  Nov.  26,  1790. 

May  17,  1792. 

Seth  Spooner,  May  1,  179-1. 

"  •'         May  <;,  1795. 

"         May  13,  1796. 
"  "         May  8,  1797. 

"  "         May  1,  1798. 

"  "        May  16,  1799. 

"  "        May  12,  1800. 

"  "         May  12,  1801. 


Alden  Spooner,  May  12,  1801. 
Seth  Spooner,  May  10,  1802. 
Benjamin  Church,  May  9,  1803. 
Seth  Spooner,  May  4,  1804. 
Lemuel  Williams,  May  12,  1806. 
Alden  Spooner,  May  12,  1806. 
Seth  Spooner,  May  12,  1806. 
Samuel  Perry,  May  12,  1806. 
John  Hawes,  May  16,  1807. 
Seth  Spooner,  May  13, 1809. 
Alden  Spooner,  May  13,  1808. 
Samuel  Perry,  May  13, 1808. 
Charles  Russell,  May  13,  1808. 


NEW   BEDFORD. 


115 


Alden  Spooner,  May  in,  1809. 
Setli  Spooner,  May  19,  1809. 
Samuel  Perry,  May  19,  1809. 
Thomas  Nye,  May  19,  1809. 
Charles  Russell,  May  19,  1809. 
Seth  Spooner,  May  19,  1810. 
Samuel  Perry,  May  19,  1810. 
William  Willis,  May  19,  1810. 
Gamaliel  Bryant,  May  19,  1810. 
Jireh  Swift,  Jr.,  May  19,  1810. 
Jonathan  Pope,  May  19,  1810. 
Seth  Spooner,  May  18,  1811. 
Samuel  Perry,  May  18,  1811. 
William  Willis,  May  18,  1811. 
Gamaliel  Bryant,  May  18,  1811. 
Jireh  Swift,  May  18,  1811. 
Jonathan  Pope,  May  18,  1811. 
John  M.  Williams,  May  15,  1812. 
James  Washburn,  May  15,  1812. 
Gamaliel  Bryant,  May  15,  1812. 
Jireh  Swift,  Jr.,  May  15,  1812. 
Gamaliel  Bryant,  May  10,1813. 
John  M.  Williams,  May  10,  1S13. 
Jireh  Swift,  May  10,  1813. 
William  Hathaway,  May  10,  1813. 
John  M.  Williams,  May  7,  1814. 
William  Hathaway,  May  7,  1814. 
James  Washburn,  May  7,  1814. 
Jireh  Swift,  May  7,  1814. 
Janus  Washburn,  May  13,  1815. 
Jireh  Swift,  May  13,  1815. 
John  M.  Williams,  May  13,  1815. 
Manasseh  Kempton,  May  13, 1815. 
John  A.  Parker,  May  13,  1816. 
Thus.  Kempton  (2d),  May  13,1816. 
John  Nye,  May  13,1816. 
Frederic  Mayliew,  May  13,  1816. 
William  Willis,  May  10,  1817. 
John  Nye.  .May  2,  1818. 
John  A.  Parker,  May  2,  1818. 
Lemuel  Williams,  May  15,  1819. 
John  Nye,  May  15,  1819. 
Benjamin  Lincoln,  May  15,  1819. 
Cornelius  Grinnell,  May  15,  1819. 
John  Nye,  May  6,  1820. 
Lemuel  Williams,  May  6, 1820. 
Thomas  Rotch,  May  6, 1820. 
William  Hathaway,  May  6,  1820. 
Thomas  Rotch,  May  8,  1821. 
Lemuel  Williams,  Jr.,  May  8,  1821 
William  Hathaway,  May  6,  1822.  • 
John  Nye,  May  0,  1S22. 
Benjamin  Lincoln,  May  6, 1822. 
John  A.  Parker,  May  6,  1822. 
Thomas  Rotch,  May  3,  1823. 
Lemuel  Williams,  May  3,  1823. 
John  A.  Parker,  May  3,  1823. 
William  Hathaway,  May  3,  1823. 
Thomas  Rotch,  May  3,  1824. 
Thomas  Rotch,  May  2,  1825. 
John  A    Parker,  May  2,  1825. 
Timothy  G.  Coffin,  May  2, 1825. 
Charles  II.  Warren,  May  2,  1825. 
Thomas  Rotch,  May  6,  1826. 
John  A.  Parker,  May  14,  1827. 
Thomas  A.  Greene,  May  11,  ls^;. 
John  A.  Parker,  May  10,  L828. 
Thomas  A.  Greene,  May  10,  1828. 
Cornelius  Grinnell,  May  10,  1828. 
Ephraim  Kemplon,  May  10,  1828. 
William  ('.  Nye,  May  10,  1828. 
Charles  W.  Morgan,  May  10,  1828. 
Thomas  A.  Greene,  May  11,  1829. 
William  C.  Nye,  May  11,  1829. 
James  Arnold,  May  II,  1829. 
Russell  Freeman,  May  11,  1829. 
Eli  Haskell,  May  11,  1829. 


Charles  W.  Morgan,  May  11,  1S29. 

Thomas  Greene,  May  10,  1830. 

Russell  Freeman,  May  10,  1830. 

Thomas  A.  Greene,  May  11,  1831. 

William  C.  Nye,  May  11,  1831. 

Charles  W.  Morgan,  May  11,1831. 

Russell  Freeman,  .May  11,  1831. 

Thomas  Mandell,  May  11, 1831. 

Benjamin  Lincoln,  May  11,  1831. 

Thomas  A.  Greene,  Nov.  12,  1832. 

Charles  W.  Morgan,  Nov.  12,  1832. 

Isaac  Case.  Nov.  12,  1832. 

Thomas  Mandell,  Nov.  13,  1832. 

John  Burrage,  Nov.  13,  1832. 

Benjamin  Lincoln,  Nov.  13,  1832. 

Edmund  Gardner,  Nov.  13,  1832. 

Mark  B.  Palmer,  Nov.  11,  1833. 

Jonathan  R.  Ward,  Nov.  11,  1833. 
!  Charles  W.  Morgan,  Nov.  11,  1833. 

John  Burrage,  Nov.  11,  1833. 

Thomas  Mandell,  Nov.  11,  1833. 

Thomas  A.  Greene,  Nov.  11,  1833. 
:  Isaac  Case,  Nov.  11,  1833. 

Edmund  Gardner,  Nov.  11.  1833. 

Benjamin  Lincoln,  Nov.  11, 1833. 

Thomas  Mandell,  Nov.  14,  1834. 

Thomas  A.  Greene,  Nov.  10,  1834. 

John  Perkins,  Nov.  10,  1834. 

Jireh  Perry,  Nov.  10,  1834. 

Obed  Nye,  Nov.  10,  1834. 
|  Roland  R.  Crocker,  Nov.  10,  1834. 
I  David  R.  Greene,  Nov.  10,  1834. 

Oliver  Crocker,  Nov.  10,  1S34. 

John  H.  Clifford,  Nov.  10,  1834. 

Thomas  Mandell,  Nov.  9,  1835. 

Jonathan  R.  Ward,  Nov.  9,  1835. 

Benjamin  Coombs,  Nov.  9,  1835. 

Sampson  Perkins,  Nov.  9,  1835. 

William  H.  Crocker,  Nov.  9,  1835. 

James  D  Thompson,  Nov.  9,  1835. 

Robert  Hillman,  Nov.  9,  1835. 

Thomas  B.  Bush,  Nov.  9,  1835. 

Cyrus  Hooper,  Nov.  9,  1835. 

Thomas  Mandell,  Nov.  14,  1836. 

Jonathan  R.  Ward,  Nov.  14,  1836. 
,  Sampson  Perkins,  Nov.  14,  1836. 

William  H.  Crocker,  Nov.  14, 1836. 

Jam -s  D.  Thompson,  Nov.  14, 1836. 

Benjamin  Coombs,  Nov.  14,1836. 

Thomas  B.  Bush,  Nov.  14,  1836. 

Cyrus  Hooper,  Nov.  14,  1836. 

Isaac  Case,  Nov.  14,  1836. 

Isaac  D.  Hall,  Nov.  14,  1836. 

Charles  W.  Morgan,  Nov.  13,  1837. 

Thomas  A.  Greene,  Nov.  13,  1837. 

Pardon  G.  Seabnry,  Nov.  13,1837. 

Ephraim  Kempton,  Nov.  13,  1837. 
I  Samuel  Tobey,  Nov.  13,  1837. 

John  Perkins,  Nov.  13,  1837. 

William  H.  Allen,  Nov.  13,  1837. 

Henry  Taber,  Nov.  13,  1837. 
;  James  Wady,  Nov.  13, 1837. 

Thomas  A.  Greene,  Nov.  12,  1838. 
|  Pardon  G.  Seabnry,  Nov.  12, 1838. 

El. en.  N.  (.'haddock,  Nov.  12,  1838. 

Leonard  Macomber,  Nov.  12,  1838. 

Abraham  Barber,  Nov.  12,  1838. 

Silas  Stetson,  Nov.  12,  1838. 

Robert  Hillman,  Nov.  12,  1838. 

Thomas  D.  Eliot,  Nov.  12,  1838. 

William  H.  Stowell,  Nov.  12,  1838. 

Thomas  A.  Greene,  Nov.  11,  1839. 

John  Perkins,  Nov.  11,  1839. 

Silas  Stetson,  Nov.  11, 1839. 
I  George  Ilowland,  Nov.  11,  1839. 

John  F.  Emerson,  Nov.  11,  1839. 

Charles  V.  Card,  Nov.  11, 1839. 


Henry  Taber,  Nov.  11,  1839. 

Alfred  Gibbs,  Nov.  11,  1839. 

Charles  W.  Morgan,  Nov.  11,  1839. 

Thomas  A.  Greene,  Nov.  19,  1839. 

John  Perkins,  Nov.  19,  1839. 

Alfred  Gibbs,  Nov.  19,  1839. 

Charles  V.  Card,  Nov.  19, 1839. 

Silas  Stetson,  Nov.  19,  1839. 

Thomas  A.  Greene,  Nov.  9,  1840. 

Henry  Taber,  Nov.  9,  1840. 

H.  G.  0.  Colby,  Nov.  9,  1840. 

Silas  Stetson,  Nov.  9, 1840. 

George  Howland,  Nov.  9,  1840. 
(No  one  appears  to  have  been 

elected  in  1841.) 

Ephraim  Kempton,  Nov.  28, 1842. 

II.  G.  0.  Colby,  Nov.  28,  1842. 

Calvin  Staples,  Nov.  28, 1842. 

Benjamin  S.  Rotch,  Nov.  28,  1842. 

Henry  Taber,  Nov.  28,  1842. 
"       Nov.  13,  1843. 

Abr  II.  Howland,  Nov.  13,  1843. 

John  H.  W.  Page,  Nov.  13,  1843. 

Benjamin  S.  Rotch,  Nov.  13,  1843. 

Calvin  Staples,  Nov.  13,  1843. 

Abr.  H.  Howland,  Nov.  11,  1844. 

John  H.  W.  Page,  Nov.  11,  1844. 

Thomas  Kempton,  Nov.  11,  1844. 

David  R.  Greene,  Nov.  11, 1844. 

James  A.  Congdon,  Nov.  11,  1844. 

John  H.  W.  Page,  Nov.  10,  1845. 

Abr.  H.  Howland,  Nov.  10,  1845. 

Thomas  Kempton,  Nov.  10,  1845. 

David  R.  Greene,  Nov.  10,  1845. 

Calvin  Staples,  Nov.  10,  1845. 

Abr.  H.  Howland,  Nov.  10,  1846. 

Thomas  Kempton,  Nov.  9,  1846. 

Willard  Nye,  Nov.  9, 1846. 

Richard  A.  Palmer,  Nov.  9,  184G. 

Luther  Baker,  Nov.  9,  1846. 

William  J.  Rotch,  Nov.  8,  1847. 

Richard  A.  Palmer,  Nov.  8, 1847. 

Luther  Baker,  Nov.  8,  1847. 

Calvin  Staples,  Nov.  8,  1847. 

Thomas  Nye,  Jr.,  Nov.  8,  1847. 
(No  choice  made  in  1848.) 

William  J.  Rotch,  Nov.  12,  1849. 

Obed  Nye,  Nov.  12,  1849. 

Thomas  Kempton,  Nov.  12,  1850. 

Obed  Nye,  Nov.  12,  1850. 

Richard  Palmer,  Nov.  12,1850. 

Thomas  Kempton,  Nov.  10, 1851. 

George  Howland,  Jr.,  Nov.  10,  1851. 

George  B.  Richmond,  Nov.  In,  1851. 

Cornelius  Howland,  Nov.  10,  1851. 

Abraham  Garduer,  Nov.  10,  1851. 
(No  choice  in  1852.) 

Willard  Nye,  Nov.  15,  1853. 

Tilson  B.  Deuham,  Nov.  15,  1853. 

Henry  F.  Thomas,  Nov.  15,  1S53. 

Nathaniel  Gilbert,  Nov.  15,  1S53. 

Asa  R.  Nye,  Nov.  13,  1854. 

Tilson  B.  Denham,  Nov.  13, 1854. 

Edward  Milliken,  Nov.  13,  1854. 
i  George  G.  Gifford,  Nov.  13,  1854. 
j    Caleb  L.  Ellis,  Nov.  13, 1854. 

Edward  Milliken,  Nov.  6,  1855. 
J  Henry  F.  Thomas,  Nov.  6,  1855. 
■    Daniel  Homer,  Nov.  6,  1855. 

John  Hicks,  Nov.  6,  1855. 
,    Nathaniel  Gilbert,  Nov.  6,  1855. 
j    George  H.  Dunbar,  Nov.  5,  1856. 
I    Hattel  Kelley,  Nov.  5,  1856. 

William  H.  Allen,  Nov.  5, 1856. 

William  W.  Crapo,  Nov.  5,  1856. 

Thomas  II.  Soule,  Nov.  5,  1856. 

William  H.  Allen,  Nov.  2,  1857. 


Hattel  Kelley,  Nov.  2,  1857. 
Samuel  Watson,  Nov.  2,  1857. 
Alanson  Borden,  Nov.  3,  1858. 
Sabin  B.  Chamberlain,  Nov. 3,  1858. 
Samuel  Watson,  Nov.  3,  1858. 
Nathan  B.  Gifford,  Nov.  3,  1858. 
Augustus  L.  West,  Nov.  3,  1858. 
Sabin  B.  Chamberlain,  Nov. 9, 1859. 
Alanson  Borden,  Nov.  9,  1859. 
James  Rider,  Nov.  9,  1S59. 
Nathan  R.  Gifford,  Nov.  9,  1859. 
Richard  A.  Pierce,  Nov.  9,  1859. 
Sabin  B.  Chamberlain,  Nov.  9, 1S60. 
Richard  A.  Pierce,  Nov.  9,  1860. 
Robert  Gibbs,  Nov.  9,  1860. 
Caleb  L   Ellis,  Nov.  9,  1860. 
"      Nov.  6,  1861. 
Robert  Gibbs,  Nov.  6,  1861. 
Charles  Almy,  Nov.  4, 1862. 
Horatio  A.  Kempton,  Nov.  4,  1862. 
Nathaniel  Gilbert,  Nov.  4,  1862. 
Wright  Brownell,  Nov.  4,  1862. 
Charles  T.  Bonney,  Nov.  4,  1862. 
Charles  Almy,  Nov.  3,  1863. 
Horatio  A.  Kempton,  Nov.  3,  1863. 
Nathaniel  Gilbert,  Nov.  3,  1863. 
Wright  Brownell,  Nov.  3,  1863. 
Charles  T.  Bonney,  Nov.  3,  1863. 
Ebenezer  L.  Foster,  Nov.  8,  1864. 
William  Bosworth,  Nov.  8,  1864. 
Cornelius  Howland,  Nov.  8,  1864. 
Wright  Brownell,  Nov.  8,  1864. 
Nathaniel  Gilbert,  Nov.  8,  1S64. 
Ebenezer  L.  Foster,  Nov.  7,  1865. 
William  Bosworth,  Nov.  7,  1865. 
Elijah  H.  Ohisholm,  Nov.  7,  1865. 
Isaac  H.  Coe,  Nov.  7,  1865. 
Joshua  C.  Stone,  Nov.  7,  1865. 
Elijah  H.  Chisholm,  Nov.  7,  1866. 
Oliver  H.  T.  Browne,  Nov.  7, 1866. 
Joshua  C.  Stone,  Nov.  7,  1866. 
Isaac  H.  Coe,  Nov.  7,  1866. 
Oliver  H.  P.  Browne,  Nov.  6, 1867. 
Joseph  W.  Cornell,  Nov.  6,  1S67. 
James  B.  Wood,  Nov.  G,  1867. 
William  H.  Reynard,  Nov.  6,  1867. 
Samuel  S.  Paine,  Nov.  4,  1868. 
Rodney  French,  Nov.  4,  1868. 
John  A.  P.  Allen,  Nov.  4,  1868. 
Jethro  C.  Brock,  Nov.  4,  1868. 
Samuel  S.  Paine,  Nov.  8,  1869. 
Rodney  Freuch,  Nov.  8,  1869. 
John  A.  P.  Allen,  Nov.  8,  1869. 
Elijah  H.  Chisholm,  Nov.  8,  1869. 
Josiah  Bonney,  Feb.  15,  1870. 
Joseph  W.  Cornell,  Nov.  10,  1870. 
Ellis  Perry,  Nov.  10,  1870. 
Josiah  Bonney,  Nov.  10,  1870. 
Elijah  H.  Chisholm,  Nov.  10,1870. 
Ellis  Perry,  Nov.  8, 1871. 
Joseph  W.  Cornell,  Nov.  8,  1871. 
Thomas  B.  Tripp,  Nov.  8, 1871. 
Isaac  I>.  Hall,  Nov.  8,  1871. 
Elijah  H.  Chisholm,  Nov.  5, 1872. 
Isaac  D.  Hall,  Nov.  5, 1872. 
Isaac  F.  Sawtelle,  Nov.  5,  1873. 
William  C.  Parker,  Nov.  5,  1873. 
Elijah  H.  Chisholm,  Nov.  5,  1873. 
Cyrus  W.  Chapman,  Nov.  5, 1873. 
Charles  M.  Pierce,  Nov.  4, 1874. 
Giles  G.  Barker,  Nov.  4,  1874. 
Charles  R.  Tucker,  Jr.,  Nov.  4, 1874. 
Joseph  Buckminster,  Nov.  2,  1875. 
Benj.  S.  Batcbelor,  Nov.  2,  1875. 
Hosea  M.  Knowlton,  Nov.  2,  1875. 
Giles  G.  Barker,  Nov.  13,  1876. 
Joseph  Buckminster,  Nov.  13, 1876. 


116 


HISTORY    OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Benjamin    S.   Batchelor,  Nov.   13, 

1876. 
Bnfns  A.  Soule,  Nov.  9,  1877. 
Charles  A.  Case,  Nov.  9, 1877. 
Israel  C.  Cornish,  Nov.  9,  1877. 
Thomas  B.  Hathaway,  Nov.  9, 1877. 
Bufus  A.  Soule,  Nov.  11,  1878. 
James  M.  Lawton,  Nov.  11,  1878. 
Andrew  Bullock,  Nov.  11,  1878. 
William  Sanders,  Nov.  11, 1878. 
James  M.  Lawton,  Nov.  7,  1879. 
Eben  C.  Milliken,  Nov.  7,  1879. 


William  Sanders,  Nov.  7, 1879. 
Thomas  Hathaway,  Nov.  7,  1879. 
A.  Edwin  Clarke,  Nov.  6,  1880. 
Andrew  Bullock,  Nov.  6,  1880. 
Eben  C.  Milliken,  Nov.  6,  1880. 
James  A.  Crowell,  Nov.  6,  1880. 
James  C.  Crowell,  Nov.  12,  1881. 
Orlando  G.  Bobinson,  Nov.  12, 1881. 
Nov.  11,1882. 
William  A.  Scarell,  Nov.  11,  1882. 
James  R.  Denham,  Nov.  11,  18S2. 
William  Gordon,  Jr.,  Nov.  11,1882. 


1883 $35,000 

1884 41,000 

1885 35,000 

1886 35,000 

18S7 35,000 

1888 35,000 


35,000 
35,000 
40.000 
40,000 
33,000 
30,000 
30,000 
30,000 
1897 30,000 


1889. 

1890. 
1891. 

1892., 
1893. 
1894. 
1895. 
1896. 


1898. 
1899. 
1900. 
1901. 
1902. 
1903. 
1904. 
1905. 
1900. 
1907. 
1908. 
1909. 
1910. 


..  $30,000 
..   30,000 

40,000 

..   4o,o(iu 

4o,oiiii 

40,00(1 

4o,ooo 

..   40,000 

4o,ooo 

..   40,000 

..   40.000 

..   -10,000 

..   30,000 

$1,198,000 


City  Debt. — The  amount  of  the  debt  of  the  city 
of  New  Bedford,  and  the  payments  to  be  annually 
made  thereupon,  are  shown  by  the  following  state- 
ment : 


The  following  table  shows  the  amount  of  taxes 
levied  in  this  city  since  1863,  and  the  rate  per  thou- 
sand for  State,  county,  and  city  purposes;  also  the 
number  of  polls : 


Year. 

Valuation  of 
Beal  Estate. 

Valuation  of  Per- 
sonal Property. 

State  Tax. 

County  Tax. 

City  Tax. 

Overlay. 

No.  of 
Polls. 

Bate  of 
Tax. 

1863 

$8,610,200 

8,158,500 

8,161.800 

8,118,30o 

8,268,500 

8,288,100 

8,277,900 

8,774,500 

9,115,600 

10,050,800 

11,125,700 

11,665,400 

11,946,600 

12,411,200 

12,609,200 

12,808,700 

12,898,300 

13,138,400 

13,505,400 

14  138,300 

$14,496,900.1,0 
10,935,100.00 
12,171,800.00 
13,240,800.00 
13,74o,ono.oii 
13,508,100.00 
14,05^,100.00 
14,221,51-1.00 
13,844,051.67 
13,742,898  00 
14,114,364.20 
13,846,904.95 
14,428,674  00 
14,339,002.1  ii ' 
13,524,097.iiu 
13,137,011.20 
12,874,41S.ini 
13,137,519.00 
13,609,922.' hi 
11,240,900.00 

$61,632 
61,632 
92,919 
59,310 
9S,S"'0 
39,540 
49.425 
49,425 
49.425 
32,280 
36,315 
32,280 
32,280 
26, 24  4 
21,870 
14,580 
7.2011 
21,870 
21,870 
29,160 

$22,881.42 
19,358.55 
19,46185 
20,434.95 
20,434.95 
21,083.67 
19,461.85 
17,840.02 
22,705.48 
18,943.65 
23,679.57 
27,874.24 
28,415.48 
23,859.86 
23,859.86 
25,249.76 
25.666.72 
28,377.03 
26,871.30 
25,689.88 

$159,000 
2^5,000 
215,000 
252,000 
200,000 
230,000 
■.'S7.000 
200,000 
293,300 
356,000 
349,000 
354,0(1.1 

383, i 

387,000 
436,200 
371,500 
386,000 
361,250 
437,300 
434,200 

$8,861.43 

8,523.05 

7,106.35 

8,637.10 

9,136.30 

13,633.03 

9,310.15 

9,475.20 

12,599.52 

13,181.96 

11,454.46 

11  005.10 

17,136.07 

20,251.49 

17,273.46 

17,259.61 

17,497.36 

15,080.89 

16,084.49 

17,605.64 

4875 
4508 
4578 
4658 
4647 
5004 
4906 
5151 
5333 
5577 
5780 
5930 
6226 
6651 
6562 
6729 
6891 
7028 
7025 
7345 

$10.50 
16.00 
16.00 
15.50 
14.50 
13.50 
15.50 
15.00 
16.00 
17.20 
16.20 
16.20 
17.00 
16.60 
18.60 
16,00 
16.40 
15.70 
18.00 
17.50 

1864 

1805 

1866 

1867 

1868 

1869 

1870 

1871 

1872 

1873 

1874 

1875 

1S70 

1877 

1878 

1879 

1880 

1881 

1882 

War  of  1812. — The  sentiment  of  the  citizens  of 
New  Bedford  in  relation  to  this  war  and  its  pri- 
vateering auxiliaries  is  best  expressed  by  the  follow- 
ing vote,  passed  July  21,  1814 : 

"  Voted,  unanimously,  as  expressive  of  the  sense  of  the  inhabitants  of 
this  town,  that  inasmuch  as  we  have  uniformly  disapproved  of  the 
impolitic,  unnecessary,  and  ruinous  war  in  which  the  United  States  are 
engaged,  we  have  considered  it  our  duty  to  abstain,  and  have  scrupu- 
lously abstained  from  all  interest  and  concern  in  sending  out  private 
armed  vessels  to  harass  the  commerce  of  the  enemy,  and  from  all  volun- 
tary acts  which  appeared  to  us  to  have  a  tendency  to  prolong  the  dura- 
tion, encourage  the  prosecution,  or  increase  the  ravages  of  the  'unprof 
jtable  contest;'  that  we  have  seen  with  disapprobation  several  private 
armed  vessels  belonging  to  other  ports  taking  shelter  in  our  peaceful 
waters,  and  regret  that  we  have  not  the  authority  of  law  wholly  to  ex- 
clude them  from  our  harbor,  where  they  serve  to  increase  our  dangers, 
and  to  excite  tumult,  disorder,  riot,  and  confusion. 

"  Voted,  unanimously,  as  expressive  of  the  sense  of  this  town,  that 
private  armed  vessels,  while  cruising  in  various  climates  and  visiting 
ships  and  vessels  from  every  country,  are  extremely  liable  to  contract 
and  receive  on  board  infectious  diseases,  and  that  in  all  such  cases  there 
is  reason  to  suspect  that  such  vessels  and  the  persons,  baggage,  clothing, 
and  goods  on  board  may  be  infected  with  some  contagious  distemper. 

"  Voted,  unanimously,  as  expressive  of  the  sense  of  the  inhabitants  of 
this  town,  that  the  safety  of  the  inhabitants  thereof  requires  that  any 
private  armed  vessel  of  vessels  which  shall  arrive  or  be  bound  into  the 
harbor  of  New  Bedford,  from  any  port  or  place,  shall  be  required  to  per- 
form quarantine  during  a  term  of  not  less  than  forty  days;  and  that  the 
selectmen  and  health  committee  of  the  town  be  requested  to  cause  all 
such  vessels  to  perform  quarantine  at  such  places  as  they  shall  appoint, 
under  such  restrictions  ami  regulations  as  they  may  judge  expedient. 

"  Voted,  That  the  privateer  called  the  '  Yankee,'  now  in  this  port,  be 
ordered  by  the  selectmen  immediately  on  quarantine  ground,  to  be  des- 
ignated by  them,  for  forty  dajs. 

"Voted,  That  the  town  will  indemnify  the  selectmen  from  all  harm 
which  may  accrue  to  them  in  the  execution  of  their  duties  in  enforcing 


the  quarantine  laws,  as  well  in  regard  to  the  '  Yankee'  privateer  as  all 
other  vessels. 

*'  Voted,  That  the  following  persons  be  a  Committee  of  Safety,  whose 
business  will  be  to  advise  and  direct  in  measures  that  may  best  secure 
the  peace  and  safety  of  the  town  in  case  of  invasion  by  an  enemy  : 

"  Boger  Haskell,  Samuel  Perry,  William  Hathaway,  Francis  Botch, 
Bowlaud  B.  Crocker,  James  Washburn,  Lemuel  Williams,  Jr.,  John  A. 
Parker,  Lewis  Ludlam,  Cornelius  Grinnell." 

It  was  a  sad  war  for  this  little  community,  for  the 
commerce  of  the  country  was  swept  from  the  ocean, 
and  it  was  upon  the  ocean  alone  that  the  inhabitants 
of  New  Bedford  depended  for  support. 

The  losses  were  heavy  and  the  suffering  was  great, 
and  there  are  some  who  will  read  this  who  still  retain 
a  vivid  recollection  of  the  deprivations  which  followed 
the  closing  of  the  ocean  highways  and  cruising- 
grounds  to  the  enterprise  and  skillful  daring  of  our 
merchants  and  sailors. 

There  was,  in  the  summer  of  1814.  a  large  detach- 
ment of  the  militia  of  this  part  of  the  State  ordered 
to  New  Bedford  for  its  defense.  There  were  at  that 
time  probably  a  thousand  men  under  arms  in  the 
town,  including  our  own  military  companies. 

We  publish  the  names  of  the  members  of  the  two 
New  Bedford  military  companies  then  on  active  duty. 
This  we  have  been  enabled  to  do  by  an  examination 
of  the  rosters  of  the  several  companies  composing  the 
command  of  Lieut.-Col.  Benjamin  Lincoln,  which 
were  detached  for  service  at  New  Bedford.  The 
record  is  very  complete.  This  valuable  contribution 
to  our  local  annals  is  in  the  possession  of  the  Free 


NEW   BEDFORD. 


117 


Public  Library,  to  which  institution  it  was  presented 
by  Mrs.  Caroline  Lincoln  Whitridge,  tbe  daughter 
of  tbe  lieutenant-colonel  in  command,  afterwards 
Maj. -Gen.  Benjamin  Lincoln. 

We  find  but  little  of  incident  in  this  military  record. 
Several  courts-martial  were  beld  for  desertion  and 
other  grave  offenses.  One  poor  boy-fifer,  who  said 
be  did  not  mean  to  run  away,  was  sentenced  to  close 
confinement  during  bis  term  of  service,  and  to  have 
his  whiskey  stopped.  Lucky  sentence  for  the  boy! 
One  officer  deserted  at  the  first  alarm,  and  a  private 
fled  beyond  the  reach  of  a  squad  sent  for  him. 

Officers  of  the  Regiment. — Benjamin  Lincoln,  lieut.-col.  commanding; 
Edward  Pope,  maj. ;  John  Coggeshall,  maj.  of  art.;  Elislia  Tobey,  adjt.; 
William  Kempton,  q.m. ;  Samuel  Perry,  snrgeon ;  Elijah  Wilbur, 
q.m.-aergt. ;  Levi  Peirce,  maj.;  Ebenezer  Hunt,  maj.;  Daniel  Lane, 
adjt.  art.  All  of  these  were  of  New  Bedford,  excepting  Tobey,  Peirce, 
Hart,  and  Lane. 

In  Capt.  Reuben  Swift's  company,  formed  at  the 
"  Head  of  the  River,"  there  were  the  following  men 
from  New  Bedford: 

William  Swift,  1st  sergt. ;  Allen  Bowen,  3d  sergt. ;  and  Nathaniel 
Spooner,  Lemuel  Armsby,  Elijah  Parker,  Jr.,  Oliver  Wolcott,  Peter 
Taber,  Cornelius  Pope,  Samuel  Hammond,  William  Tobey  (3d),  Samuel 
J.  Tobey,  James  Wood,  John  Freeman,  Stephen  Wing  (2d),  James  Davis, 
Jr.,  Joshua  Spooner,  Stillman  Washburn,  G.  Weston,  Micah  Spooner, 
Jr.,  John  Williams,  Abraham  Reynolds,  Asa  Crapo,  Benjamin  S.  Hatha- 
way, Philip  Reynolds,  privates. 

This  company  was  stationed  at  Clarke's  Cove,  in 
New  Bedford,  for  the  purpose  of  forming  a  regular 
guard  around  Clarke's  Point,  from  the  Cove  to  the 
Smoking  Rocks. 

The  only  New  Bedford  men  in  Capt.  William  Nye's 
company  from  Fairhaven  were  the  captain,  Loum 
Snow,  and  James  Taber. 

Infantry  Company. — Roll  of  Capt.  Nathaniel 
Nelson's  company  of  detached  troops,  stationed  at 
New  Bedford,  ordered  out  by  Lieut.-Col.  Benjamin 
Lincoln,  June,  1814  : 

Officers. — Nathaniel  Nelson,  capt.;  Job  Gray,  Jr.  (Fairhaven,  sick  and 
did  no  duty;,  lieu  t.;  George  Clark,  ensign  .  .  .;  Benjamin  Warren,  1st 
sergt.;  Gamaliel  Hart,  2d  sergt.;  Nathaniel  Perry,  3d  sergt.;  Thomas 
Biddell,  4th  sergt.;  Charles  Hathaway,  d  rill -sergt. ;  David  Howlaud, 
James  Proud,  Robert  Tuckerman,  Charles  Covel,  corps. ;  Alansou  Cas- 
well, drummer  ;  Charles  Pratt,  fifer  ;  Abner  Suule,  captain's  waiter. 

Privates. —  David  Allen,  Joseph  Wilcox,  Josiah  L.  Bliss,  William  Tuck- 
erman, Edward  Gardner,  Willet  Seabury,  Joseph  Merrett,  Nathaniel  Bas- 
sett,  Charles  Gilbert,  Benjamin  Hammond,  Nye  Holmes,  Jonathan  How- 
laud,  Jr.,  Elisha  Briggs,  William  W.  Kempton,  James  Babcock,  Samuel 
Proud,  Josiah  Winalow,  Ivory  C.  Albert,  Uriah  Head,  Perry  Jenkins, 
Russell  Wood,  Thomas  Kempton,  William  Lane,  William  Cudworth, 
Heman  Cushman,  Oliver  Price,  Jr.,  Avery  Parker  (2d),  John  Sisson, 
Thomas  Durfee,  Stephen  Howland,  Elisha  Clark,  Moses  Washburn, 
Thomas  Bun-ell,  Charles  Wood,  Stanton  Burch,  Richard  Hill,  Stephen 
West,  Jr.,  John  Wadkins,  Jonathan  Haffords,  Benjamin  Brownell,  David 
Wilber,  Felix  Filuel,  Ezra  Hathaway,  .  .  .  Warren  Mosher,  Noel  Taber, 
John  Akin,  Benjamin  B.  Covell,  William  Bliss,  Jr.,  Michael  Randall, 
Elijah  Knap,  Tillin'ghast  Tompkins,  Elihu  Mosher  (2d),  James  Haffords 
(armorer),  Merill  Hathaway,  Israel  Smith,  Henry  Frederick,  Hampton 
Peirce,  Gardner  Chase,  Benjamin  Douglas.  Total,  seventy  ;  including 
officers. 

The  preceding  company  was  stationed  in  New  Bed- 
ford, ready  for  service  at  a  moment's  warning,  did 
fatigue  duty,  etc. 

All  the  members  of  this  company  were  of  New 


Bedford  excepting  Lieut.  Gray,  who  was  from  Fair- 
haven, Charles  Wood,  who  was  from  Dartmouth,  and 
the  last  six  named  on  the  list,  who  were  from  Free- 
town. Charles  Gilbert  was  killed  by  a  stupid  sen- 
tinel stationed  at  the  gun -house  on  Spring  Street, 
near  Sixth.  He  was  going  the  rounds  in  the  night 
inspecting  the  posts,  and,  not  answering  promptly 
the  first  demand  for  the  countersign,  he  was  shot  and 
instantly  killed. 

Artillery  Company. — Return  pay-roll  of  Capt. 
Samuel  Stall's  company  of  artillery  of  the  Second 
Brigade,  Fifth  Division  of  Massachusetts  militia,  sta- 
tioned in  New  Bedford,  and  detached  by  order  of 
Lieut.-Col.  Benjamin  Lincoln : 

Officers. — Samuel  Stall,  capt. ;  Frederick  Mayhew,  1st  lieut. ;  Haydon 
Coggeshall,  2d  lieut.;  Thomas  Earl,  George  S.Dunham,  Thomas  Martin, 
Jesse  Haskell,  sergts. ;  David  Kempton,  Thomas  Ellis,  Peleg  Clarke, 
Watson  Ellis,  corps. ;  George  Caswell,  drummer;  Russell  Booth,  fifer; 
John  Wrightington,  matross. 

Privates. — Charles  Coggeshall,  Nathan  Perry,  Lloyd  Howlaud,  John 
Heath,  Nash  De  Cost,  Martin  Hathaway,  Sylvanus  Sowle,  Ira  Caswell, 
Isaac  Kempton,  Wing  Howland,  Josiah  Smith,  Thomas  Maxfield,  Abra- 
ham Peirce,  Warren  Maxfield,  James  Cannon,  Henry  Coffin,  Bryant 
Macomber,  Henry  Place,  Jonathan  Gifford,  Avery  Parker,  Smith  Stetson, 
Griffin  Berney,  Jr.,  John  Reynolds,  Barnabas  Smith,  Ezekiel  Tripp,  James 
Howland  (3d),  Allen  Shearman,  Edmund  Jackson,  Joseph  L.  Jenney, 
John  P.  West,  Richard  West,  Isaac  Smith. 

New  Bedford,  August,  1814. 

War  of  the  Rebellion. — -New  Bedford  responded 
promptly  to  the  country's  call  in  1861,  and  on  the 
19th  of  April  of  that  year  five  thousand  dollars  were 
appropriated  for  the  benefit  of  the  City  Guards,  and 
ten  thousand  dollars  for  the  formation  of  a  Home  and 
Coast  Guard.  On  the  same  date  the  American  flag 
was  ordered  to  be  displayed  from  the  City  Hall  until 
otherwise  ordered. 

Tbe  mayor,  aldermen,  clerks,  and  treasurers  during 
the  war  were  as  follows: 

In  1861,  Isaac  C.  Taber,  mayor;  Warren  Ladd, 
James  L.  Humphrey,  Nathan  Lewis,  John  P.  Barker, 
Matthew  Howland,  William  H.  Reynard,  aldermen. 

In  1862,  Isaac  C.  Taber,  mayor;  Warren  Ladd, 
Bethuel  Penniman,  Jr.,  Nathan  Lewis,  John  P. 
Barker,  Matthew  Howland,  William  H.  Reynard, 
aldermen. 

In  1863,  George  Howland,  Jr.,  mayor;  Warren 
Ladd,  George  G.  Gifford,  Ambrose  Vincent,  John  P. 
Barker,  Matthew  Howland,  John  H.  Perry,  alder- 
men. 

In  1864,  George  Howland,  Jr.,  mayor;  Warren 
Ladd,  George  G.  Gifford,  Ambrose  Vincent,  John  P. 
Barker,  Matthew  Howland,  John  H.  Perry,  alder- 
men. 

In  1865,  George  Howland,  Jr.,  mayor;  Warren 
Ladd,  George  G.  Gifford,  Joseph  Knowles,  George 
F.  Kingman,  Matthew  Howland,  John  H.  Perry, 
aldermen. 

The  city  clerk  in  1861  and  1862  was  San  ford  S. 
Horton  ;  in  1863,  1864,  and  1865,  Henry  T.  Leonard. 
The  city  treasurer  during  all  the  years  of  the  war  was 
James  B.  Congdon. 


118 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


July  15th.  A  report  was  received  showing  that 
Fort  Phoenix,  in  Fairhaven,  and  Fort  Taber,  in  New- 
Bedford,  mounting  eleven  guns,  had  been  manned  by 
the  Home  Guard,  and  recommendingan  additional  ap- 
propriation to  maintain  the  same ;  and  on  the  29th  of 
July  five  thousand  dollars  was  appropriated. 

September  5th.  The  mayor  was  authorized  to  or- 
ganize one  or  more  companies  "  for  the  national 
army,"  the  bounty  to  each  member  not  to  exceed  fif- 
teen dollars. 

November  20th.  Fifteen  hundred  dollars  was  ap- 
priated  for  State  aid  to  soldiers'  families. 

December  15th.  Five  thousand  dollars  was  appro- 
priated for  the  payment  of  soldiers'  bounties. 

1862,  January  3d.  A  report  was  made  that  three 
companies  of  volunteers  for  three  years'  military  ser- 
vice had  been  organized. 

January  4th.  This  being  the  close  of  the  munici- 
pal year,  a  report  and  resolution  complimentary  of 
the  outgoing  mayor,  Hon.  Isaac  C.  Taber,  were  unani- 
mously adopted. 

July  10th.  Seven  thousand  five  hundred  dollars 
was  appropriated  to  establish  a  general  hospital  for 
sick  and  wounded  soldiers,  provided  the  general  gov- 
ernment should  "  decide  to  locate  one  in  this  city." 

Voted,  To  pay  a  bounty  of  one  hundred  dollars  to 
each  volunteer  who  enlists  for  three  years'  military 
service,  to  the  credit  of  the  city.  Twenty-six  thou- 
sand dollars  was  appropriated  to  pay  the  same.  The 
use  of  the  spacious  city  almshouse,  capable  of  accom- 
modating three  hundred  sick  and  wounded  soldiers, 
was  offered  to  the  general  government,  which  offer 
was  respectfully  declined. 

August  18th.  The  bounty  to  volunteers  was  in- 
creased to  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  ;  and  twenty 
thousand  dollars  was  appropriated  to  pay  the  same. 

August  29th.  Voted,  To  pay  a  bounty  of  two  hun- 
dred dollars  to  each  volunteer  for  nine  months'  ser- 
vice. Twenty-five  thousand  dollars  was  appropriated 
to  pay  said  bounties. 

October  21st.  A  further  appropriation  of  five  thou- 
sand dollars  was  made  for  the  Home  and  Coast  Guard, 
and  twenty  thousand  for  military  bounties,  which,  on 
the  13th  of  December,  was  Increased  by  a  loan  of 
twenty-six  thousand  dollars. 

1863,  February  26th.  The  City  Council  adjourned 
"  for  the  purpose  of  paying  their  respects  to  Governor 
Andrew  and  Gen.  Wool  at  the  City  Hall." 

March  4th.  State  aid  was  directed  to  be  paid  to  the 
families  "  of  colored  citizens  who  shall  be  mustered 
into  the  service  of  the  United  States." 

April  9th.  Two  hundred  dollars  was  authorized  to 
be  expended  on  the  enlistment  of  a  company  of  heavy 
artillery,  which,  on  the  21st  of  May,  was  increased  to 
one  thousand  dollars. 

July  15th.  "  A  watchman  was  discharged  for  using 
seditious  language." 

July  30th.  State  aid  was  directed  to  be  paid  to  the 
families  of  drafted  men.     "  Ordered,  That  the  bell  be 


rung  and  a  salute  be  fired  on  the  day  of  the  public 
thanksgiving  on  the  6th  of  August." 

September  21st.  The  treasurer  was  directed  to  pay 
the  treasurer  of  the  commonwealth  $15,450.68,  "under 
the  laws  in  relation  to  the  reimbursement  of  bounties." 

1864,  November  17th.  Voted,  That  the  poll-taxes 
of  the  returned  soldiers  belonging  to  New  Bedford  be 
remitted. 

1865,  January  7th.  Appropriate  resolutions  were 
passed  in  regard  to  the  death  of  Hon.  Edward  Ever- 
ett, and  ex-Governor  John  H.  Clifford  was  invited  to 
deliver  a  eulogy  on  the  life  and  character  of  the  de- 
ceased. 

February  7th.  The  mayor  recommended  the  ring- 
ing of  the  bells  and  the  firing  of  one  hundred  guns 
in  honor  of  President  Lincoln  signing  the  emancipa- 
tion proclamation. 

April  10th.  A  committee  was  appointed  to  make 
arrangements  to  celebrate  the  fall  of  Richmond  and 
the  surrender  of  Gen.  Lee. 

April  15th.  A  message  was  received  from  the 
mayor  making  an  official  announcement  of  the  death 
of  President  Lincoln,  and  a  committee  was  appointed 
to  consider  and  report  upon  the  proper  measures  to  be 
taken  in  regard  to  it.  The  committee  reported  a 
series  of  appropriate  resolutions,  which  were  adopted. 

June  22d.  Alderman  Gifford  presented  to  the  Coun- 
cil a  Confederate  flag  captured  at  Charleston,  S.  C, 
Feb.  18,  1865,  and  sent  to  him  by  Capt.  James  W. 
Grace,  of  Company  C,  Fifty-fourth  Regiment  Massa- 
chusetts Volunteers  (colored). 

New  Bedford  furnished  about  three  thousand  two 
hundred  men  for  the  war,  which  was  asurplus  of  eleven 
hundred  and  ten  men  over  and  above  all  demands.1 

One  hundred  and  twenty  were  officers  in  the  mili- 
tary service.  We  do  not  know  the  number  who 
served  in  the  navy.  The  whole  amount  of  money 
appropriated  and  expended  on  account  of  the  war, 
exclusive  of  State  aid,  was  one  hundred  and  seventy- 
seven  thousand  dollars. 

The  amount  of  money  appropriated  and  expended 
by  the  city  during  the  four  years  of  the  war  for  State 
aid  to  the  families  of  volunteers,  and  which  was  after- 
wards refunded  by  the  commonwealth,  was  as  follows  : 
In  1861,  $5091.52;  in  1862,  $25,257.29;  in  1863,  $40,- 
146.04;  in  1864,  $36,500;  in  1865,  $18,500.  Total 
amount  in  four  years,  $125,495.85. 

The  Ladies'  Soldiers'  Relief  Society  donated  for  the 
relief  of  the  soldiers  upwards  of  twenty  thousand  dol- 
lars in  money  ;  in  cotton  cloth  and  flannel,  four  thou- 
sand dollars  ;  and  in  hospital  stores  to  the  value  of 
six  thousand  dollars.  The  following  are  some  of  the 
articles  contributed  :  Condensed  milk, preserved  fruits, 
jellies  and  pickles,  farina,  maizeua,  tamarinds,  lemons, 
dried  apples,  tea,  coffee,  cocoa;  1116  bottles  of  wine, 
consisting  of  sherry,  currant,  blackberry,  and  native 


1  This  large  surplus  was  mainly  owing  to  the  act  of  Congress  passed 
Jul}',  18(34,  allowing  credits  for  men  serving  in  the  United  States  navy. 


NEW   BEDFORD. 


119 


wines,  423  bottles  of  brandy,  1130  bottles  of  black- 
berry brandy  and  syrups,  345  bottles  of  Port  wine, 
large  contributions  for  the  Thanksgiving  dinner 
and  Christmas-trees  at  Portsmouth  Grove  Hospital, 
besides  bushels  of  lint  and  bandages.  The  Society 
for  the  Comfort  and  Relief  of  our  Soldiers  in  Hospi- 
tals furnished,  among  other  things,  5904  flannel 
shirts,  3887  pairs  of  drawers,  4573  woolen  socks,  1790 
towels,  94  coats,  76  vests,  120  collars,  1000  handker- 
chiefs, 368  cravats,  314  dressing-gowns,  1836  pocket- 
handkerchiefs,  300  pants,  148  napkins,  678  pairs  slip- 
pers, 265  woolen  mittens,  542  blankets,  515  sheets, 
673  pillows,  750  quilts,  988  canes,  1280  woolen  un- 
dershirts, etc. 

The  contributions  named  above  are  certainly  re- 
markable, but  we  have  to  add  that  the  ladies  of  New 
Bedford  began  early  in  the  war.  They  held  a  meet- 
ing on  the  18th  of  April,  1861,  and  organized  for  the 
work.  Mrs.  Joseph  C.  Delano  was  chosen  president ; 
Mrs.  Lawrence  Grinnell,  vice-president;  and  Mrs. 
William  Eddy,  secretary  and  treasurer.  In  addition 
to  the  above  contributions,  five  hundred  dollars  were 
given  by  a  lady  to  pay  soldiers'  wives  for  sewing. 
They  also  sent  contributions  to  the  St.  Louis  and 
Baltimore  Soldiers'  Fairs,  and  furnished  tables  at  the 
New  York  and  Boston  Fairs. 

List  of  Soldiers  from  New  Bedford  in  the  war  of 
the  Rebellion : ' 


Z.  S.  Bearse. 
Charles  Bliss. 
James  C.  Bolles. 
John  M.  Boling. 
Joseph  P.  Bowman. 
David  Bradley. 
B.  F.  Burdick. 
James  N.  Carroll. 
Collins  Chase. 
James  Clark. 
James  Collins. 
James  Conolly. 
James  A.  Davis. 
Ezra  H.  Dexter. 
Benjamin  Dnrfee. 
John  Edwards. 
John  Flahaven. 
James  Fleet. 
John  H.  French. 
Josiah  Freeman. 
Charles  C.  Gitford. 
Samuel  S.  Gifford. 
William  Gifford. 
William  A.  Masking. 
John  H.  Hazard. 
Frederic  A.  Hathaway. 
Sanford  Jeuney. 
William  FI.  Joseph. 
William  S.  Keene. 
Alfred  C.King. 
Isaiah  King. 
Benjamin  F.  Lewis. 
John  Linehan. 
George  R.  Long. 
William  Lyng. 
Gilbert  A.  Look. 
Andrew  K.  Slack. 
Joseph  T.  Haffoid. 


David  Hammond. 
William  W.  Harps. 
Herbert  K.  Haskins. 
Samuel  A.  Haskell. 
Irving  H.  Jenney. 
Daniel  B.  Leonard. 
Henry  Lindsey. 
Lawrence  Mackie. 
Joseph  T.  Mason. 
Eben  P.  Nye. 
Albert  F.  Peck. 
Timothy  T.  Peck. 
Joseph  Parkinson. 
Thomas  Parlow. 
Stephen  R.  Porter. 
William  J.  Richmond. 
William  H.Salisbury. 
Stephen  P.  Sawyer. 
Thomas  F.  Shaw. 
Charles  G.  Swasey. 
Robert  W.  Taber. 
James  H.  Tallman. 
George  A.  Taylor. 
John  M.  Warren. 
Stephen  R.  Young. 
James  Barton. 
Bethuel  Pennimau,  Jr. 
Joseph  E.  Nye. 
Theodore  A.  Burton. 
John  H.  M.  Babcock. 
William  E.  Mason. 
James  L.  Sharp. 
Daniel  A.  Butler. 
Charles  H.  Tobey. 
James  C.  Hitch. 
William  Bamer. 
William  Hoffman. 
Joseph  B.  Holmes. 


1  Contributed  by  Capt.  Frankly u  Howland. 


Abrnm  II.  Howland. 

George  Jenkins. 

Abram  K.  Luscomb. 

John  Mitchell. 

Frederick  P.  Mosher. 

John  Muspratt. 

George  Orne. 

Samuel  G.  Peckham. 

James  S.  Quick. 

Edward  Ryan. 

Leonard  N.  Sanford. 

John  W.  Smith. 

James  Stiles. 

Sidney  W.  Teachman. 

Philip  Tripp. 

William  H.  Welsh. 

Henry  W.  Briggs. 

James  L.  Wilbur. 

Charles  West. 

John  W.  Look. 

Abel  Soule,  Jr. 

Simeon  Webb. 

William  G.  Denham. 

Andrew  Porter. 

John  L.  Flynn. 

Ira  P.  Tripp. 

Martin  Atkinson. 

Alfred  Albro. 

Luther  Atwood. 

George  H.  Allen. 

David  B.  Bacon. 

Barak  E.    Matthews. 

Charles  H.  Maxfield. 

Edward  McCaun. 

Barney  Miner. 

Caleb  P.  Mosher. 

Holder  R.  Mosher. 
John  Matteron. 

George  F.  Packard. 

Henry  K.  Paine. 
George  W.  Parker. 
Lewis  J.  Parsons. 
Charles  C.  Pierce. 
Charles  H.  Pierce. 
Lyman  C.  Perry. 
Henry  B.  Pratt. 
Silas  N.  Richards. 
Robert  Salisbury. 
George  F.  Sisson. 
William  Slocum. 
John  S.  Smith. 
Samuel  B.  Smith. 
Samuel  K.  Spooner. 
Cornelius  G.  Taber. 
Daniel  G.  Taber. 
William  W.  Taylor. 
James  G.  Tighe. 
William  A.  Tillinghast. 
George  H.  W.  Tripp. 
Sylvanus  Tripp. 
Thomas  Whitehead. 
David  Wilkie. 
Richard  P.  Stowell. 
William  H.  Ingraham. 
Jacob  Parkinson. 
Sidney  W.  Knowles. 
William  H.  Caswell. 
Isaac  A.  Jennings. 
Henry  H.  Potter. 
Thomas  J.  Gifford. 
Sylvester  C.  Spooner. 
Thomas  F.  Wood. 
George  II.  Davis. 
Charles  II .  Briggs. 
Frederic  J.  Mansfield. 
William  L   Bly. 
Joseph  H.  A.  Kelley. 


William  T.  Barker. 

Adoniram  J.  Rice. 

Charles  F.  Brayton. 

Lyman  G.  Taber. 

Edward  G.  Tallman. 

Charles  C.  Gifford. 

Charles  G.  Allen. 

Stephen  P.  Almy. 

Elisha  D.  Anthony. 

Isaac  D.  Baker. 

William  W.  Bonney. 

William  B.  Bosworth. 

George  P.  Brock. 

Charles  B.  Burgess. 

Benjamin  P.  Cassard. 

George  S.  Casnell. 

Edward  P.  Clark. 

Henry  W.  Clare. 

William  H.  Coffin. 

Thomas  S.  Dunham. 

George  F.  Durfee. 

Horace  M.  Ellis. 

John  Flood. 

Hudson  Jack. 

George  W   Jenkins. 

William  Lawrence. 

William  II.  Linch. 

John  E.  Mann. 

William  M.  Mann. 

Charles  W.  Mendall. 

Joseph  P.  G.  Munroe. 

John  M.  Mosher. 

Jacob  Peiser. 

Philip  B.  Purrington. 

William  F.  Reynolds. 

Samuel  Rigby. 

William  G.  Saddler. 

Rufus  F.  Soule. 
Samuel  H.  Spooner. 
Philip  M.  Topham. 
Edward  C.  Tripp. 
Robert  Tuckerman,  Jr. 
Samuel  J.  Watson. 
Henry  P.  Wilcox. 
William  Wilkinson. 
George  R.  Hurlbert. 
William  H.  Allen. 
Jonathan  W.  Davis. 
Frederic  A.  Plummer. 
Joseph  C.  Brotherson. 
Andrew  Dexter. 
Henry  Kohn. 
James  Weston. 
Nathaniel  A.  Booth. 
James  Burns. 
Benjamin  F.  Card. 
George  W.  Davis. 
George  L.  Durfee. 
Perry  G.  Groves. 
Francis  Herley. 
George  R.  Paddock. 
Alexander  M.  Bronnell. 
Frank  H.  Kempton. 
Franklin  K.S.Nye. 
Thomas  L.  Allen. 
William  N.  Angell. 
William  T.  Barker. 
Charles  F.  Brayton. 
Leonard  Briggs. 
Jacob  Brown. 
Amasa  Bullard. 
Edward  J.  Chapman. 
Isaac  S.  Chadwirk. 
Stephen  E.  Christian. 
George  B.  Coggeshall. 
Benjamin  B.  Covell,  Jr. 
Charles  F.  Crane. 


120 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Philip  M.  Crapo. 
Frederic  E.  Cushman. 
Charles  M.  Dedrick. 
Luke  Dexter. 
Thomas  D.  Dexter. 
Reuben  C.  Folger. 
Charles  H.  Forbes. 
Enoch  N.  Grinnell. 
Gilbert  N.  Hall. 
Walter  Hanover. 
John  Hargreaves. 
Savory  C.  Hathaway. 
Alfred  Hiller. 
Abner  N.  Howard. 
Nicholas  E.  Howland. 
William  W.  Howe. 
Joseph  T.  Haffords. 
Geo.  T.  Handy. 
James  S.  Hathaway. 
Wm.  W.  Hatch. 
Alfred  G.  Hitch. 
Charles  H.  Howland. 
Thos.  Hussy. 
Wm.  M.  Jackson. 
Joseph  H.  Kelley. 
Amos  P.  Lovejoy. 
John  B.  Manchester. 
Fred.  Mansfield. 
Chas.  H.  Negus. 
John  W.  Pierce. 
Simeon  W.  Potter. 
Wm.  I.  Richards. 
Thos.  C.  Bobbins. 
Chas.  C.  Simmons. 
Leander  H.  Swift. 
Lyman  G.  Taber. 
Thos.  D.  C.  Tripp. 
Wm.  H.  Washburn. 
Benjamiu  S.  Wilcox. 
Thos.  T.  Wood. 
Philip  B.  Pennington. 
Patrick  Canovan. 
Charles  H.  Walker. 
Chas.  A.  Gould. 
Fred.  Hoffman. 
Thos.  Lahey. 
John  Barnett. 
Patrick  Brandon 
Leander  Luce. 
Leprelate  King. 
Frederic  S.  Gilford. 
William  0.  Brighain. 
Thomas  L.  Hart. 
John  C.  Brown. 
Thomson  E.  Gummons. 
James  F.  Hoyle. 
William  H.  Knox. 
Edward  Reichman. 
George  H.  Howland. 
Theodore  P.  Cronell. 
Henry  Bauinan. 
Clarence  A.  Bearse. 
William  Blake. 
Charles  M.  Borden. 
Charles  Brown. 
Dedrick  Brown. 
Frederick  W.  Bronnell. 
George  Brown. 
Robert  S.  Carroll. 
William  Carter. 
Luther  Dennis. 
George  R.  Ellenwood. 
Charles  Fales. 
David  Fish. 
Ralph  P.  Garratt. 
Thomas  Gaylord. 
Abram  F.  Green. 


Hugo  Haase. 
Ira  E.  P.  Haskiii8. 
Samuel  Haskins. 
Charles  H.  Hathaway. 
Judah  Hanes,  Jr. 
Frederic  Heiden. 
Charles  Hines. 
George  Hoffman. 
Ebenezer  Howland. 
Frank  Howard. 
George  Lee. 
William  Burke. 
Patrick  Clark. 
John  Donavan. 
John  Gordon. 
Henry  Hammond. 
George  W.  Hathaway. 
Samuel  B.  Holmes. 
William  A.  Jenny. 
Humphrey  S.  Mason. 
Charles  H.  Oliver. 
Horatio  G.  Oliver,  Jr. 
Horace  N.  Plummer. 
Samuel  J.  Rodman. 
Charles  H.  Shaw. 
Matthew  Shea. 
Edward  P.  Soule. 
Columbus  Stowell. 
William  H.  Webb. 
William  S.  Cobb. 
James  L.  Wilbur. 
William  H.  Chase. 
Roland  W.  Snow. 
Thomas  H.  Hammond. 
William  Eld  ridge. 
George  W.  Perry. 
Thomas  H.  Denham. 
Charles  R.  Akin. 
Charles  Alger,  Jr. 
Thomas  W.  Leonard. 
John  R.  Ludlow. 
James  Matthews. 
Andrew  J.  McFaden. 
William  Mondt. 
Henry  Murphy. 
James  Murphy. 
Jerry  Murphy. 
August  Nauman. 
John  O'Connell. 
Horatio  A.  Palmer. 
Benjamin  T.  Peckham. 
William  H.  Potter. 
Walter  Powers. 
Charles  Read. 
Frederic  Ricketsou. 
Weston  G.  Sabine. 
William  Smith. 
David  Tripp. 
Holder  R.  Tripp. 
James  H.  Tripp. 
James  Harvey  Tripp. 
Henry  Walker. 
Horace  W.  Webster. 
James  Webster. 
Michael  Weik. 
Albinus  Williams. 
Edward  Champlin. 
George  H.  Chadwick. 
Joseph  W.  Clark. 
Samuel  Clark. 
Henry  D.  Crapo. 
Joseph  0.  Dickerman. 
John  T.  Drew. 
William  H.  Dunnam. 
Henry  Fitzsimmons. 
Michael  Flynn. 
Josiah  W.  Gardiner. 


William  Greeley. 
Gardner  Groves. 
Thomas  Gunning. 
William  C.  Hackett. 
Joseph  Hall. 
George  A.  Harlow. 
John  C.  Hart. 
Samuel  A.  Handy. 
John  F.  Hathaway. 
Joseph  R.  Hathaway. 
William  Hathaway,  Jr. 
Alhion  K.  P.  Hayden. 
Richard  Heyes. 
John  H.  Hodgins. 
Charles  F.  Jay. 
Benjamin  F.  Kanuse. 
Robert  King. 
George  F.  Manchester. 
David  McVey. 
Robert  Miller. 
Edward  Mitchell. 
Robert  Moncrief. 
Alexander  Moor. 
James  Nield. 
Francis  Oldis. 
Jacob  Peacock. 
Luther  Pettey. 
David  B.  Pierce. 
John  Pilling. 
Daniel  C.  Morey. 
Thomas  Daley. 
Charles  Thomson. 
Max  Eppendorff. 
John  B.  Hyde. 
Robert  A.  Dillingham. 
Henry  D.  Scott. 
Peleg  W.  Blake. 
Mason  W.  Page. 
Charles  N.  Tripp. 
Charles  H.  Morgridge. 
Ephraim  B.  Nye. 
Elisha  J.Gibbs. 
Patrick  Welch. 
Joseph  W.  Clark. 
James  Kay. 

Lysander  F.  Remington. 
Timothy  W.  Terry. 
Edward  T.  Wilson. 
John  Agen. 
Christopher  C.  Allen. 
Charles  A.  Clark. 
Anson  E.  Ferris. 
Benjamin  Graham. 
Albert  F.  Miliken. 
James  Winters. 
Charles  D.  Barnard. 
Jacob  A.  Gilbert. 
Michael  Hewitt. 
Christopher  B.  Tripp. 
James  A.  Wood. 
James  D.  Allen. 
James  W.  Baldwin. 
Lorenzo  D.  Bronnell. 
Edwin  J.  Butler. 
John  Canty. 
Daniel  Carney. 
Thomas  Carney. 
William  W.  Carsley. 
William  W.  Casnell. 
Joseph  H.  Allen. 
Daniel  Besse. 
Josiah  Wood. 
Edmund  H.  Fitzpatrick. 
Timothy  Cockery. 
George  Mills. 
Joseph  Smith. 
Michael  Bird. 


Freeman  A.  Taber. 
William  D.  James. 
David  S.  Keene. 
Ezra  K.  Bly. 
William  H.  H.  Booth. 
Ashton  H.  Hicks. 
William  Jackson. 
Henry  B.  James. 
Charles  Dixon. 
John  Shay. 
Oliver  Warrimer. 
Lewis  Hart. 
Richard  A.  Peirce. 
Otto  Bush. 
John  C.  Booth. 
Walter  T.  Wood. 
Joseph  Head. 
Henry  W.  Kennian. 
James  N.  Penniman. 
William  Hawes. 
Charles  Flewry. 
Max  Szepett. 
John  Ball. 
William  Porter. 
James  Boyer. 
James  Morris. 
Gilbert  Borden. 
Joseph  Burt,  Jr. 
William  H.  Topham. 
Samuel  J.  Blain. 
William  A.  Pinder. 
James  H.  Saxon. 
George  Shaw. 
Benjamin  F.  Smith. 
Edward  F.  Smith. 
Henry  W.  Soule. 
Stephen  Townsend. 
James  A.  Tripp. 
Lot  Tynan. 
John  Waddington. 
James  L.  Warren. 
Francis  P.  Washburn. 
Benjamin  West. 
Charles  E.  Wheaton. 
William  S.  Wilcox. 
James  Aiken. 
James  Sewall. 
James  L.  Wilbur. 
Rowland  R.  Hillman. 
Theodore  A.  Barton. 
Frank  H.  Kempton. 
Albert  C.  Wilbur. 
Charles  C.  Pierce. 
Sanford  Jenney,  Jr. 
William  H.  Chase. 
Charles  A.  Albro. 
James  Albro. 
Patrick  Downing. 
Stephen  C.  Gifford. 
Joseph  P.  Oilman. 
William  Jones. 
William  H.  Joseph. 
Gilbert  A.  Look. 
John  E.  Mann. 
Charles  F.  Purrington. 
Samuel  H.  Smith. 
Elisha  C.  Tripp. 
John  A.  P.  Allen. 
T.  Washburn  Cook. 
Edwin  Dens. 
William  Cook. 
Leander  A.  Williston. 
William  B.  Allen. 
George  H.  Chase. 
James  E.  Childs. 
Daniel  C.  Ashley. 
George  D.  Davis. 


NEW   BEDFORD. 


121 


John  F.  Rubier. 
John  H.  Lawrence. 
William  B.  Ryder. 
Clement  Allen. 
Lewis  Becker. 
Raven  Bowie. 
Josephus  Birckley. 
Edward  0.  Driscoll. 
George  F.  Gibbs. 
Charles  W.  Hyde. 
Richard  B.  Keating. 
James  Kelley. 
John  Lay  ton. 
Samuel  J.  Russel. 
Philip  R.  Simmons. 
William  S.  Tuckwell. 
Henry  C.  Russell. 
John  W.  Babbitt. 
Peter  Ferrill. 
Benjamin  F.  Lewis. 
Jethro  F.  Studley. 
Gilbert  D.  Gammons. 
James  Ainger. 
Thomas  T.  Allen. 
John  Barker. 
Henry  C.  Barnard. 
Reuben  C.  Barnard. 
Thomas  C.  Barnard. 
William  P.  Booth. 
William  Braley. 
George  E.  Chase. 
Charles  Clement. 
William  W.  Cornell. 
John  W.  Cornell. 
Alonzo  H.  Cox. 
Frederic  S.  Dalton. 
Paidon  A.  Davis. 
Jason  De  Amoral. 
Charles  Delanoe. 
Thomas  Donovan. 
John  Dow. 
John  J.  Duffy. 
Harmon  Earles. 
William  Eldredge. 
Franklin  Ellis. 
John  Fanning. 
Robert  Farmer. 
Silas  Fishlocke. 
Charles  Fuller. 
Michael  Green. 
Calvin  p.  Hammond. 
Joshua  B.  W.  Hart,  Jr. 
Charles  Harris. 
Peter  Harrington. 
William  E.  Harper. 
Joseph  C.  Haskins. 
Benjamin  l\  Danes. 
Isaac  B.  Holmes. 
Joshua  0.  Holmes. 
George  H.  Howard. 
James  H.  Hoyt. 
Charles  G.  .lav. 
Herbert  A.  Jenny. 
■•Nathan  T.  Johnson. 
John  Relley. 
John  Relley  (2d). 
Michael  Killion, 
George  A.  Wilson,  Jr. 
James  Wolfinden. 
Horace  L.  Wood. 
William  Wood. 
Benjamin  Yager. 
Peter  Zettick. 
John  Rollock. 
Henry  Taylor. 
James  H.  Wood. 
William  Darrals. 


George  H.  Elsber. 
William  H.  Welch. 
John  C  Lewis. 
William  Maxim. 
John  \V.  Chalkly. 
William  F.  Chase. 
James  Comerly. 
Herbert  L.  Ellis. 
Homer  B.  Ellis. 
Llewellyn  Fredericks. 
Lewis  T.  Gibbs. 
Lewis  L.  Gifford. 
Lorenzo  I).  Gifford. 
Perry  D.  Groves, 
Ira  E.  P.  Haskins. 
Bradford  Hathaway,  Jr. 
William  H.  Kempton. 
Henry  G.  Kenner. 
Joseph  Lewis. 
Thomas  A.  Lewis. 
William  Lane. 
Thomas  W.  Lawrence. 
John  Lowrey. 
Hiram  N.  Macomber. 
John  Martin. 
William  T.  Martin. 
Peter  Macdonough. 
Michael  McGrath. 
John  T.  T.  McRenzie. 
Albert  S.  Morse,  Jr. 
William  Mosher. 
John  B.  Peckham. 
Nath.  B.  Peckham. 
Samuel  G.  Peckham. 
Thomas  H.  B.  Peckham. 
Luther  Petty. 
Charles  E.  Phelps. 
Eli  W.  Pierce. 

Lucius  S.  Raymond. 

William  F.  Raymond. 
George  F.  Reynolds. 
John  Ricker. 

Philip  Riley. 

Charles  H.  Simmons. 

Thomas  Sutton. 

Frederic  T.  Spooner. 

Edward  G.Taber. 

William  H.  Thatcher. 

William  Thompson. 

James  Tucker. 

Alexander  Turner. 

Andrew  H.  Viual. 

Thomas  H.  Wallace. 

James  H.  Petty. 

James  Place. 

Charles  V.  Potter. 

Samuel  J.  Rodman. 

Charles  II.  Shepard, 

Sydney  M.  Teachman. 

William  M.  Webb. 

Edward  T.  Ryder. 

Samuel  E.  Hart. 

Isaac  H.  Coe. 

Silas  N.  Richards. 

Rufus  D.  Hills. 

Lucius  H.  Morrell. 

Horatio  Wood. 

William  T.  Soule. 

Leopold  Bartol 

Cyrus  A.  Richmond. 

Charles  G   Baker. 

Orville  Bassett. 

Edwin  Bryant. 

Henry  I>.  Edwards. 

Smith  M.  Lie. 

Barney  Minier. 

Joseph  W.  Robert-oii. 


Frank  M.  Rogers. 
Charles  C.  Roock. 
Albert  F.  Shaw. 
Benjamin  F.  Soule. 
Charles  C.  Swain. 
Edward  Tyrell. 
Ephraim  H.  Pinney. 
John  Hennessy. 
Edward  Barrett. 
Charles  C.  Brown. 
Andrew  Fuller. 
William  Keogh. 
Augusius  McMann. 
John  Shannon. 
John  Sheridan. 
Alexander  Young. 
Charles  H.  Addison. 
William  B.  Brown. 
James  McDonnell. 
James  Healey. 
James  Peterson. 
John  Spencer. 
Frank  L.  Hill. 
William  A.  Winton. 
Anthony  Ruthill. 
Charles  Berger. 
Henry  Brann. 
George  Dean. 
John  Holliday. 
Jacob  L.  Kuhn. 
David  Morris. 
William  McCaully. 
Michael  Smith. 
Richard  Ray. 
Alexander  Brown. 
John  Cassie. 
Theodore  Franchia. 
Edward  McGinnis. 
John  Murphy. 
James  Rogers. 
Henry  Ellis. 
Louis  Pushee. 
Francis  P.  Rane. 
Alexis  Dubril. 
John  Lombard. 
Charles  Bauer. 
John  Berg. 
Charles  Curk. 
Jeremiah  Donney. 
John  Jones. 
John  McCarthy. 
Henry  McElroy. 
Charles  Smith. 
Thomas  Stapleton. 
Benjamin  Weutworth. 
William  Flynn. 
James  Burke. 
Charles  F.  Dubard. 
William  Hunkin. 
Otis  A.  Ring. 
William  II.  Macomber. 
Thomas  Tracy. 
John  D.  Whitehall. 
Frederic  Cassie. 
William  Ford. 
Henry  Roach. 
John  Smitherman. 
John  \V.  llervey. 
Eliphalet  11.  Robbins. 
Charles  F.  I  lowland. 
John  A.  Bates. 
George  W.  Allen. 
Nathan  I>.  .Maxfield. 
George  E.  Weaver, 
('buries  G.  Wilson. 
Eden  C.  Adams. 
Francis  II.  Backus. 


Andrew  P.  Bismore. 
Charles  R.  Booth. 
Augustus  1).  Briggs. 
Henry  R.  Butts. 
James  N.  Carroll. 
William  Clymonts. 
Sylvester  Awlyn. 
Michael  Conway. 
George  H.  Coon. 
Charles  B.  Douglass. 
Lowell  E.  Edson. 
Bernard  T.  Garland. 
Charles  F.  Gifford. 
William  S.  Haskfns. 
William  Hathaway. 
William  H.  Hicks. 
Michael  Sally. 
Joseph  N.  Sanders. 
Samuel  N.  Leonard. 
Charles  A.  Line. 
Frederick  Lyng. 
William  Lyng. 
Francis  Maxwell. 
William  McCloskey. 
James  Mohan. 
Timothy  F.  Murphy. 
Joseph  E.  Oliver. 
Leander  Perry. 
Abncr  S.  Potter. 
John  H.  Richards. 
Michael  Smith. 
William  P.  Soule. 
Dennis  Sullivan. 
William  H.  Taber. 
Stephen  W.  Tallman. 
Daniel  D.  Tripp. 
Charles  F.  Tillinghast. 
Charles  H.  Tripp. 
Joseph  H.  Tripp. 
Paul  B.  Warren. 
Henry  Watson. 
James  Watson. 
William  H.  Weaver. 
John  Welch. 
Thomas  Welch. 
Charles  D.  Whittemore. 
Francis  R.  Young. 
Edward  Johnson. 
Charles  P.  Casmire. 
William  S.  Maxfield. 
Harrison  G.  Nye. 
Andrew  J.  Sherman. 
Thomas  G.  Tillinghast. 
Seth  A.  Wilcox. 
Alphonso  C.  Braley. 
Andrew  J.  Francis. 
George  W.  Hood. 
Thomas  11.  Nolan. 
William  J.  Powell. 
Almade  R.  Smith. 
William  Almy. 
John  A.  Bates. 
Charles  H.  Bouncy. 
Abraham  E.  Borden. 
George  C.  Brlghtman 
Charles  Carpenter. 
Michael  Carter. 
John  Cashin. 
Isaac  H.  Cook. 
George  W.  Davis. 
Lafayette  Dean. 
William  H.  Eaton. 
Samuel  E.  Gabriel. 
Nathan  S.  Gibbs. 
William  C.  Gidley. 
Simon  Handy. 
George  L.  Hathaway 


122 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Henry  Heintz. 
Stephen  G.  Jordan. 
John  Lee. 

Stephen  H.  Leonard. 
Square  H.  Luce. 
Simeon  Macomber. 
Daniel  McCarter. 
Hugh  McDevitt. 
Edward  Murphy. 
George  W.  Bray. 
Charles  Clarke. 
Henry  W.  Davis. 
William  Granville. 
Henry  Hester. 
Timothy  Kilbragh. 
John  Murphy. 
John  Sheffner. 
John  Sweeney. 
John  Wilson. 
Edward  Anson. 
John  Dodge. 
Frank  Green. 
John  Hartwig. 
John  P.  Vinal. 
George  W.  Howland  (2d). 
William  H.  P.  Brownell. 
Job  H.  Gifford. 
Henry  N.  Coburn. 
John  J.  Colwell. 
Hugh  McDonald. 
James  K.  Pritchard. 
Charles  N.  Wood. 
Benjamin  H.  Arnold. 
Patrick  Carroll. 
Monroe  Holcomb. 
William  H.  Heath. 
Robert  S.  Joiner. 
Michael  Leonard. 
William  E.  Manchester. 
William  F.  Peckham. 
John  A.  Keyes. 
William  J.  Slocum. 
John  Smith. 
Benjamin  F.  Soule. 
Charles  B.  Jones. 
Andrew  W.  Russel. 
Thomas  D.  Crocker. 
Eben  P.  Nye. 
George  S.  Palmer. 
Samuel  C.  Raymond. 
Edward  K.  Richards. 
Michael  Rogers. 
William  H.  H.  Booth. 
William  H.  H.  Allen. 
Edward  K.  Bly. 
Joseph  Head. 
Charles  G.  Macy. 
William  T.  Rodgers. 
William  Driscoll. 
J.  M.  Penniman. 
Thomas  Ash. 
Tisdale  Atwood. 
Edward  Boyd. 
William  II.  Coblin. 
Frank  Doyer. 
John  Doyer. 
John  Hawkins. 
John  Henry. 
Lawrence  Harding. 
George  W.  Jennings. 
Thomas  Jennings. 
Dennis  Moriarity. 
William  Newton. 
William  Olin. 
Charles  H.  Phillips. 
Thomas  Pittsley. 
Charles  H.  Nye. 


Henry  A.  Wilcox. 
Erastus  M.  Coombs. 
Frank  Andrews. 
Matthew  Baker. 
Luther  Blake. 
George  F.  Booth. 
John  Bryant. 
N.  P.  Burnham. 
William  F.  Oasside. 
William  II   Conklin. 
John  E.  Croacher. 
ThomaB  Curran. 
Frank  Davi-. 
Jacob  Doremns. 
Alfred  C.  Dunham. 
Robert  H.  Dunham. 
Andrew  Hall. 
Dudley  C.  Hathaway. 
John  Henry  (2d). 
Henry  W.  Kenyon. 
Edward  F.  Knowles. 
Albert  F.  Manly. 
John  McGowen. 
Bernard  McKenna. 
Samuel  Morrill. 
John  Mulligan. 
Francis  H.  Noons. 
Isaac  Raids. 
Thomas  M.  Read. 
James  T.  Shepherd. 
Daniel  B.  Smith. 
Francis  Spooner. 
Andrew  B.  Turner. 
Henry  J.  Williams. 
Ashton  Hicks. 
Joseph  Whalen. 
James  Bennett. 
Josiah  W.  Coggeshall. 
James  Sullivan. 
Christopher  C.  Gifford. 
Benjamin  H.  Arnold. 
Henry  L.  Bosworth. 
Thomas  Huges. 
John  Hoffer. 
John  Kelley. 
Dennis  Lourney. 
George  P.  Macomber. 
Albert  Negus. 
Alexander  Negus. 
Franklyn  Nye. 
William  C.  Taylor. 
John  Turner. 
William  Wise. 
James  May. 
John  McDonald. 
Frank  Miller. 
Edward  Pryor. 
Edward  T.  Ryder. 
Richard  P.  Stowell. 
Francis  L.  Gilman. 
Samuel  Spencer. 
John  F.  Beckdon. 
Charles  A.  Dudley. 
Isaiah  King. 
William  Leva. 
Henry  Power. 
George  Young. 
Thomas  Clymonts. 
Patrick  Burke. 
Timothy  Ingraham. 
Sanford  Almy. 
William  Ingraham. 
Cyrus  M.  Vaugn. 
John  W.  Footman. 
James  H.  Leaverns. 
William  S.  Norton. 
Louis  N.  Phillips. 


Charles  F.  Remington. 
Isaac  W.  Sekell. 
William  W.  Sekell. 
George  W.  Thurston. 
Ambrose  H.  Tripp. 
Edmund  G.  Welch. 
Horatio  C.  Wheaton. 
Frederic  J.  Wilcox. 
Zeno  K.  Wood. 
Zachariah  Booth. 
John  C.  Bean. 
Samuel  W.  Dow. 
William  T.  Gifford. 
Wilhelm  Hewer. 
Edward  Keffe. 
Daniel  F.  Leary. 
Lewis  P.  Luce. 
John  Neville. 
Thomas  Norton. 
George  Thomas. 
Berand  Van  Hamingen. 
Luscomb  Sisson. 
Edward  Stewart. 
William  C.  Sullivan. 
Luther  Nelson. 
Samson  Pew. 
Miles  Carter,  Jr. 
William  S.  Jackson. 
Edward  Gallagher. 
Michael  Coffee. 
John  D.  Denison. 
Jeremiah  Murphy. 
Thomas  Murphy. 
Thomas  Roach. 
George  Mahan. 
Charles  Marcy. 
William  S.  Sherman. 
Eugene  Sullivan. 
James  F.  Aton. 
Charles  Cook. 
Frederic  Karcher. 
Henuon  0.  Schieferdecker. 
George  Vogel. 
Henry  Urban. 
William  N.  Booth. 
Lot  Tripp. 
David  Brown. 
Alexander  Aiken. 
Daniel  W.  Borden. 
James  R.  Brown. 
John  B.  G.  Haskins. 
Hiram  V.  Howard. 
Joseph  J.  Jennings. 
George  Lucas. 
Michael  Megee. 
Edward  Murphy. 
John  E.  Murphy. 
William  D.  Perry. 
Henry  Place,  Jr. 
Albert  Shuman. 
Matthew  Smith. 
James  Smith. 
James  Sullivan. 
James  G.  Warren. 
Francis  A.  Wheeler. 
Levi  Whitcomb. 
Herbert  Handley. 
Reuben  H.  Waite. 
Joseph  Yeager. 
Frank  A.  Bemenher. 
Ezra  D.  Chase. 
Edward  G.  Gilman. 
Charles  H.  Hunt. 
George  Simpson. 
William  Breslcn. 
Albert  C.  Maggi. 
Charles  L.  Thompson. 


Joshua  B.  Bowman. 
Frederick  W.  McCleare. 
Charles  R.  Atkins. 
Joseph  Jager. 
Timothy  Corkery. 
Dennis  Donovan. 
William  Bepuhs. 
Patrick  Gary. 
James  Condon. 
Patrick  Flynn. 
John  Hogan. 
Keron  McAvoy. 
William  Roxburg. 
John  A.  Stewart. 
Charles  E.  Robertson. 
George  A.  Alexander. 
Charles  E.  Bosworth. 
Peter  Harrington. 
John  Clark. 
Thomas  Clifford. 
Josiah  W.  Coggeshall. 
William  H.  Concklin. 
John  Mahall. 
Nathan  P.  Pike. 
Luke  Miller. 
Felix  Owens. 
John  White. 
Charles  (j.  Pierce. 
Atien  Duprey. 
Charles  Fleurry. 
Joseph  S.  Howland. 
Preston  0.  Smith. 
John  Q.  Alley. 
Edward  C.  Pew. 
John  Murray. 
Cornelius  Howland,  Jr. 
Samuel  P.  Hart. 
William  G.  Davis. 
Anthony  Lang. 
Isaac  C.  Hart. 
Walter  D.  Keith. 
William  D.  Adler. 
Elishup  P.  Allen. 
Thomas  Wilson. 
John  Brown. 
George  F.  Lincoln. 
Albert  F.  Bullanl. 
Benjamin  Hillman. 
Henry  Hillman. 
David  B.  Angell. 
Edward  J.  Anthony. 
John  P.  Brenning. 
Sylvanus  A.  Gifford. 
George  E.  Hawes. 
Gilbert  M.  Jennings. 
Silas  C.  Kenney. 
Otis  B.  Phinney. 
James  H.  Albro. 
William  Bentley. 
Joseph  H.  Bly. 
William  Bosthoff. 
George  Crabtree. 
Henry  K.  Wing. 
John  A.  Wing. 
Elisha  Doane. 
James  F.  Chipman. 
Peter  C.  Sears. 
Charles  B.  Walker. 
Charles  H.  Nye. 
Israel  Smith. 
Samuel  Kerchew. 
George  Oerhlein. 
Henry  Hill. 
Thomas  A.  Cushman. 
Octavius  C.  Smith. 
James  H.  Wrightington. 
Jacob  Almy. 


NEW   BEDFORD. 


123 


Robert  Black. 
William  A.  Sweeney. 
William  A.  B.  Wilson. 
William  S.  Rceny. 
Benjamin  F.  Caswell. 
William  R  Clark. 
James  H.  Cox. 
Thomas  B.  Cowing. 
Allen  B.  Dunbar. 
William  A.  Dunbar. 
Isaac  Gifford. 
George  B.  Hathaway. 
George  Head. 
Henry  S.  Hines. 
John  P.  Wood. 
Lathrop  R.  Howland. 
Charles  F.  Jennings. 
Edward  Kelley. 
Patrick  Riley. 
Samuel  R.  Luscomb. 
James  McGowan. 
William  Oesting. 
John  O'Neil. 
Harrison  A.  Rogers. 
William  G.  Saddler. 
Samuel  H.  Taber. 
William  G.  Tripp. 
Charles  P.  Wardell. 
Martin  Waters. 
James  Y.  Williams. 
George  R.  Hnrbert. 
Preserved  Bullock. 
Thomas  S  Potter. 
Henry  J.  Rumville 
Christian  M.  Schultz. 
George  Smith. 
George  K.  Smith. 
Ellery  Bassett. 
Timothy  Ingraham. 
William  L.  Rodman. 
Thomas  R.  Rodman. 
Albei  t  F.  Bullard. 
Timothy  W.  Terry. 
Charles  F.  Shaw. 
John  F.  Vinal. 
Timothy  Ingraham,  Jr. 
George  D.  Bisbee. 
William  C.  Thomas. 
Warton  A.  Williams. 
William  H.  Gray. 
William  H.  Carney. 
Wesley  Furlong. 
George  H.  Lee. 
James  H.  Buchanan. 
George  Delavan. 
David  S.  Fletcher. 
James  H.  Gording. 
William  D.  Kelley. 
Alexander  H.  Johnson. 
Henry  A.  Munroe. 
John  Blackburn. 
Joseph  R.  Campbell. 
Noah  Craig. 
Francis  Demong. 
James  Downing. 
Lewis  A.  Teachwood. 
Joseph  Lee  Hall. 
Charles  H.  Harrison. 
Cornelius  Heneon. 
John  H.  Harrison. 
Robert  Lawrence. 
Samuel  Lav  ton. 
Joshua  B.  Bowman. 
William  G.  Davis. 
Isaac  C.  Hart. 
William  D.  Alder. 
Allen  Almy. 


Joseph  A.  Bullard. 
Edward  P.  Cowing. 
Walter  D.  Keith. 
Rowland  L.  Hillman. 
Freeman  C.  Luce. 
Alvin  0.  Smith. 
Charles  L.  Thompson. 
Henry  K.  Wing. 
Theodore  S.  Besse. 
Obed.  N.  Briggs. 
Frederick  P.  Clark. 
Charles  A.  Davis. 
George  S.  Doten. 
William  H.  Fisher. 
William  G.  Howard. 
Peleg  Macomber. 
Henry  F.  Sherman. 
Norbert  V.  Weaver. 
George  G.  Coffin,  Jr. 
David  B.  Bacon. 
John  Battles. 
James  C.  Bolles. 
William  D.  Budlong. 
John  Cambridge. 
Wright  Carpenter. 
Charles  Cavanaugh. 
Phineas  K.  Clark. 
Lewis  H.  Coble. 
Judson  W.  Daniels. 
Thomas  S.  Dean. 
Isaac  C.  Fisher. 
John  II.  Fiench. 
Charles  H.  Gibson. 
Joseph  L.  Glines. 
Nathaniel  H.  Green. 
Daniel  L.  Hathaway. 
Philip  S.  Hatch. 
Alexander  H.  Hillman. 
Charles  Holland. 
Calvin  Howard. 
William  G.  Hazard. 
Albert  P.  Jenney. 
Ezra  T.  Jenney. 
Edward  F.  Jennings. 
W.  H.  H.  Jeunings. 
Samuel  Johnson. 
Henry  G.  Kingman. 
Patrick  Lacy. 
Noah  J.  Lake. 
Henry  B.  Leach. 
George  P.  Macomber. 
John  N.Mitchell. 
Artemas  Morse. 
Patrick  Ormond. 
Isaac  S.  Peckham. 
Samuel  Pierce. 
Charles  H.  Pohle. 
Walter  A.  Potter. 
James  Ramsdell. 
Wilson  Reynolds. 
Joseph  F.  Roberts. 
Melvin  Sawyer. 
Charles  H.  Sears. 
Henry  F.  Sherman. 
John  S.  Southwick. 
Byron  Spencer. 
William  B.  Spooner. 
Benjamin  Sprague. 
George  W.  Tophum. 
Jireh  is.  Tripp. 
William  H.  Tripp. 
Charles  V  Tucknell. 
James  D.  Vaughn. 
Albert  C.  Vincent. 
Leander  Washburn. 
Joseph  Watkina. 
Isaiah  H.  Wilcox. 


Emery  Phelps. 
Robert  Stevens. 
Abrani  P.  Torrence. 
Joseph  T.  Wilson. 
John  Wright. 
Nathaniel  Wright. 
William  Cebolt. 
Thomas  H.  W.  Dadford. 
William  E.  Mason. 
Charles  H.  Tobey. 
George  M.  Jenkins. 
James  Z.  Warren. 
Stephen  J.  Griffith. 
Allen  Almy. 
Samuel  J.  Watson. 
Robert  S.  Carrol. 
Edward  J.  Chapman. 
William  N.  Angel. 
Charles  H.  Negus. 
Nathaniel  Bearse. 
Stephen  C.  Christian. 
Thomas  D.  Crocker. 
Stephen  E.  Crapo. 
Frederic  E.  Cushman. 
Amos  J.  Dunham. 
Henry  M.  Durfee. 
William  F.  Gifford. 
William  H.  Gifford. 
Franklin  S.  Gray. 
Lorenzo  Gross. 
Simeon  Handy. 
William  W.  Hatch. 
John  II.  Hazard. 
Nicholas  E.  Howland. 
Robert  B.  Hnssy. 
Charles  W.  Kempton. 
Charles  F.  Knights. 
Andrew  N.  Mack. 
George  H.  Rogers. 
Patrick  Cannavan. 
Samuel  H.  Wilkinson. 
Daniel  0.  Foster. 


Alden  B.  Hathaway. 
Charles  H.  Oliver. 
Horatio  G.  Oliver. 
John  H.  Ricketson. 
Josiah  F.  Bailey. 
Joseph  B.  Holmes. 
John  W.  Taber. 
Charles  R.  Akin. 
Martin  Atchison. 
John  Duffey. 
('haiies  H.  Benton. 
George  Duffey. 
Thomas  J.  Eagleton. 
John  Forsyth. 
John  Gallaghan. 
Franklin  L.  Hull. 
Benjamin  K.  Jenney. 
William  A.  Jenny. 
John  T.  Kennedy. 
George  F.  Manduster. 
William  H.  Maxery. 
John  Moor. 
George  T.  Parnell. 
John  Watkins. 
Nathaniel  B.  Whipple. 
Thomas  Wright. 
James  Egerton. 
James  Holmes. 
George  S.  Howard. 
Nathan  H.  Johnson. 
Nathan  J.  Knight. 
Thomas  Lapham. 
James  M.  Law  ton. 
Albert  H.  Nj  e. 
James  Ryan. 
Charles  F.  Shaw. 
William  C.  Thomas. 
Leander  A.  Tripp. 
Robert  Willis. 
Isaac  J.  Watts. 
George  M.  Jenkins. 
Augustus  L.  Marshall. 


Roll  of  Honor.— The  following  is  a  list  of  the 
names  of  the  volunteers  in  the  army  and  navy  who 
died  in  the  service  of  their  country  during  the  Re- 
bellion of  1861-65 : 

Akin,  Charles  R.,  musician,  4th  Regt.  Cav.,  Co.  B. ;  died  of  disease  Feb. 
10,  1865,  at  Fortress  Monroe. 

Akin,  James  F.,  13th  Bat.;  died  in  Chesapeake  Hospital,  Hampton,  Va., 
Nov.  12,  18G3. 

Albro,  James  H.,  2d  Regt.  Heavy  Art..  Co.  E;  died  of  fever  in  Newberne, 
N.  C,  Oct.  8,  1864. 

Aldrich,  Albert  J.,  Corp.,  30th  Regt.,  Co.  D;  died  in  camp  opposite  Vicks- 
burg  July  19,  1862. 

Allen,  Frederick  S.,  corp.,  20th  Regt.,  Co.  G  ;  died  Oct.  25,  1862.  of 
wounds  received  at  Antietam ;  grave  at  Linden  Grove  Cemetery, 
Westport. 

Andrews,  Frank,  18th  Regt.,  Co.  A  ;  died  at  United  States  General  Hos- 
pital at  Windmill  Point,  Va.,  Feb.  10,  1863. 

Baker,  Charles  G.,  1st  Regt.  Cav.,  Co.  K  ;  died  at  home  Sept.  4, 1862, 
two  months  after  being  discharged  ;  grave  in  Rural  Cemetery. 

Barry,  William  (of  Rochester?),  18th  Regt.,  Co.  C;  killed  at  Rappahan- 
nock Station,  Nov.  7,  1863. 

Bartlett,  John  E  ,  1st  Rhode  Island  Regt.,  Co.  F;  died  at  Beaufort,  N.C., 
June  29,  1862. 

Bean,  John  C,  3d  Regt.  Cav.,  Co.  C;  died  at  Baton  Rouge,  La.,  July  5, 
1863. 

Bearse,  Zaehariah  T  ,  3d  Regt.  Cav.,  Co.  I;  died  at  home  Aug.  9,  1864; 
grave  in  Oak  Grove  Cemetery. 

Bentley,  William,  38th  Regt.,  Co  H.  ;  died  at  New  Orleans,  La.,  June 
4,  l>sr,:;. 

Blain,  Samuel  J.,  1st  lieut.,  —  Regt.  U.  S.  Colored  Troops;  died  at  Flor- 
ence, S.  ('.,  about  Nov.  1,  1864. 

Blake,  Luthan,  18th  Regt.,  Co.  A;  killed  at  battle  of  Fredericksburg, 
Dec.  13,  1862;  monument  in  West  Cemetery. 


124 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Blake,  Peleg  W.,  1st  lieut.,  5th  Batt. ;  killed  near  Petersburg  June  18, 
1864;  grave  in  West  Cemetery. 

Blood,  Thompson  B.  (of  Chelsea?),  18th  Regt.,  Co  A;  died  in  rebel 
prison  at  Andersonville,  March  24,  1864. 

Bly,  Joseph  H.,  38th  Regt.,  Co.  H ;  died  at  Satterlee  Hospital,  Phila- 
delphia, Nov.  10,  1864,  of  wounds  received  at  Cedar  Creek,  Oct.  19, 
1864;  buried  in  Oak  Grove  Cemetery. 

Booth,  Charles  R. ,  3d  Regt.  Cav.,  Co.  A  ;  died  at  Port  Hudson,  La ,  of 
wounds  Dec.  2,  1863;  grave  in  Oak  Grove  Cemetery. 

Booth,  George  F.,  18th  Regt.,  Co.  A;  died  at  Hall's  Hill,  near  Washing- 
ton, Jan.  4, 1862. 

Booth,  John  O,  32d  Regt.,  Co.  C;  died  in  prison  at  Richmond,  Va.,  Dec. 
4, 1863. 

Borden,  Abraham  E.,  U.  S.  Signal  Corps;  died  on  board  gunboat  "  Sa- 
chem," Sept.  8,  1803;  grave  in  Rural  Cemetery. 

Borden,  Daniel  W.,  20th  Regt.,  Co.  D;  killed  Dec.  13,  1862,  at  Freder- 
icksburg, Va. 

Bosworth,  Henry  L.,  Jr.,  3d  Regt.  Cav.,  Co.  C  ;  killed  near  Winchester, 
Va,  Sept.  19,  1864;  grave  in  Riverside  Cemetery,  Fairhaven. 

Boyd,  Edward,  18th  Regt.,  Co.  A;  died  at  Andersonville  Nov.  14, 1864. 

Briggs,  Augustus  D.,  3d  Regt.  Cav  ,  Co.  A  ;  died  in  Camden  Street  Hos- 
pital, Baltimore,  Nov.  14,  18G4,  of  wounds  received  at  Cedar  Creek. 

Briggs,  Obed  N.,  corp.,  23d  Regt.,  Co.  D;  killed  at  Cold  Harbor  June  3, 
1864. 

Brockdon  (Beckdon  on  official  list),  John  F.,  5th  Regt.  Cav.,  Co.  D;  died 
on  board  transport  "J.  K.  Barnes"  Sept.  22,  1865. 

Brown,  Charles  A.,  alias  Charles  Besse  (of  Truro  ?),  20th  Regt.,  Co.  A; 
died  at  Danville  prison  Dec.  7, 1864. 

Brown,  George  H.,  32d  Regt.,  Co.  H  ;  died  at  Richmond,  Va.,  Feb.  13, 
1864. 

Brown,  John  C,  capt.,  73d  Regt.  U.  S.  Colored  Inf.,  Co.  G;  died  on  bat- 
tle-field at  Blakely,  Ala.,  of  wounds  received  while  assaulting  the 
enemy's  works,  April  10, 1865. 

Bryant,  John,  18th  Regt.,  Co.  A  ;  killed  at  battle  of  Fredericksburg  Dec. 
13,  1862. 

Bryant,  William  F.  (of  Rochester?),  38th  Regt.,  Co.  II;  died  at  Baton 
Rouge  Sept.  30,  1863. 

Buchanan,  James  H.,  corp.,  54th  Regt.,  Co.  C;  killed  at  Olustee,  Fla., 
Feb.  20,  1864. 

Burke,  Thomas,  3d  Regt.  Cav.,  Co.  L;  died  at  Baton  Rouge,  La.,  July  2, 
1863. 

Campbell,  Joseph  R.,  corp.,  54th  Regt.,  Co.  C  ;  killed  at  Fort  Wagner 
July  18,  1863. 

Canty,  John  M.,  5th  Batt.;  died  July  8,  1863,  of  wounds  received  at  Get- 
tysburg ;  buried  July  29,  1863,  in  Catholic  Cemetery. 

Carroll,  Patrick,  corp.,  3d  Regt.  Cav.,  Co.  A  ;  died  at  Washington  Aug. 
6,  1864;  grave  in  Catholic  Cemetery. 

Caveuaugh,  Charles,  23d  Regt  ,  Co.  D;  died  March  26,  1862,  of  wounds 
received  at  Newberne. 

Chapman,  Thomas  W.  (of  Acushnet?),  29th  Regt.,  Co.  D;  died  in  Ken- 
tucky Sept.  22,  1862. 

Chase,  Ezra  D.,  20th  Regt.,  Co.  G;  killed  at  Cold  Harbor,  Va.,  June  9, 
1864. 

Chase,  William  T.,  3d  Regt.  H.  Art.,  Co.  F;  died  at  Fort  Wagner,  D.  C, 
Dec.  10,  1864;  grave  in  Rural  Cemeterj'. 

Christian,  Stephen  C,  corp.,  58th  Regt,  Co.  E;  killed  before  Petersburg 
June  17,  1864;  buried  Nov.  27, 1864,  in  Oak  Grove  Cemetery. 

Clark,  Johnson,  asst.  surg.,  99th  N.  Y.  Regt.;  died  Dec.  9,  1861. 

Clough,  James,  corp.,  7th  Regt.,  Co.  A ;  died  in  Armory  Hospital,  Wash- 
ington, June  18,  1863,  of  wounds  received  at  Fredericksburg  May  3, 
1863. 

Coble,  Lewis  H.,  23d  Regt ,  Co.  D ;  died  at  Newberne,  N.C.,  April  14, 1862. 

Cobum,  Harry  N.,  hosp.  steward,  3d  Regt.  Cav.;  died  Nov.  4, 1863,  at 
Port  Hudson. 

Cole,  Charles  B.,  mils.,  55th  Regt.,  Co.  B;  died  Dec.  20,  1863,  at  Folly 
Island,  S.  C. 

Conly.  Timothy,  28th  Regt.,  Co.  B;  killed  at  Antietam  Sept.  17, 1862. 

Coombs,  Erastus  M.,  corp.,  18th  Regt.,  Co.  A;  died  at  Harrison's  Land- 
ing July  19,  1862. 

Corcoran  (Corkery  in  official  list),  Timothy,  sergt.,  28th  Regt,  Co.  B; 
killed  in  battle  of  Chantilly  Sept.  1,  1862. 

Crane,  Charles  F.,  3d  Regt.,  Co.  E ;  died  at  Newberne  Jan.  29,  1863. 

Crapo,  Henry  D.,  5th  Batt.;  killed  at  Bottom  Bridge,  Va.,  June  8,  1864. 

Crapo,  Stephen  E.,  Corp.,  58th  Regt,  Co.  E;  killed  near  Spottsylvania 
Court-House  May  12,  1864 ;  grave  in  Rural  Cemetery. 

Davis,  William  F.  (quota  of  Lawrence) ;  died  at  Andersonville,  Ga.,  Oct. 
28, 1864. 


Dennison,  John,  9th  Regt.,  Co.  C;  died  at  Mount  Pleasant,  Washington, 
D.  O,  Nov.  7,  1863. 

Devoll,  Charles  F.,  13th  111.  Regt.;  died  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  June  2, 
1864;  grave  in  Rural  Cemetery. 

Dixon,  Charles,  55th  Regt,  Co.  D  ;  died  at  Beaufort,  S.  0.,  June  16,  1865. 

Douglass,  Charles  B.,  3d  Regt.  Cav.,  Co.  A ;  wounded  in  action,  Plane's 
Store,  La  ,  Nov.  29,  1863;  died  next  day. 

Downing,  Patrick,  2d  Regt.  II.  Art,  Co.  E;  died  at  Newberne,  N.  C,  June 
6,  1864. 

Dunham,  Amos  J.,  58th  Regt.,  Co.  E;  died  at  Annapolis  Oct.  28, 1864; 
grave  in  Oak  Grove  Cemetery. 

Dwyer,  Timothy,  28th  Regt.,  Co.  H.;  killed  at  Fredericksburg  Dec.  13, 
1862. 

Eagan  (Akin  in  official  list),  Alexander,  20th  Regt,  Co.  D;  killed  at  Get- 
tysburg July  3,  1863;  grave  in  Rural  Cemetery. 

Edson,  Lowell  M.,  3d  Regt.  Cav.,  Co.  A;  died  at  Baton  Rouge  July  28, 
1863;  grave  in  Oak  Grove  Cemetery. 

Elliott,  Joseph,  3d  Regt.  Cav.,  Co.  C;  killed  near  Alexandria,  La.,  May 
1, 1864. 

Fitzsimmons,  Henry  (quota  of  Middleborough),  58th  Regt.,  Co.  K;  died 
in  Baltic,  Conn.,  August,  1867,  of  wounds  received  at  Petersburg, 
Va.,  April  2,  1865  ;  grave  in  Catholic  Cemetery. 

Flaherty,  John,  2d  Regt.  Cav.,  Co.  B;  died  at  Fort  Ethan  Allen,  Aug.  30, 
1863. 

Fleetwood,  Lewis  A.,  54th  Regt.,  Co.  C;  wounded  at  Fort  Wagner  July 
18,  1863;  foot  amputated;  died  in  New  Bedford  after  discharge; 
grave  in  Oak  Grove  Cemetery. 

Foster,  Daniel  O.,  q.m.-sergt,  4th  Regt.  Cav.,  Co.  B;  died  at  Deer 
Island  April  20,  1864. 

Garlick,  Reuben  A.  (of  Dartmouth?),  3d  Regt.  Cav.,  Co.  H;  killed  Sept. 
19, 1864,  at  battle  of  Winchester. 

Gibson.  Charles  II  ,  musician, 23d  Regt.,  Co.  D;  killed  on  board  steamer 
"  Fawn,"  Sept.  13,  1864,  on  Roanoke  River. 

Gifford,  William  H.,  58th  Regt,  Co.  E;  died  in  Danville  prison,  Aug.  14, 
1864  ;  grave  at  South  Dartmouth. 

Oilman,  Edward  G.,  1st  Regt.  Maine  H.  Art. ;  died  before  Petersburg,  Va., 
Dec.  15,  1865. 

Gooding,  James  H.,  sergt,  54th  Regt,  Co.  C;  wounded  and  taken  pris- 
oner at  Olustee,  Fla.,  Feb.  20, 1864 ;  died  at  Andersonville,  July  19, 
1864. 

Gordon,  Thomas  (quota  of  Cambridge),  28th  Regt.,  Co.  D;  reported  miss- 
ing in  action  May  18, 1864. 

Graham,  Edward  ;  died  at  Andersonville  Oct.  5,  1864. 

Gray,  Franklin  S.,  58th  Regt,  Co.  E;  killed  at  Cold  Harbor  June  3, 1864. 

Gray,  John  H.,  99th  New  "York  Regt.,  Co.  A  ;  died  at  Yorktown,  Va., 
Oct.  2,  1863. 

Hall,  Joseph  L.,  54th  Regt,  Co.  C  ;  missing  at  the  assault  on  Fort  Wag- 
ner July  18,1863. 

Hall,  Levi,  4th  Regt.  Cav,  Co.  C;  killed  at  St.  John's  Island  July  17, 
1864. 

Handley,  Herbert,  sergt,  20th  Regt.,  Co.  G;  killed  by  a  horse  in  Provi- 
dence Sept.  8,  1861. 

Hart,  J.  B.  W.,  Jr.,  6th  Co.  H.  Art.;  died  at  Fort  Baker,  D.  C,  Sept.  4, 
1864. 

Harvey,  George  W.,  Corp.,  33d  Regt,  Co.  I;  died  at  Andersonville  prison, 
Ga.,  Aug.  30,  1864. 

Hathaway,  John  F.,  5th  Batt. ;  died  July  14,  1863,  of  wounds  received  at 
Gettysburg;  buried  in  West  Cemetery  Aug.  5,  1863. 

Hawes,  George  E.,  Corp.,  38th  Regt.,  Co.  H  ;  died  Dec.  14,  1862,  at  Hamp- 
ton, Va. ;  grave  in  Rural  Cemetery. 

Heilman,  George,  16th  Regt,  Co.  H;  died  at  Andersonville,  Nov.  3, 1864. 

Heintz,  John  H.,  3d  Regt.  Cav.,  Co.  A  ;  died  at  Port  Hudson  Oct.  1, 1863. 

Herron,  William  H.,  3d  New  Hampshire  Regt.,  Co.  K  ;  died  at  Nash- 
ville May  24,  1865. 

Hill,  Henry,  1st  sergt.,  33d  Regt,  Co.  I;  killed  at  Dallas,  Ga.,  May  25, 
1864. 

Hogan,  John,  28th  Regt.,  Co.  B ;  killed  at  Antietam  Sept.  17,  1862. 

Holmes,  James,  58th  Regt,  Co.  H  ;  died  at  Baton  Rouge  Oct.  21,  1863. 

Howard,  George  H.,  6th  Co.  H.  Art;  died  in  hospital  at  New  Bedford 
Oct.  24, 1863. 

Howard,  Hiram  B.,  20th  Regt.,  Co.  D  ;  killed  at  Gettysburg  July  3, 1863. 

Howland,  Charles  F.,  1st  sergt.,  41st  Regt,  Co.  A ;  died  at  Baton  Rouge, 
La.,  Feb.  19,  1863  ;  buried  in  Oak  Grove  Cemetery. 

Howland,  George  W.,  capt,  3d  Regt.  Cav.,  Co.  A ;  died  at  home  June  6, 
1865;  disch.  April  11,  1865;  grave  in  Rural  Cemetery. 

Howland,  Lothrop  P.,  33d  Regt,  Co.  I;  killed  at  battle  of  Wauhatchie 
Oct.  29,  1863. 


NEW   BEDFORD. 


125 


Hussey,  Robert  B.,  58th  Regt.,  Co.  E  ;  died  nt  Nantucket  while  on  fur- 
lough, Nov.  27,  1864. 
Jackson,  William  S.,  5th  Regt.  Cav.,  Co.  F;  died  at  Clarksville,  Texas, 

July  15,  1865. 
Jenney,  Sanford,  Jr.,  sergt.,  2d  Regt.  II.  Art.,  Co.  E;  died  at  Newberne, 

N.  C,  May  4,  1864;  buried  in  Oak  Grove  Cemetery. 
Johnson,  Edward,  sergt.,  3d  Regt.  Cav.,  Co.  C  ;  killed  in  action  at  Alex- 
andria, La.,  May  1,  1864. 
Jones,  Charles,  Corp.,  18th  Regt.,  Co.  II  ;    died  in  New  Bedford  March 

31,  1864. 
Joyuer,  Robert  S.,  18th  Regt.,  Co.  F;  taken  prisoner  at  battle  of  the 

Wilderness,  May,  1S04;  died  in  rebel  prison  at  Millen,  Ga. 
Kauuse,  Benjamin  S.,  5th  Batt.  ;  killed  before  Petersburg  June  18,1864; 

buried  in  West  Cemetery. 
Keen,  David  S.,  29th  Regt.,  Co.  D;  died  at  Crab  Orchard,  Ky.,  Oct.  19, 

1863  ;  grave  in  Oak  Grove  Cemetery. 
Kempton,  Charles  G.,  38th  Regt.,  Co.  H ;  died  at  University  Hospital, 

New  Orleans,  April  25,1863. 
Eenney,  Silas  C,  corp.,  38th  Regt.,  Co.  H;   killed  at  Port  Hudson  June 

14, 1S63. 
Killian,  Michael,  6th  Co.  H.  Art. ;  died  at  Fort  Baker,  Washington,  Aug. 

22,  1864. 
King,  Leprelate,  4th  Regt.,  Co.  K ;  died  at  Brashear  City  June  11, 1863. 
Kingman,  Homy  ('.  (quota  of  Rochester),  23d  Regt.,  Co.  D;   died    in 

Libby  Prison  Aug.  6,  1864,  of  wounds  received  at  Drury's  Bluff. 
Kubler,  John  F.,  sergt.,  3d  Regt.  H.  Art.,  Co.  B  ;  died  at  Sanitary  Com- 
mission Hospital,  Washington,  Nov.  13,1864;  grave  in  Rural  Ceme- 
tery. 
Lally,  Michael,  3d  Regt.  Cav.,  Co.  A ;  died  of  wounds  at  Winchester,  Va., 

Nov.  7,  1864. 
Landers,  Joseph  N.,  41st  Regt.,  Co.  A  ;  died  at  Baton  Rouge,  La.,  March 

20, 1863. 
Lawrence.  George  II.,  3d  New  Hampshire  Regt.,  Co.  E ;  killed  at  Morris 

Island  July  27,  1863. 
Lawtou,  David,  2d  Regt.  H.  Art.,  Co.  F  ;  died  Nov.  15, 1864,  at  Newberne, 

N.  C. 
Leavens,  James  H.,  sergt.,  18th  Regt.,  Co.  A;  killed  at  Gettysburg,  Pa., 

July  2,  1863. 
Lee,  John,  41st  Regt.,  Co.  A  ;  died  at  home  June  11, 1863 ;  buried  in  Oak 

Grove  Cemetery. 
Lemunyon,  Luther  W. ,26th  Regt.,  Co.  G  ;  died  at  New  Orleans  Oct.  25, 

1863. 
Leonard,  Stephen  H.,  3d  Regt.  Cav.,  Co.  A  ;  died  Sept.  24, 1864,  at  Win- 
chester, Va.,  of  wounds  received  September  19th. 
Leonard,  Thomas  W.,  47th  Regt.,  Co.  D  ;  died  at  at  Camp  Parapet,  Car- 

rollton,  La.,  July  15,  1863. 
Lines,  Samuel,  24th  Regt.,  Co.  F  ;  killed  at  Newberne, N.  C,  March  14, 

1802. 
Look,  Gilbert  A.,  2d  Regt.  H.  Art.,  Co.  E;  died  in  Newark,  N.  J.,  June 

8,  1864. 
Louden,  Edward  (quota  of  Westport),  22d  Regt.,  Co.  G;  died  at  Ander- 
sonville, Ga.,  Oct.  11,  1864. 
Low,  Robert  A.,  55th  Regt.,  Co.  B  ;  died  at  Boston  Jan.  5,  1864. 
Lucas,  Charles  A.,  sergt.,  3d  Regt.  Cav.,  Co.  A ;  died  at  Port  Hudson,  La., 

Nov.  30,  1863;  grave  in  Oak  Grove  Cemetery. 
Lucas,  George  F.,  20tb  Regt.,  Co.  D ;  killed  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  3, 

1S63. 
Luce,  Lewis  P.,  3d  Regt.  Cav.,  Co.  C  ;  died  at  Baton  Rouge,  La.,  Aug.  20, 

1863. 
Luce,  Nathaniel  R.,  musician,  6th  Co.  H.  Art.;  died  at  New  Bedford  Feb. 

2'.'.  1864. 
McDevitt,  Hugh,  3d  Regt.  Cav.,  Co.  A  ;  killed  at  Winchester,  Va.,  Sept. 

19,  1864. 
M   I  iowau,  John,  2d  Regt.  H.  Art.,  Co.  H  ;  died  at  Andersonville  prison 

June  2".,  1864. 
Mark,  Andrew  N.,  58th  Regt.,  Co.  E;   killed  at  Cold  Harbor  June  3, 

1864;  grave  in  Rural  Cemetery. 
Macy,  Charles  G.,  18th  Regt.,  Co.  I ;  died  at  Andersonville,  Ga.,  Sept.  1, 

1864. 
Manchester,  William  E.,  18th  Regt.,  Co.  F;  killed  at  Bull  Run  Aug.  30, 

1862. 
Marcy,  Charles,  11th  Regt.,  Co.  K  ;  killed  May  6,  1864,  in  the  battle  of 

the  Wilderness. 
Marshall,   Augustus  L.,  4th  Regt.  Cav.,  Co.  E;  died  Aug.  21,  1864,  at 

Fortress  Monroe. 
Martin,  Thomas  (<>f  California?),  1st  sergt.,  2d  Regt.  Cav.,  Co.  K  ;  killed 

in  action  Aug.  27,  1864. 


Maxim,  David,  Jr.  (quota  of  Worcester),  3d  Regt.  H.  Art.,  Co.  B;  died 

in  Washington  March  18,  1865;  grave  in  Oak  Grove  Cemetery. 
Maxwell,  Luther,  8th  Maine  Kegt.,  Co.  E;  died  at  Point  of  Rocks,  Md., 

Oct.  11,  1864. 
Miller,  Luke,  20th  Regt.,  Co.  G  ;  wounded  at  Gettysburg;  died  at  An- 
dersonville Oct.  1,  1864. 
Milliken,  Albert  F., corp., 5th  Batt.;  killed  at  Gaines' Mills,  Va.,  June27, 

1862. 
Morris,  William  IL,  54th  Regt.,  Co.  K  ;  missing  since  action  of  Olustee, 

Fla.,  Feb.  20,  1864. 
Mosher,   Philip  (of  Raynham  ?),  4th    Regt.  Cav.,  Co.  B;    prisoner   at 

Gainesville,  Fla.;  died  iu  hands  of  the  enemy. 
Noland,  Joseph,  25th  Regt.  U.  S.  Colored  Troops,  Co.  H;   died  at  Fort 

Barrancas,  Fla.,  June  16,  1865. 
Norton,  William  S.,  3d  Regt.  Cav.,  Co.  A  ;  died  at  New  Orleans  Jan.  29, 

1864. 
Nye,  Ephraim  B.,  2d  lieut,  14th  Batt. ;  killed  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  March 

25,  I860  ;  buried  at  Pocasset. 
Nye,  Franklin,  3d  Regt.  Cav.,  Co.  C ;  killed  at  Port  Hudson  Nov.  30, 1863. 
O'Brien,  Daniel  (of  Boston?),  20th  Regt.,  Co.  D;  killed  at  Ball's  Bluff 

Oct.  21,1861. 
Oliver,  Charles  H.,  q.m. -sergt., 4th  Regt.  Cav.,  Co.  B ;  died  a  prisoner  at 

Albany,  Fla.,  Jan.  6,  1865. 
Oliver,  Horatio  G.,  Jr.,  sergt.,  4th  Regt.  Cav.,  Co.  B;  died  in  hands  of 

enemy  at  Wilmington,  N.  C,  March  4,  1865. 
O'Malley,  Owen,  7th  Regt.,  Co.  H  ;  died  at  Chancellorsville,  Va.,  May  3, 

1863. 
Ormond,  Patrick,  22d  Regt.,  Co.  D  ;  supposed  to  have  died  at  Anderson- 
ville December,  1864. 
Orne,  George,  3d  Regt.,  Co.  F;  died  Jan.  30, 1863,  at  Boston. 
Palmer,  George  S.,  18th  Regt., Co.  H;  died  in  Farley  Hospital,  Wash- 
ington, Nov.  14, 1863,  of  wounds  received  at  Rappahannock  Station  ; 

buried  in  Oak  Grove  Cemetery. 
Pearson,  William,  3d  Regt.  Cav.,  Co.  B;  killed  at  Jackson,  La.,  Aug.  3, 

1863. 
Penniman,  James   M.,  32d  Regt.,  Co.  G  ;   died   at   Annapolis  Feb.  26, 

1865. 
Perry,  Oliver  H.,  157th  Penn.  Regt. ;  died  June  20,  1865. 
Place,  Henry,  Vet.  Res.  Corps;  died  at.  Harwood  Hospital,  Washington, 

D.  C,  Jan.  18, 1S64. 
Potter,  Walter  A.,  32d  Regt.,  Co.  D ;    killed  at  Newberne  March  14, 

1862. 
Pugh,  Sampson,  5th  Regt.  Cav.,  Co.  D  ;  died  at  David's  Island,  N.  Y., 

Oct.  26,  1865. 
Records,  Lemuel  S.,  33d  Regt.,  Co.  I ;  died  in  hospital  at  Lookout  Valley, 

Teun.,  April  1,  1864. 
Reed,  Isaac,  18th   Regt.,  Co.  A;   died   at  Florence,  S.  C,  September, 

1864. 
Reichmann,  Edward,  Corp.,  47th  Regt.,  Co.  D  ;  died  Sept.  24,  1863. 
Richmond,  Cyrus  A.,  Corp.,  1st  Regt.  Cav.,  Co.  K  ;  died  at  home  Nov. 

1,  1862;  grave  in  Rural  Cemetery. 
Rodgers,  William  T.,  18th  Regt.,  Co.  I ;  died  Sept.  16, 1863,  at  Newark, 

N.J. 
Rodman,  William  L.,  lieut.-col.,  38th  Regt. ;  killed  at  Port  Hudson  May 

27,  1863;  buried  in  Oak  Grove  Cemetery. 
Ryan,  James  P.,  38th  Regt.,  Co.  H  ;  died  at  University  Hospital,  New- 
Orleans,  June  4,  1863. 
Sargent,  Joseph  A.,  sergt.,  3d  Regt.  Cav.,  Co.  A  ;  died  at  Annapolis  March 

12,  1865. 
Scannell,  John,  9th  Regt.,  Co.  K;  died  of  wounds  July  1,  1862. 
Sears,  Charles  IL,  23d  Regt.,  Co.  D ;  died  at  Newberne  Jan.  1,  1863,  of 

wounds  received  in  the  battle  of  Whitehall  Dec.  16,  1862 ;  grave  at 

South  Dartmouth. 
Sekell,  Isaac  W.,  3d  Regt.  Cav.,  Co.  A  ;  died  at  Chestnut  Street  Hospital, 

Philadelphia,  Jan.  12,  1865.    . 
Shepherd,  Eugene  (quota  of  Chelsea) ;  died  at  Nashville,  Ten n.,  January, 

1865. 
Shepherd,  James  P.,  18th  Regt.,  Co.  A  ;  died  at  West  Philadelphia  July 

18,  1863,  of  wounds  received  at  Gettysburg;  buried  in  Rural  Ceme- 
tery. 
Sherman,  William  F.,  31st  Maine  Regt.,  Co.  C  ;  died  at  Millen,  Ga.,  Oct. 

30, 1864. 
Simmons,  Charles  II.,  6th  Co.  H.  Art. ;  died  in  hospital  at  Clarke's  Point, 

New  Bedford,  Oct.  19,  1863. 
Simpson,  George,  20th  Regt.,  Co.  G;  killed  at  Ball's   Bluff  Oct.  21,  1861. 
Smith,  James,  20th  Regt.,  Co.  D;  died  Dec.  20,  1862. 
Smith,  Matthew,  20th  Regt.,  Co.  D  ;  died  Dec.  11, 1862,  at  Falmouth,  Va. 


126 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Smith,  Michael,  3d  Kegt.  Cav.,  Co.  A  ;  died  at  Fort  Kearney  Aug.  24, 

1865. 
Smith,  Octavius  C,  sergt.,  33d  Regt.,  Co.  I ;   killed  at  battle  of  Wau- 

hatchie,  Tenn.,  Oct.  29,  1863. 
Soule,  Henry  W.,  5th  Batt. ;  killed  at  Gettysburg  July  2, 1863;  grave  in 

Oak  Grove  Cemetery. 
Spooner,  Francis,  18th  Regiment,  Co.  A;    died  at  Andersonville,  Ga., 

Aug.  3, 1864. 
Stowell,  Columbus,  4th  Regt.  Cav.,  Co.  B  ;  died  in  prison  at  Charleston, 

S.  C,  Oct.  15, 1864. 
Swain,  Charles  B.,  1st  Regt.  Cav.,  Co.  K ;  died  at  Beaufort,  S.  C,  Nov.  4, 

1862. 
Sweeney,  William  A.,  Corp.,  33d  Regt.,  Co.  I ;  killed  at  battle  of  Resaca, 

Ga.,  May  15, 1864. 
Taber,  Samuel   H.,  58th  Regt.,  Co.  E  ;  died  in  Danville  Prison  Hospital 

Aug.  31,1864. 
Thatcher,  William  H.,  6th  Co.  H.  Art. ;  died  at  Fort  Davis,  D.  C,  June 

27,  1864. 
Thompson,  James,  13th  Batt. ;  drowned  at  Hampton  Roads,  Va.,  Feb.  1, 

1863. 
Tillinghast,  Charles  F.,  3d  Regt.  Cav.,  Co.  A  ;  prisoner  at  battle  of  Cedar 

Creek  ;  died  in  prison  at  Salisbury,  N.  C,  June  9,  1864  ;  monument 

in  Rural  Cemetery  ;  it  is  not  known  where  his  body  is  laid. 
Tillinghast,  Thomas  G.,  sergt.,  3d  Regt.  Cav.,  Co.  A;  died  at  Winchester, 

Va.,  Oct.  20, 1864,  of  wounds  received  at  Cedar  Creek;  monument 

in  Rural  Cemetery;  it  is  not  known  where  his  remains  were  laid. 
Tin-ell,  Charles  F.,  7th  Regt.,  Co.  I ;  killed  at  Fredericksburg  Dec.  13, 

1862. 
Torrence,  Abraham  P.,  Corp.,  54th   Regt.,  Co.  C;  killed  at  Fort  Wagner 

July  18,  1863. 
Tripp,  Ebenezer,  20th  Regt.,  Co.  G;  killed  at  Ball's  Bluff  Oct.  21,  1861. 
Tripp,  James  H. ,47th  Regt.,  Co.  D;    died  June  4,  1863,  at  Carrollton, 

La. 
Tripp,  Jireh  B.,  23d  Regt.,  Co.  D;  died  in  Libby  Prison,  Richmond,  Va., 

Oct.  14,1864. 
Tripp,  Leander  A.,  sergt.,  38th  Regt.,  Co.  H;  died  June  30,  1864,  at  Mor- 
gan za,  La. 
Tripp,  William  H.,  23d  Regt.,  Co.  D;  killed  before  Petersburg  Aug.  16, 

1864;  grave  in  Rural  Cemetery. 
Truckwell,  Charles  F.,  23d  Regt.,  Co.  D ;  died  at  Newberne  May  9, 1862 ; 

grave  in  West  Cemetery. 
Turner,  Treadwell,  54th  Kegt.,  Co.  C;  killed  at  Fort  Wagner  July  18, 

1863. 
Urban,  Henry,  20th  Regt.,  Co.  C;  died  Jan.  7,  1865. 
Viall,  George  M.  (of  Providence?),  41st  Regt.,  Co.  A;   died  at  Baton 

Rouge  May  15,  1863. 
Watson,  Samuel  J.,  2d  lieut.,  58th  Regt.,  Co.  E;  died  at  home  Dec.  11, 

1864,  from  want  and  exposure  in  Danville  prison,  Va.;    grave  in 

Rural  Cemetery. 
Weaver,  Norbert  V.,  33d  Regt.,  Co.  D  ;  mortally  wounded  at  Cold  Harbor 

June  3,  1864;  monument  in  Rural  Cemetery. 
Welsh,  Edmund  G.,  3d  Regt.  Cav.,  Co.  A  ;  killed  at  battle  of  Cedar  Creek, 

Va.,  Oct.  19,  1864. 
Welsh,  William  H.,  3d  Regt.  H.  Art.,  Co.  D;  died  at  Gallop's  Island, 

Boston  Haibor,  Sept.  15,  1865;  grave  in  Catholic  Cemetery. 
Whalon,  Joseph,  18th  Regt.,  Co.  B;  died  May  6,  1862,  at  York  town,  Va. 
Whitehall,  John  D.,  2d  Regt.  Cav.,  Co.  I;  died  at  Gloucester  Point,  Va., 

March  31,1863. 
Whitman,  Onley  A.,  7th  R.  I.  Regt.,  Co.  I;  died  at  Baltimore  March  30, 

1863;  grave  in  West  Cemetery. 
Wilcox,  Seth  A.,  sergt.,  3d  Regt.  Cav.,  Co.  A  ;  died  at  home  May  30, 1864  ; 

grave  in  Oak  Grove  Cemetery. 
Wilcox,  William  S.,  5th  Batt.;  died  Nov.  28, 1S62,  at  Falmouth,  Va. 
Williams,  Henry  J.,  18th  Regt.,  Co.  A  ;  died  at  Sharpsburg,  Md.,  Oct.  17, 

1862. 
Williams,  William  (quota  of  Belmont),  55th  Regt.,  Co.  K  ;  died  at  regi- 
mental hospital,  Folly  Island,  S.  C,  Aug.  19,  1S64. 
Williston,  William  H.,  21st  Regt.,  Co.  C;  killed  at  Newberne,  N.  C, 

March  14, 1862. 
Wing,  John  A.,  33d  Regt.,  Co.  D ;  missing  in  action  May  16, 1864. 
Winn,  Hugh  (of  Fall  River?),  4th  Regt.  Cav.,  Co.  B ;  died  at  Florence, 

S.  C. 
Wood,  Horatio,  q.m.-sergt.,  1st  Regt.  Cav.;  died  on  board  steamer  "Er- 
icsson" June  25,  1862. 
Wordell,  Charles  P.,  58th  Regt.,  Co.  E;  died  in  Douglas  Hospital,  Wash- 
ington, Aug.  'Al,  1864,  of  wounds  received  at  the  assault  upon  Peters- 
burg July  30,  1864. 


Young,  Angus  W.,  18th  Regt.,  Co.  D  ;  killed  at  Fredericksburg  Dec.  13, 

1862. 
Young,  Nathan  L.,  54th  Regt.,  Co.  C ;  wounded  at  Fort  Wagner  July  18, 

1863;  died  at  Beaufort,  S.  C,  next  day. 

Seamen. 

Almy,  Thomas,  acting  master's  mate,  steamer  "  Wachusett ;"  killed  at 

City  Point,  Va.,  May  20,  1862. 
Andrews,  Manuel,  died  in  Marine  Hospital,  Chelsea,  Sept.  11,  1861. 
Avila,  Elisha  N.  (quota  of  Boston),  steamer  "Benton;"  killed  at  Fort 

Douelson  Feb.  14,  1862 
Bly,  Horatio  T.,  steamer  "St.  Louis  ;"  died  of  wounds  Oct.  17,  1862. 
Boakim,  Emanuel,  steward  ;  killed  Aug.  5,  1864. 
Cornell,  John  M.,  steamer  "  Mound  City  ;"  died  March  16,  1864. 
Coxen,  Edward  M.,  died  of  wounds  July  24,  1863. 
Dandridge,  Andrew,  cook ;  died  of  disease  March  19,  1862. 
Francis,  Isaac,  Jr.,  acting  ensign,  schooner  "Matthew  Vassar;"  died 

May  18,  1863. 
Frates,  Antone,  killed  June  2,  1862. 

Fuller,  James,  frigate  "Congress;"  drowned  in  Hampton  Roads. 
Gifford,  Charles  R.,  killed  at  Brooklyn  Navy-Yard  June  20,  1862. 
Gifford,  David  S.,  died  of  disease  Feb.  14,  1862. 
i  lould,  John,  steamer  "  Herald  ;"  killed  Oct.  25,  1863. 
Handy,  Joshua  J.,  steamer  "Augusta;"  died  1862. 
Harrington,  Jeremiah,   steamer  "  Rattler ;"   died    of   gunshot-wounds 

March  19,  1863. 
Howes,  Alphouso  S.,  gunboat  "  Sagamore  ;"  died  of  disease  Sept.  22, 1865, 

at  Marine  Hospital,  Baltimore. 
Hullahan,  Thomas  (quota  of  Chelsea),  died  of  disease  at  New  Orleans 

July  24, 1862. 
Jenney,  James  T.,  steamer  "  Twilight ;"  died  of  disease  March  20, 1863, 

at  Beaufort,  N.  C;  grave  in  West  Cemetery. 
Kemp  ton,  Silas  W.,  acting  master's  mate,  steamer  "Santiago  de  Cuba;" 

lost  overboard  in  Chesapeake  Bay  March  23,  1865. 
Louis,  John,  died  June  12,  1863. 
Lucius,  Juan,  died  at  Brooklyn  May  19,  1865. 
McCarty,  John,  died  of  disease  Dec.  8,  1862. 
Milan,  Michael,  frigate"  Congress;"  killed  in  Hampton  Roads  March  17, 

1862. 
Milliken,  Charles  E.,  first-class  boy,  killed  in  Mobile  Bay  Aug.  25,  1864. 
Mullany,  Philip,  died  from  casualty  Jan.  26,  1864. 
Nugent,  Robert  N.,  died  at  <  lharleston,  S.  C,  Dec.  6,  1863. 
O'Neil,  Cornelius,  lost  in  steamer  "Cincinnati"  March  27,  1863. 
Ottiwell,  Nathaniel  D,  acting  master's  mate,   steamer   "Cambridge;" 

died  off  Cape  Lookout  Sept.  27,  1861;  buried  at  sea;  monument  in 

Rural  Cemetery. 
Parnell,  James  E.,  steamer  "  Romeo;"  died  Aug  13,  1863,  on  board  hos- 
pital-ship "  Red  Rover." 
Peirce,  John  A.,   perished  on  board   the   "  Cumberland"   in    Hampton 

Roads,  March  8,  1862;  grave  in  Kural  Cemetery. 
Phillips,  Edward,  died  in  Marine  Hospital,  Chelsea,  Dec.  19,  1861. 
Rogers,  Reuben  G.,  died  of  disease  Sept.  20,  1862. 
Scott,  John,  died  of  disease  Nov.  20,  1861. 
Standish,  William  D.,  steamer  "  Meteor,"'  died  Oct.  1,  1864. 
Taber,  Daniel  G.,  blown  up  in  the  "  Tecumseh,"  in  Mobile  Bay,  Aug.  5, 

1864. 
Taber,  John  O,  first-class  boy  ship  "  Ohio  ;"  died  of  disease  May  8,  1864  ; 

grave  in  Rural  Cemetery. 
Thompson,  William,  died  May  27,  1863. 
Warren,  Alvern  S.,  steamer  "Santiago  de  Cuba;"   died  of  wounds  at 

Norfolk,  Va.,  June  18, 1865. 
West,  William  A.,  died  April  15,  1863. 
Wordell,  Gardner  R.,  steamer  "  Southfield  ;''  drowned  April  19, 1864. 

Soldiers'  and  Sailors'  Monument.— The  monu- 
ment erected  by  the  city  of  New  Bedford  in  memory 
of  her  citizens  who  perished  in  the  Rebellion  occupies 
a  prominent  situation  upon  the  common. 

It  is  a  beautiful  and  appropriate  structure.  Of  the 
many  erections  of  this  character  that  the  gratitude  of 
the  living  has  raised  to  commemorate  the  patriotism 
of  the  dead,  few  can  be  found  more  tasteful  and  ap- 
propriate in  design  or  more  perfect  in  execution. 

The  monument  was  designed  and  contracted  for  by 
George  F.  Meacham,  of  Boston. 


# 


yls. 


c 


NEW   BEDFORD. 


127 


The  inscriptions  upon  the  base  are  as  follows  : 

North  Side. 
"  Navy." 

East  Side. 
"  Erected  by  tin-  i  'ity  nf  New  Bedford,  as  a  tribute  of  gratitude  to  lier 
6ons  who  fell  defending  their  Country  in  its  struggle  with 
Slavery  aud  Treason." 

South  Side. 
"  Army." 

West  Side. 
"  Dedicated  July  4, 1866." 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


JOHN    AVERY    PARKER. 

John  Avery  Parker  was  born  in  the  town  of  Plymp- 
ton,  Plymouth  Co.,  Mass.,  Sept.  25,  1769,  and  died  at 
his  residence  in  New  Bedford,  Mass.,  Dec.  30,  1853. 
He  was  a  lineal  descendant  in  the  sixth  generation 
from  William  Parker,  who  came  from  England  and 
was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Scitnate,  Mass.  In 
September,  1640,  a  grant  was  obtained  for  the  settle- 
ment of  3Iattakeese,  Mass.,  and  in  October  of  that 
year  William  Parker,  in  company  with  many  others 
from  Scituate,  settled  there.  He  finally  located  at 
Falmouth,  Mass.,  where  he  continued  to  reside  until 
his  death.  He  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Humphrey 
Turner,  Nov.  13, 1651,  and  left  several  sons,  of  whom 
Robert  Parker  was  one,  and  one  or  more  daughters. 

Robert  Parker  married  Patience  Cobb  in  1667,  and 
had  children,  viz.:  (1)  Thomas,  born  Aug.  24,  1669; 
Daniel,  born  April  18,  1670;  Joseph,  born  1671  (see 
biography  of  Ward  M.  Parker,  of  New  Bedford); 
Benjamin,  born  March  15,  1673-74;  Hannah,  born 
1676;  Elisha,  April,  1680;  and  Alice,  Sept.  15,  1681. 

Daniel  Parker,  of  Barnstable,  married  Mary  Loin- 
bard,  Dec.  11,  1689.  Their  children  were  Daniel, 
Nehemiah,  Samuel,  Jonathan,  David,  Temperance, 
Rebecca,  and  Mary.  Daniel  Parker  was  a  prominent 
man  in  Barnstable,  and  was  known  as  Judge  Parker. 
He  died  Dec.  23,  1728. 

Rev.  Jonathan  Parker,  fourth  son  of  Judge  Daniel 
Parker,  was  born  in  Barnstable  in  1706,  and  died  at 
Plympton,  April  24,  1776.  He  was  graduated  from 
Cambridge  College,  aud  was  ordained  in  the  ministry 
Dec.  22,  1731.  He  continued  to  preach  with  great 
acceptance  until  his  death. 

He  was  the  second  minister  at  Plympton,  Mass.,  a 
man  of  more  than  ordinary  ability,  and  was  particu- 
larly gifted  in  prayer.  He  married  Ruth,  daughter 
of  the  Rev.  John  Avery,  of  Truro,  Mass.,  in  1732-33. 

Mrs.  Ruth  Parker  died  in  Plympton,  May  17,  1745, 
aged  thirty  years.  Of  this  anion  were  born  Ruth, 
Jonathan,  John  Avery,  Elizabeth,  and  Avery. 

Rev.  Jonathan  Parker  married  for  his  second  wife 
Lydia,  daughter  of  Joseph  Bartlett,  of  Plymouth. 
She  was  born  Dec.  30,  1722.  Their  children  were 
Daniel,  Lydia,  Joseph,  Betty,  Molly,  Thaddeus,  Jer- 


usha,  and  Harmony.     Mrs.  Lydia  Parker  died  Aug. 
31,  1796. 

Jonathan  Parker,  Jr.,  son  of  Rev.  Jonathan  and 
Ruth  Parker,  was  born  in  Plympton,  Mass.,  Aug.  16. 
1736.  Married,  Dec.  5,  1765,  Abigail,  daughter  of 
Dr.  Pollycarpus  and  Mary  Loring.  She  was  born 
Feb.  16,  1742-43.  Their  children  were  Oliver,  Polly- 
carpus,  John  Avery  (the  immediate  subject  of  this 
sketch),  Ruth,  Jonathan,  Jacob,  and  Abigail.  Mr. 
Parker,  while  playing  with  his  brother  Avery,  had  a 
knife  accidentally  thrust  into  one  of  his  eyes  when 
twelve  years  of  age,  and  in  due  time  lost  the  use  of 
his  other  eye  and  was  totally  blind  for  many  years 
before  his  death. 

He  continued  a  resident  of  Plympton,  Mass.,  where 
he  died  Sept.  1,  1822.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
church  at  Plympton,  and  was  universally  respected. 
His  wife,  Abigail,  died  at  Plympton,  March  23,  1840, 
in  the  ninety-eighth  year  of  her  age.  At  the  time  of 
her  death  she  was  the  oldest  person  in  Plympton,  and 
next  to  the  oldest  that  ever  lived  there,  Mrs.  Abigail 
Bryant  being  older. 

John  Avery  Parker6  (Jonathan,  Jr.5,  Jonathan4, 
Daniel3,  Robert2,  William1)  had  very  limited  advan- 
tages for  an  education,  but  what  he  had  he  improved, 
and  by  reading  and. reflection  was  well  informed  in 
the  current  events  of  his  day.  At  an  early  age  he 
showed  signs  of  financial  ability,  and  manifested  a 
strong  desire  to  engage  in  some  active  business,  hence 
began  merchandising.  In  1795  he  formed  a  copart- 
nership with  Lemuel  Milke,  of  Westport,  Mass.,  who 
was  engaged  in  building  vessels  for  the  merchant 
service.  The  firm  was  known  as  Milke  &  Parker. 
About  1803  they  dissolved  partnership,  when  Mr. 
Parker  moved  to  New  Bedford,  and  located  on  Middle 
or  Bridge  Streets,  at  the  head  of  North  Water,  where 
he  continued  to  reside  until  he  built  his  own  resi- 
dence, which  was  in  1841  refitted  and  enlarged  for  a 
hotel,  and  has  since  been  known  as  the  Parker 
House.  In  1834  he  built  his  palatial  residence  on 
County  Street,  where  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his 
life.  While  living  in  New  Bedford  Mr.  Parker  con- 
tinued to  build  merchant  vessels,  at  Hick's  Bridge, 
some  three  or  four  miles  from  Westport,  under  the 
supervision  of  his  brother-in-law,  Levi  Standish. 
Among  the  vessels  built  there  were  the  "  Phoanix  " 
"  W.  L.  Packet,"  and  "  Victory."  At  and  near  New 
Bedford  he  built  the  "Young  Phcenix,"  for  his  son- 
in-law,  Joseph  Dunbar;  the  "  Averick,"  "Parker," 
"Lalla  Rookh,"  "Alexander  Barclay,"  "Averick 
Heineken,"  and  many  others.  These  ships  were  used 
in  the  merchant  service  until  they  were  fitted  for  the 
whaling  business.  About  1823  he  purchased  a  half 
interest,  with  Messrs.  Seth  and  Charles  Russell,  in  the 
property  now  known  as  Parker's  wharf,  and  subse- 
quently bought  their  interest.  In  1833  he  built  his 
brick  block,  now  known  as  Parker's  block.  Durino- 
the  war  of  1812-15  he  organized  a  company  for  the 
defense  of  New  Bedford,  and  was  its  captain. 


128 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


The  Merchants'  Bank,  now  the  Merchants'  National 
Bank,  was  established  in  1825,  and  he  was  its  first 
president,  which  position  he  held  until  his  death. 
He  owned  and  personally  superintended  a  cotton- 
mill  in  his  native  town  (Plympton),  beside  having 
an  interest  in  other  cotton-mills  at  home  and  abroad. 

Mr.  Parker  was  president  and  owner  of  the  Lionet 
Iron  Mills  at  Wareham,  Mass.,  which  were  subse- 
quently known  as  the  "  Parker  Mills." 

In  politics  he  was  a  Whig,  and  as  such  represented 
his  senatorial  district  in  the  Legislature  in  1826-27, 
and  was  instrumental  in  getting  the  county  divided, 
and  having  a  court-house  and  jail  located  here.  He 
was  a  liberal  supporter  of  the  North  Congregational 
Church  of  New  Bedford. 

From  the  pen  of  another  we  quote  the  following, 
with  a  few  changes  :  Mr.  Parker  accumulated  a  large 
fortune,  which  was  variously  invested,  as  there  was 
hardly  any  branch  of  commerce  or  of  manufacture  in 
which  he  was  not  interested.  As  a  shrewd  and  ener- 
getic business  man,  Mr.  Parker  had  few  equals,  and 
was  among  the  first  merchants  in  New  Bedford  to  set 
the  wise  example  of  engaging  in  other  enterprises 
than  the  principal  one  of  this  city  at  that  time.  The 
large  operations  in  which  he  engaged  required  excel- 
lent judgment  and  foresight,  and  that  he  possessed 
those  qualities  in  no  slight  degree  is  proved  by  the 
almost  uniform  success  which  attended  his  transac- 
tions. 

At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  president  of  the 
Merchants'  Bank  in  this  city,  having  served  gratui- 
tously from  the  commencement  of  the  corporation,  a 
period  of  twenty-eight  years. 

Possessed  of  such  ample  means,  it  was  in  the  power 
of  Mr.  Parker  very  often  to  assist  those  who  were 
just  starting  in  business,  or  who  had  met  with  disap- 
pointment in  their  affairs.  We  believe  it  is  within 
the  personal  knowledge  of  many  that  this  assistance 
was  often  and  cheerfully  rendered,  and  that  too,  some- 
times, when  the  relief  thus  extended  was  not,  per- 
haps, strictly  within  the  limits  of  an  over-cautious 
prudence. 

Mr.  Parker  was  one  of  the  earliest  supporters  of 
common  schools,  and,  though  under  the  district  sys- 
tem he  was  heavily  taxed  for  their  support,  he 
always  met  the  obligation  thus  imposed  upon  him 
with  cheerfulness.  Mr.  Parker  was  one  of  the  most 
prominent  representatives  of  our  wealth,  and  most 
intimately  connected  with  the  prosperity  of  the  city. 

Samuel  Rodman,  Isaac  and  Gideon  Howland,  Wil- 
liam Rotch,  Jr.,  George  Howland,  and  John  Avery 
Parker  will  long  be  remembered  as  men  whose  energy, 
enterprise,  and  success  rendered  them  conspicuous  in 
the  commercial  affairs  of  New  Bedford,  and  whose 
industry  and  skill  accumulated  fortunes  of  no  ordi- 
nary magnitude. 

John  Avery  Parker  married  Averick,  daughter  of 
Shadrach  and  Mary  Standish,  of  Plympton,  Feb.  28, 
1788.     She  was  born  May  2,  1772,  and  died  May  11, 


1847.  Their  children  were  (1)  Ruth,  who  married 
William  H.  Allen,  of  New  Bedford.  She  died  Feb- 
ruary, 1837,  and  left  children.  (2)  Avery,  lost  at  sea 
January,  1815,  left  no  children.  (3)  Mary,  who  mar- 
ried Francis  Howland,  of  New  Bedford.  She  died 
Aug.  18,  1856,  and  left  children.  (4)  Sarah,  who 
married  Capt.  Joseph  Dunbar.  She  died  Jan.  12, 
1847,  and  left  children.  (5)  Jonathan,  died  July  18, 
1806,  in  his  fourth  year.  (6)  Betsey,  married  Timothy 
G.  Coffin,  died  Nov.  24,  1858,  and  left  children. 
(7)  Frederick,  married  Abbie  Coggeshall.  He  was 
accidentally  poisoned,  and  died  from  its  effects  Oct. 
21,  1861,  aged  fifty-five  years.  (8)  Averick  Standish, 
married  Christian  A.  Heineken,  and  now  resides  in 
Bremen,  Germany,  and  has  children.  (9)  Jane  Stan- 
dish, married,  first,  Harrison  G.  O.  Colby  (deceased), 
by  whom  she  had  children.  She  married,  second, 
Rev.  Thomas  R.  Lambert,  and  had  one  son.  (10)  Ann 
Avery,  married,  first,  Thomas  C.  Lothrop  (deceased), 
by  whom  she  had  three  children,  two  of  whom  are 
living.  She  married,  second,  William  F.  Dow,  by 
whom  she  had  one  daughter  (deceased).  (11)  John, 
who  died  Jan.  18,  1836.  There  were  two  other  chil- 
dren who  died  young. 

Mrs.  John  Avery  Parker  was  a  direct  descendant 
from  the  historic  and  ever  to  be  remembered  Miles 
Standish,  who  was  born  in  Lancashire,  England,  in 
1584.  He  was  of  a  family  of  note,  among  which  were 
a  number  of  knights  and  bishops,  and,  it  is  said,  was 
an  heir  to  a  large  estate,  which  he  himself  says  "was 
surreptitiously  detained  from  him."  He  served  in 
the  Low  Countries  as  an  officer  in  the  armies  of  Queen 
Elizabeth  when  commanded  by  her  favorite,  the  Earl 
of  Leicester.  What  induced  him  to  connect  himself 
with  the  Pilgrims  does  not  appear.  He  took  up  his 
residence  among  them  at  Leyden,  but  never  joined 
their  church. 

He  arrived  in  the  "Mayflower,"  and  lost  his  wife 
soon  after ;  he,  however,  married  again  in  1621.  He 
was  elected  the  first  military  commander  of  the 
colony.  He  went  out  as  agent  of  the  colony  (1625) 
to  England,  and  resided  in  London  at  the  very  period 
when  -the  pride  of  the  Queen  of  Cities  was  laid  in  the 
dust  and  naught  was  heard  in  the  streets  but  wailing 
and  lamentation, — it  was  at  the  time  of  the  last  and 
most  deadly  plague.  Being  an  accurate  surveyor,  he 
was  generally  on  the  committees  for  laying  out  new 
towns.  He  was  always  the  military  commander,  and 
always  of  the  council  of  war,  generally  an  assistant, 
sometimes  first  assistant  or  Deputy  Governor  and 
treasurer. 

Standish  was  a  man  of  small  stature,  of  a  fiery  and 
quick  temper,  and  never  did  a  human  form  inclose  a 
more  intrepid  spirit.  Dangers  from  which  all  other 
men  would  have  shrunk  were  with  him  only  an  in- 
centive to  enterprise.  He  asked  only  eight  men  to 
subdue  all  the  Indians  of  Massachusetts.  Alone  he 
took  from  the  trembling  hand  of  the  profligate  and 
turbulent  Morton  his  loaded  musket,  and  compelled 


NEW   BEDFORD. 


129 


him  to  yield  when  he  was  surrounded  by  his  whole 
company,  and  had  boasted  that  he  never  would  be 
taken  alive.  He  did  not  stand  aside  to  command 
others  to  do  the  work  of  death,  but  engaged  in  deadly 
conflicts,  the  fate  of  which  rested  upon  the  powers  of 
the  contending  individuals. 

Standi sh  was  the  father  and  founder  of  Duxbury, 
which  he  named  from  the  seat  of  his  family  in  Lan- 
cashire, which,  as  late  as  1707,  was  the  residence  of 
Sir  Thomas  Standish. 


HON.  HENRY    HOWLAND    CRAPO. 

Prominent  among  the  sons  of  this  old  common- 
wealth who  without  inherited  aid  have  risen  from 
the  humble  ranks  of  life  to  distinguished  positions 
stands  Henry  Howland  Crapo,  Governor  of  Michigan 
from  1865  to  1869.  He  was  born  in  Dartmouth, 
Mass..  May  24,  1804,  and  was  the  eldest  son  of  Jesse 
and  Phrebe  (Howland)  Crapo.  His  father  was  of 
French  descent,  and  was  very  poor,  sustaining  his 
family  by  the  cultivation  of  a  farm  which  yielded 
nothing  beyond  a  mere  livelihood.  His  early  life 
was  consequently  one  of  toil,  and  devoid  of  advan- 
tages for  intellectual  culture,  but  his  desire  for  an 
education  seemed  to  know  no  bounds.  The  incessant 
toil  for  a  mere  subsistence  upon  a  comparatively 
sterile  farm  had  no  charms  for  him,  and  longing  for 
greater  usefulness  and  better  things,  he  looked  for 
them  in  an  education.  His  struggles  to  secure  this 
end  necessitated  sacrifices  and  hardships  that  would 
have  discouraged  any  but  the  most  courageous  and 
persevering.  He  became  an  ardent  student  and 
worker  from  boyhood,  though  the  means  of  carrying 
on  his  studies  was  exceedingly  limited. 

He  sorely  felt  the  need  of  a  dictionary,  and  neither 
having  money  wherewith  to  purchase  it  nor  being 
able  to  procure  one  in  his  neighborhood,  he  set  to 
work  to  compile  one  for  himself.  In  order  to  acquire 
a  knowledge  of  the  English  language  he  copied  into 
a  book  every  word  whose  meaning  he  did  not  com- 
prehend, and  upon  meeting  the  same  word  again  in 
the  newspapers  and  books  which  came  into  his  hands 
would  study  out  its  meaning  from  the  context,  and 
then  record  the  definition.  When  unable  otherwise 
to  obtain  the  signification  for  a  word  in  which  he  had 
become  interested,  he  would  walk  from  Dartmouth  to 
New  Bedford  for  that  purpose  alone,  and  after  referring 
to  the  books  at  the  library  and  satisfying  thoroughly 
as  to  its  definition,  would  walk  back,  a  distance  of 
about  seven  miles,  the  same  night.  This  was  no 
unusual  occurrence. 

Under  such  difficulties,  and  in  this  manner,  he  com- 
piled quite  an  extensive  dictionary  in  manuscript. 
Ever  in  the  pursuit  of  knowledge,  he  obtained  a  book 
upon  surveying,  and  applying  himself  diligently  to  its 
study,  became  familiar  with  the  theory  of  this  art, 
which  he  soon  had  an  opportunity  to  practice.  The 
services  of  a  land  surveyor  were  wanted,  and  he  was 
9 


called  upon,  but  had  no  compass  and  no  money  to 
purchase  one.  A  compass,  however,  he  must  and 
would  have,  and  going  to  a  blacksmith's  shop  near 
at  hand,  upon  the  forge,  with  such  tools  as  he  could 
find  there,  while  the  smith  was  at  dinner,  he  con- 
structed the  compass  and  commenced  as  a  surveyor. 
Still  continuing  his  studies,  he  fitted  himself  for  teach- 
ing, and  took  charge  of  the  village  school  at  Dart- 
mouth. When,  in  the  course  of  time,  and  under  the 
pressure  of  law,  a  High  School  was  to  be  opened,  he 
passed  a  successful  examination  for  its  principalship 
and  received  the  appointment.  To  do  this  was  no 
small  task ;  the  law  required  a  rigid  examination  in 
various  subjects,  which  necessitated  days  and  nights 
of  study. 

One  evening,  after  concluding  his  day's  labor  of 
teaching,  he  traveled  on  foot  to  New  Bedford,  some 
seven  or  eight  miles,  called  upon  the  preceptor  of  the 
Friends'  Academy,  and  passed  a  severe  examination. 
Receiving  a  certificate  that  he  was  well  qualified,  he 
walked  back  to  his  home  the  same  night,  highly  elated 
at  being  possessed  of  the  acquirements  and  require- 
ments of  a  master  of  the  High  School.     In  1832,  at 
the  age  of  twenty-eight,  he  left  his  native  town  to 
reside  in  New  Bedford,  where  he  was  a  land  surveyor, 
and  sometimes  acted  as  an  auctioneer.    Soon  after  his 
removal   he  was  elected  town  clerk,  treasurer,  and 
collector  of  taxes  of  New  Bedford,  which  positions 
he  held  about  fifteen  years,  and  until  the  form  of  the 
municipal  government  was  changed,  when  under  the 
new  form  he  was  elected  treasurer  and  collector  of 
taxes,  which  he  held  for  two  years.     He  was  also 
police  justice  many  years.    He  was  elected  alderman, 
was  chairman  of  the  Council  Committee  on  Education, 
and  as  such  prepared  the  report  on  which  was  based 
the  order  for  the  establishment  of  the  Free  Public 
Library  of  New  Bedford.    On  its  organization  he  was 
chosen  a  member  of  its  first  board  of  trustees.     This 
was  the  first  free  public  library  in  Massachusetts,  if 
not  in  the  world;  the  Boston  Public  Library  being, 
however,  soon  after  established.     While  a  resident  of 
this  city  he  was  much  interested  in  horticulture,  and 
to  obtain  the  land  necessary  for  carrying  out  his  ideas 
he  drained  and  reclaimed  several  acres  of  rocky  and 
swampy  land  adjoining  his  garden.    Having  properly 
prepared  the  soil,  he  started  a  nursery,  which  he  filled 
with  almost  every  description  of  fruit  and  ornamental 
trees,  shrubs,  flowers,  etc.     He  was  very  successful  in 
their  propagation  and  growth,  and  took  much  pride 
in   the  result  of   his  experiment.     At  horticultural 
fairs  in  Boston  and  elsewhere  he  exhibited  from  his 
grounds  one  hundred  and  fifty  varieties  of  pears  of  his 
own  propagation,  and  one  hundred  and  twenty  varie- 
ties of  roses. 

In  this,  as  in  everything  he  undertook,  he  always 
worked  intelligently  and  for  the  best  results,  seeking 
the  best  methods  and  looking  for  information  to  the 
highest  authorities.  The  interest  he  took  in  the  sub- 
ject brought  him  into  communication  with  the  most 


130 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


eminent  horticulturists  in  the  country,  and  the  desire 
to  impart  as  well  as  to  acquire  knowledge  soon  led 
him  to  become  a  regular  contributor  to  the  New  Eng- 
land Horticultural  Journal,  a  position  he  filled  as  long 
as  he  lived  in  Massachusetts.  After  his  removal  to 
Michigan  his  love  for  horticulture  and  agriculture 
was  still  further  stimulated.  He  had  an  especial 
fondness  for  landscape  and  ornamental  gardening, 
and  possessed  a  farm  of  eleven  hundred  acres,  most 
of  which  he  redeemed  from  swamps  by  a  system  of 
drainage  which  he  planned,  and  which  developed  into 
one  of  the  finest  farms  in  the  State.  He  became  here 
a  breeder  and  importer  of  fine  breeds  of  cattle  and 
sheep,  and  was  elected  in  1863  president  of  the  Gen- 
esee County  Agricultural  Society.  During  his  last 
years  he  was  a  regular  contributor  on  agricultural 
topics  to  the  Country  Gentleman.  As  an  indication  of 
the  wide  reputation  he  enjoyed  in  horticulture,  it 
may  be  said  that  after  his  death  an  affecting  eulogy 
of  him  was  pronounced  by  the  president  of  the  Na- 
tional Horticultural  Society  at  its  meeting  in  Phila- 
delphia in  1869. 

During  his  residence  in  New  Bedford,  Mr.  Crapo 
was  also  engaged  in  the  whaling  business,  then  the 
great  specialty  of  local  enterprise.  A  fine  bark, 
built  at  Dartmouth,  of  which  he  was  part  owner,  was 
named  the  "  H.  H.  Crapo,"  in  compliment  to  him. 
He  also  took  an  active  interest  in  the  State  militia, 
and  for  several  years  held  a  commission  as  colonel  of 
one  of  the  regiments.  In  speaking  of  the  intimate 
relations  of  Mr.  Crapo  with  the  interests  of  New  Bed- 
ford, the  Standard  says, — 

"No  man  connected  with  our  municipal  concerns 
ever  had  to  a  greater  extent  than  Mr.  Crapo  the  con- 
fidence of  the  people.  He  was  exact  and  methodical 
in  all  matters  of  record  ;  conscientious  and  labori- 
ously persistent  in  the  discharge  of  every  duty  ;  clear 
in  his  methods  and  statements  in  all  that  appertained 
to  his  official  transactions.  He  left,  at  the  end  of  his 
long  period  of  service,  all  that  belonged  to  his  depart- 
ment as  a  financial  or  recording  officer  so  lucid  and 
complete  that  no  error  has  ever  been  detected  or  any 
improvement  made  upon  his  plans." 

He  was  president  of  the  Bristol  County  Mutual  In- 
surance and  secretary  of  the  Bedford  Commercial  In- 
surance Companies  of  New  Bedford,  and  while  an 
officer  of  the  municipal  government  he  compiled  and 
published,  between  the  years  of  1836  and  1845,  five 
numbers  of  the  New  Bedford  Directory,  the  first  work 
of  the  kind  ever  issued  there.  Mr.  Crapo  removed  to 
Michigan  in  1856,  having  been  induced  to  do  so  by  in- 
vestments, made  principally  in  pine  lands,  and  took  up 
his  residence  in  the  city  of  Flint.  He  engaged  largely 
in  the  manufacture  of  lumber,  and  became  one  of  the 
largest  and  most  successful  business  men  of  the  State. 
He  was  mainly  instrumental  in  constructing  the  Flint 
and  Holly  Railroad,  and  was  president  of  its  corpora- 
tion until  its  consolidation  with  the  Flint  and  Pere 
Marquette  Railroad  Company.     He  showed  a  lively 


interest  in  the  municipal  affairs  of  Flint,  gave  his 
hearty  support  to  the  cause  of  popular  education, 
and  was  elected  mayor  after  residing  in  Flint  only 
five  or  six  years. 

In  the  early  part  of  his  life  Mr.  Crapo  affiliated 
with  the  Whig  party  in  politics,  but  became  an  active 
member  of  the  Republican  party  on  its  organization. 

In  1862  he  was  elected  State  senator  to  represent 
Genesee  County,  and  took  rank  with  the  leading  men 
of  the  Michigan  Senate.  He  was  chairman  of  the 
Committee  on  Banks  and  Incorporations,  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Committee  on  Bounties  to  Soldiers.  He  at 
once  became  conspicuous  as  a  legislator,  his  pre- 
viously acquired  experience  and  knowledge  of  State 
and  municipal  affairs  admirably  fitting  him  for  legis- 
lative duties.  In  1864  he  received  the  Republican 
nomination  for  Governor  of  the  State,  and  was  elected 
by  a  large  majority.  He  was  re-elected  in  1866,  holding 
the  office  two  terms,  retiring  in  January,  1869.  During 
the  four  years  of  this  office  he  served  the  State  with 
unflagging  zeal,  energy,  and  industry.  The  features 
which  especially  characterized  his  administration 
were  his  vetoing  of  railway  aid  legislation  and  his 
firm  refusal  to  pardon  convicts  imprisoned  in  the 
penitentiary  unless  given  the  clearest  proof  of  their 
innocence  or  of  extreme  sentence.  Subsequent  events 
and  experience  have  proven  conclusively  that  his 
action  in  vetoing  railway  aid  bills  was  of  great  ben- 
efit to  the  State  financially,  and  his  judgment  in  the 
matter  has  been  generally  approved.  While  serving 
his  last  term  as  Governor  he  was  attacked  by  the  dis- 
ease which  terminated  his  life  within  one  year. 
During  much  of  this  time  he  was  an  intense  sufferer, 
yet  often  while  in  great  pain  gave  his  attention  to 
public  matters.  He  died  July  23,  1869.  The  Detroit 
Tribune  closes  an  obituary  notice  with  this  tribute  to 
his  worth, — 

"  In  all  the  public  positions  he  held  Governor  Crapo 
showed  himself  a  capable,  discreet,  vigilant,  and  in- 
dustrious officer.  He  evinced  wonderful  vigor  in 
mastering  details,  and  always  wrote  and  spoke  intel- 
ligently on  any  subject  to  which  he  gave  his  atten- 
tion. Michigan  never  before  had  a  Governor  who 
devoted  so  much  personal  attention  and  painstaking 
labor  to  her  public  duties  as  he  did.  His  industry 
was  literally  amazing.  He  was  not  a  man  of  brilliant 
or  showy  qualities,  but  he  possessed  sharp  and  re- 
markably well  developed  business  talents,  a  clear  and 
practical  understanding,  sound  judgment,  and  unfail- 
ing integrity.  In  all  the  walks  of  life  there  was  not 
a  purer  man  in  the  State.  So  faithful,  so  laborious, 
so  unselfish,  so  conscientious  a  man  in  official  life  is  a 
blessing  beyond  computation  in  the  healthful  influ- 
ence which  he  exerts  in  the  midst  of  the  too  preva- 
lent corruptions  that  so  lamentably  abound  in  the 
public  service.  We  have  often  thought  that,  in  his 
plainness,  his  honesty,  his  fidelity  to  duty,  and  in  his 
broad  and  sterling  good  sense,  Governor  Crapo  closely 
resembled  the  lamented  Lincoln.     He  was  a  man  of 


•^V^ 


^/ 


fZrz^_ 


NEW  BEDFORD. 


131 


the  people,  and  most  worthily  represented  them.  His 
decease  is  an  occasion  for  public  mourning.  The 
State  has  very  few  men  like  him,  and  can  ill  afford  to 
spare  such  an  eminently  useful  citizen.  His  death 
Avill  be  profoundly  deplored  throughout  our  common- 
wealth, and  a  general  sympathy  will  be  sincerely  ex- 
tended to  the  bereaved  family." 

Mr.  Crapo  was  a  member  of  the  Christian  (some- 
times called  the  Disciples')  Church,  and  took  great 
interest  in  its  welfare  and  prosperity.  He  married 
June  9,  1825,  Mary  Ann  Slocum,  of  Dartmouth. 
This  was  soon  after  he  had  attained  his  majority,  and 
before  his  struggles  for  fortune  had  been  rewarded  by 
any  great  measure  of  success.  His  wife  was  a  woman 
of  great  strength  of  character,  and  possessed  courage, 
hopefulness,  and  devotion,  qualities  which  sustained 
and  encouraged  her  husband  in  the  various  pursuits 
of  his  early  manhood.  For  several  years  after  his 
marriage  he  was  engaged  in  teaching,  his  wife  living 
with  her  parents  at  the  time,  at  whose  house  their 
two  older  children  were  born.  While  thus  situated  he 
was  accustomed  to  walk  home  on  Saturdays  to  see 
his  family,  returning  on  Sunday  in  order  to  be  ready 
for  school  Monday  morning.  As  the  walk  for  a  great 
part  of  the  time  was  twenty  miles  each  way,  it  is  evi- 
dent that  at  this  period  of  his  life  no  common  obsta- 
cles deterred  him  from  the  performance  of  what  he 
regarded  as  a  duty.  His  wife  was  none  the  less  con- 
scientious in  her  sphere,  and  with  added  responsibili- 
ties and  increasing  requirements,  she  labored  faith- 
fully in  the  performance  of  all  her  duties.  They  had 
ten  children,  one  son  and  nine  daughters. 


CAPT.  CHARLES    L.  WOOD. 

Capt.  Charles  L.  Wood,  of  New  Bedford,  was  born 
in  Dartmouth,  March  17,  1813.  He  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools  of  that  town  and  at  the  academy 
in  Sandwich.  At  an  early  age  he  went  to  sea,  making 
his  first  voyage  to  New  Orleans  in  a  merchant-ship 
commanded  by  Capt.  James  Byder.  He  then  went 
as  boat-steerer  in  the  whale-ship  "  Braganza,"  of  which 
his  father,  Capt.  Daniel  Wood,  was  master.  His  next 
voyage  he  took  as  mate  with  his  brother,  Capt.  James 
B.  Wood,  master,  in  a  whale-ship  sailing  from  St- 
John,  New  Brunswick.  At  the  age  of  twenty-four  he 
took  command  of  ship  "  Elizabeth,"  of  Dartmouth,  a 
whaler,  the  youngest  member  of  the  crew,  and  upon 
his  return  in  1842  abandoned  the  sea,  formed  a  part- 
nership with  his  brother,  under  the  style  of  J.  B.  Wood 
&  Co.,  and  became  largely  interested  as  an  owner  and 
agent  of  whale-ships.  For  more  than  thirty  years 
they  continued  in  active  business,  and  no  firm  ever 
stood  higher  in  the  confidence  of  the  business  com- 
munity, or  gave  more  unvarying  and  entire  satisfac- 
tion to  their  co-owners,  and  few  were  more  uniformly 
successful.     He  died  in  New  Bedford,  July  13,  1881. 

For  many  years  Capt.  Wood  was  a  director  in  the 
insurance  offices  of  the  city,  in   the   Bank    of  Com- 


merce, and  in  the  Wamsutta  Mills,  one  of  the  Board 
of  Investment  of  the  New  Bedford  Institution  for  Sav- 
ings, and  for  three  terms  was  a  director  on  the  part  of 
the  State  of  the  Boston  and  Albany  Railroad.  In  all 
these  positions  he  rendered  efficient  and  valuable 
service. 

He  was  possessed  of  practical  good  sense,  of  cool, 
deliberate,  and  rarely  erring  judgment,  and  while 
cautions  and  prudent,  was  tenacious  of  a  purpose 
thoughtfully  formed.  He  was  a  wise  and  safe  coun- 
selor, and  many  men  greatly  his  seniors  were  glad 
to  avail  themselves  of  his  judicious  advice.  That  he 
filled  no  political  positions  was  not  due  to  any  lack 
of  the  public's  appreciation  of  his  worth  or  of  desire 
to  honor  him,  but  to  his  own  modest  estimate  of  his 
abilities  and  his  utter  aversion  to  anything  like  dis- 
play. No  man  was  more  respected-  and  beloved,  for 
he  was  one  of  nature's  noblemen, — a  man  of  large  and 
tender  heart,  quick  to  sympathize,  and  as  quick  to  aid. 
Frank,  sincere,  and  true,  he  had  troops  of  attached 
friends,  and  not  a  single  enemy. 


THOMAS  MANDELL.i 


Mr.  Thomas  Mandell  died  at  his  residence  in  this 
city,  at  three  o'clock  yesterday  morning,  after  a  com- 
paratively brief  illness.     He  was  born  in  Fairhaven, 
then  a  part  of  the  town  of  New  Bedford,  Aug.  9, 
1792 ;  was  for  a  time  a  clerk  in  a  store  at  the  Head  of 
the  River,   and  before  reaching   his  majority  com- 
menced business  here  as  partner  with  the  late  Caleb 
Congdon.    Soon  after  he  took  the  entire  management 
of  a  mechanics'  store,  developing  there  the  business 
traits  which  attracted  the  notice  of  the  firm  of  Isaac 
Howland,  Jr.,  &  Co.,  and  induced  them  to  offer  him 
an  interest  in  their  house.     He  became  a  member  of 
that  firm  in  1819,  and  it  is  exact  justice  to  say  that  to 
him  more  than  to  any  other  partner  is  due  the  high 
credit  which  the  house  for  half  a  century  maintained, 
and  the  colossal  fortunes  it  built  up.   The  late  Edward 
Mott  Robinson  entered  the  firm  about  1833,  which 
soon  after  consisted  of  that  gentleman,  Mr.  Mandell, 
and  the  late  Sylvia  Ann  Howland.    The  new  partner 
brought  to  the  firm  an  eagerness  and  boldness  in  en- 
terprise which  greatly  extended   its  operations,  but 
which  never  disregarded  the  sound  judgment  of  Mr. 
Mandell ;  and  the  two,  although  widely  differing  in 
almost  everything  else,  perfectly  agreed  in  their  no- 
tions of  mercantile  integrity,  and  each  entertained 
the  highest  regard  for  the  honor  of  the  other.  Besides 
his  responsibility  as  a  partner,  Mr.  Mandell,  for  more 
than  a  quarter  of  a  century,  had  the  entire  care  and 
management  of  the   estate  of  the  late  Sylvia  Ann 
Howland,  and  her  appointment  of  him  as  sole  exec- 
utor of  her  will  was  a  just  recognition  of  his  integrity, 
while  her  bequest  to  him  of  two  hundred  thousand 


1  From  the  New  Bedford  Daily  Mercury  of  Momlaj-,  Feb.  14, 1870. 


132 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


dollars  was  nothing  more  than  a  fair  remuneration 
for  the  valuable  service  he  had  rendered. 

Mr.  Mandell  was  many  years  ago  one  of  the  select- 
men of  New  Bedford,  and  was  the  first  to  com- 
mence the  keeping  of  the  records  by  the  board,  but 
with  this  exception  he  held  no  public  office.1  He 
sought  no  such  honors ;  but  he  was  never  without 
proofs  of  the  confidence  reposed  in  his  probity  and 
discretion,  as  the  responsible  positions  he  held  in 
various  corporations  showed.  He  was  not  a  great 
man  ;  but  he  was  better  than  that, — a  good  man.  A 
merchant  of  the  old  school,  he  knew  no  road  to  success 
but  that  of  upright  and  honorable  dealing.  Modest 
and  unobtrusive,  no  man  was  ever  more  tenacious  of 
an  opinion  when  satisfied  of  its  correctness.  His  name 
here  was  the  synonym  of  rectitude. 

He  was  a  benevolent  man.  He  was  the  almoner  of 
his  own  bounty,  a  bounty  which  did  not  break  out  at 
long  intervals  in  noisy  and  startling  displays  of  be- 
neficence, but  flowed  quietly,  steadily,  refreshingly. 
We  need  not  speak  of  the  objects  of  his  charity,  or 
the  extent  of  his  benefactions.  He  never  spoke  of 
them,  and  shrunk  from  any  mention  of  them  by 
others.  He  may  be  forgotten  as  the  honorable  and 
successful  merchant,  but  his  memory  will  live  in  the 
hearts  of  those  who  have  been  sustained  and  cheered 
by  his  unostentatious  and  gentle  charities. 

SONNET.i 

Thomas  Mandell. 

Feb.  14, 1870. 

"  Few  are  the  words  which  in  the  morn's  gazette 
Tell  us  of  thee,  thou  noble-hearted  man, — 
The  birth,  the  death,  of  life  the  general  plan, 
Allegiance  lifelong  to  the  right ;  and  yet 
There  is  close  mingled  with  the  deep  regret 
That  from  our  darkened,  erring  world  has  fled 
The  light  that  never  dazzled  or  misled, 
In  which  with  winning  potency  there  met 
A  soul's  stern  feality  to  truth  and  God 

And  manners  gentle  as  the  evening's  close, 
Another  phase  of  feeling, — death's  repose 
Has  hushed  to  them  who  nearest  thee  have  trod 
Life's  pathway  many  a  gentle  utterance  sweet, 
Fresh  from  the  fount  where  song  and  music  meet." 

At  a  meeting  of  the  trustees  of  New  Bedford  Insti- 
tution for  Savings,  April  8,  1870,  William  H.  Taylor, 
on  behalf  of  a  committee  appointed  at  our  last  meet- 
ing to  present  resolutions  expressive  of  the  sense  of 
the  loss  sustained  by  this  institution  in  the  removal 
of  its  late  president,  Thomas  Mandell,  now  presented 
the  following,  which  were  read,  and,  on  motion  of 
Charles  R.  Tucker,  were  adopted,  and  the  secretary 
was  directed  to  place  the  same  on  our  records  and  also 
to  present  a  copy  thereof  to  the  family  of  the  de- 
ceased : 


1  Mr.  Mandell  was  a  few  years  in  public  life  as  a  representative  to  the 
General  Court  from  the  town  of  New  Bedford.  He  was  elected  for  seven 
consecutive  years,  from  1830  to  1836,  inclusive. 

2  From  the  New  Bedford  Mercury,  Saturday,  Feb.  19, 1870. 


RESOLUTIONS. 

"Whereas,  In  the  providence  of  God,  death  has  again  visited  us,  re- 
moving our  esteemed  associate  Thomas  Mandell  from  our  midst,  who 
for  forty  years  was  actively  engaged  in  the  management  of  the  affairs  of 
this  institution,  and  acceptably  tilled  the  office  of  president  for  the  last 
fourteen  years,  we  deem  it  proper  to  place  upon  our  records  a  memorial 
of  bis  active  virtues  and  of  the  loss  we  have  sustained  by  bis  removal. 

"Resolved,  That  in  his  decease  we  recognize  the  loss  of  a  valued 
friend,  a  faithful  officer,  a  useful  citizen,  a  Christian  merchant  and  gen- 
tleman, whose  deeds  of  charity  and  benevolence  will  embalm  his  mem- 
ory and  lead  many  to  '  rise  up  and  call  him  blessed.'  Identified  with 
our  institution  almost  from  its  origin,  he  has  manifested  an  untiring  de- 
votion to  its  interests,  and  in  the  management  of  its  affairs  bis  financial 
skill,  combined  with  bis  uucompromising  integrity,  have  largely  con- 
tributed to  its  success. 

"  Resolved,  That  the  secretary  be  requested  to  spread  these  proceedings 
upon  the  record,  and  to  transmit  to  the  bereaved  family  of  our  departed 
friend  a  copy  thereof,  duly  attested  by  his  signature." 

The  Memory  of  Thomas  Mandell. — At  the 
regular  meeting  of  the  directors  of  the  Mechanics' 
National  Bank,  held  at  its  banking-rooms,  on  Wed- 
nesday morning,  February  16th,  the  death  of  their 
president,  Thomas  Mandell,  was  appropriately  re- 
ferred to  by  Jireh  Swift,  Jr.,  who  presented  the  fol- 
lowing resolutions  : 

"Resolved,  That  in  the  death  of  our  beloved  and  honored  president 
we  mourn  the  loss  of  a  faithful  officer,  whose  connection  with  this  in- 
stitution from  its  inception  to  its  maturity  has  been  eminently  charac- 
terized by  discriminating  judgment  and  ability,  and  the  mast  scrupu- 
lous fidelity  to  the  welfare  and  prosperity  of  this  corporation. 

"Resolved,  That  we  cherish  his  memory  as  a  friend  endeared  to  us  by 
many  fond  recollections  and  pleasant  associations,  ever  evincing  as  he 
did  kindness  and  nobleness  of  heart  and  purity  of  purpose.  The  stream 
of  benevolence  that  flowed  so  silently  from  bis  good  heart  has  warmed 
many  hearthstones,  and  the  recipients  of  his  bounty  will  now  rise  up  to 
call  him  blessed. 

"  Resolvd,  That  we  tender  to  the  family  of  our  deceased  friend  our 
heartfelt  sympathies  in  their  affliction,  and  the  assurance  of  our  earnest 
hope  that  the  Giver  of  all  good  may  vouchsafe  to  them  that  consolation 
which  alone  reconciles  humanity  to  such  bereavements." 

William  W.  Crapo,  in  seconding  the  resolutions, 
said,  "It  is  not  necessary  on  this  occasion,  with  us 
who  have  known  Mr.  Mandell  intimately  for  years, 
and  whose  daily  duties  have  brought  us  in  close  per- 
sonal contact  with  him,  to  give  a  sketch  of  his  life. 
The  simple  reading  of  the  resolutions  expresses  the 
tribute  of  admiration  and  love  which  we  pay  to  our 
departed  associate  and  friend. 

"  But  he  was  possessed  of  personal  traits  of  char- 
acter which  it  may  be  proper  for  us,  who  have  been 
on  terms  of  such  familiar  intercourse  with  him,  to  al- 
lude to  and  remember.  It  is  to  his  sound,  discrimi- 
nating judgment,  his  fearless  and  impartial  discharge 
of  official  duty,  acting  as  president  or  director  during 
its  history  of  nearly  forty  years,  that  this  institution 
owes  much  of  its  prosperity  and  success. 

"  He  was  a  man  of  spotless  integrity,  of  quick  ap- 
prehension, of  accuracy,  method,  and  faithfulness  in 
business,  and  these  qualities  made  him  an  acknowl- 
edged leader  in  the  mercantile  community. 

"He  was  gentle  in  manners,  true  in  principle,  earn- 
est in  his  convictions,  steadfast  in  his  opinions,  char- 
itable, benevolent,  and  kindly  without  ostentation. 
He  was  beloved  by  his  fellow-citizens,  for  he  took  an 
active  interest  in  whatever  concerned  the  welfare  of 


<Zz    2 


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!Q4ewi&j> 


NEW  BEDFORD. 


133 


the  community,  always  doing  his  part  cheerfully  and 
generously.  His  sympathies  were  genuine.  His  love 
for  his  neighbor  joined  so  closely  with  sincerity  and 


ment  of  the  West,  and  early  turned  his  attention  to 
Chicago,  and  continued  his  business  interests  there  as 
long  as  he  lived.     Mr.  Greene  was  a  man  of  strong 


earnestness  in  the  performance  of  duty  that  during     convictions,  of  great  energy  and  unyielding  will,  and 
his  long  life  he  was  constantly  doing  good  and  making     was,  as  such  men  often  are,  somewhat  rugged  in  speech 


others  happy. 

"  The  death  of  such  a  man  is  a  public  calamity,  and 
to  us,  who  have  known  him  so  intimately,  it  is  a  per- 
sonal affliction." 

The  resolutions  were  adopted,  and  votes  passed  in- 
structing the  secretary  of  the  board  to  forward  a  copy 
to  the  family  of  the  deceased,  and  directing  the  whole 
proceedings  to  be  placed  upon  the  records  of  the  board. 


DAVID    R.    GREENE. 

David  R.  Greene  was  born  in  New  Bedford  in 
March,  1794,  and  lived  there  continuously  to  the 
time  of  his  death  in  1879.  His  father  was  Robert 
Greene,  a  native  of  Liverpool,  England,  and  his 
mother  was  Deborah  Russell,  a  native  of  New  Bed- 
ford. His  father,  who  was  a  master-mariner,  died 
while  on  a  foreign  voyage,  when  his  son  was  about 
three  years  old,  leaving  his  widow  in  straitened 
circumstances.  After  receiving  a  limited  common 
school  education  young  Greene  began  to  go  to  sea, 
and  after  a  number  of  coasting  voyages  became  su- 
percargo, an  officer  indispensable  to  the  trading  voy- 
ages of  the  period.  Having  formed  a  distaste  for 
the  sea,  he  left  it  and  went  into  the  grocery  business, 
at  first  as  clerk,  but  was  admitted  a  partner  before  he 
reached  his  majority.  In  1820  he  began  to  fit  vessels 
for  whaling  voyages,  and  he  gradually  increased  his 
interest  in  the  whale  fishery  until  he  became  one  of 
the  largest  ship-owners  of  New  Bedford.  For  many 
years  he  was  in  partnership  with  the  late  Willard 
Nye  and  the  late  Dennis  Wood,  under  the  firm  of 
D.  R.  Greene  &  Co.,  and  was  engaged  in  fitting  ships 
and  dealing  in  the  products  of  the  whale  fishery.  In 
1825  he  was  one  of  the  projectors  of  the  Merchants' 
Bank,  now  one  of  the  principal  banking  corporations 
of  New  Bedford,  and  he  continued  a  member  of  its 
board  of  directors  for  more  than  fifty  years.  He  was 
an  ardent  Whig,  and  a  firm  believer  in  the  protection 
of  American  industries,  and  was  very  active  in  found- 
ing the  manufacturing  enterprises  which  the  protec- 
tive system  has  fostered.  In  1847,  he  with  others 
started  the  Wamsutta  Mills,  now  one  of  the  largest 
cotton-maimfacturing  corporations  of  New  England, 
and  was  for  thirty  years  one  of  the  directors. 

He  took  an  active  interest  in  the  early  develop- 
ment of  railroads,  and  was  one  of  the  builders  of  the 
railroad  between  New  Bedford  and  Taunton,  and  one 
of  its  directors  from  the  time  of  its  incorporation 
until  it  was  sold  for  the  purposes  of  consolidation. 
He  was  at  the  time  of  his  death  one  of  the  oldest 
stockholders  in  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad,  which 
now  owns  a  continuous  line  from  Chicago  to  New 
Orleans.     He  took  a  great  interest  in  the  develop- 


and  brusque  in  action,  but  he  had  a  kind  heart  and 
quick  sympathies.  He  not  only  gave  liberally  to 
charitable  objects  when  solicited,  but  sought  oppor- 
tunities of  giving,  and  of  such  acts  he  never  spoke. 
His  long  life  was  one  of  commendable  industry, 
honorable  labor,  of  enterprise,  and  of  sturdy  devo- 
tion to  what  he  conceived  to  be  right.  If,  as  has  been 
sometimes  said,  there  is  an  immortality  of  good  work, 
his  influence  will  survive  him. 


THE    PARKER    FAMILY. 

Ward  M.  Parker,  of  New  Bedford,  Mass.,  was  a 
lineal  descendant  on  his  paternal  side  from  William 
Parker,  who  came  from  England  and  settled  with 
many  others,  among  whom  were  the  ancestors  of 
Samuel  J.  Tilden,  in  the  town  of  Scituate,  Mass.,  at 
what  date  is  not  known,  but  probably  at  its  earliest 
settlement.  In  September,  1640,  a  grant  was  ob- 
tained for  a  settlement  at  "  Mattakese,"  situated  be- 
tween Sandwich  and  Yarmouth,  and  in  October  of 
the  same  year  a  settlement  was  commenced  from  the 
town  of  Scituate,  Mass.,  and  among  the  many  who 
settled  at  "  Mattakese"  was  William  Parker.  From 
this  grant  Sandwich,  Barnstable,  and  probably  Yar- 
mouth- became  invested  with  the  right  of  township, 
and  these  people  commenced  the  settlement  of  Fal- 
mouth. 

William  Parker  finally  settled  in  Falmouth,  where 
he  remained  during  life.  He  left  several  sons,  of 
whom  Robert  Parker  was  one,  and  one  or  more 
daughters.  We  know  but  little  about  Robert  Parker. 
He  had  several  sons,  among  whom  were  Thomas,  born 
Aug.  24,  1669;  Daniel,  April  18,  1670,  ancestor  of 
John  A.  Parker;  and  Joseph,  born  1671. 

Joseph  Parker,  son  of  Robert,  was  one  of  the 
original  church  members  in  Falmouth,  Mass.  He 
married  Mercy  Whiston,  June  30,  1698,  and  died  in 
1732.  Their  children  were  Joseph,  born  April  23, 
1699;  John,  born  Sept.  11,  1700;  Benjamin,  born 
Feb.  16,  1702 ;  Timothy,  born  Nov.  27,  1703 ;  Seth, 
born  Sept.  20,  1705;  Sylvanus,  born  Sept.  11,  1707; 
and  Mercy,  born  May  21,  1709.  She  married  Rev. 
Samuel  Palmer.  Joseph  Parker  was  buried  in  the 
old  burying-ground  at  Falmouth,  and  a  stone  resem- 
bling Connecticut  red  granite  lies  horizontally  over 
his  grave  and  marks  his  final  resting-place. 

Sylvanus  Parker,  son  of  Joseph,  married  Martha 
Mayhew,  of  Chihnark,  in  1748.  They  had  two  chilr 
dren, — Seth,  born  Oct.  12,  1750,  and  Lydia,  who  was 
twice  married,  first  to  Josiah  Cotton,  of  Plymouth, 
and  second  to  Dr.  Thomas  Smith. 

Seth  Parker,  only  son  of  Sylvanus,  married  Sophia 
Cotton,  of   Plvmouth,  about    1775    or  1776.      Their 


134 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


children  were  Sylvanus,  born  1777,  who  died  single 
in  1811 ;  Rossiter  C,  born  1779,  and  died  1804;  Seth, 
born  1781,  and  died  1811;  Ward  M.,  the  immediate 
subject  of  our  sketch  ;  Lydia,  born  1787,  died  1848  ; 
John  C,  born  1793,  died  July  2,  1881.  Mr.  Parker 
died  in  1813,  leaving  a  widow  and  two  sons,  Ward 
M.  and  John,  and  one  daughter,  Lydia.  Mrs.  Sophia 
(Cotton)  Parker  was  a  lineal  descendant  from  Rev. 
John  Cotton,  who  was  an  Episcopalian  minister  in 
Lincolnshire  and  London,  England. 

There  was  but  one  family  of  Cottons  originally  in 
England,  and  they  came  from  Normandy,  in  France, 
with  William  the  Conqueror,  in  the  year  1060,  and 
from  this  family  descended  the  Rev.  John  Cotton,  who 
was  a  popular  preacher  in  and  about  London  until 
he  was  suspected  of  favoring  the  Dissenters,  who  had 
the  audacity  to  doubt  the  infallibility  of  the  Episco- 
pal Church.  Being  advised  by  friends  that  he  was  in 
danger  of  being  arrested,  he  very  quietly  arranged 
to  come  to  America  with  his  family,  in  company 
with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hooker,  afterwards  of  Connecticut. 
They  arrived  in  Boston  in  1633,  when  Mr.  Hooker 
went  to  Connecticut,  and  Mr.  Cotton  was  settled  as  a 
minister  in  the  King's  Chapel,  Boston,  now  called 
Stone  Chapel,  and  there  continued  to  preach  with 
great  acceptance  till  the  close  of  his  life,  Dec.  23, 
1652,  aged  sixty-seven.  His  name  may  be  seen  in- 
scribed with  others  on  a  monument  adjoining  the 
chapel  in  Boston.  Mr.  Cotton  left  several  children, 
and  from  them  descended  the  Cottons  of  New  Eng- 
land. One  of  his  sons,  John,  educated  at  Cambridge, 
studied  for  the  ministry,  and  settled  at  Charleston, 
S.  C,  where  he  died.  One  of  his  (Rev.  John  Cot- 
ton's) daughters  married  the  Rev.  Dr.  Mather,  presi- 
dent of  Harvard  College,  and  they  had  a  son,  the 
well-known  Cotton  Mather.  There  were  other  chil- 
dren of  the  Rev.  John  Cotton,  but  their  names  are 
not  known  to  the  writer.  Some  of  them  settled  at 
Plymouth,  and  were  influential  citizens  in  their  day. 
From  Thacher's  "  History  of  Plymouth"  we  find  that 
the  first  Cotton  he  mentions  is  Josiah,  a  son  of  the 
Rev.  John  Cotton,  and  grandson  of  the  original  Rev. 
John  Cotton,  who  was  the  first  settled  minister  in 
Boston.  Josiah  Cotton  was  born  1679,  graduated 
from  Harvard  College  in  1698,  taught  school  in  sev- 
eral places,  and  finally  settled  in  Plymouth,  Mass. 
He  was  elected  clerk  of  the  court,  register  of  deeds, 
etc.  He  wrote  a  supplement  to  the  New  England 
Memorial,  now  in  the  hands  of  the  Massachusetts 
Historical  Society.  He  died  in  1756,  aged  seventy- 
six.  He  left  a  family  of  children,  among  whom  was 
John  Cotton,  born  in  Plymouth  in  1712,  graduated 
from  Cambridge  College  in  1730,  and  ordained  in 
Halifax  in  1736,  but  losing  his  voice  by  a  severe  fit  of 
sickness,  he  was  obliged  to  give  up  his  chosen  profes- 
sion, consequently  he  returned  to  his  native  town 
(Plymouth)  and  took  his  father's  place  as  register 
of  deeds,  etc.,  which  position  he  retained  till  his  I 
death,   Nov.    4,    1789.     John    Cotton,    the   maternal  i 


grandfather  of  Ward  M.  Parker,  married  Hannah 
Sturtevant,  and  left  eleven  children,  four  sons  and 
seven  daughters,  of  whom  Sophia,  who  married  Seth 
Parker,  was  one,  hence  the  line  of  descent  has  been 
Sophia5,  John4,  Josiah',  John2,  and  John1.  The  line 
of  descent  in  the  Parker  family  has  been  Ward  M.6, 
Seth*,  Sylvanus*,  Joseph3,  Robert2,  William1. 

Ward  M.  Parker  was  born  in  Falmouth,  Mass., 
June  18, 1784,  and  died  in  New  Bedford,  Aug.  6, 1881. 
In  early  life  he  was  engaged  in  the  coasting  trade, 
commanding  a  vessel  running  to  Charleston,  S.  C. 
He  secured  the  confidence  of  the  leading  merchants 
and  business  men  at  that  port,  and  his  operations  were 
uniformly  successful.  The  war  of  1812,  with  the 
embargo,  broke  up  his  coasting  business  at  the  South, 
but  this  did  not  dishearten  him.  For  several  years  he 
was  engaged  in  procuring  live-oak  timber  in  Florida 
under  contracts  with  the  government,  and  soon  after 
embarked  in  the  whaling  business  at  Wood's  Holl, 
where  he  built  the  ship  "  Bartholomew  Gosnold." 
On  the  12th  of  June,  1838,  Mr.  Parker  removed  to 
this  city,  though  for  a  few  years  he  continued  his 
agency  of  the  "  Gosnold,"  which  was  fitted  at  Wood's 
Holl.  He  then  retired  from  active  business,  devo- 
ting himself  to  the  care  of  the  handsome  property 
which  he  had  acquired,  and  which  under  his  shrewd 
and  judicious  management  grew  to  a  large  estate. 
For  nearly  forty  years  he  was  a  director  in  the  Marine 
(now  the  First  National)  Bank,  and  for  many  years 
was  in  the  direction  of  the  New  Bedford  and  Taun- 
ton Railroad,  the  Gas-Light  Company  (also  its  vice- 
president),  the  Commercial  Insurance  Company,  the 
Taunton  Copper  Company,  and  its  president  for  many 
years,  and  the  Taunton  Locomotive- Works. 

The  architect  of  his  own  fortune,  with  full  faith  in 
"  Poor  Richard's"  maxims,  and  with  habits  of  rigid 
economy,  he  was  not  a  close  nor  a  hard  man.  No 
director  of  a  bank  was  ever  more  liberal  in  affording 
accommodation  to  men  of  small  means  needing 
assistance,  and  many  who  failed  of  relief  in  tight 
times  from  the  banks  have  been  supplied  from  his 
private  means.  Cautious  in  his  investments,  he  was 
not  lacking  in  enterprise,  and  rarely  hesitated  to 
aid  in  starting  manufacturing  projects  here  which 
promised  advantage  to  the  city.  Exact  in  all  his 
transactions,  he  was  always  fair,  honorable,  and 
scrupulously  just.  He  was  genial,  kind-hearted,  and 
unostentatiously  benevolent, — a  man  thoroughly  re- 
spected and  highly  esteemed  in  all  the  relations  of 
life.  Up  to  the  close  of  that  life  so  long  protracted, 
he  exhibited  remarkable  physical  vigor,  remarkable 
brightness  and  clearness  of  intellect,  and  a  lively 
interest  in  affairs.  In  politics  he  was  a  Whig  and 
Republican,  and  was  a  representative  to  the  General 
Assembly  from  1834  to  1838.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the 
war  of  1812.  He  was  twice  married,  first  to  Hepzibah, 
daughter  of  Deacon  John  Davis,  July  27,  1815.  She 
was  born  Oct.  4,  1793,  and  died  Feb.  26,  1833.  Their 
children    are   Abby   S.  (deceased),  Hannah    C.  (de- 


//". 


k  y^///// 


^SWe^' 


NEW  BEDFORD. 


135 


ceased),  wife  of  J.  A.  Beauvais  ;  Abby  S.  (2d),  wife  of 
J.  L.  Ferguson,  of  New  York  City;  and  Ward  R.,  of 
New  York  City.  Mr.  Parker  married  for  his  second 
wife  Marcia  F.,  daughter  of  David  W.  and  Cynthia 
Lewis,  May  25,  1836.  She  was  born  in  Falmouth, 
May  11,  1813,  and  belongs  to  an  old  and  honorable 
family  of  that  town.  They  have  had  ten  children, 
five  of  whom  are  living, — Arabella,  Lawrence  H., 
Henry  W.,  David  L.,  and  Lydia  P.,  wife  of  C.  W. 
Mitchell,  of  Baltimore,  Md. 


JAMES    BUNKER    CONGDON. 

The  death  of  James  Bunker  Congdon,  which  oc- 
curred on  the  10th  of  June,  1880,  demands  more  than 
a  passing  notice.  Well  may  his  name  and  worth 
have  honorable  mention  in  the  archives  of  the  Free 
Public  Library,  for  to  him  perhaps  more  than  to  all 
others  is  it  indebted  not  only  for  its  existence,  but 
for  its  continued  prosperity,  and  for  the  measure  of 
usefulness  to  which  it  has  attained. 

Mr.  Congdon  prepared  and  headed  the  petition  to 
the  City  Council  which  resulted  in  1852  in  the  perma- 
nent establishment  of  the  library,  and  to  his  energy 
and  untiring  devotion  it  is  due  that  the  few  thousand 
volumes  of  the  old  Social  Library  became  the  founda- 
tion of  an  institution  of  great  public  benefit,  and  of 
which  the  city  has  so  much  reason  to  be  proud. 

Elected  a  member  of  the  first  board  of  trustees,  a 
position  which  he  held,  except  during  a  brief  interval, 
for  more  than  twenty  years,  he  watched  with  untiring 
zeal  over  its  struggling  infancy.  As  its  hold  on  the 
community  grew  firmer  and  its  usefulness  broader, 
his  watchful  interest  kept  even  pace  with  its  benefi- 
cent development;  he  was  constantly  suggesting,  and, 
when  authority  had  been  secured,  instituting  meas- 
ures for  its  progressive  advantage. 

Secretary  of  the  board  of  trustees  from  its  organi- 
zation in  1852  until  near  the  close  of  his  life,  the 
annual  reports  of  the  board  to  the  city  government, 
always  scholarly  and  often  ardent  and  glowing  in 
their  style,  and  which  tended  largely  to  invite  and  to 
hold  the  good  will  of  the  city  government,  and  the 
public  itself,  were  invariably  from  his  pen.  When 
the  corner-stone  of  the  beautiful  library  building  was 
laid  i  which  fully  symbolized  the  permanence  of  the 
institution,  while  it  opened  the  way  to  increased  use- 
fulness) Mr.  Congdon  led  in  the  ceremonies  of  the 
occasion,  and  delivered  an  address,  in  which  he  gave 
in  detail  the  history  of  the  enterprise,  and  foretold  its 
Buccess.  He  lived  long  enough  to  see  its  prosperity 
well  assured,  and  to  enjoy  not  only  by  himself,  but 
through  the  public  generally,  its  great  and  continually 
increasing  benefits.  He  gave  not  only  his  services  to 
the  cause,  but  in  1876,  having  received  from  the  city 
five  hundred  dollars  for  revising  the  charter  and  or- 
dinances, he  gave  it  as  a  donation  to  the  trust  funds 
of  the  library. 


Thus  did  he  prove  his  interest  by  deeds  of  unselfish 
devotion.  Yet,  though  his  life  was  one  of  varied 
usefulness,  while,  as  has  been  truly  said  of  him,  "No 
one  ever  wrought  more  continuously,  ungrudgingly, 
and  unselfishly  for  the  public  weal,"  it  is  certain  that 
no  fruits  of  his  labor  were  so  grateful  to  himself  as 
those  richly  garnered  in  connection  with  the  Free 
Public  Library. 

The  history  of  his  private  life  was  not  eventful, 
and  is  briefly  told.  He  was  born  Dec.  19,  1802,  and 
was  the  son  of  Caleb  Congdon,  a  native  of  Rhode 
Island,  who  came  here  and  was  married  to  the 
daughter  of  Benjamin  Taber.  Mr.  Taber  was  an 
early  settler,  whose  house  was  burned  by  the  British 
in  the  Revolutionary  war.  Mr.  Congdon  received 
his  early  education  in  our  public  schools.  At  the  age 
of  eighteen  he  became  book-keeper  for  Messrs.  Wil- 
liam H.  and  Gideon  Allen,  in  whose  employ  he  re- 
mained five  years.  When  the  Merchants'  Bank  was 
chartered  and  went  into  operation  he  became  its 
cashier,  which  position  he  filled  with  superior  ability, 
securing  prosperity  and  credit  for  that  institution, 
honor  and  confidence  for  himself,  until  1858,  a  period 
of  nearly  thirty  years,  when  severe  illness  caused  by 
overwork  compelled  him  to  resign. 

On  his  recovery,  in  the  spring  of  the  same  year,  he 
was  elected  city  treasurer  and  collector  of  taxes.  He 
was  annually  re-elected  until,  in  1879,  advancing  years 
warned  him  to  relieve  himself  of  the  burden  of  his 
public  responsibilities,  when  he  resigned  his  post.  He 
had  been  a  signally  faithful  and  competent  officer. 
Throughout  the  civil  war,  when  the  labors  of  the 
city  treasurer  were  greatly  complicated  and  aug- 
mented, he  proved  himself  equal  to  every  emergency. 
To  his  other  duties — from  the  time  of  the  establish- 
ment of  the  Acushnet  Water  Board  to  his  resigna- 
tion of  his  office  a  few  months  before  his  death — he 
added  those  of  registrar  of  the  board. 

The  public  is  always  ready  to  place  responsibility 
on  competent,  trusted,  and  willing  shoulders.  Mr. 
Congdon  did  not  know  himself  when  he  thought  to 
favor  his  increasing  infirmities,  and  pass  the  remain- 
ing years  in  repose.  The  post  of  member  of  the 
Board  of  Health,  then  newly  created,  was  offered  to 
him,  and  he  accepted  it.  He  was  elected  chairman  of 
the  board.  He  entered  upon  his  duties  with  enthu- 
siastic appreciation  of  responsibility  and  opportunity, 
and  that  spirit  of  conscientious  fidelity  which  char- 
acterized all  his  exertions  through  life,  and  labored 
in  his  new  field  with  intense  earnestness  and  corre- 
sponding efficiency.  The  elaborate  report  of  the 
board  at  the  close  of  its  first  year  was  from  his  pen. 
It  was  the  last  monument  of  his  public  service. 

These  efforts  were  too  much  for  his  enfeebled  frame. 
He  made  them  only  by  force  of  a  will  that  triumphed 
over  physical  suffering.  On  March  24,  1880,  he  was 
compelled  to  resign,  and  on  the  10th  of  June  he  died. 
He  wrought  diligently  in  his  unselfish  and  benevolent 
work  until  the  evening  shadows  fell  and  the  night 


136 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


came,  when  no  man  can  work.  It  was  fitting  that  at 
the  funeral  of  such  an  officer  the  public  offices  should 
be  closed,  and  the  city  government  should  attend  the 
services  in  a  body,  and  that  highly  complimentary 
resolutions,  unanimously  adopted,  should  have  a  per- 
manent place  in  the  records  of  the  City  Council. 

Mr.  Congdon's  philanthropy  was  as  conspicuous  as 
his  fidelity.  The  kindness  of  his  heart  was  never  ap- 
pealed to  in  vain.  The  leisure  which  most  other  men 
would  have  devoted  to  relaxation  he  crowded  with 
beneficent  labor.  He  was  a  warm  friend  to  the  New 
Bedford  Lyceum,  giving  it  at  all  times  the  support  of 
his  voice  and  pen.  He  was  one  of  the  most  active 
and  efficient  members  of  the  Port  Society,  which  has 
accomplished  admirable  results  in  behalf  of  the  sea- 
men sailing  from  this  port.  He  was  a  trustee  of  the 
institution  for  deaf  mutes  in  Northampton.  For 
eleven  years  he  was  a  member  of  the  school  commit- 
tee, and  then  and  ever  after  a  champion  of  the  public 
schools,  a  zealous  friend  of  all  measures  tending  to 
their  improvement,  and  to  the  cause  of  education. 
From  1834  to  1841,  and  from  1842  until  the  acceptance 
of  the  city  charter  in  1847,  Mr.  Congdon  was  one  of 
the  selectmen  of  the  town,  and  for  many  years  chair- 
man of  the  board.  Indeed,  there  was  no  philan- 
thropic movement  in  the  community  during  his  life 
that  he  was  not  its  pronounced  and  active  supporter, 
and  for  him  to  support  a  cause  was  to  mortgage  to  its 
furtherance  his  time  and  his  powers.  He  readily  re- 
sponded to  every  demand  made  upon  his  facile  pen. 
He  wrote  most  of  the  annual  reports,  historical 
sketches,  and  other  publications  of  the  institutions 
with  which  he  was  permanently  identified.  His  ad- 
dresses, essays,  and  reports  would  of  themselves  fill 
a  volume. 

His  ready  pen  was  busy  at  times  in  other  important 
work.  He  drew  up  the  charter  for  the  city  govern- 
ment which  was  enacted  by  the  Legislature  in  1847. 
He  wrote  most  of  the  ordinances  which  from  time  to 
time  have  been  adopted  by  the  City  Council.  The 
historical  details  in  the  appendix  to  the  "  Centennial 
History  of  New  Bedford,"  which  was  published  in 
1876,  were  edited  by  him.  He  was  a  frequent  con- 
tributor to  the  press  in  both  prose  and  poetry,  and  his 
productions  were  often  admirable,  always  creditable. 

He  was  a  dear  lover  of  books,  which  he  read  with 
avidity,  appropriating  what  was  best  in  them  with 
acute  discrimination.  It  was  the  valuable  service 
which  books  had  rendered  to  him  in  the  moulding  of 
his  thought  and  the  enlargement  of  his  culture  which 
intensified  his  interest  in  the  Free  Public  Library. 
It  was  the  wish  of  his  loving  heart  that  every  soul  in 
the  community  should  have,  "without  money  and 
without  price,"  the  same  intellectual  advantages 
which  he  himself  had  received  and  so  much  enjoyed. 

His  portrait,  the  gift  of  grateful  friends,  hangs  in 
the  main  hall  of  the  library.  It  is  in  the  most  fitting 
place.  He  seems  to  be  looking  approvingly  down  (as 
if  in  realization  of  his  fondest  hopes)  upon  the  library 


itself,  so  much  the  work  of  his  hands,  and  the  vol- 
umes so  much  the  delight  of  his  heart.  As  those 
who  avail  themselves  of  the  advantages  of  an  institu- 
tion which  he  did  so  much  to  establish  and  foster 
pass  and  repass  that  silent  image  may  they  sometimes 
remember  his  example,  and  be  inspired  to  lead  lives 
of  faithful  citizenship  and  disinterested  philanthropy. 
G.  H.  D. 

JOSEPH    KNOWLES. 

Joseph  Knowles,  son  of  James  H.  and  Ruth  (Doane) 
Knowles,  was  born  in  Eastham,  Mass.,  Sept.  23,  1819. 
He  was  a  lineal  descendant  of  Richard  Knowles,  the 
emigrant,  who  came  from  England  prior  to  1638,  and 
who  was  stanch  in  defense  of  his  convictions.  Mr. 
Knowles  received  a  liberal  education  and  completed 
his  studies  at  Phillips'  Andover  Academy,  but  choos- 
ing a  mercantile  life,  he  came  to  New  Bedford,  and 
engaged  as  clerk  for  his  cousin,  Thomas  Knowles, 
when  about  seventeen  years  old.  After  five  years' 
service  he  was  admitted  partner.  The  new  firm 
was  Thomas  Knowles  &  Co.,  and  its  members  were 
Thomas,  John  P.,  and  Joseph  Knowles.  For  thirty- 
four  years,  until  his  death,  May  27,  1876,  he  was  ac- 
tively engaged  in  trade,  and  was  for  a  long  time  one 
of  New  Bedford's  prominent  merchants.  He  married, 
Nov.  14,  1844,  Jedidah,  daughter  of  Beriah  and  Eliz- 
abeth (Cole)  Doane,  of  Orleans,  Mass.  Their  chil- 
dren are  Helen  D.  (Mrs.  Charles  D.  Milliken),  Eliza- 
beth, Joseph  F.,  and  Arthur. 

He  was  fully  in  accord  with  the  principles  of  the 
Republican  party,  worked  for  its  interests,  and  sup- 
ported its  candidates.  He  was  largely  interested  in 
all  things  tending  towards  the  enlightenment  and  up- 
ward progress  of  society,  and  was  active  and  promi- 
nent in  connection  with  the  New  Bedford  Public 
Library,  of  which  he  was  a  trustee. 

We  give,  as  expressing  the  character  of  Mr.  Knowles 
more  completely  than  words  of  ours,  the  following 
from  those  who  knew  him  intimately: 

"  Mr.  Knowles  was  a  member  of  the  board  of 
aldermen  for  two  years  under  the  mayoralty  of  Hon. 
John  N.  Perry,  and  for  the  same  period  while  Mr. 
Richmond  was  mayor,  discharging  the  duties  with 
rare  good  judgment  and  singular  fidelity.  He  was 
repeatedly  urged  to  accept  a  nomination  for  mayor, 
but  he  had  no  taste  for  municipal  honors,  though 
willing  to  give  his  full  share  of  time  and  effort  in  the 
service  of  the  city.  He  was  devoted  to  his  business, 
and  had  earned  the  reputation  of  sterling  integrity 
and  probity  in  his  transactions.  Quiet  and  unassum- 
ing in  his  manners,  he  was  firm  of  principle  and 
courageous  in  his  convictions,  and  no  man  was  held 
in  higher  respect  or  more  fully  enjoyed  the  confidence 
of  his  fellow-citizens."  l 

James  B.  Congdon,  in  the  twenty-sixth  annual  re- 
port  of  the   trustees   of  New   Bedford   Free   Public 


i  From  the  Mercury  of  May  29, 1876. 


m 


0/7 


64/t>y 


H 


rfr  ^?z^z:^^z 


NEW   BEDFORD. 


131 


Library,  gives  this  testimonial  to  his  virtues  :  "  Joseph 
Knowles  claims  a  prominent  place  in  our  necrology 
of  the  year.  As  a  merchant,  he  was  enlightened,  en- 
terprising, and  the  soul  of  fidelity  ;  as  an  alderman 
of  the  city,  he  was  sagacious  in  council,  faithful  to 
every  conviction  of  duty,  firm  and  un movable  when 
not  to  be  firm  was  to  be  false  to  the  convictions  of  his 
understanding,  kind  and  courteous  to  all  who  had 
claims  upon  his  attention  ;  as  a  trustee  of  the  library, 
he  had  clear  apprehensions  as  to  the  methods  to  be 
pursued,  and  an  abiding  conscientiousness  in  the  dis- 
charge of  every  trust.  Those  who  have  known  him 
as  a  leading  merchant  of  our  city,  and  those  who  were 
his  associates  in  the  City  Council  and  upon  the  board 
of  trustees  of  the  library,  all  bear  testimony  to  his  j 
gentlemanly  bearing  in  his  business  and  official  inter- 
course, and  all  unite  in  assigning  to  him  an  elevated 
position  among  the  active  and  public  men  of  our  city. 
In  his  daily  walk  and  conversation  he  was  an  exam- 
ple of  those  virtues  which  are  lovely  and  of  good 
report.  '  There  was  a  daily  beauty  in  his  life'  which 
won  and  retained  the  affection  and  respect  of  all  with 
whom  he  came  in  contact.  There  was  in  his  char- 
acter and  conduct  those  evidences  of  fidelity  to  the 
right  and  an  affectionate  interest  in  the  welfare  of 
others  which  inspired  confidence  and  esteem." 


OLIVER    CROCKER. 


Mr.  Oliver  Crocker,  whose  death  occurred  May  23, 
1878,  at  his  residence  on  William  Street,  in  New  Bed- 
ford, was  born  on  the  3d  day  of  August,  1788,  in  the 
pleasant  little  village  of  Cotuit,  in  the  town  of  Barn- 
stable. He  was  educated  at  the  then  celebrated  Sand- 
wich Academy,  under  the  tuition  of  Rev.  Jonathan 
Burr.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  was  put  to  apprentice 
in  Boston,  and  served  his  term  in  a  dry -goods  store  in 
that  city.  After  reaching  his  majority  he  engaged  in 
business  in  Boston,  and  in  1812  removed  to  this  place, 
where  he  continuously  resided  till  his  death.  Until 
1832  he  was  in  the  dry -goods  and  grocery  trade,  and  in 
this  year  commenced  the  manufacture  of  oil  and  be- 
came interested  in  shipping.  In  1837  he  was  associated 
in  the  oil  manufacture  tfith  his  son,  George  0.  Crocker, 
and  the  late  George  T.  Baker,  and  this  firm  continued 
till  1843,  when  it  failed.  Mr.  Crocker  and  his  son  at 
once  formed  a  new  partnership,  took  the  assets  and 
assumed  the  liabilities  of  the  old  firm,  and  in  a  few 
years  paid  all  its  debts,  principal  and  interest.  In 
1852  he  retired  from  active  business,  having  secured 
an  ample  fortune.  In  1835,  Mr.  Crocker  was  one  of 
the  nine  members  who  represented  New  Bedford  in 
the  popular  branch  of  the  Legislature,  an  honor  to 
which  he  did  not  aspire  a  second  time. 

No  New  Bedford  merchant  ever  enjoyed  a  higher 
reputation  for  strict  integity  in  all  his  dealings  than 
Oliver  Crocker,  and  none  better  deserved  it.  He  was 
largely  and  systematically  benevolent.    He  was  keenly 


alive  to  the  wants  and  necessities  of  the  people, 
watchful  of  their  interest,  and  ever  ready  to  aid  and 
assist  them  by  any  method  or  manner  tending  to 
promote  their  comfort  and  happiness,  and  highly  ap- 
preciating the  influence  for  good  which  intellectual 
culture  exerts  upon  the  habits  and  character  of  the 
people,  with  wise  generosity  gave  liberally  to  the 
Free  Public  Library.  Of  every  public  charity  he 
was  a  generous  patron  ;  many  were  the  regular  pen- 
sioners upon  his  bounty  ;  no  poor  person  was  ever 
turned  away  empty  from  his  door,  and  we  know  that 
in  his  old  age  he  asked  of  not  a  few,  in  whose  judg- 
ment he  could  confide,  that  they  would  bring  to  his 
notice  any  cases  requiring  aid.  To  the  last  he  keenly 
enjoyed  life,  always  looking  upon  its  bright  side,  and 
retaining  his  interest  in  the  current  of  events. 


GEORGE   0.    CROCKER. 

George  O.  Crocker,  son  of  Oliver  Crocker,  born  in 
New  Bedford,  Mass.,  Jan.  17,  1814.  He  received  his 
education  at  the  public  schools  of  his  native  place. 
In  his  sixteenth  year  he  was  clerk  for  his  father  in 
the  grocery  and  provision  business,  where  he  re- 
mained three  years,  and  then  was  clerk  two  years  in 
the  counting-room  ;  after  that  went  into  partnership 
with  his  father,  and  for  many  years  the  firm-name 
was  Oliver  &  George  O.  Crocker,  manufacturers  of 
sperm  oil,  and  were  large  owners  in  the  whaling  busi- 
ness. Mr.  Crocker  has  been  a  director  in  various 
corporations  in  his  native  city. 


IVORY    HOVEY    BARTLETT. 

Ivory  Hovey  Bartlett,  son  of  Abner  Bartlett,  was 
born  at  South  Plymouth  (formerly  called  Manomet 
Ponds),  Mass.,  Sept.  21,  1794.  He  was  a  descendant 
in  the  seventh  generation  from  Robert  Bartlett,  who 
was  born  in  England  in  1606,  and  in  1637  came  from 
London  to  America  in  the  ship  "Ann,"  the  third 
ship  which  landed  Pilgrims  at  Plymouth.  After  his 
arrival  in  America  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Mary  Warren.  The  line  of  descent  from  Robert  to 
Ivory  H.  has  been  as  follows :  Robert1,  died  1676 ; 
Joseph2,  died  in  1711 ;  Joseph3,  died  in  1750 ;  Joseph4, 
died  in  1756  ;  Sylvanus5,  died  in  1811 ;  Abner1',  died 
Oct.  28,  1813  ;  and  Ivory  H.7  Abner6  Bartlett  was  a 
deacon  of  the  Congregational  Church  at  South  Plym- 
outh, and  held  office  in  the  town  as  one  of  the 
selectmen,  justice  of  the  peace,  and  as  representative 
to  the  General  Court. 

The  maternal  grandfather  of  Ivory  H.  Bartlett  was 
Rev.  Ivory  Hovey.  He  was  graduated  from  Harvard 
College  in  1735,  and  became  a  settled  minister  at 
Rochester,  Mass.,  where  he  preached  for  a  period  of 
more  than  thirty  years,  and  afterwards  at  South  Plym- 
outh until  his  death  in  1803,  in  his  ninetieth  year. 
He  was  ;i  man  of  culture  and  wide  influence  in  his 
denomination,  a  fine  example  of  the  honored  and 


138 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


beloved  pastors  of  the  olden  time.  Three  of  Mr. 
Bartlett's  uncles  served  in  the  Continental  army  at 
Boston  and  New  York  in  1776. 

Mr.  Bartlett  married,  in  1814,  Betsey,  daughter  of 
John  Clark,  of  South  Plymouth,  and  with  his  family 
removed  to  New  Bedford  in  1819.  During  the  first 
years  of  his  life  in  New  Bedford  he  was  engaged  in 
teaming,  stabling,  and  staging,  and  for  a  time  had 
charge  of  most  of  the  principal  stage  routes  leading 
from  New  Bedford,  including  contracts  for  carrying 
mails,  which  business  often  called  him  to  Washing- 
ton. Later,  he  engaged  in  the  grain  and  provision 
trade,  and  finally  whaling  and  the  commission  busi- 
ness. He  received  his  sons,  Ivory  Hovey  Bartlett, 
Jr.,  and  George  Fearing  Bartlett,  into  partnership  in 
1847  and  1854,  respectively,  thus  establishing  the  firm 
of  I.  H.  Bartlett  &  Sons,  which  still  continues.  I.  H. 
Bartlett,  Jr.,  died  Oct.  25,  1880,  in  his  fifty-eighth 
year.  His  oldest  son,  Abner  Bartlett,  went  to  Boston 
in  the  employ  of  Chandler,  Howard  &  Co.,  and  then 
to  New  York  in  1836,  where  he  was  several  years 
with  Grinnell,  Minturn  &  Co.  He  still  resides  there, 
being  connected  with  the  "  Astor  estate ;"  and  his 
younger  sons,  William  Henry  and  Robert  Warren 
Bartlett,1  have  always  been  connected  with  his  firm. 

In  1861,  Mr.  Bartlett's  firm,  with  the  late  Richard 
H.  Chapell,  of  New  London,  Conn.,  entered  into  a 
contract  with  the  United  States  government  to  fit  the 
stone  fleet  of  forty-five  vessels  with  which  the  har- 
bors of  Charleston  and  Savannah  were  blockaded,  and 
twenty-four  out  of  the  forty-five  vessels  were  fitted  by 
his  firm. 

Mr.  Bartlett's  life  was  thoroughly  active  and  earnest, 
both  in  his  business  and  in  the  line  of  benevolence. 
The  only  public  office  he  ever  held  was  that  of  alder- 
man, under  Abraham  H.  Howland's  administration. 
He  came  to  this  city  with  a  heart  of  sympathy  and 
kindness,  nourished  by  the  example  of  Christian  and 
benevolent  parents.  During  the  first  winter  of  his 
residence  here  he  collected  upwards  of  six  hundred 
dollars  for  distribution  among  the  poor,  and  from 
season  to  season,  for  more  than  forty  years,  or  as  long 
as  his  health  permitted,  he  continued  this  work. 
From  a  careful  record  kept  by  him  we  find  that  in 
1858  sixty-four  persons  contributed  six  hundred  and 
fifty-three  dollars,  which  he  distributed  among  three 
hundred  and  sixty  families  in  provisions,  and  in  1859 
seventy-four  persons  contributed  seven  hundred  and 
thirty-five  dollars,  which  he  also  distributed  among 
five  hundred  and  eighteen  families  in  like  manner. 

It  is  just  to  the  business  men  of  New  Bedford  to 
say  that  these  subscription-lists  are  highly  creditable 
to  their  liberality.  While  Mr.  Bartlett  gave  liberally 
himself,  it  was  the  personal  attention  and  time  em- 
ployed in  this  business  which  cost  him  most,  for  it 
was  his  invariable  rule,  regardless  of  personal  com- 


1  Robert  Warren  Bartlett  was  named  after  Robert  Bartlett  and  his 
wife,  Mary  Warren, 


fort,  to  investigate  every  case  where  charity  was  ad- 
ministered by  him.  In  the  winter  of  1856  he  estab- 
lished a  soup-house  for  the  poor,  which  had  his 
personal  supervision  in  all  its  details. 

Nor  did  he  simply  feed  the  hungry,  but  he  visited 
the  sick  and  afflicted,  and  administered  to  their  needs 
by  many  acts  of  kindness  and  sympathy.  His  in- 
terest in  and  sympathy  for  the  homeless  and  friend- 
less were  unbounded.  He  was  identified  from  the 
first  with  the  religious  progress  of  the  growing  town 
of  his  adoption,  having  been  active  in  the  building  of 
the  Stone  Church,  and  with  no  narrow  sectarian 
spirit  giving  of  his  means  and  influence  to  promote 
the  moral  and  spiritual  good  of  the  people. 

June  9,  1864,  Mr.  Bartlett  celebrated  his  golden 
wedding,  which  was  a  very  happy  and  memorable  oc- 
casion. In  the  summer  of  1861,  with  his  characteris- 
tic kindness,  he  was  on  his  way  to  the  residence  of 
his  sick  friend,  James  B.  Congdon,  to  try  to  induce 
him  to  drive  out  with  him  to  take  the  air,  when  by 
collision  with  a  runaway  team  he  was  thrown  to  the 
pavement,  an  accident  which  at  the  time  nearly  cost 
him  his  life,  and  from  which  he  never  wholly  re- 
covered. 

After  ten  years  of  weakness  and  yet  continued  use- 
fulness in  his  work  of  benevolence,  he  died  peace- 
fully Feb.  6,  1871,  lamented  not  alone  by  his  kindred 
and  friends,  but  by  none  more  deeply  than  the  poor 
of  the  city. 


CHARLES    H.    LEONARD. 

Charles  H.  Leonard,  son  of  George  and  Cynthia 
Leonard,  was  born  in  Middleborough,  Plymouth  Co., 
Mass.,  Sept.  23,  1814.  When  he  was  seven  years  of 
age  his  parents  removed  to  the  neighboring  town  of 
Rochester.  After  attending  the  public  schools  during 
the  winters,  he  entered  the  academy  at  Middleborough, 
a  school  of  excellent  repute,  the  advantages  of  which 
he  enjoyed  and  improved  for  three  years.  Like  most 
New  England  boys,  ambitious  and  self-reliant,  he  was 
eager  to  make  his  way  in  life,  and  took  the  usual  step 
of  engaging  as  a  clerk  in  a  country  store.  After  a 
year's  experience  there  he  spent  the  three  or  four 
years  following  in  the  counting-room  of  Mr.  Alfred 
Gibbs,  a  commission  merchant  in  New  Bedford,  where 
his  abilities  had  a  better  test  and  freer  scope. 

At  that  time  was  developed  what  was  not  inaptly 
termed  the  "  Western  fever,"  an  eager  and  impetuous 
rush  of  emigration  to  the  great  West  as  a  new  El 
Dorado.  Young  Leonard  took  the  disease,  but  in  so 
mild  a  form  that  a  year's  experience  cured  him,  and 
left  him  all  the  better  fitted  for  his  life-work.  Re- 
turning to  New  Bedford,  his  career  as  a  merchant  at 
once  began.  Intrusted  by  an  uncle  with  a  shipment 
of  oil  for  sale  in  New  York,  he  visited  that  city  and 
addressed  himself  to  the  discharge  of  his  commission. 
After  a  succession  of  disappointments  and  discourage- 
ments, and  when  he  had  concluded  to  give  up  his  en- 


■.v-sHV:  ■'."■■'■  =V3S 


'-^  >  y  K    '     '  >>       I  J        s   r 


NEW   BEDFORD. 


139 


terprise  as  a  failure,  a  fortunate  turn  of  events  en- 
abled him  to  compass  success.  A  change  of  wind, 
which  for  two  days  prevented  the  sailing  of  the  vessel 
in  which  the  oil  was  to  be  taken  back  to  New  Bed- 
lord,  not  only  secured  a  prosperous  issue  of  the  ven- 
ture, but,  as  he  was  fond  of  saving  in  after-life,  de- 
cided his  fortune  as  a  business  man. 

What  he  had  learned  in  that  brief  sojourn  of  New 
York  and  its  business  methods  fixed  his  resolve  to 
try  his  fortune  in  that  city,  and  in  1838  he  took  a 
store  on  Front  Street,  near  Roosevelt  Street,  and 
started  in  the  oil  trade.  Two  years  later  he  took  as 
partner  Mr.  Horatio  Leonard,  a  cousin,  removing  to 
140  Front  Street,  and  also  establishing  an  oil  manu- 
factory in  Brooklyn.  The  manufactory  was  unsuc- 
cessful, and  in  three  years  the  firm  failed  and  was 
dissolved.  Having  effected  a  settlement  with  the 
creditors  of  the  firm,  Mr.  Leonard  soon  embarked 
anew  and  alone  at  the  old  stand  in  the  manufacture 
and  sale  of  sperm  and  whale  oil  and  candles,  building 
up  an  extensive  and  prosperous  business,  and  build- 
ing, too,  what  is  rarer  and  better,  a  character  of  spot- 
less integrity. 

At  this  time  he  commenced  the  manufacture  of  oil 
and  candles  in  New  Bedford,  where  his  purchases  of 
crude  oil  were  mostly  made,  having  leased  what  were 
known  as  the  old  Marsh  Works  in  that  city.  There 
he  continued  the  manufacture  until  1853,  when  he 
removed  to  the  works  purchased  by  him  of  O.  & 
G.  0.  Crocker,  on  the  corner  of  South  Second  and 
South  Streets.  These  he  at  once  enlarged  to  double 
their  former  capacity,  fitted  them  with  new  and  im- 
proved machinery,  made  them  superior  in  every  re- 
spect to  any  other  establishment  of  the  kind,  managed 
them  to  the  close  of  his  life,  and  made  such  wise  pro- 
vision in  regard  to  them  in  his  will  that  their  reputa- 
tion has  since  been  fully  maintained. 

Though  Mr.  Leonard  never  entirely  withdrew  from 
active  business,  the  excellent  assistants  whom  he  had 
trained,  and  whose  affectionate  regard  and  devotion 
to  his  interests  he  had  won  by  years  of  considerate 
kindness,  relieved  him  of  attention  to  details,  and 
enabled  him  to  spend  most  of  his  summers  at  the  old 
homestead  in  Rochester.  This  he  transformed  into  a 
most  attractive  country  residence,  making  improve- 
ment- in  every  direction,  and  by  his  lavish  outlay  of 
money  giving  needed  employment  to  hundreds  of  his 
townsmen.  It  was  there,  in  his  pleasant  home,  sur- 
rounded by  those  who  best  knew  and  most  loved  him, 
in  the  midst  of  a  people  who  idolized  him  as  a  bene- 
factor and  a  cherished  friend,  that  on  the  24th  of 
October,  1868,  he  died. 

As  a  merchant,  Mr.  Leonard  exhibited  sagacity, 
breadth  of  view,  a  watchful  regard  to  details,  a  deli- 
cate sense  of  honor  in  all  his  transactions,  and  un- 
swerving fidelity  to  every  engagement.  His  word 
was  as  good  as  his  bond,  and  that  was  equal  to  gold. 
Bold  in  his  operations,  he  was  at  the  same  time  cau- 
tious and  conservative;  and  these  operations  were  al- 


ways within  the  limits  of  his  legitimate  business. 
He  yielded  to  no  temptations  of  profits  from  outside 
ventures  and  speculations,  but  confined  himself  to 
the  path  in  which  he  was  winning  fortune  and  repu- 
tation. He  was  exact,  but  not  exacting,  claiming  his 
just  dues  to  a  penny,  but  always  liberal  and  indulgent 
to  an  unfortunate  debtor.  He  never  ignored  the  sa- 
credness  of  pecuniary  obligations,  or  rested  in  the  easy 
faith  that  a  compromise  with  a  creditor  or  a  discharge 
by  a  court  of  insolvency  is  tantamount  to  payment. 
When  years  of  patient  and  prosperous  endeavor 
brought  him  the  means,  he  paid  to  his  early  credi- 
tors every  mill  that  was  due  to  them,  principal  and 
interest. 

In  social  life  Mr.  Leonard  was  a  great  favorite. 
Of  fine  person,  winning  manners,  and  pleasing  ad- 
dress, equable  in  temperament  and  kindly  in  dispo- 
sition, unselfish  and  generous,  he  could  not  but  make 
friends.  He  did  good  as  he  had  opportunity,  and  he 
made  the  opportunity.  It  was  not  alone  in  the  exer- 
cise of  an  enlightened  public  spirit,  in  aiding  religious, 
educational,  and  charitable  institutions,  or  in  the  be- 
stowment  of  alms  that  his  benevolence  showed  itself. 
"The  cause  which  he  knew  not  he  searched  out;" 
he  anticipated  needs  almost  before  their  pressure  was 
felt  by  the  sufferer,  and  sweetened  his  gifts  by  a  price- 
less sympathy.  He  was  fortunate  in  his  domestic  rela- 
tions. Of  his  marriage  one  competent  to  judge  says 
it  was  "  a  union  which  proved  uncommonly  felicitous, 
and  to  which,  by  reason  of  its  sympathies,  its  happy 
influence,  and  encouragement,  must  be  attributed  no 
small  part  of  the  noble  results  of  his  life." 

Religion  added  to  the  native  graces  of  the  man. 
"  His  religious  character,"  says  Rev.  George  L.  Pren- 
tiss, with  whose  church  in  New  York  he  united,  and 
who,  both  in  New  Bedford  and  New  York,  knew  him 
intimately,  "  as  it  unfolded,  was  marked  by  the  same 
attractive  and  solid  traits  which  distinguished  the 
man.  His  piety  was  not  demonstrative,  it  was  rather 
of  a  shrinking  and  reticent  temper;  but  it  gave 
ample  proof  of  its  sincerity  and  power  by  the  benign 
and  excellent  fruits  that  adorned  its  path." 


HON.   JOSEPH    GRINNELL. 

Hon.  Joseph  Grinnell,  our  venerable  citizen,  pro- 
foundly respected  in  the  community,  brings  to  the 
discharge  of  his  daily  duties  that  clearness  of  mind 
and  great  practical  judgment  for  which  he  has  been 
so  distinguished.  He  was  born  in  New  Bedford  on 
,  the  17th  of  November,  1788.  His  father  was  Capt. 
Cornelius  Grinnell,  who  had  in  the  Revolution  served 
his  country  on  land  and  on  the  sea.  After  several 
years  spent  as  commander  in  the  merchant  service  he 
established  himself  in  business  in  New  Bedford,  where 
he  died  in  1850,  in  the  ninety-third  year  of  his  age, 
honored  and  respected.  His  mother  was  Silvia  How- 
land,  to  whose  lovely  character  and  steady  discharge 
of  duty  her  children  were  largely  indebted  for  the 


140 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


success  and  honors  to  which  they  have  arrived.  She 
deceased  Aug.  1,  1837,  in  the  seventy-second  year  of 
her  age. 

Mr.  Grinnell  commenced  his  mercantile  life  as 
clerk  to  his  father  and  uncle  on  Central  wharf  in 
this  city.  At  twenty  years  of  age  he  was  appointed 
deputy  collector  and  surveyor  of  this  port.  In  1810 
he  commenced  business  in  New  York,  in  company 
with  his  uncle  John  H.  Howland,  under  the  firm  of 
Howland  &  Grinnell.  Their  business  was  very  suc- 
cessful until  the  war  of  1812,  when  nearly  all  of  their 
vessels  were  captured  and  condemned.  In  1814  this 
firm  was  dissolved. 

In  1815  he  formed  a  copartnership  with  his  cousin, 
Capt.  Preserved  Fish.  The  firm-name  was  Fish  & 
Grinnell.  Capt.  Fish  continued  as  partner  until 
1825.  Upon  his  retiring  Mr.  Grinnell  admitted  his 
brothers,  Henry  and  Moses  H.,  as  copartners  under 
the  style  of  Fish,  Grinnell  &  Co. 

At  the  close  of  1828,  his  health  becoming  impaired, 
he  withdrew  from  the  firm. 

Mr.  Robert  B.  Minturn,  a  brother-in-law  of  Mr. 
Henry  Grinnell,  was  admitted  as  a  partner,  under  the 
style  of  Grinnell,  Minturn  &  Co.,  now  world-wide  in 
reputation. 

Early  in  1829,  with  his  wife  and  adopted  daughter, 
he  sailed  for  Europe,  and  returned  in  the  latter  part 
of  1830,  when  he  concluded  to  settle  in  his  native 
town.  He  built  the  elegant  mansion  in  which  he 
resides  in  1831-32.  At  the  same  time  he  contracted 
with  Messrs.  Benjamin  Barstow  &  Sons,  of  Matta- 
poisett,  to  build  the  ship  "  Oneida,"  and  with  Messrs. 
Jethro  &  Zachariah  Hillman  to  build  the  ship 
"  George  Washington."  The  former  was  employed 
in  the  China  trade,  and  the  latter  in  the  New  York 
and  Liverpool  line  of  packets,  both  vessels  by  their 
good  qualities  adding  to  the  high  reputation  of  the 
builders. 

In  1832  the  Marine  Bank,  now  the  First  National, 
was  chartered,  and  unexpectedly  to  Mr.  Grinnell  he 
was  elected  president.  Under  his  administration  it 
proved  very  successful.  He  continued  in  office  until 
1878,  when  he  insisted  upon  being  relieved.  He  still 
continues  as  a  director,  and  is  regular  at  the  meetings 
of  the  board. 

In  1838  a  movement  was  made  towards  building  a 
railroad  from  this  city  to  Taunton,  to  form  a  through 
connection  to  Boston  and  Providence,  and  a  charter 
obtained.  At  the  organization  of  the  company,  Mr. 
Grinnell  was  urged  to  accept  the  presidency,  and 
finally  accepted  and  continued  at  its  head  as  long  as 
it  remained  a  separate  corporation.  The  same  year  he 
was  chosen  a  councilor  of  Massachusetts,  and  re-elected 
in  1839  and  1840,  when  he  declined  serving  longer. 

In  1840  he  was  chosen  one  of  the  directors  of  the 
Boston  and  Providence  Railroad,  and  in  1841  its 
president,  in  which  office  he  continued  until  1846, 
when  he  declined  serving  longer,  but  continued  as 
director  until  1863,  when  he  retired  from  the  board. 


In  1843,  Mr.  Grinnell  was  elected  to  Congress  from 
this  district  to  serve  the  unexpired  term  of  Hon. 
Barker  Burnell,  who  had  deceased,  and  was  re-elected 
for  the  three  succeeding  terms,  making  a  service  of 
eight  years  in  the  House  of  Representatives.  He 
declined  serving  longer. 

It  would  fill  too  large  a  space  to  follow  him  in  his 
Congressional  career.  His  eminent  practical  ability 
and  large  knowledge  of  mercantile  affairs  made  his 
services  very  valuable.  He  was  on  the  Committees 
of  Post-Offices  and  Post  Roads,  Manufactures  and 
Commerce.  He  had  the  respect  of  the  whole  House, 
and  every  bill  introduced  by  him  was  passed,  notwith- 
standing a  strong  opposition  to  some  of  the  measures 
he  advocated. 

To  him  we  are  indebted  for  the  first  reduction  on 
postage  to  five  cents  upon  a  single  letter  to  any  place 
in  the  United  States  ;  for  the  ventilation  of  ships,  and 
hence  the  disappearance  of  ship  fever;  for  the  estab- 
lishment of  life-boats  at  various  stations  upon  the 
coast,  and  for  various  other  matters  of  national  bene- 
fit. During  his  service  upon  the  Committee  of  Manu- 
factures his  mind  was  strongly  impressed  of  the  neces- 
sity of  some  other  business  than  that  of  the  whale 
fisheries  being  introduced  into  his  native  town.  He 
saw  clearly  that  the  time  was  fast  approaching  when 
that  pursuit  would  become  precarious  and  unprofit- 
able, and  if  there  were  no  other  calling  offered,  that 
the  town  would  gradually  decay  and  be  deserted  by 
the  rising  generation. 

He  took  occasion  to  refer  to  it  in  conversation  with 
the  leading  merchants  here,  and  in  the  course  of  a 
year  or  two  a  strong  feeling  grew  up  in  favor  of 
investing  some  of  the  surplus  wealth  in  manufac- 
tures. 

A  charter  was  obtained  in  1856  for  a  cotton-factory, 
but  Mr.  Grinnell  at  that  time  declined  embarking  in 
the  enterprise  on  account  of  the  high  price  of  every- 
thing connected  with  the  business.  In  1848  a  reaction 
took  place,  material  and  machinery  became  cheap, 
and  he  then  came  forward  and  urged  the  erection  of 
a  factory.  A  charter  was  obtained,  and  a  capital  of 
one  hundred  and  sixty  thousand  dollars  subscribed, 
with  the  understanding  that  he  should  be  the  presi- 
dent, although  reluctant  to  accept  the  position,  as  he 
had  no  practical  knowledge  of  the  business.  Having 
accepted,  however,  he  gave  his  whole  mind  to  the 
work.  The  kind  and  quality  of  goods  to  be  manu- 
factured was  mainly  the  decision  of  its  president,  and 
to  that  decision  probably  is  owing  the  great  success 
that  has  attended  the  enterprise.  A  more  detailed 
description  is  given  in  the  history  of  the  Wamsutta 
Mills.  He  still  remains  president,  and  daily  gives 
his  attention  to  the  general  supervision  of  its  affairs. 

Mr.  Grinnell  has  been  twice  married.  His  first 
wife  was  Sarah,  the  daughter  of  Mr.  Abraham  Rus- 
sell of  this  town,  to  whom  he  was  married  May  14, 
1812.  For  fifty  years  she  was  his' helpmate,  filling 
her  place  with  a  dignity  and  kindness  that  endeared 


\ 


NEW   BEDFORD. 


141 


her  to  every  one  that  approached  her.  She  deceased 
July  27,  1862. 

His  second  wife  was  Mrs.  Rebecca  Kinsman,  daugh- 
ter of  Mr.  Abijah  Chace,  of  Salem,  a  lady  of  superior 
mental  ability,  greatly  beloved  by  all  her  friends,  and 
admired  by  a  large  circle  of  acquaintances.  With 
her  he  again  visited  Europe  in  1869,  partly  in  the  in- 
terests of  the  Wamsutta  Mills,  and  partly  to  gratify 
the  strong  desire  of  his  wife  and  himself  to  attend  the 
yearly  meeting  of  Friends  in  Dublin  and  London. 
They  returned  in  the  fall  after  a  six  months'  absence. 

Mrs.  Rebecca  Grinnell  deceased  July  6, 1882.  His 
great  age  sits  lightly  upon  him.  His  long  life  is  al- 
most coeval  with  his  native  town,  and  he  has  seen  it 
grow  from  a  small  village  to  its  present  proportions. 
Its  industries,  business  and  wealth  have  all  been 
created  within  his  knowledge,  and  many  of  its  enter- 
prises have  received  his  fostering  care  and  assistance. 
He  has  mingled  freely  with  the  leading  men  of  the 
nation,  and  is  widely  known  and  honored. 

Strict  integrity,  a  prompt  discharge  of  duty,  a  clear 
head,  and  strong  common  sense  have  made  him  our 
foremost  citizen  clarum  et  venerabile  nomen. 


THE    ROTCH   FAMILY    OF    NANTUCKET   AND    NEW 
BEDFORD. 

The  ancestors  of  this  family,  which  has  been  so 
prominently  connected  with  the  early  history  of 
Nantucket  and  New  Bedford,  came  from  Salisbury, 
England,  and  settled  first  in  Provincetown,  Scituate, 
and  other  places  in  Eastern  Massachusetts.  The  first 
of  the  name  who  is  mentioned  among  the  genealogi- 
cal records  of  New  England  was  William  Rotch,  who 
was  bo'rn  in  Salisbury  in  1670,  and  came  to  America 
about  the  year  1700  or  soon  after,  settling  in  Prov- 
incetown. The  records  show  that  early  in  the 
eighteenth  century  he  was  a  prominent  citizen  and 
took  an  active  part  in  town  matters.  His  name  often 
appears  in  subscriptions  for  valuable  publications, 
and  among  the  archives  of  Massachusetts  is  a  petition 
presented  in  1741  to  the  Legislature  by  citizens  of 
Provincetown,  in  which  William  Rotch  signs  first. 

William  Rotch,  of  Provincetown,  had  two  sons, 
Joseph  and  Benjamin.  The  former  lived  in  Brain- 
tree  and  Falmouth,  and  afterwards  went  to  Nan- 
tucket, where  he  married  Love  Macy,  a  descendant 
of  Thomas  Macy,  the  first  immigrant  to  Nantucket, 
in  1659.  From  Joseph  Rotch  and  Love  Macy  are 
descended  the  Rotches  of  Nantucket  and  New  Bed- 
ford, while  Benjamin,  the  second  son  of  William, 
was  the  ancestor  of  the  Provincetown  branch,  whose 
descendants  now  live  at  Easton,  Mass.,  Mount  Ver- 
non, N.  H.,  Martha's  Vineyard,  and  other  places. 

Joseph  Rotch  (1704-84)  was  an  enterprising  mer- 
chant of  Nantucket,  and  was  held  in  high  estimation 
by  his  fellow-citizens.  In  1765  he  removed  to  New 
Bedford,  whose  beautiful  harbor  he  selected  as  being 
especially  eligible  and  advantageous  for  the  prosecu- 


tion of  the  whale-fishery.  "  This  event,"  as  stated 
by  one  of  the  historians  of  New  Bedford,  "  was  of 
the  utmost  importance,  and  this  acquisition  of  capi- 
tal, accompanied  with  the  ripe  experience,  clear- 
headed sagacity,  and  skilled  methods  of  this  accom- 
plished merchant,  gave  an  impetus  to  the  infant 
industry  of  New  Bedford,  which  insured  its  perma- 
nence and  success."  New  Bedford  was  originally  a 
part  of  Dartmouth,  but  as  a  little  village  had  already 
begun  to  appear,  it  was  thought  necessary  to  give  it 
a  particular  designation  from  the  rest  of  the  old 
township;  and  upon  a  public  occasion  Joseph  Rotch 
suggested  that  the  name  should  be  "  Bedford,"  in 
honor  of  Joseph  Russell,  who  bore  the  family  name 
of  the  Duke  of  Bedford,  which  was  readily  adopted 
by  the  rest  of  the  inhabitants. 

Mr.  Rotch  purchased  from  Joseph  Russell,  besides 
several  smaller  lots,  ten  acres  of  land  in  one  tract  in 
the  centre  of  what  is  now  the  business  portion  of  the 
city  of  New  Bedford,  and  was  identified  in  many 
ways  with  the  early  history  of  the  town.  His  house, 
situated  on  what  was  formerly  known  as  Rotch's  Hill, 
Water  Street,  was  burned  by  the  British  troops  during 
the  Revolutionary  war. 

His  family  consisted  of  three  sons,  William,  Joseph, 
and  Francis. 

William  Rotch  (1734-1828)  was  born  in  Nantucket, 
where  he  lived  until  the  close  of  the  war.  His  com- 
parative wealth,  integrity,  and  heroic  devotion  to 
what  he  believed  was  right,  rendered  him  a  conspicu- 
ous man  in  the  community,  and  enabled  him  to 
render  important  services  to  his  fellow-citizens, 
whether  he  pleaded  the  cause  of  the  helpless  and 
destitute  upon  the  quarter-deck  of  a  British  man-of- 
war,  or  before  the  Provincial  Council  at  Boston. 

In  a  sketch  of  his  personal  recollections  during  the 
war  he  said,  "  From  the  year  1775  to  the  end  of  the 
war  we  were  in  continual  embarrassments.  Our  ves- 
sels were  captured  by  the  English,  and  we  were  some- 
times in  danger  of  being  starved.  The  exposed  situ- 
ation of  the  island  made  it  extremely  difficult  to  elude 
the  numerous  cruisers  that  were  always  in  the  vicinity, 
and  months  would  frequently  elapse  before  any  sup- 
plies could  be  obtained  from  the  main  land." 

The  troubles  of  Nantucket  did  not  end  with  the 
war,  the  whale  fishery  being  ruined  by  the  heavy 
"  alien  duty"  of  eighteen  pounds  sterling  per  ton  im- 
posed upon  American  oil  for  the  protection  of  British 
subjects,  Great  Britain  being  then  the  "  only  market 
of  any  consequence  for  sperm  oil."  Sperm  oil  was 
sold  at  Nantucket  after  the  peace  at  seventeen  pounds 
per  ton,  which  before  the  war  was  worth  thirty  pounds. 
Mr.  Rotch  estimates  the  losses  he  had  sustained  by 
captures  during  the  Revolutionary  war  at  sixty  thou- 
sand dollars,  and  for  two  years  after  the  war  the 
business  was  continued  at  a  certain  loss.  In  this  des- 
perate state  of  things  Mr.  Rotch  saw  no  alternative 
for  the  prosecution  of  his  business  but  to  proceed  to 
England  and  endeavor  to  establish  the  whale  fishery 


142 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


there.  He  had  several  interviews  with  William  Pitt, 
the  chancellor  of  the  Exchequer,  and  with  Lord 
Hawkshury,  but  they  would  not  consent  to  the  intro- 
duction into  England  of  any  American-built  ships. 
Mr.  Rotch  proceeded  to  France  and  laid  his  proposi- 
tions before  the  comptroller  of  finance,  the  minister 
of  foreign  affairs,  and  other  officials,  who  extended  a 
cordial  welcome,  and  the  business  was  finally  estab- 
lished at  Dunkirk. 

"  Full  of  most  interesting  incident  is  the  story  of 
William  Rotch's  residence  in  France.  The  striking 
and  instructive  aspect  of  his  life  while  there  is  that 
perfect  harmony  and  consistency  of  character  main- 
tained by  him  in  all  the  circumstances  in  which  he 
was  placed.  The  French  revolution  brought  suffer- 
ing and  danger  to  him  and  his  family,  but  there  was 
no  wavering  in  the  firmness  with  which  he  maintained 
the  principles  of  his  faith, — as  true  to  him  when  the 
mob  howled  about  his  dwelling  at  Dunkirk  as  when 
he  plead  the  cause  of  Christian  liberty  before  the 
National  Assembly  at  Paris,  with  Mirabeau  as  its 
president." 

True  to  his  Quaker  principles,  when  he  appeared 
before  the  National  Assembly  he  refused  to  take  off 
his  hat  or  to  wear  one.  of  the  cockades  which  were 
considered  necessary  for  every  one  in  order  to  avert 
suspicion  on  the  part  of  the  lower  classes. 

"  In  the  course  of  the  year  1792,"  he  writes,  "fresh 
trials  awaited  us.  A  great  insurrection  took  place  in 
Dunkirk,  founded  upon  a  rumor  of  the  exportation 
of  corn.  Several  houses  were  attacked,  their  furni- 
ture totally  destroyed,  and  many  of  our  friends  but 
just  escaped  with  their  lives.  Martial  law  was  pro- 
claimed, and  whenever  five  men  were  seen  together  in 
the  evening  or  night  orders  were  given  to  fire  upon 
them.  Upon  the  announcement  of  a  victory  of  the 
French  over  the  Austrians  a  general  illumination 
was  ordered,  but  as  we  could  take  no  part  in  war,  we 
refused  to  join  in  rejoicings  for  victory.  'Well,' 
said  the  mayor,  '  keep  to  your  principles.  Your 
houses  are  your  own,  but  the  streets  are  ours,  and  we 
shall  pursue  such  measures  as  we  think  proper  for  the 
tpeace  of  this  town.'  We  retired,  though  not  without 
some  fear  that  they  would  send  an  armed  force.  How- 
ever, they  took  another  method,  and  sent  men  to  erect 
a  frame  before  our  house  and  hang  a  dozen  lamps 
upon  it.  The  mayor  had  also  the  great  kindness  to 
have  a  similar  frame  with  lamps  placed  before  his 
own  house,  in  addition  to  the  usual  full  illumination, 
and  he  placed  a  man  in  front  of  our  house  to  assure 
the  people  that  we  were  not  opposed  to  the  govern- 
ment." 

In  1793,  when  war  was  imminent  between  England 
and  France,  it  became  necessary  to  leave  Dunkirk  to 
prevent  the  capture  of  the  ships  by  the  English.  Mr. 
Rotch  writes  as  follows:  "Two  of  our  ships  were  cap- 
tured full  of  oil  and  condemned,  but  we  recovered 
both  by  my  being  in  England,  where  I  arrived  two 
weeks  before  the  war  took  place. 


"Louis  XVI.  was  guillotined  two  days  after  I  left 
France,  an  event  solemnly  anticipated  and  deeply 
deplored  by  many  who  dared  not  manifest  what  they 
felt." 

He  finally  left  Europe,  July  24,  1794,  with  his 
family  in  the  ship  "  Barclay,"  and  after  a  long  passage 
of  sixty-one  days  once  more  reached  America.  After 
a  year's  residence  in  Nantucket,  he  removed  to  New 
Bedford  in  1795,  where  he  remained  till  his  death,  in 
1828,  in  his  ninety-fifth  year.  His  residence  was  the 
"Mansion  House,"  at  the  corner  of  Union  and  North 
Second  Streets. 

The  author  of  "The  History  of  New  Bedford" 
speaks  of  him  as  follows:  "His  venerable  and  patri- 
archal appearance  during  the  latter  part  of  his  life  is 
well  remembered  by  the  writer.  Tall  and  dignified 
in  his  person,  his  face  expressive  of  benevolence,  with 
his  long  silvery  locks  and  the  drab-colored  suit  of  the 
style  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  combined  with  his 
noble  and  philanthropic  character,  rendered  him  an 
object  of  profound  respect  to  his  fellow-citizens,  as 
well  as  to  his  numerous  friends  among  the  distin- 
guished merchants  and  men  in  public  life  at  home 
and  abroad.  He  was  a  fine  specimen  of  a  merchant, 
a  man  of  the  strictest  integrity,  frank,  generous,  high- 
minded  in  its  truest  sense,  of  broad  and  liberal  views, 
a  friend  of  the  oppressed  and  down-trodden,  in  fine,  a 
more  perfect  character  it  has  never  fallen  to  our  lot  to 
know,  and  is  probably  rarely  to  be  met  with  in  any 
community." 

William  Rotch  was  the  owner  of  the  famous  ship 
"  Bedford,"  which  first  displayed  the  American  flag 
in  British  waters,  an  event  which  is  thus  described  in 
Barnard's  "History  of  England:" 

"The  ship  'Bedford,'  Capt.  Moores,  belonging  to 
the  Massachusetts,  arrived  in  the  Downs  on  the  3d  of 
February,  1783,  and  was  reported  at  the  custom-house 
on  the  6th  instant.  She  was  not  allowed  regular  en- 
try until  some  consultation  had  taken  place  between 
the  commissioners  of  the  customs  and  the  Lords  of 
Council,  on  account  of  the  many  acts  of  Parliament 
in  force  against  the  rebels  of  America.  She  was 
loaded  with  four  hundred  and  eighty-seven  butts  of 
whale-oil,  is  American  built,  manned  wholly  by 
American  seamen,  and  belongs  to  the  island  of  Nan- 
tucket, in  Massachusetts.  This  is  the  first  vessel 
which  has  displayed  the  thirteen  rebellious  stripes  of 
America  in  any  British  port." 

Francis  Rotch  (1750-1822),  the  younger  brother  of 
William,  was  also  a  successful  merchant  and  the 
owner  of  several  ships,  among  which  was  the  "  Dart- 
mouth," from  which  the  tea  was  thrown  overboard  in 
Boston  harbor  Dec.  16,  1773. 

It  is  a  remarkable  coincidence  that,  by  two  occur- 
rences associated  with  the  beginning  and  close  of  the 
war,  the  two  ships,  "  Dartmouth"  and  "  Bedford," 
owned  by  the  two  brothers,  Francis  and  William 
Rotch,  should  have  thus  made  memorable  the  names 
of  the  mother  town  and  the  infant  village. 


NEW  BEDFORD. 


143 


Nancy  Rotch,  the  widow  of  Francis,  lived  during 
the  latter  years  of  her  life  on  the  corner  of  Walnut 
and  Sixth  Streets  in  New  Bedford. 

William  Rotch,  Jr.  (1759-1850),  was  born  at  Nan- 
tucket, and  moved  to  New  Bedford  soon  after  the 
Revolutionary  war,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of 
his  life.  He  is  well  remembered  by  many  persons 
now  living  as  one  of  the  prominent  merchants  of 
New  Bedford  during  the  first  half  of  the  present  cen- 
tury. He  was  one  of  the  incorporators  and  the  first 
president  of  the  New  Bedford  Institution  for  Savings 
in  1825.  He  subscribed  nearly  half  of  the  money 
raised  for  the  erection  of  the  Friends'  Academy, 
which  was  built  in  1811,  upon  land  given  for  the  pur- 
pose by  his  father,  and  was  the  first  treasurer  of  the 
board  of  trustees,  his  father  being  the  first  president. 

His  residence  for  many  years  was  the  building  now 
occupied  by  the  Bethel  Boarding-House,  then  situ- 
ated at  the  corner  of  William  and  Water  Streets, 
nearly  opposite  the  Merchants'  National  Bank.  He 
lived  afterwards  on  County  Street,  his  house  and 
grounds  being  purchased  after  his  death  by  the  late 
Edward  C.  Jones. 

One  of  his  especial  characteristics  was  his  hospi- 
tality towards  strangers  coming  to  New  Bedford, 
whether  rich  or  poor,  whom  he  entertained  with  sim- 
plicity and  courtliness. 

He,  as  well  as  his  father,  was  an  earnest  advocate 
of  the  anti-slavery  cause,  and  assisted  many  a  bond- 
man to  obtain  his  freedom. 

Benjamin  Rotch,  the  second  son  of  William  Rotch, 
Sr.,  was  born  at  Nantucket,  and  accompanied  his 
father  to  England  and  France  in  1785.  After  the 
outbreak  of  the  French  revolution,  when  his  father 
returned  to  America,  Benjamin  went  to  England,  and 
soon  after  to  Milford  Haven,  where  he  established  the 
whale-fishery  under  the  auspices  of  the  British  gov- 
ernment. He  afterwards  went  to  London,  where  he 
and  his  wife  lived  during  the  remainder  of  their 
lives. 

Two  of  the  children  of  Benjamin — Francis  and 
Eliza — came  to  America,  where  they  married  and  re- 
mained until  their  death.  Francis  married  Ann 
Morgan,  sister  of  Charles  W.  Morgan,  of  New  Bed- 
iord,  and  Eliza  married  Professor  John  Farrar,  a  cele- 
brated mathematician  of  Cambridge. 

Mrs.  Farrar  (1792-1870)  was  an  authoress  of  some 
note.  Among  her  earliest  publications  are  "  The 
Children's  Robinson  Crusoe,"  "  Life  of  Lafayette," 
"  Howard,"  and  "  Youth's  Letter  Writer."  Her  most 
popular  work,  "  Young  Lady's  Friend"  (1837),  passed 
through  many  editions  in  the  United  States  and  Eng- 
land. Her  "  Recollections  of  Seventy  Years,"  pub- 
lished in  1865,  contains  many  interesting  anecdotes 
of  the  distinguished  persons  whom  she  met  during 
her  eventful  life,  and  she  was  considered  one  of  the 
most  accomplished  and  refined  women  of  her  time. 

The  second  son  of  Benjamin  Rotch,  named  also 
Benjamin,  was  a  barrister  in  London,  a  member  of 


Parliament,  and   chairman   for  several   years  of  the 
board  of  Middlesex  magistrates  in  London. 

The  youngest  son,  Thomas  Dickason,  was  brought 
up  as  a  civil  engineer,  and  was  noted  for  his  inven- 
tive ability.  His  son,  William  D.,  is  a  distinguished 
barrister,  formerly  of  London,  now  of  Liverpool,  and 
is  a  great  admirer  of  American  institutions  and  re- 
publican principles. 

William  Rotch,  Jr.  (1759-1850),  married  Elizabeth 
Rodman,  of  Newport,  R.  L,  and  had  five  children, — 
Sarah,  who  married  James  Arnold,  of  New  Bedford; 
William  R.,  who  married  Caroline  Stockton,  of 
Princeton,  N.  J. ;  Joseph,  who  married  Ann  Smith, 
of  Philadelphia  ;  Thomas,  who  married  Susan  Ridge- 
way,  of  Philadelphia  ;  and  Mary,  who  married  Charles 
Fleming  and  afterwards  George  B.  Emerson.  Wil- 
liam R.  Rotch  had  two  children,  Horatio  and  Mary 
(who  married  Capt.  Charles  Hunter,  of  Newport). 

Joseph  Rotch  (1790-1839)  had  five  children- 
Elizabeth  (who  married  Joseph  Angier),  Benjamin 
S.,  William  J.,  Rodman,  and  Joanna. 

Benjamin  S.  Rotch  (1817-82)  graduated  at  Har- 
vard in  1838,  he  and  his  brother  William  being  the 
two  marshals  of  the  class  which  numbered  among  its 
members  Lowell,  Eustis,  Devens,  Story,  and  many 
other  well-known  men.  In  1846  he  married  the  eldest 
daughter  of  the  Hon.  Abbott  Lawrence,  and  accom- 
panied the  latter  to  England  when  he  was  appointed 
our  minister  at  the  court  of  St.  James.  It  was  dur- 
ing this  and  subsequent  visits  to  Europe  that  he  had 
the  opportunity  to  improve  and  cultivate  that  interest 
in  the  fine  arts  which  rendered  his  influence  in  artis- 
tic matters  most  valuable.  His  careful  study  of  for- 
eign collections,  supplemented  by  practical  work, 
made  him  a  competent  and  fastidious  critic,  as  well 
as  a  painter  whose  landscapes  have  shown  to  advan- 
tage in  many  local  exhibitions.  He  was  a  trustee  of 
the  Boston  Athenamm  and  of  the  Museum  of  Fine 
Arts,  and  chairman  of  its  committee.  He  also  filled 
most  successfully  many  other  public  and  private  offices 
which  were  confided  to  him. 

He  had  seven  children, — Edith,  Arthur,  Aimee 
(who  married  Winthrop  Sargent),  Catharine  (de- 
ceased), Annie  L.,  William  (deceased),  and  Abbott 
Lawrence. 

Arthur  Rotch  graduated  at  Harvard  in  1871,  and 
then  pursued  a  thorough  course  of  architecture  at  the 
Ecole  des  Beaux  Arts"  at  Paris.  On  his  return 
from  abroad  he  settled  in  Boston,  where  he  has  been 
very  successful  in  the  practice  of  his  profession,  and 
has  paid  considerable  attention  to  matters  pertaining 
to  art  and  music. 

Abbott  Lawrence  Rotch  at  an  early  age  exhibited 
a  decided  taste  for  mechanical  engineering,  and  is  now 
a  student  in  the  Institute  of  Technology  in  Boston. 

William  J.  Rotch  graduated  at  Harvard  in  1838,  in 
the  same  class  with  his  brother  Benjamin,  with  whom 
he  was  afterwards  associated  in  many  business  enter- 
prises.    Together  with  L.  A.  Plummer,  of  New  Bed- 


144 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


ford,  they  founded  the  New  Bedford  Cordage  Com- 
pany, which  has  always  heen  one  of  the  most  success- 
ful corporations  of  that  city.  In  later  years  the  two 
brothers  were  among  the  first  to  discover  and  develop 
the  value  of  the  McKay  sewing-machine,  which  has 
since  won  a  world-wide  reputation. 

William  J.  Rotch  has  been  prominently  connected 
with  nearly  all  the  important  business  enterprises  of 
New  Bedford  for  many  years,  and  has  held  numerous 
offices,  both  public  and  private,  of  honor  and  trust. 
In  1852,  at  the  early  age  of  thirty-three,  he  was  elected 
mayor  of  the  city.  He  has  been  treasurer  of  the 
board  of  trustees  of  the  Friends'  Academy  since  1850, 
and  has  been  a  director  in  many  manufacturing 
companies,  railroad  corporations,  and  banks  in  New 
Bedford  and  Boston. 

In  1842  he  married  Emily  Morgan,  daughter  of 
Charles  W.  Morgan,  of  New  Bedford,  who  died  in 
1861.  They  had  eight  children,  Charles  M.  (de- 
ceased), William,  Helen,  Morgan,  Isabel  M.  (who 
married  Pierre  Severance),  Sarah  B.  (who  married 
Frederick  Swift),  Emily  M.,  and  Anna  S.  In  1866  he 
married  Clara  Morgan,  and  they  had  one  daughter, 
Mary  R. 

After  1876  Mr.  Botch  lived  in  Boston  during  the 
winter,  and  in  1881  he  went  abroad  with  his  wife  and 
four  daughters,  returning  in  the  fall  of  1882.  His 
residence  on  County  Street,  in  New  Bedford,  sur- 
rounded by  extensive  lawns  and  gardens,  which  cover 
several  acres  near  the  centre  of  the  city,  has  for  many 
years  been  considered  one  of  the  finest  in  Southern 
Massachusetts,  and  when  occupied  by  its  former 
owner,  James  Arnold,  its  spacious  grounds  and  green- 
houses, filled  with  rare  exotic  plants,  were  among  the 
principal  objects  of  interest  to  all  strangers  who  visited 
the  city. 

William  Botch  graduated  at  Harvard  in  1865,  and 
after  a  three-years'  course  at  the  "  Ecole  Impe- 
riale  Centrale  des  Arts  et  Manufactures"  at  Paris,  re- 
ceived the  diploma  of  "  Ingenieur  civil"  in  1869.  In 
1871  he  was  appointed  assistant  engineer  of  the  Fall 
River  Water-Works,  the  construction  of  which  was 
begun  a  few  months  later;  and  in  1874  he  was  ap- 
pointed chief  engineer  and  superintendent,  retaining 
the  position  until  the  completion  of  the  works.  He 
resigned  this  office  in  1880,  and  removed  to  Boston, 
where  he  was  appointed  consulting  engineer  and  pur- 
chasing agent  of  the  Mexican  Central  Railway  Com- 
pany. He  has  been  consulting  engineer  and  treasurer 
of  several  other  railroad  corporations  during  the  last 
three  years. 

In  1873  he  married  Mary  Botch  Eliot,  daughter  of 
Hon.  Thomas  D.  Eliot,  M.  C,  and  has  had  five  chil- 
dren,— Edith  Eliot,  William,  Jr.,  Charles  Morgan, 
Mary  Eliot  (deceased),  and  Clara  Morgan. 

Morgan  Botch  graduated  at  Harvard  in  1871,  and 
has  since  been  engaged  in  business  in  New  Bedford 
as  a  cotton-broker.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Common  Council,  is  a  director  of  the  National  Bank  of 


Commerce  of  New  Bedford,  and  of  several  other  cor- 
porations. In  1879  he  married  Josephine  G.,  daugh- 
ter of  Joseph  G.  Grinnell,  of  New  Bedford,  and  has 
had  two  children,  Arthur  Grinnell  and  Emily  Mor- 
gan. 

Rodman  Rotch  (1821-54)  left  New  Bedford  at  an 
early  age,  and  settled  in  Philadelphia,  where  he 
died  at  the  age  of  thirty-three.  He  married  Helen 
Morgan,  daughter  of  Thomas  W.  Morgan,  of  Phila- 
delphia, and  had  two  children,  Anna  S.  and  Thomas 
Morgan. 

Thomas  Morgan  Rotch  graduated  at  Harvard  in 
1870,  and,  after  studying  three  years  at  the  Harvard 
Medical  School,  and  holding  the  position  of  house 
physician  at  the  Massachusetts  General  Hospital  for 
one  year,  took  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine.  He 
next  studied  for  two  years  in  the  hospitals  of  Ger- 
many and  France,  and  then  returned  to  Boston, 
where  he  began  to  practice  in  1876.  He  was  ap- 
pointed Instructor  in  Diseases  of  Children  in  the 
Harvard  Medical  School,  and  has  since  held  positions 
in  the  Boston  Dispensary,  the  Boston  City  Hospital, 
and  the  Children's  Hospital.  In  1874  he  married 
Helen,  daughter  of  William  J.  Botch,  of  New  Bed- 
ford, and  has  one  son,  Thomas  Morgan  Rotch,  Jr. 

Seven  generations  of  this  family  have  lived  upon 
the  soil  of  New  Bedford  from  the  time  when  Joseph 
Botch  purchased  the  "  ten-acre  lot"  in  1765,  and  sug- 
gested the  name  of  the  town,  and  probably  no  one 
family  has  had  a  greater  influence  in  developing  its 
character  and  shaping  its  history. 


JONATHAN  BOURNE. 
Jonathan  Bourne,  son  of  Jonathan  and  Hannah 
Tobey  Bourne,  was  born  in  the  village  of  Monument, 
town  of  Sandwich,  Mass.,  March  25,  1811,  and  was 
the  tenth  of  a  family  of  eleven  children.  His  father 
a  man  of  inflexible  will,  strong  good  sense,  and  ster- 
ling integrity,  was  a  farmer,  and  his  sons  were  trained 
to  habits  of  industry  and  learned  the  lessons  of  self- 
reliance.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  Mr.  Bourne  came 
to  this  city  and  entered  the  store  of  John  B.  Taylor, 
remaining  there  nine  months,  and  then  spent  the  win- 
ter months  at  home  in  attendance  at  the  village  school. 
The  next  spring  he  again  came  to  New  Bedford,  where 
he  attended  for  a  few  months  the  school  of  B.  F.  Fry, 
and  after  a  brief  visit  to  his  home,  found  employment 
in  the  grocery-store  of  John  Webster,  under  the  Man- 
sion House,  with  whom,  after  a  short  time,  he  entered 
into  partnership.  Soon  afterwards  he  purchased  Mr. 
Webster's  interest,  and  managed  the  business  alone 
until  1838,  when  he  sold  out  to  the  late  George  W. 
Howland,  as  his  whaling  investments  were  becoming 
important  enough  to  demand  his  full  attention.  He 
retained,  however,  an  office  at  his  old  stand,  and  being 
engaged  largely  both  as  owner  and  agent  in  the  whale 
fishery,  he  carried  on  his  business  there  until  1848, 
when  he  moved  into  the  counting-room  on  Merrill's 


^Z^T^^-^- 


^-^^g 


NEW    BEDFORD. 


U5 


wharf  which  he  has  since  continuously  occupied. 
Devoted  to  his  business,  lie  rapidly  increased  it,  until 
he  became  at  one  time  the  owner,  probably,  of  more 
whaling  tonnage  than  any  other  man  in  the  country, 
if  not  in  the  world. 

During  the  late  civil  war,  when  other  owners,  dis- 
heartened at  the  prospects  of  the  fishery,  were  selling 
their  vessels  to  the  government  to  be  sunk,  stone- 
laden,  at  the  mouth  of  Charleston  Harbor,  Mr.  Bourne 
kept  his  faith  in  the  enterprise  and  purchased  five 
ships,  retaining  the  entire  ownership  of  three  of  them, 
and  prosecuted  the  business  with  redoubled  vigor,  and 
with  results  proving  his  sagacity. 

Always  interested  in  politics,  first  as  a  Whig  and 
later  as  a  Republican,  Mr.  Bourne  has  never  held  any 
political  office,  except  that  of  alderman,  which,  during 
the  early  history  of  the  city,  he  filled  for  five  con- 
secutive years.  Decided  in  his  views  upon  all  ques- 
tions that  came  before  the  board,  and  frank  and  fear- 
less in  expressing  them,  he  encountered  persistent 
opposition  at  the  polls,  but  never  failed  of  an  election. 

Mr.  Bourne  was  three  times  chosen  a  delegate  to 
the  National  Republican  Convention,  and  at  Chicago, 
in  1860,  was  the  first  of  the  Massachusetts  delegation 
to  abandon  Seward  and  cast  a  vote  for  Abraham 
Lincoln.  For  five  terms,  of  two  years  each,  he  was 
elected  by  the  Legislature  a  State  director  of  the 
Western  (now  the  Boston  and  Albany)  Railroad.  In 
politics,  as  in  business,  he  has  relied  mainly  upon  his 
own  judgment  of  men  and  measures,  and  always  had 
the  courage  of  his  convictions.  Upon  the  death  of 
Hon.  John  Avery  Parker,  Mr.  Bourne  was  chosen  as 
his  successor  in  the  direction  of  the  Merchants'  Bank, 
and  upon  the  death  of  Charles  R.  Tucker,  in  1876, 
was  unanimously  chosen  president  of  the  bank,  a 
position  he  now  holds.  He  also  succeeded  the  late 
W.  H.  Taylor,  Esq.,  as  president  of  the  Bristol  County 
Fire  Insurance  Company. 

Mr.  Bourne's  early  educational  advantages  were 
limited  to  those  afforded  by  the  common  schools  in 
his  youth,  open  for  about  two  months  each  winter, 
and  kept  by  men  poorly  paid  and  often  as  poorly 
fitted  for  their  work,  and  by  the  brief  term  he  at- 
tended Mr.  Fry's  school  in  New  Bedford.  But  he 
made  good  use  of  them,  and  was  well  fitted  for  the 
larger  school  of  practical  affairs  in  which  he  has 
taken  such  conspicuous  rank.  An  eminently  suc- 
cessful business  man,  the  secret  of  his  success  is  an 
open  one.  It  is  due  to  his  tireless  industry,  to  his 
promptness  that  never  failed  to  meet  every  financial 
obligation,  however  trivial  or  however  large,  to  his 
remarkable  personal  attention  to  details,  and  to  a 
probity  and  courage,  tempered  with  caution,  that 
have  made  him  sagacious  and  successful  beyond  most 
men.  Though  quick  in  his  insight  into  affairs,  and 
sometimes  almost  passionate  in  the  conduct  of  his 
business,  he  has  been  just  in  his  decisions  and  thought- 
ful of  those  connected  with  him. 

Though  in  his  seventy-third  year,  Mr.  Bourne,  by 
10 


his  bodily  vigor,  energy  in  business,  and  spirited  in- 
terest in  affairs,  most  forcibly  illustrates  the  value 
of  active  habits,  possessing  as  he  does,  at  his  ad- 
vanced age,  the  physical  and  mental  elasticity  and 
strength  generally  associated  with  the  prime  of  life. 


JOSEPH    ARTHUR    BEAUVAIS. 

Joseph  Arthur  Beauvais,  son  of  Andrew  and  Pa- 
tience (Ricketson)  Beauvais,  was  born  in  South  Dart- 
mouth, Mass.,  Jan.  21,  1S24.  His  mother  was  a 
daughter  of  Clark  and  Mary  (Wood)  Ricketson, 
of  that  town.  His  father  was  a  native  of  Bordeaux, 
France.  The  family  having  been  reduced  by  the 
French  Revolution,  and  to  avoid  conscription  into 
Napoleon's  army,  which  was  then  taking  boys  of 
twelve  years  of  age,  he  was  sent  while  quite  young 
by  his  widowed  mother  to  this  country,  whither 
his  sister,  wife  of  Capt.  James  Rider,  of  Dartmouth, 
had  preceded  him.  He  commanded  for  many  years 
packet-ships  from  New  York  in  the  New  Orleans 
trade,  and  later  in  the  South  American  trade,  chiefly 
with  Buenos  Ayres.  His  uncle,  James  Rider,  was 
also  a  successful  shipmaster,  sailing  from  New  York 
in  the  New  Orleans  and  European  trade.  In  child- 
hood his  father  and  uncle,  with  their  families,  re- 
moved to  New  York,  and  afterwards  to  Astoria,  Long 
Island,  where  his  mother  died.  After  her  decease, 
Capt.  Rider  having  retired  from  his  seafaring  life  in 
1832,  the  families  returned  to  South  Dartmouth,  and 
he  became  an  inmate  of  his  uncle's  family.  He  was 
tenderly  reared  and  educated  by  his  uncle  and  aunt, 
to  whose  sterling  characters,  excellent  precepts,  and 
careful  training  he  feels  what  success  he  has  met  with 
in  life  is  largely  due.  Capt.  Rider  engaged  quite  ex- 
tensively in  the  whaling  business  in  South  Dartmouth, 
and  subsequently  in  New  Bedford,  where  he  died, 
and  where  his  wife  now  survives  him. 

His  early  education  was  obtained  in  the  public  and 
private  schools  of  Dartmouth.  In  1840  he  came  to 
New  Bedford  and  attended  for  a  short  time  the  Bush 
Street  Grammar  School,  and  was  admitted  to  the 
High  School,  John  F.  Emerson,  principal.  After 
graduating  in  1842,  he  entered  the  counting-room  of 
Barton  Ricketson,  his  uncle,  then  extensively  engaged 
as  managing  owner  of  whaling  and  merchant  vessels, 
and  also  of  the  New  Bedford  Iron-Foundry.  In  1843 
he  became  his  uncle's  book-keeper  and  confidential 
clerk,  where  he  remained  until  November,  1851,  when 
he  assumed  a  like  position  in  the  counting-room  of 
J.  B.  Wood  &  Co.,  then  largely  engaged  in  the  whal- 
ing business.  Here  he  became  interested  with  the 
firm  as  an  owner  in  their  ships,  and  was  at  times 
managing  owner  of  several  merchant  and  coasting 
vessels,  and  also  did  some  business  as  a  broker. 

In  1860  he  was  chosen  treasurer  of  the  New  Bed- 
ford Tannery  Company,  which  built  the  tannery- 
works  on  Court  Street.  This  enterprise  not  proving 
remunerative,  after  a  few  years  the  property  chauged 


146 


HISTORY   OF    BRISTOL   COUiNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


hands  and  the  corporation  was  dissolved.  In  1867  he 
was  chosen  treasurer  of  the  American  Tack  Com- 
pany, of  Fairhaven,  and  subsequently  its  president, 
which  positions  he  still  retains. 

In  February,  1872,  he  severed  a  most  pleasant  and 
harmonious  connection  of  more  than  twenty- one  years 
with  J.  B.  Wood  &  Co.,  and  formed  the  firm  of  Beau- 
vais  &  Co.  (T.  B.  Fuller,  late  book-keeper  of  the 
American  Tack  Company,  as  partner),  and  engaged 
in  private  banking.  In  1874,  assisted  by  H.  A.  Blood, 
of  Fitchburg,  Henry  W.  Phelps,  of  Springfield,  and 
others,  he  organized  the  Fall  River  Railroad  Company, 
of  which  corporation  he  was  president.  This  corpo- 
ration contracted  with  Mr.  Phelps  to  build  the  rail- 
road from  New  Bedford  to  Fall  River.  It  was  opened 
for  travel  December,  1875.  Within  two  years  after 
the  completion  of  the  road  he  resigned  the  position  of 
president,  but  is  still  a  director  in  the  corporation. 

In  May,  1875,  in  connection  with  his  partner  and 
others,  he  organized  the  Citizens'  National  Bank,  of 
which  he  was  chosen  president  and  Mr.  Fuller  cash- 
ier. To  this  bank  the  banking  business  of  Beauvais 
&  Co.  was  transferred.  This  bank  was  organized  with 
a  capital  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars, 
which  has  been  increased  to  five  hundred  thousand 
dollars.  He  was  one  of  the  original  corporators  and 
for  some  time  a  trustee  of  the  New  Bedford  Five 
Cents'  Savings-Bank,  which  position  he  resigned  after 
a  few  years.  In  1878  he  became  interested  in  the 
organization  of  the  New  England  Mutual  Aid  Society 
for  life  insurance  upon  the  assessment  plan.  Of  this 
society  he  was  president  until  the  removal  of  its 
office  to  Boston  rendered  the  discharge  of  the  duties 
incompatible  with  his  other  engagements. 

Mr.  Beauvais  was  origiually  a  Whig,  and  identified 
himself  with  the  Republican  party  on  its  formation. 
In  religion  he  is  a  Congregationalist.  For  some  time 
he  was  clerk  of  the  Trinitarian  Church,  and  during 
eight  years  was  superintendent  of  its  Sabbath-school. 
At  present  he  is  a  member  of  the  North  Congrega- 
tional Church. 

Mr.  Beauvais  has  ever  been  an  active  business  man, 
and  at  present  is  president  and  treasurer  of  the 
American  Tack  Company,  president  of  the  Citizens' 
National  Bank,  director  in  the  Fall  River  Railroad, 
Grinnell  Manufacturing  Company  of  New  Bedford, 
Fall  River  Bleachery,  Sagamore  Manufacturing 
Company,  Border  City  Manufacturing  Company,  and 
Globe  Street  Railway  Company  of  Fall  River. 

I  n  May,  1848,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Hannah 
Cotton  Parker,  daughter  of  Ward  M.  and  Hepzabeth 
(Davis)  Parker,  and  their  family  consisted  of  one 
child,  Louise  Cecile,  who  married  Max  Ritter  von 
Schmaedel,  an  artist  of  Munich,  and  died,  leaving  a 
son,  Harold  Parker  von  Schmaedel.  Mrs.  Beauvais 
died  in  January,  1879,  and  in  June,  1881,  he  married 
Mary  Stetson  Mendell,  daughter  of  Ellis  and  Catha- 
rine (Allen)  Mendell. 


CHARLES    B.  H.  FESSENDEN. 

Charles  B.  H.  Fessenden  was  born  in  Sandwich, 
Barnstable  Co.,  July  17,  1813.  He  was  educated  at 
the  Sandwich  and  Amherst  Academies  and  at  Am- 
herst College,  graduating  from  that  institution  in  the 
class  of  1833.  After  completing  his  law  studies  at 
the  Dane  Law  School  and  in  law  offices  he  went  to 
Michigan  in  1838,  commencing  practice  in  the  village 
of  Utica,  Macomb  Co.  In  1839  he  was  a  clerk  in  the 
Michigan  Senate,  and  in  1842  was  a  member  of  its 
House.  The  latter  year  he  returned  to  his  native 
place,  where  he  opened  an  office  and  continued  his 
practice  until  1853,  when,  having  been  appointed 
collector  of  the  port  of  New  Bedford,  he  removed  to 
that  city.  He  held  that  position  until  the  close  of 
Mr.  Buchanan's  administration.  Soon  after  leaving 
the  office  of  collector,  in  company  with  Mr.  William 
G.  Baker,  he  purchased  the  New  Bedford  Daily  Mer- 
cury, which  was  published  and  edited  by  them  for 
many  years.  In  1862  he  was  elected  sheriff  of  Bris- 
tol County,  and  was  re-elected  in  1865  and  1868.  In 
1869  he  resigned  the  sheriffalty,  having  been  ap- 
pointed United  States  assessor  of  internal  revenue 
for  the  First  Massachusetts  District.  This  office  he 
held  until  by  statute  its  duties  were  merged  in  those 
of  collector,  when  he  was  appointed  to  the  latter 
office  and  retained  it  until  1876,  when  the  number  ol 
revenue  districts  in  the  State  was  reduced  to  three. 
Since  that  time  he  has  held  the  position  of  deputy 
collector  in  the  Third  District,  his  division  being 
nearly  coterminous  with  the  boundaries  of  his  old 
district. 

Mr.  Fessenden  is  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  Swairn 
Free  School,  and  senior  warden  of  Grace  Church. 

No  one  who  for  the  last  thirty  years  has  been 
familiar  with  the  business,  political,  and  social  life 
of  New  Bedford,  can  fail  to  have  noticed  the  value 
which  such  a  citizen  as  Col.  Fessenden  is  to  a  com- 
munity. His  activity  in  all  good  works,  his  genial, 
winning,  and  elegant  manners,  his  culture,  the  keen- 
ness of  his  mind,  and  the  brilliancy  of  his  conversa- 
tion have  all  conspired  to  render  him  a  positive  force 
in  the  development  of  the  city  of  his  adoption.  As 
collector  of  customs  and  internal  revenue  he  has 
watched  over  the  interests  of  the  government  with 
scrupulous  care,  while  at  the  same  time  he  has  won 
and  preserved  the  respect  and  esteem  of  those  with 
whom  he  has  been  called  upon  to  deal.  As  editor, 
his  varied  culture  and  the  brightness  and  elegance  of 
his  style  and  sparkling  wit  held  his  paper  up  to  a 
standard  which  dignified  the  profession  of  journalism 
in  the  community,  and  exerted  a  powerful  influence 
upon  the  manners  and  conduct  of  this  community, 
while  in  his  whole  career  as  sheriff  of  the  county,  he 
maintained  the  ancient  dignity  of  the  office  and  gave 
to  the  courts  an  impressiveness,  the  loss  of  which  can 
only  result  in  great  injury  to  the  orderly  administra- 
tion of  justice.  Certainly  no  history  of  the  bench 
and  bar  of  Bristol  would  be  complete  which  failed  to 


NEW   BEDFORD. 


147 


record  and  call  to  mind  the  days  when  Col.  Fessenden, 
with  his  paraphernalia  of  office,  graced  the  sheriff's 
seat,  with  the  incomparable  crier  opposite,  whose 
"  Hear  ye !  Hear  ye !  Hear  ye !"  was  more  truly  a 
clarion  blast  than  that  blown  on  the  trumpets  by  the 
heralds  of  old,  whire  the  "good  men  and  true"  of  the 
genial  clerk  seemed  to  realize  in  their  tone  and  man- 
ner the  ideal  utterances  of  a  court  of  justice.  No  one 
who  was  accustomed  to  practice  in  that  court  will  ever 
forget  the  impression  there  received,  and  the  tradition 
of  them  will  be  kept  forever. 


J.  (4EOROE    HARRIS. 

Mr.  Harris,  who  is  mentioned  on  page  96  as  editor 
of  a  paper  in  New  Bedford,  became  a  journalist  as 
soon  as  he  was  of  age,  beginning  his  career  as  associ- 
ate editor  of  the  Political  observer  at  New  London  in 
1830 ;  afterwards  editor  of  the  New  Bedford  Daily 
■Gazette,  and.  then  acquiring  celebrity  at  Boston  as  a 
political  writer,  he  was  invited  in  1838  by  distin- 
guished men  of  Washington  City  to  go  to  Tennessee, 
where  he  established  the  Nashville  Union,  which  re- 
flected the  influential  political  opinions  of  Gen.  An- 
drew Jackson,  and  represented  the  rising  fortunes 
of  James  K.  Polk  from  Congressman  to  Governor  and 
President. 

It  is  well  said  by  a  leading  journal  that  in  this 
connection  it  is  not  uninteresting  to  the  people  of 
New  London  County,  Conn.,  to  recall  the  fact  that 
nearly  half  a  century  ago,  when  the  two  great  politi- 
cal parties  of  the  country  were  almost  as  equally  di- 
vided as  they  are  now,  with  Henry  Clay,  of  Ken- 
tucky, in  the  lead  of  the  Whigs,  and  Andrew  Jackson, 
of  Tennessee,  in  the  lead  of  the  Democrats,  two 
young  men,  natives  of  New  London  County,  were 
invited  from  the  North  to  conduct  the  two  leading 
journals  of  the  West  and  shadow  forth  to  the  country 
the  ruling  opinions  and  policy  of  those  two  distin- 
guished leaders  of  men,  as  emanating  from  them  in 
their  retiracy  at  "  Ashland"  and  the  "  Hermitage." 

George  D.  Prentice,  of  Jewett  City,  had  been  called 
to  Louisville,  Ky.,  to  conduct  the  Journal  as  the  voice 
of  Mr.  Clay,  and  J.  George  Harris,  of  Groton,  was 
invited  to  Nashville,  Tenn.,  as  editor  of  the  Union. 
It  was  at  a  time  when  Jackson  and  Clay  were  re- 
garded, in  the  language  of  the  day,  as  "the  embodi- 
ment of  the  principles  of  their  parties"  respectively, 
and  the  Journal  and  Union  became  perfectly  oracular 
in  politics.  From  their  exposed  position  at  the  front 
when  Kentucky  and  Tennessee  were  frontier  States, 
where  the  people  were  to  a  great  extent  a  law  unto 
themselves,  these  New  London  boys  had  repeatedly 
to  stand  fire  with  the  wild  elements  of  Western  poli- 
tics. Of  course  they  were  wide  as  the  poles  asunder 
as  the  representatives  of  their  respective  parties  in 
the  political  arena,  but  their  own  personal  relations, 
established  here  at  an  early  day,  were  never  dis- 
turbed, although,  for  the  amusement  of  the  public, 


they  did  a  good  deal  of  sharpshooting  at  each  other 
between  Louisville  and  Nashville  with  their  quills, 
which  had  a  tendency  rather  to  strengthen  than  to 
weaken  friendship.  The  early  prestige  of  the  Journal 
as  the  voice  of  Mr.  Clay  and  of  the  Union  as  that  of 
<  u'li.  Jackson  established  their  influence  on  a  founda- 
tion so  firm  that  it  is  still  maintained  by  them  in  the 
Southwest,  and  in  all  public  affairs  they  now  have 
wider  influence  beyond  the  mountains  than  any  other 
political  newspapers. 

Mr.  Harris  was  commissioned  in  1843  by  Daniel 
Webster,  then  Secretary  of  State,  as  a  commercial 
agent  for  Europe,  and  went  abroad  in  that  capacity. 
If  we  may  judge  from  his  voluminous  reports  to  the 
State  Department,  of  which  so  large  a  number  of 
extra  copies  were  printed  by  the  United  States  Senate, 
his  services  were  highly  appreciated. 

After  Mr.  Polk's  election  to  the  Presidency  he  in- 
vited Mr.  Harris  to  conduct  the  official  paper  at 
Washington,  which  he  declined,  as  he  had  before  de- 
clined the  editorship  of  the  Madisonian,  the  official 
paper  of  Mr.  Tyler's  administration.  Preferring  a 
life  service  in  the  navy  to  temporary  civil  service,  Mr. 
Harris  accepted  in  1845  a  commission  as  disbursing 
officer  of  the  navy,  which  commission,  with  promo- 
tions to  the  highest  rank  of  his  grade,  he  still  holds 
on  the  list  of  officers  retired  for  long  and  faithful 
services. 

The  official  and  personal  relations  of  Mr.  Harris  in 
the  naval  service  have  ever  been  exceedingly  happy. 
In  Hamersly's  "  Records  of  Living  Naval  Officers" 
it  is  stated  that  Pay  Director  J.  George  Harris  was 
attached  to  the  Gulf  squadron  in  1846-47,  and  during 
the  Mexican  war  he  was  a  member  of  Commodore  M. 
G.  Perry's  staff  on  all  his  shore  expeditions;  that  he 
was  at  the  capture  of  Tuxpan,  Tabasco,  and  Vera 
Cruz,  receiving  from  the  commodore  special  letters  of 
thanks  for  services  rendered  afloat  and  ashore ;  that 
from  1850  to  1854,  inclusive,  he  was  attached  to  the 
Asiatic  fleet,  and  again  with  Commodore  Perry  when 
the  empire  of  Japan  was  opened  to  the  commerce  of 
the  world. 

In  his  introductory  report  of  the  Japan  expedition 
Commodore  Perry  makes  special  mention  of  the  aid 
he  had  received  from  Mr.  Harris  in  preparing  his 
volumes  for  the  use  of  Congress. 

Mr.  Harris  spent  two  years  on  the  coast  of  Africa, 
in  the  fleet  appointed  to  suppress  the  slave  trade,  and 
his  journals,  made  while  on  the  shores  of  Liberia  and 
Guinea,  were  copiously  used  by  Mr.  Gurley,  the  gov- 
ernment agent  at  Liberia,  in  his  reports  to  Congress. 
For  two  years  he  was  attached  to  the  Mediterranean 
squadron.  On  that  cruise  he  sent  home  to  public 
institutions  some  rare  and  curious  antiquities,  which 
are  considered  the  very  best  specimens  of  their  kind. 
During  the  civil  war  he  held  some  of  the  most  respon- 
sible positions  of  trust  in  the  navy,  both  ashore  and 
afloat,  disbursing  several  millions  of  public  money 
without  the  slightest  deficit  or  loss  to  the  government. 


148 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


At  the  organization  of  the  Groton  Heights  (Conn.) 
Centennial  Committee,  in  1879,  he  was  elected  presi- 
dent of  the  Centennial  Commission,  and  his  admin- 
istration of  its  affairs,  that  resulted  in  such  perfect 
success  on  the  6th  and  7th  of  September,  1881,  was 
characterized  by  good  judgment  and  executive  ability. 


CAPT.  HENRY  TABER. 
Among  those  who  took  the  "oath  of  fidelity"  in  the 
old  township  of  Dartmouth  in  1684  was  Thomas  Taber, 
and  among  the  proprietors  of  Dartmouth  in  Novem- 
ber, 1694,  we  find  Joseph  Taber,  Thomas  Taber,  and 
Thomas  Taber,  Jr.  Among  the  early  settlers  men- 
tioned in  the  old  records  we  note  eleven  of  the  name, 
viz.:  Jacob,  Jacob,  Jr.,  John,  Jonathan,  Joseph, 
Philip,  Philip,  Jr.,  Stephen,  Thomas,  Thomas,  Jr., 
and  William.  Thus  for  two  hundred  years  has  this 
good  family  of  Friends  been  resident  in  New  Bedford 
and  neighborhood,  and  connected  with  its  growth  and 
prosperity. 

Capt.  Henry  Taber,  son  of  Benjamin3  and  Rhobe 
(Aikin)    Taber,  was   born   in    New    Bedford,   Mass., 
March   29,   1795.     His   great-grandfather,    Benjamin 
Taber,  and  Susannah,  his  wife,  had  thirteen  children, 
— Elizabeth,  Joseph,  Benjamin2,    John,    Archelaus, 
Joshua,  Mary,  Jeduthan,  Rebecca,  Thomas,  Jeremiah, 
Lewis,  and  Seth.     Benjamin2,  born  Oct.  10, 1733,  died 
Feb.  5,   1820,  was  twice  married:    (1)   to  Hannah, 
daughter  of  Barnabas  and  Mary  Gardner,  of  Nan- 
tucket.   She  died  Feb.  16,  1766.   Their  children  were 
Barnabas,  Daniel.  Benjamin3.     (2)  to  Eunice,  widow 
of  Joseph  Gardner,  and   daughter   of  Richard   and 
Lydia  Worth,  of  Nantucket.     She  was  born  in  1731, 
and  died  in  1814.    Their  children  were  Barnabas,  Su- 
sannah, and  Frances.    He  was  the  builder  of  the  first 
whale-boat  built  in  New  Bedford.     Benjamin  Taber3, 
born  Feb.  2, 1766,  married  Rhobe,  daughter  of  Thomas 
Aikin,  born  Jan.  30,   1768,  by  whom  he  had  eight 
children, — Hannah,  Philip  A.,  James,  James2,  Henry, 
Thomas,  Shubael,  and  Rhobe.    She  died  May  11, 1801, 
aged  thirty-three.     He  then  married  Merab  Coffin, 
by  whom  he  had  six  children,— Benjamin  C,  Sarah  C. 
and  Ann  F.  (twins),  Rhobe  A.,  John  W.,  and  Avis  F. 
He  was  a  block-maker,  and  a  very  inventive  genius. 
He  received  or  owned  a  patent  for  boring  logs  for 
aqueducts,  which  business  he  followed  so  long  as  he 
remained  in  New  Bedford.     The  last  part  of  his  life 
was  passed  in  Victoria,  111.,  where  he  died,  aged  eighty 
years.    He  was  a  man  of  sterling  integrity,  and  highly 
esteemed  for  his  numerous  good  qualities. 

Thomas  Aikin,  father  of  Rhobe,  came  to  New  Bed- 
ford from  Canada.  He  was  a  man  of  limited  means, 
also  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  and  a  blacksmith  by 
trade.  He  had  three  sons  and  three  daughters, — 
Abial,  Charles,  Timothy,  Rhobe,  Abigail,  and  Luramy. 
Henry  Taber  remained  with  the  home  circle,  receiving 
a  limited  school  education  and  assisting  his  father  until 
he  was  fourteen.     At  that  age  he  went  to  sea  as  cabin- 


boy  with  his  uncle,  John  Wood,  master  of  the  "  George 
and  Susan,"  a  ship  now  owned  by  Aikin  &  Swift,  and 
doing  good  service.  (His  mother  died  when  he  was 
but  six  years  of  age,  and  the  care  of  his  youth  was 
given  by  his  Aunt  Luramy,  wife  of  Capt.  John  Wood. 
She  kept  house  for  his  father,  and  was  almost  a 
mother  to  the  family.)  This  first  voyage  took  him  to 
Virginia,  from  whence  they  took  a  lading  of  tobacco 
to  Liverpool.  His  second  trip  was  to  Port  Glasgow. 
His  third  was  to  Hamburgh  as  second  mate.  His  last 
voyage  was  in  the  brig  "  Nancy,"  Capt.  Packard,  after 
the  war  of  1812,  from  New  York  to  Dublin.  He  then 
for  one  year  was  chief  mate  under  Capt.  John  Wood, 
on  a  packet  running  from  New  Bedford  to  New  York. 
The  fifteen  subsequent  years  he  was  captain  on  the 
same  line,  and  commanded  four  different  vessels, 
"Orbit,"  "Boston,"  "Experiment,"  and  "Helen," 
owning  a  one-fourth  interest  in  the  last  two.  In  1832, 
Capt.  Taber  engaged  in  trade  in  New  Bedford  as  a 
grocer  and  ship-chandler  in  company  with  David 
Sherman,  as  Taber  &  Sherman,  on  Centre  Street, 
near  the  wharf.  Mr.  Sherman  soon  left  for  Pough- 
keepsie,  N.  Y.,  to  look  after  whaling  interests  there. 
After  two  or  three  years  Capt.  Taber  formed  a  part- 
nership with  his  son,  William  G.,  and  son-in-law, 
John  Hunt,  under  firm-title  of  Henry  Taber  &  Co. 
This  firm  continued  in  successful  and  prosperous  ex- 
istence until  March  1, 1866,  when  Capt.  Taber  retired, 
and  the  firm-name  changed  to  Taber,  Gordon  &  Co. 

About  1834,  Capt.  Taber  became  quite  largely  in- 
terested in  whaling,  and  amassed  considerable  wealth 
from  this  source.  He  is  now  largely  interested  in  the 
various  enterprises  of  New  Bedford.  He  was  presi- 
dent of  the  Mutual  Marine  Insurance  Company,  now 
suspended,  is  a  director  in  the  National  Bank  of  Com- 
merce, and  is  a  stockholder  in  three  different  banks. 
He  has  been  twice  married  :  (1 )  to  Nabby,  daughter  of 
William  and  Nabby  Gordon,  Dec.  16,  1819.  She  was 
born  in  New  Bedford,  March  10,  1800,  and  died  Nov. 
9, 1831.  The  children  of  this  marriage  were  William 
G.,  born  Aug.  20,  1821 ;  Abby  (Mrs.  John  Hunt),  born 
Aug.  16,  1824;  and  Robert,  born  Oct.  4,  1831.  (2)  to 
Sally,  sister  of  first  wife,  Dec.  9,  1832.  She  was  born 
July  20,  1802.  They  had  one  son,  Henry  A.  (de- 
ceased). (William  Gordon  died  June  26,  1835,  aged 
eighty  years.  His  wife,  Nabby  Gordon,  died  Nov. 
16,  1831,  aged  seventy  years.) 

In  politics,  Capt.  Taber  has  ever  been  a  Whig  and 
a  Republican.  Believing  in  the  principles  of  these 
parties  he  was  strong  in  their  support,  and,  with  the 
exception  of  two  years,  served  in  the  State  Legisla- 
ture from  1838  to  1844.  Many  years  Capt.  Taber  has 
been  one  of  New  Bedford's  representative  and  most 
successful  business  men.  He  has  been  industrious, 
cautious,  and  conservative,  showing  great  financial 
ability  in  the  many  diversified  and  complicated  in- 
terests in  which  he  has  been  engaged.  Of  strict  in- 
tegrity and  frank  courtesy,  his  manly  qualities  and 
sterling  worth    have   given    him   stanch    friends   all 


^^^/ 


//^^ftiZU/t^, 


NEW   BEDFORD. 


149 


along  the  path  of  life,  and  never  was  a  friend  betrayed 
who  trusted  his  interests  in  his  hands.  Those  who 
have  known  him  longest  are  to-day  his  warmest 
admirers. 

WILLIAM    PHILLIPS. 

The  firm  of  William  Phillips  &  Son,  for  years  one 
of  the  well-known  commercial  houses  of  New  Bed- 
ford, is  a  copartnership  consisting  of  William  Phillips 
and  George  R.  Phillips,  father  and  son.  The  busi- 
ness of  the  firm  is  that  of  ship  agents  and  commission- 
merchants,  having  had  considerable  interests  in  the 
whale  fisheries  and  the  buying  and  selling  of  its  prod- 
ucts from  the  formation  of  the  copartnership  to  the 
present  time. 

The  senior  member  of  this  house,  Mr.  William 
Phillips,  who  is  the  subject  of  this  short  sketch,  was 
born  at  Westport,  in  the  county  of  Bristol,  Jan.  3, 
1801,  and  is,  consequently,  at  the  present  time  nearly 
eighty-two  years  of  age.  His  father,  Capt.  Edward 
Phillips,  was  born  in  Dartmouth,  in  the  same  county, 
April  5,  1779,  and  died  in  Westport  Jan.  28,  1831. 
He  was  married  to  a  lady  named  Amy  Tripp,  and 
made  his  home  in  that  part  of  Westport  known  as 
Tripp's  wharf,  being  near  Hix's  bridge.  William 
was  the  oldest  son  of  a  family  which  consisted  of 
eight  children,  of  whom  but  two  sisters  and  himself 
are  now  living. 

The  age  of  fourteen  found  him  at  work  as  clerk  in 
a  store  at  the  head  of  Westport  River.  In  this  occu- 
pation he  remained  until  January,  1820,  when  he 
came  to  New  Bedford,  where  he  was  employed  as 
clerk  by  Levi  Standish,  of  that  place.  Since  that 
time  he  has  lived  in  New  Bedford  continuously  up  to 
the  present  time.  For  five  years  he  was  engaged  in 
that  or  kindred  occupations,  and  in  1825  entered  the 
office  of  John  Avery  Parker,  of  New  Bedford,  as  clerk 
and  book-keeper.  After  remaining  with  him  about 
three  years  he  formed  a  copartnership  with  Mr. 
George  Russell,  and  engaged  in  the  business  of  a  ship- 
chandlery  and  commission-house,  under  the  firm- 
name  of  Phillips  &  Russell. 

In  1832  this  firm,  together  with  John  A.  Parker, 
erected  the  brick  building  known  as  Parker's  Block, 
at  the  foot  of  Middle  Street.  A  few  years  later,  in 
1836,  he  again  entered  the  office  of  Mr.  Parker,  at  that 
time  being  a  firm  under  the  name  of  John  A.  Parker 
&  Son,  as  book-keeper  and  confidential  clerk.  He  re- 
mained in  this  position  until  the  death  of  John  A. 
Parker,  in  December,  1853,  the  firm  having  been  dis- 
solved some  time  previous  by  the  withdrawal  of  the 
son,  Frederick  Parker,  in  1848. 

Mr.  John  A.  Parker,  upon  his  death,  left  a  large 
estate  to  be  administered  upon,  and  by  the  terms  of 
his  will  appointed  Mr.  Phillips  accounting  executor 
and  trustee,  with  his  son,  Frederick  Parker,  and  Hon. 
John  H.  Clifford,  the  two  last  of  whom  died  before 
the  final  settlement  of  the  estate.  The  final  settle- 
ment of  this  estate  was  effected  in  1880,  that  being  the 


time  when  the  last  entries  were  made  and  the  books 
of  the  trust  closed,  although  the  bulk  of  the  estate 
had  long  before  been  distributed. 

The  account-books  of  this  trust  cover  a  period  of 
twenty-seven  years,  and  being  in  the  handwriting  of 
Mr.  Phillips  they  are,  among  other  things,  interesting 
as  showing  the  gradual  change  that  years  make,  "  the 
sensible  yet  imperceptible  growth  of  age."  It  was 
after  the  death  of  Mr.  Parker  that  the  firm  of  William 
Phillips  &  Son  was  formed.  In  the  business  of  the 
last  thirty  years  Mr.  Phillips  has  often  been  called 
upon  to  perform  duties  where  integrity  and  a  sound 
knowledge  of  business  were  necessary.  The  offices 
of  executor,  administrator,  and  trustee  for  various 
parties  and  estates,  director  in  insurance,  banking, 
and  manufacturing  concerns  are  among  the  many 
offices  of  trust  and  honor  that  he  has  been  called  to 
fill,  and  has  filled  acceptably  in  every  instance. 

His  life  has  been  almost  entirely  one  of  private 
business, — a  life  whose  lack  of  opportunity  for  dis- 
play has  certainly  not  created  in  him  any  desire  for 
it.  He  is  to-day  one  of  the  sound  practical  business 
men,  a  class  of  people  who  are  by  no  means  the  least 
efficient  in  helping  along  good  deeds  and  good  morals, 
and  now,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-two,  he  may 
justly  feel  proud  of  the  reputation  for  honesty  and 
integrity  he  enjoys,  which  is  one  of  the  results  of  his 
long  life's  work.  Habits  of  industry  formed  and 
practiced  through  long  years  become  second  nature. 
Length  of  years  may  impair  bodily  vigor,  but  in  this 
case  there  is  no  indication  of  any  loss  of  mental 
vigor. 

Daily  at  his  place  of  business,  he  presents  the  ex- 
ample— an  example  by  no  means  of  frequent  occur- 
rence— of  a  man  of  great  age  who  still  has  no  idea  of 
retiring  from  business.  The  life  of  a  private  business 
man  whose  promises  are  kept  and  whose  credit  is 
good  is  apt  to  be  uneventful  as  far  as  the  purposes  of 
a  biographical  sketch  are  concerned.  Such  a  life  is  so 
because  good  credit  accompanies  or  follows  correct  t 
business  habits,  and  such  habits  mean  the  smooth 
running  of  affairs ;  while  affairs  run  smoothly,  when 
each  day,  though  it  bring  its  work  and  obligations, 
leaves  its  obligations  complied  with  and  its  labor 
performed.  Such  a  life  has  been  that  of  the  subject 
of  this  sketch. 

But  lives  with  no  startling  events,  no  notorious  or 
famous  acts,  are  the  foundation  and  superstructure  of 
society.  The  famous  and  eventful  lives  may  well 
considered  the  architectural  embellishments,  but  they 
must  have  the  solid  structure  to  form  themselves 
upon.  Half  of  the  beauty  of  a  picture  is  a  suitable 
background.  Trimming  is  a  good  thing  in  its  place, 
but  the  most  essential  thing  is  to  have  something  to 
trim.  Life  is  not  a  dream  is  the  assertion  of  more 
than  one  experience,  and  the  lives  of  great  events 
are  rendered  possible  only  by  just  such  lives  as  the 
one  in  question.  Existence  to  the  mass  is  upright 
and  downright  business.     The  value  of  right  living, 


150 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


straightforward  conduct  and  integrity,  is  not  easily 
measured.  We  are  apt  to  be  dazzled  by  the  strong 
glare  of  what  are  termed  great  achievements,  and,  in 
consequence,  place  their  common  value  too  high  ;  but 
to  the  people  at  large,  to  the  common  brotherhood  of 
man,  for  the  growth  and  stability  of  good  solid  char- 
acter and  true  worth,  the  example  of  a  well-done 
life's  work  is  of  the  highest  kind  of  value.    E.  J.  L. 


WILLIAM  C.  N.  SWIFT. 
William  Cole  Nye  Swift,  son  of  Reuben  and  Jane 
(Nye)  Swift,  was  born  on  the  Nye  farm  in  Fairhaven, 
Mass.,  April  27,  1815.  (For  ancestral  history,  see  bi- 
ography of  R.  N.  Swift,  Acushnet.)  When  William 
was  five  years  old  his  father  removed  to  New  Bedford, 
where  he  received  the  educational  advantages  of  pri- 
vate and  academic  schools.  He  entered  Brown  Uni- 
versity in  1831,  being  in  the  class  of  1835,  but  left 
towards  the  end  of  his  sophomore  year  on  account  of 
his  health.  He  returned  to  New  Bedford,  and  began 
his  long  and  successful  business  career  by  entering 
the  counting-room  of  Benjamin  Rodman  as  assistant 
book-keeper.  He  gave  satisfaction,  and  was  soon  pro- 
moted to  book-keeper,  in  which  capacity  he  remained 
until  1835.  His  father,  largely  engaged  in  the  live- 
oak  trade,  then  offered  him  a  partnership  in  the  firm 
of  E.  &  R.  Swift  &  Co.  Accepting  the  partnership, 
William  at  once  entered  into  active  labor,  going  to 
Ossabaw  Island,  on  the  coast  of  Georgia,  to  superin- 
tend the  getting  out  of  live-oak  ship-timber.  From 
this  time  on,  for  many  years,  this  was  his  business. 
He  visited  various  parts  of  Florida  and  Louisiana 
examining  lands  and  purchasing  valuable  live-oak 
lots.  He  was  vigorous,  and,  although  meeting  many 
discomforts,  privations,  and  hardships,  enjoyed  the 
life.  The  above-mentioned  firm  existed  until  1837, 
and  from  that  time  Mr.  Swift  continued  in  the  live- 
oak  business  steadily  for  ten  years,  and  has  been  en- 
gaged in  it  at  intervals  since  that  time. 

In  June,  1838,  he  was  a  passenger  on  the  ill-fated 
steamer  "  Pulaski"  when  she  was  blown  up  by  the 
explosion  of  one  of  her  boilers  on  a  passage  between 
Savannah  and  Baltimore.  Mr.  Swift  escaped  in  one 
of  the  boats,  and  he  and  another  New  Bedford  man 
were  the  first  to  land  through  the  surf.  The  land 
they  reached  was  an  uninhabited  island  in  Stump 
Sound,  on  the  coast  of  North  Carolina. 

In  1843,  Mr.  Swift,  who  had  before  owned  portions 
of  whaling-vessels,  bought  the  ship  "  Plowboy"  and 
sent  her  on  a  voyage  for  sperm  whales.  In  1845,  he, 
with  his  brother  Obed,  bought  the  "  Formosa."  In 
December,  1845,  he  went  to  Europe,  and  during  the 
next  year  contracted  with  the  English  government  to 
furnish  spars.  He  was  in  Europe  nearly  a  year,  a 
large  part  of  the  time  in  Paris,  where  he  gave  much 
time  to  the  study  of  French.  In  June,  1847,  he  mar- 
ried, and  in  July  of  that  year  went  again  to  Europe, 
accompanied  by  his  wife.     They  remained  there  over 


a  year,  and  were  living  in  Paris  at  the  time  of  the 
revolution  of  the  24th  of  February,  1848,  and  during 
the  three  terrible  days  in  June,  when  the  provisional 
government  was  overturned.  In  1849  he  again  went 
to  Europe  for  a  short  time  on  business,  and  again  in 
1851,  and  was  in  Paris  on  the  2d  of  December,  at  the 
time  of  the  coup  d'etat  of  Louis  Napoleon.  (Mr.  Swift 
has  ever  since  maintained  an  interest  in  European, 
and  especially  French,  politics,  which  he  has  followed 
closely.) 

While  he  was  in  Europe  Mr.  Swift  established  what 
would  probably  have  been  an  extensive  and  lucrative 
business,  having  made  contracts  with  the  governments 
of  France  and  Holland,  as  well  as  with  that  of  Eng- 
land; but  in  1849  Mr.  Jireh  Perry,  Mrs.  Swift's  father, 
died.  He  had  an  extensive  business,  and  was  the  owner 
of  several  whale-ships,  and  Mr.  Swift  was  induced  to 
give  up  his  European  timber  trade  and  attend  per- 
sonally to  managing  the  estate  in  connection  with 
Mr.  Eben  Perry,  the  son  of  Mr.  Perry.  From  that 
time  Mr.  Swift  has  extended  his  business  in  whaling. 
His  agents,  Aikin  &  Swift,  have  now  twelve  vessels 
engaged  in  that  pursuit. 

Mr.  Swift  married  Eliza  Nye  Perry,  daughter  of 
Jireh  and  Nancy  (Nye)  Perry,  of  New  Bedford.  Her 
great-grandfather,  Dr.  Samuel  Perry,  was  a  well- 
known  and  honored  physician,  who  practiced  in  and 
near  New  Bedford.  Her  grandfather,  Dr.  Ebenezer 
Perry,  was  also  a  successful  physician  of  New  Bed- 
ford. Her  father,  Jireh  Perry,  was  connected  with 
the  whaling  business  during  his  whole  life,  com- 
mencing as  clerk  for  Charles  &  Seth  Russell,  and, 
growing  up  in  the  business,  accumulated  a  large  for- 
tune. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Swift  have  the  following  children: 
Henry  W.,  who  graduated  from  Harvard  College  in 
1871,  and  from  the  Harvard  Law  School  in  1874. 
He  is  now  practicing  his  profession  in  Boston.  Fred- 
erick, who  graduated  at  Harvard  in  1874,  and  is  now 
a  member  of  the  firm  of  Aikin  &  Swift,  in  New  Bed- 
ford, agents  and  managing  owners  of  whaling-vessels. 
William  N.,  wrho  graduated  at  Harvard  in  1874,  and 
from  Harvard  Medical  School  in  1879,  is  now  a  phy- 
sician in  New  Bedford.  Franklin,  who  is  in  the 
United  States  navy,  having  graduated  at  the  Naval 
Academy  at  Annapolis  in  1880.  He  was  made  passed 
midshipman  in  June,  1882.  They  also  have  a  daugh- 
ter, Elise,  who  is  the  youngest  of  the  family. 

Mr.  Swift  is  a  man  of  fine  appearance,  courteous, 
hospitable,  and  affable.  His  cultivation  and  wide 
experience  have  given  him  a  varied  and  thorough 
knowledge  of  men  and  events,  and  he  has  always 
been  distinguished  for  sterling  integrity  of  character, 
and  for  energy,  enterprise,  and  good  judgment.  These 
qualities  have  made  him  successful  in  business,  and 
in  earlier  years,  when  he  gave  some  attention  to  poli- 
tics, influential  in  his  party  in  the  State.  He  has  for 
years  been  one  of  the  prominent  business  men  of  New 
Bedford,  and  has,  among  other  interests,  been  for  a 


a 


NEW    BEDFORD. 


151 


long  time  connected  with  the  Bank  of  Commerce,  of 
New  Bedford,  having  been  a  director  since  1849,  and 
being  its  vice-president  at  the  present  time. 

In  politics  Mr.  Swift  was  ;i  Whig  until  1856,  and 
since  then  has  been  a  Democrat.  He  at  one  time  had 
great  influence  in  Massachusetts  politics,  owing  to  his 
intimacy  with  President  James  Buchanan,  but  he 
never  abused  his  power,  either  by  recommending  a 
friend  for  office  or  for  personal  advancement,  and 
could  never  be  prevailed  upon  to  accept  office  him- 
self. 

Mr.  Swift  has  a  place  on  Orchard  Street  in  New  \ 
Bedford,  where  he  and  his  family  live  during  the 
winter  months;  but  his  residence  is  in  South  Dart-  ! 
mouth,  where  he  has  a  farm  called  "Rockland,"  of 
about  a  hundred  and  twenty-live  acres,  on  the  shore 
of  Buzzard's  Bay.  This  has  been  the  home  of  the 
family  in  summer  since  1856. 


DR.    EDWARD    P.    ABBE. 

Probably  no  country  was  ever  settled  by  better 
citizens  than  by  those  Huguenots  who  came  from 
France  to  New.  England  in  its  early  colonial  days  to 
find  the  liberty  of  religious  thought  denied  them  in 
their  native  land.  Their  firm  religious  belief  brought 
persecution  upon  them  with  no  other  effect  than  to 
drive  them  from  France  to  the  new  world  of  freedom 
across  the  ocean.  Thomas  Abbe  was  one  of  a  num- 
ber of  this  faith  who  came  to  Enfield,  Conn.,  in  1638, 
and  became  a  resident.  He  was  a  man  of  some  im- 
portance, was  one  of  the  commissioners  who  laid  out 
the  town,  and  was  selectman,  etc.  It  is  said  that  the 
whole  town  was  originally  owned  by  three  men, — Abbe, 
Terry,  and  Parsons.  He  was  a  farmer,  married,  in 
Enfield,  Mary  Pees  ;  so  it  is  inferred  that  he  was  quite 
a  young  man  when  he  left  France.  He  had  four 
children, — Thomas,  Hannah,  Sara,  and  Obadiah. 
Thomas  Abbe  inherited  the  land  where  he  and  his 
endants  lived  and  cultivated  it,  marrying,  in  1692, 
Penelope  Terry,  by  whom  he  had  five  children, — 
Thomas.  Mary.  Penelope,  Sara,  and  John1.  John1 
married  Sara  Root,  and  had  eight  children, — Sara, 
Obadiah,  Hannah,  Timothy  D.  (died  young),  Tim- 
othy, Daniel,  Roxalana,  and  John2.  John'2  married 
Charity  Simonds  in  1764.  Their  children  were  John3, 
Sara.  A-enath,  Nancy,  Roxalana,  Charity,  and  Tim- 
othy. John3,  born  Sept.  11,  1765,  married,  in  1790, 
Hannah,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Hannah  (Bradley) 
Billings,  "!  Soniers,  Conn.  (They  were  both  descend- 
ants of  the  English  Puritans.)  The  following  chil- 
dren who  attained  maturity  were  born  in  Enfield: 
Hannah,  Harriet,  and  Alanson.  In  1804  he  sold  the 
lands  which  had  been  inherited  in  direct  line  from 
Thomas,  the  emigrant,  and  removed  to  Warehouse 
Point,  in  the  town  of  East  Windsor,  Conn.  Here 
were  born  five  children,— John  B.,  Loretta,  Sophro- 
nia,  James  M.,  Ann  A.,  and  here  Mr.  Abbe  died  in 


1847,  aged  eighty-two  years.  Mrs.  Abbe  died  in  1839, 
aged  sixty-seven. 

Alanson  Abbe,  third  child  and  oldest  son  of  the 
above,  was  born  in  Enfield,  Conn.,  June  17,  1795. 
He  was  graduated  from  Yale  Medical  School  in  1821, 
and  settled  in  Litchfield,  Conn.,  where  he  had  a  large 
and  lucrative  practice,  and  became  known  for  his  suc- 
cess in  orthopaedic  surgery.  He  removed  to  Boston 
in  1839,  where  he  practiced  his  profession  until  a  few 
years  before  his  death.  He  married  (1)  Eliza  Wood- 
rutf,  daughter  of  Hon.  Jonathan  and  Rachel  (Steele) 
Barnes,  of  Tolland,  Conn.  They  had  five  children 
who  lived  to  mature  years, — Elizabeth  F.,  Edward  P., 
Frederick  R.,  Burr  R.,  and  William  A.  (2)  Hephzibah, 
daughter  of  Benjamin  Burgess,  of  Boston,  Mass. 
They  had  one  child,  Benjamin.  (3)  Margaret  Liv- 
ingston D.,  of  Albany,  N.  Y.  Dr.  Alanson  Abbe  died 
of  paralysis  in  April,  1864,  when  almost  seventy  years 
of  age.  His  first  wife  died  Dec.  31, 1887,  aged  thirty- 
eight  years. 

We  give  a  condensed  genealogy  of  Mrs.  Abbe's 
(Eliza  W.  Barnes)  ancestry  as  far  as  attainable  :  John1 
Steele,  first  secretary  of  Connecticut  colony,  died  1664, 
leaving  the  following  children  by  his  wife  Rachel : 
John2,  Lydia,  Mary,  Sarah,  Hannah,  Samuel.     John2 

married  Mercy ,  and  had  Benoni,  Henry,  Daniel, 

Mary,  John,  and  Samuel.  Samuel  and  his  wife  Mercy 
had  Thomas,  Samuel,  Jerusha,  William,  Abiel,  Daniel, 
and  Eliphalet.  Eliphalet  married  Catherine  Marsh- 
field,  and  had  Josiah,  Catherine,  Mercy,  Theophilus, 
Eliphalet,  Elijah,  Rachel,  Ruth,  and  Jerusha.  Jo- 
siah married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Rev.  Benjamin 
Colton,  first  minister  of  West  Hartford,  Conn.  They 
had  Elizabeth,  Amanda,  Eliphalet,  Josiah,  Marsh- 
field,  Rachel,  Catherine,  George,  and  Marshfield2. 
Stephen  Barnes  and  his  wife  Mary,  of  Branford, 
Conn.,  had  children  born  in  Branford, — Benjamin, 
Stephen,  Sarah,  and  Experience.  Stephen  married 
Martha  Wheadon,  of  Branford,  and  moved  to  South- 
ington.  Their  children  were  Maiy,  Stephen,  Jona- 
than1, Martha,  William,  Nathan,  and  Asa.  Jona- 
than1 married  Elizabeth  Woodruff,  of  Southington, 
Conn.  Their  children  were  Jonathan2,  Elizabeth, 
Mary,  Stephen,  Sylvia,  Lois,  Levi,  Joel,  and  Tru- 
man. Jonathan2  (graduated  from  Yale  College  in 
1784)  married  Rachel  Steele  and  had  children, — Jon- 
athan3, Julius  S.,  Edwin,  Randolph,  Eliza  W.,  Wil- 
liam, and  Josiah.  All  these  sons  of  Judge  Barnes 
were  professional  men. 

Edward  Payson  Abbe,  son  of  Dr.  Alanson  and 
Eliza  W.  (Barnes)  Abbe,  was  born  in  Litchfield, 
Conn.,  Nov.  28,  1827.  He  was  fitted  for  college  at 
Phillips'  Andover  Academy,  and  was  graduated  from 
Yale  in  1848,  and  from  Harvard  Medical  College  in 
1852.  The  next  year  he  settled  in  New  Bedford, 
Mass.,  and  began  the  practice  of  his  profession,  which 
has  steadily  increased,  and  which  has  been  his  life 
work.  He  married,  May  2,  1854,  Mary  Hooper, 
daughter  of  William  G.  and  Eunice  (Hooper)  Black- 


152 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTS,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


ler,  of  New  Bedford.  She  came  of  an  honorable 
lineage.  On  her  father's  side  she  was  descended  from 
Thomas  Gerry,  Esq.,  born  in  Newton  Abbot,  Eng- 
land, in  1702,  and  from  Madam  Elizabeth  (Green- 
field) Gerry,  born  in  Boston,  in  1716.  These  were 
also  the  parents  of  Elbridge  Gerry,  Governor  of  Mas- 
sachusetts and  fifth  Vice-President  of  the  United 
States.  Her  maternal  grandfather  was  Hon.  Na- 
thaniel Hooper,  lineal  descendant  of  Bishop  Hooper, 
of  England,  and  his  family  has  been  for  several  gen- 
erations prominent  in  the  State.  They  have  three 
children  who  are  now  living, — William,  Edward,  and 
Mary  Hooper.  Mrs.  Abbe  was  a  woman  greatly 
beloved.  She  had  great  energy  of  character  and 
strong  self-reliance,  and  was  an  earnest,  active,  and 
valued  member  of  Grace  (Episcopal)  Church.  She 
died  Dec.  18,  1881. 

Dr.  Abbe  has  quietly  and  without  ostentation  pur- 
sued his  profession  unweariedly  for  nearly  thirty 
years,  and  has  never  found  time  nor  inclination  to 
engage  in  other  pursuits.  He  has  been  successful  in 
his  chosen  field,  enjoying  a  large  practice  among  all 
classes  of  people.  He  stands  to-day  high  in  the 
esteem  of  the  leading  medical  men  of  this  section, 
and  is  consulting  surgeon  at  St.  Mary's  Hospital, 
councilor  of  the  Massachusetts  Medical  Society,  and 
was  president  in  1879-80  of  the  South  Bristol  Med- 
ical Society. 

Republican  in  his  political  affiliations,  he  has  never 
cared  for  official  preferment.  He  honorably  served, 
however,  as  member  of  the  school  board  five  years, 
but  has  sought  honors  only  in  the  line  of  his  profes- 
sion. 


ANDREW    MACKIE,    M.D. 

Andrew  Mackie,  M.D.,  was  born  in  Wareham, 
Mass.,  Jan.  24,  1794,  and  died  at  his  residence  in 
New  Bedford,  May  2,  1871.  He  was  son  and  grand- 
son of  physicians,  each  successful.  His  father,  Dr. 
Andrew  Mackie,  of  Wareham,  was  a  leading  practi- 
tioner in  Eastern  Massachusetts.  His  grandfather, 
Dr.  John  Mackie,  of  Southampton,  L.  I.  The  son 
was  fitted  for  college  under  the  care  of  Rev.  Noble 
Everett,  of  Wareham,  graduated  at  Brown  University 
in  1813,  studied  medicine  with  his  father  and  elder 
brother,  Dr.  John  Mackie,  of  Providence,  R.  I.,  and 
at  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  in  New 
York,  and  commenced  practice  in  Plymouth,  Mass., 
in  1817,  and  there  and  New  Bedford  his  professional 
life  was  passed  ;  that  he  stood  well  in  respect  to  his 
associates  is  shown  in  the  fact  that  he  was  twice  vice- 
president  of  the  Massachusetts  Medical  Society,  and 
gave  by  election  its  annual  address  in  1850.  He  kept 
up  his  reading  of  current  medical  literature  to  the 
last;  but  had  doubtless  seen  so  many  glittering  spe- 
cialties come  and  go  that,  though  not  rejecting,  he 
was  jealous  of  new  novelties. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  South  Bristol  Medi- 


cal Society,  held  in  New  Bedford,  May  10,  1871,  the 
following  resolutions  were  adopted  : 

"  Resolved,  That  by  the  death  of  Dr.  Andrew  Mackie,  of  New  Bedford, 
the  members  of  this  society  lose  au  associate  of  marked  professional  ability 
and  uprightness  of  character. 

"  Resolved,  That,  one  of  the  founders  of  our  society,  tie  has  claims  to 
our  gratitude  for  his  unvarying  support  of  it,  a  support  given  from  an 
often  expressed  conviction  of  the  correctness  of  the  principles  under- 
lying its  organization,  that  by  measures  promotive  of  professional  good 
that  of  our  fellow-men  will  be  promoted. 

"Resolved,  That  as  individuals  our  gratitude  is  due  him  for  the  ex- 
ample of  steadfast  devotion  to  duty  and  high  moral  principle  which  has 
governed  his  course ;  that,  as  a  man,  a  friend,  and  a  physician,  his  mem- 
ory will  ever  be  precious. 

"  Resolved,  That  we  tender  our  sincere  sympathy  to  his  widow  and  his 
children  in  their  bereavement." 

In  early  life  he  united  with  the  Congregational 
Church,  and  was  ever  a  faithful  and  consistent  mem- 
ber. In  1834  he  was  chosen  deacon  of  the  North 
Congregational  Church  of  New  Bedford,  and  retained 
his  official  relation  till  his  death.  A  man  is  valuable 
who  is  strictly  conscientious.  We  have  the  memory 
of  a  man  scrupulous  to  know  the  right  and  perfectly 
fearless  to  do  it  at  any  cost.  In  his  life  of  seventy- 
seven  years  he  left  the  testimony  of  an  honest  and 
conscientious  man.  A  strong  man,  he  was  strong  in 
his  convictions.  He  reproduced  the  Puritan  idea, 
modified  only  to  less  sternness.  A  massive  strength, 
a  solid  faith,  a  fearless  utterance,  and  though  genial, 
and  especially  so  in  his  family,  where  he  considered 
everybody's  comfort  before  his  own,  yet  a  character 
which,  if  aroused  to  wrath,  one  would  dread  to  .en- 
counter. Such  men  are  capable  of  great  severity. 
He  was  satisfied  with  long  life.  He  saw  his  family 
long  settled,  his  sons  in  useful  professions.  He  had 
the  respect  of  his  fellow-citizens  as  a  just  man  and 
the  regard  of  those  in  his  own  work,  to  some  of  whom 
he  was  a  patriarch. 

Fifty  years  of  consistent  Christian  life  are  his  tes- 
timony. Duty  was  his  watchword  ;  duty  fulfilled  is 
preparation.  It  does  take  years  to  make  such  a  prep- 
aration. Fruit  does  not  ripen  in  blossom-time.  A 
great  oak  is  many  years  from  the  acorn.  A  good  life, 
stalwart,  vigorous,  true,  it  takes  years  to  build  it  up. 
Be  patient,  young  men.  Character  is  a  plant  of  slow 
growth,  but  the  reward  of  patient  continuance  is  cer- 
tain. 

Dr.  Mackie  married,  Dec.  4,  1821,  at  Plymouth, 
Mass.,  Hetty  A.,  daughter  of  Capt.  Lemuel  Bradford, 
who  was  killed  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  a  lineal  de- 
scendant of  Governor  Bradford. 

Of  their  five  children,  Rev.  Andrew  was  a  dean  of 
the  Episcopal  Church  of  Northern  Indiana,  died  in 
the  spring  of  1878,  aged  fifty-five;  John  H.,  M.D. ; 
George  F.  died  at  twenty-three,  he  was  a  captain  in 
the  merchant  service;  Elizabeth  C,  wife  of  George 
Hastings,  of  New  Bedford;  and  Amelia  B.,  who  died 
at  five  years.  Mrs.  Mackie  died  Aug.  30,  1880,  aged 
seventy-seven. 


AA_ 


Wuxa^XI    V\A&JlMaJU 


G^U  d 


NEW    BEDFORD. 


153 


JOHN    HOWELL    MACKIE,  A.M.,  M.D. 

John  Howell  Mackie,  A.M.,  M.D.,  son  of  Dr. 
Andrew  and  "Hetty  Amelia  (Bradford)  Mackie,  of  New 
Bedford.  His  father  was  a  son  of  Dr.  Andrew  Mackie, 
of  Wareham  (an  eminent  physician  of  that  section 
of  the  State,  and  a  surgeon  in  the  United  States  army 
during  the  Revolution),  and  a  grandson  of  Dr.  John 
Mackie,  of  Southampton,  L.  I.  His  mother  was  a 
lineal  descendant  of  Governor  Bradford.  He  was 
horn  at  Plymouth,  Mass.,  Aug.  24,  1826.  Educated 
at  private  schools  and  under  private  tutors,  he  pur- 
sued his  professional  studies  at  Harvard  College  (on 
whose  roll  of  honor  his  name  stands),  and  at  the 
Jefferson  Medical  College,  in  Philadelphia,  where  he 
graduated  as  M.D.  March  9,  1850,  and  in  the  same 
year  established  himself  in  practice  in  New  Bedford, 
where  at  this  time,  1882,  he  is  one  of  the  leading  sur- 
geons and  physicians.  His  reputation  as  a  surgeon 
is  not  confined  to  his  city  or  county,  but  is  recog- 
nized all  through  the  United  States,  he  having  per- 
formed many  of  the  most  important  and  difficult 
operations  in  surgery,  and  being  frequently  called  in 
consultation  in  various  parts  of  his  own  as  well  as 
other  States  in  New  England.  From  the  Massachu- 
setts Medical  Society,  of  which  he  has  been  an  hon- 
ored member  since  1850,  he  has  received  many  hon- 
ors, having  been  a  councilor  for  many  years,  and  been 
chosen  to  represent  the  State  Society  at  the  meetings  of 
the  Rhode  Island,  New  Hampshire,  Connecticut,  and 
New  York  Medical  Societies.  He  was  also  chosen  a 
delegate  from  the  Massachusetts  Medical  Society  to 
the  International  Medical  Congress  of  1876,  a  con- 
gress composed  of  the  most  eminent  men  from  all 
parts  of  the  civilized  world,  and  became  a  member  of 
that  congress.  In  1876  he  was  chosen  anniversary 
chairman  of  the  Massachusetts  Medical  Society,  and 
presided  at  the  annual  dinner  in  Music  Hall,  Boston, 
where  among  more  than  one  thousand  members  and 
guests  was  Dom  Pedro,  Emperor  of  Brazil,  and  other 
distinguished  strangers. 

In  1882  he  was  chosen  vice-president  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts Medical  Society.  He  is  a  permanent  mem- 
ber of  the  American  Medical  Society,  also  a  member 
and  in  1S63  and  1864  was  president  of  the  Bristol 
South  District  Medical  Society.  He  is  now  (1882) 
president  of  the  New  Bedford  Society  for  Medical  Im- 
provement. He  was  appointed  consulting  physician 
and  surgeon  to  St.  Joseph's  Hospital  in  1875,  and  still 
retains  the  position.  In  the  late  war  he  was  an  acting 
surgeon  in  the  United  States  navy  from  May  13, 1861, 
until  March,  1862,  when,  his  health  being  affected  by 
his  service  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  he  resigned  his 
position,  and  was  soon  after  appointed  an  acting  as- 
sistant surgeon  in  the  army,  and  during  the  rest  of  the 
war  was  in  charge  of  hospitals  at  the  North.  Since 
1863  he  has  been  a  United  States  examining  surgeon 
for  the  Pension  Bureau.  He  is  a  member  and  in  1881 
was  elected  a  trustee  and  member  of  the  council  of 
the  Massachusetts  Medical  Benevolent  Society. 


From  1868  to  1871,  inclusive,  he  was  a  member  of 
the  New  Bedford  City  Council.  In  1879  he  assisted 
in  the  arduous  work  of  organizing  the  first  Hoard  of 
Health  in  the  city  of  New  Bedford,  and  in  1880  and 
1881  was  its  chairman.  He  also  served  as  quarantine 
physician,  and  organized  a  system  of  quarantine 
which  received  the  unqualified  indorsement  of  the 
national  authorities.  Dr.  Mackie  has  been  largely 
called  upon  as  a  medical  and  surgical  expert  before 
the  sessions  of  all  the  courts  in  Bristol  County.  His 
well-known  thorough  knowledge  of  his  profession  and 
the  perfect  clearness  and  honesty  of  his  testimony  are 
thoroughly  appreciated  by  juries  in  the  county  of 
Bristol.  In  politics  he  was  a  Whig  until  the  death 
of  the  party,  when  he  became  a  Republican,  and  has 
since  acted  and  voted  with  that  party.  When  a  young 
man  he  became  an  Episcopalian,  but  in  later  years 
has  gone  back  to  the  faith  of  his  fathers,  and  although 
not  a  member  of  the  church,  is  a  constant  attendant 
at  the  old  North  Congregational  Church,  where  for  so 
many  years  his  father  was  an  honored  member  and 
deacon.  His  character  is  formed  very  much  upon 
his  father's,  having  the  same  stern  devotion  to  the 
calls  of  duty,  whatever  they  may  be,  and  the  same 
uncompromising  sense  of  honor  and  devotion  to  his 
professional  duties.  Charitable  to  the  poor,  equally 
ready  to  respond  to  the  call  of  the  humble  and  the 
lowly  as  well  as  to  the  honored  and  wealthy,  he  is  a 
worthy  successor  to  an  honored  name  and  reputation. 
Jan.  1,  1860,  he  married  Alice  Weston,  daughter  of 
Henry  Tobey,  of  Falmouth,  Mass.,  formerly  of  George- 
town, S.  C,  by  whom  he  had  four  children,  one  daugh- 
ter and  three  sons,  of  whom  only  one  is  now  living. 


CHARLES    ALMY. 


Charles  Almy,  son  of  Pardon  and  Mary  (Cook) 
Almy,  was  born  in  Tiverton,  R.  I.,  June  8,  1819,  of 
parents  resident  in  Little  Compton.  He  is  a  de- 
scendant in  the  seventh  generation  from  William 
Almy,  who  came  from  England  to  New  Jersey  in 
very  early  colonial  days,  and  afterwards  permanently 
settled  in  Rhode  Island,  where  he  became  a  large 
land-owner.  His  son  Job,  born  1640,  died  at  Ports- 
mouth, R.  I.,  in  1684.  The  descendants  of  William 
Almy  are  numerous  in  Rhode  Island  and  the  con- 
tiguous parts  of  this  State.  The  line  of  descent 
from  William  to  Charles  is  William1,  Job'-,  Job3, 
John4,  Sanford5,  Pardon*,  Charles7.  The  laud  first 
occupied  by  William  lay  at  Little  Compton  and  Tiv- 
erton, and  is  largely  held  to-day  by  his  descend- 
ants. Sanford  Almy,  born  1759,  died  1844,  a  large 
real-estate  owner,  having  several  farms,  was  an  ac- 
tive Democratic  politician,  and  all  his  life  in  public 
positions  of  trust  and  honor.  He  was  State  senator 
for  many  years.  He  manned  Lydia  Gray,  by  whom 
he  had  fifteen  children.  He  was  a  man  of  strong  in- 
tellect and  sterling  worth,  and,  while  quiet  and  unas- 


154 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


suming,  led  public  opinion  and  had  the  confidence  of 
all.     Both  he  and  his  wife  lived  to  advanced  years. 

Pardon  Almy,  their  eighth  child,  born  1792,  died 
1864,  derived  such  advantages  of  education  from  the 
common  schools  as  to  be  competent  to  teach,  but  soon 
became  a  farmer  on  a  portion  of  the  paternal  acres, 
and  was  an  agriculturist  during  his  life.  He  was  a 
man  of  good  judgment  and  business  sagacity.  He 
held  a  colonelcy  in  the  militia  and  was  a  deacon  of 
the  Baptist  Church.  He  was  quite  retiring  in  dispo- 
sition, never  seeking  office,  and  accepting  it  as  a  duty 
only  when  he  was  considered  the  best  man  for  the  po- 
sition. He  was  of  uniformly  even  disposition,  and 
was  rarely  provoked  to  anger. 

He  and  four  brothers  lived  on  separate  places  in 
close  proximity  to  each  other,  and  they  were  all  of 
strong  physique  and  commanding  appearance.  They 
prided  themselves  on  the  amount  of  labor  they  could 
accomplish,  and  the  superior  manner  in  which  it  was 
done.  They  were  social  and  hospitable,  and  none  of 
them  addicted  to  any  vices.  They  were  all  good 
types  of  the  best  element  of  our  intelligent  New  Eng- 
land yeomanry,  and  valuable  and  valued  citizens. 
Each  held  an  office  which  gave  him  an  appellation  for 
life.  George  was  "Esquire,"  Frederick  was  "Col- 
onel," Oliver  H.  was  "  Judge,"  John  was  "  Major," 
and  Pardon  was  "  Deacon." 

Pardon  married  Mary  Cook,  a  lineal  descendant  of 
Governor  William  Bradford.  They  had  seven  chil- 
dren attaining  mature  years,  of  whom  Charles  was 
oldest. 

Charles  Almy  was  reared  a  farmer,  and  from  early 
years  was  accustomed  to  labor.  He  had  good  common 
school  and  academic  education,  and  commenced 
teaching  school  when  but  seventeen.  He  was  a 
teacher  for  seven  consecutive  years,  and  gave  good 
satisfaction.  In  1843  he  opened  a  country  store  at 
Tiverton,  where  he  remained  until  Jan.  1,1846,  when 
he  removed  to  New  Bedford  and  engaged  in  dry-goods 
and  tailoring  business  at  "Old  4  Corners,"  corner 
Union  and  North  Water  Streets.  He  shortly  after, 
in  partnership  with  George  A.  Bourne,  as  Almy  & 
Bourne,  started  the  auction  and  commission  business 
now  conducted  by  George  A.  Bourne  &  Sons,  and  was 
connected  therewith  four  or  five  years. 

He  soon  became  interested  in  whaling,  and  devoted 
himself  largely  to  that  lucrative  business,  relinquish- 
ing the  management  of  his  store  to  his  brother  San- 
ford,  who  purchased  it  in  1861.  Mr.  Almy  continued 
whaling  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  civil  war.  In 
1854  he  built  a  whaling  ship  (four  hundred  tons), 
the  "Seconet,"  at  Eairhaven,  and  afterwards  a  bark 
of  three  hundred  and  eighty  tons  for  merchant  ser- 
vice, which  he  named  for  his  daughter  "  Helen  W. 
Almy."  This  vessel  is  now  running  between  San 
Francisco  and  the  Sandwich  Islands.  For  twenty-one 
years  Mr.  Almy's  office  was  in  the  building  where  he 
first  began  his  New  Bedford  business  life.  The  com- 
mencement of  his  present  insurance  business  was  in 


1864,  when  he  was  induced  to  take  the  agency  of  the 
National  Travelers  Accident  Insurance  Company,  of 
New  York.  This  proving  to  be  profitable,  he  accepted 
agencies  from  life  and  fire  insurance  companies,  and 
has  built  up  a  fine  business. 

Like  the  stock  from  which  he  sprung,  Mr.  Almy 
has  independent  habits  of  thought  and  a  strong  sense 
of  justice.  He  would  be  untrue  to  his  ancestry  if  he 
supported  wrong,  even  though  countenanced  by  a 
powerful  and  wealthy  majority.  "There  is  a  minor- 
ity nearer  right  than  the  majority,"  and  with  that 
minority  Mr.  Almy  has  willingly  taken  his  place. 
Anti-slavery  in  the  dark  days  when  opposition  to 
that  gigantic  evil  caused  almost  social  ostracism,  anti- 
rum  from  principle  long  before  an  organization  of  a 
Prohibition  party,  he  has  steadily  adhered  to  those 
principles  until  slavery  has  ceased  to  be  in  our  land, 
and  the  best  elements  of  all  classes  are  demanding 
the  prohibition  of  the  manufacture,  sale,  and  use  of 
intoxicating  liquor  as  a  beverage.  He  has  given  freely 
his  time,  his  influence,  and  his  money  in  advocacy  of 
the  right. 

Originally  a  Democrat,  he  became  a  Free-Soiler  in 
1848,  and  supported  Free-Soil  and  Republican  candi- 
dates and  measures  until  the  organization  of  the  Pro- 
hibition party,  and  since  then  has  been  one  of  its 
most  active  leaders.  He  has  received  the  nomination 
of  that  party  for  member  of  Governor's  Council,  Sec- 
retary of  State,  and  was  its  candidate  for  Governor 
in  1880,  1881,  and  1882.  He  has  the  friendship  and 
confidence  of  the  best  citizens  of  New  Bedford,  served 
on  the  school  board  of  the  city  several  years,  and  was 
its  chairman  for  three  years  ;  has  been  elected  alder- 
man, representative  to  the  Legislature,  and  has  refused 
several  nominations  for  the  mayoralty,  twice  when 
the  nomination  was  equivalent  to  an  election. 

He  was  one  of  the  original  corporators  of  the  New 
Bedford  Five  Cent  Savings-Bank,  organized  in  1855, 
and  has  been  connected  with  it  continuously  ever 
since  as  trustee  and  clerk.  He  has  been  a  director  in 
the  New  Bedford  Gas-Light  Company  since  its  early 
organization.  He  was  president  of  the  Lyceum  of 
the  town  of  New  Bedford  for  twelve  consecutive  years, 
from  186U,  during  the  period  of  its  greatest  prosperity. 
He  was  one  of  the  early  trustees  of  the  Free  Public 
Library,  and  one  of  the  building  commissioners  of 
the  Free  Public  Library  building.  He  joined  the 
First  Congregational  Church  (Liberal  Unitarian)  in 
1846,  and  has  been  one  of  the  most  constant  attend- 
ants at  its  services. 

He  married,  Oct.  28,  1846,  Mary  A.,  daughter  of 
Benjamin  and  Cynthia  (Smith)  Cummings,  of  Dart- 
mouth. They  have  four  children, — Helen  Wayne, 
Charles,  Francis  and  Frederick  (twins).  Charles  has 
taken  the  degrees  of  A.B.  and  LL.B.  from  Harvard 
University,  and  is  now  an  Assistant  United  States  At- 
torney in  Boston.  Francis  has  taken  the  degrees 
of  A.B.  and  A.M.  from  Harvard,  and  is  secretary  and 
treasurer  of  the  class  of  1879.     He  is  now  in  the  em- 


zt 


NEW    BEDFORD. 


155 


ploy  of  the  Erie  and  Western  Transportation  Com- 
pany (Anchor  Line)  at  Chicago.  Frederick  graduated 
at  Harvard  in  1880,  and  is  now  a  student  in  the  law 
department  of  the  same  school.  He  is  also  secretary 
and  treasurer  of  his  class. 


HON.  WARREN    LADD. 

Hon.  Warren  Ladd  was  horn  at  Bradford  (now 
Groveland,  Mass.),  July  21,  1813.  He  married  Lucy 
Washburn,  daughter  of  Hon.  Abel  Kingman,  of  North 
Bridgewater  (now  Brockton),  Nov.  22,  1842.  They 
have  five  children, — Herbert  Warren,  Sarah  Ella, 
Florence  Kingman,  Anna  Winthrop,  and  George 
Milton. 

Nathaniel  Ladd,  Esq.,  the  father  of  Warren,  was 
born  in  Haverhill,  Mass.,  Sept.  17, 178G.  He  removed 
to  Bradford  in  1810.  For  many  years  he  was  chair- 
man of  the  board  of  selectmen,  a  justice  of  the  peace, 
secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Groveland  Mutual  Fire 
Insurance  Company,  deacon  of  the  Congregational 
Church,  and  for  about  sixty  years  was  one  of  its  most 
active  and  influential  members.  He  married  Sally, 
daughter  of  Col.  Zebulon  Ingersoll,  of  Haverhill, 
July  14,  1811.  Her  father,  born  in  Gloucester  Sep- 
tember, 1757,  was  a  merchant,  a  ship-builder,  and  an 
active,  energetic,  and  successful  business  man.  Her 
mother  was  Ruth,  daughter  of  Benjamin  Moody,  of 
West  Newberry,  and  her  grandmother,  Ann,  the 
daughter  of  Dr.  Moses  Bradstreet,  of  Kittery,  Me. 
Warren's  ancestors  run  back  through  Nathaniel  (6), 
Nathaniel  (5),  Nathaniel  (4),  John  (3),  Samuel  (2), 
to  Daniel  (1),  who  came  from  London  in  the  ship 
"Mary  and  John"  in  1633-34.  There  is  a  tradition 
that  Dauiel  was  the  son  of  Nathaniel,  of  Dartmouth, 
Kent  County,  England,  and  that  the  first  Ladds  came 
from  France  with  William  the  Conqueror,  and  settled 
in  Deal,  Kent  Co.,  where  a  portion  of  land  was  granted 
them. 

Warren  Ladd  was  educated  in  the  public  schools, 
and  at  the  Merrimack  Academy.  Coming  to  New 
Bedford  in  July,  1840,  he  entered  the  employ  of  the 
New  Bedford  and  Taunton  Railroad  Company  as 
clerk  in  the  freight  office;  was  soon  promoted  to 
freight  agent,  and  then  to  general  agent  at  New  Bed- 
ford. In  1862  he  was  appointed  superintendent  of 
the  road,  which  position  he  held  until  1877.  His  con- 
nection with  this  road  continued  from  its  opening,  in 
1840,  to  its  consolidation  with  the  Boston,  Clinton 
and  Fitchburg  Railroad,  a  period  of  about  thirty- 
seven  years.  This  long  term  of  service  is  the  highest 
possible  compliment  to  his  integrity,  ability,  and 
faithfulness.  Though  actively  engaged  in  arduous 
and  responsible  duties,  he  found  time  for  intellectual 
culture,  and  by  a  judicious  course  of  reading  acquired 
a  general  knowledge  of  scientific,  mechanical,  and 
economical  subjects.  He  took  a  deep  interest  in 
municipal  affairs,  and  gave  his  influence  and  active 
effort  to  the  promotion  of  every  measure  which  in 


his  judgment  promised  to  increase  the  growth  and 
prosperity  of  the  city.  For  this  reason  he  was  re- 
peatedly called  to  the  service  of  the  city:  for  five 
years  as  member  of  the  Common  Council  and  one 
year  as  its  president;  for  five  terms  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Aldermen  ;  for  several  years  one  of  the 
school  committee,  and  a  trustee  of  the  Free  Public 
Library.  Of  the  latter  he  may  rightly  be  called  the 
father.  At  the  laving  of  the  corner-stone  of  the 
present  library  building,  Mayor  Howland,  in  his  ad- 
dress referring  to  the  origin  of  the  library,  said, — 

"On  the  8th  of  seventh  month  (July)  of  the  same 
year  (1851),  Warren  Ladd,  a  member  of  the  Common 
Council  from  Ward  one,  introduced  an  order  into 
that  branch  of  the  city  government  'for  the  raising 
of  a  committee  to  consider  the  expediency  of  estab- 
lishing in  this  city  a  Free  Public  Library.'  This 
order  was  adopted  in  the  Common  Council  but  was 
non-concurred  in  by  the  Board  of  Aldermen.  This  is 
believed  to  be  the  first  order  ever  introduced  into  any 
representative  body  for  the.  establishment  of  such  an 
institution,  and  to  this  gentleman  must  and  does 
belong  the  honor  of  having  taken  the  initiatory  step 
toward  the  establishment  of  a  library  for  the  public 
by  the  people  themselves." 

Mr.  Ladd  was  an  early  and  persistent  advocate  of 
the  introduction  of  water,  and  one  of  the  three  com- 
missioners under  whose  direction  the  water-works 
were  built.  As  showing  the  breadth  of  his  views  and 
his  terseness  in  stating  them,  we  quote  from  a  report 
(written  by  him)  of  a  committee  which  had  the 
matter  under  consideration  : 

"  Your  committee  are  fully  of  the  opinion  that  the 
introduction  of  an  ample  supply  of  pure  water  into 
the  city  is  an  imperative  necessity,  and  one  which 
should  not  be  much  longer  delayed.  It  is  part  of 
wise  statesmanship  to  look  at  the  future,  to  anticipate 
its  wants  and  guard  against  its  casualties.  Cities,  like 
men,  flourish  and  prosper  only  by  their  own  exertions, 
and  it  becomes  those  whom  the  people  have  placed 
in  power  to  be  equal  to  the  present  emergency.  We 
have  the  interest  and  honor  of  the  city  in  our  hands. 
We  know  its  wants  and  necessities,  and  can  compre- 
hend the  crisis  in  our  affairs.  Shall  we  grasp  and 
control  the  crisis,  turn  it  with  a  steady  hand  to  our 
interest  and  prosperity?  or  allow  it  silently  and 
timidly  to  pass  by  and  float  beyond  our  reach  ?  Shall 
we  legislate  only  for  to-day,  and  shrink  from  looking 
the  great  future  in  the  face  ;  or  shall  we,  knowing  the 
necessity  and  perceiving  the  remedy,  fearlessly  per- 
form our  duty?" 

He  was  upon  the  committee  to  which  was  referred 
the  question  of  introducing  gas ;  was  an  earnest  ad- 
vocate  of  the  construction  of  common  sewers,  and  in- 
troduced into  the  Common  Council  the  first  order  for 
the  appointment  of  a  committee  to  consider  the  ex- 
pediency of  purchasing  a  steam  fire-engine.  The  en- 
largement and  improvement  of  the  city  common  was 
in  a  great  measure  due  to  his  influence  and  exertion. 


156 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


In  the  late  civil  war  he  was  a  member  of  the  Com- 
mittee on  Enlistments,  and  took  an  active  part,  as  its 
records  show,  in  every  effort  made  by  the  city  to  aid 
the  national  government  in  putting  down  the  rebel- 
lion. He  has  been  connected  as  director  with  sev- 
eral  corporations,  and  is  now  president  of  the  New 
Bedford  and  Fairhaven  Street  Railway  Company, 
and  a  trustee  of  the  Five  Cent  Savings-Bank.  For 
thirty  years  he  has  held  the  commission  of  justice  of  ; 
the  peace. 

Naturally  conservative,  Mr.  Ladd  has  none  of  that 
blind  reverence  of  the  past  which  prevents  one  from 
keeping  abreast  with  the  spirit  of  the  age,  and  adopt- 
ing any  new  devices  and  improvements  that  genius 
and  enterprise  may  invent  or  discover. 

In  politics,  originally  an  ardent  Whig,  he  early 
became  an  equally  earnest  and  active  Republican; 
has  been  chairman  of  the  Republican  City  Committee, 
and  in  1876  was  a  Presidential  elector  from  the  First 
Congressional  District.  He  has  written  largely  for 
the  press;  was  for  many  years  the  New  Bedford  cor- 
respondent of  the  Haverhill  Gazette  over  the  signature 
of  "  Warren,"  and  has  contributed  many  able  articles 
to  the  New  Bedford  papers  over  the  nom  de  plume  of 
"Julius." 


WILLIAM    HATHAWAY,  Jr. 

According  to  an  account  in  an  old  English  history, 
Thomas  Hathaway  (the  earliest  ancestor  in  America) 
sailed  from  England  in  the  "  Isabella,"  bound  for 
Marblehead,  previous  to  the  year  1680.  He  mar- 
ried Mary  Starbuck,  daughter  of  Nathaniel  and  Mary 
Starbuck,  about  the  year  1680.  His  son  Thomas 
moved  to  New  Bedford  (then  Dartmouth).  His  son 
Jonathan  had  two  sons,  Jonathan  and  Thomas,  from 
whom  descended  the  subject  of  our  sketch,  William 
Hathaway,  Jr.,  also  his  wife. 

Jonathan  Hathaway  had  three  children, — William, 
Elisha,  and  Jabez.  William  had  four  children,  and 
was  the  father  of  William  Hathaway,  Jr.  Thomas 
Hathaway  had  four  children, — Thomas,  Gilbert,  I 
Elizabeth,  and  Mary.  Thomas,  Jr.,  was  the  father  of 
Mary  Hathaway,  who  married  her  cousin,  William 
Hathaway,  Jr.  Their  descendants  are  four, — Au- 
gustus, William,  Mary,  and  Thomas. 

William  Hathaway,  Jr.,  was  born  in  New  Bedford, 
July  17,  1798.  Having  as  a  boy  made  two  voyages  to 
London  with  his  father,  he  acquired  a  taste  for  the 
sea,  which  led  him  later  to  pass  twenty  years  in  the 
merchant  service.  He  made  many  voyages  to  ports 
in  the  Mediterranean, — Trieste,  Palermo,  Malaga, 
Cadiz,  Seville,  and  Gibraltar,— also  to  France,  Hol- 
land, Russia,  England,  Ireland,  West  Indies,  and  the 
Southern  ports  of  the  United  States. 

These  voyages  were  marked  with  pleasant  occasions 
which  filled  his  mind  with  delightful  memories.  A 
few  years  since,  at  his  home,  an  officer  in  the  navy, 
his  guest  at  the  time,  recalled  the   pleasant   inter- 


change of  courtesies  which  they  had  enjoyed  upon 
each  other's  ships  in  the  Mediterranean  forty  years 
before,  and  it  was  the  first  time  they  had  met  since 
then.  His  favorite  city  was  St.  Petersburg,  of  which 
he  always  speaks  with  enthusiasm,  and  often  enjoys 
relating  an  interesting  incident  which  occurred  in  his 
presence  in  that  city  during  the  raising  of  a  magnifi- 
cent and  colossal  monolith  of  red  granite  to  the 
memory  of  Alexander  I.,  when,  by  the  plain  common 
sense  of  a  common  sailor,  by  wetting  the  ropes  and 
thus  shrinking  them,  the  great  work  was  completed 
when  science  failed. 

Later,  in  company  with  Capt.  Matthew  Luce,  he 
engaged  in  the  whaling  business,  which  copartnership 
continued  for  eighteen  years,  and  until  the  decease  of 
Capt.  Luce.  Mr.  Hathaway  continued  the  business 
until  the  time  of  the  Rebellion,  when  he  retired. 

Three  of  the  vessels  were  sold  to  the  government 
for  the  stone  fleet  to  blockade  Charleston  Harbor. 
Two  were  destroyed  by  rebel  privateers.  The  first, 
the  "Virginia,"  was  taken  by  the  "Alabama,"  the 
second  by  the  "Shenandoah." 

The  bark  "Virginia"  was  taken  by  the  "Ala- 
bama" Sept.  17,  1862,  and  was  the  ninth  vessel  de- 
stroyed by  Semmes. 

The  following  is  an  account,  written  from  facts  re- 
ceived from  one  of  the  sufferers.  The  "  Virginia" 
sailed  from  New  Bedford  three  weeks  before  she  was 
taken.  They  had  been  recruiting  at  the  Western 
Islands,  and  were  only  a  short  distance  from  there 
when  captured  by  the  "Alabama."  There  was  no  oil 
on  board  at  the  time.  The  captain,  supposing  the 
"  Alabama"  a  friendly  steamer,  as  she  was  sailing 
under  English  colors,  ordered  a  boat  lowered  to  go  to 
her,  thinking  they  might  have  letters  ;  but,  just  be- 
fore starting,  seeing  a  boat  from  the  steamer  coming 
towards  them,  they  drew  theirs  back  to  the  deck. 
The  boat  from  the  steamer  neared,  and  ten  men, 
under  Lieut.  Waddell  (afterwards  commander  of  the 
privateer  "Shenandoah")  boarded  the  "Virginia." 
Great  was  their  dismay  when  Lieut.  Waddell,  after 
saying  "good-morning"  to  the  captain,  passed  imme- 
diately by  him  and  commenced  pulling  down  the 
colors.  Simultaneously  the  English  flag  on  the 
"  Alabama"  was  lowered  and  the  Confederate  flag 
hoisted  in  its  place.  As  soon  as  the  flag  on  the  "  Vir- 
ginia" was  taken  down,  Lieut.  Waddell  threw  it  over 
his  arm,  and  approaching  the  captain  with  a  haughty 
air,  said,  "Capt.  Tilton,  you  are  a  prize  to  the  Con- 
federate steamer  '  Alabama.'  I  will  give  you  all  two 
hours  to  leave  the  ship,  and  allow  you  two  changes  of 
clothing,  which  must  be  taken  away  in  bags.  You 
are  then  to  be  sent  on  board  the  'Alabama,'  as  your 
ship  is  to  be  burned." 

There  was  great  consternation  on  board,  but  no  one 
dared  to  raise  an  objection.  Before  the  last  boat  left 
they  set  fire  to  the  "Virginia"  in  three  places.  As 
they  stepped  on  the  deck  of  the  "Alabama"  each  was 
handcuffed,  and  remained  in  that  condition  through 


, 


v/^/  y*/ s<  //*  & <-  ot ' ccx/^{ 


NEW   BEDFORD. 


157 


fifteen  long  days  and  nights.  The  disheartening 
sight  of  the  burning  ship  was  before  them  for  over 
twelve  hours,  from  eleven  in  the  morning  till  twelve 
at  midnight. 

The  flames  flashed  forth  at  first  with  all  fury,  as  if 
battling  with  the  raging  winds,  emblematic  ofSemmes' 
barbarity.  As  night  drew  around  them  the  winds 
abated  and  the  flames  grew  less  and  less,  till  the  mid- 
night hour  revealed  only  a  spark,  the  last  bright 
symbol  of  what  their  noble  ship  had  been  to  them, 
now  only  a  phantom  in  imagination.  Oh,  that  day's 
experience,  what  a  thought !  so  weird,  so  terrible  in 
their  overwrought  and  excited  brains.  Even  the 
large  Newfoundland  dog  partook  of  the  distracted 
feelings  of  the  ship's  company.  He  was  enraged 
when  the  pirates  came  on  board,  and  after  coolly  sur- 
veying them  he  rushed  to  the  highest  place  in  the 
stern  and  growled  and  barked  fiercely.  He  seemed 
to  know  they  were  disturbing  the  peace.  The  ill- 
omened  guests  showed  some  consideration  by  allow- 
ing the  poor  creature  to  follow  his  friends.  On  the 
"'Alabama"  the  dog  seemed  sorrowful  and  full  of 
compassion  for  their  ill  fate. 

The  men  were  confined  on  deck  all  the  time,  through 
sunshine  and  storm,  weary  with  exposure  and  fatigue. 
Through  the  tedious  days  and  nights  the  wind  at 
times  blew  so  heavily  that  in  their  awkward  position, 
witli  hands  confined,  they  were  at  its  mercy,  tossed 
about  in  their  effort  to  steady  themselves  by  holding 
on  the  rail  as  be-t  they  could,  the  handcuffs  chafing 
their  wrists,  causing  extreme  pain,  so  increasing  their 
intense  physical  suffering.  During  the  fifteen  days 
three  other  ships  were  captured,  and  two  of  them 
burned.  The  last  one  taken  (the  "  Emily  Farnham") 
they  made  use  of  to  rid  themselves  of  all  the  prisoners ; 
placed  them,  numbering  eighty  men  (from  the  three 
burned  vessels),  on  board,  including  the  dog,  and  sent 
them  to  Liverpool,  from  which  place  most  of  them 
shipped  for  home.  Capt.  Tilton  had  deep  scars  upon 
his  wrists,  caused  by  the  handcuffs,  and  died  soon 
after  reaching  home,  being  completely  broken  down 
by  the  sad  and  painful  experience. 

Mr.  Hathaway  has  been  a  director  of  the  Commer- 
cial Bank  of  New  Bedford  for  more  than  forty  years, 
and  also  held  the  same  position  in  the  New  Bedford 
Institution  for  Savings.  He  has  always  been  marked 
for  his  system  and  order.  "Not  one  member  of  his 
family  has  ever  been  obliged  to  pick  up  the  smallest 
thing  belonging  to  him."  He  has  a  place  for  every- 
thing, and  keeps  everything  in  its  place  to  a  remark- 
able degree  for  one  of  his  advanced  age.  Although 
eighty-five  years  of  age,  he  has  quite  good  health,  has 
never,  used  spectacles  in  the  daytime,  and  sometimes 
reads  in  the  evening  without  them.  He  is  one  of  the 
most  generous  of  fathers,  and  particularly  thoughtful 
of  the  welfare  of  those  about  him. 

Thomas  Hathaway,  Sr.,  was  born  in  New  Bedford 
in  1732.  Being  the  oldest  son,  he  inherited  the  prin- 
cipal part  of  his  father's  estate,  and  in  1764  commenced 


the  business  of  ship-building  upon  the  Acushnet  River, 
and  carried  it  on  with  profit  until  the  Revolution 
(1776).  He  erected  the  three-story  dwelling  on  the 
southwest  corner  of  South  Water  and  School  Streets, 
in  New  Bedford,  and  made  it  his  residence  in  1772. 
It  was  an  elegant  private  residence. for  those  days,  and 
a  mark  for  the  British  soldiers  in  1778,  but  not  much 
injured. 

At  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  Mr.  Hathaway  es- 
poused the  Tory  cause,  being  connected  by  marriage 
with  the  family  of  Col.  Bradford  Gilbert,  of  Nova 
Scotia.  His  wife  was  Miss  Deborah  Gilbert,  a 
daughter  of  that  gentleman.  In  January,  1777, 
owing  to  his  Tory  principles,  Mr.  Hathaway  was 
obliged  to  leave  the  States.  He  went  to  Nova 
Scotia,  and  remained  nearly  six  years  in  the  family 
of  Col.  Gilbert,  with  the  exception  of  thirteen 
months'  service  upon  a  British  ship-of-war.  Before 
leaving  home  he  placed  his  family  for  safety  in  his 
country  residence,  a  short  distance  north  of  New  Bed- 
ford, where  his  wife  lived  in  retirement,  devoting  her- 
self to  the  instruction  of  her  four  children. 

Her  son,  Thomas  Hathaway,  Jr.,  often  spoke  of  his 
mother  as  "  a  lady  of  great  personal  dignity  and  re- 
finement," qualifications  borne  in  his  character  to  a 
very  great  degree.  He  was  a  fine  scholar  in  mathe- 
matics and  an  excellent  penman,  and  often  boasted 
that  his  instruction  was  entirely  from  his  mother. 

He  was  their  oldest  child,  and  was  born  in  1768. 
Sept.  5,  1778,  the  British  under  Gen.  Grey  landed  to 
burn  New  Bedford,  and  hiding  her  plate  and  valua- 
bles, Mrs.  Hathaway  trusted  to  the  loyalty  of  her 
husband  to  protect  her;  but  she  was  treated  with  vio- 
lence and  given  a  shock  from  which  she  never  recov- 
ered, but  gradually  failed,  and  died  in  1783,  soon  after 
her  husband's  return. 

Soon  after  the  Revolution  the  noted  Jemima  Wil- 
kinson came  to  New  Bedford  on  a  proselyting  tour, 
and  was  there  at  three  different  times,  once  remaining 
nearly  a  year.  She  made  two  tours  to  Connecticut, 
preaching  nearly  every  day,  and  gathered  many  fol- 
lowers. In  these  two  journeys  she  was  accompanied 
by  Thomas  Hathaway,  who  joined  her  society  in  1784, 
and  his  son,  Thomas  Hathaway,  Jr.  In  1788  she  left 
New  Bedford,  with  a  large  band  of  followers,  for 
Philadelphia,  purposing  to  go  to  Western  New  York 
from  there  and  establish  a  colony  in  that  great  wil- 
derness. Thomas  Hathaway  sold  all  his  property, 
much  of  it  at  a  sacrifice,  and,  with  his  four  children, 
— Thomas,  Mary,  Elizabeth,  and  Gilbert, — accompa- 
nied her.  He  was  the  leader  of  an  exploring  party 
sent  the  next  year  to  find  a  locality,  but  after  going 
as  far  as  Painted  Post,  on  the  Canisteo,  they  returned 
with  an  unfavorable  report.  Nothing  daunted,  she  in 
1790,  with  her  whole  following,  passed  up  the  Susque- 
hanna to  Newtown,  now  Elmira,  under  the  guidance 
of  Gen.  Sullivan,  who  had  fought  the  Indians  in  that 
section  in  1779.  There  he  left  the  party,  and  with 
great  difficulty  they  made  their  way  to  the  outlet  of 


158 


HISTORY    OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Crooked  (Keuka)  Lake,  which  Thomas  Hathaway 
was  one  of  the  three  of  the  company  to  first  discover. 
During  the  troublous  times  and  discomforts  of  the 
establishment  of  this  colony,  Thomas  Hathaway,  Sr., 
and  Thomas  Hathaway,  Jr.,  were  of  great  aid  by  rea- 
son of  their  fertile  ingenuity,  good  judgment,  and 
strong,  practical  common  sense.  They  were  fitted 
well  for  this  work,  and  much  of  the  hardship  rested 
upon  them.  Thomas,  Jr.,  and  Gilbert,  his  brother, 
built  the  first  sail-vessel  on  Seneca  Lake,  for  the 
transportation  of  supplies  from  Geneva. 

Thomas  Hathaway,  Sr.,  in  company  with  other 
gentlemen,  bought  large  tracts  of  the  public  lands. 
He  was  a  stanch  follower  of  the  Friend  to  his 
death,  and  gave  freely  of  his  possessions  to  gratify 
her  many  whims.  He  died  in  Jerusalem,  N.  Y.,  in 
1798,  aged  sixty-six  years.  His  daughter  Mary  mar- 
ried Eliphalet  Norris,  and  lived  most  of  her  life  upon 
a  plantation  in  Maryland.  His  daughter  Elizabeth, 
a  lady  of  rare  brilliancy  of  mind  and  dignity  of  char- 
acter, married  Judge  Joshua  Ferris,  of  Tioga  County, 
N.  Y.,  a  gentleman  of  culture,  and  for  many  years 
the  principal  surveyor  of  public  lauds  in  the  southern 
section  of  the  State.  He  also  held  many  offices  of 
trust  in  the  gift  of  the  government,  his  commissions 
being  from  Presidents  Washington,  Adams,  and  Jef- 
ferson. Gilbert  Hathaway  was  a  large  landholder  in 
Yates  County,  N.  Y.,  and  lived  to  the  age  of  eighty- 
one  years. 

Thomas  Hathaway,  Jr.,  was  for  many  years  a  regu- 
lar Friend,  and  belonged  to  the  society  of  Jemima 
Wilkinson  until  his  marriage  in  1793  to  Mary, 
daughter  of  Elnathan  Botsford,  who  was  a  follower 
of  Jemima  Wilkinson,  from  New  Milford,  Conn. 
The  rules  of  the  society  forbade  marriage,  and  both 
were  excommunicated  and  forbidden  to  enter  her 
meetings.  Jemima  endeavored  to  alienate  his  father 
against  them  that  she  might  control  his  large  prop- 
erty, but  did  not  succeed.  He  purchased  five  hun- 
dred acres  of  land  at  one  dollar  per  acre,  for  which 
his  father  had  paid  twenty-five  cents  per  acre.  This 
was  sold  in  1855  by  his  descendants  for  sixty-five 
dollars  per  acre.  He  was  for  many  years  one  of  the 
principal  surveyors  of  Western  New  York,  and  was 
prominent  in  civil  and  military  matters.  He  lived 
fifty-nine  years  on  the  farm  in  Milo,  Yates  Co.,  where 
he  first  settled,  raised  seven  children,  and  died  May 
23,  1853,  aged  eighty-four  years.  His  wife  was  a  more 
than  ordinary  woman  in  many  ways,  and  died  Nov. 
3,  1866,  in  her  ninety-sixth  year.  They  were  buried 
in  the  first  cemetery  laid  out  in  the  county,  and  done 
by  Mr.  Hathaway  himself. 


SIMEON    II A  WES. 
Simeon    Hawes  was   born   on   Tarkiln    Hill,  New 
Bedford,  Mass.,  Aug.  14,  1818.     His  paternal  grand- 
father, Levi  Hawes,  was  a  native  of  Stoughton,  Mass., 
and  a  farmer  by  occupation.     Levi  died  at  the  age  of 


forty,  from  the  effects  of  an  injury  he  had  received. 
He  left  a  widow  and  several  children,  of  whom  Levi, 
Jr.,  was  one,  born  May  25,  1792,  in  Stoughton,  Mass. 
In  early  life  he  was  a  hatter  by  trade,  but  during  a 
period  of  more  than  sixty  years  he  was  a  farmer  on 
Tarkiln  Hill,  in  the  town  of  New  Bedford,  Mass., 
where  he  settled  previous  to  1818.  He  was  a  worthy 
member  of  the  Congregational  Church,  and  for  more 
than  half  a  century  was  a  deacon  of  the  same.  He 
was  respected,  and  those  who  knew  him  best  were  his 
warmest  friends.  He  married,  first,  Harriet  Peirce, 
in  1813.  She  was  a  relative  of  Mayor  Peirce,  of  Bos- 
ton, and  was  born  June  16,  1796,  and  died  Feb.  20, 
1820.  They  had  four  children, — Levi,  Harriet,  Simeon, 
and  Jason  L.  Harriet  (deceased)  married  Calvin 
Marshall,  of  Easton,  and  had  children, — Levi  and 
Jason  L.,  died  young.  Simeon  alone  remains  of  this 
family.  Levi  Hawes  married  for  his  second  wife, 
July  16,  1820,  Azubah,  daughter  of  Lieut.  Jonathan 
Capen,  of  Stoughton,  Mass.  His  wife  was  a  Miss 
Glover,  a  member  of  a  very  prominent  family. 

Of  this  union  there  were  Eleanor,  Azubah  (de- 
ceased), Levi  (deceased),  Jonathan  C,  Thomas  R., 
Elisha,  and  David  C.  Mrs.  Hawes  died  August, 
1879,  aged  eighty-eight  years,  and  Mr.  Hawes  died 
April,  1880.  Simeon  Hawes,  above  referred  to,  spent 
his  boyhood  days  upon  his  father's  farm,  receiving 
such  advantages  for  an  education  as  the  district 
schools  of  that  day  afforded.  At  sixteen  we  find  him 
working  on  the  farm  by  the  month  for  Capt.  William 
Hathaway,  and  during  the  two  following  years  he 
worked  at  ship-building  for  Wilson  Barstow,  of  Matta- 
poisett.  At  nineteen  he  returned  home,  and  con- 
tinued to  reside  with  his  father,  working  on  the  farm, 
until  he  was  twenty-four.  April  25,  1841,  he  married 
Maria  E.,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Polly  Brightman, 
of  Westport,  Mass.  She  was  born  June  2,  1818,  and 
died  May  26,  1880.  Their  children  are  John  F.,  An- 
drew S.  (deceased),  Charles  S.  (deceased),  Sylvanus 
T.,  Harriet  E.,  Levi  (deceased),  George  W.,  Cynthia 
A.,  Mary  A.,  and  Joseph  B.  Mr.  Hawes  settled  on 
his  present  farm  in  his  native  town  soon  after  his 
marriage,  and  has  resided  here  ever  since.  For  more 
than  fourteen  years  he  has  been  interested  in  the 
manufacture  of  lumber  at  Smith  Mills  and  in  Acush- 
net;  for  twenty-six  years  he  has  been  engaged  in  the 
ice  business,  and  owns  a  quarter-interest  in  the  New 
Bedford  Ice  Company,  which  has  proved  remunera- 
tive, and  for  many  years  was  the  superintendent  of 
"  paving  streets  and  roads." 

Mr.  Hawes  has  met  with  some  severe  losses  by  fire, 
first  in  1877,  when  his  interest  at  Smith  Mills  was 
destroyed,  and  second,  June  7,  1882,  when  his  house, 
his  ice  buildings,  etc.,  were  destroyed,  causing  a  loss 
of  more  than  fifteen  thousand  dollars.  In  politics,  he 
is  a  Republican.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Common 
Council  one  year,  but,  as  a  rule,  has  not  been  an 
aspirant  for  political  honors.  Mrs.  Hawes  was  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  he  is  a  liberal 


^^Z^^T^ 


e*sf% c^t^      'L? .    tfQ?  €<^o<s~(^3 


NEW   BEDFORD. 


159 


supporter  and  attendant  upon  the  Congregational 
Church.  His  sons  John  F.  and  Sylvanus  T.  are  en- 
gaged with  their  father  in  the  manufacture  of  lumber 
at  Smith  Mills,  under  the  firm-name  of  Hawes  &  Sons. 


CAPT.  JONATHAN    CAPEN    HAWKS. 

Capt.  Jonathan  Capen  Hawes,  son  of  Levi  by  his 
second  wife,  Azubah  Capen,  was  born  on  the  home 
farm,  Tarkiln  Hill,  New  Bedford,  Mass.,  May  8, 
1826.  He  remained  at  home  assisting  his  father  on 
the  farm  summers  and  attending  the  district  school 
winters  until  he  was  some  fourteen  years  of  age, 
having  in  the  meantime,  however,  lived  with  bis  uncle, 
Thomas  Capen,  in  Stoughton,  Mass.,  and  attended 
school  in  that  place  some  six  months. 

At  fourteen  he  left  home  to  learn  the  sailmaker's 
trade  of  one  William  T.  Cook,  and  after  a  short  time 
returned  home  and  went  to  school. 

At  sixteen,  in  1842,  he  commenced  his  whaling  life 
as  a  common  sailor  in  ship  "  Roman,"  Alex.  R. 
Barker,  master.  They  went  to  the  Northwest  coast 
via  Good  Hope,  returning  via  the  Horn,  thus  com- 
pleting his  first  trip  around  the  world  in  about  two 
years.  His  second  trip  was  with  the  same  captain 
and  ship  as  a  boat-steerer ;  time,  thirty  months. 
During  his  third  voyage,  as  third  officer,  he  visited  the 
eastern  coast  of  the  Eastern  Continent,  and  was 
gone  some  four  and  one-half  years  from  home.  His  \ 
next  trip  took  him  into  Behring's  Strait, — this  time  ' 
as  first  mate.  They  lost  their  ship  at  Fort  Clarence, 
and  Mr.  Hawes  returned  home  via  California  and  the 
Isthmus. 

At  twenty-eight  years  of  age,  in  1854,  Mr.  Hawes 
became  master  of  the  ship  "  Eliza  Adams,"  Edward 
C.  Jones,  agent.  They  went  into  the  North  Pacific 
Ocean,  were  very  successful,  and  returned  after  being 
absent  thirty-one  months.  His  second  trip  as  master 
was  in  the  ship  "  Emma  C.  Jones,"  visiting  the  coast  i 
of  Western  Africa  and  St.  Helena.  After  a  voyage  j 
of  some  twenty-four  months  he  returned  home  and 
remained  some  time,  when  he  again  took  command  of 
a  ship,  this  time  the  "Milo,"  and  visited  the  North 
Pacific  and  Arctic  Oceans.  It  was  during  this  voyage 
that  he  was  captured  by  Capt.  Waddell,of  the  "Shen- 
andoah." He  compromised  with  Capt.  Waddell  by 
giving  bonds  to  the  amount  of  forty-six  thou- 
sand dollars,  and  he  was  permitted  to  proceed  to 
San  Francisco  with  his  ship  and  some  two  hundred 
men. 

He  closed  his  career  as  a  whaler  in  18G9,  and  has 
since  resided  in  his  native  town.  Since  his  return  he 
has  been  engaged  in  the  lumber  business  with  his 
brother  Simeon  in  the  Acushnet  Saw-Mill.  In  poli- 
tics he  has  been  a  Republican.  In  1874  he  was  mem- 
ber of  the  City  Council,  and  in  1876  member  of  the 
board  of  aldermen.  He  has  been  three  times  married. 
First  to  Jerusha  Blake,  of  Stoughton,  June  1(J,  1854. 
They  had  two  children, — Addie  R.  (deceased;,  who 


married  John  Leonard,  of  New  Bedford,  and  has  one 
son,  John  H.  Frederick  B.  is  a  young  man,  and  re- 
sides at  home.  Mrs.  Hawes  died  at  sea,  in  the  North 
Pacific,  Aug.  8,  1868,  and  her  remains  were  brought 
home  and  interred  in  the  cemetery  at  Acushnet.  Capt. 
Hawes  married  for  his  second  wife,  Nov.  20,  1869, 
Mrs.  Sylvia  R.  Leonard,  widow  of  John  W.  Leonard, 
and  daughter  of  James  and  Phoebe  Tucker,  of  Dart- 
mouth. They  had  one.  daughter,  Alice  T.,  who  died 
at  ten  years.  Mrs.  Hawes  died  June  13,  1876,  and 
the  captain  married  for  his  third  wife,  April  10,  1877, 
Mary  W.,  widow  of  Albert  Collins,  and  daughter  of 
Noah  and  Hannah  Davis,  of  Fall  River.  Of  this 
union  there  have  been  three  children,  viz.,  Jonathan 
C,  Jr.  (deceased),  Mary  A.,  and  Grace  W. 

Capt.  Hawes  and  his  brother  Simeon  are  among  the 
wide-awake  business  men  of  Acushnet  Avenue.  They 
make  no  pretensions  to  wealth  or  fame,  but  are  living 
in  a  quiet  way,  surrounded  with  the  comforts  of  happy 
homes,  the  legitimate  result  of  industry  and  frugality. 
They  enjoy  the  confidence  of  their  townsmen,  and  are 
worthy  representatives  of  one  of  the  old  families  of 
New  England. 


EDWARD  HASKELL. 
Anything  written  of  the  mercantile  history  of  New 
Bedford  would  be  decidedly  incomplete  without  some- 
thing more  than  a  mere  mention  of  Edward  Haskell, 
one  for  so  many  years  identified  with  its  business  in- 
terests. He  was  son  of  Deacon  Calvin  and  Ann 
(Hersey)  Haskell,  and  was  born  in  Still  River,  Mass., 
about  1828,  and  passed  his  early  life  in  school,  but  on 
account  of  the  business  reverses  of  his  father  was 
compelled  to  go  to  work  early,  and  finally  was  in  the 
employ  of  a  Boston  firm,  for  whom  he  came  to  New 
Bedford  as  a  young  man  to  dispose  of  a  stock  of  goods, 
intending  only  to  remain  a  short  time ;  but  meeting 
with  success,  his  employers  concluded  to  keep  him  in 
trade  here,  especially  as  he  liked  the  place  and  found 
warm  friends.  In  1849  he  began  business  for  himself 
in  a  small  way  on  the  west  side  of  Purchase  Street, 
between  William  and  Union  Streets,  as  a  dry-goods 
merchant.  He  was  successful,  full  of  energy,  and 
very  popular,  and  after  a  year  or  so  passed  there, 
moved  across  the  street  to  the  middle  store  of  the 
number  lately  occupied  by  him.  Here  his  business 
rapidly  increased,  and  he  showed  remarkable  business 
capacity  in  securing  the  class  of  goods  most  salable, 
and  introduced  many  departments  not  strictly  classed 
as  dry  goods.  For  more  than  thirty  years  Mr.  Ha>- 
kell  continued  in  trade  on  the  same  site,  and  was 
compelled  to  enlarge  the  capacity  of  his  premises 
frequently,  and  finally,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  Dec. 
11,  1882,  the  firm  of  Edward  Haskell  &  Co.  (formed 
in  1876)  occupied  four  stores,  consolidated  into  one 
large  emporium  of  trade.  In  spite  of  competition  of 
the  closest  kind,  Mr.  Haskell  had  a  steady  advance 
in  his  business  from  his  very  first  day  of  trade,  and 
stood  for  years  as  the  leading  and  representative  mer- 


160 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


chant  of  New  Bedford.  He  married,  first,  Sarah 
Claflin,  of  Pawtucket,  R.  I.,  by  whom  he- had  one 
child,  George  Edward,  now  the  junior  member  of  the 
mercantile  house  of  Abram  French  &  Co.,  Boston, 
Mass.  He  married,  second,  Louisa  B.,  only  daughter 
of  Alexander  H.  and  Louisa  (Crandall)  Seabury,  of 
New  Bedford.  They  had  two  children,— Mary  Cran- 
dall and  Helen  Parker.  Mr.  Haskell  was  for  many 
years  a  prominent  and  active  member  of  the  North 
Congregational  Church  of  New  Bedford,  and  was  one 
of  its  deacons,  and  for  eleven  years  was  superintendent 
of  its  flourishing  Sabbath-school,  in  which  he  was 
greatly  interested. 

He  was  a  man  of  very  fine  taste  in  art,  and  was  a 
rare  judge  of  paintings,  statuary,  and  other  kindred 
works.  He  was  very  fond  of  pets,  had  a  great  fancy 
for  fine  horses,  pigeons,  fowls,  etc.,  and  raised  many 
of  them.  He  was  an  enthusiastic  lover  of  flowers, 
and  engaged  with  all  the  ardor  of  his  nature  in  hor- 
ticulture. He  was  a  member  of  the  Massachusetts 
Horticultural  Society,  and  was  awarded  a  silver 
medal  for  his  collection  of  "  Nymph;eas"  in  its  an- 
nual exhibition  in  1881.  Among  the  lovers  and  cul- 
tivators of  flowers  he  took  a  high  rank.  He  was  a 
man  of  positive  character,  carrying  nearly  everything 
he  undertook  to  completion.  He  had  a  pleasant, 
winning  manner,  and  treated  every  one  with  the  most 
perfect  courtesy.  He  was  firm  in  opposition  to  any- 
thing he  deemed  wrong,  but  equally  as  strong  in  ad- 
vocating anything  for  the  improvement  and  elevation 
of  mankind.  He  was  generous  and  hospitable  to  a 
fault,  and  many  acts  of  his  kindness  are  known  only 
to  those  who  received  the  benefits  of  his  broad  char- 
ity. In  many  things  Mr.  Haskell  was  sensitive  to 
the  utmost  degree.  His  love  for  the  beautiful  was 
manifested  in  everything,  in  the  adornment  of  home 
and  grounds,  in  the  decoration  of  his  place,  in  per- 
sonal appearance  and  dress,  in  artistic  display  of 
goods,  etc.  In  the  home  circle  he  was  a  loving  hus- 
band, and  a  father  who  gratified,  if  possible,  every 
wish.  He  was  a  strong  friend,  a  very  pleasant  and 
social  companion,  with  a  large  number  of  personal 
friends  in  the  leading  circles  of  society.  He  gave  at 
all  times  his  time  and  money  freely  for  church  and 
benevolent  purposes.  A  fluent  and  effective  speaker, 
he  was  always  ready  to  respond  when  asked  to  speak 
for  any  good  cause,  and  was  one  of  the  most  unselfish 
of  men,  seeming  only  to  be  fully  happy  when  doing 
something  for  the  happiness  or  benefit  of  others.  In 
him  the  poor  lost  a  true  friend,  and  New  Bedford  one 
of  her  keenest  business  men  and  public-spirited  citi- 
zens. 


FREDERICK    PARKER. 

Frederick  Parker  was  the  son  of  the  well-known 
merchant  of  New  Bedford,  John  Avery  Parker.  He 
was  born  during  the  residence  of  his  parents  at  West- 
port,  the  15th  of  May,  1806.     On  the  completion  of 


his  collegiate  course  at  Brown's  University,  Provi- 
dence, R.  I.,  he  entered  his  father's  office,  and  in  a 
short  time  became  a  co-partner  with  him,  under  the 
firm-name  of  John  A.  Parker  &  Son. 

In  business  affairs  he  possessed  in  a  marked  degree 
the  power  of  discerning  the  abilities  of  men.  This 
acuteness  of  judgment  enabled  him  to  select  for  em- 
ployment those  of  such  character  and  efficiency  as 
led  to  a  remarkable  uniformity  of  success.  He  re- 
mained in  business  with  his  father  until  1848,  when 
on  his  change  of  residence  to  the  city  of  New  York, 
the  copartnership  was  dissolved. 

The  death  of  John  Avery  Parker  in  1853  recalled 
him  to  New  Bedford  to  fulfill  the  duties  incumbent 
upon  him  as  one  of  the  executors  of  his  father's  es- 
tate, the  final  settlement  of  which  he  did  not  live  to 
see.  From  this  time  until  his  death  he  resided  there 
engaged  in  the  commission  and  whale-fishery  busi- 
ness. 

In  1854,  on  the  resignation  of  the  Hon.  James 
Arnold,  he  was  elected  a  director  of  the  Bedford  Com- 
mercial Bank  (now  the  National  Bank  of  Commerce), 
which  position  he  held  until  his  death. 

Mr.  Parker  married  a  member  of  one  of  the  old 
families  of  New  Bedford,  Abby  Coggeshall,  daughter 
of  Haydon  Coggeshall,  on  Feb.  11,  1829.  They 
visited  Europe  in  1832,  and  again  in  1841,  remaining 
over  a  year  each  time.  He  erected  in  1859  on  Acush- 
net  Avenue,  New  Bedford,  a  handsome  residence. 
He  had  lived  in  it  but  a  few  months  when  a  sudden 
accident  terminated  his  life. 

Mr.  Parker  had  no  children,  but  be  adopted  at  an 
early  age  the  orphan  daughter  of  his  wife's  eldest 
brother,  who  had  been  his  most  intimate  friend.  To 
her  and  her  son  he  bequeathed  his  fortune. 

Mr.  Parker  was  striking  in  appearance,  being  six 
feet  in  height,  of  very  handsome  physique,  and  fine 
erect  carriage.  He  was  a  stanch  friend  to  those  dear 
to  him,  and  was  well  known  for  his  generous  hospi- 
tality. His  place  in  the  estimation  of  the  public  was 
high,  as  the  following,  from  the  New  Bedford  Daily 
Mercury  of  Oct.  22,  1861,  shows  : 

"  Frederick  Parker,  Esq.,  of  this  city,  died  about 
three  o'clock  yesterday  afternoon.  His  death,  so 
sudden,  produced  a  shock  in  our  community,  where 
Mr.  Parker  has  so  long  resided  and  in  which  he  has 
been  so  prominent.  It  is  a  public  loss  which  will  be 
keenly  felt,  not  alone  by  those  who  formed  the  circle, 
and  that  was  large,  of  Mr.  Parker's  personal  friends, 
but  by  the  mass  of  our  citizens,  who  more  or  less  will 
be  affected  by  it.  A  man  of  wealth,  money  was  not 
his  idol ;  it  was  not  an  end  with  him  but  a  means, 
and  he  dispensed  it  with  a  liberal  hand.  Those  who 
knew  him  most  intimately  speak  in  warm  terms  of  his 
unaffected  kindness  and  of  his  forgetfulness  of  self  in 
his  unwearied  devotion  to  those  dependent  upon  him." 


6/  /^c&s  ' 


ACUSHNET. 


161 


Conclusion. — We  cannot  more  fittingly  close  our 
history  of  this  grand  old  municipality  than  by  quot- 
ing the  language  of  one  of  her  most  illustrious  and 
honored  citizens,  the  Hon.  William  W.  Crapo: 

"  Beautiful,  indeed,  for  situation  is  this  city  of 
New  Bedford.  Few  places  are  there  on  this  continent, 
or  elsewhere,  which  so  well  unite  the  institutions, 
benefits,  and  advantages  of  the  city  with  the  fresh- 
ness and  simplicity  and  comfort  of  rural  life.  Lying 
between  green  pastures  on  the  one  hand  and  the  still 
waters  of  the  river  on  the  other,  fronting  upon  this 
bay.  which  i>  as  charming  as  the  Bay  of  Naples,  and 
rising  with  the  elevation  of  conscious  pride  from  its 
shores,  its  physical  condition  and  position  are  delight- 
ful beyond  exception.  We  rejoice  to  observe  and  re- 
member that  those  who  have  shaped  its  outward  for- 
tunes have  been  studious  to  make  it  attractive  and 
healthful  as  the  home  of  a  cultured  and  enlightened 
people.  Its  well-made  and  well-kept  avenues  and 
streets,  shaded  by  long  lines  of  trees,  which  our 
lathers  have  planted  ;  its  complete  and  cleanly  drain- 
age, which  the  incoming  and  outgoing  tides  make 
perfect  and  efficient;  its  abundant  and  pure  water, 
distributed  and  available  for  all  the  purposes  of  do- 
mestic,  mechanical,  and  protecting  use;  its  trained, 
alert,  and  electric  fire  department;  its  well-diffused 
system  for  gas-lighting ;  its  schools,  its  churches  and 
chapels,  and  bethel ;  its  hospital,  its  home  for  orphans, 
its  many  unions  of  hearts  and  hands  for  good  works; 
its  comfortable  and  pleasant  homes,  after  the  best 
methods  of  New  England  life,  combine  to  make  this 
municipality  worthy  of  our  best  affections  and  of  our 
constant  effort  for  its  prosperity  and  peace." 


CHAPTER    XIII. 


ACUSHNET.1 


ACUSHNET  is  alphabetically  the  first,  and  chrono- 
logically the  last  town  in  Bristol ;  the  section  of  land 
which  bears  this  name  being  until  recently  parts  of 
other  towns.  It  is  a  pleasant  little  township  in  the 
southerly  and  easterly  part  of  the  county.  It  is 
bounded  northerly  by  Freetown,  easterly  by  Roches- 
ter (in  Plymouth  County),  southerly  by  Fairhaven, 
and  westerly  by  New  Bedford.  It  derives  its  name 
from  the  Indian  name  of  this  section  of  old  Dart- 
mouth, which  was  variously  spelled  in  the  records  of 
the  seventeenth  century, — Cushenagg,  Accusshaneck, 
Acushena,  Acquessent,  Acusshna,  Aquishnet,  Aquset, 
and  Acushnet. 

From  1664  to  1787  nearly  all  of  Acushnet  that 
now  is  was  a  part  of  old  Dartmouth;  from  1787  to 
1812  it  was  a  part  of  New  Bedford ;  and  from  1812 


1  By  Capt.  Fraiijilyn  Howland. 


11 


to  1860  it  was  included  in  Fairhaven.  The  subject 
of  dividing  the  town  of  Fairhaven  was  agitated  a 
long  while  before  the  act  occurred.  The  people  in 
the  north  part  of  the  town  felt  that  as  that  section 
was  sparsely  populated  they  did  not  get  their  share 
of  the  appropriation,  especially  for  schools.  Then 
after  the  old  Presbyterian  meeting-house  was  torn 
down,  the  question  came  where  to  build  a  new  one. 
The  people  in  the  village  of  Fairhaven  wanted  it 
nearer  them,  and  finally  succeeded  in  having  it  built 
on  an  acre-lot  just  north  of  Woodside  Cemetery,  on  the 
Fairhaven  road.  This  building  was  subsequently 
burned  by  an  incendiary  fire.  The  meetings  were 
then  held  down  in  Fairhaven  village;  this  was  the 
straw  that  broke  the  camel's  back,  and  the  "  north- 
enders"  renewed  their  purpose  for  a  division.  Among 
the  zealous  advocates  of  the  division  and  one  of  the 
leaders  of  the  movement  was  Rev.  Israel  Washburn, 
who  owned  the  farm  on  which  he  resided,  situated 
next  north  of  the  present  Laura  Keene  farm  in 
Acushnet.  Mr.  Washburn  was  a  man  of  firmness,  of 
i  a  strong,  positive  nature,  with  a  good  intellect  and 
:  readiness  of  speech,  and  was  well  calculated  to  be 
chosen  as  leader  in  such  a  movement.  He  was  born 
in  this  town  in  1796,  in  the  last  house  on  the  north 
side  of  the  road  leading  eastward  from  White's  fac- 
tory. He  was  for  many  years  in  the  Methodist  min- 
istry, before  and  after  his  residence  in  Acushnet  at 
the  time  of  the  division,  a  part  of  which  time  he  was 
in  the  grocery  business  at  Parting  Ways,  as  I.  Wash- 
burn &  Son  (William  H.  Washburn).  His  name 
heads  a  petition  made  to  the  General  Court  of  the 
winter  of  1858-59,  praying  for  a  division  of  the  town. 
The  petition  was  before  the  legislative  committee, 
but  no  other  action  was  taken  than  to  refer  the  sub- 
ject to  the  next  General  Court.  The  petitioners  at 
once  set  about  procuring  all  that  was  necessary  to  aid 
them  to  success  at  the  following  session. 

In  a  warrant  issued  for  a  town-meeting  in  Fair- 
haven April  4,  1859,  article  eleven  asked  action  on 
the  petitions  of  Rev.  Israel  Washburn  and  others, 
"  now  referred  to  the  next  Legislature,"  with  refer- 
ence to  a  division  of  the  town,  and  it  was  voted  that 
a  committee  of  five  be  nominated  by  the  chair  to  de- 
fine a  line  of  division  of  the  town  and  report.  This 
committee  as  appointed  and  chosen  consisted  of  Isaac 
Wood,  Arthur  Cox,  Jonathan  Cowen,  Cyrus  E.  Clark, 
Charles  H.  Adams,  and  John  Ellis.  This  committee 
reported  at  a  meeting  of  June  2,  1859,  and  this  same 
committee  was  requested  to  appear  before  the  next 
Legislature  and  present  all  the  facts  in  the  case  that 
could  be  procured  by  them.  They  did  so,  and  not 
only  that,  but  a  petitioii  in  favor  of  the  division  was 
also  presented,  signed  by  a  large  number  of  the  resi- 
dents of  the  south  part  of  the  town.  A  result  of  this 
was  that  the  committee  of  the  Legislature  before 
which  the  matter  was  heard  reported  in  favor  of  the 
division,  and  the  report  was  adopted. 

The  Legislature  at  once  passed  the  following : 


162 


HISTORY    OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


"Act  to  Incorporate  the  Town  op  Acushnet. 

"Section  1.  All  that  part  of  the  town  of  Fairhaven  which  lies 
northerly  of  the  following  described  lines,  viz. :  Beginning  at  a  stone 
monument  at  '  Tripp's  Corner,'  in  the  division  lines  between  the  towns 
of  Fairhaven  and  Mattapoisett  ;  thence  from  sandstone  monument  in  a 
south-westerly  direction  in  a  straight  line  to  the  southeast  corner  of 
the  '  Royal  Hathaway  farm,'  so  called  ;  thence  in  the  south  line  of  said 
farm  to  the  southwest  corner  bounds  thereof;  thence  continuing  westerly 
in  the  same  direction  to  the  centre  of  the  channel  of  Acushnet  River,  or 
division  line  between  the  town  of  Fairhaven  and  the  city  of  New  Bed- 
ford, is  hereby  incorporated  into  a  separate  town  by  the  name  of  Acush- 
net, and  the  said  town  of  Acushnet  is  hereby  vested  with  all  the  powers 
and  privileges,  rights  and  immunities,  and  shall  be  subject  to  all  the 
duties  and  requisitions  to  which  other  towns  are  entitled  and  subjected 
by  the  Constitution  and  laws  of  the  commonwealth. 

"Section  2.  Tho  inhabitants  of  said  town  of  Acushnet  shall  be 
hidden  to  pay  to  the  collector  of  taxes  of  the  town  of  Fairhaven  all  the 
arrearages  of  taxes  legally  assessed  upon  them  before  this  act  takes 
effect,  and  also  their  proportion  of  State  and  county  taxes  as  may  be 
assessed  upon  them  before  taking  the  next  State  valuation,  said  propor- 
tion to  be  ascertained  and  determined  by  the  last  valuation  of  the  said 
town  of  Fairhaven  ;  and  said  town  of  Acushnet  to  pay  four  twenty-thirds 
of  the  debts  due  and  owing  from  the  town  of  Fairhaven  at  the  lime  of 
the  passage  of  this  act,  and  be  entitled  to  receive  four-twenty-thirds  of 
all  the  real  and  personal  property  and  assets  owned  by  or  due  to  the 
said  town  of  Fail  haven,  and  shall  he  liable  to  refund  to  said  town  of 
Fairhaven  four-twenty-thirds  of  the  'surplus  revenue'  when  the  said 
is  called  for  according  to  the  provisions  of  law. 

"Section  3.  The  said  towns  of  Fairhaven  and  Acushnet  shall  be 
respectively  liable  for  the  support  of  all  persons  who  now  do  and  who 
may  hereafter  stand  in  need  of  relief  as  paupers  whose  settlement  was 
gained  by  or  derived  within  their  respective  limits. 

"  Section  4.  The  towns  of  Fairhaven  and  Acushnet  shall  hold  the  fol- 
lowing described  property,  situated  in  their  respective  limits,  as  valued 
by  their  committee,  appointed  June  twenty-fifth,  in  the  year  eighteen 
hundred  and  fifty-nine,  'for  the  purpose  of  presenting  information  to 
the  Legislature  to  enable  them  to  make  a  just  and  equitable  apportion- 
ment of  the  public  property,  debts,  and  burdens  between  the  towns,' 
viz.:  The  town  of  Fairhaven  shall  exclusively  hold  the  almshouse,  farm, 
and  property  appertaining  thereto;  the  High  School  house,  lot,  and  fix- 
tures contained  therein  ;  the  engine-house  and  lot  in  Oxford  village,  and 
the  engine  and  fixtures  contained  therein;  the  engine-house  and  lot  in 
the  village  of  Fairhaven,  and  the  engine  and  fixtures  therein;  two 
second-hand  engines  now  in  the  village,  the  town-house  lot,  the  watch- 
house  and  lot,  L.  S.  Aiken's  gravel  lot,  one  safe  in  the  town  clerk's 
office,  and  so  much  of  other  property  as  will  make  nineteen-twenty- 
thirds  of  the  public  property  as  valued  by  said  committee.  The  town  of 
Acushnet  shall  exclusively  hold  the  engine-house  and  lot,  together  with 
the  engine  and  fixtures,  in  Acushnet  village;  the  school-house  and  lot 
in  school  district  number  eighteen,  two  town  pounds,  the  'Freeman 
Hathaway'  lot,  the  'Samuel  Stacy'  lot,  and  so  much  of  other  property 
as  will  make  four-twenty-thirds  of  the  public  property  as  valued  by 
said  committee.  All  other  property  which  may  hereafter  be  found  to 
belong  to  the  town  of  Fairhaven,  and  not  specified  by  the  said  commit- 
tee at  the  time  of  the  passage  of  this  act,  shall  be  divided  on  the  same 
basis,  viz.,  nineteen-twenty-thirds  to  the  town  of  Fairhaven  and  four- 
twenty-thirds  to  the  town  of  Acushnet. 

"Section  5.  The  town  of  Acushnet  shall  remain  a  part  of  the  same 
districts,  representative,  senatorial,  councilor,  and  congressional,  as  the 
town  of  Fairhaven  until  said  districts  are  altered  by  due  authority  of 
law." 

Section  6.  This  section  provides  the  manner  of  calling  the  first 
town-meeting  and  preparing  the  first  list  of  voters. 

The  act  of  incorporation  was  approved  Feb.  13, 1860. 
It  was  signed  by  N.  P.  Banks,  Governor,  and  Oliver 
Warner,  Secretary  of  State.  Fairhaven,  at  the  time 
of  the  "set  off,"  was  in  the  Twelfth  (Bristol)  Repre- 
sentative District,  together  with  Freetown  and  Berk- 
ley.    The  district  was  entitled  to  two  representatives. 

The  first  public  meeting  of  the  legal  voters  of  the 
new  town  was  held  March  14,  1860,  in  the  "engine- 
house,"  which  stands  in  the  village  on  the  north  side 
of  the  road,  nearly  opposite  the  parsonage  house  of  the 


Methodist  Society.  Jones  Robinson,  Esq.,  who  re- 
sided on  the  Fairhaven  road,  a  prominent  man  in 
public  affairs,  was  chosen  moderator.  Jabez  Wood 
was  elected  town  clerk,  collector,  and  treasurer.  The 
other  important  offices  were  filled  as  follows:  For  se- 
lectmen, assessors,  and  overseers  of  the  poor,  Cyrus 
E.  Clark,  Benjamin  Wilson,  and  Benjamin  White; 
for  school  committee,  Jabez  Wood  for  three  years, 
Rev.  Philip  Crandon  for  two  years,  and  George  P. 
Morse  for  one  year ;  and  Philip  A.  Bradford  was 
chosen  constable,  an  office  to  which  he  has  been  re- 
elected every  year  since.  On  the  24th  of  the  follow- 
ing month  Mr.  Crandon  resigned  the  office  of  school 
committee,  and  Walter  Spooner  was  chosen  his  suc- 
cessor. There  have  been  but  few  changes  in  the  offi- 
cers of  the  town,  which  speaks  well  for  their  fidelity. 

The  office  of  town  clerk,  collector,  and  treasurer 
was  filled  from  1860-65,  inclusive,  by  Jabez  Wood ; 
from  1866-70,  inclusive,  by  Benjamin  White;  1871, 
by  George  P.  Morse ;  1872,  by  George  F.  Glasse,  who 
was  partially  disabled  in  the  late  war;  from  1873-81, 
inclusive,  George  P.  Morse ;  and  in  1882  Caleb  Slade 
was  chosen.  For  selectmen,  overseers  of  the  poor, 
and  assessors,  Cyrus  E.  Clark  served  in  1860-65  ;  Ben- 
jamin Wilson,  in  1860-63;  Benjamin  White,  in  1860- 
63,  1867-70,  1872-73;  Capt.  Pardon  Taber,  Jr.,  from 
1864-82,  inclusive;  Walter  Spooner,  from  1864-82, 
inclusive,  excepting  the  year  1879;  John  Tuck,  in 
1871 ;  Joshua  Morse,  in  1875-78  ;  Joshua  Leonard, 
from  1878-82,  inclusive.  The  following  persons  have 
served  on  the  school  committee :  Jabez  Wood,  Rev. 
Philip  Crandon,  George  P.  Morse,  Walter  Spooner, 
Marcus  Ashley,  Amos  H.  Has  well,  George  T.  Russell, 
Jr.,  Rev.  Josephus  W.  Horton,  Richard  Davis,  Jr., 
Frederick  Wing,  Walter  A.  Davis,  Augustus  White, 
Charles  L.  Russell,  Leonard  Keene,  Jonathan  Taber, 
George  F.  Glasse,  Burrage  Y.  Warner,  Capt.  Edward 
R.  Ashley,  Thomas  E.  Bradley,  Caleb  Slade,  Perez  S. 
Doty.  The  longest  term  of  service  was  that  of  George 
P.  Morse,  who  was  a  member  of  the  committee. 

Acushnet  being  in  the  district  with  other  towns,  it 
is  entitled  to  a  representation  to  the  General  Court  but 
occasionally.  It  has  sent  four  since  its  incorporation. 
The  first  representative  was  William  H.  Washburn, 
Esq.  Mr.  Washburn  was  a  son  of  Rev.  Israel  Wash- 
burn, and  for  many  years  a  resident  of  the  town, 
being  engaged  in  the  grocery  and  wheelwright  busi- 
ness. Always  interested  in  the  welfare  of  the  town, 
he  was  especially  so  during  the  war,  when  he  had 
charge  of  enlisting,  drafting,  and  filling  quotas,  and 
served  two  years  in  the  Legislature  to  the  great  satis- 
faction of  his  constituents.  The  next  was  Walter 
Spooner,  Esq.,  who  has  faithfully  served  the  town  in 
many  capacities.  He  was  in  the  House  two  years. 
Mr.  Spooner,  who  is  the  son  of  Dr.  Rounsevel  Spooner, 
is  from  "  honorable"  stock,  his  great-grandfather 
being  Hon.  Walter  Spooner,  and  his  grandfather  was 
Hon.  Alden  Spooner,  who  was  an  uncle  of  the  Hon. 
Nathaniel  Spooner,  all  of  .this  town. 


ACUSHNET. 


163 


The  third  representative  was  Benjamin  White,  Esq., 
a  highly-esteemed  citizen  of  the  town,  and  who  has 
been  honored  by  it  with  many  offices  of  trust  and  re- 
sponsibility. In  consequence  of  redisricting  the 
State,  Mr.  White  was  in  the  Legislature  but  one  year. 

The  next  one  was  Capt.  Joseph  Burt,  Jr.  He  for- 
merly resided  in  New  Bedford,  did  good  service  in  the 
army,  and  since  the  war  has  lived  in  this  town,  which 
he  represented  one  year.  Acushnet  has  furnished  one 
senator  to  the  General  Court,  Hon.  Joshua  Morse  fill- 
ing the  office.     The  above  were  all  Republicans. 

Acushnet  is  fifty-five  miles  from  Boston,  and  its 
only  railroad  facilities  are  the  Old  Colony,  which 
passes  along  and  about  a  mile  west  of  its  western 
boundary.  The  land  is  generally  quite  even,  and  the 
soil  in  some  parts  well  adapted  to  agricultural  pur- 
poses. Most  of  the  land  is  high,  dry,  and  admirably 
suited  to  residence.  Perry  Hill,  though  but  a  mile 
from  the  river,  on  the  easterly  side  of  the  town,  is 
nearly  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  above  the  sea.  A 
spot  near  this  was  selected  as  one  of  the  stations  of 
the  State  Trigonometrical  Survey.  In  addition  to 
the  beautiful  Acushnet  River,  which  flows  southerly 
through  its  centre,  it  has  another  attractive  stream 
which  flows  out  of  its  southeast  angle  and  empties 
into  the  Mattapoisett  River. 

The  Acushnet  water,  which  supplies  the  city  of 
New  Bedford,  is  from  ponds  located  in  the  north  part 
of  the  town,  and  from  which  flows  the  Acushnet 
River.  The  reservoir  of  nearly  three  hundred  acres 
is  located  in  a  romantic  spot.  The  dam  which  is 
built  to  form  this  impounding  reservoir  and  to  elevate 
the  waters  of  the  Acushnet  to  forty  feet  above  mean 
tide  is  on  the  Wilson  farm,  about  seven  miles  from 
New  Bedford.  The  drainage  above  this  dam  com- 
prises between  three  and  four  thousand  acres,  and  is 
exceedingly  well  adapted  for  the  collection  and  stor- 
age of  a  large  supply  of  pure  water.  The  reservoir 
is  two  and  a  half  miles  long  and  from  one-eighth  to 
nearly  one-half  mile  wide,  giving  a  storage  capacity 
of  four  hundred  million  gallons  of  water. 

In  1875  Acushnet  had  a  total  population  of  1059, 
most  of  whom  are  engaged  in  general  farming,  mar- 
ket gardening,  and  producing  milk.  The  number  of 
farms  is  142,  covering  8041  acres,  which,  together 
with  4600  acres  of  woodland,  is  valued  at  $446,750. 
The  geological  formation  is  feldspathic  gneiss  and 
granite.  It  has  seven  saw-mills,  which  turn  out 
large  quantities  of  long  lumber,  shingles,  box-boards, 
and  bark,  which  are  exported. 

The  personal  property  of  the  town  is  valued  at 
$122,500;  total  valuation,  $569,250;  rate  of  taxation, 
about  80  cents  per  $100.  The  products  of  manufac- 
ture are  $51,356,  and  of  agriculture  $101,994;  total, 
$153,344. 

Considerable  business  has  been  and  is  still  carried 
on  on  the  stream  above  the  village.  The  first  fulling- 
mill  in  this  section  was  on  this  stream.  The  building 
is  still  standing  and  has  been  used  as  a  saw-mill  by 


the  Acushnet  Saw-Mill  Company,  consisting  of  Sim- 
eon and  Jonathan  Hawes  and  N.  Hervey  Wilbor. 
Since  1809  there  is  turned  out  here  annually  about 
six  hundred  thousand  feet  of  box-boards,  sixty-six 
thousand  feet  of  long  lumber,  and  forty  thousand 
shingles. 

There  was  originally  only  a  saw-  and  grist-mill 
here,  afterwards  a  fulling-,  dressing-,  and  carding- 
mill,  at  which  time  it  was  in  possession  of  William 
Rotch.  Subsequently  for  many  years  it  was  owned 
by  Morgan  &  Lund,  and  used  for  the  manufacture  of 
paper. 

About  a  mile  up  the  stream,  on  a  cross-road,  was 
originally  another  saw-mill.  The  property  came  into 
the  hands  of  Phineas  White,  who  built  a  cotton-mill 
there  in  1811.  Mr.  White  had  associated  with  him 
Capt.  Joseph  Whelden  and  Ansel  White.  Business 
prospered,  and  Capt.  Whelden  withdrew  and  built  a 
stone  cotton-factory  on  the  stream  a  mile  farther 
north,  the  walls  of  which  are  now  standing. 

On  a  stream  which  enters  the  Acushnet  near  the 
Whelden  Mill  is  situated  another  saw-mill,  run  by 
George  P.  and  Edward  Morse.  Ansel  White,  brother 
of  Phineas,  withdrew  from  the  lower  factory  and  built 
a  cotton-mill  in  connection  with  a  saw-mill  which 
stood  on  the  stream  to  the  westward  of  Long  Plain. 
No  cotton  machinery  has  been  run  in  town  for  many 
years.  The  Phineas  White  mill  privilege  was  pur- 
chased by  S.  B.  Hamblin,  an  extensive  lumber  mer- 
chant, who  uses  it  exclusively  for  sawing. 

Another  item  of  business  worth  noting  is  that  of 
Ebenezer  Leonard,  who  has  carried  on  boat-building 
in  town  since  the  1st  of  January,  1852.  He  has  con- 
structed during  the  time  nine  hundred  and  twenty- 
seven  whale-boats  for  the  New  Bedford  shipping,  car- 
rying them  thence,  a  distance  of  six  miles,  on  trucks. 
This  gives  an  average  of  about  thirty-one  boats  a 
year,  and  some  years  he  has  built  one  a  week. 

Many  of  the  inhabitants  of  Acushnet  have  been 
engaged  in  the  whale  fishery  ;  among  the  number  the 
following  with  others  were  master-mariners:  Jacob 
Taber,  Cornelius  Howland,  Pardon  Taber,  Jr.,  God- 
frey Macomber,  Andrew  Wing,  William  Ashley,  Ma- 
son Taber,  Edward  R.  Ashley,  Joseph  Bennett,  Obed. 
Nye,  Henry  Packard,  David  Corcoran,  James  R. 
Allen,  Stephen  Hathaway,  Martin  Bowen,  Stephen 
Kempton,  Marcus  Taber,  Stephen  Braley,  Francis 
Butts,  Stephen  Taber. 

Quite  an  extensive  business  has  been  carried  on  in 
town  in  the  manufacture  of  candle-  and  soap-boxes. 
The  principal  ones  engaged  in  it  now  are  John  Lom- 
bard and  Emory  Cushman,  on  the  Long  Plain  road. 
The  factory  of  the  latter  occupies  the  site  of  one  of 
the  oldest  landmarks  in  the  county.  It  is  situated 
about  three  quarters  of  a  mile  to  the  north  of  Parting 
Ways  and  an  eighth  of  a  mile  eastward  of  the  road. 
There  was  a  saw-  and  grist-mill  here  in  the  early  day 
of  the  settlement  of  this  section,  and  subsequently  a 
fulling-mill.     Wool   was    carded,   cloth    fulled    and 


164 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


dressed,  and  buttons  made  here.  Near  the  factory 
stood,  till  quite  recently  consumed  by  fire,  one  of  the 
oldest  houses  in  the  county.  It  was  exceedingly  old- 
fashioned,  the  upper  story  projecting  beyond  the  lower 
one  several  feet  all  around.  A  massive  stone  chim- 
ney was  in  the  centre,  and  doors  and  windows  were 
very  antique.  It  was  built  by  Jacob  Taber,  and  was 
subsequently  occupied  by  his  son  Amaziah.  Thankful, 
daughter  of  Amaziah,  became  the  wife  of  Gideon 
Wood,  of  Dartmouth,  and  the  old  farm  came  into  the 
Wood  family  by  will  from  Amaziah  to  Gideon's  son 
Thomas,  where  it  has  remained  till  very  lately.  The 
last  one  of  the  Wood  family  that  occupied  it  was 
Jabez,  the  son  of  Thomas  ;  he  was  the  first  town  clerk 
of  Acushnet.  Henry  T.  Wood,  of  New  Bedford,  son 
of  Thomas,  has  a  painting  by  the  artist  William  A 
Wall  of  the  old  house  and  an  interesting  scene  near 
it.  Amaziah  Taber,  who  was  a  Friend,  was  on  peace- 
ful and  confidential  terms  with  the.Indians,  who  were 
numerous  about  here  then.  During  the  King  Philip 
war  some  scouts  had  been  up  in  the  Squawbetty  coun- 
try, to  the  eastward  of  the  house,  and  had  captured 
some  of  these  Indians.  As  they  were  marching  past 
the  old  house  on  their  way  to  the  camps  of  the  white 
men  they  halted,  and  Amaziah  had  a  conversation 
with  them.  This  real  incident  is  very  faithfully  rep- 
resented in  the  painting. 

Another  old  dwelling  is  the  Tobey  house,  a  gable- 
roofed  building  on  the  east  side  of  Mill  road,  about 
one  quarter  of  a  mile  above  the  bridge  in  the  village. 
It  was  at  one  time  occupied  by  Dr.  Elisha  Tobey,  one 
of  the  earliest  physicians  of  the  locality.  He  was 
born  in  1722,  probably  in  this  house.  Capt.  Lemuel 
S.  Aiken,  of  Fairhaven,  says  that  when  the  British 
marauders  made  their  excursion  through  the  village 
of  Acushnet  in  1778,  a  party  left  the  main  body 
where  the  Mill  road  begins  near  the  bridge,  and 
went  up  as  far  as  this  old  house,  the  first  one  they 
came  to.  The  good  wife  was  baking  pork  and  beans, 
and,  attracted  by  the  appetizing  odor,  they  made  a 
raid  on  the  oven  in  the  cellar,  and  soon  put  its  con- 
tents out  of  sight.  Capt.  Aiken  goes  on  to  say, 
"They  then  robbed  the  house  of  what  they  wanted 
and  endeavored  to  destroy  the  rest.  But  the  British 
pilferers,  in  going  down  the  cellar,  left  the  door  wide 
open,  and  that  effectually  prevented  their  seeing  an- 
other door  immediately  behind  it  leading  to  a  room 
where  their  mos.t  valuable  clothing  was  deposited,  and 
by  that  means  was  saved.  Another  instance  of  the 
same  occurred  at  Bartholomew  Tuber's  (just  northeast 
of  the  present  village  of  Fairhaven).  They  burned 
several  houses  at  the  Head  of  the  River,  among  them 
one  belonging  to  Capt.  Crandon,  who,  to  revenge 
himself  on  the  British  marauders,  would  not  suffer  his 
new  house  to  be  placed  over  the  old  cellar,  nor  suffer 
the  cellar  to  be  filled  up,  until  his  son,  having  the 
management  in  some  measure  of  his  father's  business, 
accomplished  it.  It  was  at  Acushnet  village  that 
Lieut.  Metcalf  was  mortally  wounded.     He  was  from 


Boston,  and  belonged  to  the  Continental  army.  The 
first  building  they  burned  after  leaving  the  Head  of 
the  River  was  a  house  a  half-mile  below  Parting 
Ways,  on  the  west  side  of  the  road,  on  the  premises 
now  owned  by  David  Russell,  then  occupied  by  Col. 
Pope,  of  the  Continental  army.  Eldad  Tupper,  a 
Tory,  well  acquainted  in  these  parts,  acted  as  their 
guide,  and  would  inform  them  of  all  holding  office  or 
commissions.  As  they  proceeded  south  near  by  they 
came  to  Stephen  and  Thomas  Hathaway's.  The  lat- 
ler  was  a  man  of  handsome  property  for  those  days 
and  without  children,  but  he  had  a  ward  living  with 
him  (Jonathan  Kempton),  who  eventually  inherited 
it.  At  the  time  the  fleet  anchored  he  was  at  the  lower 
end  of  Sconticut  Neck,  and  he  left  immediately  for 
home  to  remove  the  household  furniture  to  a  place  of 
safety. 

"After  packing  up  he  took  a  small  trunk,  contain- 
ing quite  a  valuable  quantity  of  silver.  As  he  stepped 
out  of  the  door  he  was  met  by  their  advance-guard, 
who  told  him  they  would  relieve  him  from  any  fur- 
ther care  of  the  trunk.  After  taking  what  things 
they  wanted  from  the  house,  they  collected  beds  and 
bedding  in  a  chamber  and  set  fire  to  them,  and  very 
luckily  shut  the  doors.  They  took  Mr.  Kempton  a 
prisoner,  and  told  him  they  should  take  him  to  New 
York.  He  entreated  them  to  set  him  at  liberty. 
After  carrying  him  to  the  end  of  a  lane  leading  to  the 
house  they  consented,  after  taking  one  of  the  two 
pairs  of  breeches  that  he  had  on.  That  he  had  two 
pair  they  knew  from  having  robbed  him  of  his  watch, 
but  they  informed  him  that  they  must  fire  at  him  as 
a  deserter,  which  they  did,  whether  with  the  inten- 
tion of  hitting  him  or  not  he  never  knew.  The  ball, 
however,  hit  a  large  cherry-tree,  one  of  a  number 
that  lined  the  lane  leading  to  his  house.  Mr.  Kemp- 
ton returned  to  the  house  in  time  to  extinguish  the 
fire." 

This  Stephen  Hathaway  house  still  stands  on  a 
rocky  hill  on  the  east  side  of  the  Fairhaven  road,  a 
half-mile  north  of  the  Acushnet  line.  A  quarter  of  a 
mile  south  of  this  house,  on  the  same  side  of  the  road, 
and  a  few  yards  northeast  of  a  well  at  present  in  the 
highway,  stood  a  store  belonging  to  either  Obed  or 
Micah  Hathaway.  This  was  also  burned.  No  more 
damage  was  done  by  the  excursionists  until  they 
reached  the  Fairhaven  line,  an  eighth  of  a  mile  far- 
ther south. 

Good  service  was  done  by  Acushnet  men  in  the 
wars  of  1776,  of  1812,  and  of  1861-65.  The  following 
is  the  roll  of  honor  of  the  last  war : 

Samuel  Pierce,  Artemas  Morse,  Leander  Washburn,  Lyman  N.  Caswell, 
Linus  E.  Caswell,  George  Pierce,  Charles  E.  Robinson,  Francis  F. 
Bennett,  Thomas  W.  Chapman,  Clarence  L.  Burlington,  David  B. 
Pierce,  Mason  W.  Page,  George  F.  Gibhs,  William  Oesting,  William 

F.  Terrell,  John  Stoner,  John  W.  Collins,  Jasou  S.  Peckham,  Alden 
Spoon er,  Lyman  Spooner,  Andrew  A.  Cole,  Arthur  H.  Brook,  George 
D.  Bisbee,  Francis  Pittsley,  William  Pittsley,  Levi  Pittsley,  Albert 

G.  Braley,  Julius  .Valentine,  James  C.  Johnson,  Henry  Smithson, 
Victor Bencaco,  George  llealey,  James  T.  Hall,  Robert  Lynch,  Horace 
Webster,  Daniel  V.  Smith,  David  P.  Caswell,  Clarence  A.  Bearse, 


ACUSHNET. 


165 


Zacchens  II.  Wright,  Alexander 0.  Pierce,  Joseph  S.  Spooner,  Thomas 
S.  Potter,  William  B.  dishing,  John  Kllis,  George  S.  Fox,  John  W. 
Pierco,  Theodore  A.  Tuber,  William  Watts,  William  Washburn, 
Savery  C.  Braley,  Jeptha  Simmons,  Samuel  Pierce,  Martin  V.  Ham- 
monil,  Robert  E.  Leavitt,  George  F  Braley,  (apt.  Isaac  Braley,  Wil- 
liam Gracey,  How-land  Taber. 

The  following  persons  served  in  the  navy  during 
the  late  war  : 

Jonathan  1>.  Butts,  on  the  U.  S.  S.  "  Lodona  ;"  Walter  A.  Pierce,  on  the 
U.  S.  S.  "  Fley,"  and  on  the  "  Congress"  when  she  was  sunk  ;  George 
I).  Whiting,  on  the  gunboat  "Chlicora;"  Lemuel  Dillingham,  on 
the  U.  S.  S.  "Gemsbok,"  and  on  the  "  Vanderbilt-"  George  C.  Tink- 
liam,  Augustus  H.  Mendall,  on  the  "Congress;"  Francis  I'ittsley, 
Jr.,  on  the  "  Hartford." 

One  of  the  oldest  and  most  interesting  landmarks 
hereabouts  is  the  old  burying-place  on.  the  hill  just 
west  of  Acushnet  village,  near  the  Parting  Ways. 
Some  of  the  headstones  of  this  old  colonial  cemetery, 
established  in  the  reign  of  Queen  Anne,  have  dates 
nearly  back  to  the  seventeenth  century.  There  are 
nearly  six  hundred  and  fifty  tombstones  with  names 
and  dates  upon  them,  and  more  than  one  thousand 
unlettered  ones.  The  latter  mark  the  resting-places 
not  only  of  some  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Dart- 
mouth, but  of  Plymouth  Colony.  The  land  for  this 
burying-ground  was  given  by  John  Jenne  (or  Jenney, 
as  the  name  is  now  spelled).  He  Avas  doubtless  a  son 
of  John  Jenne,  who  came  to  Plymouth  in  the  "  James" 
in  1623,  and  who  was  one  of  the  Governor's  assistants 
at  Plymouth  in  1637-39.  Since  those  days  the  name 
has  been  very  numerous  in  this  section. 

The  deed  of  gift  by  which  the  ground  was  pre- 
sented to  the  Presbyterian  parish  is  a  curiously 
spelled  old  paper.  It  is  recorded  in  the  North  Bris- 
tol registry  of  deeds  office,  and  reads  as  follows : 

"To  all  Christian  people  to  whome  these  Presents  Shall  Come,  John 
Jenne,  Senr.,  of  the  town  of  Dartmouth  in  the  County  of  Bristol  And 
Province  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  in  New  England  Sendeth  greeting. 

"  Know  ye  that  I  the  sd  John  Jenne  hath  for  &  in  Consideration  of 
the  want  of  a  Convenient  Burying  Place  but  more  Esptially  a  Place 
whereon  to  Set  or  Build  an  house  or  Houses  for  the  people  of  God  Called 
Presbyterians  orderly  to  essemble  and  meet  in  for  the  Carrying  on  of 
the  true  worship  of  God  as  also  because  In  the  Sd  John  Jenne  Veryly 
Believes  in  his  heart  that  the  Presbyterians  do  worship  God  after  the 
due  Order  most  agreeable  to  the  order  of  the  primitive  Christians,  by 
these  Presents  Given  granted  Eiifeoffeds  aliened  &  confirmed  unto  the 
Sd  Presbyterians  for  the  end  and  use  aforesaid  one  acre  of  Land  Lying 
and  Being  in  the  town  ship  of  Dartmouth  afores'1,  where  the  meeting 
House  Built  by  the  S'1  Presbyterians  now  stands.  Butted  and  Bounded 
Westerly  Northerly  Easterly  by  the  Land  of  Sd  John  Jenne  and  south- 
erly on  or  by  the  County  Road,  with  all  the  Trees,  Herbiage,  Prive- 
ledgesand  Apportenances  Liberties  Profits  and  Benefits  Belonging  or  in 
any  ways  appertaining  to  the  same,  to  have  and  to  hold  the  above  S'1 
acre  of  Land  with  all  and  Siuguler  the  Priveledges  &c.  as  before  S'1 
onto  the  only  proper  use  benifit  &  behoof  of  them  the  S'1  Presbiteriaus 
for  ever,  and  the  Sd  John  Jenne  Doth  by  these  Presents  Covenant  and 
Promise  for  him  Self  his  hirs  Executers  and  administrators  and  assigns 
to  and  with  tin-  S'1  Prispiteriaiis  that  the  sd  John  Jenne  is  the  true  and 
Proper  Onner  of  the  above  Sd  Bargained  Primises  Before  and  at  the 
Ensealing  ft  Delivery  of  these  Presents,  and  hath  of  himself  good  Light 
&  Lawfull  Authority  to  give  and  Convey  the  same,  and  that  it  is  free 
and  clear  and  freely  ft  Clearly  acquitcd  &  Discharged  of  and  From  all 
other  former  gifis,  giants,  Bargains  Sales  and  all  other  acts  or  Incom- 
brance  what  so  ever  &  the  Sd  Presbyterians  Shall  and  may  forever  Here- 
after have  hold  ft  quietly  ft  Peaceably  posess  ft  injoy  the  above  given 
Primises  In  a  good  and  Perfect  Estate  of  Inheritance  in  tlee  Simple  with 
out  any  Lust  Suit,  hindrance,  or  Molestation  from  the  Sd  John  Jenne 
his  hires  Executers  administrated  or  assigns  or  any  other  Person  or 


Persons  what  so  ever,  and  will  warrant  &  Defend  the  Same  against  the 
Lawfull  Claims  of  any  Person  or  Persons  What  so  ever  unto  the  Said 
Presbyterians  For  Ever,  in  witness  where  of  the  sd  John  Jenne  hath 
heieunto  Set  his  hand  And  Seal  this  twenty-fifth  day  of  March  in  the 
thirteenth  year  of  her  Mages  ties  Reign  Annoqe  Domini  one  thousand 
Seven  hundred  and  thirteen. 

His 

"  JOHN  T  JENNE. 

Mark 
"  Signed,  Sealed  and  Delivered  In  Presence  of 

"  Samuel  Hunt. 
"Jabez  Delano." 
"Dartmouth  March  the  25th  A.n.,  1714,  on  this  day  the  above  Sd 
John  Jenne  Personally  Appeared  Before  me  one  of  his  Maj'ts  Justices 
of  the  Peace  for  the  County  of  Bristol  &  acknowledged  the  above  writ- 
ten Instrument  to  be  his  own  valletary  act  and  deed. 

"  Seth  Pope. 
"  Bristol  Ss.  Brought  to  Be  Recorded  august  6,  1717,  &  Entred  in  the 
Eleventh  Books  follow  7th 

"  By  John  Gary,  Recorder." 

When  the  old  church  stood  on  this  lot  there  was  no 
wall  along  its  front,  the  land  rising  from  the  road 
gradually.  Afterwards  it  was  walled  along  its  entire 
front.  For  many  years  previous  to  1881  the  spot  was 
sadly  neglected.  Headstones  were  thrown  out  of 
place  by  the  frost,  and  some  were  lying  upon  the 
ground.  There  was  a  perfect  tangle  of  underbrush 
and  briers,  shrubbery  and  trees,  and  these  prophetic 
words  on  one  of  the  tombstones — 

"  The  living  know  that  they  must  die, 
But  all  the  dead  neglected  lie" — 

had  tally  come  to  pass.  During  the  year  1881  a 
party  of  philanthropic  gentlemen  residing  in  Acush- 
net undertook  the  renovation  of  this  ancient  city  of 
the  silent  dead.  They  did  their  work  faithfully,  and 
received  the  public  gratitude  for  it.  Since  its  renova- 
tion it  presents  a  far  different  appearance,  and  it  is 
refreshing  to  see  this  old  spot  in  a  new  dress.  Al- 
though about  one  hundred  trees  were  left,  thirty- 
three  cords  of  wood  were  cut  out  from  the  place, 
which  can  with  double  significance  be  called  "  God's 
acre,"  the  unsightly  briers  and  brambles  removed,  and 
the  ground  all  turfed  over,  and  the  headstones  re- 
erected.  Mr.  Humphrey  Swift,  whose  ancestors  of 
more  than  a  century  ago  lie  there,  caused  the  en- 
largement of  the  old  cemetery  by  generously  pre- 
senting to  an  association  formed  for  the  purpose  of 
caring  for  it  several  acres  of  land  in  the  rear  of  it,  to 
give  room  for  more  graves  and  for  private  lots.  The 
first  of  these  lots  were  taken  by  Mr.  Swift,  and  by 
Capt.  James  R.  Allen  and  Rodolphus  Swift,  who  co- 
operated with  him  in  bringing  the  place  out  of  its 
wretched  condition.  A  strip  of  land  was  purchased 
on  the  west  for  an  avenue,  which  runs  the  whole 
length  of  the  ground.  On  one  side  of  this  is  what 
was  once  the  tomb  of  Ellis  Mendall  family.  It  was 
brought  from  the  Mendall  homestead,  which  is  some 
two  and  a  half  miles  to  the  northeast  of  the  village, 
and  is  now  a  public  vault.  On  this  acre  was  erected  the 
first  Congregational  meeting-house  in  old  Dartmouth. 
About  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  century  there 
were  a  number  of  persona  at  Plymouth  who  embraced 


166 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


the  faith  of  the  religious  Society  of  Friends,  many 
points  of  which  were  in  conflict  with  the  rigid  re- 
quirements of  the  Puritan  government,  and  the  arbi- 
trary and  unyielding  power  of  the  civil  administra- 
tion made  it  extremely  unpleasant  for  them  to  remain 
in  that  locality,  though  they  were  closely  connected 
with  many  of  the  family  by  ties  of  blood  and  by 
social  and  business  relations.  They  being  in  a  mi- 
nority in  numbers  and  civil  influence,  many  of  them 
thought  it  best  to  withdraw  from  the  Pilgrims'  Mecca 
and  take  up  their  abode  in  localities  where  they  could 
worship  more  in  accordance  with  their  personal  views 
and  with  less  molestation.  Many  of  them  became  the 
earliest  settlers  of  old  Acushnet,  shrewdly  selecting  the 
lands  along  the  sea-coast,  and  we  find  them  living  on 
their  possessions  along  the  southerly  boundaries  of 
Dartmouth,  New  Bedford,  and  Westport.  These  en- 
terprising settlers  probably  established  the  first  re- 
ligious meeting  in  the  southern  tier  of  towns  of  the 
present  Bristol  County,  and  they  doubtless  built  the 
first  public  meeting-house  in  the  section  referred  to. 
This  meeting-house  stood  on  the  site  of  the  present 
Apponeganset  meeting-house,  beyond  the  Head  of 
Apponeganset  River,  and  on  the  south  side  of  the  main 
road  leading  from  New  Bedford  to  Russell's  Mills.  It 
was  built  in  1699.  Settlers  of  Puritanic  faith  soon  fol- 
lowed the  Friends  in  the  erection  of  a  house  of  wor- 
ship, which  was  built  on  the  soil  of  the  present  town 
of  Acushnet.  This  was  without  doubt  the  second 
public  religious  meeting-house  erected  in  southern 
Bristol  County.  The  society  under  whose  auspices 
this  church  was  built  was  called  Presbyterians.  There 
appears  no  record  evidence  of  the  date  of  the  found- 
ing of  this  organization,  but  tradition  places  it  as  early 
as  1696.  Neither  does  there  appear  any  written  evi- 
dence of  the  year  in  which  the  church  was  built,  whioh 
incident  occurred  very  soon  subsequent  to  this  date. 
The  reason  why  this  church  was  placed  here  rather 
than  where  New  Bedford  now  stands  is  that  there  was 
but  a  small  settlement  there  then,  the  village  Head 
of  the  River  being  the  centre  of  population  of  this 
vicinity ;  then  another  reason  may  be  assigned  that 
the  Presbyterians  did  not  wish  their  place  of  worship 
to  stand  any  nearer  that  of  their  Quaker  "  thorns  in 
the  flesh." 

The  church  building  stood  at  "  Old  Acushnet  Ceme- 
tery," situated  on  the  north  side  of  a  road  running 
east  and  west  through  the  village,  and  some  five  hun- 
dred yards  west  of  where  the  Fairhaven  road  enters 
it,  a  point  anciently  called  Parting  Ways.  It  was  just 
back  of  the  central  entrance  to  the  cemetery  on  the 
south,  and  just  in  the  rear  of  where  it  stood  is  a  row 
of  Pope  graves.  It  was  built  of  timber  cut  from  the 
forests  which  stood  about  it,  and  its  timbers  were  hewed 
on  the  spot.  Many  came  long  distances  to  church, 
and  in  the  days  when  the  old  church  was  standing 
shoe-leather  was  scarce  and  expensive.  Those  who 
were  not  fortunate  enough  to  have  a  horse  and  had  to 
walk  came  barefooted,  carrying  their  shoes  in  their 


hands,  and  put  them  on  just  before  reaching  the 
meeting-house.  One  who  practiced  this  says  the 
favorite  "shoeing-place"  for  those  who  came  up  from 
the  Fairhaven  neighborhood  to  this  church  was  the 
ledge  of  rocks  south  of  the  church  about  a  thousand 
yards,  on  the  west  side  of  the  Fairhaven  road. 

The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  Samuel  Hunt.  All  that 
is  known  of  him  is  that  he  built  the  old  parsonage 
house  on  the  northwest  corner  of  Acushnet  Avenue, 
where  the  road  that  leads  from  the  village  westward 
over  Tar  Kiln  Hill  crosses  it.  Mr.  Hunt  died  in 
Acushnet,  in  the  forty-eighth  year  of  his  age,  and 
was  buried  in  the  old  graveyard  by  the  meeting-house 
in  which  he  labored.  On  his  headstone  is  chiseled 
the  following :  "  Rev.  Samuel  Hunt,  the  first  ordained 
minister  of  the  Church  of  Christ  in  Dartmouth,  died 
Jan.  21,  1729."  Mr.  Hunt's  successor  was  the  Rev. 
Richard  Pierce,  A.M.  Of  his  life  and  labors,  as  of 
those  of  his  predecessor,  there  is  nothing  known.  He 
also  lies  in  the  old  burying-ground.  He  died  March 
23,  1749,  at  the  age  of  forty-nine,  and  at  the  close  of 
sixteen  years  in  the  work  of  the  gospel  ministry. 

The  next  minister  was  the  Rev.  Israel  Cheever, 
A.M.,  who  was  born  at  Concord,  Mass.,  Sept.  22, 1772; 
graduated  at  Harvard  College,  1749;  resigned  the 
pastorship  of  the  church  in  1752,  and  died  at  Liver- 
pool, N.  S.,  in  June,  1812.  Mr.  Cheever  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Dr.  Samuel  West,  who  was  born  at  Yar- 
mouth, Cape  Cod,  in  1729 ;  graduated  at  Harvard  in 
1754,  one  of  the  first  in  his  class,  and  was  settled  over 
this  church  in  1761.  Under  the  ministry  of  Dr.  West 
the  society  was  very  large,  being  the  only  house  of 
worship,  with  the  exception  of  that  of  the  Friends, 
for  an  extensive  district  of  country.  Dr.  West  was 
not  considered,  in  the  popular  sense  of  the  word,  an 
eloquent  and  pleasing  speaker,  but  his  sermons  were 
characterized  by  sterling  common  sense  and  extensive 
research.  His  familiarity  with  the  Bible  was  so  great 
that  he  could  preach  from  almost  any  text  without 
premeditation,  illustrating  his  subject  with  the  most 
apt  and  scriptural  quotations  and  references.  Dr. 
West  took  an  active  interest  in  the  Revolution.  He 
preached  a  sermon  before  the  Provincial  Convention 
at  Watertown  in  1776,  and  another,  an  anniversary 
discourse,  on  Forefathers'  day,  at  Plymouth  in  1777. 
After  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill  he  visited  the  camp 
of  the  American  army,  and  encouraged  the  patriot 
soldiers  to  increased  efforts.  It  was  a  favorite  topic 
of  conversation  with  him  that  the  prophetic  writings 
of  Scripture  were  being  realized  in  the  stirring  scenes 
of  the  struggle  for  independence.  In  manner  of  life 
and  character,  Dr.  West  was  eccentric  and  peculiar, 
as  a  few  anecdotes  of  him,  which  we  will  give,  se- 
lected from  numerous  others,  will  illustrate.  His 
absent-mindedness  was  also  very  remarkable.  In 
going  to  mill  one  day,  he  put  the  grist  upon  his  own 
back  and  walked  to  the  miller's,  leading  the  horse  by 
the  bridle.  He  supposed  the  grist  was  on  the  horse 
until  the  mistake  was  pointed  out  by  a  neighbor.     At 


ACUSHNET. 


167 


another  time  he  started  for  church  on  horseback, 
supposing  his  wife  on  a  pillion,  the  way  of  riding  in 
those  days,  and  did  not  learn  to  the  contrary  until  lie 
was  questioned  about  Mrs.  West  by  one  of  the  good 
deacons.  One  day,  while  talking  with  a  man  in  front 
of  his  house  without  his  hat,  the  individual  started, 
and  the  doctor  accompanied  him,  still  absorbed  in 
conversation.  Before  he  came  to  himself  he  had 
walked  four  miles. 

His  remains  lie  in  the  old  cemetery.  On  the  sar- 
cophagus that  marks  his  grave  is  the  following: 

"  Samuel  West,  D.D.,  Ac,  the  son  of  Dr.  Shackfield  West,  by  bis  wife, 
Ruth  Jenkins,  was  born  at  Yarmouth,  CO.,  March  3,  1729-30,  0.  S., 
ordained  in  this  place  June  3,  1761.  Relinquished  his  pastoral  charge 
June,  1803.    Died  at  Tiverton,  B.  I.,  Sept.  24, 1807." 

From  1803  to  1829  the  society  seems  to  have  fallen 
into  decay,  and  had  become  reduced  by  death  and  re- 
moval to  only  three  members, — Jonathan  Swift,  Mary 
Worth,  and  Susannah  Pope.  Up  to  1811  the  Metho- 
dists, which  had  an  organized  society  in  the  neigh- 
borhood, occupied  the  old  meeting-house.  At  this 
time  the  Congregational  people  made  an  effort  to  re- 
vive the  old  church,  and  undertook  to  supply  the  pul- 
pit with  a  minister  of  their  own  denomination.  They 
did  not  succeed,  however,  and  the  church  was  closed 
until  1828.  About  this  time  a  successful  endeavor 
was  made  to  resuscitate  it,  members  were  added  and 
services  regularly  held. 

Rev.  Sylvester  Holmes  officiated  as  a  supernumerary 
pastor,  and  at  this  time  probably  the  church  changed 
from  a  Presbyterian  to  a  Congregational  system  of 
government.  Joel  Packard,  Mary  Russel,  and  Rufus 
Holmes  were  the  first  who  were  admitted  to  member- 
ship in  the  church,  and  were  received  by  letter.  The 
first  received  on  a  profession  of  faith  were  Mrs.  T. 
Mayhew,  Mrs.  James  Taber,  Mrs.  David  Perry,  Mrs. 
Freeman  Taber,  Branch  Harlow,  Caroline  Augusta 
Waggoner,  and  Jabez  Hathaway  and  wife.  In  1830, 
Rev.  Pardon  T.  Seabury  was  settled  over  the  church, 
and  that  year  the  society  built  a  house  on  the  west 
side  of  the  river.  The  old  house  was  torn  down  in 
1837. 

The  next  meeting-house  built  in  Acushnet  was  that 
of  the  Friends,  which  stood  where  the  present  one 
does,  just  to  the  east  of  Parting  Ways.  The  deed  of 
the  lot  on  which  it  stood  conveyed  the  land  from 
Stephen  West,  Jr.,  of  Dartmouth,  to  Nicholas  Davis, 
of  Rochester,  Joseph  Russell,  Abram  Mott,  and  John 
Tasker,  of  Dartmouth,  in  trust  for  the  Friends'  So- 
ciety, and  bears  date  9th  of  11th  mo.,  1727. 

The  original  meeting-house  was  built  in  1727, 
though  meetings  of  the  society  had  been  held  in  the 
neighborhood  for  two  years  or  more  previous  to  this 
date.  During  the  Revolutionary  war  an  addition  to  the 
east  side  smaller  in  dimensions  than  the  original  was 
made,  and  between  these  were  shutters  for  dividing  the 
house.  The  old  house  being  in  poor  condition,  it  was 
replaced  by  a  new  one.  This  is  a  commodious  house, 
painted  inside  and  out,  with  carpeted  aisles  and  cush- 


ioned seats.  In  an  ante-room  is  hung  a  door  of  the 
old  house,  on  which  is  the  date  of  its  erection,  1727. 
The  building  and  repairs  about  the  grounds  have 
been  in  charge  of  Edward  Dillingham,  a  minister  of 
the  society  and  a  resident  of  Acushnet. 

Christian  Church,  Long  Plain. — The  religious 
society  that  comes  next  in  order  of  date  is  that  of 
the  Christian  at  Long  Plain,  a  village  at  the  north 
end  of  the  town,  so  named  from  the  extensive  plateau 
on  which  it  stands.  Elder  Daniel  Hix,  who  was  pas- 
tor of  a  flourishing  church  of  this  denomination  at 
Hixville,  in  the  northwest  part  of  Dartmouth,  was 
invited  to  hold  meetings  here.  This  resulted  in  a 
successful  movement  to  build  a  church.  The  first 
meeting  in  relation  to  building  was  held  Oct.  8, 1795, 
when  Elder  Hix  and  Silas  Simmons  were  appointed  a 
committee  to  select  a  lot  of  land  and  place  a  church 
thereon.  This  was  very  near  the  site  of  the  present 
church.  The  first  bill  contracted  on  the  church  is 
dated  July  30,  1796,  and  was  for  lumber  and  other 
materials  to  the  amount  of  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
eight  dollars.  Among  the  "  other  materials"  was 
seven  gallons  of  West  India  rum,  an  indispensable 
article  in  building  a  church  in  those  primitive  times. 
Another  interesting  reminiscence  is  that  when  the 
edifice  was  completed  the  congregation  (such  of  them 
as  had  already  purchased)  were  invited  to  build  their 
pews  on  the  spots  owned  by  them.  Aug.  29,  1805, 
Elder  Hix  accepted  an  invitation  to  preach  two  Sun- 
days a  month.  The  distance  from  his  residence  was 
nine  miles,  and  for  the  year's  service  he  received 
fifty  dollars.  In  1804  his  salary  was  increased  to 
fifty-five  dollars,  and  on  this  he  continued  with  them 
several  years.  Subsequently  Rev.  John  Leland 
preached  in  the  old  house.  This  is  the  man  who  in 
1812  got  up  a  mammoth  cheese,  weighing  over  a 
ton,  which  was  pressed  in  a  cider-mill,  drawn  to 
Washington  by  four  horses,  and  presented  to  Presi- 
dent Madison. 

The  church  did  not  prosper  in  a  marked  degree, 
and  was  much  of  the  time  without  a  settled  pastor, — 
from  1825  to  1837.  In  April,  1837,  Elder  Samuel 
Wilde,  who  had  resided  elsewhere  for  a  long  time, 
returned  and  preached  for  them  a  year.  There  had 
been  no  Sunday-school  since  1823,  but  Mr.  Wilde, 
with  the  assistance  of  Miss  Elizabeth  Ashley,  daugh- 
ter of  Capt.  William  Ashley,  organized  a  school,  and 
it  was  continued  through  the  year.  Mr.  Wilde  writes, 
"  My  salary  this  year  was  one  load  of  good  oak  chips, 
presented  by  Thomas  Davis."  This  church  was  finan- 
cially embarrassed,  and  was  obliged  to  give  up. 

There  were  a  number  of  persons  of  the  Baptist 
denomination  in  the  vicinity,  and  they  concluded  to 
organize  a  society,  which  they  did  in  1838. 

On  the  16th  of  October  of  that  year  a  council, 
composed  of  representatives  from  New  Bedford,  Fall 
River.  Middleborough,  and  Long  Plain,  met  at  the  lat- 
ter place  and  ordained  Ira  Leland.  The  same  day 
the  following- named  persons,  in  response  to  their  re- 


168 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


quest,  were  recognized  a  Baptist  Society  of  the  Taun- 
ton Association:  Rev.  Ira  Leland,  William  Ashley, 
Delana  Ashley,  Abiel  P.  Robinson,  Chloe  Robinson, 
Love  M.  Sears,  Freelove  Hathaway,  Silas  F.  Sears, 
Mary  R.  Davis,  and  Ann  H.  Davis. 

Mr.  Leland  remained  with  the  church  about  two 
years,  when  he  went  to  the  Second  Baptist  Church  at 
Barnstable.  He  returned  to  the  pastorate  of  this 
church,  however,  on  the  1st  of  April,  1844,  much  to 
the  pleasure  of  his  former  parishioners.  Under  his 
ministration  the  church  continued  to  prosper,  result- 
ing in  the  building  of  a  new  church,  which  was  dedi- 
cated on  the  28th  of  April,  1847,  the  society  having 
occupied  the  old  Christian  Church. 

A  month  after  the  dedication  of  the  new  church 
Mr.  Leland  accepted  a  call  to  Lexington,  Mass.,  and 
the  society  was  again  without  a  pastor.  No  settled 
minister  was  with  the  church  till  1848. 

During  this  time  the  pulpit  was  supplied  by  Rev. 
Messrs.  Ryder,  Alden,  Roberts,  and  J.  S.  Whitte- 
more. 

In  August,  1848,  Mr.  Whittemore  was  settled  here, 
and  remained  till  1856.  In  1851,  Mrs.  Ruth  Davis 
united  with  the  church  by  baptism,  being  then  sixty 
years  of  age.  At  the  present  date  she  is  living,  at 
the  age  of  ninety-two,  her  faculties  wonderfully 
preserved.  She  is  the  oldest  person  in  town.  She, 
with  her  two  sons,  are  active  members  of  this  church. 

In  1856  considerable  religious  interest  was  mani- 
fested in  the  village,  and  many  were  converted. 
There  were  those  who  wanted  a  church  house,  but, 
not  being  in  full  sympathy  with  the  Baptists  nor 
Friends,  the  only  denominations  in  the  place,  a 
"  Union  Society"  was  organized,  which  this  church 
joined.  This  plan  not  proving  successful,  the  Bap- 
tists called  Rev.  W.  W.  Meech,  of  Connecticut,  to  be 
their  pastor. 

In  the  spring  of  1860,  Mr.  Meech  closed  his  labors 
with  the  church,  much  to  the  regret  of  the  people.  Rev. 
Silas  Hall,  of  Raynham,  supplied  for  a  few  months, 
and  others  till  1864,  when  Rev.  J.  W.  Horton  became 
the  settled  pastor,  and  remained  till  1868.  The  same 
year  Rev.  Mr.  Holt,  of  Boston,  became  the  minister, 
continuing  till  Feb.  26,  1871.  He  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  W.  H.  Learned,  who  filled  the  pastoral  relation 
till  his  health  compelled  him  to  resign  in  1872.  Rev. 
S.  P.  Lewy  served  from  1872  to  December,  1873.  In 
November,  1874,  a  unanimous  call  was  extended  to 
Rev.  E.  M.  Wilson,  of  Somerville,  Mass.,  who  accepted, 
and  has  continued  an  acceptable  and  highly-respected 
pastor,  which  relation  he  holds  at  the  present  time. 

About  eighty  persons  have  been  members  of  this 
church  since  its  institution  in  1838.  The  church  has 
had  but  two  clerks,  Gen.  Abiel  P.  Robinson  serving 
till  incapacitated  by  age  in  1874  ;  since  then  the  office 
has  been  filled  by  Walter  A.  Davis. 

The  first  Sunday-school  at  Long  Plain  was  held  in 
the  summer  of  1822.  Susan,  wile  of  Dr.  Rounsevel 
Spooner,  a  member  of  the  Unitarian  Church,  and  Al- 


lathea,  daughter  of  Nicholas  Davis,  a  Friend,  called 
the  children  together  in  a  school-house  which  stood 
just  at  the  back  of  the  carriage-sheds  in  the  Friends' 
yard,  where  they  taught  them  the  old  Westminster 
Catechism  and  Scripture  texts  and  furnished  them 
with  tracts.  It  was  held  again  the  following  summer, 
but  was  not  continued  longer  on  account  of  the  sneers 
of  parents  and  their  disrelish  of  the  innovation. 

The  Friends'  Society  at  Long  Plain  is  the  next 
in  chronological  order.  The  land  on  which  the  pres- 
ent house  stands  was  deeded  by  Nathan  Davis,  of 
Dartmouth,  to  John  and  Nehemiah  Sherman,  Daniel 
Wing,  Nicholas  Davis,  and  Russell  Brailey,  of  Roch- 
ester, in  trust  for  the  society,  10th  9  mo.,  1759.  The 
house  was  built  about  this  time.  In  1855  it  was 
overhauled  and  thoroughly  repaired.  This  meeting, 
together  with  the  ones  at  Parting  Ways,  Fairhaven, 
and  Mattapoisett,  constitute  the  Long  Plain  Prepar- 
atory Meeting,  to  which  Abner  Pease,  of  Fairhaven, 
willed  a  large  property. 

The  Methodist  Church  at  Acushnet  Village 
had  its  beginning  in  the  early  days  of  the  present 
century.  It  was  the  original  Methodist  Society  in 
old  Dartmouth.  The  original  members  of  the  Elm 
Street  Methodist  Episcopal  Society  of  New  Bedford, 
the  first  in  the  city,  were  all  members  of  this  church. 

The  origin  of  this  church  may  be  ascribed  to  Capt. 
John  Hawes,  who  was  one  of  the  earliest  and  most 
zealous  Methodists  in  this  section  of  the  country. 
The  first  worship  of  this  sect  at  the  Head  of  the  River 
is  said  to  have  been  held  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Ellis 
Mendall,  about  two  and  a  half  miles  east  of  the  pres- 
ent church.  Rev.  Daniel  Webb  and  others  occasion- 
ally preached  there.  This  was  in  1800  or  1801. 
About  the  same  time,  or  shortly  after,  Rev.  Mr.  Hall 
and  other  Methodist  ministers  held  services  in  a 
school-house  which  stood  a  little  east  of  the  residence 
of  Capt.  Daniel  B.  Greene,  later  of  Rudolphus  Swift. 

Their  number  continued  to  slowly  increase,  and  in 
1806  Conference  appointed  Rev.  Epaphras  Kibbe  to 
take  charge  of  them.  In  the  course  of  the  following 
year  he  succeeded  in  forming  a  class  of  eight  persons, 
of  which  Capt.  John  Hawes  was  leader.  At  this 
time  they  were  worshiping  in  the  church  of  the  Con- 
gregational Society,  which  was  in  a  very  prostrated 
condition,  and  since  the  retirement  of  Dr.  West  had 
been  without  a  pastor.  Aug.  2,  1807,  Mr.  Kibbe  pro- 
posed that  they  should  either  unite  with  the  Congre- 
gationalists  or  organize  a  separate  society  of  their 
own.  They  chose  the  latter,  and  accordingly  the 
new  church  was  formed  at  the  above  date. 

The  original  founders  of  the  church  as  thus  consti- 
tuted were  eight  in  number, — John  Hawes,  Benjamin 
Dillingham,  Freelove  Nye,  Daniel  Summerton,  Han- 
nah Summerton,  Jedediah  Haskell,  Meriab  Spooner, 
Nancy  Dauforth.  The  first  stewards  were  Capt.  John 
Hawes  and  Jonathan  Dauforth.  Mr.  Kibbe  remained 
till  1809,  and  when  he  left  the  church  numbered 
fifty-nine  members.     He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Ne- 


ACUSHNET. 


169 


hemiah  Cove,  who  was  followed  by  the  Rev.  Levi 
Walker,  on  the  expiration  of  whose  term  Mr.  Coye 
was  again  appointed.     This  was  in  1811. 

During  all  this  time  they  had  continued  to  worship 
in  the  Congregational  Church.  At  this  date,  how- 
ever, the  members  of  that  society  undertook  to  sup- 
ply the  pulpit  with  a  minister  of  their  own  denomi- 
nation. Accordingly,  the  Methodists  vacated  the 
building  and  took  an  upper  room  in  an  old  house 
which  is  still  standing, — the  one  nearest  the  bridge  on 
the  south  side  of  the  street.  They  soon  collected  the 
sum  of  five  hundred  dollars  and  built  a  house  of  wor- 
ship, although  their  funds  were  inadequate  to  pay  for 
it  and  a  considerable  debt  remained  upon  the  church. 
It  was  dedicated  in  1811,  Rev.  Nehemiah  Coye  preach- 
ing the  sermon  on  the  occasion.  At  the  time  of  its 
dedication  it  was  a  rough  structure,  in  quite  an  unfin- 
ished state,  being  neither  painted  nor  plastered. 

Mr.  Coye  located  at  Acushnet,  and  remained  until 
1817.  He  was  followed  by  Rev.  Benjamin  R.  Hoyt, 
who  acted  as  schoolmaster  also.  Then  came  the  fol- 
lowing clergy  in  the  order  named:  Shipley  W.  Wil- 
son, Solomon  Sins,  Edward  T.  Taylor,  afterwards  of 
the  Boston  Seamen's  Bethel,  Erastus  Otis,  Leroy  Sun- 
derland, Leonard  B.  Griffin,  Robert  Easterbrooks, 
Elias  C.  Scott,  James  Porter,  Samuel  Drake,  William 
Baxter,  O.  Sperry,  Thomas  Ely,  D.  H.  Banister, 
Franklin  Fish,  Onesiphorus  Robbins,  Lemuel  Har- 
low, Otis  Wilder,  Joseph  McReading,  George  Win- 
chester, William  Cone,  Hehron  Vincent,  Daniel 
Webb,  Randall  Mitchell,  George  W.  Wooding,  James 
B.  Weeks,  Richard  Donkersley.  The  present  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church  was  built  on  the  site  of  the 
old  one  in  1853-54,  the  last  year  of  Mr.  Donkersley's 
pastorate,  and  was  dedicated  March  9,  1854.  Mr. 
Donkersley  was  followed  by  Q.  A.  M.  Chapman,  E. 
Franklin  Hinks,  Philip  Grandon,  Elanson  Latham, 
Benjamin  L.  Sayre,  William  T.  Worth,  Samuel  Fox, 
Israel  Washburn,  Thomas  Ely,  Edward  H.  Hatfield, 
George  W.  Wooding,  Benjamin  H.  Bosworth,  Edward 
A.  Lyon,  Charles  E.  Walker,  Edward  H.  Hatfield, 
Joseph  E.  Sears,  Charles  L.  Goodell,  George  M. 
Hamlin,  and  N.  Willis  Jordan. 

The  original  Methodist  class  in  the  city  of  New 
Bedford  was  organized  in  1817.  All  its  members, 
with  one  exception,  were  members  of  the  Acushnet 
Church.  This  class  was  the  origin  of  the  Elm  Street 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  which  was  then  a  legit- 
imate offspring  of  the  society  at  Acushnet.  The 
other  New  Bedford  Methodist  Episcopal  Churches 
are  outgrowths  of  the  Elm  Street. 

The  next  society  organized  was  the  Methodist  at 
Long  Plain.  Its  origin  commenced  in  1856  in  the 
"Union  Society,"  referred  to  in  the  sketch  of  the 
Baptist  Society  here.  A  young  man  of  the  Baptist 
denomination,  Elanson  Latham,  pleached  for  them 
with  great  acceptance,  resulting  in  quite  a  revival. 
In  the  spring  of  1857,  Mr.  Latham  attended  the  Meth- 
odist Conference,  and  while  there  joined  it.     On  his 


return  some  of  the  recently  converted  ones  desired 
a  Methodist  Society,  which  was  organized,  and  the 
others  joined  the  Baptist. 

This  band  of  Methodists  were  strengthened  by  the 
remnant  of  a  Methodist  Society  at  North  Rochester 
which  united  with  them  in  the  new  organization. 
The  first  pastor  of  the  church  was  Rev.  Philip  Cran- 
don,  who  was  born  in  the  adjoining  town  of  Roches- 
ter;  he  remained  two  years,  the  limit  at  that  time, 
and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Mr.  Allen,  whose  successor 
was  Rev.  Mr.  Smith.  Then  came  Rev.  S.  Y.  Wallace, 
which  brings  the  church  down  to  1862.  Their  meet- 
ing-house up  to  this  date  was  a  little  chapel  built  for 
the  purpose,  and  which  is  now  the  society's  parsonage. 

The  people  soon  desired  a  larger  and  more  attrac- 
tive place  of  worship,  and  in  1862  the  enterprise  of 
building  a  new  house  commenced,  the  members  of  the 
Christian  denomination  who  were  worshiping  with 
them  aiding  in  the  work.  The  leading  gentlemen  in 
this  enterprise  of  church  building  were  Elder  Samuel 
Wilde,  whose  children  were  members  of  the  church, 
and  Mr.  David  R.  Pierce,  a  prominent  Methodist  and 
former  resident  of  New  Bedford.  The  edifice  was 
erected  during  the  year.  The  following  paper,  solicit- 
ing a  building  fund,  was  circulated  : 

"  We,  the  subscribers,  agree  to  pay  the  sum  set 
against  our  names  for  the  purpose  of  assisting  the 
Methodist  Church  at  Long  Plain  to  build  a  house  of 
worship  and  a  parsonage,  said  house  to  be  settled 
upon  trustees  appointed  by  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  in  that  place,  with  the  understanding  that 
the  brethren  of  the  Christian  connection  residing  in 
the  vicinity  shall  have  equal  privileges  of  seats,  wor- 
ship, and  ordinances  with  the  Methodist  brethren,  and 
all  peaceably  disposed  people  are  invited  to  come  in 
and  worship  in  the  house,  and  the  seats  to  he  without 
charge  or  expense." 

This  paper  bears  date  May,  1862,  and  Elder  Wilde, 
who  made  great  efforts  in  procuring  subscriptions, 
gave  the  following  list  of  collections  :  From  Boston, 
$1067;  Providence,  $212;  Taunton,  $99;  New  Bed- 
ford, $275.67;  Fall  River,  $66;  Long  Plain,  $393.20; 
Pawtucket,  $24.50,— making  a  total  of  $2137.37. 

Mr.  Wallace  was  followed  by  the  following-named 
pastors :  Moses  Chase,  George  H.  Winchester,  Samuel 
J.  Carroll,  S.  T.  Patterson,  C.  S.  Sanford,  Francis  A. 
Loomis,  George  H.  Butler,  E.  W.  Goodier,  John 
Thomson,  R.  J.  Mooney,  and  A.  C.  Jones,  the  present 
pastor. 

There  are  two  other  public  places  of  worship  in 
town,— the  church  at  Perry  Hill  and  Whelden  Chapel, 
in  the  neighborhood  near  where  Capt.  Joseph  Whel- 
den's  mill  stood.  The  former  was  built  in  1844  by 
representatives  of  the  Christian  denomination.  It 
has  not  been  a  success.  The  latter  was  built  in  1854 
as  a  place  of  worship  for  members  of  the  Second 
Advent  denomination. 

The  town  is  well  supplied  with  educational  facili- 
ties.    There  are  accommodations  lor  seven  schools. 


170 


HISTORY   OP   BRISTOL  COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Since  the  division  of  Fairhaven  the  town  has  been 
redistricted,  three  fine  school-houses  have  been  built, 
and  the  balance  of  them  repaired  to  be  as  good  as 
new.  There  was  formerly  a  private  school  at  Long- 
Plain,  in  the  old  Methodist  chapel,  the  next  house 
south  being  used  as  a  boarding-house  connected  with 
it.  Another  similar  enterprise  was  conducted  for 
some  time  by  Obediah  Davis,  of  Acushnet,  on  the 
Fairhaven  road,  opposite  the  Laura  Keene  place, 
which  at  that  time  was  the  home  of  William  Brad- 
ford, Bristol  County's  brilliant  artist.  This  was  a 
boarding-school  for  young  ladies.  The  building  was 
two  stories,  forty  by  sixty  feet  square.  It  did  not 
prove  a  success.  The  place  is  now  in  the  possession 
of  and  occupied  by  Capt.  Franklyn  Howland  as  a 
private  residence. 

The  town-meetings  of  original  New  Bedford  were 
held  in  Acushnet,  the  old  town-house  standing  just 
east  of  Parting  Ways,  near  the  site  of  the  present 
school-house.  The  building  was  sold  to  private  par- 
ties and  moved  to  the  city.  After  this  they  were 
held  in  the  old  Presbyterian  meeting-house.  Fair- 
haven also  held  its  meeting  there  till  it  was  torn 
down,  when  a  house  was  built — the  one  on  Fairhaven 
road — a  couple  of  miles  below.  The  old  Bedford 
town-meeting  days  were  gala  occasions.  They  were 
general  holidays,  and  everybody  came.  The  pastimes 
outside  the  house  were  usually  foot  and  bat  ball, 
shooting  matches,  and  with  many  a  filling  up  with 
New  England  rum.  Plenty  of  the  latter  could  be 
easily  obtained  at  the  half-dozen  places  within  a  mile 
where  it  was  sold.  In  those  days  of  public  travel  by 
coaches  the  routes  over  which  they  traveled  were 
lined  with  places  of  entertainment  for  man  and 
beast, — the  "  tavern."  The  route  from  New  Bedford 
to  Boston  passed  through  the  village  and  up  the 
Long  Plain  road.  On  this  line,  within  the  town  of 
Acushnet,  there  were  five  taverns,  and  liquor  sold  at 
them  all.  Commencing  at  the  bridge,  in  the  village, 
the  third  house  east,  now  owned  by  John  R.  Davis, 
was  run  by  Capt.  Seth  Pope  ;  the  second,  east  of  that, 
now  owned  by  Cyrus  E.  Clark,  postmaster,  was  kept 
by  Worth  Pope;  two  miles  farther  on,  the  same  side 
of  the  road,  the  next  house,  north  of  the  end  of  the 
Whites'  Factory  road,  was  one  kept  by  Jabez  Taber, 
now  owned  by  Capt.  Eldridge  ;  a  mile  above,  on  the 
west  side  of  the  road,  at  Mason  Taber's  corner,  was 
Salisbury  Blackmer's  ;  and  a  quarter  of  a  mile  be- 
yond, where  Willis  Brownell  now  lives,  was  Isaac 
Vincent's.  Now  it  is  not  publicly  known  that  any 
liquor  is  sold  in  the  town.  At  the  town-meeting  of 
1881  the  vote  on  licensing  the  sale  of  liquors  stood 
four  "  Yes"  to  fifty-four  "  No."  In  1882  none  "  Yes" 
to  seventy-seven  "  No." 

The  only  post-office  in  town  for  many  years  was  at 
Jabez  Taber's  tavern,  his  brother,  Squire  James, 
being  the  postmaster.  In  1828  one  was  established 
at  Long  Plain,  being  kept  in  Thatcher's  store,  and 
afterwards  in  the  store  of  Mr.  Wilde,  now  occupied 


by  Richard  Davis,  who  has  been  postmaster  nearly 
thirty  years,  and  is  at  the  present  time.  Another 
office  was  provided  for  in  Acushnet  village,  being 
kept  in  the  first  house,  second  building,  on  the  north 
side  of  the  street  west  of  the  bridge.  Gustavus  Gil- 
bert, who  was  studying  law  with  Judge  Spooner,  was 
the  recognized  postmaster  for  a  couple  of  years,  but 
the  acting  officer  was  Cyrus  E.  Clark,  Esq.,  in  whose 
store  it  was  kept,  and  who  in  1830  became  post- 
master, and  has  occupied  the  position  till  the  present 
time.  In  1842  it  was  moved  into  the  building  which 
was  the  "  Worth"  tavern.  This  was  subsequently 
burned,  and  Mr.  Clark  built  on  the  same  spot. 

The  village  of  Acushnet  took  the  lead  of  Bedford 
village  for  many  years.  Ships  were  built  on  the  west 
side  of  the  river,  and  it  was  a  stirring  place.  Here 
was  the  first,  last,  and  only  whipping-post  in  the  old 
town.  It  stood  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  just  a 
few  yards  below  the  bridge,  in  a  spot  afterwards  occu- 
pied by  a  blacksmith-shop,  which  was  burned  in 
1882.  The  last  act  of  official  whipping  was  on  the 
back  of  a  notorious  character  named  John  Black, 
about  1780.  In  the  village  lived  the  first  judge  of 
the  Police  Court  in  New  Bedford,  Hon.  Nathaniel 
Spooner,  and  Capt.  John  Hawes,  who  was  collector 
of  customs  during  many  of  the  first  years  of  the 
present  century.  Elsewhere  in.  the  town  were  the 
homes  of  the  original  members  of  the  families  of 
Hathaway,  Hawes,  Jenny,  Kempton,  Nye,  Pope, 
Taber,  Tobey,  Spooner,  and  Swift,  many  of  whom 
were  prominent  in  the  early  history  of  old  Dart- 
mouth, and  others  have  occupied  positions  of  trust  and 
responsibility  at  home  and  abroad. 

For  some  time  previous  to  1875  the  people  resid- 
ing along  the  western  border  of  the  town  felt  that 
it  would  be  more  for  their  interest,  especially  in 
regard  to  schools,  if  a  narrow  portion  of  Acushnet 
along  that  boundary  was  annexed  to  New  Bedford. 
Both  towns  agreeing  in  the  matter  there  was  passed 
by  the  General  Court,  April  9, 1875,— 

"  An  Act  to  annex  a  part  of  the  town  of  Acushnet  to  the  city  of  New  Bedford. 

"Sec.  1.  All  that  part  of  the  town  of  Acushnet,  with  all  the  inhab- 
itants and  estates  therein,  lying  westerly  of  the  following  line,  to  wit: 
Beginning  at  the  stone  post  numbered  twenty-nine  at  Davis'  Corner,  so 
called;  thence  running  north  three  degrees  west  to  a  stone  post  five  rods 
easterly  of  the  house  of  Benjamin  Peckham,  and  from  thence  northerly 
in  a  straight  line  to  the  stone  post  that  marks  the  boundary  line  be- 
tween New  Bedford,  Freetown,  and  Acushnet,  is  hereby  set  off  from  the 
town  of  Acushnet,  and  annexed  to  the  city  of  New  Bedford,  and  shall 
constitute  a  part  of  the  First  Ward  of  the  city  of  New  Bedford  until  a 
new  division  of  wards  is  made  in  said  city." 

Sections  2,  8,  and  4  refer  to  taxes,  paupers,  repre- 
sentatives, etc.  This  leaves  the  infant  town  as  it  is 
March  31,  1883. 

Acushnet  has  a  flourishing  Union  Sunday-school 
Association,  organized  in  1882.  The  officers  are 
Franklyn  Howland,  president;  Dennis  Mason,  sec- 
retary ;  T.  J.  Robinson,  treasurer. 


Jfuk'  i 


$^-71^}- 


ACUSHNET. 


171 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


HON.  NATHANIEL  S.  SI'OONER. 

The  first  American  ancestor  of  the  now  somewhat 
numerous  Spooner  family  was  named  William.  Of 
the  place  of  his  nativity  or  the  precise  date  of  his 
birth  nothing  definite  can  be  learned.  The  Spooner 
name  in  England  is  an  ancient  and  honorable  one, 
and  it  is  highly  j^robable  that  from  this  family  was 
descended  this  William  Spooner.  The  first  that  is 
positively  known  of  him,  however,  is  the  assignment 
of  articles  (found  in  Plymouth  Colony  records)  "  in- 
denturing" him  to  one  John  Coombs.  This  bears 
date  1637,  and  from  the  tenor  of  the  document  it  is 
to  be  inferred  that  he  had  then  reached  his  majority. 
He  married  Elizabeth  Partridge,  who  died  April  28, 
1648.  He  then  married  Hannah  Pratt,  March  18, 
1652.  About  1660  he  moved  to  the  new  settlement 
at  Acushnet,  where  the  remainder  of  his  life  was 
spent.  He  died  1684.  It  appears  he  was  a  man  of 
prominence  in  the  new  colony,  and  held  office  both 
there  and  in  Plymouth  when  resident  in  the  respec- 
tive towns.  His  son  Samuel  was  born  1655,  married 
Experience  Wing,  by  whom  he  had  eleven  children. 
By  occupation  he  was  a  weaver  and  agriculturist. 
He  died  1739.  His  son  Seth  was  born  Jan.  31,  1695. 
He  married,  July  16,  1719,  Rose  Clark,  of  Sandwich, 
by  whom  he  had  three  children, — Walter,  Elizabeth, 
and  Rebecca.  His  second  wife  was  Abigail  Hatha- 
way. He  learned  the  weaver's  trade,  but  was  chiefly 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  He  was  a  very  en- 
terprising man,  and  was  frequently  chosen  to  town 
offices.  He  died  March  28,  1787.  His  son  Walter 
was  born  in  1720.  He  was  thrice  married,  first  to 
Alathea  Sprague.  To  this  union  there  were  six  chil- 
dren. Second,  to  Mrs.  Mary  Peck  (Hammond),  no 
issue.     Third,  Mrs.  Margaret  Davis  (Taber),  no  issue. 

Walter  Spooner  was  an  ardent  and  distinguished 
patriot  during  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  and  was  in 
public  life  from  1759  till  his  death.  He  was  nine 
years  a  representative  to  the  General  Court,  and  was 
a  member  of  the  Council  of  the  Province  seventeen 
years.  He  was  a  member  of  the  convention  which 
framed  the  Constitution  of  Massachusetts,  1779,  and 
in  1781  was  appointed  by  Governor  Hancock  chief 
justice  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  for  his  native 
county.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  Massachusetts  State 
Convention  which  ratified  the  Constitution  of  the 
United  States,  and  was  Presidential  elector  for  George 
Washington  both  terms.  A  full  list  of  the  various 
public  trusts  to  which  he  was  chosen  would  transcend 
the  limits  of  this  sketch,  suffice  it  to  say,  in  the  lan- 
guage of  one  familiar  with  his  record,  "No  man  of 
old  Dartmouth  ever  held  more  prominently  the  con- 
fidence of  the  people,  or  by  his  official  and  private 
life  more  thoroughly  justified  that  confidence."  He 
died  Oct.  26,  1803.  His  son  Seth  was  born  1752; 
married  Patience  Pierce,  by  whom  he  had  four  chil- 


dren,— Noah,  Paul,  Nathaniel  S.,  and  Dolly.  His 
early  life  was  spent  as  a  farmer  in  Acushnet.  Later 
in  life  he  removed  to  Fairhaven  and  engaged  in 
trade.     He  died  1815. 

Nathaniel  Sprague  Spooner  was  born  May  6,  1790. 
After  graduating  at  Brown  University  he  became,  in 
company  with  Charles  J.  Holmes  and  Judge  Nym- 
ph as  Marston,  a  law  student,  under  the  tutelage  of 
Abraham  Holmes,  of  Rochester.  After  qualifying 
himself  for  the  law,  his  first  practice  was  in  his  native 
town  of  Fairhaven  (now  Acushnet),  but  his  practice 
soon  extended  to  the  courts  of  New  Bedford.  About 
1817  he  removed  to  New  Bedford,  but  resided  there 
only  about  a  year,  when  he  returned  to  Acushnet  and 
settled  upon  the  spot  where  he  spent  the  remainder 
of  his  life.  He  was  thrice  married,  first  to  Sophia 
Howard,  daughter  of  Jonathan  and  Martha  (Willis) 
Howard,  of  West  Bridgewater,  Nov.  25,  1812.  They 
had  two  children,  —  Martha  Howard  and  Mary 
Sprague,  the  latter  of  whom  died  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
one.  His  second  wife  was  Lois  A.  Tompkins,  daugh- 
ter of  Rev.  Isaac  and  Mary  Tompkins,  of  Haverhill, 
Mass.  His  third  wife  was  Hannah  Crocker,  daughter 
of  Alvin  and  Phoebe  Crocker,  of  Barnstable. 

Judge  Spooner  was  an  able  and  prominent  lawyer, 
but  more  particularly  noted  as  a  counselor  than  as 
an  advocate,  on  account  of  his  judgment  being  more 
than  ordinarily  good.  He  shrank  from  all  notoriety, 
and  avoided  so  far  as  possible  all  official  position, 
accepting  only  such  public  trusts  as  he  deemed  im- 
peratively his  duty  to  assume  as  a  citizen  of  the  com- 
munity. He  was,  in  fact,  one  of  the  most  unassuming 
of  men.  Yet,  notwithstanding  his  native  modesty, 
he  never  shrank  from  what  he  considered  his  duty. 
He  was  justice  of  the  peace  nearly  all  his  life  after 
his  majority,  and  held  at  various  times  the  different 
town  offices.  He  was  police  judge  in  New  Bedford 
many  years,  and  was  a  member  of  the  State  Legisla- 
ture. He  was  a  man  of  strong  integrity,  and  noted 
for  his  frankness  and  candor;  a  man  of  active  tem- 
perament, earnest,  impulsive,  sometimes  impetuous, 
but  always  sincere.  As  a  business  man  he  was  suc- 
cessful, and  as  a  member  of  society  he  was  respected 
and  beloved.  He  was  a  man  of  marked  generosity 
and  liberality  of  character.  One  of  his  life-long  as- 
sociates remarks  of  him  that  "his  charity  was  spon- 
taneous and  boundless,  and  he  was  never  known  to 
refuse  a  worthy  or  needy  appeal."  He  bore  in  his 
veins  some  of  the  best  blood  of  New  England;  on 
the  maternal  side  he  was  a  descendant  in  the  seventh 
generation  from  John  Alden  and  Priscilla  Muliins, 
and  numbers  among  his  ancestors  such  families  as  the 
Carpenters,  Southworths,  Bassetts,  and  Arnolds.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Congregational  Society,  and  in 
politics  a  Federalist  and  Whig.  He  died  Jan.  20, 
1860. 


172 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL  COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


R.  N.  SWIFT. 
For  centuries  the  Swift  family  has  been  a  promi- 
nent one  in  England.  The  celebrated  Dean  Swift 
was  one  of  the  most  noted  of  the  name.  William 
Swift  came  from  Bocking,  County  Suffolk,  England, 
to  Watertown,  Mass.,  prior  to  1034.  He  removed 
to  Sandwich  about  1637,  and  died  there  not  far  from 
1640.  "The  Swifts  descended  from  him  are  like 
the  stars  for  multitude."  His  son  William2  was 
born  in  England,  and  came  with  his  father  to  Amer- 
ica. We  can  tell  but  little  of  him.  His  will,  dated 
loth  December,  1705,  was  probated  Jan.  29,  1706. 
Baylies  gives  him  as  representative  in  1673,  '74, 
'77,  '78.  He  was  a  man  of  consequence  and  sub- 
stance, and  had  numerous  children.  His  son  Wil- 
liam3 had  several  children,  and  died  about  five  years 
before  his  father.  His  will  was  dated  17th  June, 
1700.  William4,  his  son,  removed  to  Falmouth,  where 
he  was  an  honored  citizen,  influential  in  community. 
Among  his  children  was  William5,  who  was  a  tailor  in 
his  younger  days,  but  afterwards  a  farmer  in  his  native 
town  of  Falmouth.  Like  his  ancestors,  he  was  an  in- 
fluential member  of  society,  law-abiding,  prosperous, 
esteemed  and  respected  for  his  thrift  and  good  quali- 
ties. He  had  several  sons,  all  men  of  force  and  char- 
acter; broad  and  liberal  in  all  views,  they  were  yet 
positive  in  their  nature,  pushing  and  successful  in 
business,  and  public-spirited  in  every  enterprise  tend- 
ing to  advance  their  town.  William5  was  a  Whig  in 
politics  and  a  Freemason.  He  lived  to  a  great  age. 
Among  his  children  were  Elijah,  Thomas,  John, 
Reuben  E.,  William6,  and  Ezekiel.  The  "  History  of  1 
Cape  Cod"  has  the  following  concerning  Elijah  : 

"Elijah  Swift,  son  of  William  and  grandson  of 
William,  was  representative  twelve  years,  justice  of 
the  peace  from  1831,  quorum  units  from  1840,  of  Gov-  j 
ernor's  council  two  years,  and  a  gentleman  of  much 
sagacity  and  enterprise.  By  mechanical  profession  a 
carpenter,  he  contracted  for  and  built  many  houses 
prior  to  1820  in  Beaufort,  S.  C,  and  until  1818  had  a 
store  in  that  place.  His  contracts  with  the  United 
States  government  (for  live-oak  ship-timber  furnished 
to  the  government  navy  yards),  faithfully  performed, 
laid  the  foundation  of  a  large  fortune,  which  he  em- 
ployed with  laudable  regard  to  the  best  interests  of 
his  town.  He  took  the  first  contract  in  1816.  This 
was  to  furnish  an  entire  frame,  gotten  out  to  the 
moulds  for  a  seventy-four  gun  ship  of  the  line.  This 
timber  was  procured  from  the  sea  islands  of  South 
Carolina.  He  followed  ship-building  twenty  year's, 
and  was  the  first  to  establish  this  enterprise  and  whal- 
ing at  Wood's  Holl." 

Not  less  identified  with  live-oak  business,  though 
of  not  quite  so  early  a  date,  and  no  less  conspicuous 
as  a  man  of  enterprise  and  public  spirit,  was  his 
brother,  Reuben  E.  He  was  born  in  Falmouth,  but 
came  early  in  life  to  Fairhaven  (Acushnet),  where  he 
was  a  cabinet-maker  until  1820,  when  he  removed  to 
New  Bedford  and  established  a  furniture  warehouse 


and  manufactory.  He  became  connected  with  Elijah 
in  the  live-oak  trade  soon  after  its  establishment,  and 
followed  it  successfully  for  years,  spending  much  of 
his  time  in  South  Carolina,  Florida,  and  other  live- 
oak  sections.  He  built  a  cabinet-shop  on  Union 
Street  in  New  Bedford  in  1821,  but  relinquished  it  to 
the  care  of  his  brother  William.  He  was  a  man  of, 
hardy  and  vigorous  constitution  and  of  social  nature, 
with  ardent  friendships.  During  the  war  of  1812  he 
was  captain  of  a  light  infantry  company  in  the  United 
States  service,  and  for  some  time  was  stationed  with 
his  company  on  Clarke's  Point  to  watch  the  British 
vessels  cruising  in  Buzzard's  Bay  and  prevent  their 
landing.  He  married  (1)  Jane,  daughter  of  Obed 
Nye,  of  Fairhaven,  March  24,  1803.  Their  children 
were  Obed  N.  (deceased),  Franklin  K.  (deceased), 
Betsey  P.  (deceased),  Rhodotyhu*  N.,  William  C.  N., 
and  Reuben  E.  (deceased).  Mrs.  Swift  died  Nov.  9, 
1839.  Mr.  Swift  married  (2)  Lucy  L.  Robinson,  of 
Falmouth,  May  5,  1841,  and  soon  removed  to  Fal- 
mouth, where  he  met  an  untimely  death  Dec.  6,  1843, 
by  a  fall  from  a  hay-mow.  His  widow  is  still  living 
in  Falmouth. 

Rhodolphus  N.  Swift  was  born  at  Acushnet,  Nov. 
29,  1810,  and  passed  two  years  of  his  boyhood  in  the 
South  with  his  father.  He  embraced  a  sailor's  life 
when  seventeen,  embarking  on  a  whaler  ("Canton"). 
In  this  he  passed  sixteen  years,  eight  of  these  as 
master  of  the  "  Lancaster,"  in  which  he  made  two 
successful  voyages  to  the  North  Pacific  and  Japan 
coast  in  pursuit  of  sperm  whales.  After  relinquishing 
his  seafaring  he  engaged  with  his  brothers  in  the  live- 
oak  trade,  following  in  the  same  course  as  his  father. 
Their  work  was  chiefly  done  in  Florida,  where  they 
bought  large  tracts  of  live-oak  land,  from  which  they 
cut  the  timber  for  the  government.  The  work  being 
honestly  and  promptly  done,  they  were  generally 
successful  in  securing  the  contracts  from  the  govern- 
ment; but  even  when  lower  bidders  secured  them  the 
government  had  very  frequently  to  annul  the  contracts 
and  procure  the  timber  from  the  Swifts.  This  con- 
tract business  was  kept  up  at  intervals  until  1875, 
with  a  few  years'  intermission  during  the  war.  The 
firm  was  first  C.  N.  Swift  &  Co.,  afterwards  Swift 
Brothers.  In  company  with  his  brother  William,  Mr. 
Swift  was  for  many  years  interested  in  whaling. 
Positive  in  his  nature,  he  is  always  outspoken  and 
fearless  in  advocacy  of  whatever  he  deems  right,  but 
at  the  same  time  is  unostentatious,  and  he  has  steadily 
refused  public  place  and  position.  His  financial  suc- 
cess has  enabled  him  to  devote  much  of  his  time  to 
travel.  His  residence  ar  Acushnet  is  pleasant  and  its 
surroundings  attractive.  His  children  have  been 
liberally  educated,  and  reflect  credit  upon  their  name 
and  the  care  bestowed  upon  them.  He  married,  June 
18,  1838,  Sylvia  H.,  daughter  of  Gideon  and  Sylvia 
(Hathaway)  Nye,  of  Acushnet.  Their  children  were 
Rhodolphus  (died  in  infancy),  Rupert  G.  N.,  Clement 
N.,  Annie  D.,  Clara  G.  (deceased),  and  Edward  T. 


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173 


Mr.  Swift  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  most  promi- 
nent citizens  of  his  town.  He  lias  a  large  circle  of 
friends.  We  could  write  much  of  him,  but  we  forbear, 
for  such  is  his  modesty  that  we  might  inflict  a  wound 
when  we  mean  simply  to  do  justice. 

Clement  N.  had  great  natural  talent  as  an  artist. 
He  has  passed  fourteen  years  in  Paris  and  Brittany, 
Frame,  as  an  art  student.  He  is  still  devoted  to  art, 
and  his  works  are  highly  spoken  of.  Both  he  and  his 
sister  reside  with  their  parents  at  Acushnet. 


EBEN    LEONARD. 

Eben  Leonard,  son  of  Ebenezer  and  Mary  (Phillips) 
Leonard,  was  born  at  Taunton,  Mass.,  April  10, 1814. 
His  father  was  born  at  Raynham,  and  removed  to 
Taunton  at  sixteen  ;  was  by  occupation  a  farmer. 
He  married  Mary  Phillips,  by  whom  he  had  twelve 
children,  of  which  Eben  was  the  eldest.  He  died  Dec. 
27,  1847,  and  Mrs.  Leonard  May  8,  1874. 

When  eighteen  Eben  left  Taunton  for  New  Bedford, 
and  learned  boat-building  with  William  E.  Carver. 
He  then  engaged  with  Jethro  Coffin  for  twenty-eight 
months,  and  then  with  Daniel  Wadsworth  as  a  jour- 
neyman, and  labored  faithfully  and  honestly  for  thir- 
teen years.  After  this  he  removed  to  Acushnet,  where 
he  now  resides,  and  in  connection  with  his  two  sons 
is  engaged  quite  largely  in  whale-boat  building,  which 
they  make  a  specialty  in  manufacturing.  He  married, 
Nov.  29,  1835,  Mary  J.,  daughter  of  James  and  Mary 
P.  Henley,  born  in  Barnstable,  Oct.  26,  1817,  where 
the  family  has  been  a  valued  one  for  several  genera- 
tions. They  have  had  six  children, — Thomas  W. 
(born  July  3,  1839,  enlisted  in  Company  D,  Forty- 
seventh  Massachusetts  Infantry  Volunteers,  and  died 
July  14,  1863,  in  service  at  New  Orleans,  La.),  Daniel 
(died  in  infancy),  Eben  F.  (born  July  25,  1845,  mar- 
ried Adeline  D.,  daughter  of  James  and  Phebe  Gracie. 
They  have  one  child,  Ida  F.),  Charles  F.  (born  April 
19,  1848,  married,  first,  Calista  M.  Pierce,  who  died 
Sept.  30,  1879;  second,  Susan  Haswell,May  19,1881), 
Adelaide  G.  (born  Nov.  4,  1850,  married,  first,  Benja- 
min T.  Peckham,  of  Fairhaven.  They  had  one  child, 
Fannie  H.  Second,  married  William  F.  Tirrill,  Aug. 
■1.  L871.  She  died  Sept,  25,  1880),  Mary  E.  (born  Oct. 
22,  is.-,.;.     She  died  Aug.  27,  1876). 

Mr.  Leonard  has  ever  been  esteemed  one  of  the 
best  citizens  of  Acushnet,  has  many  warm  friends, 
and  none  can  say  aught  against  his  integrity,  honesty, 
or  sterling  worth.  He  has  been  member  of  the  pru- 
dential school  committee,  and  for  the  last  lour  years  a 
selectman  of  his  town,  overseer  of  the  poor,  and  as- 
sessor.  He  has  ever  been  a  consistent  Democrat. 
Mrs.  Leonard  is  a  member  and  Mr.  Leonard  a  regular 
attendant  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  al- 
though Mr.  Leonard  is  a  believer  in  universal  salva- 
tion. 


CYRUS    E.    CLARK. 

Cyrus  E.  Clark  was  born  in  Rochester,  Plymouth 
Co.,  Mass.,  Nov.  7,  1796.  He  was  the  son  of  Nathan 
Clark,  a  farmer,  who  was  a  native  of  Rochester,  and 
a  son  of  Willard  Clark,  of  the  same  town.  Cyrus  re- 
ceived a  common-school  education,  and  in  his  twenty- 
sixth  year,  July  27, 1822,  married  Sophronia,  daughter 
of  Capt.  James  Wood,  of  Middleborough,  and  settled 
at  the  "  Head  of  the  River,"  in  Fairhaven,  now  Acush- 
net, and  commenced  trade  as  a  grocer,  which  business 
he  continued  ten  years.  He  has  been  aland  surveyor 
for  many  years,  engaging  in  that  shortly  after  coming 
to  Acushnet.  His  services  in  this  capacity  were 
satisfactory,  and  up  to  the  present  time  he  continues 
to  occasionally  perform  some  labor  in  this  line.  He 
was  appointed  postmaster  at  North  Fairhaven  (after- 
wards changed  to  Acushnet)  April  1,  1828,  and  dur- 
ing all  the  various  changes  of  administration  he  has 
uninterruptedly  held  that  position.  He  was  for  many 
years  in  the  State  Legislature  :  elected  to  serve  in  the 
Lower  House  in  1832,  1837,  1840,  1842,  and  in  the 
Senate  in  1843.  This  was  on  the  Democratic  ticket, 
to  which  party  he  has  steadily  adhered,  and  for  which 
he  has  labored  all  his  active  life.  He  was  chosen 
selectman  in  1832,  and  held  the  position  without 
intermission  till  1864.  He  has  done  a  large  amount 
of  probate  business,  and  settled  many  estates.  This 
work  has  extended  over  many  years,  reaching  from 
1830  to  the  present  time.  He  has  been  justice  of  the 
peace  ever  since  the  same  year.  For  seven  years  he 
was  notary  public,  refusing  to  serve  longer. 

In  his  eighteenth  year  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  a 
company  of  troopers  in  the  State  militia.  He  had  a 
great  interest  in  this  service,  and  passed  through  all 
the  grades  of  office  to  first  lieutenant,  when,  very 
much  to  his  surprise,  he  was  chosen  and  commissioned 
lieutenant-colonel,  in  which  capacity  he  served  with 
acceptation  until  the  disbanding  of  the  regiment 
some  two  or  three  years.  When  the  Rebellion  broke 
out  in  1861  he  tried  hard  to  enlist  as  a  soldier,  but  he 
was  not  accepted  on  account  of  his  advanced  years. 
He  was  at  that  time  chairman  of  the  board  of  select- 
men, and  discharged  all  the  difficult  and  onerous  duties 
of  that  position  during  the  war,  with  the  heartiest 
approval,  and  to  the  satisfaction  of  his  constitu- 
ents. 

Mr.  Clark  has  had  four  children,  Lucy  Maria, 
Cyrus  Earle,  Jr.,  Avery  Cushman,  and  Frederick 
Williams,  all  of  whom  are  dead.  Mrs.  Clark  died 
Sept.  28,  1846.  Cyrus  E  ,  Jr.,  born  Feb.  5,  1826, 
married  Sophia  Parker,  and  died  June  3,  1858,  leav- 
ing one  son,  Cyrus  Henry  Clark,  now  a  photographer 
on  Cape  Cod. 

Mr.  Clark  has  been  a  man  of  positive  character, 
yet  unobtrusive  and  unostentatious.  Perhaps  no  man 
in  the  town  has  been  identified  longer  with  its  interests 
or  more  earnestly  devoted  to  its  welfare  than  he,  and 
surely  none  holds  a  higher  place  in  the  regard  of  its 
people. 


174 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL  COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


CHAPTER   XIV. 

BERKLEY.1 

"  Westward  the  course  of  empire  takes  its  way  ; 
The  first  four  acts  already  past, 
A  fifth  shall  close  the  drama  with  the  day  ; 
Time's  noblest  offspring  is  the  last." 

These  prophetic  words  were  uttered  by  Lord 
Berkeley,  under  the  enthusiasm  excited  by  the  pros- 
pect of  his  emigrating  to  the  New  World,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  converting  the  American  savages  to  Chris- 
tianity, and  the  founding  of  a  university  in  the 
Bermudas. 

From  this  celebrated  man,  preacher,  writer,  scholar, 
philanthropist,  and  metaphysician  the  town  of  Berk- 
ley undoubtedly  derived  its  name,  for  tradition  says, 
"In  1735,  when  certain  inhabitants,  living  in  the 
southerly  part  of  Taunton  and  the  northerly  part  of 
the  South  Precinct,  or  Purchase,  then  Dighton,  asked 
the  Great  and  General  Court,  for  reasons  set  forth  in 
their  petition,  for  an  act  of  incorporation  as  a  new 
township,"  the  name  of  Berkeley  was  suggested  by 
some  one  who  had  probably  formed  an  acquaintance 
with  George  Berkeley,  then  late  Bishop  of  Cloyne, 
who  just  before  that  time  had  resided  at  Newport,  R.  I. 

The  suggestion  and  adoption  of  the  name  of  so 
distinguished  a  Christian  philosopher  and  poet  re- 
flects great  credit  upon  the  taste  and  liberality  of 
religious  sentiments  of  all  parties  interested,  for  it 
will  be  remembered  that  Episcopalians  were  seldom 
complimented  in  such  manner,  even  in  the  "  Old 
Colony,"  whose  fame  was  never  shadowed  by  religious 
persecution. 

Bishop  Berkeley  was  a  remarkable  man  for  that  or 
any  other  age,  remarkable  for  his  broad  Christianity, 
benevolence,  and  original  philosophical  ideas,  which, 
like  other  new  ideas,  are  always  an  easy  subject  of 
ridicule  and  misrepresentation. 

Thus  Byron  said, — 

"  When  Bishop  Berkeley  s  lid  there  is  no  matter, 
And  proved  it,  'twas  no  matter  what  he  said." 

And  Dr.  Johnson  said  to  an  advocate  and  defender 
of  Berkeley's  theories,  with  whom  he  had  held  a  con- 
versation, when  the  latter  rose  to  depart,  "  Pray,  sir, 
do  not  leave  us :  we  may  perhaps  forget  you,  and  then 
you  will  cease  to  exist." 

While  his  premises  and  conclusions  have  not  been 
fully  accepted  by  the  philosophy  of  the  present  clay, 
they  very  considerably  modified  former  views  upon 
various  subjects  relative  to  metaphysics. 

Bishop  Berkeley  presented  to  Harvard  and  Yale 
Colleges  his  large  and  valuable  library,  and  to  the 
latter  some  valuable  real  estate  on  Rhode  Island, 
from  the  proceeds  of  which  to  found  a  scholarship, 
which  has  become  immensely  valuable.  More  than 
two  hundred  students  have  availed  themselves  of  this 

i  By  Hon.  Walter  D.  Nichols. 


privilege,  of  whom  about  one  hundred  have  become 
clergymen,— a  creditable  showing  for  the  legacy  of 
one  individual. 

He  also  sent  to  the  town  named  in  honor  of  him 
a  present  of  a  church  organ,  to  be  used  in  public 
worship.  The  services  of  an  organist  were  not  avail- 
able in  those  days,  and  this,  added  to  the  fact  that 
there  was  an  unmistakable  prejudice  among  those 
primitive  worshipers  against  instrumental  music  in 
church,  resulted  in  a  neglect  of  the  courtesy,  and  the 
organ  was  left  in  Newport,  and,  it  is  said,  yet  re- 
mains there  to  this  day  in  Trinity  Church,  in  a  state 
of  complete  preservation  and  in  constant  use.  As  an 
example  of  the  sentiment  that  prevailed  then  against 
instrumental  music  in  church,  it  is  related  that  forty 
years  after  the  present  of  the  organ  the  feeling  was 
so  far  compromised  as  to  allow  the  use  of  a  bass-viol 
at  the  closing  singing,  when  the  congregation  joined. 
A  venerable  man  would  rise  and  go  out,  slamming 
his  pew-door  in  evident  ill  humor.  Upon  being  re- 
monstrated with  for  his  discourteous  behavior,  he  re- 
plied that  "  he  would  not  stay  and  hear  that  bull 
roar." 

But  in  this  respect,  and  in  others  as  well,  there  has 
been  an  entire  change  in  the  feelings  and  practices 
of  religious  worship  and  modifications  of  religious 
belief,  and  no  one  could  be  found  who  would  now  say 
that  instrumental  music  in  church  was  "  an  inven- 
tion of  the  devil  to  catch  men's  souls." 

The  change  in  the  spelling  of  the  word  Berkley 
was  probably  due  to  the  carelessness  of  the  engrossing 
clerk  of  the  General  Court,  an  error  that  has  been 
perpetuated,  and  can  be  accounted  for  in  no  other 
manner.  This  is  a  matter  of  regret,  as  certainly  the 
name  of  the  town  should  have  conformed  to  the 
original  orthography. 

The  following  is  the  act  of  incorporation  of  the 
town  of  Berkley : 

"An  Act  for  dividing  towns  of  Taunion  and  Dighton,  erecting  a  new  town 
there  by  the  name  of  Berkley. 

"  Enacted  in  the  eighth  year  of  the  reign  of  King  George  II. 

"Whereas,  The  southerly  part  of  Taunton  and  the  northerly  part  of 
Dighton,  on  the  east  side  of  the  Great  River,  is  competently  filled  with 
inhabitants,  who  labor  under  difficulties  by  reason  of  the  remoteness 
from  the  places  of  public  meetings  in  the  said  towns,  and  have  there- 
upon made  application  to  this  court  that  they  may  be  set  off  a  different 
and  separate  parish,  and  be  vested  with  all  the  powers  and  privileges 
that  other  towns  in  this  province  are  vested  with. 

"  Be  it  therefore  enacted  by  Hit  Excellency  the  Governor,  Council,  and 
Representatives  in  General  Court  assembled,  and  by  the  authority  of  the  same, 
That  the  southerly  part  of  Taunton  and  northerly  part  of  Dighton,  on 
the  east  side  of  the  Great  River,  as  hereafter  bounded, be  and  hereby  are 
set  off,  constituted,  and  erected  into  a  separate  aud  distinct  township  by 
the  name  of  Berkley,  the  bounds  of  the  township  being  as  followeth, 
viz.  :  Beginning  at  the  Great  River,  at  a  forked  white-oak  tree,  at  the 
landing-place  between  the  land  of  Abraham  Tisdale  and  Micah  Piatt; 
from  thence  to  extend  in  a  straight  line  to  a  dam  known  by  the  name 
of  Little  Meadow  Dam  ;  from  thence  to  a  tree  with  a  heap  of  stones 
around  it  in  the  said  little  meadow;  from  thence  to  extend  in  a 
straight  line  until  it  intersected  the  line  of  the  precinct,  which  includes 
a  part  of  Taunton  and  a  part  of  Middleborough,  opposite  the  dwelling- 
house  of  John  Williams;  from  thence  to  extend  on  said  precinct  line  to 
the  maple-tree  which  is  the  corner  bounds  of  Middleborough,  Freetown, 
Dighton,  and  Taunton;  and  from  thence  bounded  by  Freetown  until  it 
comes  to  a  little  knoll  or  hillock  of  upland,  being  the  bounds  between 


BERKLEY 


175 


Dighton,  Freetown,  and  Assonet  Neck  ;  and  thence  bounded  liy  tlie  land 
of  Mr.  Edward  Shove  till  it  comes  to  Taunton  River;  and  then  bounded 
by  said  river  till  it  comes  to  the  first-mentioned  bounds. 

"And  that  the  inhabitants  thereof  he  and  hereby  are  vested  and  en- 
dowed with  equal  privileges  and  powers  and  immunities  that  the  inhab- 
itants of  any  of  the  towns  within  this  province  are  or  by  law  ought  to  he 
vested  with. 

"Only  it  is  ho  understood  that  John  Spurn,  Nicholas  Stephens,  John 
Tisdale,  Abraham  Tisdale,  Isaac  Tisdale,  and  Ebenezer  Pitts,  and  their 
families  and  estates,  are  not  to  be  included  in  said  township,  but  are  to 
belong  to  the  towns  of  Taunton  or  Dighton,  as  formerly. 

"And  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Berkley  are  hereby  requested, 
within  the  space  of  two  years  from  the  publication  of  this  act,  to  procure 
and  settle  a  learned  Orthodox  minister  of  good  conversation,  and  make 
provision  for  his  comfortable  and  honorable  support,  and  also  to  erect 
and  finish  a  suitable  and  convenient  house  for  the  public  worship  of 
God  in  said  town. 

" Provided,  also,  That  the  inhabitants  included  within  this  township 
that  heretofore  belonged  to  Taunton  shall,  from  time  to  time,  pay 
towards  the  repairs  of  Weir  bridge  in  proportion  to  the  remaining  part 
of  Taunton,  according  to  their  assessment  in  the  last  province  tax,  and 
also  their  proportion  of  the  rates  and  taxes  already  made  iu  Taunton. 

"And  that  part  of  the  new  township  which  belonged  to  Dighton  pay 
their  proportion  with  the  said  town  of  Dighton  of  the  arrears  of  their 
outstanding  rates  already  made,  and  of  the  debts  due  from  the  said  town 
of  Dighton,  and  also  their  proportion  of  the  charge  for  the  maintenance 
of  the  present  poor  of  the  town  of  Dighton. 

"  April,  the  18th  day,  1735.  This  bill  having  been  read  three  several 
times  in  the  House  of  Representatives,  passed  to  be  enacted. 

"  J.  Quinct,  Speaker. 

"  April,  the  18th  day,  1735.  This  bill  having  been  read  three  several 
times  in  Council,  passed  to  be  enacted. 

"  T.  Mason,  I)ep.  Sec. 


"By  his  Excellency  the  Governor: 
"I  consent  to  the  enacting  of  this  Bill. 


"  April,  the  18th  day,  1735. 


"J.  Belch  ee. 


"A  true  copy  from  the  original  on  file  in  the  secretary's  office. 

"  Attest:    John  Avery,  Jr.,  Secretary. 

"  Recorded  on  the  town  of  Berkley's  records  by  Stephen  Burt,  town 
clerk." 

Organization  of  the  Town.— At  a  legal  town-meet- 
ing, warned  according  to  the  General  Court's  order, 
and  held  May  12,  1735,  at  the  house  of  Elkanah  Bab- 
bitt, with  Gershom  Crane  moderator,  and  Abel  Burt 
town  clerk,  Nathaniel  Gilbert,  John  Burt,  and  Ger- 
shom Crane  were  chosen  selectmen,  and  Joseph  Burt, 
John  Paull,  and  Benaiah  Babbitt  for  assessors.  These 
officers,  it  was  voted,  should  all  serve  without  compen- 
sation for  their  labors. 

The  second  legal  town-meeting  was  held  Oct.  6, 
1735. 

"  Voted,  To  hire  a  scholar  to  preach  in  the  town  for 
the  space  of  a  quarter  of  a  year. 

"  Voted,  To  assess  or  raise  the  sum  of  fifty  pounds 
for  the  use  of  the  town,  part  to  be  paid  to  the  scholar 
which  shall  be  hired  to  preach  to  us,  the  other  part 
for  the  same  use  if  wanted,  or  otherwise,  as  the  town 
shall  apply  it." 

"  Voted,  to  hire  no  schoolmaster." 

An  adjourned  meeting  was  held  Oct.  20,  1735. 

"  Voted,  That  the  three  selectmen  go  and  hire  Mr. 
Tobey,  if  they  can  agree  with  him,  to  preach  in  our 
town  of  Berkley  one-quarter  of  a  year." 

"  Voted,  That  Mr.  John  Burt  take  the  contribution 
money  that  shall  be  given  in  the  said  three  months 


towards  supporting  the  scholar  that  shall  preach  to 
us,  and  be  accountable  to  the  town  for  it." 

"  Voted,  To  build  a  meeting-house  in  our  said  town 
of  Berkley,  forty  feet  long,  thirty-four  feet  broad,  and 
eighteen  feet  stud." 

"  Voted,  That  John  Burt  give  the  dimensions,  and 
appraise  and  approve  of  all  timber  for  our  said  meet- 
ing-house when  good." 

''  Voted.  That  Gershom  Crane,  John  Paull,  Joseph 
Burt,  and  John  Burt,  under  John  Burt,  procure  the 
timber,  divide  the  work,  and  proportion  it  among  the 
inhabitants  equally  [equitably],  and  that  each  man 
who  labors  on  said  meeting-house  shall  be  allowed 
four  shillings  per  day,  and  lads  or  boys  proportion- 
ally, as  the  committee  shall  see  fit." 

The  town-meetings  relating  to  the  settlement  of 
Mr.  Tobey  as  pastor  and  the  completion  of  the  meet- 
ing-house were  held  as  follows,  viz. : 

"  March  8,  1736.  Voted,  To  pay  Mr.  Samuel  Tobey 
forty  pounds  for  serving  in  the  ministry  one-half  year, 
he  finding  his  own  board." 

"  Aug.  3,  1736.  Voted,  To  give  Mr.  Samuel  Tobey 
one  hundred  pounds  in  bills  of  credit,  such  as  passeth 
between  man  and  man,  or  silver  at  twenty-six  shillings 
per  ounce,  annually,  so  long  as  he,  the  said  Tobey, 
continueth  in  the  work  of  the  ministry  in  our  town." 

"  Sept.  27,  1736.  Voted,  That  the  assessors  of  our 
town  of  Berkley  forthwith  assess  or  make  a  tax  of 
three  hundred  pounds  for  Mr.  Tobey, — two  hundred 
pounds  for  his  settlement,  and  one  hundred  pounds 
for  his  salary  this  present  year." 

"  Voted,  That  Elkanah  Babbitt,  Gershom  Crane, 
John  Paull,  Abiel  Atwood,  and  Abel  Burt  be  a  com- 
mittee to  let  out  our  meeting-house  as  cheaply  as  they 
can  to  finish  after  a  decent  and  comely  fashion  or 
manner." 

"  Voted,  To  raise  six  hundred  pounds  on  our  said 
town,  to  enable  the  committee  which  was  chosen  to 
finish  said  meeting-house." 

Rev.  Samuel  Tobey. — Berkley  became  a  distinct 
town  in  1735,  as  has  been  already  stated,  and  two 
years  subsequently  a  church  was  organized  with  Rev. 
Samuel  Tobey  as  the  pastor.  Mr.  Tobey  was  a  native 
of  Sandwich,  Mass.,  and  a  graduate  of  Harvard  Col- 
lege, of  the  class  of  1733.  He  was  ordained  Nov.  23, 
1737,  he  being  but  twenty-five  years  old.  His  ministry 
continued  until  the  time  of  his  death,  Feb.  13,  1781, 
a  period  of  nearly  forty-four  years.  Notwithstanding 
Mr.  Tobey  kept  the  church  records  with  the  greatest 
fidelity,  there  are  none  of  his  manuscripts  that  have 
been  preserved,  nor  is  it  known  that  he  ever  pub- 
lished any  of  his  writings. 

The  year  following  his  ordination  Mr.  Tobey  was 
married  to  Bathsheba  Crocker,  a  daughter  of  Timothy 
Crocker,  of  Barnstable.  Twelve  children  were  the 
result  of  this  union,  of  whom  the  two  youngest,  Paul 
and  Silas,  were  twins. 

A  local  historian,  Rev.  Enoch  Sanford,  at  the  pres- 
ent writing  a  nonogenarian,  who  had  seen  several 


17G 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


persons  who  had  sat  under  Mr.  Tobey's  preaching, 
wrote  of  him  thus, — 

"  As  a  preacher,  he  was  not  brilliant,  but  grave  and 
honest  in  declaring  what  he  believed  true  and  essen- 
tial. As  a  '  master  of  assemblies,'  he  was  firm  and 
impartial.  He  was  of  a  full  countenance,  and  un- 
commonly engaging  in  his  person  and  manners.  All 
revered  him  as  a  man  of  eminent  abilities  and  of 
great  common  sense  and  unaffected  appearance.  The 
children  not  only  revered  but  loved  him,  especially 
when  he  came  into  the  schools  and  talked  to  them 
as  a  father.  He  seemed  to  regard  all  the  people  not 
only  as  his  flock,  but  as  his  children. 

"  '  Kven  children  followed  with  endearing  wile. 

And  plucked  his  gown  to  share  the  good  man's  smile.' 

"  The  structure  of  his  sermons  was  formal,  according 
to  the  manner  of  ministers  of  that  time,  who  made 
many  divisions  of  their  subjects.  His  style  was  open, 
and  so  plain  that  the  unlearned  could  understand  and 
remember  the  truths  uttered.     In  his  devotional  ex- 

* 

ercises  in  the  pulpit  he  was  somewhat  formal,  using 
nearly  the  same  expressions  in  many  of  his  prayers. 
That  he  was  edifying  and  attractive  to  the  common 
people  is  evident  from  the  fact  that  he  was  highly 
esteemed  in  his  deportment  and  public  services  f6r 
nearly  three  generations." 

Rev.  Thomas  Andros. — After  an  interim  of  six 
years,  during  which  the  pulpit  was  variously  sup- 
plied, Rev.  Thomas  Andros,  of  Norwich,  Conn.,  was 
ordained  in  1788,  March  19th,  and  for  forty-seven 
years  occupied  the  pulpit,  at  the  end  of  which  time, 
admonished  by  waning  strength  and  the  existence  of 
differences  that  time  had  developed  in  the  church 
and  society,  he  asked  for  and  received  a  formal  dis- 
missal from  his  pastoral  charge,  and  retired,  not  to  a 
life  of  idleness,  but,  on  the  contrary,  to  the  end  of  his 
days  was  an  active  worker  in  all  the  great  reforma- 
tory movements  of  the  day.  His  early  life  having 
been  passed  amid  hardships  and  privations,  he  fully 
appreciated  and  estimated  the  value  of  those  advan- 
tages he  failed  to  possess  or  enjoy,  and  he  worked 
faithfully  to  increase  an  interest  in  popular  educa- 
tion in  the  town,  and  gave  an  impetus  to  it  whose  in- 
fluence was  undoubtedly  permanent  and  lasting.  The 
Taunton  Association  of  Ministers,  on  the  occasion  of 
his  death,  said  of  him,  "  Mr.  Andros  was  an  eminent 
example  of  self-taught  men,  a  warm  patron  of  edu- 
cation, and  a  deeply-interested  friend  of  the  rising 
generation.  As  a  preacher,  he  held  high  rank ;  as  a 
pastor,  he  was  affectionate,  laborious,  and  untiring  in 
interest,  both  for  the  spiritual  and  temporal  welfare 
of  his  people,  to  whom  he  ministered  for  more  than 
forty  years." 

The  early  life  of  Mr.  Andros  was  an  eventful  one. 
He  lost  his  father  in  his  childhood,  and  consequently 
upon  his  mother  devolved  the  care  and  responsibility 
of  rearing  and  educating  four  children  in  compara- 
tively straitened   circumstances.     They   removed  to 


Plainfield,  Conn.,  in  the  vicinity  of  which  her  rela- 
tives resided.  There  being  few  or  no  public  schools 
in  that  day,  and  means  being  limited,  it  may  readily 
be  inferred  that  the  advantages  of  mental  culture 
enjoyed  by  Mr.  Andros  were  small  indeed.  To  a  son 
of  Mr.  Andros  is  the  writer  indebted  for  the  narration 
of  the  following  thrilling  events  of  his  personal  his- 
tory: 

"At  the  breaking  out  of  the  Revolutionary  war  in 
1775,  though  but  a  youth  of  sixteen  years,  he  was  the 
first  to  enroll  himself  as  a  soldier  in  the  Continental 
service,  and  shortly  after  joined  the  American  army, 
then  encamped  at  Cambridge.  After  the  evacuation 
of  Boston,  he  was  engaged  in  the  battles  of  Long 
Island  and  White  Plains,  and  under  Gen.  Sullivan 
was  engaged  in  the  conflict  at  Butt's  Hill.  In  1781 
he  enlisted  on  board  a  private  armed  vessel,  but  his 
cruise  was  destined  to  be  a  short  one,  for  they  were 
captured  by  an  English  frigate  and  condemned  to  the 
'old  Jersey  prison-ship'  in  New  York  Harbor.  In 
a  manner  singularly  providential  he  succeeded  in 
effecting  his  escape,  and  after  suffering  incredible 
hardships  and  innumerable  perils,  finally  reached  the 
home  of  his  mother. 

"  A  severe  illness  prostrated  him  for  many  months 
after  his  self-restoration  to  liberty  and  home,  his 
recovery  from  which  was  well-nigh  miraculous.  It 
was  probably  this  near  approach  to  death,  by  which 
the  doors  of  the  future  world  were,  as  it  weiv,  opened 
wide  before  him,  that  fixed  his  subsequent  career,  and 
led  him  to  dedicate  the  remainder  of  his  life  to  the 
work  of  his  Redeemer." 

After  recovering  his  health  he  devoted  himself  for 
several  years  to  a  careful  preparation  for  the  ministry 
under  the  Rev.  Joel  Benedict,  of  Plainfield,  Conn., 
and  received  his  first  call  to  fill  the  pulpit  at  Berkley 
made  vacant  by  the  death  of  Rev.  Samuel  Tobey. 
To  give  a  lengthy  dissertation  upon  the  merits  of  Mr. 
Andros  would  far  exceed  the  limit  and  object  of  this 
work,  the  design  of  which  is  general  rather  than  per- 
sonal history,  but  a  few  words  more  may  not  be  amiss 
to  illustrate  as  far  as  may  be  the  superior  ability  of 
this  man,  who  for  half  a  century  was  a  leading  spirit 
in  the  locality  under  consideration. 

Mr.  Andros,  though  in  the  main  adhering  to  the 
views  inculcated  by  the  most  eminent  New  England 
divines  of  that  period,  was  notwithstanding  an  inde- 
pendent thinker.  Quoting  from  Mr.  Sanford  again, 
"  He  never  preached  that  Christ  made  atonement  by 
his  death  for  the  elect  only,  and  not  for  all  mankind ; 
or  that  justifying  faith  consists  in  one's  believing  that 
his  sins  are  forgiven,  and  that  he  is  one  of  the  saved  ; 
or  that  man,  in  regeneration,  is  as  passive  as  a  child 
in  being  born  into  the  world;  or  that  man  is  unable 
to  repent;  or  that  no  mere  man,  since  the  fall,  is  able 
perfectly  to  keep  the  divine  commands.  He  is  remem- 
bered never  to  have  believed  or  preached  that  the  sin  of 
the  first  man  is  imputed  to  all  his  posterity,  and  that 
in  him  all  sinned,  and  that  each  brings  sin  enough 


BERKLEY. 


177 


into  the  world  to  subject  him  to  the  loss  of  heaven. 
Neither  did  he  preach  that  Christ's  righteousness  is 
made  over  or  transferred  to  believers,  but  rather  that 
he  teaches  us  how  we  may  acquire  the  righteousness 
which  is  acceptable  by  faith  and  good  works.  He 
strenuously  enforced  that  men  have  the  power  of 
choice,  are  responsible  for  their  moral  acts ;  that  no 
divine  agency  operates  in  men  to  harden  or  tempt 
them  to  sin,  but  rather  to  restrain  them  from  it." 

As  a  patriot  and  politician,  he  never  hesitated  to  be 
pronounced  in  his  opinions,  and  it  was  questioned  by 
his  friends  whether  his  strong  partisanship  was  not 
too  strong  for  one  who  occupied  so  public  a  position, 
and  whether  the  judicious  use  of  some  finesse  on  his 
part  would  not  have  proven  "the  better  part  of  wis- 
dom." His  Thanksgiving  and  Fast-day  sermons 
were  usually  political  ones,  and  especially  attractive 
to  those  who  agreed  with  him,  as  well  as  to  those 
who  held  opposite  views.  In  one  of  that  ilk  he  took 
occasion  to  speak  of  Mr.  Jefferson  in  the  following 
denunciatory  language :  "  He  is  the  object  of  my 
soul's  most  implacable  abhorrence."  It  is  but  just, 
however,  to  say  that  in  after-life  he  acknowledged  his 
misconception  of  Mr.  Jefferson's  religious  and  poli- 
tical views,  and  actually  joined  the  party  of  which  the 
author  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence  was  the 
founder  and  acknowledged  exponent.  Too  favorable 
a  notice  cannot  be  made  of  the  influence  he  exerted 
upon  the  cause  of  education,  both  with  reference  to  the 
common  schools,  of  which  he  was  an  avowed  friend 
and  defender,  and  also  to  the  higher  branches,  in 
which  he  had  many  private  classes  and  pupils.  In  his 
daily  walks  of  life  he  exerted  a  strong  influence  upon 
the  generations  already  risen  to  adult  age,  he  fully 
indorsing  the  aptness  of  Pope's  memorable  epigram, — 

"Men  must  be  taught  as  though  you  taught  them  not, 
And  tilings  unknown  proposed  as  things  forgot." 

He  also  examined  teachers  for  public  schools,  and 
drew  about  him  a  corps  of  teachers  whose  acquire- 
ments and  ability  to  impart  knowledge  were  un- 
equaled  in  those  days  and  rarely  surpassed  in  these. 

During  Mr.  Andros'  ministry  a  circumstance  oc- 
curred which  will  illustrate  his  native  shrewdness. 
A  master-mariner  living  near  the  line  of  Berkley, 
in  Taunton,  who  had  come  from  a  trip  to  Albany, 
*  "  beat"  up  to  Grassy  Island,  then  meeting  a  "  head 
tide,"  anchored  his  vessel,  went  on  shore,  intending 
to  walk  home,  a  distance  of  two  miles.  Passing  by 
a  clump  of  bushes,  a  hen  fluttered  out,  announcing 
in  unmistakable  language  the  presence  of  her  nest. 
Examination  of  the  spot  disclosed  a  newly-laid  egg, 
upon  which  the  sailor  transcribed  "  Woe  to  the  in- 
habitants of  Barkly."  The  writer  of  this  minatory 
prophecy  had  procured  in  Albany  a  graphite  pencil, 
a  thing  almost  unknown  in  those  days.  The  egg  was 
warm  and  moist,  the  plumbago  united  chemically 
with  the  shell,  and  so  intimately  as  to  be  apparently 
a  part  of  it.  The  owner  of  the  hen,  a  pious  lady, 
12 


was  horrified  when,  upon  gathering  up  her  eggs  at 
night,  she  found  the  one  already  alluded  to,  and  in 
perfect  consternation  took  it  to  Mr.  Andros,  hoping 
he  might  explain  the  calamity  it  appeared  to  portend. 
The  minister  shut  his  eyes  closely,  as  was  his  wont, 
and  said,  "  It  was  not  the  Lord's  doings,  for  He  would 
have  known  how  to  spell  Berkley."  This  ready  an- 
swer quieted  her  fears.- 

Mr.  Andros  represented  his  town  twice  in  the  Leg- 
islature after  he  retired  from  active  ministerial  service. 
His  last  sermon  was  preached  the  5th  of  October,  1845, 
and  the  following  December  30th  he  died  from  the  re- 
sult of  a  succession  of  apoplectic  attacks. 

He  was  twice  married,  first  to  Miss  Abigail  Cutler, 
and  after  her  death  to  Miss  Sophia  Sanford.  The 
former  had  nine  children  and  the  latter  eight.  Five 
of  his  sons  were  master-mariners,  and  made  many 
foreign  voyages.  Another  son,  the  late  R.  S.  S.  An- 
dros, was  a  well-known  New  England  writer  and 
poet.  Another  son,  Milton  Andros,  is  at  present  a 
distinguished  attorney-at-law  in  the- State  of  Califor- 
nia. Descendants  of  other  members  of  his  family 
still  attest  to  the  wide-spread  influence  of  this  man, 
whom  the  writer  deems  the  one  of  all  others  whose 
life  gave  a  coloring  to  the  affairs  of  this  town  of  Berk- 
ley, both  educational  and  spiritual,  and  without  whose 
brief  personal  history  a  methodical  record  of  the  im- 
portant events  which  concern  this  town  could  not  be 
written. 

The  next  settled  minister  was  the  Rev.  Ebenezer 
Poor,  of  Danvers,  Mass.  His  pastorate  was  about  two 
years  in  duration.  He  was  esteemed  an  interesting 
preacher.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  J.  U.  Parsons, 
who  was  installed  in  1838  and  dismissed  in  1840.  He 
was  the  author  of  a  series  of  school  readers  and  some 
religious  works.  In  1842,  Eev.  Charles  Chamberlain, 
formerly  tutor  in  Brown  University,  was  ordained  as 
the  successor  of  Mr.  Parsons,  and  resigned  his  charge 
in  1844.  Since  that  time  the  pulpit  has  successively 
been  supplied  by  Rev.  Messrs.  Eastman,  Gould,  Gay, 
Richardson,  Craig,  Smith,  Lothrop,  Davis,  Babcock, 
Bessom,  Barney,  Chamberlain,  and  Parker. 

This  society — the  Congregational — now  occupies 
the  third  meeting-house,  all  of  which  houses  have 
occupied  the  same  and  to  many  a  sacred  spot.  It  is  a 
large  and  well-arranged  house  and  in  good  condition. 
Adjacent  to  the  meeting-house  is  a  neat  and  attrac- 
tive parsonage,  having  a  desirable  location.  This  so- 
ciety is  in  a  very  healthy  condition  financially,  the 
annual  rent  of  the  pews  and  the  income  of  the  "min- 
isterial fund"  placing  the  society  above  pecuniary 
anxiety. 

In  1848  a  division  in  the  Congregational  Church 
and  Society  occurred  from  causes  which  it  would  be 
unprofitable  to  lift  the  veil  of  oblivion  from  now. 
Some  twenty  members  of  the  church  and  a  number 
of  the  society  withdrew  and  organized  the  "Trini- 
tarian Congregational  Society  in  Berkley,"  March 
1,  1848,  and   built  a  comfortable   house   called   the 


178 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


"  Chapel."  Rev.  L.  R.  Eastman  was  the  first  pastor, 
commencing  his  pastorate  the  first  Sabbath  in  April, 
1848,  and  left  in  March,  1856,  being  a  pastorate  of 
eight  years. 

Rev.  James  A.  Roberts  having  been  invited  to  fill 
the  pulpit  made  vacant  by  the  resignation  of  Mr. 
Eastman,  he  entered  upon  his  ministry  the  first  Sab- 
bath in  April,  1856,  continuing  his  pastorate  until 
the  last  Sabbath  in  September,  1872,  a  period  of  more 
than  sixteen  years.  He  retired  then,  as  he  said,  "  to 
rest,"  thinking  perhaps  that  he  might  be  able  to  re- 
enter the  pulpit  again.  But  he  never  rallied,  and  in 
the  following  November,  in  the  eighty-fourth  year  of 
his  age,  he  "rested"  from  his  labor. 

Mr.  Roberts  was  born  in  Trowbridge,  England; 
preached  in  a  Dissenting  Church  in  London  and  else- 
where three  thousand  nine  hundred  and  forty-two 
times;  came  to  America  and  was  settled  as  pastor  of 
the  South  Congregational  Society  in  New  Bedford, 
where  he  remained  several  years;  went  back  to  Eng- 
land, and  returned  to  New  Bedford  again.  He 
preached  four  thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventy- 
seven  times  in  America  before  his  pastorate  in  Berk- 
ley, and  in  Berkley  he  preached  fifteen  hundred  and 
fifty-five  times.  He  resigned  his  pastorate  in  New 
Bedford  and  retired  to  his  farm  in  Lakeville.  Soon 
after  he  entered  upon  the  ministry  in  Berkley  he  re- 
moved thither,  bought  a  house  and  lands,  where  he 
lived  ever  after  and  where  he  died. 

Mr.  Roberts  was  a  man  beloved  by  all  who  knew 
him  well  for  bis  geniality,  good  practical  sense,  and 
for  his  benevolence.  He  was  loved  particularly  by 
the  children  and  youth  with  whom  he  became  ac- 
quainted, and  there  are  those  who  remember  his 
kindly  and  wise  suggestions  and  admonitions  and 
have  treasured  them  up.  As  a  preacher,  he  was  gen- 
erally interesting,  his  sermons  short,  but  generally 
well  considered;  his  manner  of  delivery  animated, 
and  sometimes  highly  expressive;  his  prayers  re- 
markably comprehensive,  earnest,  and  sympathetic. 
He  was  free  from  that  arrogance  peculiar  to  his 
nationality;  his  adopted  country  was  his  country, 
and  few  "to  the  manner  born"  were  more  patriotic. 
His  love  of  the  cultivation  of  fruits  and  flowers  was 
almost  unbounded,  and  to  this  work  he  devoted  much 
attention  and  displayed  much  taste.  His  love  for  his 
parishioners,  the  heathen  world,  and  for  the  whole 
human  family  was  demonstrated  whenever  he  could 
do  them  good  by  word  or  by  deed.  His  remains  lie 
buried  in.  the  cemetery  with  the  Rev.  Samuel  Tobey 
and  with  the  Rev.  Thomas  Andros,  a  worthy  com- 
panionship of  noble  men. 

In  1873,  March  1st,  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  in  Berkley  was  organized,  a  large  part  of 
Mr.  Roberts'  church  and  society  joining  with  the 
Methodists  and  occupying  the  "  Chapel,"  where  they 
worshiped  until  1875,  when  the  Methodist  Society 
built  a  very  pleasant,  neat,  and  commodious  building 
at  an  expense  of  seven  thousand  five  hundred  dollars, 


and  it  is  understood  that  this  building  is  paid  for. 
This  church  and  society  has  prospered,  and  although 
some  of  the  members  have  made  great  exertions  to 
put  this  society  upon  a  firm  foundation,  they  have 
done  it  willingly,  cheerfully, — "The  Lord  loveth  a 
cheerful  giver," — and  having  "  cast  their  bread  upon 
the  waters,"  it  is  confidently  hoped  that  "  they  shall 
find  it  after  many  days."  The  clergymen  of  the  First 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  Berkley  have  been 
Rev.  Mr.  Wright,  one  year;  Rev.  Mr.  Ewer,  three 
years;  Rev.  Mr.  Nutter,  one  year;  Rev.  Mr.  Hum- 
phrey, two  years  ;   Rev.  Mr.  Burn,  three  years. 

There  is  a  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  also  near 
the  pleasant  village  of  Myrickville,  in  the  eastern 
part  of  the  town,  which  was  formerly  a  part  of  the 
city  of  Taunton,  but  was  annexed  to  Berkley  in 
1878.  The  congregation  though  small,  the  numbers 
are  increasing  and  the  prospects  of  the  church  bright- 
ening. It  seems  to  have  a  location  which  required 
some  house  of  public  worship  established,  as  there 
was  none  for  miles  around. 

John  Crane  is  the  first  person  named  as  a  school- 
teacher, there  being  a  small  sum  voted  to  pay  him 
for  keeping  school.  Jonathan  Crane  likewise  was 
paid  for  the  same  purpose.  Both  of  these  schools 
were  of  short  duration.  Then  the  town  employed 
Rowland  Gavin,  an  Englishman  of  good  attainments. 
He  taught  in  different  parts  of  the  town  some  two 
months  in  a  place,  in  such  buildings  as  could  be  se- 
cured for  the  purpose.  His  penmanship  was  exceed- 
ingly good.  Each  scholar  had  a  blank-book  prepared 
by  sewing  a  number  of  sheets  of  paper  together.  The 
"master"  would  write  the  arithmetical  examples  into 
each  scholar's  book,  and  the  scholar  would  write  the 
solution,  the  "  master"  having  the  only  arithmetic  in 
the  school.  Reading-  and  spelling-books  also  were 
scarce  and  expensive,  and  the  pecuniary  means  of  the 
parents  small.  Grammars  and  geographies  were  not 
used  in  school  in  those  early  days.  But,  notwith- 
standing the  many  disadvantages  under  which  those 
scholars  labored,  a  knowledge  of  reading,  writing, 
spelling,  and  arithmetic  was  attained  almost  incredible 
when  compared  with  the  proficiency  of  the  scholars 
of  the  present  day,  measured  by  the  difference  in 
length  of  school,  convenience  of  studying,  abundance 
of  text-books  upon  all  desirable  subjects,  and  teachers 
who  have  in  turn  had  ample  means  of  qualifying 
themselves  for  their  important  duties,  important  not 
only  in  developing  the  mental  faculty  in  the  direction 
of  science,  but  important  also  in  the  shaping  of  the 
moral  character  of  those  committed  to  their  charge. 
But  then  the  parents  and  children  prized  their  slender 
opportunities  and  made  good  use  of  them.  Their 
few  books  were  used  at  home  at  odd  hours  in  the 
daytime,  in  the  evening  by  fire-light,  it  may  be,  and 
it  sometimes  was  so.  The  bodily  exercise,  from  which 
none  escaped,  the  absence  of  heated  rooms,  which 
none  enjoyed,  gave  to  their  minds  a  clearness  and 
vigor  not  attainable  perhaps  in  any  other  manner. 


BERKLEY. 


179 


The  difficulties  which  had  to  be  surmounted  also 
added  ibrce  to  their  characters.  Here,  then,  is  an 
instance  of  the  resulting  beneficence  of  the  law  of 
compensation  that  permeates  all  of  the  works  of  God, 
who  so  kindly  tempers  the  storm  to  the  shorn  lamb. 

But  soon  after  the  settlement  of  Rev.  Mr.  Tobey, 
and  during  his  pastorate,  the  condition  of  the  schools 
improved  quite  evidently  and  continually.  In  1763 
the  town  began  to  build  school-houses,  which  were 
more  comfortable  and  more  conveniently  located  than 
the  extemporized  school-rooms  that  had  heretofore 
been  available.  Some  young  men  had  measurably 
qualified  themselves,  under  Master  Gavin's  teaching 
and  at  home,  for  the  position  of  elementary  teachers, 
and  the  winter  schools  and  winter  evenings  were  util- 
ized to  a  creditable  degree.  Thus  the  soil  was  being 
gradually  prepared  for  the  future  harvest.  Soon  after 
the  settlement  of  Mr.  Andros  in  1787,  a  new  impetus 
was  given  to  education,  largely  through  his  instru- 
mentality, which  is  stated  elsewhere,  but  aided  by 
other  causes  also.  The  war  of  the  Revolution  had 
exhausted  the  pecuniary  resources  of  the  whole 
country.  But  the  advent  of  peace,  the  formation  "  of 
a  more  perfect  Union"  by  the  adoption  of  the  Con- 
stitution, the  confidence  in  the  administration  of 
Washington,  the  unparalleled  success  of  the  financial 
policy  of  Hamilton  began  to  recuperate  the  palsied 
hand  of  industry,  and  better  times  dawned  in  the 
horizon,  its  influence  was  felt  all  over  the  country. 
In  1793  the  town  was  divided  into  four  school  dis- 
tricts, afterwards  into  five,  then  into  six,  and  after  the 
accession  of  Assonet  Neck  the  number  of  school  dis- 
tricts in  town  in  1799  was  seven.  In  1794  the  town 
voted  one  hundred  and  twenty  pounds  to  the  four 
school  districts  to  build  their  school-houses,  which 
money  had  been  raised  for  the  enlargement  of  the 
meeting-house.  In  1800  the  scholars  belonging  to 
the  several  school  districts  between  the  ages  of  four 
and  sixteen  were  over  four  hundred,  and  the  popula- 
tion one  thousand  and  thirty-four.  In  1865  the  popu- 
lation was  eight  hundred  and  eighty-eight.  In  1880 
the  population  was  nearly  one  hundred  less  than 
eighty  years  before,  and  the  children  between  five 
and  fifteen  years  of  age  only  one  hundred  and  sixty- 
three,  and  notwithstanding  the  town  had  had  three 
accessions  of  inhabitants  and  territory  from  Taunton 
in  the  mean  time,  particularly  that  of  Myrickville, 
together  with  the  adjacent  and  surrounding  neighbor- 
hood, it  being  an  important  and  very  desirable  acqui- 
Bition  to  the  town.  Although  the  schools  have  been 
becoming  small  and  smaller  for  the  last  forty  years 
flntil  the  scholars  are  less  than  one-half  in  number 
than  there  was  then,  yet  the  town's  annual  appropria- 
tion has  increased  from  three  hundred  dollars  to 
fourteen  hundred  dollars  for  support  of  public 
schools. 

Some  of  the  pupils  of  Master  Gavin  had  under  diffi- 
culties acquired  a  taste  for  study,  which  increased  as 
they  advanced  in  science  until  they  in  turn  were  well 


able  to  teach  what  they  had  been  taught  by  their 
master  and  were  advancing  to  a  higher  plane.  Capt. 
Joseph  Sanford,  Rev.  Levi  French,  Col.  Adoniram 
Crane,  and  Capt.  Giles  G.  Chace  were  among  the  first 
and  most  able  teachers  which  the  town  has  ever  had, 
and  their  services  were  sought  in  many  of  the  sur- 
rounding towns,  and  each  of  them  taught  for  more 
than  thirty  winters.  Then  there  arose  a  succession 
of  juniors,  some  of  whom  taught  many  years  in  the 
common  schools  and  in  higher  branches  of  learning 
and  in  academies;  such  were  James,  John,  Enoch, 
Alpheus,  and  Baalis  Sanford,  brothers,  and  sons  of 
Capt.  Joseph  Sanford,  and  Silas  A.  Benjamin,  who 
taught  during  most  of  his  life;  Daniel  and  Abrathar 
Crane,  brothers,  and  sons  of  Benjamin  Crane  ;  Ebene- 
zer  Hervey,  who  taught  here,  in  Taunton,  and  else- 
where in  New  Bedford  for  more  than  thirty  years, 
and  taught  in  all  more  than  a  half-century.  William 
M.  and  B.  L.  Cornell,  brothers  ;  David  French,  Darius 
Phillips,  Daniel  S.  Briggs,  Enoch  Boyce,  Thomas  C. 
Dean,  Dr.  S.  Hathaway,  Walter  D.  Nichols,  P.  Ches- 
ter Porter,  Thomas  P.  Paull,  etc. 

Since  their  time  of  teaching  females  have  been 
most  generally  employed,  and  their  success  has  been 
quite  satisfactory,  and  they,  as  a  class,  have  in  that 
department  an  enviable  record.  It  has  been  said  in 
the  past,  and  not  without  reason,  that  this  town  fur- 
nished more  common  school  teachers  according  to  its 
population  than  any  other  town  in  the  commonwealth. 
And  in  this  respect  there  has  been  perhaps  as  little 
decadence  as  in  any  other;  for  while  we  have  but 
comparatively  few  male  teachers  in  active  service, 
our  young  ladies  with  commendable  ambition  have 
come  to  the  rescue,  have  prepared  and  are  now  pre- 
paring themselves  thoroughly  for  the  discharge  of 
their  duties  in  this  most  important  field  of  labor; 
for  the  public  school,  with  its  mental  and  physical 
discipline,  its  inculcation  of  noble  thoughts  and  pre- 
cepts, reinforced  by  good  and  patriotic  instruction  at 
home  by  the  fireside,  is  the  bulwark  of  an  enlightened 
liberty,  of  freedom  and  equality  under  the  law.  They 
also  shape  the  law  itself.  The  school-houses  and 
their  surroundings  generally  are  such  as  reflect  great 
credit  upon  and  are  an  honor  to  the  town.  The  im- 
provement in  this  respect  came  gradually  and  rather 
tardily,  but  it  has  come  nevertheless  at  last. 

The  inhabitants  of  Berkley  during  the  war  of  the 
Revolution  were,  with  a  few  exceptions,  in  favor  of 
the  war  and  of  the  declaration  of  independence. 
There  was  a  little  "Tory"  feeling  manifested.  Some 
of  the  anti-Whigs  fled  to  the  provinces  of  Nova  Scotia 
or  New  Brunswick,  some  others  were  arrested  and 
imprisoned,  but  enlisted  out  into  the  colonial  forces. 
Considering  the  population  and  the  means  of  the 
town,  it  furnished  its  full  proportion  of  men. 

In  1774  the  town  voted  that  the  resolves  of  the 
Continental  Congress  be  strictly  observed  in  every 
particular,  and  a  committee  was  chosen  to  see  that  the 
vote  of  the  town  was  regarded  by  the  people. 


180 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


In  1775  the  town  directed  that  the  militia  train  one- 
half  a  day  in  each  week,  and  receive  one  shilling 
therefor;  and  each  minute-man  when  called  into 
active  service  receive  five  dollars  as  a  bounty. 

1776,  voted  seventy-five  pounds  ten  shillings  as  an 
additional  bounty  to  the  soldiers  ordered  to  New  York, 
and  all  soldiers  be  exempt  from  paying  any  part 
thereof.  Voted  to  assess  two  hundred  and  thirty-four 
pounds  wherewith  to  pay  soldiers'  bounty. 

1777,  voted  to  give  each  man  required  to  fill  our 
quota  in  the  Continental  army  ten  pounds  in  addition 
to  what  is  given  by  the  General  Court.  The  term  of 
enlistment  was  for  three  years. 

How  many  enlisted  in  the  Continental  army  or 
were  drafted  into  it  I  am  unable  to  ascertain,  but, 
judging  from  the  number  of  pensioners,  their  number 
must  have  been  considerable.  Capt.  Joseph  Sanford, 
Josiah  Macomber,  Samuel  Paull,  William  Evans, 
Ezra  Chace,  and  Paull  Briggs  were  pensioners. 

In  1778  voted  six  hundred  and  twenty  pounds  to 
pay  soldiers  in  the  Continental  army  ;  voted  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty-four  pounds  twelve  shillings  to  pay 
soldiers;  also  voted  thirteen  hundred  and  twenty 
pounds  and  nineteen  shillings  to  pay  soldiers  hired 
by  the  town ;  also  to  sixty-four  soldiers  who  had  been 
employed  in  the  defense  of  the  coast,  from  three  to 
ten  pounds  each. 

Col.  John  Hathaway  commanded  a  regiment  in  the 
war.  It  is  said  of  him  that  he  was  a  very  sanguine 
patriot,  never  even  in  the  darkest  times  doubted  for  a 
moment  the  ultimate  success  of  the  colonies  under 
Washington.  In  the  absence  of  his  chaplain  he 
officiated  himself  in  a  voice  which  was  widely  heard. 

After  the  close  of  the  war  a  militia  system  was 
inaugurated  which  required  all  able-bodied  men 
between  the  ages  of  eighteen  and  forty-five  to  report 
themselves  at  a  given  time  and  place,  "armed  and 
equipped  as  the  law  directs,"  with  gun,  bayonet,  knap- 
sack, cartridge-box,  priming  wire  and  brush,  and  two 
spare  flints ;  sometimes  in  May  called  "  May  training," 
and  also  in  the  fall  a  regimental  or  brigade  muster. 
These  were  great  events  for  children  and  youth,  and 
for  children  of  an  older  growth  as  well.  The  stirring 
drum  and  the  shrill  and  inspiring  fife,  and  then  the 
brigade  band,  with  its  bugles  and  other  horns,  trom- 
bones and  bassoons,  would  cause  the  smouldering 
military  and  patriotic  fires  to  blaze  forth  in  the  breasts 
of  the  old  crippled  veterans  till  they,  too,  felt  like 
shouldering  their  crutches  and  keeping  "step  to  the 
music  of  the  Union."  Under  this  system  Abner 
Burt,  Jr.,  was  adjutant,  Adoniram  Crane  was  colonel. 
Among  the  captains  were  Samuel  French,  Sr.,  Joseph 
Sanford,  Christopher  Paull,  Freeman  Briggs,  Giles  G. 
Chace,  Giles  Leach,  Nathaniel  Townsend,  John  Dean. 

Capt.  Giles  G.  Chace,  in  the  war  of  1812-15,  was 
ordered  to  New  Bedford  to  repel  an  expected  invasion 
of  the  British,  but  the  enemy,  thinking  probably  that 
"  discretion  is  the  better  part  of  valor,"  sailed  away, 
and  the  campaign  was  a  bloodless  one. 


But  after  a  number  of  years  the  militia  system  fell 
into  disrepute.  Election  of  company  officers  was  a 
mere  farce,  electing  such  as  would  not  or  could  not 
serve,  and  then  adjourn  the  meeting  without  day, — 

"  But  past  is  all  its  fame." 

In  1864,  near  the  close  of  the  Rebellion,  there  was 
an  attempt  made  to  revive  it,  and  an  "act"  of  one 
hundred  and  eighty  sections  was  passed  by  General 
Court,  but  the  system  was  too  dead  to  be  revived,  and 
"  it  rests." 

When  Fort  Sumter  was  fired  upon,  April  12,  1861, 
by  the  deluded  rebels  of  the  Montgomery  govern- 
ment, called  the  "  Confederacy,"  and  a  call  was 
;  made  by  President  Lincoln  for  seventy-five  thousand 
volunteers  to  defend  the  flag  of  the  Union,  a  meeting 
of  the  town  was  called,  at  which  it  was  resolved 
unanimously  to  respond  promptly  to  the  call,  and 
that  every  effort  should  be  made  to  encourage  enlist- 
ments. A  committee  was  appointed  to  take  charge 
of  the  matter.  Bounties  were  successively  offered  to 
volunteers, — first  one  hundred  dollars,  then  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  dollars,  and  finally  two  hundred  dollars 
bounty,  in  addition  to  the  bounties  offered  by  the 
State  and  by  the  general  government,  and  also  in  ad- 
dition to  the  State  aid  extended  to  all  volunteers' 
parents  if  dependent  upon  the  volunteers  for  sup- 
port, and  extended  to  the  wife  and  minor  children  of 
the  volunteers.  The  town's  quota  was  filled  promptly 
I  at  every  "  call,"  and  some  of  our  enlisted  men  went 
to  the  credit  of  other  towns  which  were  "short." 
But  our  brave  men  did  not  volunteer  because  they 
liked  the  pomp  and  circumstance  of  war,  nor  because 
liberal  inducements  were  offered  (though  those  that 
had  families  dependent  upon  the  avails  of  their  in- 
dustry would  not  have  been  as  likely  to  enlist,  not 
knowing  how  their  families  would  fare  in  their  ab- 
sence) ;  but  they  periled  their  own  health  and  lives 
that  a  nation  might  live.  Theirs  is  the  roll  of  honor, 
and,  in  common  with  all  soldiers  of  the  Union  army, 
are  entitled  to  a  nation's  gratitude. 

These  are  the  names  of  volunteers:  William  H. 
Fletcher,  Elisha  Burt,1  T.  Preston  Burt,2  E.  B.  Hath- 
eway,  Timothy  French,  William  Smith,  B.  F.  Dean, 
James  T.  Dean,1  Ephraim  F.  Norcut,1  Enoch  Ma- 
comber.1 James  H.  Macomber,  Cromwell  T.  Eades, 
Samuel  W.  Phillips,  John  Q.  Chase,  Philip  F.  Chase, 
Lewis  Green,  Hercules  Dean,  James  Arnold,1  John 
Boyce,  Bradford  G.  Hatheway,  Charles  Riccord,  John 
Q.  Dillingham  (by  substitute),  Benjamin  F.  Luther, 

Michael  Burns,  H.  L.  Babbitt  (by  substitute),  

Reynolds,1  Joshua  Pittsley,1  John  Q.  Adams,  John* 
E.  Adams,  John  Cameron,  Alonzo  French,  Thomas 
J.  Brooks,1  Daniel  Hatheway,  Ezra  Dickerrnan,1  Seth 
Briggs,  Henry  Williams,  Bildad  Williams. 

Of  the  sons  of  Berkley  living  in  other  States  who 
entered  the  Union  army  mention  may  be  made  of 


i  Dead. 


2  Severely  wounded  and  loss  of  leg  below  the  knee. 


BERKLEY. 


181 


Alexander  B.  Crane,  colonel  of  an  Indiana  regiment; 
S.  N.  Crane,  captain  of  a  Colorado  company  ;  S.  V. 
Dean,  captain  of  a  Pennsylvania  company.  Col. 
Crane  and  Capt.  Dean  were  both  made  prisoners. 
Rev.  James  Nichols,  chaplain  of  One  Hundred  and 
Eighth  New  York  Regiment,  who  by  great  exertions 
in  behalf  of  the  wounded  at  Antietam,  Chancellors- 
ville,  and  Fredericksburg,  impaired  his  health,  came 
home  to  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  and  died  February,  1864. 

Assonet  Neck.— Assonet  Neck  was  peculiarly  the 
camping-ground  of  the  Wampanoag  Indians.  They 
retained  possession  of  it  longer  than  of  any  of  the 
surrounding  country,  on  account  of  the  convenience 
of  the  oyster,  clam,  and  other  fisheries. 

At  the  close  of  King  Philip's  war  it  was  taken  pos- 
session of  by  the  Plymouth  Colony,  who  sold  it  to 
Taunton  in  1678  for  the  sum  of  one  hundred  and 
fifty  pounds. 

Subsequently  it  was  bought  by  six  proprietors, 
namely,  George  Shove,  Walter  Dean,  James  Walker, 
James  Tisdale,  William  Harvey,  and  Richard  Wil- 
liams. It  became  a  part  of  Dighton  at  its  organiza- 
tion in  1712,  and  the  town  of  Berkley  in  1752  voted 
"  to  grant  the  request  of  a  number  of  the  inhabitants 
of  Assonet  Neck  to  be  inhabitants  of  the  town  of 
Berkley,"  but  it  does  not  appear  that  any  legislative 
sanction  was  applied  for  at  that  time.  In  1798  the 
following  petition  was  presented  to  the  town  of  Berk- 
ley, and  the  request  granted  : 

"  Gentlemen,  Selectmen  of  the  town  of  Berkley: 

"The  subscribers,  inhabitants  of  that  part  of  Dighton  called  Assonet 
Neck,  being  desirous  to  be  annexed  to  the  said  town  of  Berkley,  with 
equal  privileges  of  the  town  of  Berkley,  therefore  request  that  a  meet- 
ing may  lie  called  as  soon  as  convenient  to  see  if  the  town  will  grant 
our  request,  and  you  will  oblige  your  friends, 

"  James  Dean,  Joseph  Dean,  David  Dean,  Benjamin  Dean,  Aaron 
Dean,  Walter  Dean,  Ezra  Deau,  David  Dean,  Jr.,  James  Dean, 
Jr., George  Shove,  Asa  Shove,  John  Boyce,  Enoch  Boyce,  Daniel 
Lew,  Henry  Lew,  Samuel  Shove,  Ebenezer  Pierce,  Jr.,  Ebenezer 
Phillips,  Darius  Phillips,  William  Cotton,  John  Lew  (M), 
John  Jones,  Jonathan  Bryant,  William  Shove,  inhabitants  of 
Dighton." 

Assonet  Neck  was  annexed  to  the  town  of  Berkley 
in  1799. 

This  peninsula  embraces  nearly  two  square  miles  of 
land,  being  about  two  miles  in  length  and  of  an  aver- 
age width  of  less  than  a  mile.  It  lies  between  the 
Taunton  River  and  its  Assonet  branch,  and  in  some 
respects  seems  to  be  of  a  different  geological  forma- 
tion from  the  mainland  with  which  it  is  joined,  being 
less  sandy,  and  having  a  more  rolling,  uneven  sur- 
face. 

The  celebrated  Written  Rock,  called  "  Dighton 
Rock,"  is  situated  in  the  northwestern  part  of  this 
neck,  on  the  eastern  shore  of  Taunton  River.  There 
has  been  much  curiosity  and  interest  manifested  con- 
cerning the  inscriptions  found  thereon,  thousands  of 
persons,  some  from  a  great  distance,  having  viewed 
them.  There  are  many  theories  about  their  origin, 
and  there  will  be  probably  many  more  until  the  fig- 
ures and  lines  are  entirely  effaced.     For  an  exhaustive 


account  of  this  famous  rock  see  history  of  Dighton 
in  this  work,  by  G.  A.  Shove,  Esq. 

Many  of  the  leading  and  most  numerous  family 
names  mentioned  at  the  organization  and  in  the  early 
history  of  the  town  have  become  obsolete  in  this  town 
entirely,  or  live  mostly  in  some  few  remote  descend- 
ants, such  as  Gilbert,  Paull,  Burt,  Crane,  Babbitt, 
Nichols,  Andros,  Tobey,  French,  Tubbs,  Dean,  San- 
ford,  Hathaway,  Axtell,  Briggs,  Chace,  Shove,  New- 
hall,  and  Peirce.  But  these  families  are  by  no  means 
extinct.  Their  descendants  are  to  be  found  in  the 
business  centres  in  this  and  almost  every  other  State 
and  Territory  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific,  dis- 
tinguishing themselves  in  the  various  professions, 
judiciary,  agricultural,  mechanical,  and  manufac- 
turing pursuits,  and  in  trade.  In  short,  Berkley,  like 
other  purely  agricultural  towns  in  New  England,  is 
steadily  being  drained  of  its  youthful  and  enterprising 
population,  who  are  attracted  to  more  remunerative 
fields  and  pursuits.  Although  Berkley  is  almost  ex- 
clusively a  farming  town,  its  soil  can  be  called  good 
or  in  a  high  state  of  cultivation  only  in  exceptional 
cases  and  localities.  The  soil  is  generally  sandy, 
with  unmistakable  evidence  in  the  far  distant  past  of 
the  deposit  of  immense  icebergs  or  bowlders  of  ice 
upon  the  surface,  which  with  the  continual  and  in- 
cessant surging  of  the  water  acted  upon  by  the  wind 
caused  them  to  settle  deeply,  and  when  the  atmosphere 
was  warm  enough  to  melt  them  there  was  a  consid- 
erable cavity  or  "  hollow,"  "Timothy's  Hollow"  being 
the  most  considerable.  These  "hollows"  seem  to 
correspond  in  shape  to  the  stria?  in  this  vicinity, 
which  seem  to  have  been  nearly  south,  or  ten  degrees 
east  of  south,  invariably.  In  some  parts  of  the  town 
it  is  rocky  and  almost  covered  with  bowlders  piled  up 
promiscuously  in  profusion  and  in  disorder,  pointing 
back  to  an  antiquity  which  geology  itself  cannot  de- 
termine with  certainty.  The  eastern  and  northeastern 
part  is  plentifully  covered  and  interspersed  with 
bowlders  of  rocks;  there  are  also  Bryant's  and  Skunk 
Hills,  which  are  notable  hills,  which  with  Apes'  Hill 
constitute  the  most  considerable  hills  in  the  town. 
The  original  houses  and  barns  were  quite  rude,  as 
they  were  generally  in  the  Old  Colony,  and  in  these 
days  could  not  be  considered  comfortable,  but  from 
time  to  time,  according  to  the  pecuniary  means  or 
taste,  or  perhaps  both,  the  owners  have  improved 
their  dwellings,  not  in  the  direction  of  elegance,  but 
in  that  of  coziness  and  comfortableness.  The  houses 
are  well  built  and  finished,  painted,  and  surrounded 
by  some  evidences  of  taste  and  a  desire  to  improve 
what  has  come  down  from  the  former  generation, 
which  is  true  progress.  The  ladies  cultivate  flowers 
in  summer  and  winter,  which  is  elevating  and  enno- 
bling, for  who  that  cultivates  and  loves  a  vegetable 
flower  cannot  neglect  the  more  beautiful  human  flower 
that  needs  even  more  careful  and  assiduous  cultiva- 
tion, and  will  so  much  more  appreciate  it  as  the  dawn- 
ing mind  is  developed  into  the  intelligence  of  youth 


182 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL  COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


and  the  affections  of  manhood  and  womanhood. 
"  These  are  my  jewels,"  pointing  to  her  children,  said 
one  who  scorned  the  thought  of  counting  rubies  or  dia- 
monds in  comparison  with  those  precious  immortals. 
The  barns  in  town  are  in  a  very  good  and  comfortable 
condition,  many  having  cellars  under  them,  for  the 
man  who  is  merciful  is  merciful  to  his  beasts.  At  the 
centre  or  common  are  two  churches,  a  chapel,  and  a 
school-house,  which  will  be  mentioned  elsewhere. 
There  were  two  hundred  and  thirty-five  dwelling- 
houses  in  town  in  1881.  The  common,  "Half-Way 
Plain,"  will  undoubtedly  some  time  be  completely 
ornamented  with  trees  again,  and  it  may  be  inclosed, 
but  it  is  hoped  that  no  vandalism  will  exist  to  again 
destroy  the  young  saplings  as  heretofore.  The  pub- 
lic cemeteries  have  had  much  attention  of  late,  com- 
pared with  that  which  was  formerly  bestowed. 

There  are  many  neat  monuments  and,  it  may  be 
humbler,  but  equally  affectionate  tributes  to  the  an- 
cestors or  the  loved  and  the  lost.  "  Whenever  I  visit 
a  strange  place  and  desire  to  know  the  degree  of  civ- 
ilization which  veneration  and  Christianity  has 
wrought  I  visit  their  churchyard,— not  to  see  their 
splendid  and  costly  monuments,  but  to  see  the  un- 
pretending but  unmistakable  tokens  of  an  abiding 
affection  for  those  whom  they  have  succeeded.  It 
shows  that  their  predecessors  are  not  forgotten." 
This  was  said  by  the  greatest  of  novelists,  and  per- 
haps the  greatest  delineator  of  character  since  Shake- 
speare. There  are  two  public  burying-grounds,  one 
at  the  centre  and  one  in  the  south  part  of  the  town. 
In  both  cases  a  nucleus  was  bequeathed  to  the  public 
for  that  purpose,  and  in  both  cases  more  territory  has 
been  purchased  to  enlarge  it,  and  both  are  properly 
inclosed,  and  many  family  inclosures  are  tastefully 
arranged.  There  is  also  another  burying-ground  in 
Assonet  Neck,  known  as  the  Deane  burial-ground, 
where  most  of  that  name  have  been  buried,  together 
with  some  of  their  relatives  of  different  name.  This 
ground  also  is  well  inclosed. 

There  is  but  little  wealth  and  less  poverty  in  this 
town.  If  there  is  not  luxurious  living,  neither  is 
there  scarcely  any  suffering  for  the  want  of  the  ma- 
terial comforts  of  life.  Berkley  was  once  largely 
engaged  in  ship-  or  vessel-building,  and  owning  and 
sailing  them.  Vessels  are  not  built  here  now,  and 
while  the  town  furnishes  many  master-mariners,  the 
vessels  which  they  command  are  mostly  owned  else- 
where and  hail  from  other  ports. 

In  1868,  D.  S.  Briggs,  Esq.,  communicated  to  the 
Bristol  County  Republican  the  following  statistics  of 
the  commencement  and  aims  of  vessel-building  in 
Berkley: 

The  Hon.  Samuel  Tobey,  about  the  year  1790,  then 
full  of  enterprise,  and  possessing  a  large  share  of  am- 
bition, commenced  the  work  of  ship-building  in  this 
town.  He  built  six  ships  for  the  European  trade, 
and  four  smaller  craft  for  the  West  India  trade.  El- 
kanah  Hatheway,  about  1804,  built  three  schooners 


and  two  sloops.  Ebenezer  Crane,  in  the  year  1808, 
built  two  sloops  of  thirty-five  tons  each,  nearly  one 
mile  distant  from  the  Taunton  River,  near  the  South 
Cemetery.  These  vessels,  when  completed,  had  trucks 
placed  under  them,  prepared  for  the  purpose,  and 
were  drawn  to  the  river  with  the  united  strength  of 
forty  yoke  of  oxen  and  some  one  hundred  men  who 
led  the  way,  hauling  by  a  rope.  It  is  said  one  barrel 
of  West  India  rum  was  provided  for  the  occasion. 

Darius  Newhall,  from  1804  to  1815,  built  two  brigs, 
three  schooners,  and  five  sloops.  Nehemiah  Newhall, 
from  1813  to  1826,  built  two  ships,  five  brigs,  three 
schooners,  and  three  sloops.  About  1815,  three  ves- 
sels were  built  near  the  northerly  part  of  the  town 
by  Edmund  Burt  and  others.  In  1827,  at  the  town 
landing,  near  Jedediah  Briggs'  wharf,  a  steamboat 
and  a  schooner  were  built.  Earlier  two  other  vessels 
had  been  built  at  the  same  place. 

Ephraim  French  built,  from  1809  to  1833,  six 
schooners  and  three  sloops. 

From  1820  to  1866  twenty-six  schooners,  eight 
brigs,  one  bark,  and  five  sloops  were  built  by  Henry 
Crane,  George  Crane,  Simeon  Briggs,  Edward  Bab- 
bitt, and  others.  Thus  during  a  period  of  three- 
fourths  of  a  century  some  hundred  vessels  were  built, 
varying  in  size  from  thirty-five  tons  to  five  hundred 
tons  measurement. 

Hon.  Samuel  Tobey,  son  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Tobey, 
deserves  more  than  a  passing  notice  here.  He — Judge 
Tobey,  as  he  was  called— was  justice  of  the  peace, 
representative  to  the  General  Court,  State  senator, 
and  judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas.  His  per- 
sonal appearance  was  commanding  ;  he  was  for  half 
a  century  the  most  influential  man  in  this  town,  and 
his  influence  was  exerted  for  what  he  considered  the 
best  interest  of  the  town.  He  was  patriotic  and  public- 
spirited,  kind  to  those  who  were  in  affliction,  or  who 
were  by  any  means  destitute  ;  he  was  esteemed  a  man 
of  learning  and  of  a  remarkably  sound  judgment. 
No  other  man  in  town  was  so  looked  up  to  and  ven- 
erated as  was  Judge  Tobey.  Possessed  of  an  indom- 
itable will  and  perseverance,  whatever  he  desired  to 
do  he  did  with  all  his  might.  His  political  partisan 
conviction  and  friendships  were  strong,  and  he  was 
conciliating  towards  the  opinions  of  those  whose  opin- 
ions were  adverse  to  his.  The  firm  of  Samuel  Tobey 
&  Son  ( Apollos)  were  engaged  in  trading  in  dry-goods 
and  groceries  for  about  fifty  years,  also  in  ship-build- 
ing, in  navigation,  in  farming,  and  other  enterprises 
which  constitute  the  business  era  in  the  history  of 
the  town.  Judge  Tobey  was  the  master-spirit  con- 
cerned in  the  building  of  the  second  meeting-house 
in  1797  and  1798.  But  the  firm  meeting  with  losses 
at  sea,  and  other  losses,  became  embarrassed  finan- 
cially, closed  up  their  business,  made  an  assignment, 
and  their  property  was  sold,  the  creditors  making 
provision  for  them  and  their  families'  comfortable 
support. 

Judge  Tobey  died  in  1825.     Taking  him  all  in  all, 


BERKLEY. 


183 


we  shall  rarely  see  his  like  again.  Apollos,  his  son. 
removed  to  New  Bedford,  where  he  lived  a  number 
of  years  and  where  he  died. 

Other  justices  of  the  peace  have  been  Apollos 
Tobey,  Samuel  French,  Levi  French,  Barzillai  Crane, 
Adoniratn  Crane,  Jabez  Fox,  John  Dillingham,  Wil- 
liam S.  Crane,  Ephraim  French,  Jr.,  A.  B.  Crane, 
Nathaniel  Townsend,  Walter  D.  Nichols,  William 
Babbitt,  Giles  L.  Leach,  Daniel  S.  Briggs,  Ebenezer 
Williams,  and  Charles  Bissell.  The  duties  required 
of  a  justice  of  the  peace  in  this  town  are  almost 
wholly  ministerial,  there  having  been  no  criminal 
business  to  attend  to,  and  all  civil  suits  are  tried  in 
higher  courts.  This  town  could  well  dispense  with 
jails,  houses  of  correction,  juvenile  reformatory  in- 
stitutions, and  State's  prisons.  Although  it  pays  its 
proportion  annually  towards  supporting  these  penal 
institutions,  T  do  not  remember  the  committal  of 
any  citizen  of  this  town  upon  any  criminal  charge 
whatever. 

TOWN  OFFICERS. 
During  the  Colonial  Period. 

Town  Clerks. — Abel  Burt,  Ebenezer  Phillips,  George  Caswell,  John 
Briggs,  Samuel  French,  Ebenezer  Winslow,  and  Abel  Crane. 

Selectmen. — Nathaniel  Gilbert,  John  Burt,  Gershom  Crane,  John  Paull, 
William  Nichols,  Samuel  Gilbert,  John  Crane,  Samuel  Tubbs. 

Representatives  to  General  Court. — None,  the  town  having  to  bear  the  ex- 
pense. 

During  the  Revolutionary  Period. 

Town  Clerk. — Samuel  Tobey,  Jr. 

Selectmen. — John  Paull,  James  Nichols,  Jedediah  Briggs,  Jacob  French, 
Stephen  Webster,  Ebenezer  Myrick,  Levi  French,  John  Babbitt, 
Ebenezer  Paul]  (2d).  Samuel  Tubbs,  and  Israel  French. 

Representatives  to  General  Court.—  Samuel  Tobey,  Jr.,  and  James  Nichols. 

Under  the  State  Constitution. 

Town  Clerks. — Samuel  Tobey,  Jr.,  Samuel  French,  Stephen  Burt,  John 
Crane,  Joseph  Sanford,  Apollos  Tobey,  Adoniram  Crane,  Asahel 
Hathaway,  Samuel  French,  Jr.,  Abiel  B.  Crane,  Ephraim  French, 
Jr.,  Daniel  S.  Briggs,  William  S.  Crane,  N.  C.  Townsend,  George 
Crane,  W.  D.  Nichols,  Daniel  C.  Burt,  T.  Preston  Burt,  and  John  A. 
Read. 

Selectmen. — John  Paull,  James  Nichols,  Jedediah  Briggs,  John  Babbitt, 
Samuel  Tubbs,  Jr.,  Levi  French,  Simeon  Burt,  Ebenezer  Winslow, 
Ebenezer  Paull  (2d),  John  Crane,  Abner  Burt,  Nathaniel  Tobey, 
Samuel  Tobey,  Apollos  Tobey,  Ebenezer  Crane,  Abel  Babbitt,  Samuel 
French,  Jr.,  Shadrach  Burt,  Ezra  Dean,  Adoniram  Crane,  Jabez  Fox, 
Henry  Crane,  Enoch  Babbitt,  Dean  Burt,  David  Shove,  Nathaniel 
Townsend,  Joseph  D.  Hatheway,  Tamerlane  Burt,  Walter  D.  Nichols, 
John  ('.  Crane,  Benjamin  Luther,  William  Babbitt,  Thomas  C. 
Dean,  Daniel  S.  Briggs,  Giles  L.  Leach,  Peter  L.  Chace,  Simeon 
Briggs,  Albert  E.  Allen,  Herbert  A.  Dean,  Benjamin  F.  Chace, 
Thomas  A.  Briggs,  Benjamin  Crane,  Ebenezer  Williams,  Benjamin 
F.  Coombs. 

Repres.  nlatines  to  General  Court. — .John  Babbitt,  Samuel  Tobey,  Apollos 
Tobey,  Adoniram  Crane,  John  Dillingham,  Samuel  French,  Rev. 
Thomas  Andros,  Tamerlane  Burt,  Nathaniel  Townsend,  Leander 
Andros,  Samuel  Newhall,  Ephraim  French,  Enoch  Babbitt,  Abiel  B. 
Crane,  William  S.  Crane,  William  Babbitt,  Walter  D.  Nichols,  Giles 
L.  Leach,  Enoch  Boyce,  Herbert  A.  Dean. 

Stale  Senators. — Samuel  Tobey,  Samuel  French,  Walter  D.  Nichols. 

A  list  of  names  of  those  who  received  a  liberal 
education  or  its  equivalent : 

Silas  Tobey,  Brown  University. 
Rev.  Alvin  Tobey,  Brown  University. 
Rev.  James  Barnaby,  Brown  University. 
Rev.  James  Sanford,  Brown  University. 


Rev.  John  Sanford,  Brown  University. 

Rev.  Enoch  Sanford,  Brown  University. 

Rev.  Baalis  Sanford,  Brown  University. 

Eliphalet  Hevey,  M.D.,  Brown  University. 

Rev.  Silas  A.  Crane,  D.D.,  Brown  University. 

Benjamin  Crane,  Brown  University. 

Daniel  Crane,  Brown  University  and  Union  Col- 
lege. 

George  Hatheway,  Brown  University. 

Rev.  Win.  M.  Cornell,  LL.D.,  Brown  University. 

Rev.  Daniel  C.  Burt,  Brown  University. 

Rev.  Thomas  T.  Richmond. 

Rev.  James  Nichols,  Union  College. 

Hon.  Charles  G.  W.  French,  Brown  University. 

Richard  S.  S.  Andros,  Esq. 

Rev.  Levi  French. 

Milton  Andros,  Esq. 

Russell  L.  Hathaway,  Esq. 

Col.  Alexander  B.  Crane,  Amherst. 

Edward  Crane,  M.D.,  Amherst. 

P.  Chester  Porter,  M.D.,  Amherst. 

Shadrach  Hatheway,  M.D. 

Rev.  Lucius  R.  Eastman,  Jr.,  Amherst. 

Rev.  Jabez  Fox. 

Rev.  Gardner  Dean. 

There  are  few  towns  in  this  commonwealth  which 
can  show  so  large  percentage  of  educated  men  during 
the  first  half  of  the  nineteenth  century.  Many  of 
these  scholars  obtained  their  education  under  diffi- 
culties, but  they  overcame  them  all.  They  have  all 
made  their  mark  in  their  professions.  Of  those  who 
attended  the  ministrations  of  Mr.  Andros  alone, 
thirteen  were  ordained  ministers,  eight  of  whom 
graduated  at  Brown  University  and  one  at  Union 
College, — nine  Congregationalists,  one  Episcopalian, 
one  "  New  Church,"  one  Presbyterian,  and  one  Bap- 
tist,— "  a  greater  number  than  in  any  other  church  in 
the  county." 

Some  of  these  scholars  deserve  particular  notice. 
The  Sanford  brothers  were  a  remarkable  family. 
They  educated  themselves  largely  by  their  own  in- 
dustry. They  were  all  clergymen,  remarkable  for 
sound  judgment,  and  held  in  high  esteem  by  their 
parishioners,  lived  long  and  useful  lives,  and  when 
age  admonished  them  to  retire  from  the  ministry  they 
retired.  Rev.  Enoch,  the  survivor,  nearly  ninety 
years  of  age,  is  still  quite  strong  in  body  and  mind. 
He  is  the  author  of  several  local  histories  and 
sketches,  etc.  The  Crane  brothers  likewise  were  a 
distinguished  family.  They,  too,  obtained  an  educa- 
tion largely  through  their  own  exertions.  Silas  A. 
Crane,  D.D.,  after  graduation  became  tutor  in  Brown 
University,  took  orders  in  the  Episcopal  Church,  and 
discharged  his  clerical  duties  to  the  close  of  his  life. 
For  a  long  time  he  was  at  East  Greenwich,  R.  I., — a 
most  excellent  man.  Benjamin,  after  leaving  college, 
taught  an  academy,  then  entered  into  business  as  a 
trader,  but  returned  to  teaching  again,  in  which  em- 
ployment he  spent  most  of  his  life.     He  was  an  able 


184 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


and  faithful  teacher,  as  many  now  living  can  testify, 
a  friend  to  education,  a  good  citizen,  and  a  conscien- 
tious and  useful  man. 

Daniel  attended  Brown  University  and  Union  Col- 
lege, was  teacher  in  New  England  and  at  the  South, 
was  well  versed  in  Latin,  Greek,  and  other  languages, 
in  poetry  and  in  history,  lives  in  Ohio,  and  is  a  man 
of  literary  tastes  and  pursuits. 

Wm.  M.  Cornell,  LL.D.,  a  teacher,  clergyman,  a 
doctor  of  medicine,  and  an  author, — a  distinguished 
man  still  in  active  life. 

Jabez  Fox,  a  clergyman  of  the  "  New  Church"  per- 
suasion, editor  of  a  paper,  at  present  in  the  Treasury 
Department,  Washington,  D.  C. 

A  man  of  culture,  Gardner  Dean,  an  evangelist,  well 
known  in  almost  every  State  from  New  England  to 
Illinois,  somewhat  eccentric,  but  had  many  admirers. 

James  Nichols,  Assistant  Professor  of  Languages, 
Union  College;  clergyman,  Presbyterian.  On  ac- 
count of  his  voice  he  left  the  ministry  and  became 
principal  of  the  Geneseo  Academy,  Livingston  County, 
N.  Y.,  continued  there  many  years,  removed  to  Roch- 
ester, N.  Y.,  bought  the  "  Female  Academy,"  made 
it  a  success,  and  since  his  death  it  has  been  success- 
fully continued  by  his  widow,  a  well-known  teacher, 
and  their  daughters. 

Levi  French,  clergyman  and  teacher,  of  good  merit, 
taught  North  and  South.  He  was  a  man  of  acute  in- 
tellect and  of  large  general  knowledge.  He  was  an 
accurate  surveyor  of  land,  a  good  mathematician,  and 
a  safe  counselor. 

Charles  G.  W.  French,  lawyer  in  Sacramento,  Cal. 
He  was  appointed  United  States  chief  justice  of  Ari- 
zona Territory,  which  position  he  has  honorably  filled 
for  many  years. 

Milton  Andros,  a  lawyer  of  distinction,  San  Fran- 
cisco, Cal. 

Col.  Alexander  B.  Crane,  a  successful  lawyer,  New 
York  City. 

Edward  Crane,  physician,  and  editor  of  a  paper 
printed  in  English,  Paris,  France. 

P.  Chester  Porter,  physician  and  a  distinguished 
teacher. 

Lucas  R.  Eastman,  Jr.,  a  clergyman  of  good  repu- 
tation and  of  large  promise. 

Thomes  Tobey,  Richmond,  a  life-long  clergyman, 
whose  long  and  useful  life  is  still  well  preserved.  He 
has  lately  retired  from  the  ministry  in  Taunton  ( West- 
ville),  where  his  pastorate  had  endeared  him  to  his 
parishioners  for  more  than  twenty  years.  His  whole 
ministry  of  fifty  years. 

Daniel  C.  Burt,  clergyman,  formerly  of  Acushnet. 

Eliphalet  W.  Hervey,  physician  at  Wareham,  of 
great  promise,  but  died  young. 

Shadrach  Hatheway,  a  practicing  physician  for  a 
great  number  of  years  in  his  native  town.  His 
knowledge  and  judgment  in  his  profession  is  highly 
prized  by  the  members  of  his  profession,  and  he  is 
considered  careful  and  skillful  by  his  patients. 


Russel  L.  Hatheway  was  a  successful  lawyer  in 
Terre  Haute,  Ind. 

Richard  S.  Andros,  editor,  poet,  custom-house  officer 
in  Boston,  president  of  an  insurance  company,  etc.,  a 
man  of  fine  literary  taste. 

Berkley  has  a  suitable  town  hall,  in  which  town- 
meetings,  elections,  etc.,  are  held,  and  in  which  other 
town  business  is  transacted,  and  the  standard  weights 
and  measures  and  the  books  and  documents — some 
of  which  are  very  valuable — are  kept.  It  is  con- 
spicuously located  upon  the  park  or  "  common." 

This  town  also  has  an  almshouse,  connected  with  a 
good  farm  of  about  one  hundred  acres,  consisting  of 
mowing,  tillage,  pasture,  and  woodland,  costing,  with 
the  stock,  etc.,  thereon,  about  five  thousand  dollars. 
There  were  but  three  inmates  in  it  in  March,  1882, 
ages  ranging  from  seventy-nine  to  fifty-six  years  of 
age;  cost  of  supporting  them,  not  reckoning  the  natu- 
ral decay  of  buildings,  in  1881  and  1882,  was  less  than 
one  hundred  dollars.  But  the  outside  pauper  ex- 
penses at  the  insane  hospital  and  private  families  and 
partial  support  amounted  to  seven  hundred  dollars. 
The  superintendent  of  the  almshouse  has  from  one 
hundred  and  fifty  to  two  hundred  dollars  salary  an- 
nually, together  with  the  board  of  his  family.  The 
town  is  entirely  free  from  debt.  Its  roads  and  bridges, 
considering  the  sparseness  of  the  inhabitants  and  the 
number  of  miles  of  road  to  be  maintained,  some  of 
them  difficult  to  repair,  are  above  the  average  condi- 
tion of  the  roads  in  similarly  situated  towns. 

In  1798,  money  being  scarce,  Mr.  Andros  asked  the 
town  in  writing  to  pay  his  salary  of  two  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars  in  the  following  manner,  which  was 
done:  52  bushels  corn  @  3/6;  15  bushels  rye  @  4'; 
2  barrels  flour  @  33/ ;  12  pounds  tea  @  2/5  ;  60  pounds 
sugar  (a  /9;  18  gallons  molasses  @  2/ ;  15  cords  wood 
(a  8/;  5  tons  E.  hay  @  4/8  ;  3  bushels  salt  @  3/;  400 
pounds  beef  ("  /3£;  500  pounds  pork  (r/./4;  100  pounds 
flax  @  /8  ;  40  sheep's  wool  @  1/6  ;  6  pairs  men's  shoes 
@  8/ ;  5  barrels  cider  @  6/ ;  200  pounds  cheese  @  /6  ; 
100  pounds  butter  @  /8  ;  cash,  $16.17. 

1815.  Mr.  Andros'  salary  was  increased  fifty  dollars 
and  was  then  fixed  at  four  hundred  and  fifty  dollars 
annually,  and  so  remained  to  the  end  of  his  minis- 
try. 

In  1798  there  was  a  subscription  paper  started  and 
completed  with  $259.50  volunteered  for  the  "  pur- 
chase of  a  bell  for  the  new  meeting-house  in  Berkley." 
A  meeting  of  the  subscribers  was  then  held,  and  they 
voted  to  purchase  a  bell  of  six  hundred  pounds  weight, 
chose  Samuel  Tobey,  Simeon  Burt,  and  Luther  Crane 
a  committee  to  purchase  a  bell  in  Boston,  and  the 
aforesaid  committee  purchased  a  bell  of  Paul  Revere 
of  635  pounds  weight  @  2/7  per  pound,  amounting  to 
$273.37  ;  carting  home,  $2.75  ;  total,  $276.12. 

Some  actions  of  the  town  :  1740.  Voted  to  pay 
Rev.  Mr.  Tobey  £3  10s.  to  make  good  the  depreciation 
in  the  currency  the  present  year. 

1748.     Voted  to  the  Rev.  S.  Tobey  for  his  salary 


BERKLEY. 


185 


the  ensuing  year  £250  old  tenor,  to  enable  him  to 
carry  on  the  ministry  in  our  town  of  Berkley. 

1751.  Rev.  S.  Tobey's  salary  was  voted  to  be  paid 
as  follows:  Rye,  4s.  per  bushel;  Indian  corn  (a  3s. 
4'/.  per  bushel;  beef,  2ld.  per  pound;  pork  (a  4d 
per  pound;  flax  (a  !).W/.  per  pound;  oak  cord-wood 
(a  9*.  4.W/.  per  cord. 

1761.  Voted  £60  lawful  money  as  the  salary  of 
Rev.  S.  Tobey  the  ensuing  year. 

Voted  to  pay  Abel  Burt  for  going  to  Boston  to  have 
Taunton  remain  the  shire  town  of  our  county. 

1761.  Voted  to  pay  Rowland  Gavin  £4,  by  reason 
of  his  having  to  leave  teaching  and  move  out  of  his 
house  on  account  of  the  smallpox. 

May  22,  1775.  Samuel  Tobey,  Jr.,  was  sent  to 
represent  the  town  in  the  Provincial  Congress  at  Cam- 
bridge. 

Persons  moving  into  the  town  without  its  consent, 
and  in  the  opinion  of  the  town  likely  to  become 
chargeable,  were  warned  according  to  the  law  to  leave 
the  town  within  a  specified  number  of  days  or  they 
would  be  proceeded  against.  There  are  frequent 
warnings  of  this  kind  on  record. 

In  the  early  history  of  this  town  vocal  music  re- 
ceived great  attention.  Singing-schools  in  winter 
evenings  were  frequent,  and  most  pleasant  reunions  of 
the  young  and  older  people,  who  were  scattered  in 
their  homes  over  a  considerable  territory.  The  sing- 
ing-schools were  mostly  taught  by  some  of  the  best 
singers  in  town.  Later  Deacon  G.  San  ford  taught  sing- 
ing-schools for  many  winters.  Col.  Adoniram  Crane 
was  also  teacher  of  public  schools  and  singing-schools 
in  this  and  other  towns,  both  in  Plymouth  County  and 
in  Dukes  County. 

He  was  a  man  of  dignified  and  commanding  per- 
sonal appearance,  an  excellent  town  officer,  and  as  a 
singer  he  was  well  known  in  this  and  the  neighboring 
towns  as  well  for  the  great  compass  of  his  voice,  his 
fine  musical  taste,  and  the  correctness  of  his  ear.  To 
appreciate  his  singing  in  church  he  must  have  been 
heard.  He  was  chorister  in  the  First  Church  some 
forty  years  (  when  present),  and  in  the  Second  Church 
from  its  organization  to  the  close  of  his  life.  He  was 
president  of  the  Beethoven  Society,  composed  of  the 
best  singers  in  the  neighboring  towns.  After  his 
death,  A.  B.  Crane,  a  good  singer  and  musical  com- 
poser, became  chorister  in  his  stead. 

The  mechanics  of  the  present  generation  belonging 
originally  to  this  town  have  emigrated  mostly  to  other 
places,  where  better  opportunities  for  employment 
offer.  In  fact,  Berkley  seems  to  have  been  and  now 
is  a  good  town  to  emigrate  from.  In  the  past,  every- 
thing considered,  there  were  a  goodly  number  in  the 
various  trades.  Carpenters  and  builders,  Ebenezer 
Pierce  and  two  sons,  Simeon  Chace  and  two  sons, 
Reuben  Phillips  and  three  sons,  Samuel  Phillips,  and 
Ebenezer  Dean.  At  present  there  are  Benjamin  F. 
Coombs,  J.  D.  Dillingham,  Frank  Phillips,  Dean 
P.  Westgate,  Timothy  E.   French,   William    Boyce, 


Henry  Hatheway.  Wheelwrights  and  carriage- 
makers,  Enoch  S.  Hatheway,  Ellery  Strange.  The- 
ophilus  Shove  was  cabinet-maker  and  undertaker  for 
a  period  of  more  than  a  half-century.  There  were 
in  the  past  a  great  number  of  ship-carpenters,  who 
worked  at  home  and  in  many  other  places,  also  Wil- 
liam K.  Evans,  machinist  and  inventor.  Blacksmiths 
in  the  past,  John  Perkins,  Tisdale  Porter,  John  Clark, 
William  S.  Crane,  Thomas  Strange;  present,  James 
Wade,  William  H.  S.  Crane,  James  Maguire,  George 
Macomber.  Carriage  manufacturer,  S.  W.  Luther. 
Masons  in  the  past,  Joseph  Sanford,  John  Briggs, 
Amos  Briggs;  at  present,  Nathaniel  Case,  David 
Hoxie,  Jr.,  Arza  Harmon.  Shoemakers  (they  used 
to  go  from  house  to  house  and  make  the  family  shoes  ; 
they  were  not  kept  for  sale  in  country  stores),  George 
Sanford,  Enoch  Babbitt,  George  Briggs,  Thomas  Burt, 
Adoniram  Cummings,  and  many  others.  Now  this 
business  is  confined  almost  exclusively  to  repairing. 
Of  stores  there  were  those  of  Samuel  Tobey  &  Son, 
Simeon  Burt,  Levi  S.  Crane,  Jabez  Fuller,  Abiel  B. 
Crane,  Ephraim  French.  There  is  a  variety  store  at 
Myrickville,  Mr.  Macomber's.  which  has  a  run  of  busi- 
ness, and  is  the  only  store  in  town. 

The  records  of  the  town  of  Berkley  are  remarkably 
legible  and  well  written,  and  have  been  well  preserved. 
Some  of  the  records  are  remarkable  specimens  of  good 
penmanship.  They  are  such.records  as  citizens  of  the 
town  may  well  greatly  prize,  and  proudly  hand  them 
down  to  posterity  for  their  imitation. 

The  First  Congregational  Church  had  during  the 
eighteenth  century  ruling  elders  as  the  first  officers  of 
the  church.  They  were  Daniel  Axtell,  Jacob  French, 
John  Paull,  Ebenezer  Crane.  The  deacons,  Gershom 
Crane,  Daniel  Axtell,  Jacob  French,  John  Paull, 
Samuel  Tubbs,  Ebenezer  Crane,  George  Sanford,  Eb- 
enezer Winslow,  Samuel  Tobey,  Luther  Crane,  Tisdale 
Briggs,  Barzillai  Crane,  James  Hathaway,  Thomas  C. 
Dean,  Isaac  Babbitt. 

Deacons  of  Second  or  Trinitarian  Congregational 
Church  were  William  S.  Crane,  William  Babbitt, 
Daniel  S.  Briggs. 

Around  and  near  the  common  or  centre  of  the 
town  there  are  a  number  of  fine,  commodious,  and 
tastefully-arranged  dwellings,  among  the  best  in 
town,  very  pleasantly  located.  It  is  a  very  pleasant 
locality  for  country  residences.  The  Berkley  post- 
office  is  near  by.  It  was  established  about  1818,  and 
has  a  daily  mail.  The  postmasters  have  been  Asahel 
Hatheway,  Abiel  B.  Crane,  Joseph  D.  Hatheway, 
and  Daniel  S.  Briggs. 

There  is  also  another  post-office  at  Myrickville,  at 
the  junction  of  the  New  Bedford  and  Boston  and  the 
Newport  and  Boston  Old  Colony  Railroads,  which 
also  has  a  daily  mail.     William  Simms,  postmaster. 

At  the  Bridge  village,  called  also  West  Berkley, 
there  are  a  number  of  neat  and  comfortable  dwell- 
ings, occupied  by  shipmasters,  mechanics,  farmers, 
etc.     Here  is  the  Berkley  and  Dighton  bridge  across 


186 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


the  Taunton  River,  which  gives  name  to  the  village. 
The  first  bridge  was  built  in  1806,  and  was  a  toll- 
bridge.  Liberty  was  given  by  the  Legislature  to  re- 
move it,  the  draw  being  too  narrow,  it  was  claimed, 
for  the  larger  class  of  vessels  which  were  required 
to  transact  the  increased  and  increasing  business  of 
Taunton  higher  up  on  the  river.  Accordingly  it  was 
removed,  after  standing  about  forty-five  years.  In 
1872  a  bridge,  to  be  built  by  the  county,  was  char- 
tered and  soon  after  built  under  the  charge  and  to  the 
acceptance  of  the  county  commissioners,  and  it  is  a 
great  public  convenience.  In  the  first  half  of  the 
present  century  this  was  a  busy  village,  largely  en- 
gaged in  vessel-building  and  other  business,  most  of 
which  has  been  discontinued.  In  1800,  Berkley  had 
115  dwelling-houses.  In  1880  it  had  235  dwelling- 
houses,  9686  acres  taxed,  about  $400,000  taxable  prop- 
erty, 276  polls  taxed,  and  rate  of  taxation  $9  per  $1000. 

In  1675,  near  the  commencement  of  King  Philip's 

war,  Mr. Babbitt  was  going  along  the  river  path 

from  one  settlement  to  another  to  get  a  cheese-hoop. 
He  had  with  him  a  small  dog,  whose  restlessness  prob- 
ably gave  warning  of  some  strange  person  near.  The 
man  took  the  hint  and  ascended  a  large  pine-tree, 
hoping  to  be  concealed  among  the  thick  branches ; 
but  his  dog,  true  to  his  instinct,  remained  at  the  tree. 
The  Indian  attempted  to  drive  him  away,  but  finding 
that  the.  dog  was  unwilling  to  leave  his  suspicion  was 
aroused.  He  examined  the  tree,  but  at  first  discov- 
ered nothing,  and  endeavored  to  call  the  dog  away, 
but  to  no  purpose.  In  making  another  examination 
he  saw  something  which  caused  him  to  shoot  at  it, 
when  down  came  Babbitt  dead.  The  Indian  related 
his  exploit  to  some  other  Indians,  and  they  in  turn  to 
the  settlers,  who  found  and  buried  him.  There  is  a 
stone  erected  to  commemorate  the  event  and  the  place. 
The  inscription  reads,  " Babbitt  Killed  by  In- 
dians 1675."  Tradition  also  has  different  versions, 
but  there  always  is  a  man,  a  dog,  an  Indian,  and  a 
cheese-hoop  ;  in  each  that  the  man  was  killed. 

Berkley,  as  has  been  noticed  elsewhere,  is  almost 
exclusively  an  agricultural  town.  It  has  no  valuable 
water-power,  and,  as  has  already  been  said,  the  soil  in 
some  parts  of  the  town  is  sandy  and  other  parts  rocky 
and  hard,  with  some  exceptions.  The  most  valuable 
crop  is  hay.  The  salt  marshes  of  Assonet  Neck  have 
considerable  value.  Indian  corn  was  an  important  crop 
and  should  be  still.  Potatoes,  turnips,  etc.,  are  raised 
for  market.  Horticulture  has  some  attention.  One 
of  the  best  horticultural  gardens  in  the  county,  G. 
F.  Wilbur's,  is  in  the  north  part  of  the  town.  There 
is  some  fruit-raising  also.  Some  parts  of  the  town 
are  well  adapted  to  the  raising  of  apples,  pears,  and 
small  fruit.  There  is  also  some  woodland,  which  in 
the  past  has  furnished  timber  for  vessels  that  were 
built  here.  But  in  these  days  of  the  general  use  of 
coal  for  fuel,  wood  is  of  less  importance  than  for- 
merly. But  the  early  settlers  were  an  industrious  and 
brave    people.     They  were  as  noble,  pious,  prudent, 


and  sensible  people  as  settled  any  part  of  the  Old 
Colony.  There  have  been  many  large  families  reared 
and  educated,  who  have  in  turn  founded  and  educated 
families  in  other  localities  which  considered  and 
prized  them  as  among  their  most  valued  citizens. 
Having  been  reared  to  habits  of  industry,  prudence, 
and  integrity,  they  have  distinguished  themselves 
among  distinguished  men  and  women  wherever  they 
are  found.  There  was  formerly  a  considerable  and 
a  prosperous  business  in  the  preparing  and  market- 
ing of  shingles,  mostly  cedar  from  North  Carolina 
swamps.  A  gang  of  men  would  be  hired  and  carried 
to  the  swamps,  a  "  cabin"  built  in  the  swamps,  the 
trees  felled,  sawed  into  blocks  of  the  proper  length, 
then  split  into  the  required  thickness,  shaved,  bound 
in  bundles,  shipped  northward  and  sold.  Those 
shingles  were  valuable  for  their  durability.  At  pres- 
ent that  business  is  discontinued  here.  Annual  in- 
come of  the  oyster  fisheries  of  Assonet  Neck,  and  of 
the  shad  and  alewive  fishing  privileges  belonging  to 
the  town,  amounts  to  about  the  sum  annually  raised 
by  taxation  for  the  support  of  the  public  schools,  or 
about  fourteen  hundred  and  fifty  dollars. 

The  following  facts  concerning  the  town  of  Berkley 
are  gleaned  from  the  tenth  United  States  census  of 
1880: 

Population  : 

Males 472 

Females 455 

Total 927 

Place  of  birth  : 

Massachusetts 812 

Maine 12 

New  Hampshire 9 

Vermont 6 

Rhode  Island 40 

Connecticut 5 

New  York 3 

New  Jersey 6 

Canada 4 

Prince  Edward's  Island 1 

England 8 

Ireland 13 

Scotland 1 

Sweden 3 

Parent  nativity : 

Both  parents  native 857 

"         "        foreign 45 

Mother  native  and  father  foreign 13 

Father  native  and  mother  foreign 2 

Foreign  parents'  nativity: 

United  States  and  Great  Britain 1 

"           "      •     British  America 1 

Ireland , 2 

Ireland 8 

Occupations : 

Government  and  professional,  male,  6;  female,  5; 

total 11 

Domestic  and  personal,  female 8 

Trade  and  transportation,  male,  41  ;  female,  1 ;  total  42 
Agriculture,  native  born,  77  ;  Irish,  3  ;  English,  1 ; 

Canadian,  1 ;  total,  male 82 

Fisheries,  male 8 

Manufactures  and   mechanical   industries,   male, 

106;  female,2;  total 108 

Apprentices,  laborers,  and  indefinite 104 

Boot  and  shoemakers 3 

Builders 42 

Carriage-makers 4 

Engaged  in  making  clothing,  female,  1  ;   cotton 

goods,  male,  2;   tolal 3 

In  tanning  leather 2 

In  sawing  lumber 6 

Stone-cutters,  male 3 

Ship-carpenters 13 

Basket -makers 2 

Illiteracy: 

Persons  over  ten  who  cannot  read,  fi ;  write,  7 ;  total  13 

Number  of  farms 42 

Number  of  gallons  of  milk  sold 43,507 

Number  of  pounds  of  butter  made 5,280 

Eggs,  dozens 10,605 


/oL^-^P^_ 


BERKLEY. 


187 


Potatoes,  acres 26 

bushels 3,440 

Indian  corn,  acres 47 

"    bushels 1,201 

Hay,  tons 

Ages  of  the  inhabitants  of  the   town  of  Berkley  from  under  one  year 
to  over  one  hundred  : 


Age. 

10 

35 
36 
37 
38 
39 
40 
41 
42 
43 
44 
45 
46 
47 
48 
49 
50 
51 
52 
53 
54 
55 
56 
57 
58 
59 
60 
61 
66 
71 
76 
81 
86 
91 
96  1 
101. 

Age. 

10 

1 

1 1 

i< 

17 

2 

12 

it 

14 

a 

II 

21 

i< 

7 

4 

t( 

16 

<t 

9 

5 

it 
(I 

17 

11 

ii 

13 

6 

it 

9 

14 

13 

ii 

7 

8 

(1 

17 

ii 

6 

9 

U 

15 

n 

19 

10 

tt 

16 

it 

7 

11 

II 

11 

ii 

15 

12 

II 

lit 

u 

7 

13 

II 

11 

a 

13 

1  i 

ti 

19 

(I 

14 

15 

(( 

12 

(( 

15 

16 

II 

16 

(1 

12 

17 

(( 

10 

it 

13 

18 

tt 

9 

II 

S 

19 

II 

19 

tt 

13 

20 

II 

19 

tt 

12 

21 

II 

± 

tt 

10 

22 

II 

14 

tt 

10 

23 

II 

11 

tt 

7 

24 

II 

15 

tl 

13 

25 

II 

14 

tt 

17 

26 

II 

15 

o  65  years 

o70     "      

to  75    "     

39 

34 

26 

"7 

II 

10 

28 

(( 

19 

29 

II 

12 

o80     "      

.o  85     "     

24 

6 

30 

K 

11 

31 

(I 

19 

,o  90    "      

7 

32 

II 

16 

'o  95     "      

1 

33 

(i 

15 

o  100  " 

0 

:;4 

(t 

13 

1 

BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


WILLIAM    BABBITT. 

"  Edward  Bobit,"  the  ancestor  of  the  Babbitt  family 
in  New  England,  was  "subject  to  do  military  duty" 
in  Taunton  in  1643,  as  shown  by  the  records  of  the 
General  Court.  He  married  Sarah  Fame,  daughter 
of  Miles  Fame,  of  Boston,  7th  month  7th,  1654.  He 
was  a  land-owner  in  North  Purchase  in  1668,  and 
was  one  of  the  "  committee  to  view  damages  done  to 
the  Indians  in  1671."  He  and  Sarah,  his  wife,  had 
children, — 

1.  Edward,  born  July  15,  1655. 

2.  Sarah,  born  March  20,  1657;  married  Samuel 
Pete,  March,  1680. 

3.  Hannah,  born  March  9,  1660. 

4.  Damaris,  born  Sept.  15,  1663. 

5.  Elkana,  born  Dec.  15,  1665;  married  Elizabeth 
Briggs,  June  25,  1690. 

6.  Dorcas,  born  Jan.  20,  1666  ;  died  April  9,  1676. 

7.  Esther,  born  April  15,  1669. 

8.  Ruth,  born  Aug.  7,  1671. 

9.  Deliverance,  born  Dec.  15,  167'!. 

Second  Generation. 

Edward  Babbitt,  son  of  the  first  Edward,  married 
Abigail  Tisdale,  Feb.  1,  1683.  She  was  probably  a 
daughter  of  John  Tisdale,  Jr.,  and  born  July  15, 
1667.  Their  son  Edward  was  born  Feb.  14,  1686,  and 
married  for  his  second  wife  Elizabeth  Thyre,  Dec.  22, 


1698.  He  gave  five  acres  of  land  towards  purchasing 
a  house  for  Rev.  Mr.  Dan  forth  in  1688.  He  was  one 
of  the  proprietors  in  1689,  and  was  of  Dighton,  May 
26,  1720.  His  will  is  dated  Feb.  5,  1727,  in  which  be 
mentions  his  wife  Elizabeth,  sons  Benajah,  Erasmus, 
Seth,  Nathan,  Edward,  Nathaniel,  and  George,  and 
daughters  Sarah  Thyre,  Abigail  Burt,  Ruth,  Han- 
nah, and  Waitslill.  His  wife  Elizabeth  and  son  B*e- 
najah  were  his  executors.  His  will  was  proved 
March  20,  1732-33. 

John  Babbitt,  the  son  of  Benajah,  was  the  grand- 
father of  William  Babbitt,  tin-  subject  of  this  sketch. 
He  married  for  his  second  wife  Lydia  Myrick,  and 
resided  at  "the  Farms"  in  Berkley.  William  Babbitt 
is  the  son  of  Peter  and  Martha  (Briggs)  Babbitt.  He 
was  born  at  "  the  Farms"  in  Berkley,  March  22, 1817. 
He  received  his  early  education  at  the  district  schools, 
and  resided  at  Berkley  Common  from  the  age  of 
twelve  to  that  of  twenty-six,  when  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Mary  Dean  Burt,  the  marriage  occur- 
ring Aug.  23,  1842. 

In  1844,  Mr.  Babbitt  settled  on  the  place  where  he 
now  resides.  He  has  followed  the  lumbering  busi- 
ness, chiefly  in  North  Carolina,  shipping  his  lumber 
to  Rhode  Island  and  other  parts  of  New  England. 
Although  starting  empty-handed,  with  no  resources 
but  his  energy  and  industry,  he  has  achieved  a  fair 
degree  of  prosperity  and  gained  an  honorable  stand- 
ing among  his  fellow-citizens.  He  is  highly  esteemed 
as  one  of  the  self-made  men  of  his  period. 

A  Whig  originally  in  politics,  he  has  been  since  the 
dissolution  of  that  party  a  Republican,  and  has  served 
his  town  in  the  capacity  of  selectman  for  many  years, 
being  always  elected  when  he  would  allow  himself  to 
run  for  the  office.  In  1861  he  served  in  the  Legisla- 
ture, and  also  in  1872,  on  several  important  commit- 
tees, among  others  the  Committee  on  Claims.  He 
was  for  several  years  deacon  of  the  Second  Congrega- 
tional Church  of  Berkley,  and  is  highly  esteemed  as 
a  worthy  and  public-spirited  citizen  and  an  honor- 
able representative  of  one  of  the  oldest  families  of 
the  town. 

PHILIP   H.  FLETCHER. 

Philip  H.  Fletcher  is  the  son  of  William  and  Jane 
Fletcher,  and  was  born  in  Prince  Edward  Island, 
Sept.  12,  1813.  His  parents  were  poor,  and  at  that 
day  there  was  no  provision  made  in  the  county  of  his 
nativity  for  the  free  education  of  the  children  of  the 
poorer  classes.  Consequently,  about  the  only  means 
available  to  young  Fletcher  to  obtain  even  the  rudi- 
ments of  an  education  was  the  Sabbath-school  in  his 
native;  place.  At  the  age  of  seven  he  went  to  live 
with  his  maternal  grandfather,  John  Lane,  with  whom 
he  remained  till  about  fifteen,  his  time  beinu  -pent 
on  the  farm.  He  then  returned  to  his  father's  home, 
and  five  years  later  emigrated  to  the  State.-,  stopping 
firsl  in  New  .Jersey,  where  he  remained  about  a  year, 
when  he  became  engaged  in  the  railroads  of  chat  State, 


188 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Massachusetts,  and  Rhode  Island,  in  which  business 
the  next  eight  years  of  his  life  was  spent. 

His  health  failing,  he  located  his  family  in  the  town 
of  Berkley,  Mass.,  and  engaged  in  peddling  general 
merchandise  through  the  surrounding  country.  This 
occupation  he  followed  twenty-eight  years,  during 
which  time,  however,  he  undertook  a  number  of  con- 
tracts  on  different  railroads,  in  the  carrying  through 
of  which  he  manifested  much  pluck,  enterprise,  and 
energy,  and  met  with  good  financial  success.  He 
then  sold  out  to  his  sons  his  interest  in  the  peddling 
business,  and  gave  his  attention  to  agricultural  pur- 
suits, to  which  his  chief  energies  have  since  been  di- 
rected. 

Mr.  Fletcher  has  always  been  a  temperate  man 
both  in  theory  and  practice.  He  is  a  man  of  sincere 
conviction  and  earnest  purpose,  strong  willed  and 
determined  when  once  he  is  convinced  of  the  correct- 
ness of  his  course.  These  qualities  have  not  unfre- 
quently  made  him  enemies  among  the  class  not 
holding  such  views  as  himself,  and  on  more  than  one 
occasion  he  has  suffered  pecuniary  loss  through  in- 
cendiarism and  other  means  at  the  hands  of  those  of 
the  vicious  class  whose  enmity  he  had  incurred. 

Mr.  Fletcher  has  been  many  years  selectman  and 
collector  in  his  town.  In  church  matters  he  has 
always  been  liberal  and  earnest.  A  few  years  since, 
when  the  movement  to  build  a  new  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  at  Berkley  was  inaugurated,  Mr. 
Fletcher  was  not  only  one  of  the  largest  contributors, 
but  one  of  the  most  active  workers  to  achieve  the 
success  of  the  enterprise.  He  was  one  of  the  build- 
ing committee  under  whose  supervision  the  structure 
was  erected,  and  he  furnished  the  larger  part  of  the 
funds  necessary  to  its  construction,  waiting  for  reim- 
bursement until  the  various  sums  subscribed  should 
be  paid  in.  Though  he  is  not  now  a  member  of  this 
church,  yet  he  does  not  regret  his  donation  or  his 
labors  in  its  behalf. 

It  had  long  been  one  of  the  cherished  aims  and 
objects  of  Mr.  Fletcher's  life  to  visit  the  Old  World 
and  see  face  to  face  its  numerous  places  of  interest; 
to  view  the  scenes  where  have  been  enacted  so  many 
of  the  events  which  have  shaped  the  destinies  of 
nations,  and  particularly  to  visit  Palestine,  the  cradle 
of  our  civilization,  and  the  place  made  holy  and 
sacred  by  the  birth,  residence,  and  crucifixion  of  our 
Saviour.  Early  in  December,  1871,  he  set  sail  from 
Boston  for  Liverpool,  where,  after  a  pleasant  voyage, 
he  arrived  December  14th.  He  then  visited  most  of 
the  principal  places  of  interest  on  the  European  conti- 
nent,embracing  London, Paris,Turin,  Florence,  Rome, 
Naples,  the  volcano  of  Vesuvius,  and  Pompeii ;  thence 
across  the  Mediterranean  to  Alexandria,  Cairo,  the 
pyramids,  etc. ;  through  the  Suez  Canal  to  Port  Said  ; 
thence  to  Joppa  and  Jerusalem,  and  to  all  the  places 
of  historic  interest  in  the  holy  land,  among  which 
maybe  mentioned  Mount  Carmel,  Mount  Tabor,  Naz- 
areth, the  Sea  of  Galilee,  Damascus,  Baalbec,  Beyrout, 


Smyrna,  and  Ephesus.  He  then  proceeded  to  Athens 
and  Constantinople,  where  he  crossed  the  Black  Sea 
to  Odessa,  Russia;  thence  through  Poland  and  Hun- 
gary to  Vienna,  Austria,  from  which  point  he  returned 
through  Germany  to  Paris,  and  via  London  to  Edin- 
burgh and  Glasgow,  Scotland,  and  to  Belfast,  Ireland, 
visiting  the  famous  Giant's  Causeway;  thence  to 
Dublin,  Queenstown,  and  home,  where  he  arrived 
April  14,  1872,  four  months  and  a  half,  into  which 
was  crowded  more  of  pleasure,  instruction,  and  bene- 
fit than  in  any  other  like  period  in  the  whole  of  the 
seventy  years  of  his  life. 

Mr.  Fletcher  married,  May  14,  1835,  Cynthia  A. 
Greene,  daughter  of  Waterman  Greene,  of  Rhode 
Island,  granddaughter  of  Nathan  Greene,  and  most 
probably  a  descendant  of  Gen.  Greene,  of  Revolu- 
tionary fame.  She  was  born  Sept.  22,  1814.  To  them 
were  born  nine  children,  only  three  of  whom  are  now 
living, — Sarah  J.  (deceased),  born  July  19,  1837; 
Permelia  F.  (deceased),  born  Feb.  5,  1840;  William 
H.,  born  Aug.  27,  1841 ;  Violetta  F.  (deceased),  born 
June  24,  1843;  Mary  E.  (deceased),  born  Feb.  14, 
1845  ;  John  E.  (deceased),  born  Jan.  8, 1847;  George 
F.,  born  Nov.  26,  1848  ;  Eliza  A.  (deceased),  born 
Jan.  2,  1851 ;  and  Louis  P.,  born  Aug.  26,  1855.  Of 
those  now  living,  William  H.  is  married  and  has  six 
children  ;  he  resides  in  Trenton,  N.  J.  George  F.  is 
married,  has  three  children,  and  lives  in  Raynham. 
Louis  P.,  now  a  widower,  has  one  child,  and  resides 
with  his  father  in  Berkley. 


WALTER   DEAN    NICHOLS. 

Walter  Dean  Nichols,  son  of  Abiel  and  Delia 
(Briggs)  Nichols,  was  born  in  Berkley,  Mass.,  on 
April  28,  1814.  Not  much  is  known  of  the  life  of 
William  Nichols,  the  ancestor  of  the  Nichols  family 
in  Bristol  County.  He  was  born  in  Scotland  in  1689, 
came  to  this  country,  settled  in  Berkley,  and  married 
Joanna  Paull,  daughter  of  John  Paull,  of  Berkley, 
previous  to  1721.  He  died  in  1754.  He  probably 
practiced  medicine,  as  he  was  called  doctor.  The 
union  by  marriage  with  the  Paull  family  doubtless 
was  a  source  of  strength.  His  son,  James  Nichols, 
was  one  of  the  most  prominent  men  of  Berkley  at 
his  time,  and  was  honored  by  the  town  with  numer- 
ous offices  of  trust.  He  was  a  man  of  large  executive 
ability  and  was  engaged  in  numerous  real-estate  op- 
erations of  magnitude  in  various  parts  of  the  county, 
as  county  records  show.  He  was  born  in  1732,  mar- 
ried Esther  Dean,  of  Berkley,  about  1764,  and  died 
1792.  He  was  grandfather  of  Walter  D.  Nichols,  and 
also  of  Dr.  Thomas  G.  Nichols,  recently  deceased. 

Walter  D.  Nichols  is  a  self-made  man,  having  re- 
ceived the  limited  education  which  he  obtained  in 
early  life  previous  to  the  age  of  sixteen,  at  which 
period  he  was  apprenticed  to  the  trade  of  a  painter, 
and  served  his  time  in  Fall  River  and  New  Bedford. 
In  1834,  at  the  age  of  nineteen,  he  began   school- 


t  f    c>v 


>/?v2^2£^ 


BERKLEY. 


189 


teaching  in  the  town  of  Richmond,  Ontario  Co., 
N.  Y.,  where  he  taught  five  months,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1835  went  to  Albany,  N.  Y.,  and  worked  at 
his  trade  as  a  painter.  lie  removed  thence  to  Red 
Hook,  on  the  Hudson,  in  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y., 
where  he  remained  several  years,  and  in  1836  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Lucinda  Hervey,  daughter  of 
James  Hervey,  of  Berkley,  Mass. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Nichols  settled  at  Red 
Hook.  In  the  autumn  of  1836  he  removed  to  To- 
ledo, Ohio,  where  he  remained  two  years,  at  the  ex- 
piration of  which  he  removed  with  his  family  to  his 
native  town  of  Berkley,  where  he  has  since  resided. 
Mrs.  Nichols  died  Oct.  20,  1845,  and  in  1846  he  mar- 
ried for  his  second  wife  Nancy  H.  Dean,  daughter  of 
Samuel  Dean,  of  Berkley.  The  children  by  the  first 
marriage  were  Fidelia  L.  (deceased),  Fanny  A.  (de- 
ceased), Mary  A.  J.,  and  Jesse  G. ;  by  the  second 
marriage,  Mary  N.,  Walter  D.,  Caroline  M.,  Emma 
C,  Sarah  E.,  James  H.,  James  M.  D.,  and  Frank  H. 

Mr.  Nichols  was  one  of  the  "  Argonauts  of  '49"  ; 
he  visited  California  via  Cape  Horn,  and  was  six 
months  on  the  voyage,  and  after  a  varied  experience 
of  four  months  in  the  newly-discovered  "  Ophir,"  he 
returned  home  by  the  way  of  the  Isthmus  of  Panama. 
His  life  has  been  somewhat  varied,  he  having  fol- 
lowed his  trade  as  a  painter,  and  also  fishing  and 
farming,  besides  devoting  a  considerable  share  of  his 
time  to  teaching.  He  has  taught  in  all  about  thirty 
winters. 

In  local  politics  he  has  taken  an  active  part,  first  as 
a  Whig,  during  the  existence  of  that  party,  and  since 
as  a  Republican,  and  has  held  every  office  in  the  gift 
of  his  townsmen,  serving  as  selectman  for  a  number 
of  years.  In  1855  he  was  a  member  of  the  House  of 
Representatives,  and  in  1864-66  he  was  a  member  of 
the  State  Senate,  and  the  last  year  served  on  theCom- 
mittee  on  Valuation.  He  has  taken  an  active  interest 
in  all  public  affairs  in  his  town,  particularly  in  mat- 
ters of  education,  and  is  the  author  of  the  history  of 
Berkley  in  this  work. 

The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nichols,  born  at  the 
old  homestead,  are  widely  scattered.  The  only  sur- 
viving daughter  by  the  first  wife  is  Mrs.  Charles  H. 
Clarke,  formerly  of  Cambridge,  Mass.,  now  a  resident 
of  Milwaukee.  Nancy  N.  Street,  eldest  child  by  the 
second  marriage,  is  a  practicing  physician  (homceo- 
pathist)  in  Cincinnati ;  Walter  D.  is  a  farmer  in  Kan- 
sas ;  Nancy  D.,  wife  of  Dr.  W.  W.  Freeman,  resides 
in  Anoka,  Minn.;  Caroline  M.  (now  Mrs.  Alden) 
aud  Emma  C.  are  proprietors  and  teachers  of  the 
Kindergarten  in  Providence,  R.  I.  ;  Sarah  E.  (Mrs. 
George  E.  Royce)  resides  in  Berkley,  Mass.;  James 
M.  D.  is  a  resident  of  Colorado,  and  Frank  H.  lives 
with  his  brother  in  Kansas. 


ABIEL  BRIGfiS  CRANE. 

The  name  Crane  is  variously  spelled  Crain, 
Crayne,  etc.,  but  all  were  originally  one  family. 
Jasper  Crayne  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  the 
New  Haven  Colony,  and  one  of  its  leading  and  most 
influential  members.  He  was  one  of  the  signers  of 
the  first  or  "fundamental"  agreement,  June  4,  1639. 
His  son,  Jasper,  Jr.,  was  born  in  New  Haven,  April 
2,  1651,  and  was  one  of  those  who  attempted  a  settle- 
ment of  lands  on  the  Delaware,  and  were  repulsed  by 
the  Dutch,  natives,  Swedes,  and  Finns.  Like  his  father 
he  was  a  man  of  influence  and  ability,  and  held  va- 
rious offices  and  positions  of  public  and  private  trust. 
The  family  of  Cranes  have  always  been  people  of  the 
highest  respectability  in  New  Jersey  and  Connecticut, 
and  wherever  their  descendants  are  to  be  found  they 
exhibit  the  same  spirit  and  characteristics  that  dis- 
tinguished their  pioneer  ancestors.  Four  of  this  name 
graduated  at  Brown  LTniversity  prior  to  1829,  eight 
at  Amherst  prior  to  1855,  eight  at  Yale  prior  to  1851, 
six  at  Harvard,  and  four  at  Dartmouth  prior  to  1850. 
Henry  Crane,  who  was  probably  the  ancestor  of  the 
Crane  family  in  Bristol  County,  was  a  native  of  Guil- 
ford, Conn.  He  was  representative  from  Kennelworth, 
and  at  another  period  of  his  life  was  a  prominent  man 
at  Killingworth. 

Bernice  Crane  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Berk- 
ley, Mass.  His  wife  lived  to  be  a  centenarian.  His 
son  Benjamin  married  Alinda  Briggs,  July  29,  1798. 
They  had  ten  children,  two  of  whom,  however,  died 
in  infancy.  All  the  others  lived  to  maturity.  Ben- 
jamin died  Oct.  10,  1855,  Mrs.  Crane  having  preceded 
him  one  year.  The  eldest  son,  Silas  A.,  graduated 
at  Providence  College,  in  which  institution  he  after- 
wards became  tutor.  Later  he  studied  divinity,  and  be- 
came pastor  of  an  Episcopalian  Church  in  Vermont. 

He  afterwards  went  to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  and  became 
president  of  a  college.  A  few  years  later  he  returned 
to  New  England,  established  himself  as  a  minister  at 
East  Greenwich,  R.  I.,  and  spent  the  remaining  thirty 
years  of  his  life  there.  He  died  July  16,  1872.  Ben- 
jamin, another  brother,  was  also  educated  at  Provi- 
dence College,  taught  school  a  number  of  years,  finally 
settled  as  a  farmer  in  his  native  town,  and  died  there 
Nov.  11,  1861.  Daniel,  another  son,  also  received  a 
collegiate  education,  was  a  farmer  and  school-teacher, 
and  a  great  bookworm.  He  was  noted  for  the  extent 
and  diversity  of  his  knowledge.  Of  the  daughters 
of  Benjamin,  Caroline  became  the  accomplished  wife 
of  Hon.  George  P.  Marsh,  who  was  four  years  minis- 
ter to  Constantinople,  and  twenty-one  years  minister 
to  Rome,  dating  from  1861  to  the  time  of  his  death, 
July,  1882.  Mr.  Marsh  was  an  author  of  merit,  as 
his  many  well-known  works  will  testify.  Mrs.  Marsh, 
who  survives  him,  is  also  a  writer  of  distinction.  In 
addition  to  other  literary  work,  she  has  translated  a 
number  of  poems  from  the  German.  Lucy,  the  other 
daughter,  married  a  celebrated  German  physician, 
resident  in  St.  Louis,  Mo. 


11)0 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


A.  B.  Crane,  the  fifth  son  of  Benjamin,  did  not  re- 
ceive the  advantage  of  a  college  training.     At  a  very 
early  age  he  developed  a  marked  taste  and  talent  for 
music.    And  while  the  general  tenor  of  his  life's  work 
has  been  in  a  widely  different  field,  yet,  like  the  mag- 
net to  the  pole,  his  heart  has  ever  turned  in  his  leisure 
moments  to  the  "harmony  of  sweet  sounds,"  and  he 
has  at  different  periods  of  his  life  contributed  to  the 
standard  musical  publications  and  collections  of  the 
day.     And  even  now,  in  the  autumn  of  his  life,  since 
the  period  of  his  business  career  has  closed,  he  amuses 
himself  and  whiles  away  the  hours  in  the  composition 
of  sacred  music.     While  he  has  never  made  music  a 
profession,  yet  it  has  been  the  study  of  his  life,  and 
from  it  he  has  derived  much  pleasure  and  happiness, 
and  he  has  produced  many  prized  and  popular  pieces. 
He  began  his  business  life  at  the  age  of  seventeen 
as  clerk  in  a  store  at  Newberne,  N.  C.     He  filled  this 
position   two   winters,   returning   North   during  the 
summer  months.     He  then   became  partner  in   the 
business,  which  was  continued  but  a  year  longer.   He 
then    returned   home   and   established   himself  as  a 
merchant  in  his  native  town   of  Berkley.     Most  of 
his  business  life  has  been  spent  in  mercantile  pur- 
suits, having  at  different   periods   been    engaged  in 
merchandising  in    Florida,    North    Carolina,    Rhode 
Island,  Boston,  Taunton,  Weir  Junction,  and  Berk- 
ley.     During  the  years  of  1852-54  he  was  in  the 
pork  trade  in  Indiana.     From  1865  to  1872  he  was 
engaged  quite  extensively  in  shingle  manufacturing 
in  North  Carolina.     His  life  has  been  an  active  and 
diversified  one,  and  in  the  main  a  successful  one. 

Mr.  Crane  has  always  persistently  refused  acting 
in  any  official  capacity  when  he  could  consistently 
avoid  it,  partly  because  he  shrank  from  anything  sa- 
voring of  publicity  or  notoriety,  and  partly  because 
his  business  pursuits  called  him  so  frequently  and  so 
long  away  from  home.  He  has,  however,  been  more 
than  once  honored  by  his  fellow-citizens  with  the 
cloak  of  office.  He  has  been  town  clerk,  and  during 
the  war  he,  upon  the  urgent  solicitation  of  his  towns- 
men, acted  for  several  years  as  town  treasurer.  In 
1851  he  was  elected  representative  from  Berkley,  and 
again  in  1865  he  represented  the  district  embracing 
Berkley,  Freetown,  Fairhaven,  and  Acushnet. 

He  united  with  the  Congregational  Church  in  1832. 
In  1848  the  Trinitarian  Congregational  Church  was 
organized  and  the  chapel  built.  In  1872  the  church 
was  reorganized  as  a  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
and  both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Crane  are  members.  He  has 
always  been  a  very  liberal  and  earnest  supporter  of 
the  church  and  one  of  its  most  devoted  members. 

In  1875  there  was  erected  in  Berkley  a  very  hand- 
some and  commodious  church  building.  Towards 
this  building  Mr.  Crane  was  a  liberal  contributor, 
and  this  structure  is  now  their  place  of  worship,  and 
will  long  stand  as  a  monument  to  the  religious  zeal 
and  public  spirit  of  the  citizens  of  Berkley. 

On  Sept.  21,  1829,  A.  B.  Crane  married  Emma  T. 


Porter,  of  Berkley.  Their  children  are  Emma  P., 
born  July  20,  1830,  now  the  wife  of  Charles  Bissett, 
of  Berkley;  Alexander  B.,  born  April  23,  1833,  now 
a  prominent  lawyer  in  New  York  City ';  Samuel  N., 
born  Oct.  6, 1835,  now  a  collecting  agent  in  New  York 
City ;  Asahel  P.,  born  Feb.  18,  1838,  died  Oct.  29, 
1856 ;  Helen  H.,  born  Feb.  9,  1842,  now  a  teacher  of 
French  and  music  in  Providence,  R.  I. ;  Rebecca  P. 
N.,  born  March  14,  1844,  now  the  wife  of  Rev.  Lu- 
cius R.  Eastman,  Jr.,  of  Framingham,  Mass. 


DANIEL  SUMNER  BRIGGS. 
D.  S.  Briggs  was  born  April  19,  1813,  in  the  town 
of  Vassalborough,  Me.  He  is  the  son  of  George  and 
Eunice  (French)  Briggs,  and  grandson  of  William 
Briggs,  who  about  the  year  1800  went  from  Dighton, 
Mass.,  to  Minot  (now  Auburn),  Me.  This  William 
Briggs  was  by  occupation  a  ship-carpenter.  George, 
his  son,  was  born  in  Dighton,  Mass.,  1781,  and  at  the 
age  of  eighteen  apprenticed  himself  to  Levi  French 
to  learn  the  trades  of  tanner  and  shoemaker,  the 
latter  of  which  he  followed  through  life.  After  com- 
pleting the  term  of  his  apprenticeship  he  married 
Eunice,  daughter  of  Levi  French,  and  soon  after 
emigrated,  in  company  with  his  father,  to  Maine, 
where  he  resided  till  1819,  when  he  returned  to  Mas- 
sachusetts and  located  in  Berkley,  where  he  passed 
the  remainder  of  his  life.  Mr.  Briggs  was  a  man 
much  respected  in  the  community,  and  in  the  quiet 
walk  in  which  his  life  was  spent  did  his  part  well. 
He  was  chosen  selectman  of  Berkley,  and  served  in 
that  capacity  a  number  of  years.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Congregational  Society,  and  in  political  faith 
was  a  Whig.     He  died  in  1853. 

Daniel  S.  Briggs,  whose  portrait  we  publish,  is  one 
of  that  class  of  men  whose  life-work  will  give  tinge 
and  coloring  to  the  career  of  myriads  yet  unborn. 
Not  that  he  was  instrumental  in  inaugurating  or 
directing  any  great  revolution  or  reform,  but  he  has 
been  a  wortby  soldier  in  the  great  army  of  educators. 
The  teacher  who  instructs,  improves,  develops,  and 
properly  directs  the  mental  powers  of  a  child  into 
that  channel  which,  as  the  years  go  by,  shall  make 
him  or  her  an  intelligent,  useful  member  of  society, 
gives  coloring  and  shape  not  only  to  the  life  of  that 
particular  man  or  woman,  but  through  them  to  that 
of  their  progeny. 

Mr.  Briggs  received  in  his  youth  only  such  educa- 
tional advantages  as  the  schools  of  his  town  afforded, 
but  being  of  a  literary  turn  of  mind  he  gave  his 
leisure  moments  to  study,  and  at  the  early  age  of 
eighteen  he  began  teaching  school,  and  from  that 
time  until  he  was  sixty  years  of  age  he  employed 
from  three  to  seven  months  of  almost  every  year  in 
instructing  the  youth  of  his  neighborhood.  During 
this  time  he  has  taught  a  number  of  terms  in  every 
district  in  Berkley,  and  also  several  years  in  adjacent 
I  towns.     Thus  for  more  than  forty  years  was  he  en- 


&&L 


DARTMOUTH. 


191 


gaged  in  sowing  the  seeds  of  knowledge  in  the  fruitful 
soil  of  youthful  minds. 

Aug.  1,  1855,  he  received  an  appointment  as  post- 
master at  Berkley  (Commons),  and  has  continued  to 
hold  the  office  to  the  present  writing.  He  was  chosen 
selectman  during  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  and  held 
the  office  four  consecutive  years.  He  was  re-elected 
to  the  same  office  in  1882.  He  has  also  been  town 
clerk  of  Berkley,  and  has  been  a  member  of  the 
school  committee  many  years.  In  political  affinity 
he  is  a  Republican,  and  in  church  relation  both  he 
and  his  wife  are  Methodists. 

He  married,  Nov.  12,  1837,  Sarah,  daughter  of 
Abiatha  and  Sarah  Crane,  of  Berkley,  by  whom  he 
had  two  children, — Rowena,  born  Nov.  18,  1838,  mar- 
ried Reuben  Stone,  of  Newton  Centre,  Mass.,  and 
Caleb  Sumner  Crane,  born  Nov.  16,  1840,  married 
Jerusha  Luther,  is  a  farmer,  and  resides  in  Berkley. 
Mrs.  Briggs  died  Nov.  21,  1840.  Mr.  Briggs  married 
as  his  second  wife  Permillia  H.,  daughter  of  Rollin 
Eaton,  of  Berkley,  Oct.  6,  1841. 

To  this  latter  marriage  there  is  no  issue.  Mr. 
Briggs  enjoys  a  serene  and  healthful  old  age,  and  is 
much  beloved  and  respected  by  the  entire  community 
in  which  he  resides. 


Hathaway,  Benjamin  Crane,  A.M.,  Hon.  Charles  G. 
W.  French.  This  is  but  a  partial  list  of  those  who 
received  their  early  training  and  inspiration  from  the 
eminent  pastor  and  teacher.  Though  nearly  forty 
years  have  elapsed  since  Father  Andros  passed  from 
the  scenes  of  his  earthly  labors,  the  town  still  holds  his 
name  with  reverence,  and  will  treasure  his  memory 
as  worthy  of  the  most  prominent  place  in  its  history. 
Mr.  Andros  had  a  large  family  that  grew  up,  but  his 
posterity  bearing  his  name  is  not  numerous.  Milton, 
his  youngest  son,  born  in  1823,  is  an  eminent  lawyer 
of  San  Francisco,  Cal. 


REV.  THOMAS  ANDROS. 
Berkley,  which  was  originally  a  part  of  Taunton, 
was  incorporated  in  1735.  It  is  worthy  of  note  for  the 
many  distinguished  men  who  have  been  born  within 
its  borders.  Rev.  Samuel  Tobey  was  the  first  minister, 
being  settled  in  1737,  and  continuing  until  his  death 
in  1781,  holding  a  pastorate  of  forty-four  years,  exert- 
ing a  most  benign  influence,  leaving  the  impress  of 
his  deep  piety  and  manly  character  upon  its  inhab- 
itants. The  second  minister  was  Rev.  Thomas  An- 
dros, a  native  of  Plainfield,  Conn.  He  was  a  sol- 
dier in  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  and  one  who  saw 
much  of  the  horrors  of  that  war,  being  a  prisoner  oh 
board  the  old  Jersey  prison  ship.  Surviving  the 
perils  of  such  captivity,  he  entered  the  ministry  and 
settled  in  this  town,  where  for  about  forty  years  he 
exerted  a  most  salutary  influence,  not  only  for  the 
cause  of  religion,  but  in  awakening  a  love  of  sound 
learning.  His  home  was  a  seminary  where  the  young 
men  of  his  parish  were  fitted  for  college,  and  the  in- 
fluence of  his  beneficent  labors  was  transmitted  to 
the  generations  that  succeeded  him.  Eminent  as  a 
theologian,  accomplished  as  a  scholar,  his  life  stands 
forth  as  a  signal  example  of  the  highest  type  of  New 
England  character.  Among  those  who  have  been 
distinguished  as  men  of  eminence  that  have  been 
born  here  and  educated  under  the  tutelage  of  Father 
Andros  were  Silas  Axtel  Crane,  D.D.,  Rev.  W.  M. 
Cornell,  M.D.,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  Rev.  Jabez  Fox,  Rev. 
John  Sanford,  Rev.  Baalis  Sanford,  Rev.  Enoch  San- 
ford,  Rev.  James  Sanford,  Rev.  Daniel  C.  Burt,  Hon. 
Daniel  French,  Rev.  Julius  C.  Anthony,  Hon.  R.  L. 


CHAPTER    XV. 
DARTMOUTH.! 

Geographical — Bartholomew  Gosnokl — His  Visit  to  these  Shores  in  1602 
— The  Grant  of  Dartmouth — Original  Bounds — Origin  of  the  Name — 
Ecclesiastical  Troubles — Resisting  Taxation — Court  Orders — Stringent 
Laws — The  Town  Indicted — Imprisonment  of  Selectmen  of  Dartmouth 
and  Tiverton — Petition  to  the  King — The  Taxes  Remitted  and  Pris- 
oners Released — History  of  Early  Settlers  and, Proprietors. 

Dartmouth  is  located  in  the  southern  part  of  the 
county,  and  is  bounded  as  follows:  on  the  north  by 
Fall  River  and  Freetown,  on  the  east  by  New  Bed- 
ford and  Buzzard's  Bay,  on  the  south  by  Buzzard's 
Bay,  and  on  the  west  by  Westport. 

In  the  summer  of  1602,  Bartholomew  Gosnold, 
while  fortifying  his  settlement  upon  the  little  islet 
within  the  island  of  Cuttyhunk,  had  crossed  the  bay 
— described  by  Gabriel  Archer,  the  chronicler  of  the 
expedition,  as  a  "stately  sound" — and  had  trod  upon 
the  shores  of  Dartmouth.  The  Indians  from  the 
mainland  had  visited  him  and  his  band  of  adven- 
turers in  their  island  home,  and  Gosnold  had  returned 
their  visits.  He  landed  somewhere  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  Round  Hills,  called  by  him  Hap's  Hill,  and  fol- 
lowed the  coast  westward  to  Gooseberry  Neck.  The 
locality  is  described  as  possessing  "  stately  groves, 
flowery  meadows,  and  running  brooks,"  and  the  ad- 
venturers were  delighted  with  the  climate,  the  beauty 
of  the  country,  and  the  fertility  of  the  soil. 

Gosnold's  idea  of  planting  a  colony  in  this  vicinity 
failed,  and  the  territory  was  uninhabited  by  the  white 
man  until  after  the  landing  of  the  Pilgrims  at  Ply- 
mouth. Looking  back  over  this  long  period  of  time, 
we  can  hardly  fail  to  discern  why  the  settlement  at 
Cuttyhunk  was  a  failure  and  the  settlement  at  Ply- 
mouth a  success.  Gosnold  and  Gilbert  and  Archer 
and  Rosier  and  Brierton  were  gentlemen  adventurers, 
in  quest  of  novelty  and  the  excitement  of  a  bold, 
daring  enterprise,  with  a  hope  of  gain;  and   when 

i  The  editor  acknowledges  his  indebtedness  for  this  chapter  to  the 
Hon.  William  W.  Crapo,  being  a  portion  'if  an  address  delivered  by  him 
in  1864.  Mr.  Crapo  has  ever  manifested  a  praiseworthy  interest  in 
historical  matters,  and  has  added  many  valuable  contributions  to  the 
historic  literature  of  the  State. 


192 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


they  had  unfolded  this  fair  land  and  had  collected  a 
sufficient  quantity  of  sassafras-root  and  cedar  and 
furs  to  load  their  little  bark,  the  only  bond  which 
then  united  them  was  the  cargo  they  had  collected, 
and  each  one  was  ambitious  to  return  with  it  to  Eng- 
land to  profit  by  its  sale,  and  tell  the  marvelous 
stories  of  their  adventures.  We  do  not  wonder,  then, 
that  although  they  found  the  red-and-white  straw- 
berry "  as  sweet  and  much  bigger  than  in  England," 
with  "great  store  of  deer  and  other  beasts,"  and 
feasted  and  grew  fat  upon  the  young  sea-fowl  which 
they  found  in  their  nests,  they  did  not  build  up  a 
permanent  settlement. 

On  the  other  hand,  Carver  and  Bradford  and  Wins- 
low  and  Brewster  and  Standish,  the  men  of  the  "  May- 
flower," came  from  far  different  motives, — not  from 
gain,  adventure,  or  novelty,  but  to  plant  a  colony 
which  should  be  permanent  and  enduring ;  to  carry 
out,  heedless  of  privations  and  sufferings,  heedless  of 
the  scorn  and  oppression  behind  and  the  uncertain- 
ties and  dangers  before,  their  ideas  of  a  government 
founded  upon  equality,  justice,  and  religion.  The  col- 
ony at  Plymouth,  conquering  all  obstacles,  achieved 
permanency  and  growth,  and  from  thence  came  the 
early  founders  of  Dartmouth.  We  are  proud  of  our 
ancestry,  proud  that  the  men  of  Dartmouth  were 
Puritans.  Those  "  stout-hearted  and  God-fearing 
men"  were  our  fathers.  Never  can  they  be  mentioned 
but  with  honor,  for  none  ever  did  more  or  suffered 
more  for  the  human  race.  Oppression  did  not  intimi- 
date nor  privations  turn  them.  They  were  stern  and 
unyielding  in  their  convictions  of  the  right,  and  thor- 
oughly fixed  and  resolute  in  their  purpose  to  found  a 
Christian  commonwealth.  Inspired  with  the  one 
o-rand  idea  of  a  government  resting  upon  liberty  and 
religion,  they  thought  not  of  policy,  expediency,  or 
compromise,  but  listened  only  to  the  dictates  of  con- 
science and  duty.  Under  their  sturdy  and  uncon- 
querable wills  the  wilderness  yielded,  and  the  New 
World  was  open  to  a  nation  of  freemen. 

In  the  history  of  New  England  not  enough  prom- 
inence has  been  given  to  the  pioneer  colony  of  Ply- 
mouth. The  settlement  of  the  Massachusetts  Colony 
seems  to  have  overshadowed  in  history  the  import- 
ance of  this  first  civil  body  politic.  The  Plymouth 
Colony  led  the  van,  and  in  the  years  in  which  they 
were  alone  rested  the  whole  problem.  Encouraged 
by  the  success  of  the  Plymouth  settlement,  the  Mas- 
sachusetts colonists  were  emboldened,  under  the  pro- 
tection and  guidance  of  the  former,  to  apply  for  a 
royal  charter.  We  would' not  detract  from  the  merit 
of  Winthrop,  Dudley,  Saltonstall,  and  their  associ- 
ates, "  gentlemen  of  figure  and  estate,"  for  they  were 
men  of  faith  and  fortitude,  men  of  uncommon  wisdom 
and  heroism;  but  let  us  not  be  forgetful  of  those 
earlier  men  who  smoothed  the  way  and  opened  to  the 
men  of  Massachusetts  Bay  and  Boston,  even  though 
for  a  short  distance  and  in  a  rude  manner,  the  path 
which  led  to  civil  and  religious  liberty. 


On  the  29th  day  of  November,  1652,  the  Indian 
chief  Wesamequan  (better  known  as  Massasoit)  and 
his  son  Wamsutta  (who  was  sometimes  called  Alex- 
ander by  the  English)  conveyed  by  deed  to  Wil- 
liam Bradford,  Capt.  Standish,  Thomas  Southworth, 
John  Winslow,  John  Cooke,  and  their  associates  all 
the  tract  or  tracts  of  land  lying  three  miles  eastward 
from  a  river  called  Cushenegg  to  a  certain  harbor 
called  Acoaksett  to  a  flat  rock  on  the  westward  side 
of  the  said  harbor.  In  this  conveyance  was  included 
all  the  land  within  these  boundaries,  "  with  all  the 
rivers,  creeks,  meadows,  necks,  and  islands  that  lie  in 
and  before  the  same,  and  from  the  sea  upward  to  go 
so  high  that  the  English  may  not  be  annoyed  by  the 
hunting  of  the  Indians  in  any  sort  of  their  cattle." 

The  metes  and  bounds  of  this  grant  do  not  appear 
to  be  very  definitely  or  clearly  stated.  More  attention 
seems  to  have  been  given  by  the  conveyancer  to  the 
consideration  which  the  Indian  chieftains  were  to  re- 
ceive. The  price  paid  was  thirty  yards  of  cloth,  eight 
moose-skins,  fifteen  axes,  fifteen  hoes,  fifteen  pair  of 
breeches,  eight  blankets,  two  kettles,  one  cloak,  two 
pounds  in  warn  pan,  eight  pair  stockings,  eight  pair 
shoes,  one  iron  pot,  and  ten  shillings  in  other  com- 
modities. Even  in  those  early  days,  when  the  forests 
and  meadows  and  streams  apparently  were  not  valued 
very  highly,  dissensions  and  disputes  arose  concern- 
ing the  title.  A  younger  son  of  Wesamequan,  Philip, 
sagamore  of  Pokannockett,  afterwards  known  as  one 
of  the  most  bloody  and  remorseless  of  all  the  Indian 
warriors  under  the  name  of  King  Philip,  had  not  been 
consulted  or  had  not  given  his  written  assent  to  the 
original  conveyance.  He  soon  began  to  annoy  the 
settlers  by  frequent  acts  of  trespass,  and  to  question 
the  correctness  of  the  boundary  lines.  We  find  by 
the  records  that  agents  (referees)  were  appointed  "to 
set  out  and  mark  the  bounds,"  and  in  1665  Philip 
gave  a  quit-claim  which  quieted  the  title. 

This  large  tract  of  land,  comprising  the  limits  of 
old  Dartmouth,  was  divided  into  thirty-four  parts  or 
shares.  Two  of  these  were  sub-divided,  so  that  the 
original  proprietors  numbered  thirty-six  persons,  of 
whom  three  were  women, — Sarah  Brewster,  Miss  Jen- 
nings, and  Sarah  Warren. 

Not  all  of  the  thirty-six  original  proprietors  settled 
here.  Some  undoubtedly  bought  the  land  as  a  specu- 
lation or  investment  rather  than  for  a  home,  but  an 
inspection  of  the  names  convinces  us  that  many  of 
them  located  permanently  within  our  borders.  We 
find  in  the  list  the  names  of  Howland,  Morton,  Ma- 
nasses  Kempton,  Dunham,  Shaw,  Soule,  Faunce, 
Sampson,  Delano,  Bartlett,  Palmer,  Doty,  Hicks, 
Brown,  and  Bumpass,  names  familiar  to  us  even  in 
this  day,  and  constantly  recurring  in  the  history  of 
the  town. 

It  has  always  been  stated  that  the  old  township  of 
Dartmouth  included  and  comprised  the  present  town- 
ships of  Dartmouth,  Westport,  New  Bedford,  Fair- 
haven,  and  Acushnet.     The  grant  of  land  from  the 


DARTMOUTH. 


193 


Indians  embraces  these  towns.  But  the  records  of 
the  colony  of  Rhode  Island  show  that  a  part  of  the 
present  towns  of  Tiverton  and  of  Little  Compton 
were,  prior  to  1746,  a  part  of  Dartmouth.1 

The  origin  of  the  name  of  this  town  is  a  matter  of 
conjecture,  yet  the  inference  is  an  easy  and  natural  one. 
The  "  Mayflower"  and  "  Speedwell,"  the  latter  having 
taken  on  board  her  priceless  freight  at  Leyden,  in 
Holland,  sailed  from  Plymouth,  in  Old  England,  and 
that  name  was  given  to  the  spot  where  they  landed 
in  New  England.  After  the  vessels  left  Plymouth, 
England,  a  disaster  occurred  to  the  "Speedwell"  which 
compelled  both  vessels  to  put  back,  and  they  made  a 
harbor  in  the  seaport  town  of  Dartmouth,  in  the 
British  Channel.  Many  of  the  original  purchasers 
and  some  of  the  early  settlers  of  the  town  came  in 
the  "  Mayflower,"  and  the  name  of  Dartmouth  was 
so  associated  in  their  minds  with  the  home  left  behind 
that  it  may  naturally  be  presumed  it  furnished  them 
with  the  name  for  their  new  home.  There  is  a  fur- 
ther coincidence  connected  with  the  name.  The  little 
vessel,  the  "Concord,"  which  brought  Bartholomew 
Gosnold  to  our  shores  in  1602  belonged  to  Dartmouth, 
in  England.  There  can  be  no  doubt  but  that  we  de- 
rive our  name  from  this  fishing  town  on  the  river 
Dart  in  the  English  Channel.  How  wonderful  the 
change  since  then !  While  the  present  old  Dart- 
mouth has  an  aggregate  population  of  thirty-seven 
thousand,  with  a  commerce  known  over  the  whole 
globe,  the  old  town  in  England,  with  a  population  of 
less  than  five  thousand,  is  as  little  known  to-day  as 
it  was  two  hundred  years  ago. 

The  inquiry  naturally  suggests  itself,  What  were 
the  prominent  causes  which  led  to  this  settlement? 
It  might  have  been  due  in  part  to  the  spirit  of  emi- 
gration and  change  of  locality  which  displayed  itself 
even  in  those  days  as  a  trait  in  the  New  England 
character ;  it  might  have  been  the  rich  and  fertile 
soil  in  the  valleys  of  our  rivers,  fertile  certainly  when 
compared  with  the  sand-hills  around  Plymouth,  en- 
ticing to  agricultural  labors;  it  might  have  been  the 
accessible  and  capacious  harbors  of  the  Acushnet  and 
Apponegansett,  and  the  safe  and  sheltered  anchorage 
they  afforded,  giving  promise  of  future  commercial 
importance ;  and  attractions,  perhaps,  were  found  in 
the  winding  beauties  of  the  Paskamansett  and  Acoak- 
sett.  However  much  these  and  kindred  influences 
may  have  contributed  to  the  early  settlement  of  Dart- 
mouth, there  is,  in  my  opinion,  a  cause  beyond  them 
all,  and  which  a  careful  reading  of  the  records  of  the 
colony  and  the  town  forces  me  to  adopt  as  the  chief 
reason  for  the  removal  from  Plymouth  to  Dartmouth. 
I  have  said  our  fathers  were  Puritans.  They  were 
more  than  that, — they  were  the  Protestants  of  the  Pu- 
ritans. They  were  in  sympathy  with  the  established 
government  at  Plymouth  in  everything  except  the 


i  "  Records  of  Colony  of  Rhode  Island  and  Providence  Plantations," 
vol.  v.  p.  204. 
13 


one  matter  of  compulsory  taxation  for  religious  pur- 
poses. Fully  believing  in  freedom  of  conscience,  they 
had  early  conceived  a  strong  aversion  to  the  arbitrary 
imposition  of  taxes  by  the  civil  power  for  the  support 
of  a  ministry  with  which  they  were  not  in  unison, 
ami  over  which  they  had  no  control.  The  early  rec- 
ords of  the  town,  imperfect  and  fragmentary  as  they 
are,  in  connection  with  the  history  of  the  colony, 
plainly  tell  us  how  earnestly  and  even  bitterly  this 
controversy  was  waged,  and  how  for  many  years  it 
was  the  source  of  discord  and  of  persecution.  The 
Plymouth  Colony  court  annually  apportioned  to  the 
town  a  tax  for  the  support  of  ministers  in  addition  to 
the  province  tax,  but  the  Baptists  and  Quakers  of 
Dartmouth  were  inflexible  in  their  resistance  to  it, 
and  while  the  province  rates  were  faithfully  met,  those 
for  the  maintenance  of  ministers  were  refused.  It 
also  troubled  our  good  rulers  at  Plymouth  that  our 
fathers  were  so  negligent  in  providing  stated  preach- 
ing according  to  the  established  Puritan  faith. 
We  find  this  order  of  the  court,  passed  in  1671, — 

"  In  reference  unto  the  town  of  Dartmouth  it  is  ordered  by  court,  that 
whereas  a  neglect  the  last  year  of  the  gathering  in  of  the  sum  of  fifteen 
pounds  according  to  order  of  court  to  be  kept  in  stock  towards  the  sup- 
port of  such  as  may  dispense  the  word  of  God  unto  them,  it  is  again  or- 
dered by  the  court  that  the  sum  of  fifteen  pounds  be  this  year  levied  to 
be  as  a  stock  for  the  use  aforesaid,  to  be  delivered  unto  Arthur  Hatha- 
way and  Sergeant  Shaw,  to  be  by  them  improved  as  opportunity  may 
present  for  the  ends  aforesaid." 

But  this  order,  like  others,  seems  to  have  been  of 
no  avail,  for  three  years  afterwards,  when  the  inhab- 
itants of  Dartmouth  had  met  together  for  the  settling 
of  the  bounds  of  the  town,  the  occasion  was  seized 
upon  for  haranguing  the  people,  "  at  which  time  the 
Governor,  Mr.  Hinckley,  the  treasurer,  Mr.  Walley, 
Lieut.  Morton,  and  John  Tomson  did  engage  to  give 
meeting  with  others  to  propose  and  endeavor  that 
some  provison  may  be  made  for  the  preaching  of  the 
word  of  God  amongst  them." 

Even  the  calamity  which  came  among  them  at  this 
time  from  the  violence  and  cruelty  of  the  Indians,  in 
the  destruction  of  their  homes  and  the  loss  of  their 
property,  did  not  soften  the  displeasure  of  the  gov- 
ernment at  Plymouth,  but  rather  served  as  an  oppor- 
tunity for  renewed  complaint  and  upbraiding.  This 
appears  by  the  order  of  court,  passed  in  October  of 
the  following  year: 

"This  court  taking  into  their  serious  consideration  the  tremendous 
dispensation  of  God  towards  the  people  of  Dartmouth  in  suffering  the 
barbarous  heathen  to  spoil  and  destroy  most  of  their  habitations,  the 
enemy  being  greatly  advantaged  thereunto  by  their  scattered  way  of 
living,  do,  therefore,  order  that  in  the  rebuilding  and  resettling  thereof 
that  they  so  order  it  as  to  live  compact  together.at  least  in  each  village, 
as  they  may  be  in  a  capacity  both  to  defend  themselves  from  the  assault 
of  an  enemy,  and  the  better  to  attend  the  public  worship  of  God,  and 
miuistry  of  the  word  of  God,  whose  carelessness  to  obtain  and  attend 
unto  we  fear  may  have  been  a  provocation  of  God  thus  to  chastise  their 
contempt  of  His  gospel,  which  we  earnestly  desire  the  people  of  that 
place  may  seriously  consider  of,  lay  to  heart,  and  be  humbled  for,  with 
a  solicitous  endeavor  after  a  reformation  thereof,  by  a  vigorous  putting 
forth  to  obtain  an  able,  faithful  dispenser  of  the  word  of  God  amongst 
them,  and  to  encourage  them  therein  ;  the  neglect  whereof  this  court,  as 
they  must  and  God  willing,  they  will  not  permit  for  the  future." 


194 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


However  earnestly  the  Plymouth  court  were  deter- 
mined to  subdue  the  rebellious  and  heretical  spirit  of 
the  early  settlers,  it  does  not  appear  that  much  suc- 
cess attended  the  effort.  The  Quakers  and  Baptists 
of  Dartmouth  were  from  the  same  stern,  unyielding 
stock,  and  they  were  animated  by  a  sense  of  religious 
duty  as  sincere  and  exacting  as  that  which  influenced 
the  rulers  at  Plymouth. 

Stringent  laws  were  from  time  to  time  enacted,  but 
much  of  the  legislation  was  inoperative,  as  the  people 
of  the  town,  while  complying  with  the  letter  of  the  law, 
would  give  no  heed  to  its  spirit.  Laws  were  passed 
in  1692  and  1695  requiring  the  towns  to  provide  able, 
learned,  and  orthodox  ministers  to  dispense  the  word 
of  God.  Dartmouth  did  elect  a  minister,  but  the 
question  of  orthodoxy  then  arose.  In  1704  the  town 
was  indicted  for  non-compliance  with  the  law.  At  the 
town- meeting  held  Jan.  4,  1705,  this  indignant  reply 
was  sent  back  to  the  court : 

"  To  the  quarter  sessions  to  be  holden  at  Bristol 
the  8th  day  of  January,  1705,  we  understand  that 
our  town  is  presented  for  want  of  a  minister  according 
to  law,  to  which  we  answer  that  we  have  one  qualified 
as  the  law  directs,  an  honest  man,  fearing  God,  con- 
scientious, and  a  learned,  orthodox  minister,  able  to 
dispense  the  word  and  gospel  to  us." 

The  name  of  this  minister  does  not  appear  upon  the 
records  of  the  town. 

In  order  to  meet  this  question  of  orthodoxy  the 
Assembly  passed  a  law  in  1715,  in  which  the  preven- 
tion of  the  growth  of  atheism,  irreligion,  and  pro- 
faneness  is  suggested  as  a  reason  of  its  enactment,  in 
which  it  was  provided  that  the  determination  of  who 
should  be  ministers  should  rest  ultimately  with  the 
General  Court  or  Assembly.  Dartmouth  still  refused 
obedience,  and  claimed  the  selection  of  her  own  min- 
ister. At  the  March  town-meeting,  1723,  in  defiance 
of  an  act  of  that  year,  Nathaniel  Howland  was  chosen 
minister,  receiving  fifty-five  votes,  while  Samuel 
Hunt,  a  Presbyterian  or  Independent,  and  the  first 
preacher  of  that  sect  in  our  town,  received  twelve 
votes. 

The  struggle  culminated  in  1724.  In  the  year  1722 
the  Assembly  of  Massachusetts  passed  an  act  to  raise 
one  hundred  pounds  in  the  town  of  Dartmouth  and 
seventy-two  pounds  eleven  shillings  in  the  town  of 
Tiverton  (then  a  part  of  Massachusetts)  for  the  sup- 
port of  ministers,  whose  selection  was  subject  to  the 
approval  of  the  General  Court.  These  two  towns 
were  the  only  ones  in  the  Province  that  had  not  re- 
ceived any  Presbyterian  ministers.  To  blind  the  eyes 
of  the  people  this  sum  was  put  with  the  province  tax, 
and  was  afterwards  to  be  drawn  out  of  the  treasury. 
The  spirit  with  which  this  was  met  by  the  inhabitants 
of  Dartmouth  can  best  be  seen  by  quoting  the  record 
of  the  town-meeting  held  Nov.  26,  1722.  The  record 
says,— 

"  It  being  put  to  vote  whether  the  whole  rate  of  oue  hundred  and 
eighty-one  pounds  twelve  shillings,  called  Dartmouth's  proportion  of  our 


province  tax,  be  niade  by  the  selectmen,  it  passed  in  the  negative.  And 
it  was  put  to  vote  whether  eighty-one  pounds  twelve  shillings,  being  as 
we  are  informed  by  our  representative  to  be  our  just  proportion  of  our 
province  tax,  be  forthwith  made  by  the  selectmen  of  said  Dartmouth. 
Voted  that  it  shall  be  made.  Thirdly,  Voted  that  the  charges  arising  or 
set  on  the  selectmen  of  said  Dartmouth,  either  by  execution  on  their 
bodies  or  estates  or  in  appealing  to  His  MajeBty  for  relief,  be  raised  by 
town  rates.  Fourthly,  Voted  that  seven  hundred  pounds  be  raised  on 
the  inhabitants  of  said  Dartmouth  by  a  town  rate,  for  securing  the 
selectmen  for  not  making  the  rate  of  one  hundred  pounds,  and  also  for 
all  expenses  arising  in  our  sending  to  England  to  His  Majesty  in  the 
above  premises.  Fifthly,  Voted  that  the  selectmen  are  to  be  allowed  — 
shillings,  each  of  them,  a  day  for  every  day  they  lie  in  jail  on  the  town 
account." 

The  town  was  thoroughly  in  earnest.  Only  five 
tax-payers  protested  against  this  appropriation  of  the 
seven  hundred  pounds.  This  sum,  large  for  those 
days,  was  to  be  met  by  the  tax  of  that  year,  and  was 
not  bequeathed  to  posterity  in  the  form  of  a  town 
debt.  Prior  to  this,  in  1696,  the  town  had  instructed 
the  selectmen  not  to  make  the  rates  sent  for  by  the 
general  treasurer  for  this  purpose,  and  in  the  same 
year  it  was  voted  that  Recompence  Kirby  and  Mark 
Jenne  should  have  fifty  shillings  apiece,  part  of  the 
money  they  paid  to  Capt.  Pope,  upon  the  account  of 
their  being  "  pressed ;"  and  it  was  also  voted  that 
there  should  be  a  rate  made  of  twenty-four  pounds 
for  a  town  fund. 

The  bold  and  defiant  attitude  taken  by  the  town 
could  not  be  overlooked  by  the  province  rulers.  The 
refusal  of  the  selectmen  to  assess  the  tax  was  followed 
by  their  imprisonment  in  Bristol  jail,  where  they  re- 
mained about  eighteen  months.  The  persons  who 
were  imprisoned  were  Philip  Taber  and  John  Akin, 
selectmen  of  Dartmouth,  and  Joseph  Anthony  and 
John  Sisson,  selectmen  of  Tiverton,  a  part  of  whom 
were  Baptists  and  a  part  Quakers.  An  embassy  was 
sent  to  England.  Thomas  Richardson  and  Richard 
Partridge,  who  were  Quakers,  interceded  in  their  be- 
half. Their  petition,  addressed  to  the  King  in  Council, 
was  an  able  document,  and  nobly  did  it  plead  for 
freedom  of  conscience  and  security  of  religion,  civil 
liberty,  and  property.  The  petition  was  considered 
at  the  court  of-  St.  James  on  the  2d  day  of  June, 
1724,  when  were  present  the  King's  most  Excellent 
Majesty  and  all  the  lords  of  the  Privy  Council,  and 
it  was  ordered  that  the  obnoxious  taxes  be  remitted, 
and  that  Philip  Taber  and  his  fellow-sufferers  be  im- 
mediately released  from  their  imprisonment,  and  the 
Governor  and  all  other  officers  of  the  province  of 
Massachusetts  Bay  were  notified  to  yield  obedience 
to  these  orders.1 

This  brief  but  brilliant  record  of  the  sacrifices  and 
sufferings,  the  persistent  fidelity  and  the  triumphant 
success  of  the  humble  fathers  of  the  old  town  of 
Dartmouth  in  the  great  struggle  for  the  rights  of  con- 
science, which  is  still  going  on  throughout  the  Chris- 
tian world,  entitles  them  to  a  high  place  in  the  ven- 
eration and  gratitude  of  their  posterity.    They  share, 

iGough's  History  of  the  Quakers,  vol.  iv.  p. 219.     Benedict's  Baptists, 
vol.  i.  pp.  503-4. 


DARTMOUTH. 


195 


with  Roger  Williams,  the  exalted  honor  of  declaring 
to  their  rulers  and  to  the  world  that,  having  fled  from 
ecclesiastical  oppression  in  the  Old  World,  they  would 
resolutely  maintain  their  resistance  to  it  in  the  New; 
and  that  through  the  confiscation  of  their  goods,  the 
incarceration  of  their  persons,  amidst  all  the  hardships 
of  a  new  settlement  in  the  wilderness,  and  under  all 
the  horrors  of  savage  warfare,  they  would  never  falter 
in  the  assertion  and  maintenance  of  the  great  prin- 
ciple of  "perfect  liberty  in  all  matters  of  religious 
concernment." 

The  larger  portion  of  the  early  settlers  were  Friends, 
and  we  find  them  recognized  as  a  religious  body  in 
the  town  as  early  as  1683.  Their  first  meeting-house 
was  built  in  1699,  and  was  located  upon  the  spot  now 
occupied  by  them  at  Apponegansett.  Their  influence 
as  a  sect  can  be  plainly  seen  and  felt  even  now,  and 
much  of  the  high-toned  morality,  generous  and  prac- 
tical philanthropy,  and  pure-minded  Christianity 
which  have  blessed  and  developed  our  people  is 
owing  to  their  religious  teachings. 

Next  to  the  Friends  in  numbers  and  influence 
stood  the  Baptists.  John  Cooke,  whose  name  we 
meet  with  on  the  first  and  on  nearly  every  page  of 
the  early  records  of  the  town  as  a  deputy  and  a  se- 
lectman, filling  various  offices  of  trust  and  honor,  was 
a  Baptist  minister  for  many  years.  But  this  same 
town  official,  Oct.  29,  1670,  was  fined  ten  shillings 
"  for  breaking  the  Sabbath  by  unnecessary  traveling 
thereon."  If  the  record  of  the  case  had  been  pre- 
served it  would  have  appeared,  we  think,  that  Elder 
John  Cooke  was  not  a  Sabbath-breaker,  but  traveling 
upon  his  circuit  as  a  Baptist  preacher. 

Nowhere  upon  the  face  of  the  globe  has  the  prin- 
ciple of  self-government,  the  capacity  and  right  of 
men  to  make  laws  for  themselves  and  regulate  their 
municipal  affairs,  been  so  fully  illustrated  as  in  the 
early  history  of  New  England.  The  most  perfect 
democracies  that  mankind  has  ever  known  are  found 
in  the  early  New  England  towns.  Their  town-meet- 
ings were  the  places  where  the  whole  body  of  the 
citizens  met,  and  where  were  discussed  with  equal 
freedom  by  every  one  all  topics  of  importance, 
whether  local  or  national,  moral  or  political.  Here 
they  learned  to  understand  their  rights  and  privileges 
as  citizens,  and  acquired  moral  and  intellectual 
strength  to  defend  them.  In  those  days  there  was  no 
centralization  of  official  duties  and  responsibilities 
as  now,  the  government  did  not  rest  upon  a  few,  but 
every  man  was  compelled  to  give  his  time  and  judg- 
ment to  the  administration  of  the  town  affairs.  In 
order  to  secure  that  full  and  prompt  attendance  upon 
the  deliberations  of  the  town  which  the  business  re- 
quired, Dartmouth  voted,  in  July,  1674,  ten  years 
after  its  organization,  "that  all  town-meetings  shall 
begin  at  ten  o'clock  and  continue  until  the  modera- 
tor duly  release  the  town,  not  exceeding  four  o'clock. 
Also  that  all  such  persons  as  do  neglect  for  a  year  all 
the  town-meetings  shall  forfeit  to  the  town  sixpence 


apiece,  and  for  coming  to  the  meeting  too  late,  three 
pence  an  hour." 

No  wonder  that  with  such  rules  our  early  munic- 
ipal affairs  were  ably  administered.  True,  some  of 
the  legislation  of  the  town  may  seem  to  us  trivial, 
for  example,  that  every  householder  shall  kill  twelve 
blackbirds  between  the  months  of  January  and  May 
or  pay  a  penalty  for  the  neglect,  and  that  a  crow 
should  count  for  three  blackbirds,  but  yet  every  in- 
habitant became  most  thoroughly  a  part  of  the  town 
and  identified  in  its  prosperity  and  well-being. 

This  close  attention  to  public  business,  as  might  be 
supposed,  was  at  times  annoying  and  irksome,  and 
efforts  were  sometimes  made  by  individuals  to  avoid 
these  duties.  In  1751  this  article  was  inserted  in  the 
warrant  of  the  annual  meeting:  "Whereas  the  East- 
erly and  Westerly  villages  in  said  town,  experience 
teaches,  have  often  neglected  and  omitted  their  duty 
in  coming  to  said  meetings  to  help  carry  on  and  man- 
age the  affairs  of  said  town,  especially  in  the  difficult 
seasons  of  the  year  and  foul  weather  (and  not  in  dan- 
ger of  being  chosen  to  troublesome  offices),  and  so 
have  at  such  times  trusted  and  almost  entirely  re- 
lied and  depended  on  the  Middle  village,  of  which 
the  body  of  the  people  therein  inhabiting  live  remote 
from  said  house,  to  do  all  the  business  of  said  town, 
which  said  Middle  village  is  obliged  to  do  though  a 
hardship,  otherwise  said  town  would  have  incurred 
many  a  fine  for  neglect  of  duty,  the  want  of  grand 
and  petit  jurymen,  and  other  ways  suffered." 

In  order  to  meet  this  difficulty  it  was  voted  to  move 
the  town-house.  But  the  removal  of  the  town-house 
did  not  remedy  the  evils  complained  of,  or,  if  this 
end  was  attained,  new  evils  arose,  for  the  next  year 
the  selectmen  inserted  an  article  in  the  warrant,  "To 
see  if  the  persons  who  carried  away  the  town-house 
will  bring  it  back  again  and  set  it  up  in  the  same 
place  where  they  took  it  from,  in  as  good  repair  as  it 
was  when  they  took  it  away,  and  for  the  town  to  act 
on  the  affair  as  they  should  think  proper." 

This  town-house  I  infer  was  the  one  voted  in  1739 
to  be  built,  the  dimensions  of  which  were  to  be  "  nine 
feet  between  joints  and  twenty-two  feet  wide  and 
thirty-six  feet  long,  with  a  chimney  at  one  end,  with 
a  suitable  roof  and  windows  at  the  same." 

The  mode  of  conducting  the  town  business  was 
similar  to  that  now  adopted,  but  the  style  of  some  of 
the  warrants  would  not  be  tolerated  in  these  days. 
It  was  customary  for  the  selectmen  in  calling  a  town- 
meeting  not  only  to  state  the  business  to  be  consid- 
ered, but  also  very  elaborately  to  discuss  the  several 
subjects,  thereby  furnishing  to  the  people  not  only 
the  question  but  the  arguments  in  favor  of  or  against 
it.  It  might  have  been  that  this  full  presentation  of 
the  merits  of  the  case  and  the  reasons  for  action 
elicited  more  attention,  and,  in  the  language  of  the 
old  town  clerks,  was  productive  of  "large  debate." 
As  an  illustration  of  this  peculiar  and  amusing  fea- 
ture, let  me  quote  from  the  records. 


196 


HISTORY   OF    BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


The  sixth  article  in  the  selectmen's  warrant  for  the 
March  meeting,  1741,  reads  thus, — 

"  That  whereas  such  course  does  much  abound  within  said  town,  many 
running  about  from  house  to  house  to  supply  their  own  present  want, 
miserably  neglecting  their  families  at  home,  which  is  the  only  cause  of 
many's  suffering  who  are  not  capable  of  labor,  which  practice  is  to  the 
great  detriment  of  that  part  of  the  inhabitants  that  are  industrious  and 
laborious,  which  pernicious  practice,  together  with  spending  idly  what 
they  have  or  earn,  is  a  great  if  not  the  only  cause  of  scarcity  of  bread  in 
said  town,  now  to  pass  a  vote  at  said  meeting  for  the  building  a  work- 
house in  said  town  for  the  setting  and  keeping  to  work  all  such  persons 
who  misspend  their  time  as  above  stated,  which  said  vote  is  thought  by 
all  those  that  request  the  same  cannot  be  spoken  against,  except  by 
those  which  are  in  danger  of  breaking  into  said  house  themselves." 

Another  example  of  this  presentation  of  reasons  in 
the  warrant  of  the  selectmen  occurs  in  1746,  when  an 
effort  was  made  to  divide  the  county  or  create  a  new 
county-seat.  This  question  both  before  and  after  this 
date  engaged  the  attention  of  the  people  of  Dart- 
mouth for  many  years.  At  one  time  it  was  proposed 
to  divide  the  county  and  join  Tiverton  and  Little 
Compton  with  us  as  a  new  county.  At  another  time 
it  was  proposed  to  change  the  county-seat  to  Assonet 
as  more  central  than  Taunton.  The  question  was 
finally  settled  in  1828,  after  an  agitation  of  over  one 
hundred  years,  by  making  New  Bedford  a  half-shire 
town.  The  article  in  the  warrant  for  the  town-meet- 
ing held  in  1746  is  as  follows  : 

"  To  consult  and  vote  something  with  respect  to  petitioning  the  Gen- 
eral Court  that  we  may  have  a  county  taken  off  or  made  on  this  side  of 
Assonet  River,  otherwise  we  must  unavoidably  be  expressed  to  go  and 
our  children  after  us,  for  what  we  know,  to  Taunton,  which  will  be  up- 
wards of  thirty-five  miles  distance  for  many  of  said  inhabitants,  which 
will  be  in  the  journey  extremely  tedious  and  expensive,  it  being  too  far 
to  set  out  from  our  homes  to  get  there  before  the  court  setts,  as  likewise 
the  largeness  of  the  county  aggravates  the  case  by  reason  that  one  case 
must  wait  for  another,  and  is  at  times  the  occasion  of  adjournment. 
In  the  whole,  it  will  be  tedious  and  expensive  to  plaintiff,  defendant, 
jurymen,  and  evidences,  but  more  especially  to  poor  widows,  who  are  oft- 
times  obliged  to  go  several  times  before  an  estate  can  be  settled  with  the 
judge  of  probate." 

It  was  certainly  very  convenient  for  the  people  to 
have  the  arguments  all  arranged  for  them  before  they 
were  called  upon  to  vote.  That  our  fathers  took  no 
offense  at  this  course  is  evident  from  its  constant  re- 


currence. 

Early  Settlers— The 
settlers  and  proprietors : 

Abraham  Akin. 
Jacob  Akin. 
John  Akin. 
Jonathan  Akin. 
Joseph  Akin. 
Abraham  Allen. 
Benjamin  Allen. 
Ebenezer  Allen. 
George  Allen. 
Increase  Allen. 
John  Allen. 
Joseph  Allen. 
Josiah  Allen. 
Noah  Allen. 
Noel  Allen. 
Philip  Allen. 
William  Allen. 
Zachariah  Allen. 
William  Almy. 


following  is  a  list  of  early 


Caleb  Anthony. 
Abraham  Ashley. 
Jethro  Ashley. 
Nathaniel  Babbitt. 
Benjamin  Babcock. 
George  Babcock. 
Benjamin  Baker. 
Ebenezer  Baker. 
Jabez  Barker. 
Joseph  Barker. 
Stephen  Barker. 
William  Barker. 
Kich  aid  Bed  en. 
Sampson  Beden. 
Jeremiah  Ben  net. 
John  Bennett. 
Stoten  Booth. 
Benjamin  Borden. 
Edward  Borden. 


John  Borden. 
Joseph  Borden. 
William  Borden. 
John  Briggs. 
Thomas  Briggs. 
Henry  Brightman. 
Thomas  Brightman. 
Ezekiel  Brownell. 
George  Brownell. 
Mehitable  Burrill. 
Jonathan  Butts. 
George  Cadman. 
George  Cadman. 
William  Cadman. 
Abraham  Chace. 
Benjamin  Chace. 
David  Chace. 
Jacob  Chace. 
Jonathan  Clark. 
Thomas  Coleman. 
Hannah  Cornell. 
John  Cornell. 
Samuel  Cornell. 
Thomas  Cornell. 
Samuel  Cornish. 
Benjamin  Cory. 
Caleb  Cory's  heirs. 
Thomas  Crandon. 
Consider  Ciapo. 
Peter  Crapo. 
Abishai  Delano. 
Jethro  Delano. 
Jonathan  Delano. 
Nathan  Delano. 
Nathaniel  Delano. 
Seth  Delano. 
Thomas  Delano. 
Charmont  Demoranville. 
Josiah  Demoranville. 
Louis  Demoranville. 
Nehemiah  Domoranville. 
John  Dennis. 
Jeremiah  Devoll. 
Mary  Devoll. 
William  Devoll. 
Akin  Durfee. 
Benjamin  Durfee. 
Briggs  Durfee. 
John  Earl. 
Ralph  Earl. 
William  Earl. 
William  Earl's  heirs. 
John  Fish. 
Thomas  Fitch. 
Edmund  Freeman. 
Thomas  Getchell. 
Henry  Gidley. 
Benjamin  Gifford. 
Christopher  Gifford. 
Enos  Gifford. 
Jeremiah  Gifford. 
Joseph  Gifford. 
Levi  Gifford. 
Robert  Gifford. 
William  Gifford. 
Beriah  Goddard. 
John  Hammond. 
William  Hart. 
Benjamin  Hathaway. 
Elisha  Hathaway. 
James  Hathaway. 
Jethro  Hathaway. 
John  Hathaway. 
Jonathan  Hathaway. 
Meltiah  Hathaway. 
Seth  Hathaway. 
Sylvanus  Hathaway. 


Thomas  Hathaway. 
Thomas  Hathaway  (2d). 
Jonathan  Head. 
Gabriel  Hix. 
Joseph  Hix. 
Mary  Hix. 
Samuel  Hix. 
Experience  Holmes. 
Abner  Howard. 
William  Howard. 
Benjamin  Howland. 
Gideon  Howland. 
Giles  Howland. 
Henry  Howland. 
Nathaniel  Howland. 
Nicolas  Howland. 
Zoeth  Howland. 
Samuel  Hunt. 
Valentine  Huttlestone. 
Job  Jeune. 
John  Jenne. 
John  Jenne,  Jr. 
Lettice  Jenne's  heirs. 
Luther  Jenne. 
Mark  Jenne. 
Samuel  Jenne. 
Seth  Jenne. 
Samuel  Joy. 
James  Kempton. 
Manasseh  Kempton. 
Jacob  Kenny. 
John  Kirby. 
Nathaniel  Kirby. 
Robert  Kirby. 
Isaac  Lake. 
Joseph  Lake. 
Nathaniel  Lake. 
John  Lapham. 
Nicholas  Lapham. 
George  Lawton. 
Abial  Macomber. 
Ephraim  Macomber. 
John  Macomber. 
Samuel  Blacomber. 
Thomas  Macomber. 
William  Macomber. 
Edmund  Maxfield. 
John  Maxfield. 
Timothy  Maxfield. 
Zadock  Maxfield. 
Samuel  Mendall. 
Jonah  Merrihew. 
Joseph  Merrihew. 
Peter  Merrihew. 
Job  Milk. 
Lemuel  Milk. 
Seth  Morton. 
Abner  Mosher. 
Benjamin  Mosher. 
Constant  Mosher. 
Daniel  Mosher. 
Hugh  Mosher. 
John  Mosher. 
Jonathan  Mosher. 
Joseph  Mosher. 
Maxson  Mosher. 
Nicholas  Mosher. 
Samuel  Mott. 
Nathan  Nye. 
Micah  Parker. 
Joseph  Peckham. 
Stephen  Peckham. 
Samuel  Perry. 
David  Petty. 
Edmund  Pope. 
Isaac  Pope. 
Seth  Pope. 


DARTMOUTH. 


197 


Ichabod  Potter. 
John  Potter. 
Nathaniel  Potter. 
Stephen  Potter. 
Stokes  Potter. 
Eleazer  Pratt. 
Jonathan  Rieketson. 
Timothy  Ricketson. 
William  Ricketson. 
Samuel  Rider. 
William  Rider. 
Daniel  Rogers. 
Philip  Rogers. 
George  Rowse. 
John  Russell. 
John  Russell,  Jr. 
Jonathan  Russell. 
Joseph  Russell. 
Joseph  Russell,  Jr. 
Thomas  Russell. 
Henry  Sampson. 
James  Sampson. 
James  Sampson,  Jr. 
Joseph  Sampson. 
Stephen  Sampson. 
Daniel  Shearman. 
Edmund  Shearman. 
Job  Shearman. 
John  Shearman. 
Joshua  Shearman. 
Peleg  Shearman. 
Philip  Shearman. 
Samuel  Shearman. 
William  Shearman. 
Daniel  Shepherd. 
John  Shepherd. 
James  Sisson. 
Eleazer  Slocuin. 
Giles  Slocuni. 
Mary  Slocuni. 
Peleg  Slocum. 
Benjamin  Smith. 
Deliverance  Smith. 
Eleazer  Smith. 
Eliashap  Smith. 
Gershom  Smith. 
Henry  Smith. 
Hepsibah  Smith. 
Hezekiah  Smith. 
Humphrey  Smith. 
Increase  Smith. 
Judah  Smith. 
Mary  Smith. 
Peleg  Smith. 
Amos  Snell. 
Benjamin  Sowle. 
George  Sowle. 
Jacob  Sowle. 
John  Sowle. 
Jouathan  Sowle. 
Nathaniel  Sowle. 
Timothy  Sowle. 
William  Sowle. 
Benjamin  Spooner. 
Isaac  Spooner. 
John  Spooner. 
John  Spooner,  Jr. 
Micah  Spooner. 
Nathanifi  Spooner, Jr. 
Samviel  Spooner. 
Seth  Spooner. 


Walter  Spooner, 
William  Spooner. 
Joseph  Stafford. 
John  Summers. 
Jacob  Taber. 
Jacob  Taber,  Jr. 
John  Taber. 
Jonathan  Taber. 
Joseph  Taber. 
Philip  Taber. 
Philip  Taber,  Jr. 
Stephen  Taber. 
Thomas  Taber. 
Thomas  Taber,  Jr. 
William  Taber. 
Jonathan  Tallman. 
Ebenezer  Tinkham. 
John  Tinkham. 
Peter  Tinkham. 
Elisha  Tobey. 
Elnathan  Tobey. 
Jonathan  Tobey. 
William  Tobey. 
Zaccheus  Tobey. 
John  Tompson. 
Abial  Tripp. 
Benjamin  Tripp. 
Ebenezer  Tripp. 
James  Tripp. 
John  Tripp. 
Joseph  Tripp. 
Peleg  Tripp. 
Richard  Tripp. 
Timothy  Tripp. 
Abraham  Tucker. 
Henry  Tucker. 
John  Tucker. 
Joseph  Tucker  and  sons. 
Christopher  Turner. 
Benjamin  Wait. 
Reuben  Wait. 
Thomas  Wait. 
Richard  Ward. 
Thomas  Ward. 
Moses  Washburn. 
Peter  Washburn. 
Eli  Waste. 
Nathan  Waste. 
Joseph  Weaver. 
Bartholomew  West. 
Samuel  West. 
Stephen  West. 
Joseph  Whalen. 
George  White. 
John  White. 
Rogers  White. 
Samuel  White. 
William  White. 
Scipio  Wilbour. 
Stephen  Wilcox. 
Daniel  Wilcox. 
Jeremiah  Wilcox. 
Samuel  Wilcox. 
Samuel  Willis. 
Joseph  Wing. 
Matthew  Wing. 
Daniel  Wood. 
George  Wood. 
George  Wood,  Jr. 
William  Wood. 


CHAPTER     XVI. 

DARTMOUTH.-(''»,(/f»„erf.) 
DOCUMENTARY   HISTORY. 

At  the  June  term  of  the  Plymouth  Colony  Court, 
in  the  year  1664,  it  was  ordered  that  "  all  that  tract 
of  land  commonly  called  and  known  by  the  name  of 
Acushena,  Ponagansett,  and  Coaksett,  is  allowed  by 
the  courts  to  be  a  township,  and  the  inhabitants 
thereof  have  liberty  to  make  such  orders  as  may  con- 
duce to  their  common  good  in  town  concernments, 
and  that  the  said  town  be  henceforth  called  and 
known  by  the  name  of  Dartmouth." 

Territorial  Limits  of  Dartmouth. — Dartmouth 
was  thus  described  in  the  original  grant :  "  A  tract 
or  tracts  of  land  known  by  the  name  of  Accushena) 
alias  Aquset,  entering  in  at  the  western  end  of  Nakata, 
and  to  the  river  Cookset,  alias  Ackees,  and  places 
adjacent,  the  bounds  of  which  tract  fully  extend 
three  miles  to  the  eastward  of  the  most  easterly  part 
of  the  river  or  bay  Accushenah  aforesaid,  and  so  along 
the  sea-side  to  the  river  called  Cooksett,  lying  on  the 
west  side  of  Point  Pirril,  and  to  the  westermost  side 
of  any  branch  of  the  aforesaid  river,  and  extending 
eight  miles  into  the  woods  with  all  marshes,  meadows, 
rivers,  waters,  woods,  appurtenances  thereto  belong- 
ing."1 

1634.    Samuel  Cornell  was  chosen  representative. 

May  29,  1685.  Jonathan  Deliue  and  Joseph  Tripp 
are  chosen  debitys ;  Seth  Pope,  Jonathan  Russell, 
and  Thomas  Taber,  selectmen. 

It  was  further  agreed  at  the  said  Town  Meeting 
the  29th  May  1685  that  for  the  repairing  of  the  high- 
ways the  village  of  Conset  shall  extend  so  far  as 
Peleg  Slocums  and  ponagansett  village  from  thence 
to  Hezekiah  Smiths  and  that  Cokset  village  shall 
repare  the  rodways  from  the  westermost  sid  of  this 
township  to  the  east  sid  of  Nocachak  river  and  pon- 
agansett from  thence  into  the  east  sid  of  the  next 
swamp  to  the  east  of  the  next  swamp  which  is  about 
the  midway  between  the  mill  and  Cushnet  and  acush- 
net  village  to  repare  from  thence  to  the  east  side  of 
this  township,  it  is  further  ordered  at  the  town 
meeting  the  29th  May  1685  that  whereas  it  doth  ap- 
pear that  indian  Robben  living  at  Saconet  did  kill  a 
wolf  some  time  this  last  year  within  the  township  of 
Dartmouth  that  he  shall  have  six  shillings  paid  unto 
him  out 'of  the  town  rate  by  the  constable  at  some 
convenient  time  after  the  making  of  this  year's  rate 
and  that  any  indian  or  indians  that  shall  kill  any 
wolves  or  bares  hereafter  within  this  township  and 
bring  the  heads  of  said  wolf  or  bare  to  the  constable 
shall  have  six  shillings  paid  unto  him  or  them  for 
etch  wolf  or  bare  so  killed.  Also  ordered  that  the 
English  shall  have  teen  shillings  for  the  killing  of  a 
wolf  or  a  bare  within  this  township  paid  out  of  the 
town  rate  by  the  constable. 

1  Baylies'  New  Plymouth,  Part  II.  p.  231. 


198 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Feb.  4,  1685.  At  a  town  meeting  held  in  Dart- 
mouth 4th  of  Feb.  1685  John  Cook,  Seth  Pope 
and  Joseph  Tripp  are  chosen  A  jants  to  apear  at 
month  Court  Next  to  be  holden  at  New  plyrnot  and 
there  to  mak  answer  to  said  Court  in  the  Town's  be- 
half for  the  Towns  not  making  of  a  Rate  of  twenty 
pounds  this  year  for  the  incorregment  of  a  minister 
to  preach  the  words  of  God  amongst  them. 

May  24,  1686.  At  a  town  meeting  the  24  May, 
1686,  John  Cook  chose  Debity  Joseph  Seth  Pope 
and  four  others,  Deline,  Selectmen,  James  Sisson 
Constable  Recompense  Grand  jury  men.  John 
Spooner,  John  Shearman  and  George  Cadman  sur- 
veyors of  the  highways.  It  is  also  ordered  that  all  our 
Town  meetings  shall  be  held  at  or  near  the  mill  in 
Dartmouth  until  the  town  sees  cause  to  order  it 
otherwise. 

May  22,  1674.  At  a  town  meeting  the  22nd  of  May 
in  the  year  1674  John  Cook  was  chosen  debity  Arthur 
Hathaway  Grandjuryman  William  cad  Constable 
John  Russell  iams  Shaw  and  William  Palmer  select- 
men. Daniel  Willcox,  Peleg  Sharman  and  Samuel 
Cudbard  surveyors  and  James  Shaw  Clerk. 

July  22,  1674.  At  a  town  meeting  22ud  July  1674 
it  is  ordered  that  all  our  town  meetings  doe  beginne 
at  ten  of  ye  clocke  and  to  continue  untill  ye  moder- 
ator doly  release  the  town  not  exceeding  four  of  ye 
clock. 

It  is  all  so  ordered  that  all  such  persons  as  doe 
necklectt  to  a  yeer  all  the  town  meetings  shall  for- 
fitt  to  the  town  1  shilling  and  six  pence  a  pece  and 
for  coming  to  meeting  to  Catt  three  pence  an  hour. 

It  is  also  ordered  that  the  toAvn  clarke  shall  gather 
up  all  a  for  said  finnes  and  shall  have  ye  on  hullfe  of 
them  for  his  pains  and  in  ceace  any  doe  refuse  to  pay 
them  returne  the  neame  to  ye  town. 

It  is  ordered  by  the  towne  by  vote  that  there  shall 
be  no  alternative  in  the  rulle  of  for  this  following 
year. 

Henry  Tucker  Joseph  Tripp  and  Jeames  Shaw  are 
chosen  reatters  for  this  following  year. 

May  24,  1686.  A  list  of  the  names  of  the  Towns- 
men of  Dartmouth  who  have  taken  the  oath  of  fidelity 
or  freemen's  oath. 


John  Cook 
John  Russell :  Sq. 
John  Smith 
Samuel  Jene:  Sener 
Arthur  Hathaway 
William  Woods 
James  Sampson 
John  Shearman 
Seth  Pope 
Joseph  Tripp 
Jonathan  Russell 
Jonathan  Delano 
Thomas  Taber 
Samuel  Cornwell 


James  Sisson 
John  Spooner 
Nathaniel  Soule 
John  Terry 
Eleazer  Smith 
Return  Babcock 
William  Spooner 
Lettice  Jeney 
George  Cadman 
James  Triple 
Samuel  Jeney,  Jr. 
John  Hathaway 
Josiah  Smith 
Joseph  Russell 


Hezekiah  Smith 
Deliverance  Smith 

Shearman 

Howland 

John  Earl 
Ralph  Earl,  Jun. 
Ralph  Earl,  son  of 
Earl 


Wm. 


Stephen  Peckham 
William  Macomber 
Samuel  Willcock's 
James  Franklin 
Samuel  Spooner 
William  Wood 
A,nthony  Savory. 


July  29,  1709.  Henry  Howland  was  agreed  with 
to  make  a  pair  of  stocks  and  whipping  post. 

June  7, 1728.  David  Shepherd  to  have  "  ten  pounds 
for  the  year's  service  to  be  pd  50s  a  quarter."  Persons 
that  "  improve  the  respective  that  are  provided  by  the 
general  court  shall  pay  them  their  wages,  and  all  the 
others  are  hereby  exempted."  Christopher  Faunce 
was  presented  for  a  <;  grammar  schoolmaster"  and 
accepted. 

Dec.  16,  1746.  Town  petitioned  "the  Great  and 
General  Court"  that  a  "New  County  may  be  taken 
off  or  made  on  this  side  of  Assonet  River." 

(That  part  of  the  warrant  for  the  meeting  Dec.  16, 
1746,  that  has  reference  to  the  county  matter  is  as 
follows.)  To  consult  and  vote  something  with  respect 
to  petitioning  the  General  Court  q1  we  may  have  a 
County  Taken  off  or  Made  on  this  side  Assonet  River, 
otherwise  we  must  unavoidably  be  obliged  to  go  and 
our  children  after  us  for  what  we  know  to  Taunton 
which  will  be  upwards  of  thirty-five  miles  distant 
for  many  of  said  Inhabitants,  which  will  be  in  the 
extreme  tedious  and  expensive,  it  being  too 
far  to  set  out  from  our  Homes  to  get  there  before  the 
Court  setts,  as  likewise  the  of  the  County  agra- 

vates  the  case  by  reason  that  one  case  must  wait  for 
another  and  is  at  times  the  occasion  of  adjourn- 
ments. 

In  the  whole  it  will  be  tedious  and  expensive  to 
Plat,  defend  Jurymen  and  Evidences.  But  more  es- 
pecially to  poor  widows  who  are  oft  times  obliged  to 
go  several  times  before  an  estate  can  be  settled  with 
the  judge  of  probate. 

1732,  February  the  ninth  day  1731  or  1732,  then 
rec'd  of  Robert  Kirby,  of  Dartmouth,  in  New  Eng- 
land the  sum  of  five  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  of  cur- 
rent money  of  New  England,  or  bills  of  credit  from 
him,  due  to  me  and  in  full  payment  and  being  in  full 
for  a  bond  of  five  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  in  money, 
baring  date  February  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1731 
from  R.  Kirby  to  me  the  sd  Wate,  in  witness  whereof 
I  the  sd  Wate  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  seal 
this  ninth  day  of  February  in  the  year  one  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  thirty-one  or  thirty-two  &  the 
fifth  year  of  the  reign  of  George  the  Second  King  of 
Great  Britain  &c.  signed,  sealed  and  delivered  in 
presence  of 

Nathaniel  Soule. 

Johnathan  Gifford.  Benjamin  Wate. 

Bristol  vs.  To  the  constable  or  constables  of  Dart- 
mouth or  either  of  them  greeting  these  are  in  his 


DARTMOUTH. 


199 


majesties  name  to  require  you  to  notify  all  the  free- 
holders and  other  inhabitants  of  the  town  aforesd  that 
are  qualified  as  the  law  directs  to  vote  in  town  meet- 
ings that  they  meet  together  all  the  town  house  in 
So.  Dartmouth  on  Tuesday  the  second  of  July  then 
and  there  to  act  on  the  following  particular.  First  to 
agree  with  the  town  treasurer  what  he  shall  have  for 
his  service  this  ensuing  year.  Secondly  to  call  the 
committee  to  an  account  that  was  chosen  to  make  up 
accounts  with  the  trustees  &  town  treasurer  and  former 
selectmen.  Thirdly  to  conclude  wether  or  not  to  re- 
turn Stephen  Peckham's  fine  for  not  serving. 

The  foregoing  report  of  the  committee  was  ac- 
cepted by  a  unanimous  vote  of  one  hundred  and  fifty 
persons  present. 

The  Eev.  Samuel  Wat  and  the  Honorable  Walter 
Spooner,  Esq.,  are  unanimously  chosen  delegates  for 
the  town  of  Dartmouth  to  represent  them  in  conven- 
tion convened  to  meet  at  Boston  the  first  Wednes- 
day in  June  next.  The  foregoing  Report  of  the  com- 
mittee was  accepted  by  a  unanimous  vote  of  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty-two  persons  present. 

March  23  1734  Ye  23d  of  ye  month  called  March 
173f  voted,  that  such  vilage  shall  have  free  toleration 
to  elect  a  school  master  for  each  vilage,  to  be  paid  by 
a  rate  upon  each  vilage  if  the  said  vilages  see  cause 
to  elect  one,  &  that  vilage  which  shall  clear  the  town 
of  being  fined  for  want  of  a  grammar  school  master,  by 
procuring  a  lawfull  one,  shall  receive  ten  pounds  fro 
be  paid  by  the  whole  town  in  general  &  that  every 
person  or  persons  in  each  of  sd  vilages  shall  have  free 
access  or  liberty  to  send  their  children  to  sd  master 
for  benifitt  of  the  lattin  tongue  but  no  other:  at  an 
annual  meeting  in  March  1733,  voted — That  William 
Lake  as  grammar  school  master  at  forty  five  pounds 
pr  annum  :  Voted, — That  all  people  who  receive 
benifitt  of  ye  sd  schoolmaster,  by  sending  their  chil- 
dren, shall  frankly  give  sd  master  their  proportionable 
part  of  his  dqet,  washing  &  lodging — also  he  shall  be 
removed  by  order  of  the  selectmen. 

William  Palmer  is  accepted  off  by  a  vote  of  the 
town  as  a  school  master  at  fifty  pounds  a  year  in  the 
old  tenor  and  the  town  shall  find  him  and  he  to  have 
liberty  to  teach  the  art  of  navigation. 

Slavery— Dec.  24  1735  July  9  1770  Wheras  Elna- 
than  Sampson  of  Dartmouth  in  the  County  of  Bristol, 
&  Province  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  in  New  England, 
Blacksmith  did  on  the  Eighth  Day  of  November  A.D. 
1869,  at  public  auction  purchase,  buy  and  become 
]>  i-sessed  of  a  negro  man,  slave  named  Venter  aged 
about  forty  five  years  as  may  appear  by  a  Bill  of 
Sale  of  said  negro,  given  to  the  said  Elnathan  Samp- 
son, by  Job  Williams  a  Debuty  Sheriff',  in  said  County 
of  Bristol,  who  was  then  taken  and  sold  by  virtue  of  a 
Writ  of  Kxecution  wherein  one  Daniel  Russell  was 
creditor  and  one  Jeremiah  Child  debtor,  as  the  proper 
Estate  of  the  said  Jeremiah  Childs,  before  the  said 
sale — and  the  said  Elnathan  Sampson  did  afterwards 


convey  one  half  of  the  said  negro  to  John  Chaffee  of 
said  Dartmouth  =  Spermacetti  Manufacturer — 

These  are  therefore  to  certify  whomsoever  it  may 
concern,  that  be  the  said  Elnathan  Sampson  &  John 
Chaffee  for  and  in  consideration  of  the  sum  of  twenty 
one  pounds — six  shillings  &  five  pence,  lawfull  money 
of  sd  Province  to  us  in  hand  paid  by  the  said  negro 
man  Venture,  the  receipt  whereof  we  hereby  acknowl- 
edge, have  acquitted  &  renounced  all  Right,  Title  or 
Interest,  whatever  in  and  to  said  negro,  &  do  hereby 
set  him  at  full  liberty  to  act  his  own  will  from  the 
rate  hereof  forever.  In whereof  we  have  here- 
unto set  our  hand  and  seal  this  170*  22  day  of  Janu- 
ary—Daniel Shepherd  was  agreed  with  to  be  one 
town  school  master  for  the  year  following  and  to 
have  £18,  and  his  did  for  his  services  for  the  year. 

It  is  also  ordered  at  said  meeting  that  every  house- 
holder being  a  planter,  shall  kill  12  black  bird,  be- 
tween the  first  day  of  January  and  the  middle  of  May 
yearly  on  pain  of  forfeiting  three  half  pence  for  every 
bird  they  shall  neglect  killing  of  sd  number,  sd  for- 
feitures to  be  added  to  such  persons  town  rate  yearly, 
to  be  paid  into  the  town  stock,  and  further  it  is 
ordered,  that  every  black  bird  that  shall  be  killed 
within  the  town,  within  the  times  limited  over  the 
number  of  12  to  each  planter  as  above,  shall  be  paid 
1  peny  out  of  the  town  stock,  or  be  abated  out  of  the 
rate  in  the  next  town  rate.  It  is  also  ordered  that 
each  crow  that  shall  be  killed  within  said  time  yearly, 
shall  be  scorred  for  three  black  birds.  It  is  also 
ordered  that  Joseph  Tripp,  Matthew  Wing,  Nath. 
Howland,  John  Russell,  and  Isaac  Spooner  be  the 
persons  to  take  account  of  what  birds  are  killed  in 
the  town  and  give  an  account  yearly  to  the  Select- 
men so  that  the  penaltie  may  be  paid  on  such  as  are 
negligent  and  money  may  be  raised  to  pay  them  that 
kill  more  than  their  number. 

It  is  ordered  that  there  shall  be  a  law  book  bought 
for  the  town's  use  and  be  paid  for  out  of  the  town  rate 
assessed. 

Ninth  day  of  July  in  the  Tenth  of  his  Majesty's 
Reign  Anno  Domini  1770,  signed  and  sealed  in  pres- 
ence of 

Edward  Pope    Elisha  Tobey 

Francis  Rotch     Elnathan  Sampson 
John  Chaffee 

July  9th  1770  Personally  appeared  Elnathan  Samp- 
son and  John  Chaffee  &  acknowledged  this  Instru- 
ment to  be  there  act  and  deed  before  me,  Elisha 
Tobey  Just,  of  the  Peace. 

Recorded  by  me  this  18th  day  of  July  1770 

Benjamin  Aikin,  Town  Clerk. 

August  9th,  1780.— Warrant  for  voting  for  Gov.  & 
L't-Gov.  &  Councillors  &  Senators.  This  is  the  first 
warrant  under  the  new  constitution. 

Sep't.  4,  1780.— Votes.  Jn°  Hancock  Govr  79. 
Th°  bushing  54.  L't  Gov.  Walter  Spooner  &  Tho 
Durfee,  sen  &  coun.  66  votes.     George  Leonard  62. 

There  was  of  Coun.  no  opposition  ticket. 


200 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


December  ye  —  day  1788.— For  the  choice  of  Rep- 
resentatives for  to  go  to  Congress :  Phanual  Bishop 
eight  votes.  George  Leonard  had  six  votes,  also  at 
said  meeting  choose  Electors  (viz.)  Holder  Slocum 
had  nine.  Phanual  Bishop  nine  votes.  David  Cobb 
had  three  votes.  Walter  Spooner  had  3  votes.  Wil- 
liam [  |  had  2  votes. 

Recorded  by  Benjamin  Akin, 

Town  Clerk. 


CHAPTER    XVII. 
DARTMOUTH.— {Continued.) 

WAR  OF  THE  REVOLUTION.! 

First  Action  of  the  Town— The  Town-Meeting  of  1774^The  Resolves- 
Patriotic  Women — They  Resolve  to  Discontinue  the  Use  of  Tea — Inter- 
esting Incident — Revolutionary  Soldiers— Extracts  from  Town  Rec- 
ords. 

Dartmouth  was  in  no  respect  behind  her  sister 
towns  of  Massachusetts  in  devotion  and  sacrifice  to 
the  cause  of  liberty.  She  contributed  freely  in  men 
and  money,  and  although  we  find  in  the  military  an- 
nals of  the  period  no  names  of  distinction  belonging 
to  the  town,  yet  we  know  that  her  people  were  thor- 
oughly in  sympathy  with  the  Revolution.  On  the 
nineteenth  day  of  September,  1768,  Walter  Spooner 
was  appointed  by  the  town  to  represent  it  in  Faneuil 
Hall,  Boston,  to  consider  what  wise  and  prudent 
measures  should  be  adopted  to  prevent  the  distress 
and  misery  which  were  likely  to  come  upon  them  by 
reason  of  the  number  of  regular  troops  to  be  quar- 
tered in  Massachusetts.  In  1774  a  town-meeting  was 
called  "  to  take  into  the  most  mature  and  serious  con- 
sideration the  melancholy  and  distressing  situation  of 
public  affairs  of  this  province,  and  to  adopt  and  pur- 
sue all  those  rational  and  justifiable  methods  which, 
by  the  blessings  of  heaven  attending  our  endeavors, 
will  have  the  greatest  tendency  to  remove  from  us 
and  our  fellow-sufferers  those  troubles  we  feel  and 
fear  under  the  present  frowns  of  the  British  admin- 
istration." 

The  town-meeting  was  held  July  18,  1774.  Hon. 
Walter  Spooner,  Benjamin  Akin,  Esq.,  William  Davis, 
William  Tallman,  Maj.  Ebenezer  Willis,  Jireh  Willis, 
Seth  Pope,  Seth  Hathaway,  and  Hannaniah  Cornish 
were  appointed  a  committee  to  prepare  and  draw  up 
what  they  should  deem  most  proper  as  expressing  the 
sense  of  the  meeting,  and  report  in  the  afternoon  for 
the  town's  consideration.  The  report  of  these  gentle- 
men was  accepted.  It  was  voted,  "  That  we  are 
grieved  at  being  necessitated  to  act  a  part  which  at 
first  view  appears  unfriendly  with  respect  to  our 
manufacturing  brethren  and  friends  in  Great  Britain 

1  For  history  of  the  burning  of  Bedford  village  and  Gen.  Grey's  raid, 
see  Chapter  VIII.  in  History  of  New  Bedford. 


and  Ireland  ;  but  we  trust  we  shall  readily  be  excused 
by  them  when  they  consider  that  this  part  of  our 
conduct  is  wholly  designed,  and  in  our  judgment  will 
have  the  greatest  tendency  of  anything  in  our  power, 
to  save  both  them  and  us  from  bondage  and  slavery, 
for  upon  mature  consideration  we  judge  the  several 
late  unconstitutional  acts  of  the  British  Parliament 
have  a  direct  tendency  to  destroy  the  harmony  which 
has  subsisted  among  all  the  British  subjects,  and  to 
entirely  abolish  the  English  Constitution  and  form  of 
government ;  and  therefore,  as  the  most  probable 
means  to  prevent  those  destructive  purposes,  we  unite 
with  our  American  brethren,  and 

"Resolve,  That  we  will  not  purchase  any  goods 
manufactured  in  Great  Britain  and  Ireland  which 
shall  be  imported  from  thence  after  this  day ;  that  we 
will  not  purchase  any  English  goods  of  any  hawker  or 
peddler;  that  we  will  not  purchase  any  foreign  teas 
whatever;  that  we  will  not  export  any  flax-seed  to 
any  foreign  market;  that  we  do  acquiesce  in  the  na- 
ture and  necessity  of  raising  our  proportion  of  money 
to  pay  the  Congress  and  to  raise  the  same  by  sub- 
scription, and  that  these  resolves  do  remain  in  force 
so  long  as  the  present  grievous  acts  of  the  British 
Parliament  remain  unrepealed." 

At  this  meeting  a  committee  of  correspondence  was 
chosen  to  act  with  other  committees  in  America. 
And  also  a  resolve  was  passed  advancing  "  the  town's 
proportion  of  the  money  to  pay  the  committee  of 
Congress." 

In  the  county  congress,  held  at  Taunton,  the  same 
year,  "  to  devise  and  act  on  such  measures  as  the  exi- 
gencies of  the  times  require,"  the  town  was  ably  and 
patriotically  represented. 

Not  the  men  alone,  but  the  women  of  Dartmouth 
fully  entered  into  the  resolutions  of  non-intercourse 
with  Great  Britain.  They  had  their  League  Society, 
which  was  more  exacting  in  the  observance  of  its 
principles  than  the  Ladies'  League  Associations  of 
the  present  day.  In  January,  1774,  fifty-seven  ladies 
of  Bedford  village  had  a  meeting  at  which  they  en- 
tered into  an  agreement  not  to  use  any  more  India 
tea;  and  having  heard  that  a  gentleman  there  had 
lately  bought  some,  they  requested  he  would  imme- 
diately return  it.  This  request  he  complied  with, 
whereupon  the  ladies  treated  him  with  a  glass  of 
"  this  country  wine"  and  dismissed  him,  highly  pleased 
with  his  exemplary  conduct.  A  number  of  gentle- 
men present  gave  him  three  cheers  in  approbation  of 
his  noble  behavior. 

This  occurred  six  months  prior  to  the  action  of  the 
town-meeting,  and  doubtless  contributed  much  in 
forming  the  public  sentiment  of  the  town. 

Revolutionary  Soldiers. — The  following  list  of 
soldiers,  etc.,  is  taken  from  Daniel  Ricketson's  excel- 
lent "  History  of  New  Bedford,"  published  in  1858. 
These  lists  were  furnished  Mr.  Ricketson  by  Thomas 
Kempton. 

The   following  is  "a  muster-roll  of  the  company 


DARTMOUTH. 


201 


under  the  command  of  Capt.  Thomas  Kempton,  in 
Col.  Danielson's  regiment,  to  the  1st  of  August,  1775  :" 
Thomas  Kempton,  captain  ;  AmasaSoper,  first  lieu- 
tenant; John  Chadwick,  second  lieutenant;  John 
Swift,  George  Brownell,  Thomas  West,  John  Sullings, 
sergeants;  James  Spooner,  Robert  Crosman,  Elijah 
Allen,  Paul  Weston,  corporals  ;  Obed  Cushman,  filer  ; 
Simeon  Fuller,  drummer  ;  Benjamin  Adams,  Eleazer 
Allen,  Joshua  Austin,  David  Babcock,  Noah  Ball, 
Jabez  Bennet,  Thomas  Bennet,  Jonathan  Bradshaw, 
Prince  Brownell,  Gamaliel  Bryant,  Jessey  Burt,  John 
Coggeshall,  William  Counts,  Robert  Crosman,  Jr., 
Louis  De  Moranville,  Thomas  Eskridge,  John  Gam- 
mons, Phineas  Hammond,  Roger  Hammond,  George 
Haskins,  David  Hathaway,  John  Hathaway,  Lemuel 
Hathaway,  David  Kentch,  Silas  Kirby,  Robert 
Knowlton,  David  Lewis,  Humphrey  Macomber,  Pre- 
served Merrihew,  Jonathan  Mosher,  Jacob  Mott, 
Isaac  Noble,  John  Ormsby,  Silas  Perry,  Peter  Phil- 
lips, Peter  Sands,  Daniel  Sherman,  John  Sherman, 
Lemuel  Sherman,  John  Solomon  (Indian),  John 
Spooner,  Giles  Tallman,  Joseph  Trafford,  Lettice 
Washburn,  Nathan  Waste,  privates;  amounting  to 
fifty-eight,  all  from  Dartmouth,  with  the  exception 
of  three, — Louis  De  Moranville,  Freetown  ;  Phineas 
Hammond,  Rochester;  and  David  Lewis,  Rhode  Is- 
land. The  time  of  enlistment  was  in  the  month  of 
May,  1775.  The  time  of  service,  with  a  few  excep- 
tions, was  three  months ;  the  shortest,  one  month  and 
twelve  days.  Their  headquarters  was  Roxbury  ;  the 
allowance,  one  penny  per  mile  for  travel  ;  greatest 
distance  of  travel,  sixty-nine  miles;  least,  fifty-seven. 
The  amount  the  captain  received  for  this  campaign 
was  £18  10*.  lit/.;  the  first  lieutenant,  £12  16s.  4cl ; 
the  second  lieutenant,  £10  18s.  9c/. ;  the  four  sergeants, 
£1  15s.  7'L,  £5  9s.,  £5,  15s.  7c/.,  £5  2s.  lid.;  the  four 
corporals,  £4  12s.  2d.,  £2  18s.  Sd.,  £5  3s.,  £3  Is. ;  the 
lifer,  £4  10s.  lOd. ;  the  drummer,  £5  3s.  These  were 
the  amounts  paid  after  deducting  what  had  been 
charged  for  supplies.  The  difference  in  the  amounts 
paid  to  the  officers,  as  well  as  the  privates,  was  mainly 
owing  to  the  greater  or  less  supplied  them.  This 
old  muster-roll  contains  twenty-three  columns  under 
the  following  heads,  viz.:  "Men's  names,"  "Towns 
whence  they  came,"  "  Rank,"  "  Time  of  enlistment," 
"Travell."  "Amount  at  Id.  a  mile,"  "Time  of  ser- 
vice," "Whole  amount,"  "Guns,"  "By  whom  sup- 
plyed,"  "  Price,"  "  Bayonets,"  "  Of  whom  received," 
"  Price,"  "  Cartridge-boxes,"  "  Of  whom  received," 
"Price,"  "  Cloathing,"  "Of  whom  received," 
"Amount,"'  "Advance  Wages,"  "  Blankets  received 
more  than  entitled  to  by  enlistment,"  "  Amount  of 
deduction,"  "  Balance."  The  amount  paid  for  travel, 
£14  os.  10'/.  The  whole  amount  allowed  each  private 
before  discount  ranged  from  a  little  more  than  £4  to 
£6  10s.  The  number  of  guns  supplied  was  twenty- 
six, — amount  for  same,  £41  10s. ;  four  bayonets,  with 
sheaths  and  belts,  supplied  by  Jireh  Swift,  amounting 
to  8s.  2c/.;  thirty  cartridge-boxes,  supplied  by  Jireh 


Swift,  amounting  to  £6  7s.  Gd.  ;  twenty-seven  pairs  of 
shoes  and  one  cap,  supplied  by  Jireh  Swift  and  Com- 
missary Blaney,  the  shoes  at  6s.  and  the  cap  2s., 
amounting  to  t'8  4s. ;  the  amount  paid  for  advance 
wages  £2  each,  excepting  the  captain  and  two  lieu- 
tenants,— £108  :  the  whole  expense  amounting  to  £389 
lis.  tyd. ;  the  balance,  £227  2s.  lid. 

Capt.  Kempton  was  a  descendant  from  Manasseh 
Kempton,  one  of  the  early  proprietors  of  Dartmouth, 
and  the  father  of  Thomas  Kempton.  Previously  to 
this  period  (1775)  Capt.  Kempton  had  been  master  of 
a  whaling-vessel  from  this  port,  and  a  large  portion 
of  those  who  enlisted  in  his  company  had  been  his 
sailors.  Capt.  Kempton  had  previously  received  a 
commission  as  ensign  of  the  militia  from  Governor 
Hutchinson,  bearing  date  May  13, 1773.  Subsequent 
to  his  command  of  the  Dartmouth  company  at  Rox- 
bury, he  received  the  commission  of  lieutenant-colo- 
nel, but  owing  to  a  failure  of  health  he  left  service  at 
the  evacuation  of  Boston  by  the  British  troops.  He 
was  born  April  20,  1740,  and  died  Jan.  27,  1806,  in 
his  sixty-sixth  year.  Of  the  two  other  companies 
from  Dartmouth  that  joined  the  Revolutionary  army, 
one  was  commanded  by  Capt.  Egery,  of  Fairhaven, 
and  the  other  by  Capt.  Benjamin  Dillingham,  of 
Acushnet : 


Benjamin  Abel  (Indian),  1775. 
Benjamin  Adams,  1775,  m.  m.1 
Eleazer  Allen,  1775,  m.  m. 
Elijah  Allen,  1775,  m.  m. 
Noah  Allen,  1781. 
Prince  Almey  (African),  1781. 

Amesbrey,  1778. 

John  Amey,  1779. 

John  Austin,  1779. 

Joshua  Austin,  1776,  m.  m. 

Benj.  Babcock,  Jr.,  1775, 1778, 1780. 

David  Badcock,  1775,  m.  m. 

Benjamin  Baker,  1778,  m.  m.,  1779. 

Noah  Ball,  1775,  m.m. 

Worth  Bates,  1778-81. 

Weston  Bedon,  177S,  1780. 

Jabez  Bennet,  1775,  in.  m. 

Jos.  Bennet,  1775,  m.  m.,  1779-80. 

Thomas  Bennet,  1775,  m.  m. 

Thomas  Berry,  1775,  m.  m. 

Stoughton  Booth,  1778. 

Thomas  Booth,  1778. 

Jonathan  Bradshaw,  1775,  m.  m. 

George  Brownell,  1775,  m.  in. 

Prince  Brownell,  1775,  m.  in. 

Robert  Brownell,  1770-80. 

Gamaliel  Bryant,  ensign,  1775,  in. 

m. 
Jesse  Bush,  1775,  in.  m. 
John  Chadwick,  ensign,  1775,  in.  m. 
James  Chandler,  1778,  1880. 
Ebenezer  Chase.  1780-81. 
Hi  is.  Church,  lieut  ,  1778,  17SO-81. 
Geo.  Claghorn,  capt.,  1778, 1780-81. 
John  Cuggeshall,  1775,  m.  in.,  1778- 

80. 
Joseph  Cook,  1780. 
Richard  Cook,  177s,  1780. 
Thomas  Cook,  1780. 
Thomas  Crandon,  capt.,  1778-79. 


Robert  Grossman,  1775,  m.  m. 

Edward  Crowell,  1778. 

David  Cushman,  1781. 

Jaben  Daniel,  1775,   m.  in.,   1778, 

1780. 
John  Dayton,  1778. 
Calvin  Delano,  capt.,  177S-S2. 
Henry  Delano,  1780. 
Thomas  Delano,  1780. 
John  Deverson,  1778. 
David  Devol,  17S0. 
Joseph  Devol,  1779,  1782. 
Solomon  Dick  (African),  1782. 
Benj.  Dillingham,  capt.,  177G,  m.  in. 
John  Dophson,  1775,  m.  m. 
Benajah  Dunham,  1775,  in.  m.,  1775, 

1780-81. 
Benjamin  Ellis,  1775,  in.  in. 
Thomas  Eskredge,  1775,  m.  m. 
Jeremiah  Exceen,  1778-79. 
Joseph  Francis,  1780-81. 
Simeon  Fuller,  1775,  in.  in. 
John  Gelat,  1778,  1780. 
George  Gifford,  1770. 
Levi  Gifford,  1779. 
Lewis  Gifford,  1779,  1781. 
Jeremiah  Greene,  1779. 
Thomas  Greenway,  17so-81. 
Cornelius  Giinnell,  1780. 
David  Hammond,  1780. 
Jabez  Hammond,  1780. 
Phiuehas  Hammond,  1775,  in.  m. 
Roger  Hammond,  1775,  m.  in. 
David  Handy,  1780. 
George  Haskins,  1775,  m.  in. 
Shurach  Haskins,  177s. 
Arthur  Hathaway,  1780. 
David  Hathaway,  1775,  m.  ru. 
Eleazer  Hathaway,  1777. 
.  Gideon  Hathaway,  1778. 


1  Minute-man. 


201 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Isaac  Hathaway,  1778,  1780-81. 

Jabez  Hathaway,  1778. 

Jacob  Hathaway,  1780. 

John  Hathaway,  1775,  m.  m. 

Lemuel  Hathaway,  1775,  ra.  m. 

Sylvanus  Hathaway,  1779. 

George  Hitch,  1780. 

Samuel  Howland,  1775,  m.  in. 

John  Humphrey,  1776. 

Nathaniel  Ingraham,  1780. 

Paul  Ingraham,  1778,  1780. 

Thomas  Ingraham,  1775,  m.  in. 

William  Japes,  1778. 

Elnathan  Jenne,  1775,  m.  m. 

John  Jenne. 

Prince  Jenne,  1779-80. 

Seth  Jenne,  1780. 

Timothy  Jenne,  1778-79. 

Manasseh  Kempton,  col.,  1778. 

Obed  Kempton,  1778,  1780. 

Thos.  Kempton,  capt.,  1775  ;  lieut.- 

col.,  1776. 
William  Kempton,  1782. 
David  Kenleth,  1775,  m.  m. 
Robert  Knowlton,  1775,  m.  m. 
Jonathan  Law  ton,  1778-79. 
David  Lewes,  1775,  m.  m. 
Jabez  Lumbar,  1778. 
Taber  Lumbar,  1778. 
Humphrey  Macomber,  1775,  m.  m. 
Preserved  Merrihew,  1775. 
Elkannah  Mitchell,  1779. 
Louis  De  Morauville,  1775,  m.  m. 
Michael  Mosher,  1779. 
Samuel  Nash,  1780. 
Isaac  Noble,  1775,  m.  m. 
Robert  Nolten,  des.,  1775,  m.  m. 
Gideon  Nye,  1781. 
Benjamin  Obadiah  (Indian),  1779. 
John  Omey,  1778-79. 
Daniel  Ormsby,  1778. 
John  Ormsby,  1775,  m.  m. 
Avery  Parker,  capt.,  1778. 
John  Parkes,  1778-79. 
William  Pease,  1780. 
Pompey  Peckham  (African),  17S0- 

81. 
Henry  Perkins,  1780. 
Paul  Perry,  1778-79. 
Silas  Perry,  1775,  m.  m. 
Peter  Phillips,  1775,  m.  m.,  1778, 

1880. 
Peter  Pon  (Indian),  1780-81. 
David  Pope,  177G,  1778. 
Stephen  Potter,  1778, 1780. 
Thurston  Potter,  1780-81. 
James  Pratt,  1778. 
Ebenezer  Primas  (African),  1781. 
Elias  Primas,  1781. 
William  Robinson,  1780. 
Gideon  Rodgers,  1780. 
William  Rodgers,  1780. 
William  Ross,  1780. 
James  Rouse,  1778. 
Elkannah  Ryder,  1778. 
Ezekiel  Ryder,  1779. 
Baines  Sammons,  1779. 
Peter  Sands,  1775,  m.  m. 
Martin  Seekins,  1778. 
Daniel  Shearman,  1775,  m.  m. 
John  Shearman,  1755,  m.  m. 

The  following  notes,  etc.,  concerning  the  period  of 
the  Revolution  are  taken  from  the  old  town  records  : 

1776.— Benj.  @  Akin  Esq  to  be  paid  42  =  17  :  8" 
for  his  Services  and  Attendance  heretofore  given  as  a 


Lemuel  Shearman,  1775,  m.  m. 
Joseph  Shockly,  1780-S1. 
Amos  Simmons,  lieutenant,  1779. 
John  Skiff,  flfer,  1775,  m.  m.,  1779, 

1781. 
Elisha  Smith,  1770,  1780,  m.  m. 
Jonathan  Smith,  1776,  m.  m.,  1780- 

81. 
Josiah  Smith,  1781. 
Thomas  Smith,  1778,  1780. 
John  Solomon  (Indian),  1775,  m.  m. 
Amasa  Soper,  lieutenant,  1775,  m. 

m. 
Benjamin  Spooner,  drummer,  1775, 

m.  m. 
Cornelius  Spooner,  1779. 
David  Spooner,  1778,  1780. 
James  Spooner,  1775,  m.  m. 
Jeduthan  Spooner,  1775,  m.  m. 
John  Spooner,  1775,  m.  m. 
Simpson  Spooner,  1775,  m.  m. 
Charles  Stetson,  1780. 
Jacob  Strange,  1780. 
John  Sullings,  1775,  m.  m. 
John  Swift,  1775,  m.  m. 
Jeduthan  Taber,  1781. 
Jethro  Taber,  1778,  1781. 
John  Taber,  1780. 
Philip  Taber,  1779. 
Thomas  Taber,  1780. 
E/.ekiel  Tollman,  1781. 
Giles  Tall  man,  1775,  m.  in.,  des. 
Thomas  Thompson,  1776-78. 
Job  Tobey,  1780, 1781. 
Prince  Tobey,  1778. 
Thomas  Tobey,  1780-81. 
Zoeth  Tobey,  1780-81. 
Isaac  Tompkins,  1780. 
Joseph  Trafford,  1775,  m.  m. 
Ishmael  Tripp,  1776  (Dillingham's 

company). 
Job  Tripp,  1780. 
Samuel  Tripp,  1775,  m.  m. 
Thomas  Tripp,  1776  (Dillingham's 

company). 
Samuel  Tupper,  1779. 
Burnell  Upharn,  1778. 
Lettice  Washburn,  1775,  m.  m. 
Thomas  Washburn,  1775,  m.  in. 
Nathan  Waste,  1775, 1780. 
Thomas  West,  1775,  m.  m. 
Thomas  Westcot,  1775,  m.  m.,  1778- 

80. 
Benjamin  Weston,  1775,    m.    m., 

1778-79. 
Eliphas  Weston,  1780-81. 
John  Weston. 
Paul  Weston,  1775,  m.  m. 
Stephen  Weston,  1782. 
Thomas  Weston,  1779. 
George  Whippey,  1778. 
Joseph  Whitfield,  1778. 
Preserved  Wilcox,  177*. 
Benjamin  Willis,  1778. 
Samuel  Willis,  1782. 
William  Willis,  1776. 
Gideon  Woodmanse,  1779-80. 
Gideon  Worden,  1778. 
Henry  Writhington,  1778. 
Robert  Writhington,  1775,  m.  m. 


member  of  several  congresses  heretofore  held  for  the 
public  safety,  he  being  chosen  for  and  authorized  by 
said  town  for  that  purpose. 

May  20,  1776.— Gen'l  Church,  Seth  Pope,  Abraham 
Shearman,  Philip  Shearman,  James  Soul,  Nathaniel 
Kichmond,  Philip  Taber,  Pardon  Brownell,  and  Wil- 
liam Wood  was  chosen  a  Committee  of  Correspond- 
ence and  safety. 

Emission  for  paying  their  proportion  of  Beef  re- 
quired of  them  by  a  late  resolve  of  the  Gen.  Court, 
for  paying  their  County  tax  agreed  on  in  January 
last. 

Price  of  Commodities,  Labor,  etc.— Dartmouth, 
Feb.  22d,  1777.  Recorded  by  Benj.  Akin,  Town 
Clerk;  William  Davis,  William  Tallman,  Jabez  Bar- 
ker, Jr.,  Selectmen  of  Dartmouth. 

Signed  by  order  of  the  Committee,  Fortunatus 
Shearman,  Chairman. 

Annexed  to  the  articles  hereafter  mentioned  is  the 
price  in  the  room  of  that  affixed  to  those  of  the  same 
denomination  in  the  above  Statement. 

Meat :  Shoemaking. — Fresh  pork  /5  per  lb.  Men's 
best  shoes  made  of  neat  leather  at  Bedford,  Fair  Haven, 
and  Oxford  9/  other  parts  of  the  Town  8/ — Men's  best 
calf-skin  shoes  at  Bedford,  Fair  Haven,  and  Oxford 
12/ — all  other  parts  of  the  Town  at  10/ — Women's 
shoes  6/,  making  men's  shoes  at  the  shops  of  the 
workmen  at  Bedford,  Fair  Haven,  and  Oxford  4/ — all 
other  parts  of  the  town  3/ — and  at  the  house  of  the 
imployer  shoes  of  a  full  size  2/ — women's  cloth  shoes 
8/ — smaller  shoes  in  proportion  to  men's  &  women's 
shoes  &  all  other  shoemaking  iu  the  usual  proportion 
for  mending. 

West  India  Bum. — Good  full  proof  West  India  rum 
by  the  h'h  8/  per  gallon  including  the  h'h  8/2  per  gal- 
lon by  the  barrel  exclusive  of  the  barrel  &  9/  by  the 
single  gallon,  smaller  quantities  in  proportion. 

New  England  rum  good  full  proof  4/2  pr.  gallon  by 
the  hogshead  and  barrel  exclusive  of  13/4  for  hogs- 
head, &  4/4  for  the  barrel  &  4/10  single  gallon  for 
distilling  Xew  England  Rum  /6  a  gallon. 

Molasses  of  the  quality  3/8  pr  gallon  by  the  h.h. 
including  the  Hogshead  4/  by  barrell  4/4  by  the  sin- 
gle gallon.  Best  Muscorado  sugar  66/  pr  Cwt.  by  the 
H.H.  72/  by  the  single  cwt.  &  /10  single  lb.  Choco 
best  quality  £7  pr  cwt.  Chocolate  2/2  pr  lb.  Good 
cotton  wool  3/6  pr  lb  by  the  bag  and  4/  pr.  single  lb. 
Good  coffee  1/4  pr.  lb.  by  wholesale  &  1/8  pr.  lb.  by 
retail.  West  India  and  Cherry  rum  /6  pr.  gill  flip  & 
Toddy  1/2  pr.  mug  or  bowl.  Flour  from  the  southern 
states  36/  pr.  cwt.  Rice  by  the  single  hundred  36/. 
Good  refined  bar  iron  60/  pr.  cwt.  Nail  rods  &  nails 
not  stated.  Horse  shoeing  in  Bedford  and  Fair  Haven 
5/6  other  parts  of  the  town  4/9  hoes  of  the  best  quality 
stealed  up  the  corners  5/  grand  coork  1/  pr  lb.  Making 
a  half  trimed  coat  at  Bedford  &  Fair  Haven  13/  jackets 
5/6  britches  6/6  and  other  tayloritig  in  proportion,  and 
other  parts  of  the  Town  half  trimed  coats  11/  Jacoats, 
5/6  britches  5/6  approved  man  Taylor  at  the  house  of 


DARTMOUTH. 


203 


the  imployers  3/  pr  day  and  found  as  usual.  Mowing 
and  reaping  4/  pr.  day,  common  labor  in  summer  sea- 
son 3/  pr.  day.  All  women's  work  &  combing  not 
stated.  Work  men's  best  hunting  saddles  with  hous- 
ing 80/  saddle  bags  best  sort  24/  well  made  pilliana 
12/,  good  bridles  with  bits  8/  without  bits  5/4.  House 
carpenter's  work  4/  pr.  day.  Masons  work  4/6  and 
found  as  usual.  Bedtick  /9  pr.  yd  for  toe-cloth  and 
plain  flannel  /6  pr.  yd,  and  all  other  wearing  in  the 
like  proportion.  This  done  by  the  selectmen  &  com- 
mittee of  safe. 

A  True  Coppy  attest  Fortunatus  Shearman 

Sub.  Committee. 

And  recorded  by  Benjamin  Aikin. 

Town  Clerk. 

May  18, 1779. — At  a  town  meeting  held  at  the  town- 
house  in  Dartmouth  on  Tuesday,  the  18th  day  of  May, 
1779,  Benj.  Aikin,  Esq.,  chosen  moderator  the  Town 
voted  on  the  first  article  in  the  warrant  for  calling 
the  meeting  that  this  town  at  this  time  don't  choose 
to  have  a  New  Constitution  or  Form  of  Government, 
the  number  of  voters  present  was  seventy,  and  all 
voted  in  the  affirmative.  Voted  on  the  Third  Article 
in  the  Warrant  for  calling  this  meeting ;  that  all  the 
men  in  this  Town  who  shall  be  called  for  the  defence 
of  this  State  or  any  of  the  United  States  for  the  pres- 
ent year,  shall  be  raised  at  the  expense  or  charge  of 
said  town,  that  shall  be  raised  in  consequence  of  order 
or  orders  from  the  General  Court  or  Council  of  this 
State,  and  Robert  Earl,  Elihu  GifFord,  and  John 
Chaffee  are  chosen  a  Committee,  when  any  men  are 
sent  for  or  required  to  be  raised  as  afores'd  they  are 
empowered  to  procure  said  men  at  the  expense  of  said 
Town  in  the  cert,  way  and  manner  they  can;  and  said 
committee  are  to  be  reasonably  paid  for  their  services. 

Oct.  14,  1780.  Voted  that  1057  pounds  and  16/ 
silver  money  be  raised  by  way  of  tax  on  the  inhab- 
itants of  said  town.  .  .  .  for  purchasing  the  towne 
proportion  of  beef  sent  for  by  the  General  Court  to 
supply  the  Continental  Army. 

Dec.  22,  1780.  Warrant.  What  is  necessary  rela- 
tive to  choosing  a  Town  Clerk. 

Relative  to  raising  76  men  to  serve  in  the  Con1 
Army  for  three  years  or  during  the  war. 

Jan.  1, 1781.  Benj.  Russell,  Jr.,  T.  C.  in  the  absence 
of  Benj.  Aikin. 

Several  Capt.  of  Militia  to  call  companies  together 
and  make  inquires  who  will  enlist  and  how  many. 
£16,500  to  be  raised  by  way  of  tax. 

Jan.  12,  1781.  Augt.  Voted  that  each  soldier  that 
shall  enlist  for  3  yrs  shall  have  a  Bounty  of  200 
silver  dollars —  50  of  s  c  dollars  to  be  paid  at  his 
passing  muster,  the  remainder  to  be  at  interest  until 
paid. 

Voted  that  Capt.  Henry  Jenne  Capt.  George  Clay- 
house,  Capt.  Benj.  Wilson,  Capt.  William  Hicks, 
Elihu  GifFord,  &  John  Aikin  be  elected  a  committee 
to  enlist  the  soldiers  and  to  pay  down  said  money,  & 
to  give   their   securities  to  said    soldiers  or  procure 


some  person  or  persons  to  give  security  as  sd  soldiers 
shall  like  &  sd  committees  are  also  empowered  to  hire 
the  whole  of  said  money  on  the  credit  of  sd  Town  & 
sd  Town  are  accountable  to  the  sd  Court  for  all  the 
money  they  shall  pay  or  hire. 

1781.  3d  Monday  of  Feb.     Voted   to  raise  by  way 
of  tax  the  sum  of  2550  pound  in  money  of  the  new. 


CHAPTER   XVIII. 

DARTMOUTH.— {Continued.) 

ECCLESIASTICAL   HISTORY.i 

Apponegansett  Meeting  —  First  Christian  Church  —  Congregational 
Church— The  South  Dartmouth  Baptist  Church— The  Second  Chris- 
tian Church — Methodist  Episcopal  Church— Smith  Mills  Christian 
Church — Christian  Church  in  Bakerville. 

Apponegansett  Meeting.— There  is  reason  to  be- 
lieve that  among  the  first  settlers  of  Dartmouth  many 
were  Friends,  or  made  a  profession  of  belief  in  their 
principles.  The  names  of  Slocum,  Allen,  Smith, 
Lapham,  Howland,  Russell,  Tucker,  Mott,  and  others, 
are  found  in  the  early  records  of  the  society,  and  we 
know  from  other  sources  that  they  were  among  the 
first  settlers  in  the  town.  They  came  from  Rhode 
Island  and  other  places  where  meetings  of  the  society 
had  been  established,  and  it  would  naturally  be  ex- 
pected they  would  soon  organize  meetings  for  worship 
and  discipline.  The  oldest  record  of  a  monthly 
meeting  of  Friends  in  this  town  bears  date  26th  of 
4th  month,  1699.  Meetings  for  worship  had  no 
doubt  been  held  some  years  previous  to  this  date. 
The  first  meeting-house  was  built  upon  the  lot  where 
the  present  Apponegansett  meeting-house  stands. 
This  lot  was  purchased  of  Peleg  Slocum  for  the  sum 
of  one  pound  sixteen  shillings,  and  the  deed  bears 
date  of  6th  month  2d  day,  1706.  Previous  to  1699 
meetings  were  held  in  dwellings.  The  following 
is  a  copy  of  a  portion  of  the  records  of  the  monthly 
meeting,  dated  6th  day  of  11th  month,  169f:  "At 
the  house  of  John  Lapham  we,  underwritten,  Peleg 
Slocum,  Jacob  Mott,  Abraham  Tucker,  and  John 
Tucker,  undertake  to  build  a  meeting-house  for  the 
people  of  God,  in  scorn  called  Quakers,  thirty-five 
foot  long,  thirty  foot  wide,  and  fourteen  foot  studds, 
to  worship  and  serve  the  true  and  Living  God  in, 
according  as  they  are  persuaded  in  conscience  they 
ought  to  do,  and  for  no  other  interest  or  purpose  but 
as  aforesaid,  which  said  house  shall  be  completely 
finished  at  or  before  the  10th  day  of  the  8th  month 
next,  insuring  the  date  hereof.  And  further,  we,  of 
the  said  society  of  people,  towards  the  building  of 
said  house  of  our  free  will,  contribute  as  followeth: 
John  Tucker,  £10;  Peleg  Slocum,  £15;  John  Lap- 
ham, £•"»;  Nathaniel  Howland,  £5;  Abraham  Tucker, 


i  By  Rev.  S.  M.  Andrews. 


204 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


£10;  Increase  Allen,  £3;  Ebenezer  Allen,  £5; 
Eleazer  Slocum,  £3 ;  Jacob  Mott,  £3 ;  Benjamin 
Howland,  £2;  Richard  Evens,  £1 ;  Judah  Smith, 
£1." 

The  Yearly  Meeting  was  held  in  this  house  this 
year  (1699).  The  journals  of  traveling  Friends  and 
others  show  that  it  became  a  large  and  influential 
society.  At  one  meeting  in  1766  it  was  supposed  two 
thousand  people  were  present. 

Prior  to  1788  this  Monthly  Meeting  was  a  part  of 
the  Rhode  Island  Quarterly  Meeting;  since  that  date 
it  has  been  connected  with  the  Sandwich  Quarterly 
Meeting.  Other  meeting-houses  were  built  from  time 
to  time  as  the  needs  and  convenience  of  members  be- 
came apparent, — at  Smith  Mills,  Smith's  Neck,  and 
Allen's  Neck, — the  last  named  before  1822,  the  others 
still  earlier.  These  societies  form  one  Monthly  Meet- 
ing. In  1845  a  separation  took  place  in  the  meeting, 
1  which  resulted  in  two  organizations,  each  claiming  to 
be  the  original  society.  The  smaller  of  these  two 
bodies  have  but  one  meeting-house  in  the  town,  the 
larger  have  four,  one  of  which  is  temporarily  closed. 
The  larger  body  (Gurneyite)  numbers  at  this  date  one 
hundred  and  four,  the  smaller  from  forty  to  fifty. 
While  these  societies  contain  some  of  our  most  re- 
spectable citizens,  there  has  been  a  decrease  of  mem- 
bership within  the  last  half-century. 

First  Christian  Church. — The  first  Baptist  Church 
in  Dartmouth  was  organized  May  21, 1780,  as  a  branch 
of  Elder  Jacob  Hix's  Church,  in  Rehoboth,  Mass., 
and  was  acknowledged  by  him  and  others  as  a  sister 
church  June  2,  1781,  with  a  membership  of  sixty- 
three.  Oct.  10,  1781,  the  installation  of  Elder  Daniel 
Hix,  brother  of  Jacob,  took  place,  from  which  time 
the  church  increased  rapidly  in  numbers  and  in- 
fluence. In  1808  the  report  to  Conference  for  the 
year  (from  June,  1807,  to  June,  1808)  gave  two  hun- 
dred and  sixty-two  additions  to  the  church  ;  whole 
number,  six  hundred  and  ninety-nine.  This  included 
the  branch  churches  of  New  Bedford,  Fairhaven, 
Rochester,  Long  Plain,  Berkley,  and  Freetown.  In 
June,  1807,  the  church  voted  to  abandon  all  church 
creeds  and  take  the  Bible  alone  as  their  rule  of  faith 
and  practice,  which  position  it  has  since  maintained, 
thus  identifying  it  with  the  Christian  denomination. 
Elder  Daniel  Hix  remained  pastor  until  ill  health 
compelled  his  resignation  in  1834,  when  the  associate 
pastor,  Elder  Howard  Tripp,  assumed  full  pastoral 
charge.  Elder  Daniel  Hix  died  March  22, 1838,  aged 
eighty-two  years,  three  months,  and  twenty-two  days. 
In  1842  and  1843  the  "  Advent"  excitement  injured 
the  church,  from  which  it  has  never  fully  recovered, 
though  it  has  been  blessed  with  a  number  of  revivals. 

Elder  Howard  Tripp  resigned  in  1857,  and  was 
succeeded  by  Elder  William  Faunce.  The  pastors 
since  1864  have  been  F.  P.  Snow,  G.  W.  Tripp,  E. 
Hawes,  W.  S.  Emery,  E.  Burroughs,  and  S.  M.  An- 
drews. Present  clerk,  Jonathan  Peirce ;  chairman 
of  church  committee,  H.  A.  Shockley. 


Congregational  Church. — This  church  was  formed 
in  the  spring  of  1807,  by  the  Rev.  Curtis  Coe,  the 
Rev.  Mace  Sheperd,  and  the  Rev.  Isaiah  Weston, 
with  the  following  members :  David  Thatcher,  Joel 
Parker,  Laban  Thatcher,  Harmony  Packard,  Betsey 
Howes,  Phebe  Nickerson,  and  Mehitabel  Kelley. 
Other  members  soon  joined,  and  in  October  the  Rev. 
Daniel  Emerson  was  ordained  the  first  pastor,  which 
office  he  filled  until  his  death,  in  about  a  year.  From 
this  time  until  1816  the  church  was  without  a  settled 
pastor,  and  the  meetings  were  held  in  the  school-house 
or  dwellings.  April  24,  1816,  the  Rev.  Peter  Crocker 
was  settled  as  pastor,  and  dismissed  July  23,  1821. 
During  his  pastorate  there  was  a  large  accession  to 
the  membership  and  the  present  church  edifice  was 
built.  The  next  pastor  was  the  Rev.  Jonathan  Wing, 
who  was  ordained  March  24, 1823,  and  remained  sev- 
eral years,  during  which  time  the  people  were  spirit- 
ually refreshed. 

The  following-named  pastors  have  labored  with 
this  church  :  The  Rev.  Francis  Horton  was  installed 
Dec.  2,  1829,  and  dismissed  Oct.  31,  1831.  Rev. 
Thomas  J.  Richmond  was  settled  July  18,  1832,  and 
continued  until  April  25,  1837.  From  May  20,  1838, 
to  June,  1840,  the  Rev.  Charles  S.  Adams  supplied 
the  pulpit.  Rev.  Andrew  Bigelow  was  installed  Aug. 
25,  1841,  and  closed  his  useful  ministry  June  16,  1846. 
July  6, 1846,  Rev.  William  Mandell  began  preaching, 
was  installed  in  November,  and  dismissed  Nov.  16, 
1854.  The  Rev.  Melancthon  G.  Wheeler  was  settled 
in  November,  1855,  and  was  dismissed  May  19,  1859. 
The  Rev.  Martin  Howard  was  the  next  pastor,  from 
the  last  date  to  Nov.  25,  1864.  Next  year  the  Rev. 
John  Lord  supplied  the  pulpit,  and  he  was  succeeded 
by  Rev.  John  G.  Wilson,  who  closed  his  labors  Jan. 
11,  1863.  The  Rev.  Edward  Leonard  was  settled  in 
July,  1859,  and  resigned  in  November,  1875.  The 
Rev.  Salter  F.  Calhoun  acted  as  pastor  from  October, 
1876,  and  closed  his  labors  July  1,  1880. 

The  pulpit  was  supplied  from  May,  1881,  to  July, 
1882,  by  the  Rev.  P.  C.  Headley  and  the  Rev.  F.  V. 
D.  Garretson.  whose  labors  resulted  in  much  good. 
In  the  summer  of  1882,  Rev.  Ira  P.  Smith  occupied 
the  pulpit,  was  ordained  Sept.  27,  1882,  and  has  since 
labored  with  much  zeal  and  success  as  pastor  of  the 
church.  Deacons  of  the  church :  Sylvanus  C.  Tall- 
man,  Thomas  Bailey  ;  Clerk,  Edmund  G.  Eldridge. 

The  South  Dartmouth  Baptist  Church  was 
formed  as  a  branch  of  the  New  Bedford  Baptist 
Church  in  May,  1831.     The  pastors'  names  have  been 

Benson,  Rev.  John  A.  Dill  (two  years),  Rev.  E. 

G.  Perry,  Rev.  William  H.  Taylor,  Rev.  Reuben 
Lentell  (one  year),  Rev.  G.  F.  Danforth,  Rev.  James 
Brown,  Rev.  J.  J.  Bronson.  In  January,  1861,  Rev. 
S.  J.  Carr  was  settled  as  pastor,  and  remained  five 
years,  and  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  George  Mat- 
thews, who  supplied  the  pulpit  for  some  years.  The 
meeting-house  is  now  closed. 

The  Second  Christian  Church  in  Dartmouth  was 


DARTMOUTH. 


205 


organized  Feb.  2,  1836.  The  original  members  were 
Marlborough  Wood,  Sambo  Slocum,  Oliver  Reed, 
Abraham  Butts,  Oliver  Reed  (2d),  Pardon  Howland, 
Daniel  Macomber,  Joseph  Howland,  Cynthia  Ma- 
comber,  Hannah  C.  Slocum,  Maria  Macomber,  Lydia 
Ricketson,  and  Sarah  Reed.  Other  members  soon 
joined,  and  for  several  years  the  church  flourished.  The 
pastors  of  this  church  have  been  Charles  S.  Man- 
chester, John  Phillips,  Joshua  Goodwin,  Charles  C. 
Smith,  and  N.  S.  Chad  wick,  besides  a  few  others  for 
short  periods  of  time.  Deacons  have  been  elected  at 
different  times  as  follows:  Daniel  Macomber,  Abra- 
ham Butts,  Holder  W.  Brownell,  and  Willard  W. 
Slocum.  W.  W.  Slocum  is  also  clerk.  This  church 
has  suffered  from  internal  dissensions,  and  but  few 
members  now  remain. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  the  head  of 
Apponegansett  River  is  now  a  class  or  branch  of  the 
Allen  Street  (New  Bedford)  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  A  class  was  formed  here  Nov.  10,  1837,  by 
the  Rev.  James  D.  Butler,  now  chaplain  of  the  New 
Bedford  Port  Society.  The  church  was  organized 
July  5,  1838,  and  Rev.  J.  D.  Butler  was  the  first  pas- 
tor. The  society  sustains  preaching  part  of  the  time, 
though  it  has  declined  in  membership  from  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty,  in  1851,  to  a  very  few  at  the  present 
time.     Trustees,  Elihu  Sherman  and  John  Sherman. 

Smith  Mills  Christian  Church. — This  church  was 
formed  Dec.  22,  1838,  of  the  following-named  mem- 
bers :  Asa  Nichols,  John  Weaver,  John  Cummings, 
Jeremiah  Jones,  Seth  Hathaway,  Samuel  Wilde, 
Abby  Wilde,  Hannah  Weaver,  Tabitha  Crowell. 
The  house  was  built  before  the  church  was  organized. 
The  pastors  have  been  Samuel  Wilde,  E.  E.  Edmunds, 
John  Peckham,  David  A.  Russell,  Cummings  Bray, 
Gould  Anthony,  Benjamin  F.  Mosher,  and  S.  M. 
Andrews,  besides  some  others  who  have  supplied  the 
pulpit.  Whole  number  of  members,  forty-seven. 
Holder  W.  Porter  is  deacon  of  the  church,  and  Mrs. 
Abby  A.  Tucker,  clerk. 

The  Christian  Church  in  Bakerville,  Dartmouth, 
was  organized  April  20,  1865.  The  members  were 
Ephraim  Ellis,  Thomas  K.  Ellis,  Alvin  Sherman, 
Delia  Ellis,  Lovey  G.  Brownell,  Sarah  Johnson,  Fi- 
delia Wing,  Jane  C.  Ellis,  Mary  C.  Briggs,  Bethia 
Sherman,  Caroline  Crapo,  Emily  J.  Baker,  Olive 
Beard,  Sally  Crapo,  Phebe  A.  Crapo.  The  church 
edifice  was  erected  the  year  before  the  church  was 
formed.  The  pastors  have  been  James  L.  Peirce,  S. 
M.  Andrews,  M.  M.  Cleverly,  E.  E.  Edmunds,  and 
others  who  have  supplied  the  pulpit  for  short  periods. 
The  present  pastor  is  O.  F.  Waltze ;  clerk  of  the  church, 
Joseph  Crapo;  deacon,  Ephraim  Ellis. 

Representatives  from  1674  to  1883.'— The  fol- 
lowing is  a  list  of  the  representatives  chosen  by  the 
town  of  Dartmouth,  taken  from  the  town  records  and 
other  sources.     While  under  the  Plymouth  Colonial 

i  Compiled  by  Job  S.  Gidley,  Esq. 


government  they  were  called  deputies,  but  after  the 
union  of  the  Boston  and  Plymouth  governments  they 
were  called  representatives.  During  the  eighteenth 
century  they  appear  to  have  been  occasionally  chosen, 
but  it  is  not  probable  that  existing  town  records  show 
the  names  of  all  who  served  the  town  in  that  capacity. 


1074-75.  John  Cook,  deputy. 
1679-81.  John  Cook,  deputy. 

1682.  John  Russell,  deputy. 

1683.  John  Cook,  deputy. 

1685.  Jonathan  Delano,  deputy. 
Joseph  Tripp,  deputy. 

1686.  John  Cook, deputy. 

1689.  Seth  Pope,  deputy. 
Jonathan  Delano,  deputy. 

1690.  Seth  Pope. 

1693.  Thomas    Taber,   representa- 

tive. 

1694.  Hugh    Mosher,    representa- 

tive. 
1697.  Joseph  Allen,  representative. 
1699.  James  Samson. 
1707.  John  Akin. 
1708-9.  Joseph  Tripp. 

1710.  John  Spooner. 

1711.  James    Samson,    representa- 

tive. 

1712.  Jonathan  Delano. 
1717.  Philip  Taber. 

1720.  John  Akin. 

1721.  Philp  Taber. 

1722.  Daniel  Wood. 
1724.  William  Whit. 
1726.  John  Akin. 
1728-29.  John  Akin. 

1730.  Christopher  Turner. 

1731.  Nathaniel  Delano. 

1732.  Henry  Samson. 

1733.  John  Akin. 
1734-36.  Samuel  Connell. 
1740.  William  Hix. 
1746.  James  Allen. 

1753.  Capt.  Nathaniel  Soule. 
1771.  Elisha  Tobey. 
1803-4.  Holden  Slocum. 
1806-7.  Holden  Slocum. 

1808.  Joel  Packard. 

1809.  Joel  Packard. 
Caleb  Slocum. 
Joel  Packard. 
Ephraim  Tripp. 
Henry  Tucker. 
Joel  Packard. 
Ephraim  Tripp. 
Henry  Tucker. 

1812.  Ephraim  Tripp. 
Stephen  Barker. 
David  Thacher. 
Madock  Max  field. 

1813.  Ephraim  Tripp. 
David  Tliacher. 
Henry  Tucker. 
Thomas  Almy. 

1S14.  Ephraim  Tripp. 
David  Thacher. 
Thomas  Almy. 
Clark  Ricketson. 
Thomas  Almy. 
Ephraim  Tripp. 
George  Morton. 


1810. 


1811. 


1815. 


1816.  Thomas  Almy. 
Ephraim  Tripp. 
Zoheth  Shearman. 

1817.  Thomas  Almy. 
Ephraim  Tripp. 
Joseph  Gifford. 

1818.  Caleb  Anthony. 

1819.  Joseph  Gifford. 

1820.  Joseph  Gifford. 
Holder  Slocum. 
Thomas  Almy. 

1821-22.  Caleb  Anthony. 
1823-24.  Thomas  Almy. 

1825.  Thomas  Almy. 
Holder  Slocum. 
Wanton  Howland. 

1826.  Holder  Slocum. 

1827.  Cornelius  Grinnell. 

1828.  Bradford  Howland. 

1829.  Bradford  Howland. 
Elihu  Slocum. 
Nathaniel  Howland. 
Jesse  W.  Nickols. 

1830.  Joseph  Gifford. 

1831.  Joseph  Gifford. 
Bradford  Howland. 

1832.  William  Tucker. 
Wanton  Howland. 

1833.  Joseph  Gifford. 
James  T.  Slocum. 
Henry  S.  Packard. 
George  Kirby. 

1834.  Joseph  Gifford. 
George  Kirby. 
Elihu  Slocum. 
Henry  S.  Packard. 

1835.  Joseph  Gifford. 
George  Kirby. 
Ricketson  Slocum. 
William  Anthony. 

1836.  Joseph  Gifford. 
Ricketson  Slocum. 

1837.  Thomas  K.  Wilbur. 
Wanton  Howland. 
Simon  P.  Winslow. 

1838.  Joseph  Gifford. 
George  Kirby. 

1839^0.  Thomas  K.  Wilbur. 

Henry  S.  Packard. 
1841-42.  Wanton  Howland. 

Thomas  K.  Wilbur. 
1843-45.  James  Rider. 

George  Kirby. 

1846.  Joseph  Gifford. 
Benjamin  M.  Buffington. 

1847.  James  Rider. 
Abner  R.  Tucker. 

1848^9.  Lemuel  Barker. 
Francis  W.  Mason. 

1850.  Francis  D.  Bartlett. 

1851.  Jireh  Shearman. 

1852.  None  chosen. 

1853.  James  B.  Allen.l 
Leonard  Miller,  Rep.2 


1  Chosen  delegate  to  Constitutional  Convention. 

2  The  towns  of  Dartmouth  and  Westport  were  now  united,  forming 
the  Representative  District  No.  7  of  Bristol  County. 


206 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


1854-58.  Nathaniel  Potter,  Jr. 
1S59-G1.  Francis  W.  Mason. 
1862-65.  Calvin  K.  Turner. 
1806.  George  F.  Howlaud. 

1867.  William  Barker,  Jr. 

1868.  George  F.  Howlaud. 
1869-70.  William  Barker,  Jr. 
1871-72.  Benjamin  F.  Wing. 
1873-74.  Abraham  H.  Smith. 


1875-76.  George  R.  Reed,  of  Dart- 
mouth. 

1877-78.  William  P.  Macomber,  of 
Westport. 

1879-80.  Henry  A.  Slocum,  of 
Dartmouth. 

1881-82.  John  W.  Gilford,  of  West- 
port. 


Town  Clerks  from  1674  to  1883. x— The  following 
is  a  list  of  town  clerks  of  the  town  of  Dartmouth, 
found  recorded  in  the  town  records.  The  records  of 
some  of  the  earlier  meetings  appear  to  be  lost,  and 
no  account  of  the  choice  of  town  clerks  is  found  in 
some  of  the  earlier  records  of  meetings  in  which 
other  town  officers  were  chosen  : 


James  Shaw,  1674. 


Benjamin  Russell  (3d),  1773. 


Thomas  Taber,  1679,  1695,1707-8,  '  Benjamin  Russell,  Jr  ,  1774. 


1711. 
Jonathan  Delano,  1692-93. 
John  Akin,  1696-99,  1701-6. 
John  Taber,  1709-10. 
Jabez  Delano,  1711-12. 
Nathan  Soule,  1713-14. 
John  Tripp,  1716-17,1719-23. 
James  Howlaud,  1725. 


Benjamin  Russell,  1775. 

John  Smith,  1789-1800. 

Elihu  Slocum,  1801-8. 

Ephraim  Tripp,  1809-24. 

James  Tripp,  1825.2 

Joseph  Gifford,   1826-41,   1843-44, 

1847-50. 
Henry  S.  Packard,  1842. 


Benjamin  Aikin,  1745-46,  1754-70,    George  Kirby,  1845-46. 


1776-80. 
Bartholomew  Taber,  1751-55. 
Benjamin  Russell  (4th),  1771. 
Benjamin  Russell,  Esq.,  1772. 


William  Barker,  Jr.,  1851-67. 
John  W.  Howland,  1868-70. 
George  F.  Howland,  1871-79. 
Job  S.  Gidley,  1880-83. 


Military  Record,  1861-65.— Names  of  volunteer 
soldiers  in  the  late  war  on  the  quota  of  Dartmouth  : 

Company  F,  Third  Regiment  (nine  months). — Alvah  M.  Chase,  Heury  E. 
Clark,  Solomon  Cornell,  George  A.  Bessey,  Charles  W.  Gammons, 
Thomas  Gibbons,  Joseph  B.  Holmes,  Levi  K.  Giffurd,  Richard  D. 
Kay,  Joseph  M.  Lawton,  Alden  T.  McComber,  Lyman  A.  McCom- 
ber,  William  B.  Peck,  John  B.  Peckham,  John  II.  RicketSOD,  David 
Rider,  William  H.  Stevens,  James  H.  Williams,  Andrew  L.  Wordell, 
William  I.  Wady,  George  H.  Wood. 

Company  G,  Third  Regiment  (nine  months). — William  Davidson  Croy, 
Reuben  A.  Garlick,  George  F.  Packard,  John  Frazer. 

Forty-seventh  Regiment  (nine  months). — William  Blake,  Oliver  S.  Brock, 
Chandler  H.  Calkins,  William  R.  Chase,  John  O'C'onnell,  William 
Carter,  Charles  W.  Drody,  John  Dougherty,  Abraham  F.  Green, 
William  Hunt,  William  H.  Knox,  Michael  Miskill,  William  H. 
Macomber,  Gideon  Reed,  Robert  II.  Ricketson,  William  R.  Samp- 
son, Charles  G.  Sanford,  James  Summers,  Calvin  Thomas,  Jr., 
George  W.  Tripp,  John  'Ward,  Peter  C.  Reynolds,  David  Fish, 
Savory  C.  Braley,  Martin  V.  B.  Hammond. 

Other  Nine  Months'  Men. — William  M.  Tillinghast,  Jonathan  Soule;  Levi 
A.  Baker,  Russell  Eaton,  Isaiah  B.  Leonard,  45th  Regt. ;  Timothy 
Ryan,  J.  R.  Parks,  Thomas  French,  George  W.  Peabody,  Henry  G. 
Kenner,  Daniel  Harrington,  William  G.  Hall,  Thomas  Lynch,  Daniel 
O.  Foster,  Michael  Farrel;  Charles  Brand,  Michael  Morrison,  John 
Doyle,  Joseph  Grant,  William  Sheridan,  John  Sullivan,  Charles  L. 
Sullivan,  Co.  C,  4th  Regt. 

Company  I),  Tieenty-third  Regiment  (three  years). — Albert  W.  Ashley. 

Thirty-third  Regiment  (three  years). — Thomas  S.  Howland,  William  H. 
Deming. 

Thirty-eighth  Regiment  (three  years). — Thomas  E.  Bliffins,  Peter  C. 
Brooks,  Samuel  E.  Dean,  Shubael  Eldridge,  Jr.,  Patrick  Honan, 
Benjamin  Jenks,  Orriu  D.  Perry,  Nathan  J.  Pierce,  George  W.  Pierce, 
Joshua  Rotch,  Luther  P.  Williams. 

Eighteenth  Regiment  (three  years). — Joseph  Head,  George  R.  Reed,  Fred- 
erick A.  Smith. 

Fifth  Massachusetts  Battery  (three  years). — James  T.  Rose,  Albert  J.  Win- 
ters, Henry  M.  Gifford. 

1  Compiled  by  Job  S.  Gidley,  Esq. 

2  Chosen  to  fill  vacancy  occasioned  by  the  death  of  his  father  at  the 
annual  election. 


Fifty-eighth  Regiment. — Lewis  Storm  or  Strom,  George  A.  Brown,  John 
Ramsay,  Edwin  C.  Tripp,  James  J.  Cronin,  Albert  F.  Snow,  Alex- 
ander Oliver,  Bradford  Little,  Thomas  J.  Downs,  William  Kelley, 
Stephen  Griffith,  Joseph  Sterace,  John  Thompson,  John  Lynch, 
Michael  Donald,  George  Brown,  Peter  M.  W.  Baldwin,  George  F. 
Reed,  John  Gorham,  Timothy  E.  Long,  Edwin  Tripp. 

Twentieth  Regiment. — William  Squires. 

T/iird  Cavalry. — James  Lee,  David  McCarty. 

Three  Years'  Men,  Regiment  Unknown. — John  Hayes,  William  Hart,  Wil- 
liam H.  Edwards,  Lyman  B.  Morey,  Frederick  Mowbray. 

Others,  Term  of  Enlistment  m>t  known, — Charles  A.  Nute,  Thomas  Telen, 
Robert  H.  Dunham,  Charles  Kreppel,  James  Sullivan,  Charles  E. 
Ryder,  Jeremiah  Moynehan. 

Navy  Credits. — James  Taylor,  Joseph  B.  Barker,  William  II.  Potter,  with 
others  whose  names  do  not  appear  upon  the  town  records. 

Fourth  Massachusetts  Cavalry. — John  McCall. 

Fifteenth  Massachusetts  Battery. —iohn  R.  Pollock,  Matther  Woods. 

Fifth  Massachusetts  Cavalry, — Manuel  Erera,  Thomas  Williams. 

Fourtli  l\Iassachusetts  Battery. — Charles  Talbot,  James  Aster. 

Fifty-sixth  Massachusetts  Regiment,  Co.  I. — Solomon  L.  Winters. 

Second  Massachusetts  Cavalry. — Augustus  Roberts,  David  Marsh. 


BIOGRAPHICAL     SKETCHES. 


WILLIAM    ALMY. 

William  Almy,  the  subject  of  our  sketch,  was  a 
lineal  descendant  from  William  Almy  (or  Almond, 
as  the  name  was  sometimes  spelled),  who  was  born  in 

England  in  1601,  married  Andrey ,  who  was  born 

in  1603.  William  1  Almy,  the  emigrant,  was  at  Lynn, 
Mass.,  as  early  as  1631,  went  back  to  England,  and 
returned  with  his  wife  in  the  ship  "Abigail"  in 
1635. 

They  had  a  daughter  Annie,  aged  eight,  and  a 
sou  Christopher,  aged  three,  who  came  with  them. 
The  family  was  in  Sandwich  probably  in  1637,  and 
certainly  he  was  a  freeman  in  Portsmouth,  R.  I.,  in 
1655.  His  will  names  his  children  Christopher,  John, 
Job,  Ann  or  Annie  (wife  of  John  Green),  and  Cathe- 
rine (wife  of  a  Mr.  West). 

Christopher-  Almy,  son  of  William,  was  born  in 
England  about  1627,  came  to  America  in  ship  "Abi- 
gail" with  his  parents  in  1635,  and  lived  where  they 
died  at  Lynn  and  at  Sandwich,  Mass.,  and  finally  at 
Portsmouth,  P.  I.  He  was  an  assistant  there  in 
1690.  Job2  Almy,  son  of  William1,  was  born  in 
either  Lynn  or  Sandwich,  Mass.,  resided  with  his 
parents,  and  finally  settled  in  Portsmouth,  R.  I.  He 
married  Mary,  daughter  of  Christopher  Unthank, 
of  Warwick,  and  had  children  William  and  Chris- 
topher (twins),  Susannah,  Andrey,  Deborah,  Cathe- 
rine, and  Mary,  all  perhaps  minors  when  he  died  in 
1684. 

John  Almy  was  probably  the  John  referred  to  in 
William's1  will.  He  was  at  Plymouth  in  1643,  but 
finally  settled  at  Portsmouth,  P.  I.  He  married 
Mary,  daughter  of  James  Cole.  He  was  a  captaiu 
in  King  Philip's  war  in  1675,  but  died  in  1676. 

It  will  be  observed  that  the  only  grandsons  men- 
tioned in  the  above  account  are  William  and  Chris- 
topher (twins),  sons  of  Job,  William3  being  named 


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DARTMOUTH. 


for  his  grandfather,  William1  Almy,  and  Christopher3 
named  for  his  maternal  grandfather,  Christopher  Un- 
thank.  From  all  the  information  the  writer  can  gather 
he  thinks  the  line  of  descent  from  William  the  emi- 
grant to  William7,  the  subject  of  our  notice,  is  through 
Christopher11  Almy.  The  line  is  as  follows:  William1, 
Job2,  Christopher*,  Job4,  Christopher5,  Thomas6,  and 
William7.  Job4  Almy  died  July  27,  1877,  aged 
eighty-one.  His  wife,  Lydia,  died  Dec.  30,  1774,  aged 
seventy-four.  They  are  both  buried  on  the  farm  of 
the  late  William  Almy.  Christopher5  Almy  was  born 
in  1735,  and  died  in  1812,  aged  seventy-seven  years. 
His  wife,  Naomi,  died  in  May,  1817,  aged  seventy- 
nine  years.  Their  son,  Thomas6,  was  born  in  Dart- 
mouth, Mass.,  April  22,  1775,  and  died  Nov.  23,  1868, 
in  his  ninety-fourth  year.  He  married  Sarah,  daugh- 
ter of  William  and  Patience  Gifford.1  Sarah  (Gifford) 
Almy  was  born  in  Dartmouth,  June  10,  1779,  and 
died  June  13,  1848.  Their  children  were  William 
Silence,  born  Oct.  9,  1801,  and  died  Nov.  10,  1872; 
Frederick2  and  Henry,  who  died  at  eight.  Thomas6 
Almy  was  one  of  the  most  remarkable  men  physically 
that  ever  lived  in  old  Dartmouth.  In  his  youth  he 
was  a  carpenter  by  trade,  subsequently  a  merchant  at 
Russell's  Mills,  but  finally  a  farmer,  and  the  farm  he 
owned,  and  where  his  children  were  born,  is  now 
owned  by  his  grandsons,  John  P.  and  William  F. 
Almy,  of  Boston. 

Mr.  Almy  was  a  man  possessed  of  good  common 
sense,  sound  judgment,  keen  foresight,  and  withal,  a 
happy  disposition.  He  had  much  to  do  with  town 
affairs,  and  took  great  pride  in  the  annual  gatherings 
and  drills  of  the  State  militia.  He  took  pride  in  a 
good  horse,  and  was  always  seen  on  horseback,  which 
recreation  he  continued  till  within  a  short  time  of 
his  death.  He  was  a  birthright  member  of  the  So- 
ciety  of  Friends,  and  lived  and  died  in  that  faith. 
He  retained  his  faculties  till  within  a  short  time  of 
his  death,  and  his  name  is  still  held  in  grateful  re- 
membrance not  only  by  the  grandchildren,  but  by 
those  who  knew  him  in  New  Bedford  and  Dart- 
mouth. 

William7  Almy,  son  of  Thomas  and  Sarah  (Gif- 
ford) Almy,  was  born  on  the  old  Almy  farm  in  Dart- 
mouth, Mass.,  Oct.  10,  1798,  and  died  in  Boston, 
Dec.  25,  1881.  His  youth  was  spent  on  his  father's 
farm,  and  he  received  such  advantages  for  an  educa- 
tion a-  the  district  schools  of  his  time  afforded.  From 
the  New  Bedford  Mercury,  of  Dec.  28,  1881,  we  clip 
the  following  notice  : 

"  He  early  determined  to  become  a  merchant,  and 
at  the  age  of  thirteen  he  walked  from  his  home  near 
Horse  Neck,  carrying  his  shoes  in  his  hand  as  a  mat- 
ter of  economy,  to  Russell's  Mills,  where  he  began  his 
career  in  the  store  of  the  late  Abraham  Darker.  In 
a  few  years  he  removed  to  this  city,  and  was  employed 


1  See  ancestral  history  of  the  Giffoids  in  Westport. 
*  See  his  biography. 


as  book-keeper  in  the  store  of  William  H.  Allen  and 
the  late  Gideon  Allen,  and  in  the  counting-room  of 
the  late  John  Avery  Parker.  Graduating  there,  he 
went  to  Boston,  and  found  employment  in  the  best 
school  possible  for  a  merchant,  the  counting-room  of 
the  late  A.  &  A.  Lawrence.  Soon  after  attaining  his 
majority,  and  doubtless  under  the  kind  auspices  of 
his  employers,  he  formed  a  partnership  with  a  fellow 
clerk,  named  Dexter,  establishing  the  business  (im- 
porting and  jobbing  of  white-goods),  which  under  the 
firm-names  of  Dexter  &  Almy,  Almy,  Blake  &  Co., 
Almy,  Patterson  &  Co.,  Almy,  Hobart  &  Co.,  and 
Almy  &  Co.,  he  successfully  pursued  for  nearly  fifty 
years.  Cool,  clear-headed,  and  sagacious,  no  man 
stood  higher  in  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his  fel- 
lows than  William  Almy.  He  achieved  a  handsome 
fortune  for  his  time,  but  secured  something  far  better, 
a  reputation  for  spotless  integrity  and  unblemished 
honor." 

For  many  years  he  was  a  director  in  the  Eagle 
Bank,  Boston,  and  for  a  number  of  years  his  firm  was 
selling  agents  for  various  cotton  and  woolen-mills, 
among  which  we  mention  that  of  the  well-known 
Wamsutta  Mills  of  New  Bedford.  Politically,  he 
was  a  Whig  and  Republican.  He  married  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Robert  and  Deborah  Brayton,  of  Nan- 
tucket, in  Novenber,  1828.  She  was  born  June  19, 
1803,  and  died  May  11,  1879. 

Of  their  ten  children — 

(1)  Sarah,  died  in  infancy. 

(2)  Robert  B. 

(3)  Sarah  H.,  born  Dec.  16, 1832,  died  Feb.  26, 1869. 

(4)  Matilda  H.,  died  in  infancy. 

(5)  Henry,  born  Aug.  22,  1836,  and  died  April  6, 
1879.  He  was  associated  with  his  father  and  others 
in  business. 

(6)  Catherine  G.,  died  young. 

(7)  and  (8)  John  P.  and  William  F.  (twins),  now 
doing  business  in  Boston. 

(9)  Alice  B.,  born  April  14,  1843,  who  died  Jan.  5, 
1871.  She  was  wife  of  Frederick  Grinnell,  of  New 
Bedford,  and  had  one  daughter, — Alice  A. 

(10)  Thomas  R.,  a  clerk  in  New  Bedford. 

About  1830,  Mr.  Almy  purchased  a  part  of  the  old 
Almy  farm,  near  Horse  Neck,  in  Dartmouth,  a  de- 
lightful summer  residence,  which  he  greatly  improved 
and  beautified.  But  soon  a  gradual  failure  of  sight 
obliged  him  to  give  up  in  a  measure  his  business  care, 
and  in  company  with  one  of  his  daughters  he  went  to 
Europe  to  seek  the  cure  of  his  threatened  blindness. 
He,  however,  received  no  benefit  from  the  advice  and 
treatment  of  the  most  eminent  foreign  oculists,  and  in 
a  short  time  (1858)  he  became  totally  blind, — a  ter- 
rible affliction  for  a  man  so  self-reliant  and  independ- 
ent as  he  had  been,  so  full  of  activity  and  so  fond  of 
social  life.  In  1868  he  retired  from  business.  He 
bore  his  trouble  with  something  better  than  a  stoic's 
resignation,  and  keeping  up  his  interest  in  affairs, 
sought  to  minister  as  well  as  be  ministered  unto. 


208 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Dying  at  a  good  old  age,  he  left  an  honored  name 
and  the  memory  of  an  active  and  useful  life. 


WILLIAM    BARKER,  Jr. 

William  Barker,  Jr.,  son  of  William  and  Susannah 
(Potter)  Barker,  was  born  in  Dartmouth,  Mass.,  Dec. 
25,  1820.  He  comes  of  a  family  long  settled  in  the 
old  town  of  Dartmouth.  Lemuel  was  son  of  Jabez, 
married  Maria  Tripp,  was  a  farmer  and  lumberman, 
and  died  in  1818,  aged  fifty-five  years.  His  father, 
William  Barker,  was  son  of  Lemuel,  and  one  of  a 
family  of  six  children,  and  was  born  in  1794.  He 
was  twice  married,  first  to  Susannah,  daughter  of  Ab- 
ner  and  Sarah  (Wood)  Potter.  By  her  he  had  five 
children, — -Abner  (died  an  infant),  William,  Eliza- 
beth (Mrs.  Charles  W.  Potter),  Abner  P.,  and  Charles 
0.  He  next  married  Rebecca  Potter,  sister  of  his 
first  wife.  Their  children  were  Susan  (Mrs.  David 
Sisson),  Sarah  (Mrs.  Henry  C.  Baker),  Ann  M.  (Mrs. 
Lemuel  M.  Potter),  Abby  R.  (Mrs.  Edward  Hicks), 
George  F.  (deceased),  Caroline  (Mrs.  H.  Damon), 
Henry  H.,Emma  F.,  Avis  H.  (Mrs.  Fenner  Brownell), 
and  Warren  S.  He  lived  between  Russell's  Mills  and 
Smith's  Mills ;  was  a  member  of  the  Friends'  Society. 
He  was  a  man  of  integrity  and  justice,  was  univer- 
sally esteemed,  served  his  town  as  selectman  and 
assessor  several  years,  and  brought  up  his  large  family 
of  children  well.     He  died  in  1863. 

William  Barker,  Jr.,  was  educated  at  the  Friends' 
School  at  Providence,  R.  I.,  where  he  remained  four 
years.  When  fifteen  years  old  he  was  put  to  learn 
the  trade  of  tanner  and  currier  with  his  uncle,  Lutham 
Potter.  He  spent  four  years  in  acquiring  his  trade, 
and.  after  eighteen  months'  work  at  his  trade  for  his 
uncle  after  his  trade  was  learned,  he  established  him- 
self in  business  at  Smith's  Mills,  and  continued  in 
this  for  ten  years.  From  about  this  time  Mr.  Barker 
commenced  attending  to  public  business,  and  such 
was  the  satisfaction  he  gave  that  his  services  were  so 
occupied  as  to  cause  him  to  relinquish  private  busi- 
ness and  attend  altogether  to  that  coming  to  him  from 
outside.  In  1851  he  was  chosen  clerk,  treasurer,  and 
collector  of  taxes  of  Dartmouth,  and  held  those  posi- 
tions for  sixteen  consecutive  years.  From  about  1852 
he  held  the  office  of  deputy  sheriff,  with  only  one 
year's  interruption  till  1876.  He  was  about  the  same 
time  commissioned  justice  of  the  peace,  and  still  holds 
that  office.  He  represented  Dartmouth  in  the  Lower 
House  of  the  State  Legislature  in  1868,  1870,  1871. 
He  was  elected  State  senator  in  1881.  He  is  Repub- 
lican in  politics.  In  all  the  varied  and  multitudinous 
duties  of  his  years  of  office  Mr.  Barker  has  been 
quick,  accurate,  and  courteous.  He  has  been  called 
to  administer  on  many  estates,  and  in  all  capacities 
has  well  discharged  his  trusts.  Plain  and  unpretend- 
ing in  personal  appearance,  he  accomplishes  business 
with  a  conciseness  and  brevity  of  detail  which  shows 


how  completely  he  is  at  home  in  its  transaction,  and 
has  a  large  following  of  personal  friends. 

He  married  Mary  Slade,  daughter  of  Caleb  and 
Hannah  (Davis)  Slade,  of  Dartmouth,  Sept.  22,  1842. 
They  have  only  one  child,  Mary  Elizabeth. 


WILLIAM  A.  GORDON,  M.D. 

Among  the  leading  successful  and  representative 
physicians  of  Bristol  County  who  began  active  prac- 
tice more  than  half  a  century  ago,  and. to-day  are  liv- 
ing in  unimpaired  vigor  of  mind  and  comfortable 
physical  health,  must  be  mentioned  Dr.  William  A. 
Gordon.  Coming  of  vigorous  Scotch  ancestry,  he  in- 
herited much  of  the  vitality  of  that  hardy  Caledonian 
race.  He  was  son  of  Dr.  William  Gordon  and  Helen 
Gilchrist,  his  wife,  and  is  a  lineal  descendant  of  Alex- 
ander Gordon,  a  scion  of  the  loyal  Gordon  family  in 
the  Highlands  of  Scotland.  This  young  Alexander 
(first  generation)  was  a  soldier  in  the  Royalist  army 
of  Charles  II.  when  but  eighteen.  He  was  captured 
by  Cromwell,  confined  for  a  time  in  Tuthill  Fields, 
London,  and  sent  to  America  in  1651  as  a  prisoner  of 
war.  He  was  held  at  Watertown,  Mass.,  until  1654, 
when  he  was  released.  He  afterwards  went  to  Exeter, 
N.  H.,  where,  in  1663,  he  married  the  daughter  of  Nich- 
olas Lysson.  The  next  year  the  town  voted  him  a 
grant  of  twenty  acres  of  land,  and  he  became  a  per- 
manent resident.  The  locality  where  he  settled  still 
retains  the  name  of  "  Gordon's  Hill."  He  had  eight 
children,  of  whom  Thomas  (second  generation),  born 
1678,  married  Elizabeth  Harriman,  settled  in  Haver- 
hill, Mass.,  was  father  of  eleven  children,  and  died  in 
1762.  His  son  Timothy  (third  generation)  had  a  son 
Timothy  (fourth  generation),  who  was  grandfather  to 
Dr.  William  A.  Gordon.  This  last-mentioned  Tim- 
othy was  a  farmer  and  a  Revolutionary  soldier  of 
bravery  in  the  battles  of  Bunker  Hill,  Bennington, 
Saratoga,  etc.  He  married  Lydia  Whitmore,  lived  in 
Newbury,  Mass.,  and  had  a  family  of  eight  children, 
of  whom  William  (fifth  generation)  was  oldest. 
William,  born  about  1783,  was  educated  at  Phillips' 
Exeter  Academy,  studied  medicine  with  Dr.  Kitt- 
ridge,  in  Andover,  Mass.,  and  began  practice  as  a 
physician  in  Schoodic,  Me.,  afterwards  settling  in 
Hingham,  Mass.,  where  he  lived  many  years,  and 
finally  settled  in  Taunton  (taking  his  son's  practice 
after  he  went  to  New  Bedford),  and  was  in  practice 
there  at  the  time  of  his  death,  June  17,  1851.  His 
wife  Helen  was  daughter  of  Gordon  and  Mary  (Good- 
will) Gilchrist,  who  were  natives  of  Sutherlandshire, 
Scotland,  and  residents  of  St.  Andrews,  New  Bruns- 
wick, where  she  was  born  about  1786.  She  died, 
aged  eighty-six,  in  1872.  This  worthy  couple  had 
seven  children,  William  Alexander,  Charles  (de- 
ceased), Helen  (widow  of  George  A.  Crocker,  of 
Taunton),  Joseph  R.,  Edwin,  Ann  B.  (wife  of  Adolph 
Kielbock,  of  Boston),  and  Timothy. 


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DARTMOUTH, 


209 


Dr.  William  A.  Gordon  (sixth  generation)  was  born 
in  Newburyport,  Mass.,  March  17,  1808.  His  parents 
moved  to  Hingham  when  he  was  but  two  months 
old.  He  was  prepared  for  College  at  Derby  Academy, 
in  Hingham,  and  was  graduated  at  Harvard,  class  of 
1826,  when  but  eighteen  years  old.  He  at  once  com- 
menced the  study  of  medicine  with  his  father,  and 
was  graduated  at  Harvard  Medical  School  in  1829. 
Being  in  poor  health,  he  went  with  his  father  to  the 
home  of  his  grandfather,  in  St.  Andrews,  and  by  the 
solicitation  of  friends  began  practice  in  Robbinstown, 
Me.,  where  he  remained  four  months.  Going  then  to 
St.  Stephens,  he  stayed  there  four  months,  and  then 
settled  permanently  in  Taunton,  Mass.,  July,  1830. 
From  that  time  he  has  been  identified  with,  and  taken 
a  high  stand  among,  the  best  and  most  successful 
physicians  of  this  county.  He  remained  in  Taunton 
eight  years  and  a  half,  when,  yielding  his  practice  to 
his  father,  who  was  worked  too  hard  at  Hingham,  he, 
in  December,  1839,  moved  to  New  Bedford,  where  he 
was  in  active  practice  until  1877,  when  he  removed 
to  his  pleasant  seaside  home  in  Dartmouth,  and  has 
since  resided  there. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Massachusetts  Medical  So- 
ciety, in  which  he  has  held  the  office  of  counselor; 
is  also  a  member  of  South  Bristol  Medical  Society, 
has  been  its  president  and  for  years  its  treasurer. 
By  request  of  this  society  a  communication,  prepared 
by  him  and  read  before  the  society,  on  "  Puerperal 
Tetanus,"  was  published  in  the  American  Journal  of 
the  Medical  Sciences.  Republican  in  politics,  he  has 
not  sought  political  honors,  but,  soon  after  moving  to 
New  Bedford,  was  elected  overseer  of  the  poor,  which 
position  he  held  for  seventeen  consecutive  years.  He 
is  liberal  in  religious  belief,  and  an  attendant  of  the 
Unitarian  Church.  He  married,  in  October,  1833, 
Maria,  daughter  of  Hon.  John  M.  Williams,  of  Taun- 
ton. She  died  July  11,  1875,  aged  sixty-one.  They 
had  eight  children.  Their  second  daughter,  Anne 
M.,  married  Henry  Johnson,  M.D.,  of  New  Bedford. 
She  had  three  children  who  survived  her, — Holman 
Gordon,  Theodora,  and  Elizabeth  Gordon.  Their 
four  surviving  children  are  Elizabeth,  William  Gil- 
christ (now  in  charge  of  a  private  school  in  Burling- 
ton, Iowa.  He  has  three  children, — Mabel,  Helen, 
and  William  Alexander),  Helen,  and  Emily,  wife  of 
Professor  Thomas  E.  Pope,  of  State  Agricultural  Col- 
lege, Iowa.  (She  has  two  children, — Mary  R.  and 
Ethel.)  

WILLIAM  R.  SLOCUM. 
The  family  of  Slocum  has  been  from  its  settlement 
prominently  connected  with  the  town  of  Dartmouth. 
The  history  of  the  town  will  show  the  name  among 
the  first  proprietors  and  settlers.  Holder  Slocum  was 
of  the  stock  of  the  original  settlers,  and  from  him,  in 
the  fifth  generation,  is  William  R.  Slocum,  now  a 
resident  of  Dartmouth.  Peleg  Slocum,  his  son,  born 
in  Dartmouth,  was  twice  married,  his  second  wife 
14 


being  a  sister  of  John  and  James  Howland,  of  New 
Bedford.  He  had  four  sons,  Peleg,  Holder,  Chris- 
topher, and  Cook,  and  two  daughters,  Alice  and 
Amy.  He,  like  his  immediate  ancestors,  was  of  the 
Society  of  Friends,  a  quiet  person  of  influence  in  the 
community,  and  a  large  land- owner,  and  he  attained 
the  patriarchal  age  of  ninety  years.  His  son  Peleg, 
born  1763,  was  a  farmer,  succeeding  to  a  generous 
share  of  the  paternal  acres.  He  married  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  John  Ricketson,  and  had  children,— 
Ricketson,  Otis,  William,  Amy,  Rebecca,  Eliza.  He 
lived  to  be  ninety-three.  He  was  an  energetic  man, 
of  positive  nature,  a  representative  farmer,  standing 
high  in  the  esteem  of  the  community,  and  successful 
in  business.  He  was  much  interested  in  politics,  and 
was  prominent  in  the  councils  of  the  Whig  party. 
He  died  in  1856.  His  memory  reached  back  distinctly 
to  the  events  of  the  Revolution.  His  son  Ricketson, 
born  April,  1790,  succeeded  to  one  of  his  father's 
farms  on  Slocum's  Neck,  of  about  two  or  three  hun- 
dred acres.  He  married  Jemima,  daughter  of  John 
and  Mercy  Wing  (see  biography  of  B.  F.  Wing), 
when  but  a  young  man.  He  was  an  energetic  man, 
taught  school  in  his  youth,  and  in  various  ways  im- 
pressed himself  upon  his  generation.  He  was  two 
years  selectman,  was  representative  to  the  General 
Court,  and  was  highly  esteemed  as  a  good  citizen  and 
a  man  of  excellent  judgment  and  worth.  He  died 
July  11,  1854,  aged  sixty-four  years  and  two  months. 
Mrs.  Slocum  was  an  energetic,  robust  woman,  with  a 
strong  "  will  of  her  own,"  and  a  fit  mate  for  her  hus- 
band. She  was  a  kind  mother,  bringing  up  a  large 
family  to  honor  her  memory.  Many  of  her  children 
died  in  infancy.  The  following  attained  maturity: 
William  R.;  Frederick  (deceased);  Charles;  Almy, 
married  Howland  Holder ;  Lydia,  married  Israel 
Brightman;  Joseph  W. ;  Frederick  (2d),  deceased; 
Mary  A.,  married  Giles  F.  Allen  ;  Elizabeth,  married 
W.  W.  Allen. 

William  Ricketson  Slocum,  eldest  son  of  Ricketson 
and  Jemima  (Wing)  Slocum,  was  born  in  Dartmouth, 
Mass.,  June  14,  1811.  From  very  early  life  he  has 
led  the  laborious  life  of  a  practical  New  England 
farmer,  following  the  teachings  of  Poor  Richard's 
maxim,  "  Whoever  by  the  plow  would  thrive,  himself 
must  either  hold  or  drive."  With  limited  common 
school  advantages,  he  acquired  sufficient  education  to 
successfully  teach  nine  consecutive  winter  terms  of 
school,  beginning  at  his  nineteenth  year.  These  were 
all  taught  in  his  native  town,  and  five  in  his  home 
district.  In  this  avocation  he  acquired  quite  a  repu- 
tation as  a  disciplinarian.  He  received  little  property 
from  inheritance,  and  marrying,  May  22,  1834,  Eliz- 
abeth, daughter  of  Pardon  and  Lydia  Cornell  (who 
was  born  May  29,  1811,  in  Dartmouth),  commenced 
housekeeping  on  Naushon  Island,  and  lived  there 
nine  years,  the  first  three  as  a  hired  man  on  a  farm. 
In  1843,  in  company  with  his  brother-in-law,  E. 
Browning,  he  purchased  a  farm,  on  which  they  gave 


210 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


a  mortgage  for  three  thousand  dollars,  the  purchase 
money,  for  six  years.  Hard  work  and  economy  were 
faithfully  persisted  in,  and  a  satisfactory  evidence 
given  that  agriculture  on  a  New  England  farm  can 
be  made  a  very  remunerative  business.  Every  pay- 
ment was  made  promptly  on  time,  the  mortgage  lifted 
when  due,  and  after  nine  years  had  passed  Mr.  Slocum 
sold  his  half-interest  for  five  thousand  dollars,  and  the 
partners  then  had  in  addition  eleven  hundred  dollars 
in  cash,  and  eleven  hundred  dollars  in  land  that 
they  had  bought. 

Mr.  Slocum  then  (1852)  purchased  the  farm  of 
about  two  hundred  acres  where  he  now  resides.  By 
the  continuation  of  the  same  industry  and  thrift  he 
has  attained  to  the  possession  of  a  handsome  prop- 
erty, and  stands  high  in  financial  as  well  as  social 
circles.  Republican  in  politics,  he  has  served  his 
town  acceptably  three  times  as  selectman.  He  is  a 
stockholder  of  the  "yarn-mill"  of  New  Bedford,  and 
of  Boston  and  Albany  and  other  railroads.  He  has 
one  daughter,  Cornelia  R.,  born  June  12,1842.  She 
married  John  W.  Howland,  June  12,  1868,  and  has 
five  children,— William  R.,  born  July  14,  1869; 
Rodolphus  W.,  born  Nov.  3,  1870;  Elizabeth  T.,  born 
May  10,  1872;  Margaret  E.,  born  Dec.  20,  1873; 
Alma  S.,  born  April  5,  1879.  Pardon  Cornell  was  a 
farmer  in  Dartmouth,  had  eight  children, — Phebe  P., 
Godfrey,  Joseph  W.,  Mercy  A.,  Elizabeth,  Lydia  W., 
Gideon,  and  Alfred.  He  died  in  his  eighty-fourth 
year,  June  1,  1859.  Lydia,  his  wife,  died  April  9, 
1863,  aged  eighty-two.  They  were  Friends.  The 
father  of  Pardon  Cornell  was  Gideon,  who  was  son 
of  William.  Gideon  was  a  farmer,  married  a  Dilly 
Gifford,  who  lived  to  be  very  old,  and  is  remembered 
by  Mrs.  Slocum.  Gideon  also  died  at  an  advanced 
age.  

CAPT.  BENJAMIN  F.  WING. 
John  Wing  was  the  original  progenitor  of  nearly 
all  who  bear  the  name  in  America,  so  far  as  they  are 
known  to  the  writer.  Nothing  is  known  of  him  before 
his  arrival  at  Boston  in  June,  1630,  and  his  residence 
at  Sangus  (Lynn),  Mass.,  except  that  he  had  married 
Deborah,  the  second  daughter  of  Rev.  Stephen  Bach- 
iler,  the  first  minister  to  Lynn,  as  early  as  1632.  (For 
an  extended  history  of  the  Rev.  Stephen  Bachiler, 
we  would  refer  the  reader  to  our  history  of  Hampton, 
Rockingham  Co.,  N.  H.)  It  appears  from  the  records 
that  Mr.  Wing  was  a  man  of  limited  circumstances, 
hence  left  Lynn,  Mass.,  for  cheaper  lands,  and  was 
probably  one  of  Rev.  Mr.  Bachiier's  party,  who  made  a 
journey  in  the  dead  of  winter  from  Lynn,  or  Ipswich, 
to  "  Mattucheese,"  about  1634  or  1635,  and  though 
that  enterprise  failed,  he  then  perhaps  became  ac- 
quainted with  the  region  afterwards  known  as  the 
peninsula  of  Cape  Cod.  As  early  as  April,  1637,  the 
General  Court  at  Plymouth  gave  to  Edward  Free- 
man and  nine  others  the  right  to  form  a  plantation, 
and  they  in  turn  had  the  right  to  receive  as  many 


others  as  they  saw  fit,  but  in  regular  order.  Some 
fifty  persons  called  "Associates"  joined  them,  and 
the  name  of  John  Wing  appears  as  the  forty-fifth  in 
said  list.  Nearly  all  had  families,  and  in  order  to 
become  a  freeman  their  characters  must  be  acceptable 
to  the  Governor.  Church  membership  and  a  regular 
attendance  upon  and  a  proper  support  of  public  wor- 
ship at  authorized  places  were  indispensable  requi- 
sites to  becoming  a  freeman.  The  town  was  incor- 
porated as  early  as  1639,  and  the  Indian  name  of 
"  Shawnee"  was  exchanged  for  that  of  Sandwich. 
The  old  traditional  home  of  John  Wing  was  situated 
about  one  mile  from  the  present  village  of  Sandwich, 
near  a  stream  of  water  between  two  beautiful  ponds, 
and  on  a  highland  overlooking  the  lower  sheet  of 
water  and  the  town.  Mr.  Wing  appears  to  have  been 
a  plain  man,  of  ordinary  intelligence,  never  aspiring 
to  political  distinctions,  and  only  ambitious  to  culti- 
vate his  land  and  decently  to  rear  his  children.  In  a 
few  instances,  however,  his  name  occurs  on  the  records 
of  the  General  Court  as  one  well  qualified  for  public 
business.  All  reliable  accounts  mention  only  three 
sons, — Daniel,  John,  and  Stephen, — who  came  with 
him  in  the  same  vessel  and  accompanied  him  until 
his  settlement  in  Sandwich.  The  date  of  the  death 
of  John  Wing  and  his  wife  Deborah  are  not  known, 
as  the  early  records  are  so  imperfect  and  some  are 
lost. 

Daniel  Wing,  the  eldest  son  of  John  and  Deborah 
(Bachiler)  Wing,  of  Sandwich,  Mass.,  came  with  his 
father  from  England,  and  accompanied  him  until  he 
settled  at  Sandwich.  They  resided  near  each  other. 
June  28, 1640,  Andrew  Hallett  conveyed  certain  landed 
property  to  Daniel  Wing,  the  instrument  being  wit- 
nessed by  John  Wing  and  Edward  Dillingham.  In 
1643,  Daniel  Wing  was  enrolled  with  his  brothers 
among  those  who  were  at  that  time  between  the  ages 
of  sixteen  and  sixty,  and  therefore  liable  to  bear 
arms.  In  1652  we  find  his  name  among  those  ap- 
pointed to  take  charge  of  the  fishing  interests  of  the 
place. 

In  1654  a  mill  for  the  accommodation  of  the  in- 
habitants, costing  twenty  pounds,  was  paid  for  by 
Daniel  Wing  and  twenty-one  other  inhabitants.  In 
1655  the  name  of  Daniel  Wing  and  a  number  of  the 
prominent  citizens  of  Sandwich  are  first  mentioned 
in  connection  With  a  serious  religious  dissension  in 
the  town.  In  1657  the  people  called  Quakers  made 
their  first  appearance  in  Sandwich,  and  Mr.  Wing 
early  became  an  adherent  to  that  faith.  In  March, 
1658,  he  was  fined  twenty  shillings  for  entertaining 
Quakers  at  his  home.  Mr.  Wing  refused  to  take  the 
"  oath  of  fidelity"  because  this  particular  oath  pledged 
him  to  assist  in  the  execution  of  an  intolerant  enact- 
ment.    He  was  therefore  fined  twenty  pounds. 

In  December,  1658,  he  was  excluded  from  the  num- 
ber of  freemen.  He  married  Hannah,  a  daughter  of 
John  Swift,  of  an  old  and  honorable  family  in  the 
western  part  of  the  town,  Sept.  5,  1641. 


fy.  ^ 


/// , 


1£sl 


*-   1/ 


DARTMOUTH. 


211 


She  died  Dec.  1,  1664,  soon  after  the  birth  of  her 
youngest  child,  and  he  died  the  same  year. 

They  had  eleven  children,  of  whom  Daniel  was  the 
youngest,  born  Nov.  28,  1664.  The  descendants  of 
Daniel  Wing  have  nearly  all  been  connected  with  the 
Society  of  Friends.  Daniel,  Jr.a  (Daniel2,  John1), 
was  entered  as  townsman  of  Sandwich  in  1691,  and 
married,  in  1686,  Deborah,  a  daughter  of  Henry  Dill- 
ingham, "in  Friends'  way."  His  residence  was  near 
his  father's.  He  appears  to  have  been  the  owner  of 
a  considerable  amount  of  property.  "  On  the  13th  of 
May,  1717,  he  deeded  half  of  his  undivided  interest 
in  some  lands  which  he  owned  in  Dartmouth,  Bristol 
Co.,  Mass.,  to  his  son  Edward.  In  the  deed  Daniel 
speaks  of  himself  as  a  cooper  and  of  Edward  as  a 
husbandman.  They  had  seven  children,  the  eldest  of 
whom  was  Edward,  born  July  10,  1687,  in  Sandwich, 
where  he  resided  until  he  removed  to  Dartmouth  and 
followed  the  occupation  of  a  farmer.  He  was  mar- 
ried three  times;  first  to  Desire  Smith,  of  Dartmouth, 
November,  1713;  second,  to  Sarah  (daughter  of  Abra- 
ham and  Hannah)  Tucker,  June  1,  1714;  and  third, 
to  Patience  Ellis,  October,  1728.  By  his  second  mar- 
riage he  had  Edward,  born  in  Sandwich  in  1720; 
Abraham,  born  at  Dartmouth,  Aug.  4, 1721 ;  Jeremiah, 
and  perhaps  Jedediah. 

Joseph,  a  son  of  Edward  and  Sarah  (Tucker)  Wing, 

married  Catharine .     Among  their  children  were 

Matthew, Daniel,  and  John.  John  married  Je- 
mima Shepherd  at  the  Friends'  meeting-house  in 
Dartmouth  Oct.  5,  1753.  At  an  early  period  he  be- 
came a  resident,  with  Abraham,  Edward,  and  Jede- 
diah Wing,  of  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y.  Jemima  died 
Nov.  28,  1816.  They  had  three  children, — Catharine, 
Dorcas,  and  John,  who  was  born  May  4,  1756  ;  mar- 
ried Mercy  Almy  in  Dartmouth  May  4,  1780  ;  died 
Jan.  1,  1832.  His  wife  was  born  March  5,  1755,  and 
died  Jan.  5,  1850.  They  had  nine  children,  viz., 
Lydia,  Joseph,  Catharine,  Pardon,  Patience,  Abigail, 
Jemima,  John,  and  Almy. 

Pardon,  son  of  John  and  Mercy  (Almy)  Wing,  was 
born  March  22,  1788,  and  died  October,  1860.  He 
married,  about  1808,  Almy,  daughter  of  Peleg  and 
Elizabeth  (Ricketson)  Slocum,  of  Dartmouth.  Their 
children  are  Joseph,  Catharine,  Peleg  S.,  Eliza,  Ben- 
jamin F.,  Caroline,  William  R.,  and  John. 

Benjamin  Franklin  Wing,  son  of  Pardon  and  Almy 
(Slocum)  Wing,  was  born  in  Dartmouth,  Mass.,  Oct. 
22,  1822.  He  was  reared  in  the  quiet  industry  of  a 
farmer's  home,  and  was  early  imbued  with  those 
qualities  of  economy,  diligence,  sobriety,  and  per- 
severance that  are  always  the  stepping-stones  to 
success.  His  advantages  for  education  were  the 
meagre  ones  of  the  country  schools  of  the  period.  In 
1840  he  commenced  a  maritime  life  on  whale  ships, 
and  continued  it  for  ten  voyages,  six  of  which  he  was 
master.  His  seafaring  was  fortunate  and  successful. 
Captain  Wing  has  erected  a  beautiful  residence,  and 
made  by  its  surroundings  a  pleasant  home  on  the 


farm  in  Dartmouth,  which  he  purchased  in  1855,  at 
the  head  of  the  Apponegansett  River,  and  where  he 
now  resides.  He  married  March  20,  1851,  Emily, 
daughter  of  John  and  Charity  GifFord,  of  an  old  New 
England  family.  She  was  born  in  Westport,  Mass., 
April  9,  1825.  Their  children  are  Laura  A.,  married 
Abraham  Tucker,  and  has  one  child  ;  Joseph  F. ; 
John  Franklin,  graduated  at  Amherst,  June,  1882, 
now  a  student  of  mineralogy  and  chemistry  at  Got- 
tingen,  Germany ;  Herbert,  attending  commercial 
college  at  Providence,  R.  I. 

Capt.  Wing  has  several  times  had  important  trusts 
confided  to  him  by  his  fellow-citizens.  He  has  been 
selectman  seven  successive  terms,  six  times  being 
chairman.  Republican  in  politics,  he  represented 
Dartmouth  in  the  Legislatures  of  1872-73,  and  his 
senatorial  district  in  1876.  His  duties  were  discharged 
with  ability  in  the  interests  of  his  constituents.  He 
is  in  harmony  with  the  better  elements  of  society,  and 
is  one  of  the  substantial  men  of  Dartmouth. 


ABNER    II.  DAVIS. 


Abner  Hicks  Davis,  son  of  Philip  and  Clarissa 
(Macomber)  Davis,  was  born  in  Dartmouth,  Sept.  20, 
1819.  His  father,  being  of  intemperate  habits,  did 
not  properly  provide  for  his  family,  and  his  earliest 
years  were  passed  in  poverty,  relieved  only  by  the  en- 
ergy and  industry  of  a  faithful  mother, — a  woman  of 
undaunted  courage  and  sterling  worth.  When  young 
Abner  was  but  ten  years  old  the  prospect  of  a  cheer- 
less and  unprovided-for  winter  made  it  an  act  of  ne- 
cessity for  both  mother  and  son  to  leave  their  so- 
called  home  and  earn  their  own  living.  Abner  went 
to  Newport,  R.  L,  to  work  on  a  farm  for  George  Arm- 
strong. His  father  did  not  know  his  whereabouts 
for  a  month,  when  he  discovered  where  he  was  and 
came  to  see  him.  The  young  lad  was  fearful  he 
would  be  carried  back  to  the  poverty  from  which  he 
was  escaping,  but  his  father  gave  him  his  choice  of 
staying  or  returning.  Mr.  Armstrong  told  him  if  he 
remained  with  him  he  must  be  indentured  as  an  ap- 
prentice for  seven  years,  and  he  would  like  to  have 
him  stay.  Much  depended  on  the  boy's  decision,  but 
even  at  that  youthful  period  he  had  the  good  sense  to 
go  into  the  apprenticeship.  He  was  to  receive  his 
board  and  clothes  and  three  months'  schooling  each 
year.  Faithfully  and  well  he  served  his  master,  and 
at  the  conclusion  of  his  time,  in  the  winter  of  1836, 
went  to  New  Bedford  and  attended  school  three 
months,  "  doing  chores"  for  his  board  for  Nehemiah 
Leonard,  and  for  his  tuition  sawing  the  school-house 
wood  and  sweeping  the  room.  We  may  easily  con- 
ceive that  the  advantages  thus  secured  were  appre- 
ciated and  diligently  improved.  The  next  summer 
was  spent  as  farm-hand  for  the  son  of  Mr.  Armstrong 
at  Newport.  Realizing  the  importance  of  education 
in  the  struggle  of  life,  he  attended  school  in  New 
Bedford  during  1838-39,  boarding  with  Capt.  Daniel 


212 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Wood.  Here  he  made  friends,  and  in  the  spring  of 
1840  secured  a  clerkship  in  the  employ  of  Ivory  H. 
Bartlett,  with  a  salary  of  two  hundred  and  seventy- 
five  dollars  per  year,  boarding  himself.  Here  he  re- 
mained two  years,  the  second  year  receiving  fifty 
dollars  advance. 

In  the  spring  of  1842  he  engaged  with  Charles  R. 
Tucker  in  same  capacity, — three  hundred  and  seventy- 
five  dollars  salary.    After  one  year  he  entered  the  em- 
ploy of  the  well-known  house  of  Isaac  Howland,  Jr., 
&  Co.,  the  largest  whaling  shippers  in  the  country, 
as  outside  clerk  or  overseer.      Such  was  the  faithful 
service  given,  and  such  was  the  appreciation  thereof, 
that  for  twenty-two  years  he  remained  with  this  house, 
receiving  at  various  periods  from  three  hundred  and 
seventy-five  dollars  to  one  thousand  dollars,  which 
for  several  years  was  paid  him.     His  economy  and 
thrift    had   during    this    period    accumulated    some 
money,  which  in  a  small  way  he  adventured  in  va- 
rious vessels,  the  first  being  one-eighth    interest  in 
merchant  brig  "Osceola,"  which  he  helped  to  build. 
This  investment  proved  remunerative,  and  he  after- 
ward had  interests  in  the  merchant  vessels  schooner 
"Boxer,"    sloop   "New    York,"    schooners    "Naiad 
Queen,"    "James   H.    Ashmead,"    "Henry    Gibbs," 
"Eveline,"    barkentine    "Jane    A.    Falkenburgh," 
ships  "  Otseonta,"   "Hibernia,"  and   "John   Coggs- 
well,"  and  the  whalers  "John  Dawson,"  "  Elizur  F. 
Mason,"  "Mary,"  "Charles  \V.  Morgan,"  "Triton," 
"Kathleen,"  "Sunbeam,"  etc.     In  1881,  Edward  M. 
Robinson  withdrew  from  the  firm  of  Isaac  Howland, 
Jr.,  &  Co.,  and  joined  that  of  William  T.  Coleman  & 
Co.,  of  New  York  City,  becoming  the  capitalist  of 
the  firm.     This  house  did  an  immense  business,  and 
was  the  largest  Californian  shipping  house  in  the 
city.     In  1862,  Mr.  Davis  followed  Mr.  Robinson  and 
became  outside  superintendent  of  the  firm,  with  a 
salary  first  of  fifteen    hundred  dollars,  then  of  two 
thousand  five  hundred  dollars.     He  remained  here 
three  years,  and  in  1865,  at  the  death  of  Mr.  Rob- 
inson,   with    Henry    A.    Barling,    a   fellow-employe, 
as  partner,  commenced  business  for  himself  under 
firm-name  of  Barling  &  Davis,  as  commission  mer- 
chants, at  163  Pearl  Street,  New  York  City.     This 
partnership  continued  for  thirteen  years,  with  satis- 
factory success  and  the  most  friendly  feelings,  Mr. 
Barling  being  a  gentleman  of  superior  business  abil- 
ity and  highest  integrity,  as  well   as  valuable  and 
pleasant  social  qualities.     Whatever  Mr.  Davis  has 
acquired  in  business  matters  he  ascribes  to  the  valu- 
able experience  secured  under  Mr.  Robinson,  a  busi- 
ness man  of  the  highest  qualities  and  tireless  industry. 
The  steady  application  to  business  and  the  intensity 
of  the  life  of  the  city  steadily  wore  upon  Mr.  Davis' 
constitution  until,  on  account  of  failing  health,  in 
1868,  lie  withdrew  from  the  partnership,  and  for  two 
years  devoted  himself  to  the  recuperation  of  his  pros- 
trated nature.     This  he  succeeded  in  accomplishing. 
In  1879  he  removed  to  the  farm  in  Dartmouth  which 


he  had  purchased  in  1867,  and  has  since  devoted  him- 
self to  its  improvement  and  the  out-door  exercise 
connected  therewith.  From  an  ordinary  farm  of 
fifty-four  acres,  under  his  administration  it  has  in- 
creased to  one  hundred  and  eighty  acres,  and  wonder- 
fully changed  its  appearance.  No  expense  nor  labor 
has  been  spared  to  make  it  both  beautiful  and  pro- 
ductive, and  with  an  unsurpassed  natural  location,  in 
full  view  of  the  city  of  New  Bedford,  it  presents  a 
series  of  fertile  fields,  artistically  laid  out,  and  each 
surrounded  by  a  beautiful  stone  wall.  This  has  grown 
up  under  Mr.  Davis'  own  eye,  and  from  his  own  de- 
signs. 

The  writer  has  traveled  in  many  of  the  United 
States,  and  has  never  seen  so  nice  a  combination  of 
nature  and  art  in  developing  a  farm,  nor  so  really 
convenient  farm  buildings  as  those  constructed  by 
Mr.  Davis.  The  view  from  the  back  of  the  house  to 
the  east  is  especially  noticeable.  In  doing  this  great 
labor  Mr.  Davis  employs  many  persons,  and  may  be 
considered  truly  a  benefactor,  and  is  also  a  pattern 
and  bright  example  to  the  thoughtful  young  agri- 
culturists of  the  period.  Mr.  Davis  married  Eunice 
T.,  daughter  of  John  and  Jane  (Finkham)  Shurtleff, 
Aug.  13,  1844.  She  was  born  in  Rochester,  Mass., 
Feb.  4,  1821.  She  claims  descent  from  the  old  and 
honored  English  Carver  family,  so  noted  in  the  annals 
of  Plymouth  Colony.  Their  family  consists  of  Sarah 
C,  born  Feb.  2,  1850,  and  Clarissa  H.,  born  Sept.  4, 
1869.  Sarah  married  Joseph  K.  Upham,  of  New 
York  City,  and  has  two  children,  Eunice  and  Leroy. 

Mr.  Davis  is  a  self-made  man  in  the  highest  sense,  a 
courteous  and  amiable  Christian  gentleman.  Of  great 
energy  and  perseverance,  he  has  risen  by  his  own  in- 
dustry and  good  habits  to  an  independent  and  grati- 
fying position,  and  is  respected  by  all  the  better  portion 
of  community.  He  has  been  Whig  and  Republican 
in  politics;  as  such  was  a  member  of  the  Common 
Council  of  New  Bedford  in  1862.  Both  himself  and 
wife  are  members  of  the  North  Christian  Church  of 
New  Bedford,  and  are  liberal  to  all  deserving  causes. 
The  lesson  of  his  life  may  well  be  studied,  and  with 
advantage  by  every  poor  and  friendless  boy  struggling 
toward  a  higher  life. 


JOSEPH    TUCKER. 

The  family  of  Tuckers  now  living  within  the 
original  limits  of  the  township  of  Dartmouth  trace 
their  ancestry  to  Henry  Tucker,  who,  according  to 
tradition,  came  from  the  County  of  Kent,  England. 
He  first  settled  in  the  tow-n  of  Milton,  in  this  State, 
probably  as  early  as  1650.  It  is  related  that  he  not 
approving  of  the  proceedings  of  the  colonial  govern- 
ment at  Boston  respecting  the  severe  laws  passed  and 
judgments  enforced  against  the  Quakers,  left  Milton 
and  finally  settled  in  Dartmouth,  within  the  limits  of 
the  Plymouth  Colony.  This  was  a  short  time  subse- 
quently to  1660.     The  following  was  copied  from  an 


DARTMOUTH. 


213 


inscription  on  a  tree  near  the  residence  of  Benjamin 
Tucker  in  Dartmouth,  5th  mo.  5,  1S44: 

"First  Settled 
By  Henry  Tucker  1660 

who  died  1694 
succeeded  by  sm  John 
who  died  1751,  aged  95 
.  Slice1  hy  son  Joseph 
who  died  1790  aged  94 
succ11  by  son  John  who 
died  1820,  aged  88." 

The  house  he  built  and  lived  in  stood  in  the  same 
yard,  and  within  a  few  feet  of  the  one  now  owned 
and  occupied  by  J.  S.  Gidley. 

In  1669  he  bought  of  William  Allen,  of  Sandwich, 
one-third  of  the  original  shares  into  which  the  town- 
ship as  then  held  was  divided.  In  1679  he  made 
another  purchase  of  James  Sampson,  of  Portsmouth, 
R.  I.,  of  a  limited  number  of  acres  in  the  undivided 
lands  of  the  town.  By  these,  and  perhaps  other 
acquired  rights,  when  the  town  was  afterwards  sur- 
veyed and  divided  among  the  proprietors  in  severalty, 
his  two  sons,  Abraham  and  John  (their  father  being 
then  deceased),  became  entitled  to  and  received  sev- 
eral hundred  acres  of  land  adjoining  their  respective 
homesteads.  This  land  mostly  remained  in  the  pos- 
session of  their  descendants  until  within  some  fifty 
or  sixty  years.  It  has  now,  however,  all  passed  out 
of  the  name,  except  the  homestead  and  some  out-lots 
belonging  to  J.  and  S.  Tucker,  which  form  part  of 
the  original  tract  settled  by  Henry,  and  laid  out  to 
his  son  John. 

These  first  settlers  and  their  descendants  down  to  a 
late  period  were  mostly  farmers,  and  worthy  and  ex- 
emplary members  of  the  Society  of  Friends.  Living 
on  their  paternal  farms,  they  pursued  the  even  tenor 
of  their  ways  in  quietness  and  peace.  Having  the 
respect  and  confidence  of  their  neighbors  and  the 
community,  they  were  called  occasionally  by  their 
townspeople  to  places  of  trust  in  town  affairs,  and 
more  often  by  the  society  of  which  they  were  mem- 
bers to  fill  important  stations  and  perform  various 
duties  therein.  The  impression  left  upon  the  minds 
of  their  living  descendants  is  that  they  were  earn- 
estly engaged  to  live  a  life  "void  of  offense  towards 
God  and  towards  men." 

Joseph  Tucker  resides  in  the  central  part  of  the 
town,  and  is  the  oldest  living  representative  of  the 
Tucker  family.  The  farm  which  he  occupies  was  the 
homestead  of  his  father  and  grandfather,  and  though 
not  included  in  the  original  survey  made  to  the  sons 
of  Henry,  lias,  however,  been  in  the  family  of  Jo- 
seph  and  his  ancestors  over  a  century. 

He  is  an  example  of  a  sagacious  and  successful 
farmer,  and  is  much  respected  by  his  friends  and  ac- 
quaintances. He  is  the  fifth  in  descent  from  Henry, 
as  the  following  list  of  his  ancestors'  names  will 
show  :  His  father,  Edward,  died  1832,  aged  sixty-seven 
years.  His  father,  Joseph,  Jr.,  died  1827,  aged  eighty- 
seven   years.      His  father,  Joseph,   died   1790,  aged 


ninety-three  years,  eight  months.  His  father,  John, 
died  1751,  aged  ninety-five  years.  His  father,  Henry, 
died  1694,  aged  sixty-seven  years. 

Since  the  commencement  of  the  present  century 
several  of  the  descendants  have  engaged  in  other 
pursuits,  in  which  they  have  been  in  some  cases  more 
than  ordinarily  successful.  Among  these  we  may 
mention  William  Tucker  and  Charles  R.  Tucker. 

Joseph  Tucker,  son  of  Edward  and  Anna  (Gifford) 
Tucker,  was  born  on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides 
in  Dartmouth,  Dec.  12,  1806.  His  educational  ad- 
vantages were  limited  to  three  months  each  winter 
until  he  was  some  fifteen  years  of  age.  His  time  has 
been  entirely  devoted  to  agriculture,  and  he  now  owns 
some  three  hundred  acres  of  well-improved  land,  por- 
tions of  which,  especially  the  home  farm,  have  been 
in  the  family  for  more  than  a  century.  He  is  a  Whig 
and  Republican  in  politics,  but  has  never  been  an 
aspirant  for  political  honors.  He  married  Phebe, 
daughter  of  Allen  and  Hannah  Howland,  May  17, 
1831.  She  was  born  Dec.  2,  1811,  in  Dartmouth. 
She  had  one  brother,  Holder  Howland.  Their  chil- 
dren are  Edward  Tucker,  born  Jan.  2,  1836  ;  Abram 
R,  Tucker,  born  Nov.  18,  1841. 

Edward  Tucker  married  Abby  Potter,  and  has  one 
daughter,  Nellie,  who  married  William  P.  Macom- 
ber,  and  they  have  a  son,  Edward  S. 

Abram  R.  Tucker  married  Laura  A.,  daughter  of 
Capt.  B.  F.  Wing  (see  B.  F.  Wing's  biography),  and 
has  one  son,  Joseph  F.  Allen  Howland,  son  of 
Joshua,  and  grandson  of  Timothy,  married  for  his 
second  wife  Rhoda,  daughter  of  Lilly  Strafford,  and 
had  five  children, — Elihu,  Hannah,  Lucy  (deceased), 
Sarah  (deceased),  and  John  R.  (deceased). 


THE    TRAFFORD    FAMILY. 

The  Trafford  family  in  this  country  are  descended 
from  a  prominent  Protestant  family  of  England, 
which,  under  the  popish  persecutions,  suffered  much 
in  person  and  estate.  The  first  Trafford  who  started 
for  America  was  a  wealthy  gentleman  living  near 
London.  He  was  selected  as  a  victim  for  death 
during  the  last  Catholic  persecution  in  England, 
and  was  warned  when  the  officers  coining  to  arrest 
him  were  approaching  his  house,  and  not  having 
time  to  escape  he  hastily  put  on  his  groom's 
clothes  and  engaged  in  labor  in  the  stables.  The 
officers  came,  found  no  one  but  the  grooms,  and  de- 
parted. Trafford  then  left  the  place,  and  chartered  a 
vessel  to  remove  himself  and  family  to  America. 
Here  he  passes  from  our  knowledge.  Whether  he 
was  captured  and  was  executed,  or  died  while  at  sea, 
are  equally  unknown  to  us.  The  vessel,  however, 
came  to  America,  and  landed  at  Dartmouth,  Mass., 
about  1690,  bringing  his  two  sons,  one  of  whom  was 
Thomas.  The  English  estates  were  confiscated,  and 
reverted  to  the  crown.     Thomas  settled  in  Dartmouth, 


214 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


married,  and  had  children.  From  the  landing  at 
Dartmouth  the  Trafford  family  has  been  connected 
with  the  history  of  Bristol  County.  The  oldest  son 
of  Thomas  and  the  only  child  attaining  maturity  was 
Philip.  He  had  a  son  Joseph,  who  was  a  Revolu- 
tionary soldier  under  Washington.  Tradition  says 
that  once,  while  he  was  standing  guard,  Washington 
endeavored  to  make  the  rounds  without  giving  the 
countersign.  He  succeeded  in  passing  two  of  the 
guards,  but  Trafford  refused  to  let  him  pass  until  he 
had  given  the  proper  countersign.  From  that  time 
Joseph  Trafford  was  the  one  chosen  for  duties  of 
great  trust  and  especial  responsibilities,  and  he  was 
rapidly  promoted,  becoming  one  of  the  best  officers 
in  his  division.  He  lived  and  died  in  Dartmouth, 
leaving  seven  children, — Samuel,  Joseph,  William 
Bradford1,  Philip,  Phebe,  Ruth,  and  Naomi.  We 
find  in  family  records  that  Joseph  had  a  brother 
Elihu,  who  with  two  others  ran  a  vessel  from  New 
Bedford  to  New  York  and  up  the  Connecticut  River. 
While  the  vessel  was  moored  at  New  Bedford,  Elihu 
and  two  others  started  on  foot  to  visit  their  friends  in 
Dartmouth.  When  but  a  short  distance  out  they  ob- 
served British  soldiers  following  them,  when  they 
shot  at  them,  and  the  soldiers  returning  their  fire 
instantly  killed  all  three.  (For  further  history  of  the 
Trafford  family,  see  page  381.) 


CHAPTER   XIX. 


DIGHTON.1 


FREDERICK    ALMY. 


Frederick  Almy,  third  son  of  Thomas  and  Sarah 
Almy,  was  born  in  Dartmouth,  Mass.,  April  30,  1811, 
where  he  lived  until  1837,  when  he  settled  in  business 
in  Boston,  Mass.,  and  lived  there  or  in  the  vicinity  till 
the  time  of  his  death. 

In  1828  he  commenced  business  at  Russell's  mills, 
Dartmouth,  Mass.,  keeping  a  small  country  store,  and 
continued  there  till  1837,  the  time  of  his  removal  to 
Boston.  He  then,  with  his  elder  brother,  William 
Almy,  Joseph  W.  Patterson,  and  Jarvis  Slade,  formed 
the  firm  of  Almy,  Patterson  &  Co.  Mr.  Slade  retired 
in  1846,  and  Mr.  Patterson  in  1865,  when  the  firm 
became  Almy,  Hobart  &  Co. ;  this  firm  lasted  two 
years,  and  was  succeeded  by  Almy  &  Co.  Jan.  1, 1868, 
Frederick  Almy  being  the  senior,  Henry  Almy  (Wil- 
liam Almy's  son),  Francis  N.  Foster,  and  George  P. 
Slade  (Jarvis  Slade's  son),  being  associated  with  him. 
This  firm  was  dissolved  December,  1872,  on  account 
of  Mr.  Frederick  Almy's  ill-health,  and  so  ended  the 
succession  of  firms  which  had  been  as  land-marks  in 
the  dry-goods  business  for  so  many  years. 

His  life  was  entirely  devoted  to  business,  and,  with 
the  exception  of  a  directorship  in  the  National  Eagle 
Bank  of  Boston,  he  held  no  public  office. 

He  died  Aug.  6,  1875.  In  1847  was  married  to 
Susan  H.  Niles,  daughter  of  Thomas  Niles,  of  Boston  ; 
there  were  four  children, — Elizabeth  B.  Almy,  Fred- 
erick Almy,  Edward  P.  Almy,  Henry  N.  Almy. 


"  There  is  pruperly  no  history,  only  biography." — Emerson. 

It  is  probable  that,  in  common  with  several  other 
towns,  the  territory  now  the  town  of  Dighton  was 
first  visited  by  white  men  on  that  memorable  occasion 
in  July,  1621,  when  Winslow  and  Hopkins,  with  the 
friendly  Squanto  as  guide  and  interpreter,  journeyed 
from  Plymouth  to  Pokanoket,  on  the  shores  of  Narra- 
gansett  Bay,  to  visit  the  sachem  Massasoit. 

Yet  their  discovery  of  this  region  may  have  been 
forestalled  in  the  eleventh  century  by  the  Norsemen, 
in  their  visits  to  the  uncertain  region  they  had  named 
Vinland,  or  possibly  by  the  Florentine,  Verazzano, 
who,  as  every  school-boy  ought  to  know,  sailed  up 
Narragansett  Bay  in  1524  and  lay  at  anchor  for  a 
fortnight  in  the  sheltered  haven  that  is  now  Newport 
Harbor,  from  whence  he  may  have  sent  exploring  par- 
ties up  the  Cohannet,  or  Taunton  River;  but  in  the 
absence  of  any  record  of  previous  discovery,  Dighton 
Rock  being  nearly  given  up  as  a  relic  of  the  Norse 
rovers,  the  Plymouth  worthies  must  be  considered  as 
the  discoverers  of  our  township. 

As  we  read  the  quaint  narrative  of  their  journey 
into  the  unknown  wilderness,  it  is  not  difficult  to  im- 
agine what  must  have  been  the  aspect  of  the  country 
through  which  they  passed,  where  vast  silent  stretches 
of  forest  were  occasionally  broken  by  sparkling  ponds 
and  streams,  or  by  deserted  Indian  plantations,  from 
which  the  inhabitants  had  been  swept  by  the  great 
plague  of  1617.''  Whether  this  terrible  sickness  was 
the  yellow  fever,  as  some  suppose,  or  some  other 
equally  fatal  disease,  will  never  be  known,  but  what- 
ever it  was  it  devastated  the  country  from  the  Penob- 
scot to  Narragansett  Bay,  sparing  only  the  Nausets 
on  Cape  Cod.  "  As  we  passed  along,"  says  the  his- 
torian of  the  journey,  "  we  observed  that  there  were 
few  places  by  the  river  that  had  not  been  inhabited, 
by  reason  whereof  much  ground  was  cleared,  save  of 
weeds  which  grew  higher  than  our  heads." 

The  two  sturdy  explorers,  tramping  on  after  their 
taciturn  guide,  must  have  had  even  their  unpoetic 
minds  touched  by  the  solemn  grandeur  of  the  prim- 
eval forests,  with  its  dim  religious  light  and  its  awe-in- 
spiring stillness,  broken  by  scarcely  a  sound  save  their 
own  footfalls.  At  times,  perhaps,  the  spell  would  be 
broken  by  the  chatter  of  a  chipmunk  overhead,  or  the 
howl  of  some  beast  of  prey  in  the  dim  recesses  of  the 
woods.  But  silence  and  solitude  were  the  chief  char- 
acteristics of  the  land. 

The  difference  between  the  magnificent  forest  scen- 
ery of  that  day  and  the  sapling  woods,  choked  with 
briers  and  underbrush,  of  the  present  time  is  shown 
by  the  statement  that  "  though  the  country  is  wilde 

1  By  George  A.  Shove,  Esq. 

-  The  old  historians  did  not  agree  as  to  the  exact  time  when  this  great 
Indian  pestilence  took  place,  some  placing  the  date  as  early  as  1012. 


<L^f 


DIGHTON. 


215 


and  overgrown  with  woods,  yet  the  trees  stand  not 
thieke,  but  a  man  may  well  ride  a  horse  among  them." 
This  park-like  eharacter  of  the  forest  was  due  to  the 
Indian  custom  of  regularly  burning  the  leaves  under 
the  trees  in  the  spring,  thus  preventing  the  growth  of 
underbrush,  with  no  injury  to  the  trees.  Only  the 
wettest  swamps  escaped  these  annual  fires.  Journey- 
ing through  the  woods  in  the  days  of  the  Pilgrims 
could  be  performed  as  easily  and  quickly  as  over 
cleared  land.  There  was  a  well-beaten  path  from 
Plymouth  to  Pokanoket,  remains  of  which  are  sup- 
posed to  still  exist  in  this  town  in  the  rows  of  flat 
stepping-stones  that  are  found  at  swampy  places, 
where  no  path  made  by  white  men  would  be  likely  to 
be  encountered. 

Although  Dighton  was  settled  at  a  later  date  than 
many  other  towns  in  the  State,  yet  its  settlement  is 
mostly  veiled  in  obscurity,  and  only  a  few  traditions, 
perhaps  not  wholly  reliable,  have  been  handed  down 
concerning  the  first  settlers  and  the  time  previous  to 
Philip's  war.  One  of  these  traditions,  related  to  a 
friend  of  the  writer  of  these  pages  by  a  soldier  of  the 
Revolutionary  army  named  Snell,1  then  an  old  man 
of  eighty,  is  to  the  effect  that  when  the  first  white 
men  settled  in  this  township,  the  only  cleared  land 
they  found,  excepting  the  salt  marshes  and  perhaps  a 
few  plantations  by  the  river,  was  a  level  tract  lying 
mostly  to  the  north  and  west  of  what  is  now  the 
Lower  Four  Corners.  This  tract,  perhaps  a  mile  in 
length  from  east  to  west,  was  several  hundred  acres 
in  extent,  and  was  used  by  the  natives  for  their  plan- 
tations on  account  of  its  level  surface  and  its  some- 
what light,  sandy  soil.  The  squaws,  who  did  most  of 
the  labor,  found  it  easy  to  plant  and  to  cultivate  with 
their  clam-shell  or  moose  shoulder-blade  hoes. 

The  eastern  limit  of  this  aboriginal  clearing  wras 
east  of  the  old  stage-road  that  runs  northerly  from 
the  Four  Corners,  while  at  its  western  end  it  took  in 
the  tracts  that  are  now  the  farms  of  C.  W.  Turner,  F. 
A.  Whitmarsh,  and  Isaac  Pierce.  At  its  southeast- 
ern corner  it  included  the  site  of  the  village  at  the 
Four  Corners,  and  also  the  cemetery  of  the  Unita- 
rian Society.  A  portion  of  this  large  tract  has  long 
been  known  as  the  Old  Field,  and  formerly  belonged 
to  Capt.  Rufus  Whitmarsh,  and  afterwards  to  Dr. 
Alfred  Wood,  who  established  the  Dighton  Nursery 
on  its  eastern  end.  It  is  now  owned  by  a  number  of 
persons.  Nearly  in  the  centre  of  this  great  clear  space, 
which  was  surrounded  on  all  sides  by  the  primeval 
forest,  was  a  large  white-oak  tree,  wdiich  is  still  stand- 
ing, and  which  bids  fair,  unless  some  thoughtless 
vandal  shall  cut  it  down  for  timber  or  firewood,  or, 
as  was  done  with  Shakespeare's  mulberry,  to  make 


1  Anthony  Snell,  the  old  Revolutionary  soldier  referred  to,  saw  a 
good  deal  of  fighting  in  Rhode  Island  and  elsewhere.  He  was  Anally 
taken  prisoner  and  carried  to  England,  where  he  was  kept  until  the 
etui  of  the  war.  He  lived  in  the  house  on  the  Broad  Cove  road  now 
owned  by  the  heirs  of  Jonathan  llatliuway.  Anthony  Snell's  brother 
John  was  also  a  Revolutionary  soldier. 


into  relics,  to  stand  for  centuries  to  come.  The 
growth  of  this  oak  has  been  very  slow  in  that  light 
soil,  and  it  may  have  been  a  good-sized  tree  when 
Columbus  landed  at  Guanahani.  It  is  not  the  largest 
white-oak  in  the  town,  but  it  is  a  stately  and  hand- 
some tree,  whose  sturdy  branches  have  stood  the 
onset  of  a  thousand  gales.  Close  to  its  trunk  runs  the 
private  lane  or  avenue  through  the  Old  Field.  If  the 
leaves  of  this  ancient  tree  had  the  gift  of  speech,  like 
those  of  the  talking  oak  in  the  fable,  they  could  un- 
doubtedly tell  strange  stories  of  the  transactions  which 
have  taken  place  under  its  spreading  foliage,  for  here, 
according  to  tradition,  was  a  noted  and  favorite  ren- 
dezvous of  the  natives,  a  sort  of  alfresco  hotel,  where 
they  were  accustomed  to  stop  all  night  when  out 
hunting  or  on  the  war-path,  wdiere  powwows  were 
held  and,  very  likely,  captives  tortured.  The  sachem 
Philip  and  sagamores",  it  is  said,  used  frequently  to 
visit  this  tree.  Yet  the  sagacious  and  wily  Metacom 
did  not  consider  even  this  isolated  spot  a  safe  trysting- 
place  for  himself  and  his  braves  when  they  were  con- 
spiring against  the  whites,  but  paddled  his  canoe  to 
the  barren  little  island  at  the  mouth  of  Assonet  River, 
known  to  this  day  as  Conspiracy  Island. 

Its  isolated  position,  remote  from  other  large  trees, 
the  traditions  connected  with  it,  and  its  great  age 
make  this  oak  the  most  interesting  tree  in  this  vicinity. 
Some  distance  to  the  north  of  this  tree,  but  within  the 
limits  of  the  clearing,  was  an  Indian  village  and  ceme- 
tery. A  house  was  built  not  far  from  their  sites  in  the 
last  century  by  one  Simeon  Perry.  It  was  afterwards 
known  as  the  Rooney  house,  and  is  no  longer  stand- 
ing. 

One-third  of  the  great  tract  or  farm  that  has  been 
described  was  planted  in  rotation  by  the  natives  each 
year,  which  left  two-thirds  of  the  ground  fallow,  giv- 
ing the  soil  a  chance  to  recuperate  for  two  years  after 
each  crop.  Their  method  of  planting  was  laborious. 
It  consisted  in  scooping  out  holes  about  four  feet  apart, 
and  nearly  a  foot  deep,  into  each  of  which  was  placed 
one  or  more  herrings.  The  holes  were  then  partially 
filled  with  earth,  and  the  seeds  planted  and  covered. 
Besides  corn,  they  raised  beans,  squashes,  and  a  sort 
of  sunflower  with  an  edible  root,  resembling  the  arti- 
choke. With  the  savory  succotash  and  the  toothsome 
parched  or  roasted  corn  ;  with  nuts  of  various  kinds 
to  be  had  for  the  gathering;  with  fish,  clams,  and 
oysters;  with  venison  and  other  game  meat,  the 
Indian,  gastronomically  considered,  would  not  have 
been  badly  off  if  he  had  not  been  so  constitutionally 
lazy  and  improvident. 

The  natives  who  inhabited  the  village  mentioned 
and  cultivated  the  adjacent  plantations  were  un- 
doubtedly the  Pocassets;  this  tribe  also  inhabited  the 
territory  that  is  now  covered  by  the  towns  of  Tiverton, 
Somerset,  Swansea,  and  a  part  of  Rehoboth.  Like 
the  Wampanoags,  the  Namaskets,  and  the  Natisets, 
they  were  under  the  authority  of  Massasoit,  and  after 
him,  of  his  sons,  Alexander  and  Philip. 


216 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


The  traditions  which  have  thus  far  been  followed 
place  the  first  white  settlement  in  the  territory  now 
Dighton  around  the  great  Indian  farm  above  de- 
scribed. The  earliest  settlers  were  undoubtedly  squat- 
ters, but  whether  they  were  hunters  or  lumbermen,  or 
farmers  or  trappers,  or  a  little  of  each  is  not  related  ; 
neither  do  we  know  who  they  were,  nor  where  they 
came  from.  Their  houses  were  at  first  probably  log 
huts  for  temporary  shelter.  One  of  them  stood,  it  is 
said,  west  of  what  is  now  called  the  Pine  Swamp,  and 
not  far  from  the  site  of  the  Rooney  or  Perry  house 
referred  to.  Another  was  built  on  the  southern  edge 
of  the  clearing,  on  the  land  now  owned  by  Isaac  Pierce, 
while  a  third  was  on  the  eastern  edge  of  the  cleared 
land,  not  far  from  the  grape-house  on  the  estate  of  the 
late  Dr.  Gardner  Peck.  These  spots  were  selected  as 
the  sites  of  their  homes  by  the  pioneer  settlers  on  ac- 
count of  their  natural  advantages,  being  on  the  edge 
of  the  deserted  plantation,  and  with  plenty  of  wood 
and  excellent  water  close  at  hand ;  at  each  of  these 
places  there  was  a  fine  spring,  which  saved  the  trouble 
and  expense  of  digging  a  well.  These  springs  were 
fully  appreciated  by  the  natives,  who  would  not  wil- 
lingly drink  out  of  a  stream  or  a  pond,  but  would  go 
long  distances  to  slake  their  thirst  at  a  spring.  This 
was  one  of  their  whims,  or  perhaps  a  superstition. 

Many  Indian  relics  have  been  picked  up  on  the 
clearing  under  consideration,  such  as  arrow-heads  of 
quartz  and  sandstone,  fragments  of  tomahawks,  stone 
pestles,  and  other  implements  used  in  hunting  or  for 
domestic  purposes.  These  relics  are  especially  nu- 
merous in  the  vicinity  of  the  site  of  the  aboriginal 
village  and  cemetery  previously  mentioned.  No 
traces  of  the  Indian  graves  are  now  to  be  found,  as 
they  had  neither  mounds  of  earth  nor  tombstones  to 
mark  their  sites. 

The  squatters,  whom  the  tradition  states  had  their 
domiciles  on  the  edge  of  the  great  plain,  very  prob- 
ably removed  elsewhere  before  the  outbreak  of  the 
Indian  war  of  1675.  There  is  another  tradition  that 
when  hostilities  commenced  by  the  slaughter  of  the 
Swansea  people  only  one  family  of  white  persons  was 
living  on  the  South  Purchase,  now  Dighton,  which 
was  that  of  Capt.  Jared  Talbot.  It  is  related  that  he 
and  his  family  were  hastily  removed  to  Taunton  in 
boats  in  the  night.  At  Taunton  there  was  quite  a 
settlement,  and  there  was  a  block-house  for  refuge  and 
defense  in  case  of  an  attack  by  the  savages.  The 
block-  or  garrison-house  stood  on  or  near  the  present 
site  of  Music  Hall.  Jared  Talbot's  name  occurs  fre- 
quently in  the  old  records,  as  will  be  seen  farther  on 
in  this  sketch.  Before  Philip  went  to  war  with  the 
English  he  had  sold  most  of  the  territory  that  had 
belonged  to  Massasoit,  including  the  land  in  this 
township;  of  the  latter  transaction  the  following  is  a 
brief  account. 

Dighton,  as  is  well  known,  was  once  a  part  of 
Taunton.  It  was  called  the  Taunton  South  Purchase, 
and  was  bought  by  a  company  of  Taunton  men  of  the 


Sachem  Philip  for  one  hundred  and  ninety  pounds, 
lawful  money.  The  land  was  bought  in  two  sections 
and  at  two  different  times.  The  first  section  was 
stated  to  be  three  miles  broad  on  the  river,  and  ex- 
tended back  into  the  woods  four  miles.  The  deed  of 
the  first  section  was  dated  the  28th  day  of  September, 
1672,  and  the  consideration  mentioned  was  one  hun- 
dred and  forty-three  pounds.  The  land  was  conveyed 
to  a  committee  of  the  associates,  consisting  of  Wil- 
liam Brenton,  Esq.,  William  Harvey,  James  Walker,1 
Richard  Williams,  Walter  Deane,  George  Macy, 
and  John  Richmond,  who  transferred  the  deed,  ex- 
cepting their  own  rights,  to  the  Rev.  George  Shove, 
third  minister  of  Taunton,  and  seventy-six  associ- 
ates, or  proprietors  of  the  land. 

The  second  section  purchased  was  on  the  south  side 
of  the  first  section,  and  was  one  mile  wide  on  the 
river  and  four  miles  in  length.  The  price  paid  for  it 
was  forty -seven  pounds,  and  the  deed  was  dated  Oct. 
1,  1672.  It  was  ostensibly  bought  by  Constant  South- 
worth,  treasurer  of  the  Plymouth  Colony,  who  im- 
mediately transferred  the  deed  to  the  committee  of 
the  associates  mentioned.  It  will  thus  be  seen  that, 
according  to  the  value  of  unimproved  land  in  those 
days  and  the  much  greater  value  of  money  then  than 
now,  the  purchasers  paid  Philip  a  reasonable  price  for 
the  tract,  but  in  some  unexplained  way  they  managed 
to  get  excellent  measure,  the  town  being  over  five 
miles  in  length  on  the  river.  Soon  after  the  acquisi- 
tion of  the  South  Purchase,  the  proprietors  sold  a 
tract  of  it  a  mile  wide  from  east  to  west,  a, rid  two 
miles  in  length,  lying  in  the  southwest  corner,  to  the 
town  of  Swansea.  The  date  of  the  transaction  and 
the  price  paid  for  the  land  I  have  not  been  able  to 
find  a  record  of.  The  tract  has  since  been  known  as 
the  Two-Mile  Purchase. 

Previously  to  the  deeds  given  to  the  proprietors  by 
Philip,  the  only  mention  of  the  tract  comprising  the 
South  Purchase  is  in  a  paper  given  by  Philip  in  1663 
to  the  colonists,  confirming  certain  grants  of  his 
father,  Ossamequin,  or  Massasoit.  The  latter  had  at 
an  early  period  granted  to  the  Plymouth  people  the 
privilege  of  establishing  a  trading-house  at  Store- 
House  Point,  now  in  the  town  of  Somerset.  Philip, 
in  the  document  mentioned,  confirmed  the  privilege, 
and  included  the  use,  but  not  the  fee,  of  certain  other 
lands.  He  refers  to  "  the  meadows  upon  the  great 
river  downwards  so  far  as  Store-House  Point  so 
called,  with  all  the  meadows  of  Assonet  and  Broad 
Cove,  with  a  small  tract  of  land  bought  of  Ishben, 
lying  betwixt  the  marked  tree  at  the  pond  and  the 
mouth  of  Nistoquahannock,  or  Three-Mile  River." 
It  would  be  interesting  to  know  where  the  pond  and 
the  marked  tree  mentioned  in  the  grant  were  situ- 
ated. 

Soon  after  the  Indian  war  was  over  the  South  Pur- 
chase began  to  be  settled  by  immigrants  from  Taun- 


1  See  Appendix  for  Walker  family. 


DIGHTON. 


217 


ton  proper  and  from  other  towns,  but  neither  written 
documents  nor  traditions  tell  us  much  in  regard  to 
their  names  or  their  doings  until  the  early  part  of 
the  eighteenth  century.  The  earliest  record  of  a 
marriage  to  be  found  in  the  town  books  is  as  follows : 
"  Jared  Talbut  and  Rebecca  Hathway  were  marryed 
in  ye  year  one  thousand  six  hundred  and  eighty  and 
seven,  ye  fourth  day  <>t'  May." 

Then  follows  an  entry  of  the  birth  of  a  son,  the 
name  obliterated  :  " ,  the  son  of  Jared  Tal- 
but by  Rebecca,  was  born  March  26  Anno  Domini, 
1688,  died  ye  eleventh  day  of  ye  same  month."  But 
this  loss  was  made,  good  the  next  year  by  the  birth  of 
another  son, — "  Jared  Talbut,  ye  son  of  Jared  Talbut 
by  Rebecca,  his  wife,  was  born  April  ye  fourth  day, 
1680."  In  1691  another  son  was  born,  who  was  named 
Josiah,  and  in  1692  twin  girls  made  their  appearance, 
but  both  died  in  a  few  days.  In  1693  another  pair  of 
girls  were  introduced  upon  the  scene,  but,  like  their 
predecessors,  their  lives  were  cut  short  before  the 
month  was  out.  Thereafter,  in  quick  succession,  came 
other  children, — Jacob,  John,  Elizabeth,  Seth,  Re- 
becca, Ebenezer,  Benjamin, — fourteen  children  in  all, 
but  not  more  than  half  of  them  surviving  the  perils 
of  infancy. 

Besides  Jared  Talbot,  only  three  other  heads  of 
families  are  mentioned  in  the  brief  records  of  the 
births,  deaths,  and  marriages  in  the  South  Purchase 
in  the  last  part  of  the  seventeenth  century.  These 
are  Ephraim  Hathaway,  the  first  birth  in  whose  family 
of  eleven  was  in  1690;  Nicholas  Stephens,  the  first 
of  whose  nine  children  was  born  in  1696  ;  and  Ed- 
ward Babbitt,  who  had  nine  children,  the  first  being 
born  in  1695.  The  names  that  occur  in  the  records 
of  the  early  part  of  the  eighteenth  century,  prior  to 
1712,  when  the  town  was  incorporated,  are  as  follows, 
only  heads  of  families  being  mentioned:  David  Walker, 
Edward  Shove,  Ebenezer  Pitts,  Samuel  Talbut,  Nathan 
Walker,  John  Burt,  and  Abraham  Hathaway.  The 
records  were  very  imperfectly  kept  in  those  days  and 
for  many  years  afterwards,  and  many  of  the  births, 
deaths,  and  marriages  that  occurred  were,  probably, 
not  recorded  at  all.  This  imperfection  of  the  old 
record  books  is  more  noticeable  in  the  marriages  and 
deaths  than  in  the  births. 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  foregoing  extracts  that 
Jared*  Talbot,  one  of  the  first  authentic  settlers  of 
tin/  South  Purchase,  was  not  married  until  ten  years 
after  the  close  of  Philip's  war,  so  that  the  tradition 
in  regard  to  his  family's  removal  to  Taunton  on  the 
breaking  out  of  hostilities  is  apparently  incorrect.1 
The  house  that  he  built  has  long  since  been  torn 
down.  It  stood  near  the  town  burying-ground  on 
the  hill,  on  the  east  side  of  the  old  Bristol  and 
Taunton  road,  and  not  far  from  where  Dexter  Pierce's 


1  Rebecca  Hathaway  may  have  been  Jared  Talbot's  second  wife,  in 
which  case  there  would  be  no  inconsistency  between  the  tradition  and 

the  records. 


house  now  stands.  The  Rebecca  Hathaway  that  he 
married  was  probably  the  daughter  of  John  Hatha- 
way, one  of  the  original  proprietors  of  the  South 
Purchase.  Talbot  appears  to  have  been  a  man  of 
considerable  influence  in  the  settlement  on  the  South 
Purchase,  active  in  church  matters,  as  well  as  in  secu- 
lar affairs.  In  the  records  he  is  sometimes  called  Capt. 
Jared  Talbot  and  sometimes  Jared  Talbot,  Esq.  He 
died  Jan.  21,  1733.  His  wife  survived  him  nine  years. 
He  was  the  second  clerk  of  the  town,  the  first  having 
been  Joseph  Deane.  He  also  served  the  town  as  one 
of  the  assessors,  and  was  a  representative  to  the  Gen- 
eral Court  in  1722.  He  also  took  an  active  part  in 
securing  an  act  of  the  Legislature  incorporating  the 
town.  His  influence  in  the  community  is  shown  in 
the  following  agreement,  drawn  up  in  1708,  between 
the  inhabitants  on  the  west  side  of  Taunton  River 
and  those  on  the  east  side  : 

"  To  all  Christian  people  to  whom  these  presents  shall  come:  Know  ye, 
that,  whereas,  we,  ye  subscribers,  inhabitants  of  Taunton  Joint  Pur- 
chase, together  with  some  of  ye  inhabitants  of  s'd  Taunton  on  ye  east 
side  of  Taunton  great  river,  have  preper'd  a  petition  to  ye  General  Court 
to  be  drawn  oft' from  s'd  Taunton  and  to  be  a  Township  or  a  precinct  by 
ourselves,  our  heirs  and  successors  voluntarily  agree  to  and  with  ye  in- 
habitants on  ye  east  side  of  s'd  river,  viz.,  all  and  every  of  them  that 
are  contained  within  ye  bounds  set  in  s'd  petition,  to  all  and  every  of  ye 
following  articles,  and  we  do  by  these  presents,  bind  and  oblige  ourselves, 
ours  and  every  of  our  heirs  ami  successors,  to  fulfill  and  perforin  all  and 
every  of  ye  following  articles  : 

"First.  We,  ye  inhabitants  of  s'd  Taunton  South  Purchase  do  cov- 
enant, promise,  and  engage,  to  and  with  ye  inhabitants  on  ye  east  side 
of  s'd  Taunton  great  river,  viz.,  all  those  that  are  contained  within  ye 
bounds  or  limits  of  our  petition,  that  at,  or  any  time  after  ye  expiration 
or  end  of  fifteen  years  after  ye  date  of  these  presents,  if  s'd  inhabitants 
on  ye  east  side  of  said  river,  with  the  rest  of  their  neighbors  living  con- 
venient, doe  judge  themselves  capable  and  doe  goe  about  to  obtain  a 
part  out,  or  township,  in  order  to  settle  ye  gospel  among  themselves, 
that  we,  ye  said  inhabitants  of  ye  South  Purchase,  will  not  molest,  de- 
tain, or  hinder  them,  but  that  they  shall  be  free  from  all  ye  obligations 
to  us,  and  we  putting  them  to  no  charge  on  any  account. 

"  2ndly.  We,  ye  inhabitants  of  s'd  South  Purchase,  do  covenant,  prom- 
ise, and  engage  to  and  unto  ye  inhabitants  on  ye  east  side  of  ye  s'd  river, 
that  we  will,  on  our  own  cost  and  charge,  build  ami  completely  finish  a 
convenient  Meeting  House,  of  convenient  bigness  for  all  our  inhabitants 
contained  within  ye  confines  of  our  said  s'd  precinct,  and  s'd  Meeting 
House  to  be  completely  finished,  within  and  without,  within  ye  space  of 
one  year's  time  after  s'd  petition  is  granted,  if  granted  at  all. — Further, 
s'd  inhabitants  of  s'd  South  Purchase  doe  engage,  as  above,  that  they, 
at  their  charge  and  cost,  will  provide  a  sufficient  settlement,  both  of 
housing  and  lauds,  for  s'd  minister,  from  all  of  which  charges  aforesaid 
ye  s'd  inhabitants  of  s'd  South  Purchase  doe  engage  to  free  s'd  inhabi- 
tants on  ye  east  side  of  s'd  river;  and,  further,  that  when  s'd  meeting- 
house is  so  finished,  then  our  neighbors  on  ye  east  side  oi  s'd  river  shall 
have  as  good  right  in  it  as  though  they  had  carried  on  their  parts  in 
building  it,  according  to  ye  proportion  of  rates  they  doe  pay.  Ne.xtly, 
we,  ye  inhabitants  of  ye  east  side  of  s'd  river,  doe  covenant  and  promise 
as  aforesaid,  that  we  will  be  at  equal  charges  with  them  of  s'd  • 
Purchase  in  procuring  and  maintaining  a  minister  so  long  as  we  con- 
tinue to  meet  together  and  no  longer. 

"3d.  Jared  Talbot,  for  himself  and  bis  successors,  doth  covenant  as 
above,  to  and  with  ye  inhabitants  oh  s'd  east  side  of  s'd  river,  and  their 
successors,  that  both  himself  and  they  shall  and  will  allow  and  find  a 
convenient  way  to  s'd  meeting-house  from  ye  great  rive,  to  ye  country 
road  on  ye  we8t  Side  of  s'd  Talbot's  land,  for  S'd  inhabitants  to  go  to  B'd 
meeting-house,  s'd  way  to  be  just  above  Legreganset  river  mouth,  and 
so  to  go  along  on  ye  south  side  of  ye  new  dwelling-house  of  s'd  Talbot, 
so  long  as  they  meet  together  and  no  longer. 

"4thly.  We,  ye  inhabitants  of  s'd  purchase  do  promise,  as  aforesaid, 
that  we  will  lie  at  equal  cost  and  charge  with  ye  s'd  inhabitants  of  east 
side  of  s'd  river,  in  building  and  maintaining  a  ferry-boat  sufficient  for 


218 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


passing  over  to  meeting,  and  so  long  as  they  continue  to  meet  together 
and  no  longer. 

"  5thly.  It  is  mutually  agreed  by  both  parties  afores'd  and  as  above  s'd, 
that  ye  meeting-house  shall  be  set  on  ye  hill,  on  ye  west  side  of  ye  way, 
over  against  Talbot's  new  dwelling-house,  and  adjoining  s'd  way. 

"Gthly.  It  is  mutually  agreed  by  both  parties  afores'd,  that  when  we 
have  a  school  kept,  it  shall  he  kept  sometimes  on  one  side  of  s'd  river, 
and  sometimes  on  ye  other  side  of  s'd  river,  according  to  ye  proportion 
of  rates  they  do  pay, 

"  Lastly.  It  is  mutually  agreed  by  both  parties  that  ye  above  written 
articles  continue  so  long  as  we  meet  together  and  no  longer. 

"  In  witness  whereof  we,  ye  s'd  inhabitants  on  ye  west  side  of  s'd  river, 
and  ye  inhabitants  on  ye  east  side  of  ye  river,  have  interchangeably  set 
our  hands  to  these  presents,  this  twenty-fifth  day  of  February,  Anno 
Domini,  1708. 

"Benj.  Briggs.  Tims.  Briggs. 

"  Tuos.  Jones.  Amos  Briggs. 

"  Eph.  Hathaway.      Joseph  Pool. 
"Isaac  Pool.  Jared  Talbot. 

"Matthew  Briggs.     Richard  Hopkins. 
"John  Wood.  Hezekiaii  Hoar. 

"  Erenezer  Pitts.        Samuel  Talbot. 
"  Peter  Pitts  " 

This  agreement  certainly  shows  a  very  liberal  spirit 
on  the  part  of  the  people  of  the  South  Purchase.  At 
that  time  Assonet  Neck,  on  the  east  side  of  the  river, 
was  a  part  of  Taunton.1  It  had  been  annexed  to  the 
colony  in  1677  as  part  of  the  domain  forfeited  by 
Philip  when  he  took  up  arms  against  the  colonists, 
and  it  was  purchased  from  the  government  by  six 
Taunton  men,  Rev.  George  Shove,2  James  Walker, 
James  Tisdale,  Walter  Deane,  William  Harvey,  and 
Richard  Williams.  In  July,  1682,  it  was  annexed  to 
Taunton.  May  30,  1712,  the  town  of  Dighton  was 
incorporated,  and  Assonet  Neck  was  joined  to  the 
South  Purchase  as  a  part  of  the  town.  The  name  of 
Dighton,  it  is  well  known,  was  bestowed  upon  the 
new  township  out  of  respect  for  the  wife  of  Richard 
Williams,  one  of  the  original  proprietors  of  the  South 
Purchase,  and  who  has  been  called  the  father  of 
Taunton.  His  wife's  maiden  name  was  Frances 
Dighton.  She  was  a  very  estimable  woman,  and  was 
a  sister  of  the  wife  of  Governor  Thomas  Dudley. 
Until  within  a  few  years  there  was  only  one  Dighton 
in  the  United  States,  which  was  a  great  advantage  in 
preventing  the  miscarriage  of  mail  matter  addressed 
to  the  po<t-offices  here,  but  the  name  is  no  longer 
unique,  there  is  a  young  Dighton  in  the  thriving 
State  of  Kansas. 

It  is  much  to  be  regretted  that  the  early  records  of 
this  town  were  so  imperfectly  kept,  The  proprietor's 
book  gives  some  interesting  documents,  copies  of  the 
deeds  of  the  South  Purchase,  with  facsimiles  of  the 
marks  of  Philip  and  his  sagamores,  and  a  few  other 

1  In  1799  Assonet  Neck  was  detached  from  Dighton  and  annexed  to 
Berk  lev. 

-  Rev,  George  Shove,  third  minister  of  Taunton,  and  one  of  the  original 
proprietors  of  the  South  Purchase,  as  well  as  of  the  North  Purchase  and 
of  Assonet  Neck,  was  probably  born  in  Dorchester,  in  this  State,  was  or- 
dained Nov.  19, 1665,  ami  died  in  April,  16S7.  He  was  the  progenitor  of 
all  the  Shoves  in  Bristol  County.  Tbe  name  was  originally  Shovel,  hav- 
ing lost  an  /  by  elision  after  crossing  the  Atlantic.  An  eminent  member 
of  the  name  in  England  was  Sir  Cloudesly  Shovel,  admiral  and  naval 
hero  of  the  last  half  of  the  seventeenth  century.  The  name  is  said  to 
have  been  derived  from  the  French  cheoal,  a  horse. 


documents  that  are  read  over  with  interest,  but  very 
much  is  omitted  that  we  would  like  to  know  about, 
nor  was  the  record  much  better  kept  for  many  years 
after  the  town  was  incorporated.  The  earliest  record- 
book  of  town  affairs  was  kept  with  very  little  regard 
for  sequence  of  dates  in  the  entries,  the  clerks  appa- 
rently making  use  of  whatever  part  of  the  book  they 
happened  to  open  upon  first,  and  sometimes,  it  would 
seem,  forgetting  to  open  it  at  all.  This  makes  it  a  mat- 
ter of  great  difficulty,  if  not  an  impossibility,  to  give 
anything  like  a  connected  history  of  town  affairs  as 
far  as  the  first  half  of  the  eighteenth  century  is  con- 
cerned. The  record  of  births,  deaths,  and  marriages, 
was  quite  as  imperfectly  and  carelessly  kept  as  the 
record  of  town  affairs.  For  instance,  the  "  intentions 
of  marriage,"  in  the  .  oldest  book,  outnumber  the 
marriages  by  several  hundreds,  from  which  a  person 
having  no  knowledge  of  the  slackness  of  town  clerks 
in  those  days  might  infer  that  people  then  were  wiser 
than  now,  and  that  instead  of  the  post-nuptial  re- 
pentance, which  now  loads  with  libels  the  dockets  of 
the  divorce  courts,  they  repented  before  the  fatal 
knot  was  tied. 

Among  the  earliest  entries  is  the  following,  dated 
Dec.  19,  1709: 

"  At  a  legal  meeting  of  the  South  Precinct  in  Taunton,  voted  that 
Capt.  Jared  Taulbut,  Joseph  Deane,  Richard  Hopkins,  Ebenezer  Pitts, 
and  John  Crane  shall  he  a  committee  to  treat  with  and  make  a  full 
agreement  with  Mr.  Nathaniel  Fisher  in  behalf  of  the  precinct  to  be 
our  minister  during  his  life  time." 

This  was  a  very  important  step  in  the  young  com- 
munity on  the  South  Purchase.  Hitherto  the  scat- 
tered farmers  and  their  families,  which  comprised  the 
settlement,  had  been  obliged  to  attend  meeting  at 
Taunton ;  they  had  no  riding  carriages,  but  some 
probably  rode  in  the  rude  farm-wagons,  while  others 
rode  on  horse-back  or  on  ox-back,  for  ox-saddles  were 
not  unknown  to  that  generation,  the  women  and  chil- 
dren riding  behind  the  men  on'  pillions,  while  many 
no  doubt  walked  the  five  to  eight  miles  distance  and 
return,  most  of  the  way  being  through  the  woods  and 
over  a  rough  road  but  little  better  than  a  cart-path. 
The  year  before  a  meeting-house  had  been  built.  It 
stood  on  the  hill  where  the  old  town  burying-ground 
now  is.  It  was  probably  a  small  and  rude  affair,  but 
it  was  better  than  none,  and  answered  the  purrjose  for 
which  it  was  built,  The  hill  upon  which  it  stood  is 
a  bare,  bleak,  gravelly  knoll,  such  as  formed  the 
favorite  sites  of  our  ancestors  for  the  meeting-house 
and  school-house;  partly,  perhaps,  because  in  such 
places  nothing  would  grow  but  brambles  and  huckle- 
berry bushes.  The  first  mention  of  the  new  meeting- 
house in  the  records  is  as  follows,  the  date  being 
(obliterated)  1710: 

"  It  was  also  voted  by  us  of  the  South  Purchase  to 
allow  Joseph  Pool,  Thomas  Jones,  and  Matthew 
Briggs  sixteen  pounds  and  ten  shillings  for  seting 
(seating)  at  the  meeting-house." 

One  would  like  to  have  a  photograph  of  that  meet- 


DIGHTON. 


219 


ing-house,  as  well  as  photographs  of  the  preacher  and 
his  flock.  Yet,  while  their  dress  was  somewhat  dif- 
ferent, the  fanners  and  their  families  of  that  day 
probably  looked  very  much  like  the  people  we  see 
around  ns.  In  looking  at  old  portraits  and  statues 
the  same  types  of  features  are  recognized  that  are 
seen  every  day  in  the  streets,  and  one  is  reminded  of 
Hawthorn's  remark  that  the  heads  of  the  old  Roman 
emperors  look  like  those  of  Yankee  politicians. 
Even  in  the  oldest  antiques,  like  the  Cesnola  statues 
from  Cyprus  in  the  New  York  Metropolitan  Museum 
of  Art,  we  see  faces  that  recall  those  of  people  we 
have  known,  although  these  portrait-statues  ante- 
date by  hundreds  of  years  the  Christian  era.  The 
constancy  of  human  nature  to  itself  throughout  the 
ages  is  one  of  the  marvels  of  existence. 

Not  much  is  known  of  Nathaniel  Fisher,  whom  the 
people  of  the  South  Purchase  called  to  be  their  first 
spiritual  shepherd,  but  from  the  meagre  information 
we  have  he  appears  to  have  been,  if  not  a  brilliant 
preacher,  at  least  a  worthy  and  conscientious  man 
and  a  faithful  minister.  He  was  born  about  the  year 
1686,  where  is  not  certainly  known,  but  probably  in 
one  of  the  towns  of  Norfolk  County.  He  graduated 
at  Harvard  College  in  1706  ;  was  ordained  in  1710, 
when  he  commenced  preaching  in  the  Taunton  South 
Purchase,  and  he  continued  in  office  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  Aug.  30,  1777,  at  the  age  of  ninety- 
one.  He  had  four  children, — Elizabeth,  Abigail, 
Jeremiah,  and  Nathaniel.  His  wife,  Elizabeth,  died 
Sept.  23,  1765,  in  her  seventieth  year. 

A  story  has  been  handed  down  concerning  his 
daughter  Elizabeth,  which  is  as  follows.  It  seems 
that  she  had  an  admirer  named  Pitts,  who  dropped 
in  frequently  to  spend  the  evening,  and  sometimes 
stayed  till  a  late  hour.  It  is  probable  that  his  visits 
were  not  altogether  unacceptable  to  the  presumably 
fair  Betty,  as  >he  was  called;  but  having  a  fun-loving 
disposition,  she  played  him  a  practical  joke  that  put 
an  end  to  his  attentions  to  herself  and  caused  a  good 
deal  of  gossip  in  the  neighborhood.  The  lovers  were 
sitting  up  together  one  Sunday  evening  in  the  front 
room,  alter  the  family  had  retired,  and  as  the  court- 
ship was  pretty  well  along,  Betty  was  sitting  in  her 
admirer's  lap.  While  in  this  interesting  situation, 
young  Pitts  was  ungallant  enough  to  fall  asleep. 
Whether  he  was  naturally  of  a  somnolent  habit,  or 
whether  he  was  fatigued  by  the  labors  of  the  week, 
can  only  be  conjectured.  At  all  events  lie  fell  into  a 
deep  slumber,  which  Elizabeth  perceiving,  she  gently 
disengaged  herself  from  her  sleeping  beau's  arms  and 
very  carefully  put  a  churn,  which  stood  in  the  room, 
in  the  place  she  had  vacated.  Then  she  softly  went 
up-stairs  to  her  little  bed  and  awaited  the  result  of 
her  practical  joke.  She  did  not  have  to  wait  long, 
for  soon  there  was  a  surprising  racket  in  the  room 
below  as  the  heavy  churn  fell  from  the  astonished 
sleeper's  arms  and  rolled  over  the  floor.  Her  rev- 
erend father  hastily  got  up  and,  in  scanty  raiment. 


came  out  to  see  what  all  the  noise  was  about.  Pitts 
made  such  explanation  as  his  naturally  bewildered 
condition  permitted,  and  with  scant  ceremony  left 
the  house  never  to  enter  it  again. 

This  story  of  the  beau  and  the  churn  was  published 
in  a  local  newspaper  many  years  ago,  but  the  scene 
was  laid  in  another  locality  and  with  different  dra- 
matis pcrsona>.  As  the  writer  had  the  story  from  one 
of  Mr.  Fisher's  great-grandchildren,  who  vouched  for 
its  truth,  there  is  no  doubt  that  the  affair  happened 
in  this  town,  and  in  the  house  of  the  Rev.  Nathaniel 
Fisher,  and  that  his  daughter  Betty  was  the  chief 
actor  in  the  little  comedy.  Whether  she  found  the 
result  of  her  practical  joking  as  amusing  in  the  end, 
when  her  lover  did  not  come  back,  is  questionable.1 

The  following  report  of  the  committee  chosen  to 
make  an  agreement  with  Mr.  Fisher  in  regard  to  the 
amount  of  his  salary,  will  show  the  manner  of  paying 
the  ministers  in  colonial  days  : 

"Taunton,  South  Precinct,  June  28,  1710. 

"  Wee,  whose  names  are  underwritten,  being  a  committy  chosen  by 

the  inhabitants  of  the  Taunton  South  Precinct,  to  treat  with  and  make 

proposals  to  Mr.  Nathaniel  Fisher,  for  his   encouragement  to  settle 

amongst  us  in  ye  sacred  employ  of  ye  ministry,  have  held  a  treaty  with 

him,  and  have  made  the  following  proposals  to  him  (viz.)  that  wee  will 

give  him  for  the  first  three  years  forty-five  pounds,  and  then  to  raise  to 

fifty  pounds,  and  to  continue  it  three  years,  and  then  to  raise  it  to  sixty 

pounds,  and  to  continue  three  years,  and  after  that  as  heads  and  estates 

increase  to  rise  till  it  comes  to  seventy  pounds,  aud  then  stop,  which 

proposals  Mr.  Fisher  will  take  up  withal. 

"  Jared  Tai.bot. 

"Richard  Hopkins. 

"Joseph  Deane. 

"  John  Crane. 

"  Ebenezer  Pitts." 

The  salary  arranged  for  the  future  by  the  rules  of 
arithmetical  progression,  according  to  the  probable 
increase  of  heads  and  estates,  was  paid  one-third  in 
money  and  two-thirds  in  "merchantable  pay,  equiva- 
lent to  money."  A  part  of  this  merchantable  pay 
consisted  of  rum  and  lumber.  Mr.  Fisher  having 
with  his  growing  family  more  use  for  provisions  than 
for  rum  and  lumber,  succeeded  finally  in  getting  pro- 
visions substituted  therefor. 

1  As  a  sequel  to  this  little  romance  the  following  entry  in  the  town- 
record  of  marriages  may  be  interesting,  at  least,  to  the  lady  readers  of 
this  sketch: 

"September  ye  29th,  1743,  Jobe  Winslow  and  Elizabeth  Fisher  were 
married  by  Rev.  Nathaniel  Fisher."  The  Job  Winslow  that  married 
Elizabeth  was  afterwards  lieutenant-colonel  in  the  Second  Regiment, 
Second  Brigade  of  the  Rristol  County  militia.  He  had  previously  been 
In  active  service  as  a  captain,  and  also  as  a  major  in  the  French  and  In- 
dian war.  They  had  four  children.  Their  son  Job  was  a  colonel  in  the 
militia. 

Elizabeth  Fisher's  first  lover,  George  Pitt*,  the  hero  of  the  chnrn 
married  and  had  children.     He  was  afterwards  one  of  the    Selectmen  of 
the  town,  and  held  other  offices.    He  appears  to  have  been  a  capable, 
worthy  man. 

On  the  theatrical  stage,  tragedy  is  sometimes  followed  by  a  comedy 
or  a  farce,  but  on  the  stage  of  life  the  order  is  usually  reversed,  and  the 
tragic  lags  not  far  behind  the  comic.  Capt.  George  Pitts  died  of  small- 
pox. Dec.  10,  1763,  in  his  forty-ninth  year.  His  wife,  Elizabeth,  died 
during  the  following  March,  of  the  same  dreadful  disease,  as  did  also  an 
infant  daughter.  They  were  all  buried  in  an  out-of-the-way  spot, on  the 
western  bolder  of  the  pine  swamp.  Within  a  few  years  the  old  slate 
stones  marking  their  graves  have  been  removed  to  the  burying-ground 
of  the  Unitarian  Society. 


220 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Hiring  a  minister  for  life,  as  was  the  custom  in 
those  days,  was  a  very  serious  business,  and  the  people 
of  the  South  Precinct  no  doubt  gave  the  matter  a 
great  deal  of  consideration.  It  was  almost  like 
choosing  a  king  to  rule  over  them.  The  ministers 
then  were  the  most  influential  men  in  their  precincts. 
They  were  not  only  arbiters  in  things  spiritual  and 
ecclesiastical,  but  they  were  frequently  men  of  affairs, 
engaged  in  large  business  transactions,  like  the  Rev. 
Hugh  Peters,  of  Salem,  in  commerce,  and  the  Rev. 
George  Shove,  of  Taunton,  in  real  estate;  they  were, 
besides,  sometimes  the  only  physicians,  lawyers,  and 
teachers  in  their  precincts,  so  that  each  local  town 
government  in  the  colonies  might  well  be  termed  a 
hierocracy,  tempered  by  the  town-meeting.  With  the 
lapse  of  years  and  the  mental  emancipation  they 
have  brought  the  hierocracy  has,  in  secular  matters 
at  least,  taken  a  back  seat,  and  the  town-meeting,  as 
the  embodiment  of  the  common  sense  of  each  com- 
munity, is  the  chief  arbiter  under  the  law  of  local 
affairs  outside  of  the  cities. 

Nathaniel  Fisher  was  the  sole  minister  of  the  town 
for  more  than  half  a  century,  and  in  his  declining 
years  was  furnished  with  an  assistant.  His  name  will 
occur  hereafter  in  the  course  of  this  sketch. 

The  town  in  1713  was  fairly  started  upon  its  corpo- 
rate history.  At  that  time  it  was  divided  into  two 
parts  by  Taunton  River,  which  was  a  great  incon- 
venience in  many  ways,  for  as  yet  a  bridge  was  hardly 
thought  of.  On  the  east  side  of  the  river  the  town 
included  the  whole  of  Assonet  Neck,  and  extended 
northerly  as  far  as  the  present  site  of  the  old  meet- 
ing-house on  Berkley  Common.  It  having  become 
necessary  to  make  provision  for  the  impounding  of 
stray  cattle  and  for  the  punishment  of  offenders 
against  the  laws,  the  following  vote  was  passed  at  a 
town-meeting  held  Dec.  21,  1713: 

"  Voted  to  make  two  pounds  ;  that  on  the  west  side 
of  the  river  Capt.  Talbot  gives  the  land  to  set  it  on, 
joyning  to  the  road,  near  the  meeting-house ;  the  one 
on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  Edward  Paull  gives  the 
land  to  set  it  on.  Voted  also  that  the  Selectmen 
should  exact  (i.e.,  survey)  the  lines  of  the  township, 
set  up  stocks  and  whipping-post,  and  make  the 
pounds." 

There  has  been  an  advance  in  the  methods  of  pun- 
ishing criminals  since  that  vote  was  passed.  If  stocks 
and  whipping-post  were  to  be  set  up  now  in  front  of 
the  town  hall,  they  would  not  probably  remain  there 
very  long.  There  was  a  public  ferry  at  that  time  be- 
tween the  two  sections  of  the  town.  It  was  located 
about  half  a  mile  below  the  present  site  of  Berkley 
and  Dighton  bridge.  In  1715  it  was  voted  to  put  the 
ferry-boat  into  the  hands  of  Capt.  Jared  Talbot  and 
Deacon  Abraham  Hathaway  for  three  years,  "  the 
boat  to  be  free  for  the  use  of  the  inhabitants  on  all 
public  days,  the  said  Talbot  and  Hathaway  agreeing 
to  keep  said  ferry-boat  in  good  repair  all  said  time  at 
their  own  cost."     Afterwards  another  ferrv  was  es- 


tablished about  a  mile  farther  down  the  river,  at  a 
narrow  place  opposite  the  lower  wharves  in  Dighton. 
The  point  of  land  on  the  Berkley  side  is  still  known 
as  the  Ferry  Point,  and  is  a  part  of  the  fishing-ground 
of  Shove  &  Nichols. 

The  tax-rate  was  probably  of  more  general  interest 
among  the  necessarily  frugal  people  of  the  colonial 
period  than  at  present,  when  wealth  and  the  means 
of  getting  wealth  have  so  largely  increased,  and  the 
following  bill  of  charges  for  the  first  year  after  the 
town's  incorporation  was  undoubtedly  closely  scru- 
tinized by  the  tax-payers  in  town-meeting  assembled  : 


"  Bill  of  Chargks  for  1712. 

£      s.  d. 

Mr.  Fisher's  salary  this  present  year 50      0  0 

Capt.  Talbot,  obtaining  precinct  and  township 17     18  7 

Edward  Paull,  dieting  schoolmaster  for  1711 5      0  0 

Thomas  Junes,  dieting  schoolmaster  same  year 2     10  0 

Constant  Pitts,  dieting  schoolmaster  same  year 2    10  0 

Edward  Shove,  making  rate  lor  1711 7  0 

Samuel  Waldron,  making  rate  for  same  year 6  0 

Joseph  Wood,  making  rate  for  same  year 6  0 

Constant  Pitts,  making  rate  for  same  year 4  0 

Constable  Matthew  Briggs,  gathering  Mr.  Fisher's  rates....  3      7  6 

Samuel  Whitmarsh,  making  rate  same  year '-  0 

For  building  the  ferry-boat 5      0  0 

Richard  Hoskins,  making  rate  same  year 1  4 

The  whole  amounting  to £87     12  5'' 


The  cost  of  living  could  not  have  been  high  at  that 
time,  when  ten  pounds  would  board  the  schoolmaster 
for  a  year.  The  salary  of  a  schoolmaster  was  from 
twenty  to  thirty  pounds  a  year.  Some  of  the  school- 
masters were  men  of  good  education,  and  could  teach 
Latin  and  Greek  if  occasion  required,  and  most  of 
them  had  firm  faith  in  the  truth  of  the  Solomonic 
dictum  that  to  spare  the  rod  was  to  spoil  the  child. 
If  the  master  gave  satisfaction — and  the  people  were 
easily  satisfied — he  was  almost  as  much  of  a  fixture 
in  the  community  as  was  the  minister,  teaching  in 
the  same  little  school-house  year  after  year.  The 
curriculum  of  the  common  schools  was  made  up  of 
much  fewer  studies  than  at  present.  To  be  able  to 
read,  write,  cipher,  and  spell  in  a  passable  manner, 
and  to  know  a  little  about  the  countries  of  the  globe, 
was  about  all  that  was  expected  of  a  boy  when  he 
left  off  going  to  school  and  began  his  battle  with  the 
material  forces  of  nature,  whether  on  the  land  or  on 
the  sea.  There  are  those  who  think  that  the  schools 
of  that  time  turned  out  young  men  and  women  having 
more  force,  earnestness,  and  probity  of  character  than 
is  shown  by  the  young  men  and  women  of  the  present 
day  when  they  leave  school,  although  they  may  have 
obtained  a  smattering  of  many  studies  that  their 
great-great-grandfathers  and  mothers  knew  nothing 
of, — -physiology,  drawing,  book-keeping,  algebra, 
music,  and  the  like.  But  schools,  although  an  im- 
portant factor,  are  not  wholly  responsible  for  the 
formation  of  the  characters  of  young  men  and  women. 
The  mode  of  life  and  the  example  and  teaching  of 
the  parents  have  quite  as  much  influence  in  the 
formation  of  the  characters  of  children  as  the  school 
they    attend.      The   people   of  the   colonies   were   a 


DIGHTON. 


221 


serious,  industrious,  earnest  people,  thoroughly  im- 
pressed, through  their  religious  teachings,  that  this 
life  is  but  the  prelude  to  either  endless  joy  or  endless 
torment;  hence  even  the  children  had  much  of  the 
earnestness  and  staidness  of  their  elders. 

Whether  the  people  enjoyed  life  as  much  then  as  peo- 
ple do  now  is  a  question  that  has  been  often  discussed. 
It  is  argued  that  cultivated  perceptions  of  the  beautiful 
in  nature  and  art  are  one  of  the  chief  aids  to  rational 
enjoyment  of  life,  and  that  such  cultivated  percep- 
tions being  lacking  in  colonial  times,  the  people  then 
were  deprived  of  a  great  source  of  enjoyment;  and, 
furthermore,  that,  having  few  books,  and  those  chiefly 
dreary  homilies  or  tedious  disquisitions  on  the  doc- 
trinal points  of  their  gloomy  religion,  while  news- 
papers and  magazines  were  almost  unknown,  they 
knew  but  little  of  the  enjoyment  to  be  derived  from 
a  healthy  love  of  reading. 

On  the  other  hand,  it  may  be  said  that,  living  a 
simpler  and  more  physically  active  life,  those  who 
survived  the  perils  of  infancy  had  better  health  than 
the  majority  of  people  have  now.  They  knew  but 
little  of  nervous  disorders  or  of  dyspepsia,  which 
make  life  a  torment  to  so  many  people  nowadays,  and 
if  having  plenty  of  work  to  do  is  a  chief  source  of 
happiness,  as  Carlyle  and  other  philosophers  have 
taught,  they  found  labor  enough  to  do  at  hand  in 
clearing  the  wilderness  and  finding  food  and  cloth- 
ing for  themselves  and  their  large  families.  On 
the  wThole,  it  is  to  be  doubted  whether  existence  is 
more  enjoyable  to  their  descendants  than  it  was  to 
them. 

Most  of  the  dwellings  of  that  period  have  disap- 
peared long  ago,  and  the  few  that  remain  have,  with 
rare  exceptions,  been  altered  and  modernized  until 
it  is  difficult  to  tell  how  they  originally  looked. 

The  most  striking  feature  of  the  architecture  of 
one  of  these  old  houses  is  the  huge  chimney,  around 
which  the  house  was  apparently  built.  The  kitchen 
fireplace  was  usually  an  enormous  chasm,  in  which 
cord-wood  was  burnt  without  sawing,  and  in  which 
one  could  sit  and  look  up  the  sooty  cavern  to  the  sky. 
On  cold  winter  evenings  the  huge  high-backed  settle 
was  drawn  up  in  front  of  the  fire  to  keep  off  draughts. 
The  mug  of  cider  was  brought  up  from  the  cellar,  and 
perhaps  a  dish  of  apples  or  nuts  passed  around,  or 
oysters  were  roasted  on  the  coals.  While  the  fire 
blazed  up  brightly  there  was  little  need  of  the  tallow 
candles  which  flared  and  sputtered  and  sent  minia- 
ture eruptions  of  melted  grease  down  the  candle- 
sticks. Punctually  at  nine  o'clock  the  family  retired 
to  their  four-post  bedsteads  and  feather-beds,  to  be  up 
in  the  morning  at  break  of  day  or  earlier. 

In  one  aspect  of  their  lives  the  colonists  were  in- 
tensely'practical  and  seemingly  devoted  to  material 
interests,  but  when  we  think  how  their  religious  be- 
lief dominated  over  their  lives,  and  what  sacrifices 
they  were  ready  to  make  for  the  support  of  the 
church,  we  perceive  that  they  led  dual   lives  ;  with 


most  of  them  the  spiritual  life  was  of  far  greater 
importance  than  the  life  of  the  senses.1 

The  town  officers  chosen  for  1712,  the  first  year  of 
the  town  government,  were  as  follows :  Town  Clerk, 
Joseph  Deane ;  Col.  Ebenezer  Pitts,  Edward  Paull, 
and  James  Tisdale  were  chosen  selectmen ;  John  Burt 
and  David  Walker,  constables ;  Samuel  Waldron, 
Daniel  Axtel,  and  Abraham  Shaw,  assessors  ;  Ensign 
John  Crane,  town  treasurer  ;  John  Wood  and  Isaac 
Hathaway,  tithingmen  ;  Abraham  Hathaway  and 
John  Wood,  surveyors  for  ways;  Thomas  Burt  and 
Isaac  Pool,  fence-viewers;  Johu  White  and  Richard 
Wood,  field-drivers;  Joseph  Maxfield,  flax'-culler. 

The  pay  for  doing  the  town's  business  was  very 
moderate,  as  were  the  prices  for  other  kinds  of  work. 
The  town  clerk  and  the  selectmen  charged  at  the  rate 
of  three  shillings  a  day,  and  land  surveyors  had  the 
same  pay.  Town-meetings  were  held  in  the  meeting- 
house. This  saved  the  expense  of  a  town  hall,  and 
was  appropriate  enough,  as  much  of  the  town  busi- 
pess  related  to  church  matters.  It  was  the  town  that 
built  the  meeting-house,  hired  the  minister,  and  col- 
lected his  rates. 

The  records  of  town-meetings  for  many  years  after 
the  town  was  incorporated  contain  but  little  that 
would  interest  the  general  reader.  They  are  mostly 
brief  entries,  poorly  written  and  worse  spelled,  of  the 
election  of  town  officers  and  representatives  to  the 
General  Court,  varied  by  transcripts  of  bills  paid  by 
the  treasurer.  Some  of  the  town  offices  that  were  an- 
nually filled  then  have  long  since  been  abolished. 
Such  were  the  cullers  of  flax,  clerk  of  the  market, 
tithing  men,  and  hog-reeves.  What  were  the  duties 
of  clerk  of  the  market  in  a  farming  community,  such 
as  Dighton  was  then,  I  have  not  been  able  to  find  out. 
The  tithingman  was  required  by  law  to  be  selected 
from  the  "  most  prudent  and  discreet  inhabitants," 
and  he  was  a  sort  of  inspector-general  of  the  town- 
ship. He  was  required  "to  inspect  all  licensed  or 
unlicensed  houses  where  they  shall  have  notice  or 
have  grounds  to  suspect  that  any  person  or  persons 
doe  spend  their  tyme  or  estates  by  night  or  day  in 
tippling,  gaming,  or  otherwise  unprofitably,  or  doe 
sell  or  retayle  strong  drink,  wine,  cider,  rumm, 
brandey,  jerry,  or  methylin  without  a  license." 
They  were  also  required  "  to  inspect  the  manners  of 
all  disorderly  persons,  and  to  present  to  the  magis- 
trate the  names  of  all  single  persons  who  live  from 
under  family  government,  stubborn  and  disorderly 
children  and  servants,  night-walkers,  tipplers,  and 
Sabbath-breakers,  by  night  or  day,  and  such  as  ab- 
sent themselves  from  the  worship  of  God  on  the 
Lord's  dayes."  The  tithingman  was  required  to  be 
provided,  at  the  expense  of  the  town,  with  "a  black 
staff,  two  feet  long,  tipt  at  one  end  with  brass  about 


1  Emerson  somewhere  hyperbolically  remarks  that  the  Puritans  and 
their  immediate  descendants  were  so  righteous  that  they  had  to  hold  ou 
to  the  huckleberry  bushes  to  prevent  being  translated. 


222 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


three  inches."  It  has  been  handed  down  that  these 
black  batons  were  sometimes  tipped  at  the  other  end 
with  a  rabbit's  foot  or  a  turkey's  tail  feather,  where- 
with to  tickle  the  eyes  or  noses  of  the  sleeping  saints 
in  the  congregation,  while  sinners  who  wandered  in 
the  land  of  Nod  during  the  services  were  smartly 
rapped  on  the  head  with  the  brass  end  of  the  staff. 
Such  were  the  important  duties  of  the  tithingmen, 
and  it  is  needless  to  say  that  they  were  regarded 
with  a  wholesome  fear  by  evil-disposed  persons.1 

The  duties  of  the  hog-reeve,  as  might  be  inferred 
from  his  title,  were  of  a  very  different  nature.  It  was 
customary  to  allow  hogs  to  run  in  the  streets,  and  the 
hog-reeve  was  required  to  provide  them  with  yokes 
around  their  necks  to  keep  them  out  of  fenced  in- 
cisures, and  to  put  rings  into  their  noses  to  prevent 
their  rooting.  The  hog-reeve  was  paid  for  his  ser- 
vices by  the  owner  of  the  animals. 

In  1733  the  following  vote  was  passed  (it  is  given 
verbatim  et  liter  atam) : 

"  In  Dighton,  at  the  Annuel  Town  meeting  in 
march  ye  20,  anno  1733,  the  Inhabitanes  of  said 
Town  did  uanumosley  vote  that  thare  Reprasanta- 
tive,  Mr  Edward  Shove,  should  Exhibit  a  pettion  to 
the  great  and  genral  court  for  so  much  un  propriated 
Lands  as  thay  in  thare  great  Wisdom  shall  think  fit 
to  be  for  the  supporting  the  scool  in  said  Dighton." 

There  was  certainly  need  of  a  liberal  grant  of  land 
by  the  Great  and  General  Court  for  the  support  of  a 
"scool"  in  this  town,  if  the  orthography  of  the  town 
clerk  is  to  be  taken  as  a  sample  of  the  literary  quali- 
fications of  the  people. 

It  was  customary  then  to  establish  by  a  vote  of  the 
town  the  prices  at  which  farm  produce  and  other 
merchandise  should  be  sold  at.  The  following  are 
some  of  the  prices  fixed  by  vote  in  1727:  Winter 
wheat,  six  shillings  and  sixpence  per  bushel ;  Indian 
corn,  two  shillings  and  sixpence;  oats,  one  shilling 
and  five  pence;  bayberry  (this  was  vegetable  wax, 
tried  from  the  berries  of  the  bayberry,  or  wax-myrtle), 
fourteen  pence  per  pound;  butter,  ten  pence  per 
pound  ;  bar-iron,  two  pounds  three  shillings  per  hun- 
dred ;  tobacco,  three  pence  per  pound.  (Think  of 
that,  ye  slaves  of  the  weed,  and  sigh  for  the  good  old 
times !) 

In  1728  a  town-meeting  was  called  "  to  consider 
what  to  do,  and  send  such  instructions  to  our  repre- 
sentative, Mr.  Edward  Shove,  as  the  inhabitants  of 
the  said  town  of  Dighton  shall  think  fit  under  our 
difficult  circumstances,  by  reason  of  His  Excellency 
the  Governor,  his  long  and  vehemently  insisting  on  a 
fixed  and  stated  salary,  which  we  humbly  conceive,  if 
it  should  be  granted  that  a  Governor  should  have  a 
fixed  or  stated  salary  granted  him  in  this  province, 
contrary  to  the  former  custom  and  practice  of  this 


1  The  last  tithiugmen  chosen  in  this  town  were  Anthony  Reed, 
Joseph  Briggs,  and  Thomas  Porter,  who  were  elected  at  the  annual 
meeting  in  1834. 


our  General  Court  in  granting  allowances  to  our  for- 
mer worthy  Governors  in  time  past,  it  would  greatly 
infringe  on  the  privileges  and  freedoms  granted  to  us 
by  their  Majesties'  royal  charter."  The  town  there- 
upon instructed  its  representative  to  oppose  this  dan- 
gerous innovation  and  infringement  of  the  people's 
rights,  not  seeming  to  consider  that  the  Governor  had 
any  rights  in  the  matter  of  his  own  salary.  The  Ed- 
ward Shove  who  represented  the  town  at  that  time 
was  a  son  of  the  Rev.  George  Shove,  of  Taunton. 
He  lived  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  and  was  a 
prominent  man  in  town  affairs.  The  Rev.  George 
Shove  was  much  opposed  to  the  Quakers,  and  it  is  a 
little  singular  that  most  of  his  descendants  belonged 
to  the  broad-brimmed  fraternity. 

It  was  the  custom  in  those  days  for  the  selectmen 
to  warn  out  of  town  any  new-comers  whom  they 
thought  might  become  a  charge  to  the  town  ;  their 
warrants  to  the  constable  to  this  effect  frequently 
occur  in  the  records.  The  following  is  a  sample  of 
one  of  these  warrants  : 

"  Bristol  ss.  Dighton,  October  the  2d. 
"You  are  in  His  Majesty's  name  forthwith  required  to  warn  the  fol- 
lowing persons  out  of  town  as  the  law  directs,  they  being  not  lawful 
inhabitants  of  said  town.  The  names  of  said  persons  is  (as)  followeth  : 
The  man's  name  is  Stephen  Huchinson,  and  his  wife's  Abigail  Huchin- 
son,  and  seven  children,  whose  names  are  Daniel,  Stephen,  Richard, 
Joseph,  Lemuel,  Abigail,  and  Lydia,  who  are  now  in  the  house  of 
Thomas  Joslin,  as  we  are  informed,  in  Dighton.  Fail  not,  and  make 
return  of  your  doings  to  us,  or  one  of  us,  quick  as  may  be. 
"To  Ebenezer  Pool,  Constable  of  Dighton. 

"  Elnathan  Walker, 
"Attest:   Nathan  Walker,  "  George  Pitts, 

"  Town  Cleric.  "Selectmen." 

Here  is  another  entry,  which  shows  a  laudable  zeal 
in  the  cause  of  education  : 

"At  the  above  said  meeting  (in  1734)  the  town  vote  that  the  selectmeu 
should  hier  a  scoolmaster  to  teach  children  to  Reed  and  Wright  and 

sifer." 

In  1751  the  population  had  increased  to  such  an 
extent  that  it  was  voted  to  build  three  school-houses, 
one  near  Mr.  Jonathan  Burt's  house,  one  near  Col. 
Richmond's,  to  be  under  the  care  of  Josiah  Talbot, 
Esq.,  and  one  near  the  house  of  Robert  Vickerv,  to 
be  under  the  care  of  Mr.  George  Gooding.  Two  of 
these  houses  were  sixteen  feet  square,  and  one  was 
twenty  feet.  They  were  probably  painted  red,  as 
that  was  the  favorite  color  for  the  district  school- 
house.  At  almost  every  town-meeting  the  bills  for 
boarding  the  schoolmaster  were  voted  to  be  paid,  but 
only  once  was  there  mention  of  that  functionary's 
name;  in  1755  one  John  Richmond  is  mentioned  as 
the  schoolmaster. 

Another  singular  omission  of  the  records  is  that  no 
mention  is  made  of  either  of  the  wars  between  Great 
Britain  and  France,  although  in  Queen  Anne's  war, 
as  it  is  called,  which  lasted  more  than  a  dozen  years, 
in  the  early  part  of  the  eighteenth  century,  men  from 
this  town  must  have  served  ;  while  in  George  the 
Second's  war,  towards  the  middle  of  the  century,  a 
number  of  men   from  Dighton  were  enlisted.     The 


DIGHTON. 


223 


Bristol  County  regiment  which  went  with  the  expe- 
dition that  captured  the  fortress  of  Louisburg,  on 
Cape  Breton  Island,  in  174"),  was  commanded  by  a 
Dighton  man,  Col.  Sylvester  Richmond,  who  was  born 
in  1698,  so  that  he  was  forty-seven  years  old  when  he 
went  on  the  expedition  mentioned.1  How  he  acquitted 
himself  as  colonel  we  do  not  know,  but  his  military 
conduct  might  have  surpassed  that  of  his  associate 
officers  or  of  his  commander  and  yet  not  have  been 
worthy  of  special  commendation.  There  was  no  lack 
of  bravery,  but  there  was  very  little  judgment  shown 
in  the  conduct  of  the  siege,  and  not  much  discipline 
among  the  troops.  Only  the  mutinous  condition  of 
the  garrison  in  the  fortress  made  its  capture  possible. 
The  siege  was  conducted  in  a  most  unsoldier-like 
manner,  the  rear  of  the  besieging  army  being  a  scene 
of  disgraceful  confusion,  the  men  being  chiefly  en- 
gaged in  the  unmilitary  occupation  of  skylarking, 
running  races,  pitching  quoits,  wrestling,  shooting 
birds,  or  chasing  the  balls  shot  from  the  fort,  a  bounty 
being  paid  for  each  one  brought  into  camp.  A  well- 
conducted  sortie  from  the  fortress  would  have  de- 
stroyed the  undisciplined  besiegers.  On  the  17th  of 
June,  however,  the  Dunkirk  of  America,  as  Louisburg 
was  sometimes  called,  surrendered  to  the  New  Eng- 
land troops.  "  If  any  one  circumstance,"  says  a  his- 
torian of  that  time,  "  had  taken  a  wrong  turn  on  our 
side,  and  if  any  one  circumstance  had  not  taken  a 
wrong  turn  on  the  French  side,  the  expedition  must 
have  miscarried." 

Before  undertaking  the  expedition  Col.  Pepperell, 
the  amiable  merchant  who  was  placed  in  command, 
had  consulted  the  celebrated  preacher  Whitefield,  who 
gave  his  approval,  and,  after  manner  of  the  crusades, 
furnished  a  motto  for  the  flag :  "  Nil  desperandum 
Christo  duce."  The  grand  battery  was  captured  with- 
out bloodshed  in  a  singular  manner.  The  warehouses 
in  the  northeast  part  of  the  town  having  been  set  on 
fire  in  the  night,  a  strong  wind  drove  the  dense  smoke 
into  the  battery,  and  caused  such  a  panic  among  the 
French  that  they  hastily  abandoned  the  battery  and 
fled  into  the  city.  In  the  morning,  as  a  young  lieu- 
tenant named  Vaughan  was  reconnoitering  with  thir- 
teen men,  he  observed  that  there  was  no  smoke  issuing 
from  the  chimneys  of  the  barracks,  and  that  the  flag- 
Btaff  was  without  a  flag.  He  thereupon  bribed  an 
Indian  to  climb  in  through  an  embrasure  and  open 
the  gate.  He  thus  found  himself  in  possession  of  the 
works,  and  immediately  sent  the  following  report  to 
the  general  in  command  :  "  May  it  please  your  Honor 
to  be  informed  that,  by  the  grace  of  God  and  the 
courage  of  thirteen  men,  I  entered  the  Royal  Battery 
about  nine  o'clock,  and  am  waiting  for  a  reinforce- 
ment and  a  flag."  Before  reinforcements  could  arrive 
the  French  had  sent  a  hundred  men  in  boats  to  retake 
the  battery,  but  Vaughan  and  his  baker's  dozen  of 
New  Englanders  gave  them  so  warm  a  reception  that 

1  Lieut.-Col.  Ebenezer  Pitts,  of  Dighton,  also  was  in  the  expedition  to 
Louisburg,  where  he  lost  his  life. 


they  were  prevented  from  landing.  Europe  was  as- 
tonished at  this  victory,  and  in  England  it  was  sought 
to  claim  all  the  glory  for  the  navy  at  the  expense  of 
the  provincial  army. 

After  his  return  from  the  French  war,  Col.  Rich- 
mond took  a  prominent  part  in  town  affairs,  and  was 
soon  appointed  high  sheriff  of  Bristol  County,  hold- 
ing the  office  for  many  years.  His  father's  name  was 
Sylvester,  and  he  had  a  son  and  grandson  of  that 
name.  His  wife's  name  was  Elizabeth,  and  they  had 
eight  children.  He  was  a  justice  of  the  peace,  and 
married  many  couples  in  this  town.  Marriage  was 
considered  only  a  civil  contract  in  those  days,  and 
justices  enjoyed  almost  a  monopoly  of  the  splicing 
business.  There  is  no  record  of  any  marriages  by 
Rev.  Nathaniel  Fisher  for  many  years  after  he  was 
settled  in  Dighton.  Col.  Sylvester  Richmond  died  in 
1783,  aged  eighty-four  years.  His  wife  died  in  1772, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-two. 

Col.  Richmond's  house  and  farm  were  on  the  north 
slope  of  Richmond  Hill,  to  which  his  ownership  gave 
the  name.  Only  a  part  of  one  of  the  chimneys  of  the 
house  is  now  standing  to  mark  its  site.  It  was  a  pic- 
turesque, gambrel roofed  old  mansion  a  generation 
ago,  with  an  immense  fireplace  in  the  kitchen,  where, 
it  was  said,  the  colonel's  slaves  were  wont  to  gather  in 
cold  weather.  For  many  years  it  was  inhabited  by 
two  old  maiden  ladies,  granddaughters  of  Col.  Syl- 
vester, who  made  some  pretence  of  carrying  on  farm- 
ing. The  cart-path  from  the  road  to  the  rear  of  the 
house  was  a  thoroughfare  for  the  school  children 
while  going  to  and  from  the  huckleberry  pastures 
during  the  summer  vacations,  and  they  could  not 
always  resist  the  temptation  to  pocket  some  of  the 
red-cheeked  lady-apples  and  luscious  sugar-pears  that 
often  strewed  the  path,  for  which  pilferings  they  were 
generally  roundly  scolded  by  the  watchful  guardians 
of  the  premises,  whose  names  were  Sally  and  Nancy. 
In  return  for  these  jobations,  one  of  the  older  bovs, 
who  had  a  reprehensible  propensity  for  punning,  was 
wont  to  speak  of  the  scolding  Sally  as  "  Sally-rate-us," 
while  an  admonition  from  her  sister  was  termed  the 
"  Edict  of  Nance,"  an  allusion,  probably,  to  the  his- 
torical Edict  of  Nantes.  The  house  had  the  reputa- 
tion in  its  later  years  of  being  haunted;  stories  of 
strange  sights  and  sounds  seen  and  heard  by  some  of 
its  tenants  are  still  current  in  the  neighborhood.  One 
of  these  stories,  related  to  the  writer  by  an  Irishman 
who  is  known  by  the  sobriquet  of  "Sleepy  Bill,"  and 
vouched  for  as  true  by  his  wife,  was  to  the  following 
effect.  Let  it  be  premised  that  the  house  stood  six  or 
seven  rods  from  the  nearly  disused  road  that  leads 
over  the  hill,  and  was  approached  by  the  cart-path 
already  mentioned,  which  was  closed  at  the  road  by 
bars.  This  cart-path  ran  along  within  a  foot  or  two 
of  the  south  side  of  the  house,  on  the  lower  floor  of 
which  was  the  bedroom  occupied  by  the  Irishman  and 
his  wife  Kate,  the  head  of  whose  bed  was  against  the 
south  wall. 


224 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


The  somnolent  William  said  that  one  night  about 
one  o'clock  he  and  his  "  old  woman"  were  awakened 
by  what  seemed  to  be  a  long  procession  of  carriages 
that  appeared  to  come  up  the  cart-path  from  the  road, 
and  go  past  the  house  down  into  the  swamp  at  the 
rear.  Having  previously  heard  unaccountable  sounds 
in  and  about  the  house,  they  were  too  much  frightened 
to  get  up  and  see  what  was  going  on,  while  the  twenty 
or  more  carriages  rumbled  and  jolted  along  over  the 
frozen  ground  close  to  their  heads.  They  appeared 
to  move  slowly,  like  carriages  in  a  funeral  procession. 
Another  night  they  were  awakened  by  a  terrible  crash 
in  the  front  hall,  as  if  the  whole  staircase  had  fallen 
and  been  broken  into  fragments,  but  no  assignable 
cause  for  the  racket  could  be  found  in  the  morning. 
A  boarder  of  theirs  related  that,  coming  home  rather 
late  one  moonlight  evening,  he  was  astonished  and 
very  much  frightened  to  see  several  people,  dressed  in 
the  costume  of  long  ago,  dancing  what  he  termed  a 
"  breakdown"  in  the  front  door-yard.  He  did  not 
tarry  to  make  the  acquaintance  of  these  ancient  dis- 
ciples of  Terpsichore,  but  beat  a  retreat  in  double- 
quick  time,  and  found  a  lodging  elsewhere. 

The  uncanny  reputation  given  to  the  old  house  by 
these  stories  and  others  of  a  similar  nature,  together 
with  its  dilapidated  condition,  made  it  difficult  to  ob- 
tain tenauts  who  would  stay  in  it  long,  and  it  rapidly 
went  to  ruin.  While  it  was  tenantless  the  cellar  was 
dug  over  more  than  once  in  the  night-time  by  parties 
acting  under  the  direction  of  clairvoyants,  who  pro- 
fessed to  see  large  sums  of  money  buried  there. 
Whether  any  pot  of  doubloons  or  of  Spanish  dol- 
lars ever  rewarded  the  diggers  is  not  known,  but, 
judging  from  the  ill  success  that  has  attended  the 
long-continued  search  for  Capt.  Kidd's  buried  treas- 
ure, it  is  probable  that  the  search  in  the  old  Richmond 
cellar  was  unsuccessful. 

In  1767  the  meeting-house  on  the  hill  was  destroyed 
by  fire,  the  work  of  an  incendiary.  The  building  of 
a  new  meeting-house  had  been  agitated  for  sometime. 
The  old  house  was  found  too  small  for  the  increasing 
congregation,  but  there  was  a  division  of  opinion  as 
to  the  proper  location  for  the  new  one.  Some  thought 
the  old  place  the  best  situation  that  could  be  found ; 
others  preferred  Buck  Plain,  as  that  would  be  nearer 
to  their  own  homes,  while  a  few  were  in  favor  of  en- 
larging the  old  house.  One  dark  night  there  was  a 
blaze  upon  Meeting-House  Hill,  and  the  question  of 
repairing  and  enlarging  the  primitive  structure  that 
stood  on  its  summit  was  decided  beyond  reconsidera- 
tion in  the  negative.  After  the  fire  the  dispute  about 
the  site  for  the  new  house  still  continued  to  agitate 
the  community,  and  there  being  no  prospect  of  agree- 
ment, it  was  found  necessary  to  call  in  referees  from 
another  town  to  settle  the  vexed  question.  The  names 
of  five  men  were  drawn  from  the  juror-box  in  Attle- 
borough,  and  the  referees  thus  called  upon,  after  a 
careful  hearing  of  all  parties  in  the  dispute,  decided 
to  stick  up  a  stake  on  Buck  Plain  as  the  spot  where, 


in  their  opinion,  the  new  house  should  be  built.  The 
place  chosen  was  about  a  mile  westerly  from  where 
the  first  house  stood.  There  were  but  few  houses  in 
the  immediate  vicinity.  Nature  has  not  been  lavish 
in  her  gifts  to  that  level  portion  of  the  town  known 
as  Buck  Plain.  The  land  is  not  remarkable  for  fer- 
tility, and  the  plain  is  chiefly  covered  with  a  low 
growth  of  scrub-oaks,  and  such  was  undoubtedly  the 
case  in  the  early  settlement  of  the  locality. 

The  origin  of  the  name  is  said  to  have  been  as 
follows:  Informer  times  there  were  three  distinct 
families  bearing  the  name  of  Briggs  in  the  town,  and 
to  distinguish  them  they  were  called  respectively  the 
"Stout  Briggses,"  the  "  Buckhorns,"  and  the  "  Whip- 
poorwills."  What  was  the  signification  of  the  latter 
appellation  is  not,  perhaps,  known  at  the  present  day. 
Possibly  some  members  of  the  family  lived  in  the 
woods,  and  were  nocturnal  in  their  ways.  The 
"  Buckhorns"  were  so  called  from  certain  curious 
protuberances  like  budding  deers'  horns  that  ap- 
peared on  the  heads  of  many  of  that  branch  of  the 
name,  even  down  to  a  late  period.  The  "Stout 
Briggses"  were  distinguished  for  great  bodily  strength, 
the  word  stout  being  here  used  in  its  original  sense 
of  strong,  and  not  in  the  later  sense  of  corpulent  as 
Washington  Irving  used  it  in  his  sketch  of  the  "  Stout 
Gentleman."  According  to  the  story  which  has  been 
handed  down,  one  Samuel  Briggs,  of  the  Buckhorn 
branch,  lived  not  far  from  the  locality  that  is  now 
called  Buck  Plain  ;  how  long  ago  the  tradition  does 
not  state,  but  it  was  some  time,  probably,  in  the  first 
half  of  the  last  century.  Samuel  was  crossing  the 
plain  one  day  when  he  came  upon  a  large  buck  lying 
under  a  rock  among  the  scrub-oaks  fast  asleep. 
Being  an  active  young  man  he  determined,  as  he  had 
no  gun  to  shoot  the  animal  with,  to  attempt  to  cap- 
ture it  alive.  He  therefore  crept  cautiously  up  to 
the  sleeping  deer,  and  sprang  upon  its  back,  seizing 
one  of  its  horns  in  each  hand.  The  astonished  and 
frightened  buck  leaped  to  its  feet,  and  made  off  at  a 
headlong  pace  in  the  direction  of  the  river,  which 
was  more  than  a  mile  distant,  Briggs  clinging  to  his 
back  as  best  he  could.  On  they  tore  through  bushes, 
briers,  and  scrub-oaks,  and  reaching  the  river  at  last, 
the  panic-stricken  animal  plunged  in  with  its  rider, 
who  managed  to  drown  and  capture  it.  According 
to  the  tale,  when  Briggs  reached  the  river  he  was 
very  nearly  in  purls  naturalibus,  all  of  his  clothing 
having  been  torn  off  excepting  his  shirt  collar  and 
wristbands.  Mazeppa's  famous  bareback  ride  was  a 
tame  affair  compared  to  Samuel  Briggs'  ride  on  the 
buck.  Although  the  Cossack  hetman's  condition  as 
to  clothing  was  much  the  same  throughout  his  invol- 
untary ride  as  Briggs'  condition  was  at  the  end  of  his, 
yet,  unlike  the  latter,  his  clothes  were  not  torn  from 
him  piecemeal  by  cruel  thorns,  nor  was  he  in  danger 
of  falling  off,  being  securely  tied  to  his  horse's  back. 
While  Mazeppa's  ride  has  been  the  theme  of  poets 
like  Lord  Byron,  of  novelists  like  Bulgarin,  and  of 


DIG  H  TON. 


225 


painters  like  Horace  Vernet,  Samuel  Briggs'  exploit 
has  been  celebrated  neither  in  poesy,  fiction,  nor  art.1 

The  meeting-house  that  was  built  on  the  plain  was 
much  more  capacious  than  the  one  that  was  burnt. 
It  was  fifty-five  feet  long  by  forty-five  wide,  and  with 
twenty-four-feet  studs.  The  sum  of  five  hundred 
pounds  was  appropriated  in  town-meeting  for  build- 
ing expenses.  While  it  was  building  meetings  were 
held  at  the  house  of  Samuel  Whitmarsh,  nearly  oppo- 
site. In  after-years  this  Buck  Plain  meeting-house 
was  cut  down  to  one  tier  of  windows,  and  used  ex- 
clusively for  a  town  hall.  When  the  present  town- 
house  was  built  a  few  years  ago  the  old  house  on  the 
plain  was  sold  at  auction,  and  torn  down  by  the  pur- 
chaser. 

Among  the  names  that  are  prominent  in  the  records 
of  vital  statistics  of  the  period  before  the  Revolution- 
ary war  are  those  of  Shove,  Walker,  Talbot,  Gooding, 
Hathaway,  Pitts,  Stephens,  Atwood,  Deane,  Ware, 
Briggs,  Pool,  Whitmarsh,  Waldron,  Jones,  Andrews, 
Fisher,  Paull,  Williams,  Westcoat,  Austin,  Bobbitt, 
afterwards  Babbitt,  Goff,  Wide,  afterwards  Ide,  Burt, 
Nichols,  Crane,  Hoar,  afterwards  Hoard,  Smith,  Perry, 
Baker,  Simmons,  Phillips,  Pierce,  Shaw,  Luther, 
Cleveland,-  Tuels,  afterwards  Tew,  Vickery,  Link- 
horn,  afterwards  Lincoln,  Peck,  and  Francis.  The 
number  of  children  to  a  family  at  that  time  would 
probably  average  more  than  twice  the  number  of  the 
average  family  of  to-day,  twelve  to  fourteen  being 
not  uncommon  in  the  days  of  our  great-grandfathers.3 


1  It  is  no  more  than  just  to  state  that  there  are  some  reasons  for 
doubting  whether  the  honor  of  this  exploit  belongs  to  Samuel  Briggs 
or  to  one  Matthew  Gooding,  it  having  been  claimed  by  some  that  the 
latter  was  the  hero  of  the  affair.  The  writer  does  not  pretend,  in  the 
absence  of  authentic  data,  to  decide  to  which  party  the  credit  belongs, 
but  when  the  above  account  was  written  he  had  not  heard  the  Gooding 
side  of  the  story.  It  is  evident,  however,  that  there  would  scarcely  be 
two  claimants  to  an  apocryphal  exploit,  so  it  may  be  set  down  as  toler- 
ably certain  that  either  Samuel  or  Matthew  performed  the  feat  above 
related.  Perhaps  as  much  controversy  will  be  excited  in  the  future 
over  the  question,  "  Who  rode  the  buck?"  as  has  been  caused  in  the 
past  by  such  unsettled  problems  as  who  the  "man  in  the  iron  mask" 
was,  who  wrote  the  "Junius"  letters,  who  killed  Tecumseh,  and  who  wai 
the  author  ot  "  Beautiful  Snow." 

2  The  name  of  Cleveland  has  been  brought  before  the  public  lately  by 
the  election  iu  New  York  of  a  Governor  of  that  name.  Moses  Cleveland 
came  to  America  from  Ipswich,  Eugland,  about  16o5,  and  settled  in 
Woburn,  in  this  State.  He  had  a  family  of  seven  sous  and  four  daughters. 
He  died  in  1701.  From  him  are  descended  all  the  Clevelands  in  this 
country  who  are  of  New  England  origin.  The  city  of  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
was  named  after  one  of  his  descendants  and  a  relative  of  the  Dighton 
Clevelands.  Winiuan,  in  his  "  Puritan  Settlers,"  states  that  the  family 
derived  the  name  from  Cleveland,  in  the  county  of  Durham,  England. 
Early  in  the  thirteenth  century,  Sir  Guy  de  Cleveland  was  present  at 
the  siege  of  Boulogne,  in  Frauce,  afterwards  at  the  battle  of  Poictiers, 
where  he  commanded  tbe  spearmeD.  The  name  is  a  corruption  of 
ClifTeland. 

Coal  of  Arms. — Per  chevron,  sable  and  ermine,  a  chevron  engrailed, 
counterchauged. 

Motto.— "  Pro  Deo  et  Patria." 

3  Children  were  so  numerous  in  those  days  that  it  is  probable  they  were 
individually  less  thought  of  by  their  parents  than  are  the  individual 
boys  and  girls  of  one  of  the  small  families  of  the  present  day.  Thus  it 
is  stated  in  the  records  »f  the  Walker  family  that  Capt.  Elijah  Walker, 
born  in  1730,  and  who  married  Hannah  Pigsley,  had  fourteen  children, 
of  whom  "  two  or  three  were  drowned  by  falling  at  different  times 

15 


The  Revolutionary  Period.— The  town  records  of 
the  Revolutionary  period  are,  as  usual,  provokingly 
meagre  and  unsatisfying,  being  generally  only  brief 
entries  of  certain  expenditures  for  war  purposes,  and 
mentioning  only  a  few  of  the  names  of  those  who 
served  in  the  army. 

The  first  indication  of  the  coming  contest  with  the 
mother-country  is  found  in  the  record  of  a  town- 
meeting  held  Dec.  12,  1767.  A  town-meeting  had 
just  been  held  in  Boston,  at  which  resolutions  to 
abstain  from  certain  "  foreign  superfluities"  had 
been  passed,  and  copies  of  these  resolutions  had 
been  sent  by  the  selectmen  of  Boston  to  the  select- 
men of  Dighton,  and  probably  to  the  selectmen  of 
most  of  the  towns  in  New  England.  The  foreign  su- 
perfluities mentioned  were  glass,  paper,  printers'  col- 
ors, and  tea,  on  which  articles  the  British  Parliament 
had  recently  fixed  an  import  duty  when  brought 
into  the  colonies,  thereby  causing  great  indignation 
throughout  the  country. 

At  the  Dighton  town-meeting  Joseph  Atwood  was 
chosen  moderator,  and  it  was  voted  to  refer  the  matter 
to  a  committee  of  three,  consisting  of  Ezra  Richmond, 
Esq.,  Abiezer  Phillips,  town  clerk  at  that  time,  and 
Capt.  Stephen  Beal.4  The  meeting  was  then  ad- 
journed. What  action  the  committee  took  is  not 
mentioned.  It  is  probable  that  the  people  of  this 
town  were  somewhat  conservative  at  that  time  and 
not  quite  ready  to  follow  the  lead  of  the  fiery  radicals 
in  Boston,  and  that  nothing  came  of  the  resolutions 
that  were  sent  to  Dighton. 

In  1771  a  vote  was  passed  to  release  "  the  Quakers 
and  Anabaptists  from  all  the  charge  relating  to  the 
meeting-house,"  and  from  all  taxes  to  support  the 
minister.  This  vote  shows  the  advance  in  liberal 
ideas  since  the  settlement  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Fisher, 
when  Quakers  and  Baptists  were  obliged  to  con- 
tribute to  his  support. 

In  1774  the  town  had  lost  some  of  its  conservatism, 
and  at  a  town-meeting,  held  July  18th,  the  following 
votes  were  passed : 

"  Voted,  unanimously,  that  it  is  highly  necessary  at  this  time  for  this 
town  to  enter  into  an  agreement  not  to  consume  any  British  manufac- 
tures which  shall  be  imported  from  Great  Britain  after  the  31st  day  of 
August,  1774." 

"  Voted,  to  choose  five  men  to  take  into  consideration  and  draw  a  cov- 
enant, or  something  similar  to  the  Boston  covenant,  which  should  be 
proper  for  ye  inhabitants  to  agree  together  in  and  sign,  and  the  com- 
pany chosen  was  Doct.  William  Baylies,  Capt.  Elkanah  Andrews,  Syl- 
vester Richmond  (3d),  Deacon  George  Codding,  David  Walker." 

into  the  well  in  the  back-yard,  the  well  having  been  left  for  years  with- 
out a  curb."  In  a  family  of  fourteen  childreu  two  or  three  down  in  the 
well  would  hardly  be  missed.  Elijah  Walker  was  captain  of  the  Ninth 
Company,  of  forty-six  men,  of  the  Second  Regiment  of  Bristol  County 
militia  iu  the  Revolutionary  war.  He  was  a  farmer,  and  was  one  of  the 
selectmen  in  1780.  His  children  may  have  been  drowned  while  he  was 
away  soldiering,  and  so  unable  to  attend  to  having  the  well  curbed. 

1  Stephen  Beal  was  made  captain  of  the  First  Company  of  the  Dighton 
militia  in  1762.  He  lived  on  Richmond  Hill,  where  the  cellar  of  his 
house  is  still  to  be  seen.  He  was  pound-keeper  for  many  years,  the  old 
pound  being  only  a  few  rods  from  his  house.  It  was  owing  to  his  own- 
ership that  the  picturesque  piles  of  rock  that  crown  the  hill  were 
named  Beat's  Hocks. 


226 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


The  following  October  another  important  town- 
meeting  was  held,  of  which  the  record  is  as  fol- 
lows: 

"  At  a  Town-Meeting  held  at  Dighton  on  Monday,  the  third  day  of 
October,  Voted  to  choose  Col.  Elnathan  Walkerand  Dr.  William  Baylies 
to  represent  the  said  Town  of  Dighton  in  the  General  Court,  to  be  em- 
powered and  directed  to  act  at  the  Provincial  Congress  to  be  holden  at 
Concord  on  ye  second  Tuesday  of  October,  provided  the  business  of  the 
General  Court  will  admit  of  their  attendance."  1 

It  was  then  voted  that  the  two  representatives  should 
draw  the  pay  of  only  one,  and  they  were  instructed 
in  their  duties  as  follows  : 

"Gentlemen,— We  have  chosen  you  to  represent  us  in  the  Great  and 
General  Court  to  be  holden  at  Salem,  on  Wednesday,  the  fifth  of  October 
next  ensuing. 

"  We  do  hereby  instruct  you  that  in  all  your  doings  as  Members  of 
the  House  of  Representatives  you  adhere  firmly  to  the  Charter  of  this 
Province,  granted  by  their  Majesties,  King  William  and  Queen  Mary, 
and  that  you  do  no  act  which  can  possibly  be  construed  into  an  ac- 
knowledgment of  the  validity  of  the  act  of  the  British  Parliament  for 
fettering  the  government  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  more  especially  that 
you  acknowledge  the  Hon.  Board  of  Councillors  elected  by  the  General 
Court  at  their  session  in  May  last,  as  the  only  rightful  Constitutional 
council  of  this  Province ;  and  we  have  reason  to  believe  that  a  consci- 
entious discharge  of  your  duty  will  produce  your  distinction  as  an 
House  of  Representatives,  we  do  empower  and  instruct  you  to  join  with 
members  who  may  be  sent  from  other  Towns  in  the  Province,  and  to 
meet  with  them  at  a  time  to  be  agreed  upon  in  a  general  Provincial 
Congress,  to  act  upon  such  matters  as  may  come  before  you,  in  such 
manner  as  may  be  most  conducive  to  the  true  interests  of  this  Town 
and  Province,  and  most  likely  to  preserve  the  liberties  of  all  Amer- 
ica." 

The  above  instructions  were  read  in  town-meeting, 
and  were  voted  without  dissent.  On  the  26th  of  De- 
cember following  another  meeting  was  held,  as  the 
warrant  set  forth,  "  To  elect  and  depute  as  many  mem- 
bers as  the  town  should  deem  necessary  to  represent 
them  in  a  Provincial  Congress,  to  be  holden  at  Cam- 
bridge on  the  first  day  of  February  next  ...  to  con- 
sult upon  such  further  measures  as  under  God  shall 
be  effectual  to  save  this  people  from  impending  ruin, 
and  to  secure  those  inestimable  privileges  derived 
from  our  ancestors,  and  which  it  is  our  duty  to  pre- 
serve for  posterity." 

At  the  meeting  it  was  voted  to  choose  a  committee 
"to  carry  into  execution  the  resolves  of  the  Conti- 
nental Congress,"  and  the  following-named  persons 
were  chosen  :  Sylvester  Richmond  (3d),  Rufus  Whit- 
marsh,  Peter  Pitts,  Joseph  Gooding,  Dr.  William  Bay- 


l  Elnathan  Walker  was  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  Second  Regiment  in 
the  Second  Brigade  from  about  1760  to  1762.  He  was  the  son  of  Lieut. 
James  Walker,  of  Taunton,  the  third  of  that  name.  Col.  Walker's  farm 
was  in  the  northwest  corner  of  Dighton.  He  had  three  wives,  viz., 
Hannah  Crossman,  daughter  of  Robert,  of  Taunton  ;  Bethia  Tisdale, 
daughter  of  Joseph,  and  Mrs.  Phebo  King,  daughter  of  Deacon  Samuel 
Leonard,  of  Raynham.  Col.  Walker's  will  was  probated  in  1775.  The 
inventory  amounted  to  four  hundred  and  thirty-seven  pounds.  He  had 
ten  children.  He  was  deacon  of  the  First  Congregational  Church,  and 
gave  more  towards  the  building  of  Buck  Plain  meeting-bouse  than  any 
other  person.  The  building  committee  consisted  of  himself,  David 
Walker,  and  Dr.  George  Ware.  He  was  one  of  the  selectmen  for  sev- 
eral years,  and  was  several  times  representative  to  the  General  Court. 
He  was  a  justice  of  the  peace,  and  was  often  chosen  moderator  of  the 
town-meetings.  His  influence  in  town  affairs  was  large,  and  he  was  a 
worthy  and  respected  citizen. 


lies,  William  Brown,2  Abiezer  Phillips,3  George  Cod- 
ding, David  Walker,  Samuel  Phillips,  William  Good- 
ing, James  Dean,  John  Richmond,  John  Simmons. 

It  was  then  voted  that  five  of  this  committee  should 
constitute  a  quorum,  and  that  it  should  be  continued 
and  supported  by  the  town. 

In  March,  1775,  a  vote  was  passed  to  raise  minute- 
men,  who  were  to  train  two  half-days  per  week,  and 
were  allowed  one  shilling  each  for  every  half-day  em- 
ployed in  training.  The  town  also  assumed  the  cost 
of  an  instructor  in  military  tactics.  In  May  of  the 
same  year  it  was  voted  to  hire  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
five  pounds,  lawful  money,  to  be  paid  into  the  hands 
of  Henry  Gardener,  of  Stow,  for  the  use  of  the 
province.  At  another  meeting  in  May  it  was  voted 
that  the  selectmen  should  purchase  "  twenty  small 
arms  for  the  use  of  the  town,"  and  a  committee  was 
chosen  to  see  that  the  militia  was  provided  with  arms 
and  ammunition.  At  that  time  the  qualifications 
necessary  to  be  a  voter  included  the  owning  "of  an 
estate  of  freehold  in  land  of  forty  shillings  per  annum 
at  ye  least,  or  other  estate  to  ye  value  of  forty  pounds 
sterling." 

In  October,  1775,  a  meeting  was  held  "to  choose  a 
field  officer,"  and  Sylvester  Richmond1  (3d)  was 
chosen.  In  this  year  the  sum  of  thirty-five  pounds 
was  raised  for  school  purposes. 

At  a  meeting  held  May  20,  1776,  it  was  voted  "  that 
if  ye  Honorable  Congress  should  for  the  safety  of  the 
united  colonies  declare  them  independent  of  the  King 
of  Great  Britain,  they,  the  said  inhabitants,  will  sol- 
emnly engage  with  their  lives  and  fortunes  to  support 
them  in  the  measure."  This  vote,  it  will  be  perceived, 
was  some  six  weeks  before  independence  was  declared. 
The  town  was  now  as  radical  as  even  Boston  could 
desire.  On  the  22d  of  July  it  was  voted  "  to  give,  as 
a  bounty  to  each  soldier  who  has  enlisted,  or  shall 
enlist,  to  go  to  New  York,  ye  sum  of  five  pounds,  ex- 
clusive of  the  province  bounty."  These  men  were 
enlisted  for  two  months.     At  that  time  the  prices  of 

-  William  Brown  was  a  merchant  and  vessel-owner.  His  store  was 
at  the  Four  Corners,  and  he  owned  the  house  now  belonging  to  the  es- 
tate of  the  late  Dr.  Charles  Talbot. 

3  Abiezer  Phillips  held  the  office  of  town  clerk  for  thirty-five  years. 
He  was  a  deacon  of  the  church,  was  representative  to  the  General  Court 
for  several  years,  and  was  several  times  chosen  selectman.  He  was 
twice  married,  and  had  twelve  children. 

4  Silvester  Richmond  (3d)  was  son  of  Col.  Silvester,  who  was  at  the 
taking  of  Louisburg.  He  was  born  Nov.  20,1729.  Silvester  (3d  I  was 
major  in  the  Second  Regiment  in  the  Second  Brigade  from  Feb.  7,  1776, 
to  June  9, 1778.  He  was  then  promoted  to  be  lieutenant-colonel,  holding 
the  office  till  1781.  In  August,  1778,  he  served  under  Gen.  Sullivan 
on  Rhode  Island,  having  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  men  and  company 
officers  under  his  command.  About  nine  hundred  men  from  the  Bristol 
County  brigade  were  with  Sullivan's  expedition.  After  his  return  from 
the  war,  Lieut. -Col.  Richmond  was  made  a  justice  of  the  peace.and  took 
a  somewhat  active  part  in  town  affairs  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
near  the  close  of  the  last  century.  Before  his  death  he  gave  a  large 
tract  of  woodland  to  the  Second  Congregational  Society,  which  had  re- 
cently built  a  meeting-house  at  the  Four  Corners,  for  the  support  of  a 
minister.  He  lived  at  the  old  homestead  on  the  north  slope  of  the  hill. 
His  wife  was  Abigail  Nightingale,  of  Providence,  and  they  had  seven 
children,  including  Sally  and  Nancy,  the  two  old  maids  previously  men- 
tioned, and  a  son  named  Silvester. 


DIGHTON. 


227 


most  commodities  were  regulated  by  law.  In  1776, 
the  price  of  a  day's  labor  was  fixed  at  three  shillings. 
"  The  best  of  grass-fed  beef  three  pence  a  pound  ;  po- 
tatoes one  shilling  a  bushel;  flour  one  pound  and 
five  shillings  a  barrel ;  cord-wood  thirteen  shillings  a 
cord  ;  '  rum  by  ye  gill  and  good  flip  by  ye  inugg  one 
shilling,  and  toddy  ye  same;'  a  dinner  boiled  and 
roast  one  shilling  two  pence;  only  boiled  one  shilling; 
board  per  week  eight  shillings,  and  most  other  things 
were  proportionally  cheap. 

In  those  stirring  times  town-meetings  were  held 
every  few  weeks,  but  at  only  a  few  of  them  were  the 
proceedings  of  interest  at  the  present  day.  In  August, 
1777,  the  selectmen  were  instructed  to  hire  eight  hun- 
dred and  fifty  pounds  "to  raise  Continental  soldiers 
with."  A  committee  was  also  chosen  to  carry  out  the 
provisions  of  the  act  of  the  general  court,  "  to  prevent 
monopoly  and  oppression."  Speculators  were  getting 
control  of  the  markets  for  provisions,  clothing,  etc., 
and  prices  were  raised  faster  than  would  naturally 
happen  from  the  depreciation  of  paper  money.  Salt 
had  become  so  scarce  and  dear  that  a  small  lot,  secured 
by  the  town  authorities,  was  by  a  vote  of  the  town  dis- 
tributed by  the  selectmen  according  to  the  number  of 
persons  in  each  family,  and  a  quantity  of  molasses 
was  divided  in  the  same  manner.  The  smallpox  was 
making  ravages  in  this  and  neighboring  towns,  and 
an  article  was  inserted  in  the  warrant  "  to  see  if  this 
town  will  set  up  anocolation  for  the  smallpox"  (that 
was  before  the  discovery  of  vaccination  by  Jenner), 
but  the  article  was  voted  down.  Soon  afterwards, 
however,  an  inoculating  hospital  was  provided  by 
the  town,  and  many  persons  were  there  inoculated 
with  the  smallpox  virus,  and  had  the  malady  in  a 
mild  form,  while  a  few  died  after  being  inoculated. 
Ammunition  was  exceedingly  dear  at  that  date,  pow- 
der being  eighteen  shillings  a  pound,  and  lead  four 
shillings.     Flints  were  sixpence  apiece. 

In  1778  the  subject  of  preventing  the  spread  of  the 
smallpox  was  again  before  the  town.  Probably  in- 
oculation had  not  worked  well,  for  a  vote  was  passed 
"to  prosecute  all  offenders  who  shall  inoculate  for 
the  smallpox  within  this  town,  contrary  to  the  laws 
of  this  State."  At  the  end  of  this  year  paper  money 
had  depreciated  to  such  a  degree  that  it  was  "  voted 
to  each  man  that  enlisted  to  go  to  Rhode  Island  seven 
dollars  per  day"  for  the  seven  days  they  were  gone. 
Slaves  were  still  held  in  Dighton  at  that  date,  and 
some  of  them  were  serving  as  soldiers  in  the  army, 
fighting  to  keep  their  masters  from  becoming  slaves; 
there  were  also  a  few  Indians  in  the  town,  one  family 
of  which,  named  Simon,  being  supported  out  of  the 
poor  rates. 

In  August,  1779,  a  committee  of  twenty-three  per- 
sons was  chosen  to  regulate  prices  of  labor  and  mer- 
chandise. The  names  of  the  committee  are  as  follows  : 
Dr.  William  Baylies,  Thomas  Church,  Esq.,1  Capt. 

1  Col.  Thomas  Church  was  a  lineal  descendant  of  Capt.  Benjamin 
Church,  the  Indian  fighter  and  capturer  of  Annawan.     He  represented 


Elijah  Walker,  Isaac  Jones,  Sylvester  Richmond  (3d), 
John  Simmons,  Jabez  Pierce,  Deacon  George  Cod- 
ding, Henry  Yew,  Abiezer  Phillips,  Elkanah  Andrews, 
William  Francis,  Seth  Austin,  William  Walker, 
Samuel  Talbot,  David  Dean,  William  Hathaway, 
Ezra  Richmond,  Esq.,  Abram  Allen,  Caleb  King, 
Joseph  Perry,  Eliakim  Briggs,  Simeon  Williams. 

Regulating  the  prices  when  the  currency  was  so 
rapidly  depreciating  was  a  Sisyphean  labor;  prices 
would  not  stay  regulated.  In  1780  the  price  of  board 
had  risen  to  nine  pounds  a  week,  and  probably  there 
were  few  luxuries  in  the  bill  of  fare  at  that  price. 
In  this  year  the  town  raised  the  sum  of  twenty-two 
thousand  seven  hundred  pounds.  In  1781  it  took 
sixty  dollars  in  paper  money  to  be  equal  to  a  silver 
dollar.  On  the  first  day  of  March  in  this  year  the 
town  issued  an  emancipation  proclamation,  as  far  as 
the  negroes  serving  in  the  army  were  concerned, 
which  indicates  that  the  iniquity  of  slavery  was  be- 

I  coming  apparent  to  the  people  of  New  England.'-   As 
will  be  seen,  the  term  servant  was  euphemistically 

!  used  in  the  place  of  the  word  slave,  as  it  was  formerly 
at  the  South. 

"Voted,  that,  whereas,  the  following  Blacks,  viz.,  Peter,  ye  servant  of 
Job  Winslow,  Reuben,  ye  servant  of  ye  Widow  Prudence  White,  of 
Taunton,  Caesar,  ye  servant  of  Col.  Thomas  Church,  Neos,  ye  servant  of 
Capt.  Elkanah  Andrews,  Prince,  ye  servant  of  John  Pierce,  Thomas,  ye 
servant  of  David  Dean,  and  Benoni,  ye  servant  of  Jonathan  Williams, 

the  town  at  the  General  Court  in  1795.  He  was  born  in  Seaconnet,  now 
Little  Compton,  R.  I.,  in  1727,  and  died  June  8,  1797.  He  was  a  man  of 
considerable  influence  in  the  community.  He  was  interested  in  vessels 
and  ship-building,  us  was  also  his  sou  Gamaliel,  who  represented  the 
town  of  Wellington  at  the  General  Court  in  1817.  The  Church  farm  is 
now  owned  by  A.  W.  Paul,  Esq.,  one  of  the  most  successful  farmers  in 
Bristol  County.  The  Church  wharf  and  former  place  of  business  is  sit- 
uated just  above  Rocky  Nook,  formerly  one  of  the  most  dangerous  places 
to  navigate  on  the  river.  Gamaliel  Church  removed  to  Westport  from 
Dighton. 

2  A  story  that  has  been  handed  down  about  one  of  these  slaves  shows  that 
they  could  make  themselves  very  useful  upon  occasion,  and  also  proves 
that  fur  soive  purposes  the  African  head  is  superior  to  the  Caucasian. 
Among  the  quota  of  twelve  men  who  went  in  the  expedition  to  Rhode 
Island  at  the  time  the  British  General  Prescott  was  captured  was  a 
slave  named  Prince,  belonging  to  Capt.  John  Pierce,  a  sturdy,  bull- 
necked  negro  of  pure  African  blood.  Some  difficulty  was  encountered 
by  the  soldiers  in  breaking  open  the  door  of  the  house  in  which  the 
British  general  had  been  surprised.  At  this  juncture  Prince  came  to 
the  front.  "  Golly  !  massa,"  said  he,  "jess  you  stand  little  one  side  and 
gib  dis  nigger  chance  at  datdoah."  Retreating  a  few  steps  in  order  to  get 
a  better  impetus,  be  rushed  at  the  door,  head  foremost,  like  an  animated 
battering-ram,  and  knocking  hinges  and  bolts  from  their  fastenings,  so 
that  the  soldiers  entered  without  further  difficulty. 

Prince  was  a  somewhat  noted  violin  player,  and  once,  while  serving 
under  Gen.  Washington,  his  fiddle-bow  became  scant  of  hairs,  and  he 
pulled  a  quantity  out  of  the  fine  long  tail  of  the  general's  charger  to 
replenish  it  with.  Washington  happened  to  appear  on  the  scene  while 
he  was  in  the  very  act,  anil  gave  him  two  or  three  6inart  cuts  with  his 
whip.  Prince  used  in  after-years  to  boast  of  this  interview  with  the 
Pater  Patriae. 

On  the  occasion  of  the  capture  of  Prescott,  a  Dighton  man  named 
Paull,  a  stalwart  sou  of  Anak,  whose  feet  required  at  least  number  four- 
teen shoes,  was  among  the  party.  Gen.  Prescott  was  a  small  man,  and 
had  remarkably  small  feet,  lie  had  not  had  time  to  put  on  bis  shoes 
before  he  was  hurried  off  by  his  captors,  and  on  the  way  complained 
that  the  stones  hurt  his  naked  feet.  Thereupon  Paull  gravely  took  off 
bis  huge  foot-coveriDgS  and  offered  them  to  the  captive.  It  is  needless 
to  say  that  the  offer  was  not  accepted,  as  the  shoes  would  not  have  re- 
mained on  the  general's  feet  an  instant  while  walking. 


228 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS 


have  enlisted  into  ye  army  of  the  United  States  for  three  years  as  part 
of  the  quota  of  the  Town  of  Dighton,  hy  the  consent  of  their  masters, 
who  have  made  ever  all  their  right  in  said  Blacks  to  the  Town  of  Digh- 
ton ;  the  said  Town  does  in  consequence  thereof  declare  the  aforesaid 
Peter,  Reuben,  Cfesar,  Neos,  Prince,  Thomas,  and  Benoni  Freemen." 

The  town  further  agreed  to  support  any  of  these 
men  that  might  become  disabled  or  incapable  of  sup- 
porting themselves.  The  Dighton  Emancipation 
Proclamation  was  issued  nearly  eighty-two  years  be- 
fore the  more  famous  one  of  President  Lincoln.  At 
the  election  of  Governor  in  April,  1781,  only  fifty-six 
votes  were  cast,  all  of  them  for  John  Hancock.  This 
small  vote  indicates  the  extent  to  which  the  town  had 
been  depopulated  of  voting  citizens  by  the  war,  and 
the  call  for  money  was  quite  as  urgent  as  that  for  men. 
The  sum  of  nine  hundred  pounds  in  silver  money  was 
voted  for  war  purposes  in  June  of  this  year.  The 
early  part  of  this  year  was  one  of  the  most  gloomy 
periods  of  the  Revolution  for  the  American  cause. 
Treason  and  revolts  in  the  army,  and  reverses  in  the 
field,  had  brought  many  patriotic  men  to  doubt  the 
final  success  of  the  Continental  armies.  But  it  was 
the  darkness  that  precedes  the  dawn,  lor  soon  the  sur- 
render of  Cornwallis  heralded  the  final  triumph  of 
the  Americans,  and  the  loyal  people  of  Dighton  re- 
joiced with  their  compatriots  in  the  other  towns  of 
the  State,  and  of  the  other  States.  In  1784,  the  year 
after  peace  was  declared,  one  hundred  and  two  votes 
were  cast.  The  people  had  settled  down  to  the  peace- 
ful vocations  of  life. 

After  the  war  ship-building,  which,  after  farming, 
was  the  chief  business  carried  on,  received  an  im- 
petus which  lasted  until  the  famous  Embargo  Act, 
just  before  the  second  war  with  Great  Britain.1 

The  population  of  the  town  received  large  acces- 
sions from  other  towns,  and  the  newcomers  were  duly 
warned  to  remove  out  of  town  within  fifteen  days, 
under  the  penalties  prescribed  by  law  for  not  doing 
so.  This  warning  people  out  of  town  was  a  mere 
technical  formality  gone  through  with  by  the  select- 
men, so  that  if  any  of  the  new  population  came  to 
want,  the  expense  of  their  support  would  not  fall 
upon  the  town.  The  persons  who  were  warned  were 
not  expected  nor  desired  to  depart  unless  they  chose 
to  do  so.  In  1791  more  than  two  hundred  persons 
were  warned  to  leave  the  town.  They  were  people 
of  various  occupations,  hatters,  carpenters,  cordwain- 
ers,  and  "  spinsters." 

In  1789  the  commercial  and  ship-building  interests 
had  increased  to  such  an  extent  that  Dighton  was 
made  a  port  of  entry,  and  Maj.  Thodijah  Baylies  was 
appointed  collector  of  customs,  holding  the  office 
until  1809. 

Ship-building  had  been  carried  on  here  at  an  early 
period.  In  1693,  Thomas  Coram  came  over  from 
England  to  Boston  in  the  interest  of  several  London 


1  American  ship-owners,  whose  vessels  were  rotting  at  the  wharves 
while  the  embargo  lasted,  probably  considered  the  act  an  infamous 
rather  than  a  famous  one. 


merchants  to  build  ships.  In  1699  he  bought  a  piece 
of  land  on  Taunton  River,  in  the  South  Purchase,  of 
one  John  Reed,  and  set  up  a  ship-yard  near  what  is 
now  known  as  Zebulon's  Landing,  and  not  far  from 
the  wharf  of  the  Old  Colony  Iron  Company.  Coram 
stayed  in  this  country  about  ten  years;  he  became  in- 
volved in  lawsuits  and  took  a  strong  dislike  to  some 
of  the  people,  although  he  was  finally  victorious  in 
his  controversies  before  the  courts.  In  1700  his  land 
and  house  in  the  South  Purchase,  together  with  two 
new  ships,  one  of  them  rigged  and  ready  for  sea, 
were  attached  by  one  Stephen  Burt,  who  resided  in 
what  is  now  the  town  of  Berkley,  in  the  house  lately 
occupied  by  Thomas  J.  Burt;  this  property  Coram 
afterwards  recovered.2 

Thomas  Coram  was  a  notable  man  in  his  day.  As 
one  of  the  early  residents  of  Dighton,  and  perhaps 
the  first  man  to  carry  on  ship-building  here,  a  brief 
sketch  of  his  career*  will  not  be  out  of  place.  He 
was  born  in  1668,  at  Lyme  Regis,  in  England,  his 
'father  being  the  captain  of  a  fishing  vessel.  Having 
been  apprenticed  to  a  shipwright,  and  having  thor- 
oughly mastered  the  art  of  building  vessels,  Thomas, 
at  the  age  of  twenty-five  years,  came  to  New  England, 
where  timber  was  more  plentiful  than  at  home,  to  put 
his  ability  as  a  mastership-builder  to  a  practical  test. 
While  residing  here  he  married  a  Boston  girl  named 
Eunice  Wait.  After  his  return  to  England  he  en- 
gaged in  various  schemes  and  enterprises  connected 
with  the  development  of  the  American  provinces, 
particularly  in  a  persistent  endeavor  to  further  the 
settlement  of  Nova  Scotia.  His  unwearied  efforts 
were  eventually  crowned  with  success,  and  in  1749  a 
colony  was  sent  over,  which  founded  the  town  of 
Halifax.  Carlyle  says  of  the  founding  of  this  city, 
"Thanks  to  you,  Capt.  Coram,  though  the  ungrateful 
generations  (except  dimly  in  Coram  Street,  near  your 
hospital)  have  lost  all  memory  of  you,  as  their  wont. 
Blockheads,  never  mind  them." 

Coram's  philanthropic  sympathies  led  him  to  join 
Gen.  Oglethorpe's  enterprise  to  colonize  Georgia  with 
the  thousands  of  poor  debtors  released  from  the  Eng- 
lish prisons,  through  Oglethorpe's  humane  efforts. 
He  also  exerted  himself  in  behalf  of  the  Mohegan 
Indians,  who  had  petitioned  to  the  British  govern- 
ment for  redress  for  the  encroachments  of  the  people 
of  Connecticut  upon  their  lands.  But  the  great  work 
of  his  life  was  the  London  Foundling  Hospital,  in 
the  chapel  of  which  he  was  buried,  and  where  this 
inscription  commemorates  his  name: 

"CAPTAIN  THOMAS  CORAM, 

"Whose  name  will  never  want  a  monument  so  long  as  this  hospital 
shall  subsist, 

"  Was  born  in  the  year  1668. 

"  A  man  eminent  in  the  most  eminent  virtue  of  the  love  of  mankind, 
little  attentive  to  his  private  fortune,  and  refusing  many  opportunities 
of  increasing  it,  his  time  and  thoughts  were  continually  employed  in 

2  For  several  of  the  facts  in  this  sketch  relating  to  Thomas  Coram  the 
writer  is  indebted  to  a  paper  read  by  C.  A.  Reed,  Esq  ,  before  the  Old 
Colony  Historical  Society  in  1879,  and  published  by  the  Society. 


DIGHTON. 


229 


endeavors  to  promote  the  public  happiness  both  in  this  kingdom  and 
elsewhere,  particularly  in  the  colonies  of  North  America,  and  his  en- 
deavors were  many  times  crowned  with  success.  His  unwearied  solici- 
tation for  above  seventeen  years  together  (which  would  have  baffled  the 
patience  and  industry  of  any  man  less  zealous  in  doing  good),  and  his 
application  to  persons  of  distinction,  obtained  at  length  the  charter  of 
incorporation  ....  for  the  maintenance  and  education  of  exposed  and 
deserted  young  children,  by  which  many  thousands  of  lives  may  be  pre- 
served to  the  public,  and  employed  in  a  frugal  and  honest  course  of  in- 
dustry. 

"He  died  the  29th  of  March,  1751,  in  the  eighty-fourth  year  of  his 
age,  poor  in  worldly  estate,  rich  in  good  works,  and  was  buried  at 
his  own  request  in  the  vault  underneath  this  chapel,  ....  many  of  the 
Governors  and  other  gentlemen  attending  the  funeral  to  do  honor  to 
his  memory. 

"  REAPER, 

"Thy  actions  will  show  whether  thou  art  sincere  in  the  praises  thou 
mayest  bestow  on  him,  and  if  thou  hast  virtue  enough  to  commend  his 
virtues,  forget  not  to  add  also  the  imitation  of  them." 

Coram's  unremitting  perseverance  enlisted  art,  as 
well  as  rank  and  wealth,  in  aid  of  his  hospital. 
Handel  in  music,  and  Hogarth  in  painting,  lent  their 
best  efforts  in  furtherance  of  the  project.  As  an 
illustration  of  the  way  this  establishment  strikes  an 
American  of  cultivated  and  poetic  mind,  the  follow- 
ing extract  from  a  letter  from  London  to  the  Neiv 
York  Tribune  may  not  be  out  of  place.  It  was  written 
by  William  Winter,  the  accomplished  poet  and  the 
dramatic  critic  of  that  journal : 

"  How  looks  to-night  the  interior  of  the  chapel  of 
the  Foundling  Hospital?  Dark  and  lonesome,  no 
doubt,  with  its  heavy  galleries  and  sombre  pews,  and 
the  great  organ, — Handel's  gift, — standing  there,  mute 
and  grim,  between  the  ascending  tiers  of  empty  seats. 
But  never,  in  my  remembrance,  will  it  cease  to  pre- 
sent a  picture  more  impressive  and  touching  than 
words  can  say.  At  least  three  hundred  children, 
rescued  from  shame  and  penury  by  this  noble  benevo- 
lence, were  ranged  around  that  organ  when  I  saw  it, 
and,  in  their  artless,  frail  little  voices,  singing  a  hymn 
of  praise  and  worship.  Well  nigh  one  hundred  and 
fifty  years  have  passed  since  this  grand  institution  of 
charity, — the  sacred  work  and  blessed  legacy  of  Capt. 
Thomas  Coram, — was  established  in  this  place.  What 
a  divine  good  it  has  accomplished  and  continues  to 
accomplish,  and  what  a  pure  glory  hallows  its 
founder's  name.  .  .  .  No  man  ever  did  a  better  deed 
than  he,  and  the  darkest  night  that  ever  was  cannot 
darken  his  fame."1 

And  so  we  take  our  leave  for  the  present  of  that 
whilom,  worthy  resilient  of  the  South  Purchase,  Capt. 
Thomas  Coram.  In  him  was  seen  a  large  develop- 
ment of  what  Herbert  Spencer  terms  altruism,  the 
opposite  of  egoism,  and  the  motto  he  adopted  was 

•Those  familiar  with  the  stories  of  Charles  Dickens  will  recall  in 
"Little  Dorritt"  the  warm-tempered  and  equally  warm-hearted  Tatty- 
corain.  taken  from  the  foundling  hospital  by  Mr.  Meagles,  as  a  maid  for 
his  little  daughter,  ami  the  description  as  to  how  the  name  originated. 
"The  name  of  Iieadle  being  out  of  the  question,"  said  Mr.  Meagles,  "and 
the  originator  of  the  institution  for  these  poor  foundlings  having  1"  en 
a  blessed  creature  named  Coram,  we  gave  that  name  to  Pet's  little  maid. 
At  one  time  she  was  Tatty,  and  at  one  time  she  was  Coram,  until  we  got 
into  a  way  of  mixing  the  two  names  together,  and  now  she  is  always 
Tattycoram." 


characteristic  of  the  man,"  non  sibi,  sed  aliis"  ("  not  for 
himself,  but  for  others"),  was  the  daily  rule  of  his  life. 

Capt.  Coram  was  probably  the  first  builder  of  large 
vessels  in  this  vicinity;  probably  the  business  was 
carried  on  here  after  he  returned  to  England,  but 
there  is  no  record  or  tradition  that  such  was  the  case. 
There  was  an  abundance  of  excellent  oak  to  be  had 
here,  and  it  was  the  common  material  for  the  frames 
of  houses  and  other  buildings.  About  the  middle  of 
the  last  century  one  John  Reed,  perhaps  a  descendant 
of  the  John  previously  mentioned,  carried  on  the 
building  of  vessels  in  what  is  called  Muddy  Cove. 
That  was  before  the  road  was  laid  out  and  the  bridge 
built  over  the  mouth  of  the  cove,  which  must  have 
been  deeper  then  than  it  is  now,  though  it  is  probable 
that  the  vessels  that  Reed  built  were  small.2  This 
ship-yard  was,  it  is  supposed,  on  or  near  the  site  of 
Mr.  H.  M.  Simmon's  lumber-yard.  John  Reed  owned 
and  lived  in  the  old  Andrews  house,  near  the  cove. 

During  the  period  from  1785  to  the  commencement 
of  the  war  of  1812,  several  firms  carried  on  the  ship- 
building business  here.  Most  of  the  vessels  built 
were  small  coasting  sloops,  ranging  from  twenty  to 
seventy  tons ;  but  some  were  larger  craft,  ships  and 
brigs,  intended  for  the  European  or  the  West  Indian 
trade,  or  it  may  be  for  the  bringing  of  slaves  from 
Africa,  although  it  is  not  known  that  any  ship-owners 
of  this  town  were  engaged  in  the  last-named  business. 
Among  those  engaged  in  building  vessels  during  the 
period  mentioned  were  the  firms  of  Bowen  &  Hath- 
away, and  Smith  &  Wardwell.3   Their  yards  were  just 


-  The  bridge  across  Muddy  Cove  was  built  by  Capt.  Elkanah  Andrews 
about  the  year  1772.  John  Reed  was  the  contractor,  and  lost  all  of  his 
property  in  the  job,  Capt.  Andrews  becoming  the  owner  of  his  house 
and  land  north  of  the  cove.  The  road  was  laid  out  at  the  same  time 
from  the  Widow  Stetson's  house  (for  many  years  long  afterwards  the 
residence  of  John  P.  Perry)  to  Capt.  John  Pierce's  house,  at  what  is  now 
called  Luther's  Corner.  Capt.  Andrews  lived  in  the  house  on  the  south 
side  of  the  cove,  afterwards  owned  by  James  Spooner, and  remodeled  in 
later  years  in  the  Grecian  style  of  architecture  by  his  son,  Joshua 
Spooner.  Capt.  Andrews  did  a  large  business  in  shipping  hay,  fish,  and 
other  commodities  to  Southern  ports.  His  store  and  wharf  were  in  front 
of  his  house.     He  died  in  1787. 

Mr.  John  C.  Perry,  mentioned  above,  was  for  some  years  town  clerk. 

He  taught  school  for  many  years  in  the  little  red  school-house  that  st 1 

north  of  the  John  Reed  house.     Mr.  Perry  was,  in  most  respects,  an  ex- 
cellent teacher. 

3  Smith  <fc  Wardwell's  yard  was  on  the  north  side  of  the  wharf  now 
known  as  Whitmarsh's  wharf,  and  Bowen  &  Hathaway's  yard  was  on 
the  south  side.  David  Bowen,  one  of  the  latter  firm,  was  horn  in  Digh- 
ton,  and  was  one  of  twin  brothers,  the  other  being  named  Jonathan. 
David  was  an  active  business  man.  He  died  suddenly  of  hemorrhage  at  the 
early  age  of  thirty-six,  having  acquired,  during  the  few  years  he  was  in 
business,  property  to  the  amount  of  eight  or  nine  thousand  dollars,  a  re- 
spectable sum  in  those  days.  John  Hathaway,  his  partner,  was  also 
born  in  Dighton,  and  was  an  influential  citizen.  He  represented  the 
town  at  the  General  Court  for  a  number  of  years  in  the  early  pan  of  the 
century.  His  son,  John  Hathaway,  Jr.,  was  town  clerk  for  several  years. 
He  removed  to  Boston,  became  a  thriving  merchant  in  that  city,  and  ac- 
quired a  handsome  property.  His  daughter,  Frances,  is  the  wife  of  Hon. 
Moses  Kimball,  of  Boston,  and  his  daughter,  Margaret,  is  the  wife  of  Mr. 
Frank  Kendall,  manufacturer,  of  Watertown. 

Josiah  Wardwell  came  from  Bristol,  K.  I.     He  married  a  daughter  of 
his  partner,  James  Smith.     The  house  stood  on  the  site  of  the  residence 
of  the  late  Capt.  William  Cobb.     It  was  burnt  nearly  fifty  year- 
during  a  heavy  snow-storm.     His  partner's  house  was  on  the  opposite 
corner,  and  is  yet  standing. 


230 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL  COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


below  the  town-landing,  known  as  Zebulon's  Landing, 
from  one  Zebulon  Reed,  who  used  to  occupy  it.  One 
of  our  townsmen  can  remember  seeing  on  the  stocks 
in  these  yards  at  one  time  two  ships  and  two  brigs. 
There  were  six  grog-shops  in  the  south  part  of  the 
town  at  that  time,  rum  being  nearly  as  common  a 
beverage  then  as  water  is  now  ;  on  special  occasions, 
such  as  a  house-raising  or  vessel-launching,  it  was 
furnished  to  the  crowd  without  money  or  price. 

William  Ellery. — Among  the  residents  of  Digh- 
ton  during  the  Revolutionary  war  was  William  El- 
lery, signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence  and 
member  of  Congress.  When  the  British  took  posses- 
sion of  Newport  in  1776,  Ellery  found  a  refuge  at  the 
house  of  Capt.  Rufus  Whitmarsh,  near  the  Lower 
Four  Corners,  in  this  town.  Here  he  resided  for  sev- 
eral years  when  not  at  his  post  as  a  member  of  Con- 
gress. During  his  absence  from  Newport,  his  house 
in  that  town  was  burned  by  the  British,  and  his  prop- 
erty otherwise  greatly  damaged.  The  house  he  lived 
in  while  here  is  still  standing,  as  was  mentioned  in 
the  first  part  of  this  sketch.  Of  Ellery's  life  while 
residing  here  not  much  is  known.  He  was  away  so 
much  of  the  time  that  probably  the  Dighton  people 
saw  but  little  of  him.1  The  following  is  a  portion  of 
a  letter  written  by  him,  while  in  this  town,  to  his 
friend,  Gen.  Whipple: 

"  Dighton,  Aug.  26,  1778. 

"  Dear  Sir, — Before  you  will  receive  this  your  lioise  will  be  at  Joshua 
Sandfords,  the  very  next  farm  to  the  ferry  farm  in  Bristol.  My  son, 
who  takes  the  horse  to  Sandfords,  will  leave  this  with  him  to  be  trans- 
mitted to  you  by  the  first  opportunity.  .  .  . 

"  Notwithstanding  the  French  fleet  hath  deserted  you,  yet  Btill  I  hope 
to  eat  tautauog  with  you  at  Newport.  The  island  must  not  be  relin- 
quished. If  it  should,  how  inglorious  to  our  arms,  how  destructive  to 
the  State  of  Rhode  Island.  But  I  will  not  harbor  so  disgraceful  an  idea. 
In  full  confidence  that  such  an  assault  will  be  made  upon  the  enemy's 
lines  as  will  convince  the  world  that  the  infant  States  of  America  are 
able  to  go  alone,  and  Count  d'Estaing  that  we  can  do  without  him,  I 
continue  to  be,  with  great  esteem,  etc., 

"  William  Ellery." 

The  assault  on  the  British  lines  that  Ellery  was 
hoping  for  was  not  made,  the  enemy  having  been  so 
strengthened  by  reinforcements  as  to  render  them 
superior  in  numbers  to  the  Americans.  Gen.  Sulli- 
van was  therefore  obliged  to  retreat,  which  he  did  in 
a  masterly  manner,  in  good  order.  The  retreat  to  the 
main  land  was  well  timed,  for  the  next  day  Sir  Henry 
Clinton  arrived,  after  which  it  would  have  been  im- 
practicable to  cross  with  the  army  to  the  main  shore. 

Ellery's  death,  which  occurred  on  the  15th  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1820,  when  he  was  ninety-two  years  old,  was 
like  the  falling  into  a  peaceful  sleep.  "  His  end," 
says  his  biographer,  "was  indeed  that  of  a  philoso- 
pher. In  truth,  death  in  its  common  form  never  came 
near  him.  His  strength  wasted  gradually  for  the  last 
year,  until  he  had  not  enough  left  to  draw  in  his 
breath,  and  so  he  ceased  to  breathe.     The  day  on 

1  In  Scribner's  Magazine,  a  few  years  ago,  was  published  a  diary  or 
journal,  written  by  Ellery,  and  describing  his  horseback  journeys  from 
this  town  to  the  seat  of  government. 


which  he  died  he  got  up  and  dressed  himself,  took 
his  old  flag-bottomed  chair  without  arms,  on  which 
he  had  set  for  more  than  half  a  century,  and  was 
reading  Tully's  offices  in  the  Latin,  without  glasses, 
though  the  print  was  as  fine  as  that  of  the  smallest 
pocket-bible.  The  physician  stopped  in  on  his  way 
to  the  hospital,  as  he  usually  did,  and  perceiving 
that  the  old  gentleman  could  scarcely  raise  his  eye- 
lids to  look  at  him,  took  his  hand  and  found  that  his 
pulse  was  gone.  After  drinking  a  little  wine  and 
water,  his  physician  told  him  his  pulse  beat  more 
strongly.  '  Oh,  yes,  doctor,  I  have  a  charming  pulse, 
but,'  he  continued,  'it  is  idle  to  talk  to  me  in  this 
way.  I  am  going  off  the  stage  of  life,  and  it  is  a 
great  blessing  that  I  go  free  from  sickness,  pain,  and 
sorrow.'  He  was  then  placed  in  bed,  and  sat  upright, 
continuing  to  read  Cicero  very  quietly  for  some  time. 
Presently  they  looked  at  him  and  found  him  dead, 
sitting  with  the  book  under  his  chin,  as  a  man  who 
becomes  drowsy  and  goes  to  sleep. 

'"Of  no  distemper,  of  no  blast  he  died, 

But  fell  like  autumn  fruit  that  mellowed  long.' 

"  Ellery  was  fond  of  profound  study  and  elegant 
literature,  reading  to  the  end  of  his  life  the  works  of 
distinguished  writers  in  theology,  intellectual  philos- 
ophy, and  political  economy.  His  mind  and  affec- 
tions never  seemed  to  grow  old,  but  only  to  ripen  with 
age.  His  conversation  never  lost  its  humor,  richness, 
and  variety,  its  freedom  and  temperate  earnestness. 
In  stature  he  was  of  moderate  height,  his  person 
neither  spare  nor  corpulent,  but  indicating  perfect 
health  and  an  easy  mind.  His  head  and  features 
were  large  and  impressive.  Only  three  weeks  before 
his  death  he  wrote  a  long  letter  containing  remarks 
on  Latin  prosody,  and  on  the  faults  of  public  speakers, 
written,  too,  in  a  strong,  close  hand,  that  might  be 
expected  from  one  in  middle  life." 

What  a  charming  picture  of  a  serene  old  age  and 
a  painless  euthanasia  do  these  extracts  disclose,  and 
what  an  argument  for  the  immortality  of  the  soul 
does  this  old  man  of  ninety-two  with  his  mental  pow- 
ers untouched  by  age  present!  Titian,  dying  of  the 
plague  at  the  age  of  ninety-nine,  and  painting  almost 
to  the  last,  and  Ellery,  at  ninety-two  writing  in  a 
firm  hand  criticisms  on  the  orators  of  the  day  and  on 
Latin  prosody,  go  far  to  prove  the  truth  of  the  French 
savant  Flourens'  theory  that  the  natural  life  of  man 
is  at  least  one  hundred  years. 

William  Ellery  was  born  at  Newport,  R.  I.,  Dec. 
22,  1727;  after  graduating  at  Harvard,  he  commenced 
his  career  as  a  trader  at  Newport,  then  practiced  law, 
and  in  1776  was  elected  to  the  Continental  Congress, 
of  which  body  he  soon  became  one  of  the  leading 
members.  He  was  in  Congress  eight  years,  and  was 
afterwards  collector  of  customs  at  Newport  until  his 
death.  The  signatures  of  Ellery  and  of  his  colleague, 
Stephen  Hopkins,  to  the  Declaration  of  Independence 
display  a  striking  contrast,  Ellery's  being  firm  and 


DIGHTON. 


231 


bold,  and  that  of  Hopkins  tremulous  and  uncertain, 
from  the  palsy  that  afflicted  him.  "I  was  deter- 
mined," Ellery  used  to  say  in  after-years,  "to  see  how 
they  all  looked  as  they  signed  what  might  be  their 
death  warrant.  I  placed  myself  beside  the  secretary, 
Charles  Thomson,  and  eyed  each  closely  as  he  affixed 
his  name  to  the  document.  Undaunted  resolution 
was  displayed  in  every  countenance." 

Commodore  Talbot. — Commodore  Silas  Talbot 
was  a  native  of  this  town.  He  distinguished  himself 
in  the  Revolutionary  war  on  both  the  ocean  and  the 
land.  His  parents  were  Benjamin  and  Zipporah 
Talhot.  The  house  they  lived  in,  and  iu  which 
Silas,  the  ninth  of  their  fourteen  children,  was  born, 
has  long  since  been  torn  down.  It  stood  in  the  lots, 
with  (inly  a  cart-path  as  a  way  of  approach,  between 
the  road  leading  from  the  Lower  Four  Corners  to 
Pitts'  Corner  and  Hunter's  Hill,  and  southerly  of 
the  house  now  owned  by  Isaac  Pierce.  Benjamin 
and  Zipporah  were  buried  in  the  family  cemetery 
near  by,  with  several  of  their  children.  They  were 
poor,  hard-working  people,  unable  to  do  much  in  the 
way  of  education  for  their  children,  and  Silas  was 
early  in  his  boyhood  placed  on  board  a  vessel  as 
cabin-boy,  perhaps  as  good  a  school  as  he  could  have 
had  for  the  work  he  had  to  do  in  after-life.  He  was 
born  Jan.  21,  1751.  When  he  was  twelve  years  old 
his  father  died,  and  as  his  mother  had  other  children 
younger  and  weaker  than  he  to  support,  he  was  neces- 
sarily thrown  upon  his  own  resources  for  the  future. 
He  learned  the  stone-mason's  trade,  then  considered 
a  very  lucrative  one,  and  removed  to  Providence, 
R.  I.  In  1822  he  married  a  young  lady  named  Rich- 
mond, and  went  to  housekeeping  in  Providence,  then 
a  small  town.  He  engaged  occasionally  in  mercan-' 
tile  speculations,  "iu  which,"  says  H.  T.  Tuckerman, 
who  wrote  his  biography,  "he  exhibited  more  than 
ordinary  boldness  and  sagacity.  An  instance  is  re- 
lated of  his  sailing  down  the  river  when  lumber  had 
unexpectedly  risen  to  a  high  price,  intercepting  a  ves- 
sel thus  loaded,  purchasing  the  cargo,  and  making 
-ales  in  town  at  an  enormous  advance." 

When  the  Revolutionary  war  broke  out  Talbot  and 
a  numher  of  other  young  men  hired  an  old  Scotch 
drum-major  who  had  deserted  from  the  British  army 
to  drill  them  in  military  tactics  in  the  loft  of  a  sugar- 
house.  In  June,  1775,  he  was  commissioned  as  a 
captain  in  one  of  the  three  newly-raised  Rhode  Island 
regiments,  and  went  to  Boston  with  the  regiment  to 
take  part  in  the  siege  of  that  town.  He  next  went 
with  the  army  to  New  York,  at  which  port  was  a  ileet 
of  British  men-of-war.  Here  he  was  placed,  at  his 
own  request,  in  command  of  a  fire-ship,  in  which  he 
sailed  up  the  Hudson  River  some  fifteen  miles,  an- 
choring a  short  distance  above  Fort  Washington. 
Soon  after  he  had  cast  anchor  three  of  the  enemy's 
war  vessels  sailed  up  the  river  and  anchored  a  few 
miles  below  where  he  lay.  A  night  attack  was  imme- 
diately resolved  upon.     "  At  two  o'clock  in  the  morn- 


ing," says  the  biographer,  "  they  weighed  anchor  and 
dropped  slowly  down  with  the  tide.  The  nearest  of 
the  ships  was  the  'Asia,'  of  sixty-four  guns,  whose 
tall  spars  and  towering  hull  no  sooner  loomed  upon 
the  gaze  of  Talbot's  hardy  band  than  they  steered 
directly  for  her  broadside.  Unsuspicious  of  any 
danger,  it  was  but  a  moment  before  her  little  adver- 
sary had  flung  her  grappling-irons  that  the  'Asia' 
fired,  and  then  a  scene  ensued  that  baffles  description. 
.  .  .  In  an  instant  the  darkness  of  a  cloudy  night  gave 
place  to  a  red,  flashing  glare  that  revealed  the  fort, 
the  waters,  and  the  fields  with  the  distinctness  of 
noonday,  and  brought  into  vivid  relief  the  huge  ves- 
sels of  war,  now  alive  with  their  startled  crews,  who 
hastened  to  the  relief  of  the  '  Asia,'  some  pouring  water 
on  the  rising  flames,  others  disengaging  the  fire-ship 
from  her  side." 

The  attack  was  unsuccessful,  at  least  in  destroying 
any  of  the  enemy's  ships,  but  it  served  the  purpose  of 
driving  them  from  their  position  into  the  lower  bay, 
and  it  likewise  had  an  encouraging  effect  on  the 
American  cause.  Congress  passed  a  vote  of  thanks 
to  Capt.  Talbot,  and  he  was  at  once  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  major.  He  had  remained  too  long  on  the 
fire-ship,  being  the  last  to  escape,  and  he  was  severely 
burned.  It  was  some  weeks  before  he  recovered  from 
his  injuries. 

We  next  hear  of  Maj.  Talbot  in  the  defense  of  Mud 
Island,  in  the  Delaware  River,  and  here  he  displayed 
his  accustomed  daring.  His  arm  was  broken  by  a 
musket-ball,  and  he  received  a  wound  in  the  thigh. 
He  returned  home  to  recover  from  his  wounds,  and 
as  soon  as  his  condition  permitted  joined  the  Conti 
nental  army  under  Gen.  Sullivan's  command,  on  the 
mainland  of  Rhode  Island,  where  he  rendered  essen- 
tial service  in  superintending  the  building  of  eighty- 
six  flat-bottomed  boats,  intended  to  carry  one  hundred 
men  each,  for  the  transportation  of  the  army  to  the 
island.  These  boats  were  calked  by  candle-light, 
and  Talbot,  wearied  by  his  unceasing  efforts  to  for- 
ward the  work,  was  accustomed  to  sleep  under  the 
boats,  while  the  din  of  the  calking-mallets  was  ring- 
ing over  his  head.  An  incident  of  the  campaign  will 
illustrate  the  cool  daring  of  this  born  leader  of  men. 
The  crossing  from  the  mainland  was  commenced  on 
Sunday,  the  9th  of  August,  and  the  light  corps,  to 
which  Maj.  Talbot  was  attached,  marched  down  the 
road  towards  Newport  until  within  a  cannon-shot  of 
the  enemy's  lines.  Talbot  was  then  sent  forward 
alone  by  Col.  Laurens,  who  was  in  command  of  the 
corps,  to  reconnoitre.  He  had  neared  the  enemy's 
outposts,  when  he  saw  three  British  artillerymen  in  a 
garden,  foraging  for  vegetables.  Without  hesitating 
an  instant  he  jumped  his  horse  over  the  wall  and 
threatened  them  with  immediate  death  if  they  stirred. 
Thinking  that  lie  was  one  of  their  own  officers,  they 
made  some  apology  for  being  absent  from  their  posts, 
and  gave  up  their  hangers.  He  then  drove  them 
before  him  to  the  American  lines  as  prisoners  of  war. 


232 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL  COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Count  d'Estaing's  departure  with  the  French  fleet 
to  Boston  rendered  the  retreat  of  the  American  army 
from  the  island  a  necessity,  and  in  the  retreat  and 
the  fight  which  preceded  it  Maj.  Talbot's  aid  was 
very  efficient,  and  was  commended  in  the  dispatches 
of  the  commanding  officer  to  Congress.  His  next  ex- 
ploit was  the  capture  of  one  of  the  enemy's  armed 
vessels.  The  British,  in  order  to  close  the  east 
passage,  had  anchored  a  vessel  of  some  two  hundred 
tons  in  the  passage,  off  a  point  of  land  called  Fog- 
land.  This  vessel  had  formerly  been  in  the  naval 
service,  but  had  been  cut  down  to  one  deck,  and  was 
armed  with  twelve  eight-pounders  and  ten  swivels. 
She  had  a  crew  of  forty-five  men,  and  her  deck  was 
protected  from  boarding-parties  by  strong  netting. 
She  was  named  the  "  Pigot,"  and  was  commanded  by 
a  lieutenant  named  Duulap.  This  armed  galley  ef- 
fectually prevented  any  American  vessels  from  pass- 
ing up  or  down  Seconnet  River,  to  the  great  annoy- 
ance of  the  people  of  Rhode  Island  and  Southern 
Massachusetts. 

Maj.  Talbot  resolved  to  capture  or  destroy  the 
"  Pigot,"  but  his  project  was  for  some  time  coldly  re- 
ceived by  Gen.  Sullivan,  who  deemed  it  imprac- 
ticable, but  at  length  consented  to  furnish  a  draft  of 
men  for  the  purpose.  The  major  immediately  se- 
lected a  sloop  in  Providence  named  the  "Hawk," 
and  armed  her  with  two  three-pounders  and  sixty 
men.  Before  he  could  get  at  the  "  Pigot"  he  would 
have  to  pass  one  of  the  enemy's  forts  at  Bristol  Ferry 
and  another  at  Fogland's  Ferry,  in  Seconnet  River, 
and  both  forts  were  safely  passed  in  the  night. 

After  reaching  the  upper  end  of  the  island,  the 
"  Hawk"  drifted  silently  down  the  Seconnet  River, 
with  a  kedge  lashed  to  the  jib-boom  to  tear  the  net- 
tings of  the  enemy.  The  Fogland  fort  was  passed 
without  alarming  the  sentinel,  although  he  could  be 
seen  pacing  back  and  forth  before  the  barrack  lights. 
Fearing  that  he  should  miss  the  object  of  his  search 
in  the  darkness,  the  major  cast  anchor  just  below  the 
fort,  and  sent  a  boat  forward  with  muffled  oars  to 
reconnoitre.  The  men  in  the  boat  reported  the 
"  Pigot's"  situation,  and  the  anchor  was  again  hove 
up,  while  the  strong  ebb  tide  swept  the  "  Hawk" 
down  upon  her  prey.  They  were  soon  hailed  by  the 
watch  on  the  deck  of  the  "  Pigot,"  but  making  no 
answer  a  volley  of  musketry  was  fired  at  them,  but 
before  the  "  Pigot's"  guns  could  be  brought  to  bear 
the  kedge  on  the  "Hawk's"  jib-boom  had  torn  away 
the  netting  and  was  caught  in  the  shrouds,  while  her 
crew  leaped  on  the  "Pigot's"  deck  and  drove  every 
man  below  excepting  her  commander,  who  fought 
gallantly  in  his  night-clothes,  but  was  soon  captured. 
Not  a  man  was  killed  on  either  side.  The  prize  was 
carried  into  Stonington.  For  this  daring  exploit 
Maj.  Talbot  again  received  the  thanks  of  Congress, 
and  was  promoted  to  be  a  lieutenant-colonel  in  the 
army,  while  the  Assembly  of  Rhode  Island  presented 
him  with  a  sword.     The   next  vear  he  was  made  a 


captain  in  the  navy,  although  there  was  no  man-of- 
war  for  him  to  command.  He  was,  however,  author- 
ized to  arm  a  naval  force  to  protect  the  coast  from 
the  cruisers  of  the  enemy.  Lack  of  money  and  lack 
of  vessels  made  the  task  a  difficult  one,  but  the  cap- 
tured "  Pigot"  and  a  clumsy  sloop  called  .the  "  Argo" 
were  finally  equipped  and  manned,  the"  Argo"  being 
the  flag-ship.  Her  armament  consisted  of  twelve 
small  guns  and  her  crew  of  sixty  men. 

In  May,  1779,  Capt.  Talbot  sailed  from  Providence, 
and  soon  captured  the  "  Lively,"  of  twelve  guns,  and 
two  privateer  brigs  from  the  West  Indies.  The 
prizes  were  carried  into  Boston  amid  great  rejoicing. 
Talbot  then  cruised  about  in  search  of  a  Tory  pri- 
vateer named  the  "King  George."  She  was  com- 
manded by  a  Capt.  Hazard,  a  Rhode  Islander.  She 
carried  fourteen  guns  and  eighty  men.  One  fine  day, 
when  about  forty  leagues  from  Long  Island,  the 
"  King  George"  was  seen,  and  the  "  Argo"  bore 
down  upon  her,  giving  her  a  broadside  when  near 
enough,  and  then  ranging  alongside,  Talbot  and  his 
men  leaped  on  board,  and  the  "  King  George"  was 
surrendered  without  the  loss  of  a  man  on  either 
vessel. 

Not  long  afterwards  the  "  Argo"  fell  in  with  a  large 
armed  ship,  and  a  desperate  fight,  lasting  four  hours, 
took  place,  the  vessels  being  all  the  time  within  pis- 
tol-shot of  each  other.  Nearly  every  man  on  the 
quarter-deck  of  the  "Argo"  was  killed  or  wounded. 
Capt.  Talbot  had  the  skirts  of  his  coat  shot  off,  and 
hia  speaking-trumpet  was  pierced  in  two  places  by 
bullets.  At  length  the  mainmast  of  the  ship  fell  and 
she  surrendered. 

After  this  fight  the  owners  of  the  "  Argo"  reclaimed 
her.  Capt.  Talbot  then  took  command  of  a  privateer 
called  the  "  George  Washington."  But  now  his  good 
fortune  deserted  him.  He  fell  in  with  a  fleet  of  Brit- 
ish men-of-war,  two  of  which  gave  chase  and  captured 
the  "  Washington"  before  night.  Her  commander 
and  crew  were  carried  to  New  York,  and  thrust  into 
the  hold  of  the  Jersey  prison-ship.1  The  horrors 
which  they  endured  while  in  captivity  were  almost 
too  much  for  their  endurance,  nor  was  their  condition 
improved  when  they  were  transferred  to  another  hulk 
called  the  "  Yarmouth,"  in  which  a  deadly  fever  soon 
broke  out.  Only  Talbot's  strong  constitution  and 
iron  will  enabled  him  to  survive  through  the  dread- 
ful imprisonment.  He  was  finally  carried  to  Eng- 
land, and  exchanged  for  a  British  officer.  When  he 
arrived  home  he  had  been  absent  two  years.  Not  long 
afterwards  he  married  his  second  wife,  a  Miss  Morris, 
of  Philadelphia,  and  buying  the  forfeited  estate  of  Sir 
William  Johnson,  in  New  York  State,  he  removed 
there  with  his  family  and  engaged  in  farming.  In 
1793-94  he  was  again  before  the  public,  now  as  a 


1  Capt.  James  Briggs,  of  this  town,  was  also  for  a  time  immured  in  that 
floating  hell,  the  Jersey  prison-ship,  as  was  also  Rev.  Thomas  Andros,  of 
Berkley,  who  wrote  au  account  of  his  imprisonment. 


DIGHTON. 


233 


member  of  Congress,  and  he  was  soon  appointed  to 
the  command  of  one  of  the  six  ships  that  Congress 
had  decided  to  add  to  our  little  navy.  When  hostili- 
ties commenced  with  France  in  1799,  he  was  placed 
in  command  of  the  frigate  "Constitution,"  and  was 
on  the  West  Indian  station.1  In  1801  he  resigned  his 
command,  thinking  himself  unjustly  treated  by  the 
Secretary  of  the  Navy,  who  had  given  precedence  to 
Commodore  Truxton.  His  decision  was  evidently 
unjust,  as  Commodore  Talbot  was  the  senior  officer, 
and  had  performed  greater  services  for  the  country 
than  Truxton.  But  republics  are  proverbially  un- 
grateful. The  remainder  of  his  life  was  passed  in 
New  York  City,  where  he  built  a  handsome  house, 
and  where  he  married  his  third  wife. 

''  In  person,"  says  his  biographer,  "  Capt.  Talbot 
was  tall  and  graceful,  in  features  determined  but  at- 
tractive. A  portrait  of  him,  painted  by  Benjamin 
West,  is  in  possession  of  his  descendants  in  Kentucky. 
.  .  .  He  was  an  accomplished  gentleman,  with  a  dig- 
nity of  manners  that  stamped  him  for  a  leader,  and 
yet  with  a  frank  urbanity  of  spirit  that  endeared  him 
as  a  companion.  He  was  thirteen  times  wounded, 
and  carried  five  bullets  in  his  body.  In  private  life, 
the  elegant  hospitality  he  exercised,  the  ardor  of  his 
personal  attachments,  the  winning  grace  and  self-re- 
spect of  his  manners,  his  acquaintance  with  life  in  all 
its  phases,  and  a  certain  generous  nobility  of  feeling 
rendered  him  in  his  prime  one  of  the  best  specimens 
of  a  self-made  American  officer  the  country  has  pro- 
duced. He  died  in  the  city  of  New  York  on  the  30th 
of  June,  1813,  and  was  buried  under  Trinity  Church. 
No  monument  has  been  erected  to  his  memory,  but 
his  gallant  deeds  are  inscribed  on  the  immortal 
records  of  the  war  of  independence,  and  his  name  is 
enrolled  among  the  patriot  heroes  of  America." 

Such  is  the  picture  that  has  been  handed  down  to 
us  of  Commodore  Silas  Talbot.  Brought  up  in  pov- 
erty, with  little  of  the  education  to  be  derived  from 
schools,  and  cast  upon  his  own  resources  at  an  early 
age,  he  showed  himself  equal  to  any  station  to  which 
his  energy,  sagacity,  and  bravery  caused  him  to  be 
promoted;  he  possessed  in  no  small  degree  "that 
strong  divinity  of  soul  that  conquers  chance  and 
fate." 

Hodijah  Baylies. — Although  not  born  in  Digh- 
ton,  Maj.  Hodijah  Baylies,  aide-de-camp  to  Gen. 
Washington,  was  a  citizen  of  this  town  for  many 
years.  Maj.  Baylies  was  born  in  Uxbridge,  Mass., 
Sept.  15,  1756.  His  father's  name  was  Nicholas,  and 
his  mother  before  her  marriage  was  Elizabeth  Parks. 
His  ancestors  were  Quakers,  and  resided  in  the  parish 
of  Alvechurch,  county  of  Worcester,  England.  His 
grandfather,  who  was  named  Thomas,  came  over  from 
England  with  his  son  Nicholas  and  a  daughter  named 
Esther  in  June,  1737.     He  returned  to  England  the 


next  year,  but  came  back  under  a  contract  with  one 
Richard  Clarke,  of  Boston,  as  a  clerk  in  an  iron- 
works, bringing  his  wife  and  two  daughters  with  him. 
Another  son,  Thomas,  came  over  later,  and  for  some 
years  kept  a  store  in  Taunton,  and  was  interested  in 
the  manufacture  of  iron.  Nicholas,  Maj.  Baylies' 
father,  settled  in  Uxbridge,  but  after  the  death  of  his 
brother  Thomas,  Jr.,  which  occurred  in  1756,  he 
moved  to  Taunton,  and  was  a  large  land-owner  and 
manufacturer  of  iron  in  that  place. 

Hodijah  Baylies  was  the  youngest  of  eight  children. 
Two  of  his  brothers,  William  and  Thomas  S.,  were 
residents  of  Dighton,  and  were  prominent  men  in  the 
town.  They  will  be  more  particularly  mentioned 
hereafter.  Hodijah  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in 
1777,  and  almost  immediately  entered  the  army  as  a 
lieutenant,  his  first  service  being  on  the  Hudson 
River.  When  Gen.  Lincoln  was  appointed  to  the 
command  of  the  Southern  Department,  Lieut.  Bay- 
lies was  selected  by  him  as  one  of  his  aids.  In  the 
campaigns  that  followed  he  took  part  in  much  hard 
fighting  at  Savannah,  Charleston,  and  elsewhere,  ac- 
quitting himself  creditably  in  whatever  situation  he 
was  placed.  He  was  in  the  city  of  Charleston  during 
the  memorable  siege  by  the  British,  and  when  Lincoln 
finally  surrendered  to  Clinton  on  the  12th  of  May, 
1780,  he  was  included  among  the  prisoners  of  war. 
He  rejoined  the  army  as  soon  as  his  exchange  was 
effected  ;  was  present  at  the  surrender  of  Cornwallis 
at  Yorktown,  and  having  been  selected  by  Washing- 
ton as  one  of  his  aids,  remained  in  this  position  until 
the  end  of  the  war.  He  stayed  for  some  time  with 
Washington  at  Mount  Vernon  after  peace  was  con- 
cluded, receiving  a  brevet  as  major  in  the  army.  He 
returned  to  the  North  in  1784,  and  married  Elizabeth 
Lincoln,  daughter  of  Gen.  Lincoln,  who  resided  in 
Hingham,  in  this  State.  After  residing  for  a  time  in 
Hingham  he  removed  to  Taunton,  and  engaged  in 
business  as  a  manufacturer  of  iron,  the  works  being 
at  Westville.  The  anchors  for  the  frigate  "  Constitu- 
tion" were  made  at  the  Baylies  Forge. 

As  soon  as  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States 
had  been  ratified  in  1789,  Maj.  Baylies  was  appointed 
collector  of  customs  at  Dighton,  and  at  once  removed 
to  this  town  with  his  family.  His  father  had  died  in 
Taunton  two  years  before,  in  his  ninetieth  year.  Maj. 
Baylies  held  the  office  of  collector  of  customs  until 
1809.2  In  1810  he  was  appointed  judge  of  probate 
for  the  county  of  Bristol  by  Governor  Gore,  holding 
the  office  until  1834,  when,  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight, 
but  in  the  full  vigor  of  his  mental  faculties,  he  re- 


1  Commodore   Tulbot   superintended   the   building  of  the  "Constitu- 
tion," or  "Old  Ironsides,"  as  she  was  afterwards  called. 


2  The  following  are  the  names  of  the  collectors  who  held  the  office 
after  Maj.  Baylies:  Nathaniel  Williams,  from  1809  until  his  death  in 
1823;  Hercules  Cushman,  from  1823  to  1S25;  Seth  Williams,  Esq.,  son 
of  Nathaniel,  from  1825  to  1820;  Dr.  William  Wood,  from  1829  to  1833; 
mthI  Horatio  Pratt,  from  1833  to  1834.  In  the  latter  year  Dr.  P.  W.  Le- 
land  was  appointed,  and  the  office  was  removed  to  Fall  River.  While 
Dighton  was  the  port  of  entry  the  custom-house  was  not,  as  at  present, 
in  a  building  costing  half  a  million  of  dollars,  but  the  books  were  kept 
at  the  residences  of  the  collectors. 


234 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


signed.  During  bis  later  years  he  was  known  as 
Judge  Baylies,  his  military  title  being  seldom  used  in 
connection  with  his  name.  He  owned  a  fine  farm  in 
Digbton,  of  some  two  hundred  acres  in  extent,  in- 
cluding the  woodland,  some  of  which  was  heavily 
timbered.1  The  house  that  he  bought  was  a  tavern 
during  the  Revolution,  and  was  remodeled  and  en- 
larged by  him.  He  had  four  children, — William  G. 
(who  lived  in  Boston,  and  died  in  1848),  Edmund, 
Amelia,  and  Benjamin  L.  Edmund  was  born  in  1787, 
at  Hingham,  engaged  in  commerce  in  Boston  early  in 
life,  and  made  several  voyages  to  Russia,  acquiring  a 
handsome  fortune.  He  married  a  Miss  Eliza  Payson, 
and  bought  a  residence  in  Taunton,  not  far  from  the 
Neck-of-Land  Bridge.2  Amelia  married  Dr.  Alfred 
Wood,  formerly  of  this  town,  but  now  residing  in 
Taunton.  Benjamin  L.  never  married ;  he  lived  at 
the  homestead  until  his  death,  a  few  years  since. 
Judge  Baylies  died  April  26,  1843,  in  the  eighty- 
seventh  year  of  his  age.  His  wife  had  died  twenty 
years  before,  at  the  age  of  sixty-three.  She  is  said  to 
have  had  an  excellent  judgment  and  a  kind  heart, 
gifts  that  were  inherited  by  her  daughter  Amelia. 

Maj.  Baylies  was  said  to  have  been  one  of  the 
handsomest  men  in  the  army.  His  deportment, 
while  showing  his  military  training,  was  yet  easy 
and  graceful,  and  his  manners  were  polished  and 
engaging.  While  he  was  in  the  army,  Robert  Treat 
Paine,  the  jurist  and  statesman,  who  knew  him  well, 


1  A  large  tract  of  this  woodland  was  termed  the  Pine  Swamp,  and  is 
still  known  by  that  name,  although  the  timber  was  cut  off  a  few  years 
ago.  It  was  probably  the  only  large  tract  of  the  primeval  forest  in  the 
town,  and  was  an  interesting  spot,  to  visit.  The  trees  were  of  various 
sorts,  chestnut,  hemlock,  and  pine  predominating.  The  swamp  is  evi- 
dently the  bed  of  a  filled-up  lake.  In  some  places  a  fifteen-feet  pole 
can  be  thrust  down  without  reaching  hard  pan.  On  the  south  side  is  a 
steep  bill  or  ridge  of  gravel  that  was  formerly  covered  with  large  chest- 
nut- and  hemlock-trees,  under  which  there  was  always  a  twilight  gloom 
even  at  midday.  This  ridge  of  gravel  is  probably  a  terminal  moraine, 
piled  up  by  the  action  of  ice  in  the  glacial  period.  Another  smaller  bit 
of  the  primeval  woods  is  found  on  the  Baylies  farm,  near  the  river, 
and  is  now  called  Simmons'  Grove,  from  Mr.  C.  N.  Simmons,  the  present 
owner  of  the  farm.  This  grove  is  noted  for  tbe  clam-bakes  that  are  an- 
nually held  there  by  the  Methodist  ami  Baptist  Societies.  The  trees  are 
chiefly  white-oaks,  and  the  grove  gives  one  a  good  idea  on  a  small  scale 
of  the  appearance  of  the  forest  at  the  time  when  Winslow  and  Hopkins 
made  their  journey  from  Plymouth  to  Pokanoket,  and  found  the  trees 
"  standing  not  thicke  but  a  man  may  well  ride  a  horse  among  them." 

It  was  on  the  northerly  slope  of  the  steep  Pine  Swamp  Hill,  however, 
that  the  solemn  grandeur  of  the  primeval  forest  impressed  itself  most 
strongly  on  the  lover  of  nature.  As  in  the  land  of  the  Lotus-Eaters,  it 
seemed  there  to  be  always  in  the  afternoon,  and  on  dark  cloudy  days  to 
be  very  late  in  the  afternoon,  "'twixt  the  gloaming  and  the  murk."  It 
was  in  some  such  bit  of  wild  woodland  scenery,  no  doubt,  that  Long- 
fellow wrote  these  lines, — 

"This  is  the  forest  primeval :  the  murmuring  pines  and  the  hemlocks, 
Bearded  with  moss  and  in  garments  green,  indistinct  in  the  twilight 
Stand,  like  Druids  of  old.  with  voices  sad  and  prophetic, 
Stand  like  harpers  hoar,  with  beards  that  rest  on  their  bosoms." 

-  Edmund  Baylies  had  three  children,— Elizabeth,  Ruth,  and  Edmund 
Lincoln.  The  latter,  who  was  commonly  called  Lincoln  Baylies,  was 
born  in  1829.  He  married  Nathalie  E.  Ray,  of  New  York.  In  1869  he 
went  to  Europe,  being  much  out  of  health.  The  change  did  not  prove 
as  beneficial  as  was  hoped,  and  be  died  at  Geneva,  Switzerland,  Nov.  28, 
1869.  He  possessed  in  a  marked  degree  the  good  sense  and  probity  char- 
acteristic of  most  of  the  Baylies  family.     He  left  four  children. 


said  to  his  mother,  "Your  son,  madame,  has  all  the 
elegance  of  the  British  officers,  without  any  of  their 
vices."  The  vigor  of  his  mental  faculties  was  sus- 
tained to  the  last.  "  His  perceptions,"  says  a  writer 
in  an  obituary  notice  in  a  New  Bedford  paper,  "  were 
clear  and  acute.  His  conversation,  marked  by  strong 
sense,  abounding  with  anecdotes  and  interesting  rem- 
iniscences of  the  Revolution,  exhibited,  almost  to  the 
last  days  of  his  life,  the  liveliness  of  youth,  without 
any  of  the  garrulity  of  age,  always  tasteful,  animated, 
and  correct." 

Judge  Baylies'  father,  Deacon  Nicholas,  was  a  man 
of  more  than  ordinary  intelligence  and  force  of  char- 
acter, of  excellent  judgment,  and  of  sterling  integ- 
rity, respected  by  all  who  knew  him.  It  was  remark- 
able that  in  those  days  of  dram-drinking  he  was  a 
practical  teetotaler,  not  tasting  of  ardent  spirits,  it  is 
said,  for  more  than  sixty  years.  He  left  eight  chil- 
dren, sixty-five  grandchildren,  and  thirty-five  great- 
grandchildren. 

Dr.  William  Baylies. — William  Baylies,  brother 
of  Hodijah,  was  born  in  Uxbridge,  Nov.  24,  1743,  and 
graduated  at  Harvard  in  1760.  He  was  a  man  of 
fine  mental  endowments,  and  held  many  positions 
requiring  high  intelligence  and  a  sound  judgment. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Provincial  Congress  which 
convened  in  1775.  During  the  Revolution  he  was 
often  in  the  councils  of  the  State.  In  1784,  while  in 
the  State  Senate,  he  was  appointed  by  Governor 
Hancock  register  of  probate  for  Bristol  County  and 
a  judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  State  Convention  which  ratified  the 
Constitution,  and  in  1800  was  an  elector  of  President 
and  Vice-President.  He  also  represented  his  district 
in  Congress  fur  four  years.  He  was  an  original  mem- 
ber of  the  medical,  historical,  agricultural,  and  hu- 
mane societies  of  this  State,  and  was  an  early  mem- 
ber of  the  Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences.  He  was, 
besides,  a  skillful  physician,  and  practiced  medicine 
in  Digbton  for  many  years.  He  died  in  1826.  His  son, 
Hon.  William  Baylies,  LL.D.,  statesman  and  lawyer, 
was  born  in  Digbton,  Sept.  15,  1776.  He  practiced 
law  for  many  years  in  West  Bridgewater,  and  there 
the  poet,  William  Cullen  Bryant,  studied  law  under 
his  tuition.  He  died  in  Taunton,  Sept.  27,  1865,  and 
was  buried  in  the  old  cemetery  on  the  hill  in  Digh- 
ton.  On  the  reverse  of  this  monument  is  the  follow- 
ing eulogium,  far  more  deserved  than  are  many  of  the 
flattering  words  of  praise  to  be  found  on  tombstones: 

"This  stone  commemorates  the  virtues  of  one  pure  alike  in  public 
and  in  private  life,  and  honored  and  beloved  in  both.  An  upright  states- 
man, a  persuasive  lawyer,  a  prudent  and  faithful  counselor,  sincere  in 
word  and  purpose,  calm  and  kind  in  temper,  equitable  in  judgment,  wise 
in  action,  who  never  lent  his  great  talents  to  the  aid  of  injustice,  and 
abhorred  the  gain  that  is  acquired  in  making  the  worse  appear  the  better 
cause.  He  lived  a  long,  useful,  and  spotless  life,  and  left  a  noble  ex- 
ample to  the  generation  which  comes  after  him." 

William  Baylies,  and  his  father,  the  doctor,  before 
him,  owned  the  farm  now  belonging  to  the  heirs  of 
the  late  Silas  P.  Briggs.     The  house  was  formerly 


DIGHTON. 


235 


owned  and  occupied  by  Rev.  Nathaniel  Fisher.  An- 
other of  Dr.  William  Baylies'  sons  who  was  buried 
on  the  hill  burying-ground  was  Samuel  White  Bay- 
lies, couaselor-at-law,  who  was  born  June  22,  1774. 
and  died  Sept.  13,  1S24.  He  practiced  his  profession 
in  this  town.  Dr.  Baylies'  other  distinguished  son, 
Hon.  Francis  Baylies,  of  Taunton,  author,  statesman, 
and  diplomatist,  was  born  in  Dighton,  but  was  buried 
in  Taunton.  Dr.  Baylies'  daughter  Elizabeth  mar- 
ried Hon.  Samuel  Crocker,  of  Taunton.  His  wife  was 
Bathsheba  White,  daughter  of  Hon.  Samuel  White, 
eminent  as  a  lawyer. 

Not  far  from  the  Baylies  monuments  on  the  hill 
are  those  erected  to  the  memory  of  Capt.  John  Clous- 
ton  and  his  wife  Hannah,  who  was  a  daughter  of 
Capt.  George  Bowers.  Capt.  Clouston  died  in  1782, 
in  his  forty-second  year.  In  the  Revolutionary  war 
he  commanded  the  armed  vessel  "  Freedom,"  and 
was  almost  a  second  Paul  Jones,  being  very  success- 
ful in  taking  prizes  in  the  British  Channel,  and  thus, 
like  Jones,  bearding  the  English  lion  in  his  den. 
Capt.  Clouston  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  and  perhaps 
had  inherited  from  his  remote  ancestors  some  of  that 
animosity  towards  the  English  that  prevailed  among 
the  Scottish  clans  in  the  olden  time. 

Thomas  S.  Baylies. — Thomas  Sargeant  Baylies, 
son  of  Nicholas  and  brother  to  Hodijah  and  Dr.  Wil- 
liam Baylies,  was  born  Oct.  18,  1748.  He  lived  at 
North  Dighton  for  some  years  and  was  a  farmer.  He 
had  besides  some  connection  with  the  iron-works  es- 
tablished by  his  father  on  the  Three-Mile  River,  in 
Westville,  Taunton.  He  married  Bethia  Godfrey,  of 
Taunton,  for  his  first  wife.  His  second  wife  was  Deb- 
orah Barnum.  He  had  fourteen  children,  and  he 
died  Oct.  30,  1835.  He  was  a  man  of  considerable 
influence  in  town  affairs,  was  representative  in  the 
General  Court  for  three  years,  and  was  one  of  the 
selectmen  for  a  number  of  years.  George  Baylies, 
son  of  Thomas  S.,  was  a  merchant  in  Boston.  Hora- 
tio married  Rhoda  Pratt,  of  Dighton.  Henry  mar- 
ried Deborah  Walker,  of  this  town.  Charles  married 
Keziah  Round  ;  he  was  a  carpenter  and  resided  at 
North  Dighton.  Alfred  married  Rebecca  D.  Sproat ; 
he  settled  in  Taunton  and  was  a  wrell-known  physi- 
cian there.  Nicholas  married  Susan  Stone  and 
moved  to  Baltimore;  he  had  fourteen  children. 
John,  son  of  Thomas  S.,  married  Mary  Shaw  ;  he 
resided  in  New  Bedford.  John's  daughter  Charlotte 
married  Charles  T.  Congdon,  Esq.,  one  of  the  edito- 
rial staff  of  the  New  York  Tribune.  Elizabeth,  daugh- 
ter of  Thomas  S.,  married  George  B.  Atwood,  Esq., 
of  Taunton.  Hannah  married  John  N.  Washburn, 
and  Eliza  A.  married  James  Sproat,  Esq.,  formerly 
clerk  of  the  courts. 

For  some  of  the  foregoing  details  in  regard  to  the 

Baylies  family  I  am  indebted  to  Henry  Baylies,  Esq., 

counselor-at-law,  of  Boston.     He  is  the  sou  of  Fred- 

*erick  Baylies,  of  Edgartown,  and  has  for  many  years 

been  collecting  information,  genealogical  and  histori- 


cal, relating  to  the  family.  He  informs  me  that  when 
in  England  in  1860,  he  visited  Alvechurch,  the  home 
of  Nicholas,  father  of  Thomas  Baylies,  previously 
mentioned  as  the  first  of  the  name  to  come  over  to 
America,  and  searched  the  parish  records,  making 
extracts  of  such  portions  as  related  to  the  family  in 
old  times.  After  he  had  made  a  large  number  of 
extracts  he  was  accosted  by  the  curate  and  informed 
that  he  must  pay  half  a  crown  for  each  extract  he 
had  made,  the  whole  amounting  to  between  twenty 
and  thirty  dollars.  After  a  somewhat  warm  contro- 
versy in  regard  to  the  iniquity  of  such  a  charge,  a 
compromise  was  effected  and  he  was  permitted  to 
take  away  the  extracts  he  had  made  at  a  somewhat 
reduced  rate,  although  the  amount  that  he  had  to 
pay  was  a  large  sum,  when  it  is  considered  that  he 
did  the  copying  himself.  Such  is  the  mode  of  doing 
business  in  some  parts  of  the  "tight  little  island." 
Alvechurch  is  about  a  dozen  miles  from  Birmingham. 
Dr.  William  Baylies  was  one  of  the  original  pro- 
prietors of  the  old  Dighton  and  Berkley  Bridge,  and 
was  active  in  securing  the  incorporation  of  the  com- 
pany of  which  he  was  a  member.  The  act  of  incor- 
poration commences  as  follows:  "Feb.  24,  1801, 
Samuel  Tobey,  William  Baylies,  Thomas  B.  Rich- 
mond, George  Ware,  Benjamin  Crane,  Luther  Crane, 
and  Thomas  Carpenter  (2d),  with  such  other  persons 
as  are  now  associated,  or  shall  hereafter  become  asso- 
ciated, are  incorporated  in  the  Dighton  and  Berkley 
Bridge  Company."  The  building  of  the  bridge  was 
strenuously  opposed  by  those  interested  in  the  coast- 
ing business  in  Taunton  and  other  towns  on  the  river, 
as  the  following  paper  drawn  up  at  the  time  to  lay 
before  the  Legislature  will  show.  The  paper  is  in- 
teresting as  showing  the  extent  of  the  trade  and  man- 
ufactures of  Taunton  at  that  time. 

"Objections  to  a  Bridge  Being  Built  Across  Taunton  Great 
Riyf.r  Below  the  Weir  Bridge. 

"First.  There  are  sixteen  coasting  vessels  owned  and  employer}  above 
the  place  where. the  said  bridge  is  intended  to  be  built,  drawing  from 
six  to  seven  and  a  half  feet  of  water,  ten  of  which  pass  and  repass  to 
Providence,  Bedford,  etc.,  twenty-five  times  each  a  year,  at  least;  the 
other  six  pass  and  repass  to  and  from  New  York,  Philadelphia,  Connec- 
ticut, New  Jersey,  etc.,  at  least  eight  times  each  a  year,  freighted  wholly 
with  the  manufactures  of  Taunton  and  the  neighboring  towns  out,  and 
generally  bringing  back  raw  materials  and  grain,  making  in  the  whole 
five  hundred  and  ninety-six  times  the  said  vessels  will  have  to  pass  said 
bridge  in  a  year,  being  a  damage  to  the  voyages  of  the  smaller  vessels 
of  at  least  twelve  shillings,  and  of  the  larger  vessels  of  at  least  twenty- 
four  shillings  each  time  they  have  to  pass  said  bridge,  amounting  to 
four  hundred  and  five  pounds  four  shillings  a  year. 

"Secondly.  As  there  are  three  difficult,  rocky,  and  dangerous  places 
to  pass  above  and  below  the  place  said  bridge  is  to  stand,  unless  at  slack 
water,  by  reason  of  the  rapidity  of  the  current  .  .  .  from  five  to  fifteen 
minutes  detention  would  render  it  unsafe  attempting  to  pass  said  places, 
by  which  detention  they  would  frequently  lose  a  fair  wind,  and  be  de- 
tained several  days;  besides,  Lhe  -aid  vessels  now  pass  up  and  down  at 
all  times  of  night,  which  they  could  not  do  if  -aid  1  ridge  is  built,  to 
their  great  damage.  There  are  also  frequently  vessels  passing  up  and 
down  that  are  not  owned  in  the  river. 

"Thirdly.  That  there  are  at  least  three  millions  of  bricks  made  in 
Taunton  a  year,  nearly  all  of  them  transported  down  said  river,  which 
business  jives  employment  to  a  large  number  of  men  and  teams,  and 
which  must  be  stopped  if  there  is  any  additional  expense  in  getting  the 
bricks  to  market. 


236 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


"Fourthly.  That  there  are  manufactured  in  Tauuton  and  vicinity 
eight  hundred  tons  of  ironware,  at  least,  the  furnaces  at  which  it  is 
made  depending  in   a  great  measure  upon  ore  freighted  up  Taunton 
Kiver,  and  that  there  are  seven  hundred  tons  of  bar-iron  slit  and  rolled    j 
in  Taunton,  and  made  into  nails,  shovels,  etc.,  giving  employment  to  a 
large  number  of  men,  the  greater  part  of  said  manufactures  being  car-   i 
ried  down  said  river,  the  vessels  engaged  in  the  business  bringing  back 
corn  and  provisions  to  supply  the  workmen  employed,  and  we  believe    j 
that  if  there  is  any  further  obstruction  to  the  navigation  of  said  river 
the  said  business  will  eventually  be  destroyed. 

"  Fifthly.  We  believe  that  a  bridge  across  said  river  will  be  of  no  con- 
siderable advantage  to  the  public,  as  there  is  no  considerable  place  of 
business  on  the  river  below  Tauuton,  and  but  very  few  people  cross  the 
ferries,  at  one  of  which,  not  a  mile  below  where  it  is  intended  to  build 
said  bridge,  does  not  bring  into  the  ferryman  more  than  six  or  seven 
pounds  a  year,  and  the  other  ferry,  about  two  miles  below  where  the 
said  bridge  is  intended  to  be  built,  does  not  more  than  pay  the  expense 
of  boat  and  tender."  1 

Notwithstanding  the  weighty  arguments  advanced 
against  a  bridge  in  the  foregoing  paper,  the  commerce 
of  Taunton  was  not  destroyed  by  its  being  built,  and  it 
has  since  survived  the  building  of  two  more  bridges 
across  the  river.  But,  whatever  effect  they  may  have 
had  on  Taunton,  the  railroad  bridges  have  cut  off  to 
a  large  extent  the  maritime  commerce  of  Dighton 
to  the  great  benefit  of  Somerset.2 

Mary  Baylies,  a  sister  of  Nicholas  Baylies,  father 
of  William  Hodijah  and  Thomas  S.,  married  Col. 
Ezra  Richmond,  of  Dighton,  who  served  in  the  British 
army  in  the  old  French  and  Indian  war,  but  where  I 
am  unable  to  state.  He  was  a  justice  of  the  peace, 
and  filled  several  responsible  civil  offices.  He  was  a 
man  of  considerable  influence  in  his  day.  He  lived 
in  the  house  built  by  Jared  Talbot,  opposite  the  old 
meeting-house  on  the  hill,  and  he  died  Sept.  15, 1800, 
aged  eighty-two  years.  His  son,  Thomas  B.  Rich- 
mond, Esq.,  was  also  a  justice  of  the  peace,  and  filled 
the  town  offices  of  town  clerk,  selectman,  and  assessor. 
He  married  Elizabeth  Fales,  and  lived  on  the  old 
homestead.  They  had  seven  children.  Their  son 
Charles  married  Sarah  Crocker,  of  Taunton,  and  was 
one  of  the  noted  manufacturing  firm  of  Crocker  & 
Richmond,  of  that  town.  Thomas  B.  Richmond's 
daughter,  Elizabeth  F.,  married  Rev.  Samuel  Tobey,  , 
of  Berkley,  and  his  daughter  Harriet  married  Job 
Gardner,  who  formerly  carried  on   the   business  of 


1  The  old  Dighton  and  Berkley  bridge  was  torn  down  in  1853,  and  re- 
built in  1873. 

2  Besides  the  injury  done  to  the  commercial  interests  of  Dighton  by   j 
the  railroad  bridges,  they  have,  by  practically  converting  the  river  into   j 
a  canal,  deprived  us  of  an  important  source  of  aesthetic  gratification. 
Formerly  the  river,  for  nine  or  ten  months  in  the  year,  was  enlivened 
by  the  white  sails  of  various  sorts  of  craft,  but  all  that  has  been  changed; 
ugly  and  noisy  little  tugs,  with   uglier  barges  in  tow,  or  strings  of 
schooners  under  bare  poles,  have  taken  the  place  of  the  white  wings  of 
the  coasters.     A  vessel  under  sail  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  and  in- 
spiring objects  that  man  has  created,  especially  when  beating  against  a 
strong  wind  ;  a  river  without  vessels  or  boats  under  sail  is  deprived  of 
half  its  beauty.     It  is  easy  for  one  who  has  always  lived  within  sight  of 
a  navigable  river  to  sympathize  with  John  Buskin,  when  he  says  in  the 
"Stones  of  Venice,"  "that  without  any  manner  of  doubt  a  ship  is  one   j 
of  the  loveliest  tilings  man  ever  made,  and  one  of  the  noblest;  nor  do  I    ] 
know  any  lines  out  of  divine  work,  so  lovely  as  those  of  the  head  of  a 
ship,  or  even  as  the  sweep  of  the  timbers  of  a  small  boat."     And  this 
beauty  of  line  can  only  be  seen  to  its  greatest  advantage  when  the  ves- 
sel is  careening  under  sail. 


globe-making,  in  a  building  that  stood  near  Andrews' 
wharf,  in  Dighton,  and  was  afterwards  used  as  a  ship- 
carpenter's  shop  by  Col.  Darius  Perry,  a  ship-builder 
of  this  place. 

Another  sister  of  Nicholas  Baylies,  named  Esther, 
married  Capt.  Robert  Holmes,  of  Dighton.  They 
came  over  from  England  together  and  fell  in  love  on 
the  voyage.  They  had  a  son  named  Robert,  who  was 
also  a  sea-captain.  He  came  home  from  a  voyage 
sick  with  the  smallpox,  and  died  at  the  early  age  of 
twenty-two.  Their  daughter  Mary  married  Abiel 
Whitmarsh,  of  this  town.  Capt.  Robert  Holmes,  Sr., 
was  cast  away  and  lost  on  Cohasset  Rocks  during  a 
terrible  storm.  Before  leaving  home  he  had  men- 
tioned to  his  wife  Esther,  that  if  she  had  a  son  born 
during  his  absence,  he  should  probably  never  return 
alive  from  the  voyage,  as  in  his  family  for  many  gen- 
erations the  father  had  died  without  seeing  the  son. 
A  boy  was  born  during  the  absence  of  the  father. 
Such  superstitions  were  more  common  at  that  day 
than  at  present. 

I  have  devoted  considerable  space  to  the  Baylies 
family,  but  they  were  a  prolific  race,  and  not  a  few  of 
them  were  prominent  in  public  affairs,  acting  their 
parts  creditably.  The  blood  must  have  been  of  a 
good  strain  to  produce  so  many  worthy  and  capable 
men  and  women,  notwithstanding  the  saying  that 
has  been  handed  down  in  the  family  that  they  were 
all  descended  from  Old  Nick,  in  allusion  to  the  an- 
cestral Nicholas  of  Alvechurch. 

Period  of  the  War  of  1812.— Judging  from  the 
town  records,  the  military  history  of  Dighton  during 
the  war  of  1812  might  be  as  brief  as  the  famous 
chapter  on  the  snakes  in  Iceland,  in  the  old  history: 
"There  are  no  snakes  in  Iceland."  So  there  is  no 
military  history  of  the  town  during  the  last  war 
with  Great  Britain  to  be  found  in  the  records. 
Many  of  the  able-bodied  citizens  must  have  served 
in  the  army  and  the  navy,  but  no  statement  is 
made  of  their  number,  nor  are  any  of  the  names 
of  the  soldiers  given.  No  doubt  the  people  here, 
as  elsewhere,  had  thought  and  talked  a  great  deal 
about  the  long  series  of  insults  and  aggressions  we 
had  endured  from  the  mother-country,  and  which 
made  reparation  on  her  part  the  only  alternative  of 
war.  The  Federalists,  with  whom  the  war  was  not 
popular,  were  in  a  minority  here. 

On  the  19th  of  June,  1812,  President  Madison, 
urged  on  by  the  fiery  zeal  of  his  political  advisers, 
issued  his  proclamation  of  war.  On  August  31st  a 
town-meeting  was  held,  at  which  it  was  voted  to  sup- 
port the  government  of  the  United  States  in  the  war, 
and  to  pay  each  man  drafted  into  the  service  five  dol- 
lars a  month,  in  addition  to  the  government  pay.  At 
another  meeting  the  men  who  went  in  defense  of  New 
Bedford,  when  that  port  was  threatened  with  an  at- 
tack from  the  enemy,  were  voted  a  like  sum  in  addi- 
tion to  their  pay  from  the  State.  This  is  all  the  in-' 
formation  to  be  got  from  the  town  record-  in  regard 


DIGHTON. 


23"! 


to  the  war  of  1812.  Nor  are  the  names  of  the  men 
who  served  in  the  war  to  be  found  among  the  archives 
at  the  State  House.  Inquiring  at  the  adjutant-gen- 
eral's office,  I  was  told  that  the  old  record  books  con- 
cerning the  war  of  1812  had  been  sent  to  Washington 
upon  demand  of  the  general  government  some  years 
ago,  and  that  the  State  authorities  had  never  been 
able  to  get  them  back,  although  they  had  endeavored 
to  do  so.  Dighton  was  represented  in  the  roster  of 
the  Fourth  Regiment,  Second  Brigade,  at  that  time, 
by  Senior-Maj.  Abraham  Briggs,  who  held  the  office 
until  the disbandment  of  the  regiment.  Dighton  then 
had  three  companies  of  militia,  Ezekiel  Francis  being 
captain  of  the  first  company,  Simeon  Talbot  of  the 
second,  and  Hezekiah  Anthony  of  the  third.  These 
companies  were  a  part  of  the  Fourth  Regiment  of  the 
Second  Brigade,  Joseph  E.  Reed,  of  Troy  (now  Fall 
River),  being  the  lieutenant-colonel  commanding  the 
regiment. 

At  the  conclusion  of  peace  between  the  United 
States  and  Great  Britain,  the  people  of  this  town, 
Democrats  as  well  as  Federalists,  no  doubt  rejoiced 
as  heartily  as  the  people  of  any  part  of  the  country, 
for  the  chief  industry  of  the  town  after  farming,  the 
building  of  vessels,  had  been  at  a  standstill  while 
hostilities  had  lasted.  Immediately  after  peace  was 
declared  the  deserted  ship-yards  resounded  with  the 
ring  of  the  carpenter's  axe  and  the  calker's  mallet. 
Vessels  were  in  great  demand  to  fill  the  places  of  the 
nearly  seventeen  hundred  destroyed  or  captured  by 
the  British  cruisers  during  the  war. 

During  the  progress  of  the  war  disputes  and  di- 
visions between  the  north  and  south  parts  of  the  town 
had  culminated  in  the  secession  of  the  north  part, 
and  its  incorporation  on  the  8th  of  June,  1814,  as 
the  town  of  Wellington,  named  after  the  Iron  Duke. 
The  exact  causes  of  the  separation  are  not  well  known" 
at  the  present  time,  but  it  is  probable  that  matters 
relating  to  the  ministry  and  the  meeting-houses  had 
some  connection  with  the  difficulties  that  led  to  the 
secession  of  the  north  part,  and,  possibly,  political 
dillerenees  and  disappointed  politicians  may  have 
been  among  the  causes.  Two  cotton-manufactories 
had  recently  been  built  at  North  Dighton,  which  had 
increased  considerably  the  population  and  taxable 
property  of  that  part  of  the  town,  and  it  was  esti- 
mated that  more  than  three-fifths  of  the  population 
and  property  were  on  the  Wellington  side  of  the  line. 
The  men  in  the  north  part  who  engineered  the  bill 
for  the  new  township  through  the  Legislature,  seem 
to  have  been  shrewder  in  looking  out  for  their  own 
interests  than  their  neighbors  of  the  south  part.  The 
dividing  line,  after  leaving  the  Segreganset  River,  a 
short  distance  above  its  mouth,  followed  the  east  and 
west  roads  most  of  the  way  to  the  Rehoboth  line. 
In  the  act  of  incorporation  the  north  side  of  the  road 
is  the  dividing  line,  throwing  the  whole  cost  of  keep- 
ing these  roads  in  repair  upon  the  town  of  Dighton. 
Then  the  paupers,  of  whom  there  were  twenty,  were 


divided  equally  between  the  two  towns,  which  was 
unjust  to  Dighton,  Wellington  having  more  popula- 
tion and  more  property.  The  people  of  Dighton 
afterwards  petitioned  the  Legislature  to  rectify  these 
matters,  but  nothing  came  of  the  petition.  The  Buck 
Plain  meeting-house,  which  had  been  used  as  a  town- 
house,  was  in  Wellington,  and  the  town-meetings  of 
Dighton  were  now  held  in  the  school-house  that 
stood  a  short  distance  east  of  the  Lower  Four  Corners, 
and  which  was  much  too  small  for  the  purpose.1 

At  the  first  town-meeting  in  Wellington,  Gamaliel 
Church  was  chosen  moderator;  Joseph  Gooding,  town 
clerk;  Thomas  B.  Richmond,  Nathaniel  Wheeler,  and 
Nathaniel  Pierce,  selectmen ;  David  Williams,  Heze- 
kiah Anthony,  Matthew  Briggs  (2d),  Ephraim  Good- 
ing, and  Thomas  Pierce,  assessors;  and  Ephraim 
Gooding,  town  treasurer.  Ninety-three  votes  were 
cast.  By  the  division  Dighton  was  left  with  only  one 
selectman,  Dr.  William  Wood.2  At  a  town-meeting 
held  soon  after,  Capt.  Rufus  Whitmarsh  and  Sala- 
thiel  Jones  was  chosen  to  fill  the  vacancies.  Ninety- 
four  votes  were  cast  in  the  Dighton  meeting.  The 
people  of  Wellington  did  not  find  that  their  condi- 
tion and  prospects  were  improved  by  being  set  off  as 
a  separate  township.  On  the  contrary,  their  taxes 
were  increased,  for  they  had  now  a  set  of  town  officers 
whose  services  must  be  paid  for  by  themselves  with- 
out the  help  of  the  people  of  Dighton.  After  about 
a  dozen  years'  separation  they  were  glad  to  give  up 
their  autonomy  as  a  separate  township  and  to  resume 
business  under  the  old  name.  The  town  was  reunited 
to  Dighton  Feb.  22,  1826.  The  following  is  the  peti- 
tion of  the  Wellington  people  to  the  General  Court 
to  be  again  united  with  Dighton  : 

"  To  the  Honorable,  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the  Com- 
monwealth of  Massachusetts  in  General  Court  assembled : 
"The  undersigned  petitioners,  being  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Wel- 
lington, humbly  showeth:  That  iu  the  year  1814  the  town  of  Welling- 
ton was  set  off  from  the  town  of  Dighton  ;  that  great  inconveniences 
have  arisen  from  this  measure,  and  that  it  would  be  for  the  m«tual  bene- 
fit of  the  inhabitants  of  both  towns  to  have  the  same  again  united  into 
one  town  by  the  name  of  Dighton. 

"  First,  Becau-e   there  is  a  town-house  which  both  towns  own,  and 


1  This  school-house  was  afterwards  sold  by  the  town  ;  it  was  purchased 
by  Ebenezer  Stetson,  who  moved  it  over  opposite  the  Congregational 
meeting-house,  and  made  a  dwelling-house  of  it.  Stetson  had  lost  one 
of  his  legs  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  He  was  a  tailor  by  trade,  and 
added  to  that  occupation  the  duties  of  sexton.  There  are  many  who 
will  recall  his  familiar  appearance  as  he  rang  the  meeting-house  bell  on 
Sundays,  standing  with  the  stump  of  his  leg  on  the  back  of  an  old  chair 
for  support,  and  pulling  away  lustily  at  the  bell-rope  while  he  talked 
with  the  people  who  loitered  in  the  porch  belore  the  services  commenced. 
His  stern  features  and  sterner  voice  had  an  awe-inspiring  effect  on  mis- 
chief-loving boys,  though  he  was  in  reality  a  kind-hearted  man. 

2  Dr.  William  Wood  was  a  native  of  Swansey.  He  practiced  medicine 
in  Dighton  for  many  years.  His  name  has  been  mentioned  in  the  list 
of  collectors  of  customs  for  the  port  of  Dighton.  He  died  Jan.  17,  1833, 
in  the  sixtieth  year  of  his  age.  His  first  wile  was  Mary  Mosier,  of  Dart- 
mouth ;  his  second  was  Mary  Ware,  widow  of  Dr.  George  Ware,  and  his 
third  wife  was  Bridget  Briggs.  Dr.  Alfred  Wood,  his  son  by  his  first  wife, 
also  practiced  medicine  here  for  many  years,  and  was  also  interested  in 
the  nursery  business.  His  daughter,  Adeline,  by  his  second  wife,  mar- 
ried Dr.  Charles  Talbot,  of  this  town,  lately  deceased.  By  his  last  wife 
he  had  two  sons, — William  and  Daniel. 


238 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


which  Wellington  only  uses,  and  which  is  situated  nearly  in  the  terri- 
torial centre  of  the  two  towns,  but  which  both  towns  decline  to  repair. 

"Secondly,  Because  controversies  have  arisen  as  to  the  maintenance 
of  paupers,  which  would  be  done  away  with  by  such  union. 

"Thirdly,  Because  the  population  of  the  two  towns  is  of  a  convenient 
number  for  one  town  only. 

"Fourthly,  Because  town  expenses  would  be  diminished. 

"Fifthly,  Because  the  proposed  union  would  make  a  town  of  con- 
venient territorial  extent,  viz.,  about  four  miles  square. 

"  Sixthly,  Because  there  is  a  large  majority  of  the  inhabitants  of  both 
towns  who  desire  this  union.     And,  as  in  duty  bound,  will  ever  pray. 

"  Josiah  Reed,  and  ninety-eight  others. 

"  Wellington,  May  30, 1825." 

A  similar  petition,  signifying  that  Barkis  was 
"  willin',''  was  sent  from  Dighton,  signed  by  Hodijah 
Baylies  and  fifty-four  others.  Among  the  town  officers 
of  Wellington  during  its  brief  existence  were  Joseph 
Gooding,1  Jonathan  Jones,  and  Harvey  Harnden,  town 
clerks;  Thomas  B.  Richmond,  Nathaniel  Wheeler, 
Gamaliel  Church,  Thomas  S.  Baylies,  Nathaniel 
Pierce,  Ephraim  Gooding,  George  Walker,  Peleg 
Francis,  John  Walker,  Barnabas  Crane,  Matthew 
Briggs,  Neh.emiah  Walker,  Benjamin  Trafton,  and 
David  Perry,  selectmen.  The  representatives  sent  to 
the  General  Court  were  Nathaniel  Wheeler,  in  1816, 


1  The  Goodings  of  this  town  can  trace  their  ancestry  back  to  the  be- 
ginning of  the  seventeenth  century.  George  Gooding,  third  son  of 
Matthew  and  Joannna,  was  born  in  1G33,  at  Huutworthy,  parish  of 
North  Petherton,  in  Somersetshire,  England.  While  he  was  yet  a 
young  man  he  came  to  America,  and  settled  first  in  Taunton  and  after- 
wards on  the  South  Purchase,  of  which  he  was  one  of  the  earliest  set- 
tlers, and  was  the  clerk  of  the  proprietors.  He  married,  in  16S6,  Debo- 
rah Walker,  daughter  of  James  Walker,  of  Taunton.  Their  only  son, 
Matthewr,  was  born  June  12, 1695  ;  in  1723  he  married  Abigail  Richmond, 
of  Middleborough.  Joseph  Gooding,  son  of  the  last  couple,  was  born  in 
Dighton  July  1,  1729.  He  married  Rebecca  Macomber,  of  Taunton. 
Joseph  Gooding,  Jr.,  the  oldest  son  of  the  last  couple,  was  born  March  6, 
1773,  in  Dighton;  he  was  the  town  clerk  of  Wellington,  referred  to 
above,  and  was  a  watchmaker  by  trade.  He  married  Betsey  Austin,  of 
Dighton.  They  had  six  children,— Abigail,  Albert,  Joseph,  William, 
Betsey,  and  Charles  Henry.  The  latter  now  owns  and  occupies  the 
family  homestead  near  the  Dighton  and  Berkley  bridge.  He  married 
Mary  A.  Talbot,  u£e  Briggs.  His  brother  Albert  married  Abigail  B. 
Williams,  daughter  of  Nathaniel.  Betsey  married  Samuel  Thaxter,  of 
Fall  River.  Rebecca  married  Dr.L.yuian  Bartlett,  of  New  Bedford.  The 
old  family  Bible,  two  hundred  years  or  more  old,  is  still  extant,  though 
sadly  dilapidated  through  the  hard  usage  of  colonial  days,  when  Bibles 
were  read  more  than  they  are  at  the  present  day.  The  George  Gooding, 
first  above  mentioned,  was  one  of  the  proprietors  of  the  South  Purchase, 
and  there  is  a  deed  extant,  written  on  parchment,  dated  Feb.  24,  1689, 
in  which  is  conveyed  to  him  for  a  consideration  of  ten  pounds  one  share 
of  laud  in  the  South  Purchase  by  Nathaniel  Shove,  son  of  Rev.  (leorge 
Shove,  of  Taunton.  At  the  bottom  of  the  deed  is  the  following  memo- 
randum by  the  purchaser : 

"  This  is  to  declare  that  my  father-in-law,  James  Walker,  gave  me  the 
money  that  bought  the  laud  mentioned  in  the  deed,  for  which  I  humbly 
thank  him." 

Another  branch  of  the  Gooding  family,  of  which  George  E.  Gooding, 
Esq.,  is  a  representative,  is  descended  from  George  Gooding,  born  in 
1723.  He  was  the  son  of  Matthew,  and  brother  to  the  first  mentioned 
Joseph.  George  had  a  son  named  Ephraim,  born  in  1704,  and  Ephraim 
a  son  named  Ebenezer,  born  in  1794,  who  was  the  father  of  Deacon  G. 
E.  Gooding,  above  mentioned. 

Another  old  family  homestead  near  the  Dighton  and  Berkley  bridge 
is  that  of  the  Standish  family,  lineal  descendants  of  the  doughty  old 
pilgrim,  Miles  Standish,  whose  courtship  Longfellow  made  the  theme  of 
one  of  his  poems.  The  present  representatives  of  the  family  in  this 
town  are  Thomas  D.  Standish,  his  sou  James  C.,  and  a  daughter.  David 
Standish,  brother  of  Thomas  D.,  died  some  years  ago.  The  brothers  were 
ship-carpenters  by  trade. 


and  again   in   1826;  Gamaliel   Church  in  1817,  and 
Thomas  S.  Baylies  in  1819. 

The  Great  September  Gale  of  1815.— The  great 
cyclone  and  tidal  wave  of  Sept.  23,  1815,  are  still 
vividly  remembered  by  some  of  our  townspeople, 
while  younger  generations  have  heard  them  so  fre- 
quently talked  about  that  they  seem  to  many  almost 
as  if  occurring  within  their  own  remembrance.  It 
was  probably  the  most  destructive  gale  that  has 
visited  New  England  since  its  settlement  by  white 
men.  The  storm  commenced  on  Friday,  the  22d, 
with  a  high  northeast  gale  and  heavy  rain,  which 
continued  until  the  next  morning,  when  the  wind 
veered  to  the  east ;  between  eight  and  nine  o'clock  it 
shifted  to  the  southeast,  blowing  almost  a  hurricane, 
and  sending  a  tidal  wave  up  the  bays  and  rivers  along 
the  coast  twelve  feet  higher  than  the  highest  spring- 
tides. Had  the  wind  continued  to  blow  in  the  same 
direction  the  tide  would  probably  have  risen  much 
higher,  but  at  half-past  eleven  A.M.  the  wind  sud- 
denly changed  to  the  west,  and  the  tidal  wave  sub- 
sided as  rapidly  as  it  had  arisen. 

If  less  damage  was  done  in  Dighton  by  this  fearful 
gale  than  in  Providence,  Newport,  and  other  large 
towns,  it  was  only  because  there  was  less  property  to 
be  destroyed.  A  large  brig  broke  from  her  moorings 
and  went  ashore  above  the  town  landing.  When  the 
tide  fell  she  was  so  far  inland  that  she  could  not  be 
launched,  and  was  sold  at  auction  for  less  than  the 
old  iron  was  worth.  A  new  ship,  just  completed, 
also  went  ashore  near  the  town  landing.  Ways  were 
laid,  and  repeated  efforts  to  launch  her  were  made. 
Her  owners  had  nearly  given  up  the  idea  of  getting 
her  off,  when  one  day,  while  the  workmen  were  at 
dinner,  the  ship  suddenly  started  and  slid  gracefully 
down  the  ways  and  into  the  river,  to  the  great  aston- 
ishment of  the  laborers  on  their  return  from  dinner. 
In  some  of  the  houses  near  the  river  the  water  rose 
nearly  to  the  chamber  floors,  and  they  would  have 
been  swept  away  by  the  heavy  waves  that  dashed 
against  them  had  it  not  been  for  the  huge,  old-fash- 
ioned chimneys  which  held  them  in  their  places. 
Fortunately  no  lives  were  lost,  although  one  old  bed- 
ridden lady,  named  Bourne,  had  a  narrow  escape. 
When  the  tide  entered  the  house  she  was  placed  by 
her  friends  on  the  top  of  a  chest  of  drawers,  while 
the  family  were  driven  up  stairs  by  the  rapidly-rising 
tide.  Soon  the  old  lady's  retreat  was  overflowed,  and 
she  would  have  been  drowned  had  not  one  of  the 
floor-boards  overhead  been  loosely  fastened,  so  that 
those  in  the  attic  could  take  it  up,  when  a  hole  was 
broken  in  the  lath-and-plaster  ceiling  of  the  room 
below,  through  which  the  old  lady  was  pulled  up. 
That  was  in  the  old  Cartwright  -house,  that  stood  on 
the  corner,  near  the  town-landing  ;  it  was  afterwards 
moved  off  and  used  as  a  carpenter's  shop.  Nearly  all 
the  fences  and  walls  for  some  distance  from  the  river 
were  destroyed,  trees  were  uprooted,  the  wells  were 
filled  with  salt  water,  the  outhouses  demolished,  and 


DIGHTON. 


239 


many  fowls  and  domestic  animals  drowned.  When 
the  waters  subsided  people  went  searching  among  the 
wreckage  that  strewed  the  line  of  high-water  mark 
for  their  missing  goods  and  chattels. 

An  aged  lady,  who  lived  on  Richmond  Hill  at  the 
time,  tells  me  that  she  could  see  the  great  waves  dash- 
ing over  the  houses  that  stood  near  the  river,  which 
seemed  like  a  raging  sea,  while  large  oak-trees,  in  a 
grove  near  by,  were  snapping  off  like  pipe-stems  as  the 
fiercer  gusts  of  the  cyclone  struck  them.  Windows 
for  many  miles  inland  were  covered  on  the  outside 
with  a  film  of  salt  deposited  by  the  briny  scud  lifted 
from  the  waves  and  borne  along  by  the  gale.  In 
Providence  several  hundred  buildings  were  destroyed, 
and  the  damage  was  estimated  at  a  million  and  a 
half  of  dollars.  The  coast  was  strewn  with  wrecks, 
and  several  men  from  this  town  were  lost  by  ship- 
wreck. There  have  been  many  heavy  September 
gales  since,  but  that  of  1815  is  still  known  as  the  Sep- 
tember gale.     Long  may  it  retain  that  honor. 

First  Congregational  Society. — The  founding 
of  the  First  Congregational  Society  of  this  town, 
with  Rev.  Nathaniel  Fisher  as  its  minister,  has  al- 
ready been  sketched  as  far  as  the  few  existing  docu- 
ments relating  thereto  will  permit.  Mr.  Fisher  ap- 
pears to  have  been  a  worthy  man  and  a  faithful 
minister.  When  age  and  infirmities  overtook  him 
the  society  procured  him  an  assistant,  Rev.  John 
Smith,  at  an  annual  salary  of  twenty  pounds.  To- 
wards the  last  of  his  life  Mr.  Fisher  found  great 
difficulty  in  collecting  his  salary,  and  in  1871  he  was 
compelled  to  bring  a  suit  against  the  town  for  the 
non-payment  of  his  rates,  and  recovered  fifty-three 
pounds  for  the  deficiency  of  two  years.  It  is  prob- 
able that  the  more  mercenary  of  those  who  were 
thus  obliged  to  pay  for  some  years  the  preacher's 
salary,  when  he  was  no  longer  able  to  preach,  may 
have  had  misgivings  as  to  the  wisdom  of  the  custom 
of  hiring  a  minister  for  better  or  for  worse  as  long 
as  he  should  live,  and  would  have  been  able  to  sym- 
pathize with  the  old  farmer  whose  property  had  been 
mostly  swallowed  up  by  the  doctor's  bills  for  his 
wife's  protracted  sickness,  when  he  expressed  the 
wish  that  Betsey  might  get  well  or — something.  Mr. 
Fisher  was  buried  on  the  Will  burying-ground,  but 
there  is  no  inscribed  stone  to  mark  the  spot,  nor  a 
tablet  anywhere  to  record  that  such  a  man  ever 
lived  and  preached  in  this  town.  Towards  the  last 
of  his  ministry  the  Quakers  and  Baptists  were  re- 
leased from  paying  their  rates  to  support  the  min- 
ister, which  added  to  the  burthen  of  those  belong- 
ing to  the  society.  In  1768  the  following-named 
Quakers  were  thus  released  by  a  vote  of  the  town: 
Edward  Shove,  Asa  Shove,  George  Shove,  Theophilus 
Shove,  Edward  Southwick,  Michael  Smith,  Samuel 
Baker,  William  Boyce,  and  Ephraim  Chubb.  These 
all  live  on  the  east  side  of  the  river. 

Mr.  Fisher  was  succeeded  in  the  ministry  by  Rev. 
John  Smith,  who  had  been  his  assistant.     Mr.  Smith 


came  from  Plainfield,  Conn.  He  graduated  at  Prince- 
ton College.  Mr.  Smith  was  generally  liked  by  the 
society,  but  how  long  he  continued  to  preach  does  not 
appear  ;  he  was  still  the  minister  of  the  society  near 
the  close  of  the  century;  he  was  finally  dismissed  in 
good  standing.1  When  he  left  Dighton  he  went  as 
a  missionary  to  Canandaigua,  in  New  York  State,  and 
was  instrumental  in  the  purchase  and  clearing  of  six 
hundred  acres  of  land  in  that  town,  and  the  founding 
thereon  of  a  seminary  of  learning.  He  thence  re- 
moved to  Kentucky,  where  he  died  about  the  year 
1820,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years,  leaving  four 
sons.  One  of  his  grandsons  was  Prof.  W.  B.  Smith, 
of  Union  Theological  Seminary. 

The  successor  of  Mr.  Smith  was  Rev.  William  War- 
ren, of  New  Ipswich,  N.  H.  He  graduated  at  Dart- 
mouth College  in  the  year  1800,  and  was  ordained  in 
1802.  He  married  Clarissa  Davis,  of  this  town.  He 
commenced  to  preach  under  favorable  circumstances. 
He  was  very  popular  in  his  society  for  some  time,  but 
after  eight  or  nine  years  he  became  inattentive  to  his 
ministerial  duties,  and  devoted  a  part  of  his  time  to 
the  practice  of  medicine.  He  gave  up  his  salary,  ex- 
cepting what  individuals  were  pleased  to  give  him,  be- 
came intemperate  in  his  habits,  and  was  dismissed  in 
1815.  When  he  left  Dighton  he  either  carried  with 
him  all  the  records  of  the  church  or  destroyed  them,  as 
they  were  not  to  be  found  afterwards.  He  removed  to 
Salem,  where  he  practiced  medicine  with  considera- 
ble success,  but  his  morals  did  not  improve,  and  in 
1820  he  was  excommunicated.  For  a  number  of  years 
after  he  left  here  there  was  no  regular  preaching  in 
the  First  Church,  which  declined  greatly  in  the  num- 
ber of  its  members  until  only  a  few  were  left.  In 
1826,  Rev.  William  Torrey  preached  here  for  a  short 
time. 

In  1827,  Rev.  Preston  Cummings  was  engaged,  and 
was  installed  December  26th.  He  preached  till  1835, 
when  he  was  honorably  dismissed.  He  was  followed 
by  Rev.  Jonathan  King,  who  stayed  for  a  year,  and 
was  dismissed  in  1837.  In  1838,  Rev.  John  Shaw  was 
installed  as  pastor.  He  was  dismissed  in  1843.  Mr. 
Shaw  was  followed  in  1844  by  Rev.  Joseph  H.  Bailey. 
Mr.  Bailey  died  the  same  year,  much  lamented  by 
the  church  and  society.  In  this  year  the  church  re- 
ceived two  donations  of  money,  the  interest  on  which 
was  to  be  devoted  to  the  support  of  the  ministry. 
The  donations  were  from  Deacon  Samuel  Walker  and 
Samuel  Walker,  Jr.,  and  the  amount  was  about  seven 
hundred  dollars.  As  the  church  could  not  hold  prop- 
erty, even  in  trust,  the  donations  were  transferred  to 

1  At  the  time  Mr.  Smith  was  settled  there  wrisa  warm,  though  friendly, 
contest  between  those  of  the  society  who  were  in  favor  of  having  him 
for  the  minister  and  those  who  were  in  favor  of  a  Mr.  Staples,  who  had 
been  preaching  on  probation.  The  question  as  to  which  of  them  should 
be  settled  over  the  society  was  put  to  vote  in  the  Buck  Plain  meeting- 
house, those  in  favor  of  Mr.  Smith  being  directed  by  the  moderator  t<> 
go  on  the  women's  side  of  the  house  (the  sexes  were  kept  apart  in  the 
meeting-house  in  those  days),  while  those  in  favor  of  Mr.  Staples  went 
on  the  men's  side.    The  former  was  found  to  be  the  larger  party. 


540 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


the  society.  After  Mr.  Bailey's  death  Rev.  Malachi 
Bullard,  of  Med  way,  preached  three  months,  and  Rev. 
E.  B.  Claggit  filled  the  pulpit  for  a  short  time.  Rev. 
William  Walker,  of  Dighton,  a  licentiate  preacher  of 
the  Baptist  order,  also  preached  occasionally.  In 
1845,  Rev.  George  Brown,  from  Maine,  filled  the 
pulpit,  hut  left  at  the  end  of  a  year.  In  1852,  Rev. 
E.  Newhall  stayed  for  about  two  months.  In  1853, 
Rev.  Ezra  Newton  was  called.  Mr.  Newton  stayed 
till  August,  1855.  He  was  followed  in  1856  by  Rev. 
E.  Sanford,  of  Raynham,  who  remained  until  May, 
1860.  Mr.  San  ford's  successor  was  Rev.  E.  Dawes,  who 
preached  until  1879,  when  he  received  a  call  to  the 
pastorate  of  a  church  in  Lakeville.  Mr.  Dawes  was 
followed  by  Rev.  E.  J.  Moore,  and  he  by  the  present 
pastor,  Rev.  William  B.  Green. 

The  brick  meeting-house,  the  place  of  worship  of 
the  Central  Church  and  Society,  which  formerly  met 
in  the  Buck  Plain  meeting-house,  was  built  in  the 
year  1826.  It  was  dedicated  on  the  1st  day  of  May, 
1827. 

Second  Congregational  Society. —  When  the 
referees  from  Attleborough  had  stuck  up  the  stake 
on  Buck  Plain  in  1768,  as  the  proper  place  to  build  a 
meeting-house  to  replace  the  one  burnt  on  the  hill, 
there  was  much  dissatisfaction  among  the  people 
living  in  the  east  and  south  parts  of  the  town.  The 
stake  on  the  plain  might  be  in  the  exact  geographical 
centre  of  the  township,  but  it  was  by  no  means  in  the 
centre  of  population.  The  business  and  wealth  of 
the  town  were  chiefly  along  the  lower  streets,  nearer 
the  river,  where  were  also  to  be  found  the  best  farms 
and  more  than  half  of  the  population.  Nevertheless, 
the  meeting-house  was  built  on  the  plain,  and  the 
people  in  the  eastern  and  southern  sections  of  the 
town  paid  their  proportion  of  the  cost,  and  went  regu- 
larly up  among  the  scrub-oaks  on  Sundays  for  many 
years,  facing  many  a  bitter  northwester  on  the  way 
to  meeting.  Meanwhile  they  had  resolved  to  have  a 
meeting-house  nearer  their  homes,  and  their  efforts 
in  this  direction  resulted  in  the  raising  and  covering 
of  the  Second  Congregational  meeting-house,  now 
occupied  by  the  Unitarian  Society,  near  the  Lower 
Four  Corners.  So  much  had  been  accomplished  by 
the  new  society  just  before  the  Revolution.  During 
the  war  the  resources  of  the  people  were  too  heavily 
taxed  in  meeting  the  calls  of  the  government  for  men 
and  money  for  them  to  raise  the  amount  required  to 
complete  the  new  meeting-house,  which  was  conse- 
quently left  in  an  unfinished  state,  without  windows 
or  doors.  While  in  this  condition  the  building  was 
for  some  time  used  as  a  sheep-pen  by  Capt.  Rufus 
Whitmarsh,  who  owned  the  adjoining  farm.  After 
the  war  two  tracts  of  land  were  given  by  Col.  Syl- 
vester Richmond  and  Joseph  Atwood  for  a  minis- 
terial fund  for  the  use  of  the  Pedo  Baptist  Congre- 
gational Church  and  Society  at  the  Four  Corners. 
In  February,  1797,  it  was  voted  by  the  society  that 
the  trustees  of  this  property  should  immediately  sell 


the  wood  and  timber  on  the  land,  and  that  six  hun- 
dred dollars  of  the  money  arising  from  the  sale  should 
be  devoted  to  repairing  the  meeting-house,  the  re- 
mainder to  be  nut  at  interest,  and  the  interest  to  be 

A.  7 

used  in  the  support  of  a  minister.  The  house  was 
accordingly  repaired,1  and  in  1798  the  Rev.  John 
Smith  undertook  to  heal  the  breach  in  the  two  socie- 
ties by  preaching  alternate  Sundays  at  Buck  Plain 
and  at  the  Four  Corners,  but  this  arrangement  did 
not  last  long,  and  when  Mr.  Smith  left  Dighton  a 
permanent  separation  between  the  two  societies  took 
place.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Allen  preached  for  a  short  time 
after  Mr.  Smith's  departure,  as  did  also  Rev.  George 
Barstow,  and  both  were  invited  by  the  society  to  settle 
with  them,  but  probably  the  salary  offered  (four  hun- 
dred dollars)  was  not  a  sufficient  inducement  to  these 
gentlemen,  as  both  declined. 

In  June,  1803,  the  society  met,  and  voted  "  that 
Mr.  Abraham  Gushee  be  and  is  hereby  invited  to 
take  upon  him  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  society  by 
settling  with  them  in  the  ministry  of  the  gospel." 
It  was  then  voted  to  pay  him  four  hundred  dollars  a 
year  as  long  as  he  should  remain  with  them,  in  case 
he  accepted  the  offer,  and  Thomas  B.  Richmond, 
James  Briggs,  and  Josiah  Wardwell  were  chosen  a 
committee  to  notify  him  of  the  society's  proposals. 
Mr.  Gushee  accepted  the  call,  and  was  ordained 
Sept.  23,  1803,  eleven  churches  being  invited  to  at- 
tend the  ordination  by  their  pastors  or  by  delegates. 
Mr.  Gushee  was  the  pastor  of  the  society  for  more 
than  half  a  century.  He  was  born  in  Raynham,  Sept. 
19,  1775,  and  graduated  at  Brown  University  in  1798. 
His  ancestors  were  French.  After  the  revocation  of 
the  Edict  of  Nantes  in  1685,  about  one  hundred  and 
fifty  French  Huguenots  came  over  to  Massachusetts, 
where  large  numbers  of  their  posterity  are  still  to  be 
found.  Among  these  refugees  were  two  brothers, 
Henri  and  David  Gachet,  who  came  from  Rochelle, 
France.  Their  name  has  since  been  Anglicized  into 
two  distinct  names,  the  descendants  of  the  older 
brother,    Henri,    writing    it   Gassett,   and    those    of 

1  The  steeple  of  the  meeting-house  was  not  added  until  a  generation 
after  the  house  was  finished  as  above  stated.  The  four  timbers  forming 
the  corners  of  the  square  tower  were  long,  heavy  sticks,  and  as  to  get- 
ting them  upright  was  beyond  the  engineering  resources  of  the  carpen. 
ters  who  were  to  build  the  steeple,  they  called  upon  Capt.  Anthony 
Shove  to  superintend  the  job.  Capt.  Shove  procured  ship's  tackles,  and 
with  the  aid  of  shears  and  a  windlass,  readily  hoisted  the  sticks  into 
their  places.  After  the  square  tower  was  finished  the  spire  was  built 
inside  of  it,  and  Capt.  Shove  also  superintended  the  hoisting  of  that 
into  position. 

Capt.  Anthony  Shove,  father  of  the  writer  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in 
Freetown,  March  21,  1787.  His  parents,  Joseph  and  Lois,  were  Quakers. 
He  was  a  descendant  of  Rev.  George  Shove,  of  Taunton,  one  of  the  origi- 
nal proprietors  of  the  Taunton  South  Purchase.  Capt.  Shove  married 
Abby  Bowen,  daughter  of  David  Bowen,  ship-builder  of  this  town.  They 
had  five  children,  two  daughters  and  three  sons, — Joseph,  David  B.,  and 
George  A.  Capt.  Shove  in  early  life  was  a  shipmaster,  making  voyages 
to  England  and  up  the  Mediterranean.  He  was  chairman  of  the  board 
of  selectmen  for  several  years,  and  was  four  times  chosen  to  represent 
the  town  in  the  Legislature,  viz.,  in  1840, 1841,  1846,  aud  1852.  He  was 
also  postmaster  for  a  number  of  years.  He  died  suddenly  Jan.  2, 1858. 
His  widow  survived  him  fourteen  years. 


DIGHTON. 


241 


David  converting  it  into  Gushee.  When  the  division 
between  the  Orthodox  or  Evangelical  Congregational- 
ists  and  the  Unitarians  took  place,  Mr.  Gushee  joined 
the  latter,  and  ever  afterwards  preached  the  Unitarian 
doctrines.  Mr.  Gushee  died  Oct.  25,  1861,  at  the  age 
of  eighty-six  years.  In  person  he  was  tall  and  some- 
what spare  of  flesh,  and  he  was  erect  and  dignified  in 
his  bearing.  In  his  best  days  his  sermons  were  well- 
written,  able  discourses.  Mr.  Gushee's  first  wife  was 
Bathsheba  Tobey,  daughter  of  Samuel  Tobey,  of 
Berkley,  by  whom  he  had  seven  children, — Maria, 
Almond,  Frederick  A.,  Horace,  Silas  T.,  Julia  A.,  and 
Bathsheba.  His  oldest  son,  Almond,  practiced  medi- 
cine in  Warren,  R.  I.  He  married  Elizabeth  Williams, 
daughter  of  Nathaniel  Williams,  Esq.,  of  Dighton. 

In  1861  the  Unitarian  meeting-house  was  remod- 
eled and  repaired  at  an  expense  of  nearly  two  thou- 
sand dollars,  the  old  galleries,  pulpit,  and  pews  were 
taken  out,  the  two  tiers  of  small  windows  were 
changed  into  one  tier  of  long  ones,  and  other  im- 
provements were  made,  including  the  purchase  of  an 
organ.  Rev.  Francis  Le  Baron  received  a  call  from 
the  society,  staying  with  them  one  year.  Mr.  Le 
Baron,  like  Mr.  Gushee,  was  of  Huguenot  descent. 
He  was  a  man  of  fine  presence,  of  an  enthusiastic  and 
poetic  temperament,  which  characteristics  were  dis- 
played in  his  discourses,  and,  while  he  was  genial 
and  companionable,  he  was,  perhaps,  not  altogether 
without  a  consciousness  of  possessing  culture  and  in- 
tellectual gifts  superior  to  most  of  those  with  whom 
he  associated.  After  leaving  Dighton  he  gave  up 
preaching,  and  removing  to  the  West,  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  barrels  by  machinery,  in  company 
with  Rev.  William  Chamberlain,  formerly  a  Univer- 
salist  preacher  in  this  town. 

Mr.  Le  Baron  was  succeeded  in  1863  by  Rev.  Fiske 
Barrett,  who  resigned  in  1866,  and  was  followed  by 
Rev.  J.  L.  Hatch,  who  stayed  one  year.  In  1868, 
Rev.  Mr.  Kelso  supplied  the  pulpit.  Mr.  Kelso  was 
a  Spiritualist,  in  the  best  sense  of  this  unpopular  term. 
Mr.  Kelso's  successor  was  Rev.  F.  E.  Kittredge,  who 
stayed  until  1874,  when,  owing  to  domestic  troubles,  he 
resigned  and  weut  West,  where  he  procured  a  divorce 
from  his  wife  and  married  a  Western  lady.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Rev.  John  Wills,  an  Englishman,  who  re- 
signed in  1876,  and  was  followed  by  W.  H.  Reeby, 
now  of  Norton,  and  he  by  the  present  pastor,  Rev. 
Obed  Eldridge. 

The  ministerial  fund  is  now  between  five  and  six 
thousand  dollars.  After  the  sale,  in  1797,  of  the 
wood  and  timber  from  the  land  donated  to  the  society, 
about  one  thousand  dollars  remained  as  a  permanent 
fund  when  the  bills  for  repairing  the  house  were 
paid.  The  trustees  named  in  the  act  of  incorporation, 
which  was  approved  by  the  Governor  June  25, 1798, 
were  William  Baylies,  Silvester  Richmond,  John 
Hathaway,  Hodijah  Baylies,  Joseph  Atwood,  Silves- 
ter Atwood,  Jr.,  David  Andrews,  George  Ware,  and 
Thomas  B.  Richmond.  They  were  authorized  to  hold 
16 


funds  to  the  amount  of  eight  thousand  five  hundred 
dollars. 

The  George  Ware  mentioned  as  one  of  the  trustees 
was  Dr.  George  Ware,  who  died  Jan.  7,  1805,  aged 
forty-four  years.  His  father  had  practiced  medicine 
before  him  in  Dighton,  and  was  also  named  George. 
He  died  Feb.  16, 1771,  aged  thirty-seven.  They  were 
both  considered  skillful  physicians,  as  was  also  Dr. 
William  Ware,  brother  of  the  first  George,  who  prac- 
ticed medicine  for  many  years  in  this  town.  He  died 
about  the  year  1764,  leaving  a  widow  and  several 
children.  His  widow,  who  was  a  daughter  of  Eliakim 
Walker,  afterwards  married  Col.  Thomas  Church. 
Dr.  William  Ware  lived  on  the  Broad  Cove  road.  He 
owned  the  farm  now  belonging  to  Weston  Earle.  The 
old  farm-house  was  torn  down  some  years  ago.  Dr. 
George  Ware  and  his  son  George  lived  on  a  farm 
about  a  third  of  a  mile  east  of  Pitt's  Corner.  It  is 
still  known  as  the  Ware  farm,  and  contains  the  family 
burying-ground.  A  story  has  been  handed  down  con- 
cerning the  first  Dr.  George  and  the  selection  of  a  site 
for  the  family  burying-ground,  which  is  to  the  follow- 
ing effect:  The  doctor  had  searched  his  farm  over  in 
vain  for  a  suitable  place  for  the  family  cemetery ; 
where  the  land  was  not  wet  and  swampy  it  was  cov- 
ered with  rocks.  In  this  dilemma  he  offered  a  friend 
who  was  making  him  a  visit  five  dollars  if  he  would 
find  a  suitable  spot  on  the  farm  for  a  burying-place. 
After  considerable  search  the  gentleman  announced 
that  he  had  found  the  right  place,  which  was  where 
the  family  burial-lot  was  afterwards  walled  in.  Dr. 
Ware  assured  his  friend  that  the  spot  was  altogether 
too  wet  for  the  purpose,  and  that  whoever  was  laid 
there  would  have  the  rheumatism  in  their  bones. 
"  Well,  it  may  be  as  you  say,  doctor,  but  it  is  the  only 
place  that  is  at  all  suitable  on  your  farm,  and,  con- 
sidering how  you  will  be  situated  hereafter,  the  wet- 
ness of  the  soil  ought  to  be  a  recommendation."  Dr. 
Ware  was  too  fond  of  bantering  others  to  be  offended 
when  the  tables  were  sometimes  turned  upon  himself. 
His  friend's  decision  was  accepted  without  further 
demur,  but  whether  the  five  dollars  were  paid  over  or 
not  tradition  does  not  state.  George  Ware,  Sr.,  mar- 
ried Mary  Winslow. 

Dr.  George  Ware  the  younger  married,  in  1785, 
Polly  Andrews,  daughter  of  Capt.  Elkanah  Andrews. 
They  had  eight  children.  Their  oldest  daughter, 
Polly,  was  the  second  wife  of  Capt.  Seth  Talbot,  of 
this  town.  Capt.  Talbot  represented  the  town  in  the 
Legislature  in  1829.  He  was  father  of  the  late  Dr. 
Charles  Talbot,  who  had  a  large  practice  as  a  physi- 
cian for  many  years  in  this  and  neighboring  towns. 
Dr.  Talbot  was  formerly  postmaster,  and  in  1874 
represented  the  Tenth  Bristol  District  in  the  Legis- 
lature. He  was  a  man  of  large  influence  in  town 
affairs,  and  was  a  leading  member  of  the  Unitarian 
Society.  He  was  born  in  Dighton,  March  30,  1811, 
and  died  June  6,  1880.  He  graduated  from  the  Har- 
vard Medical  School  in  1835. 


242 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Capt,  Seth  Talbot's  brother,  Capt.  Eben  Talbot,  was 
captain  of  the  second  company  of  Dighton  militia 
from  1814  to  1817,  and  held  the  offices  of  selectman 
and  assessor  for  several  years. 

The  Baptist  Church —In  the  year  1771  there  was 
a  general  revival  among  the  Baptists  in  Rehoboth  and 
in  the  adjoining  towns.  Sixty  members  were  added 
to  Elder  Wick's  church  in  Rehoboth.  Quite  a  num- 
ber of  these  new  converts  were  Dighton  people,  to 
whom  it  was  a  great  inconvenience  to  attend  meeting 
at  such  a  distance.  Enoch  Goff  and  other  members 
were  therefore  allowed  to  hold  meetings  in  this  town. 
Mr.  Goff  was  in  favor  of  communion  with  those  who 
had  not  been  immersed.  Being  a  man  of  considera- 
ble force  of  character,  other  members  were  led  through 
his  influence  to  adopt  similar  views,  and  the  result 
was  that  a  church  was  organized  in  the  west  part  of 
Dighton  in  1772.  Mr.  Goff  was  chosen  pastor  of  the 
church,  and  as  they  had  no  meeting-house  he  was  or- 
dained in  the  barn  of  a  Mr.  Briggs.  The  sermon  on  the 
occasion  was  preached  by  Elder  Lyon,  of  Canterbury, 
and  Elder  Jacob  Hicks  gave  the  hand  of  fellowship. 

Not  much  is  known  of  Elder  Goff  s  early  life.     He 
was  born  in  Dighton,  Nov.  3,  1740,  was  baptized  in 
1771,  and  began  to  preach  the  same  year.     During 
the  Revolution  he  served  for  a  short  time  as  a  private 
in  the  army.     In  person  he  was  short  in  stature,  but 
strongly  built.     Though  intensely  earnest  and  zealous 
in  his  religious  belief,  he  was  yet  cheerful  and  social 
in  his  intercourse  with  his  friends  and  neighbors,  and 
was  liked  by  all  who  knew  him.     The  members  of 
his  church  were  to  him  as  his  children.     When  in- 
vited to  the  pastorate  of  a  church  in  Providence,  he 
answered,  "I  cannot  leave  my  family."     The  reply 
was  that  he  was  expected  to  bring  his  family  with 
him.     "But  my  family  is  very  large;  there  are  two 
hundred  and  fifty  members  in  it."     He  was  a  shoe- 
maker by  trade,  and  supported  his  family  by  making 
and  mending  shoes,  as  he  never  had  a  salary.    He  was 
an  illiterate  man,  having  attended  school  but  very 
little.     He  had  a  stentorian  voice,  which  in  summer- 
time, when  the  meeting-house  windows  were  open, 
could  be  heard  for  a  long  distance.     In  1781,  David 
Simmons  (or  Seamans)  was  ordained  as  his  colleague. 
In  1780  the  church  completed  the  meeting-house, 
which  had  been  commenced  some  time  before,  the 
site  being  near  the  Rehoboth  line.     It  was  a  small 
structure,  had  rough  benches  instead  of  pews,  and 
had  neither  stove  nor  fireplace.     The  circumstances 
attending  its  dedication  were  in  the  highest  degree  im- 
pressive, for  it  was  dedicated  on  the  "  dark  day,"  May 
19, 1780,  a  day  of  intensified  gloom,  which  must  have 
strangely  affected  the  congregation  of  farmers  and 
their  families,  many  of  them,  no  doubt,  illiterate  and 
superstitious,  who  had  assembled  at  the  dedication. 
The  sermon  on  the  occasion  was  preached  by  Elder 
Knapp.    In  1796  a  larger  and  better  finished  house  was 
built,  about  one  mile  north  of  the  first  one,  and  which 
has  been  known  ever  since  as  Elder  Goff's  meeting- 


house, although  it  is  not  now  in  possession  of  the  de- 
nomination to  which  he  belonged.  Elder  Goff's  con- 
gregation came  from  other  towns  besides  Dighton  and 
Rehoboth,  and  there  were  members  of  his  church  in 
Freetown,  Berkley,  Somerset,  and  Taunton.  At  one 
period  his  church  consisted  of  more  than  three  hun- 
dred members.  He  continued  to  preach  regularly 
until  1806,  when,  his  health  failing,  Elder  Ephraim 
Sawyer  was  called  to  the  pastorate,  although  Mr. 
Goff  still  preached  occasionally.  The  oldest  records 
belonging  to  the  church  commence  in  1807,  when 
there  were  one  hundred  and  ninety-one  members. 
In  1808  there  was  a  revival,  and  fifty-seven  were 
added  to  the  church.  The  next  year  there  was  a 
schism  among  the  members,  and  the  trouble  con- 
tinued for  two  years,  when  thirty  members  were 
excluded  for  having  em'braced  what  the  majority 
considered  erroneous  doctrines. 

From  November,  1807,  to  October,  1813,  two  hun- 
dred and  sixty-two  members  were  received  into  the 
church.  But  while  so  many  were  received,  the  strict- 
ness of  the  discipline  caused  many  to  be  excluded 
after  having  been  members  for  a  short  time,'  while 
deaths  and  removals  further  diminished  the  number, 
so  that  in  1826  there  were  only  one  hundred  and 
thirty-nine  belonging  to  the  church. 

Elder  Goff  died  March  17,  1810.  His  widow,  Deb- 
orah, died  in  1816.  They  had  two  children,  Deborah 
and  Shubael.  In  1813,  Mr.  Silas  Hall,  of  Raynham, 
came  to  labor  in  the  church,  and  was  ordained  the 
same  year.  He  remained  only  one  year.  In  1816, 
Mr.  Bartlett  Pease,  of  New  Bedford,  was  ordained 
pastor.  In  1820  sixty-five  members  were  added  to 
j  the  church.  Mr.  Pease  left  in  1821.  During  his  stay 
i  there  was  quite  a  large  party  in  the  church  in  sym- 
pathy with  those  who  were  excluded  in  1811  for 
having  become  infected  with  what  was  termed  the 
I  "  heresy  of  Unitarianism."  In  1821  a  Mr.  Lovejoy 
was  called  to  preach.  Lovejoy  seems  to  have  accepted 
too  literally  the  apostolic  saying  about  being  all  things 
to  all  men.  His  sermons  in  the  church  were  of  the 
orthodox,  Trinitarian  pattern,  but  when  he  met 
with  the  factions  that  had  been  excluded  he  ex- 
pressed views  that  were  radically  Unitarian.  Mr. 
Lovejoy  was  dismissed  at  the  end  of  a  year,  and  his 
dismissal  was  so  unacceptable  to  many  that  the  party 
who  were  in  his  favor  withdrew  from  the  church  and 
held  separate  meetings.  Thirty  members  were  ex- 
cluded soon  afterwards,  including  two  of  the  deacons. 
The  Unitarian  faction  finally  obtained  possession  of 
the  meeting-house,  which,  under  the  name  of  the 
Christian  Baptist  Society,  they  retain  at  the  present 
time,  the  Rev.  Otis  W.  Bates  being  now  the  pastor. 


1  The  following  entry  in  the  church  records  of  1S2R  shows  that  at  that 
date  there  were  sporadic  cases  of  a  disorder  that  has  since  become  almost 
an  epidemic.  At  a  church  meeting  "  Brother  Green  reported,  in  rela- 
tion to  Sister  Lewis,  that  he  had  found  her  gilty  of  an  incurable  eavle, 
having  divorced  hir  husband  and  married  again,  contra  to  the  laws  of 
God." 


DIGIITON. 


243 


From  1822  to  1827  the  church  had  no  settled  pas- 
tor ;  in  the  latter  year  Mr.  Caleb  Greene,  of  New 
Bedford,  was  ordained.  At  this  time  the  church 
numbered  only  one  hundred  members.  Mr.  Greene 
remained  until  1831.  In  1832,  Eev.  John  Reed  was 
called,  and  stayed  till  1836.  He  was  followed  by  Mr. 
J.  L.  Wittemore,  who  was  ordained  in  May,  1837, 
and  remained  until  1840.  The  next  year  the  church 
was  without  a  pastor,  and  had  but  forty-one  members. 
They  were  accustomed  to  meet  in  the  school-house  at 
the  Lower  Four  Corners,  and  sometimes  at  private 
houses.  In  1842  the  church  voted  "  to  make  an  effort 
to  build  a  meetingdiouse  at  the  Four  Corners,  and 
that  the  church  be  located  there."  The  house  was 
completed  in  1845  at  a  cost  of  about  sixteen  hundred 
dollars,  the  whole  amount  having  been  raised  and 
paid  before  the  dedication. 

During  the  period  they  had  been  without  a  meet- 
ing-house they  had  been  supplied  with  preachers  for 
most  of  the  time.  Mr.  John  B.  Parris,  a  licentiate, 
was  with  them  for  about  a  year  and  a  half.  Caleb 
Blood  and  Charles  F.  Colver,  then  students  at  Brown 
University,  also  preached  for  a  time,  as  did  also 
Alexander  W.  and  Samuel  Carr.  After  the  dedication 
of  the  new  house,  Mr.  James  Andern  was  ordained 
pastor  Nov.  13,  1845.  The  sermon  on  the  occasion 
was  by  W.  H.  Shailer,  D.D.  Mr.  Andern  remained 
about  a  year,  and  was  succeeded  in  1847  by  Rev. 
Edwin  Stillman,  who  stayed  until  1851.  While  he 
was  here  there  was  a  revival,  and  seventeen  persons 
were  baptized. 

During  the  ten  years  that  followed  Mr.  Stillman's 
departure  the  church  was  without  a  resident  pastor, 
excepting  for  six  months,  when  Rev.  S.  A.  Thomas 
preached.  They  were  generally  supplied  with  preach- 
ing, however,  and  there  were  some  additions  to  the 
church.  At  that  time  it  was  classed  as  one  of  the 
■"  feeble  churches,"  and  received  aid  from  the  Taun- 
ton Baptist  Association,  to  which  it  belongs.  In 
1861,  Rev.  L.  Kinney  commenced  to  preach.  Mr. 
Kinney's  successors  have  been  Rev.  Mr.  Latham, 
Rev.  Mr.  Horton,  Rev.  J.  C.  Boomer,  and  the  present 
pastor,  Rev.  A.  W.  Carr,  who  has  been  with  the  church 
since  1874.  Within  a  few  years  a  handsome  parson- 
age has  been  built  near  the  church  by  the  society, 
and  an  organ  purchased.  There  are  eighty-four 
members  in  the  church  at  the  present  time. 

First  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. — Not  much 
is  known  in  regard  to  the  early  days  of  the  Meth- 
odist Church  at  North  Dighton.  If  records  were 
kept  of  the  proceedings  in  the  church  and  society  at 
that  period,  they  are  not  now  to  be  found. 

In  the  year  1814,  Israel  Anthony  moved  to  North 
Dighton  from  Somerset,  and  through  his  influence 
there  was  occasionally  Methodist  preaching  in  that 
village,  by  Rev.  John  Tinkham,  from  Easton,  and  by 
others  whose  names  are  unknown.  In  1815,  or  early 
in  1816,  Rev.  Orlando  Hinds  was  on  the  circuit,  and 
a.  revival  commenced,  resulting  in  a  large  number  of 


conversions ;    many  were  baptized  and  received  on 
trial.     After  the  revival  had  subsided  a  reaction  set 
in,  and  the  record  states  that  the  conduct  of  some  of 
the  leading  members  was  such  as  to  greatly  militate 
against  the  prosperity  of  the  infant  society.     There 
is    no  record  of  the  formation  of  the  church,  and 
probably  no  one  living  knows  when  it  was  formed. 
From  1815  to  1823  the  following  preachers  were  sta- 
tioned here:  Rev.  Orlando  Hinds,  who  died  in  1820; 
Rev.  Elisha  Streeter,  Rev.  Isaac  Bonney,  and  Rev. 
Jason  Walker.     As  there  was  no  meeting-house  they 
preached  sometimes  in  the  school-house,  sometimes 
in  the  Long  House  on  the  island,  and  occasionally  in 
the  loft  over  the  store.     A  Quarterly  Meeting  was 
held  at  the  Long   House  at  one  time  at  which  so 
many  attended  that  the  house  was  full  to  overflowing, 
and  sails  had  to  be  procured  to  make  a  temporary 
shelter  for  the  crowd  outside.     The  first  authentic 
record  extant  is  a  class  paper,  dated  Wellington,  July 
31,  1823.      Abiathar  White,    leader;    Rev.  Hermon 
Perry  and  Rev.  A.  Tummins,  circuit  preachers;  Rev. 
J.  A.  Merril,  presiding  elder.    In  1831,  Revs.  F.  Dane 
and   H.   Waldron  were  stationed   at  Somerset   and 
North  Dighton.    One  hundred  and  fifty-seven  dollars 
was  raised  at  the  latter  place  to  pay  the  preachers. 
In  1832,  Rev.  W.  Emerson  and  Rev.  J.  D.  Baldwin 
were  stationed  on   the  circuit,  and  the  sum  of  two 
hundred  and  eighty-six  dollars  was  collected  from 
Dighton,    Taunton,    Rehoboth,    and    Somerset.      In 
1833,  Rev.  F.  Dane  was  stationed  at  North  Dighton. 
A  meeting-house  had  been  commenced  in  1830,  and 
was  finished  in   1831.      Rev.  L.   Bates,  of  Bristol, 
preached    the    dedication    sermon.      In    1834,   Rev. 
Thomas  Gile  was  stationed  there;  the  preachers  suc- 
ceeding him  up  to  the  time  of  building  the  present 
meeting-house  were  as  follows:  in  1835,  Rev.  Elias 
Scott;  1836,  C.  Howard;  1837,  John  Bailey,  B.  Oth- 
man,  presiding  elder;  1838,  D.  Culver;  1839,  Ephraim 
Capen;    1840-41,  Byron  Morse;    1842,  G.  H.  Win- 
chester (fifty  members  in  the  church) ;  1843,  Charles 
Carter;  1844,  E.  A.  Lyon;  1845,  A.  Gardner;  1846, 
Richard  Donkersly;  1847,  William  Cone,  and  also  in 
1848;  1849,  Franklin  Garett;  1850,  W.  H.  Richards; 
1851,  A.  N.  Bodfish,  also  in  1852  (this  year  a  reed 
organ  was  purchased,  taking  the  place  of  the  bugle, 
clarionets,  and  trumpets,  which  had  hitherto  furnished 
the  instrumental  music  in  the  church) ;  1853,  P.  Cady  ; 
1854-55,  C.  Banning;  1856,  Charles  H.  Titus  (presid- 
ing elder;  church  members,  one  hundred  and  five; 
on  probation,  twenty;  five  hundred  and  fifty  dollars 
paid  the  preacher)  ;  1858,  H.  H.  Smith,  also  in  1859; 
1860,  John  N.  Coolidge ;  1861-62,  Lewis  B.  Bates; 
1863,  Erastus  B.  Benton,  also  in  1864  ;  1865,  Asa  Bod- 
fish (members,  one  hundred  and  seventy-four;  nine 
hundred  dollars  paid  for  preaching). 

In  1865  a  new  meeting-house  was  commenced. 
The  trustees  engaged  in  seeing  to  its  building  were 
Allen  Talbot,  James  H.  Codding,  George  F.  Gavitt 
William  L.  Hathaway,  J.  R.  Talbot,  F.  A.  Horr,  A. 


244 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Chace,  Eliakim  Briggs,  and  J.  W.  Hathaway.  A 
church  was  formed  at  South  Dighton  this  year,  and 
fourteen  members  were  transferred  to  it  by  letter. 
In  1866,  Rev.  A.  N.  .Bodfish  preached.  The  new 
church  was  finished  this  year,  the  whole  cost  being 
about  twenty  thousand  dollars.  It  was  dedicated 
Oct.  11,  1866,  Rev.  Mark  Trapton,  of  Providence, 
preaching  the  dedication  sermon.  The  centenary 
collection  of  the  church  this  year  amounted  to  six 
thousand  five  hundred  dollars,  all,  excepting  five 
hundred  dollars  of  the  amount,  being  given  by  the 
North  Dighton  Furnace  Company.  The  whole  sum 
was  appropriated  towards  paying  for  the  new  church. 
Eight  thousand  four  hundred  and  three  dollars  was 
raised  in  all  by  the  society  this  year.  In  1867,  Rev. 
A.  N.  Bodfish  was  continued  at  North  Dighton,  at  a 
salary  of  one  thousand  dollars  ;  in  1868,  T.  S.  Thomas 
(one  hundred  and  seventy-seven  members  in  the 
church) ;  in  1869,  W.  H.  Stetson,  also  in  1870;  1871, 
E.  T.  Jones;  1872,  G.  W.  Ballou  (salary,  eleven  hun- 
dred dollars;  members,  one  hundred  and  eighty-five; 
probationers,  forty-one;  Sunday-school  membership, 
three  hundred  and  seventeen)  ;  in  1874,  G.  W.  Ballou 
was  continued,  and  also  in  1875;  1876,  Rev.  George 
H.  Bates,  also  in  1877;  in  1879-80,  G.  W.  Wright. 
The  present  pastor  is  George  H.  Bates. 

Second  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.— In  March, 
1866,  an  energetic  effort  was  made  to  establish  a  Meth- 
odist Church  at  Dighton  Four  Corners.  Various  local 
preachers  had  before  this  time  been  preaching,  though 
without  much  regularity,  at  the  Broad  Cove  school- 
house.  At  the  time  referred  to  James  A.  Dean  was 
engaged  to  preach,  and  the  building  that  had  been 
known  as  the  Dighton  Academy  was  purchased  by  a 
joint-stock  company  for  a  meeting-house.  The  upper 
part  of  this  building  had  formerly  been  used  as  a 
Universalist  meeting-house  or  chapel,  as  it  was  called. 
It  had  been  raised  up,  and  a  story  built  underneath. 
The  first  meeting  of  the  Methodists  at  their  new  house 
was  held  April  8,  1866,  Avith  a  congregation  of  about 
fifty  persons.  Before  the  end  of  May  congregations 
of  one  hundred  and  upwards  were  obtained. 

The  church  was  organized  on  the  13th  of  May,  with 
a  membership  of  twenty-three.  A  strawberry  festi- 
val, held  in  June  of  that  year,  netted  one  hundred 
and  fifty-six  dollars,  and  the  proceeds  were  used  to 
purchase  a  cabinet  organ.  In  the  following  Septem- 
ber a  clam-bake,  given  by  the  society  in  Baylies' 
Grove,  added  somewhat  to  the  resources  of  the  young 
society. 

In  1867  a  revival  commenced,  lasting  about  two 
months,  meetings  being  held  almost  every  evening. 
About  forty  converts  were  made.  At  the  close  of  the 
year  the  church  was  in  a  very  prosperous  condition. 
In  1868,  Mr.  Dean,  finding  that  his  salary  would  not 
meet  his  expenses,  left  for  the  pastorate  of  a  church 
in  Providence.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  H.  H. 
Smith,  and  he,  in  1872.  by  Rev.  A.  E.  Hall.  In  1874, 
Mr.  Hall  was  appointed  to  St.  Paul's  Church  in  Prov- 


idence, and  Rev.  V.  W.  Mattoon  was  appointed  in  his 
place.  Mr.  Mattoon  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Dennison 
L.  Brown,  and  he,  in  1877,  by  Rev.  John  Lindsey,  an 
Englishman  by  birth.  Mr.  Lindsey's  successor  was 
Rev.  L.  P.  Causey,  who  was  followed  by  Rev.  S.  E. 
Evans,  and  he  in  turn  by  the  present  pastor,  Rev.  F. 
D.  Sargent.  The  church  is  now  in  a  prosperous  con- 
dition. Annual  clam-bakes  and  strawberry  festivals 
are  an  established  custom  with  the  society,  and  are  a 
material  aid  to  its  finances,  as  they  are  to  the  sister 
society  at  North  Dighton,  and  to  the  Baptist  Society 
at  the  Four  Corners. 

The  Universalist  Society. — Nearly  forty  years  ago 
a  society  of  Universalists  was  formed  at  South  Digh- 
ton, and  a  neat  chapel,  of  the  Greek  temple  or  Par- 
thenon style  of  architecture,  albeit  the  material  was 
wood,  was  built  a  short  distance  east  of  the  Four  Cor- 
ners, on  a  pleasant  and  commanding  site.  At  that 
time,  and  for  some  years  before  and  afterwards,  there 
was  a  remarkable  intellectual  activity  in  New  Eng- 
land. Old  creeds  and  theological  dogmas  were  over- 
hauled and  criticised,  without  regard  to  their  age  or 
the  weight  of  authority  that  supported  them.  It  was 
an  epoch  when  men's  minds  were  uncommonly  recep- 
tive of  new  ideas.  Emerson,  Alcott,  Thoreau,  Mar- 
garet Fuller,  and  other  gifted  and  earnest  men  and 
women  were  searching  in  German  philosophy  and  in 
the  theological  literature  of  India  and  other  Asiatic 
lands,  for  answers  to  questions  that  constantly  recur 
to  thoughtful  minds  as  to  the  meaning  of  this  visible 
universe  and  the  destiny  of  the  human  race.  Nor  was 
this  mental  activity  and  questioning  confined  to  what 
are  termed  the  cultivated  classes.  The  carpenter  at 
his  bench,  the  blacksmith  at  his  forge,  the  shoemaker 
over  his  lapstone,  and  even  the  butcher  and  the  tin- 
peddler  from  their  wagons,  were  wont,  according  to 
their  various  gifts,  to  become  argumentative,  like 
Milton's  angels,  "on  finite,  free-will,  foreknowledge 
absolute,"  or  on  subjects  quite  as  abstruse,  and,  like 
the  angels,  "found  no  end  in  wandering  mazes  lost." 
That  was  a  flourishing  period  for  isms  of  various  sorts, 
some  of  them  based  on  error  and  others  founded  on 
truths  of  the  greatest  moment  to  the  human  race. 
The  Universalist  Society  in  Dighton  was  the  out- 
growth of  this  intellectual  ferment,  although  the  doc- 
trines believed  in  by  the  sect  had  long  been  familiar 
to  many,  through  the  published  sermons  of  John 
Murray  and  other  able  preachers  in  this  denomina- 
tion. Since  the  time  of  Origen  and  others  of  the 
early  church  Fathers,  the  doctrine  of  eternal  torment 
of  the  wicked  after  death  has  been  repulsive  to  many 
intelligent  minds,  driving  some  into  deism,  and  even 
into  atheism,  while  others  have  become  agnostics,  or 
have  taken  refuge  in  Socinianism,  Unitarianism,  or 
Universalism. 

For  several  years  the  society  at  the  Corners  was  in 
a  flourishing  condition,  the  congregation  meeting  in 
the  chapel  being  larger  in  numbers  than  the  one  that 
listened  to  Mr.  Gushee's  sermons  in  the  old  meeting- 


DIGHTON. 


245 


bouse.  But  after  some  years  of  prosperity  various 
causes  led  to  the  decline  of  the  society,  and  the  meet- 
ings were  no  longer  kept  up.  The  chapel  was  sold 
and  was  converted  into  a  school-house,  called  the 
Dighton  Academy.1  The  columns  in  front  were  taken 
off,  the  building  was  raised  up,  and  a  story  or  base- 
ment was  built  underneath.  In  1866,  after  the  fail- 
ure of  the  academy  project,  the  building  was  bought 
by  the  Methodist  Episcopal  society  for  a  meeting- 
house. 

The  names  of  the  Universalist  ministers  who 
preached  at  the  chapel  were  Hewitt,  Hodston,  Cham- 
berlain, and  Arnold.  Of  these,  Mr.  S.  C.  Hewitt  was 
probably  the  most  talented  preacher,  but  was  appar- 
ently lacking  in  the  conservative  elements  of  charac- 
ter that  enter  into  the  composition  of  a  well-balanced 
mind,  this  deficiency  leading  him  to  engage  with  a 
zeal  untempered  with  a  sufficiency  of  knowledge  or 
wisdom  in  a  pseudo  science  like  phrenology,  and  into 
the  wildest  vagaries  while  investigating  what  are 
termed  the  phenomena  of  spiritualism,  a  class  of 
phenomena  needing  for  its  investigation  the  most 
level-headed  common  sense  and  a  thorough  scientific 
training.  When  to  these  qualifications  is  united  a 
fearless  pursuit  of  truth,  we  have  results  such  as  have 
been  given  to  the  world  by  the  distinguished  English 
scientists,  Professor  William  Crooks  and  Professor 
Alfred  E.  Wallace,  and  by  the  equally  distinguished 
German  investigator,  the  late  Professor  Zollner. 

In  those  days  the  odium  theo/ogicum  was  much  more 
bitter  than  at  present,  when  the  advance  of  liberal 
ideas  gives  promise  of  soon  breaking  down  the  walls  of 
sectarian  bigotry  and  prejudice,  and  no  doubt  to  many 
of  other  denominations,  Universalism  and  infidelity 
were  almost  synonymous  terms.  It  may  have  been 
some  narrow-minded  member  of  one  of  the  so-called 
orthodox  societies  who  raked  out  of  the  limbo  of 
things  forgotten,  a  quartrain  of  old  Daniel  Defoe's, 
and  inscribed  it  with  a  pencil  on  one  of  the  columns 
of  the  chapel,  when  the  society  was  in  its  most 
flourishing  condition,  or  it  may  have  been  some  out- 
sider, with  a  turn  for  jesting,  who  had  no  objection  to 
stirring  up  the  Universalists  by  a  little  quotation  from 
an  unfamiliar  source.  Probability,  however,  favors 
the  latter  supposition.     The  lines  were  as  follows : 

"  Whenever  saints  erect  a  house  of  prayer, 
The  devil  always  builds  a  chapel  there  ; 
And  'twill  lie  found,  upon  examination, 
The  latter  has  the  largest  congregation." 


1  It  has  been  called  an  American  peculiarity  to  magnify  the  actual  by 
frequently  using  terms  of  larger  meaning  than  the  facts  will  warrant. 
But  the  pretension  of  terming  an  ordinary  private  school,  without  en- 
dowment, or  library,  or  apparatus,  and  without  a  corps  of  teachers,  an 
"academy,"  is  not  peculiar  to  this  country  nor  to  the  nineteenth  cen- 
tury. When  some  one  inquired  of  Boswell's  father,  the  old  Laird  of 
Auchinleck,  how  James  was  prospering,  the  reply,  in  broad  Scotch,  was 
as  follows:  "There's  Dae  hope  for  Jamie.  Jamie  has  gaen  clean  adaft. 
What  do  you  think,  mon  ?  He's  done  wi'  Paoli — he's  off  wi'  the  land- 
louping  scoundrel  of  a  Corsicau.  And  whose  tail  do  you  think  he  has 
pinned  himself  to  now,  mon?  A  dominie,  mon — an  ould  dominie;  he 
keepit  a  schule,  and  cau'd  it  an  acaademy." 


Such  sallies  as  this  were  but  little  regarded  by  the 
Universalists,2  who  were  wont  to  retaliate  by  repeat- 
ing with  gusto  anecdotes  showing  up  their  orthodox 
friends  in  ridicule,  such  as  the  story  of  the  old  dea- 
con's exhortation  at  a  church  meeting :  "  Brethren, 
there  is,  I  am  sorry  to  say,  a  new  doctrine  going  about 
the  world ;  we  are  told  that  all  men  are  to  be  saved, 
but,  brethren,  let  us  hope  for  better  things." 

The  Christian  Baptist  Societies.— Besides  the 
religious  organizations  of  which  sketches  have  been 
given  there  are  in  Dighton  two  Christian  Baptist 
Churches,  in  regard  to  the  founding  of  which,  or  the 
names  of  the  pastors  that  have  been  settled  over  them, 
I  have  not  been  able  to  obtain  any  information.  The 
first  of  these  is  in  the  west  part  of  the  town,  the  meet- 
ing-house being  the  one  in  which  Elder  Goff  used  to 
preach  and  still  called  by  his  name,  and  the  second 
is  at  North  Dighton.  The  meeting-house  owned  by 
the  latter  society  was  probably  built  about  the  same 
time  as  the  old  Methodist  meeting-house. 

Besides  the  religious  societies  mentioned  there  are 
two  Christian  Baptist  societies  in  this  town,  of  the 
history  of  which  I  have  been  unable  to  obtain  any 
definite  information.  The  one  at  West  Dighton  is 
now  under  the  pastoral  charge  of  Rev.  Otis  H.  Bates, 
and  the  one  at  North  Dighton  is  under  the  charge  of 
Rev.  Mr.  Bacheler. 

Manufactures. — There  are  many  people  now  liv- 
ing who  can  remember  the  days  when  the  spinning- 
wheel,  the  hand-loom,  and  the  dye-tub  were  to  be 
found  in  use  in  almost  every  farmer's  family,  and 
when  homespun  cloth  of  wool  and  of  flax  was  used 
almost  exclusively  for  the  dress  of  men  and  women, 
as  well  as  for  bed  and  table  coverings.  How  the 
women  of  that  time  managed  to  do  all  the  spinning, 
weaving,  and  dyeing  needful  to  be  done  in  their  house- 
holds, and  bring  up  their  large  families  besides,  is  a 
mystery  to  their  novel-reading  granddaughters  of  to- 
day, who  "toil  not,  neither  do  they  spin," — at  least, 
nothing  more  substantial  than  the  yarns  of  gossip. 

There  was,  no  doubt,  as  much  done  in  this  town  in 
early  times  in  the  way  of  such  domestic  manufac- 
tures as  have  been  mentioned  as  in  other  country 
towns  of  its  size.  In  one  industry,  however,  Dighton 
probably  forestalled  all  the  other  towns  in  the  State. 
This  was  the  business  of  raising  silk-worms  and  the 
reeling  and  manufacture  of  silk  from  the  cocoons, 
which  was  introduced  into  this  town  by  Mrs.  Sarah 
Hart  more  than  half  a  century  ago.  Mrs.  Hart  not 
only  raised  and  manufactured  the  silk,  but  she  taught 
the  mysteries  of  the  business  to  others,  so  that  at  one 


-  Among  the  prominent  members  of  the  society  were  Anthony  Keed, 
Joseph  Pitts,  Capt.  William  Cobb,  and  his  two  brothers,  Capts.  George 
and  Benjamin,  Maj.  Charles  Whitmarsh  and  W.  B.  Whitmarsh,  and 
Bradford  Pratt.  Mr.  Keed  was  a  lumber-dealer,  trader,  and  master-car- 
penter; Mr.  Pitts  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade,  was  justice  of  the  peace, 
ami  represented 'the  town  in  the  Legislature  in  IS42-44;  Maj.  Whit- 
marsh was  a  trader  and  ship-builder;  Capt.  W.  B.  Whitmarsh  was  post- 
master for  many  years;  Bradford  Pratt  was  a  surveyor,  school-teacher, 
and  justice  of  the  peace;  he  was  a  member  of  the  Legislature  in  1848-49. 


216 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


time  there  was  quite  a  number  of  people  interested 
in  the  occupation  in  a  small  way.  That  was  about 
the  time  of  the  Moras  multicaulis  mania,  which  was 
started  by  Prince,  the  Flushing,  L.  L,  nurseryman, 
who  had  these,  as  he  described  them,  wonderful  mul- 
berry-trees for  sale,  quite  a  number  of  which  were 
set  out  in  this  town,  and  some  of  them  have  grown 
into  large  trees.  Further  mention  of  the  silk-culture 
and  manufacture  in  Dighton  will  be  found  in  the  ap- 
pendix. Now  that  the  manufacture  of  silk  goods  has 
attained  to  such  dimensions  in  the  United  States, 
there  being  in  1880  three  hundred  and  eighty-three 
factories,  producing  silk  goods  valued  at  over  thirty- 
four  million  dollars,1  it  is  interesting  to  know  that 
this  town  was  the  pioneer  in  the  business  in  this 
State,  and  that  here  were  grown  the  first  specimens  of 
the  larva?  of  the  Bombyx  mori  (or  silk-worm  moth) 
ever  seen  in  Massachusetts. 

The  manufacture  of  textile  fabrics  by  machinery 
was  commenced  in  this  town  in  the  year  1809,  when 
a  small  cotton-factory  was  built  on  the  Three-Mile 
River  at  North  Dighton.2  This  was  called  Wheeler's 
factory,  from  the  agent,  Nathaniel  Wheeler.  This  old 
building,  which  had  been  leased  by  various  parties, 
was  burned  in  February,  1881,  at  the  time  of  the 
paper-mill  fire. 

In  1810  another  and  larger  cotton-mill  was  built  on 
the  Three-Mile  River,  about  a  fourth  of  a  mile  above 
Wheeler's  mill.  The  new  factory  was  for  some  years 
known  as  the  Bristol  mill,  some  of  the  owners  living 
in  that  town.  It  is  now  known  as  the  Mount  Hope 
mill.  The  building  was  raised  on  the  Fourth  of  July, 
a  large  crowd  being  collected  at  the  raising,  and  a 
barrel  of  rum  being  required  to  moisten  the  throats 
of  those  who  worked,  and  of  those  who  assisted,  in 
the  French  sense  of  the  term,  by  looking  on.  Thomas 
S.  Baylies,  who  was  one  of  the  owners,  sold  the  com- 
pany the  land  for  the  mill-site,  and  also  the  water- 
power  privilege,  being  an  inheritance  from  his  father, 
Nicholas  Baylies.  The  property  has  had  a  number  of 
owners  and  lessees,  among  the  latter  being  Theophi" 
lus,  Azariah,  and  Jervis  Shove,  deceased,  who  carried 
on  the  manufacture  of  cotton  goods  for  some  years. 
The  original  building  has  been  enlarged  by  ad- 
ditions. 

The  present  proprietors  of  the  Mount  Hope  mill 
are  Stafford  &  Company,  John  W.  Chadwick  being 

1  The  value  of  the  silk  goods  imported  in  1880  was  thirty-two  million 
eight  hundred  and  ninety-nine  thousand  five  hundred  dollars,  go  that 
we  manufacture  more  than  half  of  the  silk  fabrics  that  we  require. 

-  According  to  information  received  since  the  above  was  written,  the 
old  White-Birch  factory  was  built  in  1S08,  which  would  give  it  pre- 
cedence, in  point  of  time,  over  Wheeler's  factory.  None  of  the  cotton- 
mills  in  Fall  River  had  been  built  at  that  date. 

The  non-intercourse  and  embargo  acts  that  preceded  the  second  war 
with  Great  Britain,  while  they  were  disastrous  to  American  shipping 
interests,  had  all  the  stimulating  effect  of  a  high  protective  tariff  upon 
our  infant  manufactures,  and  thus  helped  materially  towards  our  com- 
plete independence  of  the  mother-country.  Without  the  aid  of  these 
retaliatory  acts  of  Congress  the  Dighton  factories  would  not  have  been 
built. 


the  superintendent.  Six  thousand  four  hundred  spin- 
dles are  run.  About  a  hundred  hands  are  employed, 
turning  out  fifty-four  thousand  pounds  of  hosiery  yarn 
per  month. 

The  other  principal  manufacturing  establishment 
at  North  Dighton  is  the  paper-mill  of  L.  Lincoln  & 
Co.,  which  employs  some  twenty-five  hands,  and  turns 
out  daily  about  six  thousand  pounds  of  manilla  and 
and  other  paper.  The  junior  members  of  the  firm 
are  Edward  and  James  M.  Lincoln.  The  mill  was 
established  in  1850  by  Caleb  M.  and  Lorenzo  Lincoln. 
On  the  death  of  the  first-named,  a  few  years  after- 
wards, the  firm-name  was  changed  to  that  of  L.  Lin- 
coln &  Co.  The  firm  has  been  burnt  out  twice,  the 
last  time  in  1881.  The  new  building  is  a  substantial 
brick  structure,  and  the  mill  is  probably  one  of  the 
best  appointed  in  the  State.  The  property  is  owned 
by  the  Dighton  Manufacturing  Company,  a  firm  that 
was  incorporated  in  1822  for  the  manufacture  of  cot- 
ton goods,  in  what  was  called  Wheeler's  factory.  At 
that  time  the  company  consisted  of  Israel  Brayton, 
Oliver  Chace,  Eliab  B.  Dean,  Elisha  Lincoln,  Nahum 
Mitchell,  James  Maxwell,  Clark  Shove,  Nicholas 
Stevens,  Nathaniel  Wheeler,  and  Nathan  Williams. 
The  company  is  not  now  engaged  in  manufacturing, 
but  leases  all  its  property.  It  owns  real  estate  on  the 
Taunton  side  of  the  river,  as  well  as  in  Dighton,  in- 
cluding the  "  pipe-shop"  on  the  east  side.  This  build- 
ing was  formerly  occupied  by  George  F.  Gavitt,  in 
company  with  others,  for  the  manufacture  of  gas- 
pipes.  It  has  lately  been  converted  into  a  wool- 
washing  establishment,  under  the  firm-name  of  Scott 
&  Talbot.  The  water-power  privilege  is  owned  by 
the  Dighton  Manufacturing  Company.  This  com- 
pany formerly  had  a  small  cupola  furnace  on  the 
"  island,"  where  castings  of  various  kinds  were  made. 
Nearly  two  centuries  ago  there  was  an  iron-furnace 
on  the  island,  owned  by  members  of  the  Walker 
family,  of  Taunton,  who  also  owned  several  hundred 
acres  of  land  in  the  vicinity.  The  Walkers  manufac- 
tured iron  from  bog-ore  dug  on  their  own  land. 
Further  reference  to  this  iron-works  will  be  found  in 
the  appendix,  in  the  genealogical  history  of  the 
Walkers,  and  also  a  brief  mention  of  Nicholas  Ste- 
vens' saw-  and  grist-mill  that  stood  near  the  iron- 
works. 

Another  manufacturing  establishment  at  North 
Dighton  is  the  Waldron  bakery,  established  more 
than  thirty  years  ago  by.Francis  Waldron. 

Although  situated  in  Taunton,  yet  the  Dighton 
Furnace  Company's  works  are  so  near  the  boundary 
line  as  to  make  the  name  seem  not  inappropriate. 
Besides,  the  works  employ  numbers  of  Dighton  men, 
and  the  treasurer,  Mr.  James  H.  Codding,  is  a  resi- 
dent of  this  town.  Not  far  from  one  hundred  and 
fifty  men  are  employed  in  this  establishment,  which 
is  a  great  aid  to  the  prosperity  of  North  Dighton 
village.  If  the  boundary  line  between  Dighton  and 
Taunton  had  been  established  as  was  at  first  contem- 


DIGHTON. 


247 


plated  when  this  town  was  laid  out,  the  Dighton 
Furnace  Works,  the  wool-washing  establishment, 
Rose's  nickel-plating  shop,  the  North  Dighton  Rail- 
road depot,  with  twenty  or  thirty  dwelling-houses 
and  several  hundred  acres  of  land,  which  are  now 
within  the  limits  of  Taunton,  would  belong  to  this 
town.  The  division  line  between  Dighton  and  Taun- 
ton, starting  from  near  the  northwest  corner  of  this 
town,  runs  in  a  straight  line  in  a  southeasterly  course 
until  it  reaches  the  pond  just  above  the  Mount  Hope 
mill ;  thence  it  follows  the  sinuous  course  of  Three- 
Mile  River  down  to  its  junction  with  Taunton  River. 
When  Dighton  was  laid  out  it  was  proposed  that  the 
northern  boundary  line,  instead  of  following  down 
the  Three-Mile  River,  should  continue  straight  on  in 
the  southeasterly  course  to  Taunton  River,  and  across 
the  latter  stream  to  the  Freetown  line.  This  would 
have  brought  the  irregularly  triangular  tract  between 
the  Three-Mile  River  and  Taunton  River  into  this 
town,  where  it  naturally  belongs. 

There  are  many  good  reasons  for  having  this  pro- 
posed boundary  line  established  now,  and  the  triangu- 
lar strip  of  territory  mentioned  annexed  to  Dighton. 
This  would  do  away  with  the  mistakes  and  confusion 
arising  from  the  fact  that  the  North  Dighton  Rail- 
road depot  and  the  Dighton  Furnace  are  now  in 
Taunton.  Besides,  to  use  the  language  of  diplomacy, 
it  would  "  rectify  our  frontier,"  and  would  unite  under 
one  town  government  the  village  that  has  grown  up 
on  both  sides  of  Three-Mile  River,  and  which  now  is 
inconvenienced  by  being  partly  under  town  and 
partly  under  municipal  government.  It  is  believed, 
besides,  that  annexation  to  this  town  would  be  no 
detriment,  but  an  advantage  to  those  dwelling  on  the 
territory  in  question,  or  owning  real  estate  there, 
through  the  much  lower  rate  of  taxation  prevailing 
in  this  town  than  in  Taunton.  The  question  of  an- 
nexation, however,  is  one  in  which  the  people  on  the 
territory  described  must  take  the  initiative. 

Water-Power  of  the  Segreganset. — The  Segre- 
ganset  River  runs  its  course  almost  wholly  within  the 
limits  of  this  town.  Excepting  near  its  mouth,  where 
it  joins  the  Taunton,  it  is  little  more  than  a  brook. 
One  branch  of  it  rises  in  the  west  part  of  the  town, 
near  Goffs  Hill,  and  another  takes  its  rise  in  the  ex- 
treme northwest  corner;  these  branches  unite  at  the 
pond,  just  above  the  saw-mill  and  grist-mill  of  J.  T. 
W.  Reed.  At  this  point,  on  the  east  side  of  the  road, 
there  was  formerly  a  small  cotton-mill,  called  the 
White-Birch  factory,  which  was  burnt  more  than 
forty  years  ago,  while  it  was  being  run  by  David 
Westcoat,  now  of  Taunton.  Just  above  the  site  of 
the  White-Birch  mill  one  Simeon  Williams  had  a 
saw-mill  in  the  last  century,  and  near  by  was,  at  a 
later  date,  the  lap-mill  of  Joshua  Williams,  the  build- 
ing having  been  previously  used  for  the  making  of 
plugs  for  ship-carpenters'  use  by  Isaac  Babbitt. 
About  a  quarter  of  a  mile  west  of  the  brick  meeting- 
house is  the  pond  that  gives  power  for  the  forge  and 


grist-mill  of  Albert  Briggs,  son  of  Joseph  Briggs, 
who  carried  on  business  here  for  many  years.  The 
property  has  been  in  the  family  for  a  long  period. 
About  one  hundred  and  eighty  years  ago  one  Matthew 
Briggs  came  over  from  England,  and  brought  the 
machinery  for  a  forge  and  grist-mill,  which  was  set 
up  at  this  place.  Mr.  Briggs  was  one  of  the  deacons 
of  the  Congregational  Church.  A  part  of  his  busi- 
ness was  the  makiug  of  pod-augers  for  carpenters' 
use,  that  being  in  the  "  good  old  pod-auger  days," 
before  the  screw-auger  was  invented. 

Just  below  the  Briggs  Forge,  and  not  far  from 
Leonard  Horton's  house,  there  was  many  years  ago 
a  fulling-mill,  all  traces  of  which,  as  well  as  its  his- 
tory, have  long  ago  disappeared.  A  short  distance 
below  the  east  and  west  road  that  leads  to  the  Upper 
Four  Corners  is  a  stone  building  which  was  built  in 
1822,  by  Capt.  David  Perry,  for  a  machine-shop.  On 
his  failure  in  business  the  property  was  sold,  and  the 
building  was  afterwards  occupied  as  a  tack-mill  by 
various  parties.  About  a  quarter  of  a  mile  below  the 
stone  building  there  was,  many  years  ago,  a  flaxseed-oil 
mill,  but  by  whom  it  was  owned  or  when  it  was  built 
are  not  now  known.  It  was  an  unfortunate  concern, 
and  the  machinery  was  said  to  have  been  bewitched 
by  an  old  woman  who  had  a  spite  against  the  owner. 
No  sooner  was  it  started  to  running  than  some  part 
of  it  would  break  down.  The  iron  spindle  of  the  mill- 
stone seemed  to  be  the  particular  object  of  the  old  lady's 
evil  spells,  for  it  would  melt  down  almost  as  soon  as 
the  mill  started,  although  its  bearings  were  liberally 
supplied  with  tallow  and  other  lubricants.  That  was 
long  after  the  time  of  that  zealous  divine  and  witch- 
hunter,  Cotton  Mather,  and  none  of  the  women  of 
the  neighborhood  were  hung  or  tortured  on  suspicion 
of  having  bewitched  the  oil-mill.  The  building  was 
afterwards  used  as  a  tub-  and  pail-factory  by  a  Mr. 
Willard,  the  lower  part  being  used  by  Mr.  Cummings 
as  a  blacksmith-shop.  The  witch  spell  seemed  to 
cling  to  it  to  the  end,  for  it  took  fire  from  friction  one 
night,  and  was  destroyed.  A  plank  had  been  run 
through  the  spokes  of  the  water-wheel  to  prevent  its 
turning,  but  a  freshet  coming  on,  the  pressure  of  the 
water  broke  the  plank,  and  the  machinery  started 
into  rapid  motion.  As  there  was  not  enough  oil  on 
the  bearings  to  prevent  friction,  the  building  was  in 
flames  before  morning.  Afterwards  a  saw-mill  was 
built  on  the  site  by  Joseph  Briggs.  About  half  a 
mile  below  the  site  of  the  oil-mill  was  the  tack-factory 
of  Nathaniel  Leonard  &  Son,  built  about  the  year 
1845,  and  which  ran  twenty-two  machines  until  within 
a  few  years,  when  the  concern  was  sold  out  to  the 
combination  of  tack    manufacturers,  and    has   since 

been  idle. 

Mr.  Leonard  was  a  skillful  mechanic,  and  for  some 
years  was  the  only  manufacturer  in  the  county  of  the 
plated  rolls  used  by  jewelers.  He  was  also  the 
inventor  of  a  tack-machine  identical  with  what  is 
called  the  Blanchard  machine,  but  was  forestalled  in 


248 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


getting  a  patent  by  Blanchard.  Some  distance  below 
the  Leonard1  factory,  on  the  road  that  was  formerly 
one  of  the  boundaries  between  Dighton  and  Welling- 
ton, was  the  grist-mill  known  as  Simmons'  mill,  which 
has  not  been  running  for  many  years. 

Of  all  the  many  manufacturing  enterprises  that 
have  been  started  on  the  Segreganset  River  only  two 
are  in  operation  at  the  present  time,  Mr.  Reed's  saw- 
mill and  Mr.  Briggs'  forge  and  grist-mill.  Elderly 
and  middle-aged  people,  who  have  been  familiar  with 
the  stream  from  boyhood,  say  that  the  amount  of 
water  it  carries  down  is  much  less  than  was  the  case 
when  they  were  young.  This  is  probably  true  of  the 
other  streams  in  this  town.  They  have  apparently 
shrunk  within  the  last  thirty  or  forty  years.  The 
reason  for  this  shrinkage  is  no  doubt  to  be  found  in 
the  cutting  off  of  the  woods  in  the  north  and  west 
part  of  the  town. 

Sally  Richmond's  Brook. — This  stream,  named 
for  one  of  the  old  maiden  ladies  before  mentioned, 
takes  its  rise  in  the  swamps  northwest  of.  Hunter's 
Hill,  runs  at  first  a  northeasterly  course,  crossing  the 
road  leading  to  Pitts'  Corner  from  the  Four  Corners 
twice,  then  turns  southeasterly,  skirting  the  base  of 
Richmond  Hill,  and  loses  itself  in  the  oozy  flats  of 
Muddy  Cove,  near  the  color-works  of  J.  C.  Jessop 
&Co. 

There  were  formerly  in  operation  on  this  small 
stream  a  shingle-mill  and  a  forge,  both  on  the  west 
road.  The  first,  owned  by  Gen.  William  Peck,  who 
used  to  saw  cedar  shingles  in  the  winter,  there  not 
generally  being  water  enough  in  the  summer  for  the 
purpose.  Gen.  William  Peck,  who  owned  the  farm 
that  formerly  belonged  to  the  father  of  Commodore 
Talbot,  was  born  in  Swansea,  April  12,  1795.  His 
father's  name  was  Thomas,  who  married  Elizabeth 
Mason,  of  Swansea.  William  Peck  was  colonel  of 
the  First  Regiment,  Second  Brigade  of  the  county 
militia  from  Aug.  27,  1828,  to  Sept.  11, 1830,  when  he 
was  promoted  brigadier-general  of  the  Second  Brigade, 
consisting  of  five  regiments  and  a  battalion  of  artil- 
lery. He  was  also  president  of  the  court-martial 
which  met  in  Boston  for  the  trial  of  Lieut.-Col.  G.  S. 
Wiuthrop  for  failing  to  properly  do  escort  duty  with 
his  command  on  election-day  in  1832.  His  unflinch- 
ing firmness  on  this  occasion  and  his  somewhat  stern 
expression  of  features  won  him,  in  the  newspaper  re- 
ports of  the  affair,  the  sobriquet  of  Gen.  Pluck.  He 
married  Lemira  Mason,  daughter  of  Job  Mason,  of 
Swansea.  They  had  four  daughters,  whom  he  used  to 
term  his  bushel  of  girls.  His  death  occurred  in  Octo- 
ber, 1851,  his  wife  surviving  him  three  years. 

The  forge  and  blacksmith-shop  of  Matthew  Briggs 
stood  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  below  Gen.  Peck's 

1  The  Leonards  came  from  Wales,  and  have  always  been  noted  in  the 
working  anil  manufacture  of  iron  ever  since  the  two  brothers,  James 
and  Henry  Leonard,  came  over  in  1652,  and,  in  company  with  Balph 
Kussel,  set  up  in  Taunton  (now  Kaynham)  the  first  iron-works  built  in 
this  country. 


shingle-mill.  There  was  a  small  pond  in  the  rear, 
from  which  a  flume  led  to  the  undershot-wheel  that 
carried  the  tilt-hammer.  Mr.  Briggs  was  a  man  of 
Falstaffian  proportions,  and  almost  of  Falstaffian 
humor.  He  was  quick  at  repartee,  his  eyes  would 
twinkle  under  his  round  spectacles,  and  his  rotund 
form  would  shake  with  laughter  at  anything  that 
tickled  his  fancy.  He  was,  withal,  a  skillful  smith, 
and  could  make  almost  anything  in  his  line  from  a 
horse-nail  to  a  monkey-wrench.  His  forge  being  near 
the  school-house,  the  boys  used  to  find  it  a  fascinating 
place  of  resort  during  recess,  especially  when  the 
trip-hammer  was  in  motion,  sending  horizontal  show- 
ers of  sparks  from  the  white  mass  of  metal  it  was 
beating  into  shape.  Mr.  Briggs  was  captain  of  the 
Second  Company  of  Dighton  militia  from  1818  to 
1822.  His  father's  name  was  Matthew,  and  he  was  a 
seventh  son  ;  he  also  had  seven  sons,  the  youngest  of 
whom  ought,  according  to  the  old  superstition  about 
seventh  son  of  seventh  son,  to  be  endowed  with  the 
gift  of  curing  by  touch  the  king's  evil.  Matthew 
Briggs'  forge  has  long  been  torn  down,  the  dam  leveled, 
and  the  pond  converted  into  a  meadow. 

The  only  manufacturing  establishment  now  in  op- 
eration on  Sally  Richmond's  Brook  is  the  color- 
grinding  works  of  J.  C.  Jessop  &  Co.,  already  men- 
tioned, steam  being  the  motive  power,  and  the  water 
of  the  little  pond,  formed  by  a  dam  across  the  stream, 
being  only  used  for  manufacturing  purposes.  From 
twenty  to  twenty-five  hands  are  employed,  and  the 
colors  produced  are  chiefly  intended  for  the  printing 
of  wall-papers.  The  building  was  erected  in  1861  for 
the  manufacture  of  woolen  cloths.  A  company  was 
formed  consisting  of  Capt.  William  Cobb,  of  this 
town,  George  G/  Crocker,  of  Taunton,  Dr.  Samuel 
West,  of  Tiverton,  R.  I.,  Thomas  Whitridge,  of  Bal- 
timore, and  others.  The  capital  stock  was  at  first 
forty  thousand  dollars,  afterwards  increased  to  fifty 
thousand  dollars,  and  then  to  seventy-five  thousand 
dollars.  In  1864  the  company  held  property,  accord- 
ing to  a  sworn  statement  of  the  directors,  valued  at 
one  hundred  and  twenty-nine  thousand  dollars,  with 
a  debt  of  eighty-one  thousand  dollars.  George  G. 
Crocker  was  the  first  president  of  the  company,  and 
Capt.  Cobb,  treasurer.  The  business  was  not  con- 
ducted so  as  to  be  financially  profitable,  and  after  the 
establishment  was  burned,  in  1867,  an  upper  story  of 
wood  was  built  on  to  the  brick  walls,  which  remained 
standing,  and  the  manufacture  of  furniture  was  com- 
menced by  a  new  company,  with  a  capital  stock  of 
sixty  thousand  dollars.  Of  the  six  hundred  shares, 
Capt.  Cobb  held  two  hundred  and  ninety.  The  other 
principal  shareholders  were  Gordon  Bartlett,  of  Salem, 
Stephen  Bartlett,  of  Charlestown,  and  Edward  Gordon, 
of  Boston,  the  latter  being  president  of  the  company. 
The  manufacture  of  furniture  did  not  prove  profitable, 
and  the  business  was  soon  abandond,  and  the  com- 
pany dissolved.  The  building  was  next  used  for  the 
manufacture  of  white-lead,  and  was  known  as  the 


DIGHTON. 


249 


Albion  Lead-Works.  Capt.  Cobb  was  a  large  stock- 
holder, as  were  several  prominent  Taunton  men.  The 
business  was  conducted  at  a  loss  for  some  years.  May 
2,  1878,  early  in  the  morning,  the  building  was  burned 
for  the  second  time.  It  has  since  been  partially  re- 
built by  the  color-works  company. 

Capt.  William  Cobb,  previously  mentioned  as 
prominently  connected  with  the  woolen-mill,  the  fur- 
niture factory,  and  the  lead-works,  was  also  concerned 
in  manufacturing  enterprises  in  the  buildings  near 
the  town-landing,  now  owned  and  occupied  by  the 
Dighton  Stove-Lining  Company.  The  first  manufac- 
turing establishment  on  this  site  was  a  steam  saw-mill 
erected  more  than  a  generation  ago,  and  used  for  the 
manufacture  of  shingles  from  southern  cedar,  nail- 
kegs,  sashes,  blinds,  and  doors.  This  building  was 
burnt  while  it  was  occupied  by  Shove  and  Stur- 
tevant,  sash,  door,  and  blind  manufacturers.  It  was 
rebuilt  by  a  joint-stock  company,  of  which  Capt. 
Cobb,  Anthony  Reed,  and  others  were  members,  Mr. 
Reed  being  the  agent.  The  business  was  not  con- 
ducted so  as  to  be  profitable,  and  the  establishment 
was  soon  turned  into  a  tack  manufactory  under  other 
managers,  and  styled  the  Union  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany, of  which  Capt.  Cobb  was  the  president.  The 
capital  stock  of  this  company  in  1857  was  sixteen 
thousand  dollars.  Stephen  Rhodes  was  the  treasurer 
and  in  1861  was  president  of  the  company.  In  1865 
a  new  company  was  formed  under  the  name  of  the 
Dighton  Tack  Company,  in  which  several  Boston  men 
were  interested,  Jeremiah  Abbott  of  that  city  being 
the  president.  The  capital  stock  of  this  company  in 
1866  was  eighty  thousand  dollars,  and  the  amount  of 
property  belonging  to  it  was  estimated  in  the  sworn 
certificate  of  the  directors  to  be  one  hundred  and 
forty-three  thousand  dollars,  with  liabilities  amount- 
ing to  fifty-four  thousand  dollars.  After  other  changes 
in  the  ownership  the  tack  manufactory  was  bought  by 
the  combination  of  tack  manufacturers,  and  the  busi- 
ness was  abandoned  in  Dighton.  The  premises  have 
since  been  used  for  the  manufacture  of  stove-linings 
and  fire-brick. 

In  1866  a  builing  was  erected  just  north  of  the 
tack  factory  for  an  iron-works,  and  a  company  was 
formed  under  the  name  of  the  Dighton  Rolling-mill 
Company,  of  which  Enoch  Robinson,  Jr.,  was  presi- 
dent, and  Capt.  Cobb  treasurer.  The  capital  stock 
was  forty-four  thousand  dollars.  In  1868  the  capital 
stock  was  increased  to  eighty  thousand  dollars.  In 
the  great  gale  of  September,  1869,  the  building  was 
partially  wrecked,  and  soon  afterwards  it  was  burnt 
to  the  ground  by  an  incendiary  fire.  The  business 
had  not  proved  a  profitable  one  as  it  had  been  man- 
aged, and  the  works  were  not  rebuilt. 

William  Cobb  was  born  in  Taunton  in  1811.  He 
was  the  son  of  Charles  and  Rhoda,  nee  Dean.  He 
was  connected,  though  not  by  direct  descent,  with 
Gen.  David  Cobb,  of  the  Revolutionary  period,  who 
afterwards,  during  Shay's  rebellion,  when  the  court- 


house in  Taunton  was  threatened  by  an  angry  mob, 
emphatically  informed  the  turbulent  crowd  that  he 
would  "  either  sit  as  a  judge,  or  die  as  a  general." 

Capt.  Cobb  came  to  Dighton  to  reside  about  the 
year  1837,  and  was  followed  by  his  brothers  George 
and  Benjamin,  who  were  also  sea-captains.  He  bought 
the  farm  that  was  formerly  the  Bragg  farm.  In  1840, 
in  connection  with  other  parties,  he  built  the  bark 
"  Elizabeth  Hall."  In  1849  he  went  to  California  in 
command  of  the  bark  "  Ann,"  carrying  a  company  of 
gold-hunters.  After  his  return  he  gave  up  the  sea,  and 
entered  into  business  pursuits  on  the  land.  He  built 
a  large  wharf  and  store  now  owned  by  the  Old  Colony 
Iron  Company,  and  was  for  many  years  the  agent  of 
that  company  in  transporting  their  coal  and  iron  to 
East  Taunton.  He  also  built  a  number  of  vessels  at 
his  wharf,  the  last  of  which,  built  in  1874,  was  a 
barkentine,  named  for  himself.  In  1857  the  Rhode 
Island  coal-mine  was  bought  by  a  company  consisting 
of  himself,  Samuel  L.,  and  George  A.  Crocker.  He  was 
one  of  the  originators  of  the  Dighton  and  Somerset 
Railroad  Company,  and  was  president  of  the  com- 
pany when  the  charter  was  sold  to  the  Old  Colony 
Company.  He  also  contracted  to  build  the  bridge 
across  the  river  at  Somerset,  one  of  the  longest  bridges 
in  New  England,  and  took  the  contract  to  cut  through 
the  "  Pinnacle"  ledge  in  Stoughton,  after  other  con- 
tractors had  abandoned  the  work.  He  was  also  in- 
fluential in  getting  the  new  carriage-road  built  from 
Dighton  to  Somerset,  across  Broad  Cove,  and  also  the 
one  starting  from  near  his  house,  and  running  north 
across  Segreganset  River,  to  join  the  old  stage-road.1 
Capt.  Cobb  was  also  interested  in  the  brick  business  at 
Medford,  in  this  State,  and  at  Haverstraw,  on  the  Hud- 
son River.  He  died  suddenly,  of  heart-disease,  in  his 
state-room,  on  board  of  one  of  the  Fall  River  and 
New  York  steamboats,  while  on  his  way  home  from 
the  latter  city,  July  31,  1875.  Capt.  Cobb  was  twice 
married.  His  first  wife  was  a  Peckham,  by  whom  he 
had  two  children.  His  second  wife  was  Miss  Emma 
Lubec,  of  this  town,  by  whom  he  had  three  sons  and 
two  daughters. 

Whatever  judgment  may  be  passed  upon  Capt. 
Cobb's  business  methods,  and  some  of  them  have 
been  severely  criticised,  no  one  who  knew  him  will 
deny  that  he  was  a  man  of  energetic  and  enterprising 
character,  of  large  personal  magnetism,  enabling  him 
to  secure  the  co-operation  of  others  in  any  project 
or  undertaking  in  which  he  was  interested,  or  that 
he  was  kind  and  genial  in  his  relations  to  his  family 
and  his  friends. 

Various  Topics. — Dighton  has  been  represented 
in  mathematics  by  John  D.  Williams,  son  of  Jared 
and  Martha,  who  was  born  in  the  year  1800.  He 
was  early  in  life  quite  noted  as  a  mathematician,  and 

i  Capt. Cobb  and  Charles  W.  Brigs*  '""^  u"'  contract  to  build  Broad 
Cove  bridge,  which  wan  built  in  1855.  The  new  road  and  bridge  over 
the  Segreganset  were  limit  the  same  year.  Theso  improvements  were 
much  n led,  and  have  been  a  great  convenience  to  the  traveling  public. 


250 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


published  a  little  text-book  on  algebra,  which  has 
long  been  out  of  print.  The  author  was  not  remark- 
able for  intelligence  in  matters  outside  of  the  domain 
of  figures  or  their  algebraic  symbols,  thus  adding  an- 
other to  the  many  similar  illustrations  of  the  psycho- 
logic fact  that  the  mathematical  faculty  is  frequently 
largely  developed  in  people  of  otherwise  very  ordi- 
nary intellectual  gifts. 

Mr.  Williams  was  a  mason  by  trade.  He  took  the 
contract  to  build  the  city  hall  in  Fall  River,  but  the 
city  authorities,  after  he  had  worked  for  some  time, 
perceiving  that  the  work  was  not  being  properly  done, 
annulled  the  contract  and  gave  the  job  to  another  per- 
son. Mr.  Williams  led  a  somewhat  irregular  life,  and, 
having  laid  by  nothing  for  a  rainy  day,  his  closing 
years  were  spent  in  the  almshouse.  His  father,  .Tared 
Williams,  was  a  very  peculiar  and  eccentric  man, 
especially  in  his  speech. 

In  art  this  town  has  furnished  a  worthy  represen- 
tative in  Jesse  Talbot,  son  of  Josiah  and  Lydia, 
who  resided  on  a  farm  in  the  northwest  part  of  the 
town. 

Jesse  was  born  April  1, 1805,  and  was  the  youngest 
of  eight  children.  Before  he  had  reached  the  age  of 
manhood  he  went  to  Dedham,  in  this  State,  and  was 
employed  as  a  clerk  in  the  store  of  Dr.  Wheaton. 
From  Dedham  he  removed  to  New  York  City,  where 
he  was  appointed  secretary  of  the  American  Tract 
Society  and  married  the  daughter  of  a  clergyman. 
Having  shown  considerable  talent  in  drawing  and 
painting  in  his  youth,  he  was  induced  by  the  persua- 
sions of  his  friends,  as  well  as  by  his  own  inclina- 
tion, to  adopt  the  profession  of  a  landscape  painter. 
Thenceforward  he  devoted  his  life  to  the  practice  of 
his  art,  and  with  considerable  success,  his  pictures 
finding  a  ready  sale,  and  many  of  them  being  en- 
graved on  steel  for  the  magazines  and  annuals  of 
that  p>eriod.  His  pictures  of  views  on  the  Hudson 
River  and  Rockland  Lake  were  especially  admired. 

Probably  many  worldly-wise  people  would  have 
considered  Jesse  Talbot's  adoption  of  the  profession 
of  landscape  painter,  at  a  time  when  there  was  not 
nearly  the  taste  for  art  in  the  United  States  that  there 
is  at  present,  and  when  artistic  work  was  compara- 
tively poorly  remunerated,  as  having  some  connection 
with  his  having  been  born  on  "  All-Fools'  day."  Yet, 
if  he  did  not  amass  a  fortune  by  his  art,  as  Bierstadt, 
Church,  and  a  few  other  American  artists  have  done 
in  later  years,  he  at  least  secured  a  moderate  compe- 
tence; and  probably  with  him,  as  with  many  others, 
the  practice  of  his  art  was  its  own  exceeding  great 
reward,  and  pecuniary  considerations  were  of  second- 
ary importance. 

Dighton  Rock. — Any  sketch,  however  fragment- 
ary, of  the  history  of  this  town  that  made  no  mention 
of  Dighton  Rock  would  be,  to  use  the  hackneyed 
simile,  like  the  play  of  Hamlet  with  the  part  of  the 
Prince  of  Denmark  left  out,  or,  to  use  a  fresher  and 
more  apposite  comparison,  it  would  be  like  a  descrip- 


tion of  Newport  with  no  mention  of  the  old  Stone 
Mill. 

In  considering  the  diverse  theories  that  have  been 
advanced  as  to  the  genesis  of  the  sculptured  charac- 
ters on  this  famous  rock,  and  the  difficulty,  if  not  the 
impossibility,  of  proving  or  disproving  either  of  them, 
it  would  seem  as  if  the  genius  of  mystery  were  brood- 
ing over  the  spot,  hiding  with  an  impenetrable  cur- 
tain the  meaning  of  the  semi-obliterated  characters, 
and  one  recalls  the  inscription  before  the  mysterious 
temple  of  Isis,  "Yesterday,  to-day,  forever,  and  no 
mortal  hath  lifted  my  veil." 

That  the  controversy  over  this  rock  is  not  yet  en- 
tirely settled  to  the  satisfaction  of  everybody  is  in 
part  owing  to  the  wearing  effect  of  ice  and  waves  for 
hundreds  of  years  on  the  sculptured  face  of  this 
bowlder  of  gneiss,  making  it  a  matter  of  great  diffi- 
culty to  trace  some  of  the  shallow  lines  of  the  figures 
among  the  natural  seams  and  crevices  of  the  stone, 
and  to  this  difficulty  of  following  the  lines,  as  they 
were  originally  chiseled  into  the  rock,  is  to  be  attrib- 
uted the  fact  that  no  two  drawings  of  the  characters 
by  different  people  that  were  ever  made  would  agree 
in  all  respects  when  compared  together.  This  di- 
versity or  disagreement  in  the  drawings  that  have 
been  made  of  the  rock  is  strikingly  shown  in  the 
"  Antiquitates  Americana?,"  a  tri-lingual,  quarto  work, 
published  nearly  half  a  century  ago  by  the  Royal 
Society  of  Northern  Antiquaries  of  Copenhagen. 
In  this  work  there  are  nine  drawings  of  the  rock, 
taken  by  different  people,  at  different  times,  no  two 
of  which  are  alike.  The  first  of  these  attempted 
representations  of  the  characters  on  the  rock  was  by 
Dr.  Dan  forth,  in  1680.  The  second  has  been  attrib- 
uted to  Cotton  Mather,  in  1712.  It  bears  not  the 
slightest  resemblance  to  the  sculptured  characters, 
but  appears  as  if  executed  by  a  person  having  the 
St.  Vitus'  dance  or  the  delirium  tremens.  Then  follow 
other  drawings,  of  more  or  less  accuracy,  one  of  the 
best  being  by  Dr.  William  Baylies,  of  this  town.  The 
best  drawing  in  the  series  was  furnished  by  the  Rhode 
Island  Historical  Society,  and  was  the  one  chiefly 
relied  upon  by  the  Danish  savants  in  studying  the 
character  of  the  inscription,  which,  it  is  well  known, 
they  decided  to  be  the  work  of  the  roving  Northmen 
in  the  eleventh  century.  If  they  did  not  succeed  in 
proving  beyond  doubt  that  Dighton  Rock  is  a  Scan- 
dinavian relic,  they  at  least  succeeded,  by  the  publi- 
cation in  the  "  Antiquitates  Americanse"  of  the  old 
Icelandic  sagas  or  histories,  in  proving  beyond  a 
reasonable  doubt  that  the  Norse  freebooters  discov- 
ered this  continent,  and  made  some  attempts  to  col- 
onize it,  centuries  before  Christopher  Columbus  was 
born,  and  that  the  site  of  the  ancient  Vinland,  men- 
tioned in  these  sagas,  was  probably  in  the  southeastern 
part  of  what  is  now  New  England. 

The  party  of  Norsemen,  whom  the  Danish  antiqua- 
ries supposed  to  have  made  the  characters  on  Dighton 
Rock,   came   over   to  Vinland    (so   called    from   the 


:qCv. 

■?     --,V-. 


V    \ 


£r.i(.JftcTe. 


Di^kton  Rock. 


MMl  rap 


Etchings  on  Rocks  in  New-Mexico. 


"--■'■:%>-.  -     "       ■"..-.       ■  --„ 


I H  i . 


Yi  Win  ft KW\jM' 
- 1  wM  HMmmtmrmmfmm 


^. 


Runic  Inscription  in   Greenland. 


DIGHTON. 


251 


abundance  of  grapes  that  grew  wild  there)  in  the 
year  1007.  The  leader's  name  was  Thorfinn  Karlsefue, 
or  Thorfinn  the  Hopeful.  He  left  Greenland  with 
three  vessels  and  one  hundred  and  sixty-one  men, 
but  the  men  in  one  vessel  mutinied,  and  turned  back 
to  Greenland.  Other  parties  of  Norsemen  had  pre- 
viously visited  Vinland,  which  Professor  Rafu  and  his 
co-laborers  supposed  to  be  the  region  of  country  bor- 
dering Narragansett  Bay  and  Taunton  River.  Most 
of  the  characters  in  the  drawings  of  the  rock  they 
could  make  nothing  of,  but  there  was  a  group  near 
the  centre  of  the  inscription  which  they  deciphered 
to  be  the  Runic  characters  standing  for  the  name  of 
Thorfinn,  above  which  were  the  Roman  numerals 
CXXXI,  followed  by  a  character  which  they  decided 
to  be  an  anaglyph,  standing  for  the  word  men.  Since 
that  time  the  Royal  Society  of  Northern  Antiquaries 
has  been  supplied  with  a  photograph  of  the  rock,  and 
it  is  said  they  now  think  that  they  were  in  error  in 
claiming  Dighton  rock  as  a  Scandinavian  relic,  so 
that  those  who  think  the  inscription  merely  an  ex- 
ample of  the  rude  pictographs  of  the  Indians,  of 
which  specimens  of  the  same  general  character  are 
to  be  found  in  other  parts  of  the  country,  now  meet 
with  little  opposition  to  their  views.  Such  was  the 
opinion  of  Professor  Schoolcraft,  who  visited  the  rock 
twice,  some  thirty  or  forty  years  ago.  On  his  first 
visit  he  was  inclined  to  think  that  the  inscription  was 
of  a  mixed  character,  part  Indian  and  part  Runic,  or 
Scandinavian,  but  on  his  last  visit  he  decided  that  it 
was  wholly  the  work  of  the  aborigines.  Professor 
Schoolcraft,  though  not  a  runologist,  was  well  versed 
in  all  that  pertains  to  the  manners,  customs,  and  art 
of  the  Indians,  as  is  evidenced  in  his  great  work,  pub- 
lished by  the  government,  on  the  Indian  tribes. 

On  another  page  are  representations  in  outline  of 
the  characters  on  Dighton  Rock,  and  also  of  a  genuine 
Runic  inscription  from  Greenland,  the  undoubted 
work  of  the  Northmen,  together  with  a  fac-simile  of 
an  Indian  pictographic  inscription  on  a  rock  in  New 
Mexico.  The  latter  is  copied  from  a  wood-cut  in  the 
government  report  of  the  Southern  Pacific  Railroad 
survey.  A  glance  at  the  three  inscriptions  will  show 
the  reader  the  great  general  resemblance  between  the 
characters  on  Dighton  Rock  and  those  on  the  New 
Mexican  rock.  They  were  evidently  executed  by 
people  of  the  same  state  of  artistic  development,  or 
the  lack  of  it,  while  the  Runic  inscription,  which  has 
been  translated,  is  arranged  in  a  systematic  and  read- 
able way,  and  is  composed  of  well-formed  letters  or 
characters.  It  does  not  seem  probable  that  the  North- 
men, who  executed  the  Greenland  Runes,  could  have 
descended  so  far  as  to  scratch  out  the  puerile  hotch- 
potch of  characters  on  Dighton  Rock,  which  bear 
intrinsic  evidence  of  being  the  work  of  a  savage  race. 

Yet  notwithstanding  that  the  weight  of  evidence 
is  against  the  supposition  that  this  rock  is  a  relic  of 
the  Norsemen,  as  it  is  also  in  the  case  of  the  Newport 
round-tower,  there  is  little  doubt  that  the  accounts  of 


the  Scandinavian  discovery  and  attempted  coloniza- 
tion of  this  continent  in  the  eleventh  century,  as  given 
in  the  "  Antiquitates  Americana?,"  are  substantially 
true,  and  that  to  Leif  Ericsson  belongs  the  honor  of 
being  the  first  European  to  land  on  the  shores  of 
"that  new  world  which  is  the  old." 

A  Dighton  Sampson. — The  extraordinary  exploit 
of  Samuel  Briggs  in  capturing  a  buck  has  been  related 
in  another  part  of  this  sketch.  Samuel  displayed  in 
that  affair  uncommon  pluck,  endurance,  and  tenacity 
of  purpose,  but  his  renown  was  eclipsed  in  the  first 
half  of  this  century  by  the  great  strength,  courage, 
and  prowess  of  another  Briggs,  who  was  known  in 
this  and  neighboring  towns  as  Stout  George.  As  one 
of  the  celebrities  of  Dighton  and  the  product  of  a 
state  of  society  that  has  disappeared  forever,  he  merits 
some  little  mention. 

George  Washington  Briggs  was  born  June  27,  1776, 
in  the  stirring  times  just  preceding  the  Declaration 
of  Independence.  He  was  the  son  of  James  and 
Hannah,  and  was  the  fifth  of  ten  children,  six  boys 
and  four  girls.  Several  others  of  the  family  were  en- 
dowed with  great  physical  strength  and  activity,  par- 
ticularly the  oldest  son,  James,  who  is  said  to  have 
nearly  equaled  George  in  these  respects.  These  virile 
family  gifts  were  shared,  though  of  course  in  a  less 
degree,  by  the  girls.  The  oldest  daughter,  Nancy, 
became  insane  early  in  life.  She  is  represented  as 
having  been  a  very  handsome  woman,  tall,  finely 
formed,  with  a  queenly  dignity  of  bearing  and  un- 
common muscular  strength,  which  she  sometimes 
used  in  overmastering  those  who  had  charge  of  her. 

George  in  his  early  days  was  a  seafaring  man. 
Many  stories  of  his  adventures  on  sea  and  land  have 
been  handed  down,  of  which  the  following  are  given 
as  specimens.  While  yet  a  young  man  he  was  on  one 
occasion  mate  of  the  ship  "  Pomona,"  of  which  Capt. 
John  Pierce,  of  this  town,  was  master.  They  were 
bound  for  Valparaiso  with  a  cargo  of  lumber,  which 
was  part  dry  and  part  green,  the  dry  having  been  put 
in  the  hold  and  the  green,  heavy  lumber  on  deck. 
This  made  the  ship  very  crank  and  top-heavy.  Capt. 
Pierce  was  overfond  of  ardent  spirits,  his  indulgence 
in  which  often  unfitted  him  for  the  management  of 
the  vessel.  When  nearing  the  end  of  the  voyage 
heavy  weather  was  experienced,  and  the  ship  was  put 
under  close-reefed  topsails.  While  it  was  yet  blowing 
a  stiff  gale,  the  captain,  in  his  usual  semi-inebriated 
condition,  and  as  obstinate  as  the  proverbial  mule, 
came  upon  deck  and  ordered  the  reefs  to  be  shaken 
out  of  the  topsails.  "  Captain  Pierce,"  said  George, 
"  the  ship  has  as  much  sail  now  as  she  can  carry.  If 
the  reefs  are  shaken  out  she  will  capsize."  This  re- 
monstrance had  no  effect  upon  the  muddled  intellect 
of  the  captain.1  The  men  were  ordered  aloft  and  the 
reefs  were  shaken  out,  but  scarcely  were  the  topsails 

1  Capt.  Pierce  fell  a  victim  to  his  habits  of  inebriation.  His  death  was 
caused  by  bis  jumping  out  of  a  chamber  window  during  a  fit  of  delirium 
tremens  ami  breaking  his  neck. 


252 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


sheeted  home  and  the  yards  braced  to  the  wind  when 
a  fierce  squall  struck  the  ship  abeam,  and  over  she 
went.  The  deck-load  of  lumber  was  instantly  swept 
oft',  but  still  the  vessel  remained  on  her  side,  the  offi- 
cers and  crew  clinging  for  dear  life  to  the  rigging  or 
belaying-pins  to  prevent  being  washed  overboard  by 
the  seas  that  swept  over  the  ship. 

Briggs  was  now  virtually  in  command,  and  deter- 
mined to  make  an  effort  to  right  the  ship.  Tying  a 
line  to  his  waist,  he  crept  along  forward,  clinging  with 
vise-like  grip  to  the  weather  bulwarks,  over  which 
the  waves  were  sweeping,  and  cut  the  lanyards  of 
each  topmast-shroud  in  succession.  The  topmasts, 
unable  to  bear  the  additional  strain,  snapped  off  at 
the  caps,  and  the  ship  suddenly  righted,  with  all 
her  top-hamper  gone,  and  rolling  like  a  log  in  the 
trough  of  the  sea.  They  drifted  in  this  condition  for 
some  days,  having  scarcely  any  sail  set,  when  they 
fell  in  with  a  mass  of  wreckage,  which,  singularly 
enough,  proved  to  be  the  ship's  top-hamper,  which 
had  been  cut  adrift  when  she  capsized.  The  floating 
spars  and  sails  were  secured,  and  the  ship,  partially 
rigged  again,  proceeded  on  her  voyage,  and  arrived  in 
a  few  days  at  Valparaiso. 

On  their  arrival  in  port  new  perils  awaited  the  crew. 
There  was  a  British  man-of-war  in  the  harbor,  one  of 
the  most  dreaded  of  objects  to  the  crews  of  merchant 
vessels,  for  at  that  time  the  crews  in  the  British  armed 
vessels  were  recruited  by  means  of  press-gangs,  the 
brutal  commanders  of  which  were  not  at  all  particu- 
lar whether  the  men  they  seized  in  their  raids  were 
British  subjects  or  not.  Soon  after  the  arrival  of  the 
"  Pomona"  in  port,  Briggs  and  three  of  the  crew  were 
on  shore,  when  they  met  a  press-gang  of  nine  men 
from  the  British  vessel.  These  men  were  armed  with 
muskets,  with  fixed  bayonets,  though,  as  afterwards 
appeared,  the  guns  were  not  loaded. 

The  commanding  officer  of  the  press-gang  accosted 
one  of  the  crew  of  the  "Pomona"  and  demanded  to 
see  his  protection.  The  man  handed  over  the  docu- 
ment, which  was  such  as  every  American  seaman  was 
obliged  to  carry  with  him,  when  the  officer  imme- 
diately tore  up  the  paper  and  directed  his  men  to 
arrest  the  man.  Another  of  the  "  Pomona's"  men 
met  with  similar  treatment,  his  certificate  of  Ameri- 
can citizenship  being  torn  up  and  the  man  being 
placed  under  arrest.  The  only  man  at  liberty  now, 
besides  Briggs,  was  an  Englishman  named  Owen,  who 
of  course  had  no  protection,  and  who  did  not  relish 
the  idea  of  being  impressed  on  board  of  a  man-of- 
war.  Owen  was  an  active,  powerful  man,  though 
less  herculean  in  strength  than  Briggs.  While  the 
press-gang  were  arresting  the  others  these  two  had 
determined  not  to  be  captured  without  a  struggle 
for  liberty.  Briggs  carried  a  heavy  club,  some  two 
inches  thick  at  the  large  end,  on  which  was  an  ugly 
knob.1     Owen  had  also  managed  to  secure  a  club. 

1  This  cane  or  club,  which  did  such  fearful  execution  on  that  occasion, 
is  now  in  the  possession  of  a  relative  of  George  Briggs. 


The  captain  of  the  gang  now  stepped  up  to  Briggs, 
and  in  an  insolent  tone  demanded  his  protection. 
"There  is  my  protection!"  said  Briggs,  as  he  dealt 
the  officer  a  blow  over  the  head  that  felled  him 
in  his  tracks.  The  two  determined  men  now  rushed 
at  the  press-gang,  dealing  death  with  almost  every 
blow  of  their  clubs.  Five  of  the  men  were  killed  on 
the  spot,  and  the  others  were  placed  hors  de  combat. 
Owen,  or  "Johnny  Bull,"  as  he  was  called  by  his 
shipmates,  received  a  bayonet-thrust  through  the  leg, 
which  in  the  excitement  of  the  melee  he  did  not  feel, 
but  when  the  fight  was  over  found  his  shoe  full  of 
blood.  Briggs  and  Owen  thought  it  best  to  keep  out 
of  the  way  after  their  encounter  with  the  press-gang, 
until  the  "  Pomona"  was  ready  to  sail,  as  the  captain 
of  the  British  vessel  had  sworn  to  kill  or  capture 
them,  and  had  a  force  of  men  detailed  for  the  pur- 
pose. In  after-years  Briggs  was  loth  to  speak  of  this 
adventure,  and  could  never  do  so  without  tears  in  his 
eyes.  It  was  such  rough  work,  he  said,  that  he  did 
not  like  to  think  of  it. 

On  the  return  voyage  Owen  became  ugly  and  mu- 
tinous, and  Capt.  Pierce  requested  Briggs  to  chastise 
him,  which  he  effectually  did  by  a  single  blow  of  his 
fist,  sending  the  rebellious  Englishman  reeling  back- 
wards over  the  windlass.  When  he  finally  picked 
himself  up  all  the  ugliness  appeared  to  have  been 
knocked  out  of  him,  and  he  gave  no  further  trouble 
during  the  voyage. 

Briggs  afterwards  went  to  Liverpool  in  the  "Po- 
mona," and  while  the  ship  was  unloading  at  that 
port  he  displayed  several  feats  of  strength  that  drew 
attention  to  him  from  the  sailors  and  wharf-laborers 
in  the  vicinity.  Among  the  classes  mentioned  it  was 
deemed  that  the  honor  of  the  city  required  that  a 
man  should  be  found  who  could  beat  this  young 
Yankee  athlete  in  feats  of  strength.  Among  the 
stalwart  porters,  stevedores,  and  coal-heavers  of 
Liverpool  are  always  to  be  found  a  few  men  of 
remarkable  physical  strength,  and  generally  there 
is  one  who  so  far  surpasses  the  rest  in  muscular 
force  as  to  be  considered  a  sort  of  champion,  to  be 
called  upon  at  any  time  to  maintain  the  city's 
prestige  for  men  of  muscle. 

At  the  time  referred  to  the  champion  strong  man 
was  an  Irish  porter  named  O'Brien,  a  heavily-built, 
brawny-limbed  man  of  some  fifteen  stone  weight. 
In  company  with  a  number  of  his  companions  he 
went  on  board  of  the  "  Pomona"  to  challenge  Briggs 
to  a  trial  of  strength.  "The  top  of  the  morning  till 
yez,  captain,"  said  he,  accosting  Capt.  Price.  "  Be- 
dad,  it's  meself,  Johnny  O'Brien,  that  wants  to  see 
the  broth  of  a  bye  they're  afther  tellin'  yez  have 
on  board." 

Surmising  what  the  man's  errand  was,  Capt.  Pierce 
called  Briggs  up  from  below,  and  introduced  him  to 
his  visitor,  who  at  once  proceeded  to  business,  and 
proposed  a  trial  of  strength  in  lifting  one  of  the  heavy 
ship's  anchors  that  lay  on  the  wharf.     Briggs  readily 


D1GHT0N. 


253 


accepted  the  proposal,  and  requested  O'Brien  to  show 
his  strength  first.  The  Irishman  accordingly  placed 
his  hands  under  the  shank  of  one  of  the  huge  anchors, 
and  with  great  effort  succeeeded  in  raising  it  so  that 
the  lower  fluke  just  cleared  the  ground,  a  feat  that 
prohably  no  other  man  in  the  city  could  have  per- 
formed. It  was  now  Briggs'  turn  ;  he  stooped  over 
and  grasped  the  shank  of  the  anchor,  and  then  re- 
quested O'Brien  to  get  up  on  his  hack  and  sit  on  his 
shoulders  while  he  lifted.  The  Irishman  demurred 
at  such  a  proceeding  at  first,  but  was  finally  pursuaded 
to  comply  with  Briggs'  request,  when  the  latter 
straightened  himself  up  under  the  combined  weight 
of  the  anchor  and  the  Irishman's  two  hundred  pounds 
avoirdupois.1 

George  Briggs  was  about  five  feet  ten  inches  in 
height,  massively  built,  broad-shouldered,  deep- 
chested,  large-limbed.  In  the  keen  steel-gray  eyes 
that  looked  out  from  under  his  bushy  eyebrows  there 
were  indications  that  this  was  not  the  sort  of  man  to 
play  tricks  with  or  to  impose  upon  with  impunity. 
After  he  had  left  off  his  roving,  seafaring  life,  and 
had  settled  down  upon  his  farm  near  the  Upper  Four 
Corners,  the  fame  of  his  exploits  became  noised 
abroad,  and  he  had  many  visitors  from  the  neighbor- 
ing towns,  who  came  to  satisfy  their  curiosity  with  a 
sight  of  "  Stout  George,"  not  unfrequently  interfering, 
to  his  annoyance,  with  his  work.  It  is  related  that 
on  one  occasion,  while  he  was  at  work  on  the  upper 
part  of  his  farm,  which  was  quite  a  distance  from  the 
house,  a  stranger  dismounted  at  the  gate,  hitched  his 
saddle-horse,  and  inquired  of  Mrs.  Briggs  for  her 
husband.  She  told  the  man  where  he  was  at  work, 
that  he  was  very  busy,  and  did  not  want  to  be  called 
from  his  work  upon  any  trivial  pretense.  As  the 
stranger  persisted  in  his  desire  to  see  Mr.  Briggs,  she, 
supposing  he  had  some  business  of  importance,  put 
on  her  bonnet  and  went  for  her  husband.  The  latter, 
not  in  a  very  amiable  mood  from  being  interfered 
with  in  the  work,  which  he  was  hurrying  to  finish 
before  night,  came  down  to  the  house,  where  he  found 
his  visitor  leaning  against  the  wall  by  the  road.  The 
latter  introduced  himself,  and  said  that,  happening 
along  that  way,  he  could  not  go  past  until  he  had 
seen  the  man  about  whom  he  had  heard  such  remark- 
able stories.  While  he  was  talking,  if  he  had  known 
the  indications,  he  would  undoubtedly  have  seen 
"  danger  signals"  flying  in  Briggs'  eyes. 

"Well,  my  friend,"  said  George,  "now  you  have 
seen  me,  you  may  as  well  trot  along  about  your  busi- 
ness, and  I  will  help  you  over  the  wall."  As  he  spoke 
he  seized  his  astonished  visitor  by  the  coat-collar  and 
the  slack  part  of  his  trowsers  and  tossed  him  over  the 
wall,  so  that  he  landed  near  the  middle  of  the  road. 


1  When  Briggs  bad  shown   the  Irish  champion  what  he  could  do  in 
the  way  of  lifting  he  suggested  a  square  tight  to  see  which  was  thi 
man  with  the  fift.<,  but  tin-  Hibernian,  although  a  noted  bruiser,  excused 
himself  from  entering  the  lists  with  so  formidable  an  antagonist,  and 
the  fight  did  not  come  off. 


This  story  in  course  of  time  became  exaggerated,  as 
stories  are  apt  to  become,  and  it  was  seriously  related 
that  the  horse  had  been  thrown  over  the  wall  as  well 
as  its  rider. 

Briggs'  remarkable  constitution  would  probably 
have  carried  him  well  on  towards  his  hundredth  year 
if  he  had  taken  ordinary  care  of  himself.  He  worked 
on  Howland's  Ferry  bridge  while  it  was  building,  and 
was  accustomed  to  dive  down  in  deep  water  and  ad- 
just the  heavy  stones  for  the  foundations  of  the  piers. 
Such  work  as  that  must  have  shortened  his  life  many 
years.  Towards  the  close  of  his  life  only  the  wreck 
of  his  splendid  physique  remained,  and  he  could  only 
hobble  about  with  a  crutch  or  sit  at  his  front  window 
and  watch  the  passers-by,  many  of  whom  would  stop 
to  talk  with  him.  But  even  in  his  decrepitude  he 
had  the  strength  of  two  or  three  ordinary  men.  His 
son-in-law,  Mr.  Ashley,  relates  that  once,  having  a 
large  stone,  much  heavier  at  one  end  than  the  other, 
to  place  on  top  of  a  wall,  and  not  knowing  how  to  get 
it  there,  the  old  man  hobbled  out  and  told  him  and 
another  man  who  was  with  him  that  if  they  would 
lift  the  small  end  of  the  stone  he  would  lift  the  heavy 
end,  which  he  accordingly  did  with  apparent  ease. 
While  he  was  in  his  prime  he  built,  unaided,  save  by 
some  slight  assistance  from  his  wife,  a  Cyclopean  wall, 
bordering  the  road,  which  has  attracted  the  attention 
of  thousands  of  travelers  by  its  massive  cap-stones. 
It  is  to  be  hoped  that  this  wall  will  be  permitted  to 
stand  for  many  years,  as  the  fitting  monument  of  one 
of  the  strongest  and  most  active  men  that  this  country 
has  ever  produced. 

Richmond  Hill. — The  most  considerable  eminence 
in  this  township  is  Richmond  Hill,  in  the  southeast 
part.  Compared  with  Tom,  or  Holyoke,  or  Waehu- 
sett,  or  even  with  the  Blue  Hills  of  Milton,  its  eleva- 
tion is  very  moderate,  being  but  little  more  than  two 
hundred  feet,  but  it  is  nevertheless  an  interesting  spot 
to  visit  to  the  student  of  physical  science,  as  well  as 
to  the  lover  of  natural  scenery.  The  view  from  its 
rocky  summit  takes  in  the  Blue  Hills  on  the  north, 
Mount  Hope  on  the  south,  and  the  Cumberland  Hills, 
in  Rhode  Island,  on  the  west.  Portions  of  the  cities 
of  Taunton,  Fall  River,  and  Providence  are  visible, 
as  well  as  the  towns  of  Somerset,  Freetown,  Berkh-v, 
Attleborough,  Norton,  Raynham,  and  Rehobotli. 
More  than  forty  church  spires  can  be  counted  with 
the  aid  of  a  glass  on  a  clear  day  in  winter.  The 
windings  of  Taunton  River  can  be  traced  for  several 
miles. 

The  singular  gorge  through  the  rocks  on  the  top  of 
the  hill  seems  made  on  purpose  to  accommodate  the 
road  that  runs  through  it.  It  is  evidently  one  of  the 
furrows  left  by  the  great  ice-plow  that  tore  its  wax- 
over  the  hill  from  the  northward  in  the  last  glacial 
period,  and  which  must  have  reduced  the  height  of 
the  hill  very  materially.  The  marks  of  glacial  action 
are  very  distinct  here.  The  rock  in  place,  a  gray- 
wacke    conglomerate,    or    pudding-stone,    has    been 


254 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


ground  down,  polished,  and  grooved  by  the  stones 
imbedded  in  the  ancient  glacier,  which,  according  to 
Agassiz  and  other  scientists,  once  covered  the  north- 
ern portion  of  this  continent  to  the  depth  of  hundreds 
of  feet,  and  slowly  moved,  with  irresistible  force,  in  a 
southerly  direction.  Huge  masses  of  rock  were  torn 
from  this  hill  and  shoved  along  to  the  south,  in  some 
cases,  for  several  miles.  The  large  bowlder  in  Somer- 
set known  as  the  Hanging,  or  Toad  Rock,  and  which 
weighs  probably  more  than  a  hundred  tons,  was  origi- 
nally a  part  of  this  hill. 

The  conglomerate  which  underlies  this  town,  as  well 
as  a  large  portion  of  the  rest  of  Bristol  County,  is 
composed  of  rounded  fragments  of  a  much  older  rock, 
which  were  broken  from  the  parent  ledges  perhaps 
hundreds  of  thousands  of  years  ago,  then  rolled  upon 
the  shores  of  the  primeval  sea  for  a  long  period  of 
time,  until  they  become  rounded  and  polished,  after 
which,  owing  to  an  increase  of  the  temperature  of  the 
earth's  crust  at  this  point,  the  clayey  mud  that  filled 
their  interstices  became  hardened  into  stone  by  heat. 
Then  the  rock  was  gradually  raised  by  forces  in  the 
interior  of  the  globe  to  its  present  height  above  the 
ocean.  Scarcely  any  fossils  are  to  be  found  in  this 
rock.  Some  of  the  nodules  or  pebbles  when  broken 
show  the  blackened  casts  of  a  small,  bivalve  shell-fish, 
a  species  of  lingula,  an  ancient,  diminutive  represen- 
tative of  the  modern  clam.  The  late  Professor  Wil- 
liam B.  Rogers  visited  the  hill  some  years  ago  on  pur- 
pose to  get  specimens  of  these  fossil  shell-fish.  In  a 
pasture  on  the  southern  slope  of  the  hill  is  a  curiosity 
of  the  vegetable  kingdom.  This  is  a  prostrate  juni- 
per, Juniperus  communis.  It  is  nowhere  more  than  two 
feet  in  height,  while  its  branches  extend  outward  from 
the  centre  to  the  distance  of  a  dozen  feet  on  all  sides, 
making  the  tree  resemble  a  large  green  mat.  Smaller 
specimens  of  this  tree  are  not  uncommon,  but  it  rarely 
grows  to  so  large  a  size  as  the  one  on  Richmond  Hill. 

Hunter's  Hill. — About  three-fourths  of  a  mile 
west  of  Beal's  Rocks,  on  Richmond  Hill,  is  Hunter's 
Hill,  an  elevation  somewhat  less  in  height  than  the 
former  and  without  its  rocky  features.  The  hill  was 
a  noted  resort  for  hunters  in  the  early  years  of  the 
town's  settlement,  hence  the  name,  which  it  retains 
to  the  present  day.  From  its  summit  they  could  see 
all  over  the  large  clearing,  or  Indian  plantation,  that 
has  been  described,  and  whether  any  deer  had  come 
out  of  the  forest,  as  they  frequently  did,  to  browse  on 
the  vegetation  of  the  clearing.  Then  the  hunters 
would  hasten  down  the  hill  and  through  the  woods 
to  get  within  range,  taking  care  to  keep  to  leeward 
of  the  keen-scented  animals.  At  that  time,  the  date 
of  which  is  uncertain,  although  it  must  have  been 
nearly  two  hundred  years  ago,  there  was  probably  a 
log  house  or  hunter's  lodge  on  the  hill.  The  first 
frame  house  that  was  built  there  was  put  up  by  one 
Elijah  King,  who  owned  the  hill  about  one  hundred 
and  fifty  years  ago.  This  old  house  was  torn  down 
in  1838  by  Rescome  Hart,  the  then  owner  of  the 


farm,  who  built  a  stone  cottage  in  its  place,  the  only 
stone  dwelling-house  in  the  town.1 

One  of  the  owners  of  Hunter's  Hill  after  King  was 
Capt.  Samuel  Talbot,  brother  to  the  commodore.  He 
married  Capt.  Stephen  Beal's  widow,  and  had  two  sons. 
After  his  death,  which  was  towards  the  close  of  the 
last  century,  his  widow  and  one  son  emigrated  to 
Kentucky.  At  that  period  there  was  a  Kentucky 
fever  raging  in  this  town,  and  about  twenty  men, 
with  a  number  of  women  and  children,  left  for  that 
far-away  land  at  one  time.  At  Johnston,  N.  Y.,  the 
party  was  increased  by  the  addition  of  all  of  Com- 
modore Talbot's  children,  who  were  living  in  that 
town.  The  journey  from  Dighton  to  Kentucky  occu- 
pied several  months'  time,  much  of  the  way  being 
through  an  unbroken  wilderness.  All  of  the  emi- 
grants, so  far  as  is  known,  liked  their  new  home  and 
prospered  in  their  worldly  affairs.  Capt.  Samuel 
Talbot's  widow  wrote  to  her  friends  here  when  she 
was  eighty-three  that  she  had  taken  a  long  horseback 
ride  that  day,  and  enjoyed  life  as  much  as  when  she 
was  a  girl.  This  remarkable  rejuvenescence  was,  no 
doubt,  due  to  plenty  of  exercise  in  the  open  air. 

In  old  times  there  were  many  more  houses  and  in- 
habitants in  the  vicinity  of  Hunter's  Hill  than  at 
present.  There  are  the  sites  of  some  half-dozen  de- 
molished dwellings  to  the  north,  west,  and  south  of 
the  hill,  and  there  are  four  old  cellars  on  Richmond 
Hill.  The  old  King  house,  on  Hunter's  Hill,  which 
was  torn  down  by  Mr.  Hart,  was  once  used  by  the 
town  as  an  inoculating  hospital  for  the  smallpox. 
Upwards  of  one  hundred  persons  were  inoculated 
with  the  disorder  there,  and  on  their  recovery  were 
thoroughly  fumigated  in  a  smoke-house  that  stood 
near  the  house.  Old  people,  forty  or  more  years  ago, 
used  frequently  to  tell  of  the  fun  they  had  when  they 
were  in  the  smallpox  hospital. 

Besides  Richmond  and  Hunter's  Hills  there  are 
two  rounded  crests  of  land  in  the  western  part  of  the 
town,  known  as  Davis'  Hill  and  Goff's  Hill,  the  lat- 
ter, named  from  Elder  GofF,  being  near  the  Rehoboth 
line,  and  the  former,  running  northerly  from  Pitt's 
Corner,  also  known  as  Flat  Rock,  from  a  large, 
smooth  ledge  of  graywacke  that  crops  out  there,  and 
furnishes  further  interesting  evidence  of  glacial  ac- 
tion in  a  long-past  geological  epoch.  Ledges  of  gray- 
wacke also  crop  out  in  other  parts  of  the  town,  and 
even  in  the  river,  where  it  forms  two  rocky  islets. 
The  most  southerly  of  these  islets  is  known  to  mari- 
ners as  the  Whale  Rock,  it  being  at  some  stages  of 
the  tide,  to  use  the  words  of  Polonius,  "very  like  a 
whale."  The  other  islet  lies  just  above  the  Old  Col- 
ony Iron  Company's  wharf,  and  has  long  been  known 


1  Mr.  Hart  came  to  this  town  in  1826  from  Bristol,  R.  I.,  and  bought 
the  farm  on  Hunter's  Hill.  He  was  a  man  of  intelligence  and  with  a 
taste  for  reading.  He  was  the  father  of  Henry  W.  Hart,  of  North 
Dighton,  and  of  William  T.  Hart,  a  wealthy  resident  of  Boston,  and 
for  many  years  president  of  the  New  York  and  New  England  Railroad. 
Rescome  Hart  died  Nov.  4,  1855,  set.  seventy-nine.  His  wife,  Sarah, 
died  July  5,  1806,  set.  eighty-three  years. 


DIGHTON. 


255 


as  Reuben's  Island.  The  latter  does  not  resemble  a 
whale,  but  there  is,  nevertheless,  a  tale  to  it,  or  about 
it,  which  is  as  follows: 

The  True  Story  of  Reuben's  Island. — As  the 
exact  date  of  the  incident  about  to  be  related  is  not 
known,  it  might  perhaps  be  allowable  to  commence 
with  the  old  formula  of  the  nursery  tales,  "  Once  upon 
a  time,"  but  it  is  possible  to  be  a  little  more  definite 
than  that. 

Near  the  beginning  of  the  present  century  there 
lived  in  the  town  of  Berkley,  across  the  river  from 
Dighton,  a  young  man,  a  farmer's  son,  named  Reuben 
Phillips.  This  youth  had  a  sweetheart  named  Nancy 
Simmons  on  the  Dighton  side  of  the  stream,  whom 
he  was  accustomed  to  visit  on  Sunday  evenings,  and 
perhaps  at  other  times.  It  would  appear  that  he  did 
not  own  a  boat,  but  was  in  the  habit  of  borrowing 
one  with  or  without  the  leave  of  the  owners.  One 
sultry  evening  in  summer  he  started  from  home  just 
at  dusk,  appareled  in  his  Sunday  suit,  and  came 
down  to  the  crossing-place,  where  he  found  a  skiff', 
which  he  jumped  into  and  rowed,  as  he  thought, 
across  the  river.  Then  he  got  out  of  the  boat  and 
gave  it  a  push  out  into  the  stream,  knowing  that  the 
wind  would  carry  it  back  near  the  place  from  whence 
he  had  taken  it.  He  probably  thought  that  the 
owner  would  miss  the  boat  and  discover  who  had 
taken  it ;  his  plan  was  to  go  home  by  the  way  of  the 
bridge. 

After  pushing  off  the  boat  and  watching  it  till  it 
disappeared  in  the  darkness  he  turned  to  make  his 
customary  short-cut  across  lots  to  the  dwelling  where, 
he  was  pleased  to  think,  somebody  was  anxiously 
awaiting  his  coming.  He  had  scarcely  taken  three 
steps  when,  to  his  astonishment  and  dismay,  he  per- 
ceived that  he  was  surrounded  by  water,  and  was,  in 
fact,  on  an  island.  This  was  a  fine  predicament  for 
an  ardent  swain  to  be  in  :  alone  on  a  rocky  islet 
scarcely  three  rods  in  length,  and  with  the  light  in 
the  front  parlor  of  his  lady-love's  dwelling  twinkling 
in  the  distance,  as  if  in  derision  of  his  mishap.  One 
can  imagine  how  poor  Reuben  must  have  felt  when 
he  realized  that  he  was  a  prisoner  for  the  night  on 
that  forlorn  little  island;  how  he  halloed  in  vain  for 
help,  and  how  any  desire  to  swim  ashore,  if,  indeed, 
he  was  able  to  swim,  was  effectually  checked  by  the 
fact  that  his  Sunday  suit  of  clothes  would  be  ruined 
in  the  muddy  water  of  the  flats.  What  made  the 
situation  worse  was  the  fact  that  a  thunder-storm  was 
probable  before  morning,  judging  from  a  dark  curtain 
of  cloud  in  the  western  sky,  and  the  occasional  flashes 
of  lightning  that  lit  up  its  murky  depths.  Probably 
philosophy  came  to  his  aid  after  a  while, — that  resig- 
nation to  the  inevitable  which  is  expressed  in  the 
homely  proverb  that  "  What  can't  be  cured  must  be 
endured,"  and  he,  perhaps,  sat  down  on  a  rock  and 
watched  the  play  of  the  lightning  in  the  advancing 
cloud,  listening  the  while  to  the  distant  thunder,  to 
the  swirl  of  the  tide  over  the  rocks,  or  to  the  sibilant 


sound  of  the  night-wind,  rustling  the  clumps  of 
coarse  beach-grass  that  grew  in  the  crevices  of  the 
rocks.  Perhaps  he  had  read  "  Robinson  Crusoe,"  and 
compared  his  condition  to  that  of  Crusoe  on  his 
island,  being  monarch  of  all  he  surveyed.  Yet, 
before  morning,  he  must  have  considered  his  condi- 
tion much  worse  than  that  of  De  Foe's  hero,  for  the 
tempest,  which  had  been  gathering  its  forces  during 
the  early  part  of  the  night,  burst  upon  his  unsheltered 
head.  The  next  morning  a  limp,  soaked,  and  shiver- 
ing young  man  was  taken  from  the  island  to  the 
Berkley  shore,  where  anxious  friends  were  awaiting 
him. 

It  is  a  pleasure  to  be  able  to  state  that  after  the 
above  related  misadventure  Reuben  prospered  in 
his  wooing,  as  the  following  entry  in  the  town 
records  of  Dighton  will  conclusively  show  : 

"  Married,  Oct.  5,  1805,  by  Rev.  Enoch  Goff,  Reu- 
ben Phillips,  of  Barkley,  and  Nancy  Simmons,  of 
Dighton." 

In  the  old  record-book  of  the  proprietors  of  the 

South    Purchase    Reuben's   island    is    called    Cedar 

Island.     In  a  document,  dated  1699,  mention  is  made 

1  of  the    "landing-place    at    the    point    below    Cedar 

!  Island."     This  name  would  seem    to    indicate  what 

;  is  very  probable    that   the    island    then   was    larger 

j  and  had  more  soil  on  it  than  at  present,  and    that 

i  it  was  covered  with  a  growth  of  savins  or  red  cedars. 

The  white  cedar,  Cupressus  thyoides,  would  hardly  grow 

on  such  a  spot. 

Dighton  has  natural  advantages  that  ought  to  have 
made  it  much  more  thriving  and  populous  than  it  is. 
It  has  many  fertile  farms,  is  situated  on  the  banks 
of  a  navigable  river,  and  is  agreeably  diversified 
by  hills  and  lowlands,  woods  and  meadows.  There 
is  probably  no  healthier  township  in  the  State.  Yet 
emigration  has  depleted  it  at  various  times  of  large 
numbers  of  its  young  men.  There  has  been  an  exo- 
dus of  its  population  ever  since  the  Revolutionary 
war,  sometimes  to  the  Genesee  country,  sometimes  to 
Kentucky,  then  to  Illinois,  to  Minnesota,  to  Kansas, 
or  to  the  mining  regions  of  the  great  West. 

Then  many  of  the  young  men  and  women  of  this 
town,  as  of  most  other  agricultural  towns  in  New 
England,  have  been  drawn  into  the  ci.ties,  which 
thrive  at  the  expense  of  the  country.  There  has,  of 
course,  been  a  counter-flow  of  population -into  the 
town  to  fill  to  some  extent  the  vacancies  left  by  those 
who  have  gone,  but  the  new  comers  have  mostly  been 
of  a  very  different  class, — Irish,  Western  Islanders, 
French  Canadians,  and  others  of  alien  birth.  These 
accessions  have  hardly  kept  the  population  of  the 
township  from  retrograding.  In  New  England  a 
town  that  is  devoted  chiefly  to  agriculture  cannot 
hope  to  keep  pace  in  population  and  wealth  with 
towns  that  are  largely  devoted  to  manufacturing;  it 
is  obvious,  therefore,  that  our  citizens  who  have  the 
means   should  invest  a  portion   of  their  capital  in 


256 


HISTORY   OF    BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


starting  new  manufacturing  enterprises  here,  in  such 
kinds  of  business  as  are  sure  to  pay  fair  returns  if 
well  managed,  and  will  employ  a  good  class  of  oper- 
atives. Every  such  establishment  raises  the  value  of 
real  estate,  and  furnishes  a  market  near  at  home  for 
the  produce  raised  by  our  farmers. 

For  many  years  the  farmers  of  this  town  have  made 
a  specialty  of  raising  strawberries  for  market,  and  the 
town  is  ahead  of  every  other  town  in  New  England  in 
the  acreage  devoted  to  this  berry,  and  the  number  of 
quarts  sent  to  market  reaching  in  favorable  seasons  to 
nearly  or  quite  one  million.  The  crop  is  an  exhaust- 
ing one,  and  requires  large  quantities  of  commercial 
and  other  fertilizers  to  produce  the  best  results. 
Those  who  were  early  in  the  business  found  it  a 
profitable  one,  but  of  late  years  increased  production 
in  this  and  other  towns  has  reduced  the  price  of 
berries  and  the  margin  of  profit. 

In  educational  advantages  Dighton  is  up  to  the 
average  of  towns  of  equal  population  and  wealth,  al- 
though there  is  still  plenty  of  room  for  improvement, 
the  first  necessity  of  which  is  a  larger  appropriation 
of  money  for  school  purposes.  The  best  teachers  now 
command  large  salaries,  and  when  teachers  of  excep- 
tional ability  and  qualifications  are  secured  in  our 
schools  they  usually  stay  but  a  short  time,  being 
drawn  away  by  offers  of  larger  pay  elsewhere. 
Within  a  few  years  the  district  system  has  been 
abolished,  two  of  the  largest  of  the  ten  schools  have 
been  graded,  the  number  of  the  school  board  has 
been  increased  from  three  to  six,  and  the  board  has 
been  required  to  appoint  a  superintendent  of  schools. 
All  of  these  changes,  it  is  believed,  have  been  bene- 
ficial in  their  effects.  For  some  years  past  many  of 
our  teachers  have  been  graduates  from  the  normal 
schools.  New  methods  of  teaching  have  been  intro- 
duced, which  have  mostly  given  good  results,  al- 
though, notwithstanding  the  so-called  improved  sys- 
tems of  teaching,  there  are  some  who  doubt  whether 
the  schools  of  the  present  day  turn  out  young  men 
and  women  better  fitted  for  the  battle  of  life  than  did 
the  schools  which  their  fathers  and  mothers  attended. 

Reference  has  been  made  in  the  course  of  this 
sketch  to  the  great  value  and  interest  a  series  of  pho- 
tographs of  the  people  of  the  colonial  period,  or  even 
of  a  much  more  recent  date,  would  have  at  the  pres- 
ent tinle,  if  it  were  possible  to  obtain  sun-pictures  of 
our  ancestors,  and  the  thought  occurs  that  people  of 
future  generations  will  be  quite  as  much  interested  in 
the  likenesses  of  the  men  and  women  of  to-day. 

In  view  of  this  fact,  and  considering  the  liability 
of  photographs  in  private  hands  to  be  destroyed  or 
lost,  would  it  not  be  well  to  have  collections  of  pho- 
tographic portraits  under  the  charge  of  each  town  or 
city,  which  would  of  course  furnish  a  secure  place  in 
which  to  keep  them  ?  An  act  of  the  Legislature  would 
be  required  to  legalize  the  plan,  and  the  act  should 
be  so  worded  as  to  make  it  obligatory  upon  towns  and 
cities  to  provide  a  sufficient  number  of  large  pho- 


tograph albums,  each  capable  of  containing  two  or 
three  hundred  portraits,  and  bound  in  the  most  sub- 
stantial manner;  the  act  should  further  make  it  com- 
pulsory for  all  town  or  city  officers,  for  all  clergy- 
men, physicians,  lawyers,  officers  of  the  militia,  or 
masters  of  vessels  to  have  their  photographs  inserted 
in  the  albums  of  the  town  or  city  to  which  they 
belonged,  while  all  other  adult  persons  of  either 
sex  should  have  full  permission,  after  a  residence  of 
five  years,  to  have  their  likenesses  placed  in  the  al- 
bums. The  albums  would  be  in  charge  of  the  town 
and  city  clerks,  and  would  be  kept  in  iron  safes.  Be- 
tween the  sheets  of  portraits  would  be  a  sufficient 
number  of  pages  of  linen  paper  to  record  the  names 
of  the  owners  of  the  likenesses,  the  date  of  their 
births  and  of  the  insertion  of  their  portraits,  their 
parents'  names,  and  any  other  facts  concerning  them 
that  it  might  be  deemed  advisable  to  have  recorded. 
There  is  little  doubt  that  people  generally  avail  them- 
selves of  such  a  means  of  having  their  likenesses  pre- 
served for  future  generations  to  contemplate,  and  the 
value  and  interest  of  the  collections  would  increase 
with  the  lapse  of  years. 

The  foregoing  suggestions  are  respectfully  sub- 
mitted to  the  readers  of  this  sketch,  among  whom 
may  possibly  be  some  of  the  Solons  who  will  be 
chosen  to  the  next  or  future  Legislatures,  and  who 
will,  perhaps,  see  the  utility  of  the  plan  and  make  an 
effort  towards  its  realization  when  the  proper  time 
arrives. 


CHAPTER    XX. 

DIGHTON.— ( Cv„t;ll,,e</. ) 

"First  Deed  of  Philip,  Chief  Sachem  of  Pokanoket,  to  William 
Brenton  and  others  of  land  in  the  South  Purchase,  being  the 
upper  three  miles. 

"  To  all  Christian  people  to  whom  these  presents  shall  come: — I,  Philip, 
alias  Metacum,  Chief  Sachem  of  Pokanoket,  in  the  colony  of  New  Ply- 
mouth, in  New  England,  for  and  in  consideration  of  one  hundred  and 
forty-three  pounds  in  current  pay,  to  my  content,  to  me  in  hand  paid 
before  the  sealing  and  delivery  hereof  by  William  Brenton,  Esq.,  James 
Walker,  William  Harvey,  Walter  Deane,  Richard  Williams,  ami  John 
Richmond,  all  of  the  town  of  Taunton,  in  the  colony  aboresaid,  where- 
with I,  the  said  Philip,  alias  Metacum,  do  acknowledge  myself  fully 
satisfied,  contented,  and  paid,  and  thereof,  and  of  every  part  and  parcel 
thereof,  do  hereby  exonorate,  acquit,  discharge,  and  release  the  said 
William  Brenton,  James  Walker,  William  Harvey,  Walter  Beam',  Rich- 
ard Williams,  and  John  Richmond,  their  heirs,  executors,  administrators, 
and  assigns  forever;  have  given,  granted,  bargained,  sold,  enfeoffed, 
aliened,  and  confirmed,  and  do  by  these  presents  fully,  freely,  and  abso- 
lutely give,  grant,  bargain,  sell,  enfeoff,  alien,  make  over,  and  confirm 
unto  the  said  grantees,  to  them  and  their  associates,  and  to  their  and 
every  of  their  heirs,  executioners,  administrators,  and  assigns  forever  a 
certain  tract  of  land  situate,  lying,  and  being  southwardly  from  the 
town  of  Taunton  aforesaid,  containing  three  English  miles  one  way  and 
four  English  miles  the  other  way,  beginning  at  the  Three-Mile  River 
(so  called),  alias  Nomesticomok,  and  is  from  the  said  river  to  range 
three  miles  south  and  by  west,  and  from  the  extent  of  the  three  miles 
to  range  four  miles  west  and  by  north  from  the  Great  River  (so  called) 
into  the  woods, and  from  the  extent  of  that  four  miles  to  range  north 
and  by  east  until  it  meet  with  the  ancient  hounds  of  Taunton  aforesaid, 
and  bounded  eastwardly  with  the  aforesaid  Great  River,  with  all  timber 
and  wood,  meadow,  creeks,  coves,  springs,  ponds,  mines,  minerals,  and 


DIGHTON. 


257 


all  and  singula]-  the  privileges,  easements,  commodities,  appurtenances, 
and  immunities  of  what  kind  soever  thereunto  belonging  or  in  any  way 
appertaining,  and,  in  particular,  the  privilege  of  the  said  Great  River 
for  the  navigation  of  any  sort  of  vessels,  bigger  or  lesser,  and  all  other 
the  privileges  thereof. 

"  To  have  and  to  hold  the  said  tract  of  land  and  all  and  every  the 
privileges  and  appurtenances  as  is  before  expressed,  and  all  the  right, 
title,  and  interest  which  he,  the  said  Philip,  alias  Metacum,  now  bath, 
or  can  or  may  hereafter  have,  either  by  himself  or  his  heirs,  executors, 
administrators,  assigns,  or  successors  unto  them,  the  said  grantees,  and 
their  associates,  and  to  their  and  any  of  their  heirs,  executors,  adminis- 
trators, and  assigns,  and  unto  the  proper  use  and  behoof  of  them  forever, 
to  lie  holden  according  to  the  tenor  of  East  Greenwich,  in  His  Majesty's 
county  of  Kent,  in  free  socage,  and  not  in  capita,  nor  by  knight's  ser- 
vice ;  and  the  said  Philip  doth  for  himself,  his  heirs,  executors,  admin- 
istrators, successors,  and  assigns  hereby  utterly  disclaim  and  renounce 
all  former  right,  title,  interest,  or  demand  in  or  unto  the  said  tract  or 
any  part  or  parcel  thereof,  or  to  anything  thereunto  belonging,  and 
doth,  by  these  presents,  acknowledge  the  above  bargained  premises  to 
be  the  true  and  proper  estate  of  the  said  grantees  and  their  associates, 
their  heirs,  executors,  administrators,  and  assigns;  and  the  said  Philip, 
alias  Metac.im,  doth  further  for  himself,  his  heirs,  executors,  adminis- 
trators, successors,  and  assigns  promise  and  engage  with  and  unto  the 
said  grantees  and  their  associates  and  to  their  and  every  of  their  heirs, 
executors,  administrators,  and  assigns  that  lie,  the  said  Philip,  alias  Met- 
acum, is  the  true,  sole,  and  proper  owner  of  the  said  tract  of  land  and 
of  every  part  thereof,  and  of  all  and  every  of  the  easements,  privileges, 
and  commodities  thereunto  belonging,  immediately  before  the  sealing 
and  delivery  hereof,  and  hath  in  himself  good  right  and  lawful  authority 
to  alienate  and  sell  the  same,  and  that  the  said  land,  with  the  privileges 
and  appurtenances  aforesaid,  is  fair  and  clear,  and  fairly  and  clearly 
acquitted  and  discharged  from  all  former  gifts,  grants,  bargains,  sales, 
forfeitures,  attachments,  judgments,  executions,  mortgages,  and  incum- 
brances whatsoever,  from  the  beginning  of  the  world  to  this  day,  and 
the  said  bargained  premises  to  warrant  and  defend  from  or  against  any 
person  or  persons  claiming,  or  that  shall  or  may  hereafter  claim,  any 
right,  title,  or  interest  in  or  unto  the  same,  or  any  part  or  parcel  thereof, 
from,  by,  or  under  him,  the  said  Philip,  alias  Metacum,  or  his  heirs, 
executors,  administrators,  successors,  or  assignees,  whereby  the  grantees 
and  their  associates,  or  either  of  them,  or  either  of  their  heirs,  execu- 
tors, administrators,  and  assigns  shall  or  may  be  ejected  or  evicted  out 
of  the  same,  or  any  part  thereof,  or  molested  in  the  quiet  and  peaceable 
possession  and  enjoyment  thereof;  and  further,  the  said  Philip,  alias 
Metacum,  doth  for  himself,  his  heirs,  executors,  administrators,  succes- 
sors, and  assigns  covenant  and  promise  to,  and  with  the  said  grantees 
and  their  associates  and  their  and  every  of  their  heirs,  executors,  ad- 
ministrators, and  assigns  that  be,  the  said  Philip,  alias  Metacum,  upon 
reasonable  and  lawful  demand  shall  and  will  do  and  perform,  or  cause 
to  be  done  and  performed,  any  and  all  such  further  act  or  acts,  whether 
by  acknowledging  this  deed  of  sale  or  any  other  kind  whatsoever  that 
shall  or  may  be  for  the  more  fully  completing  and  confirming  the  afore- 
bargained  premises  unto  the  said  grantees  and  their  associates  and  to 
their  and  every  of  their  heirs,  executors,  administrators,  and  assigns 
according  to  the  true  intent  hereof  and  the  colony  aforesaid. 

"  In  witness  whereof,  I,  the  said  Philip,  alias  Metacum,  to  these  pres- 
ents have  put  my  hand  and  seal,  the  twenty-eighth  day  of  September, 
anno  domini  one  thousand  six  hundred  and  seventy-two,  and  in  the 
twenty-fourth  year  of  our  Sovereign,  Charles  the  Second,  King  of  Great 
Britain,  France,  and  Ireland. 

"Signed,  sealed,  and  delivered  The  mark  of  the 

in  presence  of  '"Philip,  P  alias  Metatum.  [Seal.] 

"  Joseph  Wilboue,  abovesaid  Philip, 

"  John  Winohecombe.  alias  Metacum. 

"  Thomas  Patcanut.  The  mark  of 

The  mark  of  "Captain  /&  Annawan. 

"  Thomas,  T  Indian,  alias  Sank-  rpjie  maT^  0j- 

M  RT-  "  Unkanyahoonet.  T 

"  MUNASHUM    P    NlMROD. 

"  Chosnanoson.  a 

"  This  deed  was  acknowledged  by  Philip,  alias  Metacum,  this  1st  day 
of  October,  1672,  before  me. 

"  Constant  Southworth,  Assist. 

"This  deed  is  recorded  according  to  order  of  Nathaniel  Morton,  sec- 
retary to  the  court  for  the  jurisdiction  of  New  Plymouth,  for  the  great 
book  of  records,  enrolled  folio  227." 

17 


The  foregoing  was  copied  from  the  records  in  the 
old  Proprietors'  Book,  now  in  the  town  clerk's  office 
at  Dighton. 

The  deed  of  the  other  strip  of  land,  one  mile  wide 
and  four  miles  in  length  from  east  to  west,  lying  below 
and  adjoining  the  first  tract,  was  signed  by  Philip,  Oct. 
1,  1672.  The  consideration  was  forty-seven  pounds, 
and  the  land  was  conveyed  to  Constant  Southworth, 
treasurer  of  Plymouth  Colony,  who  immediately  trans- 
ferred all  his  right  to  the  committee  of  the  associates 
already  mentioned.  It  will  be  noticed  that  the  British 
monarchs  still  kept  up  their  unfounded  claim  to  do- 
minion over  France.  Charles  II.  is  designated  in 
the  deed  king  of  Great  Britain,  France,  and  Ireland, 
about  as  preposterous  a  claim  as  it  would  be  for  Queen 
Victoria  to  style  herself  queen  of  Great  Britain,  the 
United  States,  and  Ireland. 

The  old  record-book  of  the  proprietors  of  the  South 
Purchase,  from  which  these  documents  are  copied,  is 
an  ancient-looking  affair,  bound  in  untanned  hog- 
skin,  and  having  leather  strings  to  tie  the  covers  to- 
gether. Some  of  the  writing  in  it  is  very  clear  and 
legible,  and  some  is  written  in  a  cramped  hand,  diffi- 
cult to  decipher.  The  ink  used  was  excellent  in 
quality,  and  is  as  black  as  jet  after  the  lapse  of  more 
than  two  hundred  years.  The  making  of  good  black 
ink  appears  to  be  a  lost  art. 

Here  follows  the  assignment  of  the  deeds  by  the 
committee  to  their  associates  : 

"  The  Committee's  Declaration  of,  or  deed,  to  their  Associates. — This  pres- 
ent writing  declareth  to  all  to  whom  it  may  concern,  that  whereas,  the 
honoured  Court  of  Plymouth,  in  New  England,  granted  to  James  Walker, 
Senior,  and  John  Richmond,  of  Taunton,  in  the  colony  of  Plymouth 
aforesaid,  in  order  to  purchase  a  tract  of  land  of  the  Indians  for  the  free 
inhabitants  of  the  Township  of  Taunton  aforesaid,  as  by  the  records  of 
the  said  Court  it  may  more  fully  appear,  the  above  said  tract  of  land  is 
lying  and  being  on  the  west  side  of  Taunton  Great  River,  so-called,  and 
for  the  better  managing  of  the  said  purchase,  the  free  inhabitants  of 
Taunton  aforesaid  James  Walker  and  John  Richmond,  William  Bren- 
ton,  Esquire,  Lieut.  George  Macey,  Richard  Williams,  Walter  Deane, 
and  William  Harvey,  all  of  them  inhabitants  of  Taunton  aforesaid,  as  a 
committee  to  act  for  and  in  the  behalf  of  the  free  inhabitants  of  Taun- 
ton aforesaid,  that  whatsoever  this  above-named  committee  or  the  major 
part  of  them  should  do  in  or  respecting  the  premises,  should  stand  firm 
and  good  as  by  the  records  of  the  town  may  at  large  appear,  the  above- 
named  committee  obtaining  deeds  for  the  above-said  tract  of  land,  under 
the  hands  and  seals  of  the  right  proprietors  thereof  to  be  to  the  above- 
said  committee  and  their  associates,  and  to  their  heirs,  executors,  and 
assigns,  the  said  committee  declaring  under  their  hands  who  might  be 
their  full  associates  in  all  respects  whatsoever,  in  the  said  tracts  of  land 
named  in  the  said  deeds  from  Philip  Sachem,  alias  Metacum,  and  Mr. 
Constant  Southworth,  treasurer  for  the  Colony  aforesaid,  dated  the  28th 
day  of  September,  1672,  and  the  other  deed  the  1st  day  of  October  in  the 
year  1672,  upon  conditions  inserted  in  the  records  of  the  said  town, 
bearing  date  the  6th  of  December,  1672,  as  by  the  records  of  the  said 
town  may  appear.  Now,  we,  the  abovesaid  Committee  do  by  these 
presents  declare  that  those  men  whose  names  are  underwritten,  and  none 
but  those  are  fully  associated,  and  as  fully,  completely,  and  firmly  in- 
terested and  entitled  in  the  above  said  tract  of  laud,  specified  in  the 
above-named  deeds,  as  this  above-named  Committee  whose  names  are 
inserted  in  the  said  deeds,  and  as  equally  interested  as  it  is  already  laid 
out  by  lott,  and  in  that  part  of  the  abovesaid  lands  which  shall  be  here- 
after divided  by  lott,  firm,  and  free  to  them  and  to  their  heirs,  executors, 
and  assigns  forever,  acknowledging  these  and  none  but  these,  have  per- 
formed all  conditions  specified  in  the  said  declaration  bearing  date  De- 
cember the  Gth,  1672,  as  aforesaid ;  in  confirmation  hereof  we,  the  major 
part  of  the  above  said  Committee,  have  set  our  hands  under  the  names 
of  the  associates  this  18th  day  of  March,  1683-84." 


258 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Karnes  of  Associates. 

Mr.  George  Shove. 

Israel  Deane.          . 

Heni'3'  Andrews. 

Jonathan  Briggs. 

Mr.  Giles  Gilbert. 

John  Turner. 

Hezekiah  Hoar. 

Richard  Stacey. 

John  Hall. 

John  Hodges. 

John  Macomber,  Sr. 

Shadrach  Wilbore. 

James  Phillips. 

John  Smith,  Sr. 

John  Hathaway. 

Thomas  Harvey,  Sr. 

John  Dean. 

Samuel  Smith. 

Joseph  Wilbore. 

Robert  Crossman,  Sr. 

Aaron  Knap. 

William  Paul. 

Peter  Pitts. 

Samuel  Holloway. 

Thomas  Gilbert. 

Malachi  Holloway. 

Richard  Burt. 

Ester  Gallop. 

John  Tisdale,  Sr. 

Joseph  Hall. 

Christopher  Thrasher. 

James  Leonard,  Jr. 

John  Pool. 

John  Lincoln. 

Edward  Bobbett. 

Richard  Stephens. 

Edward  Itew. 

Joseph  Willis. 

Thomas  Caswell. 

Mary  Street. 

William  Witherell. 

Nathaniel  Thayer. 

Henry  Andrews,  Jr. 

Increase  Robinson. 

Samuel  Pitts. 

Thomas  Harvey,  Jr. 

Nicholas  White,  Sr. 

Isaac  Deane. 

Samuel  Hall. 

Ezra  Deane. 

James  Leonard,  Sr. 

Thomas  Williams. 

Thomas  Lincoln,  Sr. 

William  Witherell,  Jr. 

Thomas  Lincoln,  Jr. 

Richard  Briggs. 

Francis  Smith. 

Samuel  Williams. 

James  Burt. 

James  Walker,  Jr. 

Jonah  Austin,  Sr. 

Peter  Walker. 

George  Watson. 

Israel  Thrasher. 

Thomas  Leonard. 

Samuel  Macey. 

Nathaniel  Williams. 

Nicholas  White,  Jr. 

Robert  Thornton. 

Jared  Talbot. 

Thomas  Deane. 

John  Smith,  Jr. 

Joseph  Williams. 

John  Macomber,  Jr. 

John  Tisdale,  Jr. 

Thomas  Aniesbery. 

James  Tisdale. 

"The  names  of  the 

Committee  are  these, — 

"  George  Macey.     [seal.] 

"James  Walker,    [seal.] 

"Walter  Deane.    [seal.] 

"John  Richmond,    [seal.] 

"This  30th  of  December,  1684,  the  Associates  above  named  have  by 
vote  chosen  John  Richmond  and  John  Hathaway  to  see  this  writing 
signed,  sealed,  and  delivered  before  a  magistrate,  and  also  to  see  it  re- 
corded in  the  Court  Roles  at  Plymouth. 

"  George  M:icey,  James  Walker,  Walter  Deane,  and  John  Richmond, 
being  the  major  part  of  the  Committee  above  mentioned,  appeared  the 
20th  of  March,  1684,  and  acknowledged  this  instrument  to  be  their  act 
and  deed,  before 

"John  Wallet,  Assist." 

When  the  lots  were  surveyed  seven  roads  were  laid 
out,  running  westerly  from  the  river  two  miles  into 
the  woods,  and  there  was  a  town-lauding  at  the  river- 
end  of  each  road.  Afterwards  roads  were  laid  out 
running  north  and  south.  The  red-oak  appears  to 
have  been  a  common  tree  on  the  banks  of  the  river  at 
that  time,  for  several  of  the  town-landings  are  indi- 
cated by  lines  running  to  or  from  red-oak  trees.  In 
one  of  the  documents  of  that  time  the  Segreganset 
River  is  called  the  Sequeteganet.  Muddy  Cove  had 
the  same  name  then  as  now,  as  did  also  Broad  Cove. 

The  name  of  Walker  has  been  a  conspicuous  one  j 
in  the  annals  of  this  town.     In  1635  two  brothers, 
James  and  William  Walker,  came  to  this   country 
from  England.    James  was  born  in  1619.    He  married 
Elizabeth  Phillips,  settled  in  Taunton,  and  was  one 


of  the  proprietors  of  the  South  Purchase.  They  had 
five  children  who  survived  them, — James,  Peter, 
Eleazer,  Hester,  and  Deborah.  James'  second  wife 
was  Sarah  Revv,  widow  of  Edward  Rew.  She  was  the 
daughter  of  John  Richmond,  of  Taunton.  James 
Walker  died  Feb.  15,  1691,  aged  seventy-three.  Ac- 
cording to  the  history  of  the  Walker  family,  written 
some  years  ago  by  Rev.  J.  B.  R.  Walker,  of  Holyoke, 
Mass.,  James  was  an  extensive  land-owner,  and  was 
also  interested  in  an  iron-works  and  a  saw-mill.  He 
was  one  of  the  six  proprietors  of  Assonet  Neck,  was 
one  of  the  selectmen  of  Taunton  for  eight  years,  and 
was  a  deputy  to  the  Plymouth  Court  for  sixteen  years. 
He  was  evidently  a  man  of  sagacity  and  public  spirit. 
His  son  James,  born  in  1676,  died  in  1718,  married 
Bethsheba  Brooks,  of  Rehoboth.  They  had  six  sons 
and  five  daughters.  He  lived  at  the  weir  in  Taunton, 
and  kept  a  public-house.  In  his  will  he  left  to  his 
son  David  "  two  lower  lots  in  Dighton,  where  he  now 
dwells,"  and  to  his  son  Josiah  three  upper  lots  in 
Dighton. 

Peter  Walker,  son  of  the  first  James,  born  in  1649, 
died  in  1711,  was  an  iron  dealer  and  manufacturer,  in 
company  with  James  Philips.  In  his  will  the  names 
of  three  sons  and  three  daughters  are  mentioned. 
The  inventory  amounted  to  seven  hundred  and  fifty- 
one  pounds,  including  "homestead,  with  housing,  or- 
chard, with  little  island  joining  to  Nicholas  Stevens', 
his  mill,  with  all  the  land  belonging  to  the  farm, 
being  four  hundred  acres."  According  to  the  Walker 
historian,  Peter's  iron-works  were  on  this  island, 
which  is  formed  by  the  division  of  Three-Mile  River 
at  North  Dighton.  Peter  Walker  lived  in  the  first 
house  north  of  the  Three-Mile  River  on  the  road  from 
Taunton  to  Dighton.  It  is  now  owned  and  occupied 
by  Stephen  Pierce,  Esq.  It  was  remodeled  in  the 
early  part  of  this  century. 

Hester,  daughter  of  the  first  James  Walker,  born 
in  1650,  died  in  1696,  married  Joseph  Wood  (after- 
wards Atwood),  of  Taunton.  They  were  the  ances- 
tors of  the  Atwoods  of  Taunton  and  Dighton.  Their 
children  were  Joseph,  born  in  1681,  died  Sept.  26, 
1724,  married  Mary  Read,  and  was  a  representative 
in  the  General  Court  from  Dighton  in  1729  (his  daugh- 
ter Hannah  married  Thomas  Rose,  of  Dighton),  John 
and  Ephraim.  Ephraim  Atwood,  son  of  Joseph,  mar- 
ried Ruth,  daughter  of  Col.  Sylvester  Richmond,  and 
he  represented  Dighton  in  the  General  Court  in  1718. 
He  was  town  clerk  for  several  years,  as  was  his  father 
Joseph  before  him.  Ephraim  and  Ruth's  children 
were  Silvester,  born  in  1725 ;  Ruth,  born  in  1727  ; 
Ephraim,  born  in  1737,  and  Joanna,  born  after  her 
father's  death. 

Deborah  Walker,  daughter  of  the  first  James,  of 
Taunton,  married  George  Gooding.  He  settled  in 
the  South  Purchase  in  1678,  being  one  of  the  earliest 
settlers. 

James,  son  of  James  Walker,  the  second  of  that 
name,  was  born  in  1674  and  died  in  1749.     He  mar- 


DIGHTON. 


259 


ried  Sarah,  daughter  of  John  Richmond,  of  Taunton. 
He  lived  west  of  Three-Mile  River,  in  Dighton.  His 
will  gives  the  names  of  four  sons  and  one  daughter. 
James  Walker's  third  son,  Nathan,  born  in  1677,  died 
in  1747,  lived  in  Dighton.  He  married  Abigail  Rich- 
mond, of  Taunton,  and  they  had  six  children. 

James  Walker,  the  third  of  that  name,  had  a  son 
David,  who  died  in  1765.  He  was  twice  married,  and 
he  lived  on  the  farm  that  was  south  of  the  one  now 
owned  by  the  heirs  of  Charles  W.  Green.  It  formerly 
belonged  to  Seth  Austin.  David  was  a  member  of 
the  Legislature  in  1721  and  again  in  1745.  He  was 
one  of  the  selectmen  in  1732,  and  he  held  a  captain's 
commission  in  the  militia.     He  had  nine  children. 

The  third  James  Walker's  son,  Josiah,  died  in 
1749.  He  married  Mary,  daughter  of  George  and 
Deborah  Gooding.  His  father  left  him  three  upper 
lots  in  Dighton.     He  had  four  children. 

Peter  Walker,  son  of  the  first  James,  had  a  son, 
born  in  1692  and  died  in  1752.  He  married  Mercy 
Richmond.  He  resided  in  Taunton,  and  had  no 
children.  In  his  will  he  gave  "  to  my  kinsman, 
Elisha  Walker,  son  of  my  brother  James,  deceased, 
and  to  Eleazer  Walker,  grandson  of  my  brother 
Peter,  all  the  lands  in  Dighton,  excepting  twenty 
acres  given  to  Josiah  Richmond,  and  if  either  Elisha 
or  Eleazer  die  without  issue,  then  to  Nathan  Walker, 
son  of  Nathan,  and  if  he  die  without  issue,  then  to  the 
next  of  my  kin,  and  not  to  go  out  of  the  Walkers  for 
all  generations."  His  homestead  was  near  the  burial- 
place  which  he  gave  for  the  use  of  his  kindred,  and 
which  contains  the  oldest  inscription  in  Taunton. 

Among  the  prominent  individuals  bearing  the 
name  of  Walker  in  this  town  was  Dr.  George 
Walker,  son  of  Col.  Elnathau  by  his  third  wife.  He 
was  born  Sept.  7,  1761,  and  died  Oct.  13,  1844.  He 
married  Thankful  Burt,  daughter  of  David.  She 
died  in  1837,  aged  seventy-two  years.  George- 
Walker  was  about  fourteen  when  his  father  died, 
and  he  then  removed  to  Middleborough  with  his 
mother.  When  the  Revolutionary  war  broke  out  he 
was  drafted  into  the  army.  He  was  in  Capt.  Ed- 
ward Blake's  company,  and  served  in  Rhode  Island. 
After  the  war  he  studied  medicine,  bought  the  home- 
stead of  his  father,  and  removed  there  in  1792.  He 
practiced  medicine  in  Dighton  for  nearly  fifty  years, 
and  frequently  served  the  town  as  selectman  and  as- 
sessor. He  was  also  a  representative  to  the  General 
Court  for  several  years.  He  was  pensioned  for  his 
service  in  the  war.  He  held  a  justice's  commission 
for  nearly  forty  years.  He  was  considered  a  very 
skillful  physician  and  an  estimable  man.  His  son 
George  was  also  prominent  in  Dighton  and  Taunton 
affairs.  He  was  a  land  surveyor,  and  represented 
Taunton  in  the  General  Court  for  several  years. 

Another  prominent  man  in  town  ati'airs  was  Nehe- 
miah  Walker,  son  of  Elijah,  born  in  1769,  died  May 
7,  1856,  aged  eighty-seven.  He  married,  in  1796, 
Elizabeth  Frances,  who  died  in  1847,  in  her  seventy- 


first  year.  Nehemiah  resided  in  the  northwest  part 
of  the  town,  was  a  farmer,  and  was  selectman  for 
several  years,  and  represented  the  town  in  the  Legis- 
lature eight  years.  He  exerted  a  large  influence  in 
town  affairs.     He  had  eight  children. 

The  foregoing  are  only  a  few  names  culled  from 
the  many  Walkers  who  have  resided  in  this  town. 
"  The  name  Walker,"  says  Lower  in  his  "  Surnames," 
"signified  either  (Anglo-Saxon,  wealcere)  a  fuller  or 
an  officer  whose  duty  consisted  in  walking  over  or 
inspecting  a  certain  space  of  forest  ground.  In  the 
north  of  England  a  fulling-mill  is  still  called  a  walk- 
mill."  There  was  another  forest  officer,  a  "  ryder," 
who  superintended  the  walkers.  He  was  mounted, 
and  his  supervision  extended  over  a  large  district. 

The  following  correspondence  from  the  American 
Silk  Journal,  published  in  New  York,  one  of  the  edi- 
tors of  which,  Mr.  Byron  Rose,  is  a  native  of  Dighton, 
will  need  no  explanation  : 

"North  Dighton,  Mass.,  Feb.  7, 1882. 
"Editor  of  the  American  Silk  Journal: 

"  Dear  Sir, — The  proposed  dress  for  Mrs.  Garfield  is  by  no  means  tho 
first  of  entirely  American  growth  and  manufacture,  those  Philadelphia 
ladies  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding.  One  hundred  and  fifty  years 
ago  we  made  must  of  our  cloth  of  wool  and  flax,  and  in  Connecticut  a 
considerable  amount  of  silk.  From  the  years  1800  to  1812,  my  mother 
lived  in  Mansfield,  Conn.,  where  she  was  employed  in  raising  silk- 
worms, reeling  the  silk, 'dyeing  the  same,  etc.  At  that  time  only  sew- 
ing-silk was  made  from  the  smooth  threads,  as  reeled  from  the  cocoons, 
the  great  ends  and  floss,  or  tow,  as  some  called  it,  was  made  into  cloth, 
stocking-yarn,  etc.  The  rough  silk  amounted  to  about  one-third  of  the 
whole.  Iu  1812  my  father  and  mother  were  married  and  settled  in 
Bristol,  R.  I.  Finding  mulberry-trees  there,  she,  in  1813,  sent  to  Con- 
necticut and  obtained  silk-worm  eggs,  and  made  from  the  cocoons  raised 
from  them  the  first  silk  ever  made  in  the  State  of  Rhode  Island.  In 
1826  my  parents  moved  to  Dighton,  and  in  my  personal  remembrance, 
from  1830  for  many  years,  silk  made  by  my  family,  who  raised  the  mul- 
berry-trees, silk-worms,  cocoons,  and  all,  was  a  common  thing 

"  It  is  safe  to  say  that  of  the  tons  of  silk  that  were  grown  in  this  coun- 
try, nearly  one-third  was  made  into  homespun  cloth.  My  mother  made 
silk  for  herself  from  1813  to  1857,  a  period  of  forty-four  years.  I  myself 
have  had  pantaloons  and  vests  made  from  silk  we  grew,  but,  though  I 
'did  walk  in  silk  attire,'  I  derived,  so  far  as  I  can  remember,  but  little 
pleasure  therefrom,  for  the  voracity  of  the  worms  compelled  me,  as  a  boy, 
in  all  sorts  of  weather  to  gather  leaves  for  them  to  eat. 

"  Henry  W.  Hart." 

"  New  Bedford,  Mass.,  Feb.  3, 1882. 
"Editor  of  the  American  Silk  Journal: 

"  Dear  Sir, — Mrs.  Rescome  Hart  took  the  first  silk-worms  to  Dighton, 
planted  the  mulberry-trees  upon  which  they  fed,  and  raised  the  cocoons. 
From  the  worms  which  Mrs.  Hart  gave  my  grandmother  (Mrs.  Silas 
Talbot),  who  was  also  a  resident  of  Dighton,  were  raised  the  cocoons 
from  which  she  carded,  spun,  and  wove,  then  had  colored  and  watered, 
the  dress  of  which  you  have  been  informed,  and  a  piece  of  which  I  enclose 
herewith.  It  was  made  from  the  tow  of  the  silk.  Mrs.  Hart  and  Mrs. 
Talbot  also  made  a  large  amount  of  very  nice  sewing-silk.  My  grand- 
mother's dress  must  have  been  made  between  forty  and  fifty  years  ago, 
and  the  assertion  that  the  proposed  dress  for  Mrs.  Garfield  is  the  first 
American  silk  dress,  in  both  culture  and  manufacture,  is  certainly  open 

to  question. 

"Lizzie  A.  Durfee." 

As  Dighton  initiated  the  culture  and  manufacture 
of  silk  in  this  State,  it  would  seem  a  very  appropriate 
place  in  which  to  carry  on  its  manufacture,  at  least, 
on  a  large  scale,  and  in  which  to  build  up  a  thriving 
village  devoted  to  the  business,  like  that  of  South 
Manchester,  in  Connecticut.  Land  is  cheap  here, 
there  are  good  facilities  for  reaching  the  markets,  and 


260 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


there  is  no  town  debt  to  make  taxation  high.  All 
that  is  needed  are  men  of  business  enterprise  and 
capital. 

Dighton  in  the  "War  of  the  Rebellion.— With 
scarcely  an  exception  the  people  of  this  town  were 
intensely  loyal  to  the  Union  cause  during  the  war  of 
the  Rebellion,  and  responded  promptly  to  the  several 
calls  of  the  government  for  men.  The  following  men 
were  in  1861  and  1862  mustered  into  the  Seventh 
Regiment,  Col.  Couch  commanding,  most  of  them  for 
three  years:  Daniel  D.  Andrews,  Henry  C.  Talbot. 
Elhanan  Ingalls,  James  E.  Rawson,  Augustus  F. 
Gammons,  Frank  Rose,  Gustavus  Fisher,  Frederick 
Wink,  Frank  Wink,  Daniel  Edson,  Jr.  (quarter- 
master), George  R.  Ingalls,  George  T.  McLane,  Leon- 
ard Hathaway,  Benjamin  F.  Williams  (corporal), 
William  Martin,  John  W.  Pitts,  James  L.  Gay,  Wil- 
liam E.  Walker,  George  Perry,  George  T.  Briggs, 
William  O.  Brown,  George  R.  Trafton,  Henry  H. 
Jones,  Isaac  Hathaway,  Henry  E.  Reed,  William 
Hathaway,  James  H.  Luther. 

The  bounty  paid  at  that  time  was  fifteen  dollars. 
Five  of  the  above-named  men  deserted,  viz.,  Henry 
C.  Talbot,  Elhanan  Ingalls  (afterwards  re-enlisted  in 
New  York;  was  wounded  and  discharged),  Frank 
Rose,  Frederick  Wink,  and  Frank  Wink.  Of  the 
others,  Augustus  F.  Gammons  was  discharged  and 
re-enlisted  in  1864  in  the  Veteran  Reserve  Corps ; 
Leonard  Hathaway  was  promoted  to  first  lieutenant ; 
John  H.  Pitts  re-enlisted  in  1864  ;  James  L.  Gay  died 
Aug.  29,  1862.  William  E.  Walker  re-enlisted  in 
1864,  was  taken  prisoner  in  front  of  Richmond,  and 
after  six  months'  imprisonment  was  discharged ; 
George  T.  Briggs  re-enlisted  in  1864 ;  Henry  H.  Jones 
died  ;  Isaac  Hathaway  and  Henry  E.  Reed  re-enlisted 
in  1864  in  the  Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  United  States 
Army  ;  the  bounty  of  those  that  enlisted  in  this  corps 
was  four  hundred  and  fifty  dollars. 

The  following-named  mea  enlisted  for  three  years 
in  the  Eleventh  Rhode  Island  Regiment :  Oliver 
Jones,  Orlando  Fales,  Phineas  M.  Pratt,  and  Dennis 
Flatry. 

The  following  enlisted  in  1862  in  the  Twenty-fourth 
Massachusetts:  George  F.  Fales  and  Jeremiah  N. 
Brown. 

Charles  T.  Jones  enlisted  in  the  Forty-third  Mas- 
sachusetts ;  was  taken  prisoner  and  imprisoned  for  six 
months  at  Andersonville ;  he  escaped  in  November, 
1864. 

The  following  enlisted  in  Rhode  Island  regiments : 
John  Garroll,  Third  Rhode  Island  ;  Nathaniel  Brown 
(promoted  to  colonel,  and  died  at  Port  Royal) ;  Fred- 
erick L.  Brown,  son  of  Col.  Brown,  enlisted  in  the 
Third  Rhode  Island ;  William  Pratt  and  George  H. 
Stratton,  in  the  Third  Rhode  Island ;  John  O.  Mar- 
vel, in  the  Fifteenth  Connecticut ;  Ebenezer  L.  Briggs, 
in  the  First  Rhode  Island ;  Edward  P.  Lincoln  and 
Calvin  M.  Perkins,  in  the  Thirty-third  Massachusetts ; 
Benjamin  P.  Jones,  in   the  Fortieth  Massachusetts 


(was  mustered  in  Sept.  3,  1862;  he  died  of  fever  in 
the  hospital  at  Bermuda  Hundred,  Va.,  Jan.  9,  1865) ; 
Benjamin  P.  Jones,  Jr.,  John  G.  Walker  (died  in  the 
service),  Joseph  Spencer,  Thomas  A.  Briggs,  Edward 
B.  Marvel,  Albert  Dunlap,  Martin  F.  Kinney,  Henry 
R.  Briggs,  Horace  N.  White,  E.  Bradford  Gay,  Ed- 
ward E.  Wade  (killed  in  battle  May  20, 1864),  Samuel 
B.  Westcoat,  Hodijah  Baylies,  James  L.  Spooner, 
Daniel  Fish,  and  John  A.  Briggs,  all  enlisted  in  the 
Fortieth  Massachusetts  (bounty,  three  hundred  and 
twenty-five  dollars) ;  Joseph  H.  Chace  and  Frederick 
W.  Shaw,  in  the  Seventh  Massachusetts,  June  11, 
1861 ;  Robert  Crossman,  Herbert  A.  Chace  (discharged 
March  27,  1863),  Nathan  O.  Walker,  Edwin  Haskins, 
George  A.  Walker,  Josiah  L.  Horton,  Oliver  H. 
Briggs,  Henry  N.  GofF,  L.  C.  Smith,  Adam  Wink, 
Albert  S.  Pratt,  John  Williams,  Baylies  R.  Chace, 
Sylvanus  D.  Jones,  Alvin  C.  Lincoln,  Henry  A. 
Williams,  Samuel  Hardy,  Henry  M.  Westcoat,  Wil- 
liam H.  Belden,  Nathaniel  M.  Babbitt,  James  O. 
Reed,  Stephen  N.  Smith,  Charles  H.  Talbot,  Charles 
H.  Briggs,  Edwin  Chace,  and  James  M.  Evans  were 
mustered  into  the  Ninth  Massachusetts  Sept.  23, 1863 
(bounty,  two  hundred  dollars) ;  Henry  F.  Root,  Arthur 
A.  Hathaway,  Andrew  C.  Pratt,  George  L.  Walker, 
George  S.  Whitmarsh  (died  at  Readville),  Oliver 
Jones,  Truman  S.  Gay,  and  Oliver  H.  Briggs  were 
mustered  into  the  Fifty-eighth  Massachusetts  Regi- 
ment in  1864. 

The  following-named  men  served  in  the  navy : 
George  W.  Cobb  (2),  Benjamin  Cobb,  Jr.,  Thomas  A. 
Spencer,  Joseph  W.  Spencer,  Josiah  T.  Horton,  John 
Walmsley,  Henry  B.  Jones,  George  E.  Pierce,  and 
William  T.  Blake. 

According  to  the  records  there  were  ninety-five  men 
who  served  in  the  army  from  Dighton,  and  nine  in 
the  navy,  or  a  total  of  one  hundred  and  four.  The 
large  debt  contracted  by  the  town  for  war  purposes 
has  been  entirely  paid  off,  but  no  memorial  has  yet 
been  erected  to  the  memory  of  those  who  died  in  the 
service  of  the  government. 

The  following  article  from  the  New  York  Times  of 
Dec.  15, 1853,  concerning  a  native  and  former  resident 
of  Dighton,  explains  itself.  It  was  received  too  late 
to  be  inserted  in  the  body  of  this  sketch,  and  is  there- 
fore placed  in  the  appendix.  A  sister  of  Capt.  Pen- 
dleton is  still  living  in  this  town  : 

"A  Hero  Who  has  Gone — The  Bravery  and  Humanity  which 
made  Capt.  Charles  B.  Pendleton  known. — The  recent  death  of  Capt. 
Charles  B.  Pendleton,  who  died  at  his  residence  in  Brooklyn  on  Christ- 
mas, and  was  buried  at  Cypress  Hills  on  Wednesday,  recalls  to  the  minds 
of  all  old  New  Yorkers  the  loss  of  the  steamship  'San  Francisco'  in  1853, 
one  of  the  most  terrible  ocean  calamities  on  record  in  this  country,  by 
which  over  two  hundred  and  fifty  lives  were  lost.  Capt.  Pendleton  was 
a  native  of  Massachusetts,  having  been  born  in  Dighton,  April  24,  1816. 
He  went  to  sea  when  a  lad,  and  gradually,  by  perseverance,  energy,  and 
untiring  labor,  worked  his  way  up  from  the  position  of  '  monkey,' as 
the  boys  on  sailing  vessels  were  called  in  those  days,  to  that  of  master  of 
the  packet-ship  '  Lucy  Thompson,'  which  was  so  long  and  favorably 
known  in  the  trade  between  this  city  and  Liverpool.  Capt.  Pendleton 
commanded  this  ship  for  fourteen  years,  until  1862,  when  he  abandoned 
the  sea  and  entered  into  business  as  a  partner  in  the  firm  of  John  W. 


DIGHTON. 


261 


Mason  &  Co.,  importers  and  commission  merchants,  at  No. 43  Broadway. 
In  this  business  Capt.  Pendleton  continued  to  the  day  of  hi>  death.  He 
leaves  a  widow  and  three  daughters. 

"It  was  while  in  command  of  the  'Lucy  Thompson,' in  1853,  that 
public  attention  was  first  called  to  ('apt.  Pendleton  by  his  rescue  of  some 
of  the  passengers  of  the  ill-fated  'San  Francisco,' and  especially  by  his 
manner  of  extending  his  aid.  The  'San  Francisco'  was  a  new  steam- 
ship, owned  by  Mr.  Aspinwall,  and  built  especially  for  the  California 
trade.  She  was  of  two  thousand  five  hundred  tons  burthen,  and  was 
regarded  as  one  of  the  finest  steamers  that  ever  sailed  from  this  port. 
She  started  on  her  first  voyage  from  New  York  Dec.  21,  185:5,  having  on 
board  about  six  hundred  souls,  including  officers  and  crew.  Among  the 
passengers  were  eight  companies  of  the  Thirtieth  Regiment  United 
States  Artillery,  comprising  about  five  hundred  men,  bound  for  California, 
under  command  of  Col.  William  Gates,  and  a  number  of  ladies  and  chil- 
dren composing  the  families  of  the  officers  of  the  regiment.  The  '  San 
Francisco'  sailed  with  fine  weather  and  good  prospects  for  an  excellent 
voyage,  but  on  December  27th,  when  only  three  days  out  of  port,  a  ter- 
rific gale  was  encountered,  and  the  new  steamship  proved  to  he  totally 
unmanageable  in  the  heavy  seas.  On  the  first  day  of  the  storm  her 
masts  went  by  the  board,  and  one  hundred  men  were  swept  overboard 
and  lost  by  one  powerful  sea.  For  five  days  she  labored  in  the  rolling 
waves,  threatening  at  every  moment  to  founder,  and  each  day  a  number 
of  unfortunates  were  swept  into  the  sea  and  drowned.  To  add  to  the 
horrors  of  the  situation  the  sailors  began  to  drink  heavily,  plundering 
the  stores  of  the  purser,  and  all  discipline  was  at  an  end  on  the  steam- 
ship. The  cholera  also  broke  out  on  the  dismantled  vessel,  and  scores 
were  prostrated  by  this  scourge,  so  that  there  seemed  to  be  only  one 
choice  for  all, — death  bydrowningor  destruction  by  the  fell  disease.  On 
December  20th,  however,  the  bark  '  Kilbey;'  Capt.  Lowe,  was  spoken,  and 
she  took  off  upward  of  a  hundred  of  the  passengers.  Two  days  later 
the' Three  Bells,'  Capt.  Creighton,  who  died  a  short  time  ago,  rescued 
another  lot,  and  on  Jan.  2,  1854,  the  'Antarctic,'  Capt.  Stouffer,  took  the 
remainder  of  the  passengers  from  the  sinking  ship,  which  soon  after  sank 
beneath  the  waves. 

"  The  '  Kilbey,"  when  she  took  the  passengers  from  the  '  San  Francisco,' 
was  herself  in  distress.  She  had  been  out  forty-eight  days,  was  short  of 
provisions,  and  had  only  one  cask  of  water  to  serve  out  to  her  own  crew 
and  the  strangers.  Capt.  Murray,  however,  thought  it  probable  that  he 
would  meet  some  vessel  soon  which  would  relieve  him  of  his  charge,  and 
he  refused  to  leave  the  men  to  die  on  the  'San  Francisco.'  For  fifteen 
days  the  'Kilbey'  sped  along,  meeting  no  ship  and  encountering  heavy 
gales,  which  split  her  sails  and  almost  dismantled  her,  while  her  pro- 
visions had  been  reduced  to  such  a  low  ebb  that  for  nearly  ten  days  a  hand- 
ful of  parched  corn  was  all  that  could  be  allowed  to  each  person  on  board. 
Hope  of  deliverance  had  well-nigh  fled,  when,  on  January  loth,  the 
'Lucy  Thompson,' Capt.  Pendleton,  was  sighted,  and,  in  answer  to  the 
signal  of  distress  shown  by  the  '  Kilbey,'  lay  to,  although  a  terrific  gale 
was  blowing  and  the  sea  ran  dangerously  high.  Capt.  Pendleton  sent  a 
boat  to  the  'Kilbey,'  and  on  ascertaining  the  condition  of  things  on 
i  the  vessel  offered  to  take  on  the  '  Lucy  Thompson'  one  hundred 
of  the  passengers  of  the  'San  Francisco,' and  to  furnish  provisions  to  the 
'  Kilbey.'  It  was  a  matter  of  great  difficulty  and  danger  to  transfer  the 
passengers  with  the  heavy  sea  running,  but  the  work  was  safely  done, 
and  tin-  two  vessels  proceeded  on  their  way,  the  'Kilbey'  to  Boston,  and 
the  '  Lucy  Thompson'  to  this  port.  Col.  Gates,  as  soon  as  he  boarded  the 
1  Lucy  Thompson,'  sent  his  quartermaster  to  Capt.  Pendleton  to  assure 
him  that  he  should  be  paid  well  for  his  rescue  of  the  United  States  offi- 

nd  Boldiers.  To  this  the  captain  replied  that  he  had  done  only  his 
duty,  and  he  could  not  think  of  taking  money  for  saving  human  life. 
Capt.  Pendleton  continued  to  hold  this  noble  view  of  his  duty  to  the  day 
of  his  death,  refusing  to  put  in  any  claim  for  payment  against  the  gov- 
ernment, although  be  was  frequently  urged  to  do  so  by  his  friends,  and 
although  his  officers  and  men  all  filed  claims  and  were  duly  paid  for 
their  -  The  'Lucy  Thompson'  arrived  here  with  the  rescued 

igera  Jan.  15, 1854,  and  Capt.  Pendleton,  with  the  other  captains  of 
the  vessels  who  had  taken  the  people  from  the  'San  Francisco,'  were  the 

-  of  the  bom-.    The  merchants  of  this  city  contributed  over  six 

and  dollars  for  a  testimonial  to  be  given  to  the  captains,  and  at  a 
public  dinner  Capt.  Pendleton  was  presented  with  a  handsome  service 
of  plate,  valued  at  two  thousand  dollars.  This  was  inscribed,  '  Presented 
by  the  merchants  and  citizens  of  New  York  to  Capt.  C.  B.  Pendleton,  of 
the  ship  "  Lucy  Thompson,"  as  a  testimonial  of  the  appreciation  of  his 
humane  and  g  illant  efforts  in  assisting  to  save  the  passengers  and  crew 
of  the  steamship  "  San  Francisco"  after  the  terrific  gale  of  the  24th  De- 
cember,  1853.'  The  citizens  of  Boston  also  sent  to  Capt.  Pendleton  a 
handsome  silver  pitcher,  and  from  Philadelphia  came  a  purse  of  two 


hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  This  money  he  invested  in  a  picture  descrip- 
tive of  the  rescue  of  the  passengers,  painted  by  Walters,  the  Liverpool 
artist  Iu  after-years  the  house  of  ('apt.  Pendleton  was  often  the  scene 
of  reunions  of  the  rescued  passengers  of  the  'San  Francisco.'" 


TOWN  CLERKS 
1712.  Joseph  Dean. 

1717.  Capt.  Jared  Talbot. 

1718.  Joseph  Atwood. 
1720    Jared  Talbot. 
1721.  Joseph  Atwood. 
1724.  Ephraim  Atwood. 

1751.  Ezra  Richmond. 

1752.  Samuel  Briggs. 

1753.  Gershom  Williams,  Jr. 

1755.  Nathan  Walker. 

1756.  Ephraim  Atwood. 
1704.  Abiezer  Phillips. 
1783.  Thomas  B.  Richmond. 
1785.  David  Whitmarsh. 


OF  DIGHTON. 

1790.  Abiezer  Phillips. 
1806.  Joseph  Gooding,  Jr. 
1809.  John  Hathaway,  Jr. 
1813.  Joseph  Talbot. 
1818.  John  P.  Perry. 
1829.  Jonathan  Jones. 
1841.  Leonard  Gooding. 
1845.  William  B.  Smith. 
1840.  Leonard  Gooding. 
1855.  A.  W.  Paul. 
1858.  George  E.  Gooding. 
1861.  William  Wood. 
1872.  G.  A.  Shove. 


REPRESENTATIVES  TO  THE  GENERAL   COURT   FROM 
DIGHTON. 

1825.  Darius  Perry. 


1719.  Ephraim  Atwopd. 

1721.  Benjamin  Crane. 

1722.  Jared  Talbot. 

1723-24,    1727-28,    1733.    Edward 

Shove. 
1729.  Joseph  Atwood. 
1753, 1764-67.  Ezra  Richmond. 
1771-74.  Elnathan  Walker. 
1774.  Dr.  William  Baylies. 
1776-78.  George  Codding. 
1779-8(1,  1783.  Abiezer  Phillips. 
1784-85.  Thomas  B.  Richmond. 

1786.  Elkanah  Andrews. 

1787.  Silvester  Richmond. 
1791-92,  1S18.  Thomas  S.  Baylies. 
1794-95.  Thomas  Church. 

1796,  1801-15.  Rufus  Whitmarsh. 

1799,  1802-3,  1809-11.  Geo.  Walker. 

1800.  Dr.  George  Ware. 

1804-5,  1807-11,  1813,  1821.    John 

Hathaway. 
1813-14.  Leonard  Hathaway. 
1816.  Jeremiah  Jones. 
1817-23.  Dr.  William  Wood. 


1827.  Nathaniel  Wheeler. 
1829-30,     1832-35.     Nehemiah 

Walker. 
1835-37.  David  Hathaway. 
1838.  William  Peck. 
1840-41, 1845-52.  Anthony  Shove. 
1842-44.  Joseph  Pitts. 
1847.  William  T.  Rose. 
1848-49.  Bradford  Pratt. 

1850.  Jonathan  Jones. 

1851.  William  L.  Hathaway. 
1853-57.  Jervis  Shove. 

1854.  Isaac  Hathaway. 

1855.  George  F.  Gavitt. 

1856.  Benjamin  Trapton. 
1860.  Jonathan  Pratt.i 
1863.  William  Wood.l 
1866.  James  H.  Codding.* 
1868.  Rev.  E.  Dawes.2 
1872.  Dr.  Charles  Talbot.* 
1877.  J.  A.  Lewis.3 
1882.  F.  A.  Horr.s 


It  will  be  seen  that  for  some  years  Dighton  was  not 
represented  in  the  Legislature,  and  during  several 
years  had  two  representatives. 

SELECTMEN  OF  DIGHTON. 


Edward  Paul,  1714-15, 1720. 
Samuel  Waldron,  1714-18. 
Benjamin  Jones,  1714-16,  1731-32, 

1740,   1742-45,   1750,  1754,  1758, 

1768. 
Joseph  Atwood,  1715-19,  1745-68. 
Col.  Ebenezer  Pitts,  1716-17,  1719, 

1722-23,  1726. 
Nicholas  Stevens,  1717-19. 
Nathan  Walker,  1718. 
Jared  Talbot,  1 720-25. 
Edward  Shove,   1720-23,   1725-2'.), 

1731. 
David    Walker,  1721-23,    1725-31, 

1761. 
John  Burt,  1721. 

Abraham  Shaw,  1727-29,1733,  17  In. 
Daniel  Axtil,  1725. 
Joseph  Dean,  1732-55. 
Josiah    Talbot,    1733-34,  1739-40, 

1742-44,  1746,  171s,  1750. 


Gershom  Cralie,  1733-34. 
Silvester  Richmond,  1734, 1742-43, 

1745-46,  1748,  1751, 1763, 1767. 
Ephraim  Atwood,  1739-40,  1754. 
Josiah  Walker,  1744-46. 
Oliver  Simmons,  1746-48. 
David  Whitmarsh,  1750-58,  1777- 

78. 
Ezra  Richmond,  1751. 
Dr.  William  Wan?,  1751-53. 
Joseph  Ford,  1753. 
Samuel  Briggs,  1753. 
Elnathan    Walker,   1754-55,   1758, 

17iio-Gl,1764-66,  1768-72. 
George  Pitts,  LI 
Constant  Simmons,  1760. 
Samuel  Shaw,  1760. 
Ebenezer  Stetson,  1761. 
.b,i,  Winslow,  1763. 
Gershom  Williams,  1763-66,1768- 

72,  1774,  1778. 


i  Sixth  Bristol  District. 
■'<  Tenth  Bristol  District. 


2  Fifth  Bristol  District. 


262 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


John  Pierce,  1764-6C,  1768-71, 1773. 

Seth  Briggs,  1772-74. 

Joseph  Gooding,  1773. 

Dr.  William  Baylies,  1774-85. 

Silvester  Richmond,  Jr.,  1775, 1779- 

86. 
John  Whitmarsh,  1775. 
Abiezer  Phillips,  1775-76,  1779. 
George  Codding,  1776. 
John  Simmons,  1776. 
William  Gooding,  1777. 
Peter  Pitts,  1777-78. 
Elijah  Walker,  1779. 
Elkanah  Andrews,  1779,  1785-8S. 
Simeon  Williams,  1780,  1789-95. 
Rufus  Whitmarsh,   1780,   1782-84, 

1790-95,   1799,   1800-5,    1S11-13, 

1815-17. 
Thomas  Church,  1781. 
William  Brown,  1781. 
James  Dean,  1782-84. 
Thomas  B.  Richmond,  1783. 
Seth  Talbot,  1786-88. 
Stephen  Smith,  1787-89. 
Thomas  S.  Baylies,  1789-95, 1807. 
William  Walker,  1796-98. 
Samuel  Phillips,  1796, 1800-3, 1805. 
George  Williams,  1796,  1800-1. 
James  Briggs,  1802-3. 
George  Briggs,  1804-5. 
Samuel  Stephens,  1804-6. 
Silvester  Atwood,  Jr.,  1805. 
Ephraim  Hathaway,  Jr.,  1806. 
Josiah  Wardwell,  1807-9. 
George  Walker,  1807-9. 
John  Walker,  1808-14. 
Nehemiah  Walker,  1810-14,  1829- 

32, 1835-37, 1853. 
Samuel  Dean,  1810. 
Dr.  William  Wood,  1814-15,  1817- 

23. 
Salathiel  Jones,  1815. 
Simeon  Talbot,  1816-17. 
Caleb  Chace,  1818, 1820-28. 
Elkanah  Phillips,  1818-19. 
Darius  Perry,  1819. 


Ebenezer  Talbot,  1820-25,  1828-30. 

Luther  Talbot,  1824-27. 

Matthew  Briggs  (2d),  1826-30. 

Charles  Whitmarsh,  1831-34. 

Leonard  Gooding,  1831-33,  1857. 

David  Hathaway,  1833. 

Seth  Talbot,  1834. 

Abiathar  White,  1834. 

William  Peck,  1835,1838-39. 

Edward  Rose,  1835-39. 

Samuel    Davis,    1836-43,    1846-50, 

1852, 1854. 
Anthony  Shove,  1840-43,  1846-52. 
Samuel  Walker,  1840-44. 
Charles  H.  Green,  1841-43, 1846-52. 
Joseph  Pitts,  1844-45. 
Cyrus  Gooding,  1844^5. 
Gideon  Walker,  1845. 
Abiathar  Walker,    1851,    1855-56, 

1858,  1860. 
Oliver  Eaton,  1853. 
Alfred  W.  Reed,  1853, 1855. 
Jervis  Shove,  1854. 
Weston  Earle,  1854, 1857-59, 1863. 
G.  E.  Gooding,  1855-56,  1863. 
Jathniel  Williams,  1856. 
Jer.  P.  Edson,  1857-61, 1864-66. 
Jonathan  Pratt,  1859-60. 
O.  P.  Simmons,  1S61-62. 
Zebina  Wilmarth,  1861. 
George  F.  Gavitt,  1862. 
Charles  II.  Gooding,  1863. 
James  H.  Codding,  1864. 
Noah  Chace,  1864-66, 1872-74. 
Allen  Talbot,  1865-66. 
Edward  Lincoln,  1867-71. 
Nehemiah  Walker,  1867-68. 
Cyrus  Talbot,  1867-71. 
Nathan  Walker,  1869-71. 
Joseph  B.  Warner,  1S72. 
Henry  A.  Williams,  1872-74. 
F.  A.  Horr,  1873-82. 
Ira  P.  Briggs,  1875-82. 
E.  S.  Ashley,  187"'. 
J.  A.  Lewis,  1876-82. 


In  the  preparation  of  these  pages  the  sources  from 
which  information  has  been  obtained  have  been  so 
various,  and  the  individuals  to  whom  the  writer  is 
under  obligations  so  numerous,  that  only  a  few  of 
them  can  be  mentioned  here,  and  he  can  only  extend 
to  the  great  majority,  collectively,  his  sincere  thanks. 
Among  those  not  already  mentioned  to  whom  he  is 
indebted  are  Hon.  Henry  Williams,  of  Taunton;  Gen. 
E.  W.  Pierce,  of  Freetown ;  C.  A.  Reed,  Esq.,  of 
Taunton  ;  and  H.  W.  Hart  and  G.  E.  Gooding,  Esqs., 
of  North  Dighton.  Mr.  W.  R.  Taylor,  of  Bristol, 
R.  I. ;  Rev.  L.  Kinney  (historical  sketch  of  Baptist 
Church) ;  and  also  the  pastors  and  clerks  of  several 
of  the  religious  societies  for  the  loan  of  records. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


WESTON    EARLE. 
Ralph  Earle  emigrated  from  England  probably  be- 
tween the  years  1633  and  1638.     There  is  a  tradition 
presumed  from  the  directness  of  its  descent  to  be  au- 


thentic that  he  came  from  Exeter.  Of  this,  however, 
we  have  obtained  no  positive  proof.  No  efforts  have 
been  made  to  trace  his  family  prior  to  his  arrival  in 
this  country. 

From  the  records  of  the  Colonial  Court  it  appears 
that  Ralph  Earle,  with  nineteen  other  residents  of 
Portsmouth,  R.  I.,  petitioned  the  king,  under  date  of 
April  30,  1638,  for  "  permission  to  form  themselves 
into  a  body  politic."  Upon  the  records  of  the  town  of 
Portsmouth,  R.  I.,  under  date  of  first  of  eighth  month, 
O.S.  (October)  1638,  there  is  "  A  Catalogue  of  such 
(persons)  who  by  the  Genrall  consent  of  the  com- 
pany were  admitted  to  the  Inhabytants  of  the  Island 
now  called  Aqueedneck,  having  submitted  themselves 
to  the  Government  that  is,  or  shall  be,  established 
according  to  the  word  of  God  therein."  This  cata- 
logue contains  fifty-nine  names,  of  which  that  of 
Ralph  Earle  is  one.  Again,  under  date  of  "  April  ye 
30th  1639,"  his  name,  with  twenty-eight  others,  is  ap- 
pended to  the  following  declaration  of  allegiance  : 
"  We  whose  names  are  under  [written  doe  acknowl- 
edge1] ourselves  the  legell  subjects  of  [his  majestie] 
King  Charles,  and  in  his  name  [doe  hereby  bindej 
ourzelves  into  a  civil  body  politicke  unto  his  lawes 
according  to  matters  of  justice." 

March  21,  1640,  Ralph  Earle  conveyed  "  parcells 
of  upland  and  meadow,"  to  William  Baulston. 

At  a  town-meeting,  June  2, 1649,  Ralph  was  "  chosen 
treasurer  for  this  next  year  ensuing,  and  also  overseer 
for  the  poor,"  and  at  another  town-meeting,  April  29, 
1650,  he,  with  five  others,  was  chosen  "  for  the  commit- 
tee for  the  General  Assembly  at  Newport  in  May  next." 
At  a  town-meeting  in  1647  he  had  been  "  chosen  to 
keep  an  Inn,  to  sell  beer  and  wine,  and  to  entertain 
strangers,"  but  at  a  similar  meeting,  Nov.  12,  1650, 
with  a  species  of  hair-splitting  worthy  of  the  meta- 
physicians, it  was  "  voated  and  granted  that  Ralph 
Erl's  house  wherein  he  now  dwelleth  be  recorded  an 
Inn,  in  ye  room  of  ye  former  vote  that  he  was  an  Inn- 
keeper." It  would  appear  that  he  was  an  inn-keeper 
by  compulsion  rather  than  choice.  Jan.  16,  1651,  he 
was  "chosen  to  oversee  the  work  of  the  Prison,"  etc. 
May  5,  1655,  with  two  others,  he  was  chosen  as  jury- 
man "  for  the  Generall  Court  of  tryals  to  be  held  in 
Providence."  In  1667,  he  joined  a  "  troope  of  horse," 
which  had  been  ordered  to  be  raised,  and  on  the  10th 
of  August  signed,  with  eighteen  others,  a  paper  ap- 
proving "the  choyce  of  our  captaine  and  Lieftenant 
to  the  full."  It  appears  that  Ralph  was  afterwards 
captain  of  this  troop.  April  28,  1669,  he  was  placed 
on  the  Grand  Jury ;  and  June  7,  1671,  he  and  eleven 
others  of  Portsmouth,  R.  I.,  and  several  residents  of 
Newport,  were  appointed  by  the  General  Assembly  of 
the  colony  as  a  Special  Court,  to  sit  on  the  15th  of 
the  same  month,  to  try  "  two  Indians  now  imprisoned 
upon  criminall  charge." 

i  The  words  in  brackets  are  modern  interpolations  in  places  where 
the  original  record  is  torn  off. 


r j  /V//    Y   a  /vv 


m 


&%  c^y  -np-z&^^tfy 


DIGHTON. 


263 


Several  deeds  of  real  estate  from  Ralph  to  other 
persons  are  upon  the  records  of  Portsmouth.  In  the 
"New  England  Genealogical  and  Antiquarian  Reg- 
ister," vol.  vi.  p.  369,  it  is  stated  that  Ralph  claimed 
the  lands  of  the  Dutch  "  House  of  Good  Hope,"  now 
Hartford,  Conn.,  and  commenced  a  lawsuit  therefor 
against  Richard  Lord  and  James  Richards,  of  Hart- 
ford, possessors  of  the  Dutch  land  ahout  1667.  Earle 
affirmed  that  he  purchased  the  land  of  Underhill  in 
August,  1653,  and  paid  him  twenty  pounds  sterling 
for  it,  but  Underhill  protested  against  Earle's  claim. 
"It  is  not  improbable,"  continues  the  writer  in  the 
"  Register,"  "  that  there  was  some  foundation  for  this 
claim."  There  are  many  papers  on  the  subject  in  the 
archives  of  Connecticut.  We  have  no  record  of  the 
date  of  Ralph's  decease,  but  his  "  Will  was  Entered 
and  Recorded  the  14th  day  of  the  11th  month  (O.S.), 
1677,  as  Atest  John  Anthony,  Town  Clarke,"  of  Ports- 
mouth. 

Thomas  Earle,  of  Portsmouth,  was  received  a  free- 
man of  the  colony  in  1764.  No  other  record  of  his 
name  has  been  found.  He  was  probably  a  son  of 
Ralph,  and  died  not  long  after  the  year  just  men- 
tioned. 

Ralph}  Earle  married  lone ;  settled  in  Ports- 
mouth, R.  I.,  in  1638.  His  children  were  Ralph, 
William2,  Mary,  Martha,  and  S.irah.  William2  died 
in  1715.  His  children  were  William,  Ralph,  Thomas3, 
John,  and  Prudence.  Thomas3  lived  in  Warwick, 
R.  I.  He  died  in  1727.  His  children  were  William, 
Thomas,  Mary,  Oliver*,  Sarah,  Lydia,  and  Rebecca. 
Oliver*  married  Rebecca  Sherman,  and  lived  in  Swan- 
sea, Mass.  He  died  in  1766.  His  children  were 
Joshua,  Caleb5,  Thomas,  and  Mary.  Caleb5  was  born 
in  1729,  and  died  in  1812.  He  lived  in  Swansea, 
Mass.  He  was  twice  married,  first  to  Sarah  Buffin- 
ton,  in  1745.  They  had  six  children, — Elizabeth, 
Weston6,  Caleb,  Benjamin,  Joshua,  and  David.  His 
second  wife  was  Hannah  Chase.  They  were  married 
in  1769.  Their  children  were  Mary,  Jonathan,  Re- 
becca, Daniel,  Sarah,  Oliver,  and  William.  Weston* 
was  born  in  Swansea  in  1750,  and  died  Sept.  5,  1838. 
He  married  three  times,  first  Hepsibeth  Terry.  Their 
children  were  Caleb,  Sarah,  Hepsibeth.  His  second 
wife  was  Sarah  Slade.  (See  Slade  biography,  in  Som- 
erset.) Their  children  were  John1,  Slade,  Edward  S. 
His  third  wife  was  Martha  Smith.  They  had  one  son, 
Thomas  G.  John'  was  born  May  24, 1790.  At  the  age  of 
sixteen  he  began  teaching,  and  continued  in  this  em- 
ployment during  the  winter  months  for  thirty-seven 
years.  In  addition  to  the  common  school  studies  he 
taught  navigation  and  the  higher  branches.  He  was 
also  a  successful  farmer,  was  for  several  years  a  mem- 
ber of  the  General  Court,  and  for  two  years  occupied  a 
seat  in  the  State  Senate.  He  held  many  responsible 
positions  in  the  town,  where  his  value  was  recognized, 
was  a  justice  of  the  peace,  and  was  often  called  upon 
to  administer  estates.  He  died  in  the  seventy- fifth 
year  of  his  age.     He  married  Roby,  daughter  of  Asa 


Cornell  and  his  wife,  Martha  Mason.  She  was  born 
in  Swansea  in  1789,  and  died  in  her  eighty-third 
year. 

Their  children  were  Weston8;  Sarah,  born  in  1811, 
married  Philip  Simmons'  in  1835;  John  M.,  born  in 
1819;  Elizabeth  M.,  born  in  1822,  married,  in  1857, 
F.  A.  Boomer,  of  Fall  River,  Mass.  (See  biography  in 
history  of  Fall  River.) 

Weston8  Earle  was  born  Feb.  19,  1810,  in  Swansea, 
where  he  continued  to  reside,  working  on  his  father's 
farm  until  he  was  twenty-one.  He  then  went  to 
Rochester  for  three  years,  when  he  returned  to  Swan- 
sea, where  he  worked  on  a  farm  until  he  was  twenty- 
eight.  In  1837  he  purchased  his  present  farm,  where 
he  has  lived  since  1838.  He  is  a  firm  supporter  of 
the  Republican  party.  He  was  for  many  years  one 
of  the  selectmen  of  Dighton.  He  is  a  descendant  in 
the  eighth  generation  from  Ralph  Earle,  who  came 
from  England,  and  was  one  of  the  first  purchasers 
and  settlers  of  the  island  of  Rhode  Island  (in  1638). 
His  wife's  name  was  lone,  and  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  has  a  grandson  and  granddaughter  named  after 
the  original  Ralph  and  lone  Earle. 

Mi\  Earle  married  Content  (daughter  of  Benjamin 
Slade  and  Elizabeth  Robinson),  born  Feb.  8,  1798,  at 
Swansea.  She  was  the  youngest  of  eight  children, 
who  all  lived  to  an  advanced  age. 

Children  of  Weston  Earle:  John  W.,  born  July  6, 
1838,  and  Elizabeth  S.,  born  May  1,  1841. 

John  W.  married  Caroline  E.  Searle,  of  Scituate, 
R.  I.  Their  children  are  Ralph,  Howard  Weston 
(deceased),  lone  and  one  not  named  (twins). 


CHARLES   H.   GOODING. 

Charles  H.  Gooding  was  born  in  Dighton,  Mass., 
Feb.  5, 1812.  He  is  the  fifth  generation  of  the  Good- 
ings  who  have  resided  on  the  ancestral  farm  settled 
by  George  Gooding  in  1684.  He  had  emigrated  from 
Somersetshire,  England,  and  purchased  the  place  be- 
fore King  Philip's  war.  George  Gooding  had  four 
children,  three  daughters  and  one  son,  viz. :  Matthew, 
the  great-grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 
His  grandfather  and  father  both  bore  the  name  of 
Joseph,  the  latter  born  in  1772.  His  mother  was 
Betsey  Austin,  daughter  of  Seth  Austin,  Sr.,  of  Digh- 
ton, and  he  is  the  youngest  of  a  family  of  six  children, 
of  whom  he  and  his  sister  Betsey,  widow  of  the  late 
Samuel  L.  Thaxter,  are  the  only  survivors. 

Mr.  Gooding  was  well  educated  in  the  branches 
taught  at  the  common  schools  of  his  native  town,  and 
received  additional  advantages  at  a  grammar  school 
in  Fall  River,  where  his  father  resided  and  carried  on 
the  clock-  and  watch-making  business  and  a  general 
jeweler's  store.  Charles  learned  of  his  father  the 
trade  of  a  clock-  and  watch-maker,  though  he  did  not 
continue  to  follow  that  pursuit.  He  served  as  deputy 
postmaster  at  Fall  River  about  one  year,  and  in  1834 
went  to  the  city  of  New  York,  and  was  about  ten 


264 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


years  engaged  there  as  a  book-keeper  for  his  brother, 
Albert  Gooding,  who  was  a  merchant  in  the  Spanish 
West  India  trade.  In  1844  he  settled  on  the  home- 
stead in  Dighton.  Under  the  administration  of 
Presidents  Taylor  and  Fillmore  he  was  inspector  of 
customs  at  Dighton,  a  branch  of  the  Fall  River  office 
being  then  kept  at  that  place.  He  has  carried  on  the 
homestead  farm  since  his  return  there  in  1844. 

Mr.  Gooding  was  married,  Feb.  5,  1857,  to  Mary 
Almy,  daughter  of  Capt.  Abraham  Briggs,  of  Digh- 
ton, and  widow  of  Mr.  Gilbert  L.  Talbot.  She  was  a 
native  of  Providence,  R.  I.  They  had  no  children. 
She  died  Sept.  24,  1880,  aged  sixty-six  years  and  two 
months. 

A  Whig  and  a  Republican  in  politics,  he  is  yet  an 
Independent,  and  believes  more  in  principles  and  men 
than  in  party.  In  religious  faith  and  worship  his 
affiliations  are  with  the  Unitarian  Church,  and  he  is 
a  supporter  of  the  church  of  this  order  in  Dighton. 

We  append  to  this  brief  sketch  the  following  arti- 
cle, recently  published  in  the  Taunton  Gazette,  re- 
specting the  occupation  pursued  by  several  members 
of  this  family : 

"  The  Gooding  Family  of  Clockmakeks. — 
A  recent  notice  of  the  death  of  a  member  of  the 
Gooding  family,  the  last  of  the  brothers,  natives  of 
Dighton,  suggested  the  grouping  of  a  brief  genealog- 
ical reminiscence  relative  to  the  history,  mechanical 
skill,  and  occupation  of  this  family  of  clock  and 
watchmakers.  Probably  no  similar  instance  can  be 
cited  in  this  country  where  so  many  of  one  family 
followed  that  ingenious  business,  to  whom  may  be 
added  nearly  a  dozen  descendants  pursuing  the  same 
occupations,  nearly  all  citizens  of  this  State. 

"  The  old  homestead  where  they  were  born  stands 
upon  the  estate  of  their  late  pilgrim  ancestor,  George 
Gooding,1  who  died  Jan.  1,  1712,  in  his  eightieth 
year.  His  son  Matthew  inherited  the  estate  ;  Joseph 
was  the  third,  Joseph  (2d)  the  fourth,  in  lineal  descent, 
and  the  eldest  of  the  five  brothers,  and  three  sisters — 
Rebecca  (Mrs.  Reed),  Deborah  (Mrs.  Standish),  and 
Elizabeth  (Mrs.  Perry) — comprised  the  family  of  the 
fourth  generation. 

"  Joseph  (4th)  was  born  in  1772,  and  at  an  early  age 
developed  a  remarkable  mechanical  genius  and  a  pe- 
culiar aptitude  for  clock  and  watch  machinery.  When 
about  sixteen  years  of  age  his  father  sent  him  as  an 
apprentice  to  an  English  Quaker,  an  ingenious  watch 
and  elockmaker  in  Hanover,  where  he  remained  a 
few  years,  until  he  was  as  expert  as  his  master  in  the 
business.  He  returned  to  Dighton,  and  commenced 
the  manufacture  of  brass  clocks  before  he  was  twenty- 
one  years  of  age,  in  a  little  room  in  the  old  home- 
stead. He  afterwards,  in  1797,  built  a  store  near  the 
Upper  Four  Corners,  and  enlarged  the  business,  with 


1  Joanna,  a  daughter  of  George  Gooding  (3d),  married  John  Godfrey, 
Esq.,  and  was  the  mother  of  Brig.-Gen.  Godfrey,  men  of  note  during  the 
last  century  in  this  county. 


two  of  his  brothers  as  apprentices,  in  making  the 
tall,  mahogany-cased  clocks,  after  the  English  style, 
recently  imported  from  London  at  great  expense. 
These  clocks,  besides  the  time-dial,  noted  the  day  of 
the  month  and  the  moon's  phases,  some  of  which 
may  be  found  in  old  family  residences  at  the  present 
day.  All  the  delicate  brass-work  was  executed  by 
his  own  hands  and  those  of  his  brother  apprentices. 
Not  a  cog-wheel  or  pinion  was  turned  out  by  ma- 
chinery, as  done  by  the  million  at  present.  None  of 
those  grand  mahogany-cased  time-keepers  are  now 
made,  yet  many  are  still  keeping  note  of  the  time 
and  the  phases  of  the  moon  as  correctly  as  they  did 
nearly  a  century  ago.  Those  who  hold  them  in  pos- 
session as  family  heirlooms  are  loth  to  part  with  their 
venerable  Gooding  clocks  for  any  consideration, 
which  have  proved  such  reliant  time-keepers.  At  the 
manufacture  of  these  famous  clocks  the  younger 
brothers,  as  they  left  the  humble  school  and  patri- 
monial farm,  served  apprenticeship  with  their  senior 
brother,  Joseph. 

"In  1826,  Joseph  removed  his  business  to  Troy 
(now  Fall  River),  then  having  a  population  of  less 
than  three  thousand,  and  followed  watchmaking,  at 
which  he  was  an  adept;  also  a  designer,  engraver, 
and  die-cutter,  and  skillful  at  all.  After  remaining 
a  dozen  years  he  returned  to  his  homestead  in  Dighton 
in  1838,  and  resumed  the  repairing  of  clocks  and 
watches  until  his  death,  in  1853,  at  the  age  of  eighty 

years  and  eight  months.     He  married  Austin, 

and  they  had  two  daughters  and  four  sons.  The  two 
eldest,  Joseph  and  Albert,  followed  their  father's 
business,  and  went  to  Bogota,  South  America.  AVil- 
liam  also  removed  there  in  the  shell-comb  manufac- 
ture. Albert  and  William  died  some  years  ago,  and 
Joseph  died  recently.  Charles  H.,  who  cultivated 
the  ancient  family  estate  of  nearly  two  centuries, 
also  repairs  clocks  for  diversion,  continuing  the 
family  occupation. 

"Josiah,  the  second  brother,  after  finishing  his 
trade,  settled  in  Bristol,  R.  I.,  and  followed  the  clock 
and  watch  business  until  his  death,  in  1864,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-eight  years.  He  left  four  sons,  two  of 
whom,  James  and  Josiah,  continued  the  same  busi- 
ness.    One  remains  in  the  father's  store. 

"  John,  the  third  brother,  went  into  business  in 
Plymouth,  remaining  there  until  his  death,  some 
eight  years  ago,  at  the  age  of  ninety,  leaving  three 
sons.  Benjamin  succeeded  his  father,  and  James  is 
one  of  the  prominent  members  of  the  Walthain  Watch 
Manufactory,  and  aided  in  building  up  that  enter- 
prising establishment  to  its  present  vast  proportions 
and  wide  reputation. 

"  Alanson,  after  leaving  his  apprenticeship,  settled 
in  New  Bedford,  and  followed  the  business  until  1840, 
when  he  retired.  He  made  a  trip  to  Europe  several 
years  ago.     He  died  Nov.  18,  1877. 

"  Henry,  after  partially  serving  with  Joseph,  com- 
pleted his   trade  with    Josiah    at  Bristol,  and  com- 


y9|  $ik 


DIGHTON. 


265 


menced  the  clock  and  watcli  business  in  Duxbury, 
where  he  married  and  remained  a  few  years.  He 
subsequently  removed  to  Boston,  and  continued  the 
favorite  business  in  Dock  Square,  Washington  and 
State  Streets,  until  age  caused  him  to  retire  about  a 
dozen  years  ago.  He  died  on  the  10th  of  December 
at  the  age  of  ninety-two  years  and  six  months,  leav- 
ing five  daughters  and  a  son,  but  none  to  continue 
the  business  of  the  father. 

"The  five  brothers  averaged  over  half  a  century  in 
devotion  to  that  business,  and  they  sustained  the  re- 
markable aggregate  age  of  nearly  four  hundred  and 
forty  years.  Their  sister,  Mrs.  John  Reed  (mother 
of  Henry  Gooding  Reed,  of  Taunton),  died  in  Jan- 
uary, 1872,  at  the  venerable  age  of  ninety,  making 
the  aggregate  of  the  five  brothers  and  sister  over  five 
hundred  and  thirty  years.  All  lived  remarkably 
temperate  and  even-tenored  lives,  worthy  representa- 
tives of  their  sturdy  pilgrim  ancestry  and  lineage,  as 
well  as  their  successors  and  descendants,  who  follow 
them  in  the  ingenious  line  of  occupation.  It  is  a  rare 
record  of  a  family,  hence  it  may  be  of  readable  in- 
terest to  the  relatives,  friends,  and  others  who  may 
not  have  heard  of  the  Gooding  clock  and  watch- 
makers." 


ALFRED    W.  PAUL. 

Alfred  W.  Paul  is  of  Scotch  descent,  and  is  lineally 
connected  with  one  of  the  oldest  families  in  Taunton. 
Two  brothers,  Richard  and  William  Paul,  came  to  i 
this  country  from  Scotland  at  an  early  day,  the  former 
on  board  of  the  ship  "  Castle"  in  1636-37.  He  was  born 
in  1615,  and  Nov.  7,  1638,  married  Margary  Turner, 
of  Taunton,  Mass.  The  same  year  he  took  an  in- 
ventory of  the  estate  of  John  Bryant,  of  Taunton. 
He  was  licensed  to  keep  a  victualing-house  Aug.  3, 
1640 ;  was  subject  to  military  duty  1643 ;  was  on  a  | 
jury  of  inquest  September,  1650,  and  again  July  23, 
1653 ;  June  7,  1652,  he  was  surveyor  of  highways, 
and  died  at  the  age  of  about  thirty-nine  in  1654,  his 
"  widow"  being  mentioned  in  the  will  of  Elizabeth 
Pool,  dated  March  17th  of  that  year. 

That  William  was  not  a  son  but  a  younger  brother 
of  Richard  is  evident  from  the  fact  that  he  "was  born 
in  Scotland  in  1624."  The  lineage  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  is  traceable  directly  back  to  this  ancestor, 
William.  He  was  a  weaver  by  trade,  and  married 
Mary,  daughter  of  John  Richmond,  of  Taunton.  He 
sold  a  dwelling-house  to  his  sons,  John  and  Edward, 
Feb.  27,  1687;  gave  five  acres  of  land  towards  the 
payment  of  Rev.  Mr.  Danforth,  the  Taunton  minis- 
ter, Feb.  27,  16S8 ;  was  a  large  land-owner  in  the 
"Taunton  South  Purchase,"  containing  the  present 
town  of  Dighton,  which  was  bought  of  the  Indian 
"King  Philip"  in  1672  by  a  company  in  Taunton,  of 
which  William  Paul  was  a  member.  In  two  different 
divisions  of  the  purchase  he  received  lots  Nos.  3,  28, 
46,  and  86,  the  last  division  having  been  made  March 
18, 1683-84.     The  dates  of  the  deaths  of  William  and 


his  wife,  taken  from  their  tombstones,  are  as  follows: 
William,  died  Nov.  9,  1704,  aged  eighty  years  ;  Mary, 
his  wife,  died  Oct.  3,  1715,  aged  seventy-six. 

James  Paul,  the  eldest  son  of  William  and  Mary, 
was  born  April  7,  1657;  it  is  not  known  into  what 
family  he  married,  but  his  wife's  name  was  Mary. 
He  was  one  of  the  twenty-six  proprietors  of  the  South 
Purchase  (or  Dighton),  and  owned  three  shares 
March  25,  1715.  He  died  before  Jan.  14,  1724-25, 
aged  about  sixty-seven  years.  James  Paul,  of  the 
third  generation,  also  married  a  wife  Mary,  and  had 
a  son  William  (fourth  generation),  born  date  un- 
known. This  William  married  Mary  (family  un- 
known), died  about  1735;  their  son  James  (fifth  gen- 
eration) was  born  in  Dighton,  date  unknown.  He 
married  Sarah  White,  and  moved  thence  to  Putney, 
Vt.,  about  1795,  where  he  died.  John,  the  second  son 
of  James,  above  mentioned,  was  in  the  Revolutionary 
war,  and  was  one  of  the  party  of  twelve  men  who 
captured  the  British  commander,  Gen.  Prescott,  with- 
in the  British  lines  in  Rhode  Island,  while  John  was 
serving  in  the  command  of  Gen.  Barton.  He  was 
the  first  man  picked  by  Gen.  Barton  for  the  danger- 
ous service,  and  was  selected  to  throttle  and  secure 
the  British  sentinel  on  guard  at  night,  which  he  did. 
Subsequently  to  the  Revolution  he  removed  to  Ver- 
mont, where  he  died. 

Peter  White  Paul,  son  of  James,  of  the  fifth  gen- 
eration, was  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  Alfred  W. 
Paul.  He  first  married  Silence  Briggs,  who  died  May 
7,  1795,  and  he  subsequently  married  a  second  wife, 
whose  name  was  Hannah.  He  lived  in  Dighton;  his 
death  was  caused  by  a  fall  from  a  load  of  wood  Jan. 
15,  1814.  He  left  children  by  each  wife ;  among  the 
former  was  Peter  Paul,  father  of  our  subject,  born 
March  20,  1787.  He  married  Dilly  Phillips,  who 
died  Sept.  14,  1819,  and  he  afterwards  married  Eunice 
Edson.  He  died  Oct.  27,  1851.  The  children  by  the 
first  wife  were  Peter  W.  and  Nancy  ;  by  the  second 
wife  Alfred  W.,  Elisha  K.  (of  Dighton),  Lucy  F. 
(twins),  and  Eunice. 

Alfred  W.  Paul  was  born  in  Dighton,  Mass.,  Aug. 
5,  1822.  He  was  brought  up  on  the  ancestral  farm 
and  educated  at  the  common  schools,  evincing  in 
early  life  an  aptitude  for  study,  which,  notwithstand- 
ing a  lack  of  opportunity  for  classical  instruction,  has 
enabled  him  to  acquire  large  knowledge  on  general 
subjects  and  to  become  exceptionally  well  informed 
on  the  special  subject  to  which  his  life  has  been  chiefly 
devoted,  viz.,  that  of  agriculture,  embracing  also  hor- 
ticultural studies  and  pursuits.  A  portion  of  his  early 
life  was  devoted  to  teaching  in  the  common  schools, 
for  which  he  was  in  part  prepared  by  one  term  spent 
at  the  State  Normal  School  at  Bridgewater,  Mass.,  in 
1844. 

On  Nov.  26,  1846,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Deborah  Palmer  Briggs,  daughter  of  Silas  P.  Briggs, 
of  Dighton.  Her  ancestors  were  among  the  early 
settlers  in  this  portion  of  New  England.     The  fruit 


266 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


of  this  union  was  one  son,  Silas  Alfred   Paul,  who 
died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Paul  is  a  self-made  man,  and  in  every  respect 
the  architect  of  his  own  fortune,  having  by  his  own 
unaided  exertions  made  his  way  from  poverty  to  com- 
parative competence.  His  honor  and  integrity  as  a 
man  have  also  been  preserved  unsullied  through  his 
struggles  for  worldly  success,  and  he  has  attained  a 
high  place  in  the  respect  and  esteem  of  his  fellow- 
citizens.  One  instance  may  be  mentioned  illustrative 
of  his  energy  and  self-reliance.  When  he  purchased 
the  farm  where  he  now  resides  in  1847  he  had  not  a 
dollar  in  his  possession,  and  bought  the  place  wholly 
upon  credit.  Of  course  he  did  not  fail  to  meet  his 
obligations,  and  it  is  mentioned  as  a  fact  that  he  suc- 
ceeded in  entirely  paying  for  the  place  in  about  eight 
years,  besides  carrying  on  the  expenses  of  living  and 
other  interests. 

He  has  given  special  attention  to  farming  and 
gardening,  illustrating  on  his  own  land  the  kind  of 
tillage  and  crops  which  yield  the  largest  percentage 
of  profit  per  acre.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Bristol 
County  Agricultural  Society,  and  of  the  Massachu- 
setts Horticultural  Society;  has  been  active  in  the 
meetings  of  these  societies,  and  has  written  some 
articles  on  the  subject  of  agriculture,  notably  "  My 
Farming  Experience,"  an  address  delivered  before 
the  county  meeting  of  the  Massachusetts  Board  of 
Agriculture  in  December,  1878.  This  article  was 
published  in  the  Annual  Export  of  the  Massachusetts 
Board  of  Agriculture  for  1878-79.  It  attracted  con- 
siderable attention,  and  he  received  letters  on  the 
subject  from  many  portions  of  the  United  States. 

Mr.  Paul  has  been  a  Republican  in  his  political 
principles  since  the  inception  of  that  party,  and 
voted  for  its  first  Presidential  candidate,  John  C. 
Fremont,  in  1856.  His  standing  in  relation  to  polit- 
ical questions  has  never  been  equivocal  or  doubtful, 
for  he  has  decided  opinions.  He  has  served  many 
years  as  justice  of  the  peace,  and  as  probate  judge 
has  settled  many  estates  to  the  general  satisfaction 
of  those  interested,  and  has  held  several  offices  in  his 
town. 

While  managing  his  home  land  in  a  manner  to  se- 
cure the  largest  returns  for  the  acres  cultivated  in 
1882  he  purchased  four  farms,  with  buildings  and 
improvements  thereon,  in  New  Hampshire,  which  he 
still  owns. 

He  and  Mrs.  Paul  are  members  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church  in  Disditon. 


THOMAS  D.  STANDISH. 
Thomas  D.  Standish,  whose  portrait  appears  on 
another  page,  is  a  lineal  descendant  in  the  seventh 
generation  from  Capt.  Miles  Standish,  who  came  over 
in  the  "  Mayflower."  The  latter  belonged  to  a  family 
of  some  consequence  in  England,  who  had  been  long 
established,  with  landed  possessions,  in  Duxbury,  a 


town  of  the  parish  of  Standish,  in  Lancashire,  where 
he  was  born.  The  family  settled  in  Duxbury,  now  in 
Plymouth  County,  Mass.  Alexander,  Miles,  Josiah, 
Charles,  and  Lora  Standish  were  children  of  Capt. 
Miles  Standish,  by  his  wife,  Barbara. 

Alexander,  of  Duxbury,  eldest  son  of  Capt.  Miles 
Standish,  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  John  Alden. 
They  had  sons,  Miles,  Ebenezer,  and  David,  and 
daughters,  Lora,  Lydia,  Sarah,  and  Elizabeth.  Alex- 
ander, by  his  second  wife,  had  Thomas,  born  1687, 
Desire,  born  1689,  and  Ichabod. 

Josiah,  of  Duxbury,  brother  of  Alexander,  married 
Mary  Dingly,  Dec.  19,  1654.  They  had  children, 
Miles,  Josiah,  Samuel,  Israel,  Mary,  and  Lois. 

Miles,  son  of  Capt.  Miles  Standish,  lived  in  Boston, 
where  he  married  Sarah,  a  daughter  of  John  Wins- 
low,  July  19,  1660. 

It  is  probable  that  Thomas  D.  Standish  is  descended 
from  Alexander,  of  Duxbury,  as  the  names  in  that 
branch  would  indicate,  although  the  records  are  not 
sufficient  to  establish  the  fact. 

David,  one  of  the  sons  of  Alexander,  was  of  the 
third  generation  from  the  original  Miles  Standish. 
The  line  of  descent  was  probably  through  Comfort, 
Lemuel,  and  David,  the  father  of  our  subject.  From 
an  imperfect  record  torn  from  an  old  family  Bible 
once  in  the  possession  of  David  Standish,  it  appears 
that  his  grandfather,  Comfort,  died  Jan.  4, 1795,  aged 
seventy  years.  This  would  make  his  birth  to  have 
occurred  in  1725.  He  married  Rachel  Magoon.  The 
record  of  their  children  is  as  follows : 

Lemuel,  born  June  25,  1746. 

Olive,  born  May  29,  1748. 

Hannah,  born  Sept.  1,  1751. 

Lucy,  born  March  6,  1754. 

Priscilla,  born  April  24,  1756. 

David,  born  Sept.  10,  1758. 

The  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  the  Lemuel 
Standish  above  mentioned.  His  wife's  name  was 
Hannah,  and  her  death  is  recorded  as  having  occurred 
Aug.  23, 1803,  aged  seventy-four  years.  David,  son  of 
Lemuel  and  Hannah  Standish,  was  born  in  Hanover, 
Mass.     His  children  were : 

1.  Eliza,  born  Feb.  23,  1796. 

2.  Lucy,  born  Dec.  10,  1797. 

3.  Amanda,  born  Aug.  26,  1799. 

4.  David,  born  July  23,  1801. 

5.  Miles,  born  April  30,  1803. 

6.  Deborah  Gooding,  born  April  29,  1805. 

7.  James  (died  young),  born  May  25,  1807. 

8.  Thomas  D.,  born  April  29,  1809. 

9.  James  C,  born  May  9,  1812. 

Thomas  D.  Standish  was  born  on  the  homestead 
adjoining  his  present  residence,  in  Dighton,  Mass., 
his  father,  David,  having  removed  there  from  Han- 
over and  established  a  ship-yard,  which  he  carried  on 
for  a  number  of  years.  He  married  Deborah,  daugh- 
ter of  Joseph  Gooding,  who  was  born  and  reared  on 
the  old  Gooding  homestead  near  by.     They  had  nine 


C7 


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*z^&£fj^ 


FAIRHAVEN. 


267 


children,  one  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  Thomas  was 
next  to  the  youngest  child.  He  received  a  common- 
school  education,  and  worked  on  the  farm  and  in  the 
ship-yard  during  his  minority,  part  of  the  time  in 
New  Bedford.  He  has  been  a  man  of  unusual  energy 
and  perseverance,  having  acquired  by  his  own  exer- 
tions all  that  he  possesses.  His  father  becoming  in- 
solvent through  losses  when  he  was  quite  young,  he 
managed  to  purchase  the  homestead  and  kept  it  in 
the  family,  paying  for  portions  of  it  from  time  to  time, 
as  he  could  earn  the  means  by  working  at  ship-build- 
ing. 

Dec.  17, 1843,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Cynthia 
Briggs,  daughter  of  George  Briggs,  of  Dighton.  Her 
mother's  maiden  name  was  Cynthia  Jones.  Mrs. 
Standish  was  born  Nov.  12,  1821.  They  have  had 
four  children,  one  son  and  three  daughters,  of  whom 
James  C.  and  Delia  T.  are  living,  the  former  married 
and  living  on  the  adjoining  homestead  farm,  the 
latter  living  with  her  parents. 


CHAPTER    XXI. 


FAIRHAVEN.i 


Not  unworthy  of  a  name  so  suggestive  is  the  pleas- 
ant town  which  lies  at  the  southeastern  corner  of 
Bristol  County.  Originally  a  portion  of  the  town- 
ship of  Dartmouth  incorporated  in  1664,  it  was  in- 
cluded in  a  grant  of  lands  from  their  Indian  owners 
to  the  colonists  dated  Nov.  29,  1652.  The  eastern 
boundary  of  this  grant  was  three  miles  eastward  from 
the  Acushnet  River.  The  Indian  name  of  the  vi- 
cinity was  Sconticut,  an  appellation  now  confined  to 
the  neck  of  land  which  stretches  from  the  southeastern 
part  of  the  town  into  the  bay.  In  1787  the  town  of 
New  Bedford,  including  the  present  city  of  that  name, 
together  with  the  towns  of  Fairhaven  and  Acushnet, 
was  incorporated.  In  1812,  when  political  feeling  ran 
high,  the  Jeffersonian  Democrats  of  Fairhaven,  de- 
risively called  "  Corsicans"  by  their  opponents,  the 
Federalists,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  on  ac- 
count of  the  attitude  of  the  former  towards  Napoleonic 
affairs,  effected  a  division  of  the  township.  In  1860 
Fairhaven  was  in  turn  divided  by  the  setting  off  of 
its  northern  portion  as  the  town  of  Acushnet.  As  at 
present  constituted,  the  town  is  apparently  three  miles 
square,  exclusive  of  Sconticut  Neck.  From  its 
northern  limit  at  Acushnet  it  stretches  along  the  river 
until  it  reaches  its  southwest  corner  at  Fort  Phomix, 
where  the  river  broadens  into  an  arm  of  the  bay, 
forming  the  lower  harbor  of  New  Bedford  and  Fair- 
haven. This  western  water-line  is  broken  by  the 
marshes  connecting  the  Isle  of  Marsh  with  the  main- 
land, and  by  the  peninsula  on  which  is  situated  the 

i  By  L.  S.  Judfl,  Jr. 


village  of  Oxford.  On  the  opposite  bank  of  the  river 
is  the  city  of  New  Bedford.  The  southern  shore-line, 
after  extending  nearly  due  east  from  Fort  Phu?nix,  is 
indented  by  a  cove,  and  beyond  this  is  broken  by 
Sconticut  Neck,  which  extends  out  into  the  bay.  The 
eastern  boundary  is  formed  by  the  town  of  Mattapo- 
sett,  in  Plymouth  County.  The  surface  is  generally 
level.  Fort  Phoenix  stands  on  a  rocky  prominence 
overlooking  the  harbor  and  bay.  This  headland  was 
called  by  the  Indians  Nolscot,  and  the  ledge  of  which 
it  forms  a  part  extends  up  into  the  village,  and  crops 
out  in  Centre  Street  in  front  of  the  Congregational 
Church.  A  rocky  bluff  overlooks  the  river  near  the 
Acushnet  boundary,  and  the  land  rises  towards  the 
northern  and  eastern  sections  of  the  town. 

The  village  of  Fairhaven  is  in  the  southwestern 
corner  of  the  township,  on  the  river,  directly  opposite 
New  Bedford.  Just  north  of  the  village,  but  with  no 
dividing  line  between,  is  the  little  village  of  Oxford, 
generally  known  as  the  "  Point."  In  the  eastern  part 
of  the  town  are  the  hamlets  of  New  Boston  and  Nas- 
katucket.  There  is  a  considerable  amount  of  wood 
and  farming  land,  and  along  the  southern  boundary, 
at  the  head  of  the  cove,  an  extent  of  salt  marsh. 
Probably  the  village  of  Fairhaven  grew  up  almost 
simultaneously  with  the  village  of  Bedford,  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  river,  beginning  near  the  middle 
of  the  last  century.  It  remained,  however,  very 
small  for  a  long  period,  for  we  find  no  record  of  the 
lay-out  of  a  street  until  1790,  no  church  established 
until  1794,  and  the  village  remained  confined  to  the 
wharves  and  a  few  short  streets  up  to  about  the  year 
1832.  The  following-named  persons,  proprietors  of 
lands  granted  by  William  Bradford,  deputy  governor 
of  Plymouth  Colony,  in  a  deed  dated  Nov.  13,  1694, 
probably  settled  in  this  vicinity :  Seth  Pope,  Thomas 
Taber,  Jonathan  Delano,  Isaac  Pope,  Lettice  Jenny, 
Samuel  Jenny,  Mark  Jenny,  Valentine  Nuddlesene, 
Samuel  Spooner,  William  Spooner,  John  Spooner, 
Joseph  Tripp,  Daniel  Sherman,  Edmund  Sherman, 
John  Davis.  The  first  settlers  probably  scattered 
themselves  over  the  limits  of  the  town  from  Sconticut 
Neck  to  Acushnet,  not  uniting  in  villages  for  some 
years.  There  was  a  garrison  on  the  bank  of  the  river, 
just  above  the  Isle  of  Marsh,  in  the  old  days  of  In- 
dian warfare.  The  site  of  the  ancient  block-house, 
above theIsleofMarsh,ison  landofMr.  John  M.  How- 
land.  Tradition  relates  that  a  man  and  woman  by 
the  name  of  Pope  were  murdered  by  the  Indians  in 
the  locality  of  the  Frog  Pond  while  on  their  way  to 
a  fortified  place  of  refuge.  The  Frog  Pond  occupied 
land  which  now  borders  the  south  side  of  Spring 
Street,  between  William  and  Walnut.  Mr.  Howland 
has  gathered  an  interesting  collection  of  relics  from 
the  ruins  of  the  structure  previously  mentioned,  con- 
sisting of  household  utensils,  implements  of  Indian 
warfare,  and  among  the  rest  an  old  key,  supposed  to 
be  that  belonging  to  the  fortification,  the  name  of 
which   was  Cook's  Garrison.      The  old  Cook  house 


268 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


stood  some  little  distance  east  from  this  point,  and 
was  burned  by  the  British  during  their  march  around 
the  river. 

One  of  the  earliest  purchasers  of  land  was  William 
Wood,  who  removed  here  in  1700  from  Little  Comp- 
ton,  R.  I.,  and  purchased  of  Philip  Taber  a  tract  ex- 
tending from  the  Bread  and  Cheese  road,  at  Oxford 
village,  on  the  north  to  the  land  of  Elnathau  Pope 
on  the  south.  The  southern  boundary  of  this  tract 
was  the  northern  limit  of  the  twenty-acre  lot  after- 
wards laid  out  for  the  original  village  of  Fairhaven, 
and  must  be  a  short  distance  north  of  the  present  line 
of  Washington  Street.  Some  of  the  oldest  houses 
probably  dated  back  to  the  period  immediately  suc- 
ceeding King  Philip's  war,  and  a  few  possibly  ante- 
dated these.  We  are  told  that  the  old  house  back  of 
Mrs.  Paul  Burgess'  was  probably  the  first  house  in 
Oxford  village,  and  was  the  homestead  occupied  by 
William  Wood  after  the  purchase  of  his  farm.  Mr. 
Wood  bought  the  house  of  Philip  Taber,  who  proba- 
bly built  it  soon  after  the  close  of  the  Indian  war. 
The  remains  of  the  old  house  are  still  to  be  seen  at 
Oxford  village,  and  are  an  object  of  interest  to  the 
antiquarian.  The  house  was  built  of  wood  and  stone 
combined.  It  contained  a  huge  fireplace  and  was 
furnished  with  two  outside  doors,  one  opposite  the 
other,  in  order  to  enable  the  horse  to  get  in  the  logs 
to  burn.  It  was  the  custom  to  cut  down  the  logs, 
hitch  on  the  horse,  draw  them  into  the  house,  then 
roll  them  into  the  fireplace,  and  drive  out  at  the  op- 
posite door.  The  body  of  the  house  was  blown  down 
in  the  great  gale,  but  the  south  end  and  chimney, 
built  of  rough  stone  rudely  cemented  together,  still 
withstand  the  severity  of  storm  and  gale. 

The  earliest  record  found  by  the  writer  of  the  lav- 
out  of  a  road  within  the  limits  of  the  town  is  that  of 
the  opening  of  a  way  on  to  Sconticut  Neck  in  1730, 
from  which  it  is  inferred  that  this  was  one  of  the  first 
settled  portions  of  the  township.  On  March  28,  1745, 
a  road  was  laid  out  from  "  Abraham  Russell's  wall  to 
the  county  road  a  little  northward  of  the  Friends' 
meeting-house."  This  is  supposed  to  be  the  road 
which  runs  from  Naskatucket  northwesterly  towards 
Acushnet.  There  is  no  record  of  the  lay-out  of  a  road 
in  the  village  previous  to  the  Revolution.  The  old 
road  from  Fairhaven  to  Oxford,  previous  to  the  con- 
struction of  the  Mill  Bridge  about  1795,  rambled  off 
to  the  northeast  from  a  point  near  the  residence  of 
Capt.  Joseph  Taber,  corner  of  Centre  and  Green 
Streets,  and  opened  into  what  is  now  Rotch  Street, 
thus  necessitating  a  roundabout  course  in  order  to  go 
a  short  distance.  The  village  of  Oxford  was  at  this 
early  period,  doubtless,  the  most  important  point  on 
the  river,  as  may  be  seen  by  reference  to  our  chapter 
on  the  whale  fishery.  A  deed  conveying  land  from 
William  Wood  to  Elnathan  Eldridge  bears  date  of 
Dec.  12,  17G0,  and  covers  a  large  portion  of  the  terri- 
tory at  the  point.  Thirty  building  lots  were  laid  out 
west  of  Cherry  Street,  including  one  for  a  common. 


Elnathan  Eldridge  &  Co.  kept  a  store  for  the  sale  of 
West  India  goods,  groceries,  etc.,  near  the  Point 
Wharf,  from  1765-1780.  There  have  been  two  tav- 
erns in  this  village.  One  stood  on  the  corner  of  Main 
and  Oxford  Streets,  the  other  near  by.  Hat-making 
was  carried  on  hereby  Cornell  Wilkey, and  continued 
by  Bartholomew  Taber,  plane-making  by  Nicholas 
Taber  &  Sons.  Reuben  Jenney  was  a  shipping  mer- 
chant, and  tanning  and  currying  was  carried  on  by 
Joseph  Hathaway. 

When  Lewis  Taber  moved  to  Oxford  in  1764,  we 
are  told  that  there  were  very  few  neighbors  in  the 
place,  and  there  were,  we  should  judge,  but  limited 
opportunities  for  obtaining  the  conveniences  of  the 
times,  as,  when  Capt.  Taber  moved  his  family  down 
river  in  a  boat  and  neared  the  shore  at  the  point,  one 
of  the  ladies  of  Salathiel  Eldridge's  family,  watching 
the  debarkation,  and  observing  a. reel  among  the 
household  effects,  remarked  that  she  was  more  pleased 
to  see  that  implement  than  to  see  the  woman  herself. 
It  is  related  of  one  of  the  young  ladies  of  Oxford 
that  she  spun  the  linen  of  which  her  wedding-dress 
was  made,  and  produced  a  texture  so  fine  that  five 
hundred  and  sixty  threads  could  be  drawn  through 
an  old-fashioned,  no-top  thimble.  Another  lady- 
resident  was  accustomed  to  make  two  cakes  of  tal- 
low, hang  them  one  upon  each  side  of  her  horse, 
mount,  and  ride  to  Newport  in  order  to  dispose  of 
them  and  purchase  her  laces  and  other  articles  of 
finery.  Newport  was  one  of  the  principal  business 
centres  in  this  section  of  country  at  that  time. 

One  of  the  earliest  real  estate  transactions  in  Fair- 
haven village  of  which  we  have  knowledge  is  of  the 
sale  of  a  lot,  with  the  eighth  part  of  a  wind-mill, 
from  Richard  Delano  to  Isaiah  Eldridge,  the  price 
paid  being  one  hundred  and  twenty  pounds,  also  the 
house  and  lot  formerly  owned  by  Kelley  M.  Huttle- 
stone,  part  of  a  warehouse  and  lot,  and  wharf  at 
what  is  now  the  foot  of  Washington  Street. 

The  oldest  house  in  the  village  is  supposed  by 
some  to  be  the  Caleb  Church  house,  also  known  as 
the  Wrightington  house,  now  situated  on  a  high 
bank  above  the  railroad  track,  just  east  of  Green 
Street.  The  house  formerly  stood  on  the  line  of  the 
street,  but  was  removed  to  make  a  way  for  the  rail- 
road. In  early  days  this  building  was  considered  as 
outside  the  village.  The  master  of  the  house  died  of 
smallpox  in  1771,  and  was  the  first  person  whose 
body  was  interred  in  the  old  cemetery.  Another  an- 
cient building  is  the  Proctor  house,  which  stands  on 
the  corner  of  the  lot  laid  out  for  the  original  village. 
It  is  situated  just  west  of  Middle  Street,  on  the  bank 
of  the  river.  The  oldest  portion  is  said  to  have  been 
brought  from  the  Copeland  farm,  at  Naskatucket,  and 
fitted  as  a  residence  and  cooper-shop.  Two  additions 
have  since  been  built  on  at  the  east,  giving  it  alto- 
gether a  unique  appearance.  On  Water  Street  the 
house  occupied  by  the  late  Charles  Damon,  and  the 
rear   portion    of  the   residence   of  the   late   Tucker 


FAIRHAVEN. 


269 


Damon,  are  of  early  date.  The  house  on  Eldridge 
lane,  between  Water  Street  and  the  river,  formerly 
occupied  by  Harvey  Caswell,  is  of  Revolutionary 
date.  Into  this  building  it  is  that  a  ball  was  fired  at 
the  time  of  the  British  attack  on  the  village.  The 
ball  entered  one  of  the  chambers,  passed  through  the 
room,  and  imbedded  itself  in  the  opposite  wall. 

There  are  standing  on  Main  Street  two  old  houses. 
One  of  these  is  the  Tabey  house,  a  small  old-fashioned 
building,  nearly  opposite  the  Union  Hotel.  The  rear 
portion  is  the  older,  and  was  said  to  have  been  brought 
from  New  Bedford  on  the  ice,  though  there  was  some 
contradiction  to  this  story.  The  second  building  is 
the  gambrel-roofed  house,  the  only  one  of  that  style 
in  town,  on  the  corner  of  Main  and  Centre  Streets, 
opposite  Phoenix  Hall.  It  is  related  of  the  master  of 
this  house  that  he  declared  seeing  in  a  dream  the  ap- 
proach to  the  village  of  a  squadron  of  armed  vessels, 
and  that  when  the  British  fleet  appeared  and  took  up 
its  position  east  of  outer  Egg  Island  its  appearance 
corresponded  exactly  with  the  previous  vision.  It  is 
even  asserted  that  it  was  no  dream  at  all,  but  that 
from  some  marvelous  cause  he,  looking  from  his 
east  chamber  window,  actually  saw  the  fleet  long  be- 
fore its  arrival.  Another  story  of  this  man,  whose 
name  was  Taber,  is  that  one  day  as  he  was  about  to 
step  from  his  house  in  going  to  his  shop,  he  beheld 
standing  in  the  shop-door  Joseph  Francis,  a  man 
whom  he  well  knew,  who  had  a  few  days  before 
sailed  on  a  whaling  voyage.  As  Mr.  Taber  ap- 
proached, Francis  turned,  and  walking  towards  an- 
other door,  disappeared,  all  search  for  him  proving 
vain.  Mr.  Taber  was  troubled,  but  kept  the  matter 
quiet  until,  ten  days  later,  the  news  came  of  the  loss 
of  the  "Thetis,"  with  twenty-nine  of  those  who  sailed 
in  her,  Francis  being  among  the  number.  Though 
the  supernatural  element  in  these  events  may  have 
been  an  illusion,  and  a  belief  in  the  marvelous  may 
have  been  more  readily  entertained  then  than  at 
present,  yet  the  workings  of  certain  phenomena  upon 
certain  minds  seem  almost  unaccountable. 

One  of  the  older  houses  at  Naskatucket  was  the 
Copeland  house,  which  has  been  torn  down.  Scon- 
ticut  Neck  was  the  place  of  residence  of  several  of 
the  old  families  of  the  town,  and  here  some  of  the 
older  houses  were  built.  Among  the  dwellers  on  the 
Neck  was  Samuel  Hathaway,  of  whom  it  is  related 
that,  after  the  labors  of  the  week,  when  Sunday  came, 
he  would  hoist  sail  and  away  to  Falmouth  in  order  to 
attend  divine  service  there.  Here  also  lingered  the 
last  remnant  of  the  Indians  who  remained  in  this 
vicinity.  Will  Simon,  a  well-known  Indian,  died  in 
1817,  and  Martha,  the  last  of  her  race,  some  twenty- 
five  or  thirty  years  ago.  It  seems  to  be  well  estab- 
lished, though  not  extensively  known,  that  the  people 
of  this  village,  then  a  portion  of  Dartmouth,  may 
claim  the  honor  of  the  first  naval  capture  in  the  Revo- 
lution. On  May  14,  1775,  Lieut.  Nathaniel  Pope 
and  Capt.  Daniel  Egery,  commanding  the  sloop  "  Suc- 


cess," captured  two  tenders  of  the  British  sloop-of- 
war  "Falcon,"  off  West  Island.  A  council  was  held 
to  determine  what  disposition  to  make  of  the  captives, 
but  the  captors,  fearful  for  the  result,  marched  them 
off  hurriedly  to  Taunton  ere  the  decision  was  reached. 
A  rusty  swivel  lashed  to  a  timber-head  was  the  only 
carriage-gun  on  the  craft.  The  men  added  two  or 
three  buckshot  to  the  bullet  in  each  charge  of  their 
muskets.  The  first  verbal  report  of  the  transaction 
before  the  Provincial  Congress  gave  the  number  of 
prisoners  as  fifteen,  although,  when  the  question  of 
disposition  finally  came  up,  but  four  were  mentioned. 
The  account  of  the  British  movement  against  Fair- 
haven  during  the  Revolution  is  substantially  as  fol- 
lows: On  Saturday,  Sept.  3,  1778,  the  troops  landed 
at  Clarke's  Cove,  marched  up  to  the  Head  of  the  River, 
destroying  property  in  the  village  of  Bedford,  and 
passed  around  down  on  to  Sconticut  Neck,  avoiding 
the  village,  but  making  some  depredations  and  burn- 
ing a  few  buildings  on  their  way,  including  a  school- 
house  where  the  house  of  George  H.  Taber  now 
stands.  The  fleet  dropped  over  from  Clarke's  Cove  to 
a  position  near  outer  Egg  Island.  Many  of  the  terri- 
fied inhabitants,  appalled  at  the  presence  of  such  an 
armament  in  our  waters,  snatched  up  what  could  con- 
veniently be  carried  off,  and  fled  to  the  woods. 

Fort  Phoenix  was  captured  by  the  British  on  Sun- 
day or  Monday,  and  on  Monday  night,  the  enemy 
having  re-embarked  from  the  Neck,  an  attack  was 
made  upon  the  village,  of  which  the  following  account 
was  given  by  President  D wight,  of  Yale  College,  as 
found  in  Ricketson's  History  of  New  Bedford : 

"  The  militia  of  the  neighboring  country  had  been 
summoned  to  the  defense  of  this  village.  Their  com- 
mander was  a  man  far  advanced  in  years.  Under  the 
influence  of  that  languor  which  at  this  period  en- 
feebles both  the  body  and  the  mind  he  determined 
that  the  place  must  be  given  up  to  the  enemy,  and 
that  no  opposition  to  their  ravages  could  be  made 
with  any  hope  of  success.  This  decision  of  their  offi- 
cer necessarily  spread  its  benumbing  influence  over 
the  militia,  and  threatened  an  absolute  prevention  of 
all  enterprise  and  the  destruction  of  this  handsome 
village.  Among  the  officers  belonging  to  the  brigade 
was  Israel  Fearing,  Esq.,  a  major  of  one  of  the  regi- 
ments. This  gallant  young  man,  observing  the  torpor 
which  was  spreading  among  the  troops,  invited  as 
many  as  had  sufficient  spirit  to  follow  him  and  station 
themselves  at  the  post  of  danger.  Among  those  who 
accepted  the  invitation  was  one  of  the  colonels,  who, 
of  course,  became  the  commandant;  but  after  they 
had  arrived  at  Fairhaven,  and  the  night  had  come 
on,  he  proposed  to  march  the  troops  back  into  the 
country.  He  was  warmly  opposed  by  Maj.  Fearing, 
and  finding  that  he  could  not  prevail,  prudently  re- 
tired to  a  house  three  miles  distant,  where  he  passed 
the  night  in  safety.  After  the  colonel  had  withdrawn, 
Maj.  Fearing,  now  commander-in-chief,  arranged  his 
men  with  activity  and  skill,  and  soon  perceived  the 


270 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


British  approaching.  The  militia,  in  the  strictest 
sense  raw,  already  alarmed  by  the  reluctance  of  their 
superior  officers  to  meet  the  enemy,  and  naturally 
judging  that  men  of  years  must  understand  the  real 
state  of  the  danger  better  than  Maj.  Fearing,  a  mere 
youth,  were  panic-struck  at  the  approach  of  the 
enemy,  and  instantly  withdrew  from  their  post.  At 
this  critical  moment  Maj.  Fearing,  with  the  decision 
which  awes  men  into  a  strong  sense  of  duty,  rallied 
them,  and,  placing  himself  in  the  rear,  declared  in  a 
tone  which  removed  all  doubt  that  he  would  kill  the 
first  man  whom  he  found  retreating.  The  resolution 
of  their  chief  recalls  theirs.  With  the  utmost  expe- 
dition he  led  them  to  the  scene  of  danger.  The 
British  had  already  set  fire  to  several  stores.  Between 
these  buildings  and  the  rest  of  the  village  he  stationed 
his  troops,  and  ordered  them  to  lie  close,  in  profound 
silence,  until  the  enemy,  who  were  advancing,  should 
have  come  so  near  that  no  marksman  could  easily 
mistake  his  object.  The  orders  were  punctually 
obeyed.  When  the  enemy  had  arrived  within  this 
distance  the  Americans  rose,  and  with  a  well-directed 
fire  gave  them  a  warm  and  unexpected  reception. 
The  British  fled  instantly  to  their  boats,  and  fell  down 
the  river  with  the  utmost  expedition.  From  the 
quantity  of  blood  found  the  next  day  in  their  line  of 
march  it  was  supposed  that  their  loss  was  considerable. 
Thus  did  this  heroic  youth,  in  opposition  to  his  su- 
perior officers,  preserve  Fairhaven,  and  merits  a  statue 
from  its  inhabitants." 

In  regard  to  this  affair  a  letter  from  Maj. -Gen. 
Grey  to  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  dated  on  board  the 
"Carysfort"  frigate,  off  Bedford  harbor,  Sept.  6, 
1778,  says,  "The  only  battery  they  had  was  on  the 
Fairhaven  side,  an  inclosed  fort  with  eleven  pieces 
of  cannon,  which  was  abandoned  and  the  cannon 
properly  demolished  by  Capt.  Scott,  commanding 
officer  of  the  artillery,  and  the  magazine  blown  up." 
Among  the  incidents  of  this  attack  was  the  killing, 
on  Sconticut  Neck,  of  a  British  guard  by  an  American 
prisoner  named  Pease.  The  story  goes  that  Pease 
crept  stealthily  up  to  the  guard,  and  as  the  soldier 
turned  in  pacing  his  beat  struck  him  over  the  head 
with  a  stake,  killing  him  instantly.  It  was  supposed 
that  the  deed  was  witnessed  from  the  fleet  by  the 
British,  as  the  report  of  a  gun  was  heard  soon  after, 
and  it  is  certain  that  the  body  was  buried  and  after- 
wards disinterred  by  an  Indian,  in  order  to  obtain 
the  gilt  buttons  on  the  uniform.  It  is  said  that  Pease 
afterwards  lost  his  life  by  an  accidental  blow  upon 
the  same  portion  of  the  head.  A  few  words  relative 
to  the  history  of  the  old  gun  which  stands  muzzle 
down  at  the  corner  of  Main  and  Centre  Streets  will 
be  of  interest.  On  March  2,  1777,  Ezekiel  Hopkins, 
commander  of  ship  "Alfred,"  carrying  twenty-eight 
guns,  while  on  a  cruise  in  Southern  waters  for  the 
purpose  of  intercepting  and  capturing  British  vessels, 
visited  Nassau,  made  the  Governor  a  prisoner,  took 
one  hundred  guns  or  cannon,  and  a  quantity  of  mili- 


tary stores,  and  arrived  at  New  London,  Conn.,  March 
17th.  Several  of  these  guns  were  sent  here  and 
placed  on  the  fort.  At  its  capture  by  the  British 
they  were  spiked  and  rendered  almost  useless.  This 
gun,  the  only  one  remaining  of  the  original  number, 
was  soon  after  taken  from  the  fort  by  Nathaniel  Pope 
and  placed  at  what  is  now  the  foot  of  Union  Street 
for  the  defense  of  the  village.  Here  it  remained 
until  Union  wharf  was  built.  It  was  then  removed 
and  planted  muzzle  down  near  the  old  church.  About 
the  time  that  the  church  was  altered  to  a  public  hall 
it  was  again  removed,  but  has  now  been  restored  to 
its  position  on  the  corner. 

In  the  year  1790  was  made  the  twenty-acre  pur- 
chase, from  land  of  Elnathan  Pope,  on  which  the 
older  part  of  the  village  was  laid  out.  The  following 
streets  were  surveyed  within  this  tract :  Water,  Mid- 
dle, Main  from  Washington  to  the  south  end  of  the 
purchase,  Centre  from  Middle  to  Main,  Union  from 
Main  to  Water,  Washington  from  Main  to  the  river. 
It  is  possible  that  some  of  these  names  were  not  ap- 
plied until  a  later  date.  Centre  Street  from  Main  to 
Green  was  probably  already  in  existence,  forming  a 
part  of  the  old  road  to  the  Head  of  the  River. 

The  proprietors  of  land  on  these  streets  were  as  fol- 
lows :  On  the  west  side  of  Middle  Street,  crossing 
Water  to  the  river,  Abisha  Delano,  Reuben  Delano 
(two  lots),  Noah  Allen  (three  lots),  Ephraim  Delano, 
Jonathan  Negus,  Thomas  Taber,  Isaiah  Eldridge  (two 
lots),  Richard  Delano,  Caleb  Church,  Thomas  Nye, 
John  Wady  (three  lots),  Jonathan  Hathaway,  Eleazar 
Hathaway,  Nathaniel  Delano;  on  the  west  side  of 
Main  Street,  extending  to  Middle,  Abisha  Delano, 
Isaiah  Eldridge  (two  lots),  Ephraim  Delano,  Jona- 
than Hathaway,  Nathaniel  Delano,  Eleazar  Hatha- 
way, Noah  Allen,  John  Wing,  and  Thomas  Nye ;  on 
the  east  side  of  Main  Street,  Thomas  Taber,  Jona- 
than Negus,  John  Wady  (two  lots),  Caleb  Church, 
Reuben  Delano  (two  lots),  Noah  Allen  (three  lots). 
The  old  high-water  line,  it  is  thought,  crossed  Water 
Street  near  the  foot  of  Centre  Street,  and  approached 
Middle  Street  at  the  southern  end.  In  1795  a  street 
leading  from  Fairhaven  to  Oxford  was  constructed, 
beginning  at  the  north  of  Samuel  Proctor's  garden. 
This  was  of  course  that  part  of  Main  Street  which 
crosses  the  Mill  Bridge  and  leads  north.  In  this  year, 
therefore,  it  is  probable  that  the  Mill  Bridge  was  built. 
The  old  church  on  the  corner  of  Main  and  Centre 
Streets  was  erected  about  the  same  time.  The  New 
Bedford  Bridge  was  incorporated  in  the  next  year, 
179(3.  The  laud  east  of  Main  Street,  from  the  mill- 
pond  to  the  old  cemetery,  was  owned  by  William 
Rotch,  of  New  Bedford,  remained  in  the  possession  of 
his  family  for  a  number  of  years,  and  no  streets  were 
laid  out  within  its  limits  for  a  long  period.  The 
people  of  Fairhaven  at  the  beginning  of  the  century 
were,  in  contrast  to  their  present  political  status, 
ardent  supporters  of  the  ultra  Democratic  views  of 
Mr.  Jefferson,  and  on  July  4,  1801,  had  quite  a  lively 


FAIR  HAVEN. 


271 


celebration  in  honor  of  the  doctrine  of  enlarged 
liberty.  In  early  days  the  liberty-pole  stood  on  the 
lot  where  now  stands  the  residence  of  Hon.  E.  R. 
Sawin,  corner  of  Middle  and  Centre  Streets.  As  years 
went  on  the  result  of  the  political  antagonism  between 
Fairhaven  and  New  Bedford  was  the  incorporation, 
in  1812,  of  the  town  of  Fairhaven.  The  New  Bed- 
ford Gazette  of  Feb.  21,  1812,  contains  the  following: 
"  The  bill  for  establishing  the  town  of  Fairhaven  was 
taken  up  and  passed  to  be  engrossed,  in  concurrence 
with  the  Senate,  two  hundred  and  thirty-three  to  one 
hundred  and  eighty-eight."  The  first  Fourth  of  July 
after  the  incorporation  was  celebrated  at  the  Head  of 
the  River  with  the  reading  of  the  Declaration  of  In- 
dependence and  President's  message,  singing  of  an 
ode  composed  by  Lieut.  Henry  Whitman,  U.S.N., 
and  an  oration  by  James  L.  Hodges,  Esq.,  of  Taun- 
ton, at  the  meeting-house,  followed  by  a  dinner  at 
Pratte  tavern,  presided  over  by  Hon.  Nathaniel  Mor- 
ton, Jr.,  Capt.  Noah  Stoddard,  and  John  Hanes,  Esq. 
There  was  published  in  New  Bedford  about  this  time 
a  strongly  Democratic  paper  called  the  New  Bedford 
Gazette.  The  political  climate,  however,  becoming 
too  hot  for  its  comfort,  it  was  transplanted  to  the  more 
congenial  soil  of  Fairhaven,  and  flourished  here  under 
the  name  of  the  Bristol  Gazette  about  the  year  1813. 
Daniel  Gleason,  Jr.,  was  publisher  for  a  time,  but  he 
having  beeu  appointed  to  a  government  office  at  the 
fort,  retired  and  was  succeeded  by  Paul  Taber.  The 
editorial  sanctum  was,  we  believe,  near  the  head  of 
the  old  South  wharf.  The  war  of  1812  interfered  with 
the  business  of  Fairhaven,  but  this  temporary  cloud 
soon  passed. 

On  Sept.  23,  1815,  occurred  one  of  the  most  terrific 
gales  ever  known  on  this  coast.  It  is  said  that  the 
tide  rose  ten  or  eleven  feet  higher  than  had  ever  been 
known  before,  inundating,  of  course,  stores  and  dwell- 
ings in  the  village.  Two  stores  on  the  Old  South 
wharf  and  one  on  the  Union  wharf  were  carried 
away,  also  B.  Church's  barn  and  contents,  and  Sam- 
uel Borden's  ropewalk,  which  extended  from  the  main 
land  to  Crow  Island.  Several  dwellings  were  more  or 
less  injured.  It  is  related  that  a  long  boat  put  off 
from  the  store  of  John  Delano,  on  Union  wharf,  con- 
taining Stephen  Merrihew,  Asa  Swift,  William  P. 
Jenney,  and  others.  They  landed  at  Capt.  Samuel 
Borden's,  above  the  bridge,  and  stopped  until  the  tide 
ebbed.  "  Capt.  Borden's  horse  was  in  the  keeping- 
room,  tied  to  the  crane,  and  barrels  of  oil,  stored  in 
the  cellar,  floated  up  and  thumped  heavily  against  the 
floor,  caused  by  the  wind  and  tide  rushing  in  through 
the  cellar  windows."  Two  or  three  persons  from  this 
town,  we  believe,  lost  their  lives  in  this  storm.  Few 
events  of  interest,  aside  from  the  successes  and  sub- 
sequent decline  of  the  town's  peculiar  branch  of  in- 
dustry, have  marked  its  later  history.  Previous  to 
the  financial  crisis  of  1857  the  town  increased  greatly 
in  population,  wealth,  and  business  enterprise,  while 
the  moral  worth  and  general  excellence  of  the  com- 


munity was  and  is  a  source  of  gratification  to  the 
people.      The  records  of  the  first  few  years  of  the 

|  town's  existence  are  said  to  have  been  lost  in  the 
great  gale  of  1815.  Some  of  the  earliest  town-meet- 
ings were  held  in  the  Methodist  meeting-house  at  the 
Head  of  the  River.  In  1818  meetings  were  held  in 
the  old  Congregational  meeting-house  at   the  Head 

j  of  the  River,  and  continued  to  be  held  there  until 
about  1831-32,  when  they  were  transferred  to  the 
Academy  Hall,  on  Main  Street,  between  Fairhaven 
and  Oxford  village.  There  seems  to  have  been  some 
objection  to  holding  the  meetings  here,  probably  on 
the  part  of  people  from  the  northern  portion  of  the 
town,  who  were  obliged  to  come  a  considerable  dis- 
tance. Here,  however,  they  continued  to  be  held 
until,  in  1813,  the  town  house  was  built,  on  the  road 
to  the  Head  of  the  River,  near  the  Woodside  Ceme- 
tery, over  a  mile  north  of  the  village.  This  building 
was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1858. 

For  a  few  years  meetings  were  held  in  Sawin's 
Hall,  on  William  Street,  and  the  division  of  the 
town,  in  I860,  removed  further  objection  to  the  hold- 
ing of  them  within  the  village.  Since  1864  they  have 
been  held  in  Phoenix  Hall.  In  1825  it  was  voted  to 
petition  the  Legislature  for  the  opening  of  a  passage 
from  Long  Pond,  in  Middleborough,  to  the  Acushnet 
River,  by  means  of  which  a  valuable  fishery  could  be 
secured  to  the  towns  along  the  banks  of  the  river. 
This,  however,  was,  we  think,  not  accomplished.  In 
1828  money  was  raised  for  the  purchase  of  a  buryin°-- 
ground  and  building  one-half  of  the  stone  bridge  at 
the  Head  of  the  River.  The  bridge  is  a  substantial 
reality,  but  the  cemetery  project  seems  not  to  have 
been  so  successful,  a  fact  for  which,  in  view  what  has 
transpired  since,  we  can  only  be  grateful.  In  1830, 
to  the  credit  of  the  town,  be  it  known  that  it  was 
voted,  "  That  it  is  the  sense  of  the  inhabitants  of 
Fairhaven  that  there  be  no  licenses  granted  to  retail- 
ers or  taverns  for  the  sale  of  spirituous  liquors  for  the 
ensuing  year.  In  1832  and  1833  there  was  a  great 
advance  in  building  operations  in  the  village.  In 
the  latter  year  William,  Walnut,  and  Green  Streets 
were  accepted,  as  well  as  Washington  and  Union  as 
far  east  as  Green.  Numerous  substantial  residences 
were  built  in  various  parts  of  the  village  at  this  time. 
In  1836  we  find  the  first  vote  authorizing  the  purchase 
of  a  fire-engine,  and  in  1842  the  first  one  authorizing 
the  construction  of  a  sidewalk.  This  was  the  plank 
walk  which  formerly  crossed  the  Mill  Bridge.  Since 
that  date  flagged  sidewalks  have  been  laid  on  a  large 
part  of  Main  and  Centre  Streets,  as  well  as  flagged 
and  brick  walks  on  other  streets.  Recently  a  con- 
siderable amount  of  concreting  has  been  done. 

In  1850  Riverside  Cemetery,  a  beautiful  resting- 
place  for  the  dead,  presented  to  the  people  of  the 
town  by  Warren  Delano,  Jr.,  was  consecrated.  Its 
natural  beauties  were  greatly  enhanced  by  the  donor 
in  the  lay-out  and  adornment  of  the  grounds,  which 
have  been  still  further  embellished  by  the  care  and 


272 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


taste  of  owners  of  lots.  The  Fairhaven  Branch  Rail- 
road, opened  in  1854,  passed  through  a  portion  of  the 
old  cemetery  at  the  foot  of  William  Street.  The 
northern  part  was  allowed  to  remain,  and  has  since 
been  an  unsightly  disfigurement  to  the  village.  Hap- 
pily, a  number  of  removals  have  of  late  been  made 
from  here,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  soon  few  vestiges 
of  its  former  use  may  remain. 

Up  to  the  beginning  of  the  war  the  village  was  a 
busy  place,  in  consequence  of  the  whale  fishery  and 
industries   connected,  therewith.     With   the   sudden 
decline   of  whaling   the  town  was  left  with    almost 
nothing  of  business  enterprise.  Population  and  wealth 
decreased,  and  the  future  looked  dark  indeed.     Two 
manufacturing  companies  have,  however,  started  up 
since  that  period,  and  with  the  increasing  prosperity 
of  New  Bedford  and  slight  gains  in  population  better 
days  have  already  dawned.     The  increase  in  building 
operations  within  the  last  ten  years  over  the  amount 
during  the  previous  decade  has  been   marked.     On 
Sept.  8,  1869,  the  town  was  visited  by  a  furious  gale, 
which,  besides  inflicting  a  large  amount  of  minor 
damage,  tore  off"  the  tall  steeple  of  the  Congregational 
Church,  which  had  been  a  prominent  landmark  for 
over  twenty  years.     It  also  carried  away  a  large  por- 
tion of  the  New  Bedford  bridge,  thus  rendering  Fair- 
haven  people  dependent  upon  a  ferry-boat  for  trans- 
portation to  and  from  New  Bedford.     Previous  to  the 
opening  of  the  bridge,  about  the  beginning  of  the 
present  century,  the  village  of  Fairhaven  and  Bedford 
had,  we  think,  been  connected  by  a  rude  sort  of  ferry. 
This  first  bridge  was  destroyed  by  a  storm  in  1807. 
The  bridge  was  rebuilt  and  again  destroyed  in  the 
great  gale  of  1815,  while  the  next  structure,  after  en- 
during for  a  half-century  and  more,  met  with  the 
disaster  mentioned  above.     Up  to  this  period  it  had 
been  customary  to  collect  toll  from  passengers.     The 
removal  of  this  burden  has  proved  to  be  a  great  con- 
venience to  the  people  of  the  town  since  the  reopening 
of  the  bridge  in  June,  1870.     In  former  days,  and 
especially  after  the  destruction  of  the  bridge  in  1869, 
there  was  some  opposition  on  the  part  of  New  Bedford 
people  to  its  present  location.     The  advantages  of  its 
present  situation  are,  however,  so  great  that  the  ques- 
tion may  now  be  considered  as  a  thing  of  the  past. 
About  1833  a  ferry-boat  was  put  on  the  route  between 
Fairhaven  and  New  Bedford,  in  order  more  effectu- 
ally to  accommodate  traffic  between  the  two  growing 
places. 

The  New  Bedford  and  Taunton  Bailroad  was 
opened  about  1840,  and  for  some  time  a  coach  was 
run  to  accommodate  Fairhaven  passengers.  In  1854 
was  opened  the  Fairhaven  Branch  Railroad,  con- 
necting with  the  Cape  Cod  Railroad  at  Tremont, 
opening  a  through  line  from  Fairhaven  to  Boston, 
and  connecting  New  Bedford  with  Cape  Cod  and 
Plymouth  County.  A  new  and  more  commodious 
steam  ferry  was  at  this  time  put  on  the  New  Bedford 
route  by  the  railroad  company.     At  about  this  time, 


R.  A.  Dunham  put  on  his  line  of  omnibuses,  which 
continued  to  run  to  New  Bedford,  with  the  exception 
of  periods  when  the  bridge  was  impassable,  until 
1872.  In  October  of  that  year  was  opened  the  Fair- 
haven Branch  of  the  New  Bedford  and  Fairhaven 
Street  Railroad,  a  convenience  which  is  greatly  appre- 
ciated by  the  people.  In  1873  the  ferry-boat "  Union" 
was  disposed  of,  and  since  that  time  regular  traffic 
has  been  given  over  to  the  street  railroad  company. 
The  Fairhaven  Branch  Railroad  was  sold  to  the  New 
Bedford  and  Taunton  some  years  after  its  comple- 
tion, and  since  that  time  has  passed  into  the  hands 
of  the  New  Bedford  Railroad  Company,  Boston, 
Clinton,  Fitchburg,  and  New  Bedford  Company, 
and  in  1879  was  leased  by  the  Old  Colony.  A  tele- 
graph office  is  maintained  at  the  railroad  station,  and 
telephonic  connection  with  the  New  Bedford  central 
office  is  availed  of  by  a  number  of  residents.  Aside 
from  the  wharves  and  some  buildings  in  the  older 
portion  of  the  village  there  is  little  of  the  appear- 
ance of  the  decayed  seaport  about  Fairhaven.  The 
streets  are  more  regular  than  in  many  places,  and 
some  of  them  are  beautifully  shaded.  Centre  Street, 
in  particular,  beneath  its  arch  of  waving  elm 
branches,  forms  a  lovely  vista  during  the  warm  sea- 
son. Tasteful  and  substantial  residences  scattered 
about  the  village  add  to  its  good  appearance. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  the  town  possesses  no 
common  or  park,  and  that  many  of  the  houses  stand 
close  together  and  very  near  the  street,  since  its 
beauty  might  have  been  greatly  increased  by  large 
public  or  private  grounds.  In  Riverside  Cemetery 
stands  a  neat  and  tasteful  monument  erected  by  the 
town  in  1867  in  memory  of  her  citizens  who  lost  their 
lives  in  the  rebellion.  The  monument  bears  the 
following  names :  Bart.  Aiken,  Charles  H.  Austin, 
Joseph  S.  Caswell,  Benjamin  F.  Cowen,  Edward  H>. 
Dillingham,  Lewis  Albert  Drew,  Charles  Eldridge, 
Barnabas  Ener,  Jr.,  John  Arthur  Fitch,  Ebenezer  B. 
Hathaway,  Charles  N.  Jenney,  James  Merrihew, 
Harvey  C.  Morse,  Ebenezer  Parsons,  Jr.,  Phineas 
Peckham,  Jr.,  George  F.  Rogers,  Francis  H.  Stod- 
dard, Loring  P.  Taber,  John  M.  Thompson,  Amos  S. 
Tripp,  William  B.  Watterson,  William  A.  West. 

Within  the  last  few  years  Fairhaven  has  been 
steadily  growing  in  favor  as  a  pleasant  but  unpreten- 
tious summer  resort.  The  heat  is  tempered  by  the 
southwest  winds  from  the  bay,  and  our  beautiful  river 
and  harbor  afford  facilities  for  boating  and  fishing. 
Fort  Phoenix,  now  dismantled,  affords,  with  its  adja- 
cent rocks  and  beaches,  a  delightful  resort  for  the 
rambler  on  a  summer's  afternoon.  The  view  of  the 
river  dotted  with  sailing  craft,  the  compact  mass  of 
roofs  of  the  neighboring  city,  sprinkled  with  towers 
and  spires,  forming  a  charmingly  variegated  picture 
along  the  opposite  bank  ;  the  wooded  shores  of  Clark's 
Point  and  Sconticut  Neck  below  on  opposite  sides  of 
the  harbor,  the  bright  waters  of  the  bay  fading  far  off" 
at  the  south  into  the  blue  shores  of  Falmouth,  Nau- 


FAIRHAVEN. 


273 


shon,  Nashawena,  and  Cuttylmnk,  is  a  source  of  de- 
light to  the  lover  of  natural  scenery.  One  would 
like  to  see  more  activity  about  the  quiet  streets  and 
wharves  of  Fairhaven.  Still,  the  swift-ebbing  tide 
of  business  prosperity  has  begun  to  rise,  and  from 
the  advantages  of  its  situation,  its  proximity  to  New 
Bedford,  and  from  the  excellence  of  the  community 
itself,  the  future  outlook  for  the  town  is  not  unfavor- 
able. 

The  writer  would  gratefully  acknowledge  the  aid 
furnished  him  in  the  compilation  of  historical  matter 
by  Messrs.  Charles  Eldridge,  Job  E.  Tripp  (of  whose 
historical  sketch  of  the  Unitarian  Church  the  follow- 
ing is,  in  the  main,  an  abstract),  Eben  Akin,  Jr.,  and 
Mr.  Ingraham,  of  the  New  Bedford  Public  Library. 
Bicketson's  "  History  of  New  Bedford,"  and  news- 
paper sketches  written  by  various  persons,  have 
afford  e  1  assistance. 

Industries  and  Corporations. — A  number  of 
branches  of  business  connected  either  directly  or  in- 
directly with  the  whale  fishery,  such  as  ship-building 
and  repairing,  coopering,  sail-making,  and  sperm- 
candle  manufacturing,  have  been  carried  on  in  this 
place.  Ship-building  early  engaged  the  attention  of 
the  people  of  Oxford  village  and  Fairhaven.  About 
the  year  1800,  Abner  Pease  built,  near  his  homestead, 
several  ships  and  smaller  vessels.  At  a  later  date  the 
business  was  continued  by  John  and  Joshua  Delano 
at  the  Union  wharf  ship-yard.  They  were  followed 
by  Elias  Terry  and  Fish  &  Nuttlestone.  Here  were 
built  a  number  of  ships  and  other  vessels,  and  at 
times  two  or  three  vessels  might  have  been  seen  in 
process  of  construction.  Two  of  the  largest  ships  ever 
built  on  the  river,  the  "Sea  Nymph"  and  "John 
Milton,"  were  built  by  Fish  &  Nuttlestone  for  the 
late  Edward  M.  Robinson,  of  New  Bedford.  Vessels 
were  also  built  on  Main  Street  in  a  lot  north  of  the 
residence  of  the  late  Isaac  Wood.  Messrs.  Delano  & 
Co.  have  built  a  number  of  first-class  ships  and  other 
vessels  at  the  yard  of  the  late  Capt.  William  G.  Be- 
lackler,  on  Fort  Street.  The  business  has  now  been 
discontinued.  The  Fairhaven  Marine  Railway,  on 
which  vessels  are  drawn  up  for  repairs,  is  still  in  ex- 
istence. There  were  two  candle  manufactories,  one 
at  the  head  of  Middle  Street,  the  other  on  Fort  Street. 
The  latter  was  built  by  the  late  William  R.  Rodman, 
of  New  Bedford,  in  1831  or  1832.  There  are  now  two 
manufacturing  companies  established  in  the  town, — 
the  American  Tack  Company  and  the  Fairhaven  Iron- 
works. A  portion  of  the  building  now  occupied  by 
the  iron-works  was  formerly  used  as  a  cotton-mill. 
The  Fairhaven  Star,  a  weekly  newspaper,  published  by 
C.  D.  Waldron,  was  established  in  1879. 

National  15a nk  of  Fairhaven. — Incorporated 
in  1831,  reorganized  in  1864.  L.  S.  Judd,  president; 
Reuben  Nye,  cashier;  Directors,  L.  S.  Judd,  Isaiah 
West,  Cyrus  D.  Hunt,  Phineas  E.  Terry,  Charles  H. 
Morton,  Levi  M.  Snow,  James  V.  Cox.  Capital,  one 
hundred  and  twenty  thousand  dollars. 
18 


Fairhaven  Institution  for  Savings  was  in- 
corporated in  1832.  President,  George  H.  Taber; 
Treasurer,  Charles  Drew ;  Board  of  Investment, 
George  H.  Taber,  Charles  H.  Morton,  Walter  P. 
Winsor,  Thomas  B.  Faller,  and  John  B.  Hussey; 
Trustees,  George  H.  Taber,  Reuben  Nye,  Bartholo- 
mew Taber,  John  M.  Howland,  Lewis  S.  Judd,  James 
V.  Cox,  Noah  Stoddard,  Cyrus  D.  Hunt,  Job  C.  Tripp, 
George  F.  Howland,  Isaac  Terry,  Walter  P.  Winsor, 
Thomas  B.  Faller,  Charles  H.  Morton,  Jonathan 
H.  Holmes,  John  B.  Hussey,  Levi  M.  Snow,  John 
Mayhew. 

Fairhaven  Iron- Works  were  incorporated  in 
1879.  (Successor  to  Boston  and  Fairhaven  Iron- 
Works,  incorporated  1863.)  President,  1882,  Edwin 
S.  Thayer;  Directors,  Edwin  S.  Thayer,  Lewis  S. 
Judd,  Thomas  H.  Knowles ;  Treasurer,  Job  C. 
Tripp  ;  Superintendent,  William  C.  Lincoln. 

American  Tack  Company  was  incorporated  in 
1867.  President,  1882.  J.  A.  Beauvais;  Directors,  J. 
A.  Beauvais,  C.  P.  Brightman,  C.  D.  Hunt,  L.  S. 
Judd,  Loum  Snow,  Jr. ;  Treasurer,  J.  A.  Beauvais. 
Capital,  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  thousand  dol- 
lars. 

This  company  made  use  of  a  stone  building  on 
Fort  Street,  erected  for  the  purpose  of  manufacturing 
sperm  candles.  They  have  since  built  a  two-story 
and  French-roof  building  at  the  west,  and  during  the 
past  year  (1882)  have  added  a  three  and  one-half 
story  stone  addition  to  the  main  building. 

The  Whale  Fishery.— In  Starbuck's  "  History  of 
the  American  Whale  Fishery"  we  read  :  In  the  vicinity 
of  New  Bedford  whaling  probably  begun  but  little 
prior  to  1760.  In  that  year  William  Wood,  of  Dart- 
mouth, sold  to  Elnathan  Eldridge,  of  the  same  town, 
a  certain  tract  of  land  located  within  the  present 
town  of  Fairhaven,  and  within  three-quarters  of  a 
mile  of  the  centre  of  the  town,  on  the  banks  of  the 
Acushnet  River,  "always  excepting  and  reserving  .  .  . 
that  part  of  the  same  where  the  try  house  and  Oyl 
Shed  now  stands."  This  tract  of  land  was  in  the  vil- 
lage of  Oxford,  and  we  are  informed  that  there  can 
be  no  doubt  that  the  first  whaling-vessels  were  fitted 
at  this  place.  The  earliest  voyage  of  which  the  writer 
has  any  knowledge  was  that  of  the  sloop  "  Phoenix" 
in  1743,  the  proceeds  of  which  amounted  to  nine 
hundred  and  sixteen  pounds,  eighteen  shillings,  and 
four  pence.  She  was  followed  by  sloops  "  Diamond" 
in  1744,  "Speedwell"  in  1745,  "Speedwell"  and 
"  Rainbow"  in  1746-47.  The  "  Rainbow"  also  sailed 
in  1750  and  1751.  Thomas  Nye,  Judah  Paddock, 
Bartholomew  Taber,  James  Hatheway,  or  Hathaway, 
were  among  those  interested  in  the  business  at  this 
early  period.  From  Oxford,  in  1765,  came  sloops 
"  Industry"  and  "  Dove,"  and  in  1767  sloops  "  Myriad," 
"Sea  Flower,"  "Rover,"  and  "Supply."  In  1758, 
during  the  French  and  Indian  war,  sloop  "Industry," 
Isaiah  Eldridge  master,  was  captured  by  a  French 
privateer,  but  concerning  the  result  of  the  capture  we 


274 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


have  ho  information.  Of  the  early  days  of  Oxford, 
Ricketson's  "History  of  New  Bedford"  says,  "The 
village  of  Oxford  at  this  period  fairly  rivaled  her 
neighbor  across  the  river.  Here  were  owned  and  fitted 
out  several  large  vessels,— ships,  brigs,  etc.,— owned 
by  the  Bennetts,  Huddlestones,  and  others.  The  sub- 
stantial old  houses  still  there  evince  a  state  of  pros- 
perity at  that  period."  It  is  stated  that  two  ships  and 
a  brig  have  been  seen  building  at  Oxford  ship-yard, 
and  four  ships  lying  at  the  wharf  at  the  same  time. 
The  names  of  some  of  the  early  whaling  captains  are 
as  follows :  Thomas  Nye,  Ephraim  Delano,  John 
Delano,  Elnathan  Delano,  Joseph  Tripp,  Isaiah 
Eldridge,  Salathiel  Eldridge,  and  Benjamin  Jenny. 
Of  Lewis  Taber  it  is  related  that  he  was  once  engaged 
to  sail  from  Mattapoisett.  While  his  vessel  was 
fitting  it  was  his  custom  to  traverse  the  five  miles  or 
more  between  the  two  hamlets  of  Oxford  and  Matta- 
poisett on  foot.  His  employer  perceiving  this,  in- 
formed him  that  if  he  would  return  with  one  hundred 
barrels  sperm,  he  should  be  provided  with  a  horse 
with  which  to  go  back  and  forth.  In  due  time  Capt. 
Taber  sailed,  and  returned  from  a  successful  voyage 
in  one  week,  having  taken  a  large  whale,  and  received 
his  promised  reward. 

The  prosperity  of  Oxford  as  a  separate  community 
was  checked  by  the  construction  of  the  New  Bedford 
bridge,  incorporated  in  1796.  Business  activity  soon 
passed  almost  entirely  to  the  lower  village.  The 
distance  between  the  villages  being,  however,  less 
than  a  mile,  there  has  been  for  many  years  practically 
no  dividing  line  between  them,  and  with  the  increase 
of  population  their  interests  became  mutual.  In  the 
early  days  of  Fairhaven  village  the  try-works  were 
located  near  the  northeast  corner  of  the  land  of  Wil- 
liam N.  Alden,  corner  of  Main  and  Washington 
Streets.  Concerning  them  Capt.  Delano  writes, 
"  North  of  the  Proctor  house  were  the  try-wrorks, 
where  the  blubber  from  the  whalers  was  boiled  out. 
It  was  the  custom  invariably  to  bring  in  the  catch - 
ings  and  extract  the  oil  on  the  land.  Just  to  the 
northeast  of  the  try-works  is  the  entrance  to  Herring- 
River,  up  which  the  whaling  vessels  went  to  get  their 
water,  which  they  obtained  at  a  well,  said  to  be  that 
attached  to  the  John  Milan  house,  between  which  and 
Herring  River  was  a  fresh-water  pond,  known  as  the 
Frog  Pond,  with  flags  growing  in  it."  Herring  River 
is  much  better  known  as  the  Mill  Pond,  and  the  John 
Milan  house  is  the  house  on  the  corner  of  Walnut 
and  Spring  Streets.  The  first  wharves  constructed 
are  said  to  have  been  the  Old  South  and  the  old  pier 
at  the  foot  of  Washington  Street.  Union  Wharf  was 
built  about  1802  or  1803,  the  names  of  the  proprietors 
being  as  follows:  William  Rotch,  Silas  Allen,  Noah 
Stoddard,  Nicholas  Stoddard,  John  Sherman,  Thomas 
Nye,  Benjamin  Church,  Jr.,  Stephen  Merrihew,  Na- 
thaniel Proctor,  John  Price,  Kelley  Eldridge,  Asa 
Swift,  Elias  Terry,  John  Delano,  Joseph  Tripp,  Levi 
Jenney.    Some  of  the  ships  owned  in  Fairhaven  pre- 


vious to  the  war  of  1812  were  as  follows :  "  Juno," 
"  President,"  "  Columbia,"  "  Exchange,"  and  "  Her- 
ald." The  latter  vessel  was  owned  by  Capt.  Samuel 
Borden.  Capt.  Jabez  Delano  writes,  concerning  her, 
"  It  was  a  gala  day  to  us  boys  when  the  old  '  Herald' 
came  in  with  her  cargo  of  oil  from  the  Brazil  Banks, 
which  she  performed  annually  for  many  years.  The 
peculiar  olden-time  habits  so  indelibly  impress  the 
mind  that  they  live  as  though  of  yesterday's  occur- 
rence. Capt.  Borden  had  his  oxen  on  hand,  by  which 
the  heavy  hoisting  was  done,  while  the  light  casks 
and  barrels  were  hoisted  out  by  hand."  Other  ves- 
sels probably  belonging  in  Fairhaven  and  Oxford  in 
the  latter  part  of  the  last  century  were  schooner 
"Lively,"  Capt.  Rowland  Gibbs;  brig  "Atlantic," 
Capt.  Parker;  schooner  "Swan,"  Capt.  May  hew; 
"  Sally,"  Capt.  Cunningham  ;  and  "  Industry,"  Capt. 
Taber.  Among  the  ship-owners  or  agents  of  this 
date  may  be  mentioned  Messrs.  Samuel  Borden,  Sam- 
uel Proctor,  and  John  Alden. 

The  war  of  1812  inflicted  a  temporary  check  upon 
maritime  pursuits,  but  after  its  close  the  business 
grew  with  unprecedented  vigor,  and  during  the 
quarter  of  a  century  beginning  with  1830  Fairhaven 
saw  the  flood-tide  of  its  business  prosperity.  During 
this  period  its  wharves  were  alive  with  workmen 
fitting  vessels  for  sea,  or  discharging  the  cargoes  of 
those  newly  arrived.  Bustle  and  activity  reigned. 
At  certain  periods  it  was  difficult  to  find  men  enough 
to  perform  the  work  required.  In  1821  three  vessels 
arrived  with  2200  barrels  sperm  and  800  barrels  whale 
oil.  In  1830  the  number  had  increased  to  eleven, 
with  3062  barrels  sperm,  11,093  whale,  and  57,300 
pounds  bone.  In  1834  sixteen  vessels  arrived,  with 
12,953  barrels  sperm,  12,601  barrels  whale,  and  56,500 
pounds  bone.  Some  of  the  largest  aggregate  annual 
catches  of  sperm  and  whale  oil  were  made  as  follows: 
In  1837,  28,521  barrels;  1841,  26,730  barrels;  1842, 
27,680  barrels;  1845,  32,040  barrels;  1846,  27,524  bar- 
rels ;  and  1849,  29,804  barrels.  The  largest  reported 
amount  of  bone  brought  into  this  port  in  one  year 
was  477,900  pounds  in  1850.  The  number  of  whalers 
hailing  from  this  port  was  in  1840  forty-four.  In 
1845  this  number  had  increased  to  forty-eight,  and 
in  1847  to  fifty.  The  amount  of  tonnage  reached  its 
maximum  limit,  16,840,  in  1857.  In  1837  the  amount 
of  money  invested  was  about  $945,000;  in  1850,  esti- 
mating $26,000  to  each  ship,  about  $1,350,000.  One 
of  the  most  successful  voyages  recorded  of  a  Fair- 
haven vessel  is  that  of  the  bark  "  Favorite,"  Capt. 
Pierce,  F.  R.  Whitnell,  agent,  which  arrived  June 
19,  1853,  with  84  barrels  sperm,  2211  barrels  whale, 
and  31,900  pounds  bone,  having  sent  home  300  bar- 
rels sperm,  4484  barrels  whale,  and  41,000  pounds 
bone,  the  aggregate  value  being  over  $100,000.  The 
"  Favorite"  was  gone  about  three  years.  Successful 
voyages  of  vessels  whose  agents  were  Gibbe  &  Jenney, 
Nathan  Church,  and  other  Fairhaven  merchants  are 
also  found  on  record. 


FAIR  HAVEN. 


275 


Although  the  whale  fishery  was  greatly  conducive 
to  the  prosperity  of  the  town,  and  spread  abroad  her 
name  and  fame,  yet  it  had,  as  is  well  known,  its  dark 
and  tragic  side.  In  1837  ship  "Clifford  Wayne"  re- 
turned in  consequence  of  a  mutiny  among  the  crew, 
and  caused  thereby  a  loss  of  ten  thousand  dollars  to 
those  who  had  invested  in  her.  In  the  same  year 
ship  "Oregon"  was  lost  on  a  reef  near  Tahiti.  In 
1838  ship  "Pactolus"  was  burned  in  the  Pacific.  On 
Dec.  22,  1842,  ship  "Sharon"  put  into  Sydney,  the 
crew  having  mutinied  and  killed  Capt.  Norris.  Capt. 
Jenney,  of  the  "Albion,"  was  killed  by  a  whale  in 
March,  1844.  In  1847  ship  "  Acushnet"  lost  her 
third  mate  and  four  men  in  consequence  of  a  boat 
being  stove,  and  in  1852  the  "  Heroine"  lost  her 
second  mate,  C.  Fuller,  and  five  men  in  a  severe  gale. 
In  1863  brig  "  Pavilion,"  Capt.  Handy,  was  lost,  with 
seven  of  her  crew,  in  Hudson's  Bay,  and  the  survivors 
endured  severe  sufferings.  On  June  27, 1865,  occurred 
a  disaster  which  from  its  character  is  one  of  the  most 
noticeable  that  ever  befell  a  Fairhaven  vessel.  On 
that  date  bark  "  Favorite,"  Capt.  Thomas  G.  Young, 
F.  R.  Whitnell,  agent,  was  captured  by  the  rebel 
cruiser  "  Shenandoah,"  after  a  bold  but  ineffectual 
effort  at  resistance  on  the  part  of  the  gallant  captain. 

With  the  commercial  crash  of  1857,  the  increasing 
use  of  petroleum  for  illuminating  purposes,  and  the 
coming  on  of  the  Rebellion,  the  peculiar  industry  of 
the  town  rapidly  declined.  The  number  of  whaling 
vessels  decreased  from  forty-three  in  1859  to  nine  in 
1863,  causing,  of  course,  a  great  diminution  in  the 
amount  of  business  done.  A  few  vessels,  principally 
brigs  and  schooners,  were  sent  out  in  succeeding 
years,  bur  at  the  present  date  not  a  single  Fairhaven 
vessel  is  engaged  in  the  business,  and  the  town  must 
look  to  other  sources  for  future  prosperity.  The  last 
whale-ship  to  arrive  at  this  port  was  the  "General 
Scott,"  Capt.  William  Washburn,  Tripp  &  Terry, 
agents,,  which  arrived  Oct.  5,  1869.  In  concluding 
this  sketch  the  mention  of  the  names  of  Gibbs  & 
Jenney,  Warren  Delano,  Atkins  Adams,  F.  R.  Whit- 
nell, Nathan  Church,  Jenney  &  Tripp,  Bradford  & 
Faller,  Fish  &  Robinson,  Ezekiel  Sawin,  and  Lemuel 
Tripp  will  recall  to  the  minds  of  many  the  names  of 
the  prominent  shipping  merchants  of  the  town,  who, 
with  others,  contributed  by  their  business  enterprise 
to  its  wealth  and  prosperity. 

Schools. — On  April  13,  1798,  a  number  of  citizens 
of  the  town  met,  and  agreed  to  build  "an  academy 
between  the  villages  and  Oxford,  fifty  feet  and  half 
by  twenty-four  feet  and  half,  two  story  high."  The 
agreement  is  signed  by  Isaac  Sherman,  Benjamin  Lin- 
coln, Levi  Jenne,  Noah  Stoddard,  Nicholas  Stoddard, 
Killey  Eldridge,  Thomas  Delano,  Jethro  Allen,  Jo- 
seph Bates,  Robert  Bennet,  Reuben  Jenne,  Nicholas 
Taber,  and  Luther  Willson.  In  1802  the  school  was 
taught  by  Richard  Sawyer,  and  later  in  the  same  year 
by  John  Nye  and  Abiah  Haskell.  For  a  number  of 
years  this  building   was  the  principal  place  of  in- 


struction for  the  young  people  of  the  town.  It  also 
served  as  a  public  hall  and  place  for  religious  meet- 
ings during  a  portion  of  its  existence.  The  last  re- 
corded meeting  of  the  trustees  is  dated  April  5,  1836. 
The  building  is  now  the  property  of  Capt.  Johu  A. 
Hawes,  and  in  the  upper  portion  there  are  a  hand- 
some music  hall  and  a  billiard-room. 

Rev.  Mr.  Gould,  for  a  number  of  years  pastor  of 
the  Congregational  Church,  established  a  young  la- 
dies' boarding-school,  which  had  an  excellent  reputa- 
tion, and  attracted  pupils  from  other  places  in  this 
part  of  the  State  as  well  as  from  town.  The  building 
stood  on  Main  Street,  but  was  removed  and  divided 
in  order  to  make  way  for  the  railroad.  The  High 
School  was  established  in  1851,  and  made  use  of  the 
church  edifice  on  Main  Street  previously  occupied 
by  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Society. 

The  First  Congregational  Church.— Previous  to 
the  year  1794  there  existed  within  the  present  limits 
of  the  town  no  church  organization.  People  from 
Oxford,  Fairhaven,  and  Sconticut  Neck  who  wished 
to  attend  the  services  of  the  Lord's  day  made  weekly 
pilgrimages  over  such  roads  as  were  then  in  existence 
to  the  old  church  at  the  Head  of  the  River.  The  fol- 
lowing description  of  the  walk  to  meeting  was  nar- 
rated by  one  of  the  ladies  of  this  village :  "  It  was 
our  invariable  rule  during  the  pleasant  season  of  the 
year  to  form  groups  and  walk  to  meeting.  We  took 
our  dinner  with  us.  We  put  our  shoes  and  stockings 
in  our  pockets.  The  road  then  was  round  Herring 
River  (now  known  as  the  Mill  Pond) ;  thence  by  the 
homestead  of  John  and  Bartholomew  Taber.  When 
we  got  a  little  north  of  the  residence  of  the  late 
Alfred  Nye  we  got  over  a  wall,  where  was  a  path 
that  led  direct  to  the  meeting-house.  Near  the  house 
and  to  the  south  of  the  road  is  a  long,  low,  flat  rock  ; 
here  we  sat  down  and  put  on  our  stockings  and  shoes 
and  went  into  meeting." 

In  1794,  however,  was  organized  the  Second  Church 
of  Christ  in  New  Bedford,  which  organization  became 
later  the  First  Congregational  Church  in  Fairhaven. 
The  churches  represented  at  the  Council  were  the 
First  Church,  at  the  Head  of  the  River,  New  Bed- 
ford;  the  Second  Church,  in  Rochester;  and  the 
church  in  Little  Compton.  The  covenant  is  signed 
by  Lemuel  Williams,  Benjamin  Church,  John  Aiden, 
Eunice  Paddoe,  Phebe  Jenne,  Abigail  Church,  Ke- 
turah  Church,  Elizabeth  Landers,  Bethiah  Delano, 
Sally  Alden,  Ruth  Shearman,  Patience  Jenne,  Jere- 
miah Mayhew,  Isaac  Tompkins,  Abel  House,  Peggy 
Mayhew,  Joseph  Damon,  Jethro  Allen,  Henry  Jenne, 
Joseph  Bates,  Isaac  Wood,  Isaac  Shearman,  Joseph 
Church,  Pardon  Taber,  twenty-four  in  all.  The 
original  church  edifice  was  erected  at  about  the  same 
time,  and  was  an  old-fashioned  wooden  structure,  well 
remembered  by  our  older  citizens.  It  stood  on  a  rise 
of  ground,  on  what  is  now  the  corner  of  Main  and 
Centre  Streets.  The  upper  portion  and  belfry  are 
still  in  existence,  forming  a  part  of  Phoenix  Block. 


276 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


On  Feb.  4,  1795,  Isaiah  Weston  was  ordained  pas- 
tor, the  sermon  being  preached  by  the  Rev.  Joseph 
Barker,  of  the  First  Church  in  Middleborough.  In 
the  year  1802  we  find  that  the  use  of  a  fiddle  in  the 
church  service  was  productive  of  mental  if  not  of 
musical  discord.  It  is  certainly  to  be  hoped  that  the 
notes  of  the  instrument  were  more  harmonious  than 
the  feeling  roused  by  its  use. 

The  church,  as  at  first  constituted,  was  Arminian 
in  doctrine,  as  were  many  at  that  period.  In  the 
year  1807,  however,  there  came  a  powerful  revival  of 
religious  interest,  which  was  productive  of  results 
greatly  affecting  the  future  of  the  church. 

Mr.  Weston  was  dismissed  in  1808.  It  soon  became 
apparent  that  there  were  antagonistic  elements  with- 
in the  church,  and  finally  certain  members  who  came 
into  the  church  after  the  great  revival  withdrew  in 
1811,  and  were  instrumental  .in  forming  a  new  society 
called  the  Third  Church.  The  services  of  this  church 
were  held  in  a  small  building  occupied  both  as  church 
and  school-house,  and  which  stood  on  Main  Street, 
opposite  where  the  Union  Hotel  now  stands.  Hap- 
pily, however,  the.  two  churches  united  harmoniously 
about  the  year  1820.  On  May  26, 1813,  the  old  church 
voted  to  call  Mr.  Abraham  Wheeler,  and  he  was  duly 
ordained  on  June  30th  of  the  same  year,  and  re- 
mained about  five  years.  On  Nov.  24,  1820,  they 
voted  to  install  Paul  Jewett. 

Mr.  Jewett,  however,  remained  but  a  short  time, 
and  on  Jan.  9,  1823,  the  church  voted  to  ask  Rev. 
William  Gould  to  continue  as  their  minister.  Mr. 
Gould  remained  as  acting  pastor,  without  installation, 
for  about  seventeen  years  after  this  date,  and  during 
his  long  pastorate  the  church  became  greatly  strength- 
ened in  numbers,  influence,  and  material  prosperity. 
In  1839,  Mr.  Jacob  Roberts  was  ordained  as  colleague 
with  Mr.  Gould,  whose  health  had  begun  to  fail.  An 
unhappy  complication  of  affairs,  in  regard  to  Mr. 
Gould,  resulted  in  the  division  of  the  church  in  1841. 
The  members  who  withdrew  formed  themselves  into  an 
organization  styled  the  Centre  Congregational  Church, 
and  erected  the  neat  church  edifice  on  the  corner  of 
Centre  and  Walnut  Streets,  now  occupied  by  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  This  society  disbanded 
in  1848  ;  their  pastors  were  the  Rev.  Mr.  Gould  and 
his  colleague,  Rev.  Mr.  Poor.  In  1844-45  the  old 
church  erected  the  substantial  edifice  of  brick  which 
they  have  since  occupied.  It  is  a  fine  specimen  of 
Gothic  architecture.  The  interior  walls  are  finished 
in  a  tasteful  pattern  of  blocking  in  shades  of  brown, 
while  pulpit,  galleries,  pews,  and  organ  front  are 
adorned  with  elaborate  Gothic  ornamentation.  The 
exterior  walls  were  unfortunately  covered  with  stucco, 
which,  under  the  action  of  the  weather,  came  off  in 
patches,  giving  the  building  for  some  years  an  un- 
sightly appearance.  The  lofty  steeple,  the  tallest  in 
this  vicinity,  and  a  landmark  for  sailors  in  the  bay, 
was  overthrown  in  the  great  gale  of  Sept.  8,  1869,  but, 
providentially,  with  little  damage  to  the  church.     In 


1879  the  building  was  painted  and  the  tower  finished 
by  the  addition  of  four  pinnacles,  improvements 
which  added  materially  to  its  appearance.  Slight 
alterations  have  also  been  made  within  the  building, 
such  as  the  lowering  and  widening  of  the  pulpit,  and 
the  removal  of  the  old  desk  from  the  vestry  and  sub- 
stitution of  a  platform.  Mr.  Roberts  was  succeeded 
by  Mr.  John  Willard,  ordained  in  1853,  dismissed  in 
1867.  Later  pastors  have  been  Rev.  Avery  S.  Walker, 
1868-71;  Rev.  Winfield  S.  Hawkes,  1873-76;  and 
the  present  pastor,  Rev.  William  Carruthers,  who 
was  installed  in  June,  1878.  The  society,  in  common 
with  the  town,  suffered  with  the  decline  of  business 
and  consequent  loss  by  removals,  but  amid  all  material 
changes  the  vital  force  which  inspired  its  founders 
still  remains,  and  with  the  future  growth  and  pros- 
perity of  the  village  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  its  useful- 
ness may  be  further  extended.  Present  membership 
of  the  church  (1882),  one  hundred  and  seventy-five. 
The  Washington  Street  Christian  (Unitarian) 
Church. — On  Nov.  28,  1819,  a  few  persons  in  town, 
dissatisfied  with  the  prevailing  Calvinistic  doctrines, 
gathered  at  thehouseof  Elizabeth  Taber,  in  Oxford  vil- 
lage, and  decided  to  hold  a  series  of  religious  meetings 
under  the  leadership  of  Elder  Moses  Howe,  with  the 
view,  probably,  of  forming  a  church  of  the  Christian 
order,  whose  doctrine  is  mainly  Unitarian,  but  whose 
practice  is  somewhat  similar  to  that  of  the  Baptists. 
The  Bible  was  taken  as  the  only  rule  of  faith  and 
duty.  The  Academy  Hall  was  engaged  for  the  pur- 
pose of  holding  meetings,  and  under  Elders  Moses 
How  and  Frederick  Plummer  a  considerable  degree 
of  interest  was  manifested.  On  Nov.  30, 1820,  a  church 
was  organized  with  forty-five  members,  and  on  Sept. 
4, 1821,  Elder  Charles  Morgridge  was  ordained  pastor. 
Mr.  Morgridge  was  followed  by  Simon  Clough,  James 
Taylor,  Frederick  Plummer,  George  Kelton,  and 
others  until  1830.  On  evening  of  Jan.  11,  1832,  a 
meeting  of  subscribers  to  a  fund  for  building  a  church 
was  held  at  the  residence  of  Capt.  Warren  Delano. 
On  Dec.  7,  1832,  the  church  was  organized  as  the 
Washington  Street  Christian  Church,  at  the  house  of 
Elizabeth  Adams,  and  on  December  loth  of  the  same 
year  the  meeting-house  was  dedicated.  Elder  Wil- 
liam H.  Taylor  was  the  first  pastor.  In  1834  a  great 
accession  was  made  to  the  number  of  members,  eighty- 
six  uniting  with  the  church  in  that  year.  About  this 
time  there  was  some  discussion  in  regard  to  baptism, 
and  a  vote  that  no  person  should  be  allowed  to  join 
the  church  unless  baptized  by  immersion,  is  on  record. 
This  was,  however,  rescinded  soon  afterward.  The 
church  was  careful  to  take  notice  of  the  indulgence 
of  its  members  in  questionable  amusements,  and  to 
deal  with  them  accordingly;  but  it  seems  to  have 
been  inclined  to  deal  with  delinquents  in  a  kindly 
spirit.  Mr.  Taylor  left  in  1838,  and  was  followed  on 
June  9th  of  the  same  year  by  Elder  John  H.  Currier, 
who  was  followed  by  Elder  C.  Bernett,  in  November, 
1839,  he  being  dismissed  at  the  end  of  three  months. 


FAIRHAVEN. 


277 


In  April,  1840,  Elder  Joseph  H.  Smith  was  engaged 
for  three  months.  In  July  of  the  same  year  Elder 
David  Millard  took  charge  of  the  church.  In  this 
year  renewed  activity  and  interest  was  manifested. 
In  1841,  Elder  Charles  Galligher  was  invited  to  preach 
for  three  months.  Within  the  next  few  years  there 
was  brought  about  an  important  change  in  the  history 
of  the  society.  In  1841  the  use  of  the  pulpit  was  i 
granted  to  Elder  William  Miller,  the  exponent  of 
Second  Advent  doctrines.  Mr.  Miller's  preaching  pro- 
duced such  results  that  thirty-three  persons  left  the 
church,  most  of  whom  united  with  a  number  from  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  formed  the  nucleus 
of  the  Second  Advent  Society.  In  July,  1841,  Elder 
Charles  Morgridge  was  chosen  pastor.  He  was  fol- 
lowed by  Elder  Stephen  Fellows.  The  old  church 
had  from  various  causes  become  much  weakened  at 
this  period.  It  was  now  decided  to  employ  an  edu- 
cated ministry,  and  to  put  itself  more  in  harmony 
with  the  spiritual  wants  and  intelligent  thought  of 
the  age,  and  in  March,  1844,  it  was  voted,  twelve  to 
four,  to  invite  a  Unitarian  minister  to  come  and  preach 
on  trial.  No  change  was  made  in  the  covenant,  and 
the  new  element  which  came  in  found  a  well-estab- 
lished foundation  upon  which  to  build. 

In  August,  1844,  Thomas  Danes  was  unanimously 
chosen  pastor.  At  this  time,  or  soon  after,  a  new 
front  was  put  on  the  building,  a  vestry  put  under- 
neath, and  the  pulpit  was  removed  from  the  north  to 
the  south  end,  and  the  pews  changed  to  conform  with 
the  alteration.  Meantime  Sawin's  Hall  was  used  for 
a  short  period,  and  later  the  Centre  Congregational 
Church  was  occupied  in  union  with  the  society  wor- 
shiping there,  each  society  occupying  the  church  for 
half  a  day.  Mr.  Danes'  ministry  closed  in  1853,  after 
a  useful  pastorate.  From  1853  until  1856  the  society 
had  no  settled  pastor.  In  the  latter  year  a  call  was 
extended  to  Rev.  C.  Y.  De  Normandie,  who  was  duly 
installed  on  September  10th  of  that  year.  The  church 
was  greatly  quickened  by  the  religious  revival  of 
1858,  which  resulted  in  the  addition  of  forty  members 
to  its  roll.  In  the  year  1865  a  reorganization  of  the 
church  was  effected,  in  which  the  Christian  Scriptures 
were  declared  to  be  the  sufficient  rule  for  faith  and 
practice.  In  1868  the  society  reluctantly  complied 
with  a  request  of  their  pastor  for  his  dismission,  and 
in  April,  1869,  Mr.  De  Normandie  left,  after  having 
served  the  society  for  nearly  thirteen  years.  Ellery 
Channing  Butler  was  ordained  Oct.  26,  1869,  but  was 
called  away  after  a  short  pastorate  of  nearly  three 
years.  The  next  pastor,  Alfred  Manchester,  was  or- 
dained Jan.  9,  1873.  In  1874  various  improvements 
were  made  upon  the  building,  the  interior  being 
newly  frescoed  and  carpeted,  thus  giving  to  thesociety 
a  beautiful  and  attractive  audience-room.  In  1877, 
Mr.  Manchester  was  dismissed,  after  a  successful  pas- 
torate, and  was  followed  by  James  M.  Leighton,  the 
present  pastor,  who  was  ordained  April  10,  1878. 
In  1881  a  new  organization  of  the  church  was  made, 


which  changed  somewhat  the  basis  of  fellowship. 
Members  are  required  to  sign  their  names  to  a  com- 
pact pledging  themselves  to  the  worship  of  Almighty 
God,  and  the  study  and  practice  of  pure  religion  as 
manifested  in  the  life  of  Jesus  of  Nazareth.  To  this 
compact  seventy-two  members  signed  their  names. 
Such  is  a  brief  abstract  of  the  history  of  a  church 
whose  unseen  influences  have  striven  to  add  to  the 
moral  excellence  and  religious  power  of  the  commu- 
nity in  which  it  is  planted. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.— In  the  year 
1820  a  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  organized  in 
New  Bedford.  A  number  of  persons  in  Fairhaven 
united  with  this  church,  attended  its  services,  and  the 
preacher  in  charge  sometimes  preached  on  this  side 
of  the  river.  On  Dec.  28,  1829,  the  brethren  residing 
in  Fairhaven  requested  that  a  chapel  be  erected  for 
their  accommodation.  It  was  resolved  that  their  re- 
quest ought  to  be  complied  with,  and  that  such  a  step 
will  tend  to  the  glory  of  God  and  the  enlargement  of 
the  kingdom  of  our  common  Saviour.  In  June,  1830, 
the  meeting-house  was  opened  for  worship,  and  dedi- 
catory sermons  were  preached  by  Rev.  Orange  Scott 
and  Rev.  John  Lindsey.  This  was  the  building  now 
occupied  by  the  town  as  a  high  school,  and  stands  on 
Main  Street  north  of  Bridge  Street.  Rev.  William 
Livesey  was  in  that  year  appointed  to  this  station. 
Once  in  two  weeks  Mr.  Livesey  exchanged  with  Rev. 
Mr.  Merritt,  of  New  Bedford,  and  Rev.  James  Porter, 
of  the  Head  of  the  River.  The  society  continued  to 
be  a  branch  of  the  one  in  New  Bedford  until  1832, 
when  it  was  deemed  expedient  that  the  Fairhaven 

!  society  become  a  separate  organization. 

On  Aug.  30,  1832,  the  male  members  met  and  pro- 
ceeded to  organize  a  board  of  trustees,  consisting  of 
the  following-named  persons:  Joseph  Millett,  James 
Tripp  (2d),  John  P.  Winslow,  Joseph  P.  Swift,  Joseph 
B.  Morse,  Dennis  McCarthy,  and  Warren  Maxfield. 
The  society  continued  to  occupy  their  house  of  wor- 
ship until  the  spring  of  1849,  when  the  subject  of 
purchasing  the  edifice  left  vacant  by  the  Centre  Con- 
gregational Society  was  considered.  On  April  16th 
the  trustees  reported  that  they  had  obtained  a  title  to 
the  church  for  the  use  and  behoof  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.-  Their  report  was  accepted,  and 
the  building  occupied  in  that  year.  The  last  of  the 
notes  due  by  reason  of  the  purchase  of  this  building 
was  paid  in  March,  1867.  Extensive  improvements 
have  been  made  within  the  church  edifice  since  its 
present  occupancy,  and  the  church  is  now  in  a  highly 
prosperous  condition. 

Official  Appoiiifments.~18S0-S\, Rev.  William  Live- 
sey ;  1831-32,  Rev.  Leonard  Griffin;  1832-34,  Rev. 
Nathan  Paine;  1834-35,  Rev.  Lewis  Janson;  1835 
-36,  Rev.  Daniel  K.  Banister;  1836-38,  Rev.  David 
Leslie;  1838-39,  Rev.  Henry  Mayo;  1839-41,  Rev. 
Apollos  Hale;  1841-43,  Rev.  Isaac  Stoddard;  1843 
-44,  Rev.   Nathan    Paine;    1844-45,  Rev.  John    W. 

.  Case;   1845-46,  Rev.  Daniel   Webb,  supplied  by  G. 


278 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


W.  Brewster ;  1846-48,  Rev.  Micah  J.  Talbot,  Jr. ; 
1848-49,  Rev.  Henry  Baylies;  1849-51,  Rev.  Samuel 
C.  Brown ;  1851-53,  Rev.  Horatio  W.  Houghton  ; 
1853-55,  Rev.  Richard  Livesey  ;  1855-57,  Rev.  Wil- 
liam H.  Kichards;  1857-58,  Rev.  Bartholomew  Othe- 
man;  1858-59,  Rev.  James  M.  Worcester;  1859 
-61,  Rev.  John  B.  Husted ;  1861-63,  Rev.  Edward 
A.  Lyon ;  1863-65,  Rev.  William  Livesey ;  1865-68, 
Rev.  Henry  H.  Smith ;  1868-71,  Rev.  Frederic  Up- 
ham  ;  1871-73,  Rev.  John  Gray  ;  1873-75,  Rev.  Hop- 
kins B.  Cady ;  1875-78,  Rev.  George  De  B.  Stoddard ; 
1878-79,  Rev.  Daniel  C.  Stevenson;  1879-80,  Rev. 
Francis  D.  Sargent ;  1880-83,  Rev.  George  E.  Fuller. 

The  Second  Advent  Society. —  In  1841,  Elder 
William  Miller  preached  in  the  Christian  Baptist 
Church  in  this  village.  A  number  of  persons  became 
converts  to  the  Second  Advent  faith,  and  in  1842 
began  to  hold  meetings.  The  first  meetings  were 
held  in  a  private  house  on  Main  Street.  Afterwards 
they  were  held  in  the  building  formerly  occupied  by 
Rev.  Mr.  Gould  as  a  young  ladies'  boarding-school, 
and  in  Fountain  Hall  on  Main  Street.  The  building 
on  William  Street,  formerly  known  as  Sawin's  Hall, 
was  purchased  and  converted  into  a  chapel,  and  a 
new  organization  effected  about  seventeen  years  ago. 
Present  pastor,  Elder  George  F.  Haines. 

Friends'  Meeting. — Since  the  early  settlement  of 
Old  Dartmouth  the  Friends  or  Quakers  have  been 
an  important  element  in  the  history  of  the  town.  In 
Fairhaven,  however,  they  have  not  been  so  influen- 
tial as  in  New  Bedford  and  Dartmouth.  There  was 
no  meeting-house  in  the  present  limits  of  the  town 
until  1849,  when  the  plain  but  neat  building  on 
Bridge  Street  was  erected.  The  number  of  wor- 
shipers here  has  always  been  quite  small,  and  num- 
ber at  present  about  ten  or  twelve  families.  Meet- 
ings are  held  on  first  days  and  fourth  days,  and  a 
Bible-class  is  sustained.  The  Friends  do  not  recog- 
nize the  pastoral  relation  in  the  manner  that  other 
denominations  do,  and  their  method  of  church  gov- 
ernment differs  also  from  that  of  other  societies.  The 
Fairhaven  Meeting  belongs  to  the  New  Bedford 
Monthly  Meeting,  which  is  the  principal  organization 
in  this  vicinity. 

Civil  History. — The  records  of  the  first  few  years 
of  the  town's  existence  have  been  lost,  and  filenames 
of  the  officers  during  that  period  have  not  been 
definitely  ascertained.  The  following-named  per- 
sons have  held  the  office  of  town  clerk  since  1816 : 
1816-17,  Levi  Jenney ;  1817-19,  Jabez  Taber; 
1819-34,  Bartholomew  Taber;  1834-42,  Nathaniel 
Church  ;  1842-55,  Eben  Akin,  Jr. ;  1855-75,  Tucker 
Damon,  Jr.  ;  1875,  Eben  Akin,  Jr. 

SELECTMEN  FROM  1816   TO   1883. 
181G. — Bartholomew  Akin,  James  Taber,  Joseph  Whelden. 
1817. — Bartholomew  Akin,  James  Taber  (no  other  name  found). 
1818.— Bartholomew  Akin,  James  Taber,  Joseph  Whelden. 
1819.— John  Atsatt,  James  Taber,  John  Taber. 
1820.— Warren  Delano,  James  Taber,  John  Taber. 
1821. — Bartholomew  Akin,  James  Taber,  John  Taber. 


1822. — Bartholomew  Akin,  Ansel  Allen,  James  Taber. 

1823-25.— Ansel  Allen,  James  Taber,  John  Taber. 

1826-27.— Warren  Delano,  James  Taber,  John  Taber. 

1828. — Warren  Delano,  James  Taber. 

1829-30.— Ansel  Allen,  Gideon  Nye,  Jabez  Taber. 

1831. — Ansel  Allen,  John  Taber,  Joseph  Whelden. 

1832-33. — Daniel  Davis,  Levi  Jenney,  Gideon  Nye. 

1834. — Cyrus  E.  Clark,  Daniel  Davis,  Jabez  Delano,  Jr. 

1835.— Cyrus  E.  Clark,  Daniel  Davis,  William  L.  B.Gibbs. 

1836.— Ansel  Allen,  Cyrus  E.  Clark,  Daniel  Davis. 

1837.— Daniel  Davis,  William  L.  B.  Gibbs,  Bartholomew  Taber. 

1838. — Daniel  Davis,  Rodolphus  W.  Dexter,  Bartholomew  Taber. 

1839-40. — Gideon  Nye,  Ezekiel  Sawin,  Bartholomew  Taber. 

1841. — Gideon  Nye,  Bartholomew  Taber,  Firman  R.  Whitnell. 

1842.— Cyrus  E.  Clark,  Elbridge  G.  Morton,  Firman  R.  Whitnell. 

1843.— Nathaniel  Church,  Cyrus  E.  Clark,  Elbridge  G.  Morton. 

1844.— Nathaniel  Church,  George  Mendall,  Sheffel  Read. 

1845-50.— Nathaniel  Church,  Cyrus  E.  Clark,  Ellis  Mendall,  Jr. 

1851.— Cyrus  E.  Clark,  G.  N.  Taber,  Isaac  Wood,  Jr. 

1S52.— Nathaniel  Higgin,  George  Mendall,  Firman  R.  Whitnell. 

1853.— Cyrus  E.  Clark,  John  Terry,  Firman  R.  Whitnell. 

1854. — Nathaniel  Church,  Cyrus  E.  Clark,  Firman  R.  Whitnell. 

1855  — Edmund  Allen,  Charles  D.  Capen,  Barnabas  Ewer,  Jr. 

1856. — Edmund  Allen,  Charles  D.  Capen,  Henry  A.  Church. 

1857. — Martin  L.  Elbridge,  John  A.  Hanes,  Elbridge  G.  Morton. 

1858-59. — John  A.  Hawes,  Elbridge  G.  Morton,  Abiel  P.  Robinson. 

1860. — Jonathan  Ewen,  John  A.  Hawes,  Elbridge  G.  Morton. 

1861-62. — Jonathan  Ewen,  Rodolphus  W.  Dexter,  Bartholomew  Taber. 

1863. — Jonathan  Ewen,  Bartholomew  Tabor,  George  H.  Taber. 

1864.— Edwin  R.  Almy,  Bartholomew  Taber,  Ellery  T.  Taber. 

1865-66.— Bartholomew  Taber,  Frederick  Taber,  Isaiah  West. 

1867-6S. — Reuben  Nye,  Bartholomew  Taber,  Isaiah  West. 

1869-70.— Bartholomew  Taber,  George  H.  Taber,  Isaiah  West. 

1871.— Bartholomew  Taber,  George  H.  Taber,  William  H.  Whitfield. 

1872.— Weston  Howland,  George  H.  Taber,  William  H.  Whitfield. 

1873.— Daniel  J.  Lewis,  George  H.  Taber,  William  H.  Whitfield. 

1874.— Daniel  J.  Lewis,  Welcome  J.  Lawtoti,  George  H.  Taber. 

1875-76. — Welcome  J.  Lawton,  George  H.  Taber,  Arnold  G.  Tripp. 

1877-78.— Daniel  W.  Deane,  George  H.  Taber,  Arnold  G.  Tripp. 

1879-83.— George  A.  Briggs,  Daniel  W.  Deane,  Robert  E.  Dewitt. 


1812-14.  John  Hanes. 

Nicholas  Davis,  Jr. 

Joseph  Tripp. 
1814-16.  John  Delano. 
1816-20.  No  representative. 

1820.  James  Taber. 

1821.  Stephen  Merrihew. 

1822.  No  representative. 

1823.  Joseph  Tripp. 
James  Taber. 
Joseph  Whelden. 

1824.  No  representative. 

1825.  James  Taber. 
Stephen  Merrihew. 
Joseph  Whedlen. 

1826.  James  Taber. 

1827.  James  Taber. 
Joseph  Tripp. 

1828.  Nathaniel  S.  Spooner. 
James  Taber. 
Joseph  Tripp. 

1829.  Rowland  Gibbs. 
Gideon  Nye. 
Joseph  Tripp. 

1830.  Joseph  Tripp. 

1831.  Joseph  Whelden. 

1833.  Gideon  Nye. 

1834.  Ansel  Allen. 
Cyrus  E.  Clark. 
Samuel  Pierce. 

1835.  Joseph  Tripp. 
Ezekiel  Sawin. 
Gideon  Nye. 

1836.  Joseph  Tripp. 
William  L.  B.  Gibbs. 


REPRESENTATIVES. 

1837.  Cyrus  E.  Clark. 


1838-39.  Joseph  Tripp. 
Daniel  Davis. 
John  Stoddard. 

1840.  Cyrus  E.  Clark. 
Elbridge  G.  Morton. 

1841.  Ezekiel  Swain. 
Gideon  Nye. 

1842.  Cyrus  E.  Clark. 
Jones  Robinson. 

1843.  Elbridge  G.  Moiton. 
Jones  Robinson. 

1844.  Joseph  Tripp. 

1845.  Joseph  Tripp. 
Ellis  Mendall,  Jr. 

1846-47.  Nathaniel  Church. 

George  Mendall. 
1848-50.  George  Mendall. 

Isaac  Wood,  Jr. 
1851.  Isaac  Wood. 
1852-53.  Elbridge  G.  Morton. 
1854.  Charles  Drew. 
1855-57.  Daniel  J.  Lewis. 
1858-59.  Martin  L.  Eldridge. 
1860-62.  Samuel  L.  Ward. 
1863-65.  Ezekiel  Sawin. 
1866-67.  Charles  Bryant. 
1868-69.  Lewis  S.  Judd. 
1870-71.  No  representative. 
1872-73.  William  H.  Whitfield. 
1874-75.  Daniel  J.  Lewis. 
1S76-77.  No  representative. 
1878-79.  Elbridge  G.  Morton. 
1880-81.  No  representative. 
18S2-83.  Rufns  A.  Dunham. 


&^l^?^/    //^-<^^S^/'t>'7^ 


FAIRHAVEN. 


279 


Military  Record,  1861-65. — The  following  en- 
listed from  Fairhaven  during  the  late  war  of  the  Re- 
bellion : 

Bartholomew  Aikin,  E.  Delevan  Allen,  Elishup  P.  Allen,  William  F. 
Allen,  Andrew  W.  Alniy,  Charles  II.  Austin,  Benjamin  T.  Baker, 
Charles  A.  Bates,  Martin  Bowen,  Thomas  G.  Bowen,  Charles  G. 
Braley,  George  B.  Braley,  George  P.  Briggs,  Alexander  J.  Brown, 
John  Brown,  Peter  Brown,  Benjamin  Burt,  William  W.  Carsley, 
Joseph  S.  Caswell,  William  F.  Caswell,  Ezekiel  Cekiell,  Ebenezer  W. 
Chase,  John  Conly,  Elisha  Copeland,  Reuben  Corsen,  Jonathan  C. 
Cowen,  Jamea  N.  Cox,  Henry  P.  Cronell,  Edward  P.  Damon,  Alden 
Davis,  Robert  Decker,  Edward  H.  Dillingham,  William  Driscoll, 
George  Dunham,  William  II.  Dunham,  Edward  Emmons,  Barnabas 
Ewer,  Jr.,  John  H.  Fitch,  John  Flynn,  Timothy  Fox,  William  A. 
Fox,  John  P.  Freeborn,  Albert  D.  Gelett,  Charles  W.  Gelett,  Charles 
H.  Gifford,  Cornelius  Grady,  Joshua  Grimes,  Charles  J.  Hale,  Joseph 
P.  Hamblin,  Michael  Harrington,  William  A.  Haskins,  Ebenezer  B. 
Hathaway,  John  A.  Hawes,  Ablin  Hayden,  Henry  Hill,  Ebenezer  V. 
Hitch,  Frederick  H.  Hitch,  Franklin  L.  Hull,  Edward  J.  Hurley, 
John  Isherwood,  James  Jackson,  Charles  N.  Jenney,  Benjamin 
Jones,  Benj.  W.  Kempton,  Jared  R.  Lake,  Leonard  Luther,  Jabez 
31.  Lyle,  Saml.  M.  Manell,  Geo.  F.  Manchester,  W.  A.  Manches- 
ter, Henry  Morton,  E.  Murphy,  John  Murray,  John  0.  Neil,  Michael 
Nolan,  Thos.  Nye,  Phineas  Peckham,  Jr.,  II.  Pope,  W.  B.  Purrington, 
James  Reed,  Amos  Rogers,  Jr.,  George  F.  Rogers,  Benjamin  Samp- 
son, Zebelial  S.  Sampson,  Arthur  Saunders,  Louis  Schmidt,  John  P. 
Sears,  Daniel  Sheridan,  Charles  Smith,  Roland  Smith,  William 
Smith,  Edward  Staunett,  Henry  C.  Steele,  George  Stevens,  Henry 
Stevens,  Francis  H.  Stoddard,  Nelson  J.  Sweet,  Loring  P.  Taber, 
Charles  Thompson,  John  M.  Thompson,  Elbridge  B.  Townsend, 
Joseph  F.  Townsend,  Amos  Tripp,  Ebenezer  R.  Tripp,  Horace  P. 
Tripp,  James  F.  Tripp,  Joseph  Tripp,  William  H.  Tripp,  John  Wal- 
deck,  Frank  Waldron,  Jesse  H.  Warner,  John  Warren,  Edward  W. 
West,  Andrew  Westgate,  Stephen  Wrestgate,  Henry  White,  Joshua 
H.  Wilkey,  Albert  M.  Willcox,  George  R.  Wixon,  George  Wood, 
Lemuel  C.  Wood,  Jr.,  Thomas  Wood,  Thomas  M.  Wrighington. 

Navy.— John  W.  Babbett,  Elisha  B.  Bumpus,  William  B.  Bumpus,  Jabez 
Chandler,  George  H.  Copeland,  Joseph  Ellis,  Henry  W.  Fitch,  Reu- 
ben II.  Fitch,  Ansel  S.  Hitch,  James  R.  Lawrence,  Jr.,  William  C. 
Nye,  Albert  Shaw,  Thomas  Shaw,  Eli  Sherman,  F'rancis  Snell,  Jr., 
Frederick  M.  Faber,  William  A.  West,  Oscar  F.  Wixon. 


BIOGRAPHICAL     SKETCHES. 


HENRY    HUTTLESTONE. 

The  Huttlestone  family  is  of  good  English  stock. 
The  name  was  formerly  Hnddlestone,  the  name  now 
of  a  solid  village  in  England.  Valentine  Huddle- 
stone  came  from  England  to  America  in  the  first  part 
of  the  seventeenth  century  to  Newport,  and  settled 
ultimately  in  Dartmouth  (now  Fairhaven),  where,  in 
1694,  he  was  one  of  the  fifty-six  original  proprietors 
of  the  town.  He  had  two  sons  by  his  wife  Catharine, 
— Henry,  born  Sept.  21, 1673,  and  George,  born  Sept. 
28,  1677.  From  one  of  these  (Henry  probably)  was 
no  doubt  the  Henry  of  whom  we  write,  but  we  have 
no  data  to  establish  the  fact. 

Henry  Huttlestone  was  born  in  Fairhaven,  Mass., 
in  1768,  at  or  near  the  residence  of  the  late  Hon.  John 
A.  Hawes.  His  father,  Peleg  Huttlestone,  was  a  man 
of  good  circumstances  and  repute  in  his  day,  a  land- 
holder, and  a  valuable  citizen.  He  was  born  in  1741, 
and  died  in  1801  ;  his  wife  Tabitha  was  born  in  1743, 
and  died  in  1790.  Henry  Huttlestone,  although  of 
limited    education,  early    manifested    great   business 


ability.  He  became  owner  of  numerous  vessels,  and 
was  extensively  engaged  in  fitting  out  ships  for  the 
European  trade.  He  was  also  a  merchant  for  many 
years  in  his  native  town.  He  was  a  man  pleasant  to 
meet,  of  winning  manners,  and  a  general  favorite 
for  his  benevolence  and  sympathy  towards  suffering. 
During  the  Napoleonic  wars  and  embargoes  and  the 
perilous  times  connected  with  the  war  of  1812  he  lost 
heavily,  numbers  of  his  ships  being  captured  or  de- 
stroyed by  the  belligerent  European  powers.  He  had 
at  the  time  of  his  death  several  claims  against  the 
Spanish,  French,  and  English  nations  for  captured 
vessels,  yet  only  one  of  the  claims — one  against  the 
French  government — ever  realized  anything  for  his 
heirs.  He  married  Rhoda  Merrihew,  of  Fairhaven. 
They  had  seven  children, — Henry  (deceased),  Nancy 
(deceased),  Betsey  (Mrs.  Charles  Stoddard),  Stephen 
(deceased),  Jane  (deceased),  Killey  (deceased),  and 
Mary.  Mr.  Huttlestone  died  in  January,  1831.  He 
was  Unitarian  in  religion,  and  a  Whig  in  politics. 

Rowland  Rogers,  son  of  Abishai  and  Judith  Rogers, 
was  born  in  Mattapoisett,  Mass.,  March  21, 1810.  He 
became  a  merchant  in  Fairhaven,  and  March  21, 1833, 
married  Mary,  youngest  child  of  Henry  Huttlestone. 
They  had  three  children, — Eliza  (deceased),  Henry 
H.,  and  Rufus  A.  In  his  latter  years,  Mr.  Rogers 
was  an  accountant.  He  was  a  Democrat  from  prin- 
ciple. He  could  give  sound  reasons  in  support  of  his 
belief,  and  was  one  of  the  little  band  of  from  five  to 
seven  in  the  town  who  steadily  voted  the  Democratic 
ticket,  undaunted  by  the  bitter  partisanship  of  the 
times.  He  died  in  1861.  His  wife  is  now  living  in 
Fairhaven,  with  youthful  appearance  for  her  years, 
beloved  by  all  who  know  her. 

Henry  Huttlestone  Rogers  was  born  in  Fairhaven, 
Mass.,  Jan.  29,  1840.  He  was  a  quick  and  diligent 
student,  and  graduated  at  the  Fairhaven  High  School. 
Upon  leaving  school  he  engaged  as  clerk  in  a  store  in 
Fairhaven,  where  he  remained  until  his  twenty-first 
year,  when  he  went  to  Oil  City,  Pa.,  and  started  busi- 
ness for  himself  by  establishing  an  oil  refinery.  He 
exhibited  good  business  qualities,  was  hard-working 
and  energetic,  yet  the  refinery  did  not  pay,  and  after 
a  faithful  but  unsuccessful  effort  to  succeed,  he  aban- 
doned it  and  became  assistant  superintendent  of  Na- 
trona Chemical  Works.  His  manner  of  transacting 
business  attracted  the  attention  of  Charles  Pratt,  of 
"  astral  oil"  celebrity,  and  in  a  few  months'  time 
he  left  the  chemical  works  for  a  position  in  the 
New  York  house  of  Mr.  Pratt.  This,  in  a  short 
time,  resulted  in  Mr.  Pratt's  admitting  Mr.  Rogers  to 
a  partnership  in  the  firm  now  Charles  Pratt  &  Co. 
He  is  of  qitick,  energetic  temperament,  carries  through 
successfully  whatever  he  undertakes,  and  has  a  warm, 
social  nature,  which  endears  him  to  a  large  circle  of 
friends.  Plis  family  spend  their  summers  in  Fair- 
haven with  his  mother,  and  for  which  Mr.  Rogers  has 
the  strongest  attachment,  believing  the  town  of  his 
birth  the  finest  place  on  earth.     His  love  for  Fair- 


280 


HISTORY   OF   BUISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


haven  and  for  its  improvement  has  recently  been 
manifested  in  a  most  pleasant  and  valuable  way,  by 
the  offer  recently  to  build,  at  his  own  expense,  a  high- 
school  building  in  that  town,  contributing  also  the 
land  on  which  it  is  to  stand. 

Mr.  Rogers  married,  Nov.  17, 1862,  Abbie,  daughter 
of  Capt.  Peleg  Gifford,  of  Fairhaven.  They  have  five 
children, — Anne,  Cara,  Amelia,  Mary,  and  Henry  H. 
He  is  Republican  in  politics.  He  is  yet  in  the  prime 
of  life,  and,  with  many  years  of  active  business  before 
him,  is  a  fair  type  of  the  impetuous,  rushing,  success- 
ful Americans  of  the  nineteenth  century. 

Rufus  A.  Rogers  was  born  in  Fairhaven,  Feb.  22, 
1843.  He  married  Maude  Thumm,  and  is  now  an 
accountant,  residing  in  Oil  City,  Pa.  He  has  two 
children. 


HON.    JOHN   A.  HAWES. 

Hon.  John  A.  Hawes  was  born  in  Fairhaven, 
Mass.,  Sept.  27,  1823.  He  graduated  at  Harvard  in 
1845,  and  studied  law  with  J.  H.  W.  Page,  Esq.,  in 
New  Bedford,  but  he  never  practiced  the  profession 
nor  engaged  in  any  regular  business.  He  has  been 
selectman  and  a  member  of  the  school  committee  in 
his  native  town,  and  was  captain  of  Company  E, 
Third  Massachusetts  Regiment,  in  the  nine  months' 
service  during  the  Rebellion.  In  1871-72  and  1874- 
75  he  was  a  member  of  the  State  Senate,  often  tem- 
porarily filling  the  chair,  and  was  for  some  time  the 
elected  president  pro  tern.  He  was  at  one  time  presi- 
dent of  the  Bristol  County  Agricultural  Society  and 
commander  of  the  Massachusetts  Department  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic.  He  took  considerable  inter- 
est in  yachting.  He  was  one  of  the  originators  of  the 
New  Bedford  Yacht  Club,  and  was  elected  its  first 
commodore  in  1878,  an  office  which  he  held  while  his 
health  remained  good.  He  resided  upon  the  old 
homestead,  his  children  being  the  fifth  generation 
living  upon  the  same  land.  Mr.  Hawes  was  a  Repub- 
lican in  politics,  and  in  religion  he  tended  towards 
Rationalism.  He  died  March  10,  1883.  His  wife  is 
Amelia  (Hallet)  Hawes.  Children, — Elizabeth  Bor- 
den, Amelia  H.,  and  Mary.  He  was  a  good  citizen,  a 
warm  friend,  and  a  generous  hearted  man. 

John  A.  Hawes,  father  of  John  A.,  was  for  some 
time  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Cornell  &  Hawes,  New 
York  City.  He  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Sam- 
uel Borden,  of  Fairhaven.  John  Hawes,  father  of 
John  A.,  Sr.,  was  a  prominent  man  in  New  Bedford 
and  vicinity.  He  was  for  many  years  collector  of 
that  port,  and  was  one  of  seven  to  organize  the  first 
Methodist  Society  in  New  Bedford. 


NATHANIEL    CHURCH. 

Nathaniel  Church,  son  of  Joseph  and  Deborah 
(Perry)  Church,  was  born  in  Fairhaven,  Mass.,  Nov. 
16,  1798.  He  had  the  advantages  of  good  blood  and 
a  long   line  of  reputable  ancestors,  reaching  away 


back  through  early  colonial  days  to  a  substantial 
standing  in  "  merrie  England."  With  only  a  com- 
mon school  education,  he  attained  a  success  in  life 
which  showed  business  qualities,  energy,  and  pru- 
dence. When  but  a  little  past  his  majority  he  went 
to  Rhode  Island,  and  engaged  as  a  merchant  with 
his  brother  Ebenezer  as  E.  P.  Church  &  Co.  He  re- 
mained in  trade  there  until  1831,  when  he  removed 
to  Fairhaven,  where  he  entered  into  merchandising, 
and  continued  steadily  in  trade  until  near  the  close  of 
his  life.  He  then  was  engaged  for  a  few  years  in  a 
brass  foundry  in  Fairhaven.  He  was  more  or  less 
connected  with  various  whaling  expeditions,  but  these 
were  not  remunerative.  He  married,  Aug.  22,  1829, 
Lydia,  daughter  of  Barney  and  Sarah  (Cook)  Hicks. 
She  was  born  in  Westport,  Mass.,  Dec.  15,  1800.  On 
both  sides  she  is  descended  from  old  families  of  good 
repute,  and  to-day,  with  vigorous  mental  faculties,  she» 
is  in  good  physical  health,  and  with  cheerful  content 
in  the  society  of  her  old  friends  and  affectionate 
daughters,  she  is  awaiting  the  summons  to  meet  her 
husband  on  the  "  other  shore."  They  had  seven  chil- 
dren, of  whom  four  attained  maturity.  They  were 
Sarah  C,  Nancy  F.  (deceased),  Mary  L.  (married 
Ansel  G.  Jenney,  resides  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  has 
four  children),  and  Lydia  M.  Mr.  Church  was  Whig 
and  Republican  in  political  affiliations;  as  such  he 
was  called  to  fill  many  positions  of  honor  and  trust. 
He  was  town  clerk  many  years;  was  many  times 
chosen  overseer  of  the  poor  and  selectman;  held  the 
commission  of  justice  of  the  peace  for  nearly  all  of 
his  active  life;  was  called  to  represent  his  district  in 
the  Lower  House  of  the  State  Legislature  twice,  dis- 
charging his  duties  with  impartiality  and  ability.  He 
was,  during  his  extended  business  life,  called  to  ad- 
minister on  many  estates,  and  from  his  cautious,  care- 
ful, and  wise  advice  many  received  much  benefit. 
He  was  a  man  who,  while  unostentatious  in  his  giv- 
ing, did  not  withhold  a  helping  hand  from  worthy 
charities  or  public  benefactions,  but  gave  liberally. 
He  was  a  man  of  strict  integrity,  of  many  virtues,  and 
one  whose  life  served  well  to  merit  the  confidence  and 
esteem  which  he  received  from  a  large  circle  of  friends. 
He  died  March  17,  1865,  in  the  sixty-seventh  year  of 
his  age. 

CHARLES    SPOONER   TABER. 

Charles  Spooner  Taber,  son  of  Jacob  and  Dolly 
(Spooner)  Taber,  was  born  on  the  old  Taber  home- 
stead in  Fairhaven,  Dec.  5, 1809.  His  earliest  ances- 
tor of  the  name  in  Fairhaven  was  Thomas  Taber  (son 
of  Philip,  who  came  to  this  country  probably  in  1633, 
and  lived  successively  in  Watertown,  Yarmouth,  Mar- 
tha's Vineyard,  Portsmouth,  R.  I.,  and  Tiverton),  who 
was  born  in  1645,  settled  here  as  early  as  1672,  and 
died  in  1730.  He  was  a  mason  by  trade,  and  built 
and  occupied  a  stone  house  at  Oxford  village,  which 
was  recently  demolished.  Capt.  Taber  inherits  his 
landed   estate,    north   of  Oxford    village,    from    this 


o 


<ZhOcS&0 


' 


&S 


&. 


-L. 


FAIRHAVEN. 


281 


Thomas,  his  great-great-grandfather,  through  his  great- 
grandfather Jacob  (born  in  1683,  died  in  1773),  his 
grandfather  Bartholomew  (born  in  1717,  died  in  1803), 
and  his  father  Jacob  (born  in  1775,  died  in  1815). 
Capt.  Taber's  father,  a  sailor,  died,  when  he  was 
about  six  years  old,  of  spotted  fever,  and  remaining 
with  his  mother  until  he  was  sixteen,  he  shipped  as 
common  sailor  on  the  "  Columbus,"  bound  for  Mar- 
seilles with  a  cargo  of  oil.  After  his  return  he  at- 
tended the  academy  at  Fairhaven  for  a  year  or  so,  and 
again  entered  the  merchant  service  as  sailor,  and 
remained  in  that  for  a  number  of  years,  rising  to  the 
position  of  first  mate.  Thinking  whaling  more  profit- 
able, he  arranged  to  go  a  voyage  on  a  whaler  as  boat- 
steerer,  and  was  conveyed  to  the  vessel  by  his  brother, 
Jacob  S.,  who  on  his  way  back  to  the  shore  was 
drowned.  This  sad  event  changed  his  course.  He 
gave  up  the  voyage,  and  for  two  years  carried  on  out- 
fitting for  sailors.  In  1835  he  shipped  as  boat-steerer 
on  ship  "Shylock,"  of  Rochester,  a  whaler,  bound 
for  Tristan  d'Acunha  Island  and  South  Atlantic. 
Returning  in  ten  months,  he  shipped  on  next  voyage 
as  first  mate  of  the  same  ship,  and  went  to  the  Indian 
Ocean  and  Madagascar  coast.  After  a  voyage  of 
twenty  months  he  was  given  command  of  the  same 
vessel,  and  in  his  first  voyage  of  twenty  months  cir- 
cumnavigated the  globe.  He  sailed  again  in  1839  as 
master  of  the  "  Shylock,"  and  went  to  New  Zealand 
and  New  Holland.  After  getting  nearly  two  thousand 
two  hundred  barrels  of  oil,  two  thousand  five  hundred 
being  a  full  cargo,  he  concluded  to  go  to  the  Fiji 
Islands  for  balance  of  load.  They  were  becalmed  off 
these  islands,  when  a  breeze  sprang  up,  and  about  ten 
or  eleven  o'clock  at  night  the  ship  struck  on  a  reef 
not  located  on  the  charts.  She  went  to  pieces  rapidly. 
Capt.  Taber  went  below  and  hurriedly  took  his  quad- 
rant, compass,  and  glass,  and  without  his  boots  suc- 
ceeded in  reaching  one  of  the  three  boats.  The  islands 
were  inhabited  by  cannibals,  and  the  captain  distrust- 
ing their  hospitality  shaped  his  course  for  the  Friendly 
Islands.  Two  boats  got  clear,  but  one  was  lost,  yet 
of  the  entire  crew  only  one,  a  boy,  was  lost.  After 
two  days'  and  three  nights'  exposure  to  the  elements 
and  hunger  and  thirst  they  came  to  the  sought  for 
islands,  and  were  kindly  received  and  entertained. 
They  went  from  one  island  to  another  until  they  came 
to  Vavau,  one  of  the  Tonga  Islands,  where  was  an 
English  Methodist  missionary  station.  The  mission- 
aries relieved  their  necessities,  placed  their  vessel  at 
Capt.  Taber's  service,  and  after  he  visited  all  their 
stations  they  conveyed  him  to  Hobartstown,  whence 
he  went  to  Sydney,  New  Zealand,  and  thence  to 
Boston.  Of  these  kind  and  faithful  missionaries 
Capt.  Taber  retains  the  warmest  memories. 

He  was  soon  offered  command  of  several  vessels, 
and  accepted  that  of  the  "  Huntress,"  of  New  Bed- 
ford, and  made  a  highly  successful  voyage  of  thirty 
months,  visiting  the  Indian  and  South  Pacific  Oceans. 
This  was  his  last  completed  voyage.     After  his  re- 


turn he  started  on  another  trip  as  master  of  the 
"  Elizabeth,"  of  New  Bedford,  but  failing  health, 
with  indications  of  consumption,  caused  him  to  leave 
his  vessel  at  Pernambuco  and  return  home.  Since 
then  he  has  attended  to  the  culture  of  the  ancestral 
acres  granted  to  his  ancestor,  John  Cooke,  and  held 
by  him  in  direct  inheritance  through  Thomas  Taber, 
as  before  mentioned.  Capt.  Taber  married,  Dec.  8, 
1846,  Laura  Hathaway,  daughter  of  Obed  and  Abby 
(Hathaway)  Nye.  Her  father  was  a  merchant  for 
many  years  at  the  "Head  of  the  River"  (Acushnet), 
was  born  in  Fairhaven,  and  a  member  of  one  of  the 
old  and  honored  families. 

Capt.  Taber  is  Republican  in  politics,  but  is  con- 
tent to  remain  outside  of  official  honors  and  pre- 
ferment. He  is  of  sanguine  temperament,  is  pleasing 
and  social  in  his  intercourse  with  others,  and  having 
amassed  sufficient  wealth  to  be  removed  from  any 
pecuniary  anxiety,  is  enjoying  life  with  a  quaint  and 
happy  philosophy,  and  with  content  is  passing  on 
towards  the  "  twilight"  in  a  home  cheered  by  a  more 
than  ordinary  intelligent  and  agreeable  wife.  He  is 
liberal  in  religion,  and  with  his  wife  attends  the 
Unitarian  Church.  He  is  probably  the  only  one 
living  who  bid  off  a  seat  in  the  church  (then  Free- 
will Baptist)  at  its  dedication  in  December,  1832. 
All  in  all,  Capt.  Taber  is  a  fair  type  of  the  hardy, 
resolute  whalers  of  the  most  prosperous  days  of  that 
great  industry  of  this  part  of  New  England. 


ELLERY   T.  TABER. 

Ellery  Tompkins  Taber,  son  of  Timothy  and  Peace 
(Kelly)  Taber,  was  born  in  Fairhaven,  Mass.,  Aug. 
23,  1809.  His  father  was  a  painter  by  avocation,  and 
followed  the  sea.  He  was  on  the  sloop  "Thetis," 
bound  for  Savannah,  when  that  ill-fated  vessel  was 
capsized  in  a  squall,  in  November,  1809,  and  with  the 
rest  of  the  persons  on  board  was  lost.  Thus,  at  the 
early  age  of  three  months,  Ellery  was  left  an  orphan. 
Mrs.  Taber,  the  mother  of  Ellery,  was  descended  on 
her  mother's  side  from  the  Wood  family,  which  was 
one  of  the  old  families  of  the  town,  and,  like  the 
Tabers,  largely  connected  with  its  history. 

Ellery  was  taken  home  by  his  father's  sister,  Mrs. 
Mercy  Tompkins,  and  was  given  the  name  of  her 
husband,  Ellery  Tompkins.  Mr.  Tompkins  was  a 
carpenter  by  trade,  and  in  his  pleasant  family  Ellery 
remained  until  he  was  thirteen  years  old,  receiving 
the  instruction  given  in  the  village  schools.  He  then 
shipped  on  board  the  sloop  "Julia  Ann,"  plying  be- 
tween New  Bedford  and  Albany  and  New  Bedford 
and  New  York,  and  continued  on  her  for  four  years. 
He  next  shipped  as  foremast  hand  on  ship  "Mill- 
wood," a  whaler  bound  for  Brazil  Banks.  This  voy- 
age lasted  one  year,  and  he  remained  on  her  for 
another  voyage  of  the  same  length.  His  third  voy- 
age was  in  ship  "  Leonidas"  as  boat-steerer  for  eigh- 
teen   months.     He   was    next    third    mate    of    ship 


282 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


"  Meteor,"  of  Hudson,  on  a  voyage  of  eleven  months 
to  Tristan  d'Acunba.  Then  we  find  him  first  mate 
of  the  "  Alexander"  for  a  ten  months'  voyage,  and 
from  this  he  went  in  the  same  capacity  on  the  good 
ship  "James,"  of  New  Bedford,  going  to  the  Indian 
Ocean  and  Mozambique  Channel.  After  this  voyage 
of  nineteen  months  he  was  promoted  to  master  of 
the  same  vessel,  and  remained  her  captain  for  three 
voyages.  He  next  took  command  of  the  "  Mont- 
pelier,"  of  New  Bedford,  and  made  a  long  cruise  in 
the  Indian  and  North  Pacific  Oceans. 

In  1846,  having  acquired  a  competency,  he  retired 
from  active  labor,  and  has  since  resided  in  his  pleasant 
home  in  his  native  town.  His  seafaring  life  was  not 
only  successful  financially,  it  was  fortunate.  He 
never  was  shipwrecked,  never  had  the  slightest  acci- 
dent, and  during  his  numerous  voyages  lost  but  one 
man.  He  married  (first),  in  1836,  Emily,  daughter 
of  William  and  Emma  Taber  White,  of  Fairhaven. 
She  died  in  1842,  and  several  years  after  her  death 
he  married  her  youngest  sister,  Maria.  Mrs.  Taber 
is  a  lineal  descendant  of  Peregrine  White,  of  "  May- 
flower" birth.  Her  great-grandfather  lived  in  Free- 
town, where  her  grandfather,  William,  was  born. 
He  moved  to  Fairhaven,  was  a  blacksmith,  and  very 
prominent  in  business  circles.  He  built  probably  the 
first  cotton-factory  in  the  State,  on  the  Acushnet 
River.  His  six  sons  became  manufacturers.  His 
son  William  was  father  of  Mrs.  Taber. 

Mr.  Taber  is  Unitarian  in  religious  belief;  has  ever 
voted  the  Democratic  ticket,  even  when  barely  half  a 
dozen  votes  were  cast  in  the  town.  His  townsmen 
have  intrusted  him  with  the  office  of  selectman,  but 
he  has  never  cared  for  office.  A  quiet,  unassuming 
man,  he  illustrates  finely  what  may  be  accomplished 
with  steady,  persistent  effort  by  a  poor,  uneducated 
boy  relying  on  his  own  exertions. 


CYRUS    D.    HUNT. 

Cyrus  D.  Hunt  was  born  in  East  Weymouth,  Nov. 
15,  1833.  He  attended  the  public  schools  of  his 
native  place  until  thirteen  years  of  age,  when  he 
assisted  his  father,  who  rebuilt  the  government  break- 
water of  Fort  Adams,  Newport,  R.  I.  He  worked 
with  him  for  three  years,  during  the  summer,  attend- 
ing school  in  East  Weymouth  during  the  winters  of 
that  time.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  entered  the  nail- 
factories  of  the  Weymouth  Iron  Company,  and  learned 
the  trade  of  making  cut  nails.  He  worked  at  his 
trade  ten  years, — five  in  East  Weymouth,  one  in 
Providence,  R.  I.,  and  four  in  Somerset,  Mass.  By  too 
close  application  to  his  work  he  impaired  his  health 
so  much  he  was  obliged  to  leave  the  factory  in  1861. 
After  a  few  months'  recreation  he  entered  the  Bridge- 
water  Normal  School.  For  this  step  he  had  prepared 
himself  by  study  while  at  work  at  his  trade. 

Having  graduated  from  the  Normal  School,  he 
taught  school  at  Somerset  during  the  winter  of  1863- 


64.  In  the  summer  of  1864  he  entered  the  employ  of 
the  American  Nail-Machine  Company,  of  Boston. 
This  company  purchased  property  at  Fairhaven, 
Mass.,  to  which  place  the  machinery  and  business 
was  transferred  in  1865.  Mr.  Hunt  took  charge  of 
the  business  at  the  time  of  the  transfer,  and  having 
convinced  his  directors  of  the  necessity  of  a  change 
in  the  business,  they  authorized  him  to  engage  in  the 
manufacture  of  tacks  and  small  nails.  The  company 
was  reorganized  in  1867,  and  named  the  American 
Tack  Company. 

By  the  purchase  of  the  Jude  Field  trade-mark  and 
the  good-will  of  Mr.  Guerineau,  son-in-law  of  Jude 
Field,  the  company  became  the  legitimate  successors 
of  A.  Field,  who  was  one  of  the  first  to  start  the 
tack  manufacture  in  this  county,  having  begun  the 
business  of  making  tacks  and  shoe  nails  in  1824  in 
the  city  of  New  York.  Subsequently  the  company 
bought  out  M.  M.  Rhodes  &  Sons,  of  Taunton,  who 
were  the  first  to  make  lining  and  saddle  nails  and 
tufting-buttons  by  machinery;  also  Martin  G.  Wil- 
liams, of  Raynham,  the  inventor  and  original  manu- 
facturer of  chisel-pointed  boat  nails.  With  the  ad- 
vantage of  these  three  established  lines  of  trade  the 
company  was  able  to  do  a  fair  business  and  to  increase 
it  by  the  natural  growth  of  trade  and  the  increase  of 
business  of  the  country. 

The  company  has  a  capital  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  thousand  dollars,  and  employs  some  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  hands,  including  boys  and 
girls,  the  latter  doing  the  light  work  and  the  packing 
of  the  goods.  The  sales  of  the  company  aggregate 
some  two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars  per 
year,  and  the  goods  go  to  all  parts  of  the  world,  as 
the  tacks  and  nails  made  by  American  manufacturers 
are  regarded  as  superior  to  any  other  made. 

Mr.  Hunt  has  been  assiduous  in  his  devotion  to 
his  business,  and  being  a  practical  workman,  secured 
success  where  less  attention  would  have  brought 
failure.  In  politics  he  has  always  been  a  Republi- 
can, being  fully  convinced  that  the  policy  of  the  Re- 
publican party  to  "  foster,  protect,  and  encourage 
home  manufactures"  was  wise  and  for  the  best  in- 
terests of  the  people,  while  a  protective  tariff  fur- 
nishes employment,  and  at  the  same  time  provides  a 
revenue  for  the  government  in  a  manner  hardly  felt 
by  our  people.  He  has  voted  for  every  Republican 
President,  and  has  always  used  his  influence  to  pro- 
mote the  interests  of  the  party,  but  has  never  held 
any  office,  believing  his  time  and  abilities  could  be 
better  employed  in  attention  to  his  business,  and  that 
it  was  better  to  succeed  in  a  small  way  than  to  risk  a 
failure  by  attempting  to  do  too  much. 

Mr.  Hunt  married  Sarah  E.  Mansfield,  of  Brain- 
tree,  Mass.,  who  was  born  March  17,  1837,  by  whom 
he  has  had  four  children, — Wallace  D.,  Frederick  M., 
Alice  E.,  and  Mabel  F. 

Cyrus  Hunt,  father  of  Cyrus  D.,  was  born  in 
Braintree,   Aug.  5,   1805,  died  July   14,  1863.     He 


^pt-4 


FREETOWN. 


283 


was  sou  of  Daniel  Hunt,  born  in  Braintree,  1778, 
who  married  Polly  Kingman. 

Mr.  Hunt's  mother  was  a  daughter  of  Laban  Por- 
ter, a  descendant  of  Richard  Porter,  one  of  the  early 
settlers  of  Weymouth,  who  came  from  Weymouth, 
England,  in  1635. 

Enoch  Hunt,  the  paternal  ancestor  of  Cyrus  D., 
came  from  England  to  Wessagussett  (Weymouth) 
with  the  first  settlers  of  that  ancient  town.  He  was 
a  blacksmith  by  trade.  He  returned  to  England,  but 
his  son  Ephraim,  born  in  England  in  1610,  remained 
in  Weymouth,  and  became  the  progenitor  of  the 
Weymouth  line  of  the  Hunt  family.  He,  like  his 
father,  was  a  blacksmith,  and  married  for  his  first 
wife  Anna  Richards,  and  for  his  second,  Ebbitt 
Barns.  By  these  two  wives  he  had  six  sons,  who 
became  the  fathers  of  twenty-six  sons  and  as  many 
daughters,  whose  descendants  are  numbered  by  thou- 
sands, and  have  settled  in  all  parts  of  the  United 
States. 

Ephraim  (2),  born  in  Weymouth  in  1650,  died  in 
1713.  His  son  John  was  born  in  Braintree  in  1688, 
and  his  son  Andrew,  born  in  1743  and  died  in  1794, 
was  the  father  of  Daniel,  who  was  the  grandfather  of 
Cyrus  D. 


OBED    NYE. 


The  Nye  family  is  of  English  extraction,  and  the 
American  branch  can  claim  kindred  with  the  noble 
families  of  that  name  in  England.  Capt.  Obed  Nye, 
born  1737,  had  two  wives, — Mary,  born  1739,  died 
March  28,  1797,  and  Freelove,  born  1748,  died  Nov. 
10,  1815.  His  death  occurred  Nov.  10,  1815.  His 
son  Jonathan  was  born  1760,  and  died  Nov.  18,  1815. 
These  three  deaths  so  close  to  each  other  were  caused 
by  that  fearful  epidemic,  "  spotted  fever,"  or  "  black 
death."  Jonathan  married  Hannah  Mandell,  born 
1776,  died  Sept.  24,  1844,  aged  eighty-two.  Their 
son,  Obed  Nye,  was  born  in  Fairhaven  (Acushnet) 
Jan.  25,  1800.  He  had  but  limited  education  from 
schools,  but  from  the  age  of  fourteen  began  his  busi- 
ness life  as  clerk  in  the  store  of  Swift  &  Nye,  at 
the  "  Head  of  the  River,"  where  he  stayed  until  he 
was  of  age.  Then  he  became  a  partner,  the  firm 
becoming  Swift,  Nye  &  Co.  This  firm  continued 
many  years,  and  Mr.  Nye  remained  connected  there- 
with until  1861,  when  he  retired,  having  acquired 
considerable  property.  He  did  a  great  deal  of  meas- 
uring lumber  in  his  time,  and  had  quite  a  reputa- 
tion in  that  way.  He  was  a  self-made  man.  His  first 
capital  was  borrowed,  but  his  honesty,  energy,  and 
thrift  were  the  foundations  of  his  success.  He  mar- 
ried, Oct,  16,  1821,  Abby,  daughter  of  William  and 
Abigail  Hathaway,  of  New  Bedford.  She  died  May 
10,  1864,  aged  sixty-three.  (See  biography  of  Wil- 
liam Hathaway,  Jr.,  of  New  Bedford.)  Of  their 
children  five  lived  to  grow  up, — Laura  H.  (Mrs. 
Charles  S.  Taber),  Abbie  P.  (married  David  S.  Hall, 


of  Portsmouth,  R.  I.,  and  now  resides  in  San  Gabriel, 
Cal.),  William  H.  (deceased),  Francis  H.  (deceased), 
and  Rhodolphus  S. 

Mr.  Nye  was  of  active  and  energetic  temperament, 
was  for  many  years  an  agent  for  Hingham  Fire  In- 
surance Company,  and  represented  his  district  in  the 
Lower  House  of  the  State  Legislature.  He  was  a 
man  of  good  habits,  of  strong  powers  of  thought, 
and  decided  principles  and  opinions.  Politically  he 
was  a  Whig  and  Republican.  He  was  social  and 
genial  in  his  intercourse  with  others,  and  his  Chris- 
tian charity  was  broad,  holding  to  Unitarian  doc- 
trines in  belief,  although  a  regular  attendant  of  the 
Orthodox  Congregational  Church.  He  had  robust 
health  both  in  body  and  mind  until  a  few  years  pre- 
vious to  his  death,  which  occurred  Jan.  29,  1878. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 


FREETOWN.i 


The  geographical  limits  of  Freetown  are  now  very 
dissimilar  and  unlike  those  of  that  section  of  country 
purchased  of  the  Indians  two  hundred  and  twenty- 
four  years  ago,  nor  were  those  wholly  identical  with 
the  boundaries  of  the  tract  incorporated  two  centuries 
since  under  the  name  that  it  still  continues  to  bear. 

Another  change  in  some  of  the  boundaries  was  ef- 
fected in  1747,  when  a  considerable  portion  of  what 
had  been  the  township  of  Tiverton  was  annexed  upon 
the  easterly  side,  thus  acquiring  the  name  still  famil- 
iar to  us  of  East  or  New  Freetown. 

Still  another  and  a  very  important  change  was  made 
February,  1803,  when  a  little  more  than  half  of  old 
and  original  Freetown,  together  with  a  small  part  of 
East  or  New  Freetown,  was  detached  and  set  off  from 
Freetown,  and  incorporated  as  a  new  and  distinct 
town,  and  called  Fall  River,  a  name  that  it  retained 
only  one  year,  when  it  was  changed  to  Troy,  and 
thirty  years  later  changed  back  again  to  Fall  River; 
that  it  ever  after  retained  while  a  town,  and  also 
continues  to  do  as  a  city. 

Thus  it  appears  that  between  April  2,  1659  (the 
date  of  purchase),  and  July,  1683  (when  incorpor- 
ated), the  supposed  limits  of  Freetown  grew  consider- 
ably less,  for  these,  as  set  forth  in  the  Indian  deed,  over- 
lapped and  covered  lands  in  several  adjoining  towns 
at  an  earlier  date  by  the  Indians  sold  to  European 
purchasers,  and  in  the  several  decisions  permanently 
locating  the  bound.  Freetown  purchasers  were  the 
parties  decided  against  until  Freetown,  as  incorpor- 
ated, embraced  but  about  three-fourths  the  territory 
set  forth  in  the  deed  of  purchase. 

From  1747  to  1803,  a  period  of  some  fifty-six  years, 


i  By  Gen.  E.  W.  Peirce. 


284 


HISTORY    OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Freetown  included  and  embraced  a  larger  extent  of 
territory  than  it  had  before  or  has  since. 

About  sixteen  years  intervened  between  the  date  of 
the  landing  of  the  Pilgrims  at  Plymouth  and  the  com- 
mencement of  the  first  or  earliest  European  settle- 
ment within  the  limits  of  what  became  the  county  of 
Bristol,  and  from  the  date  of  that  landing  to  the  pur- 
chase of  Freetown  was  nearly  thirty-nine  years,  and 
from  the  landing  to  date  of  incorporation  as  a  town 
about  sixty-three  years ;  so  that,  although  with  a  force 
irresistible  "westward  the  tide  of  empire"  took  "its 
way,"  the  current,  though  very  strong,  was  slow  when 
compared  with  the  speed  that  has  characterized  the 
progress  of  those  who  have  taken  the  advice  to  "go 
West"  in  these  latter  days. 

That  traditional  "  peck  of  beans,"  or  something  else, 
had  secured  to  the  white  man  the  legal  possession  of 
Taunton  some  twenty-three  years,  "  ten  fathom  of 
beads"  had  purchased  the  Indian  claim  at  Rehoboth 
eighteen  years  before,  and  Dartmouth  had  been  an 
English  possession  seven  years,  and  yet  what  became 
Freetown  still  remained  an  Indian  domain,  an  un- 
broken wilderness,  the  red  man,  despite  long  and  per- 
sistent solicitation,  had  refused  to  part  with,  alienate, 
vacate,  or  release  by  sale,  being  as  it  was  to  him  that 

"  Safer  world  in  depth  of  woods  embraced," 

and  where  through  this  life  he  hoped  to  be  permitted 
undisturbed  to  remain  in  the  peaceable  and  quiet  en- 
joyment of  until  called  to  enter  upon  another  state  of 
existence,  where 

"Simple  Nature  to  his  hope  had  given 
Behind  some  cloud-topped  hill  an  humble  heaven  ;" 

and  yet  that  "  poor  Indian  whose  untutored  mind" 
saw  "God  in  clouds"  and  "heard  him  in  the  wind," 
whose 

"  Soul-proud  science  never  taught  to  stray 
Far  as  the  Solar  Walk  or  Milky  Way," 

bound  in  Nature's  darkness  was  a  thousand  times 
more  liberal  and  generous  in  his  theology  than  those 
who  claimed  to  be  acting  under  the  marvelous  light 
of  the  gospel. 

The  red  man,  in  his  "father's  house"  of  "many 
mansions,"  thought  there  was  "  bread  enough  and  to 
spare"  even  for  white  men,  who,  in  turn,  generally 
regarded  the  Indian  as  God's  gift  to  Christ  of  the 
heathen  for  an  inheritance  that  He  might  dash  them 
as  a  potter's  vessel,  and  their  lands  "  for  a  posses- 
sion" that  He  might  confer  the  same  upon  His  saints, 
who  the  members  of  the  Pilgrim  Church  solemnly 
resolved  and  perhaps  seriously  believed  that  they  in 
fact  were,  and  whose  exclusiveness  caused  them  to 
place  "  without  the  pale  of  hope  and  mercy"  not  only 
"  dogs  and  sorcerers"  but  all  Indians  who  were  not 
foreordained  before  the  world  was  to  be  saved,  and, 
in  short,  almost  everybody  else  save  themselves. 

That  true  son  of  Nature,  the  North  American 
Indian,  that  unadulterated  specimen  of  man  as  he 
came  from  the  hand  of   his  Maker,  before  he  had 


"  sought  out  many  inventions"  with  the  eye  of  his 
faith,  looked  forward  to  and  hoped  for  a  happier  state 
of  future  existence, — 

"  Where  slaves  once  more  their  native  land  behold  ; 
No  fieuds  torment,  no  Christians  thirst  for  gold  ; 
Ti>  be  content  his  natural  desire; 
He  asked  no  angel's  wings,  no  seraph's  fire ; 
But  thought,  admitted  to  that  equal  sky, 
His  faithful  dog  should  bear  him  company." 

The  long  and  remarkably  peaceful  reign  of  "good 
old  Massasoit"  was  drawing  to  a  close,  and  the  de- 
crepitude of  old  age  gave  unmistakable  warning  that 
he  would  ere  long  be  "gathered  with  his  fathers," 
which  called  his  eldest  son,  Wamsutta,  to  the  seat  of 
a  chief  councilor  to  the  aged  sachem,  and  made  him 
practically  ruler  of  the  wampum  or  tribe  and  nation. 

Among  the  dwellers  in  Plymouth  at  that  date  was 
one  John  Barnes,  a  grog-drinker  and  liquor-seller, 
who  put  the  cup  to  his  neighbor's  lips  as  well  as  to 
his  own,  making  them  and  himself  drunken,  and 
causing  a  great  deal  of  trouble  to  those  with  whom 
he  had  to  do  and  disturbance  in  that  settlement  until, 
when  probably  "  wine  was  in  and  wit  out,"  he  at- 
tempted to  play  some  pranks  with  a  bull  that  resented 
the  indignity  by  goring  him  to  death. 

To  that  John  Barnes  Wamsutta  became  indebted 
for  some  things  taken  up  at  his  shop  in  Plymouth, 
which  debt  was  made  use  of  to  extort  from  that  chief 
sachem-in-prospect  a  written  promise  at  some  time  in 
the  future,  not  then  defined,  to  sell  the  land  then 
called  Assonet,  but  now  Freetown,  to  certain  of  the 
ancient  freemen  of  Plymouth  colony,  of  whom  John 
Barnes  was  one. 

Whenever  that  deed  should  be  executed  the  debt 
to  John  Barnes  was  thus  to  be  canceled,  and,  as  an 
additional  inducement,  it  was  further  agreed  that 
Wamsutta  should  then  receive  twenty  coats,  two 
rugs,  two  iron  pots,  two  kettles  and  one  little  kettle, 
eight  pairs  of  shoes,  six  pairs  of  stockings,  one  dozen 
of  hoes,  one  dozen  of  hatchets,  and  two  yards  of 
broadcloth. 

Great  was  the  reluctance  felt  and  exhibited  by 
Wamsutta  to  the  act  of  giving  a  written  promise  that 
he  would  some  time  sell  what  his  father,  despite  of 
repeated  and  persistent  importunity  on  the  part  of 
the  whites,  had  so  determinately  refused  to  part  with, 
and  thus  long  and  sacredly  kept.  But  the  Shylocks 
were  after  him,  fully  intent  upon  securing  their 
"  pound  of  flesh,"  though  it  should  be  taken  from  the 
young  chief's  heart. 

Thus  did  they  requite  the  son  of  their  lifelong, 
constant,  and  never-failing  protector  and  friend,  the 
great  and  "good  old  Massasoit,"  and  in  practice  ex- 
emplify their  true  principles,  despite  their  very  pious 
pretensions,  thus  utterly  ignore  the  doctrine,  "  In 
all  things  whatsoever  as  ye  would  that  men  should  do 
to  you  do  ye  even  so  to  them,"  and  thus  did  they  deny 
that  "blessed  are  the  merciful,  for  they  shall  obtain 
mercy,"  although  during  the  nearly  forty  years  that 


FREETOWN. 


285 


the  Pilgrims  had  then  been  in  this  country,  as  to  Paul 
when  shipwrecked,  "the  barbarous  people  showed  no 
little  kindness." 

Dec.  24,  1657,  was  the  date  at  which  was  extorted 
from  Wamsutta  a  written  promise  at  sometime  to  exe- 
cute a  deed,  and  April  2, 1659,  that  at  which  the  deed 
was  obtained. 

The  names  of  the  several  purchasers  in  that  deed 
enumerated  were  as  follows,  viz.  :  Capt.  James  Cud- 
worth, Josiah  Winslow,  Sr.,  Constant  Southworth, 
John  Barns,  John  Tisdall,  Humphrey  Turner,  Wal- 
ter Hatch,  Samuel  House,  Samuel  Jackson,  John 
Daman,  Mr.  Timothy  Hatherly,  Timothy  Foster, 
Thomas  Southworth,  George  Watson,  Nathaniel 
Morton,  Richard  More,  Edmund  Chandler,  Samuel 
Nash,  Henry  Howland,  Mr.  Ralph  Partridge,  Love 
Brewster,  William  Paybody,  Christopher  Wadsworth, 
Kenelm  Winslow,  Thomas  Bourne,  and  John  Water- 
man, being  twenty-six  in  number,  no  one  of  whom 
became  an  actual  settler  on  this  purchase,  thus  show- 
ing most  conclusively  that  it  was  not  because  they 
were  pressed  for  lack  of  land  or  at  all  straitened  in 
their  several  localities  or  quarters,  but  because  they 
"  coveted  things  that  were  their  neighbors',"  and  those 
that  neighbors'  needs  required  and  demanded  that  he 
should  have  and  continue  to  possess,  and  his  ardent 
heartfelt  wish  and  earnest  oft-repeated  desire  was  to 
be  permitted  to  retain.  Twenty-six  being  the  num- 
ber of  those  ancient  freemen  of  Plymouth  Colony, 
who,  on  the  2d  day  of  April,  1659,  had  purchased 
that  tract  of  country  which  subsequently  became  the 
township  of  Freetown,  a  division  of  the  purchase  was 
effected  early  the  next  year,  by  which  the  number  of 
lots  was  made  to  correspond  with  the  number  of  the 
purchasers,  and  thenceforth  this  proprietary  for  the 
next  twenty-three  years  was  generally  known  as  "ye 
ffreeman's  lands  at  Taunton  River." 

Each  lot  or  "  freeman's  share"  was  bounded  on 
one  end  by  the  river,  and  on  the  other  by  the  head 
line  of  the  original  purchase,  and  it  was  intended 
that  each  of  these  lots  should  have  been  about  one 
hundred  rods  wide,  though  some  lots  fell  considerably 
short  of  that  width  and  some  lots  overrun,  reference 
being  had  to  relative  value  and  an  effort  made  to 
make  up  in  quantity  for  lack  of  quality.  To  prevent 
dissatisfaction  or  any  grounds  for  future  complaint 
the  purchasers,  on  the  4th  of  January,  1660,  set  their 
hands  to  a  written  agreement  that  whereas  "  it  may 
fall  out  that  some  lots  may  prove  better  than  others, 
therefore,  wee  do  all  and  every  one  of  us  agree  and 
determine  and  doe  by  these  presents  firmly  bind 
ourselves  each  to  the  other  our  heirs,  executors, 
administrators,  and  assigns  to  rest  contented  with 
what  providence  the  Lord  shall  dispose  by  lott  to 
each  of  us  not  troubling  or  molesting  each  other, 
and  to  this  mutually  agree  before  the  lots  be 
drawn,"  and  in  this  manner  the  purchase  was  di- 
vided, Capt.  James  Cudworth  receiving  the  twenty- 
fifth  lot  in  number.    Capt.  James  Cudworth  was  born 


in  or  about  the  year  1612.  He  was  a  son  of  Rev. 
Ralph  Cudworth  and  a  brother  of  Rev.  Ralph  Cud- 
worth, D.D.,  author  of  "The  Intellectual  System  of 
the  Universe."  Capt.  James  Cudworth  came  to  Ply- 
mouth in  1634,  and  soon  after  took  up  his  residence 
in  Scituate,  where  he  held  offices  both  civil  and  mili- 
tary, was  Governor's  assistant  several  years,  and  in 
1681  was  promoted  to  the  position  of  Lieutenant- 
Governor  of  Plymouth  Colony,  for  a  time  commander- 
in-chief  of  the  combined  forces  of  Massachusetts  and 
Plymouth  Colonies  in  the  early  part  of  "  King  Philip's 
war,"  was  too  liberal  and  lenient  to  suit  the  bigots  of 
his  time,  and  for  a  while  kept  out  of  office  because  he 
opposed  the  religious  persecution  then  being  waged 
against  the  Quakers,  was  sent  to  England  to  transact 
business  for  Plymouth  Colony,  and  while  in  London 
he  took  the  smallpox  and  died,  aged  about  seventy 
years.  His  grandson,  James  Cudworth,  settled  upon 
this  Freetown  land,  and  made  his  will  in  March, 
1729,  and  died  soon  after.  Considerable  portions  of 
that  tract  still  continue  in  the  possession  of  lineal 
descendants,  haying  never  gone  out  of  the  family 
blood  or  sire-name. 

Josiah  Winslow,  Sr.,  drew  the  fifteenth  lot.  He 
was  the  youngest  brother  of  Governor  Edward  Wins- 
low, and  uncle  to  Governor  Josiah  Winslow,  dis- 
tinguished as  a  general  in  King  Philip's  war.  Josiah 
Winslow,  Sr.,  emigrated  to  America  in  1629,  and 
settled  at  Marshfield,  where  he  held  various  offices  of 
public  trust,  was  elected  town  clerk  of  Marshfield  in 
1646,  and  performed  the  duties  of  that  place  until  his 
death,  that  occurred  in  1674.  He  was  born  in  or 
about  the  year  1605.  April  8,  1661,  Josiah  Winslow, 
Sr.,  sold  the  fifteenth  lot  to  William  Makepeace,  of 
Boston,  a  cooper  by  trade,  who  occupied  it  until  his 
death.  William  Makepeace  was  drowned  in  Taunton 
River  some  time  in  August,  1681. 

Constant  Southworth  received  for  his  share  the 
nineteenth  lot.  He  with  his  mother,  then  a  widow, 
came  to  America  in  1628,  of  which  the  account  has 
been  preserved,  and  was  as  follows : 

"  1628.  Paid  for  Constant  Southers'  passage  and 
diet  11  weeks  at  4s.  Sd.  =  £3,  11,  4." 

He  settled  in  Duxbury,  and  represented  that  town 
in  the  Colonial  Court  twenty-two  years ;  was  Gov- 
ernor's assistant  several  years ;  colonial  treasurer  from 
1659  to  1679;  commissary-general  in  King  Philip's 
war.  He  died  March  10,  1679.  The  nineteenth  lot 
after  his  decease  became  the  property  of  his  children, 
who  sold  to  parties  that  became  settlers  thereon  in  or 
about  the  year  1682,  or  some  twenty-three  years  after 
its  purchase  of  the  Indians. 

John  Barns  drew  the  twenty-second  lot,  it  being 
that  whereon  the  greater  part  of  Assonet  village  now 
stands,  and  he,  in  August,  1666,  sold  it  to  Hugh  Cole, 
of  Swansea,  who  in  turn  conveyed  the  same,  in  1685, 
to  Benjamin  Chase,  a  cooper  by  trade,  who  settled 
thereon  about  twenty-six  years  after  it  had  been  pur- 
chased of  the  natives. 


286 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL  COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


John  Tisdall  received  the  twenty-third  lot.  It  is 
upon  this  lot  that  a  portion  of  Assonet  village  is  lo- 
cated. John  Tisdall  (or  Tisdale,  as  that  name  is  now 
generally  spelled)  settled  in  Marahfield,  where  in  1645 
he  was  elected  constable.  Removing  to  Taunton  he 
was  made  a  selectman  of  that  town  in  1672,  and 
served  in  that  office  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
June,  1675 ;  was  a  representative  to  the  Colonial 
Court  in  1674.  He  was  slain  by  the  Indians,  who  at 
the  same  time  burned  his  dwelling  and  carried  away 
his  gun,  that  was  retaken  at  Rehoboth  Aug.  1,  1675. 

Joshua  Tisdale,  son  of  John,  settled  upon  the 
twenty-third  lot,  and  died  thereon  in  or  near  the  year 
1714.  Considerable  portions  were  retained  in  the 
family  name  for  about  a  century,  and  a  part  is  still 
inherited  by  those  of  the  blood,  but  of  other  sur- 
names. 

Humphrey  Turner  drew  the  second  lot,  it  being 
that  whereon  is  now  the  most  thickly-settled  portion 
of  the  city  of  Fall  River.  Humphrey  Turner  resided 
in  Scituate,  of  which  town  he  was  constable  in  1636 
and  1639,  representative  to  the  Colonial  Court  in  1640, 
which  place  he  filled  for  ten  years.  This  lot  descended 
by  kinship  from  Humphrey  Turner  to  his  son  Joseph 
Turner,  who  in  1671  sold  the  same  to  Israel  Hubbard, 
who  in  turn  conveyed  it  to  the  great  Indian  hunter, 
Capt.  Benjamin  Church,  who  in  or  near  the  year  1700 
settled  in  what  was  Tiverton,  but  now  Fall  River,  and 
but  a  short  distance  from  this  second  lot. 

Walter  Hatch  drew  the  twelfth  lot,  that  is  now 
within  the  northerly  part  of  Fall  River.  Walter 
Hatch  resided  in  Scituate.  He  was  a  son  of  William 
Hatch,  ruling  elder  of  the  second  church  in  Scituate. 
Walter  was  a  ship-builder.  This  lot  passed  by  kin- 
ship to  his  son,  Joseph  Hatch,  who  on  the  8th  of 
June,  1705,  sold  the  same  to  Jonathan  Dodson,  a 
settler.  Walter  Hatch  was  constable  at  Scituate  in 
1654. 

Samuel  House  had  for  his  share  the  fifth  lot,  now 
in  Fall  River.  He  resided  at  Scituate  and  died  there 
in  or  about  the  year  1661.  His  sons,  Samuel  and  Jo- 
seph House,  March  20,  1678,  sold  this  lot  to  Henry 
Brightman  and  Thomas  Cornell,  of  Portsmouth,  R.  I., 
and  the  next  year  Cornell  sold  his  part  to  George 
Lawton,  Jr.,  of  Portsmouth.  Brightman  and  Lawton 
were  probably  the  first  settlers. 

Samuel  Jackson  was  of  Plymouth,  but  changed  his 
residence  to  Scituate  in  1638.  He  probably  sold  his 
right  in  this  purchase  to  William  Randall,  who  drew 
the  seventeenth  lot,  from  whom,  in  1678,  the  land  title 
passed  to  Nicholas  Cotterell,  of  Newport,  R.  I.,  and 
in  1683  and  1690  most  of  this  lot  became  the  property 
of  Lieut.  Thomas  Terry,  whose  sons  settled  thereon, 
and  a  large  portion  is  not  only  retained  by  the  family 
blood  but  also  surname. 

John  Daman  drew  the  twenty-sixth  lot.  He  was 
of  Scituate,  where  he  held  the  office  of  constable  iu 
1662,  and  was  representative  to  the  Colonial  Court  in 
1675  and  again  in  1676.     John   Daman   died  in  or 


about  June,  1677,  and  this  lot  passed  to  his  heirs,  who 
in  1713  and  1714  sold  it  to  Timothy  Lindall,  a  mer- 
chant residing  in  Boston,  who  through  his  tenants 
probably  caused  it  to  be  settled  upon.  It  remained 
in  the  Lindall  family  until  the  war  of  American  Rev- 
olution. 

Mr.  Timothy  Hatherly  probably  sold  his  right  in 
"ye  ffreeman's  lands  at  Taunton  River"  before  the 
date  of  division,  and  hence  the  ninth  lot  was  drawn 
by  Capt.  James  Cudworth,  who  in  1681  sold  the  same 
to  Simon  Lynde,  of  Boston,  from  whom,  by  heirship, 
it  descended  to  his  son,  Samuel  Lynde,  of  Boston, 
who  gave  it  to  his  grandchildren,  Thomas  and  Eliza- 
beth Valentine.  Mr.  Timothy  Hatherly  resided  in 
Scituate,  was  Governor's  assistant  for  many  years, 
colonial  treasurer  from  1640  to  1642. 

Timothy  Foster  drew  the  first  lot,  and  of  him  very 
little  appears  at  this  date  to  be  known,  nor  is  it  easy 
to  learn  what  disposition  he  made  of  this  property, 
upon  which  Ralph  Earle  was  an  early  settler. 

Thomas  Southworth  received  the  thirteenth  lot. 
Thomas  Southworth,  with  his  brother,  Constant 
Southworth,  and  their  mother,  then  a  widow,  emi- 
grated to  America  in  1628,  Thomas  settling  at  Ply- 
mouth, where,  March  7,  1648,  he  was  commissioned 
as  lieutenant  of  local  militia,  promoted  to  captain  in 
August,  1659,  a  position  he  continued  to  hold  until 
his  death,  Dec.  18,  1669,  representative  from  Ply- 
mouth three  years  in  the  Colonial  Court,  Governor's 
assistant  some  fifteen  years. 

George  Watson  drew  the  seventh  lot.  He  was  con- 
stable at  Plymouth  in  1660,  and  again  in  1762.  Prob- 
ably retained  the  seventh  lot  as  long  as  he  lived,  and 
leaving  it  to  his  children  and  grandchildren,  as  his 
grandson,  John  Watson,  July  20,  1706,  sold  his  right 
therein  to  Henry  Brightman. 

Nathaniel  Morton  drew  the  eighteenth  lot,  which  he 
sold  to  John  Hathaway,  Sr.,  of  Taunton,  in  March, 
1671,  and  whose  son,  John  Hathaway,  Jr.,  soon  after 
settled  thereon.  Nathaniel  Morton  was  a  son  of 
George  Morton,  who  came  to  Plymouth  in  1623. 
Nathaniel  Morton  was  colonial  secretary  from  1647 
to  1685. 

Richard  More  drew  the  eleventh  lot.  Richard 
More  was  an  early  settler  in  Duxbury,  where  he 
owned  land  at  a  place  called  the  "  Eagle's  Nest." 

Edmund  Chandler  received  the  fourth  lot,  that  em- 
braced what  is  now  the  "  City  Farm"  of  Fall  River. 
Edmund  Chandler  retained  it  through  life,  and  at 
his  decease  it  passed  to  his  son,  Joseph  Chandler, 
who,  in  July,  1673,  sold  the  same  to  Henry  Bright- 
man,  of  Portsmouth,  R.  I.  Edmund  Chandler  was 
constable  of  Duxbury  in  1637,  and  representative  to 
the  Colonial  Court  in  1639. 

Samuel  Nash  drew  the  twenty-first  lot,  it  being 
that  on  which  the  southerly  portion  of  Assonet  vil- 
lage stands.  He  was  a  lieutenant;  led  the  force  that 
Plymouth  Colony  sent  against  the  Indians  in  August, 
1645  ;  was  marshal  of  that  colony  for  many  years. 


FREETOWN. 


287 


Henry  Howland,  of  Duxbury,  for  his  share  re- 
ceived the  sixth  lot,  and  his  sons,  John  and  Samuel, 
appear  to  have  become  actual  settlers.  John  died 
in  or  before  1687,  Samuel  died  in  or  near  1716. 
Henry  Howland  died  in  1670. 

Mr.  Ralph  Partridge,  of  Duxbury,  after  the  date 
Wamsutta  gave  his  written  promise  to  sell  these 
lands,  but  before  that  deed  was  executed,  died,  and 
at  the  division,  in  1660,  his  heirs  received  the  eighth 
lot  that  his  grandsons,  Ralph  and  Peter  Thatcher,  on 
the  29th  day  of  October,  1694,  conveyed  to  John 
Reed,  a  "  cordwainer,"  who  became  an  actual  settler. 
Mr.  Ralph  Partridge  emigrated  to  America  in  1636, 
and  after  a  boisterous  passage  was  landed  at  Boston 
on  the  17th  day  of  November.  He  soon  after  became 
pastor  of  the  church  in  Duxbury,  and  continued  in 
that  position  until  his  death.  Before  coming  to  this 
country  he  had  been  a  clergyman  of  the  Church  of 
England.  Secretary  Morton,  in  1658,  gravely  re- 
corded, "  This  year  there  was  a  great  earthquake  in 
New  England.  Also,  Mr.  Ralph  Partridge  died  in 
good  old  age,  having  for  the  space  of  forty  years 
dispensed  the  word  of  God  with  very  little  impedi- 
ment. His  pious  and  blameless  life  became  very  ad- 
vantageous to  his  doctrine.  He  was  much  honored 
and  loved  by  all  that  conversed  with  him.  He  was 
of  sound  and  solid  judgment  in  the  main  truths  of 
Jesus  Christ."     And  to  all  this  an  admirer  added  : 

"  Run  is  his  race, 
And  his  work  done  ; 
Left  earthly  place; 
Partridge  is  gone. 
He's  with  the  Father  and  the  Son." 

Love  Brewster  drew  the  tenth  lot.  He  was  born 
in  England.  He  came  to  America  in  1636,  landed  at 
Plymouth  and  settled  in  Duxbury,  where  he  died, 
and  this  lot  passed  to  his  son,  Wrestling  Brewster, 
who  sold  the  southerly  half  to  a  carpenter  named 
John  Bogers,  who  in  turn  sold  it,  Oct.  3,  1702,  to 
Edward  Thurston,  Sr.,  of  Newport,  R.  I.,  whose  son, 
Thomas  Thurston,  settled  thereon,  and  here  remained 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  at  about  eleven  o'clock 
at  night,  March  22,  1730. 

William  Paybody  received  the  fourteenth  lot,  that 
now  has  one-half  in  Freetown  and  the  other  half  in 
Fall  River.  He  exchanged  this  lot  for  lands  else- 
where, and  it  soon  after  came  to  be  owned  by  the  In- 
dian hunter,  Capt.  Benjamin  Church. 

William  Paybody  was  town  clerk  of  Duxbury  from 
1666  to  1684,  and  representative  to  the  Colonial  Court 
twenty-three  years.  He  was  born  Nov.  24, 1619.  He 
died  in  1707. 

Christopher  Wadsworth  drew  the  third  lot.  This 
name  upon  ancient  records  was  spelled  Xxofer  Wads- 
worth. 

Christopher  Wadsworth  was  an  early  settler  in 
Duxbury,  where  he  was  elected  constable  in  1633,  and 
served  in  that  office  four  years ;  selectman  in  1666, 
and  served  six  years ;  representative  to  the  Colonial 


Court  in  1640,  and  served  four  years.     He  died  in  or 
near  the  year  1677. 

Kanelm  Winslow  received  the  twenty-fourth  lot. 
He  was  a  brother  of  Governor  Edward  Winslow,  and 
emigrated  to  America  in  or  about  the  year  1629.  He 
settled  at  Yarmouth,  but  died  while  absent  from  home 
on  a  visit  to  Salem.  He  was  buried  Sept.  13,  1672. 
This  lot  was  settled  upon  by  Nathaniel,  a  son,  and 
Josiah,  a  grandson  of  the  original  proprietor.  Na- 
thaniel did  not  long  remain  here,  but  Josiah  continued 
to  reside  here  until  his  death,  April  3,  1761. 

Thomas  Bourne  had  the  twentieth  lot.  He  resided 
in  Marshfield,  and  was  a  representative  from  that  town 
to  the  Colonial  Court  in  1640-41  and  1644.  He  died 
May  11,  1664,  aged  eighty-five  years,  and  must  have 
been  born  in  or  about  1579.  The  ownership  of  the 
twentieth  lot  passed  to  John,  a  son  of  Thomas  Bourne, 
and  John  Bourne,  March  4, 1678,  gave  it  to  his  daugh- 
ters, Anna,  the  wife  of  John  Bailey,  and  Martha,  the 
wife  of  Valentine  Decro.  John  Bailey  was  elected 
selectman  of  Freetown,  June,  1685,  and  died  June 
22,  1686. 

John  Waterman  drew  the  sixteenth  lot.  John 
Waterman  was  a  son  of  Robert  Waterman  and  wife 
Elizabeth,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Bourne.  This  lot 
ere  long  became  the  property  of  Lieut.  Job  Winslow, 
a  son  of  Kanelm  Winslow.  Lieut.  Job  Winslow 
settled  on  the  sixteenth  lot,  and  remained  until  his 
death,  July  14,  1720. 

Pioneer  Settlers.— 1st  Lot.  Ralph  Earl  was  upon 
this  lot  at  an  early  date.  He  was  probably  a  son  of 
William  Earle,  of  Portsmouth,  R.  I.  A  sister  of 
Ralph  Earle  became  the  wife  of  John  Borden.  Ralph 
Earle  was  a  surveyor  of  highways  in  1690-92  and 
1696,  constable  in  1699,  grand  juryman  in  1700 
and  1715,  assessor  in  1710  and  1711,  selectman  in 
1715,  commissioned  ensign  of  local  militia  in  or  be- 
fore 1715,  owned  the  northerly  half  of  first  lot  as  early 
as  1710,  built  a  pound  for  the  town  in  1704,  pound- 
keeper  about  fourteen  years.  The  ear-mark  for  his 
creatures  as  recorded  was  "  a  halfpenie  on  the  hinder 
part  of  the  right  yeare,  and  a  Crop  of  the  Left." 

4th  Lot.  Matthew  Boomer  was  probably  the  earli- 
est European  settler  upon  the  fourth  lot,  as  he  was 
referred  to  by  colonial  records  in  1675  as  "  residing  in 
the  government  without  order,  and  not  attending  the 
public  worship  of  God,  living  lonely  and  in  a  heath- 
enish way  from  good  society."  In  March,  1686,  Mat- 
thew Boomer  was  arraigned  for  an  assault  upon  John 
Brandon. 

5th  Lot.  George  Lawton,  Jr.,  of  Portsmouth,  R.  I., 
who  purchased  one-half  of  this  lot  March  24,  1679, 
probably  settled  thereon  before  1687. 

6th  Lot.  John  Howland  was  an  early,  or  perhaps 
the  earliest,  settler.  He  died  before  Feb.  13,  1687 ; 
was  succeeded  by  his  brother,  Samuel  Howland. 

7th  Lot.  Settled  by  grandson  of  George  Watson, 
the  original  proprietor. 

8th  Lot.     John  Reed,  cordwainer,  who  purchased 


2SS 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


this  lot  Oct.  29, 1694,  settled  here,  and  remained  until 
his  death,  about  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening,  Jan.  3, 
1721.  He  had  resided  somewhere  in  what  became 
Freetown  even  before  the  date  of  incorporation  (July, 
1683),  as  when  it  was  made  a  constablewick,  Sept.  28, 
1680,  John  Reed  was  ordered  to  appear  at  court  as  a 
grand  juryman. 

10th  Lot.  Settled  upon  by  Thomas  Thurston,  who 
was  grand  juryman  in  1706,  assessor  in  1707-9  and 
1718,  selectman  in  1708-9,  constable  in  1710,  surveyor 
of  highways  in  1712  and  1713.  His  will  bore  date  of 
March  20,  1730.  He  died  about  eleven  o'clock  at 
night,  March  22,  1730. 

11th  Lot.  Thomas  Gage  was  part  owner  and  prob- 
ably an  early  settler  upon  the  eleventh  lot,  which  doubt- 
less accouuts  for  the  fact  that  the  high  bluffs  near  the 
river  a  little  north  of  Steel  Brook  received  the  name 
of  "  Gage's  Banks."  Thomas  Gage  was  a  clothier,  or 
cloth  dresser.  He  was  a  representative  to  the  General 
Court  in  1722,  1727,  and  1736  ;  assessor  in  1720. 

12th  Lot.  Settled  upon  by  Jonathan  Dodson  in  or 
near  the  year  1705.  He  was  town  clerk  of  Freetown 
in  1719,  moderator  of  annual  town-meetings  in  1712, 
1714-15,  and  1718,  selectman  in  1711-12,  1714-15, 
1717-20,  assessor  three  years,  constable  one  year.  In 
1723  he  was  elected  representative  to  the  General 
Court,  but  declined  to  serve.  At  a  town-meeting  held 
June  2.  1713,  it  was  "  Voted  Jonathan  Dodson  to  be 
minister  of  the  gospel  for  this  town  until  there  is  a 
supply  from  England."  The  will  of  Jonathan  Dod- 
son bore  date  of  June  8th,  1741. 

15th  Lot.  Settled  upon  in  or  near  166-,  by  William 
Makepeace,  of  Boston,  a  cooper  by  trade,  who,  save  j 
during  King  Philip's  war,  remained  thereon  until  j 
August,  168-,  when  he  was  drowned  in  Taunton 
River.  It  was  probably  partly  in  the  fifteenth  and 
partly  in  the  sixteenth  lot  that  the  reservation  was  made 
to  the  Indian  Tabadacason  for  the  Indians  that  kept  the 
ferry,  and  the  "wild  roving  Indian  girls,  bright  Al- 
farettos,"  the  daughters  of  the  red  heathen,  soon  proved 
a  snare  to  their  white  Christian  neighbors,  as  will  ap- 
pear from  the  Plymouth  Colony  record,  under  date  of 
Oct.  29,  1672.  "William  Makepeace,  Sr.,  living  at 
Taunton  River,  for  lacivious  attempts  towards  an 
Indian  woman,  was  sentenced  by  the  court  to  be 
whipped  at  the  post,  which  was  accordingly  performed. 
And  the  said  Makepiece  for  selling  stronge  liquors  to 
the  Indians  was  fined  five  pounds." 

16th  Lot.  Settled  on,  soon  after  King  Philip's  war, 
by  Lieut.  Job  Winslow,  from  Swansea,  who  occupied 
until  his  death,  July  14,  1720.  Lieut,  Job  Winslow 
was  a  leading  man  in  Swansea  before  coming  to  re- 
side in  Freetown.  Of  Freetown  he  was  a  selectman 
ten  years,  assessor  six  years,  and  for  a  short  time  town 
clerk,  representative  to  the  General  Court  in  1686  and 
1G92,  moderator  of  annual  town-meeting  one  year, 
and  on  the  town  council  of  war  in  1691  and  1692. 

17th  Lot.  Settled  on  by  a  tenant  who  probably 
leased  off  Cotterell,  the  then  owner. 


18th  Lot.  Settled  on  in  or  near  the  year  1671  by 
John  Hatheway,  Jr.,  from  Taunton  (that  part  now 
Berkley),  who  remained  until  his  death,  that  occurred 
in  or  about  the  year  1730.  John  Hatheway  was  made 
constable,  Sept.  28,  1860,  of  what  afterward  (viz., 
July,  1683)  became  Freetown.  He  was  Freetown's 
earliest  tavern-keeper,  being  licensed  to  keep  the 
same  June  5,  1684.  He  was  a  selectman  of  Freetown 
twelve  years. 

19th  Lot.  Settled  upon  by  John  Bailey,  from  Wey- 
mouth, about  1682.  He  was  elected  as  a  selectman  of 
Freetown  in  June,  1685,  and  he  died  June  22,  1686. 

22d  Lot.  Settled  upon  by  Benjamin  Chase,  a 
cooper  by  trade,  who  purchased  by  deed  bearing  date 
of  1686.  Benjamin  Chase  was  a  selectman  of  Free- 
town two  years.     He  died  in  or  about  the  year  1731. 

23d  Lot.  Settled  upon  by  Joshua  Tisdale,  who 
was  town  clerk  of  Freetown  four  years,  selectman 
six  years,  assessor  three  years.  He  caused  to  be  built 
the  lowest  dam  on  Assonet  River,  on  which  he  oper- 
ated a  grist-mill.  The  high  ledge  of  rocks  near  As- 
sonet Depot  was  on  his  land,  and  hence  called 
"  Joshua's  Mountain,"  and  that  part  of  Assonet 
River  bounding  his  lot  on  the  west  end  is  still  called 
"Joshua's  Channel." 

24th  Lot.  Settled  on  by  Capt.  Josiah  Winslow. 
He  in  or  near  the  year  1695  built  the  dam  now  occu- 
pied by  Th6mas  G.  Winslow,  and  located  thereon  a 
saw-mill.  Josiah  Winslow  came  from  Yarmouth, 
where  he  was  born  Nov.  7,  1669.  Josiah  Winslow 
was  promoted  to  lieutenant  of  the  local  militia  of 
Freetown  in  or  near  1702,  commissioned  captain  Feb- 
ruary, 1715.  He  was  a  selectman  of  Freetown  five 
years,  assessor  seven  years,  moderator  of  annual  town- 
meeting  three  years,  and  several  years  town  treasurer. 
He  died  April  3,  1761. 

25th  Lot.  Settled  on  by  James  Cud  worth,  a  grand- 
son of  Capt,  James  Cudworth,  the  purchaser.  James 
Cudworth,  the  settler,  remained  here  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1729.     He  was  born  April  3,  1665. 

Participation  in  Early  Wars. — Freetown  was 
purchased  of  the  Indians  in  1659,  and  European  set- 
tlers began  to  locate  thereon  in  1660  or  1661  ;  yet  so 
slowly  did  these  arrive  that  the  number  of  such  were 
only  sufficient  to  constitute  a  constablewick  twenty 
years  later,  and  it  was  not  until  July,  1683,  or  more 
than  twenty-four  years  after  the  date  of  purchase, 
that  the  population  entitled  this  locality  to  incor- 
poration as  a  town.  Little  can,  therefore,  be  learned 
of  the  action  taken  by  the  people  in  that  greatest 
and  most  bloody  of  New  England's  conflicts,  King 
Philip's  war,  waged  in  1675  and  1676;  but  tradition 
says  that  the  people  en  masse  left  all  to  the  foe,  and 
fled  for  refuge  to  a  garrisoned  house  in  Taunton, 
leaving  one  of  their  number  named  Lawton  (who  re- 
sided in  what  is  now  Fall  River)  dead  at  his  home, 
where  he  was  found  by  the  Indians  and  slain  the  day 
they  commenced  to  kill  the  English  inhabitants  at 
Swansea. 


FREETOWN. 


289 


It  was  not  until  King  William's  war,  so  called, 
that  the  inhabitants  of  Freetown  appear  to  have  been 
required  to  furnish  both  men  and  money,  arms,  and 
equipments,  and  were  regularly  constituted  a  part  of 
the  military  force  of  Plymouth  Colony,  one  of  the 
preliminary  steps  towards  which  was  to  organize  the 
entire  militia  of  the  town  as  one  company,  of  which, 
on  the  4th  day  of  June,  1686,  Thomas  Terry  was  com- 
missioned as  lieutenant-commandant. 

The  Colonial  Court,  in  session  at  Plymouth  Aug. 
14,  1689,  enacted  as  follows :  "  If  any  souldiers  of 
ours  shall  be  maimed  in  sd  war,  and  thereby  disabled 
to  maintain e  themselves,  he  or  they  to  be  provided 
for,  relieved,  and  maintained  in  such  capacity  as  he 
or  they  lived  in  before  concerned  in  sd  war,  and  also 
to  have  victuals  &  amunition  allowed  while  upon  the 
expedition." 

In  a  force  sent  out  under  Maj.  Benjamin  Church, 
the  renowned  Indian  hunter,  Freetown  furnished  a 
soldier  named  John  King,  the  expenses  of  whose 
outfit  were  charged  as  follows : 

Charges  to  the  soulders  under  Maior  Church  august  27, 

£    s.    d. 

To  1  gun  from  John  hath  way  to  John  King 1  7  00 

To  2  yards  (loth  for  snapsacks  from  Benjamin  Chase  Valued 

att 5  00 

To  Cash  to  Cp*  Southerd  for  a  hatchet 1  06 

To  billiting  John  King  8  days 4  00 

To  1  pair  of  shoes  from  Kalfe  aerll  to  John  King 6  00 

Concerning  the  expedition  under  Maj.  John  Walley, 
of  Bristol,  Freetown's  participation  was  in  accordance 
with  the  following  order  : 

"  To  the  Lif tenant  or  towne  Counsill  of  freetoun 

"  You  are  required  in  their  majesties  name  to  take  care  that  the  two 
men  you  were  to  provide  by  order  of  the  Last  general  Court  he  in  readi- 
ness by  the  sixth  of  July  well  armed  and  fixed  and  every  way  provided 
to  march  according  to  order. 

"Hereof  fail  not. 

"Dated  at  Bristol  the  16  of  June  1690. 

"John  Wallet, 

"  Major." 

Lieut.  Samuel  Gardiner,  recruiting  officer  for  Free- 
town, made  the  following  returns  : 

"  June  the  24.  Entered  for  volunteers  William  Davis,  thomas  traintor, 
and  Joseph  Chetihagweatt,  Indian,  for  the  town  of  freetoun,  Egainst 
the  Common  Enemy  for  the  present  Expidition  for  Canady,  and  tarbo 
Gary  being  present  for  said  Expidition. 

"  Taken  by  me, 

"  Samcel  Gardiner." 

"  July  the  fourteenth  tarbo  Cary  and  thomas  traintor  marcht  for 
plimoth  but  Willi  Davis  and  the  Indian  went  not. 

"  Samuel  Gardiner." 

1690. 

ffreetoun  Dr. 

£    s.  d. 
July    3.  To  Cash  Delivered  to  Thomas  Traintor  by  order  of  the 

majority  of  the  Toun  Counsill 3  09 

To  21  Hints 0  8 

To  3  pd  of  Led 1  6 

July  15.  To  1  pair  pumps  to  Tarbo  Cary 3  6 

To  1  pair  ..I  plain  finish  shoes  to  Thomas  Traintor 5  0 

I  m  l  pair  of  stockingB  to  Tarbo  Cary 3  3 

To  2  yards  of  Backing  to  Tarbo  Carey 3  9 

To  Cash  deliv3  to  John  Hathway  for  3  p«  powder 6  0 

To  Cash  i'1  Mr.  Edy  for  mending  tin'  Country's  guiin..  2  0 

To  Cash  to  Thomas  Traintor 3  0 

July  1G.  To  Cash  pd  John  Hathway  towards  his  musket 5  0 

To  Cash  pd  Thomas  Terry  towards  2  hatchets.'. 2  0 

To  brown  thred  to  Tarbo  Cary 0  6 

To  1  shirt  from  will  makepeace  to  Tarbo  Carey 6  0 

To  1    musket    from   Thomas  makepeace   delivered  to 

Thomas  Traintor 16  0 

19 


£  «.  d. 
To  1  powder  horn   from   Hathway  delivered  to  Tarbo 

Cary . o  6 

To  1  snapsack  from  Durfee  to  Tarbo  Cary 2  0 

To  1  gun  from  Tho.  King  dla  to  ditto  Cary 17  0 

To  1  wescoat  from  Hathway  to  ditto  Cary 7  6 

July  22.  To  1  hatchet  del*  to  Tarbo  Cary 1  6 

To  1  hatchet  del'1  to  Thomas  Traintor 1     6 

Aug.  10.  To  2  quarts  of  rum  to  Traintor's  wife 1    8 

Two  years  later  Tallby  Jennens  and  Benjamin  Hop- 
pin  appear  to  have  been  serving  as  soldiers  on  the 
part  of  Freetown,  where  the  following  charges  appear. 

The  Country  dd.  to  the  Inhabitants  of  freetowne,  July  the  13, 1692. 

£  t.  d. 
To  1  gun  dd.  to  Tallby  Jennens  from  Samuel  Gardiner  ap- 
praised at 15  0 

To  Samuel  Gardiner's  Slippering  12  men  and  brackfasting  13 

men  at  4  apiece 8  4 

To  cash  by  said  Gardiner  for  fitting  men  out 4  0 

I   By  ditto  from  John  Read 3  0 

To  ditto  from  Job  Winslow 2  0 

To  ditto  from  Samuel  Howland 3  0 

To  ditto  from  mathew  Bomar 1  0 

To  ditto  from  Ralfe  Aerll 1  0 

To  ditto  from  nickolus  Evans 1  4 

To  John  Hathway  a  snapsack  dd.  to  Tallby  Jennens 2  3 

To  Thomas  king  for  billiting  benjamin  Hoping  8  days  from  the 

time  he  was  prest  to  the  time  he  marcht 5  4 

To  1  powder  horn  from  Sam  Howland  to  Tallby  Jennens 6 

To  John  Read  for  billeting  18  Englishmen  at  Gd.  a  meal 9  0 

To  32  Indians  at  4d.  apiece 10  8 

To  22  ditto 7  4 

To  a  Lofe  of  bred  and  a  cheese 3  0 

To  4  days  1  horse  to  nantncket 4  0 

To  Ceeping  six  horses  1  nite  and  1  man  supper,  Lodging  and 

brekfast 2  10 

To  billiting  at  the  return  of  the  souldiers  three  Englishmen, 

super,  Lodging,  and  brekfast 2  8 

To  42  Indians 14  0 

To  Thomas  King  for  transporting  an  Indian  souldier 2  0 

To  a  bullet-pouch  from  Ralfpaine  to  hopping 6 

The  French,  and  Indian  War.— The  accounts  of 
Lieut.  James  Winslow,  as  treasurer  of  Freetown  in 
1756,  show  that  he  received  of  David  Cudworth,  Jr., 
who  had  been  drafted  for  service  in  the  army,  seventy- 
five  pounds,  old  tenor,  to  buy  himself  off,  and  with 
which  to  hire  a  substitute  possessing  less  pounds  but 
more  pluck. 

Maj.  Abiel  Terry  as  recruiting  officer  made  returns 
as  follows  : 

May  3d  day,  1756,  their  Entered  into  his  Majesties'  Service  out  of  the 
first  foot  company  in  freetoun,  Viz.,  benjamin  porter,  Edward  paini 
Leonard  Carlile,  Josiah  Braman. 

At  the  above  date  was  paid  by  the  town  Treasurer  of  Freetown  to 

£    s.   d. 

Benjamin  Porter,  old  tenor 11  15     00 

Edward  Pain,  "       "     11     4    03 

Josiah  Brannau 50    0     00 

Beside  these  the  official  records  in  the  State-house 
at  Boston  show  that  Elijah  Hatch,  Benjamin  Butter- 
worth,  Joseph  Rounsevill,  and  John  White,  all  of 
Freetown,  performed  service  in  the  army  in  the  cam- 
paign of  1756,  and  the  records  of  Freetown  Treasury 
that  to  be  relieved  from  going  to  the  war,  Charles 
Cudworth  paid  two  pounds  eight  shillings,  and  John 
Terry,  to  get  one  of  his  sons  relieved,  paid  eight 
pounds,  and  James  Edmenster  bought  off  his  son 
Noah,  who  was  impressed,  by  the  payment  of  two 
pounds  eight  shillings;  and  the  official  rolls  at  Boston 
inform  that  Solomon  Paine,  of  Freetown,  enlisted 
into  the  army  and  deserted. 

War  of  American  Revolution. — "  Minute-men" 
who  responded  to  the  first  call,  April  19, 1775,  usually 
known  as  the  "Lexington  Alarm": 


290 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTS,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Commissioned  Officers. — Levi  RoUDSevill,  captain;  Samuel  Taber  and 
Nathaniel  Morton,  lieutenants.  Non- Commissioned  Officers. — John 
White  and  Consider  Crapo,  sergeants ;  Joshua  Lawrence  and  Seth 
Hillman,  corporals.  Private  Soldiers.— Philip  Taber,  Uriah  Peirce, 
Benjamin  Lawrence,  Abiel  Cole,  Consider  White,  Jesse  Keen,  Jacob 
Benson,  John  Clark,  John  Braley,  Percival  Ashley,  Ichabod  John- 
son, Micah  Ashley,  Seth  Morton,  Jeff.  Sachems,  Israel  Haskell, 
Louis  De  Moranville,  Abram  Ashley,  Charles  Be  Moranville,  Aaron 
Seekel,  Abner  Hoskins,  Benjamin  Runnels,  Thomas  Rouusevill, 
Peter  Crapo,  and  Joseph  Hacket. 

Freetown  men  in  Capt.  Levi  RounsevilPs  company 
raised  for  service  in  Ninth  Regiment  of  patriot 
army : 

Levi  Rouusevill,  captain;  Samuel  Taber,  lieutenant;  John  White,  ser- 
geant ;  Micah  Ashley,  corporal ;  Zadoc  Peirce,  fifer ;  Noah  Ashley, 
Jephah  Ashley,  Thomas  Amos,  John  Braley,  Jacob  Benson,  Timothy 
Borden,  Josiah  Bowen,  Jesse  Briggs,  John  Clark,  Alderman  Crank, 
George  Davis,  Joshua  Davis,  Samuel  Evans,  William  Evans,  Abner 
Holmes,  Eliphalet  Hoskins,  Benjamin  Ingraham,  Timothy  Ingra- 
ham,  Joshua  Lawrence,  Jabez  Lumbart,  Reuben  Mason,  Uriah 
Peirce,  William  Parker,  James  Paige,  Daniel  Paige,  Gideon  Bemus, 
Aaron  Seekel,  Thomas  Street,  Jeff'.  Sachems,  Philip  Taber,  Charles 
Tobey,  Benjamin  Wescott,  Samuel  West,  and  Simeon  White,  private 
soldiers. 

First  company  of  the  local  military  of  Freetown 
that  responded  to  an  alarm  in  December,  1776,  and 
performed  a  brief  tour  of  duty  in  Rhode  Island,  with 
term  of  time  that  each  served  : 


First  Company  in  the  local  militia  in  service  at 
Rhode  Island  in  July  and  August,  1780 : 


Days 

Served. 

Benjamin  Reed,  captain 24 

Philip  Hathaway,  Jr.,  lieuten- 
ant  '. 24 

David  Peirce,  second  lieutenant  14 

James  Cudworth,  sergeant 24 

Eleazer  Hathawav,      "       7 

Joshua  Hathaway,       "       -4 

Edward  Cudworth,  corporal 16 

James  Cudworth, 

Joseph  Allen, private 

David  Briggs,      "      

James  Briggs,      "      

Abner  Briggs,      "      

Paul  Cudworth,  "      


9 

6 

21 

21 


Days 

Served. 

Ehenezer  Chase,  private 11 

Darius  Chase,           "      6 

David  Douglas,        "      9 

William  Fisher,      "      24 

Joseph  Hathaway  (2d"),  private...  9 

Joseph  Hathaway  (3d),      "      ...  24 

John   Paine,  private 24 

6 

24 

0 

21 

24 

7 


John  Paine  c2d  i, 
Solomon  Paine, 
Job  Paine  (2d), 
Charles  Strange, 
James  Strange, 
Ephraim  Tisdale, 
Win.  Winslow, 


Third  company  of  local  militia  at  Rhode  Island  in 
December,  1776 : 


Days 
Served. 

Nathaniel  Morton,  lieutenant 

Elijah  Babbett,  sergeant 20 

Consider  Crapo,       "         16 

Hezelriah  Mason,    "         7 

Nathaniel  Morton,  "         24 

Joshua  Crapo,  corporal 10 

Josiah  Haskell,       "       6 

Benjamin  Westcott,  corporal....     5 

Percival  Ashley,  private 5 

12 

4 

12 

20 

6 


Days 

Served. 


Barnabas  Ashley, 
Joseph  Ashley, 
Abram  Ashley, 
David  Babbett, 
Timothy  Borden, 
Noah  Borden, 
John  Braley, 
Nathaniel  Braley, 


Peter  Crapo, 
Thomas  Chase 

David  Durfee,  "      

Robert  Eastabrook,  "      

.labez  Eastabrook,      •'      

Thomas  Hoskins,      "      

Nathaniel  Hoskins,  "      

John  Hamilton,         "      

Ichabod  Johnson,      "       

Elijah  Juckett,  "      

Joshua  Lawrence,      "      

Nathaniel  Morton  (4th), private. 

Reuben  Mason,  private 

Nathaniel  Morton,  Sr.,  private.. 

Joseph  Pool,  private 12 

George  Taber,    "      :; 

Joseph  Voter,      ■'      4 


private 20 

"       12 

"      7 

20 

7 
7 
3 

7 
5 

21 
o 

II 

2(1 

6 


From  the  Third  Company  were  drafted  for  service 
in  the  patriot  army  nine  months,  and  ordered  to  re- 
port at  Fishkill :  Francis  Crapo,  aged  thirty-eight 
years ;  Robert  Pittsley,  nineteen  ;  and  Luther  Parker, 
seventeen  ;  and  for  service  in  the  Continental  army  in 
1780  marched  on  the  29th  of  August,  Elkanah  Rider 
and  John  De  Moranville. 

On  the  occasion  of  an  alarm  in  1777,  Samuel  Dur- 
fee, David  Durfee,  Abner  Hacket,  and  Richard  Mason 
served  each  one  month  and  twenty-four  days  in  Rhode 
Island. 


Days 
Served. 

Benjamin  Read,  captain 12 

Philip  Hathaway, -Jr.,  lieuten- 
ant  

Benjamin  Evans,  second    lieu- 
tenant  

Guilford  Evans,  sergeant 10 

Samuel  Hathaway,  "       11 

Silas  Hathaway,        "       10 

David  Douglas,  corporal 6 

John  Paine,  "       6 

James  Winslow,  musician 6 

George  Winslow,        "       10 

Ephraim  Briggs,  private 10 

John  Briggs,  "       7 

Daniel  Beaman,  "       2 

Abner  Briggs,  "      6 

Isaac  Burbank,  "       6 

Greenfield  Chase,       "        6 

Jesse  Cudworth,         "       6 

Gilbert  Chase,  "       6 

George  Chase,  Jr.,      "       2 

Richard  Clark,  "       2 

Fairfax  Chase,  "       10 

Thomas  Evans,  "       6 

John  Evans,  Jr.,         "       6 

Guilford  Grinnell,      "       10 

Benjamin  Grinnell,   "       6 

Jonathan    Hathaway,  Jr.,    pri- 
vate  .' 10 


Days 
Served. 

Seth  Hathaway,  private 6 

Joseph  Hathaway,  "       6 

Robert  Hathaway,  "       6 

Joseph  Hathaway,  Jr.,  private...     6 
Ebenezer  Hathaway,         "      ...    2 

Job  Keen,  private 10 

Walter  Nichols,  private 6 

10 

10 

6 

6 

6 

6 

6 

6 

2 

6 

6 

2 
'".".".'."..    2 

6 

6 

6 

6 

10 

2 

5 

6 

6 

6 


Solomon  Paine, 
Warden  Paine, 
John  Paine, 
Benjamin  Porter, 
Samuel  Richmond, 
Charles  Strange, 
Rufus  Raymond, 
William  Read, 
Isaac  Record, 
Samuel  Richmond, 
James  Strange, 
Lot  Strange.  Jr., 
Peter  Jucket, 
Job  Terry, 
Solomon  Terry, 
Abiel  Terry,  Jr., 
Benjamin  Weaver, 
David  Winslow, 
Ezra  Winslow, 
Oliver  Winslow, 
Richard  Winslow, 
Thomas  Winslow, 
William  Winslow, 


Members  of  First  Company  of  local  militia  in 
Freetown  that  served  in  the  Continental  army  in 
1780,  and  dates  they  marched:  Thomas  Evans,  July 
6th ;  Belona  Chase  and  Philip  Chase,  July  15th ; 
Benjamin  Grinnell  and  America  King,  August  15th  ; 
and  Barley  Reed,  September  18th. 

Third  Company  in  the  local  militia  in  service  at 
Rhode  Island  in  August,  1780  : 


Days 
Served. 

Joseph  Horton,  captain 6 

Percival  Ashley,  lieutenant 7 

Peter  Crapo,  second  lieutenant.  7 

Jabez  Eastabrook,  sergeant 7 

Joshua  Hillman,           "       7 

Dudley  Hathaway,        "        7 

John  Lawrence,            "       7 

John  Benson,  corporal 7 

Asa  Clark,              "       7 

Benjamin  Eastabrook,  corporal.  7 

Elijah  Parker,                      "      ..  7 

William  Ashley,  private 7 


Abraham  Ashley, 
Joseph  Ashley, 
Michael  Ashley, 
John  Barrows, 
John  Barden, 
Jacob  Benson, 
Jonathan  Bolton, 
Nathaniel  Braley, 

Nathaniel , 

Thomas  Chase, 
Simon  Clark, 
C.  Crapo. 
Joshua  Crapo, 
Edward  •  'base, 
Joseph  Davis, 


Roger  Haskell,  private 
David  Durfee,  " 

Banjamin  Haskell,    " 
Josiah  Haskell,  " 

Thomas  Hoskins,       " 
Gershom  Howland,  " 
Ichabod  Johnson,      " 
Benjamin  Lawrence,  pr 
Nathaniel  Morton, 
Nathaniel  Morton  (2d), 
Nathaniel  Morton  (3d), 
Benjamin  Mason, 
Robert  Pigsley, 
Joseph  Pigsley, 
Benjamin  Pigsley, 
Alexander  Parker, 
Samuel  Parker. 
John  Ronnsevill, 
William  Rouusevill, 
Philip  Rouusevill, 
Thomas  Rounsevill, 
Elkanah  Rider, 
George  Taber, 
John  Voler, 
Thomas  White, 
Jenkins  White, 
Thomas  Williams, 


Days 

Served. 

7 

6 

4 

4 

4 

4 

7 

ivate...     7 

u 

...     7 

(( 

...     7 

(( 

...     7 

(( 

...     7 

<( 

...     7 

(( 

...     7 

" 

...     4 

(( 

...     4 

(1 

- 

it 

...     4 

(1 

...     4 

" 

...     4 

" 

...     4 

a 

...     7 

ic 

...     6 

it 

—     7 

u 

...     6 

<( 

...     7 

C( 

...     4 

War  of  1812. — Names  of  those  members  of  First 
Company  who  formed  a  part  of  the  Coast  Guard, 
put  on  duty  at  New  Bedford  June  20,  1814,  and  re- 
maining about  ten  days : 

Lyn.de  Hathaway,  captain;  Thomas  Burbank,  lieutenant;  Joseph 
Evans,  Preserved  Cotton,  and  Joseph  Evans  (2d),  sergeants;  Calviu 
Payne  and  William  Winslow,  musicians. 

Private  Soldiers. — Zephaniah  Andros,  Thomas  Booth  William  Burr,  Lu- 
ther Briggs,  Isaac  Burbank,  Josephus  Briggs,  John  Briggs,  Stephen 
Burden,  Holden  Chase,  Edmund  Chase,  Simeon  Chase,  Samuel  Chase, 
Gilbert  Chase,  James  Chase,  John  D.  Cudworth,  Michael  Chase, 
Daniel  Douglass,  Jr.,  Paul  Davis,  John  Dean,  John  Dean  (2d), 
Ebenezer  Dean,  King  Dean,  Benjamin  Dean,  Jr.,  Joshua  Down- 
ing, William  Evans,  Lemuel  Edmiuster,  Ephraim  Hathaway,  Daniel 


FREETOWN. 


291 


Hathaway,  Lot  Hathaway,  Michael  Hathaway,  Joseph  Hathaway 
(2d),  Funis  Hathaway,  Jason  Hathaway,  Henry  I'.  Hathaway, 
Noah  Hathaway, Bradford  Hathaway,  John  Haskins,  Malachi  How- 
land,  Seth  Howland,  Enoch  Hathaway, Silas  Hathaway, Philip  Hath- 
away, Malhone  Hathaway,  Joseph  Marble,  Ebene/.er  Miller,  Mason 
Martin,  Charles  Marble,  William  Nichols,  John  Nichols,  Henry 
Payne,  Baalis  Phillips,  Pierce  Phillips,  Solomon  Payne,  Abram 
Payne,  George  Pickens,  Adino  Paddock,  Henry  Porter,  John  V.  Pratt, 
John  Read, Dean  H. Read,  Joseph  Read,  Thomas  Randall,  Benjamin 
Raymond,  Abraham  Richmond,  Isaac  Richmond,  Samuel  Richmond, 
Gilbert  Staples,  John  Strange,  Joshua  Seekel, Joseph  Terry, Thomas 
Terry,  Silas  Terry,  John  Wilkinson,  James  Webster,  Darius  Wilbur, 
Barnaby  Winslow,  Ephraim  Winslow,  Jr.,  Gilbert  Winslow,  Kenelm 
Winslow,  William  Winslow. 

Names  of  men  drafted  from  the  first  company  for 
duty  in  the  Coast  Guard,  when  service  commenced, 
and  how  long  continued  : 

Days 
Served. 

Henry  Frederick,  July  7,  18U 7 

Morrell  Hathaway,  July  7,  1814 7 

Israel  Smith,  July  7,  1814 7 

Gardner  Chace,  July  8,  1814 G 

Benjamin  Douglas,  July  8,  1814 G 

Hampton  Pierce,  July  8,  1814 6 

Thomas  S.  Booth,  July  25,  1814 12 

Bradford  G.  Chase,  July  25,  1814 12 

Earl  P.  Chase,  July  25,  1814 12 

John  Clark,  July  25,  1814 12 

Benjamin  Dean,  dr.,  July  25,  1814 12 

George  Dean,  July  25,  1814 12 

William  Evans,  July  25,  1814 12 

Lemuel  Edminster,  July  25,  1814 8 

Lot  Hathaway,  July  25,  1814 12 

Thomas  Hathaway,  July  25,  1814 12 

Job  Paine,  July  25,  1814 12 

Solomon  Paine,  July  25,  1814 12 

Abraham  Richmond,  July  25,  1814 12 

Robert  Robertson,  July  25,  1S14 12 


Second  company  in  the 
New  Bedford  as  a  part  of 
18,  1814: 


local  militia  that  served  at 
the  Coast  Guard  from  June 


Days 

Days 

Served. 

Served. 

Simeon  Ashley,  captain- 

14 

Frederick  Downing,  private 

9 

Samuel  Macomber,  ensig 

n 

14 

John  Downing, 

tt 

11 

Bishop  Ashley,  serge 
John  Kounsevill,     " 

14 
11 

James  Gotham, 
David  S.  Hathaway, 

tt 

tt 

14 

14 

Gilbert  Rounsevill," 

11 

Philip  Hathaway, 

tt 

11 

Philip  Taber,           " 
John  Allen,              " 

11 
14 

Nathaniel  Hathaway 
Nathaniel  Jucket, 

tt 
tt 

..,..  11 

7 

Benjamin  Ellis,       " 

14 

David  Lawrence, 

tt 

14 

Clark  Haskins,         " 

14 

Spencer  Lawrence, 

tt 

11 

Josiah  De  Moran  ville,  sei 

grant 

14 

Ansel  Lucas, 

tt 

11 

Ephraim  Gurney,  mi 

14 

Hezekiah  Mason, 

tt 

11 

Thomas  Rounsevill, 

Jr., 

musi- 

Noah  Pet  kins, 

" 

14 

14 

Ira  Pittslev, 

tt 

14 

14 

Abraham  Pittsley, 

tt 

14 

Abram  Ashley  (3d), 

CI 

11 

Alexander  Pittsley, 

tt 

14 

Taber  Ashley, 

If 

•> 

James  Pittsley, 

tt 

11 

Thomas  Ashley, 

(( 

11 

Mike  Reynolds,  Jr., 

tt 

12 

Leonard  Ashley, 

It 

11 

Wilbur  Reynolds, 

tt 

14 

Jonathan  Braley, 

II 

11 

Luther  Rogers, 

tt 

14 

Job  Braley, 

II 

14 

Silas  Rounsevill, 

tt 

14 

Abel  Briggs, 

i( 

11 

Joseph  Rounsevill, 

tt 

11 

John  Bent, 

ri 

10 

John  Tobey, 

tt 

14 

Asa  Clark,  Jr., 

it 

14 

James  White, 

tt 

11 

Josepb  <  lark, 

tt 

'.) 

John  White, 

tt 

14 

George  Cummings, 

" 

11 

Malachi  White, 

tt 

11 

J.  Cummings, 

tt 

11 

Samuel  White,  Jr., 

" 

11 

William  Cummings, 

tt 

4 

William  Westgate, 

tt 

11 

William  Case, 

it 

14 

(fames  of  men  drafted  from  the  seeond  company  to 
Berve  in  the  Coast  Guard,  at  or  near  New  Bedford: 

Days 
Served. 

Joseph  Aldrlch,  July  25,  1814 11 

I. tard  Ashley,  July  25, 1814 11 

William  Case,  July  25,  1-14 11 

William  Cummings,  July  25, 1814 11 

Nathaniel  Haskell,  July  25,  1814 11 

Lathlev  Haskins.  July  25,  1814 11 

Elijah  Lucas,  July  25,  1814 11 

Abram  Pittsley,  July  25,  1-14 11 

Silas  Rounsevill,  July  25,  1814 .  11 

Philip  Taber,  July  25,1811 11 

John  Voter,  July  25, 1814 11 

And  Elias  Hoard  served  ten  days,  and  George  Douglass  five  days,  at 
Fairhaven. 


Minute-men  of  April,  1861,  who  responded  to  the 
"first  call,"  and  performed  service  three  months  at 
and  near  Fortress  Monroe,  in  Virginia,  being  known 
as  Company  G,  in  Third  Massachusetts  Regiment, 
under  Col.  David  W.  Wardrop,  of  New  Bedford : 

Commissioned  Officers:  John  W.  Marble,  captain  ;  Humphrey  A.  Francis 
and  John  M.  Dean,  lieutenants.  Non- Commissioned  Officers :  James  H. 
Hathaway  and  George  D.  Williams,  sergeants  ;  Frederic  Thayer  and 
Chester  W.  Briggs,  corporals.  Private  soldiers,  James  C  Clark,  James 
H.  Haskell,  Charles  H.  Haskins,  Ephraim  II.  Haskins,  George  H. 
Haskins,  Russell  Haskins,  Urial  M.  Haskins,  David  B.  Hill,  Russell 
H.  Hathaway,  John  Malcolm,  Columbus  Peirce,  Luther  Pickeus, 
George  F.  Putnam,  Edward  E.  Reed,  Welcome  H.  Richmond,  James 
H.  Whittaker,  and  Benedict  A.  Winslow. 

Names  and  rank  of  Freetown  men  who  performed 
nine  months'  service  in  Company  A,  of  Third  Regi- 
ment of  infantry,  mustered  in  September,  18(32,  and 
discharged  in  June,  1863  : 

John  W.  Marble,  captain  ;  James  H.  Hathaway,  Stephen  Hathaway,  and 
Frederick  Thayer,  sergeants  ;  Urial  Hoskins,  Ephraim  II.  Hoskins, 
and  David  B.  Hill,  corporals;  Albert  B.  Ashley,  Francis  E.  Briggs, 
Franklin  J.  Chase,  Sumner  J.  Chipman,  George  Durfee,  Andrew  T. 
Hambly,  George  H.  Haskins,  James  H.  Haskell,  Aaron  D.  Hatha- 
way, Andrew  J.  Hathaway,  Lynde  Hathaway,  Andrew  J.  Horr, 
Shubael  E.  Howland,  Thomas  W.  Murtaugh,  George  A.  Paine,  Edwin 
H.  Berinis,  Edwiu  S.  Rounsevill,  Simon  D.  Rounsevill,  AsaSpooner, 
Jr.,  Benedict  A.  Winslow,  George  F.  Wilcox,  and  Marceuah  B.  Wil- 
cox, private  soldiers. 

Names  and  rank  of  Freetown  men  in  the  "three 
years'  service"  of  late  war  of  the  "Great  Rebellion." 
Service  performed  in  the  Twenty-ninth  Regiment  of 
infantry,  of  which  Ebenezer  W.  Peirce,  of  Freetown, 
was  colonel  : 

John  M.  Deane  and  George  D.  Williams,  captains;  Martin  V.  Haskell, 
corporal ;  James  Booth,  John  Booth,  Thomas  E.  Bosworth,  Abram 
Haskell,  Ephraim  Haskell,  William  Haskell,  Edmund  H.  Peirce, 
Henry  L.  Hill,  James  Pittsley,  Albert  E.  Pittsley,  William  Pittsley, 
Culbert  Reynolds,  Cornelius  Westgate,  Elisha  Westgate,  Elisha  B. 
Westgate,  John  Westgate,  Joseph  Westgate,  Joseph  L.  Westgate, 
Preserved  Westgate,  Edward  Wilbur,  private  soldiers. 

Names  and  rank  of  Freetown  men  in  the  Fifty- 
eighth  Regiment  of  infantry,  of  which  John  C. 
Whiton,  of  Boston,  was  colonel : 

Ephraim  H.  Haskins,  second  lieutenant;  Aaron  D.  Hathaway,  sergeant ; 
Alsou  G.  Ashley,  Francis  E.  Briggs,  Thomas  Brewer,  Abiel  Hatha- 
way, Octavus  V.  Robinson,  Charles  H.  Read,  Benedict  A.  Winslow, 
William  S.  Winslow,  William  E.  Piatt,  and  Philip  A.  Wilcox, 
private  soldiers. 

General  and  field  officers  in  the  local  militia,  with 
dates  of  commissions,  promotions,  and  discharges: 

General  Offices. 

Ebenezer  W.  Peirce,  brigadier-general,  com.  Nov.  7,  1855,  disch.  Dec. 
13,  1861. 

Field  Officers. 

Second  Hegimenl  of  Infantry. 

Thomas  Elliot,  colonel,  com.  17G2;  disch.  Sept.  10,  1775. 

Thomas  Terry,  lieutenant-colonel,  com.  174-;  disch. 

Ebenezer  Hathaway,  lieutenant-colonel,  com.  174- ;  disch. 

Abiel  Terry,  lieutenant-colonel,  com.  1758;  disch.  1762. 

James  Winslow,  lieutenant-colonel,  com.  July  25.  1771;  disch.  Sept.  19, 

1775. 
Joseph  Durfee,  lieutenant-colonel,  com.  July  1,  1781 ;  disch.  1788. 
Benjamin  Weaver,  lieutenant-colonel,  com.  July  10, 1788;  disch.  March, 

1793. 
Thomas  Terry,  major,  com.  173- ;  pro.  174-. 


292 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Abiel  Terry,  major,  com.  175- ;  pro.  1758. 
Joshua  Hathaway,  major,  com.  Feb.  7, 1775  ;  disch.  1778. 
Joseph  Durfee,  major,  com.  June  9,  1778;  pro.  July  1,  1781. 
Joseph  E.  Read,  major,  com.  June  2, 1807  ;  pro.  April  14, 1S12. 

Third  Regiment  of  Infantry. 
Silas  P.  Richmond,  colonel,  com.  1862;  disch.  18C3. 
Ebenezer  W.  Peirce,  lieutenant-colonel,  com.  April  2, 1852;  pro.  Nov.  7, 

1855. 
Silas  P.  Richmond,  lieutenant-colonel,  com.  1862;  pro.  1862. 
Ebenezer  W.  Peirce,  major,  com.  Aug.  3,  1851 ;  pro.  April  2,  1852. 

Fourth  Regiment  of  Infantry. 
Joseph  Weaver,  major,  com.  April  14,  1812. 

Fourth  Regiment  of  Artillery. 
Ebenezer  W.  Peirce,  lieutenant-colonel,  com.  Sept.  5, 1846;  disch.  July 

27,  1848. 
Ebenezer  W.  Peirce,  major,  com.  Aug.  31, 1844;  pro.  Sept.  5,  1846. 

Fifth  Regiment  of  Infantry. 

Simeon  Ashley,  colonel,  com.  Aug.  10,  1818;  disch. 

Hercules  Cushman,  colonel,  com.  Sept.  28, 1821 ;  disch.  Aug.  31,  1827. 

Ephraini  Winslow,  Jr.,  colonel,  com.  Oct.  5, 1829 ;  disch.  1830. 

Lynde  Hathaway,  lieutenant-colonel,  com.  Sept.  28,1821;  died  Nov.  7, 

1822. 
Ephraim  Winslow,  Jr.,  lieutenant-colonel,  com.  March  8,  1S28;  pro.  Oct. 

5, 1829. 
Philip  P.  Hathaway,  lieutenant-colonel,  com.  Oct.  5,  1829;  disch.  1833. 
Lynde  Hathaway,  major,  com.  Aug.  10, 1818 ;  pro.  Sept.  28,  1821. 

From  the  date  of  incorporation  (July,  1683)  until 
about  the  time  that  what  had  been  a  part  of  Tiverton 
was  annexed  in  1747,  a  period  of  some  sixty-four 
years,  the  local  militia  of  Freetown  were  embodied  in 
one  company,  but  about  that  time  were  made  to  con- 
stitute three  companies.  What  is  now  Old  or  West 
Freetown  is  nearly  identical  with  what  was  then  made 
to  constitute  the  geographical  limits  of  the  first  com- 
pany, the. section  set  off  in  1803,  which  became  Fall 
River,  includes  nearly  all  the  territory  assigned  to  the 
second  company,  and  East  or  New  Freetown  militia 
were  made  the  third  company.  From  1683  until  1715 
the  local  militia  of  Freetown  were  commanded  by  a 
lieutenant,  being  too  few  in  number  to  constitute  a 
captain's  command. 

As  lieutenant-commandant,  Thomas  Terry  was 
commissioned  June  4,  1686,  and  he  was  succeeded  in 
that  office  by  Job  Winslow  a  few  years  later,  and  by 
Josiah  Winslow  in  or  about  the  year  1702. 

The  names  of  captains  of  the  first  company,  with 
dates  of  commissions,  etc.,  were  as  follows: 

Josiah  Winslow,  com.  Feb.  1715;  disch.  about  1725. 

Thomas  Terry,  com.  about  1725;  pro.  to  maj. 

Ebenezer  Hathaway,  com.  173- ;  pro.  to  lieut.-col. 

Samuel  Tisdale,  com.  174- ;  disch. 

Abiel  Terry,  com.  175- ;  pro.  to  maj. 

James  Winslow,  com.  June  4,  1762;  pro.  to  lieut.-col.  July,  1771. 

George  Chase,  com.  July,  1771;  dismissed  Sept.  19,  1775. 

Benjamin  Kead,  com.  1776;  disch.  1781.     ■ 

Benjamin  Weaver,  com.  July  1,  1781;  pro.  to  lieut.-col.  July  10,  1788. 

Benjamin  Porter,  com.  July  18,  1788;  disch.  1792. 

Charles  Strange,  com.  June  28;  1792  ;  disch.  1799. 

John  Wilkinson,  com.  May  27, 1799  ;  disch.  1801. 

Job  Pierce,  Jr.,  com.  Aug.  21,  1801 ;  died  Sept.  22,  1805. 

Joseph  E.  Read,  com.  Aug.  16, 1806  ;  pro.  to  maj.  June  2, 1807. 

Melrose  Baruolz,  com.  Aug.  5,  1807;  disch.  March  8,1811. 

Joseph  Weaver,  com.  June  24,  1811 ;  pro.  to  maj.  April  14,  1812. 

Lynde  Hathaway,  com.  June  29, 1812  ;  pro.  to  maj.  Aug.  10,  1818. 

Henry  Porter,  com.  Sept.  4,  1818  ;  disch.  March  1,  1822. 

Malichi  Howland,  com.  April  13,  1822;  disch.  March  1,  1827. 


Ephraini  Winslow,  Jr.,  com.  April  23, 1827;  pro.  to  lieut.-col.  March  8, 

1828. 
Seth  Howland,  com.  May  16, 1828;  disch.  1831. 
Noah  H.  Evans,  com.  May  27, 1831;  disch.  Sept.  7, 1836. 

Second  Company  of  Infantry. 

Ambrose  Barnolz,  com.  17 — ;  disch.  17 — . 
George  Brightmau,  com.  175- ;  disch. 
Jail  Hathaway,  com.  July,  1771 ;  dis.  Sept.  19,  1775. 
Thomas  Durfee,  com.  July  5,  1776 ;  disch.  177-. 

Brightman,  com.  177- ;  disch.  178-. 

Joseph  Read  (3d),  com.  July  1,  1781 ;  disch.  178-. 

Luther  Winslow,  com.  June  8, 1789;  disch.  1793. 

Ichabod  Read,  com.  Oct.  2,  1793  ;  died  Dec.  5, 1796. 

Benjamin  Broyton,  com.  May  2, 1797;  pro.  to  maj.  Sept.  19, 1803. 

Third  Company  of  Infantry. 

John  Bounswill,  com.  1751  ;  disch. 

Elisha  Parker,  com.  17—:  dis.  Sept.  19, 1775. 

Joseph  Hoston,  com.  177- ;  disch.  178-. 

Pei  igreen  White,  com.  July  1,  1781 ;  disch. 

Noah  Crapo,  com.  April  21, 1797  ;  disch.  August,  1798. 

Abraham  Morton,  com.  May  21,  1798;  cash.  1805. 

James  Ashley,  com.  Oct.  14,  1805;  disch.  April  13,  1811. 

Simeon  Ashley,  com.  Feb.  4,  1812;  pro.  to  col.  Aug.  10,  1818. 

Ephraim  Gurney,  com.  Sept.  22,  1818;  disch.  April  15,  1822. 

Daniel  Edson,  com.  May  25, 1822;  disch.  1830. 

Malichi  White,  com.  May  4, 1830;  disch.  April  15,  1835. 

Robert  W.  Cottle,  com.  June  20,  1835  ;  disch.  April  24,  1840. 

Cavalry  Company. 

(Raised  at  large  in  the  several  towns  within  the  Second  Regiment.) 
Abiel  Terry,  Jr.,  capt.,  com.  1771 ;  disch.  Sept.  19, 1775. 

First  Light  Infantry  Company. 

Rufus  Bacon,  com.  capt.  June  13, 1818  ;  disch.  1824. 

John  H.  Peirce,  com.  capt.  May  4, 1824;  disch.  1825. 

Sylvanus  S.  Payne,  com.  capt.  Aug.  18,  1825  ;  disch.  March  1, 1827. 

Herman  Lyndsay,  com.  capt.  July  21,  1827;  disch.  May  30, 1831. 

Second  Light  Infantry  Company. 

Ebenezer  W.  Peirce,  capt.,  com.  June  29, 1850 ;  disch.  May  12, 1851. 
Augustus  C.  Barrows,  capt.,  com.  June  14,  1851 ;  disch.  April  5,  1854. 
John  W.  Marble,  capt.,  com.  April  29,  1854;  disch.  March  20,  1855. 
Silas  P.  Richmond,  capt.,  com.  May  8, 1855 ;  pro.  July  24, 1856. 
James  R.  Mathewson,  capt.,  com.  March  4,  1857;  disch.  1860. 
John  M.  Marble,  capt.,  com.  1860;  disch.  1862. 

Third  Light  Infantry  Company. 

William  F.  Wood,  capt.,  com.  Nov.  22, 1851;  disch.  185-. 
Marcus  M.  Rounsevill,  com.  March  19,  185-;  disch.  Feb.  1854. 
William  A.  Hofford,  com.  March  11,  1854  ;  disch.  March  18, 1856. 
Tracy  Allen,  com.  May,  1856;  disch.  July,  1857. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  war  of  the  American 
Revolution  the  three  companies  into  which  the  local 
militia  of  Freetown  were  then  divided,  together  with 
1  a  part  of  a  company  of  cavalry  to  which  some  be- 
longed, composed  a  part  of  the  Second  Regiment  of 
infantry,  of  which  Thomas  Gilbert,  of  Freetown, 
was  colonel,  James  Winslow,  of  Freetown,  lieutenant- 
colonel,  and  Benjamin  Grinnell,  of  Freetown,  adju- 
tant. The  commissioned  officers  of  the  companies 
were  as  follows : 

First  Company. — George  Chase,  captain  ;  Benjamin  Tompkins  and  George 
Winslow,  lieutenants. 

Second  Company. — Jail  Hathaway,  captain ;  Stephen  Borden  and  Am- 
brose Barnolz,  Jr.,  lieutenants. 

Third  Company. — Elisha  Parker,  captain  ;  Abraham  Ashley  and  Na- 
thaniel Morton,  lieutenants. 

Cavalry  Company. — Abiel  Terry,  Jr.,  captain  ;  John  Evans,  cornet. 

The  battalion  of  loyalists  that  Col.  Gilbert  claimed 
to  have  raised  to  fight  for  the  king  and  Parliament, 
and  to  arm  and  equip  which  he  applied  to  Governor 


FREETOWN. 


293 


Gage,  and  received  a  generous  supply  of  the  munitions 
of  war,  was  doubtless  that  part  of  these  four  com- 
panies that  could  be  induced  to  take  the  king's  arms 
and  train  in  his  name,  as  a  considerable  proportion 
doubtless  did,  and  were  thus  for  several  days  engaged 
in  drilling  and  perfecting  themselves  to  fight  against 
the  "Sons  of  Liberty,"  and  by  force  of  arms  to  rivet 
the  chains  of  bondage  upon  their  own  countrymen, 
including  their  nearest  neighbors,  uphold  a  foreign 
monarchical,  despotic,  and  singularly  arbitrary  power. 

The  four  captains  gave  most  unmistakable  evidence 
that  their  sympathies  were  strongly  on  the  side  of  the 
king,  as  did  also  Lieuts.  Tompkins  and  Ashley  and 
Cornet  John  Evans.  But  Lieuts.  Borden,  Barnolz, 
and  Morton,  if  not  all  "  liberty"  men  at  the  start, 
soon  became  so,  and  gave  their  undivided  efforts  and 
influence  to  the  cause  of  their  distressed  and  bleeding 
country. 

Ambrose  Cleveland,  of  Freetown,  when  in  arrest  at 
Providence,  R.  I.  (Oct.  31,  1775),  signed  a  written 
confession  and  recantation,  in  which  he  set  forth  that 
"he  acknowledges  his  wrongs  in  signing  Brigadier 
Ruggles'  association  under  Col.  Gilbert,  and  training 
under  said  Gilbert  for  two  days,  and  going  to  Boston 
and  working  at  the  king's  works,  and  likewise  of  my 
saying  I  could  pilot  the  fleet  as  far  as  Bower's  (now 
Somerset  village),  all  which  I  am  heartily  sorry  for, 
and  for  the  future  am  determined  to  stand  for  the 
rights  and  liberties  of  my  country." 

In  an  intercepted  letter  of  Col.  Gilbert  to  Gen. 
Ruggles,  dated  April  5,  1775,  he  said  concerning  the 
British  man-of-war  that  came  to  the  assistance  of  the 
Tories,  "  My  son  took  a  long-boat  and  went  to  the 
man-of-war,  and  brought  back  a  letter  from  Capt. 
Walli.s  to  the  admiral,  which  I  sent  to  your  care.  I 
hear  from  Capt.  Wall  is  that  he  fears  to  venture  up 
the  river  with  the  ship,  fearing  there  is  not  sufficient 
depth  of  water.  A  vessel  of  less  force  might  answer 
the  purpose. 

"  Last  Monday  the  rebels  mustered  from  Middle- 
borough  and  Berkley,  Swansea  and  Dighton,  and 
made  up  a  hundred  and  forty  in  arms,  marched  by 
my  house,  where  were  twenty-five  men  with  king's 
arms  well  loaded.  I  went  out  before  my  door  and 
told  them  that  they  were  a  poor  set  of  deluded  rebels. 
So  they  marched  off'  without  tearing  down  my  house 
or  killing  me,  as  the  day  before  they  swore  they 
would." 

That  a  large  proportion  of  the  local  militia  in  the 
First  Company,  and  considerable  numbers  of  theSec- 
ond  and  Third  Companies,  as  also  of  the  cavalry  com- 
pany, took  up  arms  for  the  king  at  the  commence- 
ment of  the  war  of  the  American  Revolution  seems 
quite  conclusively  proved  by  an  address  of  the  Free- 
town Committee  of  Correspondence,  Inspection,  and 
Safety  to  the  Massachusetts  Legislature  in  session  at 
Boston,  March  22,  1780,  in  which  said  committee,  as 
also  the  selectmen  of  Freetown,  concerning  the  votes 
of  said  town,  declared  that  "  great  numbers,  we  have 


reason  to  believe,  held  a  criminal  correspondence 
with  the  enemy  when  they  occupied  the  island  of 
Rhode  Island. 

"  A  great  number  took  the  king's  arms  by  the  in- 
stigation of  Col.  Gilbert,  and  never  acted  but  against 
us. 

"  Many  have  refused  to  turn  out  at  alarms  when 
the  enemy  invaded  our  town  and  committed  depre- 
dations. 

"  Our  exertions  against  the  enemy  has  been  em- 
barrassed by  the  conduct  of  our  inhabitants. 

"  If  the  king  of  Great  Britain  should  forbear  hos- 
tilities and  recall  his  troops  from  our  land  we  should 
not  have  presumed  thus  to  trouble  your  Honors  with 
complaint. 

"  We  should  have  rested  under  their  insults,  al- 
though we  have  used  our  utmost  efforts,  and  spent 
our  thousands  for  the  defense  of  our  beloved  country. 

"  What  have  we  to  hope  or  expect  if  Great  Britain 
should  continue  the  war,  and  the  king's  troops  re- 
possess Rhode  Island  ?  We  should  be  between  two 
fires. 

"  Our  fears  are  multiplied  in  case  such  dissatisfied 
persons  should  take  the  lead  in  town  affairs." 

A  newspaper  called  the  Essex  Gazette,  published  in 
Salem,  April  18,  1775,  the  day  before  the  battles  of 
Lexington  and  Concord  were  fought,  contained  the 
following  communication  : 

"  Boston,  Monday,  April  17th. 

"  A  letter  from  Taunton  dated  last  Friday,  mentions  that  on  the  Mon- 
day before  parties  of  Minute  Men,  etc.,  from  every  town  in  that  county, 
with  arms  and  ammunition,  met  at  Freetown  early  that  morning  in 
order  to  take  Col.  Gilbert,  but  he  had  fled  on  board  the  man-of-war  at 
Newport. 

"  They  then  divided  into  parties  and  took  twenty-nine  Tories  who  had 
signed  enlistments  and  received  arms  in  the  colonel's  company  to  join 
the  king's  troops.  They  also  took  thirty-five  muskets,  two  case  bottles 
of  powder,  and  a  basket  of  bullets,  all  which  they  brought  to  Taunton 
the  same  afternoon,  where  the  prisoners  were  separately  examined, 
eighteen  of  whom  made  such  humble  acknowledgments  of  their  past  bad 
conduct  and  solemn  promises  to  behave  better  for  the  future  they  were 
dismissed,  but  the  other  eleven  being  obstinate  and  insulting,  a  party 
were  ordered  to  carry  them  to  Simsbury  Mines,  but  they  were  sufficiently 
humbled  before  they  had  got  fourteen  miles  on  their  way  thither,  upon 
which  they  were  brought  back  the  next  day,  and  after  signing  proper 
articles  to  behave  better  for  the  future,  were  escorted  to  Freetown. 

"There  were  upwards  of  two  thousand  men  embodied  there  last  Mon- 
day." 

But  this  successful  expedition  did  not  rid  the  town 
of  active  Tories,  as  the  following  from  the  public 
records  of  the  town  serves  to  show : 

"At  a  legal  town-meeting  held  at  ye  public  meeting-house  house  in 
Freetown  on  ye  31st  day  of  May,  1777,  ye  following  Tories  were  voted 
for  trial,  viz.:  George  Brightman,  William  Winslow,  Luther  Winslow, 
John  Winslow,  Jail  Hathaway,  .Solomon  Terry,  Abiel  Terry,  Abiel 
Terry,  Jr.,  William  Hathaway,  Silas  Hathaway  (2d),  Silas  Terry,  Eben- 
ezer  Terry,  Benjamin  Tompkins,  Ralph  Paine,  Job  Paine,  Job  Paine 
(2d),  George  Chase,  George  Chase,  Jr.,  Bradford  Gilbert,  Ephraim  Win- 
slow,  Ammi  Cha.se,  Horah  Durfee,  Jonathan  Dodson,  Job  Terry,  Silas 
Sherman,  Benjamin  Cleveland,  Abraham  Ashley,  John  Briggs. 

''Then  Maj.  Joshua  Hathaway  was  chosen  agent  in  behalf  of  ye  said 
town." 

The  lenity  exercised  towards  the  Tories  by  the 
Whigs,  instead  of  making  the  former  more  tractable, 
only  served  to  encourage  them  to  seize  upon,  as  they 


294 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


did,  every  opportunity  that  presented  itself  to  make 
trouble  for  those  who  had  spared  them  when  in  their 
power,  thus  ever  and  always  returning  evil  for  good, 
and  showing  neither  kindness,  tenderness,  or  mercy 
to  those  from  whom  they  owed  much  of  all,  and  to 
whose  clemency  alone  they  owed  their  power  to  do 
hurt. 

Even  before  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  war  these 
Tories,  who  had  been  so  signally  defeated  when  and 
wherever  they  submitted  their  cause  to  the  arbitration 
of  the  cartridge-box,  suddenly  changed  their  tactics, 
and  by  a  united  and  well-directed  effort,  being  joined 
as  they  were  by  the  "  baser  sort"  of  all  parties,  com- 
pletely carried  their  points  at  the  ballot-box  in  Free- 
town, allowing,  as  they  did,  persons  in  their  village 
to  vote  that  they  might  thus  swell  the  number  of  their 
boasted  majority  ;  and  the  legislative  power  of  the 
State  had  to  be  appealed  to,  and  did  exercise  its  au- 
thority to  bring  order  out  of  such  anarchy  and  con- 
fusion as  resulted  from  that  disorganizing  and  dis- 
graceful act  of  the  Tories,  thoroughly  determined 
either  to  rule  or  ruin.  Nor  did  the  indignities  suffered 
at  the  hands  of  the  Tories  cease  at  what  was  gener- 
ally considered  the  successful  termination  of  the 
Revolutionary  war,  for  the  "  Shay's  rebellion"  of  1786 
found  them  again  in  the  field,  and  this  town,  that  in 
1775  in  the  person  of  Col.  Thomas  Gilbert  furnished 
the  most  prominent  and  troublesome  Tory  in  the 
county,  only  eleven  years  later  furnished  the  county 
leader  of  rebels  in  arms  against  the  new  government, 
and  it  is  a  noteworthy  fact  that  when  the  "Shay's 
men"  with  arms  appeared  to  stop  the  session  of  the 
County  Court,  being  held  at  Taunton,  a  prominent 
leader  was  dressed  in  a  full  British  uniform,  and  new 
muskets  of  British  manufacture  were  plentifully 
supplied  gratis  to  all  who  would  volunteer  to  use  the 
same  to  aid  the  motley  crowd  of  anarchists  there 
drawn  up  in  battle  array  under  the  command  of 
David  Valentine,  of  Freetown. 

Shay's  Rebellion. — As  in  the  war  of  the  American 
Revolution,  so  also  in  the  outbreak  usually  known  as 
"  Shay's  Rebellion,  the  local  militia  remained  divided 
into  three  companies,  that  also  continued  to  constitute 
a  part  of  the  Second  Regiment.  Those  officers  resid- 
ing in  Freetown,  who  were  all  commissioned  July  1, 
1781,  being  as  follows  : 

Field  Officers. 
Joseph  Durfee,  lieutenant-colonel. 

Company  Officers. 
First  Company. 
Benjamin  Weaver,  captain. 
Nathan  Dean,  lieutenant. 
Samuel  Hathaway,  second  lieutenant. 

Second  Company. 
Joseph  Read,  third  captain. 
Benjamin  Durfee,  lieutenant. 
William  Elsbree,  second  lieutenant. 

Third  Company. 
Peregrine  White,  captain. 
Peter  Crapo,  lieutenant. 
Samuel  Burden,  second  lieutenant. 


In  Massachusetts,  the  State  which  had  been  fore- 
most in  the  war  for  independence  against  Great 
Britain,  occurred  the  first  instance  of  armed  and  or- 
ganized rebellion  against  the  situation  and  conduct 
of  public  affairs  consequent  upon  the  changed  char- 
acter of  the  government  and  its  administrators.  This 
spirit  of  lawlessness  was  not  entirely  confined  to  Mas- 
sachusetts, as  in  the  neighboring  State  of  New  Hamp- 
shire a  reckless  and  desperate  body  of  malcontents  en- 
tered the  legislative  chamber  at  Exeter,  overpowered 
and  made  prisoners  of  the  General  Assembly  of  that 
State;  but  the  citizens  arose,  and  by  energetic  and 
well-directed  efforts  the  dastardly  movement,  with  its 
aiders  and  abettors,  was  crushed. 

Not  so,  however,  in  Massachusetts,  where  the  re- 
bellion secured  to  itself  a  much  longer  lease  of  life. 
The  mob  spirit  grew  more  and  more  rampant,  Bristol, 
Hampshire,  Middlesex,  and  Worcester  Counties  at- 
taining to  the  unenviable  reputation  of  being  the 
chief  centres  of  lawless  violence  throughout  New 
England.  Few  towns  in  Bristol  County  could  muster 
an  entire  company  of  its  local  militia  to  sustain  the 
government,  and  in  Freetown  that  iu  the  person  of 
David  Valentine  furnished  the  county  leader  of  the 
"Shay's  men."  The  mobocrats  probably  bore  a  still 
larger  proportion  to  the  whole  number  of  the  inhab- 
itants than  the  Tories  had  done  at  the  commence- 
ment of  the  war  of  American  Revolution. 

In  Rehoboth,  then  also  embracing  what  afterward 
became  Seekonk  and  Pawtucket,  the  malcontents 
showed  by  their  votes  a  large  majority  at  the  polls, 
and  took  possession  of  the  town's  stock  of  powder, 
bullets,  and  munitions  of  war. 

But  in  Freetown,  the  county  headquarters  of  that  re- 
bellion, the  town's  stock,  by  the  unyielding  constancy 
of  Benjamin  Weaver,  then  captain  of  the  First  Com- 
pany in  the  local  militia,  was  saved  from  capture  by 
the  rebels,  and  used  only  for  lawful  purposes,  and  so 
plentiful  was  the  supply  that  he  obtained  with  which 
to  kill  the  "Shay's  men,"  that  of  what  was  not  then 
expended  his  son,  Maj.  Joseph  Weaver,  filled  the 
cartridge-boxes  of  the  same  company  under  his  com- 
mand at  the  beginning  of  those  difficulties  that 
ripened  into  the  war  of  1812,  and  Freetown's  con- 
tribution to  the  force  sent  to  Virginia  at  the  first  call 
in  April,  1861,  in  the  brigade  commanded  by  Benja- 
min Weaver's  grandson,  Gen.  E.  W.  Peirce,  carried 
in  its  cartridge-boxes  some  of  the  bullets  moulded  in 
Freetown  with  which  to  que'l  the  rebellion  of  1786. 
Benjamin  Weaver's  loyalty,  courage,  and  good  con- 
duct secured  to  him  a  speedy  promotion  to  the  office 
of  lieutenant-colonel. 

Ecclesiastical.— Probably  the  first  or  earliest  rec- 
ord still  preserved  of  an  effort  on  the  part  of  the  in- 
habitants of  Freetown  to  provide  for  the  public  wor- 
ship of  God  was  that  of  a  legal  meeting  which  appears 
upon  the  thirty-fifth  page  of  the  first  book  of  the  pub- 
lic records  of  said  town,  and  in  the  words  follow- 
ing: 


FREETOWN. 


295 


"At  a  town  meeting  in  freetown,  on  the  tenth  day  of  June,  in  the 
year  1099,  legally  warned  by  the  Selectmen,  to  ho  at  the  house  of  John 
hathway,  in  freetown,  In  order  to  consider  of  a  convenient  place  to  set 
a  meeting  house  where  it  may  he  most  convenient  to  join  with  some  of 
our  neighbors  in  tanton. 

"  And  in  case  they  will  join  with  us,  we  have  voted  that  the  meeting 
house  shall  be  set  on  James  Cudworth's  land,  on  the  southward  side  of 
the  brook  called  abut's  cwarter,  and  at  the  foasd  meeting  James  Cud- 
worth  and  Josiah  Winslow  were  chosen  to  treat  tanton  men,  and  to 
bring  thayransor  to  us  with  all  speed  whether  thay  will  join  with  us 
or'not." 

That  town-meeting  was  held  in  a  house,  then  a 
tavern,  that  stood  on  the  spot  of  the  former  residence 
of  Benjamin  Hambly,  late  of  Freetown,  deceased. 
The  neighhors  in  Taunton  doubtless  lived  in  that 
section  of  said  town  set  off  in  1735,  incorporated  as  a 
new  town,  and  called  Berkley.  The  spot  proposed  on 
which  to  erect  a  meeting-house  is  at  the  foot  of  the 
hill,  a  little  northerly  of  the  former  residence  of  the 
late  Philip  J.  Tripp.  From  the  fact  that  nothing  more 
appears  to  have  been  done  about  it  leads  to  the  conclu- 
sion that  the  people  of  Taunton  were  unwilling  to  join 
with  those  of  Freetown  in  the  labor  and  expense  of 
erecting  a  meeting-house  at  the  spot  proposed.  Tradi- 
tion or  records  furnish  nothing  further  until  the  first 
Monday  in  February,  1702,  when,  in  open  town-meet- 
ing, Robert  Durfee  was  chosen  as  the  town's  agent  to 
obtain  a  man  to  dispense  the  gospel  and  instruct  chil- 
dren in  reading  and  writing  ;  and  further,  that  no 
meeting-house  be  built  at  the  town's  charge  until 
such  man  had  been  procured.  Two  years  later,  Wil- 
liam Way  accepted  these  trusts,  and  was  by  the  town 
engaged  to  serve  them  as  a  gospel  minister  and  school- 
master. Mr.  Way  proposed  to  receive  for  his  minis- 
trations in  the  gospel  whatever  the  inhabitants  in 
gratuity  or  free  will  chose  to  confer  upon  him.  Two 
years  more  passed,  and  the  town  found  itself  in- 
dicted by  the  grand  jury  on  a  charge  of  not  being 
supplied  with  a  minister  according  to  law,  and  Lieut. 
Job  Winslow,  one  of  the  selectmen,  elected  as  the 
town's  agent  to  answer  in  behalf  of  the  town  at  the 
next  session  of  the  County  Court.  Lieut.  Job  Wins- 
low was  also  chosen  the  town's  agent  to  confer  with 
'Mr.  Samuel  Danforth,  minister  at  Taunton,  in  order 
to  have  William  Way,  of  Freetown,  approbated  as  a 
minister,  qualified  according  to  law. 

Failing  in  all  these  efforts,  the  town  on  the  21st  day 
of  January,  1707,  voted  to  dismiss  William  Way  from 
longer  serving  the  town  as  a  minister  and  school- 
master. Then  from  the  Court  of  General  Sessions 
came  a  precept  directing  the  town  to  provide  itself 
with  an  able,  learned  orthodox  minister,  pursuant  to 
which  the  town  on  the  21st  day  of  March,  1707,  by  a 
vote  of  more  than  two-thirds  present  and  voting,  de- 
cided to  be  supplied  by  the  Bishop  of  London  with  a 
minister  according  to  the  Church  of  England,  estab- 
lished by  the  law  of  the  English  nation.  Three  years 
later  the  town  voted  to  build  a  meeting-house  thirty- 
six  feet  long,  twenty-six  feet  wide,  and  eighteen  feet 
between  joints,  and  elected  three  Congregational  min- 
isters, viz.,  Samuel  Danforth,  John  Sparhawk,  and 


Richard  Billings,  a  committee  to  determine  where  the 
meeting-house  should  be  set,  which  committee  in 
writing,  bearing  date  March  7,  1710,  recommended 
that  the  proposed  house  should  stand  upon  a  lot  of 
land  that  Samuel  Lynde,  of  Boston,  had  promised  to 
give  to  the  town  on  which  to  erect  a  meeting-house 
and  a  school-house,  and  to  be  used  also  for  the  pur- 
poses of  a  burial-ground  and  training-field.  The 
town  the  same  year  voted  to  raise  the  sum  of  thirty 
pounds  with  which  to  build  the  meeting-house,  and 
voted  thanks  to  the  General  Court  for  twenty-five 
pounds  voted  to  the  town,  and  expressed  the  desire 
that  it  be  paid  to  Mr.  Joseph  Avery  for  his  services 
as  minister  that  year.  Oct.  10,  1710,  John  Hathaway 
and  twenty-three  others  of  Freetown  petitioned  the 
General  Court  to  grant  aid  to  Mr.  Avery  for  his  en- 
couragement to  preach  still  among  them,  and  that 
the  court  would  be  pleased  to  give  as  much  as  it  had 
done  the  last  year.  March  17,  1711,  the  General 
Court  passed  the  following  resolution  : 

"  Resolved,  That  there  be  allowed  and  paid  out  of  the  public  treasury  to 
Mr.  Joseph  Avery,  after  the  rate  of  twenty  pounds  per  annum,  for  each 
Sabbath  he  hath  or  shall  preach  at  Freetown,  from  the  time  he  was  last 
paid  to  the  session  of  the  court  in  May  next." 

Mr.  Joseph  Avery,  the  second  person  who  attempted 
to  perform  the  duties  of  a  gospel  minister  at  Free- 
town, was  the  fourth  and  youngest  child  of  Lieut. 
William  Avery  and  wife,  Elizabeth  White.  Elizabeth 
was  the  second  wife  of  Lieut.  William  Avery,  who 
had  had  four  children  by  a  former  wife;  and  Joseph 
Avery,  born  in  Dedham,  April  9,  1687,  though  his 
mother's  fourth  child,  was  the  eighth  child  on  his 
father's  side.  Lieut.  William  Avery,  the  parent,  re- 
ceived a  commission  in  the  train-band  at  Dedham, 
from  which  his  title  was  derived,  and  bearing  date  of 
Oct.  15,  1673.  Lieut.  Avery  also  held  the  offices  of 
town  clerk  and  selectman  of  Dedham.  Mr.  Joseph 
Avery,  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years,  graduated  at 
Harvard  College  in  1706.  His  brother,  John  Avery, 
aged  twenty-one  years,  graduated  at  the  same  time 
and  place,  and  was  settled  in  the  gospel  ministry  in 
the  town  of  Truro,  on  Cape  Cod.  Soon  after  leaving 
college  Joseph  Avery  was  for  a  time  employed  to 
teach  a  school  in  Rehoboth.  Added  to  the  offices 
civil  and  military  held  by  William  Avery  and  already 
enumerated,  he  also  held  the  position  of  deacon  of  the 
church,  which  circumstance  throws  more  light  upon 
the  causes  operating  to  bring  about  the  result  of  his 
having  two  sons  that  became  ministers  or  clergymen 
than  all  other  known  causes  combined,  the  religious 
element  in  the  character  of  the  father  thus  largely 
cropping  out  in  his  sons,  who,  if  not  foreordained  be- 
fore the  world  was  by  the  God  of  the  Bible  to  be  am- 
bassadors for  the  cause  of  Christ,  doubtless  were  by 
the  God  of  nature  before  either  of  these  sons  were 
born. 

Mr.  Joseph  Avery,  Freetown's  second  minister,  in 
or  about  the  year  1720,  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Sarah  Newman,  of  Rehoboth.     She  was  born 


296 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Nov.  20,  1700,  and  consequently  was  about  thirteen 
years  younger  than  her  husband.  She  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  Deacon  Samuel  Newman,  Jr.,  granddaughter 
of  Samuel  Newman,  Sr.,  and  wife,  Bathsheba  Chick- 
ering,  and  great-granddaughter  of  Rev.  Samuel  New- 
man, one  of  the  first  settlers,  and  the  first  minister  of 
Rehoboth.  Mr.  Joseph  Avery  remained  in  Freetown 
but  a  short  time,  as  on  the  28th  day  of  October,  1714, 
he  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  Church  of  Christ  in 
Norton,  and  thus  became  the  earliest  settled  minister 
in  that  town  ;  and  when  we  are  informed  that  the 
people  of  Norton  voted  upon  their  own  responsibility 
to  pay  him  a  salaiw  of  fifty  pounds  per  year,  no  fur- 
ther reasons  need  be  assigned  why  he  left  Freetown 
with  its  proposals  to  pay  him  thirty  pounds  per  year, 
and  beg,  if  they  could,  a  yearly  appropriation  of 
twenty  pounds  more  from  the  General  Court.  To 
have  remained  in  the  field  of  his  labor  at  Freetown 
may  seem  more  pious,  but  his  change  to  the  vineyard 
of  the  Lord  at  Norton  was  decidedly  more  practical. 
At  a  town-meeting  holden  in  Freetown,  July  5, 
1711, 

"voted  Recompense  Wadsworth  to  Vie  our  gospel  minister,  according  to 
the  tenor  of  our  warrant. 

"  Voted  that  Recompense  Wadsworth  should  have  after  the  rate  of  20 
pounds  per  year  so  long  as  he  shall  dispense  the  word  of  God  amongst  us. 

"Voted  Mr.  Joseph  blackman  to  treat  Mr.  Wadsworth  in  the  town's 
behalf,  according  to  the  above  written  vote." 

Against  this  action  of  the  town  John  Read,  Jr., 
made  a  public  protest,  characterizing  the  vote  as 
"rash  and  heady,"  in  that  the  town  had  no  knowl- 
edge of  the  man's  "conversion"  or  "qualification," 
to  what  town  or  government  he  belonged,  that  the 
voting  of  twenty  pounds  was  contrary  to  gospel  rule, 
and  that  the  town  had  already  voted  to  be  supplied 
by  the  Bishop  of  London.  And  this  strife  was  finally 
ended  by  a  report  from  Mr.  Blackman  that  Mr.  Wads- 
worth had  refused  to  serve  the  town  as  minister. 
Recompense  Wadsworth  was  born  March  19,  1688. 
In  1713  he  was  appointed  master  of  the  North  Free 
Grammar  School,  at  Boston.  He  was  a  son  of 
Thomas  Wadsworth,  a  gunsmith,  who  for  a  time  re- 
sided in  Boston,  and  removed  from  thence  to  New- 
port, R.  I.     Aug.  8,  1712,  the  town  voted 

"  that  in  order  for  the  incouragement  of  the  preaching  of  the  Word  of 
God  in  the  town,  it  is  therefore  agreed  to  raise  25  pounds  for  the  use  for 
one  year's  preaching." 

Sept.  22, 1712,  "  Then  voted  John  hath  way,  agent,  to  seek  for  and  treat 
with  some  meet  person,  in  order  to  dispense  the  word  of  God  in  said  town, 
and  to  preach  one  month  in  the  town,  and  then,  being  liked  and  approved 
by  the  town,  and  the  person  so  called  also  agreeing  with  the  town,  to  be 
their  minister  for  some  time  as  shall  be  hereafter  agreed  on." 

Jan.  13,  1713,  the  town  voted 

"The  minister  that  John  hathway,  the  town's  agent,  hath  brought 
into  town,  not  being  liked  by  the  inhabitants,  therefore  it  was  then 
voted  he  not  to  be  the  town's  minister." 

"Voted  Mr.  James  hail  shall  have  three  pounds  of  the  25  pounds 
formerly  granted  by  the  town  for  some  service  done  by  him,  said  hail, 
for  some  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  town." 

Mr.  James  Hale  was  probably  the  person  whom 
John  Hathaway  brought  into  town,  and  who  did  not 
prove  acceptable  to  a  majority,  but  was  liked  by  a  few. 


May  25,  1713,  "Voted  10  pounds  to  be  raised  for  the  reperation  of 
the  meeting-house,  and  to  be  added  to  the  30  pounds  rate  formerly 
granted  by  said  town." 

Robert  Durfee,  Constant  Church,  Benjamin  Chase, 
Jr.,  Walter  Chase,  and  Jacob  Hathaway  entered 
their  protest  against  this  vote. 

June  2,  1713,  the  town  made  choice  of  "Jonathan 
Dodson  to  be  minister  of  the  gospel  for  this  town 
untill  there  is  a  supply  from  England,  according  to  a 
former  vote  of  the  town." 

June  19,  1714,  the  meeting-house  that  in  1710  it 
was  agreed  to  build  being  completed,  was  by  the 
building  committee  delivered  to  the  selectmen  for 
the  use  of  the  town. 

Sept.  22,  1715,  Josiah  Winslow,  Thomas  Terry, 
Jonathan  Dodson,  and  Joseph  Read  were  chosen  a 
committee  to  seat  the  meeting-house  at  the  town's 
charge. 

Enough  has  already  been  given  to  show  that  the 
people  of  the  town,  if  not  prosecuting  or  carrying  on 
a  "  holy  war,"  were  persistently  and  determinately 
engaged  in  religious  controversy.  They  had  a  few 
years  before  voted  that  a  gospel  preached  in  the  town 
must  be  dispensed  to  the  people's  acceptance,  and 
the  town  clerk,  who  may  have  been  equally  con- 
versant with  the  spirit  of  Christianity  and  the  rules 
of  orthography  in  committing  said  vote  to  the  town 
records,  stated  that  the  dispensation  must  be  to  the 
town's  "cx-ceptance"  (instead  of  acceptance);  and 
thus  the  sequel  seemed  to  prove,  for  bickerings, 
strife,  contention,  opposition,  envyings,  and  taking 
exceptions  to  anything  and  everything  proposed  or 
done,  attempted  or  recommended  for  the  establish- 
ment of  a  preached  gospel  in  town,  became  a  general 
rule  instead  of  an  exception. 

In  or  about  the  year  1715,  at  the  request  of  several 
of  the  principal  inhabitants,  accompanied  by  their 
written  promise  of  support,  the  Rev.  Thomas  Craig- 
head entered  upon  the  duties  of  a  gospel  minister  in 
Freetown,  and  he,  being  approbated  by  the  ministers 
of  the  neighboring  towns  as  qualified  for  the  duties 
of  that  position,  a  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  was 
called  by  a  warrant  from  the  selectmen,  and  held  in  the 
meeting-house  at  Freetown  on  Monday  the  9th  day  of 
September,  1717,  to  see  if  the  town  in  its  corporate 
capacity  would  vote  to  employ  the  Rev.  Thomas 
Craighead  as  the  town's  minister.  Capt.  Josiah  Wins- 
low  was  elected  moderator,  whereupon  John  Read, 
Benjamin  Chace,  Jr.,  George  Winslow,  Abraham 
Simmons,  and  John  Cleveland  protested  against 
further  proceedings,  giving  as  their  xeasons  for  so 
doing  "  that  the  town  had  already  a  choice  to  be 
supplied  by  the  Bishop  of  London,  as  may  appear  on 
record,  as  also  the  non-sufficiency  of  the  warrant." 
But  the  legal  voters  present  decided  to  proceed,  and 
by  a  vote  of  twenty-eight  for  to  three  against,  or  a 
clear  majority  of  twenty-five  votes,  made  choice  of 
Rev.  Thomas  Craighead  to  be  the  town's  minister, 
and  yet,  after  all  this,  Mr.  Craighead,  to  collect  his 


FREETOWN. 


297 


pay  for  services,  was  forced  to  sue  the  town,  and  ob- 
taining a  verdict  in  his  favor,  the  town  appealed  to 
the  General  Court,  where  the  town  being  again  beaten, 
several  of  the  principal  inhabitants  were  thrust  into 
the  county  jail,  and  there  kept  confined  until  Mr. 
Craighead  was  paid,  a  train  of  proceedings  in  which 
the  wrong  done  was  only  equaled  by  the  ridiculous. 
July  19,  1721,  the  town  voted  the  use  of  the  meeting- 
house to  the  Rev.  James  Macsparron  "  to  carry  on 
the  public  worship  of  God  in  at  time  and  times,  ac- 
cording to  the  true  intention  of  his  order  by  the  rev- 
erend society  in  his  mission  honorably  intended." 
The  town  at  the  same  time  voted  that  the  selectmen 
be  a  committee  to  solicit  the  Rev.  James  Macsparron 
to  accept  the  meeting-house  for  that  service,  but  that 
such  acceptance  should  "  in  no  wise  hinder  or  bar  any 
other  public  use  or  improvement  of  said  house  as 
formerly." 

These  difficulties  did,  as  they  were  reasonably  cal- 
culated to  do,  prejudice  many  of  the  inhabitants 
against  a  paid  ministry,  and  the  provision  for  such 
payment  when  provided  for  by  a  public  tax,  and 
many,  and  perhaps  the  most,  of  those  inhabitants  best 
able  to  pay  thenceforth  allied  themselves  with  the 
Friends  or  Quakers,  which  religious  body  erected  a 
place  of  public  worship  near  what  is  still  called 
Quaker  Hill,  not  far  distant  from  the  bleachery,  and 
just  across  the  street  from  what  is  known  as  the  South 
school-house.  That  Quaker  meeting-house  was  prob- 
ably built  in  or  near  the  year  1725,  and  for  at  least 
half  a  century  the  Friends  or  Quakers  were  numeri- 
cally the  largest  worshiping  congregation  in  town, 
embracing  the  men  of  first  minds,  most  money,  and 
best  manners,  in  fact,  the  wit  and  the  wealth,  if  not 
exclusively,  was  generally  theirs.  Nearly  one  hun- 
dred years  ago  that  Quaker  meeting-house  was  re- 
moved to  the  northern  part  of  the  town,  where,  as  a 
place  of  public  worship,  it  continued  to  be  used  by 
the  Friends  or  Quakers  nearly  seventy  years,  when 
demolished,  and  its  place  supplied  by  a  new  one  that 
is  still  standing. 

i  >ct.  20,  1721,  the  town  voted  to  relieve  Thomas 
Durfee  and  George  Winslow,  constables,  ofta  fine 
levied  upon  them  for  their  neglect  or  refusal  to  col- 
lect a  tax  assessed  under  the  title  of  "  the  minister's 
rate."  For  the  next  quarter  of  a  century  scarcely 
anything  appears  upon  the  public  records  of  Free- 
town concerning  the  support  of  a  gospel  ministry, 
and  it  was  not  until  1747  that  another  minister  was 
settled  in  town,  who,  to  relieve  himself  from  a  repeti- 
tion of  the  troubles  experienced  by  his  predecessors, 
made  a  written  promise  that  was  copied  into  the 
public  record-book  of  the  town,  where  it  still  appears 
in  the  words  following  : 

"This  instrument,  made  at  Freetown,  in  y«  County  of  Bristol,  and 
Province  of  ye  Massachusetts  Hay,  in  New  England,  this  thirtieth  day 
of  Novemher  in  yc  year  of  our  Lord  Christ  one  thousand  seven  hun- 
dred and  forty-seven,  Witnesseth  that  I,  Silas  Brett,  oi  Easton,  in  ye 
County  ahovesd,  Preacher  of  yc  Gospel,  and  now  Pastor  Elect  of  Congre- 
gational Church  of  Christ,  in  Freetown  ahoves'1,  do  hereby  covenant, 


promise,  grant,  and  agree  to  and  with  the  aforesaid  church,  and  ye  Oon- 

I    gregation  usually  worshipping  with  them,  that   from  the  day  of  my 

Solemn  Separation   to  the  Pastoral  office  in  said  church,  and  for  and 

during  ye  full  term  and  time  of  my  Continuance  in  that  office,  in  said 

church,  I  will  neither  directly  nor  indirectly  take  advantage  of  y  Laws 

of  this  Province  to  get  a  salary  settled  on  me  in  ye  town  of  Freetown, 

,    hut   look   for  and    expect   my  support  by  the  free  will  offering  of  ye 

j    People. 

"  In  testimony  whereof,  I  have  subscribed  this  Instrument,  to  be  en- 
tered in  ye  Records  of  ye  church  ahoves'1,  and  also  in  ye  Records  of  ye 
town,  if  it  be  desired." 
"  Witness  my  hand, 

"  Silas  Brett." 
"  A  true  record.     Atte-t  :  Ambhose  Barsaby, 

"  Town  Clerk." 

This  course  of  action  was  like  oil  poured  upon  the 
waters,  allaying  strife,  but  failing  to  secure  either  the 
support  or  good  will  of  a  majority  of  the  tax-paying 
inhabitants,  as  the  following  from  the  record  of  a 
town-meeting  held  on  the  18th  day  of  March,  1754, 
most  clearly  serves  to  prove  : 

"Voted  that  those  that  are  disposed  to  repair  the  town's  meeting- 
house, so  as  to  reuder  it  fit  to  meet  in  for  worship,  that  they  may  have 
the  liberty  to  repair  the  said  house  on  their  own  cost  and  charge,  and 

not  at  the  charge  of  the  town. 

"Abiel  Tekrv, 

"  Town  Clerk:1 

Rev.  Silas  Brett  was  a  son  of  Seth  Brett  and  wife, 
Sarah  Alden,  born  in  or  about  the  year  1716.  He 
preached  to  this  church  and  society  in  Freetown 
about  twenty-eight  years.  The  church  was  always 
small,  as  also  the  congregation,  and  Sabbath  services 
found  in  attendance  but  few  worshipers,  who,  becom- 
ing divided  in  political  sentiment  by  the  troubles 
which  gave  rise  to  the  American  Revolution,  soon 
realized  that  "  a  house  divided  against  itself  cannot 
stand,"  and  the  ministerial  labors  of  Rev.  Silas  Brett 
were  thus  and  then  brought  to  a  close,  and  no  min- 
ister of  this  denomination  was  regularly  settled  in 
town  from  the  close  of  Mr.  Brett's  labors,  in  or  about 
1775,  until  the  engagement  of  Rev.  Joseph  P.  Tyler, 
in  or  near  the  year  1809,  when  a  Congregational 
meeting-house  was  erected  at  Assonet  village,  and  the 
old  meeting-house,  that  had  stood  nearly  a  century  of 
years  just  within  what  is  now  the  most  northerly 
limits  of  Fall  River,  was  demolished.  Three  Calvin- 
istic  Baptist  Churches  for  a  time  existed  and  held 
public  worship  in  Freetown.  One  of  these  erected  a 
large  and  commodious  meeting-house  in  the  southerly 
part  of  Assonet  village,  employing  as  their  pastor  the 
Rev.  David  Simmons,  whose  services  were  closed  by 
his  death,  he  being  drowned  while  attempting  to  cross 
the  river. 

He  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Philip  Hathaway, 
who  proclaimed  the  doctrines  of  and  preached  to  this 
church  until  1807,  when  the  pastor  and  nearly  all  his 
people  having  become  greatly  liberalized  took  a  "  new 
departure"  from  their  former  faith  and  founded  a  new 
church,  and,  in  imitation  of  the  primitive  brethren 
at  Antioch,  took  upon  themselves  the  name  of 
"Christians."  That  Christian  Church  continued  to 
occupy  the  Calvinistic  Baptist  meeting-house  until 
about  two  vears  before  its  demolition,  the  Christian 


298 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Church  and  Society,  in  1832,  building  a  new  meeting- 
house that  those  bodies  still  continue  to  occupy.  The 
old  meeting-house  was  taken  down  in  1835.  The 
building  of  that  house  was  probably  commenced  in 
1793,  but  was  not  finished  for  use  until  1796.  It  was 
neither  lathed  nor  plastered  until  taken  possession  of 
by  the  Christians,  so  called.  What  was  known  as  the 
Second  Calviriistic  Baptist  Church  in  Freetown  was 
gathered  within  that  section  now  Fall  River,  and  is  in 
existence  still,  and  known  as  the  First  Baptist  Church 
in  that  city.  Their  meeting-house  stood  near  the 
pond,  adjacent  to  what  is  now  known  as  the  "  Nar- 
rows." The  Third  Calvinistic  Baptist  Church  in 
Freetown  was  gathered  in  the  easterly  part,  or  what 
is  called  New  Freetown.  Rev.  Abner  Lewis  was  for 
a  time  the  pastor.  Their  meeting-house  stood  a  little 
east  of  the  village,  and  near  what  is  now  known  as 
the  "County  road."  Four  churches  of  the  Christian 
denomination  have  existed  in  this  town,  three  of 
which  were  gathered  in  East  or  New  Freetown;  and 
each  church  has  a  comfortable  and  commodious  house 
for  public  worship,  and  three  of  the  four  maintain  a 
gospel  ministry.  There  are  now  six  church  edifices 
in  town,  viz.,  the  Trinitarian  Congregational,  at  Asso- 
net  village,  erected  in  1809,  but  considerably  enlarged 
a  few  years  since;  the  Christian  Chapel,  at  Assonet 
village,  built  in  1832  ;  the  Friends'  meeting-house,  in 
the  extreme  northerly  part  of  the  town,  erected  in  or 
about  1852  ;  the  Second  Christian,  at  "  Mason's  Cor- 
ner," so  called,  in  East  Freetown,  erected  about  fifty 
years  ago  ;  the  Third  Christian,  at  Braley  Four  Cor- 
ners, built  about  forty  years  since ;  and  the  Fourth 
Christian,  standing  near  the  line  of  Rochester,  built 
about  twenty-five  years  ago,  and  is  the  only  one  of 
the  six  in  which  public  worship  is  not  regularly  main- 
tained. Coercive  measures  for  the  support  of  the 
ministry  in  Freetown  have  long  since  been  abandoned, 
and  the  last  attempt  at  anything  pointing  in  that 
direction  which  appears  upon  the  public  records  was 
that  of  a  town-meeting  held  on  the  2d  day  of  De- 
cember, 1805,  and  as  follows  : 

"Voted,  to  drop  the  first  article  in  the  warrant  in  regard  to  settling  a 
minister  by  the  town." 

"  Voted,  to  divide  the  town  into  two  districts  or  parishes,  and  to  divide 
it  as  the  old  town  and  New  Freetown,  to  be  called  East  and  West 
Parishes." 

"  Voted,  to  have  a  Committee  to  examine  and  see  if  there  is  any 
legally  settled  minister  in  the  town,  and  to  report  at  the  next  annual 
meeting." 

"Benj.  Weaver,  Esq.,  Washington  Hathaway,  Esq.,  and  Philip  Hath- 
away were  chosen  as  that  Committee. 

"  Eben'r  Pierce, 

"  Town  Clerk." 

What  report,  if  any,  was  made  by  that  committee 
is  not  now  known,  and  the  vote  then  passed  appears 
to  have  been  not  only  the  first  but  the  last  done,  said, 
or  written  concerning  the  establishment  of  two  re- 
ligious parishes  in  Freetown. 

Educational. — William  Way,  Freetown's  earliest 
minister  of  the  gospel,  was  also  the  earliest  school- 
master, having   been    engaged,  so   saith    the   public 


record,  "to  Educate  and  instruct  Children  in  Read- 
ing and  Righting,"  which  may,  for  aught  we  know, 
have  been  to  teach  the  young  ideas  how  to  shoot  in 
right  or  proper  directions.  Nothing  more  upon  the 
public  record  concerning  schools  appears  until  May 
15,  1718,  when  it  was  voted  to  set  up  a  school  to  learn 
children  to  read  and  "right,"  and  "made  choyce  of 
Jacob  hathaway,  agent  to  seek  for  a  schoolmaster." 

Oct.  8,  1718.  "Voted,  to  allow  thomas  roberts  36  pounds  for  one 
year's  service  to  keep  the  school  at  three  several  places;  the  public 
meeting-house  ;  Walter  Chase's  ;  also  at  or  near  to  John  howlatid's." 

Feb.  14,  1721.  "  Voted  and  agreed  to  seek  out  for  a  schoolmaster  for 
the  present  year,  inasmuch  as  the  last  year's  schoolmaster,  Roberts,  and 
the  town  did  not  agree." 

May  17,  1721.  "Voted,  to  leave  it  in  the  prudence  of  the  selectmen  to 
agree  with  William  Gaige  or  with  William  Caswell  to  serve  the  town  as 
a  schoolmaster  for  the  term  or  time  of  one  year." 

July  19,  1721.  "Voted  thirty  pounds  to  be  raised  on  the  inhabitants 
to  pay  the  town's  schoolmaster." 

July  16,  1722.  "Voted  William  Caswell  thirty  pounds  in  considera- 
tion of  his  serving  the  town  to  keep  school  in  the  town  one  '  hole'  year; 
he,  sd  Caswell  to  be  at  all  cost  of  boarding  or  dieting  himself;  sd  Cas- 
well being  present  did  agree  to  serve. 

"Voted,  the  school  to  be  removed  three  times  in  the  year;  the  first 
remove  to  be  had  at  the  meeting-house :  the  second  remove  to  be  at  the 
lower  part  of  the  town  ;  thirdly,  to  be  removed  to  the  upper  part  of  the 
town. 

"Voted,  the  school-houses  to  be  set  at  the  middle  of  each  half  of  the 
town  from  the  meeting-house  or  centre." 

In  1725,  William  Gaige  was  employed  to  teach 
school  one  year  for  thirty-two  pounds  and  to  board 
himself.  In  1726,  1727,  and  1728,  William  Caswell 
was  employed  to  teach  school  for  thirty-eight  pounds  a 
year  and  board  himself;  and  also  in  1729  his  wages 
were  raised  to  forty  pounds.  Caswell  taught  in  1729 
for  forty  pounds,  and  William  Gaige  in  1730. 

July  10,  1727.  The  town  voted  to  erect  two  school- 
houses,  one  of  which  should  be  eighteen  feet  long  and 
fourteen  feet  wide. 

Nov.  2,  1733.  "  Voted  the  sum  of  fifty  pounds  to 
Mr.  Israel  Nichols1  to  keep  school  in  said  town,  always 
excepting  Saturday,  every  week." 

1758.  Voted  Mr.  James  Ward  sixty-six  pounds  to 
keep  school  one  year,  and  sold  two  school-houses  at 
public  auction,  one  for  five  dollars  and  the  other  for 
two  dollars.  Dec.  17,  1744,  James  Meade  was  dis- 
missed'from  further  service  as  the  town's  schoolmaster. 
Nov.  13,  1745,  the  town  made  choice  of  Shadrach 
Hathaway  to  keep  school  for  one  year.  Tradition 
saith  Shadrach  Hathaway  was  a  graduate  of  some 
college.  The  inscription  on  his  tombstone  states 
that  he  died  Dec.  3,  1749,  in  the  thirty-third  year  of 
his  age,  and  therefore  must  have  been  born  in  or  near 
the  year  1716.  He  was  buried  on  the  farm  now  owned 
and  occupied  by  Daniel  Macomber.  The  town  in 
1746  purchased  of  Ephraim  Tisdale  a  new  school- 
house,  together  with  the  land  upon  which  it  stood,  for 
the  sum  of  one  hundred  pounds  old  tenor. 

Samuel  Forman,  George  Winslow,  Stephen  Chace, 
and  Joshua  Boomer  were  the  town's  committee  that 


1  Israel  Nichols,  schoolmaster  in  1733,  appears  to  have  been  employed 
in  Freetown  as  a  minister  in  1739. 


FREETOWN. 


299 


contracted  with  Ephraim  Tisdale  for  the  building  of 
that  house  and  purchase  of  the  land.  It  was  agreed 
that  Tisdale  should  also  furnish  convenient  seats  and 
tables,  and  that  the  house  should  be  "  finished  to  ye 
turning  of  a  key."  That  house  stood  upon  the  spot 
now  occupied  by  the  building  recently  owned  by 
Joshua  Shove,  late  of  Freetown,  deceased,  and 
wherein  he  kept  the  post-office.  That  school-house 
remained  about  twenty-seven  years,  when,  from  well 
authenticated  tradition,  we  learn  that  it  was  acci- 
dentally destroyed  by  fire.  The  town  also  in  1745 
voted  to  add  twelve  feet  to  the  length  of  what  was 
then  the  middle  school-house,  and  also  to  provide 
said  house  with  a  good  chimney.  It  is  doubtful 
whether  that  vote  was  put  into  effect,  as  on  the  6th  day 
of  May,  1748,  the  town  "  voted  to  build  a  new  school- 
house  of  twenty-four  feet  in  length  and  twenty  feet 
wide,  upon  the  town  land  in  the  centre  of  the  town, 
near  or  upon  the  spot  on  which  the  old  school-house 
stands."  This  town  land,  so  called,  was  that  upon 
which  the  town  erected  a  meeting-house  some  time 
between  the  years  1710  and  1715.  It  lies  just  within 
the  most  northern  limits  of  Fall  River.  Jan.  17,  1750. 
— "Voted,  that  Joseph  Brightman,  Jr.,  should  take 
care  to  mend  that  school-house  at  ye  south  end  of  sd 
town  upon  ye  town  charge,  and  bring  in  his  account 
for  allowance  at  our  next  March  meeting."  Jan.  7, 
1755. — "  The  town  voted  to  dismiss  the  former  com- 
mittee that  were  chose  to  build  the  middle  school- 
house,  and  then  made  choice  of  Nathan  Simmons  to 
finish  sd  house."  This  vote  of  the  town,  although  not 
complimentary  to  the  committee,  could  not  justly  be 
characterized  as  hasty,  for  nearly  seven  years  had 
passed  since  the  town  voted  to  build  the  house,  and 
the  work  in  charge  of  that  committee  still  remained 
incomplete,  and  the  prospect  probably  was  that,  after 
being  forgiven  for  their  delay  seven  times,  they  would 
need  to  be  for  seventy  and  seven. 

"  March  15, 1762. — Agreed  with  Capt.  Elisha  Parker  to  build  a  school- 
house  in  New  Freetown,  18  feet  long  and  14  feet  wide,  in  the  most  con- 
venient part  of  8d  town,  for  21  pounds  6  shillings  lawful  money,  to  be 
completed  by  the  1st  of  Oct.  next ;  the  aforesaid  house  to  be  shingled,  ye 
Ruff  and  sides,  and  seated  within,  and  a  brick  chimney." 

"Agreed  that  they  shall  have  },*  part  of  the  school  for  the  future." 

That  school-house  was  probably  located  at  or  near 
what  is  now  known  as  Mason's  Corner.  Freetown  at 
that  date  embraced  what  in  1803  became  Fall  River, 
and  from  the  vote  passed  March  15,  1762,  it  may  be 
quite  reasonably  inferred  that  the  inhabitants  of  East 
or  New  Freetown  then  equaled  only  one-eighth  part 
of  the  entire  population  of  the  town. 

"April  18, 1708. — Voted,  that  the  selectmen  supply  the  town  with  a 
grammar  schoolmaster  as  soon  as  may  be. 

"  March  20, 1709.— The  town  voted  William  Palmer  £24  15s.  and  10 
pence,  for  7  months  keeping  school;  also  paid  schoolmaster  Brown  for 
keeping  school  one  month  £1  10«. ;  schoolmaster  Crocker,  for  keeping 
school  three  months,  5  pounds  8  shillings." 

Most  of  this  labor  in  teaching  school  had  doubt- 
less been  performed  in  1768,  as  in  November,  1769, 
the  town  made  choice  of  "  an  agent  to  answer  a  pre- 


sentment of  the  grand  jury  vs.  sd  town,  because  they 
were  destitute  of  a  schoolmaster,  as  the  law  directs." 

"  Aug.  29,  1770. — Voted,  to  James  Tisdale,  for  keeping  school  twelve 
weeks  in  New  Freetown,  three  months  and  a  half  in  y«  middle  of  the 
old  part  of  the  town,  and  six  mouths  at  Assonet,  the  sum  of  24  pounds 
11  shillings." 

"Jan.  0,  1772. — Voted,  that  Mr.  Shadrach  Winslow  shall  be  the  town's 
grammar  schoolmaster  for  two  months  at  40  shillings  per  month,  and  0 
shillings  per  week  for  his  board." 

Shadrach  Winslow  was  a  son  of  Lieut.-Col.  James 
Winslow,  of  Freetown,  and  wife,  Charity  Hodges, 
and  born  Dec.  17,  1750.  He  was  a  graduate  of  Yale 
College,  studied  medicine,  and  settled  for  practice  in 
Foxborough.  The  town, on  the  17th  day  of  May,  1773, 
voted  to  build  a  school-house  at  Assonet  village,  and 
locate  it  upon  the  spot  occupied  by  the  school-house 
erected  in  1746,  that  had  then,  probably,  recently 
been  burned. 

"Voted,  to  build  ye  s'1  house  of  y°  same  bigness  of  ye  middle  school- 
house  in  sd  town. 

"Voted,  that  Capt.  George  Chase  shall  provide  timber  and  stuff  suit- 
able to  build  ye  sd  house,  and  to  build  it  at  as  low  an  expense  as  he  pos- 
sibly can. 

"  Chose  Joshua  Howard  Brett  the  town's  schoolmaster,  and  voted  to 
release  him  from  town-rate." 

That  school-house  remained  in  the  possession  of 
the  town  until  Aug.  7,  1809,  when  disposed  of  at  pub- 
lic auction  for  the  sum  of  forty  dollars.  Joshua 
Howard  Brett,  the  town's  schoolmaster,  was  a  son  of 
the  Rev.  Silas  Brett,  and  born  June  29,  1751,  united 
in  marriage  with  Annie  Dunbar,  of  Easton,  April  4, 
1782.  He  studied  medicine,  and  for  a  time  practiced 
in  Freetown.  He  was  an  assessor  at  Freetown  two 
years,  and  on  the  18th  of  May,  1782,  elected  as  rep- 
resentative to  the  General  Court. 

July  3, 1781.  "Voted,  the  upper  school-house  at  Assonet  be  a  work- 
house to  put  the  poor  in,  and  Capt.  George  Chase  chose  to  be  overseer." 

The  bills  that  year  paid  for  the  support  of  the  poor 
appear  to  have  amounted  to  the  sum  of  four  hundred 
and  sixteen  dollars. 

"March  18, 1782.  Voted,  that  the  poor  of  Freetown  that  are  upon  the 
town  should  be  put  into  the  school-house  near  Assonet  bridge,  except 
the  Widow  Davis'  family." 

"August,  1784.  Voted,  to  reconsider  that  vote  about  the  school-houne 
for  the  poor.    Then  voted  to  put  the  poor  out  to  the  lowest  bidder." 

Dec.  9,  1791.  The  town  of  Freetown  was  divided 
into  seven  school  districts,  when  it  was  decided  that 
the  size  of  each  school-house  built  or  to  be  built, 
together  with  the  number  of  families  in  each  district, 
should  be  as  follows: 

District.  House.  Families. 

No.  1 24  by  20  47 

No.  2 24  by  20  52 

No.  3 24  by  20  50 

No.  4 25^by20K  58 

No  5  22  bv  18  40 

No.  6 22  by  18  40 

No.  7 21  by  17  38 

Districts  Nos.  1  and  7  were  in  what  afterwards  be- 
came Fall  River;  District  No.  4  at  Assonet;  District 
No.  5   included   Slab    Bridge,  Quanapang,  and  the 


300 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL  COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Backside,  leaving  the  family  of  Ashley  at  option  to 
send  to  which  district  he  pleases ;  District  No.  6  to 
include  all  the  inhabitants  to  ye  eastward  of  Bolton's 
cedar  swamp,  and  also  to  include  ye  family  of  Ben- 
jamin Westcoat,  Mr.  Rounseville,  Levi  Rounseville, 
Thomas  Rounseville,  and  Philip  Rounseville. 

"  Abraham  Ashley,  Joshua  Lawrence,  Edward  Chase,  are  a  committee 
to  conduct  ye  matter  respecting  building  a  school-house  in  ye  district 
to  which  they  belong." 

It  was  at  the  same  time  agreed  that  schools  should 
be  kept  as  follows  : 

"In  District  No.  1,  1  month  and  3  weeks. 

it  t<  tt      9    -i  K  tt     o  it 

it  Cl  <t       o    -I  it  it    o  it 

"    4,  2  months. 
"        "         "    5,  1  month  and  2  weeks. 
"         tt  "61       u  "   2       " 

it  tl  tt      7    i  ti  it    9  it 

"  Voted,  yt  ye  Neighborhood  of  Mr.  Wilson's  shall  have  their  money 
and  help  themselves  to  schooling. 

"Voted,  Nath'l  Morton  (3d)  to  see  to  repairing  of  ye  schoolhouse  in 
Dist.  No.  6. 

"  Sept.  21,  1795.  Voted,  that  Nathaniel  Morton,  Jr.,  Esq'r,  Benjamin 
Durfee,  and  Col.  Benjamin  Weaver,  be  a  committee  to  examine  into 
the  state  of  the  schools  within  the  town  and  make  a  report  at  the  next 
meeting. 

"Voted,  that  Job  Morton,  Col.  Benjamin  Weaver,  and  Dr.  John  Turner, 
Jr.,  be  a  committee  to  examine  the  qualifications  of,  and  agree  with  such 
persons  as  they  may  think  proper,  to  employ  as  teachers  of  the  public 
schools  within  the  town  the  year  ensuing. 

"  William  Ennis,  Town  Clerk." 

"  November,  1800.  Voted,  there  be  a  committee  appointed  respecting 
schools  and  arranging  matters  and  things,  and  see  in  what  districts 
schooling  is  due. 

"  Voted  that  Nath'l  Morton,  Esq'r,  Col.  Benjamin  Weaver,  and  Simeon 
Borden  be  that  committee. 

'Benjamin  Porter,  Jr.,  Town  Clerk." 

"  Aug.  10,  1802.  The  committee  appointed  to  ex- 
amine and  ascertain  the  amount  of  schooling  due  to 
each  district  up  to  Dec.  3],  1801,  report  as  follows: 

"  Due  to  District  No.  1,  5  months,  24  days. 


tt 

t( 

tt 

tt 

2,2 

3     " 

tt 

tt 

" 

tt 

3,5 

4     " 

u 

tt 

tt 

tt 

4,3 

18     " 

tt 

tt 

tt 

tt 

5, 1  month, 

23    " 

tt 

tt 

tt 

tt 

G,  1 

12     " 

(t 

tt 

tt 

It 

7,  7  months 

16    " 

tt 

tt 

tt 

ft 

8,  14  days. 

it 

tt 

tt 

ft 

9,  1  month, 

5  days. 

tt 

t( 

tt 

ft 

10,  23  days. 

"Benjamin  Weaver, 
"Simeon  Borden, 
"Nath'l  Morton,  Jr.,  Committee. 
"Job  Peirce,  Jr.,  Town  Clerk." 

"  April  2,  1804.  Chose  Cols.  Benjamin  Weaver,  William  Rounseville, 
and  Washington  Hathaway  as  a  committee  to  inspect  all  the  town 
schools  that  are  kept  in  this  town. 

"  Eben'r  Peirce,  Town  Clerk." 

"  Nov.  22,  1804.  Voted  to  double  the  school  money  in  each  district 
from  this  time. 

"  Eben'r  Peirce,  Town  Clerk." 

"  Aug.  5,  1805.  Voted  to  raise  $300  to  defray  our  towu  school  charges; 
and  it  is  to  be  paid  into  the  treasury  by  the  first  day  of  November 
next." 

"  Voted  to  accept  the  report  of  the  school  committee  as  follows:  For 
arrears  of  schooling  since  the  last  adjustment  in  1801  up  to  the  close  of 
the  present  year,  1805  : 


Due  to  South  District,  now  No.  1,  $187.91 

"       Assonet  West,      "       "     2,      52.38 

"      Assonet  East,        "      "    3,     41.89 

"      late  No.  9,  "      "    4,     74.17 

"      "  10,  "       "     5,      59.15 

"      "     5,  "      "     6,     24.60 

f      tt    8j  .t      tt     7>     4920 

"      "     6,  "       "     8,      54.55 

"  Benjamin  Weaver, 
"  Job  Morton, 

"  Committee. 
"Eben'r  Peirce,  Town  Clerk." 

"  The  committee  appointed  to  revise  the  school  districts  in  the  town 
of  Freetown  and  report  how  much  money  each  district  shall  receive 
yearly,  in  lieu  of  the  time  heretofore  allowed  them,  having  attended  the 
service  assigned  them,  offer  the  following  report: 

"  That  from  and  after  the  close  of  the  present  year,  1805,  each  district 
shall  receive  yearly  as  follows: 

South  District,  now  No.  1,  58  families,  $103.84 
Late  Assonet  West,      "    2, 36        "  64.62 

"  "         East,       "     3,32         "  59.15 

"     No.  9,  now  "     4,  15        "  27.96 

"       "  10,     "  "     5,  28        "  49.43 

"       "     5,     •'  "     6,33        "  51.33 

"       "     8,     "  "     7,20         "  31.00 

"      "    6,    "  "    8,  45        "  70.58 

"Oct.  19,  1805. 

"  Benjamin  Weaver, 
"  Charles  Strange, 
"  Job  Morton, 

"  Committee. 
"  Eben'r  Peirce,  Town  Clerk." 

"  May  5,  1806.  Voted,  that  the  one  half  only  of  the  monies  heretofore 
appropriated  for  the  use  and  support  of  public  schools  the  last  year  be 
devoted  to  that  use  the  present  year. 

"  William  Pratt,  Town  Clerk." 

"  Nov.  3, 1806.  Voted,  that  Cols.  Benjamin  Weaver,  Nathaniel  Morton, 
Esq.,  and  Capt.  Charles  Strange  be  and  they  hereby  are  appointed  a 
committee  to  inquire  into  the  situation  of  the  old  school-house  lot,  in 
order  to  ascertain  by  what  title  said  town  holds  the  same;  whether 
they  have  a  right  to  alienate  said  lot;  if  so,  for  said  committee  to  de- 
termine on  what  conditions  the  said  lot  and  school-house  can  be  dis- 
posed of." 

"Aug.  7,  1809.  The  school-house  and  lot  was  now  exposed  to  sale  by 
the  selectmen  pursuant  to  order  of  the  town  at  a  former  meeting,  and 
struck  off  to  Richard  Clarke,  who,  being  the  highest  bidder,  for  the 
consideration  of  three  hundred  and  ninety  dollars,  the  town  to  give  a 
deed  and  take  security  payable  ou  the  20th  day  of  May  next,  till  which 
time  said  town  to  improve  said  house  at  their  own  risk,  calculated  and 
valued  by  mutual  agreement  at  forty  dollars. 

"  William  Pratt,  Town  Clerk." 

This  lot  of  land  was  the  same  that  the  town  pur- 
chased of  Ephraim  Tisdale  in  1746,  and  whereon  he 
built  that  year  for  the  town  a  school-house  that  tra- 
dition saith  was  destroyed  by  fire  some  twenty-seven 
years  later.  Capt.  George  Chase  as  an  agent  of  the 
town  erected  another  school-house  upon  the  spot  in 
or  near  the  year  1773,  which  school-house,  together 
with  the  lot,  was  disposed  of  by  the  town  at  public 
auction  Aug.  7,  1809.  In  1809  the  town  voted  to 
raise  and  appropriate  four  hundred  and  fifty-seven 
dollars  and  ninety-one  cents  for  the  support  of  public 
school,  and  this  was  repeated  in  1810. 

"April  19,  1814.  Voted,  that  Capt.  J.  Strange,  Maj.  Joseph  Weaver, 
Capt.  Benjamin  H.  Lawton,  Mr.  Edmund  Peirce,  Capt.  Lynde  Hatha- 
way, Job  Morton,  Esq.,  Deacon  Abraham  Ashley,  and  Mr.  Josiah  De 
Maranville  be  a  committee  to  divide,  sub-divide,  and  revise  the  school 
districts,  as,  on  a  review  of  the  same,  shall  be  found  indispensable." 

"  Mr.  Hercules  Cushmau,  Maj.  Joseph  Weaver,  aud  Robert  Strobridge 
were  chosen  a  committee  for  examining  schoolmasters  and  visiting 


FREETOWN. 


301 


((  ct 


CC  l( 


((  (c 


schools  in  the  old  part  of  the  town.   Job  Morton,  Esq.,  William  Rounse- 
ville,  Esq.,  and  Malachi  White  for  New  Freetown. 

"William  Pkatt,  Town  Clerk." 

Mr.  Hercules  Cushman  was  a  lawyer  then  recently 
come  to  practice  in  town,  and  representative  for  several 
years  to  the  General  Court.  In  1821  he  was  made  col- 
onel of  a  regiment,  and  in  1822  elected  a  member  of  the 
Governor's  Council.  Maj.  Joseph  Weaver  was  a  son 
of  Col.  Benjamin  Weaver  and  wife,  Amy  Brownell.  He 
was  commissioned  captain  in  1811,  promoted  to  major 
in  1812,  and  died  in  December,  1814.  Robert  Stro- 
bridge  was  elected  four  times  to  the  General  Court, 
and  he  was  postmaster  at  Assonet  village  from  1817 
until  his  death,  July  28,  1822.  Job  Morton,  Esq., 
was  elected  to  the  General  Court  eleven  years,  and 
William  Rounseville,  Esq.,  elected  to  the  same  posi- 
tion ten  years  in  succession.  A  committee  appointed 
to  regulate  the  school  districts  in  Freetown,  on  the 
1st  day  of  January,  1820,  reported  as  follows : 

"  District  No.  1  and  2,  40  families,  entitled  to  $53.98 
tt  it  o   09         «  "         »     <?q  73 

4,24  "  "  "  32.43 

5, 34  "  "  "  45.90 

6.37  "  "  "  49.94 

7.38  "  "  "  51.28 

8.18  "  "  "  16.26 

9.19  "  "  "  25.67 
10,13  "  "  "  17.61 
11,  18  "  "  "  24.33 

"  "  12,  13        "  "        "     48.54 

"  "  13,  46        "  "        "     62.06 

"  Benjamin  Weaver, 

"Job  Terry, 

"Silas  Terry, 

"Earl  Sampson,  Committee. 

"William  Pratt,  Town  Clerk.'" 

The  custom  of  electing  a  general  school  committee 
annually  was  commenced  in  Freetown,  April  14, 
1827,  that  committee  for  ten  years  being  made  to 
consist  of  five  persons,  when  it  was  reduced  to  three 
persons.  For  something  more  than  twenty  years 
the  school  committee  have  been  chosen  to  serve 
three  years,  one  of  the  three  members  being  elected 
each  year. 

Formerly  each  school  district  owned  the  school- 
house  used  by  such  district,  but  now  all  the  school- 
houses  are  owned  by  the  town. 

There  are  now  seven  school-houses  in  town,  viz. : 
three  in  Old  or  West  Freetown  and  four  in  New  or 
East  Freetown. 

Water  Privileges  and  Manufactories. — The  first 
dam  across  Assonet  River  was  probably  that  upon 
which  Thomas  Winslow's  grist-mill  now  stands,  and 
was  constructed  in  or  about  the  year  1695.  The 
water  at  that  point  appears  to  have  at  first  been  util- 
ized to  carry  a  saw-mill,  to  which  was  subsequently 
added  a  fulling-mill,  grist-mill,  and  machinery  for 
carding  wool.  The  second  was  that  which  still  con- 
tinues to  be  called  the  "  forge  dam,"  although  no 
forge  has  been  in  operation  there  for  more  than  half 
a  century.  This  dam  was  erected  in  or  near  the  year 
1704,  and  was  built  expressly  for  a  forge  where  iron 


ore  dug  in  the  vicinity  was  for  nearly  a  century 
wrought  into  iron  bars.  Succeeding  the  forge  was  a 
grist-mill,  a  manufactory  of  cutlery,  and  a  nail-factory, 
all  of  which  have  now  ceased  to  operate,  and  the  valu- 
able privilege  for  several  years  has  been  lying  idle. 

The  third  dam  was  that  at  Assonet  village,  built 
near  the  year  1710,  and  a  grist-mill  located  thereon, 
added  to  which  is  now  operated  a  saw-mill,  box- 
board  and  shingle  mill..  Indian  corn  has  here  been 
ground  probably  every  year  for  nearly  or  quite  one 
hundred  and  seventy-five  years,  and  boards  and  tim- 
bers sawed  for  more  than  a  century.  The  box-board 
and  shingle  saws  have  recently  been  added.  Still 
higher  up  the  stream  than  the  "  forge  dam,"  and  a 
little  below  what  is  known  as  the  "  Howland  saw- 
mill," tradition  saith  that  Philip  Rounsevill  put  up 
a  dam,  some  traces  of  which  still  remain.  He  prob- 
ably erected  and  for  a  time  operated  a  saw-mill 
thereon. 

The  fifth  dam  was  probably  that  whereon  the 
bleachery  of  Henry  Winslow  and  Bradford  G.  Por- 
ter now  stands.  The  water  at  that  place  was  for  many 
years  used  to  carry  a  grist-mill  and  a  trip-hammer, 
and  for  a  few  years  a  nail-factory. 

Many  years  since  a  dam  was  built  and  a  saw-mill 
erected  thereon,  the  slabs  sawn  from  the  logs  being 
used  first  to  build  and  afterwards  to  repair  a  bridge 
that  stood  a  little  below  the  dam,  which  circumstances 
caused  the  bridge  to  acquire  the  name  of  the  materials 
of  which  it  was  principally  constructed  and  main- 
tained, and  the  locality  to  receive  the  still  familiar 
name  of  "Slab  Bridge."  No  mill  is  operated  there 
at  the  present  time. 

Next  probably  in  date  of  construction  was  the  dam 
upon  which  the  Howland  saw-mill,  so  called,  stands, 
and  where  probably  the  water-power  has  never  been 
utilized  save  to  saw  timber  and  boards  with  the  old- 
fashioned  "  up  and  down  saw."  Whether  a  little  after 
or  a  little  before  the  Slab  Bridge  dam  this  of  the  How- 
land saw-mill  was  built  it  is  not  now  easy,  if,  in  fact, 
possible,  to  determine.  The  dam  near  the  residence 
of  Joseph  R.  Dunham  is  probably  of  a  more  modern 
construction.  Here  has  been  operated  a  saw-mill  and 
a  shingle-mill,  now  used  to  saw  box-boards.  The 
dam  near  Maple-tree  Bridge  was  erected  in  or  about 
1827,  and  for  several  years  the  water-power  used  to 
carry  a  grist-mill,  now  used  for  a  box-board  and 
shingle-mill. 

Upon  the  falls  of  Quequechan,  or  Fall  River,  Ben- 
jamin Church,  the  renowned  Indian  hunter,  had  mills 
of  some  kind  that  commenced  to  be  operated  in  or 
about  the  year  1702.  Doubtless  one  of  these  was  a 
saw-mill,  and  probably  to  this  was  added  a  grist-mill, 
and  before  that  section,  now  Fall  River,  was  set  off' 
from  Freetown  the  water  at  that  point  may  perhaps 
have  been  utilized  for  some  other  purposes,  though 
not  for  the  manufacture  of  cotton  goods.  A  small 
stream,  known  as  "Mill  Brook,"  that  empties  itself 
into  Assonet  River  through  what  is  usually  known  as 


302 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


"Payne's  Cove,"  came  into  early  use  as  a  motive- 
power.  At  a  locality  known  as  the  "Baker  Place"  a 
dam  was  erected  across  this  Mill  Brook,  and  mills  of 
some  kind  operated  thereon  more  than  a  century  and 
a  quarter  ago.  A  saw-mill  built  thereon  nearly  a 
hundred  years  ago  has  been  in  active  operation  since 
the  memory  of  many  now  living.  Higher  up  the 
stream,  and  within  the  present  limits  of  Fall  River, 
at  what  is  sometimes  called  the  "  Wardell  Neighbor- 
hood," is  a  dam  on  which  for  many  years  has  been 
operated  a  saw-mill.  Lower  down  upon  this  stream, 
near  the  head  of  Payne's  Cove,  receiving  also  the 
waters  of  another  brook,  was  many  years  since  erected 
a  dam,  on  which  were  operated  a  saw-mill  and  a  grist- 
mill and  afterwards  a  small  foundry  and  next  a  bleach- 
ery,  and  it  is  that  upon  which  now  stands  the  Crystal 
Spring  Bleachery,  so  called.  Upon  the  brook  just 
named  many  years  ago  was  erected  a  dam,  so  long 
since  that  neither  records  nor  tradition  define  the 
date  of  its  construction.  Here  was  probably  oper- 
ated a  saw-mill,  and  for  many  years  it  remained  in 
utter  disuse.  In  1829  a  cupola  furnace  was  erected 
thereon,  afterward  used  for  the  purposes  of  a  bleach- 
ery, and  finally  accidentally  burned,  and  this  dam  has 
recently  been  removed  to  give  place  to  the  erection  of 
a  reservoir  for  the  "  Crystal  Spring  Bleachery." 

Upon  what  was  called  "  Fall  Brook,"  a  stream  in 
the  east  part  of  Freetown  that  discharges  itself  into 
the  Long  Pond,  so  called,  was  erected  in  or  near  the 
year  1784  a  blastfurnace,  where  iron  ore  was  not  only 
smelted  but  also  manufactured  into  what  then  went 
under  the  general  name  of  hollow-ware.  The  original 
projectors  of  this  enterprise  were  Capt.  Levi  Rounse- 
vill,  Philip  Rounsevill,  and  Capt.  Abraham  Morton, 
of  East  Freetown ;  Capt.  Job  Peirce  and  Joseph 
Leonard  (2d),  of  Middleborough ;  and  Seth  Keith, 
of  Bridgewater.  Capt.  Levi  Rounsevill,  Capt.  Job 
Peirce,  and  Seth  Keith  owned  a  quarter  interest  each, 
and  Philip  Rounsevill,  Capt.  Abraham  Morton,  and 
Joseph  Leonard  (2d)  owned  the  other  quarter,  or  one- 
twelfth  part  each.  Fuel  in  East  Freetown  woods  was 
then  abundant  and  readily  and  cheaply  obtained,  and 
much  of  the  iron  ore  was  taken  from  Assawamset 
Pond,  in  Middleborough.  The  small  village  that  as  a 
consequence  thus  grew  up  near  by  came,  as  naturally 
it  would,  to  be  called  the  "  Furnace  Village'1''  or  "Fur- 
nace Neighborhood"  which  names  still  serve  to  desig- 
nate the  locality  and  are  in  familiar  use,  although  the 
furnace,  either  as  a  blast  or  cupola,  has  long  since 
ceased  to  operate.  A  few  years  after  its  erection  this 
furnace  came  to  be  owned  almost  exclusively  by  mem- 
bers of  the  Rounsevill  family,  and  hence  came  to  be 
called  the  "  Rounsevill  Furnace/' 

In  1811,  James  Alger,  of  Bridgewater,  Gen.  Crom- 
well Washburn,  of  Taunton,  and  Col.  Salmon  Fobes, 
of  Bridgewater,  purchased  three-fourths  of  this  fur- 
nace, and  in  1814,  James  Alger  bought  the  remaining 
quarter,  Gen.  Washburn  at  the  same  time  disposing 
of  his  share  to   Alger  &  Fobes.     Nayum  Alger,  of 


Bridgewater,  and  afterwards  of  Freetown,  became 
agent  and  manager,  and  the  firm  of  Alger  &  Fobes 
also,  besides  carrying  on  the  furnace,  ran  two  saw- 
mills and  a  grist-mill,  a  blacksmith-shop,  and  a  coun- 
try store,  and  thus  furnishing  employment  for  some 
fifty  men.  In  1818  this  property  changed  owners, 
being  principally,  if  not,  in  fact,  wholly  purchased  by 
Samuel  Slater,  David  Wilkinson,  and  Charles  Dyer, 
of  Providence,  and  Benjamin  Dyer,  of  Cranston,  R.  I., 
and  these  parties  took  upon  themselves  the  name  of 
"  Providence  Foundry  Company,"  employing  Capt. 
Calvin  Thomas,  of  Pembroke,  as  superintendent,  who 
also  became  a  part  owner.  The  old  blast  furnace  was 
then  or  soon  after  demolished,  and  its  place  supplied 
by  a  cupola  furnace,  and  the  smelting  of  iron  ore 
taken  from  the  Assawamset  Pond  and  other  places 
adjacent  abandoned,  the  iron  used  being  purchased 
in  "  pigs,"  brought  from  New  Jersey  to  Assonet  per 
water  carriage,  and  from  thence  transported  by  ox- 
teams  to  East  Freetown.  Succeeding  this  furnace 
business  at  this  water  privilege  was  a  sash-,  door-,  and 
blind-factory  that  has  not  been  in  operation  for  sev- 
eral years,  and  the  motive-power  is  now  utilized  to 
carry  a  saw-mill. 

Higher  up  this  stream  and  near  the  railroad  depot 
is  an  ancient  dam,  whereon  formerly  stood  a  saw-mill, 
but  now  left  unoccupied,  and  at  a  point  still  higher, 
at  a  place  known  as  Goshem,  are  traces  of  a  mill- 
dam,  wherein  doubtless  once  were  to  be  heard  the 
sounds,  echoes,  and  re-echoes  of  busy  life,  and  the 
cheering  hum  of  industry,  but  now  left  silent  as  the 
grave. 

Proceeding  still  higher  up  the  stream  we  come  first 
to  Jonathan  R.  Gurney's,  and  last  to  Paul  M. 
Burns'  mill-dams,  at  both  of  which  places  large 
quantities  of  box-boards  are  annually  sawn. 

The  lowest  dam  upon  this  East  Freetown  stream  is 
that  near  the  stone  bridge,  and  whereon  is  a  box- 
board  mill  and  a  grist-mill,  owned  and  operated  by 
Capt.  Marcus  M.  Rounsevill  and  G.  S.  Allen. 

Physicians. — Dr.  Richard  Winslow  was  one  of  the 
earliest,  and  perhaps  the  first,  medical  practitioner 
who  settled  in  Freetown.  He  was  a  son  of  Lieut.  Job 
Winslow,  of  Swansea,  and  afterwards  of  Freetown, 
who  resided  in  Freetown  until  his  death,  July  14, 
1720.  Dr.  Richard  Winslow  appears  to  have  left 
Freetown  and  removed  to  Leicester.  His  will  bore 
date  of  Aug.  7,  1727,  and  was  proved  in  Probate  Court 
April  16,  1728. 

Dr.  John  Turner  resided  in  that  part  of  Freetown 
which  in  February,  1803,  became  Fall  River.  His 
former  residence  was  in  what  is  now  known  as  Bow- 
en  ville.  He  married  Patience,  a  daughter  of  Samuel 
Gardiner,  of  Swansea.  Dr.  Turner  and  wife  were 
among  the  original  members  of  the  Congregational 
Church  gathered  at  Freetown  in  1747.  Dr.  Turner 
was  one  of  the  four  persons  who  made  to  that  church 
the  gift  of  a  farm  for  a  parsonage. 

Dr.  John  Turner,  Jr.,  was  a  son  of  Dr.  John  Turner 


FREETOWN. 


303 


and    wife    Patience   Gardiner,  and   born  March  22, 
1748.     He  resided  in  that  part  now  Fall  River. 

Dr.  Shadrach  Winslow  was  a  son  of  Lieut.-Col. 
James  Winslow  and  wife  Charity  Hodges,  and  born 
Dec.  17,  1750.  He  graduated  at  Yale  College.  Prob- 
ably practiced  for  but  a  short  time  in  Freetown,  and 
located  as  a  physician  in  Foxborougb.  He  taught 
school  at  Freetown  in  1772. 

Dr.  Joshua  Howard  Brett  was  a  son  of  Rev.  Silas 
Brett,  and  born  June  29,  1751.  Taught  school  at 
Freetown  in  1773.  He  was  elected  representative  to 
the  General  Court  May  18, 1782.  Assessor  two  years, 
viz. :  1785  and  1786. 

Dr.  Cormick  lived  in  a  house  that  occupied  the 
site  of  the  former  residence  of  Philip  J.  Tripp,  late 
of  Freetown,  deceased.  Dr.  Cormick  took  to  wife 
Lois  Chase.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Ammi  Chase. 
Dr.  Cormick  did  not  practice  long  in  Freetown. 

Dr.  Jesse  Bullock  was  a  native  of  Rehoboth.  Dr. 
Bullock  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mehitabel  Win- 
slow,  of  Freetown,  Oct.  1,  1765.  She  was  a  daughter 
of  Lieut.-Col.  James  Winslow,  and  born  April  22, 
1739.  She  died  July  21,  1827.  Dr.  Bullock  died 
Dec.  31,  1805,  in  the  sixty-fifth  year  of  his  age.  At 
the  commencement  of  the  war  of  American  Revolu- 
tion Dr.  Bullock  was  one  of  the  leading  Tories  at  j 
Freetown.  He  lived  in  the  house  now  owned  and 
occupied  by  Mrs.  James  Wetherill. 

Dr.  William  Carpenter  was  a  native  of  Rehoboth, 
and  a  nephew  of  Dr.  Jesse  Bullock.  He  owned  and 
occupied  the  next  house  northerly  of  the  Dr.  Bullock 
place. 

Dr.  Nicholas  Hatheway  was  born  Saturday,  Dec. 
4, 1773;  practiced  medicine  at  Freetown  nearly  twenty 
years ;  removed  to  the  State  of  Ohio  in  1817.  He 
died  at  Milford,  in  Union  County,  Ohio,  Aug.  24, 
1848.  In  the  early  part  of  the  year  1800  he  opened 
in  Freetown  a  hospital  for  the  treatment  of  small- 
pox, and  treated  so  successfully  as  not  to  lose  a 
patient. 

Dr.  Seth  P.  Williams  was  a  native  of  Dighton. 
He  commenced  practice  at  Freetown  in  or  about  1817, 
and  continued  it  through  life. 

Dr.  Thomas  Bump  was  a  native  of  Middleborough. 
He  was  a  graduate  of  Brown  University,  at  Provi- 
dence, R.  L,  and  studied  medicine  with  Dr.  Acad 
Thompson,  of  Middleborough,  and  settled  for  prac- 
tice at  Freetown  in  or  near  1817.  He  was  town  clerk 
of  Freetown,  selectman,  and  a  representative  to  the 
General  Court.  Practiced  medicine  at  Freetown  nearly 
sixty  years  ;  was  regarded  as  eminently  skillful  in  his 
profession. 

Dr.  Oliver  Cushing  practiced  for  a  brief  period  in 
this  town. 

Dr.  Bradford  Braley  was  a  native  of  Freetown.  He 
commenced  first  as  a  nurse  of  the  sick  during  the 
prevalence  of  a  fearful  epidemic  that  prevailed  ex- 
tensively in  1816,  called  the  "  cold  plague."  He  ere 
long  came  to  practice  as  a  physician,  in  which  he 


continued  until  his  death,  Feb.  7,  1873,  when,  being 
on  his  way  to  visit  a  patient,  a  breaking  of  his  car- 
riage caused  him  to  fall,  resulting  in  instant  death. 
He  had  practiced  the  healing  art  about  fifty-six  years. 
He  was  twice  elected  as  a  member  of  the  General 
Court. 

Dr.  Seth  Pratt  came  to  Freetown  from  Mynckville, 
then  in  East  Taunton  (now  Berkley).  He  had  an  office 
in  Assonet  village,  practiced  in  this  town  and  vicinity 
about  three  years,  when  his  health  became  impaired, 
and  he  died  in  1836. 

Dr.  Barnaby  W.  Hathaway  was  a  native  of  Free- 
town. He  was  a  son  of  John  Hathaway  and  wife 
Betsey  Winslow,  and  born  Nov.  11, 1812.  He  studied 
medicine  with  Dr.  Seth  Pratt,  and  commenced  prac- 
tice in  Freetown,  and  a  few  years  later  removed  to 
Fall  River,  and  from  thence  to  California,  where  he 
died. 

Dr.  Thomas  C.  Nichols  was  a  native  of  Freetown. 
He  was  a  son  of  John  Nichols  and  wife  Margaret 
Winslow,  and  born  Nov.  9, 1819.  He  practiced  medi- 
cine at  Freetown  several  years,  and  relinquishing  that 
went  into  the  manufacture  of  sporting  goods.  Was 
town  clerk  of  Freetown  ten  years,  and  twice  elected 
as  a  representative  to  the  General  Court.     He  died. 

Dr.  Henry  H.  Sproat  is  a  native  of  Middleborough, 
son  of  Capt.  Earl  Sproat. 

Town  Clerks  of  Freetown.— For  several  years 
after  Freetown  was  incorporated  no  public  records 
appear  to  have  been  kept,  or,  if  kept,  have  failed  to 
be  preserved ;  and  in  what  were  kept  it  is  difficult,  if 
not  indeed  impossible,  to  determine  how  long  some  of 
the  earliest  clerks  served. 

Lieut.  Samuel  Gardiner,  1688;  Lieut.  Job  Winslow;  Joshua  Tisdale, 
March  30,  1696,  four  years;  Thomas  King,  March  29, 1700,  one  year; 
John  Reed,  Jr.,  March  31,  1701,  fifteen  years;  Lieut.  Robert  Durfee, 
March  29,  1716,  one  year;  John  Reed,  March  25,  1717,  two  years; 
Jonathan  Dodson,  March  25,  1719,  one  year;  John  Reed,  March  29, 
1720,  eighteen  years  ;  Lieut.  Joseph  Reed,  March,  1738,  seven  years; 
Capt.  Ambrose  Barnaby,  March  4,  1745,  six  years ;  Maj.  Abiel  Terry, 
May  20,  1751,  twelve  years;  Capt.  Ambrose  Barnaby,  March  21, 
1763,  four  years:  Zebadee  Terry,  March  16,  1767,  eight  years; 
Samuel  Barnaby,  March  6, 1775,  five  years ;  Lieut.  Philip  Hathaway, 
Jr.,  July  10,  1780,  eight  years;  Ephraim  Winslow,  April  7,  17>8, 
seven  years;  Lieut.  William  Ennis,  March  23,  1795,  five  years;  Ben- 
jamin Porter,  Jr.,  April  7,  ISO  ,  one  year;  Ebenezer  Peirce,  April  6, 
1801,  one  year;  Capt.  Job  Pierce,  Jr.,  April  5,  1802,  one  year;  Eben- 
ezer Peirce,  April  4,  1803,  three  years  ;  Lieut.  William  Pratt,  April 
7,  1806,  eighteen  years;  Dr.  Thomas  Bump,  April  5,  1824,  two  years ; 
James  Taylor,  April  3,  1826,  one  year;  John  T.  Lawton,  April  2, 
1827,  two  years;  Ephraim  Atwood,  April  6,  1829,  three  years;  Dr. 
Thomas  Bump,  March  5,  1832,  three  years;  Col.  Ephraim  Winslow, 
March  2,  1835,  two  years;  Alden  Hathaway,  Jr.,  March  6,  1837,  three 
years;  Davis  J.  Barrows,  March  2,  1840,  two  years;  Joseph  B. 
Weaver,  Esq.,  March  7,  1842,  seven  years ;  Dr.  Thomas  G.  Nichols, 
Nov.  7,  1848,  ten  years;  S.  T.  Richmond,  March  14,  1859,  four  years; 
George  W.  Hall,  March,  1863,  one  year;  D.  C.  II.  Hathaway,  March, 
1864,  two  years;  Humphrey  A.  Francis,  March,  1875,  four  years; 
Palo  Alto  Peirce,  Esq.,  March  31,  1879. 

TOWN  TREASURE  BS. 

Lieut.  Samuel  Gardiner,  May  12,  1690;  Lieut.  Josiah  Winslow,  March 
28,1704;  Lieut.  Thomas  Terry,  March  17,  1713,  seven  years;  Wil- 
liam Winslow,  March  29,  1720,  eight  years  ;  George  Winslow,  March 
4,  1728,  twenty-one  years;  Philip  Hathaway,  March  20,  1749,  three 
years;    George  Chase,  October,  1752,   two   years;  John   Winslow, 


304 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


March  18,  1754,  one  year;  Lieut.  James  Winslow,  Nov.  10,  1755; 
Nathan  Simmons,  March  21,  1763,  five  years;  William  Winslow, 
March  21, 1768,  four  years ;  Lieut.  Jonathan  Reed,  March  2,  1772, 
eightyears;  George  Winslow,  July  10, 1780,  one  year;  Lieut.  Jona- 
than Reed,  March,  1781,  two  years ;  George  Brightman,  Esq.,  Marcli, 
1783,  two  years ;  Lieut.  Philip  Hathaway,  Jr.,  March,  1785, one  year; 
Ambrose  Barnaby,  March  20, 1786,  two  years  ;  Col.  Benjamin  Weaver, 
April  7,  1788,  two  years;  Darius  Chase,  April  1,  1793,  one  year; 
Lieut.  William  Ennis,  April  7,  1800,  one  year  ;  Col.  Benjamin 
Weaver,  April  6,  1801,  eighteen  years :  Robert  Porter,  April  5,  1819, 
four  years ;  Lieut.  Philip  P.  Hathaway,  April  7, 1823,  one  year ;  George 
Pickens,  April  5,  1824,  two  years;  Joseph  Durfee,  Jr.,  April  3,  1826, 
four  years;  Elnathan  P.  Hathaway,  April  5,  1830,  one  year;  Joseph 
B.  Weaver,  April  4, 1831,  three  years  ;  Guilford  H.  Hathaway,  March 
3,  1834,  four  years  ;  Capt.  Sylvanus  Payne,  March  5,  1838,  four 
years  ;  Benjamin  Burt,  Jr.,  Sept.  24, 1842,  two  years  ;  William  Pratt 
(2d),  March  5,  1844,  one  year ;  Maj.  Ebenezer  W.  Peirce,  March  3, 
1845,  one  year;  Gideon  P.  Hathaway,  March  9,  1846,  one  year; 
Guilford  Hathaway,  March  15, 1847,  fourteen  years;  John  D.  Wil- 
son, March  10,  1861,  one  year;  James  Burr,  March,  1862,  three 
years  ;  Guilford  Hathaway,  March  20, 1865,  three  years;  Dr.  Thomas 
G.  Nichols,  March  30,  1868,  two  years;  Guilford  Hathaway,  March, 
1870,  five  years;  George  W.  Hall,  March,  1875,  two  years;  Lewis  P. 
Phillips,  March,  1877,  two  years;  Nathan  W.  Davis,  March  31, 1879, 
one  year;  John  W.  Pickens,  April  5,  1880,  two  years;  Frank  A. 
Barrows,  April  10,  1882. 

Postmasters. — There  are  two  post-offices  in  Free- 
town, one  at  Assonet  village,  in  the  old  or  west  part 
of  the  town,  and  the  other  in  the  "  Furnace  village," 
so  called,  in  East  Freetown. 

The  names  of  postmasters  of  the  office  at  Assonet 
and  terms  of  service  are  as  follows : 

Stephen  B.  Pickens,  1811-17;  Robert  Strobridge,  1817-22;  George  Pick- 
ens, 18J2-41  ;  Guilford  H.  Hathaway,  1841-45  ;  Joshua  Shove,  1845- 
72;  Daniel  L.  Johnson,  1872-82;  Elbert  E.  Winslow,  1882. 

East  Freetown.— Amos  Braley,  1811-16;  Abraham  Braley,  1816-22; 
Reuel  Washburn,  1852. 

The  office  at  East  Freetown  was  discontinued  in  or 
about  1822,  and  re-established  in  1852.  Postmasters 
Robert  Strobridge  and  Amos  Braley  died  while  hold- 
ing the  office. 

Freetown  gentlemen  who  have  been  members  of  the 
Governor's  Council,  with  dates  of  election  and  terms 
of  service : 

Thomas   Durfee,  elected  17     ,   served  years ;  Hercules   Cushman, 

elected  1826,  served  one  year;  Rufus  Bacon,  elected  1827,  served 
one  year. 

Members  of  Massachusetts  Senate. — Thomas  Durfee,  elected  17  , 
served  years ;  Nathaniel  Morton,  elected  1804,  served  five  years; 
Elnathan  P.  Hathaway,  elected  1843,  served  one  year;  Philip  J. 
Tripp,  elected  1875,  served  one  year. 

Chairman  of  County  Commissioners. — Job  Morton,  1827-28;  Rufus 
Bacon,  1828-30. 

Clerk  of  County  Courts. — Job  Morton,  appointed  in  1812. 

Members  of  Constitutional  Convention. — Samuel  Barnaby,  1779; 
Thomas  Durfee,  Richard  Borden,  December,  1789;  Nathaniel  Mor- 
ton, Earl  Tompson,  Oct.  16,  1820;  Elnathan  P.  Hathaway,  March, 
1853. 

The  first  convention  was  called  to  form  a  State  con- 
stitution, the  second  to  ratify  the  Federal  constitution, 
the  third  and  fourth  for  revising  the  State  constitu- 
tion. 

H.  Elbridge  Tinkham  in  1861  tendered  his  ser- 
vices to  the  government,  and  was  appointed  acting 
master's  mate  Dec.  12,  1861,  and  was  ordered  to  re- 
port daily  on  board  United  States  ship  "  Ohio"  for 
instruction  in  gunnery.     Feb.  8,  1862,  in  obedience 


to  orders,  reported  for  duty  on  board  United  States 
gunboat  "  Kennebec,"  and  joined  the  West  Gulf 
Squadron,  Admiral  D.  G.  Farragut  commanding. 
In  1863  was  promoted  to  acting  ensign.  While  in 
Farragut's  squadron  took  part  in  the  following  en- 
gagements: Fort  Jackson  and  St.  Philip,  Baton 
Rouge,  Vicksburg,  Port  Hudson,  and  Mobile.  At 
the  latter  place  was  wounded  by  a  shell  from  the 
rebel  ram  "  Tennessee,"  and  invalided  home.  In 
four  months  reported  for  duty,  and  was  ordered  to  the 
United  States  steamer  "Bat,"  North  Atlantic  Squadron, 
Admiral  David  D.  Porter  commanding,  and  took  part 
in  the  fight  of  Wilmington,  Cape  Fear  River ;  also 
acted  as  convoy  to  President  Lincoln  during  his  trip 
from  Washington  to  Richmond  and  back.  When  the 
"  Bat"  was  placed  out  of  commission  was  ordered  to 
the  United  States  gunboat  "  Seneca"  until  she  was 
placed  out  of  commission,  when  he  was  ordered  home 
on  "  leave."  He  was  also  attached  to  the  United 
States  ship  "  Constitution,"  to  assist  in  removing  the 
naval  academy  to  Annapolis,  Md.  After  the  war 
closed  he  made  a  two  years'  cruise  with  the  West 
India  Squadron,  Admiral  James  S.  Palmer  command- 
ing, and  on  his  return  home  was  honorably  discharged 
with  the  thanks  of  the  department,  which  discharge 
bears  date  of  May  13,  1867. 


BIOGRAPHICAL     SKETCHES. 


GUILFORD    H.  HATHAWAY, 

Guilford  H.  Hathaway  is  a  lineal  descendant  on  the 
paternal  side  from  John  Hathaway,  the  descent  being 
as  follows  :  John1,  John2,  Jacob3,  Philip4,  Philip5,  Ed- 
mund6, Guilford  H.7  On  the  maternal  side  he  is  de- 
scended from  the  same  original  John  Hathaway, 
through  John2,  Jacob3,  Meltiah4,  Rev.  Philip4,  Betsey*, 
Guilford  H.7 

Edmund  Hathaway,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born 
in  Freetown,  Mass.,  Sept.  29,  1771,  and  married  Bet- 
sey, daughter  of  Rev.  Philip  and  Abiah  (Ashley) 
Hathaway.  She  was  born  Oct.  12, 1780,  and  died  Oct. 
11,  1873,  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-three  years. 
They  had  twelve  children, — six  sons  and  six  daughters, 
— of  whom  Guilford  H.  was  the  fifth  child.  All  of 
this  large  family  lived  to  attain  their  majority,  and 
six  of  them  are  living  at  this  writing  (1883),  the 
youngest  of  whom  is  fifty-eight  years  old. 

Edmund  Hathaway  was  in  his  day  the  most  promi- 
nent business  man  of  his  town.  He  was  largely  en- 
gaged in  ship-building;  was  a  merchant  and  ship- 
master, and  carried  on  trade  with  the  West  Indies. 
In  his  varied  business  enterprises  he  was  quite  suc- 
cessful, and  exerted  a  large  influence  not  only  in  the 
town  where  he  resided  but  beyond  its  limits.  He 
was  one  of  the  original  subscribers  to  the  stock  of  the 
Fall  River  Bank,  and  one  of  its  largest  stockholders 
at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  Oct.  5,  1832. 


^fW?4£-^? 


FREETOWN. 


305 


Guilford  H.  Hathaway  was  born  in  Freetown,  May 
3,  1808.  He  was  reared  amid  the  diversified  business 
operations  carried  on  by  his  father,  and  grew  up  with 
some  practical  knowledge  of  these  various  things. 

He  attended  the  common  school,  and  at  sixteen 
went  to  Capt.  Alden  Partridge's  Military  School 
at  Norwich,  Vt.,  and  left  when  that  school  was 
transferred  to  Middletown,  Conn.  He  had  among 
others  lor  classmates  Governor  Thomas  H.  Seymour, 
of  Connecticut,  Lieutenant-Governor  Cushman,  of 
Massachusetts,  and  Gideon  Welles,  of  Connecticut, 
Secretary  of  the  Navy  under  President  Lincoln. 
When  he  was  eighteen  he  began  teaching,  and  taught 
six  consecutive  winters,  chiefly  in  Fall  River  and  in 
his  own  town.  During  this  time  he  spent  his  sum- 
mers with  his  father  in  Freetown. 

About  1830  he  was  engaged  in  merchandising  in 
Freetown,  and  followed  the  business  some  two  years, 
when  he  retired.  He  has  since  been  engaged  in  the 
same  business  as  his  father, — i.e.,  building  vessels, — in 
company  with  others.  He  has  owned  an  interest  in  a 
large  number  of  vessels  and  coasters  engaged  in  the 
whaling  trade  and  in  freighting.  In  1836  he  became 
a  director  in  the  Fall  River  (now  National)  Bank, 
which  position  he  still  retains,  being  the  oldest  living 
director.  He  was  elected  president  of  the  Fall  River 
National  Bank  in  1876,  and  still  holds  the  office.  He 
is  the  oldest  living  member  of  the  Fall  River  Savings- 
Bank,  Board  of  Investment,  and  has  been  a  member 
since  1847. 

Mr.  Hathaway  followed  in  early  life  the  political 
faith  of  his  father,  being  a  Jeffersonian  Democrat, 
and  casting  his  first  Presidential  vote  for  Gen.  Jack- 
son, whom  he  much  admired.  Soon  after,  however, 
he  united  with  the  Whigs,  and  so  became  a  Republi- 
can in  1856.  He  was  collector  of  taxes  for  Freetown 
four  years  and  selectman  of  the  town  five  years.  In 
Fall  River  he  was  an  assessor  thirteen  years  and  was 
chairman  of  the  board  during  that  period.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  General  Court  in  1837,  and  county 
commissioner  of  Bristol  County  from  1868  to  1877. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Common  Council  of  Fall 
River  in  1864  and  1865,  and  of  the  board  of  aldermen 
in  1866  and  1867. 

He  married  Betsey  Wilson,  daughter  of  Edward 
and  Hannah  Wilson,  Nov.  1,  1832.  She  was  born 
Oct.  14,  1814,  and  died  in  Fall  River,  April  9,  1865. 
Their  children  are  (1)  Othalia  W.,  (2)  Abiah,  (3) 
Edmund,  (4)  Edward  W.,  (5)  Edmund  2d,  (6)  Emma 
Florence,  (7)  Charles  G.,  all  deceased  save  Edmund 
2d  and  Emma  Florence. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hathaway  were  members  of  the 
Unitarian  Society  of  Fall  River. 

Mr.  Hathaway  was  in  former  days  a  strong  anti- 
slavery  man.  He  is  opposed  to  all  forms  of  slavery, 
an  earnest  advocate  of  temperance  and  other  reforms, 
and  a  believer  in  universal  education.  While  he 
is  cautious  and  economical,  he  is  also  liberal  towards 
all  worthy  objects  and  a  friend  to  the  poor. 
20 


CAPT.   WASHINGTON    READ. 

Capt.  Washington  Read  was  born  in  Freetown, 
Bristol  Co.,  Mass.,  July  2,  1813.  He  is  the  son  of 
John  and  Rosamond  (Hathaway)  Read,  and  grand- 
son of  William  Read,  who  was  a  farmer,  and  resided 
in  that  part  of  Freetown  which  is  now  Fall  River. 
John  Read,  father  of  Capt.  Washington,  was  a  sea 
captain,  and  most  of  his  life  was  spent  as  master  of 
vessels  in  the  merchant  service.  For  an  extended 
ancestral  history  of  the  Read  family  both  in  this 
country  and  in  Europe,  see  biography  of  Henry  C. 
Read  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

Capt.  Washington  Read  was  one  of  a  family  of 
eleven  children,  and  his  father,  not  being  in  affluent 
circumstances,  was  unable  to  give  to  all  of  his  chil- 
dren a  liberal  education.  Among  the  number  who 
received  but  limited  advantages  in  that  direction  was 
Washington.  His  life  has  chiefly  been  spent  on  the 
waters.  At  the  early  age  of  nine  years  lie  went  as 
cabin-boy  on  board  his  father's  vessel.  At  the  age  of 
thirteen  he  commanded  a  sloop  called  "  Friendship," 
which  plied  between  Fall  River,  Newport,  and  Provi- 
dence. But  it  was  at  the  age  of  fifteen  that  his  life 
as  a  sailor  began  in  earnest,  He  commenced  at  the 
lowest  round  of  the  ladder,  shipping  as  a  sailor  before 
the  mast  with  Capt.  Nathaniel  Briggs,  on  the  "Ann 
Maria,"  plying  between  Savannah,  Ga.,  and  Darien. 
He  continued  on  this  vessel  two  years,  then  shipped 
from  Providence,  R.  I.,  with  Capt,  Thomas  Andrews 
on  the  brig  "  Abeona,"  in  the  West  India  trade.  After 
two  years  on  this  vessel  he  shipped  with  the  same 
captain  as  second  mate  on  brig  "  Agenoria,"  engaged 
in  the  European  trade.  He  soon  became  first  mate, 
and  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  he  was  made  master  of 
the  brig  "Laura,"  It  would  be  idle  to  attempt  to 
follow  minutely  his  adventurous  and  constantly- 
changing  career,  but  it  may  be  of  interest  to  note  a 
few  of  the  vessels  he  has  at  different  times  com- 
manded. After  the  "Laura"  he  commanded  the 
"  New  England,"  in  the  New  York  and  West  India 
trade.  Sept.  20,  1826,  he  took  command  of  the 
"Friendship;"  Nov.  27,  1827,  the  "  Victory;"  June 
10,  1835,  the  schooner  "Florida;"  Sept.  2,  1835,  the 
brig  "  Laurel ;"  March  27,  1836,  he  took  charge  of 
the  "New  England  ;"  July  20,  1838,  the  "  Agenoria." 
In  1840  he  commanded  the  "  Nicholas  Brown,"  and 
afterwards  the  bark  "  AVilliam  and  James"  in  the 
European  trade.  He  then  for  three  years  com- 
manded the  "John  P.  Harward."  He  then  had  a 
ship  built  at  Swansea  named  for  his  wife  the  "Caro- 
line Read."  In  this  vessel,  in  1850,  he  circumnavi- 
gated the  globe.  Starting  from  New  York  lie  doubled 
Cape  Horn  to  San  Francisco ;  thence  to  Singapore, 
E.  I. ;  thence  to  Calcutta ;  then  around  Cape  of  Good 
Hope  to  London ;  from  there  home  to  New  York. 
The  trip  occupied  seventeen  months. 

His  next  vessel  was  the  ship  "  Pride  of  the  Ocean  ;" 
in  her  he  made  one  voyage  to  London,  and  sold  her 
there  to  a  London  house  for  use  in  the  Crimean  war. 


306 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Returning  to  New  York  he  built  the  "  Belle  of  the 
Ocean,"  and  for  a  while  employed  her  as  a  packet 
chiefly  between  Philadelphia  and  Liverpool.  During 
the  war  of  the  American  rebellion  he  sold  her  to  an 
English  house.  He  then  went  to  Hull,  England,  and 
took  charge  of  the  ship  "  Argosa ;"  sailed  in  her  to 
Callao,  Peru,  thence  back  to  Hamburg,  thence  to 
Newport,  England,  and  thence  to  New  York.  After 
a  brief  intermission  he  went  to  Falmouth,  England, 
and  again  took  charge  of  the  "  Argosa  ;"  took  her  to 
Nazarre,  France,  where  he  superintended  the  repair- 
ing of  her,  then  sent  her  to  San  Francisco,  Cal.,  and 
returned  to  New  York.  This  was  Capt.  Read's  last 
voyage,  and  was  in  1874. 

It  is  worthy  of  note  that  in  all  his  extensive  and 
varied  experience  as  commander,  he  never  lost  a  ves- 
sel, and  always  returned  in  the  same  ship  he  went 
out  unless  she  was  sold.  He  has  never  grounded  or 
put  ashore,  although  he  has  frequently  lost  both  spars 
and  sails.  He  has  rescued  many  survivors  from  nu- 
merous wrecks,  and  has  frequently  periled  his  life  to 
save  that  of  others.  On  one  occasion,  after  he  had 
rescued,  during  a  terrific  gale,  fifty-two  of  the  crew 
of  the  wrecked  ship  "  Sea  Nymph"  in  mid-ocean,  and 
in  doing  so  had  encountered  great  peril,  he  was  called 
before  the  lord  mayor  of  London  to  receive  remuner- 
ation for  his  brave  deed,  as  the  rescued  crew  were 
British  subjects.  He  received  high  commendation  from 
the  lord  mayor  on  this  occasion,  and  he  would  have 
received  a  medal  or  badge  of  honor,  only  that  he  was  in 
command  of  an  American  vessel.  He  has  crossed  the 
Atlantic  more  than  seventy-five  times,  and  Mrs.  Read 
has  accompanied  him  thirty-eight  times.  He  has 
always  given  such  satisfaction  to  owners  and  employ- 
ers that  he  never  was  recalled  from  the  command  of 
a  vessel,  and  has  frequently  been  solicited  to  take  a 
place  in  marine  insurance  offices.  He  has  sailed  in 
nearly  or  quite  all  the  navigable  waters  of  the  globe, 
and  has  visited  all  civilized  nations,  and  most  of  the 
principal  ports  of  the  world. 

He  has  owned  the  great  majority  of  the  vessels  he 
has  sailed,  and  established  such  confidence  with  the 
capitalists  and  prominent  business  men  in  the  differ- 
ent parts  of  the  world  that  his  word  was  good  for  any 
amount  of  money  he  might  need  or  call  for,  and  he 
has  in  his  possession  to-day  letters  from  Baring- 
Brothers,  the  celebrated  bankers  of  London,  author- 
izing him  to  draw  on  them  for  any  amount.  Upon 
retiring  from  the  life  of  mariner,  Capt.  Read  returned 
home  to  his  native  village  of  Assonet,  and  the  follow- 
ing year  was  elected  to  represent  the  sixth  district  of 
Bristol  County  in  the  State  Legislature.  He  has 
always  been  Republican  in  politics. 

Sept.  13,  1837,  he  married  Caroline  Chase,  daugh- 
ter of  Cape.  Allen  and  Sarah  Chase.  She  was  born 
Sept.  14,  1815.  They  have  one  son,  Allen  Washing- 
ton, born  May  28, 1839.  Mrs.  Read  is  descended  from 
one  William  Chase,  who  emigrated  from  England  in 
1630,  and  settled  in  Yarmouth  in  1637.     The  line  of 


descent   is   as   follows:  William    (1),   Benjamin   (2), 
Walter  (3),  George  (4),  Gilbert  (5),  and  Allen  (6). 

Capt.  Read  has  a  beautiful  home  in  the  picturesque 
little  village  of  Assonet,  and  after  roaming  the  wide 
world  over,  has  followed  the  example  of  thousands  of 
other  of  New  England's  sons,  returned  to  the  home 
of  his  childhood  to  spend  the  autumn  of  his  days. 


DR.  THOMAS    G.  NICHOLS. 

Dr.  Thomas  G.  Nichols,  of  Freetown,  was  the 
youngest  son  of  Capt.  John  Nichols,  of  that  town, 
born  Nov.  9, 1819.1  Nurtured  in  a  Christian  home,  he 
early  manifested  a  desire  for  a  liberal  education,  and 
was  fitted  for  college  under  the  tutelage  of  Mr.  Ben- 
jamin Crane,  A.M.,  a  teacher  in  Assonet  village,  and 
entered  Union  College  in  1839,  and  graduated  in  1843 
in  the  class  with  Hon.  Alexander  H.  Rice.  His 
scholarship  was  such  as  gave  him  high  standing  in 
his  class.  He  studied  medicine,  graduating  at  New 
York  Medical  College  and  Jefferson  Medical  Uni- 
versity, 1846  and  1847.  Returning  to  his  native  town, 
he  entered  upon  the  practice  of  medicine,  in  which  he 
continued  for  twelve  years,  and  then  relinquished  it 
on  account  of  the  exposure  incident  to  the  wide  cir- 
cuit which  it  embraced.  It  was  with  much  reluctance 
that  he  abandoned  the  profession  for  which  he  was  so 
eminently  fitted,  to  embark  in  other  business.  In 
1862  he  became  a  partner  and  financial  manager  in 
the  firm  of  N.  R.  Davis  &  Co.,  manufacturers  of  fire- 
arms, continuing  this  connection  till  his  death,  which 
occurred  Feb.  16,  1883.  In  his  business  relations  he 
was  widely  known  as  a  man  of  sterling  integrity,  just 
and  liberal  in  all  his  dealings,  careful  and  discrimi- 
nating in  judgment,  courteous  and  considerate  of  the 
opinions  and  interest  of  his  associates.  Twenty  years 
devoted  to  this  department  of  manufacturing,  cover- 
ing the  dark  and  trying  season  of  the  great  civil 
war,  taxed  his  physical  powers  to  such  a  degree  as 
to  impair  his  health,  which  never  was  robust.  In 
addition  to  his  manufacturing  he  was  active  in  the 
cause  of  agriculture,  and  was  a  prominent  member 
for  years  of  the  Central  Bristol  Society.  He  early 
took  a  deep  interest  in  public  affairs,  and  was  for 
many  years  prominent  on  the  school  board,  and,  in 
fact,  was  foremost  in  all  that  pertained  to  the  best  in- 
terest of  his  town.  He  was  the  representative  of  the 
Fourth  Bristol  District  in  the  Legislature  in  1858  and 
1867,  in  which  capacity  his  rare  discretion  was  ac- 
knowledged, and  his  influence  and  advice  highly  re- 
garded. 

In  early  life  he  disclosed  a  reverence  for  the  re- 
ligion of  his  parents,  and  for  more  than  thirty  years 
was  foremost  in  sustaining  the  ordinances  of  the  gos- 
pel in  his  native  village,  and  his  consistent  life  was  a 
perpetual   illustration  of  the  true  Christian.     As  a 


1  For  ancestral  history,  see  biography  of  Walter  D.  Nichols,  of  Berk- 
ley. 


^2 


FREETOWN. 


307 


trusted  friend  he  was  much  consulted,  and  was  often 
called  to  settle  disputes  where  lawsuits  were  threat- 
ened. In  the  settlement  of  estates  he  was  frequently 
engaged,  and  the  widow  and  orphan  found  in  him  a 
sympathizing  friend. 

Politically  he  was  a  Republican,  having  cast  his 
first  vote  for  James  G.  Birney.  He  was  from  the 
first  among  the  active  Free-Soilers,  and  rendered  effi- 
cient service  in  the  early  struggle  for  the  overthrow 
of  the  slave  power.  His  firmness  and  stability  of 
character  were  conspicuous,  while  courtesy  and  re- 
spect for  the  opinions  of  others  was  a  part  of  his 
nature.  His  tender  regard  for  those  in  trouble  or  dis- 
tress was  early  illustrated.  While  at  the  medical  col- 
lege his  chum  was  stricken  with  the  smallpox,  and 
being  far  from  home  was  abandoned  by  even  the  so- 
ciety of  which  he  was  a  member.  Dr.  Nichols  stood 
by  him,  though  fully  expecting  to  contract  the  dis- 
ease, until  death  relieved  him  of  his  sufferings.  In 
the  more  sacred  and  tender  relation  of  domestic  life 
his  unsullied  character  was  most  happily  revealed, 
while  his  broad  culture  and  manly  character  were 
quickened  with  that  benevolence  that  was  eager  in 
every  enterprise  promotive  of  the  welfare  of  the  family, 
the  church,  and  the  community  where  he  lived.  Hap- 
pily married  in  1852  to  Miss  Irene  Lazell,  daughter  of 
Barzillia  Crane,  of  Berkley,  their  children  are  Win- 
slow,  Charlotte  Crane,  Gilbert  M.,  John  T.,  and  Hes- 
ler  D.,  the  latter  son  a  member  of  Harvard  College. 

His  only  surviving  brother  is  Curtis  C.  Nichols, 
treasurer  of  the  Boston  Five-Cent  Savings-Bank. 


ALDEN    HATHAWAY,    Jr. 

The  first  American  ancestor  of  Alden  Hathaway 
was  John1  Hathaway,  who  was  one  of  the  first  settlers 
in  the  town  of  Taunton,  Mass.  He  came  from  Eng- 
land about  1640,  and  became  a  landholder  in  that 
part  of  Taunton  now  Berkley.  He  was  a  commis- 
sioner, land  agent,  etc.,  of  the  Plymouth  Colony,  and 
a  man  of  prominence  and  note  in  his  day.  He  had 
a  son,  John2,  who  came  to  what  is  now  Freetown,  and 
became  a  landholder  there  before  the  town  was  in- 
corporated. This  John  had  children, — Jacob,  Thomas, 
Isaac,  Ephraim,  John,  and  a  number  of  daughters. 

Isaac3  inherited  a  part  of  the  homestead  of  his 
father,  and  also  the  iron  forge,  which  was  established 
by  his  father.  This  was  the  first  forge  in  the  town. 
He  was  also  a  mill-owner,  and  was  a  man  of  push, 
sagacity,  and  enterprise.  He  had  three  sons — Thomas, 
Nicholas,  and  Peleg — and  five  daughters, — Martha, 
Phebe,  Rebeccah,  Mehala,  and  Jarah. 

Nicholas4  married  Rebecah  Merritt,  and  became  a 
farmer,  inheriting  a  part  of  the  original  purchase  by 
his  grandfather,  John,  which  was  the  eighteenth  lot 
of  the  freemen's  purchase.  He  had  four  children, — 
Stephen,  Elkanah,  Isaac,  and  Rebecca.  She  became 
the  wife  of  Henry  Tew. 

Stephen5,  when  of  proper  age,  learned  the  carpenter's 


trade.  He  married  Hope  Peirce,  of  Middleborough, 
Mass.,  and  resided  there  till  1786.  when  he  removed 
to  Taunton,  where  he  died  in  1819.  He  represented 
Taunton  in  the  State  Legislature,  and  was  a  promi- 
nent, influential,  and  honored  citizen.  He  was  the 
guardian  of  numerous  children,  and  settled  many 
estates,  and  was  always  regarded  as  a  man  of  great 
probity  and  virtue.  He  had  a  family  of  thirteen 
children, — Leonard,  Alden,  Stephen,  Nicholas,  Anna 
(Atwood),  Elias  (died  young),  Ebenezer,  Frederick, 
Anson,  Hope,  Polly  (Pierce),  Erastus,  and  one  which 
died  in  infancy. 

Alden6  was  born  April  9,  1770.  He  learned  car- 
pentering when  a  boy,  but  when  he  grew  up  he 
went  to  sea  and  became  master  of  a  vessel.  When 
twenty-six  years  of  age  he  met  with  the  misfortune 
of  losing  his  vessel  at  sea,  and  with  it  most  of  his 
possessions.  He  then  gave  up  a  seafaring  life,  and 
returning  to  his  native  town  he  engaged  in  trade  at 
Assonet  village,  and  became  a  successful  business 
man,  accumulating  quite  a  property  for  those  times. 
He  was  a  much  .respected  citizen  of  the  town.  He 
married  Mercy  Palmer,  and  had  three  children  who 
reached  maturity, — Gideon  P.,  Anna  A.  (married 
Samuel  Blake,  of  Taunton),  and  Alden.  In  1821  he 
purchased  the  house  formerly  owned  by  his  brother 
Nicholas,  who  was  a  physician,  and  resided  there 
until  his  death,  September,  1861. 

Alden  Hathaway,  Jr.,  was  born  April  6,  1811.  He 
received  a  common  school  education,  and  upon 
arriving  at  proper  age  he  employed  his  time  during 
several  winters  in  teaching  school,  and  in  farming 
and  trading  during  the  summer  months.  He  has 
been  through  life  a  trader  and  speculator  and  a  suc- 
cessful business  man.  He  is  one  of  the  few  honor- 
able and  worthy  representatives  of  one  of  the  most 
ancient,  useful,  and  respectable  families  of  the  town. 
Among  various  positions  of  office  and  trust  he  has 
i  been  chairman  of  the  board  of  selectmen  and  over- 
seer of  the  poor,  and  was  member  of  the  board  eight 
years.  He  was  representative  to  the  State  Legislature 
two  years  (1838-39).  He  was  reared  in  theDemocratic 
school  of  politics,  voted  that  ticket  many  years,  and 
was  elected  to  the  Legislature  on  the  Democratic 
platform,  but  he  now  affiliates  with  the  Republican 
party.  He  resides  on  the  homestead  of  his  father  in 
Assonet  village,  and  is  passing  down  the  hill  of  life 
with  the  pleasing  consciousness  that  the  acts  of  his 
long  business  career  will  bear  the  closest  scrutiny,  and 
that  there  is  nothing  in  his  past  record  that  does  not 
sustain  the  honor  of  the  family  name. 

He  married  Susan  Hathaway,  daughter  of  Edmund 
and  Betsey  Hathaway,  and  sister  of  Guilford  H.  Hath- 
away. (See  his  biography.)  To  this  union  there  are 
three  living  children,  one  son  and  two  daughters. 
The  son  went  to  California  when  eighteen  year's  of 
age,  married  there,  has  three  children,  and  is  a  suc- 
cessful business  man.  Mrs.  Hathaway  died  Aug.  23, 
1882. 


308 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


A.  H.  CHACE. 

Abishai  H.  Chace  was  born  in  Freetown,  Dec.  16, 
1807.  He  is  a  son  of  Edward  and  Permelia  Chace, 
and  grandson  of  Edward  Chace.  Both  of  these  Ed- 
wards were  natives  of  Freetown,  and  were  men  much 
respected  and  esteemed  in  their  day.  The  Chace 
family  is  a  very  ancient  one  in  New  England.  (For 
an  extended  genealogy  of  the  family,  see  elsewhere 
in  this  volume.)  The  educational  advantages  afforded 
boys  in  the  rural  districts  at  the  period  of  Mr.  Chace's 
boyhood  were  very  limited  indeed.  An  attendance  of 
three  months  during  the  winter  at  the  district  school 
was  the  most  to  be  hoped  for,  and  fortunate,  indeed, 
was  the  lad  who  could  boast  of  an  unbroken  attend- 
ance during  even  that  short  term.  Mr.  Chace  was  no 
exception  to  the  general  rule,  but  he  read  more  out  of 
school  than  most  boys,  and  so  managed  to  secure  a 
pretty  fair  English  education.  His  first  start  in  busi- 
ness life  was  as  a  farm  laborer.  After  one  year  spent 
in  this  manner,  he  became  clerk  in  a  country  store, 
where  he  remained  three  years.  He  then  engaged  in 
farming  and  lumbering,  and  this  has  been  his  business 
chiefly  through  life.  In  1869,  at  the  earnest  solicita- 
tion of  Mr.  Joseph  Grinnell,  who  was  then  president 
of  the  New  Bedford  and  Taunton  Railroad,  he  was 
induced  to  come  to  Braley  Station,  on  that  road,  and 
assume  the  duties  of  station-agent  at  that  place.  In 
connection  with  bis  duties  as  agent  he  also  established 
a  store  at  the  same  point,  and  has  continued  merchan- 
dising to  the  present  time.  He  was  a  Democrat  in 
politics  until  the  election  of  Franklin  Pierce  as  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States.  Since  that  time  he  has  affil- 
iated with  the  Republican  party.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Christian  Baptist  Church,  has  been  selectman  and 
overseer  of  the  poor,  and  is  now  road  commissioner. 
He  has  always  been  an  earnest  advocate  of  temper- 
ance, and  his  own  hale,  hearty  manhood  in  old  age  is 
itself  an  impressive  sermon  in  favor  of  total  absti- 
nence. In  his  younger  days  he  was  for  many  years 
an  ensign  in  the  militia  ranks,  and  afterwards  lieu- 
tenant. 

Mr.  Chace  is  an  example  of  what  may  be  accom- 
plished in  the  quiet  walks  of  life,  even  under  adverse 
circumstances,  by  honesty,  fidelity  of  purpose,  and 
industry.  He  commenced  his  married  life  almost 
literally  without  a  dollar,  reared  a  large  family  of 
children,  and  is  to-day  in  comfortable  circumstances. 

He  married  Feb.  14,  1828,  Lucy  Cummings,  daugh- 
ter of  George  Cummings,  of  Lakeville.  To  them 
were  born  fourteen  children  :  George,  born  April  15, 
1830 ;  Sarah  J.,  born  May  22,  1831 ;  Albert  F.,  born 
Nov.  24,  1832  ;  Azel,  born  May  3,  1834  (deceased)  ; 
William  C,  born  Sept.  22,  1835  ;  Lucy  P.,  born  Oct. 
6,  1837  ;  Azel  (2),  born  Nov.  20,  1838 ;  Seth  H.,  born 
Nov.  1,  1841  (deceased) ;  Ophelia,  born  April  27, 
1843  (deceased);  Franklin  J.,  born  Sept.  16,  1844; 
Carlton,  born  Dec.  15,  1845  (deceased);  Arline  F., 
born  May  24,  1847  ;  John  C,  born  June  25,  1849 ; 
Ellen  C,  born  May  22,  1851  (deceased). 


Mr.  Chace  married  for  his  second  wife,  March  23, 
1853,  Mrs.  Jane  Gibson,  of  New  Bedford,  by  whom 
he  had  four  children, — Charles  S.,  born  July  18,  1854; 
Annie  D.,  born  Sept.  11,  1856;  Carrie  E.,  born  Oct. 
16,  1858 ;  and  James  S.,  born  Oct.  27,  1863. 

All  of  the  children  by  his  first  wife  are  married. 


CHAPTER   XXIII. 

FALL    RIVER.i 

Geographical — Topographical — Original  Purchase  of  1656 — The  Indian 
Deed — The  Pocasset  Purchase  in  lfiSO — Incorporation  of  Freetown 
and  Tiverton— Disputed  Boundaries — Division  of  Pocasset  Purchase 
— Early  Settlers — Col.  Benjamin  Church — John  Borden — The  Pioneer 
Grist-,  Saw-,  and  Fulling-Mill — Early  Valuations — Slow  Growth  of  the 
Settlement — The  Village  in  1803 — Increased  Population — Census  of 
1810— The  First  Cotton-Factory— Col.  Joseph  Durfee— Fall  River  in 
1813— A  New  Era. 

Fall  River  lies  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the 
county,  and  is  bounded  as  follows:  On  the  north  by 
Taunton  River  and  Freetown ;  on  the  east  by  Free- 
town ;  on  the  south  by  Westport,  Dartmouth,  and 
Rhode  Island;  and  on  the  west  by  Mount  Hope  Bay 
and  Taunton  River. 

This  section  of  territory  originally  embraced  a  por- 
tion of  what  was  known  as  the  "  Freeman's  Purchase,'' 
a  tract  of  land  which  was  granted  by  the  Plymouth 
Colony  to  a  number  of  freemen  July  3, 1656.  This  tract 
lay  east  of  Taunton  River,  four  miles  in  width,  and 
from  six  to  seven  in  length,  bounded  on  the  south  by 
Quequechan,  and  on  the  north  by  Assonet  Neck. 
April  2, 1659,  a  warrantee  deed  of  this  tract  was  given 
to  Capt.  James  Cudworth,  Josiah  Winslow,  and  others 
by  Ossamequin  (Massasoit),  Wamsutta,  his  son,  and 
Tattapanum,  wife  of  Wamsutta,  usuall}r  called  Weeta- 
moe.  This  deed  was  signed  by  Wamsutta  and  Tatta- 
panum, in  presence  of  Thomas  Cooke,  Jonathan  Bridg, 
and  John  Sassamon,  and  July  9,  1859,  was  acknowl- 
edged by  "  Wamsutta  and  Squaw  Pattapanum"  before 
Josiah  Winslow  and  William  Bradford,  assistants. 
Ossamequin  never  signed  the  deed. 

The  consideration  for  this  purchase  was  "  twenty 
coats,  two  rugs,  two  iron  pots,  two  kettles  and  one 
little  kettle,  eight  pairs  of  shoes,  six  pairs  of  stock- 
ings, one  dozen  hoes,  one  dozen  hatchets,  two  yards 
of  broadcloth,  and  a  debt  satisfied  to  John  Barnes, 
which  was  due  from  Wamsutta  to  John  Barnes." 
This  grant  was  incorporated  in  1683  as  Freetown. 
"  The  first  settlers,"  says  the  late  Rev.  Orin  Fowler, 
"  were  principally  from  Plymouth,  Marshfield,  and 
Scituate.  Some  were  from  Taunton,  and  a  few  from 
Rhode  Island.  The  early  names  were  Cudworth, 
Winslow,  Morton,  Read,  Hathaway,  Durfee,  Terry, 


1  For  much  of  the  earlier  history  of  Fall  River,  before  it  became  a 
separate  town,  including  original  owners  of  lots,  names  of  Revolution- 
ary soldiers,  early  record  history,  etc.,  see  history  of  Freetown  elsewhere 
in  this  work. 


c/fmh*L  w7s/?^+_ 


FALL  RIVER. 


309 


Borden,  Brightman,  Chase,  and  Davis.  The  purchase 
was  divided  into  twenty-six  shares,  and  the  shares 
were  set  off* — whether  hy  lot  or  otherwise  does  not 
appear — to  the  several  purchasers.  After  the  division 
into  shares  was  made,  there  was  a  piece  of  land  be- 
tween the  first  lot  or  share  and  Tiverton  bounds, 
which  in  1702  it  was  voted  by  the  proprietors  be  sold 
'  to  procure  a  piece  of  land  near  the  centre  of  the  town 
for  a  burying-place,  a  training-field,  or  any  other 
public  use  the  town  shall  see  cause  to  improve  it  for.' 
Accordingly  this  piece  of  land  was  sold  to  John  Bor- 
den, of  Portsmouth,  R.  I.,  the  highest  bidder,  for 
nine  pounds  and  eight  shillings,  and  was  the  territory 
on  which  that  part  of  the  village  south  of  Bedford 
Street  and  north  of  the  stream  now  stands.  This 
John  Borden  is  believed  to  be  the  ancestor  of  all  who 
sustain  his  name  in  this  vicinity." 

The  occupation  of  this  tract  soon  attracted  the 
attention  of  other  enterprising  pioneers,  and  in  1680 
a  second  grant  was  made  to  Edward  Gray,  of  Plym- 
outh ;  Nathaniel  Thomas,  of  Marshfield ;  Benjamin 
Church,  Daniel  Wilcox,  and  Thomas  Manchester,  of 
Puncatest;  and  Christopher  and  John  Almy  and 
Thomas  Waite,  of  Portsmouth,  R.  I.,  of  a  tract  extend- 
ing south  along  the  bay  from  the  Quequechan  to  the 
town  of  Dartmouth  and  Seaconnet  and  inland  from 
four  to  six  miles.  This  tract  was  purchased  from  the 
Indians  for  the  sum  of  eleven  hundred  pounds,  and 
was  known  as  the  Pocasset  Purchase,  and  was  subse- 
quently incorporated  as  the  town  of  Tiverton. 

For  several  years  after  Freetown  and  Tiverton  were 
incorporated  there  was  a  dispute  respecting  the  boun- 
dary line  between  the  two  towns,  which  was  amicably 
adjusted  in  1700  by  a  committee,  consisting  of  Josiah 
WinsloWj  Robert  Durfee,  and  Henry  Brightman,  of 
Freetown,  and  Richard  Borden,  Christopher  Almy, 
and  Samuel  Little,  of  Tiverton. 

The  division  line  settled  by  this  committee  ex- 
tended by  a  cleft  rock,  over  which  the  store  of  Reed 
&  Bowen1  now  stands,  southwardly  to  the  Fall  River, 
thence  the  river  to  be  the  bound  to  its  mouth,  and 
from  the  cleft  rock  easterly  about  on  the  line  of  the 
present  Bedford  Street.  This  continued  to  be  the  line 
between  these  two  ancient  towns  so  long  as  Tiverton 
belonged  to  Massachusetts. 

In  1740  a  dispute  arose  concerning  the  boundary 
line  between  the  colonies  of  Massachusetts  and  Rhode 
Island,  and  a  royal  commission  was  appointed  to  de- 
termine the  true  boundary,  whose  report,  in  1746,  was 
confirmed  by  the  king,  though  appealed  from  by  both 
colonies.  Ex  parte  lines  were  run  by  Rhode  Island, 
which  were  found  incorrect  when  revised  by  Massa- 
chusetts in  1791. 

"One  of  the  decrees  in  the  king's  award  mentioned 
'  a  certain  point  four  hundred  and  forty  rods  to  the 
southward  of  the  mouth  of  the  Fall  River,'  from  which 
a  line  was  to  be  run  three  miles  towards  the  east, 

1  In  1841. 


forming  the  northern  boundary  of  that  part  of  Rhode 
Island.  In  measuring  this  four  hundred  and  forty 
rods  the  ex  parte  commissioners  of  1746  'measured 
round  a  cove  or  inlet,  and  followed  the  sinuosities  of 
the  shore'  until  they  reached  a  point  from  a  quarter 
to  a  half  mile  farther  north  than  if  the  same  distance 
had  been  measured  in  a  straight  line.  From  this 
point  they  extended  the  three-mile  line,  running  it 
through  the  southern  part  of  the  village  of  Fall  River 
at  the  old  Buttonwood  Tree,  so  called,  on  Main  Street, 
a  little  north  of  the  present  line  of  Columbia  Street. 
No  definite  decision  of  the  question  in  dispute  was 
reached  at  the  time,  and  in  1844  another  commission 
was  appointed,  which  in  1848  made  a  report  to  their 
respective  Legislatures. 

"  In  a  matter  so  seriously  affecting  the  interests  of 
Fall  River,  it  was  deemed  expedient  to  appoint  a 
committee,  consisting  of  Rev.  Orin  Fowler,  Dr.  Foster 
Hooper,  and  Dr.  Phineas  W.  Leland,  to  petition  the 
Massachusetts  Legislature  not  to  allow  any  settlement 
of  the  boundary  line  less  advantageous  than  that 
granted  by  George  II.  in  1746.  This  committee 
claimed,  and  gave  good  reasons  therefor,  that  George 
II.  designed  that  the  point  from  which  to  run  the 
three-mile  line  should  be  four  hundred  and  forty  rods 
in  a  divert  line  from  the  mouth  of  the  Fall  River. 
They  showed  that  in  making  these  measurements  as 
they  had  '  the  Rhode  Island  commissioners  added  to 
their  State  a  thickly-settled  territory  with  about  fif- 
teen hundred  inhabitants,  and  a  taxable  property 
valued  at  nearly  half  a  million  dollars,  when,  if  the 
measurements  had  been  made  in  straight  lines,  not 
only  would  the  design  of  George  II.  and  his  commis- 
sioners have  been  carried  out,  but  Fall  River  would 
have  been  brought  within  the  bounds  of  one  State, 
with  no  danger  of  its  thickly-settled  territory  being 
again  placed  under  a  divided  jurisdiction.'  In  con- 
sequence of  these  representations  the  Massachusetts 
Legislature  refused  to  ratify  the  decision  of  the  com- 
missioners of  1848,  and  by  agreement  of  the  two 
States  the  question  was  referred  to  the  United  States 
Supreme  Court. 

"  In  1860  the  Supreme  Court  appointed  engineers, 
with  instructions  to  measure  and  mark  a  described 
line  which  should  be  the  true  boundary  between  the 
two  States,  the  decree  to  take  effect  in  March,  1862. 
The  full  claim  of  neither  State  was  granted,  but  such 
a  boundary  fixed  as  to  give  an  undivided  jurisdiction 
to  densely-populated  districts  without  infringing  on 
the  rights  of  any.  By  this  change  of  boundary 
Massachusetts  acquired  a  territory  comprising  about 
eleven  square  miles.  Of  this  about  nine  square  miles, 
with  a  population  of  nearly  three  thousand  six  hun- 
dred, and  a  taxable  property  of  some  two  million  dol- 
lars, were  embraced  within  the  limits  of  the  city  of 
Fall  River." 
"  The  Pocasset  Purchase,"  says  Rev.  Orin  Fowler, 
i  in  1841  (after  reserving  thirty  rods  wide  adjacent  to 
i  the  Freeman's  Purchase  and  the  river  and  some  other 


310 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL  COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


small  tracts),  was  divided  into  thirty  shares  and  dis- 
tributed among  the  proprietors,  the  lot  nearest  the 
river  being  numbered  one.  This  piece  of  land,  in- 
cluding the  water-power  on  the  south  side  of  the 
river  to  (the  present)  Main  Street,  and  on  both 
sides  east  of  said  street  to  Watuppa  Pond,  contain- 
ing sixty-six  acres  of  land,  was  also  divided  into 
thirty  shares  and  sold  to  the  original  purchasers.  Col. 
Church  and  his  brother  Caleb,  of  Watertown  (who 
was  a  millwright),  bought  twenty-six  and  a  half  of 
the  thirty  sbares,  and  thereby  became  the  chief 
owners  of  the  water-power.  On  the  8th  of  August, 
1691,  Caleb  Church  sold  his  right  in  this  property 
(thirteen  and  a  half  shares)  to  his  brother  Benjamin, 
who  then  became  the  owner  of  twenty-six  and  a  half 
shares.  Probably  John  Borden  purchased  the  other 
three  and  a  half  shares.  In  1703,  Col.  Church  had 
moved  to  Fall  River  and  improved  the  water-power 
by  erecting  a  saw-mill,  grist-mill,  and  fulling-mill. 
His  dwelling-house  stood  between  the  present  resi- 
dence of  Col.  Richard  Borden  and  that  of  his  brother 
Jefferson,  and  remained  till  within  forty  years.  He 
continued  at  Fall  River  but  a  few  years,  and,  Sept. 
18,  1714,  sold  the  above-named  twenty-six  and  a  half 
shares  to  Richard  Borden,  of  Tiverton,  and  Joseph 
Borden,  of  Freetown,  sons  of  John  ;  and  thus  the 
lands  on  both  sides  of  the  river,  with  all  the  water- 
power,  came  into  the  possession  of  the  Borden  family, 
John  Borden  having  previously  purchased  that  on 
the  north  side,  west  of  Main  Street." 

Caleb  Church  sold  his  interest  for  one  hundred 
pounds.  At  this  rate  the  whole  sixty-six  acres  was  val- 
ued, in  1691,  at  about  seven  hundred  and  forty  dollars. 
The  piece  on  the  north  side  cost  John  Borden  about 
thirty-one  dollars  and  thirty-four  cents ;  total,  seven 
hundred  and  seventy-one  dollars  and  thirty-four 
cents.  This  included  the  whole  of  the  water-power 
and  most  of  the  land  where  the  village  now  stands, 
together  with  a  strip  east  to  Watuppa  Pond.  Twenty- 
six  and  a  half  shares  of  the  above  sixty-six  acres  were 
sold  by  Col.  Church  in  1714  for  one  thousand  pounds. 

The  Village  in  1803.— The  embryo  settlement 
thus  founded  by  Col.  Church  and  John  Borden  was, 
however,  of  slow  growth.  Although  Col.  Church  had 
erected  a  saw-,  grist-,  and  fulling-mill1  on  the  stream, 
and  was  doubtless  an  enterprising  man  of  that  day, 
still  there  seemed  to  be  nothing  of  particular  advan- 
tage to  attract  the  settler,  and  as  late  as  1803,  one 
hundred  years  later,  we  find  the  village  numbering 
only  eighteen  dwellings  and  about  one  hundred  in- 
habitants. 

"In  North  Main  Street,"  says  Rev.  Orin  Fowler, 
"  there  were  six  houses  occupied  by  Charles  Durfee, 
Daniel  Buffington,  John  Luther,  Abner  Davol,  John 
Cook,  and  Mary  Borden.  In  East  Central  Street  there 
were  four  occupied  by  Nathan  Bowen,  Perry  Borden, 

1  This  mill  stood  on  the  south  side  of  the  stream  near  the  south  end 
of  the  present  granite  block. 


Seth  Borden,  and  Elihu  Cook.  In  West  Central 
Street  there  were  two  occupied  by  Nathan  Borden 
and  Daniel  Borden.  In  South  Main  Street  there  were 
five  occupied  by  Simeon  Borden,  Richard  Borden, 
Thomas  Borden,  Benjamin  Brayton,  and  Francis 
Brayton.  Near  the  shore  there  was  one  occupied  by 
Thomas  Borden.  Of  these  eighteen  families  nine 
were  Bordens." 

From  this  period,  however,  as  the  natural  advan- 
tages of  the  place  began  to  be  appreciated  the  growth 
of  the  settlement  was  more  rapid,  and  in  1810  the 
population  of  the  town  numbered  twelve  hundred  and 
ninety-six.  And  among  this  number  was  one  par- 
ticularly enterprising  spirit  who  did  much  to  advance 
the  interest  of  the  town  at  that  period,  and  became 
the  pioneer  in  cotton  manufacturing  in  Fall  River, 
Col.  Joseph  Durfee.  This  pioneer  mill  of  Col.  Dur- 
fee's  was  a  small  affair,  erected  in  1811  at  Globe  vil- 
lage. 

Fall  River  in  1813.— Henry  H.  Earl,  Esq.,  in  his 
excellent  work  published  in  1877,  entitled  "  Fall 
River  and  its  Industries,"  in  speaking  of  the  town  in 
1813,  says, — 

"The  resident  community  of  Fall  River,  or  Troy, 
as  it  was  then  called,  was  located  about  what  is  now 
the  centre  of  the  city,  the  main  street  following  the 
line  of  the  present  principal  thoroughfare  northward, 
and  another  considerable  street  trending  eastward  to 
the  lake.  The  greater  part  of  the  residences  were  in 
these  two  avenues.  Within  a  territory  approximating 
to  one  and  a  half  miles  square,  which  would  be  desig- 
nated at  that  day  the  village,  were  about  thirty  dwell- 
ing-houses, three  saw-mills,  four  grist-mills,  one  full- 
ing-mill, a  blacksmithv  with  trip-hammer,  and  several 
small  stores.  The  population  was  estimated  at  three 
hundred. 

"  One  small,  three-masted  vessel,  which  had  been 
engaged  in  foreign  trade,  but  was,  for  a  short  period 
after  the  war,  hauled  up  in  the  creek  where  the  '  Old 
Depot'  was  afterwards  located,  and  a  few  small  sloops 
carrying  cord-wood  to  Newport  and  Bristol,  consti- 
tuted the  local  shipping  interest.  There  was  no  regu- 
lar conveyance  to  Providence,  and  what  freight  was 
transferred  between  the  two  places  went  by  craft  ply- 
ing between  Providence  and  Taunton,  which,  in  de- 
fault of  wharfage  convenience  at  the  Falls,  stopped  at 
the  ferry  two  miles  up  the  river,  where  all  the  cotton 
and  merchandise  was  lauded  for  some  years.  The 
first  craft  regularly  sailing  to  Providence  was  a  small 
schooner,  or  two-masted  lighter,  large  enough  to  load 
ten  bales  of  cotton  and  a  small  additional  cargo  of 
flour  and  miscellaneous  goods.  This  was  succeeded 
by  the  sloop  '  Fall  River,'  of  thirty  or  forty  tons  ca- 
pacity, and  that  again  by  the  sloop  '  Argonaut,'  and 
another  craft  whose  name  is  forgotten,  which  sus- 
tained the  communication  till  the  steamer  '  Hancock' 
was  put  on. 

"  The  religious  and  educational  structures  of  the 
village  were  far  from  suggestive  of  the  present  num- 


FALL   RIVER. 


311 


ber,  convenience,  or  architectural  beauty.  '  In  1813,' 
says  our  chronicle,  '  there  was  one  poor  old  dilapi- 
dated wooden  meeting-house,  neither  plastered  nor 
lathed,  which  stood  upon  the  line  dividing  the  States, 
occupied  occasionally.  The  regular  place  of  worship 
on  the  Sabbath  was  at  the  Narrows,  about  two  miles 
east.  There  was  one,  and  only  one,  good  school- 
house  in  the  village,  which  stood  on  the  corner  of 
Annawan  and  South  Main  Streets.'  The  residences 
were  of  the  usual  simple  and  plain  construction 
adopted  in  early  New  England  communities,  the  most 
pretentious  one  being  erected  by  Charles  Durfee  in 
1S11,  and  standing  until  1857,  when  it  was  burned 
down.  The  richest  resident  from  1813  to  1824  was 
estimated  worth  forty  thousand  dollars,  '  and  there 
were  but  a  small  number  of  this  class.'  The  entire 
valuation  for  some  years  did  not  exceed  five  hundred 
thousand  dollars,  and  the  total  taxation  in  1813  was 
fifteen  hundred  dollars." 

The  location  as  a  manufacturing  centre  now  began 
to  attract  the  attention  of  leading  men  in  this  and 
adjoining  towns,  and  the  year  1813  witnessed  the 
organization  of  the  Fall  River  Manufactory  and  Troy 
Mills,  and  from  that  time  to  the  present,  the  growth  of 
the  city  as  a  manufacturing  centre  has  been  almost 
phenomenal. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

FALL    RIVER.— (Continued.) 

WAR  OF  THE  REVOLUTION. 

Reminiscences  of  Col.  Joseph  Durfee — Early  Incidents — 1777  —  Fall 
River  exposed  to  the  British — Organization  of  a  Guard  of  Safety — The 
British  approach  the  Town  by  Boats — Fired  upon  by  the  Guard  at  the 
Bay — Retreat  of  the  Guard — Pursuit  by  the  Enemy — Battle  near  the 
Bridge1 — The  Enemy  defeated — Burningof  Buildings  by  the  British — 
Capture  of  Richard  Borden — Retreat  of  the  Enemy. 

The  following  reminiscences  of  Col.  Joseph  Dur- 
fee, written  in  1834,  is  an  invaluable  contribution  to 
the  pioneer  Eevolutionary  history  of  the  town  : 

"  Joseph  Durfee  was  the  eldest  son  of  the  late  Hon. 
Thomas  Durfee.  He  was  born  in  April,  in  the  year 
1750,  in  what  is  now  the  city  of  Fall  River.  At  that 
time,  and  until  within  a  few  years,  the  Fall  River 
stream  was  owned  by  the  Bordens.  Much  of  what  is 
now  in  the  city,  where  are  elegant  buildings  and  a 
dense  population,  was  then  a  wilderness,  where  the 
goats  lodged  in  the  winter  seasons.  The  Bordens  and 
the  Durfees  were  then  the  principal  proprietors  of  the 
Pocasset  Purchase,  and  owners  of  the  land  on  the 
south  side  of  what  is  now  Main  Street  for  more  than 
a  mile  in  length.  Thomas  and  Joseph  Borden  owned 
the  south  side  of  the  stream,  and  Stephen  Borden 
owned  the  north  side.  Thomas  Borden  owned  a  saw- 
mill and  a  grist-mill  at  that  time,  standing  where  the 


l  This  battle  was  fought  nearly  in  front  of  the  location  of  the  present 
City  Hall. 


old  saw-  and  grist-mills  stood   near   the  iron-works 
establishment. 

"  Thomas  Borden  left  a  widow  and  four  children, 
viz.,  Richard,  Christopher,  Rebecca,  and  Mary.  Jo- 
seph Borden,  brother  of  Thomas,  owned  a  fulling-mill, 
which  stood  near  where  the  Pocasset  Factory  now 
stands.  He  was  killed  by  the  machinery  of  his  full- 
ing-mill. He  left  four  children,  viz.,  Abraham,  Sam- 
uel, Patience,  and  Peace.  Patience  was  my  mother. 
Stephen  Borden,  who  owned  the  north  side  of  the 
stream,  had  a  grist-mill  and  a  saw-mill  standing 
near  where  the  woolen  establishment  has  since  been 
erected.  He  left  six  children,  viz.,  Stephen,  George, 
Mary.  Hannah,  Penelope,  and  Lusannah. 

"  The  widow  of  Joseph  Borden  was  afterwards  mar- 
ried to  Benjamin  Jenks,  by  whom  she  had  six  chil- 
dren,— John,  Joseph,  Hannah,  Catherine,  Ruth,  and 
Lydia.  The  widow  of  Stephen  Borden  was  married 
to  John  Bo  wen,  by  whom  she  had  two  sons, — Nathan 
and  John. 

"  At  that  time,  and  until  within  a  few  years,  there 
were  but  two  saw-mills,  two  grist-mills,  and  a  fulling- 
mill  standing  on  the  Fall  River.  There  are  now 
about  forty  different  mills  on  the  river.  The  stream 
was  very  small ;  but  the  falls  were  so  great  that  there 
was  little  occasion  for  dams  to  raise  a  pond  sufficient 
to  carry  the  wheels  then  in  operation.  A  small  foot- 
bridge, which  stood  near  where  the  main  street  now 
crosses  the  stream,  afforded  the  only  means  of  passing 
from  one  side  to  the  other  of  the  stream,  except  by 
fording  it.  There  was  formerly  a  small  dam  near 
where  the  Troy  Factory  now  stands,  over  which  the 
water  flowed  the  greater  part  of  the  year.  When  it 
failed,  those  who  owned  the  mills  near  the  mouth  of 
the  stream  hoisted  the  gates  at  the  upper  dam  and 
drew  the  water  down.  It  was  no  uncommon  thing, 
twenty-five  or  thirty  years  ago,  for  the  water  to  be  so 
low  and  the  river  so  narrow  at  the  head  of  the  stream 
that  a  person  might  step  across  without  difficulty.  It 
was  frequently  not  more  than  six  inches  deep.  At 
one  time  there  was  a  foot-bridge  of  stepping-stones 
only  across  the  Narrows  between  the  North  and  South 
Ponds. 

"  Our  country  has  been  involved  in  three  wars  since 
my  recollection.  The  first  was  with  the  French  and 
Indians,  when  we  fought  for  our  lives.  The  French 
offered  a  bounty  for  every  scalp  which  the  Indians 
would  bring  them.  It  was  therefore  certain  death  to 
all  who  fell  into  the  Indians'  hands.  I  distinctly 
recollect  the  time  when  Gen.  Wolfe  was  killed,  and 
of  seeing  the  soldiers  on  their  march  to  reinforce  the 
army.  I  saw  many  men  enlist  into  the  service,  and 
among  them  Joseph  Valentine,  father  of  William 
Valentine,  of  Providence.  I  was  then  about  ten 
years  of  age. 

"  The  second  war  was  with  Great  Britain,  during 
the  greater  part  of  which  I  was  actively  engaged  in 
the  service  of  my  country.  We  then  fought  for  our 
liberty.     We  were  divided  into  two  parties,  called 


312 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Whigs  and  Tories,  the  former  the  friends  of  liberty 
and  independence,  the  latter  the  enemies  of  both. 
Before  the  Revolution  broke  out  the  Whigs  were  busy 
in  making  saltpetre  and  gunpowder,  in  making  and 
preparing  small-arms,  in  training  and  learning  the 
art  of  war.  At  this  time  we  of  this  State  were  British 
subjects,  and  constituted  what  was  then  called  the 
Colony  of  Massachusetts.  Conventions  were  held  in 
the  colony  to  transact  the  business  and  consult  upon 
the  affairs  of  the  colony.  At  one  of  these  conven- 
tions I  received  a  captain's  commission,  signed  by 
Walter  Spooner,  Esq.,  and  took  the  command  of  a 
company  of  minute-men. 

"  British  ships,  commanded  by  Wallace,  Asque, 
and  Howe,  early  in  the  Revolution,  were  off  our 
coast,  in  the  river  and  bay,  harassing  and  distressing 
the  towns  of  Newport,  Bristol,  and  other  towns  on  the 
river.  I  was  called  upon  with  my  company  and  such 
others  as  could  be  mustered  to  guard  the  shores  and 
prevent  the  British  from  landing,  until  the  colony 
could  raise  a  force  sufficient  to  protect  the  inhab- 
itants from  their  depredations. 

"In  1776,  after  the  battle  on  Long  Island,  a  rein- 
forcement was  called  for  to  cover  the  retreat  of  the 
American  troops.  I  was  ordered  to  take  the  com- 
mand of  a  company  of  sixty  men  and  march  forth- 
with to  the  army  then  retreating  from  New  York. 
These  orders  were  promptly  obeyed.  With  the  com- 
pany under  my  command,  I  joined  the  regiment 
commanded  by  Col.  Thomas  Carpenter,  and  by  a 
forced  march  we  reached  the  army  a  few  days  before 
the  battle  at  the  White  Plains.  In  that  engagement 
I  took  an  active  part. 

"  Soon  after  my  return  home  from  the  battle  at  the 
White  Plains,  the  British  landed  at  Newport,  on 
Rhode  Island,  and  took  possession  of  that  town. 
I  was  called  upon  to  proceed  immediately  with  my 
company  to  assist  in  covering  the  retreat  of  the  small 
forces  then  commanded  by  Col.  John  Cook  from  the 
island  of  Rhode  Island.  This  was  effected  without 
loss,  though  attended  with  difficulty  and  delay,  as 
there  was  no  bridge  from  the  island  to  the  mainland. 
At  that  time  the  inhabitants  in  the  south  part  of 
Massachusetts  and  Rhode  Island  were  in  a  critical 
situation.  They  were  nearly  surrounded  with  British 
emissaries.  A  part  of  the  English  squadron  lay  off 
our  coast,  and  their  troops  had  possession  of  the  south 
part  of  Rhode  Island.  Both  were  harassing  our  towns, 
destroying  property,  and  making  prisoners  of  the  in- 
habitants. In  addition  to  this,  we  had  Tories  at  home, 
enemies  in  disguise,  who  were  aiding  and  abetting  the 
British,  while  they  professed  friendship  for  the  cause 
of  liberty  and  for  those  who  were  shedding  their  blood 
to  obtain  it. 

"  Early  in  the  spring  of  1777,  I  received  a  major's 
commission,  and  was  stationed  at  Little  Compton,  in 
the  State  of  Rhode  Island,  in  the  regiment  under  the 
command  of  Col.  John  Hathaway,  of  Berkley,  Mass. 
At  Little  Compton,  and  in  that  neighborhood,  I  con- 


tinued several  months  on  duty  with  the  regiment, 
often  changing  our  station  to  repel  the  invasions  of 
the  enemy  and  to  protect  the  inhabitants  from  their 
frequent  depredations.  In  the  fall  of  1777, 1  returned 
home  to  Fall  River.  I  found  the  citizens,  among 
whom  were  my  relatives  and  best  friends,  exposed 
and  continually  harassed  by  the  enemy.  I  applied 
to  several  of  the  leading  and  influential  men  of  this 
place,  and  proposed  raising  a  guard  for  the  safety  and 
protection  of  the  inhabitants.  They  coincided  with 
my  views,  and  the  necessity  of  a  guard  to  protect  our 
defenseless  inhabitants.  I  went  to  Providence  to  con- 
sult Gen.  Sullivan,  who  was  commander-in-chief  of 
all  the  forces  raised  in  this  section  of  the  country, 
and  to  obtain  assistance  from  him.  He  approved  of 
my  plan  of  raising  a  guard,  and  gave  me  an  order  for 
two  whale-boats,  and  an  order  also  for  rations  for 
twenty  men,  drawn  upon  the  commissary,  then  at 
Bristol.  I  soon  raised  a  guard,  procured  the  store 
now  standing  at  the  end  of  the  Iron- Works  Company's 
wharf  in  this  place  for  a  guard-house,  where  we  met 
every  clay,  called  the  roll,  and  stationed  sentinels  for 
the  night  to  watch  the  movements  of  the  enemy,  and 
give  the  alarm  when  approached.  The  orders  of  the 
sentinel  were  peremptory, — that  if  a  boat  was  seen 
approaching  in  the  night,  to  hail  them  three  times, 
and  if  no  answer  was  received,  to  fire  upon  them.  It 
was  not  long  before  one  of  the  guard,  Samuel  Reed, 
discovered  boats  silently  and  cautiously  approaching 
the  shore  from  the  bay.  The  challenge  was  given, 
but  no  answer  received.  He  fired  upon  the  boats. 
This  created  an  alarm,  and  the  whole  neighborhood 
were  soon  in  arms.  I  stationed  the  guard  behind  a 
stone  wall,  and  kept  up  a  constant  fire  upon  the 
enemy,  until  they  brought  their  cannon  to  bear  upon 
us,  and  commenced  firing  grape-shot  among  us,  when, 
as  we  were  unable  to  return  the  compliment,  it  was 
deemed  advisable  to  retreat.  Two  of  the  guard  were 
sent  to  remove  all  the  planks  which  laid  over  the 
stream  for  foot-people  to  cross  upon,  and  to  cut  off, 
as  far  as  possible,  every  facility  for  crossing  the 
stream,  except  the  upper  bridge.  We  then  retreated 
slowly  until  we  reached  the  main  road,  near  where 
the  bridge  now  crosses  the  stream.  I  then  gave 
orders  to  form  and  give  them  battle.  This  was  done, 
and  never  were  soldiers  more  brave.  So  roughly  were 
the  enemy  handled  by  our  little  band  of  Spartans  that 
they  soon  beat  up  a  retreat,  leaving  behind  them  one 
dead  and  another  bleeding  to  death,  besides  the 
wounded  whom  they  carried  away. 

"  The  wounded  soldier  left  by  the  enemy,  before 
he  expired,  informed  me  that  the  number  of  the 
enemy  who  attacked  us  was  about  one  hundred  and 
fifty,  commanded  by  Maj.  Ayers.  When  the  enemy 
landed  they  set  fire  to  the  house  of  Thomas  Borden, 
then  nearly  new.  They  next  set  fire  to  a  grist-mill 
and  a  saw-mill  belonging  to  Mr.  Borden,  standing  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Fall  River.  These  buildings  I 
saw  when  set  on  fire.     When  the  British  troops  re- 


FALL  RIVER. 


313 


treated,  as  they  were  compelled  to  do  from  the  shots 
of  our  little  band  of  volunteers,  they  set  fire  to  the 
house  and  other  buildings  of  Richard  Borden,  then 
an  aged  man,  and  took  him  prisoner.  We  pursued 
them  so  closely  in  their  retreat  that  we  were  enabled 
to  save  the  buildings  which  they  had  last  fired.  The 
British  were  frequently  fired  upon,  and  not  a  little 
annoyed  by  the  musketry  of  our  soldiers  as  they 
passed  down  the  bay  in  their  boats  on  their  retreat. 
Mr.  Richard  Borden,  whom  they  took  prisoner,  was 
in  one  of  their  boats.  Finding  themselves  closely 
pursued  by  a  few  American  soldiers,  who  from  the 
shore  poured  in  their  shot  and  balls  upon  them  as 
fast  as  they  could  load  and  fire,  and  finding  them- 
selves in  danger  from  the  musketry  of  these  few  brave 
Whigs  who  pursued  them,  they  ordered  Mr.  Borden, 
their  prisoner,  to  stand  up  in  the  boat,  hoping  that 
his  comrades  on  the  shore  would  recognize  him,  and 
desist  from  firing  upon  them.  But  this  he  refused 
to  do,  and  threw  himself  flat  into  the  bottom  of  the 
boat.  While  lying  there  a  shot  from  the  Americans 
on  shore  killed  one  of  the  British  soldiers  standing 
by  his  side  in  the  boat.  Mr.  Borden  was  obsti- 
nately silent  to  all  the  questions  which  were  asked 
him,  so  that  not  being  able  to  make  any  profitable 
use  of  him  they  dismissed  him  in  a  few  days  on 
parole.  This  engagement  took  place  of  a  Sabbath 
morning,  on  the  25th  of  May,  1778.  The  two  British 
soldiers  killed  in  this  engagement  were  buried  at 
twelve  o'clock  on  the  same  day  of  the  battle,  near 
where  the  south  end  of  the  Massasoit  Factory  now 
stands. 

"  During  a  considerable  part  of  the  month  of  Au- 
gust following  we  were  busily  engaged  in  procuring 
arms,  ammunition,  and  provisions  for  the  soldiers, 
and  in  building  flat-bottomed  boats  and  scows  for 
the  troops  to  cross  over  the  river  on  to  Rhode  Island, 
with  a  view  to  dislodge  the  British  army  who  then 
had  possession  of  the  island.  A  barn,  now  standing 
near  the  stone  bridge,  was  occupied  for  a  commissary 
store,  of  which  I  had  the  charge  until  things  were 
in  readiness  and  the  troops  prepared  to  cross  over  to 
the  island,  when  I  left  the'*  store  in  charge  of  my 
friend  and  relative,  Walter  Chaloner. 

"  In  the  forepart  of  August,  1778,  the  American 
troops  embarked  in  the  boats  and  scows  prepared  for 
them  and  landed  on  Rhode  Island,  where  I  joined 
them,  having  been  appointed  a  major  in  Col.  Whit- 
ney's regiment.  Our  troops  were  then  marched  to  a 
spot  but  a  short  distance  to  the  north  of  what  is 
called  Butts'  Hill,  where  they  encamped  for  the 
night,  with  but  the  canopy  of  heaven  for  a  covering 
and  the  ground  for  our  beds.  But  we  were  animated 
with  the  hope  of  liberty,  with  a  belief  that  we  were 
engaged  in  a  righteous  cause,  and  that  He  who  sways 
the  sceptre  of  the  universe  would  prosper  our  under- 
taking. At  this  time  we  were  anxiously  looking 
for  the  French  fleet,  from  which  we  hoped  for  as- 
sistance against  the  enemy,  whose  numerous  bodies 


of  troops  were  before  us.  Soon  the  French  fleet  hove 
in  sight,  when  the  British  set  fire  to  the  shipping  in 
the  harbor  and  blew  up  most  of  the  vessels  within 
their  reach.  Not  long  after  the  French  fleet  came 
up,  the  British  fleet  appeared  in  the  offing.  Imme- 
diately the  French  fleet  tacked  about,  went  out  and 
attacked  the  British  squadron,  when  broadsides  were 
exchanged  and  a  bloody  battle  ensued.  A  tremen- 
dous storm  came  on,  long  remembered  as  the  August 
storm,  in  which  the  two  fleets  were  separated,  and 
many  who  had  escaped  the  cannon's  mouth  found  a 
watery  grave.  The  French  fleet,  or  so  much  of  it 
as  survived  the  storm,  went  into  Boston  to  repair, 
and  the  remnant  of  the  British  fleet  went  into  New 
York. 

"  Soon  after  this  storm  our  troops  marched  in  three 
divisions  towards  Newport, — one  on  the  East  road  so 
called,  one  on  the  West  road,  and  the  brigade  com- 
manded by  Gen.  Titcomb  moved  in  the  centre, — 
until  we  came  in  sight  of  Newport,  when  orders  were 
given  to  halt,  erect  a  marquee,  and  pitch  our  tents. 
General  orders  were  issued  for  a  detachment  from  the 
army  of  three  thousand  men,  our  number  being  too 
small  to  risk  a  general  engagement  with  the  great 
body  of  British  troops  then  quartered  on  the  south 
end  of  the  island.  Early  on  the  next  morning  a  de- 
tachment of  troops,  of  which  I  was  one,  was  ordered 
to  proceed  forthwith  and  take  possession  of  what  was 
called  Hunneman's  Hill. 

"  The  morning  was  foggy,  and  enabled  us  to  advance 
some  distance  unobserved  by  the  enemy,  but  the  fog 
clearing  away  before  we  reached  the  hill,  we  were 
discovered  by  the  British  and  Tory  troops,  who  com- 
menced such  a  heavy  cannonade  upon  us  that  it  was 
deemed  expedient  by  the  commanding  officers,  to  pre- 
vent the  destruction  of  many  of  our  brave  troops,  that 
we  should  fall  back  and  advance  under  the  cover  of 
night.  Accordingly,  when  night  came,  we  marched 
to  the  hill  undiscovered  by  the  enemy.  We  imme- 
diately commenced  throwing  up  a  breastwork  and 
building  a  fort.  When  daylight  appeared  we  had 
two  cannon  mounted, — one  twenty-four  pounder  and 
one  eighteen, — and  with  our  breastwork  we  had  com- 
pleted a  covered  way,  to  pass  and  repass  without  being 
seen  by  the  enemy.  The  British  had  a  small  fort  or 
redoubt  directly  under  the  muzzles  of  our  cannon, 
with  which  we  saluted  them,  and  poured  in  shot  so 
thick  upon  them  that  they  were  compelled  to  beat  up 
a  retreat.  But  they  returned  again  at  night  to  repair 
their  fort,  when  they  commenced  throwing  bombshells 
into  our  fort,  which,  however,  did  but  little  damage. 
I  saw  several  of  them  flying  over  our  heads,  and  one, 
bursting  in  the  air,  a  fragment  fell  upon  the  shoulder 
of  a  soldier  and  killed  him. 

"  At  this  time  we  were  anxiously  waiting  the  return 
of  the  French  fleet  from  Boston,  where  they  had  gone 
to  repair.  But  learning  that  they  could  not  then  re- 
turn, and  knowing  the  situation  of  the  British  troops, 
that  they  were  enlarging  and  strengthening  their  forts 


314 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


and  redoubts,  and  that  they  had  reinforcements  arriv- 
ing daily  from  New  York,  it  was  deemed  expedient  by 
our  commanding  officers,  Lafayette,  Greene,  and  Sulli- 
van, all  experienced  and  brave  generals,  that  we 
should  retreat  to  the  north  end  of  the  island. 

"Accordingly,  on  the  29th  day  of  August,  early  in 
the  morning,  we  struck  our  marquee  and  tents  and 
commenced  a  retreat.  The  British  troops  followed, 
and  soon  came  up  with  our  rear-guard  and  com- 
menced tiring  upon  them.  The  shots  were  briskly 
returned  and  continued  at  intervals,  until  our  troops 
were  joined  by  a  part  of  our  army  a  short  distance  to 
the  south  of  Quaker  Hill,  so  called,  when  a  general 
engagement  ensued,  in  which  many  lives  were  lost  on 
both  sides.  At  night  we  retreated  from  the  island 
to  Tiverton.  On  the  following  day  we  left  Tiverton, 
crossed  over  Slade's  Ferry,  and  marched  through 
Pawtucket  and  Providence  to  Pawtuxet,  where  we 
remained  until  our  term  of  service  expired. 

"Some  time  after  this  I  received  a  lieutenant-col- 
onel's commission  and  took  the  command  of  a  regi- 
ment to  guard  the  sea-shores,  and  a  part  of  the  time 
my  regiment  was  stationed  at  Providence.  I  soon  re- 
ceived orders  from  Gen.  Gates,  who  at  that  time  was 
principal  in  command,  to  march  with  my  regiment  to 
Tiverton  and  join  Gen.  Cornell's  brigade.  The  war 
now  raged  throughout  the  country.  Old  and  young, 
parents  and  children,  all,  excepting  the  Tories,  were 
engaged  in  the  common  cause  of  their  country,  in 
breaking  the  shackles  of  colonial  bondage,  in  obtain- 
ing her  liberty,  and  achieving  her  independence. 
Old  England  now  began  to  examine  the  prospects  be- 
fore her.  She  found,  after  a  bloody  contest,  what  she 
might  and  ought  to  have  known  before,  that  her  re- 
bellious colonies,  as  she  was  pleased  to  term  them, 
could  be  ruled,  but  not  ridden  upon,  that  by  mild 
and  liberal  measures  she  might  have  retained  a  valu- 
able part  of  her  kingdom.  She  discovered  her  error 
too  late  to  profit  by  it.  The  brave  people  of  her  col- 
onies were  resolved  to  throw  off  the  yoke  and  them- 
selves be  free. 

"On  the  29th  day  of  October,  1779,  the  British 
troops  left  Ehode  Island,  and  the  American  troops, 
under  the  command  of  Gens.  Gates  and  Cornell, 
marched  on  to  the  island  and  took  possession  of  the 
town  of  Newport.  On  the  29th  day  of  December 
following,  my  time  of  service  having  expired,  I 
returned  home  to  my  family.  This  was  the  coldest 
winter  known  during  the  last  century.  The  river 
and  bay  were  frozen  over  so  thick  that  people  with 
loaded  teams  passed  all  the  way  from  Fall  River  to 
Newport  on  the  ice.  I  continued  in  the  service  of 
my  country  until  about  the  close  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary war,  when  I  removed  from  Fall  River  to 
Tiverton,  in  the  State  of  Rhode  Island,  where  I 
lived  about  thirty  years.  During  this  time  I  was 
elected  by  my  fellow-citizens  to  several  offices  in 
town,  and  was  a  member  of  the  General  Assembly 
for  many  vears. 


"  When  Thomas  Jefferson  was  elected  President 
of  the  United  States  in  1801,  and  the  Democratic 
fever  raged  to  the  highest  pitch,  I  was  what  was 
then  called  a  Federalist,  and  having  repeatedly 
sworn  to  sujiport  the  Federal  Constitution,  could  not 
consent"  to  turn  my  coat  wrong  side  out.  I  was 
therefore  not  permitted  to  hold  any  office  for  some 
time  after.  But  in  time  this  party  fever  abated,  and 
finally  the  people  united  in  electing  Mr.  Monroe, 
under  the  general  appellation  of  Federal  Republi- 
cans. Attempts  have  since  been  made  to  alter  the 
Constitution,  that  noble  fabric  reared  by  the  Revolu- 
tionary patriots,  and  should  they  succeed  it  will  be, 
in  my  estimation,  like  sewing  new  cloth  to  an  old 
garment." 


CHAPTER    XXV. 

FALL    RIVER.— (Continued.) 

THE   MANUFACTURING   INTEREST. 

The  Pioneer  Cotton  Manufacturer  in  Fall  River — Col.  Joseph  Durfee — 
The  First  Mill— The  Fall  River  Manufactory— The  Troy  Cotton  and 
Woolen  Manufactory— The  Pocasset  Manufacturing  Company — The 
Aunawan  Manufactory — The  Metacoraet  Manufacturing  Company — 
The  American  Linen  Company — Union  Manufacturing  Company — 
The  Granite  Mills— The  Robeson  Mills— The  Tecumseh  Mills— The 
Durfee  Mills — The  Davol  Mills — The  Merchants' Manufacturing  Com- 
pany—The  Mechanics'  Mills— The  Stafford  Mills— The  Weetamoe 
Mills — The  Slade  Mills — The  Richard  Borden  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany— The  Wampanoag  Mills — The  Narragansctt  Mills — The  King 
Philip  Mills— The  Crescent  Mills— The  Montaup  Mills— The  Osborn 
Mills— The  Chase  Mills— The  Flint  Mills— The  Borden  City  Mills— 
The  Sagamore  Mills — The  Shove  Mills — The  Barnard  Manufacturing 
Company — The  Conanicut  Mills — The  Globe  Yarn-Mills — The  Bourne 
Mill — The  Laurel  Lake  Mills — The  Barnaby  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany— The  Fall  River  Bleachery- — Wamsutta  Steam  Woolen  Mill — 
The  Wyoming  Mills — The  Massasoit  Manufacturing  Company — Fall 
River  Merino  Company — Fall  River  Spool  and  Bobbin  Company — The 
Fall  River  Iron-Works  Company — Fall  River  Machine  Company — 
Hargiaves  Manufacturing  Company — The  Fall  River  Gas-Works — 
The  Manufacturers'  Gas-Light  Company — Watuppa  Reservoir  Com- 
pany— American  Printing  Company — Union  Belt  Company — Globe 
Street  Railway — The  Quequechan  Mills  —An  Old  Landmark. 

The  manufacturing  of  cotton  in  Fall  River  dates 
back  to  1811,  when  Col.  Joseph  Durfee,  in  company 
with  a  few  others,  erected  a  small  wooden  factory  in 
what  is  now  known  as  Globe  village.  This. pioneer 
establishment  was  continued  until  1829,  when  it  was 
changed  into  a  print-works,  and  finally  destroyed  by 
fire  in  1838.  This  enterprise  was  not  practically  suc- 
cessful, probably  for  the  lack  in  the  promoters  of 
practical  knowledge  of  the  business.  Col.  Durfee  was 
!  a  prominent  citizen,  and  during  the  Revolutionary 
war  was  a  zealous  patriot,  and  held  the  rank  of  lieu- 
tenant-colonel in  a  regiment  recruited  from  this 
section. 

The  Fall  River  Manufactory.— The  year  1813 
ushered  in  an  important  era  in  the  history  of  Fall 
River.  That  year  witnessed  the  organization  of  the 
first  regular  cloth  manufacturing  enterprise  on  a  sub- 
stantial basis  in  the  town.  In  the  month  of  March 
two  companies  were  incorporated, — the  Fall   River 


FALL   RIVER. 


315 


Manufactory  and  the  Troy  Cotton  and  Woolen  Manu- 
factory. The  Fall  River  company  was  organized  with 
a  capital  of  840,000,  its  prominent  promoters  being 
Daniel  Anthony,  Dexter  Wheeler,  and  Abraham 
Bowen,  with  Anthony  as  treasurer  and  agent.  Mr. 
Anthony  was  a  native  of  Somerset.  The  mill  was 
erected  in  1813,  and  was  sixty  by  forty-five  feet,  three 
stories  high,  with  1500  spindles.  It  went  into  opera- 
tion in  October,  1813,  and  was  the  first  cotton-spin- 
ning organization  in  the  village  of  Fall  River.  Power 
weaving  was  first  done  in  this  factory  in  1817,  the 
weavers  receiving  $2.50  per  week,  and  in  1819  the 
employes  numbered  about  thirty-five.  The  factory 
erected  in  181J5  was  enlarged  in  1827,  and  again  in 
1839,  and  was  entirely  destroyed  by  fire  in  1868.  The 
following  year  the  present  factory  was  erected.  It  is 
two  hundred  and  seventy-five  feet  long,  seventy-three 
feet  wide,  five  stories  high.  The  mill  contains  640 
looms  and  27,080  spindles.  The  Fall  River  Manu- 
factory was  incorporated  in  1820,  with  a  capital  of 
$150,000,  which  has  been  increased  to  $180,000,  its 
present  capital. 

The  present  officers  of  the  corporation  are  as  fol- 
lows :  President,  John  S.  Brayton  ;  Clerk  and  Treas- 
urer, Holder  B.  Durfee ;  Directors,  John  S.  Brayton, 
Christopher  Borden,  H.  B.  Durfee,  A.  S.  Covel,  and 
J.  M.  Morton,  Jr. 

The  Troy  Cotton  and  Woolen  Manufacturing- 
Company. — Coincident  with  the  starting  of  the  Fall 
River  Manufactory  was  that  of  the  Troy  Manufac- 
turing Company.  The  articles  of  association  upon 
which  this  enterprise  was  inaugurated  are  dated,  as 
approved,  March  8,  1813:  "Articles  of  agreement 
for  the  regulation  and  well-ordering  the  concerns 
and  proceedings  of  the  subscribers  associated  for  the 
purpose  of  building  a  manufactory  of  cotton  or  other 
goods  in  the  town  of  Troy,  county  of  Bristol  and 
commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  with  a  capital  stock 
of  150,000,  divided  into  one  hundred  shares,  to  be 
paid  by  instalments.  Article  First:  The  company 
shall  be  known  and  called  by  the  name  of  the  Troy 
Manufacturing  Company,  etc."  The  articles,  eleven 
in  number,  were  signed  by  the  following-named  per- 
sons, together  subscribing  for  all  the  shares,  namely: 
Amey  Borden,  Clark  Chace,  Oliver  Chace,  James 
Maxwell,  Jonathan  Brown,  William  Slade,  N.  M. 
Wheaton,  Oliver  Earl,  Eber  Slade,  Joseph  G.  Luther, 
Sheffel  Weaver,  John  Stackford  for  Charles  Wheaton 
and  self,  Nathaniel  Wheeler,  James  Driscol,  Benja- 
min Slade,  Moses  Buffinton,  Nathan  Slade,  Danjel 
Buffinton,  Hezekiah  Wilson,  Benjamin  E.  Bennett. 
Joseph  Buffinton,  Walter  Durfee,  Wiliam  Read,  Rob- 
inson Buffinton,  John  Martin,  and  Benjamin  Buffin- 
ton. Article  Second  providing  for  an  annual  meet- 
ing, at  which  were  to  be  chosen  a  moderator,  clerk, 
and  standing  committee,  consisting  of  five  persons, 
"  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  transact  and  do  all  the  busi- 
ness of  the  company  during  the  year;"  this  annual 
meeting  of  the  stockholders  was  holden  on  the  7th  i 


of  June,  and  James  Maxwell,  Sheffel  Weaver,  Nathan 
Wheeler,  Benjamin  Slade,  and  Jonathan  Brown  were 
chosen  standing  committee  for  the  ensuing  twelve- 
month. At  this  meeting  it  was  voted  to  petition  the 
Legislature  for  a  charter  for  incorporation.  This 
charter  having  been  issued  Feb.  22,  1814,  a  meeting 
was  holden  July  25, 1814,  to  organize  under  their  act, 
and  the  name  of  the  company  was  changed  to  the 
Troy  Cotton  and  Woolen  Manufactory.  There  is 
also  a  record  of  a  meeting  on  the  7th  of  the  same 
month,  at  which  it  was  voted  to  increase  the  amount 
of  capital  $16,000,  assessing  each  share  $40,  payable 
quarterly  during  the  ensuing  year. 

The  Troy  Company's  mill  was  built  of  stone  gath- 
ered from  the  neighboring  fields,  and  designed  to  run 
two  thousand  spindles.  The  building  was  one  hun- 
dred and  eight  feet  long,  thirty-seven  feet  wide,  four 
stories,  and  had  a  low  hip  roof.  It  was  located  at  the 
foot  of  the  fall,  near  to  or  directly  on  the  site  of  an 
old  saw-mill.  The  date  of  its  commencing  operation 
was  about  the  middle  of  March,  1814,  the  building 
having  been  finished  in  the  previous  September. 

Oliver  Chace  was  the  originator  and  agent  of  these 
mills. 

In  1821  the  Troy  Company  had  erected  a  small 
building  where  the  old  saw-mill  previously  referred 
to  stood,  which  was  called  the  "  Little  Mill."  This 
addition  was  nearly  ready  for  occupation  when  the 
main  building  was  burned,  and  was  immediately 
equipped  with  the  few  carders  and  looms  rescued 
from  the  fire  and  a  small  supplement  of  machinery 
from  the  Globe,  and  put  in  operation. 

In  1843  an  addition  of  stone,  three  stories  high  and 
seventy-five  by  forty-seven  feet  in  proportions  on  the 
ground,  was  made  to  the  original  Troy  Mill.  Ten 
years  later  this  new  part  was  raised  two  stories  and 
the  building  extended  eighty  feet  on  the  south,  all  the 
old  wooden  erections  being  removed.  In  1860  the 
original  mill  of  1823  was  removed,  and  the  part 
known  as  the  New  Mill  erected  on  the  north  reach- 
ing to  Bedford  Street,  two  hundred  and  ninety-six 
feet  long,  seventy  feet  wide,  and  five  stories  high. 

Oliver  Chace  remained  agent  of  the  Troy  until 
1822.  when  he  accepted  a  similar  position  with  the 
Pocasset  Company. 

The  mill  contains  961  looms  and  38,928  spindles. 
The  present  capital  is  $300,000.  The  present  officers 
are :  President,  Jefferson  Borden  ;  Clerk  and  Treas- 
urer, Richard  B.  Borden;  Directors,  Jeflerson  Bor- 
den, Stephen  Da  vol,  Thomas  J.  Borden,  John  S. 
Brayton,  Richard  15.  Borden. 

The  Pocasset  Manufacturing-  Company  was  or- 
ganized in  1821,  with  a  paid  in  capital  of  $100,000, 
with  Samuel  Rodman  as  president  and  principal 
owner.  The  original  stockholders  were  eight  in 
number,  namely,  Samuel  Rodman,  Abraham  Bowen, 
Oliver  Chace,  Clark  Chace,  William  Slade,  Nathaniel 
B.  Borden,  Nathaniel  Wheeler,  and  Edward  Bennett. 
Oliver  Chace  became  the  first  agent.    The  first  build- 


316 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


ing  erected  was  that  known  as  the  "  Bridge  Mill."  It 
was  forty  by  one  hundred  feet,  three  stories  high. 
This  was  destroyed  in  the  fire  of  1843. 

The  Pocasset  Company  seemed  to  have  made  it  a 
point  to  encourage  smaller  manufacturers,  and  to  this 
end  erected  buildings  successively  for  some  ten  or 
fifteen  years,  which  were  leased  to  other  parties.  A 
small  building  to  the  west  of  the  ell  of  the  old 
"  Bridge  Mill"  was  occupied  by  Job  Eddy,  of  New 
Bedford,  and  subsequently  by  Edward  and  Oliver  S. 
Hawes  and  others  for  printing  calicoes  in  a  small  way, 
but  this  was  of  short  continuance. 

In  the  fall  of  1824,  Andrew  Robeson,  of  New  Bed- 
ford, came  to  Fall  River  to  establish  a  calico-printing 
business,  and  made  arrangements  with  the  Pocasset 
Company  to  occupy  a  part  of  the  building  erected  in 
1825,  and  known  as  the  Satinet  Factory.  The  capital 
($50,000)  for  this  enterprise  was  generally  subscribed 
in  New  Bedford.  The  south  half  of  this  building 
was  occupied  by  J.  &  J.  Eddy  for  the  manufacture  of 
woolen  goods  (whence  the  name  "Satinet"),  and  con- 
tinued to  be  so  used  by  them  till  the  erection  of  the 
Wamsutta  Steam  Woolen-Mill,  on  "  Mosquito  Island," 
in  1849.  In  1826  a  stone  building,  on  the  site  of  the 
present  Quequechan  Mill,  known  in  those  days  as  the 
"  New  Pocasset,"  was  erected  and  leased  to  A.  &  J. 
Shove,  who  sub-leased  the  north  half  to  Chase  & 
Luther,  both  firms  engaging  in  the  manufacture  of 
cotton  into  yarn  and  cloth.  The  succeeding  year  still 
another  stone  building  was  put  up,  which  was  after- 
wards known  as  the  "Massasoit,"  and  now  as  the 
"  Watuppa  Mill."  It  was  a  building  so  large  that  it 
was  considered  no  one  firm  would  want  to  occupy  the 
whole  of  it,  hence  a  partition-wall  was  run  from  the 
foundation  to  the  roof,  and  two  wheel-pits  put  in. 

January,  1831,  Holden  Borden  leased  the  whole 
mill  and  proceeded  with  a  master  hand  to  develop 
the  manufacturing  business.  The  mill  was  furnished 
with  nine  thousand  spindles,  and  was  from  the  begin- 
ning successful.  This  enterprise  of  Holden  Borden 
gave  character  to  the  business  and  definitely  settled 
the  future  of  Fall  River  as  a  manufacturing  centre. 
From  that  time  onward  the  growth  of  Fall  River  as  a 
cotton  manufacturing  city  has  been  almost  phenom- 
enal. 

The  old  Quequechan  Mill,  which  commenced  opera- 
tions in  1826,  and  was  owned  by  the  company,  has 
been  taken  down  and  mills  No.  2  on  Pocasset  Street 
and  No.  3  on  Central  Street  built.  The  company  now 
run  56,112  spindles  and  1385  looms  on  sheeting,  shirt- 
ing, drilling,  duck,  and  print  cloths ;  employ  730 
hands.  Capital,  $1,161,000.  President,  Samuel  W. 
Rodman,  Boston  ;  Clerk  and  Treasurer,  Bradford  D. 
Davol,  Fall  River;  Directors,  Samuel  W.  Rodman, 
Stephen  Davol,  F.  M.  Weld,  B.  R.  Weld,  Horatio 
Hathaway,  Thomas  R.  Rodman,  Alfred  Rodman. 

The  Annawan  Manufactory  was  incorporated 
Feb.  8,  1825,  with  a  capital  of  $160,000.  One  of  the 
lower  water  privileges  on  the  Fall  River  stream  was 


purchased  of  the  Fall  River  Iron- Works  Company,  and 
a  brick  mill,  with  finished  stone  in  the  lower  stories, 
immediately  erected  under  the  supervision  of  Maj. 
Bradford  Durfee.  He  was  also  the  agent  of  the  mill. 
Thirteen  persons  took  all  the  stock,  as  follows:  Abra- 
ham and  Isaac  Wilkinson,  four  shares ;  Bradford 
Durfee,  two;  William  Valentine, two;  Joseph  Butler, 
two;  Richard  Borden,  two;  Holden  Borden,  four; 
Benjamin  Rodman,  eight;  Francis  Rotch,  one  ;  Wil- 
liam B.  Rotch,  one;  Thomas  Swain,  one;  William 
Swain,  one;  Charles  W.  Morgan,  two.  Of  this  capi- 
tal one  hundred  thousand  dollars  was  paid  in. 

The  Annawan  contains  192  looms  and  10,016 
spindles.  Capital,  $160,000.  The  present  officers  are 
as  follows  :  President,  Jefferson  Borden  ;  Clerk,  Rich- 
ard B.  Borden  ;  Treasurer,  Thomas  S.  Borden  ;  Direc- 
tors, Jefferson  Borden,  R.  B.  Borden,  A.  S.  Covel,  John 
S.  Brayton,  Thomas  S.  Borden. 

The  Metacomet  Manufacturing  Company. — The 
mill  owned  by  this  company  was  built  in  1847  by  the 
Fall  River  Iron-Works  Company,  and  owned  exclu- 
sively by  that  corporation,  which  also  owned  the  Fall 
River  Gas- Works  Company,  the  Fall  River  and  Provi- 
dence Steamboat  Company,  and  the  Fall  River  Ma- 
chine Company.  These  five  companies  were  operated 
in  conjunction  until  1880,  when  a  division  occurred. 
The  Metacomet  Mill  contains  25,760  spindles  and  592 
looms.  Capital,  $288,000.  The  present  officers  are 
as  follows :  President,  Jefferson  Borden  ;  Clerk  and 
Treasurer,  Thomas  S.  Borden  ;  Directors,  Jefferson 
Borden,  John  S.  Brayton,  R.  B.  Borden,  A.  S.  Tripp, 
Robert  C.  Brown,  and  David  A.  Brayton,  Jr. 

The  American  Linen  Company. — The  year  1852 
witnessed  the  establishing  of  a  new  industry  in  this 
city.  This  was  the  American  Linen  Company,  organ- 
ized for  manufacturing  the  finer  linen  fabrics  on  a 
large  scale.  This  corporation  owns  two  mills.  No.  1 
Mill,  301  feet  by  63,  four  stories  high,  was  erected  in 
1852.  In  1858  the  production  was  changed  to  cotton 
print  cloths,  and  the  mill  was  enlarged.  No.  2  Mill 
was  built  in  1866,  399  feet  long,  72  feet  wide,  and  five 
stories  high.  These  mills  contain  1973  looms  and 
82,452  spindles.  Capital,  $400,000.  Walter  Paine  (3d) 
was  treasurer  and  agent  from  its  organization  to  1879, 
when  he  was  succeeded  by  Philip  D.  Borden.  The 
present  officers  are  as  follows  : 

President,  Jefferson  Borden ;  Clerk,  Daniel  E. 
Chace;  Treasurer,  Philip  D.  Borden  ;  Superintendent, 
James  P.  Hillard ;  Directors,  Jefferson  Borden,  Rich- 
ard B.  Borden,  John  S.  Brayton,  A.  S.  Tripp,  Na- 
thaniel Lindsey,  Fall  River ;  Horace  M.  Barnes, 
Bristol ;  W.  "H.  Pearce,  Providence. 

The  Union  Cotton  Manufacturing  Company  — 
The  Union  Mill  Company  was  incorporated  Dec.  31, 
1859,  with  a  capital  of  $175,000.  The  first  officers 
were  S.  Angier  Chace,  president;  David  Anthony, 
treasurer;  Simeon  Borden,  clerk;  and  S.  A.  Chace, 
David  Anthony,  Hale  Remington,  William  Mason, 
Charles  O.  Shove,  and  Charles  P.  Dring,  directors. 


FALL   RIVER. 


317 


This  enterprise  was  successful,  and  gave  an  impetus 
to  manufacturing  and  to  the  growth  of  the  city  in 
every  direction.  No.  1  Mill  was  completed  in  1860, 
and  No.  2  in  1865. 

During  the  financial  troubles  in  1879  the  property 
of  the  Union  Mill  Company  was  sold  to  the  creditors 
and  reorganized  as  the  Union  Cotton  Manufacturing 
Company.  No.  3  Mill  was  subsequently  completed, 
and  the  mills  now  contain  89,608  spindles  and  2122 
looms.  The  present  capital  is  $750,000.  The  present 
officers  are : 

President,  William  D.  Forbes;  Clerk,  Joseph  F. 
Knowles;  Treasurer,  Thomas  E.  Brayton  ;  Directors, 
William  D.  Forbes,  Charles  Whitney,  Boston  ;  A.  H. 
Seabury,  Thomas  B.  Wilcox,  New  Bedford;  John  B. 
Anthony,  Providence;  Theodore  Dean,  Taunton; 
F.  H.  Stafford,  Henry  C.  Lincoln,  James  M.  Morton, 
Jr.,  Fall  River. 

The  Granite  Mills  were  incorporated  March  3, 
1863,  with  William  Mason  as  president,  Charles  O. 
Shove  treasurer,  and  William  Mason,  Lazarus  Bor- 
den, Edmund  Chase,  Samuel  Hathaway,  Charles  O. 
Shove,  and  Charles  P.  Stickney,  first  board  of  direc- 
tors. The  originator  of  this  enterprise  was  Charles  O. 
Shove,  who  for  several  years  previously  had  contem- 
plated the  erection  of  a  cotton-mill..  The  original 
capital  was  $225,000,  which  was  increased  to  $400,000 
in  May,  1864,  and  to  $415,000  the  following  July,  but 
in  1871  was  reduced  to  $400,000,  its  present  capital. 

No.  1  Mill,  three  hundred  and  twenty-eight  feet 
long,  seventy  feet  wide,  five  stories  high,  commenced 
running  in  January,  1865,  and  the  first  lot  of  cotton 
was  manufactured  at  a  loss  of  $60,000.  Soon  after, 
however,  a  rapid  change  for  the  better  took  place,  the 
profits  of  the  corporation  were  large,  and  in  1871  No. 
2  Mill  was  erected,  three  hundred  and  seventy-eight 
feet  long,  seventy-four  feet  wide,  five  stories  high. 
The  two  mills  contain  79,000  spindles  and  1902  looms. 

Mr.  Charles  O.  Shove  was  the  active  manufacturer 
and  financial  manager  of  these  mills  until  his  death 
in  July,  1875,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  his  son, 
Charles  M.  Shove,  who  is  the  present  clerk  and  treas- 
urer. The  present  officers  of  the  company  are  as  fol- 
lows :  President,  William  Mason ;  Clerk  and  Treas- 
urer, Charles  M.  Shove;  Directors,  W.  Mason,  Ed- 
mund Chase,  John  S.  Brayton,  Iram  Smith,  John  P. 
Slade,  Charles  M.  Shove,  and  Frank  S.  Stevens. 

The  Robeson  Mills. — This  corporation  was  organ- 
ized Dec.  1,  1865,  with  the  following  board  of  direc- 
tors: Andrew  Robeson,  Jr.,  Charles  P.  Stickney, 
Samuel  Hathaway,  William  C.  Dayol,  Jr.,  Linden 
Cook,  Samuel  Casta er,  and  Josiah  Brown.  Samuel 
Hathaway  was  elected  president,  and  Linden  Cook 
treasurer.  The  new  corporation  took  the  name  Robe- 
son Mills,  from  Andrew  Robeson,  Sr.,  and  was  incor- 
porated Feb.  20,  1866.  A  brick  mill,  three  stories 
high,  with  a  French  roof,  two  hundred  and  twenty- 
two  feet  long  and  seventy-six  feet  wide,  was  erected 
during  the  year  1866,  and  commenced  running  in 


March,  1867.  The  mill  has  since  been  enlarged,  and 
now  contains  23,648  spindles  and  600  looms.  Capital, 
$260,000.  The  present  officers  are:  President,  Linden 
Cook ;  Clerk  and  Treasurer,  Linden  Cook ;  Directors, 
Linden  Cook,  William  R.  Robeson,  Danforth  Horton, 
Frank  S.  Stevens,  Louis  Robeson,  E.  E.  Hathaway, 
and  Samuel  Luther. 

The  Tecumseh  Mills.— These  mills  were  incor- 
porated Feb.  8,  1866.  Augustus  Chace,  James  W. 
Hartley,  John  P.  Slade,  and  their  associates  were  in- 
corporated as  the  Tecumseh  Mills  Company,  with  a 
capital  of  $350,000,  in  shares  of  $1000  each.  This 
stock  was  taken  by  eighty-nine  subscribers.  Land 
was  purchased  on  Hartwell  Street,  bordering  also  on 
the  Quequechan  River,  a  short  distance  above  the 
upper  or  Troy  dam,  and  immediate  steps  taken  for 
the  erection  of  a  mill  of  about  20,000  spindles.  Au- 
gustus Chace  was  elected  president,  Isaac  B.  Chace 
treasurer,  and  the  following  board  of  directors:  Au- 
gustus Chace,  James  W.  Hartley,  Louis  L.  Barnard, 
Lazarus  Borden,  Jonathan  T.  Lincoln,  Cook  Borden, 
and  Danforth  Horton. 

The  mill  was  completed  and  running  in  1866.  In 
1873  No.  2  mill  was  completed.  No.  1  mill  has  23,472 
spindles  and  589  looms,  and  No.  2  has  22,576  spindles 
and  576  looms.     Capital,  $500,000. 

The  present  officers  are  as  follows :  President,  Au- 
gustus Chace;  Clerk  and  Treasurer,  Frank  H. 
Dwelly ;  Directors,  Augustus  Chace,  Samuel  Wad- 
dington,  D.  T.  Wilcox,  John  Southworth,  S.  B.  Chase, 
George  E.  Hoar,  George  W.  Nowell,  Jerome  C.  Bor- 
den, and  Leontine  Lincoln. 

The  Durfee  Mills. — This  company  was  organized  in 
1876  with  a  capital  of  $500,000,  and  named  in  honor 
of  Maj.  Bradford  Durfee,  whose  son  was  the  principal 
stockholder  and  original  president.  This  corporation 
owns  three  mills.  No.  1  was  built  in  1866,  No.  2  in 
1871,  and  No.  3  in  1881.  This  has  the  largest  capacity 
of  any  corporation  in  the  city,  having  109,360  spindles 
and  2734  looms.  Capital,  $500,000.  The  present 
officers  are :  President,  John  S.  Brayton ;  Clerk  and 
Treasurer,  David  A.  Brayton,  Jr. ;  Directors,  John 
S.  Brayton,  Hezekiah  A.  Brayton,  and  David  A. 
Brayton,  Jr. 

The  Davol  Mills  Company  was  organized  Dec.  1, 
1866,  and  incorporated  in  1867,  nineteen  persons  con- 
tributing the  entire  capital  of  $270,000,  and  named 
after  one  of  the  conspicuous  promoters  of  cotton 
manufacturing,  William  C.  Davol.  A  site  was  se- 
lected above  the  dam  and  on  the  wot  side  of  the 
pond,  in  such  proximity  to  the  latter  as  to  assure  a 
convenient  supply  of  pure  water  for  steam  purposes. 
Ground  was  broken  for  the  foundation  April  1,  1867, 
and  on  the  11th  of  March,  1868,  the  first  yard  of  cloth 
was  woven. 

This  company  has  two  mills,  with  an  aggregate  of 
30,496  spindles  and  768  looms.  The  company  was 
reorganized  in  1880,  and  has  a  capital  of  $400,000. 
The  present  officers  are :  President,  Frank  S.  Stevens  ; 


318 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Clerk  and  Treasurer,  Charles  M.  Slade;  Directors, 
William  C.  Davol,  Frank  S.  Stevens,  Jonathan  Slade, 
E.  E.  Hathaway,  W.  C.  Davol,  Jr.,  Charles  R.  Batt, 
William  A.  Haskell,  Daniel  Denny,  Boston. 

The  Merchants'  Manufacturing  Company  — 
This  company  was  organized  Oct.  24,  1866,  with  a 
capital  of  eight  hundred  thousand  dollars. 

On  the  2d  of  November  following  a  permanent  or- 
ganization of  the  company  was  arranged,  W.  H.  Jen- 
nings being  chosen  treasurer  and  corporation  clerk, 
and  James  Henry,  W.  H.  Jennings,  Augustus  Chace, 
L.  L.  Barnard,  Robert  S.  Gibbs,  Charles  H.  Dean, 
Crawford  E.  Lindsey,  Robert  K.  Remington,  and 
Lafayette  Nichols,  directors.  At  a  subsequent  meet- 
ing James  Henry  was  chosen  president,  and  Mr. 
Jennings,  clerk. 

The  promoter  of  this  enterprise  was  Mr.  William 
H.  Jennings,  a  man  of  great  business  energy  and 
tact.  As  illustrative  of  this  fact,  it  is  said  that  he 
secured  all  the  capital,  $800,000,  in  the  brief  period 
of  two  days.  The  mill  was  erected  in  1867,  and  in 
February,  1868,  the  first  cloth  was  made,  and  in  the 
following  fall  was  in  full  operation.  In  1872  a  large 
addition  to  the  mill  was  completed,  thus  making  it 
the  largest  mill  under  one  roof  in  Fall  River.  It 
contains  90,656  spindles  and  2100  looms ;  capital, 
$800,000. 

The  present  officers  are  as  follows :  President, 
James  Henry ;  Clerk  and  Treasurer,  Simeon  B. 
Chase;  Directors,  James  Henry,  William  H.  Jen- 
nings, Augustus  Chace,  James  M.  Osborn,  Richard 
B.  Borden,  Robert  T.  Davis,  Samuel  Wadington, 
Andrew  J.  Borden. 

The  Mechanics'  Mills.— This  corporation  was 
chartered  May  25,  1868,  and  organized  on  the  1st  of 
the  following  July  with  the  following  officers:  Presi- 
dent and  Agent,  Thomas  J.  Borden  ;  Clerk  and  Treas- 
urer, D.  H.  Dyer;  Directors,  Thomas  J.  Borden, 
Stephen  Davol,  Lazarus  Borden,  Job  B.  French, 
Southard  H.  Miller,  B.  M.  C.  Durfee,  Tillinghast 
Records,  James  M.  Morton,  Jr.,  and  A.  D.  Easton. 

The  capital  stock  was  fixed  at  $750,000,  divided 
into  7500  shares  of  $100  each.  The  stock  was  largely 
distributed  among  parties  of  small  means,  there 
being  in  all  328  stockholders,  188  of  whom  owned 
from  1  to  10  shares  each,  and  73  owned  from  11 
to  25  shares  each,  making  261  stockholders,  no  one 
of  whom  owned  over  $2500  of  the  stock,  and  aver- 
aging less  than  $1000  each.  The  organization  of 
the  Merchants'  Manufacturing  Company  in  1867, 
with  a  capital  of  $800,000  and  about  250  stock- 
holders, and  of  the  Mechanics'  Mills  in  1868,  with  a 
capital  of  $750,000  and  328  stockholders,  were  the 
development  of  a  new  feature  in  the  ownership  of 
manufacturing  property  in  Fall  River,  all  previous 
enterprises  of  the  kind  having  been  associations  of 
parties  of  considerable  wealth,  while  these  two  were 
the  result  of  bringing  together  in  large  amounts  the 
funds  of  parties  of  very  moderate  capital. 


The  mills  were  completed  and  running  in  1869. 
Thomas  J.  Borden  remained  president  until  1871, 
when  he  resigned,  and  was  succeeded  by  Stephen 
Davol.  D.  H.  Dyer  was  treasurer  until  1871,  when 
Thomas  J.  Borden  succeeded,  and  continued  until 
February,  1876,  when  George  B.  Durfee  was  appointed. 
He  was  succeeded  in  1879  by  Frank  S.  Stevens,  who 
held  the  office  about  two  years,  when  he  resigned,  and 
H.  N.  Durfee,  the  present  treasurer,  was  appointed. 
James  M.  Morton,  Jr.,  the  present  clerk,  was  ap- 
pointed Feb.  3,  1870.  These  mills  have  53,712  spin- 
dles and  1330  looms.     Capital,  $750,000. 

The  presentofficers  are  as  follows :  President,  Stephen 
Davol ;  Clerk,  James  M.  Morton,  Jr. ;  Treasurer, 
Horatio  N.  Durfee;  Directors,  Stephen  Davol,  Job 
B.  French,  Thomas  J.  Borden,  Tillinghast  Records, 
Southard  H.  Miller,  James  M.  Morton,  Jr.,  John  B. 
Hathaway,  F.  S.  Stevens,  John  S.  Brayton. 

The  Stafford  Mills  was  organized  Dec.  12,  1870, 
with  a  capital  of  $500,000.  Foster  H.  Stafford  was 
elected  president  and  agent,  and  Shubael  P.  Lovell 
clerk  and  treasurer,  with  the  following  board  of  direc- 
tors :  F.  H.  Stafford,  Samuel  Hathaway,  Charles  P. 
Stickney,'  Robert  T.  Davis,  William  C.  Davol,  Wil- 
liam L.  Slade,  Danforth  Horton,  Edmund  Chase,  and 
Weaver  Osborn. 

March  18,  1871,  this  corporation  was  dissolved,  and 
the  subscribers,  twenty-two  in  number,  reorganized 
under  a  special  charter  granted  to  Charles  P.  Stick- 
ney, Samuel  Hathaway,  Foster  H.  Stafford,  and  their 
associates  as  the  "Stafford  Mills,"  with  a  capital  of 
$550,000.  The  persons  chosen  officers  in  the  first  or- 
ganization were  elected  to  the  same  positions  under 
the  special  charter. 

The  company  assumed  the  name  of  "Stafford 
Mills,"  in  honor  of  their  president,  who  was  the  pro- 
jector of  the  enterprise,  and  whose  long  experience, 
untiring  devotion  to  the  business,  and  proved  skill 
and  success  had  justly  earned  him  the  confidence  and 
esteem  of  his  associates. 

The  mill  was  erected  in  1872,  and  now  contains 
38,800  spindles  and  966  looms.     Capital,  $550,000. 

The  present  officers  are  as  follows  :  President,  F.  H. 
Stafford;  Clerk  and  Treasurer,  Albert  E.  Bosworth ; 
Agent,  F.  H.  Stafford ;  Directors,  F.  H.  Stafford,  R. 
T.  Davis,  Edmund  Chase,  Danforth  Horton,  William 
L.  Slade,  William  Mason,  Irani  Smith,  Frank  S. 
Stevens,  and  E.  E.  Hathaway. 

The  Slade  Mill  was  organized  May  1,  1871,  its 
principal  promoters  being  William  L.  and  Jonathan 
Slade,  Benjamin  Hall,  the  Dwelly  heirs,  Frank  S. 
Stevens,  John  C.  Milne,  W.  and  J.  M.  Osborn,  Rich- 
ard B.  and  Thomas  J.  Borden,  S.  Angier  Chace,  David 
A.  Brayton,  B.  M.  C.  Durfee,  and  William  Valentine. 
William  M.  Slade  was  chosen  president,  and  James 
M.  Osborn  treasurer.  These  mills  contain  37,040 
spindles  and  875  looms.  Capital,  $550,000.  The 
present  officers  are  as  follows:  President,  William  L. 
Slade  ;  Clerk  and  Treasurer,  Henry  S.  Fenner ;  Direc- 


FALL  RIVER. 


319 


tors,  William  L.  Slade,  Jerome  Dwelly,  Frank  S. 
Stevens,  Benjamin  Hall,  Jonathan  Slade,  John  C. 
Milne,  Daniel  Wilbur,  Henry  S.  Fenner,  George  W. 
Hills. 

The  Weetamoe  Mills  Company. — The  first  meet- 
ing for  the  organization  of  this  company  was  held 
Dec.  29, 1870,  and  the  following  directors  were  chosen  : 
L.  L.  Barnard,  Job  B.  French,  Jonathan  I.  Hilliard, 
Josiah  C.  Blaisdell,  William  Lindsey,  Francis  B. 
Hood,  Henry  C.  Lincoln,  E.  C.  Kilbnrn,  and  D.  H. 
Dyer.  L.  L.  Barnard  was  elected  president,  and  D.  H. 
Dyer,  treasurer.  The  act  of  incorporation  is  dated 
Feb.  24,  1871.  The  number  of  original  subscribers 
was  two  hundred  and  seventy-five.  Land  for  a  mill- 
site  was  purchased  on  the  banks  of  Taunton  River, 
near  Slade's  Ferry,  and  the  new  corporation  assumed 
the  name  of  "  Weetamoe,"  after  the  Queen  of  the 
Pocassets,  who  was  drowned  near  by  in  crossing  the 
river.  Another  tract  of  land,  north  of  Mechanics- 
ville,  was  purchased  for  tenement  houses.  Work  on 
the  mill  building  was  begun  in  March,  1872,  and 
within  ten  months  the  looms  were  running  off  cloth. 

The  mill  is  of  brick,  three  hundred  and  twenty  feet 
long,  seventy-four  feet  wide,  and  five  stories  high,  with 
basement. 

The  first  steps  in  the  organization  of  this  company 
were  taken  by  D.  Hartwell  Dyer,  wdio  opened  the 
books  for  subscriptions,  and  he  also  drew  the  plans 
for  the  erection  of  the  mills.  The  mill  contains 
34,080  spindles  and  860  looms.  Capital,  $550,000. 
The  present  officers  are  as  follows  :  President,  Job  B. 
French;  Clerk,  John  E.  Blaisdell;  Treasurer,  Wil- 
liam Lindsey;  Directors,  Job  B.  French,  Elijah  C. 
Kilburn,  Josiah  C.  Blaisdell,  Henry  C.  Lincoln,  Wil- 
liam Lindsey,  John  P.  Slade,  William  H.  Ashley. 

The  Richard  Borden  Manufacturing  Company 
was  organized  May  19,  1871,  the  entire  capital  of 
$800,000  being  taken  by  twelve  individuals.  Thomas 
J.  Borden  was  elected  treasurer  and  corporation  clerk, 
and  Richard  Borden,  Philip  D.  Borden,  Thomas  J. 
Borden,  Richard  B.  Borden,  and  A.  S.  Covel,  direc- 
tors. Richard  Borden  was  chosen  president  at  the 
second  meeting  of  the  board. 

The  mill,  which  is  one  of  the  most  perfect  struc- 
tures for  manufacturing  purposes  in  the  country,  was 
erected  and  "wound  up"  under  the  personal  super- 
vision of  Thomas  J.  Borden,  who  made  the  plans  of 
construction  and  machine  equipment.  It  was  started  in 
February,  1873.  The  present  number  of  spindles  are 
46,048,  with  1080  looms.  Its  production  annually  is 
14,000,000  yards  of  print  cloth. 

Col.  Richard  Borden  remained  president  until  his 
death,  in  February,  1874,  when  he  was  succeeded  by 
his  son  Richard  B.  Borden,  who  continued  in  the 
office  until  1876,  when  he  succeeded  Thomas  J. 
Borden  as  treasurer,  and  has  officiated  in  that  ca- 
pacity to  the  present  time.     Capital,  $800,000. 

The  present  officers  are  as  follows:  President, 
Thomas   J.  Borden  ;  Clerk   and   Treasurer,  Richard 


B.  Borden  ;  Directors,  Thomas   J.  Borden,  Richard 

B.  Borden,  A.  S.  Covel,  Jerome  C.  Borden,  Edward 
P.  Borden,  M.  C.  D.  Borden,  and  Avery  Plummer. 

The  Wampanoag  Mill  Company.— The  prelimi- 
nary meeting  for  the  organization  of  this  company 
was  held  May  23,  1871,  when  Stephen  Davol,  J.  I). 
Flint,  William  H.  Jennings,  L.  S.  Earl,  Walter  C. 
Durfee,  and  R.  T.  Davis  combined  for  the  purpose  of 
projecting  a  new  corporation.  On  the  31st  of  the 
same  month,  the  capital  of  $400,000  having  been  sub- 
scribed, the  company  was  organized  with  Walter  C. 
Durfee  as  treasurer  and  corporation  clerk,  and  R.  T. 
Davis,  J.  D.  Flint,  Walter  C.  Durfee,  Stephen  Davol, 
Foster  H.  Stafford,  Simeon  Borden,  George  H.  Eddy, 
A.  L.  Covel,  L.  S.  Earl,  William  H.  Jennings,  and 
John  H.  Brown,  directors.  At  a  subsequent  meeting 
R.  T.  Davis  was  chosen  president. 

No.  1  Mill  was  erected  in  1872,  and  No.  2  Mill  in 
1879.  These  mills  operate  64.872  spindles  and  1605 
looms.  Present  capital,  $500,000.  The  present  officers 
are :  President,  Robert  T.  Davis  ;  Clerk  and  Treasurer, 
Walter  C.  Durfee;  Directors,  Robert  T.  Davis,  W.  C. 
Durfee,  John  D.  Flint,  Stephen  Davol,  Foster  H. 
Stafford,  William  H.  Jennings,  George  H.  Eddy, 
Simeon  Borden,  John  H.  Boone,  Daniel  Wilbur. 

The  Narragansett  Mills. — The  original  promoters 
of  this  mill  were  Daniel  McCowan,  James  Waring, 
A.  D.  Easton,  and  others.  The  capital,  originally 
$350,000,  was,  on  the  acceptance  of  the  charter,  July 
6,  1871,  increased  to  $400,000.  At  the  meeting  of 
organization,  July  12th,  James  Waring  was  chosen 
treasurer,  and  A.  D.  Easton  president.  The  mill  was 
finished  and  wound  up  for  operation  by  the  latter  part 
of  December  in  the  following  year.  Its  capacity  is 
32,144  spindles  and  787  looms.  The  present  officers 
are  as  follows :  President,  Robert  Henry ;  Clerk  and 
Treasurer,  James  Waring  ;  Directors,  Robert  Henry, 
James  Waring,  Foster  H.  Stafford,  David  T.  Wilcox, 
James  P.  Hillard,  Samuel  Wadington,  George  W. 
Nowell. 

The  King  Philip  Mills. — This  corporation  was  pro- 
jected in  1871  by  Messrs.  Elijah  C.  Kilburn  and  Craw- 
ford E.  Lindsey,  of  Fall  River,  and  Jonathan  Chace, 
of  Valley  Falls,  R.  I.  Believing  that  the  times  were 
auspicious  for  the  establishment  of  a  company  for  the 
manufacture  of  fine  cotton  goods,  these  gentlemen  de- 
cided to  open  a  subscription  to  a  capital  of  $500,000 
for  a  mill  of  about  36,000  spindles.  Within  a  fort- 
night the  $500,000  desired  was  subscribed  (and  $160,- 
000  more  offered),  and  on  July  14,  1871,  the  company 
was  duly  organized  by  the  election  of  Mr.  C.  E.  Lind- 
sey as  president,  Mr.  E.  C.  Kilburn  as  treasurer,  Mr. 
A.  S.  Tripp  as  clerk,  and  a  board  of  eleven  directors, 
viz.,  Jonathan  Chace,  James  Henry,  S.Angier  Chace, 

C.  E.  Lindsey,  Philip  D.  Borden,  Charles  O.  Shove, 
E.  C.  Kilburn,  A.  S.  Tripp,  Benjamin  A.  Chace, 
Simeon  Borden,  and  Charles  H.  Dean. 

Work  was  begun  on  the  foundation  of  the  No.  1 
Mill  in  October,  1871,  and  pressed  forward  until  cold 


320 


HISTOllY   OF    BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


weather  prevented  further  operations  that  season. 
In  April,  1872,  work  was  resumed,  the  mill  building 
completed,  the  machinery  received  and  placed  in  po- 
sition, and  in  March,  1873,  the  first  piece  of  cloth  was 
woven. 

The  mill  is  situated  on  the  west  shore  of  Laurel 
Lake,  and  is  built  of  granite  quarried  on  the  prem- 
ises. It  is  three  hundred  and  twenty  by  ninety-two 
feet,  being  a  wide  jnill,  so  called,  and  is  four  stories 
high  above  the  basement.  The  engine-  aud  picker- 
house  is  attached  to  the  main  building,  and  is  sixty- 
five  by  fifty  feet,  and  three  stories  high. 

This  mill  contains  42,016  spindles  and  852  wide- 
looms. 

The  anticipations  of  the  projectors  of  the  King 
Philip  Mills  were  fully  verified  within  a  decade  from 
the  starting  of  the  No.  1  Mill,  for  in  June,  1881,  in 
response  to  a  request  from  many  of  its  largest  stock- 
holders, the  directors  issued  a  call  for  a  meeting  to 
consider  the  advisability  of  increasing  the  capital 
stock  from  $500,000  to  $1,000,000,  and  the  erection  of 
a  new  mill.  The  corporation,  by  a  large  vote,  de- 
cided to  adopt  the  plans  proposed  by  the  directors, 
and  in  July,  1881,  ground  was  broken  for  the  founda- 
tion of  the  No.  2  Mill,  which  was  completed  in 
1882,  and  has  52,928  spindles  and  1006  looms.  This 
mill  is  three  hundred  and  eighty-six  by  ninety-two 
feet,  which,  together  with  the  No.  1  Mill  and  engine- 
house,  present  an  unbroken  frontage  of  seven  hundred 
and  forty-six  feet. 

The  two  mills  contain  94,944  spindles  aud  1838 
looms,  having  more  spindles  in  operation  than  any 
other  corporation  in  the  city,  with  the  single  excep- 
tion of  the  Durfee  Mills.     Capital,  $1,000,000. 

The  present  officers  areas  follows  :  President,  Craw- 
ford E.  Lindsey ;  Corporation  Clerk,  Azariah  S.  Tripp ; 
Treasurer,  Elijah  C.  Ivilburn ;  Directors,  C.  E.  Lind- 
sey, E.  C.  Kilburn,  William  Lindsey,  Edwin  Shaw, 
Henry  H.  Earl,  Leontine  Lincoln,  Charles  E.  Fisher, 
Robert  Henry. 

The  Crescent  Mills  were  organized  Oct.  25, 1871, 
with  a  capital  stock  of  $500,000,  and  the  erection 
of  this  mill  was  soon  after  commenced,  and  the 
main  building  is  of  granite,  339  feet  by  74,  four 
stories  and  attic  above  the  basement.  The  picker- 
house  building  in  rear  is  85  by  50  feet,  three 
stories  high.  The  first  cotton  was  put  in  Dec.  21, 
1872,  and  the  first  cloth  produced  Feb.  8,  1873,  and 
the  entire  mill  was  in  full  operation  Aug.  30,  1873. 
The  mill  contains  33,280  spindles  and  762  looms. 

The  original  officers  of  the  corporation  were  Ben- 
jamin Covel,  president;  Lafayette  Nichols,  treasurer; 
and  Benjamin  Covel,  L.  Nichols,  D.  A.  Chapiu,  Wil- 
liam B.  Durfee,  J.  F.  Nichols,  Joseph  Brady,  David 
F.  Brown,  G.  M.  Haffards,  and  A.  S.  Covel  consti- 
tuted the  board  of  directors. 

Mr.  Nichols  served  as  treasurer  until  Nov.  12, 1873, 
when  he  resigned,  and  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  R.  B. 
Borden.     Mr.  Borden  filled  the  position  until  Feb.  9, 


1876,  when  he  resigned,  and  Mr.  A.  S.  Covel,  the 
present  treasurer,  was  elected.  Capital,  $500,000.  The 
present  officers  are  as  follows  :  President,  Benjamin 
Covel ;  Clerk  and  Treasurer,  Alphonso  S.  Covel ;  Di- 
rectors, Benjamin  Covel,  Daniel  A.  Chapin,  William 
B.  Durfee,  Alphonso  S.  Covel,  Lafayette  Nichols,  W. 
H.  Ashley,  and  N.  Amzen. 

The  Montaup  Mills  were  organized  Nov.  14, 1871, 
when  the  following  board  of  directors  was  chosen  : 
Josiah  Brown.  Bradford  D.  Davol,  George  B.  Dur- 
fee, A.  D.  Easton,  William  L.  Slade,  Isaac  Borden, 
George  H.  Hawes,  William  Valentine,  Holden  B. 
Durfee,  and  Thomas  J.  Borden.  Josiah  Brown  was 
elected  president,  and  Isaac  Borden,  treasurer  and 
clerk  of  the  corporation.  The  capital  was  fixed  at 
$250,000,  and  the  name  of  "  Montaup  Mills"  adopted 
as  the  corporate  name,  suggested  by  the  Indian  name 
of  "  Mount  Hope."  The  act  of  incorporation  bears 
date  Dec.  1,  1871.  The  projector  of  these  mills  was 
Josiah  Brown,  Esq. 

Land  was  bought  on  the  northern  shore  of  Laurel 
Lake,  and  operations  on  the  foundation  were  begun 
Feb.  13,  1872,  and  the  work  advanced  with  such 
rapidity  that  the  engine  was  started  Jan.  2,  1873,  and 
the  weaving  Feb.  7,  1873,  or  in  a  little  less  than  a 
year  from  the  first  breaking  of  ground. 

The  company  entered  immediately  upon  the  man- 
ufacture of  first  quality  seamless  bags,  cotton  bats 
and  duck,  running  7200  spindles  and  112  looms,  pro- 
ducing 600,000  bags  (two-bushel)  annually. 

After  about  two  years  the  style  of  goods  manufac- 
tured was  changed.  These  mills  now  operate  9120 
spindles  and  152  looms,  and  manufacture  yarns,  plain 
and  fancy  ducks  colored.  Capital,  $150,000.  The 
mill  is  of  brick,  242  feet  long;  74  feet  wide,  four 
stories  high.  The  present  officers  are  as  follows : 
President,  William  L.  Slade;  Clerk  and  Treasurer, 
Isaac  Borden  ;  Directors,  William  L.  Slade,  Bradford 
D.  Davol,  Weaver  Osborn,  William  H.  Ashley,  Ben- 
jamin Greene,  Isaac  Borden,  and  Charles  A.  Chace. 

The  Osborn  Mills  enterprise  was  due  to  the  sug- 
gestion of  Weaver  Osborn,  Esq.,  who,  in  consultation 
with  Messrs.  Easton  &  Milne  and  Joseph  Healy,  pro- 
posed the  formation  of  a  company  with  $500,000 
capital  for  the  manufacture  of  print  cloths.  The 
books  were  opened,  and  before  night  the  whole  amount 
was  subscribed,  and  the  same  evening  "  rights"  sold 
at  three  per  cent,  premium.  The  first  meeting  of  the 
original  subscribers,  thirty-five  in  number,  was  holden 
Oct.  9,  1871,  and  the  company  organized  with  the 
following  board  of  directors:  Weaver  Osborn, 
Joseph  Healy,  James  T.  Milne,  Benjamin  Hall, 
Andrew  J.  Borden,  Joseph  Osborn,  Joseph  E.  Ma- 
comber,  George  T.  Hathaway,  John  C.  Milne,  D. 
H.  Dyer,  and  Edward  E.  Hathaway.  Weaver  Os- 
born was  subsequently  elected  president,  and  Joseph 
Healy  treasurer  and  clerk  of  the  corporation.  The 
capital  was  fixed  at  $500,000,  and  the  name  of  "Os- 
born Mills,"  in  honor  of  the  president,  selected  as  the 


FALL  RIVER. 


321 


corporate   name.      The   act  of    incorporation    bears 
date  Feb.  1,  1872. 

A  tract  of  land  on  the  eastern  shore  of  Laurel 
Lake,  comprising  about  fifteen  acres,  was  secured  as 
a  mill-site.  The  mill  is  built  of  granite,  and  is  three 
hundred  and  eighteen  feet  long  by  seventy-four  feet 
wide,  five  stories  high,  with  a  flat  roof  and  a  base- 
ment, with  an  L  on  the  west  ninety  feet  by  forty, 
three  stories  high,  as  an  engine-  and  picker  house,  to 
which  is  attached  a  boiler-house  forty-one  feet  by 
forty-two,  two  stories  high.  The  mill  building  was 
put  up,  the  machinery  placed  in  position,  and  weav- 
ing commenced  (March  10,  1873)  in  less  than  a  year 
from  the  time  of  beginning  work  on  the  foundation. 
The  mill  was  "  wound  up"  for  the  manufacture  of 
print  cloths  64  by  64,  and  contained  37,232  spindles 
and  930  looms.  The  capacity  has  been  increased 
until  now  the  spindles  number  39,256,  with  970 
looms,  manufacturing  print  cloths  and  jeans.  Capi- 
tal, $500,000.  The  present  officers  are :  President, 
Weaver  Osborn  ;  Clerk  and  Treasurer,  Joseph  Healy ; 
Directors,  Weaver  Osborn,  Joseph  Osborn,  John  C. 
Milne,  Joseph  Healy,  Edward  E.  Hathaway,  Benja- 
min Hall,  and  Thomas  Almy. 

The  Chace  Mills  Company  was  organized  in 
1871-72,  the  original  promoters  of  the  enterprise 
being  Augustus  Chace,  George  W.  Grinnell,  and 
J.  M.  Earl.  The  first  suggestion  of  the  new  cor- 
poration was  the  effort  of  a  few  gentlemen  associated 
with  Mr.  John  P.  Slade  to  start  a  mill  a  considerable 
distance  south,  on  the  shore  of  the  Quequechan 
Pond.  The  locality  proposed  being  considered  too 
far  removed  from  the  city,  the  undertaking  resolved 
into  another  enterprise,  which  terminated  in  the  for- 
mation of  the  Chace  Company.  The  Chace  Mill, 
located  on  Rodman  Street,  is  a  granite  structure  three 
hundred  and  seventy-seven  feet  long  by  seventy-four 
feet  wide,  and  six  stories  high. 

At  the  first  meeting  of  organization  Augustus 
Chace  was  chosen  president  and  Joseph  A.  Baker 
treasurer.  This  mill  at  first  contained  43,480  spin- 
dles and  1056  looms.  The  number  has  since  been  in- 
creased, and  at  the  present  time  there  are  50,000  spin- 
dles and  1275  looms.  Productions,  print  cloths.  Cap- 
ital, $500,000. 

The  present  officers  are  as  follows  :  President,  Au- 
gustus Chace  ;  Clerk  and  Treasurer,  Joseph  A.  Baker ; 
Directors,  Augustus  Chace,  George  W.  Grinnell,  Ed- 
ward E.  Hathaway,  William  Mason,  Joseph  A.  Baker, 
James  F.  Davenport,  Jerome  C.  Borden. 

The  Flint  Mills  were  organized  in  February,  1872, 
with  a  capital  of  $500,000,  which  was  increased  to 
1600,000  in  October  of  the  same  year;  Dec.  22,  1879, 
to  $580,000.  The  act  of  incorporation,  bearing  date 
Feb.  28,  1872,  names  John  D.  Flint,  Stephen  C. 
Wrightington,  Simeon  Borden,  and  William  H.  Jen- 
nings, their  associates  and  successors,  as  the  new  cor- 
poration. The  number  of  original  subscribers  was  about 
two  hundred.  John  D.  Flint  was  elected  president, 
21 


Stephen  C.  Wrightington  treasurer,  and  J.  D.  Flint, 
Robert  T.  Davis,  Stephen  Davol,  William  H.  Jen- 
nings, William  T.  Hall,  Daniel  McGowan,  Gardner 
T.  Dean,  S.  C.  Wrightington,  William  Carroll,  and 
Cornelius  Hargraves  the  board  of  direction.  Mr. 
Wrightington  resigned  in  March,  and  George  H. 
Eddy  was  elected  treasurer  to  fill  the  vacancy.  Mr. 
Eddy  resigned  in  September,  1879,  and  J.  D.  Flint 
was  chosen  treasurer  and  B.  D.  Davol  president.     J. 

D.  Flint  resigned  April,  1881,  and  B.  D.  Davol  was 
chosen  treasurer  and  J.  D.  Flint  president.  In 
October,  1882,  B.  D.  Davol  resigned,  and  W.  S. 
Potter,  the  present  treasurer,  was  chosen.  Upon 
the  organization  of  this  corporation  it  assumed  the 
name  of  Flint  Mills,  in  honor  of  its  president,  and 
the  village,  which  has  since  grown  up  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  mill,  is  known  locally  as  "  Flint  Village." 
Land  for  a  mill-site  and  tenement  was  purchased 
on  the  upper  part  of  the  stream,  near  where  it  issues 
from  the  South  Pond,  and  before  frost  was  out  of  the 
ground  operations  were  begun  for  the  foundation  of 
the  mill.  The  mill  was  built  of  stone,  in  accordance 
with  plans  drawn  by  D.  H.  Dyer,  architect,  and,  un- 
like most  of  the  cotton-mills  in  the  city,  was  a  wide 
mill,  after  the  English  style,  being  three  hundred  feet 
long  by  ninety-four  feet  wide,  instead  of  the  usual 
width  of  seventy-two  to  seventy-four  feet.  It  was 
five  stories  high,  with  a  flat  roof,  and  a  finely-propor- 
tioned tower  in  front.  The  machinery  was  mostly 
American,  and  arranged  for  the  manufacture  of  print 
cloth  64  by  64.  The  mill  commenced  running  in 
April,  1873,  and  at  the  date  of  its  destruction  by  fire 
manufactured  15,200,000  yards  of  print  cloths  per 
annum.  It  contained  49,360  spindles.  1065  looms, 
and  employed  500  operatives,  with  a  monthly  pay- 
roll of  $12,000.  The  machinery  was  driven  by  a 
double  Corliss  engine  of  800  horse-power.  Steam 
was  supplied  by  six  upright  boilers  of  150  horse- 
power each.  Water  was  taken  directly  from  the 
stream  by  a  canal  dug  for  the  purpose.  This  mill 
was  entirely  destroyed  by  fire  Oct.  28,  1882.  The 
fire  broke  out  at  3.35  p.m.,  soon  after  the  mill  had 
been  shut  down  for  the  day,  and  the  flames  increased 
with  such  amazing  rapidity  that  all  attempts  to 
check  it  were  unavailing.  The  entire  mill  was  de- 
stroyed with  its  contents.1 

Border  City  Manufacturing  Company.— The 
Border  City  Mills  were  organized  April  29,  1872,  with 
the  following  board  of  directors :  S.  Angier  Chace, 
Stephen  Davol,  Chester  W.  Greene,  E.  C.  Kilburn, 
Charles  P.  Stickney,  A.  D.  Easton,  George  T.  Hath- 
away, John  M.  Dean,  William  E.  Dunham,  James 

E.  Cunneen,  Horatio  N.  Durfee.  S.  A.  Chace  was 
subsequently  elected  president,  and  George  T.  Hath- 
away treasurer.  An  act  of  incorporation  was  secured 
under  date  of  June  3,  1872,  and  the  name  of"  Border 


1  Since  the  above  was  written  the  corporation  has  decided  to  rebuild, 
and  work  lias  already  been  commenced. 


322 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


City  Mills"  adopted,  a  name  often  applied  to  Fall 
River  because  of  its  proximity  to  the  State  of  Rhode 
Island. 

Two  mills  were  erected,  No.  1  in  1873,  and  No.  2 
in  1874.  The  former  was  318  feet  long  and  73  feet 
wide,  five  stories  high,  and  contained  35,632  spindles 
and  880  looms.  No.  2  Mill  was  329  feet  long,  73  feet 
wide,  five  stories,  and  contained  36,512  spindles  and 
880  looms.  Nov.  17,  1877,  Mill  No.  1  was  totally  de- 
stroyed by  fire. 

During  the  financial  irregularities  of  1879  this  cor- 
poration passed  into  the  hands  of  its  creditors,  and 
was  reorganized  as  the  Border  City  Manufacturing 
Company,  with  a  capital  of  $400,000,  which  has  been 
increased  to  $600,000.  No.  1  Mill  has  been  rebuilt, 
and  the  two  mills  now  contain  76,000  spindles  and 
1850  looms.     Production,  print  goods. 

The  present  officers  are  as  follows  :  President,  John 
S.  Brayton ;  Clerk,  Henry  K.  Braley ;  Treasurer, 
Edward  L.  Anthony;  Directors,  John  S.  Brayton, 
Charles  J.  Holmes,  A.  S.  Covel,  Jonathan  Bourne, 
Jos.  Arthur  Beauvais,  Charles  E.  Barney,  Theo.  Dean, 
Francis  A.  Foster,  and  George  M.  Woodward. 

The  Sagamore  Manufacturing1  Company.— The 
Sagamore  Mills  were  incorporated  in  the  spring  of 

1872,  with  L.  L.  Barnard  as  president,  Francis  B. 
Hood  treasurer,  and  the  following  board  of  directors  : 
L.  L.  Barnard,  F.  B.  Hood,  Josiah  C.  Blaisdell,  James 
W.  Hartley,  Charles  McCreery,  .Jonathan  I.  Hilliard, 
Joseph  Borden,  William  M.  Almy,  D.  Hartwell  Dyer, 
and  Job  T.  Wilson.  A  tract  of  land  on  the  borders 
of  Taunton  River,  a  little  north  of  Slade's  Ferry,  was 
purchased,  and  work  on  the  foundations  of  the  mill 
begun   in  July,  1872.     The  mill  was  completed  in 

1873,  three  hundred  and  twenty  feet  long  by  seventy- 
three  feet  wide,  five  stories  high. 

The  mill  continued  under  this  management  about 
four  years,  when  it  went  into  other  hands,  with  new 
capital,  with  the  following  officers:  President,  James 
A.  Hathaway ;  Clerk  and  Treasurer,  George  T.  Hath- 
away ;  Directors,  James  A.  Hathaway,  Job  T.  Wilson, 
Josiah  C.  Blaisdell,  John  D.  Flint,  Charles  P.  Stick- 
ney,  George  T.  Hathaway,  James  E.  Cunneen,  John 
M.  Deane,  Chester  W.  Greene. 

In  1879  the  corporation  failed,  and  the  property 
went  into  the  hands  of  the  creditors,  and  was  reorgan- 
ized as  the  Sagamore  Manufacturing  Company,  with 
a  capital  of  $500,000.  A  new  mill  was  built  in  1882, 
and  the  two  mills  now  contain  84,692  spindles  and 
2042  looms.  Capital,  $750,000.  Production,  print 
cloths. 

The  present  officers  are  as  follows:  President, 
Theodore  Dean  ;  Clerk,  Henry  K.  Braley  ;  Treasurer, 
Hezekiah  A.  Brayton;  Directors,  Theodore  Dean, 
Taunton  ;  Moses  W.  Richardson,  Boston  :  A.  S.  Tripp, 
John  S.  Brayton,  William  Lindsey,  D.  H.  Dyer, 
Charles  J.  Holmes,  Fall  River;  Abram  H.  Howland, 
Jr.,  Jos.  A.  Beauvais,  New  Bedford. 

The  Shove  Mills. — The  honor  of  having  been  the 


founder  of  these  mills  is  due  to  John  P.  Slade,  Esq.,  as 
it  was  mainly  through  his  instrumentality  that  the 
organization  was  finally  effected,  a  charter  secured, 
and  the  project  brought  to  a  successful  issue. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  subscribers,  thirty-one  in 
number,  for  the  organization  of  the  company,  was 
held  March  4,  1872.  The  act  of  incorporation  is 
dated  April  2,  1872.  The  capital  was  fixed  at  $550,- 
000,  and  the  name  of  "  Shove  Mills"  assumed  as  the 
corporate  name,  in  honor  of  Charles  O.  Shove,  a 
prominent  cotton  manufacturer  of  the  city,  and  the 
first  president  of  the  new  corporation.  John  P.  Slade 
was  elected  treasurer,  with  the  following  board  of 
directors  :  Charles  O.  Shove,  Joseph  McCreery,  George 
A.  Chace,  Lloyd  S.  Earle,  William  Connell,  Jr.,  Na- 
than Chace,  Isaac  W.  Howland,  Josiah  C.  Blaisdell, 
and  John  P.  Slade. 

Land  for  a  mill-site  was  purchased  on  the  western 
shore  of  Laurel  Lake,  just  within  the  line  of  boun- 
dary between  Massachusetts  and  Rhode  Island,  and 
further  purchases  beyond  the  boundary  line  were 
made  for  tenement  blocks. 

No  active  steps  towards  building  the  mill  were  taken 
until  the  fall  of  1873,  when  a  foundation  only  was 
put  in.  Work  was  resumed  in  the  spring  of  1874, 
and  the  building  carried  forward  to  completion  and 
filled  with  machinery.  The  mill  is  a  handsome 
granite  structure,  339  feet  long,  74  feet  wide,  and  five 
stories  high,  with  a  basement,  a  flat  roof,  and  a  large 
square  tower  running  up  at  the  centre. 

The  mill  was  erected  in  1874,  and  commenced  run- 
ning in  April,  1875,  with  37,504  spindles  and  960 
looms ;  about  1500  spindles  have  since  been  added. 
The  mill  is  heated  by  steam,  and  lighted  by  gas  made 
from  petroleum  and  manufactured  on  the  premises. 

In  1881  the  company  erected  a  yarn-mill  of  21,088 
spindles  just  over  the  line  in  Bhode  Island,  making 
the  present  capacity  of  the  mills  60,128  spindles  and 
1500  looms;  production,  print  cloths.  The  present 
officers  are  as  follows  :  President,  Charles  M.  Shove; 
Clerk  and  Treasurer,  George  A.  Chace;  Directors, 
Charles  M.  Shove,  John  P.  Slade,  George  A.  Chace, 
Edmund  Chase,  Lloyd  S.  Earle,  Isaac  W.  Howland, 
H.  B.  Allen,  George  W.  Slade,  and  Fenner  Brownell. 

The  mill  was  wound  up  and  all  the  machinery  in 
operation  April  7,  1875,  with  a  capacity  of  28,400 
spindles  and  768  looms.  This  has  been  increased  to 
31,280  spindles  and  808  looms.  The  mill  structure  is 
of  granite,  located  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  city  on 
the  Quequechan  River.  Capital,  $330,000;  produc- 
tion, print  cloths.  The  present  officers  are  as  follows : 
President,  William  H.  Jennings;  Clerk  and  Treas- 
urer, Nathaniel  B.  Borden  ;  Directors,  William  H. 
Jennings,  James  M.  Aldrich,  N.  B.  Borden,  Simeon 
Borden,  John  Campbell,  Arnold  B.  Chace,  Alphonso 
S.  Covel,  Robert  T.  Davis,  Stephen  Davol,  W.  H. 
Gifford,  William  Huston,  Henry  C.  Lincoln,  John 
W.  Rogers. 

The    Conanicut    Mills    were  originally   built   by 


FALL  RIVER. 


323 


Oliver  Chase  as  a  thread-mill,  and  after  several 
changes  the  present   company  was    incorporated   in 

1880,  with  a  capital  of  $80,000.  The  mill  is  located 
at  Globe  village,  and  contains  11,072  spindles  and  250 
looms.  Production,  wide  fine  goods.  The  present 
officers  are  as  follows  :  President,  Edmund  W.  Con- 
verse; Clerk  and  Treasurer,  C.  E.  Lindsey  ;  Directors, 
E.  W.  Converse,  Charles  L.  Thayer,  Moses  W.  Rich- 
ardson, Boston;  James  H.  Chace,  Providence;  Wil- 
liam Lindsey,  E.  C.  Kilburn,  Crawford  E.  Lindsey, 
Pall  River. 

The  Globe  Yarn-Mills  were  incorporated  in  1881, 
with  a  capital  of  $350,000,  for  the  manufacture  of 
superior  quality  of  yarns.  The  mills  contain  32,000 
spindles.  The  first  and  present  officers  are  as  follows  : 
President,  William  H.  Jennings;  Clerk  and  Treas- 
urer, Arnold  B.  Sandford;  Directors,  William  H. 
Jennings,  Robert  T.  Davis,  Frank  S.  Stevens,  James 
M.  Osborn,  Samuel  D.  Howland,  A.  B.  Sanford  ;  E.  S. 
Draper,  of  Hopedale. 

The  Bourne  Mill,  named  in  honor  of  Jonathan 
Bourne,  a  capitalist  of  New  Bedford,  was  erected  in 

1881,  and  is  one  of  the  most  complete  mills  in  the 
country.  It  contains  43,000  spindles  and  1100  looms. 
It  is  located  just  over  the  State  line  in  Rhode  Island. 
Capital,  $400,000.  The  present  officers  are  as  follows  : 
President,  Edmund  Chase ;  Clerk  and  Treasurer, 
George  A.  Chace ;  Directors,  Jonathan  Bourne,  New 
Bedford  ;  Edmund  Chase,  George  A.  Chace,  Danforth 
Horton,  Lloyd  S.  Earle,  Charles  M.  Shove,  and  Frank 
S.  Stevens. 

Laurel  Lake  Mills. — This  corporation  was  organ- 
ized in  1881  by  John  P.  Slade,  R  .T.  Davis,  M.D.,  and 
Henry  C.  Lincoln.  Mr.  Slade  was  elected  president 
of  the  corporation,  and  has  held  the  position  to  the 
present  time.  The  manufacture  of  cloth  commenced 
in  December,  1882.  The  mill  contains  860  looms  and 
34,038  spindles.  Capital,  $4(10,000.  The  present  offi- 
cers  are  :  President,  John  P.  Slade  ;  Clerk  and  Treas- 
urer, Abbott  E.  Slade;  Agent,  James  E.  Cunneen ; 
Directors,  John  P.  Slade,  William  H.  Jennings,  Rob- 
ert T.  Davis,  Frank  S.  Stevens,  Henry  C.  Lincoln, 
David  T.  Wilcox,  S.  H.  Miller,  George  E.  Hoar,  Wil- 
liam Beattie,  John  B.  Whitlaker,  Milton  Reed,  Prelet 
D.  Conant;  Lawton  I.  Ware,  Warren. 

The  Barnaby  Manufacturing  Company  was  in- 
corporated in  1882,  with  a  capital  of  $300,000.  The 
first  officers  were  as  follows:  President,  Simeon  B. 
Chase;  Clerk  and  Treasurer,  Stephen  B.  Ashley; 
Directors,  Simeon  B.  Chase,  Samuel  Wadington, 
Robert  T.  Davis,  George  H.  Hawes,  S.  B.  Ashley, 
George  H.  Hills,  J.  B.  Barnaby,  Charles  E.  Berney, 
and  William  F.  Draper.  The  officers  and  directors 
have  not  been  changed.  The  mill  is  located  in  the 
eastern  part  of  the  city  on  the  Quequechan  River, 
and  contains  15,000  spindles  and  500  looms.  Produc- 
tion, fine  ginghams. 

The  Fall  River  Bleachery.— The  founding  of  this 
establishment  is  due  to  Mr.  Spencer  Borden,  who 


started  the  movement  for  organization  in  1872.  After 
submitting  his  plans  to  various  manufacturers  in  Fall 
River  and  New  Bedford,  who  pronounced  the  project 
feasible,  the  books  of  the  company  were  opened,  and 
the  stock  so  quickly  subscribed  that  before  a  stone  had 
been  laid  it  was  quoted  at  110  in  the  market.  Promi- 
nent among  the  subscribers  were  Messrs.  Jefferson, 
Philip  D.,  and  Richard  B.  Borden,  Stephen  Davol, 
Frank  Stevens,  C.  E.  Lindsey,  C.  P.  Stickney,  George 
B.  Durfee,  Walter  Paine  (3d),  of  Fall  River;  Messrs. 
Thomas  Bennett,  Jr.,  William  J.  Rotch,  Edward  D. 
Mandell,  Edward  C.  Jones,  William  W.  Crapo, 
Charles  L.  Wood,  Andrew  G.  Pierce,  Joseph  Arthur 
Beauvais.  Edward  L.  Baker,  Jonathan  Bourne,  Jr., 
Charles  L.  Hawes,  David  B.  Kempton,  of  New  Bed- 
ford; Messrs.  T.  P.  Sheperd  &  Co.,  John  O.  Water- 
man, George  Bridge,  and  Arnold  Peters,  of  Rhode 
Island  ;  and  Mr.  Dempsey,  of  Lewiston,  and  others. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  stockholders  Jefferson  Borden 
was  chosen  president;  Spencer  Borden,  agent  and 
treasurer;  and  Messrs.  Thomas  Bennett,  Jr.,  Richard 
B.  Borden,  Bradford  D.  Davol,  Crawford  E.  Lindsey, 
Philip  D.  Borden,  George  B.  Durfee,  and  Charles  P. 
Stickney,  with  the  president  and  treasurer,  directors. 

The  bleachery  was  built  with  twelve  kiers,  or  a  ca- 
pacity of  twelve  to  thirteen  tons  per  diem,  which  has 
been  increased  until  the  present  capacity  is  twenty-two 
tons  per  day.  Capital,  $250,000.  The  present  officers 
are  as  follows:  President,  Jefferson  Borden;  Clerk 
and  Treasurer,  Norman  E.  Borden  ;  Directors,  Jeffer- 
son Borden,  Spencer  Borden,  Richard  B.  Borden, 
Bradford  D.  Davol,  Crawford  E.  Lindsey,  Thomas 
Bennett,  Jr.,  Joseph  Arthur  Beauvais,  William  J. 
Rotch,  and  Norman  E.  Borden.  Spencer  Borden  re- 
mained as  clerk  and  treasurer  until  1882. 

Wamsutta  Steam  Woolen-Mill.— The  manufac- 
ture of  woolen  cloth  into  a  fabric  known  as  satinet, 
made  with  a  cotton  warp  and  wool  filling,  was  com- 
menced here  in  1825  by  Samuel  Shove  and  John  and^ 
Jesse  Eddy,  under  the  firm-name  of  Samuel  Shove  & 
Co.  The  firm  was  dissolved  in  1834  by  the  withdrawal 
of  Samuel  Shove,  and  the  business  passed  into  the 
hands  of  the  remaining  partners,  under  the  firm-name 
of  J.  &  J.  Eddy. 

In  the  management  of  the  business  John  Eddy  was 
the  manufacturer  and  Jesse  the  buyer  and  seller. 

The  production  of  Eddy's  satinets  was  largely  in- 
creased from  year  to  year,  and  they  became  well  known 
in  all  the  principal  markets  as  the  best  goods  of  that 
style  of  fabric.  In  1843,  however,  the  satinet  manu- 
facture was  discontinued,  and  a  fabric  of  all  wool, 
called  "cassimere,"  was  commenced.  Two  years 
later  business  was  removed  to  a  place  known  as 
"  Eagle  Mill,"  situated  about  three  and  a  half  miles 
south  of  Fall  River,  in  the' town  of  Tiverton,  R.  I. 

Shortly  after  the  firm  of  J.  &  J.  Eddy  was  dissolved, 
but  the  business  continued  in  the  above  locality  for  a 
few  years,  until  the  property  was  destroyed  by  fire. 

In  the  mean  time  Jesse  Eddy,  in  connection  with 


324 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Joseph  Durfee,  bought  and  located  a  mill  on  a  tract 
of  land  just  above  the  dam,  and  near  the  outlet  of  the 
pond  known  as  "Mosquito  Island."  designing  to 
manufacture  the  same  kind  of  goods  produced  by  J. 
&  J.  Eddy,  but  as  they  were  about  ready  to  commence 
operations  Joseph  Durfee  died,  and  it  was  not  until 
January,  1849,  that  manufacturing  was  begun  in  the 
new  mill.  Jesse  Eddy  became  the  proprietor,  and 
shortly  after  took  his  son,  Thomas  F.,  into  partner- 
ship, under  the  firm-name  of  Jesse  Eddy  &  Son,  by 
whom  the  business  was  conducted  for  twenty-one 
years. 

In  1873,  upon  the  decease  of  the  father,  the  busi- 
ness passed  into  the  hands  of  his  two  sons,  Thomas 
F.  and  James  C,  who  still  continue  the  manufacture 
under  the  name  of  the  Wamsutta  Steam  Woolen- 
Mill,  Jesse  Eddy's  Sons,  proprietors,  the  production 
being  fine  fancy  cassimeres. 

The  Wyoming  Mills.— These  mills  were  established 
by  Augustus  Chace  and  the  late  William  B.  Trafford 
in  1845.  The  property  subsequently  passed  into  the 
possession  of  Mr.  Chace,  who  is  the  present  proprie- 
tor. Production,  cotton  twines,  batts,  and  carpet  warp. 
The  Massasoit  Manufacturing  Company  was  or- 
ganized in  1882,  and  occupies  the  edifice  formerly  oc- 
cupied by  the  Massasoit  Flour-Mills,  so  famous  in 
former  years  as  the  business  home  of  Chase,  Mason 
&  Durfee.  The  new  company  manufactures  com- 
fortables as  a  branch  of  an  establishment  in  Connec- 
ticut, and  has  a  capacity  for  turning  out  near  a  thou- 
sand a  day,  employing  about  sixty  hands. 

The  officers  and  directors  of  this  company  are  as 
follows:  Frank  L.  Palmer,  president;  Wendell  E. 
Turner,  treasurer;  Directors,  Edward  A.  Palmer, 
Elisha  L.  Palmer,  William  H.  Turner,  Frank  L. 
Palmer,  Wendell  E.  Turner. 

The  Fall  River  Spool  and  Bobbin  Company  was 
partially  organized  in  June,  1875,  but  did  not  perfect 
its  organization  until  July  11,  1878,  obtaining  their 
charter  July  13,  1878. 

The  first  officers  elected  were :  President,  Cook 
Borden  ;  Treasurer,  George  S.  Davol ;  Clerk,  B.  D. 
Davol ;  Directors,  Cook  Borden,  F.  H.  Stafford,  Wil- 
liam H.  Jennings,  Stephen  Davol,  Charles  C.  Shove, 
Frank  S.  Stevens,  Walter  Paine  (3d),  Weaver  Osborn, 
George  T.  Hathaway,  Augustus  Chace,  S.  Angier 
Chace. 

The  mill  and  buildings  were  erected  and  occupied 
in  December,  1875;  employ  one  hundred  and  fifty 
men  ;  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  production  yearly. 
Present  officers  :  President,  Joseph  Henley  ;  Clerk 
and  Treasurer,  J.  Henry  Wells;  Directors,  Joseph 
Healey,  Augustus  Chace,  Stephen  Davol,  F.  H.  Staf- 
ford, B.  D.  Davol,  F.  L.  Almy,  Jerome  C.  Borden,  J. 
Henry  Wells. 

Capital  stock,  originally  $40,000;  after  perfecting 
its  organization  was  reduced  to  $21,000.  Is  doing  a 
very  prosperous  business,  which  has  steadily  increased 
since  1878. 


The  Fall  River  Iron-Works  Company.— This 
corporation,  which  for  so  many  years  directed  and 
controlled  the  interests  of  Fall  River,  was  founded  in 
1821,  principally  through  the  instrumentality  of 
Richard  Borden  and  Bradford  Durfee.  The  original 
company  was  organized  with  a  capital  of  twenty-four 
thousand  dollars,  and  consisted  of  Richard  Borden, 
Bradford  Durfee,  Holden  Borden,  and  David  Anthony, 
of  this  town,  and  Joseph  Butler  and  Abram  and  Isaac 
Wilkinson,  of  Providence.  Soon  after  the  capital 
was  reduced  to  eighteen  thousand  dollars  by  the  with- 
drawal of  the  Wilkinsons. 

The  works  were  incorporated  in  1825  with  a  capi- 
tal of  $200,000,  which  was  increased  in  1845  to 
$950,000. 

In  the  organization  of  the  Fall  River  Iron-Works 
Company,  that  "  earliest  germ  of  the  wealth  of  the 
city,"  Col.  Richard  Borden  took  an  active  part,  and 
was  appointed  treasurer  and  agent,  a  position  which 
he  filled  ably  and  satisfactorily  up  to  the  day  of  his 
final  withdrawal  from  business,  a  period  of  over  fifty 
years.  The  Iron-Works  Company,  meeting  with  as- 
sured success  almost  from  the  start,  soon  turned  its 
attention  to  the  improvement  of  its  landed  estate, 
water-power,  etc.,  and  as  part  owners  became  largely 
interested  in  enterprises  somewhat  foreign  to  its  own 
legitimate  sphere  of  work.  The  agent  of  the  com- 
pany as  its  representative  thus  became  an  active  par- 
ticipant in  all  these  schemes,  and  the  business  tact 
and  skill  of  Col.  Borden  were  brought  into  fullest 
exercise.  The  Iron-Works  Company  became  owner 
in  the  Watuppa  Reservoir  Company,  organized  in 
1826  ;  in  the  Troy  Cotton  and  Woolen  Manufactory ; 
in  the  Fall  River  Manufactory;  in  the  Annawan 
Mill,  built  by  it  in  1825;  in  the  American  Print- 
Works,  whose  buildings  were  all  erected  by  the  Iron- 
Works  Company  in  1834,  and  leased  to  the  Print- 
Works  Company  ;  in  the  Metacomet  Mill,  built  in 
1840  ;  in  the  Fall  River  Railroad,  opened  in  1846  ;  in 
the  Bay  State  Steamboat  Line,  established  in  1847 ; 
in  the  Fall  River  Gas- Works,  built  in  1847,  as  well  as 
in  the  erection  at  various  times  of  buildings  which 
were  leased  to  individuals  for  the  establishment  of 
business  or  private  manufacturing  enterprises. 

Up  to  the  year  1880  the  Iron-Works  Company 
owned  and  operated  the  Fall  River  Gas- Works,  the 
Fall  River  and  Providence  Steamboat  Company,  and 
the  Metacomet  Mill.  In  that  year  a  division  of  this 
large  interest  occurred,  and  the  following  corpora- 
tions were  organized  as  separate  corporations  :  the 
Fall  River  Gas-Works,  with  a  capital  of  $288,000; 
the  Fall  River  and  Providence  Steamboat  Company, 
capital,  $192,000;  the  Fall  River  Machine  Company 
(new),  capital,  $96,000;  the  Metacomet  Manufactur- 
ing Company ;  and  the  Fall  River  Iron-Works  Com- 
pany. 

The  present  officers  are  as  follows:  President,  Jef- 
ferson Borden ;  Clerk  and  Treasurer,  Robert  C.  Brown  ; 
Directors,  Jefferson  Borden,  John  S.  Brayton,  William. 


FALL  RIVER. 


•lor 


B.  Durfee,  R,  B.  Borden,  H.  B.  Durfee,  R.  C.  Brown. 
D.  A.  Bray  ton,  Jr. 

The  Fall  River  Machine  Company,  successor  to 
Marvel,  Davol  &  Co.,  was  organized  in  1880,  with  a 
capital  of  $96,000. 

The  present  officers  are  as  follows  :  President,  Jef- 
ferson Borden  ;  Clerk,  A.  S.  Covel  ;  Treasurer,  Wil- 
liam B.  Durfee;  Directors,  Jefferson  Borden.  John 
S.  Bray  ton,  A.  S.  Covel,  Nathaniel  Lindsey,  David 
A.  Brayton,  Jr.,  H.  M.  Barnes,  of  Bristol. 

The  Fall  River  Merino  Company,  for  the  manu- 
facture of  knit  goods,  is  among  the  later  industries 
started  here,  and  is  the  only  manufactory  of  the  kind 
in  this  vicinity.  The  mill  is  a  fine  brick  edifice  of 
two  full  stories  and  attic,  in  which  last  are  a  few 
mules  to  do  the  spinning  needed.  The  concern  was 
well  wound  up  from  the  first,  and  the  most  improved 
knitting-machines  in  use  obtained,  so  that  work  was 
turned  out  with  great  celerity.  The  productions  of 
this  factory  have  always  found  a  ready  market,  and 
maintained  their  rank  among  all  descriptions  of  home 
work  or  imported  fabrics.  The  present  superin- 
tendent, Mr.  Charles  E.  Bean,  is  an  accomplished 
manager  of  this  sort  of  manufacturing  interest. 

The  present  officers  are  as  follows :  President, 
Frank  S.  Stevens  ;  Clerk,  Seth  H.  Wetherbee  ;  Treas- 
urer, Charles  E.  Bean  ;  Directors,  Frank  S.  Stevens, 
Foster  H.  Stafford,  Robert  T.  Davis,  William  Mason, 
Samuel  Wadington,  S.  H.  Wetherbee,  Charles  E. 
Bean,  Matthew  C.  Yarwood ;  Jason  P.  Stone,  Jr., 
Providence;  Charles  Weil,  Boston. 

Hargraves  Manufacturing-  Company.— In  1851, 
Cornelius  Hargraves  commenced  the  manufacturing 
of  soaps  and  glue  substitute  on  the  site  now  occupied 
by  the  Hargraves  Manufacturing  Company,  com- 
mencing in  a  very  small  and  limited  way,  the  capa- 
city of  the  works  being  only  one  small  kettle  in  which 
to  make  soap  ami  prepare  the  glue  substitute;  but 
by  perseverance  and  strict  attention  to  business  he 
succeeded  in  increasing  the  business  from  year  to 
year,  it  being  a  success  from  the  start,  and  as  the 
time  rolled  by  he  was  enabled  to  add  some  de- 
cided improvement,  and  in  1871  he  organized  the 
Hargraves  Manufacturing  Company,  consisting  of 
Cornelius  Hargraves,  Reuben  Hargraves,  and  Thomas 
Hargraves,  the  two  latter  being  his  sons  ;  and  after 
continuing  two  years  the  senior  member  of  the  firm 
sold  his  interests  to  James  S.  Anthony,  who  con- 
tinued in  the  business  four  years,  then  sold  out  to 
Reuben  and  Thomas  Hargraves,  the  present  pro- 
prietors  of  the  Hargraves  Manufacturing  Company, 
who  still  continue  to  manufacture  soaps  of  various 
brands,  glue  substitute,  fertilizers,  tripe,  pigs'  feet,  and 
neat's-foot  oil,  also  dealers  in  tallow,  bones,  grease, 
rosin,  chemicals,  etc.,  and  from  the  small  beginning 
have  grown  to  its  present  condition,  now  having  the 
capacity  to  turn  out  every  week  sixty  thousand  pounds 
of  soap,  fifteen  thousand  pounds  of  glue  substitute, 
ten    tons    of    fertilizer,    three    thousand    pounds    of 


chicken  feed,  three  thousand  pounds  of  pigs'  feet, 
four  thousand  pounds  of  tripe,  etc.  Reuben  Har- 
graves, Thomas  Hargraves,  John  W.  Hargraves,  clerk, 
and  Alfred  I).  Butterworth,  agent. 

The  Fall  River  Gas-Works  were  erected  in  1847 
by  the  Iron-Works  Company,  and  were  operated  by 
that  company  until  1880,  when  they  were  organized  as 
a  separate  corporation,  under  the  name  of  the  Fall 
River  Gas  Company,  with  a  capital  of  $288,000.  The 
present  officers  are  as  follows:  President,  Jefferson 
Borden ;  Clerk,  William  B.  Durfee,  Jr. ;  Treasurer, 
George  P.  Brown  ;  Directors,  J.  S.  Brayton,  R.  B. 
Borden,  Jefferson  Borden,  A.  S.  Tripp,  William  B. 
Durfee,  D.  A.  Brayton,  Jr. 

The  Manufacturers'  Gas-Light  Company  was 
incorporated  in  1866.  The  present  officers  are  as  fol- 
lows :  President,  Thomas  F.  Eddy  ;  Clerk  and  Treas- 
urer, Joseph  A.  Baker;  Directors,  Thomas  F.  Eddy, 
Foster  H.  Stafford,  Simeon  B.  Chase,  Charles  M. 
Shove,  Joseph  A.  Baker,  David  A.  Brayton,  Jr. 

Manufacturers'  Board  of  Trade.  —  President, 
Frank  S.  Stevens:  Vice-President,  Charles  M.  Shove; 
Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Simeon  B.  Chase. 

Watuppa  Reservoir  Company  was  incorporated 
in  1826.  The  stock  of  this  corporation  is  held  by  the 
Troy  Cotton  and  Woolen  Manufacturing  Company, 
Pocasset  Manufacturing  Company,  Fall  River  Print- 
Works,  Fall  River  Manufactory,  Annawan  Manufac- 
turing Company,  and  the  Fall  River  Iron-Works 
Company. 

American  Printing-  Company.— The  pioneer  in 
calico-printing  in  Fall  River  was  Andrew  Robeson, 
of  New  Bedford,  who  began  this  industry  in  a  very 
small  way  iu  1826  in  the  north  end  of  a  mill  owned 
by  the  Pocasset  Manufacturing  Company,  the  other 
portion  of  the  building  being  occupied  by  J.  &  J. 
Eddy  in  the  manufacture  of  satinets. 

In  1827  he  erected  works  especially  for  this  busi- 
ness, the  capacity  of  which  was  increased  from  time 
to  time  until  the  year  1836  by  the  erection  of  new 
buildings.  The  enterprise  continued  with  marked 
success  until  1848,  when  the  depression  then  prevail- 
ing caused  the  suspension  of  the  works. 

It  is  said  that  the  first  calico-printing  machine  in 
the  United  States  was  constructed  in  these  works,  and 
first  operated  in  1827,  soon  after  which  two  sons  of 
the  founder,  William  R.  and  Andrew,  Jr.,  became  as- 
sociated with  him,  under  the  firm-name  of  Andrew 
Robeson  &  Sons. 

After  the  suspension  of  the  Robesons  in  1848,  the 
establishment  passed  into  the  hands  of  a  corporation 
organized  by  Andrew  Robeson,  Jr.,  under  the  name 
of  the  Fall  River  Print- Works,  which  continued  the 
business  of  calico-printing  for  about  twelve  years,  the 
product  being  chiefly  indigo-blue  prints,  when  print- 
ing was  discontinued  and  the  works  converted  into  a 
cotton-mill  for  the  manufacture  of  print  cloths. 

The  second  calico-printing  establishment  within 
the  present  territory  of  Fall  River  (but  then  in  Tiver- 


326 


HISTOBY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


ton,  R.  I.,  and  since  brought  within  the  limits  of  Fall 
River  by  a  change  of  the  boundary  line  between 
Massachusetts  and  Rhode  Island)  was  located  at 
Globe  village,  one  and  a  quarter  miles  south  of  the 
Fall  River  stream,  upon  a  stream  flowing  from  Laurel 
Lake  to  Mount  Hope  Bay,  which  has  been  utilized 
for  manufacturing  purposes  since  1811,  when  a  small 
cotton-mill  was  built  there  by  Col.  Joseph  Durfee. 

After  passing  through  several  hands  it  was  pur- 
chased by  Potter  &  Chatburn  in  1829,  and  converted 
into  a  print-works.  The  first  goods  were  printed 
there  in  1830.  After  that  date  it  was  enlarged  from 
time  to  time,  and  with  varying  degrees  of  success  was 
run  in  1833-34  by  Holder  Borden;  1835-39,  as  Tiver- 
ton Print- Works ;  1839-42,  by  Walter  C.  Durfee, 
agent;  1843-44,  by  Prentiss  &  Marvel;  1845-53,  by 
W.  &  G.  Chapin ;  1853-58,  as  Bay  State  Print-Works, 
when  in  1858  it  was  purchased  by  the  American 
Print- AVorks,  and  operated  by  them  in  connection 
with  their  larger  works  until  1876.  It  was  sold  in 
1880,  and  the  site  is  now  occupied  by  the  Globe  Yarn- 
Mills,  chiefly  a  new  brick  structure,  but  utilizing  in 
connection  with  it  a  small  part  of  the  old  print-works. 
This  establishment  from  1851  to  1855  had  ten  print- 
ing-machines, and  printed  10,000  to  12,000  pieces  per 
week,  about  one-half  delaines  and  one-half  calicoes. 
Delaine-printing  was  discontinued  in  1855,  and  the 
product  was  subsequently  confined  to  calicoes. 

The  American  Print-Works  was  established  by 
Holder  Borden  in  1834,  there  being  associated  with 
him  in  the  ownership  most  of  the  stockholders  of  the 
Fall  River  Iron-Works  Company. 

The  requisite  buildings  were  erected  by  the  Iron- 
Works  Company  on  land  owned  by  them,  their  owner- 
ship continuing  until  1857,  when  the  print-works, 
which  had  rented  the  land  aud  buildings  from  1834 
to  1857,  was  organized  as  a  corporation,  and  purchased 
the  real  estate  from  the  Fall  River  Iron-Works  Com- 
pany. The  works  were  started  in  January,  1835,  with 
four  printing-machines,  producing  two  thousand  to 
two  thousand  five  hundred  pieces  of  prints  per  week. 

Mr.  Holder  Borden  held  the  management  until  Feb- 
ruary, 1837,  when,  in  consequence  of  ill  health,  he 
resigned,  and  Jefferson  Borden  was  elected  agent  and 
principal  manager,  which  position  he  held  until  Feb- 
ruary, 1876,  a  period  of  thirty-nine  years,  when 
Thomas  J.  Borden  was  chosen  agent  and  treasurer. 

In  1840  the  works  were  enlarged  by  the  construc- 
tion of  a  new  machine  building,  dye-house,  etc.,  and 
the  production  about  doubled.  Further  additions  and 
improvements  in  methods  of  operating  had  brought 
the  production  in  1854,  with  six  printing-machines, 
to  about  nine  thousand  pieces  per  week.  No  impor- 
tant changes  in  the  arrangement  of  these  works  were 
made  from  the  latter  date  until  1867,  when  a  portion 
of  the  buildings  were  removed  and  a  new  and  greatly 
enlarged  structure  of  Fall  River  granite  was  com- 
menced. As  the  new  and  extensive  works  were  about 
completed,  and  while  negotiations  for  insurance  were 


in  progress,  but  not  consummated,  a  fire  broke  out  on 
the  15th  of  December,  1867,  in  one  of  the  old  build- 
ings, which  destroyed  the  whole  of  the  new  part  of 
the  establishment  and  about  one-half  of  the  old, 
causing  a  loss  to  the  corporation  of  more  than  one 
million  dollars. 

This  disaster  had  been  preceded  on  the  6th  of  the 
same  month  by  a  fire  at  the  Bay  State  Works,  then 
owned  and  operated  by  the  American  Print-Works, 
which  laid  in  ashes  the  boiler-house  and  machine- 
room  buildings  and  their  contents. 

With  the  characteristic  energy  of  the  agent  and 
treasurer,  Mr.  Jefferson  Borden,  all  of  the  buildings 
so  suddenly  destroyed  were  in  a  very  short  space  of 
time,  compared  with  the  magnitude  of  the  work,  recon- 
structed, filled  with  machinery,  and  in  1869  put  in 
operation,  the  corporation  having  in  the  new  Ameri- 
can Works  16  printing-machines  and  other  facilities 
for  producing  24,000  pieces  prints  per  week,  and  at 
the  Bay  State  Works  5  printing-machines,  with  the 
requisite  accompaniments  for  turning  out  7000  pieces 
per  week.  In  consequence  of  the  disastrous  fire  in 
1867,  with  no  insurance,  the  works  were  operated 
under  a  heavy  indebtedness  until  1879,  when  they 
were  obliged  to  suspend.  In  February,  1880,  a  new 
corporation  was  organized,  under  the  name  of  the 
American  Printing  Company,  with  a  capital  of  $300,- 
000,  which  was  subsequently  increased  to  $500,000. 
Several  additions  have  been  made  both  of  buildings 
and  machinery,  and  the  works  now  have  19  printing- 
machines,  and  produce,  when  in  full  operation,  36,000 
pieces  printed  fabrics  per  week. 

The  main  building  of  the  works  of  the  American 
Printing  Company  is  one  of  the  finest  in  the  world 
devoted  to  the  business  of  printing  textile  fabrics, 
and  attracts  the  attention  of  all  strangers  as  they 
enter  the  city  by  steamboat  or  railway.  A  fair  idea 
of  the  magnitude  of  this  establishment  may  be  ob- 
tained by  the  consideration  of  the  fact  that  the  aggre- 
gate length  of  the  various  buildings  comprising  it  is 
over  two  thousand  five  hundred  feet. 

Its  ample  rooms  are  furnished  with  the  best  mod- 
ern appliances  of  science  and  skill  in  each  depart- 
ment, and  the  productions  of  this  company  are  to  be 
found  in  all  sections  of  the  country  from  the  Atlantic 
to  the  Pacific. 

The  present  officers  are :  President,  James  C.  Eddy ; 
Clerk,  Alphonso  S.  Covel ;  Treasurer,  Thomas  J.  Bor- 
den ;  Directors,  James  C.  Eddy,  Thomas  J.  Borden, 
A.  S.  Covel,  A.  S.  Tripp,  of  Fall  River,  and  C.  N. 
Bliss,  of  New  York. 

Union  Belt  Company. — The  year  1871  is  notable 
in  the  history  of  Fall  River  as  witnessing  the  extra- 
ordinary development  of  the  cotton  industry.  Some 
fifteen  large  mills  were  erected,  calling  for  a  large  in- 
crease of  its  population  and  the  establishment  of  sev- 
eral industries  to  supply  material  incidental  to  run- 
ning and  keeping  in  motion  the  thousands  of  spindles 
and  looms  which  were  contained  in  the  handsome  and 


FALL  RIVER. 


327 


substantial  buildings  that  had  been  erected  for  their 
use.  Prominent  among  these  industries  stands  the 
Union  Belt  Company,  a  corporation  organized  for 
the  purpose  of  manufacturing  leather  belting. 

The  rapid  expansion  of  the  cotton  industries  of 
Fall  River  had  attracted  the  attention  of  Mr.  Wil- 
liam H.  Chace,  a  gentleman  living  in  a  neighboring 
city,  and  who  was  a  practical  belt-maker.  He  be- 
lieved that  it  was  an  opportune  time  to  establish  the 
manufacture  of  belting  in  a  city  that  was  so  large  a 
consumer,  and  he  succeeded  in  inducing  a  number  of 
gentlemen  to  engage  in  the  enterprise. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  year  a  corporation  was 
formed,  with  a  capital  of  two  thousand  four  hundred 
dollars,  with  the  following  officers :  President,  R.  B. 
Borden;  Treasurer,  A.  S.  Covel ;  Agent,  William  H. 
Chace;  Directors,  R.  B.  Borden,  T.  J.  Borden,  Wal- 
ter Paine  (3d),  B.  D.  Davol,  and  William  H.  Chace. 

A  large  brick  building  was  erected  by  the  Troy 
Cotton  and  Woolen  Manufactory  on  Troy  Street,  which 
was  leased  by  the  Belt  Company,  and  fitted  up  for  the 
requirements  of  the  business.  Contracts  were  made 
with  several  of  the  new  mills  then  being  erected  to 
furnish  the  belting,  and  the  enterprise  fairly  inaugu- 
rated. After  a  short  time  the  business  of  coverfng 
top  rolls  was  added.  From  the  first  the  company  has 
done  a  successful  and  profitable  business.  The  mar- 
ket for  its  belting  is  not  confined  to  Fall  River  alone  ; 
the  reputation  which  the  company  has  earned  for 
itself  in  doing  first-class  work  has  created  a  demand 
for  their  belts  in  the  neighboring  manufacturing  cities 
and  also  in  Chicago,  where  a  large  part  of  their  pro- 
duction has  been  used.  The  growth  of  their  business 
called  for  additional  room,  and  a  large  two-story 
brick  addition  has  been  made  to  the  original  building, 
giving  them  ample  facilities  for  meeting  the  increased 
demand  for  their  belting. 

As  a  financial  venture  it  has  been  one  of  the  most 
successful  in  the  city,  having  returned  large  dividends 
since  the  first  year  of  its  organization,  and  being  now 
in  the  strongest  and  best  of  credit.  The  success  of 
the  enterprise  is  due  in  a  large  measure  to  the  agent, 
Mr.  W.  H.  Chace,  whose  faithful  and  unremitting 
efforts  and  knowledge  of  the  business  has  been  given 
to  the  corporation  from  its  organization.  The  officers 
at  this  time  are:  R.  B.  Borden,  president;  A.  S. 
Covel,  treasurer;  W.  H.  Chace,  agent;  Directors, 
R.  B.  Borden,  T.  J.  Borden,  E.  C.  Kilburn,  B.  D. 
Davol,  W.  H.  Chace,  and  A.  S.  Covel. 

The  Globe  Street  Railway  Company  was  char- 
tered April  16,  1380,  with  a  capital  of  $100,000.  The 
original  storkholders  were  as  follows:  Edward  Her- 
bert, Isaac  P.  Francis,  Edward  E.  Mannersley,  S.  V. 
Bliffins,  Seth  H.  Wetherbee,  Foster  H.  Stafford,  Mrs. 
B.  Wlxon,  Franklin  P.  Osborn,  Braley  &  Swift  (Henry 
K.  Braley,  Marcus  G.  B.  Swift),  Cook  Borden  &  Co., 
George  F.  Mellen,  D.  B.  Wilson,  and  Frank  W. 
Brightman. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  incorporators  was  held 


April  24th,  when  the  following  officers  were  elected: 
President,  Edward  Herbert;  Treasurer,  George  F. 
Mellen;  Clerk,  Marcus  G.  B.  Swift;  Directors,  Ed- 
ward Herbert,  F.  H.  Stafford,  F.  P.  Osborn,  S.  V. 
Bliffins,  George  F.  Mellen,  Isaac  P.  Francis,  and 
James  B.  Hillard. 

The  company  operates  a  line  of  road,  a  portion 
of  which  is  double  track,  extending  as  follows  :  From 
Weaver  Street  to  City  Hall,  up  Pleasant  Street  to 
Quequechan  Street;  from  City  Hall,  through  East 
South  Main  Street,  to  East  Main,  to  Globe  Street ; 
thence  through  Globe  Street  to  South  Main,  and 
through  North  Main  to  near  the  Slade  school-house. 
A  line  also  extends  from  Weaver  Street  to  Forest  Hill. 

The  present  officers  are  as  follows:  President,  Wil- 
liam H.  Jennings;  Treasurer,  Frank  W.  Brightman; 
Clerk,  M.  G.  B.  Swift;  Directors,  William  H.  Jen- 
nings, Frank  S.  Stevens,  John  S.  Bray  ton,  Andrew 
J.  Borden,  M.  G.  B.  Swift,  Joseph  A.  Beauvias,  and 
Thomas  B.  Wilcox. 

The  Quequechan  Mills.— The  original  Quequechan 
Mill  was  located  two  privileges  above  the  mill  now 
known  by  that  name,  and  was  several  years  since  torn 
down,  and  its  site  is  now  included  in  the  extensive 
works  of  the  Pocasset  Manufacturing  Company. 

Andrew  Robeson  commenced  the  business  of  calico 
printing  on  the  site  of  the  original  Quequechan  Mill 
in  October,  1824.  In  1826  he  purchased  the  site 
now  occupied  by  the  present  Quequechan  Mills,  and 
in  company  with  his  two  sons,  Andrew  and  William, 
transferred  his  business  to  this  point,  erecting  build- 
ings which  now  constitute  a  part  of  the  buildings  of 
this  corporation. 

They  had  at  that  time  associated  with  them  in 
various  capacities  Mr.  George  Kilburn  (afterwards 
of  Lonsdale,  R.  I.),  Mr.  Samuel  Hathaway,  and  Mr. 
Thomas  Tasker.  The  business  was  continued,  in- 
creasing from  time  to  time,  under  the  firm-name  of 
Andrew  Robeson  &  Sons  until  Jan.  27,  1848,  when 
they  failed.  At  the  date  of  this  failure  they  were 
operating  about  fourteen  printing-machines. 

The  property  then  passed  into  the  hands  of  the 
Fall  River  Print- Works,  which  was  incorporated  by 
special  act  of  the  Massachusetts  Legislature,  April 
18, 1848,  of  which  Mr.  William  H.  Taylor  was  treas- 
urer until  1858,  when  Mr.  Andrew  Robeson,  Jr.,  be- 
came treasurer,  holding  the  management  of  the  works 
until  1866,  when  Andrew  Robeson  (3d),  son  of  An- 
drew Robeson,  Jr.,  became  treasurer,  and  continued 
until  Aug.  28,  1878,  when  the  concern  filed  a  volun- 
tary petition  in  bankruptcy. 

Mr.  Alonzo  Borden  was  superintendent  of  the  Fall 
River  Print- Works  during  most  if  not  all  its  exist- 
ence. They  ran  from  two  to  three  printing  machines, 
principally  on  indigo  blues,  greens,  buff's,  etc. 

In  1859  the  main  or  largest  building  was  filled 
with  machinery  for  the  manufacture  of  printing 
cloths;  capacity,  about  6000  spindles.  This  was  in- 
creased   in    1865    to    11,000    spindles,  and  again  in- 


328 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL  COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


creased  in  1867  to  12,800  spindles.  The  mill  was 
completely  reorganized  in  1868,  and  brought  nearly 
to  the  present  capacity.  The  printing  business  was 
completely  abandoned  about  1863. 

After  the  failure  of  the  Fall  River  Print-Works  the 
mill  was  run  under  the  management  of  trustees  for 
the  creditors,  with  Mr.  Andrew  Robeson  (3d)  as  man- 
aging trustee  until  Dec.  20,  1879,  on  which  date  the 
property  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  corporation 
now  known  as  the  Quequechan  Mills,  with  Andrew 
Robeson  (3)  as  treasurer,  and  Mr.  Henry  G.  Fenner, 
superintendent.  Mr.  Robeson  and  Mr.  Fenner  re- 
signed in  January,  1881,  when  Mr.  D.  H.  Dyer  be- 
came treasurer  and  general  manager.  During  the 
past  two  years  important  improvements  have  been 
made  both  to  buildings  and  machinery,  and  the  mill 
now  contains  13,952  spindles  and  306  looms,  and  is 
fitted  for  the  manufacture  of  a  considerable  variety 
of  goods.  When  the  whole  capacity  is  devoted  to 
(sixty-four  by  sixty-four)  print  cloths,  the  product  is 
about  1600  pieces  per  week. 

An  Old  Landmark. — A  writer  in  the  Providence 
Journal  in  speaking  of  the  old  tannery  of  Edmund 
Chase,  Esq.,  says, — 

"  Among  the  few  old  landmarks  of  by-gone  years 
that  seem  to  connect  the  present  waning  decades  of 
the  century  with  the  earlier  period,  the  oldest  in  the 
centre  of  the  town  is  the  old  tannery,  now  owned  by 
Edmund  Chase,  Esq.,  situated  adjoining  the  new 
elegant  United  States  custom-house  and  post-office 
building  on  Bedford  Street.  These  two  edifices  afford 
just  the  contrast  needed  to  indicate  the  progress  of 
the  last  seventy  years.  This  ancient  tannery  build- 
ing was  erected  or  at  least  the  tanning  business  was 
organized  here  not  far  from  1808  by  the  father  of  the 
present  owner,  and  antedated  by  five  years  the  estab- 
lishment of  the  cotton  manufacture  in  this  town.  The 
location  chosen  was  on  the  Quequechan  River,  be- 
cause of  the  abundance  ot  water,  and  where  the  Troy 
mill  was  built  the  company  selected  the  site  across 
the  stream  next  above  the  tannery,  and  that  establish- 
ment also  marks  the  middle  period  of  development 
between  the  date  of  the  tannery  and  the  new  post- 
office  building.  Years  ago  this  tannery  was  a  scene 
of  busy  industry.  The  hides  were  bought  of  the  sur- 
rounding country  farmers,  and  wrought  into  good 
solid  leather  for  the  general  market.  In  those  days 
other  tanneries  flourished  in  this  vicinity,  and  leather- 
dressing  was  an  art  of  great  importance.  This  branch 
of  manufacture  was  kept  until  a  short  time  ago,  when 
it  was  found  that  finished  leather  could  be  bought  in 
the  market  cheaper  than  it  could  be  made  here  in  the 
present  state  of  the  hide  market.  Since  the  great 
increase  of  cotton  mills  and  other  works  employing 
machinery,  belt-making  has  been  a  leading  industry. 
For  many  years  Mr.  Chase  has  carried  on  this  branch, 
and  many  manufactories  here  and  elsewhere  use  his 
work,  which  has  always  proved  substantial  and  ser- 
viceable.    The  older  portion  of  our  citizens  would 


probably  regret  to  see  the  old  favorite  landmark  of 
the  first  quarter  of  the  century  swept  away,  nor  do 
they  regret  that  there  is  no  symptom  of  its  going  just 
yet.  Mr.  Chase  is  still  in  the  vigor  of  business  life, 
and  by  his  judicious  management  has  built  up  his 
business  on  the  soundest  basis,  and  has  always  ranked 
among  the  leading  solid  business  men  of  the  city. 
Few  concerns  in  New  England  have  maintained  for 
seventy-five  years  such  unimpeachable  credit  or 
gained  a  more  enviable  reputation  for  honest  deal- 


CHAPTER    XXVI. 

FALL    RIVER.— {Continued.) 
THE   BANKING  INTEREST. 

The  National  Union  Bank— The  Fall  River  National  Bank— The  Mas- 
sasoit  National  Hank — The  Metacomet  National  Bank — The  Pocasset 
National  Bank — The  First  National  Bank — The  Second  National  Bank 
— The  Fall  River  Savings-Bank— Citizens'   Savings-Bank— The   Fal 
River  Five-Cent  Savings-Bank — The  Union  Savings-Bank. 

The  National  Union  Bank.— The  National  Union 
Bank  is  the  oldest  bank  in  the  city,  having  been  char- 
tered as  the  Bristol  Union  Bank,  of  Bristol,  R.  I.,  in 
1823.  Its  authorized  capital  was  $50,000,  with  the 
privilege  of  increasing  the  same  to  $200,000.  It  com- 
menced business  in  1824  with  a  paid  in  capital  of 
$10,000,  which  was  increased  within  the  next  two 
years  to  $40,000.  In  1834  the  capital  was  increased 
to  $100,000;  in  1846  to  $200,000,  and  in  1866  to  $300,- 
000,  its  present  capital. 

The  first  president  of  the  bank  was  Barnabas  Bates, 
who  officiated  till  some  time  in  1824,  when  he  was 
succeeded  by  Parker  Borden,  who  held  the  office  until 
1838,  when  he  was  followed  by  David  Durfee.  Mr. 
Durfee  was  succeeded  in  1846  by  Nathaniel  B.  Bor- 
den, who  remained  until  1865,  and  was  then  suc- 
ceeded by  Jesse  Eddy.  Mr.  Eddy  was  president  until 
1874,  when  Cook  Borden  became  president,  and  Mr. 
Borden  was  succeeded  by  the  present  president,  Mr. 
Daniel  Wilbur,  in  1881. 

The  cashiers  have  been  as  follows :  Nathaniel 
Wardwell,  1824;  Josiah  Gooding,  1825;  William 
Coggeshall,  1826-60;  Daniel  A.  Chapin,  from  1860  to 
the  present  time. 

In  1830,  Fall  River,  Mass.,  affording  a  more  prom- 
ising field  for  banking  operations,  the  bank  was  re- 
moved from  Bristol  and  located  in  Tiverton,  just  over 
the  line  from  Fall  River,  and  its  name  changed  to 
the  Fall  River  Union  Bank.  Its  office  was  on  South 
Main  Street,  opposite  the  head  of  Columbia  Street. 
In  1837  the  bank  erected  for  its  accommodation  the 
brick  building  corner  of  South  Main  and  Rodman 
Streets,  and  removed  its  office  to  the  lower  floor, 
where  it  continued  its  business  until  1862.  In  that 
year,  by  the  change  of  boundary  line,  Fall  River, 
R.  I.,  became  Fall  River,  Mass.,  and  the  bank  was 


FALL  RIVER. 


329 


removed  to  the  office  in  the  southwest  corner  of  the 
market  building,  now  City  Hall. 

In  June,  1865,  the  bank  became  a  national  hank- 
ing association,  under  the  name  of  the  National 
Union  Bank.  In  1872  the  office  of  the  bank  was  re- 
moved to  No.  3  Main  Street.  The  present  officers  are 
as  follows:  President,  Daniel  Wilbur;  Cashier,  Daniel 
A.  Chapin  ;  Directors,  Daniel  Wilbur,  Thomas  Bor- 
den, William  B.  Durfee,  William  H.  Ashley,  John 
D.  Flint,  Samuel  Wadington,  D.  A.  Chapin,  D.  M. 
Anthony,  A.  S.  Covel. 

The  Fall  River  National  Bank— The  Fall  River 
Bank  was  the  first  banking  institution  established  in 
this  town.  It  was  chartered  in  1825.  The  prelimi- 
nary meeting  to  consider  the  expediency  of  establishing 
a  bank  in  what  was  then  the  "  village"  was  held  at 
the  office  of  James  Ford,  Esq.,  Jan.  18,  1825.  The 
record  reads  as  follows  : 

"  At  a  meeting  of  the  citizens  of  the  village  of  Fall  River  at  the  office 
of  James  Ford,  Esq.,  Jan.  18,  1825,  pursuant  to  previous  notice,  to  take 
into  consideration  the  expediency  of  establishing  a  bank  in  said  vil- 
lage, David  Anthony  being  called  to  the  chair  and  James  Ford  appointed 
secretary,  it  was 

"  Voted  and  Resolved,  That  a  petition  be  presented  to  the  Legislature, 
at  their  present  session,  for  a  charter  for  a  bank; 

"That  a  committee  of  five  be  appointed  to  receive  subscription  for  the 
stock,  and  to  cause  the  petition  to  be  presented ; 

"  That  Oliver  Chaco,  David  Anthony,  Bradford  Durfee,  llichard  Bor- 
den, and  .lames  Ford  be  this  committee; 

"  That  five  cents  on  a  share  be  paid  by  the  subscribers  to  defray  the 
expenses  that  may  accrue  in  obtaining  an  act  of  incorporation; 

"That  Oliver  Chace  be  treasurer  to  receive  the  above  money. 

"  A  true  copy.  Attest:  31.  C.  Durfee." 

The  act  of  incorporation  contains  the  names  of 
Oliver  Chace,  David  Anthony,  Bradford  Durfee, 
Richard  Borden,  Nathaniel  B.  Borden,  John  C.  Bor- 
den, Lucius  Smith,  Samuel  Smith,  Clark  Shove, 
Harvey  Chace,  Edward  Bennett,  Arnold  Buffum, 
James  Ford,  James  G.  Bowen,  William  W.  Swain, 
Benjamin  Rodman,  William  Valentine,  and  Holden 
Borden. 

At  the  first  meeting  of  the  stockholders,  April  7, 
1825,  Oliver  Chace,  David  Anthony,  Bradford  Dur- 
fee, Sheflfel  Weaver,  Edward  Bennett,  Gideon  How- 
land,  Benjamin  Rodman,  John  C.  Borden,  and  Rich- 
ard Borden  were  elected  directors,  and  at  a  subsequent 
meeting  of  the  directors,  May  3,  1825,  David  An- 
thony was  chosen  president,  and  Matthew  C.  Durfee 
cashier. 

This  was  the  only  bank  of  discount  and  deposit  in 
the  village  for  twenty  years. 

David  Anthony,  after  a  service  of  forty  years,  re- 
signed the  office  of  president  on  account  of  ill-health 
in  1865,  and  was  succeeded  by  Col.  Richard  Borden, 
who  died  in  1874,  and  was  succeeded  by  Guilford  H. 
Hathaway,  the  present  president. 

Matthew  C.  Durfee  continued  as  cashier  until  1836, 
when  he  resigned,  and  was  succeeded  by  Henry  H. 
Fish,  who  served  twenty-seven  years,  resigning  in 
1863.  George  R.  Fiske  was  elected  his  successor,  and 
served  until  1873,  when  he  resigned,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Ferdinand  II.  Gilford,  the  present  cashier. 


The  first  banking-house  of  the  Fall  River  Bank 
was  a  brick  building,  erected  in  1826,  on  the  corner 
of  Main  and  Bank  Streets.  It  was  destroyed  by  the 
great  fire  in  1843,  but  rebuilt  of  the  same  material  the 
same  year. 

The  Fall  River  Bank  started  with  a  capital  of 
$100,000,  which  was  increased  to  $200,000  in  1827, 
and  to  $400,000  in  1836.  In  1844  it  was  reduced  to 
$350,000,  but  increased  again  to  $400,000  in  1864, 
when  it  was  incorporated  as  the  Fall  River  National 
Bank. 

The  present  officers  are  as  follows  :  President,  Guil- 
ford H.  Hathaway;  Cashier,  Ferdinand  H.  Gifford; 
Directors,  G.  H.  Hathaway,  William  L.  Slade,  John 
P.  Slade,  Richard  B.  Borden,  Isaac  Borden,  Henry 
S.  Fenner,  F.  H.  Gifford. 

The  Massasoit  National  Bank. — The  Massasoit 
Bank  was  organized  June  2,  1846,  with  an  authorized 
capital  of  $100,000.  Jason  H.  Archer  was  elected 
president,  Leander  Borden  cashier,  and  Jason  H. 
Archer,  Oliver  S.  Hawes,  Azariah  Shove,  Nathan 
Durfee,  Henry  Willard,  Irani  Smith,  and  Benjamin 
Wardwell  a  board  of  directors.  The  bank  com- 
menced business  in  December,  1846,  with  a  paid  up 
capital  of  $50,000,  which  was  increased  in  the  follow- 
ing March  to  $100,000.  In  January,  1854,  the  capital 
stock  was  again  increased  to  $200,000. 

In  October,  1852,  Dr.  J.  H.  Archer,  having  removed 
from  the  town,  resigned  his  office  as  president,  and 
Israel  Buffinton  was  chosen  his  successor.  In  Octo- 
ber, 1864,  Charles  P.  Stickney  was  elected  president, 
vice  Israel  Buffinton,  resigned.  Charles  P.  Stickney 
resigned  Sept.  11,  1878,  and  Irani  Smith  elected  presi- 
dent. Leander  Borden  resigned  Nov.  1,  1881,  and  E. 
W.  Borden  elected  cashier. 

In  December,  1864,  the  bank  was  converted  into  a 
national  banking  association,  under  the  name  of  the 
Massasoit  National  Bank.  It  was  also  made  a  de- 
pository and  financial  agent  of  the  United  States. 

The  bank  when  first  established  occupied  rooms  in 
the  north  end  of  the  Mount  Hope  Block,  corner  of 
Main  and  Franklin  Streets.  It  continued  here  for 
thirty  years,  or  until  1876,  when  it  was  removed  to  its 
more  commodious  and  convenient  banking-house  at 
the  Four  Corners,  the  northeast  corner  of  Main  and 
Bedford  Streets. 

The  present  officers  are  as  follows:  President,  Irani 
Smith;  Cashier,  Eric  W.  Borden;  Directors,  Irani 
Smith,  Southard  H.  Miller,  Edmund  Chase,  William 
Mason,  Bradford  D.  Davol,  Charles  M.  Shove,  George 
A.  Chace,  Nathaniel  B.  Borden. 

The  Metacomet  National  Bank.— The  Metacomet 
Bank  was  incorporated  by  the  Legislature  of  1852-53, 
with  a  capital  stock  of  $400,000,  which  was  soon  after 
increased  to  $600,000.  It  was  organized  in  the  sum- 
mer following  by  the  choice  of  Jefferson  Borden  as 
president,  Azariah  S.  Tripp  cashier,  and  a  board  of 
nine  directors,  viz. :  Jefferson  Borden,  Nathan  Durfee, 
William  Lindseyj  Philip  D.  Borden,  Thomas  J.  Bor- 


330 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


den,  Daniel  Brown,  William  Carr,  William  Marvel, 
and  Joseph  Crandall.  The  bank  was  located  in  the 
brick  building  corner  of  Water  and  Pocasset  Streets, 
and  commenced  business  in  December,  1853,  with  a 
capital  then  as  large  as  that  of  any  bank  in  the  com- 
monwealth outside  of  Boston. 

In  1865  the  institution  was  converted  into  a  national' 
banking  association,  under  the  name  of  the  Meta- 
comet  National  Bank  of  Fall  River,  No.  924.  After 
having  been  located  on  the  boundary  of  the  "  Border 
City,"  it  removed  in  1876  to  its  present  commodious 
and  complete  banking-house  in  the  Borden  Block, 
corner  of  South  Main  and  Pleasant  Streets. 

Mr.  Borden  remained  president  until  January,  1880, 
when  he  was  succeeded  by  William  Lindsey,  the 
present  incumbent.  Mr.  Tripp  has  remained  cashier 
of  the  bank  from  the  first,  a  period  of  nearly  thirty 
years,  and  is  one  of  the  oldest  bank  officials  in  term 
of  service  in  the  commonwealth. 

The  Pocasset  National  Bank.— The  Pocasset 
Bank  was  incorporated  by  the  General  Assembly  of 
the  State  of  Rhode  Island  in  May,  1854,  Moses  Baker, 
Oliver  Chace,  and  Joseph  Osborn  being  named  in  the 
charter.  The  bank  was  organized  June  3,  1854,  by 
the  choice  of  Oliver  Chace,  Samuel  Hathaway, 
Weaver  Osborn,  Gideon  H.  Durfee,  and  Moses  Baker, 
of  Tiverton,  and  John  C.  Milne  and  William  H. 
Taylor,  of  Fall  River,  Mass.,  as  directors.  Oliver 
Chace  was  elected  president,  and  William  H.  Brackett 
cashier. 

The  bank  was  located  in  the  Fall  River  Union 
Bank  building,  corner  of  South  Main  and  Rodman 
Streets,  then  in  Tiverton,  R.  I.  In  1856  the  town  of 
Tiverton  was  divided,  and  that  part  wherein  the 
bank  was  located  became  Fall  River,  R.  I.  In  1862 
the  boundary  line  between  Rhode  Island  and  Massa- 
chusetts was  changed,  Fall  River,  R.  I.,  being  set  off 
to  Massachusetts,  and  the  bank,  by  authority  of  the 
Legislature,  became  a  Massachusetts  institution,  and 
was  removed  to  the  office  in  the  northwest  corner  of 
the  market  building,  now  City  Hall,  on  Main  Street. 

Feb.  1,  1865,  the  bank  was  organized  as  a  national 
bank  under  the  title  of  the  Pocasset  National  Bank, 
No.  679.  In  1872  the  bank  purchased  the  lot  on  the 
southeast  corner  of  Main  and  Bedford  Streets,  and 
erected  on  the  "  Four  Corners,"  so  called,  a  fine  gran- 
ite building  of  three  stories  high,  with  a  mansard 
roof.  In  January,  1873,  the  bank  was  removed  to  its 
present  eligible  location  on  the  lower  floor  of  this 
building. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  board  of  directors, 
Jan.  6,  1882,  Oliver  Chace  resigned  the  presidency, 
and  on  the  following  day  William  H.  Hathaway  was 
elected  to  fill  the  vacancy. 

Dec.  9,  1862,  William  H.  Brackett  resigned,  and 
was  succeeded  by  the  present  cashier,  Mr.  Edward  E. 
Hathaway,  who  has  been  connected  with  the  bank 
since  its  organization  in  1854. 

Samuel    Hathaway    officiated    as    president    until 


his  death,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  Weaver 
Osborn,  the  present  president.  Only  three  of  the 
original  board  of  directors  are  living,  viz.,  Weaver 
Osborn,  John  C.  Milne,  and  Gideon  H.  Durfee.  Mr. 
Osborn  and  Mr.  Milne  are  members  of  the  present 
board. 

The  present  board  is  as  follows:  Weaver  Osborn, 
Nathan  Read,  Danforth  Horton,  Linden  Cook,  Foster 
H.  Stafford,  John  C.  Milne,  E.  E.  Hathaway.  Capi- 
tal, $200,000;  surplus,  $40,000;  undivided  profits, 
$37,475.13. 

The  First  National  Bank  was  organized  Jan.  23, 
1864,  with  a  capital  of  $200,000.  Hon.  John  S. 
Brayton  was  elected  president,  and  Mr.  Charles  A. 
Bassett  cashier.  In  March,  1865,  the  capital  stock 
was  increased  to  $400,000,  which  is  its  present  figure. 
From  the  date  of  organization  until  1870  it  was  a 
United  States  depository  and  financial  agent.  The 
bank  is  located  at  No.  14  Granite  Block,  on  the  corner 
of  Main  and  Central  Streets,  the  southwest  of  the 
"  Four  Corners,"  so  called.  Mr.  Charles  A.  Bassett, 
cashier,  having  in  1877  been  elected  treasurer  of  the 
Fall  River  Savings-Bank,  was  succeeded  by  Mr. 
Hezekiah  A.  Brayton,  who  remained  cashier  until 
April  28,  1880,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  C.  E. 
Hendrickson,  the  present  incumbent.  The  present 
officers  of  the  bank  are  as  follows :  President,  John 
S.  Brayton  ;  Cashier,  Charles  E.  Hendrickson  ;  Direc- 
tors, John  S.  Brayton,  William  B.  Brayton;  H.  A. 
Brayton,  D.  A.  Brayton,  Jr. 

The  Second  National  Bank  is  a  successor  of  the 
Wamsutta  Bank,  which  was  incorporated  as  a  State 
bank  June  4,  1856,  with  a  capital  of  $100,000.  The 
first  board  of  directors  were  S.  A.  Chace,  Hale  Rem- 
ington, James   B.  Luther,  Brownell   W.  Woodman, 

E.  C.  Kilburn,  Thomas  F.  Eddy,  and  Thomas  Almy. 
S.  A.  Chace  was  chosen  president,  and  officiated  in  that 
capacity  until  1878,  when  he  resigned,  and  Thomas 

F.  Eddy  was  elected  to  that  position.  Charles  J. 
Holmes  was  elected  cashier,  and  has  continued  to  the 
present  time.  In  May,  1864,  the  bank  was  reorgan- 
ized as  the  Second  National  Bank  of  Fall  River,  and 
the  following  year  the  capital  was  increased  to  $150,000. 
The  present  board  of  directors  are  Thomas  F.  Eddy, 
E.  C.  Kilburn,  C.  J.  Holmes,  C.  E.  Fisher,  Leontine 
Lincoln,  Albert  Winslow,  and  A.  B.  Sandford.  Cap- 
ital, $150,000  ;  undivided  earnings,  $34,000. 

The  Fall  River  Savings-Bank  was  incorporated 
March  11,  1828,  and  Oliver  Chace,  James  Ford, 
Henry  Chace,  Bradford  Durfee,  John  C.  Borden,  Clark 
Shove,  and  Hezekiah  Battelle  were  constituted  a  cor- 
poration by  the  name  of  the  Fall  River  Institution 
for  Savings. 

The  organization  of  the  institution  was  completed 
by  the  election  of  Micah  H.  Ruggles  as  president, 
Harvey  Chace  secretary,  and  James  .Ford  treasurer. 
The  first  board  of  trustees  were  as  follows:  David 
Anthony,  Samuel  Chace,  Nathaniel  B.  Borden,  John 
C.  Borden,  Harvey  Chace,  Joseph   Gooding,  James 


FALL  RIVER. 


331 


Ford,  Bradford  Durfee,  Richard  Borden,  John  S. 
Cotton,  Clark  Shove,  Philip  R.  Bennett,  Joseph  C. 
Luther,  Jesse  Eddy,  Enoch  French,  Hezekiah  Bat- 
telle,  Matthew  C.  Durfee,  and  William  H.  Hawkins. 
Enoch  French,  David  Anthony,  Matthew  C.  Durfee, 
Jesse  Eddy,  and  Harvey  Chace  were  constituted  a 
board  of  investment. 

May  28,  1828,  the  bank  was  opened  for  business, 
and  sixty-five  dollars  was  deposited  on  that  day  by 
four  depositors.  During  the  first  year  there  was 
three  thousand  two  hundred  and  twenty-four  dollars 
received  from  fifty-eight  depositors,  but  of  this  amount 
five  hundred  and  eighteen  dollars  was  withdrawn. 
The  first  dividend  was  made  in  October,  1828,  amount- 
ing to  thirteen  dollars  and  four  cents. 

The  act  of  incorporation  provided  for  its  continu- 
ance for  a  term  of  twenty  years.  In  April,  1847,  by 
special  vote  of  the  Legislature,  the  act  was  continued 
without  limitation.  In  April,  1855,  the  name  of  the 
bank  was  changed  to  "  The  Fall  River  Savings-Bank. "  \ 

The  bank  has  had  but  four  presidents,  viz.,  Micah 
H.  Ruggles,  from  1828  to  1857  ;  Nathaniel  B.  Borden, 
from  1857  to  1865 ;  Job  B.  French,  from  1865  to  1882;  | 
and  William  Lindsey,  from  1882  to  the  present  time. 
Its  original  place  of  business  was  in  the  office  of 
James  Ford,  the  first  treasurer.  In  1830  it  was  re- 
moved to  the  store  of  Hawkins  &  Fish,  southeast 
corner  of  Main  and  Bedford  Streets,  Mr.  William  H. 
Hawkins  having  succeeded  Mr.  Ford  in  the  office  of 
treasurer.  In  July,  1833,  Mr.  Hawkins  was  succeeded 
by  Mr.  Henry  H.  Fish,  who  was  in  turn  succeeded  in 
1836  by  Mr.  Joseph  F.  Lindsey.  Mr.  Lindsey  de- 
voted the  best  years  of  his  life  to  the  interests  of  the 
bank,  and  upon  his  retirement  in  1877,  after  forty 
years'  service  in  an  office  which  he  had  conducted 
with  marked  honesty,  ability,  and  courtesy,  was  com- 
plimented with  the  appointment  of  vice-president  of 
the  corporation.  His  successor  as  treasurer  was  Mr. 
Charles  A.  Bassett,  who  has  continued  to  the  present 
time.  Mr.  Bassett  had  been  cashier  of  the  First 
National  Bank  of  Fall  River  for  thirteen  years. 

The  bank  continued  in  Mr.  Fish's  store  till  some 
time  in  1841,  when  an  increase  of  business  demanded 
more  room,  and  a  small  building  in  the  rear  of  the 
old  post-office  on  Pocasset  Street  was  procured.  It 
remained  here  about  a  year,  and  was  then  removed  to 
the  basement  of  a  house  on  North  Main  Street,  owned 
and  occupied  by  Dr.  Nathan  Durfee.  This  house  was 
destroyed  in  the  great  fire  of  July,  1843,  and  a  private 
dwelling  was  occupied  by  the  bank  until  the  next 
January,  when  the  Mount  Hope  House  Block  was 
completed  on  the  site  of  the  former  office.  The  bank 
was  then  moved  into  the  office  in  the  southwest  cor- 
ner of  this  block,  where  it  remained  until  the  erection 
of  its  own  banking-house  on  North  Main  Street  in 
March,  1869,  which  is  one  of  the  most  complete  in 
the  State. 

The  bank  has  paid  dividends  regularly  every  year, 
excepting  1879.    In  1882,  however,  an  extra  dividend 


of  four  and  a  half  per  cent,  was  paid,  which  made 
good  to  the  depositors  the  deficiency  of  1879.  The 
total  dividends  from  organization  up  to  and  including 
October,  1882,  amount  to  three  hundred  and  thirty- 
three  and  a  half  per  cent.,  making  an  average  of  six 
per  cent,  since  its  organization. 

Previous  to  the  spring  of  1878  the  bank  had  con- 
tinuously increased  its  deposits,  until  the  amount 
reached  an  excess  of  $6,000,000.  The  well-known 
local  financial  irregularities  of  that  and  the  following 
year  caused  universal  distrust,  and  it  was  deemed  ex- 
pedient that  the  bank  should  take  the  benefit  of  the 
restrictive  act  limiting  payments,  known  as  the  "  Pay 
Law."  It  was  first  applied  to  the  bank  in  July,  1878, 
and  continued  in  force  until  April  1,  1880,  when  the 
bank  resumed  payment  under  its  by-laws,  and  has 
since  paid  upon  demand  all  sums  desired  by  the  de- 
positors, and  the  managers  can  now  confidently  say 
that  in  their  opinion  it  is  as  sound  and  safe  as 
never  before.  The  present  deposits  amount  to  over 
$4,400,000. 

The  present  officers  are  as  follows :  William  Lind- 
sey, president;  A.  S.  Tripp,  vice-president;  Isaac  B. 
Chace,  clerk;  Trustees,  J.  B.  French,  A.  S.  Tripp, 
Caleb  B.  Vickery,  Robert  C.  Brown,  Guilford  H. 
Hathaway,  Benjamin  Earl,  William  Lindsey,  Isaac 
B.  Chace,  Thomas  J.  Borden,  James  C.  Eddy,  Brad- 
ford D.  Davol,  Newton  R.  Earl,  Crawford  E.  Lindsey, 
Samuel  R.  Buffinton,  Henry  C.  Hawkins,  Henry  K. 
Braley,  Clark  Shove,  Ferdinand  H.  GifFord,  Robert 
Henry;  C.  A.  Bassett,  treasurer;  N.  R.  Earl,  secre- 
tary board  of  trustees;  Board  of  Investment,  William 
Lindsey,  Guilford  H.  Hathaway,  Robert  C.  Brown, 
James  C.  Eddy,  Henry  C.  Hawkins. 

Citizens'  Savings-Bank.— "  In  1851  the  October 
session  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of 
Rhode  Island  passed  an  act  incorporating  '  The 
Savings-Bank,'  to  be  located  in  Tiverton.  Oliver 
Chace,  Jr.,  Cook  Borden,  Thomas  Borden,  Clark  S. 
Manchester,  and  their  associates  and  successors,  were 
created  a  body  politic,  under  the  name  and  style  of 
'  The  Savings-Bank,'  with  perpetual  succession. 
The  amount  of  deposits  to  be  received  was  limited 
to  four  hundred  thousand  dollars. 

"  The  bank  was  organized  Nov.  15,  1851,  by  the 
election  of  Joseph  Osborn,  president ;  Charles  F. 
Searle,  secretary;  William  H.  Brackett,  treasurer; 
and  a  board  of  fifteen  trustees.  Cook  Borden,  Oliver 
Chace,  Jr.,  Weaver  Osborn,  William  C.  Chapin,  and 
Samuel  Hathaway  were  chosen  a  board  of  invest- 
ment. The  bank  was  opened  for  business  Dec.  1, 
1851,  at  the  office  of  the  Fall  River  Union  Bank,  and 
on  that  day  the  first  deposit  was  made. 

"In  June,  1854, the  bank  was  removed  to  the  office 
in  the  southwest  corner  of  the  Fall  River  Union  Bank 
building,  on  South  Main  Street,  corner  of  Rodman 
Street,  and  continued  there  until  the  change  in  the 
boundary  line  between  Rhode  Island  and  Massachu- 
setts, March  15, 1862,  when  it  became  a  Massachu- 


332 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


setts  institution,  under  the  name  of  the  Citizens' 
Savings-Bank,  and  was  removed  with  the  Pocasset 
Bank  to  the  northwest  corner  of  the  market  building, 
now  City  Hall.  In  January,  1873,  the  bank  was  again 
removed  to  the  office  prepared  for  it,  in  connection 
with  the  Pocasset  National  Bank,  in  the  latter's  new 
building,  erected  for  a  banking-house  and  other  pur- 
poses, on  the  corner  of  Main  and  Bedford  Streets. 

"  In  December,  1862,  William  H.  Brackett  resigned 
the  office  of  treasurer  on  account  of  removal  to  an- 
other city,  and  Edward  E.  Hathaway  was  elected  to 
fill  the  vacancy. 

"  The  first  dividend  was  declared  June  4,  1852, 
viz.,  three  per  cent,  for  the  preceding  six  months." 

The  present  deposits,  February  9th,  are  $2,216,- 
183.02;  undivided  profits,  .$47,993.95;  guarantee 
fund,  $39,702.75.  President,  Joseph  Osborn  ;  Vice- 
Presidents,  Linden  Cook  and  Danforth  Horton ; 
Secretary,  John  C.  Milne ;  Treasurer,  E.  E.  Hatha- 
way ;  Assistant  Treasurer,  E.  F.  Borden ;  Second  As- 
sistant Treasurer,  William  F.  Winter;  Clerk,  William 

B.  Shove  ;  Book-keeper,  F.  0.  Dwelly ;  Trustees,  Jo- 
seph Osborn,  L.  S.  Earle,  Linden  Cook,  Charles  P. 
Dring,  J.  C.  Milne,  Weaver  Osborn,  B.  F.  Winslow, 
F.  H.  Stafford,  Joseph  Healy,  George  O.  Fairbanks, 
Samuel  W.  Hathaway,  Danforth  Horton,  Joseph  U. 
Carr,  George  H.  Eddy,  M.  G.  15.  .Swift,  P.  I.  Conant, 
John  B.  Marvel,  F.  L.  Almy,  James  W.  Henry,  Je- 
rome Dwelly;  Board  of  Investment,  Weaver  Osborn, 
Charles  P.  Dring,  John  C.  Milne,  Linden  Cook, 
Lloyd  S.  Earle. 

Weaver  Osborn  was  a  member  of  the  first  board  of 
trustees,  and  has  remained  a  trustee  to  the  present 
time. 

The  Fall  River  Five-Cent  Savings-Bank  was  in- 
corporated April  10, 1855,  with  the  following  incorpo- 
rators :  S.  Angier  Chace,  Hale  Remington,  Walter  C. 
Durfee,  James  Buffinton,  E.  P.  Buffinton,  B.  H.  Davis, 
A -a  P.  French,  and  Alvan  S.  Ballard.  The  institution 
was  organized  on  the  25th  of  the  following  October, 
with  S.  Angier  Chace,  president;  Hale  Remington, 
secretary;  Charles  J.  Holmes,  Jr.,  treasurer;  and  S. 
Angier  Chace,  Asa  Eames,  E.  P.  Buffinton,  Abner 
L.  Westgate,  and  Kobert  K.  Remington,  a  board  of 
investment.  Mr.  Chace  remained  president  until 
1878,  when  he  resigned,  and  was  succeeded  by  Walter 

C.  Durfee.  Mr.  Bemington  continued  as  secretary 
until  October,  1856,  when  John  P.  Slade  was  elected 
to  that  position.  There  has  been  no  change  in  the 
office  of  treasurer,  Mr.  Holmes  having  officiated  dur- 
ing the  twenty-seven  years  of  the  bank's  existence. 
The  present  deposits  amount  to  $1,100,000  ;  surplus, 
$30,000.  The  present  board  of  investment  is  as  fol- 
lows: Walter  C.  Durfee,  E.  C.  Kilburn,  Iram  Smith, 
S.  M.  Brown,  and  Edwin  Shaw. 

The  Union  Savings-Bank  was  incorporated  April 
24,  1869,  with  Gardner  T.  Dean,  Edwin  Shaw,  and 
Lafayette  Nichols  as  corporators.  An  organization 
was  immediately  effected  by  the  choice  of  Augustus 


Chace,  president;  James  M.Morton,  Jr.,  secretary ; 
D.  A.  Chapin,  treasurer ;  and  a  board  of  twenty-five 
trustees.  The  board  of  investment  consisted  of  Cook 
Borden,  William  B.  Durfee,  Gardner  T.  Dean,  Lafay- 
ette Nichols,  and  Alphonso  S.  Covel.  The  bank 
opened  for  business  in  May,  1869. 

Its  present  officers  are  as  follows :  President, 
Augustus  Chace;  Secretary,  Abraham  G.  Hart; 
Treasurer,  Daniel  A.  Chapin  ;  Board  of  Investment, 
Nathan  Chace,  William  B.  Durfee,  Gardner  T.  Dean, 
Lafayette  Nichols,  A.  S.  Covel. 


CHAPTER    XXVII. 

FALL    RIVER.— {Continued.) 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

The  Press,  Civil  History,  Etc. 

The  Fall  River  Monitor— The  Moral  Envoy — The  Village  Recorder — 
The  Patriot— The  Archetype— The  Gazette— The  Argus— The  Flint 
and  Steel — The  Mechanic — The  Wampanoag — All  Sorts — Journal — 
People's  Press — The  Labor  Journal — L'Echo  du  Canada— The  Spark — 
The  Fall  River  News— The  Daily  Evening  News— The  Fall  Daily 
Herald— The  Advance— The  Daily  Record— The  Daily  Sun— The  First 
Stage  Line  Between  Fall  River  and  Providence — The  Fall  River 
Line  of  Steamers— The  Clyde  Line— Voters  in  1830— The  Fire  of 
1S43 — List  of  Buildings  Destroyed — Custom-House  and  Post-Office — 
The  City  Hall — Educational— Schools  in  1703 — Present  Conditiou  of 
Schools— Mrs.  Mary  B.  Young's  Gift— The  Public  Library!— The 
Skeleton  in  Armor — Water-Works — Fire  Department — Oak  Grove 
Cemetery — The  North  Cemetery — Civil  History — Incorporation  of 
Town — Name  Changed  to  Troy — Subsequently  to  Fall  River — Incor- 
poration of  the  City— First  Officers— Mayors  from  1854  to  1884— 
Members  of  Congress  Residents  of  Fall  River — State  Sunatois — Rep- 
resentatives from  1803  to  1884— Town  Clerks  from  1803  to  1854— City 
Clerks  from  1854  to  1884 — Present  City  Officers — Valuation  from 
1854  to  1882— Population  from  1810  to  1882. 

The  Fall  River  Monitor. — The  pioneer  in  Fall 
River  journalism  was  the  Monitor,  first  issued  Jan.  6, 
1826,  by  Nathan  Hall.  The  office  of  publication  was 
on  Bedford  Street,  in  a  brick  building  which  stood 
where  is  situated  the  block  now  occupied  by  Messrs. 
Allen,  Slade  &  Co.,  for  their  wholesale  grocery  busi- 
ness. The  size  of  the  paper  was  nineteen  by  twenty- 
four  inches,  four  pages,  and  four  columns  to  a  page. 

The  paper  was  printed  on  a  Bamage  press,  similar 
to  the  one  used  by  Franklin.  The  ink  was  distributed 
upon  the  type  by  balls,  the  very  ancient  style  of  the 
art. 

The  number  of  advertisements,  though  quite  lim- 
ited, was  respectable  for  this  early  period  of  our 
history  as  a  town.  Among  these  we  note  that  John 
S.  Cotton  offers  a  variety  of  goods  at  his  store,  at  the 
old  stand  at  the  corner  formerly  occupied  by  the  Fall 
River  Manufactory,  viz.,  dry-goods,  groceries,  crock- 
ery, glassware,  and  hardware.  John  Southwick  was 
also  a  dealer  in  the  same  articles.  J.  &  D.  Leonard 
supplied  the  people  with  paints  and  oil,  but  as  no- 

1  See  Appendix. 


FALL  RIVER. 


333 


thing  is  said  about  paper  hangings,  we  infer  that  Fall 
River  people  had  not  attained  to  the  style  necessary 
to  make  them  a  profitable  commodity.  Bennett  & 
Jacobs  were  prominent  dealers  in  West  India  goods 
and  groceries,  as  also  did  Hiram  Bliss.  Enoch  French 
&  Sons  supplied  the  people  with  boots,  shoes,  and 
leather,  which,  by  the  way,  is  the  only  store  which  has 
remained  till  this  day,  the  same  being  continued  by 
one  of  the  sons  and  a  grandson  under  the  firm-name 
of  Job  B.  French  &  Son,  at  or  near  the  old  stand,  but 
with  greatly  increased  facilities.  Samuel  Shove  & 
Son  were  engaged  in  the  dry-goods  business,  and  also 
including  in  his  stock  crockery,  earthen-  and  glass- 
ware. Blake  &  Nichols  were  dealers  in  staple  goods. 
Peleg  H.  Earl  was  the  merchant  tailor.  James  Ford 
dispensed  the  law.  Joseph  Luther  and  J.  Ames 
taught  private  schools.  Benjamin  Anthony  and  John 
Southwick  were  the  auctioneers.  James  G.  Bowen 
was  the  postmaster.  .Matthew  C.  Durfee  was  the  only 
bank  cashier.  Susan  Jennings  was  the  tailoress,  and 
Mrs.  Hannah  Allen  the  mantuamaker.  David  An- 
thony was  agent  for  a  Boston  insurance  company. 
John  C.  Borden  and  David  Anthony  were  among  the 
principal  owners  of  real  estate,  and  the  former  as 
justice  of  the  peace,  his  name  appearing  occasionally 


as   officiating   at 


ceremonies.     A  Masonic 


lodge  was  in  being  here  at  this  early  day,  of  which 
Rt.  W.  Leander  P.  Lovell  was  Master,  and  John  C. 
Borden  was  Secretary  and  Tyler,  with  Rev.  A.  B.  Read 
as  Chaplain. 

B.  Earl  entered  the  office  of  the  Monitor  as  an  ap- 
prentice late  in  the  fall  of  1826.  After  serving  three 
years,  and  continuing  labor  in  the  office  some  six 
months  longer,  he  purchased  the  office  with  all  its 
materials,  the  good-will,  and  list  of  subscribers  to  the 
Monitor,  and  commenced  its  publication  on  the  1st 
of  July,  1829,  continuing  its  publication  until  1838, 
when  it  was  sold  out  to  Tripp  &  Pearce.  During  the 
last  year  or  two  of  Mr.  Earl's  connection  with  the 
office,  J.  S.  Hammond  was  associated  with  him  in  that 
and  other  business. 

James  Ford,  Esq.,  officiated  as  editor  of  the  Monitor 
during  most  of  the  period  of  its  publication  by  Mr. 
Earl. 

During  the  publication  of  the  Monitor  by  Mr.  Earl, 
the  Morgan  excitement  on  Masonry  and  anti-Masonry 
sprung  up,  and  waxed  hot  and  bitter  between  the 
•  •(intending  adherents  on  either  side;  and  also  the 
"  great  Hodges  and  Ruggles'  contest,"  as  it  was  after- 
wards called,  for  Congressional  appointment,  which 
finally  terminated  in  the  election  of  Hodges  on  the 
seventh  ballot.  The  Monitor  took  the  Masonic  side  of 
question  in  controversy,  and  this  gave  to  its  publisher 
the  cognomen  of  "Jack-mason." 

In  March,  1838,  Earl  &  Hammond  sold  out  their 
interest  in  the  paper  to  Mr.  N.  A.  Tripp  and  Alfred 
Pearce.  Their  partnership  continued  but  three 
months,  when  Mr.  Henry  Pratt  assumed  the  obliga- 
tions which   Mr.  Pearce  had  thrown  off.     Thus  for 


many  years  the  publishers  were  Messrs.  Tripp  iV- 
Pratt.  In  1850,  Mr.  Tripp  went  out  of  the  firm,  and 
in  1857  engaged  in  the  publication  of  the  Daily  Star, 
which  soon  after  came  into  existence. 

The  senior  publisher,  Mr.  Noel  A.  Tripp,  still  sur- 
vives, and  is  an  attache,  of  this  office.  He  is  probably 
the  oldest  printer  in  the  county,  and  still  wears  his 
honors  bravely,  receiving  to  himself,  very  justly,  the 
credit  of  establishing  the  first  daily  newspaper  which 
became  a  permanent  institution.  Mr.  Alfred  Pearce 
died  in  Providence,  March  12,  1871. 

For  many  years  previous  to  the  fire  of  1843  the 
paper  was  published  in  the  Exchange  Building  which 
stood  where  the  City  Hall  building  is  now  located. 
After  the  fire  it  sought  temporary  quarters  in  the  rear 
of  Mrs.  Young's  residence,  on  North  Main  Street, 
until  the  Borden  block,  which  stood  where  the  new 
one  is  now  erected,  was  finished,  when  it  was  removed 
thither.  When  the  Pocasset  House  was  rebuilt  the 
office  was  removed  to  its  present  quarters,  where  it  has 
remained  ever  since. 

In  1841  the  present  proprietor  entered  the  office  to 
serve  an  apprenticeship,  after  concluding  which  he 
continued  in  the  employ  of  Mr.  Henry  Pratt,  the  pub- 
lisher, most  of  the  time  till  about  1855,  when  he  en- 
gaged in  business  himself.  In  December,  1868,  he 
assumed  the  publication  of  the  Monitor,  which  had 
been  suspended  for  some  months.  For  two  years  it 
was  run  as  a  free  paper.  Jan.  1,  1871,  it  was  enlarged 
to  its  present  dimensions  and  issued  at  one  dollar  per 
annum.  It  continued  at  this  price  one  year,  and  Jan. 
1,  1872,  the  subscription  was  raised  to  one  dollar  and 
fifty  cents  per  annum.  Its  subscription  is  larger,  and 
it  has,  undoubtedly,  now  a  far  wider  circulation  than 
at  any  period  in  its  history. 

The  names  of  those  who  at  various  times  previous 
to  Mr.  Robertson's  connection  with  the  Monitor  wielded 
the  editorial  pen  in  its  columns  are  in  their  order  as 
follows:  Joseph  Hathaway,  Esq.,  Charles  F.  Town- 
send,  Matthew  C.  Durfee,  James  Ford,  Esq.,  and  Hon. 
Joseph  E.  Dawley.  Mr.  Dawley  is  the  only  one  now 
living. 

The  first  editor,  Mr.  Hathaway,  was  a  native  of 
Fall  River,  which  then  embraced  Freetown,  where 
Mr.  Hathaway  was  born.  He  was  probably  one  of 
the  most  brilliant  members  of  the  Bristol  County  bar. 
As  a  platform  speaker  he  had  few  equals,  and  as  an 
incisive  writer  he  could  wield  a  lance  which  cut  to  the 
quick. 

Charles  F.  Townsend,  Esq.,  of  "Townsend  Hill" 
notoriety,  became  an  early  contributor  to  the  columns 
of  the  Monitor,  more  especially  in  its  poetical  depart- 
ment, and  continued  in  that  capacity  many  years. 

Matthew  C.  Durfee  was  its  editor  from  1828  to  1830. 
He  was  a  man  of  fine  talents,  a  cashier  of  the  first 
bank  ever  started  here,  and  possessed  good  business 
abilities.  He  was  a  good  writer,  a  person  of  conscien- 
tious principles,  and  wielded  a  trenchant  pen.  He 
died  in  December,  1841. 


3:-u 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


James  Ford,  Esq.,  assumed  the  editorial  chair  in 
1830  and  continued  till  1858.  As  a  writer,  he  was 
honest  in  statement  and  an  ardent  advocate  of  his 
political  party,— the  Whigs.  Daring  a  good  portion 
of  this  time  the  Democracy  were  in  the  ascendant  in 
the  nation,  hut  Fall  River  usually  was  carried  hy  the 
Whigs,  and  it  was  generally  conceded  that  the  paper 
was  a  powerful  motor  in  the  accomplishment  of  this 
work.  Political  controversy  raged  high  in  those  days, 
much  hotter  thau  in  modern  times.  The  editor  was 
not  peculiarly  mild  in  his  denunciation  of  the  policy 
of  the  Democratic  party,  whom  he  generally  styled 
"  Locofocos,"  a  term  quite  commonly  applied  to  them 
in  those  clays.  Various  attempts  were  made  to  sustain 
a  newspaper  again  by  the  Democratic  party,  but  with 
indifferent  success.  Failure  after  failure  followed 
until  the  Weekly  News  got  a  foothold.  In  the  mean 
time  the  editor  of  the  Monitor  was  continually  pouring 
hot  shot,  metaphorically  speaking,  into  the  enemy's 
camp.  Generally  the  opposition  papers  were  edited 
by  various  persons,  hence  arose  a  term  of  "  forty 
fathers,"  which  Judge  Ford  applied  to  the  authors  of 
their  editorials.  The  first  objective  point  seemed  to 
be  the  demolition  of  the  theories  of  the  Monitor, 
against  which  they  battled  long  and  earnestly.  The 
controversy  was  long  continued,  the  excitement  ran 
high,  and  epithets  of  a  harmless  nature  were  freely 
applied  on  both  sides.  Though  for  a  while  these 
afforded  considerable  amusement  to  the  patrons  of 
the  papers,  yet  they  were  carried  to  such  an  extent  as 
to  become  tedious  to  the  readers  and  unprofitable  to 
the  publishers.  In  those  days  newspaper  controversy 
was  more  popular  than  it  is  now,  but  as  they  gener- 
ally degenerate  into  personal  abuse,  they  detract  from 
the  character  and  profitableness  of  the  paper,  and 
please  few  but  those  whose  belligerent  propensities  are 
superior  to  the  mental.  Mr.  Ford  lived  to  a  ripe  old 
age,  being  only  a  few  days  short  of  eighty-nine  years 
at  his  death,  retaining  his  mental  faculties  till  the  last. 

Hon.  Joseph  E.  Dawley  became  a  contributor  to 
the  Monitor  as  early  as  1847,  and  upon  the  retirement 
of  Mr.  Ford,  in  1858,  he  assumed  the  sole  editorial 
charge,  and  continued  to  discharge  those  duties  until 
about  1861,  when,  in  consequence  of  the  war  of  the 
Rebellion,  the  paper  was  suspended  for  several  months. 

The  Monitor  is  now  published  by  Mr.  William  S. 
Robertson,  editor  and  proprietor. 

The  Moral  Envoy  (anti-Masonic J  was  started  in 
1830  by  George  Wheaton  Allen,  a  native  of  Batavia, 
N.  Y.  This  journal  continued  to  be  published  about 
a  year,  when  in  1831  it  was  succeeded  by  the  Village 
Recorder,  Noel  A.  Tripp  publisher.  This  was  issued 
once  a  fortnight  from  the  same  office  as  the  Monitor 
for  a  short  time  until  1832,  when  it  came  out  weekly. 
After  running  nearly  three  years,  the  Recorder  was 
merged  in  the  Monitor. 

In  1836  there  was  started  the  first  Democratic 
paper,  a  weekly,  called  the  Patriot.  The  publisher 
was  William  N.  Canfield.    It  was  edited  a  few  months 


by  B.  Ellery  Hale,  after  which  the  editorial  work  was 
mostly  performed  by  a  coterie  of  writers,  among 
whom  were  the  late  Dr.  P.  W.  Leland,  Dr.  Foster 
Hooper,  Jonathan  Slade,  and  Louis  Lapham,  Esq. 
These  were  the  "  forty  fathers,"  so  termed  by  James 
Ford,  Esq.,  who  at  this  time  edited  the  Monitor.  The 
Patriot  was  a  journal  of  considerable  ability,  and 
did  good  service  for  the  Democracy.  It  lived  four  or 
five  years,  and  was  succeeded  by  the  Archetype,  which 
was  started  in  1841  under  the  management  of  Messrs. 
Thomas  Almy  and  Louis  Lapham.  After  one  year 
it  was  discontinued,  and  was  followed  by  the  Gazette, 
published  by  Abraham  Bowen,  and  edited  by  Stephen 
Hart.  This  was  also  short-lived,  when  the  Argus 
sprung  up  under  the  editorial  supervision  of  Jonathan 
Slade,  with  Thomas  Almy  as  publisher.  The  office 
being  destroyed  in  the  great  fire  of  1843,  the  paper 
was  suspended.  About  this  time  was  issued  the  Flint 
nnil  Steel,  a  small  weekly  sheet  edited  by  the  late  Dr. 
P.  W.  Leland.  It  was  in  the  interest  of  the  Democ- 
racy, and  gave  full  scope  to  the  talent  possessed  by 
the  doctor  in  making  the  sparks  of  criticism  and  sar- 
casm fly  thick  and  last. 

At  its  demise  various  ventures  in  journalism  were 
made,  among  them  The  Mechanic,  by  Mr.  Thomas 
Almy,  assisted  by  Mr.  John  C.  Milne,  the  Wdm- 
panoag,  and  some  others.  Since  1845  there  have  been 
the  All  Sorts,  by  Abraham  Bowen,  published  occa- 
sionally ;  Journal,  weekly,  by  George  Robertson ; 
People's  Press,  tri-weekly,  by  Noel  A.  Tripp.  The 
All  Sorts  and  Journal  lived  for  a  season.  The  Press 
was  published  five  years,  and  then  in  1865  was  merged 
into  the  Monitor. 

The  Labor  Journal,  published  by  Henry  Seavey, 
was  started  in  1873,  now  discontinued.  The  V Echo 
du  Canada,  an  organ  of  the  French  Canadians,  was 
started  in  1873,  and  lived  about  two  years. 

The  first  daily  paper  was  The  Spark,  published  in 
1848,  a  small  campaign  paper,  edited  by  Louis  Lap- 
ham, Esq.,  which  lived  but  a  few  weeks. 

The  Fall  River  Weekly  News  was  established 
April  3,  1845,  by  Thomas  Almy  and  John  C.  Milne, 
as  a  Democratic  paper,  and  continued  as  such  till 
1853,  when  it  espoused  the  principles  of  the  Repub- 
lican party,  which  it  has  continued  to  advocate  ever 
since.  In  June,  1859,  the  publication  of  the  Daily 
Evening  News  was  commenced,  in  connection  with 
the  Weekly.  In  1864,  Mr.  Frank  L.  Almy,  who  had 
entered  the  office  as  an  apprentice  during  the  first 
year  of  the  Weekly  News,  was  admitted  as  a  partner. 

In  1882  the  firm  of  Almy,  Milne  &  Co.  was  dissolved 
by  the  death  of  the  senior  partner,  Mr.  Thomas  Almy, 
after  a  business  connection  with  Mr.  Milne  of  more 
than  thirty-seven  years,  and  the  publication  of  the 
two  papers  has  been  continued  since  that  time  by  Mr. 
John  C.  Milne  and  Mr.  Frank  L.  Almy,  under  the 
original  firm-name  of  Almy  &  Milne. 

Both  the  Daily  and  Weekly  Neivs  have  been  enlarged 


from    time  to  time,  until   they  are  now 


the 


FALL  RIVER. 


335 


largest  papers  in  the  State,  each  containing  thirty-six 
columns.  The  Evening  News  is  the  largest  daily  pub- 
lished in  the  city,  and  it  has  a  large  and  increasing 
circulation,  and  its  value  as  an  advertising  medium  is 
well  understood  by  business  men.  It  is  an  able,  high- 
toned,  and  influential  journal,  and  in  the  days  of  the 
anti-slavery  agitation  was  noted  for  its  zeal  and  effi- 
ciency in  the  cause  of  human  freedom.  It  occupies 
a  bold  and  fearless  position  on  the  great  moral  ques- 
tions of  the  day,  is  a  prominent  advocate  of  the  tem- 
perance cause,  allows  no  liquor  advertisements  in  its 
columns,  and  gives  its  aid  to  advance  in  every  way 
the  best  interests  of  the  community. 

Fall  River  Herald.— In  1872  a  conference  of  lead- 
ing Democrats  of  Fall  River  was  held  to  consider  the 
advisability  of  establishing  a  daily  paper  to  represent 
the  interests  of  the  party  and  the  workingmen  of  the 
city.  Accordingly,  a  subscription-paper  was  circu- 
lated chiefly  among  the  Irish  Democrats  of  means, 
and  in  a  short  time  stock  to  the  amount  of  six  thou- 
sand dollars  was  taken  and  paid  for.  An  office  in 
Nichols  building  on  Pocasset  Street  was  secured,  and 
the  necessary  materials  purchased.  On  July  2d  the 
first  copy  of  the  paper  was  issued,  under  the  name  of 
The  Border  City  Herald,  with  Mr.  William  Hovey, 
later  editor  of  the  Boston  Transcript,  and  now  editor 
of  the  Sunday  Budget,  in  charge  of  the  editorial  de- 
partment. The  paper  sprang  into  immediate  favor 
both  among  readers  and  business  men,  and  its  success 
was  assured  from  the  first  issue.  Instead  of  confining 
itself  to  the  narrow  channels  of  partisanship,  an  inde- 
pendent position  was  assumed,  and  Democratic  pro- 
clivities set  aside  whenever  any  false  course  was  per- 
ceptible in  that  party.  With  success  came  that 
negligence  so  characteristic  of  people  who  have  not 
much  on  their  minds,  and  the  result  was  that  the 
monetary  affairs  of  the  concern  were  improperly  man- 
aged. Several  times  was  the  project  of  dissolving  the 
company  broached  in  the  meetings  of  the  stockhold- 
ers, but  the  wisdom  of  the  clear-sighted  members 
prevailed,  and  the  question  effectually  disposed  of 
forever.  A  debt  of  over  five  thousand  dollars  was  in- 
curred by  the  directors,  which  no  one  could  see  a  way 
of  lifting.  A  new  and  more  energetic  board  of  direct- 
ors was  chosen,  who  personally  managed  the  affairs 
and  applied  for  articles  of  incorporation  in  1877, 
which  were  granted,  and  the  name  changed  to  Fall 
River  Daily  Herald.  A  good  system  of  economy  was 
at  once  inaugurated,  money  raised  to  meet  the  out- 
standing obligations,  and  the  company  placed  on  a 
sounder  footing.  The  new  lease  of  life  infused  into  the 
Herald  at  that  time  has  brought  it  to  its  present  ex- 
cellent standing  ;  so  that  the  stock,  which  sold  for 
forty  dollars  per  share  in  1876-77,  cannot  now  be  had 
for  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars. 

Mr.  Hovey  was  succeeded  as  editor  by  the  late 
Judge  Lapham,  whose  ponderous  editorial  articles 
afforded  great  pleasure  to  the  old-line  Democrats, 
among  whom  he  was  the  leading  light.     He  contin- 


ued in  charge  until  his  duties  as  justice  of  the  Police 
Court  became  so  onerous  that  he  was  compelled  to  re- 
sign. Mr.  Walter  Scott  was  the  third  editor,  followed 
soon  by  a  New  Jersey  journalist  named  Trellease, 
whose  stay  was  exceedingly  brief,  because  of  his  ir- 
regular habits.  George  Salisbury,  now  editor  and 
publisher  of  the  Fall  River  Weekly  Advance,  was  ap- 
pointed his  successor,  but  receiving  a  more  advan- 
tageous offer,  he  shortly  afterward  resigned  to  accept 
a  similar  position  from  Henry  Sevey,  who  at  that 
time  was  running  a  one-cent  paper  on  Pleasant  Street 
called  the  Daily  Journal  and  Democrat.  Mr.  Ernest 
King,  an  associate  at  one  time  of  Horace  Greeley, 
and  publisher  of  a  paper  in  Connecticut,  was  next 
called  in  as  editor,  and  filled  the  position  acceptably, 
when  he  asked  to  be  released,  on  account  of  a  difficulty 
with  the  directors,  who  held  that  the  paper  was 
amenable  to  the  laws  under  the  copyright  act  for 
publishing  an  article  on  the  Irish  question  written  by 
Charles  S.  Parnell  for  the  North  American  Review. 
The  seventh  editor  was  William  B.  Wright,  a  young 
Boston  journalist,  who  caused  the  paper  to  assume  a 
new  and  more  vigorous  tone.  He  stayed  two  years, 
when  he,  too,  January,  1882,  resigned.  The  vacancy 
remained  unfilled  for  a  few  weeks,  until  Mr.  Joseph  E. 
Chamberlain,  at  that  time  editor  of  the  Newport  Daily 
News,  and  former  managing  editor  of  the  Chicago 
Times,  assumed  charge  at  the  invitation  of  the  direc- 
tors. The  paper  has  made  a  great  gain  in  circulation 
and  influence  within  the  past  year.  It  is  Democratic 
in  politics,  and  independent  and  fearless  in  its  man- 
ner of  discussing  public  topics. 

The  Advance  was  started  as  a  licensed  victuallers' 
organ  in  March,  1879,  by  a  person  named  Trellease, 
and  soon  afterwards  fell  into  the  hands  of  Salisbury 
&  Newell,  who  continued  to  run  it  until  August,  1881, 
when  Mr.  Salisbury  purchased  his  partner's  interest 
in  the  concern,  and  has  since  run  it  as  its  sole  pro- 
prietor and  editor,  entirely  changing  its  character 
and  tone,  and  making  it  an  independent,  chatty,  and 
amusing  family  and  news  paper.  Starting  as  a  small 
six-column,  patent  outside  sheet,  it  has  gradually  de- 
veloped into  a  nine-column  paper,  all  filled  with 
bright,  fresh,  and  interesting  reading-matter.  It  is  a 
paragraphic  and  witty  paper,  which  is  quoted  far  and 
near,  and  its  jokes  and  stories  are  reproduced  as 
largely  in  the  old  country  as  at  home.  Mr.  Salisbury, 
the  editor,  is  an  Englishman,  who  has  only  been  in 
this  country  about  nine  years.  He  has  built  up  a 
big  and  a  jolly  paper,  and  is  a  prime  favorite  with 
the  paragraphic  fraternity  all  over  the  country.  The 
Advance  is  a  weekly  paper,  published  every  Saturday, 
and  has  a  large  and  steadily-increasing  circulation 
and  a  good  advertising  patronage.  The  Advance  is 
illustrated  by  humorous  cuts,  and  makes  a  specialty 
of  racy  and  laughable  stories. 

The  Daily  Record  was  established  Dec.  12,  1878, 
by  W.  O.  Milne  &  Co.,  and  was  discontinued  July 
29,  1879. 


336 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


The  Fall  River  Daily  Sun  was  first  issued  May 
11,  1880,  by  the  Fall  River  Sun  Publishing  Company, 
with  Earnest  King  as  editor,  and  was  published  until 
March  24,  1882. 

The  First  Stage  Line  between  Fall  River  and 
Providence  and  Fall  River  and  New  Bedford  was 
established  in  1825,  Mr.  Isaac  Fish  being  proprietor 
of  the  former,  and  I.  H.  Bartlett  of  the  latter.  The 
terminus  of  each  line  being  at  Slade's  Ferry,  which 
was  crossed  by  a  horse  ferry-boat.  This  primitive 
craft  was  succeeded  in  1847  by  the  steam  ferry-boat 
"  Faitt,"  and  this  by  the  "  Weetamoe"  in  1859.  This 
ferry  continued  in  use  until  the  completion  of  the 
bridge  in  1875. 

Fall  River  and  Providence  Steamboat  Com- 
pany.— The  Fall  River  and  Providence  line  of 
steamers  was  established  by  the  Iron-Works  Company 
in  1828,  and  was  owned  and  operated  by  that  corpor- 
ation until  1880,  when  it  was  organized  as  a  separate 
company,  with  a  capital  of  one  hundred  and  ninety- 
two  thousand  dollars. 

The  first  steamer  on  this  line  was  the  "  Hancock," 
put  on  in  1828;  she  measured  ninety-eight  tons, 
eighty-nine  feet  long,  eighteen  feet  beam,  and  about 
six  feet  depth  of  hold,  and  was  commanded  by  Capt. 
Thomas  Borden.  The  "  Hancock"  was  succeeded  by 
the  "  King  Philip"  in  1832.  The  "  Bradford  Durfee" 
was  placed  upon  the  route  in  1845,  the  "Canonicua" 
in  1849,  the  "  Metacomet"  in  1854,  and  the  "  Rich- 
ard Borden"  in  1874.  Two  steamers,  the  "Richard 
Borden"  and  "Bradford  Durfee,"  ply  regularly  be- 
tween this  city  and  Providence.  The  steamer  "  Canon- 
icus"  is  used  for  the  summer  season.  The  present 
officers  are  as  follows :  President,  Jefferson  Borden ; 
Clerk  and  Treasurer,  Robert  C.  Brown;  Directors, 
Jefferson  Borden,  John  S.  Brayton,  R.  B.  Borden, 
Nathaniel  Lindsey,  David  A.  Brayton,  Jr.,  and  H. 
M.  Barnes. 

The  Fall  River  Line. — The  first  steamboat  com- 
munication between  this  city  and  New  York  was  in- 
augurated in  1847  by  the  organization  of  the  Bay 
State  Steamboat  Company  with  a  capital  of  $300,000. 
The  first  steamer  commenced  her  trips  in  May  of 
that  year.  This  was  the  "  Bay  State,"  three  hundred 
and  twenty  feet  long,  with  a  tonnage  of  sixteen  hun- 
dred, commanded  by  Capt.  Joseph  I.  Comstock.  The 
alternate  boat  was  the  steamer  "  Massachusetts,"  which 
was  chartered  until  the  completion  of  the  "  Metropo- 
lis" in  1854.  This  steamer  was  three  hundred  and 
fifty  feet  in  length,  with  a  capacity  of  two  thousand 
two  hundred  tons. 

The  conception  of  the  organization  of  this  favorite 
through  route  of  travel  between  Boston  and  New 
York,  via  Fall  River,  was  largely  due  to  Col.  Richard 
Borden,  by  whom  also  the  railroad  was  projected  and 
mainly  constructed.  Other  business  men  were  inter- 
ested in  this  latter  movement  and  aided  in  its  develop- 
ment, among  whom  were  Andrew  Robeson,  Sr.,  who 
was  its  first  president,  his  successor,  Hon.  Nathaniel 


B.  Borden,  and  David  Anthony,  who  was  treasurer. 
Jefferson  Borden  was  also  most  prominent  in  the 
management,  and  shared  with  his  brother  Richard  in 
the  organization  of  the  steamboat  line.  Until  1846, 
there  had  been  no  communication  direct  from  Fall 
River  by  steam  or  rail  with  either  Boston  or  New 
York. 

The  Bay  State  Steamboat  Company  in  course  of 
time  passed  into  the  control  of  the  Boston,  Newport 
and  New  York  Steamboat  Company,  and,  the  Old 
Colony  Railroad  Company  having  in  the  mean  time 
extended  their  road  from  Fall  River  to' Newport,  that 
city  (1864)  was  made  the  eastern  terminus  for  the 
boats  of  the  line.  Soon  came  another  change,  the 
steamers  becoming  the  property  of  the  Narragansett 
Steamship  Company,  then  under  the  control  of  James 
Fisk,  Jr.,  and  Jay  Gould,  of  New  York,  and  the 
eastern  terminus  was  re-established  (1869)  at  Fall 
River. 

About  two  years  later  this  line  passed  into  the  pos- 
session of  the  Old  Colony  Steamboat  Company,  which 
was  controlled  by  the  Old  Colony  Railroad  Company, 
thus  forming  the  now  famous  "  Fall  River  Line,"  be- 
tween Boston  and  New  York.  Among  the  older  boats 
operated  by  this  company  were  the  "Senator,"  the 
"Governor,"  the  "  Katahdin,"  and  the  "State  of 
Maine."  The  present  steamers  are  the  "Old  Colony" 
and  "  Newport"  for  winter  service,  and  the  palatial 
steamers  "  Bristol"  and  "  Providence"  for  summer 
travel.  A  new  palatial  steamer  has  just  been  added 
to  this  line,  bearing  the  appropriate  name  of  "  Pil- 
grim." This  is  one  of  the  finest  and  largest  steamers 
plying  on  the  Sound. 

The  present  officers  of  the  company  are  as  follows: 
President,  Charles  F.  Choate ;  Clerk,  George  Marston  ; 
Treasurer,  John  M.  Washburn  ;  Directors,  Charles 
F.  Choate,  F.  B.  Hayes,  Uriel  Crocker,  Samuel  C. 
Cobb,  Fred.  L.  Ames,  Samuel  L.  Crocker,  John  J. 
Russell,  John  S.  Brayton,  T.  J.  Borden,  R.  W.  Turner, 
George  Marston,  William  J.  Rotch,  and  Elisha  W. 
Willard. 

Clyde's  Philadelphia  and  New  England  Steam- 
ship Line. — This  project  was  inaugurated  in  1876, 
when  a  line  of  steam  propellers  was  started  plying 
between  this  city  and  Philadelphia,  thus  opening  a 
new  and  direct  route  between  Philadelphia  and 
Boston. 

Voters  in  1830.— In  the  years  of  1830  and  1832, 
when  Fall  River  was  a  village  of  three  thousand  in- 
habitants or  thereabouts,  the  following-named  citizens 
were  legal  voters  in  the  town,  who  are  yet  residing 
here,  and  perhaps  others  : 


Allen,  Rodolphns  U. 
Boomer,  Nathaniel. 
Bliss,  Hiram. 
Blossom,  Barnabas. 
Borden,  Amasa. 
Borden,  Isaac. 
Borden,  Laban. 
Borden,  Leander. 


Borden,  Melvin. 
Borden,  Thomas. 
Bowen,  Abraham. 
Brightman,  Cory  D. 
Briggs,  Zephaniah  T. 
Brown,  Joseph  D. 
Buffi uton,  Oliver. 
Collins,  John. 


FALL  RIVER. 


337 


Davol,  Stephen.  Olney,  David. 

Davol,  William  C.  Read,  William  V. 

Earl,  Benjamin.  Li  ndsey,  Joseph  F. 

Fish,  Isaac.  Sauford,  William. 

French,  ,Ioh  B.  Smith,  Irani. 

French,  Stephen  L.  Strange,  William. 

Freeluve,  Thomas.  Terry,  Church. 

Grinnell,  Oliver.  Terry,  Brightman. 

Hall,  Abiathar.  Tripp,  Noel  A. 

Hart,  Jonathan.  Vickery,  Caleh  B. 

Marvel,  William.  ^Wilson,  Job  T. 

Mason,  William.  Winslow,  Frederick. 

Negus,  Seymour.  Wordell,  Charles 

The  following-named  persons  then  residents  are 
now  living  out  of  the  city  : 

Allen,  James  S.  Leonard,  Daniel. 

Cook,  Paul.  Winchester,  John  P. 

French,  Asa  P.  Wood,  Leonard. 

This  list  does  not  include  those  citizens  of  Fall 
River  who  were  then  citizens  of  Tiverton,  R.  I. 

The  Fire  of  1843.— The  year  1843  marks  a  mem- 
orable epoch  in  the  history  of  Fall  River.  On  the 
afternoon  of  July  2d  of  that  year  the  town  was  vis- 
ited by  a  most  devastating  conflagration,  which  in  a 
few  hours  laid  nearly  the  entire  village  in  ruins. 
The  fire  originated  in  a  small  carpenter-shop  on 
Borden  Street,  near  Main,  which  when  discovered 
was  enveloped  in  flames,  and  the  fiery  element 
was  already  threatening  adjacent  buildings.  A  mo- 
ment more  the  surrounding  buildings  were  on  fire, 
and  the  strong  wind  blowing  from  the  south  was 
hurling  the  crackling  flames  and  burning  cinders 
into  the  very  heart  of  the  village.  The  flames 
leaped  from  building  to  building  with  such  amaz- 
ing rapidity  that  all  attempts  of  the  hand-engines 
and  "  bucket  brigade"  to  subdue  them  were  unavail- 
ing, and  for  seven  hours  the  fire  raged  and  was  only 
checked  when  the  wind  suddenly  changed  and  blew 
in  an  opposite  direction.  Twenty  acres  were  burned 
over  in  the  heart  of  the  village,  extending  from 
Borden  Street  on  the  south  to  Franklin  on  the  north, 
embracing  the  following  property: 

Number  of  buildings  burned,  not  including  the  smaller  ones 196 

Of  which  there  were  used  as  dwelling-houses,  and  occupied  by  one 

or  more  families  each 95 

Hotels 2 

Churches  (Methodist  and  Christian  Onion) 3 

Cotton-factory  (Old  Bridge  Mill) 1 

Carriage-factories 2 

Banks. 2 

Cabinet  warehouses :; 

Marble-factory 1 

Tannery 1 

Li  very -stables -1 

Dry-goode  i  Btablisbments  destroyed 17 

Clothing                  "                       "           11 

Grocery  and  provision   establishments,  including  3  or  4  crockery 

stores  connected 24 

Iio.t    and  shoe-stores  destroyed 6 

Hat- and  cap-       "             "       :; 

Book-  and  periodical-stores  destroyed 3 

Hardware-                    "          "         3 

Mi  Miners'  shops  destroyed w...  11 

Mantua-makers' shops  destroyed 5 

Apothecaries'                                  0 

Jewelers'                  "             "          3 

Harness-makers'    "            "         3 

Stove- and  tinware-shops  "          3 

Brass-foundries                    "          2 

Blacksmiths' shops             "          3 

Machine-            "                   "          2 

Carpenters'       "                 "         8 

Reed-maker's  shop              " 1 

Shoemakers' shops              "         7 

Plane-maker's  shop            "          1 

22 


Roll-coverer's    shop    destroyed \ 

Turner's  "  " \ 

Painters' shops  "  g 

Butchers'     "  "  4 

Soap-boiler's  shop  "  \ 

Cigar-factory  "  x 

Restaurants  "  7 

Bake-houses  "  2 

School-house  "  \ 

Schoolrooms  besides  "  3 

Athena'um  "  x 

Custom-house  "  \ 

Post-office  "  x 

Auction-room  "  \ 

Counting-rooms  "  7 

Dentists'       "  "  .' 2 

Stage-office  "  x 

Printing-offices  "  3 

Lawyers'       "  "  5 

Physicians'  "  "  5 

Barbers' shops  "  3 

Whole  amount  of  loss  on  buildings $264  470 

"  "  "  other  property 262,015 

$526,4*5 

Whole  amount  of  insurance 175,475 

Excess  of  loss $351 ',010 

The  number  of  families  residing  within  the  burnt  district  at  the 

time  of  the  fire  was 225  -  ' 

Persons  belonging  to  those  families 1334 

Persons  in  addition,  employed  or  doing  business  in  the  burnt  dis- 
trict, but  living  out,  about 600 

Custom-House. — The  district  of  Fall  River— em- 
bracing, besides  this  town,  the  other  towns  adjacent  to 
Taunton  River — up  to  April  1,  1837,  was  called  the 
District  of  Dighton,  with  Dighton  as  the  port  of 
entry.  In  1834  the  custom-house  was  removed  to 
Fall  River,  and  the  name  of  the  district  changed  to 
Fall  River. 

In  1840  there  were  belonging  to  this  district  one 
hundred  and  thirteen  registered,  enrolled,  and  li- 
censed vessels,  and  the  tonnage  was  eight  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  nine. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  collectors  :  Hodijah  Bay- 
lies, 1789-1809;  Nathaniel  Williams,  1809-23;  Her- 
cules Cushman,  1823-25;  Seth  Williams,  1825-29; 
William  Wood,  1829-33;  Horatio  Pratt,  1833-34; 
P.  W.  Leland,  1834-42;  Charles  J.  Holmes,  1842 
-45  (deputy  collector,  J.  E.  Read)  ;  S.  W.  Leland, 
1845-49  (deputy  collector,  Jonathan  Slade) ;  Samuel 
L.  Thaxter,  1849-53  (deputy  collector,  Benjamin 
Earl)  ;  S.  W.  Leland,  1853-61  (deputy  collector,  Jon- 
athan Slade)  ;  Charles  Almy,  1861-65  (deputy  col- 
lector, Samuel  R.  Buffinton) ;  James  Brady,  Jr.,  1865 
-83  (deputy  collectors,  Samuel  R.  Buffinton,  Isaac 
Borden,  Edward  T.  Marvell). 

The  customs-office  was  in  several  different  places 
after  its  removal  to  Fall  River,  always  in  rented 
rooms,  until  June  29,  18S1,  it  was  removed  to  the 
new  government  building,  temporarily  occupying  the 
southeast  room  of  the  second  story.  The  building 
not  being  completed  made  very  uncomfortable  work 
for  several  months,  or  until  the  office  was  removed  to 
the  north  rooms,  which  were  assigned  as  those  for  the 
public  business. 

At  the  time  of  the  great  fire  of  1843  all  papers  pre- 
vious to  1834  were  burned.  The  books  were  mostly 
saved,  dating  back  to  1789. 

Custom-House  and  Post-Office  Building.  —  In 
1873  Congress  appropriated  $200,000  for  the  erect- 
ing of  a  custom-house  and  post-office  building  in  this 


338 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


city,  the  appropriation  being  limited  to  this  amount. 
In  1875  the  limitation  was  repealed,  and  an  additional 
sum  of  $40,000  appropriated.  In  1876,  $25,000  was 
appropriated;  in  1877,  $20,000;  in  1878,  $70,000 ;  in 

1879,  $85,000 ;  in  1880,  $50,000  ;  and  in  1881,  $28,000, 
making  a  total  appropriation  of  $518,000,  of  which 
$132,856.65  was  expended  for  the  purchase  of  land. 
The  building  was  designed  and  the  plans  completed 
in  1875  by  Mr.  William  A.  Potter,  supervising  archi- 
tect, to  whose  professional  ability  it  is  certainly  very 
creditable.  The  building  was  begun  in  September, 
1875,  and  was  occupied  by  the  custom-house  in  June, 

1880,  and  by  the  post-office  a  few  months  later. 

The  government  structure  has  a  frontage  on  Bed- 
ford Street  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  feet,  and  on 
Second  Street  of  eighty-four  feet.  It  is  three  stories 
elevation,  with  a  steep,  high  roof,  the  total  height 
from  street  curb  to  line  of  roof  being  ninety-two  feet. 
At  the  two  flanks,  and  facing  on  Bedford  Street,  are 
circular  pavilions,  which  project  from  the  body  of  the 
building,  and  between  these,  on  the  ground-floor,  are 
the  entrances  to  the  post-office,  through  five  broad 
archways.  The  main  features  here  are  the  large 
monoliths  of  polished  red  granite,  each  in  one  block, 
five  feet  by  three  feet  six  inches,  finished  by  elabor- 
ately-carved capitals  of  gray  granite.  A  noticeable 
amount  of  carved  work  of  a  high  order  is  displayed 
upon  the  Bedford  Street  front,  in  red  and  some  in 
gray  granite. 

On  the  Second  Street  frontage  the  entrance  to  the 
custom-house  is  the  prominent  feature  of  the  design. 
This  entrance-way,  with  its  arches,  polished  columns, 
massive  buttresses,  corbels,  crockets,  copings,  etc.,  is 
a  masterpiece  of  architecture,  occupying  a  space 
twenty-nine  feet  in  breadth,  and  two  stories  in  height. 
The  main  body  of  the  building  is  gray  rock-faced 
ashlar,  laid  in  regular  courses.  The  mullions  and 
reveals  of  the  windows,  the  interior  of  the  arcade 
entrances  to  the  post-office,  and  other  prominent 
points  are  of  gray  granite  finely  dressed.  The  band 
courses,  sills,  lintels,  cornices,  water-tables,  etc.,  are 
of  red  granite,  similarly  face-finished. 

The  entire  ground-floor  is  occupied  by  the  post- 
office,  the  second  floor  by  the  custom-house,  while  the 
third  floor  can  be  used  for  the  United  States  courts 
whenever  required.  This  is  one  of  the  most  complete 
and  elegant  government  buildings  in  the  United 
States. 

The  City  Hall. — The  first  town-house  was  estab- 
lished at  Steep  Brook,  the  then  centre  of  business  in 
1805.  In  1825  a  new  town  house  was  erected  on  land 
now  occupied  by  the  North  Cemetery.  In  1836  this 
building  was  removed  to  Town  Avenue,  and  occupied 
until  the  completion  of  the  new  town  hall  and  mar- 
ket building,  erected  after  the  great  fire  on  Main 
Street.  In  1845-46  the  present  City  Hall  building, 
built  of  Fall  River  granite,  was  erected  in  Market 
Square,  at  an  expense  of  sixty-five  thousand  dollars, 
including  lot,  foundation,  sidewalks,  furniture,  etc. 


It  was  considered  a  model  public  building  for  the 
time,  solid  and  substantial  in  its  construction,  and 
judiciously  arranged  with  a  lock-up  or  town  prison  in 
the  basement,  a  market  on  the  first  floor,  and  a  large 
town  hall,  with  offices  in  front,  upon  the  second  floor. 
The  hall  was  one  of  the  best  in  the  State,  and  more 
commodious  even  than  the  far-famed  Faneu-il  Hall  of 
Boston.  With  the  growth  of  the  city,  however,  more 
office  accommodation  was  required,  and  in  1872-73 
the  building  was  entirely  remodeled  and  rebuilt,  with 
the  addition  of  a  mansard  roof,  tower,  clock,  bell, 
etc.,  at  a  cost  of  two  hundred  thousand  dollars. 

Educational. — The  first  church  edifice  in  ancient 
Freetown  was  erected  within  the  present  limits  of 
Fall  River,  and  was  used  for  religious  purposes  about 
ninety-eight  years.  Adjacent  to  this  church  edifice, 
and  upon  the  same  lot  of  land,  stood  a  school-house 
where  the  children  of  former  generations  were  taught 
to  read,  write,  and  spell.  So  long  has  that  house  been 
gone  that  all  traditions  concerning  it  have  been  si- 
lenced, and  have  passed  from  the  minds  and  memo- 
ries of  men.  Secular  knowledge  and  divine  instruc- 
tion were  doubtless  for  a  time  imparted  under  the 
same  roof,  as  some  of  Freetown's  earliest  ministers 
were  also  employed  to  officiate  in  the  capacity  of 
town  school-master. 

The  following  are  extracts  from  the  town  records: 

"On  the  first  Monday  in  February,  1703-4,  Voted,  that  a  man  should 

be  chosen  to  endeavour  to  bring  a  mail  into  town  to  educate  and  instruct 

children  in  reading  and  writing,  and  dispensing  the  gospel  to  the  town. 

Exceptance, 

"  John  Reed,  Jr.,  Town  Clerk.'1'' 

Again  we  find  under  the  date  of  May  15,  1718 : 

"At  a  legal  town  meeting  in  freetown,  Voted, — To  set  up  a  school  to 
learn  children  to  read  and  right,  and  made  a  choyce  of  Jacob  hath  away 
agent,  to  seek  for  a  schoolmaster. 

"  John  Reed,  Jr.,  Town  Clerk."1 

Hathaway  was  not  only  a  wrestling  Jacob  but  a 
prevailing  Israel,  for  five  months  later  we  find  upon 
the  time-worn  record  was  entered, — 

"October,  the  8th  day, — Voted,  to  allow  thomas  roberts  3G  pounds  for 
one  years  service,  to  keep  the  school  at  three  several  places,  the  public 
meeting-house,  Walter  Chase's,  also  at  or  near  John  howlands. 

"  february,  the  14th  day,  1720-21, — Voted  and  agreed,  to  seek  out  for 
a  school-master  for  the  present  year,  inasmuch  as  tho  last  year's  school- 
master, Roberts  and  the  town  did  not  agree. 

"Jonathan  Dodson,  Town  Clerk." 

"freetown,  May,  17th  day,  1721. — Voted,  to  leave  it  in  the  prudence 
of  the  Select  Men  to  agree  with  William  Gaige  or  with  Win.  Caswell  to 
serve  the  town  as  a  school-master  for  the  term  of  one  year." 

"freetown,  July  19th  day,  1721. — Voted,  30  pounds  be  raised  on  the 
inhabitants  to  pay  the  town's  school-master." 

"  freetown,  July  ye  Kith  day  1722. — then  at  a  legal  town  meeting, 
voted,  William  Caswell  30  pounds  in  consideration  of  his  serving  the 
town,  to  keep  school  in  the  town  one  whole  year,  the  said  Caswell  to 
be  at  all  cost  of  boarding  or  dieting  himself:  Said  Caswell  being  present 
did  agree  to  serve.  Voted,  the  school  to  be  removed  three  times  in  the 
year,  the  first  remove  to  be  at  the  meeting  house,  the  second  remove  to 
be  at  the  lower  part  of  the  town,  thirdly  to  be  removed  to  the  upper 
part  of  the  town.  Voted,  the  school-houses  to  be  set  at  the  middle  of 
each  half  of  the  town  from  the  meeting-house  or  centre. 

"  John  Reed,  Toun  Clerk." 

To  carry  out  the  last  clause  of  that  vote  a  school- 
house  had  to  be  built  at  or  near  Steep  Brook.     In 


FALL  RIVER. 


339 


1725,  William  Gaige  was  employed  to  keep  school 
one  year  for  thirty-two  pounds  and  hoard  himself. 

William  Caswell  served  as  school-master  for  the 
years  1726-28  for  thirty-eight  pounds  per  year,  and 
boarded  himself,  and  in  1729  his  wages  were  raised  to 
forty  pounds.  • 

July  10,  1727,  the  town  voted  to  build  two  school- 
houses,  one  of  which  should  be  eighteen  feet  long 
and  fourteen  feet  wide. 

In  1730,  William  Gaige  was  again  the  town's 
school-master  at  forty  pounds  per  year. 

In  1733  we  find  the  following  record  of  a  vote  passed 
November  2d  of  that  year  : 

"Voted,  the  sum  of  50  pounds  to  Mr.  Israel  nichols,  to  keep  school  in 
said  town,  always  excepting  Saturday  every  week." 
In  1738, "  Voted  Mr.  James  Ward  06  pounds  to  keep  school  one  year. 

"  Joseph  Reed,  Town  Clerk." 

In  173S  sold  two  school-houses  at  public  auc- 
tion, one  brought  five  dollars  and  the  other  two  dol- 
lars. 

Dec.  17,  1744,  James  Mead  was  dismissed  from 
serving  longer  as  school-master. 

Nov.  13,  1745,  the  town  made  choice  of  Shadrach 
Hathaway  to  keep  school  one  year,  and  he  to  board 
himself.     Ambrose  Barnaby,  town  clerk. 

Shadrach  Hathaway  was  a  graduate  of  Yale  Col- 
lege. His  gravestone  bears  the  following  inscrip- 
tion :  "  In  memory  of  Shadrach  Hathaway,  M.A., 
died  December  ye  3d,  1749,  in  ye  33d  year  of  his 
age." 

Up  to  this  date,  all  that  was  done  about  schools  in 
Freetown,  that  part  now  Fall  River  received  about 
one-half  the  benefits  of,  as  it  constituted  about  one-half 
of  the  town.  East  or  New  Freetown  was  annexed  in 
1747,  and  then  Fall  River  was  considered  about  one- 
third  of  the  entire  township. 

A  school-house  standing  near  the  meeting-house1 


1 "  In  the  pulpit  of  that  meeting-house  in  what  had  been  the  centre  of 
Freetown,  now  just  within  the  most  northerly  limits  of  Fall  River,  the 
gospel  was  preached  for  nearly  a  century  by  the  following  divines,  sev- 
eral remaining  but  a  short  period,  as  it  was  found  to  be  an  exceedingly 
difficult  matter  to 'dispense  the  gospel  to  the  town's  exceptance,' and 
taking  exceptions  to  anything  and,  in  fact,  to  almost  everything  that  a 
minister  could  do  or  say  seemed  to  be  the  darling  project  of  many  of  the 
people,  instead  of  accepting  or  submitting  to  anything  whatever.  Jar- 
gon and  contention  was  the  rule,  peace  and  quiet  the  exception. 

"The  patience  of  one  of  these  preachers  having  become  exhausted, 
tradition  asserts  that  he  with  warmth  once  proclaimed  from  the  pulpit 
that  he  never  before  in  all  his  life  saw  such  a  set  of  heathen  and  such 
incorrigible  sinners,  when,  suddenly  recollecting  some  others  of  the  same 
sort,  he  checked  himself  with  the  words,  'God  forgive  me,  for  I  must 
and  will  except  Taretown,'  meaning  Tiverton. 

"  One  preacher  who  had  failed  to  edify  in  the  morning  effort,  told  the 
audience  that  he  should  improve  upon  the  same  text  in  the  afternoon, 
when  one  of  his  hearers  blurted  out,  '  Well,  preach  from  it  again  in  the 
afternoon,  but  I  shall  not  come  to  listen  to  you,  and  the  man  in  the  next 
pew  says  he  won't.' 

"  The  laborers  in  this  stony  ground  of  this  vineyard  of  the  Lord  were 
as  follows : 

"  Rev.  William  Way,  from  Feb.  14, 1704,  to  January,  1707  ;  Rev.  Joseph 
Avery,  Mr.  Joseph  Haile,  Jonathan  Dodson,  Eev.  Thomas  Craighead, 
Rev.  James  McSparrow,  Mr.  Israel  Nichols,  and  Rev.  Silas  Brett.    Of 


was  in  the  town  records  of  1748  called  an  old  school- 
house,  and  a  vote  passed  to  supply  its  place  by  a 
new  school-house,  twenty-four  by  twenty.  The 
school-house  then  built  must  have  been  the  second 
that  stood  on  the  meeting-house  lot. 

These  extracts,  meagre  as  the  same  are,  furnish 
nearly  all  that  can  now  possibly  be  learned  of  what 
was  done  for  the  education  of  children  in  Fall  River 
from  1704  to  1748. 

In  the  early  history  of  the  town  but  feeble  efforts 
were  put  forth  in  the  promotion  of  the  common 
schools.  As  the  population  of  the  town  increased, 
however,  much  praiseworthy  interest  seemed  to  be 
manifested,  and  in  1826  the  town  voted  to  raise  six 
hundred  dollars  for  the  support  of  the  common  schools, 
and  appointed  a  general  school  committee  to  examine 
teachers  and  superintend  the  school.  This  committee 
consisted  of  Joseph  Hathaway,  James  Ford,  Jason 
H.  Archer,  John  Lindsey,  and  William  B.  Canedy. 
In  the  following  year  the  amount  voted  was  more 
than  doubled,  being  twelve  hundred  and  eighty-eight 
dollars.  In  1840  the  committee  consisted  of  Rev. 
Orin  Finley,  Asa  Bronson,  James  Ford,  Eliab  Wil- 
liams, Joseph  F.  Lindsey,  Jonathan  S.  Thomson,  and 
George  M.  Randall,  and  the  amount  voted  was  four 
thousand  five  hundred  dollars.  With  the  incorpora- 
tion of  the  city  and  the  rapid  increase  in  population 
increased  educational  facilities  were  demanded,  and 
from  that  time  to  the  present  the  citizens  of  Fall 
River  have  manifested  a  lively  interest  in  educational 
matters,  and  their  public  schools  to-day  are  among 
the  best  in  the  commonwealth. 

STATISTICAL. 

Population  of  Fall  River  May,  18S1 49,049 

Number  of  children  in  the  city  between  5  and  15  years  of  age, 

May  1, 1881 * 10,252 

Increase 489 

Of  these  there  were  in  the  Borden  Grammar  School  Dis- 
trict   1357 

Maple  Street  School  District 522 

High        "  "  "       1451 

Davis       "  "  "        2217 

Morgan    "  "  "        3735 

Slade        "  "  "        970 

10,252 

Whole  number  of  different  pupils  enrolled 10,361 

Average  number  belonging 6,958 

Average  attendance 6,131 

Number  of  school-houses,:;.".;  sittings 8,266 

Number  of  pupils  over  15  years  of  age 332 

Number  of  separate  schools  (high,  1;  grammar,  22;  interme- 
diate, 34;  primary,  0:1;  BUburban,  !)) 129 

Whole  number  of  teachers  employed  in  day  schools:  high,  8; 
grammar,   27;   intermediate,  41;  primary,  79;  suburban,   9. 

Total 164 

Whole  number  employed  in  evening  schools,  35;  evening  draw- 
ing school,  6.     Total 41 

Number  of  male   teachers  employed  in   day  schools   (high,  6; 

grammar,  4) 10 

Number  of  female  teachers  employed  in  day  schools  :  high,  2  ; 
grammar,  23;  intermediate,  41;  primary,  79;  suburban,  9. 
Total 154 

the  seventy-one  years  between  Feb.  14, 1704,  and  1775,  Rev.  Silas  Brett 
preached  about  twenty-eight  years. 

"  The  old  church  edifice,  the  first  erected  in  what  is  now  Fall  River, 
was  demolished  in  or  about  1808.  It  was  a  very  modest-looking,  unpre- 
tending Structure,  without  a  bell-tower  or  steeple,  and  innocent  of  the 
adornment-  of  paint. 

"No  church-bell  was  used  in  town  during  the  ninety-eight  years  this 
old  church  stood,  nor  for  quite  a  number  of  years  afterwards." — Gen.  E. 
W.  Peirce. 


340 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL  COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Financial  Statement. 

Appropriation  for  clay  schools,  1881 893,000.00 

Expended  for  salaries $82,132.10 

"  "    text-books  and  stationery 7,009.06 

"  "    printing 624.73 

"  "    carrying  school  children 540.00 

"  "    miscellaneous  things 1,445.52 

Balance  carried  to  sinking  fund 1,248.59 

Total $93,000.0(1 

Expended  for  janitors  for  day  schools $10,165.27 

"    fuel 4,813.38 

"  "    repairs  on  school-houses 4,506.00 

"  "    new  school  houses 22,693  40 


Evening  school  appropriation $3,500.00 

Expended  for  teaching $2,692.75 

"  "    textbooks 580.60 

"  "    janitors 74.00 

"  "    miscellaneous  things 20.44 

Balance  carried  to  sinking  fund 132.21 

$3,500.00 

High  School. 

Whole  number  enrolled 384 

Average  number  belonging 272 

Average  attendance 264 

Number  of  pupils  graduated 53 

Grammar  Grade. 

Whole  number  of  pupils  enrolled  in  grammar  schools 1439 

Average  number  belonging HIS 

Average  attendance 1036 

Intermediate  Grade. 

Whole  number  of  pupils  enrolled  in  intermediate  schools 2388 

Average  number  belonging 1610 

Average  attendance 1437 

Primary  Grade. 

Whole  number  of  pupils  enrolled  in  primary  schools 5728 

Average  number  belonging  3700 

Average  attendance 3109 

Suburban  Schools  (Mixed). 

Whole  number  of  pupils  enrolled 422 

Average  number  belonging 261 

Average  attendance 225 

School  Census. — The  truant  officers  on  the  first 
day  of  May,  1881,  took  the  census  of  the  school  chil- 
dren between  five  and  fifteen  years  of  age,  with  the 
following  results.  Whole  number  in  the  city  10,252, 
which  is  489  more  than  for  the  previous  year.  There 
were  on  that  day,  in  the  public  schools,  6897  children 
between  the  ages  above  named,  being  459  in  excess  of 
the  previous  year.  An  enrollment  of  852  was  found 
in  the  parochial  and  private  schools,  which  is  21  more 
than  was  found  the  year  before.  There  were  1420 
children  employed  in  the  mills  on  the  above  days 
against  1331  the  year  previous.  Of  those  children 
neither  at  work  nor  in  the  schools,  1083  were  found, 
which  is  80  less  than  the  preceding  year. 

The  results  obtained  are  tabulated  below  for  conve- 
nience of  reference  and  comparison  with  those  of 
former  years. 


Grammar 

Districts. 


In  Public 
Schools. 


Slade 676 

Morgan  Street....  2370 

High  Street 1006 

Davis 1449 

Maple  Street 433 

Borden 963 


Last  year  . 


6897 
6438 

459 


In  Private 
Schools. 

17 
493 

93 
206 

32 

11 

852 
831 

21 


At  Work, 

118 
473 
203 
380 
19 
227 

1420 
1331 

89 


Not  in  any 
School  nor 
at  Work. 

159 

399 
149 
182 
38 
156 

1083 
1163 

—80 


Total. 

970 

3,735 
1,451 
2,217 
522 
1,357 

10,252 
9,763 

489 


The  number  of  children  between  five  and  eight 
years  of  age  was  found  to  be  3363,  the  number  be- 
tween eight  and  fourteen,  5899;  and  the  number  over 
fourteen  but  less  than  fifteen,  990.     The  following 


tabular  statement  exhibits  the  facts  in  detail  in  the 
different  grammar-school  districts : 

p  Between  5  Between  8  Over  14  but 

urammar  and  g  yearg        an(J  u  years       uQt  ]5  years     Tota]_ 

Districts.  of  age_  of  age_  of  age 

Slade 328  545  97 

Morgan  Street 1298  2154  343 

High  Street 487  825  139 

Davis 713  1267  237 

Maple  Street 163  315  44 

Borden 434  793  130 

3363  5899  990  10,252 

The  present  school  committee  is  as  follows  :  Louisa 
G.  Aldrich,  January,  1883 ;  Harriet  T.  Healy,  Jan- 
uary, 1883;  Leontine  Lincoln,  January,  1883  ;  Wil- 
liam G.  Bennett,  January,  1884;  Marcus  G.  B.Swift, 
January,  1884;  John  A.  Tourtellot,  January,  1884; 
Thomas  L.  Ramsbottom,  January,  1885;  A.  M.  Jack- 
son, January,  1885 ;  E.  W.  Hunt,  January,  1885. 
William  Connell,  superintendent  of  schools.  A.  M. 
Jackson,  chairman;  William  Connell,  secretary. 

The  Munificent  Gift  of  Mrs.  Mary  B. 
Young  to  the  city  of  Fall  River  for  the  purposes 
of  a  high  school  is  best  explained  by  the  following 
documents : 

"  To  the  Mayor  of  the  City  of  Fall  River. 

"Sir, — Ton  will  please  find  inclosed  herewith  a  written  proposition  of 
Mrs.  Mary  B.  Young,  which  I  would  thank  you  to  present  to  the  City 
Council  for  its  consideration. 

"  Very  respectfully  yours, 

"John  S.  Brayton. 
"  Fall  River,  Feb.  5,  1883. 

'"To  the  City  Cocncil  of  Fall  River. 

"'The  undersigned  makes  the  following  proposition: 

" '  As  soon  as  the  proper  plans  can  be  prepared,  she  will  erect  and 
furnish,  at  her  own  expense,  in  memory  of  her  son,  Bradford  Matthew 
Chaloner  Durfee,  on  the  lot  bounded  on  the  north  by  Locust  Street,  east 
by  High  Street,  south  by  Cherry  Street,  and  west  by  Bock  Street  (which 
lot  contains  about  two  hundred  and  forty  square  rods  of  land),  a  build- 
ing suitable  for  the  purposes  of  a  high  school,  and  upon  its  completion, 
will  convey  the  same  with  the  lot  to  the  city  of  Fall  River. 

"'She  will  also  provide  mechanical,  philosophical,  and  chemical  ap- 
paratus, and  give  to  the  city  of  Fall  River,  in  trust,  the  sum  of  fifty 
thousand  dollars,  the  income  of  which  shall  be  devoted  to  instruction  in 
the  branches  of  study  illustrated  by  the  use  of  said  apparatus. 

"'Shemake8  tnis  proposition  upon  the  condition  that  the  selection 
and  continuance  of  the  teachers  for  said  high  school,  and  the  depart- 
ments connected  with  it,  shall  be  subject  to  the  approval  of  certain  per- 
sons to  be  named  by  her  in  said  deed  of  gift,  and  their  successors. 

"'  Mary  B.  Young. 
"'Fall  River,  Feb.  5, 1883.' 

"  In  Board  of  Aldermen,  Feb.  5, 1883. 

"Received,  read,  and  referred  to  his  honor  the  mayor,  city  solicitor, 

chairman   of   school    committee,   superintendent  of   schools,   and   the 

joint  special  committee  on  high  school  building. 

"Sent  for  concurrence. 

"  George  A.  Baldard,  City  Clerk. 

"  In  Common  Council,  Feb.  5, 1883. 
"  Concurred  in. 

"Arthur  Anthony,  Clerk." 

"To  the  City  Council: 

"  The  special  committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  proposition  of  Mrs. 
Mary  B.  Young,  to  give  a  lot  of  land,  to  erect  thereon,  equip,  endow, 
and  present  to  the  city  of  Fall  River  a  high  school  edifice,  as  a  memo- 
rial to  her  son,  Bradford  Matthew  Chaloner  Durfee,  and  for  the  benefit 
of  the  higher  education  of  the  youth  of  said  city,  would  report  that 
they  recommend  the  adoption  of  the  accompanying  order  and  resolu- 
tions. 

"  Henry  K.  Braley,  James  F.  Jackson,  A.  M.  Jackson,  William  Con- 
nell, Thomas  F.  Eddy,  Hugh  McKevitt,  Henry  II.  Earl,  J.  Henry  Wells, 
M.  H.  Connelly,  Committee." 


FALL  RIVER. 


341 


"  Ordered,  That  the  proposition  of  Mrs.  Mary  B.  Young  to  erect  and 
convey  to  the  city  of  Fall  River,  in  memory  of  her  son,  Bradford  Mat- 
thew Ohaloner  Durfee,  a  building  for  the  uses  and  purposes  of  a  high 
school,  as  contained  in  the  written  proposal  submitted  by  her,  bearing 
date  Feb.  5,  a.d.  1883,  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  accepted,  and  a  form  of 
deed  substantially  like  that  annexed  hereto  is  hereby  approved  and 
adopted,  and  the  mayor  is  authorized  to  petition  the  Legislature  for  the 
passage  of  such  act  or  acts  as  may  be  necessary,  if  any,  to  make  valid 
the  contemplated  action. 

"  Resolved,  That  in  its  acceptance  of  the  munificent  offer  of  Mrs.  Mary 
B.  Young,  to  give  a  lot  of  land,  unsurpassed  in  location  for  the  purpose, 
to  build  thereon,  equip,  endow,  and  present  to  the  city  of  Fall  River  a 
high  school  edifice  in  memory  of  her  son,  Bradford  Matthew  Chaloner 
Durfee,  and  for  the  advanced  education  of  the  youth  of  the  city  of  Fall 
River,  the  City  Council  desire  to  express  and  place  on  record  its  grateful 
acknowledgment  of  the  gift  and  the  spirit  which  prompts  it.  Coming 
at  a  time  when  the  subject  of  a  new  high  school  building,  after  repeated 
delays,  had  forced  its  importance  upon  the  attention  and  careful  consid- 
eration of  the  city  government  for  immediate  action,  this  noble  and 
generous  proposition  to  honor  the  memory  of  a  beloved  and  only  son  in 
such  a  form  as  to  adorn  the  city  and  benefit  its  inhabitants,  and  by  an 
expenditure  so  far  in  advance  of  what  prudence,  on  our  part,  would  dic- 
tate as  judicious  for  the  city  to  make  with  due  regard  to  other  wants 
and  necessities,  excites  our  warm  appreciation,  and  relieves  us  by  its 
happy  solution  of  a  most  important  and  trying  question. 

"Resolved,  That  these  resolutions  be  spread  upon  the  records  of  both 
branches  of  the  City  Council,  and  a  copy  thereof  be  forwarded  to  Mrs. 
Marjr  B.  Young,  signed  by  his  honor  the  mayor,  the  president  of  the 
council,  and  duly  certified  by  the  respective  recording  officers  thereof." 

The  following  is  the  form  of  the  deed : 

"  Know  all  men  by  these  presents,  that  I,  Mary  B.  Young,  of  Fall 
River,  in  the  Stale  of  Massachusetts,  in  consideration  of  one  dollar  to 
me  paiil  by  the  city  of  Fall  River,  a  municipal  corporation  situate  in 
said  State,  do  hereby  give,  grant,  bargain,  sell,  and  convey  unto  the  said 
city  of  Fall  River,  a  certain  lot  of  land,  with  all  the  buildings  and  im- 
provements thereon,  situate  in  said  Fall  River,  and  bounded  on  the  west 
by  Rock  Street,  on  the  north  by  Locust  Street,  on  the  east  by  High 
Street,  and  on  the  south  by  Cherry  Street,  and  containing  two  hundred 
and  forty  square  rods  of  land,  more  or  less. 

"To  have  and  to  hold  the  same  for  the  uses  and  purposes  of  a  high 
school,  in  memory  of  my  son,  Bradford  Matthew  Chuloner  Durfee,  to 
the  said  city  of  Fall  River,  its  successors  and  assigns,  with  all  the  privi- 
leges and  appurtenances  thereto  belonging,  to  its  and  their  use  and  be- 
hoof forever  as  aforesaid. 

"Provided  that,  and  this  conveyance  is  made  upon  the  express  con- 
dition that  the  selection,  employment,  and  continuance  by  the  school 
committee  of  Fall  River,  or  such  other  body,  or  person  or  persons  as  are 
or  may  be  charged  with  that  duty,  of  the  teachers  for  and  in  said  high 
school  and  the  departments  connected  therewith,  shall  be  subject  to  the 
written  approval  of ,  and  of  such  persons  as,  in  case  of  the  non- 
acceptance,  disability,  death,  removal,  or  resignation  of  any  of  them  or 
of  their  successors,  shall  be  chosen  by  a  majority  o(  those  then  remain- 
ing and  acting  to  fill  the  vacancy  or  vacancies  caused  by  such  death, 
non-acceptance,  removal,  resignation,  or  disability  ;  and  in  case  any 
teacher  or  teachers  shall  be  selected,  employed,  or  continued  in  said 
school,  or  any  of  the  departments  connected  therewith,  without  such 
written  approval,  then  said  premises,  and  the  buildings  and  improve- 
ments thereon  shall  revert  to  the  grantor,  her  heirs  and  executors,  ad- 
min istrators  and  assigns,  and  she  and  they  may  enter  and  repossess  them- 
selves thereof. 

"  And  I  do  hereby,  lor  myself  and  my  heirs,  executors,  and  adminis- 
trators, covenant  witli  the  grantee,  its  successors  and  assigns,  that  I  am 
lawfully  seized  in  fee-simple  of  the  granted  premises,  that  they  are  free 
from  all  incumbrances,  •xcept  the  condition  aforesaid,  that  I  have  good 
right  to  sell  and  convey  the  same  as  aforesaid,  and  tfiat  I  will  and  my 
heirs,  executors,  and  administrators  shall  warrant  and  defend  the  same 
t>>  the  said  grantee,  its  successors  and  assigns  ag  linst  the  lawful  claims 
ami  demands  of  all  persons,  except  those  arising  from  a  breach  of  the 
condition  aforesaid. 

'"In  witmss  whereof,  I,  the  said  have  hereto  set 

hand  and  seal  this  day  of a.d.  eighteen  hundred  and 

eighty 

"  Signed  sealed  and  delivered  ^ 
in  presence  of  J 

"  Bristol,  SS. 


"  In  Board  of  Aldermen,  Feb.  5, 1883. 
"  Report  accepted,  recommendations,  order,  and  resolutions  adopted. 
"  Sent  for  concurrence. 

"George  A.  Ballard,  Ciiy  Cleric. 


•'Concurred  in. 


"  In  Common  Council,  Feb.  5, 1883. 
"  Arthur  Anthony,  Cleric" 


THE   SKELETON   IN   ARMOR.i 
"  Speak  !  speak  !  thou  fearful  guest ! 
Who,  with  thy  hollow  breast 
Still  in  rude  armor  drest, 

Comest  to  daunt  me ! 
Wrapt  not  in  Eastern  balms, 
But  with  thy  fleshless  palms 
Stretched  as  if  asking  alms, 
Why  dost  thou  haunt  me?" 

When  Longfellow  wrote  "The  Skeleton  in  Armor," 
he  commemorated  forever  the  curious  and  mysterious 
remains  that  were  found  in  Fall  River  in  the  year 
1832,  and  destroyed  in  the  great  fire  of  1843.  Few 
persons  of  general  reading  are  entirely  unacquainted 
with  the  conjectures  of  antiquarian  and  archaeological 
societies  in  relation  to  the  origin  of  this  skeleton. 
The  Society  of  Northern  Antiquaries  of  Copenhagen, 
Denmark,  which,  a  few  years  after  the  finding  of  the 
skeleton,  had  the  subject  under  consideration,  raised 
the  query  whether  it  might  not  have  been  the  remains 
of  one  of  the  Northmen,  who  are  now  very  generally 
supposed  to  have  visited  our  coast,  and  to  have  spent 
a  winter  here,  or  near  here,  about  the  eight  or  ninth 
century.  Probably  the  best  account  now  extant  of  the 
finding  of  the  skeleton,  and  a  description  of  its  ap- 
pearance at  the  time,  was  written  by  the  late  Dr. 
Phineas  W.  Leland  in  the  records  of  the  old  Fall 
River  Athenaeum  soon  after  the  fire  of  1843,  and  is  as 
follows : 

"  Among  the  curiosities  of  peculiar  interest  (in  the 
cabinets  of  the  Fall  River  Athenaeum)  was  the  entire 
skeleton  of  a  man,  about  which  antiquarians  in  the 
old  as  well  as  the  new  world  had  speculated  much. 
The  skeleton  was  found  in  the  year  1832  in  a  sand-  or 
gravel-bank  a  little  east  of  the  Unitarian  meeting- 
house2 by  some  persons  while  digging  away  and  re- 
moving a  portion  of  the  bank.  The  skeleton  was 
found  near  the  surface  in  a  sitting  posture,  the  leg- 
bones  doubled  upon  the  thigh-bones,  and  the  thighs 
brought  up  nearly  parallel  with  the  body.  It  was 
quite  perfect,  and  stood  remarkably  well  the  test  of 
exposure.  Covering  the  sternum  was  a  triangular 
plate  of  brass  somewhat  corroded  by  time,  and  around 
the  body  was  a  broad  belt  made  of  small  brass  tubes 
four  or  five  inches  in  length  about  the  size  of  a  pipe- 
stem  placed  parallel  and  close  to  each  other.  Arrow- 
heads made  of  copper  or  brass  were  also  found  in  the 
grave  with  the  skeleton.  That  these  were  the  remains 
of  an  Indian  seemed  to  be  very  generally  conceded ; 
the  configuration  of  the  skull,  the  position  in  which 
the  skeleton  was  found,  and  the  additional  fact  that 


Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts. 


"Then  personally  appeared,  etc." 


1  Contributed  by  George  W.  Rankin. 

*  On  or  very  near  the  site  now  occupied  by  the  gasworks,  corner  of 
Hartwell  and  Fifth  Streets. 


342 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


parts  of  other  skeletons  were  found  near  the  same 
place  renders  it  nearly  certain  that  these  were  the 
bones  of  an  Indian.  Whose  frame  it  was  will  not 
likely  ever  be  permitted  us  to  know.  Whether  it  be- 
longed to  some  chief  still  celebrated  in  song  and 
story,  or  to  an  obscure  child  of  the  forest,  whose 
bones  and  deeds  slept  in  the  same  undistinguished 
grave,  we  have  no  means  of  knowing.  Tradition  and 
history  are  alike  silent  when  interrogated.  We  would 
fain  believe  that  these  were  the  remains  of  some  noble 
old  chief,  once  master  of  the  beautiful  and  rich  valley 
through  which  the  dark  waters  of  the  Titicut  (Indian 
name  of  Taunton  River)  still  roll.  We  would  believe 
so,  for  we  love  to  think  that  humanity  once  warmed 
the  heart  of  him  whose  bones  have  excited  so  much 
our  wonder  and  curiosity.  Whoever  he  was,  peace 
be  to  his  ashes." 

In  the  American  Monthly  Magazine  for  January, 
1836,  is  a  short  article  on  the  skeleton,  then  in 
the  Fall  River  Athenaeum,  portions  of  which  we 
shall  extract,  not  because  the  description  is  faultless, 
but  because  it  is  the  account  of  one  J.  Stark  who  ex- 
amined the  remains  for  the  purpose  of  describing 
them  to  the  public.  With  Mr.  Stark's  speculations 
accompanying  his  description  we  have  little  concern. 
More  facts  and  greater  reflection  would  probably  have 
led  him  to  very  different  conclusions.  He  describes 
the  skeleton  as  "the  remains  of  a  human  body, 
armed  with  a  breastplate,  a  species  of  mail  and  ar- 
rows of  brass,  which  remains  he  supposes  to  have 
belonged  either  to  one  of  the  race  who  inhabited  this 
country  for  a  time  anterior  to  the  so-called  aborigines, 
and  afterwards  settled  in  Mexico  or  Guatemala,  or  to 
one  of  the  crew  of  some  Phoenician  vessel  that,  blown 
out  of  her  course,  thus  discovered  the  Western  world 
long  before  the  Christian  era. 

"  These  remains  were  found  in  the  town  of  Fall 
River,  in  Bristol  County,  Mass.,  about  eighteen 
months  since.  In  digging  down  a  hill  near  the  vil- 
lage, a  large  mass  of  earth  slid  off,  leaving  in  the 
bank  and  partially  uncovered  a  human  skull,  which, 
on  examination,  was  found  to  belong  to  a  body  buried 
in  a  sitting  posture,  the  head  being  about  one  foot 
below  what  had  been  for  many  years  the  surface  of 
the  ground.  The  surrounding  earth  was  carefully  re- 
moved and  the  body  found  to  be  enwrapped  in  a  cov- 
ering of  coarse  bark  of  a  dark  color.  Within  this 
envelope  were  found  the  remains  of  another  of  coarse 
cloth,  made  of  fine  bark  and  about  the  texture  of  a 
Manilla  coffee-bag.  On  the  breast  was  a  plate  of 
brass,  thirteen  inches  long,  six  broad  at  the  upper 
end  and  five  at  the  lower.  This  plate  appears  to  have 
been  cast,  and  is  from  one-eighth  to  three  thirty-sec- 
onds of  an  inch  in  thickness.  It  is  so  much  corroded 
that  whether  or  not  anything  was  ever  engraved  upon 
it  has  not  yet  been  ascertained.  It  is  oval  in  form, 
the  edges  being  irregular,  apparently  made  so  by 
corrosion. 

"  Below  the   breastplate,   and   entirely   encircling 


the  body,  was  a  belt  composed  of  brass  tubes,  each 
four  and  a  half  inches  in  length  and  three-sixteenths 
of  an  inch  in  diameter,  arranged  longitudinally  and 
close  together,  the  length  of  the  tube  being  the  width 
of  the  belt.  The  tubes  are  of  thin  brass,  cast  upon 
hollow  reeds,  and  were  fastened  together  by  pieces  of 
sinew.  This  belt  was  so  placed  as  to  protect  the  lower 
parts  of  the  body  below  the  breastplate.  The  arrows 
are  of  brass,  thin,  flat,  and  triangular  in  shape,  with 
a  round  hole  cut  through  near  the  base.  The  shaft 
was  fastened  to  the  head  by  inserting  the  latter  in  an 
opening  at  the  end  of  the  wood,  and  then  tying  it 
with  a  sinew  through  the  round  hole,  a  mode  of  con- 
structing the  Aveapon  never  practiced  by  the  Indians, 
not  even  with  their  arrows  of  thin  shell.  Parts  of  the 
shaft  still  remain  attached  to  some  of  them.  When 
first  discovered  the  arrows  were  in  a  sort  of  quiver  of 
bark,  which  fell  in  pieces  when  exposed  to  the  air. 

"The  skull  is  much  decayed,  but  the  teeth  are  sound 
and  apparently  of  a  young  man.  The  pelvis  is  much 
decayed  and  the  smaller  bones  of  the  lower  extrem- 
ities are  gone. 

"The  integuments  of  the  right  knee,  for  four  or 
five  inches  above  and  below,  are  in  good  preservation, 
apparently  the  size  and  shape  of  life,  although  quite 
black. 

"Considerable  flesh  is  still  preserved  on  the  hands 
and  arms,  but  more  on  the  shoulders  and  elbows. 
On  the  back  under  the  belt,  and  for  two  inches  above 
and  below,  the  skin  and  flesh  are  in  good  preserva- 
tion, and  have  the  appearance  of  being  tanned.  The 
chest  is  much  compressed,  but  the  upper  viscera  are 
probably  entire.  The  arms  are  bent  up,  not  crossed, 
so  that  the  hands  turned  inwards  touch  the  shoulders. 
The  stature  is  about  five  and  a  half  feet.  Much  of 
the  exterior  envelope  was  decayed,  and  the  inner  one 
appeared  to  be  preserved  only  where  it  had  been  in 
contact  with  the  brass. 

"The  preservation  of  this  body  may  be  the  result 
of  some  embalming  process,  and  this  hypothesis  is 
strengthened  by  the  fact  that  the  skin  has  the  appear- 
ance of  having  been  tanned,  or  it  may  be  the  acci- 
dental result  of  the  action  of  the  salts  of  the  brass 
during  oxidation,  and  this  latter  hypothesis  is  sup- 
ported by  the  fact  that  the  skin  and  flesh  have  been 
preserved  only  where  they  have  been  iu  contact  with 
or  quite  near  the  brass,  or  we  may  account  for  the 
preservation  of  the  whole  by  supposing  the  presence 
of  saltpetre  in  the  soil  at  the  time  of  the  deposit.  In 
either  way,  the  preservation  of  the  remains  is  fully 
accounted  for*  and  upon  known  chemical  principles. 

"  That  the  body  was  not  one  of  the  Indians  we 
think  needs  no  argument.  We  have  seen  some  of 
the  drawings  taken  from  the  sculptures  found  at 
Palenque,  and  in  those  the  figures  are  represented 
with  the  breastplates,  although  smaller  than  the 
plate  found  at  Fall  River.  On  the  figures  at  Palenque 
the  bracelets  and  anklets  seem  to  be  of  a  manufacture 
precisely  similar  to  the  belt  of  tubes  just  described. 


FALL   RIVER. 


343 


"If  the  body  found  at  Fall  River  be  one  of  the 
Asiatic  race,  who  transiently  settled  in  Central 
America,  and  afterwards  went  to  Mexico  and  founded 
those  cities,  in  exploring  the  ruins  of  which  such  as- 
tonishing discoveries  have  recently  been  made,  then 
we  may  well  suppose  also  that  it  is  one  of  the  race 
whose  exploits  have,  although  without  a  date  and 
almost  without  a  certain  name,  been  immortalized 
by  Homer.  Of  the  great  race  who  founded  cities 
and  empires  in  their  eastward  march,  and  are  finally 
lost  in  South  America,  the  Romans  seem  to  have  had 
a  glimmering  tradition  in  the  story  of  Evander. 

"But  we  rather  incline  to  the  belief  that  the  re- 
mains found  at  Fall  River  belonged  to  the  crew  of  a 
Phoenician  vessel.  The  spot  where  they  were  found 
is  on  the  sea-coast,  and  in  the  immediate  neighbor- 
hood of  Dighton  Rock,  famed  for  its  hieroglyphic  in- 
scriptions, of  which  no  sufficient  explanation  has  yet 
been  given,  and  near  which  rock  brazen  vessels  have 
been  found.  If  this  latter  hypothesis  be  adopted,  a 
part  of  it  is  that  these  mariners,  the  unwilling  and 
unfortunate  discoverers  of  a  new  world,  lived  some 
time  after  they  landed,  and  having  written  their 
names,  perhaps  their  epitaphs,  upon  the  rock  at 
Dighton,  died,  and  were  buried  by  the  natives." 

Water-Works.  —  "  The  system  of  public  water- 
works, regarded  by  engineers  as  one  of  the  most  per- 
fect, both  in  design  and  construction,  in  the  Union, 
is  justly  a  constant  cause  of  self-congratulation  to  the 
residents  of  Fall  River.  The  natural  resources  of  the 
district  in  which  the  city  has  grown  up,  almost  unique 
in  the  wealth  and  purity  of  their  treasure,  hardly 
need  be  suggested  to  the  reader  who  has  formed  his 
own  conception  of  the  eastern  plateau,  extending 
parallel  with  the  community  of  mills  and  residences, 
and  bearing  in  its  bosom  the  long  chain  of  spring-fed 
lakes.  Farther  on  will  be  given  a  comparative  view 
of  the  enormous  volume  of  water  which  this  unequaled 
natural  reservoir  contains.  The  value  of  Watuppa 
to  the  city,  regarded  simply  as  an  element  in  its  in- 
dustrial progress,  is  very  great,  but  when  its  more 
recent  service,  as  a  sure  and  powerful  antagonist  of 
fire,  and  a  never-failing  purveyor  of  health,  cleanli- 
ness, and  comfort  in  every  household  is  considered, 
its  worth  is  really  beyond  our  powers  of  estimate. 

"  Fall  River  is  fortunate  in  the  possession  of  a  beau- 
tiful lake  of  fresh  water  within  two  miles  of  the  centre 
of  the  city,  whose  purity  is  unsurpassed  by  any  other 
public  water-supply  equally  extensive  and  so  easily 
attainable. 

"Watuppa  Lake,  the  source  of  supply  for  the 
water-works,  and  also  for  eight  mills  that  run  by 
water-power  on  the  lower  part  of  Quequechan  River, 
— the  outlet  of  the  lake, — is  seven  and  two-thirds 
miles  in  length,  with  an  average  width  of  about 
three-quarters  of  a  mile.  It  is  fed  principally  by 
springs  and  small  streams,  which  collect  the  water 
from  the  surrounding  hills.  The  drainage  area  is 
sparsely  settled,  and  covered  principally  by  a  young 


growth  of  oak,  interspersed  with  pine  and  chestnut, 
and  the  soil  is  exceedingly  favorable  for  the  collec- 
tion of  a  pure  and  abundant  water  supply,  being 
composed  principally  of  sand,  gravel,  and  gravelly 
loam,  interspersed  with  numerous  bowlders,  and  rest- 
ing generally  on  a  solid  stratum  of  granite  rock. 

"  The  whole  area  included  by  the  water-shed  con- 
tains about  20,000  acres,  or  31.25  square  miles,  and  is 
capable  of  furnishing  a  daily  supply  equal  to  half 
the  amount  of  water  used  by  the  city  of  Paris,  or 
about  double  the  quantity  used  by  the  city  of  Boston. 

"In  fact,  the  lake  is  capable  of  furnishing  a  daily 
supply  of  about  35,000,000  gallons,  and  of  this  the 
water-works  took  less  than  1,000,000  gallons  per  day 
during  the  year  1875,  and  about  1,500,000  gallons  per 
day  during  the  excessively  dry  season  in  the  summer 
of  1876.  The  daily  average  for  the  year  1876  will 
undoubtedly  be  less  than  one  and  a  quarter  millions. 

"  According  to  the  analysis  made  by  Professor  John 
H.  Appleton  in  1870,  the  water  of  Watuppa  Lake  is 
remarkably  pure,  there  being  but  1.80  grains  of  solid 
matter  per  gallon. 

"  In  the  spring  of  1871  the  first  board  of  water 
commissioners  was  appointed  by  the  City  Council, 
and  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year  work  was  begun 
upon  a  road  which  it  was  necessary  to  construct  for  a 
distance  of  nearly  a  mile  and  a  half  to  give  access  to 
the  place  selected  for  a  pumping-station. 

"  During  the  year  1872  the  foundations  of  the 
engine-house,  boiler-house,  and  coal-house  were  built, 
and  the  superstructure  was  completed  the  following 
year,  being  constructed  of  granite  quarried  in  the 
immediate  neighborhood,  on  the  lot  bought  by  the 
city  for  the  pumping-station  and  reservoir." 

COST  OF   MAINTENANCE   AND   REVENUE  FOR   1882. 


Items. 


Interest  on  bonds 

Engineering  department 

Water  board  and  water  registrar's  de- 
partment  

General  repairs  and  incidentals 

Cost  of  pumping : 

Attendance 

Repairs 

Fuel  purchased 

Oil,  waste,  and  articles  for  engine- 
bouse 


Total. 


$98,975.00 
2,500.0(1 

2,021 .60 
4,500.41 

4,050.40 

45.03 

5,940.38 

494.65 


Cost  per  1000  Gal- 
lons Pumped. 
Cents. 


Total  cost  of  maintenance  for  1882 $118,527.53 

Revenue  from  water1 115,301.06 

Excess  of  maintenance  over  revenue2...  3,226.47 
Management  and   repairs  (without  in- 
terest on  bonds) 19,552.53 

Excess  of  revenue  over  management  and 

repairs 95,748.53 


.1481 

.0037 

.0031 
.0067 

.0061 

.0089 

.0007 


.1773 
.1725 
.0048 

.0290 

.1433 


Total  number  of  gallons  pumped  in  1882,  068,242,286,  or  an  excess  over 
last  year  of  23  4-  per  cent. 

Interest  account  is  in  excess  of  last  year $1815.00 

Fuel  purchased  is  in  excess  of  last  year 2906.30 


1  The  appropriation  for  water  for  city  uses  was  816,000  less  this  year 
than  last,  but  the  revenue  from  privato  individuals  and  corporations  was 
«4713.65  more  than  last  year. 

2  For  the  above  reuson  the  maintenance  account  shows  an  excess  over 
revenue. 


344 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


The  following  is  a  schedule  of  receipts  for  water  by  months,  from  commencement  to  Dec.  30,  1882 : 


Months. 

1874. 

1875. 

1876. 

1877. 

1878. 

1879. 

1880. 

1881. 

1882. 

$1,285.17 

101.46 

1,205.51 

306.35 

390.50 

910.86 

13,715.89 

449.55 

688.22 

1,094.16 

1,036.89 

254.63 

20,000.00 

$1,841.16 

533.52 

247.85 

2,170.35 

238.00 

865.52 

15,076.88 

1,655.06 

514.17 

'3,390.58 

2,273.82 

196.49 

20,000.00 

$3,062.10 

790.67 

882.48 

3,756.41 

544.15 

1,204.85 

17,391.86 

2,133.28 

402.89 

5,194.27 

1,314.18 

137.08 

20,000.00 

$4,622.40 

2,311.43 

325.55 

3,372.50 

2,039.56 

497.08 

15,253.51 

3,916.13 

452.25 

5,295.10 

3,402.48 

491.75 

25,000.00 

$2,834.28 
2,903.10 
1,194.81 
3,741.45 
3,135.93 
1,007.38 

14,132.40 

5,094.28 

303.18 

4.811.00 

4,545.49 

987.50 

25,000.00 

$4,448.91 
3,431.45    . 

155.57 

4,642.17 

3,176.84 

640.59 

15,684.33 

4,273.99 

239.19 

5,919.80 

6,531.26 

562.28 

65,000.00 

$4,185.43 
3,998.56 
2,288.36 
5,317.93 
4,171.08 
1,118.30 

12,220.86 
8,066.22 
1,606.38 
2,467.39 
9,842.26 
1,304.64 

70,000.00 

$2,07,0.09 
5,117.07 
4,077.73 
2,734.14 
7,255.90 
2,120.97 

13,094.93 

9,796.09 

299.59 

4,299.64 

9,936.76 

498.15 

54,000  00 

$385.64 
4854.23 
483.10 
487.99 
1556.97 
970.10 
598.92 

July 

Totals 

$9336.95 

$41,439.19 

$49,003.40 

$56,814.22 

$66,979.74 

$69,691.46 

$114,706.38 

$126,587.41 

$115,301.06 

DISTRIBUTION  OF  WATER  DURING  1882. 


Months. 


January 

February... 

March 

April 

May 

June 

July 

August 

September. 

October 

November.. 
December.. 


a 
o 


c4 
ft 


s 


47,841,488 
44,366,556 
47,985,005 
42,830,866 
48,941,968 
57,391,090 
62,418,459 
69.9S0,161 
70,491,103 
74,799,894 
55,463,151 
45,732,548 


o  — 

OJ  " 

a 

3 
(25 


1,543,274 
1,584,519 
1,547,903 
1,427,695 
1,578,773 
1.913,030 
2,013,499 
2,257,425 
2,349,703 
2,412,899 
1,848,771 
1,475,243 


J2 

s  u 

1  § 
So 


w 


1 

99 

™ 

"»  £ 

— 

O 

CM     . 

ft   3 

■3    O 

"   3 

s 

—   oS 

OQ 

H 

O 

<2~ 
*  c 


1882 668,242,289  1,830,800 


2906  39,315  ] 
2906  39,350 
2913  39,400 
2939  39,560 
2964  39,700 
2989  39,850 
3001  39,925 
3034  40,100 
3061:40,225 
3085140,325 
3106  40,450 
3120  40,500 


50,507  •( 


39.25  30.55 
40.28  31.37 

39.28  30.64 
36.09  28.36 
39.76  31.25 
48.00  37.87 
50.53  39.86 

56.29  44.69 
68.39  46.52 
59.83:47.77 


3002 


39,891 


45.70 
36.42 


45.89 


36.60 
29.20 


36.25 


The  first  engineer  was  William  Rotch.  The  pres- 
ent engineer  is  A.  H.  Martine ;  W.  W.  Robertson, 
water  registrar. 

From  that  time  to  the  present  the  improvement  and 
enlargement  of  the  water-works  has  kept  abreast  with 
the  rapid  increase  in  population,  and  is  now  one  of 
the  best  systems  in  the  State. 

The  total  number  of  gallons  pumped  since  the  in- 
ception of  the  water-works  is  3,928,770,440. 

The  Fire  Department  of  Fall  River,  one  of  the 
most  efficient  in  the  commonwealth,  has  been  for 
many  years  a  conspicuous  feature  of  municipal  or- 
ganization. It  is  well  managed,  and  the  services  of 
the  officers  and  men  prompt  and  efficient.  It  consists 
of  five  steamers,  eight  hose-reels,  three  hook-and- 
ladder  trucks,  and  one  supply-wagon,  and  two  steamers 
and  two  hose-reels  fully  equipped  held  in  reserve. 
The  present  chief  of  the  department  is  John  A.  Mac- 
farlane.  William  C.  Davol,  Jr.,  and  Holder  B.  Dur- 
fee,  have  also  held  this  position.  Col.  Thomas  J. 
Borden  was  chief  several  terms,  and  his  active  in- 
terest in  the  department  will  not  soon  be  forgotten. 

Oak  Grove  Cemetery. — This  burial-place  occu- 
pies an  elevated  location  in  the  northeasterly  section 
of  the  city.  The  original  purchase  of  forty-seven 
acres  was  made  in  1855,  and  by  several  additional 


purchases  now  embraces  eighty  acres.  The  original 
young  forest  was  retained,  and  on  three  sides  it  is 
quite  nearly  surrounded  by  a  high  stone  wall.  It  has 
cost  an  immense  amount  of  labor  to  clear  away  the 
rocks  and  fit  the  land  for  a  burial-place,  but  so  much 
has  been  done  that  there  are  now  seven  miles  of 
paths  and  avenues.  Up  to  1869,  or  fourteen  years 
from  the  beginning,  1348  interments  had  taken  place, 
but  since  that  date,  and  for  the  second  fourteen  years, 
4108  have  been  added,  making  a  total  of  5456.  In 
1869  the  present  superintendent,  Jonathan  E.  Mor- 
rill, Esq.,  came  into  office,  and  during  his  term  the 
cemetery  has  become  a  point  of  great  interest  both 
for  the  elegant  monuments  that  have  been  multiplied 
very  much  the  last  ten  years,  and  the  floral  decora- 
tions in  summer  and  autumn.  During  last  year  352 
interments  were  made,  of  which  296  died  in  this  city, 
and  56  in  other  places,  or  were  brought  from  other 
cemeteries.  Of  the  296  which  died  in  this  city  last 
year,  128  were  children  under  five  years  of  age. 

The  citizens  of  Fall  River  manifest  a  just  pride  in 
Oak  Grove  Cemetery,  which  is  one  of  the  most  beau- 
tiful burial-places  in  the  commonwealth. 

The  North  Cemetery,  upon  North  Main  road, 
was  for  many  years  the  principal  burial-place  of  the 
city.  There  are  also  various  Roman  Catholic  ceme- 
teries in  the  city.  The  superintendent  of  the  North 
Cemetery  is  Stephen  White. 

Civil  History. — The  town  of  Fall  River1  was  set 
off  from  Freetown,  Feb.  26,  1803,  during  the  admin- 
istration of  Governor  Caleb  Strong,  May  8,  1804;  by 
a  vote  of  the  town  the  name  was  changed  to  Troy. 
Tradition  reports  that  this  action  was  induced  by  a 
prominent  citizen  who  had  recently  visited  Troy,  N.  Y., 
and  who  became  so  enamored  of  its  name  that  upon 
his  return  he  induced  his  fellow-townsmen  to  give  up 
the  suggestive  and  appropriate  name  received  from 
the  red  man  and  assume  that  derived  from  the  ancient 


1  The  Indian  name  of  Fall  River  was  "  Qnequeteaut,"  signifying  the 
"  place  of  falling  water,"  and  that  of  the  river  "Quequechan,"  which 
signifies  "falling  water"  or  "quick  running  water,"  hence  its  appropri- 
ate name  of  Fall  River.  "  Watuppa,"  the  Indian  name  of  the  ponds  on 
the  east  and  by  which  they  are  sti'l  called,  signifies  "boats,"  or  the 
"place  of  boats." 


FALL  RIVER. 


345 


and  mythical  Homeric  city.  The  act  changing  the 
name  was  passed  June  18,  1804. 

The  town  was  known  as  "Troy"  until  1833,  when 
at  a  town-meeting  held  on  the  18th  of  March  of  that 
year,  it  was  voted  "  that  it  is  expedient  to  have  the 
name  of  the  town  of  Troy  altered  to  that  of  Fall 
River,"  and  "  that  the  selectmen  be  directed  to  peti- 
tion the  Legislature  now  in  session  for  an  act  to  alter 
the  name  of  the  town  of  Troy  to  that  of  Fall  River." 
The  act  passed  Feb.  12,  1834. 

Incorporation  of  the  City. — Fall  River  was  in- 
corporated as  a  city  April  12,  1854,  and  the  first  city 
election  was  held  on  the  6th  of  the  following  month, 
when  the  following  officers  were  chosen :  Mayor, 
James  Buffinton  ;  Aldermen,  James  Henry,  Edward 
P.  Buffinton,  Oliver  H.  Hathaway,  Alvin  S.  Ballard, 
Edwin  Shaw,  Julius  P.  Champney ;  Common  Council, 
Robert  C.  Brown,  Henry  Wilbur,  Oliver  Grinnell, 
Chris.  W.  Tillinghast,  John  Mason,  Jr.,  Smith  Wins- 
low,  William  Goodman,  Obadiah  Chace,  Gardner 
Groves,  Nathaniel  Bonney,  David  S.  Brigham,  Shef- 
field Brightman,  Peter  J.  Dennise,  Henry  Diman,  Jr., 
Howard  B.  Allen.  Wm.  M.  Almy,  Thomas  T.  Potter, 
Albert  Winslow. 

Organization  of  the  First  City  Government,  May  15,  1854. 

At  a  session  of  the  mayor-  and  aldermen-elect  May  15,  1854,  previous 
to  the  administering  of  the  oath  of  office,  the  members  of  this  board 
and  board  of  Common  Council  made  choice  of  Alvan  S.  Ballard,  clerk 
pro  tern. 

Ordered,  That  a  set  of  rules  and  orders,  presented  by  Alderman  Shaw, 
be  adopted  by  this  board  temporarily. 

Voted,  That  a  committee  of  two,  consisting  of  Aldermen  Shaw  and 
Henry,  notify  the  Common  Council  that  this  board  is  now  ready  to  meet 
them  in  convention  for  such  business  as  may  legally  come  before  the 
City  Council. 

In  board  of  Common  Council,  concurred. 

Adjourned  to  City  Hall,  to  meet  in  convention. 

The  officers  present  were  then  marshaled  into  the  City  Hall  by  Col. 
William  Sisson,  accompanied  by  the  selectmen,  where  a  large  number  ot 
the  citizens  were  in  attendance  to  witness  the  ceremonies,  and  to  hear 
the  inaugural  address  of  Mayor  Buffinton. 

The  meeting  was  called  to  order  by  Chester  W.  Greene,  chairman  of 
the  board  of  selectmen,  and  the  throne  of  grace  was  addressed  by  Rev. 
Benjamin  J.  Relyea. 

The  names  of  the  city  officers-elect  were  called  by  the  clerk,  and  the 
oath  of  office  administered  by  James  Ford,  Esq.,  justice  of  the  peace. 

Chester  W.  Greene  then  addressed  the  mayor  in  behalf  of  the  board 
of  selectmen. 

Mayor  Buffinton  then  delivered  his  inaugural  address. 

After  which  the  boards  of  aldermen  and  Common  Councilmen  sepa- 
rated, each  going  to  their  respective  rooms. 

The  mayors  from  1854  to  1884  have  been  as  fol- 
lows: James  Buffinton,  1854-55;  Edward  P.  Buffin- 
ton, 1856, 1860-66;  Nathaniel  B.  Borden,  1857  ;  Josiah 
C.  Blaisdell,  1858-59;  George  O.  Fairbanks,  1867-68  ; 
Samuel  M.  Brown,  1869-72;  Robert  T.  Davis,  1873; 
James  F.  Davenport,  1874-77;  Crawford  E.  Lindsey, 
1878-79;  William  S.  Green,1 1880-81 ;  Robert  Henry,2 
1881 ;  Henry  K.  Bealey,  1882-83. 

The  following  members  of  Congress  were  residents 
of  Fall  River  :  Nathaniel  B.  Borden,  1837-40,  1843- 
44;    Rev.  Orin  Fowler,  1849-52;    James  Buffinton, 


1  Resigned  March  28, 1881.  «  Elected  by  City  Council. 

3  Re-elected  for  1875-76,  but  died  before  the  opening  of  Congress. 


1855-56,  1859-64,  1871-74;  Robert  T.  Davis,  M.D., 
1882-84. 

Fall  River  was  first  honored,  in  1838,  by  the  choice 
of  one  of  her  citizens  to  the  position  of  State  senator 
of  Massachusetts.  Since  that  date  she  has  had  the 
following  representative  in  this  branch  of  the  Legis- 
lature, viz.:  1838,  Hon.  John  Eddy;  1840-42,  Dr. 
Foster  Hooper;  1843,  Dr.  Phineas  W.  Leland ;  1845 
-47,  Hon.  Nathaniel  B.  Borden;  1848,  Rev.  Orin 
Fowler;  1854,  Col.  Richard  Borden;  1855-56,  Hon. 
Joseph  E.  Dawley  ;  1857,  Hon.  Jeremiah  S.  Young; 
1859-61,  Dr.  Robert  T.  Davis;  1865,  Hon.  Josiah  C. 
Blaisdell ;  1867-68,  Hon.  Samuel  Angier  Chace;  1869 
-70,  Hon.  John  B.  Hathaway  ;  1871-74,  Hon.  Charles 
P.  Stickney  ;  1877-78,  Hon.  Charles  J.  Holmes;  1879, 
Hon.  Weaver  Osborn ;  1880,  Hon.  Thomas  Webb ; 
1881,  Hon.  Milton  Reed  ;  1882,  Hon.  Andrew  J.  Jen- 
nings; 1883,  Hon.  John  W.  Cummings. 

Selectmen  and  Representatives. — The  following 
is  a  list  of  selectmen  from  1803  to  1854,  and  represen- 
tatives from  1803  to  present  time : 

1803. — Thomas  Borden,  Benjamin  Durfee,  Robert  Miller,  selectmen. 

1804.— Samuel  Thurston,  Benjamin  Durfee,  Robert  Miller,  selectmen; 
Abraham  Bowen,  representative. 

1805. — Nathan  Bowen,  Pardon  Davol,  Elijah  Blossom,  Jr.,  selectmen ; 
Jonathan  Brownell,  representative. 

1806. — Jonathan  Brownell,  Abraham  Bowen,  Elijah  Blossom,  Jr.,  select- 
men ;  Jonathan  Brownell,  representative. 

1807.— Jonathan  Brownell,   Elijah   Blossom,  Stephen   Leonard,  select- 
men ;  Abraham  Bowen,  representative. 

1808.— Nathan    Bowen,  Henry   Brightman,  David  Wilson,  selectmen ; 
Abraham  Bowen,  representative. 

1809—  David  Wilson,  William  Read,  Jr.,  Charles  Durfee,  selectmen; 
Robert  Miller,  representative. 

1810.— David  Wilson,  William  Read,  Jr.,  Charles  Durfee.  selectmen; 
Robert  Miller,  representative. 

1811.— David  Wilson,  William  Read,  Jr.,  Benjamin  Bennett  (2d),  select- 
men ;  Robert  Miller,  representative. 

1812.— Hezekiah  Wilson,  William  B.  Canedy,  William  Borden,  select- 
men; Robert  Miller,  representative. 

1813.— William  B.  Canedy,  William  Borden,  Isaac  Winslow,  selectmen  ; 
Robert  Miller,  representative. 

1814 —William  Borden,  Benjamin  W.  Brown,  S.  Hathaway,  selectmen; 
Joseph  E.  Read,  representative. 

1815.— Renjamin  W.  Brown,  Sheffel  Weaver,  Bradford  Durfee,  select- 
men; Joseph  E.  Read,  representative. 

1816.— Sheffel   Weaver,   William    Ashley,  William    Read,  selectmen ; 
Hezekiah  Wilson,  representative. 

1817.— Sheffel  Weaver,  Abraham  Bowen,  William  Ashley,  selectmen; 
Hezekiah  Wilson,  representative. 

1818.— Benjamin  W.  Brown,  Charles  Pitman,  James  G.  Bowen,  select- 
men ;  Joseph  E.  Read,  representative. 

1819.— Benjamin  W.  Brown,  Charles  Pitman,  James  G.  Bowen,  select- 
men ;  Joseph  E.  Read,  representative. 

1820.— Sheffel   Weaver.   Benjamin   W.   Brown,    Richard   Borden    (2d), 
selectmen;  voted  not  to  send  representative. 

1821.— Robert  Miller,  Charles  Pitman,  Enoch  French,  selectmen;  Abra- 
ham Bowen,  representative. 

1822.— Robert  Miller,  Charles  Pitman,  Enoch  French,  selectmen  ;  Robert 
Miller,  representative. 

1823.— Joseph   E.  Read,   Benjamin  W.  Brown,  Edmund  Chace,  select- 
man ;  William  B  Canedy,  representative. 

1824.— Enoch    French,   Hezekiah   Wilson,   William    Read,  selectmen; 
William  B.  Canedy,  representative. 

1825.— Enoch   French,   Hezekiah   Wilson,   William   Read,  selectmen ; 
James  Ford,  representative. 

1826— Enoch   French,   Hezekiah   Wilson,   William    Read,  selectmen; 
voted  not  to  send  representative. 

1827.— Enoch  French,  Hezekiah  Wilson,  William  Read,  selectmen ;  Jo- 
seph Hathaway,  representative. 


346 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


1828. — Enoch  French,  Sheffel  Weaver,  William  Bead,  selectmen  ;  Enoch 
French,  representative. 

1829. — Enoch  French,  Sheffel  Weaver,  William  Read,  selectmen ;  Joseph 
E.  Read,  Enoch  French,  Anthony  Mason,  representatives. 

1830.— Sheffel  Weaver,  John  Eddy,  William  Read,  selectmen  ;  Frederick 
Wiuslow,  Anthony  Mason,  Joseph  E.  Read,  representatives. 

1831. — Samuel  Chace,  Robinson  Buffinton,  William  Ashley,  selectmen ; 
Nathaniel  B.  Borden,  Foster  Hooper,  Frederick  Winslow,  represen- 
tatives. 

1832. — Samuel  Chace,  Leonard  Garfield,  William  Ashley,  selectmen; 
Simeon  Borden,  Azariah  Shove,  Anthony  Mason,  Barnabas  Blossom, 
representatives. 

1833. — Samuel  Chace,  Matthew  C.  Durfee,  Elijah  Pierce,  selectmen; 
Simeon  Borden,  Azariah  Shove,  Smith  Winslow,  Isaac  Borden,  Earl 
Chace,  representatives. 

1834. — Azariah  Shove,  Smith  Winslow,  Samuel  Chace,  selectmen ;  Na- 
thaniel B.  Borden,  Micah  H.  Ruggles,  Anthony  Mason,  Jervis  Shove, 
William  Winslow,  representatives. 

1835. — John  Eddy,  Israel  Anthony,  Luther  Winslow,  selectmen  ;  Micah 
H.  Ruggles,  Anthony  Mason,  Philip  R.  Bennett,  Job  B.  French, 
Elijah  Pierce,  representatives. 

183C. — John  Eddy,  Israel  Anthony,  Luther  Winslow'selectmen  ;  Micah 
H.  Ruggles,  Anthony  Mason,  Caleb  B.  Vickery,  William  Ashley, 
Gilbert  H.  Durfee,  representatives. 

1837. — John  Eddy,  Israel  Anthony,  Luther  Winslow,  selectmen  ;  Micah 
H.  Ruggles,  Cyrus  Alden,  John  Eddy,  Constant  B.  Wyatt,  Richard 
C.  French,  Philip  S.  Brown,  representatives. 

1838. — John  Eddy,  Israel  Anthony,  Luther  Winslow,  selectmen;  Fred- 
erick Winslow,  Benjamin  B.  Sisson,  Philip  S.  Brown,  Hezekiah 
Battelle,  representatives. 

1839. — John  Eddy,  Israel  Anthony,  Russell  Hathaway,  selectmen  ;  Micah 
H.  Ruggles,  Iram  Smith,  George  Brightman  (2d),  John  A.  Harris, 
representatives. 

1840. — Nathaniel  B.  Borden,  Israel  Anthony,  William  Read,  selectmen  ; 
John  Eddy,  Perez  Mason,  Nathan  Durfee,  Enoch  French,  represen- 
tatives. 

1841. — Matthew  C.  Durfee,  Israel  Anthony,  William  Read,  selectmen; 
Linden  Cook,  Nathan  Durfee,  Job  B.  French,  representatives. 

1842. — Jervis  Shove,  Stephen  K.  Crary,  George  Brightman  (2d),  select- 
men ;  Jonathan  Slade,  King  Dean,  William  H.  Ashley,  representa- 
tives. 

1843. — Jervis  Shove,  Israel  Anthony,  Perez  Mason,  selectmen  ;  Jonathan 
Slade,  William  A.  Wade,  William  V.  Rend,  representatives. 

1844. — Thomas  D.  Chaloner,  Israel  Anthony,  Perez  Mason,  selectmen; 
Simeon  Borden,  Thomas  D.  Chaloner,  Nathan  Durfee,  representa- 
tives. 

1845. — Thomas  D.  Chaloner,  Israel  Anthony,  Perez  Mason,  selectmen  ; 
Simeon  Borden,  James  B.  Luther,  Benjamin  F.  White,  representa- 
(  tiv.-s. 

1846. — Israel  Anthony,  Leander  Borden,  James  31.  Morton,  selectmen  ; 
Charles  J.  Holmes,  Benjamin  W.  Miller,  Albert  G.  Eaton,  represen- 
tatives. 

1847. — Azariah  Shove,  Israel  Anthony,  Benjamin  Earl,  selectmen ; 
David  Perkins,  Benjamin  Earl,  Benjamin  W.  Miller,  representa- 
tives. 

1848. — Benjamin  Wardwell,  Israel  Anthony,  Benjamin  Earl, selectmen; 
David  Perkins,  Hezekiah  Battelle,  William  R.  Robeson,  representa- 
tives. 

1849.— jThomas  J.  Pickering,  David  Perkins,  Benjamin  Earl,  selectmen  ; 
Simeon  Borden,  Benjamin  Wardwell,  James  Ford  (2d),  representa- 
tives 

1850. — David  Perking,  Thomas  J.  Pickering,  Daniel  Brown,  selectmen; 
Iram  Smith,  Azariah  Shove,  representatives. 

1851. — Thomas  .1.  Pickering,  James  Buffinton,  Daniel  Brown,  selectmen  ; 
Nathaniel  B.  Borden,  Richard  Borden,  James  B.  Luther,  Richard  C. 
French,  representatives. 

1852. — James  Buffinton,  George  0.  Fairbanks,  Azariah  Shove,  Leander 
Borden,  Chester  W.  Greene,  selectmen;  Nathan  D.  Dean,  Iram 
Smith,  Edward  P.  Buffinton,  Southard  H.  Miller,  representatives. 

1853.— James  Buffinton,  Chester  W.  Greene,  Thomas  T.  Potter,  George 
0.  Fairbanks,  Azariah  Shove,  selectmen  ;  three  trials,  and  no  choice 
for  representatives. 

1854. — Mark  A.  Slocum,  Job  G.  Lawton,  selectmen. 

1855. — Daniel  Leonard,  Asa  P.  French,  Jonathan  E.  Morrill,  Benjamin 
H.  Davis,  selectmen. 

1856. — Brayton  Slade,  Jonathan  E.  Morrill,  John  S.  Brayton,  Job  B.  Ash- 
ley, selectmen. 


1S57. — Jonathan  E.  Morrill,  Vernon  Cook,  Brownell  W.  Woodman, 
John  E.  Gronard,  selectmen. 

1858. — Josiah  C.  Blaisdell,  Jonathan  E.  Morrill,  selectmen. 

1859. — Stephen  C.  Wrightingtou,  Thomas  T.  Potter,  selectmen. 

1860. — Lloyd  S.  Earle,  Stephen  C.  Wrightington,  selectmen. 

1861. — Lloyd  S.  Earle,  Stephen  C.  Wrightington,  selectmen. 

1862. — Simeon  Borden,  Henry  Pratt,  selectmen. 

1863. — Simeon  Borden,  Henry  Pratt,  selectmen. 

1804. — Nathaniel  B.  Borden,  Andrew  D.  Bullock,  selectmen. 

1865. — S.  Angier  Chace,  Fred.  A.  Boomer,  selectmen. 

1866. — Josiah  C.  Blaisdell,  John  B.  Hathaway,  selectmen. 

1867. — Abraham  G.  Hart,  John  B.  Hathaway,  selectmen. 

1S68. — Abraham  G.  Hart,  Weaver  Osborn,  Iram  Smith,  selectmen. 

1869. — Abraham  G.  Hart,  Weaver  Osborn,  Iram  Smith,  selectmen. 

1870. — Edward  T.  Marvell,  George  0.  Fairbanks,  Abraham  G.Hart,  se- 
lectmen. 

1871. — Frederick  A.  Boomer,  Weaver  Osborn,  George  O.  Fairbanks,  se- 
lectmen. 

1872.— Thomas  F.  Holder,  George  0.  Fairbanks,  George  H.  Eddy,  select- 
men. 

1873. — George  O.  Fairbanks,  Charles  J.  Holmes,  Weaver  Osborn,  select- 
men. 

1874. — George  0.  Fairbanks,  Daniel  McGowan,  John  Davol,  Jr.,  select- 
men. 

1875. — Southard  H.  Miller,  Nicholas  Hathaway,  William  Carroll,  select- 
men. 

1876. — George  0.  Fairbanks,  Weaver  Osborn,  Albion  K.  Slade,  select- 
men. 

1877. — Weaver  Osborn,  John  B.  Whitaker,  Iram  Smith,  Franklin  Gray, 
Pardon  Macomber,  selectmen;  Franklin  Gray,1  Pardon  Macomber,1 
John  B.  Whitaker,  Iram  Smith,  Weaver  Osborn,  representatives. 

1878. — Andrew  J.Jennings,1  Pardon  Macomber,2  John  W.  Cummings, 
Hiram  B.  Coffin,  Patrick  M.  McGlynu,  representatives. 

1879..— Andrew  .1.  Jennings,1  Daniel  Willin,2  Marcus  Leonard,  Patrick 
M.  McGlynn,  John  W.  Cummings,  representatives. 

1880. — James  F.  Davenport,1  Pardon  Macomber,2  James  Langford,  Mar- 
cus Leonard,  Patrick  M.  McGlynn,  representatives. 

1881.— James  F.  Davenport,1  Silas  B.  Hatch,2  Frank  W.  Burr,  Robert 
Howard,  John  Stanton,  representatives. 

1882. — James  F.  Davenport,1  Job  M.  Leonard,2  Frank  W.  Burr,  George 
W.  Billings,  John  B.  Whitaker,  representatives. 

1883.— James  F.  Davenport,1  Job  M.  Leonard,2  Patrick  E.  Toley,  T. 
Dwight  Stowe,  Charles  B.  Martin,  representatives. 

The  town  clerks  from  1803  to  1854  have  been  as 
follows:  1803,  Walter  Chaloner;  1804-14,  Benjamin 
Brightman  ;  1814-16,  William  B.  Canedy  ;  1816,  March 
to  November  2,  Nathaniel  Luther;  when  at  a  town- 
meeting  was  made  the  following  record  :  "  Nathaniel 
Luther,  the  town  clerk,  being  absent,  made  choice  of 
Joseph  E.  Read  to  act  as  town  clerk  the  remainder  of 
the  year  (at  all  town-meetiugs  and  all  other  other 
business  pertaining  to  the  town  clerk's  duty)  in  the 
absence  of  Mr.  Luther."  1816,  November  2,  to  1821, 
Joseph  E.  Read;  1821-25,  John  C.  Borden;  1825, 
Nathaniel  B.  Borden  ;  1826-31,  Benjamin  Anthony  ; 
1831-36,  Stephen  K.  Crary;  1836-46,  Benjamin  Earl-; 
1846-48,  George  S.  Baker;  1848-53,  Samuel  B.  Hus- 
sey  ;  1853,  John  R.  Hodges. 

The  city  clerks  from  1854  to  1884  have  been :  John 
R.  Hodges,  1854;  Alvin  S.  Ballard,  1855  to  1864; 
George  A.  Ballard  from  1864  to  present  time,  nearly 
twenty  years. 

The  present  city  officers  are  as  follows: 

Mayor. — Hon.  Henry  K.  Braley. 

Aldermen. — Ward  1,  Vincent  Thorpe ;  Ward  2,  John 
South  worth;  AVard  3,  William  J.  Hurley;  Ward  4, 

1  Wards  5  and  6  and  Somerset. 

2  Wards  7,  8,  and  9,  and  Somerset. 


FALL  RIVER. 


347 


Hugh  McKevitt;  Ward  5,  Dennis  Garvey ;  Ward  6, 
Henry  G.  Langley ;  Ward  7,  Thomas  S.  Borden; 
WardS,  Thomas  F.  Eddy  ;  Ward  9,  William  J.  Wylie. 

Common  Council  (Henry  H.  Earl,  President). — 
Ward  1,  Samuel  B.  Wilcox,  George  T.  Durfee,  Charles 
H.  Albert;  Ward  2,  Franklin  P.  Osborn,  Edward  F. 
Murphy,  John  H.  Wells ;  Ward  3,  James  Powers, 
John  Desmond,  Michael  Grandfield;  Ward  4,  Thomas 
Darcy,  Jr.,  Thomas  Tyrell,  Thomas  Latham  ;  Ward 
5,  John  T.  Murphy,  Michael  J.  Kelly,  Michael  H. 
Connelly;  Ward  6,  Peter  Harwood,  John  G.  Blais- 
dell,  Thomas  Sanford;  Ward  7,  William  S.  Robert- 
son, Edward  S.  Adams,  Charles  E.  Brown;  Ward  8, 
Henry  H.  Earl,  William  F.  Thomas,  Cyrus  C.  Rounse- 
ville;  Ward  9,  Jethro  H.  Wordell,  Charles  H.  Boomer, 
Walter  D.  Read. 

Oity  Clerk. — George  A.  Ballard. 

Treasurer  and  Collector. — James  C.  Brady. 

Auditor. — Arthur  Anthony. 

Superintendent  of  Streets.- — Anthony  Thurston. 

Assessors.  —  Edward  Buffinton,  Robert  O'Hearn, 
William  J.  Waring. 

Solicitor. — James  F.  Jackson. 

Messenger. — Charles  L.  Dean. 

City  Marshal. — J.  A.  Hunt. 

Chief  Engineer  of  Fire  Department. — John  A.  Mac- 
farlane. 

City  Physician. — James  E.  Sullivan. 

Superintendent  Oak  Grove  Cemetery. — J.  E.  Morrill. 

Superintendent  North  Burial -Ground.  —  Stephen 
White. 

Superintendent  Public  Buildings. — James  M.  Adam. 

Superintendent  Public  Schools. — William  Connell,  Jr. 

Sealer  of  Weights  and  Measures. — William  W.  Dar- 
ling. 

School  Committee. — A.  M.  Jackson,  Harriet  T. 
Healy,  Louisa  G.  Aldrich,  E.  W.  Hunt,  Thomas  L. 
Ramsbotton,  Leontine  Lincoln,  William  G.  Bennett, 
M.  G.  B.  Swift,  John  A.  Tourtellot. 

Watuppa  Water  Board. — Philip  D.  Borden,  Weaver 
Osborn,  William  M.  Hawes. 

Water  Registrar. — W.  W.  Robertson. 

Engineer  and  Superintendent. — A.  H.  Marti ne. 

Trustees  <>(  Public  Library. — Henry  K.  Braley,  Leon- 
tine  Lincoln,  Robert  Henry,  James  M.  Morton, 
Charles  J.  Holmes,  Crawford  E.  Lindsey. 

Librarian. — W.  R.  Ballard. 

Overseers  if  the  Poor. — Mayor  and  Aldermen. 

Agent  of  Board. — George  O.  Fairbanks. 

Board  of  Health. — B.   F.  Winslow,  J.  S.  Anthony 
James  E.  Sullivan. 

VALUATION,  1854-1882. 

Yeir  Valuation  Tax      An""|Mt  r,iised        No- 

Year.  Valuation.        lax.      |py  Tax.lticm        poUg 

1854 $8,939,215  85.80  $.50,6.23.70  3,117 

1855 9,768,420  5.60  59,426.16  3,148 

1800 11,522,1  7.40  90,124.61  3,2  18 

1865 12,134,090  10.50  200,272.20  4,401 

1806 12,702,534  17.50  232,827.62  4,740 

1807 15,220,628  17.00  200,020  05  5,135 

1868 17,919,102  14.00  202,872.74 

1809 21,398,525  15.00  340,310.99  6,247 


Year. 


Valuation. 


1870 923,612,214 

1871 29,141,117 

1872 37,841.204 

1873 47,416,240 

1874 49,005,110 

1875 51,401,467 

1876 48,920,485 

1877 47,218.320 

1878 42,320,730 

1879 38,173,510 

1880 30,171.204 

1881 41,110,761 


Tax. 

$15.30 
13.00 

12.00 
13.00 
12.80 
14.50 
15.20 
15.50 
17.50 
18.00 
18.00 
10.00 


Amount  raised 
by  Taxation. 

$374,753.22 
392,974.15 
471,835.53 
636,461.61 
002.480.11 
708,404.37 
764,629.41 
753,735.96 
739,518.48 
689,370.32 
702,088.91 
777,546.46 


No. 

Polls. 

0,74:*, 

7,070 

8.S70 

10,020 

11,119 

11,571 

10,519 

10,926 

11,564 

11,678 

12,008 

12,091 


In  1840  the  number  of  taxable  polls  was  1,003.    The  valuation  of  real 
estate  was  81,678,603  ;  of  personal  estate,  $1,310,805;  total, $2,989,468. 

POPULATION,  1810-81. 


1810 1,296 

1820 1,594 

1830 4,159 

1840 6,738 

1845 10,290 

1850 11,170 

1855 12,680 

1800 13,240 

1861 14,020 

1802  l 17,401 

1863 15,495 

1804 17,U4 

1S65 17,525 

1866 19,262 

1867 21,174 


1808  23,023 

1869. 25,099. 

1870 27,191 

1871 28,291 

1872 34,835 

1873 38,404 

1874 43,289 

1875 45,100 

1876 44,356 

1877 45,113 

1878 48,494 

1879 46,909 

1880 47,883 

1881 49,049 


CHAPTER    XXVIII. 

FALL    RIVER.— {Continued.) 

ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY.^ 

The  First  Congregational  Church— The  Central  Congregational  Church 
—The  Third  Congregational  Church— The  First  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church — St.  Paul's  Methodist  Episcopal  Church— Brayton  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church— The  North  Methodist  Episcopal  Church— Quarry 
Street  Methodist  Episcopal  Cliurch— Maple  Street  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church — Primitive  Methodist  Church — North  Main  Street  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church— The  First  Baptist  Church— Second  Baptist  Church 
—Third  Baptist  Church— Church  of  the  Ascension— St.  John's  Church 
—Christian  Church,  Franklin  Street— North  Christian  Church- 
Church  of  the  New  Jerusalem— Society  of  Friends— United  Presby- 
terian Church— Hebrew  Worshipers — Roman  Catholic  Churches. 

The  First  Congregational  Church  was  organized 
at  the  dwelling-house  of  Deacon  Richard  Durfee, 
Jan.  9,  1816,  with  the  following  members:  Joseph 
Durfee  and  wife  Elizabeth,  Richard  Durfee,  Benjamin 
Brayton,  and  Wealthy  Durfee,  wife  of  Charles  Dur- 
fee. Benjamin  Brayton  died  Dec.  9, 1829,  and  leaving 
no  children,  he  bequeathed  the  bulk  of  his  property 
to  this  church,  in  trust,  as  a  permanent  fund  for  the 
support  of  the  ministry.  For  about  seven  years  after 
the  organization  of  the  church  it  had  no  house  of 
worship  nor  settled  pastor.  The  church,  however, 
met  regularly  on  the  Sabbath  for  public  worship,  and 
when  they  were  destitute  of  a  pastor  conducted  the 
devotional  exercises  themselves.  A  portion  of  the 
time  they  were  supplied  by  missionaries,  among 
whom  were  the  following:  Revs.  John  Sanford, 
James  Hubbard,  Amasa  Smith,  Reuben  Torrey,  C. 
H.  Nichols,  Curtis  Coe,  Samuel  W.  Colburn,  Moses 

1  The  increase  in  population  in  1802  was  owing  to  the  annexation  of 
the  town  of  Fall  River,  R.  I.,  which  contained  a  population  of  about 
three  thousand  five  hundred  and  ninety. 

-  For  history  of  Unitarian  Church,  see  Appendix. 


348 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL  COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Osborne,  Isaac  Jones,  Seth  Chapin,  Silas  Shove, 
Otis  Lane,  and  Loring  D.  Dewey.  During  the  first 
three  years  after  their  organization  there  were  added 
to  the  church,  chiefly  by  profession,  thirty  members, 
among  whom  were  only  four  males. 

While  this  church  was  without  a  house  of  worship 
their  meetings  were  held  sometimes  at  private  houses, 
sometimes  in  a  large  store-room,  sometimes  in  the  only 
school-house  in  the  place,  and  occasionally  in  the  line 
meeting-house,  an  edifice  located  on  the  line  between 
the  States  of  Massachusetts  and  Rhode  Island,  and 
erected  in  1798. 

The  first  movements  for  the  erection  of  a  church 
edifice  were  inaugurated  in  1819,  and  in  1821  and 
1822  their  first  house  of  worship  was  erected,  and 
dedicated  in  February,  1823.  It  was  forty-five  feet 
long  by  thirty-six  wide,  with  a  vestry  underneath. 
This  was  the  second  meeting-house  built  in  Fall 
River,  the  Friends  having  built  a  small  house  for 
worship  in  1821. 

An  ecclesiastical  Congregational  Society  was  formed 
in  1820,  and  incorporated  in  February,  1821.  The  in- 
corporators of  the  society  caused  considerable  excite- 
ment in  the  town,  which,  however,  "  soon  spent  itself 
by  its  own  warmth,  and  ultimately  did  no  harm  to 
the  society." 

The  first  settled  pastor  was  Rev.  Augustus  B.  Eeed, 
who  was  ordained  and  installed  July  2,  1823.  His 
salary  was  four  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  per  year. 
Mr.  Reed  remained  until  Aug.  3,  1825.  Nov.  1, 1826, 
Rev.  Thomas  M.Smith  became  pastor, and  continued 
until  April  27,  1831. 

In  1827,  the  first  year  of  Mr.  Smith's  ministry,  an 
addition  of  twenty-five  feet  was  made  to  the  length  of 
the  meeting-house. 

May  22,  1831,  Rev.  Orin  Fowler,  A.M.,  became 
pastor  of  this  church  and  remained  until  May  15, 
1850. 

Mr.  Fowler  was  born  in  Lebanon,  Conn.,  July  29, 
1791.  Upon  his  settlement  in  Fall  River  he  entered 
zealously  into  every  project  looking  to  the  advance- 
ment of  the  material,  educational,  and  religious  wel- 
fare of  the  town.  He  was  a  member  of  the  State 
Semite  from  this  district,  and  in  1848,  before  his 
senatorial  term  had  expired,  he  was  elected  to  the 
Thirty-First  Congress.  He  died  Sept.  3,  1852.  Mr. 
Fowler  was  dismissed  from  the  pastorate  of  the 
church  in  May,  1850,  and  in  the  same  month  was 
succeeded  by  Rev.  Benjamin  J.  Relyea,  who  re- 
mained until  April,  1856.  He  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  J.  Lewis  Diman,  D.D.,  in  April,  1856,  who 
continued  until  February,  1860.  He  was  afterwards 
professor  of  history  in  Brown  University.  In  May, 
1861,  Rev.  Solomon  P.  Fay  was  installed,  who  re- 
mained until  Oct.  1,  1863,  when  he  was  succeeded 
in  the  following  month  by  Rev.  William  W.  Adams, 
D.D.,  who  was  acting  pastor  until  Sept.  14, 1864,  when 
he  was  installed  as  pastor,  and  has  remained  to  the 
present  time. 


The  present  church  edifice  was  erected  in  1831-32, 
at  a  cost  of  about  $16,500. 

In  1856  the  interior  was  entirely  remodeled,  walls 
of  audience-room  and  ceiling  frescoed,  pulpit  trans- 
ferred from  east  to  west  end  of  the  church,  etc. 

In  1866  a  new  organ  was  procured  of  Messrs. 
Hook,  in  Boston,  at  an  expense  of  about  $4000; 
water  motor  added  in  1880;  1868,  mission  chapel 
built  and  furnished,  at  a  cost  of  about  $4000;  1872, 
missionary  employed  in  connection  with  the  chapel 
Sunday-school ;  1873-74,  parsonage  built,  at  a  cost, 
with  lot,  of  $16,400. 

In  1874  the  Third  Congregational  Church1  was 
organized  in  mission  chapel,  which  they  have  since 
continuously  occupied. 

In  1875  the  chapel  was  removed  to  a  better  loca- 
tion, enlarged,  frescoed,  thoroughly  refitted,  and  pro- 
vided with  basement  for  Sunday-school,  etc. ;  change 
in  First  Church  from  afternoon  to  evening  service. 

In  1876  new  articles  of  faith  and  covenant  were 
adopted,  and  in  1878  the  weekly  offering  system  was 
adopted;  1881,  pastor  sent  abroad  for  a  year,  all  ex- 
penses paid,  and  pulpit  supplied  by  the  society.  In 
1882  church  edifice  thoroughly  renovated  within  and 
without,  newly  upholstered  and  furnished,  at  an  ex- 
pense of  $8500. 

Present  membership,  Jan.  1,  1883,  47  males,  157 
females;  total,  204.  Total  membership  from  organi- 
zation, 831. 

Contributions  for  strictly  charitable  objects  from 
1865  to  1882,  inclusive,  $48,000;  besides  large  sums 
given  by  individuals. 

Subsidiary  organizations:  Ladies'  Benevolent  So- 
ciety, Society  for  Good  Works,  Woman's  Foreign 
Missionary  Society,  Children's  Missionary  Society. 

The  officers  for  1883  are  as  follows:  Deacons, 
Hiram  Bliss  (emeritus),  F.  W.  Macomber,  George 
W.  Bobbins;  Clerk,  Hiram  G.  Andrews;  Sunday- 
school  Superintendent,  Isaac  Borden ;  Chorister, 
Charles  H.  Bobbins. 

The  Central  Congregational  Church  of  Fall 
Riyer  was  organized  Nov.  16,  1842.  Seventy  mem- 
bers of  the  First  Orthodox  Congregational  Church, 
then  under  the  pastoral  care  of  Rev.  Orin  Fowler, 
were  dismissed  from  that  church,  and  united  to  form 
this  new  body. 

A  council  composed  of  the  pastors  of  the  neighbor- 
ing churches,  with  their  delegates,  confirmed  and 
ratified  the  organization.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Sheldon,  of 
the  church  in  Easton,  was  moderator  of  the  council, 
and  Rev.  Erastus  Maltby,  of  Taunton,  scribe. 

A  warrant  being  issued,  and  a  meeting  called  for 
the  purpose,  according  to  the  statutes  of  the  State,  a 
corporate  and  legal  form  was  given  to  the  organiza- 
tion on  the  20th  of  January,  1843,  which  then  as- 
sumed the  name  of  "The  Central  Congregational 
Society  of  Fall  River." 


1  See  history  elsewhere  in  this  work. 


FALL  RIVER. 


349 


The  members  of  this  society  were  Amery  Glazier, 
Nathan  Durfee,  Benjamin  Earl,  Richard  Borden, 
Henry  H.  Fish,  Abraham  Cook,  John  S.  Cotton, 
William  A.  Burt,  Charles  C.  Dillingham,  Edward  S. 
Chase,  Daniel  Leonard,  Henry  Woodward,  and  Jesse 
Eddy. 

Three  days  later,  Jan.  23,  1843,  the  society  met, 
and  a  committee  previously  appointed  to  secure  a  lot 
for  a  church  edifice,  reported  as  follows:  "The  lot 
on  Bedford  Street,  known  as  the  Massasoit  lot,  and 
belonging  to  Messrs.  Bradford  Durfee,  Nathan  Dur- 
fee, Joseph  Durfee,  and  Mrs.  Fidelia  B.  Durfee,  can 
be  had  as  a  donation,  for  the  erection  of  a  house  of 
public  worship  thereon,  for  the  use  of  the  Central 
Congregational  Society,  if  said  lot  will  answer  the 
uses  of  the  society." 

The  lot  was  accepted,  and  a  committee  at  once  ap- 
pointed to  prepare  a  plan  for  the  house,  with  the 
estimated  cost.  Nathan  Durfee  was  chairman  of  that 
committee. 

The  result  was  the  erection  of  the  building  on  the 
lot  at  the  corner  of  Rock  and  Bedford  Streets,  which 
was  dedicated  for  worship  March  27,  1844,  and  was 
used  for  that  purpose  until  the  completion  and  dedica- 
tion of  the  new  building,  which  now  stands  at  the 
corner  of  Rock  and  Franklin  Streets,  a  period  of 
nearly  thirty-one  years. 

It  formerly  fronted  upon  Bedford  Street,  but  in  1882 
was  turned  around,  and  now  fronts  on  Rock  Street. 
It  is  still  used  by  the  Sabbath-school  of  the  Central 
Church. 

This  first  church  was  built  by  Melvin  Borden,  who 
had  erected  the  frame  and  collected  a  large  part  of 
the  material  when  the  memorable  fire  of  July  2,  1843, 
destroyed  the  lumber  and  delayed  the  work.  The 
frame  was  by  great  exertion  saved. 

When  the  fire  occurred  the  society  was  worshiping 
in  Pocasset  Hall,  in  a  building  used  as  a  hotel,  and 
known  as  the  Pocasset  House.  This  building  was 
burned,  and  the  one  now  called  Pocasset  Block  stands 
upon  its  site. 

This  most  destructive  fire  by  which  Fall  River  has 
ever  been  visited  not  only  turned  the  society  adrift, 
but  rendered  scores  of  families  homeless. 

In  this  emergency  the  congregation  were  most  cor- 
dially invited  to  the  full  and  free  use  of  the  Baptist 
temple  for  their  worship,  with  the.  privilege  of  using 
the  pulpit  one-half  of  each  Sabbath. 

The  Rev.  Asa  Bronson  was  then  the  pastor  of  that 
church,  a  man  made  up  without  stint  in  soul  or  body, 
a  man  who  was  a  tower  of  strength  in  the  religious 
history  of  Fall  River. 

This  kind   and  generous   offer  was   gratefully  ac- 
cepted, and  the  two  congregations  worshiped  together  j 
until  the  autumn,  when  the  vestry  of  the  new  build- 
ing was  ready  to  be  occupied,  and  the  congregation 
met  there. 

During  this  period  the  church  was  without  a  settled 
pastor,  and  preaching  was  supplied  by  recent  gradu- 


ates of  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Andover.  Among 
them  were  Rev.  Robert  S.  Hitchcock,  whose  father 
was  a  Congregational  clergyman  for  many  years  in 
Randolph  and  in  Wrentham;  Edward  A.  Washburn, 
who  afterwards  entered  the  Episcopal  Church,  and 
after  a  useful  life  died,  deeply  regretted,  in  New  York 
in  1881  ;  Roswell  D.  Hitchcock,  now  eminent  as  presi- 
dent of  Union  Theological  Seminary  in  New  York 
City ;  and  Benjamin  F.  Hosford.  This  last  was  a  most 
refined  and  accomplished  man,  who  did  faithful  and 
successful  work  as  pastor  of  the  Centre  Church  in 
Haverhill,  Mass.,  from  1845  till  1863,  when  ill  health 
compelled  his  resignation,  and  he  died  the  next  year 
at  the  age  of  forty-six. 

The  dedication  of  the  church  took  place  the  next 
spring,  April  24,  1844.  On  the  same  day  the  Rev. 
Samuel  Washburn  was  installed  as  the  first  pastor  of 
the  church.  Mr.  Washburn  was  a  preacher  of  more 
than  ordinary  ability,  and  possessed  a  rare  and  grace- 
ful manner  and  oratory.  Before  this  settlement  he 
had  traveled  and  preached  as  agent  of  two  of  the 
Christian  societies  of  the  church,  and  had  been  a  set- 
tled pastor  at  Greenfield,  Mass.  His  tastes  were  cul- 
tivated and  refined,  and  his  talents  and  conversation 
made  him  a  brilliant  accession  in  any  gathering  of 
scholarly  men.  He  remained  with  the  church  four 
years  and  eight  months,  and  was  dismissed  by  his  own 
repeated  request  in  January,  1849.  He  died  at  New 
York  on  the  15th  of  September,  1853.  His  last  set- 
tlement as  pastor  was  over  a  Presbyterian  Church  in 
Baltimore. 

The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  Eli  Thurston,  D.D.,  who 
was  installed  on  the  evening  of  Wednesday,  March 
21,  1849,  a  night  to  be  remembered  as  one  on  which 
occurred  one  of  the  most  violent  of  equinoctial  storms 
that  ever  visited  New  England.  Mr.  Thurston  had 
previously  been  settled  for  nearly  ten  years  over  the 
Congregational  Church  in  Hallowell,  Maine.  He 
was  born  in  Brighton,  Mass.,  in  1808,  and  commenced 
studying  for  the  ministry,  after  learning  a  trade,  at 
the  age  of  twenty-one.  After  his  conversion,  which 
took  place  at  Millbury,  Mass.  (where  he  was  learning 
his  trade),  he  became  possessed  with  the  idea  of 
preaching  the  gospel.  Nothing  could  turn  him  from 
this  purpose,  and  from  that  day  till  his  death  it  was 
the  one  absorbing  passion  of  his  life.  "  This  one  thing 
I  do"  was  as  true  of  him  as  of  Paul. 

When  he  was  settled  over  the  Central  Church  it 
had  a  membership  of  about  one  hundred.  It  had 
many  zealous,  efficient,  working  members,  and  they, 
with  their  pastor,  soon  came  to  make  the  church  a  felt 
power  in  Fall  River.  Accessions  were  made  yearly, 
and  oftentimes  in  great  numbers,  while  as  a  mission- 
ary church  at  home  and  abroad  it  came  to  stand  in 
the  front  rank  among  the  churches  of  Massachusetts. 
The  Sabbath-school  was  large  and  prosperous,  and 
from  it  as  a  centre  radiated  light  and  service  and  suc- 
cessful toil  among  the  large  population  of  the  city 
less  favored  with  religious  instruction. 


350 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Mr.  Thurston  was  a  man  of  positive  beliefs,  and 
had  a  positive  way  of  stating  his  convictions.  He 
made  no  compromise  with  error  or  half  truth,  or  with 
any  practice  which  annulled  or  would  lead  to  the  an- 
nulling of  the  commands  of  God.  His  interest  in 
questions  relating  to  the  progress  of  the  world,  its 
discoveries,  its  inventions,  its  most  wonderful  facili- 
ties for  communication  with  all  nations, — these  were 
matters  of  vital  importance  to  him.  They  aroused 
the  whole  enthusiasm  of  his  nature,  because  through 
them  he  beheld  the  grand  and  final  triumph  of  the 
gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  in  all  the  world.  This  was  the 
glorious  consummation  to  which  he  devoted  all  the 
power  and  energy  of  his  own  life,  and  his  unfaltering 
faith  in  its  accomplishment.  It  gave  zest  and  hope 
and  cheerful  alacrity  to  his  every  effort.  In  his  earlier 
ministry  at  Hallowell,  when  the  subject  of  slavery  had 
come  to  divide  the  church  as  well  as  the  politics  of  the 
country,  he  had  thrown  all  the  weight  of  his  eloquence 
and  influence  into  the  anti-slavery  balance,  and  with 
such  impetuous  fervor  as  to  bring  upon  himself  much 
reproach,  and  so  it  was  later,  as  a  natural  sequence,  in 
the  dark  days  of  the  war,  which  this  sin  brought  upon 
the  country,  his  whole  soul  was  stirred  to  its  depths, 
and  his  sympathy  in  the  struggle  most  intense.  Then, 
too,  his  faith  in  God  and  in  his  omnipotent  power  to 
work  righteousness  and  redeem  the  world  from  sin 
did  not  forsake  him.  It  was  the  strong  tower  into 
which  his  soul  fled  and  was  safe.  In  his  appeals  in 
those  days,  made  from  the  pulpit  and  often  from  the 
rostrum  of  the  large  City  Hall,  to  the  manhood,  the 
loyalty,  the  Christian  sentiment,  the  patriotism  of  our 
citizens,  he  showed  an  eloquence  and  a  strength  of 
intellectual  power  which  will  never  be  forgotten. 
Probably  no  one  man  in  Bristol  County  wielded  so 
strong  an  influence,  and  so  long  as  he  lived,  and  as 
often  as  he  spoke  in  Fall  River  upon  this  topic,  or 
upon  temperance,  or  upon  any  social  reform,  never 
did  he  lack  an  audience.  The  opposers  of  truth  and 
the  enemies  of  reform  acknowledged  the  power  and 
pungency  of  his  reasoning,  for  his  logic  was  close  and 
almost  invulnerable  when  one  had  conceded  his  prem- 
ises, and  he  had  the  eloquence  which  comes  from 
highest  personal  conviction. 

In  the  work  which  fell  to  the  Christian  minister  in 
the  days  of  the  civil  war,  Mr.  Thurston  was  helped  and 
stimulated  by  the  sympathy  and  co-operation  of  his 
dear  friend  and  brother  minister,  the  Rev.  P.  B. 
Haughwant,  of  the  First  Baptist  Church.  For  many 
years  the  Central  Church  came  under  the  influence 
and  most  eloquent  preaching  of  this  talented  and 
accomplished  scholar,  whose  interest  in  the  war  and 
whose  zeal  for  the  right  were  equal  to  Mr.  Thurston's. 
The  two  men  stand  side  by  side  and  heart  with  heart 
to  all  who  review  that  period  of  greatest  interest  in 
the  history  of  the  American  citizen  of  this  century. 
The  Central  Church  enjoyed  the  blessing  of  Dr. 
Thurston's  ministry  for  twenty-two  years.  In  De- 
cember, 1869,  he  was  seized  with  pneumonia,  and 


died  on  the  19th  of  the  same  month,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-one  years. 

At  the  time  of  Dr.  Thurston's  death  the  Central 
Church  was  large,  vigorous,  and  prosperous.  It  had 
a  membership  of  nearly  three  hundred,  many  of  whom 
were,  intelligent,  active  workers  in  the  Lord's  vine- 
yard. They  had  been  trained  to  a  consecration  of 
wealth  as  well  as  of  heart,  and  were  among  the  most 
cheerful  and  hearty  supporters  of  the  gospel  through- 
out the  world,  while  their  obligations  to  the  poor  and 
ignorant  about  them  were  never  ignored. 

A  mission  school,  which  for  some  years  existed  as 
a  union  school,  had  been  partially  under  the  care  of 
members  of  this  church,  but  for  some  time  previous 
to  this  date  had  assumed  a  separate  and  distinct  or- 
ganization, under  the  sole  care  of  the  Central  Church, 
and  the  large  and  commodious  mission  building,  on 
Pleasant  Street,  was  purchased  by  the  society. 

The  services  of  Rev.  Edwin  A.  Buck,  of  Slaterville, 
R.  I.,  were  secured  as  a  missionary  to  have  the  care 
of  this  branch  of  the  service.  Mr.  Buck's  work  in 
this  department  has  now  been  most  successfully  car- 
ried on  for  fifteen  years.  Mr.  Thomas  F.  Eddy  was 
the  efficient  superintendent  of  the  mission-school  for 
twenty-five  years.  His  successor  is  Mr.  Alphonso  S. 
Covel. 

Very  many  have  been  trained  in  the  mission-school 
who  have  added  to  the  strength  as  well  as  the  num- 
bers of  the  church.     It  has  been  a  great  blessing. 

Dr.  Thurston's  death  occurred  at  the  close  of  the 
year  1869.  In  the  spring  of  1870  the  people  listened 
to  the  preaching  of  the  Rev.  Michael  Burnham,  who 
was  still  in  the  seminary  at  Andover,  and  their  choice 
fell  upon  him  as  successor  to  their  late  pastor.  Mr. 
Burnham  graduated  in  June,  and  was  installed  as 
pastor  of  the  Central  Church  Oct.  25,  1870.  His  or- 
dination occurred  at  the  same  time. 

Under  Mr.  Burnham's  ministry  the  church  con- 
tinued to  prosper  and  increase  in  numbers,  and  it  was 
thought  best  to  enlarge  the  space  and  opportunity  to 
give  the  gospel  to  a  larger  number  of  the  rapidly- 
increasing  population.  For  this  purpose  it  was 
decided  to  build  a  larger  and  more  enduring  house  of 
worship  in  some  new  locality.  In  March  and  April, 
1872,  measures  were  taken  for  this  purpose,  and  a 
valuable  lot  secured,  comprising  the  whole  space  on 
Rock  Street  between  Franklin  and  Bank  Streets.  The 
purchase  comprised  one  hundred  and  four  square 
rods,  and  cost  something  over  fifty-six  thousand  dol- 
lars. A  building  committee  was  chosen,  consisting  of 
Thomas  J.  Borden,  Robert  K.  Remington,  William 
H.  Jennings,  and  Holder  B.  Durfee. 

The  subscriptions  to  the  new  building  were  about 
one  hundred  .and  twenty-six  thousand  dollars,  and  a 
contract  was  made  at  once  for  a  brick  and  stone 
building,  in  the  Victorian  early  English  Gothic  style, 
stately  in  proportions  and  complete  in  detail,  to  be 
erected  on  the  northerly  and  easterly  sections  of  the 
new  lot.     The  work  was  commenced  in  May,  1874, 


FALL  RIVER. 


351 


the  basement  walls  and  brick  pillars  to  support  the 
floor  were  put  in,  and  on  July  23d  of  that  year  the 
congregation  assembled  with  glad  hearts  to  lay  with 
solemn  ceremony  the  corner-stone.  The  report  of 
the  building  committee  was  read,  appropriate  hymns 
were  sung  by  the  congregation,  the  selections  and 
music  being  under  the  care  of  Mr.  Charles  Durfee, 
chorister,  and  Mr.  Lyman  W.  Deane,  the  organist  of 
the  church.  A  very  interesting  and  impressive  ad- 
dress was  made  by  the  pastor,  and  the  corner-stone 
was  hud  with  all  due  formality  by  the  senior  deacons 
of  the  church.  These  were  Deacon  Benjamin  Earl 
and  Dr.  Nathan  Durfee. 

The  box,  which  was  properly  sealed,  and  was  placed 
under  the  stone,  contained  the  confession  of  faith 
of  the  church,  a  list  of  pastors  and  officers  and  mem- 
bers, a  history  of  the  organization  and  subsequent 
growth  of  the  church,  history  of  Fall  River,  copies  of 
the  local  newspapers  and  of  the  religious  papers  of 
the  day.  After  the  laying  of  the  corner-stone  the 
work  on  the  building  went  rapidly  on,  and  was  fin- 
ished before  the  end  of  the  following  year  (1875). 

The  costly  and  elegant  structure  thus  completed, 
with  tower  and  steeple,  with  nave  and  transept,  and 
high-reaching  roof,  is  built  of  brick,  with  freestone 
trimmings  and  facings,  and  occupies  the  whole  north- 
ern portion  of  the  lot  on  Franklin  Street,  with  a  front- 
age of  one  hundred  and  forty  feet  on  Rock  Street. 
This  includes  an  elegant  cloister,  by  which  the  main 
building  is  destined  eventually  to  join  a  chapel  on 
the  south  end  of  the  lot.  One  cannot  fail,  on  looking 
at  the  building  from  the  east,  on  Rock  Street,  of  re- 
ceiving the  impression  of  grand  solidity  and  strength, 
as  well  as  of  most  harmonious  proportion  and  elegance 
of  finish  in  all  the  exterior  decoration. 

The  main  entrance,  through  a  heavy  black  walnut 
door  hung  in  a  case  of  the  same  wood,  and  sur- 
rounded and  ornamented  with  a  belting  of  stone 
richly  cut  in  flower-work,  is  enriched  also  by  fine 
and  highly-polished  pillars  of  Scotch  granite.  These 
elegant  pillars,  with  carved  capitals,  and  stone-cut- 
ting in  relief,  are  continued  at  the  entrance  of  the 
cloister. 

The  floor  of  this  building,  as  well  as  all  the  vesti- 
bules, are  of  handsome  tile.  The  tower  is  on  the 
northeast  corner,  quadrangular  in  form,  and  is  sup- 
ported by  heavy  buttresses  on  both  Rock  and  Frank- 
lin Streets,  trimmed  at  the  base  and  all  along  its  edges 
with  freestone.  It  is  provided  with  abundant  win- 
dows, and  at  some  seventy-five  or  eighty  feet  from 
the  ground  the  form  is  changed  to  a  hexagonal,  and 
carried  up  to  its  full  height  of  one  hundred  and 
ninety  feet,  with  an  occasional  belt  of  stone,  and  sur- 
mounted with  a  gilded  cross.  It  is  one  of  the  finest 
and,  to  the  eye,  most  satisfactory  steeples  to  be  seen 
in  this  part  of  the  State. 

On  the  front,  to  the  left  of  the  main  entrance,  is 
the  beautiful  motto  in  Gothic  letters,  "Let  us  exalt 
His  name  together."     On  the  right,  in  a  narrow  space 


between  the  buttress  of  the  tower  and  the  entrance, 
is  another,  "  Praise  ye  the  Lord."  On  the  Franklin 
Street  side  is  the  sentence,  "Seek  ye  the  Lord  while 
He  may  be  found  ;  call  ye  upon  Him  while  He  is 
near." 

At  intervals  on  the  outside  of  the  fiant  are  several 
panels  of  stone  inserted  in  the  brick  wall  and  cut  in 
rosettes.  The  eaves  and  border  of  the  roof  are 
arched  with  stone. 

The  main  entrance  ushers  you  into  an  extended 
portico,  where,  on  the  left  and  right,  wide  staircases 
invite  to  the  gallery  above.  Beyond  the  stairway  the 
corridor  leads  to  various  anterooms  for  the  use  and 
convenience  of  the  people.  Those  at  the  north  end 
are  appropriated  to  the  ladies,  while  at  the  south  end 
are  rooms  for  gentlemen.  They  are  supplied  with 
heat  and  water  and  every  needed  furnishing. 

Two  very  large  and  elegant  parlors  for  the  work 
and  business  of  the  society,  and  for  social  gatherings, 
connect  these  accommodations  with  the  main  body 
of  the  church,  while  a  finished  basement  below  sup- 
plies all  that  is  needed  for  culinary  and  domestic 
purposes  when  food  is  provided. 

Coming  to  the  auditorium  the  eye  is  struck  with 
the  size  of  the  room  and  its  adaptedness  for  religious 
worship.  Including  the  space  occupied  by  the  pulpit 
platform,  it  is  not  far  from  one  hundred  feet  long  by  one 
hundred  and  thirteen  feet  wide  in  the  rear,  and  about 
one  hundred  and  thirty  feet  in  the  transepts,  and  over 
seventy  feet  in  height  to  the  ridge  of  the  roof.  It  is 
finished  in  pure  Gothic  style,  with  arches  between 
the  pillars  clear  to  the  ridge.  The  seating  capacity, 
including  the  main  and  transept  galleries,  is  some 
twelve  or  thirteen  hundred,  while  eighteen  hundred 
can  easily  be  provided  for  by  filling  up  the  spaces 
with  camp-chairs.  Numerous  exits  in  front  and  rear 
afford  opportunity  to  vacate  the  church  in  a  few  mo- 
ments should  occasion  require. 

The  pulpit  platform  is  at  the  extreme  west  end  of 
the  audience-room,  in  the  main  body  of  the  church. 
It  is  fourteen  and  a  half  feet  in  width  by  twenty-four 
feet  in  length,  and  has  a  small  but  richly-ornamented 
desk  for  the  speaker. 

A  wide  and  handsome  arch  is  thrown  over  the  plat- 
form with  the  inscription,  "  The  gift  of  God  is  eternal 
life  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord." 

A  capacious  recess  with  inner  arch  has  the  motto, 
"  Worship  the  Lord  in  the  beauty  of  holiness,"  and 
this  encloses  a  highly  decorative  design  illustrating 
the  Trinity.  It  is  formed  by  a  triangle,  within  which 
the  quaint  Latin  symbol  of  the  doctrine  is  made  by 
the  word  "  Deus"  in  the  centre,  with  radiations  to 
the  three  points  of  the  diagram,  where  the  letters 
"P."  "F."  "S  S."  stand  for  Father,  Son,  and  Holy 
Spirit,  while  the  radiating  lines,  with  the  Latin  word 
"  est"  reading  one  way  and  "  non  est"  the  other, 
make  a  puzzle  such  as  old  divines  delighted  to  quarrel 
over  through  centuries  of  church  history. 

The  pastor's  room,  at  the  north  end  of  the  platform, 


352 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


is  one  of  the  gems  of  this  beautiful  church.  It  is  pro- 
vided with  whatever  can  contribute  to  the  comfort  and 
quiet  of  the  speaker  before  and  after  the  service,  and 
is  a  most  restful,  as  well  as  tasteful,  little  room.  It 
is  entered  by  a  door  from  Franklin  Street,  and,  be- 
sides the  door  leading  to  the  platform,  has  two  which 
open  upon  the  floor  of  the  church.  Upon  the  front 
of  this  room,  which  projects  out  into  the  body  of  the 
church,  is  inserted  a  large  and  most  beautiful  memo- 
rial tablet  of  Tennessee  marble,  with  rich  marble 
pillars  and  sculptured  adornments,  the  whole  set  in  a 
frame  of  heavy  black  walnut.  This  tablet  is  a  memo- 
rial to  the  first  two  pastors  of  the  church,  Rev.  Sam- 
uel Washburn  and  Rev.  Eli  Thurston,  D.D. 

The  organ  stands  at  the  southwest  corner  of  the 
auditorium,  projecting  slightly  into  the  church,  par- 
allel with  the  pastor's  room  on  the  north  of  the  plat- 
form. It  has  a  very  elegant  and  elaborate  case,  and  is 
one  of  the  finest  instruments  ever  manufactured  by 
Hook  &  Hastings,  of  Boston.  Its  tone  and  compass 
are  nearly  perfect,  and  such  as  to  give  exquisite 
pleasure  to  the  most  cultivated  musical  taste. 

The  interior  decorations  of  ceiling  and  fresco  are 
in  Gothic  style,  to  accord  with  the  exterior.  The  tints 
are  of  soft  gray,  with  borders  of  drab,  the  lines  and 
figures  relieved  by  gold.  The  wood-work  is  of  black 
walnut,  much  of  it  being  finely  carved.  The  windows 
are  of  rich  stained  glass;  the  small  and  delicate  clus- 
tered pillars  that  support  the  roof  are  gilt-bronze ;  the 
gas  (struck  by  electricity)  is  so  arranged  as  to  throw 
light  down  upon  the  audience,  and  thus  never  pain- 
fully to  meet  the  eye ;  indeed,  the  whole  effect  of  the 
interior  arrangement  is  so  perfect  as  never  to  bewilder 
or  astonish,  but  seems  ever  to  breathe  a  solemn  repose 
and  a  comforting  sense  of  the  fitness  of  it  all  to  the 
worship  of  God. 

The  society  took  leave  of  the  old  church  on  Sab- 
bath afternoon,  Dec.  12,  1875.  A  most  interesting 
sermon  was  preached  on  the  occasion  by  Mr.  Burn- 
ham,  from  2d  Peter  iii.  chapter,  1st  verse  (last  clause), 
"  I  stir  up  your  pure  minds  by  way  of  remembrance." 
The  formation  and  history  of  the  church  was  reviewed 
in  that  sermon,  and  just  and  worthy  tributes  paid  to 
its  former  pastors,  and  to  all  who  had  helped  to  sus- 
tain it.  The  congregation  present  on  that  occasion 
numbered  five  hundred  and  sixty. 

On  the  following  evening,  Monday,  Dec.  13,  1875, 
the  new  church  was  dedicated.  The  dedication  ser- 
vices were  of  great  interest,  and  the  building  was  filled 
by  a  large  audience  of  over  two  thousand  people.  The 
audience-room  was  on  this  occasion  most  brilliantly 
lighted,  while  elegant  floral  decorations,  from  the  con- 
servatories of  Dr.  Nathan  Durfee  and  Mr.  C.  V.  S. 
Remington,  adorned  the  pulpit  and  platform.  A 
splendid  crown  of  roses  was  placed  in  the  family  pew 
of  the  late  Dr.  Thurston,  while  a  cross  of  the  same 
lovely  flowers  adorned  the  pew  of  the  present  pastor. 
The  touching  significance  of  these  tokens  added  to 
their   loveliness  and  beauty.     An   organ   voluntary, 


under  the  skillful  hand  of  Mr.  Lyman  W.  Dean, 
brought  out  the  long  time  honored  and  deep  tones 
of  "  Old  Hundred,"  succeeded  by  the  grand  anthem 
of  Mozart,  "  Praise  the  Lord,"  by  a  choir  of  select 
singers,  who  occupied  the  south  transept.  The  prayer 
of  invocation  was  by  Dr.  J.  W.  Wellman,  of  Maiden. 
The  Scriptures  were  read  by  Dr.  William  W.  Adams, 
of  the  First  Congregational  Church,  and  the  sermon 
was  preached  by  Dr.  Richard  S.  Storrs,  of  Brooklyn, 
N.  Y.  The  text  was  John  xvii.  chapter,  20th  verse, 
"Neither  pray  I  for  these  alone,  but  for  them  who 
believe  through  their  word."  It  was  delivered  with- 
out notes,  and  was  an  able  and  instructive  discourse 
on  the  power  and  efficacy  delegated  to  the  church  by 
their  risen  Lord,  a  power  greater  than  he  could 
have  exerted  by  remaining  on  earth  under  mortal 
conditions  and  limits,  because  it  brought  into  exercise 
faith,  which  all  could  exercise,  and  which  could  over- 
come all  things.  Mr.  Burnham  offered  the  dedicatory 
prayer,  followed  by  the  anthem  from  Leach,  "How 
Beautiful  are  Thy  Dwellings."  The  exercises  closed 
with  the  singing  of  the  Doxology  by  the  whole  con- 
gregation, and  the  benediction  by  the  pastor. 

With  these  formal  services  was  dedicated  to  the 
service  of  the  living  God,  this  church  building, 
which  stands  to-day  among  the  chief  achitectural 
ornaments  of  the  city,  arranged  with  every  appliance 
of  invention  and  art  to  make  it  a  comfortable  and 
suitable  place  of  worship. 

But  these  satisfactory  outward  conditions  did  not 
suffice  to  ward  off'  from  the  church,  within  a  short 
time,  great  perplexity  and  financial  embarrassment. 
This  came  from  many  trying  causes,  as  well  as  from 
the  universal  depression  of  all  business  (succeeding 
the  panic  of  1873).  and  especially  of  the  manufactur- 
ing interest,  upon  which  in  Fall  River  everything  de- 
pends. 

The  sun  of  prosperity  had  shone  for  many  years 
upon  this  Christian  enterprise,  but  now  the  clouds  of 
adversity  darkened  its  sky,  and  with  the  incubus  of  a 
heavy  debt,  resulting  from  inability  to  dispose  of  its 
old  lot  and  building  as  had  been  contemplated,  and 
the  removal  by  death  of  some  who  had  been  its  strong 
supporters,  it  was  greatly  tried.  It  had  missed  for 
several  years  the  counsel  and  presence  of  one  of  its 
most  honored  and  most  devoted  members,  Col.  Rich- 
ard Borden.  With  wise  judgment  and  generous  heart, 
he  had  stood  by  the  church  through  every  vicissitude, 
and  with  longing  desire  had  hoped  to  see  the  extension 
and  enlarged  usefulness  which  he  felt  would  come  to 
the  church  through  this  new  temple  to  God's  honor, 
but  he  did  not  live  till  its  completion. 

After  struggling  with  a  debt  of  more  than  one  hun- 
dred thousand  dollars  for  four  years,  a  strenuous  and 
successful  effort  was  made  on  Sunday,  Feb.  1,  1880,  to 
raise  the  debt.  More  than  seventy  thousand  dollars 
were  raised  by  that  day's  efforts,  and  this  with  subse- 
quent donations,  added  to  property  already  held  by 
the   church,   canceled   the   obligation.      The   people 


FALL   RIVER. 


353 


were  greatly  indebted  in  this  work  to  the  interest  and 
influence  of  Rev.  Dr.  Alexander  McKenzie,  of  Cam- 
bridge, Mass.,  who  had  been  a  friend  and  helper  of 
the  church  for  several  years,  and  who  was  rewarded 
by  the  grateful  affection  of  all  the  people. 

The  pastor,  too,  gave  himself  untiringly  to  this  work 
for  months  previous  to  the  happy  crisis,  and  by  his 
unwearied  and  judicious  efforts  secured  large  aid  and 
sympathy  from  a  few  generous-hearted  Christian  men 
in  Boston  and  other  places.  This  strain,  added  to  all 
the  cares  and  duties  of  so  large  a  parish,  resulted  in 
injury  to  Mr.  Burnham's  health,  and  although  he 
continued  for  two  years  longer  to  work  with  great 
zeal  and  efficiency,  he  became  convinced  that  it 
would  be  better  for  him  to  leave  the  Central  Church 
and  enter  another  field  of  labor.  With  great  reluc- 
tance he  was  dismissed  in  the  summer  of  1882,  and 
in  October  of  that  year  was  settled  over  the  Immanuel 
Congregational  Church  at  Boston  Highlands,  Mass. 

Almost  immediately  after  Mr.  Burnham's  dismis- 
sion the  church  and  society  united  in  giving  a  call  to 
Rev.  Eldridge  Mix,  D.D.,  who  had  for  some  years 
previous  ministered  to  the  First  Presbyterian  Church 
in  Orange,  N.  J.  Dr.  Mix  was  installed  Wednesday 
evening,  Sept.  27,  1882.  The  sermon  was  by  Rev.  Dr. 
Alexander  McKenzie,  and  the  other  services  were 
conducted  by  Rev.  Samuel  G.  Willard,  of  Colchester, 
Conn.;  Rev.  Michael  Burnham,  Boston  Highlands; 
Rev.  William  W.  Adams,  D.D.,  Fall  River,  and  Rev. 
A.  J.  F.  Beh rends,  Providence,  R.  I.  The  present 
membership  of  the  church  is  four  hundred  and  fifty- 
nine. 

The  Third  Congregational  Church  was  organized 
in  1874,  with  Rev.  Leander  S.  Coan  as  pastor,  who 
remained  until  1875,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  the 
present  pastor,  Rev.  Calvin  Keyser.  The  church 
edifice  was  erected  in  1874,  and  is  located  on  Havover 
Street,  corner  of  Maple. 

First  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.1— The  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church  in  Fall  River  cannot  boast  of 
a  very  early  origin.  Somerset,  a  few  miles  distant, 
had  been  favored  with  Methodist  preaching  for  about 
twenty  years  previous  to  any  account  of  regular 
preaching  by  Methodist  ministers  in  this  place.  In 
the  year  1824,  Rev.  Ebenezer  Blake,  then  stationed  at 
Somerset,  now  South  Somerset,  held  meetings  in  this 
place,  then  a  considerable  village  called  Troy,  and  for 
a  time,  according  to  an  old  record,  "  preached  lectures" 
once  in  two  weeks.  He  was  succeeded  at  Somerset 
in  June,  1825,  by  Rev.  Herman  Perry,  who  continued 
to  preach  or  "lecture"  in  the  village,  and  during 
the  year  formed  a  class  of  about  twelve  members. 
Of  this  first  class  John  Anthony,  afterwards  a  local 
preacher  of  the  Bank  Street  Church,  then  a  young 
man,  was  appointed  leader.  Luther  Chace  and  wife, 
Constant  B.  Wyatt,  Elouisa  Chase,  who  afterwards 
married  a  Mr.  Pierce,  Rebecca  Lindsey,  now  Tilling- 


1  By  Rev.  W.  A.  Luce. 


hast,  Nancy  Cory,  afterwards  the  wife  of  Rev.  Daniel 
Webb,  and  Betsey  L.  Douglas  were  members.  In  June, 
1826,  Revs.  Charles  Virgin  and  Nathan  B.  Spaulding 
were  appointed  to  Somerset,  one  of  whom  preached  in 
this  place  once  in  two  weeks. 

About  the  commencement  of  the  year  1827  fruits  of 
their  labors  began  to  appear.  A  gracious  revival  com- 
menced, and  Mr.  Spaulding  confined  his  labors  entirely 
to  this  place  the  remainder  of  the  Conference  year.  A 
school-house,  standing  on  the  corner  of  Anawan  and 
South  Main  Streets,  was  their  place  of  worship.  How 
many  were  added  to  this  number  we  have  no  means 
of  knowing.  There  is  a  single  record  of  the  ordinance 
of  baptism  administered  to  nine  persons,  April  1, 1827, 
by  Mr.  Virgin.  At  the  Conference  in  the  following 
June,  Rev.  E.  T.  Taylor,  afterwards  universally  known 
as  "  Father"  Taylor,  and  justly  celebrated  for  his  labors 
in  behalf  of  seamen,  was  appointed  to  Fall  River,  he 
being  the  first  minister  sent  to  the  place  by  the  Con- 
ference. The  appointment  appears  on  the  minutes  in 
connection  with  Little  Coinpton,  and  Amos  Binney 
was  his  colleague.  They  were,  however,  virtually 
distinct  charges.  A  new  church  edifice  was  immedi- 
ately commenced,  which  was  completed  and  dedicated 
December  25th  of  the  same  year.  It  was  a  modest, 
unpretending  structure,  without  spire  or  bell,  and  sit- 
uated a  little  off  from  what  is  now  Central  Street. 
When  the  house  was  nearly  completed  a  gentleman 
asked  Mr.  Taylor  where  they  intended  to  put  the  bell. 
With  a  significant  turn  of  the  head  he  promptly  re- 
plied, "In  the  pulpit,  sir."  The  pulpit  bell  had  the 
right  ring.  Its  tone  was  loud,  clear,  inviting.  It  gave 
no  uncertain  sound.  The  people  flocked  to  hear  it 
and  were  charmed. 

The  minutes  of  the  next  Conference,  held  in  June, 
1828,  report  for  Fall  River  and  Little  Compton  one 
hundred  and  ninety  in  connection.  Mr.  Taylor  was 
reappointed  to  this  place  at  this  Conference,  but  in 
December  he  was  removed  to  the  Mariners'  Church, 
Boston,  in  which  sphere  he  labored  with  signal  suc- 
cess till  old  age  superannuated  him.  Rev.  E.  Blake, 
then  stationed  at  Easton  and  Stoughton,  and  others 
supplied  the  church  until  the  next  Conference.  At 
the  Conference  of  1829,  Mr.  Blake  was  appointed  to 
this  charge,  and  labored  with  good  success.  Two 
hundred  and  six  are  reported  in  connection  with  Fall 
River  and  Little  Compton  at  the  next  Conference. 
At  this  early  date  the  names  of  Iram  Smith  and  Wil- 
liam Mason,  of  Nehemiah  Rogers,  Edward  Mason, 
and  John  E.  Green  appear  on  the  records  as  class- 
leaders. 

Mr.  Blake  was  succeeded  in  June,  1830,  by  Rev. 
Daniel  Webb.  In  May,  1831,  Rev.  Ira  M.  Bidwell  was 
appointed  to  this  place,  and  remained  two  years. 
The  church  was  eminently  prosperous  during  his  ad- 
ministration, though  the  latter  year  was  one  of  severe 
trial  and  conflict.  As  a  result  of  their  united  efforts 
a  blessed  and  powerful  work  of  grace  was  wrought 
among  them,  extending  through  the  greater  portion 


23 


354 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


of  his  term  of  service.  Meetings  were  held  nearly 
every  night  for  about  four  months  ;  more  than  a  hun- 
dred persons  professed  conversion,  and  about  seventy- 
five  were  added  to  the  church.  But  in  the  midst  of 
this  prosperity  trials  came ;  a  terrible  storm  swept 
over  the  church  in  this  vicinity,  which  for  a  time 
threatened  complete  destruction. 

The  famous  or  rather  infamous  Avery  and  Cornell 
affair  was  the  occasion  of  this  fiery  trial.  It  occurred 
in  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1832.  Mr.  Avery  was 
then  stationed  at  Bristol,  R.  I.,  but  as  Fall  River  was 
the  scene  of  the  tragedy,  it  was  here  that  the  storm  of 
excitement  raged  with  greatest  violence.  It  is  impos- 
sible to  correctly  estimate  the  state  of  public  feeling 
which  existed  at  that  time,  and  the  violent  prejudice 
and  opposition  against  the  Methodist  Church.  As  a 
consequence  the  church  suffered  severely.  Some 
withdrew  from  the  membership,  many  more  from  the 
congregation.  But  one  man  remained  a  regular 
member  of  the  congregation  who  was  not  a  member 
of  the  church.  That  man  was  Joshua  Remington, 
who  was  then  unconverted,  but  adhered  firmly  to  the 
church  with  his  wife,  who  was  a  faithful  member. 

At  the  close  of  Mr.  Bidwell's  pastorate  Fall  River 
stands  alone  in  the  minutes  for  the  first  time,  with 
one  hundred  and  sixty  in  connection.  At  the  end  of 
Mr.  Bidwell's  first  year  the  number  reported  for  Fall 
River  and  Little  Compton  was  two  hundred  and  sev- 
enty-six, but  this  number  was  reduced  to  the  above 
figures  by  the  Avery  and  Cornell  tragedy.  In  June, 
1833,  Rev.  Squire  B.  Haskell  was  appointed  to  suc- 
ceed Mr.  Bidwell,  and  remained  two  years.  The 
membership  was  reported  to  be  one  hundred  and 
seventy-four  at  its  close. 

At  the  Conference  in  1835,  Rev.  Mark  Staple  was 
appointed  to  this  station.  The  church  had  not  even 
then  recovered  from  the  severe  shock  received  from 
the  Avery  tragedy.  A  powerful  revival  prevailed 
throughout  the  most  of  this  year,  and  at  its  close  the 
number  reported  to  the  Conference  was  two  hundred 
and  sixty-three.  Mr.  Staple  was  reappointed  in 
1836,  and  continued  until  January,  1837,  when  his 
health  failed,  and  he  was  obliged  to  resign,  and  was 
succeeded  in  February  by  Rev.  Jesse  Fillmore,  a  local 
preacher,  who  was  appointed  by  the  presiding  elder, 
Rev.  D.  Webb,  to  supply  the  church  until  the  ensuing 
Conference.  He  is  credited  with  having  put  the 
records  of  the  church  into  a  somewhat  systematic 
and  preservable  form.  Rev.  Jesse  Fillmore  was  suc- 
ceeded in  June,  1837,  by  Rev.  Hector  Bronson,  who 
served  the  church  for  one  year  only.  Notwithstand- 
ing the  labors  of  Mr.  Bronson,  the  church  was  in  a 
languishing  and  declining  state  the  whole  year.  In 
June,  1838,  Rev.  Phineas  Crandall  was  appointed  to 
this  station. 

Mr.  Crandall  labored  in  the  place  two  years,  dur- 
ing which  time  the  church  was  blessed,  in  common 
with  other  churches  in  the  village,  with  revival  influ- 
ences.    During  the  year  about  one  hundred  were  re 


ceived  into  the  church  by  profession  of  faith  and 
certificate.  Under  his  administration  an  attempt  was 
made  to  secure  a  more  suitable  place  of  worship, 
which  was  successful.  The  debt  on  the  old  house  was 
paid,  the  house  sold,  and  a  new  and  better  one  built, 
in  a  more  central  and  eligible  part  of  the  town,  near 
the  corner  of  South  Main  and  Anawan  Streets,  where 
the  present  church  stands.  This  house  was  dedicated 
to  the  worship  of  God  by  Rev.  Orange  Scott,  Feb.  20, 
1840.  At  the  end  of  Mr.  Crandall's  administration 
the  church  was  in  a  very  prosperous  condition,  with 
a  membership  of  two  hundred  and  sixty-six  souls; 
the  congregation  was  larger  and  the  prospect  for  the 
future  brighter  than  ever  before.  In  July,  1840,  he 
was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Isaac  Bonney.  In  June,  1842, 
Mr.  Bonney  was  followed  by  Rev.  Thomas  Ely.  Dur- 
ing his  second  year  the  "great  fire"  occurred,  and  the 
church  edifice  was  burned  to  the  ground.  This  was 
July  2,  1843.  The  bright  hopes  and  cheering  pros- 
pects of  the  church  seemed  all  blasted  in  one  brief 
hour.  Not  only  was  their  place  of  worship  destroyed, 
but  many  of  the  members  were  deprived  of  a  part  or 
all  of  their  property,  which  rendered  the  condition  of 
the  society  still  more  distressing  and  gloomy. 

But  the  Lord  did  not  forsake  his  people.  Although 
"  cast  down"  they  were  not  utterly  "destroyed."  The 
First  Congregational  Church  kindly  invited  the 
church  to  worship  with  them,  which  they  did  for  sev- 
eral Sabbaths,  when  A.  L.  Westgate  and  William 
Borden  having  erected  their  furniture  warehouse, 
which  had  been  destroyed  by  the  fire,  opened  an 
upper  room  in  the  same  to  accommodate  the  society 
for  the  time  being.  The  society  now  began  to  con- 
template rebuilding  their  church.  Mr.  Ely.  left  home 
and  traveled  extensively  to  solicit  funds  for  the  erec- 
tion of  a  new  church.  He  succeeded,  however,  in 
raising  but  about  seventeen  hundred  dollars.  The 
building  was  soon  commenced,  being  much  larger, 
more  commodious,  and  better  adapted  to  the  wants 
of  the  society  than  the  former  one.  On  the  3d  of 
April,  1844,  it  was  dedicated  to  the  worship  of  God, 
Rev.  Charles  K.  True  preaching  the  dedicatory  ser- 
mon. 

In  July,  1844,  Rev.  George  F.  Poole  succeeded  to 
the  pastoral  charge  of  the  church.  In  1845  he  was 
followed  by  Rev.  James  D.  Butler.  He  remained 
two  years,  which  were  years  of  great  spiritual  pros- 
perity, so  that  at  the  termination  of  his  ministry  the 
church  numbered  three  hundred  and  eighty-one 
members.  In  April,  1847,  Mr.  Butler  was  succeeded 
by  Rev.  David  Patten,  now  deceased.  Rev.  Daniel 
Wise  was  the  next  pastor  of  the  church,  being  ap- 
pointed to  the  charge  in  April,  1849.  During  the 
winter  of  his  first  year  that  eminent  evangelist,  Rev. 
James  Caughey,  labored  with  the  church  for  about 
three  months.  More  than  two  hundred  professed 
conversion  as  the  result  of  their  united  efforts. 

The  congregation  had  now  become  so  large  that 
persons  wishing  to  hire  seats  could  not  be  accommo- 


FALL  RIVER. 


355 


dated.  The  question  of  division  was  agitated,  and 
it  was  finally  decided  to  establish  a  second  congrega- 
tion, and  ask  Conference  to  send  them  two  preachers. 
Accordingly  Mr.  Wise  was  returned,  and  Rev.  Elijah 
T.  Fletcher  was  appointed  with  him.  The  result  was 
a  second  church,  now  known  as  the  Bank  Street 
Church.  At  the  next  Conference  in  1850,  Rev. 
Frederick  Upham  was  appointed  to  the  First  Church, 
and  Rev.  Ralph  W.  Allen  to  the  Second,  or  Bank 
Street  Church.  The  latter  enterprise  was  immedi- 
ately successful,  and  to-day  both  churches  number 
about  four  hundred  members  each. 

Rev.  Elisha  B.  Bradford  succeeded  Mr.  Upham  in 
April,  1853.  An  organ  costing  sixteen  hundred  dol- 
lars was  placed  in  the  church  this  year.  In  1855, 
Rev.  John  Howson,  still  living,  was  made  pastor,  and 
continued  its  minister  for  two  years.  In  1857,  Rev. 
Thomas  Ely  was  appointed  to  this  church  for  the 
second  time. 

During  the  winter  of  1857-58  this  church  shared 
in  the  gracious  visitation  then  enjoyed  by  most  of  the 
churches  in  the  land.  The  church  edifice  was  inter- 
nally improved  and  beautified  at  an  expense  of  six- 
teen hundred  dollars. 

Mr.  Ely  was  followed  in  1859  by  Rev.  Andrew 
McKeown,  who  commenced  his  ministry  under  favor- 
able auspices,  and  was  eminently  successful  in  every 
department  of  church  work.  He  reported  at  the 
close  of  his  pastorate  two  hundred  and  forty  mem- 
bers and  twelve  probationers.  In  1861,  Rev.  Charles 
H.  Payne  became  the  pastor  of  the  church.  Mr. 
Payne  is  now  president  of  one  of  the  largest  Meth- 
odist universities  in  the  West.  While  here  Mr. 
Payne  gained  the  enviable  reputation  of  being  an 
able,  popular,  and  successful  minister  of  the  gospel 
of  Jesus  Christ. 

His  successor  in  1863  was  Rev.  Henry  Baylies. 
During  this  year  a  commodious  and  comfortable  par- 
sonage was  purchased  on  South  Main  Street  at  an 
expense  of  three  thousand  one  hundred  and  thirty 
dollars.  In  the  spring  of  1864  Mr.  Baylies  returned 
to  this  charge.  Mr.  Baylies'  health  failing,  he  yielded 
to  the  conviction  that  he  could  be  more  useful  else- 
where, and  so  sought  and  obtained  a  transfer  to  the 
"  Upper  Iowa  Conference."  The  Rev.  Joseph  H. 
James,  then  a  member  of  the  New  Jersey  Conference, 
supplied  the  pulpit  for  the  remainder  of  the  year, 
being  engaged  for  the  work  by  Rev.  Paul  Townsend, 
then  presiding  elder  of  the  district.  In  March,  1867, 
J.  D.  King  was  pastor.  In  March,  1870,  Rev.  A.  A. 
Wright  followed  Mr.  King;  in  1873,  S.  L.  Gracey; 
1874,  Rev.  Ensign  McChesney  ;  in  1877,  Rev.  Watson 
L.  Phillips ;  in  1879,  Rev.  William  T.  North  ;  and 
1882,  Rev.  Warren  A.  Luce,  the  present  pastor.  These 
all  have  been  years  of  more  or  less  prosperity.  During 
the  administration  of  Rev.  A.  A.  Wright,  the  old  par- 
sonage on  South  Main  was  sold,  and  a  new  one  built 
on  Ridge  Street. 

It  will  be  seen  that  this  church  has  always  been  a  1 


revival  church,  and  that  for  the  first  twenty  years  of 
its  history  its  success  as  an  evangelizing  agent  was 
simply  wonderful. 

Without  making  any  invidious  comparisons,  it  may 
be  safely  and  truthfully  said  that  but  few  churches, 
if  indeed  any  in  the  Conference,  have  gathered  into 
their  communion  more  converts  to  the  truth  during 
the  same  period  of  time.  It  is  impossible  to  give 
the  precise  number,  but  from  the  data  we  have  it  is 
probable  that  at  least  two  thousand  persons  have 
professed  faith  in  Christ  in  this  church  during  the 
last  fifty  years.  The  church  edifice  was  raised,  stores 
built  in  front  on  Main  Street,  and  many  other  neces- 
sary repairs  made  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  J.  D. 
King.  Too  much  cannot  be  said  in  his  praise  for  the 
time  and  energy  he  put  into  this  work. 

Foremost  of  those  who  have  gone  up  from  this 
Bethel  below  to  the  grander  Bethel  above  stand  those 
sainted  men,  Edward  Mason,  James  Waring,  Wil- 
liam Henry,  Ashley  Saunders,  John  Livesey,  and 
Luther  Chace,  and  nameless  others  not  less  worthy 
who  have  washed  their  robes  to  spotless  purity  in 
Christ's  own  cleansing  blood. 

"Once  they  were  mourners  here  helow, 
And  poured  out  cries  and  tears  ; 
They  wrestled  hard,  as  we  do  now, 
With  sins  and  doubts  and  fears." 

Many  were  the  conflicts  they  waged  in  the  main- 
tenance of  this  church,  many  were  the  difficulties 
encountered,  many  the  sacrifices  made.  There  is  still 
remaining  a  noble,  heroic  band  of  men  and  women; 
may  their  victories  be  as  many  as  their  fathers'  were, 
and  then  "a  saint's  rest"  for  each  and  every  one. 

May  the  future  history  of  this  branch  of  God's  peo- 
ple be  still  more  glorious  than  the  past. 

St.  Paul's  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  or- 
ganized in  1851,  and  their  church  edifice  was  erected 
in  the  following  year.  The  first  pastor  was  Rev. 
Ralph  W.  Allen,  who  was  followed  in  1853  by  Rev. 
John  Hobart.     His  successors  have  been  as  follows  : 

M.  J.  Talbot,  1855;  Samuel  C.  Brown,  1857;  J.  B. 
Gould.  1859;  J.  A.  M.  Chapman,  1861;  Samuel  C. 
Brown,  1863  ;  Alfred  A.  Wright,  1865 ;  George  Bowler, 
1866;  Francis  J.  Wagner,  1868;  Emory  J.  Haynes, 
1870;  George  E.  Reed,  1872;  George  W.  Woodruff, 
D.D.,  1875-76  ;  Richard  H.  Rust,  1877-79  ;  Charles  W. 
Gallagher,  1880-81 ;  Edward  M.  Taylor,  1882-83. 

The  present  officers  are  as  follows : 

Trustees. — William  Mason,  Iram  Smith,  Robert  C. 
Brown,  Caleb  S.  Chace,  Lafayette  Nichols,  Charles  E. 
Case,  Robert  Henry,  J.  E.  McCreery,  William  S. 
Greene;  J.  E.  McCreery,  clerk;  R.  C.  Brown,  treas- 
urer. 

Stewards. — Robert  C.  Brown,  John  Reed,  Charles 
E.  Case,  John  G.  Sargent,  J.  E.  McCreery,  Samuel 
Allen,  Abram  F.  Shove,  Henry  W.  Davis,  M.  V.  B. 
Benson ;  A.  F.  Shove,  recording  steward  and  treas- 
urer. 

Brayton  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  located  at 


356 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Globe  village,  was  organized  in  1854,  with  Rev.  A. 
H.Worthington  as  pastor.  Mr.  Worthington  remained 
one  year,  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  C.  A.  Merrill, 
wbo  officiated  until  1858.  His  successors  have  been 
as  follows:  A.  U.  Swinerton,  1859;  Elihu  Grant, 
1861;  William  P.Hyde,  1869;  George  H.  Lamson, 
1871;  Charles  S.  Morse,  1873;  E.  A.  Lyon,  1875-76; 
Samuel  McKeown,  1877-78 ;  Rev.  E.  Grant,  1879-80 
(supply);  William  B.  Heath,  1881,  present  incum- 
bent. 

The   church  edifice  belonging  to  this  society  was 
erected  in  1850  by  Christ's  Church,  which  existed 
four  years,  when  it  was  disbanded  and  their  house  of  , 
worship  sold  to  this  church  in  1854. 

The  North  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  located 
at  Steep  Brook,  was  organized  in  1859.  The  first 
pastor  was  Rev.  Philip  Crandon,  who  filled  the  pulpit 
until  1863.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  George  H. 
Manchester  in  1863;  John  Gifford,  1865;  John  Q. 
Adams,  1867  ;  J.  G.  Gammons,  1869  ;  Philip  Crandon, 
1871 ;  R.  W.  C.  Farnsworth,  1873.  The  present  pastor 
is  Rev.  Dr.  Church. 

Quarry  Street  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was 
organized  in  1870,  and  their  church  edifice  on  Quarry 
Street  was  erected  the  same  year.  The  pastors  of  this 
church  have  been  Revs.  Samuel  M.  Beal,  Richard 
Porey,  E.  D.  Hull,  H.  H.  Martin,  and  J.  H.  Nutting, 
the  present  incumbent. 

Maple  Street  Methodist  Church  was  organized 
in  1881,  Rev.  Isaac  Emery  pastor. 

The  Primitive  Methodist  Church  is  located  on 
the  Eight  Rod  Way.  It  was  erected  in  1874.  Pastor, 
Kev.  Ralph  Fothergill. 

North  Main  Street  Methodist  Episcopal  Church1 
was  organized  in  1875,  and  was  located  on  Terry 
Street.  Rev.  William  B.  Heath  was  first  pastor,  and 
remained  from  April,  1875,  until  1878,  when  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Rev.  John  F.  Sheffield,  who  was  appointed 
in  April,  1878.  The  same  year  the  church  was  re- 
moved  to  its  present  location,  North  Main  Street. 
John  F.  Sheffield  remained  one  year  only.  Rev. 
Eben  Terrill  was  next  appointed  April,  1879;  he  re- 
mained three  years  until  April,  1882,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Rev.  E.  F.  Smith,  the  present  pastor. 

First  Baptist  Church.2 — The  earliest  record  extant 
in  relation  to  this  church  is  under  date  of  May  15, 
1781,  as  follows  : 

"February  the  15th  day  1781. 
then  was  Established  the  2nd  haptis  church  of  Christ  In  Freetown,  In 
fellowship  with  Elder  Thompson's  and  Elder  Luises  Churches." 

It  is  supposed  that  the  organization  of  the  church 
was  in  the  house  of  one  Jonathan  Brownell,  that 
stood  on  what  is  now  North  Main  Street,  east  from 
the  house  of  worship  of  the  Third  Baptist  Church. 
There  were  thirty  constituent  members  of  the  church, 
— sixteen  men   and  fourteen  women,— whose  names 

1  Contributed  by  Joseph  Wood. 

2  Condensed  from  an  historical  addreBS  delivered  by  Mr.  J.  E.  Dawley, 
at  the  centennial  anniversary  of  this  church  Feb.  15,  1881. 


may  be  found  in  a  church  manual.  On  the  22d  of 
May,  1783,  was  the  ordination  of  the  first  pastor, 
Elder  Amos  Burrows.  The  ordination  service  was 
conducted  by  Elders  Thompson,  of  Swansea,  Bur- 
rows, of  Tiverton,  and  Goff,  of  Dighton,  in  the  house 
of  Samuel  Warren.  After  an  unfortunate  pastorate 
of  one  year,  Mr.  Burrows  removed  to  Vermont.  It 
seems  that  a  regular  church-meeting  was  held  on  the 
second  seventh  day  in  each  month,  that  "George 
Crocker  was  appointed  to  keep  the  church-book,"  and 
that  those  meetings  were  considered  as  important  as 
preaching  services,  since  it  was  "  voted  that  our 
stated  meetings  should  not  be  set  aside,  notwithstand- 
ing a  minister  should  be  present  at  any  such  meet- 
ing." 

Five  years  after  Mr.  Burrows  left,  the  church  chose 
two  of  their  own  useful  and  promising  young  men 
"  to  improve  their  gifts  in  public  and  to  attend  meet- 
ings where  they  shall  be  requested,"  and  three  years 
later  appears  an  arrangement  for  more  regular  public 
worship.  It  was  voted  that  one  of  those  brethren, 
who  from  his  eighteenth  year  had  been  blind,  "should 
improve  one-half  of  the  Lord's  day,  that  Brother 
Nathaniel  Boomer  read  the  psalm,  and  that  Matthew 
Boomer  take  the  lead  of  the  singing."  After  three 
years'  more  proof  of  their  real  worth,  on  the  third 
Thursday  of  May,  1795,  occurred  the  double  ordina- 
tion of  those  two  young  men,  James  Boomer  and  Job 
Borden.  The  ministers  participating  in  the  ordination 
service  were  Elders  Thompson,  Burrows,  Hathaway, 
and  Baker.  During  the  same  month  the  church  in- 
vited Joseph  Stillwell  and  Nathaniel  Boomer  "  to  act 
as  deacons  till  some  should  be  chosen."  Four  years 
later,  in  1799,  the  church  joined  the  Warren  Associa- 
tion. 

For  about  eight  years  the  two  pastors  labored  faith- 
fully together,  when  a  threatening  cloud  is  indicated 
by  this  record  of  Dec.  9,  1803 :  "  This  day  is  a  trying 
scene  to  us,  both  our  eiders  think  of  leaving  us;  may 
the  God  of  heaven  protect  us."  And  God  did  protect 
them,  for  while  Elder  Boomer  asked  for  his  dismis- 
sion to  go  to  Charlton,  where  he  died  Feb.  24,  1837, 
Elder  Job  Borden  remained  the  honored  pastor  of 
the  church. 

On  June  13,  1789,  was  a  meeting  of  a  committee 
"  concerning  the  meeting-house."  That  first  meet- 
ing-house, at  the  Narrows,  must  have  been  opened  for 
worship  about  the  year  1800,  when  the  church,  which 
for  some  time  had  been  known  as  "The  Church  in 
Freetown,  Dartmouth,  and  Tiverton,"  by  a  second 
change  of  name  came  to  be  called  "The  Second  Bap- 
tist Church  in  Tiverton." 

"  The  church  in  Tiverton,  under  the  pastoral  care  of 
Elders  James  Boomer  and  Job  Borden,"  invited  a 
council  to  meet  at  the  house  of  Gamaliel  Warren,  Oct. 
30, 1799,  when  there  was  the  triple  ordination  of  James 
Reed  as  an  itinerant  preacher,  and  Nathaniel  Boomer 
and  Joseph  Stillwell  as  deacons.  Two  years  later — 
Nov.  13,  1802 — is  found  in  the  records  this  first  allu- 


FALL  RIVER. 


35^ 


sion  to  the  new  meeting-house:  "Chose  George 
Crocker  to  have  the  care  of  the  meeting-house." 
Plainly,  then,  worship  commenced  in  that  house  be- 
tween 1799  and  1802. 

There  are  but  brief  records  of  the  church  for  the 
next  twenty-five  years  ;  this  single  item  giving  a 
glimpse  of  the  public  worship  :  "  Sept.  2,  1813,  chose 
John  Davol  to  read  the  him,  etc.,  in  publick." 

During  the  two  years  1827-29,  Rev.  Arthur  Ross 
acted  as  colleague  pastor,  receiving  a  part  of  his  sup- 
port for  services  as  school-teacher.  Those  two  years  are 
memorable  for  the  first  great  revival  in  the  history  of 
the  church,  in  which  more  than  ninety  were  added  to 
its  membership ;  for  the  third  change  of  the  name  of 
the  church,  when  it  became  "The  First  Baptist  Church 
of  Troy;"  for  thebuilding  of  the  second  meeting-house; 
and  the  organization  of  "  The  Baptist  Female  Charita- 
ble Society,"  one  of  whose  first  enterprises  was  "  to 
procure  the  trimmings  and  dress  the  meeting-house." 

Mr.  Ross  was  born  in  Thompson,  Conn.,  1791 ;  or- 
dained in  1819.  He  published  several  valuable  his- 
torical pamphlets,  and  during  his  ministry  baptized 
more  than  fourteen  hundred  persons. 

The  new  meeting-house  referred  to  was  the  one  on 
South  Main  Street,  afterwards  sold  to  the  Episcopal 
Church.    It  was  dedicated  July  30,  1828. 

In  connection  with  the  new  village  meeting-house, 
appeared  an  evident  tendency  towards  fashion.  It  was 
voted  to  purchase  candlesticks  for  the  evening  meet- 
ings, the  Association  was  invited,  and  N.  White,  R. 
Wrightington,  and  William  Ashley  were  appointed  to 
"seat  the  house;"  and  Deacon  French,  A.  Hall,  and 
P.  Smith  were  chosen  to  take  charge  of  the  bass  viol. 
It  is  possible  that  the  violins  were  in  such  demand 
elsewhere  that  three  church  officers  could  not  exercise 
exclusive  control  of  them.  Fortunately,  perhaps,  there 
followed  some  checks  to  undue  vanity,  for  it  was  voted 
"  to  withdraw  fellowship  from  Israel  C.  Durfee  for 
his  remarks  respecting  building  our  meeting-house,  in 
which  he  manifested  a  covetous  disposition,  and  for 
his  unrichous  remark  in  relation  to  our  young  deacons, 
French  and  Davol." 

Elder  Seth  Ewer  was  obtained  to  supply  the  pulpit 
for  the  year  1829. 

Rev.  Bradlv  Miner  was  next  called  to  the  pulpit. 
He  was  born  in  North  Stonington,  Conn.,  July  18, 
1808.  He  successfully  filled  the  office  of  pastor  for 
about  three  years.  About  the  time  that  Mr.  Miner 
left  the  venerable  senior  pastor  passed  from  earth. 

Rev.  Asa  Bronson  became  pastor  April  4,  1833. 
About  that  time  revised  articles  of  faith  were  adopted, 
and  Abiathar  Hall  and  Stephen  L.  French  were  elected 
deacons.  In  1835  the  modest  little  Meh-Shway-ee 
Society  appeared  like  an  obscure  fountain,  whose 
broadening  stream  of  pure,  life-giving  waters  has 
steadily  been  flowing  on  for  forty-five  years. 

In  1834  the  name  of  the  town  was  changed  from 
Troy  to  Fall  River,  when  there  must  be  the  fourth 
change  in  the  name  of  the  church,  and  in  1836  the 


"  Female  Charitable  Society  of  Troy"  adopted  a  new 
constitution,  by  which  the  name  became  "The  Fall 
River  Baptist  Female  Benevolent  Society."  In  the 
same  year  the  church  became  one  of  the  constituent 
members  of  the  Taunton  Baptist  Association. 

The  first  covenant  meeting  was  held  in  the  vestry 
of  the  new  house  of  worship,  called  the  Temple,  July 
1, 1840,  and  that  house  was  dedicated  September  16th 
of  that  year.  Some  years  before  the  church  had  re- 
corded this  resolution  :  "  That  we  most  earnestly  and 
affectionately  invite  all  the  members  of  the  church 
who  are  not  now  members  of  the  Temperance  Society 
immediately  to  become  members,  and  throw  all  their 
influence  in  favor  of  Christian  sobriety."  Then  fol- 
lowed the  great  anti-slavery  struggle,  in  which  this 
church  took  a  foremost  and  unequivocal  position. 
During  the  earnest  discussions  of  the  decade  from 
1840  to  1850,  the  bold  pastor,  deacons,  and  members 
introduced,  defended,  and  had  recorded,  as  the  adopted 
sentiments  of  the  church,  such  declarations  as  these : 
"Slavery  is  one  of  the  grossest  sins  against  God  and 
violations  of  the  rights  of  man  that  can  be  committed." 
"No  circumstances  justify  holding  slaves."  "This 
church,  as  an  independent  body,  feels  bound  to  bear 
its  unequivocal  testimony  against  the  abominable  sin 
of  slavery."  "  We  will  not  invite  or  allow  a  slave- 
holding  minister  to  occupy  the  pulpit,  or  invite  or 
allow  a  slaveholder  to  commune  with  us  as  a  church." 

The  church  was  blessed  with  two  remarkable  re- 
vivals, and  during  the  eleven  years  of  Mr.  Bronson's 
pastorate  seven  hundred  and  nine  were  added  to  the 
church.  He  was  afterwards  pastor  at  Albany  for  two 
years,  when  he  returned  and  became  pastor  of  the 
Second  Baptist  Church  in  this  city,  and  died  Nov.  29, 
1866,  aged  sixty-eight  years.  He  was  succeeded  in 
this  church  by  Rev.  V.  R.  Hotchkiss,  who  became, 
pastor  Dec.  4,  1845. 

The  house  called  the  "  Temple"  was  conveyed  to 
the  Second  Church  in  October,  1847,  from  which 
time  this  church  worshiped  in  Union  Hall  till  the 
first  Sunday  in  1850,  when,  Rev.  A.  P.  Mason  having 
become  pastor,  the  church  entered  the  vestry  of  the 
new  house  on  North  Main  Street,  which  completed 
house  was  dedicated  October  23d. 

Mr.  Mason  was  a  lineal  descendant  of  the  Samson 
Mason  who  was  an  officer  in  Cromwell's  army.  He 
came  to  America  in  1650,  and  settled  in  Dorchester; 
then  removed  to  Rehoboth,  and  afterwards,  "  for  con- 
science' sake,"  to  Swansea,  where  he  assisted  to  build 
the  Baptist  meeting-house,  for  which  he  was  sum- 
moned before  the  authorities  of  Plymouth  Colony, 
fined  fifteen  shillings,  and  warned  to  leave  the  juris- 
diction of  the  colony.  From  that  true  Baptist  stock 
descended  our  Pastor  Mason,  during  whose  faithful 
ministry  of  three  years  was  an  interesting  revival,  in 
which  fifty-nine  valuable  members  were  added  to  the 
church.  He  was  afterwards  pastor  in  Chelsea,  and 
for  several  years  has  been  district  secretary  of  the 
American  Baptist  Home  Missionary  Society. 


358 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


The  next  pastor,  Rev.  Jacob  R.  Scott,  could  be 
retained  here  for  only  the  year  1853.  After  his  resig- 
nation, Rev.  Jonathan  Aldrich  successfully  supplied 
the  pulpit  for  nearly  a  year,  when  Daniel  J.  Glazier 
was  elected  pastor.  Before  taking  the  place  for  which 
he  seemed  so  peculiarly  fitted  he  suddenly  died,  March 
9, 1855.  Rev.  P.  B.  Haughwout  became  pastor  in  1855. 
In  1860  he  went  to  Europe,  remaining  seven  months, 
during  which  time  the  church  ordained  and  had  for 
acceptable  supply  Rev.  A.  Judson  Padelford.  Pastor 
Haughwout  gave  to  this  church  fifteen  years  of  his 
most  vigorous  life,  during  which  was  his  enthusiastic 
share  in  the  great  struggle  against  rebellion,  and  the 
addition  of  more  than  two  hundred  to  the  church, 
when  failing  health  made  retirement  essential.  He 
died  April  26,  1877,  in  the  forty-ninth  year  of  his 
age. 

In  1871,  Daniel  C.  Eddy,  D.D.,  became  pastor. 
The  house  of  worship  was  extensively  remodeled  and 
enlarged.  The  former  pastors,  Drs.  Hotchkiss  and 
Mason,  with  other  clergymen  of  the  city,  took  part 
in  the  interesting  rededication  services,  Sept.  3, 1872. 
After  a  rich  revival,  in  which  more  than  sixty  were 
added  to  the  church,  Dr.  Eddy  closed  a  two  years' 
pastorate,  and  was  succeeded  in  1874  by  Rev.  A.  K. 
P.  Small,  who  remained  until  1883. 

The  deacons  have  been  as  follows:  Deacons  Still- 
well,  Boomer,  Enoch  French,  John  Davol,  Philip 
Smith,  John  E.  Carr,  Benjamin  Buffington,  Abiathar 
Hall,  Stephen  L.  French,  Seth  Pooler,  Jesse  F.  Eddy, 
Joseph  L.  Buffington,  Edward  Warren,  Henry  Rich- 
ards, George  S.  Davol,  and  Henry  S.  Buffington. 

The  Second  Baptist  Church.— For  seven  years 
previous  to  the  year  1846  the  question  had  been  agi- 
tated among  the  members  of  the  First  Baptist  Church 
whether  the  best  interests  of  the  cause  of  Christ,  the 
salvation  of  souls,  and  the  glory  of  God  did  not  re- 
quire the  organization  of  another  Baptist  Church  in 
Fall  River.  No  decisive  action  was  taken  until  the 
month  of  April  of  that  year,  when  a  number  of  breth- 
ren who  felt  that  the  time  had  fully  come  when  a 
new  interest  should  be  commenced  requested  the 
pastor  and  deacons  of  the  First  Baptist  Church  to 
entertain  the  question,  and  if  they  thought  proper 
call  a  special  church  meeting,  in  order  to  ascertain 
whether  those  who  were  disposed  to  embark  in  this 
enterprise  could  do  so  with  the  approbation  of  the 
whole  church,  and  under  the  influence  of  mutually 
kind  feelings. 

This  request  was  cordially  received,  and  in  pursu- 
ance a  very  full  meeting  of  the  church  was  convened 
on  the  evening  of  April  21,  1816.  At  this  meeting, 
no  objection  being  raised  to  the  formation  of  a  second 
Baptist  Church  in  this  place,  it  was  unanimously 
voted  to  give  their  approbation  to  the  project. 

Having  thus  obtained  the  full  consent  of  the 
mother-church,  these  brethren  secured  the  use  of  the 
town  hall,  adopted  the  plan  of  free  seats  and  volun- 
tary contributions,  and  invited  the  Rev.  Asa  Bronson, 


of  New  York,  their  former  pastor,  to  preach  the 
gospel  in  the  above-named  place.  Pursuant  to  this 
request  he  came  and  commenced  his  labors  on  the 
second  Sabbath  in  May  following.  Much  interest 
was  manifested,  a  large  congregation  gathered,  and 
unexpected  encouragement  realized. 

On  the  9th  of  June  one  hundred  and  forty-nine 
members  sought  and  obtained  letters  of  dismission 
from  the  First  Baptist  Church.  Of  these  members 
fifty  were  males  and  ninety-nine  females.  On  the 
18th  of  June  these,  with  several  other  brethren  from 
different  churches,  were,  by  mutual  and  voluntary 
consent,  formed  into  a  church  by  the  adoption  of 
articles  of  association  and  a  covenant  and  the  elec- 
tion of  the  proper  officers.  At  this  meeting  Rev. 
Asa  Bronson  was  moderator,  and  John  C.  Milne  was 
clerk. 

The  church  was  styled  the  Second  Baptist  Church 
of  Fall  River,  and  officers  elected  as  follows:  Rev. 
Asa  Bronson,  pastor;  Charles  Borden  and  Joseph 
Borden,  deacons  ;  John  C.  Milne,  clerk  ;  Joseph  Bor- 
den, treasurer.  A  prudential  committee,  a  board  of 
Sunday-school  managers,  and  a  committee  of  order 
were  also  appointed. 

On  the  29th  of  September,  1846,  the  church  was 
publicly  recognized  by  a  council  composed  of  the 
pastors  and  delegates  from  several  of  the  sister 
churches  within  the  bounds  of  the  Taunton  Baptist 
Association. 

The  church  immediately  entered  upon  a  season  of 
great  spiritual  prosperity.  The  vestry  of  the  Unita- 
rian Church  on  Second  Street  was  secured  in  addition 
to  the  town  hall. 

The  church  having  completed  arrangements  for 
the  purchase  of  the  temple  in  which  they  now  wor- 
ship, they  removed  thither  from  the  town  hall  the 
first  Sabbath  in  October,  1847,  the  First  Church  in 
the  mean  time  having  vacated  it. 

Soon  after  the  organization  of  the  church  the 
"  Second  Baptist  Society"  was  incorporated  by  act 
of  the  Legislature. 

The  Sabbath-school  dates  its  origin  from  the  organ- 
ization of  the  church. 

The  church  has  had  six  pastors  during  its  history, 
viz.,  Rev.  Asa  Bronson,  who  served  from  May,  1846, 
till  Sept.  13,  1857 ;  Rev.  Charles  A.  Snow,  from  Feb. 
25,  1858,  till  Oct.  20, 1864;  Rev.  John  Duncan,  D.D., 
from  Feb.  12,  1865,  till  June  9,  1870;  Rev.  Frank  R. 
Morse,  from  Nov.  5,  1871,  till  Feb.  23,  1873  ;  Rev. 
Henry  C.  Graves,  from  Oct.  4,  1874,  till  Feb.  22, 
1880;  Rev.  E.  W.  Hunt,  from  Sept.  1,  1880,  to  De- 
cember, 1882. 

Two  of  the  above  pastors  were  ordained  by  coun- 
cils called  under  the  direction  of  the  church,  viz., 
Rev.  Charles  A.  Snow,  July  7,  1858,  and  Rev.  E.  W. 
Hunt,  Sept.  21,  1880. 

Additions  to  the  board  of  deacons  were  made  Nov. 
6,  1853,  when  Joseph  M.  Davis  and  Charles  Coburn 
were  chosen.     Feb.   5,  1865,  William  S.  Robertson 


FALL  RIVER. 


359 


was  elected.  April  12,  1880,  Alexander  O.  Cook  was 
also  chosen.  Joseph  M.  Davis  resigned  May  7, 
1881,  and  Burton  Crankshaw  was  elected  to  fill  the 
vacancy  June  2,  1881. 

The  following  brethren  have  been  elected  deacons, 
but  declined  serving,  viz. :  Dan  forth  Horton,  Nov.  6, 
1853,  and  again  Feb.  5,  1865;  Silas  Smith,  April  12, 
1880  ;  and  Charles  Long,  June  2,  1881. 

The  office  of  treasurer  has  been  filled  successively 
as  follows,  viz.  :  Joseph  Borden,  from  June  18,  1846, 
till  April  1,  1851 ;  Benjamin  F.  Winslow,  from 
April  1,  1851,  till  July  3,  1S55;  John  C.  Milne,  from 
July  3,  1855,  till  Oct.  5,  1857  :  Mason  Buffinton,  from 
Oct.  5,  1857,  till  April  26,  1858 ;  Joseph  Borden  was 
again  chosen  June  7,  1858,  and  continued  till  July 
12,1860;  Garrett  Horton,  from  July  12,  1860,  till 
July,  1868,  when  the  present  treasurer,  Charles  Co- 
burn,  was  elected. 

The  office  of  clerk  was  filled  by  J.  C.  Milne  from 
the  organization  of  the  church  till  Oct.  4,  1853;  A. 
G.  Hart,  from  Oct.  4,  1853,  till  April  5,  1854 ;  and 
William  S.  Robertson,  the  present  clerk,  was  elected 
May  9,  1854. 

The  church  has  licensed  three  of  its  members  to 
preach  the  gospel,  viz.,  Rev.  John  J.  Bronson,  July 
3,  1855;  Rev.  Jacob  Furrhman,  April  8,  1872;  Rev. 
William  C.  Carr,  Sept.  1,  1872.  All  of  these  are  now 
ordained  ministers. 

In  the  winter  of  1873  the  present  house  of  worship 
was  remodeled  and  refitted,  the  main  audience-room 
and  also  the  vestry  sharing  in  the  general  improve- 
ment. At  the  same  time  the  additions  to  the  front  of 
the  temple  were  made,  giving  the  present  spacious  en- 
trance to  the  audience-room  and  vestry. 

The  Third  Baptist  Church.1— The  Mechanics- 
ville  Baptist  Church  was  the  outgrowth  of  a  mission 
Sabbath-school  started  by  the  First  Baptist  Church, 
and  operated  under  their  direction  until  Oct.  9,  1871, 
when  a  church  was  organized  with  the  foregoing 
name,  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Ambler  Edson. 
The  first  officers  were  D.  H.  Dyer,  Richard  Thack- 
ray,  deacons;  William  A.  Dunn,  clerk;  Silas  B. 
Hatch,  treasurer;  and  a  total  membership  of  twenty- 
eight. 

The  church  was  recognized  as  a  regular  Baptist 
Church  by  a  council  convened  in  due  form  April  10, 
1872.  The  pastorate  of  Rev.  A.  Edson  closed  April 
30,  1873.  During  the  following  summer  their  pulpit 
was  supplied  principally  by  Rev.  M.  C.  Thwing  and 
Rev.  .1.  N.  Williams.  Rev.  F.  A.  Lockwood  became 
pastor  of  the  church  Nov.  16,  187M. 

The  church  was  reorganized  and  incorporated  under 
the  laws  of  Massachusetts  March  25,  1874,  as  the 
"Third  Baptist  Church  of  Fall  River."  The  pas- 
torate of  Rev.  F.  A.  Lockwood  closed  Oct.  31,  1875. 

From  the  close  of  Rev.  F.  A.  Lockwood's  pastorate 
until  Sept.  20,  1878,  the  church  had  no  settled  pastor, 

i  Contributed  by  D.  H.  Dyer. 


their  pulpit  being  supplied  by  students  from  Newton 
Theological  Seminary,  the  most  prominent  of  whom 
were  Rev.  M.  B.  Lanning  and  Rev.  George  L.  Mason. 
On  the  7th  day  of  July,  1876,  the  church  ordained 
Rev.  George  L.  Mason  to  the  gospel  ministry  while 
he  was  still  a  student  at  Newton,  and  from  that  time 
he  supplied  the  pulpit  of  the  church,  and  was  elected 
pastor  May  2, 1878,  assuming  the  pastoral  office  Sept. 
20,  1878. 

Rev.  George  L.  Mason  resigned  his  pastorate  July 
13,  1880,  to  accept  an  appointment  from  the  Baptist 
Missionary  Union  as  a  missionary  to  Ningpo,  China. 

Since  that  time  the  church  has  been  without  a  pas- 

;  tor,  but  has  maintained  its  appointments  and  regular 

''  preaching,  employing  students  from  Newton,  the  most 

prominent  of  whom  were  Revs.  C.  E.  Higgins,  L.  A. 

Eaton,  W.  F.  Slocum,  and  W.  A.  McKillop. 

Rev.  C.  A.  Snow,  of  Taunton,  became  acting  pastor 
Oct.  1,  1882,  and  is  still  serving  the  church  in  that 
capacity.  Present  officers,  J.  H.  Jackson  and  Her- 
bert W.  Davis,  deacons ;  D.  H.  Dyer,  clerk ;  and 
Richard  Thackray,  treasurer. 

Church  of  the  Ascension2  (Protestant  Episco- 
pal).— The  first  service  according  to  the  ritual  of 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United 
States  held  in  (what  was  then)  the  "  village  of  Fall 
River"  was  conducted  by  the  Rev.  James  C.  Rich- 
mond, on  a  Sunday  evening  in  1835.  This  was  in 
the  Unitarian  house  of  worship.  The  next  public 
service  was  on  July  13,  1836,  in  the  First  Congrega- 
tional Church.  The  preacher  was  the  Rev.  James 
Pratt,  of  Rhode  Island.  He  was  assisted  by  the 
Rev.  John  West,  also  of  Rhode  Island.  This  service 
was  held  with  the  view  of  effecting  a  permanent  or- 
ganization of  the  church,  which,  however,  was  not 
accomplished  until  two  days  after.  Then,  July  15, 
1836,  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  on  Central 
Street,  a  parish  was  duly  formed  under  the  name 
(suggested  by  the  diocesan,  the  Rt.  Rev.  Alexander 
Viets  Griswold,  D.D.,  Bishop  of  the  Eastern  Diocese) 
of  the  Church  of  the  Ascension.  The  clergy  present 
at  the  formation  of  the  parish  were  the  Revs.  John 
West,  James  Pratt,  J.  W.  Fenner,  and  Stephen  El- 
liott, afterwards  (1841)  and  now  Bishop  of  Georgia. 
A  missionary,  the  Rev.  P.  H.  Greenleaf,  was  put  in 
charge  of  the  infant  parish,  which  consisted  of  ten 
men,  every  one  of  whom  has  passed  beyond  this 
world.  James  Ford,  Esq.,  was  senior  warden,  Job 
H.  Lawton  junior  warden,  and  Richard  W.  Batt 
secretary. 

The  first  services  were  held  in  the  hall  of  the 
Pocasset  House.  The  congregation  was  of  about 
fifty  persons,  and  the  Sunday-school  had  about 
twenty  scholars.  From  the  Pocasset  House  the 
parish  moved  to  the  town  hall  on  Central  Street 
in  March,  1837.  Here  the  parish  worshiped  for 
three  years,  and  struggled  through  many  difficulties 


2  By  Kev.  A.  St.  John  Chambre,  D.D. 


360 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


and  against  much  prejudice  and  opposition.  A  legal 
existence  and  corporate  powers  were  secured  May  1, 
1837.  In  this  act  of  incorporation  are  found  the 
names  of  J.  H.  Lawton,  Cyrus  Alden,  Esq.,  William 
Langford,  Richard  W.  Batt,  James  Ford,  Esq.,  James 
R.  Lake,  Baylies  J.  Talbot,  John  Chatburn,  William 
Canedy,  John  Houghton,  George  Bay  lis,  Richard  W. 
Houghton,  Dennis  Brown,  Elijah  Astle,  Joseph  Pot- 
ter, Edward  P.  Lake,  Richard  W.  Smith,  T.  Mar- 
quand,  and  Nathaniel  Munday.  Cyrus  Alden  was 
elected  senior  and  J.  H.  Lawton  junior  warden,  R. 
W.  Batt  clerk.  The  missionary  left  in  July,  1837. 
In  1838  (July  22d)  the  Rev.  George  M.  Randall  (af- 
terwards, 1865-73,  Bishop  of  Colorado),  immediately 
upon  his  ordination  to  the  deaconate,  assumed  charge 
of  the  parish.  He  was  instituted  as  rector  August, 
1840.  His  ministry,  amid  many  discouragements, 
was  greatly  blessed.  In  1839  a  Baptist  house  of 
worship  was  purchased.  It  was  centrally  located 
on  South  Main  Street,  and  (after  necessary  altera- 
tions) was  solemnly  consecrated  in  1840  by  the  Rt. 
Rev.  Bishop  Griswold.  A  heavy  debt  for  those  days 
and  for  the  strength  of  the  parish  was  contracted  by 
this  purchase,  which  for  a  long  time  burdened  and 
crippled  the  church.  In  1844,  Mr.  Randall  resigned 
to  accept  the  rectorship  of  the  Church  of  the  Messiah 
in  Boston.  For  nearly  a  year  there  was  no  clergy- 
man in  charge,  when  the  Rev.  A.  D.  McCoy  was  in- 
stituted rector,  April  10,  1845.  He  remained  only 
two  years.  There  was  no  rector  then  for  two  years, 
much  to  the  detriment  of  all  the  interests  of  the 
parish,  when  (under  very  discouraging  circumstances), 
on  Sunday,  April  29,  1849,  the  Rev.  E.  M.  Porter 
became  rector.  His  labors  were  blessed.  He  suc- 
ceeded, with  large  aid  from  outside  of  Fall  River,  in 
liquidating  the  debt.  The  congregation  increased, 
and  the  spiritual  life  deepened.  But  the  parish  was 
still  feeble.  The  church  was  destroyed  by  fire  on 
Christmas-eve,  1850.  The  parish,  however,  was  not 
destroyed.  The  corner-stone  of  a  new  edifice  on  the 
same  site,  or  nearly  so,  was  laid  in  1851.  An  address 
was  made  by  Dr.  Randall.  In  1852  (February)  the 
new  church  was  consecrated  by  the  Right  Rev.  Man- 
ton  Eastburn,  the  Bishop  of  Massachusetts.  It  was 
only  in  this  year  (1852)  that  the  parish  was  able  to 
do  without  missionary  aid,  which  it  had  steadily  re- 
ceived since  its  original  formation.  Mr.  Porter  closed 
his  labors  with  the  church  in  1863,  after  a  successful 
rectorship  of  fourteen  years,  by  far  the  longest  that 
the  parish  had  enjoyed  thus  far.  His  name  and 
memory  are  held  in  affectionate  remembrance. 

In  the  summer  of  1863  the  Rev.  A.  M.  Wylie  was 
called  to  the  rectorship.  His  resignation  was  ten- 
dered Nov.  1,  1868,  and  took  effect  in  December  fol- 
lowing. The  Rev.  John  Hewitt  succeeded  Mr.  Wylie, 
remaining  only  until  January,  1871.  The  Rev.  Henry 
E.  Hovey  became  rector  about  Easter  of  this  year,  and 
resigned  in  November,  1872.  The  Rev.  William 
McGlatherv  assumed  charge  in  August,  1873,  and  re- 


signed in  the  fall  of  1875.  In  1876  the  Rev.  William 
T.  Fitch  was  elected  rector.  His  resignation  took 
effect  in  May,  1881.  On  the  15th  of  May,  1881,  the 
present  incumbent,  the  Rev.  A.  St.  John  Chambre, 
D.D.,  assumed  charge  of  the  parish. 

The  history  of  the  parish  has  been  that  of  struggle 
from  the  beginning,  but  of  steady  advancement,  not- 
withstanding all  and  every  difficulty.  In  1875  the 
parish  moved  into  its  large,  costly,  and  elegant  stone 
church,  erected  upon  Rock  Street.  Its  financial  con- 
dition is  second  to  that  of  no  parish  in  the  city.  Its 
congregations  are  large,  and  it  is  blessed  with  a  spirit 
of  great  harmony  and  of  commendable  zeal  in  all 
good  works.  The  magnificent  stained-glass  window- 
in  the  front  of  the  church,  representing  in  life-size 
the  Saviour  and  the  four  evangelists,  is  a  memorial 
of  the  late  Bishop  Randall,  of  Colorado,  the  first 
rector.  It  was  erected  by  the  contributions  of  the 
Sunday-school. 

From  this  parish,  as  the  growth  of  Fall  River  de- 
manded, has  sprung  the  flourishing  parish  of  St. 
John,  on  South  Main  Street,  now  independent  of  its 
parent,  but  holding  pleasant  relations  with  the  mother- 
church.  The  Church  of  the  Ascension  has  a  mission 
by  the  name  of  St.  Mark  in  the  eastern  part  of  the 
city,  and  it  is  contemplating  other  movements  for  the 
good  of  the  community,  the  advancement  of  the 
church,  and  (above  all  other  considerations)  to  the 
glory  of  God. 

St.  John's  Church1  is  located  near  the  Park,  on  the 
Main  Street,  about  a  mile  and  a  half  south  of  the 
Ascension,  of  which  it  was  once  a  mission. 

Between  thirty  and  forty  families  connected  with 
the  old  parish,  residing  at  "the  Globe"  and  farther 
south  towards  the  Rhode  Island  line,  found  it  incon- 
venient because  of  the  distance  to  attend  the  parish 
church  regularly;  it  was  also  too  far  for  the  children 
to  walk  to  Sunday-school,  hence  the  desire  for  a 
mission. 

Services  were  first  held  in  "ConnelPs  Hall,"  di- 
rectly opposite  the  present  church  building,  the  fourth 
Sunday  in  September,  1878,  by  the  Rev.  W.  T.  Fitch, 
rector  of  the  Ascension. 

The  church,  a  plain  wooden  building,  seating  three 
hundred  and  fifty,  with  a  Sunday-school  room  in  the 
basement,  was  used  for  the  first  time  Sunday,  Aug. 
15,  1880,  the  Rev.  Arthur  T.  Barrington,  assistant  at 
the  Ascension,  officiating.  It  was  built  on  leased 
land.  The  land  has  since  been  purchased  and  fully 
paid  for.  The  parish  was  generously  aided,  both  in 
erecting  the  building  and  in  the  subsequent  purchas- 
ing of  the  land,  by  churchmen  in  Boston  and  else- 
where. 

The  mission  was  organized  into  an  independent 
parish  Easter  Monday,  1881,  with  Nathaniel  Lewis 
and  George  Walters,  wardens.  The  Rev.  Samuel  S. 
Spear,  then  at  St.  John's,  Taunton,  was  soon  elected 

1  By  Kev.  Samuel  S.  Spear. 


FALL   RIVER. 


361 


rector,  and  took  charge  of  the  infant  parish  Sunday, 
July  3,  1881. 

The  list  of  communicants,  Easter,  1883,  numbered 
one  hundred  and  twenty-five,  and  there  is  a  pros- 
perous Sunday-school  of  about  three  hundred  officers 
and  scholars. 

Parish  officers:  Rector,  the  Rev.  Samuel  S.  Spear; 
Wardens,  George  Walters,  Oliver  H.  P.  Howard  ; 
Treasurer,  John  Taylor;  Clerk,  Enoch  Horsfield ; 
Vestrymen,  Nathan  Crabtree,  George  Porteus,  George 
Hanson,  Richard  Fleet,  William  Wild,  William 
Wooley,  Sr.,  Alpheus  Burdick. 

The  church  property,  valued  at  seven  thousand 
dollars,  is  entirely  free  from  debt,  and  is  held  for  the 
parish  by  the  "Trustees  of  Donations." 

The  building  has  not  yet  been  consecrated,  as  it  is 
deemed  desirable  to  make  several  needed  improve- 
ments and  additions  before  consecration. 

Christian  Church,  Franklin  Street.— This  church 
was  organized  in  April,  1829,  and  in  the  following 
year  the  society  was  organized  and  the  first  church 
edifice  erected.  This  church  was  destroyed  in  the 
great  fire  of  1843,  and  in  the  following  year  the  pres- 
ent church  edifice  on  Franklin  Street  was  erected. 

The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  Joshua  V.  Hines,  who 
was  succeeded  by  Benjamin  Taylor,  H.  Taylor,  James 
Taylor,  Simon  Clough,  M.  Lane,  A.  G.  Cumminirs, 
Jonathan  Thompson,  previous  to  1840;  Revs.  P.  R. 
Russell,  1841;  A.  M.  Averill,  1843;  Elijah  Shaw, 
1845 ;  Charles  Morgridge,  1847 ;  Stephen  Fellows, 
1848  ;  David  E.  Millard,  1852  ;  B.  S.  Fanton,  1855  ; 
Thomas  Holmes,  1863  ;  Hiram  J.  Gordon,  1865 ;  S. 
Wright  Butler,  1866.  Present  pastor,  Rev.  M.  Sum- 
merbell. 

The  North  Christian  Church  was  organized  in 
1842,  and  is  located  on  North  Main  Street,  at  Steep 
Brook.  The  pastors  of  the  church  have  been  as  fol- 
lows :  Revs.  Wm.  Shurtleff,  1861  ;  Moses  P.  Favor, 
1866;  Chas.  T.  Camp,  1872;  O.  P.  Bessey,  1874;  O. 
O.  Wright,  1876. 

Church  of  the  New  Jerusalem.1— The  Fall  River 
Society  of  the  New  Jerusalem  was  organized  in  1854. 
It  consisted  of  seven  members.  Thirty-one  have 
been  added  since,  making  thirty-eight  in  all.  Ten 
have  died,  two  have  been  transferred  to  other  soci- 
eties. The  number  now  belonging  to  it  is  twenty-six, 
nine  of  whom  reside  out  of  the  city.  Four  of  the 
original  members  are  still  living.  Its  church  on 
Rock  Street,  between  Cherry  and  Locust,  was  built 
in  1869.  The  services  were  conducted  by  lay  readers, 
except  upon  the  communion  Sabbath,  when  a  minis- 
ter officiated;  but  in  1877  the  present  pastor,  Rev. 
John  Westall,  was  ordained  and  invited  to  devote  all 
his  time  to  the  service  of  the  society. 

The  Sabbath-school  consists  of  forty-four  scholars 
and  teachers.  The  library  contains  three  hundred 
and  fifty-seven  volumes.    The  expenses  of  the  society 

l  By  Rev.  John  Westall. 


are  met  by  voluntary  subscription.  All  the  seats  of 
the  church  are  free. 

Society  of  Friends. — The  first  meetings  of  the 
Society  of  Friends  in  Fall  River  were  held  about  the 
year  1812,  the  attendants  coming  mostly  over  the 
river  from  Swansea  and  Somerset.  They  commenced 
public  worship  here  in  1819,  and  in  1821  erected  a 
house  of  worship,  which  was  subsequently  removed, 
and  the  present  edifice  on  North  Main  Street,  between 
Pine  and  Cherry,  was  erected  in  1836.  The  present 
overseer  is  Nathan  Chace. 

The  United  Presbyterian  Church,  Pearl  Street 
corner  of  American,  was  organized  in  1846,  and  the 
church  edifice  was  erected  in  1851.  The  pastors  have 
been  as  follows :  Revs.  David  A.  Wallace,  1851-53 ; 
William  Maclaren,  1854-67 ;  Joshua  R.  Kyle,  1869- 
75;  James  H.  Turnbull,  1876. 

Hebrew  Worship. — The  Jewish  or  Hebrew  resi- 
dents of  this  city  number  some  fifty  to  sixty  men, 
many  having  families.  Of  these  six  are  German 
Jews,  so  called,  but  as  they  do  not  'affiliate  with  the 
Polish  Israelites,  they  have  no  organized  synagogue. 
The  other  class  have  pushed  ahead,  organized  a  syna- 
gogue by  themselves,  employed  a  leader,  and  have 
kept  up  worship  for  several  months  on  Pleasant  Street. 

St.  Mary's  Roman  Catholic  Church  was  estab- 
lished in  1836,  under  the  name  of  St.  John  Baptist, 
which  was  changed  upon  the  occupation  of  the  church 
edifice  in  1855.  The  pastors  of  this  church  have  been 
as  follows:  Revs.  John  Corry,  Richard  Hardy,  and 
Edward  Murphy.  Rev.  John  O'Connell  and  Corne- 
lius McSweeney  were  assistant  pastors  in  1875.  The 
present  assistant  pastors  are  Revs.  Louis  Dady  and 
James  A.  Gleason. 

Church  of  the  Sacred  Heart  was  organized  in 

1873.  The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  Matthew  McCabe, 
assisted  by  Rev.  James  Masterson.  Church  on  Linden 
Street. 

St.  Ann's  Church  (French  Catholic)  was  organ- 
ized in  1873  by  Rev.  A.  de  Montanbrieg.  It  is  located 
on  Hunter  Street  corner  of  William.  The  present 
pastor  is  Rev.  Thomas  F.  Briscoe,  assisted  by  Rev. 
O.  F.  Clark. 

St.  Joseph's  Catholic  Church  was  organized  in 

1874,  by  Rev.  William  H.  Brie.  The  present  pastor 
is  Rev.  Andrew  J.  Brady,  assisted  by  Rev.  J.  F. 
Roach.     Location,  North  Main  Street. 

St.  Patrick's  Catholic  Church  was  organized  in 
1874,  by  Rev.  J.  Kelly,  who  has  since  continued  as 
pastor.     Location,  Slade  Street. 

Notre  Dame  Church  was  organized  in  1874,  by 
Rev.  P.  J.  B.  Bedard,  who  has  since  remained  as 
pastor.     Location,  Notre  Dame  corner  Ashton  Street. 

St.  Peter's  and  Paul's  parish  is  of  recent  organiza- 
tion, and  a  church  edifice  is  soon  to  be  erected.  The 
pastor  is  Rev.  Father  Doyle. 

The  Immaculate  Conception  is  also  a  new  parish, 
with  Father  Kiernan  as  pastor.  Of  the  one  hundred 
and  eighty  thousand  attendants  upon  Catholic  wor- 


362 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


ship  in  the  Providence  district,  about  eighty-eight  : 
thousand  reside  in  Bristol,  Barnstable,  Dukes,  and 
Nantucket  Counties  of  Massachusetts,  and  some 
twenty-eight  thousand  in  this  city.  In  the  proposal 
to  establish  three  new  dioceses  in  this  State,  it  is  con- 
fidently expected  that  the  above  counties  will  be  set 
off  as  one  of  them,  and  Fall  River  be  constituted  the 
cathedral  city. 

There  is  also  a  French  mission  (Baptist)  on  Pleas- 
ant Street,  Eusibe  Leger,  missionary. 


CHAPTER    XXIX. 

FALL     RIVER.— {Continued.) 

Mount  Hope  Lodge,  F.  and  A.  M.1— "  Dec.  8, 
5824.  The  petition  of  Andrew  Harris  and  others, 
praying  for  a  charter  for  a  new  lodge  in  the  village 
of  Fall  River  and  town  of  Troy,  to  be  called  '  Mount 
Hope,'  was  read  and  referred  to  W.  Joseph  G.  Sprague, 
Rev.  Joseph  Richardson,  and  Abra  Haskell. 

"  The  committee  appointed  to  consider  the  applica- 
tion of  Andrew  Harris  and  others  for  a  charter  for  a 
lodge  in  the  town  of  Troy  have  heard  the  represen- 
tations on  the  subject,  and  would  report  that  the 
prayer  of  the  petitioners  ought  to  be  granted. 

"  By  order,  J.  S.  Sprague,  Chairman. 

"  Read  and  accepted. 

"  Agreeably  to  a  commission  from  the  M.  W.  John 
Abbot,  Grand  Master,  dated  Aug.  3,  5825,  directed 
and  given  to  R.  W.  Thomas  Talman,  D.  D.  G.  Master 
for  the  Fourth  Masonic  District,  authorizing  and  em- 
powering him  to  constitute  Mount  Hope  Lodge, 
holden  at  Troy,  village  of  Fall  River,  and  to  install 
its  officers,  the  1st  of  September,  5825,  was  agreed  on 
and  appointed  the  day  for  installation. 

"  On  the  evening  preceding,  to  wit,  on  the  31st 
day  of  August,  a  lodge  of  Past  Masters  assembled  at 
the  hall  of  Mount  Hope  Lodge,  the  R.  W.  D.  D.  G. 
Master  in  the  chair,  assisted  by  R.  W.  Lemuel  Gay 
and  R.  W.  Asa  Wood  as  Wardens,  when  the  degree  of 
Past  Master  was  conferred  on  R.  W.  Brother  Leander 
P.  Lovell,  the  Master  elect  of  Mount  Hope  Lodge. 
On  the  1st  day  of  September,  a.l.  5825,  a  Deputy 
Grand  Lodge,  consisting  wholly  of  Worthy  Present  or 
Past  Masters  of  lodges,  assembled  at  Fall  River,  and 
was  opened  in  due  and  ancient  form.  Present,  R.  W. 
Thomas  Talman,  G.  M.  pro  tem.;  R.  W.  Benjamin 
Huntoon,  Dep.  G.  M. ;  R.  W.  James  L.  Hodges,  S. 
G.  W. ;  R  W.  James  W.  Crossman,  G.  Treas.  ;  R.  W. 
Asa  Wood,  G.  Sec;  R.  W.  George  Randall,  G.  Mar- 
shal ;  R.  W.  Rev.  Luther  Hamilton,  G.  Chap. ;  R. 
W.  Samuel  Caswell,  Jr.,  S.  G.  D. ;  R.  W.  Jonathan 
Reynolds,  J.  G.  D. ;  R.  W.  Nathaniel  Blake,  1st  G. 
S. ;  R.  W.Simeon  Presbury,  2d  G.S.;  R.W.Anthony 

1  Copied  from  records  of  the  Grand  Lodge. 


D.  Richmond,  G.  S.  B. ;  R.  W.  Thomas  Cole,  R.  W. 
Ephriam  Kemp  ton,  G.  P.;  R.  W.  Thomas  Shepherd, 
G.  Tyler ;  R.  W.  Caleb  Earle,  Bearer  of  the  Book  of 
Constitutions  ;  R.  W.  John  Carlisle,  Bearer  of  the 
Holy  Writings. 

"A  committee,  consisting  of  R.  W.  Brothers  Hun- 
toon and  Gay,  were  appointed  to  examine  the  officers 
of  Mount  Hope  Lodge  as  to  their  knowledge  of  the 
lectures  and  work,  and  to  inspect  their  records  and 
by-laws.  The  committee  having  attended  to  the  duty 
of  their  appointment,  reported  that  they  found  the 
officers  well  skilled  in  the  lectures  and  mysteries  of 
Masonry  ;  that  they  found  their  records  and  by-lawrs 
in  conformity  to  the  regulations  of  the  Grand  Lodge, 
fairly  kept  and  duly  entered,  and  that  they  cheer- 
fully recommended  said  lodge  for  constitution  and 
installation. 

"This  report  having  been  unanimously  accepted 
by  the  Deputy  Grand  Lodge,  they  were  escorted  to 
the  hall  of  Mount  Hope  Lodge,  where  a  very  large 
procession  was  formed,  consisting  of  brethren  and 
companions  of  the  several  Masonic  degrees. 

"Several  officers  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Rhode 
Island  and  other  distinguished  members  of  the  fra- 
ternity were  present,  and  united  in  the  procession  on 
the  occasion. 

"The  whole  procession,  accompanied  by  an  excel- 
lent band  of  music,  then  moved  to  the  Baptist  Church, 
where  a  very  appropriate  and  truly  Masonic  address 
was  delivered  by  R.  W.  Rev.  Paul  Dean,  of  Boston. 

"  Mount  Hope  Lodge  was  then  solemnly  conse- 
crated and  dedicated  according  to  ancient  custom. 
The  acting  Grand  Master  then  proceeded  to  consti- 
tute the  brethren  into  a  regular  lodge  of  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons,  after  which  the  officers  elect  were 
publicly  installed  into  their  respective  offices.  Their 
names  are  as  follows  : 

"  R.  W.  Leander  P.  Lovell,  M. ;  W.  Benjamin  An- 
thony, S.  W. ;  W.  Joseph  Rice,  J.  W. ;  Joseph  E. 
Reed,  Treas. ;  James  Ford,  Sec. ;  Augustus  B.  Reed, 
Chap.;  Richard  Chase,  S.  D. ;  Lucius  Smith,  J.  D. ; 
Pierce  Allen,  Marshal  ;  John  Norris,  Oliver  Mason, 
Stewards;  Calvin  Seaver,  Tyler. 

"After  the  services  at  the  church,  the  Deputy 
Grand  Lodge  having  completed  the  business  for 
which  it  was  assembled,  was  escorted  back  to  the 
room  which  had  been  provided  for  that  accommoda- 
tion, and  closed  in  due  and  ancient  form.  A  sump- 
tuous repast  having  been  provided  by  Mount  Hope 
Lodge,  the  brethren  proceeded  to  the  place  of  re- 
freshment, and  united  in  the  social  festivities  of  the 
occasion. 

"A  true  record  of  the  proceedings. 

Attest:  "Asa  Wood,  Dep.  G.  Secretary." 

The  Masters  of  Mount  Hope  Lodge  from  Dec.  8, 
1824,  have  been  as  follows:  1825-26,  Leander  P.  Lov- 
ell ;  1827-28,  Benjamin  Anthony  ;  1829,  Daniel  Leon- 
ard ;    1830,   Peleg   H.    Earl;    1831-32,   Thomas    D. 


FALL  RIVER. 


3f>3 


Chaloner;  1833,  Ebenezer  Andrews;  1834-35,'  Seth 
Darling;  1845-46,  Joshua  Remington  ;  1847,  Thomas 
D.  Chaloner;  1848-49,  Daniel  Leonard;  1850,  James 
M.  Morton ;  1851-54,  Joshua  Remington ;  1855, 
Gardner  D.  Cook;  1856-58,  Robert  C.  Brown ;  1859, 
Joshua  Remington;  1860-61,  James  Davenport; 
1862,  Josiah  C.  Blaisdell;  1863,  Robert  Henry  ;  1864- 
65,  Charles  A.  Holmes ;  1866,  Robert  C.  Brown  ;  1867, 
Charles  A.  Holmes;  1868-70,  Henry  Paddock  ;  1871- 
73,  A.  G.  Hart;  1874-75,  Henry  Waring;  1876,  Wil- 
liam J.  Burt;  John  T.  Graham,  two  years;  Nathan 
Everett,  one  year;  Charles  E.  Spencer,  still  in  office. 

The  charter  members  of  the  lodge  were  Joshua 
Remington,  Thomas  D.  Chaloner,  Daniel  Leonard, 
John  P.  Winchester,  Thomas  Driver,  Samuel  B. 
Gardner,  Thomas  Killer,  James  D.  Burt,  William  B. 
Canady,  Francis  Eddy,  Gideon  Hatch,  Sabin  Blake, 
William  A.  Waite,  Jesse  Eddy,  Edward  Thompson, 
Jonathan  T.  Lincoln,  John  Eddy,  and  B.  W.  Miller. 

King  Philip  Lodge,  F.  and  A.  M.,  was  chartered 
Dec.  12,  1866,  the  "  precedence"  to  begin  Jan.  16, 
1866.  The  charter  members  were  Joshua  Reming- 
ton, James  F.  Davenport,  Daniel  Stillwell,  George  A. 
Ballard,  E.  P.  Buffinton,  Francis  W.  Eddy,  Joseph 
Brady,  Mason  Fisher,  William  M.  Almy.  Charles  A. 
Bassett,  George  A.  Borden,  George  A.  Tower,  Silas 
Williams,  Alexander  Forbes,  D.  S.  Brigham,  T.  An- 
drew Francis,  Robert  A.  Brown,  George  E.  Hoar,  J. 
C.  Blaisdell,  James  Henry,  James  B.  Bray  ton,  Par- 
ker Borden,  George  W.  Billings,  William  G.  Bennett, 
L.  F.  Pease,  William  Davenport,  Thomas  L.  Brayton, 
Arthur  R.  Borden,  M.  Tootle,  Jr.,  Alden  Gilbert, 
George  W.  Gibbs,  A.  D.  Easton,  Edwin  Shaw,  E.  P. 
Haskins,  John  P.  Slade,  Perry  Gifford,  and  James 
Buffinton. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  Masters:  James  F.  Daven- 
port, 1865  to  October,  1868;  George  A.  Ballard,  1868 
to  October,  1869;  Charles  E.  Gifford,  1869  to  October, 
1870;  Daniel  Stillwell,  1870  to  October,  1871 ;  Wil- 
liam Davenport,  1871  to  October,  1872;  Thomas  G. 
Estes,  1*72  to  October,  1873;  John  S.  Henry,  1873  to 
October,  1875;  Horatio  N.  Durfee,  1875  to  October, 
1876;  Charles  E.  Vickery,  1876  to  October,  1877; 
Edward  T.  Marvell,  1877  to  October,  1878;  Joseph 
L.  Buffinton,  1878  to  October,  1879;  Charles  A.  Ben- 
nett, 1879  to  October,  1880;  Enoch  J.  French,  1880 
to  October,  1881  ;  Judson  C.  McKenzie,  1881  (now  in 
office). 

Narragansett  Lodge,  F.  and  A.  M.,  was  char- 
tered   Dec.    13,   1876,  the   precedence   to   commence 


1  In  consequence  of  the  depressed  condition  of  Mount  Hope  Lodge, 
and  of  Freemasonry  generally,  at  a  regular  meeting  held  Nov.  '■),  18:15, 
it  was  Voted,  "  To  raise  a  committee  to  sell  all  the  furniture  of  the  lodge 
as  they  may  deem  proper  for  thn  interest  of  the  lodge."  The  meetings 
were  then  discontinued  until  1845,  when  the  brethren  desiring  to  revive 
the  interest  in  Freemasonry  and  resume  their  meetings  as  a  lodge,  find- 
ing that  the  original  charter,  with  other  furniture,  had  been  destroyed 
by  the  great  fire  of  July  2, 1843,  obtained  a  new  charter,  which  declares 
the  precedence  of  the  lodge  to  date  from  Dec.  8, 1824,  that  being  the  date 
of  the  original  charter. 


Dec.  30,  1875.  The  charter  members  were  James 
Davis,  Daniel  Stevens,  William  Roderick  Robertson, 
George  Leonard  Walker,  William  Henry  Brow, 
Edwin  Jackson  Dyer,  Robert  Macfarlane,  Charles  Sil- 
vester Norman,  John  McKean,  Mark  Phillips,  Chaun- 
cey  Howe  Sears,  Bennett  Cook,  James  Henry  Mini- 
ken,  John  Whitaker,  Jeremiah  Rodgers  Elsbree, 
Aimie  Benjamin  Bruneau,  James  Barney  Chace,  Rob- 
ert Hampson,  Alexander  Jefferson  Wilcox,  John 
Adams  Tourtellot,  Edmund  Whitehead,  Edwin  dish- 
ing Phillips,  Leon  Eugene  Sweet,  Robert  Hammer- 
ton,  Thomas  Francis  Vickery,  David  Smith,  Abner 
Luther  Howard,  Asa  Wilson  Gifford,  James  Francis 
Davis,  Everett  Bemis  Dyer,  Rodney  Augustus  Moore, 
Joseph  Harrison,  Samuel  Mark  Standing,  Philip 
Roberts,  Charles  Frederick  Tripp,  Robert  Johnston 
Adams,  Joseph  Hyde,  Walter  Thackery. 

The  Fall  River  Royal  Arch  Chapter  was  char- 
tered Jan.  9,  1865,  "  to  take  rank,  date,  and  prece- 
dence from  the  7th  day  of  June,  1864."  The  follow- 
ing were  the  charter  members :  Thomas  D.  Chaloner, 
Joshua  Remington,  Robert  C.  Brown,  Abner  L.  West- 
gate,  Charles  A.  Holmes,  Daniel  Stillwell,  James  C. 
Stafford,  James  Davenport,  Robert  Henry,  Silas 
Williams,  James  B.  Brayton,  Jonathan  E.  Morrill, 
Alden  Gilbert,  Williams  A.  Burt,  Lemuel  Hall, 
George  A.  Tower,  William  Preston,  Eber  Slade,  Jona- 
than T.  Lincoln,  John  Whitaker,  John  Shepley,  John 
B.  Whitaker,  Joseph  Brady,  John  G.  Tinkham, 
Charles  F.  Langford,  James  Davis,  Samuel  Root, 
William  G.  Bennett,  George  E.  Hoar,  Mason  Fisher, 
John  P.  Slade,  Joel  Wood,  William  Davenport,  Jireh 
B.  Pettey,  Humphrey  A.  Francis,  and  Silas  P.  Rich- 
mond. 

Robert  C.  Brown  was  first  High  Priest,  Robert 
Henry  first  King,  and  Joshua  Remington  first  Scribe. 
The  Grand  Chapter  officers  at  this  time  were  Solon 
Thornton,  Grand  High  Priest;  Caleb  Rand,  Deputy 
Grand  High  Priest;  Albert  E.  Foth,  Grand  King; 
Wanton  T.  Drew,  Grand  Scribe;  Thomas  Waterman, 
Grand  Secretary. 

The  Past  High  Priests  are  as  follows:  Robert  C. 
Brown,  Robert  Henry,  George  A.  Ballard,  Henry 
Paddock,  Hiram  C.  Harrington,  Gideon  F.  Tomp- 
kins, Alfred  H.  Hartley. 

Godfrey  De  Bouillon  Commandery  was  chartered 
Oct.  13, 1868,  "  to  take  rank  and  precedence  from  May 
9,  1868."  The  charter  members  were  Robert  Car- 
ver Brown,  Robert  Henry,  James  Franklin  Daven- 
port, James  Henry,  John  Palmer  Slade,  Silas  Wil- 
liams, William  Davenport,  Charles  Edwin  Case,  Jo- 
seph Brady,  Henry  Paddock,  John  Shepley,  John 
Birtwistle  Whitaker,  George  Andros  Borden,  Mason 
Fislur,  James  Davis,  Edward  Shove  Anthony,  Wil- 
liam Preston,  Leander  Davenport  Wilbur,  Charles 
Ellis  Gifford,  Daniel  Edson  Chace,  James  Crosby 
Ramsay,  Perry  Gifford,  Francis  Wilmarth  Eddy, 
William  Macomber  Almy,  Daniel  W.  Baldwin,  James 
Barney  Chace,  George  Alvan  Ballard,  Thomas  Lyn- 


36-t 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


don  Brayton,  James  Buffinton,  Abner  Lewis  West- 
gate,  Frederick  William  Macomber,  Elisha  Cook 
Hathaway,  John  Whitaker,  George  Edward  Hoar, 
Josiah  Coleman  Blaisdell,  Alfred  Henry  Hartley, 
Thomas  Francis  Vickery,  William  Gray  Bennett, 
Thomas  Durfee  Chaloner,  William  Wait  Stewart, 
Joel  Wood. 

Robert  Henry  was  first  Commander,  James  F. 
Davenport  first  Generallissimo,  and  Henry  Paddock 
first  Captain-General. 

The  Eminent  Commanders  have  been  as  follows: 
Robert  Henry,  R.  C.  Brown,  S.  W.  Butler,  John  B. 
Whitaker,  George  A.  Ballard,  Charles  E.  Gifford,  A. 
H.  Hartley,  Albert  F.  Dow,  and  Henry  Waring. 

Military  Record,  1861-65.— Fall  River  responded 
promptly  to  the  call  of  her  imperiled  country  during 
the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  and  only  six  days  after 
the  firing  upon  Fort  Sumter,  April  19,  1861,  a  "  war 
meeting"  was  held  at  the  City  Hall.  The  meeting 
was  called  to  order  by  Hon.  N.  B.  Borden,  who  read 
the  call,  was  chosen  chairman,  and  made  the  opening 
address.  Speeches  were  also  made  by  David  Anthony, 
James  Ford,  Hon.  James  Buffinton,  Dr.  Foster 
Hooper,  John  Collins,  John  Westall,  J.  C.  Blaisdell, 
R.  T.  Davis,  and  Walter  C.  Durfee.  Dr.  Hooper 
offered  the  following  resolutions,  which  were  adopted 
by  acclamation  : 

"  Resolved,  That  the  government  of  the  Union  shall  be  sustained. 

"That  the  city  government  be  requested  to  appropriate  ten  thousand 
dollars  in  aid  of  those  who  may  volunteer,  and  for  the  support  of  their 
families. 

"  That  each  volunteer  be  paid  the  sum  of  twenty  dollars  per  month 
from  the  city  treasury,  in  addition  to  what  is  paid  by  the  government." 

On  April  24th  the  committee  of  the  City  Council 
to  whom  these  resolutions  were  referred  reported  as 
follows : 

"  Whereas,  etc.,  in  the  southern  section  of  our  country  public  law  is 
disregarded,  the  authority  of  the  United  States  set  at  defiance,  and  armed 
forces  have  been  and  are  organizing,  with  the  avowed  purpose  of  over- 
throwing the  government  as  formed  by  our  Revolutionary  fathers,  and 
of  establishing  a  new  government,  in  which  freedom  of  the  press,  ..f 
speech,  and  of  the  individual  man  shall  be  more  restricted,— in  a  word, 
a  government  for  the  perpetuation  of  slavery  ;  and 

"  Wliereas,  etc.,  for  the  repelling  of  such  forces,  the  standing  army 
being  inadequate,  the  President  of  the  United  States  has  made  requisi- 
tion on  the  several  States  for  militia;  therefore,  to  the  end  that  said 
requisition  may  he  more  readily  answered, 

'•  Ordered,  That  to  each  of  our  citizens  who  may  join  a  militia  com- 
pany of  our  city,  organized  according  to  law,  pledged  to  render  military 
service  whenever  and  wherever  required,  whether  by  authority  of  the 
State  or  the  United  States  government,  there  be  paid  from  the  city 
treasury  the  sum  of  fifteen  dollars  for  outfit,  when  such  company  shall 
be  mustered  into  service;  and  thereafter,  for  a  term  not  exceeding  three 
months,  fifteen  dollars  a  month,  the  latter  to  be  applied  for  the  support 
of  the  family  or  dependents,  as  the  soldier  may  direct;  and  if,  at  the  ex- 
piration of  the  service,  a  balance  or  the  whole  shall  remain  unpaid, 
then  payment  to  l,e  made  to  the  soldier  in  person  or  his  legal  represen- 
tatives; these  payments  to  be  made  in  addition  to  compensation  that 
may  be  realized  from  the  United  States  government." 

The  order  was  adopted  by  the  City  Council,  and 
ten  thousand  dollars  were  appropriated  in  accord- 
ance therewith.  Meanwhile  enlistments  were  rapidly 
going  on.  A  company  was  already  partly  formed 
under  Lieut.  Gushing,  who  had  seen  service  in  the 


Mexican  war,  and  a  rifle  company,  composed  of  some 
of  the  best  young  men  in  the  town,  was  being  or- 
ganized under  Capt.  (afterwards  Lieut.-Col.)  C.  W. 
Greene.  Fall  River  was  the  third  in  the  list  of  ap- 
plicants in  the  commonwealth  to  Governor  Andrew 
for  permission  to  raise  military  companies.  April 
29th  the  mayor  was  requested  to  apply  to  the  State 
authorities  to  furnish  two  hundred  muskets  for  the 
two  companies  organized  in  the  city.  These  were 
mustered  into  the  United  States  service  June  11, 
1861,  and  formed  companies  A  and  B  of  the  Seventh 
Massachusetts  Regiment  of  Volunteers,  commanded 
by  Col.  (afterwards  Gen.)  D.  N.  Couch,  of  Taun- 
ton, and  by  Lieut.-Col.  Chester  W.  Greene,  of  this 
city.  Besides  the  above-mentioned  companies,  a  third 
was  formed,  composed  mainly  of  "adopted  citi- 
zens." It  was  not  deemed  expedient,  however,  for 
them  to  be  mustered  into  service  at  the  time,  and 
June  5,  1861,  the  city  government  voted  that  twelve 
dollars  be  paid  to  each  member,  and  they  were  dis- 
banded. In  September,  1861,  a  bounty  of  fifteen 
dollars  was  authorized  to  be  paid  to  each  volunteer 
who  should  join  a  company  then  forming,  which 
was  afterwards  mustered  into  active  service. 

The  first  Fall  River  soldier  who  fell  in  the  struggle 
for  the  nation's  life  was  Nathaniel  S.  Gerry,  a  private 
in  Company  A,  Seventh  Regiment  Massachusetts 
Volunteers,  and  the  first  commissioned  officer  was 
Lieut.  Jesse  D.  Bullock,  of  the  same  regiment,  who 
died  June  25,  1862,  from  wounds  received  at  the 
battle  of  Fair  Oaks. 

During  the  war  the  city  furnished  eighteen  hundred 
and  forty-five  men,  thirty-seven  of  whom  were  com- 
missioned officers.  The  roll  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty-three  names  of  fallen  heroes  on  the  soldiers' 
monument  in  Oak  Grove  Cemetery  shows  in  part 
only  the  sacrifice  in  human  life  made  by  Fall  River 
in  the  struggle  for  national  existence. 

The  following  is  a  summary  of  the  different  regi- 
ments in  which  Fall  River  men  served  :  In  the  three 
years'  regiments  of  Massachusetts  volunteers,  the  city 
furnished  Companies  A  and  B  of  the  Seventh  Regi- 
ment; Company  G,  Twenty-sixth  Regiment;  a  large 
portion  of  Companies  F  and  G,  Fifty-eighth  Regi- 
ment;  and  a  number  of  men  for  the  Ninth,  Eleventh, 
Twelfth,  Sixteenth,  Seventeenth,  Eighteenth,  Nine- 
teenth, Twentieth,  Twenty-second,  Twenty-fourth, 
Twenty-fifth,  Twenty-eighth,  Twenty-ninth,  Thirty- 
second,  Thirty-third,  Thirty-seventh,  Thirty-ninth, 
Fortieth,  Fifty-fourth,  and  Fifty-seventh  Regiments 
of  infantry;  also  for  the  Fifth  and  Sixth  Batteries  of 
light  artillery,  Second  and  Third  Regiments  and 
First  Battalion  of  heavy  artillery  ;  and  for  the  First, 
Second,  Fourth,  and  Fifth  Regiments  of  cavalry.  Be- 
sides the  above,  Fall  River  men  also  served  in  the 
regular  army,  general  service,  signal  service,  and  in 
regiments  from  Rhode  Island,  Connecticut,  New  York, 
and  Illinois.  Four  hundred  and  ninety-seven  men 
from  Fall  River  also  served  in  the  United  States  navy. 


FALL  RIVER. 


365 


In  the  short-term  service  the  city  furnished  Compan- 
ies C  and  D,  Third  Regiment  (nine  months)  ;  also  a 
number  for  the  Eighth,  Forty-third,  Forty-sixth, 
Forty-seventh,  and  Forty-eighth  Regiments  (nine 
months);  for  the  Sixty-first  Regiment  (one  year); 
( lompany  D,  Sixteenth  Regiment  (one  hundred  days) ; 
Fiftli  Unattached  Company  (ninety  days)  ;  Twenty- 
first  Company  (one  hundred  days)  ;  and  also  men  for 
the  Fifth,  Fifteenth,  Eighteenth,  and  Twenty-fourth 
Unattached  Companies  (one  hundred  days). 

The  amount  of  money  appropriated  and  expended 
by  the  city  on  account  of  the  war,  exclusive  of  State 
aid,  was  $107,S28.03.  The  sums  of  money  raised  and 
expended  by  the  city  during  the  years  of  the  war  for 
State  aid  to  soldiers'  families,  and  which  were  repaid 
by  the  commonwealth,  were:  In  1861,  $7262.25  ;  in 
1862, $29, 771.67;  in  1863,  $36,476.10 ;  in  1864,134,000; 
in  186.3,  $20,000  ;  total  amount,  $127,510.02. 

The  city  was  fortunate  in  having  for  municipal 
officers,  as  well  as  in  other  places  of  power  and  trust, 
men  of  high  integrity  and  undoubted  patriotism. 
The  mayor  through  the  entire  crisis  was  Hon.  E.  P. 
Buffintou.  He  was  thoroughly  acquainted  with  and 
commanded  the  confidence  of  the  people,  and  his 
labors  were  incessant  and  untiring.  The  aldermen 
during  the  years  of  the  war,  all  of  whom  were  sub- 
stantial and  trustworthy  citizens,  and  steadfastly  co- 
operated with  the  mayor  in  his  labors,  were  in  1861 
George  H.  Eddy,  Nathaniel  B.  Borden,  Asa  Pettey, 
Jr.,  John  Mason,  Jr.,  James  Ford,  Job  B.  Ashley ;  in 
1862,  Joseph  Borden,  Nathaniel  B.  Borden,  Asa  Pet- 
tey, Jr.,  John  Mason,  Jr.,  James  Ford,  Job  B.  Ashley; 
in  1863,  Samuel  Hathaway,  Joseph  Borden,  Nathaniel 
B.  Borden,  Benjamin  Covel,  Charles  O.  Shove,  Walter 
Paine  (3d) ;  in  1864,  Weaver  Osborn,  Joshua  Rem- 
ington, Nathaniel  B.  Borden,  Daniel  Stillwell,  Walter 
Paine  (3d),  Philip  D.  Borden  ;  in  1865,  James  Henry, 
Joshua  Remington,  Nathaniel  B.  Borden,  Daniel 
Stillwell,  Walter  Paine  (3d),  Philip  D.  Borden. 

The  member  of  Congress  from  this  district  during 
the  war,  and  to  whom  the  city  is  as  largely  indebted 
perhaps  as  to  any  one  man,  was  Hon.  James  Buffinton. 
Mr.  Buffinton  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company  A, 
Seventh  Massachusetts  Regiment,  at  an  early  hour  of 
its  organization,  and  positively  declined  to  be  elected 
to  any  office  therein.  He  took  part  in  its  preparatory 
drills  and  movements,  marching  in  the  ranks,  and 
went  with  it  when  it  was  mustered  into  service.  At 
Camp  Brightwood,  Washington,  he  was  appointed 
adjutant  of  the  regiment  under  Col.  Couch.  He  per- 
formed the  duties  of  his  position  until  the  fall  session 
of  Congress  in  1861,  when  his  constituents  demanded 
his  discharge  and  the  resumption  of  his  seat  in  Con- 
gress. 

The  women  of  Fall  River  during  the  struggle  were 
worthy  of  the  city  and  of  the  cause.  As  early  as 
April  27,  1861,  a  ladies'  sewing  society  was  organ- 
ized. For  six  weeks  the  members  met  daily,  working 
from    morning    until    evening,  and    afterwards    they 


usually  came  together  one  afternoon  in  each  week. 
.Many  other  meetings  were  held  for  work  and  con- 
sultation, and  several  ladies  did  their  work  for  the 
society  at  their  own  dwellings.  Mrs.  Richard  Bor- 
den was  the  president;  Mrs.  Avis  Ames,  vice-presi- 
dent; and  Miss  A.  C.  G.  Canedy,  secretary.  The 
committee  of  arrangements  comprised  twenty-two  of 
the  prominent  ladies  of  the  town,  and  the  society  re- 
tained its  organization  from  April  27, 1861,  to  July  28, 
1865,  with  some  change  in  its  officers,  although  Mrs. 
Borden  remained  its  president  during  the  entire 
period.  Mrs.  Caroline  Borden,  the  treasurer,  Mrs. 
Ames,  Mrs.  William  Munday,  Mrs.  S.  Angier  Chace, 
Mrs.  Mary  A.  Brayton,  Mrs.  Mary  Young,  Mrs.  Fos- 
ter Hooper,  Mrs.  Mary  Durfee,  ami  many  other  ladies 
rendered  valuable  services.  The  society  received 
during  the  time  of  its  existence  $3347.76  in  cash, 
which  was  properly  expended  for  materials  to  be 
made  up  for  the  soldiers.  Among  the  articles  fur- 
nished were  200  soldiers'  uniforms,  231  bed-sacks, 
131  bed-quilts,  365  bed-comforters,  87  blankets,  355 
sheets,  262  pillows,  307  pillow-cases,  167  cushions  for 
wounds,  90  dressing-gowns,  380  cotton  shirts,  292 
flannel  shirts,  284  shirts,  209  drawers,  1164  pairs 
woolen  hose,  1365  handkerchiefs,  2246  towels,  5589 
yards,  323  rolls,  1  box,  and  4  bundles  of  bandages, 
127  boxes  of  lint,  and  a  great  number  and  variety  of 
other  articles,  including  pin-cushions,  wines,  jellies, 
pictures,  newspapers,  books,  etc.  A  children's  lint 
society  was  also  kept  up  during  the  war,  alternating 
its  meetings  at  the  different  homes  of  the  children. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  those  who  enlisted  from 
Fall  River  during  the  late  war  of  the  Rebellion: 


Adams,  Charles  P. 
Allen,  Theodore  H. 
Allen,  Charles  C. 
Anthony,  Charles  W. 
Anderson,  Andrew. 
Anderson,  John. 
Adams,  William. 
Allham,  Thomas. 
Anderson,  John. 
Asliton,  Thomas. 
Alty,  Josiah  S. 
Adams,  George  F. 
Aldrich,  Asahiel. 
Altham,  George. 
Austin,  Francis  L. 
Andrews,  Thomas  A. 
Austin,  Thomas  A. 
Ash,  Thomas. 
Alden,  Frederick  1). 
Albert.  Richard  W. 
Ardean,  William. 
Ardean,  Thomas. 
Anderson,  James. 
Allen,  Theodore  A. 
Adams,  Francis  M. 
Albert,  James. 
Albinson,  James. 
Allen,  George  F. 
Ale-horn,  George,  Jr. 
Arnold,  Gilbert  D. 
Adams,  William. 
Albro,  George  F. 
Atw 1,  Tisdale. 


Austin,  William  H. 
Albro,  Gardner  I). 
Alchorn,  George. 
Albro,  Charles  E. 
Altham,  George. 
Burt,  John  B. 
Boomer,  Nathan  II. 
Bowen,  Karl  I. 
Beaumont,  Joseph. 
Borden,  Arthur  R. 
Bennett,  Henry  B. 
Burgess,  Elijah  F. 
Bennett,  Francis  T. 
Burgess,  Freeman  R. 
Barker,  Frank. 
Bmmwood,  William. 
Baldwin,  Amos. 
Brightman,  James  L. 
Brady,  Martin. 
Brayton,  Thomas  L. 
Brown,  George  W. 
Bullock,  Jesse  D. 
Buffinton,  Israel. 
Brightman,  Henry  W. 
Burrows,  Isaac  II. 
Bigelow,  Lucius  T. 
Brocklehuist,  John. 
Bullock,  Job  F. 
Brown,  William  A. 
Briggs,  Andrew  J. 
Beers,  Hiram  L. 
Birtwell,  Thomas  E. 
Blown,  Henry  E. 


366 


HISTORY   OF  BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Bulger,  Joseph. 

Borden,  Franklin. 

Chace,  Andrew  J. 

Cottrell,  Benjamin. 

Bostick,  Samuel. 

Bonney,  Darius. 

(hace,  Hiram. 

Crumbell,  Robert  W. 

Barker,  Francis. 

Booth,  John. 

Connelly,  Lawrence. 

Cook, Isaac  B. 

Brady,  James,  Jr. 

Bannister,  Wilson. 

Carr,  George  A. 

Cannon,  Joseph. 

Butler,  William  H. 

Burns,  Thomas. 

dishing,  John. 

Curran,  Bartholomew. 

Burke,  William. 

Bunting,  William. 

Church,  James  G. 

Crapiu,  Elisha  M. 

Bennett,  William  H. 

Booth,  William. 

Crompton,  George. 

Coffee,  William. 

Burns,  Patrick. 

Borden,  Thomas  J. 

Calroon,  James  F. 

Carroll,  Henry. 

Brow,  Aaron,  Jr. 

Baker,  William  R. 

Carroll,  Henry. 

Currity,  Daniel. 

Brown,  Robert  A. 

Buffinton,  Charles. 

Chace,  Joseph  H. 

Courtney,  Timothy. 

Bentley,  George. 

Brightman,  Charles  I. 

Chace,  Philip. 

Crowley,  Timothy. 

Burt,  Charles  A. 

Bowler,  George. 

Costello,  Patrick. 

Cook,  Enos  A. 

Borden,  Clark  P. 

Booth,  Joseph. 

Campbell,  John  B. 

Conroy,  Michael. 

Booth,  George. 

Brown,  William. 

Clark,  James. 

Carey,  Bartholomew  J. 

Beck,  John  I. 

Bourne,  Joseph. 

Conley,  Timothy. 

Conway,  Philip. 

Brady,  James. 

Bowen,  Joseph. 

Crowther,  James. 

Callahan,  Jeremiah. 

Booth,  Richard. 

Bridge,  James. 

Connell,  Charles. 

Carroll,  James. 

Benson,  James  T. 

Batt,  Charles  R. 

Collins,  John  E. 

Christie,  James. 

Basset  t,  Ellory. 

Browuell,  William  T. 

Cook,  Horace  M. 

Clark,  James. 

Buftam,  Thomas  J. 

Borden,  George  H. 

Cutting,  George  S. 

Clark,  Alexander. 

Budd,  Nathaniel. 

Briggs,  Nathaniel. 

Collins,  Stephen. 

Cannon,  John. 

Brown,  Henderson. 

Bray,  James. 

Cantwell,  Patrick. 

Copeland,  Samuel. 

Bullock,  Moses  A. 

Bowen,  Marcus. 

Cook,  William  H. 

Collins,  Albert. 

Buchannan,  George  T. 

Barlow,  James. 

Cheetham,  William. 

Cottrell,  Benjamin  G. 

Burke,  Patrick. 

Boyuton,  Samuel  H. 

Clark,  John  S. 

Crotey,  Daniel. 

Boyle,  Francis. 

Barnett,  Washington. 

Carey,  Thomas. 

Cunningham,  Maurice. 

Baldwin,  James  H. 

Boomer,  Ephraim. 

Carver,  Charles  H. 

Cornier,  John. 

Boston,  John. 

Boomer,  David  S. 

Clapp,  Owen. 

Colbert,  Edward. 

Borden,  Stephen  B. 

Borden,  Prince  S. 

Chase,  Hiram,  Jr. 

Colbert,  Maurice. 

Butler,  James. 

Bowers,  Alfred. 

Coleman,  John. 

Co  wen,  Benjamin  F. 

Borden,  Alphonso. 

Brayton,  James. 

Churchill,  Josiah  S. 

Conery,  John. 

Borden,  John  A. 

Brightman,  Perez  0. 

Carr,  John. 

Connell,  Theodore. 

Bucklin,  George  W. 

Bush,  Oliver  P. 

Cushman,  Nelson. 

Chace,  Thomas  W. 

Bray  ton,  Stephen  F. 

Barnes,  Joseph. 

Cahill,  Thomas  L. 

Cavalier,  Walter  S. 

Bowers,  Joseph. 

Baylies,  George. 

Chace,  Baylies  R. 

Conway,  Philip. 

Bohan,  James. 

Boyden,  Joseph  C. 

Chace,  Joseph  A. 

Conely,  Frank. 

Bradbury,  William. 

Browuell,  Charles. 

Cochrane,  Daniel. 

Conway,  John. 

Brow,  Frank  E. 

Brady,  Thomas. 

Copeland,  Charles  D. 

Corksey,  Michael. 

Baker,  Abram  M. 

Brow,  Benjamin  F. 

Creighton,  Thomas  J. 

Croty,  Maurice. 

Bradley,  David. 

Brow,  James. 

Clark,  Henry. 

Church,  George  J. 

Barker,  Jeremiah  D. 

Brown,  Albert  T. 

Clarkson,  Edwin. 

Carrigan,  John. 

. 

Braley,  Sierra  L. 

Borden,  James  E. 

Coggeshall,  Edmund  D. 

Cluney,  Joseph. 

Brightman,  William  B. 

Borden,  Henry  S. 

Caswell,  Thomas  N. 

Collins,  Peter. 

Borden,  Charles  C. 

Borden,  William. 

Cunnern,  James  E. 

Coleman,  Bartholomew. 

Borden,  Asahiel. 

Brady,  John. 

Cook.  Cbarles  H. 

Coughlin,  Charles. 

Brightman,  James. 

Benuer,  Alexander. 

Chace,  George  N. 

Castino,  Adoniram. 

Brown,  Samuel. 

Boomer,  David  T. 

Crapo,  Francis  H. 

Dyer,  David  H. 

Bradbury,  Robert. 

Brown,  Patrick. 

Coldwell,  William. 

Durfer,  Thomas  M. 

Brussell,  Thomas. 

Briggs,  Charles  R. 

Cameron,  John  A. 

Dunham,  Isaac,  Jr. 

Bradbury,  Samuel. 

Briggs.  George  W. 

Cash,  William. 

Davis,  Anthony. 

Barnett,  John. 

Brown,  Walter. 

Crowley,  Patrick. 

Dickinson,  John. 

| 

Blomley,  Joseph. 

Brown,  William  J. 

Clarkson,  Thomas. 

Davol,  Leander  A. 

Broadbent,  James 

Baldwin,  Charles  H. 

Chase,  Philip. 

Dunn,  William  A. 

Burke,  Patrick. 

Brow,  William  H. 

Canedy,  William  J. 

Dunning,  Eben  R. 

Butterworth,  James. 

Brightman,  Sheffield. 

Corgan,  James. 

Deckerton,  William. 

Broadbent,  Charles  N. 

Boynton,  James  A. 

Curry,  Michael. 

D wight,  Eugene. 

Burt,  Benjamin  T. 

Briggs,  William  A. 

Currau,  James. 

Davis,  Edward  E. 

Britton,  Edward. 

Burns,  Conrad. 

Cordingly,  Thomas  R. 

Davis,  Otis  H. 

Bowden,  Joseph. 

Burns,  James. 

Catler,  Israel. 

Doane,  Henry. 

Burt.  Icbabod  B. 

Brestlin,  James. 

Connor,  Dennis. 

Dunham,  Ichabod  H. 

Borden,  Thomas  Lawrence. 

Berkinshaw,  John. 

Coogan,  Joseph. 

Davis,  Robert  F. 

Blake,  Richard. 

Bennett.  Henry. 

Corcoran,  Thomas. 

Donahoe,  William. 

Babbitt,  Edward  F. 

Brayton,  James. 

Canedy,  William  B. 

Dunn,  Charles. 

f 

Butler,  Henry. 

Borden,  William  H. 

Chace,  William  H. 

Dyer,  Edwin  J. 

Burns,  John. 

Borden,  Isaac  H. 

Campbell,  Alexander. 

Desmond,  Patrick. 

Borden,  Joseph  F. 

Borden,  Hiram  C. 

Collins,  Bernard. 

Denny,  Obadiah. 

Beaumont,  Samuel. 

Brown,  Daniel  R. 

Conroy,  Daniel. 

Dunlap,  Matthew. 

Borden,  George  G. 

Brown,  John. 

Cottrell,  William  T. 

Dewhurst,  Thomas. 

Burroughs,  Samuel  N. 

Bessey,  Henry. 

Carroll,  Thomas. 

Dunley,  Patrick. 

Brown,  Cyrus  B. 

Babbitt,  Ebenezer. 

Campbell,  Thomas. 

Duckworth,  Alexander. 

Bullock,  Isaiah  B. 

Belcher,  Thomas  E. 

Cook,  Henry  Clay. 

Downing,  Cornelius  P. 

Browuell,  Jonathan. 

Canoran,  John. 

Chace,  George  H. 

Donovan,  John. 

Broadbent,  Samuel. 

Cunningham,  John. 

Connell,  Peter. 

Duckworth,  James. 

Babcock,  William. 

Coyle,  Thomas. 

Coughlin,  Michael. 

Dunbar,  William. 

Babcock,  John. 

Cobb,  John  F. 

Chappell,  Augustus  G. 

Dunnell,  Benjamin. 

Bliss,  Charles  C. 

Clough,  James. 

dishing,  William  H. 

Downing,  James  H. 

Becton,  James. 

Carr,  William  W. 

Carey,  Job  S. 

Doyle,  Michael. 

FALL  RIVER. 


Bollard,  Garret. 
Deplitch,  William. 
Pelniage,  James  L. 
Dixon,  James. 
Dolman,  Joseph. 
Durfee,  Samuel  T. 
Darling,  John  A. 
Da  vol,  John  N. 
Davol,  John,  Jr. 
Davis,  John  R- 
Davis,  John  1'. 
Donovan,  Edward  M. 

Dacoy,  Timothy. 
Dolan,  Andrew. 

Dewire,  William. 
Dillon.  John. 
Dorsey,  Edward. 
Davis,  William  L. 
Delauey,  James. 
Dunn,  John. 
Desmond,  Cornelius. 
Driver,  William. 
Dean,  Thomas  S. 
Devine,  Michael. 
Dugan,  John. 
Drohan,  John  E. 
Dnvally,  John  J. 
Doyle,  Michael. 
Dailey,  Thomas. 
Dwigbt,  Delois. 
Durfee,  JoBeph. 
Daffy,  Edward. 
Driscoll,  Edward  0. 
Durfee,  Andrew. 

Dorley,  Thomas. 
Drennan,  Richard. 

Dolan,  Charles. 
Dixon,  Thomas. 
Dean,  George  B. 
Drennan,  John. 
Dimoran,  Timothy. 
Downey,  John. 
Deplitch,  Jonathan. 
Dyer,  Everett  B. 
Davol,  Bradford  D. 
De  Caro,  Frank. 
Dennis,  Robert  8. 
Dunning,  Marillo  P. 
Dailey,  Archibald  D. 

Davis,  Albert. 
Davis,  Alonzo  B. 
Dailey,  John. 
Dennan,  John  C. 
Devine,  John. 
Desmond,  Dennis. 
Doherty,  Thomas. 
Dougherty,  Philip. 
Dougherty,  Hugh. 
Driscoll,  Daniel. 
Driscoll,  Michael. 
Dugan,  Michael. 
Dugan,  John. 
Downing,  Thomas. 
Dailey.  Thomas. 
Dewire,  John. 
Dewire,  Patrick. 
Donnan,  John. 
Dnnovan,  Patrick. 
Driscoll,  Patrick. 
Delaney,  Thomas. 
Davis,  Albert. 
Davis,  William. 
Dearden,  James. 
Daley,  John. 
Droyer,  Thomas. 
Desmond,  Humphrey 
Donnelly,  James. 


Dunnivan.  John. 
Delaney,  James. 
Durfer,  Richard. 
Eddy,  Jesse  F. 

Elshrer,  Frederick  O. 
Elshrer,  Edwin  P. 
Baton,  Josiah  J. 
Eaton,  Henry  A. 
Emmer,  John  B. 
BlBbrer,  Almanza  S. 
Evans,  James. 
Bastham,  William. 
Emerson,  William. 
Edge,  Samuel. 
Elshrer,  Joseph  R. 
England,  George. 
Emery,  Benjamin. 
Eddy,  James  C. 
Eastou,  Alexander  D. 
Earles,  Newton  R. 
Eccles,  Thomas. 
Ellis,  Simeon. 
Eltz,  William. 
Evans,  Franklin. 
Eddy,  George. 
Fish,  John  R. 
Farnsworth,  William  H. 
Finneran,  John. 
Fleet,  James. 
Farrar,  Patrick  F. 
Farnsworth,  Henry. 
Flaherty,  James. 
Fleet,  George. 
Fitzgerald,  James. 
Field,  Daniel  L. 
Foley,  John. 
Flummery,  Thomas. 
French,  Asa  B. 
Flynn,  Nicholas. 
Ford,  Nathaniel. 
Fiske,  Benjamin  L. 
Fitzgibhons,  Thomas. 
Fielding,  Robert. 
Farren,  P.  Henry  S. 
Freelove,  Richmond  D. 
Frawley,  Patrick. 
Francis,  William. 
Folger,  David  J. 
Flaherty,  John. 
Fay,  Edward  A. 
Fulce,  James. 
Fiuley,  William. 
French,  William  S. 
Foster,  John. 
Fitzsimmons,  Martin. 
Freeborn,  Orlin  J. 
Field,  Charles  F. 
Freelove,  Henry  B. 
Fagan,  Robert. 
Frazier,  Thomas. 
Franklin,  George  A. 
Frawley,  Henry. 
Fish,  Joseph  H. 
Fairbank,  George  0. 
Ferguson,  Andrew. 
French,  Edward  A. 
Frazier,  John. 
Fish,  Asa  F. 
Flaherty,  Thomas  C. 
Frawley,  John. 
li. Ming,  Michael. 
Fleet,  John. 
Ford,  John  W. 
Fish,  William. 
ffiBh,  Andrew  E. 
FiBh,  William  E. 
French,  George  H. 


Greene,  Chester  W. 
Greenhalgh,  John  H. 
Greene,  James  E. 
Gerry,  Benjamin  1". 
Greene,  John  R. 
Gregory,  Robert. 
Gerry,  Nathaniel. 
Gifford,  George  W. 
Grimshaw,  John. 
Gobs,  Walter  S. 
Galligan,  Bartley. 
Grinnell,  Richard. 
Goslin,  John. 
Grinnell,  William  T. 
Garvey,  Andrew. 
Gardner,  Sidney. 
Greene,  Daniel. 
Greene,  Joseph. 
Ghilden,  Benjamin. 

Griffin,  Thomas. 
Grant,  Elihu. 
Grush,  George  G. 
Graham,  William. 
Gilbert,  Thomas. 
Grant,  George  A. 
Greene,  Dennis. 
Grush,  Frederick  A. 
Goslin,  James. 
Gleason,  James. 
Guynian,  Michael. 
Gordon,  Charles. 
Griffin,  Thomas. 
Garvey,  John. 
Gordier,  John. 
Griffiths,  Thomas  W. 

Grinnell,  James  E. 
Gifford,  James  F. 
Gregory,  James. 
Greenhalgh,  Joseph. 
Grady,  Michael. 
Gavin,  Patrick. 
Greenhalgh,  James. 
Gage,  Alexander. 
Greene,  Benjamin. 
Gifford,  David  S. 
Graham,  George. 
Gray,  Edward  M. 
Gannon,  Thomas. 
Canning,  Thomas. 
Gifford,  Joseph  P. 
Gifford,  Almanza  P. 
Greene,  Cornelius. 
Greene,  Daniel  S. 
Goodier,  Samuel. 
Gifford,  Asa  W. 
Gerry,  Charles. 
Gleason,  Daniel. 
Goff,  William  F. 
Hayden,  Frank  B. 
Hall,  Charles. 
Harding,  Christopher. 
Herin,  Patrick. 
Hill,  William. 
Hampson,  William. 
Harding,  Lawrence. 
Flamer,  John. 
Hazeltine,  William. 
Hambly,  John  G. 
Hedge,  Lemuel  M. 
Holmes,  Peter  A. 
lladnekl,  Thomas. 

Hathaway,  Warren. 
Harrihan,  Thomas. 
Hulehouse,  James. 
Holehouse,  John. 

Harding,  James. 

Hogau,  Patrick. 


3t>7 


Halden,  James. 
Hoar,  Charles  P. 
Higginbottom,  John. 
Harrington,  Timothy. 
Hamblin,  William. 
Harrison,  Joseph. 
Hoar,  John. 
Hanly,  Michael. 
Haggerty,  James. 
Hedge,  Mortimer. 
Henrys,  William. 
Hosmer,  James  L. 
Hart,  Ferdinand  B. 
Haggerty,  John. 
Horsman,  John. 
Horsman,  Francis. 
Hart,  Isaac  L. 
Hill,  Joseph. 
Hubbard,  Russell. 
Hayston,  Thomas. 
Hinckley,  Samuel  B. 
Holt,  James. 
Hanson,  George. 
Hackley,  John. 
Harrington,  Timothy. 
Harrington,  Daniel. 
Hoolan,  Michael. 
Harrington,  John. 
Haywood,  Abram. 
Higbam,  William. 
Halmer,  Theodore. 
Haley,  Jeremiah  C. 
Hunt,  Albert  B. 
Harding,  Charles. 
Holden,  George. 
Holland,  Daniel. 
Holley,  William. 
Handy,  John. 
Harrington,  Jeremiah. 

Hayes,  John. 
Hastie,  William  A. 
Hill,  Thomas. 
Hill,  Charles  F. 
Harrington,  Mark. 
Hanley,  James. 
Howard,  Charles  A. 
Hayes,  Quiulan. 
Healy,  James. 
Hayes,  Samuel  A. 
Haekley,  William. 
Holloway,  Abram  P. 
Holland,  Cornelius. 
HilL  Leander  M. 
Howard,  Oliver  H.  P. 
Hathaway,  Thomas  S. 
Hathaway,  Charles  W. 
Hallsworth,  James. 

Hanson,  Philip. 
Harvey,  John. 

Harrington,  James. 
Hayes,  Patrick. 
Harris,  Abraham. 
Hathaway,  Henry  W. 
Healy,  Timothy. 
Henry,  James. 
Hibbert,  William. 
Hy  nes,  John. 
Hibbert,  Samuel. 
Hathaway,  Edmund. 
Henry,  James  W. 
Hillard,  Charles. 
Horsman,  Joseph. 
Harroll,  Richard. 
Hamilton,  James. 
Hillard,  Oscar  A. 
Margraves,  William. 
Hathaway,  Samuel  W. 


368 


HISTORY    OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Hodgeson,  Thomas. 
Hurley,  Richard. 
Dalian,  Thuinas. 
Harrington,  John. 
Higney,  Edward. 
Harrington,  William  E. 
Haskell,  Thomas  H.  B. 
Haggerty,  Patrick. 
Hawthorne,  William. 
Healey,  David  A. 
Henigan,  James. 
Home,  Michael. 
Holland,  Michael. 
Holland,  Robert  C. 
Holley,  Patrick. 
Hurley,  Timothy. 
Henigan,  Thomas. 
Hogan,  John. 
Hogan,  James. 
Haughlin,  James. 
Haughliu,  Jeremiah. 
Hilton,  Francis. 
Hodnett,  Philip. 
Harrington,  Daniel. 
Han  ley,  James. 
Haskins,  Edward. 
Habitt,  William. 
Hamilton,  Hugh. 
Hearn,  Patrick. 
Howard,  William. 
Healy,  William. 
Howe,  Frank. 
Haswell,  George. 
Hicks,  Charles  H. 
Hosford,  Peter  F. 
Hawkins,  Charles. 
Houghton,  Edward  J. 
Hamilton,  William. 
Holmes,  Leonard. 
Hopkins,  Edward  A. 
Hart,  George  A. 
Irving,  Eli. 
Isherwood,  John. 
Jones,  John  A. 
Jackson,  John. 
Johnson,  James. 
Jones,  Oswego. 
Jones,  Charles  E. 
Jennings,  Thomas  J. 
Jennings,  Cornelius  D. 
.]..i. len,  James. 
Jameson,  John. 
Jones,  Charles. 
Jones,  Robert. 

Johnson,  Walter. 
Johnson,  James. 
Jones,  Joseph. 
Kay,  Henry  E. 
Kelly,  Michael. 
Kelly,  Michael  C. 
Keenan,  John. 
Kelly,  James. 
Keenan,  Samuel  R. 
Keefe,  John. 
Kennedy,  Michael. 
Keith,  Charles. 
Keith,  Ebenezer. 
Keefe,  Patrick. 
Kariigh,  John. 
Kay,  Ralph. 
Kendrick,  John  H. 
Kendrick,  Michael. 
Kershaw,  Samuel. 
Keith,  Sidney. 
Keith,  Sumner. 
Kenny,  Thomas. 
Kelly,  Cornelius. 


Kidd,  Thomas. 
Kelleher,  William. 
Kay,  John. 
Kay,  Thomas. 
Kenny,  Lawrence. 
Kelleher,  John  R. 
Kelly,  Thomas. 
Kelly,  James. 
Kendrick,  Jeremiah. 
Kelly,  Edward. 
Kendrick,  John. 
Kelly,  Thomas  H. 
Kennedy,  John. 
Keefe,  John. 
Kinsley,  William  M. 
Kenyon,  John  S. 
Kidd,  James. 
Kelly,  Timothy. 
Keeling,  William. 
Kane,  Jeremiah. 
Kent,  Chancellor. 
Kingsley,  George  F. 
Kirby,  Joseph  D. 
Keith,  TaplerQ. 
Kelly,  John. 
Kelly,  Patrick. 
Kelly,  Michael. 
Kelly,  Edward. 
Kelly,  John. 
King,  Sylvester. 
Kneeland,  William. 
Keith,  Topley  C. 
Knee,  George. 
Kelly,  Curley. 
Kelly.  Daniel. 
Keenan,  William  W. 
Langford,  Edward  L. 
Lanford,  James  II. 
Lonsdale,  Thomas. 
Lawton,  Andrew  S. 
Leonard,  William. 
Lang,  Richard. 
Lake,  Alexander. 
Lotta,  Robert. 
Lannaghan,  John. 
Le  Munyon,  Luther  W. 
Leonard,  Thomas. 
Lewis,  Thomas. 
Lawrence,  John. 
Lewis,  Joseph. 
Lawton,  Aimer  M. 
Lyons,  Patrick. 
Leary,  James. 
Ley,  Thomas. 
Lee,  Robert. 
Lincoln,  David  B. 
Lawton,  Joseph. 
Litchfield,  George  G. 
Loftus,  Nicholas. 
Lawrence,  James. 
Larason,  Lester. 
Lawton,  David. 
Lewin,  William  H. 
Lord,  George. 
Locke,  John  B. 
Leva II}',  Benjamin  W. 
Leary,  James. 
Ledu  tth,  James. 
Lewis,  Lathrop  H. 
Lyons,  John. 
Lewin,  George  W. 
Lewis,  Thomas  E. 
Lindsey,  Cyrus  W. 
Lew  us  Thomas. 
Linahan,  Daniel. 
Lynch,  Patrick. 
Luuiey,  Henry. 


Lawrence,  James. 
Lawrence,  William. 
Langley,  Henry. 
Lothrop,  Cyrus  S. 
Luther,  Ehen,  Jr. 
Lawrence,  Albert  M. 
Leary,  Thomas. 
Leary,  John. 
Lynch,  John. 
Leary,  John. 
Laley,  Anthony. 
Lonsdale,  James. 
Lewis,  Joseph. 
Lewis,  Thomas  R. 
Lane,  Patrick. 
Lawton,  Robert  B. 
McEwan,  John. 
Maboney,  Daniel. 
Marrel,  Edward  T. 
Martin,  Frank. 
McQuillan,  Joseph. 
Malone,  Peter. 
Manchester,  William  C. 
Murphy,  Thomas. 
Mather,  Joseph. 
Mitchell,  Peleg. 
Musson,  Thomas. 
Murphy,  John. 
Mather,  Thomas. 
Mahoney,  William. 
Manchester,  Lorenzo  D. 
McLeod,  William. 
Munroe,  John  H. 
Mather,  Joseph. 
Monks,  Major. 
Morse,  Andrew. 
Meadowcroft,  William. 
Marlow,  Kinder. 
McCarty,  Daniel. 
Murphy,  Michael. 
Manchester,  Borden. 
Manchester,  John  W. 
McCarty,  Dennis. 
Moorehouse,  Samuel. 
McMenormy,  John  P. 
Murphy,  Timothy. 
Meadowcroft,  Edward. 
McNally,  Patrick. 
Malady,  Geoi  ge. 
Mellor,  James. 
McCloskey,  Thomas. 
Morrison,  John. 
Mahoney,  William  0. 
McAvoy,  Michael. 
McAllister,  Levi. 
Mason,  John  L. 
McCloskey,  James. 
McMahon,  John  F. 
Munroe,  Albert  F. 
McKinnon,  Thomas. 
McGuire,  James. 
Manchester,  Edwin  F. 
Murphy,  Dennis  B. 
Malone,  Henry. 
Mallison,  John. 
Martin,  George. 
Mars,  Reuben. 
Martin,  Peter. 
Mottramm,  John. 
McFarland,  Thomas. 
McKenny,  Felix,  Jr. 
McDermott,  Thomas. 
McDonald,  Daniel. 
McPhee,  Thomas. 
McGraw,  Francis. 
Millerick,  John. 
Meller,  ChailesH. 


Morey,  William  I. 

Murphy,  Timothy. 

McGuinness,  Edward. 

McNaughton,  Charles. 

Miller,  George. 
i  Munhall,  John. 

McGowan,  John. 

Manchester,  Gilbert. 

Massy,  David. 

Malone,  John. 

Melvin,  John. 

Madden,  William. 

Maxwell,  Patrick. 

McGuinness,  Lawrence. 

McAvoy,  Frederick. 

McGrath,  Lawrence. 

McFarland,  Bernard. 

Macomber,  Charles  H. 

Mooney,  Thomas. 

Mahoney,  Jeremiah. 

McMillan,  James. 

Murphy,  Michael. 
.  McGowan,  Terence. 

McDonald,  John. 

Mosier,  Charles  D.  E. 

Mars,  Thomas. 

Murphy,  William. 

Mann,  James  F. 

Murphy,  Jeremiah. 

Maloy,  Thomas. 

Moriarty,  Daniel  J. 

Macomber,  Lorenzo  T. 

McCarty,  Daniel. 

Morrison,  Michael. 

Mooney,  Timothy. 

Myers,  George  W. 

Moriarty,  Philip. 

Murphy,  Jerry. 

Marshall,  Charles  W. 

Melville,  Thomas  D. 

Murphy,  Jeremiah  T. 

Manchester,  H.  C. 

Milne,  William  C. 

Moriarty,  John. 

McAvoy,  Michael. 

Murray,  Bernard. 

Miller,  James  W. 

Mason,  Lavader. 

Macomber,  James  P. 

McClintock,  James. 

McKeunon,  Thomas. 

McFarlaud,  James. 

Murphy,  Jeremiah  B. 

Martin,  George. 

Murdock,  James. 

Martin,  John  C. 

Manchester,  Henry  S. 

Manchester,  Albert  S. 

Manchester,  William  S. 

Martin,  Michael. 

Manchester,  Henry  F. 

Manchester,  Albert. 

Manchester,  William  T. 

Mahoney,  John. 

McCloy,  John. 

McCoy,  John. 

McKee,  William. 

McAriue,  Cornelius. 

McCarty,  James. 

McCarty,  Jeremiah. 

McGee,  John. 

Merriweather,  Thomas. 

Mellen,  Thomas. 

Moriarty,  Dennis. 

Moriarty,  Thomas. 

Morey,  Patrick. 

Murphy,  James. 


FALL  RIVER. 


3G9 


Murphy,  John. 
Mawhinney,  Hugh. 
Mawhinney,  Samuel, 
Milligan,  John. 
Murphy,  Michael. 
Murphy,  John. 
Murphy,  Jeremiah. 
Manchester,  Gilbert. 
Manchester,  William. 
Morse,  Albeit. 
Murdock,  James. 
Meeson,  Orin  F. 
McOarty,  John. 
McCarty,  Thomas. 
McCarty,  Mortimer. 
McCue,  Timothy. 
McCain),  John. 
Martin,  John  C. 
Meeson,  Edward. 
Millally,  John. 
Man  tins,  Augustus  A. 
Murphy,  Edward. 
McKine.  Jobn. 
McCarthy,  Dennis. 
Nye,  William  H. 
Nichols,  Henry  W. 
Norton,  Henry  F. 
Nash,  William  A. 
Novel!,  Francis  S. 
Negus,  Robert  C. 
Norton,  Frederick  A. 
Nary,  James. 
Newman,  William. 
Nickerson,  Henry  0. 
Negus,  Darius. 
Nulty,  Thomas, 
Nichols,  Alpheus. 
Negus,  Joseph. 
Negus,  Frederic  C. 
Nickerson,  Freeman. 
O'Brien,  James. 
O'Neil,  Daniel. 
O'Neil,  James. 
O'Neil,  Robert. 
O'Brien,  Patrick  H. 
O'Neil,  William. 
O'Connell,  Daniel. 
O'Leary,  Patrick. 
Oerhlein,  George. 
Ogden,  Henry. 
Owen,  Edward. 
Oliver,  Joseph. 
O'Brien,  Patrick. 
O'Brien,  John. 
O'Biieu,  Jeremiah. 
O'Neal,  Thomas. 
Ogdeu,  John. 
Omrod,  Robert. 
Omrod,  James. 
O'Brien,  James. 
O'Brien,  Patrick  H. 
O'Brien,  Thomas. 
O'Neil,  Timothy. 
O'Brien,  Edward. 
O'Connor,  Peter. 
O'Neil,  James. 
O'Brien,  Edward. 
O'Brien,  Dennis. 
O'Brien,  Jeremiah. 
O'Connell,  Peter. 
O'Donuell,  John  C. 
Palmer,  Albert  S. 
Peckham,  John  R. 
Pickford,  Thomas. 
Peckham,  Daniel  H. 
Pucell,  William. 
Patterson,  John. 

24 


Pierce,  Oliver  W. 
Potter,  James  H. 
Pierce,  Oliver. 
Powers,  James. 
Pierce,  George  R. 
Peters,  Robert. 
Palmer,  Matthew. 
Palmer,  John,  Jr. 
Perkins,  Joseph. 
Paine,  Charles  F. 
Patterson,  Harley  W. 
Peckham,  Jacob  T. 
Pierce,  William  H.  H. 
Packard,  Thaddeus  M. 
Peterson,  Seth  S. 
Peckham,  William  W. 
Peckham,  Peleg  H. 
Phelan,  John. 
Pell,  Jabish. 
Piatt,  Edward. 
Packard,  William  H. 
Poole,  John. 
Peters,  John. 
Piatt,  Charles. 
Perry,  Valentine. 
Page,  Hathaway  B. 
Pickles,  James. 
Petty,  Hiram  S. 
Palmer,  Benjamin. 
Pollett,  William. 
Philips,  William  0. 
Powers,  Edward. 
Powers,  John. 
Pratt,  William. 
Packard,  George  F. 
Pierce,  George  R. 
Peckham,  Edward  M. 
Pratt,  Phiueas  M. 
Peckham,  Ferdinand  E. 
Pritchard,  John  W. 
Prentiss,  William. 
Pendlebury,  Robert. 
Petty,  George  A. 
Purdy,  Frederic  W. 
Palmer,  George  L. 
Percy,  James. 
Quinlan,  Daniel. 
Quigley,  Patrick. 
Quigley,  John. 
Quigley,  Martin. 
Read,  Thomas  A. 
Read,  George  H. 
Ray,  James. 
Ryan,  Lawrence. 
Read,  Gustavus  L. 
Rose,  Eli. 
Regan,  David. 
Rusby,  George. 
Ryan,  Patrick. 
Rose,  Joseph. 
Riley,  Francis. 
Rourke,  Patrick. 
Kay,  Eber  A. 
Reynolds,  Thomas. 
Radigan,  John.  . 
Rourke,  John. 
Ridgeway,  William, 
llyan,  James. 
Redman,  Henry. 
Roberts,  Ebenezer. 

Roberts,  William  P. 
Remington,  Charles  G. 
Reed,  John  F. 
Reagan,  Timothy. 
Reagan,  Morty. 
Reynolds,  George,  Jr. 
Ryan,  Jeremiah. 


Rowbottom,  James. 
Rowcroft,  Thomas. 
Riley,  James. 
Radcliff,  William. 
Reynolds,  Josiah  K. 
Ray,  William  II. 
Ricketson,  Joseph  R. 
Rhuder,  Charles  H. 
Rhoder,  Augustus  S. 
Read,  Augustus. 
Rooney,  Thomas. 
Ryan,  Timothy. 
Reynolds,  Peter  C. 
Rigby,  William. 
Rider,  Charles  H. 
Richardson,  William. 
Rateliffe,  Joseph. 
Riley,  Charles. 
Reed,  Ferdinand  S. 
Remington,  Stephen. 
Read,  Sidney  H. 
Riley,  Philip. 
Riley,  Dennis. 
Rogers,  Justin. 
Runnels,  James. 
Rowland,  Michael. 
Remington,  Henry  H. 
Reagan,  William. 
Riley,  Dauiel. 
Riley,  John. 
Riley,  Miles. 
Ragan,  William. 
Ramsbottom,  James. 
Sheehan,  Robert. 
Sellers,  John  T. 
Sanderson,  William  II. 
Swan,  Horace  S. 
Scott,  William. 
Smith,  Patrick. 
•Slocum,  Frederick  A. 
Smyth,  Robert. 
Smithies,  Samuel. 
Sullivan,  Jeremiah. 
Swindles,  Joseph. 
Smith,  John. 
Shawcross,  Bristo. 
Sullivan,  Timothy. 
Sullivan,  Michael. 
Slade,  Amos  A. 
Sullivan,  Daniel. 
Smith,  Charles  D. 
Sullivan,  Timothy. 
Snow,  George  E. 
Simons,  William. 
Shaw,  Joseph  S. 
Sullivan,  Philip. 
Sullivan,  Bartholomew. 
Smith,  William  H. 
Smith,  Thomas  W. 
Sherruau,  James  A. 
Snow,  Alfred  A. 
Sullivan,  John. 
Sanders,  Edmund  N. 
Sullivan,  Daniel. 
Smith,  William  H. 
Smith,  Israel. 
Shaw,  Addison  J. 
Sauford,  John  D. 
Surgens,  Edward  S. 
Staples,  John  D. 
Sullivan,  Patrick. 
Smith,  Adolphus  P. 
Shove,  Benjamin  0. 
Smithson,  John. 
Smith,  Lafayette. 
Sharpies,  Lawrence. 
Sidley,  John  P. 


Smith,  James  B. 
Shehan,  David. 
Sanford,  Sylvester. 
Sherman,  William  H. 
Shea,  Michael  W. 
Sargent,  John. 
Slade,  Charles  E. 
Smith,  Robert. 
Shaw,  Charles. 
Snow,  Rev.  Charles  A. 
Sanford,  Leonard  M. 
Shaw,  James. 
Stowell,  Joshua. 
Sheddon,  James. 
Short,  Charles. 
Snyder,  Asa. 
Shea,  Stephen. 
Smith,  Lyman  R. 
Shaw,  Clark  S. 
Sullivan,  James  0. 
Sullivan,  John  D. 
Spooner,  Horatio. 
Sullivan,  Patrick. 
Sheedy,  Thomas. 
Sanford,  Herbert  D. 
Snell,  Albert  H. 
Sullivan,  Thomas. 
Swert,  Joseph  S. 
Shurd,  Joseph. 
Sanford,  Joseph  C. 
Sanford,  William. 
Smith,  George  W. 
Sullivan,  Morty. 
Sullivan,  Daniel. 
Shea,  Cornelius. 
Swain,  Frederick. 
Sanford,  Charles  G. 
Short,  Joseph. 
Smith,  George  J. 
Sherman,  Charles  H. 
Strausman,  Adolphus. 
Sisson,  Richard  F. 
Sisson,  James  F. 
Smith,  Robert  E. 
Sherman,  William  M. 
Smith,  George. 
Smith,  Thomas. 
Spencer,  Nathaniel. 
Sanderson,  Humphrey. 
Sanford,  John  B. 
Sanford,  Arnold  B. 
Simmons,  Job  S. 
Smith,  Edward. 
Simpson,  John. 
Sherman,  George  A. 
Stearns,  Benjamin  H. 
Sullivan,  Dennis. 
Shaw,  John  C. 
Smith,  Richard. 
Sheen,  Alexander. 
Shay,  Cornelius. 
Simmons,  William. 
Short,  Robert. 
Snowden,  .lames  H. 
Snell,  Welcome  B. 
Swasey,  Charles  II. 
Sullivan,  Daniel. 
Sullivan,  Daniel. 
Sullivan,  Fletcher. 
Sullivan,  Marcus  M. 
Sullivan,  Dinnis. 
Sullivan,  Patrick. 
Sullivan,  Jeremiah. 
Sullivan,  Jeremiah. 
Sullivan,  Jeremiah. 
Sullivan,  Jeremiah. 
Sullivan,  John. 


370 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Sullivan,  Thomas. 
Sullivan,  Timothy. 
Sullivan,  Michael. 
Sullivan,  John. 
Sullivan,  Daniel. 
Sullivan,  Dennis. 
Sanford,  Alexander. 
Sealiury,  Philip  A. 
Short,  Thomas. 
Sisson,  George. 
Spinlin,  John. 
Stafford,  James  C. 
Smith,  William  H. 
Sisson,  George  C. 
Slatery,  John. 
Smith,  Silas. 
Smith,  James. 
Smith,  William. 
Snell,  Barney. 
Snell,  Francis. 
Simmons,  Thomas. 
Slade,  Henry. 
Shea,  Daniel. 
Sherman,  William. 
Sullivan,  John. 
Sullivan,  Cornelius. 
Sullivan,  Patrick. 
Sullivan,  Dennis. 
Sullivan,  Timothy. 
Sullivan,  Thomas  R. 
Sullivan,  Jeffery. 
Sullivan,  Timothy  0. 
Tootle,  Edward. 
Taylor.  John. 
Teele,  Robert. 
Tierney,  Thomas. 
Thomas,  Sidney  M. 
Taylor,  Henry. 
Taylor,  John. 
Taylor,  Isaac. 
Terry,  Charles  W. 
Thompson,  Nathan. 
Tierney,  Michael. 
Thompson,  Joseph  P. 
Tiukham,  Augustus  G. 
Terry,  Edward  P. 
Thackery,  William. 

Tracy,  William. 

Tripp,  Charles  F. 

Twealth,  Henry. 

Thrasher,  Charles  A. 

Twiner,  Robert. 

Tompkins,  James. 

Tillinghast,  William  M. 

Townsend,  Stephen. 

Thackery,  George. 

Tompkins,  Daniel. 

Thacker,  John  F. 

Tansy,  William  F. 

Thackery,  Richard. 

Town  ley,  Edwin. 

Thackery,  James. 

Thackery,  William. 

Terry,  Benjamin  F. 

Thurston,  P.  Sanford. 

Thomas,  Edward  J. 

Thacker,  Joseph. 

Tobin,  John. 

Tuttle,  Thomas. 

Thackery,  Lewis. 

Tillinghast,  Henry. 

Terry,  Charles  W. 

Taber,  Henry  D. 

Terry,  George  A. 

Taber,  Gideon. 

Taylor,  John. 

Tootles,  Thomas. 


Tew,  William  H. 
Tillinghast,  William. 
Uncles,  William. 
Vocell,  Jame-i  A. 
Vickery,  William  S. 
Vickery,  Charles  P. 
White,  G.  Foster. 
Whalon,  John. 
Whalon,  James. 
Watson,  Wales  R. 
West,  Edward  P. 
Warhurst,  William. 
Wilbur,  Albert. 
Wallace,  Thomas  A. 
Wordell,  Ephraim. 
White.  William. 
Wilbur,  Lloyd. 
Winslow,  Abial  W. 
Wright,  James  G. 
White,  Francis  A. 
Wilcox,  Henry  C. 
Ward,  John. 
Whitaker,  William. 
Winslow,  George  H. 
Whitehead,  Richard. 
Welch,  James. 
Whalon,  Patrick. 

Wiuteruottom,  Thomas. 
Welden,  Joseph. 

Wilkinson,  Joseph. 
Wordell,  .lames  H. 
Wright,  Ellington  L. 
Willman,  John  A. 

Wright,  David. 

White,  William  E. 

Wheeler,  Edward  B. 

Wallace,  Martin  R. 

Wiseman,  Thomas. 

Weaver,  Charles  S. 

Walker,  James. 

Wallace,  Richard  D. 

Whitehead,  Thomas. 

Wright,  Andrew  R. 

Woodcock,  Jonas. 

Wade,  Vernon. 

Wright,  William  II. 

Wise,  Whitlock. 

Wardwell,  William. 

Walsh,  Frank. 

Webb,  Richard. 

Whitaker,  John. 
Wrage,  John. 
Walters,  Edward. 
Wordell,  George  A. 
Wixon,  Francis  H. 
Whitehead,  George. 
Woodworth,  William  E. 
Wright,  John. 
Womsley,  William  H. 
Womsley,  Alexander. 
Woodcock,  George. 
Walsh,  William. 
Wild,  William. 
Whipp,  James  B. 
Wordell,  Francis  A. 
Wood,  John. 
Wilbur,  Solomon. 
Wilbur,  Otis  R. 
Warren,  Benjamin  M. 
Walker,  William  H. 
Wilcox,  James  P. 
Whitehead,  Edmund. 
Watts,  Simon  C. 
Welch,  Thomas. 
Welch,  Bartholomew. 
Winegar,  Norman  S. 
Walsh,  William  T. 


Williams,  James  H. 
Williams,  Edmund. 
Wilbar,  James  H. 
Wilson,  George. 
Wordell,  Gardner  K. 
Wyatt,  Robert  E. 
Walker,  Thomas. 
Williams.  Abiel. 


White,  John. 
White,  Patrick. 
Wooley,  Alfred. 
Wood,  Benjamin  F. 
Wood,  Herbert  A. 
Young,  Joseph  H. 
Young,  George  W. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


NATHANIEL  BRIGGS  BORDEN. 
Mr.  Borden  was  a  descendant  in  the  seventh  gener- 
ation of  Richard  Borden,  who  came  from  England  in 
1635,  and  settled  in  1638  in  Portsmouth,  R.  I.  The 
first  English  ancestor  was  from  Bourdonnay,  in  Nor- 
mandy, and  came  to  England  as  a  soldier  under  Wil- 
liam the  Conqueror.  After  the  battle  of  Hastings 
(a.d.  1066)  he  was  assigned  lands  in  the  county  of 
Kent,  where  the  family  subsequently  became  wealthy 
and  influential,  and  the  village  where  they  resided 
was  named  Borden. 

Early  in  the  seventeenth  century  John  Borden  re- 
moved to  Wales,  where  his  sons  Richard  and  John 
were  married,  and  after  they  had  returned  to  their 
native  town  of  Borden,  in  England,  they  embarked 
for  America  in  May,  1635.  The  line  of  descent  from 
Richard  Borden,  the  first  American  ancestor,  and  from 
whom  probably  all  of  that  name  in  this  vicinity  de- 
scended, is  as  follows:  Richard1,  John2,  Richard3, 
Joseph4,  Abraham5,  Simeon6,  Nathaniel  B.7 

Nathaniel  Briggs  Borden  was  born  April  15,  1801, 
in  Freetown,  in  that  portion  thereof  subsequently  set 
off  and  incorporated  into  a  separate  township  by  the 
name  of  Fall  River,  and  he  died  in  Fall  River,  April 
10, 1865,  being  five  days  less  than  sixty-four  years  old. 
He  was  born  in  the  house  which  stood  formerly  on 
the  west  side  of  South  Main  Street,  south  of  what  is 
now  Pocasset  Street,  and  nearly  opposite  the  south 
end  of  the  present  Pocasset  Mill.  The  house  had  a 
local  celebrity  from  the  fact  that  two  British  soldiers 
were  shot  and  killed  at  its  eastern  door  when  the 
British  made  their  attack  upon  the  village  during  the 
Revolutionary  war. 

Simeon  Borden,  his  father,  was  also  born  in  Free- 
town in  1759,  and  continued  to  reside  there  until 
1806,  when  he  removed  to  Tiverton,  R.  I.,  where  he 
died  Nov.  27,  1811.  He  was  a  man  of  generous  im- 
pulses, possessed  of  a  strong  mind,  and  largely  in- 
terested in  the  water-power  at  Fall  River.  The 
mother  of  Nathaniel,  Amey  Borden,  nee  Amey  Briggs, 
was  said  to  have  been  a  woman  of  sterling  traits  of 
character  and  superior  business  qualifications.  She 
was  one  of  the  original  proprietors  of  the  Troy  Cot- 
ton and  Woolen  Manufactory,  one  of  the  earliest  and 
largest  manufacturing  establishments  in  Fall  River, 
then  called  Troy,  incorporated  in  1814.  In  consider- 
ation of  a  grant  to  the  company  of  the  land  and  upper 
fall,  upon  which  the  mill  was  located,  and  by  which 


FALL  RIVER. 


371 


it  obtained  a  relative  control  of  the  whole  water- 
power,  she  received  eleven  of  the  one  hundred  shares 
constituting  its  capital  stock.  She  died  May  26, 
1817,  leaving  five  children,  of  whom  Nathaniel  was 
the  fourth. 

Nathaniel  was  but  five  years  of  age  when  his  father 
removed  to  Tiverton,  and  only  ten  when  he  died. 
The  greater  part  of  his  youth  was  spent  there,  upon 
the  farm  at  what  was  called  Nana  Quaket.  During 
the  winter  months  he  attended  the  country  school, 
and  assisted  upon  the  farm  the  rest  of  the  year.  His 
mother  sought  to  give  him  a  liberal  education,  and 
for  this  purpose  sent  him  to  the  Plainfield  Academy 
in  Connecticut,  but  as  she  died  when  he  was  only  six- 
teen years  of  age  this  project  had  to  be  abandoned, 
and  he  returned  home  to  enter  thus  early  upon  the 
busy  conflict  of  life.  Although  his  school  education 
was  indeed  meagre,  young  Nathaniel  made  the  best 
use  of  his  opportunities,  and  his  great  interest  in  the 
success  of  the  government  of  the  then  infant  republic, 
kindled  anew  by  his  boyhood  knowledge  of  the  second 
war,  led  him  to  read  and  study  well  the  best  authors 
on  government,  paying  particular  attention  to  the 
writings  and  speeches  of  the  statesmen  of  all  coun- 
tries, especially  to  those  of  the  fathers  of  our  country. 

Having  previously  removed  from  Tiverton  to  Fall 
River,  Mr.  Borden  associated  himself  with  others  in 
purchasing  several  mill-sites  and  adjoining  lands,  in- 
cluding the  falls  just  west  of  Main  Street,  where  the 
Granite  Block  and  Pocasset  Mills  now  stand.  On 
the  loth  of  August,  1821,  these  associates  held  a  meet- 
ing and  organized  as  the  Pocasset  Manufacturing 
Company.  Mr.  Borden,  though  but  a  few  months 
over  twenty  years  of  age,  was  chosen  clerk  and  treas- 
urer of  the  corporation,  and  continued  to  hold  these 
responsible  positions  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  the 
owners  until  January,  1838,  when  he  resigned  on  ac- 
count of  the  pressure  of  public  duties  devolving  upon 
him  as  a  member  of  Congress.  The  Pocasset  Manu- 
facturing Company,  after  its  organization,  proceeded 
at  once  to  develop  iis  property,  voting  at  first  to  erect 
a  grist-mill,  but  subsequently  changing  its  plans, 
erected  what  was  known  as  the  Old  Bridge  Mill, 
which  was  built  of  stone,  one  hundred  feet  by  forty 
feet,  three  stories  high,  and  stood  just  north  of  the 
stream  in  front  of  the  present  Granite  Block,  on  ter- 
ritory subsequently  taken  by  the  town  in  the  widen- 
ing and  straightening  of  Main  Street.  It  seems  to 
have  been  one  of  the  main  purposes  of  the  Pocasset 
Company  in  those  days  to  encourage  small  manufac- 
turers, and  to  this  end  it  erected  buildings  succes- 
sively for  ten  or  fifteen  years,  which  were  leased  to 
other  parties.  In  1825  the  Satinet  Mill,  so  called, 
was  erected.  In  1826  a  stone  building  was  erected  on 
the  site  of  the  present  engine-room  and  picker-room 
of  the  Pocasset  Mill,  where  the  old  Quequechan 
Mill  formerly  stood.  The  next  year  still  another 
stone  building  was  put  up,  which  was  afterwards 
known  as  the  Massasoit,  and  now  as  the  Watuppa 


Mill.  All  the  above  buildings  were  let,  the  latter — 
which  was  thought  to  be  so  large  that  no  one  firm 
would  want  the  whole  of  it,  and  consequently  was 
built  with  a  partition  wall  in  its  centre  and  two  wheel- 
pits — being  leased  as  a  whole  for  fifteen  years  to  that 
young  master  business-spirit  of  the  time,  Holder 
Borden.  In  this  way  the  Pocasset  Company  fostered 
the  early  manufacturing  enterprises  of  the  town. 

And  thus  Mr.  Borden,  though  scarcely  twenty-five 
years  of  age,  was  continuously  engaged  in  building 
operations,  whether  of  dwellings,  factories,  or  work- 
shops, in  leasing  the  same,  and  in  buying  and  con- 
veying real  estate. 

In  1825,  Mr.  Borden,  with  others,  obtained  acts  of 
incorporation  from  the  Legislatures  of  Massachusetts 
and  Rhode  Island  as  the  Watuppa  Reservoir  Com- 
pany, authorized  to  build  a  dam  and  make  reserves 
of  water  in  the  Watuppa  Ponds  while  yet  the  dam- 
ages for  flowing  the  surrounding  lands  would  be  in- 
considerable, and  realizing,  it  may  be  hoped,  that 
some  of  the  waters  then  in  the  ponds  would  ere  long 
be  wanted  to  quench  the  thirst  of  the  population  of 
the  great  and  prosperous  city  that  they  conceived 
would  grow  up  and  occupy  the  territory  between  the 
ponds  and  Mount  Hope  Bay. 

A  man  of  large  capacity,  thus  early  schooled  in 
taking  responsible  positions  in  the  management  of 
manifold  industries,  Mr.  Borden's  advice  and  aid 
were  largely  sought  and  highly  appreciated. 

He  was  for  many  years  in  local  public  life  as  town 
clerk,  selectman,  assessor,  and  highway  surveyor,  be- 
lieving it  to  be  the  duty  of  every  citizen  to  serve  the 
public  when  called  upon  to  occupy  any  official  posi- 
tion for  which  he  was  qualified. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  lower  branch  of  the  Mas- 
sachusetts Legislature  in  1831,  1834,  1851,  and  1864, 
and  was  a  member  of  the  Senate  in  1845  and  1847. 

At  the  time  of  the  agitation  of  Freemasonry  and 
Anti-Masonry  he  took  decided  grounds  against  secret 
institutions  in  a  free  country,  believing  them  to  be 
unnecessary  and  of  no  practical  use  in  a  country 
where  the  government  is  the  people.  Identified  with 
the  manufacturing  interests  from  association  and  busi- 
ness, he  acted  in  the  earlier  part  of  his  adult  life  with 
the  National  Republican  party,  until  the  time  when 
the  Masonic  question  became  a  distinct  issue,  and 
then,  as  heretofore  stated,  he  was  found  opposed  to 
the  Masonic  fraternity.  He  advocated  for  those 
times  a  protective  but  not  a  stimulative  tariff,  be- 
lieving that  capital  should  be  left  free  to  invigorate 
all  the  industrial  interests  of  the  country.  He  was 
prominent  among  the  early  and  personal  friends  of 
the  slave,  and  made  his  house  an  asylum  for  the  fugi- 
tives, many  of  whom  he  assisted,  either  directly  or  in- 
directly, on  their  way  to  Canada  and  freedom.  In 
1834,  at  a  time  when  it  was  fashionable  to  mob  abol- 
itionists, he  opened  the  Washington  School-House, 
then  his  private  property,  in  which  to  form  an  anti- 
slavery  society. 


372 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTS,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


In  the  winter  of  1833-34  the  questions  of  the  re-  J 
charter  of  the  United  States  Bank  and  the  removal  of 
the  deposits  were  prominent  subjects  of  public  and 
private  discussion,  and  Mr.  Borden  was  found  nearly  ; 
in  harmony  with  the  Jackson  party  upon  those  ques- 
tions.    This  led  to  his  nomination  as  representative 
to  Congress  in  the  fall  of  1834,  and  he  was  supported 
by  both  the  Anti-Masonic  and  Jacksonian  parties  for 
that  position.     It  was  a  spirited  contest,  and  he  was 
not  elected  until  the  third  trial,  being  the  first  citizen 
of  Fall  River  ever  chosen  to  said  office.     In  1836  he 
was  re-elected   to  the  Twenty-fifth  Congress  by  an 
overwhelming   vote.     The    Twenty-fourth    Congress 
comprised  the  last  two  years  of  the  administration  of 
Gen.  Jackson,  and  the  Twenty-fifth  the  first  half  of 
the  administration  of  Martin  Van  Buren  ;  and  besides 
the  bank  question,  the  tariff  questions,  and  the  em- 
barrassing questions  of  finance  incident  to  the  period 
of  the  most  disastrous  financial  crisis  through  which 
the  country  has    ever  passed,    the  slavery  question 
was  even  then  dominant,  and  began  to  assume  por- 
tentous magnitude.     New  Territories  were  being  ac- 
quired, and  new  States  were  knocking  at  the  door  of 
the  Union,  and  in  every  instance  the  battle  had  to 
be  fought  over  again  whether  they  should  be  admitted 
unless  their  constitutions  prohibited  slavery.    The  pro- 
slavery  party  were  seeking  to  annex  Texas  for  the  pur- 
pose of  cutting  it  up  into  slave  States,  and  the  anti- 
slavery  people  of  the  North  were  pouring  in  a  mul  titude 
of  petitions  for  the  abolition  of  slavery,  only  to  be 
jeered  at,  and  met  by  Congress  with  a  rule  that  upon 
their  presentation  "  all  such  petitions,  without  further 
action,  should  be  laid  on  the  table  without  being  de- 
bated, printed,  or  referred."     To  Mr.  Borden,  whose 
heart  was  so  earnest  in  the  anti-slavery  cause,  it  was 
a  source  of  great  satisfaction  that  in  this  severe  con- 
flict, in  influence,  in  committee,  and  in  vote,  if  not  in 
debate,  he  was  privileged  to  participate  in  the  support 
of  the  "  old  man  eloquent"  in  his  triumphant  battle 
for  the  right  of  petition.     With  him  were  such  men 
as  Joshua  R.  Giddings  and  Stephen  C.  Phillips  and 
Levi  Lincoln  and   George  N.  Briggs  and   Richard 
Fletcher   and    William    B.    Calhoun,    whose    names 
might  well  have  been  stereotyped  into  the  multitude 
roll-calls,  always  in  favor  of  the  right  of  petition. 

In  the  election  of  1838,  in  consequence  of  some 
modifications  in  his  views  relative  to  the  United 
States  Bank,  for  the  purpose  of  relieving  the  finan- 
cial distress  of  the  country,  and  his  entire  want  of 
sympathy  with  the  administration  of  Van  Buren,  and 
possibly  his  extreme  anti-slavery  principles,  Mr. 
Borden  was  defeated,  and  the  Hon.  Henry  Williams, 
of  Taunton,  elected. 

But  in  1840,  Mr.  Borden's  friends  again  rallied  to 
his  support  and  elected  him  to  the  Twenty-seventh 
Congress,  covering  the  period  of  the  first  half  of  the 
term  for  which  President  Harrison  was  elected,  but 
who,  unfortunately  for  the  country,  soon  died,  and 
was  succeeded  by  Vice-President  Tyler,  for  whose 


administration  no  party  seems  to  have  had  respect. 
Again  the  great  struggle  between  slavery  and  freedom 
for  the  colored  race  was  renewed,  and  while  even 
then  the  pro-slavery  party  in  Congress  were  plotting 
the  destruction  of  the  government,  John  Quincy 
Adams  was  threatened  with  expulsion  by  the  House 
for  presenting  the  petitions  of  the  women  of  Massa- 
chusetts praying  for  the  peaceable  dissolution  of  the 
Union.  Again  Mr.  Borden  was  only  too  glad  to  be 
there  and  stand  shoulder  to  shoulder  with  Mr.  Adams, 
whom  he  loved  and  venerated,  until,  after  one  of  the 
most  stormy  conflicts,  of  eleven  days'  duration,  such 
as  even  "  our  stormy  hall  of  legislation"  has  rarely  wit- 
nessed, the  heroic  old  man's  complete  vindication 
and  victory  came,  his  assailants  being  discomfited 
and  vanquished,  and  their  resolution  ignominiously 
laid  upon  the  table. 

At  the  close  of  the  Twenty-seventh  Congress,  Mr. 
Borden  declined  a  renomination.  As  a  legislator  he 
had  extensive  practical  knowledge,  a  cool,  deliberate 
judgment,  and  a  firm  purpose  to  do  what  he  believed 
to  be  right  regardless  of  personal  or  political  conse- 
quences to  himself.  His  convictions  of  duty  were 
ever  in  advance  of  any  real  or  supposed  interests  that 
were  merely  personal. 

Mr.  Borden  was  a  large  owner  of  real  estate,  a  good 
deal  of  which  was  situated  in  the  very  centre  of  the 
town,  and  when  the  great  fire  of  1843  visited  the  vil- 
lage he  was  one  of  the  largest  sufferers,  having  eleven 
buildings  consumed,  the  loss  of  which  was  severely 
felt.  His  private  residence  on  Second  Street,  nearly 
opposite  the  point  where  the  fire  started,  was  saved 
by  the  exertions  of  friends  and  neighbors,  and  was 
hospitably  thrown  open  to  those  who  had  been  less 
fortunate.  Although  somewhat  disheartened  In- 
spirits rallied,  and  by  the  advice  and  encouragement 
of  his  friends  he  immediately  set  about  rebuilding  in 
earnest. 

In  1845  the  Fall  River  Railroad  was  opened  as  far 
as  Myricks,  and  the  next  year  it  was  extended  to 
South  Brain  tree,  connecting  there  with  the  Old  Col- 
ony Railroad.  In  1847,  Mr.  Borden  was  chosen  presi- 
dent, which  position  he  held  until  1854,  when  the 
Fall  River  Railroad  was  consolidated  with  the  Old 
Colony  Railroad,  a  measure  to  which  he  was  opposed 
as  being  against  the  best  interests  of  Fall  River. 
During  his  connection  with  the  railroad  the  Fall 
River  steamboat  line  to  New  York  was  established, 
which  added  largely  to  his  labors.  Mr.  Borden  car- 
ried to  this  position  the  benefits  of  his  large  experi- 
ence, sound  judgment,  and  practical  knowledge,  and 
discharged  its  duties  with  his  accustomed  zeal  and 
efficiency. 

During  the  session  of  the  State  Legislature  in  1851, 
the  long  and  memorable  contest  for  the  election  of  a 
senator  in  Congress  arose,  wherein  Robert  C.  Win- 
throp  and  Charles  Sumner  were  the  leading  candi- 
dates. Mr.  Borden  was  chosen  to  the  Legislature  on 
the  Whig  ticket,  and  to  deal  justly  by  his  supporters 


FALL   RIVER 


373 


he  continued  to  vote  for  his  old  friend  and  colleague 
in  Congress,  Mr.  Winthrop,  until  by  town  meeting 
and  by  petitions  from  the  people  of  his  district,  it 
appeared  that  a  large  majority  were  in  favor  of  Sum- 
ner, whereupon  he  changed  his  vote,  and  has  the 
credit  of  casting  the  one  ballot  which  secured  Sum- 
ner's election.  As  was  natural,  Mr.  Borden's  course 
was  considerably  criticised  at  the  time,  he  was 
blamed  for  overlooking  party  lines  in  so  acrimonious 
a  contest,  and  was  even  charged  with  having  been 
instrumental  in  procuring  the  expression  of  his 
townspeople  in  the  mode  it  was  given.  But  to  Mr. 
Borden's  credit  be  it  said,  that  he  was  always  a  firm 
believer  in  the  right  of  the  people  to  "  give  instruc- 
tions to  their  representatives,"  under  Article  XIX. 
of  the  Bill  of  Rights  of  the  Constitution  of  Massa- 
chusetts. He  therefore,  in  cheerful  obedience  to  the 
constitutional  right  of  his  constituents  as  well  as  in 
deference  to  his  own  personal  preference,  voted  for 
Charles  Sumner,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  neither 
the  people  of  Fall  River  nor  of  Massachusetts  ever 
had  occasion  to  regret  that  vote. 

In  1856  he  was  chosen  mayor  of  Fall  River,  and 
during  the  trying  times  of  the  winter  of  1856-57, 
while  the  mills  were  stopped  owing  to  the  greatly  de- 
pressed condition  of  the  business  of  cotton  manufac- 
ture, and  hundreds  were  thrown  out  of  employment 
and  destitute,  the  constant  and  untiring  efforts  of 
Mr.  Borden  shone  with  a  benevolence  rarely  sur- 
passed. He  believed  that  starvation  and  suffering  for 
want  of  food  should  never  be  permitted  in  a  Chris- 
tian community  having  the  means  to  alleviate  them, 
and  most  nobly  did  he  fulfill  his  duty.  Employment 
was  given  to  many  of  the  idle  laborers,  having  no 
legal  settlement,  at  a  very  cheap  rate  in  necessary 
work  about  the  city.  By  this  means  great  improve- 
ments were  wrought  upon  the  city  farm  and  Oak 
Grove  Cemetery,  and  in  building  new  streets  and  re- 
pairing old  ones  at  a  very  small  cost  to  the  tax- 
payers. Mr.  Borden  believed  it  to  be  a  just  and  wise, 
as  well  as  a  humane  policy,  to  provide  for  the  wants 
of  these  people  temporarily,  and  secure  to  the  city  at 
the  same  time  the  benefits  of  their  cheap  labor. 
They  were  thus  retained  at  comparatively  little  ad- 
ditional expense  to  the  city,  where  their  useful  ser- 
vices would  again  soon  be  in  demand,  and  the  ob- 
jectionable course  avoided  of  throwing  them  as  a 
burden  upon  the  State,  with  all  the  family  disorder 
and  social  degradation  consequent-  thereupon.  If 
deeds  of  kindness  and  sympathy,  coupled  with  well- 
directed  charity,  embalm  a  man's  name  in  grateful 
remembrance,  such  will  be  the  recollection  of  the 
name  and  character  of  Mr.  Borden  during  this  trying 
time. 

Mr.  Borden  was  an  alderman  from  1850  until  his 
death  in  1865,  and  it  mattered  little  what  party  or 
combination  was  formed  against  him  in  his  own  ward, 
the  people  there  knew  him,  ami  that  was  sufficient  to 
secure  his   election.     He  was  president  of  the  Fall 


River  Union  Bank,  and  of  the  Fall  River  Savings- 
Bank  at  the  time  of  his  death,  positions  which  he 
had  held  for  several  years. 

In  stature  Mr.  Borden  was  rather  short  and  thick 
set,  but  not  gross,  with  a  genial  countenance.  Pos- 
sessed naturally  of  a  happy,  cheerful  disposition,  he 
was  a  pleasant  and  agreeable  companion,  a  kind  and 
indulgent  parent. 

In  religious  faith  he  was  a  Unitarian  and  a  firm 
believer  in  both  the  justice  and  goodness  of  the 
Deity.  He  uniformly  maintained  that  the  best  prep- 
aration for  a  happy  future  life  was  to  do  well  here. 
Cant  and  pretence  had  little  influence  with  him. 
"The  doers  of  the  word,"  and  not  the  mere  pretend- 
ers, were  in  his  view  Christians.  "Show  me  thy 
faith  without  thy  works,  and  I  will  show  thee  my 
faith  by  my  works"  was  his  favorite  text  and  the  rule 
of  his  conduct. 

And  so  by  holiness  in  life  and  godliness  in  walk, 
he  sought  to  be  judged  rather  than  by  any  show  of 
the  mere  ceremonials  of  profession.  Thus  sought  he 
his  reward.  It  is  what  earth  can  neither  give  nor 
take  away,  "  profitable  unto  all  things,  having  prom- 
ise of  the  life  that  now  is,  and  of  that  which  is  to 
come." 

Such  a  character  is  pleasant  to  contemplate.  With 
a  moral  integrity  unimpeached  and  unimpeachable, 
a  large  heart  and  generous  sympathies,  he  passed 
through  life,  shedding  light  upon  and  assisting  by 
kindly  acts  his  fellow-man  wherever  found,  without 
regard  to  the  color  of  his  skin,  the  place  of  his  birth, 
or  the  nature  of  his  creed.  To  oppression  he  was  an 
enemy,  to  the  oppressed  a  friend. 

At  a  special  meeting  of  the  City  Council  of  Fall 
River,  held  on  the  day  of  his  decease,  the  following 
preamble  and  resolutions  were  unanimously  adopted  : 

"  Whereas,  It  lias  pleased  Almighty  God  to  call  one  of  our  number, 
the  Hon.  Nathaniel  B.  Borden,  from  the  active  arena  of  life  to  enter 
upon  the  untried  scenes  of  eternity,  one  venerable  in  years,  rich  in  ex- 
perience both  in  national,  State, and  municipal  legislation,  one  who  has 
filled  the  highest  executive  position  in  our  city,  it  is  therefore 

"  Resolved,  That  it  is  with  feelings  of  solemnity  and  sorrow  that  we 
bow  under  this  dispensation  of  His  providence  in  severing  from  the 
midst  of  this  board  one  whose  services  have  so  long  been  identified  with 
its  action,  one  whose  long  experience  in  the  municipal  affairs  of  the  city, 
together  with  his  good  judgment,  enabled  him  to  give  direction  to  its 
councils  and  decisions. 

"  Resolved,  That  the  members  of  this  board  sympathize  with  the  family 
of  the  deceased  in  this  their  sad  bereavement,  and  commend  them  to  the 
loving-kindness  and  compassion  of  our  blessed  Lord,  who  doth  not  wil- 
lingly afflict  His  children,  but  doeth  all  things,  after  the  counsel  of  His 
own  will,  f>r  our  good. 

"  Resolved,  That  in  token  of  our  esteem  for  the  deceased,  we  do  attend 
his  funeral  in  a  body,  and  that  the  public  offices  of  the  city  be  closed  on 
the  afternoon  of  his  funeral. 

"  Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  these  resolutions  be  transmitted  to  the  family 
of  the  deceased  by  the  city  clerk,  and  the  same  be  published  in  the  news- 
papers of  the  city.'' 

Resolutions  of  similar  import  were  passed  by  the 
Fall  River  Savings-Bank,  of  which  Mr.  Borden  was 
president  at  the  time  of  his  decease. 

Mr.  Borden  was  four  times  married.  By  his  first 
wile,  Sarah  Cray,  he  had  five  children,  of  whom  two 


374 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


are  still  living.  His  second  wife  was  Louisa  Gray, 
to  whom  he  was  married  Dec.  10,  1840.  She  died 
June  4,  1842. 

On  the  12th  of  February,  1843,  he  married  for  his 
third  wife  Sarah  G.  Buffum.  By  this  marriage  he 
had  one  son,  still  living. 

His  fourth  wife  was  Lydia  A.,  daughter  of  William 
Slade,  of  Somerset,  Mass.,  and  widow  of  John  Wilbur, 
of  Fall  River,  whom  he  married  March  14,  1855. 
She  is  still  living. 


COL.  RICHARD    BORDEN. 

The  Borden  family  traces  its  ancestry  through  a 
long  and  honored  lineage  to  the  blood  of  the  Norse- 
men, the  fierce  and  warlike  vikings  of  Scandinavia. 
Later  on  we  find  the  ancestor  of  the  Bordens  of 
America  a  soldier  with  William  the  Conqueror,  and 
was  meted  out  his  full  share  by  that  sanguinary 
chieftain  of  the  spoils  of  war,  and  received  his  just 
distribution  of  the  lands  of  the  conquered  Saxons. 
The  ancestry  of  Col.  Richard  Borden  is  clearly 
traced  to  John  Borden,  of  Kent  County,  England, 
who  was  a  man  of  note  in  the  realm.  His  sons,  I 
Richard  and  John,  emigrated  to  America  in  1635. 
John  Borden  and  his  descendants  seem  to  have  soon  i 
passed  out  of  notice  of  their  cotemporaries,  but 
Richard  Borden  became  prominently  identified  with 
the  settlement  of  the  northern  portion  of  Rhode 
Island,  and  died  May  25,  1671.  From  one  of  his 
sons,  John  Borden,  a  large  number  of  the  Bordens  in 
this  country  are  without  doubt  descended.  His  eld- 
est son,  Richard,  was  born  in  1671,  died  in  1732. 
The  descent  from  this  Richard  Borden  to  Col.  Rich- 
ard Borden,  the  subject  of  this  memoir,  is  as  follows : 
Richard1,  Thomas'2,  Richard3,  Thomas*,  Richard5. 
Thomas,  father  of  Col.  Richard,  married  Mary  Hath- 
away, and  had  thirteen  children. 

Col.  Richard  Borden  was  born  in  what  is  now  Fall 
River  (then  Freetown),  April  12,  1795,  and  he  was  in 
his  eighth  year  when  Fall  River  was  incorporated  in 
1803.  He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  in  | 
his  native  town,  and  after  the  period  of  boyhood,  his 
early  years  were  spent  as  a  farmer,  aud  to  the  end  of  I 
life  he  continued  his  interest  in  that  honorable  pur-  ; 
suit.  But,  step  by  step,  he  became  identified  with  all 
the  different  leading  business  interests  of  the  rapidly- 
growing  town,  village,  and  city.  He  was  early  iden- 
tified with  the  maritime  interests  of  the  place,  and 
gave  fresh  impulse  to  the  local  shipping  pursuit  when 
as  yet  it  was  but  a  rural  village.  While  still  a  young 
man  he  ran  a  grist-mill  (1812-20),  which  stood  just 
west  of  the  present  Annawan  Mill,  where  the  corn  of 
the  whole  region  was  ground.  In  company  with  his 
brother  Jefferson,  it  was  his  custom  to  go  down  to 
Prudence  and  Conanicut  Islands,  in  the  sloop  "  Irene 
and  Betsey,"  which  carried  about  two  hundred  and 
fifty  bushels  of  corn,  and  having  secured  a  load,  to 
return  to  Fall  River  and  discharge  it  directly  into  the 


mill.  The  "Irene  and  Betsey"  was  also  used  as  a 
packet  between  Fall  River  and  the  neighboring  places, 
and  the  surplus  meal  was  sold  in  Warren,  Bristol,  or 
Providence,  and  a  return  freight  secured  of  provisions, 
groceries,  cotton,  etc.  Another  mill  was  placed  on 
the  north  bank  of  the  creek,  at  the  next  fall  above, 
where  the  Annawan  Mill  is  now,  and  a  tramway  had 
been  constructed  from  this  mill  (known  as  the  Daven- 
port Mill,  but  owned  by  Richard  Borden,  the  uncle  of 
Col.  Richard)  to  the  shore,  and  a  car  run  up  and  down 
this  incline,  drawn  by  a  rope.  This  rope  was  wound 
on  a  drum,  which  connected  by  gearing  with  the 
water-wheel,  and  thus  the  water-power  was  made  to 
do  double  service.  The  great  strength  of  the  colonel 
was  always  a  marvel  to  the  small  boys  sent  on  horse- 
back with  a  grist  to  grind,  it  being  his  ordinary  feat, 
after  putting  two  or  three  two-bushel  bags  of  meal  on 
the  horse  with  the  greatest  ease,  to  take  the  boy  and 
lift  him  to  his  place  on  top  of  all.  It  was  about  this 
period  he  joined  Maj.  Durfee  in  the  construction  of 
several  small  vessels,  the  lumber  for  which  was  pre- 
pared in  a  saw-mill  adjoining  the  grist-mill.  Here, 
too,  the  strength  of  the  colonel  found  development,  as 
single-handed  he  would  roll  into  position  great  white- 
oak  or  mahogany  butts,  two  feet  through  and  twenty 
feet  long. 

The  year  1821  ushered  in  an  important  era  in  the 
history  of  Fall  River.  In  that  year  was  organized 
the  Fall  River  Iron- Works  Company,  which  for  sixty 
years  has  been  a  powerful  element  in  the  financial 
operations  of  Fall  River.  In  the  organization  of  this 
company,  that  "  earliest  germ  of  the  wealth  of  the 
city,"  Col.  Borden  took  an  active  part,  and  was  ap- 
pointed treasurer  and  agent,  a  position  which  he  filled 
with  distinguished  ability  up  to  the  day  of  his  final 
withdrawal  from  business,  a  period  of  over  fifty  years. 
The  Iron-Works  Company  meeting  with  assured  suc- 
cess almost  from  the  start,  soon  turned  its  attention  to 
the  improvement  of  its  landed  estate,  water-power, 
etc.,  and  as  part  owners  became  largely  interested  in 
enterprises  somewhat  foreign  to  its  own  legitimate 
sphere  of  work.  The  agent  of  the  company,  as  its 
representative,  thus  became  an  active  participant  in 
all  these  schemes,  and  the  business  tact  and  skill  of 
Col.  Borden  were  brought  into  fullest  exercise.  In 
this  way  the  Iron-Works  Company  became  owner  in 
the  Watuppa  Reservoir  Company,  organized  in  1826; 
in  the  Troy  Cotton  and  Woolen  Manufactory  ;  in  the 
Fall  River  Manufactory;  in  the  Annawan  Mill,  built 
by  it  in  1825 ;  in  the  American  Print-Works,  whose 
buildings  were  all  erected  by  the  Iron- Works  Com- 
pany in  1834,  and  leased  to  the  Print-Works  Com- 
pany;  in  the  Metacomet  Mill,  built  in  1846;  in  the 
Fall  River  Railroad,  opened  in  1846  ;  in  the  Bay  State 
Steamboat  Line,  established  in  1847  ;  in  the  Fall  River 
Gas- Works,  built  in  1847  ;  as  well  as  in  the  erection 
at  various  times  of  buildings  which  were  leased  to 
individuals  for  the  establishment  of  business  or  pri- 
vate manufacturing  enterprises. 


FALL  RIVER. 


375 


The  care  and  development  of  the  interests  of  these 
corporations  brought  into  exercise  those  qualities 
which  mark  the  highest  order  of  business  talent,  and 
which  in  him  were  combined  to  a  remarkable  degree, 
namely,  clearness  of  perception,  excellent  judgment, 
and  great  energy,  together  with  the  highest  and  purest 
moral  integrity.  Col.  Borden  was  a  thorough  business 
man,  and  devoted  himself  untiringly  to  the  trusts  im- 
posed upon  him.  These  were  enough  to  crush  any 
common  man,  but  he  possessed  that  happy  faculty  of 
dropping  one  subject  completely  and  taking  up  an- 
other as  occasion  required,  and  when  he  left  his  office 
he  left  his  business  there  too,  putting  it  off  as  an  outer 
garment,  so  that  in  his  home  and  in  his  family  he  was 
untrammelled  and  free  from  care,  the  loving  father 
and  grandparent,  the  genial  host,  the  centre  of  the 
heart's  warmest  affections  and  highest  esteem. 

It  is  not  surprising,  therefore,  that  he  filled  a  most 
uncommon  list  of  offices  of  trust  in  the  community 
and  in  the  State.  In  the  cotton  manufacturing  in- 
dustries of  the  city  he  was  conspicuously  interested, 
being  identified  with  several  companies  either  as 
originator  or  director.  He  was  president  and  director 
of  the  American  Print- Works,  the  American  Linen 
Company,  the  Troy  Cotton  and  Woolen  Manufactory, 
the  Richard  Borden  Mill  Company,  and  the  Mount 
Hope  Mill  Company,  and  director  of  the  Anuawan 
and  the  Metacomet  Mill  Companies.  He  was  presi- 
dent and  director  of  the  Fall  River  National  Bank, 
director  and  treasurer  of  the  Fall  River  Iron-Works, 
president  of  the  Watuppa  Reservoir  Company,  agent 
of  the  Fall  River  Furnace  Company,  and  director  of 
the  Fall  River  Gas  Company.  In  corporations  oper- 
ating outside  his  own  home  his  interests  were  also 
large  and  his  administrative  ability  recognized.  He 
was  president  of  the  Bay  State  Steamboat  Company^ 
Providence  Tool  Company,  Cape  Cod  Railroad  Com- 
pany, the  Borden  Mining  Comrjany  of  Frostburg, 
Md.,  and  director  in  the  Old  Colony  Railroad  Com- 
pany. One  of  those  men  whom  office  has  to.  seek, 
though  his  patriotism  and  conspicuous  public  service 
in  an  individual  capacity  might  easily  have  secured 
him  any  position  his  ambition  could  have  aspired  to 
in  his  native  commonwealth,  the  legislative  terms  he 
filled  both  in  the  Senate1  and  House  of  Representa- 
tives were  probably  the  most  ungrateful  duties  of  a 
long  life  of  duty,  and  yet  while  the  highest  political 
position  possessed  no  exaltation  to  attract  him,  his 
genuine  appreciation  of  a  citizen's  duty  would  not 
allow  him  to  refuse  the  humble  town  or  village  dig- 
nity of  assessor  or  highway  surveyor,  when  his  ser- 
vice seemed  obviously  needed.  If  there  was  one 
public  recognition  of  his  patriotism  and  public  worthi- 
ness those  who  know  him  can  fancy  he  took  pleasure 
in,  it  was  doubtless  the  honor  accorded  to  him  by  the 


1  He  was  elected  to  the  Lower  House  in  1871 ,  and  to  the  Senate  in 
1854.  In  the  former  he  served  on  the  Committee  on  Mercantile  Affairs 
and  Insurance,  and  in  the  Senate  on  the  Committee  on  Claims. 


people  of  casting  one  of  the  electoral  votes  of  Massa- 
chusetts for  the  second  time  for  Abraham  Lincoln. 

Col.  Borden's  ship-building  and  boating  experiences 
fitted  him  for  further  enterprise  in  the  same  line,  and 
under  the  auspices  of  the  Iron-Works  Company  a 
regular  line  of  steamers  was  established  between  Fall 
River  and  Providence,  commencing  in  1827  with  the 
steamer  "  Hancock."  Other  steamers  had  previously 
attempted  to  establish  communication  between  Fall 
River  and  the  neighboring  places,  but  with  only  par- 
tial success.  The  "  Hancock"  was  succeeded  in  1832 
by  the  steamer  "  King  Philip,"  the  "  King  Philip" 
succeeded  in  1845  by  the  steamer  "  Bradford  Durfee," 
and  in  1874  the  steamer  "  Richard  Borden"  was  also 
placed  upon  the  route. 

One  of  the  largest  debts  of  gratitude  which  Fall 
River  owes  to  Col.  Borden  is  for  the  present  admi- 
rable system  of  communication  with  New  York  and 
Boston.  Up  to  1846  there  was  no  communication 
direct  by  steam  with  either  city,  though  the  traveler 
could,  by  going  to  Providence  or  Stonington,  catch  a 
train  or  a  boat.  At  this  time  Col.  Borden  projected, 
and  mainly  by  his  own  effort  constructed,  a  railroad 
from  Fall  River  to  Myrick's,  to  connect  with  the  New 
Bedford  and  Taunton  Railroad,  and  using  the  latter 
to  join  the  Prov.dence  Railroad  and  complete  the 
route  by  rail  to  Boston.  This  was  an  eccentric  way 
of  reaching  the  State  capital,  and  the  next  advance 
was  consequently  made  to  South  Braintree,  striking 
the  Old  Colony  Railroad  of  that  day.  A  satisfactory 
through  route  was  thus  secured ;  but  Col.  Borden,  not 
satisfied  yet,  was  ambitious  not  only  to  have  the  com- 
munication opened  for  his  favorite  city,  but  to  make 
it  self-sustaining.  With  this  view  he  organized  the 
Cape  Cod  Railroad  Company,  of  which  he  was  presi- 
dent, and  constructed  a  line  from  Middleborough 
down  to  the  Cape,  as  a  feeder  for  his  Fall  River 
route.  The  care,  administrative  and  executive  abil- 
ity, and  the  financial  involvement — for  he  was  not 
only  the  designer  but  the  banker  of  the  enterprise — 
were  excessive  demands  to  be  made  upon  one  man  in 
that  comparatively  early  day;  but  Col.  Borden's  re- 
sources in  all  respects  were  equal  to  the  exigency.  It 
was  his  good  fortune  soon  to  see  his  railroad  enter- 
prise at  least  relatively  a  success.  His  purpose  in 
freeing  Fall  River  from  its  isolation  was  at  any  rate 
accomplished,  and  in  a  year  or  two  he  was  relieved  of 
his  new  responsibility  by  a  consolidation  of  the  roads 
he  had  constructed  with  the  Old  Colony. 

In  the  mean  time,  being  the  second  year  (1847)  of 
the  Fall  River  Railroad,  observing  the  success  of  the 
two  steamboat  lines  running  between  Stonington  and 
Norwich  (Conn.)  and  New  York,  Col.  Borden  deter- 
mined to  inaugurate  a  similar  water  communication 
for  Fall  River.  The  capital  appropriated  was  three 
hundred  thousand  dollars,  and  the  line  was  started  in 
1847  with  the  "  Bay  State,"  a  line  craft  for  that  day, 
built  for  the  company,  and  the  old  "  Massachusetts," 
chartered  as  an  alternate  boat.     The  following  year 


376 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


the  "  Empire  State"  was  launched  and  put  on  the 
route,  and  in  1854  the  mammoth  "  Metropolis,"  the 
most  superb  boat  of  her  period  on  Eastern  waters. 
Both  boats  were  paid  for  out  of  the  earnings  of  the 
line,  which  was  such  a  success  as  in  1850  to  pay  six 
per  cent,  monthly  dividends  for  ten  successive  months. 

In  1864,  dissatisfied  with  his  connection  with  Bos- 
ton via  the  Old  Colony  Railroad,  Col.  Borden  obtained 
an  act  of  organization  and  set  about  a  second  through 
route  to  Boston,  starting  from  the  west  side  of  Mount 
Hope  Bay,  opposite  Fall  River.  It  was  a  great 
scheme,  with  a  warranty  of  profitable  result  through 
its  control  of  the  New  York  boat  connection,  but  en-  | 
tailing  great  effort  and  care  upon  a  man,  however  ; 
energetic  and  indefatigable,  who  was  far  advanced  in  j 
life.  Unquestionably  the  road  would  have  been  con-  | 
structed,  but  the  Old  Colony  corporation  could  not 
permit  a  competing  route  to  either  terminus,  and  its 
policy,  as  it  could  not  prevent  the  action  of  the  new 
company,  was  to  control  it  by  a  purchase.  The  prop- 
osition was  accordingly  made  to  Col.  Borden  to  trans- 
fer his  charter  to  the  Old  Colony  Company  upon 
terms  of  a  very  favorable  character  to  himself  and 
his  stockholders.  Had  he  been  in  middle  life,  retain- 
ing the  physical  as  he  still  did  the  mental  vigor  of 
maturity,  it  is  doubtful  if  he  would  have  entertained 
any  proposition  however  favorable.  In  his  considera- 
tion of  the  business  he  determined  to  make  it  a  con- 
dition of  his  acceptance  that  the  Old  Colony  Rail- 
road Company  should  purchase  the  steamboat  line  to 
New  York.  With  this  proviso  he  made  known  his 
acquiescence  in  the  proposition,  and  after  a  short 
deliberation  the  Old  Colony  became  possessed  of  the 
most  profitable  water  route  to  New  York,  and  at  the 
same  time  secured  relief  from  the  certainty  of  a  very 
dangerous  competition. 

During  the  war  of  1812,  Col.  Borden  joined  the 
local  militia  company  as  a  private,  and  was  promoted 
while  yet  in  his  minority.  He  was  first  commissioned 
ensign  in  a  company  of  the  Second  Regiment  of  in- 
fantry July  30,  1814.  Sept.  14,  1815,  he  was  commis- 
sioned lieutenant  in  the  same  regiment.  He  received 
his  first  commission  as  captain  April  11,  1818,  and  his 
second  commission  as  captain  May  2,  1822,  both  in 
the  Fifth  Regiment  of  infantry.  He  was  made  lieu- 
tenant-colonel of  the  same  regiment  June  28,  1823, 
and  colonel  March  12,  1828.  After  this  promotion 
he  withdrew  from  the  service  that  others  might  gain 
for  themselves  as  noble  or  higher  honors.  His  pa- 
triotism during  the  late  civil  war,  developed  in  a 
most  active  interest  on  behalf  of  the  Union  and  an 
earnest  care  for  the  well-being  of  its  defenders,  will 
not  be  forgotten  while  the  beautiful  monument  and 
grounds  of  the  soldiers'  burial-place,  given  by  him,  at 
the  entrance  of  Oak  Grove  Cemetery,  and  the  Rich- 
ard Borden  Post  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic, 
named  in  honor  of  his  benevolence  to  the  soldiers  and 
their  families  in  the  trying  days  of  the  Rebellion,  re- 
main to  perpetuate  his  memory. 


Personally,  Richard  Borden  represented  the  best 
type  of  that  pure,  straightforward,  stalwart  Saxon 
virtue  which  has  proven  New  England's  best  inherit- 
ance from  the  mother-country.  His  sympathies  were 
given  to  all  good  things;  he  was  a  man  broad  in  his 
views,  true  and  steadfast  in  his  convictions  and  feel- 
ings. A  sincere,  outspoken  Christian  in  early  life, 
identifying  himself  with  those  observant  of  the  Sab- 
bath, the  public  services  of  the  sanctuary  and  the 
requirements  of  the  gospel,  he  became,  in  1826,  a 
member  of  the  First  Congregational  Church  of  the 
city,  and  afterwards  one  of  the  leaders  of  the  Central 
Congregational  Church,  which  to  his  energy,  liber- 
ality, piety,  and  judicious  counsel  is  largely  indebted 
for  the  success  that  has  marked  its  subsequent  history. 
In  the  mission  Sabbath-school  work  he  engaged  with 
his  characteristic  energy,  for  a  long  time  going  seven 
miles  out  of  the  village  for  this  purpose.  His  interest  in 
this  department  of  work  continued  so  long  as  he  lived. 
The  benevolence  of  his  nature  flowed  out  as  a  deep  and 
silent  stream.  He  gave  as  to  him  had  been  given. 
None  sought  aid  from  him  in  vain  when  they  presented 
a  worthy  cause.  He  was  always  willing  to  listen  to 
the  appeal  of  the  needy,  and  sent  none  such  empty 
away.  "  Home  and  foreign  charities  alike  found  him 
ready,  yea,  often  waiting  to  attend  on  their  calls,  and 
among  our  institutions  of  learning  not  a  few  are  ready 
to  rise  up  and  call  him  blessed  for  the  timely  aid  ren- 
dered in  the  hour  of  their  greatest  need.  Thus  he 
came  to  be  looked  upon  as  the  foremost  citizen  of  the 
place,  and  his  death  left  a  void  in  the  community 
which  no  one  man  will  probably  ever  fill  again.  Gen- 
erous, noble-hearted,  sagacious,  enterprising,  of  un- 
tiring energy  and  spotless  integrity,  far-seeing,  judi- 
cious, ever  throwing  his  influence  and  his  means  on 
the  right  side,  he  presents  a  character  for  admiration 
and  example  which  is  fragrant  with  all  the  best 
qualities  of  our  New  England  life." 

"  Among  his  last  contributions,"  says  the  Fall  River 
Daily  Evening  News  of  Feb.  25,  1874,  "was  one  of 
marked  generosity  to  the  State  Temperance  Alliance. 
The  newly-dedicated  Children's  Home  also  counts 
him  its  most  liberal  benefactor.  ...  As  one  of  the 
corporate  members  of  the  American  Board  of  Com- 
missioners of  Foreign  Missions  he  was  most  highly 
esteemed,  not  only  for  his  judicious  counsel  and  genial 
fellowship,  but  also  for  his  generous  contributions." 

The  cursory  sketch  of  his  business  career  which 
space  has  permitted  will  suggest  the  conspicuous 
qualities  of  Col.  Borden's  mind  and  temperament,  as 
the  world  saw  them  and  events  caused  them  to  de- 
velop. It  is  doubtful,  however,  if  any  qualities  of  his 
can  be  termed  more  conspicuous  than  others,  among 
those  who  really  knew  him,  so  well  rounded  was  his 
nature.  His  achievements  were  many  and  great,  a 
few  of  them  extraordinary  in  view  of  his  resources 
and  experience,  yet  he  did  not  possess  one  spark  of 
the  so-called  genius  to  which  exceptional  successes 
are  generally  ascribed.     His  brain  was  like  his  body, 


rf  W  c&  /  A  ,  l  C  l , 


*H    •  >->^ 


h/// 


T^ZtsOtJ^-''- 


r 


FALL  RIVER. 


377 


robust  and  full  of  forces;  his  mental  process  direct 
and  simple  ;  his  faculties  of  perception  and  deduction 
more  than  the  average  in  quickness  and  correctness 
of  action  ;  his  scope  of  observation  and  consideration 
general  and  yet  effective.  He  had,  moreover,  a  thor- 
ough self-reliance  and  self-assertion,  yet  was  not  over- 
sanguine.  The  possession  of  such  a  mental  structure 
always  assures  excellence  of  judgment  and  consequent 
success  if  combined  with  a  suitable  temperament,  and 
such  was  the  fact  in  the  present  instance.  Col.  Bor- 
den's nerve  was  strong  and  undisturbed  by  sudden  or 
severe  trials.  Exceedingly  honest  of  purpose,  he  was 
wonderfully  persistent  when  his  judgment  supported 
his  efforts,  never  giving  up  when  legitimate  means 
and  thorough  industry  could  compass  an  end  he  had 
started  for.  His  industry  was  his  conspicuous  quality, 
if  he  had  one.  He  was  an  indefatigable  worker  while 
the  day  lasted. 

May  27,  1872,  Col.  Borden  was  stricken  with  paraly- 
sis, and  from  that  day  forward  he  was  invalid.  He 
sank  to  rest  on  the  25th  day  of  February,  1874, 

"  Like  one  who  wraps  the  drapery  of  his  couch 
About  him,  ami  lies  down  to  pleasant  dreams." 

Col.  Richard  Borden  was  a  universally  esteemed, 
beloved,  and  honored  citizen,  and  his  very  memory 
is  precious. 

Feb.  22, 1828,  he  united  in  marriage  with  Abby  W., 
daughter  of  James  Durfee,  and  their  children  are  as 
follows:  Caroline,  Thomas  J.,  Richard  B.,  Edward 
P.,  William  H.  H.,  Matthew  C.  D.,  and  Sarah  W. 


DR.   PHINEAS    W.   LELAND. 

Dr.  Phineas  W.  Leland  was  born  in  Grafton,  Mass., 
in  1798.  He  entered  Brown  University,  Providence, 
R.  I.,  in  1821,  but  left  college  before  the  expiration  of 
the  usual  term  of  four  years,  owing  to  ill  health.  He 
studied  medicine  with  Dr.  George  C.  Shattuck,  of 
Boston,  and  received  the  degree  of  M.D.  at  Bowdoin 
College,  Brunswick,  Me.,  in  1826,  and  practiced  his 
profession  for  some  time  at  Medfield,  Mass.,  but 
abandoned  it  in  1834,  and  removed  to  Fall  River, 
where  he  received  the  appointment  of  Collector  of 
Customs  from  President  Jackson.  This  position  he 
held  in  all  about  twenty  years,  being  reappointed 
by  the  successive  Democratic  administrations.  He 
retired  from  this  otlice  in  1860,  at  the  beginning  of 
President  Lincoln's  administration,  and  from  that 
time  until  his  death  lived  in  retirement.  In  the  fall 
of  1842,  Dr.  Leland  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate, 
and  on  taking  his  seat,  in  1843,  was  elected  president 
of  the  Senate.  This  is  the  only  political  office  he 
ever  held.  He  retained  through  life  his  early  attach- 
ment to  the  Democratic  party,  and  was  a  constant 
attendant  to  the  conventions  of  that  party  until  his 
retirement  from  public  life.  The  excellence  of  Dr. 
Leland's  personal  character,  his  large  public  spirit, 
and  above  all  the  high  standard  of  his  literary  attain- 


ments, gave  him  a  marked  individual  prominence  in 
the  community.  He  was  always  interested  in  every- 
thing that  tended  to  improve  the  literary  taste  of  Fall 
River,  and  was  identified  with  many  plans  to  effect 
this  result.  He  was  one  of  the  founders,  and  for 
many  years  president,  of  the  Fall  River  Athenaeum, 
and  when  the  Public  Library  was  organized  he  was 
elected  one  of  the  trustees,  a  position  he  held  until 
his  death.  He  served  on  the  building  committee  of 
the  City  Hall,  and  delivered  the  address  on  the  occa- 
sion of  its  dedication  in  1846.  He  was  always  active 
and  ardent  in  all  literary  enterprises.  Dr.  Leland 
was  for  many  years  connected  with  the  press,  and 
his  writings  were  distinguished  for  a  peculiar  piquancy 
and  brilliancy.  He  was  the  editor  of  the  Fall  River 
Patriot,  a  journal  which  was  started  in  1836,  and  con- 
tinued four  years.  He  was  also  the  first  editor  of  the 
Fall  River  Weekly  News,  started  in  1845,  and  after  his 
connection  with  that  journal  was  severed,  he  was  an 
occasional  and  popular  contributor. 

While  a  member  of  the  State  Senate  he  contributed 
a  series  of  articles  to  the  Boston  Post,  entitled  "  Pen 
and  Ink  Sketches  from  the  Gallery  of  the  Senate 
Chamber,"  which  were  widely  read  and  admired.  He 
was  always  interested  in  the  study  of  Indian  history, 
and  was  thoroughly  acquainted  with  all  the  Indian 
lore  of  this  part  of  New  England.  For  several  years 
previous  to  his  death  he  was  very  much  of  an  invalid, 
and  after  many  weeks  of  painful  suffering  he  rested 
Jan.  22,  1870,  aged  seventy-one  years. 


SAMUEL  HATHAWAY. 

Samuel  Hathaway  was  born  in  Freetown,  Mass., 
Oct.  31,  1807,  his  parents  being  Samuel  Hathaway 
and  Hannah  Cook.  When  he  was  ten  years  of  age 
his  mother,  with  her  four  children,  of  whom  he  was 
the  eldest,  removed  to  Fall  River.  His  educational 
advantages  were  limited,  and  at  an  early  age  he  was 
obliged  to  leave  school  and  assist  in  the  support  of 
the  family.  In  1824  he  became  employed  at  Robe- 
son's Print  Works,  where  he  learned  the  trade  of  a 
color-mixer,  and  became  overseer  of  the  color-shop. 
He  subsequently  became  manager  of  the  Print  Works, 
which  position  he  retained  until  1848,  when  Mr.  An- 
drew Robeson,  Sr.,  then  the  principal  proprietor,  re- 
tired from  business,  and  the  establishment  changed 
hands.  Mr.  Hathaway  then  severed  his  connection 
with  the  Print  Works,  and  retired  to  agricultural 
pursuits  in  the  suburbs  of  the  city,  a  business  to  which 
he  devoted  most  of  the  remaining  portion  of  his  life. 

Mr.  Hathaway  was  one  of  the  first  to  organize  the 
Citizens  Savings-Bank  in  1851,  and  was  ever  after  till 
his  death  one  of  its  board  of  investment.  In  1854  he 
assisted  in  organizing  the  Pocasset  Bank,  of  which  he 
was  the  rest  of  his  life  a  director,  and  during  his  last 
ten  or  twelve  years  its  president.  As  a  hanker  he  was 
noted  for  his  sound  judgment,  strict  integrity,  and 
faithful  performance  of  all  the  trusts  reposed  in  him. 


378 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


He  was  also  largely  interested  in  the  manufac- 
turing interests  of  Fall  River,  having  been  a  prime 
mover  in  organizing  the  Robeson  Mills,  and  an  active 
participant  in  the  founding  of  the  Stafford  and  Davol 
Mills.  He  was  a  director  in  the  Watuppa,  Granite, 
Robeson,  Davol,  and  Stafford  Mills,  from  the  time  of 
their  organization,  and  was  the  president  of  the  Robe- 
son Mills  and  a  director  in  the  Manufacturers'  Gas 
Company. 

In  all  these  responsible  positions  his  judgment  was 
valued  by  his  associates.  For  politics  and  office- 
holding  he  had  little  taste,  though  always  earnest  in 
the  support  of  correct  principles  and  the  elevation  of 
the  most  suitable  men  to  office.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  board  of  aldermen  for  one  year,  declining  a  re- 
election at  the  expiration  of  his  term.  Though  fre- 
quently importuned  to  become  a  candidate  for  the 
office  of  mayor,  he  always  declined. 

For  many  years  Mr.  Hathaway  was  one  of  the 
foremost  and  most  valued  citizens  of  Fall  River. 
Possessed  of  a  rugged  and  independent  character,  he 
was  always  bold  in  his  denunciation  of  shams  and 
frauds,  and  earnest  in  the  defense  of  what  he  consid- 
ered to  be  just  and  true.  His  uprightness  and  integ- 
rity were  known  to  all  men,  and  no  one  had  a  greater 
share  of  public  confidence  in  all  fiduciary  relations. 
He  was  an  earnest  friend  of  temperance  and  active  in 
all  efforts  for  the  moral  welfare  of  his  native  city.  He 
was  a  friend  of  the  widow  and  orphan,  an  earnest 
hater  of  pretenses,  and  will  long  be  remembered  for 
the  sterling  virtues  of  his  character.  His  life  was 
well  spent,  and  the  memory  of  his  good  deeds  and 
upright  life  will  long  survive  him. 

Mr.  Hathaway  married  Abby  Warren,  daughter  of 
Joseph  and  Rhoda  Warren,  March  21,  1832.  She 
was  born  Aug.  10,  1811,  in  Fall  River,  and  died  Feb. 
10,  1869.  They  had  ten  children,  four  of  whom  died 
in  infancy,  and  daughter  Mary,  at  sixteen  years  of 
age.  The  surviving  children  are :  Abbie,  wife  of 
Eleazer  Waldron,  of  Fall  River;  Edward  E.  ;  Marion 
A.,  wife  of  Henry  Fry,  of  Providence;  Samuel  W., 
and  Clarence  M. 

Mr.  Hathaway  died  on  the  10th  of  April,  1873,  aged 
sixty-five  years  and  five  months. 


HON.  OLIVER  CHACE. 
Hon.  Oliver  Chace  was  born  in  Swansea,  Mass., 
Nov.  11,  1812.  He  is  descended  in  a  direct  line  from 
William  Chase,  who  was  the  first  of  the  name  settling 
in  America,  and  who  came  from  England  in  the  fleet 
with  Governor  Winthrop  in  1630,  bringing  with  him 
his  wife,  Mary,  and  his  eldest  son,  William,  then  a 
lad  about  eight  years  of  age.  The  first  residence  of 
William  Chase  was  in  Roxbury  (now  Boston  High- 
lands), Mass.,  where  he  lived  until  1637.  He  was  a 
carpenter  by  trade,  and  in  the  winter  of  1637-38  made 
a  settlement  with  Stephen  Bachiler  and  others  in  Yar- 
mouth, Barnstable  Co.,  Mass.,  dwelling  there  until 


his  death  in  May,  1659.  The  place  of  his  residence 
in  Yarmouth  was  near  Stony  Cove,  and  his  "  farm 
fence"  is  designated  as  a  boundary  in  several  deeds 
and  other  documents. 

William2  Chase  was  born  in  England  about  1622, 
came  with  his  father  to  America,  married  and  settled 
near  Herring  River,  on  the  east  side  of  the  Bass 
River  in  Yarmouth,  now  Dennis  or  Harwich.  His 
children,  born  from  1646  to  1672,  were  connected 
with  the  Society  of  Friends.     He  died  in  1685. 

Joseph3  Chase,  son  of  William2,  married  Sarah 
Sherman,  and  reared  a  large  family.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Friends'  Meeting  at  Sandwich,  Mass., 
in  1681.  In  1688  he  was  at  Portsmouth,  R.  I.,  and 
was  a  prominent  member  of  the  Rhode  Island 
Friends'  Meeting  until  his  death,  in  1724,  at  Swan- 
sea, Mass. 

Job4  Chase,  son  of  Joseph3,  was  born  Aug.  21, 
1698,  married  Patience  Bourne  Sept.  6,  1718,  and 
resided  in  Swansea.  His  will  was  proved  Dec.  25, 
1766.  The  family  name  of  his  wife  is  variously 
spelled  "  Born,"  "  Burne,"  "  Bowen,"  and  "  Bourne," 
tradition  and  ancient  records  favoring  the  latter 
orthography. 

Jonathan5  Chase,  son  of  Job,  was  born  May  11, 
1728.  He  married  Mary  Earle  May  13,  1754,  and 
had  eleven  children,  of  whom  Oliver  was  the  sev- 
enth. Oliver  was  born  Aug.  24,  1769.  He  married 
Susanna  Buffinton  Sept.  15,  1796,  by  whom  he  had 
seven  children.  He  married  (second)  Mrs.  Patience 
Robinson  ;  no  issue.  He  enjoyed  in  early  life  few  of 
the  advantages  of  birth  or  circumstances.  His  father's 
patrimony  was  an  extremely  limited  one,  and  the  son's 
education  correspondingly  restricted,  especially  was 
this  a  result  of  the  stormy  period  of  the  Revolution. 
Inured  to  toil  and  compelled  to  be  industrious  in  early 
boyhood,  he  naturally  became  noted  in  after-life  for  his 
application  and  perseverance.  In  1806  he  took  the 
agency  of  a  small  mill  in  Swansea,  in  which  he  became 
part  owner,  and  commenced  the  manufacture  of  cot- 
ton yarns.  In  1813  he  removed  to  Fall  River,  and  in 
company  with  Eber  Slade,  Sheffel  Weaver,  Hezekiah 
Wilson,  Benjamin  Slade,  Amey  Borden,  and  others, 
erected  the  Troy  Mill  and  became  its  agent.  At  that 
time  Fall  River  was  a  village  of  but  a  few  hundred 
inhabitants.  It  was  mainly  through  his  efforts  that 
the  Pocasset  Company  was  projected  and  established 
in  1821,  and  for  many  years  he  controlled  and  man- 
aged its  interests.  He  was  remarkable  for  the  pos- 
session of  many  prominent  traits  of  character,  among 
which  may  be  mentioned  clear  and  sound  judgment, 
punctuality,  industry,  and  integrity.  He  was  the  first 
to  spell  the  family  name  "Chace."  He  died  at  Fall 
River  in  1852. 

Hon.  Oliver  Chace  came  with  his  parents  from 
Swansea  to  Fall  River  in  1813,  when  only  one  year  of 
age.  His  education  was  obtained  at  the  district 
schools  in  Fall  River,  and  at  the  Friends'  school  in 
Providence,  R.  I.     Upon  leaving  school  he  entered 


l/c^u 


t^ts^TJ^ 


Z<^r^ 


y 


EnytbyAHRLti  ■  ■ 


FALL  RIVER. 


379 


the  variety  store  of  Caleb  Viekery,  where  he  remained 
but  a  short  time.  He  then  accepted  a  clerkship  in 
the  office  of  the  cotton  manufactory  of  Chace  & 
Luther,  his  brother  being  the  senior  partner.  A  few 
years  later  he  formed  a  copartnership  with  Israel  Buf- 
fington,  under  the  firm-name  of  Buffington  &  Chace, 
and  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  cotton  laps,  which 
business  he  continued  until  1838,  when  in  company 
with  Joseph  C.  Anthony,  firm-name  Chace  &  An- 
thony, he  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  cotton  yarns. 
In  1840  he  erected  the  Mount  Hope  Mills,  of  which 
he  was  sole  proprietor  and  business  manager  for  more 
than  twenty-five  years.  He  also  conducted  a  large 
farm  located  in  that  part  of  Tiverton,  R.  1.,  now  Fall 
River,  Mass.,  including  part  of  the  Park  and  lands 
adjacent  on  the  south.  He  was  a  director  of  the 
National  Union  Bank  from  1842  to  1854.  In  1851  he 
was  prominent  in  establishing,  and  was  one  of  the 
corporators  of  the  Citizens'  Savings-Bank,  and  was 
trustee  and  member  of  its  board  of  investment  until 
June  9,  1856.  He  was  one  of  the  corporators  of  the 
Pocasset  National  Bank  in  1854,  and  was  its  president 
from  the  time  of  its  incorporation  until  June  7,  1862. 
He  was  interested  in  various  enterprises,  and  assisted 
in  establishing  and  building  up  many  of  the  great 
manufacturing  concerns  of  Fall  River,  which  stand 
to-day  as  monuments  to  the  energy  and  enterprise  of 
their  founders.  While  his  was  eminently  an  active 
business  life,  he  was  repeatedly  called  by  his  fellow- 
citizens  to  fill  important  trusts.  He  was  an  assessor 
of  taxes,  an  overseer  of  the  poor,  a  member  of  the 
Town  Council,  and  was  several  times  elected  to  the 
General  Assembly  of  Rhode  Island,  both  as  repre- 
sentative and  senator.  In  politics  he  was  a  Whig  and 
a  Republican. 

He  was  the  originator  of  the  Fall  River  Manufac- 
turers' Mutual  Insurance  Company,  which  was  estab- 
lished solely  by  his  untiring  zeal  and  persistent  energy. 
He  was  its  president  from  its  organization  until  his 
death  May  6,  1874,  and  devoted  his  time  and  strength 
to  its  management  even  to  the  detriment  of  his 
health.  He  was  a  birthright  member  of  the  Society 
of  Friends.  He  married,  Nov.  22,  1835,  Mary  E., 
(laughter  of  William  S.  N.  and  Mahitable  (Church) 
Allan,  of  Newport,  R.  I.  She  was  born  Oct.  4, 1813. 
Their  children  are  Oliver,  born  Jan.  24,  1837  (died 
1837);  Benjamin  A.,  born  March  19,  1840,  married 
Sarah  R.  Durfee  Jan.  27,  1864;  Susan  A.,  born  Nov. 
20,  1842  (died  1860)  ;  Mary  E.,  born  Nov.  17,  1844, 
married  Crawford  E.  Lindsey  May  27,  1863,  and  Wil- 
liam ().,  born  1847  (died  1848). 

Mr.  ( lhace  was  an  outspoken  and  persistent  oppo- 
nent of  American  slavery,  an  advocate  of  temperance 
and  other  reforms,  and  was  to  the  full  measure  of  his 
ability  a  helper  of  those  around  him  who  needed  and 
deserved  encouragement  and  assistance,  and  was  a 
considerate  and  generous  friend  to  the  poor.  He  was 
a  man  of  positive  character,  but  kind  and  generous 
in  his  impulses,  of  quick  perception  and  sound  judg- 


ment. Public  spirited  to  a  fault,  active  and  earnest 
in  all  he  did,  he  brought  to  bear  upon  whatever  he 
undertook  great  enthusiasm  and  the  whole  strength 
of  his  nature. 

COOK  BORDEN. 

The  Bordens  from  whom  he  is  descended  were 
originally  from  Bourdonnay,  an  ancient  village  in 
Normandy,  France.  The  first  of  the  name  in  Eng- 
land was  a  soldier  under  William  the  Conqueror, 
who,  after  the  battle  of  Hastings  (a.d.  1066),  was  as- 
signed lands  in  the  County  of  Kent.  Here  the  family 
subsequently  acquired  wealth  and  influence,  and  the 
village  where  they  resided  was  named  Borden. 

The  father  of  Richard  and  John  Borden,  the  first 
emigrants  to  America,  removed  to  Wales  in  order  to 
secure  to  his  family  larger  religious  liberty  than  they 
could  enjoy  in  England.  Richard  and  John  married 
in  Wales,  and  afterwards  returned  to  Borden,  Eng- 
land, with  a  view  of  emigrating  to  America,  which 
they  did  in  1635,  in  the  ship  "  Elizabeth,"  Roger 
Cooper,  master.  For  a  short  time  they  resided  near 
Boston,  but  preferring  the  greater  freedom  of  Rhode 
Island,  they  chose  that  colony  as  their  future  home. 

Richard,  the  elder  brother,  and  progenitor  of  the 
family  to  which  this  writing  refers,  chose,  with  other 
pioneers,  the  north  end  of  the  island,  and  was  one  of 
three  men  to  lay  out  the  original  town  of  Portsmouth, 
R.  I.  His  son  Matthew,  born  there  in  May,  1638, 
was  the  first  white  child  born  on  the  island  of  Rhode 
Island. 

John,  the  fifth  son  of  Richard  and  Joan  Borden, 
was  born  in  September,  1640  ;  married  Mary,  daughter 
of  William  Earle,  and  died  June  4,  1716.  His  wife, 
Mary,  died  in  June,  1734,  aged  seventy-nine  years. 
He  was  a  prominent  Friend,  and  was  extensively 
known  among  the  Friends  at  a  distance  as  •'John 
Borden,  of  Quaker  Hill,  Portsmouth,  R.  I." 

Richard,  of  the  third  generation,  was  the  eldest 
son  of  John  Borden,  and  was  born  Oct.  24,  1671. 
He  was  a  large  land-owner  in  Tiverton.  He  and  his 
brother  Joseph  bought  of  Capt.  Benjamin  Church 
twenty-six  and  a  half  thirtieths  of  the  mill-stream 
and  mill-lot  at  Fall  River,  which  he  bequeathed, 
with  other  lands,  to  his  four  sons,  John,  Thomas, 
Joseph,  and  Samuel.     He  died  July  12,  1732. 

Thomas  Borden,  through  whom  the  family  line  is 
continued,  was  born  Dec.  8,  1697,  and  married  Mary 
Gifford,  1721.  He  was  a  farmer  and  considerable 
land-owner  in  Tiverton,  and  owned  a  large  interest  in 
the  Fall  River  stream.  He  died  in  1739,  in  the 
forty-third  year  of  his  age. 

Richard  Borden,  of  the  fifth  generation,  was  a 
farmer  and  mill-owner  in  Fall  River.  During  the 
Revolution  he  was  taken  a  prisoner  by  the  British, 
and  carried  to  Newport,  R.  I.  While  on  his  way  a 
chain-shot  from  the  American  fort  at  Bristol  killed 
two  British  soldiers  who  had  him  in  charge,  while  he, 
lying  close  upon  the  deck,  escaped  unharmed.     He 


380 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


died  July  4,  1795,  aged  seventy-four  years.  This 
Richard  was  the  grandfather  of  Cook  Borden.  His 
wife  was  Hope  Cook,  whom  he  married  March  12, 
1747.  His  sons  were  Thomas  and  Eichard,  the  last 
named  being  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  memoir. 

Richard  Borden,  of  the  sixth  generation,  married 
Patty  Bowen,  and  had  ten  children,  of  whom  Cook 
was  the  seventh  in  the  order  of  birth.  He  was  also 
the  seventh  in  descent  from  the  original  Richard 
Borden,  who  came  from  England  in  1635.  Of  the 
eleven  children  of  the  first  Richard  and  his  wife  Joan, 
Mary,  the  youngest,  married  John  Cook  in  1684. 
Thus  early  the  Bordens  and  Cooks  became  intermar- 
ried, and  from  this  came  the  given  name  of  our  sub- 
ject. The  Cooks  were  among  the  early  settlers  of 
Rhode  Island,  and  also  of  Eastern  Massachusetts. 

Cook  Borden  was  born  in  Fall  River,  Mass.  (in  that 
portion  then  Tiverton,  R.  I.),  Jan.  18,  1810.  He  mar- 
ried Mary  A.  Bessey,  Jan.  1,  1832,  and  about  that  time 
built  a  residence  on  his  estate  in  Tiverton,  where  he 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  and  where  his  widow 
and  sons  now  reside.  By  the  change  of  boundary  line 
it  has  since  come  into  Fall  River.  Before  the  change 
Mr.  Borden  held  the  office  of  assessor  in  his  town,  and 
represented  it  one  term  in  the  Legislature.  He  was, 
however,  a  business  man  rather  than  a  politician,  and 
never  sought  the  honors  or  emoluments  of  office.  He 
was  a  self-made  man,  and  rose  to  the  prominence 
which  he  attained  chiefly  by  his  own  exertions.  The 
weight  of  his  character  gave  him  position  and  respec- 
tability, although  few  men  have  been  able  to  look 
back  to  a  nobler  line  of  ancestors.  Few  men  have 
better  illustrated  the  dignity  of  labor  or  the  value  of 
economy  in  early  manhood. 

His  father  died  when  he  was  about  eighteen,  and 
his  first  money  was  procured  by  his  own  labor.  When 
starting  out  in  business  he  sold  the  portion  of  the 
farm  left  him  by  his  father,  situated  west  of  Main 
Street,  for  a  sum  not  exceeding  twelve,  hundred  dol- 
lars, and  this  was  all  the  capital  he  had,  except  what 
he  made  for  himself.  Before  he  embarked  in  business 
on  his  own  account  he  worked  several  years  for  Frost 
&  Gurney,  the  original  lumber  dealers  of  Fall  River. 
He  then  commenced  the  lumber  business  for  himself 
near  Lindsey's  Wharf,  on  lands  now  occupied  by  the 
new  freight  depot  of  the  Old  Colony  Railroad  Com- 
pany. His  business  grew  to  be  large  and  profitable, 
and  in  1846  he  bought  Bowenville,  and  removed  his 
yard  to  the  site  which  it  now  occupies. 

Mr.  William  Cogswell,  cashier  of  the  old  Tiverton 
Bank,  was  his  partner  for  many  years  from  the  first 
inception  of  the  business,  and  he  had  other  partners, 
until  at  last  his  sons,  who  had  grown  up  in  the  busi- 
ness, took  their  places  by  his  side,  and  have  carried 
on  the  business  since  his  death,  the  style  of  the  firm, 
"  Cook  Borden  &  Co.,"  remaining  unchanged. 

For  some  time  Mr.  Borden  operated  in  lumbering 
in  Western  Pennsylvania,  and  at  the  same  time  car- 
ried on  his  business  in  Fall  River. 


We  have  mentioned  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Borden  to 
Mary  Bessey  on  the  first  day  of  the  year  1832.  Mrs. 
Borden  still  survives.  Their  children  have  been  :  (1) 
Mary  J.,  died  young  ;  (2)  Mary  J.,  married  Dr.  James 
W.  Hartley,  May  1,  1853;  (3)  Theodore  W.,  married 
Mary  L.  Davol,  June  10, 1859;  (4)  Avis,  died  young; 

(5)  Philip  H.,  married  Ruth  A.  Dennis,  Oct.  8,  1861 ; 

(6)  Jerome  O,  died  young;  (7)  Jerome  C,  married 
Emma  E.  Tetlow,  June  28,  1870. 

Mr.  Borden  died  Sept.  20,  1880,  in  the  seventy-first 
year  of  his  age.  From  notices  published  at  the  time 
of  his  death  we  select  the  following,  which  is  no  over- 
drawn estimate  of  his  character  and  worth  as  a  man 
and  a  citizen  : 

"  Mr.  Borden  from  his  birth,  which  occurred  in  this 
city  in  1810,  by  his  long  business  life  and  close  asso- 
ciation with  the  varied  industries  of  the  city,  was  as 
intimately  connected  with  Fall  River,  its  peculiari- 
ties and  aspirations,  as  a  man  well  could  be.  Related 
by  ties  of  blood  to  most  of  our  old  families,  and  ac- 
quainted by  business  associations  with  almost  every- 
body in  the  city  who  had  connections  with  our  man- 
ufacturing and  mercantile  interests,  he  was  one  of  the 
best  known  of  our  prominent  men.  His  acquaintance 
was  confined  to  no  one  class ;  the  operative,  the  laborer, 
the  mechanic,  the  fisherman,  the  tradesman,  the  man- 
ufacturer, the  professional  man,  the  clergyman,  all 
knew  him;  and  in  his  long,  large  list  of  acquaint- 
ances there  was  not  one  that  did  not  know  him  to 
respect  him.  Naturally  reserved  and  reticent,  he 
was  better  known  upon  closer  acquaintance.  There 
was  nothing  about  him  flashy  or  eager;  he  was  solid, 
conservative,  steady. 

"  Mr.  Borden  was  not  selfish  or  avaricious.  Many 
a  man  now  lives  in  Fall  River  who  has  tested  his 
kindness  of  heart  and  willingness  to  help  one  who 
was  trying  honorably  to  help  himself.  He  was  also 
a  man  of  deep  religious  convictions,  and  for  many 
years  had  been  a  consistent  and  earnest  member  of 
the  First  Baptist  Church  of  Fall  River.  He  was  al- 
ways to  be  found  in  his  seat  on  Sundays  in  the  days 
of  his  health,  and  never  tired  in  service  or  in  giving. 
He  was  one  of  the  largest  contributors  to  his  church 
and  other  religious  agencies. 

"  Mr.  Borden  was  fond  of  out-of-door  sports,  espe- 
cially of  fishing.  He  knew  all  about  our  coast  and 
the  best  fishing-grounds.  He  was  almost  an  authority 
on  these  matters.  In  pleasant  weather  he  delighted 
to  be  on  the  water,  and  was  an  expert  in  the  use  of 
the  fishing-line. 

"  He  always  applied  himself  to  business,  and  his 
life  was  one  of  labor  and  constant  application.  In 
his  large  lumber  business,  one  of  the  best-known  es- 
tablishments of  the  kind  in  this  part  of  New  England, 
he  has  lately  been  associated  with  his  three  sons. 
The  business  grew  from  a  modest  beginning  into  large 
dimensions.  He  has  held  a  long  list  of  offices  of 
trust,  and  his  death  will  leave  many  vacancies  to  be 
filled.     He   was   president   of    the   Union   National 


mmm. 


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FALL  RIVER. 


381 


Bank,  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Investment  of  the 
Union  Savings-Bank,  a  director  in  the  Chace,  Richard 
Borden,  and  Tecumseh  Mills. 

"  His  life  was  gentle,  and  the  elements  so  mixed  in 
him  that  nature  might  stand  up  and  say  to  all  the 
world,  '  This  was  a  man.'  " 


W.  B.  TRAFFORD. 
William  B.  Trafford,  son  of  William  Bradford  and 
Sarah  (Castinow)  Trafford,  was  born  in  Dartmouth, 
Mass.,  Dec.  5,  1819.  He  was  descended,  in  the  sixth 
generation,  from  a  prominent  Protestant  family  of 
England,  which,  under  the  popish  persecutions,  suf- 
fered much  in  person  and  estate.  The  first  Trafford 
who  started  for  America  was  a  wealthy  gentleman 
living  near  London.  He  Avas  selected  as  a  victim  for 
death  during  the  last  Catholic  persecution  in  Eng- 
land, and  was  warned  when  the  officers  coming  to 
arrest  him  were  approaching  his  house,  and  not 
having  time  to  escape  he  hastily  put  on  his  groom's 
clothes  and  engaged  in  labor  in  the  stables.  The 
officers  came,  found  no  one  but  the  grooms,  and  de- 
parted. Trafford  then  left  the  place,  and  chartered  a 
vessel  to  remove  himself  and  family  to  America. 
Here  he  passes  from  our  knowledge.  Whether  he 
was  captured  and  was  executed,  or  died  while  at  sea, 
are  equally  unknown  to  us.  The  vessel,  however, 
came  to  America,  and  landed  at  Dartmouth,  Mass., 
about  1690,  bringing  his  two  sons,  one  of  whom  was 
Thomas.  The  English  estates  were  confiscated,  and 
reverted  to  the  crown.  Thomas  settled  in  Dartmouth, 
married,  and  had  children.  The  other  son  settled  in 
New  Jersey,  and  his  descendants  are  numerous  in  the 
Middle  and  Western  States.  From  the  landing  at 
Dartmouth  the  Trafford  family  has  been  connected 
with  the  history  of  Bristol  County.  The  oldest  son 
of  Thomas  and  the  only  child  attaining  maturity  was 
Philip.  He  had  a  son  Joseph,  who  was  a  Revolu- 
tionary soldier  under  Washington.  Tradition  says 
that  once,  while  he  was  standing  guard,  Washington 
endeavored  to  make  the  rounds  without  giving  the 
countersign.  He  succeeded  in  passing  two  of  the 
guards,  but  Trafford  refused  to  let  him  pass  until  he 
had  given  the  proper  countersign.  From  that  time 
Joseph  Trafford  was  the  one  chosen  for  duties  of 
great  trust  and  especial  responsibilities,  and  he  was 
rapidly  promoted,  becoming  one  of  the  best  officers 
in  his  division.  He  lived  and  died  in  Dartmouth, 
leaving  seven  children,  Samuel,  Joseph,  William 
Bradford1,  Philip,  Phebe,  Ruth,  and  Naomi.  (We 
find  in  family  records  that  Joseph  had  a  brother 
Elihti,  who  with  two  others  ran  a  vessel  from  New 
Bedford  to  New  York  and  up  the  Connecticut  River. 
While  the  vessel  was  moored  at  New  Bedford,  Elihu 
and  two  others  started  on  foot  to  visit  their  friends  in 
Dartmouth.  When  but  a  short  distance  out  they  ob- 
served British  soldiers  following  them,  when  they 
shot  at  them,  and  the  soldiers  returning  their  fire  in- 


stantly killed  all  three.)  Joseph  lived  to  a  hale  old 
age,  and  was  esteemed  for  his  strength  of  character 
and  general  worthiness. 

William  Bradford  Trafford,  the  first  of  this  family 
to  bear  the  name  of  the  old  colonial  Governor,  was 
born  in  Dartmouth,  and  was  a  mariner.  He  had  two 
daughters,  Ruth  and  Nancy  A.,  and  one  son,  William 
Bradford-.  (Nancy,  born  Feb.  11,  1811,  is  now  living 
at  Westport,  Mass.)  He  left  not  much  to  record,  as 
shortly  before  the  birth  of  his  son  he  went  to  sea, 
where  he  probably  was  lost,  as  he  never  returned,  and 
no  tidings  ever  came  of  him. 

William  B.  Trafford2  had  very  limited  advantages 
of  schools,  and  from  the  age  of  ten,  when  he  began 
to  work  in  the  mills  at  Fall  River,  until  his  death  he 
was  constantly  at  work  with  hands  and  brain,  and 
during  his  long  and  busy  career  no  one  ever  won 
more  or  warmer  friends.  The  support  of  his  mother's 
family  in  time  largely  devolved  on  him,  and  well  did 
he  discharge  the  trust.  (His  mother  is  yet  living  at 
Westport,  Mass.,  aged  ninety-one.  She  married  a 
second  time  a  Mr.  Lewis,  and  George  and  Elijah 
Lewis,  so  long  connected  with  Mr.  Trafford  in  the 
Westport  Manufacturing  Company,  were  her  sons  by 
this  marriage.  She  was  daughter  of  Raymond  Cas- 
tinow, who  emigrated  to  America  from  France,  mar- 
ried Phebe  Salisbury,  resided  in  Westport,  Mass.,  and 
had  seven  children, — Raymond,  John,  Phebe,  Martha, 
Hannah,  Barbara,  and  Sarah  C, — and  died  aged  sev- 
enty-six. Mrs.  Castinow  died  aged  forty-seven.) 
From  his  fifteenth  year  Mr.  Trafford  carried  on  busi- 
ness for  himself,  hiring  machinery  and  working  dili- 
gently, and  developed  those  traits  of  economy  and 
thrift  so  marked  in  later  life.  In  the  spring  of  1846 
he  entered  into  copartnership  with  a  fellow-workman, 
Augustus  Chace,  as  Chace  &  Trafford.  They  had 
only  a  small  beginning,  the  savings  from  their  wages 
as  mill  operatives.  Mr.  Chace  contributed  two  thou- 
sand three  hundred  dollars,  Mr.  Trafford  seven  hun- 
dred dollars.  With  this  capital  they  purchased  a 
small  lot  and  water  privilege  at  Globe  village,  and 
put  up  a  very  small  mill  for  spinning  coarse  yarn,  for 
which  their  means  would  only  allow  the  purchase  of 
second-hand  machinery.  The  machinery  being  in 
poor  order  it  was  not  easy  to  hire  operatives,  but  the 
partners  were  men  whose  capacity  for  work  enabled 
them  alone  to  achieve  as  much  labor  as  six  hired 
operatives.  The  stream  was  small,  and  as  it  furnished 
their  only  jiower,  to  avoid  the  waste  of  any  water  they 
very  frequently  ran  their  machinery  night  and  day, 
and  for  a  long  period  habitually  they  would  work 
until  two  or  three  o'clock  in  the  morning.  To  such 
labor  there  could  only  come  one  result, — wealth. 
After  enlarging  the  capacity  of  this  mill  they  pur- 
chased the  Westport  mill,  Mr.  Trafford  taking  the 
management  of  that,  and  settled  in  Westport  in  June, 
1854.  About  1861  the  interests  were  divided,  Mr. 
Trafford  and  his  half-brothers,  George  and  Elijah 
Lewis,  who  had  been  previously  connected  with  the 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


business,  taking  the  Westport  Mills,  which  were  or- 
ganized and  operated  by  the  Westport  Manufacturing 
Company.  Mr.  Trafford  continued  as  business  man- 
ager until  his  death,  Feb.  4,  1880,  having,  however, 
returned  to  Fall  River  Sept.  16,  1876,  where  he  con- 
tinued to  reside  till  his  death.  His  brothers  attended 
as  well  to  the  mechanical  departments  as  he  to  the 
financial,  and  all  worked  in  harmony.  Additions 
and  extensive  improvements  were  from  time  to  time 
made,  and  the  company  has  been  very  prosperous. 

Mr.  Trafford  married,  first,  Abby  W.  Borden,  May 
15,  1842.  She  died  Nov.  2,  1856.  Their  children 
were  William  C,  Andrew  R.,  Charles  A.,  and  Orrin 
F.  April  19,  1858,  he  married  Rachel  M.,  daughter 
of  Perry  and  Ruth  (Macomber)  Davis.  Their  chil- 
dren are  Allison  W.,  H.  Lester,  Perry  D.,  and  Ber- 
nard W.  (A  most  wonderful  and  strong  attachment 
exists  between  the  four  older  children  and  the  second 
wife  of  Mr.  Trafford.  She  has  nobly  filled  a  mother's 
place  in  their  young  lives,  and  her  care  and  attention 
has  been  fully  appreciated  by  them.  Her  comfort  is 
their  first  care.)  All  the  children  are  living  but 
Orrin  F.,  who  was  thrown  from  a  buggy  Nov.  18, 
1880,  and  instantly  killed.  William  C.  succeeds  his 
father  as  manager  of  the  Westport  Manufacturing 
Company.  Andrew  R.  resides  in  Westport,  and  has 
three  children,— Abby  W.,  Orrin  I.,  and  Edith  C. 
Orrin  left  two  daughters, — Rachie  B.  and  Orena  F. 
Charles  A.  and  Allison  W.  reside  in  Providence,  R.  I. 
Charles  has  two  children,— Minnie  .E.  and  William 
Bradford.  Henry  L.,  Perry  D.,  and  Bernard  W.  are 
residing  with  their  mother  in  Fall  River. 

Mr.  Trafford  was  a  consistent  member  of  the  Frank- 
lin Street  Christian  Church,  of  Fall  River.  He  was 
Republican  in  politics,  and  as  such  represented  the 
town  of  Tiverton,  R.  I.,  in  the  State  Legislature  as 
senator  in  1857.  For  many  years  he  was  a  director 
in  the  Fall  River  National  Bank.  A  beautiful  and 
costly  monument  marks  his  resting-place  in  the  Oak 
Grove  Cemetery  at  Fall  River,  but  his  memory  will 
be  kept  green  in  the  hearts  of  the  many  who  learned 
to  prize  him  for  his  unassuming  worth,  his  pleasant 
ways,  his  sterling  integrity,  and  his  liberality  to  all 
worthy  social,  public,  and  religious  causes.  He  was 
more  than  an  ordinary  man.  Without  early  educa- 
tion, he  rose,  by  the  force  of  his  own  ability,  to  stand 
in  the  front  rank  of  the  business  men  of  his  day,  and 
left  a  large  estate  as  the  result  of  his  ability.  In  re- 
ligious, business,  social,  and  family  relations  his  death 
left  a  vacuum  in  many  hearts  that  can  never  be  filled 
by  another. 

THOMAS  ALMY. 
No  sketch  of  the  lives  of  men  who  have  contributed 
to  the  upbuilding  of  the  social  and  material  growth 
of  Fall  River  would  be  complete  without  mention  of 
the  late  Thomas  Almy.  With  his  name  more  than 
that  of  any  other  citizen  must  always  be  associated 
the  history  of  journalism   in   Fall    River.     His    life 


spanned  almost  the  entire  period  in  which  Fall  River 
journalism  grew  from  fitful  and  spasmodic  ventures 
into  a  permanent  and  powerful  influence  in  directing 
the  thought  and  energies  of  the  community. 

Thomas  Almy's  life  was  spent  in  this  city,  or  within 
a  few  miles  from  it.  He  was  born  in  the  neighboring 
town  of  Tiverton,  R.  I.,  on  Feb.  28,  1819.  His  par- 
ents were  Deacon  Thomas  and  Lydia  (Bailey)  Almy, 
and  his  early  life  was  spent  on  a  farm  in  his  native 
State,  where  he  developed  that  strong  character  and 
sturdy  manliness  which  distinguished  him  in  his  more 
mature  years.  He  enjoyed  such  advantages  and  edu- 
cation in  his  youth  as  substantial  New  England  farm- 
ers there  gave  to  their  children.  His  affectionate  dis- 
position and  amiability  of  temper  made  him  popular 
with  his  youthful  associates,  and  many  of  the  friend- 
ships made  when  he  was  a  lad  were  maintained  all  his 
life.  His  willingness  to  work  and  unwillingness  toshirk 
his  just  share  of  the  labor  such  as  was  then  incidental 
to  the  life  of  a  boy  on  a  farm  were  exhibited  throughout 
all  his  boyhood  and  youth,  and  afterwards,  even  under 
trying  conditions  and  in  ill-health,  won  distinguishing 
characteristics  in  all  his  relations  of  life.  When  he 
left  the  farm  he  went  to  Bristol,  R.  I.,  where  he  be- 
came apprenticed  in  the  printing  business  to  Hon.  W. 
H.  S.  Bailey,  at  the  office  of  the  Bristol  Pfycsnix.  In 
this  establishment  he  learned  thoroughly  the  printer's 
trade.  His  next  change,  was  made  by  a  removal  to 
Providence,  R.  I.,  where  he  was  engaged  as  a  compos- 
itor at  the  office  of  the  Providence  Journal.  The  coun- 
try lad  soon  was  recognized  as  having  much  promise. 
His  fidelity,  integrity,  and  energy  were  manifested  in 
both  cities,  and  in  later  years  he  would  speak  with 
affectionate  admiration  of  his  early  employers  and 
those  who  befriended  him  in  his  youth.  After  Mr. 
Almy  had  attained  his  majority  he  decided  to  start  in 
business  for  himself,  and  his  attention  was  called  to 
Fall  River,  which  had  then  acquired  some  promi- 
nence as  a  manufacturing  town.  He  came  to  this 
city  before  1840,  and  after  working  for  a  short  time 
in  the  office  of  the  Patriot,  a  small  weekly  paper,  he 
associated  himself  in  business  with  the  late  Louis 
Lapham,  and  commenced  the  publication,  in  1841,  of 
the  weekly  Archetype.  This  journal  was  subsequently 
followed  by  the  Weekly  Argus,  of  which  Mr.  Almy  and 
the  late  Jonathan  Slade  were  the  publishers,  but,  like 
its  predecessor,  this  sheet  had  a  fitful  existence,  and 
the  young  publisher  had  the  misfortune  of  losing  his 
office  and  material  in  the  great  fire  of  1843.  He  was 
not  disheartened  by  his  loss,  and  soon  after  com- 
menced the  publication  of  the  Mechanic,  and  still 
later  the  Wampanoag.  In  all  these  ventures  there 
was  much  hard  work  and  anxiety,  but  the  earnest, 
ambitious  young  printer  was  not  so  easily  discour- 
aged. He  played  a  manly  part  and  was  constantly 
making  friends.  These  weeklies  invariably  incul- 
cated the  importance  of  the  temperance  reform  and 
the  elevation  of  the  working-classes.  In  1845,  when 
the  old  Whig  and  Democratic  parties  were  wrestling 


2 


SZff ^//7/77'7 


FALL  RIVER. 


383 


for  the  control  of  the  country,  a  number  of  leading 
Democrats  in  Fall  River  decided  to  start  a  weekly 
newspaper  which  was  to  represent  the  principles  of 
that  party  in  this  city.  These  gentlemen  employed 
Mr.  Almy  and  Mr.  John  C.  Milne,  also  a  young  printer 
at  that  time,  to  manage  the  printing  and  publication 
of  their  paper. 

In  this  way  was  born  the  Weekly  News,  with  which 
paper  all  of  Mr.  Almy's  subsequent  years  were  most 
intimately  associated.  The  enterprise  was  arduous, 
laborious,  and  difficult.  The  responsibilities  thrown 
upon  the  two  young  publishers  seemed  very  great, 
but  industry  and  perseverance*  surmounted  all  obsta- 
cles. One  by  one  the  original  proprietors  sold  their 
interest  to  the  firm  of  Almy  &  Milne,  until  they  be- 
came the  sole  owners  of  the  journal.  Among  their 
early  contributors  were  Dr.  Foster  Hooper,  Dr. 
Phineas  W.  Lelaud,  Jonathan  Slade,  Esq.,  and  the 
Rev.  John  Westall,  who  was  ever  afterwards  Mr. 
Almy's  loved  and  trusted  friend.  The  Weekly  News 
remained  an  adherent  of  the  Democratic  party  until 
that  organization  became  fatally  entangled  in  the 
meshes  of  the  slave  power,  and  the  publishers,  after 
adopting  the  principles  of  the  anti-slavery  movement, 
became  identified  with  the  rising  and  growing  Repub- 
lican party.  The  increase  of  population  in  Fall  River 
demanded  a  daily  paper,  and  in  1859,  the  year  before 
the  outbreak  of  the  great  civil  war,  the  Daily  News 
was  started,  and  its  publication  has  been  witnessed 
simultaneously  ever  since  with  that  of  the  Weekly 
News.  The  co-partnership  of  Almy  &  Milne  was 
never  dissolved  until  the  death  of  Mr.  Almy.  In 
1864  it  became  Almy,  Milne  &  Co.,  by  the  addition 
of  Mr.  Franklin  L.  Almy,  wdio  had  been  an  employe 
in  the  office  from  the  very  beginning.  The  prosper- 
ity of  the  paper  was  largely  due  to  the  sound  judg- 
ment, excellent  sense,  and  unwearied  eflbrts  of  Mr. 
Almy,  who  never  spared  any  honorable  means  to 
make  it  worthy  of  sound  popular  approval. 

October  1,  1846,  Mr.  Almy  was  married  to  Han- 
nah T.  Almy,  a  daughter  of  Langworthy  and  Edith 
G.  Almy.  The  ceremony  was  performed  by  the  late 
Rev.  Benjamin  Phelan.  With  gathering  years  Mr. 
Almy's  character  became  rounded  and  ripened  into  a 
splendid  manhood.  He  constantly  grew  into  the  uni- 
versal respect  and  esteem  of  the  community,  and  be- 
came known  as  a  stanch,  earnest,  and  true  laborer  in 
every  good  cause.  He  identified  himself  with  the 
manufacturing  interests  of  Fall  River,  and  served  as 
a  director  in  the  Osborne  and  Wampanoag  Mills.  He 
was  also  a  director  in  the  Second  National  Bank,  and 
was  a  trustee  and  member  of  the  board  of  investment 
of  the  Five  Cents  Savings-Bank.  He  was  for  some 
years  secretary  of  the  Children's  Home,  and  was  al- 
ways a  liberal  friend  of  that  excellent  charity. 

The  moral  side  of  Mr.  Almy's  character  will  longest  i 
be  remembered.     In  him  the  temperance  cause  had  a 
devoted  friend.     His  church  relations  were  sweet  and 
beautiful.     He  was  a  disciple  of  Emanuel  Sweden- 


borg,  and  for  many  years  was  a  member  of  the  Church 
of  the  New  Jerusalem.  In  this  society  his  position 
was  almost  patriarchal.  He  loved  its  ministrations, 
its  Sunday-school,  and  gatherings.  His  place  was 
never  vacant  when  his  health  allowed.  His  spir- 
itual and  religious  life,  although  modest  and  unosten- 
tatious, was  deeply  devout.  Religion  was  in  him  a 
daily  walk,  his  evening  incense  and  morning  devotion. 

His  noble  life  made  his  faith  respected.  His  charity 
and  philanthropy  were  bounded  only  by  his  means. 
He  was  the  friend  of  the  poor  and  needy,  of  those  in 
sorrow,  of  the  struggling  young  man  or  woman  who 
came  for  assistance  or  advice.  Like  gathering  sun- 
shine his  good  deeds  gilded  his  life  and  sweetened  his 
declining  years. 

Mr.  Almy's  death  occurred  at  the  house  of  his  bro- 
ther, Judge  Joseph  Almy,  at  San  Rafael,  Cal.,  May 
7,  1882. 

In  search  of  health  and  needed  rest,  and  in  fulfill- 
ment of  the  dream  of  years,  he,  with  his  wife  and 
his  partner,  Mr.  Milne  and  wife,  had  joined  an  ex- 
cursion party  for  California,  the  month  previous.  Mr. 
Almy's  health  had  been  feeble  for  some  time,  and  the 
long  journey  was  too  much  for  his  weakened  physical 
powers.  He  died  shortly  after  reaching  his  brother's 
house.  His  remains  were  brought  to  Fall  River  and 
interred  in  Oak  Grove  Cemetery,  his  beloved  pastor, 
Rev.  John  Westall,  conducting  the  funeral  services. 

Words  of  praise  seem  almost  out  of  place  in  writing 
of  one  whose  modesty  and  self-forgetfulness  would 
lead  him,  if  alive,  to  shrink  from  panegyric.  But 
memory  loves  to  linger  on  the  history  of  a  man  so 
thoroughly  true  and  manly  as  Thomas  Almy. 

His  death  was  universally  mourned.  His  beauti- 
ful and  serene  life  was  a  legacy  to  the  community 
where  he  lived,  and  will  blossom  in  unknown  paths 
and  quiet  places  wherever  his  influence  may  have 
reached. 

Well  did  he  act  his  part  in  life  ;  well  did  he  win  the 
crown  of  immortality.  Though  his  name  has  not 
figured  in  the  great  fields  of  action  which  led  to 
worldly  renown,  he  none  the  less  lived  the  life  of  a 
moral  hero,  and  shrauk  not  from  the  duty  of  the 
hour. 

To  his  friends  and  in  the  family  circle  loving  and 
gentle;  to  the  world  retiring  and  unobtrusive,  those 
who  were  admitted  to  his  friendship  will  never  forget 
in  him  "that  best  portion  of  a  good  man's  life,  his 
little  nameless,  unnumbered  acts  of  kindness  and  of 
love." 

The  various  corporations  and  societies  of  which 
Mr.  Almy  was  a  member  put  upon  record  appropri- 
ate expressions  of  their  esteem  and  respect  for  his 
memory.  From  the  records  of  the  directors  of  the 
Second  National  Bank,  of  Fall  River,  we  copy  the 
following : 

"  Our  late  associate,  director,  and  friend,  Mr. 
Thomas  Almy,  having  been  suddenly  called  from 
this  life  while  away  from  home  seeking  restoration 


384 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL  COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


of  failing  health,  we  enter  this  day  upon  our  records  : 
this  tribute  of  esteem  and  respect  to  his  memory. 

"  Mr.  Almy  was  one  of  the  original  directors  of  , 
this  bank,  having  been  elected  to  that  position  Sept. 
23,  1856,  while  it  was  a  State  institution  with  the 
name  of  Wamsutta  Bank,  was  re-elected  under  its 
present  organization  as  the  Second  National  Bank, 
March  19,  1864.  He  has  therefore  been  connected 
with  this  institution  nearly  twenty-six  years,— years  | 
of  more  than  usual  interest  and  responsibility,  cov- 
ering times  of  great  prosperity  and  corresponding 
adversity  of  peculiar  trial  and  discipline.  Through- 
out these  years  he  has  been  a  faithful,  diligent 
officer,  attending  to  his  duties  in  a  careful,  conscien- 
tious, and  gentlemanly  manner,  winning  our  affec- 
tionate regard  by  his  kindly,  honest,  and  efficient 
service.  Firm  when  occasion  demanded  it,  he  was 
ever  gentle  in  his  deportment,  and  especially  en- 
deared himself  by  his  thoughtful  consideration  of  the 
feelings  of  others.  He  had  decided  opinions  of  his 
own,  but  was  always  careful  and  modest  in  the  ex- 
pression of  them  so  as  not  to  reflect  or  seem  to  re- 
flect upon  the  opinions  of  others,  or  wound  their 
sensibilities. 

"  We  shall  miss  him  from  his  seat  at  this  board, 
where  for  so  many  years  he  has  been  a  valued  mem- 
ber, but  we  rejoice  in  the  feeling  that  it  is  well  with 
him  in  the  larger  life  into  which  he  has  now  entered. 
As  friends  we  tender  our  heartfelt  sympathy  to  the 
afflicted  family  in  this  their  bereavement,  and  will  join 
them  in  paying  the  last  tribute  of  respect  to  his  re- 
mains by  attending  his  funeral  services."  • 

The  directors  of  the  Wampanoag  Company  put 
upon  their  records  a  similar  tribute,  saying  among 
other  things,  "The  passing  away  of  such  a  man, 
whose  long  residence  in  this  community,  and  inti- 
mate connection  with  its  interests,  moral  as  well  as 
material,  is  an  event  that  will  be  deplored  wherever 
he  was  known." 

The  Massachusetts  Association,  of  which  he  was  a 
member  and  often  a  delegate,  adopted  the  following 
brief  expression  of  their  sense  of  his  character  and 
services  to  the  church  : 

"  Whereas,  Since  our  last  meeting,  Mr.  Thomas  Almy,  of  Fall  River, 
has  been  removed  to  the  spiritual  world  ; 

"  Resolved,  That  this  association  hereby  records  its  high  appreciation 
of  his  character,  and  its  grateful  acknowledgments  of  his  quiet  but 
useful  service  to  the  church." 


JONATHAN    T.    LINCOLN. 

Prominent  among  the  industries  of  Fall  River,  and 
one  deserving  more  than  a  passing  notice,  is  the  ma- 
chine-works of  Kilburn,  Lincoln  &  Co.  The  success 
of  this  industry,  the  business  history  of  which  covers 
a  period  of  nearly  forty  years,  is  largely  due  to  the 
mechanical  ingenuity  and  business  sagacity  of  Jona- 
than Thayer  Lincoln. 

Mr.  Lincoln  was  a  member  of  one  of  the  Taunton 
families  of  Lincoln,  whose  ancestors  were  among  the 


earliest  settlers  in  Bristol  County.  He  was  a  son  of 
Caleb  and  Mercy  (Thayer)  Lincoln,  and  was  born  in 
Taunton,  Oct.  17,  1805.  Their  other  children  were 
Nellie  (born  1788,  died  1865),  Nancy  (born  1789,  died 
1874),  William  (born  1790,  died  1822),  Betsey  (born 
1792,  died  1882),  Hannah  (born  1793,  died  1874), 
Leontine  (born  1796,  died  1820),  Maria  (born  1798, 
died  1822),  Narcissa  (born  1800,  died  1827),  Caleb 
Martin  (born  1802,  died  1855).  Lorenzo  (born  1803), 
and  Mercy  Emmeline  (born  1810).  Caleb  Lincoln 
was  a  farmer  and  miller,  living  on  a  farm  in  the  now 
village  of  Westville,  Taunton,  which  had  been  in 
possession  of  his  family  since  their  settlement  in  the 
town  about  the  year  1660,  and  which  is  still  owned 
and  occupied  by  one  of  his  sons.  He  was  a  soldier 
in  the  Revolutionary  war.  Caleb's  father  was  Wil- 
liam Lincoln,  who  married  Hannah  Wade.  Children, 
— Zilphy,  Sally,  Lurana,  Rebecca,  Deborah,  and 
Caleb.  William's  father  was  Thomas  Lincoln,  who 
married  Rebecca  Walker.  Children, — William, Silas, 
Nathan,  and  Tabatha. 

The  family  came  to  Taunton  from  Hingham.  It 
is  an  interesting  fact  that  nearly  all  the  Lincoln  fam- 
ilies in  the  United  States  trace,  with  more  or  less  dis- 
tinctness, their  first  settlement  therein  to  Hingham. 
Hon.  Solomon  Lincoln,  in  a  monograph  on  the  Lin- 
coln families  of  Massachusetts,  claims  that  all  the 
Lincolns  in  Massachusetts  are  descendants  of  the 
Lincolns  who  settled  in  Hingham  in  1636  and  1638. 
He  says,  "  We  have  evidence  of  authentic  records 
that  the  early  settlers  of  Hingham  of  the  name  of 
Lincoln  were  four  bearing  the  name  of  Thomas,  dis- 
tinguished from  each  other  by  their  occupations  as 
miller,  weaver,  cooper,  and  husbandman  ;  Stephen 
(brother  of  the  husbandman),  Daniel,  and  Samuel 
(brother  of  the  weaver.)"  He  adds,  "Our  claim  is 
that  the  early  settlers  of  Hingham  above  enumerated 
were  the  progenitors  of  all  the  Lincolns  of  this  coun- 
try." From  Hingham  the  Lincolns  trace  their  early 
home  to  Norfolk  County,  England. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  the  first  rudi- 
ments of  his  school  education  at  the  old  red  school- 
house  at  Westville,  and  completed  it  at  the  age  of 
sixteeen  years  at  the  private  school  of  Rev.  Alvin 
Cobb,  a  school  which  early  in  the  century  enjoyed 
considerable  local  fame.  He  then  went  to  work  for 
his  brother  William,  who  with  a  cousin,  Benjamin 
Lincoln,  had  begun  the  business  of  cotton-spinning 
in  what  was  called  the  Shovel-Cake  Factory  at  West- 
ville. At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  was  apprenticed  to 
David  Perry,  who  owned  a  machine-shop  on  the 
White  Birch  Stream  in  Dighton.  Here  he  learned 
the  machinist's  trade,  a  trade  which  had  been  his 
choice  from  boyhood. 

When  out  of  his  time,  at  the  age  of  twenty-one, 
with  a  new  suit  of  clothes  and  fifty  dollars  in  money, 
then  the  usual  "freedom"  payment  to  an  apprentice 
for  his  three  years'  service  at  his  trade,  he  left  Taun- 
ton for  Pawtucket,  where  he  found  employment  at  the 


FALL   RIVER. 


385 


machine-shop  of  David  Wilkinson.  Here  he  worked 
about  three  years,  and  had  for  fellow-workmen  David 
Fales  and  Alvin  Jenks,  afterwards  founders  of  the 
firm  of  Fales  &  Jenks,  and  Clark  Tompkins,  after- 
wards the  successful  machine-maker  of  Troy,  N.  Y. 
He  next  removed  to  Taunton,  where  he  lived  about  a 
year.  It  was  about  this  time  that  he  was  engaged  to 
change  a  single-color  printing-machine  to  a  multiple- 
color  machine,  one  of  the  first  probably  ever  made  in 
the  country. 

He  came  to  Fall  River  in  1829,  and  in  1831  was 
employed  as  master-mechanic  by  the  Massasoit  Mill 
Company,  which  then  leased  the  mill  property  on 
Pocasset  Street  owned  by  the  Watuppa  Manufacturing 
Company.  In  1845-46  the  Massasoit  Company  re- 
moved its  machinery  to  its  new  mill  on  Davol  Street. 
The  Watuppa  Company,  of  which  Mr.  Linden  Cook 
was  agent,  decided  to  fill  its  mill  with  improved  ma- 
chinery for  the  manufacture  of  cotton  goods,  and 
engaged  Mr.  Lincoln  to  build  a  part  of  the  looms, 
which  he  did  in  the  machine-shop  of  the  mill.  The 
job  of  looms  was  divided  into  three  parts.  Mr.  Lin- 
coln had  at  first  a  third,  and  Mr.  John  Kilburn  a 
third,  with  the  understanding  with  the  company  that 
the  one  who  completed  his  part  first  should  have  the 
remaining  third  to  make.  Mr.  Lincoln  was  the  suc- 
cessful competitor,  and  so  made  two-thirds  of  the 
looms.  The  style  of  loom  then  made  was  widely 
known  as  the  "  Fall  River  loom." 

In  1844,  John  Kilburn,  a  native  of  New  Hampshire, 
began  in  Fall  River  the  manufacture  of  cotton-looms 
and  the  Fourneyron  turbine,  the  latter  a  French  in- 
vention which  was  being  introduced  into  the  New 
England  mills  as  a  water-motor.  He  had  been  in 
business  but  a  short  time  when  his  health  failed,  and 
he  died  in  1846. 

Shortly  after  his  death  a  copartnership  was  formed, 
comprising  his  widow,  his  brother  Elijah  C,  and  Mr. 
Lincoln,  which  succeeded  to  the  business  he  had  been 
engaged  in  establishing.  The  firm,  which  was  called 
E.  C.  Kilburn  &  Co.,  manufactured  turbines,  shaft- 
ing, and  various  kinds  of  machinery  for  print-works 
and  iron-mills. 

Mr.  Kilburn  had  charge  of  the  office-work,  and  Mr. 
Lincoln  of  the  mechanical.  Both  were  industrious, 
hard-working  men,  and  they  soon  built  up  a  flourish- 
ing business.  The  firm  continued  until  1856,  wdren  a 
new  firm,  Kilburn,  Lincoln  &  Son,  was  formed,  con- 
sisting of  Mr.  Kilburn,  Mr.  Lincoln,  and  his  oldest 
son,  Henry  C.  Lincoln.  The  younger  Mr.  Lincoln 
brought  to  the  business  a  practical  knowledge  of  me- 
chanics and  a  thorough  business  training,  having  been 
associated  with  his  father  in  business  in  various  ca- 
pacities from  early  manhood. 

Although  making  many  other  kinds  of  machinery, 
the  firm  made  a  specialty  of  the  "  Fourneyron  Tur- 
bine." This  turbine,  as  improved  by  them,  had  a 
large  sale,  displacing  the  lumbering  breast-wheels,  and 
utilizing  a  percentage  of  power  the  best  of  them  never 
•25 


rivaled.  In  1859,  Mr.  Lincoln  made  an  extensive 
business  tour  through  the  Southern  States,  his  firm 
having  built  up  a  considerable  business  with  the 
manufacturers  of  that  section  of  our  country. 

In  1867  it  was  found  necessary  to  build  a  larger 
machine-shop,  and  it  was  decided  to  add  an  iron 
foundry  to  their  works.  To  insure  the  new  feature 
being  a  success,  Mr.  Charles  P.  Dring,  who  had  been 
superintendent  of  the  Fall  River  Iron- Works  Com- 
pany's foundry  for  many  years,  became  associated 
with  them.  The  name  was  changed  to  Kilburn,  Lin- 
coln &  Co.,  and  they  became  an  incorporated  com- 
pany in  1868,  under  the  general  incorporation  act  of 
Massachusetts.  Mr.  Lincoln's  son-in-law,  Andrew 
Luscomb,  who  had  been  engaged  with  them  in  the 
manufacture  of  musket-ports  for  the  United  States 
government,  was  also  admitted.  The  new  works  were 
completed  on  a  tract  of  three  hundred  rods  of  land 
in  an  eligible  location  near  railroads  and  tide-water, 
and  comprised  a  machine-shop,  iron  foundry,  brass 
foundry,  pattern-house,  paint-shops,  warehouse,  and 
setting-up  shop.  Mr.  Lincoln  was  elected  president 
of  the  corporation,  and  remained  so  until  his  death. 
Mr.  Kilburn  was  elected  treasurer,  which  position  he 
held  until  1872. 

In  January,  1869,  Mr.  Kilburn  disposed  of  the 
larger  part  of  his  interest,  and  subsequently  of  all 
of  it,  to  the  other  members,  and  in  1872  he  was  elected 
treasurer  of  the  King  Philip  Mills,  which  position  he 
still  holds.  On  his  retirement  Mr.  Lincoln's  young- 
est son,  Leontine,  was  elected  treasurer. 

In  1872  additions  were  made  to  the  works  with  a 
view  to  the  manufacture  of  looms  on  a  large  scale. 
Since  then  the  company  has  been  among  the  largest 
manufacturers  of  looms  for  cotton-  and  silk-weaving. 
It  has  a  capacity  for  making  fifty  looms  a  week,  be- 
sides the  other  kinds  of  machinery,  such  as  shafting, 
pulleys,  dye-works,  and  bleachery  machinery,  of  which 
it  makes  a  specialty.  When  running  full  capacity  two 
hundred  and  twenty-five  hands  are  employed. 

Since  Mr.  Lincoln's  death  his  interest  has  been 
held  by  his  family.  The  company  is  now  organized  as 
follows:  President,  Henry  C.  Lincoln  ;  Treasurer,  Le- 
ontine Lincoln  ;  Directors,  Henry  C.  Lincoln,  Leontine 
Lincoln,  Andrew  Luscomb,  and  Charles  H.  Dring. 

In  1855,  Mr.  Lincoln  became  associated  with  his 
brother  Lorenzo,  his  nephew  James  M.,  and  his  son 
Edward  Lincoln,  in  the  business  of  paper  manufac- 
ture at  North  Dighton.  The  firm  was  called  L.  Lin- 
coln &  Co.,  and  succeeded  to  the  business  which  was 
established  in  1850  by  Mr.  Lincoln's  brothers,  Caleb 
M.  and  Lorenzo.  He  retired  from  the  firm  before  his 
death,  his  son  Edward  taking  his  interest  therein. 
He  had  the  greatest  faith  in  the  success  of  Fall  River 
as  a  centre  for  the  cotton  manufacturing  industry,  was 
one  of  the  original  stockholders  in  the  Union  Mill 
Company,  an  owner  in  several  other  corporations,  and 
a  director  in  theTecumseh  Mills  from  the  time  of  the 
organization  of  that  corporation. 


38G 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Although  he  took  a  deep  interest  in  public  affairs, 
Mr.  Lincoln  was  averse  to  holding  public  office,  and 
never  held  but  one,  that  of  member  of  the  Common 
Council  of  Fall  River.  He  was  one  of  the  oldest 
members  of  the  Mount  Hope  Lodge  of  Masons,  of 
which  organization  he  was  treasurer  for  many  years. 
In  politics  he  was  a  Free-Soil  Whig  before  the  for- 
mation of  the  Republican  party,  when  he  became  an 
earnest  adherent  to  the  principles  of  that  party. 

He  was  a  man  of  sunny  temperament,  earnest  of 
purpose,  charitable  in  judgment,  and  distinguished 
by  acts  of  practical  benevolence.  The  Fall  River 
Daily  Neivs  closed  an  editorial  notice  of  his  death  as 
follows:  "  Mr.  Lincoln  was  held  in  great  esteem  and 
respect  by  his  fellow-citizens  generally.  He  had  the 
reputation  of  being  an  ingenious  and  skillful  me- 
chanic, and  a  business  man  whose  integrity  was  un- 
questioned. He  was  a  worthy  and  valuable  citizen, 
whose  loss  must  be  felt." 


STEPHEN    DAVOL. 

Stephen  Davol,  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  success- 
ful cotton  manufacturers  in  New  England,  was  born 
in  Fall  River,  Nov.  22,  1807,  where  he  has  resided  to 
the  present  time,  and  has  been  thoroughly  identified 
with  the  rapid  growth  and  development  of  the  cotton 
industry  and  of  the  city  in  general. 

The  beginning  of  Mr.  Davol's  career  in  connection 
with  the  cotton  manufacture  dates  back  to  the  year 
1818,  when  he  entered  the  Troy  Mills,  working  in  the 
mills  during  the  summer,  and  attending  school  in  the 
winter.  A  few  years  later  bleaching  and  calico-print- 
ing was  started  in  this  place  by  Daniel  Wright  &  Co., 
and  the  treasurer  of  the  company  expressing  a  wish 
that  young  Davol  should  come  with  them  and  learn 
the  business,  his  father  apprenticed  him  to  this  firm 
for  three  years.  The  work  there  being  irregular,  one 
week  on  and  two  off,  he  was  not  satisfied  with  it,  and 
returned,  after  a  few  months'  trial  of  the  printing 
business,  to  the  Troy  manufactory,  and  soon  became 
an  overseer  of  their  spinning,  dressing,  and  weaving, 
where  he  remained  until  1833,  when  he  was  called  to 
the  superintendency  of  the  Pocasset  Mills,  and  con- 
tinued in  that  capacity  until  the  death  of  the  treas- 
urer of  the  mills,  Mr.  M.  H.  Ruggles,  in  1857,  when 
Mr.  Davol  succeeded  him  as  treasurer,  and  continued 
in  that  capacity  until  1877.  It  may  be  stated  also 
that  from  1843  to  1800  he  was  treasurer  of  the  Troy 
Cotton  and  Woolen  Manufactory. 

At  the  time  Mr.  Davol  entered  the  Pocasset  Com- 
pany as  superintendent,  in  1833,  the  company  was 
operating  1000  to  1200  spindles  in  what  was  known  as 
their  Bridge  Mill.  This  mill  was  burned  in  the  great 
fire  of  1843,  and  since  that  time  Mills  Nos.  1,  2,  and  3 
have  been  erected,  and  this  company  now  operates 
56,112  spindles,  1385  looms,  and  has  a  capital  of 
$1,161,000. 

The  skill  and  long  experience  of  Mr.  Davol  as  a 


cotton  manufacturer  have  been  largely  called  upon  in 
these  later  years,  and  his  opinions  are  sought  on  all 
occasions  with  reference  to  manufacturing  changes 
and  methods,  for  even  in  his  practical  retiracy  he 
loves  to  mark  the  progress  of  his  favorite  business, 
which  he  has  seen  rise  almost  from  its  birth,  with  its 
crude  devices  and  surroundings,  and  has  lived  to  see 
the  rapid  improvements  and  ingenious  applications 
which  have  resulted  in  making  a  modern  cotton-mill 
one  of  the  wonders  of  the  nineteenth  century. 

Although  Mr.  Davol  has  practically  retired  from 
active  business  life,  still  his  experience  and  judgment 
in  the  cotton  business  are  yet  called  into  requisition, 
as  indicated  by  his  remaining  on  the  board  of  direc- 
tors of  not  less  than  seven  or  eight  corporations.  He 
is  president  of  the  Mechanics'  Mills,  and  a  director 
in  this  and  the  Pocasset,  Troy,  Wampanoag,  and 
Barnard  Manufacturing  Companies,  and  in  the  Spool 
and  Bobbin  Company.  He  is  also  president  of  the 
Fall  River  Manufacturers'  Mutual  Fire  Insurance 
Company,  and  a  director  in  the  Blackstone  and  Mer- 
chants' Fire  Insurance  Companies  of  Providence,  R. 
I.,  and  in  the  Metacomet  Bank  of  this  city,  and  Wau- 
tuppa  Reservoir  Company.  In  this  latter  corpora- 
tion he  has  been  a  director  over  thirty  years. 

May  18,  1840,  Mr.  Davol  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Sarah  F.  Chase,  and  their  children  were  as  fol- 
lows: Bradford  Durfee,  married  Cornelia  Wheeden 
Lincoln,  Dec.  1,  1875;  Sarah  Louisa,  married  Joseph 
L.  Buffington,  Sept.  21,  1864;  Mary  Anna,  married 
Alexander  Dorrance  Easton,  Sept.  27,  1865;  James 
Clark  Chase,  married  Mary  Ellen  Brownell ;  George 
Stephen,  married  Mary  Louisa  Dean,  Sept.  3,  1873 ; 
Harriette  Remington,  married  Stephen  Barnaby  Ash- 
ley, Feb.  18,  1874 ;  Abner  Pardon,  married  Harriet 
J.  Marvell ;  Charles  M.  R.  and  Clara  Freeborn.  All 
living  except  Clara,  who  died  in  1881.  Mr.  Davol  is 
a  public-spirited  citizen,  and  all  measures  tending  to 
the  advancement  of  his  native  town  find  in  him  an 
earnest  advocate. 


R.  T.  DAVIS,  M.D. 

Robert  Thompson  Davis,  M.D.,  M.C.,  is  a  native  of 
County  Down,  in  the  north  of  Ireland,  and  was  born 
Aug.  28,  1823.  His  father  was  of  Presbyterian  edu- 
cation and  ancestry,  while  his  mother  belonged  to  the 
Friends'  Society.  Coming  to  America  when  three 
years  old,  he  passed  his  early  life  at  Amesbury,  Mass., 
where  his  father  resided  for  half  a  century.  He  was 
educated  at  the  Friends'  school  at  Providence,  R.  I., 
and  Amesbury  Academy.  Choosing  the  medical  pro- 
fession for  his  life-work,  he  became  a  student  of  Dr. 
Thomas  Wilbur,  of  Fall  River,  passed  two  years  at 
Tremont  Medical  School,  Boston,  and  was  graduated 
i'roni  Harvard  Medical  Department  in  1847.  After  a 
short  experience  as  dispensary  physician  in  Boston,  he 
went  to  Waterville,  Maine,  and  after  three  years  came 
to  Fall  River  in  1850,  and  permanently  established 


FALL  RIVER. 


387 


himself  here  in  his  profession.  Excepting  four  years 
of  New  York  City  life,  Fall  River  has  since  been  his 
home.  He  at  once  became  actively  interested  in  the 
Bristol  County  South  Medical  Society,  was  again  and 
again  elected  its  president,  the  youngest  man  at  that 
time  on  whom  the  honor  had  been  bestowed.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Massachusetts  Medical  Society,  and 
has  been  frequently  elected  councilor  of  that  honor- 
able body.  He  is  also  a  member  of  both  the  Ameri- 
can Medical  Association  and  National  Public  Health 
Association.  He  has  been  much  in  public  affairs,  and 
from  early  life  was  strongly  anti-slavery  in  sentiment, 
and  was  bold  and  earnest  in  advocacy  of  its  cause, 
beginning  his  public  career  in  1851,  by  a  spirited  and 
eloquent  speech  in  favor  of  instructing  the  represen- 
tatives of  Fall  River  in  the  State  Legislature  to  cast 
their  votes  for  Charles  Sumner  for  United  States  sen- 
ator. The  vote  was  taken  in  harmony  with  the  forci- 
ble presentation  of  Dr.  Davis  and  the  representative 
voted  for  Sumner,  who  was  elected.  Dr.  Davis  was  a 
member  of  the  Constitutional  Convention  of  the  State 
in  1853.  In  1858  and  1860  he  was  elected  to  repre- 
sent his  district  in  the  State  Senate.  No  public  mat- 
ter came  up  during  these  troublous  times  on  which 
Dr.  Davis  did  not  eloquently  express  his  views,  either 
by  speeches  or  written  articles,  and  show  a  keen 
power  of  forecasting  the  future.  He  was  instrumental 
in  securing  the  line  adopted  and  ratified  by  the  Legis- 
latures of  Rhode  Island  and  Massachusetts  as  the 
boundary  between  those  States,  and  clearly  foresaw 
the  value  of  such  action  to  the  prosperity  of  Fall 
River. 

He  was  a  delegate  to  the  National  Republican  Con- 
vention in  1860  which  nominated  Abraham  Lincoln, 
and  also  a  delegate  to  the  one  in  1876  that  nominated 
Rutherford  B.  Hayes.  Governor  Andrews  appointed 
him,  in  1863,  a  member  of  the  State  Board  of  Chari- 
ties. In  1869,  on  the  organization  of  the  State  Board 
of  Health,  he  was  appointed  one  of  its  members  by 
Governor  Claflin,  and  by  repeated  appointments  con- 
tinued on  the  board  during  its  existence.  It  was  su- 
perseded by  the  State  Board  of  Health,  Lunacy,  and 
Charity,  and  of  this  new  body  he  was  immediately 
made  a  member  by  Governor  Talbot,  and  was  reap- 
pointed by  Governor  Long.  In  1873  lie  was  elected 
mayor  of  Fall  River,  there  being  no  opposing  candi- 
date. His  administration  was  in  a  great  transition 
period  of  the  city,  many  large  and  expensive  improve- 
ments were  under  way,  and  his  inaugural  was  full  of 
important  recommendations  that  were,  with  few  ex- 
ceptions, adopted  and  carried  out  by  the  city.  Among 
the  improvements  thus  recommended  and  made  was 
the  erection  of  three  large  public  school-buildings 
(one  of  which  was  named  "  Davis  School"),  three, 
engine-houses  and  police-stations,  the  widening  of 
Pleasant  Street  for  a  distance  of  two  miles,  laying  out 
and  finishing  many  other  streets.  A  plan  of  sewer- 
age was  adopted  in  accordance  with  his  recommenda- 
tion ;  also  the  City  Hall  was  completed  and  dedicated 


under  his  administration,  and  Dr.  Davis  was  the  one 
who  delivered  the  address.  The  mains,  machinery, 
and  buildings  of  the  water-works  were  brought  to 
completion  sufficiently  for  use  during  the  same  period, 
and  in  the  same  year  the  city  government  adopted 
the  State  law,  furnishing  the  pupils  of  the  public 
schools  text- books  free  of  cost  to  them.  Fall  River 
was  the  first  city  in  the  State  to  do  this,  and  the  re- 
sult amply  proves  the  wisdom  of  this  action.  Dr. 
Davis  was  mayor  one  year  only,  he  declining  a  re- 
election. The  salary  of  the  office  he  donated  to  the 
"  Children's  Home." 

Always  a  friend  and  earnest  worker  in  the  cause  of 
education,  he  has  aided  everything  proposed  for  the 
good  of  the  scholars  and  increasing  their  proficiency. 

He  has  been  prominently  and  actively  interested  for 
years  with  the  business  prosperity  of  Fall  River.  He 
purchased  real  estate  in  the  eastern  portion  of  Fall 
River  in  1869-70,  and  made  investments  in  the  various 
corporations  having  mills  in  that  locality,  and  its 
rapid  increase  of  business  and  population  is  much  of 
it  due  to  his  enterprise  and  business  sagacity.  He  is 
president  of  the  Wampanoag  Mills,  a  director  in 
various  other  corporations,  and  was  one  of  three  to 
purchase  the  Globe  Print- Works  property,  where  two 
mills  have  since  been  put  up. 

He  is  often  called  on  to  address  public  assemblies. 
He  delivered  in  1868  the  first  address  made  in  the 
city  on  Decoration  Day.  At  a  public  meeting,  held 
in  the  fall  of  1871,  to  relieve  the  sufferers  by  the 
Chicago  fire,  Dr.  Davis,  in  a  forcible  speech,  proposed 
and  sustained  resolutions  pledging  Fall  River  to  give 
twenty-five  thousand  dollars  for  this  purpose.  They 
were  adopted  by  the  meeting,  approved  by  the  city 
authorities,  and  the  amount  sent  to  Chicago.  He  de- 
livered a  centennial  address  Oct.  25,  1880,  before  the 
assembled  scholars  of  the  higher  grades  of  the  public 
schools  on  the  one  hundredth  anniversary  of  the 
adoption  of  the  constitution  of  Massachusetts.  He 
closed  with  this  practical  and  patriotic  advice:  "  Now, 
my  young  friends,  in  closing,  let  me  simply  say  that 
you  are  on  the  threshold  of  the  duties  and  responsi- 
bilities of  American  citizens.  The  generation  of 
which  you  form  a  part  will  see  your  own  country  the 
dominant  power  of  the  civilized  world.  It  is  of  vast 
importance  that  that  power  shall  be  wielded  in  favor 
of  free  and  good  government.  I  have  no  fears  that 
educated  as  you  are  in  Massachusetts,  inheriting  the 
traditions  of  your  forefathers,  and  imbued  with  their 
spirit,  you  will  not  perform  all  your  duties  in  this 
great  regard.  The  present  generation  must  transmit 
to  its  successors  that  which  it  has  accomplished  or 
inherited  from  the  past.  It  must  hold  firmly  aloft 
that  glorious  standard  of  free  principles  which  your 
predecessors  maintained  so  firmly  and  so  long ;  that 
standard  which  waved  before  the  armies  of  the  Revo- 
lution and  of  the  Union,  and  which  led  them  on  to 
conflict  and  to  victory,  giving  us  in  the  one  case  a 
country,  and  in  the  other  preserving  its  liberties  and 


388 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


its  life.  It  is  a  standard  consecrated  by  the  efforts,  sac- 
rifices, and  memories  of  the  noblest,  best,  and  bravest 
names  in  our  history.  May  it  float  forever,  the  un- 
questioned symbol  not  of  national  power- and  progress 
only,  but  of  the  eternal  principles  of  freedom  and 
justice." 

He  was  unanimously  nominated  in  1882  by  the 
Republican  Congressional  Convention  of  the  First 
District  as  its  candidate,  and  was  elected  member 
of  Congress  by  eleven  thousand  four  hundred  and 
seventy-five  votes  in  his  favor  to  five  thousand  five 
hundred  and  eighty-one  cast  for  his  opponent  on  the 
Democratic  ticket. 

He  married  Oct.  1,  1848,  Sarah,  daughter  of  Dr. 
Thomas  Wilbur,  his  instructor  in  medicine.  She 
died  in  1856,  having  survived  their  only  child.  He 
married,  in  June,  1862,  Susan  Ann  Haight,  of  New 
Castle,  N.  Y.     They  have  one  son. 

As  an  evidence  of  the  pleasant  social  qualities  of 
Dr.  Davis  we  will  mention  that  on  the  organization 
of  the  Commercial  Club  of  Fall  River,  an  institution 
formed  for  sociality,  Dr.  Davis  was  elected  president, 
and  still  holds  that  office. 


EDMUND    CHASE. 
Edmund  Chase,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born 
in  Fall  River,  June  14, 1818,  and  is  the  son  of  Edmund 
and  Phebe  Chase,  who  were  prominent  members  of 
the  Society  of  Friends. 

Edmund  Chase,  Sr.,  was  the  son  of  Obadiah  and 
Eunice  Chase,  and  was  born  in  Somerset,  Mass.,  April 
11, 1787.  He  learned  the  trade  of  a  tanner,  and  com- 
menced business  in  Somerset,  doing  his  first  tanning 
in  a  half- hogshead.  He  married,  Sept.  30, 1813,  Phebe, 
daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Elizabeth  Slade,  of  Swan- 
sea, Mass. 

Removing  to  Fall  River  in  1810,  he  purchased  the 
place  adjoining  the  present  post-office  building,  where 
his  son  now  carries  on  business,  and  where  he  for 
nearly  fifty  years  conducted  the  business  of  a  tanner 
and  currier. 

His  son,  Edmund,  was  reared  to  the  occupation  of 
his  father,  and  received  his  education  at  the  common 
schools  and  the  Friends'  Boarding-School,  Provi- 
dence, R.  I. 

July  2, 1843,  came  the  "  Big  Fire,"  entirely  destroy- 
ing his  lather's  business,  involving  a  loss  often  thou- 
sand dollars.  He  immediately  rebuilt,  taking  his  son 
as  partner,  so  that  by  the  end  of  the  year  the  business 
was  again  in  successful  operation,  the  firm  being 
Edmund  Chase  &  Son,  and  so  remained  until  the 
death  of  his  father,  which  occurred  July  4,  1859. 

From  obituary  notices,  which  were  published  at  the 
time,  we  take  the  following: 

"  For  nearly  half  a  century  he  has  been  the  steady, 
industrious,  and  upright  man  of  business,  maintaining 
under  all  circumstances  a  character  for  strict  integrity 
and  probity,  leaving  behind  him  a  reputation  for  the 


faithful  performance  of  the  varied  duties  of  life  rarely 
equaled,  and  very  seldom  surpassed. 

"He  was  one  of  our  oldest  and  most  respected  citi- 
zens, a  man  of  uprightness  and  integrity  in  all  his 
business  and  social  relations,  and  most  careful  and 
conscientious  in  his  daily  walk  and  conversation. 
Through  a  long  life  he  maintained  a  character  above 
reproach,  and  has  left  behind  him  what  is  more  to  be 
coveted  than  riches  and  honors,  the  record  of  a  good 
example,  not  soon  to  be  forgotten  by  those  who  en- 
joyed his  friendship  and  confidence." 

After  the  death  of  his  father,  Mr.  Chase  began  the 
manufacture  of  belts,  and  this  has  since  been  his 
principal  business.  He  has  been  a  director  in  the 
Granite  and  Stafford  Mills  from  their  organization, 
also  director  and  president  of  the  Bourne  Mills,  and 
director  in  the  Massasoit  National  Bank  since  1857. 
Besides  these  Mr.  Chase  holds  offices  of  responsibility 
and  trust  in  various  other  important  relations. 

He  has  been  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was  Amy 
C.  Douglass,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Patience  Doug- 
lass, whom  he  married  Nov.  12,  1841.  She  died  Oct. 
5,  1863.  He  married  for  his  second  wife  Sarah  B. 
Vickery,  daughter  of  Caleb  B.  and  AlmiraW.  Vickery, 
May  30,  1865. 

He  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  a  Unitarian  in 
his  religious  belief  and  associations. 


JOB  B.  FRENCH. 

Job  B.  French,  son  of  Enoch  and  Sarah  French, 
was  born  in  Troy  (now  Fall  River),  March  6,  1806. 
He  is  a  descendant  of  Ephraim  French,  who  came 
from  England  about  1680  and  settled  in  Raynham, 
Mass.  One  of  the  descendants  of  the  latter,  Ephraim, 
of  Raynham  (probably  his  grandson),  married  Eliza- 
beth Presbrey  in  1775,  and  had  two  sons,  Ephraim, 
born  in  1777,  and  Enoch,  born  in  1779.  Enoch  was 
taken  to  Fall  River  by  his  mother  at  the  time  of  her 
second  marriage,  the  father  having  died  a  young 
man.  He  was  soon  after  apprenticed  to  a  tanner 
named  James  Read,  whose  youngest  sister  Sarah  he 
married  in  1799.  The  children  of  Enoch  and  Sarah 
were  Asa  P.,  George  R.,  Stephen  L.,  Richard  O,  Job 
B.,  Nancy,  Abram,  William,  James,  and  Eliza, — eight 
sons  and  two  daughters.  Soon  after  his  marriage, 
Enoch,  although  not  quite  of  age,  bought  the  tan- 
nery and  subsequently  added  »a  shoe  manufactory. 
He  also  engaged  quite  extensively  in  farming.  The 
sons  worked  on  the  farm  and  learned  the  trades  of 
tanning  and  shoemaking. 

Read's  tannery,  where  Enoch  French  served  his  ap- 
prenticeship, was  on  what  is  now  known  as  French's 
Hill,  the  name  of  the  latter  owner  having  entirely 
superseded  that  of  the  former.  In  1820  he  opened 
the  first  boot-  and  shoe-store  in  Fall  River,  on  the 
corner  of  North  Main  and  Central  Streets,  where  the 
Durfee  block  now  stands,  Asa,  Stephen,  and  Job  act- 
ing as  clerks.     In  1822  he  moved  a  few  doors  west  on 


y^r^-eyrL 


FALL  RIVER. 


389 


Central  Street,  and  in  1824  again  moved  to  Main 
Street,  a  few  doors  south  of  the  present  location  of 
the  store  of  J.  B.  French  &  Son.  In  1822,  Asa  be- 
came a  partner,  the  name  of  the  firm  being  changed 
to  Enoch  French  &  Son.  Stephen  was  admitted  in 
1824  and  Job  in  1826.  In  1832  the  firm  was  dis- 
solved, Asa  taking  the  tannery,  Stephen  the  shoe- 
manufactory,  and  Job  remaining  in  the  store  with  his 
father,  the  firm-name  being  Enoch  French  &  Co. 
Their  store  was  destroyed  by  the  fire  of  1843,  but 
they  at  once  erected  the  "brick  block  (Merchant's 
block),  where  they  continued  business  until  the 
senior  partner  died,  in  1847,  aged  sixty-seven  years. 

Mr.  Enoch  French  was  an  influential  and  highly 
respected  citizen.  He  was  a  selectman  in  the  town 
of  Fall  River  eight  years,  1821-22,  1824-29,  and  was 
representative  to  the  General  Court,  1828-29  and  1840. 
He  was  one  of  the  committee  often  appointed  to  dis- 
tribute funds  sent  to  Fall  River  after  the  great  fire  of 
1 843,  He  was  a  corporator  of  the  Fall  River  Savings- 
Bank,  and  April  15,  1828,  he  was  elected  chairman  of 
its  first  board  of  investment,  a  position  which  he  held 
until  his  death,  a  period  of  nineteen  years. 

The  following  will  illustrate  his  high  sense  of  busi- 
ness honor.  His  son  Richard,  when  but  fourteen 
years  old,  was  engaged  for  a  year  to  work  for  a  man 
near  Newport,  R.  I.,  but  getting  homesick  he  returned 
before  the  expiration  of  his  time  of  service,  and  plead 
so  hard  to  be  relieved  that  Job  was  sent  to  take  his 
place,  the  father  contending  that  the  contract  must 
be  fulfilled  by  one  of  the  boys. 

But  it  was  not  in  the  business  or  political  aspects 
of  his  life  that  his  character  was  most  illustrious, 
although  he  discharged  most  honorably  the  duties  of 
the  various  offices  assigned  him,  and  in  a  spirit  so  uni- 
formly kind  to  all  with  whom  he  associated  as  to  se- 
cure universal  esteem  and  respect. 

In  early  youth  he  became  a  member  of  the  First 
Baptist  Church  of  Fall  River,  which  was  then  small 
and  feeble,  and  from  that  time  until  his  death  the 
enlargement  and  prosperity  with  which  that  church 
was  blessed  were  inseparably  connected  with  his  his- 
tory. For  more  than  forty  years  he  served  the  church 
in  the  offices  of  deacon  and  treasurer.  During  the 
early  part  of  this  period  he  was  accustomed  to  assist 
in  conducting  the  public  services,  the  pastor,  the  late 
Rev.  Job  Borden,  being  blind.  At  some  seasons, 
when  the  church  was  dependent  npon  occasional 
supplies  for  the  pulpit,  he  was  called  to  discharge 
the  duties  belonging  to  the  pastoral  office.  In  many 
instances  funeral  services  were  conducted  by  him 
alone,  or  in  connection  with  an  associate  deacon. 

Job  B.  French,  the  immediate  subject  of  this 
notice,  has  been  so  intimately  associated  with  his 
father  and  his  brothers  that  it  is  impossible  to  con- 
sider his  Life  as  separate  from  theirs.  Nor  would  it  be 
desirable  on  his  part  could  such  a  tiling  be  done,  for 
he  modestly  asks  that  to  his  father  especially  should 
be  given  the  more  prominent  place  in  this  record. 


After  his  father's  death,  Job  B.  continued  the  busi- 
ness alone  until  Jan.  1,  1864,  when  he  admitted  his 
son,  Edward  A.  French,  into  partnership.  The  firm 
since  then  has  been  J.  B.  French  &  Son.  We  have 
thus  traced  the  business  back  to  the  beginning  of  the 
century,  a  little  more  than  eighty  years. 

Mr.  French  was  a  representative  to  the  General 
Court  in  1835  and  1841,  and  a  member  of  the  Com- 
mon Council  of  Fall  River  for  several  years,  and  he 
has  also  been  an  assessor.  He  has  served  as  presi- 
dent of  the  Fall  River  Savings-Bank  for  sixteen 
years,  and  as  trustee  nearly  forty  years,  a  position 
which  he  still  holds.  He  has  been  director  of  the 
Mechanics'  Mills,  and  president  of  the  Weetamoe 
Mills  since  its  organization.  He  has  been  since  1830 
a  member  of  the  First  Baptist  Church  of  Fall 
River.  He  married  for  his  first  wife  Abby,  daughter 
of  William  S.  N.  Allan,  of  Newport,  R.  I.,  April  17, 
1831.  She  was  born  June  20,  1807,  and  died  March 
17,  1870,  in  the  sixty-third  year  of  her  age.  She 
too  joined  the  Baptist  Church  in  1830.  Of  this 
union  there  were  born  six  children,  whose  names  are 
as  follows:  (1)  Mary  E.,  wife  of  D.  H.  Dyer,  of  Fall 
River;  (2)  James  R.,  deceased  ;  (3)  Sarah  J.,  wife  of 
William  Lindsey  ;  (4)  Edward  A.,  business  partner 
with  his  father,  and  who  married  Eliza  A.  Ricketson  ; 
(5)  Abby  M.  ;  and  (6)  Julia  W.;  the  latter  two  resid- 
ing at  home. 

Mr.  French  married  for  his  second  wife,  Aug.  19, 
1873,  Mary  B.,  daughter  of  Robert  Cook,  of  Fall 
River.  She  was  born  in  Wrentham,  Mass.,  Sept.  15, 
1816,  and  died  April  26,  1882.  She  was  a  member  of 
the  First  Congregational  Church  of  Fall  River  for 
many  years. 

Although  past  seventy-seven  years  of  age,  Mr. 
French  is  a  remarkably  active  man  of  unusually  good 
judgment,  and  his  advice  is  very  frequently  sought. 
He  is  a  person  of  sterling  integrity,  and  enjoys  the 
respect  and  esteem  of  the  community  in  which  he 
lives. 


GEORGE    READ    FRENCH. 

George  Read  French,  second  son  of  Enoch  and 
Sarah  (Read)  French,  was  born  in  Troy  (now  Fall 
River),  Mass.,  on  the  24th  day  of  January,  1802.  He 
is  a  descendant  of  Ephraim  French,  who  came  from 
England  about  the  year  1680,  and  settled  in  Rayn- 
ham,  Mass.  One  of  the  descendants  of  Ephraim 
French  married  Elizabeth  Presbry  in  1775,  and  had 
two  sons,  whose  names  were  Ephraim  (born  in  1777) 
and  Enoch  (born  in  1779).  Enoch  French  located  in 
Troy  (now  Fall  River),  and  married  Sarah  Read  in 
1799.  To  them  were  born  ten  children,— Asa  P., 
George  R.,  Stephen  L.,  Richard  C,  Job  B.,  Nancy, 
Abram,  William,  James,  and  Eliza. 

At  the  age  of  seventeen  years  George  R.  French 
became  the  manager  of  a  leather-  and  shoe-factory  at 
Oneysville  (now  a  part  of  the  city  of  Providence,  R. 
I.),  where  he  remained  some  six   months,  when,  in 


390 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


consequence  of  failing  health,  he  embarked  in  a  sloop 
("Rosetta")  for  Darien,  in  the  State  of  Georgia, 
where  he  engaged  as  clerk  with  Perry  Davis,  late  of 
Providence,  R.  I.,  who  at  that  time  was  conducting 
a  mercantile  business  in  said  place  under  the  firm- 
name  of  Davis  &  Kelly,  and  who  was  subsequently 
and  more  popularly  known  as  proprietor  of  "  Perry 
Davis'  Pain-Killer." 

After  residing  in  Georgia  about  ten  months,  Mr. 
French  returned  to  his  home,  and  in  the  autumn  of 
1822  made  another  trip  South,  and  located  in  the 
town  of  Wilmington,  N.  C,  where,  under  the  firm  of 
Hathaway  &  French,  he  entered  into  business  with 
the  late  John  Hathaway  (father  of  his  lifelong  friend 
Mr.  James  L.  Hathaway,  of  New  York  City),  dealing 
in  lumber  shipments  and  general  merchandise,  laying 
the  foundation  of  his  long  and  successful  business 
career  in  the  city  of  Wilmington.  In  the  year  1828 
he  opened  a  shoe-store  in  his  own  name,  the  firm  of 
Hathaway  &  French  being  dissolved. 

On  the  5th  day  of  April,  1827,  he  was  married  to 
Sarah  C.  Weeks,  of  Wilmington,  with  whom  he  lived 
till  her  death  on  the  19th  day  of  May,  1867.  They 
had  twelve  children, — Sarah  A.,  Susan  M.,  George  H., 
Georgianna  C,  William  A.,  Margaret  G.,  Caroline, 
George  R.,  James  McD.,  Charles  E.,  Eliza  D.,  and 
Josephine  H.  George  H.,  Georgianna  C,  and  Caro- 
line died  in  infancy  and  youth.  All  the  others  are 
still  living,  situated  as  follows  : 

Sarah  A.  is  wife  of  Col.  E.  J.  Lutterloh,  of  Fayette- 
ville,  N.  C,  now  residing  at  Cedar  Keys,  Fla. 

Susan  M.  is  wife  of  E.  D.  Nixon,  of  Edenton,  N.  C, 
now  residing  at  Baltimore,  Md. 

William  A.  married  Harriet  P.  Timmons,  of  Tim- 
monsville,  S.  C,  now  resident  of  Wilmington,  N.  C. 

Margaret  G.  is  wife  of  Rev.  G.  S.  Jones,  of  Pasquo- 
tank County,  N.  C,  now  residing  in  Hendersonville, 
N.  C. 

George  R.  married  Cornelia  M.  Worth,  of  Wil- 
mington, N.  C,  now  resident  of  the  same  city. 

James  McD.  married  Mattie  Boykin,  of  Southamp- 
ton County,  Va.,  who  died  leaving  no  children.  His 
second  marriage  was  with  Edna  Godwin,  of  Lumber- 
ton,  N.  C. 

Charles  E.  (still  unmarried)  is  one  of  the  proprie- 
tors of  the  Crown  Rolling-Mills,  in  Minneapolis, 
Minn.,  where  he  resides. 

Eliza  D.  is  the  wife  of  Llewellyn  Christian,  of  Ala- 
bama, now  resident  of  Minneapolis,  Minn. 

Josephine  H.  is  the  wife  of  M.  C.  Toms,  of  Bun- 
combe County,  N.  C,  now  residing  in  Hendersonville, 
N.  C.  From  the  date  of  his  engagement  in  the  shoe 
trade  (1828)  up  to  the  beginning  of  the  late  civil 
war  (1861)  Mr.  French  was  the  sole  manager  of  his 
business,  which  he  successfully  prosecuted  with  char- 
acteristic energy  through  the  financial  changes  of 
that  period,  maintaining  his  mercantile  credit  and  high 
standing,  and  so  protecting  his  commercial  honor 
that  at  no  time  was  his  paper  dishonored  or  protested. 


Taught  in  his  early  youth  to  honor  the  flag  of  his 
country  and  cherish  a  patriotic  adherence  to  the 
Union,  he  took  a  decided  stand  against  the  doctrines 
of  secession,  and  during  that  entire  struggle  (although 
surrounded  by  friends  and  his  family,  who  entertained 
opposite  views  politically)  he  adhered  to  his  convic- 
tions as  to  the  folly  of  appealing  to  arms  for  the  set- 
tlement of  the  then  existing  differences,  remaining 
true  in  his  allegiance  to  his  country. 

In  the  year  1865,  by  admitting  his  son  William  A. 
into  copartnership,  the  firm  of  George  R.  French  & 
Son  was  formed,  and  in  1866,  admitting  George  R., 
Jr.,  and  James  McD.,  the  firm  now  known  as  George 
R.  French  &  Sons  was  established.  In  1879,  James 
McD.  retired  from  the  firm  and  removed  to  Lumber- 
ton,  N.  C. 

In  the  year  1827,  Mr.  French  became  a  member  of 
the  First  Baptist  Church  in  Wilmington.  From  that 
date  to  the  present,  through  all  the  changes  wrought 
in  the  history  of  this  church,  down  through  the  past 
fifty-six  eventful  years  to  its  present  prosperous  con- 
dition, the  position  occupied  by  Mr.  French  has  been 
deservedly  prominent,  as  evidenced  by  his  early  ordi- 
nation as  deacon,  his  services  as  superintendent  of 
the  Sabbath-school,  as  chairman  of  committees  in- 
trusted with  the  most  important  enterprises  of  the 
church  under  its  eight  successive  pastorates.  To  his 
personal  efforts  and  contributions,  in  a  large  measure, 
are  the  Baptists  in  Wilmington  indebted  for  their 
present  handsome  church  edifice  standing  on  the 
corner  of  Fifth  and  Market  Streets. 

During  his  commercial  career  Mr.  French  has  held 
positions  of  trust  and  honor  in  local  corporations, — 
director  in  the  bank  of  Cape  Fear,  director  and  also 
president  of  the  Bank  of  Wilmington,  director  in 
the  Wilmington  Savings-Bank  and  the  Bank  of  New 
Hanover,  director  in  the  Wilmington  Gas-Light 
Company,  director  and  president  of  Oakdale  Ceme- 
tery, president  of  the  Seamen's  Friend  Society  of 
the  port  of  Wilmington. 

A  warm  friend  and  supporter  of  educational  and 
religious  institutions,  he  has  served  as  trustee  of 
Wake  Forest  College,  as  vice-president  of  the  Board 
of  Missions  in  the  Southern  Baptist  Convention,  and 
as  vice-president  of  the  American  Sunday-School 
Union,  of  which  he  is  a  life  member. 

Aug.  27,  1872,  he  married  Mrs.  Sophia  M.  Sawyer, 
of  Fall  Biver,  Mass. 

Mr.  French  is  now  in  his  eighty-second  year,  re- 
markably vigorous  and  well-preserved  in  body  and 
mind,  and  although  having  retired  from  active  busi- 
ness, he  still  maintains  his  interest  in  the  firm  con- 
ducted by  his  sons.  It  is  his  custom  now  in  his  ripe 
old  age  to  pass  his  time  quietly  enjoying  the  comforts 
of  his  Southern  home  in  the  winter  season,  and  in 
summer  he  visits  his  three  beloved  brothers,  residing 
in  Fall  River  and  vicinity,  or  shares  the  warm- 
hearted welcome  awaiting  him  in  the  widely-sepa- 
rated homes  of  his  devoted  children. 


u^ 


FALL   RIVER. 


390a 


JOHN   JASON   ARCHER. 

John  Jason  Archer,  son  of  Dr.  Jason  H.  and  Jen- 
nette  (Bowen)  Archer,  was  born  in  Fall  River,  Mass., 
July  26,  1845,  and  died  at  his  residence  in  the  same 
city,  Oct.  31,  1882.  His  paternal  grandfather  was 
Amos  Archer,  a  resident  of  Wrentham,  Mass.,  and  was 
one  of  her  most  esteemed  men.  His  father,  Dr.  Jason 
H.  Archer,  was  a  native  of  Wrentham,  Mass.,  where 
he  spent  his  youth  and  prepared  for  college  at  Day's 
Academy.  He  entered  Brown  University  in  1812, 
and  graduated  in  1816.  He  immediately  commenced 
the  study  of  medicine  with  the  celebrated  Dr.  Wil- 
liam Ingalls,  of  Boston,  and  after  completing  his 
medical  studies,  he  very  soon  came  to  Fall  River, 
where  he  continued  to  have  a  successful  practice  till 
May  12,  1852,  when  he  returned  to  his  native  place, 
and  resided  there  until  his  death,  January,  1864. 

While  a  citizen  of  Fall  River  he  took  an  active 
part  in  all  matters  pertaining  to  the  welfare  of  the 
town.  Politically,  he  was  a  Whig  and  Republican. 
He  was  the  first  president  of  the  Massasoit  Bank,  and 
continued  to  hold  that  position  five  years,  until  he 
severed  his  relations  with  the  place.  He  received 
from  the  officers  of  the  bank  soon  after  his  retirement 
a  beautiful  "  service  of  silver"  in  recognition  of  his 
valuable  services.  During  his  residence  at  Wrentham 
he  was  a  director  in  the  Wrentham  Bank. 

He  married  Jennette,  daughter  of  Abraham  and 
Ruth  Bowen,  and  had  four  children,  viz.,  Amanda 
M. ;  Caroline  A.,  wife  of  Frederick  H.  Gee  ;  Jennette 
F.,  died  in  infancy;  and  John  Jason.  Mrs.  Archer's 
father,  Abraham  Bowen,  was  one  of  the  first  men  in 
Fall  River  to  commence  the  manufacture  of  cotton  or 
woolen  goods.  (For  a  more  detailed  history  on  this 
subject,  see  history  of  Fall  River.) 

Abraham  Bowen,  son  of  Nathan  Bowen,  was  one 
of  Fall  River's  most  intelligent  and  useful  citizens. 
His  heart  was  in  every  good  work,  and  he  did  much  to 
build  up  the  rural  and  material  interest  of  the  town. 
His  house  was  often  the  house  for  the  weary  traveler, 
and  especially  ministers  of  various  denominations. 

He  was  social,  hospitable,  and  kind,  and  the  poor 
found  in  him  a  warm  and  sympathizing  friend.  Mrs. 
Jennette  (Bowen)  Archer  was  born  in  Fall  River, 
Oct.  16,  1805,  and  died  at  her  residence  in  the  same 
city,  Jan.  19,  1883. 

From  the  Daily  News  we  append  the  following : 

"Death  of  John  J.  Archer,  Esq.— One  of  the  most  highly-esteemed 
members  of  the  bar  of  this  city,  John  Jason  Archer,  passed  peacefully 
away  between  six  and  seven  o'clock  this  morning.  He  had  been  in  fail- 
ing health  for  about  eighteen  months,  but  was  fully  as  well  as  he  had 
recently  been  until  about  two  weeks  since,  when  he  was  attacked  with 
fever  with  typhoid  symptoms,  and  gradually  sank  until  his  death  this 
morning. 

"  Mr.  Archer  was  the  son  of  Dr.  Jason  H.  and  Jennette  Archer.  His 
father  died  a  number  of  years  since,  hut  his  mother  has  been  spared  to 
render  such  ministries  to  him  as  only  a  devoted  mother  can  in  the  hours 
of  suffering  and  mortal  weakness. 

"He  was  born  in  till—  city,  where  he  resided  until  the  removal  of  his 
parents  to  Wrentham,  from  whence  he  went  to  Brown  University  and 
graduated  in  the  class  of  18CG.  Very  soon  after  graduating  he  was  ap- 
pointed an  instructor  in  English  literature  in  the  Naval  Academy  at 


Annapolis,  where  he  remained  between  one  and  two  years,  when  he 
was  attacked  with  measles,  which  were  epidemic  at  the  Academy  at  the 
time.  On  recovery  from  the  disease  his  eyes  \vere  found  to  he  so  much 
affected  as  to  prevent  his  performing  the  duties  of  his  position,  and  he 
resigned  and  returned  home.  He  soon  after  commenced  the  study  of 
law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Norfolk  County.  On  his  return  to 
this  city  he  began  practice,  and  has  been  for  a  number  of  years  the 
senior  member  of  the  firm  of  Archer  &  Jackson.  He  was  also  associate 
justice  of  our  District  Court,  and  was  for  several  years  a  member  of  the 
school  committee. 

"In  all  the  relations  of  life  as  son,  brother,  wise  and  honest  coun- 
selor, friend,  and  good  citizen,  Mr.  Archer  has  left  a  record  that  is 
equaled  by  few  and  seldom  surpassed.  He  was  thirty-seven  years  of 
age." 

The  accompanying  portrait  represents  him  about 
eighteen  or  twenty  years  of  age,  and  is  the  only  good 
one  extant. 

Nov.  1,  1882,  the  members  of  the  Bristol  County 
(Second  District)  bar,  met  in  the  court-room  to  take 
action  on  the  death  of  the  late  John  J.  Archer,  asso- 
ciate justice  of  the  court.  Hon.  J.  C.  Blaisdell  was 
appointed  chairman,  and  A.  B.  Leonard,  clerk. 

A  committee,  consisting  of  Hon.  Mayor  Braley, 
Milton  Reed,  and  Andrew  J.  Jennings,  was  appointed 
to  draft  resolutions,  and  presented  the  following: 

"  With  unfeigned  sorrow  we  assemble  here  to-day.  The  death  of  John 
J.  Archer  has  removed  from  our  bar  one  whose  place  cannot  easily  be 
filled.  Intellectually  and  morally  he  had  few,  if  any,  superiors  in  our 
community.  His  scholarship  was  not  only  wide  and  varied,  but  also 
accurate  and  unpretentious.  Thoroughly  read  in  law  and  master  of  its 
fundamental  principles,  he  was  one  of  our  safest  and  ablest  counselors. 
No  man  had  a  keener  sense  of  right  or  wrong,  or  stronger  moral  con- 
victions. Upright  in  all  his  ways,  he  ever  had  a  charitable  word  for  the 
wrong-doer.  His  attainments  commanded  the  respect,  and  his  character 
the  regard  of  all  who  knew  him. 

"Realizing  the  worth  of  such  a  man,  not  only  to  our  profession, 
which  he  dignified  and  adorned,  but  to  the  community  at  large,  which 
he  influenced  and  elevated; 

"Resolved,  That  we  the  members  of  the  Fall  River  bar,  most  fully 
and  keenly  recognize  the  ability,  worth,  and  high  character  of  our  de- 
ceased brother,  John  J.  Archer,  and  with  feelings  of  mingled  pride  and 
sadness  attest  his  many  virtues,  his  professional  attainments,  and  his 
upright  life  ;  that  in  him  we  have  each  lost  a  sympathizing  friend,  and 
one  whose  intercourse  with  us  was  ever  marked  by  the  greatest  cour- 
tesy and  kindness. 

"A.  J.  Jennings, 

"  M.  Reed, 

"H.  K.  Braley." 

On  motion  of  M.  G.  B.  Swift,  the  following  resolu- 
tion was  adopted : 

"  That  the  above  resolutions  be  adopted  as  the  sense  of  the  bar  and 
be  presented  the  Second  District  Court  to  be  spread  upon  its  records,  and 
that  they  be  sent  to  the  family  of  the  deceased  and  to  the  press  for  pub- 
lication." 

A  special  session  of  the  District  Court  was  subse- 
quently held  before  his  Honor  Judge  Blaisdell,  at 
which  A.  J.  Jennings,  on  behalf  of  the  members  of 
the  bar,  presented  the  resolutions  adopted  at  their 
meeting.     In  a  few  remarks  Mr.  Jennings' said, — 

"  My  heart  responds  to  every  word  in  the  resolutions.  It  is  a  day  when 
a  bar  like  this  should  rejoice  when  they  can  write  words  of  truth,  as 
these  words  are,  about  any  man  who  has  been  a  member  of  it.  I  think 
we  have  a  right  to  have  something  bright  mingled  with  our  sadness, 
when  we  can  point  to  such  a  man  as  a  member  of  the  bar  here,  as  one 
who  has  chosen  our  profession,  as  one  whose  every  act  and  thought  has 
simply  tended  to  elevate,  to  raise  it  in  the  respect  and  esteem  of  the  com- 
munity, and  who  gained  for  himself  the  love  and  respect  of  all  his  fel- 
low-members and  the  members  of  the  community  in  which  he  lived. 

"  As  far  as  my  personal  knowledge  is  concerned,  the  words  of  the  reso- 


390b 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


lution  and  its  preamble  express  to  myself  the  cordial  relation  in  which 
he  stood  to  me.  I  never  heard  from  his  lips  any  words  except  those  of 
truth,  of  justice,  of  honesty.  I  never  .heard  from  his  lips  aivy  words  in 
which  he  sought  to  belittle  other  men;  strong  words  he  sometimes  spoke 
against  wrong  and  evil,  but  he  always  found  there  was  some  good  in  the 
man  that  committed  the  wrong. 

"  He  seemed  to  be  always  looking  for  the  best  instead  of  for  the  worst, 
but  always  in  the  straight  line  of  integrity,  honesty,  and  uprightness, 
and  all  his  words  and  acts  conformed  to  it.  He  was  very  sparing  of  his 
speech  to  those  who  swerved  from  the  true  path,  and  I  say  we  should 
honor  him  for  it,  and  should  be  proud  of  him  for  it. 

"  One  of  our  younger  members  has  been  taken  away  and  our  ranks 
are  broken,  but  I  am  glad  we  can  assemble  here  and  feel  that  the  good 
acts  done  will  live  after  him.  His  acts  must  still  remain  to  exert  their  in- 
fluence upon  us  who  have  seen  his  life,  been  impressed  by  his  thoughts 
and  works,  to  make  us  better  and  truer  men,  better  and  truer  members 
of  the  profession.  I  submit  to  the  court  these  resolutions,  and  ask  that 
they  be  spread  upon  its  records." 

Hon.  Mayor  Braley,  on  seconding  the  resolution, 
said, — 

"  It  seems  to  me  that  it  is  fitting  for  the  bar  to  pause  a  moment  in  its 
career  of  business,  and  take  notice  of  the  death  of  one  of  its  members- 
brother  Archer.  He  delighted  to  make  himself  a  master  of  law.  He 
was  a  sound  adviser,  and  was  a  legislator  of  this  court  for  some  time, 
and  always  presided  with  dignity,  with  impartiality,  and  with  justice. 
In  his  intercourse  with  the  members  of  the  bar  he  was  always  pleasant, 
always  cordial,  and  also  strictly  true.  Whatever  he  said  might  be  relied 
on,  and  in  his  death  we  lose  a  faithful  friend." 

Hon.  M.  Reed  made  a  few  remarks,  and  incidentally 
referred  to  the  death  of  members  of  the  bar  since  he 
was  received.  J.  M.  Wood,  M.  G.  B.  Swift,  A.  N. 
Lincoln,  and  H.  A.  Dubuque  followed,  each  mention- 
ing some  pleasing  trait  in  the  character  of  the  de- 
parted. 

In  accepting  the  resolutions  on  behalf  of  the  court, 
Judge  Blaisdell  said, — 

"  After  hearing  the  eulogies  pronounced  by  you,  gentlemen  of  the 
bar,  I  can  but  say  that  the  occasion  of  our  meeting  is  a  most  unusual 
one.  '  A  good  man  has  fallen,'  not  simply  a  lawyer,  not  simply  a  neigh- 
bor or  kind  friend,  but  a  good  citizen,  with  all  that  that  term  implies. 
My  words  must  be  few  after  so  much  has  been  said.  In  the  life  of  Mr. 
Archer,  who  has  now  passed  on  and  gone  before,  we  have  a  lesson  for 
ourselves,  a  lesson  for  us  to  learn.  He  was  a  true  man  in  all  the  rela- 
tions of  life.  So  far  as  I  have  knowledge  of  him,  he  was  emphatically 
a  true  man.  He  never  misled,  never  deceived,  never  permitted  litigation 
for  the  sake  of  litigation. 

"I  can  only  say  that  I  only  knew  John  Jason  Archer  to  respect  him. 
As  one  of  the  special  justices  of  this  court  he  discharged  the  duties  with 
fidelity,  with  truthfulness,  with  high  motion  before  him  to  always  do 
justly  between  party  and  party,  and  was  conscientious  in  the  discharge 
of  his  duty.  More  than  a  lawyer,  his  character,  as  I  understand  it,  is 
engraven  to-day  not  only  upon  our  memories  here,  but  it  is  er-graven 
in  matters  of  education,  of  good  example  here  in  our  community,  going 
in  and  out  before  us  an  upright  man.  When  such  a  man  passes  away 
we  may  well  pause  in  our  ordinary  proceedings  of  life  to  pay  tribute  to 
the  fallen.  Try  and  pay  that  tribute  of  respect  which  is  due  to  such  a 
man.  It  is  the  pleasure  of  the  court  to  order  that  these  resolutions  be 
enrolled  upon  the  records  of  the  court." 


of  the  Dally  News  soon  after  graduation,  but  subse- 
quently studied  law  at  the  Harvard  Law  School,  and 
was  admitted  to  practice  in  1872.  He  opened  an 
office  in  Fall  River,  and  rapidly  advanced  to  a  high 
rank  in  his  profession.  He  served  several  years  as 
special  justice  of  the  Police  and  District  Courts  and 
city  solicitor,  in  the  latter  capacity  extending  his 
reputation  as  a  sound  and  able  lawyer  by  his  success 
with  the  important  cases  of  the  city.  In  1880  he  was 
chosen  senator  for  the  Second  Bristol  District,  and 
rapidly  made  a  reputation  at  the  State  House  as  a 
brilliant  debator  and  sagacious  legislator.  He  de- 
clined a  renomination  the  following  year.  In  1881 
and  1882  he  was  the  Republican  nominee  for  mayor, 
and  although  defeated  polled  the  highest  vote  ever 
given  an  unsuccessful  candidate.  Mr.  Reed  is  a  man 
of  studious  habits,  great  energy  of  character  and 
business  foresight,  which  have  already  reaped  him  a 
substantial  reward.  He  is  interested  in  many  and  a 
director  in  several  of  the  largest  corporations  of  the 
city,  and  for  his  age  one  of  the  most  successful 
citizens  of  Fall  River. 


MILTON  REED. 
Hon.  Milton  Reed  was  born  in  Haverhill,  Mass., 
on  Oct.  1,  1848.  He  is  the  second  son  of  William 
and  Sophia  (Ladd)  Reed,  and  through  both  father 
and  mother  descended  from  the  first  English  colonists 
in  the  Merrimac  Valley.  In  1868,  the  youngest  in 
his  class,  he  was  graduated  with  high  honors  from 
Harvard  University,  and  came  to  Fall  River  as  editor 


EDWARD    PURINGTON    BUFFINTON. 

Edward    Purington   Buffinton,  son  of  Aaron   and 
Rebecca    Buffinton,   was   born    in    Westport,    Mass., 
Nov.  16,  1814.     His  parents  coming  to  Fall  River 
when  he  was  but  a  lad,  he  grew  up  personally  in- 
terested in  all  that  related  to  the  prosperity  of  the 
growing  town.     Mr.  Buffinton    engaged  in  business 
for  himself  early  in   life   as  a  market-man,  at  the 
corner  of  Main  atfd  Pocasset  Streets  until  the  erection 
of  the  town-hall  and  market-building  in  1846,  when 
he  removed  thither,  and  continued  in  the  same  pur- 
suit until  the  close  of  his  life,  being  one  of  the  lead- 
ing merchants  in'  that  department.     In  1852  he  was 
elected  to  the  Massachusetts  House  of  Representatives. 
In  1854,  when  Fall  River  changed  its  form  of  govern- 
ment and  became  a  city,  he  was  honored  with  an  elec- 
tion to  the   Board  of  Aldermen,  and  in  November, 
1855,  was  chosen  mayor  to  fill  the  vacancy  occasioned 
by  the' resignation  of  Hon.  James  Buffinton.     The 
following  year,  1856,  he  was   elected   to  the   same 
office  by  the  people.     The  three  succeeding  years  he 
devoted  to  his  business  and  private  affairs,  during 
which  he  was  free  from  the  cares  and  responsibilities 
of  official  life,  and  happy  in  the  change.     In  1860, 
however,  he  was  again  elected  to  the  mayoralty,  and 
held  the  office  for  seven  consecutive  years. 

From  the  inauguration  of  the  Rebellion  to  its  close, 
Mr.  Buffinton  was  at  the  head  of  the  city  government, 
and  had  an  experience  from  which  a  man  of  weaker 
nerve  would  have  shrunk  discouraged.  His  labors 
were  almost  incessant  day  and  night,  but  he  never 
for  a  moment  faltered  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties, 
and  his  entire  administration  was  distinguished  for 
judiciousness,  care,  economy,  and  humanity.  He  died 
Oct.  2,  1871. 


m$ 


FALL  RIVER. 


391 


WILLIAM    LINDSEY. 

William  Lindsey,  son  of  Capt.  Jonathan  W.  and 
Hannah  Lindsey,  was  born  in  Bristol,  R.  I.,  Sept.  20, 
1816.  His  grandfather,  also  William  Lindsey,  was  a 
lifelong  resident  of  Bristol,  and  died  advanced  -in 
years.  Jonathan  was  a  hatter  in  early  life,  and  after- 
wards going  to  sea  rose  to  be  shipmaster.  He  was 
born  June  18,  1778,  and  married  Hannah  Easter- 
brooks,  who  was  born  in  Bristol,  Aug.  18,  1778.  They 
had  eleven  children  born  in  Bristol, — Sarah,  Hannah, 
Martha,  .Mary,  Lydia,  Jonathan  W.,  Catherine,  Abby, 
William,  Nancy  W.,  and  Nathaniel.  All  attaiued 
maturity,  married,  and  all  except  Lydia  had  children. 
The  combined  ages  of  the  eight  now  living  is  five 
hundred  and  sixty-six  years.  Mrs.  Lindsey  died  in 
Bristol,  March  21,  1851.  Capt.  Lindsey  survived  her 
three  years,  dying  April  12,  1854. 

William  Lindsey  had  but  limited  advantages  for 
school  education.  At  the  age  of  seven  he  accom- 
panied his  parents  to  Providence,  and  after  working 
a  short  time  on  a  farm,  at  the  age  of  thirteen  went  to 
work  in  a  hat-factory,  thus  early  commencing  the 
battle  of  life.  He  came  to  Fall  River,  then  Troy, 
when  he  was  fifteen,  and  entered  the  employ  of  G. 
Burr  &  Co.,  wholesale  grocers  and  provision  dealers, 
as  clerk.  Remaining  with  them  until  he  was  nine- 
teen, he  acquired  a  full  knowledge  of  the  business, 
and  purchased  it  from  his  employers.  This  was  in 
1836.  From  that  time  Mr.  Lindsey  continued  in 
trade,  under  the  different  firms  of  William  Lindsey,  J. 
W.  &  W.  Lindsey,  Lindsey  &  Brothers,  and  W.  &  N. 
Lindsey,  until  1875.  For  forty-three  years,  from  1832 
'to  1875,  he  was  in  constant  occupancy  of  the  same 
location.  He  was  prosperous,  his  industry  and  in- 
tegrity bringing  satisfactory  financial  results  and  a 
well-deserved  reputation  for  business  capacity.  Mr. 
Lindsey  was  for  many  years  largely  interested  in 
whaling,  coasting,  and  trading  vessels,  owning  alone 
or  in  company  with  others  quite  a  large  number. 
In  1875,  Mr.  Lindsey  became  treasurer  of  the  Weet- 
amoe  Mills,  of  Fall  River,  and  has  held  that  office 
to  the  present  writing.  He  has  been  a  director  of 
the  Metacomet  National  Bank,  of  Fall  River,  since 
its  organization,  and  its  president  since  1881.  He 
has  been  a  trustee  of  the  Fall  River  Savings-Bank 
for  more  than  forty  years,  and  its  president  since 
1882. 

He  is  a  stockholder  and  director  in  various  cor- 
porations, notably,  King  Philip  Mills,  Globe  Yarn- 
Mills,  Weetamoe  Mills,  and  Conanicut  Mills.  Po- 
litically, Mr.  Lindsey  was  in  former  days  a  Whig, 
and  since  the  organization  of  the  Republican  party 
a  supporter  of  its  principles,  never,  however,  a  bitter 
partisan,  but  caring  more  for  the  triumph  of  right 
principles  and  the  election  of  good  men  than  for 
party  or  personal  gain. 

He  has  never  sought  political  distinction,  his  time 
being  fully  employed  in  attending  to  business.  With- 
out seeking  the  position,  he  was  in  1871  elected  a 


member  of  the  first  board  of  water  commissioners  of 
Fall  River,  and  held  that  position  during  eight  years, 
and  until  after  the  completion  of  the  water-works, 
when,  at  the  expiration  of  his  third  term  of  service, 
he  declined  a  re-election. 

Mr.  Lindsey  has  been  three  times  married, — first 
to  Eliza  A.,  daughter  of  Deacon  Enoch  French,  of 
Fall  River.  They  had  three  children, — Crawford  E. 
(twice  elected  mayor  of  Fall  River),  Charles  B.,  and 
Sarah  F.  His  second  wife  was  Ariadne  M.,  daughter 
of  Leander  P.  Lovell,  of  Fall  River.  They  had  five 
children, — William,  Maria  L.,  Eliza,  Anna  B.,  and 
John  H.  His  present  wife,  Sarah  J.,  is  daughter  of 
Job  B.  French,  of  Fall  River. 

From  his  twentieth  year  Mr.  Lindsey  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  identified  with 
measures  and  means  for  the  elevation  and  improve- 
ment of  mankind.  He  is  truly  a  self-made  man,  and 
his  life  has  been  steadily  and  actively  devoted  to 
business.  He  has  a  good  knowledge  of  men  and 
events,  and  a  marked  individuality  of  character. 
Cautious  and  prudent,  of  high  honor  as  a  man,  rich 
in  experience,  faithful  to  all  trusts,  he  has  won  and 
maintained  a  high  place  in  the  regards  of  his  asso- 
ciates for  his  financial  ability  and  his  sound  and 
wise  judgment.  Inheriting  a  vigorous  constitution, 
strengthened  by  the  labor  of  early  years  and  method- 
ical habits  of  life,  at  an  age  when  many  men  lay  aside 
active  business  he  performs  his  many  duties  with  a 
vigor  of  mind  and  body  which  promises  many  years 
of  usefulness. 


WILLIAM    MASON. 


William  Mason,  son  of  Wm.  and  Nancy  (Northum) 
Mason,  was  born  in  Swansea,  Mass.,  Sept.  13,  1806. 
His  father  was  a  merchant  in  Swansea,  where  he  re- 
sided till  his  death,  which  latter  event  occurred  in 
April,  1816,  when  he  was  thirty-eight  years  of  age.  His 
mother  was  the  daughter  of  Capt.  Joseph  Northum. 

William  was  brought  up  with  limited  opportunities 
for  education,  beginning  at  the  early  age  of  seven  to 
work  in  a  small  cotton-mill  near  his  home,  and  while 
in  his  eleventh  year  entering  upon  an  apprenticeship 
to  the  shoemaker's  trade,  in  which  capacity  he  con- 
tinued until  he  was  twenty-one,  attending  school  but 
a  few  months  each  year.  He,  however,  was  a  diligent 
student,  as  well  as  a  thorough  and  active  worker  at 
his  trade. 

After  working  a  few  months  for  Richard  Chace, 
with  whom  he  had  served  as  an  apprentice,  he  went 
to  Fall  River  in  November,  1827,  and  entered  the 
employ  of  Leonard  Garfield,  a  shoemaker,  with  whom 
he  continued  about  six  months,  when  he  commenced 
doing  work  on  his  own  account  in  a  little  shop  which 
he  had  hired  for  that  purpose.  After  a  few  months 
he  entered  into  a  copartnership  with  Gardner  D.  Cook 
in  a  store  situated  on  the  west  side  of  Main  Street, 
where  the  Granite  Block  now  stands.     Afterwards 


392 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL  COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


they  had  a  store  on  the  east  side  of  Main  Street,  nearly 
opposite  the  first.  After  some  two  years  Mr.  Mason 
purchased  his  partner's  interest  and  continued  the 
business  himself.  His  trade  grew,  and  he  employed 
several  hands  and  made  goods  to  order,  besides  deal- 
ing in  ready-made  boots  and  shoes.  He  continued 
this  business  until  December,  1837,  when  he  closed 
out,  and  in  May,  1838,  settled  his  family  in  Woon- 
socket,  R.  I.,  where  he  went  into  the  manufacture  of 
soap  with  his  brother,  Stephen  N.  Mason,  under  the 
name  of  W.  &  S.  N.  Mason.  They  continued  till  the 
spring  of  1843,  and  on  March  6th  of  that  year  Mr. 
Mason  returned  to  Fall  River,  where  he  continued  to 
manufacture  soap  on  his  own  account,  and  after  a  few 
months  formed  a  partnership  with  George  S.  Holmes 
(firm  of  Holmes  &  Mason),  and  at  the  expiration  of 
about  seven  months  they  dissolved,  and  Mr.  Mason 
remained  in  the  business  till  about  1864.  During  this 
time  he  had  Joshua  Remington  as  a  partner  about  two 
years.  During  a  portion  of  this  time  he  was  also  en- 
gaged in  the  grocery  business,  which  he  conducted 
after  they  had  dissolved  partnership. 

During  this  time  (1859)  he  invested  some  money  in 
the  Union  Mills,  and  was  chosen  a  director,  which 
position  he  held  till  he  sold  his  entire  interest  there- 
in. He  also  owned  an  original  interest  in  the  Granite 
Mills,  was  a  director,  and  was  chosen  president  of  the 
company,  which  position  he  still  holds.  He  is  also  a 
director  in  the  Stafford  Mills,  a  director  in  the  Chace 
Mills  many  years,  and  a  director  in  the  Massasoit 
Bank  about  twenty  years.  He  has  also  been  engaged 
with  Foster  H.  Stafford  and  Asahel  T.  Pierce,  of  Paw- 
tuxet,  R.  I.,  in  the  manufacture  of  yarn.  They  have 
three  mills, — one  in  North  Dighton,  one  in  Norton, 
Mass.,  and  one  in  Warwick,  P.  I.,  and  they  run  a 
thread-mill  in  Pawtucket.  Besides  all  these,  Mr. 
Mason  owns  large  interests  in  various  manufactories 
of  Fall  River,  and  is  a  director  in  the  Merino  Manu- 
facturing Company. 

In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  but  he  has  a  de- 
cided disinclination  to  office,  although  he  allowed 
himself  to  be  elected  a  member  of  the  board  of  alder- 
men in  1857.  He  declined  the  nomination  for  mayor, 
preferring  to  give  his  undivided  attention  to  his  large 
and  increasing  business. 

He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  since  February,  1823,  when  he  joined  at 
South  Somerset,  Mass.  Since  that  time  he  has  been 
an  ardent  supporter  and  a  worthy  member  of  that 
large  and  influential  Christian  body,  in  which  he 
has  been  a  class-leader  for  more  than  half  a  century, 
Sunday-school  superintendent,  steward,  trustee,  etc. 
He  was  the  first  Sunday-school  superintendent  in  St. 
Paul's  Church.  He  has  been,  and  is,  a  liberal  sup- 
porter of  the  various  church  interests,  while  his  sym- 
pathies and  support  extend  to  all  matters  which  have 
for  their  object  the  good  of  the  community  in  which 
he  lives,  and  the  elevation  of  humanity  at  large. 
On    the   6th   of  January,    1831,    Mr.    Mason    was 


married  to  Harriet,  daughter  of  Jeremiah  W.  and 
Sarah  Anthony.  Six  children  sprang  from  this  union, 
viz. :  Sarah  E.,  wife  of  Iram  Smith  ;  William  W.,  died 
in  infancy;  William  W.  (2d),  Harriet  A.,  died  in  in- 
fancy ;  Edmund  F.,  Charles  T. 

Mrs.  Mason  (1st)  died  March  14,  1865,  in  her  fifty- 
sixth  year. 

He  married,  second,  Jan.  1,  1866,  Lois  Richmond 
Anthony,  daughter  of  Jonathan  and  Lorana  An- 
thony. She  died  May  23,  1867,  in  her  thirty-eighth 
year,  leaving  an  infant  son,  Louis  R.  A.  Mason. 

His  third  and  present  wife  was  Emeline  F.,  daugh- 
ter of  George  W.  and  Emeline  E.  Reed,  of  Fall  River, 
to  whom  he  was  united  Dec.  16,  1869.  They  have 
had  three  children, — George  R.,  Stephen  N.  (died  in 
infancy),  and  Emeline  E. 

Mrs.  Mason  was  born  in  Lowell,  Mass.,  Sept.  25, 
1839. 


IRAM   SMITH. 


Iram  Smith,  son  of  Henry  and  Susan  (Higgins) 
Smith,  was  born  in  Hampden,  Me.,  Oct.  26,  1807. 
His  father  was  a  farmer  and  also  a  mason  by  trade, 
but  the  former  was  his  principal  occupation.  He 
was  a  native  of  Cape  Cod,  and  resided  with  an  uncle 
by  the  name  of  Hinckley.  He  had  two  children, — 
Iram  and  Susan,  who  married  Jefferson  Stubbs,  of 
Hampden,  Me.,  and  had  several  children,  of  whom 
only  two  daughters  are  living.  Henry  Smith  died  in 
Hampden,  aged  eighty-six  years ;  his  wife  died  in 
1811. 

Iram,  at  the  date  of  the  death  of  his  mother,  was  ' 
only  four  years  old,  too  young  to  realize  how  great  a 
loss  he  had  sustained;  for  no  father,  however  kind 
and  wise,  can  fill  the  place  of  a  good  mother.  He 
was  reared  by  his  father  till  eleven  years  of  age,  and 
then  lived  with  a  Mr.  Mayhew,  in  Hampden,  and 
Mr.  Harding,  at  Cape  Cod,  until  the  age  of  nineteen, 
when  he  went  to  Duxbury,  Mass.,  and  remained  there 
till  he  was  twenty-one.  During  this  time  he  had 
learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  and  had  acquired  such 
education  at  the  common  schools  as  his  limited  cir- 
cumstances would  permit. 

On  Nov.  1,  1827,  he  went  to  Fall  River,  Mass., 
where  he  has  ever  since  remained.  As  an  example 
of  his  true  worth  we  give  the  following.  His  father 
was  afflicted  with  a  disease  which  incapacitated  him 
for  labor  or  for  earning  a  livelihood,  and,  being  poor, 
as  soon  as  young  Irani  was  old  enough,  he  took  the 
care  of  his  father  until  his  death. 

In  1827,  the  same  day  Mr.  Smith  arrived  ;n  Fall 
River,  he  entered  the  employ  of  Deacon  Shaw,  a  con- 
tractor and  builder.  He  soon  after  engaged  with 
Andrew  Robeson,  with  whom  he  remained  till  failing 
health  compelled  him  to  relinquish  his  trade  and  seek 
some  other  mode  of  employment.  In  1832  he  put  one 
thousand  dollars,  which  he  had  saved  from  his  five 
years'  hard  earnings,  into  a  small  grocery  business, — 


# /ft     '  ^/  /// 


FALL   RIVER. 


393 


only,  however,  to  be  swallowed  up  in  less  than  a  year, 
leaving  him  destitute  but  not  disheartened.  He  was 
young  and  energetic,  and  by  his  talents  and  versatil- 
ity could  easily  retrieve  his  loss  in  some  new  enter- 
prise. This  proved  to  be  the  turning-point  in  his 
life,  for  just  then  he  had  started  a  general  variety 
store,  and  made  a  special  run  on  calicoes,  which  he 
could  and  did  sell  cheaper  than  any  of  his  competi- 
tors. Though  badly  in  debt,  with  failure  staring 
him  in  the  face,  this  good  luck,  or,  perhaps,  more 
properly,  successful  competition,  brought  him  out 
safely,  and,  as  the  saying  is,  put  him  on  his  feet.  He 
loves  to  associate  with  this  also  an  important  event 
in  his  religious  life.  His  cheap  calicoes  were  draw- 
ing many  customers  to  his  store,  and  the  evening 
trade  was  especially  valuable.  It  was  class-meeting 
night,  and  he  was  the  leader.  What  should  he  do  iu 
this  conflict  between  interest  and  duty?  He  decided 
to  ask  his  customers  to  come  some  other  time,  and 
went  to  his  class.  They  did  come,  and  more  with 
them,  impressed  by  the  example  he  had  set,  so  that 
he  was  undoubtedly  a  great  gainer  in  a  pecuniary 
point  of  view,  and  what  was  more  important  on  that 
eventful  night,  while  at  class,  he  received  such  evi- 
dence of  his  spiritual  acceptance  that  it  has  ever 
been  looked  back  to  as  the  bright  epoch  of  his  life. 
How  small  an  act  of  self-sacrifice  may  exalt  the 
spirit  and  bring  it  to  a  sweet  consciousness  of  peace 
and  joy.  Through  duty  the  soul  is  opened  to  the 
"  visitations  from  on  high,"  and  the  law  of  duty  is 
thus  revealed  as  the  law  of  true  life.  Blessed  are 
they  who  learn  to  follow  it  in  youth. 

Mr.  Smith  continued  in  mercantile  business  about 
five  years,  and  then  for  about  two  years  was  engaged 
in  whaling  and  fishing. 

Regaining  his  health,  he  entered  trade  as  a  dry- 
goods  merchant,  which  he  continued  till  1873,  when 
he  sold  to  his  son,  Iram  N.,  and  Mr.  Jenney,  since 
which  he  has  not  been  actively  employed  in  busi- 
ness, though  he  is  identified  with  several  manufac- 
turing interests.  He  is  a  director  of  the  Granite 
and  Stafford  Mills;  has  been  president  of  the  Massa- 
soit  Bank  since  1878 ;  has  been  a  director  of  the  same 
since  the  organization,  and  is  the  only  original  direc- 
tor now  living.  He  is  a  member  of  the  board  of  in- 
vestment of 
Bank. 

Mr.  Smith  is  a  Republican  in  politics.  He  cast  his 
first  Presidential  vote  for  Gen.  Jackson  in  1882,  was 
a  member  of  the  Liberal  party  in  1840,  and  voted  for 
James  G.  Birney  for  President  and  Thomas  Earle  for 
Vice-President.  He  was  one  of  the  First  Free-Soilers 
in  Fall  River.  In  1839  he  was  a  representative  to  the 
General  Court,  and  has  since  served  five  times  in  that 
capacity,  acting  on  several  important  committees. 

He  joined  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in 
182G,  and  has  been  a  class-leader  more  than  half  a 
century,  and  during  an  equal  period  a  teacher  in  Sun- 
day-school.    He  is  liberal,  eveu  generous,  in  the  be- 


the   Fall   River   Five   Cents  Savings- 


stowment  of  aid  on  all  worthy  objects,  and  an  active 
supporter  of  education.  For  many  years  he  has  been 
a  trustee  of  East  Greenwich  Academy,  R.  I. 

His  first  wife  was  Betsey  L.,  daughter  of  Daniel 
and  Patience  Douglass,  whom  he  married  Aug.  15, 
1834.  She  was  born  Oct.  23,  1814,  and  died  July, 
1859.  Their  children  were:  1.  Susan  H.;  2.  Henry 
D.  (deceased);  3.  Rhoda  D. ;  4.  Ellen  A.;  5.  Eliza- 
beth L.  (deceased);  6.  Iram  N. ;  7.  Emma  E. ;  8. 
Charles  H.  (deceased). 

He  married  for  his  second  wife,  June  15,  1864, 
Sarah  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  William  Mason,  of  Fall 
River.  (See  sketch  of  William  Mason.)  She  was 
born  in  Fall  River,  Nov.  13,  1832.  The  children  by 
this  marriage  are:  1.  Harriet  A.;  2.  Annie  M. ;  3. 
William  H. ;  4.  Charles  E., — all  living  at  home. 


COL.    THOMAS   J.    BORDEN. 

• 

Col.  Thomas  J.  Borden,  one  of  the  leading  business 
men  of  Southeastern  Massachusetts,  was  born  in  Fall 
River,  March  1,  1832.  He  was  educated  in  the  pri- 
vate select  schools  of  his  native  town,  and  at  the 
age  of  sixteen  years  entered  the  office  of  the  Fall 
River  Iron-Works  Company,  of  which  his  father, 
Col.  Richard  Borden,  was  treasurer.  After  remain- 
ing here  one  year  he  entered  the  Lawrence  Scientific 
School  at  Cambridge,  where  he  completed  a  two 
years'  course,  studying  engineering  under  Professor 
Eustis,  and  chemistry  under  Professor  Horsford. 
The  technical  knowledge  acquired  at  this  institution 
proved  invaluable  to  Col.  Borden  in  his  subsequent 
successful  business  career. 

He  returned  to  Fall  River  in  1851,  and  re-entered 
the  employ  of  the  iron-works  company,  where  he  re- 
mained two  years,  developing  business  capacity  of  a 
high  order.  In  the  summer  of  1853,  being  at  that 
time  only  twenty-one  years  of  age,  he  was  appointed 
agent  and  treasurer  of  the  Bay  State  Print- Works,  a 
newly  organized  corporation.  The  financial  panic  of 
1857  led  to  the  consolidation  of  these  works  with  the 
American  Print- Worksj  and  Col.  Borden  was  retained 
as  manager  of  the  new  corporation. 

In  February,  1860,  he  was  appointed  agent  and 
treasurer  of  the  Troy  Cotton  and  Woolen  Manufac- 
tory, and  immediately  commenced  operations  for  the 
enlargement  of  the  mills.  The  plans  submitted  by 
him  were  at  once  adopted,  and  in  less  than  ten 
months  the  capacity  of  the  Troy  Mills  was  increased 
fourfold,  and  the  property  which  was  valued  at  two 
hundred  thousand  dollars  in  1860,  had  risen  in  1876 
to  the  value  of  eight  hundred  thousand  dollars,  and 
more  than  one  million  two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand 
dollars  had  been  paid  in  dividends.  Upon  the  or- 
ganization of  the  Mechanics' Mills,  in  1868,  Col.  Bor- 
den Avas  chosen  president  and  agent,  and  officiated  in 
that  capacity  about  eighteen  months,  when  he  was 
elected  treasurer,  thus  devolving  upon  him  the  entire 
management  of  the  business. 


394 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL  COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


In  1871  he  organized  the  Richard  Borden  Manufac- 
turing Company,  and  was  chosen  treasurer  of  the 
corporation,  and  held  that  position  until  February, 
1876.  He  has  been  a  director  since  its  incorpora- 
tion, and  president  since  the  early  part  of  1874. 
Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  Col.  Borden  was  practically 
the  controller  from  1871  to  1876  of  the  Troy,  the 
Mechanics',  and  the  Richard  Borden  Mills,  the  three 
corporations  embracing  a  total  of  one  hundred  and 
thirty-seven  thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventy -six 
spindles  and  three  thousand  two  hundred  and  twenty- 
eight  looms.  Although  the  management  of  this  large 
interest  caused  a  severe  strain  upon  his  mental  and 
physical  powers,  Col.  Borden  proved  himself  equal  to 
the  labor  imposed,  discharging  his  duties  with  emi- 
'  nent  ability,  and  these  mills  enlarged  their  operations 
and  were  financially  successful  under  his  skillful  and 
judicious  management. 

In  1876  he  relinquished  the  active  management  of 
the  three  corporations  mentioned  above,  and  accepted 
the  onerous  position  of  treasurer,  agent,  and  director 
of  the  American  Print- Works  (now  American  Print- 
ing Company),  which  he  has  held  to  the  present 
time.  The  manufactory  of  the  American  Printing 
Company  is  one  of  the  finest  and  most  complete  in 
the  world  that  is  devoted  to  the  printing  of  cotton 
cloths.     (See  history  on  a  former  page.) 

Col.  Borden  has  been  a  director  in  the  Troy  Cotton 
and  Woolen  Manufactory  since  1860,  in  the  Me- 
chanics' Mills  Company  since  1868,  and  in  the  Rich- 
ard Borden  Manufacturing  Company  since  1871.  He 
has  also  been  treasurer  of  the  Wautuppa  Reservoir 
Company  since  1864,  and  has  been  intrusted  with  the 
management  of  the  vexatious  litigation  to  which  this 
company  has  been  subjected.  He  has  been  a  di- 
rector in  the  Metacomet  Bank  since  its  organization 
in  1854.  He  was  elected  a  director  in  the  Old  Colony 
Railroad  Company  in  January,  1874,  and  in  the  fol- 
lowing June  was  chosen  a  director  in  the  Old  Colony 
Steamboat  Company.  He  has  also  been  a. director  of 
the  Fall  River  Manufacturers'  Mutual  Insurance 
Company  since  1870;  of  the  Boston  Manufacturers' 
Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company  since  1876  ;  of  the 
Worcester  Manufacturers'  Mutual  Insurance  Com- 
pany since  January,  1879;  of  the  State  Mutual  Fire 
Insurance  Company  since  1878 ;  and  of  the  What- 
cheer  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company,  of  Provi- 
dence, R.  I.,  since  1873. 

Col.  Borden  inherited  from  his  honored  father,  Col. 
Richard  Borden,  his  love  for  the  military,  and  rose 
from  first  lieutenant  in  the  Massachusetts  militia  to 
the  rank  of  colonel.  He  was  commissioned  as  first 
lieutenant  of  the  Fall  River  Light  Infantry  Sept.  3, 
1863;  as  first  lieutenant  of  the  Fifth  Unattached 
Company  May  4,  1864;  as  captain  of  Company  K, 
Third  Regiment,  Sept.  16, 1864;  as  lieutenant-colonel 
of  the  same  regiment  on  Sept.  3,  1866;  and  as  colonel 
on  the  25th  of  June,  1868.  He  resigned  the  latter 
position  in  1871. 


All  measures  tending  to  advance  the  welfare  gen- 
erally of  his  native  town  have  found  in  Col.  Borden 
an  earnest  advocate.  His  efficient  service  in  the  fire 
department,  from  1865  to  1872,  will  not  soon  be  for- 
gotten. He  labored  unremittingly  to  advance  the 
efficiency  of  the  department,  and  upon  retiring  from 
the  office  of  chief  engineer,  which  he  had  held  for  the 
last  three  years,  he  left  the  department  in  most  excel- 
lent condition.  He  has  been  a  trustee  of  the  Fall 
River  Savings-Bank  since  1866,  and  in  1874  was  made 
a  director  in  the  Borden  Mining  Company  of  Frost- 
burg,  Md.,  which  Col.  Richard  Borden  had  assisted 
in  organizing.  He  is  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Central  Congregational  Church,  and  was  chairman  of 
the  building  committee  during  the  erection  of  the 
present  imposing  edifice  of  the  society  on  Rock  Street. 
He  has  also  been  a  corporate  member  of  the  American 
Board  of  Commissioners  of  Foreign  Missions  since 
1877.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Common  Council  of 
the  city  of  Fall  River  in  1874,  and  president  of  that 
body  in  1875. 

Col.  Borden's  life  has  been  one  of  steady  and  active 
devotion  to  business,  and  his  great  success  has  been 
the  natural  result  of  his  ability  to  examine  and  readily 
comprehend  any  subject  presented  to  him,  power  to 
decide  promptly,  and  courage  to  act  with  vigor  and 
persistency  in  accordance  with  his  conviction. 

Feb.  20,  1855,  Col.  Borden  united  in  marriage  with 
Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Ebenezer  A.  Hill,  and  their 
family  has  consisted  as  follows:  Harriet  M.,  Anna 
H.,  Carrie  L.,  and  Richard,  all  of  whom  are  living 
except  Richard,  who  died  in  early  life. 


HON.    CRAWFORD    E.    LINDSEY. 

Hon.  Crawford  E.  Lindsey,  son  of  William  and 
Eliza  A.  (French)  Lindsey,  was  born  in  Fall  River, 
Aug.  19,  1838.  His  education  was  obtained  in  the 
public  schools  of  Fall  River,  Mass.,  in  Providence, 
R.  I.,  and  at  Peirce  Academy,  in  Middleborough, 
Mass.  Upon  leaving  school  in  1857,  when  in  his 
nineteenth  year,  he  entered  the  office  of  the  Ameri- 
can Print- Works  of  Fall  River  in  the  capacity  of 
clerk,  and  subsequently  became  book-keeper.  A  por- 
tion of  the  company's  goods  had  always  been  sold  in 
Boston  by  commission  merchants,  and  it  was  mainly 
through  the  suggestions  of  Mr.  Lindsey  that  in  1860 
a  change  was  made,  and  this  market  supplied  direct 
from  the  works  He  was  appointed  selling  agent, 
which  position  he  held  until  the  suspension  of  the 
company  in  1879,  when  his  connection  with  the  com- 
pany was  dissolved. 

When  a  young  man,  Mr.  Lindsey  became  actively 
identified  with  the  industries  of  the  city.  He  was  one 
of  the  originators  of  the  Merchants'  Manufacturing 
Company,  and  was  a  director  from  its  organization 
until  very  recently.  He  was  also  until  lately  a  di- 
rector of  the  Fall  River  Bleachery,  being  a  member 
of  its  first  board  of  officers.     He  was  largely  instru- 


&■■ 


£ 


7 


/     ^-^    , 


^a^-^ 


FALL  RIVER. 


395 


mental  in  organizing  the  King  Philip  Mills  in  1871, 
and  was  elected  its  first  president,  which  position  he 
still  retains.  In  1880  he,  with  a  few  others,  pur- 
chased what  had  been  known  as  the  Mount  Hope 
Mill  property.  A  corporation  was  organized  under 
the  name  of  Conanicut  Mills,  and  Mr.  Lindsey  was 
elected  treasurer,  which  position  he  now  holds. 
Under  his  management,  the  property  has  been 
greatly  improved  and  enlarged,  and  devoted  to  the 
manufacture  of  fine  cotton  goods. 

He  has  long  been  interested  in  the  welfare  of  the 
Fall  River  Savings-Bank,  and  is  now  one  of  its 
trustees. 

Mr.  Lindsey's  political  associations  have  always 
been  with  the  Republican  party.  In  1869  and  1870 
he  was  a  member  of  the  Common  Council  of  the  city 
of  Fall  River,  and  the  latter  year  was  chosen  presi- 
dent of  that  body.  In  1871  and  1872  he  served  as  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen,  and  in  1874  he 
was  again  a  member  and  president  of  the  Common 
Council.  In  1870,  1871,  and  1872  he  served  as  a 
member  of  the  school  committee.  In  1878  and  1879 
he  was  mayor  of  the  city  of  Fall  River,  the  second 
year  being  elected  with  practically  no  opposition.  The 
two  years  during  which  he  served  as  mayor  were 
dark  and  trying  ones  in  the  history  of  Fall  River. 
Extreme  business  depression  prevailed  throughout 
the  country.  The  defalcations  which  were  discov- 
ered during  the  first  year,  and  which  resulted  in  the 
ruin  of  several  corporations  and  a  general  suspension 
of  manufacturing,  threw  large  numbers  of  helpless 
operatives  upon  the  city's  charity.  In  1879  an  un- 
fortunate strike  of  mill  operatives,  the  most  serious 
which  has  ever  afflicted  the  city,  and  attended  with 
considerable  disorder,  rendered  the  second  year  also 
of  Mr.  Lindsey's  administration  peculiarly  trying  and 
difficult.  His  office  hours  were  extended  through  the 
whole  day  and  often  into  the  night.  The  times  de- 
manded firmness,  and  the  greatest  promptness  and 
vigor  of  action  in  the  performance  of  official  duties, 
and  very  often  the  executive  authority  failed  to  re- 
ceive the  support  of  a  majority  of  the  Board  of  Alder- 
men, yet  the  mayor  acquitted  himself  to  the  general 
approval  of  his  fellow-citizens.  Since  his  retirement 
from  the  office  of  mayor  he  has  held  no  public  posi- 
tion, except  that  of  trustee  of  the  public  library,  to 
which  he  was  elected  in  1882. 

On  the  27th  day  of  May,  1863,  Mr.  Lindsey  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Hon. 
Oliver  Chace,  of  Fall  River. 

Mr.  Lindsey  is  now  in  the  prime  of  life,  and  enjoys 
in  the  community  in  which  he  resides  the  esteem  and 
confidence  which  he  has  won  by  his  decided  abilities, 
his  persistent  industry,  and  his  strict  and  undeviating 
integrity. 


ELIJAH    C.  KILBT'RN. 

The  name  of  Kilburn  is  found  among  the  English 
nobility  as  far  back  as  Chaucer,  and  the  line  of  de- 
scent can  be  directly  traced  down  to  the  present. 
Thomas  Kilburn  was  the  ancestor  of  the  family  in 
this  country,  and  came  from  England  in  1635,  bring- 
ing with  him  his  wife  and  five  children.  One  of  his 
descendants  of  the  fourth  generation  was  John  Kil- 
burn, the  first  settler  of  the  town  of  Walpole,  N.  H. 
He  settled  there  in  1749.  He  was  born  at  Glaston- 
bury, Conn.,  in  1704,  married  Mehitable  Bacon  Oct. 
26,  1732,  and  had  four  children,  of  whom  the  only 
son  was  John,  who  accompanied  his  father  to  Wal- 
pole. This  son  is  spoken  of,  in  connection  with  his 
father,  in  an  account  of  an  Indian  attack  upon  that 
town,  recorded  in  Aldrich's  "  History  of  Walpole:" 

"  Kilburn  and  his  son  John,  in  his  eighteenth  year, 
a  man  named  Peak  and  his  son  were  returning  home 
from  work  about  noon,  Aug.  17,  1755,  when  one  of 
them  discovered  the  red  legs  of  the  Indians  among 
the  alders  '  as  thick  as  grasshoppers.'  They  instantly 
made  for  the  house,  fastened  the  doors,  and  began  to 
make  preparations  for  an  obstinate  defense.  Besides 
these  four  men  there  were  in  the  house  Kilburn's 
wife  and  his  daughter  Hetty,  who  contributed  not  a 
little  to  encourage  and  assist  their  companions,  as 
well  as  to  keep  a  watch  on  the  movements  of  the 
enemy.  .  .  . 

"The  Indians  next  appeared  on  the  eminence  east 
of  Kilburn's  house,  when  the  same  '  old  devil'  Philip 
who  had  visited  him  the  summer  before  came  forward, 
and  screening  himself  behind  a  tree  called  out  to  those 
in  the  house  to  surrender.  '  Old  John,  young  John,' 
says  he,  '  I  know  you ;  come  out  here,  we  give  you 
good  quarter.' 

"'Quarter!'  vociferated  old  Kilburn  with  a  voice 
of  thunder  that  rang  through  every  Indian  heart  and 
every  hill  and  valley.  '  You  black  rascals  be  gone,  or 
we'll  quarter  you  !' 

"  Philip  then  returned  to  his  companions,  and  after 
a  few  minutes'  consultation  the  war-whoop  was  given. 
The  Indians  rushed  forward  to  the  work  of  destruc- 
tion, and  probably  no  less  than  four  hundred  bullets 
were  lodged  in  Kilburn's  house  at  the  first  fire.  .  .  . 
They  had  several  guns  in  the  house,  which  were  kept 
hot  by  incessant  firing.  .  .  .  The  women,  with  true 
Grecian  firmness,  assisted  in  loading  the  guns.  .  .  .  The 
contest  was  kept  up  till  nearly  sundown,  when  the 
Indians  began  to  disappear,  and  as  the  sun  sank 
behind  the  western  hills  the  sound  of  the  guns  and 
the  cry  of  the  war-whoop  died  away  in  silence." 

The  account  from  which  the  above  is  quoted  closes 
with  these  words,  "Seldom  has  it  fallen  to  the  lot  of 
our  forefathers,  by  personal  courage  and  valor,  to 
reap  a  more  brilliant  crown  of  laurels  than  that  won 
by  Kilburn  on  that  memorable  day.  .  .  .  During  the 
whole  of  the  Indian  and  French  war,  which  lasted 
till  1763,  the  Indians  never  afterwards  made  their 
appearance  in  Walpole." 


396 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


The  inscription  on  the  gravestone  of  John  Kilburn, 
in  the  Walpole  burying-ground.  is  as  follows: 

"  In  memory  of 

John  Kilburn,  who  departed 

this  life  for  a  better,  April  8,  1789, 

in  the  S5  year  of  his  age. 

He  was  the  first  settler  of  this  town 

in  1749." 

Young  John,  or,  as  he  was  afterwards  called,  Capt. 
John,  married  Content,  daughter  of  Rev.  Ezra  Car- 
penter, of  Swansea,  N.  H.  He  died  in  Shrewsbury, 
Vt.,  July  20,  1819,  leaving  five  children,  of  whom 
Elijah,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  the  youngest. 
He  was  born  in  Walpole,  Sept.  30, 1772;  married  Re- 
becca Jennison,  daughter  of  John  and  Sybil  Jenni- 
sou,  in  1798.  He  died  in  1847;  his  wife  in  1849. 
They  had  nine  children,  all  born  in  Walpole,  viz. : 
(1)  Harriet,  died  unmarried  in  1830;  (2)  Mary,  wife 
of  Noah  Smith  ;  (3)  Josiali,  married  Emily  Bonney ; 
(4)  George,  married  Laura  Hooper;  removed  to  Fall 
River  about  1840,  and  subsequently  connected  with 
the  Lonsdale  Manufacturing  and  Bleaching  Com- 
pany, of  which  he  was  superintendent;  (5)  John,  mar- 
ried Maria  E.  Gage,  and  settled  in  Fall  River,  where 
he  died  Dec.  4, 1846 ;  (6)  Frederick,  married  Mary  Ann 
Watkins  ;  represented  Walpole  in  the  General  Court 
in  1858-59;  a  carpenter  and  millwright  by  occupa- 
tion; (7)  Elijah  C,  the  subject  of  our  sketch  ;  (8)  Re- 
becca, wife  of  Rodney  Smith  ;  (9)  William  J. ,  a  whole- 
sale merchant  of  Augusta,  Me.,  firm  of  William  J. 
Kilburn  &  Co. 

Elijah  C.  Kilburn,  the  immediate  subject  of  this 
notice,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Walpole,  N.  H.,  June 
10,  1811.  His  father  was  poor,  with  a  large  family  to 
support,  and  the  only  income  was  from  his  daily  labor 
as  a  carpenter.  Hence  as  soon  as  the  boys  were  able 
to  be  of  any  service  to  their  father  in  his  business 
and  could  assist  in  the  support  of  the  family  they 
were  put  to  work.  In  this  way  Elijah  had  gained 
quite  a  knowledge  of  the  carpenter's  trade  before  he 
was  nineteen  years  of  age,  and  was  getting  what  was 
considered  good  pay  for  the  times, — about  fifty  cents 
per  day  and  board. 

Previous  to  this  time,  as  a  lad,  he  had  worked  on 
the  farm  of  one  of  his  elder  brothers  in  Walpole. 
His  early  school  advantages  were  few  ;  the  most  he 
attended  was  during  the  three  months  of  each  winter, 
and  some  years  not  so  much  as  that. 

When  between  nineteen  and  twenty  years  of  age, 
in  the  year  1830,  he  left  home  and  went  to  Boston, 
where  his  brother  John  had  been  three  years,  and 
was  then  the  proprietor  of  what  had  been  Holland's 
Coffee-House.  He  was  given  employment  by  his 
brother  at  eleven  dollars  per  month  and  board.  By 
carefully  saving  what  money  he  earned,  and  what 
was  given  him  by  the  boarders  for  odd  jobs  done  for 
them,  at  the  end  of  four  years  he  had  accumulated 
about  five  hundred  dollars.  Then  borrowing  of  a 
friend  the  sum  of  two  hundred  dollars,  he  was  able  to 
buy  of  his  brother  a  half-interest  in  the  public-house, 


which  became  known  as  Kilburn's  Coffee-House,  sit- 
uated on  Howard  Street,  and  was  well  known  in 
those  days.  It  was  the  first  temperance  house  in 
Boston. 

They  had  some  twenty  steady  city  boarders,  and 
they  catered  for  a  class  of  transients  who  came  into 
the  city  to  attend  the  Legislature  in  the  winter,  and 
country  merchants  who  came  to  Boston  to  buy  goods, 
staying  from  one  to  two  and  sometimes  three  weeks. 
He  remembers  with  a  great  deal  of  pride  many  men 
who  used  to  stop  at  his  house  who  have  since  become 
famous  in  the  world  of  business  and  of  letters.  The 
first  money  he  made  he  used  in  paying  the  two  hun- 
dred dollars  he  had  borrowed. 

While  in  this  situation,  on  the  24th  of  September, 
1835,  he  united  in  marriage  with  Hannah  S.,  daughter 
of  Benjamin  and  Martha  (Tilton)  Carter.  It  may  be 
as  well  here  as  elsewhere  in  this  sketch  to  give  the 
names  and  dates  of  birth  of  their  children,  which  are 
as  follows:  Emily  A.,  born  April  1,  1839;  Mary 
Theresa,  born  Aug.  3,  1841  (deceased)  ;  Charles  W., 
born  July  12,  1844  (deceased) ;  Elias  T.,  born  June 
21,  1850. 

After  being  associated  with  his  brother  about  three 
years  in  the  hote^  business,  he  sold  his  interest  for 
about  three  thousand  dollars,  and  in  1837  returned 
to  Walpole  and  bought  with  his  brother  George  a 
half-interest  in  a  farm  in  that  town  known  as  the 
Major  Jennison  farm,  which  had  previously  belonged 
to  his  grandfather.  On  the  farm  was  a  famous  stock 
of  fine  Saxony  sheep.  They  carried  ou  the  farm  to- 
gether about  one  year,  when  his  brother  retiring,  left 
him  sole  proprietor.  He  remained  here  about  nine 
years,  and  in  addition  to  the  work  of  the  farm  he  be- 
came quite  a  contractor,  building  highway  bridges, 
doing  masonry-work,  and  entering  somewhat  into 
the  lumber  business.  In  the  year  1846  he  repre- 
sented the  town  of  Walpole  in  the  General  Court. 

In  1847,  Mr.  Kilburn  removed  to  Fall  River,  Mass. 
His  brother  John,  who  had  preceded  him  to  Fall 
River   and   had  established   the    machine   business, 


entering 


largely    into   the   manufacture    of    turbine 


water-wheels,  died  in  1846,  leaving  his  widow  execu- 
trix of  his  estate.  Mr.  Kilburn  took  charge  of  the 
business  in  1847,  and  not  being  a  practical  machinist, 
associated  with  him  Mr.  Jonathan  T.  Lincoln,  under 
the  name  of  E.  C.  Kilburn  &  Co.  The  business  was 
carried  on  under  this  name  till  1856,  when,  on  ac- 
count of  the  illness  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  his  son,  Henry 
C.  Lincoln,  was  added  to  the  firm,  which  then  took 
the  name  of  Kilburn,  Lincoln  &  Son.  They  carried 
on  business  till  1867  in  the  old  shops  on  the  site  of 
the  present  Fall  River  freight  depot/between  Water 
and  Pond  Streets. 

The  present  corporation  of  Kilburn,  Lincoln  & 
Co.  is  a  joint-stock  company,  with  a  paid-up  capital 
of  eighty  thousand  dollars.  It  was  incorporated  in 
1867.  At  that  time  the  new  shops  at  the  corner  of 
Pocasset  and  Canal  Streets  were  built. 


* 


^ 


FALL  RIVER. 


391 


DR.   J.    M.  ALDRICH. 


James  Mott  Aklrich  was  born  in  the  town  of  Smith- 
field,  R.  I.,  Oct.  30,  1817.  He  is  the  son  of  Arnold 
Aldrich,  who  was  the  twelfth  and  youngest  child  of 
Judge  Caleb  Aldrich,  of  the  same  town.  He  is  the  fifth 
generation  in  descent  from  George  Aldrich  and  his 
wife  Catherine  Seald,  who  came  to  this  country  from 
Derbyshire,  England,  in  1631,  and  settled  in  the  town 
<»i'  Mendon,  Mass.  George  was  one  of  the  original 
purchasers  of  the  town,  and  reared  a  family  of  eleven 
children.  Moses,  the  grandson  of  George,  and  the 
lather  of  Caleb,  became  an  eminent  Quaker  preacher, 
and  traveled  quite  extensively  in  prosecuting  his  divine 
mission.  After  suffering  many  petty  persecutions  and 
deprivations  from  the  dominant  religious  sect  of  his 
native  State  on  account  of  his  religion,  he  moved  to 
the  freer  atmosphere  of  Rhode  Island,  bringing  with 


Mr.  Kilburn  sold  most  of  his  interest  in  the  ma- 
chine-shops in  1869,  and  in  1871  united  with  Craw- 
ford E.  Lindsey,  of  Fall  River,  Jonathan  Chace,  of 
Valley  Falls,  R.  I.,  and  others  in  organizing  the 
King  Philip  Mills  Company,  of  Fall  River.  After 
several  interviews  it  was  decided  by  these  gentlemen 
to  test  the  practicability  of  raising  a  capital  stock  of 
five  hundred  thousand  dollars  for  the  erection  of  a 
mill  of  about  thirty-six  thousand  spindles  for  the 
manufacture  of  fine  cotton  fabrics.  Says  the  history 
of  Fall  River  industries,  "The  matter  was  put  in 
charge  of  Mr.  E.  C.  Kilburn,  and  within  a  fortnight 
the  whole  amount  of  five  hundred  thousand  dollars 
was  taken  by  forty-seven  responsible  persons,  and  an 
additional  one  hundred  and  sixty  thousand  dollars 
asked  for;  but  at  the  first  meeting  of  the  subscribers, 
held  July  14,  1871,  for  organization,  it  was  decided 
to  limit  the  capital  stock  to  five  hundred  thousand 
dollars." 

Mr.  Kilburn  was  one  of  the  original  board  of  di- 
rectors, and  was  elected  treasurer  of  the  corporation, 
which  office  he  still  holds.  The  company  was  incor- 
porated Sept.  15,  1871.  The  mill  was  built  under  the 
superintendence  of  Mr.  Kilburn,  assisted  by  W.  F. 
Sherman  and  F.  P.  Sheldon,  architects  and  draughts- 
men, and  started  in  January,  1873. 

Mr.  Kilburn  was  one  of  the  original  stockholders 
of  the  Union  Mills,  and  upon  the  death  of  Mr.  Hale 
Remington  was  elected  a  director,  and  remained  in 
that  capacity  until  the  suspension.  He  was  also  a 
director  in  the  Border  City  Mills,  and  is  at  present  a 
director  in  the  following  companies:  Conanicut  and 
Weetamoe  Mills,  Union  Belt  Company,  Fall  River 
Manufacturers'  Mutual  Insurance  Company.  He 
was  and  is  an  original  stockholder  and  director  in  the 
Second  National  Bank,  an  original  trustee  of  the  Five 
Cent  Savings-Bank,  and  about  ten  years  past  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Board  of  Investment.  During  the  years 
1860-63,  1866-67  he  was  a  member  of  the  Common 
Council  of  Fall  River. 


him  and  transmitting  to  his  children  such  a  hatred  of 
religious  tyranny  and  priestly  domination  that  it  has 
not  yet  become  extinct  in  his  later  descendants. 
James  was  the  youngest  of  ten  children,  seven  sons 
and  three  daughters,  of  whom  he  is  the  only  one 
living. 

As  an  interesting  evidence  of  the  multiform  branch- 
ing of  the  family  tree,  there  is  to  be  found  on  the 
headstone  of  his  grandmother's  grave  the  statement 
that  at  the  time  of  her  death  she  had  living  nine 
children,  ninety-seven  grandchildren,  and  one  hun- 
dred and  seventy  great-grandchildren. 

He  was  of  a  somewhat  delicate  and  sensitive  or- 
ganization, and  has  never  enjoyed  the  vigorous  health 
which  was  shared  by  the  other  brothers  of  the  family. 
His  childhood  and  youth  were  spent  on  his  father's 
farm,  which  was  pleasantly  situated  about  one  mile 
south  of  Union  village,  near  the  main  road  to  Provi- 
dence. 

After    obtaining    a    knowledge    of   the    common 
branches   of  education   at    the    public   and   private 
neighborhood   schools   he    entered   the    academy    at 
Union  village,  which  was  then  under  the  charge  of 
James  Bushee.     Here  he  studied  the  higher  branches 
taught  in  a  select  school,  and  during  the  time  read 
ancient  and  modern  history  and  the  writings  of  the 
standard  poets,  of  which  he  was  particularly  fond. 
He  was  a  studious  scholar,  loved  learning  for  its  own 
sake,  aud  took  a  high  rank  among  his  fellow-pupils. 
Another  means  of  his  education  which  should  not  be 
overlooked  was  the  Debating  Club,  of  which  he  was 
an  active  member.     Here  were   discussed,  and  fre- 
quently by  the  most  intelligent  persons  in  the  com- 
munity, the  various  prominent  and  public  questions 
of  the  day,  and  as  Mr.  Aldrich  was  particularly  fond 
of  debate,  he  used  all  available  means  to  enable  him 
to  discuss  these  questions  intelligently,  and  being  a 
ready  and  not  unpleasant  speaker,  he  became  quite 
prominent   in   these   friendly    educational    contests. 
Through  these  various  methods,  aided  on  the  religious 
side  of  his  nature  by  the  instruction  received  from 
his  Quaker  parents,  he  arrived  at  the  stage  of  man- 
hood with  convictions  matured  beyond  many  of  his 
years,  and  being  naturally  conscientious  and  of  an 
active  temperament,  he  soon  identified  himself  with 
the  earnest  opponents  of  slavery,  intemperance,  capi- 
tal punishment,  and  restricted  charter  suffrage,  the 
four  questions  which  were  just  then  disturbing  the 
usual  quiet  of  his  State.     To  his  great  disgust  the 
latter  reform  soon  fell  into  the  hands  of  unwise  leaders, 
and  he  withdrew  from  all  further  connection  with  the 
party,  not  being  inclined  to  place  himself  in  rebellion 
against  the  de  facto  authorities  of  the  State,  though 
not  the  less  convinced  of  the  justice  of  the  demand. 
From  early  childhood  Mr.  Aldrich  had  been  a  victim 
of  gastric  disease,  which  in  his  later  youth  increased 
in  severity,  and  was  occasionally  accompanied  with 
severe  intestinal  complications,  which,  with  the  de- 
bilitating effects  of  the  treatment  considered  necessarv 


393 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


to  give  relief,  greatly  enfeebled  his  general  health, 
and  caused  his  friends  much  solicitude  for  the  future. 
An  entire  change  in  the  treatment  was  finally  decided 
upon,  and  on  the  accession  of  one  of  these  attacks  a 
botanic  physician  was  called,  who  gave  him  more 
speedy  relief  and  with  less  exhaustion  than  he  had 
previously  experienced.  The  treatment  finally  re- 
sulted in  the  establishment  of  better  health  than  he 
had  ever  before  enjoyed.  This  gratifying  result 
turned  his  attention  to  the  study  of  medicine,  and  in 
the  early  part  of  the  year  1839  he  entered  the  office 
and  infirmary  of  Dr.  J.  A.  Brown,  of  Providence,  R.  I. 

With  his  usual  ardor  he  entered  upon  his  new 
course  of  study,  also  gaining  a  practical  knowledge 
of  the  use  and  effects  of  remedies  at  the  bedside  of 
the  numerous  patients  treated  in  the  infirmary.  Here 
he  remained  until  the  last  of  November,  1840,  when 
he  accepted  an  invitation  to  go  to  Fall  River,  Mass., 
to  take  the  place  of  Dr.  J.  B.  Woodward,  who  went 
South  for  the  benefit  of  his  health.  Dr.  Woodward 
returned  in  about  a  year,  and  Mr.  Aldrich  left  to 
further  pursue  his  studies.  He  attended  a  course  of 
lectures  in  the  Medical  Department  of  Harvard  Col- 
lege, and  subsequently  a  course  at  the  Botanic  Medi- 
cal College  in  Cincinnati,  where  he  received  his  di- 
ploma and  was  chosen  valedictorian  of  his  class. 
After  practicing  several  months  in  Woonsocket,  he 
removed  to  Fall  River  in  November,  1843,  again  tak- 
ing the  place  of  Dr.  Woodward,  then  made  vacant 
by  his  death,  and  now  antedates  by  some  years  any 
other  practitioner  in  the  city,  and  has  been  the  long- 
est in  practice  of  any  one  of  his  school  in  Bristol 
County.  He  continues  to  adhere  to  the  same  princi- 
ples of  sanitive  medication  he  at  first  adopted,  yet, 
profiting  from  his  experience  and  keeping  himself 
somewhat  familiar  with  current  medical  literature,  he 
is  ever  ready  to  adopt  such  changes  in  remedies  and 
methods  of  application  as  his  judgment  approves. 

For  the  purpose  of  combating  medical  intolerance 
and  prejudice,  and  giving  to  such  as  were  disposed  to 
inquire  a  knowledge  of  the  reformed  practice,  Dr. 
Aldrich,  in  connection  with  Dr.  T.  W.  Wood,  A.M., 
of  Middleborough,  published  for  a  year  (in  1846-47) 
a  monthly  paper  called  the  Medical  Enquirer,  of  which 
several  hundred  copies  were  issued.  In  1867,  Dr. 
Aldrich  was  elected  president  of  the  Massachusetts 
Eclectic  Medical  Society,  and  subsequently  delivered 
the  annual  address.  The  energy  and  perseverance 
required  to  overcome  the  peculiar  obstacles  incident 
to  his  independent  position  as  a  physician,  added  to 
the  ordinary  duties  of  a  remunerative  practice  which 
he  secured,  did  not  prevent  the  doctor  from  taking  an 
active  part  in  some  of  the  vital  questions  which  have 
agitated  the  community.  Indifferent  to  the  odium 
which  for  a  time  was  thrown  upon  the  Abolitionists  of 
the  Garrison  school,  he  early  became  one  of  the  most 
active  and  earnest  laborers  in  the  anti-slavery  cause 
to  be  found  in  the  place.  He  circulated  petitions, 
secured  lecturers,  presided   at   their   meetings,  con- 


ducted the  correspondence,  and  was  closely  identified 
with  the  comparatively  few  of  a  similar  faith  and  ac- 
cordant spirit.  He  has  always  been  a  strong  advocate 
of  total  abstinence  from  all  alcoholic  beverages,  was 
for  years  president  of  the  Temperance  Society,  has 
frequently  spoken  at  temperance  meetings,  and  for 
many  years  has  almost  entirely  discarded  the  use  of 
alcohol  as  a  curative  agent. 

His  early  views  on  the  suffrage  question  made  him 
a  ready  advocate  of  woman's  right  to  the  ballot  as  a 
matter  of  justice  and  sound  expediency. 

For  some  years  he  has  held  the  office  of  president 
of  the  Children's  Home,  a  public  institution  designed 
to  have  charge  of  orphans  and  destitute  children,  and 
in  the  success  of  which  he  has  been  much  interested. 
He  has  also  been  the  principal  physician  employed  at 
the  Home  in  cases  of  sickness.  In  1852  the  doctor 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  school  committee,  the 
only  political  office  he  ever  held,  being  loosely  bound 
by  party  ties,  though  strongly  in  sympathy  with  the 
Republican  organization.  From  1852  to  1879  he  held 
the  office  fifteen  years,  the  last  five  of  which  he  was 
elected  chairman  of  the  committee.  He  declined  a 
further  renomination,  and  after  a  year's  interval  his 
wife  was  elected  to  the  position,  which  she  still  holds. 
The  annual  reports  of  the  committee  during  his  chair- 
manship indicate  theintelligentinteresthe  manifested 
in  the  discharge  of  his  official  duties. 

Dr.  Aldrich  continued  his  connection  with  the 
Society  of  Friends  until  the  New  England  Yearly 
Meeting  decided  to  forbid  the  opening  of  its  houses 
of  worship  for  anti-slavery  meetings,  and  advised  its 
members  not  to  be  identified  with  the  Abolitionists, 
since  which  time  he  has  ceased  to  regard  himself  as 
a  member  of  the  denomination,  though  never  dis- 
owned by  the  society. 

The  knowledge  and  experience  gained  during  these 
years  liberated  his  own  mind  from  some  religious 
assumptions  and  peculiarities  which  he  formerly  re- 
garded as  important  and  led  him  to  separate  religion, 
which  lie  defines  as  the  vitalizing  and  guiding  principle 
which  exalts  and  dignifies  the  soul  and  consecrates  it 
to  noble  uses,  from  the  great  body  of  theology  which 
the  human  intellect  has  imposed  upon  it.  In  1871  he 
united  with  the  Unitarian  Society,  and  was  shortly 
after  chosen  a  member  of  the  standing  committee, 
which  office  he  still  holds,  and  is  ranked  among  the 
most  active,  liberal,  and  progressive  members  of  the 
society. 

Dr.  Aldrich  was  married,  May  24,  1844,  to  Mary  A. 
Allen,  of  Dedham,  Mass.  She  was  a  teacher  in  the 
higher  branches  of  instruction,  and  thoroughly  in 
accord  with  her  husband  in  social  and  reformatory 
questions.  She  never  enjoyed  vigorous  health,  and 
died  of  inherited  pulmonary  disease  Dec.  18,  1857. 
He  was  again  married,  Sept.  23,  1862,  to  Louisa  G., 
youngest  daughter  of  Hon.  Nathaniel  B.  Burden,  the 
atmosphere  of  whose  home  was  permeated  with  those 
ideas  of  practical  righteousness  which   underlie  all 


/ 


ifU'Cr?'?^-- 


j  M?^^ 


I  a^t 


FALL  RIVER. 


399 


that  is  genuine  in  life  and  enduring  in  character. 
They  have  a  daughter  and  son,  the  former  of  whom 
has  nearly  completed  her  second  year  in  Smith  Col- 
lege, Northampton. 

For  twenty-five  years  the  doctor  lived  in  the  Blossom 
house,  No.  77  North  Main  Street,  on  the  corner  of 
Franklin  Street.  In  1870  he  purchased  a  pleasant 
home  on  the  corner  of  Hanover  and  Prospect  Streets, 
where  he  has  since  resided,  hut  continues  his  office  at 
the  old  place  on  Main  Street. 

We  conclude  this  biography  with  the  following  ap- 
preciative tribute,  written  by  a  prominent  and  highly- 
respected  citizen  of  Fall  River: 

"  Dr.  Aldrich  has  more  than  a  reputation,  he  has  a 
character  so  well  woven  into  the  woof  and  warp  of 
his  e very-day  life  as  to  present  a  degree  of  faultless- 
ness  that  has  secured  for  him  general  confidence  and 
respect.  He  is  a  gentleman  of  strong  convictions  and 
marked  individuality;  has  opinions  of  his  own,  and 
is  not  slow  in  defending  them  when  it  becomes  ne- 
cessary for  him  to  do  so.  Indeed,  his  combativeness  is 
fairly  developed,  and  at  times  he  loves  controversy, 
and  wields  a  ready  and  caustic  pen,  as  those  have 
found  who  have  crossed  lances  with  him.  While 
honoring  the  profession  of  which  he  is  a  worthy  mem- 
ber, he  has  found  time  for  that  general  and  select 
reading  which,  as  much  as  anything,  develops, 
strengthens,  and  makes  the  man.  As  a  physician, 
Dr.  Aldrich  is  safe,  reliable,  and  always  to  be  trusted  ; 
as  a  citizen,  gentlemanly  in  his  bearing  and  deport- 
ment, and  holds  a  high  and  well-merited  place  in  the 
good  will  of  the  community. 

"  His  services  on  the  school  committee  of  Fall  River, 
for  which  he  is  admirably  adapted  both  by  culture 
and  experience,  have  been  valuable  in  many  ways, 
and  his  interest  in  general  education  and  all  that  is 
good  and  ennobling  in  life  are  well  known  and  ap- 
preciated. We  wish  him  the  addition  of  many  golden 
years  to  the  silver  summers  of  his  life." 


DR.  JEROME  DWELLY. 
Dr.  Jerome  D welly  was  born  in  Tiverton,  R.  I.,  Jan. 
21, 1823,  about  four  and  one-half  miles  south  from  the 
city  of  Fall  River.  His  father,  Daniel  Dwelly2,  was 
a  well-known  and  respectable  farmer,  and  was  a  direct 
descendant  of  Richard  Dwelly,  who  was  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  Plymouth  Colony,  and  who,  about 
1605,  settled  in  Scituate,  Mass.,  having  been  in  some 
of  the  neighboring  towns  as  early  as  1654.  He  had 
a  grant  of  land  in  Scituate  from  the  colony  for  ser- 
vices  rendered  in  King  Philip's  war  in  1676.  His 
grandson,  Joshua  Dwelly,  being  a  ship-carpenter, 
emigrated  from  Scituate  to  Swansea,  Mass.,  and  about 
17' io  to  Tiverton,  R.  I.,  and  his  grandson,  Richard 
Dwelly3,  emigrated  from  Tiverton,  R.  I.,  to  Manlius, 
N.  Y.,  when  his  son,  Daniel  Dwelly-',  was  about  eleven 
years  of  age,  where  the  family  remained,  except  the 
son  Daniel,  who  returned  to  Tiverton  and  married  the 


daughter  of  Jonathan  Slade2,  formerly  of  Slade's 
Ferry.  Jerome  Dwelly,  his  son,  having  become 
lame  when  quite  young,  was  sent  to  school  at  Fall 
River,  and  subsequently  to  Pierce' Academy,  at  Mid- 
dleborough,  Mass.,  to  fit  for  college,  with  a  view  of 
becoming  a  lawyer.  He  remained  there  three  years, 
and  then,  his  health  failing,  he  was  obliged  to  suspend 
his  studies  for  two  or  three  years,  after  which  his  mind 
became  diverted  to  the  study  of  medicine.  He  then 
became  a  student  in  the  office  of  the  late  Thomas 
Wilbur,  of  Fall  River,  and  subsequently  entered  the 
offices  of  Dr.  William  E.  Townsend  and  his  father, 
Solomon  D.  Townsend,  one  of  the  surgeons  of  the 
Massachusetts  General  Hospital,  Boston.  He  was 
graduated  in  medicine  at  the  Harvard  Medical  Col- 
lege in  1847,  and  has  been  in  the  active  practice  of 
his  profession  in  Fall  River  since  that  time,  with  the 
exception  of  two  years  spent  in  California,  from  1849 
to  1851.  He  was  for  about  twenty  years  a  member  of 
the  school  board  of  Fall  River. 


AUGUSTUS    UHACE. 

A  man  who  entirely  by  his  own  efforts  has  risen 
to  affluence  and  social  position,  and  through  all  the 
changing  events  of  an  active  business  life  has  pre- 
served his  integrity  unimpeached,  well  deserves  the 
pen  of  the  historian.  Such  an  one  is  Augustus  Chace, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Without  the  advantages 
of  inherited  aid  he  has  worked  the  problem  of  his  own 
fortune,  and  lives  to  enjoy  the  fruition  of  a  successful 
business  career. 

Augustus  Chace  was  born  in  Freetown,  Mass., 
Sept.  20,  1813.  While  he  was  quite  a  small  lad  his 
parents  removed  to  Valley  Falls,  R.  I.,  where  they 
remained  about  five  years,  and  then  removed  to  Fall 
River.  His  first  work  in  a  mill  was  at  Valley  Falls, 
where  he  received  one  dollar  per  week.  Upon  com- 
ing to  Fall  River  he  commenced  work  in  the  Print- 
Works,  carrying  cloth,  and  soon  after  went  into  what 
was  long  known  as  the  "  yellow  mill,"  stripping  cards, 
receiving  the  meagre  salary  of  fifty  cents  per  day. 
Here  he  remained  about  eight  years,  and  then  re- 
moved to  Eagleville,  and  later  to  Newville  or 
"  Sucker  Brook,"  as  the  locality  is  called. 

He  had  now  became  a  thoroughly  practical  manu- 
facturer, and  with  that  clear  foresight  which  has  ever 
been  characteristic  of  the  man,  he  saw  the  facilities 
afforded  by  Fall  River  for  manufacturing  purposes, 
and  in  1845  he  came  here,  and  in  company  with  the 
late  William  B.  Trafford  erected  a  small  mill  for  the 
manufacture  of  yarns,  etc.,  under  the  firm-name  of 
Chace  &  Trafford.  This  partnership  continued  about 
fifteen  years.  The  firm  subsequently  purchased  the 
Westport  Manufacturing  Company,  and  after  about 
six  years  the  partnership  was  dissolved,  Mr.  Chace 
retaining  the  interest  of  the  linn  in  the  Fall  River 
property,  and  Mr.  Trafford  taking  the  Westport  pro- 
ject.     The  business  was  originally  commenced  in  a 


400 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


WEAVER    OSBORN. 


Weaver  Osborn,  son  of  Thomas  and  Anna  (Durfee) 
Osborn,  was  born  in  Tiverton,  R.  I.,  May  23,  1815. 
He  remained  at  home  until  he  was  eighteen,  working 
on  the  farm  and  attending  the  common  school,  which 
furnished  his  early  advantage  for  an  education,  except 
a  few  months'  instruction  at  the  seminary  at  Little 
West  Hill,  South  Kingston,  R.  I.  At  eighteen  he 
began  to  learn  the  blacksmith's  trade  in  Fairhaven, 


small  way,  the  product  being  about  eighty  pounds  of 
coarse  yarn  per  day,  employing  six  persons.  It  has 
increased  and  developed  until  at  the  present  time  the 
production  is  three'  thousand  six  hundred  pounds  per 
day  of  cotton  twines  and  carpet  warps, — employing 
ninety  persons.  During  the  present  year  the  capac- 
ity of  the  mill  is  to  be  largely  increased. 

Mr.  Chace  has  ever  manifested  a  lively  interest  in 
all  matters  tending  to  advance  the  welfare  of  his 
adopted  town,  and  may  be  ranked  as  one  of  the  lead- 
ing mill  directors  and  manufacturers  in  this  famous 
manufacturing  city.  In  addition  to  the  Wyoming 
Mills,  which  are  owned  exclusively  by  him,  he  is 
president  of  the  Tecumseh  Mills,  president  of  the 
Chace  Mills,  a  director  in  the  Fall  River  Spool  and 
Bobbin  Company,  also  in  the  Merchants'  Mill  Cor- 
poration, and  is  an  owner  in  the  Barnaby  Manufac- 
turing Company.  He  has  been  president  of  the 
Union  Savings-Bank  since  its  incorporation  in  1869. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Legislature  of  Rhode  Island 
when  the  town  of  Tiverton  embraced  a  portion  of 
the  present  city  of  Fall  River,  and  has  also  been 
identified  with  the  city  government,  serving  in  the 
Common  Council,  and  also  in  Board  of  Aldermen. 

Sept.  20,  1832,  Mr.  Chace  united  in  marriage  with 
Rhoda  M.  Lake,  a  native  of  Tiverton,  R.  I.,  and  their 
family  consisted  of  four  children,— Augustus  W.  D., 
deceased  ;  Mary  Maria,  deceased  ;  Adoniram  J.,  who 
is  in  his  father's  office ;  and  Sarah  L.,  wife  of  John 
J.Wood. 

Augustus  Chace's  career  has  ever  been  guided  by  a 
truly  religious  principle,  and  from  that  Sabbath 
morning  while  playing  marbles  in  the  streets  of  Val- 
ley Falls  he  heard  the  voice  of  the  Christian  woman 
inviting  him  to  the  Sunday-school,  to  the  present 
time  his  life  has  been  characterized  by  a  consistent 
Christian  spirit.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Second 
Baptist  Church  of  this  city  for  forty  years. 

Augustus  Chace  is  essentially  a  self-made  man. 
Early  in  life  he  learned  that  the  way  to  success  was 
by  no  royal  road,  but  was  open  to  stout  hearts  and 
willing  hands.  He  has  gained  nothing  by  mere  luck, 
but  everything  by  perseverance  and  well-digested 
plans,  and  the  intelligent  application  of  his  energies 
to  the  end  in  view.  In  social  life  he  is  gentlemanly 
and  affable,  and  is  one  of  Fall  River's  most  enterpris- 
ing and  honored  citizens. 


Bristol  Co.,  Mass.,  and  having  served  his  apprentice- 
ship pursued  that  occupation  till  1871. 

In  1835,  Mr.  Osborn  bought  out  Nathaniel  Peirce, 
of  Tiverton,  and  carried  on  his  trade  there  about  eight 
years,  and  in  1843  he  removed  to  Providence,  where 
he  remained  one  year,  when  he  returned  to  Tiverton. 
In  1844  he  began  to  work  for  Andrew  Robeson  as  a 
journeyman,  and  continued  in  that  capacity  four 
years,  when  in  1848  he  resumed  business  in  his  native 
town,  continuing  till  January,  1855,  when  his  shop 
was  destroyed  by  fire.  In  this  juncture  of  affairs  he 
removed  to  Fall  River  and  entered  into  copartner- 
ship with  James  M.  Osborn,  his  younger  brother 
(firm  of  W.  &.  J.  M.  Osborn).  Their  shop  was  situ- 
ated where  the  new  post-office  now  stands,  and  the 
partnership  lasted  till  1871. 

Since  then  Mr.  Osborn  has  been  closely  connected 
with  manufactures  and  with  the  growth  and  develop- 
ment of  Fall  River.  He  was  elected  president  of  the 
Pocasset  National  Bank  in  1873,  an  office  which  he 
still  holds.  He  has  been  a  director  in  the  same  bank 
since  its  organization  in  1854,  when  it  was  known  as 
the  Pocasset  Bank  under  the  State  laws.  In  1873 
he  was  elected  chairman  of  the  board  of  investment, 
and  still  holds  the  position.  He  has  been  a  member 
of  the  board  since  its  organization  in  1851,  and,  with 
the  exception  of  William  C.  Chapin,  of  Providence, 
he  is  the  only  living  member  of  that  original  board. 

Mr.  Osborn  is  president  and  director  of  the  Os- 
born Mills,  which  take  his  name.  He  was  chiefly  in- 
strumental in  getting  the  stock  taken  and  building 
the  first  mill  in  1872-  Since  the  last  date  he  has  also 
been  a  director  in  the  Montaup  Mills.  He  is  a  trus- 
tee of  the  Citizens'  Savings- Bank  of  Fall  River,  one 
of  the  board  of  water  commissioners,  and  one  of  the 
trustees  of  the  State  workhouse  at  Bridgewater, 
Mass. 

As  a  Whig  in  politics,  he  cast  his  first  vote  for 
Henry  Clay,  but  became  a  Republican  upon  the  or- 
ganization of  the  latter  party  in  1856.  As  such  he 
was  elected  to  represent  the  town  of  Fall  River,  R.  I., 
in  the  State  Senate  in  1857, 1858,  and  1859,  and  served 
on  the  military  and  other  committees.  He  has  since 
served  in  the  Legislature  of  Massachusetts  for  the  fol- 
lowing-named years,  1868, 1869, 1871, 1873, 1876, 1877, 
and  in  1879  he  was  a  member  of  the  State  Senate,  and 
served  on  several  important  committees. 

As  a  military  man,  he  has  served  through  the  va- 
rious grades  from  private  to  captain  in  the  State 
militia,  and  was  in  the  Dorr  war. 

Mr.  Osborn  has  had  much  experience  in  the  settle- 
ment of  estates,  and  his  labors  in  that  direction  have 
given  general  satisfaction.  He  is  a  man  of  strict  in- 
tegrity and  sound  practical  judgment. 

He  married,  Jan.  7,  1837,  Patience  B.  Dwelley, 
daughter  of  Daniel  and  Mary  Slade.  They  have  had 
four  children,  as  follows:  (1)  Mary  S. ;  (2)  Daniel 
W.,  died  in  his  twenty-third  year;  (3)  Thomas  F., 
died  aged  nine;  (4)  Anna  Jane,  died  aged  nine. 


■  ,:?3*« 


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Z  y^7^2/y 


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4m. 


FALL  RIVER. 


401 


Mrs.  Osborn  was  born  May  27,  1817,  in  Tiverton, 
R.  I.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Osborn  have  been  members  of 
the  Baptist  Church  since  1843. 

The  nine  children  of  Thomas  and  Anna  (Durfee) 
Osborn  were  (1)  William,  (2)  Thomas,  (3)  Joseph, 
(4)  Anna  (deceased),  (5)  Wilson  (deceased),  (6)  Pa- 
tience (deceased),  (7)  Eliza,  (8)  Weaver,  (9)  James  M. 

Thomas  Osborn  died  October,  1833,  aged  sixty-six. 
His  wife  died  May  23,  1845,  aged  seventy-two. 


J.  M.  OSBORN. 

James  Munroe  Osborn,  son  of  Thomas  and  Anna 
(Durfee)  Osborn,  was  born  at  Tiverton,  R.  I.,  Aug. 
27,  1822.  His  grandfather,  William  Osband,  was  a 
native  of  Newport,  R.  I.,  where  he  was  born  Aug.  16, 
172D;  he  married  Elizabeth  Shriove  in  1751;  had 
children,  Weaver,  Elizabeth,  Patience  (died  young), 
Thomas,  William,  and  Wilson,  and  died  Oct.  29,  1810, 
aged  eighty-one.  Thomas  Osborn,  father  of  J.  M., 
was  born  at  Tiverton,  R.  I.,  March  31,  1766 ;  was  a 
ship's  cooper,  and  when  not  on  a  voyage  engaged  in 
farming.  He  married  Anna  Durfee  in  1797,  had  nine 
children,  of  whom  James  M.  was  the  youngest.  He 
died,  aged  sixty-seven,  Oct.  7,  1833.  His  mother  be- 
ing left  a  widow  when  James  was  eleven  years  old, 
he  remained  with  her  on  the  farm,  availing  himself 
for  six  years  of  such  common-school  advantages  of 
education  as  were  given  by  the  town  schools,  when 
he  learned  the  blacksmith  trade  of  his  brother, 
Weaver,  with  whom  he  stayed  three  years ;  he  was 
then  twenty.  Going  back  to  the  farm,  he  tried  seine 
fishing  with  unsatisfactory  results,  and  relinquishing 
this  field  of  labor  he  resumed  blacksmithing  in  Prov- 
idence and  worked  in  other  places  until  1845,  when 
he  came  to  Fall  River  and  entered  the  employ  of 
John  Kilburn,  for  whom  he  worked  until  the  death 
of  Mr.  Kilburn,  some  eighteen  months  thereafter. 
Mr.  Kilburn's  shop  was  shortly  after  taken  by  Kil- 
burn &  Lincoln,  and  Mr.  Osborn  began  work  for 
them  and  continued  there  until  1855.  In  February 
of  that  year  he  joined  his  brother,  Weaver,  in  the 
purchase  of  the  shop  of  Gideon  Packard,  No.  44 
Bedford  Street,  where  they  commenced  business  for 
themselves  under  the  firm-title  of  W.  &  J.  M.  Os- 
born. 

In  1859  the  incentive  of  making  Fall  River  a  lead- 
ing manufacturing  centre  of  the  State  was  given  to 
the  live  business  men  of  the  city,  and  W.  &  J.  M. 
Osborn  became  interested  in  and  helped  build  the 
Union  Mill,  so  soon  to  be  followed  by  others.  The 
firm  afterwards  took  stock  and  were  interested  in  the 
Granite  Mill,  and  in  1867  invested  largely  in  the 
Merchants'  Manufacturing  Company,  in  which  corpo- 
ration Mr.  Osborn  was  made  a  director.  Companies 
desiring  to  establish  themselves  here  soon  saw  that 
the  assistance  of  this  active  and  progressive  firm  was 
a  step,  and  not  an  unimportant  one,  to  success,  and 
the  members  of  it  were  soon  associated  with  others  in 
26 


the  erection  of  the  Stafford  Mill.  By  this  time  other 
and  weightier  duties  superseded  the  business  which 
the  firm  was  organized  to  transact,  and,  retaining  the 
firm-name,  the  blacksmithing  was  dropped.  Mr.  Os- 
born, in  1871,  was  elected  director  and  treasurer  of  the 
Slade  Mill,  then  organized,  and  devoted  himself  to  the 
duties  of  that  office,  and  superintended  the  building 
of  the  mill.  The  next  corporation  in  which  the 
brothers  were  interested  was  the  Osborn  Mill.  The 
copartnership  of  W.  &  J.  M.  Osborn  continued  until 
1880.  They  were  interested  in  the  Union  Belt  Com- 
pany, Fall  River  Bobbin  Mills,  Montaup  Mills,  and 
other  corporations. 

Mr.  Osborn  married,  Aug.  9,  1847,  Mary  B.,  daugh- 
ter of  Nathan  and  Elizabeth  (Buffinton)  Chace,  of 
Somerset.  (See  history  of  Chace  family  in  history  of 
Fall  River  in  this  volume.)  They  have  had  three 
children,  only  one  of  whom,  James  E.,  now  survives. 
He  was  born  Jan.  24,  1856,  graduated  at  Fall  River 
High  School,  married  Delia  S.,  daughter  of  William 
and  Elizabeth  (Durfee)  Carr,  and  has  one  child,  Ma- 
rion. 

Mr.  Osborn  is  a  director  of  the  Globe  Yarn-Mill, 
Merchants'  Manufacturing  Company,  and  a  trustee 
of  the  Fall  River  Five  Cents  Savings-Bank.  In  poli- 
tics Whig  and  Republican.  He  has  been  from  early 
life  a  temperance  worker  in  connection  with  the 
order  of  Sons  of  Temperance.  He  has  never  used  to- 
bacco or  liquor.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  city 
government,  serving  in  both  branches.  He  and  his 
wife  have  been  long  connected  with  the  Second  Bap- 
tist Church  of  this  city  as  members,  and  Mr.  Osborn 
has  been  for  several  years  and  is  now  chairman  of  the 
standing  committee  of  the  society.  Mr.  Osborn 
erected  the  pleasant  residence  which  is  now  his  home 
in  1859,  occupying  it  the  same  year.  He  is  a  pleasant, 
affable  man,  and  has  been  truly  the  architect  of  his 
own  fortune,  and  enjoys  a  warm  place  in  the  regards 
of  many  friends. 


DANFORTH   HORTON. 

Danforth  Horton,  son  of  Aaron  and  Bethaney 
(Baker)  Horton  and  grandson  of  Solomon  Horton,  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Dighton,  Mass.,  Nov.  19,  1812. 
His  grandfather,  Solomon  Horton,  married  Hannah 
Talbot,  a  native  of  Dighton,  and  had  ten  children, 
seven  sons  and  three  daughters, — Aaron  Horton,  son 
of  Solomon  and  Hannah  (Talbot)  Horton,  was  born  in 
Dighton,  Mass.,  in  1779  or  1780,  and  died  Dec.  3,  1854, 
aged  seventy-four  years.  He  married  Bethaney,  daugh- 
ter of  Samuel  Baker,  of  Rehoboth,  and  had  five  sons 
and  two  daughters,  viz.,  Mason,  deceased  ;  Danforth  ; 
Hiram  ;  Nancy  B.,  wife  of  Jarvis  W.  Eddy  ;  Na- 
thaniel B. ;  Angelina,  wife  of  Levi  Baker;  and  Alvah, 
deceased. 

Mr.  Horton  married  for  his  second  wife  Sally, 
daughter  of  Cromwell  and  Sarah  (Mason)  Burr,  of 
Rehoboth.     Danforth  Horton  spent  his  youth  on  his 


402 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL  COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


father's  farm,  and  attended  the  common  schools  until 
about  the  age  of  nineteen,  when  he  began  to  learn 
the  trade  of  a  mason  with  James  Horton,  of  Reho- 
both.  He  subsequently  worked  at  his  trade  in  Provi- 
dence, Taunton,  and  New  Bedford,  and  in  1833  set- 
tled in  Fall  River,  where  he  has  ever  since  resided. 

About  one  year  after  his  arrival  in  Fall  Eiver  he 
formed  a  copartnership  with  Lloyd  S.  Earle,  which 
continued  till  1860.  As  contractors  and  builders 
during  that  period  they  did  a  large  amount  of  busi- 
ness, erecting  in  whole  or  in  part  some  of  the  most 
substantial  buildings  in  the  city,  including  many  of 
the  business  blocks  and  dwellings.  They  carried  on 
every  kind  of  masonry,  and  as  builders  sustained  a 
high  reputation  for  the  substantial  and  solid  charac- 
ter of  their  work. 

In  1858,  Mr.  Horton  was  elected  surveyor  of  high- 
ways, and  two  years  afterwards  superintendent  of 
streets,  which  latter  position  he  held  till  1878,  and 
for  a  considerable  period  of  the  time  held  the  office 
of  surveyor  of  highways. 

Mr.  Horton  was  superintendent  of  lights  for  many 
years,  and  for  some  time  had  charge  of  the  teams  of 
the  fire  department.  As  superintendent  of  sewers 
he  had  charge  of  all  those  constructed  prior  to  1878. 
He  is  a  director  in  the  Eobeson  Mills,  and  presi- 
dent of  the  company  since  February,  1882.  He  has 
also  been  a  director  of  the  Bourne  &  Stafford  Mills 
since  the  organization  of  the  companies,  and  was  a 
director  for  some  time  of  the  Merino  and  Tecumseh 
Mills,  and  of  the  Fall  River  Granite  Company.  He 
is  at  the  present  time  a  director  of  the  Pocasset 
National  Bank,  and  a  trustee  and  vice-president  of 
the  Citizens'  Savings-Bank,  of  Fall  River. 

In  his  political  principles  he  was  in  early  life  a 
Democrat,  affiliating  with  the  Free-Soil  branch  of  the 
party  in  1836  and  subsequently,  so  that  in  1856  it  was 
easy  for  him  to  join  the  Republican  movement,  of 
which  he  has  since  been  a  stanch  advocate,  although 
never  aspiring  to  political  honors. 

He  and  Mrs.  Horton  have  been  members  of  the 
Baptist  Church  since  1840,  nearly  half  a  century. 

He  married  Sarah  B.,  daughter  of  Carlton  and 
Sarah  (Brayton)  Sherman,  of  Fall  River,  Jan.  29, 
1835.  She  was  born  in  Fall  River  Feb.  18,  1810. 
Her  father,  Carlton  Sherman,  was  a  native  of  Free- 
town, a  son  of  Silas  Sherman,  and  had  four  children, — 
Benjamin  B.,  Zeruiah  A.,  Persis  P.,  and  Sarah  B. 
He  was  a  farmer  and  cabinet-maker,  and  died,  in  his 
seventy-fourth  year,  July  10,  1849.  His  wife  died 
Jan.  15,  1845,  aged  seventy  years. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Horton's  two  children,  Sarah  and 
Charles,  both  died  young. 

Dan  forth  Horton  is  one  of  the  self-made  men  of 
his  time.  Starting  out  a  farmer's  boy,  with  limited 
education,  and  with  no  capital  save  his  own  indomi- 
table energy  and  perseverance,  he  has  made  his  way 
to  a  high  standing  among  the  men  of  character  and 
business  integrity  of  Fall  River. 


LLOYD  SLADE  EARLE. 
Lloyd  Slade  Earle,  son  of  Sladeand  Hannah  (Gibbs) 
Earle,  was  born  in  Somerset,  Mass.,  Dec.  11,  1812, 
and  soon  after  settled  in  the  town  of  Swansea.  Slade 
Earle,  his  father,  was  a  farmer  in  that  town,  where  he 
was  born  in  1791.  He  married,  in  1812,  Hannah 
Gibbs,  daughter  of  Robert  Gibbs,  and  had  six  chil- 
dren, viz. :  Lloyd  S.,  Gibbs,  George  W.,  Slade  W., 
Hannah  J.  (Mrs.  William  Maxam,  of  Swansea),  and 
John  M.  Slade  Earle  and  his  wife  were  members  of 
the  Baptist  Church  in  Rehoboth. 

Lloyd  S.  spent  his  youthful  days  in  Swansea.  His 
advantages  for  an  education  were  such  as  the  common 
schools  of  his  day  afforded  to  farmers'  boys  who  had 
to  work  during  the  summer,  as  our  subject  generally 
did,  either  on  his  father's  farm  or  hired  out  to  some 
neighboring  farmer,  till  the  age  of  seventeen. 

It  was  at  this  age,  in  1829,  that  he  went  to  New 
Bedford  to  learn  the  mason's  trade.  After  serving  an 
apprenticeship  of  four  years  with  Pierce  &  Wheaton, 
contractors  and  builders,  he  went  to  Fall  River  in  the 
summer  of  1834,  and  found  employment  with  Ephraim 
G.  Woodman,  and  the  fall  of  the  same  year  entered 
into  copartnership  with  his  brother-in-law,  Danforth 
Horton,  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  on  the  contract- 
ing and  building  business.  Mr.  Earle  did  not,  how- 
ever, at  once  embark  in  business,  but  returned  to 
Swansea,  and  taught  school  during  the  winter  of 
1834-35  in  his  own  district.  The  two  following  win- 
ters he  taught  in  Dighton.  The  partnership  with  Mr. 
Horton  continued  till  1860,  during  which  time  they 
did  a  large  business.  After  it  Avas  dissolved  Mr.  Earle 
continued  to  carry  on  a  heavy  business  of  his  own, 
erecting  some  of  the  finest  mills  and  houses  in  Fall 
River.  He  built  sixteen  mills,  among  which  we  may 
mention  the  Granite  Mills,  American  Print- Works 
(twice,  on  account  of  fire),  Flint  Mills,  American 
Linen  Mill,  Shove  Mills,  Union  Mills  (first),  Bourne 
Mill,  and  Wampanoag  Mill  No.  2.  He  has  been  a 
very  successful  contractor  for  brick  and  stone  work, 
and  also  for  finishing,  plastering,  etc.,  the  interiors  of 
houses. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Earle  was  first  a  Democrat,  acting 
with  the  Free-Soil  branch  of  the  party,  and  has  been 
a  Republican  since  that  organization  was  formed,  in 
1856.  He  has  taken  some  interest  in  local  affairs. 
He  served  one  year  as  a  member  of  the  Common 
Council  of  Fall  River,  and  in  1860-61  he  was  a 
member  of  the  General  Court.  He  has  always  been  a 
strong  temperance  man,  having  never  used  tobacco  or 
liquors  of  any  kind. 

He  married  Persis  P.,  daughter  of  Carlton  Sher- 
man and  Sarah  Brayton,  in  1836.  She  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  Carlton  and  Sarah  (Brayton)  Sherman,  and 
was  born  in  Fall  River,  Jan.  23,  1808.  She  had  one 
brother  and  two  sisters,  viz.,  Benjamin  B.,  Zeruiah 
A.,  and  Sarah  B. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Earle  had  one  son,  Andrew  B.,  born 
March  27,   1837.     He   married  Hannah  E.  Borden, 


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FALL  RIVER. 


403 


daughter  of  Durfee  Borden,  of  Fall  River,  and  had 
three  children, — Lloyd  B.,  died  in  infancy;  Emma 
P.  and  Mary  A.,  with  their  mother,  survive.  Andrew 
B.  Earle  was  a  grocer.  He  died  Jan.  12,  1867,  aged 
twenty-nine  years. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lloyd  S.  Earle  are  members  of  the 
First  Baptist  Church  in  Fall  River.  He  has  taken  a 
deep  interest  in  Sunday-school  work,  and  has  been  a 
teacher,  more  or  less,  for  nearly  forty  years. 

He  is  a  director  in  the  Shove,  Wampanoag,  Robe- 
son, and  Bourne  Mills,  a  trustee  of  the  Citizens' 
Savings-Bank,  and  member  of  its  board  of  invest- 
ment. 

Mr.  Earle  is  actively  connected  with  some  of  the 
leading  enterprises  of  Fall  River,  and  has  taken  a 
deep  interest  in  all  public  improvements,  as  well  as 
in  all  measures  and  institutions  calculated  to  conserve 
the  moral  and  intellectual  welfare  of  the  community. 

He  is  a  self-made  man,  and  the  architect  of  his  own 
fortune,  having  started  in  life  a  poor  boy,  and  by  his 
own  unaided  exertions  made  his  way  to  the  honorable 
standing  which  he  holds  among  the  substantial  men 
of  the  city.  In  all  his  business  and  social  relations 
he  has  sustained  a  high  reputation  for  honor  and  in- 
tegrity.1   

WILLIAM    MARVEL. 

William  Marvel  was  born  in  Swansea,  Mass.,  on 
the  21st  day  of  March,  in  the  year  1800.  His  father, 
William  Marvel,  was  a  mason  by  trade,  and  the  Mar- 
vels, Marbles,  or  Marbels,  for  these  are  different  spell- 
ings of  one  family  name,  had  been  generally"  mechanics 
since  they  came  to  this  country  from  Wales,  about 
the  year  1650.  Charles  and  Joseph,  brothers,  and 
the  first  of  the  name  in  this  part  of  the  State,  were 
ship-builders,  and  many  of  their  descendants  followed 
the  same  profession,  building  vessels  for  Newport, 
New  Bedford,  Warren,  and  neighboring  ports.  Pru- 
dence Mason,  his  mother,  was  descended  from  a  family 
of  Baptist  Puritans,  who  fled  to  this  country  at  the 
time  of  the  Restoration.  Many  of  the  Masons  were 
well-to-do  farmers,  but  several  are  recorded  as  tanners 
and  shoemakers.  Is  it  to  be  wondered  at  that  coming 
from  such  a  stock,  the  child  should  have  developed  a 
remarkable  love  and  aptitude  for  the  mechanical 
arts  ? 

About  the  year  1805  or  1806  a  small  cotton-mill  was 
started  in  what  was  then  known  as  the  "  Mason  neigh- 
borhood," now  Swansea  Factory,  by  those  pioneers  of 
manufacturing  in  this  county,  the  Wheelers — Na- 
thaniel and  Dexter — and  Oliver  Chace.  When  the 
mill  was  put  in  operation,  William  Marvel,  then 
hardly  six  years  old,  was  hired  to  tend  the  "breaker" 
or  carding-machine.  He  remained  here,  employed  in 
different  parts  of  the  mill,  most  of  the  time  until  1812 
or  1813.     His  work  was  occasionally  interrupted  by 

1  For  a  more  complete  history  of  his  ancestors,  see  biography  of 
Weston  Earle,  Dighton. 


attendance  at  school  during  the  summer  term,  and  for 
a  month  or  six  weeks  in  winter,  and  by  two  longer 
intervals,  when  he  was  engaged  in  farming.  In  1813 
he  was  hired  to  clean  and  repair  the  machinery  of 
a  small  mill,  situated  in  what  was  then  a  part  of  Ti- 
verton, now  Globe  village.  At  that  time  there  were 
no  spindles  running  in  Fall  River,  but  in  the  next 
year  the  Troy  Mill  was  built.  His  services  seem  to 
have  been  demanded  in  all  the  earlier  manufacturing; 
enterprises  in  this  city,  for  in  1814  he  was  employed 
in  the  Troy  Mill,  the  next  year  as  overseer  in  a  small 
mill  owned  by  Dexter  Wheeler,  and  later  hired  by 
Benjamin  E.  Bennett,  carding  rolls  for  hand-spin- 
ning. He  was  constantly  occupied  in  the  mills  either 
in  Fall  River  or  Swansea  until  1819,  when  a  long, 
severe  illness  prostrated  him.  Before  he  regained 
sufficient  strength  to  endure  the  confinement  and 
hard  work  of  a  factory,  he  learned  the  shoemakers' 
trade,  and  was  occupied  one  season  seining  herring 
and  shad  at  Dighton. 

In  1821  he  returned  to  Fall  River,  and  was  overseer 
in  the  old  Troy  Mill  until  it  was  destroyed  by  fire  in 
October  of  that  year,  and  afterwards  found  work  in 
the  machine-shops  of  Oliver  Chace,  and  Harris, 
Hawes  &  Co. 

Mr.  Marvel  was  married  on  the  4th  of  March, 
1827,  to  Lydia  Gifford,  daughter  of  Daniel  Giffbrd, 
of  this  city.  They  had  three  children, — one  son,  died 
in  infancy,  and  a  daughter,  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen 
or  nineteen,  and  a  daughter,  Ann  E.,  married,  May 
14,  1855,  William  W.  Stewart,  son  of  Anthony  Stew- 
art, of  Newport,  R.  I.  In  1824  the  firm  of  Harris, 
Hawes  &  Co.  was  dissolved,  but  Oliver  Hawes  con- 
tinued the  business,  hiring  William  Marvel  to  build 
spinning-frames,  and  in  1825  the  two  formed  a  co- 
partnership. They  not  only  built  machines,  but 
owned  and  ran  a  small  mill,  making  satinet  wraps 
for  J.  &  J.  Eddy.  Finding  their  business  increased 
beyond  their  facilities,  in  1841  they  hired  a  new  shop 
of  the  Iron- Works  Company,  and  at  the  same  time 
took  William  C.  Davol  into  partnership.  Mr.  Davol 
about  this  time  obtained  a  patent  on  a  speeder,  and 
soon  after  introduced  the  "  Sharp  &  Roberts'  Self- 
Acting  Mule,"  the  first  in  this  country.  The  posses- 
sion of  these  two  patents  brought  a  great  amount  of 
business  to  the  firm,  and  for  nearly  forty  years  Marvel 
&  Davol  (Mr.  Hawes  withdrew  in  1857)  were  em- 
ployed in  building  machinery  for  every  department 
of  cotton-manufactory,  besides  looms  for  weaving 
linen-damask.  Their  machines  were  in  demand 
through  the  whole  country  from  Biddeford  and  the 
many  factory-towns  of  Maine  through  all  the  New 
England  States,  New  York,  New  Jersey,  and  as  far 
south  as  Baltimore.  They  supplied  all  the  spinning- 
machinery  for  the  great  Pacific  Mills  at  Lawrence, 
and  until  within  a  few  years  no  mill  has  been  built 
in  Fall  River  without  their  help  in  some  of  its  equip- 
ments. Mr.  Marvel  withdrew  from  active  participa- 
tion in  the  business  about  1865,  but  it  was  not  until 


404 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


the  works  were  destroyed  by  fire,  April  14,  1876,  that 
he  finally  severed  his  connection  with  the  firm,  which 
three  years  later  sold  out  to  the  Iron-Works  Company. 

Many  positions  of  trust,  requiring  business  ability 
and  sound  judgment,  have  been  offered  to  Mr.  Marvel 
at  various  times,  but,  naturally  retiring  and  reluctant 
to  accept  responsibility,  they  were  generally  refused. 
He  was  for  a  short  time  director  in  the  Metacomet 
Bank.  In  his  earlier  days  he  held  numerous  public 
offices,  was  chairman  of  the  school  committee,  and  sev- 
eral times  elected  fireward,  holding  a  position  similar 
to  that  of  our  chief  engineers.  In  connection  with 
Thomas  Durfee,  he  made  the  first  hook-and-ladder 
apparatus  used  in  this  city.  He  was  for  many  years 
inspector  of  steamboats  for  Fall  River,  New  Bedford, 
and  Newport.  In  politics  he  has  always  voted  the  old 
Whig  or  Republican  ticket,  and  in  the  war  of  1812 
joined  a  volunteer  company,  but  was  never  called  into 
active  service. 

Such  is  a  brief  outline  of  the  busy  life  of  an  ener- 
getic, persevering  man.  Fall  River  is  justly  proud  of 
her  rapid  growth  and  supremacy  in  manufactures,  and 
that  supremacy  is  due  to  the  labors  of  just  such 
earnest,  skillful,  keen-sighted,  hard-working  men.  It 
is  the  opinion  of  one  of  our  oldest  and  most  success- 
ful business  men,  whose  portrait  also  appears  in  this 
book,  that  the  name  of  William  Marvel  is  more 
closely  identified  with  the  progress  of  manufactures 
in  this  city  than  that  of  any  other  man. 

The  story  of  his  life  is  a  history  of  every  advance 
and  improvement  in  cotton  manufacturing  for  more 
than  fifty  years,  during  which  he  was  employed  in 
building  machinery.  Eminently  practical,  he  knew 
the  whole  business,  from  the  earliest  and  simplest 
processes  to  the  action  of  every  steel  nerve  and  iron 
muscle  in  the  elaborate  and  complicated  machines  of 
the  present  day.  His  success  in  his  chosen  profession 
was  due  not  only  to  his  industry,  ambition,  and  care- 
ful attention  to  the  details  of  business,  but  to  an  un- 
usual talent  for  mathematics.  Taught  by  himself, 
he  mastered  the  deep  principles  of  that  science,  and 
spent  many  hours  solving  the  knotty  problems  in- 
volved in  calculating  the  intricate  movements  of  dif- 
ferent machines.  As  far  as  can  be  ascertained,  he 
is  the  oldest  cotton-spinner  now  living  in  Bristol 
County.  Mr.  Marvel  is  what  is  called  a  "  self-made 
man."  With  far  less  than  the  advantages  that  every 
child  now  enjoys,  and  obliged  to  assist  in  the  sup- 
port of  his  father's  family  at  an  age  when  many  are 
scarcely  out  of  the  nursery,  he  has  by  his  own  un- 
aided efforts  acquired  an  enviable  position  in  the 
community,  and  now  at  eighty-three,  still  hale  and 
vigorous,  is  enjoying  his  richly-deserved  rest,  re- 
spected by  all  for  his  clear  judgment,  unbending  in- 
tegrity, and  upright,  useful  life. 


SAMUEL    MARTIN    LUTHER. 

Samuel  Martin  Luther,  son  of  Samuel  and  Abigail 
Luther,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Swansea,  Mass.,  Nov. 
15,  1806.  His  grandfather,  Frederick  Luther,  was  a 
native  of  Warren,  R.  I.,  where  he  lived  and  died  at  a 
ripe  old  age.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation  and 
had  children,  one  of  whom  was  Samuel,  who  was 
born  in  Warren  and  settled  in  Swansea,  where  he 
followed  the  occupations  of  farmer  and  carpenter. 
He  died  in  Fall  River  in  the  fall  of  1843,  and  his 
wife  Abigail  died  in  1858  or  1859.  Their  children 
were:  (1)  Rebecca,  married  James  Bowen ;  (2)  Polly, 
married  Willard  Barney;  (3)  Abby,  married  James 
Richards;  (4)  Daniel  B.,  followed  the  seas;  (5)  Pris- 
cilla,  married  John  Bushee;  (6)  Samuel  M. ;  and 
(7)  Nancy,  married  John  Baker. 

Samuel  M.  Luther  had  very  limited  advantages  for 
an  education.  He  attended  the  district  school  some 
three  months  every  winter  (when  not  otherwise  en- 
gaged) until  he  was  about  seventeen  years  of  age.  He 
remained  at  home,  working  on  the  farm,  till  the 
spring  of  1826,  when  he  came  to  Fall  River  and  com- 
menced as  an  apprentice  at  the  mason's  trade  with 
John  Phinney,  one  of  the  early  contractors  and  build- 
ers of  Fall  River.  After  serving  his  apprenticeship 
of  three  years,  he  continued  to  work  for  Mr.  Phinney 
as  a  journeyman  till  1831,  when  he  began  business 
for  himself  as  a  contractor  and  builder.  The  first 
work  he  did  after  starting  for  himself  worthy  of  men- 
tion was  the  building  of  the  stone  church  (Congrega- 
tional) situated  on  North  Main  Street,  Fall  River. 
Since  that  time  he  has  had  a  hand,  in  whole  or  in 
part,  in  the  construction  of  many  of  the  most  sub- 
stantial dwelling-houses  and  mills  in  this  city. 

As  a  contractor  and  builder,  Mr.  Luther  has  been 
one  of  the  most  successful  in  Fall  River.  Being  a 
practical  workman  himself,  he  has  given  his  personal 
attention  to  all  his  more  important  jobs,  and  was 
ever  careful  to  see  that  those  whom  he  employed  did 
their  work  well.  He  required  no  more  of  others  than 
he  was  willing  to  do  himself.  He  has  been  a  director 
in  various  corporations  in  Fall  River,  and  is  at  the 
present  writing  director  in  Robeson  Mill. 

Politically,  he  is  a  Republican.  He  has  been  twice 
married,  first  to  Abby  M.  Bosworth,  of  Warren,  R.  I. 
Of  this  union  three,  children  were  born,  all  of  whom 
died  young.  Mrs.  Abby  M.  (Bosworth)  Luther  was 
born  Feb.  21,  1809,  and  died  July  11,  1854.  Mr. 
Luther  married  for  his  second  wife  Harriet,  daughter 
of  William  and  Susanna  (Spencer)  Bateman,  Nov. 
18,  1857.  She  was  born  July  8,  1817,  in  Newport, 
R.  I.  They  have  one  son,  Charles  B.,  born  Nov.  15, 
1860,  in  Fall  River.  He  prepared  for  college  at  the 
High  School  in  this  city,  and  graduated  from  Brown 
University  in  the  class  of  1883. 

Mr.  Luther  commenced  life  a  poor  boy,  but  by  his 
indomitable  energy,  keen  perceptions,  good  sense, 
sound  judgment,  coupled  with  honesty  and  economy, 
he  has  accumulated  a  competency  for  old  age. 


/  L 


^/^^ 


FALL  RIVER. 


405 


He  detests  anything  that  savors  of  shams,  hut 
honors  all  well-directed  efforts  which  have  for  their 
object  the  good  of  society  and  the  elevation  of  man- 
kind. 


JOHN  PALMER  SLADE. 

John  Palmer  Slade,  son  of  John  and  Mary  Slade, 
was  horn  in  Somerset,  Bristol  Co.,  Mass.,  Nov.  13, 
1824.  He  is  of  Welsh  descent,  and  traces  his  lineage 
back  to  Edward  Slade,  who  was  born  in  Wales  and 
came  to  Newport,  E.  I.,  among  the  early  settlers  of 
that  colony.  William,  the  son  of  Edward,  was  the 
founder  of  the  family  at  Slade's  Ferry,  in  Somerset, 
and  settled  there  in  1680.  The  line  of  descent  is  as 
follows:  On  the  paternal  side,  Edward1,  William',  Ed- 
ward3, Edward4,  Baker5,  John6,  John7,  and  John  P.8; 
on  the  maternal  side,  Edward1,  William2,  Edward3, 
Edward*,  Baker5,  Edward6,  Mary  Slade7,  John  P.8 

His  grandfather,  John  Slade,  on  his  father's  side, 
and  Edward,  ou  his  mother's  side,  who  were  brothers, 
lived  in  Swansea  and  Somerset,  and  were  respectable 
farmers.  John  Slade  married  Phoebe  Pierce,  of  Som- 
erset, and  had  sons,  Pierce,  John,  and  Edmund. 
Dying  at  the  age  of  twenty-seven,  his  widow  married 
Wing  Eddy,  by  whom  she  had  several  children,  and 
died  at  an  advanced  age. 

John  Slade,  son  of  John,  was  born  in  Swansea,  and 
married  Mary,  daughter  of  Edward  Slade,  of  Somer- 
set. They  had  children, — Winslow  (lost  at  sea),  John 
P.,  Edward  and  Mary  (twins,  died  in  infancy).  The 
father  died  at  the  age  of  twenty- seven,  and  the  mother 
at  thirty-nine. 

John  P.  Slade,  the  subject  of  our  sketch,  was  de- 
prived of  his  father  at  the  early  age  of  four  years,  and 
of  his  mother  at  fourteen.  Being  without  a  home,  he 
went  to  live  with  Capt.  Robert  Gibbs,  a  farmer  of  Som- 
erset, Mass.  He  continued  there  until  about  the  age 
of  eighteen,  when  a  desire  for  higher  knowledge  than 
he  had  been  able  to  obtain  in  early  boyhood  at  the 
common  schools  induced  him  to  spend  some  six 
months  at  Myers  Academy,  in  Warren,  R.  I. 

In  the  fall  of  1841  he  came  to  Fall  River,  Mass.,  as 
a  clerk  for  Hale  Remington,  who  was  then  engaged 
in  the  grocery  and  drug  business.  He  remained  in 
this  capacity  about  eight  months,  when  he  accepted 
a  clerkship  with  his  cousin,  F.  P.  Cummings,  a  cotton 
dealer  and  general  merchant,  located  at  Georgetown, 
S.  C.  At  the  end  of  the  following  eight  months  he 
entered  into  copartnership  with  Mr.  Cummings, 
under  the  name  and  style  of  Cummings  &  Slade, 
and  after  some  two  years  he  purchased  his  part- 
ner's interest,  settled  up  the  business,  and  came  to 
Fall  River  in  the  spring  of  1848.  For  the  next 
seven  years  he  served  as  clerk  and  conductor  for 
the  Fall  River  Railroad  Company,  which  was  after- 
wards changed  into  the  Old  Colony. 

In  1855  he  entered  the  office  of  Hale  Remington,  a 
general  commission  merchant,  as  clerk  and  salesman, 
and  continued  in  his  employ  three  years. 


In  January,  1858,  he  formed  a  copartnership  with 
A.  B.  Macy  (firm  of  Slade,  Macy  &  Co.)  in  wholesale 
commission  and  insurance  business  at  Fall  River.  At 
the  close  of  the  first  year  the  partnership  was  dis- 
solved, and  Mr.  Slade  continued  the  business  alone 
until  January,  1879,  when  he  associated  with  himself 
his  eldest  son,  Leonard  N.  Slade  (firm  of  John  P. 
Slade  &  Son,  engaged  in  the  general  commission  and 
insurance  business). 

Mr.  Slade  began  life  as  a  poor  boy,  dependent  upon 
his  own  unaided  exertions  for  success  in  whatever 
branch  of  industry  he  might  choose  to  pursue.  He 
is  in  every  respect  a  self-made  man,  and  the  architect 
of  his  own  fortune. 

At  the  formation  of  the  Granite  Mills  corporation 
in  1863  he  was  one  of  the  original  subscribers, ,and 
that  corporation  was  organized  in  his  office,  and  he 
was  elected  a  director  in  1873.  At  the  organization 
of  the  Davol  Mills  in  1867  he  was  made  a  director. 
In  1872,  at  organization  of  Shove  Mills,  was  made 
treasurer  and  director,  and  at  the  death  of  its  presi- 
dent, Charles  O.  Shove,  in  1875,  was  elected  president, 
and  served  until  1880.  He  is  also  a  director  of  the 
Weetamoe  Mills,  and  president  of  Laurel  Lake  Mills. 

Oct.  25,  1856,  soon  after  the  organization  of  the 
Fall  River  Five  Cents  Savings-Bank,  was  elected  its 
secretary,  and  still  remains  in  that  position.  Has 
been  a  director  of  the  Fall  River  National  Bank  since 
January,  1865. 

Mr.  Slade  has  been  married  three  times, — first  to 
Sarah  L.  Lewin,  daughter  of  Martin  and  Mary  Lewin, 
of  Somerset,  Mass.  She  died  of  typhoid  fever  soon 
after  marriage.  Second,  to  Ruth  Ann  Gardner,  daugh- 
ter of  Preserved  S.  and  Ann  Maria  Gardner,  of  Swan- 
sea, Mass.,  by  whom  he  had  two  sons,  Leonard  N. 
and  Abbott  E.  Slade,  both  living ;  the  latter  is  now 
treasurer  of  Laurel  Lake  Mills.  Third,  to  Lois  A. 
Buffinton,  daughter  of  Moses  and  Ruth  B.  Buffinton, 
of  Swansea,  Mass.  They  have  had  four  children, 
viz.,  Mary  E.,  Benjamin  (deceased),  John  Milton  (de- 
ceased), and  Louis  Palmer. 

Mr.  Slade  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  has  been 
a  member  of  the  Roard  of  Aldermen  and  of  the  City 
Council  of  Fall  River. 


BENJAMIN    COVEL. 
Benjamin    Covel,    son    of    Benjamin    and    Polly 
(Newell)  Covel,  was  born   in   the  town  of  Berkley, 
Mass.,  March  2,  1818.     His  father  was  a  native  of 
Killingley,  Conn.,  and  was  a  farmer  and  ship-car- 
penter by  occupation.     He  was  twice  married, — first 
|  to  Polly  Newell,  and  had  children,  Samuel  and  Ben- 
jamin ;   second,  to  Susan  Tinkham.     He  settled   in 
Berkley  previous  to  his  first  marriage,  and  continued 
i  to  reside  there  until  his  death.  March  15,  1848,  aged 
!  sixty-four  years. 

Benjamin   Covel,   the    immediate    subject   of   our 
sketch,    received    a   common-school   education.     He 


406 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


remained  at  home,  working  upon  his  father's  farm, 
until  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age,  when  he  went  to 
Fall  River,  and  commenced  as  an  apprentice  at  the 
carpenter  and  joiner  trade  with  Melvill  Borden,  a 
contractor  and  builder  in  wood.  He  remained  with 
him  about  a  year  and  a  half,  when  he  went  and  fin- 
ished his  apprenticeship  with  the  firm  of  Pierce, 
Mason  &  Co.,  and  continued  in  their  employ  till  the 
summer  of  1842.  In  September  of  that  year  he  went 
to  Boston  as  a  boss-carpenter  to  work  for  Samuel 
Sanford.  Mr.  Covel  had  the  general  oversight  of  all 
the  repairing  and  erection  of  new  tenement-houses 
put  up  by  Mr.  Sanford.  In  November  of  the  same 
year  he  returned  to  his  native  town  (Berkley),  and 
remained  there  the  winter  following,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1843  went  to  Fall  River,  and  in  company 
with  James  Smith  built  the  Pearl  Street  Church, 
Richardson  House,  Wilbur  House,  and  many  more. 
Mr.  Covel  has  been  constantly  employed  for  the  past 
forty  years  as  a  contractor  and  builder  in  wood,  not 
alone  in  Fall  River,  but  in  Boston,  Newport,  R.  I., 
and  elsewhere.  Among  the  finest  buildings  erected 
by  him  in  Fall  River  we  may  mention  the  Troy 
Buildings,  the  Durfee  Block,  the  residence  of  William 
C.  Davol,  Jr.,  A.  S.  Covel,  and  many  others.  At  the 
time  of  the  extension  of  the  Old  Colony  Railroad 
from  Fall  River  to  Newport,  he  built  all  the  bridges 
and  depots  on  the  line.  At  the  present  writing  (1883) 
he  is  putting  up  a  large  freight-house  in  Boston  for 
the  Old  Colony  Company,  which  is  sixty  by  three 
hundred  and  eighty  feet.  He  has  been  president  and 
director  of  the  Crescent  Mills  since  its  organization, 
and  vice-president  and  trustee  of  the  Union  Savings- 
Bank. 

Politically  he  is  a  Republican.  He  has  held  vari- 
ous offices  of  trust  and  honor  in  his  adopted  city,  and 
has  been  a  delegate  to  County  and  State  Conventions. 
On  the  14th  of  December,  1841,  he  married  Angeline, 
daughter  of  Halsey  and  Mercy  (Allen)  Baker,  of 
Dartmouth,  Mass.  She  was  born  Jan.  3,  1821,  in 
Dartmouth.  They  have  four  children, — (1)  Alphonso 
S.,  treasurer  of  Crescent  Mills;  (2)  Benjamin  F.,  a 
machinist;  (3)  Thomas  D.,  a  merchant  under  the 
firm-name  of  Sanford  &  Covel ;  (4)  Ina  F.,  who  died 
at  two  years  of  age. 

Mr.  Covel  commenced  life  a  poor  boy,  but  by  his 
characteristic  energy,  indomitable  will,  quick  per- 
ception, and  resolute  character  he  has  surmounted 
all  obstacles,  and  is  now  (1883)  in  good  circum- 
stances, and  is  surrounded  with  all  the  comforts  of  a 
happy  home. 


JAMES    HENRY. 

Fall  River  owes  an  imperishable  debt  to  such  men 
as  James  Henry,  who,  with  well-stored  minds  of  prac- 
tical knowledge,  have  given  large  and  comprehensive 
abilities,  sterling  integrity,  and  wise  and  sagacious 
industry  to  the  development  of  those  manufacturing 


interests  that  are  the  source  of  her  wealth  and  pros- 
perity. Justice  to  the  men  who  have  spent  long  lives 
in  her  service  demands  that  they  be  worthily  men- 
tioned in  her  history,  and  we  give  an  outline  of  the 
business  career  of  one  of  its  most  prominent  and  use- 
ful representatives  when  we  write  of  James  Henry. 
He  was  born  Aug.  5,  1805,  in  Clitheroe,  England. 
Clitheroe  is  a  busy  cotton-manufacturing  town  on  the 
Ribble,  in  the  greatest  cotton-manufacturing  district 
of  the  world,  Lancashire. 

Robert  Henry,  his  father,  was  an  overseer  of  calico- 
printing  in  the  employ  of  James  Thompson,  who 
owned  and  managed  the  Primrose  Print-Works. 
James  Thompson  was  a  famous  manufacturer,  known 
for  his  enterprise  and  liberality  throughout  Europe. 
He  selected  the  best  talent  to  instruct  his  apprentices, 
employing  several  scientific  men  and  French  chemists 
as  practical  teachers.  The  system  of  seven  years'  ap- 
prenticeship was,  in  his  establishment,  the  best  possi- 
ble educator.  Of  its  immense  advantages  in  the  way 
of  securing  the  most  thorough  knowledge  and  highest 
skill  in  the  learner  no  one  can  doubt.  Miles  Brace- 
well,  father  of  John  Bracewell,  for  many  years  had 
charge  of  the  "  color  department,"  and  his  son  was 
apprenticed  in  the  establishment,  and  both  John 
Bracewell  and  James  Henry  are  living  arguments  of 
the  excellence  of  the  apprentice  system  as  existing  in 
Clitheroe. 

Robert  Henry  married  Sarah  Ireland,  and  had  six 
children, — Mary,  James,  Nannie,  Catharine,  William, 
and  Margaret.  They  all  grew  up,  had  families,  and 
only  James  and  Catharine  are  living.  James  was 
but  eight  years  old  when  his  father  died,  and  his 
mother  was  left  to  struggle  with  poverty  in  bringing 
up  her  family.  She  was,  however,  a  woman  of  rare 
strength  of  character,  deep  Christian  fervor,  and  re- 
markable industry.  Her  courage  and  skill  kept  the 
family  together,  and  her  uprightness  and  womanly 
virtues  made  her  a  model  mother,  whose  instructions 
bore  good  fruit  in  succeeding  years. 

The  most  of  the  education  received  by  James  in 
youth  was  acquired  at  Sunday-school,  which  he  regu- 
larly attended.  At  a  very  early  age,  soon  after  his 
father's  death,  he  commenced  labor  in  the  print- 
works as  a  "  tier  boy."  He  continued  in  this  service 
until  he  was  about  eleven,  when  he  was  employed  for 
a  short  period  in  the  department  of  machine  print- 
ing, and  then  was  apprenticed  to  learn  "  block  print- 
ing." He  began  at  the  lowest  round  in  the  ladder 
of  his  advancement,  and  was  long  and  rigidly  held 
at  each  until  he  could  safely  mount  the  higher  one. 
Seven  years  were  thus  passed  in  the  acquisition  of 
knowledge  which  afterwards  made  him  so  important 
a  factor  in  the  rise  and  fortunes  of  the  American 
Print-Works  and  Globe  Print-Works.  After  his  ap- 
prenticeship he  worked  for  two  years  longer,  when 
the  subtile  and  irresistible  influence  of  America  drew 
him  to  her  shores.  He  arrived  in  Boston  Aug.  15, 
1829,  in  the  ship  "  Hellespont,"  Pratt,  master. 


//  />//  // 


I  i 


' 


FALL  RIVER. 


407 


After  a  short  visit  to  friends  in  Taunton,  he  went 
to  Springvale,  Me.,  where  a  number  from  his  native 
town  were  engaged  in  color-printing,  and  engaged  as 
color-maker.  Staying  there  something  more  than  a 
year,  he  went  to  Lowell,  Mass.,  to  work  as  a  color- 
printer.  Becoming  ill,  however,  he  went  to  Dover, 
N.  H.,  for  medical  treatment,  and  stayed  three 
months.  Regaining  his  health  shortly  after  his  re- 
turn to  Lowell  in  1832,  he  was  solicited  to  come  to 
the  infant  town  of  Fall  River,  Mass.,  and  take  charge 
of  the  color  department  of  the  "  Globe  Print- Works." 
He  accepted  the  position,  and  rapidly  won  a  reputa- 
tion for  ability,  energy,  and  skill.  From  that  time 
to  the  present,  over  fifty  years,  Mr.  Henry  has  been 
identified  with  the  growth  and  development  of  this 
city.  He  remained  at  the  "  Globe"  as  color-maker 
for  two  years,  when  he  entered  the  employ  of  the 
"American  Print- Works,"  then  just  organized,  as 
head  color-maker.  This  was  under  the  administra- 
tion of  Holder  Borden,  who  had  the  tact  of  securing 
the  best  talent  in  every  department.  In  1837  he  be- 
came manager  of  the  American  Print-Works,  Jef- 
ferson Borden  becoming  agent,  on  the  death  of  Holder 
Borden.  Mr.  Henry  had  as  his  assistant  his  brother, 
William  Henry,  who  remained  with  him  in  that  ca- 
pacity until  his  death  in  1856.  Mr.  Henry  about 
1850  was  called  to  be  superintendent  of  the  Globe 
Mills  also,  and  continued  to  ably  direct  the  fortunes 
of  the  corporations  under  his  superintendence.  By 
his  tireless  perseverance,  his  quickness  of  insight,  and 
his  perfect  command  and  knowledge  of  the  minute 
details  of  every  branch  of  his  work  he  kept  the  repu- 
tation of  the  goods  at  the  very  head  of  their  class, 
and  did  much  toward  establishing  the  permanent 
prosperity  and  reputation  of  these  mills.  He  con- 
tinued in  these  responsible  labors  until  apprised  by 
failing  health  of  the  necessity  of  throwing  the  ardu- 
ous duties  upon  younger  men,  when,  in  1873,  he  re- 
signed both  positions,  with  the  satisfaction  of  know- 
ing that  his  son  Robert  was  to  succeed  him  in  both. 

Mr.  Henry  has  built  up  a  handsome  property  by 
his  unwearied  and  faithful  services  and  investments 
in  manufacturing  corporations.  He  has  made  every 
dollar  he  owns  in  the  interests  to  which  his  life  has 
been  devoted,  and  is  now  stockholder  in  various  cor- 
porations, both  in  Fall  River  and  elsewhere.  He  has 
been  president  and  director  of  the  Merchants'  Mill 
since  its  organization.  He  was  a  director  of  the  King 
Philip  and  Chase  Mills  also  until  compelled  to  re- 
sign by  failing  health. 

Though  born  and  educated  in  England,  he  became 
an  American  from  the  very  day  his  feet  touched 
American  soil.  His  pride  and  hopes  for  this  country 
are  as  intense  as  any  native  son's.  His  love  for  Fall 
River  is  as  tender  and  steadfast  as  though  its  air  was 
the  first  he  breathed,  and  during  his  residence  here 
he  has  endeared  himself  to  all  classes  of  people  by 
his  liberality  and  his  keen  personal  interest  in  what- 
ever affected  the  welfare  of  the  city  or  the  condition 


of  its  inhabitants.  He  has  been  Republican  in  po- 
litical sentiment,  and  was  elected  alderman  in  the 
first  city  election  of  Fall  River.  He  has  held  that 
office  eight  years.  He  was  quick  to  suggest  and 
ready  to  assist  any  movement  helpful  to  the  material 
or  moral  advancement  of  the  city. 

He  united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in 
the  prime  of  life,  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  James 
D.  Butler,  and  has  been  an  ardent  supporter  of  its 
institutions  and  every  good  cause  in  the  community. 
He  has  long  served  as  Sunday-school  teacher,  class- 
leader,  and  steward,  discharging  those  duties  as 
pleasant  labors  of  love. 

For  over  half  a  century,  from  the  activities  of 
early  manhood  to  the  well-developed  years  of  old 
age,  Mr.  Henry  has  borne  himself  a  gentleman,  kind- 
hearted  and  liberal,  and  has  ever  stood  high  in  the 
esteem  of  the  better  element  of  society. 


HON.  JOHN   B.  HATHAWAY. 

In  looking  over  the  past  history  of  Fall  River,  we 
find  some  men  now  living  who  were  in  business  over 
half  a  century  ago,  and  have  retired  and  are  enjoying 
the  fruits  of  their  labor  at  a  good  old  age.  Of  those 
now  living  who  toiled  in  the  past  and  worked  their 
way  up  from  small  beginnings  to  ample  fortunes  by 
their  persevering  industry  and  close  application  we 
now  mention  Hon.  John  B.  Hathaway.  He  was  son 
of  John  and  Amy  (Read)  Hathaway,  and  was  born 
in  Rochester,  Mass.,  June  28,  1809.  His  parents 
moved  to  Assonet  (Freetown)  when  he  was  but  six 
years  old,  and  from  that  time  he  has  been  identified 
with  Bristol  County.  When  he  was  eleven,  his 
mother,  then  a  widow,  indentured  him  to  a  farmer  in 
Berkley  to  serve  five  years.  This  service  accomplished 
he  learned  the  shoemaker's  trade,  and  worked  two 
years  in  Assonet.  He  was  then  requested  to  remove 
to  Fall  River  by  Gardner  D.  Cook,  of  that  city,  into 
whose  employ  he  went  for  six  months,  receiving  twelve 
dollars  per  month  and  board.  Thus  in  a  very  modest 
way  was  his  successful  career  commenced. 

In  the  spring  of  1828  he  went  to  work  for  Andrew 
Robeson  at  calico-printing,  where  he  remained  until 
1831,  when  he  had  to  leave  on  account  of  ill  health. 
He  then  hired  a  shoe-shop  of  Nathaniel  B.  Borden, 
located  about  where  Trafton  &  Anthony's  hardware- 
store  now  is  in  Borden  Block.  It  was  about  fifteen 
by  twenty  feet,  formerly  used  as  a  tailor-shop  on  the 
corner.  It  was  moved  three  times  to  make  room  for 
other  buildings,  the  first  time  for  the  French's  build- 
ing, corner  of  South  Main  and  Pleasant  Streets  ;  the 
second  to  make  room  for  Edward  Smith  to  put  up  a 
boarding-house,  and  the  third  for  Westgate  &  Craigin 
to  put  up  a  building. 

In  1834  he  went  into  Smith's  building,  and  took 
his  brother,  Joseph  B.  Hathaway,  into  partnership, 
and  added  to  the  boot  and  shoe  business  groceries. 
They  remained  in  company  until  1841,  when  he  was 


408 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


taken  sick,  and  sold  out  to  his  brother  Joseph.  In 
about  a  year  afterwards  he  started  the  wholesale  gro- 
cery business  in  the  basement  of  the  old  hotel  build- 
ing, corner  North  Main  and  Bedford  Streets,  where 
he  was  burnt  out  in  1843.  Unfortunately  he  was  not 
insured,  and  lost  every  dollar  he  had  in  his  business. 
He  then  put  up  the  first  building  erected  in  the  place 
after  the  fire.  It  was  on  Bedford  Street,  where  David 
Wilcox  is  now  located,  and  continued  the  same  busi- 
ness until  1854,  when  he  built  on  the  corner  of  Bed- 
ford and  Second  Streets,  where  he  removed  and  con- 
tinued until  he  sold  out  to  Petty,  Lawton  &  Co.  in 
1864. 

He  married  Sept.  11,  1832,  Mrs.  Betsey  F.  Gray, 
daughter  of  Edward  and  Amy  (Tripp)  Phillips,  of 
Westport,  where  she  was  born.  They  have  no  chil- 
dren. 

In  spite  of  various  disasters  Mr.  Hathaway  was 
prosperous  in  business,  accumulating  a  comfortable 
fortune.  He  was  one  of  the  city's  most  successful 
merchants,  shrewd  as  a  buyer,  expert  as  a  salesman, 
and  with  an  easy  affability  of  manner  which  attracted 
customers.  He  is  now  a  director  in  Mechanics'  Manu- 
facturing Company,  Fall  River.  In  politics  he  is 
Republican.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Lower  House  of 
the  State  Legislature  in  1866-67,  and  of  the  Senate 
in  1869-70,  serving  his  constituents  with  accepta- 
bility. 

He  owns  a  pleasant  home  on  the  corner  of  Rock 
and  Cherry  Streets,  also  real  estate  in  various  parts 
of  the  city,  besides  a  farm  near  Westport  Point,  which 
he  has  transformed  from  a  rocky  and  almost  barren 
place  to  a  beautiful  summer  residence.  The  past  ten 
years  he  has  passed  his  winters  in  Florida.  He  keeps 
his  eyes  open,  and  has  a  good  idea  of  what  is  going 
on  around  him.  He  is  a  genial  companion,  fond  of  a 
good  joke,  and  has  a  keen  appreciation  of  humor,  and 
enjoys  the  esteem  of  a  large  circle  of  friends. 


BENJAMIN  EARL. 

The  wise  man  said,  many  years  ago,  that  "  a  good 
name  is  rather  to  be  chosen  than  great  riches."  One 
of  those  who  has  been  accorded  this  "good  name" 
— not  by  seeking  for  it,  but  by  the  oft-expressed  judg- 
ment of  his  fellow-citizens,  based  upon  an  upright 
and  correct  life  through  a  long  series  of  years,  and 
in  many  public  and  private  capacities — is  the  subject 
of  this  sketch. 

Benjamin  Earl  has  been  a  resident  of  Fall  River 
for  nearly  sixty  years,  coming  to  the  then  rapidly 
growing  village  in  1826.  He  was  born  at  Taunton, 
Mass.,  Aug.  7,  1809,  and  was  the  third  child  of  Hil- 
liard  and  Mary  Ware  Earl.  His  ancestors  have 
always  lived  in  this  section  of  the  State  and  Eastern 
Rhode  Island.  He  is  a  direct  descendant  of  Ralph 
Earle,  who  came  to  this  country  from  the  town  of 
Exeter  (probably),  in  England,  between  the  years 
1633   and  1638,  and   settled  at  Portsmouth,  on   the 


island  of  Rhode  Island.  We  find  his  name,  with 
nineteen  others,  appended  to  a  petition  to  the  king, 
dated  April  30,  1838,  craving  permission  to  form 
themselves  into  a  body  politic  in  that  town.  William 
Earle,  the  son  of  this  Ralph,  was  also  of  prominence 
in  the  town,  and  with  one  other  erected  and  main- 
tained the  windmill  (1668— 85j  on  Windmill  Hill,  so 
called,  and  for  this  valuable  service  to  the  town  he 
was  given  two  tracts  of  land  in  the  immediate  vicin- 
ity. He  also  was  owner  of  half  a  share  of  the  thirty 
shares  into  which  the  land  adjoining  the  "  Queque- 
chan"  or  "Fall"  River  (at  Fall  River,  Mass.)  was 
divided,  and  his  farm  covered  what  is  now  one  of  the 
most  populous  and  valuable  districts  of  the  city  of 
Fall  River.  His  well,  which  was  long  distinguished 
as  a  most  excellent  one,  and  was  freely  resorted  to  by 
the  people  of  fifty  years  ago,  was  uncovered  recently 
when  putting  in  the  curbing  in  front  of  the  easterly 
buttress  of  the  new  post-office  building. 

The  descendants  of  these  two  men  lived  at  Dart- 
mouth and  in  New  Bedford,  Mass.  From  thence 
Hilliard  Earl,  the  father  of  Benjamin,  went  to  Taun- 
ton, and,  having  married,  established  himself  in  busi- 
ness, and  formed  his  circle  of  acquaintances  among  the 
first  families  of  that  ancient  town.  But  that  fell  de- 
stroyer of  New  England  life,  consumption,  soon 
seized  him  for  its  victim,  and  he  died  at  the  early  age 
of  thirty-seven  years,  leaving  a  widow  and  six  young 
children,  the  eldest  but  ten  years  of  age.  He  had 
employed  all  his  capital  in  carrying  on  his  business, 
and  in  the  settlement  of  his  affairs  but  little  remained 
for  the  family.  The  mother,  nevertheless,  courage- 
ously pressed  on,  and  with  prudence  and  economy 
successfully  reared  her  young  family,  trained  them  in 
good  habits,  and  gave  them  a  fair  common-school 
education. 

Benjamin,  at  the  age  of  thirteen  or  fourteen  years, 
made  his  first  venture  in  life  by  shipping  as  cabin- 
boy  on  one  of  the  numerous  fleet  of  coasting-vessels 
hailing  from  Taunton.  Like  many  a  boy  of  our  day 
he  found  life  upon  the  sea  abounding  in  stern  real- 
ities, and  a  severe  storm  and  gale  off  the  coast  of  Cape 
Cod  thoroughly  weaned  the  young  lad  from  the  desire 
for  a  seafaring  life.  Returning  to  Taunton  he  became 
an  apprentice  to  a  wool-carder  and  cloth-dresser,  one 
whose  treatment  of  the  orphan  boy  was  such  as  caused 
him  ever  to  be  held  in  highest  esteem  and  remem- 
brance. He  continued  in  the  business  but  a  few 
years,  when  in  May,  1826,  he  came  to  Fall  River  and 
found  employment  in  Bennett's  wool-carding  mill, 
then  located  on  Central  Street,  where  now  stands  the 
massive  and  lofty  North  Mill  of  the  Pocasset  Manu- 
facturing Company. 

In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  (1826)  he  entered  the 
printing-office  of  the  Fall  River  Monitor  as  an  appren- 
tice, and  became  thoroughly  acquainted  with  the 
business  in  all  its  detail  as  then  conducted.  His  suc- 
cess was  such  that  in  the  course  of  a-few  years,  with 
the  advice  and  assistance  of  friends,  he  was  enabled 


FALL  RIVER. 


409 


to  purchase  the  entire  establishment,  both  paper  and 
office-material,  and  on  July  1,  1830,  not  yet  having 
quite  attained  his  majority,  he  sent  forth  his  first 
issue  as  proprietor.  He  continued  the  business  of 
printing  and  publishing  until  March,  1838,  when  he 
sold  out  in  order  to  devote  his  time  and  energies  to 
the  cognate  branches  of  the  book  and  stationery  trade, 
into  which  he  had  entered  a  year  or  two  before.  The 
period  covered  by  his  publication  of  the  Monitor  was 
an  exciting  one  in  the  affairs  both  of  the  town  and  the 
Dation.  The  late  James  Ford,  Esq.,  one  of  the  oldest 
and  most  highly-esteemed  members  of  the  bar  of  this 
city,  was  editor,  and  its  columns  were  often  filled  with 
spice  which  possibly,  on  occasions,  was  of  a  some- 
what personal  character.  It  was  the  period  of  the 
great  Morgan  excitement  on  Masonry  and  anti-Ma- 
sonry, the  paper  assuming  the  Masonic  side  of  the 
controversy,  and  its  publisher,  though  never  a  mem- 
ber of  any  secret  organization,  became  well  known  in 
this  section  by  the  sobriquet  of  "  Jack  Mason."  It 
was  at  this  time  that  politics  ran  high  and  the  famous 
contest  occurred  in  this  Congressional  district  between 
Hodges  and  Ruggles,  which  required  no  less  than  seven 
elections  before  the  question  was  settled  in  favor  of 
the  former.  This  time  also  covered  the  Presidential 
term  of  General  Jackson  with  its  days  of  "  nullifica- 
tion" excitement. 

In  the  spring  of  1836,  Mr.  Earl  purchased  the  book- 
and  stationery-store  of  Mr.  S.  L.  Thaxter,  and  was 
the  principal  dealer  in  that  department  for  many 
years.  In  the  early  years  of  this  business,  and  also 
in  the  last  two  years  of  the  publication  of  the  Monitor, 
he  had  associated  with  him  as  partner  Mr.  J.  S.  Ham- 
mond, who  at  a  later  period  became  one  of  the  pro- 
prietors of  the  Providence  Journal. 

In  the  memorable  great  fire  of  1843,  which  swept 
through  the  village  with  such  destruction  of  property 
as  to  render  many  homeless  and  penniless,  Mr.  Earl 
lost  his  entire  stock  in  trade,  and  but  barely  escaped 
with  his  life.  He  had  packed  his  goods  into  cases, 
with  the  vain  hope  of  their  removal,  and  realizing 
that  with  their  destruction  went  the  savings  of  many 
long  and  laborious  years,  he  lingered  so  long,  while 
the  fire  traveled  so  rapidly,  that  almost  before  he  was 
aware  of  it  the  buildings  were  in  flames  upon  both 
sides  of  the  street.  He  ran  the  fiery  gauntlet,  escaping 
with  the  smell  of  fire  upon  his  garments.  His  stock 
of  goods  was  entirely  destroyed,  and  his  insurance 
also  came  to  naught  by  the  failure  of  the  insurance 
company,  which  could  not  meet  so  large  a  loss  at  one 
time  as  that  caused  by  the  great  fire  of  Fall  River. 
But  a  good  credit  secured  from  his  jobbers  the  volun- 
tary oiler  of  a  new  stock  of  goods  as  soon  as  he  could 
find  a  roof  to  cover  them,  and  after  a  temporary  rest- 
ing-place on  Pleasant  Street,  where  the  Borden  Block 
now  stands,  he  was  one  of  the  first  to  select  and  oc- 
cupy a  store  in  the  Granite  Block  (erected  in  1844), 
where  he  has  continued  business  to  the  present  time. 
In  1870  he  admitted   his  son,  Henry  H.  Earl,  into 


partnership,  and  with  the  growth  of  the  city  the 
business  was  considerably  enlarged  and  successfully 
prosecuted. 

While  Mr.  Earl  was  neither  a  politician  nor  a  par- 
tisan in  the  objectionable  sense  of  those  terms,  he  has 
always  taken  a  deep  interest  in  public  affairs,  and 
has  been  honored  by  his  fellow-citizens  in  elections 
and  appointments  to  numerous  official  positions,  cov- 
ering a  period  of  more  than  forty  years. 

He  was  town  clerk  from  1836  to  1846;  treasurer 
and  collector  from  1843  to  1846;  representative  to 
the  General  Court  in  1847;  selectman  from  1847  to 
1850;  deputy  collector  of  customs  for  the  district  of 
Fall  River  from  1849  to  1853;  a  member  of  the  com- 
mittee on  drafting  a  city  charter,  which  was  granted 
by  the  Legislature  and  accepted  by  the  town  in  the 
spring  of  1854 ;  a  member  of  the  Common  Council 
and  president  of  the  same  in  1858 ;  an  alderman  in 
1859;  city  auditor  and  collector  from  1862  to  1867; 
and  a  member  of  the  school  committee  from  1867  to 
1870.  In  1848  he  received  a  commission  as  justice 
of  the  peace,  which  he  has  held  by  renewals  to  the 
present  time.  In  1853,  at  the  requests  of  the  banks, 
he  was  appointed  a  notary  public,  and  for  many 
years  was  the  principal  notary  for  the  financial  in- 
stitutions of  the  city,  holding  his  commissions  by  re- 
newals from  that  date  to  the  present.  In  1874  he 
was  commissioned  by  the  Governor  (a  life  appoint- 
ment) "  to  qualify  and  administer  the  oaths  of  office 
to  civil  officers,"  and  for  the  past  six  or  eight  years 
(until  failing  health  prevented)  has  annually  in- 
ducted into  office  the  successive  city  governments  of 
the  city  of  Fall  River.  So  that  for  forty-five  years 
he  has  been  almost  constantly  in  one  or  more  official 
positions,  performing  the  duties  of  these  diversified 
trusts  with  perfect  fidelity  and  rare  ability,  and  prov- 
ing the  wisdom  and  insight  of  those  who  selected  him 
for  these  varied  responsibilities. 

He  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Fall  River  Sav- 
ings-Bank  corporation  in  1841 ;  the  next  year  he  was 
chosen  one  of  the  trustees,  and  in  1852  was  placed  on 
its  board  of  investment,  where  he  was  continued  by 
annual  elections  until  1882,  when  failing  sight  and 
hearing  caused  him  to  decline  further  service  in  that 
position.  He  also  served  as  secretary  of  the  board 
from  1862  to  1880,  when,  by  a  change  in  the  by-laws, 
the  treasurer  of  the  bank  was  made  ex  officio  secre- 
tary. His  interest  in  the  successful  management  of 
this  institution,  one  of  the  largest  in  the  State,  was 
very  great,  and  during  the  trying  times  which  came 
upon  the  city  from  1877  to  1880,  the  critical  periods 
in  its  history,  excited  his  liveliest  apprehensions,  and 
rested  like  a  great  burden  upon  his  mind  day  and 
night.  None  rejoiced  more  than  he  when  the  days 
of  peril  were  passed  and  the  customary  course  of 
financial  transactions  resumed  their  sway. 

His  legislative  service  was  under  Governor  George 
N.  Briggs,  with  Hon.  Nathaniel  B.  Borden  for  senator, 
and  Cushing,  Hayden,  of  the  "Atlas,"  Banks,  Bout- 


410 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


well,  Schouler,  Bird,  and  others,  as  colleagues  in  the 
house.  His  aldermanic  year  under  Mayor  (now 
Judge)  Josiah  C.  Blaisdell  was  distinguished  as  one 
in  which  the  government  kept  within  its  appropria- 
tions for  municipal  purposes,  a  wise  and  conservative 
course  of  action,  worthy  to  be  followed  by  its  successors. 
His  faithful  discharge  of  duty  in  his  office  of  collector 
of  taxes  for  the  city  is  indicated  by  the  fact  that  while, 
for  the  six  years  previous  to  his  term,  the  uncollected 
taxes  averaged  some  three  and  a  half  per  cent.,  the 
average  for  his  six  years  was  reduced  to  one  and 
three-fifths  per  cent.,  and  this  notwithstanding  the 
tax-levy  was  increased  $167,000,  viz. :  from  $102,000 
in  1861  to  $269,000  in  1867.  Moreover,  this  period 
covered  that  of  the  civil  war,  with  all  its  vicissi- 
tudes aud  the  many  and  rapid  changes  in  the  popu- 
lation of  a  working  community. 

In  1836,  Mr.  Earl  was  brought  under  more  direct 
religious  influences,  and  having  made  a  public  con- 
fession of  his  faith,  united  with  the  First  (orthodox) 
Congregational  Church  of  Fall  River,  then  under  the 
pastoral  care  of  Rev.  Orin  Fowler.  Upon  the  organi- 
zation of  theCentral  Congregational  Church  in  Novem- 
ber, 1842,  he  became  one  of  its  original  members,  and 
in  1844  was  elected  its  first  deacon,  an  office  which  he 
has  held  to  the  present  time.  His  fidelity  in  this  posi- 
tion is  again  conspicuously  illustrated  by  the  statement 
that  for  thirty-three  consecutive  years  he  served  as 
office-bearer  in  the  celebration  of  every  communion 
service,  save  one,  when  he  was  confined  to  his  house 
by  sickness.  By  reason  of  his  prominence  as  an  officer 
of  the  church,  his  tender  sensibilities  and  kind  and 
considerate  action,  he  was  repeatedly  called  upon  by 
neighbors  and  friends  and  fellow-townsmen  to  super- 
intend the  last  sad  rites  to  the  dead ;  and  this  was 
continued  to  a  comparatively  recent  period,  when, 
with  the  growth  of  the  place  and  the  constant  re- 
quirements of  such  service,  others  made  it  a  special 
branch  of  business,  and  assumed  that  which  before- 
time  was  demanded  of  neighborly  kindness  and  re- 
spect. To  within  a  few  years  he  has  also  been  called 
upon  oftener,  perhaps,  than  almost  any  other  person 
to  assist  as  bearer  on  such  occasions.  The  experience 
gained  in  this  service,  prompted  him  many  years  ago 
to  secure  the  construction  of  a  tomb  by  the  town  upon 
the  public  burial-grounds — the  first  in  the  place — for 
use  in  stormy  and  wintry  weather,  and  at  such  other 
times  as  occasion  might  require.  Mr.  Earl  has  filled 
various  other  offices  in  the  church  and  society,  as 
treasurer,  member  of  the  standing  committee,  super- 
intendent of  the  Sabbath-school,  etc. 

He  took  an  active  part  also  in  the  various  local 
associations  instituted  in  past  years  for  the  moral  and 
social  welfare  of  the  community.  An  ardent  lover  of 
music,  he  identified  himself  with  most  of  the  musi- 
cal organizations  formed  during  the  first  twenty-five 
years  of  his  residence  in  Fall  River.  As  a  member 
of  church  choirs  he  played  upon  several  instruments 
— the  flute,  clarionet,  violin,  and  double-bass  viol — 


previous  to  the  introduction  of  the  modern  organ; 
and  when  that  came  into  use,  continued  his  interest 
and  services  vocally, — a  period  of  some  thirty  years 
from  first  to  last.  He  was  leader  of  a  band  of  field 
music  early  in  life,  and  besides  seeing  service  in  the 
military  brigades  of  this  section  of  the  State,  as- 
sisted in  the  reception  to  General  and  President 
Jackson  on  his  visit  to  Massachusetts  in  1833,— an 
event  of  great  moment  and  distinguished  honor  in 
those  times. 

Thus  the  measure  of  his  days  has  been  filled  out 
in  usefulness  to  others  as  well  as  in  the  care  of  him- 
self and  his  ;  and  whether  in  public  or  in  private  life, 
in  the  community  as  a  citizen  or  as  an  officer  in 
church,  town,  or  State,  at  home  or  abroad,  in  the 
house  or  by  the  way,  he  has  been  faithful  to  the  trusts 
committed  to  him  ;  has  shown  marked  ability  in  the 
execution  of  his  numerous  and  diversified  duties,  and 
has  merited,  as  he  has  received,  from  a  grateful  com- 
munity the  "good  name"  which  "is  rather  to  be 
chosen  than  great  riches." 

Mr.  Earl  was  married  in  Fall  River,  in  1830,  to 
Miss  Nancy  Simmons,  eldest  daughter  of  Capt. 
Nathan  B.  Simmons,  then  of  Tiverton,  R.  I.  They 
have  had  a  family  of  six  children,  two  of  whom  died 
in  infancy,  and  four  of  whom  are  still  living,  two 
sons  and  two  daughters.  In  November,  1880,  it  com- 
ing to  the  knowledge  of  their  church  associates  that 
the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  their  wedding  would  occur 
early  in  the  month  of  December  of  that  year,  ar- 
rangements were  quietly  made,  and  much  to  the  sur- 
prise of  the  venerable  couple,  they  were  invited  to 
celebrate  their  golden  wedding  in  the  parlors  of  the 
New  Central  Church,  on  the  evening  of  December 
2d.  A  large  gathering  of  old  acquaintances,  inter- 
spersed with  many  of  a  younger  generation,  graced 
the  happy  gathering.  Their  pastor,  the  Rev.  M. 
Burnham,  made  a  congratulatory  address,  and  placed 
in  their  hands  an  elegant  solid  silver  vase,  suitably 
inscribed  as  a  memorial  of  the  occasion. 

A  lady  friend  voiced  some  of  their  earlier  life  ex- 
periences in  poetical  form,  while  the  young  men  of 
the  congregation  brought  forward  a  staff  of  life  in 
the  shape  of  a  substantial  gold-headed  cane  of  black 
ebony.  Mr.  Earl  made  a  characteristically  modest 
and  happy  response  in  receiving  these  good  wishes 
and  elegant  and  costly  tokens  of  esteem,  and  ac- 
knowledged with  heart-felt  gratitude  the  leadings  of 
Divine  Providence  in  all  these  long  years  of  resi- 
dence and  service  in  the  home  of  his  adoption,  to- 
gether with  the  measure  of  temporal  prosperity 
which  had  attended  them. 

Two  years  later,  in  July,  1882,  he  was  seized  with 
a  severe  and  what  appeared  at  first  to  be  a  fatal  ill- 
ness. For  some  months  previous  his  eyesight  had 
been  failing,  and  now  the  disease  culminated  in  a 
partial  paralysis  of  the  optic  nerve,  together  with  a 
general  weakness  of  body,  which  seemed  to  indicate 
a  breaking  down  of  the  hitherto  vigorous  and  healthy 


FALL  RIVER. 


411 


constitution.  But  though  prostrate  at  length  upon  a 
bed  of  sickness,  from  which  he  has  never  risen,  and 
for  the  past  few  months  shut  out  from  the  blessed 
sunlight  by  the  total  loss  of  vision,  he  has,  neverthe- 
less, retained  his  courageous  spirit  and  happy,  hopeful 
disposition.  Clear  in  mind,  while  weak  in  body,  he 
has  found  his  faith  sustained  and  strengthened  in  the 
promises  of  Him  whose  coming  he  awaits  with  the 
calmness  of  a  Christian's  hope  and  trust,  and  whether 
the  time  be  long  or  short  he  has  the  assurance  within 
of  receiving  his  Master's  salutation,  "  Well  done, 
good  and  faithful  servant,  enter  thou  into  the  joy  of 
thy  Lord." 


JEFFERSON    BORDEN. 

Jefferson  Borden,  the  oldest  living  person  of  the 
residents  of  Fall  River  who  have  been  identified  with 
the  inception,  growth,  and  the  present  established 
supremacy  of  its  distinctive  industry,  was  born  on 
the  28th  of  February,  1801,  in  the  then  village  of 
Freetown.  He  was  the  twelfth  of  thirteen  children 
of  Thomas  Borden,  in  the  fourth  generation  from 
John  Borden,  the  founder  of  the  family  in  Fall 
River.  His  father's  farm  was  situated  in  the  east 
part  of  the  village,  comprising  a  tract  upon  which 
have  since  been  erected  the  Richard  Borden,  Chace, 
and  other  mills.  Jefferson  worked  on  the  farm,  going 
to  school  regularly  as  the  local  season  commenced,  until 
September,  1816,  when,  in  his  sixteenth  year,  he  left- 
home  for  the  first  time,  and  obtained  a  position  as  clerk 
in  the  provision-store  of  William  Valentine,  in  Provi- 
dence. In  1819  he  returned  to  Fall  River,  thoroughly 
educated  in  the  routine  details  of  a  business  of  trade 
and  barter,  but  already  entertaining  the  ambitious 
vision  of  a  commercial  career  that  would  recog- 
nize no  limits  of  its  operations.  His  brother  Richard, 
six  years  his  senior,  was  running  the  craft  "  Irene  and 
Betsey"  in  trading  trips,  in  connection  with  his  grist- 
mill, located  on  the  lower  stream.  For  the  ensuing 
year  Jefferson,  when  not  absolutely  needed  on  the 
farm,  joined  Richard  in  the  sloop  expeditions  to 
Conanicut  and  Prudence.  In  1820  the  two  brothers 
bought  out  the  small  store  of  Holder  Borden,  and  ! 
Jefferson  was  put  in  to  conduct  the  business.  In 
1821,  upon  the  organization  of  the  iron-works  enter- 
prise, he  was  chosen  clerk  of  the  establishment.  He 
retained  this  position  till  September  of  the  following 
year,  when  the  company  opened  a  warehouse  and 
salesroom  in  Providence,  and  the  business  experience 
and  proclivities  he  had  already  demonstrated  pointed 
him  out  as  the  most  eligible  representative  of  the  grow- 
ing industry.  Mr.  Borden  was  a  few  months  over  his 
majority  when  he  undertook  the  office  of  agent  of  the 
company  at  Providence,  but  the  shrewd,  sagacious 
promoters  of  the  iron-works  knew  they  had  chosen 
the  right  man  for  the  place.  The  event  amply  proved 
the  correctness  of  their  judgment,  the  agent's  wise, 
systematic  control  really  directing  the  home  produc- 


tion of  the  company,  while  his  keen  perception  and 
clever  manipulation  of  the  market  constantly  ex- 
tended the  field  of  its  operations  throughout  the 
Union. 

For  fifteen  years  Jefferson  Borden  remained  at  his 
place  in  Providence.  In  1837  the  ill  health  of  his 
cousin  Holder  made  a  vacancy  in  the  management 
of  the  American  Print-Works,  and  he  was  recalled  to 
Fall  River. 

While  in  Providence,  Mr.  Borden  had  a  high  posi- 
tion as  a  business  man,  and  was  associated  with  the 
men  who  were  then  the  leaders  in  business  affairs. 
He  is  at  present  probably  the  last  survivor  of  the 
board  of  directors  of  the  old  United  States  Branch 
Bank,  and  after  that  was  abolished  by  Gen.  Jackson, 
was  a  member  of  the  board  of  directors  of  the  Black- 
stone  Canal  Bank  until  he  removed  to  Fall  River. 

For  thirty-nine  years  Mr.  Borden  was  the  executive 
officer  and  managing  agent  of  the  print-works,  re- 
tiring from  active  control  only  during  the  spring  of 
the  present  year.  He  assumed  the  position  at  a 
period  which  will  not  be  forgotten  in  financial  annals 
as  the  extreme  test  of  industrial  and  commercial  en- 
durance. No  panic  has  been  more  severe  and  no  de- 
pression of  business  more  general  than  that  of  1837, 
and  its  distressing  stringency  upon  all  elements  of 
recuperative  life  was  greater  than  it  could  ever  again 
be,  in  the  degree  that  all  industry  and  enterprise  was 
comparatively  immature,  the  country  itself  lacking 
the  great  elasticity  it  now  possesses  in  the  wonderful 
development  of  its  natural  and  productive  resources. 
To  undertake  the  work  of  carrying  a  great  establish- 
ment successfully  through  such  a  period  of  embarrass- 
ment on  every  hand  was  a  terrible  trial  of  a  business 
man's  best  powers,  and  it  is  undoubtedly  safe  to  say 
that  when  an  all- wise  Providence  removed  Holder 
Borden,  the  projector  and  worker,  from  the  control 
and  direction  of  the  enterprise,  the  only  person  thor- 
oughly fitted  for  the  exigency  by  experience  and 
managing  power,  and  probably  superior  to  Holder  in 
his  approved  financial  ability  and  estimation  among 
capitalists,  was  wisely  and  fortunately  chosen. 

His  well-known  reputation  for  business  capacity  in 
Providence  was  of  great  assistance  in  overcoming  the 
difficulties  at  this  most  trying  period,  when  not  only 
was  there  great  stricture  in  the  money  market,  but 
several  of  the  accredited  agents  of  the  company  failed. 

During  the  panic  of  1857  also  Mr.  Borden's  finan- 
cial ability  was  severely  tested,  and  at  that  time  also 
some  of  the  agents  failed.  Then,  however,  Mr.  Bor- 
den was  for  weeks  confined  to  his  bed  by  sickness 
when  the  difficulties  were  greatest,  but  he  still  con- 
ducted his  correspondence,  dictating  to  a  confidential 
clerk  the  replies  to  his  letters,  and  directing  all  his 
business  affairs. 

Upon  the  destruction  of  the  American  Print- Works 
by  fire  in  1867,  Mr.  Borden's  extraordinary  capacity 
for  recuperation  and  support  through  a  most  trying 
period   was  again    in   forced   requisition.     The  rapid 


412 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


restoration  of  the  establishment  in  all  its  operative 
powers  was  truly  remarkable.  The  eyes  of  all  were 
able  to  observe  with  startled  wonder  the  immediate 
re-erection  of  the  great  structure,  the  spacious  rec- 
tangle of  solid  granite  going  up  almost  like  the  Khan's 
palace  in  Coleridge's  phantasy,  and  the  huge  engines 
and  machines  reassuming  their  old  places  with  a  con- 
current promptness;  yet  few  appreciated  or  even 
guessed  that  greater  difficulties  than  these  mere  mate- 
rial matters,  difficulties  calling  for  rare  credit  and  un- 
questioned responsibility,  had  been  met  and  overcome. 

Since  his  return  to  Fall  River,  Jefferson  Borden 
has  been  largely  concerned  in  the  various  enterprises 
that  have  marked  the  progress  of  the  city.  A  partner 
of  the  deceased  Col.  Richard  in  the  important  special 
undertakings  of  his  later  years,  he  was  with  him  in- 
terested in  the  old  Bay  State  Steamboat  Company  (of 
which  he  at  one  time  owned  three-fifths  of  the  stock), 
the  Fall  River  Railroad  Company,  the  Borden  Mining 
Company,  and  other  extensive  operations. 

Another  great  trust  which  should  be  noted  in  con- 
nection with  Mr.  Jefferson  Borden's  business  career 
is  the  management  of  the  Valentine  estate  as  trustee 
since  1839,  at  first  in  connection  with  Maj.  Bradford 
Durfee,  and  later  with  Mr.  Philip  D.  Borden.  An 
eminent  probate  judge  has  said  that  there  is  scarcely 
another  such  case  on  record  of  an  estate  which  at  its 
first  appraised  valuation  was  less  than  two  hundred 
thousand  dollars,  and  from  which  there  has  already 
been  divided  more  than  ten  times  that  amount  among 
the  different  heirs  as  they  became  of  legal  age,  besides 
providing  for  their  support  in  the  mean  time. 

Mr.  Borden's  retirement  from  immediate  connection 
with  active  business  has  not  severed  his  close  relation 
to  the  earnest  life  and  progress  of  his  native  city.  He 
is  still  president  of  the  Fall  River  Iron-Works  Com- 
pany, the  Fall  River  Bleachery,  the  American  Linen 
Company,  the  Troy  Cotton  and  Woolen  Company, 
director  in  Borden  Mining  Company,  the  Annawan 
Manufacturing  Company,  the  Fall  River  Machine 
Company,  Fall  River  and  Providence  Steamboat 
Company,  the  Metacomet  Manufacturing  Company, 
Fall  River  Iron-Works,  and  Fall  River  Gas  Com- 
pany. He  has  also  been  for  many  years  a  trustee 
of  Brown  University,  and  until  the  weight  of  years 
made  it  impossible  to  attend  to  the  business  was  an 
active  member  of  the  executive  committee  of  that 
body,  and  officially  concerned  in  other  business  or- 
ganizations. His  long  life,  full  from  the  start  of 
honest  purpose,  intense  application,  and  constantly 
hopeful  energy,  claims  for  him  at  last  exemption  from 
the  cares  of  business  routine,  and  Providence  has 
yielded  to  its  declining  years  the  blessings  such  careers 
worthily  demand, — -competence,  the  serene  joy  of  a 
beautiful  home,  and  the  affectionate  esteem  of  the 
community. 


DR.  NATHAN    DURFEE. 

Dr.  Nathan  Durfee  was  born  in  Fall  River,  then 
Freetown,  in  1799.  He  was  a  graduate  (with  his 
brother  Thomas  R.)  of  Brown  University  in  1824, 
they  being  the  first  college  graduates  from  this  town. 
He  studied  medicine,  and  received  the  degree  of 
M.D.  at  Harvard  University,  but  the  practice  of  the 
profession  was  not  suited  to  his  tastes,  and  he  con- 
tinued in  it  but  a  brief  period  of  time.  He  opened 
a  drug-store  on  what  is  now  Central  Street,  a  little 
distance  west  of  Main,  erecting  for  this  purpose  the 
first  brick  building  in  the  township.  It  was  very 
small,  but  was  then  remarkable  for  its  neatness  and 
beauty,  and  its  adaptedness  to  the  use  for  which  it  was 
constructed.  This  he  occupied  until  the  erection  of 
his  brick  dwelling-house  on  the  corner  of  Bank  and 
North  Main  Streets,  where  the  Narragansett  Hotel 
now  stands.  The  first  story  of  this  house  he  occu- 
pied for  his  store  until  he  gave  up  the  business,  after 
a  brief  experience  in  it. 

He  soon  discovered  an  interest  in  the  growing  in- 
dustries of  the  place,  and  though  not  entering  directly 
upon  the  management  of  any  one  business,  was  asso- 
ciated with  others  in  the  general  direction  of  many 
new  enterprises  coincident  with  the  progress  of  Fall 
River.  In  this  way  he  became  a  director  in  the  Fall 
River  Iron-Works,  American  Print- Works,  the  old 
Fall  River  Railroad,  and  the  Cape  Cod  Railroad; 
was  one  of  the  proprietors  of  the  Bay  State  Steam- 
boat Line;  was  largely  interested  in  several  of  the 
banks,  and  in  later  years  entered  heartily  into  the 
new  manufacturing  projects  of  the  city,  and  at  his 
death  was  director  in  at  least  seven  of  the  corporations 
and  president  of  three.  In  earlier  times,  as  a  mer- 
cantile venture,  he  embarked  in  the  whaling  business, 
fitting  out,  in  company  with  other  persons  at  this 
port,  several  vessels  for  the  whale  fishery,  and  estab- 
lishing oil-works.  The  venture  did  not  prove  very 
successful,  however,  and  was  finally  abandoned.  A 
more  successful  enterprise  was  a  flour-mill,  which  did 
an  extensive  business  for  many  years.  He  was  prin- 
cipal owner  of  the  Massasoit  Steam  Mill,  for  the  man- 
ufacture of  print  cloths,  which  were  destroyed  by  fire 
in  1875. 

Besides  filling  various  municipal  offices,  Dr.  Dur- 
fee was  a  representative  to  the  General  Court  for  sev- 
eral years,  and  was  always  one  of  the  most  public- 
spirited  of  citizens.  After  the  "great  fire"  he 
erected  the  Mount  Hope  Block  for  a  public-house, 
not  as  a  profitable  investment,  but  to  give  character 
and  respectability  to  the  then  growing  town. 

Dr.  Durfee  was  a  large  land  proprietor,  owning 
nearly  one  thousand  acres,  a  portion  of  it  valuable 
for  real  estate  purposes,  in  and  about  the  city. 

Besides  being  for  some  years  the  president  of  the 
Bristol  County  Agricultural  Society,  he  was  the  orig- 
inator and  president  for  a  long  period  of  the  Bristol 
County  Central  Society,  and  contributed  liberally 
both  of  money  and  zeal  to  its  advancement.     He  was 


FALL  RIVER. 


413 


a  trustee  of  the  State  Agricultural  College,  and  its 
treasurer  until  declining  health  necessitated  his  resig- 
nation. Kind-hearted  and  genial  in  his  disposition, 
he  was  ever  ready  to  help  and  encourage  the  unfor- 
tunate and  despondent,  the  frequent  losses  sustained 
by  him  in  his  readiness  to  aid  those  seeking  his  as- 
sistance never  chilling  his  sympathy  or  preventing  his 
efficient  action  when  again  sought  by  any  who  needed 
a  helping  hand.  He  was  a  strong  advocate  of  the 
cause  of  temperance,  and  during  the  active  period  of 
his  life  was  a  public  and  efficient  worker  in  it. 

The  moral  and  spiritual  welfare  of  his  native  town 
and  city  was  ever  prominent  in  the  mind  of  Dr.  Dur- 
fee,  who  was  one  of  the  earliest  projectors  of  the 
Sunday-school  work,  and  instrumental  in  establishing 
several  suburban  mission  schools.  He  was  closely 
identified  with  the  Central  Congregational  Church, 
being  an  original  member  and  contributor  of  one- 
quarter  of  the  lot  upon  which  the  society's  first  house 
of  worship  was  erected.  Always  one  of  its  most  ac- 
tive and  efficient  members,  he  took  an  especially  deep 
interest  in  its  development,  and,  with  the  late  Col. 
Richard  Borden,  furnished  a  large  portion  of  the 
funds  used  in  the  construction  of  the  new  and  elegant 
edifice  erected  in  1875,  and  considered  one  of  the  most 
perfect  ecclesiastical  structures  in  the  country. 

He  died  April  6,  1876. 


WILLIAM  C.  DAVOL. 
William  C.  Davol  was  born  Jan.  5,  1806,  in  Fall 
River,  and  while  yet  a  lad  entered  the  Troy  Mill,  then 
just  commencing  operations.  He  was  made  overseer 
of  the  spinning  in  1819,  and  superintendent  in  1827, 
a  position  which  he  occupied  until  1841,  when  he  be- 
came partner  in  the  firm  of  Hawes,  Marvel  &  Davol, 
and  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  cotton  machinery. 
He  was  an  intimate  friend  of  Holder  Borden  and 
Maj.  Durfee,  and  when  the  latter  went  to  Europe,  in 
1838,  to  investigate  the  improvements  in  cotton  and 
iron  machinery,  accompanied  him.  By  letters  of  in- 
troduction, a  little  Yankee  ingenuity  and  persistence, 
he  effected  an  arrangement  with  the  owners  of  the 
Sharp  &  Roberts  self-acting  mule,  to  secure  patents 
for  their  manufacture  in  the  United  States,  and  the 
manufacture  of  cotton  and  other  kinds  of  machinery 
from  the  most  approved  patterns  was  entered  upon  at 
once  by  the  new  firm  of  Hawes,  Marvel  &  Davol. 
Mr.  Davol  soon  projected  improvements  to  beautify 
and  perfect  the  operation  and  durability  of  the  self- 
acting  mule,  and  from  these  patterns  built  one  hun- 
dred and  eighty  thousand  spindles.  In  1847  a  new- 
set  of  patterns  were  made,  which  superseded  the  old, 
and  from  which  one  hundred  thousand  spindles  were 
soon  constructed.  In  1852  and  in  1854  other  new 
mules  were  perfected  with  a  combination  of  improved 
principles  for  spinning  fine  yarn.  At  the  same  time 
Mr.  Davol's  inventive  genius  was  at  work  upon  other 
parts  of  cotton  machinery,  resulting  in  patent  carders, 


speeders,  and  drawing-frames,  by  which  the  produc- 
tive power  was  quadrupled.  The  advantage  to  any 
manufacturing  community  to  have  among  its  number 
one  such  man  cannot  well  be  estimated,  and  the  high 
opinion  of  Mr.  Davol's  practical  worth  may  be  gath- 
ered from  the  opinion  of  a  well-known  cotton  manu- 
facturer, as  expressed  in  the  statement  that  "  William 
C.  Davol  was  worth  more  to  Fall  River,  for  the  twenty 
years  succeeding  the  building  of  the  Metacomet  Mill, 
than  all  others  put  together  because  of  his  improve- 
ments in  cotton  machinery."  This  is  high  praise, 
but  is  in  some  respects  justified  by  the  statement  of 
another  noted  manufacturer,  who  said,  "  There's  more 
in  the  man  than  in  the  mill." 

The  Davol  Mills,  for  the  manufacture  of  sheetings, 
shirtings,  silesias,  etc.,  were  named  after  Mr.  Davol, 
who  was  elected  and  still  holds  the  position  of  presi- 
dent of  the  corporation. 


HON.  WILLIAM    STEDMAN    GREENE. 

Hon.  William  Stedman  Greene,  ex-mayor  of  Fall 
River,  was  born  in  Tremont,  Tazewell  Co.,  111.,  April 
28, 1841,  and  removed  with  his  parents  to  Fall  River, 
Mass.,  in  July,  1844.  He  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  the  city,  and  in  the  autumn  of  1856  was 
employed  in  a  fancy  goods  and  millinery  store,  but 
only  continued  in  that  occupation  six  months.  In 
March,  1858,  he  entered  the  employ  of  John  P.  Slade 
in  the  insurance  business,  and  remained  with  him 
until  May,  1865. 

He  was  married  to  Mary  E.  White,  of  Providence, 
R.  I.,  in  March,  1865,  and  they  have  three  children, 
two  sons  and  one  daughter.  In  1865  and  1866  was 
engaged  in  life  insurance  business  in  Providence, 
R.  I.,  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  and  New  York  City. 

In  June,  1866,  returned  to  Fall  River,  Mass.,  and 
formed  a  copartnership  with  his  father,  transacting 
business  as  auctioneers,  real-estate,  stock,  and  insur- 
ance brokers  under  the  name  and  firm  of  Greene  & 
Son,  of  which  firm  he  still  remains  an  active  member. 

In  the  fall  of  1875,  Mr.  Greene  was  elected  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Common  Council  from  Ward  five,  and  served 
in  that  body  during  the  years  1876,  '77,  '78,  '79,  and 
for  the  last  three  years  named  served  as  president. 

He  has  always  been  an  active  Republican,  and  in 
1876  was  chosen  chairman  of  the  Republican  City 
Committee.  An  active  campaign  was  entered  upon 
and  a  canvass  of  voters  made  and  an  estimate  of  the 
probable  result  made,  predicting  a  Republican  ma- 
jority of  seven  hundred  and  eighty-seven.  The  re- 
sult being  that  President  Hayes  had  a  majority  of 
861,  and  the  Republicans  carried  five  of  the  six 
wards,  and  gave  their  senatorial  candidate  over  one 
thousand  majority,  and  elected  their  entire  represen- 
tative ticket.  In  November,  1879,  Mr.  Greene  was 
nominated  by  acclamation  as  the  Republican  candi- 
date for  mayor,  and  was  elected  the  following  Decem- 
ber by  four  hundred  and  sixty-one  majority.     In  the 


414 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


State  election  on  the  first  Tuesday  in  November,  1879, 
the  Democratic  candidate  for  Governor  carried  the 
city  by  twelve  hundred  and  fifty-nine  majority.  In 
the  face  of  this  result  the  outlook  for  the  election  of 
so  outspoken  a  Republican  as  Mr.  Greene  only  one 
month  later  did  not  seem  promising,  but  his  friends 
worked  actively  and  with  determination,  with  the 
successful  result  before  stated. 

His  administration  of  the  office  was  marked  with 
firmness  and  economy.  He  vetoed  two  appropriations 
for  three  thousand  five  hundred  dollars  and  two  thou- 
sand five  hundred  dollars  respectively,  for  the  cele- 
bration of  Fourth  of  July,  both  of  which  were  sus- 
tained. He  also  vetoed  an  appropriation  of  seven 
thousand  dollars  for  a  city  stable,  but  this  veto  was 
not  sustained.  During  the  year  an  ordinance  was 
prepared  under  his  direction  creating  the  office  of 
superintendent  of  public  buildings  and  inspector  of 
buildings,  establishing  a  fire  district  and  regulating 
the  construction  of  buildings  throughout  the  city ; 
also  an  ordinance  creating  the  office  of  city  engineer 
and  defining  his  duties. 

In  May,  1880,  he  was  chosen  an  alternate  delegate 
from  the  First  Congressional  District  to  the  Republi- 
can National  Convention,  holden  in  Chicago  in  June, 
1880,  and  was  present  and  participated  in  the  delib- 
erations of  the  convention,  which  resulted  in  the 
nomination  of  Hon.  James  A.  Garfield  for  the  Presi- 
dency. In  November,  1880,  was  unanimously  re- 
nominated by  acclamation  by  the  Republicans  as 
candidate  for  mayor,  and  was  elected  the  following 
December  by  thirteen  hundred  and  sixty-eight  ma- 
jority. He  entered  upon  his  second  term  in  Jan- 
uary, 1881,  and  in  March,  1881,  was  appointed  post- 
master by  President  Garfield,  and  on  the  28th  day  of 
March,  1881,  resigned  the  office  of  mayor,  and  as- 
sumed the  position  of  postmaster,  April  15,  1881. 
Under  his  administration  of  that  office  additional 
mail  facilities  have  been  obtained,  mail  messenger 
service  has  been  established  to  and  from  the  railroad 
depots,  the  number  of  letter  carriers  has  been  in- 
creased, and  the  routes  for  the  collection  and  delivery 
of  letters  have  been  greatly  extended,  and  few  cities 
are  now  provided  with  better  mail  facilities.  He  is  a 
member  of  St.  Paul's  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
and  is  superintendent  of  the  Sabbath-school,  which 
position  he  has  held  during  the  past  five  years.  He  is 
also  a  member  of  the  board  of  trustees.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Mount  Hope  Lodge  of  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons,  Fall  River  Royal  Arch  Chapter,  and  Godfrey 
De  Bouillon  Commandery  Knights  Templar,  but  has 
never  held  any  official  position  in  either  of  these 
bodies. 

Mr.  Greene  is  a  public-spirited  citizen,  and  all 
measures  tending  to  advance  the  interests  of  Fall 
River  have  found  in  him  an  earnest  advocate. 


E.  T.  LEONARD. 

Ebenezer  Turell  Leonard  was  born  in  Gardner, 
Mass.,  July  19,  1812.  He  commenced  the  study  of 
medicine  under  Drs.  Perry,  Bowditch,  Gould,  and 
Wylie,  of  Boston,  and  afterwards  studied  at  the  Har- 
vard Medical  School,  graduating  in  1886.  He  com- 
menced practice  in  Weymouth,  Mass.,  in  the  spring 
of  1836,  and  remained  there  ten  years.  He  removed 
to  Fall  River  in  1846,  and  has  labored  here  uninter- 
ruptedly until  the  present  time.  He  graduated  at 
Harvard  Medical  School  in  1836.  He  has  held  the 
following  offices  in  the  South  Massachusetts  Medical 
Society:  president  two  years,  and  vice-president  and 
councilor  two  years. 

Dr.  Leonard  is  one  of  the  oldest  practitioners  in 
the  State,  and  one  of  Fall  River's  most  honored  and 
esteemed  citizens. 


HON.    JAMES    BUFFINTON. 

Hon.  James  Buffinton  was  born  on  "  Chaloner  Hill," 
in  Troy  (now  Fall  River),  Mass.,  March  16,  1817. 
His  parents  removed  to  Swansea,  near  the  village  of 
that  name,  in  his  infancy,  where  the  first  years  of  his 
childhood  were  passed,  and  where  he  commenced  at- 
tending school ;  but  soon  the  interests  of  the  family 
caused  their  return  to  his  native  village,  which  hence- 
forward became  his  home.  His  earlier  years  were 
those  of  self-denial  and  constraint,  yet  all  through 
his  boyhood  and  youth  his  promptness  in  thought 
and  independence  in  action  were  indicative  of  the 
coming  man.  His  parents  were  members  of  the  So- 
ciety of  Friends,  his  mother  being  an  approved 
minister  of  that  body  of  Christians  for  many  years. 
She  was  careful  in  the  training  of  her  youngest  born 
— the  subject  of  this  sketch — to  inculcate  in  his  mind 
the  love  of  truth  and  virtue,  to  lay  a  foundation  for 
the  principles  of  honesty  and  uprightness,  and  to 
nurture  him  in  a  strict  regard  for  the  same. 

He  attended  public  and  private  schools  a  part  of 
each  twelvemonth,  until  he  was  some  fifteen  years  of 
age,  when  he  was  sent  for  two  or  three  terms  to  the 
Friends'  Boarding  School  in  Providence,  R.  I.,  where 
he  made  good  use  of  his  privileges,  and  progressed 
satisfactorily  in  his  studies.  Here,  as  elsewhere,  the 
activity  of  an  irrepressible  nature  often  led  him  to 
the  front,  and  in  sports  and  exercises  of  muscular 
power  and  skill  he  ever  showed  an  ambition  to  lead. 
After  leaving  school  he  commenced  the  study  of 
medicine  with  the  late  Dr.  Thomas  Wilbur,  pursuing 
his  investigations  in  this  science  successfully  to  the 
period  when  he  should  have  attended  medical  lectures 
as  a  finishing  step  to  make  him  a  veritable  M.D. 
Failing  to  obtain  the  necessary  funds  at  the  proper 
time  satisfactorily  to  himself,  he  turned  his  attention 
to  teaching,  and  spent  two  or  three  years  as  a  precep- 
tor in  public  and  private  schools  at  Westport,  and 
afterwards  in  Dartmouth,  at  or  near  Padanaram,  the 
southern  extremity  of  the  town.    Here,  from  constant 


FALL  RIVER. 


415 


association  with  men  interested  in  navigation,  his 
thoughts  were  turned  in  this  direction,  and  he  finally 
shipped  for  a  whaling  voyage  on  board  the  ship 
"  South  Carolina,"  about  to  sail  from  that  port. 

Making  a  successful  voyage,  he  returned  home,  and 
engaged  in  business  as  a  druggist.  Subsequently 
abandoning  this  enterprise,  he  entered  the  dry-goods 
and  millinery  trade.  About  this  time  also  he  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Sarah  Perkins. 

During  these  years  he  possessed  the  full  confidence 
of  his  fellow-townsmen,  who  often  by  their  suffrages 
acknowledged  his  qualifications,  electing  him  to  posi- 
tions of  trust  and  usefulness.  He  was  a  prominent 
and  efficient  member  of  the  fire  department,  and  in 
1851  was  chosen  selectman,  being  re-elected  in  1852, 
and  again  in  1853. 

On  the  adoption  of  a  city  charter  in  1854  he  was 
elected  mayor  by  a  majority  over  all  of  three  hundred 
and  thirty-one,  in  an  aggregate  of  twelve  hundred  and 
sixty-one  votes. 

At  the  second  city  election,  in  1855,  he  was  re- 
elected mayor  ;  but  the  same  autumn,  his  executive 
abilities  having  become  more  generally  known  and 
appreciated,  at  a  convention  called  to  nominate  a 
candidate  for  representative  in  Congress,  he  was  chosen 
by  acclamation,  and  subsequently  elected  by  a  ma- 
jority of  several  thousand.  When  the  Rebellion  was 
being  inaugurated,  his  attention  in  the  House  was,  if 
possible,  increased,  and  no  effort  was  lost  to  advance 
the  nation's  cause  and  preserve  her  life  and  usefulness. 
On  his  return  home  early  in  the  spring  of  1861,  he 
immediately  set  influences  at  work  to  raise  a  company 
of  volunteers  in  person,  joining  the  "  Boys  in  Blue" 
in  their  drill,  their  marches  through  the  street,  and 
in  all  their  preparations  to  become  defenders  of  their 
country's  life  and  integrity. 

In  1864  Mr.  Buffinton,  having  declined  a  re-nomi- 
nation for  Congress,  accepted  an  office  in  the  Internal 
Revenue  Department,  tendered  him  during  President 
Johnson's  administration. 

The  duties  of  this  office — general  treasury  agent — 
were  satisfactorily  performed  for  a  year  or  two,  when 
he  was  appointed  revenue  collector  for  the  First  Dis- 
trict of  Massachusetts,  which  office  he  held  until  after 
the  death  of  Mr.  Eliot,  his  successor  in  Congress,  in 
June,  177<»,  when  he  was  again  elected  by  those  whom 
he  had  so  faithfully  served  in  previous  years  as  their 
representative  in  the  national  councils.  He  served 
two  terms,  and  was  re-elected  for  a  third,  when  death 
intervened.  Thus  was  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
useful  life,  the  last  few  weeks  in  distress  of  body,  yet 
to  the  last  with  the  same  alert  mind,  anxious  to  do 
his  whole  duty,  prompt  in  his  attendance  upon  each 
session  of  the  House,  and  finally  dying  with  the  har- 
ness on.  He  remained  in  his  seat,  against  the  wishes 
of  his  friends,  until  the  adjournment  of  Congress, 
when  he  came  home  to  die  in  less  than  one  hour  after 
being  welcomed  by  his  beloved  domestic  circle,  Sab- 
bath morning,  March  6,  1874. 


His  funeral  obsequies  were  attended  by  a  large  con- 
course of  relatives  and  friends,  residents  of  this  and 
many  other  towns  in  the  State. 


CHARLES    H.  DEAN. 

Charles  H.  Dean,  whose  portrait  accompanies  this 
sketch,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Freetown,  Mass., 
Nov.  29,  1821,  and  died  at  his  residence  in  Fall 
River,  Mass.,  July  22,  1882.  He  was  seventh  in  de- 
scent from  Walter  Deane,  his  paternal  American 
ancestor,  and  ninth  in  regular  descent  from  Walter 
Deane,  who  lived  a  few  miles  from  Taunton,  England. 

This  first  Walter  Deane  had  several  children,  but 
only  one  son,  William  Deane.  Nothing  is  known 
of  Walter  Deane,  except  that  he  died  in  England,  in 
1591.  His  son  William  was  born  there,  and  died 
there.  He  died  in  1634.  He  had  nine  children, 
the  three  youngest  of  whom,  John,  Walter,  Mar- 
garet, we  know  came  to  America,  and  were  first 
at  Dorchester  in  1636  or  1637,  and  in  Taunton  in 
1637-38.  "  Walter  Deane  married  Eleanor  Strong 
and  had  six  children,  but  we  know  the  names  only 
Benjamin,  Ezra,  and  Joseph.  He  was  a  representa- 
tive to  the  General  Court  as  early  as  1640,  and  was  a 
selectman  in  Taunton  for  many  years,  and  with  his 
wife  was  living  as  late  as  1693."  (See  history  of 
pioneers  of  Taunton.) 

Benjamin  Deane,1  son  of  Walter  and  Eleanor 
(Strong)  Deane,  was  married  to  Sarah  Williams,  Jan. 
6, 1680  or  '81.  They  settled  in  Taunton,  Mass,  and  had 
children, — Naomi,  Hannah,  Israel  (born  Feb.  2, 1685), 
Mary,  Damaris,  Sarah,  Elizabeth,  Mehitable,  Benja- 
min (born  July  31,  .1699),  Ebenezer  (born  Feb.  24, 
1702),  Lydia,  and  Josiah  (born  Oct.  23,  1707).  His 
will  was  made  Feb.  2,  1723,  and  probated  April  14, 
1725. 

Ebenezer  Deane,  third  son  of  Benjamin  Deane, 
married  Rachel  Allen,  of  Rehoboth,  Jan.  19,  1709  or 
'10.  He  had  several  children,  among  whom  •  were 
Joshua  and  Ebenezer.  *  He  marched  with  his  son 
Joshua  in  defense  of  their  country  against  the  French 
and  Indians.  He  was  captain  of  a  company,  and 
served  with  distinction  in  that  war. 

Ebenezer  Dean,  Jr.,  son  of  Capt.  Ebenezer,  Sr., 
was  born  about  1730,  and  died  Jan.  5,  1819,  in  his 
ninetieth  year.  He  was  known  as  Deacon  Dean.  He 
married  Prudence,  daughter  of  John  King,  of  Rayn- 
ham.  She  died  March  10, 1787,  in  her  fifty-fifth  year. 
Their  children  were  ten  in  number,  of  whom  we  know 
of  Ebenezer,  Abiather,  Enos,  Levi,  and  Apollos. 

Mr.  Dean  resided  in  Taunton,  but  purchased  a  tract 
of  land  in  Freetown,  and  gave  to  his  sons  Levi  and 
Apollos.  Gen.  Peirce,  of  Assonet,  says,  ''There  was 
a  small  house  on  the  farm  of  Levi  Dean,  which  was 


1  The  name  was  usually  written  with  an  e  final,  but  for  several  gener- 
ations past  many  have  dropped  the  e. 


416 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


raised  and  enlarged,"  but  many  new  buildings  had  to 
be  put  up  and  other  improvements  made. 

Levi  Dean,  son  of  Deacon  Ebenezer  and  Prudence 
(King)  Dean,  was  born  in  Taunton,  Dec.  13, 1767,  and 
died  Nov.  1, 1840.  He  settled  in  Freetown  on  a  farm 
given  to  him  by  his  father,  and  the  farm  is  now  (1883) 
in  the  family.  He  married  Betsey  Dean  in  1792.  She 
was  born  Feb.  27, 1770,  and  died  Aug.  22, 1836.  Their 
children  were  King,  Eliza,  Gains,  and  Prudence,  all 
born  in  Freetown,  Mass. 

King  Dean,  son  of  Levi,  was  born  in  Freetown, 
Sept.  24,  1795,  married  Betsey  Lawton,  Oct.  20,  1817, 
and  had  five  children, — Anna  E.,  Benjamin  D., 
Charles  H.  (deceased),  George  W.,  and  James  O.  (de- 
ceased). 

Mr.  Dean  was  a  farmer  during  the  earlier  part  of 
his  life  in  Freetown.  About  1830-33,  however,  he 
settled  with  his  family  in  Fall  River,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  farming  at  first,  then  he  worked  in  the 
packing  department  of  the  Robinson  Print-Works  for 
many  years.  Finally  in  1849  he  went  to  California, 
and  returned  via  the  Isthmus  of  Panama,  at  which 
place  he  contracted  a  fever  from  the  effects  of  which 
he  died  at  New  Orleans,  Dec.  26,  1850.  Mrs.  King 
Dean  died  Jan.  30,  1872,  aged  seventy-four  years. 
The  line  of  descent  from  Walter  Deane,  of  England, 
to  Charles  H.  Dean,  the  subject  of  our  immediate 
sketch,  has  been  Walter1,  William2,  Walter3  (the 
first  of  the  name  of  this  line  in  America).  Benjamin4, 
Ebenezer5,  Ebenezer6,  Levi7,  King8,  and  Charles  H.9 

"  Charles  H.  Dean  came  to  Fall  River  very  young, 
and  became  interested  in  the  dry-goods  business,  and 
started  for  himself  in  1847,  which  he  continued  until 
his  death.  As  a  merchant  he  was  generally  liked. 
Ill  his  business  he  was  strictly  honorable  to  everyone, 
being  no  respecter  of  persons  ;  the  rich  and  poor  were 
used  alike.  He  was  always  the  courteous  gentleman 
that  won  the  respect  and  admiration  of  all.  He  was 
a  thoroughly  Christian  man,  and  a  working  member  of 
the  First  Baptist  Church  in  this  city.  His  kind  words 
and  counsels  were  often  heard  in  the  way  of  doing 
good  to  his  fellows,  no  matter  in  what  station  in  life. 
He  was  liberal  to  the  worthy  poor,  and  yet  he  always 
had  enough  and  to  spare.  Mr.  Dean  was  largely  in- 
terested in  manufactures,  being  a  stockholder  and  di- 
rector in  several  of  the  cotton-mills  of  Fall  River, 
among  which  we  may  mention  the  King  Philip,  Mer- 
chant, Osborn,  and  Wee  tarn  oe  Mills.  He  took  a 
considerable  interest  in  the  municipal  affairs  of  the 
city,  and  was  a  director  in  the  Globe  Railroad  Com- 
pany. He  was  a  man  of  large  and  broad  views  on  all 
things  that  pertained  to  the  welfare  of  the  com- 
munity, and  being  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  intel- 
lect, he  was  the  better  able  to  deal  with  the  great, 
important  questions  of  the  day  in  a  most  intelligent 
and  satisfactory  way.  Politically  he  was  a  Republican, 
but  he  did  not  seek  political  honors,  but  preferred  to 
attend  to  his  legitimate  business. 

"  Mr.  Dean  possessed  qualities  of  head  and  heart 


which  endeared  him  to  all,  and  if  in  daily  life  he  was 
unostentatious  and  quiet,  he  was  always  as  genial  and 
pleasant,  and  in  this  way  not  only  won  the  respect 
but  secured  the  friendship  of  all  whose  friendship 
was  worth  having.  He  was,  too,  a  man  of  refined 
and  generous  sympathies,  and  these  found  expression 
in  kind,  cheerful  words  where  cheer  and  comfort  were 
most  needed.  He  was  a  gentleman  by  nature  and 
social  intercourse,  and  a  Christian  from  convictions. 
Goodness  of  heart  was  as  natural  to  him  as  song  to 
the  bird  or  sweetness  to  the  flower." 

He  was  one  of  the  best  of  husbands  and  fathers, 
and  it  was  in  his  home  life  that  he  appeared  to  the 
best  advantage.  Mr.  Dean  was  a  man  who  will  long 
be  remembered  for  his  many  nameless  acts  of  kind- 
ness to  those  who  needed  them.  He  will  be  remem- 
bered for  his  general  courteousness  of  manners  and 
for  his  many  virtues.  Truly  a  good  man  has  gone 
home  to  rest. 

Oct.  19,  1847,  he  married  Louisa  M.,  daughter  of 
David  and  Louisa  (Chase)  Peirce,  of  Somerset,  Mass. 
She  was  born  in  Somerset,  Jan.  26,  1824,  and  died 
April  9,  1877. 

Their  only  child,  Mary  L.,  married,  Sept.  3,  1873, 
George  S.  Davol,  of  Fall  River,  and  has  three  chil- 
dren,— Stephen  B.,  Louisa  D.,  and  Charles  D. 


CHAPTER    XXX. 


EASTON.1 


The  town  of  Easton  is  situated  in  the  northeast 
corner  of  Bristol  County.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north 
by  Stoughton  and  Sharon,  on  the  east  by  Brockton 
and  West  Bridgewater,  on  the  south  by  Raynham, 
Taunton,  and  Norton,  and  on  the  west  by  Norton 
and  Mansfield.  It  derived  its  name  from  its  location 
with  reference  to  the  town  of  Norton,  of  which  it 
originally  formed  a  part ;  it  was  the  East  Precinct  of 
that  town,  and  became  the  East  Town,  or  Easton.  lis 
area  is  twenty-nine  square  miles,  or,  more  precisely, 
eighteen  thousand  five  hundred  and  eighty-four 
square  acres,  of  which  three  hundred  and  seventy 
acres  are  water.  The  underlying  geological  forma- 
tion is  in  the  northerly  half  sienite,  and  in  the 
southern  half  a  conglomerate  sometimes  called  gray- 
wacke.  There  are  a  number  of  acres,  perhaps  two 
or  three  hundred,  in  which  bog-iron  ore  is  found, 
and  where  it  has  been  dug  with  profit.  The  surface 
of  Easton  is  quite  level,  the  north  part  of  the  town 
having,  however,  a  pleasant  variety  of  elevation. 
Considerable  swamp-land  exists,  especially  in  the 
southern  portion,  where  is  located  what  is  known  as 
the   Great   Cedar  Swamp.     There   are  some   ponds 

i  By  Rev.  William  L.  Chaffin. 


EASTON. 


417 


artificially  made  for  manufacturing  purposes,  and  oc- 
cupying altogether  about  three  hundred  and  seventy 
acres.  The  two  largest  streams  are  Leach's  Stream, 
once  called  Mulberry  Meadow  Brook,  in  the  west 
part,  and  Queset  River,  which  is  in  the  northeastern 
part,  and  on  .which  stand  the  Ames  Shovel-Works. 
The  soil  is  not  above  the  average  quality  for  this 
section.  Wise  management  and  hard  work  are 
needed  to  make  farming  pay  even  a  small  profit. 

The  population  of  Easton  is  about  four  thousand. 
At  the  census  of  1880  it  was  precisely  three  thousand 
nine  hundred  and  one.  Easton  Centre  is  twenty-four 
miles  south  of  Boston,  twelve  north  of  Taunton, 
and  twenty-seven  north  of  Fall  River.  It  is  twenty- 
two  miles  from  the  sea-shore  in  a  direct  line.  It  is  on 
the  Old  Colony  Railroad,  on  the  main  line  from 
Boston  to  Fall  River  and  Newport,  and  has  two  rail- 
road stations.  It  has  three  villages,  each  with  a 
post-office.  The  principal  village  is  North  Easton, 
which  contained  a  population  of  two  thousand  one 
hundred  and  fifty-six  in  1880,  considerably  over 
half  of  the  whole  population  of  the  town.  The 
other  villages  are  Easton,  or  the  Furnace  village,  and 
South  Easton.  The  chief  industry  of  North  Easton, 
the  industry  in  fact  which  has  built  up  this  village, 
is  shovel-making.  Another  important  business  here 
is  the  manufacture  of  hinges.  There  are  two  boot- 
and  shoe-factories,  and  the  New  England  Specialty 
Company,  which  manufactures  screw-drivers  and  a 
variety  of  similar  articles.  There  are  also  twelve 
stores,  including  markets,  drug-store,  etc.  South 
Easton  has  the  cotton-thread  factory  of  E.  J.  W. 
Morse  &  Co.,  a  grist-mill,  machine-shop,  two  shoe- 
factories,  a  wheelwright-shop,  and  two  stores.  The 
Furnace  village  (post-office  address,  Easton)  has 
two  foundries  or  furnaces,  two  saw-mills,  and  two 
stores.  In  the  southeast  part  of  the  town  mathe- 
matical and  scientific  instruments  are  manufactured. 
These  is  also  a  small  grist-mill  in  the  west  part, 
and  one  in  the  northeast  part.  All  these  industries 
of  the  town  are  merely  alluded  to  here;  they  will 
be  more  particularly -described  farther  on. 

North  Easton  village  presents  many  points  of 
special  interest  and  attraction.  There  are  several 
costly  and  other  handsome  dwelling-houses,  among 
which  may  be  mentioned  those  of  F.  L.  Ames,  Oliver 
Ames,  Oakes  A.  Ames,  Mrs.  Oliver  Ames,  E.  W.  Gil- 
more,  George  W.  Kennedy,  and  Unity  Church  par- 
sonage. The  residences  of  F.  L.  Ames  and  Oliver 
Ames  are  within  a  large  and  beautiful  park,  which  is 
open  to  the  public  for  driving  and  walking,  a  privi- 
lege that  is  highly  appreciated.  An  immense  green- 
house filled  with  rare  and  costly  plants,  and  contain- 
ing a  collection  of  orchids  hardly  second  to  any  in 
the  United  States,  forms  a  great  attraction.  At  one 
of  the  entrances  to  these  grounds  has  been  recently 
erected  a  most  unique  and  interesting  lodge-house. 
It  is  built  of  large,  roundish,  moss-covered  stones  taken 
from  stone  walls  or  from  the  surface  of  the  ground 
27 


and  cemented  together.  Its  two  sections  are  con- 
nected by  a  massive  and  splendid  archway  which 
forms  the  entrance  to  the  park.  The  walls  are  low, 
the  chimneys  large  and  of  stone  like  the  walls,  and 
the  roof  is  covered  with  red  tiles. 

Some  of  the  public  buildings  of  this  village  are 
costly  and  handsome.  The  school-house  is  a  large 
three-story  building,  in  which  are  eleven  large  and 
convenient  school-rooms.  Besides  the  extensive  green- 
houses of  F.  L.  Ames,  excellent  green-houses  are 
owned  by  Mrs.  Oliver  Ames,  E.  W.  Gilmore,  and 
Oakes  A.  Ames.  Unity  Church  is  a  beautiful  stone 
edifice,  Gothic  in  style,  cruciform  in  shape,  with  a 
solid  stone  spire  surmounted  by  a  stone  cross.  It  has 
a  chapel  connected  with  it,  and  below  the  auditorium 
is  a  church-parlor.  This  church  was  dedicated  in 
August,  1875.  It  was  built  by  Hon.  Oliver  Ames  two 
years  before  his  death,  and  was  by  him  presented  as  a 
free  gift  to  the  Unitarian  Society.  John  A.  Mitchell 
was  the  architect. 

The  public  library  building  is  also  an  attractive 
edifice,  built  of  the  native  stone,  a  pinkish  granite 
called  sienite,  with  brown  sandstone  trimmings.  It 
is  elaborately  finished  inside  with  polished  butternut 
and  black-walnut  woods.  Over  ten  thousand  books 
were  provided,  and  the  library  opened  to  the  public 
March  10,  1883.  This  library  was  founded  by  a 
bequest  of  Hon.  Oliver  Ames  just  mentioned.  Near 
the  library  building,  a  little  higher  up  on  the  hill,  is 
the  massive  and  handsome  public  hall,  built  as  a 
memorial  to  Oakes  Ames  by  his  children.  It  stands 
on  the  solid  foundation  of  a  natural  ledge,  from  the 
northeast  corner  of  which  rises  the  tower.  It  has  in 
front  an  arcade  with  heavy  pillars  and  arches,  and 
is  approached  by  wide  stone  staircases  terminating  on 
stone  platforms,  and  so  combined  with  the  natural 
stonework  as  to  present  an  imposing  appearance.  In 
this  building  on  the  first  floor  are  two  small  halls,  the 
large  hall  on  the  second  floor,  and  a  beautifully-deco- 
rated and  furnished  Masonic  Hall  in  the  third  story. 
H.  H.  Richardson  was  the  architect  of  this  hall  and 
of  the  library.  In  front  of  this  hall  is  a  triangular 
piece  of  ground,  upon  which  the  Ames  corporation 
are  now  building,  from  designs  of  Frederick  Law 
Olmstead,  an  extensive  cairn  or  rockwork  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  feet  long  and  twenty-five  feet  high  at 
one  end,  with  an  archway  passing  underneath.  This 
will  eventually  be  covered  with  vines  and  shrubbery, 
and  will,  with  the  lawn,  flower-beds,  and  walks  which 
will  surround  it,  add  much  to  the  beauty  and  attrac- 
tiveness of  this  locality. 

There  are  three  church  edifices  in  this  village, — 
Unity  Church,  already  spoken  of,  a  large  Catholic 
Church,  and  a  Methodist  Church.  On  Washington 
Street,  one  mile  east  of  the  village,  is  another  Meth- 
odist Church.  In  the  centre  of  the  town  is  the  Eas- 
ton Unitarian  Church,  now  closed  except  for  occa- 
sional services,  the  lower  story  of  which  is  used  for  a 
town  hall.     The  church  of  the  Evangelical  Society 


118 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1882,  and  a  new  building  will 
be  erected  this  year  (1883).  Between  these  churches 
stands  the  new  soldiers' monument,  erected  in  1882  at 
a  cost  of  five  thousand  dollars,  upon  which  are  in- 
scribed the  names  of  forty-seven  townsmen  who  were 
killed  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion. 

There  are  in  North  Easton  a  national  bank  and  a 
savings-bank.  One  is  known  as  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Easton,  the  other  as  the  North  Easton  Sa- 
vings-Bank.  Of  these  Frederic  L.  Ames  is  president 
and  P.  A.  Gifford  cashier.  The  savings-bank  has 
considerable  influence  in  promoting  thrifty  habits 
among  the  working-people,  many  of  whom  frequently 
deposit  portions  of  their  wages  therein.  The  town 
has  its  proportion  of  social  and  other  organizations. 
Besides  those  connected  with  the  churches  may  be 
mentioned  the  Paul  Dean  Lodge  of  Masons,  of  which 
George  K.  Davis  is  the  present  Master ;  the  Mizpah 
Star  Lodge  of  the  Daughters  of  Rebekah,  the  A.  B. 
Randall  Post,  No.  52,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic, 
Ellis  Holbrook  commander  ;  a  division  of  the  Sons  of 
Temperance,  an  organization  of  the  Knights  of  Honor, 
etc.,  the  headquarters  of  all  the  above  being  at  North 
Easton,  except  that  of  the  army  post,  which  is  at  South 
Easton. 

The  town  of  Easton  is  represented  in  the  State  gov- 
ernment for  this  year  by  Hon.  Oliver  Ames,  Lieuten- 
ant-Governor;  Hon.  L.  S.  Drake,  State  senator;  and 
Mr.  George  A.  Lackey,  representative  to  the  State 
Legislature. 

The  assessed  value  of  real  estate  in  Easton  for  May 
1, 1882,  was  $1,158,800 ;  the  assessed  value  of  per- 
sonal property  $2,212,537.  The  corporation  tax  was 
$8617.85,  national  bank  tax  $3545.20,  State  tax  $3320, 
county  tax  $2924.92,  town  tax  $13,717.92.  The  rate 
of  taxation  was  $5.50  on  $1000;  the  number  of  dwell- 
ing-houses taxed  was  730 ;  acres  of  land  taxed,  16,- 
165 ;  horses  taxed,  416 ;  cows  taxed,  425.  The  num- 
ber of  polls  was  1068.  There  was  appropriated  for 
the  poor  $5000,  for  schools  $8577.92,  for  roads  $2000, 
but  for  school  and  road  purposes  there  are  large 
special  funds  available.  The  number  of  births  reg- 
istered for  1882  was  eighty-nine,  the  number  of  mar- 
riages forty-one,  the  number  of  deaths  one  hundred 
and  eleven.  The  board  of  selectmen,  assessors,  and 
overseers  of  the  poor,  the  board  of  school  committee, 
and  that  of  road  commissioners  numbers  three  men 
each. 

The  town  of  Easton  is  singularly  fortunate  in  re- 
gard to  the  means  at  its  disposal  for  educational  and 
other  purposes.  The  educational  privileges  will  be 
spoken  of  farther  on.  A  fund  of  fifty  thousand  dol- 
lars was  left  by  the  late  Hon.  Oliver  Ames  for  the  im- 
provement of  roads.  The  income  of  this  fund,  four 
thousand  dollars,  in  addition  to  the  amount  annually 
appropriated  by  the  town,  will  soon  provide  roads 
that  will  equal  if  not  surpass  those  of  any  town  in  the 
commonwealth.  For  a  place  of  the  size  of  Easton 
the  public  library  is  large,  and  is  exceptionally  fine. 


Taxes  are  very  low,  being  for  1882  but  five  dollars 
and  fifty  cents  on  one  thousand  dollars,  and  less  than 
that  for  1883.  It  is  less  than  an  hour's  ride  from  Bos- 
ton, and  has  increasing  attractions  and  advantages 
that  render  it  a  very  desirable  place  of  residence. 

History. — The  town  of  Easton  was  incorporated 
Dec.  21,  1725.  It  was  previously  a  part  of  the  town 
of  Norton,  which  was  incorporated  in  1711,  and  of 
which,  in  1718,  it  was  made  the  East  Precinct,  being 
set  apart  for  the  maintenance  of  a  minister.  Previous 
to  this  time  it  was  part  of  a  tract  of  land  called  Taun- 
ton North  Purchase.  This  tract  included  the  whole 
of  what  is  now  Easton,  nearly  all  of  Mansfield,  and 
about  a  third  of  Norton.  When  first  incorporated 
Norton  included  all  this  tract  and  considerably  more, 
Easton  being  the  older  and  Mansfield  the  younger 
child  of  that  town.  The  North  Purchase  was  bought 
by  fifty-three  of  the  citizens  of  Taunton  of  the  agents 
of  Plymouth  Colony. 

The  first  town-meeting  of  Easton  was  held  March 
2,  1726.  It  will  be  best  to  consider  this  subject,  the 
history  of  Easton,  under  several  different  divisions. 

Industrial  History. — -The  limits  assigned  to  this 
sketch  of  the  history  of  Easton  will  not  allow  any 
very  detailed  narrative  of  the  growth  and  decline  of 
the  various  business  enterprises  that  existed  here  pre- 
vious to  the  present  century.  At  the  time  of  the  in- 
corporation of  the  town  (December,  1725)  there  were 
certainly  two,  probably  three,  iron  forges  in  opera- 
tion. One  was  established  in  1724,  at  what  was  then 
known  as  Cranberry  Meadow  Pond,  and  is  now  called 
the  Dean  farm,  owned  by  F.  L.  Ames.  The  other  was 
established  by  the  Leonards,  who  were  celebrated 
iron-workers,  and  was  in  successful  operation  before 
1724,  but  how  long  before  has  not  yet  been  deter- 
mined. This  forge  was  in  what  is  now  North  Easton, 
at  the  lower  end  of  Stone's  Pond.  Several  saw-mills 
were  running  at  the  same  time  in  different  parts  of 
the  town.  There  was  at  least  one  grist-mill,  and 
probably  more.  The  forge  business  at  the  Dean  farm 
place  continued  until  about  1750.  A  saw-mill  was 
then  built  to  take  its  place.  About  the  same  time 
the  furnace  at  Furnace  village  was  established.  At 
the  time  of  the  Revolutionary  war  this  furnace  was 
owned  by  Capt.  James  Perry,  who  manufactured 
among  other  things  cannon  and  cannon-balls.  It 
afterwards  passed  into  the  hands  of  Gen.  Shepard 
Leach,  by  whom  a  flourishing  business  was  carried 
on.  Large  quantities  of  bog-iron  ore  were  dug  from 
the  swampy  lands  in  the  west  part  of  town,  and  were 
used  at  this  furnace. 

In  the  northeast  part  of  the  town  the  forge  business 
continued  through  the  last  century.  Before  its  close 
two  forges  were  in  operation  there,  the  second  one 
being  on  what  is  known  as  the  Quaker  Leonard  road. 
In  the  year  1775  or  1776  the  manufacture  of  steel  was 
begun  in  Easton  by  Eliphalet  Leonard,  who  was  grand- 
son to  James,  the  founder  of  the  first  forge  in  town. 
Jonathan  Leonard,  son  of  the  Eliphalet  just  named, 


EASTON. 


419 


is  authority  for  the  statement  that  this  was  the  first 
attempt  to  manufacture  steel  in  this  country.  Such 
statements  must,  however,  be  received  with  great  cau- 
tion. Eliphalet  Leonard  was  led  to  that  attempt  by 
the  groat  scarcity  of  steel  in  this  country,  then  in 
great  demand  for  the  manufacture  of  firearms,  which 
were  needed  for  the  defense  of  our  liberties.  He  con- 
structed several  furnaces,  and  was  able  to  supply  him- 
self and  his  neighbors  with  steel.  In  1787,  Jonathan 
Leonard  having,  by  means  of  extraordinary  shrewd- 
ness, of  which  curious  things  are  told,  "obtained 
further  insight  into  this  business,  erected  at  Easton  a 
furnace  capable  of  making  three  tons  at  a  batch." 
In  1808  he  erected  another  furnace  here  of  over 
three  times  the  capacity  of  the  first.  The  Leonards 
manufactured  firearms,  which  are  well  remembered 
by  our  old  inhabitants.  In  1792,  Calvin  Brett  erected 
a  small  factory  in  the  south  part  of  the  town  for  the 
manufacture  of  linseed-oil.  It  was  built  as  a  wind- 
mill, but  did  not  prove  a  success. 

Since  the  year  1800  a  great  many  business  enter- 
prises have  been  undertaken,  have  had  their  day, 
and  have  passed  away.  To  take  up  and  give  in  de- 
tail the  account  of  these  enterprises  would  be  inter- 
esting, but  will  be  impossible  in  this  brief  historic 
sketch.  Of  the  earlier  ones  the  mere  mention  must 
suffice.  At  what  is  now  the  Morse  privilege  at  South 
Easton  there  was  at  the  beginning  of  the  century  a 
saw-mill  owned  by  Josiah  Copeland.  He  afterwards 
with  others  ran  an  oil-mill.  About  1805  the  same 
parties  started  a  factory  for  the  manufacture  of  cot- 
ton yarn,  and  afterwards  of  cotton  cloth.  It  con- 
tinued until  1834,  when  E.  J.  W.  Morse,  a  native  of 
Dedham,  Mass.,  commenced  the  cotton  thread  busi- 
ness. Under  the  name  E.  J.  W.  Morse  &  Co.,  South 
Easton,  cotton  thread  manufacturers,  this  business 
became  successful,  and  has  continued  uninterruptedly 
down  to  the  present  time.  This  company  employs 
about  fifty  hands. 

At  the  privilege  next  below,  now  the  property  of 
T.  H.  and  J.  O.  Dean,  some  kind  of  active  enterprise 
has  been  going  on  for  nearly  two  centuries.  From  a 
time  preceding  the  incorporation  of  the  town  until  now 
the  grist-mill  business  has  been  carried  on  there.  Not 
much  else  seems  to  have  been  done  there  until  about 
1810,  when  Elijah  Howard  &  Co.  started  the  forge 
business,  and  manufactured  bar-iron,  nail  rods,  etc. 
But  a  disastrous  fire,  which  burned  an  amount  of 
charcoal  worth  more  than  the  whole  capital  invested 
in  the  business,  brought  this  enterprise  to  a  close. 
The  same  company  then  began  the  manufacture  of 
cut  nails,  at  that  time  a  new  invention.  This  con- 
tinued until  about  1823.  In  1825  or  1826,  Elijah 
Howard  and  Capt.  Barzillai  Dean  began  to  make 
cotton  cloth.  In  1836  or  1837,  Capt.  Dean  bought 
the  entire  interest,  and  manufactured  cotton  print 
goods  of  light  texture.  Capt.  Dean  died  by  accident 
in  1848,  and  from  that  time  this  factory,  since  en- 
larged, has  been  a  machine-shop,  and,  with  the  grist- 


mill, is  the  property  of  T.  H.  and  J.  O.  Dean.  In 
the  machine-shop  are  manufactured  piano-forte  ma- 
chinery, wood  slipper  heels,  etc. 

The  privilege  next  below  was  once  used  for  saw- 
mill purposes,  but  soon  after  the  beginning  of  the 
present  century  a  carding-mill  was  started  there.  It 
then  was  used  for  a  fulling-mill.  Subsequently  in 
one  building  satinet  was  manufactured,  and  in  an- 
other cotton  yarn.  Asa  R.  Howard  made  hoes  there. 
The  manufacture  of  shoe-pegs  was  engaged  in,  and 
in  1848  Solomon  W.  Morse  bought  the  whole  privi- 
lege and  made  cotton  cloth.  It  was  then  purchased 
by  E.  J.  W.  Morse,  and  has  since  lain  idle  most  of 
the  time. 

At  the  Furnace  village  at  the  opening  of  the  cen- 
tury Gen.  Shepard  Leach  carried  on  a  successful 
furnace  business.  In  1837,  Capt.  Lincoln  Drake  es- 
tablished the  malleable  iron  works,  under  the  firm- 
name  of  A.  Boyden  &  Co.  It  went  under  that  name 
for  about  two  years,  and  was  under  the  superintend- 
ence of  Mr.  Boyden.  Daniel  Belcher  then  took  charge 
of  the  business  for  Capt.  Drake.  About  the  year  1840 
brass  castings  were  for  a  while  also  made.  In  1849, 
Daniel  Belcher  bought  out  the  business,  and  since 
that  time  it  has  run  constantly,  except  for  a  few 
weeks  after  the  works  were  destroyed  by  fire.  The 
castings  are  for  agricultural  implements,  carriage  and 
saddlery  castings,  cotton  and  woolen  machinery,  and 
many  similar  things  that  take  the  place  of  difficult 
forgings.  These  castings  are  sent  all  over  the  coun- 
try. This  firm,  known  as  the  Daniel  Belcher  Mal- 
leable Iron  Works,  enjoys  a  high  reputation  for  the 
excellence  of  its  work.  It  employs  thirty  men.  Near 
by  is  the  foundry  of  L.  S.  and  A.  L.  Drake,  successors, 
in  1872,  to  Capt.  Lincoln  Drake,  who  organized  this 
business  in  1833.  This  firm  employs  twenty-five  men. 
Its  castings  in  1881  were  of  about  seven  hundred  tons 
weight,  and  they  are  largely  for  machine  purposes, 
school-house  work,  hot-water  heating  apparatus,  etc. 
In  this  village,  farther  south,  and  not  far  from  1830, 
there,  was  an  oil-mill.  In  1854,  Keith,  Botch  &  Co.. 
were  running  a  thread-factory.  Pratt,  Belcher  &  Co. 
carried  on  the  same  kind  of  business.  In  1844  the 
first  belt  saw-mill  erected  in  this  vicinity  was  built 
by  Lewis  Williams  and  his  son,  Edward  D.  Williams. 
It  has  been  running  since  that  time,  and  is  the  prop- 
erty of  the  latter  at  this  time.  James  Belcher  also 
runs  a  saw-mill  now  in  this  village  on  the  old  grist- 
mill privilege. 

In  the  south  part  of  the  town,  in  the  year  1828,  J. 
and  H.  M.  Poole  began  the  manufacture  of  mathe- 
matical instruments  on  a  small  scale.  A  strong  prej- 
udice for  foreign-made  instruments  was  only  slowly 
overcome.  Poole's  work  was  found  not  only  to  equal 
but  to  excel  the  imported.  In  1878,  John  M.  Poole, 
who  had  for  twenty-five  years  been  foreman,  succeeded 
to  the  business.  He  manufactures  surveyors'  transits, 
builders'  levels,  land  and  telescopic  compasses,  and 
many  other  instruments  of  this  kind. 


420 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


John  Poole  was,  after  a  while,  associated  with 
Charles  Poole  in  the  manufacture  of  thermometers. 
Farther  north,  on  the  turnpike,  Guilford  White,  in 
1850,  began  the  manufacture  of  shoes,  and  continued  it 
for  six  years.  For  several  years  afterwards  the  same 
business  was  conducted  by  Horatio  Thayer  and  Na- 
thaniel R.  Packard.  At  the  same  time  Lewis  Thayer 
manufactured  shoes,  and  so  continued  from  1856  to 
1870.  Irving  and  Emory  Packard  began  the  manu- 
facture of  shoes  there  in  1864-65,  and  their  business 
still  continues.  On  the  other  road,  just  south  of  the 
Dean  Works,  Samuel  Simpson  has  for  years  carried 
on  the  wheelwright  business. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  century  industrial  enter- 
prises of  some  importance  were  conducted  in  the 
northeast  part  of  Easton.  Northwest  of  the  present 
site  of  the  Ames  Shovel-Works,  near  what  is  called 
the  Picker  field,  there  was  a  grist-mill.  There  was 
also  a  cotton-picking  machine  in  operation.  Capt. 
John  Ames  manufactured  knives  there,  and  at  what 
is  called  the  "Hoe-Shop"  Nathan  Pratt  manufactures 
hoes.  Close  to  the  present  location  of  the  Ames 
office  was  another  grist-mill,  and  still  lower  down 
was  the  cotton-factory  of  the  Easton  Manufacturing 
Company.  At  the  lower  end  of  Stone's  Pond  steel 
was  being  manufactured  when  the  century  began. 
Soon  a  grist-mill  was  added,  afterwards  there  was 
a  nail-factory ;  then  William  G.  Andrews  and  Eli- 
jah Howard  began  the  manufacture  of  cotton  yarn. 
After  a  while  they  provided  looms  and  made  cotton 
sheeting.  Gurden  Stone  succeeded  William  G.  An- 
drews in  the  business,  which  was  carried  on  until 
1837,  when  Jason  G.  Howard  bought  out  Mr.  Stone. 
In  1839  nine  tack-machines  were  put  in  and  the  tack 
business  was  begun.  Edward  J.  W.  Morse  subse- 
quently rented  a  part  of  the  works  and  manufac- 
tured knitting-cotton.  In  1852,  Mr.  Howard  sold 
the  place  to  Oliver  Ames,  by  whom  it  was  used,  as 
it  is  still  used,  for  shovel-works.  Steel  was  also  being 
made  in  1800  at  the  now  Calvin  Marshall  place, 
where  firearms  were  manufactured.  Jonathan  Leon- 
ard and  his  father  were  here,  and  this  was  the  scene 
of  the  disastrous  attempt  at  lead-mining.  At  this  place 
was  also  a  mill  for  breaking  flax. 

At  the  lower  end  of  what  is  now  called  Shovel 
Shop  Pond  there  was  a  dam  with  a  grist-mill,  nailer's 
shop,  and  iron  forge  with  trip-hammer,  etc.  This  prop- 
erty was  purchased  by  Oliver  Ames,  the  founder  of 
the  great  shovel  business.  He  had  manufactured  hoes 
and  shovels  here  before  this  time,  but  had  moved  to 
Plymouth.  He  subsequently  returned,  and  began  in 
a  small  way  the  establishment  of  the  now  world-fa- 
mous Ames'  shovel  business.  Having  built  a  new  dam 
and  enlarged  the  Shovel  Shop  Pond,  he  renewed  at 
the  lower  end  of  this  pond  the  manufacture  he  had 
engaged  in  some  years  before  farther  up  the  stream. 
It  is  but  repeating  a  familiar  story  to  say  that  shovels 
were  slowly  made  at  first,  a  few  at  a  time,  that  the 
first  made  were  carried  to   market  in   a   one-horse 


wagon  when  one  load  was  almost  sufficient  to  glut  the 
market,  that  the  one-horse  wagon  gave  place  to  the 
six-horse  team  until  the  railroad  was  available. 
Oliver  Ames  purchased  land  farther  up  the  stream. 
In  1852  the  factory  at  the  lower  end  of  Shovel  Shop 
Pond  proved  too  small  to  accommodate  the  increasing 
business,  and  a  substantial  two-story  stone  building 
was  erected  five  hundred  and  thirty  feet  long,  to 
which  additions  were  subsequently  made.  Several 
other  shops  were  afterwards  erected  near  by,  and 
there  are  others  in  different  parts  of  the  village  where 
water-power  is  available.  Steam-power  is,  however, 
the  main  reliance.  Every  description  of  shovel  is 
made, — long  and  short  handled,  square  and  round- 
point  shovels,  spades,  grain  and  coal  scoops,  post-hole 
diggers,  and  other  varieties.  These  are  sent  not  only 
throughout  the  United  States,  but  to  South  America, 
to  parts  of  Asia  and  Africa,  and  to  Australia. 

An  intelligent  Englishman  visited  these  works 
with  the  writer,  and  was  curious  to  know  how  the 
raw  material,  steel  and  iron,  could  be  imported  and 
duties  paid  thereon,  and  yet  shovels  be  exported  to 
English  provinces,  to  Australia  for  instance.  Stand- 
ing before  an  ingenious  machine,  he  exclaimed,  "I 
see  clearly  enough  how  it  is,  it  is  your  wonderful 
labor-saving  machines.  If  such  a  machine  as  that 
were  set  up  in  one  of  our  shovel-works,  our  trades 
unions  would  have  the  building  in  ashes  before  the 
next  morning,  though  in  so  doing  they  drive  business 
away,  and  hence  injure  the  working  men  they  pro- 
fess to  benefit.  Our  manufacturers,  too,  are  very 
conservative,  and  are  slow  to  adopt  improvements." 
Those  who  desire  to  read  a  detailed  description  of 
the  whole  process  of  shovel-making  in  these  works 
may  find  it  in  an  article  published  in  the  Atlantic 
Monthly  of  about  1870,  written  by  Azel  Ames,  Jr. 
The  Ames  corporation  have  additional  shops  in  Can- 
ton, South  Braintree,  and  West  Bridgewater.  If  all 
the  stone  shops  which  they  use  for  the  shovel  busi- 
ness were  placed  end  to  end  they  would  reach  about 
twenty-five  hundred  feet,  or  nearly  half  a  mile.  Five 
hundred  men  are  employed  in  this  shovel  business. 
They  manufacture  from  110,000  to  125,000  dozens  of 
shovels  per  year.  Taking  the  average  of  these  fig- 
ures, 117,500  dozens,  we  have  the  incredible  number 
of  1,410,000  shovels  per  year,  or  27,115  per  week, 
4519  per  day,  451  per  hour.  From  1200  to  1500  tons 
of  Swedish  iron,  and  from  1200  to  1400  tons  of  steel 
are  annually  used  in  this  manufacture. 

The  business  of  next  importance  in  town  is  the 
manufacture  of  hinges  by  E.  W.  Gilmore.  In  1854 
the  firm  of  E.  W.  Gilmore  &  Co.,  the  other  partners 
being  Oakes  Ames  and  Oliver  Ames,  began  in  a 
small  way  the  manufacture  of  strap-  and  T-hinges, 
ship-scrapers,  wrought  iron  washers,  and  other  arti- 
cles. This  business  was  begun  in  the  building  for- 
merly used  by  the  Ames  Company  for  the  manufacture 
of  shovels.  In  1871,  E.  W.  Gilmore  bought  out  the 
Ames'  interest  in  the  business  first  named.     He  then 


& 


I      L       / 

1         v-  ^  t  e  /  c  r/  C 


EASTON. 


421 


built  the  large  works  which  he  now  occupies,  and 
moved  into  them  in  January,  1872.  His  power  is 
furnished  by  a  sixty  horse-power  Corliss  engine. 
Mr.  Gilmore  is  a  practical  and  ingenious  machinist, 
and  from  time  to  time  has  invented  and  introduced 
important  improvements  in  the  way  of  machinery  and 
labor-saving  processes.  By  this  means,  by  hard  work 
of  brain  and  hand,  he  achieved  success.  When  full 
of  work  he  employs  about  seventy-five  men  and  boys, 
making  about  fifteen  thousand  strap-  and  T-hinges 
per  day,  besides  other  articles. 

In  1851  was  organized  in  North  Easton  the  firm  of 
A.  A.  Gilmore  &  Co.,  the  other  members  of  the  firm 
being  Elisha  T.  Andrews  and  Oakes  A.  Ames.  They 
manufactured  fine  calf-skin  boots  in  a  building  owned 
by  Cyrus  Lothrop.  Oakes  Ames  succeeded  to  the  in- 
terest first  owned  by  Oakes  A.  Ames.  In  1870, 
Messrs.  Gilmore  and  Andrews  bought  out  Oakes 
Ames.  This  firm,  which  for  some  time  did  quite  an 
extensive  business,  gave  up  the  manufacture  of  boots 
in  1879,  but  the  firm  did  not  dissolve  until  death 
broke  up  the  long  partnership,  Mr.  Andrews  dying 
in  1883. 

In  1855,  William  Andrews  built  what  is  known 
as  the  Brett  Shop,  and  went  into  the  business  of 
shoe  manufacture  with  Ward  L.  Foster;  but  the 
business  crisis  of  1857  made  this  attempt  a  failure. 
The  firm  of  Pratt,  Foster  &  Co.  manufactured  for  a 
while  in  the  same  building.  In  1863,  George  Brett 
manufactured  ladies'  shoes  in  this  building  for  E.  H. 
Johnson,  of  Lynn.  In  1855  he  went  into  business  in 
the  same  place  for  himself,  and  continued  it  for  ten 
years,  when  it  was  closed. 

In  1865  John  B.  King  with  P.  A.  Gilford  as  part- 
ner began  to  make  boots  and  shoes.  In  1871  Mr. 
King  bought  out  his  partner's  interest,  and  has  con- 
ducted a  successful  business  ever  since.  He  now  em- 
ploys about  fifty  hands  in  his  work ;  his  goods  go 
chiefly  West  and  Northwest.  In  the  fall  of  1880,  D. 
H.  Packard  began  the  manufacture  of  shoes  in  North 
Easton.  The  firm  is  now  D.  H.  Packard  &  Co.  They 
employ  about  fifty  hands.  In  March,  1880,  A.  J. 
Leavitt  established  a  business  which  goes  under  the 
name  of  the  New  England  Specialty  Company.  He 
manufactures  a  large  variety  of  such  articles  as  screw- 
drivers, can  openers,  sewing-machine  trimmings,  steel 
keys,  etc.  William  King  owns  a  small  factory  where 
he  makes  awls,  various  kinds  of  cement,  and  other 
goods. 

This  long  journey  through  the  various  manufac- 
tures of  the  three  principal  villages  of  the  town  where 
nearly  everything  has  been  or  is  made,  brings  us  at 
last  to  "  The  Centre,"  where,  in  1880,  Reed  &  Lin- 
coln began  the  manufacture  of  quite  a  variety  of 
shoes.  At  the  present  time  this  firm  employs  twenty- 
five  hands. 

Educational. — The  history  of  school  matters  in  an 
ordinary  country  town  does  not  furnish  material  for 
an  extended  or  for  a  very  interesting  narrative.    Our 


ancestors  were  much  more  interested  in  churches  than 
in  schools,  and  they  expended  very  much  more  for 
their  religious  than  for  their  educational  privileges. 
But  they  were  not  unmindful  of  the  latter,  and  they 
illustrated  the  need  of  it,  for  some  even  of  the  prom- 
inent men,  and  more  of  the  women,  were  unable  to 
write,  and  were  obliged  on  old  deeds,  wills,  surveys, 
etc.,  which  the  writer  has  seen,  to  "  make  their  mark." 
It  was  provided  in  the  articles  of  incorporation  of  the 
town  of  Easton  that,  within  six  months  from  the  time 
of  the  publication  of  such  articles,  the  town  should 
"  procure  and  maintain  a  school-master  to  instruct 
their   youth   in    writing   and   reading."      The   town 
records  do  not  show,  however,  any  very  liberal  provi- 
sion for  education,  even  taking  into  account  the  char- 
acter of  the  times.     The  following  verbatim  extract 
from  the  town  records  will  suffice  to  illustrate  the  too 
common  spirit  of  town-meeting  legislation  upon  the 
subject :  "  Easton  March  the  thirty-first  day  1727  at  a 
Leagall  meeting  of  the  Inhabitants  of  said  town  for 
to  make  choice  of  a  schollmaster  and  to  rais  money 
to  pay  him  and  to  appoint  a  place  for  the  scholl  to  be 
kept :  &c.     1  we  made  choice  of  Josiah  Keith  Mod- 
erator for  said  meeting.     21y  a  vote  was  called  for  to 
give  fourty  pounds  to  a  schollmaster  for  one  year  to 
keep  scholl  but  not  voted.     31y  a  vote  was  called  for 
to  give  twenty  pounds  schollmaster  to  keep  scholl  one 
year  but  not  voted.     41y  a  vote  was  called  for  to  give 
ten  pounds  to  a  schollmaster  to  keep  scholl  for  one 
year  but  not  voted.     51y  a  vote  was  called  for  to  give 
five  pounds  to  a  schollmaster  to  keep  scholl  for  one 
year   but  not  voted.     61y  voted  and  agreed  to  give 
three  pounds  to  a  schollmaster  for  one  year  to  teach 
youths  to  Read  and  to  writ  and  to  keep  it  at  his  own 
House  and  to  find  himself  diet." 

What  a  change  in  school  affairs  from  the  time  when 
the  school-master  of  Easton  must  provide  a  school- 
room, do  the  teaching,  and  board  himself  for  fifteen 
dollars  a  year,  and  to-day,  when  he  gets  fifteen  hun- 
dred dollars  ! 

There  is  nothing,  down  to  a  very  recent  date,  of 
sufficient  interest  to  enter  into  a  narrative  of  this 
kind.  The  High  School  of  Easton  was  organized  in 
1868,  first  as  a  peripatetic  institution,  moving  into 
different  sections  of  the  town  for  different  terms ;  but 
before  long  it  was  permanently  located  at  North 
Easton,  because  more  than  half  the  scholars  were 
there.  The  district  system  was  abolished  in  1869, 
and  this  change,  here  as  elsewhere,  has  had  a  bene- 
ficial result. 

On  May  1,  1882,  there  were  in  Easton  (population, 
3901)  822  children  between  five  and  fifteen  years  of 
age.  On  the  school  registers  for  that  year  there  were 
enrolled  the  names  of  903  different  scholars.  Of  these 
99  were  over  fifteen  years  of  age,  and  11  were  under 
five  years.  The  amount  appropriated  for  the  support 
of  schools  for  the  same  year  was  £8577.92.  This 
amount  is  the  exact  average  per  scholar  of  the  appro- 
priation for  schools  for  all  the  towns  in  Massachu- 


422 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


setts,  not  including  the  cities,  for  the  preceding  year. 
The  average  attendance  of  scholars  for  the  year  was 
629,  and  the  percentage  of  attendance  was  .79.  There 
are  twenty  schools  in  town,  eleven  of  them,  including 
the  High  School,  being  at  North  Easton,  and  two  at 
the  Furnace  village,  all  of  which  are  graded  schools, 
the  remaining  seven  being  mixed  schools. 

In  pecuniary  means  for  educational  purposes  the 
town  of  Easton  probably  stands  first  in  the  list  of 
towns  in  the  State.  By  the  will  of  Hon.  Oliver 
Ames,  who  died  in  1877,  it  was  endowed  with  the 
large  bequest  of  fifty  thousand  dollars  for  the  support 
of  schools.  In  order  that  such  a  fund  might  not  tempt 
the  town  to  reduce  its  appropriations,  the  will  pro- 
vides that  it  shall  be  forfeited  unless  the  town  shall 
every  year  appropriate  for  the  support  of  schools  an 
amount  per  scholar  equal  to  the  average  amount  per 
scholar  appropriated  by  all  the  towns  of  the  State. 
The  income  of  this  fund  is  four  thousand  dollars  per 
year,  and  it  is  used  for  general  school  purposes.  Be- 
sides this,  there  is  another  fund  of  fifty  thousand  dol- 
lars, left  by  Hon.  Oakes  Ames,  for  the  benefit  of  the 
children  of  North  Easton  village.  By  the  aid  of  this 
fund  the  High  School  is  being  furnished  with  excel- 
lent apparatus,  various  chemical  and  mechanical  in- 
struments, including  microscope  with  numerous  speci- 
mens, a  skeleton,  and  a  manikin  recently  sent  from 
Paris. 

Courses  of  lectures,  chiefly  illustrated,  are  given  m 
the  large  Ames'  Memorial  Hall.  These,  though  pri- 
marily for  the  benefit  of  the  children,  are  open  to 
the  general  public,  have  been  enjoyed  by  large  audi- 
ences, and  cannot  but  be  attended  with  excellent 
results.  With  the  income  of  this  fund  magazines 
appropriate  to  the  ages  of  different  scholars  are  sub- 
scribed for  nearly  every  family  of  children  in  North 
Easton  ;  and  in  order  that  all  the  children  in  town 
may  have  the  same  privilege,  Lieutenant-Governor 
Ames  pays  for  the  subscription  of  magazines  for  chil- 
dren in  parts  of  the  town  outside  of  this  village. 
Over  three  hundred  copies  of  the  Saint  Nicholas  alone 
come  into  town,  and  a  magazine  of  some  kind  goes 
into  every  family  where  there  are  children  attending 
the  public  schools. 

The  liberal  funds  provided  enable  the  school  com- 
mittee to  secure  teachers  of  exceptional  ability,  to 
provide  supplementary  books  and  other  means  for 
conducting  the  schools  in  the  best  manner.  Music 
and  drawing  have  been  taught  by  a  special  teacher, 
and  in  the  North  Easton  schools  sewing  has  been 
taught  for  several  years,  with  most  marked  beneficial 
results.  The  excellent  public  library  just  opened 
with  over  ten  thousand  carefully-selected  books  fur- 
nishes an  important  auxiliary  to  the  educational  ad- 
vantages of  the  place,  and  it  will  be  the  fault  of  the 
school  committee  if  these  are  not  in  time  of  the  high- 
est order. 


CHAPTER    XXXI. 

EASTON.— ( Continued.) 
MILITARY— ECCLESIASTICAL,  ETC. 

As  the  town  of  Easton  was  incorporated  long  after 
King  Philip's  war,  there  is  nothing  to  record  in  re- 
gard to  any  wrarfare  with  the  Indians.  We  have  but 
little  knowledge  of  the  part  taken  by  the  citizens  of 
Easton  in  the  French  and  Indian  war  of  1754-63. 
The  most  prominent  figure  of  that  time  is  Capt.  Na- 
thaniel Perry,  who  raised  a  company  of  men  for  the 
defense  of  the  eastern  frontier.  His  commission  as 
captain  was  dated  June  6,  1754,  and  signed  by  Gover- 
nor Shirley.  He  enlisted  a  company  of  ninety-six  men, 
of  whom  only  sixteen  were  from  Easton.  Easton  was 
then  waging  an  ecclesiastical  war  in  its  own  borders 
of  the  most  violent  and  embittered  kind,  and  there- 
fore came  to  the  question  of  the  French  and  Indian 
war  with  exhausted  energies.  Capt.  Perry  saw  con- 
siderable active  service  in  Nova  Scotia,  assisted  under 
Gen.  Shirley  in  the  capture  of  Fort  Cumberland,  and 
in  1756  was  mustered  out  by  death.  Easton  was  very 
active  during  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  sustained 
her  part  in  that  memorable  struggle.  The  town 
records  of  this  period  are  full  of  allusions  to  the  sub- 
ject, and  are,  indeed,  largely  composed  of  reports  of 
the  business  of  the  town  related  to  the  war.  The  first 
of  such  records  bears  the  date  of  April  3,  1775.  It 
was  then  voted  to  raise  fifty  minute-men,  twenty-five 
out  of  each  military  company  in  town.  The  battle 
of  Lexington  occurred  April  19,  1775,  and  on  this  day 
these  fifty  minute-men,  under  the  command  of  Capt. 
Macey  Williams,  started  for  the  seat  of  war.  Being 
enlisted  merely  as  minute-men  for  what  was  called 
"  the  Lexington  alarm,"  they  were  out  for  only  a 
brief  service,  viz.,  nine  days.  On  the  4th  of  May 
another  town-meeting  is  called.  A  bounty  is  voted 
every  soldier  who  has  enlisted  or  shall  enlist  and 
who  will  provide  himself  with  a  blanket.  A  com- 
mittee is  chosen  to  procure  blankets  for  those  who  re- 
fuse or  neglect  to  procure  them  for  themselves. 

Town-meetings  follow  each  other  in  quick  succes- 
sion. The  change  of  feeling  towards  the  king  is  in- 
dicated by  the  significant  fact  that  the  term  "  Maj- 
esty," which  had  previously  been  prefixed  to  his 
name,  is  now  dropped,  and  he  is  simply  called 
"  George  the  Third."  Even  that  term  soon  disap- 
pears, and  we  have  no  more  allusion  to  royal  author- 
ity. Our  citizens  partake  of  the  common  excitement 
that  stirred  our  countrymen  after  the  battle  of  Bunker 
Hill.  Every  available  offensive  weapon  is  hunted  up 
and  brought  into  service.  Investigation  shows  that 
the  town  is  short  of  ammunition,  and  one  of  the  citi- 
zens, David  Manley,  is  despatched  to  Newport  for 
powder,  ball,  and  flints.  The  Boston  Port  Bill  had 
impoverished  many  of  the  Bostonians,  some  of  whom 
had  to  be  sent  for  support  to  surrounding  towns. 

In  February,  1776,  a  committee  of  three  is  ap- 


EASTON. 


423 


pointed  to  take  care  of  such  of  the  "  poor  of  Boston" 
as  were  then  in  town.  A  committee  of  "  correspond- 
ence and  inspection"  took  general  charge  of  war  mat- 
ters here.  A  committee  was  chosen  "  to  incorage  the 
manufacturin  of  Sault  Peter  in  this  town."  On  the 
first  anniversary  of  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  in  a 
notable  town-meeting,  the  citizens  vote  that  "if  the 
Honerabel  Continantal  Congress,  for  the  safety  of  the 
United  Colonies,  Declare  themselves  indepandent  of. 
Great  Breton,  we  ingage  Even  at  the  Besque  of  life 
and  fotin  to  do  Whatever  is  in  our  Power  to  soport 
them  in  ad.  measure."  Soon  followed  the  declaration 
of  independence,  and  Bev.  Archibald  Campbell,  the 
minister  of  Easton,  read  that  heart-stirring  document 
to  a  large  and  eagerly-listening  assembly  on  Sunday 
next  after  July  17,  1776.  It  was  then  handed  to 
Matthew  Hayward,  who,  like  every  other  town  clerk 
in  Massachusetts,  proudly  recorded  it  in  his  town 
records. 

Among  the  military  officers  from  Easton  one  of  the 
most  prominent  was  Col.  Abial  Mitchell.  He  was 
appointed  major  May  19, 1775,  and  received  his  com- 
mission as  colonel  June  17, 1779.  He  was  prominent 
in  town  affairs,  and  served  as  representative  to  the 
General  Court  for  twenty-one  years.  He  served  in 
the  army  until  the  close  of  the  Bevolutionary  war, 
and  many  interesting  incidents  are  told  of  his  courage 
and  prowess.  These  incidents,  interesting  as  they  are, 
cannot  be  narrated  here,  as  they  would  too  much 
lengthen  this  necessarily  brief  sketch. 

Another  of  Easton's  heroes  in  the  war  was  Capt. 
Elisha  Harvey.  He  was  in  the  artillery  service,  and 
as  he  did  not  die  until  1821,  he  is  still  (1883)  held  in 
remembrance  by  some  of  the  older  inhabitants  of  the 
town.  He  was  the  hero  of  a  brave  action  at  the  battle 
of  Brooklyn  Heights,  where,  in  face  of  the  advancing 
enemy  and  after  his  men  had  deserted  their  guns,  he 
touched  off  two  loaded  cannon,  and  then  turned  the 
gun-carriages  about  and  sent  them  rolling  down  the 
bluff  into  the  water.  He  then  rushed  down  the  cliff, 
entered  a  boat,  and  made  for  the  opposite  shore,  which 
he  reached,  notwithstanding  the  hot  fire  that  was 
poured  after  him.  The  action  was  witnessed  by  the 
troops  on  both  sides,  and  was  soon  reported  to  Gen. 
Washington,  by  whom  it  was  highly  complimented. 
He  was  present  at  the  execution  of  Maj.  Andre.  He 
was  sergeant  in  Drury's  company  of  Knox's  artil- 
lery in  May,  1776.  He  was  commissioned  first  lieu- 
tenant in  Lamb's  artillery  regiment  June  28,  1778, 
and  was  made  captain  in  1780.  He  died  in  Easton, 
Feb.  11,  1821. 

Another  man  who  saw  considerable  service  was 
Capt.  James  Perry,  who  raised  a  company  of  soldiers 
as  early  as  1776.  He  departed  for  the  seat  of  war  with 
a  company  of  sixty  men.  He  served  in  the  army  of 
Gen.  Washington,  was  at  the  battles  of  Trenton  and 
Princeton,  and  returned  home  some  time  in  1779.  His 
service  was  not  confined  to  the  field ;  he  owned  a  fur- 
nace at  home,  where  he  manufactured  cannon  and 


cannon-balls.  At  the  same  time  firearms  were  being 
manufactured  by  the  Leonards  in  the  northeast  part 
of  the  town,  where  in  1785  or  1786  Eliphalet  Leonard 
began  the  making  of  steel.  Capt.  Josiah  Keith  raised 
a  company  of  soldiers,  thirty-three  of  whom  were 
from  Easton,  and  served  with  them  for  a  while  in  Col. 
John  Daggett's  regiment.  Subsequently,  for  three 
years  dating  from  January,  1777,  he  served  as  cap- 
tain in  Col.  Michael  Jackson's  Eighth  Begiment. 
He  was  then  made  major  in  the  same  regiment,  in 
which  capacity  he  served  during  the  year  1780.  A 
comparatively  large  number  of  men  from  Easton 
served  in  the  Bevolutionary  war,  many  enlisting  in 
the  company  of  Capt.  Francis  Luscomb,  of  Taunton, 
in  Capt.  Keith's,  in  Capt.  John  Allen's  company  of 
Col.  Carpenter's  regiment,  in  Capt.  Macey  Williams' 
company,  and  there  were  some  scattered  through 
various  other  companies.  Easton  had  reason  to  be 
proud  of  her  record  in  that  great  struggle  for  national 
independence. 

The  war  of  1812  did  not  create  much  enthusiasm, 
and  there  are  no  facts  concerning  Easton's  connec- 
tion with  it  to  call  for  any  special  notice  in  this 
sketch.  On  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  of  the  Be- 
bellion  there  was  in  town  a  military  company  com- 
manded by  Capt.  Milo  M.  Williams,  known  as  Com- 
pany B  of  the  Fourth  Begiment  of  Massachusetts 
Volunteer  Militia.  A  call  for  troops  was  made  by 
Governor  Andrew.  This  company  received  the  order, 
and  reported  with  other  companies  of  the  regiment 
on  the  very  next  day.  The  day  after  this  the  regi- 
ment was  sent  to  Fortress  Monroe,  where  it  remained 
for  three  months.  Easton  furnished  three  hundred 
and  thirty-four  men  for  the  army  and  navy,  and  ex- 
pended more  than  forty  thousand  dollars  for  war  pur- 
poses. Besides  this  large  subscriptions  were  made 
by  citizens,  and  there  were  here,  as  in  other  towns  of 
the  State,  large  contributions  for  camp  and  hospital 
stores.  The  following  is  the  list  of  the  patriots  of 
Easton  who  died  in  the  service  of  their  country,  and 
whose  names  are  inscribed  upon  the  soldiers'  monu- 
ment, which  was  dedicated  on  Memorial-day,  1882: 


Capt.  Ansel  B.  Randall. 
Lieut.  Albert  Tilden. 
Mason  A.  Hill. 
Thomas  Duffy. 
John  Gkralding. 
Peleg  F.  Randall. 
Beth  Ramsdell. 
Addison  A.  Lothrop. 
Cornelius  Slattery. 
John  D.  Haney. 
Samuel  H.  Gilmore. 
Edward  W.  Hansel. 
Charles  H.  Willis. 
Minot  E.  Phillips. 
Theodore  Mitchell. 
PhineaB  A.  Randall. 
Major  Crockett. 
Henry  T.  Drew. 
John  Mullen. 
John  Phillips. 
Martin  Cunningham. 


Hosea  S.  Packard. 
Patrick  McCourt. 
Michael  E.  Roach. 
John  Duffy. 
Seth  T.  Dunhar. 
J.  Manley  Tinkham. 
Charles  L.  Britton,  Jr. 
Daniel  Donovan. 
Richard  Seavers. 
James  McCullough. 
Charles  Bellows. 
James  A.  Humphrey. 
Michael  Milleric. 
Calvin  A.  Marshall. 
George  H.  Davis. 
Benjamin  Boodry. 
John  Randall. 
William  A.  Lothrop. 
George  A.  Tilden. 
William  M.  Packard. 
John  Richards. 


424 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


E.  Granville  Howard. 
Franklin  Godfrey. 
H.  Frank  Poole. 


Charles  S.  Torrey. 
Jason  F.  Eldridge. 


Ecclesiastical. — From  1711  to  1725  the  territory 
now  embraced  in  the  town  of  Easton  was  part  of  the 
town  of  Norton.  In  1717  the  inhabitants  of  this  ter- 
ritory, being  in  sufBcient  number,  as  they  judged,  to 
establish  a  religious  society  and  to  support  a  minister, 
petitioned  the  General  Court  to  be  set  apart  as  a  sep- 
arate precinct.  This  permission  was  subsequently 
granted,  and  on  June  5,  1718,  what  is  now  the  town 
of  Easton  was  set  apart  as  the  East  Precinct  of  the 
town  of  Norton.  Soon  afterwards  a  church  was  built. 
Instead  of  being,  as  at  first  proposed,  in  the  centre  of 
the  town,  it  was  built  near  the  easterly  boundary  of 
the  town,  the  reason  for  this  being  that  many  of  the 
parish  lived  over  the  Bridgewater  line.  It  was  the 
most  central  of  any  place,  so  far  as  the  population 
was  concerned,  for  the  east  part  of  the  town  was 
more  generally  settled  earlier  than  the  west  part. 
But  this  question  of  the  location  of  the  meeting- 
house is  the  great  bone  of  contention  which  caused 
trouble  for  many  years,  at  one  time  creating  a  bitter 
contention  in  the  parish,  dividing  the  church,  and 
even  threatening  to  permanently  divide  the  town. 
The  meeting-house  was  soon  built,  and  after  some 
time  spent  in  hearing  candidates  the  church  and 
parish  settled  upon  Rev.  Matthew  Short  as  the  min- 
ister of  the  Church  of  Christ  in  the  East  Precinct. 
Rev.  Matthew  Short  was  born  at  Newberry,  March 
14,  1688.  He  graduated  from  Harvard  University  in 
1707.  In  November,  1712,  he  was  ordained  a  min- 
ister at  Attleborough,  and  remained  there  three  years. 
Subsequently  he  preached  in  Saco  and  Biddeford, 
Me.,  and  was  settled  in  the  aforesaid  East  Precinct 
of  Norton  about  1722.  Three  years  after  this,  in 
December,  1725,  this  precinct  was  incorporated  as  a 
town  with  the  name  of  Easton.  The  rapid  increase 
of  inhabitants  soon  made  it  necessary  to  build  a  new 
church.  Work  was  begun  in  1728,  and  the  new  meet- 
ing-house was  slowly  constructed,  and  after  consider- 
able altercation  concerning  the  management  of  the 
committee  appointed  to  oversee  the  work  it  was  fin- 
ished. This  was  in  1730.  Two  years  before  a  severe 
epidemic  passed  over  this  section.  Mr.  Short  was 
brought  near  to  death's  door,  and  after  his  recovery 
he  preached  two  sermons,  which  he  calls  "  A  Thank- 
ful Memorial  of  God's  Sparing  Mercy."  These  were 
published,  and  one  copy  of  them  has  been  in  the 
hands  of  the  writer.  Mr.  Short  died  in  Easton, 
April  16,  1731,  in  the  forty-fourth  year  of  his  age, 
after  a  peaceful  ministry  of  about  nine  years. 

He  was  succeeded  in  his  ministry  in  Easton  by  Rev. 
Joseph  Belcher,  who  was  probably  from  Braintree, 
and  who  graduated  from  college  in  1723.  He  was  set- 
tled here  Oct.  6,  1731.  Not  much  is  known  of  him 
or  of  his  life  in  this  town.  He  began  after  a  while  to 
show  signs  of  insanity,  one  of  his  peculiarities  being 
that  of  preaching  several  sermons  in  immediate  suc- 


cession, regardless  of  the  fact  that  his  congregation 
had  gradually  dispersed,  leaving  him  addressing  the 
bare  walls.  On  the  16th  of  April,  1744,  after  a  pas- 
torate of  nearly  thirteen  years,  he  was  dismissed  from 
the  church.     He  lived  several  years  afterwards. 

At  this  time  there  began  the  most  earnest  conten- 
tion relative  to  the  location  of  the  meeting-house. 
The  west  part  of  the  town  had  increased  in  the  num- 
ber of  inhabitants,  and  when  it  was  necessary  to  build 
a  new  place  of  worship  they  very  naturally  desired 
that  it  should  be  located  nearer  them.  On  May  24, 
1744,  an  exciting  town-meeting  is  held.  Two  factions 
are  developed,  which  are  designated  respectively  as 
the  "  town  party"  and  the  "  party  of  the  east  part." 
The  town  party  proves  the  stronger.  It  is  voted  to 
build  the  meeting-house  in  the  centre  of  the  town. 
It  is  voted  to  make  a  survey  in  order  to  determine  the 
centre,  and  fearing  no  committee  of  Easton  men 
would  be  sufficiently  unprejudiced  to  be  trustworthy, 
a  committee  of  Taunton,  Bridgewater,  and  Norton 
men  is  chosen.  The  survey  is  made  at  a  cost  of  two 
pounds,  nine  shillings,  and  sixpence. 

At  a  town-meeting  in  January,  1745,  it  is  voted  to 
build  the  new  meeting-house  "  at  or  within  twenty 
rods  of  ye  senter,"  and  that  it  shall  be  finished  in 
two  years.  But  the  disagreement  is  so  strong  that 
nothing  is  done  about  it  until  1749.  Meantime  the 
church  and  parish  had  agreed  in  giving  a  call  to 
Rev.  Solomon  Prentice.  Mr.  Prentice  was  born  at 
Cambridge.  May  11,  1705,  and  graduated  from  Har- 
vard College  in  1725,  in  a  class  in  which  were  Hutch- 
inson and  Trumbull,  afterwards  Governors.  He  was 
settled  in  Grafton  in  1731.  Had  the  Church  of  Christ 
in  Easton  consulted  the  antecedents  of  Mr.  Prentice 
before  giving  him  a  call,  they  would  have  learned 
that  he  was  no  man  to  pour  oil  on  the  troubled 
waters  and  to  reconcile  and  unite  the  two  factions 
that  were  developing  here.  He  was  a  man  of  mark, 
positive  in  his  character,  and  belonged  to  the  party 
at  that  time  known  as  "  New  Lights."  These  were 
the  persons  who  sympathized  with  Whitefield,  con- 
cerning whose  merits,  doctrines,  and  methods  the 
New  England  clergy  were  in  great  disagreement. 
Mr.  Prentice  warmly  espoused  his  cause,  invited  him 
into  the  Grafton  pulpit,  and  scandalized  his  people 
not  only  by  inviting  itinerants  to  preach  for  him,  but 
also  on  account  of  the  extreme  and  fanatical  opinions 
he  avowed.  Councils  were  called,  the  breach  healed 
for  a  while,  but  no  lasting  union  could  be  effected, 
and  accordingly  on  July  10,  1747,  he  was  dismissed. 
Only  two  months  afterwards,  on  September  14th,  he 
received  a  call  at  Easton,  and  was  installed  pastor 
November  18th.  He  finds  things  at  loose  ends  here, 
and  immediately  begins  to  set  them  right.  The 
church  records,  if  any  had  been  kept  by  his  prede- 
cessor, are  not  discoverable.  He  immediately  begins 
new  records.  No  covenant  can  be  found.  He  imme- 
diately draws  one  up,  and  it  is  signed  by  one  hun- 
dred and  thirteen  persons.     The  question  as  to  who 


EASTON. 


425 


are  proper  subjects  of  baptism  is  then  earnestly  dis- 
cussed and  disposed  of.  Various  personal  dissen- 
sions are  adjudicated.  Then  with  these  minor  mat- 
ters out  of  the  way,  the  field  is  clear  for  the  great 
conflict  concerning  the  location  of  the  meeting-, 
house.  The  new  house  is  ready  for  occupancy,  and 
the  town  party,  by  summary  action,  pull  down  the 
old  one,  that  no  more  services  may  be  held  there.  A 
majority  of  the  church,  but  a  minority  of  the  whole 
parish,  vote  that  services  shall  be  held  in  private 
houses,  and  not  at  the  new  meeting-house.  Though 
Mr.  Prentice,  with  the  advice  of  a  council  that  had 
been  called  to  heal  this  difficulty,  had  once  agreed  to 
worship  there,  he  changed  his  mind.  The  town 
party  sends  a  petition  to  the  General  Court.  A  coun- 
ter petition  follows  from  the  party  of  the  east  part. 
The  General  Court  appoints  a  committee  to  come 
and  view  the  situation.  This  committee  reports  that 
the  meeting-house  is  already  in  the  most  convenient 
place  for  the  whole  town.  A  proposition  is  then 
made  to  divide  the  town,  and  a  survey  is  made  for 
that  purpose.  The  proposition  is  defeated.  Mr. 
Prentice  then  refuses  to  preach  in  the  new  meeting- 
house and  preaches  in  private  houses. 

The  party  of  the  east  part  then,  acting  under  the 
determined  lead  of  Mr.  Prentice,  separate  from  the 
town  parish  and  form  a  new  church  after  the  model 
of  Scotch  Presbyterianism.  They  begin  to  build  a 
meeting-house,  raise  the  frame,  cover  it  in,  but  never 
finish  it.  Mr.  Prentice  finally  gets  into  trouble  with 
the  Presbytery,  and  is  deposed  in  1754.  His  church 
gradually  died  out.  This  controversy  led  to  many 
personal  altercations,  some  of  which  involved  a  good 
deal  of  church  discipline,  and  it  left  the  religious  life 
of  the  people  at  a  very  low  ebb.  Religion  suffered 
most  in  the  house  of  its  friends.  Mr.  Prentice  left 
town  in  1755.  For  several  years  before  this  the  meet- 
ing-house at  the  centre  had  for  much  of  the  time 
been  unoccupied.  In  1754,  while  Mr.  Prentice  was 
preaching  to  his  Presbyterians,  on  pleasant  clays  in 
the  unfinished  Presbyterian  meeting-house,  and  on 
stormy  days  at  private  houses,  Mr.  George  Farrar  sup- 
plied the  regular  pulpit.  He  had  been  a  schoolmaster 
at  Dighton,  and- was  just  beginning  to  preach.  Mr. 
Farrar  was  born  in  Lincoln  (then  a  part  of  Concord), 
Mass.,  on  Nov.  23,  1730.  He  was  ordained  at  Easton, 
March  26, 1755,  though  not  without  a  vigorous  protest 
on  the  part  of  the  Presbyterians.  He  was  minister 
of  the  church  for  nearly  two  years,  but  died  at  Lin- 
coln, Sept.  17,  1756,  at  his  father's  home. 

Still  the  bitter  contention  goes  on.  Town-meetings 
are  disorderly.  At  one  of  them  the  two  factions  or- 
ganize, each  claiming  to  be  the  regular  meeting.  By 
petition  and  counter  petition  the  subject  is  referred  to 
the  General  Court;  a  committee  is  appointed,  and 
decision  is  rendered  again  adverse  to  the  party  of  the 
east  part  and  favorably  for  the  town  party,  who  are 
fortunate  in  having  Edward  Hayward,  Esq.,  as  a 
leader,  a  man  who  headed  the  opposition  at  all  times 


against  Mr.  Prentice.  Rev.  Messrs.  Vesey  and  Vinal, 
who  preach  temporarily  during  the  aforesaid  church 
difficulties,  are  without  their  pay  for  several  years; 
the  schoolmaster  asks  for  his  wages  in  vain,  and  the 
town-meetings  give  ample  evidence  that  the  town  is 
badly  demoralized.  This  state  of  things  lasts  for  over 
thirteen  years. 

In  March,  1763,  after  a  day  spent  in  solemn  fast- 
ing and  prayer,  a  call  was  given  to  Rev.  Archibald 
Campbell.  He  was  ordained  August  17th.  Mr. 
Prentice  has  carried  away  his  church  records  (which 
were,  however,  recovered  some  years  later),  and  a 
new  book  was  begun.  A  new  covenant  was  drawn 
up  and  signed,  but  it  is  signed  by  only  about  half 
the  number  that  had  signed  the  covenant  of  sixteen 
years  before.  There  is  nothing  especially  eventful 
in  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Campbell  until  near  its  close. 
Trouble,  of  course,  there  must  be.  An  opposition 
gradually  developed,  one  element  of  which  was  a  vile 
slander  against  his  character.  He  was  a  man  more 
sinned  against  than  sinning,  was  unfortunate  in  his 
wife,  and  in  a  son  who  was  said  to  have  been  hung 
while  on  the  St.  Clair  expedition.  Mr.  Campbell  left 
Easton  December,  1782,  and  preached  temporarily  in 
various  places.  But  his  spirit  was  broken,  and,  un- 
fortunately, he  had  neither  philosophy  nor  religion 
enough  to  enable  him  to  stem  the  tide  of  ill  fortune 
that  had  set  against  him.  He  and  his  wife  were  said 
to  have  fallen  into  intemperate  ways.  He  died  a 
pauper  in  Stockbridge,  Vt,  July  15,  1818! 

The  next  ministry  of  Easton  was  peaceful  and 
profitable.  The  minister  chosen  for  Mr.  Campbell's 
successor  was  Rev.  William  Reed.  He  was  born 
June  8,  1755.  In  1776  he  enlisted  as  a  soldier  in  the 
Continental  army.  Two  years  afterwards  he  entered 
Harvard  University,  and  graduated  in  1782.  In 
August,  1783,  he  was  invited  to  settle  as  minister 
in  Easton,  and  was  ordained  there  April  21,  1784. 
One  of  the  best  proofs  of  the  good  character  and 
success  of  his  ministry  is  that  there  is  so  little  of 
interest  for  the  historian  to  record.  He  was  an  earn- 
est, practical  preacher,  with  a  character  not  only 
above  reproach,  but  strong  also  in  moral  and  sympa- 
thetic power.  His  ministry  in  Easton  closed  only  at 
his  death,  which  occurred  Nov.  16,  1809.  His  esti- 
mable wife  lived  to  the  age  of  eighty-three.  Her  death 
occurred  March  26,  1850,  and  "  her  eight  surviving 
children,  at  the  average  age  of  fifty-four,  after  thirty- 
five  years  of  separation,  gathered  around  her  bier  at 
the  old  homestead  to  mingle  their  tears  and  prayers, 
and  to  lay  her  precious  duSt  beside  that  of  their  hon- 
ored and  lamented  father." 

Before  speaking  of  his  successor  we  must  retrace 
our  steps  to  1762,  when  a  Baptist  Society  was  formed 
in  what  is  now  North  Easton.  At  that  time  Rev. 
Ebenezer  Stearns  was  ordained  as  minister  of  this 
society.  It  had  only  a  struggling  existence,  but  it 
made  itself  felt  in  town  affairs,  first  by  protests  against 
being  assessed  for  the  support  of  the  preaching  in  the 


426 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


town  meeting-house,  and  secondly  by  a  lawsuit  grow- 
ing out  of  the  refusal  to  pay  the  ministerial  tax.  In 
this  lawsuit  the  town  was  worsted,  and  an  agreement 
was  made  that  all  those  Baptists  who  were  in  covenant 
relations  with  the  Baptist  Society  should  be  exempt 
from  the  payment  of  the  ordinary  ministerial  tax. 
As  the  expenses  of  the  Baptist  Church  were  very  low, 
there  was  a  temptation  to  enter  into  those  relations 
simply  to  evade  that  tax.  Eseck  Carr  succeeded  to 
the  ministry  of  this  society,  a  service  which  was  not 
sufficiently  exhausting  to  prevent  his  conducting  the 
coopering  business  during  the  week.  In  fact,  his 
cooper-shop  served  on  Sunday  as  a  meeting-house  for 
his  little  flock.  This  movement  dragged  on  until  two 
or  three  years  before  Mr.  Carr's  death,  which  occurred 
in  1794.  At  this  time  the  Methodist  movement  was 
beginning,  and  as  it  had  more  elements  of  real  life  in 
it,  and  served  equally  well  the  purpose  of  evading  the 
town  ministerial  tax,  it  absorbed  the  Baptist  Society, 
and  we  hear  nothing  further  about  the  latter. 

In  the  town  church  and  parish,  Rev.  Luther  Shel- 
don was  the  successor  of  Rev.  Mr.  Reed.  Mr.  Shel- 
don was  a  native  of  Rupert,  Vt. ;  was  born  in  1785, 
graduated  at  Middlebury  College  in  1808,  and  was  or- 
dained at  Easton,  Oct.  24,  1810.  He  was  a  man  of 
strong  character  and  exceptional  ability ;  was  con- 
servative in  his  theology,  resolute  and  tenacious  in 
support  of  any  principle  and  method  that  he  had 
adopted. 

In  1816  a  new  meeting-house  was  built,  a  little  way 
behind  where  the  church  stood  that  was  erected  in 
1750.  The  old  building  was  moved  away  and  used 
for  a  town  hall.  At  the  time  of  Mr.  Sheldon's  settle- 
ment the  movement  was  in  progress,  which,  some 
years  later,  resulted  in  the  division  of  the  old  churches 
of  Massachusetts  into  two  parties.  There  was  a 
steady  growth  of  sentiment  adverse  to  the  rigid  Cal- 
vinism that  had  so  long  held  sway  in  New  England, 
there  being  a  so-called  liberal  and  conservative  party 
in  nearly  all  the  churches.  These  two  elements  were 
long  in  coming  into  any  open  collision.  But  the 
ministers  of  the  two  opposing  parties  began  to  under- 
stand each  other,  and  to  draw  more  and  more  aloof. 
The  conservatives  were  naturally  and  conscientiously, 
of  course,  very  reluctant  to  allow  those  who  held  what 
they  esteemed  unsound  and  dangerous  doctrines  to 
preach  in  their  pulpits. 

In  the  neighboring  town  of  Norton  was  a  minister, 
Rev.  Pitt  Clarke,  who  had  been  accustomed  to  ex- 
change with  Mr.  Reed.  He  had  espoused  the  so- 
called  liberal  ideas,  and  Mr.  Sheldon  was  unwilling 
for  this  reason  to  exchange  with  him.  This  displeased 
a  portion  of  the  Easton  congregation,  who  much  ad- 
mired Mr.  Clarke,  and  June  8,  1830,  the  following 
action  was  taken :  "  Voted,  that  it  is  the  wish  of  the 
Parish  that  neighboring  Congregational  ministers  in 
regular  standing  should  minister  with  this  society  as 
was  formerly  the  practice."  As  this  vote  had  no 
effect,  in  November  of  1831  the  parish  formally  re- 


quested their  minister  "  to  exchange  pulpit  services 
with  neighboring  Congregational  ministers  indis- 
criminately, agreeably  to  the  practice  that  prevailed 
at  the  time  of  his  settlement."  A  committee  was  ap- 
pointed to  wait  upon  Mr.  Sheldon,  and  they  reported 
that  he  refused  to  reply  to  them,  and  he  did  not  make 
the  exchange  as  requested.  This  was  now  April, 
1832.  The  dissension  increased.  The  parish  pro- 
posed a  mutual  council  in  order  that  the  connection 
between  pastor  and  people  might  be  dissolved.  As 
Mr.  Sheldon  took  no  notice  of  this  proposal,  his  op- 
ponents called  an  ex-parfe  council,  who  voted  that 
sufficient  cause  existed  for  the  dismissal  of  the  minis- 
ter. Mr.  Sheldon  denied  the  jurisdiction  of  the  coun- 
cil. His  opposers,  however,  notified  him  that  his  ser- 
vices would  be  dispensed  with,  and  provided  another 
clergyman  to  preach  on  the  following  Sunday.  Fully 
believing  that  he  was  not  legally  dismissed,  a  belief 
justified  by  the  final  result,  Mr.  Sheldon  prepared  to 
maintain  his  position.  Fifteen  minutes  before  the 
usual  time  of  service  he  took  possession  of  the  pulpit 
and  began  the  services.  In  the  afternoon  the  other 
clergyman  was  first  in  the  pulpit,  and  when  Mr. 
Sheldon  appeared  and  would  have  gone  into  the  pul- 
pit his  approach  thereto  was  blocked  by  a  man  as  de- 
termined as  himself.  He  thereupon  called  upon  his 
adherents  to  follow  him  to  the  chapel  near  by.  A 
large  part  of  the  audience,  including  the  major  part 
of  the  church  members,  followed  him,  and  thus  the 
open  rupture  was  effected.  It  must  be  stated  that  at 
all  times  a  majority  of  those  who  were  in  the  habit 
of  attending  church  favored  Mr.  Sheldon,  while  a 
majority  of  those  legally  entitled  to  vote  upon  parish 
matters  were  found  among  his  opponents.  These 
were,  however,  in  some  cases  those  who  had  no  in- 
terest in  the  parish.  There  were  a  few  such  who 
voted  upon  the  other  side,  each  party  summoning  all 
the  votes  it  could  by  any  means  secure. 

This  open  rupture  did  not  cure  the  strife.  The 
parish  voted  to  discontinue  the  salary  of  Mr.  Shel- 
don. At  the  beginning  of  1834  he  brought  suit 
against  the  trustees  for  the  payment  of  his  salary. 
This  suit  was  hotly  contested,  but  went  against  the 
trustees.  Finding  themselves  obliged  to  pay  his 
salary,  the  parish  demanded  his  services,  hoping  to 
embarrass  his  connection  with  his  own  flock,  to 
whom,  since  the  division,  he  had  been  preaching. 
Such  a  state  of  things  was  too  exasperating  to  con- 
tinue;  and,  in  1838,  the  parish  accepted  a  propo- 
sition, made  by  Mr.  Sheldon,  as  a  basis  of  settlement. 
In  consideration  of  the  sum  of  three  thousand  dol- 
lars, he  and  his  friends  discharged  the  parish  from 
all  liabilities  and  claims  they  might  have  against  it. 
On  Nov.  19,  1838,  forty-one  members  of  the  parish 
formally  withdrew  all  connection  with  it  and  organ- 
ized themselves  into  the  "  Evangelical  Congrega- 
tional Society  of  Easton."  The  legal  aspects  of 
this  controversy  were  very  important  and  interest- 
ing.     The   underlying   question    was,    "  Whether   a 


EASTON. 


427 


refusal  to  exchange  with  another  minister  could  be 
made  a  just  ground  for  refusing  to  pay  a  minister's 
salary  or  for  dismissing  him."  Mr.  Sheldon  acted 
in  accordance  with  the  advice  of  the  association  of 
orthodox  ministers.  Some  of  the  best  legal  talent 
in  the  State  urged  him  to  take  this  position,  and  what 
seemed  like  obstinate  silence  on  his  part  was  merely 
obeying  the  instruction  of  his  lawyer.  Though  his 
opponents  appealed  from  the  first  decisions,  which 
were  adverse  to  them,  these  decisions  were  sustained 
by  the  full  bench,  a  majority  composing  which  were 
Unitarians  and  opposed  to  Mr.  Sheldon's  theological 
position. 

The  concluding  history  of  the  old  parish  is  easily 
told.  It  became  at  last  distinctively  Unitarian.  In 
1839,  Rev.  William  H.  Taylor  received  and  accepted 
a  call.  Mindful  of  the  past,  the  parish  make  a  three 
months'  notice  (after  the  first  year)  the  only  neces- 
sary condition  for  dissolving  the  pastoral  connection. 
Mr.  Taylor  did  not  remain  long.  In  1845  the  church 
was  remodeled  and  rededicated,  Eev.  Paul  Dean  hav- 
ing been  settled  the  same  year.  He  continued  pastor 
for  five  years,  and  was  succeeded  in  1851  by  Rev. 
William  Whitwell,  who  preached  here  for  seven  years. 
Rev.  George  G.  Withington  was  settled  in  1858,  and 
remained  pastor  of  the  church*  for  twelve  years,  re- 
signing in  1870.  Regular  services  were  henceforward 
discontinued,  except  that  occasionally  in  summer 
preaching  has  been  sustained  for  a- while. 

The  nucleus  of  the  Evangelical  Society  was  the 
majority  of  the  members  of  the  original  church  and 
of  the  customary  attendants  upon  public  worship. 
This  society  organized  in  1839,  but  those  composing 
it  had  been  worshiping  in  the  church  built  by  them 
in  1833.  In  1855,  Mr.  Sheldon  relinquished  his  salary 
and  his  active  duties,  but  remained  senior  pastor  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  in  1866.  The  successor  to 
his  active  duties  was  Rev.  Lyman  Clark,  who  was 
pastor  seven  years.  Rev.  Charles  E.  Lord  was  settled 
two  years,  Rev.  Charles  Mills  somewhat  longer,  Rev. 
Mr.  Richardson  four  years,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Hudson  a 
year  and  a  half.  Rev.  Luther  Sheldon,  son  of  the 
first  pastor,  preached  as  acting  pastor  about  three 
years,  since  which  time,  1877,  the  society  was  without 
a  regular  pastor  until,  in  1882,  the  present  pastor,  Rev. 
William  H.  Dowden,  became  the  minister.  In  1882  the 
church  building  of  this  society  was  destroyed  by  fire, 
and  a  new  church  was  built  in  1883. 

The  Methodist  movement  began  in  town  about 
1790.  The  first  society  was  organized  about  1796 
in  the  northeast  part  of  the  town.  Isaac  Stokes, 
a  nailer  by  trade  and  a  kind  of  local  preacher,  was 
one  of  its  founders.  The  celebrated  Jesse  Lee  .and 
the  eccentric  Lorenzo  Dow  occasionally  preached 
here  in  those  early  days,  the  latter  within  the  recol- 
lection of  many  now  living.  The  first  Methodist 
Church  was  built  on  Washington  Street,  where  the 
present  building  now  stands.  It  stood  until  1830, 
when  it  was  replaced  by  a  new  one.     This  society 


was  at  first  on  the  old  Warren  Circuit,  but  shortly 
after  1800  a  new  circuit  was  formed  including  Easton, 
Stoughton,  and  four  other  towns.  The  first  regular 
preacher  sent  here  by  the  Conference  is  said  to  have 
been  Nehemiah  Coy.  He  was  followed  by  Thomas 
Perry,  and  afterwards  by  Samuel  Cutler.  Then  in 
1810  Rev.  John  Tinkham  was  minister.  Under  his 
administration  the  church  flourished.  He  was  re- 
turned for  another  year,  at  the  end  of  which  he  de- 
termined to  locate  here.  He  died  in  1824  universally 
respected  and  beloved,  and  his  remains  rest  in  the 
Washington  Street  Cemetery.  During  his  ministry 
instrumental  music  was  introduced  into  the  service 
of  the  sanctuary,  much  to  the  indignation  of  some 
who  regarded  all  innovations  in  the  old-fashioned 
usages  as  likely  to  disturb  the  peace  and  mar  the 
prosperity  of  Zion.  There  were  various  supplies 
until  1829,  when  Lewis  Bates,  familiarly  known  as 
"  Father"  Bates,  was  appointed  for  this  station. 
During  his  stay  a  great  revival  prevailed.  Father 
Bates  was  not  an  educated  man,  and  even  boasted 
that  he  did  not  come  out  of  an  "  old  gospel-shop." 
About  this  time  Universalists  Avere  occasionally 
allowed  to  preach  in  the  new  building,  which  had 
been  liberally  subscribed  to  by  several  persons  who 
sympathized  with  Universalist  sentiments.  This  led 
to  serious  trouble,  and  was  finally  prevented  by  having 
the  church  deeded  to  the  Conference. 

The  revival  under  Mr.  Bates  had  been  followed  by 
a  corresponding  period  of  spiritual  decline,  and  in 
1840  and  1841,  other  revivals  under  Rev.  Nathan 
Payne  and  Rev.  Edward  Lyons  occurred.  About 
1843  a  portion  of  the  congregation,  dissatisfied  with 
the  Episcopal  form  of  government,  withdrew  and 
formed  a  Protestant  Methodist  Church.  For  about 
ten  years  previous  to  1856  the  Washington  Street 
Society  had  hardly  any  connection  with  the  Confer- 
ence, and  the  church  records  state  that  the  "  church 
experienced  rather  turbulent  times."  During  a  part 
of  1855-56,  Rev.  Luther  Sheldon  supplied  the  pulpit, 
and  then  the  church  was  closed.  In  1857  it  was  re- 
opened with  Rev.  John  B.  Hunt  pastor.  He  inau- 
gurated a  powerful  revival,  the  effects  of  which  upon 
one  individual  at  least- will  not  soon  be  forgotton. 

In  1861,  under  Rev.  L.  B.  Bates,  a  division  of  the 
society  occurred,  the  minister  leading  or  following 
those  who  preferred  to  have  services  held  in  the  vil- 
lage. The  village  society  built  a  church  on  Main 
Street,  and  worshiped  there  until  1876.  At  that  time 
they  moved  into  the  church  formerly  occupied  by  the 
North  Easton  Unitarian  Society,  which  had  been  pre- 
sented to  the  Methodists  by  Hon.  Oliver  Ames.  The 
two  Methodist  societies  supported  separate  ministers 
until  a  few  years  ago,  when  they  united  to  support  one 
pastor,  who  should  minister  to  both  societies.  This 
arrangement  still  continues. 

In  North  Easton  village  the  growing  shovel  busi- 
ness called  together  an  increasing  number  of  work- 
men, many  of  whom  were  foreigners  and  Catholics. 


428 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


In  1850  the  first  Catholic  Church,  now  called  "  The 
Chapel,"  was  built  upon  land  presented  to  the  church 
by  Oliver  Ames  &  Sons.  The  present  commodious 
church  was  erected  in  1865.  It  was  thoroughly  re- 
modeled in  1873.  The  names  of  the  pastors  in  their 
order  are  Fathers  Fitzsimmons,  Roach,  McNulty, 
Quinn,  Fitzgerald,  Carroll,  and  the  present  pastor, 
Father  McComb.  This  church  is  large  and  flourish- 
ing. 

In  1843  the  Protestant  Methodist  Society  was  or- 
ganized. Services  were  held  for  a  while  in  Torrey's 
Hall.  In  the  year  1845  a  church  was  built.  Preach- 
ing was  maintained  for  about  five  years,  when  the  in- 
terest in  this  movement  became  small.  An  attempt 
was  made  for  a  while  to  sustain  Episcopal  Methodist 
services.  About  1855  an  interest  was  manifested  in 
Unitarian  preaching,  and  proved  a  permanent  in- 
terest. The  North  Eastou  Unitarian  Society  was  or- 
ganized in  1857.  After  a  long  season  of  transient 
preaching,  in  1860  Rev.  C.  C.  Hussey  was  invited  to 
become  pastor.  He  accepted  and  filled  that  office 
for  six  years.  In  the  autumn  of  1867,  Rev.  William 
L.  Chaffin  received  a  call  from  this  society,  which  he 
accepted.  He  began  preaching  as  its  pastor  on  the 
first  Sunday  of  1868.  In  August,  1875,  the  society 
moved  into  the  beautiful  church  built  by  the  late 
Hon.  Oliver  Ames,  and  presented  by  him  to  the  so- 
ciety. At  that  time  it  reorganized,  and  assumed  the 
name  of  Unity  Church. 

So  brief  a  sketch  as  the  above,  giving,  as  it  neces- 
sarily does,  only  a  bare  outline  of  the  history  of 
Easton,  omits  much  that  deserves  to  be  chronicled. 
Many  things  of  a  more  personal  nature,  which  would 
have  made  this  a  more  readable  narrative,  have  been 
reluctantly  omitted,  and  have  had  to  be  sacrificed  to 
a  general  statement  of  facts.  If  only  a  few  of  the 
more  widely-known  citizens  have  been  selected  for 
special  biographical  notice,  it  is  not  because  there 
have  not  been  others ;  indeed,  there  have  been  many 
others  who  well  deserved  more  special  mention  than 
they  have  received.  As  the  writer,  though  warmly 
attached  to  this  home  of  his  adoption,  has  been  a 
resident  here  for  only  about  sixteen  years,  very  few 
of  the  individuals  alluded  to  were  personally  known 
to  him.  But  the  impression  they  have  made  upon 
the  town  and  upon  the  memories  of  citizens  now 
living  justify  such  a  reference  to  them.  Among  them 
well  known  in  other  days  as  men  of  mark  and  char- 
acter were  Daniel  Wheaton,  Elijah  Howard,  Martin 
Wilde,  Howard  Lothrop,  Dr.  Caleb  Swan,  Gen.  Shep- 
ard  Leach,  and  Rev.  Luther  Sheldon.  Other  names 
will  readily  occur  to  those  who  have  been  at  all  famil- 
iar with  the  history  of  the  town.  Easton  may  well 
be  proud  of  her  industries ;  she  has  more  reason  to 
be  proud  of  the  men  and  women  she  has  given  to  the 
world. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


OLIVER   AMES,  Sr. 

Hon.  Oliver  Ames,  the  founder  of  the  great  manu- 
facturing firm  of  O.  Ames  &  Sons,  was  born  at  Ply- 
mouth, Mass.,  April  11,  1779,  being  the  youngest  son 
of  Capt.  John  and  Susannah  Ames,  and  was  a  lineal 
descendant  of  William  Ames,  who  came  to  this  coun- 
try in  1638  and  settled  in  Braintree,  Mass.  His  early 
education  was  gained  by  ordinary  common-school 
instruction,  and  by  the  practical  experience  of  hard 
work  in  his  father's  blacksmith-shop.  These  fur- 
nished him  the  groundwork  of  a  sober  judgment,  in- 
dustrious habits,  and  a  stable  and  energetic  charac- 
ter. At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  went  to  Springfield, 
where  he  learned  the  trade  of  gunsmith.  In  April, 
1803,  he  married  Susannah  Angier,  and  by  this  mar- 
riage two  distinct  branches  of  the  English  family  of 
Ames  which  had  sent  representatives  to  this  country 
were  united  ;  for  Susannah  Angier  was  a  descend- 
ant of  Dr.  William  Ames,  a  famous  author  and  pro- 
fessor. Very  soon  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Ames  re- 
moved from  Bridgewater  to  Easton,  and  commenced 
the  manufacture  of  shovels.  After  a  stay  of  over 
two  years  at  Easton,-  he  removed  to  Plymouth  to 
manufacture  shovels  for  Messrs.  Russell,  Davis  &  Co., 
and  he  continued  there  until  about  1813,  when  he 
returned  to  Easton.  He  had  determined  upon  this 
return  previous  to  this  time,  had  purchased  land  and 
a  good  water-privilege,  and  had  begun  the  erection 
of  a  dwelling-house.  He  was  one  of  a  company  to 
build  a  cotton-factory  for  the  manufacture  of  cotton 
fabrics.  He  had  manufactured  hoes  and  shovels 
during  his  first  stay  in  Easton,  but  on  his  second  ar- 
rival he  began  again  the  business  that  has  now  be- 
come world-famed.  Difficulties  and  embarrassments 
that  would  have  defeated  any  one  but  a  man  of  great 
ability  and  persistent  energy  beset  him  in  these  early 
days.  The  cotton-factory  burned ;  the  war  of  1812 
had  had  a  disastrous  effect  upon  business;  he  was 
endeavoring  to  restore  the  business  of  his  father  to  a 
prosperous  condition ;  and  he  had  made  great  outlays 
in  getting  established  at  Easton.  But  his  credit  was 
good  and  his  courage  strong;  his  character  and  abil- 
ity alike  inspired  unlimited  confidence ;  and  he 
worked  steadily  on  to  a  sure  and  lasting  success. 

With  only  a  humble  beginning,  shovels  being  made 
by  hand  and  carried  to  market  upon  a  one-horse 
wagon,  the  business  steadily  increased,  shop  being 
added  to  shop,  workmen  increasing  by  scores,  until  it 
has  become  by  far  the  largest  and  most  prosperous 
shov,el  business  in  the  world.  He  would  never  allow 
any  work  to  be  sent  to  the  market  that  was  imperfect, 
and  he  thus  laid  the  foundation  for  the  great  reputa- 
tion which  the  Ames  shovel  has  borne,  and  which  it 
continues  to  bear. 

In  1828-29  he  represented  his  town  in  the  Massa- 
chusetts  Legislature,   serving    with   marked   ability 


Albertype ;— Forbes  Co.,  Boston. 


*C£j  J^^T^z^^ 


EASTON. 


429 


upon  the  Committee  on  Manufactures.  In  184~>  he 
was  elected,  contrary  to  his  desires,  and  by  a  large 
vote,  to  the  Massachusetts  Senate.  He  was,  however, 
no  lover  of  office,  and  desired  only  that  he  might 
have  the  charge  of  the  highways  of  his  town  intrusted 
to  him,  a  charge  he  took  pride  in,  and  faithfully  ful- 
filled. He  was  a  man  of  strong  and  resolute  will,  of 
great  force  of  character,  indomitable  energy,  and  per- 
severing industry.  He  was  the  possessor  of  a  splendid 
physique,  and  easily  bore  off  the  palm  in  all  feats  of 
strength  and  skill,  especially  in  wrestling,  of  which 
he  was  very  fond.  His  manly  and  dignified  bearing 
gave  every  one  who  saw  him  the  impression  that  they 
looked  upon  a  man  of  mark.  He  was  such  a  man 
as  a  stranger,  meeting  upon  the  street,  would  turn 
to  look  at  a  second  time.  Born  of  the  people,  he  was 
always  very  simple  in  his  tastes  and  democratic  in 
his  feelings  and  principles.  In  his  likes  and  dislikes 
he  was  equally  decided,  but  his  judgments  were  based 
upon  what  he  believed  to  be  the  real  worth  of  any  one, 
without  reference  to  his  station  or  condition.  He  was 
consequently  greatly  respected  and  beloved  by  his 
neighbors  and  fellow-townsmen.  He  was  enthusi- 
astically fond  of  farming,  and,  like  Daniel  Webster, 
was  especially  fond  of  fine  oxen,  always  obtaining 
the  best,  and  taking  great  pleasure  in  their  manage- 
ment. He  took  an  early  stand,  both  as  a  matter  of 
principle  and  practice,  in  favor  of  temperance,  and 
brought  up  his  family  according  to  total  abstinence 
principles.  He  was  a  decided  Unitarian  in  his  re- 
ligious convictions,  having  a  cordial  dislike  to  the 
rigid  tenets  of  the  Calvinism  of  his  day.  He  was 
liberal  in  his  aid  of  religious  institutions,  to  which  he 
also  gave  the  sanction  of  his  personal  attendance. 
His  charities  were  large,  and  they  were  not  bounded 
by  the  limits  of  his  sect  or  neighborhood.  His  de- 
fects were  such  as  pertained  merely  to  his  limited 
culture  and  to  the  stern  conflict  and  discipline  of  his 
early  life.  Mr.  Ames  lived  to  the  ripe  "old  age  of 
eighty-four  years,  dying  at  North  Easton,  Sept.  11, 
1863.  

OAKES    AMES. 

Hon.  Oakes  Ames  is  the  most  widely  known  of  any 
of  the  citizens  of  Easton,  and  the  one  who  has  had 
the  greatest  influence  upon  the. fortunes  and  affairs  of 
the  country.  To  him  more  than  to  any  other  man 
belongs  the  great  credit  of  accomplishing  one  of  the 
grandest  enterprises  of  this  generation,  the  building 
of  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad.  For  that  work,  which 
has  been  of  incalculable  benefit  to  the  country  in 
many  ways,  he  deserves  the  gratitude  of  all  its  citi- 
zens, and  his  name  will  always  be  associated  with 
that  splendid  achievement. 

Oakes  Ames  was  the  oldest  son  of  Oliver  and  Su- 
sannah Ames,  and  was  born  in  Easton,  Mass.,  Jan. 
10,  1804.  He  passed  his  youth  there,  acquiring  a 
common-school  education,  and  assisting  his  father  in 
the  workshop  and  on  the  farm.     He  gained  a  thor- 


ough knowledge  of  the  shovel  business,  in  which  his 
father  was  engaged,  and  he  devoted  to  it  for  years  a 
laborious  industry  and  great  energy,  early  becoming 
its  overseer.  In  1844  his  father,  having  reached  the 
age  of  sixty-five,  withdrew  from  all  active  participa- 
tion in  the  business,  turning  it  over  to  his  sons,  Oakes 
and  Oliver,  and  from  this  date  the  firm  bore  the  name 
of  Oliver  Ames  &  Sons.  The  discovery  of  gold  in 
California  and  Australia,  and  the  vast  increase  of 
railroad  building,  gave  a  new  impetus  to  the  shovel 
business,  and  it  rapidly  grew  to  extensive  proportions, 
and  became  very  profitable.  It  was  managed  with 
great  enterprise,  and  weathered  the  financial  storm 
of  1857  without  serious  disturbance,  and  went  on  to 
increasing  success. 

In  1860  Oakes  Ames  was  elected  councilor  from  the 
Bristol  district,  and  served  with  great  efficiency  as 
one  of  the  cabinet  officers  of  Governor  Andrew,  by 
whom  he  was  highly  esteemed.  He  was  soon  solicited 
to  become  candidate  for  Congress  from  the  Second 
District.  On  the  informal  ballot  at  the  nominating 
convention  he  received  two-thirds  of  all  the  votes 
cast.  He  was  elected  by  a  large  popular  vote.  This 
was  for  the  Thirty-eighth  Congress,  and  he  was  re- 
elected for  the  four  succeeding  Congresses,  serving 
ten  years  altogether.  During  these  ten  years  he  was 
a  member  of  the  several  Committees  on  Manufactures, 
on  the  Pacific  Railroad,  on  Revolutionary  Claims, 
and  on  Roads  and  Canals,  and  his  business  experience 
and  sound  practical  judgment  rendered  his  services 
valuable  upon  these  several  committees.  He  was  a 
warm  friend  of  President  Lincoln,  and  enjoyed  his 
personal  confidence. 

It  was  as  a  member  of  the  Committee  on  Railroads 
that  he  first  became  interested  in  the  government 
project  of  building  a  road  to  the  Pacific.  In  July, 
1862,  Congress  passed  an  act  authorizing  and  making 
some  provision  for  the  construction  of  a  railroad  and- 
telegraph  line  from  the  Missouri  to  the  Pacific. 
Scarcely  anything,  however,  was  done  about  it.  In 
July,  1864,  the  need  of  such  a  line  of  communication 
between  the  East  and  the  West  was  imperatively  felt, 
and  Congress  passed  a  second  act  more  liberal  than 
the  first,  doubling  the  land-grant,  authorizing  the 
issue  of  mortgage  bonds  to  the  same  amount  as  the 
government  bonds,  and  making  the  latter  a  second 
mortgage,  and  offering  to  withhold  only  one-half  the 
money  the  road  might  earn  for  government  transpor- 
tation. One  attempt  to  construct  the  road  under  this 
new  arrangement  signally  failed.  Oakes  Ames  was 
then  looked  to  as  the  man  competent  to  undertake 
and  complete  this  gigantic  work.  Many  prominent 
men,  among  them  President  Lincoln,  urged  him  to 
undertake  it  for  the  public  good.  After  nearly  a  year 
of  such  solicitation,  and  after  careful  deliberation,  he 
decided  to  do  it,  and  thus  to  connect  his  name  iin- 
perishably  with  the  greatest  public  work  of  the  cen- 
tury in  this  country. 

It  is  impossible  in  the  necessary  limits  of  this  brief 


430 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


sketch  to  trace  even  in  outline  the  progress  and  suc- 
cessful completion  of  that  great  work,  or  to  do  more 
than  allude  to  the  famous  Credit  Mobilier  affair  which 
engaged  such  general  attention  and  created  such 
absurd  excitement.  Once  undertaken,  Oakes  Ames 
gave  to  the  work  all  his  accustomed  energy.  He  in- 
vested a  million  dollars  and  hazarded  his  entire  for- 
tune in  the  enterprise.  He  invited  his  friends  to  join 
him  and  invest  their  capital,  men  in  and  out  of  Con- 
gress being  invited  to  engage  in  it  on  the  same  terms. 

The  obstacles  to  be  overcome,  both  physical  and 
financial,  were  immense.  But  they  were  overcome, 
and  on  May  10,  1869,  the  rails  of  the  Union  Pacific 
and  Central  Pacific  were  joined  at  Promontory  Point, 
and  the  Pacific  Road  was  complete  ;  the  East  and  West 
were  united,  and  this  was  seven  years  earlier  than  the 
terms  of  the  contract  required.  As  to  the  Credit  Mo- 
bilier affair,  those  have  been  freest  to  condemn  it  who 
knew  least  about  it.  It  is  safe  to  assert  that  not  one 
in  a  hundred  of  those  who  used  that  term  as  a  symbol 
of  business  iniquity  really  knew  what  it  meant.  It 
was  for  this  very  reason  a  convenient  and  powerful 
weapon  to  wield  in  a  time  of  great  political  excite- 
ment. It  suggested  unknown  horrors  and  depths  of 
iniquity.  In  fact,  however,  it  was  a  construction  com- 
pany. Roads  had  been  built  by  the  same  method  be- 
fore ;  they  are  commonly  built  in  the  same  way  in  the 
West  to-day. 

It  was  not  until  this  matter  was  given  a  political 
turn  that  anything  wrong  was  suspected.  It  was 
found  that  several  congressmen  had  a  financial  inter- 
est in  it,  and  it  was  asserted  that  Mr.  Ames  had  inter- 
ested them  with  corrupt  intent  in  order  to  influence 
their  legislation,  and  they  were  accused  of  taking 
bribes.  Yielding  to  popular  clamor,  Congress  de- 
manded investigation.  .  Two  committees  were  ap- 
pointed to  make  it.  They  sat  for  months,  made  their 
reports  to  Congress,  and  on  the  28th  day  of  February 
the  House  passed  a  resolution  condemning  the  con- 
duct of  Mr.  Ames  "  in  seeking" — so  reads  the  resolve — 
"  to  procure  congressional  attention  to  the  affairs  of  a 
corporation  in  which  he  was  interested,"  etc.  He 
alone  must  bear  the  brunt  of  the  storm  and  be  offered 
up  as  a  scapegoat,  where  in  reality  no  sacrifice  was 
needed.  He  was  charged  with  bribery  when  it  did 
not  appear  that  any  man  had  been  bribed.  The  charge 
rested  upon  the  assertion  of  one  man,  and  that  man 
an  interested  party,  whose  word  was  good  for  nothing 
in  the  face  of  Mr.  Ames'  denial.  In  fact,  no  'legisla- 
tion was  desired  or  even  looked  for.  Mr.  Ames,  for 
the  good  of  the  enterprise,  endeavored  to  enlist  the 
influence  of  prominent  men  in  different  parts  of  the 
country.  There  was  far  less  reason  why  ownership 
in  the  stock  referred  to  should  embarrass  a  congress- 
man than  his  ownership  of  stock  in  a  national  bank, 
an  iron  furnace,  a  woolen-mill,  or  even  in  government 
bonds.  Those  congressmen  who  openly  declared  their 
ownership  in  the  Credit  Mobilier  stock  and  regretted 
they  had  so  little,  are  held  in  honor  to-day.    But  those 


who,  fearful  of  the  result  of  such  confession  upon  their 
political  chances,  sought  to  evade  the  matter,  have 
been  permanently  disgraced  ;  but  from  that  day  to 
this,  in  proportion  as  the  case  is  understood  and  his 
services  appreciated,  Oakes  Ames  has  risen  in  popular 
regard. 

The  Massachusetts  Legislature,  May  7, 1883,  passed 
a  resolve  relating  to  the  above-named  vote  of  censure, 
acknowledging  "the  great  services  of  Oakes  Ames," 
"his  unflinching  truth  fulness  and  honesty,"  the  public 
confidence  in  his  integrity  and  honor,  and  ending 
thus :  "  Therefore  the  Legislature  of  Massachusetts 
hereby  expresses  its  gratitude  for  his  work  and  its 
faith  in  his  integrity  of  purpose  and  character,  and 
asks  for  like  recognition  thereof  on  the  part  of  the 
national  Congress." 

Oakes  Ames  was  a  man  of  large  and  powerful 
frame, — "the  broad-shouldered  Ames,"  as  Mr.  Lin- 
coln called  him.  He  was  courageous  and  enter- 
prising in  business  affairs,  with  a  special  liking  for 
large  undertakings.  The  Pacific  Railroad  suited  his 
liking  and  capacity  for  great  and  adventurous  tasks. 
He  was  very  temperate,  a  total  abstinent  from  all  in- 
toxicating drinks,  and  was  simple  and  democratic  in 
his  tastes,  caring  little  for  the  luxuries  that  usually 
accompany  great  wealth.  His  business  integrity  was 
unquestioned.  Under  a  rugged  exterior  he  carried  a 
kind  heart,  and  after  his  death  scores  of  letters  from 
various  quarters  told  his  friends  of  numerous  kind- 
nesses until  then  unknown  to  them.  In  1828  he 
married  Eveline  O.,  daughter  of  Joshua  Gilmore,  of 
Easton.  Of  this  union  there  were  born  Oakes  An- 
gier,  April  15,  1829;  Oliver,  born  Feb.  4,  1831; 
Frank  Morton,  born  Aug.  14,  1833:  Henry,  born 
April,  1839,  and  died  in  September,  1841 ;  and  Susan 
Eveline,  born  May  12,  1841.  He  was  stricken  with 
paralysis  on  the  5th  day  of  May,  and  on  Thursday, 
the  8th  day  of  May,  1873,  he  died. 


OLIVER  AMES,  Jr. 
Hon.  Oliver  Ames,  the  second  of  that  name,  was 
the  third  son  of  Hon.  Oliver  and  Susannah  Ames. 
He  was  born  at  Plymouth,  Mass.,  Nov.  5,  1807.  In 
1814  he  became  a  resident  of  Easton  by  his  father's 
removal  to  this  place,  since  which  time  Easton  has 
been  his  home.  In  his  youth  his  time  was  divided 
between  attending  school  and  employment  in  the 
shovel-works.  He  became  an  expert  workman,  and 
was  thorough  in  every  branch  of  the  shovel  manu- 
facture. He  also  showed  great  aptitude  for  study, 
and  in  1828,  being  disabled  for  active  labor  by  a  se- , 
vere  fall,  he  entered  an  academy  at  North  Andover, 
Mass.,  intending  to  prepare  for  college,  and  ultimately 
to  study  law,  for  which  pursuit  his  talents  peculiarly 
fitted  him  ;  but,  after  spending  a  year  and  a  half  at 
the  academy,  he  entered  as  a  law  student  the  office  of 
William  Baylies,  Esq.,  of  West  Bridgewater.  This 
proved  unfavorable  to  his  health,  and  with  the  in- 
creasing demands   of  business  at  home  led   him  to 


^ 


<£>. / 


s  >J s~ 


EASTON. 


431 


cast  in  his  lot  with  that  of  his  father  and  his  brother 
Oakes. 

In  June,  1833,  he  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  Hon. 
Howard  Lothrop,  of  Easton.  In  1844  he  entered  into 
copartnership  with  his  father  and  brother,  forming  the 
house  of  O.  Ames  &  Sons,  and  became  a  most  efficient 
co-laborer  with  them.  As  early  as  1826  he  became 
much  interested  in  the  temperance  movement,  sup- 
porting the  cause  of  total  abstinence,  of  which  from 
that  time  he  was  a  consistent  and  earnest  advocate, 
serving  it  actively  and  contributing  to  it  largely.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Whig  party,  and,  at  its  dissolu- 
tion, joined  the  Republican  party,  taking  a  lively  in- 
terest in  its  principles  and  measures.  In  1852  he  was 
elected  to  the  Senate  of  Massachusetts  by  the  Legis- 
lature, there  being  no  choice  by  the  people,  and  he 
did  excellent  service  upon  several  important  commit- 
tees. In  1857  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate  by 
popular  vote.  In  some  of  the  campaigns  he  made 
effective  speeches  upon  the  issues  of  the  hour.  In 
1855  the  Messrs.  Ames  built  the  Easton  Branch  Rail- 
road, and  after  this  became  interested  in  those  im- 
portant railroad  enterprises  in  which  the  two  brothers 
became  so  deservedly  famous.  The  achievement  of 
building  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad,  which  was 
mainly  accomplished  by  their  united  efforts,  is  now 
common  history.  In  1866,  Oliver  Ames  was  elected 
president  of  that  railroad,  an  office  he  held  with  sig- 
nal ability  until  March,  1871.  During  this  time  the 
road  passed  through  some  of  its  stormiest  days  and 
severest  trials.  His  sound  judgment,  great  business 
capacity,  and  inflexible  integrity  were  of  immense 
service  in  carrying  this  great  enterprise  safely  through 
difficulty  and  peril  to  final  success. 

Oliver  Ames  held  many  positions  of  trust  and  re- 
sponsibility, of  which  a  few  may  be  mentioned.  He 
was  a  trustee  in  the  Taunton  Insane  Asylum  for 
about  twenty  years;  he  has  been  president  of  the 
National  Bank  of  Easton,  of  the  Ames  Plow  Com- 
pany, and  the  Kinsley  Iron  and  Machine  Company  ; 
a  director  in  the  Union  Pacific,  Atlantic  and  Pacific, 
Kansas  Pacific,  Denver  Pacific,  Colorado  Central,  Old 
Colony  and  Newport,  and  other  railroads  ;  also  of  the 
Bristol  County  National  Bank,  and  other  corporations. 
His  public  spirit  led  him  to  take  great  interest  in 
enterprises  of  education,  philanthropy,  and  reform. 
He  was  identified  with  agricultural,  historical,  and 
other  societies,  and  willingly  served  for  years  on  the 
board  of  school  committee  of  Easton.  He  was  always 
interested  in  the  Unitarian  Churches  of  Easton  and 
North  Easton,  was  constant  in  his  attendance  upon 
religious  services,  and  for  several  years  was  a  Sunday- 
school  superintendent.  He  died  at  North  Easton, 
March  9,  1877. 

Oliver  Ames  stood  among  the  foremost  in  his  repu- 
tation for  a  manly  and  unblemished  character,  and 
for  business  ability, — a  reputation  he  well  deserved. 
No  one  could  be  with  him  without  seeing  that  he  was 
a  strong,  substantial,  able,  and  honorable  man.     His 


name  was  felt  to  be  a  sufficient  indorsement  of  the 
worth  and  promise  of  any  enterprise.  Though  Oakes 
Ames,  with  characteristic  courage,  took  the  initiative 
in  the  magnificent  undertaking  of  constructing  the 
Union  Pacific  Railroad,  his  brother,  by  the  co-opera- 
tion of  his  sound  judgment  as  well  as  by  his  financial 
support,  shares  in  the  honor  of  that  splendid  achieve- 
ment. Business  cares  were  not,  however,  allowed  to 
engross  all  his  attention.  He  continued,  to  the  last, 
his  interest  in  literature,  kept  himself  familiar  with 
the  great  questions  that  agitate  thought  and  life,  en- 
joyed the  society  of  cultivated  persons,  and  often  sur- 
prised them  by  the  clearness  and  comprehensiveness 
of  his  carefully-formed  opinions.  In  his  character 
there  were  blended  an  admirable  simplicity  and  a 
most  cordial  fellow-feeling  with  a  real  dignity  and 
refinement.  He  was  noted  for  his  generosity.  No  help 
was  denied  any  object  that  commanded  his  confi- 
dence; but  he  shrank  from  all  publicity  in  his  benefac- 
tions. He  had  a  high  sense  of  honor  that  was  prompt 
to  rebuke  anything  mean  and  dishonorable.  He  was 
not  only  a  philanthropic,  but  he  was  also  a  religious 
man,  with  a  strong  faith  in  God  and  in  immortality, — 
a  faith  that  at  the  last  ripened  into  glad  anticipation. 
All  his  benefactions  will  never  be  known,  but  those 
he  was  known  to  have  bestowed  were  most  wisely 
made,  and  are  doing  a  good  that  is  incalculable. 
Reference  has  already  been  made  in  the  sketch  of 
Easton  to  some  of  his  large  bequests,  to  his  gifts  of  a 
fund  of  fifty  thousand  dollars  each  for  the  schools, 
the  roads,  and  for  a  free  public  library,  as  well  as  his 
gift  of  the  beautiful  and  costly  church  to  the  Uni- 
tarian Society.  Besides  these  may  be  mentioned  his 
gift  of  about  thirty-five  thousand  dollars  for  the 
Plymouth  monument,  ten  thousand  for  building 
Unity  Church  parsonage,  and  two  other  bequests  of 
the  same  amount  to  keep  the  church,  parsonage,  and 
cemetery  in  repair.  In  these  gifts,  and  by  the  influ- 
ence of  his  noble  character,  he  has  signally  blessed 
his  town,  and  has  left  behind  him  a  perpetual  memo- 
rial of  good.  Oliver  Ames'  children  were  Frederick 
Lothrop  Ames,  born  June  8,  1835,  and  Helen  Angier 
Ames,  born  Nov.  11,  1836,  and  died  Dec.  13,  1882. 


E.  J.  W.  MORSE. 

Edward  J.  W.  Morse  was  a  descendant  in  the 
eighth  generation  from  Samuel  Morse,  who  was  of  a 
Norman  family  of  high  antiquity,  and  was  born  in 
Devonshire,  England,  in  1585,  and  came  to  New  Eng- 
land in  ship  "Increase,"  April  15,  1635,  settled  first 
in  Watertown,  in  1(337  in  Dedham,  and  died  at  Med- 
field,  Mass.,  June  20,  1654.  In  1635  he  was  one  of  a 
company  who  settled  a  tract  of  land  south  of  the 
Charles  River.  The  next  year  they  changed  the 
name  of  their  town  from  Contentment  to  Dedham, 
the  General  Court  passing  an  act  Sept.  10,  1636,  in- 
corporating it.  In  this  movement  Samuel  Morse  was 
the  leader,  and  was  chosen  collector.     "The  first  set- 


432 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


tiers  of  Dedham  were  a  remarkable  collection  of 
people.  Tradition  brings  down  a  bigh  character  at- 
tached to  most  of  the  names  on  its  early  records,  and 
their  public  and  private  acts  fully  confirm  it.  Or- 
derly and  industrious  in  their  habits,  they  allowed  no 
one  to  remain  in  the  community  who  was  not  engaged 
in  some  regular  occupation.  Any  violation  of  rules 
was  followed  by  a  penalty,  yet  the  most  exact  strict- 
ness was  accompanied  by  equally  unfailing  kindness." 
Samuel  was  townsman  (selectman),  1640-42;  treas- 
urer, collector,  etc.  A  monument  to  his  memory  and 
others  of  his  family  stands  in  the  town  of  Medfield. 
He  married  his  wife  Elizabeth  in  England,  and  their 
seven  children  were  probably  all  born  there. 

His  son  John  (second  generation),  born  1611,  in- 
herited the  homestead  in  Dedham.  This  he  soon 
sold,  and  went  to  Boston  to  become  a  merchant  tailor. 
In  1655  he  went  to  England,  making  his  will  the 
same  year.  He  died  in  1657,  leaving  his  widow, 
Annis,  with  forty  pounds.  His  other  property,  in- 
ventoried at  three  hundred  and  eighty-seven  pounds, 
nine  shillings,  five  pence,  was  to  be  equally  divided 
among  his  eight  surviving  children.  One  of  these 
was  Joseph  (third  generation).  He  married,  Nov.  12, 
1668,  Priscilla  Colburne,  and  settled  in  Medford,  near 
"  Death's  Bridge,"  where  he  "  built  a  house  in  the 
time  of  King  Philip's  war,"  and  died  in  1689.  His 
second  son,  Joseph  (fourth  generation),  graduated  at 
Harvard  in  1695,  became  A.M.,  and  was  pastor  of  the 
church  in  Canton  for  twenty  years  from  1707.  He 
was  persecuted  out  of  the  pulpit,  but  remained  a 
member  until  his  death,  in  1749,  at  seventy-one  years. 
His  estate  was  inventoried  at  seventeen  hundred  and 
sixty-three  pounds,  five  shillings,  six  pence,  his 
library  at  thirty-five  pounds,  and  his  plate  at  thirty- 
seven  pounds,  ten  shillings.  By  his  wife  Amity  he 
had  six  children.  Henry  (fifth  generation)  married 
Abigail  Clapp,  at  Stoughton ;  had  six  children,  one 
of  whom  was  Asa  (sixth  generation).  He  was  born 
Nov.  7,  1752,  married  Hannah  Griggs,  of  Roxbury, 
in  1778,  resided  in  Canton,  and  had  seven  children, 
one  being  James  (seventh  generation).  He  married 
Lucy  Whiting,  lived  in  Dedham,  was  a  musician  and 
clerk  of  a  military  company,  and  a  hatter  by  occupa- 
tion. 

Edward  J.  W.  Morse  was  born  in  Dedham,  Mass., 
and  had  a  common  school  education,  and  from  an  early 
age  worked  in  cotton-mills  in  Mansfield  and  Ded- 
ham as  mule-spinner,  and  from  a  low  round  on  for- 
tune's ladder  rose  step  by  step  to  occupy  a  high 
financial  standing  by  his  attentive  industry  and  the 
force  of  his  strong  individuality.  He  came  to  Easton 
about  1828  to  take  charge  of  a  cotton-cloth  factory  as 
agent  and  manager  at  the  early  age  of  nineteen,  and 
ever  after  made  his  home  here.  He  was  connected 
with  business  in  the  same  building  in  which  he  com- 
menced his  labors  at  the  time  of  his  death.  (It  was 
built  in  1802,  and  is  still  standing.) 

About  1833  he  began  the  manufacture  of  cotton 


thread,  under  the  firm-name  of  E.  J.  W.  Morse  &  Co. 
This  name  is  still  continued  in  the  business,  which  is 
now  conducted  by  his  son,  Edward  N.  Morse,  and 
his  grandsons.  He  established  his  business  in  eight 
other  places,  and  was  a  general  partner  in  each  man- 
ufactory. Six  were  in  Easton,  one  in  Kingston,  Mass., 
one  in  Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  and  one  in  Milford,  N.  H. 
The  building  up  of  this  enormous  business  in  twenty- 
three  years  indicates  something  of  the  push  and  busi- 
ness ability  of  Mr.  Morse.  At  the  time  of  his  death, 
Aug.  17, 1865,  he  was  the  largest  land-owner  in  Easton, 
and  was  but  fifty-six  years  old.  He  was  uniformly  suc- 
cessful in  his  undertakings,  and,  although  a  Whig  in 
politics,  attended  to  his  business  strictly,  leaving  to 
those  who  cared  for  them  the  emoluments  and  honors 
of  official  place.  He  joined  the  Congregational  Church 
at  the  age  of  seventeen,  and  continued  in  its  fellowship 
during  life.  He  had  decided  musical  tastes.  When 
but  eighteen  was  a  member  of  the  Medfield  Brass 
Band,  was  leader  of  the  church  choir  of  Easton  for 
years,  bought  for  the  church  its  first  organ  and  was 
its  organist,  and  retained  the  same  position  when  the 
larger  one  was  introduced. 

He  was  liberal  to  all  good  objects,  social  and  full  of 
humor  in  his  associations  with  others,  and,  while  very 
affable  and  courteous,  was  of  prompt  decision  and  res- 
olute character.  He  could  and  would  say  "  No"  to  all 
plans  or  schemes  which  his  judgment  did  not  approve. 
Positive  in  his  own  convictions,  he  was  very  consider- 
ate of  the  opinions  of  others,  did  much  to  mold  pub- 
lic opinion,  and  had  many  warm  and  stanch  friends. 

He  married  Eliza  O,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Cath- 
arine Newcomb.  She  was  a  direct  descendant  of 
Francis  Newcomb,  the  emigrant.  (See  biography  of 
Nathaniel  Newcomb,  of  Norton.)  She  first  came  to 
Easton  on  the  day  of  her  marriage  to  Mr.  Morse,  May 
17,  1830,  and  shortly  after  united  with  the  Congrega- 
tional Church,  with  which  she  was  in  communion  for 
many  years  and  until  her  death,  at  the  ripe  age  of 
seventy-seven  years,  April  9,  1883.  The  last  few 
years  of  her  life  she  was  prevented  by  poor  health 
from  taking  the  active  part  in  the  church  and  benev- 
olent causes  which  she  had  been  wont  to  take,  but 
her  interest  was  unabated,  her  zeal  never  flagged, 
and  her  heartfelt  sympathy  and  generous  assistance 
were  given  to  every  call  for  aid.  "She  stretched  out 
her  hand  to  the  poor;  yea,  she  stretched  out  her 
hand  to  the  needy." 

Mr.  Morse  had  two  children,  Edward  N.  and  Car- 
oline E.,  who  died  unmarried. 

Edward  N.  Morse,  born  Oct.  12,  1831,  succeeded 
to  his  father  in  manufacturing,  married,  Oct.  4,  1854, 
Hannah  Alice,  daughter  of  Deacon  John  and  Eliza- 
beth (Bassett)  Bryant,  of  New  Bedford,  Mass.  Their 
children  are  Caroline  A.  (married  Abner  J.  Towne, 
of  Boston),  Edward  J.  W.  and  Gertrude  B.  (twins), 
Alfred  B.,  Grace  N.  (deceased),  Justin  N.,  and  Flor- 
ence W. 


'  y  (   £ 


^-Z^    C  *^Zt 


EASTON. 


433 


JOHN    KIMBALL. 

The  Kimball  family  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  New- 
England.  It  sprang  from  Richard  Kimball,  who, 
with  his  wife  Ursula  and  seven  children,  left  their 
home  in  England,  braved  the  dangers  of  a  stormy 
ocean,  landed  on  the  inhospitable  shores  of  an  un- 
broken wilderness,  and  commenced  a  new  life,  de- 
prived of  the  comforts  and  luxuries  of  civilization, 
but  blest  with  civil  and  religious  liberty.  He  came 
from  the  old  town  of  Ipswich,  England,  on  the  ship 
"  Elizabeth,"  and  in  1634,  at  the  age  of  thirty-nine, 
settled  in  Ipswich,  in  Massachusetts  Bay  Colony. 
The  next  year  he  was  admitted  a  freeman,  which  fact 
proves  him  a  Puritan  in  good  standing.  He  was  the 
father  of  eleven  children,  and  died  June  22,  1675. 
From  this  patriarch  most  of  the  New  England  Kim- 
balls  are  descended. 

John  Kimball,  son  of  Isaac  and  Rebecca  (Evans) 
Kimball,  was  born  in  Easton,  Mass.,  Jan.  1,  1810,  in 
the  building  now  (1883)  occupied  by  his  son  George 
as  a  store.  His  father  was  born  in  Easton,  Sept.  18, 
1770,  married  Nov.  15,  1797,  Rebecca  Evans,  born  in 
South  Reading,  Oct.  15,  1776.  They  began  house- 
keeping where  John  was  born.  Isaac  was  a  trader, 
in  early  life  a  carpenter,  and  built  the  house  spoken 
of,  and  kept  it  as  an  inn  and  small  store.  It  was  a 
stage  station,  where  the  aristocratic  and  pretentious 
coaches  changed  horses,  and  in  those  days  the  "inn- 
keeper" was  a  man  of  consequence.  Isaac  and  Rebecca 
had  four  children  who  grew  up.  Betsey  (second  wife 
of  Barzillia  Drake),  Rebecca  (first  wife  of  Barzillia 
Drake),  John,  and  Sarah,  who  married  Calvin  Keith. 
Mr.  Kimball  died  Aug.  28,  1848,  aged  seventy-six. 
His  wife  died  April  21,  1813.  Ammi  Kimball,  father 
of  Isaac,  came  to  Easton  in  early  life,  and  was  a 
laboring  man,  attaining  a  good  length  of  days. 

John  Kimball  had  a  common-school  education 
merely,  remained  with  his  father  as  clerk  from  the 
age  of  ten,  and  finally  succeeded  him  in  business  in 
1834.  For  twenty-one  years  he  was  in  trade,  devot- 
ing himself  closely  to  business,  and  was  prosperous 
withal.  In  1855  he  retired  from  merchandising  with 
wealth,  and  was  succeeded  by  Drake  &  Goward,  who 
were  in  trade,  eleven  years.  In  1866,  John  T.  Kim- 
ball succeeded  them,  and  after  six  years  he  was  suc- 
ceeded (in  1872)  by  his  brother,  George  L.,  who  now 
occupies  his  father's  and  grandfather's  stand.  Mr. 
John  Kimball  is  Republican  in  politics,  and  was 
postmaster  for  nineteen  years  from  1863  to  1882,  was 
town  clerk  and  treasurer  from  1853  to  1872,  selectman 
and  overseer  of  the  poor  from  1860  to  1872,  and  was 
representative  from  Easton  to  the  Massachusetts  Leg- 
islature in  1857.  He  married,  April  30,  1833,  Lu- 
sanna  Williams,  who  was  born  in  Easton,  Aug.  5, 
1814.  She  was  daughter  of  Lieut.  Seth  and  Sarah 
(Mitchell)  Williams,  and  is  a  lineal  descendant  of  | 
Richard  Williams,  the  early  settler  of  Taunton. 
(See  history  of  Taunton.)  The  descent  and  brief 
history  of  her  immediate  ancestors  is  this:  Benjamin 
28 


Williams  settled  in  Easton,  Mass. ;  Josiah  settled  at 
Bridgewater,  where  Seth  Williams,  great-grand  lather 
of  Mrs.  Kimball,  was  born  May  21, 1722.  At  the  age 
of  eighteen  he  came  to  Easton,  and  took  up  one 
thousand  acres  of  government  land.  He  married 
Susannah  Forbes,  of  Bridgewater,  and  built  the 
homestead  now  in  possession  of  his  descendants.  His 
son  Edward  married  Sarah  Lothrop,  of  Bridgewater, 
in  1772,  and  lived  on  the  homestead  where  Lieut. 
Seth  was  born,  Jan.  29,  1776.  He  was  a  tanner  by 
trade,  and  took  part  in  the  war  of  1812.  He  married 
Sarah  Mitchell,  daughter  of  Col.  Mitchell,  of  Bridge- 
water,  Oct.  23,  1800.  Col.  Mitchell  was  a  very  active 
man  in  the  Revolution,  and  for  many  years  was 
member  of  the  Legislature  from  Easton.  Lieut. 
Seth  lived  near  the  old  homestead,  and  had  eight 
children,  viz. :  Nathan  (deceased),  Julia  (deceased), 
Sarah  (deceased),  Sally,  Harriet  (deceased),  Seth, 
Lusanna,  Charles,  and  George. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kimball  have  had  the  following  chil- 
dren :  Lusanna  W.,  married  J.  D.  Howard,  has  one 
child,  Nelly,  who  married  Frank  Foster,  and  has  one 
child,  Howard  Kimball ;  Harriet,  married  George 
Copeland,  of  South  Easton,  and  has  three  children, 
Marion  A.,  Ethel  H.,  and  George  Hubert ;  John 
T.,  married  Belle  G.  Heath,  has  one  child,  Florence 
B. ;  George  L.,  married  Sarah  E.  Heath,  sister  to 
Belle,  and  is  engaged  in  trade  as  mentioned  above. 

Among  the  representative  citizens  of  Easton,  who 
enjoy  the  confidence  of  the  community,  we  can 
safely  place  John  Kimball. 


BARZILLIA  AND  THOMAS  H.  DEAN. 
Thomas  Holmes  Dean  was  born  in  Taunton,  Mass., 
Nov.  28,  1819.  (For  early  ancestral  history  see  his- 
tory of  Taunton  in  this  volume.)  His  grandfather, 
Nathaniel  Dean,  was  born  July  5, 1747,  in  Raynham, 
where  he  always  resided.  He  married  Elizabeth  Car- 
ver, and  reared  a  family  of  nine  children  on  his  farm 
in  that  town.  Of  these  Barzillia  was  the  youngest, 
and  was  born  Nov.  25,  1794.  He  was  first  a  grocer  in 
Taunton,  and  afterwards  was  interested  in  cotton 
manufacturing  in  Somerset  or  Dighton  with  his 
brother  Asa.  He  was  also  drafted  as  a  soldier  in  the 
war  of  1812.  From  Dighton  he  went  to  Pawtucket, 
R.  I.,  and  became  a  machinist,  working  for  Avery, 
Ives  &  Wilkinson.  In  1824  he  came  to  Easton  as  a 
machinist,  to  superintend  the  putting  in  operation  of 
a  cotton-mill  near  the  present  Easton  depot.  Re- 
maining here  one  year,  he  engaged  in  business  as  a 
cotton  manufacturer  at  South  Easton,  and  followed 
this  business  successfully  until  his  death  June  29, 
1848,  in  the  prime  of  life,  which  was  caused  by  the 
falling  upon  him  of  the  roof  of  a  tomb  in  which 
he  was  at  work.  He  was  an  active  man,  strong  and 
resolute,  and  uncompromising  in  his  nature,  with 
great  force  of  character.  He  was  a  Whig  in  politics, 
and  a  Congregationalist  in  religious  sentiment.     He 


434 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


married  Deborah,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Sylvia 
(Shaw)  Holmes,  of  Taunton.  Her  father  was  a  con- 
sequential man  in  public  affairs  during  the  Revolu- 
tionary period,  held  various  important  positions,  not 
the  least  of  which  was  that  of  tithingman  (an  office 
conferring  much  dignity  at  that  day,  but  now  known 
only  in  history).  Barzillia  and  Deborah  Dean  had 
eight  children, — Henry  H.  (deceased),  Sarah  F.  (Mrs. 
Adonijah  White,  deceased),  Thomas  H.,  Susan  W. 
(Mrs.  William  Blanchard,  deceased),  Elizabeth  H. 
(Mrs.  N.  B.  Dana),  Mary  R.  (deceased),  Sylvia  S. 
(Mrs.  F.  G.  Gushee,  deceased),  and  John  O. 

Thomas  H.  Dean  had  a  common-school  education, 
which  was  improved  upon  by  attendance  at  Deacon 
Heman  Packard's  select  school  at  North  Bridgewater, 
now  Brockton.  Upon  leaving  school  he  went  to  Fall 
River  to  learn  the  machinist's  trade  of  an  uncle,  who 
afterwards  moved  to  Taunton  to  work  there.  Thomas 
accompanied  him,  and  stayed  with  him  there  one  year, 
when,  desiring  to  see  more  of  the  world,  the  young 
man  went  to  Matteawan  (Fishkill),  N.  Y.,and  worked 
at  his  trade  there  one  year.  Returning  to  Easton  in 
1838,  he  connected  himself  with  his  father  in  cotton 
manufacturing,  and  also  carried  on  a  machine-shop 
in  connection  with  this.  The  fluctuations  in  busi- 
ness arising  from  agitation,  and  the  unsettled  condi- 
tion of  the  tariff  question  in  the  frequent  Presidential 
campaigns,  caused  Mr.  Dean  to  relinquish  the  cotton 
business  soon  after  his  father's  death,  and  for  the  last 
twenty-five  years  his  principal  business  has  been  to 
make  tools   and  other  hardware  for  the  piano-forte 


makers  of  Boston.  In  this  he  is  now  engaged,  and 
may  be  found,  as  in  the  days  of  long  ago,  hard  at 
work  personally  in  any  department  where  he  thinks 
his  service  is  needed,  showing  by  his  practice  that, 
although  possessed  of  a  good  property,  he  does  not 
despise  the  means  by  which  his  wealth  was  made. 
He  is  also  connected  with  his  brother,  John  O.,  under 
the  firm-name  of  T.  H.  &  J.  O.  Dean,  in  a  Hour,  grain, 
and  coal  business,  which  is  quite  extensive. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Dean  has  been  a  Whig,  and  since 
the  Republican  party  was  organized  a  stanch  sup- 
porter of  its  candidates. 

Mr.  Dean  married,  Nov.  12,  1843,  Elizabeth  C, 
daughter  of  Philip  and  Sarah  (Johnson)  Willis,  of 
Easton.  Their  only  child,  Herbert  B.,  born  Sept.  24, 
1851,  died  March  23,  1868.  He  was  a  bright  and 
promising  youth,  a  good  student,  and  of  an  ingenious 
and  mechanical  turn  of  mind. 


H.  P.  DRAKE. 

Hiram  P.  Drake,  son  of  Phineas  and  Fanny  Drake, 
was  born  in  Easton,  within  one-fourth  of  a  mile  from 
where  he  now  resides,  Nov.  17,  1814.  He  had  very 
limited  school  advantages,  as  he  was  a  poor  boy  and 
compelled  to  labor,  and  what  education  he  did  secure 
was  "  picked  up."  His  father  labored  at  farming, 
but  owned  no  land.  Hiram  went  to  work  for  one 
Reed  to  learn  shoemaking,  but  was  used  so  badly 
that  he  only  stayed  one  year.  He  remained  at  home 
with  his  father  for  several  years  thereafter,  and  at 


"0 


-T^fr 


MANSFIELD. 


435 


last  was  bound  out  to  Gen.  Shepard  Leach  to  learn 
the  trade  of  inolder;  two  older  brothers  being  al- 
ready engaged  there.  Gen.  Leach  died  before  Hiram 
completed  his  apprenticeship,  but  the  works  were 
carried  on  by  Lincoln  Drake,  who  succeeded  to  the 
ownership.  For  thirty  years  Hiram  worked  here 
after  learning  his  trade.  In  March,  18(59,  he  went  to 
Maine,  and  settled  in  Sherman,  Aroostook  Co.,  as  a 
farmer,  where  he  continued  for  seventeen  years,  and 
was  prospered.  He  returned  to  Easton  in  1875,  and 
built  the  house  he  now  occupies  the  next  year.  For 
the  last  seven  years  he  has  lived  a  retired  life  by 
reason  of  failing  health.  He  has  been  in  succession 
Whig,  Free-Soiler,  and  Republican  in  politics.  He 
has  been  for  many  years  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  joining  it  at  eighteen  years  of  age. 
He  has  held  various  positions  in  connection  with  his 
church,  class-leader,  steward,  Sunday-school  teacher, 
treasurer,  and  superintendent  for  many  years.  He  is 
no  longer  connected  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  affiliates  with  the  Wesleyan  Methodists. 
He  is  a  great  reader  of  wholesome  and  valuable  litera- 
ture. He  has  taken  great  interest  in  Freemasonry,  has 
been  treasurer  of  Molunkas  Lodge,  Sherman,  Me., 
and  now  is  a  member  of  Paul  Dean  Lodge  of  North 
Easton,  and  Keystone  Royal  Arch  Chapter  of  Fox- 
borough.  He  is  actuated  by  truly  Masonic  princi- 
ples, and,  with  his  wife,  gives  freely  to  every  church 
and  benevolent  object  and  cause. 

He  married  (1),  Feb.  1,  1836,  Nancy,  daughter  of 
Greenfield  and  Bethiah  Williams,  a  descendant  of  the 
old  Taunton  family  of  that  name.  (See  Taunton 
history  in  this  volume.)  She  was  born  May  26,  1814, 
and  died  Nov.  1,  1845.  They  had  five  children, — 
Nancy  M.  (died  young),  Lenura  A.,  Hiram  S.,  Nancy 
H.  (twins,  of  whom  Nancy  died  young),  Hiram  (who 
is  living  in  Canada,  engaged  in  lumbering),  and  Sarah 
L.  (died  young).  He  married  (2)  Mary  L.  Morey 
March  5,  1864.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Augustus  L. 
and  Mary  L.  (Billings)  Morey.  She  was  born  Aug. 
19,  1813,  at  Woodstock,  Conn.  She  had  one  son, 
Aaron  C,  who  died  in  infancy.  By  the  death  of  a 
brother  in  Norwich,  Conn.,  Mrs.  Drake  inherited  a 
handsome  property  with  which  she  is,  in  an  unosten- 
tatious way,  doing  much  good. 

Phineas  Drake,  father  of  Hiram  and  son  of  Thomas, 
was  born  on  the  old  Drake  homestead  in  Easton,  always 
resided  here,  and  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-two.  He 
had  eight  children, — Phineas,  Rachel,  Thomas,  El- 
mina,  Hiram  P.,  Fanny  H.,  Charity,  and  William  K. 
His  father,  Thomas  Drake,  was  for  many  years  a  resi- 
dent of  Easton,  where  he  was  born,  and  died  an  old 
man  after  rearing  a  family  often  children,  the  last  of 
whom,  George  Washington,  was  buried  March  1, 1883. 

From  "  Centre  Items"  of  the  Easton  Journal  of 
.March  9,  1883,  we  extract  this  in  reference  to  him  : 

"  The  old  hermit,  George  Washington  Drake,  who 
for  sixty  years  lived  alone  in  a  little  hut  in  the  woods, 
died  recently.     He  was  well  known  in  this  and  ad- 


joining towns.  He  was  a  very  religious  man,  and 
would  travel  miles  to  church,  and  would  pray  and 
exhort  in  prayer-meeting.  In  early  life  he  fell  des- 
perately in  love,  but  the  fair  damsel  broke  his  heart 
by  a  refusal  to  marry  him,  and  ever  afterwards  he 
avoided  the  society  of  women,  and  would  cross  the 
street  rather  than  meet  them.  About  the  same  time 
he  was  converted  to  the  Methodist  faith  and  sought 
an  opportunity  to  preach,  which  was  denied  him. 
Before  these  two  disappointments  he  had  been  a  man 
of  vigorous  intellect  and  good  judgment,  but  these 
blows  to  his  aspirations  seemed  to  unsettle  his  mind, 
and  since  then  he  has  been  eccentric  and  peculiar. 
He  was  a  constant  reader  of  the  Bible,  and  a  most 
rigid  observer  of  the  Sabbath.  He  sought  to  gain  a 
livelihood  by  chopping  wood  for  the  farmers,  who 
had  a  great  respect  for  him.  He  was  a  patient,  inno- 
cent, and  conscientious  man,  and  was  the  recipient  of 
many  charitable  attentions  from  the  people  in  the 
neighborhood,  and  his  nephew,  Hiram  P.  Drake,  did 
much  towards  mitigating  the  severities  of  his  lonely 
and  comfortless  existence.  Especially  during  his  last 
illness  has  this  nephew  been  unremitting  in  his  atten- 
tions to  his  aged  and  unfortunate  relative.  The  ne- 
cessary expenses  of  his  uncle's  illness  and  funeral 
were  likewise  borne  by  Mr.  Drake." 


CHAPTER    XXXII. 

MANSFIELD.i 

Mansfield  lies  in  the  northern  part  of  the  county, 
and  is  bounded  as  follows:  On  the  north  by  Norfolk 
County,  on  the  east  by  Easton,  on  the  south  by 
Norton,  and  on  the  west  by  Attleborough. 

The  most  important  structures  to  the  early  settlers 
were  the  meeting-house  and  the  grist-  or  corn-mill. 
The  first  must  have  been  a  terribly  cheerless  and  for- 
bidding place,  located  upon  some  hill  or  large  open 
common,  receiving  in  full  force  the  north  wind  and 
the  noonday  sun  ;  stoveless,  Mindless,  with  its  white- 
oak  seats,  high  and  straight  back,  with  its  long  ser- 
mons upon  the  closest  theological  points.  They  were 
strict  disciplinarians  in  the  old  days,  and  men  must 
give  good  reason  for  the  faith  and  belief  the)'  pro- 
fessed or  they  would  be  condemned  by  both  the 
clergy  and  people.  This  strictness  would  be  irksome 
to  us  of  to-day,  but  it  might  be  the  better  for  us. 
The  mill  was  always  a  cheery  place.  Farmers  met 
there  and  discussed  the  merits  of  the  last  Sunday's 
sermon,  told  stories  of  the  winter's  storms,  told  of 
the  ravages  of  the  red  man  and  of  the  encroachments 
of  the  beasts  of  prey,  discussed  the  prospects  of  the 
crops,  and  rehearsed  the  items  gathered  from  some 
newspaper  which  some  one  of  them  had  heard  read 

1  By  E.  M.  Reed. 


436 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


in  Boston  or  Taunton,  or  Plymouth  or  Medfield.  In 
1732  the  Groves  and  Skinners,  and  Wellmans  and 
Leonards,  and  Williams  and  others,  to  the  number 
of  twenty-five  or  thirty  families,  having  for  many 
years  attended  meeting  in  Taunton,  Norton,  orWren- 
tham,  determined  to  separate  themselves  from  the 
Norton  Church  or  Norton  North  Purchase,  and  they 
mustered  all  the  heads  of  families  and  all  permitted 
to  vote  in  parish  affairs,  and  started  for  Norton  meet- 
ing-house, where  the  question  was  to  be  put  whether 
a  separate  parish  should  be  established  in  what  we 
call  Mansfield.  They  had  been  often  upon  the  same 
errand,  but  had  theretofore  met  always  with  defeat. 
This  day  in  1732  noses  had  been  counted,  and  as  the 
fathers  presented  their  nays  they  felt  sure  of  the  suc- 
cess they  attained,  and  on  that  day  it  was  voted  that 
Mansfield  be  a  parish  and  maintain  its  own  preach- 
ing. They  already  had  a  meal-mill  near  "  Cobbler's 
Corner,"  but  a  little  way  from  the  grist-mill  we  call 
Fisher's.  This  "  Cobbler's  Corner"  is  frequently 
made  mention  of  in  old  deeds,  and  it  is  supposed  that 
at  some  time  beyond  the  "  historic  period"  an  itinerant 
shoe-mender  located  there  for  a  brief  period.  At  any 
rate  it  was  of  such  note  and  importance  as  that  it  is 
made  a  boundary  or  point  in  several  old  deeds  of 
land  in  that  locality,  being  located  south  to  west,  a 
little  distance  from  the  present  residence  of  James 
W.  Cable. 

Mansfield  was  a  parish,  and  the  next  thing  was  to 
get  a  meeting-house.  Various  meetings  were  held. 
The  money  for  this  object  was  raised  by  tax  upon  the 
ratable  polls  and  estates  of  the  inhabitants  of  said 
precinct.  The  lumber  was  cut  from  the  ministerial 
land.  The  meetings  where  this  important  matter  was 
discussed  were  held  at  the  house  of  David  Wellman, 
and  the  votes  were  recorded  by  Benjamin  Williams, 
clerk.  At  a  meeting,  legally  warned,  on  the  30th  day 
of  June,  1732,  "  for  to  do  what  may  be  proper  as  to 
the  hiring  a  minister  to  preach  in  said  precinct,  and 
to  raise  money  to  pay  him,  and  to  do  what  may  be 
proper  concerning  finishing  the  outside  of  the  meet- 
ing-house, met  at  the  house  of  Isaac  Wellman,  of 
said  precinct,  first  they  made  choice  of  Mr.  Eph- 
raim  Leonard  to  be  moderator  of  said  meeting ;  sec- 
ondly, they  made  choice  of  Mr.  Thomas  Skinner, 
Deacon  Nicholas  White,  and  Mr.  Ephraim  Grover  to 
hire  a  minister  or  ministers  to  preach  in  said  precinct, 
as  they  shall  think  proper ;  thirdly,  they  voted  to 
raise  the  sum  of  twenty  pounds  upon  the  polls  and 
ratable  estates  in  said  precinct,  according  to  law,  for 
the  payment  of  the  ministry  in  said  precinct.  Re- 
corded by  me,  Benjamin  Williams."  At  the  same 
house  another  meeting  was  held  June  27,  1733,  to  see 
what  to  do  about  hiring  a  minister  and  finishing  the 
meeting-house.  Thomas  Skinner  was  chosen  mod- 
erator, Capt.  Ephraim  Leonard,  Andrew  Grover,  and 
Ephraim  Grover  were  chosen  a  committee,  and  em- 
powered to  hire  a  minister  for  the  balance  of  the 
year.     At  a  meeting  held  Aug.  19,  1734,  the  moderator 


called  for  a  vote  by  paper  ballots  for  the  choice  of  a 
minister,  "and  they  broght  in  thayer  vots,  and  made 
choyceof  the  Reverend  Mr.  Abial  Hay  ward,  of  Bridge- 
water,  to  be  theyr  minister  without  one  negative 
vote."  They  then  voted  to  pay  their  newly-elected 
minister  the  sum  of  one  hundred  pounds  annually  in 
money  or  bills  of  credit,  or  yearly,  during  his  abode 
in  the  work  of  the  ministry  in  said  precinct.  They 
made  choice  of  "  Deacon  Nicholas  B.  White,  Ephraim 
Grover  ye  1st  and  Benjamin  Williams,  all  of  said  pre- 
cinct, to  be  a  committy  to  treat  with  the  Reverend 
Mr.  Abial  Hayward  in  the  above  read  affairs."  This 
vote  made  a  disturbance,  for  it  is  upon  record  that 
on  the  7th  of  October,  1734,  at  an  adjournment  of  a 
meeting  in  Norton,  North  Precinct,  referring  to  the 
settling  of  a  minister,  "We,  whose  names  are  under- 
written, do  enter  our  protest  against  the  proceedings 
of  that  day,  Samuel  Brintwell,  Thomas  Skinner,  John 
Skinner,  Isaac  Wellman,  Solomon  Skinner,  Ebenezer 
Brintwell.  Samuel  Wellman,  John  Skinner,  Joseph 
Skinner.  Nathaniel  Brintwell,  Ebenezer  Skinner, 
Benjamin  Wellman,  Samuel  Skinner,  Benjamin  Skin- 
ner." 

The  following  letter  was  received  from  Rev.  Mr. 
Hayward,  dated  Bridgewater,  Nov.  30,  1734: 

"  Dear  Brethren  and  Gentlemen. 

"  Inasmuch  as  it  has  pleased  God  to  incline  your  Hearts  to  give  me  an 
Invitation  to  settle  in  the  work  of  the  Gospel  ministry  in  your  precinct, 
I  do  hereby  with  hearty  thankfulness  acknowledge  your  Love  and  Re- 
gard ;  but  since  there  is  a  number  among  you  (whose  souls  are  precious) 
which  are  dissatisfied  with  your  proceedings,  and  not  well  satisfied  with 
my  ministry,  and  thinking  it  unlikely  that  I  should  be  very  serviceable 
to  them  unless  their  hearts  are  turned  towards  me,  and  trusting  that 
they  will  fall  in  and  unite  with  you  in  a  future  choice,  which  possibly 
may  be  more  for  your  comfort  and  their  spiritual  interest,  I  must  declare 
that  at  present  I  cannot  see  my  way  clear  to  accept  your  call,  and  there- 
fore accept  my  love,  earnestly  praying  that  God,  through  infinite  Riches 
of  free  Grace,  would  be  pleased  to  bless  you  all  with  a  happy  and  ser- 
viceable ministry,  with  peace  and  plenty  in  this  world,  and  Eternal 
Glory  and  Happiness  in  the  world  to  come. 

"Abial  Hayward." 

At  meeting  held  April  30,  1734,  they  voted  to  hire 
a  minister  for  three  months,  provided  he  commenced 
June  1st  following. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  precinct,  held  in  the  meeting- 
house on  the  5th  May,  1735,  but  adjourned  to  the 
12th  day  of  the  same,  very  important  business  was 
transacted ;  they  voted  to  settle  a  minister,  and  made 
choice  by  paper  votes,  without  a  dissenting  vote,  of 
Rev.  Atherton  Wales;  they  voted  to  build  a  pulpit 
in  their  meeting-house  suitable  for  a  minister  to 
preach  in ;  they  voted  to  build  the  seats  below  in 
said  meeting-house,  and  to  have  a  convenient  alley 
between  the  men's  seats  and  the  women's  seats.  Mr. 
Wales  declined  the  offer. 

On  the  29th  day  of  December,  1735,  another  meet- 
ing was  held  in  the  meeting-house  to  see  about  set- 
tling a  minister  in  the  work  of  the  Lord,  and  they 
made  choice  of  Rev.  Samuel  Tobey,  of  Sandwich; 
they  appointed  a  committee  to  wait  upon  Mr.  Tobey, 
and  the  committee  made  several  journeys  to  Sand- 
wich.    The   meeting   was   adjourned   several    times. 


MANSFIELD. 


437 


The  freeholders  were  anxiously  waiting  the  report, 
but  waited  in  vain  until  March  1,  1786,  when  the 
committee  reported  that  "Mr.  Tobey  declined  to  ac- 
cept the  brilliant  offer  made  because  of  his  being 
'  young  in  years.'  "  This  report  was  "  excepted,"  and 
the  moderator  dismissed  said  meeting. 

On  the  7th  day  of  September,  1736,  another  meet- 
ing was  held  in  the  meeting-house  to  make  choice  of 
and  settle  a  gospel  minister.  A  vote  was  called  for 
by  paper  votes,  and  they  brought  them  in  and  made 
unanimous  choice  of  "  Rev.  Mr.  Ebenezer  White,  of 
Brookline,  to  be  their  minister  to  follow  in  the  work 
of  the  gospel  ministry  in  said  precinct,  according  to 
the  Congregational  platform,"  and  voted  to  pay  him 
"one  hundred  pounds  annually  or  yearly."  A  com- 
mittee was  chosen  to  wait  upon  Mr.  White,  and  he 
returned  the  following  reply  : 

"  To  the  Honorable  Committee  of  Norton,  North  Precinct: 

"  Sins, — Having  taken  into  serious  consideration  your  invitation  to  me 
in  the  name  of  jour  precinct  to  settle  with  you  in  the  work  of  the  min- 
istry, and  your  proposals  in  order  ...  I  have  at  length  come  to  con- 
clude in  the  affirmative,  admiring  the  subsequent  alteration  of  the  follow- 
ing article :  Whereas,  you  have  voted  one  hundred  pounds  for  my  annual 
support,  considering  the  different  expenses  you  will  be  at  on  the  accouut 
of  finishing  your  meeting-house,  ministers,  settlement,  &c,  I  accept  it 
for  the  first  and  second  years  of  my  settlement  with  you,  provided  that 
the  third  year  it  be  advanced  to  one  hundred  and  ten,  the  fourth  year  to 
one  hundred  and  twenty  pounds,  and  that  as  supply  I  be  annually  pro- 
vided with  a  sufficient  quantity  of  firewood;  provided  also  that  money 
be  in  equal  value,  as  it  is  in  its  present  currency,  and  if  it  increases  or 
diminishes  in  its  value  my  salary  increases  or  lessens  accordingly. 
"Your  true  friend  and  humble  servant, 

"  Ebenezer  White." 

At  an  adjourned  meeting  it  was  voted  to  comply 
with  Mr.  White's  request  as  to  increase  in  salary,  not, 
however,  unanimously,  for  a  protest  to  the  same  was 
entered  by  Josiah  Pratt,  Nathaniel  Brinton,  Samuel 
Skinner,  and  Benjamin  Skinner. 

At  a  meeting  held  Jan.  3,  1736,  it  was  voted  the 
sum  of  fifteen  pounds  to  defray  the  expenses  of  Mr. 
White's  ordination.  This  was  to  be  expended  for  the 
entertainment  of  the  ministers  at  said  ordination. 

Mr.  White  was  ordained  probably  soon  after;  and 
the  fifteen  pounds  were  no  doubt  all  spent.  The  names 
of  his  church  members  it  is  impossible  to  ascertain 
with  any  certainty,  but  the  following-named  persons 
withdrew  from  Mr.  Avery's  church,  at  Norton,  and 
as  everybody  went  to  meeting  in  those  days,  it  is  fair 
to  presume  that  they  constituted  the  main  member- 
ship of  Mr.  White's  church:  Nicholas  White,  John 
Hall,  Thomas  Skinner,  Sr.,  John  Skinner,  Sr., 
Ephraim  Grover,  Sr.,  Benjamin  Williams,  Seth 
Dorman,  Josiah  Pratt,  Thomas  Tillebrown,  Joshua 
Atherton,  Stephen  Blanshar,  William  Pain,  Benja- 
min Lam,  William  Dean,  Jonathan  Pratt,  Joshua 
Williams,  Andrew  Grover,  Thomas  Grover,  Sr., 
Ezra  Skinner.  Nearly  all  these  surnames  are  now 
familiar  and  borne  by  many  in  the  town.  They 
found  no  fault  with  their  treatment  in  the  Norton 
Church,  and  left  with  the  benediction  of  the  mother 
church  upon  them. 

Rev.  Mr.  White  stayed  but  a  few  years  with  the 


Mansfield  people.  His  health  gave  out,  and  he  was 
frequently  prevented  from  attending  to  his  parochial 
duties  by  reason  of  ill  health,  and  it  has  been  in- 
ferred that  fault  was  found  with  the  interpretation 
of  the  Word  by  him,  but  no  foundation  for  such  an 
opinion  is  apparent  from  the  records.  That  the 
people  were  very  uneasy  and  dissatisfied  is  shown  by 
the  numerous  town-meetings  held,  at  which  the  ques- 
tion of  his  dismission  was  discussed.  His  opponents 
were  unable  to  have  passed  a  vote  dismissing  him 
until  prejudice  was  awakened  against  him,  upon  the 
ground  that  he  had  not  ruled  and  governed  the 
church  "according  to  the  platform  of  church  disci- 
pline which  said  church  has  voted  to  be  their  rule 
of  discipline."  In  September,  1760,  Mr.  White  wrote 
to  his  parish  that  he  would  be  no  hindrance  in  the 
settling  of  a  "  learned  and  orthodox  minister."  The 
town  and  church  voted  the  same  year  his  dismission, 
he  receiving  pay  only  as  he  preached,  and  the  parish 
gave  themselves  up  to  hearing  candidates. 

On  Jan.  12,  1761,  the  parish  and  church  concurred 
in  extending  a  call  to  Rev.  Mr.  Roland  Green,  and 
while  the  people  were  waiting  the  candidate's  reply 
to  the  call,  Jan.  18, 1761,  Rev.  Mr.  White  died,  in  his 
forty-eighth  year,  and  in  the  twenty-fourth  year  of 
his  ministry.  His  death  may  well  have  stirred  up 
their  consciences  to  an  acknowledgment  that  their 
judgment  may  have  been  too  hasty  and  far  from  just. 

Mr.  White  married  Lydia  Gennison,  of  Maiden ; 
she  died  March  28,  1749,  aged  thirty-six  years.  His 
second  wife  was  Hannah  Richards,  of  Milton.  She 
survived  him  nearly  forty  years,  and  died  in  widow- 
hood, Dec.  1,  1800,  aged  eighty-three  years.  His 
body  and  those  of  his  two  wives  are  buried  in  the  old 
yard,  near  the  site  of  the  old  church.  Around  his 
grave  has  sprung  up  a  thriving,  busy  village,  and 
hundreds  pass  and  repass  his  burying-place  without 
a  thought  of  him  or  of  his  work,  but  the  seed  he 
sowed  has  perhaps  brought  forth  abundant  fruit. 

The  residence  of  Mr.  White  was  where  the  family 
of  the  late  Capt.  Ira  Richardson  now  live;  it  is  one 
of  the  oldest  houses  in  town,  "gambrel  roof,"  built 
close  up  to  the  line  of  the  road,  about  one  and  one- 
half  miles  from  the  site  of  the  old  meeting-house,  and 
one-fourth  of  a  mile  from  "  Cobbler's  Corner."  It 
passed  into  the  possession  of  Capt.  Ira  Richardson, 
who  was  at  one  time  captain  of  the  Norton  Artillery, 
a  military  company  of  good  local  repute.  At  the 
time  of  Lafayette's  second  visit  to  America,  and  as 
he  was  passing  through  Pawtucket,  then  a  portion  of 
Massachusetts,  this  company  was  ordered  to  report 
there  and  do  salute  duty.  The  captain,  in  consequence 
of  some  not  very  complimentary  remarks  which  had 
before  been  made  about  their  field-pieces,  ordered 
them  loaded  to  the  muzzles,  and  upon  the  first  dis- 
charge of  the  pieces  the  buildings  in  the  neighbor- 
hood shook  and  the  glass  rattled  from  the  windows. 
The  captain  was  waited  upon  by  the  authorities  and 
asked  to  desist,  but  his  reply  was  that  the  colouel 


438 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


ordered  him  to  fire,  and  he  should  do  so,  at  the  same 
time  ordering  his  men  to  fire  away.  During  the  Gar- 
field campaign  the  captain,  although  very  aged,  ap- 
peared at  his  door  and  reviewed  the  Garfield  and 
Arthur  torch-light  procession.  He  was  for  many 
years  sexton  of  the  town.  He  was  shingling  his 
house  one  day  as  the  writer  passed,  and  upon  inquir- 
ing of  him  how  long  it  would  probably  take  him  to 
finish  it  he  replied  that  he  couldn't  tell,  as  so  soon  as 
he  got  to  work  somebody  died,  and  he  had  to  leave 
his  work  and  take  care  of  them.  Capt.  Richardson 
died  in  1882. 

Rev.  Roland  Green,  the  second  settled  minister  of 
Mansfield,  was  born  in  Maiden,  April  10,  1737.  There 
was  a  little  difference  of  opinion  about  "calling"  Mr. 
Green,  as  he  did  not  quite  indorse  the  full  platform, 
but  after  correspondence  he  declared  his  intentions  to 
follow  the  platform,  "  so  far  as  it  is  agreeable  to  the 
Word  of  God."  None  could  object  to  this,  and  his 
ordination  was  fixed  for  Aug.  26, 1761,  and  £13  6s.  8d. 
was  voted  to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  ordination. 
Twelve  churches  were  invited,  viz.,  two  in  Maiden, 
two  in  Attleborough,  two  in  Stoughton,  two  in  Dedham, 
one  each  in  Taunton,  Walpole,  Norton,  and  Wren- 
tham.  The  council  met  at  Col.  Ephraim  Leonard's. 
The  ordination  exercises  were  performed  under  the 
wide-spreading  limbs  of  the  venerable  elm-trees 
which  stood  west  of  the  meeting-house.  No  record 
of  the  interesting  exercises  is  now  to  be  found. 
Mr.  Green  died  July  4,  1808,  in  the  seventy-first  year 
of  his  age,  and  in  the  forty-seventh  year  of  his  min- 
istry. He  was  a  faithful,  God-fearing  man,  beloved 
by  his  whole  congregation ;  fearless  and  outspoken, 
plain  and  emphatic  in  his  teachings,  he  was  kind, 
cheerful,  and  sympathetic.  He  was  buried  on  the  6th 
of  July,  and  a  large  concourse  attended  the  services, 
and  moved  to  the  grove  in  the  following  order  :  Band, 
playing  a  funeral  dirge,  male  member^  of  the  church, 
bearers,  corpse,  pall  supported  by  Rev.  Messrs. 
Thatcher,  Mowry,  Reed,  Palmer,  Richmond,  Clark, 
Fiske,  and  Whittaker,  mourners,  particular  friends 
of  the  deceased,  female  members  of  the  church,  sing- 
ing society,  members  of  the  congregation,  strangers, 
and  he  was  buried  in  the  burying-ground  near  the 
church,  by  the  side  of  his  predecessor,  where  also  his 
wife  is  buried. 

The  following  record  of  him  is  found,  made  by  a 
committee  of  the  Bristol  Association  :  "  In  the  appro- 
priate duties  of  his  profession  he  was  punctual,  ener- 
getic, and  faithful;  he  possessed  the  gift  of  prayer  in 
a  happy  degree,  and  on  special  occasions  his  thoughts 
were  ready,  pertinent,  and  impressive.  In  the  public 
services  of  the  sanctuary  he  used  plainness  of  speech, 
and  his  general  strain  of  instruction  was  evangelical 
and  practical.  He  professed  One  only  to  be  his  mas- 
ter, even  Christ,  and  disdained  to  teach  for  doctrines 
the  commandments  of  men.  He  went  not  to  human 
creeds,  but  to  the  Word  of  God  for  doctrine,  reproof, 
and  instruction." 


Rev.  Roland  Green  built  and  lived  in  the  house 
now  occupied  by  Mr.  De  Wolf,  on  the  north  side  of 
West  Street.  What  he  believed  to  be  Scripture  he 
boldly  inculcated  and  enforced.  Founding  his 
opinions  on  what  he  believed  to  be  the  true  sense  of 
the  gospel,  he  was  strong  in  the  faith  and  valiant  in 
the  truth  ;  he  never  disguised  his  sentiments  through 
fear  or  favor  of  men,  but  what  he  believed  he  openly 
avowed.  The  voice  of  hypocrisy  was  a  stranger  to 
his  heart,  and  we  have  reason  to  hope  that  his  en- 
deavors to  promote  the  cause  of  his  Redeemer  con- 
stitute a  bright  gem  in  the  crown  of  his  present 
rejoicing. 

The  pulpit  was  without  a  settled  minister  until 
April  13,  1809,  when  a  call  was  forwarded  from 
church  and  society  to  Rev.  Richard  Biggs.  Mr. 
Biggs'  reply  in  the  affirmative  quickly  followed,  and 
he  was  ordained  May  24,  1809.  The  introductory 
prayer  was  by  Rev.  Mr.  Morey,  of  Walpole ;  sermon 
by  Rev.  M.  Richmond,  of  Stoughton ;  ordaining 
prayer  by  Rev.  Dr.  Reed,  of  Bridgewater;  charge  by 
Rev.  D.  Sanger,  of  Bridgewater;  right  hand  of  fel- 
lowship, Rev.  Pitt  Clark,  of  Norton ;  concluding 
prayer,  Rev.  Mr.  Briggs,  of  Boxford. 

Rev.  Mr.  Briggs  was  born  in  Halifax,  March  2, 1782; 
graduated  at  Brown  University  in  1804;  studied 
theology  with  Rev.  Dr.  Richmond,  of  Stoughton ; 
arrived  in  Mansfield  Dec.  31,  1808 ;  preached  the  fol- 
lowing Sunday.  He  continued  in  the  active  and  ac- 
ceptable discharge  of  his  duties  until  1833,  when  he 
was  disabled  by  sickness.  He  preached  for  the  last 
time  Jan.  20,  1833,  twenty-five  years  after  his  first 
sermon.  He  was  dismissed  Dec.  8,  1834,  and  died 
after  four  years  of  feebleness  and  disease  July  5,  1837. 
No  printed  sermon  of  Mr.  Briggs  exists.  The  follow- 
ing sketch,  written  by  one  who  heard  him  during  his 
entire  ministry,  is  evidence  of  the  esteem  his  people 
had  for  him  :  "  Mr.  Briggs'  character  as  a  man  was 
irreproachable.  He  was  kind,  sympathetic,  and  gen- 
erous. He  was  emphatically  a  philanthropist,  and 
seemed  to  feel  for  all  the  woes  of  mankind.  He  was 
peculiarly  fond  of  children,  always  addressing  them 
with  tenderness,  and  often  bestowing  upon  them  some 
small  token  of  approbation.  Perhaps  the  most  promi- 
nent trait  in  his  character  was  benevolence, — an  un- 
tiring assiduity  in  administering  to  the  wants  of  all 
with  whom  he  had  intercourse  in  the  world.  He  was 
accustomed  to  speak  of  the  'luxury  of  doing  good,'  as 
if  it  was  the  very  height  of  earthly  enjoyment,  and 
this  was  probably  the  sincere  expression  of  his  per- 
sonal feelings.  It  is  believed  that  all  who  were  ac- 
quainted with  Mr.  Briggs  will  agree  in  saying  that  he 
had  not,  at  least  while  residing  in  this  place,  one 
personal  enemy." 

Mr.  Briggs  married  Miss  Fanny  D.  Billings,  daugh- 
ter of  Dr.  Benjamin  Billings,  of  this  town.  His 
widow  survived  him  many  years.  She  was  a  woman 
of  generous  impulses,  a  great  lover  of  society,  and  of 
large  hospitality.     She  occupied  the  house  built  by 


MANSFIELD. 


439 


her  father,  at  the  corner  of  8011th  Main  and  West 
Streets.  On  Sunday  the  worshipers  at  the  old  church 
where  her  husband  preached  would  repair  to  her  house 
to  eat  their  lunch.  After  the  death  of  her  father  and 
husband,  Dr.  Horace  Palmer  occupied  the  premises 
with  her.  He  removed  to  the  West,  and  Dr.  William 
G.  Allen  had  his  office  for  several  years  there. 

Upon  the  failure  of  Mr.  Briggs'  ability  to  preach, 
the  pulpit  was  supplied  for  a  while  by  Rev.  Nathan 
Holman,  of  Attleborough,  until  June  16,  1833,  alter- 
nating with  Rev.  D.  Saunders,  ofMedfield.  This  divis- 
ion of  labor  was  caused  by  a  difference  in  the  minds  of 
the  worshipers  upon  some  theological  matters.  On  the 
30th  of  January,  1835,  Mr.  James  H.  Say  ward  arrived, 
and  preached  on  the  following  Sunday  very  accept- 
ably to  his  hearers,  and  on  the  27th  April,  same  year, 
a  call  was  extended  to  him  to  become  their  spiritual 
adviser,  at  a  salary  of  five  hundred  dollars  per  year 
for  three  years.  His  affirmative  answer  was  received 
upon  the  same  day.  He  was  ordained  upon  the  17th  of 
June,  but  remained  only  two  years  with  the  society, 
asking  his  dismission,  which  was  granted,  and  he  was 
dismissed  June  17,  1837.  He  married  May  B.  Pratt, 
daughter  of  Hon.  Solomon  Pratt.  He  died  at  the 
age  of  thirty-six  in  Fitzwilliam,  N.  H.,  and  is  buried 
in  the  .same  yard  with  his  predecessors.  He  was  an 
active,  earnest  worker  in  all  reforms,  was  anxious  to 
secure  unanimity  among  his  people,  visited  much, 
held  weekly  meetings  for  prayer  at  private  houses, 
quite  sensitive,  and  resigned  because  of  the  growing 
dissension  among  his  people,  arising  from  a  desire 
upon  the  part  of  some  to  liberalize  the  creed. 

As  in  all  other  towns,  so  here  a  portion  of  the  church 
withdrew  and  formed  an  orthodox  Congregational 
Society.  This  was  on  May  9,  1838,  and  on  October 
Gth  of  the  same  year  the  society  was  duly  organized. 

The  "  original  compact"  is  dated  May  9,  1838,  and 
is  as  tul lows  :  "  We,  the  undersigned,  do  hereby  agree 
to  form  ourselves  into  a  society  or  association  for  the 
purpose  of  procuring  and  supporting  orthodox  preach- 
ing in  this  place,"  and  is  signed  by  Isaac  Skinner, 
Daniel  Williams,  Jr.,  Julius  Skinner,  Daniel  Wil- 
liams, John  Rogers,  Elijah  Copeland,  Jr.,  Benjamin 
Williams,  David  Williams,  Harvey  Corey,  Amasa 
Copeland,  Apollos  Skinner,  Apollos  Skinner,  Jr., 
Elkanah  Bates,  Isaac  Paine,  Isaac  White,  Hermon 
Hall,  Erastus  Givins,  James  E.  Paine,  Elijah  Cope- 
land, James  L.  Corey,  James  H.  Reilly,  Leonard 
Corey,  Loring  C.  Shaw,  Avery  0.  Dunham,  Mahlon 
Williams,  Homer  Skinner,  John  E.  Corey,  William 

A.  Paine,  Avery  D.  Allen,  Joseph  S.  Corey,  Elisha 
Hodges,  Alvin  Robinson,  Adoniram  Skinner,  Hosea 
Grover,  William  White,  Ruel  Mills,  Nelson  Paine, 
Willard  Billings,  Levi  Skinner,  Jacob  Bailey,  Charles 

B.  Corey,  Joseph  Skinner,  Isaac  Skinner,  Jr.,  Elias 
Skinner,  Jacob  A.  Blake,  William  B.  Baker,  Amasa 
Pratt,  Amasa  Grover,  Almond  Copeland,  Otis  Allen, 
Charles  Turner,  Jesse  Hodges,  Luther  E.  Skinner, 
George  E.  Bailey. 


The  new  society  at  once  commenced  worship  in  a 
school-house  near  the  old  church,  and  the  first  min- 
ister was  Rev.  N.  Holman,  of  Attleborough  ;  they 
afterwards  hired  a  hall  in  the  Mulberry  Tavern,  which 
stood  where  the  Methodist  Church  now  stands. 

Rev.  Mr.  Hunt,  who  afterwards  became  private 
secretary  of  the  Hon.  Henry  Wilson,  and  died  a  few 
years  since  in  Attleborough,  supplied  the  pulpit  for  a 
short  time,  when  the  church  and  society  extended 
a  call  to  Rev.  Mortimer  Blake,  of  Franklin,  who 
graduated  at  Amherst  in  1835 ;  he  accepted,  and  was 
ordained  Dec.  4,  1839.  The  society  built  a  new 
meeting-house  in  1839,  which  has  since  been  thor- 
oughly remodeled  and  enlarged.  Rev.  Mr.  Blake  re- 
mained with  the  society  until  1855,  when  he  became 
pastor  of  the  Winslow  Church  in  Taunton,  where  he 
has  ever  since  been.  The  society,  under  Mr.  Blake's 
administration,  grew  rapidly,  and  pastor  and  people 
were  strongly  united,  and  it  was  with  sad  hearts  the 
sacred  ties  were  severed.  After  Mr.  Blake's  removal 
the  Rev.  Jacob  Ide,  Jr.,  of  Medway,  son  of  Rev.  Dr. 
Ide,  and  grandson  of  Rev.  Dr.  Emmons,  accepted  the 
call  extended  to  him,  and  was  ordained  in  1856,  and 
has  remained  with  the  society  ever  since  ;  and  won- 
derful unanimity  has  all  the  time  existed  in  the 
church  and  society,  and  there  has  never  been  the 
slightest  rupture  between  pastor  and  people.  After 
the  death  of  Rev.  Mr.  Briggs,  Rev.  James  L.  Stone, 
of  Brown  University,  accepted  a  call  to  become  pastor 
of  the  old  society,  and  was  ordained  in  1840,  October 
28th.  He  was  dismissed  in  1844,  subsequently  taught 
school  in  Foxborough,  then  became  agent  for  a  life 
insurance  company,  and  died  a  few  years  since  at 
Taunton. 

After  his  dismission  the  pulpit  was  occupied  by 
supplies  up  to  1850,  when  Rev.  Daniel  W.  Stevens,  of 
Marlborough,  graduate  of  Harvard  University,  was 
ordained  as  pastor,  which  position  he  occupied  with 
great  acceptance  up  to  1857,  when  he  ceased  preach- 
ing ;  for  a  time  opened  a  select  school  in  the  basement 
of  the  old  church,  which  he  continued  for  several 
years  as  a  teacher.  He  ranked  high,  as  friends  and 
scholars  were  fully  satisfied  with  his  success.  He  at 
the  close  of  the  school  here  removed  to  Fall  River, 
where  he  was  superintendent  of  schools  two  years, 
then  removed  to  Vineyard  Haven,  where  he  has  ever 
since  resided,  engaged  in  preaching  and  caring  for  a 
library  used  by  the  many  seamen  who  visit  that  har- 
bor. 

Since  Mr.  Stevens  vacated  the  pulpit  in  the  old 
church  different  ministers  have  occupied  it,  and  it  is 
now  filled  by  Rev.  Donald  Frazer,  who  has  also  under 
his  charge  the  Universalist  Society  of  Foxborough. 

In  1837  the  Calvin  Baptists  organized  a  society  and 
built  a  church  in  the  centre  of  the  town  ;  had  no  set- 
tled minister  until  about  1853,  when  Rev.  Mr.  Wel- 
come Lewis  was  settled.  He  remained  with  the  so- 
ciety a  few  years,  then  moved  to  the  State  of  New  York, 
and  the  society  engaged  Rev.  Mr.  Gardner;  and  since 


440 


HISTORY   OF    BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


the  close  of  Mr.  Gardner's  services,  which  lasted  but 
a  short  time,  the  society  have  employed  Rev.  Mr. 
Blain,  Rev.  Mr.  Lewis  again,  Rev.  Mr.  Pope,  Rev.  Mr. 
Russell,  and  others.  At  the  present  time  Rev.  Dr. 
John  Duncan  is  preaching  to  the  society.  Rev.  Mr. 
Lewis  married  Hannah,  daughter  of  Marshal  Shaw, 
an  old  resident  of  this  place.  His  wife  died  several 
years  since.  Mr.  Lewis  was  compelled  by  ill  health 
to  resign  his  ministerial  duties,  and  is  now  dwelling 
in  New  York  with  friends.  The  society  is  now  under 
the  charge  of  Rev.  Dr.  John  Duncan. 

Emanuel  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  organ- 
ized in  1860  with  sixteen  members;  the  first  meeting 
was  held  in  the  hall  over  Rayerson's  store  April  8, 
1860,  Rev.  E.  F.  Hicks  supplying  the  pulpit.  Wor- 
ship was  continued  there  until  January,  1861,  from 
which  time  to  April,  1864,  there  were  no  public  ser- 
vices held.  At  that  time  the  old  meeting-house  was 
hired,  and  services  held  therein  for  two  years  under 
charge  of  Rev.  Mr.  Alderman.  After  an  interval  of 
five  years  meetings  were  again  commenced,  this  time 
in  Lovell's  Hall,  in  1871,  under  the  charge  of  Rev. 
Mr.  W.  J.  Smith,  who  remained  with  the  society  one 
year.  Services  have  been  continued  ever  since,  and 
the  ministers  have  been  F.  C.  Newall,  J.  H.  Hum- 
phrey, W.  H.  Turkinton,  J.  Oldham,  Thomas  J.  Ev- 
erett, E.  W.  Goodier,  and  the  present  pastor  is  Rev. 
Mr.  Jorden.  In  1876  the  society  built  an  attractive 
place  of  worship  on  the  corner  of  North  Main  and 
West  Streets,  on  a  lot  donated  to  them  by  Charles  T. 
Borden,  Esq.,  a  prominent  member  of  the  church. 

A  society  of  Friends  was  organized  at  West  Mans- 
field in  1809.  They  built  a  meeting-house  which  now 
stands  a  model  of  neatness,  and  regular  meetings  are 
now  held  there  upon  each  "  First  Day,"  and  occasion- 
ally other  meetings  are  held.  Rev.  Brother  Thomas. 
Grover  is  the  preacher. 

In  1830  a  Christian  Baptist  Society  was  organized, 
and  a  small  church  built  at  West  Mansfield.  A  new 
church  has  since  been  built  near  the  depot  at  West 
Mansfield,  and  the  society  is  now  prospering  under 
the  faithful  ministrations  of  Rev.  Gustin,  of  Attle- 
borough. 

The  "  Mansfield  and  Foxborough  Society  of  the 
New  Jerusalem"  was  organized  in  1838.  They  had 
no  regular  place  of  worship,  but  met  at  the  houses  of 
the  members,  of  which  the  more  prominent  are  David 
Fisher,  Sr.  (now  deceased),  Capt.  Ira  Richardson, 
Frederick  A.  Mason,  Peyton  Hodges,  George  L. 
Stearns,  and  others.  In  1871  they  built  a  neat  and 
convenient  church  on  a  lot  given  to  them  by  Dr.  Wil- 
liam F.  Perry,  located  on  the  south  side  of  West 
Street,  and  have  since  then  held  regular  Sabbath  ser- 
vices therein.  They  have  had  no  regularly  settled 
minister. 

Parish.  Votes. — At  parish  meeting  in  1788  it  was 
voted  to  build  and  sell  four  pews  in  meeting-house, 
and  with  the  proceeds  to  paint  the  house.  At  subse- 
quent meeting,  same  year,  voted  to  sell  the  pews  at 


vendue,  and  that  if  they  did  not  bring  the  average 
price  the  bids  to  be  void,  and  Cobb  White  was  chosen 
vendue-master.  At  the  adjournment  it  was  voted 
that  all  votes  and  bids  made  at  meeting  be  declared 
void.  At  another  meeting,  same  year,  voted  to  raise 
thirty  pounds  to  paint  and  repair  meeting-house.  At 
a  meeting  held  a  month  after  this  vote  was  reconsid- 
ered, and  it  was  voted  to  sell  the  ground  for  four  pews, 
and  Cobb  White  was  chosen  vendue-master,  and  that 
the  purchasers  could  give  their  notes  payable  15th  of 
October,  and    to   have  the  privilege  of  buying  the 

joint  stock  and  putting  it  on  the  notes.  The  pews 
were  then  sold  as  follows :  Isaac  White  bid  off  the 
first  pew  on  the  men's  side  at  nine  pounds  one  shil- 
ling; Jesse  Hodges  bid  off  second  pew  men's  side  at 
six  pounds  four  shillings ;  Lieut.  Joseph  Leonard 
bid  off  the  first  pew  on  the  women's  side  at  ten 
pounds  two  shillings  ;  Jonathan  Newland,  Jr.,  bid  off 
second  pew  women's  side  at  nine  pounds.  At  the 
meeting  in  1789,  voted  twenty  pounds  to  build  steps 
for  meeting-house. 

In  1791  Dwight  Dean  was  chosen  collector,  and 
Ames  White  engaged  verbally  in  said  meeting  as 
bondsman  for  said  Dean's  faithful  performance  of  his 
duties.  In  1804  it  was  voted  to  put  window-springs 
in  all  the  windows  of  the  meeting-house.  At  meet- 
ing, in  1808,  to  see  about  ministerial  affairs,  it  was 
voted  that  means  be  used  to  continue  the  preaching 
of  the  gospel  in  said  parish,  and  there  was  chosen  at 
that  meeting  to  see  that  the  pulpit  was  supplied, 
Deacon  Abijah  Leonard,  Deacon  Daniel  Williams, 
and  Dr.  Rolland  Green.  Voted  that  Mr.  Simeon  Dag- 
gett should  have  an  invitation  to  preach  one  Sabbath. 
Instructed  committee  not  to  pay  over  eight  dollars 
per  week  to  any  minister.  Instructed  committee  to 
see  those  persons  who  belong  to  the  town  and  have 
separated  themselves  from  the  parish  if  they  will 
come  in  again  and  help  support  a  minister.  Voted 
that  said  committee  be  requested  to  relate  what  they 
had  heard  relative  to  a  man  in  the  country,  which 
was  understood  to  be  Mr.  Chandler,  of  Shelburn. 
After  hearing  what  was  related  by  them  respecting 
him  the  question  was  put  to  see  if  the  parish  would 
have  him,  and  it  was  voted  to  hear  him  if  he  could 
be  obtained  without  any  cost  to  the  parish  in  sending 
him  or  in  fetching  him  down. 

I  conclude  Mr.  Chandler  would  not  come  down 
upon  these  terms,  as  at  an  adjourned  meeting  it  was 

;  voted  to  hire  Rev.  Mr.  Briggs  to  supply  the  pulpit. 
At  the  meeting  in  1809  it  was  voted  to  call  Rev. 

;  Mr.  Briggs  to  settle,  provided  he  "would  come  on 
reasonable  terms,"  and  they  appointed  a  committee 
of  fifteen  to  decide  what  sum  to  offer  Rev.  Mr.  Briggs. 
That  committee  consisted  of  Benjamin  Bates,  Esq., 
and  Moses  Copeland.  Both  of  these  gentlemen  de- 
clined serving  ;  then  chose  John  Williams,  Nathaniel 
Brintnell,  Capt.  John  Hodge,  Lemuel  White,  William 
Copeland,  Solomon  Pratt,  James  Andros,  Seth  Shep- 
ard,  Jr.,  Jacob  Dean,  Isaac  Skinner,  Elkanah  Bates, 


MANSFIELD. 


441 


Ephraim  Pond,  Capt.  Joseph  Lane,  Ebenezer  Ware, 
and  Dr.  Roland  Green.  The  meeting  took  a  recess 
of  one  hour,  at  the  end  of  which  they  reported  that 
four  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  was  the  proper  sum  to 
pay  Rev.  Mr.  Briggs  per  annum.  The  report  was  ac- 
cepted, and  signed  Solomon  Pratt,  chairman ;  R. 
Green,  scribe. 

Benjamin  White  was  treasurer  of  parish  in  1770, 
also  in  1771 ;  Lieut.  Isaac  Dean  was  treasurer  in 
1772-77;  in  1778,  Maj.  Isaac  Dean,  treasurer;  and 
in  1779  and  in  1780,  Col.  Isaac  Dean  was  chosen  ;  in 
1783  it  was  Isaac  Dean,  Esq. ;  in  1785,  Thomas  Shaw; 
in  1780,  Lieut.  Elijah  Hodges;  1787,  Isaac  Lowell, 
Jr.;  1792,  Isaac  Dean  ;  1793,  Jonathan  Newcomb. 

Iu  1792  it  was  voted  that  all  the  meeting-house 
doors  have  decent  steps,  and  a  committee  of  seven 
was  chosen  to  conduct  the  business  of  getting  up  said 
door-steps ;  John  Knapp,  Jesse  Hodges,  Thomas 
Skinner,  William  Copeland,  John  Cobb,  Jacob  Skin- 
ner, and  Col.  Isaac  White  for  said  committee.  Voted 
that  said  steps  be  "dun"  in  three  months.  At  a 
meeting  in  1798  it  was  voted  that  the  parish  com- 
mittee lease  the  land  in  the  burying-grouud  at  their 
discretion.  In  1789  voted  to  repair  meeting-house, 
and  at  meeting  in  1801  eighty  dollars  was  appro- 
priated to  shingle  north  side  of  meeting-house  roof, 
as  well  as  the  south  side,  and  that  William  Copeland 
procure  shingles  at  the  eastward,  as  he  has  fairly  bar- 
gained for  them.  This  rule  was  favorably  reconsid- 
ered at  a  subsequent  meeting,  and  it  was  voted  to  set 
up  the  shingles  at  vendue;  and  it  was  moved  that  he 
who  doeth  said  shingling  shall  have  the  old  shingles 
and  the  nails.  Michael  Allen  bid  off  the  shingling  at 
ninety  dollars.     He  was  the  only  bidder. 

The  parish  officers  for  1809  were  Isaac  Skinner, 
clerk;  David  Gilbert,  Esq.,  treasurer;  Lemuel  White, 
Isaac  Stearns,  and  William  Copeland,  committee; 
John  Williams,  Isaac  Skinner,  and  Asahel  Williams, 
assessors. 

In  1814  it  was  voted  that  the  "  burying-ground 
should  not  be  pastured  the  present  year." 

In  1816  voted  to  build  by  subscription  a  pew  in 
Mansfield  meeting-house  for  the  singers,  proposed 
to  be  the  length  of  the  front  gallery. 

Voted  to  mend  the  plastering  and  point  the  under- 
pinning of  said  meeting-house. 

In  1818  the  following  pews  were  "vendued:" 
The  first  pew  struck  off  to  Benjamin  Williams  for 
$36  ;  the  second  pew  struck  off  to  John  Williams  for 
$60  ;  the  third  pew  struck  off  to  David  Gilbert,  Esq., 
for  $63;  the  fourth  pew  struck  off  to  Benjamin  Bates, 
Esq.,  for  $50. 

In  1768  or  thereabouts  the  good  people  residing  in 
the  North  Precinct,  after  doubtless  severe  discussion 
and  agitation,  decided  they  would  make  strenuous 
efforts  to  dissolve  their  municipal  relations  with  the 
South  Precinct.  Previous  to  this  from  1764,  one-third 
of  the  town-meetings  had  been  held  at  the  North 
meeting-house,  but  in  1767  it  was  voted  to  hold  no 


more  there,  and  the  North  Precinct  voters  accordingly 
petitioned  the  Great  and  General  Court  to  be  set  off 
as  a  separate  district,  and  in  April,  1770,  this  prayer 
was  granted,  and  Mansfield  became  a  "  district." 
This  gave  them  all  the  powers  of  towns,  except  the 
separate  choice  of  a  representative.  In  a  few  years 
this  restriction  was  removed,  and  Mansfield  became  a 
full-fledged  town.  The  old  town  (Norton)  bid  them 
God-speed  in  these  words,  "  Voted,  whereas  the  North 
Precinct  of  the  town  of  Norton  has  desired  said  town 
to  vote  them  off  a  district,  the  said  town  doth  hereby 
signify  their  consent  to  the  same,  if  the  General  Court 
shall  think  proper  to  set  off  and  make  sd  precinct  a 
separate  district ;  sd  North  Precinct  taking  their  pro- 
portionable part  of  the  poor  of  said  town,  and  also 
their  proportionable  part  of  the  town  stock." 

The  first  town-meeting  was  held  in  March,  1771, 
and  the  warrant  is  as  follows  : 

"  Bristol,  ss.  To  either  of  tlie  Constables  of  the  District  of  Mansfield  in 
said  County,  Greeting : 
"In  his  Majestie's  name  you  are  hereby  required  forthwith  to  notify 
and  warn  all  the  freeholders  and  other  persons  of  the  district  of  Mans- 
field that  are  qualified  according  to  law  to  vote  in  town  affairs,  to  meet  and 
assemble  together  at  the  publick  meeting-house,  in  said  Mansfield,  on 
Monday,  the  eighteenth  day  of  March,  instant,  at  twelve  of  the  clock 
of  said  day,  then  and  there  first  to  choose  a  moderator  to  manage  and 
carry  on  said  meeting  ;  secondly,  to  choose  a  district  clerk  for  the  en- 
suing year,  and  selectmen  and  all  other  officers  that  towns  are  obliged 
by  law  to  choose  annually  in  the  month  of  March;  thirdly,  to  vote  if 
they  will  think  proper  that  swine  may  run  at  large,  being  ringed  and 
yoked  according  to  law  ;  fourthly,  to  vote  for  county  treasurer  ;  fifthly, 
to  vote  to  accept  of  a  rode,  if  they  think  proper,  which  is  laid  out  by 
the  selectmen,  leading  from  line  near  where  Abiether  Babbot  now 
dwells  to  the  rode  that  leadeth  from  Ephraim  Leonard's,  Esq.,  to  E. 
Clapp's  and  another  rode  from  Easton  line,  along  near  the  house  of 
Walle  Southward,  agreeable  to  a  returne  iu  said  meeting  to  be  produced  ; 
hereof  fail  not,  and  make  due  return  of  this  warrant  and  your  doings 
to  either  of  us,  the  subscribers,  timely  in  said  meeting.  Giveu  under 
our  hands  and  seals  this  fourth  day  of  March,  in  the  eleventh  year  of 
his  majesty's  reign,  Anno  Domini,  1771. 

"  Eph'm  Leonard, 
"  George  Wheatox, 

"  Selectmen  of  Mansfield. 
"Eecorded  the  29th  of  March,  1771,  by  me. 

"Isaac  Dean,  Clerk.'' 

Doings  of  the  Meeting.— Chose  William  Dean  to  be 
a  moderator  to  carry  on  and  manage  the  meeting ; 
chose  Isaac  Dean  their  district  clerk ;  chose  Dr. 
George  Wheaton,  Mr.  Benjamin  Williams,  and 
Thomas  Skinner  for  selectmen.  They  each  took 
the  oath  relating  to  the  "  government  bills"  before 
Ephraim  Leonard,  Esq.,  justice  of  the  peace,  in  pub- 
lic meeting.  They  chose  Samuel  White,  Dr.  George 
Wheaton,  and  William  Dean,  Jr.,  for  assessors  for 
ensuing  year;  chose  Samuel  Tillebrown  for  one  of 
the  constables,  and  accepted  Samuel  White  in  place 
of  Samuel  Tillebrown  as  constable  for  the  ensuing 
year ;  chose  Abijah  Beeley  for  one  of  the  constables, 
and  accepted  of  Elijah  Dean  in  the  room  of  said 
Beeley.  They  made  choice  of  Benjamin  White  for 
treasurer;  chose  Alfred  Leonard  and  John  White 
for  wardens.  They  chose  Nehemiah  White  and  Ben- 
jamin Sweet  for  hog-reeves.  They  voted  that  swine 
may  run  at  large,  being  yoked  and  ringed  according 


442 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


to  law.  They  voted  to  adjourn.  Met  according  to 
adjournment,  and  chose  Lieut.  Job  Hodges  and 
Reuben  Titus  for  to  keep  the  river  clear  for  the  free 
passage  of  the  fish  for  the  ensuing  year,  and  they 
accepted  the  "  rodes,"  and  voted  for  county  treasurer, 
and  the  doings  recorded  by  Isaac  Dean,  clerk.  The 
next  town-meeting  was  to  see  if  the  town  would 
vote  reasons  to  the  Great  and  General  Court  why 
Eleaser  Robbins  and  others  of  Stoughton,  who  were 
annexed  to  Mansfield,  should  not  be  taken  from  said 
Mansfield,  and  they  chose  a  committee  to  aid  the 
Stoughton  people  in  their  efforts  to  withdraw  from 
Mansfield. 

At  a  meeting  in  November,  1771,  called  to  vote 
what  they  shall  think  proper  relating  to  the  schools 
in  the  district  of  Mansfield,  it  was  voted 

"  that  the  one  month's  school  which  has  been  lately  kept  at  the  dwell- 
ing-house of  Nathan  Williams,  Jr.,  should  be  reckoned  to  the  whole 
district,  and  go  towards  the  present  year's  schooling.  They  voted  not 
to  have  three  schools  at  once  during  the  present  winter,  but  they  did 
vote  to  have  two  schools.  Voted  to  have  the  schools  kept  at  or  near  the 
same  places  where  they  were  kept  last  year." 

In  1775  the  sum  of  fifteen  pounds  was  voted  for  the 
support  of  the  schools.  The  same  year  they  voted  to 
Capt.  William  Howes  as  their  part  of  his  pay  in  Con- 
gress the  sum  of  nine  pounds  and  two  shillings,  and 
to  Eleazer  Clapp  for  the  same  purpose  the  sum  of  two 
pounds  and  sixteen  shillings. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of 
Mansfield,  legally  warned  pursuant  to  a  resolve 
passed  in  the  honorable  House  of  Representatives  on 
the  17th  of  September,  in  order  to  consider  and  de- 
termine whether  they  will  give  their  consent  that  the 
present  House  of  Representatives  of  this  State  of  the 
Massachusetts  Bay,  together  with  the  Council,  should 
consult  upon  and  enact  a  form  of  government  for 
said  State,  and,  taking  the  same  into  their  most  ma- 
ture consideration,  came  under  the  following  votes: 

"lly.  Voted  that  the  establishing  a  good  form  of  government  abso- 
lutely necessary  in  order  to  lay  a  foundation  for  the  future  safety, 
happiness,  and  welfare  of  a  people. 

"21y.  Voted  that,  as  the  end  of  government  is  the  good  of  the  people, 
so  the  power  and  right  of  forming  and  establishing  a  plan  thereof  exists 
essentially  in  them. 

"  3Iy.  Voted  that,  as  this  State  is  at  present  without  a  form  of  govern- 
ment, it  is  highly  necessary  that  one  should  soon  be  formed. 

"4Iy.  Voted  that  we  cannot  give  our  consent  to  the  proposal  of  the 
Honorable  House  in  their  Resolve  of  the  17th  Sept.  last  past,  that  the 
present  Hon.  House,  with  the  Hon'  Council,  should  enact  a  form  of 
Government  for  this  State,  for  these  Reasons,  viz. : 

"  lly.  That  the  present  house  and  council  was  not  separately  elected 
by  the  people  for  that  special  purpose,  which  we  think  is  highly  rea- 
sonable they  should  be  in  a  matter  of  great  importance. 

"21y.  That  it  is  the  undoubted  right  of  many  of  the  inhabitants  of 
this  State  to  have  a  voice  in  the  establishing  a  form  of  government  that 
was  not  allowed  to  vote  in  the  choice  of  the  present  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives. 

"  51y.  Voted  we  humbly  conceive  that  it  would  conduce  much  to  the 
peace  and  quite  of  the  people  of  the  State,  and  we  hope  would  be  a  sal- 
utary measure  to  obtain  the  ends  proposed,  if  each  County  should  meet 
by  their  delegates  with  an  Equal  Representation  from  the  several 
towns  and  consult  what  form  of  government  they  may  think  it  would 
be  Best  for  this  State  to  come  into,  and  when  they  have  no  desire  to 
lay  the  result  of  their  several  meetings  before  a  State  Convention  to 
be  chosen  by  said  County  Conventions,  and  the  State  Convention  to  se- 


lect from  the  whole  such  a  form  of  government  as  shall  by  them  be 
thought  most  likely  to  terminate  in  the  safety,  peace,  and  happiness  of 
the  people. 

"61y.  That  it  appears  to  us  absolutely  necessary  for  the  liberty  and 
safety  of  this  State  that  the  plan  of  government  when  formed  should 
be  published  for  the  perusal  of  the  people  and  not  established  without 
their  approbation. 

"  71y.  Voted  that  we  think  that  it  would  be  very  proper  and  expedi- 
ent for  the  present  Honorable  House  of  Representatives  to  give  out 
precepts  or  orders  for  the  choice  of  said  Conventions. 

"  81y.  Voted  that  the  dark  of  this  town  should  lodge  a  copy  of  the 
votes  passed  in  the  meeting  in  the  Secretary's  office. 

"  Recorded  by  me, 

"John  White,  Clark." 

At  town-meeting  held  Feb.  25,  1777,  it  was  voted 
to  give  a  bounty  of  twenty-five  pounds  to  all  those 
who  enlisted  in  service  of  the  United  States  for  three 
years  or  during  the  war. 

In  March,  1777,  the  following  prices  for  labor,  etc., 
were  fixed,  in  pursuance  of  an  act  of  the  General  As- 
sembly : 

s.   d.  f. 
Farming   labor  in   the   summer,   found   as   usual,    shall    not 

exceed 3  0  0 

Good  wheat,  per  bushel 7  6  0 

Indian  corn,  per  bushel 3  6  0 

Rie,  good  rie,  per  bushel 4  6  0 

Good  sheep's  wool,  per  pound 2  0  0 

Good  fresh  pork,  per  pound 0  4  2 

Salt  pork,  clear  of  bone,  per  pound 0  6  3 

Good  grass-fed  beef,  per  pound 0  2  3 

Good  stall-fed,  ditto 0  3  3 

Good  raw  hides,  per  pound,  other  skins  in  the  same  propor- 
tion   0  3  0 

Good  cheese,  maid  in  town,  per  pound 0  6  0 

Good  butter,  per  pound 0  9  0 

Good  beans,  per  bushel 6  8  0 

Good  Spanish  potatoes,  in  the  fall  of  the  year,  per  bushel 10  0 

Ditto,  in  the  spring,  per  bushel,  and  other  sorts  in  proportion, 

according  to  their  quality 14  0 

Men's  shoes,  made  by  the  best  neat  leather 8  0  0 

0. Us,  good  oats,  per  bushel  2  0  0 

Good  tried  tallow,  per  pound 0  8  0 

Beef  tallow,  fit  for  suet,  per  pound 0  5  0 

Yarn  cloth,  yard  wide,  the  best  sort,  flannel,  yard  wide,  of  the 

best  quality,  per  yard 3  6  0 

Cotton  and  linneii  home-made  cloth,  best  quality,  per  yard 3  6  0 

Mutton,  lamb,  and  veal,  per  pound 0  3  0 

Good  new  milk,  from  December  1st  to  March  1st,  per  quart 0  2  0 

"        "          Rest  of  year 0  12 

English  hay,  in  field 2  6  0 

Tobacco  in  lief,  of  the  best 0  6  0 

Carpenters' pay,  per  day,  found 0  3  6 

Spinnin  by  the  skein,  taken  home 0  5  0 

Woman's  tailor,  per  day,  found 0  10  2 

Woman's  shoes,  made  of  calfskin,  per  pair 6  0  0 

Victualing  at  tavern,  with  good  boyled  or  roast  meat,  with 

sose,  per  meal 10  0 

Lodging,  for  one  night 0  3  2 

Boarding  a  laboring  man,  per  week 5  0  0 

Keeping,  per  day 3  6  0 

Best  blue  all-wool  cloth,  %  yard  wide,  well  dyed 10  0  0 

Shoemaking  in  familys,  he  finding  his  wax,  per  pair 2  0  0 

The  above  prices  made  by  the  Selectmen  and  committy.  Recorded  by 
me,  John  White, 

Toim  Clerk. 

April  7,  1777. 

A  town-meeting  was  called  June  16,  1777,  to  "pre- 
sent tories,"  and  the  warrant  warns  the  voters  in  the 
name  and  government  of  Massachusetts  Bay, 

"  To  2dly  to  chuse  a  man  to  procure  and  lay  before  the  court  hear- 
upon  described,  the  evidence  that  he  had  of  the  inimical  expression  of 
any  person  towards  this  or  any  United  States.  3dly,  act  and  proceed 
with  any  persons  that  have  Ben  Inimical  to  their  country,  according  to 
a  late  act  of  the  grate  and  General  Corte,  and  to  act  upon  the  hole  as 
they  shall  think  proper."  Isaac  Dean  was  chosen  moderator.  Made 
choce  of  Elijah  Dean  to  procure  evidence  against  any  such  persons  as 
described  in  warrant.  3dly,  the  Selectman,  Reverend  Zephaniah  Hogges, 
as  a  person  Dangerous  to  our  cause,  and  effort  was  made  to  relieve  Mr. 
Hogges  of  this  "soft  impeachment,"  but  not  a  sing.e  voter  would  con- 
sent to  it,  and  it  was  ordered  that  he  "should  be  tried  by  a  special  court 
for  that  purpose." 

At  the  March  meeting,  1778,  it  was 


MANSFIELD. 


443 


"Voted  to  send  to  each  of  the  soldiers  in  the  Continental  sirvis  for 
the  Town  of  Mansfield,  and  which  engaged  for  the  Town's  Bounty,  one 
Shurt,  one  pair  of  Trowsers,  and  four  stockings  ami  one  pair  of  shoes." 

In  May,  1778,  Town  had  a  meeting  in  "favor  of  Government."  Voted 
additional  Bounty  to  all  men  who  would  volunteer,  and  voted  "  To  clear 
or  indemnify  the  commission  offices  for  said  town  for  any  damage  or 
fines  which  may  he  laid  upon  them  for  not  Drafting  men  for  the  ser- 
vice." 

In  1780  two  warrants  were  issued  by  the  selectmen ; 
one  directed  the  constable  to  notify  all  the  voters  on 
the  east  side  of  Rumford  River,  and  the  other  directed 
him  to  notify  all  the  voters  on  the  westerly  side  of 
said  river,  to  meet  at  the  public  meeting-house, 
then  and  there  to  act  on  certain  articles  enumerated 
in  a  former  warrant,  which  were  not  acted  upon  by 
reason  of  the  "late  alarm  which  prevented  the  said 
meeting  being  holden."  A  town-meeting  warrant  was 
issued  same  year  directing  the  officer  "  to  warn  all  the 
male  persons  being  twenty-one  years  of  age,  and  resi- 
dents of  said  town  for  the  space  of  one  year,  or  that 
have  their  usual  homes  in  said  town,  having  a  free- 
hold estate  in  said  town  of  the  annual  income  of  three 
pounds,  or  other  estate  than  a  personal  or  mixed  of 
the  value  of  sixty  pounds,  computed  in  silver  at 
6s.  8'/.  per  ounce,  to  meet  or  assemble  the  13th  day  of 
October,  1780,  to  elect  a  person  who  is  an  inhabitant 
of  said  town  and  secured  in  his  own  right  of  a  free- 
hold of  the  value  of  one  hundred  pounds,  or  any 
valuable  estate  of  the  value  of  two  hundred  pounds, 
within  said  town,  to  be  computed  in  silver  as  afore- 
said, to  serve  for  and  represent  them  in  the  Great 
and  General  Court."  And  at  this  meeting  Capt. 
Samuel  White  was  unanimously  made  choice  of  as 
the  representative,  and  he  was  given  by  the  town 
clerk  and  selectmen  a  "  fair  certificate,"  and  Con- 
stable Skinner  summoned  and  warned  the  said  White 
to  appear  and  to  attend  to  the  service  for  which  he 
was  chosen. 

Probably  the  largest  appropriation  in  figures  ever 
made  at  any  town-meeting  was  at  the  December,  1780, 
meeting,  when  for  town  purposes  and  some  few  inci- 
dentals there  was  appropriated  the  sum  of  fifty-three 
thousand  three  hundred  and  forty-seven  pounds,  and  this 
fact  will  give  us  some  idea  of  the  value  of  a  paper 
currency.  At  this  time  John  Pratt  was  the  constable, 
and  Benjamin  Bates  was  the  town  clerk. 

At  the  town-meeting  held  April,  1786,  the  vote  for 
Governor  stood  :  the  Hon.  John  Hancock  had  twenty- 
seven,  the  Hon.  James  Bodwine  had  two.  At  a  meeting 
held  just  previous  to  the  preceding,  it  was  voted  to  pay 
their  representative  the  sum  of  four  shillings  per  day 
out  of  the  town  treasury,  and  Capt.  Benjamin  Bates 
was  chosen  representative. 

The  town  was  called  together  in  the  name  of  the 
commonwealth  of  Massachusetts  on  Monday,  Feb.  5, 
1787  — 

"To  Reade  and  hear  the  address  of  the  General  Courte  lately  pub- 
lished. To  take  into  consideration  the  present  calamities  in  this  com- 
monwealth and  to  see  if  the  town  will  petition  the  General  Court  to 
recall  those  troops  under  the  command  of  General  Lincoln,  who  have 
marched  to  the  counties  of  Worcester  and  Hampshire,  in  order  to  pre- 


vent the  further  effusion  of  Blood  and  the  calamity  of  a  Domestic  War, 
and  also  that  the  Honorable  General  Court  Repeal  the  Act  passed  the 
last  session  suspending  the  Habeas  Corpus  act,  or  for  the  town  to  pass 
any  vote  or  votes  Relative  to  the  before  mentioned  premises  they  may 
think  proper." 

At  this  meeting  it  was  voted  "  not  to  read  the 
address  lately  published  by  the  General  Court,"  and 
it  was  voted  that  a  copy  of  the  petition  drawn  up  by 
Capt.  Pratt  be  sent  by  the  town  clerk  somewhere, 
probably  to  the  General  Court.  At  this  time  Jona- 
than Newcomb  was  town  clerk,  Elijah  Dean  and 
Jonathan  Newcomb  were  the  selectmen  who  signed 
the  warrant,  and  William  Copeland  was  the  constable 
who  served  the  warrant. 

At  a  meeting  held  on  5th  November,  1787,  it  was 
voted  "  that  the  poor  of  the  town  shall  be  set  up  at 
publick  vendue  to  them  that  will  keep  them  the 
cheapest."  At  this  time  Thomas  Skinner  and  Jona- 
than Williams  were  selectmen,  and  Stephen  Bond 
constable,  and  Jonathan  Newcomb  town  clerk. 

At  the  "Governor's  meeting,"  in  1778,  John  Han- 
cock had  forty-five  votes,  Elbridge  Gary  had  forty- 
three  votes,  James  Warren  had  one. 

One  article  in  the  warrant  calling  the  meeting  for 
September,  1783,  is  to  "see  if  the  town  will  vote  to 
choose  a  committee  to  act  with  the  committee  chosen 
in  other  towns  in  this  county  for  the  purpose  of  peti- 
tioning to  the  General  Court  for  the  better  regulating 
of  fishing  in  Taunton  Grove  River,  and  Capt.  John 
Pratt  was  duly  chosen." 

At  the  December  town  meeting,  1788,  for  voting  for 
representative  to  Congress,  the  district  consisting  of 
Bristol  County,  Dukes  County,  and  Nantucket,  the 
Hon.  George  Leonard,  Esq.,  had  twenty  votes,  the 
Hon.  David  Cobb  had  thirty-six.  The  vote  for  elec- 
tor stood  :  Elisha  May  had  thirty-six,  Samuel  Tobey 
had  thirty-six. 

At  a  meeting  held  Sept.  29, 1789,  it  was  voted,  "To 
build  a  stone  pound  30  feet  square  within  the  walls, 
six  feet  high,  with  a  stick  of  Timber  all  Round  said 
wall  to  a  Dubble  Wall  three  feet  wide  at  the  Botom 
and  carried  up  the  6  feet  in  proportion." 

Extracts  from  the  proceedings  at  the  town  meetings 
might  be  made  to  a  great  extent,  which  would  prove 
of  value  and  of  much  interest,  but  the  limits  allowed 
for  this  sketch  will  not  permit  it. 

Early  Settlers.— "  Very  Worshipful  Ephrairo 
Leonard,  Esq.,"  was  probably  the  most  distin- 
guished man  who  ever  lived  in  Mansfield.  His 
residence  was  in  the  house  at  East  Mansfield, 
formerly  owned  by  Mr.  Calvin  Thomas,  now  owned 
by  George  Thomas,  located  on  the  easterly  side 
of  the  road,  near  Flint's  saw-mill.  The  old  house 
in  its  wide  entry  and  staircase,  in  its  high  rooms, 
gives  evidence  of  its  former  grandeur.  He  was  ap- 
pointed judge  of  Court  of  Common  Pleas  in  1747, 
and  was  in  office  until  after  the  Revolution.  He 
was  born  Jan.  16,  1705-6.  He  was  a  leader  in  the 
town,  a  man  of  great  energy  ;  held  the  confidence  and 
esteem  of  his  fellow-citizens;  held  the  office  of  col- 


444 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL  COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


onel  in  the  militia  during  the  old  French  and  Indian 
war.  He  was  a  man  of  eminent  piety,  and  the 
wealthiest  man  in  the  region.  His  name  is  often 
found  upon  the  old  records  of  both  town  and  parish. 
His  grave,  with  those  of  three  of  his  wives  (he  was 
married  four  times),  are  in  the  woods  a  short  distance 
from  his  former  residence  ;  the  slate  slabs  indicating 
their  burial-places  are  flat  upon  the  ground,  and  it  is 
extremely  difficult  to  decipher  any  of  the  lettering 
upon  them.  There  are  evidences  near  these  graves 
of  other  burials,  but  the  stories  of  the  men  and  women 
who  found  their  last  resting-place  are  only  known  to 
the  Recording  Angel,  and  probably  their  names  will 
never  more  be  mentioned  upon  earth.  He  had  a  son, 
Daniel,  born  May  18,  1740,  graduated  at  Harvard 
University  in  1760,  at  the  age  of  twenty  years.  Studied 
law,  and  was  a  man  of  brilliant  abilities.  Became  a 
Loyalist,  and  was  appointed  by  Governor  Hutchinson 
a  mandamus  counselor  in  1774;  practiced  his  profes- 
sion at  Taunton  Grove,  but  the  honest  yeomanry  would 
not  tolerate  him.  Left  Taunton  and  went  to  Boston, 
thence  to  Halifax,  thence  to  England,  and  was  after- 
wards chief  justice  of  Bermuda  Islands.  The  house 
in  which  he  lived  still  stands  just  north  of  the  court- 
house in  Taunton,  and  the  marks  of  the  bullets  still 
remain  to  testify  to  the  animosity  which  the  people 
felt  towards  the  sentiments  he  held.  His  personal 
popularity,  however,  was  great.  His  father  be- 
queathed to  him  a  large  portion  of  his  estate,  pro- 
vided he  was  allowed  to  return  and  enjoy  it,  and  also 
be  allowed  the  rights  of  citizenship;  but  if  not,  then 
to  any  of  Daniel's  children  who  should  come  to  Amer- 
ica and  become  citizens.  A  son,  Charles,  did  come, 
took  possession  of  the  property,  entered  Harvard 
College,  but  did  not  graduate ;  was  subsequently 
placed  under  guardianship,  and  was  found  dead  May 
4,  1831,  in  the  road  near  Burrowsville. 

Mr.  Ephraim  Leonard  gave  the  land  to  the  parish 
now  used  as  a  burying-ground  at  East  Mansfield. 

John  Caswell,  Sr.,  settled  at  East  Mansfield.  His 
son  John,  Jr.,  lived  near  him.  He  was  a  lieutenant 
and  ensign  in  "  the  King's  service."  He  died  18th 
December,  1773.  His  wife  died  July  6,  1769,  in  her 
eighty-first  year.     They  had  ten  children. 

Benjamin  Caswell  and  James  Caswell,  it  is  sup- 
posed, lived  at  East  Mansfield.  There  is  now  no  per- 
son in  town  bearing  the  name  of  Caswell. 

Seth  Dorman  settled  in  East  Mansfield,  and  was 
one  of  the  original  members  of  the  Norton  Church. 

Joseph  Elliot  lived  at  East  Mansfield.  He  died  in 
1752. 

Thomas  Brintnell,  with  his  family,  made  a  settle- 
ment in  the  northwesterly  part  of  Mansfield,  a  few  rods 
easterly  of  Wading  River,  short  distance  from  the 
lines  of  the  two  colonies,  near  the  Obadiah  Brintnell  I 
place.  He  built  a  rude  shelter,  partly  of  wood  and 
partly  of  stone,  wherein,  with  his  two  muskets,  he  felt 
safe  against  the  unfriendly  red  men.  He  came  from 
Boston.    His  descendants  are  numerous,  some  of  which 


have  resided  in  town  continuously  since  the  settlement 
by  their  ancestor. 

Samuel  Buzby,  who  lived  at  East  Mansfield,  mar- 
ried, Aug.  28,  1711,  Elizabeth  Caswell.  They  had 
eight  or  nine  children. 

Capt.  Samuel  Brintnell,  son  of  Thomas  and  Esther, 
lives  at  his  father's  house.  He  was  a  man  of  note, 
and  his  voice  was  often  heard  in  the  discussion  of 
parish  and  town  affairs.  He  was  often  selectman,  and 
was  also  representative  to  the  General  Court.  He  was 
married  three  times,  and  in  his  will  names  six  chil- 
dren. 

Samuel  Brintnell,  Jr.,  son  of  Samuel,  lives  near 
the  old  homestead.  He  married  twice  and  had  three 
children. 

Thomas  Grover,  born  March,  1668.  He  settled  at 
West  Mansfield.  He  built  a  house  near  the  "  Tobitt" 
place.  Andrew,  his  brother,  built  a  house  where  Mr. 
Sherman  now  lives,  formerly  occupied  by  Elder  Chad- 
wick.  Ephraim,  another  brother,  built  a  house  near 
what  is  now  Mr.  John  Bailey's.  He  was  a  deacon  of 
the  church  in  North  Precinct. 

John  Hall  lived  near  Cobbler's  Corner,  and  at  one 
time  was  interested  in  the  grist-mill  near  the  Corner. 
He  had  a  brother  Ebenezer. 

Ephraim  Sheldon  lived  at  West  Mansfield  a  short 
time,  then  moved  to  Attleborough. 

Thomas  Skinner  settled  at  West  Mansfield.  He 
was  one  of  the  original  members  of  the  North  Church, 
and  was  the  first  schoolmaster  who  lived  to  be  ninety 
years  of  age. 

John  Skinner,  brother  of  Thomas,  lives  at  West 
Mansfield. 

Deacon  Nicholas  White  built  the  old  house  now 
owned  by  Charles  N.  Hall,  Esq.,  on  the  south  side  of 
Hall  Street,  until  lately  occupied  by  Mr.  Hall.  He 
was  a  very  prominent  man  in  town  and  parish  affairs. 
He  was  one  of  the  selectmen  eleven  years,  member 
of  General  Court,  and  deacon  of  the  church.  A  man 
of  much  importance,  whose  opinion  was  much  relied 
upon  by  his  neighbors  both  in  town  and  parish  meet- 
ings. He  was  buried  upon  his  farm,  near  the  resi- 
dence of  Mr.  Elkanah  Hall.  His  grave,  like  the 
graves  of  many  of  the  early  settlers,  it  is  now  impos- 
sible to  find. 

Marcus  White  lived  near  his  brother,  Deacon  Nich- 
olas. 

Deacon  Benjamin  Williams  lived  where  Charles 
Henry  Williams  now  lives,  from  whom  the  last 
named  descended.  He  was  a  man  of  great  influence 
in  town,  and  was  often  chosen  to  parish  and  town 
office,  and  was  a  man  of  good  mind,  careful  judg- 
ment, and  sound  sense. 

Public  Buildings. — The  first  meeting-house  was 
never  completed.  In  1-752  the  freeholders  voted  to 
"  the  very  worshipful  Col.  Ephraim  Leonard,  Esq., 
the  privilege  and  liberty  to  build  a  pew  in  the 
meeting-house  for  the  comfort  and  convenience  of 
himself  and  family,  to  extend  from  the  public  stairs 


MANSFIELD. 


445 


hall-way  to  the  west  wall  of  the  said  meeting-house." 
At  the  same  meeting  the  privilege  was  given  "  to 
Lieut.  Josiah  Pratt  to  build  a  pew  extending  from 
the  northeast  corner  of  said  meeting-house  to  the  min- 
isterial pew,  even  *to  front  with  the  same  pew."  In 
1752,  Nathan  Williams,  "  for  locking  and  onlocking 
the  meeting-house  doors,  and  sweeping  the  meeting- 
house, was  voted  in  lawful  money,  or  rye  at  three 
shilling's  per  bushel,  or  Indian  corn  at  two  shillings 
per  bushel,  the  sum  of  six  pounds." 

A  part  of  this  ministerial  land  was  on  "Dorches- 
ter plain,  so  called,"  and  six  acres  of  it  was  "  near  a 
lot  of  land  which  Brian  Hall  owneth."  It  was 
granted  by  the  proprietors  of  "Taunton  North  Pur- 
chase, for  the  maintenance  of  the  congregational 
ministry."  The  land  as  granted  was  divided  between 
Norton  and  Mansfield  Jan.  9,  1778,  Isaac  Hodges, 
John  King,  and  Seth  Smith,  acting  for  Norton; 
Benjamin  White,  Samuel  Tillebrown,  and  Isaac  Dean, 
for  Mansfield.  There  was  also  another  tract  of  min- 
isterial land  in  Taunton  Cedar  Swamp. 

"At  a  legal  meeting  holden  by  the  freeholders  and  others,  inhabitants 
of  Norton,  North  Precinct,  at  the  public  meeting-house  in  said  precinct, 
on  Wednesday,  ye  30th  day  of  May,  a.d.  1765. 

"Firstly,  they  made  choice  of  Capt.  William  Dean  for  a  moderator  to 
carry  on  and  manage  said  meeting. 

"  Secondly,  they  voted  to  build  a  new  mpeting-house  on  the  meeting- 
house lot,  near  where  the  meetinghouse  now  stands. 

"  Thirdly,  they  voted  to  build  said  house  on  the  ground,  sixty  feet  in 
length  and  forty-four  feet  wide. 

"Fourthly,  they  voted  to  begin  to  build  said  meeting-house  in  Octo- 
ber next. 

"  Fifthly,  they  voted  to  get  the  timber  for  the  frame  of  said  meeting- 
house on  the  ministerial  lot. 

"  Sixthly,  the  moderator  with  the  vote  of  the  assembly  adjourned  the 
meeting  until  the  first  Monday  in  October  next  ensuing,  at  one  of  the 
clock  in  the  afternoon,  and  then  they  voted  that  said  meeting-house 
should  be  in  height  in  proportion  with  the  length  and  breadth. 

"  They  voted  to  raise  two  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  to  provide  for  the 
building  of  said  house. 

"They  voted  that  the  walls  of  said  house  should  be  studded  and 
boarded  and  shingled. 

"They  voted  that  sum  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  should  be 
paid  into  the  treasury  on  or  before  first  day  of  September  next  en- 
suing. 

"They  made  choice  of  Capt.  William   Dean,  and  Deacon  Benjamiu 

Skinner,  Nathan  Williams,  and  Job  Hodges  for  a  committee  to  carry  on 

and  manage  the  building  said  meeting-house.     The  moderator  with  a 

vote  of  the  assembly  dismissed  the  meeting. 

"  Recorded  by  me. 

"  Benjamin  Williams,  Precinct  Clerk.'- 

The  bell  in  the  meeting-house  tower  was  presented 
to  the  town  July  25,  1829,  by  Hon.  Asa  Clapp,  and  in 
a  letter  to  Dr.  Benjamin  Billings  of  that  date  he  says, 
"In  consideration  of  your  wishes  and  the  early  and 
sincere  affection  I  bear  to  my  native  town,  I  present 
this  bell  to  them  in  hope  that  it  will  tend  to  unite  the 
good  people  more  in  one  scheme  of  worshiping  God. 
.  .  .  The  scheme  is  not  of  so  much  consequence  to 
man  as  a  willing  mind  and  humble  heart." 

The  location  of  the  second  meeting-house  has  been 
changed  since  its  erection,  and  it  now  stands  on  the 
west  side  of  ITnion  Street.  The  graveyard  at  the 
centre  is,  and  the  church  formerly  stood  upon  land  set 
off  by  the  original  proprietors  to  be  used  as  "  buring 


field,  hurrying  and  other  public  uses  by  the  parish." 
The  inevitable  controversy  arose  in  after -years 
whether  this  land  belonged  to  the  town  or  to  the 
"  old  society."  This  gave  rise  to  several  law-suits  and 
very  much  bad  feeling  was  being  engendered,  when 
the  counsel  employed  by  the  town  suggested  to  the 
counsel  upon  the  other  side  an  amicable  settlement  of 
the  whole  controversy.  This  was  adopted,  and  the 
town  voted  to  the  society  a  sum  of  money  which 
enabled  them  to  purchase  and  remove  the  church  to 
a  suitable  lot,  upon  which  it  now  stands.  It  also 
made  ample  appropriation  for  the  grading  and  fencing 
of  the  vacant  lot  as  a  common,  and  we  have  now  a 
"  breathing-place"  in  the  centre  of  the  town,  which 
with  its  fast-growing  maple-trees,  its  well-kept  walks 
and  green  grass,  will  soon  for  beauty  rival  famous 
Taunton  Green. 

During  all  the  existence  of  the  town  it  has  held  its 
meetings  as  a  town  in  the  meeting-house,  latterly 
hiring  the  use  of  the  same  of  the  Unitarian  society. 
Several  years  after  the  subject  of  a  building  for  town 
and  high  school  purposes,  and  a  vote  was  passed  to 
build  one,  but  that  vote  was  soon  after,  at  a  special 
meeting,  reconsidered,  and  the  matter  has  remained 
quiet  up  to  the  March  meeting  of  1882,  when,  as  ap- 
pears from  the  following  article  from  the  Mansfield 
News  of  Feb.  16,  1883,  it  was  voted  to  erect  such  a 
building.  Too  much  credit  and  praise  cannot  be 
given  to  Rev.  Jacob  Ide  for  his  indefatigable  and  per- 
sistent efforts  in  the  interest  of  the  town  for  the  town- 
hall,  and  for  every  other  enterprise  and  undertaking 
tending  to  advance  the  interest  of  the  town  as  a  cor- 
poration or  of  its  citizens. 

Mansfield's  New  Town-House. — Mansfield  is  soon 
to  dedicate  her  town-house,  and  for  the  information 
of  our  readers  we  purpose  giving  at  this  time  a  de- 
tailed description  of  the  structure.  The  need  of  a 
town-house  has  been  felt  and  admitted  by  most  of 
our  citizens  for  some  years  past,  and  at  different  times 
projects  have  been  entertained  and  considered  for 
building.  The  matter  took  definite  shape  at  the  an- 
nual town-meeting  in  March  last,  when  the  committee, 
appointed  at  a  preceding  town-meeting,  "  to  see  about 
a  location  and  plans  for  a  building  for  a  town  hall, 
and  for  the  High  School,"  presented  its  report.  At 
this  meeting  Rev.  Jacob  Ide  read  a  letter  from  a 
former  resident  of  the  town,  Mr.  W.  O.  Grover,  of 
Boston,  who  offered  to  give  five  thousand  dollars  to 
aid  in  building  a  town  hall.  The  offer  was  at  once 
accepted  by  the  town,  and  it  was  also  voted  that  the 
sum  of  ten  thousand  dollars  be  raised  and  appropri- 
ated for  the  object.  The  choice  of  location  was 
divided  between  a  piece  of  land  on  North  Main 
Street,  tendered  by  Mr.  J.  W.  Rogers,  and  the 
"  Heater  piece"  on  West  Street,  owned  by  the  town. 
From  the  first  the  "  Heater  piece"  seemed  to  be  the 
choice  of  the  majority,  and  at  an  adjourned  town- 
meeting  in  April  following  that  location  was  adopted 
by  the  town.     As  its  many  advantages  become  more 


446 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


and  more  apparent  the  choice  gives  general  satisfac- 
tion. At  this  meeting  several  plans  were  exhibited 
by  a  committee  appointed  for  that  purpose.  That 
submitted  by  Mr.  John  L.  Faxon,  of  7  Exchange 
Place,  Boston,  was  recommended  by  the  committee 
and  adopted  by  the  town.  Mr.  Faxon  was  employed 
as  the  architect,  and  to  his  taste  and  intelligent  super- 
vision during  the  whole  progress  of  the  work  are  we 
indebted  for  the  fine  proportions  and  the  thorough 
construction  of  the  building  now  before  us.  The  fol- 
lowing gentlemen  were  appointed  a  building  com- 
mittee :  Messrs.  A.  C.  Hardon,  E.  M.  Reed,  and  A.  V. 
Rogerson.  The  contract  for  building  was  awarded  to 
Messrs.  S.  M.  and  H.  A.  Chesley,  of  Boston,  for  about 
thirteen  thousand  dollars,  including  everything  above 
the  granite  wall ;  no  allowance,  however,  being  made 
for  gas-fixtures,  frescoing,  or  clock.  Ground  was 
broken  in  July,  and  by  the  terms  of  the  contract  the 
building  was  to  be  finished  Feb.  14,  1883.  In  spite 
of  some  vexatious  delays  this  has  been  accomplished, 
and,  except  the  grading  and  some  minor  matters, 
nothing  now  remains  but  to  furnish  the  building. 

Let  us  take  a  look  at  the  building  as  it  stands  com- 
pleted, first  considering  the  outside.  The  designs 
were  original  with  Mr.  Faxon,  while  the  style  of  ar- 
chitecture is  colonial.  The  building  is  of  wood,  with 
a  brick  underpinning  all  around  about  three  feet  in 
height  above  the  stone-work.  The  bricks  are  laid  in 
black  mortar,  and  a  heavy  granite  base  gives  a  sub- 
stantial finish  to  the  whole.  The  rough-stone  work, 
which  can  be  seen  from  the  cellar,  is  thoroughly  done, 
and  is  the  work  of  Mr.  E.  G.  Miller,  of  this  town. 
The  front  steps  are  of  granite,  with  brick  buttresses 
capped  with  granite,  and  the  back  steps,  which  are  of 
hard  pine,  also  have  brick  buttresses  capped  with 
granite.  There  is  no  outside  door  to  the  cellar,  but  a 
large  bulkhead  serves  instead.  The  granite-work, 
which  is  among  the  finest  jobs  on  the  building,  was 
laid  by  Mr.  Stephen  Blaisdell,  of  Foxborough.  It  is 
a  matter  for  congratulation  that  Mansfield  can  boast 
so  many  good  workmen,  and  that  so  large  a  part  of 
the  best  work  on  this  building  was  performed  by  our 
own  mechanics.  Prominent  among  these  is  Mr. 
George  W.  Keith,  who  was  assisted  by  Mr.  J.  Har- 
kins,  of  Quincy,  who  did  the  brick-work  and  plaster- 
ing, and  whose  labor  has  been  praised  by  natives  and 
strangers  alike  who  have  seen  it  and  are  competent  to 
judge  of  its  excellence. 

The  building  is  in  the  form  of  a  cross,  this  form 
admitting  of  a  more  pleasing  architectural  appear- 
ance than  would  have  been  the  case  with  a  plain 
rectangular  edifice,  and  the  transept  affording  needed 
room  to  the  apartments  in  the  lower  story.  The  depth 
of  the  building  from  front  to  rear  is  ninety-seven  feet ; 
the  width  of  the  main  building  is  fifty  feet,  and  the 
extreme  width  of  the  transept  is  sixty  feet,  which 
leaves  a  projection  on  either  side  of  five  feet.  The 
height  of  the  main  walls  of  the  buildings  from  bot- 
tom of  sills  to  top  of  plate  is  thirty-four  feet.     It  is 


fifty-eight  feet  from  bottom  of  sills  to  top  of  ridge  or 
saddle-boards,  while  from  the  top  of  the  belfry  or 
clock-tower  to  the  bottom  of  sills  is  eighty  feet,  or 
eighty-four  feet  to  the  ground.    The  building  is  clap- 
boarded  and  finished  with  corner-lfoards.     Instead  of 
the  old-fashioned  water-table,  a  heavy  moulded  base 
caps  the  brick-work.     Around  the  building,  between 
the  lower  and  upper  stories,  runs  a  moulded  belt, 
which    relieves   any  appearance   of   bareness   which 
the  plain  clapboarding  might  convey.     The  frieze  is 
divided  off  into  short  panels  of  diagonally-laid  nar- 
row sheathing.    The  roof,  which  is  shingled,  is  capped 
with  an  ornamental  cresting,  and  with  its  valleys  and 
hips  presents  a  picturesque  appearance.     The  clock- 
tower  is  finished  in  keeping  with  the  rest  of  the  build- 
ing, and  is  provided  with  a  circular  window  on  each 
of  its  four  sides,  which  will  give  place  to  the  dials 
whenever  a  clock  may  be  put  in.    Glass  slats  are  sub- 
stituted for  wood  or  iron  in  order  that  the  inside  may 
be  well   lighted.      The  tower  is  surmounted  by  an 
octagonal  dome  of  galvanized  iron,  and  this  in  turn 
by  a  gilded  metallic  weather-vane.     The  front  eleva- 
tion facing  on  the  common,  and  the  north  side  facing 
on  West  Street,  are  of  course  the  most  highly  orna- 
mented.    Over  the  front  platform  is  a  fine  portico, 
supported  by  moulded  columns,  from  which  an  ellip- 
tic arch  is  sprung.     On  each  front  corner  over  the 
arch  is   the   raised   letter  "  M,"  inclosed  in  carved 
wreaths,  while  on  either  end,  in  raised  figures,  is  the 
date  of  building,  "  1882."     The  portico  is  shingled 
to  conform  to  the  general  appearance.     There  are  no 
windows  on  the  lower  story  front,  but  in  their  place, 
one  on  either  side  of  the  portico,  are  wide  tablets  or 
panels  finished  with  ornamental  architraves  and  pedi- 
ment caps.     These  tablets,  which  are  now  left  blank, 
are  to  be  inscribed  at  some  future  day.     The  main 
roof  is  relieved  by  a  large  pediment  or  gable  with  or- 
namental verge-boards,  which  was  designed  to  make 
room  for   a  stained-glass  window  which  lights   the 
gallery.      The  groundwork  for  the  face  of  this  gable 
is  of  rough-cast  stones  and  cement,  and  being  painted 
in  old  gold,   presents  a  pleasing  appearance.     The 
same  effect  is  produced  on  the  gables  of  the  north  and 
south  sides,  in  the  centre  of  which  a  large  panel  bears 
the  words  in  large  raised  letters,  "Mansfield  Town 
Hall."    A  striking  feature  on  the  sides  are  the  cluster 
of  windows  in  the  lower  story  of  the  transept.     They 
are  what  are  called  "  triplets,"  and  are  crowned  with 
a  handsome  elliptic  arch,  filled  in  with  a  large  num- 
ber of  small  square  lights.     In  the  second  story  the 
'  triplets  are  finished  with  square  heads,  over  which 
are  stained-glass  windows.    The  painting  was  awarded 
to  Mr.  M.  H.   Robinson,  of  Boston,  and  under  the 
superintendence  of  the  foreman,  Mr.  Charles  Traverse, 
it  has  been  most  tastefully  executed.     The  outside 
colors  are  four, — the  groundwork  or  body  is  Venetian 
red,   the   main    trimmings   are   a  bronze   green,  the 
panels  on  the  frieze  and  upper  part  of  the  building, 
together  with  the  concrete-work  before  alluded  to,  are 


MANSFIELD. 


447 


in  old  gold,  and  the  roof  is  painted  aburntsienna  color 
with  bronze  green  trimmings.  In  addition  to  these 
colors  the  rosettes,  wreaths,  letters,  figures,  and  other 
ornaments  are  gilded. 

Without  spending  more  time  on  the  outside  let  us 
enter,  for  after  all  the  inside  is  the  essential  part. 
Beginning  at  the  cellar,  we  find  this  department  well 
lighted  and  roomy,  with  a  height  of  eight  feet.  Three 
Chilson  furnaces  here  give  heat  to  the  building; 
ample  coal-bins  are  provided;  the  gas-machine  and 
gasoline  will  be  located  here.  Numerous  brick  piers 
give  evidence  that  the  superstructure  is  well  sup- 
ported. Cells  or  "lock-ups"  are  here  noticeable  for 
their  absence,  and  may  it  be  a  long  time  before  they 
are  needed.  Stairways  lead  to  the  floor  above  at  both 
front  and  rear.  Ascending  the  front  one  we  find  our- 
selves in  the  main  vestibule.  Entrance  is  made  to. 
this  from  the  portico  through  double  doors  which 
swing  out,  seven  feet  wide  and  seven  and  one-half 
high,  with  stained-glass  border  lights  on  each  side 
and  on  top.  This  story  measures  eleven  feet  high  in 
the  clear.  The  floors  throughout  the  building  are  of 
hard  pine,  well  laid,  and  the  wood  finish  is  white- 
wood,  except  the  front  stairways,  which  are  of  ash, 
and  the  rear  one,  which  is  of  hard  pine  with  ash 
trimmings.  As  we  come  into  the  vestibule,  the  first 
objects  of  attraction  are  the  fine  ash  stairways  on 
either  side,  which  lead  to  the  floor  above.  These  are 
without  exception  the  finest  work  in  the  building, 
with  their  scroll-work  and  hand-worked  newel-posts. 
From  the  vestibule  a  wide  entry-way  leads  to  the  dif- 
ferent rooms.  Conspicuous  on  the  right  hand  wall 
at  the  entrance  is  a  large  marble  tablet,  finished  about 
with  fluted  columns,  with  capitals  and  a  handsomely- 
carved  cap  and  base.  Chiseled  into  the  stone  is  the 
following  inscription,  which  is  gilded  : 

Mansfield  Town  Hall, 
Erected  1882. 


A.  C.  Hardon, 
E.  M.  Reed, 
A.  V.  Rogerson, 
Building:  Committee. 


S.  M.  &  H.  A.  Chesley, 
Builders. 


John  Lyman  Faxon, 
Architect. 

Immediately  opposite  is  a  small  room,  provided 
with  desk,  etc.,  and  a  window  for  taking  or  selling 
tickets.  Beyond  this  is  the  school  committee's  room, 
and  next  a  reception-room  opening  into  the  High 
School  room.  Opposite  these  rooms  is  the  selectmen's 
room,  with  two  ante  rooms,  one  of  which  is  for  a 
dressing-room,  and  the  other  one  is  designed  for  the 
fire-proof  safe.  At  the  end  of  the  entry  is  the  large 
High  School  room,  which  measures  thirty-five  feet 
six  inches  by  forty-nine  feet,  occupying  the  full  width 
of  the  building.  Leading  out  of  the  school-room  to- 
wards the  rear  are  wardrobes  on  either  side,  while  a 


door  in  the  middle  opens  into  the  back  entry.  This 
back  entrance  will  be  used  by  the  scholars  from  day 
to  day,  and  will  be  the  common  entrance,  thus  saving 
the  main  front  entrance.  The  school-room  is  sheathed 
to  the  height  of  three  feet,  has  a  base,  and  the  sheath- 
ing is  capped  with  a  hollow  moulding  to  hold  chalk, 
as  a  continuous  line  of  blackboard  runs  around  the 
room,  which  is  well  lighted.  A  small  platform  has 
been  provided  for  the  teacher,  and  "  Paragon"  desks, 
said  to  be  the  best  in  use,  will  be  put  in  for  the  use  of 
the  scholars.  Ascending  the  front  stairs,  a  fine  lobby 
is  reached,  from  which  on  either  side  a  flight  of  stairs 
leads  to  the  gallery.  At  the  back  of  this  gallery  is 
the  stained-glass  window  already  mentioned.  The 
floor  rises  in  steps  from  front  to  rear,  that  all  may 
have  an  equally  good  chance  to  view  the  stage.  From 
the  lobby  a  double  set  of  doors,  swinging  both  ways, 
open  into  the  large  hall,  which,  with  the  gallery,  has 
a  seating  capacity  of  seven  hundred  and  fifty.  The 
height  of  this  hall  is  twenty-one  feet  six  inches.  The 
size  of  the  hall  is  sixty-three  feet  four  inches  in  depth, 
and  fifty  feet  in  width,  while  at  the  transept  it  is  sixty 
feet  wide.  The  gallery  is  twenty -one  by  fifty  feet,  and 
the  stage  is  eighteen  by  twenty-four  feet.  On  either 
side  of  the  stage  is  a  dressing-room,  each  of  which 
opens  into  the  stage,  into  the  hall,  and  into  the  rear 
entry,  from  which  descends  a  flight  of  stairs  to  the  lower 
rear  entry.  In  one  of  these  rooms  a  place  is  provided 
for  turning  on  and  turning  off  the  gas,  while  a  small 
sliding  panel  in  the  wall  enables  the  janitor  to  see  at 
once  the  effect  of  his  efforts  in  this  direction.  The 
stage  descends  from  rear  to  front,  and  a  narrow  sunken 
channel  at  the  front  edge  affords  opportunity  for  foot- 
lights. The  front  is  circular,  and  is  handsomely  pan- 
eled and  moulded.  The  two  large  centre  panels  can 
be  pulled  out,  affording  opportunity  to  store  away  a 
large  amount  of  scenery,  etc.,  under  the  stage.  The 
stage  is  framed  with  an  elaborately  ornate  elliptical 
proscenium  arch  and  supporting  columns,  the  key- 
stone of  which  is  a  female  head,  representing  "  The 
Fair  Maid  of  Mansfield."  This  is  set  off  by  branches 
of  oak,  the  whole  forming  a  novel  and  pleasing  de- 
sign. The  front  of  the  gallery  is  sheathed  diagonally, 
and  the  whole  hall  sheathed  vertically  to  the  height 
of  three  feet,  with  a  moulded  base  besides.  The  win- 
dows are  of  plate-glass,  and  are  "  twin  windows,"  ex- 
cept in  each  end  of  the  transept,  in  which  are  the 
"  triplets,"  over  which  are  the  stained-glass  windows. 
Over  each  window  is  a  small  sliding  ventilator,  which 
is  easily  opened  or  shut,  affording  at  any  time  a  cur- 
rent of  pure  air  without  opening  the  windows,  while 
the  impure  air  is  carried  off  through  four  large  circu- 
lar ventilators  in  the  ceiling  of  the  hall.  The  large 
hard-pine  trusses  are  left  exposed  and  given  two  coats 
of  oil,  which  shows  the  fine  natural  grain  to  advantage, 
and  the  iron-work  is  painted  red.  These  trusses  are 
supported  at  each  end  by  a  heavy  hard-pine  bracket, 
on  each  side  of  which  is  a  conventional  sun  flower. 
The  windows  and  doors  are  finished  throughout  with 


448 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


moulded  architraves,  and  the  doors,  which  are  of  white- 
wood,  are  supplied  with  bronze  trimmings.  Through- 
out the  inside  of  the  building  the  painters  have  given 
the  wood-work  a  "  dead"  or  "  wax"  finish  of  three 
coats,  which  is  afterwards  rubbed  with  pumice-stone 
and  oil,  making  it  very  smooth.  The  building  is 
piped  for  gas  throughout,  and  is  warmed  with  furnace 
heat.  The  plaster  is  skimmed  throughout,  except  in 
the  hall,  where  it  is  prepared  rough  for  frescoing. 
Over  the  stage  is  an  aperture,  through  which  by  means 
of  a  ladder  admission  is  had  to  the  garret,  where  can 
be  seen  the  thorough  manner  in  which  the  roof  is  J 
built  and  covered  with  matched  boards.  Much  credit 
is  due  Mr.  James  B.  Henry,  the  foreman  on  the  job, 
for  the  thoroughness  and  skill  displayed  in  the  prose- 
cution of  the  work.  A  fine  clock,  which  will  soon  be 
put  into  the  tower,  is  the  gift  of  Thomas  H.  Wood, 
Esq.,  of  New  York,  whose  wife  is  a  native  of  this 
town.  As  there  is  at  present  no  town  clock  in  our 
village,  this  gift  will  be  highly  appreciated  by  our 
citizens.  A  five-hundred-pound  bell  has  been  pur- 
chased to  ring  out  the  hours.  The  contract  to  furnish 
the  gas-fixtures  has  been  awarded  to  the  firm  of  Shreve, 
Crump  &  Lowe,  of  Boston.  The  school  furniture  and 
the  settees  for  the  large  hall  have  been  purchased, 
and  work  will  soon  begin  upon  the  frescoing.  Last, 
but  not  least,  we  feel  safe  in  saying  that  the  generosity 
of  W.  O.  Grover,  Esq.,  will  not  soon  be  forgotten, 
for  his  munificent  gift  set  the  ball  of  improvement  to 
rolling. 

The  first  moneyed  institution  in  Mansfield  was  or- 
ganized the  present  year  (1883),  under  the  name  of 
the  Mansfield  Co-operative  Saving  Fund  and  Loan 
Association,  the  officers  of  which  are  as  follows: 
President,  Charles  A.  McAlpine;  Vice-President, 
David  E.  Harding ;  Secretary,  Alfred  B.  Day  ;  Treas- 
urer, James  E.  White ;  Directors,  D.  S.  Spaulding, 
John  Birkenhead,  A.  W.  Cobb,  Howard  Perkins,  F. 
W.  Shepard,  L.  R.  King,  W.  B.  Rogerson,  John 
Somers,  S.  C.  Lovell,  George  L.  Foster,  S.  A.  Green, 
William  C.  Winter,  F.  L.  Cady,  William  White; 
Auditors,  A.  V.  Rogerson,  F.  W.  Spaulding,  C.  T. 
Borden. 

Iron  and  Coal.— In  the  early  history  of  the  town 
iron  ore  was  dug  in  considerable  amounts  from  cer- 
tain localities  in  East  Mansfield,  and  the  excavations 
are  now  to  be  seen.  That  there  is  a  large  amount  of 
ore  in  the  soil  of  the  town  there  is  no  doubt,  but  it 
probably  cannot  for  years,  if  ever,  be  profitably  taken 
therefrom.  Much  has  been  done  in  the  coal  business. 
Several  corporations  have  been  formed  for  the  pur- 
pose of  seeking  for  coal  in  this  town,  and  at  one  time, 
about  thirty  years  ago,  under  the  superintendence  of 
B.  F.  Sawyer,  Esq.,  who  is  now  a  lawyer  in  New 
York,  and  was  lately  mayor  of  Jersey  City,  N.  J.,  a 
large  sum  of  money  was  expended  in  sinking  a  shaft 
at  West  Mansfield.  Coal  was  found,  but  not  in  suffi- 
cient quantities  and  of  good  quality  enough  to  en- 
courage the  stockholders,  and  the  money  being  ex- 


hausted, operations  ceased,  though  it  was  the  opinion 
of  eminent  geologists  that  had  the  shaft  been  sunk 
deeper  (as  it  was  only  sunk  about  sixty  feet)  coal  in 
paying  quantities  and  of  good  quality  would  be  found. 
A  shaft  was  also  sunk  to  the  depth  of  about  forty  feet 
in  the  rear  of  Mr.  E.  B.  Goodwin's  present  residence, 
but  with  the  same  result.  Several  years  ago  the  land- 
owners in  the  Copeland  and  Fisher  neighborhood  held 
several  meetings  in  school-house  of  District  No.  3,  to 
discuss  the  feasibility  of  drilling  for  coal,  but  the  pro- 
ject was  abandoned  as  likely  to  prove  expensive  and 
profitless. 

Tasker  Bryant,  Esq.,  was  a  leading  mover  in  the 
coal  business  at  the  start.  He  took  up  his  residence 
here,  and  was  well  acquainted  with  mining  operations 
in  Pennsylvania.  He  is  still  alive,  and  has  never 
abandoned  the  hope  and  belief  that  at  some  time  coal 
would  be  mined  here  in  large  quantities,  with  profit 
to  the  operators.  Mr.  Bryant  has  been  one  of  the 
most  active  of  citizens  in  all  town  affairs,  and  orig- 
inated the  "  free  school"  movement  of  twenty  years 
ago.  The  agitation  of  coal-mining  here  has  again 
commenced,  as  will  be  seen  from  the  following  article 
taken  from  the  Boston  Journal  of  Feb.  23,  1883,  and  it 
is  hoped  for  the  benefit  of  all  that  the  efforts  of  the 
new  projectors  may  be  successful: 

The  Mansfield  Coal-Mines. — The  excitement 
over  the  reported  discovery  of  coal  in  Mansfield  has 
increased,  and  steps  are  being  taken  to  have  the  dis- 
trict thoroughly  prospected.  Professor  Shaler,  of 
Harvard  College,  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  men 
connected  with  the  enterprise.  One  thousand  acres 
of  land  owned  by  Messrs.  Edmund  Briggs,  John 
Bailey,  George  E.  Bailey,  Hugh  Smith,  George  C. 
Sherman  and  others  have  been  leased  on  these  condi- 
tions :  They  shall  have  the  right  to  prospect  for  three 
years,  paying  twenty-five  cents  per  acre  for  acreage; 
at  the  end  of  that  time  if  coal  is  found  in  sufficient 
quantities  to  work,  the  company  shall  pay  fifty  cents 
per  acre,  and  shall  pay  ten  cents  per  ton  for  all  coal 
mined.     The  lease  runs  for  ninety-nine  years. 

Mining  experts  from  England  have  examined  the 
land  and  say  that  there  is  a  rich  deposit  of  coal.  Three 
times  within  the  last  half-century  attempts  have  been 
made  to  mine  the  coal,  but  each  one  has  failed.  The 
coal  near  the  surface  contains  so  much  slate  that  it  is 
not  worth  mining.  After  reaching  this  stratum  the 
claim  was  abandoned.  The  projectors  of  the  present 
movement  propose  to  go  below  this  layer,  and  expect 
to  reach  a  large  vein  of  good  coal.  It  is  claimed  that 
this  is  a  continuation  of  the  vein  which  is  now  being 
profitably  worked  in  Rhode  Island.  Geologists  have 
for  years  known  that  coal  could  be  found  in  this 
vicinity.  In  the  geological  survey  of  Massachusetts, 
made  by  Dr.  Hitchcock,  of  Amherst  College,  about 
forty  years  ago,  he  stated  that  coal  measures  existed 
in  Mansfield,  and  predicted  that  in  the  near  future, 
when  other  fuel  would  command  high  prices,  this 
coal  would  be  used.     Its  quality  is  not  thought  to  be 


MANSFIELD. 


449 


of  the  finest,  but  it  is  believed  that  the  mine  can  be 
worked  to  advantage.  Boring  will  at  once  be  begun, 
and  the  actual  value  of  the  coal  will  soon  be  learned. 
Cattle  Marks. — To  distinguish  one  man's  sheep 
and  cattle  from  another's,  each  owner  adopted  some 
peculiar  mark,  a  description  of  which  was  recorded  by 
the  town  clerk  upon  the  town  books. 

"The  mark  of  Mr.  James  Gilbert's  creatures  is  a  square  crop  off  the 
end  of  the  right  ear.  Recorded  May  18,  1779,  by  Benjamin  Bates,  town 
lerk." 

"  The  mark  of  Jesse  Hodges'  creatures  is  a  crop  off  the  left  ear.  Re- 
corded June  0,  17S9,  by  Benjamin  Bates,  town  clerk." 

"The  mark  of  Elias  White's  sheep  is  a  square  piece  cut  out  of  the 
under  side  of  the  left  ear.  Entered  July  17,  1790.  Benjamin  Bates, 
clerk." 

"  The  mark  of  Mr.  Elkanab  Bates'  creatures  is  a  crop  off  the  left  ear 
and  a  slit  in  the  same. 

"Recorded  June  the  1st,  1804,  by  Isaac  Skinner,  town  clerk." 

"The  Rev.  Roland  Green's  mark  for  all  his  creatures  one  halfpenny 
cut  out  of  the  upper  and  under  side  of  the  Rite  Ear,  and  a  crop  off  from 
the  end  of  the  same  ear,  and  a  slit  in  the  end  of  the  left  ear. 

"  Recorded  April  the  8th,  1771,  by  me,  Isaac  Dean,  district  clerk." 

"  Wolley  Soullard's  mark  for  his  creatures  is  the  top  cut  off  the  left 
ear,  and  two  sclits  in  the  top  of  the  came  ear. 

"  Recorded  3d  February,  1772." 

"The  mark  for  Dr.  Daniel  Parker's  creatures  is  a  square  crop  off  of 
the  left  ear,  and  a  sclit  in  the  ends  of  both  ears. 

"  Entered  Aug.  10, 1778." 

"  The  mark  for  Micah  Allen's  creatures  is  the  end  of  each  ear  in  the 
form  of  the  letter  W. 

"  Entered  December  ye  23d,  1778." 

"The  marks  for  Thomas  Grover's  creatures  is  a  Slanting  crop  off  of 
the  upper  side  of  the  left  ear,  and  a  sclit  in  the  end  of  the  same. 

"  Entered  27th  April,  1778." 

"The  artificial  mark  for  Calvin  Wheatou's  creatures  is  a  slanting 
sclit  in  the  under  side  of  the  right  ear,  upwards. 

"  Entered  this  first  day  April,  a.d.  1794.    Isaac  Dean,  town  clerk." 

"  The  mark  for  Isaac  Steam's  creatures  is  a  crop  off  of  the  top  of  the 
left  ear,  attd  a  halfpenny  out  of  the  upper  side  of  the  same. 

"  Recorded  the  4th  day  of  December,  1800,  by  me,  Isaac  Dean,  town 
clerk.'" 

"  The  artificial  mark  for  Apollas  Frances'  creatures  is  a  half  crop  off 
the  under  side  of  the  right  ear,  and  a  hole  through  the  left  ear. 

"Recorded  the  8th  day  of  August,  a.d.  1801,  by  me,  Isaac  Dean,  town 
clerk." 

"Sarah  Wellman's  artificial  mark  for  her  creatures  is  a  crop  off  of 
the  left  ear  and  a  slit  in  the  same,  and  a  hole  through  the  right  ear. 

"Recorded  Sept.  21, 1802,  by  me,  Isaac  Dean,  town  clerk." 

Lawyers. — Ephraim  Leonard,  Esq.,  Dr.  George 
Wheaton,  Isaac  Dean  (the  old  town  clerk),  Benjamin 
White  (the  selectman),  were  all  men  of  learning  and 
sound  judgment,  and  what  legal  business  our  fathers 
wanted  doubtless  was  by  these  gentlemen  performed 
acceptably  by  them  for  years,  and  the  first  lawyer 
who  settled  here  was  David  Gilbert,  Esq.,  who  lived 
in  the  house  on  South  Main  Street  next  south  of 
James  L.  Hodges'  residence,  was  town  clerk,  and  had 
at  one  time  a  large  practice,  and  I  am  told  by  the 
Hon.  John  Daggett,  of  Attleborough,  who  knew  him, 
that  he  was  a  clear-headed  and  safe  lawyer.  His  con- 
versational powers  were  good,  and  no  doubt  he  took 
well  his  part  in  the  pure  wit  and  satire  of  the  law- 
yers of  other  days  as  they  gathered  around  the  fire- 
place in  the  old  Cohannet  tavern  at  Taunton  during 
the  evenings  of  the  court  days.  Mr.  Gilbert  married, 
Feb.  17,  1800,  Deborah,  daughter  of  Rev.  Roland 
Green,  and  they  had  seven  children, — Henry  Hamil- 
29 


ton,  Gustavus,  Hannah  Grover,  David  Humphrey, 
William  Augustus,  Deborah  Mariah,  and  Sophia 
Maria.  The  last  child  was  born  July  30,  1812,  and 
lived  in  this  town  up  to  her  death,  which  occurred  a 
short  time  since. 

Mr.  Gilbert  was  town  treasurer  many  years,  and 
held  many  offices  of  trust  and  importance  in  town 
and  parish  affairs.     He  died  suddenly  in  1842. 

Hon.  Horatio  Pratt  commenced  practice  in  this 
town  about  1830.  His  office  was  near  where  Bessom's 
store  now  stands,  but  soon  removed  to  Taunton, 
where  for  many  years  he  had  a  large  and  lucrative 
practice.  He  retired  from  practice  in  1855,  which  he 
told  the  writer  of  this  was  the  greatest  mistake  of  his 
life.  He  was  exceedingly  frail  in  appearance,  and  his 
health  was  always  very  poor,  but  he  had  a  clear 
mind,  and  was  called  one  of  the  sharpest  of  lawyers. 
He  was  collector  of  the  port  of  Dighton  under  Gen. 
Jackson,  which  office  he  resigned,  as  it  was  required 
of  him  to  move  to  Fall  River;  was  at  one  time  dis- 
trict attorney,  a  master  in  chancery,  and  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Massachusetts  Senate  three  years.  He  was 
the  son  of  Solomon,  the  prominent  manufacturer, 
and  he  died  at  Taunton  in  1872,  leaving  a  widow  and 
several  children. 

An  old  gentleman  from  Maine  named  Warren,  and 
a  descendant  of  Gen.  Warren,  alternated  between 
here  and  Foxborough  for  a  short  time  previous  to 
1855.  He  was  an  old-fashioned,  courtly  gentleman, 
and  a  well-read  lawyer,  and  in  the  olden  time  a 
prominent  school-master.  During  the  rebellion  he 
went  South  and  resided  with  a  son,  after  which  he 
returned,  and  a  short  time  since  died  in  Wrentham. 

Erastus  M.  Reed,  born  July  28,  1832,  at  Taunton, 
studied  law  in  the  office  of  Bassett  &  Reed  in  that 
town  (now  city),  was  admitted  to  practice  at  the  April 
term  of  the  Supreme  Judicial  Court  1856,  commenced 
practice  in  Mansfield  May  13,  1856,  was  appointed 
trial  justice  1858,  and  held  the  appointment  until 
1873,  when  the  First  District  Court  of  Bristol  County 
was  erected,  and  he  was  appointed  special  justice  of 
said  court,  and  holds  daily  at  Attleborough  a  session 
of  said  court ;  was  a  member  of  the  Legislature  in 
1866-67.  He  has  served  many  years  as  town  clerk, 
and  as  one  of  the  school  committee.  He  married 
Aug.  21,  1857,  Sarah  J.  Crockette,  of  Middletown, 
Conn.,  had  one  child,  Bertha  H.,  born  March  10, 
1867. 

William  A.  Copeland,  Esq.,  son  of  Almond  and 
Elizabeth,  born  1855 ;  graduated  at  Amherst,  1877  ; 
was  admitted  to  practice  in  1880 ;  opened  an  office 
here  and  also  in  Boston  at  about  the  same  time ;  is 
now  a  member  of  the  Legislature  (1883)  and  also  of 
the  school  committee;  is  grandson  of  Elijah  Cope- 
land,  Sr.,  who  was  a  large  farmer  and  owned  and 
worked  a  large  farm  in  the  southerly  part  of  the 
town  ;  upon  mother's  side  his  grandfather  was  Dea- 
con Otis  Allen. 

Thomas  E.  Grover,  Esq.,  a  son   of  Thomas  the 


450 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Friend,  was  here  during  1866  or  1867  ;  then  removed 
to  Canton,  where  he  now  resides ;  has  been  trial  jus- 
tice and  notary  public  for  many  years. 

Dr.  Samuel  Caswell,  a  "Practitioner  of  Physick," 
was  born  Oct.  6,  1695,  settled  within  the  present 
limits  of  Mansfield,  near  Benjamin  E.  Sweet's  present 
residence  ;  died  about  the  year  1747. 

Dr.  Nicholas  White  was  born  1705  ;  alternated  be- 
tween the  north  precinct  (Mansfield)  and  south  pre- 
cinct (Norton)  ;  died  in  the  north  precinct  June  21, 
1751. 

Dr.  Lewis  Sweeting  migrated  between  Mansfield 
and  Norton  ;  was  one  the  committee  of  correspondence 
and  safety  in  Mansfield  in  1776.  He  married  Abiah 
Cobb,  by  whom  he  had  ten  children,  and  he  must  have 
had  a  large  practice  to  have  kept  his  own  family  well. 

Dr.  George  Wheaton  was  born  Aug.  18,1728;  he 
bought  the  place  previously  owned  by  Dr.  Caswell. 
After  the  incorporation  of  Mansfield  he  removed  to 
Norton;  he  was  prominent  in  town  affairs  while  he 
resided  here. 

Dr.  Jonathan  Pratt  was  born  Oct.  17,  1729  ;  he 
lived  southeast  from  the  centre;  died  Oct.  13,  1771. 

Dr.  Daniel  Parker  was  here  in  1777  ;  his  name  is 
found  in  the  parish  records. 

•  Dr.  Hezekiah  Skinner  owned  and  lived  for  many 
years  in  the  dwelling-house  at  West  Mansfield  in 
which  Mr.  Brayton  Sherman  now  lives.  He  had  a 
large  practice,  and  had  the  reputation  of  being  skill- 
ful in  his  profession.     He  died  Aug.  24,  1848. 

Dr.  Roland  Green,  son  of  the  second  minister,  in 
early  life  settled  here,  built  and  lived  in  the  house 
now  occupied  by  Dr.  Carpenter  in  West  Street.  He 
had  a  large  practice  at  one  time.  Dr.  Charles  Talbot, 
afterwards  the  well-known  Dighton  physician,  lived 
and  studied  with  Dr.  Green.  Dr.  Green  married 
Hannah  Talbot.  They  had  no  children.  He  died 
Oct.  1,  1841,  aged  seventy-five  years. 

Dr.  Benjamin  Billings  built  and  lived  in  the  house 
now  occupied  by  S.  C.  Lovell.  He  married,  Dec.  7, 
7,  1780,  Sibell  Dean.  They  had  children  as  follows : 
Fanny  D.,  Ferdinand,  Benjamin,  and  Sibel  E.  He 
had  a  large  practice  and  much  influence  in  town  and 
parish.  His  eldest  daughter  married  Rev.  Mr.  Briggs. 
He  had  a  jovial,  kindly  disposition,  and  fought  dis- 
ease cheerfully  and  hopefully  and  successfully.  He 
died  Oct.  9, 1842,  aged  eighty-two  years. 

Dr.  William  G.  Allen,  born  in  Rehoboth  Dec.  16, 
1833,  married  Martha  M.  Matherson,  of  Pawtucket. 
He  graduated  at  the  Albany  Medical  School,  studied 
in  the  office  of  Dr.  Miller,  of  Providence,  settled  here 
in  1857,  and  has  continued  here  ever  since.  Have 
had  one  child,  William  Howard,  born  in  February, 
1868. 

Dr.  Frederick  L.  Perry,  son  of  Dr.  William  F. 
Perry,  at  his  father's  decease  took  his  practice,  and 
lives  in  house  upon  south  side  of  West  Street,  near 
his  late  father's  residence. 

Dr.  John  B.  Wilson,  born  in  Easton  Oct.  19,  1837, 


married  Susan,  daughter  of  Jephtha  Buck,  of  Easton  ; 
commenced  practice  there  in  1857,  removed  to  this 
place  in  1870,  and  has  ever  since  resided  here;  and 
children  have  been  born  to  them  as  follows  :  Brad- 
ford W.,  born  February,  1860;  Eugene,  born  in  1865; 
Ida,  born  in  1869;  Willimena,  born  in  1874;  EffieJ., 
born  in  1881. 

Dr.  Charles  Young  was  here  during  the  years  1875 
and  1876.  He  removed  to  Stoughton,  where  he  now 
is. 

Dr. Sanford  was  here  a  short  time  about  1880. 

Masons. — Saint  James'  Lodge  of  Masons  was  char- 
tered March  9,  A.D.  1865.  The  charter  members  were 
William  G.  Allen,  William  B.  Bates,  William  Graves, 
Daniel  W.  Stevens,  E.  M.  Reed,  Ellis  Fairbanks, 
Charles  M.  Dean,  William  N.  Hamblet,  Simeon  J. 
Clark,  Charles  Hellitt,  John  Rogers,  Zacheus  Fletcher. 

Biographical  Sketches. — Deacon  Otis  Allen,  for 
many  years  one  of  the  deacons  of  the  Orthodox  Con- 
gregational Society,  clerk  in  the  cotton  mills,  a  man 
much  given  to  the  preservation  of  the  deeds  of  mar- 
riages, births,  and  deaths,  a  God-fearing,  holy  man, 
lived  for  many  years  in  the  house  now  occupied  by 
his  son,  Lloyd  A.  Allen.  He  lived  a  peaceful,  natural 
life,  and  died  regretted  and  mourned  by  all  who 
knew  him,  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety  years  and 
five  months,  Aug.  30,  1874.  He  was  a  constant  at- 
tendant at  church,  and  a  great  help  and  support  to 
his  pastors,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Blake  and  Rev.  Mr.  Ide. 

Charles  Day,  for  many  years  deputy  sheriff,  col- 
lector of  taxes,  constable,  etc.,  was  at  one  time  in 
business  at  East  Mansfield.  During  the  "  abolition" 
period  he  was  one  of  the  first  to  announce  his  oppo- 
sstion  to  slavery,  and  his  house  was  a  sort  of  a  station 
of  the  "  Underground  Railroad,"  where  fugitives 
could  find  a  warm  friend  and  a  hospitable  roof.  At  one 
time  Frederick  Douglass  rested  at  his  house.  Capt. 
Day  was  a  conscientious  member  of  the  Orthodox 
Congregational  Society.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he 
lived  in  a  house  erected  by  his  children  on  the  south 
side  of  Park  Street.  During  the  Garfield  and  Arthur 
campaign,  Capt.  Day  appeared  in  the  uniform  of  the 
Garfield  Club  of  this  town,  and  marched  with  it 
whenever  it  paraded.  A  photograph  of  him  in  his 
uniform  was  sent  to  President  Garfield,  which  the 
President  acknowledged,  and  sent  to  Mr.  Day  a 
photograph  of  himself.  Mr.  Day  died  Nov.  19,  1881, 
aged  eighty-five  years. 

Edward  Kingman,  Esq.,  at  one  time  a  prominent 
citizen,  was  representative  to  General  Court  and  se- 
lectman, justice  of  the  peace,  etc.  Formerly  kept  the 
"  Old  Lamb  Tavern"  in  Boston,  a  most  noted  hotel. 
Afterwards  kept  hotel  in  Baltimore;  was  a  member  of 
the  Columbia  Lodge  of  Masons  of  Boston,  was  in  the 
grocery  business  here,  and  died  April  9,  1871.  He 
had  a  kind,  generous  disposition,  was  very  emphatic 
at  times  in  expression  of  opinions.  At  one  time  a 
rum  case  was  being  tried  before  him,  and  the  counsel 
for  the  prisoner  was  pleading  for  mild  treatment,  upon 


MANSFIELD. 


451 


the  assurance  that  the  prisoner  would  quit  the  busi- 
ness. The  squire  turned  to  him  and  said  that  lie 
would  let  him  off  easy  this  time,  but  he  must  quit  rum- 
selling  d — d  quick. 

Elijah  Hodges,  Esq.,  a  prominent  politician,  early- 
espousing  the  principles  of  the  Democratic  party,  and 
clinging  to  them  with  great  tenacity  to  the  time  of  his 
death.  He  was  a  man  of  good  judgment,  a  most  fluent 
conversationalist,  and  his  wife  told  the  writer  that  her 
husband  never  would  go  to  a  "sewing  circle,"  because 
the  women  wanted  to  do  all  the  talking.  He  was 
justice  of  the  peace  many  years,  at  one  time  clerk  in 
Pratt's  store,  did  something  in  straw  business,  held 
many  public  offices,  was  a  prominent  and  active  mem- 
ber of  the  Unitarian  Society,  a  pleasant  and  accom- 
modating neighbor,  was  for  many  years  unable  to  do 
any  business  by  reason  of  ill  health,  built  and  lived 
for  many  years  in  the  house  on  the  east  side  of  South 
Main  Street,  now  occupied  by  Alfred  Grover.  He 
died  Dec.  16,  1871,  aged  eighty-two  years. 

Jacob  Dean  lived  in  the  house  north  of  Lloyd  A. 
Allen's  house,  now  owned  by  Mr.  Chase.  He  was  a 
farmer  and  owned  a  large  tract  of  land.  He  early 
gave  attention  to  cultivation  of  apples,  of  which  he 
raised  a  large  variety,  sending  some  years  to  the 
annual  cattle  show  at  Taunton,  in  which  he  took  a 
deep  interest,  one  hundred  and  sixteen  varieties.  He 
was  a  quiet,  modest  man,  a  good  citizen,  a  man  of 
more  than  ordinary  intelligence.  He  died  July  15, 
1871,  aged  ninety  years  and  seven  months. 

William  Reed  Dean,  son  of  Jacob,  a  distinguished 
antiquarian,  published  several  genealogical  works. 
Died  at  his  father's  house,  June  16,  1871,  aged  sixty- 
one  years  and  ten  months. 

Darwin  Dean,  Esq.,  for  many  years  justice  of  the 
peace,  settled  a  large  number  of  estates,  was  select- 
man, member  of  the  "Old  Society,"  a  farmer,  and 
lived  near  Jacob  Dean.  Was  a  man  often  consulted 
by  the  townspeople,  of  good  judgment,  died  Nov.  8, 
1882,  aged  seventy-seven  years,  leaving  a  daughter, 
who  married  Walter  L.  White.  They  live  upon  the 
old  place.  In  ancient  deeds  the  street  running  by 
his  late  residence  is  called  "  the  road  leading  from 
Taunton  to  Mansfield." 

Ebenezer  Williams,  a  large  land-owner,  prominent 
in  town  and  parish  matters,  a  conscientious,  upright 
man,  lived  in  the  house  on  the  west  side  of  North 
Main  Street,  now  owned  by  his  son,  Charles  P.  Wil- 
liams. He  died  Nov.  7, 1851,  aged  seventy-five  years 
and  nine  months. 

Hon.  John  Rogers,  in  early  life,  started  in  a  small 
way  the  collection  of  straw  braid  from  the  women  of  this 
and  the  surrounding  towns;  afterwards  commenced 
the  manufacture  of  straw  goods,  in  which  he  was  very 
successful,  the  business  rapidly  increasing  until  it 
gave  employment  to  a  large  number,  both  male  and 
female.  He  built  the  shop  upon  the  south  side  of 
Park  Street,  and  the  house  upon  the  east  side  South 
Main  Street,  both  of  which  are  now  occupied  by  his 


son.  He  was  much  interested  in  politics,  formerly  a 
Democrat,  afterwards  a  prominent  member  of  the 
"Know-Nothing"  or  American  movement,  then  join- 
ing the  Republican  party,  of  which  he  was  an  active 
member  to  the  time  of  his  death.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Constitutional  State  Convention,  represented 
this  town  in  the  Legislature,  and  this  senatorial  dis- 
trict in  the  Massachusetts  Senate.  He  was  a  leader 
in  politics,  much  interested  in  all  political  conven- 
tions;  a  successful  business  man,  one  who  gave  lib- 
erally to  all  worthy  objects ;  a  prominent  member  of 
the  orthodox  Congregational  Society,  and  presented 
that  society  with  the  organ  now  in  their  church,  as 
well  as  the  bell  now  in  the  tower  of  the  same  church. 
He  was  a  kind  and  pleasant  neighbor,  a  good  citizen, 
and  an  honest  and  upright  man.  He  died  March  31, 
1873,  aged  sixty-six  years  and  four  months,  leaving 
three  children,— Ellen  M.,  wife  of  Rev.  Jacob  Ide; 
Frances  E.,  wife  of  Daniel  E.  Harding  ;  and  John  W., 
who  is  now,  with  a  partner,  engaged  in  the  straw 
business  in  the  shop  his  father  built. 

William  B.  Bates,  Esq.,  son  of  the  prominent  man- 
ufacturer, Maj.  Elkanah  Bates,  held  the  offices  of 
town  clerk,  selectman,  representative  to  the  Legisla- 
ture, trial  justice,  justice  of  the  peace,  postmaster, 
etc.  No  man  ever  lived  in  Mansfield  in  whom  more 
people  had  confidence  than  in  Mr.  Bates.  He  was 
administrator,  executor,  referee,  guardian,  and  trustee 
in  very  many  estates,  managed  his  own  business  well, 
and  managed  other  people's  affairs  just  as  well ;  was 
the  "  right-hand  man"  of  his  pastors,  Rev.  Mr.  Blake 
and  Rev.  Mr.  Ide ;  contributed  largely  in  behalf  of 
every  worthy  object;  was  a  charter  member  of  St. 
James  Lodge  of  Masons,  and  an  officer  of  it  fpr  many 
years;  was  a  kind,  sociable,  pleasant,  and  accommo- 
dating neighbor,  prominent  in  the  temperance  move- 
ment, a  member  of  the  Republican  party  from  its 
birth;  erected  and  lived  in  the  house  now  occupied 
by  his  son-in-law,  George  H.  Hallett,  on  the  east  side 
North  Main  Street.  Died  June  10,  1880,  aged  sixty- 
nine  years  and  eleven  months,  leaving  two  children, 
— Alfred  W.,  in  business  in  New  York,  and  Marrigen 
H.,  who  married  Mr.  Hallett. 

Benjamin  Bates,  formerly  a  well-known  Boston 
banker,  and  founder  of  Bates'  College,  of  Maine, 
brother  of  William  B.,  died  a  short  time  previous  to 
the  death  of  William  B. 

Elkanah  Bates,  another  brother,  was  at  one  time  in 
business  in  Boston,  from  which  he  withdrew  many 
years  before  his  death,  and  spent  the  winters  in  Boston, 
but  a  portion  of  every  summer  he  spent  here  with  his 
brother.  He  died  a  short  time  after  his  brother,  Wil- 
liam B.,  in  Boston.  The  three  brothers  all  died  sud- 
denly of  heart-disease. 

James  Green  was  one  of  the  most  active  and  influ- 
ential members  of  the  "  old  society."  For  many 
years,  up  to  his  death,  was  station  agent  in  the  em- 
ploy of  the  Boston  and  Providence  and  Taunton 
Branch  Railroads.     He  was  the  son  of  Simeon  Green 


452 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL  COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


and  grandson  of  Roland  Green,  the  second  settled 
minister  of  the  town.  He  was  a  large  land-owner. 
His  funeral  sermon,  which  was  published,  was 
preached  by  his  pastor,  Rev.  Daniel  W.  Stevens. 
He  died  Oct.  6,  1869;  his  age  was  fifty-two  years  and 
eleven  months. 

Capt.  Ellis  Fairbanks,  at  one  time  captain  of  a 
military  company,  a  charter  member  of  St.  James 
Lodge  of  Masons,  for  many  years  secretary  of  the 
lodge,  prominent  member  of  the  "  old  society,"  died 
Oct.  27,  1871,  aged  seventy-one  years. 

Elijah  Copeland,  one  of  the  largest  farmers,  owning 
many  acres  in  the  south  part  of  the  town.  His  old 
house  stood  on  the  present  site  of  the  residence  of  his 
sons.  He  subsequently  built  the  Copeland  House,  a 
little  south  of  the  old  house.  He  was  very  successful 
in  his  business.  A  quiet,  modest  man,  never  took  an 
active  part  in  any  public  meetings ;  a  constant  at- 
tendant upon  divine  worship,  was  reckoned  as  the 
"salt  of  the  earth"  by  his  pastors,  Rev.  Mr.  Blake 
and  Rev.  Mr.  Ide.  He  died  Aug.  3, 1872,  aged  eighty- 
seven  years  and  four  months,  leaving  two  sons,  Elijah, 
who  now  works  a  portion  of  the  old  farm,  and  Al- 
mond, who  has  died  since  his  father  did,  and  several 
daughters. 

Elbridge  Sweet  lived  at  West  Mansfield,  was  a 
farmer  and  mill-owner,  doing  a  large  business  in  his 
grist-  and  saw-mill.  He  was  many  years  one  of  the 
selectmen  of  the  town,  a  man  of  good  judgment, 
honorable  in  his  dealings,  a  deacon  in  the  Christian 
Baptist  Society;  died  Feb.  2,  1876,  aged  sixty-four 
years,  five  months. 

Isaac  Skinner,  a  man  with  a  great  fund  of  histori- 
cal matter  and  deeds  relating  to  the  early  history  of 
the  town  and  to  the  individuals  who  up  to  his  death 
had  lived  here,  a  prominent  and  active  member  of  the 
Orthodox  Congregational  Society,  very  modest  and 
retiring;  of  far  more  than  ordinary  intelligence; 
great  student  of  the  Bible,  which  he,  though  never 
having  more  than  ordinary  school  advantages,  was 
able  to  read  in  its  original  language;  upright  and 
honorable  in  all  business  transactions.  He  died 
April  19,  1873,  aged  seventy-nine  years,  six  months. 

Gardner  Chillson  started  a  furnace  here  in  1852  for 
the  manufacture  of  his  own  furnaces,  stoves,  and 
ranges,  with  salesroom  in  Boston.  He  was  an  active 
member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  was  previous  to  his 
removing  here  a  representative  to  the  General  Court 
from  Boston,  was  a  liberal  contributor  to  religious 
charities,  and  left  the  bulk  of  his  large  estate  to  the 
several  Baptist  missionary  organizations.  He  died 
Nov.  21,  1877. 

Rev.  John  Blain,  a  Baptist  clergyman,  and  once 
settled  over  the  Baptist  society,  afterwards  gave  his 
time  to  the  work  of  an  evangelist,  in  which  he  was 
very  successful.  He  was  for  many  years  without  a 
settlement ;  built  the  house  now  owned  by  S.  W. 
Cord;  died  here  Dec.  26,  1879,  aged  eighty-four 
years  and  ten  months.     He  was  "tall  of  stature,"  of 


robust  health,  and  never  took  a  vacation  during  his 
life.  He  made  large  donations  for  missionary  pur- 
poses, and  left  the  greater  part  of  his  property  at  his 
death  to  such  uses. 

Business. — For  a  town  so  well  located,  with  its 
railroad  facilities  and  its  proximity  to  the  trade  cen- 
tres, Mansfield  has  not  had  its  just  share  of  mercan- 
tile interests.  This  may  be  attributable  to  several 
causes,  the  principal  of  which  is  perhaps  the  value 
set  upon  valuable  land  by  its  owners.  Thirty-five 
years  ago  a  scheme  was  devised  to  sell  nearly  all  the 
lands  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  depot  at  a 
large  price.  The  whole  area  was  laid  out  (upon 
paper)  into  house-lots,  streets,  and  parks,  and  ficti- 
tious and  exorbitant  prices  set  upon  the  lots.  The 
scheme  failed  for  the  want  of  purchasers,  but  the 
prices  then  asked  clung  to  the  land  like  an  incum- 
brance, and  have  proved  something  more  than  a 
"  shadow,"  but  owners  of  land  are  now  offering  it  in 
favorable  localities  at  reasonable  prices. 

Very  prominent  among  the  business  men  of  the 
town  stands  the  name  of  Solomon  Pratt,  who  com. 
menced  business  in  the  early  part  of  the  present 
century,  at  the  age  of  twenty  years.  He  was  a  man 
of  very  large  business  capacity,  owned  largely  of  real 
estate,  and  was  in  his  day  the  most  active  and  indus- 
trious man  in  the  town.  He  opened  a  general  store 
in  a  building  which  stood  where  Borden's  drug-store 
now  stands,  which  was  afterwards  moved  to  Sodem, 
and  now  stands  near  Mr.  Cabot's  factory  and  is  a 
part  of  his  estate.  He  built  the  building  for  a  store 
after  the  removal  of  the  old  one,  which  now  is  owned 
by  William  C.  Bessom,  and  stands  at  the  corner  of 
South  Main  Street  and  Webb  Place.  Mr.  Pratt 
opened  the  first  store  in  the  Centre  village,  and  it 
was  the  favorite  resort  for  all  the  local  politicians 
and  theologians.  The  hall  overhead,  on  the  after- 
noon of  the  election,  was  resorted  to  by  the  voters, 
who  were  treated  by  the  successful  candidate. 

Mr.  Pratt  was  engaged  in  the  iron  business, — that  is, 
he  delivered  the  iron  to  different  persons  who  took  it 
home  and  worked  it  by  hand  into  nails,  and  returned 
the  nails  to  him  ;  in  the  straw  business,  buying  straw 
braid  from  all  the  women  within  thirty  miles,  which 
he  had  sewed  into  bonnets.  At  one  time  braid  ac- 
cumulated to  such  an  amount  that  he  manufac- 
tured fifteen  thousand  bonnets  from  the  amount  on 
hand,  and  it  was  said  by  his  clerk,  Elijah  Hodges, 
that  there  was  a  profit  of  two  dollars  on  each  bonnet. 

In  1811  was  built  the  Middle  Factory,  by  a  corpo- 
ration of  which  Mr.  Pratt  was  an  active  member,  for 
the  manufacture  of  woolen  goods,  which  was  success- 
fully operated  until  by  some  mismanagement  on  the 
part  of  the  agent,  and  the  corporation  was  sold  to 
Mr.  Pratt,  who  assumed  the  entire  business,  assisted 
by  his  sons  Charles  and  Harrison.  In  1830  the  mill 
was  burned,  with  six  thousand  dollars'  worth  of 
stock  therein.  Upon  neither  stock  nor  mill  was  there 
any  insurance.     This  financial  loss  would  have  dis- 


MANSFIELD. 


453 


couraged  many  men,  but  Mr.  Pratt,  full  of  resolu- 
tion and  pluck,  rebuilt  at  once  tbe  mill,  filled  it  with 
machinery  from  Cracken  &  Richmonds,  of  Taunton, 
and  the  year  the  factory  was  completed  it  made 
money  enough  for  its  owner  to  pay  the  cost  of  both 
factory  and  machinery. 

He  was  also  a  partner  of  Elkanah  Bates,  another 
of  Mansfield's  eminent  men,  and  together  they  op- 
erated the  factory  known  as  the  "  Knife  Shop."  After 
the  death  of  Mr.  Bates,  Mr.  Pratt  bought  his  interest 
and  ran  the  mill  alone.  He  was  also  owner  in  the 
mill  at  East  Mansfield  owned  by  a  manufacturing 
corporation  composed  mostly  of  Boston  parties ;  had 
a  large  farm  which  he  supervised.  In  person  he  was 
tall  and  commanding;  in  conversation  dictatorial; 
held  many  offices  in  town,  and  represented  the  town 
in  the  Legislature.  He  died  in  April,  1848,  aged 
seventy  years. 

About  the  year  1857  the  matter  of  building  a  fac- 
tory, to  be  used  for  the  manufacture  of  jewelry,  was 
discussed  among  the  citizens,  and  there  was  formed 
an  association,  and  the  jewelry-shop,  corner  of  North 
Main  and  Pratt  Streets,  was  built  by  this  association, 
and  soon  after  its  completion  it  was  let  to  the  Sturdy 
Brothers,  of  Attleborough,  who  came  here  and  com- 
menced operations,  and  did  a  large  and  profitable 
business  for  several  years.  The  investment  in  the 
building  did  not  prove  a  success  to  the  stockholders, 
and  they  were  anxious  to  dispose  of  the  property,  and 
it  was  sold  to  Merritt  &  Draper,  who  were  manufac- 
turing in  Attleborough,  but  came  here  and  commenced 
the  making  of  shell  jewelry  (made  from  tortoise  shell), 
and  manufactured  it  in  large  quantities,  and  were 
very  successful.  Subsequently  Mr.  Merritt  with- 
drew and  formed  a  partnership  with  John  Shepard- 
son,  and  they,  in  the  upper  part  of  the  shop,  began 
making  a  general  line  of  goods,  plated  and  solid, 
silver  and  gold.  They  continued  in  the  business 
several  years,  when  they,  much  to  the  regret  of  the 
citizens,  moved  their  business  to  Attleborough.  Mr. 
Draper  took  in  as  partner  D.  S.  Spaulding,  and  they 
continued  the  shell  business  for  a  number  of  years, 
when  Mr.  Draper  withdrew  and  left  the  whole  busi- 
ness to  Mr.  Spaulding,  who  has  continued  it  ever 
since.  The  business  has  all  the  time  been  steadily 
increasing.  Mr.  Spaulding  united  the  making  of 
chain  and  other  jewelry  from  gold  plate  and  coin  to 
his  shell  business,  and  it  now  requires  the  whole  shop 
with  a  large  addition,  which  has  the  present  year 
been  built,  to  do  the  business  in  giving  employment 
to  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  hands.  Mr.  Spauld- 
ing has  an  agency  in  New  York  city,  and  runs  an 
extensive  jewelry  store  in  the  City  of  Mexico.  He  is 
a  live  business  man,  and  we  feel  certain  that  as  long 
as  any  jewelry  business  is  done  anywhere,  and  Mr. 
Spaulding  lives,  it  will  be  done  in  Mansfield.  Mr. 
Spaulding  has  associated  with  him  as  special  part- 
ner Mr.  Charles  P.  Williams,  an  old  citizen  of  the 
place. 


In  1863,  Francis  G.  Hodges,  of  Attleborough,  com- 
menced the  making  of  bracelets  in  a  corner  of  Henry 
W.  Rayman's  barn,  located  in  the  rear  of  his  dwell- 
ing-house upon  North  Main  Street.  His  beginnings 
were  very  small,  and  the  power  he  used  was  literally 
Aorse-power.  He  made  haste  slowly  for  a  year  or 
two.  In  the  meantime  had  seen  some  specimens  of 
horn  jewelry,  and  went  to  work  getting  out  samples 
made  from  cattle  horn,  and  after  completion  started 
for  the  New  York  market  with  his  little  sample  case 
containing  them,  and  was  the  first  man  who  ever  ex- 
hibited samples  of  horn  jewelry.  He  subsequently 
formed  a  partnership  with  Mr.  Benjamin  Frank 
Shaw,  who  was  then  in  New  Jersey,  and  two  other 
gentlemen,  and  commenced  the  horn  business  here, 
and  the  firm  manufactured  largely  and  sold  the 
goods  readily,  Mr.  Shaw  doing  the  selling,  and  King- 
man &  Hodges  the  manufacturing.  This  firm  lasted 
but  a  short  time,  Kingman  &  Hodges  assuming  the 
business,  which  rapidly  grew  beyond  the  capacity 
of  the  barn,  and  they  bought  of  the  estate  of  Charles 
Morse  the  "  Middle  Factory,"  so  called,  upon  Rum- 
ford  River,  and  there  for  years  continued  the  busi- 
ness successfully  up  to  about  1876,  when  the  demand 
for  this  style  of  jewelry  ceased. 

Mr.  Shaw,  after  withdrawing  from  the  firm  hereto- 
fore mentioned,  formed  a  copartnership  with  Willard 
O.  Coferem  and  Harrison  A.  Williams,  and  this  firm 
commenced  making  fine  jewelry  at  Mr.  Cabot's 
factory  in  Sodem,  being  what  was  formerly  known 
as  the  lower  factory.  Early  in  the  present  century 
Mr.  Simeon  White  commenced  the  manufacture  of 
shoe-nails  and  tacks  in  that  part  of  Mansfield  now 
called  Whiteville.  It  was  a  very  small  trade  at  the 
beginning,  but  during  his  life  it  was  greatly  en- 
larged. At  his  death  Mr.  F.  A.  White,  a  son,  con- 
tinued the  business,  which  then  gave  work  to  a  large 
number  of  hands.  Mr.  F.  A.  White  and  his  brothers, 
Charles  P.,  Hiram,  Adoniram  J.,  and  Henry,  were 
engaged  in  the  business,  which  had  become  large  and 
lucrative,  and  continued  to  improve  up  to  the  time 
of  the  formation  of  a  combination  a  few  years  since, 
and  Mr.  White  was  shut  out,  and  being  unable  to 
obtain  stock,  was  obliged  to  stop  the  manufacturing. 
So  what  was  twenty  years  ago  the  most  prosperous 
village  in  Mansfield  is  now  without  business.  Mr. 
Charles  P.  White  represented  the  town  once  in  the 
Legislature.     Simeon,  the  father,  died  July,  1845. 

In  1842,  Robert  McMoran  and  Robert  Fulton  com- 
menced the  manufacture  of  shoe-knives  and  awls  in 
the  factory  on  the  west  side  of  Water  Street.  They 
made  good  articles  and  soon  built  up  a  large  business. 
The  firm  was  dissolved  in  1862.  Mr.  Fulton  con- 
tinued the  business  at  the  old  place.  Mr.  McMoran 
formed  a  copartnership  with  his  son-in-law,  George 
A.  Robinson,  and  his  grandson,  William  N.  McMoran, 
and  commenced  the  same  business  at  the  old  Wil- 
liams privilege  at  West  Mansfield.  Mr.  McMoran 
soon  after  died,  and  the  grandson  withdrew  from  the 


454 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


firm,  and  the  business  has  since  been  conducted  under 
the  name  of  George  A.  Robinson  &  Co. 

Mr.  Fulton  died  March  3,  1865,  and  his  business 
was  continued  for  three  years  by  his  executor,  at 
which  time  Mr.  Matthew  George,  who  married  Mrs. 
Fulton,  succeeded  to  the  business,  and  has  continued 
it  ever  since. 

The  basket  business  has  always  been  a  leading  in- 
dustry in  town,  and  it  now  gives  employment  to  nearly 
one  hundred  persons.  As  long  as  the  oldest  inhabi- 
tants can  remember,  this  branch  of  business  has  been 
followed.  Mr.  James  L.  Hodges  is  probably  the 
largest  manufacturer  in  town  ;  his  shop  is  near  the 
Perry  man  &  Hodges  claim,  though  he  gives  employ- 
ment to  many  outside  of  his  shop.  His  baskets  are 
all  sold  in  the  New  York  market. 

Mr.  Henry  Shepard  is  a  large  dealer  in  baskets; 
he  buys  of  the  small  manufacturers  and  supplies  the 
Boston  market.  Mr.  Isaac  G.  Hodges  manufactures 
in  his  shop  west  from  Main  Street.  Mr.  James  E. 
Paine  does  a  large  business  at  his  shop  on  West 
Street.  Mr.  V.  B.  Hodges  manufactures  in  the  shop 
west  of  Card  &  Co.'s  machine-shop,  and  there  are  a 
number  of  others  in  town  who  devote  a  part  of  their 
houses  or  barns  or  sheds  to  the  making  of  baskets. 

Fifty  years  ago  Capt.  Schuyler  Shepard,  a  man  of 
influence  in  town  affairs,  began  the  manufacture  of 
soap,  and  his  son  Albert  S.  has  continued  the  business. 
Mr.  James  W.  Cobb  commenced  the  making  of  soap 
at  his  residence  some  years  ago.  Its  virtues  are  said 
to  be  manifold ;  certain  it  is  that  he  sells  it  in  very 
large  quantities,  and  carries  it  with  his  teams  great 
distances.  In  the  summer  of  1882  he  canvassed  suc- 
cessfully the  Canadas.  Mr.  R.  H.  Belcher  and  Mr. 
Rufus  Paine  are  also  severally  engaged  largely  in  the 
manufacture  of  this  valuable  household  article. 

A  corporation  formed  under  the  laws  of  Rhode  Is- 
land called  the  "  Manton  Steam  Windlass  Company," 
signified  their  willingness  to  settle  in  this  town  if  the 
citizens  would  furnish  them  with  a  building.  Mr.  S. 
A.  Green,  a  son  of  the  late  James  Green,  offered  the 
land  to  put  a  suitable  building  on.  His  offer  was  ac- 
cepted, and  a  sufficient  amount  was  raised  from  indi- 
viduals to  erect  the  building.  It  is  located  near  the 
foundry  building  of  the  Ryder  Brothers,  and  the  new 
company  commenced  business  in  it  April  1,  1883. 

Mr.  S.  W,  Card  commenced  some  ten  years  ago  in 
the  basement  of  the  Murphy  shop  in  the  making  of 
taps  and  dies.  The  reputation  of  his  goods  became  so 
good  he  was  obliged  to  increase  his  facilities,  and 
hired  additional  room  in  the  same  building,  where  he 
continued  until  three  years  ago,  when  the  shop 
burned.  A  new  shop  was  built,  and  Mr.  Card  asso- 
ciated with  him  Mr.  David  E.  Harding,  and  the  firm 
purchased  the  building  and  the  water  privilege,  and 
they  are  now  doing  a  very  large  and  prosperous  busi- 
ness. 

Near  where  the  depot  now  stands  there  stood  in 
very  early  times  an  old  saw-mill,  owned  by  Williams, 


and  what  is  now  the  road  on  the  south  side  of  the 
depot  was  used  as  the  saw-mill  yard. 

Mr.  John  Birkenhead  ten  years  ago  removed  from 
Canton  to  this  place,  and  began  the  making  of  spin- 
dles. He  is  very  ingenious,  and  conceived  of  several 
improvements  which  he  got  patented,  and  which  very 
much  aided  him  in  the  sale  of  his  goods.  His  busi- 
ness rapidly  increased,  and  he  gave  employment  to  a 
large  number.  He  went  to  Europe  and  disposed  of 
his  patents  in  several  foreign  countries.  He  has  now 
united  lathe-making  with  his  other  business.  His 
shop  is  in  the  rear  of  the  Chilson's  Furnaces.  He 
built  and  now  lives  in  a  house  on  the  north  side  of 
Pratt  Street,  near  Spaulding's  jewelry-shop. 

Mr.  F.  M.  Cabot  some  ten  years  ago  purchased 
the.  Lower  Factory  on  Rum  ford  River,  and  removed 
here  from  Attleborough,  and  brought  with  him  his 
business  of  coffin  trimmings,  which  has  ever  since 
been  continued  by  him.  Thirty-five  years  ago  Mr. 
George  E.  Bayley  commenced  in  a  small  way  the 
baking  business  at  his  father's  residence,  about  one 
mile  west  from  the  centre.  He  had  the  usual  ups  and 
downs  which  attend  a  new  enterprise,  but  finally 
became  firmly  established,  and  the  business  assumed 
great  proportions;  now  he  gives  employment  to  a 
large  number  of  hands,  has  salesmen  in  New  York 
City,  Boston,  Newport,  Fall  River,  and  Taunton,  and 
with  him  are  now  associated  his  two  sons. 

Several  years  ago  Mr.  William  Bird  built  a  foundry 
building  on  the  west  side  of  the  Boston  and  Provi- 
dence Railroad,  and  during  his  life  the  business  in- 
creased, and  at  his  death,  which  occurred  soon  after 
the  building  was  completed,  his  widow  and  grand- 
children (Ryders)  have  continued  the  business  with 
very  fair  returns. 

Mr. Wilbur,  from  Foxborough,  has  just  pur- 
chased what  was  formerly  a  repair-shop  on  the  east 
side  of  the  Boston  and  Providence  Railroad,  which  he 
is  fixing  up  as  a  furnace. 

Mansfield  is  watered  by  three  rivers.  Canoe  River, 
which  rises  in  Sharon,  flows  through  the  easterly 
part  of  Mansfield  and  empties  into  Winneconnet 
Pond  in  Norton.  Upon  this  stream  are  located  the 
north  factory,  formerly  a  woolen-mill,  then  a  shoddy- 
mill,  now  used  to  manufacture  saleratus  in. 

The  American  Awl  Blade  Company,  manufac- 
turing taps  and  dies,  awls,  and  other  small  tools. 

Flint's  saw-mill,  where  formerly  stood  Hartwell's 
thread-factory,  in  which  a  large  and  successful  busi- 
ness was  carried  on  up  to  the  death  of  Mr.  Hartwell, 
nearly  twenty-five  years  ago.  This  factory  was 
burned. 

There  is  a  small  stream  in  the  northeasterly  part  of 
the  town,  which  supplies  the  power  used  by  the  tack- 
shop  in  Whiteville,  then  flows  into  Canoe  River. 

Rumford  River,  sometimes  called  Ten-Mile  River, 
rises  in  Sharon,  flows  through  the  centre  of  Mansfield 
and  Norton,  uniting  with  Wading  River.  Upon  this 
river   are   located  S.  W.  Card  &  Co.'s  tap  and  die 


MANSFIELD. 


455 


manufactory,  formerly  a  woolen-mill,  which  was 
burned  ;  then  Schenk's  shop  for  making  planes,  also 
burned ;  then  a  jewelry-  and  machine-shop,  also 
burned. 

George's  knife-  and  awl-shop,  formerly  a  woolen- 
mill,  which  was  burned. 

Kingman  &  Hodge's  jewelry-shop,  formerly  by  a 
woolen-mill,  which  was  burned;  then  a  mill  used  as 
a  woolen-mill  at  one  time,  afterwards  as  shoddy-mill  ; 
then  a  jewelry-shop,  also  burned. 

Cabot's  coffin-trimming  shop,  which  was  formerly 
occupied  as  woolen-mill,  then  a  tack-shop. 

Fisher's  grist-mill,  which  for  generations  has  been 
owned  by  the  same  family. 

Lower  down  upon  the  stream  can  now  be  seen  the 
remnants  of  an  old  dam,  and  it  was  the  site  of  a  mill 
which  was  burned  some  thirty  years  ago. 

Wading  River  flows  through  the  westerly  part  of 
the  town.  It  rises  in  Shepard's  Pond,  near  Wren- 
tham.  Upon  this  stream  is  located  the  knife-works 
of  George  A.  Robinson  &  Co.,  and  a  leather-board 
manufactory,  a  grist-  and  saw-mill  of  the  Briggs 
Brothers.  Where  now  stands  the  Robinson  mill 
formerly  stood  the  woolen-mill  of  Friend  Marcus 
Williams,  a  prominent  man  in  business  and  town 
affairs,  a  large  land-owner,  who  died,  leaving  four 
children, — Richard,  who  was  a  physician  in  Maine, 
now  dead ;  Adeline,  who  is  practicing  medicine  in 
Worcester ;  Nancy,  who  is  practicing  the  same  pro- 
fession in  Augusta,  Me. ;  and  Marcey,  who  read  law 
with  the  Hon.  John  Daggett,  of  Attleborough,  but 
who  died  before  she  was  admitted  to  practice.  Mar- 
cus Williams  died  March  7,  1847.  Upon  this  stream 
formerly  stood  the  Sweet's  flour-  and  grain-mill, 
owned  and  run  by  Elbridge  Sweet.  Upon  his  de- 
cease parties  from  Attleborough  commenced  the 
manufacture  of  jewelry,  but  the  mill  burned  soon 
after,  and  it  has  not  been  rebuilt. 

Mansfield  is  located  in  the  north  part  of  Bristol 
County ;  its  north  line  is  the  northerly  line  of  the 
county.  It  is  bounded  north  by  Foxborough,  in  Nor- 
folk County,  east  by  Easton,  south  by  Norton,  and 
west  by  Attleborough.  It  is  the  junction  of  the  Bos- 
ton and  Providence  Railroad  and  the  Northern  Divi- 
sion of  the  Old  Colony  Railroad,  and  close  on  to  fifty 
trains  pass  through  daily.  It  has  the  following  vil- 
lages :  the  Centre,containingseven  stores,  five  churches, 
town  hall,  school-house,  barber-shop,  billiard-saloon, 
etc.,  and  is  by  far  the  largest  village ;  the  west  part 
contains  fifty  houses,  store,  three  churches,  post-office, 
and  the  coal-mines,  which,  if  operated  successfully, 
will  cause  a  speedy  growth  in  business  and  building 
there  ;  the  east  part  contains  about  the  same  number 
of  houses  as  the  west  part,  and  here  is  located  the 
monumental  works  and  Flint's  saw-  and  grist-mill. 

Whiteville,  a  small  village  in  the  northeasterly 
part  of  the  town.  Much  business  was  formerly  done 
there  in  the  manufacture  of  tacks  and  shoe-nails,  but 
now  little  is  done  there. 


The  number  of  acres  in  Mansfield  is  twelve  thou- 
sand nine  hundred  and  thirteen,  from  which  about 
three  hundred  acres  may  be  deducted  for  roads  and 
ponds. 

The  population  in  1800  was 1016 

"  "  "     1810     "  1030 

"  "  "     1820    "  1225 

"  "  "     1830    "  1172 

"  "  "     1875     "  2G56 

"     1880     "  2765 

The  number  of  polls  in  1880,  671,  and  the  valua- 
tion was  $1,187,158.  Mansfield  belongs  to  the  first 
Bristol  senatorial  and  representative  districts,  and  is 
within  the  jurisdiction  of  the  first  Bristol  District 
Court.  Its  present  board  of  officers  (1883)  is  Alfred 
V.  Rogerson,  town  clerk  and  treasurer ;  Howard  Per- 
kins, James  L.  Hodges,  William  B.  Rogerson,  select- 
men and  assessors  and  overseers  of  the  poor;  William 
A.  Copeland,  Mr.  Lucas,  W.  L.  Robinson,  school 
committee;  Rufus  H.  Davis,  tax  collector;  Howard 
Perkins,  George  M.  Austin,  Alonzo  Reed,  highway 
surveyors ;  A.  W.  Cobb  is  deputy  sheriff;  Samuel  C. 
Lovell,  postmaster  at  Centre ;  Albert  Perry,  post- 
master at  West  Mansfield ;  J.  A.  Blake,  A.  W.  Cobb, 
and  R.  Jinks  Paine,  auctioneers. 

Carpenters  and  Builders. — L.  M.  and  H.  G. 
Hodges,  Win.  H.  Angell. 

Business  Men. — Rogerson  Bros.,  general  store ;  S. 
C.  Lovell,  groceries,  boots,  shoes,  etc.;  W.  and  W.  L. 
Robinson,  dry-goods;  Charles  T.  Borden,  drug-store; 
J.  B.  Wilson,  M.D.,  drug-store ;  T.  M.  George,  Jr., 
grocery;  H.  B.  Lillebridge,  groceries;  C.  M.  Tibbitts, 
groceries;  Wm.  C.  Bessom,  market;  S.  H.  Sherman, 
market;  C.  H.  Pratt,  market;  F.  M.  Washburn, 
watches  and  jewelry;  N. and  N.  G.  Whittemore,  gun- 
makers;  Mrs.  Louisa  Hodges,  millinery;  Mrs.  Charles 
H.  Morey,  millinery;  Andrew  Wils&n,  harnesses; 
Lewis  R.  Prentiss,  bootmaker ;  Harvey  Lincoln, 
bootmaker;  Pratt  &  White,  printers  and  publishers. 
They  issue  the  Mansfield  News  and  three  other  papers 
from  their  steam-printing  office.  John  Fox,  tailor 
and  ready-made  clothing ;  A.  C.  Hardon,  bonnet 
block  manufacturer;  Frederick  Paine,  station  agent; 
Edward  P.  Paine,  ticket  agent ;  William  H.  Skinner, 
restaurant;  A.  D.  King,  coal  dealer;  Le  Roy  King, 
livery  and  sale  stable;  Elbridge  G.  Miller,  stone- 
mason and  contractor ;  Prince  A.  Drew,  stone-mason 
and  contractor  ;  Mrs.  Wilson,  hotel-keeper  at  depot ; 
Mr.  Clapp,  hotel-keeper  at  Centre ;  S.  W.  Card  & 
Co.,  tap  and  die  manufacturers;  John  Moorhouse, 
tap  and  die  manufacturer;  M.  George,  knife  and 
awl  manufacturer;  George  A.  Robinson  &  Co.,  knife 
and  awl  manufacturers  ;  D.  S.  Spaulding,  jewelry 
manufacturer;  F.  W.  Barnard,  jewelry  manufac- 
turer ;  H.  A.  Williams  &  Co.,  jewelry  manufac- 
turers;  J.  B.  Draper,  jewelry  manufacturer;  Rogers 
Comey  &  Co.,  straw-goods  manufacturers;  F.  W. 
Cabbot,  coffin  trimmings  ;  Fisher  Brothers,  grist- 
mill;  W.  W.  Taylor,  screw-drivers  and  small  tools; 
George  E.  Bailey  &  Sons,  bakers;  Charles  Wilbur, 
furnace;    J.  E.  Ryder  &  Brother,  furnace;  Manton 


456 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Steam  Windlass   Company ;    John  Murphey,  small 
tools  ;  G.  F.  &  C.  M.  Austin,  poultry. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  volunteers  during  the 
Rebellion  of  1861  upon  the  quota  of  Mansfield: 


Charles  W.  Belcher. 
James  Blancliard. 
John  Blancliard. 
William  C.  Belcher. 
W.  T.  Britton. 
Calvin  Briggs. 
James  Bislick. 
Otis  Baily. 
J.  Curtis. 
M.  Brown. 
Alson  W.  Cobb. 
George  S.  Cook. 
William  A.M.Cobb. 
William  S.  Clapp. 
Charles  E.  Cady. 
J.  S.  Colby. 
William  Coleman. 
John  S.  Chadwick. 
E.  R.  Chadwick. 

C.  A.  Carter. 
R.  S.  Cook. 
William  R.  Cooper. 

D.  Crompton. 
Ethan  E.  Cobb. 
Thomas  W.  D.  Dean. 
Edmund  Davis. 
Samuel  W.  Day. 
William  Daunt. 

E.  S.  Deane. 
Joseph  Estes. 
David  Flahaven. 
William  F.  Frazer. 
Henry  H.  Fairbanks. 
J.  W.  Fisher. 

John  Fox. 
William  B.  Foster. 
E.  0.  Farrington. 
Vernon  E  Grover. 
Samuel  II.  Gooch. 
John  Gorman. 
E.  A.  Goodwin. 
Thomas  M.  George,  Jr. 
Edward  George. 
H.  W.  Gorman. 
Joseph  B.  Goff. 
E.  Luther  Gay. 
Thomas  High. 
T.  H.  Hunnewell. 
E.  F.  Hall. 
George  D.  Hodges. 
James  W.  R.  Holland. 
William  H.  Holmes. 
John  G.  Hall. 
H.  W.  Hodges. 
Preston  Holbrook. 
William  H.  Harriss. 
Alanson  C.  Keenan. 
A.  S.  Kittrell. 
James  P.  Kitrell. 
Benjamin  Knight,  Jr. 
Horatio  M.  Lawton. 
Samuel  C.  Lovell. 
Henry  Lamb. 
Frost  Lord. 
D.  F.  Leonard. 
John  W.  Martin. 
Charles  H.  Morse. 
Edward  McDonald. 
Henry  I).  Melville. 
J.  H.  McGavett. 
James  W.  Morrison. 


Joseph  Milness. 
William  McCauseland. 
William  Henry  Patten. 
James  Prime. 
H.  W.  Packard. 
J.  P.  Parker. 
James  C.  J.  Phillips. 
M.  C.  Pierce. 
Maurice  Pendergrass. 
Reuben  Purdey. 
John  W.  Rogers. 
Evon  H.  Bounds. 
Charles  D.  Robinson. 
Charles  A.  Robinson. 
Hiram  B.  Reed. 
William  W.  Robinson. 
Daniel  B.  Reynolds. 
William  H.  Richardson. 
Nathan  M.  Shaw. 
Alonzo  M.  Shaw. 

0.  S.  Stearns. 
Jesse  W.  Smith. 
H.  W.  Smith. 

1.  E.  Shepardson. 
Joseph  Stephenson. 
H.  A. Snow. 
George  E.  Snow. 

E.  0.  Shepardson. 
R.  E.  Sherman. 
George  L.  Sweet. 
Timothy  Shields. 
Henry  W.  Stearns. 
Albert  S.  Shepard. 
Herbert  L.  Shepard. 
D.  P.  Sherman. 

H.  B.  Tftus. 
R.  II.  L.  Talcott. 
J.  W.  Talcott. 
William  J.  Thompson. 
John  S.  Treeu. 
John  L.  Tol.itt. 
Albert  A.  Tillsou. 
John  D.  Tucker. 
Elisha  Tillison. 
William  E.  Thomas. 
James  Thompson. 
Archibald  Thompson. 
John  R.  Whitcomb. 
William  F.  White. 
Sumner  H.  W'etherell. 
Roland  Thomas  White. 
Albert  W.  Williams. 
Otis  W7illams. 
N.  C.  Wood. 
Roland  White. 
Benjamin  F.  Wood. 
Ebenezer  Willard. 
James  F.  Wiggins. 
Henry  B.  Wright. 
C.  B.  Wood. 
Oliver  M.  White. 
William  W.  W'ilson. 
Simeon  S.  Wood. 
William  H.  Smith. 
Josiah  Williams. 

F.  M.  Cabot. 
S.  B.  Austin. 
William  H.  Atwood. 
William  H.  Adams. 
Isaac  R.  Burchard. 


Levi  Brown. 
Barney  McCort. 
John  Downing. 
Francis  Drake. 
Michael  Egan. 
William  Gray. 
Andrew  McGee. 
S.  B.  Gammons. 
Edward  Gallegan. 
M.  A.  Hill. 
George  C.  Hunt. 
A  Win  W.  P.  Holmes. 
Elkanah  Ingalls. 
George  H.  Ide. 
Richard  H.  King. 
William  Kerr. 
Charles  W.  Knowies. 
Hiram  L.  Martin. 
William  Martin. 
Owen  0'Malley. 
Stillman  F.  Morse. 
James  S.  Palmer. 
Chandler  J.  Pike. 
Francis  Rose. 
Charles  H .  Seagraves. 
George  H.  Shepard. 
Adolphus  P.  Smith. 
Philip  Smith. 
Alexander  F.  Vallett. 
Frederick  Wink. 
Frank  Wink. 
John  F.  Morrison. 
George  Albert  Brown. 
Samuel  Johnson. 
Patrick  McKennes. 
Ralph  Gibbs. 
George  R.  Keyes. 
Thomas  Leonard. 
Paul  Waters. 
Henry  Downs. 
Peter  Snider. 
Eli  Merrill. 
George  Fox. 
George  Middleton. 
William  A.  Cromwell. 
George  Fisher. 
Charles  Demounde. 
Lewis  Miller. 
James  Davis. 
Charles  M.  Packard. 
John  Smith. 
Charles  J.  Clapp. 
Edward  S.  Champney. 
Robert  H.  Belcher. 
Obed  Cobbett. 
Frank  W.  Kravitt. 
Josiah  A.  Whitman. 
Harrison  Doty. 
Charles  E.  Miller. 
Rul'us  P.  Hardon. 


Andrew  Drake. 
Henry  B.  Pratt. 
Jerald  Brennan. 
John  Flahaven. 
William  Moorhouse. 
William  H.  Hunnewell. 
Franklin  E.  Paull. 
Frank  Buckley. 
John  Smith. 
Charles  F.  Daley. 
Charles  Brown. 
Henry  Harvey. 
James  H.  Pennery. 
Isaac  Briggs. 
F.  A.  Brown. 
William  H.  Bentley. 
William  H.  Keuney. 
L.  A.  Chadwick. 
Edwin  Hodges. 
Henry  Hodges. 
Robert  E.  Harris. 
Daniel  Whitmore. 
Andrew  D.  King. 
H.  W.  Gammons. 
Archibald  Sinclair. 
Charles  Proser. 
John  0.  McCormick. 
Benjamin  Lofitte. 
Terrauce  Reane. 
David  Roache. 
William  Daniels. 
James  How. 
Alfred  Burrows. 
R.  J.  Kennedy. 
William  B.  Buckwood. 
Jacob  Blank. 
John  Collins. 
John  McGivens. 
Charles  Morgan. 
Byron  Rice. 
George  E.  Thomas. 
Henry  M.  White. 
Willard  L.  White. 
Herbert  A.  White. 
Sanford  A.  Morse. 
George  B.  Brown. 
Harrison  L.  Phillips. 
Elijah  W.  Stearns. 

F.  Cobb. 
Laban  P.  Smith. 

G.  E.  Sanborn. 
Lyman  C.  Smith. 
Charles  31.  Hodges. 
R.  I.  Briggs. 

E.  B.  Fisher. 
E.  Dunbar. 
Alfred  D.  White. 
H.  L.  Grover. 
A.  R.  White. 


The  following  persons  served  in  the  navy : 

Frederick  D.  Wralker,  Lloyd  E.  Richardson,  George  A.  Fisher,  David 
Fisher,  Charles  W.  Pond,  John  G.  Smith. 

The  time  allowed  me  for  the  preparation  of  this 
article  was  very  scanty  and  altogether  too  short,  and 
of  its  manifold  imperfections  I  am  fully  aware.  I  do 
not  view  it  as  approaching  completion.  In  its  prepa- 
ration I  have  been  greatly  aided  by  Mr.  Emery's 
"Ministry  of  Taunton,"  and  Mr.  Clark's  "History  of 
Norton."1 


1  (In  consequence  of  an  unfortunate  delay  in  transmitting  proof  be- 
tween author  and  publishers,  corrections  will  be  found  in  errata. — Editor.) 


MANSFIELD. 


457 


BIOGRAPHICAL     SKETCHES. 


HON.   JOHN    ROGERS. 

Probably  no  one  better  deserves  a  permanent  place 
in  the  history  of  Mansfield  than  the  Hon.  John  Rogers. 
He  was  the  oldest  son  of  Benjamin  and  Mary  (Blan- 
chard)  Rogers,  a  descendant  of  John,  of  Scituate,  1644, 
and  was  born  in  Mansfield,  Nov.  2, 1806.  He  married, 
Oct.  15,  1833,  Miss  Eliza  A.  Williams  (born  March 
21,  1810),  daughter  of  Joseph  C.  and  Sally  Williams, 
of  Easton.  Their  children  were  Ellen  M.,  wife  of 
Rev.  Jacob  Ide,  present  pastor  of  the  orthodox 
church  ;  Frances  E.,  wife  of  David  E.  Harding,  Esq. ; 
John  W.,  successor  in  his  father's  business;  and 
Charlotte  G.,  who  died  in  her  twenty-first  year. 
After  the  lamented  death  of  his  wife,  Sept.  16,  1866, 
Mr.  Rogers  married  Miss  Mary  E.  Gage,  daughter  of 
Joshua  and  Anstress  Gage,  of  Waterville,  Me.  His 
own  death  occurred  suddenly  March  31,  1873,  in  his 
sixty  seventh  year,  to  the  deep  sorrow  of  the  whole 
community,  as  attested  by  the  crowded  assembly  at 
his  funeral. 

In  his  youth  Mr.  Rogers  enjoyed  only  a  public 
school  education.  But  his  natural  quickness  of  per- 
ception, his  acute  observation,  and  retentive  memory 
compensated  his  lack  of  early  opportunities  by  giving 
him  a  large  practical  culture  in  all  things  necessary 
to  a  successful  life  and  a  wide  influence.  He  was  an 
extensive  reader,  especially  of  modern  histories,  and 
was  familiar  with  the  connection  of  events  in  Europe 
as  well  as  in  his  own  country.  His  acquaintance  with 
all  political  questions  was  thorough  and  intelligent. 
The  intervals  in  his  business  were  much  occupied  in 
familiarizing  himself  with  public  topics.  When, 
therefore,  his  increasing  wealth  allowed  him  to  remit 
the  closeness  of  his  personal  application  and  surren- 
der the  details  of  his  large  affairs  to  others,  and  to 
give  himself  more  to  his  congenial  tastes,  his  general 
qualifications  and  his  genial  interest  had  already 
secured  the  confidence  of  the  community  in  his  sound 
judgment  and  integrity,  and  they  bestowed  upon  him 
the  highest  civic  honors  in  the  gift  of  the  town. 

Mr.  Rogers  was  a  member  of  the  Constitutional 
Convention  of  1853,  of  the  House  of  Representatives 
of  1855,  and  of  the  State  Senate  of  1856.  In  all  these 
positions  he  was  on  the  side  of  every  wise  and  valu- 
able reform,  and  was  emphatically  both  in  office  and 
in  private  a  strenuous  advocate  of  prohibition.  After 
his  refusal  of  further  public  service  the  public  had 
such  confidence  in  his  judgment  that  his  advice  was 
widely  sought  and  regarded,  and  his  aid  was  as  widely 
rendered  to  every  measure  he  believed  to  be  for  the 
public  good.  He  became  a  member  of  the  Sons  of 
Temperance,  a  vigilant  watchman  against  violations 
of  law,  and  a  generous  helper  to  lift  up  the  victims  of 
strong  drink.  His  influence  with  young  men  was 
decided  and  often  decisive  in  favor  of  their  total  ab- 
stinence.    His  contribution  could  alwavs  be  counted 


upon  generously  to  every  good  word  and  work.  He 
was  also  one  of  the  first  members  of  the  Masonic 
lodge,  and  made  it  the  medium  of  many  an  untold 
gift  and  deed  of  helpfulness.  No  worthy  cause  ever 
went  away  begging  from  his  always  generous  hand. 

Mr.  Rogers  accumulated  his  abundant  wealth  en- 
tirely by  his  close  and  skillful  devotion  to  his  busi- 
ness at  a  time  when  honest  work  and  personal  integ- 
rity commanded  a  premium  in  the  market.  He  was 
among  the  first  manufacturers  of  straw  goods  in  this 
region.  He  began  upon  a  small  and  safe  basis.  He 
secured  reliable  hand-sewers  in  families,  and  per- 
sonally collected  and  sold  his  bonnets  in  New  York, 
as  the  custom  then  was.  By  fair  dealing  in  honest 
articles  he  rapidly  enlarged  the  demand  for  his  man- 
ufactures, and  soon  secured  such  a  profitable  trade 
that  he  was  early  able  to  transfer  his  large  business 
to  his  son  and  son-in-law  and  retire  with  a  well- 
earned  income,  ample  for  his  simple  tastes  and  for 
the  deeds  of  benevolence  he  so  much  enjoyed. 
Though  not  uniting  with  the  church,  he  became  a 
member  of  the  orthodox  Congregational  Society 
soon  after  its  organization,  and  was  one  of  its  most 
liberal  subscribers  in  its  early  weakness,  when  help- 
ers were  few.  Being  an  ardent  lover  of  singing  and 
a  most  excellent  singer,  he  was  the  leader  of  its  choir, 
and  served  it  gratuitously  so  long  as  he  felt  able  to 
fulfill  its  duties.  He  gave  largely  to  the  first  organ 
in  the  church,  and  on  the  rebuilding  of  the  house  of 
worship,  of  which  he  bore  the  chief  expense,  he  re- 
placed the  old  organ  by  a  large  and  fine  instrument, 
superior  to  any  in  the  vicinity,  and  at  his  own  ex- 
pense. The  fine-toned  bell  of  the  church  was  also 
his  gift.  As  was  truly  said  of  him  in  the  sermon  at 
his  funeral,  "He  was  a  prompt  and  generous  helper 
in  every  movement  which  he  approved."  Families 
in  need,  sickness,  or  trouble  received  always  prompt 
aid  from  him,  of  which  the  public  never  knew,  until 
his  heart  and  hand  were  alike  stopped  by  his  sudden 
death. 

Mr.  Rogers,  like  all  men,  had  his  peculiarities  and 
his  imperfections,  which  as  a  public  man  were  per- 
haps sometimes  magnified  for  effect,  but  they  were 
balanced  by  some  decided  excellences  of  character. 
He  was  positive  in  his  convictions,  but  he  did  not 
offensively  push  them.  He  rather  withdrew  entirely 
his  co-operation  where  he  could  not  approve.  His 
resentments  against  whatever  he  thought  to  be  im- 
proper were  quick  and  strong,  but  he  indulged  them 
in  silence,  and  signified  them  by  his  absence.  He 
could  not  endure  or  palliate  any  ever  so  plausible 
meanness,  but  he  was  among  the  first  to  counteract 
its  results.  He  could  not  calmly  encounter  opposi- 
tion, but  he  did  not  drop  his  interest  in  measures 
which  he  could  not  carry.  He  showed  sometimes 
contrary  surface  currents,  but  the  under-tide  of  his 
feeling  and  labor  always  steadily  flowed  toward  his 
ideal  of  the  best  good  of  his  church  and  his  commu- 
nity.    As  was  truly  and  aptly  said  of  him  in  a  public 


458 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


printed  notice  of  his  death,  "  He  was  a  good  man  for 
the  town,  so  anxious  to  advance  all  its  interests;  a 
good  man  for  society,  so  frank  and  honest,  so  free 
from  hypocrisy  and  duplicity ;  a  good  man  for  a 
neighbor,  so  kind  and  obliging  and  sympathizing; 
a  good  man  for  a  friend,  so  true  and  faithful  and 
willing.  His  place  cannot  be  filled.  He  is  missed 
by  everybody,  for  he  had  a  hearty  greeting,  a  kind 
word,  a  pleasant  smile  for  us  all." 


DR.  WILLIAM    F.  PERRY. 

The  Perry  family  were  of  English  origin,  and  re- 
lated to  the  ancestral  line  of  Commodore  Perry.  The 
great-great-grandfather,  Josiah  Perry1,  was  born  July 
13,  1712.  We  find  it  recorded  that  he  was  father  of 
Capt.  Nathaniel  Perry2,  of  whom  it  was  said  that 
he  received  a  captain's  commission,  signed  by  Gov- 
ernor Shirley,  June  6,  1754,  as  captain  of  Company 
10,  in  Col.  John  Winslow's  regiment,  and  had  a  war- 
rant to  enlist  soldiers.  In  1754  raised  ninety  men  ; 
served  in  Nova  Scotia ;  was  at  the  taking  of  Cumber- 
land ;  died  in  Nova  Scotia,  1756.  His  son,  James 
Perry3,  grandfather  of  William  F.  Perry,  was  born 
in  1745,  in  Easton,  Mass.  Was  a  man  of  wealth 
and  influence ;  owner  of  the  iron  foundry  in  Easton, 
which  was  afterwards  owned  by  Gen.  Shepard  Leach. 
He  was  active  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  He  equipped 
a  company  of  men  at  his  own  expense,  and  volun- 
teered as  their  commander  in  the  emergency  at  Con- 
cord and  Lexington.  He  was  afterwards  made  cap- 
tain in  the  army  of  Washington  ;  was  in  service  three 
years  ;  was  in  the  battles  of  Princeton  and  Trenton  ; 
but  as  the  army  was  in  want  of  ordnance,  it  was 
thought  he  could  serve  his  country  more  efficiently 
by  manufacturing  cannon  and  balls.  He  came  home 
to  Easton  and  superintended  the  castings,  furnished 
the  needed  supplies,  and  was  paid  in  Continental 
money,  which  caused  his  failure.  One  of  his  work- 
men (Benjamin  Buck,  of  Easton)  said  he  saw  a  bushel- 
basket  full  at  one  time  in  Capt.  Perry's  possession  of 
Continental  money.  He  never  received  any  remu- 
neration for  his  loss  by  pension  or  otherwise.  He  was 
a  stalwart  man  of  commanding  appearance.  He  died 
suddenly  of  lockjaw  July  3,  1808,  aged  sixty-three. 
He  left  four  sons, — Abner,  Leonard,  Simeon,  and 
James  (afterwards  Dr.  James). 

The  fourth  son,  Dr.  James  Perry*,  was  born  in 
1767  ;  was  five  feet  seven  inches  in  height,  black  hair 
and  eyes,  with  florid  complexion.  He  had  a  long 
head  for  its  width;  was  a  man  of  keen  intellect  and 
quick  perception.  His  wife  was  Adah  Sheperson,  of 
Mansfield.  The  children  of  this  marriage  were  three 
sons  and  three  daughters,— James  Leonard  Perry, 
D.D.S.,  Ada,  Harriet,  Eliza,  Jonathan  Pratt  Perry, 
and  William  F.  Perry. 

Dr.  James*  was  a  physician  of  some  note,  espe- 
cially in  typhus  fevers.  During  the  prevalence  of 
what  was  then  called  the  "  cold  plague,"  which  was 


fatal  to  the  majority  of  its  victims,  his  services  were 
in  constant  requisition.  His  exposure  and  over- 
exertion and  loss  of  sleep  broke  down  his  constitu- 
tion so  that  he  was  an  invalid  the  remaining  part  of 
his  life.     He  died  May  2,  1825,  aged  fifty-eight  years. 

William  F.  was  then  in  his  sixteenth  year.  Soon 
after  his  father's  death  he  decided  to  study  medicine, 
but  as  his  resources  were  limited  he  depended  mostly 
on  himself,  and  worked  on  the  farm  and  studied  alter- 
nately with  Dr.  Swan,  of-  Easton. 

He  acquired  the  classical  education  requisite  to 
enter  college  at  Middleborough,  Mass.  In  the  spring 
of  1831  he  commenced  a  course  of  medical  lectures 
at  Bowdoin  College,  attended  one  course  at  Harvard 
Medical  School  in  the  fall  of  1832,  and  in  1833  another 
course  at  Bowdoin,  making  three  courses  in  all.  He 
graduated  and  took  his  diploma  at  Bowdoin.  After 
graduation  he  became  assistant  to  Dr.  Peck,  of  Fox- 
borough.  While  there  he  lost,  by  the  burning  of  Dr. 
Peck's  house,  his  books,  instruments,  and  clothes. 
He  then  returned  to  his  mother's  home  in  West 
Easton,  where  he  lived  till  the  summer  of  1835. 
During  those  two  years  he  attended  very  closely  to 
the  study  of  medicine  and  surgery,  and  practiced 
occasionally  in  the  neighborhood  and  vicinity.  In 
the  summer  of  1835  he  was  invited  by  some  promi- 
nent citizens  of  Mansfield  to  settle  among  them. 
There  were  at  that  time  two  practicing  physicians  in 
Mansfield,  one  at  West  Mansfield,  Dr.  Skinner,  who, 
from  age  and  neuralgia,  could  not  be  depended  on, 
except  in  pleasant  weather,  and  Dr.  Billings,  at  the 
Centre,  who  was  nearly  eighty  years  old,  but  still  vig- 
orous and  unwilling  to  give  up  practice,  so  that  Dr. 
Perry  often  visited  their  patients  in  the  night  and  in 
stormy  weather  gratis,  they  thinking  the  experience 
thus  gained  sufficient  remuneration. 

He  has  been  heard  by  the  writer  of  this  to  say  that 
he  could  not  have  stayed  in  Mansfield  had  it  not  been 
for  the  prevalence  of  the  measles  and  a  storm  at  that 
time,  which  covered  the  ground  everywhere  with  ice 
and  prevented  the  older  physicians  from  going  out. 
This  was  his  first  introduction  to  practice,  which  was 
somewhat  opposed  by  Thomsonianism,  which  was 
rife  at  that  time  in  Mansfield  and  other  adjoining 
towns  for  two  years  or  more. 

On  Dec.  22,  1839,  he  married  Miss  Emeline  B. 
Davis,  of  New  Market,  N.  H.,  daughter  of  Capt. 
Samuel  C.  Davis,  a  man  who  was  highly  esteemed 
by  his  fellow-townsmen,  and  on  whom  they  conferred 
many  offices  of  trust.  The  children  of  this  marriage 
were  seven  sons  and  one  daughter : 

William  Hunter,  born  Oct.  25,  1840;  died  May  2, 
1868,  while  a  student  in  medicine  at  Harvard  Uni- 
versity. 

James  Leonard,  A.B.,  C.E.,  M.D.,  born  Feb.  3, 1842; 
graduate  of  Harvard  College ;  graduate  of  the  Law- 
rence Scientific  School  as  civil  engineer;  graduate  of 
Bellevue  Hospital  Medical  College  in  medicine ; 
graduate  of  Bellevue  Hospital  as  interne;  graduate  of 


m 


-m 


7^L/z^~~  X 


MANSFIELD. 


459 


New  York  State  Woman's  Hospital  for  Diseases  of 
Women  as  surgeon. 

Frederic  Davis,  D.D.S.  and  M.D.,  born  Dec.  20, 
1843;  graduate  in  dentistry,  Philadelphia;  graduate 
in  medicine  at  Harvard  Medical  School. 

Edward  Everett,  graduate  of  Harvard  Medical 
School,  born  July  9,  1845. 

Samuel  Freeman,  born  Nov.  10,  1847;  died  in  in- 
fancy. 

Harriet  Emeline,  graduate  of  Salem  Normal  School 
in  1874,  since  which  time  she  has  been  an  efficient 
and  acceptable  teacher  in  her  native  town. 

Dana  Duane,  born  July  10,  1859 ;  graduate  in 
medicine  at  Bellevue  Hospital  Medical  College,  New 
York,  March,  1882. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  the  son  who  graduated  as 
C.E.,  after  two  years  in  that  profession,  studied  medi- 
cine;'also  the  dentist,  after  practicing  his  profession 
a  few  years  successfully  ;  so  that  all  five  of  the  sons 
studied  medicine,  and  the  father  and  grandfather  were 
physicians. 

It  may  not  be  out  of  place  here  to  state  that  there 
was  no  high  school  or  academy  in  Mansfield  at  the 
time  when  his  children,  three  of  them,  could  have 
been  benefited  by  it,  and  the  elementary  instruction 
was  very  limited,  so  that  when  they  were  at  the  age 
of  thirteen  and  a  half  and  fourteen,  the  doctor  was 
obliged  to  send  them  from  home  to  obtain  the  prepar- 
atory education  for  their  professional  studies.  This 
was  a  great  draft  on  the  doctor's  uncertain  income, 
and  required  strict  economy  and  self-denial. 

Edward  E.  practiced  medicine  in  Boston  six  years, 
and  died  in  1875.  The  following  notice  of  his  death 
will  serve  to  show  something  of  the  esteem  in  which 
he  was  held  :  "  Dr.  Edward  E.  Perry  died  at  his  home 
in  Mansfield  after  a  short  illness  on  the  morning  of 
Sept.  14,  1875.  He  was  a  graduate  in  medicine  at 
Harvard,  and  began  practice  in  Cross  Street,  Boston, 
in  1868.  From  the  first  he  was  successful.  Kind, 
courteous,  and  genial,  he  made  friends  of  all  with 
whom  he  came  in  contact.  Generous  and  liberal  to 
the  poor,  he  always  supplied  their  wants  with  a  liberal 
hand.  He  soon  had  an  extensive  practice,  which  was 
not  limited  to  the  city,  but  extended  in  all  directions 
for  many  miles.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  the 
most  popular  physician  at  the  north  end.  Few  phy- 
sicians have  died  as  much  lamented  as  young  Dr. 
Perry.  For  several  years  he  has  had  attacks  of  he- 
patic colic,  caused  by  biliary  calculi;  his  death  oc- 
curred suddenly  after  a  severe  paroxysm.  Hundreds 
called  at  his  office  during  his  illness  to  inquire  for 
him,  and  on  learning  of  his  death  burst  into  tears, 
and  expressed  the  most  devoted  friendship  and  pro- 
found sorrow.'' 

Of  the  living  children  J.  L.  practices  in  New  York 
City  ;  F.  D.  succeeds  to  his  father's  practice  in  Mans- 
field. 

The  imperfect  picture  which  must  unfortunately 
accompany  this  sketch  gives  only  a  correct  idea  of 


that  part  of  the  face  above  the  nose  and  his  eyes,  and 
would  have  been  withheld  if  his  biography  could 
have  been  accepted  without  it.  He  never  sat  for  a 
picture  intentionally, — we  regret  it ;  but  he  will  be  re- 
membered by  his  contemporaries  as  a  handsome  and 
distinguished-looking  man,  whose  presence  was  calcu- 
lated to  inspire  confidence  and  hope.  Dr.  Perry  had 
black  curly  hair,  dark  expressive  eyes,  fine  teeth,  and 
clear  dark  complexion  ;  was  slight  when  young,  was 
five  feet  ten  inches  in  height,  and  weighed  later  in  life 
one  hundred  and  eighty-four  pounds. 

For  thirty-eight  years  he  had  an  extensive  practice 
in  Mansfield  and  the  adjoining  towns,  more  laborious 
than  remunerative.  During  that  time  he  was  never 
laid  aside  by  illness  which  prevented  his  visiting  his 
patients  but  two  days,  and  never  absent  from  home 
on  business  or  pleasure  but  twice  in  that  time.  He 
was  absent  on  business  once  in  1858,  when  he  took  a 
ten  days'  Western  trip,  and  in  1873  spent  a  few  days 
in  New  York. 

He  was  earnest  and  devoted  to  his  patients ;  was 
absolutely  pure  and  honest  both  in  public  and  private 
life.  He  often  used  the  expression,  "  I  mean  to  be 
honest  before  God."  He  had  strong  convictions  and 
pronounced  opinions  on  matters  religious  and  politi- 
cal, and  being  tempered  with  rare  good  judgment  and 
foresight,  his  opinions  were  always  worthy  of  respect. 

He  utterly  detested  immorality  and  vice,  and  was 
so  outspoken  in  such  matters  that  he  was  both  by  ex- 
ample and  precept  one  of  the  best  teachers  of  mo- 
rality. He  had  a  large  brain  and  strong  memory, 
well  stored  with  the  history  of  men  prominent  in 
politics  or  eminent  in  science,  and  especially  medical 
science. 

He  possessed  an  analytical  mind ;  was  a  close  ob- 
server ;  in  fact,  nothing  seemed  to  escape  his  observa- 
tion. 

In  the  reading  of  character  he  was  quick  and  almost 
unequaled.  A  learned  and  skilled  physician,  with 
whom  he  was  called  in  consultation,  said  of  him,  "  Dr. 
Perry  was  one  of  the  best  country  physicians  I  ever 
knew,  combining  rare  powers  of  diagnosis  with  the 
most  varied  and  thorough  knowledge  of  drugs."  He 
was  by  nature,  by  study,  and  by  observation,  a  chemist 
and  a  therapeutist.  He  was  ingenious  and  fertile  in 
mechanical  appliances,  and,  being  ready  in  the  use  of 
instruments,  was  a  careful  surgeon  and  a  good  oper- 
ator. He  was  sincere,  conscientious  and  faithful,  and 
being  modest  shrank  from  notoriety  or  office-holding, 
except  in  the  cause  of  education,  which  he  labored 
zealously  to  promote. 

Dr.  Perry  was  liberal  beyond  his  means,  kind  and 
considerate  to  the  poor ;  was  often  called  the  "  poor 
man's  friend,"  and,  dying  as  he  lived,  his  last  act 
was  a  charity,  for  he  died  suddenly  Oct.  17,  1873, 
while  visiting  a  poor  family,  of  whom  he  said  he 
must  go  or  they  would  suffer.  The  following  tribute 
by  Mr.  Ide  justly  expressed  the  feelings  of  the 
public : 


460 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL  COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


"  His  sudden  death  was  a  great  shock  not  only  to 
his  family,  hut  to  the  community  at  large.  He  had 
for  many  years  been  most  confidently  relied  on  for 
medical  aid,  and  his  loss  was  widely  and  deeply  de- 
plored. He  had  so  distinguished  himself  by  inva- 
riable promptness  in  responding  to  the  call  of  the 
sick,  taking  no  thought  for  himself  while  others  were 
suffering,  that  when  his  strong  system  gave  way 
under  the  continuous  strain,  the  public  generally 
became  mourners. 

"At  his  funeral  the  large  gathering,  the  sad  and 
tearful  faces,  the  touching  and  honorary  tribute  paid 
to  his  memory,  showed  how  deeply  the  sense  of  a 
great  and  irreparable  loss  had  impressed  itself  upon 
Mansfield.  No  public  utterances,  however  appreci- 
ative of  his  character  and  skill,  could  tell  the  grief 
which  his  death  had  caused.  In  the  homes  which 
even  now  sadly  miss  his  comforting  presence,  there 
are  frequently  heard  voices  of  sorrow  at  his  de- 
parture, which  are  the  truest  and  most  valuable 
testimonials  to  his  worth.  His  death  was  not  an 
occasion  for  any  mere  material  monument,  for  his 
noble  and  self-denying  life  had  built  up  many  and 
more  precious  ones  in  living  and  loving  hearts." 

The  accompanying  elegy  was  composed  by  one  of 
his  friends  and  neighbor,  Miss  Adelaide  Pettee  : 


ELEGY   AT   THE    GRAVE   OF   WILLIAM    PERRY,   M.D.,  MANS- 
FIELD, MASS. 

'Tis  winter  dread, 
Yet  earth,  arrayed  in  robes  of  spotless  white, 
Seems  for  a  bridal  dressed,  while  morning  bright 
O'er  hill  and  dale  her  banner  wide  unfurls, 
And  forests  sparkle  with  unnumbered  pearls 
Save  where  I  stand,  her  mantle  'neath  my  feet, 
Seems  but  one  vast,  unbroken  winding  sheet 

That  wraps  the  dead. 

Beneath  this  mound, 
Deep  buried  from  the  world's  ignoble  strife, 
Rests  one  whose  only  aim  it  was  iu  life 
To  find  in  ocean  cave,  on  mount,  or  plain 
Some  soothing  remedy  for  mortal  pain. 
0  sacred,  heaven-born  purpose  ! — wondrous  skill. 
That  never  faltered  till  the  heart  was  still, 

Low  in  the  ground ! 

Yet  not  in  vain 
Thy  mission  here !  many  shall  pause  and  shed 
The  silent  tear-drop  on  thy  dreamless  bed. 
The  good  begun  by  thee  shall  onward  flow, 
And  man  shall  still  seek  on  himself  to  know. 
Time  shall  perpetuate  the  work  begun, 
And  thy  dear  image  in  eacli  noble  son  l 

Shall  live  again. 

Rest,  spirit,  rest ! 
We  leave  thee  in  the  bosom  of  our  God 
Till  we  the  rugged  paths  of  life  have  trod. 
We  seek  the  unseen  Father's  guiding  hand 
Till  we  shall  join  thee  in  the  better  land, 
And  the  great  mysteries  of  life  shall  cease 
In  that  sweet  home  where  all  is  light  and  peace, 

Home  of  the  blest ! 

Addie. 


1  He  left  three  sons,  who  are  physicians. 


GEORGE    EDSON    BAILEY. 

John  Bailey1,  the  first  American  ancestor,  resided 
in  Scituate,  Mass.,  as  early  as  1670.  He  married,  in 
1672,  Sarah  White,  and  upon  her  decease  he  married, 
in  1699,  Ruth  Clothier.  He  died  in  1718.  His  son 
Samuel2  was  born  in  1690,  married  Elizabeth  Caswell, 
and  had,  among  other  children,  Abijah',  who,  Nov. 
20,  1765,  married  Sarah  Grover.  They  had  six  chil- 
dren, of  whom  Abner4  was  one.  Abner  married,  Nov. 
30,  1797,  Deborah  Lovell,  by  whom  he  had  two  chil- 
dren, Jacob5  and  Caroline.  He  married  as  his  second 
wife  Sarah  Brintnell,  June  6,  1819,  and  upon  her  de- 
cease he  married  Jemima  Skinner,  June  12,  1828. 
There  was  no  issue  by  either  the  two  latter  marriages. 
His  daughter  Caroline  married  Joseph  Brintnell,  and 
is  now  (1883)  residing  iu  Connecticut  in  her  eighty- 
fourth  year.  Jacob  was  born  April  5,  1801.  He 
married,  July  27,  1827,  Sally  S.  Skinner,  daughter  of 
James  and  Sarah  (Sumner)  Skinner.  She  was  born 
Jan.  29,  1807.  To  them  were  born  two  children, — 
George  E.  and  Deborah  Caroline.  She  was  born 
July  23,  1830,  married  Charles  A.  Turner,  June  14, 
1851.  She  died  May  22,  1878.  She  had  four  chil- 
dren, of  whom  one  died  in  infancy,  the  others  grew 
up  to  maturity. 

George  Edson  Bailey,  sixth  in  descent  from  the 
original  John  Bailey,  of  Scituate,  was  born  in  Mans- 
field, Mass.,  Jan.  1,  1829.  In  addition  to  the  advan- 
tages afforded  by  the  common  schools  of  his  town,  he 
attended  for  a  period  of  about  two  years  a  select  or 
private  academy.  He  was  brought  up  a  farmer's  son, 
and  early  taught  to  labor,  and  laid  the  foundation  for 
a  rugged  constitution  by  abundant  out-door  exercise. 
At  about  the  age  of  nineteen  he  entered  upon  that 
branch  of  business  which  he  has  followed  through 
life,  and  which,  by  reason  of  inventions  connected 
therewith,  and  which  will  be  noticed  hereafter,  has 
made  his  name  known  throughout  the  land.  He  es- 
tablished a  small  bakery,  hired  men  to  do  the  work, 
and  by  applying  himself  to  the  practical  part  of  the 
business  soon  learned  from  his  employes  the  modus 
operandi  of  the  trade.  This  was  in  1848.  Mr.  Bailey 
soon  established  himself  in  the  confidence  of  the  peo- 
ple, and  the  circle  of  his  trade  gradually  widened. 
There  were  at  the  time  of  which  we  write  a  number 
of  small  bakeries  in  the  adjacent  towns,  but  one  after 
another  gave  up  the  business,  and  in  a  few  years  Mr. 
Bailey  controlled  the  trade.  From  his  early  boyhood 
Mr.  Bailey  was  noted  for  an  investigating  and  inven- 
tive turn  of  mind.  It  was  no  argument  to  his  mind 
that  a  particular  method  of  doing  a  thing  was  the 
best  way  simply  because  it  was  the  usual  way.  Never 
content  with  conventional  methods,  he  was  always 
seeking  for  the  most  simple,  rapid,  and  effective  means 
of  accomplishing  whatever  he  had  in  hand,  and  to 
this  trait  or  faculty  may  be  attributed  his  success  in 
life. 

At  the  time  when  he  first  engaged  in  the  baking 
business  the  ovens  then  in  use  were  very  crude  and 


^^y 


tJljLt^Lf*  i^CV^^U 


MANSFIELD. 


4G1 


imperfect.  There  was  no  such  thing  as  obtaining  and 
maintaining  a  regular  temperature,  both  of  which  were 
essential  to  the  best  results.  His  inventive  faculties 
were  brought  to  bear  on  the  solution  of  this  problem, 
and  "  Bailey's  patent  oven"  was  the  result.  Years  of 
patient  thought,  experiment,  and  labor  were  expended, 
however,  before  the  desired  results  were  obtained ; 
but  as  is  usually  the  case  where  diligent  application 
is  coupled  with  intelligent  direction,  he  at  last  suc- 
ceeded in  perfecting  an  oven  which  combines  every 
essential  advantage, — economy  of  fuel,  convenience 
of  arrangement,  and  an  equal  distribution  of  tem- 
perature, the  degree  of  which  is  completely  under 
the  control  of  the  operator.  Dec.  5,  1871,  letters 
patent  were  issued  to  Mr.  Bailey  for  his  invention, 
and  July  1G,  1872,  another  patent  was  granted  him 
for  an  improvement  on  the  same.  As  soon  as  his  oven 
was  in  satisfactory  working  order  he  began  using  it  in 
his  own  shop,  and  was  enabled  by  its  use  to  offer  to 
customers  advantages,  both  in  price  and  quality  of 
production,  that  no  one  using  the  old-fashioned  ovens 
could  possibly  offer.  He  appointed  Charles  B.  Good- 
rich, of  Charleston,  Mass.,  agent  for  his  invention  in 
the  States  of  Maine,  New  Hampshire,  Vermont,  and 
Massachusetts,  and  Jesse  A.  Locke,  of  New  York, 
agent  for  the  rest  of  the  United  States.  Through 
them  his  invention  became  widely  known  and  exten- 
sively used.  It  is  now  in  use  in  many  of  the  public 
institutions  and  bakeries  throughout  the  United 
States,  and  in  many  parts  of  Canada.  This  oven  is 
particularly  adapted  to  baking  bread,  cake,  and  pas- 
try. He  has  also  in  use  in  his  establishment  many 
other  accessories  to  his  business,  involving  improve- 
ments upon  old  ideas,  as  well  as  the  practical  appli- 
cation of  new  ones,  which  he  has  never  had  patented, 
and  does  not  care  to  make  public.  From  the  time  of 
the  invention  of  his  "  oven"  he  began  enlarging  the 
sphere  of  his  operations  and  rapidly  extending  his 
business.  He  has  now  a  regular  delivery  team  of  his 
own  in  Boston,  Providence,  Taunton,  Fall  River,  and 
Lowell.  In  addition  to  this  he  has  agents  in  many 
of  the  principal  cities  and  towns  of  New  England 
who  handle  his  goods  exclusively. 

Mr.  Bailey  is  a  good  illustration  of  what  may  be 
accomplished  in  this  progressive  age  by  an  earnest, 
enterprising,  intelligent  man, — one  who  brings  to 
bear  in  the  every-day  affairs  of  his  business  life  all 
the  energies  and  faculties  with  which  he  has  been 
endowed,  and  who  is  ever  on  the  alert  to  grasp  any 
idea  which  may  aid  in  the  development  of  the  par- 
ticular industry  he  has  chosen  as  his  life's  work.  He 
is  one  of  those  men  who,  seeing  all  around  him  evi- 
dences that  "the  world  is  moving  on,"  believes  in 
moving  on  with  it.  He  is  continually  seeking  for 
the  development  of  new  ideas  and  new  methods, 
which  shall  improve  upon  and  supersede  the  old,  and 
that  this  is  the  true  pathway  to  success  his  prosperity 
attests. 

George  E.  Bailey  married,  Oct.  16,  1851,  Ellen  Au- 


gusta Hall,  daughter  of  Hermon  and  Fanny  (Cope- 
land)  Hall,  of  Mansfield.  She  was  born  June  25, 
1832.  To  them  were  born  five  children, — Marion  Au- 
gusta, born  Oct.  3,  1852  (now  Mrs.  W.  I.  Dudley,  of 
West  Salem,  Wis.);  Carrie  Edson,  born  March  29, 
1854  (now  Mrs.  Alexander  H.  McRae,  of  Mansfield) ; 
Harriet  Sumner,  born  Sept.  29,  1855  (now  Mrs.  C. 
Boylston,  of  Milton,  Mass.);  George  Palmer,  born 
Sept.  7,  1857  (married  Mary  O.  Birkenhead,  of  Mans- 
field, and  is  in  business  with  his  father) ;  Frank  Her- 
mon, born  June  9,  1859  (also  in  business  with  his 
father).  Mrs.  Bailey  died' April  8,  1861.  Mr.  Bailey 
married  as  his  second  wife  Sarah  Sprague,  of  Dux- 
bury,  Mass.,  June  17,  1862.  They  had  one  child, 
Sarah  Sprague,  born  Feb.  15,  1873.  Mrs.  Bailey  died 
Feb.  17,  1873.  Mr.  Bailey's  present  wife  was  Mrs. 
Susan  H.  Stratton,  n'ee  Shepard,  daughter  of  Elijah 
H.  Shepard,  of  Mansfield. 

He  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  though  not  an 
active  politician.  He  has  chosen  to  concentrate  his 
energies  and  apply  his  powers  to  the  prosecution  of 
his  business,  and  the  promotion  of  happiness  around 
his  fireside,  rather  than  seek  office  or  position.  He 
is  a  genial,  pleasant  companion,  of  quick  perception, 
active  mind,  and  generous  impulses,  decisive  in  his 
judgments,  and  prompt  in  his  actions. 

He  and  his  family  are  noted  in  their  community 
for  their  musical  talent.  All  perform  on  some  one  or 
more  instruments,  and  are  good  vocalists.  Mansfield 
has  a  reputation  as  quite  a  musical  town,  and  its 
status  in  that  particular  is  largely  owing  to  Mr. 
Bailey's  exertions  in  cultivating  a  love  for  that  art. 


SABIN   COBBETT. 

James  and  Josiah  Cobbett,  brothers,  came  to  New 
England  from  London,  England,  in  1633,  in  the  ship 
"  Elizabeth  and  Ann,"  Roger  Cooper,  master.  They 
are  the  original  American  ancestors  of  the  Cobbett 
family  in  this  country.  From  the  best  authorities  on 
the  subject  we  obtain  reasonable  data  from  which  to 
infer  that  the  names  Cobbett  and  Corbett  were  orig- 
inally identical.  The  Cobbetts  have  been  a  family  of 
considerable  importance  both  in  this  country  and 
Europe. 

Philip  Cobbett  was  born  in  Boston,  Mass.,  Aug.  8, 

1744.     He  married  Marcy ,  of  Dedham,  Mass. 

She  was  born  Dec.  5,  1748.  Their  children  were 
Isaac,  born  Oct.  3,  1774;  Jacob,  born  June  4,  1777  ; 
Thomas,  born  Dec.  17,  1779;  Margaret,  born  Feb.  14," 
1783  ;  Joseph,  born  Nov.  28,  1785 ;  Abigail,  born  Oct. 
10,  1788;  Lewis,  born  Oct.  19,  1790. 

Philip  died  Oct.  6, 1817,  and  Marcy,  his  wife,  April 
13,  1821. 

Thomas,  their  son,  was  a  brick-mason  and  plasterer. 
He  married  Peggy  Cobb,  of  Dedham.  She  was  born 
April  1,  1782.  Their  children  were  Nancy,  born 
March  3,  1802;  Willard,  born  Oct.  25,  1804;  Lavinia, 
born  Oct.    18,  1806;    Thomas,    born    Oct.   17,   1808; 


462 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Louisa,  born  Dec.  8,  1810 ;  Abner  Lewis,  born  Feb. 
15,  1813;  Dorinda,  born  July  6,  1815;  Sabin,  born 
Oct.  12,  1818;  Obed,  born  Dec.  6,  1820;  Amanda, 
born  March  14,  1823.  All  of  these  lived  to  maturity. 
Nancy  died  September,  1881.  Willard  is  now  (1883) 
living  in  Stougbton,  Mass.  Lavinia  died  October, 
1854.  Thomas  resides  in  Hyde  Park,  Mass.  Louisa 
married  Asher  Parker,  of  Pepperell,  had  five  children, 
and  died  1863.  Abner  Lewis  died  January,  1859, 
leaving  a  widow  and  three  children  in  Stoughton. 
Obed  lives  in  Sharon,  Mass.  Amanda  married  Elisha 
F.  Guild,  of  Duxbury.  Upon  his  death  she  married 
Henry  E.  Stratton,  of  Mansfield. 

Thomas,  about  1803,  removed  to  Wardsboro',  Vt., 
resided  there  a  short  time,  returned  to  Dedham,  and 
after  a  time  removed  to  Boston.  About  1814  he  once 
more  made  Wardsboro'  his  home.  About  1822  he 
came  to  Walpole,  Mass.  Four  or  five  years  later  he 
returned  to  Dedham,  which  place  he  made  his  home 
to  within  a  few  years  of  his  death,  when  he  came  to 
Mansfield,  Mass.,  where  he  died  Feb.  10,  1866.  He 
was  a  Democrat  in  politics  prior  to  organization  of 
the  Republican  party,  after  which  time  he  affiliated 
with  the  latter  party.  In  religion  he  was  a  Baptist. 
Mrs.  Cobbett  died  April  2,  1851. 

Sabin  Cobbett  had  but  limited  educational  advan- 
tages ;  his  parents  were  poor,  and  at  an  early  age  he 
was  placed  in  a  factory  to  work. 

After  his  eighteenth  year  he  turned  his  attention  to 
farming,  which  occupation  he  has  followed  through 
life.  He  is  a  hard-working,  honest,  frugal  man,  and 
is  entitled  to  much  credit  for  having  fought  the  battle 
of  life  with  so  much  success,  laboring  as  he  did  under 
serious  difficulties  and  disadvantages. 

Most  of  his  life  he  has  been  burdened  with  a  large 
family,  and  he  remained  unmarried  in  order  to  care 
and  provide  for  his  maiden  sisters. 

By  earnest  and  diligent  labor  and  proper  economy 
he  has  managed  to  make  himself  one  of  the  foremost 
farmers  of  his  section,  and  while  he  has  not  amassed 
wealth,  yet  he  has  a  competence  for  his  old  age.  He 
has  devoted  himself  exclusively  to  agriculture,  never 
engaging  in  either  manufacturing  or  speculation. 

He  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  has  been  county 
surveyor,  served  on  juries,  etc.,  and  is  a  respected 
citizen  of  his  town. 


ALBERT  PERRY. 
The  Perry  family  came  from  England  to  America 
in  the  early  days  of  the  New  England  colonies. 
Ichabod1  Perry  was  among  the  first  settlers  of  Attle- 
borough,  Mass.,  to  which  place  he  came  from  Taunton. 
He  located  in  the  southeastern  part  of  the  town.  He 
was  born  about  1700.  He  married  Sarah  Haskins,  of 
Roxbury,  and  had  three  children, — Ichabod,  Nathan, 
and  Sarah.  The  two  sons  married  and  settled  in 
Norton.  Ichabod  had  two  children,  Ichabod2  and 
Lemuel.     Nathan  had  five, — Nathan,  Annie,  Alvin, 


Sophia,  and  one  name  unknown.  Sarah  Perry  mar- 
ried Timothy  Conant,  of  Rehoboth.  Upon  the  de- 
cease of  his  first  wife,  Ichabod  married  for  his  second 
wife  Ruth  Fisher,  of  Norton,  by  whom  he  had  six 
children, — Abiel,  Ruth,  Isaac3,  Hannah,  Lucy,  and 
Ephraim.  Ichabod's  third  wife  was  Experience  Bra- 
man,  of  Norton.  Abiel  Perry  settled  in  New  Hamp- 
shire. Ruth  married  A.  Lincoln  and  settled  in  Taun- 
ton. Isaac3  married,  first,  Philena  Lincoln,  of  Taunton, 
by  whom  he  had  two  children,  Isaac  and  Polly.  Mrs. 
Perry  died  in  1785.  He  married  as  his  second  wife, 
Elizabeth  Perry,  1786.  They  had  five  children, — 
Polly2,  Stephen,  Betsey,  Caleb,  and  Achsah.  Of 
these  children,  Isaac,  Jr.,  moved  to  Savoy,  Mass.,  was 
a  farmer  and  dairyman.  Polly  resided  with  him. 
Betsey  married  Calvin  Drake,  of  Sharon,  Mass., 
afterwards  removed  to  Seneca  Lake,  N.  Y.,  where 
she  died  1865,  leaving  one  child.  Achsah  married  Wil- 
liam Conant,  of  Rehoboth,  resided  in  Attleborough, 
had  five  children,  and  died  in  1851.  Caleb  married 
Wealthy  Macomber,  of  Norton,  and  had  three  chil- 
dren. Stephen4  was  a  farmer,  and  resided  at  the  old 
homestead.  He  married  Rowena  W.  Lincoln,  daugh- 
ter of  Sanford  W.  and  Phebe  Lincoln,  of  Taunton. 
Their  children  were  Rowena  W.,  Stephen  C,  Achsah 
A.,  Harriet,  Albert,  and  Ezra.  Of  these,  Stephen  C. 
married  Susan  B.  Monroe,  and  resides  in  Rehoboth. 
Rowena  W.  married  Thomas  Grover,  of  Mansfield,  a 
Quaker  minister.  Achsah  A.  married  Edmund 
Briggs,  of  Norton,  and  resides  there.  Harriet  mar- 
ried Albert  Shaw,  of  Mansfield.  Both  she  and  her 
husband  are  deceased.  Ezra  married,  first,  Mary  M. 
Balcom,  and  upon  her  decease  married  Diana  B.  Cor- 
nell, and  resides  in  Attleborough.  He  is  by  occupa- 
tion a  farmer. 

Albert  Perry5  was  brought  up  as  a  farmer  on  the  old 
Perry  homestead  in  Attleborough,  and  resided  there 
until  he  was  thirty-two  years  of  age,  having  inherited, 
together  with  his  brother,  the  ancestral  acres.  He, 
however,  sold  his  interest  in  the  home  farm,  removed 
to  Norton,  purchased  another  farm,  and  for  the  fol- 
lowing four  years  engaged  in  agriculture.  He  then 
accepted  a  position  with  the  Taunton  Copper  Com- 
pany as  weigher  and  caser  of  goods,  in  which  posi- 
tion he  continued  eight  years.  In  January,  1868,  he 
purchased  the  store  at  West  Mansfield,  and  since  that 
time  has  been  engaged  in  merchandising  at  that 
place.  He  is  also  postmaster.  In  former  years  he 
did  considerable  lumber  business  in  connection  with 
his  farming  operations.  He  married,  July  4,  1850, 
Alice  T.,  daughter  of  Joshua  White,  of  Raynham. 
She  is  descended  from  Peregrine  White.  There  were 
two  children  (twins),  Albert  E.  and  Alice  E.,  born 
March  24,  1851.  Mrs.  Perry  died  Aug.  2,  1876.  Mr. 
Perry  married  as  his  second  wife  Mary  P.,  daughter 
of  John  and  Amy  (Hodges)  Smith,  of  Mansfield. 
They  were  married  Oct.  2,  1877.  Mrs.  Perry  is  de- 
scended from  a  New  Hampshire  family.  There  is  no 
issue  by  second  marriage  ;  both  children  by  first  wife 


REHOBOTH. 


463 


are  married.  Albert  E.  married  M.  Maria  Reed, 
daughter  of  Lorenzo  R.  and  Martha  Reed,  of  Mans- 
field. They  have  three  children, — Everett,  Emma, 
and  Ernest.  Alice  married  John  S.  Briggs,  of  At- 
tleborough.  They  have  two  children,  Nellie  A.  and 
Mabel.  Mr.  Perry  is  neutral  in  politics,  always 
voting  in  local  elections  for  the  candidate  whom  he 
esteems  as  the  best  man.  He  has  not  voted  for 
President  since  1848.  He  attends  Friends'  meeting, 
has  been  selectmen  of  his  town  four  years,  and  chair- 
man of  the  board  last  year.  An  honest,  highly  re- 
spected citizen. 


CHAPTER    XXXIII. 

REHOBOTH. 

Geographical — Indian  Purchase — Original  Bounds— The  First  Purchase 
—The  Second  Purchase— The  North  Purchase— The  First  White  Set- 
tlers— First  Meeting  of  Original  Planters — Valuation  of  Original 
Lauds — Names  of  Proprietors — Early  Townsmen — Documentary  His- 
tory— Deed  from  King  Philip — Names  of  Inhabitants  in  1G89. 

The  town  of  Rehoboth  lies  in  the  western  part  of 
Bristol  County,  and  is  bounded  as  follows :  On  the 
north  by  Attleborough  and  Norton,  on  the  east  by 
Taunton,  Dighton,  and  Swansea,  and  on  the  south  by 
Swansea. 

The  original  town  of  Rehoboth  embraced,  in  addi- 
tion to  its  present  territory,  the  present  towns  of  See- 
konk,  Pawtucket,  Attleborough,  East  Providence, 
Cumberland,  and  that  part  of  Swansea  and  Barring- 
ton  which  was  called  by  the  Indians  Wannamoiset. 

The  first  purchase  of  land  was  made  of  Massasoit 
in  1641,  and  embraced  a  tract  ten  miles  square,  com- 
prising the  present  towns  of  Rehoboth,  Seekonk, 
Pawtucket,  and  East  Providence. 

The  second  purchase  was  the  tract  called  by  the 
English  Wannamoiset,  forming  a  part  of  Swansea 
and  Barrington. 

The  third  and  last  purchase  was  a  tract  embracing 
the  present  towns  of  Attleborough,  Mass.,  and  Cum- 
berland, R.  I.  This  was  known  as  the  "  North  Pur- 
chase." 

The  town  retained  its  original  area  until  1667,  when 
Swansea  (Wannamoiset)  was  incorporated,  including, 
besides  the  present  town,  that  of  Somerset,  Mass., 
Cumberland,  R.  I.,  and  the  greater  part  of  Warren, 
R.  I.  In  1694  it  was  further  decreased  by  the  incor- 
poration of  Attleborough,  and  in  1812  Seekonk  was 
set  off. 

The  first  white  settler  within  the  bounds  of  the  orig- 
inal town  of  Rehoboth  was  William  Blackstone,  in 
what  is  now  Cumberland,  R.  I.  He  was  a  Non-Con- 
formist minister  of  England,  who  fled  from  his  native 
land  and  sought  an  asylum  in  the  wilds  of  America. 
He  was  the  first  white  man  who  lived  on  the  penin- 
sula where  the  city  of  Boston  now  stands.  The  next 
white  settler  here  was  the  famous  Roger  Williams. 


He,  however,  remained  but  a  short  time,  and  subse- 
quently became  the  founder  of  Rhode  Island. 

The  real  founder  of  the  original  town  of  Rehoboth 
was  the  Rev.  Samuel  Newman,  who  came  with  numer- 
ous other  persons  from  Weymouth  and  settled  here 
(Seekonk)  in  1644. 

The  records,  however,  show  that  as  early  as  1642 
one  John  Hazell  was  residing  at  "Seacunck." 

"John  Hassell"  (afterwards  written  Hazell  in  the 
town  records)  "  doeth  acknowledge  himself  to  owe 
the  king,  to  be  leveyed  of  his  lands,  goods  and  chat- 
tels, &c.  £XX.  if  he  fayle  in  the  condicon  following: 
The  condicon  that  the  said  John  Hassell  shall  either 
take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  King,  and  fidelitie 
to  the  Government,  betwixt  this  and  March  Court 
next,  or  els  remove  his  dwelling  from  .Seacunk." 
[Plym.  Col.  Rec,  vol.  ii.  p.  67.] 

The  twenty  pounds  which  he  acknowledged  him- 
self to  owe  the  king  was  a  fine  for  contempt  of  court, 
as  appears  from  the  following  : 

"  August  2,  1642.  It  is  ordered  that  a  warrant  be 
sent  to  fetch  John  Hassell,  that  lives  at  Sickuncke, 
to  answer  his  ■contempts  at  the  General  Court :  which 
was  made  and  signed  by  all  the  assistants  present." 
[Plym.  Col.  Rec,  vol.  ii.  p.  55.] 

John  Hazell  continued  to  reside  at  "Seacunk," 
where  he  had  lands  granted  him  in  1669.  And  he 
appears  to  have  owned  largely  before,  for  in  describ- 
ing the  bounds  of  the  grant  mention  is  made  of  "his 
other  allotment,  being  six  hundred  acres,  bounded  on 
the  east  with  his  fresh  meadow  and  a  little  run  of 
water  and  a  cedar  swamp  ;  on  the  west  side  Patucet 
River;  on^the  north  side  the  woods;  on  the  south 
side  the  towne  land ;  only  the  Island  and  little  up- 
land above  mentioned  is  part  of  the  six  hundred 
acres."     [Plym.  Col.  Rec,  vol.  ii.  p.  193.] 

"  Seacunck,"  we  have  seen,  was  first  granted  to 
people  of  Hingham,  but  they  were  soon  joined  by  Mr. 
Newman  and  a  majority  of  his  church  at  Weymouth, 
in  their  projected  settlement ;  and  it  is  even  possible 
that  some  of  the  people  of  Weymouth  were  among 
the  original  grantees  of  1641,  though  none  of  them 
are  among  the  names  mentioned.  It  appears,  how- 
ever, that  those  whose  names  are  given  were  a  com- 
mittee acting  for  "  themselves  and  divers  others." 

The  first  meeting  of  the  original  planters  of  Reho- 
both to  be  found  on  record  is  dated  at  "  Weimoth 
the  24th  of  the  8th  month  [October],  1643."  The 
record  is  as  follows  :  "  At  a  general  meeting  of  the 
plantores  of  Seacunk,  it  was  ordered  : 

"  (1)  That  the  [illegible]  lottes  shall  not  exceed  the  number  of  sixty 
and  live,  and  in  case  anny  of  those  that  have  these  lottes  granted  al- 
ready fale,  that  Goodman  [illegible]  of  Cambridge  to  be  admitted  if  he 
please;  and  in  case  so  manny  fale  as  may  limit  to  sixty  then  not  to  ex- 
ceed sixty  lottes." 

"  (2)  It  is  agreed  that  the  ground  that  is  most  fit  to  be  planted  and 
hopefull  for  corne  for  the  present  to  be  planted  and  fenced  by  such  as 
possess  it  according  to  [illegible.]" 

"  (3)  It  is  ordered  that  those  that  have  lottes  granted  and  are  [illegi- 
ble] inhabitants  shall  fence  the  one  end  of  their  lottes  and  their  part  in 
the  comon  fence,  in  the  same  time,  by  the  20th  day  of  April    next  or 


464 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


else  forfit  their  lottes  to  the  disposal  of  the  plantation  ;  and  likewise  to 
remove  themselves  and  family  to  inhabit  [torn  off]  by  this  time  twelves- 
month,  or  else  forfite  their  lottes  again e  to  the  plantation,  allowinge 
them  their  necessary  improvements,  as  they  in  their  discretion  shall 
think  meet." 

"  (4)  That  if  anny  damages  shale  fale  out  by  anny  man's  particular 
fence,  the  owner  of  the  fence  shale  pay  the  damage,  and  if  [torn  off] 
generall  fence,  then  those  persons  that  one  the  fence  to  pay  [torn  off.]" 
[Rehoboth  ltec.  vol.  i.  p.  1.] 

The  next  meeting  of  the  proprietors  was  held  at 
Weymouth,  "the  10th  day  of  the  10th  month"  [De- 
cember], when  regulations  were  made  as  to  the  plant- 
ing of  corn.  The  teacher  to  have  a  certain  portion 
from  each  settler.  Servants  after  four  years  to  be  in- 
habitants and  entitled  to  their  privileges.  Richard 
Wright  employed  to  build  a  corn-mill. 

During  the  year  1643,  and  probably  before  any 
other  division  of  land  had  been  made  other  than  for 
house-lots,  the  proprietors  were  required  individually 
to  give  in  the  value  of  their  estates,  in  order  that  the 
allotments  of  land  might  be  made  accordingly,  as  ap- 
pears from  the  Proprietors'  Records :  "  About  the 
year  1643,  a  joynt  agreement  was  made  by  the  inhab- 
itants of  Sea-conk  alias  Rehoboth,  ffor  the  bringing  in 
of  their  estates ;  that  soe  men's  lotments  might  be 
taken  up  according  to  person  and  estate,  as  alsoe  for 
the  carrieing  on  of  all  publick  chardges  both  for.  pres- 
ent and  future;  furthermore  the  means  and  interest 
of  what  is  heare  expressed  is  that  by  which  lands, 
now  granted  by  the  Court  of  Plymouth  to  the  towne, 
is  to  be  divided  according  to  person  and  estate,  as  is 
expressed  in  this  following  list: 


£    s.  d.   ' 

1.  Mrs.  Bur 100  00  00 

Ruth   Ingram  accepted 

in  her  plan-. 

2.  Widdow  Walker 50  00  00 

3.  John  Read 300  00  00 

4.  John  Cooke 300  00  00  | 

which    still    is    in    the 

town's  hands. 

5.  The  Schoolmaster....    50  00  00 

6.  Will  (Jheesbrook 450  00  00 

7.  Mr.  Winchester 195  00  00 

8.  Richard  Wright 834  Ou  00 

9.  Mr.  Newman 330  00  00 

10.  Will  Smith 196  10  00 

11.  Walter  Palmer 419  00  00 

12.  James    Clark,    now 

John  Perrum's 71  00  00 

13.  Ralph        Shephard, 

now  Jas.  Redewave's..  121  10  00 

14.  Zachariah   Roads 50  00  00 

15.  John  Mathewes 40  00  00 

16.  John  Perrum 67  00  00 

17.  John  Millar 69  10  00 

18.  Saml.  Butterworth...    50  00  00 

19.  George  Kendrick 50  00  00 

20.  Abram  Martin 60  10  00 

21.  The  Teacher 100  00  00 

22.  Edward  Seale 81  U0  00 

23.  John  Browne 50  00  00 

24.  Mr.  Howward 250  00  00 

25.  Mr.   Peck  535  00  00 

26.  Mr.   Oued.   Holmes, 

now  Robt.  Wheaton's.  100  00  00 

27.  Edward  Smith 252  00  00 

28.  Job  Lane,  now  Rob- 
ert Abell's 50  00  00 

29.  Thomas  Hitt 101  00  00 

30.  James  Walker,  now 

John  ffitctae'a 50  00  00 


31.  Thomas  Blyss  

32.  The  Governor's  lot, 
now  Richard  Bul- 
lock's  

33.  Isaack  Martin,  now 
Thomas  Wi  I  mot's 

34.  Robert  Morris 

35.  Ed.  Bennet,  now 
Richard  Bowen's,  Jr... 

36.  The  Pastor 

37.  Mr.  Henry  Smith.... 

38.  Mathew  Pratt... 

39.  John  Megg's 

40.  Thorn.  Clifton,  now 
Stephen  Payne's  Jr... 

41.  Joseph  Torry,  now 
John  Peck's 

42.  Thomas  Cooper 

43.  Robert  ffullur 

44.  John  Allen 

45.  Ralph   Allen 

46.  Ed.  Gillman,  now 
Joseph  Peck's 

47.  Thomas  Iloulbrook.. 

48.  William  Carpenter... 

49.  John  Houlbrook, 
now  Nicholas  Ide's.... 

50.  Robert  Titus,  now 
Robert  Jones's 

51.  William  Sabin 

52.  Stephen  Payne 

53.  Sir.  Browne 

54.  Ed.  Patteson,  now 
John  Woodcock's 

55.  Peter  Hunt 

56.  Robert  Martin 

57.  Robert  Sharp,  but 
now  Rice  Leonard's... 

58.  Richard  Bowen 


£  s.  d. 
153  00  00 


200  00  00 

50  00  00 
94  10  00 

134  10  00 
100  00  00 
260  01)  00 
239  00  00 
120  00  00 

160  00  00 

134  00  00 
367  00  00 
150  00  00 
156  00  00 
270  00  00 

306  00  00 
186  10  00 
254  10  00 

186  10  00 

156  10  00 

53  0U  00 

535  00  00 

600  00  00 

50  00  00 
327  00  00 
228  10  00 

106  00  00 

270  00  00 


tation,  who  should  have  power  to  dispose  of  the  lands 
"  in  lots  of  twelve,  eight,  or  six  acres,  as  in  their  dis- 
cretion they  think  the  quality  of  the  estate  of  the 
person  do  require."  This  applied  to  house-lots.  It 
was  further  ordered  "  that  all  other  lots  to  be  divided 
according  to  person  and  estate.  One  person  to  be 
valued  at  twelve  pounds  sterling  in  the  division  of 
lands,  and  that  no  person  should  sell  his  improve- 
ments but  to  such  as  the  towne  shall  accept  of;"  also 
voted  "  that  the  meeting-house  shall  stand  in  the 
midst  of  the  town." 

On  "  the  21st  of  the  4th  month"  [June]  a  town 
meeting  was  holden,  but  the  records  of  it  are  so  mu- 
tilated as  to  be  mostly  illegible.  It  appears,  how- 
ever, to  relate  to  a  new  division  of  land.  It  was  re- 
solved that  on  every  fortieth  day  a  meeting  should 
be  holden  by  all  the  inhabitants  "  for  the  considera- 
tion and  acting  of  such  necessary  affairs  as  concern 
the  plantation." 

"  At  a  town  meeting,  the  31st  day  of  the  4th  month 
[JuneJ,  1644,  lots  were  drawn  for  a  division  of  the 
woodland  between  the  plain  and  the  town.  Shares 
were  drawn  to  the  number  of  fifty-eight,  as  follows : 


10. 

n. 

12. 
13. 
14. 

15. 
16. 
17. 
18. 
19. 
20. 
21. 
22. 
23. 
24. 
25. 
26. 
27. 
28. 
29. 


Mr.  Winchester. 
Mr.  Leonard. 
Peter  Hunt. 
William  Cheesborough. 
Ralph  Allin. 
John  Holbrook. 
John  Perram. 
The  Schoolmaster. 
Matthew  Pratt. 
William  Carpenter. 
Ephraim  Hunt. 
Samuel  Butterworth. 
Edward  Patterson. 
James  Browne. 
Richard  Bowiu. 
Mr.  Newman. 
Mr.  Peck. 
Walter  Palmer. 
Abraham  Martin. 
John  Sutton. 
Robert  Morris. 
John  Matthewes. 
Isaac  Martin. 
James  Walker. 
Robert  Titus. 
Edward  Seale. 
George  Kendrick. 

Thomas  Bliss. 


30.  The  Pastor's. 

31.  Stephen  Payne. 

32.  Edward  Smith. 

33.  William  Smith. 

34.  James  Clark. 

35.  The  Governour. 

36.  Edward  Bennett. 

37.  Ohadiah  Holmes 

38.  Mr.  Browne. 

39.  Thomas  Cooper. 

40.  Thomas  Holbrooke. 

41.  Thomas  Hitt. 

42.  John  Allin. 

43.  John  Meggs. 

44.  William  Sabin. 

45.  Mr.  Henry  Smith. 

46.  Zachery  Roades. 

47.  Edward  Gilman. 

48.  Thomas  Clifton. 

49.  Joseph  Torrey. 

50.  Thomas  Dunn. 

51.  Robert  Martin. 

52.  Widow  Walker. 

53.  John  Miller. 

54.  Mr.  B .1 

55.  The  Teacher. 

56.  John  Cooke. 

57.  Ralph  Shepherd. 

58.  John  Reade. 


At  a  meeting  of  the  proprietors  of  Seekonk  (the 
date  of  which  is  torn  off,  though  it  was  probably 
among  the  first)  it  was  voted  that  nine  men  should 
be  chosen  to  order  the  prudential  affairs  of  the  plan- 


On  "the  3d  of  the  5th  month  [July],  1644,"  the 
inhabitants  signed  a  compact  in  the  following  words  : 

"This  combination,  entered  into  by  the  general  consent  of  all  the  in- 
habitants, after  general  notice  given  the  23d  of  the  4th  month. 

"We  whose  names  are  underwritten,  being,  by  the  providence  of 
God,  inhabitants  of  Seacunk,  intending  there  to  settle,  do  covenant  and 
bind  ourselves  one  to  another  to  subject  our  persons  [torn  off]  (accord- 
ing to  law  and  equity)  to  nine  persons,  any  five  of  the  nine  which  shall 
be  chosen  by  the  major  part  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  plantation,  and 
we  [torn  off]  to  be  subject  to  all  wholesome  [torn  off]  by  them,  and  to 
assist  them,  according  to  our  ability  and  estate,  and  to  give  timely  no- 
tice unto  them  of  any  such  thing  as  in  our  conscience  may  prove  dan- 

1  Obliterated. 


REHOBOTH. 


465 


gerous  unto  the  plantation,  and  this  combination  to  continue  untill  we 
shall  subject  ourselves  jointly  to  some  other  government." 

Walter  Palmer. 

Edward  Smith. 

Edward  Bennett. 

Robert  Titus. 

Abraham  Martin. 

John  Mattliewes. 

Edward  Sale. 

Ralph  Shepherd. 

Samuel  Newman. 

William  Cheesborough.  Alex.  Winchester. 

Richard  Wright.  Henry  Smith. 

Robert  Martin.  Stephen  Payne. 

Richard  Bowen.  Ralph  Alin. 

Joseph  Torrey.  Thomas  Bliss. 

James  Clark.  George  Kendricke. 

Ephraim  Hunt.  John  Allen. 

Peter  Hunt.  William  Sabin. 

William  Smith.  Thomas  Cooper. 

John  Peren. 

Zacbery  Rboades. 

Job  Lane. 

"The  12th  of  the  5th  month  [July],  1644.  At  a  meeting  upon  public 
notice  given,  it  is  ordered  that  such  as  shall  have  allotments  in  the 
three  divisious  of  lands  presently  to  be  laid  out  by  Mr.  Oliver  and  his 
partner,  Joseph  Fisher,  and  shall  not  pay  the  surveying  of  it,  by  the 
28th  of  the  Sth  month  [October]  next,  at  Boston  or  Dedham,  according 
to  the  proposition  of  Mr.  Oliver,  shall  forfeit  all  such  lands  laid  out  in 
the  three  aforesaid  divisions,  into  the  bands  of  the  nine  men  entrusted 
with  the  town  affairs,  who  are  desired  to  undertake  with  Mr.  Oliver  to 
satisfy  him  for  the  laying  out  of  the  aforesaid  divisions. 

"It  is  further  ordered,  the  day  above  written,  that  Will.  Cheesbor- 
ough is  to  have  division  in  all  lands  of  Seakunk  for  a  hundred  and  fifty- 
three  pounds  besides  what  he  is  to  have  for  his  own  proportion,  and  that 
in  way  of  consideration  for  the  pains  and  charges  he  hath  been  at  for 
setting  off  this  plantation." 

"  At  a  general  meeting  of  the  town  of  Seacunk,  being  the  9th  of  the 
10th  month  [December],  1644,  at  lawful  warning  given,  by  reason  of 
many  meetings  and  other  strong  causes  for  the  easing  of  the  great 
trouble  and  for  the  [illegible!  and  the  deciding  of  controversies  between 
party  and  party,  as  well  as  the  proposing  of  men's  levies  to  be  made 
and  paid,  and  for  the  well  ordering  of  the  town  affairs,  as  may  stand 
with  future  equity,  according  to  our  former  combination,  the  inhabi- 
tants of  said  place  have  choose  these  men  here  named  :" 


Alexander  Winchester, 
Richard  Wright, 
Henry  Smith, 
Edward  Smith, 
Walter  Palmer, 


William  Smith, 
Stephen  Payne, 
Richard  Bowen, 
Robert  Martin. 


The  first  meeting  of  these  townsmen,  as  they  were  styled,  was  on 
"  the  3d  day  of  the  11th  mo.  [January]  1644,"  when  they  voted  to  give 
Robert  Morris,  "in  consideration  for  the  spare  lot  he  hath  taken,"  the 
first  lot  in  the  next  division. 

"The  26th  of  the  10th  mo.  [December],  1644,  at  a  meeting  of  the  town 
it  was  ordered,  that,  for  time  past,  and  for  time  to  come,  that  all  work- 
men that  have  or  shall  work  in  au3'  common  work,  or  shall  work  for 
any  particular  men,  shall  have  for  their  wages  for  each  day's  work  as 
followeth :  for  each  laborer,  from  the  first  day  of  November  until  the 
first  day  of  February,  18d.  a  day,  and  for  the  rest  of  the  year  2()d.  a  day 
except  the  harvest,  that  is  to  say  while  men  are  reaping  harvests." 

"  It  is  ordered  that  the  work  of  4  oxen  and  a  man  for  a  day  [torn  off], 
shilling  and  sixpense  ;  and  that  for  six  oxen  and  a  man  seven  shillings; 
and  for  eight  oxen  and  a  man,  eight  shillings." 

"The  10th  of  the  11th  mo.  [January],  1644,  at  a  meeting  of  the  towns- 
men it  was  agreed  upon  that  all  those  that  are  underwritten  have  for- 
feited their  lots  for  m  t  fencing,  or  not  removing  their  families  accord- 
ing to  a  former  order,  made  the  24th  of  the  Sth  month,  1643 ;  therefore 
we  do  enter  upon  them  for,  aud  in  the  behalf  of  the  town,  to  be  dis- 
posed of  as  the  town  shall  think  meet,  only  paying  them  for  their 
necessary  charges,  according  to  a  former  order  :" 


Ralph  Shepherd, 
James  Browne, 
Mr.  Leonard, 
30 


Mr.  Peck, 
Obediab  Holmes, 
James  Walker, 


The  Governour's  lot, 
Matthew  Pratt, 
Thomas  Dunn, 
John  Meggs, 
Thomas  Cooper, 
John  Sutton, 


Edward  Oilman, 
Tho.  Holbrooke, 
John  Holbrooke, 
Mr.  Browne, 
Edward  Patteson, 
Ephraim  Hunt. 


"  It  is  ordered,  the  day  and  year  above  written,  at  a  town  meeting, 
that  all  men  that  have  lots  granted  upon  the  neck  of  land,  shall 
fence  so  much  fence  as  the  number  of  his  acres  Cometh  to,  by  the  15th 
day  of  the  2d  month,  or  pay  2s.  for  every  rod  that  shall  not  be  fenced." 

"It  is  ordered  that  no  man  shall  fall  any  tree  or  trees  within  the 
space  of  eight  rods  of  the  road  and  of  house-lot,  upon  the  forfeit  of  6«. 
8d.  for  every  tree  fallen  without  the  consent  of  the  owner  of  the  lot." 

"It  is  agreed  that  Edward  Bennett  shall  have  the  ground  that  his 
house  standeth  upon,  and  so  much  of  the  breadth  of  the  ground  as  he 
hath  railed  in  to  the  edge  of  the  hill  towards  the  brook." 

"The  17tb  day  of  the  12th  mo.  [February],  1644,  at  a  town-meeting 
it  was  agreed  upon,  that  whoever  hath  not  convenient  land  to  plant, 
for  present  getting  of  corn,  shall  be  allowed  to  plant  so  much  as  they 
can  break  up  this  year,  and  shall  have  it  six  years,  and  then  to  fall  to 
the  town  again,  either  upon  Manton's  neck  or  else  upon  the  back  side 
of  the  lots  on  the  southeast  side  of  the  town." 

"The  26th  of  the  12th  mo.  [February],  1644,  at  a  meeting  of  the 
townsmen,  Richard  Wright,  Richard  Bowen,  Alexander  Winchester, 
Walter  Palmer,  William  Smith,  Edward  Smith,  being  present,  it  is  or- 
dered that  the  recording  of  any  man's  land  in  the  town-book  shall  be  to 
him  and  his  heirs  a  sufficient  assurance  forever." 

"  The  same  day  it  is  ordered  that  no  man's  lands  shall  be  recorded 
until  he  shall  bring  to  the  town  clerk  a  note  for  his  lands,  butted  and 
bounded." 

It  will  be  observed  that  the  records  thus  far  bear 
the  date  of  "  Seacunk"  or  "Seakunk."  Though  the 
proprietors  purchased  their  land  of  the  Plymouth 
Colony,  yet  it  appears  from  the  compact  signed  by 
them  on  becoming  inhabitants  of  "Seacunk"  that 
they  considered  themselves  independent  of  any  juris- 
diction but  their  own,  though  they  were  afterwards 
claimed  by  both  Plymouth  and  Massachusetts  Bay. 
In  1645  they  submitted  themselves  to  the  jurisdiction 
of  the  Plymouth  court,  or  rather  were  assigned  to  that 
by  the  Commissioners  of  the  United  Colonies,  and 
were  incorporated  by  the  scripture  name  of  Rehoboth, 
a  name  selected  by  Mr.  Newman ;  for  said  he,  "  The 
Lord  hath  made  room  for  us." 

Next  on  the  town  records  follow  the  registers  of  the 
lands  of  the  proprietors.  Here  we  find  the  following 
names:  Mr.  Alexander  Winchester,  Mr.  Howard, 
Peter  Hunt,  William  Cheesborough,  Ralph  Allin, 
John  Holbrooke,  John  Peram,  the  Schoolmaster, 
Matthew  Pratt,  William  Carpenter,  Samuel  Butter- 
worth,  Edward  Patteson,  James  Browne,  Richard 
Bowen,  Mr.  Samuel  Newman,  Mr.  Peck,  Abraham 
Martin,  John  Sutton,  Robert  Morris,  John  Mat- 
thewes,  John  Fitch,  Robert  Titus,  George  Kendricke, 
Robert  Sharp,  Thomas  Bliss,  the  Pastor,  Stephen 
Paine,  Edward  Smith,  James  Clarke,  William  Smith, 
the  Governour,  Edward  Bennett,  Obadiah  Holmes, 
Mr.  John  Browne,  Thomas  Cooper,  Thomas  Hol- 
brooke, Thomas  Hett,  John  Allin,  John  Meggs,  Wil- 
liam Sabin,  Henry  Smith,  Zachary  Roades,  Edward 
Gilman,  Sr.,  Thomas  Clifton,  Joseph  Torrey,  Widow 
Walker,  Richard  Ingram  (now  Ingraham),  the 
Teacher,  Thomas  Loring,  Ralph  Shepherd,  John 
Reade,  John  Miller,  Richard  Wright. 

Baylies,  in  his  "  Memoir  of  Plymouth  Colony,"  has 


466 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


inserted  Robert  Fuller  in  the  above  list,  but  the  date 
of  the  registry  of  his  land  is  not  till  1652,  though  it 
stands  on  the  record  in  the  place  he  has  assigned  to 
it.  The  name  of  Thomas  Wilmot  (now  written 
Willmarth)  is  also  found  in  the  same  list,  though  I 
am  confident  that  there  were  none  of  that  name  in 
town  at  so  early  a  period  as  1645;  and  another  name 
appears  to  have  been  erased,  and  this  written  over  it 
in  a  handwriting  of  more  modern  date. 

"  The  16th  of  the  1st  mo.  [March  |,  1645,  at  a  gen- 
eral meeting  of  the  towne  upon  public  notice  given, 
it  was  agreed  that  all  the  fence  in  the  general  field 
shall  be  fenced  by  the  23d  of  this  present  month  ;  and 
whosoever  shall  be  negligent,  and  not  repair  or  set 
up  his  fence  by  the  day  above  written,  shall  pay  six- 
pence for  every  rod  deficient,  and  the  damage  that  shall 
come  to  any  man  by  the  same." 

"  The  same  day,  the  men  after  mentioned  were 
made  choice  of  to  view  the  fences  and  to  judge  of  the 
sufficiency  of  them,  viz.:  Richard  Bowen,  Robert 
Titus,  William  Smith,  Capt.  Wright,  Alexander 
Winchester,  Thomas  Bliss,  Stephen  Payne,  and 
Thomas  Copper." 

"  The  same  day  were  made  choice  of  for  townsmen 
those  men  whose  names  are  underwritten,  for  one 
whole  year,  viz.  : 

Mr.  Browne.  Thomas  Cooper. 

Stephen  Payne.  William  Carpenter. 

Mr.  Henry  Smith.        Edward  Smith." 
Robert  Martin. 

"  The  16th  of  the  1st  mo.  [March] ,  1645,  it  was  agreed 
upon  by  the  towne  that  the  towne  shall  be  divided 
into  two  parts  for  the  making  of  the  foot  bridges  and 
the  keeping  of  them,  and  the  highways  leading  to 
them  to  be  done  by  the  whole  town ;  the  division  to 
begin  at  the  Widow  Walker's,  and  so  on  to  Will. 
Carpenter's  and  so  on  to  half;  and  Robert  Martin  and 
Thomas  Cooper  were  made  choice  of  to  be  surveyors 
to  oversee  to  work." 

"The  9th  of  the  4th  mo.  [June],  1645,  at  a  meeting 
of  the  town  upon  public  notice  given,  those  seven  men 
underwritten   were  chosen   to   order   the   prudential 
affairs  of  the  town  for  half  a  year,  viz.  : 
Mr.  John  Browne,  sen.        William  Cheesborough. 
Stephen  Payne.  Mr.  Alex.  Winchester. 

Richard  Wright.  Edward  Smith." 

Walter  Palmer. 

"  The  same  day  lots  were  drawn  for  the  great  plain, 
beginning  upon  the  west  side;  and  he  that  is  first 
upon  the  west  side  shall  be  last  upon  the  east." 

The  lots,  were  drawn  by  the  following  persons  in 
the  following  order,  viz. : 

10.  Robert  Titus. 

11.  Walter  Palmer. 

12.  James  Walker. 

13.  Alexander  Winchester. 

14.  Samuel  Butterworth. 

15.  William  Sabin. 
1G.  Thomas  Hitt. 
17.  Edward  Smith. 


1.  Stephen  Payne. 

2.  Widow  Walker. 

3.  Robert  Martin. 

4.  Edward  Gilman. 

5.  Ralph  Shepherd. 

6.  Richard  Wright. 

7.  Abraham  Martin. 

8.  The  Teacher. 

9.  Will.  Carpenter. 


19.  Thomas  Clifton. 

20.  John  Cooke. 

21.  Mr.  Browne. 

22.  William  Cheesborough. 

23.  Ralph  Allin. 

24.  James  Browne. 

25.  The  Goveruour. 

26.  William  Smith. 

27.  John  Sutton. 

28.  Job  Laine. 

29.  Thorn.  Cooper. 

30.  Thomas  Bliss. 

31.  John  Peram. 

32.  Joseph  Torrey. 

33.  John  Holbrooke. 

34.  James  Clarke. 

35.  Edward  Sale. 

36.  George  Kendricke. 

37.  Mr.  Leonard. 

38.  Richard  Bowen. 


18.  Edward  Bennett. 


39.  Edward  Patteson. 

40.  John  Reade. 

41.  John  Matthews. 

42.  Matthew  Pratt. 

43.  Robert  Sharpe. 

44.  Ephraim  &  Peter  Hunt. 

45.  Zachary  Roades. 

46.  John  Meggs. 

47.  John  Miller. 

48.  Thomas  Holbrooke. 

49.  The  Schoolmaster. 

50.  Mr.  Peck. 

51.  Richard  Ingram. 

52.  Isaac  Martin. 

53.  John  Allin. 

54.  Mr.  Henry  Smith. 

55.  Mr.  Newman. 

56.  The  Pastor. 

57.  Obadiah  Holmes. 

58.  Robert  Morris. 


"26th  of  the  10th  month  [December],  1645,  at  a 
meeting  of  the  townsmen,  it  was  voted  that  the  house- 
lot  and  the  rest  of  the  accommodations  that  was  laid 
out  for  John  Sutton,  forasmuch  as  he  hath  not  come 
to  live  amongst  us,  nor  fulfilled  the  order  agreed  upon, 
and  bearing  date  the  24th  of  the  8th  month,  1643,  be 
granted  to  William  Devell." 

It  was  also  voted  the  same  day  "that  a  fence  shall 
be  made  between  the  Indian  lands,  at  the  marked 
tree,  from  sea  to  sea,  by  the  last  day  of  the  2d 
month  next,  and  the  fence  of  five  rails  to  be  laid  out 
by  Robert  Martin  and  Edward  Smith  and  2  more, 
and  they  shall  begin  at  the  east  side  of  the  neck,  and 
so  to  the  west.  Walter  Palmer  shall  do  the  first  fence, 
Abraham  Martin  the  second,  and  so  accordingly  as 
the  house-lots  fall  in  order  round  the  town  j1  and  if 
any  man  shall  fail,  or  be  negligent  to  set  up  his  fence 
by  the  day  fixed,  he  shall  forfeit  for  every  rod  not  set 
up,  two  shillings,  to  be  employed  for  the  use  of  the 
town  by  the  townsmen  [one  line  here  illegible],  and 
those  that  are  employed  for  the  setting  up  the  fence 
shall  have  an  abatement  in  their  fence  so  much  as 
comes  to  their  labor." 

"The  18th  of  the  12th  mo.  [February],  1646,  at  a 
meeting  of  the  towne,  it  was  agreed  to  draw  lots  for 
the  new  meadow,  and  to  be  divided  according  to  per- 
son and  estate,  only  those  that  were  under  £150 
estate  to  be  made  up  150.  They  were  drawn  as  fol- 
io weth  : 


"1.  Robert  Sharp. 

2.  Nicholas  Ide. 

3.  Isaac  Martin. 

4.  Mr.  Newman. 

5.  Thomas  Clifton. 

6.  Ralph  Allin. 

7.  Robert  Fuller. 

8.  Edward  Sale. 

9.  Joseph  Torrey. 

10.  John  Fitch. 

11.  Abraham  Martin. 

12.  Walter  Palmer. 


13.  William  Devill. 

14.  Edward  Gilman. 

15.  Richard  Bowin. 

16.  Robert  Titus. 

17.  Robert  Martin. 

18.  Widow  Walker. 

19.  George  Robinson. 

20.  Thomas  Cooper. 

21.  Obadiah  Holmes. 

22.  Stephen  Paine. 

23.  James  Redwaie. 

24.  William  Sabin. 


1  The  town  was  built  in  a  semicircular  form,  around  what  is  now 
Seekonk  Common  (the  south  extremity  of  the  plain),  with  the  meeting- 
house and  parsonage  in  the  centre,  the  semicircle  opening  towards 
Seekonk  or  Pawtucket  River.  This  circle  was  afterwards  called  "the 
ring  of  the  town." 


REHOBOTH. 


467 


25. 

Robert  Wheaton. 

36. 

George  Wright. 

26. 

Thomas  Bliss. 

37. 

Zachary  Roades. 

27. 

Widow  Bennet. 

38. 

George  Kendricke. 

28. 

Mr.  Henry  Smith. 

39. 

John  Matthewse. 

29. 

Edward  Smith. 

40. 

John  Dogget. 

30. 

Ademia  Morris. 

41. 

Robert  Abell. 

31. 

John  Peram. 

42. 

William  Carpenter. 

32. 

Peter  Hunt. 

43. 

Mr.  Peck. 

33. 

John  Miller. 

44. 

John  All  in. 

.14. 

Richard  Ingram. 

45. 

William  Cheesborough. 

35. 

Mr.  Alexander  Winchester. 

46. 

William  Smith." 

"  The  24th  of  the  4th  mo.  [June],  1650,  at  a  town-meeting,  those  men 
underwritten  were  chosen  townsmen  for  this  year: 

"  Mr.  Browne.  Richard  Bowen. 

Mr.  I'eck.  William  Smith. 

Stephen  Payne,  Robert  Martin." 

Thomas  Cooper. 
"At  the  same  meeting  the  town  gave  permission  to  these  men  chosen 
to  call  a  town-meeting  so  often  as  need  shall  require." 
"  The  10th  mo.  [December],  1C50,  the  county  rate  was  agreed  on." 

At  the  same  meeting  it  was  voted  "  to  have  a  con- 
venient way,  four  rods  wide  (to  be  made  by  Edward 
Smith),  to  be  for  the  town's  use,  or  any  that  shall 
have  occasion  to  pass  from  town  to  Providence,  or  to 
Mr.  Blackstone's." 

"The  15th  day  of  the  1st  mo.  [March],  1651,  at  a  towne  meeting,  it 
was  agreed  on  that  Peter  Hunt  should  accompany  Mr.  Browne  to  Plym- 
outh to  make  agreement  about  the  Indian  complaints." 

"  The  19th  day  of  the  3d  mo.  [Miyv],  1651,  chosen  deputies  Stephen 
Payne  and  Richard  Bowen,  for  the  Court  at  Plymouth  ;  Walter  Palmer 
and   Peter  Hunt  to  be  grand  jurymen.    Surveyors  for  the  highways, 
William  Smith  and  John  Read." 
"  The  18th  of  October,  1651,  these  were  chosen  townsmen,  viz. : 
"  Mr.  Browne.  Thomas  Cooper. 

Mr.  Peck.  Richard  Bowen. 

Stephen  Payne.  Robert  Martin." 

Peter  Hunt. 
"At  the  same  time  Peter  Hunt  was  chosen  Town  Clerk." 
"At  a  town-meeting  lawfully  warned,  the  12th  of  December,  in  the 
year  1653,  voted  that  the  price  of  corn  should  be  5s. ;  wheat,  5s. ;  rye,  4s. ; 
and  Indian  corn,  3s.  (provided  that  the  corn  be  current  and  merchant- 
able corn)." 
"  At  the  same  time  those  men  were  chosen  to  be  townsmen,  viz. : 
"Mr.  Brown.  Thomas  Cooper.  William  Smith. 

Stephen  Payne.  William  Carpenter.  Robert  Martin." 

Richard  Bowen. 
"The  Kith  of  the  11th  mo.  [January],  1623.    Voted  that  the  Indians 
that  kill  any  wolves  are  to  be  paid  out  of  the  rate  by  the  constable." 

"  June  the  26th,  1655.  At  a  town-meeting  it  was  agreed  upon  that 
Mr.  Newman,  our  teacher,  should  have  fifty  pounds  a  year;  and  those 
seven  men  whose  names  are  hereto  appended  were  chosen  committees 
for  the  levying  of  a  rate  according  to  person  and  estate  for  the  raising 
of  said  maintenance: 

"  Joseph  Peck.  Robert  Martin. 

Thomas  Cooper.  Peter  Hunt. 

Richard  Bowen.  Will.  Sabin." 

Stephen  Payne. 
Feb.  22,  1658.    "  The  following  persons  are  accepted  as  freemen  of 
the  town,  to  take  up  their  freedom,  namely:  Joseph  Peck,  John  Peck, 
Henry  Smith,  Robert  Fuller,  John  Fitch.  Stephen  Paine,  Jonathan  Bliss, 
William  Buckland,  Rice  Leonard." 

June  22,  1658.  "  At  a  town-meeting  lawfully  warned,  lots  were  drawn 
fol  the  meadows  that  lie  on  the  north  side  of  the  town,  in  order  as  fol- 
loweth,  according  to  person  and  estate: 


'1.  John  Peck. 

2.  George  Robinson. 

3.  Robert  Abell. 

4.  Nicholas  Ide. 

5.  James  Reddeway. 

6.  Jonathan  Bliss. 

7.  Mr.  Winchester's  children. 

8.  Mr.  Newman. 

9.  George  Keudrick. 


10.  Stephen  Payne,  sen. 

11.  John  Butterworth. 

12.  John  Read. 

13.  Thomas  Wilmoth. 
14    John  Fitch. 

15.  Henry  Smith. 

16.  Will.  Carpenter,  sen. 

17.  John  Millard,  jun. 

18.  Robert  Wheaton. 


19.  Richard  Bullock. 

20.  Robert  Martin. 

21.  John  Perrum. 

22.  Richard  Bowen,  sen. 

23.  Obadiah  Bowen. 

24.  Anthony  Perry. 

25.  Joseph  Peck. 

26.  John  Matthews. 

27.  John  Allin. 

28.  John  Sutton. 

29.  Peter  Hunt. 

30.  Tho.  Cooper,  jr. 

31.  Will.  Sabin. 

32.  Philip  Walker. 

33.  Daniel  Smith. 

34.  John  Dogget. 


35.  Nicholas  Peck. 

36.  Rice  Leonard. 

37.  Robert  Jones. 

38.  Francis  Stevens. 

39.  Thomas  Cooper,  sen. 

40.  John  Woodcock. 

41.  Edward   Hall. 

42.  Stephen  Payne,  jun. 

43.  Roger  Amadowne. 

44.  Richard  Bowen,  jr. 

45.  Robert  Fuller. 

46.  Will.  Bucklin. 

47.  Mr.  Peck. 

48.  John  Willard,  son. 

49.  Will.  Carpenter,  jun." 


Quit-Claim  Deed  from    King  Philip.— On  the 

30th  of  March,  1668,  Philip,  who  had  succeeded  his 
brother  Alexander  as  sachem  of  the  Wampanoags  or 
Pokanokets,  as  they  are  sometimes  called,  confirmed 
to  the  town  the  purchase  of  the  "  eight  miles  square" 
made  of  Massasoit,  or  Ossamequin,  his  father,  in 
1641,  and  relinquished  all  claim  and  title  to  the  same 
by  giving  the  town  a  quit-claim  warrantee  deed. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  names  of  the  inhabit- 
ants and  proprietors  of  the  Towne  of  Rehoboth  having 
Rights  and  Titles  to  the  Measuages,  Tenements  and 
Lands  contained  in  the  quit-claim  deed  of  William 
Bradford  to  the  town  of  Rehoboth,  which  hath  been 
reade  and  allowed  in  a  full  Towne  Meeting,  ffebruary 
the  7th,  1689:  Mr.  Samuel  Angier,  Decon  Thomas 
Cooper,  Joseph  Peck,  sen'r,  John  ffitch,  John  Wood- 
cock, sen'r,  Serj.  Thomas  Reade,  George  Ken ri eke, 
Nichollas  Ide,  sen'r,  George  Robinson,  sen'r,  Robert 
Wheaton,  Richard  Martin,  John  Peren,  Jonathan 
ffuller,  sen'r,  Enoch  Hunt,  John  Hunt,  Ephrahim 
Hunt,  Rice  Leonard,  Sam'l.  Butterworth,  Philip  Wal- 
ker, ffrancis  Stevens,  sen'r,  John  Ormsby,  Nathaniel 
Chaffee,  Samuel  Sabin,  Serj.  Preserved  Able,  Daniell 
Reade,  Israll  Reade,  James  Sabin,  John  Sabin,  Noah 
Sabin,  The  Hieres  of  Thomas  Kenrick,  Samuel  Rob- 
inson, Mosses  Reade,  Mr.  Christopher  Sanders,  Jonah 
Palmer,  sen'r,  Samuell  Palmer,  Noah  Mason,  Samuell 
Mason,  Nicholas  Ide,  jun'r,  Sam'l  Millerd,  sen'r, 
Sam'l  Millerd,  jr.,  Johe  Hall,  John  Redway,  Sam'l 
Carpenter,  John  Tittus,  Samuell  Tittus,  Joseph  Tit- 
tus,  John  Carpenter,  Thomas  Grant,  John  Willmath, 
Samuel  Blise,  Jonathan  Blise,  Joseph  Buckland, 
Samuell  Paine,  Joseph  Browne,  William  Carpenter, 
jr.,  Isack  Allen,  Thomas  Willmath,  jr.,  John  Wood- 
cock, jun'r,  Iserall  Woodcock,  Thomas  Woodcock, 
Jonathan  Woodcock,  Samuel  Newman,  jr.,  John 
Kinsley,  Timothy  Ide,  Jonathan  ffuller,  jun.,  Jeremiah 
Wheaton,  John  Shawe,  Joseph  Sabine,  Richard 
Whiteaker,  Samuel  Bullock,  Thomas  Ormsby,  Thomas 
Man,  Robert  Millerd,  sen'r,  Mr.  Henry  Sweeting, 
Jathniell  Peck,  Joshua  Smith,  John  Smith,  Richard 
Evens,  James  Thurber,  Sam'l  Bowen,  Jonathan  Will- 
matli,  John  ffrench,  Joseph  Borsworth,  Joseph  Peck, 
jun'r,  Hezekiah  Pecke,  Richard  Bowen,  Thomas 
Bowen,  sen'r,  John  Marten,  Jonah  Palmer,  jun'r, 
Samuel    Cooper,    Nathaniell    Perry,   John    Daggett, 


463 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Thomas  Cooper,  Joseph  Daggett,  Nathaniel!  Daggett, 
Nathaniell  Whitaker,  Eprahim  Wheaton,  Abiah  Car- 
penter, James  Carpenter,  Samson  Mason,  Joseph 
Mason,  Joseph  Buckland,  jun'r,  Baruk  Buckland, 
Sillas  Titus,  Nath.  Paine,  jun'r,  William  Robenson, 
Josiah  Carpenter,  fFrancis  Stevens,  jun'r,  Richard 
Bowen,  jun'r,  Joseph  Millerd,  Benjamin  Millerd, 
John  Bowen,  Benjamin  Robinson,  David  Newman, 
David  ffuller,  John  Jenkings,  John  Jonson,  Daniell 
Shepard,  sen.,  David  ffreeman,  James  Wilson,  James 
Welch,  John  Bullock,  John  Callender,  John  Bartlet's 
heires. 

Orphans. — Thomas  Cooper  and  Nathaniell  Cooper, 
sons  of  Nath.  Cooper,  The  Heires  of  Benjamin  Buck- 
land,  Samuell  ffuller,  The  Heires  of  Eldad  Kinsley, 
Jonathan  Carpenter,  David  Carpenter,  Sollomon  Car- 
penter, Zacheriah  Carpenter,  Abraham  Carpenter, 
The  Heires  of  Robert  Joanes,  Daniell  Sabin,  son  of 
Nehemiah  Sabin,  John  ffuller,  Abiall  ffirller,  Benja- 
min Paine,  George  Robinson,  Jr.,  Isake  Mason, 
Thomas  Bowen. 


CHAPTER    XXXIV.1 

REHOBOTH.— {Continued.) 

INDIAN  HISTORY/* 

Rehoboth  in  the  War — Garrison-Houses— Burning  of  the  Town — Pierce's 
Fight — Philip  Slain  at  Mount  Hope — Capture  of  Anuawan — Anna- 
wan's  Rock — Col.  Benjamin  Church  —  His  Account  of  Anuawan's 
Capture. 

Indian  War. — In  1675  commenced  the  bloody  and 
destructive  Indian  war  known  by  the  name  of 
"  Philip's  war."  Of  the  miseries  of  this  war  Reho- 
both, from  its  proximity  to  Mount  Hope,  the  residence 
of  Philip,  or  Pometacom,  the  prime  mover  of  the  war, 
was  destined  to  suffer  its  full  share.  The  first  blood 
was  spilled  within  the  original  jurisdiction  of  Reho- 
both, and  the  last  of  Philip's  generals,  the  stern  and 
intrepid  old  warrior  and  counselor  Annawan,  was 
captured  within  the  present  limits  of  the  same  town. 
During  this  war,  which  lasted  nearly  two  years,  the 
inhabitants  of  Rehoboth  were  kept  in  almost  constant 
alarm ;  a  number  of  them  were  at  different  times 
slain,  and  the  whole  town,  the  garrison-houses  ex- 
cepted, was  at  one  time  laid  in  ashes.  This  town  was 
also  the  scene  of  Pierce's  fight,  one  of  the  most  dis- 
astrous battles  to  the  English  that  occurred  during 
the  whole  war. 

The  "  three  houses"  into  which  "  the  inhabitants  of 
both  towns"  (Rehoboth  and  Swansea)  were  gathered, 
and  where  they  rendezvoused  during  the  war,  were 
called  garrison-houses.  They  were  fortified  and  con- 
tinually guarded  in  time  of  danger,  and  were  some- 

1  Condensed  from  Bliss'  History  of  Rehoboth. 

2  See  Chapter  II.,  where  will  be  found  the  Indian  history  of  the 
county.  AIbo,  see  history  of  Attleborough  for  Indian  history  of  this 
section. 


times  so  strong  as  to  enable  a  few  men  to  sustain  a 
long  siege  against  a  large  body  of  savages.  The  three 
principal  garrison-houses  maintained  in  Rehoboth 
and  Swansea  during  Philip's  war,  and  which  were 
probably  meant  by  the  writer  last  quoted,  were  one 
in  Rehoboth  North  Purchase  (now  Attleborough), 
called  "  Woodcock's  Garrison,"  another  on  the  south 
end  of  Seekonk  Plain  (now  Seekonk  Common),  and 
the  third  near  Miles'  Bridge,  in  the  northern  part  of 
Swansea  ;  this  last  was  called  "  Miles'  Garrison,"  from 
the  Rev.  John  Miles,  the  minister  of  Swansea,  whose 
house  was  garrisoned.  It  stood  a  short  distance  west 
of  Miles'  Bridge,3  probably  near  the  site  of  the  tavern 
of  Mason  Barney,  Esq.4  Woodcock's  Garrison  was 
named  from  John  Woodcock,  who  built  the  house 
and  occupied  it  before  the  war  and  after  it  during 
his  life  for  a  public  tavern.  The  following  is  the 
record  of  the  license  granted  him  for  this  purpose  by 
the  court  of  Plymouth :  "  July  5,  1670.  John  Wood- 
cock is  allowed  by  the  Court  to  keep  an  Ordinary  at 
the  ten-mile  river  (so  called),  which  is  in  the  way 
from  Rehoboth  to  the  Bay  ;  and  likewise  eDj'oined  to 
keep  good  order,  that  no  unruliness  nor  ribaldry  be 
permitted  there."  (Plymouth  Colony  Record.) 

This  garrison  was  in  ^.ttleborough,  near  the  Bap- 
tist meeting-house. 

The  principal  garrison-house  at  Seekonk  stood  on 
the  southeast  side  of  the  common. 

Several  other  houses  were  occupied  temporarily  as 
garrisons,  but  the  three  described  were  the  strongest, 
and  were  always  resorted  to  in  times  of  the  greatest 
danger. 

Church  mentions  a  Maj.  Brown's  Garrison,  where 
a  part  of  the  Plymouth  forces  on  their  arrival  at 
Swansea  were  posted.  Where  this  garrison  stood  it  is 
impossible  now  to  determine,  though  I  have  the  im- 
pression, from  the  fact  that  Mr.  Brown's  father  owned 
land  very  largely  at  Wannamoiset,  which  had  now 
descended  to  his  son,  that  it  was  in  the  same  part  of 
Swansea  with  Miles'  Garrison. 

Mr.  Baylies,  in  his  "  Memoir  of  Plymouth  Colony," 
vol.  ii.,  pt.  3,  p.  33,  mentions  a  garrison  at  the  house  of 
one  Bourn,  at  Mattapoisett,  twelve  miles  distant  from 
Swansea.  Though  in  this  he  follows  Hubbard  (133), 
yet  this  distance,  "  twelve  miles,"  is  undoubtedly  an 
error.  Hubbard  in  another  place  calls  Mattapoisett 
"  a  small  neck  of  land  in  the  bottom  of  Taunton 
Bay,  in  the  midway  between  Mount  Hope  and  Po- 
casset  Neck,"  and  mentions  it  as  being  twelve  miles 
from  Rehoboth?     This  would  make  the  distance  be- 


8  This  bridge  is  over  Palmer's  River,  about  three  miles  north  of  War- 
ren, R.  I. 

4  In  the  year  1833,  in  digging  or  enlarging  a  cellar  on  this  spot,  a  large 
number  of  cannon-balls  were  dug  out  of  the  ground,  which  leads  me  to 
suppose  that  this  was  the  site  of  the  garrison.  It  is  not  mentioned  by 
any  historian  that  cannon  were  used  by  the  English  at  Swansea  at  the 
time  of  Philip's  war.  But  I  know  of  no  other  purpose  for  which  these 
balls  could  have  been  deposited  there.  The  place  where  they  were 
found  I  conjecture  to  have  been  the  spot  of  Mr.  Miles'  cellar. 

6  Hubbard's  Narrative,  p.  TO. 


REHOBOTH. 


469 


tween  Miles'  Garrison  and  Mattapoisett  six  miles,  the 
former  being  six  miles  distant  from  Rehoboth,  and 
in  the  direction  of  the  latter.  Mattapoisett  Neck  is  the 
same  as  is  now  called  Gardner's  Neck,  in  Swansea, 
which  runs  into  Mount  Hope  Bay,  early  called  Taun- 
ton Bay. 

March  the  28th,  1676,  two  days  after  Pierce's  fight,1 
a  party  of  the  Indians,  crossing  the  river,  laid  the 
town  in  ashes,  burning  forty  houses  and  thirty  barns.2 
These  houses  were  around  the  "  Ring  of  the  Town," 
now  called  "  Seekonk  Common."  Only  two  houses 
were  left  standing,  the  garrison  house,  which  stood 
on  the  spot  where  the  house  of  Phanuel  Bishop  now 
stands,  and  another  house  on  the  south  end  of  the 
common,  which  was  preserved  by  black  sticks  having 
been  arranged  around  it,  so  as  to  give  it  at  a  distance 
the  appearance  of  being  strongly  guarded.  The 
houses  were  set  on  fire,  as  tradition  informs  us,  early 
in  the  evening,  and  when  the  sun  arose  the  next 
morning  it  beheld  only  a  line  of  smoking  ruins. 

The  town  records  give  the  name  of  only  one 
person  slain  by  the  Indians  at  this  time :  "  Robert 
Beers,  slain  ye  28  March,  1676."  He  was  an  Irish- 
man, and  a  brick-maker  by  trade.  It  is  said  that  he 
was  a  religious  but  eccentric  and  superstitious  man, 
and  that  on  the  approach  of  the  Indians  he  refused 
to  go  into  the  garrison  house,  but  sat  down  in  his 
own  house  with  his  Bible  in  his  hand,  believing  that 
while  he  continued  reading  it  nothing  could  harm 
him.  He  was  shot  through  the  window,  and  fell 
with  his  Bible  in  his  hand. 

The  following  mention  of  the  burning  of  the  town 
by  the  Indians  on  the  28th  of  March  is  made  in  a 
letter  written  at  that  time  by  the  council  of  war  at 
Plymouth  to  Governor  Leverett,  of  Massachusetts 
Colony.  The  copy,  found  among  the  Winslow  papers, 
has  no  date,  but  from  the  contents  it  is  inferred  that 
it  was  written  on  the  31st  of  March,  1676  :  "  Another 
messenger  with  sad  tidings,  at  the  heels  of  the  other, 
from  Rehoboth  ;  that  town  in  flames,  28  instant,  soon 
after  daylight,  the  enemy  having  fech't  away  sundry 
cattle  the  day  before,  and  lay  all  night  in  their  hear- 
ing, burnt  sixty  houses  and  barns,  appeared  very  nu- 
merous, and  continued  lurking  thereabout  after  it." 

The  next  notice  of  the  Indians  relative  .to  Reho- 
both found  in  history  is  that  "in  the  road  to  Reho- 
both (in  their  march  from  Wrentham)  they  assaulted 
one  Woodcock's  house,  killed  one  man  and  one  of  his 
sons,  wounded  another,  and  burned  his  son's  house." 

The  Indian  war  in  this  quarter  was  now  fast  draw- 
ing to  a  close.  Philip,  the  prime  mover  of  the  war, 
was  slain  on  Saturday  morning,  Aug.  12,  1676,  at 
Mount  Hope,  and  Annawan,  the  last  and  bravest  of 
his  generals,  was  taken  captive  on  Monday  evening 
of  the  28th,  in  Rehoboth.  The  rock  where  he  was 
taken  is  still  known  to  all  the  country  round  by  the 
name  of  "  Annawan's  rock."     This  rock  lies  in  the 


1  See  Attleborough. 


'  Hubbard's  Narrative,  p.  125. 


southeasterly  part  of  Rehoboth,  near  the  confines  of 
Dighton,  a  few  rods  south  of  the  new  turnpike  from 
Taunton  to  Providence,  about  eight  miles  from  the 
former  and  ten  miles  from  the  latter  place.  It  is  on 
the  northern  border  of  a  great  swamp  called  Squan- 
nakonk,  by  which  it  is  rendered  inaccessible  except  on 
the  northern  side.  This  side  can  be  seen  from  the 
turnpike,  and  is  easily  ascended,  sloping  gradually 
away  from  its  summit  to  its  base,  at  an  angle  of  about 
35°.  The  whole  rock  extends  northeast  and  south- 
west seventy  or  eighty  feet,  and  its  height  is  twenty- 
five  or  thirty  feet.  It  is  composed  of  sand  and  peb- 
bles. A  part  of  its  southeast  side  projects  a  little 
over  its  base,  while  on  the  northeast  it  seems  at  no 
very  distant  period  to  have  tumbled  down  in  large 
clefts.  Near  its  southeast  extremity  is  an  opening  of 
an  angular  form,  resembling  the  corner  of  a  room, 
with  sides  nearly  perpendicular.  In  this,  it  is  said, 
Annawan  and  his  men  had  encamped.  In  one  of 
the  perpendicular  sides  of  this  opening  is  an  excava- 
tion or  fissure,  narrow  at  the  bottom,  and  widening 
gradually  upwards,  and  commencing  so  near  the 
ground  as  to  make  a  very  convenient  seat.  This  is 
called  "  Annawan's  chair,"  for  it  is  said  that  in  this 
Annawan  used  to  sit.  Within  the  large  angular 
opening  or  corner,  some  years  since,  stood  a  large 
tree,  covered  for  several  feet  from  the  ground  with 
the  names  of  many  who  had  visited  the  rock,  and 
whose  passion  for  immortality  had  prompted  them 
"to  give  in  trust  their  names"  to  this  reverend  senti- 
nel of  the  place.  But  the  "  September  gale"  of  1815 
prostrated  this  ancient  chronicler  of  the  rock,  and  an 
uprooted  stump  now  marks  the  place  where  it  stood. 
It  is  probable  that  this  tree  grew  since  the  days  of 
Annawan,  as  it  occupied  a  large  share  of  the  angle. 
Small  bushes  still  grow  from  the  seams  on  the  top 
and  in  the  steep  side  of  the  rock,  as  in  the  days  of 
Church.  Till  lately  a  thin  scattering  wood  grew 
around  it,  and  near  to  the  east  and  south  was  a  thick 
forest,  which  seemed  to  make  it  even  then  a  fitting 
abode  for  savages.  But  these  have  within  a  year  or 
two  all  yielded  to  "  the  woodman's  axe,"  and  the  re- 
treat of  Annawan  now  looks  lonely  and  desolate.  It 
is  frequently  visited  by  the  curious  and  the  gay,  and 
the  rock  where  the  rude  Indian  once  trod  is  now 
often  pressed  by  the  soft  foot  of  the  American  fair. 
The  nearest  inhabitant  to  this  rock  is  Deacon  Asahel 
Bliss.     (Bliss  in  1838.) 

Annawan  was  of  the  tribe  of  the  Wampanoags, 
and  had  been  greatly  distinguished  as  a  warrior  and 
counselor  under  Massasoit,  and  was  "  Philip's  great 
captain"  in  this  war.  He  is  first  mentioned  in  the 
annals  of  Philip's  war  by  Church,  in  describing  the 
skirmish  in  which  Philip  was  slain  :  "  One  of  the 
enemy,  who  seemed  to  be  a  great  surly  old  fellow, 
hallooed  with  a  loud  voice,  and  often  called  out, 
"lootash,  Iootash  /"  Capt.  Church  called  to  his  In- 
dian, Peter,  and  asked  him  who  that  was  called  so. 
He  answered  that  it  was  old  Annawan,  Philip's  great 


470 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


captain,  calling  to  his  soldiers  to  stand  to  it,  and  fight 
stoutly."  The  hest  authority  for  the  circumstances  of 
the  capture  of  Annawan  is  found  in  the  account  writ- 
ten under  the  direction  of  the  old  warrior,1  to  whose 
valor  the  glory  of  the  achievement  belongs. 

"  Capt.  Church,"  says  the  narrative,  "  had  been  but 
a  little  while  at  Plimouth  (after  the  death  of  Philip) 
before  a  post  from  Rehoboth  came  to  inform  the 
Governour  that  old  Annawan,  Philip's  chief  captain, 
was  with  his  company  ranging  about  their  woods, 
and  was  very  offensive  and  pernicious  to  Rehoboth 
and  Swanzey.  Capt.  Church  was  immediately  sent 
for  again,  and  treated  with  to  engage  in  one  expedi- 
tion more.  He  told  them  their  encouragement  was 
so  poor  he  feared  his  soldiers  would  be  dull  about 
going  again.  But  being  a  hearty  friend  to  the  cause, 
he  rallied  again,  goes  to  Mr.  Jabez  Howland,  his  old 
lieutenant,  and  some  of  his  soldiers  that  used  to  go 
out  with  him,  told  them  how  the  case  was  circum- 
stanced, and  that  he  had  intelligence  of  old  An  Ha- 
waii's walk  and  haunt,  and  wanted  hands  to  hunt 
him.  They  did  not  want  much  entreating,  but  told 
him  they  would  go  with  him  as  long  as  there  was  one 
Indian  left  in  the  woods.  He  moved  and  ranged 
through  the  woods  to  Pocasset. 

"  It  being  the  latter  end  of  the  week,  he  proposed 
to  go  on  to  Rhode  Island  and  rest  until  Monday ;  but 
on  the  Lord's  day  morning'2  there  came  a  post  to 
inform  the  captain  that  early  the  same  morning  a 
canoe  with  several  Indians  in  it  passed  from  Pru- 
dence Island3  to  Poppasquash4  Neck.  Capt.  Church 
thought  if  he  could  possibly  surprise  them  he  might 
probably  gain  some  intelligence  of  more  game,  there- 
fore he  made  all  possible  speed  after  them.  The  ferry- 
boat being  out  of  the  way  he  made  use  of  canoes. 
But  by  that  time  they  had  made  two  freights  and  had 
got  over  about  fifteen  or  sixteen  of  his  Indians  the 
wind  sprung  up  with  such  violence  that  canoes  could 
no  more  pass.  The  captain  seeing  it  was  impossible 
for  any  more  of  his  soldiers  to  come  to  him,  he  told 
his  Indians  if  they  were  willing  to  go  with  him  he 
would  go  to  Poppasquash  and  see  if  they  could  catch 
some  of  the  enemy  Indians.  They  were  willing  to  go 
but  were  sorry  they  had  no  English  soldiers.5  So 
they  marched  through  the  thickets  that  they  might 


1  Col.  Benjamin  Church  was  born  at  Duxbury,  Mass.,  in  1639,  and  died 
Jan.  17, 1717,  in  the  seventy-eighth  year  of  his  age,  at  Little  Compton, 
R.  I.  He  married  Miss  Alice  Southworth,  and  had  five  sons  and  a 
daughter.  His  daring  and  intrepidity  can  scarce  find  an  equal  in  our 
annals.  He  was  particularly  distinguished  in  Philip's  war,  and  was  after- 
wards sent  on  an  expedition  against  the  Eastern  Indians.  (Church's  Hist, 
of  Philip's  war.)  William  Church,  Esq.,  of  Providence,  R.  I.,  and  Church 
Gray,  Esq.,  of  Seekonk,  are  lineal  descendants  of  this  hero,  the  former 
by  the  father's  and  the  latter  by  the  mother's  side. 

2  August  27th. 

a  An  island  in  Narragansett  Bay,  to  the  southwest  of  Warren  and  Bris- 
tol, about  six  miles  in  length. 

4  A  long  narrow  neck  or  peninsula,  extending  into  the  Narragansett 
Bay,  on  the  west  of  Bristol,  and  between  Bristol  and  Warren. 

5  They  had  one  or  more  Englishmen  in  their  company,  as  will  be 
presently  seen. 


not  be  discovered,  until  they  came  unto  the  salt 
meadow  to  the  northward  of  Bristol  town,  that  now 
is,  then  they  heard  a  gun  ;  the  captain  looked  about, 
not  knowing  but  it  might  be  some  of  his  own  com- 
pany in  the  rear.  So  halting  till  they  all  came  up, 
he  found  it  was  none  of  his  company  that  fired. 

"  Now,  though  he  had  but  a  few  men,  he  was 
minded  to  send  some  of  them  out  on  a  scout.  He 
moved  it  to  Capt.  Lightfoot  to  go  with  three  more  on 
a  scout;  he  said  he  was  willing,  provided  the  cap- 
tain's man,  Nathaniel  (which  was  an  Indian  they  had 
lately  taken),  might  be  one  of  them,  because  he  was 
well  acquainted  with  the  Neck,  and  coming  lately 
from  among  them  knew  how  to  call  them. 

"  The  captain  bid  him  choose  his  three  companions 
and  go,  and  if  they  came  across  any  of  the  enemy  not 
to  kill  if  they  could  possibly  be  taken  alive,  that  they 
might  gain  intelligence  concerning  Annawan.  The 
captain  with  the  rest  of  his  company  moved  but  a 
little  way  further  toward  Poppasquash  before  they 
heard  another  gun,  which  seemed  to  be  the  same 
way  with  the  other,  but  farther  off;  but  they  made 
no  halt  until  they  came  unto  the  narrow  of  Poppa- 
squash Neck,  where  Capt.  Church  left  three  men 
more  to  watch  if  any  should  come  out  of  the  Neck 
and  to  inform  the  scout  when  they  returned  which 
way  he  was  gone. 

"He  posted  the  remainder  of  his  company,  half  on 
one  side  of  the  Neck,  and  the  other  with  himself  went 
on  the  other  side,  until  they  met,  and,  meeting  with 
neither  Indians  nor  canoes,  returned  with  big  expec- 
tations of  tidings  by  their  scout.  But  when  they  came 
back  to  the  three  men  at  the  narrow  of  the  Neck,  they 
told  their  captain  the  scout  was  not  returned  and  had 
heard  nor  seen  anything  of  them ;  this  filled  them 
with  thoughts  of  what  should  become  of  them.  By 
that  time  they  had  sat  and  waited  an  hour  longer  ; 
it  was  very  dark  and  they  despaired  of  their  return- 
ing to  them. 

"  Some  of  the  Indians  told  their  captain  they  feared 
his  new  man,  Nathaniel,  had  met  with  his  old  Mount 
Hope  friends  and  was  turned  rogue.  They  concluded 
to  make  no  fires  that  night  (and  indeed  they  had  no 
great  need  of  any),  for  they  had  no  victuals  to  cook, 
not  so  much  as  a  morsel  of  bread  with  them. 

"  They  took  up  their  lodgings  scattering,  that  if  pos- 
sibly their  scout  should  come  in  the  night  and  whistle 
(which  was  their  sign)  some  or  other  of  them  might 
hear  them.  They  had  a  very  solitary,  hungry  night, 
and  as  soon  as  the  day  broke6  they  drew  off  through 
the  brush  to  a  hill  without  the  Neck,  and  looking 
about  them  they  espied  one  Indian  man  come  run- 
ning somewhat  towards  them.  The  captain  ordered 
one  man  to  step  out  and  show  himself.  Upon  this 
the  Indian  ran  right  to  him.  And  who  should  it  be 
but  Capt.  Lightfoot,  to  their  great  joy.  Capt.  Church 
asked  him  what  news  ?     He  answered, '  Good  news' ; 

6  Monday,  August  28th. 


REHOBOTH. 


471 


they  were  all  well,  and  had  catched  ten  Indians  ;  and 
that  they  guarded  them  all  night  in  one  of  the  flankers 
of  the  old  English  garrison  j1  that  their  prisoners  were 
a  part  of  Annawan's  company,  and  that  they  had  left 
their  families  in  a  swamp  above  Metapoiset  Neck,'2 
and  as  they  were  marching  towards  the  old  garrison 
Lightfoot  gave  Capt.  Church  a  particular  account  of 
their  exploit,  viz. :  that  presently  after  they  left  him 
they  heard  another  gun,  which  seemed  towards  the 
Indian  burying-place,  and  moving  that  way  they  dis- 
covered two  of  the  enemy  flaying  of  a  horse.  The 
scout  clapping  into  the  brush,  Nathaniel  bid  them 
sit  down,  and  he  would  presently  call  all  the  Indians 
thereabout  him.  They  hid,  and  he  went  a  little  dis- 
tance back  from  them  and  set  up  his  note  and  howled 
like  a  wolf.  One  of  the  two  immediately  left  his  horse 
and  came  running  to  see  who  was  there  ;  but  Nathan- 
iel, howling  lower  and  lower,  drew  him  in  between 
those  that  lay  in  wait  for  him,  who  seized  him. 
Nathaniel  continuing  the  same  note,  the  other  left 
the  horse  also,  following  his  mate,  and  met  with  the 
same.  When  they  caught  these  two  they  examined 
them  apart  and  found  them  to  agree  in  their  story, — 
that  there  were  eight  more  of  them  come  down  into 
the  Neck  to  get  provisions,  and  had  agreed  to  meet 
at  the  burying-place  that  evening.  These  two  being 
some  of  Nathaniel's  old  acquaintance,  he  had  great 
influence  upon  them,  and  with  his  enticing  story 
(telling  what  a  brave  captain  he  had,  how  bravely 
he  lived  since  he  had  been  with  him,  and  how  much 
they  might  better  their  condition  by  turning  to  him, 
etc.),  persuaded  and  engaged  them  to  be  on  his  side, 
which,  indeed,  now  began  to  be  the  better  side  of  the 
hedge.  They  waited  but  a  little  while  before  they 
espied  the  rest  of  theirs  coming  up  to  the  burying- 
place;  and  Nathaniel  soon  howled  them  in,  as  he  had 
done  their  mates  before. 

"  When  Capt.  Church  came  to  the  garrison  he  met 
his  lieutenant3  and  the  rest  of  his  company.  And 
then  making  up  good  fires  they  fell  to  roasting  their 
horse  beef,  enough  to  last  them  a  whole  day,  but  had 
not  a  morsel  of  bread,  but  though  salt  they  had 
(which  they  always  carried  in  their  pockets,  which 
at  this  time  was  very  acceptable  to  them). 

"  Their  next  motion  was  towards  the  place  where 
the  prisoners  told  them  they  had  left  their  women  and 
children,  and  surprised  them  all  and  some  others  that 
were  newly  come  to  them.  And  upon  examination 
they  held  to  one  story,  that  it  was  hard  to  tell  where 
to  find  Annawan,  for  he  never  roosted  twice  in  a  place. 

"Now  a  certain  Indian  soldier  that  Capt.  Church 
had  gained  over  to  be  on  his  side  prayed  that  he 


1  This  fort  was  built  in  June,  1675,  by  the  Boston  and  Plymouth  troops, 
who  were  sent  to  the  defense  of  Swansea  on  the  first  breaking  out  of  the 
war. 

-  Tn  Swansea. 

3  Mr.  Jabez  Howland.  From  this  it  appears  that  Church  had  at  least 
one  Englishman  with  him  in  this  expedition,  and  we  shall  presently  see 
that  he  had  another. 


might  have  liberty  to  go  and  fetch  his  father,  who,  he 
said,  was  about  four  miles  from  that  place  in  a  swamp, 
with  no  other  than  a  young  squaw.  Capt.  Church 
inclined  to  go  with  him,  thinking  it  might  be  in  his 
way  to  gain  some  intelligence  of  Annawan,  and  so 
taking  one  Englishman  and  a  few  Indians  with  him, 
leaving  the  rest  there,  he  went  with  his  new  soldier  to 
look  after  his  father. 

"  When  he  came  to  the  swamp  he  bid  the  Indian  go 
to  see  if  he  could  find  his  father.  He  was  no  sooner 
gone  but  Church  discovered  a  track  coming  down  out 
of  the  woods,  upon  which  he  and  his  little  company 
lay  close,  some  on  one  side  of  the  track  and  some  on 
the  other.  They  heai'd  the  Indian  soldier  making  a 
howling  for  his  father,  and  at  length  somebody  an- 
swered him ;  but  while  they  were  listening  they 
thought  they  heard  somebody  coming  towards  them  ; 
presently  they  saw  an  old  man  coming  up  with  a  gun 
on  his  shoulder  and  a  young  woman  following  in  the 
track  in  which  they  lay  by.  They  let  them  come  up 
between  them,  and  then  started  up  and  laid  hold  of 
them  both.  Capt.  Church  immediately  examined 
them  apart,  telling  them  what  they  must  trust  to  if 
they  told  false  stories.  He  asked  the  young  woman 
what  company  they  came  from  last?  She  said,  'From 
Capt.  Annawan's.'  He  asked  her  how  many  there 
were  in  company  with  him  when  she  left  him  ?  She 
said,  '  Fifty  or  sixty.'  He  asked  her  how  many  miles 
it  was  to  the  place  where  she  left  him  ?  She  said  she 
did  not  understand  miles,  but  that  he  was  up  in 
Squaunaconk  Swamp.4 

"  The  old  man,  who  had  been  one  of  Philip's  Coun- 
cil, upon  examination,  gave  exactly  the  same  account. 
Capt.  Church  asked  him  if  they  could  get  there  that 
night?  He  said  if  they  went  presently  and  traveled 
stoutly  they  might  get  there  by  sunset.  He  asked 
whither  he  was  going?  He  answered  that  Annawan 
had  sent  him  down  to  look  for  some  Indians  that  were 
gone  down  into  Mount  Hope  Neck  to  kill  provisions. 
Capt.  Church  let  him  know  that  these  Indians  were 
all  his  prisoners. 

"  By  this  time  came  the  Indian  soldier  and  brought 
his  father  and  one  Indian  more.  The  captain  was 
now  in  a  great  strait  of  mind  what  to  do  next;  he  had 
a  mind  to  give  Annawan  a  visit  now  he  knew  where 
to  find  him.  But  his  company  was  very  small,  but 
half  a  dozen  men  beside  himself,  and  was  under  a 
necessity  to  send  somebody  back  to  acquaint  his  lieu- 
tenant and  company  with  his  proceedings.  However, 
he  asked  his  small  company  that  were  with  him 
whether  they  would  willingly  go  with  him  and  give 
Annawan  a  visit?  They  told  him  they  were  always 
ready  to  obey  his  commands,  etc.,  but,  withal,  told 
him  that  they  knew  this  Capt.  Annawan  was  a  great 
soldier,  that  he  had  been  a  valiant  captain  under 
Asuhmequin,5  Philip's  father,  and  that  he  had  been 

*  This  is  a  large  swamp  in  the  southeasterly  part  of  Rehoboth. 
5  His  name  has  been  variously  written  as  Asuhmequin,  Ossamequin 
or  Osamequin,  Oosamequen,  Osamekin,  Owsaniequin,  Ousamequine,  Us- 


472 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Philip's  chieftan  all  this  war.  A  very  subtile  man,  of 
great  resolution,  and  had  often  said  that  he  would 
never  be  taken  alive  by  the  English.  And,  more- 
over, they  knew  that  the  men  that  were  with  him 
were  resolute  fellows,  some  of  Philip's  chief  soldiers, 
and  therefore  feared  whether  it  was  practicable  to 
make  an  attempt  upon  him  with  so  small  a  handful 
of  assailants  as  were  now  with  him.  Told  him  fur- 
ther that  it  would  be  a  pity  that,  after  all  the  great 
things  he  had  done,  he  should  throw  away  his  life  at 
last.  Upon  which  he  replied  that  he  doubted  not 
Annawan  was  a  subtile  and  valiant  man  ;  that  he  had 
a  long  time,  but  in  vain,  sought  for  him,  and  never 
till  now  could  find  his  quarters,  and  he  was  very  loth 
to  miss  of  the  opportunity;  and  doubted  not  but  that 
if  they  would  cheerfully  go  with  him  the  same  Al- 
mighty Providence  that  had  hitherto  protected  and 
befriended  them  would  do  so  still,  etc. 

"  Upon  this  with  one  consent  they  said  they  would 
go.  Capt.  Church  then  turned  to  one  Cook,  of  Plym- 
outh (the  only  Englishman  then  with  him),  and 
asked  him  what  he  thought  of  it.  He  replied,  'Sir, 
I  am  never  afraid  of  going  anywhere  when  you  are 
with  me.'  Then  Capt.  Church  asked  the  old  Indian 
if  he  could  carry  his  horse  with  him.  (For  he  con- 
veyed a  horse  thus  far  with  him.)  He  replied  that  it 
was  impossible  for  a  horse  to  pass  the  swamps.  There- 
fore he  sent  away  his  new  Indian  soldier  with  his 
father  and  the  captain's  horse  to  his  lieutenant,  and 
orders  for  him  to  move  to  Taunton  with  the  prisoners, 
to  secure  them  there,  and  to  come  out  in  the  Reho- 
both  road,  in  which  he  might  expect  to  meet  him  if 
he  were  alive  and  had  success. 

"The  captain  then  asked  the  old  fellow  if  he 
would  pilot  him  unto  Annawan.  He  answered 
that  he  having  given  him  his  life,  he  was  obliged 
to  serve  him.  He  bid  him  move  on,  and  they  fol- 
lowed. The  old  man  would  out-travel  them  so  far 
sometimes  that  they  were  almost  out  of  sight.  Look- 
ing over  his  shoulder  and  seeing  them  behind  he 
would  halt. 

"  Just  as  the  sun  was  setting  the  old  man  made  a 
full  stop  and  sat  down.'  The  company  coming  up 
also  sat  down,  being  all  weary.  Capt.  Church  asked, 
'  What  news  ?'  He  answered,  that  about  that  time  in 
the  evening  Capt.  Annawan  sent  out  his  scouts  to  see 
if  the  coast  were  clear,  and  as  soon  as  it  began  to 
grow  dark  the  scouts  returned,  '  and  then,'  said  he, 
'  we  may  move  securely.'  When  it  began  to  grow 
dark  the  old  man  stood  up  again,  and  Capt.  Church 
asked  him  if  he  would  take  a  gun  and  fight  for  him. 
He  bowed  very  low,  and  prayed  him  not  to  impose 
such  a  thing  upon  him  as  to  fight  against  Capt.  An- 
nawan, his  old  friend.  '  But,'  says  he,  'I  will  go  along 
with  you  and  be  helpful  to  you,  and  will  lay  hands  on 
any  man  that  shall  offer  to  hurt  you.'  " 

eamequen,  Wassamegin,  etc.  But  the  name  by  which  he  is  most  com- 
monly known  in  history  is  Massassoit  or  Massasoit.  For  an  account  of 
the  life  of  this  "  good  old  chief,"  see  Drake's  "  Book  of  the  Indians." 


It  being  now  pretty  dark,  they  moved  close  together. 
Anon  they  heard  a  noise.  The  captain  stayed  the  old 
man  with  his  hand  and  asked  his  own  men  what  noise 
they  thought  it  might  be?  They  concluded  it  to  be 
the  pounding  of  a  mortar.  The  old  man  had  given 
Capt.  Church  a  description  of  the  place  where  Anna- 
wan now  lay,  and  of  the  difficulty  of  getting  at  him. 
Being  sensible  that  they  were  pretty  near  them,  with 
two  of  his  Indians  he  creeps  to  the  edge  of  the  rocks, 
from  whence  he  could  see  their  camps.  He  saw  three 
companies  of  Indians  at  a  little  distance  from  each 
other,  being  easy  to  be  discovered  by  the  light  of  their 
fires.  He  saw  also  the  great  Annawan  and  his  com- 
pany, who  had  formed  his  camp  or  kenneling-place 
by  felling  a  tree  under  the  side  of  the  great  cliffs  of 
rocks  and  setting  a  row  of  birch-bushes  up  against  it, 
where  he  himself,  his  son,  and  some  of  his  chiefs  had 
taken  up  lodgings,  and  made  great  fires  without  them, 
and  had  their  pots  and  kettles  boiling  and  spits  roast- 
ing. Their  arms  also  he  discovered,  all  set  together 
in  a  place  fitted  for  the  purpose,  standing  up  on  end 
against  a  stick  lodged  in  two  crotches,  and  a  mat 
placed  over  them  to  keep  them  from  the  wet  or  dew. 
The  old  Annawan's  feet  and  his  son's  head  were  so 
near  the  arms  as  almost  to  touch  them. 

"  The  rocks  were  so  steep  that  it  was  impossible 
to  get  down,  only  as  they  lowered  themselves  by  the 
boughs  and  the  bushes  that  grew  in  the  cracks  of  the 
rocks.  Capt.  Church,  creeping  back  again  to  the  old 
man,  asked  him  if  there  were  no  possibility  of  getting 
at  them  some  other  way.  He  answered,  '  No.'  That 
he  and  all  that  belonged  to  Annawan  were  ordered  to 
come  that  way,  and  none  could  come  any  other  way 
without  difficulty  or  danger  of  being  shot. 

"  Capt.  Church  then  ordered  the  old  man  and  his 
daughter  to  go  down  foremost  with  their  baskets  at 
their  backs,  that  when  Annawan  saw  them  with  their 
baskets  he  should  not  mistrust  the  intrigue.  Capt. 
Church  and  his  handful  of  soldiers  crept  down  also 
under  the  shadow  of  those  two  and  their  baskets. 
The  captain  himself  crept  close  behind  the  old  man, 
with  his  hatchet  in  his  hand,  and  stepped  over  the 
young  man's  head  to  the  arms.  The  young  Anna- 
wan discovering  of  him,  whipped  his  blanket  over 
his  head  and  shrunk  up  in  a  heap.  The  old  Capt. 
Annawan  started  up  and  cried  out  '  Howoh  !' l  And 
despairing  of  escape,  threw  himself  back  again  and 
lay  silent  until  Capt.  Church  had  secured  all  the 
arms,  etc.  And  having  secured  that  company,  he 
sent  his  Indian  soldiers  to  the  other  fires  and  com- 
panies, giving  them  instructions  what  to  do  and  say. 
Accordingly  they  went  into  the  midst  of  them.  When 
they  discovered  themselves  who  they  were,  they  told 
them  that  their  Capt.  Annawan  was  taken,  and  it 
would  be  best  for  them  quietly  and  peaceably  to  sur- 

1  This  word  signified  welcome.  Among  the  tribes  of  the  West  the  same 
word  is  now  used  to  signify  approbation.  Thus  when  a  speech  is  made 
which  pleases  them,  at  the  end  of  each  paragraph  they  exclaim,  "  Hoah ! 
Hoah  !" — Weld's  Travels  in  America. 


REHOBOTH. 


473 


render  themselves,  which  would  procure  good  quar- 
ters for  them.  Otherwise,  if  they  should  pretend  to 
resist  or  make  their  escape,  it  would  be  in  vain,  and 
they  could  expect  no  other  but  that  Capt.  Church, 
with  his  great  army,  who  had  now  entrapped  them, 
would  cut  them  to  pieces.  Told  them  also  if  they 
would  submit  themselves  and  deliver  up  all  their 
arms  unto  them  and  keep  every  man  in  his  place 
until  it  was  day,  they  would  assure  them  that  their 
Capt.  Church,  who  had  been  so  kind  to  themselves 
when  they  surrendered  to  him,  should  be  as  kind  to 
them.  Now  they  being  old  acquaintance,  and  many 
of  them  relatione,  did  much  the  readier  give  heed  to 
what  they  said,  complied  and  surrendered  up  their 
arms  unto  them,  both  their  guns  and  hatchets,  etc., 
and  were  forthwith  carried  to  Capt.  Church. 

''  Things  being  so  far  settled,  Capt.  Church  asked 
Annawan  'what  he  had  for  supper?  For,'  said  he, 
'  I  am  come  to  sup  with  you.'  '  Tanbut', ]  said  Anna- 
wan,  with  a  big  voice,  and  looking  about  upon  his 
women  bid  them  hasten  and  get  Capt.  Church  and 
his  company  some  supper.  He  then  turned  to  Capt. 
Church  and  asked  him  whether  he  would  eat  cow 
beef  or  horse  beef.  The  captain  told  him  cow  beef 
would  be  the  most  acceptable.  It  was  soon  got  ready, 
and  pulling  his  little  bag  of  salt  out  of  his  pocket, 
which  was  all  the  provision  he  had  brought  with 
him,  this  seasoned  his  cow  beef.  So  that  with  it  and 
the  dried  corn,  which  the  old  squaw  was  pounding  in 
the  mortar  while  they  Avere  sliding  down  the  rocks, 
he  made  a  very  hearty  supper.  And  this  pounding 
in  the  mortar  proved  lucky  for  Capt.  Church's  getting 
down  the  rocks,  for  when  the  old  squaw  pounded  they 
moved,  and  when  she  ceased  to  turn  the  corn  they 
ceased  creeping.  The  noise  of  the  mortar  prevented 
the  enemy's  hearing  their  creeping,  and  the  corn  be- 
ing now  dressed,  supplied  the  want  of  bread  and 
gave  a  fine  relish  with  the  cow  beef. 

"  Supper  being  over,  Capt.  Church  sent  two  of  his 
men  to  inform  the  other  companies  that  he  had  killed 
Philip  and  taken  their  friends  in  Mount  Hope  Neck, 
but  had  spared  their  lives,  and  that  he  had  subdued 
now  all  the  enemy  (he  supposed)  except  this  company 
of  Annawan,  and  now  if  they  would  be  orderly  and 
keep  their  places  until  morning  they  should  have  good 
quarter,  and  that  he  would  carry  them  to  Taunton, 
where  they  might  see  their  friends  again,  etc. 

"  The  messengers  returned  that  the  Indians  yielded 
to  his  proposals. 

"  Capt.  Church  thought  it  was  now  time  for  him  to 
take  a  nap,  having  had  no  sleep  in  two  days  and  one 
night  before.  So  he  told  his  men  that  if  they  would 
let  him  sleep  two  hours  they  should  sleep  all  the  rest 
of  the  night.  He  laid  himself  down  and  endeavored 
to  sleep,  but  all  disposition  to  sleep  departed  from 
him. 

"  After  he  had  lain  a  little  while  he  looked  up  to 


1  This  word  Hubbard  has  iuterpreted  to  mean  "  thank  you." 


see  how  his  watch  managed,  but  found  them  all  fast 
asleep.  Now  Capt.  Church  had  told  Capt.  Annawan's 
company,  as  he  had  ordered  his  Indians  to  tell  the 
others,  that  their  lives  should  all  be  spared  excepting 
Capt.  Annawan's,  and  it  was  not  in  his  power  to 
promise  him  his  life,  but  he  must  carry  him  to  his 
masters  at  Plymouth  and  he  would  entreat  them  for 
his  life. 

"  Now  when  Capt.  Church  found  not  only  his  own 
men,  but  all  the  Indians  fast  asleep,  Annawan  only 
excepted,  who,  he  perceived,  was  broad  awake  as 
himself,  and  so  they  lay  looking  one  upon  the  other 
perhaps  an  hour. 

"  At  length  Annawan  raised  himself  up,  cast  off  his 
blanket,  and  with  no  more  clothes  than  his  small 
breeches  walked  a  little  way  back  from  the  company." 
.  .  .  "  By  and  by  he  was  gone  out  of  sight  and 
hearing,  and  then  Capt.  Church  began  to  suspect 
some  ill  design  in  him,  and  got  all  the  guns  close  to 
him  and  crowded  himself  close  under  young  Anna- 
wan, that  if  he  should  anywhere  get  a  gun  he  should 
not  make  a  shot  at  him  without  endangering  his  son. 
Lying  very  still  awhile,  waiting  for  the  event,  at 
length  he  heard  somebody  coming  the  same  way  that 
Annawan  went.  The  moon  now  shining  bright,  he 
saw  him  at  a  distance  coming  with  something  in  his 
hands  ;  and  coming  up  to  Capt.  Church  he  fell  upon 
his  knees  before  him  and  offered  him  what  he  had 
brought,  and,  speaking  in  plain  English,  said,  'Great 
Captain,  you  have  killed  Philip  and  conquered  his 
country,  for  I  believe  that  I  and  my  company  are  the 
last  that  war  against  the  English,  so  suppose  the  war 
is  ended  by  your  means,  and  therefore  these  things 
belong  to  you.'  Then  opening  his  pack,  he  pulled 
out  Philip's  belt,  curiously  wrought  with  wampum, 
being  nine  inches  broad,  wrought  with  black  and 
white  wampum,  in  various  figures  and  flowers  and 
pictures  of  many  birds  and  beasts.  This,  when 
hanged  upon  Capt.  Church's  shoulders,  reached  his 
ankles;  and  another  belt  of  wampum  he  presented 
him  with,  wrought  after  the  former  manner,  which 
Philip  was  wont  to  put  upon  his  head.  It  had  two 
flags  on  the  back  part,  which  hung  down  on  his  back, 
and  another  small  belt  with  a  star  upon  the  end  of  it 
which  he  used  to  hang  on  his  breast,  and  they  were 
all  edged  with  red  hair,  which  Annawan  said  he  got 
in  the  Mohog's  (Mohawk's)  country.  Then  he  pulled 
out  two  horns  of  glazed  powder  and  a  red  cloth 
blanket.  He  told  Capt.  Church  these  were  Philip's 
royalties,  which  he  was  wont  to  adorn  himself  with 
when  he  sat  in  state  ;  that  he  thought  himself  happy 
that  he  had  an  opportunity  to  present  them  to  Capt. 
Church,  who  had  won  them,  etc.  They  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  the  night  in  discourse,  and  Capt.  Anna- 
wan gave  an  account  of  what  mighty  success  he  had 
formerly  in  wars  against  many  nations  of  Indians 
when  he  served  Asumhequin,  Philip's  father,  etc. 

"  In  the  morning,  as  soon  as  it  was  light,  the  cap- 
tain marched  with  his  prisoners  out  of  that  swampy 


474 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


country  towards  Taunton.  He  met  his  lieutenant 
and  company  about  four  miles  out  of  town,  who  ex- 
pressed a  great  deal  of  joy  to  see  him  again,  and  said 
it  was  more  than  ever  they  expected.  They  went 
into  Taunton,  were  civilly  and  kindly  treated  by  the 
inhabitants.  Here  they  refreshed  and  rested  them- 
selves that  night. 

"  Early  next  morning  the  captain  took  old  Anna- 
wan  and  half  a  dozen  of  his  Indian  soldiers  and  his 
own  man  and  went  to  Rhode  Island,  sending  the  rest 
of  his  company  and  his  prisoners  by  his  lieutenant  to 
Plymouth.  Tarrying  two  or  three  days  upon  the 
island,  he  then  went  to  Plymouth,  and  carried  his 
wife  and  his  two  children  with  him." 

Thus  was  the  most  daring  enterprise  successfully 
achieved  by  the  prowess  of  a  single  man.  Annawan, 
being  unable  to  deny  but  that  he  had  tortured  Eng- 
lish captives,  found  no  mercy  with  the  English,  and 
in  spite  of  the  intercessions  of  Church,  he  was  be- 
headed. This  was  done  while  Church  was  absent 
from  Plymouth.  Tispaquin,  or  Tuspaquin,  a  noble 
chief  of  the  Narragansett  tribe,  whose  capture  by 
Church  immediately  succeeded  that  of  Annawan, 
was  beheaded  with  him.  The  grief  and  chagrin  of 
Church  were  great  on  finding  all  his  prayers  and  en- 
treaties for  the  life  of  Annawan  utterly  disregarded, 
and  the  faith  of  the  government  pledged  by  him  to 
Tispaquin  that  his  life  should  be  spared  thus  shame- 
fully and  barbarously  trampled  upon.  "  When  Capt. 
Church,"  says  his  historian,  "returned  from  Boston 
he  found  to  his  great  grief  the  heads  of  Annawan, 
Tispaquin,  etc.,  cut  off,  which  were  the  last  of  Philip's 
friends." 

Thus  fell  "the  last  of  Philip's  friends,"  and  the 
last  noble  chieftains  of  two  once  powerful  and  war- 
like tribes. 

After  the  death  of  Annawan  but  little  worthy  of 
note  occurred  in  this  quarter  relating  to  the  Indians. 
Nearly  all  the  hostile  Indians  had  been  either  cap- 
tured or  killed,  or  had  submitted  themselves  to  the 
English,  and  expeditions  against  them  were  consid- 
ered rather  as  hunting  excursions  than  dangerous 
enterprises.  A  few  Indians  lurking  around  Rehoboth 
and  Seekonk  were  all  that  were  heard  of  in  Plymouth 
colony. 

Soldiers  in  King  Philip's  War. — The  following 
from  Rehoboth  served  in  Philip's  war: 

John  Fitch,  Jonathan  Wilmarth,  Jasiel  Perry,  Thomas  Kendrick, 
Jonathan  Sabin,  John  Carpenter,  John  Redeway,  John  Martin,  John 
Hall,  John  Miller,  Jun.,  John  Ide,  Joseph  Doggett,  Sampson  Mason, 
Jim.,  Preserved  Abell,  Samuel  Perry,  Stephen  Paine,  Jun.,  Samuel  Mil- 
ler, Silas  T.  Alin,  Samuel  Palmer,  James  Redeway,  Enoch  Hunt,  Samuel 
Walker,  Nicholas  Ide,  Noah  Mason,  Samuel  Sabin,  Thomas  Read,  Israel 
Read.  George  Robinson,  Nathaniel  Wilmarth. 

The  following  advanced  money  to  sustain  the  war: 

George  Kendrick,  Jonathan  Fuller,  Jo.  Miller,  sen.,  Joseph  Buck- 
land,  Wid.  Abraham  Perem,  Rice  Leonard,  James  Gilson,  An.  Perry, 
George  Robinson,  John  Perem,  William  Carpenter,  John  Titus,  sen., 
Samuel  Carpenter,  Widow  Sabin,  John  Ormsby,  Josiah  Palmer,  John 
Butterworth,  jun.,  Thomas  Read,  Stephen  Paine,  jun.,  Joseph  Sabin, 


Gilbert  Brooks,  David  Smith,  James  Redeway,  sen.,  Preserved  Abell, 
William  Buckland,  Benjamin  Buckland  (with  the  loss  of  a  gun),  Sam- 
uel Peck,  John  Fitch  (with  the  loss  of  a  gun),  Thomas  Willmarth,  sen., 
Francis  Stephens,  Joseph  Peck,  David  Beers,  John  Savage,  Richard 
Martin,  Thomas  Grant,  Deacon  Nathaniel  Cooper,  Robert  Miller,  Wid. 
Mason,  Wid.  Rachael  Read  (with  a  gun  lost),  John  Kingsley,  MoBes 
Reade,  John  Reade,  sen.,  William  Sabin,  Nathaniel  Paine,  Samuel 
Reade,  Thomas  Willmarth,  jun.,  John  Willmarth,  Joseph  Chaffee,  Sam- 
nel  Bullock,  John  Carpenter,  John  Titus,  jun.,  Nathaniel  Chaffee,  Rob- 
ert Fuller,  Richard  Bowen,  Rebecca  Hunt,  John  Hall,  Samuel  Sabin, 
Eldad  Kingsley,  Wid.  Carpenter,  Daniel  Allen,  Samuel  Homes,  Noah 
Mason,  John  Jonson,  Jeremiah  Wheaton,  Obadiah  Bowen,  Nathaniel 
Foulsom,  Eben.  Amidown,  John  Crossman,  Benjamin  Sabin,  James 
Redeway,  jun.,  William  Blanding,  Daniel  Smith,  John  Peck,  Deacon 
Walker.  John  Allen,  jun.,  John  Dogget,  Samuel  Newman. 


CHAPTER    XXXV. 

REHOBOTH.— ( Continued.) 
WAR  OF  THE  REVOLUTION.! 

The  first  vote  in  the  old  town  records  concerning 
the  war  of  the  Revolution  is  under  date  of  July  25, 
1774,  as  follows  : 

"  July  25,  1774.  Voted  by  a  great  majority,  that  the  sum  of  £5  3s.  8<Z. 
be  drawn  out  of  the  town  treasury  for  the  use  of  the  committee  of  this 
province,  that  are  to  meet  in  the  General  Congress;  it  being  Rehoboth's 
proportionable  part  of  the  money  to  be  ordered  out  of  the  treasury  by 
the  selectmen." 

"  Voted  not  to  purchase  any  goods  imported  from  Great  Britain  after 
the  31st  day  of  August  next,  until  the  act  for  blocking  up  the  harbour 
of  Boston  be  repealed,  and  the  government  be  restored  to  its  former 
privileges."  "  Likewise  voted  that  the  town  clerk  transmit  a  copy  of 
the  transactions  of  this  meeting  to  the  clerk  of  the  Corresponding  Com- 
mittee in  Boston." 

"September  19,  1774.  The  town  chose  Maj.  Timothy  Walker  and 
Capt.  John  Wheeler  delegates  to  attend  the  proposed  Provincial  Con- 
gress on  the  second  Tuesday  of  October  next,  at  Concord,  or  any  other 
time  or  place  that  the  major  part  of  the  delegates  of  said  province  may 
agree  upon." 

"October  3, 1774.  The  town  chose  Capt.  Thomas  Carpenter  a  delegate 
for  the  Provincial  Congress  in  the  room  of  Capt.  John  Wheeler  that  is 
dismissed." 

"  November  21,  1774.  Voted  to  accept  of,  and  abide  by,  the  results  of 
the  Provincial  Congress."  "  Voted  that  every  constable,  collector,  or 
person  who  have  in  their  hands,  or  that  may  hereafter  have  any  of  the 
province's  monies  that  they  pay  the  same  to  Henry  Gardner,  Esq.,  of 
Stow,  instead  of  the  Hon.  Harrison  Gray,  Esq.,  and  that  they  produce 
his  receipt  which  shall  be  a  full  and  effectual  discharge  for  the  same 
agreeable  to  a  resolve  of  the  Provincial  Congress,  October  28th,  1774:  to 
the  whole  of  which  resolve  we  promise  and  engage  faithfully  to  adhere 
in  all  its  parts." 

"January  2,  1775.  The  town  chose  Maj.  Timothy  Walker  and  Capt. 
Thomas  Carpenter  delegates  to  attend  the  Provincial  Congress  to  be 
holden  at  Cambridge  on  the  first  day  of  February  next." 

The  Rev.  Ephraim  Hyde's  parish  (then  the  first 
Congregational  society  in  Rehoboth,  now  the  first  in 
Seekonk)  contributed  £6  "for  the  relief  and  support 
of  the  poor  of  Boston,  sufferers  by  means  of  the  Bos- 
ton Port  Bill." 

The  receipt  of  £10  is  acknowledged  by  Henry 
Gardner,  Esq.,  treasurer  of  the  Provincial  Congress, 
as  a  "  part  of  the  province's  tax  set  on  the  town  of 
Rehoboth  by  the  General  Court." 

1  Condensed  from  Bliss'  excellent  "  History  of  Rehoboth,"  a  valuable 
work  written  by  Leonard  Bliss,  Jr.,  in  1836. 


REHOBOTH. 


475 


"  May  26,  1775.  Voted  to  raise  two  companies  in  tliis  town  to  be  ready 
on  any  special  alarm:  one  company  to-be  raised  in  the  Westerly  part 
and  the  other  in  the  easterly  part  of  said  town.  Likewise  voted  that 
every  soldier  enlisting  to  be  minute-man,  on  alarm  shall  have  three 
shillings  a  day,  he  finding  himself,  if  called  into  service,  until  they  come 
to  draw  provisions  out  of  the  provision  stores;  and  then  to  have  two 
shillings  a  day  for  each  day  until  they  return  home  again  except  they 
shall  be  paid  by  the  province."  ''Also  voted  that  the  selectmen  divide 
the  town  stock  of  ammunition,  the  one-half  for  the  west  part  of  the 
town,  the  other  half  for  the  east  part.*' 

"  June  12,  1775.  Voted  that  the  selectmen  provide  for  the  poor  of  the 
town  of  Boston,  that  are  or  shall  be  sent  to  this  town,  upon  the  town's 
credit.'"  "Also  voted  that  there  be  fifty  men  in  each  special  alarm  com- 
pany, exclusive  of  officers;  and  that  the  captains  of  each  company  pro- 
vide a  man  with  a  horse-cart  and  two  horses  in  order  to  carry  the  bag- 
gage of  the  companies  in  case  of  alarm." 

November  6,  1775.  The  town  "  voted  to  borrow 
four  pieces  of  cannon  of  Capt.  John  Lyon  and  Mr. 
Nathan  Daggett;"  and  voted  "the  sum  of  £60  to  de- 
fray the  charges  of  mounting  said  cannon  and  pro- 
viding ammunition  and  other  utensils  that  shall  be 
needful  for  the  same."  Also  chose  "a  committee  to 
wait  on  a  committee  of  the  town  of  Providence  to 
consult  on  fortifying  Hog-pen  Point." 

"  November  13,  1775.  Voted  it  expedient  to  fortify  Hog-pen  Point,  and 
chose  a  committee  to  oversee  the  business."  This  point  is  in  Seekonk, 
and  traces  of  the  fortification  are  still  to  be  seen. 

"January  1, 1776.  The  town  voted  to  raise  the  sum  of  £118  11«.  to 
procure  a  town  stock  of  powder  and  small  arms." 

"  February  12,  1776.  Voted  to  encourage  the  manufacturing  of  salt- 
petre in  private  families,  by  affording  them  the  materials  they  can  get 
without  doing  damage." 

Considerable  quantities  of  saltpetre,  it  is  said,  were 
manufactured  in  the  town  during  the  period  of  the 
Revolution,  and  a  manufactory  was  set  up  near  the 
Cove  Factory,  in  Seekonk,  for  the  purpose  of  making 
it. 

"April  14,  1774.  Voted  to  raise  a  bounty  of  £20  to  every  soldier  that 
shall  enlist  into  the  continental  army  for  three  years  or  during  the  war, 
provided  they  enlist  into  the  said  army  within  ten  days."  This  bounty, 
by  vote  of  the  town  May  19,  1777,  was  extended  to  every  soldier  that 
had  enlisted  for  the  same  term,  since  the  former  vote,  or  who  should  en- 
list withiu  twenty  days  of  the  last  date.  And  by  another  vote,  passed 
June  30th,  the  same  bounty  was  further  extended  to  all  who  should  en- 
list into  the  continental  army  within  two  months  from  that  date. 

"  May  18, 1778.  Voted  to  raise  the  sum  of  £720  for  the  raising  of 
soldiers  for  the  continental  army  for  nine  months." 

"  September  7, 1778.  Voted  to  grant  the  sum  of  £463  4s.  for  clothing, 
purchased  by  the  selectmen,  agreeable  to  an  order  of  Court,  for  the  con- 
tinental soldiers  that  enlisted  into  the  service." 

"  April  19,  1779.  A  committee  was  appointed  by  the  town,  to  provide 
fur  the  soldiers'  families." 

"May  5, 1779.  Voted  that  the  sum  of  £1200  be  raised  by  a  tax  this 
spring  and  paid  into  the  town  treasury,  to  be  ordered  out  of  said  treas- 
ury by  the  selectmen  to  the  committee  that  take  care  of  the  soldiers' 
families,  if  needed." 

"May  19,  1779.  Voted  to  raise  the  sum  of  £3000  for  providing  men, 
when  called  for  from  the  authority,  to  go  into  the  service  a«  soldiers." 

"October  23,  1780.  Voted  to  raise  the  sum  of  £26,400  for  the  pur- 
pose of  raising  the  town's  quota  of  beef."  This  quota  was  42,106  pounds. 
These  immense  sums  were  required  to  be  raised,  in  consequence  of  the 
great  depreciation  of  the  value  of  the  paper  currency  issued  by  the  Con- 
tinental Congress.  The  whole  amount  of  money  raised  by  the  town 
this  year  for  its  necessary  charges  was  the  sum  of  £50,527  4s. 

"  April  1,  1782.  Voted  that  the  town  treasurer  be  instructed  to  sell 
the  new  emission  money,  three  dollars  for  one  hard  dollar." 

This  year,  from  the  town,  "  The  Hon.  John  Hancock  had  23  votes  for 
Governour,"  and  "  Doct.  Joseph  Bridgham  had  11  votes  for  Governour." 

From  the  "  Journals  and  Resolves  of  Massachu- 
setts" we  glean  the  few  following  additional  particu- 


lars respecting  the  number  of  men,  etc.,  to  be  fur- 
nished by  Rehoboth  at  several  of  the  different  times 
when  drafts  of  men  were  called  for:  For  the  rein- 
forcement voted  to  be  raised  in  Massachusetts  and 
"sent  to  the  camp  at  Cambridge  or  Roxbury,  as  his 
Excellency  General  Washington  shall  direct,"  the 
proportion  of  Rehoboth  was  seventy-four  men;  the 
proportion  of  Rehoboth  of  the  men  raised  by  Massa- 
chusetts "  for  filling  and  completing  the  fifteen  bat- 
talions of  Continental  troops"  was  twenty-four; 
Rehoboth's  proportion  of  the  men  to  be  raised  "for 
reinforcing  the  Continental  army,"  according  to  a 
resolve  passed  June  8,  1779,  was  twenty-two.  In 
1781,  Massachusetts  was  ordered  to  raise  4,626,178 
pounds  of  beef,  of  which  the  proportion  of  Rehoboth 
was  42,106  pounds.  Of  the  4726  men  voted  to  be 
raised  by  Massachusetts,  June,  1780,  for  three  months, 
for  reinforcing  the  Continental  army,  the  proportion 
of  Rehoboth  was  60. 

"A  muster-roll  of  Capt.  Samuel  Bliss'  company  of 
minute-men  from  Rehoboth,  from  the  19th  of  April 
to  the  27th, — each  eight  days'  service  : 

"Samuel  Bliss,  captain  ;  Aaron  Walker,  lieutenant;  Joseph  Allen, 
ensign;  Aaron  Bead,  sergeant ;  James  Bullock,  sergeant ;  Noah  Allen, 
sergeant;  Christopher  Ormsbee,  sergeant;  Nathan  Wheeler,  Jonathan 
Nash,  Elijah  Perry,  Peter  Bead,  John  Brown,  Samuel  Monroe,  William 
Fairbrother,  Benjamin  Comer,  William  Allen,  Oliver  Jones,  Samuel 
Allen,  Joseph  Ingals,  Thomas  Campbell,  John  Dryer,  Christopher  Bland- 
ing,  Nathan  Turner,  Nathaniel  Turner,  Ephraim  Bliss,  Levi  Lewis, 
Valentine  Wheeler,  Jonathan  Macomber,  Abel  Hix,  Preserved  Bullock, 
Laban  Lake,  Jonathan  Browne,  Ezekiel  Hix,  Joseph  Allen,  Jacob  Fuller, 
Comfort  Stanley,  Oliver  Peck,  Amos  Bliss,  Philip  Peck,  Solomon  Peck, 
Elnathan  Lake,  Josiah  Perry,  Ichabod  Wade." 

"  A  muster-roll  of  Capt.  John  Perry's  company  of 
minute-men,  from  19th  of  April  to  the  27th,  1775 : 

"John  Perry,  captain;  John  Paine,  lieutenant;  James  Bucklin,  en- 
sign ;  John  Wilson,  sergeant;  John  Smith,  sergeant;  Miles  Shorey, 
Aaron  Lyon,  Preserved  Abell,  Caleb  Walker,  James  Hill,  William  Bridg- 
ham, Bichard  Fairbrother,  Jonathan  Read,  Samuel  Jones,  Enos  Walker, 
Amos  Goff,  Comfort  Hill,  William  In  graham,  Lemuel  Perin,  Demos 
Bishop,  James  Campbell,  Peter  Whitaker,  Ezra  Bead,  John  Williams, 
drummer;  Isaac  Fuller,  Joseph  Wheaton,  Jonathan  Barney,  Simeon 
Bowen,  John  Ingraham,  Elkanah  French,  Barzaleel  Bowen,  James  Med- 
bury,  Robert  Abell,  Eleazer  Bowen,  Amos  Read,  William  Carpenter." 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  officers  in  Col.  Timothy 
Walker's  regiment,  enlisted  for  eight  months  from 
April  and  May  of  1775.  Col.  Walker  belonged  to 
Rehoboth,  and  also  a  part  of  his  officers: 

"Staff  Officers.— Timothy  Walker,  Esq.,  colonel ;  Nathaniel  Leonard, 
lieutenant-colonel;  Abiel  Mitchell,  major. 

Captains.—  John  Perry,  Samuel  Bliss,  Silas  Cobb,  Francis  Liscomb, 
Marcy  Williams,  Peter  Pitts,  Caleb  Richardson,  John  King,  Oliver  Soper, 
Samuel  Tulibs,  Jr.,  Mason  Shaw,  Jacob  Fuller,  Daniel  Parker. 

Lieutenants.— John  Paine,  Aaron  Walker,  Isaac  Smith,  Matthew  Ran- 
dall, Samuel  Lane.Zebedee  Raiden,  Enoch  Robinson,  Noah  Hall,  Simeon 
Cobb,  John  Shaw. 

Ensigns.— Thomas  Bucklin,  Joseph  Allen,  Isaac  Fisher,  Seth  Pratt, 
John  Cook,  Henry  Briggs,  Solomon  Stanley,  Abraham  Hathaway, 
Thomas  Williams,  Joel  Tubbs. 

The  following  are  lists  of  two  companies  in  this 
regiment  from  Rehoboth  : 

"  A  list  of  men  under  Capt.  Samuel  Bliss,  who 
enlisted  for  eight  months  from  April  to  May,  1775,  in 
Col.  Timothy  Walker's  regiment: 


476 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL  COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Samuel  Bliss,  captain  ;  Aaron  Wheeler,  lieutenant ;  Joseph  Allen,  en- 
sign ;  Aaron  Head,  James  Bullock,  Noah  Allen,  Christopher  Ormsbee, 
sergeants;  Nathaniel  Bliss.  Nathan  Wheeler,  Jonathan  Macomber,  Elijah 
Berry,  corporals  ;  James  Wheeler,  drummer;  Cyriel  Smith,  fifer;  Joseph 
Allen,  Samuel  Allen,  William  Allen,  Ephraim  Bliss,  Charles  Bliss,  David 
Bliss,  Levi  Baldwin,  Thomas  Baldwin,  Preserved  Bullock,  Isaac  Burr, 
Samuel  Baker,  Christopher  Blanding,  Eliphalet  Corhin,  James  Cole, 
Thomas  Campbell,  John  Dryer,  William  Fail-brother,  Simon  Goff,  Abel 
Hix,  Joseph  Ingals, Ide,  Oliver  Jones,  Laban  Lake,  Levi  Lewis,  Sam- 
uel Monroe,  Jonathan  Nash,  David  Perry,  Sylvester  Peck,  Peter  Read,  Na- 
thaniel Round,  Richard  Round,  Comfort  Robinson,  David  Turner,  Nathan 
Turner,  Valentine  Willmot,  Jonathan  Drown." 

"  This  roll,"  says  a  note  appended  to  it,  "  was  made 
up  to  the  1st  of  August,  1775,  and  paid  by  the  State, 
and  afterwards  was  paid  by  the  United  States  for  the 
other  five  months." 

Samuel  Allen  was  the  only  one  that  deserted  from 
this  company;  he  deserted  June  27,  1775. 

"  A  muster  roll  of  the  company  under  command  of 
Capt.  John  Perry,  in  Col.  Timothy  Walker's  regiment 
[torn  off],  to  the  1st  of  August,  1775,  enlisted  for 
eight  months  : 

John  Perry, captain ;  John  Paine, lieutenant;  James  Bucklin, ensign; 
John  Wilson.  John  Smith,  Miles  Shorey,  Robert  Sutton,  sergeants; 
Amos  Goff,  Lemuel  Perrin,  James  Hill,  David  Lawrence,  corporals;  John 
Williams,  drummer ;  James  Bly;  fifer;  Preserved  Abell,  James  Alger, 
George  Allen,  Squire  Allen,  William  Bridgham,  Demos  Bishop,  Isaac 
Bowers,  Charles  Bowers,  Asa  Bowers,  Gideon  Brown,  Sylvester  Bowers, 
Jonathan  Barney,  Rufus  Bucklin,  Josiah  Blake,  Barzilla  Bowen,  Bar- 
zaleel  Bowen,  James  Campbell,  Thomas  Cole,  Shubel  Chaffee,  William 
Daggett,  Richard  Fairbrother,  Isaac  Fuller,  William  Fuller,  Jonathan 
French,  Sylvester  Fuller,  Jonathan  Hays,  Stephen  Hill,  Comfort  Hill, 
William  Ingraham,  Samuel  Jones,  Aaron  Lyon,  John  Medbury,  John 
McMullen,  Amos  Richardson,  Ezra  Read,Enos  Walker,  Peter  Whitaker, 
Joseph  Wheaton,  John  Walker,  Peter  Walker,  Caleb  Walker,  Ephraim 
Whitaker." 

In  September,  1776,  a  regiment  was  raised  in  this 
town  and  some  of  the  adjoining  towns,  and  marched, 
under  the  command  of  Col.  Thomas  Carpenter,  of 
Rehoboth,  to  join  the  army  of  Washington  at  White 
Plains. 

Previous  to  the  battle  of  White  Plains  a  trifling 
skirmish  occurred  between  a  small  detachment  of  the 
British  and  Col.  Carpenter's  regiment,  a  few  particu- 
lars of  which  I  had  from  the  surgeon's  mate,1  who 
was  present  and  witnessed  it.  Col.  Carpenter's  regi- 
ment was  stationed  on  a  gently  elevated  hill  to  watch 
the  movements  of  a  detachment  of  the  British  army. 

Col.  Carpenter's  regiment  were  out  on  service  at 
this  time  only  three  months.  One  of  the  companies 
in  this  regiment  was  raised  partly  in  Attleborough 
and  partly  in  Norton,  and  was  under  the  command  of 
Capt.  Elisha  May,  of  the  former  town. 

From  the  time  that  the  British  first  took  possession 
of  Rhode  Island,  in  December,  1776,  till  they  finally 
evacuated  it,  a  period  of  more  than  two  years,  the 
militia  of  this  town  and  vicinity  were  subject  to  fre- 
quent drafts  of  men,  and  were  frequently  called  out 
on  alarms.  Drafts  were  made  in  January,  February, 
March,    May,  June,  July,  and   August  of  the  year 

1  These  facts  I  had  from  my  grandfather,  the  late  Dr.  James  Bliss,  of 
Rehoboth,  who  performed  the  duty  of  surgeon's  mate  in  this  regiment 
(Bliss). 


1777.  .The  men  were  stationed  principally  at  How- 
land's  Ferry  (Tiverton)  and  at  Warwick.  One  com- 
pany, if  not  more,  marched  from  this  town  to  Rhode 
Island  in  October,  1777,  and  served  one  month  in 
Spencer's  "secret  expedition." 

In  Sullivan's  expedition  on  Rhode  Isand  in  August, 

1778,  Col.  Carpenter,  with  a  large  detachment  of  his 
regiment,  marched  to  join  Sullivan's  army  on  the 
island,  and  distinguished  themselves  for  their  bravery. 

Several  of  the  soldiers  of  Col.  Carpenter's  regiment 
belonging  to  Rehoboth  were  killed  during  this  expe- 
dition. The  names  of  three  of  them  were  Medbury, 
Peck,  and  John  Dryer.  These  three  fell  on  one  spot. 
Benjamin  Smith,  of  Swansea,  wras  wounded  by  the 
bursting  of  a  bomb-shell. 

From  the  "list  of  the  six  months'  men  raised  to  re- 
inforce the  Continental  army  in  the  year  1780,"  we 
have  the  following  list  of  names  from  Rehoboth  ;  they 
marched  to  West  Point,  and  served  under  Continen- 
tal officers : 

Peter  Bannister,  11th  division.  Samuel  Edwards,  11th  division. 

Jonathan  Robinson,  "  Nathan  Walker,  12th      " 

Comfort  Bishop,  "  Ephraim  Read, 

Shubael  Peck  (fifer),  "  Samuel  Shorey, 

Sylvanus  Bishop,  "  Obed  Robinson, 

Nathan  Monroe,  "  Remember  Carpenter,      " 

Job  Freeman,  "  Timothy  Titus, 

Constant  Perry,  "  Jesse  Whitaker, 

Joseph  Daggett,  "  Ezra  Goff, 

Jacob  Ingalls,  "  Benjamin  Tupp,  " 

John  Pierce,  "  Thomas  Campbell,  32d    " 

Isaac  Bowen,  "  Spencer  Bears,  " 

Thomas  Pierce,  "  Cato  Hunt  (negro), 

Ephraim  Emerson,  "  John  Healy, 

Francis  Fuller,  "  David  (negro), 

Arthur  Thurher,  "  John  McLean,  " 

Nathan  Turner  (serg.),  "  Obadiah  Bowen,  " 

Gideon  Brown,  "  Ephraim  Bowen,  " 

Samuel  Cranston,  "  Tho.  Carpenter  (2d)  " 

Francis  Mesuzeu,  " 

The  following  is  a  list  of  those  who  entered  the 
Continental  army  from  Rehoboth,  with  names  of  the 
captains  under  whom  they  served  : 

Names.                                          Captains.  Time. 

Barney,  Nathaniel Slade.  3  years. 

Brown,  Benjamin "  During  war. 

Bliss,2  Samuel "  3  years. 

Bliss,  Allen Cole.  " 

Bliss,  Samuel,  jr "  " 

Bliss,  Joshua " 

Brown,  Daniel " 

Bullock,  Comfort "  " 

Bullock,  Jacob " 

Buffington,  Benjamin " 

Bullock,  David "  15  months. 

Bullock,  Jonathan " 

Bly,  James Carpenter.    3  years. 

Burn,  Moses " 

Bicknell,  Turner "  " 

Barney,  Paul "  " 

Bliss,  Elisha Martin.  " 

Bliss,  David "  " 

Baker,  Samuel "  " 

Bishop,  Oliver Hull.  " 

Bowen,  Isaac " 

Bowen,  Thomas "  8  months. 

Carpenter,  John Hix.  3  years. 

Cole,  Isaac Cole. 

Cole,  Jacob " 

Cole,  James "  " 

2  Samuel  Bliss,  who  afterwards  bore  the  title  of  captain,  was  Gen. 
Washington's  steward  at  Morri6town  in  the  winter  of  1777.  (Bliss'  His- 
tory, i 


REHOBOTH. 


477 


Names.                                     Captains.  Time. 

Cole,  Zepbaniah Bullock.  15  month*. 

Campbell,  Tliomas Carpenter.  3  years. 

Chaffee,  Shubael "  Dining  war. 

Chaffee,  Comfort "  3  years. 

Chaffee,  Noah "  " 

Carpenter,  William "  " 

Campbell,  John "  " 

Corps,  John  "  " 

Dryer,  Israel Cole.  " 

Dryer,  Jonathan "  " 

Deland,  Edward Carpenter.  " 

Franklin.  William "  During  war. 

Fuller,  Amos Cole.  3  years. 

Fa  irl  not  her,  Richard Carpenter.  " 

Gladding,  .lames Hix.  " 

Gladding,  James,  jr "  " 

Gladding,  Ebeuezer "  " 

Goft,  Israel  " 

Greenwood,  Thomas Hill.  " 

Hol'ton,   William  Bullock.  " 

Hicks,  Chase "  15  months. 

Hilldel,  John .- Carpenter.  During  war. 

Hill,  Stephen Hill.  3  years. 

Ingalls,  Joseph Hix.  " 

Ide,  Nathan Carpenter.  " 

Jones,  John Bullock.  " 

Lewis,  Levi Hix.  " 

Lyndley,  John,  jr Bullock.  " 

Lyon,  Aaron "  " 

Medhurv,  Ben Franklin.  " 

Mitchell,: Bullock.  " 

McMellen,  John Hill. 

Negn>,  Csesar Cole.  " 

Newton,  Francis Bullock.  " 

Newton,  John Martin.  " 

Ormsbee,  Joseph "  " 

Peck,  Sylvester Hix.  8  months. 

Perry,  Samuel Cole.  3  years. 

Pierce,  Jesse Bullock.  " 

Peck,  Gains Carpenter.  During  war. 

Perry,  Jesse "  " 

Pearce,  Philip Martin.  " 

Perry,  Samuel Hill.  8  months. 

Round,  John Hix.  3  years. 

Round,  Isaac Cole.  " 

Round,  Win Bullock.  " 

Round,  Oin Martin.  " 

Renough.  Charles Hill.  " 

Ryle,  Nicholas "  " 

Reves,  Pompev "  " 

Smith, ...'. Peck.  " 

Saunders,  Jesse "  " 

Smith,  Sam Hix.  " 

Sage,  James Cole.  " 

Turner,  Constant Hix.  " 

Turner,  Amos "  " 

Turner,  Nat "  " 

Thresher,  Noah Bullock.  " 

Thresher,  Joseph "  " 

Thompson,  Edward "  " 

Thresher,  Charles "  " 

Turner,  Allen "  " 

True,  Solomon Hix.  " 

Whittaker,  Nat Franklin.  " 

Wheeler,  Sam Hix.  " 

Wheeler,  Jesse "  " 

Willmarth,  Valentine "  " 

Willmarth,  Benj "  8  months. 

Waldren,  James,  jr Bullock.  3  years. 

Whittaker,  Jo Carpenter.  " 

Wheeler,  James Martin.  " 

Wlielen,  Luther Bullock.  15  months. 

White,  Jabez Hix.  3  years. 

Walker,  Nathan  "  " 

Wilford,  Nicholas "  " 

Weeks,  Moses "  During  war. 

Wil-on.  Jno "  3  years. 

Wrhittaker,  Rufus "  " 

Votes,  etc  — In  1784  the  town  voted,  "in  addition  to  the  money  already 
granted  for  schooling,  £20  for  a  grammer  school." 

"Decemher  25,1786.     The  town  voted  that  they  wished  to  have  an 

alteration  in  the  present  system  of  government  in  the  commonwealth 
of  Massachusetts,  by  a  majority  of  110  of  what  then  voted." 

"January  22,1787.  Voted  that  the  selectmen  be  instructed  to  re- 
move the  powder  and  other  town  stock,  that  is  now  at  Col.  Thomas  Car- 
penter's, as  soon  as  conveniently  may  be."  Col.  Carpenter  was  a  stanch 
friend  of  the  government. 

"The  names  of  the  following  persons  are  registered  in  the  town 
records  as  having  taken  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  commonwealth, 
and  delivered  up  their  arms  during  March  of  1787.  These  men  be- 
longed to  the  party  of  Shays,  and  had  probably  taken  arms  against  the 
government : 

"Joseph  Porter,  Simeon  Round,  Nathan  Hix  (2d),  Cyril  Smith,  Heze- 

kiah  Smith,  Oliver  Smith,  Benjamin  Bowen,  Jacob  Cole,  Ezra  Thayer, 
Jacob  Bliss,   Israel  Hicks,  Abiel  Horton,  Joseph  Bowen,  James  Cole, 


Timothy  Fuller,  Jacob  Bliss,  Jr.,  Square  Goff,  Jr.,  Benjamin  Monroe, 
Jabez  Round  (3d),  Charles  Round,  James  Martin,  Isaac  Burr,  Laben 
Briggs,  Amos  Cole,  William  Fairbrother, Laben  Lake,  Nathaniel  Thur- 
ber,  Daniel  Short,  James  Bullock,  Nathan  Newman,  Samuel  Carpenter, 
Jarvis  Peck,  Luke  Bowen,  Asa  Bowen,  John  Hopkins." 

November'  26,  1787.  The  town  chose  Capt.  Phauuel  Bishop,  Maj. 
Frederick  Drown,  and  William  Windsor,  Esq.,  delegates  to  the  State 
Convention,  to  meet  at  Boston  the  second  Wednesday  of  January,  1788, 
"to  consult  on  the  Federal  Constitution  recommended  by  the  late  Fed- 
eral Convention,  which  set  at  Philadelphia  the  summer  past." 

This  year  "  voted  to  raise  £120  for  schooling,  £20  to  be  applied  to  the 
support  of  a  grammai  school." 

"  March  17,  1788.  Voted  to  provide  a  work-house  for  the  accommoda- 
tion of  the  poor  of  this  town." 

April  2,  1792.  The  town  raised  for  the  support  of  schools,  "  including 
the  Latin  school,"  £150.  Also  "  voted  that  the  selectmen  be  empowered 
to  procure  such  grammar  schools  as  shall  answer  the  law,  in  the  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  town,  for  learning  the  Latin  and  Greek  languages." 

April  1,  1793.  The  town  voted  to  raise  for  the  support  of  schools, 
£150. 

"  October  6, 1794.  Voted  that  the  treasurer  of  this  town  be  directed 
to  pay  to  each  non-commissioned  officer  and  soldier  raised  for  this 
town's  quota  of  eighty  thousand  men,  ordered  by  Congress  to  be  raised, 
forty  shillings  each,  when  they  are  ordered  to  march  out  of  this  town 
on  a  campaign,  and  forty  shillings  each  to  every  man  aforesaid  for 
every  month  they  shall  continue  in  the  camp  after  one  month  from  the 
time  they  shall  march,  the  money  to  be  paid  in  one  month  after  their 
return  from  service." 

This  army  of  "eighty  thousand  men"  were  raised  to  repel  the  threat- 
ened invasion  of  France,  and  Washington  was  placed  at  their  head. 

"  February  24,  1794.  Voted  to  remonstrate  with  the  Legislature  of 
Rhode  Island  against  a  bridge  being  built  over  Kelloy's  Ferry,  near 
Warren." 

May  6,  1795.  A  motion  for  petitioning  the  General  Court  to  incor- 
porate the  west  precinct  of  Rehoboth  into  a  separate  town  was  carried 
by  a  vote  in  the  negative.  Voted  to  raise  £175  for  the  support  of  schools, 
of  which  £25  was  to  be  appropriated  to  a  grammar  school. 

In  1796  the  town  voted  for  the  support  of  grammar  and  common 
schools,  $666.66.  The  sum  of  $666  was  thence  raised  yearly  for  the  sup- 
port of  schools  till  1804.  In  1804, 1805,  and  1806,  $666.77  was  raised  for 
the  same  purpose,  and  in  1807, 1808,  1809, 1810,  $700  was  raised,  and  in 
1811, 


CHAPTER    XXXVI. 

REHOBOTH.— (Continued.) 

ECCLESIASTICAL   HIST0RY.1 

First  Congregational  Church— Oak  Swamp  Church — The  Hornebine 
Church— The  Irons  Church — Methodist  Episcopal  Church — The 
Union  Baptist  Church. 

The  following  sketches  are  necessarily  imperfect. 
The  writer  was  given  only  a  few  weeks  for  their 
preparation,  and  the  work  has  been  done  under  the 
constant  pressure  of  professional  duties.  The  diffi- 
culty has  also  been  increased  by  the  loss  in  every  in- 
stance of  the  early  records  of  the  older  churches.  It 
is  probable  that  some  of  these  have  been  carried  out 
of  town,  and  it  is  hoped  that  they  may  yet  come  to 
light. 

First  Congregational  Church. — In  the  year  1643, 
Rev.  Samuel  Newman  came  to  the  place  which  is  now 
East  Providence,  E.  I.,  with  a  colony  from  Weymouth, 
Mass,  He  gave  to  this  region  the  name  Rehoboth 
(enlargement),  and  here  the  church  was  established 


l  By  Rev.  G.  H.  Tilton. 


478 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


(now  the  First  Congregational  Church  in  East  Provi- 
dence). 

In  the.  year  1721  the  inhabitants  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  Palmer's  River  built  a  meeting-house  about 
half  a  mile  north  of  the  Orleans  Factory.  The  spot 
is  now  marked  by  the  remains  of  the  "  old  burying- 
ground."  The  lot  included  three  acres  of  land  given 
by  Jethniel  Peck,  Capt.  Samuel  Peck,  and  Jonathan 
Bliss.  The  parent  church  had  been  granted  by  the 
General  Court  two  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  for 
building  a  new  meeting-house.  Of  this  they  relin- 
quished fifty  pounds  to  aid  the  church  at  Palmer's 
River ;  they  also  gave  the  facing  of  the  galleries  and 
the  pulpit  of  their  old  meeting-house. 

The  church  was  organized  Nov.  29,  1721,  consist- 
ing of  ten  members, — David  Turner  (pastor),  Elisha 
May,  Thomas  Ormsby  (deacons),  Jethniel  Peck, 
Samuel  Peck,  Benjamin  Willson,  Solomon  Millard, 
Samuel  Fuller,  William  Blanding,  and  Joseph  Will- 
son. 

Rev.  David  Turner,  the  first  pastor,  was  a  native 
of  Scituate.  He  received  one  hundred  pounds  for  a 
settlement.  His  annual  salary  averaged  about  eighty- 
five  pounds.  During  his  pastorate  of  thirty-six  years 
one  hundred  and  seventy  persons  were  added  to  the 
church.  Mr.  Turner  graduated  at  Harvard  College 
in  1718.  He  afterwards  studied  medicine,  and  prac- 
ticed to  some  extent  during  his  ministry.  He  was 
talented  and  witty,  but  eccentric.  He  had  children 
and  grandchildren,  but  they  brought  no  honor  to  the 
name,  and  it  is  now  extinct.  He  died  Aug.  9,  1757, 
in  his  sixty-third  year,  and  was  buried  in  his  church- 
yard, now  grown  over  with  trees  and  bushes.  His 
tombstone  bears  the  following  inscription  : 

"  In  Memory  of 

the  Reverend  Mr. 

David  Turner, 

Pastor  of  the  Second 

Church  in  Itehoboth, 

who  departed  this 

Life  on  ye  9th  Day  of 

August,  a.d.  1757,  in 

ye  63d  year  of  his  Age. 

"  Watch  and  Pray  because 

You  know  not  the  hour." 

Mr.  Turner  resided  about  one  mile  north  of  his 
church,  in  a  house  which  stood  on  the  spot  now  oc- 
cupied by  the  house  of  Mr.  Nathan  Wheeler. 

Until  the  year  1759  the  whole  town  managed  the 
business  and  bore  the  expenses  of  both  churches. 
On  January  2d  of  that  year  this  church  and  congre- 
gation was  incorporated  by  an  act  of  the  General 
Court  into  a  separate  society  by  the  name  of  the 
Second  Precinct  in  Rehoboth. 

Feb.  26,  1759,  the  precinct  united  with  the  church 
in  calling  the  Rev.  Robert  Rogerson  to  be  their  pas- 
tor, and  voted  to  give  him  seventy  pounds  settle- 
ment, and  sixty  pounds  for  his  annual  salary.  He 
agreed  to  take  one-third  part  of  his  salary  "  in  the 
produce  of  the  country,  provided  they  bring  me  such 
articles  as  I  have  occasion  for." 


March  18,  1773,  the  precinct  "  voted  that  the  old 
meeting-house  should  be  sold  or  pulled  down,  pro- 
vided that  a  new  one  can  be  built  upon  the  plane 
near  Timothy  Readways."  The  site  chosen  is  now 
known  as  the  village  cemetery. 

The  new  house,  fifty  feet  by  forty,  was  built  the 
following  summer,  and  the  pews  were  sold  at  public 
auction  Oct.  25,  1773.  They  were  forty  in  number, 
and  brought  in  the  aggregate  £462  10s. 

In  1776  a  valuable  legacy  was  bequeathed  to  the 
precinct  for  the  support  of  the  pastor  by  Lieut. 
Ephraim  Hunt. 

In  1792  a  number  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  pre- 
cinct were  incorporated  under  the  name  of  the  Cath- 
olic Congregational  Church  and  Society. 

Mr.  Rogerson  continued  to  be  pastor  of  this  church 
until  his  death,  March  20,  1799.  His  remains  lie 
buried  in  the  older  part  of  the  village  cemetery.  On 
his  tombstone  of  blue  slate  is  this  inscription  : 

"  In  Memory  of 

The  Rev*  Robert  Rogerson, 

who  descended  from  a  respectable 

Family  in  Great  Britain. 

Renouncing  the  Honors  &  Emoluments 

of  this  world,  he  devoted  himself  to  the 

Christian  Ministry,  from  a  conviction 

of  its  truth  &  importance. 

In  a  pious,  exemplary,  &  faithful  discharge 

of  that  office  he  continued  near  40  years, 

And  in  the  hope 

of  a  blessed  immortality 

He  departed  this  life  in  the  78th  year 

of  his  Age,  March  20th,  1799." 

At  the  age  of  nineteen,  Mr.  Rogerson  came  to 
America,  as  an  assistant  to  the  collector  of  the  reve- 
nue in  Virginia.  In  this  capacity  he  served  one  year, 
after  which  he  taught  school  several  years  in  the 
eastern  part  of  that  State,  prosecuting  in  the  mean 
time  the  study  of  divinity.  Coming  to  New  Eng- 
land, he  received  in  1765  the  degree  of  Master  of 
Arts  at  Harvard  University.  He  commenced  his 
ministry  in  Brookline,  where  he  preached  one  year. 
He  then  came  to  Rehoboth,  and  preached  one  year 
in  the  First  Congregational  Church,  in  what  is  now 
East  Providence,  R.  I.  The  next  year  he  began  his 
ministry  in  this  church,  and  was  ordained  July  2. 
1759.  While  at  East  Providence  he  married  a  daugh- 
ter of  Col.  Thomas  Bowen,  of  that  place,  then  Mrs. 
Betsey  Sweet,  a  young  widow  with  one  child.  They 
had  three  sons  and  three  daughters.  The  sons  were 
Robert,  Thomas,  and  John.  Robert  was  a  physician, 
Thomas  a  wealthy  planter  in  Virginia,  and  Capt. 
John  Rogerson  resided  on  his  father's  estate,  for- 
merly the  home  of  Rev.  David  Turner,  till  his  death 
in  1835. 

Mr.  Rogerson  was  a  man  of  learning  and  piety, 
and  under  his  long  ministry  the  church  and  society 
were  united  and  prosperous. 

Mr.  Rogerson  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Otis  Thomp- 
son, who  was  ordained  pastor  of  this  church  Sept.  24, 
1800,  and  continued  in  the  pastoral  office  twenty-five 


REHOBOTH. 


479 


years.  He  was  born  in  Middleborough,  Mass.,  Sept. 
14,  1776,  and  graduated  at  Brown  University  in  1798, 
where  he  remained  two  years  as  tutor.  During  this 
period  he  doubtless  applied  himself  to  the  study  of 
theology.  His  call  to  this  church  and  society  was 
unanimous,  and  he  entered  upon  his  work  under  the 
most  favorable  conditions.  He  had  "a  hundred 
pounds  settlement"  and  a  salary  of  three  hundred 
and  fifty  dollars,  which  in  1816  was  increased  to  five 
hundred  dollars.  The  entire  community  were  at  once 
awakened  in  religious  matters,  and  forty  persons 
joined  the  church  the  first  year  of  his  ministry. 

For  more  than  twenty  years  the  church  and  society 
were  eminently  prospered.  Mr.  Thompson's  century 
sermon,  preached  in  1821,  states  that  the  number  of 
members  at  that  time  was  fifty-six,  of  whom  eighteen 
were  males  and  thirty-eight  females.  The  whole 
number  that  had  been  enrolled  in  the  list  of  its  mem- 
bers during  the  century  was  three  hundred  and  three. 
Of  those  who  joined  the  church  under  his  pastorate 
only  two  are  living, — Mrs.  Abby  Carpenter  in  1820, 
and  Mrs.  Sally  Horton  in  1822. 

In  1825  a  serious  difficulty  arose  which  greatly  dis- 
turbed the  harmony  of  the  church  and  society.  It 
grew  out  of  a  breach  of  promise  suit  brought  by  Mr. 
Thompson  on  his  daughter's  behalf  against  a  gentle- 
man belonging  to  one  of  the.  foremost  families  of  the 
church.  The  people  immediately  took  sides,  some  for 
and  others  against  the  pastor,  and  all  attempts  to 
reconcile  the  parties  were  vain.  Two  or  three  eccle- 
siastical councils  were  called  by  the  church  which 
advised  the  dissolution  of  the  pastoral  relation,  but 
as  Mr.  Thompson  was  settled  for  life,  he  paid  no  at- 
tention to  their  advice.  The  meeting-house  was 
closed  against  him,  but  he  continued  to  hold  a  service 
every  Sabbath,  preaching  for  one  year  at  Wheaton's 
Hall  and  afterwards  either  at  his  home  or  in  the  old 
red  school-house  near  by.  He  sued  the  society  for 
his  salary,  which  they  were  obliged  to  pay.  Finally 
he  agreed  with  the  society  to  relinquish  all  further 
claims  upon  it  for  the  sum  of  one  thousand  dollars. 
He  afterwards,  however,  endeavored  to  revive  the  old 
precinct,  and  to  get  possession  of  other  funds  belong- 
ing to  the  society,  but  without  success. 

After  he  stopped  preaching  at  the  meeting-house, 
Mr.  Thompson  taught  a  select  school  for  several  terms. 
Quite  a  number  of  theological  students  also  studied 
with  him  during  his  Rehoboth  pastorate.  He  was  an 
excellent  scholar;  besides  editing  the  Hopkinsian 
"Magazine"  for  several  years,  he  published  "A  Re- 
view of  Mr.  Andras'  Essay  on  Divine  Agency,"  and 
had  printed  several  funeral  and  ordination  sermons. 

Mr.  Thompson's  first  wife  was  Miss  Rachel  Chand- 
ler, of  Plympton,  Mass.,  who  died  Sept.  16, 1827,  aged 
forty-seven,  and  by  whom  he  had  four  sons  and  five 
daughters.  Of  these,  three  sons  and  two  daughters 
are  now  living. 

His  second  wife  was  Miss  Charlotte  Fales,  of  Bris- 
tol, R.  I.,  to  whom  he  was  married  Sept.  30,  1828. 


She  died  Dec.  12,  1848.  Mr.  Thompson  continued  to 
reside  in  Rehoboth  until  1840,  when  he  received  a 
call  to  preach  at  Litchfield,  N.  Y.,  which  he  accepted, 
and  labored  with  the  church  in  that  place  till  1850. 
In  May  of  that  year  he  was  married  to  Miss  Polly 
Shaw,  of  North  Abington,  Mass.,  where  he  resided 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  June  26,  1859,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-two.     His  widow  died  Feb.  3,  1874. 

The  successor  of  Mr.  Thompson  was  the  Rev.  Thomas 
Vernon,  son  of  Samuel  Vernon,  of  Newport,  R.  I.  He 
was  ordained  over  this  church  Sept.  13,  1826.  His 
annual  salary  was  five  hundred  dollars.  At  this  time 
a  large  portion  of  the  salary  was  paid  from  the  pro- 
ceeds of  the  "Ministerial  farm,"  from  which  some 
three  or  four  hundred  dollars  worth  of  wood  and  tim- 
ber were  sold  annually. 

Mr.  Vernon  was  born  in  Newport,  R.  I.,  Dec.  20, 
1797.  He  graduated  at  Brown  University  in  1816, 
and  studied  theology  at  Andover  Seminary. 

In  1831  he  married  Miss  Adelaide  A.  Winthrop,  of 
Bristol,  R.  I.  They  had  six  children,  of  whom  three 
— one  son  and  two  daughters — are  living.  The  son, 
Mr.  John  W.  Vernon,  is  an  officer  in  the  Merchants' 
National  Bank,  Providence,  R.  I.  Mr.  Vernon  was 
dismissed  from  his  pastorate  April  12,  1837,  having 
labored  successfully  for  eleven  years.  He  found  the 
church  torn  with  dissensions  ;  he  left  it  enlarged  and 
united.  He  was  a  man  of  excellent  spirit,  sound  in 
doctrine  and  judicious  in  management.  He  greatly 
endeared  himself  to  all  the  people.  During  his  minis- 
try the  Sunday-school  was  inaugurated,  and  many  of 
the  young  united  with  the  church.  Mr.  Vernon  re- 
sided in  the  village  in  Mrs.  Otis  Goff's  chambers. 
After  leaving  Rehoboth  he  preached  a  while  at  Kings- 
ton, R.  I.  He  was  soon  compelled  to  give  up  the 
ministry  on  account  of  a  severe  bronchial  affection. 
He  then  engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine  at  Perth 
Amboy,  N.  J.,  and  other  places. 

The  last  few  years  of  his  life  were  spent  in  retire- 
ment at  Providence,  R.  I.,  where  he  died  May  9, 1876, 
of  acute  bronchitis,  in  his  seventy-ninth  year,  and 
lies  buried  in  the  old  family  ground  at  Newport,  R.  I. 
His  widow  is  still  living  in  Providence,  in  her  seventy- 
fifth  year.  The  successor  of  Mr.  Vernon  and  the  fifth 
pastor  of  this  church  was  the  Rev.  John  Chester 
Paine,  who  was  ordained  over  the  church  June  6, 
1838.  The  ordination  sermon  was  preached  by  his 
brother,  Rev.  William  P.  Paine,  D.D.,  of  Holden. 
On  the  first  day  of  September  following  the  society 
passed  a  vote  to  build  a  new  meeting-house.  A  mi- 
nority, however,  were  strongly  opposed  to  this  move- 
ment. The  building  committee  consisted  of  Abiah 
Bliss,  Jr.,  William  K.  Bullock,  John  R.  Rogerson, 
and  Cyrus  M.  Wheaton.  It  was  decided  to  locate  the 
new  house  in  the  village  on  the  lot  where  Jonathan 
Wheaton's  barn  stood.  Mr.  Wheaton  gave  the  small 
plot  which  belonged  to  him,  and  the  Goff  brothers, 
Darius  and  Nelson,  gave  the  remainder.  The  church 
edifice  was  erected  and  dedicated  the  following  year, 


480 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


1839.  It  is  sixty  feet  long  by  forty  wide,  and  cost 
three  thousand-  eight  hundred  dollars.  Its  seating 
capacity  is  about  three  hundred  and  twenty. 

After  the  dedication  of  the  new  house,  the  disaf- 
fected members  of  the  church  and  the  society  joined 
with  other  families  in  town,  who  were  Baptists  in 
belief,  in  holding  a  series  of  religious  meetings  at 
Lewis'  tavern.  This  resulted  in  the  formation  of  the 
Union  Baptist  Church. 

The  "  old  yellow  meeting-house,"  which  had  stood 
on  the  village  cemetery  lot  for  sixty-six  years,  was 
finally  sold  to  Mr.  Otis  Goff,  who  moved  the  materials 
home,  and  reconstructed  them  into  a  barn,  which  is 
now  standing. 

Mr.  Paine  was  an  excellent  preacher,  and  a  very 
useful  man  in  the  community.  He  was  born  at  Ash- 
field,  Mass.,  Jan.  28,  1806.  He  was  the  seventh  gen- 
eration in  direct  line  from  Stephen  Paine,  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  Rehoboth.  He  was  educated  at 
Amherst  and  Princeton  Colleges,  and  received  the 
degree  of  A.M.  from  the  latter  in  1843.  He  grad- 
uated from  the  theological  seminary  at  East  Windsor, 
Conn.,  in  1836.  He  was  married  April,  1839,  to  Miss 
Eliza  Folger,  of  Nantucket.  He  was  dismissed  from 
this  church  April  5,  1847,  having  served  the  church 
faithfully  for  nine  years.  After  leaving  Rehoboth  he 
preached  at  Gardner,  Sandwich,  Dracut,  and  Grove- 
land,  Mass.  In  the  places  where  he  was  settled  he 
was  chairman  of  the  school  committee  many  years. 
He  died  at  Groveland  of  typhoid  pneumonia,  March 
10,  1880,  in  his  seventy-fifth  year.  His  widow  sur- 
vives him  at  the  age  of  sixty-four.  There  are  two 
children, — Charles  F.  Payne,  a  lawyer  in  Boston,  and 
Harriet  E.  Paine,  who  has  been  preceptress  of  Oread 
Female  Seminary,  at  Worcester,  Mass.  She  now  re- 
sides with  her  mother  in  Groveland. 

Mr.  Paine  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Charles  P.  Gros- 
venor,  who  was  acting  pastor  of  this  church  from 
September,  1847,  to  September,  1856,  just  nine  years. 
Mr.  Grosvenor  was  born  Aug.  12,  1804,  at  Pomfret, 
Conn.;  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1827;  spent  one 
year  in  the  service  of  the  American  Sunday-School 
Union  in  Illinois  and  Missouri,  and  graduated  at 
Yale  Theological  Seminary  in  1831.  For  two  years 
he  was  secretary  and  agent  of  the  Connecticut  Sun- 
day-School Union  and  editor  of  the  Sunday-School 
Record,  published  in  New  Haven.  He  was  ordained 
at  Blackstone,  Mass.,  July  16,  1834.  Before  coming 
to  Rehoboth  he  preached  at  Kingston  and  North 
Scituate,  R.  I.  After  leaving  Rehoboth  he  preached 
at  Stoneham  and  East  Randolph,  Mass.,  and  at  Can- 
terbury, East  Woodstock,  and  Ashfield,  Conn.  His 
eyesight  failing,  he  closed  his  ministerial  labors 
March  31,  1881.  Mr.  Grosvenor's  first  wife  was  Cor- 
delia Mathewson,  of  Pomfret,  Conn.  They  were  mar- 
ried June  24, 1835.  She  died  the  following  year.  On 
the  9th  of  April,  1838,  he  married  Hannah  H.  Wells, 
of  Kingston,  R.  I.,  who  died  Nov.  6,  1840.  His  third 
wife  was  Elizabeth  E.  Foster,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  to 


whom  he  was  married  May  19,  1842.  They  cele- 
brated the  fortieth  anniversary  of  their  marriage  at 
Pomfret,  Conn.,  May  19,  1882,  Deacon  E.  A.  Brown 
being  present  as  the  representative  from  this  church. 

Mr.  Grosvenor  was  a  man  of  sterling  sense  and  deep 
piety,  and  was  greatly  beloved  by  all  the  people. 

In  1851  the  following  names  were  honored  by  re- 
ceiving a  diploma,  signed  by  Mr.  Grosvenor,  for  com- 
mitting to  memory  the  "  Westminster  Shorter  Cate- 
chism :"  Edward  P.  Brown,  Arnold  De  F.  Brown, 
Amanda  M.  Brown,  Rebecca  Bliss,  Sarah  A.  Carpen- 
ter, Rachel  Carpenter,  Hattie  A.  Carpenter,  Lydia  J. 
Peck,  Dexter  W.  Horton,  William  H.  Luther,  Nellie 
M.  Marsh,  and  Elizabeth  B.  Pierce. 

A  powerful  revival  occurred  in  the  church  in  the 
fall  of  1855,  when  Rev.  Norris  Day,  the  evangelist, 
assisted  the  pastor.  On  the  2d  of  March,  1856,  thirty- 
one  persons  united  with  the  church,  all  by  profession 
except  one.  In  1849  the  present  parsonage  was  built, 
Mr.  Grosvenor  furnishing  the  plan. 

In  a  recent  letter  from  Pomfret,  Conn.,  Mr.  Gros- 
venor writes,  "  I  have  very  many  pleasant  memories 
and  but  few  of  a  different  character  in  connection 
with  my  fields  of  labor.  Rehoboth  stands  first  on 
the  list  in  the  number  and  richness  of  its  reminis- 
cences. I  often  wonder  that  I  left  a  people  who  loved 
me  so  well,  and  to  whom  I  was  and  am  still  so  strongly 
attached." 

The  successor  of  Mr.  Grosvenor  was  Rev.  Walter 
P.  Doe,  who  supplied  the  pulpit  two  years,  beginning 
with  the  spring  of  1857.  Mr.  Doe  resided  in  Provi- 
dence, R.  I.,  but  came  to  Rehoboth  on  the  Sabbath, 
and  occasionally  spent  several  days  visiting  among 
the  people  and  holding  neighborhood  prayer-meet- 
ings. In  this  way  the  church  was  kept  awake,  and 
several  persons  were  hopefully  converted.  Mr.  Doe 
was  born  at  Wilton,  N.  Y.,  March  30,  1813.  He 
graduated  at  Union  College  in  1844,  and  at  Andover 
Theological  Seminary  in  1847.  He  was  ordained  at 
River  Point,  R.  I.,  the  same  year.  Aug.  1,  1849,  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Sophia  S.  Knight,  of  Providence, 
R.  I.  Mr.  Doe  still  resides  in  Providence,  preaching 
occasionally,  but  is  unable  to  study  on  account  of  the 
inflamed  state  of  his  eyes. 

The  next  acting  pastor  of  this  church  was  Rev. 
Alexander  C.  Childs,  from  Jan.  1,  1860,  to  April  1, 
1862.  Mr.  Childs  was  born  at  Nantucket,  Aug.  31, 
1823.  He  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1845,  and 
Union  Theological  Seminary  in  1849.  Aug.  17,  1857, 
he  married  Miss  Eunice  H.  Barney,  of  Nantucket. 
They  have  four  children.  Mr.  Childs  has  had  several 
fields  of  labor,  and  is  now  preaching  at  West  Glouces- 
ter, Mass. 

Rev.  S.  Y.  Lum  was  the  next  acting  pastor,  who 
came  here  in  July,  1862,  and  continued  two  years. 

Mr.  Lum  was  born  at  New  Providence,  N.  J.,  May 
6,  1821 ;  studied  at  Oberlin  College,  and  graduated  at 
Union  Theological  Seminary  in  1848.  He  was  or- 
dained at  Middletown,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  13,  1852. 


REHOBOTH. 


481 


Mr.  Lum  went  to  Kansas  in  1854,  and  organized  the 
first  church  in  the  new  Territory;  remained  there  as 
home  missionary  and  missionary  superintendent  until 
1861,  through  all  the  "Border  Ruffian  war."  On 
leaving  Rehoboth  he  preached  at  Groton,  N.  Y.,  and 
returned  to  Kansas  in  1869,  remaining  until  1875. 
Since  then  he  has  preached  at  Mannsville,  N.  Y.,  and 
at  Rocky  Hill  and  New  Fairfield,  Conn.,  where  he 
now  resides. 

Rev.  Francis  H.  Boynton  was  ordained  pastor  of 
this  church  Oct.  20,  1864,  and  continued  his  work 
here  until  Aug.  30,  1867.  During  his  pastorate  the 
church  was  greatly  revived,  and  more  than  fifty  per- 
sons were  added  to  its  membership. 

Mr.  Boynton  was  born  in  Troy,  N.  Y.,  March  14, 
1839.  He  graduated  at  Amherst  College  in  1861,  and 
at  Andover  Theological  Seminary  in  1864.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Emily  A.  Clark,  of  Amherst,  Mass.,  May 
24,  1866.     They  have  four  children. 

Since  leaving  Rehoboth,  Mr.  Boynton  has  traveled 
in  the  East,  visiting  Egypt,  Palestine,  and  other  coun- 
tries. He  has  preached  at  Assonet,  New  Marlborough, 
Raynham,  and  Essex,  Mass.,  and  is  now  at  Rye, 
N.  H. 

Mr.  Boynton  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Thomas  Henry 
Johnson,  who  was  acting  pastor  from  October,  1868, 
to  October,  1869.  He  was  born  March  24,  1824,  at 
Portland,  Me.  He  studied  and  taught  at  the  Mission 
Institute,  Quincy,  111.,  under  the  charge  of  the  Rev. 
David  Nelson.  He  was  ordained  at  La  Harpe,  111.,  in 
April,  1853;  was  married  the  following  December  to 
Miss  Martha  A.  Brooks,  of  Dalton,  N.  H. ;  they  have 
two  children.  Mr.  Johnson  now  resides  at  New  Bruns- 
wick, N.  J. 

Mr.  Johnson  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Henry  D. 
Woodworth,  who  was  acting  pastor  of  this  church 
from  December,  1869,  to  October,  1872.  He  was  born 
in  Lebanon,  Conn.,  Feb.  18,  1826.  He  graduated  at 
Amherst  College  in  1855,  and  at  Andover  Theological 
Seminary  in  1860  ;  was  ordained  at  East  Bridgewater 
in  September  of  the  same  year.  He  was  married  Aug. 
14, 1855,  to  Miss  Sarah  E.  Carkin,  of  Brookfield,  Mass. 
They  have  three  children.  Since  leaving  Rehoboth, 
Mr.  Woodworth  has  been  engaged  in  the  jewelry 
business  in  Boston. 

Rev.  Isaac  R.  Prior  was  the  next  acting  pastor. 
He  began  his  labors  for  this  church  July  13, 1873,  and 
remained  until  October,  1877.  Mr.  Prior  was  born  in 
Ohio,  July  22,  1840.  He  graduated  at  Adrian  Col- 
lege, Michigan,  in  1863,  at  the  University  of  Law  at 
Albany,  N.  Y.,  in  1865,  and  at  Union  Theological 
Seminary  in  1870.  He  was  married,  Sept.  29,  1874, 
to  Miss  Ruth  E.  Manton,  of  Providence,  R.  I.  Since 
1877,  Mr.  Prior  has  preached  at  Kingston,  R.  I.,  and 
at  Alma,  Fredonia,  and  Great  Bend,  Kan. 

The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  George  H.  Tilton,  whose 
services  to  this  church  began  in  January,  1878.  He 
was  installed  as  its  pastor  Nov.  2,  1882. 

During  the  first  century  of  its  history  this  church 
31 


had  only  three  pastors.  Within  the  sixty-two  years 
already  passed  of  its  second  century  it  has  had  eleven 
ministers,  four  of  whom  were  installed  as  pastors. 

Within  the  last  twenty-six  years  there  have  been 
eight  ministers,  of  whom  only  two  were  pastors.  It 
is  much  to  be  doubted  whether  this  tendency  towards 
short  pastorates  has  proved  beneficial  either  to  the 
church  or  its  ministers. 

The  church  has  always  been  supplied  with  two  or 
more  deacons,  the  whole  number  of  whom,  since  its 
organization,  is  twenty-five.  We  give  below  a  list  of 
their  names  and  the  year  of  their  appointment  : 

Thomas  Ormsby,  Elisha  May,  1721 ;  John  Wil 
marth,  1731 ;  Abiah  Carpenter,  1738  ;  Joshua  Smith 
1744;   Thomas  Carpenter,  1744;   Stephen   Moulton 

1750 ;    Ephraim   Bliss,   1762 ;   Joshua  Smith,  

Daniel  Bliss,  ;  John  Brown,  1791  ;  Calvin  Ja 

cobs,  1801 ;  Asahel  Bliss,  1808  ;  Chase  Moulton,  1811 
Ezra  Perry,  1814;  Asahel  Bliss,  1827;  Elijah  A 
Reed,  1832;  Eleazer  A.  Brown,  1842;  Elisha  A 
King,  1842;  Josephus  B.  Smith,  1851 ;  Asaph  Carpen 
ter,  1858;  Gustavus  A.  Reed,  1863;  David  Taylor, 
Francis  A.  Bliss,  William  H.  Luther,  1877. 

Oak  Swamp  Church.— This  church  at  first  be- 
longed to  the  Six-Principle  Baptists,  and  was  gath- 
ered by  Rev.  John  Comer  in  1732.  He  was  installed 
its  pastor  July  26th  of  that  year.  The  installation 
sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  Ephraim  Wheaton,  of 
Swansea,  from  1  Thess.  v.  12,  13. 

Mr.  Comer  was  a  very  able  preacher  and  gathered 
many  into  the  church.  In  November  following  he 
baptized  fifteen  persons  in  one  day,  and  within  a  year 
from  its  commencement  it  numbered  nearly  one  hun- 
dred members. 

Mr.  Comer  was  born  in  Boston,  Aug.  1,  1704. 
From  a  very  early  age  he  delighted  in  books,  and 
composed  a  discourse  when  only  fifteen.  He  at- 
tempted to  learn  a  glover's  trade,  but  his  passion  for 
study  was  so  strong  that  he  prevailed  on  his  grand- 
father to  send  him  to  school. 

In  1723  he  was  admitted  to  Yale  College,  and  in 
1724  studied  with  Rev.  Mr.  Barnard,  a  Congrega- 
tional minister  of  Andover.  After  reading  "Stennett 
on  Baptism"  he  became  an  ardent  Baptist.  In  1725 
he  went  to  Swansea  to  teach  school,  and  while  there 
assisted  Rev.  Ephraim  Wheaton  in  the  services  of  the 
Sabbath.  In  1726  he  received  a  call  to  preach  in  the 
First  Baptist  Church  at  Newport.  After  preaching 
to  this  church  about  a  year  as  colleague  with  the  Rev. 
William  Peckham,  he  came  out  and  advocated  the 
Six-Principle  theory.  In  consequence  of  this  act  he 
was  dismissed  from  the  First  Church,  and  became 
colleague  with  Elder  Daniel  Wightman,  of  the  Sec- 
ond Baptist  Church,  where  he  remained  two  years, 
preaching  with  remarkable  success. 

He  was  married  Jan.  20, 1726,  to  Miss  Sarah  Rogers, 
of  Newport,  by  whom  he  had  three  children.  On 
coming  to  Rehoboth  he  labored  with  such  zeal  that 
he  undermined  his  health,  and  died  of  consumption 


482 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


May  23,  1734,  in  his  thirtieth  year.  He  was  buried 
in  the  old  yard  at  South  Rehoboth,  where  his  tomb- 
stone of  blue  slate  may  still  be  seen,  bearing  this 
brief  inscription, — 

"  Here  lies  Interred 

y»  Body  of  ye  Revd 

Mr.  John  Comer 

Decd  May  ye  23* 

1734  in  ye  30th 

year  of  Age." 

Mr.  Comer  had  formed  the  design  of  writing  the 
history  of  the  American  Baptists,  and  had  collected 
valuable  materials,  which  were  used  subsequently  by 
both  Backus  and  Benedict  in  their  histories. 

Mr.  Comer's  successor  was  Nathaniel  Millard,  who 
was  ordained  June  24,  1736  ;  but  he  proved  unworthy 
of  his  trust,  and  was  dismissed  in  1742. 

Elder  Samuel  Maxwell  was  the  next  pastor,  and 
was  installed  in  October,  1745.  Having  preached  to 
this  church  for  several  years,  he  became  a  Congrega- 
tionalist,  and  took  up  the  pen  against  the  Baptists. 
The  church,  thus  unfortunate  in  its  pastors,  became 
discouraged  and  scattered,  and  many  of  its  members 
eventually  joined  other  churches. 

Some  of  them,  however,  held  together,  and  secured 
the  services  of  Elder  Richard  Round,  one  of  Mr. 
Comer's  converts,  who  had  organized  a  church  in  the 
northeast  part  of  the  town.  Mr.  Round  preached  to 
the  Oak  Swamp  Church  till  his  death,  May  18,  1768. 
His  tombstone  may  be  seen  near  Elder  John  Comer's 
in  the  old  burying-ground,  about  a  mile  southeast  of 
the  Orleans  Factory. 

The  original  Oak  Swamp  meeting-house  stood  on 
the  corner  lot  at  the  junction  of  the  two  roads  which 
meet  a  short  distance  south  of  Mr.  Edward  Horton's 
store,    now    the    South   Rehoboth    post-office.     This 
house  was  framed   on  the   old   cemetery  lot,  where 
Elders  Comer  and  Round  were  buried,  but  it  was 
taken  away  in  the  night  by  the  Oak  Swamp  people, 
and  raised  on  the  spot  above  mentioned.     After  the 
death  of  Elder  Round  the  church  no  longer  existed 
under  the  "  Six  Principle"  creed.     In  1773  another 
church  was  organized,  with  open  communion  princi- 
ples.    Some  of  its  members  had  come  out  from  Elder 
John  Hix's  church,  a  close-communion  Baptist,  and 
others   had    been    converted  and   baptized   by  Rev. 
Elhanan    Winchester,    a   traveling    preacher,   while 
others   still    had    belonged   to   the   original    church 
founded  by  Rev.  John  Comer.     This  new  church  or- 
dained Mr.  Jacob  Hix  as  their  pastor,  Jan.  20,  1773, 
and  held  their  services  in  the  Oak  Swamp  meeting- 
house.    Elder  Jacob  Hix  was  born  Jan.  1, 1740.     He 
was  the  son  of  Elder  John  Hix,  and  brother  of  Elder 
Daniel  Hix,  of  Dartmouth.     He  owned  a  farm  and 
part  of  a  mill,  which,  with  some  help  from  the  church, 
enabled  him  to  live  comfortably.     He  had  no  chil- 
dren.    He    died    March   30,   1809,   aged    sixty-nine 
years. 

The  successor  of  Elder  Hix  was  Elder  Childs  Lu- 


ther, who  was  pastor  of  this  church  for  many  years. 
The  present  house  of  worship  was  erected  during  his 
pastorate.  It  was  built  by  a  joint-stock  company, 
Mr.  Nathan  Hix  taking  the  contract  for  one  thousand 
dollars.  It  was  dedicated  May  28,  1834.  Soon  after 
the  old  house  was  torn  down  and  made  over  into  a 
barn.  Elder  Luther  continued  his  labors  among  this 
people  until  about  the  year  1841,  having  preached  to 
them  more  than  thirty  years.  In  the  latter  part  of 
his  pastorate  a  division  occurred  in  the  church  on 
account  of  the  temperance  question.  He  was  in- 
clined to  be  conservative,  while  some  of  his  people 
became  vehement  supporters  of  the  principle  of  total 
abstinence.  This  breach  was  made  wider  by  the 
Millerite  excitement,  for  which  Elder  Luther  had  no 
sympathy.  He  was  born  Feb.  6,  1780,  and  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Lucy  Kilton,  Dec.  10,  1797.  He  also 
married  a  second  wife,  Mrs.  Mehitable  GofF,  Oct.  21, 
1827.  He  died  July  3,  1859,  in  his  eightieth  year. 
His  only  surviving  son,  Mr.  Nathan  C.  Luther,  resides 
in  Attleborough. 

For  a  number  of  years  Elder  George  Kelton  as- 
sisted Mr.  Luther  as  colleague. 

In  the  year  1829  there  was  an  extensive  revival  in 
connection  with  the  labors  of  Elder  Joseph  Black- 
mar,  of  New  York,  an  itinerant  preacher.  He  spent 
about  a  year  in  this  town,  and  baptized  in  all  forty- 
eight  converts.  On  the  first  day  of  January,  1830, 
he  immersed  sixteen  persons  in  the  pond  just  below 
the  site  of  the  present  meeting-house ;  for  this  pur- 
pose a  way  was  cut  through  the  ice,  which  was  four- 
teen inches  thick. 

Elder  Blackmar  spent  his  last  years  in  Boston  and 
died  there  in  October,  1878,  aged  seventy-eight  years. 

In  the  year  1842,  Elder  M.  E.  Gammons  came  from 
Westport  to  this  place  and  began  to  preach  the  doc- 
trines of  Millerism,  and  many  were  carried  away  with 
excitement.  Quite  a  number  of  the  people,  mostly 
members  of  the  old  church  under  Elder  Luther,  met 
together  and  formed  themselves  into  a  new  body  but 
adopting  the  same  general  creed.  Many  of  the  sub- 
stantial old  members,  however,  refused  to  join  in  this 
movement  and  were  left  without  any  church  connec- 
tion. 

The  second  advent  excitement  proved  a  great  injury 
to  the  church.  The  people  soon  became  dissatisfied 
with  Elder  Gammons,  and  some  of  the  members  ab- 
sented themselves  from  all  religious  services.  The 
congregations  were  small,  and  they  had  no  regular 
pastor  for  several  years.  The  pulpit  was  supplied  by 
Deacon  Herman  Wood  and  Elders  Luther  Baker,  J. 
S.  Thompson,  and  O.  P.  Tuckerman. 

In  November,  1848,  Elder  James  Pierce  began  to 
preach  to  this  church.  A  protracted  meeting  was 
held  in  which  Mr.  Pierce  was  assisted  by  Elder  Al- 
bert G.  Morton,  and  quite  a  number  were  converted. 
Thirteen  converts  were  baptized  Feb.  25,  1849.  Mr. 
Pierce  was  ordained  over  the  church  June  12,  1849, 
and  was  dismissed  in  August,  1850.    The  church  was 


REHOBOTH. 


433 


supplied  for  the  following  year  by  Elders  Waterman 
Pierce  and  Otis  Bliss. 


Elder  J. 
pulpit    in 
Church    in 
from  1865 


W.  Osborne,  of  Swansea,  supplied  this 
connection  with  that  of  the  Christian 
Swansea  for  eleven  and  a  half  years, 
until  April,  1877.  Another  revival  oc- 
curred in  1870-71,  and  several  persons  were  baptized. 
Elder  Osborne  still  preaches  at  Swansea. 

Elder  William  Miller,  of  Swansea,  preached  at  this 
church  most  of  the  time  from  Jan.  1,  1878,  to  April 
1,  1882.  Mr.  Miller  has  had  several  pastorates,  and 
now  preaches  at  the  Hornbine  Church  in  this  town. 

The  Oak  Swamp  Church  has  had  a  hard  struggle 
to  live.  It  has  never  paid  a  larger  salary  than  two 
hundred  dollars.  At  the  present  time  no  regular 
services  are  held,  and  the  outlook  is  not  hopeful. 

The  Hornbine  Church. — This  church  is  in  the 
southeast  part  of  Rehoboth,  and  belongs  to  the  order 
of  the  "Six-Principle  Baptists."  Their  creed  is  con- 
tained in  Hebrews,  the  sixth  chapter,  first  and  second 
verses.  The  name  "  Hornbine"  is  a  corruption  of 
Hornbeam,  and  was  given  to  the  church  because 
there  were  many  trees  of  this  species  in  its  vicinity. 

About  thirty  members  of  the  Second  Baptist  Church 
in  Swansea  formed  themselves  into  a  church  in  Re- 
hoboth, and  ordained  Mr.  Daniel  Martin  as  their  pas- 
tor Feb.  8,  1753.1  Elder  Martin  was  the  eldest  son 
of  Deacon  Melatiah  Martin,  of  Swansea.  He  was 
born  Sept.  23,  1702,  followed  the  trade  of  a  house  car- 
penter, and  died  Nov.  18,  1781,  aged  seventy-nine. 
He  had  nine  children.  In  1770  he  published  a  dis- 
course against  particular  election  and  efficacious  grace 
in  conversion,  to  which  the  Rev.  Isaac  Backus  pub- 
lished an  answer  the  following  year.  Soon  after  the 
settlement  of  Elder  Martin  over  this  church,  Elder 
Nathan  Pierce  was  ordained  as  his  colleague,  and 
continued  to  preach  to  this  people  for  forty  years. 

Mr.  Pierce  was  born  in  Warwick,  R.  I.,  in  1716.  In 
1738  he  married  Lydia  Martin,  of  Barrington,  R.  I., 
by  whom  he  had  sixteen  children,  ten  sons  and  six 
daughters.  Mr.  Pierce  died  April  14,  1793,2  in  his 
seventy-eighth  year.  His  mortal  remains  lie  buried 
in  the  family  yard  in  the  Horton  neighborhood,  where 
many  of  his  descendants  are  interred. 

During  his  ministry  the  church  increased  in  num- 
bers and  strength. 

Some  years  before  the  death  of  Elder  Pierce,  Elder 
Thomas  Seamans  was  ordained  as  his  colleague.  Mr. 
Seamans  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  possessed 
great  physical  vigor.  He  preached  a  sermon  in  this 
church  after  he  was  one  hundred  years  of  age,  and 
died  in  1826,  at  the  advanced  age  of  one  hundred  and 
four  years,  five  months,  and  fifteen  days,  probably  the 
oldest  person  that  ever  died  in  Rehoboth.  He  spent 
the  last  few  years  of  his  life  with  his  son,  Mr.  Com- 
fort Seamans,  who  owned  a  farm  about  a  mile  north 


1  This  is  the  date  given  by  Backus. 

2  The  date  given  In  the  old  family  Bible. 


of  the  church.  His  remains  lie  buried  in  a  little 
plot  on  the  farm  inclosed  by  a  strong  wall,  but  over- 
grown with  shrubs.  An  elm  and  two  cedars  of  con- 
siderable size  stand  within  the  plot.  The  rude  stones 
that  mark  the  grave  are  without  inscription.  Beside 
him  are  buried  his  son  and  several  members  of  his 
family.  Elder  Seamans'  grandson,  Josiah  Simmons, 
was  an  honored  deacon  in  this  church  for  many  years. 

During  Elder  Seamans'  pastorate  he  was  assisted 
by  several  colleagues.  Elder  Benjamin  Mason,  of 
Swansea,  preached  to  this  church  for  a  time.  In  the 
year  1800,  Elder  Preserved  Pierce  and  Elder  Philip 
Pierce  were  ordained  as  associate  pastors  with  Elder 
Seamans.  Concerning  Elder  Philip  Pierce  but  little 
can  be  gathered.  After  preaching  a  while  to  this 
church  he  went  West  for  several  years.  He  spent  his 
last  years  in  Dighton,  Mass. 

Elder  Preserved  Pierce  was  the  son  of  Elder  Nathan 
Pierce,  and  was  born  July  23, 1 758.  He  married  Sarah 
Lewis,  of  Rehoboth,  by  whom  he  had  a  large  family 
of  children.  During  his  pastorate  no  salary  was  paid 
by  the  church,  the  minister  was  expected  to  earn  his 
bread  by  the  sweat  of  his  brow.  Mr.  Pierce  used  to 
say  that  the  only  money  he  received  for  his  services 
was  fifty  cents  a  year,  which  sum  a  good  lady,  Miss 
Molly  Miller,  slipped  into  his  fingers  while  shaking 
hands  with  him.  A  large  number  of  members  were 
added  to  the  church  during  his  ministry,  which  con- 
tinued till  his  death,  June  29,  1828,  in  the  seventieth 
year  of  his  age.  After  the  death  of  Elder  Pierce  the 
church  was  supplied  by  Elder  William  Manchester, 
Elder  Joseph  Blackman,  and  others,  until  1834,  when 
Elder  Otis  Potter,  of  Cranston,  R.  I.,  became  their 
minister. 

On  the  first  Sabbath  in  May  of  that  year  Elder 
Potter  organized  the  Sunday-school,  consisting  of 
thirty  or  forty  youth,  which  he  superintended  himself. 
It  soon  increased  to  more  than  one  hundred  members. 
He  resided  at  Swansea  Factory,  and  preached  a  part 
of  the  time  to  the  Swansea  Church  at  the  house  of 
Deacon  Ellery  Wood.  During  the  first  year  of  Elder 
Potter's  pastorate  there  was  a  revival,  and  sixty  per- 
sons joined  the  church  on  profession  of  faith. 

Elder  Potter  was  a  strong  advocate  for  temperance, 
and  an  uncompromising  abolitionist.  At  the  time  of 
the  Dorr  disturbance  in  Rhode  Island,  he  took  a  rigid 
stand  against  the  Dorr  party,  much  to  the  displeasure 
of  certain  members  of  his  church.  On  going  into 
his  pulpit  one  Sabbath,  having  the  week  before  ex- 
pressed himself  strongly  on  this  point,  he  found  sus- 
pended there  a  gun,  knapsack,  bayonet,  sword,  and 
various  other  implements  of  war. 

Finding  that  he  had  in  various  ways  aroused  con- 
siderable opposition  to  himself,  he  left  Rehoboth  in 
1841  or  1842  and  preached  at  Cranston,  R.  I.,  until 
1848,  when  he  returned  to  his  former  charge  in  Reho- 
both, where  he  remained  four  years  longer.  After 
that  he  moved  to  Providence  and  went  into  the  book 
business,  still  preaching  as  he  had  opportunity.     He 


484 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


died  May  27,  1857,  of  consumption.  His  widow  sur- 
vives him.  His  three  children  are  also  living,  two 
sons  and  a  daughter.  One  of  his  sons  is  Elder  Thomas 
Potter,  who  preaches  in  Fresno,  Cal. 

After  Elder  Potter  resigned  his  pastorate  the  church 
was  supplied  by  Elders  Warner  and  Morton,  and  Elder 
Samuel  Knight,  of  Swansea. 

Elder  Waterman  Pierce  also  preached  to  this  people 
for  several  years.  He  was  ordained  at  this  church  in 
18B7  (?).  Most  of  his  ministerial  life  has  bee"n  spent 
in  behalf  of  the  Free-Will  Baptist  Church  at  Barney- 
ville,  Swansea,  which  he  gathered  about  forty  years 
ago. 

Elder  Welcome  G.  Comstock  was  acting  pastor  of 
this  church  for  about  fourteen  years,  beginning  in 
1862.  He  was  a  kind,  jovial  man,  and  an  entertain- 
ing speaker,  but  a  poor  financier. 

From  1876  to  1880,  Rev.  James  L.  Pierce  was  acting 
pastor  of  this  church.  During  this  time  there  was  a 
revival,  in  which  Mr.  Pierce  was  assisted  by  Dr.  M. 
L.  Rossvalley,  a  converted  Jew.  The  church  received 
some  additions  and  was  much  strengthened.  Mr. 
Pierce  now  resides  in  South  Rehoboth  without  charge, 
having  preached  at  various  places  for  more  than  thirty 
years. 

The  present  acting  pastor  of  this  church  is  Rev. 
William  Miller,  of  Swansea,  who  began  his  labors 
here  April  1,  1880. 

Elders  Miller  and  Pierce  are  both  members  of  the 
Christian  Baptist  denomination,  and  the  Hornebine 
Church  has  virtually  abandoned  the  "Six-Principle" 
theory,  though  it  still  retains  the  old  creed,  to  which 
a  few  of  the  oldest  members  cling. 

About  twenty  years  ago  the  people  attending 
church  at  the  Hornebine  formed  themselves  into  an 
organization  which  they  designated  as  Tlie  First  Bap- 
tist Church  and  Society.  Under  the  direction  of  this 
society  yearly  clam-bakes  are  held  in  a  grove  near 
the  church.  These  clam-bakes  have  become  very 
popular.  On  the  day  of  this  annual  feast  nearly 
three  thousand  people  are  wont  to  assemble,  coming 
from  the  surrounding  cities  and  towns.  Many  of 
them  have  parents  or  relatives  living  in  the  neighbor- 
hood, and  the  day  is  to  them  an  occasion  of  a  grand 
reunion.  More  than  a  thousand  dollars  has  been 
taken  in  a  single  day. 

The  Irons  Church. — This  church  is  situated  in  the 
north  part  of  the  town.  It  belongs  to  the  Free-Will 
Baptist  order,  and  was  organized  Oct.  2,  1777,  with 
thirty-one  members.  For  three  years  they  had  no 
pastor.  The  church  very  early  connected  itself  with 
the  Groton  Conference.  Mr.  James  Sheldon,  of 
Providence,  R.  I.,  was  ordained  their  pastor  Sept.  6, 
1680.  He  was  dismissed  July  21,  1792,  and  removed 
to  the  State  of  New  York.  The  church  obtained  oc- 
casional supplies  till  Mr.  Jeremiah  Irons  came  to  be 
their  pastor.  He  was  ordained  over  this  church  Sept. 
24,  1795.  He  continued  his  pastoral  labors  with 
great  acceptance  until  his  dismission,  June  26,  1799. 


He  was  born  in  Gloucester,  R.  I.,  Oct.  14,  1765. 
After  leaving  Rehoboth  he  preached  many  years  at 
the  West.  For  several  years  after  the  removal  of  Mr. 
Irons  the  church  was  supplied  by  Elders  William 
Northrup,  Daniel  Hix,  and  others,  until  1808,  when 
Elder  Samuel  Northrup  became  acting  pastor  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  July  21,  1812. 

Elder  Northrup  was  born  in  North  Kingston,  R.  I. 
He  was  a  most  faithful  and  devout  man,  and  the 
church  was  greatly  prospered  during  his  ministry. 

Again  the  church  was  left  without  a  regular  pastor 
for  a  number  of  years.  Elder  Sylvester  Round 
preached  occasionally  and  administered  the  sacra- 
ment. 

The  church  was  also  supplied  by  Elders  Childs 
Luther,  Daniel  Hix,  Levi  Hathaway,  and  Reuben 
Allen. 

The  church  enjoyed  its  greatest  revival  in  the  years 
1820-22,  under  the  labors  of  Elders  David  Sweet  and 
Levi  Hathaway,  and  a  large  number  of  worthy  mem- 
bers were  gathered  into  the  church. 

From  this  time  the  church  became  connected  with 
the  Rhode  Island  Quarterly  Meeting,  and  was  sup- 
plied largely  with  ministers  from  that  association. 

In  1830-31  the  church  enjoyed  another  interesting 
revival,  under  the  preaching  of  Elder  John  Yeam- 
shaw,  when  twenty-five  more  persons  joined  its  mem- 
bership. 

In  1834-35,  Elder  Junia  S.  Mowry  was  acting  pas- 
tor. He  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  David  Steere,  who 
was  ordained  pastor  of  this  church  in  September, 
1836.  His  father  was  a  Quaker,  who  died  leaving 
him,  a  young  lad,  with  a  large  fortune.  This  he  soon 
wasted  with  riotous  living,  and  worked  for  a  time  in 
a  paper-mill  in  Cumberland,  R.  I.  He  was  converted 
in  a  bar-room.  As  he  was  putting  a  glass  of  rum  to 
his  lips,  he  seemed  to  hear  a  voice  saying  to  him, 
plainly,  "  David,  if  you  drink  that  cup,  you  drink 
your  eternal  damnation."  He  dropped  the  glass,  fell 
on  his  knees,  and  cried  to  God  for  mercy.  From  that 
hour  he  was  an  active  Christian.  He  remained  with 
this  church  till  1840,  when  he  was  dismissed,  and 
went  to  Newport,  R.  I. 

Mr.  John  W.  Colwell  was  ordained  pastor  of  this 
church  in  October,  1841,  and  continued  for  four  years. 
For  several  years  he  was  overseer  in  the  factory  at 
Hebronville.  He  preached  a  while  in  California,  and 
on  his  return  died  at  Panama.  He  left  several  chil- 
dren. One  of  his  sons  is  Rev.  John  W.  Colwell,  a 
Congregational  clergyman. 

Mr.  Colwell  was  succeeded  by  Elder  Joshua  Stet- 
son, who  was  ordained  over  the  church  in  August, 
1845,  and  labored  in  all  about  two  years,  when  he 
removed  to  Taunton. 

Mr.  Stetson's  successor  was  Elder  Gardner  Clarke, 
who  was  acting  pastor  from  July,  1846,  until  1853, 
during  which  time  there  was  a  revival,  and  several 
names  were  added  to  the  church.  Mr.  Clarke  was 
born  at  Highgate,  Vt.,  Aug.  21,  1812.     He  spent  his 


REHOBOTH. 


485 


early  days  mostly  at  Bradford,  Vt.,  and  received  a 
good  education  from  the  academies  of  his  native  State. 
He  was  ordained  at  Cabot,  Vt.,  in  1843.  He  was 
married  in  1837  to  Miss  Jane  R.  Deming,  of  Weth- 
ersfield,  Conn.,  by  whom  he  had  three  daughters. 
Mr.  Clarke  resides  in  Attleborough.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Elder  Lowell  Parker,  of  Charlestown, 
R.  I.,  who  remained  with  the  church  from  1853  to 
1858,  when  he  removed  to  Portsmouth,  N.  H. ;  1859- 
62,  Elder  George  W.  Wallace;  1863-64,  Elder  John 
Pratt,  of  Newport,  R.  I. ;  1865,  Elder  Handy.  After 
1866  the  church  was  supplied  for  a  number  of  years 
with  students  from  Brown  University. 

In  1875  there  were  only  seven  active  members. 

In  1880-82,  Elder  Gardner  Clarke  preached  to  this 
people  a  second  time.  The  church  at  this  time  is 
nearly  extinct.  The  Methodists  now  hold  one  service 
each  Sabbath  in  this  meeting-house. 

The  following  is  the  list  of  deacons  since  the  or- 
ganization of  the  church  :  Jacob  Bliss,  David  Perry, 
Edmund  Mason,  Cyril  C.  Peck,  William  Cole,  Milton 
Freeman,  George  H.  Thrasher,  William  Lane. 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church.— A  Baptist  Church 
was  formed  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  town  about 
the  year  1740.  It  started  with  forty  members,  and 
ordained  Mr.  Richard  Round  as  its  pastor  July  13, 
1743.  He  died  May  18,  1768,  and  his  tombstone  may 
be  seen  near  Rev.  John  Comer's  in  the  South  Reho- 
both  burying-ground.  After  his  death  there  was  no 
regular  preaching  for  many  years. 

In  the  year  1789  the  church  was  revived  under  the 
efficient  labors  of  Mr.  Sylvester  Round  and  Deacon 
Aaron  Wheeler.  They  were  ordained  as  associate 
pastors  on  the  20th  of  April  of  that  year.  Elder 
Wheeler  died  in  1800,  but  Elder  Round  continued 
its  pastor  till  his  death,  Oct.  26, 1824.  He  was  a  very 
able  and  influential  man.  He  was  born  in  this  town 
April  10,  1762,  and  was  married  to  Mehitable  Perry 
in  1780.  About  the  year  1800  he  built  the  old  tavern- 
house,  now  used  as  a  parsonage,  for  his  son. 

The  church  at  this  time  belonged  to  the  Six-Prin- 
ciple Baptists.  The  house  of  worship  stood  where 
the  school-house  now  stands.  In  1824,  the  old  meet- 
ing-house having  fallen  into  decay,  a  new  one  was 
built  on  the  corner  of  the  road  leading  to  Norton. 

In  1826,  Rev.  Lorenzo  Dow  Johnson,  a  Reformed 
Methodist  from  Vermont,  visited  this  place  and 
preached  the  gospel  with  great  power ;  this  church 
was  revived  and  joined  the  denomination  to  which 
Mr.  Johnson  belonged.  It  soon  became  prosperous, 
and  under  the  preaching  of  Rev.  Benjamin  McCloth, 
Rev.  Joseph  Eldridge,  and  others,  was  favored  with 
several  revivals  of  religion,  until  in  1834  it  had 
seventy -seven  members. 

In  1843  the  present  house  of  worship  was  erected, 
largely  through  the  influence  of  Mr.  Granville 
Stephens.  Rev.  Charles  Hammond  now  became 
pastor,  and  remained  for  several  years.  After  Mr. 
Hammond  left,  the  Reformed  Methodists  were  mostly 


merged  in  the  Wesleyan  Methodists,  and  the  church 
could  not  find  preachers  for  the  pulpit.  At  length 
certain  persons  applied  to  the  Providence  Annual 
Conference,  and  the  Rev.  William  Cone  was  sent  to 
them  in  1849. 

Now  began  a  new  era  in  the  history  of  the  church. 
It  appears  that  about  the  year  1798,  Rev.  John  Brod- 
head,  a  Methodist  preacher,  had  organized  a  Method- 
ist class,  which  in  1810  had  forty-five  members.  Rev. 
Thomas  Perry  and  his  wife  were  among  the  earliest 
members  of  this  class,  as  was  also  Mrs.  Rebecca 
Perry  and  Mrs.  Noah  Bliss.  When  Mr.  Cone  came 
here  he  succeeded  in  uniting  the  remnant  of  this  old 
class  with  a  few  of  the  members  of  the  Methodist 
Reformed  Church,  together  with  others  who  had 
been  converted  through  his  own  labors,  so  that  at 
the  close  of  his  first  year  he  returned  a  membership 
of  forty-four. 

Mr.  Cone  was  succeeded  in  1850  by  Rev.  J.  E. 
Gifford,  a  zealous  laborer,  who  brought  the  member- 
ship up  to  sixty-five  in  1852.  The  church  debt  was 
wholly  paid  under  his  pastorate. 

In  1856-57  there  was  a  powerful  revival,  owing  to 
the  efficient  labors  of  Rev.  Henry  H.  Smith,  assisted 
by  the  Rev.  Moses  Chace,  and  many  worthy  members 
were  added  to  the  church.  There  have  been  twenty 
different  pastors  during  the  thirty-four  years  of  its 
history. 

A  successful  Sunday-school  has  been  sustained 
from  the  first.  The  church  has  usually  held  a 
monthly  meeting  of  prayer  for  missions,  and  has 
contributed  liberally  for  this  great  work.  The 
church  at  the  present  time  has  forty-five  members. 

The  preachers  and  the  date  of  their  service  have 
been  as  follows  :  1849,  William  Cone  ;  1850-51,  J.  E. 
Gifford;  1852-53,  W.  H.  Richards;  1854-55,  Arnold 
Adams;  1856-57,  Henry  H.  Smith  ;  1858-59, Samuel 
Fox ;  1860,  Edward  A.  Lyon ;  1861-62,  Abel  Gard- 
ner; 1863,  S.  W.  Coggshall ;  1864-65,  Charles  Morse; 
1866-67,  B.  K.  Bosworth  ;  1868,  Caleb  S.  San  ford ; 
1869-70,  John  Q.  Adams ;  1871-72,  Richard  Poney ; 
1873,  Elijah  F.  Smith;  1874-75,  De  Witt  C.  House; 
1876-77,  S.  V.  B.  Cross;  1878,  S.  P.  Snow;  1879, 
Charles  Stokes;  1880-83,  J.  A.  Rood. 

One  of  these  preachers,  Rev.  Abel  Gardner,  at  the 
close  of  his  second  year  was  seized  with  a  mortal  ill- 
ness, and  died  May  2,  1863,  aged  forty-seven  years, 
the  first  pastor  who  has  died  in  this  place  since  the 
death  of  Elder  Round  in  1824. 

The  Union  Baptist  Church  (Annawan).— In  the 
year  1839  the  Congregational  Society  left  their  old 
meeting-house  on  the  village  cemetery  lot  and  entered 
their  new  house  of  worship  in  the  village.  Several 
of  the  older  members,  however,  including  some  of 
the  trustees,  were  unwilling  to  make  the  change,  and 
withdrew  from  the  society. 

At  this  time  there  were  a  few  families  of  the  Bap- 
tist belief  living  in  Rehoboth  who  were  members  of 
Elder  Goff's  Church,  on  Long  Hill,  in  Dighton.     As 


48(1 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


the  latter  church  had  greatly  declined  in  numbers 
and  power,  making  it  difficult  to  sustain  regular  ser- 
vices, it  was  thought  a  favorable  time  to  form  a  new 
Baptist  Church  within  the  limits  of  Rehoboth.  This 
plan  was  strongly  favored  by  Elder  J.  L.  Whittemore, 
of  the  Dighton  Church.  Accordingly  it  was  pro- 
posed that  these  brethren  join  with  the  disaffected 
members  of  the  Congregational  Society  in  holding  a 
series  of  meetings  with  reference  to  forming  a  new 
church. 

The  first  meeting  was  held  on  the  first  Sabbath  in 
January,  1840,  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Isaac  Lewis.  A 
large  number  were  present,  and  the  congregation  con- 
tinued to  increase  from  Sabbath  to  Sabbath,  till  the 
hall  overflowed.  After  the  first  few  meetings,  which 
were  conducted  by  Messrs.  Whittemore  and  Brentley, 
the  people  secured  the  services  of  Mr.  Caleb  Blood,  a 
talented  young  man  from  the  freshman  class  of  Brown 
University. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  this  year  The  Union  Baptist 
Society1  was  organized.  A  committee  was  appointed, 
consisting  of  Richard  Goff,  Otis  Peck,  and  Joseph 
Bowen,  to  erect  a  meeting-house  upon  the  lot  appro- 
priated for  that  purpose  by  Darius  Horton,  near 
Lewis'  tavern,  on  the  Providence  and  Taunton  turn- 
pike. 

On  the  12th  of  March,  Mr.  C.  Blood  presented 
eight  articles  of  faith,  embodying  the  strict  principles 
of  the  Calvinistic  Baptists.  These  articles  were  signed 
by  the  following  persons,  who  thereby  constituted 
themselves  a  church  :  Seth  Talbot,  Isaiah  Allen,  Ben- 
jamin Monroe,  Charles  C.  Monroe,  Sally  Talbot,  Ann 
F.  Allen,  Ruth  Munro,  Sybil  Peck,  Peddy  Peck,  Jo- 
anua  Horton,  Polly  Bowen,  Nancy  Bowen,  Fanny  L. 
Williams,  Olive  Wheeler,  Joanna  Wheeler,  Lucy 
Horton,  and  Jane  Snow. 

This  church  was  publicly  recognized  by  an  ecclesi- 
astical council  which  assembled  at  the  house  of  Mr. 
Isaac  Lewis,  April  1,  1840;  sermon  by  Rev.  A.  Fisher, 
of  Swansea.  The  following  day  was  set  apart  by  the 
church  as  a  day  of  special  fasting  and  prayer,  and 
meetings  were  held  almost  daily  for  several  weeks, 
resulting  in  numerous  conversions. 

April  26th,  Danforth  G.  Horton,  John  Davis,  Jr., 
Thomas  Carpenter,  and  several  others  were  baptized. 

On  the  3d  of  June  Mr.  Caleb  Blood  was  ordained 
by  an  ecclesiastical  council  which  met  at  Lewis' 
tavern,  Rev.  Asa  Bronson,  of  Fall  River,  preaching 
the  sermon.  Mr.  Blood  was  engaged  to  supply  the 
pulpit  for  the  sum  of  three  hundred  dollars  per 
annum.  His  pastoral  labors  were  greatly  blessed. 
The  church  at  the  close  of  the  first  year  numbered 
forty-three  members.  Mr.  Blood  was  born  July  4, 
1815,  at  Rodman,  N.  Y.  He  graduated  at  Brown 
University  in  1844;  was  married  April  10,  1844,  to 
Miss  Martha  Baker,  of  Rehoboth,  by  whom  he  had 


1  In  1843  this  society  gave  a  deed  of  all  its  property  into  the  hands  of 
the  church  and  ceased  to  exist. 


five  children.  He  died  Nov.  21,  1881,  at  Independ- 
ence, Mo.  While  pastor  of  this  church,  Mr.  Blood 
organized  the  Sabbath-school,  which  has  beeu  main- 
tained successfully  to  the  present  time. 

The  new  meeting-house  was  dedicated  Nov.  25, 
1840 ;  sermon  by  Rev.  C.  Blood,  from  the  text  Isaiah 
lx.  13. 

During  the  forty-three  years  since  this  church 
began  it  has  had  fifteen  different  pastorates,  aver- 
aging about  three  years  each.  We  give  below  a  list 
of  the  pastors'  names  and  the  years  of  their  service. 
This  church  designates  all  its  ministers  as  pastors, 
whether  installed  or  not:  Rev.  Caleb  Blood,  1840-41 
(died  Nov.  21,  1881) ;  Rev.  David  M.  Burdick,  1841- 
43  (died);  Rev.  Henry  C.  Coombs,  1843-47;  Rev. 
Silas  Hall,  1847-49  (died) ;  Rev.  Samuel  A.  Collins, 
1850-52  (died) ;  Rev.  Zalmon  Tobey,  1852-53  (died) ; 
Rev.  J.  J.  Thatcher,  1854-59  (died) ;  Rev.  Henry  C. 
Coombs,  1860-64 ;  Rev.  Samuel  C.  Cheever,  1865-68  ; 
Rev.  John  Coombs,  1868-69  ;  Rev.  J.  M.  Mace,  1870 
-73 ;  Rev.  Norman  B.  Wilson,  1873-75 ;  Rev.  L.  F. 
Shepherdson,  1875-78 ;  Rev.  O.  P.  Bessey,  1878-80 ; 
Rev.  D.  C.  Bixby,  1880-83. 

Deacons. — Seth  Talbot,  1840;  John  Davis,  Jr., 
1840;  Sylvester  Hunt,  1845;  Gilbert  Bullock,  1867; 
Hale  S.  Luther,  1883  ;  G.  Gardner  Bullock,  1883. 

In  1870  the  church  was  presented  with  a  house  and 
lot  for  a  parsonage,  the  gift  of  Mrs.  Delight  C.  Reed, 
of  Taunton,  only  child  of  the  late  Christopher  Car- 
penter, of  Rehoboth.  In  1878  the  church  received  a 
bequest  of  five  hundred  dollars  from  Mrs.  Nancy 
Baker. 

An  important  revival  was  enjoyed  under  the  labors 
of  Rev.  Samuel  A.  Collins,  and  many  were  added  to 
the  church.  Another  revival  occurred  during  the 
pastorate  of  Mr.  Bessey,  in  the  winter  of  1879-80,  the 
Baptist  and  Congregational  Churches  holding  union 
services  during  the  season. 

This  church,  though  small,  has  shown  great  vital- 
ity, and  in  the  earlier  part  of  its  career  at  least  main- 
tained an  excellent  discipline. 

Deputies  and  Representatives  from  1646  to 
1883  have  been  as  follows: 


DEPUTIES  TO    PLYMOUTH 

164G.  Walter  Palmer. 

1647.  Walter  Palmer. 
Stephen  Paine. 

1648.  Robert  Titus. 
John  Doggett. 

1649-50.  Robert  Titus. 

Stephen  Paine. 
1651.  Stephen  Paine. 

Richard  Bowen. 
1652-53.  Stephen  Paine. 

Thomas  Cooper. 
1654-55.  Stephen  Paine. 

Peter  Hunt. 

1656.  Stephen  Paine. 
William  Carpenter. 

1657.  Stephen  Paine. 
William  Sabin. 

1658.  Stephen  Paine. 
Thomas  Cooper. 


COURT  PROM   REHOBOTH. 

1659.  Stephen  Paine. 

William  Sabin. 
1660-61.  William  Sabin. 

Peter  Hunt.; 
1662.  Peter  Hunt. 

Henry  Smith. 
1663-65.  Peter  Hunt. 

Stephen  Paine. 
1666.  Stephen  Paine. 

James  Brown. 
1667-68.  Peter  Hunt. 

Henry  Smith. 
1669.  Philip  Walker. 

Nicholas  Peck. 
1670-71.  Stephen  Paine. 

William  Sabin. 

1672.  Peter  Hunt. 
Daniel  Smith. 

1673.  Peter  Hunt. 


REHOBOTH. 


487 


1G73.  Anthony  Perry. 
1674-75.  Ensign  Henry  Smith. 

Daniel  Smith. 
1676-77.  Daniel  Smith. 

Nathaniel  Paine. 

1678.  Daniel  Smith. 
Nicholas  Peck. 

1679.  Nicholas  Peck. 
Gilbert  Brooks. 

1680.  Nicholas  Peck. 
Peter  Hunt. 

1681.  Ensign  Nicholas  Peck. 
Gilbert  Brooks. 

1682-83.  Ensign  Nicholas  Peck. 

REPRESENTATIVES   TO 

1693.  Mr.  Samuel  Peck. 
Joseph  Browne. 

1694.  Stephen  Paine. 

1695.  Deacon  Samuel  Peck. 
1696-98.  Deacon  Samuel  Newman. 
1699    John  Hunt. 

1700.  Mr.  John  Peck. 
1701. . 

1702.  Sergt.  Moses  Reade. 

1703.  Stephen  Paine. 

1704.  Benjamin  Allen. 

1705.  Col.  Samuel  Walker. 
1706. . 

1707.  John  Brooks. 

1708.  Ensign  Moses  Reade. 

1709.  Mr.  Daniel  Smith. 

1710.  Ensign  Timothy  Ide. 

1711.  Mr.  Daniel  Smith. 

1712.  Lieut.  Noah  Peck. 
1713-15.  Lieut.  Moses  Reade. 

1716.  Capt.  Moses  Reade. 

1717.  Mr.  Nathan  Browne. 

1718.  Mr.  Daniel  Smith,  Esq. 
1719-20.  Daniel  Carpenter. 
1721-23.  Mr.  Jethnial  Peck. 

1724.  Mr.  Francis  Willsou. 

1725.  Mr.  Joseph  Peck. 
1726-31.  Mr.  Jethnial  Peck. 
1732.  Samuel  Browne,  Esq. 
1733-34.  Mr.  James  Bowen. 

1735.  Mr.  John  Hunt. 

1736.  Mr.  Joseph  Peck. 

1737.  Mr.  James  Bowen. 

1738.  Mr.  Joseph  Bosworth. 

1739.  Mr.  Jonathan  Kiugsley. 

1740.  Mr.  Joseph  Peck. 

1741.  Mr.  Daniel  Barney. 

1742.  Capt.  Joseph  Wheaton. 

1743.  Mr.  Dauiel  Barney. 

1744.  Capt.  Daniel  Carpenter. 
1745-47.  Mr.  Dauiel  Barney. 

1748.  Daniel  Carpenter,  Esq. 

1749.  Mr.  Daniel  Barney. 
1750-51.  Mr.  Nathaniel  Smith. 
1752-53.  Mr.  Israel  Nichols. 
1754.  Mr.  Aaron  Kingsley. 
1755-56.  Capt.  Aaron  Kingsley. 
1757-5'.'.  ('apt.  Timothy  Walker. 
1760-61.  Mr.  Noah  Sabin,  Jr. 
1762.  Aaron  Kingsley,  Esq. 
1763-69.  Capt.  James  Clay. 
1770-73.  Capt.  Joseph  Barney. 
1774. . 

1775.  Mr.  Eph.  Starkweather. 

Capt  Thomas  Carpenter. 

1776. . 

1777. . 

1778.  Mr.  Eph.  Starkweather. 

Col.  Shubael  Peck. 

1779. . 

1780.  Mr.  S.  Peck. 


1682-83.  Capt.  Peter  Hunt. 
1684-86.  Lieut.  Nicholas  Peck. 
Gilbert  Brooks. 

1687. . 

1688. . 

1689.  Lieut.  Nicholas  Peck. 
Samuel  Peck. 

1690.  Gilbert  Brooks. 
Christopher  Saunders. 

1691.  Christopher  Saunders. 
John  Woodcock. 

1692.  Christopher  Saunders. 
Mr.  Samuel  Peck. 

THE   GENERAL   COURT. 

1781.  Shubael  Peck,  Esq. 
Mr.  Daniel  Carpenter. 

1782.  Capt.  Stephen  Bullock. 

1783.  Stephen  Bullock,  Esq. 
Daniel  Carpenter,  Esq. 

1784-86.  Stephen  Bullock,  Esq. 

1787.  Mr.  Phanuel  Bishop. 
Mr.  Frederick  Drown. 
Mr.  William  Winsor. 

1788.  Capt.  Phanuel  Bishop. 
Maj.  Frederick  Drown. 
Capt.  John  Bishop. 

1789-91.  Maj.  Frederick  Drown. 
1792-94.  Hon.  Phanuel  Bishop. 
1795-96.  Stephen  Bullock,  Esq. 
1797-98.  Hon.  Phanuel  Bishop. 
1799-1804.  Frederick  Drowne. 

1805.  David  Perry. 

1806.  David  Perry,  Jr. 
1807-8.  Elkanah  French,  Jr. 

1809.  Peter  Hunt. 

1810.  David  Perry. 
Elkanah  French. 
Timothy  Walker. 
John  Medbury. 
Sebray  Lawton. 

1811.  Elkanah  French. 
Timothy  Walker. 
John  Medbury. 
Sebray  Lawton. 
Caleb  Abell. 

1812.  Samuel  Bliss. 
Hezekiah  Martin. 
Joseph  Wheaton. 

1813.  Hezekiah  Martin. 
Joseph  Wheaton. 
Samuel  Bliss  (2d). 

1814.  Peter  Carpenter. 
1815-16.  Dr.  James  Bliss. 

1817.  Jeremiah  Wheeler. 

1818.  Thomas  Carpenter  (2d). 

1819.  David  Perry. 

1820.  Dr.  James  Bliss. 

1821.  David  Perry. 
1822-23.  None. 
1824-25.  Lemuel  Morse. 
1826.  None. 

1827-28.  Joseph  Nichols. 
1829-30.  Samuel  Bullock. 

i  laleb  dishing. 

Joseph  Nichols. 
1831.  None. 
1832-33.  Lloyd  Bosworth. 

1834.  Lloyd  Bosworth. 
Samuel  Bullock. 

1835.  None. 

1836.  Capt.  Richard  Goff,  Jr. 
Abel  Hoar. 

1837.  Richard  Goff. 

1838.  William  Marvel  (2d). 
Caleb  dishing. 


1839.  William  Marvel  (2d). 
1840-43.  Childs  Luther. 
1844-45.  Granville  Stevens. 
1847.  Thomas  Perry. 
1849-51.  Sylvester  Hunt. 

1853.  George  H.  Allyn. 

1854.  Geojge  H.  Carpenter. 
1855.1  Nelson  Goff. 

1850.  Charles  M.  Dean. 


1858.  John  C.  Marvel. 

1859.  Ira  T.  Baker. 

1860.  George  B.  Bliss. 
1862-64."  Nathaniel  B.  Horton. 
1867.  William  A.  King. 

1869.  Elisha  Davis. 
1873.3  Cyrus  M.  Wheaton. 
1876.  Hale  S.  Luther. 
1880.  Remember  Smith. 


Town  Clerks. — No  town  clerk  is  mentioned  by 
name  in  the  town  records  till  the  year  1651,  when 
Peter  Hunt  was  chosen  to  the  office.  But  previous 
to  this  date  the  records  appear  to  have  heen  written, 
by  the  same  hand,  and  it  appears,  from  various  re- 
turns made  by  the  town  clerk  and  on  record  at  Plym- 
outh, that  the  first  who  filled  that  office  in  Rehoboth 
was  William  Carpenter,  and  that  he  retained  it  from 
the  date  of  the  commencement  of  the  town  records, 
in  October,  1643,  till  1649,  when  Mr.  Hunt  was  prob- 
ably chosen. 

Richard  Bowen  was  chosen  town  clerk  in  Septem- 
ber, 1654,  Richard  Bullock  in  January,  1659,  and 
agreed  to  perform  the  office  "  for  16s.  a  year,  and  to 
be  paid  for  births,  burials,  and  marriages  besides." 
William  Carpenter  (probably  son  of  William  Car- 
penter who  served  at  first)  was  chosen  town  clerk  in 
May,  1668,  and  served,  with  the  exception  of  1693, 
when  Stephen  Paine  supplied  his  place  till  March, 
1703.  Daniel  Carpenter  was  chosen  in  1703,  and  held 
the  office  three  years.  In  March,  1706,  Daniel  Smith 
was  chosen,  and  in  March,  1708,  Daniel  Carpenter 
was  again  chosen,  and  continued  to  fill  the  office  till 
1730.  In  1730,  Ezekiel  Read  was  chosen,  and  con- 
tinued in  the  office,  with  the  exception  of  1751,  '52, 
and  '53,  till  1762.  In  March,  1762,  Jesse  Perrin  was 
chosen,  and  continued  till  1787.  In  March,  1787, 
Lieut,  (afterwards  Capt.)  Philip  Walker  was  chosen, 
and  continued  until  1801,  Capt.  Caleb  Abell  from 
1801  to  1812. 

MILITARY   RECORD,  1861-65. 

Three  Months'  Men. 

Otis  A.  Baker,  Co.  A,  1st  Rhode   Island   Regt. ;   enl.  April  16,  1861; 

wounded  in  arm  at  first  Bull  Run  battle;  disch.  at  expiration  of 

term. 
James    P.    Brown,  Co.  C,  10th  Rhode  Island  Regt. ;   enl.  May,  1862 ; 

disch.  at  expiration  of  term. 
Arnold   DeF.  Brown,  Co.  B,  10th  Rhode  Island   Regt. ;    enl.  May  26, 

1862;  disch.  at  expiration  of  term. 
John  F.  Horton,  10th  Rhode  Island  Regt. ;  enl.  May,  1862;  disch.  at  ex- 
piration of  term. 
Charles  D.  Horton,  10th  Rhode  Island  Regt.;  enl.  May,  1862;  disch.  at 

expiration  of  term. 
Joseph  W.  Lake,  Co.  C,  10th  Rhode  Island  Regt.;  enl.  May,  1862 ;  disch. 

at  expiration  of  term. 

Eighteenth  Massachusetts  Unattached  (One  Hundred  Days). 

Otis  A.  Baker,  capt.,  enl.  Aug.  1, 1804;  disch.  Nov.  14,  1864. 
Joshua  S.  Bliss,  sergt.,  enl.  Aug.  1,  1864;  disch.  Nov.  14, 1864. 
David  W.  Francis,  Corp.,  enl.  Aug.  1,  1864;  disch.  Nov.  14,  1864. 


1  In  1855  a  new  representative  district,  consisting  of  Rehoboth  and 
Seekonk,  was  formed. 

2  In  1865  a  new  district,  called  the  Fifth  Bristol  District,  was  formed, 
composed  of  Rehoboth,  Seekonk,  Dighton,  and  Berkley. 

a  In  1875  the  district  was  again  changed  and  called  the  Tenth  Bristol 
District,  composed  of  the  towns  of  Rehoboth,  Seekonk,  Dighton,  and 
Swansea. 


488 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL  COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


William  H.  Luther,  corp.,  enl.  Aug.  1, 1864;  disch.  Nov.  14,  1864. 
Charles  D.  Horton,  corp.,  enl.  Aug.  1, 1864;  disch.  Nov.  14, 1864. 
Andrew  J.  Goff,  enl.  Aug.  1,  1864 ;  disch.  Nov.  14, 1864. 
Henry  C.  Goff,  enl.  Aug.  1, 1864;  disch.  Nov.  14,  1864. 
Albert  W.  Goff,  enl.  Aug.  1, 1864 ;  disch.  Nov.  14, 1864. 
William  D.  Goff,  enl.  Aug.  1, 1864;  disch.  Nov.  14, 18C4. 
Edward  Hanley,  enl.  Aug.  1, 1864;  disch.  Nov.  14, 1864. 
James  Hanley,  enl.  Aug.  1,  1864;  disch.  Nov.  14, 1864. 
John  F.  Hicks,  enl.  Aug.  1, 1864;  disch.  Nov.  14,  1864. 
Freeman  F.  Horton,  enl.  Aug.  1. 1864 ;  disch.  Nov.  14, 1864. 
Alfred  A.  Horton,  enl.  Aug.  1,  1864;  disch.  Nov.  14,  1864. 
Joseph  F.  Leonard,  enl.  Aug.  1,  1864;  disch.  Nov.  14,  1864. 
Daniel  H.  Oldridge,  enl.  Aug.  1, 1864;  disch.  Nov.  14,  1864. 
William  F.  Pierce,  enl.  Aug.  1, 1864;  disch.  Nov.  14,  1864. 
Henry  0.  Trenn,  enl.  Aug.  1, 1864;  disch.  Nov.  14, 1864. 
James  J.  Thatcher,  enl.  Aug.  1, 1864;  disch.  Nov.  14, 1864. 

Twenty-Second  Massachusetts  Unattached  Company. 

Herbert  A.  Whitaker,  musician:   enl.  Aug.  10,  1864;   disch.  Nov.  25, 

1864. 

Nine  Months'  Men. 

Company  H,  Third  Massachusetts. 
Otis  A-  Baker,  capt.,  enl.  Sept.  18, 1862 ;  disch.  June  26, 1863. 
Arnold  DeF.  Brown,  sergt.,  enl.  Sept.  18, 1862;  disch.  June  26,  1863. 
Henry  H.  Lothrop,  Corp.,  enl.  Sept.  18,  1862 ;  disch.  June  26,  1863. 
Joshua  S.  Bliss,  enl.  Sept.  18, 1862  ;  disch.  June  26, 1863. 
Gilbert  D.  Bullock,  enl.  Oct.  1, 1862 ;  disch.  June  26, 1863. 
George  E.  Curtis,  enl.  Sept.  18,  1862  ;  disch.  June  26, 1863. 
Dominick  Farrol,  enl.  Sept.  18,  1862 ;  disch.  June  26,  1863. 
David  W.  Francis,  enl.  Sept.  18, 1862  ;  disch.  June  26, 1863. 
Darius  P.  Francis,  enl.  Sept.  18,  1862  ;  disch.  June  26, 1863. 
Jason  W.  Fuller,  enl.  Sept.  18,  1862;  disch.  for  disability  March  27, 

1863 
Andrew  J.  Goff,  enl.  Sept.  18,  1862  ;  disch.  June  26,  1863. 
George  Green,  enl.  Sept.  18,  1862 ;  disch.  June  26,  1863. 
Daniel  Harrington,  enl.  Sept.  18, 1862  ;  disch.  June  26, 1863. 
Andrew  Hanley,  enl.  Sept.  18, 1862;  disch.  June  26,  1863. 
Edward  Hanley,  enl.  Sept.  18, 1862 ;  disch.  June  26,  1863. 
John  F.  Hicks,  enl.  Sept.  18,1862;  disch.  June  26,1863. 
Thomas  Hill,  enl.  Sept.  18, 1862;  disch.  June  26,  1863. 
Alfred  A.  Horton,  enl.  Sept.  18,  1862  ;  disch.  June  26, 1863. 
Alba  B.  Kent,  enl.  Sept.  18, 1862;  disch.  June  26, 1863. 
Hale  S.  Luther,  enl.  Sept.  18, 1862 ;  disch.  June  26, 1863. 
William  H.  Luther,  enl.  Sept.  18,  1862;  disch.  June  26,  1863. 
Allen  B.  Luther,  drummer,  enl.  Sept.  18,  1862;  disch.  June  26,  1863. 
James  F.  Moulton,  enl.  Sept.  18,  1862;  disch.  June  26, 1863. 
Abraham  Pierce,  enl.  Sept.  18, 1862;  disch.  June  26, 1863. 
James  Roach,  enl.  Sept.  18,  1862 ;  disch.  June  26, 1863 
George  A.  Tripp,  enl.  Sept.  18,  1862 ;  disch.  June  26, 1863. 
Jeremiah  Thurber,  enl.  Sept.  18, 1862 ;  disch.  June  26, 1863. 
George  H.  Viall,  enl.  Sept.  18, 1862;  disch.  June  26, 1863. 
Caleb  Williams,  enl.  Sept.  18, 1862  ;  disch.  June  26,  1862. 

Other  Nine  Months'  Men. 
Thomas  Bliss,  Co.  G,  4th  Mass.  Regt.;  enl.  Sept.  18, 1862  ;  died  May  18, 

1863,  at  Burwick  City,  La. 
Gilbert  S.  Bliss,  Co.  E,  12th  Rhode  Island  Regt.;  enl.  Oct.  1, 1862;  disch. 

July,  1863. 
Isaac  H.  Carpenter,  Co.  G,  4th  Mass.  Regt. ;  enl.  Sept.  18,1862;  disch. 

September,  1863. 
Cyrus  F.  Copeland,  Co.  K,  43d  Mass.  Regt. ;  enl.  Sept.  18, 1862 ;  disch. 

July  30, 1863. 
Aaron  S.  Harlow,  Co.  K,  43d  Mass.  Regt.;  enl.  Sept.  18,  1862;  disch. 

July  30,  1863. 
John  S.  Perry,  Co.  K,  43d  Mass.  Regt.;  enl.  Sept.  18,  1862;  disch.  July 

30, 1863. 
Benjamin  F.  Paull,  Co.  G,  4th  Mass.  Regt. ;  enl.  Sept.  18,  1862 ;  disch. 

September,  1863. 
John  M.  Reynolds,  Co.  G,  11th  Rhode  Island  Regt.;  enl.  September, 

1862;  disch.  July,  1863. 
Charles  W.  Tilton,  Co.  K,  43d  Mass.  Regt.;  enl.  Sept.  18,  1862;  disch. 

July  30,  1863. 
Lorenzo  J.  Thayer,  Co.  C,  47th  Mass.  Regt.;  enl.  September,  1862  ;  died 

Aug.  16,  1863,  while  on  his  passage  home. 
Albert  F.  Smith,  Co.  G,  4th  Mass.  Regt.;  enl.   September,  1862;  died 

Aug.  12,  1863,  at  Cairo,  111.,  while  on  passage  home. 
Samuel  H.  Viall,  Co.  A,  43d  Mass.  Regt.;  enl.  Oct.  4, 1862  ;  disch.  July 
30,  1863. 


Three  Years'  Men. 

Stephen  F.  Andrews,  Co.  H,  39th  Mass.  Regt.;  enl.  Aug.  15,  1862. 

Edward  Appleby,  drafted  July  15,  1863 ;  disch.  at  close  of  war. 

Otis  A.  Baker,  Co.  A,  4th  Rhode  Island  Regt. ;  enl.  September,  1861 ;  pro. 

to  2d  lieut.  Nov.  20, 1861;  res.  Sept.  11, 1862. 
Francis  A.  Bliss,  Co.  I,  1st  Mass.  Cav. ;  enl.  October,  1861 ;  re-enl.  Jan. 

1, 1864;  disch.  Nov.  27, 1865. 
Francis  V.  Bliss,  Co.  H,  40th  Mass.  Regt. ;  enl.  Aug.  14,  1862  ;  wounded 

in  battle  at  Thatcher's  Farm.Va.,  May  20,  1864;  disch.  June  23, 

1865. 
Richmond  Barrett,  Co.  H,  39th  Mass.  Regt. ;  enl.  Aug.  14, 1862. 
William  W.  Blanchett,  enl.  Aug.  14, 1862. 
Arnold  DeF.  Brown,  sergt.-maj.,  3d  Rhode  Island   Cav.;   enl.  Aug.  7, 

1863;  pro.  to  2d  lieut.  Feb.  6,  1864;  disch.  at  close  of  war. 
Edward  P.  Brown,  2d  lieut.,  Co.  I,  4th  Rhode  Island  Regt. ;  enl.  Aug.  27, 

1862;  pro.  to  1st  lieut.  Jan.  13,  1863;  to  capt.  March  2,  1863;  brev- 

etted  major  of  volunteers  for  gallant  conduct  at  Fort  Sedgwick  and 

Petersburg;  mustered  out  at  his  request,  by  order  of  Secretary  of 

War,  June  5, 1865. 
James  P.  Brown,  2d  lieut,  14th  Rhode  Island  H.  Art.;  enl.  Dec.  31, 1863; 

died  at  Donaldsonville,  La.,  of  congestive  chills  Aug.  23, 1865. 
Gardner  D.  Bosworth,  Co.  D,  3d  Rhode  Island  Regt.;  enl.  Dec.  31,  1861 ; 

disch.  April  1,  1865. 
James  Bradigau,  Co.  D,  3d  Rhode  Island  Regt.;  enl.  Sept.  18, 1861  ;  disch. 

Oct.  5,  1864. 
Augustus  W.  Carpenter,  Co.  I,  1st  Mass.  Cav.;  enl.  November,  1861  ;  re- 
enl.  Jan.  1,  1S64;  disch.  Nov.  27,  1865. 
Willard  Chaffee,  Co.  E,  3d  Rhode  Island  Regt.;  enl.  1861 ;  killed  in  bat- 
tle of  James  Island,  S.  C,  June  16,  1862. 
Jonathan  Chaffee,  Co.  E,  3d  Rhode  Island  Regt. ;  enl.  1861 ;  disch.  Aug. 

31,  1864. 
Francis  G.  Cole,  Co.  H, 40th  Mass.  Regt.;  enl.  Aug.  14, 1862;  disch.  Feb. 

16,  1865. 
Francis  A.  Cooper,  Co.  H,  39th  Mass.  Regt. ;  enl.  Aug.  15, 1862. 
Peter  Conelly,  38th  Mass.  Regt.;  enl.  Aug.  19,  1862. 
James  C.  Davis,  Bat.  F,  Rhode  Island  Vol. ;  enl.  November,  1862  ;  killed 

in  battle  of  Drury's  Bluff,  Va.,  May  16, 1864. 
George  L.  Davis,  drafted  July  16,  1863;  died  at  Willet's  Point,  L.  I.,  July 

25, 1864,  of  fever  occasioned  by  wound  in  the  hip  received  near 

Petersburg,  Va. 
Irving  Dickerman,  Co.  G,  24th  Mass.  Regt. ;   enl.  1861  ;  re-enl.  Jan.  4, 

1864;  disch.  JaD.  20, 1866. 
Ezra  L.  Dickerman,  Co.  H,22d  Mass.  Regt.;  enl.  1861;  disch.  for  dis- 
ability Feb.  7, 1864. 
Chai  les  E.  Douglass,  sergt.  Co.  B,  5th  Rhode  Island  Regt. ;  enl.  1861 ;  pro. 

to  2d  lieut.  Co.F  Feb.  14, 1863;  disch.  Dec.  22, 1864. 
Hiram  H.  Drown,  drafted  July  15, 1863  ;  died  in   camp  near  Brandy 

Station,  Va.,  Jan.  7,  1864. 
John  Daley,  2d  Mass.  Cav. ;  enl.  Aug.  17, 1864. 
George  M.  Ecclestone,  Co.  H,  39th  Mass.  Regt. ;  enl.  Aug.  15,  1862. 
George  E.  Fuller,  Battery  F,  1st  Rhode  Island  Art.;  enl.  Oct.  19,  1861; 

wounded  at  Newbeme,  N.  C,  and  taken  prisoner;  exchanged  and 

discharged  in  1862  for  disability. 
Henry  W.  Francis,  Co.  F,  7th  Mass.  Regt. ;  enl.  May  1, 1861 ;  disch.  Octo- 
ber, 1864. 
Henry  F.  Frost,  Co.  G,  2d  New  York  Regt.;  enl.  1861;  died  of  diphtheria 

at  Fort  Smith,  Feb.  28, 1864. 
Henry  Freelove,  2d  Rhode  Island  Cav.;  enl.  1862;  died  in  Andersonville 

prison,  Georgia,  1864. 
Alfred  H.  Goff,  Co  C,  2d  Rhode  Island  Regt. ;  enl.  Nov.  15, 1861 ;  wounded 

in  battle  of  Salem  Heights,  May  3,  1863;  disch.  Nov.  16,  1864. 
Willard  J.  Goff,  Co.  B,  127th  New  York  Regt.;  enl.  August,  1862;  disch. 

August,  1865. 
George  0.  Goff,  Co.  D,  3d  Rhode  Island  Regt. ;  enl.  Dec.  31,  1861 ;  disch. 

April  1,  1865. 
Gamaliel  B.  Goff,  Battery  E,  1st  Rhode  Island  Art.;  enl.  Sept.  30, 1861  ; 

disch.  Jan.  29,  1863,  for  disability. 
Henry  A.  Gofl,  Co.  D,  3d  Rhode  Island  Regt. ;  enl.  Dec.  31, 1861  ;  disch. 

April  1, 1865. 
Jabez  L.  Harris,  Co.  C,  4th  Rhode  Island  Regt. ;  enl.  Sept.  9,  1861 ;  disch. 

for  disability  Feb.  7,  1863. 
Daniel  Harrington,  Co.  C,  3d  Rhode  Island  Cav.;  enl.  Oct.  10, 1863  ;  disch. 

1865. 
Andrew  Hanley,  3d  Rhode  Island  Cav.;  enl.  Oct.  10,  1863;  disch.  1865. 
John  Haley,  Co.  F,  3d  Rhode  Island  Regt.;  enl.  August,  1861;  disch. 

September,  1864. 


REHOBOTH. 


489 


Nahum  C.  Hall,  Co.  H,  39th  Mass.  Regt.;  enl.  Aug.  15, 1862. 
Robert  W.  Hayden,  Co.  H,  39th  Mass.  Regt.;  enl.  Aug.  15,  1862. 
William  E.  Horton,  Co.  H,  39th  Mass.  Regt. ;  enl.  Aug.  15, 1862. 
Nathan  B.  Horton,  Co.  H,  40th  Mass.  Regt.  ;  enl.  Aug.  14,  1S62;  died 

while  on  a  furlough,  Oct.  19,  1864. 
Seth  A.  Horton,  Co.  H,  40th  Mass.  Regt.;  enl.  Aug.  14, 1862;  disch.  July 

12, 1865. 
Edwin  R.  M.  Horton,  Co.  A,  3d  Rhode  Island  Regt. ;  enl.  Aug.  20,  1861 ; 

died  of  typhoid  fever  at  Hilton  Head,  S.  C,  Jan.  17, 1862. 
Francis  W.  Horton,  Co.  A,  3d  Rhode  Island  Regt.,  enl.  Aug.  20,  1861  ; 

re-enl.  Feb.  9,  1864;  wounded  and  taken  prisoner  at  Gainesville, 

Fla.,  Aug.  17, 1864;  disch.  Aug.  31, 1864. 
Michael  Higgins,  Co.  A,  3d  Rhode  Island  Regt.;  enl.  September,  1861 ; 

pro.  to  2d  lieut.  May  23,  1863;  pro.  to  1st  lieut.  February,  1864; 

disch.  March  16, 1865. 
Ebenezer  Lane,  drafted  July  15,  1863 ;  killed  at  Spottsylvania  Court- 

House  May  12, 1864. 
James  M.  Lewis,  2d  Rhode  Islaud  Cav. ;   enl.  October,  1862  ;  disch. 

1865. 
Elbridge  J.  Martin,  Co.  C,  7th  Mass.  Regt. ;  enl.  May,  1861. 
Kingsley  Martin,  Co.  C,  7th  Mass.  Regt.;  enl.  May,  1861. 
Hiram  L.  Martin,  enl.  May,  1861  ;  dropped  from  rolls  April  26,  1864. 
John  D.  Martin,  Co.  H,  39th  Mass.  Regt.;  enl.  Aug.  14,  1862. 
Benjamin  Magill,  drafted  July  15,  1863. 
Kennedy  L.  Macelroy,  38th  Mass.  Regt. ;  enl'.  Aug.  19, 1862. 
Benjamin  C.  Monroe,  Co.  B,58th  Mass.  Regt.;  killed  May  15, 1864,  near 

Spottsylvania  Court-House,  Va. 
Edward  P.  Murphy,  2d  Mass.  Cav.;  enl.  Aug.  29,1862. 
Thomas  F.  Mahan,  enl.  Aug.  24,  1864. 
Stephen  C.  Moulton,  Co.  I,  1st  Mass.  Cav.;  enl.  Sept.  23,  1864;  disch. 

Nov.  22,  1865. 
George  W.  Parker,  Battery  F,  1st  Rhode  Island  Art. ;   enl.  Oct.  29, 1861 ; 

disch.  Oct.  28,  1864. 
Dexter  D.  Pierce,  enl.  June  6,  1861;  disch.  June  17,  1864. 
James  M.  Perry,  Co.  I,  7th  Mass.  Regt. ;  enl.  1861 ;  died  of  wounds  re- 
ceived in  battle  of  Wilderness,  July  28,  1864. 
Edwin  A.  Peck,  Co.  H,   40th  Mass.  Regt.;  enl.  Aug.  14, 1862;  died  of 

diphtheria  at  Hilton  Head,  S.  C,  Jan.  5, 1864. 
Wheaton  Pierce,  Co.  H,  40th  Mass.  Regt.;  enl.  Aug.  14,  1862;  killed  by 

shell  at  battle  of  Cold  Harbor,  Va.,  June  6, 1864. 
George  G.  Peck,  Co.  D,  7th  Mass.  Regt.;  enl.  May,  1861  ;  trans,  to  Vet. 

Res.  Corps  Sept.  30, 1863. 
Alden  Potter,  Co.  H,  39th  Mass.  Regt.;  enl.  Aug.  15,  1862. 
John  C.  Paine,  4th  Mass.  Cav. ;  enl.  Jan.  7, 1864;  disch.  Nov.  14,  1865. 
Gersuom  R.  Rounds,  enl.  Aug.  14,  1862  ;  disch.  Sept.  10,  1864,  for  disa- 
bility. 
Francis  H.  Simmons,  Co.  F,  29th  Mass.  Regt. ;  enl.  Jan.  7, 1862;  died  of 

fever  at  Harper's  Ferry,  Va.,  Oct.  12,  1862. 
Edward  P.  L.  Sherman,  Co.  H.  40th  Mass.  Regt. ;  enl.  Aug.  14,  1862 ;  died 

at  Fort  Independence,  Boston,  1863. 
John  Q.  A.  Sylvester,  Co.  H,  39th  Mass.  Regt.;  enl.  Aug.  18,  1862. 
John  Shanahan,  38th  Mass.  Regt.;  enl.  Aug.  19, 1862. 
John  J.  Thayer,  Co.  I,  7th  Mass.  Regt. ;  enl.  May,  1861  ;  disch.  Dec.  29, 

1863,  for  disability. 
Francis  W.  Thurber,  Co.  H,  40th  Mass.  Regt. ;  enl.  Aug.  14,  1862 ;  disch. 

July  3,  1865. 
Nathaniel  Tl.urber,  Co.  G,  29th  Mass.  Regt.;  enl.  Dec.  9,  1861;  disch. 

Feb.  12,  1863,  for  disability. 
George  H.  Thrasher,  Co.  B,  58th  Mass.  Regt.;  enl.  Dec.  29,  1863;  disch. 

June  20, 1865. 
Alexander  F.  Valett,  Co.  H,  7th  Mass.  Regt. ;  enl.  May,  1861 ;   disch. 

July  5,  1864. 
Cyrus  M.  Wheaton,  Jr.,  1st  lieut.  Co.  B,  18th  Mass.  Regt.;   enl.  July 

10,  1861 ;  died  at  Providence,  R.  I.,  June  26,  1862. 
Parmenus  E.  Wheeler,  24th  Mass.  Regt. 
Arnold  A.  Walker,  1st  Rhode  Island  Battery  ;  enl.  May,  1861  ;  died  in 

hospital  in  Washington,  Feb.  19,  1863. 
Erastus  F.  Williams,  Co.  H,  40lh  Mass.  Regt.;  enl.  Aug.  14,  1862;  disch. 

Sept.  5,  1864,  for  disability. 

Seamen. 

Alexander  Davis,  enl.  Sept.  18,1862,  on  flag-ship  "  Lancaster;"  disch. 

Sept.  22, 1863. 
William  H.  Rounds,  enl.  1862,  ship  "Colorado;"  disch.  Feb.  10,  1864. 

Eighteenth  Massachusetts  (Unattached),  One  Year. 

Otis  A.  Baker,  capt.,  enl.  Dec.  10, 1864;  disch.  May  12, 1865. 
Joshua  S.  Bliss,  1st  sergt.,  enl.  Dec.  10,  1864  ;  disch.  May  12,  1865. 


William  II.  Luther,  sergt.,  enl.  Dec.  10,  1864  ;  disch.  May  12,  1865. 
Joseph  W.  Lake,  corp  ,  enl.  Dec.  10,  1864  •  disch.  May  12,  18G5. 
Herbert  A.  Whitaker,  drummer,  enl.  Dec.  10,  1864 ;  disch.  May  12,  1865. 
George  E.  Curtis,  enl.  Dec.  10,  1864;  disch.  May  12,  1865. 
Thomas  Hill,  enl.  Dec.  10, 1864;  disch.  May  12, 1865. 
John  Haley,  enl.  Dec.  10, 1864  ;  disch.  May  12, 1865. 
Melvin  G.  Leonard,  enl.  Dec.  10,  1864 ;  disch.  May  12, 1865. 
James  J.  Thacker,  enl,  Dec.  lo,  1864;  disch.  May  12,  1865. 

Other  One  Year's  Men. 
William  A.  Brownly,  7th  Mass.  Batt.  ;  enl.  Dec.  1,  1864. 
Henry  J.  Brown,  61st  Mass.  Regt. ;  enl.  Aug.  29,  1864. 
George  W.  Bennett,  61st  Mass.  Regt.;  enl.  Nov.  18,  1864. 
George  H.  Bosworth,  5th  Mass.  Cav. ;  enl.  March  4,  1864. 
John  J.  Clark,  61st  Mass.  Regt. ;  enl.  Aug.  27,  1864. 
David  Crane,  1st  Mass.  Cav.;  enl.  Aug  26,  1864. 
Martin  V.  Drury,  61st  Mass.  Regt.;  enl.  Nov.  23, 1864. 
John  Dwelly,  2d  Mass.  H.  A. ;  enl.  Sept.  7, 1864. 
Alvanus  F.  Davis,  61st  Mass.  Regt.;  enl.  Aug.  29, 1864. 
Patrick  Foran,  10th  Mass.  Batt. ;  enl.  Nov.  22, 1864. 
Sylvanus  Frost,  1st  Mass.  H.  A. ;  enl.  Aug.  26, 1864. 
William  H.  Fay,  28th  Mass.  Regt;  enl.  March  18, 1864. 
Lewis  Fullen,5th  Mass.  Cav.;  eul.  March  4, 1864. 
James  F.  Gillspie,  23d  Mass.  Regt.;  enl.  Nov.  25, 1864. 
George  Hay  ward,  61st  Mass.  Regt.;  enl.  August,  1864. 
Patrick  Hanvan,  H.  A.;  enl.  Aug.  26, 1864. 
Charles  Hill,  3d  Mass.  Cav. ;  enl.  March  16, 1864. 
L.  Jansen,  3d  Mass.  Cav. ;  enl.  March  18, 1864. 
Charles  Lasson,  28th  Mass.  Regt. ;  enl.  March  16,  1864. 
Clarence  McAllister,  61st  Mass.  Regt;  enl.  Sept.  1, 1864. 
Paul  McHeury,  3d  Mass.  H.  A. ;  eul.  Nov.  16, 1864. 
Charles  W.  Magoon,  16th  Un.  H.  A.;  enl.  Aug.  25,  1864. 
John  Macdonald,  61st  Mass.  Regt. ;  enl.  Aug.  19,  1864. 
Edward  McKenney,  3d  Mass.  Cav.;  enl.  Aug.  24, 1864. 
John  O'Brien,  61st  Mass.  Regt. ;  enl.  Nov.  21, 1864. 
Jens  Oslen,  3d  Mass.  Cav.;  enl.  March  18,  1864. 
George  M.  Pay,  61st  Mass.  Regt;  enl.  Aug.  21, 1864. 
Alonzo  A.  Peacock,  enl.  Aug.  18,  1864. 
Alexander  Philips,  1st  Mass.  Cav.;  enl.  Aug.  9, 1864. 
Theodore  Stienels,  19th  Mass.  Regt.;  enl.  Nov.  18, 1864. 
John  Thorp,  enl.  Nov.  15,  1864. 
John  W.  Towle,  61st  Mass.  Regt.;  enl.  Aug.  29, 1864. 
John  M.  Tucker,  2d  Mass.  Cav. ;  enl.  March  16, 1864. 
William  H.  Prissell,  3d  Mass.  Cav. ;  enl.  March  17,  1864. 
Charl  Ulribren,  3d  Mass.  Cav. ;  enl.  March  18, 1864. 

Drafted  Men  July  15,  1863. 

James  B.  Horton,  Hiram  H.  Brown,  Taylor  Phillips,  Charles  H.  Horton, 
William  J.  Tren,  Dexter  J.  Horton,  Parvis  B.  Horton,  Christopher  T. 
Brown,  Jabez  L.  Harris,  James  Baker,  George  T.  Davis,  John  D. 
Thatcher,  George  H.  Kent,  Henry  C.  Goff,  Granville  S.  Bower,  Albert 
S.  Horton,  John  H.  Earle,  Josephus  W.  Horton,  Benjamin  Magill, 
George  Horton,  Samuel  B.  Haskins,  Daniel  S.  Cole,  Daniel  H.  Hor- 
ton, Nathan  W.  Pierce,  Charles  H.  Goff,  John  Baker  (2d),  George  C. 
Goff,  William  H.  Marvel,  Henry  W.  Barney,  Albert  Bowen,  Gilbert 
Horton,  George  L.  Davis,  Frederic  H.  Brown,  Edward  Apply,  Eph- 
raim  Tripp,  Charles  Horton,  Calvin  J.  W.  Bullock,  Rufus  P.  Hor- 
ton, Lloyd  B.  Pierce,  Constant  P.  Gofl',  George  S.  Barney,  Ebenezer 
Lane. 

Nathaniel  B.  Horten,  enrolling  and  recruiting  officer. 


BIOGRAPHICAL     SKETCHES. 


WILLIAM  W.  BLANDING. 
William  W.  Blanding  is  descended  from  one  of  the 
oldest  families  of  Rehoboth.  William  Blanding, 
LL.D.,  of  San  Francisco,  Cal.,  has  contributed  the 
following  facts  concerning  the  ancestral  history  of 
the  Blanding  family:  William  Blanding,  who  was 
probably  the  progenitor  of  those  who  bear  the  name 
in  this  country,  came  from  Upton,  county  of  Wor- 


490 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


cester,  England,  in  1640.  He  settled  in  Boston,  and 
was  made  a  freeman  in  1641.  He  owned  lands  in 
that  part  of  Boston  now  Brookline,  and  was  interested 
in  the  iron-works  of  Taunton.  In  1643  and  1648  he 
was  a  member  of  the  Grand  Inquest  of  the  colony, 
and  in  1646  and  1651  was  a  deputy  to  the  Plymouth 
Colony  Court.  He  had  a  brother  Joseph,  who  was 
one  of  the  most  active  shipmasters  of  that  time,  and 
in  1645  commanded  the  ship  "Lyon,"  of  London, 
and  brought  many  emigrants  to  this  country. 

William  Blanding  in  his  will  refers  to  another 
brother,  Ralph,  residing  in  Upton-ou-Severn,  Wor- 
cestershire, England.     William  married  Phoebe . 

They  had  three  children,  two  daughters — Mary  and 
Phoebe,  who  inherited  most  of  his  property — and  one 
son,  William. 

This  son  married  Bethia  Wheaton,  Sept.  4,  1674. 
Their  children  were  William,  born  May  2,  1676; 
Samuel,  born  April  11,  1680  ;  Obadiah,  born  April  15, 
1683  ;  Daniel,  born  Oct.  25, 1685 ;  John,  born  June  20, 
1687;  Ephraim,  born  Oct.  20,  1689;  and  Noah,  born 
in  1690.  We  find,  upon  consulting  the  town  rec- 
ords of  Rehoboth,  that  this  William  Blanding,  Jr., 
and  Elizabeth  Perry  were  married  October,  1708. 
Their  children  were  Elizabeth,  born  Jan.  12,  1710; 
William,  born  Dec.  17,  1712;  Esther,  born  Sept.  20, 
1714;  Mehitable.  born  Dec.  11,  1717;  Bethia,  born 
Oct.  26,  1719;  Sybil,  born  Sept.  16,  1721;  Rachel, 
born  Sept.  3,  1723.     William  Blanding  died  Nov.  25, 

1724.     His  son  William  married  Sarah  .     Their 

children  were  Lois,  born  Feb.  1,  1741  or  1742;  Eben- 
ezer,  born  April  2, 1744;  Lucy,  born  March  8, 1745  or 
1746 ;  William,  born  Feb.  27,  1747  or  1748 ;  Shubael, 
born  Sept.  19,  1750;  Ebenezer,  born  Feb.  26,  1754; 
Christopher,  born  Nov.  1,  1756.  His  son  William 
married  Lydia  Ormsbee,  July  5,  1772.  Their  chil- 
dren were  William,  born  Feb.  7,  1773;  Abraham, 
born  Nov.  18, 1775 ;  Lydia,  born  Feb.  22, 1778 ;  James, 
born  Oct.  12,  1781;  Lucy,  born  Oct,  31,  1783;  Reu- 
ben, March  17,  1786;  Reuben  (2d),  born  Feb.  6, 
1789;  Susannah,  born  March  8,  1790;  Lephe,  born 
April  12,  1793.  He  was  by  occupation  a  shoemaker. 
He  was  a  much-respected  citizen  of  the  community, 
and  was  for  several  years  steward  of  Brown  Uni- 
versity, at  which  institution  two  of  his  sons,  William 
and  Abraham,  graduated.  He  died  June  12,  1830. 
His  wife  died  Aug.  30,  1835,  at  the  age  of  eighty-five. 
Of  their  children,  William  became  a  physician  and 
also  an  enthusiastic  naturalist;  he  died  Oct.  12,  1857. 

James  Blanding  was  married  April  24,  1811,  to 
Elizabeth  Carpenter,  daughter  of  Caleb  and  Eliza- 
beth (Bullock)  Carpenter.  Their  children  were 
Susannah  C,  born  March  12,  1812;  Elizabeth  P., 
born  April  6,  1814;  Nancy  A.,  born  May  13,  1816; 
Juliet  M.,  born  May  8,  1818;  William  W.,  born 
Nov.  1,  1820;  Abraham  O.,  born  April  28,  1823; 
Lephe  H.,  born  Feb.  9,  1825 ;  Sarah  M.,  born  June 
21,  1827. 

James   Blanding,  though  receiving   in   his   youth 


only  a  common  school  education,  yet  he  became  a 
man  of  decided  literary  tastes  and  a  great  reader. 
He  was  also  a  man  of  good  business  qualification  and 
ability.  By  occupation  a  surveyor,  he  made  a  num- 
ber of  important  surveys  in  his  native  town,  and  also 
did  much  in  that  line  in  adjacent  towns.  He  was  also 
a  farmer,  and  was  town  clerk  of  Rehoboth  about  thirty 
years.  In  politics  he  was  a  Whig,  and  in  religious 
belief  a  Congregationalist,  though  not  a  member  of 
any  church  organization.  He  was  a  liberal  supporter 
of  the  public  press,  and  a  man  of  advanced  ideas. 
Though  his  years  were  spent  in  the  quiet  walks  of  a 
private  life,  yet  he  left  an  enduring  monument  be- 
hind him  in  the  hearts  of  his  fellow-men.  He  died 
June  28,  1870,  and  Mrs.  Blanding  died  Nov.  16, 
1865. 

William  W.  Blanding,  as  before  remarked,  is  de- 
scended from  one  of  our  oldest  families.  This  is 
doubly  true,  for  on  the  maternal  side  the  line  of  an- 
cestry is  perhaps  even  more  ancient  and  prominent. 
Few  names  in  the  history  of  early  colonial  days  ap- 
pear more  frequently  or  with  more  honorable  men- 
tion than  that  of  Carpenter.  They  are  also  a  family 
noted  for  their  longevity.  Elizabeth  Carpenter,  Mr. 
Blanding's  grandmother,  at  the  time  of  her  death 
(1838)  was  in  her  one  hundred  and  first  year,  and  of 
eight  of  her  children  living  at  time  of  her  decease 
their  ages  ranged  from  fifty-four  years  to  seventy- 
seven  years.  (For  ancient  history  of  Carpenter 
family  see  another  part  of  this  volume.) 

William  W.  received  the  usual  common  school  ad- 
vantages, and  also  attended  one  or  two  terms  a  select 
school.  Owing  to  financial  embarrassments  in  the 
property  affairs  of  his  father,  caused  by  indorsing 
paper  for  others,  young  Blanding  had  early  to  con- 
tribute his  quota  of  labor  on  the  homestead,  and  thus 
render  practical  aid  in  the  support  of  the  family.  In 
1846,  Wiilliam  Blanding  (uncle  of  William  W.)  re- 
moved to  the  Blanding  homestead,  having  formerly 
purchased  the  same,  and  William  W.  made  his  home 
with  this  uncle,  and  took  care  of  him  until  his  death. 
In  fact,  Mr.  Blanding's  life  has  been  mainly  devoted 
to  the  care  and  support  of  other  members  of  his 
family,  and  this  is  the  principal  reason  why  he  has 
remained  unmarried  to  the  present  time. 

Upon  the  demise  of  his  uncle,  1857,  he  came  into 
the  possession  of  the  homestead,  then  a  compara- 
tively worthless  estate.  Since  that  time,  through 
Mr.  Blanding's  enterprise  and  industry,  it  has  been 
made  one  of  the  most  beautiful  and  desirable  homes 
in  the  town.  From  an  unproductive  and  unprofit- 
able expanse  of  hill  and  dale  he  has  converted  it 
into  a  fertile,  paying,  and  valuable  farm.  If  the  oft- 
quoted  saying  be  true  that  "  he  who  causes  two  blades 
of  grass  to  grow  where  only  one  grew  before  is  a  pub- 
lic benefactor,"  then  Mr.  Blanding  is  certainly  enti- 
tled to  credit  for  the  work  he  has  done.  He  has  not 
been  a  seeker  of  official  honors,  yet  his  fellow-citizens 
have  honored  him  with  a  number  of  public  trusts. 


C^i^TL 


■I* 


>    r^L^C^^^LA 


:^^.  yy. 


^o 


REHOBOTH. 


491 


He  has  been  selectman,  assessor,  and  overseer  of  the 
poor,  town  and  church  treasurer,  etc.  He  is  an 
active  member  of  the  Congregational  Church  of 
Rehoboth,  and  in  political  creed  a  Republican.  He 
has  proved  himself  a  loving  and  self-sacrificing 
brother  and  son,  and  is  esteemed  as  a  useful  citizen 
of  the  community. 


OAPT.  GEORGE    W.  BLISS. 

Capt.  George  W.  Bliss  is  the  son  of  Capt.  Asaph  Bliss, 
of  Rehoboth,  and  Abigail,  daughter  of  George  and 
Mercy  Williams  ;  she  was  born  Jan.  30, 1781,  and  died 
Nov.  4, 1825.  He  (Capt.  Asaph)  was  born  Dec.  5, 1772, 
and  died  Sept.  14,  1857.  They  were  married  Nov.  25, 
1803.  Their  children  were  Abby,  born  1804,  died  in  in- 
fancy; Abby  Williams,  born  March  19,  1805,  married, 
June  13, 1826,  Abel  Carpenter,  by  whom  she  had  four 
children ;  Asaph  Leonard,  born  July  13,  1806,  died 
Dec.  6, 1861 ;  George  Williams  (subject  of  illustration) ; 
Nelson  Smith,  born  Sept.  19,  1813,  by  occupation  a 
carpenter,  died  at  Mobile,  Ala.,  Sept.  5,  1839;  and 
Rosina,  born  Dec.  4,  1816,  married  Erwin  J.  Baker, 
of  Utica,  N.  Y.,  resides  in  Seekonk,  Mass.,  and  has 
five  children  living.  Capt.  Asaph's  father  was  Deacon 
Jacob  Bliss,  of  Rehoboth,  born  Feb.  16,  1732,  died 
March  3,  1807.  His  mother  was  Judith  Smith,  born 
April  19,  1732,  and  died  Oct.  1,  1815.  Deacon  Jacob 
had  seven  children, — Chloe,  Judith,  Bethiah,  Jacob, 
Rachel,  Lucy,  and  Asaph.  Deacon  Jacob  was  a  son 
of  Daniel  Bliss,  of  Rehoboth,  and  Miriam  Carpenter. 
(For  a  more  extended  genealogy  of  the  Bliss  family, 
see  another  part  of  this  volume ;  also  a  most  excellent 
work  by  John  Homer  Bliss  entitled,  "  Genealogy  of 
the  Bliss  Family  in  America.") 

Capt.  George  W.  Bliss  was  born  Sept.  3,  1810,  was 
reared  a  farmer's  son,  and  taught  to  labor  in  that 
vocation.  He  had  the  usual  advantages  of  the  schools 
of  his  neighborhood,  supplemented  by  a  course  at 
Pawtucket  Academy.  After  leaving  school  he  re- 
sumed his  farm  labor,  working  on  the  farm  during 
the  summer  season  and  teaching  school  winters.  This 
he  continued  ten  years.  At  the  age  of  twenty-nine 
he  left  his  native  State  and  went  to  Florida,  where 
he  became  engaged  somewhat  extensively  in  the 
lumber  business,  building  a  saw-mill  in  copartnership 
with  his  brother-in-law,  Caleb  Bowen.  They  were 
quite  successful  in  the  prosecution  of  their  business, 
but  Mr.  Bowen  died,  and  upon  his  demise  Mr.  Bliss 
sold  out  his  business  and  returned  to  his  native  Reho- 
both, where  he  purchased  the  interests  of  the  other 
heirs  to  his  father's  estate,  and  engaged  in  farming. 
About  two  years  after  his  return  from  Florida  he  es- 
tablished a  meat-market  at  Pawtucket,  which  he 
continued  five  years,  when  he  relinquished  this  pur- 
suit and  once  more  devoted  his  entire  attention  to 
agriculture,  which  business  he  has  since  followed  un- 
remittingly through  life.  In  business  affairs  Capt. 
Bliss  has  been  a  successful  man,  and  now  in  his  old 


age  is  surrounded  by  all  the  comforts  of  life,  and  en- 
joys what  is  better  still,  the  esteem  and  friendship  of 
all  who  know  him.  He  was  a  militiaman  of  the  old 
school,  when  honor  was  attached  to  the  calling,  and 
when  rank  and  appointment  were  evidence  of  superior 
ability  and  merit.  At  the  age  of  twenty-two  he  was 
chosen  captain,  and  served  in  that  capacity  six  years. 
He  was  the  chosen  major  of  the  regiment,  which 
position  he  held  at  the  time  of  his  migration  to 
Florida. 

The  title  of  captain  has  clung  to  him  through  life. 
As  an  instructor  of  youth  he  was  ranked  among  the 
best.     He  has  held  the  positions  of  selectmen,  as- 
sessor, and  overseer  of  the  poor  eight  years  each, 
and  has  been  justice  of  the  peace  thirty-one  years. 
He  was  married,  Oct.  6,  1834,  to  Betsey,  daughter  of 
Uriah  and  Sally  (Carpenter)  Bowen,  of  Attleborough 
Mass.    She  was  born  July  30, 1812,  and  died  Jan.  23 
1853.     Their  children  are  George  William,  born  Oct 
18,   1835 ;     Wheaton   Leonard,    born    Dec.    22,   1837 
Warren  Smith,  born  June  9,  1840;     Warren  Smith2 
born   Jau.    1,    1845 ;    James    Walter,   born    Jan.    27 
1847  ;  and  Henry  Winslow,  born  Oct.  29,  1849.    Capt 
Bliss  married  for  his  second  wife  Julia  Ann   Car- 
penter, of  Rehoboth,  Oct.  26,  1853.     She  was  born 
March  30,  1808,  and  died  Dec.  15,  1865.     They  had 
one  child,  Betsy  Ann,  born  March  20,  1856.     Capt. 
Bliss  married  as  his  third  wife  Julia  Ann  (daughter 
of  Joseph  A.  and  Eunice  C.)  Tiffany,  June  4,  1867. 
She  was  born  April  16,  1825.     Both  are  yet  living 
(1882).     Of  Capt.  Bliss'  children,  the  eldest,  George 
William,  married,  Sept.  8,  1859,  to  Mary  K.,  daugh- 
ter of  Jefferson  and  Hannah  Daggett,  of  Pawtucket, 
where  she  was  born,  1837.     Their  children  are  Susie 
P.,  Eva   W.,    George   Edwin,  and   Mary    Williams. 
Wheaton  Leonard  served  two  years  in  Company  A, 
Seventeenth  Massachusetts  Infantry,  during  the  great 
Rebellion.    He  was  married,  April  21, 1867,  to  Laura 

A.  P.,  daughter  of  Noah  and  Olive  (Medbery)  Bliss, 
of  Rehoboth.  They  have  no  children.  He  is  a  far- 
mer in  Attleborough,  Mass.  Warren  Smith1  died  in 
childhood.  Warren  Smith2  married,  in  Nantucket, 
Mass.,  July,  1872,  Mary  F.,  daughter  of  George  W. 
and  Mary  Jenks.  He  died  at  Gainesville,  Fla.,  Aug. 
1,  1876.  They  had  two  children,  one  who  died  in 
infancy,  and  Mabel  Warren.  The  widow  resides  in 
Nantucket.  J.  Walter  resides  with  his  father  at  the 
old  homestead,  and  is  unmarried.  Henry  Wilson 
married,  Oct.  10,  1873,  Annie  Goff,  of  Providence, 
where  he  now  resides.  He  is  by  occupation  a  tin- 
smith.    Betsey  Ann  married,  Feb.  20,  1879,  William 

B.  Colwell,  of  Johnston,  R.  I. 


OTIS    PERRY. 
Daniel  Perry  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Reho- 
both.    His  son  Ezra  was  by  occupation  a  mechanic 
and  manufacturer  of  nails.     He  was  a  man  of  much 
mechanical  ingenuity   and  of  an  inventive   turn  of 


492 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


mind.  He  was  the  inventor  of  a  certain  process  for 
manufacturing  nails  and  utilizing  windmill  power 
for  the  same.  His  invention  was  considered  of  so 
much  value  that  the  Blackstone  Factory  Company 
(quite  a  large  concern)  offered  him  their  privilege  on 
the  Blackstone  for  his  little  primitive  windmill.  He 
married  Jemima  Titus,  by  whom  he  reared  quite  a 
large  family,1  all  of  whom  except  his  son,  Deacon 
Ezra,  emigrated  from  Rehoboth  to  other  parts  of  the 
country.  His  second  wife  was  Patty  Ide.  By  this 
union  there  was  no  offspring.  Deacon  Ezra  inherited 
largely  his  father's  mechanical  genius,  and  though  he 
was  always  the  proprietor  of  a  farm,  yet  his  time  was 
chiefly  given  to  various  mechanical  pursuits,  such  as 
carpentering,  turning,  and  blacksmithing  in  its  vari- 
ous branches.  He  was  noted  throughout  the  country 
for  his  diversified  skill  and  versatile  capabilities.  He 
was  a  captain  of  militia,  a  deacon  of  the  orthodox 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  a  valued  citizen.  His  wife 
was  Betsey  Bliss,  daughter  of  Daniel  Bliss  and  sister 
of  Dr.  James  Bliss,  of  Rehoboth.  Of  their  children, 
Ezra  went  to  Brimfield,  was  a  manufacturer  and  a 
prominent  man  there;  Betsey  married  Cyril  Bullock, 
of  Rehoboth ;  Hezekiah  was  a  cotton  manufacturer 
inMunson;  Sarah  married  Elijah  Bliss,  of  Rehoboth; 
James  was  a  mechanic  ;  Otis1  died  in  infancy  ;  Daniel 
was  a  manufacturer  in  his  native  town  ;  Mina  married 
Nathan  Carpenter,  of  Rehoboth;  Nancy  B.  married 
Aseph  Bliss,  of  Rehoboth  :  William  was  a  machinist 
at  Taunton.  Of  all  this  numerous  family  only  Otis, 
whose  portrait  accompanies  this  sketch,  is  now  living. 
The  Perrys  were  the  first  manufacturers  in  the  United 
States  of  bobbins  for  cotton-factories.  They  manu- 
factured the  bobbins  for  Slater's,  the  first  factory  es- 
tablished in  America. 

Otis  Perry  was  born  at  the  ancestral  home  of  the 
Perrys  in  Eehoboth,  Feb.  17,  1807.  When  a  lad  he 
worked  in  the  turning-shop  and  on  the  farm  of  his 
father.  After  attaining  his  majority  he  left  his  father's 
homestead  and  established  at  the  place  where  he  now 
resides  a  factory  similar  to  his  father's.  This  busi- 
ness he  continued  many  years.  About  1850  he  com- 
menced sawing  lumber,  manufacturing  shingles,  and 
grinding  meal,  and  has  continued  the  business  to  the 
present  time.  In  the  quiet  walk  of  life  which  he 
chose  he  has  been  a  successful  man.  In  politics  he 
has  always  been  a  Whig  and  Republican,  and  is 
stanch  and  true  to  his  political  principles.2 


NATHANIEL   B.  HORTON. 

Nathaniel  B.  Horton,  son  of  Aaron  and  Bethany 
Baker  Horton,  was  born  in  Rehoboth,  Mass.,  July  25, 
1820.  Aaron,  his  father,  son  of  Solomon  and  Han- 
nah (Talbot)  Horton,  was  born   in  Dighton,  Mass., 


1  See  genealogy. 

2  For  data  concerning  the  ancestors  of  the  Perry  family,  see  Appendix. 


and  was  a  farmer.  He  married  (1st)  Bethany,  daugh' 
ter  of  Samuel  Baker  (a  farmer  of  Rehoboth,  who  also 
manufactured  shoe-buckles,  a  wealthy  man  of  that 
period,  and  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution).  They  had 
seven  children, — Mason,  Danforth,  Nancy,  Hiram, 
Nathaniel  B.,  Angeline,  and  Alvah.  She  died  Jan. 
31,  1840,  in  her  fifty-sixth  year.  He  married  (2d) 
Sarah  Burr,  who  survives  him.  He  died  Dec.  3, 
1854,  in  his  seventy-fourth  year.  Nathaniel  was  edu- 
cated at  the  schools  of  his  native  town,  and  remained 
on  his  father's  farm  until  he  was  eighteen,  when  he 
went  to  Fall  River  and  learned  the  mason's  trade  of 
Earle  &  Horton,  of  that  city,  and  worked  at  the  trade 
twenty  years.  He  then,  about  1856,  purchased  the 
old  homestead  of  his  father  in  Rehoboth  (about  one 
hundred  acres),  which  had  been  in  the  possession  of 
his  ancestors  for  several  generations.  To  this  he  has 
since  added  one  hundred  acres  by  purchase.  From 
that  time  this  has  been  his  home,  and  his  avocation 
that  of  a  farmer.  He  married,  Jan.  11,  1844,  Mary  M., 
daughter  of  James  and  Mary  H.  (Mason)  Eddy. 
She  was  born  Aug.  25,  1824,  in  Swansea.  Their  only 
child,  Arthur,  born  Aug.  24,  1847,  died  aged  six 
years.  Mrs.  Horton  died  April  14,  1850.  He  mar- 
ried, Dec.  23,  1854,  Mary  J.,  daughter  of  Hale  and 
Patience  (Bosworth)  Buffinton,  of  Rehoboth.  She 
was  born  July  18,  1832.  They  have  four  children, — 
Adin  B.,  born  Nov.  7,  1855,  married  Hannah  Hale, 
lives  in  Rehoboth,  has  two  children  ;  Mary  M.,  born 
Oct.  31,  1857,  married  Frank  N.  Martin,  lives  in  East 
Providence,  R.  I.,  has  one  child ;  Arabelle  B.,  born 
Aug.  20,  1863  ;  and  Arthur  E.,  born  Aug.  6,  1870, 
who  live  with  their  parents.  Mr.  Horton  has  been 
an  active  and  energetic  man,  and  prominently  iden- 
tified with  every  affair  of  interest  in  his  town  since 
his  residence  there.  He  has  held  every  office  of  im- 
portance in  the  gift  of  his  townsmen, — selectman, 
treasurer,  collector,  etc.  He  represented  Seekonk 
and  Rehoboth  two  sessions  in  the  State  Legislature. 
During  the  civil  war  he  was  agent  for  the  town  in 
filling  its  quota  for  military  service;  was  also  recruit- 
ing officer  and  enrolling  officer,  and  placed  in  service 
for  Rehoboth  about  one  hundred  and  ninety  enlisted 
men,  traveling  in  that  service  through  various  States 
and  as  far  south  as  Virginia.  Perhaps  very  few  men 
in  the  town  ever  have  held  more  responsible  posi- 
tions, or  discharged  their  duties  with  more  ability  or 
acceptance  to  their  constituents.  He  was  formerly  a 
Democrat,  but  afterward  became  a  Free-Soiler,  and 
since  1856  has  affiliated  with  the  Republican  party. 

Mr.  Horton  has  been  connected  with  various  cor- 
porations and  business  interests.  He  is  a  stockholder 
in  Pocasset  National  Bank,  Wamsutta  Bank,  and 
Fall  River  Union  Bank,  in  Fall  River;  Weetamoe 
Mills,  Osborn  Mills,  and  Chace  Mills,  in  Fall  River. 
He  has  often  been  called  upon  to  administer  an  es- 
tate, and  has  the  reputation  of  being  not  only  an  able 
business  man,  but  an  agreeable  and  very  social  gen- 
tleman with  a  large  following  of  friends. 


-«■  ^i 


JS  &^JZ 


^4<Jx  A^> 


REHOBOTH. 


493 


ABIAH    BLISS. 

The  Bliss  family  in  Rehoboth,  Mass.,  are  descended 
from  Thomas  Bliss,  of  Belstone  parish,  county  of 
Devonshire,  England.  This  Thomas  Bliss  was  a 
wealthy  land-owner,  and  belonged  to  the  class  de- 
nominated Puritans  on  account  of  the  purity  and 
simplicity  of  their  forms  of  worship.  He  was  perse- 
cuted by  civil  and  religious  authorities  under  direc- 
tion of  Archbishop  Laud,  and  finally  became  broken 
down  in  health  and  estate  through  the  maltreatment 
of  the  intolerant  party  then  dominant.  He  and  his 
sons  suffered  long  imprisonment.  One  of  them  died 
in  prison,  the  other  two  emigrated  to  America  in  1635. 
From  Jonathan,  of  Belstone,  is  descended  Abiah  Bliss, 
whose  portrait  is  in  this  volume.  The  line  of  descent 
is  as  follows  :  Thomas1,  Jonathan2,  Thomas3,  Jona- 
than4, Jonathan5,  Ephraim6,  Abiah7,  Abiah*.  Of 
these  Thomas3  was  born  in  Belstone,  England,  emi- 
grated to  America  in  1636,  and  after  residing  at  Brain- 
tree,  Mass.,  Hartford,  Conn.,  and  Weymouth,  Mass., 
finally  removed,  in  1643,  with  many  others,  to  what 
is  now  Rehoboth,  and  commenced  a  settlement  there. 
He  was  a  man  of  influence  in  the  new  colony,  died 
in  1649.  His  son  Jonathan  was  born  in  England 
about  1625.  It  is  probable  that  he  came  to  Rehoboth 
about  1647.  In  1648  he  married  Miriam  Harmon. 
They  had  ten  children.  He  died  in  1687.  His  son 
Jonathan  (who  like  his  father  was  a  blacksmith)  was 
born  Sept.  17,  1666,  became  a  man  of  standing  and 
influence  in  his  native  town,  accumulated  property, 
held  many  offices,  etc.  He  was  married  June  23, 
1691,  to  Miriam  Carpenter,  daughter  of  William 
Carpenter  and  Miriam  Searles.  They  had  eight  chil- 
dren, of  whom  Ephraim  was  one.  Mrs.  Bliss  died 
May  21,  1706.  He  then  married,  April  10,  1711, 
Mary  French,  by  whom  he  had  four  children.  He 
died  Oct.  16,  1719. 

Lieut.  Ephraim  was  born  Aug.  15,  1699,  married, 
Dec.  5,  1723,  Rachel  Carpenter,  by  whom  he  had 
twelve  children.  He  was  a  lieutenant  of  militia. 
Abiah,  his  son,  was  born  Jan.  26,  1730,  and  married, 
Dec.  21, 1752,  Judith  Moulton  ;  she  died  Oct.  19, 1755. 
He  afterwards  married,  April  22,  1756,  Mary  Smith, 
by  whom  he  had  six  children.  Mrs.  Bliss  died  Feb. 
25,  1771.  He  then  married,  Nov.  28,  1771,  Eliza- 
beth Lane.  He  died  Jan.  25,  1825.  Col.  Abiah,  his 
son,  was  born  May  20,  1768,  married,  March  22,  1792, 
Rebecca  Kent.  She  was  born  Dec.  23,  1771,  died 
April  30, 1856.  They  had  eleven  children, — Rebecca, 
born  March  28,  1794;  Mary,  born  June  10,  1795; 
Lita,  born  March  8, 1797  ;  Amanda,  born  Oct.  3, 1798  ; 
Abiah,  born  March  6,  1800  ;  Rufus,  born  March  7, 
1802;  Eliza,  born  Jan.  6,  1804;  Ruth,  born  Dec.  7, 
1805  ;  Horatio  Nelson,  born  Aug.  17,  1808  ;  Harriet, 
born  Sept.  20,  1810 ;  and  Rachel,  born  Oct.  28,  1812. 
Mrs.  Bliss  died  April  30, 1856.    He  died  Aug.  12, 1858. 

The  present  Abiah  was  born  on  the  old  Bliss  home- 
stead, which  has  been  in  possession  of  the  family 
since  1666;  had  common-school  education,  but  very 


fair  for  that  day.  When  about  twenty-five  years  of 
age  he  purchased  a  half-interest  in  his  father's  farm. 
The  principal  duties  pertaining  to  management  of  the 
farm  devolved  upon  him,  and  at  his  father's  death  he 
inherited  the  rest  of  the  homestead.  On  Nov.  11, 
1834,  he  married  Julia  Ann  Sturtevant,  daughter  of 
Francis  Sturtevant,  of  Rhode  Island.  Their  children 
are  Rebecca,  born  Oct.  27,  1835;  Francis  A.,  born 
Nov.  18,  1837;  Albert  Henry,  born  Feb.  27,  1840; 
Thomas,  born  May  21,  1842;  William,  born  Jan.  23, 
1844;  and  Adaline,  born  Aug.  28,  1846.  Of  these, 
Albert  Henry  died  Aug.  31,  1842.  Thomas  grew  up 
to  manhood,  enlisted  in  Company  G,  Fourth  Massa- 
chusetts Infantry,  and  died  in  Brazier  City,  La.,  May 
20,  1862. 

William,  upon  arriving  at  his  majority,  emigrated 
to  the  West,  and  spent  five  years  in  Illinois  farming 
and  teaching ;  then  returned  home,  where  he  remained 
about  a  year,  when  he  again  went  westward,  this  time 
to  California  via  Panama.  He  remained  five  years, 
most  of  which  time  was  spent  in  the  mining  regions 
of  Nevada.  Again  returning  home,  he  spent  two 
years  on  the  old  homestead  farming.  Then  he  re- 
moved to  Pawtucket,  where  he  resided  two  years, 
when  he  had  an  offer,  which  he  accepted,  to  go  to 
Maine  to  superintend  a  silver-mine  in  that  State, 
which  position  he  now  fills.  He  married  Mary  Hall, 
of  Brockton,  Mass.  They  have  no  children.  Abiah 
Bliss  is  a  fair  specimen  of  the  quiet,  unobtrusive, 
thrifty  New  England  farmer.  Never  an  office-seeker 
or  political  agitator,  yet  he  has  always  been  a  stanch 
Republican.  His  ancestors  for  generations  have  been 
members  of  the  Congregational  Church,  and  he  has 
followed  in  their  footsteps.  Mr.  Bliss  has  made  him- 
self thoroughly  familiar  with  the  topography  of  most 
of  the  counties  of  Vermont,  New  Hampshire,  and  a 
part  of  Connecticut  by  having  frequently  traversed 
them  buying  and  selling  cattle  in  the  days  before  our 
country  was  covered  with  a  net- work  of  railroads,  and 
when  droves  of  cattle  were  bought  in  the  interior  and 
driven  to  the  cities  and  seaboard-towns  for  shipment 
to  other  markets.  In  this  business  he  was  actively 
engaged  a  part  of  each  year  for  more  than  twenty- 
five  years.  About  1850  he  accepted  a  position  as  sales- 
man or  agent  for  a  manufacturing  company  (whose 
proprietor  was  a  kinsman  of  his),  and  traveled  through 
Indiana,  Illinois,  Ohio,  Wisconsin,  and  Iowa.  With 
these  exceptions  he  has  confined  himself  to  agricul- 
tural pursuits  on  the  homestead  of  his  fathers,  and  is 
now  an  active  and  well-preserved  man  for  one  of  his 
advanced  age.  His  son,  Deacon  Francis  A.  Bliss, 
married  Frances  M.,  daughter  of  Ira  and  Mary  Ann 
|  Carpenter,  of  Rehoboth,  Dec.  25, 1867.  She  was  born 
!  Nov.  16,  1840.  They  have  five  children, — Albert 
Abiah,  born  Nov.  4,1868;  Martha  Bird,  born  Aug. 
!  28,  1871;  Adaline  Hall,  born  Oct.  26,  1874;  Mary 
Carpenter,  born  Sept.  26,  1879 ;  and  Thomas  Kent, 
born  Nov.  2,  1881.  Mr.  Bliss  had  the  usual  district 
schooling,  supplemented  by  an  attendance  at  Thetford 


494 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Academy,  Vt.,  and  Providence  Conference  Seminary, 
East  Greenwich,  R.  I.  After  leaving  school  he  en- 
gaged in  teaching  two  winter  terms  in  his  native  town. 

In  October,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  Company  I,  First 
Regiment  Massachusetts  Volunteer  Cavalry,  under 
Col.  Robert  Williams.  They  went  directly  to  the 
seat  of  war  in  South  Carolina,  where  they  participated 
in  numerous  engagements,  some  of  them  of  great  se- 
verity.  In  the  battle  at  Pocotaligo,  S.  C,  Mr.  Bliss 
was  wounded  in  the  right  arm,  which  disabled  him 
for  duty  for  a  period  of  two  months.  (It  may  be 
proper  to  state  here,  in  explanation  of  what  may 
otherwise  appear  as  a  discrepancy  to  those  not  familiar 
with  the  facts,  that  the  First  Massachusetts  Cavalry 
was  ordered  about  this  time  to  the  Department  of 
Virginia.  Two  battalions  went,  the  third,  to  which 
Mr.  Bliss  belonged,  was  detained  by  order  of  Gen. 
Mitchell  for  escort  and  special  duty,  and  remained 
South  during  the  three  years  of  their  enlistment, 
while  the  First  Regiment,  upon  arriving  in  Virginia 
was  recruited  to  its  original  number.  The  battalion 
which  remained  South  was  commanded  by  Maj.  Ste- 
vens, and  was  styled  "The  Independent  Battalion 
Massachusetts  Cavalry.")  Upon  the  expiration  of 
the  three  years  for  which  they  had  enlisted,  Mr.  Bliss, 
together  with  most  of  his  comrades,  re-enlisted.  So 
many  of  this  battalion  re-enlisted  that  it  still  retained 
its  original  name  and  organization.  They  were  now 
ordered  to  Florida,  where,  among  other  engagements, 
they  took  part  with  Gen.  Seymour  in  the  desperate 
but  disastrous  battle  of  Olusta.  They  were  soon  after 
this  ordered  to  Virginia,  where  they  arrived  in  time 
to  participate  in  the  famous  battle  of  the  Wilderness. 
About  this  time  they  were  combined  with  the  Second 
Battalion  of  the  Fourth  Massachusetts  Cavalry  to  com- 
plete the  Fourth  Regiment,  under  which  organization 
they  continued  till  the  close  of  the  war.  Mr.  Bliss 
was  present  at  the  surrender  of  Lee,  and  has  as  a 
souvenir  a  piece  of  the  apple-tree  under  which  that 
memorable  event  took  place.  He  was  in  active  duty 
nearly  all  the  time  from  his  enlistment  till  his  dis- 
charge, which  occurred  December,  1865.  After  the  I 
amalgamation  of  his  battalion  with  the  Fourth  Regi- 
ment he  was  transferred  from  Company  I  to  Com- 
pany F,  and  appointed  quartermaster-sergeant.  Upon 
returning  home  he  took  control  and  arranged  for  the 
purchase  of  his  father's  farm,  and  has  since  given  his 
attention  to  its  superintendence. 

He  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  a  member  of  the 
board  of  school  committee,  a  member  of  the  Congre- 
gational Church,  and  has  been  superintendent  of  the 
Sunday-school  for  about  eighteen  years. 


CHAPTER    XXXVII. 

SEEKONK.1 

Geographical — Incorporation  of  the  Town — Act  of  Incorporation — The 
First  Town-Meeting — Documentary  History — Fortification  at  Kettle 
Point — Representatives — Senators — Changing  of  Boundary — Military 
History — Names  of  Soldiers. 

Seekonk  lies  in  the  northwestern  part  of  the 
county,  and  is  bounded  as  follows:  On  the  north 
by  Attleborough,  on  the  east  by  Rehoboth,  on  the 
south  by  Swansea,  and  on  the  west  by  East  Providence 
and  Pawtucket.  The  territory  embraced  within  the 
present  town  of  Seekonk  originally  formed  a  portion 
of  the  ancient  town  of  Rehoboth,  where  the  record 
history,  names  of  early  settlers,  etc.,  will  be  found. 

Incorporation  of  Seekonk. — Seekonk  was  set  off 
from  Rehoboth  and  incorporated  as  a  separate  town 
Feb.  26,  1812.  The  following  is  the  act  of  incorpo- 
ration : 

"Sec.  1.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  in 
General  Court  assembled,  and  by  the  authority  of  the  same,  That  the  west- 
erly part  of  Rehoboth,  of  the  county  of  Bristol,  as  described  within  the 
following  bounds,  with  the  inhabitants  therein,  be  and  they  are  hereby 
incorporated  into  a  separate  town  by  the  name  of  Seekonk,  viz.:  Be- 
ginning at  a  rock  in  the  line  between  the  towns  of  Attleborough  and 
Rehoboth,  which  is  the  northeast  corner  boundary  of  the  west  precinct 
in  said  Rehoboth ;  thence  south  four  degrees  west  until  it  strikes  the 
line  between  the  towns  of  Swanzey  and  Rehoboth  ;  thence  westerly  by 
Swauzey  line  till  it  strikes  the  line  between  the  said  Rehoboth  and  the 
State  of  Rhode  Island  and  Providence  Plantations;  thence  following 
the  line  between  the  State  of  Rhode  Island  and  Providence  Plantations 
ami  said  Rehoboth  till  it  conies  to  the  southwest  corner  of  the  town  of 
Attleborough;  thence  easterly  by  the  line  between  the  towns  of  Attle- 
borough and  Rehoboth  to  the  first  mentioned  bounds.  And  the  s;iid 
town  of  Rehoboth  is  hereby  vested  with  all  the  powers  and  privileges, 
rights  and  immunities,  and  subject  to  all  the  duties  to  which  other 
towns  are  entitled  and  subjected  by  the  Constitution  or  laws  of  this 
commonwealth. 

"  Sec.  2.  Be  it  further  enacted,  Tbat  of  all  State  and  county  taxes  which 
shall  be  levied  and  required  of  said  towns  previous  to  a  new  valuation 
the  said  town  of  Seekonk  shall  pay  one-half  thereof. 

"  Sec.  3.  Be  il  further  enacted,  That  all  the  expenses  arising  for  the 
support  of  the  poor  of  said  town  of  Rehoboth,  with  which  it  is  now 
chargeable,  together  with  such  poor  as  have  removed  out  of  said  town 
prior  to  this  act  of  incorporation,  but  who  may  hereafter  be  lawfully 
returned  to  said  town  for  support,  shall  be  equally  divided  between  the 
towns  of  Seekonk  and  Rehoboth  ;  and  when  the  said  town  of  Seekonk 
shall  be  organized,  the  paupers,  whether  the  same  be  supported  in  whole 
or  in  part  only,  shall  be  divided  as  nearly  as  may  be,  and  one-half  of  the 
number  delivered  over  to  the  overseers  of  the  poor  of  that  town,  to  he 
by  them  in  future  supported. 

"Sec.  4.  Be  it  further  enacted,  That  Elkanah  French,  Esq.,  be  and  he 
is  hereby  authorized  to  issue  his  warrant,  directed  to  some  suitable  in- 
habitant of  Seekonk,  requiring  him  to  notify  and  warn  the  inhabitants 
thereof,  qualified  to  vote  for  town  officers,  to  meet  at  such  convenient 
time  and  place  as  shall  be  expressed  in  said  warrant,  to  choose  all  such 
officers  as  towns  are  by  law  authorized  to  choose  in  the  months  of  March 
or  April  annually.  And  that  the  said  Elkanah  French,  Esq.,  be  and  he 
is  hereby  authorized  and  empowered  to  preside  at  said  meetings  during 
the  election  of  a  moderator,  to  exercise  all  the  powers  and  to  do  all  the 
duties  which  town  clerks  by  law  have  and  do  perform  in  the  election  of 
moderators  of  town-meetings." 

The  First  Town-Meeting  in  pursuance  of  this  act 
was  held  in  the  old  meeting-house  March  16,  1812, 
when  Caleb  Abell  was  chosen  moderator  and  town 
clerk,  and  Capt.  Allen  Cole  town  treasurer. 

1  The  editor  acknowledges  his  indebtedness  in  the  compilation  of  the 
history  of  this  town  to  Deacon  Joseph  Brown,  whose  invaluable  assist- 
ance has  greatly  lessened  his  labor  in  the  preparation  of  this  work. 


SEEKONK. 


495 


At  a  meeting  held  on  the  23d  of  the  same  month, 
Peter  Hunt,  Worcester  Carpenter,  and  Allen  Monroe 
were  chosen  selectmen. 

At  this  meeting  it  was  also  "  voted  to  choose  a 
committee  of  three  to  join  a  committe  chosen  hy  the 
town  of  Rehoboth  to  make  a  settlement  with  the  late 
town  treasurer,  and  by  vote  Messrs.  Calvin  Martin, 
James  Ellis,  and  Benjamin  Ormsbee  were  said  com- 
mittee. 

Documentary  History. —  At  the  town-meeting 
held  March  23,  1812,  it  was 

"  voted  to  choose  Messrs.  Lewis  Wade  and  James  Bliss  constables  for  the 
ensuing  year. 

"  Voted  that  the  town-meeting  in  Seekonk  he  notified  in  the  usual 
mode  and  manner  that  town-meetings  were  notified  before  the  division 
of  the  town  of  Rehoboth,  till  further  order  he  taken  thereon. 

"April  6,  1812. — The  town  voted  to  choose  two  constables  in  addition 
to  the  two  choseD  at  a  former  meeting,  and  by  vote  Messrs.  Amos  Read 
and  Nathaniel  Viall." 

At  the  same  meeting  were  chosen  "surveyors  of  highways,"  "fence- 
viewers,"  "  surveyors  of  plank  and  timber  and  corders  of  wood  and 
water,"  and  "  field-viewers." 

"Voted  that  the  present  selectmen  be  overseers  of  the  poor  and 
assessors  for  the  ensuing. 

Oct.  5,  1812. — "Voted  to  put  up  the  collection  of  taxes,  to  be  bid  off  by 
those  that  would  collect  the  lowest,  they  giving  bonds  to  said  town 
agreeable  to  a  vote." 

Nov.  12,  1812,  it  was  "voted  to  choose  by  nomination  a  committee  of 
three  to  divide  all  public  personal  property  that  belongs  to  the  towns  of 
Seekonk  and  Rehoboth,  and  poor  persons,  agreeable  to  the  act  of  the 
General  Court  of  this  commonwealth  incorporating  Seekonk,  and  choose 
James  Ellis,  Esq.,  and  Deacon  Joseph  Bucklin  as  said  committee." 

Sept.  7,  1812,  "  motion  being  made  and  seconded  to  give  to  each  de- 
tached non-commissioned  officer  and  soldier  belonging  to  Seekonk  five 
dollars  per  month  in  addition  to  what  the  general  government  allows 
as  wages,  vote  being  taken  thereon,  declared  in  the  negative." 

October,  1812,  the  sum  of  $350  was  voted  for 
the  support  of  schools;  in  1813,  $350  ;  in  1814,  $350  ; 
from  1815  to  1824,  $400  was  voted  each  year ;  in  1824 
$500  was  voted,  etc. 

April  5,  1813,  it  was  "  voted  to  put  out  the  poor 
persons  belonging  to  the  town  of  Seekonk  at  auction 
to  the  lowest  bidder." 

Fortification  at  Kettle  Point.— Oct.  3,  1814,  a 
committee  from  the  town  of  Providence,  consisting 
of  Tristam  Burgess,  William  Church,  and  Richmond 
Bullock,  requested  liberty  to  build  a  breastwork  on 
land  belonging  to  the  town  of  Seekonk  and  Reho- 
both, at  a  place  called  "  Kettle  Point,"  and  to  solicit 
the  citizens  of  Seekonk  to  assist  in  building  said  for- 
tification. "  By  vote  granted  the  request  of  said 
committee  so  far  as  related  to  Seekonk,  and  choose  a 
committee  of  seven  to  request  the  citizens  to  assist  in 
raising  the  fortification." 

The  New  Town-House. — The  new  town-house 
was  erected  in  1814,  and  the  first  meeting  was  held 
here  Nov.  7,  1814. 

In  1824  it  was  "  voted  to  purchase  a  hearse  and 
harness,  a  large  and  small  pall,  and  a  suitable  house 
to  keep  them  in." 

In  1826  the  town  voted  that  it  was  not  expedient  to 
build  a  jail  in  New  Bedford  at  the  county  expense,  and 
in  1827  voted  against  the  petition  of  the  inhabitants  of 
Pawtucket  village  to  be  set  off  into  a  separate  town. 


Rum  and  Railroads.— At  a  meeting  held  April 
28,  1834,  it  was  "  voted  that  the  public  good  and  con- 
venience require  that  there  should  be  innholders  and 
retailers  of  ardent  spirits  in  the  town  of  Seekonk ;" 
and  also  by  vote  passed  the  following  resolutions,  viz. : 

"Resolved,  That  the  town  of  Seekonk  approve  of  the  doings  of  their 
selectmen  in  returning  innholders  and  retailers  to  the  county  commis- 
sioners to  be  licensed  ;  also 

"Resolved,  That  the  town  of  Seekonk  disapproves  of  the  doings  of  the 
county  commissioners  of  the  county  of  Bristol  In  refusing  to  grant  any 
licenses  to  innholders  and  retailers  for  the  sale  of  ardent  spirits  in  said 
county,  and  consider  it  an  usurpation  of  power  and  contrary  to  the 
spirit  of  the  law  of  this  Commonwealth." 

Aug.  11,  1834,  the  town  "  voted  that  the  selectmen 
of  this  town  for  the  time  being  be  a  committee  to  see 
that  the  Boston  and  Providence  Railroad  corporation 
make  no  encroachments  on  any  property  belonging 
to  said  town,  and  to  conduct  for  said  town  as  they 
may  think  proper." 

In  the  following  November  it  was  "  voted  that  if  the 
Boston  and  Providence  Railroad  Company  will  build 
a  bridge  over  the  railroad  near  the  common,  and  cause 
all  the  necessary  roads  leading  to  it  to  be  laid  out  at 
their  expense,  and  give  the  town  a  bonus  of  one  thou- 
sand dollars,  in  that  case  the  selectmen  are  authorized 
to  make  a  contract  with  the  proper  agent  of  the  rail- 
road." 

Representatives  from  1812  to  1883.— The  follow- 
ing is  a  list  of  the  representatives  from  the  incorpora- 
tion of  the  town  in  1812  to  the  present  time  : 


1812-14,    18101-18.  Oliver    Stark- 
weather. 
1813,  1820-21.  Peter  Hunt. 
1819.  George  W.  Walker. 
1822.  Calvin  Martin. 
1823-28.  Robert  Daggett. 
1829.  Weston  Carpenter. 
1830-31.  Wooster  Carpenter. 
1830-32.  Seth  Whitmarsh. 
1833-35.  Church  Gray. 
1836.  Capt.  Lewis  Walker. 

William  D.  Hunt. 
1837-38.  Lewis  Walker. 

Caleb  Chaffee. 
1839-10.  William  Ide. 

Caleb  Chaffee. 
1841-42.  William  Ide. 

1843.  Seth  Whitmarsh. 

1844.  Viall  Medbmy. 

1845.  Cyril  Read. 

1846.  Leonard  Walker. 

1847.  Calvin  Carpenter. 

1848.  Leonard  Walker. 

1849.  Arthur  W.  Aldrich. 

1850.  David  Anthony. 

1851.  John  Gregory. 

1852.  William  Ide. 

1853.  None. 

1854-55.  Henry  G.  Stewart. 
1856.  Francis  Armington. 


1S57.  Sydney  Daggett. 
1858  2-59.  Joel  Marble. 

1860.  Ira  Baker,  Rehoboth. 

1861.  From  Rehoboth. 

1862.  Joseph  Brown. 

1863.  From  Rehoboth. 

1864.  Joseph  Brown. 

1865.  Zamakiu  W.  Horton,  Reho- 

both. 

1866.  John  Hunt. 

1867.3  James  H.  Codding,  Dighton. 
1868.  William  A.  King,  Rehoboth. 
1S69.  Ebeuezer  Dawes,  Dighton. 

1870.  Elisha  Davis,  Rehoboth. 

1871.  Solon  Carpenter,  Seekonk. 

1872.  Thomas  P.  Burt,  Berkley. 

1873.  Charles  Talbot,  Dighton. 

1874.  Cyrus  Wheatou,  Rehoboth. 

1875.  Thomas  Rich,  Seekonk. 

1876.  Herbert  A.  Dean,  Berkley. 

1877.  Hale  S.  Luther,  Rehoboth. 

1878.  John  A.  Lewis,  Dighton. 

1879.4  Jas.  E.  Easterbrook,  Swan- 

sea. 

1880.  Andrew    N.   Medbury,  See- 

konk. 

1881.  Remember  Smith,  Rehoboth. 

1882.  Francis  A.  Horr,  Dighton. 

1883.  James  H.  Mason,  Swansea. 


1  In  1815,  none. 

2  This  town,  now  in  connection  with  Rehoboth,  forms  one  represen- 
tative district. 

3  The  towns  of  Seekonk,  Rehoboth,  Dighton,  and  Berkley  now  com- 
pose one  representative  district. 

4  The  towns  of  Seekonk,  Rehoboth,  Dighton,  and  Swansea  now  make 
one  district. 


496 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Senators  have  been  as  follows : 

1815-17.  James  Ellis.  I  1833-36.  Seth  Whitmarsb. 

1821-23.  Oliver  Starkweather. 

March  1,  1862,  the  town  of  East  Providence  was 
taken  off  from  Seekonk,  leaving  the  town  with  a 
population  of  only  eight  hundred,  almost  wholly 
farmers.  The  interest  of  the  town  is  agricultural, 
and  from  1862  to  1880  the  population  increased  from 
eight  hundred  to  more  than  twelve  hundred.  There 
had  been  a  long  dispute  between  the  States  of  Rhode 
Island  and  Massachusetts  in  relation  to  the  boundary 
line.  The  case  was  in  the  United  States  Supreme 
Court,  but  by  agreement  between  them  it  was  taken 
from  the  court  and  referred  to  a  commission  from 
Rhode  Island  and  the  Governor  and  Executive  Coun- 
cil on  the  part  of  Massachusetts,  when  a  conventional 
line  was  adopted,  setting  the  whole  of  Pawtucket  and 
that  portion  of  Seekonk  now  East  Providence  into 
Rhode  Island,  while  Massachusetts  received  territory 
from  Rhode  Island  adjacent  to  Fall  River. 

The  inhabitants  of  the  present  town  of  Seekonk 
almost  universally  opposed  the  act  as  injurious  to 
their  interest,  but  the  influence  of  Providence  and 
Fall  River  prevailed. 

The  inhabitants  opposed  the  division  of  the  town 
and  new  State  line  by  which  the  town  of  East  Provi- 
dence was  organized  in  another  State,  for  thereby 
the  Congregational  and  First  Baptist  Churches,  in 
which  they  worshiped,  were  transferred  to  another 
town  and  State,  also  the  town  hall,  and  seriously 
deranged  the  several  school  districts. 

The  manufacturing  part  of  the  town  was  transferred 
to  Rhode  Island,  leaving  the  present  town  of  Seekonk 
nearly  without  manufactures  and  wholly  agricultural. 
It  set  into  Rhode  Island  about  two-thirds  of  the  valu- 
ation and  more  than  two-thirds  of  the  population, 
and  about  one-half  of  the  territory. 

Military  Record,  1861-65.— The  town  of  Seekonk 
responded  promptly  to  the  call  for  troops  during  the 
late  Rebellion,  both  in  men  and  means.  July  24, 
1862,  the  town  voted  to  pay  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  dollars  to  each  volunteer,  not  to  exceed  ten  in 
number,  when  accepted  and  sworn  into  service  on  the 
call  for  fifteen  thousand  men  from  the  State.  Aug. 
14,  1862,  the  town  voted  to  pay  four  hundred  dollars 
bounty  to  each  volunteer,  seven  being  the  number 
required;  also  voted  to  pay  three  hundred  dollars 
bounty  to  all  volunteers  and  drafted  men  under  the 
first  levy. 

Aug.  38,  1862.  Voted  to  pay  two  hundred  dollars 
bounty  for  volunteers  for  nine  months'  service  to  fill 
the  town's  quota. 

Sept.  2,  1862.  The  town  voted  to  pay  the  expenses 
of  those  volunteers  who  were  rejected.  Voted  that 
the  recruiting  officer  be  instructed  to  recruit  or  enlist 
any  man  of  proper  age  not  enrolled  in  any  other  town. 

Sept.  24,  1862.  The  town  voted  to  instruct  the  re- 
cruiting officer  to  enlist  not  exceeding  eighteen  vol- 
unteers for  nine  mouths. 


Oct.  8,  1862.  Voted  that  the  treasurer  be  author- 
ized to  hire  money  sufficient  to  aid  the  families  of 
volunteers  from  this  town.  Voted  twelve  hundred 
dollars  for  bounties. 

Dec.  10,  1863.  The  town  authorized  the  recruiting 
officer  to  pay  three  hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars 
bounty  for  the  quota  of  volunteers  called  for. 

April  4,  1864.  Voted  to  pay  eleven  hundred  and 
twenty-five  dollars  to  reimburse  those  that  have  vol- 
untarily contributed  to  pay  bounties  to  fill  the  town's 
quota  on  the  call  for  five  hundred  thousand  men. 
Also  voted  to  appropriate  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  dollars  for  each  recruit  for  this  town  that  maybe 
enlisted  under  the  call  for  March  15,  1864,  and  also 
that  may  be  enlisted  under  future  calls  of  the  Presi- 
dent before  March  1,  1865. 

June  25,  1864.  Voted  to  authorize  the  treasurer  to 
pay  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars  to  every  man 
enlisted  in  anticipation  of  the  next  call  of  the  Presi- 
dent, but  the  officer  not  to  enlist  over  ten  men. 

Sept.  3,  1864.  The  recruiting  officer  reported  to  the 
town  that  the  town's  quota  was  filled,  at  the  expense 
of  four  thousand  nine  hundred  and  seventy-five 
dollars. 

Oct.  22,  1864.  Voted  that  the  treasurer  pay  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars  for  the  eighteen  men, 
and  also  for  each  of  the  two  surplus  men. 

Nov.  26,  1864.  Voted  that  the  recruiting  officer 
enlist  nine  men  for  filling  the  town's  quota  in  antici- 
pation of  another  call  for  men.  Voted  that  the  select- 
men order  the  treasurer  to  pay  out  eleven  hundred 
and  twenty-five  dollars  in  anticipation  of  enlisting 
the  above  number  of  men. 

The  following  enlisted  from  this  town : 


W.  L.  Bliss. 
Nelson  Bowen. 
George  Burke. 
Charles  Bourns. 
C.  V.  Brown. 
Warren  L.  Chaffee. 
Benjamin  F.  Clement. 
Henry  Davis. 
Edward  M.  Downey. 
John  G.  Doak. 
John  Elderkin. 
Jonathan  R.  Elderkin. 
John  Fitzgerald. 
Martin  S.  Granger. 
Charles  C.  Handy. 
Martin  V.  Hill. 
Charles  Horton. 
Almond  Harding. 
William  Johnson. 
George  Lannon. 


Sylvester  Lumbert. 
James  Mason. 
Theophilus  Medbery. 
George  E.  Miller. 
Sylvanus  Martin. 
John  W.  Miller. 
Caleb  Miller. 
Francis  Millard. 
William  H.  Miller. 
Hugh  McGuire. 
Charles  F.  Ormsbee. 
William  Riley. 
James  Stone. 
Albert  S.  Strait. 
Abner  P.  Smith. 
William  H.  H.  Smith. 
Albert  Wood. 
William  H.  Wood. 
John  F.Wood. 


Seekonk  filled  her  quota  in  full. 

As  this  town  is  a  border  town  and  adjacent  to 
Providence,  a  large  number  of  its  citizens  enlisted 
into  Rhode  Island  regiments,  and  several  into  the 
quota  of  other  towns  in  the  State. 

The  following  enlisted  from  this  town  in  other 
places  : 

Thomas  Read;  John  A.  Medbery,  Myron  Short,  1st  Rhode  Island  Cav- 
alry; John  W.  Peck,  seven  years  in  U.  S.  regular  army;    Samuel 


SEEKONK. 


497 


J.  Smith,  capt.  in  Rhode  Island  regiment,  and  killed  In  first  battle 
of  Bull  Run;  James  M.  Munroe,  in  California  regiment;  Edward 
Dunbar,  Rhode  Island  regiment,  killed  in  battle;  T.  Peck,  enlisted 
in  Cambridge. 


CHAPTER    XXXVIII. 

SEEKONK.— (Continued.) 

ECCLESIASTICAL   HISTORY. 

Congregational  Church— The  Baptist  Church — The  Hebron  Church. 

Congregational  Church. — The  original  proprie- 
tors of  this  town  were  Congregationalists,  who,  with 
their  pastor,  Rev.  Samuel  Newman,  and  a  majority  of 
his  church,  migrated  from  Weymouth,  Mass.,  and 
settled  in  this  place  in  the  year  1643. 

The  town  was  called  Rehoboth  by  the  pastor ;  by 
the  Indians  Seekonk.  On  the  division  of  the  town 
one  part  retained  the  civil  name,  the  other  the  Indian. 

The  following  are  the  names,  etc.,  of  the  successive 
pastors : 

Rev.  Samuel  Newman  was  born  in  Blandford,  in 
1600 ;  educated  at  Oxford,  England ;  came  to  New 
England  1638,  and  died,  pastor  of  this  church,  July 
5,  1663. 

Rev.  Noah  Newman,  son  of  Rev.  Samuel  Newman, 
was  ordained  1668,  died  April  16,  1676. 

Rev.  Samuel  Angier  was  born  in  Cambridge,  1655; 
graduated  at  Harvard  University,  1673;  became  pas- 
tor 1679;  dismissed  from  ill  health  1692,  and  died  at 
Waltham,  Jan.  21,  1717. 

Rev.  Thomas  Greenwood  was  born  in  Weymouth, 
1670;  graduated  at  Harvard  University,  1690;  or- 
dained October,  1693,  and  died  Sept.  8,  1720. 

Rev.  John  Greenwood,  son  of  Rev.  Thomas  Green- 
wood, was  born  May  20,  1697  ;  graduated  at  Harvard 
University,  1717 ;  ordained  1721,  and  died  Dec.  1, 
1766. 

Rev.  John  Cams  was  born  in  Boston,  1724;  grad- 
uated at  Harvard  University,  1762;  installed  April 
18,  1759;  dismissed  Dec.  4,  1764,  and  died  at  Lynn, 
Mass.,  Oct.  12,  1802. 

Rev.  Ephraim  Hyde  was  born  in  Pomfret,  Conn., 
1738  ;  graduated  at  Yale  College,  1758 ;  ordained  May 
14.  1766,  and  died  Oct.  11,  1783. 

Rev.  John  Ellis  was  born  in  Cambridge,  1727 ; 
graduated  at  Harvard  University,  1750;  installed 
March,  1785 ;  dismissed,  at  his  request,  1796  ;  returned 
to  Norwich,  Conn.,  where  he  had  been  previously 
settled,  and  died  in  1805. 

Rev.  John  Hill  was  born  in  Lewiston,  Del.,  Feb.  11, 
1759 ;  installed  over  this  church  Sept.  22,  1802,  and 
died  1816. 

Rev.  James  O.  Barney  was  born  in  Providence, 
R.  I.,  Sept.  30, 1795  ;  graduated  at  Brown  University, 
September,  1821,  and  ordained  Feb.  4,  1824. 

Although  this  church  was  established  in  this  town 
as  early  as  1644,  the  church  holds  no  records  that 
32 


date  back  previous  to  1693.  The  earliest  records  of 
this  church  are  supposed  to  have  been,  and  probably 
were,  destroyed  when  King  Philip  burned  the  town, 
when  all  the  houses  in  this  vicinity  except  the  garrison 
were  destroyed. 

Again,  from  the  installation  of  Rev.  John  Ellis,  in 
1785,  to  the  settlement  of  Rev.  James  O.  Barney,  in 
1824,  the  records  are  lost. 

Rev.  Mr.  Barney  remained  as  pastor  and  acting  pas- 
tor until  May  1, 1867,  except  he  labored  a  few  months 
among  the  seamen  in  the  city  of  Providence  and  for 
the  American  Sunday-School  Union  in  the  State  of 
Iowa.  This  church  enjoyed  an  extensive  revival 
during  the  winter  of  1855-56,  when  a  series  of  meet- 
ings were  held,  in  which  Rev.  Mr.  Barney  was  assisted 
by  Rev.  Norris  Day,  an  evangelist.  Forty-four  united 
with  the  church  in  a  few  weeks.  The  spring  of  1861 
was  marked  by  another  revival,  when  thirty-six  united 
with  the  church  in  one  day.  Again,  in  1867,  forty- 
seven  united  themselves  with  this  church  between 
the  months  of  March  and  August.  Rev.  Mr.  Barney, 
having  previously  notified  the  church  and  society 
that  he  should  resign  the  pastorate  on  May  1,  1867, 
preached  his  farewell  sermon  on  the  28th  day  of 
April,  after  having  preached  to  this  people  nearly 
forty-three  years.  He  remarked  in  his  discourse  that 
a  generation  had  passed  away  since  he  came  among 
them,  and  scarcely  a  person  was  living  in  the  parish 
who  was  a  head  of  a  family  when  he  commenced  his 
pastorate. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  church  held  May  2,  1867,  the 
following  resolutions  were  unanimously  adopted  : 

"  Resolved,  That  this  church  fully  concur  with  the  Congregational  So- 
ciety of  Seekonk  in  the  resolutions  passed  by  them  this  day  in  the  ex- 
pression of  their  confidence  in  the  Rev.  James  0.  Barney  as  a  man,  a 
Christian,  and  a  pastor. 

"  Resolved,  That  in  view  of  the  long  and  meritorious  services  of  the 
Rev.  James  O.  Barney  as  pastor  of  this  church,  and  the  lively  interest 
he  ever  manifested  in  our  spiritual  welfare,  we  tender  to  him  our  thanks 
and  assure  him  that  wherever  his  lot  may  be  cast  he  has  our  sympathies 
and  prayers  for  his  welfare." 

After  the  decease  of  his  wife  he  removed  to  Hyde 
Park,  Mass.,  and  afterwards  to  Lincoln,  R.  I.,  where 
he  deceased  in  March,  1880,  universally  respected  by 
all  with  whom  he  had  associated. 

April  22,  1868,  the  church  and  society  extended  a 
unanimous  call  to  the  Rev.  Samuel  E.  Evans  to  be- 
come their  pastor.  He  accepted  the  call,  and  was 
installed  pastor  of  this  church  June  3,  1868.  On 
March  2,  1871,  he  resigned  the  pastorate,  when  the 
following  resolutions  were  unanimously  adopted  by 
the  church  : 

"Resolved,  That  it  is  with  unfeigned  sorrow  that  we  accept  the  resig- 
nation of  our  pastor,  the  Rev.  Samuel  E.  Evans. 

"Resolved,  That  we  publicly  express  our  acknowledgments  for  his 
faithfulness  and  fidelity  to  the  cause  of  Christ  while  pastor  of  this 
church,  and  that  we  shall  bear  his  memory  in  grateful  remembrance  for 
the  earnestness  in  which  he  labored  for  the  good  of  this  people,  and  the 
blessings  which  we  as  individual  Christians  have  received  through  the 
instrumentality  of  his  instructions,  by  preaching  the  gospel  in  its  full- 
ness and  purity,  holding  up  the  promises  of  God  through  Jesus  Christ 
for  our  encouragement  and  hope,  and  that  we  bid  him  God  speed  (2  John, 
10)  in  whatever  field  he  may  be  called  to  labor." 


498 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


The  Rev.  E.  A.  Spence,  of  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.,  was 
then  engaged  as  acting  pastor,  but  owing  to  poor 
health  was  obliged  to  resign.  He  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  Hiram  E.  Johnson,  who  labored  as  acting  pastor 
for  seven  years,  until  May  1,  1879,  the  church  com- 
mending him  as  a  Christian  minister  and  gentleman 
unto  whatever  community  in  which  he  may  be  called 
to  labor.  During  his  pastorate  the  church  erected  an 
elegant  parsonage  adjacent  to  their  meeting-house. 

Aug.  28,  1879,  a  unanimous  call  was  extended  by 
church  and  society  to  Rev.  J.  A.  Hanna,  of  Thomp- 
son, Conn.,  but  was  declined. 

Nov.  12,  1879,  it  was  voted  unanimously  that  an 
invitation  be  extended  to  Rev.  Leverett  S.  Wood- 
worth,  of  Campello,  Mass.,  to  become  the  pastor  and 
teacher  of  this  church  and  society. 

Rev.  Mr.  Woodwortb,  having  accepted  the  invita- 
tion, was  duly  installed  as  pastor  of  this  church  June 
23,  1880,  which  office  he  now  holds.  In  1882  a  large 
and  excellent  organ  was  purchased  for  the  church. 

The  communion  service  of  this  church  consists  of 
four  silver  platters,  marked  R.  C.  ;  one  silver  cup, 
presented  by  Capt.  Willet  in  1674;  one  silver  cup, 
presented  by  Rev.  Noah  Newman  in  1678;  one  silver 
cup,  presented  by  Mrs.  Mary  Walker  in  1747 ;  one 
silver  cup,  presented  by  Deacon  Samuel  Newman  in 
1748 ;  one  silver  cup,  presented  by  Deacon  Edward 
Glover  in  1751 ;  one  silver  cup,  presented  by  Mr. 
Daniel  Perrin  in  1754;  one  silver  cup,  presented  by 
Capt.  John  Lyon,  without  date ;  one  silver  cup,  pre- 
sented by  Barbary  Hill,  an  Indian  lady,  in  1826 ;  one 
silver  cup,  presented  by  Barbary  Hill,  an  Indian  lady, 
in  1828  ;  one  silver  flagon,  presented  by  Mrs.  Sarah 
Bishop  in  1727  ;  one  silver  flagon,  presented  by  Fran- 
cis Stephens  in  1732. 

Rev.  J.  O.  Barney  acted  as  clerk  of  the  church 
from  the  year  of  his  ordination,  1824,  to  Aug.  31, 
1837,  when  Deacon  Peter  H.  Brown  was  chosen  clerk, 
who  served  until  Nov.  2,  1858,  when  Deacon  Joseph 
Brown  was  elected,  who  has  served  to  the  present 
time. 

Deacons.— July  29,  1824,  Peter  H.  Wheaton  and 
William  Ellis  were  elected;  Feb.  28,  1839,  John 
Shory  and  Peter  H.  Brown  ;  Sept.  30,  1858,  Robert 
M.  Pearse  and  Joseph  Brown  ;  Nov.  3,  1870,  William 
W.  Ellis  and  Albert  R.  Read. 

Rev.  Samuel  Newman's  Concordance  of  the  Bible, 
including  the  Apocrypha,  is  a  work  of  the  rarest 
merit,  and  is  truly  a  monument  of  biblical  learning 
and  research,  not  surpassed,  if  excelled,  in  any  coun- 
try or  age.  It  is  not  only  one  of  the  largest  and 
most  extensive  of  any  work  of  that  class  through  all 
its  parts,  but  it  was  the  first  extensive  work  published. 
Authors  of  similar  works  since  that  date  have  been 
able  to  copy  from  him  and  enjoy  the  benefit  of  his 
researches.  There  are  but  few  copies  of  his  revised 
and  enlarged  edition  (third),  published  in  London, 
1658,  known  to  be  extant.  There  is  a  copy  in  the 
library  at  Oxford,  England ;  one  in  the  Athena?um 


in  Boston,  presented  by  King  William  III. ;  and  one 
belonging  to  the  Congregational  Church  of  Seekonk 
(of  which  Deacon  Joseph  Brown  is  custodian  as  clerk 
of  the  church),  the  history  of  which  is  as  follows: 

The  author,  the  founder  of  this  church,  reserved 
this  copy  for  himself,  and  bequeathed  it  to  his  son 
and  successor,  Rev.  Noah  Newman,  in  1668;  to  his 
successor,  Rev.  Samuel  Algier,  1679 ;  to  his  successor. 
Rev.  Thomas  Greenwood,  1693 ;  to  his  son  and  suc- 
cessor, Rev.  John  Greenwood,  1721 ;  from  him  to  his 
theological  student,  Rev.  John  Burt,  who  became  the 
fifth  pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church  in  Bristol, 
R.  I.,  1741.  In  1742,  Mr.  Burt  rebound  it;  after  his 
death  it  fell  to  his  successor,  Rev.  Henry  Wight,  1785. 
Dr.  Wight  died  in  1837,  and  left  this  work  to  his  chil- 
dren. In  1858,  at  the  suggestion  of  Hon.  Nathaniel 
Bullock  and  Governor  Diman,  of  Bristol,  the  heirs  of 
Dr.  Wight  bestowed  it  to  S.  C.  Newman,  A.M.,  a  lineal 
descendant  of  the  author,  and  he  in  turn  has  bestowed 
it  to  the  Congregational  Church  of  Seekonk. 

Oct.  12,  1830,  at  a  conference  of  churches  of  Taun- 
ton and  vicinity,  held  in  the  Congregational  Church 
of  Seekonk,  a  county  society  was  formed  auxiliary  to 
the  American  Board  of  Commissioners  of  Foreign 
Missions. 

March  6, 1832,  a  protracted  meeting  was  commenced 
this  day,  and  continued  four  days.  Clergymen  present 
Rev.  Mr.  Fisk,  of  Wrentham,  Ide,  of  Medway,  Chapin 
and  Ferguson,  of  Attleborough,  Raymond,  of  Free- 
town, Cummings,  of  Dighton,  Vernon,  of  Rehoboth, 
Hopkins,  of  Pawtucket,  Burdette,  of  East  Greenwich, 
and  Pease,  of  Barrington.  The  meeting  was  attended 
with  the  most  happy  consequences,  many  indulging 
hope  of  piety,  and  rejoicing  in  hope.  The  church 
unanimously  adopted  the  following  resolution  : 

Resolved,  That  no  person  shall  hereafter  be  ad- 
mitted a  member  of  this  church  who  will  not  abstain 
entirely  and  forever  from  the  use  of  ardent  spirits  ex- 
cepting as  a  medicine. 

Nov.  30,  1847,  Rev.  J.  O.  Barney,  J.  C.  Brown,  and 
Deacon  P.  H.  Brown  were  chosen  a  committee  to  re- 
vise the  articles  of  faith  and  covenant  and  report  at 
a  future  meeting. 

March  2,  1848,  the  above-named  committee  made 
their  report,  which  was  accepted  and  adopted. 

April  27,  1848,  Voted,  to  so  amend  the  fourth  ar- 
ticle of  the  covenant  that  no  member  of  this  church 
may  traffic  in  intoxicating  drinks  as  a  beverage. 

Number  received  into  the  church  during  the  pas- 
torate of  Rev.  Mr.  Barney,  308  ;  during  the  pastorate 
of  Rev.  S.  E.  Evans,  21 ;  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev. 
Hiram  E.  Johnson,  51 ;  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev. 
L.  S.  Wood  worth,  24. 

The  Baptist  Church. — The  first  meeting  to  con- 
sider the  subject  of  forming  a  separate  church  in  the 
First  Precinct  of  Rehoboth  was  held  Dec.  5,  1793, 
which  was  adjourned  from  time  to  time  until  Nov.  27, 
1794,  it  being  the  tenth  meeting,  which  resulted  in 
forming  a  church  styled  the  Baptist  Church  of  Jesus 


SEEKONK. 


499 


Christ  of  First  Precinct,  Rehoboth,  and  the  covenant 
and  articles  of  faith  were  unanimously  assented  to 
and  subscribed  by  every  member,  as  follows:  Caleb 
Mason,  Charles  Peck,  John  Brown,  John  Medbery, 
Miles  Shorey,  Ezra  Kent,  John  Perry,  Molly  Walker, 
Abigail  Winsor,  Abigail  Wilson,  Syble  Ingraham, 
Sarah  Shorey,  Hannah  Hays,  Eunice  Hading,  Re- 
becca Braly,  Susanna  Mason,  Molly  Cole,  Silence  Car- 
penter, and  Johanna  Mason. 

Dec.  13, 1794.  The  church  appointed  Brethren  Caleb 
Mason  and  Charles  Peck  to  the  office  of  deacons,  and 
requested  Brother  John  P.  Jones,  who  had  been 
preaching  for  them  ten  months,  to  qualify  himself  to 
become  their  pastor,  but  they  all  wished  for  further 
time  to  consider  so  important  an  undertaking ;  chose 
John  Medbery  clerk. 

March  18,  1795.  Brother  John  P.  Jones  was  or- 
dained to  the  work  of  the  evangelical  gospel  ministry, 
and  Brethren  Caleb  Mason  and  Charles  Peck  to  the 
office  of  deacons. 

April  23,  1797.  On  account  of  the  ill  health  of  El- 
der Jones,  Elder  John  Pitman  was  called  to  assist 
him,  and  preached  part  of  the  time. 

Dec.  26,  1807.  Chose  Brother  Joseph  Bucklin  as 
third  deacon. 

March  26,  1808.  Chose  Brother  Samuel  Brown  as 
fourth  deacon. 

June  27, 1812.  The  name  of  the  church  was  changed 
to  that  of  Baptist  Church  of  Seekonk,  as  the  west 
part  of  Rehoboth  had  by  act  of  Legislature  been  in- 
corporated into  a  town  by  that  name  in  February, 
1812. 

Aug.  27,  1814.  Elder  John  Pitman  (who  had  served 
us  since  1797),  having  moved  his  family  to  this  town 
from  Providence,  produced  a  letter  to  this  church 
from  the  First  Baptist  Church  in  Providence,  and  was 
joyfully  received  a  member  and  teacher. 

April  30,  1815.  Brother  Pitman  took  leave  of  this 
church  for  the  present,  being  under  a  necessity  to  re- 
move from  this  place.  This  removal  of  our  beloved 
brother  and  teacher  was  painful  to  the  church,  and 
apparently  grievous  to  the  society,  but  they  did  not 
feel  able  to  support  him,  and  he  had  no  means  of  sup- 
porting himself  and  family  here. 

June,  1815.  Elder  Jason  Livemore  commenced  his 
labors  with  us,  which  were  blessed  with  a  gracious 
revival,  and  additions  were  made  to  the  church  for 
several  months. 

August  27th.  Brother  Livemore  came  to  this  meet- 
ing with  a  letter  of  recommendation  as  a  worthy 
brother  and  teacher  from  the  Baptist  Church,  Maiden, 
Mass.,  of  which  he  was  the  late  pastor,  and  requested 
to  become  a  member  with  us,  and  he  was  cordially 
received. 

Sept.  23,  1815,  was  appointed  for  our  monthly  cove- 
nant meeting,  but  was  prevented  by  a  severe  storm. 
The  storm  was  the  severest,  perhaps,  ever  experienced 
in  this  country. 

Seekonk,  November,  1815.  Since  our  last  meeting 


our  beloved   brother,  Deacon   Joseph   Bucklin,  de- 
parted this  life. 

December,  1815.  A  special  meeting  of  the  church 
was  held  at  Brother  David  Cooper's  for  the  purpose 
of  selecting  another  deacon.  Voted  that  Brother 
Livemore  be  moderator  of  this  meeting.  Voted  by 
ballot  for  a  deacon,  and  Brother  David  Brown  was 
unanimously  chosen  to  the  office  of  deacon.  Voted 
to  choose  one  more  deacon  by  ballot,  but  there  was 
no  choice. 

Our  beloved  brother,  Elder  Livemore,  left  us  the  first 
week  of  January,  1816,  on  a  mission  in  Rhode  Island. 

March,  1816.  Brother  John  Pitman  concluded  to 
return  to  this  place  and  preach  for  us  the  ensuing 
year,  to  the  great  satisfaction  and  joy  of  the  church. 

Aug.  28,  1818.  Brothers  John  Read  and  Sylvanus 
Newman  were  selected  for  the  office  of  deacons  by  a 
vote  of  the  church. 

Elder  Pitman  preached  July  21,  1822,  and  died 
July  24th. 

Aug.  24,  1822.  John  Medbery,  who  had  been  clerk 
of  the  church  since  its  formation,  asked  to  be  excused 
on  account  of  his  advanced  age,  and  Brother  Viall 
Medbery  was  chosen  clerk  in  his  room. 

1822-23.  Brother  Ezra  Goings  (licentiate)  labored 
with  the  church,  and  was  much  blessed. 

Oct.  5, 1823.  This  day  Brother  Bartlett  Pease  began 
to  preach  for  us  statedly  for  one  year.  It  was  voted  to 
receive  Brother  Pease  as  our  pastor  for  one  year  from  the 
1st  of  October  inst.,  provided  he  should  continue  to 
preach  the  gospel  consistent  with  the  Bible  and  our 
church  constitution.     (He  continued  five  years.) 

March  29,  1828.  Brother  Bartlett  Pease,  our  pastor, 
was  dismissed  from  our  church  on  his  own  request. 

December,  1828.  Brother  Greene  was  engaged  to 
supply  the  pulpit  through  the  winter. 

May  16,  1829.  Brother  Benjamin  C.  Grafton,  of 
Plymouth,  was  engaged  to  preach  to  us  for  one  year. 

June  27,  1829.  Brother  Grafton  and  wife  Ann 
united  with  the  church  by  letter  from  Plymouth, 
Mass. 

Feb.  27,  1830.  The  church  voted  to  build  a  parson- 
age, and  chose  Deacon  David  Brown  and  Sylvanus 
Newman  and  Brother  Solomon  Peck  a  committee  to 
build  the  same  at  their  discretion. 

July  3,  1831.  Brother  Grafton  preached  his  fare- 
well sermon. 

Oct.  25,  1831.  Voted  this  day  to  invite  Brother 
Ferando  Berton  to  become  our  pastor,  he  being  a 
licentiate  of  the  Baptist  Church  in  Hartford,  Conn. 

November,  1831.  Brother  Berton  engaged  to  preach 
six  months. 

March  24,  1832.  Brother  Berton  united  with  the 
church  by  letter  from  the  Baptist  Church  at  Paw- 
tucket. 

Jan.  23,  1833.  Brother  Berton  was  ordained  to  the 
gospel  ministry. 

July  27,  1833.  Brother  Berton  asked  to  be  dismissed 
as  pastor,  which  request  was  granted  August  4th. 


500 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Sept.  8,  1833.  Brother  Uriah  Medbery  was  unani- 
mously chosen  deacon. 

Sept,  11,  12,  1833.  The  Warren  Association  con- 
vened with  our  church,  and  during  its  session 
Brethren  Sylvanus  Newman,  David  Brown,  and  Viall 
Medbery  were  ordained  as  deacons  of  this  church. 

Oct.  1,  1833.  Brother  Henry  Clark,  a  licentiate  of 
the  Warwick  Baptist  Church,  commenced  his  labors 
with  us. 

Dec.  8,  1833.  Commenced  a  series  of  meetings, 
which  were  held  morning,  afternoon,  and  evening 
for  one  week.  On  the  last  evening  five  young  persons 
expressed  hope  in  the  Saviour,  and  forty  took  the 
anxious  seat,  and  fifteen  were  added  to  the  church 
the  last  Sunday  in  December. 

June  25,  1834.  Brother  Henry  Clark  was  ordained 
to  the  gospel  ministry. 

Sept.  27,  1834.  Brother  Zenas  B.  Newman,  one  of 
our  young  members,  was  licensed  by  the  church  to 
preach  the  gospel. 

Sept.  9,  1836.  Brother  Newman  was  ordained  as  an 
evangelist. 

Nov.  26,  1836.  Brother  Clark  gave  in  his  resigna- 
tion as  pastor,  to  take  effect  the  1st  of  January  next, 
which  was  accepted. 

Oct.  19,  1836.  The  church  withdrew  from  Warren 
and  joined  with  another  church  in  Bristol  County  in 
forming  the  Taunton  Association. 

Aug.  1,  1837.  Rev.  John  Allen  commenced  his  pas- 
toral labors  with  us. 

July  and  August,  1837.  Our  meeting-house  was  re- 
modeled and  thoroughly  repaired,  and  we  met  for 
worship  and  all  our  services  in  the  town  hall. 

Sept.  26,  1840.  Voted  that  the  request  of  Brother 
Allen  for  dismission  as  pastor  of  this  church  be 
granted. 

Nov.  8,  1840.  Brother  John  C.  Welch,  of  Warren, 
R.  I.,  commenced  his  pastoral  labors  with  this  church, 
which  continued  nine  years  and  six  months. 

1841-42.  In  the  winter  and  spring  of  1841-42  the 
church  enjoyed  the  most  wonderful  and  exteusive 
revival  in  its  entire  history,  and  in  some  five  or  six 
months  eighty  were  added  to  their  membership. 

April  1,  1850.  Brother  Welch  closed  his  labors  as 
pastor  with  us. 

April  1,  1850.  Brother  Henry  G.  Stewart  com- 
menced his  labors  in  supplying  the  pulpit,  etc. 

Oct.  5,  1850.  It  was  unanimously  voted  to  request 
Brother  Stewart  to  become  our  pastor  during  mutual 
satisfaction,  and  the  request  was  accepted  by  him. 

March  26, 1853.  Brother  Stewart  resigned  his  posi- 
tion as  pastor,  and  his  resignation  was  accepted. 

May  15,  1853.  Brother  Alexander  Lorimer  com- 
menced his  labors  as  supplying  the  pulpit. 

July  30,  1853.  Voted  to  give  Brother  Lorimer  an 
invitation  to  become  pastor  of  our  church   (thirty- 
seven  to  three),  which  invitation  was  accepted  by  him. 
June  24,  1854.  Brother  Lorimer  resigned  his  pas- 
toral relation,  which  was  accepted  by  the  church. 


Nov.  23, 1851.  Deacon  Sylvanus  Newman  deceased. 
He  had  been  a  member  of  the  church  fifty  years,  and 
had  filled  the  office  of  deacon  thirty-two  years. 

Jan.  12,  1852.  The  church  chose  William  S.  Mun- 
roe  as  deacon  in  place  of  Brother  Newman. 

March,  1854.  Brother  Andrew  N.  Medbery  was 
chosen  clerk. 

Oct.  8, 1854.  The  church  voted  unanimously  to  give 
Brother  George  Mathews  (who  commenced  laboring 
with  us  Sept.  24,  1854)  an  invitation  to  become  our 
pastor.  Brother  Mathews  accepted  the  pastorate,  and 
October  28th  joined  the  church  by  letter  from  the 
Baptist  Church  in  Casinovin,  N.  Y. 

Jan.  27,  1856.  The  church  voted  to  hold  a  series  of 
meetings,  to  commence  next  week,  and  to  invite  Rev. 
James  O.  Barney  and  his  church  and  society  to  uuite 
with  us  in  these  meetings,  which  was  accepted. 

September,  1856.  The  Taunton  Baptist  Association 
held  its  session  with  us. 

July  25,  1857.  Brother  Mathews  resigned  as  pastor, 
to  take  effect  Oct.  1,  1857. 

Nov.  29,  1857.  Voted  unanimously  to  give  Rev.  A. 
H.  Stowell,  of  Providence,  R.  L,  an  invitation  to  be- 
come our  pastor  for  six  months,  which  was  accepted 
by  him. 

In  the  spring  of  1858  there  was  quite  a  revival  in 
our  church,  and  quite  a  number  of  heads  of  families 
were  added  to  the  church. 

Aug.   25,    1860.   The   church   voted   that  Brother 

Stowell's  labors  as  pastor  close  to-morrow  after  service. 

Aug.  26, 1860.  The  church  rescinded  the  vote  passed 

yesterday,  after  which  Brother  Stowell  resigned  as 

pastor,  which  was  accepted. 

Nov.  24,  1860.  Voted  to  engage  Brother  G.  M.  P. 
King,  who  had  been  supplying  us  for  six  weeks,  to 
become  our  pastor  for  six  months. 

April  4, 1861.  Voted  to  give  Brother  King  an  invita- 
tion to  become  our  pastor  as  long  as  mutually  satis- 
factory. 

June  11,  1861.  A  public  recognition  as  pastor  of 
their  church  took  place. 

Aug.  30,  1862.  The  church  voted  to  withdraw  from 
the  Taunton  Association  and  rejoin  the  Warren  As- 
sociation, as  that  part  of  Seekonk  where  the  church 
was  had  recently  been  set  to  Rhode  Island. 

April  29,  1865.  Brother  King  notified  the  church 
that  his  relation  to  the  church  as  pastor  would  close 
from  this  date,  that  he  had  tendered  his  resignation 
last  December,  which  he  had  not  withdrawn.  The 
church  voted  to  accept  his  resignation. 

The  church  voted  to  observe  the  national  fast  or- 
dered by  the  President  on  account  of  the  assassination 
of  President  Lincoln,  and  voted  to  invite  Rev.  James 
O.  Barney  and  his  church  and  society  to  meet  with  us. 
Nov.  28,  1865.  Voted  to  accept  the  invitation  of 
the  Congregational  Church  to  meet  and  join  with 
them  in  thanksgiving  services  December  7th  ;  and 
also  to  invite  them  to  join  with  us  in  like  services 
November  30th. 


SEEKONK. 


501 


March  26,  1866.  Voted  unanimously  to  give  Rev. 
Isaac  Chesebrough,  of  Greenwich,  R.  I.,  a  call  to  be- 
come our  pastor,  which  call  was  accepted  April  1, 
1866,  in  which  position  he  continued  till  Sept.  30, 

1880.  During  his  pastorate,  in  1877  and  1878,  there 
was  a  revival  of  religion  in  the  church,  and  thirty- 
eight  were  added  to  our  number. 

Aug.  29, 1872.  Voted  to  withdraw  from  the  Warren 
Association  and  unite  with  the  Providence  Associa- 
tion. 

Sept.  16  and  17,  1874.  The  Providence  Baptist  As- 
sociation held  its  annual  session  with  our  church. 
Although  the  weather  was  unpleasant  there  was  a 
good  attendance,  and  the  exercises  were  harmonious 
and  very  interesting. 

April  24,  1879.  The  church  by  appointment  bal- 
loted for  two  deacons,  which  resulted  in  the  choice  of 
Brother  Francis  Armington  and  Andrew  N.  Medbery 
as  deacons. 

April  8,  1879.  It  was  voted  to  build  a  new  church 
edifice  or  meeting  house,  and  chose  a  committee  of 
five  to  build  the  same,  viz.,  Francis  Armington,  A.  N. 
Medbery,  Daniel  Medbery,  Isaac  Chesebrough,  and 
Allen  Munroe.  The  church  was  built  the  ensuing 
summer. 

July  30, 1879.  The  church  was  called  to  mourn  the 
loss  by  death  of  a  much-loved  and  esteemed  brother, 
Deacon  William  S.  Munroe. 

Dec.  30, 1879.  The  new  church  edifice  was  dedicated 
to  the  worship  of  God. 

Jan.  27, 1881,  The  church  voted  to  give  Rev.  Bailey 
S.  Morse,  pastor  of  Broadway  Church,  Providence,  a 
call  to  become  our  pastor,  which  was  accepted  by  him, 
and  he  commenced  his  pastoral  labors  1st  of  April, 

1881,  which  still  continue. 


Church  constituted  Nov.  27, 1795.     No.  of  constituents 19 

Pastorate  of  Members 
added. 

Under  Elder Jones 4  years.  22 

"          "      John  Pitman 24     "  124 

"          "       Ezra  Goiny 9  months.  24 

"          "       Bartlett  Pease 3     "       6        "  19 

"          "       Benjamin  C.  Grafton.     2     "       2         "  22 

"          "      Porondo  Berton 1  year,   U        "  14 

"          "      Henry  Clarke 3  years,  3        "  103 

"           "       John  Allen 3     "       2        "  18 

"          "       John  C.  Welch 9     "      5         "  120 

"      Henry  G.  Stewart 2     "      6        "  8 

"      Alexander  Lorimer...     1  year,  1  month.  15 

"          "      George  Mathews  3  years.  31 

"      Austin  H.  Stowell 2     "      9  months.  39 

"      George  M.  P.  King....     4     •■      5        "  15 

"          "       Isaac  Cheseborough..  14     "       6        "  69 

Bailey  S.  Morse ..  


The  first  Sabbath-school  was  formed  June  1,  1819, 
by  a  few  of  the  young  people  of  the  church  and  so- 
ciety. Viall  Medbery  was  chosen  superintendent, 
which  office  he  filled  to  March  25,  1855,  when 
Deacon  William  S.  Munroe  was  chosen,  who  filled 
the  office  till  Oct.  27,  1867.  He  was  followed  by 
Allen  J.  Brown,  to  1870 ;  John  A.  Medbery,  to  1871 ; 
Samuel  B.  Allen,  to  1872;  John  A.  Medbery,  to  1873  ; 
Hannah  Medbery,  to  1877  ;  Allen  Munroe,  present 
superintendent. 


The  Hebron  Church1  was  organized  Dec.  25, 1827. 
The  church  edifice  was  erected  in  1827,  and  stood  on 
the  line  of  the  towns  of  Seekonk  and  Attleborough, 
the  line  of  the  towns  passing  through  the  church. 

This  building  was  sold  and  removed  in  1870,  and 
a  new  church  built  in  that  year,  but  ivholly  in  See- 
konk. The  edifice  erected  in  1870  was  destroyed  by 
fire  in  1875 ;  another  was  built  and  was  dedicated 
Aug.  6,  1875. 

The  church  erected  a  parsonage  in  1863.  The 
pastors  of  this  church  have  been  Rev.  Thomas  Wil- 
liams, Rev.  Charles  Simmery,  Rev.  William  H.  Hay- 
ward,  Rev.  John  W.  Caldwell,  Rev.  Joshua  Stetson, 
Rev.  Junia  S.  Mowrey,  Rev.  George  W.  Wallace, 
Rev.  J.  C.  Seagraves,  Rev.  Gardner  Clark,  Rev. 
Reuben  Allen,  Rev.  Solomon  P.  Snow,  Rev.  Sam- 
uel Heath,  Rev.  William  B.  Heath,  Rev.  John  Q. 
Adams.  Present  pastor,  Albert  F.  Remington.  Rev. 
Mr.  Remington  became  pastor  of  this  church  in 
April,  1875. 

The  deacons  were  Seta  Kent,  Ira  K.  Miller,  Daniel 
Perry,  John  Blanchard,  Noble  Fuller,  George  W. 
French,  Henry  Carpenter.  The  present  deacons  are 
Andrew  J.  Goff,  Samuel  O.  Case,  Jr.,  and  George 
O.  Newman.  There  are  at  present  about  eighty 
members  belonging  to  the  church.  The  Sabbath- 
school  numbers  one  hundred  and  fifteen. 

We  subjoin  the  following  concerning  the  origin  of 
this  church  :  On  the  25th  of  December,  1827,  a  num- 
ber of  the  members  of  the  First  Congregational 
Church  in  West  Attleborough  residing  in  and  near 
Hebronville,  having  been  dismissed  for  the  purpose 
of  forming  a  new  organization,  unitedly  agreed,  in 
order  to  their  greater  usefulness  in  promoting  the  in- 
terests of  religion,  to  become  a  new  church  under  the 
"  creed  of  Congregationalism." 

Their  first  pastor  was  Rev.  Thomas  Williams. 
Under  his  labors  the  church  was  increased  and 
blessed,  and  a  house  of  worship  was  erected. 

The  church  continued  to  have  a  succession  of  Con- 
gregational pastors,  with  no  change  in  their  creed, 
until  the  spring  of  1842,  when  the  church  became 
convicted  that  to  make  the  creed  of  a  sect  a  test  of 
church  membership,  to  the  rejection  of  Christians 
from  the  Church  of  Christ,  was  not  a  Christian  but 
an  unauthorized  human  arrangement. 

It  was  accordingly  voted  to  give  up  their  creed  of 
Congregationalism  as  a  test  of  membership,  and 
adopt  the  Scriptures,  more  especially  the  New  Testa- 
ment, as  their  only  and  sufficient  rule  of  faith  and 
practice,  under  which  all  Christians  located  together 
could  unite  in  the  exercise  of  all  the  ability  which 
God  giveth  in  the  work  and  worship  of  God,  and  thus 
become  more  useful  and  successful  in  building  up  the 
church  and  cause  of  Christ. 

1  Contributed  by  Joseph  Brown. 


502 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL  COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


JOSEPH  BROWN. 
There  were  quite  a  number  of  the  early  settlers  of 
New  England  who  bore  the  name  of  Brown.  Peter 
Brown  was  probably  the  first.  He  came  over  from 
England  in  the  "  Mayflower."  He  was  not  an  an- 
cestor, but  related  to  an  ancestor  of  Deacon  Joseph 
Brown.  From  the  most  authentic  records  we  have 
been  able  to  obtain,  it  seems  a  probability  bordering 
on  certainty  that  William1  Broivn,  who  came  to  Ply- 
mouth, and  there  married  Mary  Murdock,  July  16, 
1649,  was  the  first  of  this  particular  branch  who 
settled  in  America.  He  was  from  England.  He  died 
at  Plymouth,  1694.  He  had  a  son,  Samuel1,  born 
1656,  who,  in  turn,  had  a  son,  Samuel3,  born  Nov.  7, 
1690.  This  Samuel  was  the  father  of  William*,  who 
held  a  commission  as  quartermaster  in  Fourth  Troop 
of  Horse,  Second  Regiment,  in  Massachusetts  Bay, 
commanded  by  Col.  Zephaniah  Leonard.  His  com- 
mission, dated  Sept.  17,  1742,  in  sixteenth  year  of  the 
reign  of  King  George  II.,  and  signed  by  Wm.  Shir- 
ley, Captain-General  and  Governor-in-Chief  of  Mas- 
sachusetts Bay,  is  now  in  possession  of  Deacon  Joseph 
Brown,  his  great-grandson.  Samuel5,  his  son,  held  a 
commission  as  second  lieutenant,  bearing  date  March 
22,  1776,  granted  by  Council  of  Massachusetts  Bay, 
under  King  George  III. ;  and  June  10,  1779,  he  was 
commissioned  first  lieutenant  of  Fifth  Company,  First 
Regiment  of  Bristol  County,  Thos.  Carpenter  colonel. 
(Both  of  these  original  documents  are  also  in  pos- 
session of  Deacon  Brown,  who  has  a  list  in  the  orig- 
inal handwriting  of  the  men  under  the  command  of 
his  grandfather,  Lieut.  Brown.)  Lieut.  Samuel  Brown 
participated  in  a  number  of  engagements  during  the 
war  of  American  independence.  He  was  a  man  of 
character,  selectman  of  his  town,  and  a  deacon  in  the 
Baptist  Church  of  Rehoboth.  He  died  in  1816,  in 
the  seventy-seventh  year  of  his  age,  leaving  be- 
hind him  four  children, — Samuel,  Josiah,  Mary,  and 
Petei-  H  His  wife  was  Huldah  Hunt,  a  descendant 
of  Peter  Hunt,  who  was  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers 
of  the  ancient  town  of  Rehoboth,  and  one  of  its 
principal  men  in. his  day. 

Peter  Hunt  Brown  was  born  Jan.  13,  1793.  He  re- 
ceived only  such  educational  advantages  as  were 
offered  by  the  district  schools  of  his  town,  was  reared 
a  farmer's  son,  and  has  followed  that  peaceful  avoca- 
tion through  the  long  period  that  has  intervened 
from  his  boyhood  days  to  the  present  writing,  when 
(1883)  Mr.  Brown,  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety,  is 
still  in  possession  of  all  his  faculties,  and  able  to 
read  the  finest  print  without  the  aid  of  glasses.  He 
married,  Oct.  15,  1815,  Sally  Walker,  daughter  of 
Moses  Walker  (who  was  also  a  descendant  of  one  of 
Rehoboth's  oldest  families).  They  had  two  children, 
Joseph6  and  Huldah  Hunt,  the  latter  born  June  22, 
1819.     Mrs.  Brown  died  May  27,  1870.     Mr.  Brown, 


like  his  ancestors,  gave  his  attention  to  military  mat- 
ters. He  held  a  commission  as  second,  and  afterwards 
as  first,  lieutenant  in  the  State  militia.  He  has  been 
selectman  of  his  town,  and  is  now  senior  deacon  in 
the  First  Congregational  Church  of  Seekonk.  He  is 
a  Republican  in  politics,  and  has  voted  at  every 
Presidential  election  from  James  Monroe's  time  to 
the  present.  Upon  consultation  of  the  records  with 
reference  to  the.  Brown  family,  we  find  that  a  greater 
proportion  of  them  have  been  clergymen  than  of 
probably  any  other  family  in  New  England.  We 
also  find  that  prior  to  1836  thirty-seven  of  the  name 
had  graduated  at  Harvard  and  sixty-three  at  other 
New  England  colleges. 

Deacon  Joseph  Brown  was  born  Aug.  7,  1816. 
In  addition  to  the  common-school  course  in  his  town, 
he  had  instruction  at  a  select  school,  and  also  took 
an  academic  course.  After  leaving  school  he  em- 
ployed much  of  his  time,  for  a  period  of  about 
twenty  years,  in  teaching.  In  addition  to  this  he 
has  all  his  life  been  engaged  in  farming  and  garden- 
ing on  the  old  homestead,  which  has  been  in  the 
family  so  many  generations. 

He  is  one  of  the  leading  farmers  of  his  town.  He 
has  been  chairman  of  the  school  committee  many 
years,  and  a  member  of  the  board  nearly  forty  years. 
He  was  chairman  of  the  board  of  selectmen  and 
overseers  of  the  poor  ten  years.  He  represented  his 
district  in  the  State  Legislature  in  1862  and  1864. 
He  holds  a  commission  under  the  commonwealth  as 
justice  of  the  peace,  and  for  many  years  has  done 
much  probate  business,  both  in  his  own  State  and 
the  neighboring  one  of  Rhode  Island.  He  has  served 
as  chairman  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Congre- 
gational society  of  Seekonk  more  than  thirty  years. 
He  is  deacon  of  that  church,  and  has  been  for  about 
twenty  years.  He  married,  Jan.  11,  1844,  Henrietta 
Smith  French,  daughter  of  Ezra  French,  of  Seekonk. 
To  them  were  born  four  children,  three  of  whom  are 
still  living,  viz. :  Herbert  E.,  born  Feb.  5,  1847,  now 
residing  in  Providence,  R.  I.,  and  quite  celebrated  as 
a  musician,  both  vocal  and  instrumental.  Helen  Au- 
gusta, born  Nov.  24,  1851,  now  Mrs.  J.  Gardner  Case, 
of  Pawtucket;  and  Henry  William,  born  Oct.  14,1856, 
resides  on  the  old  homestead  with  his  father. 

Mrs.  Brown  died  Nov.  29, 1879.  Mr.  Brown  married 
for  his  second  wife  Alice  H.  Carpenter,  Jan.  5,  1882. 

Deacon  Joseph  Brown  is  a  man  of  stern  integrity 
and  upright  life.  He  is  a  man  of  strong  character 
and  influence  in  his  community,  and  probably  no 
man  in  the  town  stands  higher  in  the  good  will  and 
esteem  of  the  people. 


HON.   OLIVER   CHAFFEE. 

Hon.  Oliver  Chaffee  was  born  Dec.  18,  1822.     He 

is  the  son  of  Caleb  and  Lephe  P.  (Ormsbee)  Chaffee, 

of  Seekonk,  Mass.    Caleb  Chaffee  was  a  man  of  much 

prominence  and  usefulness  in  his  community.     The 


"  /v     z  t 


CrfL 


■w-e/ty 


seekonk. 


503 


following  extract  from  the  Providence  Journal,  pub- 
lished soon  after  his  death,  will  serve  to  show  some- 
thing of  the  esteem  in  which  he  was  held  by  those 
who  knew  him  best: 

"After  a  long  and  active  life  of  eighty-six  years 
and  four  months,  Mr.  Caleb  Chaffee,  of  Seekonk, 
passed  to  his  rest  Aug.  1,  1880.  He  was  a  man  of 
such  prominence  in  his  native  town  as  to  deserve 
special  mention.  He  was  the  oldest  son  of  six  chil- 
dren, and  on  account  of  the  death  of  his  father  the 
care  of  a  large  family  rested  upon  him  at  the  early 
age  of  eighteen.  By  his  energy  and  industry  he  paid 
off  all  claims  on  the  home  farm  and  kept  the  family 
together  until  they  were  of  age  or  married.  In  1816 
he  married  Lephe  P.  Ormsbee.  She  died  Jan.  7,  1840, 
leaving  seven  children.  He  then  married  Pamelia 
A.  Allen,  who  survives  him.  .  .  . 

"  Mr.  Chaffee  ruled  well  in  his  own  household,  be- 
lieving in  the  old-fashioned  doctrine  that  children 
should  be  taught  to  obey.  Yet  he  secured  good  gov- 
ernment without  resorting  to  harshness  or  violence, 
and  these  children  have  borne  for  their  father  an 
affection  and  respect  greater  than  they  can  express. 
Although  a  farmer  all  his  life,  and  not  having  had 
the  advantages  of  a  school  education,  yet  Mr. 
Chaffee  became  a  self-educated  man,  and  was  always 
thoroughly  conversant  with  the  news  of  the  day. 

"  His  general  information,  shrewd  remarks,  and 
quick  sympathies  made  him  a  most  enjoyable 
companion.  Himself,  child,  grandchild,  and  great- 
grandchild— four  generations — have  played  croquet 
together  at  the  old  home.  He  served  in  the  Massa- 
chusetts State  Legislature  four  years.  He  was  invited 
to  serve  on  the  board  of  selectmen  of  his  town,  but 
refused.  He  was  of  commanding  presence,  and  gave 
the  stranger  at  once  the  impression  of  being  a  man  of 
unusual  strength  of  body  and  mind.  A  man  of  strong 
convictions,  he  was  regarded  by  all  as  possessing  a 
character  above  reproach." 

His  children  were  Betsey  O.,  who  married  William 
H.  Armington  ;  Mary,  married  Samuel  B.  Allen,  is 
now  a  widow;  Jonathan,  now  deputy  sheriff  at  Fall 
River;  Oliver,  subject  of  our  sketch  ;  Cordelia,  mar- 
ried William  Wheeler,  of  Taunton ;  Henrietta  A. 
(deceased),  married  Daniel  D.  Barney;  Elizabeth  F., 
died  in  infancy;  Elpallet  I.,  died  in  infancy;  Lephe 
P.,  married  Joseph  Robinson,  of  Seekonk;  and  Sarah 
A.,  who  resides  with  her  mother  at  East  Providence 
Centre. 

Oliver  Chaffee  was  reared  a  farmer's  son,  and  had 
only  such  facilities  for  an  education  as  were  afforded 
by  the  schools  of  his  town. 

When  a  young  man  he  taught  school  a  number  of 
sessions  during  the  winter  months  in  Seekonk  and 
Rehoboth,  but  spent  his  summers  on  the  ancestral 
farm,  the  care  of  which  chiefly  devolved  upon  him 
during  a  great  part  of  the  time  after  he  arrived  at  his 
majority.  About  1848  he  took  a  position  as  clerk  in 
a  general  grocery-  and  variety-store  of  Louis  Keuyon, 


where  he  remained  some  two  years.  He  married, 
June  13,  1848,  Abby  Maria,  daughter  of  Church  and 
Sally  (Ide)  Gray.  She  was  born  May  20,  1824. 
They  have  had  seven  children, — C.  Frank,  now  in 
Rumford  Chemical-Works,  where  he  has  been  em- 
ployed several  years;  Abbie  M.,  married  C.  C.  Balch, 
of  New  Hampshire,  and  resides  in  Boston  ;  Oliver  O, 
Caleb  C,  Fred.  Ide,  J.  Irwin,  graduate  at  Brown 
University,  now  principal  of  Grove  Avenue  School 
at  Watcheinoket;  Lizzie  G.,  married  R.  M.  Morrison, 
of  New  Hampshire,  now  resides  in  Boston. 

Mrs.  Chaffee  is  descended  from  Joseph,  brother  of 
Benjamin  Church,  the  warrior.  The  line  is  as  fol- 
lows: Joseph1,  Joseph2,  Caleb3,  Ebenezer4,  Elizabeth5, 
(she  married  John  Gray,  and  had  son)  Church  Gray6, 
Mrs.  Chaffee7. 

In  the  fall  of  1848,  Mr.  Chaffee  settled  at  the  place 
where  he  now  resides.  He  carried  the  mail  eight 
years  between  East  Providence  and  Providence.  He 
has  done  much  surveying  and  settled  many  estates. 
He  is  esteemed  as  one  of  the  best  citizens  of  his  com- 
munity. He  was  selectman  and  overseer  of  the  poor, 
and  also  juryman  many  times  in  Seekonk  before  that 
part  of  the  town  in  which  he  resides  was  annexed  to 
Rhode  Island.  Since  he  has  been  a  citizen  of  Rhode 
Island  he  has  been  representative  or  senator  six 
years.  He  is  now  a  member  of  the  Lower  House, 
and  has  been  selectman  many  years.  He  is  now 
judge  of  probate.  Mr.  Chaffee  is  a  most  worthy  rep- 
resentative of  an  ancient  and  honorable  family.1 


VIALL  MEDBERY. 
Among  the  early  settlers  of  the  ancient  town  of 
Rehoboth,  Mass.,  was  John1  Medbery,  who  settled 
near  the  boundary  line  between  Rehoboth  and  Bar- 
rington.  He  left  four  children, — John2,  Rebecca, 
Ebenezer,  and  Thomas.  John2  married  a  Miss  Camp, 
and  settled  in  the  southwest  part  of  his  native  town, 
about  one  mile  north  of  Sabin's  Point.  He  was  the 
father  of  seven  children,  who  lived  to  maturity,  viz., 
Nathaniel,  Chloe,  John3,  Benjamin,  Sarah,  Nathan, 
and  Josiah.  Of  these,  Nathaniel  married  and  had 
four  children, — Betsy,  William,  Mary  Ann,  and 
Thomas.  Chloe  died  aged  and  unmarried.  Benjamin 
enlisted  in  the  United  States  army,  and  was  killed 
at  battle  of  Rhode  Island.  Sarah  married  Dr.  Fred- 
erick Radliff,  who  was  a  surgeon  in  a  Hessian  regi- 
ment, was  captured  by  United  States  troops,  and 
afterwards  enlisted  in  United  States  army,  and  never 
returned  to  Germany.  They  had  five  children.  Na- 
than married  Bethiah  Kent,  by  whom  he  had  seven 
children,  —  Elizabeth,  Anne,  Hezekiah,  Hannah, 
Humphrey,  Sarah,  and  Bethiah.  Josiah  married 
Phoebe  Rhodes,  by  whom  he  had  eleven  children,  all 
of  whom  lived  to  maturity,  namely,  Esther,  George, 


l  Since  the  above  was  written  Mr.  Chaffee  has  passed  away.    He  died 
on  the  evening  of  May  8,  1883. 


504 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Phoebe,  Arnold,  Nicholas,  Thomas,. Rosannah,  Lydia, 
Josiah,  Frederick,  and  Mariah.  Of  all  these  only 
Josiah  and  Mariah  are  now  living.  The  mother,  Es- 
ther, Phoebe,  Arnold,  Nicholas,  Rosannah,  Lydia, 
and  Mariah  were  members  of  the  Baptist  Church  at 
Seekonk. 

John3  was  born  in  First  Precinct  of  Rehoboth  in 
1752,  and  learned  the  cooper's  trade  in  Providence, 
R.  I.  Just  prior  to  the  expiration  of  his  apprentice- 
ship, however,  he  met  with  an  accident  which  probably 
changed  to  some  extent  the  tenor  of  his  life.  His  leg 
was  broken  by  a  fall  from  a  fruit-tree,  and  it  was 
many  months  before  he  recovered  sufficiently  to  be 
able  to  walk,  even  with  difficulty.  As  soon  as  he  had 
so  far  recovered  he  enlisted  in  the  Federal  army,  and 
received  a  commission  as  lieutenant.  He  continued  in 
the  service  until  the  close  of  the  war  and  the  inde- 
pendence of  the  United  States  had  been  established. 
After  the  close  of  the  war  he  married  Abigail  Viall, 
hired  a  small  farm,  and  began  housekeeping  under 
very  unfavorable  circumstances, — without  suitable 
tools,  necessary  household  furniture,  or  money  to 
purchase  either.  The  pay  he  received  for. his  services 
in  the  army  was  in  Continental  currency,  which  at 
that  time  was  so  depreciated  in  value  as  to  be  practi- 
cally worthless;  but  as  soon  as  early  vegetables  were 
ready  for  marketing  he  began  to  receive  some  returns 
for  his  labor,  and  to  purchase  a  few  of  the  comforts 
and  necessaries  of  life,  which  had  before  been  denied 
them. 

By  close  economy,  persistent  industry,  and  a  deter- 
mined effort  to  succeed,  Mr.  Medbery's  business  grad- 
ually grew  more  prosperous.  He  continued  farming 
and  marketing  his  produce  till,  in  the  autumn  of 
1825,  when  at  Central  Falls,  near  Pawtucket,  his 
horse  becoming  frightened  and  turning  swiftly  around, 
the  wagon  was  upset,  and  he  was  thrown  violently  to 
the  ground,  receiving  injuries  which  after  some  weeks 
of  suffering  and  severe  pain  finally  terminated  in  his 
death,  Nov.  2,  1825.  Mr.  Medbery  first  united  with 
the  Baptist  Church  in  Swansea,  in  which  church  he 
continued  a  member  until  1794,  when  he  obtained  a 
letter  of  dismission  to  unite  with  others  and  organize 
a  Baptist  Church  in  Rehoboth.  He  attended  all  the 
preliminary  meetings,  and  the  church  was  finally  or- 
ganized Nov.  11,  1794.  Mr.  Medbery  was  chosen 
clerk,  and  served  in  that  capacity  till  Aug.  25,  1822, 
when  he  declined,  and  his  son  Viall  was  chosen  in 
his  stead.  The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Medbery 
were  ten  in  number, — Benjamin,  Samuel  Viall,  Ben- 
jamin, Jesse,  John,  Charles,  Via//*,  Allin  Viall,  Wil- 
liam, and  Fanny.  Of  these,  the  first  Benjamin  was 
drowned  when  five  years  of  age.  Samuel  Viall  re- 
ceived a  liberal  education,  graduating  from  Brown 
University  in  1805,  studied  physic,  married  Ruth  V. 
Chandler,  by  whom  he  had  two  children,  Matthew 
and  Samuel,  and  led  a  seafaring  life,  first  shipping  as 
surgeon,  and  afterwards  going  several  voyages  as 
mate.     When  last  heard  from  he  was  master  of  an 


English  ship  which  sailed  from  Savannah  for  Liver- 
pool just  prior  to  the  war  of  1812.  Benjamin,  the 
third  son,  married  Hannah  Lilley  and  settled  in  Bar- 
rington,  R.  I.,  was  by  occupation  a  farmer,  and  was 
judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  one  term. 
Their  children  were  named  Elbrige,  Gerry,  Nicholas 
W.,  Abbey,  Charlotte,  Amariah,  Benjamin,  Charles, 
Hannah,  Julia,  and  Rufus.  He  died  in  Providence, 
R.  I.,  in  the  ninetieth  year  of  his  age.  Jesse  (fourth 
son  of  John)  married  Elizabeth  Viall.  Their  chil- 
dren were  Patience,  Thomas  V.,  Ruth  A.,  Charles, 
Caroline,  Betsey,  Jesse,  Edwin,  and  Laura.  John 
(fifth  son  of  John3)  married  Elizabeth  Allen,  by 
whom  he  had  four  children,  —  Elizabeth,  John, 
Amanda,  and  Fanny.  He  was  an  officer  in  the 
militia,  and  volunteered  his  services  under  Capt. 
Joseph  Watson  in  a  company  organized  to  defend  the 
city  of  New  Bedford  against  the  British  fleet  then 
cruising  in  that  vicinity.  He  was  afterwards  pro- 
moted to  captain.  He  removed  to  Pawtucket  and 
died  there.  Charles  (sixth  son  of  John)  was  born 
1792,  married  Mercy  Allen,  moved  to  Ohio  and 
settled  at  Belpre,  near  Marietta,  and  united  with  a 
Baptist  Church  on  opposite  side  of  the  Ohio  River, 
in  Kentucky.  He  afterwards  removed  to  St.  Mary's, 
near  the  western  boundary  line  of  the  State,  where 
he  resided  till  his  death,  1853.  He  was  a  teacher 
many  years.  He  had  three  children,  two  daughters 
and  one  son. 

Allin  Viall  (eighth  son  of  John)  removed  from  his 
native  State  to  Marietta,  Ohio,  and  thence  to  St. 
Mary's,  Ohio,  where  he  taught  school  several  years, 
married,  and  had  one  son.  He  received  a  commission 
as  judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  and  con- 
tinued in  that  office  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
suddenly.  William  (ninth  son  of  John)  died  in  in- 
fancy. Fanny  (the  only  daughter  of  John)  married 
John  Chaffee,  and  removed  to  Pennsylvania,  where 
they  settled  in  the  town  of  Warren,  Bradford  Co. 
They  had  nine  children, — William  Penn,  Abbey, 
Matthew,  Susan,  Francis,  Jesse,  Newman,  Charles, 
and  George.  Three  of  the  sons  enlisted  in  the  United 
States  service  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion.  One  of 
them  (Charles)  died  of  illness;  George  was  captured 
by  the  Confederates,  and  confined  in  the  famous  An- 
dersonville  prison,  where  he  suffered  severely  until 
the  close  of  the  war,  when  he  returned  home  reduced 
almost  to  a  skeleton.  He  now  draws  a  pension,  is 
married,  and  lives  in  Nevada.  Matthew,  Jesse,  and 
Newman  are  married,  and  live  in  Iowa.  The  three 
daughters  are  married,  and  live  in  Warren,  Pa.  Wil- 
liam Penn  married  and  died  in  his  native  town,  no 
issue.  Viall  Medbery  (seventh  son  of  John*),  whose 
portrait  appears  in  connection  with  this  sketch,  was 
born  in  that  part  of  the  town  of  Rehoboth  now  called 
Seekonk,  April  17,  1795.  When  in  the  third  year  of 
his  age  he  met  with  a  severe  accident,  falling  from 
the  upper  chamber  of  a  corn-crib.  When  picked  up 
he  was  thought  to  be  dead,  and  though  he  eventually 


y 


ci& 


SEEKONK. 


505 


revived,  it  was  many  years  before  he  fully  recovered. 
He  resided  with  his  father  till  his  majority,  with  the 
exception  of  the  time  he  was  employed  in  teaching, 
during  the  winter  months  after  he  was  eighteen.  He 
generally  commenced  these  sessions  about  the  middle 
of  November,  and  continued  till  the  middle  of  March, 
when  he  would  then  resume  his  farming  until  the 
following  autumn.  This  he  continued  till  his  forty- 
eighth  year. 

In  1819,  Mr.  Medbery,  as  superintendent,  with 
four  teachers,  instituted  the  first  Sabbath-school  con- 
nected with  the  Baptist  Church  of  Seekonk,  and  con- 
tinued its  superintendent  until  October,  1855,  more 
than  thirty-five  years.  In  1837  he  was  chosen  selectman 
and  overseer  of  the  poor,  in  which  office  he  continued 
until  1848.  In  1843  he  was  chosen  to  represent  the 
town  of  Seekonk  in  the  General  Assembly  of  Massa- 
chusetts, which  trust  he  accepted,  and  was  absent 
from  his  seat  but  one  day  during  the  entire  session. 
In  1850  he  was  again  chosen  selectman  and  overseer 
of  the  poor,  and  served  two  years.  He  also  was  a 
member  of  the  school  committee  of  Seekonk  three 
years.  In  1862  the  present  town  of  East  Providence 
was  set  oft'  from  Seekonk,  Mass.,  to  Rhode  Island,  and 
Viall  Medbery  was  appointed  by  the  Legislature  of 
Massachusetts  trustee  to  call  a  town-meeting  of  the 
inhabitants  of  what  remained  of  Seekonk,  to  meet  on 
the  1st  day  of  March,  1862,  to  choose  a  moderator  and 
clerk,  and  all  other  town  officers  necessary  for  the 
year  ensuing,  and  to  act  on  any  other  business  that 
might  lawfully  come  before  said  meeting,  and  Mr. 
Medbery  was  authorized  to  preside  in  said  meeting 
until  a  moderator  and  town  clerk  were  chosen.  Upon 
organization  he  was  chosen  moderator,  and  Jonathan 
Chaffee  was  chosen  town  clerk.  At  this  same  meet- 
ing he  was  also  chosen  first  selectman,  in  which  ca- 
pacity he  served  one  year  and  then  resigned.  In 
1865  he  was  chosen  treasurer  of  Seekonk,  and  served 
one  year. 

On  Dec.  4,  1820,  Mr.  Medbery  married  Hannah 
Peck,  by  whom  he  had  three  children, — Betsey  Ann, 
born  Nov.  22,  1822;  Allin  Viall,  born  Jan.  29,  1825; 
and  Andrew  Nelson,  born  Dec.  5,  1827.  Mrs.  Med- 
bery died  May  1,  1828,  aged  thirty  years.  Mr.  Med- 
bery married  for  his  second  wife  Lydia  Peck,  June 
18,  1829,  by  whom  he  had  six  children, — Allin  Viall, 
born  Oct.  30,  1830 ;  Horace  Carpenter,  born  March 
17,  1832;  Matthew  Hale,  born  April  2,  1834;  Han- 
nah Peck,  born  June  20,  1835;  Adeline  Frances, 
born  Nov.  2,  1837;  and  John  Allin,  born  Feb.  12, 
1842.  Mrs.  Lydia  Medbery  died  Jan.  14,  1861.  Of 
the  above-named  children  Allin  Viall1  died  Sept.  1, 
1828;  Allin  Viall2  died  Oct.  12,  1831  ;  Horace  Car- 
penter died  May  11,  1833;  Adeline  Frances  died 
Feb.  2,  1842;  Betsey  Ann  married  Asa  Chaffee,  Jan- 
uary. 1844,  and  died  May  1,  1844;  Matthew  died 
May,  1851. 

John  A.  resided  with  his  parents  till  his  eighteenth 
year,  when  with  his  father's  consent  he  enlisted  in 


the  United  States  army  for  three  years.  He  belonged 
to  a  Rhode  Island  cavalry  regiment,  and  had  many 
hairbreadth  escapes  while  in  the  army.  His  horse 
was  once  shot  under  him.  When  the  war  was  ended 
he  received  his  discharge,  enlisted  in  the  burial  corps 
to  bury  the  dead  who  were  slain  in  the  battle  near 
Winchester,  W.  Va.  While  employed  in  that  service 
he  met  and  formed  the  acquaintance  of  the  lady  who 
is  now  his  wife.  He  now  resides  in  Providence,  R.  I., 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Union  Baptist  Church  of  that 
place. 

Hannah  P.  was  born  blind.  She  received  her  edu- 
cation at  the  asylum  for  the  blind  at  Boston,  Mass. 
She  is  very  intelligent,  and  has  an  extraordinary 
memory.  She  reads  rapidly  (from  raised  letters)  and 
converses  fluently.  She  united  with  the  Baptist 
Church  in  Seekonk  May  27,  1851.  She  is  much  in- 
terested in  all  good  works. 

Mr.  Medbery  married  as  his  third  wife  Mrs.  Han- 
nah Wheeler,  July  18,  1872,  and  they  still  reside  in 
Seekonk.  It  is  a  somewhat  remarkable  fact  that 
since  the  Baptist  Church  was  first  organized  in  See- 
konk the  clerkship  has  passed  from  father  to  son  in 
the  Medbery  family,  and  is  now  filled  by  Andrew  N., 
a  son  of  Viall,  and  has  never  been  out  of  the  family, 
almost  all  of  whom  have  been  members  of  that  par- 
ticular religious  denomination.  It  may  be  proper 
further  to  state  that  Viall  Medbery  has  been  a  promi- 
nent man  in  the  town  of  Seekonk  for  more  than  forty 
years,  and  as  magistrate  and  trial  justice  has  had  be- 
fore him  most  of  the  criminal  business  of  the  town 
for  thirty  years.  It  is  unnecessary  to  comment  on 
the  position  Mr.  Medbery  occupies  in  the  friendship 
and  esteem  of  his  fellow-townsmen,  facts  speak  for 
themselves. 

Andrew  N.  Medbery,  son  of  Viall,  was  born  Dec. 
5,  1827.  His  health  failing  when  he  was  fourteen 
years  of  age  greatly  interfered  with  his  educational 
pursuits.  In  1847  he  began  teaching  school  in  his 
native  town,  teaching  during  the  winter  months  and 
working  at  farming  during  the  summer  months  until 
1857,  when  his  health  became  so  poor  that  he  relin- 
quished teaching.  In  1852  he  was  chosen  one  of  the 
school  committee  of  Seekonk,  and  has  been  a  member 
of  that  board  most  of  the  time  since. 

In  1869  he  was  chosen  selectman  and  assessor, 
which  office  he  filled  for  years.  In  1879  he  was  chosen 
to  represent  the  Tenth  Bristol  District  in  the  Legis- 
lature. In  1878  he  was  appointed  trial  justice  for 
Bristol  County.  In  1880  he  was  chosen  town  clerk, 
which  position  he  has  held  three  years.  In  politics 
he  is  a  Republican,  and  in  religious  opinions  a  Bap- 
tist. He  united  with  the  First  Baptist  Church  of 
Seekonk  May,  1853.  In  March,  1854,  he  Avas  chosen 
clerk  in  lieu  of  his  father,  and  has  held  that  position 
since.  Mr.  Medbery  is  by  occupation  a  merchant  in 
his  native  town.  He  married,  May  30,  1854,  Sarah 
E.  Gregory,  daughter  of  Hon.  John  Gregory,  of 
Bristol,  R.  I. 


506 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


SAMUEL    0.    CASE. 

Samuel  0.  Case,  whose  portrait  appears  on  another 
page,  is  a  self-made  man  in  more  respects  than  one. 
Although  his  ancestors  have  for  some  generations 
been  residents  of  this  portion  of  New  England,  yet 
he  was  one  of  a  numerous  family  whose  circum- 
stances would  not  permit  of  his  enjoying  the  edu- 
cational and  other  advantages  which  even  the  poorest 
among  us  may  have  now  if  they  will.  He  has  been 
truly  the  architect  of  his  own  fortune.  His  father, 
Gardner  Case,  was  one  of  a  family  of  five  brothers 
and  one  sister,  born  in  the  town  of  Rehoboth,  where 
he  lived  until  the  time  of  his  death  in  1838,  at  the  ripe 
age  of  eighty-one  years.  He  married  first,  Elizabeth 
Ford,  by  whom  he  had  five  children,  none  of  whom 
are  at  present  living.  His  second  wife  was  Mary 
Mason,  by  whom  he  had  eight  children, — Mary, 
James,  Henry,  Almira,  Samuel  0.,  Mehala,  Nathan, 
and  Amanda.  Of  these  only  Samuel  0.,  Nathan,  and 
Amanda  are  now  living.  By  occupation  Mr.  Case  was 
a  farmer  and  merchant.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Baptist  Church,  and  in  political  faith  a  Whig. 

Samuel  0.  Case  was  born  Dec.  25,  1807.  He  had 
but  limited  educational  facilities,  attending  only 
the  winter  terms  of  school,  and  working  on  the  farm 
in  summer.  His  elder  brother  being  a  cripple, 
the  duties  of  the  farm  devolved  largely  upon  him, 
and  he  was  early  taught  that  independence  and  self- 
reliance  which  has  since  contributed  much  to  his  suc- 
cess in  life.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  he  learned  the 
mason's  trade,  serving  an  apprenticeship  of  three 
years.  About  this  time  there  came  a  period  of  great 
financial  depression  throughout  the  country,  and  there 
was  consequently  very  little  building  being  done,  so 
Mr.  Case  went  to  work  on  the  farm  at  eight  dollars 
per  month.  Soon  after  this,  however,  he  went  to  New 
Bedford  and  began  work  at  his  trade,  receiving  as 
journeyman  mason  from  seventy-five  cents  to  one  dol- 
lar per  day.  At  the  expiration  of  two  years  he  went 
to  Taunton,  where  he  received  an  increase  of  pay, 
getting  $1.2-3  per  day ;  he  remained  at  Taunton  two 
years.  Then  in  1837  he  helped  build  Dyer's  factory, 
after  walking  from  his  home  there,  a  distance  of  four- 
teen miles,  and  then  doing  a  day's  work.  After  this 
he  removed  to  Seekonk  and  obtained  employment  on 
Boston  and  Providence  Railroad,  building  bridges, 
culverts,  etc.,  and  doing  general  masonry,  and  part  of 
the  time  had  the  care  of  the  track.  After  this  he 
began  contracting  and  working  generally  at  his  trade 
throughout  the  country.  In  the  mean  time,  in  1840, 
he  opened  a  store  at  Kent's  Mills  (now  called  Leba- 
non), which  he  continued  three  years,  and  since  that 
time  has  been  variously  engaged  in  farming,  merchan- 
dising, etc.,  but  always  continuing  to  work  at  his 
trade  whatever  other  interests  he  might  have. 

He  has  had  charge  of  Hunt's,  Carpenter's,  and 
"  The  Old  Town"  Cemeteries  seventeen  years.  He 
holds  the  office  of  road  surveyor  in  District  No.  1  in 
the  town  where  he  resides    (East  Providence),  and 


held  the  same  office  once  before,  a  term  of  two  years. 
He  was  formerly  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church, 
but  is  now  a  Congregationalist. 

On  Dec.  1, 1833,  he  married  Sarah  Hicks,  daughter 
of  Nathan  Hicks,  of  Rehoboth.  She  was  born  May 
1,  1808.  They  have  five  children,— Samuel  O.,  Jr., 
Sarah  H.,  Nathan  H.,  Jane  M.,  and  James  G.,  all  of 
whom  are  still  living.  Samuel  O.,  Jr.,  married  Har- 
riet E.  Cooper,  and  has  three  children.  He  is  a  mer- 
chant in  Lebanon,  and  an  active,  enterprising  business 

man.     Sarah    married   Nelson    W.  Britton,  and   has 

i  ' 

four  children.  Jane  married  Henry  Bourn,  and  re- 
sides in  Pawtucket.  They  have  three  children. 
James  married,  first,  Emma  Estes,  by  whom  he  had 
one  child,  and  second,  Helen  Brown,  of  Seekonk,  by 
whom  he  has  two  children.  Nathan  still  resides  at 
the  old  homestead  with  his  father,  and  is  unmarried. 
Mr.  Case  has  battled  with  the  world  three-quarters 
of  a  century,  and  during  that  long  period  of  time  has 
been  an  industrious,  persevering,  honest,  successful 
man,  and  is  to-day  active,  well  preserved,  and  in  full 
possession  of  his  faculties.  He  is  a  man  respected 
and  reverenced  by  all  who  know  him  for  his  many 
noble  traits  of  character,  his  honesty  of  purpose,  and 
his  sterling  worth.  He  is  one  of  Seekonk's  most 
honored  and  respected  citizens,  and  may  he  long  live 
to  enjoy  the  prosperity  he  has  so  nobly  won. 


CHAPTER    XXXIX. 
ATTLEBOROUGH.i 

Rehoboth  North  Purchase — How  and  by  whom  Purchased — Boundaries 
— Wamsutta's  Deed — Thomas  Willett,  Character  and  Services — List  of 
Proprietors— Proceedings  of  Proprietors — First  Regular  Division. 

In  1643  a  company  was  formed  at  Weymouth, 
Mass.,  consisting  of  Rev.  Samuel  Newman  and  a 
large  part  of  his  congregation,  for  the  purpose  of 
establishing  a  new  settlement  in  this  vicinity.  They 
purchased  a  large  tract  of  land  of  the  sachem  of 
Pokanoket,  including  what  is  now  Rehoboth,  See- 
konk, Pawtucket,  East  Providence,  and  a  part  of 
Swansea,  then  known  by  the  name  of  Wannamoisett; 
and  in  the  spring  of  1644  removed  to  a  place  then 
called  by  the  Indians  Seacuuke,  and  commenced 
their  settlement  around  the  Great  Plain.  This  was 
the  Rehoboth  purchase.  Here  the  inhabitants  con- 
tinued, with  many  additions  to  their  number,  as  an 
independent  settlement  until  June  4,  1645,  when  they 
were  adopted  into  the  jurisdiction  of  Plymouth  Colony, 
to  whose  territory  it  belonged,  and  were  incorporated 
as  a  township  by  the  scriptural  name  of  Rehoboth. 
•  This  was  then  a  wilderness,  and  there  was  no  other 
settlement  in  the  vicinity.  The  nearest  was  the  new 
settlement  at  Cohan  net,  Taunton,  which  was  about 

1  By  Hon.  John  Daggett. 


,«#» 


\ 

I 

if 

£" 

SAM'L    O.    CASE. 


ATTLEBOROUGH. 


507 


twelve  miles  distant,  The  Rehoboth  plantation  pros- 
pered and  continued  to  receive  accessions  from  new 
emigrants,  and  also  from  the  settlements  near  Ply- 
mouth, from  Duxbnry,  Marshfield,  and  S6ituate, 
and  some  from  Boston,  Dorchester,  Roxbury,  1  ring- 
ham,  Dedham,  and  Bome  more  emigrants  from  Wey- 
mouth, the  former  residence  of  the  original  settlers. 
It  was  deemed  a  favorable  location,  as  it  was  situated 
on  the  borders  of  the  Narragansett  Bay. 

During  the  first  seventeen  years  after  the  settle- 
ment of  the  town  there  was  remaining  a  large  tract 
of  land  belonging  to  the  Indians  lying  directly  on 
the  north  of  that  town,  and  between  its  north  line 
and  south  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  line,  contain- 
ing an  area  sufficient  for  two  large  townships.  The 
people  of  Rehoboth  employed  Capt,  Thomas  Wil- 
lett,  who  was  a  skillful  negotiator  and  on  intimate 
friendly  terms  with  the  Indians,  to  purchase  this  tract 
of  land  for  them.  Accordingly,  with  the  consent  of 
the  government,  he  purchased  it  of  Wamsutta,  the 
oldest  son  of  Massasoit,  the  steadfast  friend  of  the 
English.  He  lived  only  about  a  year  after  this.  The 
title  to  Indian  lands  was  held  to  be  in  the  sachem  of 
the  tribe.  There  appeared  to  be  no  individual  owner- 
ship in  the  soil.  He  was  originally,  as  already  stated, 
called  Mooanam.  After  the  death  of  his  father  he 
changed  his  name,  according  to  Indian  custom,  to 
Wamsutta,  and  he  was  the  reigning  sachem,  and  the 
purchase  was  made  from  him.  His  wife's  name  was 
Namumpum.  He  was  succeeded  by  the  celebrated 
King  Philip,  his  younger  brother.  The  title  was  held 
by  Capt.  Willett  in  his  own  name  from  April  8,  1661, 
till  April  10,  1666,  when  he  assigned  his  title  to  the 
Plymouth  government;  and  on  the  same  day  the 
agents  of  the  colony  confirmed  the  conveyance  to  the 
purchasers.  This  was  in  the  form  of  a  deed,  and  was 
intended  as  a  confirmation  and  consent  of  the  govern- 
ment, the  law  of  the  colony  prohibiting  any  purchase 
of  lands  from  the  Indians  without  the  consent  of  gov- 
ernment. The  proprietors  did  not  make  any  perma- 
nent division  of  their  lands  till  the  18th  March,  1668 
-69,  when  a  regular  division  of  fifty  acres  to  a  share 
was  made,  and  lots  drawn  for  the  same  by  each  pur- 
chaser or  owner  of  shares.  The  number  of  the  share- 
holders had  been  increased  by  the  addition  of  several 
from  Swansea  and  other  places  to  ninety  individuals. 
The  original  purchase  was  limited  to  such  inhabi- 
tants as  held  then  a  fifty-pound  estate  and  upwards; 
but  soon  became  a  distinct  body  from  the  general  set- 
tlers of  the  town,  including  new  purchasers  and  the 
heirs  of  those  who  bad  deceased.  They  held  separate 
meetings  and  kept  separate  books  of  records  and  titles 
relating  to  these  lands.  The  original  purchasers,  ami 
those  to  whom  they  sold  shares  from  time  to  time, 
and  the  heirs  of  those  purchasers  who  had  died,  then 
constituted  the  shareholders  of  the  Rehoboth  North 
Purchase.  Any  new  coiners  who  wished  to  own  land 
within  this  purchase  might  buy  of  those  who  had 
lands  laid  out  to  them,  or  rights  to  lay  out  under  di- 


visions already  granted,  or  undivided  shares  from  any 
proprietors  willing  to  sell.  Private  titles  were  ac- 
quired in  this  way:  lands  laid  out  by  a  surveyor  and 
a  commitee  appointed  for  the  purpose  at  a  meeting  of 
the  company,  and  the  "  lay  out"  returned  to  the  block 
of  the  proprietors  and  recorded  by  him  in  the  books 
of  the  company,  constituted  a  valid  title  to  such 
lands. 

In  1661,  Capt.  Thomas  Willet  was  employed  by 
people  of  that^town  to  make  a  purchase  of  a  new 
tract  of  land  in  their  behalf,  having  been  first  author- 
ized and  empowered  by  the  court  for  that  purpose. 
He  accordingly  purchased  of  Wamsutta1  a  certain 
tract  of  land  situated  north  of  the  town  of  Rehoboth, 
which  was  called  the  Rehoboth  North  Purchase.  It 
was  bounded  west  by  Pawtucket  River,  now  the  Black- 
stone,  north  by  the  Massachusetts  Colony  or  the  bay 
line  (so  called),  east  by  territory  which  was  afterwards 
the  Taunton  North  Purchase,  now  Mansfield,  Norton, 
and  Easton,  and  south  by  the  ancient  Rehoboth,  now 
Rehoboth,  Seekonk,  and  Pawtucket,  and  East  Provi- 
dence. This  purchase  included  Attleborough,  Cum- 
berland, R.  I.,  and  a  tract  of  a  mile  and  a  half2  in 
width,  extending  east  and  west  (which  was  an- 
nexed to  Rehoboth  as  an  enlargement),  and  a  part  of 
Wrentham  and  Foxborough,  as  the  line  then  ran. 
This  purchase  was  afterwards,  viz.,  April  10,  1666, 
granted  and  confirmed  by  the  Plymouth  government 
to  the  Rehoboth  purchasers. 

Pocanoket  or  Pawkunnawket  is  a  name  applied  to 
the  tribal  dominion  of  Massasoit,  whose  personal  tribe 
was  the  Wampanoags,  his  general  authority  extending 
over  various  other  tribes  in  Plymouth  Colony,  whose 
dominion  descended  through  Wamsutta  to  King 
Philip.  It  was  said  that  previous  to  1612,  before  the 
arrival  of  the  Pilgrims,  and  before  the  great  pestilence 
which  swept  away  so  many  of  the  natives,  Massasoit 
could  number  four  thousand  warriors. 

"Once  Pawknnnawket's  warriors  stood 
Thick  as  the  columns  of  the  wood  ; 
On  shores  ami  isles  unconqnered  men 
Called  Massasoit  father,  then." 

This  region  was  then  the  domain  of  the  good  Massa- 
soit, the  fast  friend  of  the  English.  It  was  inherited 
by  his  son,  Wamsutta,  and  from  him  by  his  brother, 
Metacomet,  or  King  Philip.  How  long  in  the  ages 
of  the  past  this  fair  domain  had  been  in  the  possession 
of  the  natives  the  records  of  time  have  never  revealed. 
But  their  hour  had  now  come,  and  it  was  destined  to 
pass  from  their  hands  to  another  ami  higher  race. 
They  were  doomed  to  extinction.  According  to  the 
inevitable  law  of  Providence,  when  brought  into  con- 

i  Sachem  of  Pokanoket,  originally  called  Mooanam,  afterwards  Alex- 
ander, the  chirr  brother  of  Kin;,'  Philip,  and  .son  of  Massasoit  He  died 
in  the  summer  of  1662.  His  wife's  name  was  Namumpum  — See  Drake's 
"  Indian  Biography" 

-  It  wa-  given  and  assigned  to  Rehoboth  by  the  agents  of  the  court  of 
Plymouth,  who  were  appointed  to  convey  tin'  North  Purchase  to  the 
proprietors,  ami  afterwards,  in  1710,  restored  to  Attlel.orough  \>y  the 
Legislature  of  Massachusetts. 


508 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


flict,  the  inferior  must  yield  to  the  superior  race. 
After  Philip's  war  a  feeble  and  spiritless  remnant 
lingered  around  their  former  abodes  for  a  short  time 
in  a  degraded  condition,  and  then  vanished  forever. 

"Of  all  their  tribes,  the  heirs  of  want, 
A  feeble  few  our  land  may  haunt ; 
The  gloomy  ghosts  of  dead  renown 
Awhile  from  sire  to  son  go  clown  ; 
And  in  their  spectral  visits  say, 
That  here  the  red  man  once  had  sway." 

The  following  copy  of  the  Indian  deed,  which  is 
the  foundation  and  original  title  to  our  whole  terri- 
tory, is  taken  from  the  Old  Colony  Records: 

A  Deed  Appointed  to  be  Recorded. 

Know  all  men,  that  I,  Wamsetta,  alias  Alexander,  chief  Sachem  of 
Pokanokett,1  for  divers  good  causes  and  valuable  considerations  me 
thereunto  moving,  have  bargained  and  sold  unto  Captain  Thomas  Wil- 
lett,  of  Wannamoisett,  all  those  tracts  of  land  situate  and  being  from 
the  bounds  of  Rehoboth  ranging  upon  Patuckett  River  unto  a  place 
called  WTaweypounshag,  the  place  where  one  Blackston  now  sojourneth, 
and  so  ranging  along  to  the  said  river  unto  a  place  called  Messanegta- 
caneh,  and  from  this  upon  a  straight  line  crossing  through  the  woods 
unto  the  uttermost  bounds  of  a  place  called  Mamantapett  or  Wading 
River,  and  from  the  said  River  one  mile  and  a  half  upon  an  east  line, 
and  from  thence  upon  a  south  line  unto  the  bounds  of  the  town  of  Re- 
hoboth: To  have  and  to  hold  unto  him,  the  said  Captain  Willett  and  his 
associates,  their  heirs  and  assigns  forever;  reserving  only  a  competent 
portion  of  land  for  some  of  the  natives  at  Mishanegitaconett  for  to  plant 
and  sojourn  upon,  as  the  said  Wamsetta,  alias  Alexander,  and  the  said 
Thomas  Willett  jointly  together  shall  see  meet ;  and  the  rest  of  all  the 
land  aforementioned,  with  all  the  woods,  waters,  meadows,  and  all  emol- 
uments whatsoever  to  remain  unto  the  said  Thomas  Willett  and  his  asso- 
ciates, their  heirs  and  assigns  forever.  Witness  my  hand  and  seal  the 
eighth  day  of  April  in  the  year  1661. 


The  mark  of  AXA 
Wamsitta,  alias  Alexander, 
his  seal  [l.  8.] 


Signed,  sealed,  and  delivered 

in  presence  of 
John  Brown,  Jr., 
Jonathan  Bosworth, 
John  Sassaman,  the  Interpreter. 

April  10th,  1666.  Witnesseth  These  Presents,  that  Captain  Thomas 
Willett  above  said  hath  and  doth  hereby  resign,  deliver  -and  make  over 
all  and  singular  the  lands  above  mentioned,  purchased  of  Wamsitta  alias 
Alexander  chief  Sachem  of  Pocanokett,  according  unto  the  bonnds 
above  expressed,  with  all  and  singular  the  benefits,  privileges,  and  im- 
munities thereunto  appertaining,  unto  Mr.  Thomas  Prence,  Major  Josias 
Winslow,  Capt.  Thomas  Southworth,  and  Mr.  Constant  Southworth,  in 
the  behalf  of  the  Colony  of  New  Plymouth.  In  witness  whereof  he 
doth  hereunto  set  his  hand  and  seal. 
Signed,  sealed  and  delivered  Thomas  Willett.   [Seal.] 

in  presence  of 
Daniel  Smith, 
Nicholas  Peck. 

The  following  is  the  grant  or  deed  of  the  govern- 
ment: 

Know  all  men  by  these  presents,  that  we  Thomas  Prence,  Josias 
Winslow,  Thomas  Southworth  and  Constant  Southworth  by  order  of  the 
General  Court  of  New  Plymouth,  and  in  the  name  and  behalf  of  the 
said  Colony  of  Plymouth,  have  and  by  these  presents  do  bargain,  sell, 
alien,  grant  and  confer  and  make  over  unto  the  proprietors  of  the  town 
of  Rehoboth  (viz.)  unto  all  that  hold  there,  from  a  fifty  pound  estate 
and  upwards,  according  to  their  first  agreement,  all  and  singular  the 
lands  lying  and  being  on  the  north  side  of  that  town  of  Rehoboth 
bounded  as  followeth,  (viz.)  by  a  River  commonly  called  Patucket  river 
on  the  west,  and  up  the  said  River  unto  the  Massachusetts  Line,  and  on 
the  northerly  side  by  the  said  Line  until  it  cross  the  old  road  towards 
the  Bay,  where  the  marked  tree  stands  and  heap  of  stones,  and  thence 
a  mile  and  a  half  east,  and  from  thence  by  a  direct  line  to  the  north 
east  corner  of  the  present  bounds  of  the  town  of  Rehoboth,  and  so  back 


1  Or  Pocanaket,  or  Pawkunnawkut,  a  name  applied  to  the  whole  do- 
minion of  King  Philip,  whose  personal  tribe  was  the  Wampanoags. 


again  home  unto  the  said  Line  between  the  governments;  with  all  the 
meadows,  woods,  waters,  and  all  benefits,  emoluments,  privileges,  and 
immunities,  thereunto  appertaining  and  belonging,  to  have  and  to  hold 
to  them  and  to  their  heirs  for  ever  Excepting  that  we  reserve  within 
this  tract  a  farm  formerly  grante  unto  Major  Josias  Winslow,  and  a 
farm  granted  unto  Capt.  Thomas  Willett,  and  two  hundred  acres  of  land 
unto  Mr.  James  Brown  about  Snake  Hill,  and  ten  acres  of  meadow 
thereabouts;  and  the  meadow  called  Blackstone's  Meadow,  the  west 
plain  and  the  South  neck  the  quantity  of  two  hundred  acres,  and  the 
fifty  acres  granted  to  Roger  Amadown,  with  four  acres  of  meadow  ad- 
joining, three  acres  of  meadow  to  Nicholas  Ide,  and  half  an  acre  of 
meadow  unto  George  Robinson  :  All  the  residue  of  the  lands  above  men- 
tioned we  do  hereby  firmly  make  over  unto  the  above  said  purchasers 
and  their  heirs  for  ever,  and  do  hereby  acknowledge  ourselves  to  be 
fully  paid  and  satisfied  for  the  same,  and  do  exonerate,  acquit  and  dis- 
charge them  and  every  of  them  for  and  concerning  the  premises. 

In  witness  whereof  we  have  hereunto  set  our  hands  and  seals,  this 
tenth  of  April  1666. 

Signed,  sealed  and  delivered 

inpresenceof  Thomas  Prence  (l.s.) 

Isaac  Howland  Josias  Winslow  (l.s.) 

The  mark  X  of  Thomas  Southworth  (l.s.) 

John  Parris  Constant  Southworth  (l.s.) 

The  mark  y,  of 
John  Rocket. 

Marginal  Note. 

It  was  also  agreed  before  the  signing  and  sealing  of  this  Deed  that 
according  unto  a  clause  in  the  Indian  Deed  when  these  lands  were  pur- 
chased by  Capt.  Willett,  that  some  meet  proportion  of  lands  about  Sin- 
nichiconet,  such  as  the  said  Capt.  Willett  and  the  Indian  Sachem  shall 
agree  upon,  should  be  set  out  for  the  use  of  the  Indians. 

NOTE   ON   THE   BACK    OF   THE   SAME    DEED. 

This  Deed  is  recorded  according  to  order  by  me,  Nathaniel  Morton, 
Secretary  to  the  Court  of  New  Plymouth. 

The  Dividend  of  Lands  enrolled 
Folio  217. 

The  following  order  relating  to  this  subject  was 
passed  by  the  Court  of  Plymouth  : 

New  Plymouth  October  2d  1665. 

Whereas  the  Court,  having  formerly  impowered  Capt.  Thomas  Wil- 
let  to  purchase  of  the  Indians  certain  Tracts  of  lands  on  the  North  of 
Rehoboth  towards  the  Bay  Line,  the  which  he  hath  done,  and  is  out  of 
purse  some  considerable  sum  of  money  for  the  same,  this  Court  have 
appointed  the  Honored  Governor,  the  Major  Winslow,  Capt.  Southworth, 
and  Mr.  Constant  Southworth,  to  treat  with  Capt.Willet  concerning  the 
said  purchase,  and  have  impowered  the  above  named  Committee  to  take 
notice  of  what  hath  been  purchased  by  him,  and  what  deeds  he  hath, 
and  what  his  disbursments  have  been  for  the  same  ;  and  have  also  im- 
powered them  to  settle  upon  him  such  a  proportion  of  the  said  lands  as 
may  appear  to  be  equal,  upon  any  grant  to  him  ;  and  to  accommodate 
the  town  of  Rehoboth  respecting  an  enlargement  of  their  town,  as  the 
Court  have  promised;  and  to  take  such  course  concerning  the  re- 
mainder as  he  may  be  reimbursed  of  his  just  due  and  those  lands  may 
be  settled  by  the  Court. 

Extracted  from  and  compared  with  the  Records  of  said  Court. 

Per  Samuel  Sprague,  Clerk. 

Capt.  Thomas  Willett. — Some  notice  of  Capt. 
Thomas  Willett,  who  stands  at  the  head  of  our  list 
of  proprietors,  and  whose  life  deserves  to  be  better 
known,  will  not  be  deemed  inappropriate.  His  his- 
tory does  not  exclusively  belong  to  this  town,  but  as 
he  took  so  active  and  important  a  part  in  the  original 
purchase  and  settlement  of  this  and  the  neighboring 
towns,  a  brief  sketch  of  his  life  seems  to  be  demanded 
by  the  interest  which  our  citizens  must  feel  in  his 
character. 

Capt.  Willett  was  one  of  the  last  of  the  Leyden 
company,  and  came  here  about  1630.  He  was  a  very 
young  man  when  he  arrived  in  this  country.    He  was 


ATTLEBOROUGH. 


509 


a  merchant  by  profession,  and  in  his  travels  had  be- 
come acquainted  with  the  Pilgrims  in  Leyden,  and 
had  probably  spent  much  of  his  time  with  them  in 
Holland  previous  to  their  emigration  to  this  country. 
He  at  first  resided  in  Plymouth,  and  soon  became  a 
useful  and  distinguished  man  in  the  colony. 

Soon  after  his  arrival  in  1630,  though,  as  already 
observed,  a  young  man,  he  was  sent  by  the  company 
of  Plymouth,  who  had  established  a  trading-house  at 
Kennebeck,  to  -superintend  their  business  as  agent. 
While  he  was  residing  there  Governor  Winthrop 
relates  of  him  the  following  curious  anecdote: 

"  At  Kennebeck,  the  Indians  wanting  food,  and 
there  being  store  in  the  Plymouth  trading-house,  they 
conspired  to  kill  the  English  there  for  their  provi- 
sions; and  some  Indians  coming  into  the  house,  Mr. 
Willett,  the  master  of  the  house,  being  reading  the 
Bible,  his  countenance  was  more  solemn  than  at 
other  times,  so  as  he  did  not  look  cheerfully  upon 
them  as  he  was  wont  to  do ;  whereupon  they  went 
out  and  told  their  fellows  that  their  purpose  was  dis- 
covered. They  asked  them  how  it  could  be.  The 
others  told  them  that  they  knew  it  by  Mr.  Willett's 
countenance,  and  that  he  had  discovered  it  by  a  book 
that  he  was  reading.  Whereupon  they  gave  over 
their  design."— (Win.  Jour.,  i.  322.) 

In  1647  he  became  the  successor  of  Miles  Standish 
in  the  command  of  the  famous  military  company  at 
Plymouth.1 

He  was,  in  1651,  elected  an  assistant  of  the  Gov- 
ernor, and  was  annually  continued  in  that  office  till 
1665,  when  other  duties  obliged  him  to  decline,  and 
James  Brown,  of  Swansea,  was  chosen  his  successor. 
At  this  time  he  was  selected  by  the  Plymouth  Court, 
agreeably  to  the  request  of  His  Majesty's  commis- 
sioners, to  attend  them  at  New  York  (which  had  just 
been  surrendered  by  the  Dutch),  for  the  purpose  of 
assisting  them  in  organizing  the  new  government. 

It  is  mentioned  by  Davis,  in  a  note  to  his  edition 
of  Morton's  Memorial,  that  "  Col.  Nichols  (one  of  the 
commissioners),  in  a  letter  to  Governor  Prince,  writ- 
ten from  New  York  the  spring  after  the  reduction 
of  the  Dutch  settlements,  requests  that  Capt.  Willett 
may  have  such  a  dispensation  from  his  official  en- 
gagements in  Plymouth  Colony  as  to  be  at  liberty  to 
assist  in  modeling  and  reducing  the  affairs  in  this 
settlement  into  good  English.  He  remarks  that  Mr. 
Willett  was  more  acquainted  with  the  manners  and 
customs  of  the  Dutch  than  any  gentleman  in  the 
country,  and  that  his  conversation  was  very  accept- 
able to  them." 

He  executed  his  duties  here  to  the  entire  satisfac- 
tion of  all  concerned  ;  his  services  were  so  highly  ap- 
preciated, and  he  rendered  himself  so  popular  with 


i  "March  7,  1647.  The  military  company  of  New  riymouth,  having 
according  to  order  proposed  unto  the  court  two  men  for  every  especial 
office  of  their  hand,  the  court  do  allow  and  approve  of  Capt.  Thomas  Wil- 
lett for  captain,  Mr.  Thomas  Southworth  for  lieutenant,  Mr.  William 
Bradford  for  ensign."—  Old  Col.  Rec. 


the  people,  that  after  the  organization  of  the  govern- 
ment he  was  chosen  the  first  English  mayor  of  the 
city  of  New  York.  He  was  elected  the  second  time 
to  the  same  office.  "  But"  (as  Mr.  Baylies,  the  his- 
torian of  Plymouth  Colony,  has  justly  remarked) 
"even  the  first  of  city  distinctions  conferred  by  that 
proud  metropolis  did  not  impart  more  real  honor  to 
his  character  than  the  address  and  good  feeling  mani- 
fested by  him  in  effecting  the  peaceable  settlement 
of  the  humble  town  of  Swansea." 

The  Dutch  had  so  much  confidence  in  his  integrity 
that  he  was  chosen  by  them  the  umpire  to  determine 
the  disputed  boundary  between  New  York  and  New 
Haven. 

He  was  also  for  a  number  of  years  one  of  the  com- 
missioners or  delegates  of  the  united  colonies. 

Soon  after  the  settlement  of  Rehoboth,  Capt.  Wil- 
lett removed  to  Wannamoisett,  now  a  part  of  Swan- 
sea, where  he  resided  during  most  of  the  remainder 
of  his  life.  A  grant  of  the  greater  part  of  that  town- 
ship (Swansea)  was  made  to  him  and  others.  With 
him  was  associated  Mr.  Myles,  the  first  Baptist  min- 
ister in  New  England,  and  these  two  are  justly  es- 
teemed the  founders  of  Swansea.  The  manner  in 
which  they  conducted  the  settlement  of  that  planta- 
tion was  just  and  honorable,  and  reflects  much  credit 
on  the  character  of  both. 

Capt.  Willett  always  cultivated  a  friendly  inter- 
course with  the  Indians,  and  gained  their  confidence 
and  good-will.  Hence  he  was  generally  employed  by 
the  colony  in  the  purchase  of  lands  from  the  native 
chiefs.2 

The  following  order  relating  to  him  was  passed  by 
the  Plymouth  Court: 

"  March,  1665-66.  In  reference  to  an  order  of  Court 
bearing  date  the  third  day  of  October,  1665,  wherein 
our  Honored  Governor  Maj.  Winslow,  Capt.  South- 
worth,  and  Mr.  Constant  Southworth  were  appointed 
to  be  a  committee  in  reference  to  a  certain  tract  of 
land  purchased  by  Capt.  Willett  on  the  north  side  of 
Rehoboth,  which  said  order  empowereth  the  said 
committee  to  dispose  and  settle  a  proportion  of  the 
said  lands  on  the  said  Capt.  Willett  as  they  shall 
think  meet,  and  the  Court  do  therefore  settle  and 
confirm  unto  him  four  or  five  hundred  acres  of  the 
said  lands,  to  be  laid  out  for  him  on  the  easterly  side 
or  end  of  the  said  lands,  to  him  and  his  heirs  for- 
ever.3 

Rehoboth  also  voted  him  a  gratuity  for  his  ser- 
vices to  that  town.  "21st  12th  mo.  1660.  In  town 
meeting  it  was  voted  that  Mr.  Willett  should  have 

2  He  was  the  original  purchaser  of  the  Rehohoth  North  Purchase  (At- 
tleborough  and  Cumberland),  Taunton  North  Purchase  (Norton,  Mans- 
field, and  Easton),  and  many  other  tracts  of  land  in  the  vicinity. 

3  This  grant  was  laid  out  to  him  ami  recorded  in  tin-  Rehoboth  North 
Purchase  books.  It  lies  on  the  Seven-Mile  River,  and  has  always  borne 
the  name  of  Willett's  Farm.  In  1720  it  was  divided  into  two  parts  be- 
tween Capt.  Samuel  Tyler  and  Joyce  Newell,  widow  of  Jacob  Newell. 
This  farm  was  originally  laid  out  with  great  regularity,  in  parallel 
lines,  and  its  subsequent  divisions  have  been  preserved  in  good  shape. 


510 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


liberty  to  take  up  five  hundred  or  six  hundred  acres 
of  land  northward  or  eastward  beyond  the  bounds  of 
our  town,  where  he  shall  think  it  most  convenient  to 
himself." 

Capt.  Willett  married  Mary  Brown  (who  was  the 
daughter  of  Mr.  John  Brown  the  1st)  at  Plymouth, 
6th  July,  1636,  by  whom  he  had  several  children  : 
Thomas ;  Hester,  born  6th  July,  1647  ;  Rebecca,  died 
2d  April,  1652  ;  James,  born  Nov.  24,  1649  ;  Andrew ; 
Samuel  ;  Hezekiah,  who  died  26th  July,  1651 ;  Heze- 
kiah  (2d),  born  16th  Nov.  1652,  etc. 

His  son,  James,  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of 
Lieut.  Peter  Hunt,  of  Rehoboth,  17th  April,  1673  ; 
Hezekiah  (2d)  married  Anna,  daughter  of  Mr.  John 
Brown  (2d),  of  Rehoboth,  7th  Jan.  1675,  and  was 
killed  soon  after  by  the  Indians  in  Philip's  war. 
John  Saffin,  who  had  resided  in  Scituate  and  Swansea, 
married  a  daughter  of  Capt.  Willett,  and  settled  in 
Bristol,  R.  I.,  and  Samuel  Hooker,1  of  Farmington, 
Conn.,  married  another  daughter. 

Several  of  his  descendants  have  become  distin- 
guished in  the  history  of  the  country.  His  grandson, 
Francis,  was  a  prominent  man  in  Rhode  Island  col- 
ony. Another  descendant,2  his  great-grandson,  Col. 
Marinus  Willett  (lately  deceased),  served  with  dis- 
tinguished honor  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  had 
also  been  mayor  of  New  York  City.  Memoirs  of  his 
life  have  been  published  by  his  son,  William  M.  Wil- 
lett. 

After  a  residence  of  a  few  years  in  New  York  he 
returned  to  his  seat  in  Swansea,  where,  after  a  life  of 
distinguished  usefulness,  he  died  4th  of  August,  1674, 
at  the  age  of  sixty-three.  He  was  buried  at  the  head 
of  Bullock's  Cove  (in  what  is  now  Seekonk),  where  a 
rough  stone  is  erected  to  his  memory,  containing  a 
brief  and  rudely-carved  inscription   (which    is  now 


legible)  as  follows 


1674. 


Here  Lyeth  the  Body  of  the  worthy  Thomas  Willett,  Esq.,  who 

died  August  ye  4th  in  the  64th  year  of  his  age  Anno — 

who  was  the  first  mayor  of  New  York, 

and  twice  did  sustain  the  place. 

His  wife  Mary  is  buried  by  his  side.  She  died 
about  1669. 

Thus  the  first  English  mayor  of  the  first  commer- 
cial metropolis  in  America  lies  buried  on  a  lonely  and 
barren  heath  in  the  humble  town  of  Seekonk,  at  a 
place  seldom  visited  by  the  footsteps  of  man,  with 
naught  but  the  rudest  monument  to  mark  the  spot. 

The  farm  which  he  laid  out  in  this  town,  at  High 
Squissit,  and  agreeable  to  the  reservation  in  the  deed, 
consisted  of  about  five  hundred  acres  (besides  his 
meadow  and  several  other  lots),  and  was  situated  on 
both  sides  of  the  Seven-Mile  River,  begin uing  near 
Newel l's  tavern. 

His  share  in  the  Rehoboth  North  Purchase  was 
sold  by  his  son,  Capt.  Andrew  Willett,  to  John  Wil- 
kinson (the  1st),  of  Attleborough. 

i  Baylies'  Memoirs  of  Plymouth  Colony.      2  A  descendant  of  Samuel. 


The  following  introduction  is  entered  in  the  first 
book  of  records  of  the  Rehoboth  North  Purchase  : 

Whereas,  in  the  year  one  thousand  six  hundred  sixty  and  six,  a  pur- 
chase of  lands  was  made  by  the  Inhabitants  of  Rehoboth  and  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Annimosett — the  said  lands  situate  on  the  North  side  of  the 
Towne  of  Rehoboth— of  Mr.  Thomas  Prince,  Esquire,  Major  Josiah  Wins- 
low,  Captain  Thomas  Southworth  Agents  of  the  Government  of  New 
Plymouth,  the  bounds  of  the  said  lands  fully  appearing  by  a  Deed  of  sale 
made  by  the  aforesaid  gentlemen,  to  the  purchasers  thereof,  bearing  date 
the  tenth  of  April  1666,  which  deed  hath  been  inrolled  at  the  Court  of 
New  Plymouth  according  to  order  of  Court.  The  bounds  of  the  said 
lands  are  as  followeth  (viz.),  by  a  river  called  Patucket  river,  on  the 
West,  and  up  the  said  river  unto  the  Massachusetts  line;  and  on  the 
Northerly  side,  by  the  same  line,  until  it  cross  the  ould  Roade  towards 
the  Ray,  where  the  marked  tree  stands,  and  a  lieape  of  stones;  and 
thence  a  mile  and  a  halfe  East,  and  from  thence  by  a  direct  line  to  the 
North  East  comer  of  the  present  bounds  of  the  towne  of  Rehoboth,  and 
soe  back  againehome  to  the  said  line  between  the  Governments — Ex- 
cepting there  was  reserved  out  of  the  said  tract  of  land,  a  farm  granted 
before  to  Major  Josiah  Winslow,  a  farm  granted  to  Captain  Thomas 
Willett,  and  two  hundred  acres  of  land  to  Mr.  James  Browne  about 
Snake-hill,  and  ten  acres  of  Meadow  thereabouts;  and  the  Meadow 
called  Blackstone's  Meadow  the  West  plaine;  and  the  South  neck  the 
quantity  of  two  hundred  acres;  and  fifty  acres  granted  to  Roger  Animi- 
down  with  four  acres  of  meadow  ;  and  three  acres  of  Meadow  to  Nich- 
olas Ide;  and  half  an  acre  to  George  Robinson;  also  some  Meete  pro- 
portion of  lands  for  the  Indians  at  Sinnichitecouett,3  for  the  use  of  the 
said  Indians.  All  the  rest  of  the  said  lands  within  the  said  tract  as  be- 
fore bouuded,  to  be  equally  divided  to  the  purchasers  thereof  according 
to  their  said  proportions  (there  being  Seventy  Nine  whole  shares  and  a 
half),  being  joint  purchasers;  and  the  said  purchasers  have  fully  dis- 
charged and  paid  the  purchase  thereof  according  to  their  several  pro- 
portions. 

Mem.  That  the  clause  in  the  former  page  "to  be  equally  divided  to 
the  purchasers  thereof"  hath  reference  to  the  before  expressed  date 
(viz.)  one  thousand  Six  hundred  and  Sixty  and  Six. 

The  Names  of  the  Purchasers  with  their  Rights  to  the  said  Lands  be- 
fore mentioned  are  those  (no  man  contradicting)  that  are  here  expressed 
in  the  following  List. 

Capt.  Thomas  Willett  (one  share,  Abigail  Carpenter,  and  one  that 

John  Wilkinson's).  was  his  own). 

Mr.  Stephen  Paine,  Sen.,  2  shares  Mr.  John  Myles,  1  share. 

(one  that  was  his  own  and  one  William  Carpenter,  1  share. 

that    was    appointed    for    John  Joseph  Pecke,  1  share. 

Martin).  Thomas  Cooper,  Juu.,  1  share. 

Mr.  Noah  Newman,  1  share.  Ensign  Henery  Smith,  1  share. 

Lieut.  Peter  Hunt,  1  share.  Thomas  Cooper,  Sen.,  1  share. 

Mr.  James  Browne,  1  share.  Samuel  Pecke,  1  share. 

Samuel  Newman,  1  share.  William  Buckland,  1  share. 

John  Allen,  Sen.,  1  share.  Joseph  Buckland,  1  share. 

John  Woodcock,  1%  shares.  Benjamin  Buckland,  Dshare. 

Thomas     Estabrooke's    %     share  John  Reade,  Sen.,  1  share. 

(bought  of  Roger  Amidowne).  John  Reade,  Jun.,  1  share. 

Thomas  Willmot,  2  shares  (one  he  Nicholas  Pecke,  1  share. 

bought  of  Jo.  Carpenter  and  one  Elizabeth,     Hannah,    and    Lydia 

oi  his  own).  Winchester,  1  share;  this  sould 

Sampson  Mason,  1  share.  to  Daniel  Shepardson. 

Anthoney  Perry,  1  share.  Daniel  Smith,  1  share. 

John   Butterworth,   1   share   (this  Jonathan  Bliss,  1  share. 

sold  to  Daniel  Jenkes,  excepting  Rice  Leonard,  1  share. 

the  meadow).  William  Saben,  1  share. 

Philip  Walker,  1  share.  John  Perrin,  Sen.,  1  share. 

John  Ormsby,  1  share.  George  Kendricke,  1  share. 

Richard  Martin,  1  share.  George  Robeuson,  1  share. 

Stephen  Paine,  Jun.,  1  share.  John  Doggett,  1  share. 

Robert  Jones,  1  share.  John  Fitch,  1  share. 

Obadiah  Boweu,  1  share.  Richard  Bowen,  Jun.,  1  share. 

John  Pecke,  1  share.  Elizabeth  Bullucke,  1  share. 

James  Redeway,  1  share.  John  Miller,  Jun.,  1  share. 

Samuel  Carpenter,  1  share.  Robert  Fuller,  1  share. 

John  Titus,  2  shares  (one  that  he  Robert  Wheaton,  1  share. 

bought    of    his     mother-in-law,  Ester  Hall,  1  share. 

3  This  reservation  was  afterwards  laid  out  by  metes  and  bounds,  and 
recorded  to  the  Indians. 


ATTLEBOROUGH. 


511 


John  Miller,  Sen.,  1  shine. 
Jaret  Ingraham,  1  share. 
John  Kingsley,  1  share. 
Gilbert  Brookes,  1  share. 
Thomas  Reade,  1  share. 
Thomas  Grant,  XA  share. 
Jonathan  Fuller,  1  Bhare. 


Robert  Miller,  1  share. 

Nathaniel  Paine,  1  share  p.;  of  it 

he  bought  of  Richard    Bpwen, 

Sen.,  and  the  other  of  Jeremiah 

Wbeaton). 
Joanna    Lie,    of    New     Norwich, 

halfe  a  share. 


James  Qillson,!  share  (bought  of     John  Savage,  ' ,  share. 


Samuel  Sabent. 
Samuel  Luther,  1  Bhare  itbis  share 

sold  to  Mr.  Philip,  Squire). 
Nicholas  Tanner,  1  share. 
John  Allen,  Jim.,  1  share. 
Preserved  Abell,  1  share. 
Francis  Stephens,  1  share. 
Nicholas  Ide,  1  share. 
Richard  Whittaker,  \  share. 
Nathaniel  1'ecke,  1  share. 
Israel  Pecke,  1  share. 


Thomas  Ormsby,  ' .,  share  (bought 

of  Richard  Bowen,  Sen.). 
Jacob  Ormsby,  ' ,  share  (that  was 

his  mother's). 
John   l'olley,  1   share  (that  ho  had 

of  his  father,  Jon.  Bos  worth). 
William     Allen,    of     Prudense,    1 

share   he   bought   of    Nathaniel 

Paine. 
John  Lovell,  1  share. 
Eldad  Kinsley,  1  share. 


Jonah  Palmer,  1  share. 

The  aforesaid  list  and  the  preface  to  it  was  universally  agreed  upon 
at  a  meeting  of  the  purchasers,  May  28, 1G72,  to  be  entered  into  the 
Booke  of  Records  for  the  North  Purchased  Lands. 

This  was  attested  to  by  me,  William  Carpenter,  Jr., 

Gierke. 

This  list  of  proprietors,  as  the  reader  perceives, 
was  made  in  1072  by  a  committee  chosen  for  that 
purpose. 

The  first  division  of  lands  in  the  North  Purchase 
was  made  June  22,  1058.  This  division  was  confined 
exclusively  to  meadow  land.  It  appears  by  the  fol- 
lowing extracts  from  the  town  records  of  Rehoboth 
that  the  court  had  made  a  grant  of  the  meadows  in 
the  North  Purchase  before  the  rest  of  the  land  was 
granted.1 

Feb.  23, 1057. — At  a  town-meeting  lawfully  warned, 
it  was  voted  that  all  the  meadows  lying  on  the  north 
side  of  the  town,  which  were  given  and  granted  to 
the  town  by  the  court,  shall  be  laid  out  according  to 
person  and  estate. 

At  the  same  time  those  men  whose  names  are  here 
subscribed  have  promised  to  go  to  see  what  meadows 
they  can  find  on  the  north  side  of  our  town,  that  they 
may  notify  our  town,  to  their  best  judgment,  what 
quantity  there  may  be  of  it,  and  this  they  promise  to 
do  freely  on  their  own  charge.  William  Carpenter, 
Sr.,  will  go  3  days  on  his  own  charge,  and  if  he  go 
any  more  he  is  to  be  paid  for  it.  William  Sabin,  1 
day ;  Lieut.  Hunt,  2  days ;  Joseph  Peck,  1  day ; 
John  Peck,  1  day ;  Henry  Smith,  1  day ;  William 
Bucklin,  2  days;  Robert  Fuller,  1  day;  John  Read, 
1  day  ;  Thomas  Cooper,  Jr.,  1  day  ;  Francis  Stephens, 
1  day. 

At  the  same  time  those  men  whose  names  are  here 
subscribed  are  accepted  of  the  freemen  of  the  town  to 
take  up  their  freedom,  viz. :  Joseph  Peck,  John  Peck, 
Henry  Smith,  Robert  Fuller,  John  Fitch,  Steven 
Paine,  Jonathan  Bliss,  William  Bucklin,  Rice  Leon- 
ard. Several  of  these  persons  afterwards  removed  to 
Attleborough. 

June  22,  1058.    It  was  voted  that  all  the  meadow 


1  This  was  before  the   lands  were  actually  purchased,  and  was  evi- 
dently intended  for  the  immediate  use  of  the  cattle  of  the  inhabitants. 


that  lies  upon  the  north  side  of  the  town  that  hath 
been  visited  by  certain  men  according  to  the  town's 
order  shall  be  lotted  out  according  to  person  and 
estate. 

14th  of  the  9th  month,  1001.  Lieut,  Hunt  and  Wil- 
liam Sabin  were  chosen  to  confer  with  Mr.  Willet  to 
know  what  he  hath  done  about  the  north  side  of  the 
town  in  the  behalf  of  the  town. 

The  28th  of  the  5th  mo.,  1002.  It  was  voted  that 
John  Woodcock2  should  have  two  rods  of  land  to 
build  a  small  house  on  for  himself  and  his  family  to 
be  in  on  the  Lord's  day  in  some  convenient  place 
near  the  meeting-house,  and  Goodman  Paine  and 
Lieut.  Hunt  were  chosen  to  see  where  the  most  con- 
venient place  might  be  for  it, 

1085,  June  22d.  "  At  a  town-meeting  lawfully 
warned  lots  were  drawn  for  the  meadows  that  lie  on 
the  north  side  of  the  town,  according  to  person  and 
estate." 

April  18,  1000.  It  was  voted  by  the  town  that  the 
late  purchasers  of  land  upon  the  north  side  of  our 
town  shall  bear  forty  shillings  in  a  rate  of  five  pounds, 
and  so  proportionable  in  all  other  public  charges. 

It  was  also  voted  that  there  should  be  a  three-railed 
fence  set  up  and  maintained  between  the  late  pur- 
chased land  on  the  north  side  of  the  town,  to  be  set 
up  on  all  the  end  of  the  plain  from  Goodman  Buck- 
land's  lands  to  the  Mill  River,  and  every  man  that  is 
interested  in  the  said  purchased  lands  to  bear  an  equal 
proportion  in  the  aforesaid  fence  according  to  their 
proportion  of  lands. 

It  was  also  voted  to  make  choice  of  a  committee 
for  the  settling  and  stating  of  the  late  purchased 
lands  on  the  north  side  of  our  town,  viz.,  whether 
such,  as  at  present  seem  questionable,  are  true  pro- 
prietors of  the  aforesaid  lands ;  and  the  committee 
chosen  were  Capt.  Willet,  with  the  townsmen  and 
those  that  stand  engaged  for  the  payment  of  the  afore- 
said purchased  lands.  The  committee  reported  April 
23,  1000. 

It  was  also  voted  by  the  town  that  Mr.  Goodman 
Martin  shall  enjoy  a  spot  of  fresh  meadow  that  lies 
on  the  north  side  of  the  town,  lying  at  the  end  of  the 
great  plain,  during  his  life  and  his  wife's,  and  at 
their  decease  to  return  to  the  town. 

At  the  same  time  it  was  agreed  between  the  town 
and  Capt.  Willet  that  for  the  forty  acres  of  meadow 
that  he  is  to  have  to  his  farm  on  the  north  side  of 
the  town,  he  is,  by  agreement  made  with  the  town, 
to  have  High  Squisset  and  Low  Squisset,  and  the 
bounds  of  the  said  Squisset's  meadows  to  be  accord- 
ing to  the  sight  of  the  surveyors  the  day  that  they 
laid  out  his  farm,  that  is,  Henry  Smith  and  William 
Carpenter;  and  he  is  also  to  have  a  piece  of  meadow 
at  the  Seven-Mile  River  near  unto  the  going  out  at 
the  highway,  and  six  acres  of  meadow  at  the  Ten- 
Mile  River,  and  what  there  wants  of  the  six  acres  in 

2  Afterwards  of  Attleborough. 


51: 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


quality  is  to  be  made  up  in  quantity.  The  said  six 
acres  of  meadow  on  the  Ten-Mile  River  lies  by  the 
old  highway  as  we  go  into  the  bay. 

"  April  23,  1666.  The  committee  that  was  chosen 
by  the  town  April  18,  1666,  at  a  town-meeting,  for 
the  stating  and  settling  of  the  late  purchased  lands 
upon  the  north  side  of  our  town,  the  aforesaid  com- 
mittee being  met  together  this  23d  of  April,  we  see 
cause  that  there  shall  be  seventy-six  whole  shares 
and  equal  purchasers  in  the  aforesaid  lands,  and  six 
persons  that  have  half-shares,  which  we  see  cause  to 
add  to  the  seventy-six  whole  shares,  so  that  the  whole 
number  of  shares  amounts  to  seventy-nine  shares." 

May  19,  1666.  At  a  town-meetiug  lawfully  warned 
the  town  concluded  to  have  a  meeting  upon  the  last 
Tuesday  in  June,  to  consider  of  the  meadows  on  the 
north  side  of  the  town,  how  they  may  be  disposed  of 
for  this  present  year ;  it  is  therefore  agreed  by  this 
town  that  no  man  shall  mow  a  load  or  a  part  of  a 
load  of  grass  before  the  town  hath  disposed  of  them, 
upon  the  penalty  of  twenty  shillings  the  load  or  part 
of  a  load. 

Oct.  16,  1666.  At  a  town-meeting  it  was  concluded 
that  the  purchased  lands  on  the  north  side  of  the  town 
shall  be  divided  between  this  and  the  1st  of  May  next 
ensuing. 

It  was  also  voted  by  the  town  that  no  person  shall 
fall  any  trees  upon  the  aforesaid  lands  on  the  north 
side  of  our  town  before  the  said  lands  be  divided, 
upon  the  penalty  of  ten  shillings  for  every  tree  so 
fallen. 

The  same  day  John  Doggett,  John  Woodcock,  and 
John  Titus  were  chosen  by  the  town  to  see  what  tim- 
ber trees  are  fallen  on  the  late  purchased  lands  on  the 
north  side  of  our  town,  and  they  shall  have  the  for- 
feiture for  their  pains,  and  the  trees  to  those  that  the 
land  shall  fall  to. 

June  22,  1667.  At  a  town-meeting  it  was  voted  by 
the  town  that  the  meadows  lying  on  the  north  side  of 
the  town  shall  be  for  this  present  year  as  they  were 
the  last  year. 

April  10,  1668.  The  town  chose  a  committee  to  go 
and  view  the  meadows  that  are  in  the  North  Purchase 
and  to  acre  them  out,  to  divide  them  into  three-score 
and  eighteen  parts  and  a  half,  and  to  mark  and  bound 
out  each  part  and  put  in  such  swamps  as  in  their 
prudence  they  think  meet,  to  be  laid  out  in  the  said 
division,  provided  they  do  it  equally  as  they  can. 
The  said  committee  are  Anthony  Perry,  Philip  Walker, 
Thomas  Willmot,1  Nicholas  Ide,  to  be  paid  by  the 
whole  company  of  purchasers. 

May  13,  1668.  The  town  made  an  agreement  with 
Goodman  Allen  that  he  is  to  have  the  twenty  acres  of 
meadow  that  is  laid  out  by  Ensign  Smith  at  Sine- 
cheticonet,  and  the  meadow  called  the  Parson's 
Meadow,  and  all  that  is  within  his  farm  for  his  thirty 
acres  of  meadow  that  he  purchased  of  Maj.  Winslow, 

1  Now  Wilmarth. 


and  also  for  his  full  share  of  meadow  on  the  North 
Purchase. 

It  was  also  voted  that  the  rates  upon  the  north  side 
of  the  town  be  lowered  and  part  taken  on", — that  is  to 
say,  whereas  the  lands  upon  the  North  Purchase  paid 
forty  shillings  of  five  pounds  in  all  rates,  that  now 
the  said  lands  shall  pay  twenty  shillings  in  five  pounds 
until  the  town  see  cause  to  alter  it. 

May  26,  1668.  It  was  voted  that  John  Woodcock 
shall  have  the  meadow  upon  the  Ten-Mile  River  be- 
tween Capt.  Willett's  meadow  and  his  own  meadow, 
and  another  piece  that  the  townsmen  shall  appoint 
him  that  were  chosen  by  the  town  to  acre  the  meadows 
in  the  North  Purchase  for  two  shares  of  meadow  on 
the  North  Purchase. 

The  26th  of  May,  1668,  lots  were  drawn  for  the 
meadows2  in  the  North  Purchase. 

The  first  division  of  general  lands  was  granted  by 
the  proprietors  at  a  meeting  held  Feb.  9,  1668.  Lots 
were  drawn  for  this  division  March  18, 1668-69.  The 
previous  divisions  had  been  confined  to  meadow 
land. 

"  At  a  town-meeting  lawfully  warned  Feb.  9,  1668, 
it  was  voted  that  there  should  be  fifty  acres  of  upland 
laid  out  on  the  north  side  of  the  town  to  every  share, 
speedily ;  and  the  rest  to  be  laid  out  with  as  much 
conveniency  as  may  be." 

It  was  voted  that  there  should  be  a  committee  chosen 
to  view  where  there  is  good  land  for  the  laying  out  of 
a  division  of  lands  on  the  North  Purchase,  and  that 
the  aforesaid  fifty  acres  to  a  share  should  be  forthwith 
laid  out,  and  then  lots  to  be  drawn  by  the  aforesaid 
purchasers  according  to  the  agreement. 

At  a  town-meeting  lawfully  warned  the  18th  of 
March,  1668-69,  "  It  was  voted  that  there  should  be 
fifty  acres  of  land  laid  out  to  a  share  on  the  north 
purchased  lands." 

It  was  also  provided  that  the  purchasers  should 
draw  lots  for  their  choice,  and  that  each  one  should 
choose  his  lands  successively  according  to  his  turn, 
and  give  notice  to  the  next  in  turn  ;  and  that  if  any 
neglect  or  refuse  to  make  choice  and  lay  out  his  land 
in  his  turn  for  the  space  of  three  days  after  notice 
given  him,  he  should  wait  until  all  others  had  made 
choice  in  regular  order. 

At  this  meeting  a  committee  of  eight  were  chosen, 
any  two  of  whom  might  act,  to  see  that  these  rights 
should  not  be  laid  out  so  as  to  interfere  with  high- 
ways, previous  divisions  of  meadows,  or  other  lot- 
ments.  This  committee  were  William  Sabin,  Nicholas 
Peck,  Samuel  Newman,  James  Reddeway,  Thomas 
Willmott,  Samuel  Peck,  Lieut.  Hunt,  Joseph  Buck- 
land.  Nine  purchasers  entered  a  protest  against  the 
manner  of  laying  out  the  lands  by  choosing,  viz.,  Capt. 
Willett,  Mr.  Myles,  Will.  Sabin,  Mr.  Brown,  Dea. 
Cooper,  John  Miller,  Sr.,  John  Peren,  Sr.,  George 
Kendricke,  Will  Carpenter. 

2  Granted  by  the  court  previous  to  the  purchase. 


ATTLE  BOROUGH. 


513 


The  names  of  those  that  drew  for  a  division  on  the  North  Purchase,  18th 
March,  1G68-G9. 


John  Titus. 

Joseph  Bnckland. 

John  Ormsby. 

Children's  lands.1 

Nathl.  Paine. 

Goody  Hide. 

Eice  Leonard. 

Jolin  Allin,  Jr. 

Nicholas  Peck. 

Ichabod  Miller,  Jr. 

Robert  Wheaton. 

John  Doggett. 

Deacon  Cooper. 

Phillip  Walker. 

Tho.  Read. 

Joseph  Peck. 

John  Read,  Sr. 

Jonathan  Bliss. 

Roger  Amidowne. 

Stephen  Paine,  Jr. 

Thomas  and  Jacob  Ormsby. 

Richard  Bullock. 

Daniel  Smith. 

John  Kingsley. 

Obadiah  Bowing. 

John  Peren,  Sr. 

Rohert  Joanes. 

Will.  Bnckland. 

James  Gillson. 

Israil  Peck. 

Anth.  Perry. 

Eldad  Kingsley. 

Tho.  Cooper,  Jr. 

Sir.  Myles. 

Richard  Bemis,  Jr. 

John  Fitch. 

Joseph  Carpenter. 

Preserved  Abel. 

John  Woodcock. 

John  Allen,  Sr. 


Nich.  Ide. 
Capt.  Willet. 
James  Reddeway. 
Sam.  Newman. 
Stephen  Paine,  Sr. 
Jona.  Palmer. 
Robert  Miller. 
Tho.  Willmot. 
Gilbert  Brooks. 
Wid  Carpenter. 
Left.  Hunt. 
Jaret  Ingraham. 
Francis  Stephens. 
John  Read,  Jr. 
Mr.  Newman. 
Rich.  Martin. 
John  Butterworth. 
George  Kendrick. 
John  Lowell. 
Thomas  Grant. 
Mr.  Brown. 
Nath.  Peck. 
George  Robinson. 
Jonathan  Fuller. 
Jonathan  Bosworth. 
Sam.  Peck. 
Robert  Fuller. 
Nath.  Paine,  Jr. 
Richard  Whittaker. 
Sam.  Carpenter. 
Edward  Hall. 
Nicholas  Tanner. 
John  Savage. 
Will.  Saben. 
Will.  Carpenter. 
Sampson  Mason. 
John  Peck. 
Ben.  Buckland. 
Hen.  Smith. 
Sam.  Luther. 


Complaints  were  often  made  that  the  lands  in  the 
North  Purchase  were  rated  or  assessed  too  high. 
There  is  the  following  record  on  this  subject. 

At  a  meeting  of  proprietors  of  the  North  Purchase 
the  26th  August,  1670,  it  was  voted  that  the  townsmen 
should  choose  three  men  to  discuss  and  also  to  end  any 
difference  with  such  persons  as  are  chosen  by  the  com- 
plainers  of  the  provisions  of  the  rates.  The  time  set 
to  meet  was  this  day  s'en'nit  at  the  meeting-house, 
and  if  not  ended  to  attend  the  next  court  at  Plymouth 
to  defend  and  answer  such  complaints  as  are  made 
against  the  rating  of  these  lands. 

A  mile  and  a  half  on  the  south  side  of  this  town 
was  granted  to  Rehoboth  by  order  of  court,  June, 
1668. 

June,  1668.  This  court  have  ordered  that  a  tract 
of  land,  containing  a  mile  and  a  half,  lying  on  the 
north  side  of  the  town  of  Rehoboth,  is  allowed  to  be 
the  proper  right  of  the  said  township.  And  for  such 
lands  as  are  lying  betwixt  the  bay  line,  and  it  is  to  be 
accounted  within  the  constablerick  of  Rehoboth  until 
the  court  shall  order  it  otherwise.  And  that  such 
farms  as  lyeth  within  the  said  liberties  shall  be  re- 


1  Children  of  Alexander  Winchester,  deceased. 


sponsible  in  point  of  rating  at  the  colony's  disposal. 
—  Old  Col.  Bee. 

There  is  the  following  vote  concerning  this  tract  in 
Rehoboth  records : 

Nov.  8,  1670.  At  a  town-meeting  lawfully  warned 
it  was  voted  that  the  line  should  be  forthwith  run  be- 
tween the  North  Purchase  and  the  mile  and  a  half 
given  to  the  town  for  enlargement. 

The  committee  were  Lieut.  Hunt  and  Ensign  Smith, 
Nicholas  Peck  and  Will.  Carpenter. 

Committees  were  also  chosen  to  see  that  no  timber 
on  the  north  side  should  be  fallen  or  drawn  away. 
Great  difficulty  was  experienced  in  preventing  the 
loss  of  timber  on  the  undivided  lands. 

Dec.  26, 1670.  It  was  voted  that  there  should  be  a 
town-meeting  this  day  fortnight,  about  ten  of  the  clock 
in  the  morning,  and  that  there  should  be  a  committee 
chosen  to  draw  up  such  propositions  as  they  think  will 
be  most  expedient  for  the  settling  of  the  differences  on 
the  north  side  of  the  town  concerning  those  lands,  con- 
sidering that  all  the  purchasers  of  the  land  have  not 
yet  given  them,  Mr.  Brown  engaging  to  give  notice  to 
all  the  proprietors  of  those  lands  that  dwell  in  Swan- 
sea, and  that  these  propositions  be  tendered  at  the  said 
town-meeting,  that  if  it  were  the  will  of  God,  there 
might  be  a  unanimous  agreement.  The  committee 
chosen  were  Lieut.  Hunt,  Ensign  Smith,  Nathaniel 
Paine,  Nicholas  Peck,  and  Anthony  Perry. 

Nov.  23,  1670,  a  committee  was  chosen  to  meet  the 
treasurer  of  Taunton  to  settle  the  bounds  between  the 
North  Purchase  and  Taunton  North  Purchase.  The 
committee  were :  Ensign  Smith,  Wim.  Sabin,  William 
Carpenter. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  proprietors,  May  28,  1672,  it 
was  voted,  that  for  the  comfortable  and  peaceable  set- 
tlement of  the  lands  and  meadows  of  the  north  side  of 
the  town  ;  whereas  there  has  been  great  dissatisfaction 
in  respect  of  the  unequal  division  of  meadows ;  and, 
forasmuch  as  there  was  a  committee  chosen  in  the 
year  1668  for  the  bounding  of  the  meadows  between 
the  Tens,  there  shall  be  a  new  committee  added  to 
them,  to  make  diligent  search  and  take  a  deliberate 
view  of  the  meadows  and  swamps  within  all  the  sev- 
eral Tens,  with  power  to  add  to  those  Tens  which 
needed  amendment,  and  bound  them  all  ;  and  also  to 
redress  any  grievance  which  any  particular  person 
suffers.  This  order  is  not  to  take  place  till  after  six 
months.  It  was  provided  that  the  said  committee 
should  bound  all  the  Tens  before  any  more  upland 
lots  are  laid  out,  if  they  do  it  within  two  months. 

At  a  meeting  of  purchasers,  Feb.  18,  1684,  it  was 
voted  that  there  should  be  a  division  of  fifty  acres  to 
a  share  in  the  North  Purchase.  William  Carpenter 
was  chosen  surveyor  to  lay  it  out.  Voted  that  there 
should  be  a  meeting  of  the  purchasers  to  draw  lots 
for  said  division  the  last  Tuesday  of  June  next  ensu- 
ing. Accordingly,  a  meeting  held  June  29,  1685,  lots 
were  drawn  for  said  fifty  acres  of  upland  among 
eighty-three  persons. 


33 


514 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


At  a  proprietors'  meeting,  Oct.  31,  1699,  it  was 
voted  that  there  should  be  two  divisions  of  lands  in 
the  North  Purchase  forthwith  laid  out  to  the  said 
proprietors  according  to  their  rights  in  said  lands, 
i.e.,  fifty  acres  to  a  whole  share  in  both  divisions, 
viz.,  twenty-five  acres  to  the  first  division,  and  twenty- 
five  acres  to  the  second  division  ;  and  he  that  is  first 
in  the  first  division  shall  be  last  in  the  second  di- 
vision, and  so  on.  • 

At  their  next  meeting,  Nov.  7,  1699,  the  proprie- 
tors drew  lots  for  the  new  division.  They  had  in- 
creased at  this  time  to  one  hundred  and  thirty-three 
in  number. 

In  the  year  1694  the  inhabitants  of  the  North  Pur- 
chase were  incorporated  into  a  township  by  an  act  of 
the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts.1 


CHAPTER    XL. 

ATTLEBOROyGH.— (Continued.) 

Incorporation— Origin  of  the  Name — William  Blackstone— His  History, 
Settlement,  etc.— John  Woodcock — His  Garrison — First  Ordinary — 
History  of  his  Settlement  Here — First  Mill  in  Town — Attack  on 
Joshua  Barrows — His  Petition  for  Allowance  of  Land — Grant  Made 
to  him — Agents  Employed  in  England  on  Disputed  Boundary — 
Angle  Tree — Angle  Monument. 

"  To  Mis  Excellency,  Sir  William  Pliips  Knight,  Captain-General  and  Gov- 
ernor-in- Chief  of  their  Majesty's  Province,  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay 
in  New  England,  with  the  Honorable  Council  and  Representatives 
thereof  now  assembled  in  General  Court  at  Boston,  Oct.  17,  1694: 

"  The  petition  of  the  subscribers  in  behalf  of  themselves  and  the  rest 
of  the  proprietors  of  the  lands  hereunder  mentioned  and  expressed, 

'•Humbly  Sheweth, 

"  That  whereas  our  ancestors  and  some  of  ourselves  have  formerly 
purchased  a  certain  tract  of  land  commonly  known  by  the  name  of  the 
North  Purchase,  containing  in  length  about  ten  miles  from  Patuckett 
River  to  Taunton  bounds,  and  about  eight  miles  from  the  Massachusetts 
line,  between  the  two  colonies  to  Rehoboth  bounds,  being  in  our  appre- 
hension lands  sufficient  for  a  township,  and  we  being  now  already 
above  thirty  families  on  the  place,  besides  other  proprietors  that  at 
present  live  elsewhere,  do  humbly  pray  this  Honorable  Assembly  to 
make  us  a  township  endued  with  such  privileges  as  other  towns  are 
for  these  reasons  following,  viz. : 

"First,  and  principally,  for  the  honor  of  God,  in  that  our  distance  is 
far  to  go  on  the  Lord's  days,  some  of  us  ten  or  eleven  miles  to  Rehoboth 
to  the  public  worship  of  God,  which  in  the  winter  season  is  very  incon- 
venient for  us  to  go  and  especially  for  our  children,  and  also  we  sustain 
in  going  so  far  to  train,  attend  town-meetings,  and  to  work  in  their 
highways,  and  our  own  in  the  meantime  neglected. 

•'Secondly,  In  that  if  we  were  a  township,  we  should  quickly  (we 
hope)  procure  an  able  orthodox  minister  to  teach  us,  and  also  a  school- 
master to  instruct  our  children,  which  would  incite  more  able  and  de- 


1  Previous  to  this  the  North  Purchase  was  within  the  jurisdiction,  but 
not  merged  in  the  limits  of  Rehoboth.  The  inhabitants  were  subjected 
to  the  municipal  authority,  and  had,  for  the  time,  all  the  rights  of  free- 
men of  that  town.  It  was,  properly,  a  plantation  of  Rehoboth.  It  was 
ordered  by  Plymouth  Court  to  be  within  the  jurisdiction  of  that  town 
until  it  should  be  incorporated,  "  July  5,1671."  "The  court  have  or- 
dered that  the  North  Purchase  (so  called)  shall  lie  unto  the  town  of 
Rehoboth  until  it  comes  to  be  a  township;  and  in  the  meantime  to  bear 
the  seventh  part  of  all  the  rates  that  shall  bo  levied  for  the  public 
charges  of  that  town  ;  and  when  the  said  purchase  shall  become  a  town- 
ship by  itself,  then  the  said  township  of  Rehoboth  to  be  eased  in  their 
rates."—  Old  Col.  Records. 


sirable  inhabitants  to  come  and  settle  among  us,  we  having  lands  and 
other  commodities  for  their  encouragement. 

"  Thirdly ,  In  that  we  being  as  frontiers  in  danger  of  the  enemy  be 
tween  Rehoboth  and  other  places  should,  if  we  were  a  township,  be  in 
a  better  posture  of  defence  when  we  are  completed  with  officers  amongst 
ourselves. 

"  Fourthly,  We  might  further  add  the  benefit  that  might  redound  to 
their  Majestie's  service,  there  being  great  store  of  ship-timber  and 
cooperVstuff,  which  might  with  more  facility  be  conveyed  to  the  water" 
side  were  our  habitations  settled  nearer. 

"  All  which  is  humbly  offered  to  your  Excellency  and  honors  for  ac- 
ceptance. 

"  By  your  humble  suppliants. 

"  John  Woodcock, 
"Daniel  Shepperson, 
"John  Callender, 
"  For  and  in  the  name  and  behalf  of  the  proprietors  of  the  said  lauds. 

"Oct.  17,  1694." 

The  following  is  the  act  of  incorporation  : 

An  Act  for  granting  a  towns/rip  within  the  county  of  Bristol  to  be  called  Al- 
lleborotqih  :  - 

Whereas  there  is  a  certain  tract  of  land  commonly  known  by  the 
name  of  North  Purchase,  lying  within  the  county  of  Bristol,  containing 
in  length  about  ten  miles  from  Patucket  River  to  the  bounds  of  Taun- 
ton,3 and  extending  about  eight  miles  in  breadth  from  the  line  or  bound- 
ary betwixt  the  two  late  colonies  of  Massachusetts  and  Plymouth,  to  the 
bounds  of  the  town  of  Rehoboth  ;  being  a  convenient  tract  for  a  town- 
ship, and  more  than  thirty  families  already  settled  thereupon.  For  the 
better  encouragement  and  settlement  of  said  plantation  : 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  Governor,  Council,  aud  Representatives  in  Gen- 
eral Court  assembled,  and  by  the  authority  of  the  same,  That  henceforth 
the  said  tract  of  land  as  above  described,  and  bounded  by  the  township 
of  Taunton  and  Rehoboth  (no  way  to  intrench  upon  either  of  their 
rights),  be  and  shall  be  a  township,  and  called  by  the  name  of  Attle- 
borough ;  and  shall  have  and  enjoy  all  such  immunities,  privileges,  and 
powers,  as  generally  other  townships  within  this  Province  have  and  do 
enjoy. 

Providt  (I.  That  it  be  not  in  prejudice  of  any  former  grant. 

Provided,  also,  That  the  Inhabitants  of  the  said  place  do  continue 
under  the  power  and  direction  of  the  Selectmen,  Assessors,  and  Con- 
stables of  Rehoboth  (whereunto  they  were  formerly  annexed)  as  well 
referring  to  an}"  assessments  and  arrears  thereof,  as  all  other  things 
proper  to  the  duty  of  Selectmen,  Assessors,  aud  Constables,  respec- 
tively; until  they  are  supplied  with  such  officers  among  themselves, 
according  to  the  directions  in  the  law  in  that  case  made  and  provided. 

The  boundaries  described  in  the  preceding  act  in- 
cluded the  present  towns  of  Attleborough  and  Cum- 
berland, R.  I.,  embracing  a  very  extensive  tract  of 
land.  The  number  of  inhabitants  at  this  time  could 
not  much  exceed  a  hundred  and  eighty.  They  were 
mostly  settled  in  the  southerly  and  westerly  parts  of 
the  town.  These  families  were  scattered  over  a  con- 
siderable space;  some  had  been  herefrom  an  early 
period.  Of  the  early  settlements  more  will  be  said 
hereafter. 

The  country  was  then  mostly  covered  with  forests, 
interspersed,  however,  with  a  good  supply  of  natural 

-  It  was  named  after  Attleborough,  Norfolk  Co.,  England,  a  town  of 
importance  in  the  early  ages  of  the  kingdom,  a  market  town,  and  the 
seat  of  the  noble  family  of  the  Lords  Mortimer.  It  has  diminished  in 
population  and  business  in  modern  times. 

Many  of  the  early  settlers  in  memory  of  their  homes  in  England, 
which  they  had  left  forever,  gave  the  same  names  to  their  new  homes 
here. 

Two  of  the  proprietors  and  settlers  in  this  town,  John  Sutton  with  his 
wife  and  four  children,  and  John  Daggett  with  his  wife,  came  from  "  At- 
tleburraye,"  England,  and  whose  families  had  intermarried  before  their 
emigration,  and  suggested  the  name  in  memory  of  their  native  place. 

3  Taunton  North  Purchase. 


ATTLE  BOROUGH. 


515 


meadow,  which  was  then  considered  the  most  valu- 
able kind  of  land,  and  occasional  clearings  which 
had  been  cultivated  by  the  Indians,  and  planted  by 
them  with  maize,  squashes,  pumpkins,  beans. 

The  inhabitants  increased  rapidly,  and  soon  pene- 
trated into  various  parts  of  the  town. 

The  Early  Proceeding's  of  the  Town  after  its 
Incorporation. — A  few  extracts  from  the  early  rec- 
ords of  the  town,  illustrating  the  character  of  the 
times,  will  be  interesting  to  the  present  generation. 

The  first  town-meeting  on  record  appears  to  have 
been  held  May  11,  1696,  two  years  after  the  incorpo- 
ration.1 At  this  meeting  the  town  chose  Mr.  John 
Woodcock  and  Mr.  John  Rogers,  late  of  Bristol,  as 
agents  "  to  manage  our  concerns  in  matters  relating 
to  that  part  of  our  township  commonly  called  the 
Mile  and  Half,  according  to  our  petition  and  other 
copies  which  are  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  Henry  Devens, 
Clerk  to  the  House  of  Representatives,  and  did  fur- 
ther appoint  and  impower  Mr.  John  Woodcock  to 
agree  with  and  impower  said  Mr.  Rogers,  and  take 
care  to  help  him  to  such  papers  as  may  most  concern 
our  business  for  the  promoting  of  matters  relating  to 
our  township." 

At  the  same  meeting  three  assessors  were  chosen 
for  the  ensuing  year,  viz. :  I.  Woodcock,  Thomas 
Tingley,  and  Samuel  Titus. 

The  next  town-meeting  was  held  Nov.  23,  1696,  at 
which  the  town  authorized  the  selectmen  to  make  a 
rate  for  paying  the  town's  debts,  which  amounted  to 
£5  15s.  1'/.  At  the  same  time  several  individuals 
engaged  to  pay  certain  sums  "by  way  of  free  gift 
towards  the  building  of  a  meeting-house,"  and  de- 
sired their  names  and  sums  might  be  entered  accord- 
ingly— 


f  s. 

Mr.  John  Woodcock 1    0 

"     John  Lane 1     0 

"     Israil  Woodcock 10 


Mr.  Thomas  Woodcock 10 

"     George  Robinson 1     0 

"     David  Freeman 1     0 


March  22,  1696-97.  The  town  taking  into  considera- 
tion who  are  by  law  allowed  to  vote  in  town-meetings, 
and  finding  so  few  allowed  to  vote,  ordered  that  "  all 
the  inhabitants  and  town  Dwellers"  should  have  a 
right  to  vote  in  said  meetings.  At  this  time  town 
officers  were  chosen  for  the  year  ensuing,  viz. :  "  Mr. 
John  Woodcock,  Anthony  Sprague,  Daniel  Jenks, 
Jonathan  Fuller,  Thomas  Tingley,  selectmen ;  An- 
thony Sprague,  town  clerk ;  I.  Woodcock,  consta- 
ble ;  Nicholas  Ide  and  Joseph  Cowel,  surveyors ; 
Henry  Sweet,  tithingman ;  Thomas  Tingley  and 
Samuel  Titus,  fence-viewers;  John  Woodcock,  An- 
thony Sprague,  and  Daniel  Jenks,  assessors;  John 
Lane,  grand-juryman;  Benjamin  Force,  for  the  jury 
of  trials  in  April  next  at  the  Quarter  Sessions  at 
Bristol." 

May  10,  1697.  At  a  town-meeting  for  the  choice  of 
an  "  Assemblyman  for  the  Great  and  General  Court," 

1  There  must,  however,  have  been  a  previous  meeting  and  a  choice  of 
officers,  of  which  no  record  is  preserved. 


the  inhabitants  voted  not  to  send  a  man,  "  by  reason 
the  town  was  excused  by  law." 

July  12,  1697.  The  town  voted  to  have  a  pound 
made  according  to  law  upon  a  piece  of  undivided 
land  between  the  lands  of  Daniel  Shepperson  and 
James  Jillson,  near  the  Bay  road. 

Upwards  of  twenty  years  after  the  close  of  Philip's 
war,  the  inhabitants  of  the  towns  were  often  annoyed 
by  strolling  Indians,  who  disturbed  and  insulted  the 
people.  In  relation  to  these  disturbances  the  town 
passed  the  following- orders  : 

Jan.  31,  1()97-'.)S.  At  a  town- meeting  legally 
warned  for  the  making  of  "some  town  orders  or  by- 
laws touching  persons  disorderly  coming  into  town 
who  have  no  rights  or  lands  in  the  same,  but  are 
strangers  and  foreigners,"  the  town  passed  the  fol- 
lowing orders :  "  It  is  ordered  by  the  inhabitants  of 
Attleborough,  and  voted  in  said  meeting,  that  no 
person  that  is  a  stranger  shall  be  received  as  an  in- 
habitant without  the  consent  or  approbation  of  said 
town,  or  sufficient  security  given  to  the  town  by  him 
or  them  that  shall  take  in  or  harbor  any  person  con- 
trary to  this  order ;  moreover,  the  selectmen  are  ap- 
pointed to  take  due  care  and  sufficient  security,  in  the 
behalf  of  the  town,  of  and  for  all  such  persons  as 
shall  receive  in  or  harbor  any  stranger  or  foreigner  ; 
or  to  give  order  and  warning  to  such  stranger  or  for- 
eigner to  depart  the  town,  according  as  the  law 
directs,  and  that  with  all  convenient  speed  after 
knowledge  or  notice  given  of  the  same;  so  observing 
from  time  to  time  that  the  town  be  not  charged  with 
unnecessary  charges." 

2d.  "The  second  order  or  by-law  was  touching  In- 
dian foreigners  and  strangers  that  have  been  com- 
plained of  for  uncivil  carriages  and  behaviour  towards 
some  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  town,  for  the  preven- 
tion of  which  the  inhabitants  being  desired  to  give 
their  advice,  by  joint  consent  have  voted  and  passed 
this  act,  That  no  foreign  Indian  or  stranger  should 
be  allowed  to  come  into  town  being  armed  under 
hunting  pretences,  nor  suffered  in  the  same  to  abide 
in  drinkings  and  shootings  at  unseasonable  times  of 
night  and  threatenings  to  several  persons,  which  is 
contrary  to  the  law  of  this  province,  and  disturbing 
to  several  of  this  town ;  neither  is  any  person  or  per- 
sons whatsoever  within  this  town  allowed  to  take  in 
or  harbor  Indian  or  Indians  armed  other  than  such  as 
hath  been  allowed  or  shall  be  allowed,  without  the 
unanimous  consent  of  the  inhabitants,  at  any  time 
hereafter,  but  every  person  or  persons  transgressing 
against  this  order  or  by-law  shall  pay  a  line  of  five 
shillings  each  day  for  the  use  of  the  poor  of  this 
town  for  every  such  offence." 

March  4,  1699  or  1700,  in  town-meeting,  Daniel 
Shepperson  gave  a  piece  of  ground  to  set  a  pound  on 
"at  a  place  commonly  known  and  called  Red  Rock 
Hill,  by  the  roadside  by  a  pine-tree,  which  pound  is 
to  be  built  thirty  feet  square  and  finished  by  the  last 
of  June,  1700." 


516 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


May  13,  1700.  Voted  not  to  send  a  representative 
for  the  same  reason  that  was  assigned  at  the  first 
meeting. 

March  25,  1701.  In  town-meeting  voted  and  ap- 
pointed a  "training-place,  to  be  on  the  south  side  of 
David  Freeman's  house,  between  the  two  ways, 
viz.,  the  Bay  road  and  the  road  that  leadeth  to 
Nicholas  Ide's  house."  At  the  same  time  the  town 
"  did  by  major  vote  appoint  the  last  Tuesday  in 
March,  at  nine  o'clock  a.m.,  to  be  their  election  day 
annually  for  choosing  town  officers  according  to  law, 
without  any  further  warning,  so  to  continue  till  fur- 
ther order." 

Feb.  9, 1702-3.  It  was  voted  that  Ensign  Nicholas 
Ide  and  Anthony  Sprague  with  the  selectmen  be  a 
committee  to  agree  in  behalf  of  our  town  concerning 
the  lines  and  bounds  between  Attleborough,  Dor- 
chester, and  Wrentham.  It  was  also  voted  that  the 
selectmen  should  make  a  town  rate  for  the  payment 
of  town  debts,  and  that  a  quarter  part  of  said  rate  be 
levied  upon  the  polls,  and  the  rest  upon  the  estates; 
and  that  said  rate  shall  be  paid  in  Indian  corn  at  two 
shillings  and  sixpence  per  bushel,  or  rye  at  three 
shillings  and  sixpence  per  bushel,  or  oats  at  one 
shilling  and  sixpence  per  bushel,  or  in  money. 

May  14,  1703.  Voted  not  to  send  a  representative 
by  reason  they  were  so  few  in  number  and  excused  by 
law. 

The  first  English  inhabitant  of  Attleborough  was 
the  celebrated  William  Blackstone,  who  had  so  many 
peculiarities  and  such  a  singular  history,  and  who 
was  also  the  first  settler  and  sole  progenitor  of  Shaw- 
mut,  now  the  site  of  the  beautiful  city  of  Boston. 
Everything  that  can  be  recovered  relating  to  this 
singular  but  amiable  man  must  be  interesting  not 
only  to  the  people  of  this  town,  but  to  all  who  feel  an 
interest  in  the  early  history  of  these  colonies. 

There  were  two  or  three  individuals  at  a  distance, 
on  Manerick  and  Thompson's  Islands,  in  the  harbor, 
apparently  having  no  connection  with  him. 

He  came  to  this  country  from  England  about  the 
year  1625,  and  settled  first  at  Boston,  the  Indian 
name  of  which  was  Shawm  id.  Here  he  remained 
alone  until  the  arrival  of  Governor  Winthrop's  com- 
pany, in  June,  1630.  They  at  first  located  them- 
selves at  Charlestown ;  but  finding  the  water  bad 
and  "  liking  that  plain  neck  that  was  then  called 
Blackstone's  Neck,1  they  soon  removed,  by  invitation, 
to  the  peninsula,  where  they  found  a  good  spring  of 
water.  Mr.  Blackstone  had  been  in  England  a 
clergyman  of  the  established  church.  But  he  lived 
in  an  age  of  religious  bigotry,  intolerance,  and  per- 
secution, and  "  not  being  able,"  as  he  said,  "  to  en- 
dure the  power  of  the  Lord  Bishops,"  he  left  his 
native  land  and  sought  an  asylum  in  the  wilds  of 
America,  where  he  might  enjoy  his  own  opinions 
unmolested.     After  residing  a  few  years  with  the  new 

1  Capt.  Clap,  May,  1G30. 


settlers  of  Shawmut,  he  found  the  same  intolerant  and 
overbearing  spirit  among  his  new  associates,  and  be- 
coming "discontented  with  the  power  of  the  Lords 
Brethren,"  he  was  compelled  to  seek  another  retreat. 
In  1634  he  sold  his  right  and  title  in  the  peninsula  to 
the  inhabitants  of  Boston,  each  one  paying  him  six 
shillings  and  some  of  them  more.  A  reservation  was 
made  for  him  of  about  six  acres  where  his  house 
stood. 

The  peninsula  of  Boston  was  then  called  Black- 
stone's  Neck,  the  whole  of  which  he  claimed  as  his 
property,  aud  this  claim  was  recognized  by  the  new 
settlers.  With  the  purchase  money  he  bought  a 
"stock  of  cows,"  which  he  carried  with  him  to  his 
new  settlement  on  the  banks  of  the  Pawtucket  River. 

The  following  document,  quoted  in  Shaw's  "  His- 
tory of  Boston,"  gives  some  of  the  particulars  of  this 
purchase  : 

"  The  deposition  of  John  Odlyn,  aged  about  82  years;  Robert  Walker, 
aged  about  78  years;  Francis  Hudson,  aged  about  G6  years;  and  Wil- 
liam Lytherland,  aged  76  years.  These  deponents  being  antient  dwell- 
ers and  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Boston,  from  the  time  of  the  first 
planting  thereof,  do  jointly  testify  and  depose,  that  in  or  about  the  year 
of  our  Lord  sixteen  hundred  and  thirty-four,  the  then  present  inhabit- 
ants of  said  town  (of  whom  the  Hon.  John  Winthrop,  Esq.,  Governor  of 
the  Colony,  was  chiefe),  did  treate  and  agree  with  Mr.  William  Black- 
stone for  the  purchase  of  his  estate  and  right  in  any  lands  lying  within 
the  said  neck  of  land,  called  Boston,  and  for  said  purchase  agreed  that 
every  householder  should  pay  six  shillings,  which  was  accordingly  col- 
lected, none  paying  less,  some  considerably  more,  and  the  said  sum  was 
paid  to  Mr.  Blackstone  to  his  full  content.  Reserving  unto  himself 
about  six  acres  of  land  on  the  point,  commonly  called  Blackstone's 
Point,  on  part  whereof  his  then  dwelling-house  stood.  After  which  pur- 
chase the  town  laid  out  a  place  for  a  Training  Field,  which  ever  since, 
and  now  is  used  for  that  purpose,  and  for  the  feeding  of  cattle:  Walker 
and  Lytherland  further  testify  that  Mr.  Blackstone  bought  a  stock  of 
cowes  with  the  money  he  received,  and  removed  near  Providence,  where 
he  lived  till  the  day  of  his  death."  Sworn  to  the  10th  of  June,  1684, 
before  S.  Bradstreet,  Governor,  and  Samuel  Sewall,  Assistant. 

Mr.  Blackstone  received  £30  for  his  right  to  the 
peninsula,  as  appears  by  the  following  record  :  The 
"10th  day  of  the  9  mo.  1634,"  voted  that  a  rate  be 
made,  viz.,  "  a  rate  for  £30  to  Mr.  Blackstone."2 

In  1635  he  removed  to  another  retreat  still  farther 
in  the  wilderness.  This  place  was  on  the  banks  of 
Pawtucket  River,  which  now  bears  his  name,  and  on 
the  east  side  of  it,  and  within  the  Old  Colony,  and 
was  within  the  ancient  limits  of  Attleborough,  in 
that  part  called  the  Gore,  now  Cumberland,  R.  I. 
This  was  about  ten  years  before  the  settlement  of 
Rehoboth  and  a  few  years  before  that  of  Providence. 
In  this  solitary  retreat  he  built  his  house,  cultivated 
his  garden,  and  planted  his  orchard.  His  house  and 
garden  he  surrounded  with  a  park,  which  was  his 
daily  walk.  Here  he  remained  for  many  years  in 
entire  seclusion  from  the  world,  here  was  none  to  dis- 
turb his  lonely  retreat.  He  was  furnished  with  a 
library,  and  nature  and  study  charmed  his  solitary 
hours.  He  thus  seated  himself  for  life,  in  peaceful 
solitude  on  the  banks  of  the  Blackstone. 


2  Reckoning  March  the  first  month,  this  assessment  was  made  in  De- 
cember;  the  purchase,  of  course,  was  made  previous  to  this  date,  and 
Blackstone  in  all  probability  removed  early  in  the  subsequent  spring. 


ATTLEBOROUGH. 


517 


His  house  he  called  "  Study  Hall,"  and  the  emi- 
nence near  it  was  named  Study  Hill,  which  name  it 
still  retains.  This  place1  is  about  three  miles  above 
Pawtucket  village,  where  the  late  Col.  Simon  Whipple 
resided.  The  Indian  name  of  the  place  was  Wawe- 
poonseag.  This  name  is  mentioned  in  the  Plymouth 
Records  in  describing  the  boundaries  of  the  North 
Purchase  in  1661  :  "  From  Rehoboth  ranging  upon 
Patucket  River,  to  a  place  called  by  the  natives  Wa- 
wepoonseag,'2  where  one  Blackstone  now  sojourneth." 

During  his  residence  here  Mr.  Blackstone  married 
Mrs.  Sarah  Stevenson,  widow  of  John  Stevenson,  of 
Boston,  July  4,  1659.3  She  died  about  the  middle  of 
June,  1673.4  He  survived  his  wife  only  about  two 
years,  and  died  May  26,  1675,5  a  few  weeks  before  the 
commencement  of  the  great  Indian  war,  thus  having 
escaped  witnessing  the  horrors  of  that  awful  period 
and  the  complete  destruction  which  awaited  his  fair 
domain.  He  had  lived  in  New  England  about  fifty 
years,  nearly  ten  years  at  Shawmut  (now  Boston), 
and  forty  at  this  place.  He  must  have  been  quite 
advanced  at  the  time  of  his  death,  probably  not  far 
from  eighty.  A  brief  notice  of  his  death  is  furnished 
by  his  friend  Roger  Williams.  At  the  date  of  June 
13,  1675,  he  says,  "  About  a  fortnight  since  your  old 
acquaintance,  Mr.  Blackstone,  departed  this  life  in  the 
fourscore  year  of  his  age.  Four  days  before  his  death 
he  had  a  great  pain  in  his  breast  and  back  and  bowels ; 
afterwards  he  said  he  was  well,  had  no  pain,  and 
should  live,  but  he  grew  fainter,  and  yielded  up  his 
breath  without  a  groan." — 4th  Mass.  Hist.  Coll.,  6, 
299. 

Around  him  was  still  a  wilderness  when  death 
snatched  him  from  the  sylvan  retreat  which  he  loved, 
but  (though  the  footsteps  of  men  were  fast  approach- 
ing) how  would  he  be  astonished  to  behold  the  region 
around  it  (the  place  which  he  once  thought  secure 
from  the  haunt  of  men)  now,  swarming  with  an  indus- 
trious and  thriving  population  !  How  would  he  grieve 
to  find  the  stream  whose  placid  waters  as  they  flowed 
by  his  dwelling  he  delighted  to  contemplate  now  in- 

1  His  title  to  the  lauds  which  he  occupied  was  respected  by  the  Plym- 
outh government,  who  ordered  them  recorded  to  him  after  his  death. 

"March  5,  1671.  Mr.  Stephen  Paine,  Sr.,  of  Rehoboth,  and  Mr.  Nich- 
olas Tanner  were  appointed  by  the  court  to  see  Mr.  Blackstone's  land 
laid  forth  according  to  the  grant." — Old  Col.  Rec. 

His  estate  consisted  of  about  two  hundred  acres. 

2  This  is  supposed  by  a  writer  in  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Collec- 
tions to  be  properly  the  name  of  a  brook,  now  called  Abbott's  Bun, 
which  enters  the  river  not  far  from  Mr.  Blackstone's  residence. 

1 "  Mr.  William  Blackstone  was  married  to  Sarah  Stevenson,  widow,  the 
4th  of  July,  1659,  by  John  Kndicott,  governor." — Town  Records  of  Boston. 
She  was  the  widow  of  John  Stevenson,  of  Boston,  who  had  by  her  at 
least  three  children, — Onesinms,  born  26th  10th  month,  1643  ;  John,  horn 
—  7th  month,  1045 ;  and  James,  born  Oct.  1,  1653.  His  second  sun,  John 
Stevenson,  lived  with  his  mother  after  her  marriage  with  Mr.  Black- 
stone,  and  after  their  decease  continued  at  the  same  place  during  the 
remainder  of  bis  life. 

4  "  Mrs.  Sarah  Blackstone,  the  wife  of  Mr.  William  Illusion,  was  buried 
about  the  middle  of  June,  1673." — Rehoboth  Records. 

Many  of  the  ancient  records  mention  the  day  of  the  burial,  but  not  of 
the  death  of  persons. 

=  "  Mr.  William  Blukston  buried  the  28th  of  May,  1765."— lb. 


terrupted  by  numerous  water-works,  and  the  silence 
which  then  reigned  around  him  now  disturbed  by  the 
buzz  of  thousands  of  spindles  !  To  what  ignoble  pur- 
poses is  his  classic  stream  now  devoted  !  What  a  con- 
trast !  It  is  a  change  which  the  peace-loving  spirit 
of  Blackstone  could  not  endure.  To  enjoy  that  soli- 
tude which  was  congenial  to  his  taste  he  would  now 
be  compelled  to  seek  a  new  abode  beyond  the  banks 
of  the  Mississippi. 

Blackstone  was  by  no  means  a  misanthrope,  but  a 
man  of  natural  benevolence,  who  took  this  mode  of 
indulging  his  love  for  solitude  and  securing  the  un- 
restrained enjoyment  of  his  own  sentiments  and 
tastes.  He  did  not  shun  man  because  he  hated  him, 
but  because  he  loved  solitude  more  than  society.  He 
was  fond  of  study  and  contemplation,  and  here  he 
could  enjoy  both.  Possessing  an  independent  and 
original  mind,  he  could  not  brook  the  dogmatical  and 
persecuting  spirit  of  the  age,  and  to  escape  its  in- 
fluence he  fled  to  the  wilds  of  America. 

He  was  not  idle  though  in  solitude.  He  cultivated 
his  garden,  and  reared  his  orchard  with  his  own 
hands,  and  is  said  to  have  been  devoted  to  his  books; 
though  meditative  in  his  habits,  yet  cheerful  in  dis- 
position. He  was  acquainted  with  Roger  Williams, 
the  father  of  Rhode  Island,— in  some  respects  a  kin- 
dred spirit,  though  far  from  his  opinions, — and  fre- 
quently went  to  visit  him,  and  occasionally  preached 
at  Providence  and  the  neighboring  towns. 

Among  other  anecdotes  it  is  related  of  him  that  he 
tamed  and  rode  a  bull  into  Providence  and  on  other 
journeys,  but  this  of  itself  was  not  at  that  age  proof 
of  his  eccentricity.  It  was  a  common  practice  in  the 
rude  state  of  the  colonies,  when  horses  were  scarce 
and  it  was  inconvenient  to  keep  them,  to  follow  such 
an  example.  Many  instances  are  known  of  the  same 
custom  among  the  scattered  colonists  on  their  rough 
roads.  Even  John  Alden,  after  the  wedding  of  Pris- 
cilla  Mullins,  took  his  bride  home  on  the  back  of  a 
bull  covered  with  a  rich  broadcloth,  and  led  by  him 
with  a  ring  in  the  nose. 

"  He  was  also  remarkable,"  says  Mr.  Baylies,6  "  for 
his  love  of  children."  When  he  visited  Providence 
he  carried  apples  from  his  orchard  to  give  to  chil- 
dren,—the  first  they  had  ever  seen.— Ca  I  lender's  Dis- 
course. 

At  a  late  centennial  celebration  in  Boston,  under 
the  direction  of  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society, 
a  present  of  apples  was  sent  to  their  table  from  Cum- 
berland, said  to  have  grown  on  the  trees  which  grew 
from  the  sprouts  of  those  in  Blackstone's  orchard. 
Some  of  the  trees  planted  by  his  own  hands  were  liv- 
ing one  hundred  and  forty  years  after  they  were  set 

out. 

He  left  one  son,  John  Blackstone,  who,  it  is  sup- 
posed, "settled  somewhere  near  New  Haven."      Of 


6  "  Memoirs  of  Plymouth  Colony,"  which  is  a  work  of  great  interest, 
embodying  a  largo  amount  of  historical  information  on  the  Old  Colony. 


518 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


him  history  says  little  or  nothing;  but  by  diligent 
research  I  have  ascertained  a  few  particulars. 

He  was  a  minor  when  his  father  died,  and  had 
guardians  appointed  by  the  court.1  He  lived  on  his 
inheritance  till  1692,  when  he  sold  his  lands  to  David 
Whipple,2  and  soon  after  removed  to  Providence,  and 
for  a  while  contented  himself  with  the  humble  occu- 
pation of  a  shoemaker.  There,3  it  is  probable,  he 
married  his  wife  Katharine,  and  continued  to  reside 
till  1718,  when  he  returned  to  Attleborough,  and  with 
his  wife  was  legally  warned  out  of  town.4  He  is  pre- 
sumed to  be  the  person  mentioned  in  the  records,  as 
no  other  of  that  name  has  been  known  in  this  part  of 
the  country. 

It  was  generally  supposed  by  historians  that  the 
family  was  extinct,  and  that  the  blood  of  Blackstone 
"runs  not  in  the  veins  of  a  single  human  being." 
Recent  research  has  led  to  the  belief  that  his  son  re- 
moved to  Branford,  Conn.,  and  settled  on  a  neck  of 
land  not  far  from  New  Haven,  where  several  families 
of  that  name  have  lived  for  many  years.  As  John 
Blackstone  disappeared  from  Attleborough,  it  is  prob- 
able that  he  removed  and  settled  there.  I  have  been 
informed  that  there  was  a  family  of  that  name  who 
lived  there  in  seclusion  for  many  years. 

His  son-in-law,  John  Stevenson,  came  with  his 
mother  when  she  married  Mr.  Blackstone,  being  about 
fourteen  years  old,  and  lived  with  them  till  their 
death.  At  one  time  it  was  supposed  that  Blackstone 
had  a  daughter  married  to  John  Stevenson,  and  that 
they  lived  with  him.  In  a  romance  called  "The 
Humors  of  Utopia,"  published  many  years  ago,  this 
fancied  daughter  of  Blackstone  is  one  of  the  charac- 
ters introduced  into  the  work,  in  which  she  doubtless 
figures  as  a  creature  of  the  field  and  forest,  and  ap- 
pears in  all  the  simplicity  of  her  native  charms ;  and 
it  seems  a  pity  to  dissolve  this  "  gay  frost-work  of 
fancy"  and  dissipate  the  fair  vision  into  the  cold  re- 
ality. The  "son-in-law"  of  Blackstone  proves  to  be 
only  the  «on  of  the  widow  of  John  Stevenson,  who 
afterwards  became  the  wife  of  Mr.  Blackstone.  This 
belief  then  .prevailing  was  doubtless  founded  on  the 


1  "June  1st,  1675.  Lieut.  Hunt,  Ensign  Smith,  and  Mr.  Daniel  Smith 
are  appointed  and  authorized  hy  the  court  to  take  some  present  care  of 
the  estate  of  Mr.  William  Blackstone  deceased,  and  of  his  son  now  left 
by  him ;  and  to  see  that  the  next  court  he  do  propose  a  man  to  the  court 
to  be  his  guardian  ;  which  in  case  he  do  neglect,  the  court  will  then  see 
cause  to  make  choice  of  one  for  him." — Old  Col.  Bee. 

"  Oct.  27th,  1675.  Mr.  Nathaniel  Paine  and  Mr.  Daniel  Smith  are  ap- 
pointed and  approved  by  the  court  to  be  guardians  unto  John  Black- 
stone, the  son  of  William  Blackstone  deceased." — lb. 

2  The  original  deeds,  with  John  Blackstone's  signature,  are  still  in 
existence,  and  were  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  John  Whipple,  of  Cumber- 
land. The  first  is  dated  Sept.  10,  1692.  He  spells  his  name  Blaxlon, 
which  was  undoubtedly  at  the  time  the  true  orthography. 

3  There  is  no  record  of  his  marriage  in  this  town. 

4  For  what  cause  does  not  appear,  but  may  be  conjectured.  He  had 
probably  squandered  his  property,  for  tradition  says  he  inherited  but  a 
small  share  of  his  father's  prudence,  and  it  was  doubtless  as  a  precau- 
tion against  future  liability  for  support,  which  was  a  customary  proceed- 
ing in  those  days ;  it  was  a  civil  and  not  a  criminal  process,  and  does  not 
imply  anything  against  the  moral  character  of  the  person. 


error  contained  in  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Col- 
lections in  a  short  sketch  of  Mr.  Blackstone,  where  it 
was  stated  that  he  had  two  children,  a  son  and  a 
daughter.  He  came  into  possession  of  a  part  of  his 
father-in-law's  estate,  as  appears  by  the  following 
order  of  Plymouth  Court,  passed  June  10, 1675,  about 
two  weeks  after  Blackstone's  decease. 

"  Whereas  the  court  is  informed  that  one  whose 
name  is  John  Stevenson,  son-in-law  to  Mr.  William 
Blackstone,  late  deceased,  was  very  helpful  to  his 
father  and  mother  in  their  life-time,  without  whom 
they  could  not  have  subsisted  as  to  a  good  help  and 
instrument  thereof,  and  he  is  now  left  in  a  low  and 
mean  condition,  and  never  was  in  anjT  measure  rec- 
ompensed for  his  good  service  aforesaid,  and  if  (as  it 
is  said  at  least)  his  father-in-law  engaged  to  his  mother 
at  his  marriage  with  her  that  he  should  be  considered 
with  a  competency  of  land  out  of  the  said  Blackstone's 
land  then  lived  on,  which  had  never  yet  been  per- 
formed ;  and  forasmuch  as  the  personal  estate  of  the 
said  William  Blackstone  is  so  small  and  inconsidera- 
ble, that  he  the  said  Stevenson  cannot  be  relieved  out 
of  it ;  this  court,  therefore,  in  consideration  of  the  pre- 
mises, do  order  and  dispose  fifty  acres  of  land  unto 
the  said  John  Stevenson,  out  of  the  lands  of  the  said 
William  Blackstone,  and  five  acres  of  meadow  to  be 
laid  out  unto  him  by  Ensign  Henry  Smith  and  Mr. 
Daniel  Smith,  and  Mr.  Nathaniel  Paine,  according  as 
they  shall  think  meet,  so  as  it  may  be  most  commo- 
dious to  him  or  as  little  prejudicial  to  the  seat  of  Mr. 
William  Blackstone  as  may  be.  By  order  of  the 
court  for  the  jurisdiction  of  New  Plymouth."5—  Old 
Col,  Bee, 


6  The  bounds  of  this  grant  are  recorded  in  the  records  of  the  North 
Purchase,  Book  1st,  p.  47.  Extracts  are  made  for  the  gratification  of 
those  who  may  wish  to  know  the  situation  of  his  lands. 

"  Imp.  Fifty  acres  of  upland  lying  upon  Pawtucket  River,  most  of  it 
upon  the  South  Neck,  being  part  of  that  land  that  was  left  for  Mr.  Wil- 
liam Blackstone,  and  granted  by  the  Court  to  John  Stevenson  :  bounded 
to  the  eastward  the  land  of  John  Fitch  and  the  Common ;  westerly,  Pa- 
tucket  River,  and  southerly;  to  the  northward,  the  land  of  John  Black- 
stone, it  being  106  rods  long." 

The  five-acre  lot  of  meadow  mentioned  in  the  grant  is  also  recorded 
as  laid  out  by  the  Commissioners. 

1st.  Two  acres  of  meadow  adjoining  to  the  said  lands  lying  in  two 
pieces,  one  piece  within  the  former  tract  of  land  and  the  other  by  the 
river  side  upon  the  Southernmost  end  of  it. 

2d.  "  Three  acres  of  fresh  meadow  lying  at  the  northeast  corner  of 
the  meadow  commonly  known  by  the  name  of  Blackstone's  Great 
Meadow,*  from  a  white  oak  tree  marked,  and  so  through  the  breadth 
of  the  meadow  to  the  Run,  the  Run  bounding  it  to  the  noithards;  west- 
ward, the  meadow  of  John  Blackstone ;  eastward,  the  swamp ;  south- 
ward, the  upland." 

There  is  another  tract  which  he  probably  purchased.  "  Fifty  acres  of 
upland,  more  or  less,  bounded  east  the  land  of  Ensign  Nich.  Peck  and 
Rob.  Miller;  north,  the  land  of  Sam.  Carpenter;  west,  a  highway  four 
rods  wide  (between  John  Blackstone's  land  and  this  lot)  and  a  little 
piece  of  common  land;  south,  coming  near  John  Fitch's  grave,  to  the 
Common. 

"  There  is  to  be  taken  out  of  this  lot  a  highway  2  rods  wide  next  to 
Sam.  Carpenter's  land  to  meet  with  the  highway  at  the  east  end  of  said 
Carpenter's  lot." 

Likewise  ten  acres  of  land  allowed  to  John  Stevenson  by  the  king's 


*  Often  called  in  the  Records  the  Parson's  Meadow. 


ATTLE  BOROUGH. 


519 


Stevenson  acquired  a  taste  for  solitary  life  by  living 
with  Blackstone,  and  resided  here  (it  is  believed, 
alone)  till  his  death.  There  is  no  evidence  of  his 
ever  having  been  married.  His  time  was  devoted  to 
the  cultivation  of  his  lands  and  the  pleasures  of  hunt- 
ing. He  died  Sept.  16,  1695.  His  brother,  James 
Stevenson,  of  Springfield,  was  appointed  his  adminis- 
trator, who  returned  an  inventory  Oct.  11,  1695,  from 
which  it  appears  that  his  whole  estate  was  valued  at 
£57.  5.  2.1 

This  is  all  the  account  which  I  can  find  of  the  first 
settler  within  the  bounds  of  the  North  Purchase  and 
of  those  connected  with  him.  But  his  name  will  be 
preserved  in  perpetual  remembrance,  for  it  is  insep- 
arably attached  to  that  noble  river  which  flows  past 
the  site  of  his  ancient  and  solitary  dwelling.  His 
name  is  also  transferred  to  works  of  art.  His  name 
has  been  assumed  by  towns,  and  banks,  factories,  and 
the  streets  of  our  cities.  He  has  become  a  prominent 
historic  character  in  the  colonization  of  New  Eng- 
land, and  a  striking  figure  on  the  canvas  of  its  his- 
tory. Just  mystery  enough  about  his  life  to  attract 
and  interest  the  reader.  The  Valley  of  the  Blackstone 
has  become  celebrated  as  a  manufacturing  district, 
and  contributes,  by  the  advantages  of  its  water-power, 
to  the  wealth  and  industry  of  New  England.  Hardly 
could  Blackstone,  the  lover  of  undisturbed  solitude 
and  quiet,  have  dreamed  when  he  forsook  the  penin- 
sula of  Boston  and  built  his  lonely  dwelling  on  the 
banks  of  this  placid  stream,  that  his  peaceful  retreat 
would  be  so  soon  the  scene  of  industry  and  the  abode 
of  a  numerous  population,  and  its  silence  broken  by 

jury  fur  land  for  highways,  taken  out  of  his  land  lying  on  the  southerly 
side  of  Abbott's  Run,  etc. 

Another  record  of  land  commences  thus:  "Likewise  two  acres  of 
land  that  I  took  up  adjoining  to  my  own  land,  at  the  southerly  end 
of  it,  which  I  had  in  exchange  with  my  brother  John  Blackstone, 
etc." 

To  gratify  the  curious,  the  boundaries  of  John  Blackstone's  lands  are 
added,  by  which  the  precise  location  ot  his  father's  estate  may  be  ascer- 
tained. 

Imp.  A  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  upland,  swamp,  and  meadow 
ground,  more  or  less,  containing  the  West  Plain  (commonly  so  callec}) 
and  land  adjacent ;  bounded,  to  the  northward,  the  land  of  Isaac  Allen  ; 
to  the  southward,  the  land  of  John  Stevenson;  to  the  westward,  l'aw- 
tncket  River;  to  the  eastward,  the  land  of  John  Stevenson,  the  high- 
way and  the  undivided  land,  there  running  through  it  a  country  high- 
way to  Pawtucket  River,  four  rods  wide. 

Likewise  a  parcel  of  fresh  meadow  commonly  known  by  the  name  of 
Blackstone's  Meadow,  being  eight  acres,  bounded  to  the  eastward,  the 
meadow  oi  John  Stevenson,  etc. 

Likewise  twenty  acres  bud  out  to  John  Blackstone,  granted  to  him 
by  the  king's  jury  for  a  way  taken  through  his  farm  to  Pattuckel  River), 
running  seventy-six  rods  N. W.  and  by  W.,  and  forty-two  rods  S.  W. 
and  by  S.  bounded  round  by  the  undivided  laud;  this  tract  lying  near 
the  new  road  to  Dedham. 

Likewise  two  acres  which  he  had  upon  exchange  with  his  brother  John 
Stevenson,  adjoining  to  his  own  farm,  on  the  westerly  side  of  the  country 
highway,  next  the  house;  bounded  easterly  by  the  highway,  westerly 
his  own  farm,  and  southerly  by  a  small  run  of  water,  and  in  considera- 
tion of  it  John  Stevenson  bad  two  acres  of  what  John  Blackstone  was 
to  have  allowed  by  the  king's  jury  for  the  highway  through  his  land  to 

Providence. 

—Records  II.  N.  Piirchdsr,  Book  I,  p.  153. 

1  "  His  house,  lands,  and  meadows  at  1 50.  His  gun,  cutlass,  and  car- 
touch  box  1 0.  18.  0."  etc. 


the  busy  works  of  art !  Were  his  spirit  permitted  to 
revisit  the  scene  of  his  former  enjoyments  he  would 
be  obliged  to  form  a  new  garden  and  plant  a  new  or- 
chard, and  to  seek,  in  a  more  distant  region  of  the 
West,  a  spot  congenial  to  his  taste.2 

The  place  which  he  chose  for  his  residence  is  a 
truly  beautiful  and  romantic  spot,  such  as  a  recluse 
and  a  lover  of  nature  would  select.  The  place  where 
his  house  stood  is  on  the  east  of  a  small  hill,  the  sur- 
face of  which  would  make  an  acre  or  more;  on  the 
east  is  a  gradual  ascent,  but  on  the  west  it  rises  ab- 
ruptly from  the  river  to  the  height  of  sixty  or  seventy 
feet;  there  the  Blackstone  winds  gracefully  at  its 
base,5  forming  a  slight  curve  at  a  short  distance  south 
of  the  hill.  Its  summit  commands  a  fine  view  of  the 
"  valley  of  the  Blackstone"  to  the  distance  of  more 
than  a  mile  on  the  south.  On  the  east  is  a  delightful 
and  fertile  valley  consisting  of  a  few  acres,  which 
opens  to  the  south  on  the  borders  of  the  meadow,  and 
is  bounded  on  the  east  and  northeast  by  a  gentle  emi- 
nence, on  the  top  of  which  runs  the  "  Mendon  road," 
so  often  mentioned  in  the  ancient  land  records.  This 
valley  was  cultivated  by  the  hands  of  Blackstone ; 
here  was  his  orchard,  where  are  seen  the  stumps  of 
apple-trees,  cut  down  within  a  few  years,  which  are 
said  to  have  grown  from  the  sprouts  of  the  first  trees 
planted  by  him.  His  well  is  still  pointed  out  at  the 
southern  border  of  this  valley.  Though  now  filled  up 
with  moss  and  weeds,  the  pure  water  still  bubbles  up 
from  its  fountains.  His  grave  is  also  designated, 
though  with  less  certainty  ;  it  is  in  the  orchard,  about 
two  rods  east  from  the  foot  of  the  hill  and  north  of 
the  well.  The  "  flat  stone  which  it  is  said  marked  his 
grave"  is  not  now  visible.  It  is  either  removed  or 
buried  under  the  surface. 

One  Thomas  Alexander,  who  was  drowned  in  the 
river,  was  buried,  it  is  said,  by  the  side  of  Mr.  Black- 
stone. Is  it  not  probable  that  his  wife  is  also  buried 
at  the  same  place? 

The  spot  on  which  he  lived  has  returned  to  its  orig- 
inal state  of  nature.  Sixty  years  ago,  or  more,  a 
heavy  growth  of  timber-trees  was  cut  from  this  hill, 
and  its  surface  is  now  thickly  covered  with  young  and 
thrifty  wood.  Oaks  of  a  hundred  years  have  grown 
on  the  garden  of  Blackstone! 

The  name,  it  is  said,  is  not  common  in  England. 
No  one  has  succeeded  in  tracing  his  connections  in 


2  Everything  in  relation  to  Blackstone  is  interesting  to  the  public.  I 
have,  therefore,  been  minute  in  this  description. 

It  could  never  have  occurred  to  him  who,  to  avoid  the  notice  of  men, 
sought  the  Shades  of  solitude,  that  future  ages  would  take  so  deep  an 
interest  in  his  history,  that  he  would  be  an  object  of  minute  research  to 
the  antiquarian,  and   that  every  circumstance  connected  with  his  life 

which  moid  be  resc I  from  the  hand  of  oblivion  would  be  sought  out 

with  so  much  avidity  ! 

3  The  river,  within  forty  years  past,  has  enlarged  its  channel  at  this 
place,  and  now  washes  the  very  base  of  the  hill,  as  if  attracted  to  the 
spot  by  a  grateful  remembrance  of  him  who  first  sought  its  banks  and 
loved  its  stream,  and  whose  honored  name  it  now  bears.  The  margin 
of  the  river  was  formerly  three  rods,  at  least,  west  from  the  hill.  The 
excavations  for  the  railroad  have  also  destroyed  its  original  shape. 


520 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


his  native  land,  or  finding  his  birthplace.  But  I  have 
found  the  following  memoranda  in  one  of  the  ancient 
local  histories  of  England  : 

John  Blaxton,  vicar  of  Osmington,  in  Dorset,  1621. 
In  1650,  Mr.  John  Blaxton  incumbent,  and  had  been 
so  twenty-eight  years.  He  was  the  author  of  the  fol- 
lowing work,  published  in  1634:  "The  English 
Usurer;  or,  Usury  condemned  by  the  most  learned 
and  famous  Divines  of  the  Church  of  England.  Col- 
lected by  John  Blaxton,  Preacher  of  God's  Word  at 
Osmington,  in  Dorsetshire. 

"  London  :  Printed  by  John  Norton,  and  are  to  be 
sold  by  Francis  Bowman  in  Oxford,  1634." 

"  In  1650-52,  John  Blaxton,  the  vicar,  had  an  aug- 
mentation out  of  Lord  Peter's  impropriation  here." 

There  was  a  Samuel  Blaxton,  June  5, 1662. — Hutch- 
ins'  Dorsetshire,  vol.  i.  p.  432. 

They  were  cotemporary  with  our  Blackstone.  What 
connection,  if  any,  did  they  bear  to  him  ? 

The  first  settlement  within  the  bounds  of  the  pre- 
sent town  of  Attleborough  was  in  the  neighborhood 
of  the  Baptist  meeting-house,  where  Hatch's  tavern 
now  stands.  It  was  commenced  by  Mr.  John  Wood- 
cock and  his  sons  soon  after  the  first  division  in  1669. 
Here  he  built  a  public-house  on  the  Bay  road,  and 
laid  out  lands  to  the  amount  of  about  three  hundred 
acres,  which  afterwards  made  an  excellent  farm.  At 
this  time  and  subsequently  he  took  up,  in  several 
parts  of  the  town,  about  six  hundred  acres,1  part  on 
his  own  shares  and  the  rest  on  rights  which  he  pur- 
chased of  Roger  Amidowne,  James  Redeway,  Andrew 
Willett,  etc. 

His  house  was  occupied  for  a  garrison.  It  was 
licensed  in  1670,  according  to  the  following  record: 

"  July  5,  1670.  John  Woodcock  is  allowed  by  the 
court  to  keep  an  ordinary  at  the  Ten-Mile  River  (so 
called),  which  is  in  the  way  from  Rehoboth  to  the 
Bay,  and  likewise  enjoined  to  keep  good  order,  that 
no  unruliness  or  ribaldry  be  permitted  there." — Old 
Col.  Bee. 

His  name  first  appears  in  the  Rehoboth  records  the 
28th  4th  month,  1647,  when  he  bought  the  lands 
of  Edward  Patterson.  He  was  admitted  a  freeman 
of  that  town  May  14,  1673. 

Woodcock  was  a  man  of  some  consideration  in 
those  days,  his  name  frequently  appearing  in  toAvn 
offices  and  on  committees.  June  2,  1691,  he  was 
chosen  deputy  to  the  General  Court  from  Rehoboth, 
and  at  several  other  times.  He  was  shrewd,  hardy, 
fearless,  and  adventurous,  a  character  just  suited  to 
the  times  in  which  he  lived,  and  the  circumstances 
in  which  he  was  placed. 

He  held  Indian  rights  in  very  low  estimation.  On 
one  occasion  he  took  the  liberty  of  paying  himself  a 
debt  due  to  him  from  a  neighboring  Indian  without 


1  A  part  of  this  was  on  Bungay  River  (where  Bishop's  shop  lately 
stood),  which  he  conveyed  to  his  sou  Jonathan,  with  the  saw-mill  there- 
on standing. 


the  consent  of  the  debtor,  or  the  intervention  of 
judge,  jury,  or  sheriff,  for  which  achievement  he  re- 
ceived the  following  sentence  from  the  court,  an 
example  of  the  rigid  justice  of  the  Puritans  : 

"  1654.  John  Woodcock,  of  Rehoboth,  for  going 
into  an  Indian  house  and  taking  away  an  Indian 
child  and  some  goods  in  lieu  of  a  debt  the  Indian 
owed  him,  was  sentenced  to  set  in  the  stocks  at 
Rehoboth  an  hour  on  a  training  day,  and  to  pay  a 
fine  of  forty  shillings." — Old  Col.  Bee.  Court  Orders, 
Book  Zd. 

Woodcock  had  two  wives, — Sarah,  who  died  in 
May,  1686,  and  a  second  one,  Joanna,  who  survived 
him.  He  had  a  large  family  of  children,  some,  if 
not  all,  of  whose  names  I  have  ascertained  (though 
no  record  of  them  is  preserved  on  the  books),  viz., 
John,  Israel,  Nathaniel  (killed  by  the  Indians),  Jon- 
athan, Thomas,  and  at  least  three  daughters, — one, 
married  to  Thomas  Esterbrook ;  one,  to  Samuel 
Guild  ;  and  another,  Deborah,  to  Benjamin  Onion, 
May  24,  1683.  There  were  two  others  of  this  name 
supposed  to  be  children  of  John  Woodcock,  viz. : 
Alice,  married  to  Baruck  Bucklin,  and  Mary,  mar- 
ried to  Jonathan  Freeman.  There  was  also  a  Sarah 
Woodcock,  who  married  Alexander  Bolkcom. 

John  Woodcock,  Sr.,  died  Oct.  20,  1801,  having 
arrived  at  a  very  advanced  age,  in  spite  of  the  many 
attempts  which  had  been  made  by  the  Indians  to  de- 
stroy him.  It  is  said  that  after  his  death  the  scars  of 
seven  bullet-holes  were  counted  on  his  body.  He 
was  an  inveterate  and  implacable  enemy  to  the  In- 
dians, the  cause  of  which  will  hereafter  appear  in  the 
notice  of  some  events  in  Philip's  war.  In  encounters 
with  them  on  several  occasions  he  ran  imminent  risks 
of  his  life.  He  was  foremost  in  all  enterprises  the 
object  of  which  was  the  destruction  of  the  Indians. 
He  was  a  very  useful  man  as  a  pioneer  in  the  dangers 
of  a  new  settlement,  being  cunning  in  contrivance, 
and  bold  and  active  in  execution. 

Woodcock's  garrison2  was  a  well-known  rendez- 
vous during  the  Indian  wars.  It  was  one  in  a  chain 
o'f  fortifications  extending  from  Boston  to  Rhode 
Island.  There  was  one  in  Boston ;  one  in  Dedham, 
at  Ames'  corner;  Woodcock's,  in  this  place;  one  at 
Rehoboth,3  now  Seekonk  ;  one,  it  is  said,  at  Swansea ; 
and  another  at  Newport,  on  the  island  ;  and  perhaps 
others  in  the  intermediate  spaces. 

Woodcock's  was  a  famous  station  in  those  early 
times.  The  armies  of  the  colony  frequently  halted 
at  his  garrison  in  their  marches.  It  was  on  the  route 
to  Narragansett  from  Boston,  in  Philip's  war.  On 
one  occasion,  Dec.  9,  1675,  six  companies  of  foot, 
commanded  by  Maj.  Appleton,  numbering  four  hun- 

-  This  was  prohably  the  only  house  (excepting  immediate  neighbor's) 
on  the  "  Bay  road,"  between  Rehoboth  and  Dedham,  though  this  was 
then  the  main  road  from  Rhode  Island,  Bristol,  and  Rehoboth  to 
Boston. 

3  Situated  in  the  centre  of  the  Great  Plains,  on  the  borders  of  which 
the  first  settlements  were  principally  located. 


ATTLEBOROUGH. 


521 


dred  and  sixty-five,  and  a  company  of  horse  under 
Capt.  Prentiss,  about  five  hundred  in  all,  a  large 
army  for  those  days  (of  course  marching  down  the 
"  Oulde  Bay  Road"),  and  reached  Woodcock's  in  the 
night,  and  there  rested  till  the  next  afternoon,  and 
then  marched  on  to  Seekonk,  where  they  met  the 
army  of  Plymouth  Colony,  under  Gen.  Winslow, 
where  the  two  forces  were  united  a"d  moved  on  their 
way  to  the  great  Narragansett  fight.  The  Massachu- 
setts forces  must  have  rendezvoused  at  Woodcock's 
on  their  return. 

This  stand,  which  is  lately  owned  and  occupied  by 
Col.  Hatch,  is  the  oldest  in  the  county  of  Bristol,  a 
public-house  having  been  kept  on  the  spot  without 
intermission  from  July  5,  1670,  to  this  time,  June, 
1833,  during  a  period  of  one  hundred  and  sixty-three 
years.  It  is  situated  on  the  Boston  and  Providence 
turnpike.  I  have  been  at  considerable  pains  to  as- 
certain the  names  of  several  owners  in  succession, 
and  the  times  at  which  they  purchased,  some  brief 
notices  of  which  may  be  interesting  to  the  reader. 

It  was  established  by  John  Woodcock,  as  already 
related,  in  1670,  the  land  having  been  laid  out  and 
cleared  by  him  for  the  purpose.  He  occupied  it 
about  twenty-three  years. 

Feb.  17,  1693-94.  John  Woodcock,  Sr.,  of  Reho- 
both  (with  Joanna  his  wife),  for  £390  money  in  hand 
received  conveys  to  John  Devotion,  of  "  Muddy 
River,  formerly  of  Boston,"  a  tract  of  land  contain- 
ing two  hundred  and  ten  acres,  being  "  at  a  place 
commonly  called  Ten-Mile  River  by  a  highway 
called  Wrentham  Lane,"  etc.,  "  with  the  mansion 
or  dwelling-house,  barn,  and  all  other  out-housing 
and  buildings  (the  smith's  shop  only  excepted  stand- 
ing on  the  river)  ;*  also  about  thirty  acres  lying  on 
northwest  side  the  country  road  formerly  given  to  his 
son  John  Woodcock,  bounded  by  Ten-Mile  River, 
etc.,  with  his  son's  dwelling-house  and  barn  on  the 
same."  "  John  Devotion  took  quiet  possession  of  the 
same,  April  9,  1694,  in  presence  of  Nathaniel  Brent- 
nall,  William  Chaplain."2 

Woodcock  laid  out  the  ancient  burying-ground 
near  his  house.  In  the  above-mentioned  conveyance 
is  the  following  reservation  :  "  Except  a  small  parcel 
of  at  least  six  rods  square,  or  the  contents  thereof, 
for  a  burying-place,  in  which  my  wife  and  several  of 
my  children  and  neighbors  are  interred,  with  liberty 
for  my  children  and  neighbors  to  come  upon  and  make 
use  thereof  forever  as  occasion  may  be."3 


1  A  Bhop  now  stands  on  the  same  spot. 

-  In  this  conveyance  to  Devotion  is  the  following  curious  item  :  "  also, 
all  the  said  John  Woodcock  hia  right  to  and  privilege  in  a  house  and 
pasture  at  Wrentham  for  accommodation  of  his  family  and  horses  on 
Sabbath  days  and  other  public  times,  as  occasion  may  be." 

Previous  to  his  removal  he  had  a  house  at  Rehoboth  for  a  similar  pur- 
pose. From  this  and  other  records  it  appears  that  he  and  his  family 
were  very  attentive  to  public  worship. 

3  This  is  the  oldest  graveyard  in  the  town,  where  the  first  settlers  are 
buried.  It  is  situated  on  the  easterly  side  of  the  road  opposite  the 
hotel.    The  first  interment  in  this  place  was  that  of  Nathaniel  Wood- 


John  Devotion  occupied  the  premises  more  than 
seventeen  years.  He  left  no  descendants  here,  and 
after  selling  his  estate  removed  to  Wethersfield,  after- 
wards to  Suffield.1     His  wife's  name  was  Hannah. 

July  10,  1711.  John  Devotion,  for  four  hundred 
pounds  money  paid,  conveys  the  said  farm  (contain- 
ing two  hundred  and  eighty  acres,  more  or  less)  to 
John  Daggett,  of  Chilmark,  in  Dukes  County, 
Martha's  Vineyard  (the  first  of  that  name  who  settled 
in  this  town),  with  twenty-five  acres  on  Nine-Mile 
Run.  Also,  one  whole  share  in  the  undivided  lands 
in  Attleborough. 

April  16, 1722.  John  Daggett,  for  five  hundred  and 
fifty  pounds,  sells  the  same  to  Alexander  Maxcy, 
"  being  his  homestead,  containing  one  hundred  and 
seventy  acres  in  two  parts  on  the  Ten-Mile  Run,  etc., 
at  a  place  called  Mount  Hope  Hill."6  The  said 
Maxcy  died  in  about  a  year  after  this  purchase.  At 
the  division  of  his  estate  (1730)  the  establishment 
passed  into  the  hands  of  his  oldest  son,  Josiah  Maxcy. 
After  his  death,  in  1772  (if  not  before),  it  came  into 
the  possession  of  his  son  Levi  Maxcy,  who  occupied 
it  till  about  1880,  when  he  sold  it  to  Col.  Israil  Hatch. 

The  old  garrison  house  was  torn  down  in  1806,  and 
a  large  and  elegant  building  erected  on  the  spot,  fifty- 
eight  by  sixty  feet,  three  stories  high!6  It  thus  ap- 
pears that  the  first  building  erected  on  the  place  stood 
one  hundred  and  thirty-six  years.  A  great  part  of 
the  timber  was  said  to  be  perfectly  sound,  pierced, 
however,  by  many  a  bullet  received  in  Philip's  war. 
A  relic  of  this  house,  it  is  said,  was  preserved  in  the 
archives  of  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society. 

Several  families  settled  near  Mr.  Blackstone's  seat 
soon  after,  if  not  previous,  to  the  war. 

Another  early  settlement  was  at  the  Falls  (so 
called),  now  the  Falls  Factories.  The  natural  ad- 
vantages of  a  fine  fall  of  water  attracted  the  settlers 
to  the  spot.  The  banks  of  rivers  were  generally  se- 
lected by  the  first  occupants  on  account  of  the  "  nat- 
ural meadows"  which  they  afforded,  and  which  were 
highly  valued  at  a  time  when  the  face  of  the  country 
was  covered  with  forests. 

The  first  person  who  laid  out  lands  at  the  latter 
place  (as  near  as  can  be  ascertained  from  the  records) 
was  John  Daggett,  of  Rehoboth,  who,  in  October, 
1677,'  sold  fifty  acres  of  it  to  his  brother,  Thomas 


cock,  who  was  killed  by  the  Indians  in  Philip's  war  May,  1676,  and  was 
buried  on  the  spot  where  he  fell,  which  is  still  pointed  out  in  the  centre 
of  the  graveyard.  This  cemetery  is  now  in  a  state  of  dilapidation,  many 
of  the  stones  have  fallen  down,  and  the  whole  is  going  rapidly  to  decay. 
It  is  the  duty  of  that  neighborhood  or  the  town  (a  duty  which  gratitude 
demands)  to  see  the  ground  decently  inclosed  and  the  stones  erected, 
that  the  few  memorials  which  now  exist  of  our  early  ancestry  may  be 
preserved. 
*  He  had  a  son,  John  Devotion,  a  school-master,  living  in  Swansea  in 

1710. 

a  So  called  to  this  day 

«  The  original  building  only  was  taken  down;  an  addition,  built  at  an 
early  period,  was  moved  a  little  back,  where  it  stood  in  1730,  "carved 
o'er  with  many  a  long-forgotten  name.''  A  small  remnant,  one  room,  of 
the  old  garrison  might  then  be  seen  adjoining  the  wood-house. 


522 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Daggett,  of  Martha's  Vineyard.  Edward  Hall1  also 
at  an  early  period  owned  fifty  acres  here,  which  he 
gave  by  will  to  his  son  John,  and  he  sold  it  to  John 
Stevenson  and  Samuel  Penfield ;  the  latter  sold  it  in 
1686  to  Thomas  Daggett,  of  Edgartown,  and  Joseph 
and  Nathaniel  Daggett,2  of  Rehoboth.  This  was  the 
land  immediately  around  the  Falls  including  the 
privilege.  The  first  mill  built  there  was  a  "corn-mill," 
owned  or  occupied  by  the  above-named  Joseph  Dag- 
gett, at  what  time  is  not  known.  This  was  doubtless 
the  first  mill  in  town.  March  30,  1703,  the  town 
voted  that  Jos.  Daggett,  of  Rehoboth,  have  the  priv- 
ilege "  that  the  stream  at  the  Ten-Mile  River  Falls 
shall  go  free  of  all  sorts  of  taxes  until  a  corn-mill 
has  the  constant  custom  of  three-score  families,  and 
if  a  saw-mill  be  built,  that  to  bear  his  equal  share  in 
public  charges  in  said  town." 

Thomas  Butler'  also  laid  out  land  near  the  mill. 

The  southeast  corner  of  the  town  was  early  inhab- 
ited by  people  from  Rehoboth.  The  borders  of  the 
Bay  road,  which  passed  through  the  neighborhood  of 
Newell's  and  the  city,  were  occupied  by  some  of  the 
first  settlers.  This  was  the  main  route  from  Bristol 
to  Boston,  and  was  the  first  road  in  town. 

Proceedings  of  the  Proprietors. — The  proprietors 
of  the  Rehoboth  North  Purchase  soon  became  a  dis- 
tinct body  from  the  town,  and  kept  separate  books. 
It  may  be  proper  to  detail  some  of  the  transac- 
tions of  the  proprietors,  which  will  throw  light  on 
our  early  history,  and  give  a  view  of  the  difficulties 
which  they  had  to  encounter  in  the  settlement. 

The  proprietors'  books  commence  in  1672.  Previous 
to  this  their  proceedings  were  recorded  in  the  Reho- 
both town  books.  A  certain  company  (consisting  of 
inhabitants  of  Rehoboth)  purchased,  as  already  ap- 
pears, a  certain  tract  of  land  of  the  Indians,  through 
their  agent,  and  the  title  was  confirmed  by  the  gov- 
ernment,4 which  tract  was  called  the  Rehoboth  North 
Purchase.  There  were  eighty-two  purchasers  or  share- 
holders, seventy-six  of  whom  had  whole  shares,  and 
six  half  shares,  making  seventy-nine  whole  shares.5 
They  called  meetings,  and  from  time  to  time  granted 
divisions  of  so  many  acres  to  a  share,  which  were  laid 
out  to  the  shareholders  by  metes  and  bounds,  by  a  com- 
mittee and  surveyor  chosen  for  the  purpose,  under  such 
regulations  and  instructions  as  were  established  by  the 
company  and  were  recorded  by  the  clerk  in  the  pro- 
prietors' books.  This  constituted  a  valid  right  to  the 
lands  so  recorded.  In  this  way  all  the  original  titles 
to  land  in  this  region  were  obtained.     A  transfer  of 


1  Then  of  Rehoboth,  previously  of  Taunton.  Admitted  a  freeman  of 
Massachusetts  May  2,  1638.  One  John  Hall  was  admitted  May  14, 1634, 
and  another  May  6, 1635.  Edward  had  seven  children,— John,  horn  be- 
fore his  father  came  to  Rehoboth  ;  Samuel,  Jeremiah,  Thomas,  Pre- 
served, Andrew,  Benjamin,  from  1656  to  1668. 

2  The  last  two  were  the  sons  of  John  Daggett,  the  first  of  Rehoboth. 

3  There  were  three  of  the  name  of  Butler  in  town. 

4  No  purchase  of  Indian  lands  was  valid  without  the  grant  or  confir- 
mation of  the  government. 

6  What  consideration  was  paid  for  the  purchase  does  not  appear. 


a  share  might  be  made  by  deed,  a  record  of  the  sale 
being  entered  in  the  proprietors'  books;  or,  a  person 
might  obtain  a  title  to  lands  by  purchasing  of  a  pro- 
prietor a  right  to  lay  out  a  certain  number  of  acres 
in  a  division  already  granted,  which  would  be  recorded 
to  him  in  the  same  manner  as  to  the  original  owner. 

The  grant  was  first  made  to  such  inhabitants  of 
Rehoboth  as  held  a  fifty  pounds  estate  and  upwards, 
they  having  made  the  purchase ;  but  in  1670  all  who 
were  then  inhabitants  of  that  town  were  admitted  as 
proprietors  by  entering  their  names,  as  appears  by  the 
fol  lowing  extract  from  a  court  order  passed  Oct.  7, 1670. 

"  Whereas,  the  lands  on  the  northerly  side  of  Re- 
hoboth, now  sold  by  deed  and  passed  over  to  the  pro- 
prietors of  that  town,  viz.,  to  all  that  hold  lands  there 
from  a  fifty  pounds  estate  and  upwards;  yet  by  mutual 
agreement  amongst  themselves  all  the  inhabitants  were 
taken  in  to  be  joint  purchasers,  it  is  determined  that 
the  names  of  such  as  were  not  comprehended  in  the 
above-mentioned  deed  shall  be  entered  in  their  town 
records  and  in  the  public  records  of  the  colony,  to  be, 
if  they  desire  it,  as  full  and  equal  purchasers  and 
proprietors  in  those  lands  as  the  rest." 

These  lands  were  at  first  exempted  from  full  taxa- 
tion "to  accommodate  the  poorer  sort  with  land,  and 
yet  so  as  not  to  oppress  them  as  much  otherwise." 
The  court  ordered  "  that  all  the  north  lands,  both 
farms  and  else,"  should  be  taxed  in  a  rate  separate 
from  the  town  of  Rehoboth,  and  should  pay  thirty 
shillings  in  a  £40  rate  to  the  colony,  and  in  the  same 
proportion  in  the  ministerial  and  other  charges, 
"until  the  court  shall  see  cause  otherwise  to  dispose 
concerning  them,  until  which  time  they  shall  be  and 
remain  within  the  constablerick  of  the  township  of 
Rehoboth."  Oct.  7,  1670. 

The  proprietors  sometimes  exercised  legislative 
powers,  which  were,  however,  to  some  extent,  author- 
ized by  statute. 

June  10,  1707.  Voted  that  all  who  have  lands  laid 
out  in  the  North  Purchase,  and  have  not  renewed 
their  bounds  since  the  1st  of  March  last,  shall,  be- 
tween this  date  and  the  last  of  September  next,  re- 
new the  same,  or  forfeit  the  sum  of  ten  shillings,  to  be 
recovered  as  a  debt  due,  the  one-half  to  the  informer  and 
the  other  half  to  the  proprietors,  any  one  of  whom  are 
authorized  to  prosecute  this  act. 

At  the  same  meeting  it  was  ordered  that  all  the 
timber  cut  on  the  undivided  lands  should  be  forth- 
with seized,  and  a  committee  was  appointed  to  hear 
and  determine  by  what  right  it  was  cut,  and  if  found 
without  good  right,  then  to  take  the  methods  of  the 
law  in  that  case  provided. 

Sept.  16,  1707.  Voted  that  the  committee,  with  the 
surveyor,  shall  lay  out  all  needful  highways  for  the 
proprietors  in  said  purchase,  and  make  restitution  to 
persons  whose  lands  are  taken  for  this  purpose  in  any 
of  the  undivided  lands.6 

6  A  large  proportion  of  the  highwaysof  this  town  were  laid  out  by  the 
proprietors,  accompanied  by  the  selectmen. 


ATTLEBOROUGH. 


523 


November,  1708.  The  proprietors  chose  a  commit- 
tee to  look  after  the  northerly  bounds  of  their  pur- 
chase. At  this  time  commenced  the  long  and  tedious 
contest  about  the  northern  boundary  of  the  purchase, 
which  was  the  Old  Colony  line.  The  subject  was 
discussed  at  every  meeting,  and  committees  often 
appointed  to  devise  means  of  protecting  the  rights 
of  the  purchasers.  Petitions  were  sent  to  the  Gen- 
eral Court,  counsel  were  employed  to  defend  their 
rights,  and  finally  a  petition  and  an  agent  were  sent 
to  England. 

July  21,  1714.  Voted  that  two  acres  of  land  on  the 
hill  before  Mr.  David  Freeman's,  where  the  burying- 
place  now  is,  shall  be  laid  out  for  a  burying-place  for 
Attleborough.  This  is  the  graveyard  near  the  vil- 
lage called  the  city. 

June  13,  1717.  Voted  unanimously  that  Col.  Na- 
thaniel Paine,  Esq.,  Mr.  Richard  Waterman,  Esq., 
Lieut.  Anthony  Sprague,  Mr.  Daniel  Jenks,  and  Mr. 
Daniel  Smith  be  a  committee  to  see  to  the  northerly 
bounds,  hereby  giving  them  full  power  to  act  in  all 
respects  in  behalf  of  the  whole  propriety  concerning 
running  the  line  between  Attleborough,  Wrentham, 
and  Dedham,  where  it  ought  lawfully  to  be  stated 
according  to  our  purchase  deed. 

July  14,  1717.  The  committee  were  authorized  to 
defend  all  suits  of  law  that  may  be  commenced  by 
any  person  or  persons  against  the  propriety,  and  to 
empower  any  attorney  or  attorneys  that  may  be  need- 
ful for  advice,  and  further  to  commence  any  action  or 
actions  that  they  may  think  proper  for  the  benefit  of 
the  said  propriety. 

Nov.  2,  1720.  Voted  that  the  former  committee 
still  proceed  with  their  petitions,  even  until  they 
send  to  England  about  the  right  of  our  northern  line 
(if  they  cannot  be  heard  in  our  own  government), 
and  that  the  expense  be  paid  by  the  proprietors 
according  to  their  several  interests. 

Voted  that  one  hundred  acres  of  undivided  land 
be  sold  to  defray  the  expenses  of  defending  the 
northern  line.1 

Feb.  21,  1726-27.  Voted  that  any  person  or  per- 
sons who  will  sue  for  our  rights  in  the  land  chal- 
lenged by  Dorchester  or  Stoughton,  Wrentham  and 
Bellingham.  and  to  the  south  of  Nathan  Wood- 
ward and  Solomon  Saffrey's  line,  and  on  the  north 
of  the  town,  and  all  that  part  that  lieth  within  their 
challenge,  shall  have  the  fourth  part  of  said  tract  of 
land  if  they  recover  it  to  the  use  of  the  propriety. 
Maj.  Leonard,  Esq.,  ('apt.  John  Foster,  and  Fnsign 
Daniel  Peck  appeared  in  said  meeting  and  accepted 
the  offer. 

June  5,  1727.  At  this  meeting  a  petition  in  rhyme 
was  presented  by  one  Joshua  Barrows,2  at  that  time  a 

well-knowti  extempore  rhvmster,  of  whose  productions 

' 

1  At  a  subsequent  meetiDg,  in  1752,  the  clerk  was  authorized  to  sell  to 
any  of  the  proprietors  seventy-nine  ami  one-half  acres  of  undivided  land 
at  eight  shillings  lawful  money  per  acre. 

2  He  is  said  to  have  been  entirely  illiterate. 


many  specimens  are  still  remembered,  and  of  whose 
wit  and  eccentricity  tradition  lias  preserved  numerous 
anecdotes,  lie  seems  to  have  suffered  the  common 
fate  of  poets,  poverty.  J  lis  petition  is  recorded  at 
length  in  the  proprietors'  books,  which  is  transcribed 
merely  for  the  amusement  of  the  reader: 

"  Your  Honors  now  I  do  Implore 

To  read  my  i r  petitiou ; 

I  hope  your  hearts  will  open  be 
To  pity  my  condition. 

"Ten  acres  of  the  common  land 
I  pray  that  you  would  give, 
Then  thankful  I  will  he  to  you 
As  long  as  I  do  live. 

"  Such  a  kindness,  I  must  confess, 
From  you  I  don't  deserve; 
But  when  in  health  I  freely  work, — 
Why  should  you  let  me  starve? 

"  From  day  to  day  my  daily  bread 
I  get  it  by  my  sweat ; 
But,  to  my  sorrow,  I  beg  and  borrow 
When  sickness  doth  me  let. 

"  No  more  in  rhyme  here  at  this  time, 
No  more  I  have  at  hand, 
And  so  I'll  end,  your  faithful  friend, 
And  servant  to  command, — 

"Joshua  Barrows. 
"  Attleborough,  June  5, 1727." 

The  prayer  of  this  petition  our  good-natured  fore- 
fathers could  not  resist.  "  Upon  the  hearing  of  the 
aforesaid  petition  of  Joshua  Barrows  there  were  sun- 
dry persons  in  said  meeting,  which  were  proprietors, 
which  gave  him  land  to  take  up  upon  their  rights, — 
their  names  are  as  followeth,"  etc., — making  in  the 
whole  thirteen  acres  which  were  laid  out  and  recorded 
to  him. 

It  appears  from  the  report  of  a  committee  that  an 
agent  was  actually  employed  in  England  to  defend 
their  boundaries.  In  their  account  are  the  following 
items : 

£     s.    d. 

Paid  for  silver  money  to  send  to  England 21     17     6 

Paid  to  Nath.  Brown  for  carrying  the  money  to  1!  iston  to  send 

to  England 2      2     G 

To  expense  at  Providence,  when  both  committees  met  there 
to  wait  on  Governor  Jencks,  and  writing  to  send  to  England 
after  his  return  from  England,  etc 17     6 

Jan.  3,  1750-51.  Chose  Col.  Thomas  Bowen,  Maj. 
John  Foster,  and  Capt.  Samuel  Tyler  a  committee, 
fully  empowering  them  to  prepare  a  petition  praying 
the  General  Court  that  some  effectual  method  may  be 
taken  for  the  perfecting  of  a  straight  line3  from  the 
middle  of  Accord  Pond  (so  called)  westward  to  that 
station  which   is  three   English   miles  south  of  the 

3  The  cause  of  dispute  was  an  angle  in  the  Old  Colony  line,  which  is 
said  to  have  originated  in  this  way  :  The  commissioners  win.  were  ap- 
pointed in  1640  by  the  two  colonies  to  run  the  line  between  them  com- 
menced at  a  rock  called  Bound  Rock  in  the  middle  of  Accord  Pond, 
Which  is  in  the  line  between  ScitUate  and  Cohassett  (once  part  of  Iling- 

ham),  intending  to  reach  by  a  straight  line  the  most  northerly  point  of 
Plymouth  Colony,  "ti  the  easterly  line  of  Rhode  Island,  but  when  they 
had  arrived  within  about  three  miles  thej  discovered  that  their  course 
would  carry  them  far  to  the  south  of  tin-  intended  point.  Instead  of 
rectifying  the  whole  line,  they  made  an  angle  and  took  a  new  course  so 
far  north  as  to  reach  the  line  point.  At  this  turn  stood  a  large  oak- 
tree,  marked,  which  was  called  Angle  Tree.  A  large  stone  monument 
has  been  since  elected  on  the  spot  by  Attleborough  and  Wrentham. 


524 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


southernmost  part  of  Charles  River,  agreeable  to  a 
settlement  made  by  the  government  of  New  Plymouth 
and  the  Massachusetts  in  the  year  1640. 

Sept.  26,  1751.  Made  choice  of  James  Otis,  of 
Boston,  and  John  Foster,  of  Attleborough,  Esqs.,  a 
committee,  in  addition  to  Benjamin  Day  and  Nathan- 
iel Smith  (chosen  at  a  former  meeting),  to  present  a 
petition  about  to  be  heard  at  the  General  Court  at 
their  next  session,  and  to  pursue  said  petition  until 
it  is  fully  determined  by  said  court,  and  to  petition 
anew,  if  need  be,  to  have  the  line  settled  on  the 
northerly  part  of  our  purchase. 

May  19,  1752.  Chose  a  committee  and  gave  them 
full  power  to  eject  any  person  or  persons  out  of  the 
possession  of  those  lands  they  have  possessed  them- 
selves of  within  the  North  Purchase  grant  without 
the  consent  of  the  proprietors,  as  also  full  power  to 
sue  and  pursue  any  action  brought  for  the  purpose  to 
final  judgment  and  execution. 

May  27,  1754.  The  committees  of  Rehoboth  North 
Purchase  and  Taunton  North  Purchase  entered  into 
an  agreement  to  commence  actions  of  ejectment 
against  persons  who  had  intruded  upon  their  respec- 
tive purchases,  the  costs  to  be  borne  equally  by  the 
two  proprieties. 

Divisions  of  land  in  the  North  Purchase  have  been 
made  among  the  proprietors  at  different  times  as 
follows  : 

1.  A  division  of  50  acres  to  a  share  granted  March  18, 1668-9 


2. 

Ct 

tt 

50 

acres 

to  a 

share 

was 

gra 

nted  Feb.  18,  1684 

3. 

(t 

tt 

50 

acres, 

in  2 

parts, 

25  acres 

each,  Oct.  31, 1699 

4. 

tl 

tt 

50 

acres 

in  2 

lutments, 

1703 

5. 

(I 

(t 

50 

acres  was 

granted 

June  10, 1707 

6. 

It 

tt 

50 

M 

tt 

July  21, 1714 

7. 

IC 

(t 

20 

II 

it 

Feb.  21,  1726-7 

8. 

(( 

tt 

10 

It 

it 

April  14, 1735 

9. 

It 

(( 

3 

II 

ti 

April  4, 1760 

10. 

tl 

tt 

2 

II 

tt 

1793 

11. 

tt 

tt 

2 

II 

tt 

1801 

12. 

tc 

(t 

1 

II 

tt 

1820 

13. 

tt 

H 

1 

It 

it 

May  10, 1833 

The  most  valuable  parts  of  this  purchase  were  taken 
up  by  these  divisions  many  years  since.  A  small  but 
broken  and  unproductive  remnant  of  this  land  yet 
remains  common  and  undivided  on  Cutting's  Plain, 
on  the  road  from  East  Attleborough  to  Wrentham. 

From  their  records  and  the  extracts  which  have 
been  made  it  appears  that  the  proprietors  made  their 
own  regulations,  gave  their  own  titles  to  lands,  and, 
in  fact,  enacted  all  their  laws  relative  to  the  owner- 
ship and  the  original  conveyance  of  lands  included 
in  their  purchases. 

Names  of  the  Clerks  of  the  Propriety. 
William  Carpenter,  Jr.,  chosen  May  17,  1682, 


Daniel  Smith,  ' 

Noah  Carpenter,  ' 

John  Robbins,  Jr.,  ' 

John  Daggett,  ' 
Ebenezer  Daggett, 

continued  till  his  death,  March  4,  1832 

gett  chosen  May  10,  1833. 


May  31,  1703, 
April  23, 1724, 
May  1,  1752, 
Dec.  9,  1763, 
July  1,  1793,  and 
Lucas  Dag- 


CHAPTER    XLI. 

ATTLEBOROUGH.— ( Continued.) 

Indian  War — Pierce's  Fight:  or,  Battle  on  the  Black6tone — Nine  Men's 
Misery — Threatened  Attack  on  Wrentham. 

Indian  War. — The  few  events  connected  with  this 
war  which  occurred  here  should  not  be  omitted  in  the 
history  of  the  town. 

The  peaceful  regions  which  we  now  inhabit  once 
resounded  with  the  shrill  and  terrible  war-whoop  of 
the  Indian.  These  fields  and  woods,  these  hills  and 
vales  were  once  trod  by  the  wild  hunters  of  the  forest. 
They  were  the  domains  of  another  race  of  men,  who 
have  long  since  passed  away,  and  are  known  only  by 
the  brief  histories  and  scattered  relics  which  their 
conquerors  have  preserved.  But  whatever  relates  to 
them  is  interesting.  They  were  distinguished  by 
many  peculiarities.  They  had  their  savage  vices,  but 
possessed  at  the  same  time  their  savage  virtues.  They 
were  hardy,  bold,  and  warlike. 

The  most  important  and  critical  period  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  colony  was  the  Indian  war  of  1675-76. 
This  was  a  gloomy  and  fearful  period  to  these  infant 
settlements.  The  hour  of  their  destruction  seemed 
to  be  drawing  nigh.  They  were  a  scattered  people, 
spreading  over  a  wide  extent  of  territory,  peculiarly 
exposed  in  their  lives  and  property  to  Indian  depre- 
dations. The  approaching  contest  required  all  the 
patience,  fortitude,  and  courage  which  men  are  ever 
called  to  exercise.  They  had  to  contend  against  fear- 
ful odds.  Nearly  all  the  New  England  tribes,  em- 
bracing many  thousand  warriors,  had  combined  for 
their  destruction,  guided  by  the  matchless  genius  of 
a  chief  versed  in  all  the  arts  of  savage  warfare.  It 
was  a  war  of  extermination,  a  contest  for  victory  in 
which  there  was  no  quarter,  no  mercy. 

In  April,  1676,  the  Indians,  having  suffered  several 
severe  defeats  in  a  body,  adopted  a  new  mode  of  war- 
fare, and  dispersed  themselves  in  small  parties  over 
the  country,  burning,  killing,  and  destroying  wher- 
ever opportunity  offered.  Among  other  outrages  they 
attacked  Woodcock's  garrison,  "  killed  one  man  and 
one  of  Woodcock's  sons,  and  wounded  another,  and 
burnt  the  son's  house."  Some  circumstances  con- 
nected with  this  event  appear  to  have  been  accurately 
preserved  by  tradition,  from  which  and  other  sources 
are  gathered  the  following  particulars: 

His  sons  were  at  work  in  a  cornfield  near  the  house. 
The  Indians,  concealed  in  a  wood 1  adjoining  the  field, 
approached  to  its  borders  and  suddenly  fired  upon 
them.  The  workmen  fled  to  the  garrison,  leaving  the 
dead  body  on  the  field.  The  Indians,  to  gratify  their 
spite  against  the  family,  cut  off  the  soil's  head,  stuck 
it  on  a  long  pole  which  they  set  up  on  a  hill  at 
some  distance  in  front  of  the  house  and  in  full  view 
of  the  family,  to  aggravate  their  feelings  as  much  as 

1  Now  the  meadow  on  the  oast  of  the  turnpike  below  the  bridge. 


ATTLEBOROUGH. 


525 


possible.  From  this  time  Woodcock  swore  never  to 
make  peace  with  the  Indians.  He  ever  after  hunted 
them  like  wild  beasts.  He  was  a  man  of  resolute  and 
determined  character,  and  tradition  says  that  not  a 
few  fell  victims  to  his  vengeance  and  a  sacrifice  to  the 
manes  of  his  murdered  son. 

This  attack  was  in  April.  The  body  of  his  son 
(whose  name  was  Nathaniel)  was  buried  on  the  spot 
where  he  fell,  nearly  in  the  centre  of  the  yard,  which 
has  ever  since  been  reserved  for  a  burying-ground. 

This  attack  was  in  all  probability  between  the  date 
of  Pierce's  fight,  March  26th,  and  April  26,  1676,  and 
after  the  attack  on  Wrentham,  when  the  town  was 
burnt. 

His  son  Nathaniel,  as  already  mentioned,  and  a  son- 
in-law  were  killed,  and  one  of  his  sons  was  severely 
wounded  by  several  bullets  in  both  shoulders.  Six 
garrison  soldiers  who  were  stationed  there  had  been 
suddenly  withdrawn,  leaving  him  dependent  upon  his 
own  resources,  and  in  great  danger  from  these  roving 
Indians.  There  were  only  fourteen  persons  living  in 
"Woodcock's  settlement  at  the  time,  consisting  of  his 
sons  and  daughters  and  sons-in-law,  and  including 
two  or  three  others,  and  probably  a  man  by  the  name 
of  Rocket,  whose  signature  as  a  witness  appears  on 
several  instruments,  was  one  of  them. 

Under  these  circumstances  Woodcock  applies  to 
the  authorities  for  aid  and  protection  from  both  colo- 
nies. In  his  account  he  refers  to  his  own  losses,  and 
to  the  damage  which  Wrentham  had  already  sus- 
tained by  an  attack  of  the  Indians.  His  statements 
must  be  regarded  as  authentic  and  true,  while  they 
correct  some  mistakes  of  early  historians.  Ancient 
accounts  fix  the  date  in  May.  He  entreats  the  gov- 
ernment to  send  him  a  surgeon  to  dress  the  wounds 
of  his  son,  and  thinks  it  might  be  safe  for  him  if  he 
come  in  the  night-time;  and  he  also  begged  that  they 
would  send  him  half  a  dozen  soldiers  to  man  his  gar- 
rison and  supply  the  place  of  the  six  soldiers  who  had 
been  stationed  there  before,  but  had  been  suddenly 
withdrawn.     These  were  certainly  perilous  times. 

Pierce's  Fight. — This  town  was  the  scene  of  one 
of  the  most  severe,  bloody,  and  fatal  battles  fought 
during  the  war.  It  took  place  on  Sunday,  March  26, 
1676,  in  that  part  which  is  now  Cumberland,  R.  L, 
near  the  Blackstone  River.  The  spot  is  still  pointed 
out. 

The  government  of  Plymouth,  fearing  that  their 
settlements  would  be  again  attacked  after  so  many 
outrages  had  been  committed  in  Massachusetts,  or- 
dered out  a  company  for  their  defense,  consisting  of 
sixty-three  Englishmen  and   twenty  Cape  Indians,1 

1  This  account  differs  in  some  respects  from  that  given  by  Church, 
who  States  that  there  were  only  fifty  whites*  and  twenty  Cape  Indians. 
I  have  relied,  for  the  must  of  the  particulars  in  this  description,  on  a 
"Continued  Account  of  the  Bloody  Indian  War  from  March  till  August, 
1676,"  now  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  S.  G.  Drake,  Boston.     It  was  published 


*  But  as  fifty-two  English  were  killed,  according  to  Newman's  account, 
there  must  have  been  more  in  the  battle. 


under  the  command  of  Capt.  Michael  Pierce,  of  Sci- 
tuate.  He  immediately  marched  in  pursuit  of  the 
enemy,  who  were  supposed  to  be  in  the  vicinity.  He 
rendezvoused  at  the  garrison  in  Rehoboth  on  Satur- 
day night.  The  next  day,  "having  intelligence 
in  his  garrison  at  Seaconicke  that  a  party  of  the 
enemy  lay  near  Mr.  Blackstone's,  he  went  forth  with 
sixty-three  English  and  twenty  Cape  Indians,"  and 
soon  discovered  four  or  five  Indians  in  a  piece  of 
woods,  who  pretended  to  be  lame  and  wounded,  but 
proved  to  be  decoys  to  lead  the  whites  into  ambuscade, 
for  they  soon  discovered  five  hundred  more  of  the 
enemy.  Pierce,  though  aware  of  their  superiority  of 
numbers,  courageously  pursued  them,  when  they 
began  to  retreat  slowly ;  but  there  soon  appeared 
another  company  of  four  hundred  Indians,  who  were 
now  able  completely  to  surround  him.  A  party  of 
the  enemy  were  stationed  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
river  to  prevent  the  English  crossing;  they  were  thus 
attacked  in  front  and  rear  by  an  overwhelming  force. 
Thus  all  chance  of  retreat  and  all  hope  of  escape  was 
cut  off.  This  was  a  most  trying  moment.  But  there 
was  no  flinching,  no  quailing.  Each  one  knew  that 
in  all  human  probability  he  must  die  on  that  field, 
and  that,  too,  under  the  most  appalling  circumstances, 
— by  the  hand  of  a  merciless  enemy  who  sought  their 
extermination.  But  bravely  and  nobly  did  they  sub- 
mit to  their  fate.  Each  one  resolved  to  do  his  duty 
and  sell  his  life  at  the  dearest  rate.  At  such  a  time 
the  awful  war-whoop  of  the  Indian  would  have  sent 
a  thrill  of  terror  to  the  hearts  of  any  but  brave  men. 
At  this  critical  juncture  Capt.  Pierce  made  an  exceed- 
ingly judicious  movement.  He  formed  his  men  into 
a  circle,  back  to  back,  with  four  spaces  between  each 
man,  thus  enlarging  the  circle  to  its  greatest  extent, 
presenting  a  front  to  the  enemy  in  every  direction, 
and  necessarily  scattering  their  fire  over  a  greater 
surface,  whilst  the  Indians  stood  in  a  deep  circle,  one 
behind  another,  forming  a  compact  mass,  and  present- 
ing a  front  where  every  shot  must  take  effect.'''  He 
thus  made  a  brave  resistance  for  two  hours  (all  the 
while  keeping  the  enemy  at  a  distance  and  his  own 
men  in  perfect  order),  and  kept  up  a  constant  and 
destructive  fire  upon  the  Indians.  But  no  courage  or 
skill  could  prevail  in  such  an  unequal  contest  or 
longer  resist  such  a  force.3  At  last,  overpowered  by 
numbers,  Capt  Pierce  and  fifty-five  English  and  ten 
Cape  Indians  were  slain  on  the  spot,  "which  in  such 

in  London  the  same  year,  and  contains  a  minute  and  apparently  accurate 
detail  of  this  battle  and  many  of  the  other  important  '-\  ente  of  the  war. 
The  work  consists  of  a  series  of  letters  written  bya  gentleman  in  Boston 
to  his  friend  in  London,  and  published  from  time  to  time  as  they  were 
received.  One  volume  (the  above  mentioned),  containing  three  or  four 
letters,  has  been  lately  discovered,  and  was  never  reprinted  in  this 
country. 

2  In  the  words  of  the  account  just  referred  to,  "Capt.  Pierce  east  his 
men  into  a  ring  and  fought  back  to  hack,  and  were  double-double  dis- 
tance all  in  one  ling,  whilst  the  Indians  were  as  thick  as  they  could 
stand  thirty  deep." 

3  Canonchet,  a  Narragansett  chief,  commanded  in  this  battle.  He  was 
soon  after  taken  prisoner  and  executed. 


526 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


a  cause  and  upon  such  disadvantage  may  certainly 
be  styled  the  bed  of  honor."  But  this  victory  was 
gained  at  a  great  sacrifice.  The  Indians  lost  as  many 
(not  counting  women  and  children)  as  in  the  great 
swamp-fight  at  Narragansett,  which  were  computed 
at  over  three  hundred. 

An  important  letter,  written  the  day  after  the  bat- 
tle, has  been  of  late  years  discovered  in  the  Library 
of  the  American  Antiquarian  Society,  at  Worcester, 
from  Rev.  Noah  Newman,  the  minister  of  Rehoboth 
at  that  time,  to  Rev.  John  Cotton,  of  Plymouth,  in 
which  he  gives  some  facts  about  the  movements  of 
Capt.  Pierce,  and  a  list  of  the  killed.  It  appears 
from  his  statement  that  of  Pierce's  company  fifty- 
two  English  and  eleven  Cape  Indians  were  slain.  It 
is  stated  that  he  went  out  with  a  small  party  of  his 
men  and  Indians  from  the  garrison  at  Seekonk  to 
reconnoitre,  and  found  the  enemy  and  attacked  him, 
and  supposed  he  had  damaged  him.  But  being  so 
few  with  him  he  thought  it  prudent  to  retreat,  and 
go  out  next  day  with  a  recruit  of  men.  He  returned 
to  the  settlement  in  Rehoboth,  and  the  next  morn- 
ing, the  fatal  day,  he  marched  out  to  attack  the 
enemy,  taking  pilots  with  him  from  Rehoboth,  who 
were  acquainted  with  the  ground.  Probably  there 
were  some  volunteers  from  Rehoboth  on  the  day  of 
the  fight. 

The  following  is  the  list  of  names  of  Pierce's  men 
contained  in  this  letter  :  "  From  Scituate,  eighteen, 
of  whom  fourteen  were  slain,  viz. :  Capt.  Pierce, 
Samuel  Russell,  Benjamin  Chittenden,  John  Loth- 
rope,  Gershom  Dodson,  Samuel  Pratt,  Thomas  Savarv, 
Joseph  Wade,  William  Welcome,  Jeremiah  Bar- 
stow,  John  Ensign,  Joseph  Cowin,  Joseph  Perry, 
John  Rose.  Marshfield,  nine  slain, — Thomas  Little, 
John  Eames,  Joseph  White,  John  Burrows,  Joseph 
Phillips,  Samuel  Bump,  John  Low  More,  John  Brance. 
Duxbury,  four  slain, — John  Sprayen,  Benjamin  Soul, 
Thomas  Hunt,  Joshua  Fobes.  Sandwich,  five  slain, 
—Benjamin  Nye,  Daniel  Bessey,  Caleb  Blake,  Job 
Gibbs,  Stephen  Wing.  Barnstable,  six  slain, — Lieut. 
Fuller,  John  Lewis,  Eleazer  — ■ — ,  Samuel  Linnel, 
Samuel  Childs,  Samuel  Benman.  Yarmouth,  five 
slain, — John  Mathews,  John  Gage,  William  Gage, 
Henry  Gage,  Henry  Gold.     Eastham,  four  slain, — 

Joseph  Nesselfield,  John  Walker,  John  M. (torn 

off ).  Rehoboth,— John  Fitch,  Jr.,  John  Miller,  Jr.," 
and  doubtless  contained  two  other  names,  John  Read, 
Jr.,  and  Benjamin  Buckland,  as  they  were  entered 
on  Rehoboth  records  as  slain  on  that  day. 

Thomas  Man  is  returned  with  a  sore  wound. 

This  was  the  sorest  defeat  which  the  colony  of  Ply- 
mouth suffered  during  the  war,  and  caused  great  dis- 
tress everywhere,  for  the  numbers  lost  amounted  to 
about  to  about  one-third  of  their  regular  force.  Ac- 
cording to  Church,  not  a  single  white  man  returned 
from  this  bloody  and  fatal  battle-field. 

As  soon  as  the  Rehoboth  people  received  informa- 
tion of  the  dangerous  situation  of  Capt.  Pierce  and 


his  men,  they  despatched  a  company  to  his  assistance, 
who  arrived  in  season  only  to  perform  the  last  offices 
to  the  dead  bodies  of  their  countrymen. 

The  courage  and  resolution  displayed  on  this  occa- 
sion deserve  commendation.  These  brave  soldiers 
were  entitled  to  the  gratitude  of  the  colony,  for  whose 
defense  they  had  thus  sacrified  their  lives.  They 
were  taken  by  surprise,  and  completely  surrounded 
by  a  force  ten  times  their  superior.  Pierce  was  a 
bold  and  adventurous  man — fear  formed  no  part  of 
his  character.  His  men  partook  of  his  courage. 
They  pushed  forward,  perhaps  imprudently,  and  thus 
fell  into  the  snare  which  their  enemy  had  prepared 
for  them.  Considering  the  numbers  engaged,  it  was 
doubtless  the  most  warmly  and  closely  contested  of 
all  the  engagements  which  took  place  during  that 
eventful  period  between  the  white  and  the  red  men. 
Nearly  four  hundred  were  killed  on  both  sides.  His- 
tory has  recorded,  with  applause,  every  feat  of  brav- 
ery, when  performed  on  a  more  conspicuous  station, 
whilst  it  has  often  overlooked  the  humble  though 
equally  meritorious  exploit.  It  requires  more  true 
courage  to  die  on  such  a  field,  with  such  a  foe,  than 
on  the  plains  of  Waterloo,  amid  the  "  pomp  and  cir- 
cumstance of  glorious  war." 

The  following  adventure,  in  which  "Old  Wood- 
cock" was  engaged,  is  abridged  from  a  communica- 
tion in  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Collection,  fur- 
nished by  the  research  of  the  late  Dr.  Mann,  formerly 
of  Wrentham.  It  rests  upon  the  authority  of  tradi- 
tion, but  appears  to  be  well  authenticated. 

A  man  by  the  name  of  Rocket,  in  searching  for  a 
stray  horse,  discovered  a  train  of  forty-two  Indians 
about  sunset;  from  their  appearance  he  suspected 
they  intended  to  attack  the  settlement  at  Wrentham 
the  next  morning,  after  the  men  had  dispersed  to  their 
work ;  he  therefore  followed  them,  secretly,  till  they 
halted  for  the  night,  when  he  hastily  returned  to  the 
settlement  and  gave  notice  to  the  inhabitants.  A 
consultation  was  held,  at  which  it  was  agreed  to  at- 
tack the  Indians  early  the  next  morning.  A  com- 
pany of  thirteen,  under  the  command  of  Capt.  Ware, 
was  hastily  collected  from  Wrentham  and  the  vicinity, 
who,  having  secured  the  women  and  children  and  the 
infirm  in  the  garrison,  set  out  for  the  Indian  encamp- 
ment where  they  arrived  just  before  daylight,  and 
were  posted  within  a  short  distance,  with  orders  to 
reserve  their  fire  till  the  enemy  began  to  decamp. 

Between  daylight  and  sunrise  the  Indians  suddenly 
rose  from  their  resting-places,  when,  upon  a  signal 
given,  a  general  discharge  was  made,  which  threw 
them  into  the  utmost  consternation.  Some,  in  their 
confusion,  while  attempting  to  escape,  leaped  down  a 
precipice  of  rocks  from  ten  to  twenty  feet  in  height; 
some  of 'the  fugitives  were  overtaken  and  slain.  Two 
of  them,  who  were  closely  pursued,  attempted  to  con- 
ceal themselves  in  Mill  Brook,  where  they  were  found 
and  killed.  It  is  related  that  one  Woodcock  dis- 
charged his  long  musket,  called  in  those  days  a  buc- 


ATTLEBOROUGH. 


527 


caneer,  at  a  fugitive  Indian,  at  the  distance  of  eighty 
rods,  and  broke  his  thigh-bone  and  then  killed  him. 

The  number  of  Indians  killed  was  from  twenty  to 
twenty-four,  and  not  one  of  the  whites.  The  place 
where  this  bold  adventure  occurred  is  in  that  part  of 
the  ancient  Wrentham  which  is  now  Franklin.  The 
large  rock  where  the  Indians  were  encamped  is  to 
this  day  called  Indian  Rock.  The  time  is  not  cer- 
tainly ascertained,  but  it  was,  without  much  doubt, 
in  the  spring  or  summer  of  1676,  when  the  Indian 
forces  were  dispersed  in  parties  throughout  the  coun- 
try. 

Nine  Men's  Misery.— This  is  the  name  of  a  spot 
in  Cumberland,  R.  I.,  where  nine  men  were  slain  in 
Philip's  war.  This  place  is  near  the  house  of  the  late 
Elisha  Waterman,  Esq.,  just  north  of  Camp  Swamp 
(so  called).  The  only  circumstances  of  this  event 
which  I  have  gathered  are  these :  A  company  of  nine 
men  were  in  advance  of  or  had  strayed  from  their 
party  for  some  purpose,  when  they  discovered  a  num- 
ber of  Indians  near  this  spot,  whom  they  immedi- 
ately pursued  and  attacked,  but  a  large  number  of 
the  enemy  rushed  out  of  the  swamp  and  surrounded 
them.  The  whites,  placing  their  backs  to  a  large 
rock  near  by,  fought  with  desperation  till  every  one 
of  them  was  killed  on  the  spot.  The  rest  of  their  party, 
who  were  within  hearing  of  their  guns,  hastened  to 
their  succor,  but  arrived  too  late  to  render  them  any 
assistance.  Their  bodies  were  buried  on  the  spot, 
which  is  now  designated  by  a  large  pile  of  stones.1 

I  have  seen  no  notice  of  this  occurrence  in  history, 
but  as  to  the  main  fact  there  can  be  no  doubt.  The 
bones  of  these  men  were  disinterred  not  many  years 
ago  by  some  physicians  (for  anatomical  purposes), 
and  were  found  nearly  perfect.  But  the  people  in  the 
vicinity  insisted  upon  their  being  restored,  which  was 
accordingly  done.  One  of  the  slain  was  ascertained 
to  be  a  Bucklin,  of  Rehoboth,  from  the  remarkable 
circumstance  of  a  set  of  double  front  teeth  which  he 
was  known  to  possess. 

The  time  when  this  happened  none  of  my  infor- 
mants can  tell,  but  there  is  good  reason  for  believing 
that  it  was  at  or  about  the  time  of  Pierce's  fight.2 

June  17, 1676,  it  was  supposed  that  Philip  was  with 
one  of  these  marauding  parties,  and  the  measures 
which  were  taken  for  Woodcock's  protection,  and  for 
other  purposes. 

The  following  orders,  fortunately  discovered,  from 
the  Massachusetts  government,  furnish  material  for 
the  history  of  the  war,  and  throw  light  upon  those 
stirring  and  perilous  times: 

1  It  was  probably  a  party  attempting  to  escape  from  Pierce's  fight,  and 
who  were  pursued  and  surrounded  by  the  savages  al  this  place.  It  is 
mentioned  in  some  of  the  old  records  as  "Nine  Men's  Misery"  and 
"Dead  Men's  Hones." 

-  Several  of  the  Rehoboth  people  were  slain  the  26th  of  March,  1076, 
the  time  of  Pierce's  fight,  viz.,  John  Fitch,  Jr.,. John  Bead,  Jr., Benjamin 
BucMand,  John  Miller,  Jr.  Robert  Beers  (an  Irishman  and  then  an  in- 
hahitant  of  Rehoboth)  was  slain  the  28th  of  March;  Nehemiah  Sabin 
in  June  following. 


"At  a  meeting  of  the  Council  held  at  Boston,  17th 
of  June,  1676,  at  8  of  the  clock,  the  Council  being 
informed  that  the  Indians  are  skulking  to  and  again 
about  Wrentham,  Woodcock's,  or  Mount  Hope,  and 
have  of  late  done  mischief  to  the  English :  It  is 
ordered  that  the  Major  of  Suffolk  issue  out  his  orders 
forthwith  for  such  a  party  as  he  judgeth  it  fit  and 
necessary,  to  repair  to  Dedham  on  2d  day  next  early, 
and  range  the  woods  to  and  again  for  the  discovery, 
distressing,  and  destroying  of  the  enemy  wherever 
they  find  them,  committing  the  conduct  of  that  party 
to  whom  he  sees  meet,  ordering  that  each  soldier  be 
completely  armed  with  firearms  and  ammunition, 
and  provisions  for  four  days. 

"  Passed  by  the  Council. 

"  Edw.  Rawson,  Secretary." 

Instructions  for  Capt.  Thomas  Brattle : 
"  Ordered  to  take  twenty  of  the  troops,  with  such 
officers  as  he  may  choose,  and  an  officer  and  ten 
troopers  of  Lieut.  Halley's  troope,  and  march  to  Ded- 
ham, where  are  ordered  to  be  an  officer  and  eighteen 
foot  soldiers  mounted,  from  Dorchester,  six  from  Rox- 
bury,  and  twenty-four  from  Dedham,  with  an  officer, 
all  appointed  to  be  at  Dedham,  the  rendezvous,  this 
day,  at  four  p.m.,  etc.  You  are  to  march  with  your 
troopers  and  dragoons  to  be  at  John  Woodcock's  by 
midnight,  where  you  shall  meet  with  an  Indian  pylot, 
and  his  file  of  musketeers,  which  pylot  hath  engaged 
to  bring  you  upon  Phillip  and  his  company,  who  are 
not  above  thirty  men,  as  he  saith,  and  not  ten  miles 
from  Woodcock's.  Be  sure  to  secure  the  pylot  to 
prevent  falsehood  and  escape.  In  case  you  meet  not 
with  a  pylot  at  Woodcock's,  you  are  to  send  to  Mr. 
Newman  at  Rehoboth,  and  let  him  know  of  your 
being  there." 


CHAPTER    XL II. 

ATTLEBOROUGH.— (Continued.) 

First  Parish  and  Church  in  Town— Notices  of  Habijah  Weld,  Wilder, 
and  others— Division  of  the  Town  into  two  Parishes— East  Parish,  its 
History— Notices  of  the  Ministers— North  Baptist  Church— Notices  of 
its  Pastors— Notices  of  Modern  Religious  Societies. 

The  Ministry. — For  many  years  the  town  consti- 
tuted one  parish,  and  was  not  divided  till  April  7, 
1743.  For  some  time  after  its  incorporation  it  was 
not  able  to  support  a  preacher,  owing  to  the  small 
number  of  its  population. 

The  first  settled  minister  in  town  was  Rev.  Matthew 
Short,  son  of  Henry  Short,  of  Newburg.  He  was  a 
young  man  when  he  came  to  this  town.  He  was  born 
March  14,  1788,  and  graduated  at  Harvard  College 
in  the  class  of  1709.  He  was  chosen  by  the  parish 
(  >ct.  1,  1711,  and  ordained  Nov.  12,  1712,  over  the 
church  constituted  at  the  same  time.  Difficulties 
soon  arose  between  him  and  his  people,  which  (after 
many  ineffectual  attempts  to  reconcile  them)  finally 


528 


HISTORY    OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


resulted  in  his  dismission,  May  31,  1715.  He  con- 
tinued in  this  town  only  about  four  years,  having 
preached  here  one  year  before  his  ordination.  Of  his 
previous  or  subsequent  history  but  little  is  known. 
He  removed  to  Easton,  and  became  the  first  settled 
minister  of  that  town,  where  he  remained  in  harmony 
with  his  people  till  his  death,  in  1731,  aged  forty- 
three  years,  leaving  ten  children, — three  sons  and 
seven  daughters. 

According  to  the  articles  of  agreement  made  with 
Mr.  Short,  Dec.  20,  1711,  he  was  to  have  fifty  pounds 
a  year  for  the  first  six  years;  one-third  to  be  in  money 
and  "  the  other  two-thirds  in  grain,  beef,  pork,  butter, 
or  cheese,  any  or  either  of  them  at  current  price."1 
At  the  seventh  year  his  salary  was  to  be  raised  to 
sixty  pounds,  payable  as  above,  and  there  to  continue 
until  there  should  be  one  hundred  families  in  town 
capable  of  paying  public  taxes  in  the  judgment  of 
the  selectmen  for  the  time  being,  and  then  it  was  to 
be  seventy  pounds  per  annum.  He  was  also  to  have 
the  use  of  the  ministerial  house  and  lands  so  long  as 
he  should  continue  in  his  pastoral  office. 

Mr.  Short  was  married  to  Miss  Margaret  Freeman, 
of  Attleborough,  by  Justice  Leonard,  Dec.  27,  1711. 
He  had  two  daughters  while  in  this  town,  Anna  and 
Judith. 

The  first  meeting-house  was  built  in  1710.  It  was 
not,  however,  entirely  completed  until  1714.  It  was 
thirty  feet  square,  and  stood  on  the  spot  where  the 
hall  of  the  Agricultural  Society  once  stood.2 

A  few  extracts  from  the  records  detailing  more  par- 
ticularly the  early  proceedings  relative  to  the  settle- 
ment.of  the  first  minister  will  be  acceptable  to  the 
present  generation. 

March  25.  1707.  "  The  meeting  then  held  was  for 
the  choosing  of  a  learned  orthodox  minister  of  good 
conversation  to  dispense  the  word  of  God  to  us  in 
Attleborough;  voted  to  give  Mr.  Fiske  a  call  to 
preach  for  us.  Likewise  a  committee  of  nine  was 
chosen  to  procure  a  minister  to  settle.  It  was  like- 
wise voted  to  empower  the  said  committee  to  treat 
with  the  said  Mr.  Fiske  as  to  his  dispensing  the  word 
of  God  amongst  us,  and  to  settle  him,  if  he  may  be 
obtained  ;  and  if  he  may  not,  then  any  other  minister 
that  the  town  shall  call,  being  approved  by  the  neigh- 
boring ministers." 

May  20,  1707.  Voted  to  give  Mr.  More  a  call  to 
preach  among  us,  and  to  settle  if  he  may  be  ob- 
tained. 

June,  1707.  Voted  that  Hezekiah  Peck  and  Jona- 
than Fuller  be  a  committee  to  see  and  get  a  petition 

1  These  articles  were  then  valued  as  follows:  Indian  corn,  2s.  Gd.  per 
bushel ;  rye,  is.  Gd.  per  bushel ;  pork,  'id.  per  lb. ;  beef,  2d.  per  lb. ;  but- 
ter, Gd.  per  lb.;  and  good  new  milk  cheese,  4d.  per  lb. 

2  At  a  town-meeting  Feb.  9,  1709-10,  voted  to  build  a  meeting-house 
thirty  feet  square  and  sixteen  feet  between  joints,  and  to  set  it  upon  a 
piece  of  land  on  the  east  side  of  the  country  road  near  to  the  house  of 
Christopher  Hall,  and  to  get  the  timber  for  said  house,  and  to  frame  and 
raise  it  by  the  1st  of  June  next.  This  lot  of  land  was  given  to  the  town 
for  this  purpose  by  Lieut.  Moses  Read. 


written  to  the  General  Court  for  some  help  towards 
the  maintenance  of  a  minister.3 

The  sum  of  eighty  pounds  had  been  granted  by  the 
town,  Nov.  22,  1705,  towards  building  a  minister's 
house,  thirty-five  pounds  of  which  had  been  collected  ; 
and  on  the  2d  of  July,  1707,  the  town  voted  that  the 
remaining  forty-five  pounds  should  be  levied  and 
collected. 

June  15,  1708.  The  meeting  then  held  was  for  the 
choosing  of  an  able  and  orthodox  minister  to  serve 
us  in  the  work  of  the  ministry  in  this  place  ;  it  was 
voted  that  the  committee  should  treat  with  Mr.  Wis- 
well  to  dispense  the  word  of  God  to  us,  if  he  may  be 
obtained  ;  if  not,  then  with  Mr.  Fisher,  if  he  may  be 
obtained ;  if  not,  then  with  Mr.  Hunt,  if  he  may  be 
obtained ;  if  not,  then  with  Mr.  Devotion ;  and  if 
neither  of  them  may  be  obtained,  then  they  may  treat 
with  any  other  that  shall  be  allowed  of  by  the  neigh- 
boring ministers,  until  they  have  settled  one  in 
Attleborough.4 

July  28,  1710.  Chose  Mr.  Ebenezer  White  for  our 
minister,  if  he  will  stay  with  us;  if  not,  then  Mr. 
Myles.  Mr.  White,  it  appears,  did  not  at  this  time 
accept  the  invitation  to  settle.  He  however  preached 
for  them  nearly  a  year. 

Oct.  9,  1710.  Chose  a  committee  to  see  to  the  fin- 
ishing of  the  meeting-house,  and  the  1st  of  January 
next  ensuing  was  the  time  fixed  for  finishing  it. 
Voted  to  raise  a  tax  of  sixty  pounds  as  a  fund  for  said 
work,  five  pounds  to  be  in  money,  and  the  rest  in  corn, 
rye,  beef,  and  pork,  or  in  materials  for  the  building. 

Nov.  20,  1710.  Voted  that  the  house  which  is  built 
on  the  ministerial  lot  should  be  given  to  the  first 
minister  that  shall  serve  the  town  seven  years  in  the 
office  of  a  minister,  and  so  living  and  dying  among 
us,  then  to  be  his  and  his  heirs  forever.5 

Oct.  1,  1711.  At  a  meeting  for  the  choice  of  an  able 
orthodox  minister  to  dispense  the  word  of  God  to  us 
in  Attleborough,  the  town  chose  Mr.  Matthew  Short 
for  their  minister.6 

Nov.  5,  1711.  Granted  a  tax  of  twenty-five  pounds 
towards  paying  Mr.  Short,  ten  pounds  in  money,  and 
the  other  fifteen  pounds  in  grain,  pork,  beef,  butter, 
cheese,  at  current  price. 

Ebenezer  White. — The  second  minister  in  town 
was  Rev.  Ebenezer  White.7     He  was  chosen  by  the 


3  In  1710  the  Mile  and  Half  was  reannexed  to  this  town,  which  re- 
stored fourteen  families,  and  enabled  the  people  to  support  a  preacher 
without  other  assistance. 

*  The  inhabitants  were  so  few  (consisting  of  about  sixteen  families, 
exclusive  of  the  fourteen  who  had  been  annexed  to  Rehoboth)  that  they 
were  not  able  to  afford  a  competent  salary,  which  was  probably  the  cause 
of  their  embarrassment  in  the  settlement  of  a  minister. 

5  The  next  settled  minister  acquired  the  property  of  this  house  (and 
also  the  ministerial  farm,  as  will  subsequently  appear)  by  having  fulfilled 
the  condition  of  the  grant. 

6  March  18,  1711-12.  "  Voted  to  build  a  pew  for  the  minister  in  the 
meeting-house,  and  also  agreed  that  Mrs.  Short  shall  have  the  benefit  and 
privilege  of  sitting  in  the  same  during  her  abode  in  Attleborough." 

~  Son  of  James  White,  of  Dorchester,  Mass.,  baptized  July  12,  1685, 
graduated  at  Harvard  College,  1704. 


ATTLE  BOROUGH. 


529 


people  July  18,  1715 ;  ordained  Oct.  17,  1716.  He 
had  supplied  the  pulpit  for  some  time  previous  to  his 
settlement.  He  was  minister  of  the  town  eleven 
years,  and  remained  here  till  his  death,  Sept.  4,  1726. 
So  far  as  appears,  he  gave  general  satisfaction.  He 
married  Abigail  Paine,  and  had  several  children, — 
Hannah,  Martha,  Edward,  Experience,  and  Thank- 
ful, and  two  others  who  died  infants. 

Besides  his  regular  salary,  Mr.  White  acquired  a 
title  to  the  ministerial  farm  and  house  (so  called)  by 
having  fulfilled  the  condition  of  the  grant. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  proprietors  of  the  North  Pur- 
chase, Sept.  16,  1707,  it  was  unanimously  voted  "  that 
the  surveyor  with  the  major  part  of  the  committee 
should  forthwith  lay  out  a  hundred  acres  of  land 
within  said  purchase,  which  shall  be  the  first  settled 
minister's  in  Attleborough  that  continueth  to  be  their 
minister  for  the  space  of  seven  years  ;  said  land  to  be 
said  minister's,  and  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever." — 
North  Purchase  Rec,  2  Book,  p.  3. 

Several  other  grants  and  gifts  have  been  made  to 
the  town  for  the  use  of  the  ministry. 

The  ministerial  lot  (which  has  been  a  subject  of  so 
much  controversy  in  modern  days)  was  granted  at  an 
adjourned  meeting  of  the  proprietors  held  at  Reho- 
both  June  29,  1685,  in  the  words  following:  "It  was 
likewise  voted  and  agreed  upon  (nemine  contract  I  cente) , 
that  a  hundred  acres  of  land  be  forthwith  laid  out  at 
the  Seven-Mile  River,  where  Rice  Leonard's  lot  was, 
and  as  near  adjacent  as  may  be;  which  said  hundred 
acres  of  land  perpetually  to  be  reserved  for  the  min- 
istry."— Rehoboth  Town  Rec,  2  Book,  p.  48.  Bounds 
Recorded,  North  Purchase  Rec,  1  Book,  p.  197. 

The  lot  where  the  first  meeting-house  stood  was 
given  by  Lieut.  Moses  Read. 

"  Oct.  16,  1712.  Laid  out  to  Lieut.  Moses  Read  two 
acres  of  land  by  the  meeting-house,  bounded  south 
the  stated  road,  east  the  foot  of  the  hill,  north  the  land 
of  the  heirs  of  Christopher  Hall,  west  the  country 
road.  The  above  said  land  the  said  Lieut.  Read  gave 
to  the  town  of  Attleborough  for  public  use  forever, 
and  ordered  it  so  to  be  put  on  record,  as  is  attest  by 
me,  Daniel  Smith,  clerk." — Rehoboth  North  Purchase 
Rec,  1  Book,  p.  302. 

Allowance  for  a  highway  through  said  lot. — Po.  2 
Book,  p.  129. 

Nov.  1, 1734.  Noah  Carpenter,  Sr.,  and  Caleb  Hall 
of  Attleborough,  "  in  consideration  of  love,  good-will, 
and  affection  which  we  have  and  do  bear  towards  the 
church  and  congregation  of  the  said  Attleborough, 
called  by  the  name  of  the  Presbyterian,"  have  given, 
granted,  conveyed,  etc.,  unto  them,  their  heirs  and 
assigns  forever,  that  is  to  be  understood  for  the  es- 
pecial use,  benefit,  and  privilege  of  that  society  for- 
ever, a  certain  tract  of  land  containing  about  forty- 
five  rods,  where  the  new  meeting-house  now  stands, 
bounded  by  the  said  Carpenter's  and  the  said  Hall's 
lands,  and  by  the  country  road,  etc. — Rehoboth  North 
Purchase  Rec,  2  Book,  p.  126. 
34 


Habijah  Weld.— Rev.  Habijah  Weld,  the  third 
minister  of  Attleborough,  was  distinguished  for  his 
usefulness  in  the  ministry,  and  highly  respected  as  a 
man  both  at  home  and  abroad.  He  united,  to  an  un- 
common degree,  the  affections  of  his  people  for  the 
long  period  of  nearly  fifty-five  years  during  which  he 
was  their  pastor.  He  was  a  man  of  talents  and  re- 
spectable acquirements,  and  was  extensively  known. 
His  character  deserves  a  more  particular  notice. 

He  was  born  in  Dunstable,  Mass.,  Sept.  2,  1702; 
graduated  at  Cambridge  University  in  1723,  and  was 
ordained  pastor  of  the  first  church  and  congregation 
in  this  town,  Oct.  1,  1727.  He  died  May  14,  1782,  in 
the  eightieth  year  of  his  age,  and  the  fifty-fifth  of  his 
ministry.  The  following  notice  of  his  character  is 
extracted  from  a  communication  in  Dr.  Dwight's 
"Travels,"  from  the  Hon.  David  Daggett,  late  chief 
justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Connecticut,  and 
senator  in  Congress  : 

"  Mr.  Weld  was  below  the  middle  stature,  and  in 
the  latter  part  of  his  life  corpulent.  His  constitution 
was  vigorous,  and  his  mind  almost  singularly  ener- 
getic. The  stipend  which  he  received  from  his  parish- 
oners  consisted  of  an  annual  salary  of  two  hundred 
and  twenty  dollars,  and  the  use  of  a  parsonage  lot 
which  furnished  him  with  wood  and  a  little  pasture. 
With  his  patrimony  he  purchased  a  farm  of  about 
seventy  acres  of  moderately  good  land  and  a  decent 
house.  He  had  fifteen  children,  ten  of  whom  were 
married  during  his  life,  and  one  after  his  death.  The 
remaining  four  died  while  young.  This  numerous 
family  he  educated  with  the  means  Which  have  been 
mentioned,  in  a  manner  superior  to  what  is  usually 
found  in  similar  circumstances,  entertained  much 
company  in  a  style  of  genuine  hospitality,  and  was 
always  prepared  to  contribute  to  the  necessities  of 
others. 

"  For  the  regulation  of  his  domestic  concerns,  Mr. 
Weld  prescribed  to  himself  and  his  family  a  fixed  sys- 
tem of  rules,  which  were  invariably  observed,  and  con- 
tributed not  a  little  to  the  pleasantness  and  prosperity 
of  his  life.  His  children,  laborers,  and  servants  sub- 
mitted to  them  with  cheerfulness,  and  his  house  be- 
came the  seat  of  absolute  industry,  peace,  and  good 
order.  Breakfast  was  on  the  table  precisely  at  six 
o'clock,  dinner  at  twelve,  and  supper  at  six  in  the 
evening.  After  supper  he  neither  made  visits  him- 
self nor  permitted  any  of  his  family  to  make  them. 

"  His  observation  of  the  Sabbath  was  peculiarly 
exemplary.  He  permitted  no  act  to  be  done  in  his 
house  on  that  day,  except  such  as  were  acts  of  neces- 
sity and  mercy  in  the  strict  sense. 

"Mr.  Weld  was  naturally  of  a  very  ardent  disposi- 
tion. Yet  so  entirely  had  he  acquired  an  ascendency 
over  his  temper  that  a  censurable  or  imprudent  act 
is  not  known  to  have  been  done  by  him  nor  an  im- 
proper word  uttered.  To  vice  and  licentiousness  in 
every  form  he  gave  no  indulgence,  either  in  his  con- 
versation or  his  public  instructions.     On  the  contrary, 


530 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


idleness,  intemperance,  profaneness,  and  all  kinds  of 
immoral  conduct  were  reproved  by  him  with  undevi- 
ating  severity.  His  example  in  the  practice  of  every 
virtue  was  such  as  to  create  in  all  classes  of  men 
entire  veneration  for  his  character.  It  is  doubted 
whether  any  person  ever  uttered  a  reproach  against 
Mr.  Weld.  " 

"Nor  was  his  piety  less  remarkable.  Since  the 
days  of  the  apostles  it  is  questioned  whether  his  zeal, 
fidelity,  and  intrepedity  in  the  cause  of  his  divine 
master  have  been  excelled.  During  the  long  period 
of  fifty-five  years  he  was  never  once  detained  from 
the  pulpit  by  disease,  nor  from  any  other  of  his  pas- 
toral duties.  His  prayers  were  wholly  formed  by 
himself,  and  adapted  with  strict  propriety  to  the 
various  occasions  on  which  they  were  made.  They 
were  pertinent,  solemn,  and  impressive.  His  ser- 
mons were  written  and  were  usually  delivered  with- 
out variation  from  his  notes.  Yet  at  times  he  ad- 
dressed his  congregation  extemporaneously  in  a 
manner  eminently  forcible  and  affecting.  .  .  . 

"  In  his  parochial  visits  he  was  accustomed  to  ad- 
dress the  truths  and  duties  of  the  gospel  to  the  hearts 
and  consciences  of  the  family,  and  never  lost  sight  of 
the  eternal  interests  of  his  congregation.  And  while 
he  administered  the  balm  of  life  to  the  wounded  spirit, 
he  addressed  the  most  solemn  alarms  as  well  as  the 
most  pungent  reproofs  to  stubbornness  and  impiety. 

"Mr.  Weld  continued  his  labors  to  the  Sabbath 
before  his  death  without  any  visible  decline  in  his 
powers  either  of  body  or  mind.  On  that  Sabbath  he 
preached  two  sermons  from  these  words :  "  He  that 
believeth  and  is  baptized  shall  be  saved,  and  he  that 
believeth  not  shall  be  damned."  On  the  Tuesday  fol- 
lowing he  rode  in  his  chaise  to  Providence,  ten  miles, 
returned  about  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  walked 
into  the  house,  told  his  wife  that  he  was  unwell,  re- 
quested her  to  open  a  window,  as  he  found  a  difficulty 
in  breathing,  sat  down  and  instantly  expired  of  an 
apoplexy.  So  well  were  his  secular  concerns  ar- 
ranged for  his  departure  that  the  settlement  of  his 
estate  cost  less  than  five  dollars.  His  excellent  wife 
survived  him  many  years,  and  died  after  she  had 
passed  the  age  of  ninety,  universally  lamented. 

"At  the  death  of  Mr.  Weld  only  one  of  his  congre- 
gation was  living  of  those  who  assisted  in  his  settle- 
ment. His  parishioners  showed  their  sense  of  the 
loss  which  they  sustained  in  his  death  by  an  univer- 
sal mourning. 

"  The  house  of  this  gentleman  was  the  resort  of 
many  distinguished  persons  from  Boston,  Providence, 
and  various  other  parts  of  New  England,  and  in  no 
house  were  they  received  and  treated  with  more  hos-  j 
pitality.  His  manners  were  at  once  dignified  and  | 
polite,  and  every  member  of  his  family  was  courteous 
and  well  bred.  Nothing  was  seen  among  them  but 
harmony  and  good-will. 

"  That  with  such  an  income  Mr.  Weld  could  sup- 
port so  large  a  family  and  live  in  so  hospitable  a  man- 


ner will  certainly  excite  not  a  little  wonder.  The  ex- 
planation is  found  in  his  industry,  regularity,  and 
exactness  in  all  his  concerns.  Everything  was  man- 
aged in  such  a  manner  that  almost  in  the  literal 
sense  nothing  was  lost. 

"In  my  opinion,"  adds  Mr.  Dwight,  "Mr.  Weld 
was  a  more  strict  observer  of  the  divine  law  and 
more  eminently  holy  than  any  man  whom  I  ever 
knew. 

"  Permit  me  to  subjoin,"  says  Dr.  Dwight,  "  that 
if  all  clergymen  sustained  the  same  character  and 
lived  in  the  same  manner,  the  world  would  speedily 
assume  a  new  aspect  and  its  inhabitants  a  new  char- 
acter." 

Mr.  Weld  married  Mary  Fox,  of  Woburn,  who 
died  Jan.  7,  1799,  in  her  ninety-third  year,  by  whom 
he  had  fifteen  children,  four  sons  and  eleven  daugh- 
ters, who  were  married  as  follows:  Jonathan  Phil- 
brook,  of  Boston,  to  Dorothy  Weld,  Aug.  7,  1759; 
Rev.  Oliver  Noble,  of  Newburyport,  to  Lucy  Weld, 
May  15, 1760  ;  Dr.  Cardee  Parker,  of  Coventry,  Conn., 
to  Mary  Weld,  April  15, 1762 ;  Caleb  Fuller,  of  Wind- 
sor, county  of  Ware,  Me.,  to  Hannah  Weld,  Oct.  28, 
1762;  Rev.  Ezra  Weld  to  Anna  Weld,  Feb.  9,  1764; 
Rev.  Oakes  Shaw,1  of  Barnstable,  to  Elizabeth  Weld, 
July  19, 1764;  Rev.  Timothy  Alden,2  of  Yarmouth,  to 
Sarah  Weld,  Nov.  22,  1770  ;  Eliphaz  Day,  of  Attle- 
borough,  to  Eunice  Weld. 

Mr.  Weld  was  buried  in  the  ancient  cemetery  at 
South  Attleborough,  within  his  own  parish,  and  his 
gravestone  has  the  following  epitaph  : 

"  The  Remains  of  the  Rev.  Habijah  Weld, 

M.A.,  late  the  faithful,  worthy,  and  be- 
loved Pastor  of  the  first  Church  of  Christ 
in  Attleborough. 
He  was  born  Sept.  2, 1702. 
He  was  ordained  Oct.  1,  1727. 
He  died  May  14, 1782,  in  the  eightieth  year 
of  his  age  and  the  fifty-fifth  of  his  pastorate. 
Farewell,  vain  world  !  as  thou  hast  been  to  me, 
Dust  and  a  shadow,  these  I  leave  with  thee ; 
The  unseen  vital  substance  I  commit- 
To  him  that's  Substance,  Life,  Light,  Love  to  it." 

In  1728  a  new  meeting-house  was  built  by  the  town. 

May  13,  1728.  The  town  voted  to  enlarge  the 
meeting-house  by  making  an  addition  of  twenty  feet 
to  the  north  end ;  but  in  September  following  a 
number  of  individuals  engaged  by  subscription  to 
advance  the  sum  of  £234  10s.  (in  addition  to  their 
proportion  of  the  taxes)  towards  defraying  the  ex- 
penses of  a  new  meeting-house,  if  the  town  would 
agree  to  build  anew  instead  of  enlarging  the  old. 
The  town  accordingly  voted,  Nov.  18,  1728,  to  build 
a  new  house,  and  ordered  it  to  be  fifty  feet  in  length, 
forty  feet  in  breadth,  and  of  a  suitable  height  for  one 

1  Rev.  Oakes  Shaw,  who  married  Elizabeth  Weld,  was  father  of  Chief 
Justice  Shaw,  of  Massachusetts. 

2  Rev.  Timothy  Alden,  who  married  Sarah  Weld,  minister  of  Yar- 
mouth, author  of  "  American  Epitaphs,"  in  three  volumes,  died  Novem- 
ber, 1828,  aged  ninety-two.  He  was  a  descendant  of  John  Alden,  a 
Pilgrim  of  the  "  Mayflower." 


ATTLEBOROUGH. 


531 


tier  of  galleries;  and  that  it  "shall  stand  on  a  little 
hill  on  the  north  side  of  the  pound,  about  fifteen  or 
sixteen  rods  from  the  old  meeting-house."1 

The  town  constituted  one  parish  until  April  7, 
1743,  when  it  was  divided  into  "two  distinct  and 
separate"  parishes  or  precincts  by  an  act  of  the 
Legislature.  The  west  constituted  the  First,  and  the 
east  the  Second  Precinct. 

Extracts  from  the  Records  of  the  First  Parish. 
— Sept.  18,  1744.  The  sum  of  £12  14s.  was  granted  to 
the  Second  Precinct.  This  was  probably  a  part  of 
their  share  in  the  meeting-house. 

March  27,  1777.2  The  salary  of  their  minister,  Mr. 
Weld,  was  £66  13s.  Ad. 

Sept.  21,  1779.  Voted  to  raise  Rev.  Mr.  Weld's 
salary  to  six  hundred  dollars.  Paper  currency  was 
much  depreciated. 

Sept.  29,  1779.  Voted  to  double  his  salary  for  the 
year. 

March  28,  1780.  A  meeting  was  called  "to  see  if 
the  precinct  will  apply  to  some  one  to  assist  Mr. 
Weld  in  the  work  of  the  ministry,  under  his  present 
indisposition  of  body,"  etc.  Voted  that  the  two  dea- 
cons see  that  the  pulpit  is  supplied  in  case  Mr.  Weld 
is  unable  to  preach. 

June  3,  1782.  A  meeting  was  held  "  to  see  if  the 
precinct  will  agree  to  pay  the  funeral  charges  of  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Weld,  late  of  Attleborough,  deceased." 
2d.  "  To  see  if  the  precinct  will  choose  a  committee 
so  seek  a  supply  occasioned  by  the  death  of  our  late 
pastor." 

From  this  time  till  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Wilder, 
in  1790,  nearly  eight  years,  the  parish  was  destitute 
of  a  settled  minister.  The  people  were  very  much 
divided  on  this  subject.  Many  unsuccessful  attempts 
were  made  to  settle  a  minister,  numerous  candidates 
were  called,  but  the  people  could  make  no  choice. 
They  had  been  long  united  and  harmonious  under 
the  ministry  of  Mr.  Weld,  some  diversity  of  opinion 
and  alienation  of  feeling  were  to  be  expected  after  so 
long  a  calm. 

Aug.  27,  1782.  Voted  to  hire  Rev.  Mr.  Morey  six 
weeks  longer.  Oct.  30,  1782.  A  meeting  was  called 
"to  see  if  the  precinct  will  give  Mr.  Morey  a  call  to 
settle  in  the  ministry."  1st.  "  Voted  to  give  him  a 
call.     2d.  Voted  to  reconsider  it." 

Feb.  26,  1783.  Voted  to  treat  with  a  committee  in 
Second  Precinct  relative  to  ministerial  lands.  There 
was  a  dispute  between  the  two  parishes  for  a  long  time 
in  regard  to  their  relative  rights  to  these  lands,  which 
was  finally  terminated,  I  believe,  by  payment  of  a 
certain  sum  to  the  second  parish. 

1  It  was  voted  that  those  parts  of  the  town  which  may  be  hereafter 
set  off  as  a  precinct  or  town  shall  have  the  money  repaid  to  them 
Which  they  now  pay  towards  the  new  meeting-house. 

-  The  last  meeting  under  the  Provincial  government  (March,  177G) 
was  warned,  as  usual,  "in  the  name  of  his  Majesty  the  King  of  Eng- 
land," etc.,  hut  the  next  one,  17th  September  following,  Boon  after  the 
declaration  of  independence,  was  warned  "in  the  name  of  these  States 
and  in  behalf  of  the  good  people  of  this  province,"  etc. 


At  the  same  meeting,  voted  to  hire  Rev.  Mr.  Brad- 
ford three  months.  Voted  to  buy  one  hundred  ser- 
mons delivered  by  Rev.  Mr.  Thaeher3  on  the  death 
of  Rev.  Mr.  Weld.  Voted  to  apply  to  Rev.  Mr. 
Spalding,  of  Killingly,  Conn.,  to  come  and  preach  a 
few  weeks. 

Aug.  18,  1883.  "Voted  to  send  to  the  president  of 
Yale  College  to  send  us  a  candidate."  He  accord- 
ingly sent  them  a  young  man,  who  it  appears  was 
not  acceptable. 

Oct.  29,  1783.  Voted  to  choose  a  committee  to  con- 
sult Lawyer  Bradford  '  concerning  the  ministerial 
lands. 

Dec.  15,  1783.  Rev.  Mr.  Britt  was  preaching  as  a 
candidate.  Subsequently  Rev.  Mr.  Avery,  then  a 
Mr.  March,  Mr.  Hart,  of  Preston,  Conn.,  Mr.  Da- 
mon, Mr.  Plum.  "Voted  to  send  for  Mr.  Hunting- 
ton to  preach  for  us."  Before  the  arrival  of  Mr. 
Wilder  many  other  names  of  candidates  appear.  So 
irreconcilable  were  the  feelings  or  opinions,  or  both, 
of  the  parish,  that  it  seemed  next  to  impossible  to 
make  a  selection.  So  great  was  the  distress  of  the 
people  amidst  their  divisions  that  they  at  last  ap- 
pointed a  "  fast  on  account  of  their  present  difficul- 
ties." In  this  they  hit  upon  the  right  expedient,  for 
it  seemed  to  have  a  very  happy  effect,  as  they  soon 
after  agreed  on  a  candidate,  the  Rev.  John  Wilder, 
who,  at  a  meeting  Jan.  4,  1790,  gave  an  answer  ac- 
cepting the  proposals  of  the  parish,  which  terminated 
their  long  and  troublesome  contest. 

Mr.  Wilder  was  born  in  Templeton,  March  12, 
1758  ;  removed  to  Lancaster  in  1776.  He  graduated 
at  Dartmouth  College  in  1784 ;  studied  theology  with 
Rev.  Dr.  Hart,  of  Preston,  Conn.  His  first  wife  was 
Esther  Tyler,  of  Preston, — married  Sept.  2,  1790,  and 
died  Jan.  19,  1811.  His  second  wife  was  Mrs.  Eliza- 
beth Austin,  of  North  Hartford,  Conn.  She  died  at 
Austinsburg,  March,  1847,  aged  seventy-two  years. 

Mr.  Wilder  was  ordained  Jan.  27,  1790,  and  the 
ordination  sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  Levi  Hart, 
above  named,  which  was  published. 

Mr.  Wilder  was  dismissed  Nov.  28,  1822.  He  had 
been  the  pastor  of  that  parish  upwards  of  thirty-two 
years.  He  died  here  Feb.  12,  1836,  aged  seventy- 
seven.  He  left  a  numerous  family  of  children  ;  one 
of  the  daughters  married  Hon.  Lemuel  May,  of  Attle- 
borough, who  was  the  mother  of  the  late  John  Wilder 
May,  chief  justice  of  the  Municipal  Court  of  Boston. 

Mr.  Wilder  published  several  discourses,  one  on 
"  The  Federal  Past,"  delivered  May  9,  1798 ;  an  ad- 
dress before  the  Attleborough  Agricultural  Society, 
etc.,  delivered  Feb.  22,  1805 ;  a  funeral  sermon  on  the 
death  of  Hon.  Elisha  May,  November,  1811 ;  and  an- 
other on  the  death  of  Deacon  Lane. 

8  The  first  settled  minister  of  the  Second  Precinct.  It  was  delivered 
before  Mr.  Weld's  parishioners  the  Sabbath  after  his  death. 

4  This  Bradford  was  afterwards  lieutenant-governor  of  Rhode  Island, 
a  man  very  popular  at  the  time  in  his  profession.  He  was  a  descend- 
ant from  William  Bradford,  second  governor  of  Plymouth  Colony. 


532 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


To  him  succeeded  Rev.  Thomas  Williams,  formerly 
•of  Connecticut,  who  was  installed  Sept.  29,  1824.  His 
connection  with  the  parish  was  dissolved  Dec.  11, 
1827. 

The  next  settled  minister  was  Rev.  Charles  J.  War- 
ren, who  was  ordained  Feb.  28,  1828,  and  dismissed 
July  8,  1830.     He  died  in  New  York,  January,  1883. 
Rev.  Mr.    Chapin,    Rev.   Mr.    Colburn,    Rev.    Mr. 
Ober  supplied  the  pulpit  from  1830  to  1840. 

Kev.  John  B.  M.  Bailey,  of  Dunbarton,  N.  H.,  or- 
dained here  Dec.  30,  1840,  and  died  here  Feb.  24, 
1851. 

Rev.  S.  B.  Morley,  ordained  July  9,  1851 ;  dis- 
missed March  25,  1857. 

Rev.  B.  C.  Chace,  Camden,  Me.,  acting  pastor  from 
Aug.  23,  1857,  to  Dec.  25, 1862. 

Rev.  David  Breed,  acting  pastor  from  March  1, 
1863,  to  March  1,  1866. 

Rev.  H.  P.  De  Forest,  ordained  and  entered  on  his 
ministry  January,  1867;  dismissed  January,  1869. 

Rev.  John  Whitehill  commenced  his  ministry  here 
March  28,  1869,  and  is  the  present  pastor. 

The  new  meeting-house,  being  the  third  in  that 
society,  was  built  in  the  summer  of  1828,  and  dedi- 
cated Jan.  1,  1829. 

East  Parish. — The  towns  originally  in  this  State 
constituted  the  religious  societies,  but  in  the  course 
of  time,  as  population  increased,  the  towns  were  di- 
vided   by   territorial   divisions,    and    by    metes   and 
bounds,  and  all  the  inhabitants  within  these  terri- 
torial limits  who  had  been  admitted  as  freemen  were 
members.     This  was  at  a  time  when  there  were  no 
religious  divisions  among  the  people.     But  in  the 
course  of  time  religious  distinctions  arose,  and  vari- 
ous provisions  were  made  to  meet  these  exigencies. 
The  division  of  the  town  into  two  territorial  parishes 
was  made  April  7,  1743,  by  act  of  the  Legislature. 
But  this  division  was  not  made  in  consequence  of  any 
religious   differences,  but  wholly  on  account  of  the 
inconvenience  of  attending   public  worship  at  such 
great  distances.     At  the  incorporation  of  the  town 
Attleborough  and  Cumberland  constituted  one  parish. 
Rev.  Thomas  Williams,  a  clergyman  well  known  in 
this  vicinity,  particularly  to  the  people  of  this  town. 
He  preached  for  several  years  in  Foxborough,  an  ad- 
joining town.     Afterwards  he  supplied  the  pulpit  at 
West  Attleborough  First  Church.    After  that  he  gath- 
ered and  organized  the  church  at  Hebron ville,  South 
Attleborough.     Here  he  preached  for  that  church  a 
number  of  years.     He  was  a  man  of  vigorous  and  ac- 
tive mind.     He  entertained  very  decided  opinions  on 
all  subjects,  religious  and  secular,  and  was  fearless  in 
expressing  them.     He  was  animated  in  the  delivery 
of  his  sermons,  and  always  secured  the  attention  of 
his  hearers,  not  merely  by  his  matter  and  manner, 
but  by  occasional  use  of  strong  and   peculiar  lan- 
guage.    In  preaching  and  sermonizing  he  indulged 
largely  in  doctrinal  subjects.    He  adhered  during  his 
long  life  to  the  theology  of  New  England.     He  en- 


joyed the  power  of  wit  and  sarcasm,  which  he  used 
when  occasion  required.  He  often  engaged  in  dis- 
cussion on  public  affairs,  and  on  various  subjects,  and 
never  failed  to  repel  the  attacks  of  his  opponents 
with  keen  repartee,  and  always  said  something  which 
they  had  reason  to  remember.  He  was  most  truly  a 
disinterested  man,  laboring  often  without  hope  of 
reward,  hardly  reserving  enough  to  meet  his  own  ex- 
penses on  the  journey  of  life.  He  regarded  himself 
as  an  instrument  in  the  hands  of  his  master.  He  ap- 
peared to  me  the  most  disinterested  laborer  I  ever 
knew.     He  died  in  Providence  at  an  advanced  age. 

He  married  Ruth  Hale,  of  Newbury,  has  had  sev- 
eral children ;  one  of  them,  Nathan  R.,  graduated  at 
Yale. 

He  was  the  author  of  several  volumes  and  numer- 
ous pamphlets,  and  furnished  numerous  articles  for 
various  periodicals.  They  are  too  numerous  to  men- 
tion here. 

His  most  interesting  discourse  was  his  funeral  ser- 
mon on  Doctor  Emmons'  death,  Sept.  28,  1840.  It 
was  understood  that  it  was  the  agreement  of  the  par- 
ties some  time  before  the  death  of  either  of  them 
that  the  survivor  should  preach  the  funeral  sermon 
of  the  other.  It  was  prepared  by  Mr.  Williams  years 
before  Dr.  Emmons'  death,  and  read  to  him. 

After  a  few  brief  pastorates,  the  Rev.  John  B.  M. 
Bailey  accepted  a  call  of  the  church,  and  became  its 
settled  minister.  He  was  ordained  Dec.  30,  1840, 
and  died  Feb.  24.  1851,  aged  forty-three  years,  after 
the  tenth  year  of  his  ministry.  Author  of  the  ad- 
dress for  the  consideration  of  Mount  Hope  Cemetery 
in  Attleborough,  which  then  opened  its  portals  to  re- 
ceive him  among  its  first  tenants.  It  was  prepared  to 
be  delivered  July  2,  1850,  he  was  unable  to  deliver  it 
himself,  and  it  was  intrusted  to  other  hands.  He 
was  soon  borne  to  the  place  he  had  consecrated  for 
others.     This  address  was  his  last  labor. 

Mr.  Bailey  was  born  in  Dunbarton,  N.  H.,  Juue  5, 
1807,  and  was  educated  at  an  academy  in  Vermont. 
He  was  a  man  of  talents  and  culture,  and  an  eloquent 
preacher.  He  was  popular  throughout  the  town,  es- 
pecially for  the  deep  and  active  interest  he  took  in 
the  cause  of  common-school  education,  and  in  every- 
thing which  concerned  the  common  welfare  of  the 
community  around  him.  His  death  was  universally 
lamented.     He  left  a  widow  and  two  daughters. 

A  white  marble  monument  was  erected  to  his  mem- 
ory by  the  citizens  of  the  town,  with  an  inscription 
expressive  of  their  high  estimation  of  his  character 
and  services. 

This  parish  was  divided  from  the  other  April  7, 
1743,  about  one  hundred  and  forty  years  ago,  by  act 
of  the  Legislature. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  parish  was  the  6th  of 
June  succeeding.  On  the  20th  of  the  same  month  a 
meeting  was  called  "  to  consider  and  see  what  the 
parish  will  do  in  order  to  placing  a  meeting-house 
for  the  public  worship  of  God."     This  is  the  first 


ATTLEBOROUGH. 


533 


record  of  an  attempt  to  build  a  meeting-house  in  this 
part  of  the  town.  At  the  same  time  a  committee 
was  chosen  "  to  agree  with  Mr.  Willis  or  some  other 
man  for  the  present."  It  was  also  "  voted  to  choose 
a  committee  of  two  who  should  apply  in  the  first 
place  to  Rev.  Mr.  Willis,  and  if  he  cannot  be  ob- 
tained, then  to  Mr.  Read,  and  if  he  cannot  be  ob- 
tained, then  to  Mr.  Peter  Thacher." 

At  said  meeting  it  was  voted  to  set  their  meeting- 
house on  the  plain  "  where  the  roads  meet  or  cross 
each  other.". 

It  appears  by  the  records  of  the  next  meeting  that 
they  had  hired  Mr.  Thacher  for  a  time.  He  was  the 
first  minister  who  preached  here.  He  commenced 
Aug.  20,  1743,  but  was  not  ordained  and  settled  till 
Nov.  30,  1748,  about  five  years. 

Sept.  6,  1743.  "Voted  to  proceed  forthwith  to 
build  a  meeting-house  for  the  public  worship  of 
God."  The  house  was  to  be  thirty-five  feet  square, 
and  high  enough  for  one  tier  of  galleries.  A  com- 
mittee was  chosen  "to  carry  on  the  building  of  said 
house."  At  a  subsequent  meeting  Oct.  18,  1743, 
"  voted  to  reconsider  the  vote  relating  to  the  dimen- 
sions of  the  meeting-house,  and  to  build  one  forty- 
five  feet  long,  and  thirty-five  feet  wide,  and  high 
enough  for  one  tier  of  galleries."  This  was  the  size 
of  the  house  as  it  was  afterwards  built.  The  meet- 
ing-house was  commenced  in  the  autumn  of  this 
year,  but  the  interior  was  not  finished  till  several 
years  subsequently. 

On  the  1st  of  November  following  the  parish  made 
choice  of  Rev.  Peter  Thacher  for  their  minister  "  by 
a  free  vote,"  and  agreed  to  give  him  for  a  salary  forty 
pounds  yearly  for  four  years,  and  at  the  end  of  four 
years  to  give  him  fifty  pounds  per  annum  "  current 
money,"  and  also  for  a  settlement  three  hundred 
pounds,  "  old  tenor,"  to  be  paid  in  four  years, — i.e., 
one  quarter  part  each  year. 

The  first  public  burying-ground  in  East  Attlebor- 
ough  was  laid  out  Oct.  16,  1744,  as  appears  by  a  vote 
of  that  date.  "  Voted  to  have  a  burying-place  in  the 
meeting-house  lot,  and  that  it  should  be  at  the  north- 
westerly corner  of  said  lot."  This  piece  of  land  was 
purchased  previously  by  the  parish,  and  consisted  of 
two  acres  called  the  "  meeting-house  lot." 

Dec.  21,  1747.  Voted  to  give  Mr.  Thacher  six 
hundred  pounds,  old  tenor,  for  his  settlement,  and  also 
twenty-five  cords  of  wood  yearly. 

Oct.  28,  1748.  Settled  Mr.  Thacher's  salary  at 
four  hundred  pounds  per  annum,  old  tenor,  "  reckon- 
ing silver  money  at  fifty-five  shillings  per  ounce,  and 
to  rise  and  fall  as  silver  shall  rise  and  fall,  so  long  as 
he  shall  continue  our  minister."  At  the  same  time 
the  parish  chose  a  committee  to  provide  for  the  ordi- 
nation of  Mr.  Thacher,  which  took  place  30th  of  the 
next  month.  He  continued  the  pastor  until  Oct.  26, 
1784,  when  he  was  dismissed  by  vote  of  parish.  He 
had  a  few  months  previous  to  his  dismission  suf- 
fered an  attack   of  paralysis   (which  rendered  him 


unable  to  perform  the  duties  of  his  station),  of  which 
he  died  Sept.  13,  1785,  in  the  seventieth  year  of  his 
age.  He  preached  in  this  town  about  forty-one  years, 
was  a  highly  respectable  and  useful  man.  He  was 
born  in  Middleborough  Jan.  25,  1715,  and  was  the 
son  of  Rev.  Peter  Thacher  of  that  place.1  Nov.  31, 
1749,  he  married  Bethiah,  the  oldest  daughter  of 
Deacon  Obediah  Carpenter,  of  Attleborough,  by 
whom  he  had  ten  children,  aeven  sons  and  three 
daughters.  Several  of  his  descendants  are  living  in 
this  town.  One  of  his  descendants,  Peter  Thacher, 
was  a  prominent  citizen  of  Cleveland,  Ohio. 

He  published  a  discourse  on  the  death  of  Rev.  Mr. 
Weld,  which  has  been  reprinted.  A  small  volume  of 
his  sermons  was  also  published  in  1798  by  his  son, 
entitled  "Select  Discourses  on  Practical  Subjects," 
under  the  superintendence  of  Rev.  Thomas  Thacher. 

After  Mr.  Thacher  and  before  the  settlement  of  an- 
other minister  there  were  several  preachers  here, — 
Rev.  Asahel  Huntington,  Mr.  Laugh  ton,  Mr.  Far- 
rington,  of  Wrentham,  Mr.  Mead,  etc. 

The  next  settled  minister  was  the  Rev.  Ebenezer 
Lazell,  of  Bridgewater  (a  graduate  of  Brown  Univer- 
sity, 1788),  who  was  ordained  Nov.  21,  1792,  and  dis- 
missed Jan.  3,  1797.  He  continued  here  about  four 
years.  During  his  residence  here  he  married  Chloe, 
the  daughter  of  Capt.  Abdather  Richardson,  of  this 
town.  After  his  dismission  he  removed  to  Western 
New  York. 

His  successor  was  the  Rev.  Natlian  Holman,  who 
was  ordained  Oct.  14,1800,  and  was  dismissed  May 
22,  1821,  having  been  settled  here  about  twenty-one 
years.     He  graduated  at  Brown  University  in  1797. 

Nathan  Holman  was  born  in  Sutton  (that  part  now 
Millbury),  May  17, 1769,  the  third  son  of  David  Hol- 
man and  Lucy  Thornton.  He  worked  on  his  father's 
farm  during  his  minority.  After  his  twenty-first  year 
he  commenced  his  studies  preparatory  for  college. 
He  depended  mostly  on  his  own  exertion  for  the 
means  to  carry  him  through  college.  He  graduated 
at  Brown  University  in  1797,  with  the  reputation  of 
a  good  scholar.  He  studied  theology  with  the  pastor 
of  his  native  town,  Rev.  Edmund  Mills,  and  finished 
his  course  with  Dr.  Emmons.  In  1800  he  preached 
as  a  candidate  at  this  place,  and  during  the  year  re- 
ceived a  call  to  settle  as  pastor.  He  was  ordained 
Oct.  15,  1800.  The  ordination  sermon  was  preached 
by  Rev.  Edmund  Mills,  pastor  of  the  Congregational 
Church  in  Sutton,  which  was  published.  He  was 
dismissed  May  22,  1821.  He  married  Miss  Lettice 
Morey,  daughter  of  Dr.  Samuel  Morey,  of  Norton. 
She  died  March  6,  1848. 


IRev.  P.  Thacher,  of  Middleborough,  was  born  Oct.  6, 1G88,  graduated 
at  Cambridge  University,  a.  p.,  1706,  ordained  at  that  place  Nov.  2, 1709, 
and  died  April  22,  1744,  aged  fifty-six.  He  was  the  son  of  Rev.  Peter 
Thacher,  minister  of  Bli.lton  (by  his  wife  Theodora,  daughter  of  Rev. 
John  Oxenbridgei  who  was  the  son  of  Rev.  Thomas  Thacher,  of  Boston, 
and  was  born  at  Salem  July  18,  1651,  graduated  at  Harvard  College 
1671,  ordained  June  1, 1681,  and  died  Dec.  27, 1727,  aged  seventy-six. 


534 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Mr.  Holman  died  Oct.  28,  1844,  leaving  two  sons 
and  one  daughter.  He  was  the  respected,  faithful, 
and  successful  pastor  here  about  twenty-one  years. 

Several  of  his  sermons  and  addresses  were  pub- 
lished,— a  sermon  preached  on  the  one  hundredth 
anniversary  of  the  birth  of  "  John  Shepard  the  An- 
cient" ;  an  oration  on  American  independence,  July 
4,1802;  a  sermon  delivered  at  Attleborough,  East 
Precinct,  Thanksgiving-day,  Nov.  21,  1811. 

Rev.  John  Ferguson,  formerly  of  Providence,  R.  I., 
was  the  next  minister,  and  was  ordained  Feb.  27, 
1822. 

A  parsonage-house  was  built  by  the  parish  in  1822. 

The  second  meeting-house  in  the  East  Precinct  was 
built  in  1825.  It  was  begun  in  the  spring  of  that 
year,  and  dedicated  in  December  following.  It  cost 
about  six  thousand  dollars.  It  has  since  been  en- 
larged. 

Rev.  John  Ferguson,  who  succeeded  Rev.  Na- 
than Holman  as  pastor  at  East  Attleborough,  was 
born  in  Berwickshire,  Scotland,  Dec.  9,  1788.  His 
father  came  to  this  country  while  a  young  man, 
and  settled  in  Newport,  R.  I.  His  mother  was  Ann 
Briggs,  of  Little  Compton.  His  father  and  mother 
died  in  Newport,  each  at  the  age  of  eighty-five  years. 

While  residing  in  Providence,  R.  I.,  at  the  age  of 
twenty  years,  he  began  preparation  for  the  ministry 
under  the  direction  of  Rev.  Calvin  Park,  D.D.,  Pro- 
fessor of  Ancient  Languages,  and  afterwards  of  Moral 
Philosophy,  in  Brown  University.  He  was  not  edu- 
cated at  any  college,  but  was  honored  with  the  degree 
of  A.M.  from  Amherst  in  1837. 

He  was  ordained  over  the  church  and  society  in 
this  place  Feb.  27,  1822.  He  was  dismissed  March 
25,  1835.  Says  a  writer  well  acquainted  with  him, 
"  His  ministry  was  of  great  value  in  the  administra- 
tion of  wise  and  judicious  measures,  and  marked  the 
commencement  of  the  system  of  support  to  the  vari- 
ous benevolent  enterprises  of  the  day,  and  of  aid  to 
the  labors  of  parents  and  pastors  by  a  judicious  and 
careful  education  of  children  in  Sabbath-schools  and 
maternal  associations." 

He  was  installed  at  Whately,  March  16,  1836,  and 
dismissed  June  17,  1840.  He  removed  to  Lanesbor- 
ough,  where  he  preached  about  two  years.  Since 
that  time  he  was  employed  by  the  American  Tract 
Society  as  general  agent  for  New  Hampshire  and 
Vermont.  He  married,  first,  Mary  V.,  daughter  of 
Benjamin  Hammett,  of  Newport,  R.  I. ;  second,  Mar- 
garet S.  Eddy,  daughter  of  William  Eddy,  of  Provi- 
dence, R.  I. 

He  died  at  Whately,  Nov.  11,  1858.  He  had  a 
family  of  eleven  children. 

He  published  a  sermon  on  the  death  of  Ebenezer 
Daggett,  Jr.,  delivered  Dec.  16,  1831,  and  several 
other  discourses.  He  also  published  a  memoir  of  Dr. 
Samuel  Hopkins,  the  celebrated  theologian,  for  the 
use  of  Sabbath-schools. 

Rev.  Jonathan  Crane. — He  was  born  in  Sche- 


nectady, N.  Y.,  in  1814.  At  the  age  of  fifteen  he 
entered  Union  College,  and  graduated  in  1832,  at  the 
age  of  eighteen.  At  the  age  of  twenty-two  he  was 
ordained  over  the  Congregational  Church  at  East  At- 
tleborough, Oct.  30,  1836.  He  was  dismissed  June 
12,  1854,  after  a  pastorate  of  eighteen  years,  and  re- 
moved to  New  York,  where  he  was  settled  over  the 
Congregational  Church  at  Twentieth  Street.  Here 
he  remained  three  years.  He  was  invited  to  return 
to  Attleborough,  and  while  here  the  church  was  re- 
paired and  enlarged.  In  1860  he  received  a  call  from 
the  Congregational  Church  at  Middletown,  N.  Y. 
When  he  went  there  his  congregation  consisted  of 
only  forty  families,  but  when  he  left,  in  1868,  it  had 
increased  to  one  hundred  and  twenty. 

He  then  went  West,  and  made  his  home  in  Kala- 
mazoo, Mich.,  and  preached  in  various  places  in  that 
vicinity.  He  labored  for  some  time  at  St.  Joseph, 
Mo.,  and  aided  the  people  there  in  building  a  new 
church.  In  1875,  Mr.  Crane  returned,  by  invitation, 
to  Middletown,  and  remained  with  his  people  there 
till  his  death,  Dec.  25,  1877,  at  the  age  of  sixty-three 
years.  In  1837,  Mr.  Crane  married  Miss  Anna  H., 
daughter  of  the  late  N.  W.  Sanford,  of  New  York. 
She  still  survives  him.  He  leaves  four  children.  His 
ministry  here  was  very  successful,  and  the  church 
prosperous,  with  large  additions  to  its  members. 

The  next  settled  minister  was  Rev.  Charles  D. 
Lothrop,  born  at  Easton,  Mass.,  1828,  and  a  graduate 
of  Amherst  College  in  1849,  and  also  in  Andover 
Theological  Seminary.  He  was  ordained  here  Dec. 
14,  1854,  and  dismissed  April  29,  1857,  after  a  pastor- 
ate of  two  and  one-half  years. 

To  him  succeeded  Rev.  Erancis  N.  Pelonbet,  who 
was  born  in  the  city  of  New  York,  a  graduate  of  Wil- 
liams College  1853,  and  Bangor  Theological  Semi- 
nary 1857,  and  was  installed  here  June  26, 1836.  He 
was  dismissed  Oct.  19,  1871,  and  is  now  pastor  of  the 
church  in  Natick. 

The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  Samuel  Bell,  who  was  in- 
stalled July,  1872,  and  dismissed  Oct.  12,  1878. 

The  present  pastor  is  the  Rev.  William  A.  Spaul- 
ding,  of  Lynn,  formerly  missionary  in  Turkey  ;  was 
installed  Sept.  11,  1879. 

North  Baptist  Church.— This  church  was  consti- 
tuted in  1769.  Its  existence,  however,  may  be  traced 
back  as  early  as  1747.  It  was  at  first  and  for  many 
years  afterwards  of  the  Congregational  order,  though 
differing  from  that  denomination  in  some  respects. 
"There  being,"  say  the  church  records,  "  a  consider- 
able number  of  Christians  in  this  place  that  are  dis- 
satisfied with  the  constitution  of  the  standing  order 
of  churches  in  the  land,  they,  with  some  others, 
formed  themselves  into  a  society  to  worship  God  ac- 
cording to  His  word  and  spirit."  Jan.  20,  1747,  the 
church  proceeded  "to  set  apart  their  esteemed  Brother 
Nathaniel  Shepard,  by  solemn  ordination,  as  their 
pastor,"  who  was  removed  by  death  April  14,  1752. 

It  was  from  the  commencement  a  small  and  feeble 


ATTLEBOROUGH. 


535 


church,  and  continued  "through  many  trials  and  dis- 
couragements" till  the  year  1769,  when  by  vote  the 
church  changed  their  constitution  "from  a  Congrega- 
tional to  a  Baptist  Church,  in  what  is  called  open 
communion."  At  this  time  there  were  six  male  and 
four  female  members  who  agreed  in  doctrine,  and 
formed  fellowship  with  Bellingham  Church.  Two 
years  previous,  in  1767,  the  church  moved  Mr.  Abra- 
ham Bloss  from  Sturbridge  to  Attleborough,  who 
preached  here  two  years  till  his  death,  Sept.  16, 1769. 

To  him  succeeded  Elder  Job  Seamans,  of  Sack- 
ville,  Cumberland  County,  and  province  of  Nova 
Scotia,  now  in  the  province  of  New  Brunswick.  Mr. 
Seamans  was  born  in  Swansea,  Mass.,  in  1748.  He 
removed  to  Sackville,1  New  Brunswick,  with  Elder 
Mason's  company,  who  emigrated  to  that  place  from 
Swansea,  Mass.,  in  1763.  He  there  became  a  preacher. 
He  was  invited  to  become  the  pastor  of  the  church  in 
this  town,  accepted  the  invitation,  and  removed  here. 
In  1779  he,  in  conjunction  with  Elder  Biel  Ledoyt,  of 
Woodstock,  Conn.,  was  appointed  by  the  Warren  As- 
sociation a  missionary  to  visit  various  parts  of  New 
Hampshire.  In  the  course  of  the  same  year  he  re- 
turned to  Attleborough,  where  he  remained  till  1788. 
In  1787,  May  10th,  he  requested  a  dismission  from  the 
church  in  this  place,  which  was  reluctantly  granted  in 
June,  1788,  when  he  removed  to  New  London,  N.  H., 
where  he  had  preached  during  his  mission,  and  was 
settled  over  the  new  Baptist  Church  in  that  place, 
which  he  established  at  the  same  time.  Here  he  con- 
tinued till  his  death  in  1830,  at  the  advanced  age  of 
eighty-two. 

Mr.  Seamans  married  Sarah  Easterbrooks,  by  whom 
he  had,  while  here,  eight  children, — four  sons  and 
four  daughters. 

Rev.  William  Williams,2  who  was  a  member  of  this 
church  and  a  respected  pastor  of  the  Baptist  Society 
in  Wrentham,  occasionally  supplied  the  pulpit  during 
the  vacancies  which  occurred  after  the  removal  of  Mr. 
Seamans. 

November,  1789,  Elder  Abner  Lewis  came  from  New 
Bedford  to  Attleborough,  and  continued  the  pastor  of 
the  church  until  September,  1795,  when  he  returned 
to  New  Bedford.  After  this  Mr.  Laben  Thurber 
preached  here  till  April,  1797,  when  he  relinquished 


1  The  place  was  then  called  Tantarramar  by  the  French,  ami  wae  in 
the  province  of  Nova  Scotia. — See  Benedict's  History. 

-  He  was  a  celebrated  instructor  of  youth.  He  commenced  a  school  for 
fitting  young  men  for  college,  near  his  meeting-house  in  Wrentham, 
which  he  continued  for  many  years  with  distinguished  success.  He  edu- 
cated upwards  of  one  hundred  students,*  the  most  of  whom  graduated 
at  Brown  University.  Many  of  them  became  distinguished  men,  In  the 
number  of  his  pupils  were  Dr.  Maxcy,  Hon.  David  R.Williams,  formerly 
Governor  of  South  Carolina,  Hon.  Tristan)  Bulges,  the  former  eloquent 
member  of  Congress  from  Rhode  Island,  etc. 

Mr.  Williams  himsell  was  educated  at  Baton's  Academy,  New  Jersey, 
aud  graduated  at  Brown  University  in  \~iVJ,  which  was  the  first  class  in 
that  institution.  He  married  for  his  second  wife  Hiss  Titus,  the  daugh- 
ter of  Deacon  J.  Titus,  of  Attleborough. 


*  Benedict's  Hist.  Bap. 


the  office  of  a  religious  teacher  and  removed  to  the 
east  part  of  the  town. 

Elder  James  Read,  who  was  then  resident  in  Asso- 
net  village,  Freetown,  commenced  preaching  here  in 
April,  1800,  and  was  so  well  approved  that  in  Decem- 
ber of  the  same  year  the  church  gave  him  an  invitation 
to  settle,  which  was  accepted.  In  February  following 
he  removed  to  Attleborough,  and  was  installed  Aug. 
18,  1801.  Sermon  by  Rev.  Dr.  Gano,  Providence; 
charge  by  Elder  Pitman,  of  Rehoboth  ;  right  hand 
of  fellowship  by  Elder  Baker.  At  the  same  time 
Edward  Clark  was  ordained  as  an  evangelist.  Mr. 
Clark  died  April  22,  1811,  in  the  seventy-second  year 
of  his  age. 

Elder  Read  continued  in  the  ministry  here  till  his 
death.  He  died  Oct.  21, 1814,  in  the  forty-sixth  year 
of  his  age.  He  was  a  worthy  and  useful  minister, 
and  universally  respected  as  a  man.  The  records  of 
the  church  bear  ample  testimony  of  the  estimation 
in  which  he  was  held  by  his  people.  "  In  the  prime 
of  his  life  and  in  the  midst  of  his  usefulness,  the  Lord, 
who  doeth  all  things  according  to  his  good  pleasure, 
hath  seen  fit  to  remove  him  from  the  church  militant 
to  the  church  triumphant.  Leaving  the  wife  of  his 
youth  to  mourn  the  loss  of  a  kind  husband,  and  three 
children  to  mourn  the  loss  of  a  kind  parent,  and  this 
church  and  society  to  mourn  the  loss  of  a  faithful 
minister  of  the  gospel,  and  one  whose  faithful  warn- 
ings will  long  be  had  in  remembrance  by  many  of 
them."  His  funeral  sermon  was  preached  by  Dr. 
Gano,  of  Providence. 

It  is  said  of  him :  "  He  found  much  pleasure 
in  preaching  the  gospel  in  the  destitute  places  of 
Southeastern  Massachusetts,  Rhode  Island,  and  even 
Connecticut.  It  is  believed  that  he  thus  laid  the 
foundation  of  several  churches.  An  absence  of  whole 
weeks  on  these  missionary  tours  was  always  at  his 
own  expense.  He  returned  home  from  them  burning 
with  a  desire  to  be  able  to  preach  in  other  villages 
beyond.  His  salary  was  not  ample  enough  to  allow 
him  to  give  his  whole  time  to  the  church.  There  be- 
ing no  parsonage  he  rented  a  house  and  piece  of  land 
near  the  church,  and  by  the  produce  of  five  days' 
labor  of  the  week  supported  his  family." 

He  preached  a  sermon  on  the  one  hundredth  anni- 
versary of  the  birth  of  John  Shepard,  "  the  ancient," 
at  Roxborough,  which  was  made  an  occasion  of  great 
attraction.     He  served  about  five  years  longer. 

April  28,  1815.  Rev.  Stephen  S.  Nelson,  who  was 
then  preaching  in  Bellingham,  was  invited  "to  take 
the  pastoral  care  of  this  church."  He  was  dismissed 
in  May,  1820. 

Rev.  Silas  Hall,  of  Raynham,  came  here  in  1823, 
and  remained  four  years.  He  was  subsequently  pas- 
tor of  the.  Baptist  Church  in  Taunton. 

Rev.  William  Phillips  was  ordained  over  this  church 
February,  1827,  and  continued  its  pastor  two  years, 
when  lie  was  invited  to  Providence,  R.  I.,  and  was 
settled  over  the  Second  Baptist  Church  in  that  place. 


536 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Rev.  Jonathan  E.  Forbush  was  received  into  the 
church  and  chosen  pastor  April  1,  1832. 

Rev.  Silas  Hall  officiated  a  second  term  as  pastor, 
commencing  January,  1837,  and  remaining  two  years. 

Rev.  Reuben  Mosey  was  the  next  pastor ;  came  here 
June,  1839,  and  continued  a  successful  ministry  here 
for  eigh|t  years  till  May,  1847,  when  he  requested  a 
dismission  to  accept  a  pastorate  in  Homer,  N.  Y. 

Rev.  William  H.  Alden,  now  of  Portsmouth,  was 
ordained  over  this  church  Sept.  1,  1852.  He  con- 
tinued pastor  till  April  26,  1856,  when  he  requested 
a  dismission  to  accept  the  call  of  the  First  Church  of 
Lowell. 

Rev.  G.  F.  Warren  was  next  called.  He  accepted 
the  invitation,  and  commenced  his  ministry  Oct.  1, 
1857,  when  he  was  installed.  He  was  dismissed  in 
October,  1860. 

Rev.  J.  F.  Ashley,  of  Templeton,  supplied  the  pul- 
pit for  three  months.  His  ministry  continued  one 
year. 

Rev.  Abijah  Hall  accepted  a  call  Oct.  19,  1862.  In 
December,  1865,  his  repeated  resignation  was  ac- 
cepted. 

Rev.  Mr.  Lovell  and  Rev.  Mr.  Cooper  were  acting 
pastors  for  several  years. 

The  first  meeting-house  was  not  finished  till  1784, 
though  it  was  erected  many  years  previous.  The 
present  meeting-house  was  built  in  the  spring  of  1817. 

South  Baptist  Church. — This  church,  which  is 
now  extinct,  was  established  as  early  as  1760.  Its 
records  cannot  be  found.  April  20, 1789,  the  First  and 
Second  Baptist  Churches  in  Attleborough  met  and 
agreed  upon  fellowship  as  sister  churches.  Elder 
Elihu  Daggett1  was  the  first  preacher.  It  is  believed 
that  he  was  never  regularly  settled  here.  He  occa- 
sionally preached  at  the  North  Baptist  Church. 

The  next  preacher  was  Elder  Elisha  Carpenter. 
He  was  settled  as  early  as  1780,  if  not  before,  and  re- 
mained pastor  of  the  church  till  about  1798,  when  he 
removed  to  Providence,  N.  Y.,  where  he  died.  He 
was  a  native  of  this  town,  a  son  of  Elisha  Carpenter, 
and  was  born  Aug.  17,  1745.  His  wife  was  Anna 
Freeman,  of  Attleborough. 

Soon  after  Elder  Carpenter's  removal  the  church 
was  dissolved,  and  the  members  connected  themselves 
with  other  churches  in  the  vicinity.  The  meeting- 
house was  taken  down  about  1810.  It  stood  on  the 
south  side  of  the  road  leading  from  the  late  Thomas 
Cooper's  to  Capt.  Joseph  Tiffany's. 

First  Universalist  Society. — The  first  meeting  was 
held  Aug.  17,  1816,  when  the  society  was  organized. 

1  He  was  the  son  of  Deacon  Mayhew  Daggett;  his  wife  was  Rebeccah 
Stanley,  daughter  of  Jacob  Stanley,  one  of  the  first  of  that  name  who 
came  here  from  Topsfield.  He  was  interred  in  the  new  burying-ground. 
On  his  grave-stone  is  the  following  inscription:  "Sacred  to  the  memory 
of  Elder  Elihu  Daggett,  who  died  Aug.  29th,  1769,  in  the  60th  year  of  his 
age."  "  Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Mrs.  Rebeccah  Daggett  (his  widow), 
who  died  Sept.  20th,  1799,  In  the  85th  year  of  her  age. 
What  we  left  behind,  others  possess; 
What  we  gave  to  the  poor,  we  carried  with  us." 


It  was  incorporated  Feb.  20,  1818,  by  the  name  of  the 
"  First  Universalist  Society  in  Attleborough." 

The  first  minister  was  the  Rev.  Richard  Carrique. 
He  commenced  preaching  here  in  1816,  and  was  or- 
dained Dec.  29,  1818.  A  meeting-house  was  built  in 
the  summer  of  1818,  and  dedicated  December  29th  of 
the  same  year.  The  church  has  since  been  removed 
to  North  Attleborough.  It  stood  on  the  old  post 
road,  a  few  rods  south  of  the  First  Congregational 
meeting-  house.  Mr.  Carrique  was  dismissed  in  March, 
1822. 

The  next  minister  was  the  Rev.  Robert  Kilham, 
who  commenced  preaching  March  18,  1822,  and  was 
soon  after  installed.  He  was  dismissed  in  April, 
1828. 

To  him  succeeded  the  Rev.  Nathaniel  Wright,  who 
was  installed  in  1828. 

Rev.  Joseph  D.  Peirce  became  the  pastor  of  the 
church  of  the  First  Universalist  Society  at  North 
Attleborough  in  1844.  He  was  born  in  Scituate, 
Mass.,  Nov.  15,  1815,  and  died  Nov.  16,  1880.  He 
was  for  thirty-six  years  the  faithful  and  devoted  min- 
ister of  that  society,  and  was  always  ready  for  every 
good  work  which  he  found  to  do,  and  interested  him- 
self in  whatever  concerned  the  general  interests  and 
welfare  of  the  town.  He  was  particularly  earnest  in 
promoting  the  cause  of  common-school  education, 
and  was  for  many  years  an  active  member  of  the 
school  committee. 

By  his  wise  and  judicious  conduct  and  exemplary 
character  he  won  and  justly  deserved  the  respect  and 
confidence  of  all  denominations  throughout  the  town, 
and  his  death  was  regarded  as  a  great  public  loss. 

The  Rev.  John  S.  Cantwell,  D.D.,  the  present  pas- 
tor, was  installed  May  27,  1881.  A  new  and  beautiful 
church  has  been  just  completed,  at  a  cost  of  thirty- 
three  thousand  dollars. 

Hebronville  Church. — This  church  was  gathered 
by  Rev.  Thomas  Williams  immediately  after  his  dis- 
mission from  the  West  Parish,  in  December,  1827. 
A  small  but  neat  meeting-house  was  built  at  the 
same  time  on  the  line  between  Attleborough  and  See- 
konk, — half  in  one  town  and  half  in  the  other, — to 
which  (and  the  neighborhood)  the  name  of  Hebron- 
ville was  given  by  the  founder.  Rev.  Mr.  Williams 
became  its  first  pastor.  His  connection  with  this 
society  was  dissolved  in  April,  1832. 

The  Davis  Centenary  Methodist  Church  at  East 
Attleborough  was  established  Nov.  26,  1865.  They 
have  a  neat  and  convenient  house  of  worship.  The 
present  pastor  is  Rev.  J.  A.  L.  Rich. 

Grace  Church  (Episcopalian)  was  formed  in  1871. 
A  tasteful  little  church,  together  with  a  parsonage, 
was  built  in  1872,  and  consecrated  June  18,  1874. 
Rev.  George  E.  Osgood,  rector. 

The  Free  Evangelical  Church  at  North  Attle- 
borough was  organized  April  30,  1858.  A  suitable 
church  was  built  by  the  society,  and  dedicated  Feb. 
24,  1874.     The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  J.  A.  Wood. 


ATTLEBOROUGH. 


537 


In  1850  a  Catholic  Church  was  formed  at  Attle- 
borough  Falls  under  the  name  of  St.  Mary's  Church, 
and  has  since  been  removed  to  the  village  of  North 
Attleborough,  where  it  is  intended  to  erect  a  more 
extensive  house  of  worship  than  the  present.  Revs. 
Edward  Mongan  and  Janus  Clarke  are  the  present 
pastors.  They  have  religious  services  at  East  Attle- 
borough, and  have  purchased  a  lot  of  land  in  the 
village  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  a  house  of  wor- 
ship.    There  is  also  a  Catholic  Chapel  at  Dodgeville. 

There  is  the  Hebronville  Church,  called  by  the 
name  of  the  Hebronville  Union  Church, — same 
which  was  founded  by  Rev.  Thomas  Williams.  It 
has  undergone  some  changes  since  its  organization. 
The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  Mr.  A.  F.  Remington. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Hebronville 
was  organized  in .  It  is  in  a  flourishing  condi- 
tion, having  just  dedicated  a  new  church  built  by 
them,  at  a  cost  of  ten  thousand  dollars. 

There  is  the  Central  Congregational  Church  at 
Attleborough  Falls,  having  a  handsomely-finished 
and  commodious  house  of  worship.  The  present 
pastor  is  Rev.  George  O.  Jeuness. 

Murray  Union  Society  was  originally  organized 
June  14,  1875;  recognized  April  7,  1878;  reorganized 
May  11,  1881.  Pastors:  first,  Rev.  F.  C.  Flint,  from 
Jan.  1,  1876,  to  March  22,  1876,  when  he  died;  sec- 
ond, Rev.  A.  E.  White,  ordained  and  installed  Oct. 
31,  1877,  remained  here  as  pastor  till  July  8,  1878, 
when  he  asked  a  dismission ;  third,  Rev.  T.  W.  Ill- 
man,  installed  Oct.  1,  1878,  and  is  the  present  pastor. 


CHAPTER    XLIII. 

ATTLEBOROUGH.— (Continued.) 
Revolutionary  War — Proceedings  of  the  Town. 

The  Revolutionary  War.— It  appears  from  our 
records  that  the  citizens  of  the  town  took  an  early 
and  active  part  in  those  proceedings  which  finally  led 
to  independence.  The  spirit  of  the  Revolution  began 
to  move  the  people  as  early  as  1773.  They  began  to 
discuss  the  origin  and  foundation  of  their  rights,  and 
to  proclaim  in  bold  language  their  determination  to 
maintain  them.  They  strenuously  denied  the  claims 
of  the  mother-country.  This  prepared  the  way  for 
that  great  contest  which  was  approaching,  and  which 
soon  after  commenced. 

Pages  might  be  filled  with  the  spirited  addresses 
and  resolutions  adopted  in  town-meeting,  but  the 
limits  of  the  work  will  permit  only  a  brief  outline  of 
the  transactions  of  that  day. 

At  a  town-meeting,  Jan.  18,  1773,  a  resolute  and 
patriotic  address  was  adopted  and  sent  to  the  com- 
mittee in  Boston.  It  is  too  long  to  quote  entire.  A 
few  extracts  will  afford  a  specimen. 

"We  His  Majesty's  dutiful  and  loyal  subjects  and 


freeholders  of  the  town  of  Attleborough,  to  the  Com- 
mittee of  Correspondence  in  Boston." 

After  due  professions  of  "honor  and  praise  to 
George  the  3d,  King  of  Great  Britain,"  etc.,  and 
praying  that  the  "golden  chance  of  succession  by 
which  the  Protestant  kings  are  held  on  the  throne  of 
Great  Britain  may  never  be  broken,"  etc.,  the  ad- 
dress proceeds  to  say:  "Our  present  trials  are  very 
great.  A  wise  king  once  said  that  oppression  maketh 
a  wise  man  mad.  We  hope  not  to  turn  maniacs,  but 
to  keep  the  advantage  of  our  spirits.  We  will  pray 
that  all  they  that  are  Gods  on  earth  will  remember 
that  they  must  die  like  men,  and  the  lofty,  towering 
heads  of  Kings  and  Princes  must  be  brought  as  low 
as  the  meanest  subject.  And  here  we  will  make  a 
pause  and  inquire  what  we  have  done,  what  disloy- 
alty there  hath  been  in  us  that  hath  incurred  the 
displeasures  of  our  Gracious  Majesty,  that  could  be 
the  cause  of  threatening  the  ruining  of  us  his  Ameri- 
can subjects.  And  to  set  things  in  a  clearer  light  we 
may  be  justly  entitled  to  a  few  notes  of  exultation. 
In  the  year  1745,  when  the  British  trumpet  sounded 
war  from  beyond  the  seas  to  the  Americans,  no 
sooner  did  our  American  Parliament  understand  the 
certain  sound  of  the  martial  trumpet  but  instantane- 
ously a  political  convention  is  called,  faithfulness  aud 
loyalty  in  every  countenance.  Like  Babylon  of  old, 
one  messenger  runs  to  meet  another,  and  one  post  to 
meet  another,  to  tell  the  whole  Province  that  the 
Kingdom  was  invaded  at  one  end.  Forthwith  orders 
are  issued  out  to  the  Colonels,  and  from  the  Colonels 
to  the  Captains,  and  at  the  beat  of  the  Drum  volun- 
teers paraded  the  ground  like  well-harnessed  soldiers 
with  courage  bold,  and  like  the  war-horse  mocking 
at  fear,  marched  with  their  commanders  to  the  high 
places  of  Louisbourg—  stormed  their  intrenchments  ; 
made  a  discovery  of  their  subterraneous  mines  and 
galleries;  beat  down  the  strongholds;  brake  the  jaws 
of  the  Gallic  Lion,  and  made  a  conquest  of  the  city 
to  the  crown  of  Great  Britain.  And  in  the  last  war 
that  hath  been  upon  us,  we  haved  joined  our  British 
brethren,  warring  and  fighting  through  seas  of  blood 
until  we  subdued  the  Canadian  Province  to  the  crown 
of  our  Sovereign  Lord  George  the  3d.  And  after  all 
this,  shall  we  be  conjugated,  enslaved,  and  ruined? 
Fathers,  provoke  not  your  children  to  wrath,  lest  they 
be  discouraged  on  the  one  hand  and  encouraged  on 
the  other.  We  esteem  our  privileges  tantamount  to 
our  lives,  and  the  loss  of  them  death  in  consequence; 
and  since  there  is  no  new  discovered  America  for  us 
to  flee  to,  we  are  almost  ready  to  think  that  we  will 
let  go  our  ploughshares  and  pruning-hooks  to  be 
malleated  on  the  anvil,  and  not  give  up  our  dear- 
bought  privileges  to  any  power  on  earth. 

"  And  now  in  a  few  words  to  say  what  our  privileges 
are  and  wherein  they  are  violated:  We  think  that 
our  privileges  take  their  rise  merely  from  nature.  As 
we  emigrated  from  our  mother-country  at  our  own 
expense  and  without   any  charge  to  the  Crown  of 


538 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Great  Britain,  our  subjection  to  the  Crown  of  Great 
Britain  must  be  considered  as  an  act  of  our  own 
election.  How  far  that  subjection  was  made,  and  in 
what  manner  the  British  government  can  possibly 
reach  over  the  Atlantic  to  have  any  influence  at  all 
upon  us,  is  known  only  by  the  stipulation  between  us 
and  the  king  of  Great  Britain  expressed  in  our  Char- 
ter. Although  it  be  allowed  that  any  Plantation 
settled  by  the  order  and  expense  of  any  State  remains 
naturally  subjected  to  that  State,  yet  that  not  having 
been  the  case  in  our  departure  from  Great  Britain, 
we  utterly  disallow  any  right  of  government  over  us 
but  what  is  expressed  in  the  Charter.  We  have  no 
natural  and  necessary  connection  with  the  Crown  in 
point  of  government  but  what  springs  from  our  own 
choice,  and  that  choice  can  be  known  but  by  the 
stipulation  aforesaid,  which  both  expresseth  and 
limiteth  the  subjection  which  was  our  choice.  This, 
we  apprehend,  is  the  true  and  just  state  of  our  privi- 
leges, as  they  are  interested  in  the  present  contro- 
versy. So  that  whatever  act  of  government  is  ex- 
ercised contrary  to  or  not  expressly  provided  for  in 
the  charter  is  an  open  infringement  of  our  privileges. 

"  The  appointment  of  a  Governor  altogether  inde- 
pendent on  us,  and  who,  according  to  the  present 
state  of  things,  can  be  under  no  influence  from  our 
interest,  but  whose  personal  interest  may  naturally 
put  him  to  the  utter  overthrow  of  our  whole  interest, 
— we  apprehend  this  to  be  an  infraction  of  our  Char- 
ter rights  and  privileges.  The  appointment  of  Judges 
from  home,  if  true,  or  the  maintenance  of  them  in- 
dependent upon  us  and  dependent  entirely  upon  the 
Crown,  we  think  an  infringement  upon  our  Charter 
rights,  and  which  tends  to  corrupt  and  destroy  the 
very  essence  of  our  privileges.  The  parting  our 
money  among  a  set  of  men  of  no  use  to  us  or  the 
community,  without  our  consent,  is  a  bold  and  unjust 
infringement  upon  our  privileges.  The  subjecting 
civil  cases  to  trial  by  Court  of  Admiralty  instead  of 
Juries,  and  especially  the  taking  from  us  the  right  of 
trying  capital  cases  in  any  articles,  and  carrying  our 
brethren,  on  suspicion  of  guilt,  from  all  who  are  ac- 
quainted with  their  character,  or  who  can  possibly  do 
them  justice,  and  ordering  them  to  be  transported,  at 
almost  infinite  expense,  three  thousand  miles  for 
trial,  is  a  most  barbarous,  unjust,  and  unconstitu- 
tional affair." 

1774.  September  12th.  The  town  chose  a  commit- 
tee to  join  with  the  committees  of  the  other  towns 
in  this  county  "  to  consult  the  safety  and  peace  and 
prosperity  thereof,  as  well  as  the  whole  government 
and  continent,  upon  any  emergency."  The  committee 
consisted  of  five,  viz.,  Mr.  Edward  Richards,  Deacon 
Eben.  Lane,  Capt.  John  Daggett,  Lieut.  Moses  Wil- 
marth,  and  Mr.  Elisha  May.  This  was  the  first  com- 
mittee of  safety  chosen  in  this  town.  The  practice 
of  choosing  such  a  committee  was  continued  till  the 
close  of  the  Revolution. 

September  29th.  Captain  John  Daggett  was  chosen 


representative  to  the  General  Court  at  Salem,  and 
Deacon  Eben  Lane  as  a  "  committee  man"  to  join  the 
Provincial  Congress  to  be  holden  at  Concord  on  the 
secoud  Tuesday  of  October  next. 

December  6th.  The  town  established  a  "  Superior 
and  an  Inferior  Court,  to  hear  and  determine  contro- 
versies that  have  arisen  or  may  arise  in  this  town." 
Five  men  were  chosen  to  serve  as  superior  judges, 
viz.,  Dea.  Eben.  Larce,  first  justice,  Col.  John  Dag- 
gett, second,  Capt.  John  Stearns,  third,  Capt.  Moses 
Wilmarth,  fourth,  and  Dr.  Bezeliel  Mann,  fifth. 
Seven  were  appointed  inferior  judges,  viz.,  Mr.  Ed- 
ward Richards,  Lieut.  Elkonah  Wilmarth,  Capt. 
Jacob  Ide,  Capt.  Stephen  Richardson,  Mr.  Elisha 
May,  Capt.  John  Tyler,  Mr.  William  Stanley.  At 
the  same  time  it  was  voted  "  that  we  will  comply 
with,  stand  to,  and  abide  by  the  resolves,  instruc- 
tions, and  directions  of  the  Continental  and  Provin- 
cial Congresses,"  and  that  "  all  persons  who  refuse 
to  comply  with  them  shall  be  treated  as  Infamous  Per- 
sons." 

It  was  also  voted  to  choose  a  "  committee  of  in- 
spection, to  inquire  and  give  notice  of  all  persons 
who  shall  presume  to  make  use  of  an  India  tea  after 
the  1st  of  March  next."  The  "  affair  of  the  chest  of 
tea  at  Capt.  Richardson's"  was  left  discretionary  with 
the  selectmen. 

These  were  no  half-way  measures,  and  were  sup- 
ported throughout  with  the  same  resolution. 

Jan.  2,  1775.  Chose  Col.  John  Daggett  "to  repre- 
sent us  at  the  Congress  to  be  holden  at  Cambridge 
on  the  1st  of  February  next,  and  to  serve  in  that 
capacity  until  the  month  of  May  next,  or  until  the 
time  fixed  for  the  dissolution  of  said  Congress."  At 
the  same  time  a  committee  of  thirteen  was  chosen  to 
procure  "subscriptions  for  the  relief  of  the  suffering 
poor  in  the  town  of  Boston."  1 

May  24th.  Capt.  John  Stearns  was  chosen  to  rep- 
resent the  town  at  the  Provincial  Congress  to  be  held 
in  the  meeting-house  at  Watertown  the  31st  inst. 
The  committee  of  correspondence  this  year  were 
Deacon  Eben.  Lane,  Dr.  Mann,  and  Capt.  Moses 
Wilmarth. 

July  10th.  Capt.  John  Stearns  was  elected  repre- 
sentative to  the  General  Court  to  be  held  at  Water- 
town,  19th  inst. 

March  19,1776.  The  Committee  of  Correspondence, 
Inspection,  and  Safety  were  Deacon  Lane,  Edward 
Richards,  Capt.  S.  Richardson,  Lieut.  Alexander 
Foster,  Ens.  Noah  Fuller,  William  Stanley,  Capt. 
Wilmarth,  Eben.  Tiffany,  Samuel  Atherton,  Thomas 
Starkey,  Elkonah  Wilmarth,  Nathaniel  Bishop,  and 
Capt.  Jacob  Ide. 

May  22d.  Capt.  John  Stearns,  representative.  At 
his  request  a  committee,  consisting  of  Capt.  Elisha 
May,  Capt.  Stephen  Richardson,  Rev.  Peter  Thatcher, 


1  This  was  on  the  occasion  of  shutting  the  port  of  Boston  hy  the 
British  Parliament. 


ATTLEBOROUGH. 


539 


Levi  Maxcy,  and  Lieut.  Alexander  Foster,  was  chosen 
to  draw  up  instructions  for  the  representative,  who 
made  a  report,  from  which  extracts  are  given  : 

"  Capt.  John  Stearns  : 

"Sir, — The  town,  reposing  special  confidence  in  your  ability  and  in- 
tegrity, have  chosen  you  their  representative  at  the  Great  and  General 
Court  for  this  year.  At  your  request  we  take  the  liberty  to  suggest  the 
following  things  to  your  attention  as  matters  of  great  importance: 

"  If  the  Continental  Congress  should  think  it  best  to  declare  for  inde- 
pendency of  Great  Britain,  we  unanimously  desire  you  for  us  to  engage 
to  defend  them  therein  with  our  lives  and  fortunes.1 

"The  fortifying  and  sufficiently  providing  for  the  defence  of  all  our 
sea-port  towns,  especially  the  metropolis  of  this  colony,  is  of  such  con- 
sequence as  that  parsimony  or  delay  therein  will  be  the  worst  of  policy. 
We  apprehend  that  the  raising  of  soldiers  for  the  defence  of  the  colony 
is  retarded,  and  so  rendered  both  more  chargeable  and  less  useful  for 
want  of  sufficient  bounty  to  encourage  enlistments:  that  the  raising 
fewer  forces  at  a  time  than  is  necessary,  which  scatters  the  officers  with 
whom  whoever  enlists  will  desire  to  be  acquainted,  is  a  like  hindrance 
to  a  speedy  raising  of  forces." 

After  giving  some  further  specific  instructions  the 
report  concludes,  "  Other  things  in  general  we  refer 
to  your  wisdom  and  fidelity,  unless  some  special  dif- 
ficulty should  occur,  in  which  case  you  will  please 
take  our  minds  as  occasion  shall  serve." 

At  the  same  time  it  was  voted  that  the  selectmen 
should  order  the  money  out  of  the  treasury  to  pay  the 
minute-men  who  marched  on  the  alarm  occasioned 
by  the  battle  at  Bunker  Hill. 

July  16th.  Voted  to  raise  the  bounty  from  three 
pounds  to  twelve  pounds  for  the  soldiers  this  town 
are  to  furnish  to  go  to  New  York. 

Jan.  27,  1777.  Voted  to  raise  the  bounty  for  the 
soldiers  who  went  to  New  York  in  July  last  to  forty 
dollars  for  each  man,  "  to  such  as  will  take  it." 

March  18th.  The  Committee  of  Correspondence, 
Inspection,  and  Safety  this  year  were  Ed.  Richards, 
Cyrel  Carpenter,  Samuel  Tiffany,  Jr.,  Elisha  May, 
and  Nathan  Tyler. 

April  2d.  A  meeting  was  held  to  see  if  the  town 
will  give  some  encouragement' to  the  soldiery  to  enlist 
our  proportion  of  the  fifteen  battalions  granted  by 
this  State  to  join  the  Continental  army. 

A  committee  was  chosen  to  report  upon  the  subject, 
and  also  to  state  what  is  an  average  on  the  whole 
since  the  war  commenced,  who  reported  that  the 
bounty  and  wages  given  by  Congress  and  our  court 
afforded  a  sufficient  encouragement  for  the  first  years' 
service;  that  for  the  second  year  the  town  allow  two 
pounds  per  month  in  addition  to  the  wages,  and  the 
same  for  the  last  year.  Twenty-four  pounds  in  addi- 
tion to  the  bounty,  instead  of  the  addition  to  their 
wages,  was  offered  to  those  who  might  prefer  it. 

The  committee  also  reported  that  the  eight  months' 
men,  or  those  who  went  into  service  in  consequence 


1  This  seems  to  have  been  conceived  in  something  of  that  holy  ardor, 
that  sublime  spirit  of  patriotism  and  self-devotion,  which  (in  a  few 
months  after)  dictated  those  ever  memorable  words  in  the  closing  sen- 
tence of  the  Declaration  of  Independence, — "We  pledge  our  lives,  our 
fortunes,  and  our  sacred  honor."  Immortal  words,  which  sent  such  a 
thrill  to  the  hearts  of  our  countrymen,  and  inspired  them  with  such  an 
unconquerable  enthusiasm  in  the  cause  of  freedom  ! 


of  Lexington  battle,  have  no  allowance;  that  the 
six  weeks'  and  two  months'  men  have  no  allowance; 
that  the  year's  men  be  allowed  ten  pounds  per  man ; 
that  the  Dorchester  men  have  no  allowance ;  that  the 
men  raised  for  two  months  in  September,  1776,  be  al- 
lowed seven  pounds  per  man  ;  that  the  men  raised  for 
the  northern  or  Canada  expedition  be  allowed  ten 
pounds  per  man  ;  that  the  opiarter  men,  or  those  raised 
for  Howland's  Ferry,  be  allowed  six  pounds  per  man. 

May  22d.  Chose  Capt.  John  Stearns  and  Mr.  Wil- 
liam Stanley  representatives.  Appointed  a  committee 
to  prepare  instructions  to  said  representatives,  viz. : 
Rev.  Peter  Thatcher,  Capt.  Elisha  May,  Col.  John 
Daggett,  Capt.  Moses  Wilmarth,  Mr.  Levi  Maxcy. 
Their  report,  it  appears,  is  not  recorded. 

Excused  Capt.  May  from  serving  on  Committee  of 
Correspondence,  etc.,  and  elected  Stephen  Fuller  in 
his  room.  Voted  to  enlarge  said  committee,  and 
added  Zephaniah  Bishop,  Jacob  Cushman,  and  John 
Sweetland. 

Jan.  12,  1778.  A  committee,  consisting  of  Rev.  Mr. 
Thacher,  Capt.  Elisha  May,  Col.  Stephen  Richard- 
son, Deacon  Stanley,  Capt.  Caleb  Richardson,  Lieut. 
Elkanah  Wilmarth,  and  Mr.  John  Wilkinson,  was 
chosen  to  prepare  instructions  to  the  representatives 
of  the  town  relative  to  the  Articles  of  Confederation. 
They  presented  a  report,  which  was  accepted.  It 
shows  how  perfectly  convinced  at  that  time  our  fore- 
fathers were  of  the  value  and  importance  of  a  firm 
union  of  the  States  to  the  well-being  of  the  whole 
people. 

To  show  the  sentiments  of  the  people  a  few  extracts 
are  given  : 

"The  subscribers,  being  chosen  a  committee  'to  consider  what  in- 
structions it  may  be  proper  for  them  to  give  their  representatives  rela- 
tive to  the  Articles  of  Confederation  and  Perpetual  Union  which  are 
proposed  to  the  consideration  of  the  Legislatures  of  all  the  United 
States  as  the  basis  thereof  forever,'  and  also  '  relative  to  the  resolves  of 
the  most  Honorable  Congress  of  the  7th  and  22d  of  November  last,' 
having  maturely  considered  the  said  Articles  and  resolves,  do  humbly 
offer  the  following  to  the  consideration  of  the  town  on  this  very  impor- 
tant subject : 

"To  Messrs.  John  Stearns  and  William  Stanley,  Representatives  of 
the  town  of  Attleborough,  Gentlemen,  We  shall  rejoice  at  the  arrival 
of  the  happy  hour  when  the  Independent  States  of  North  America  have 
a  Union  established  upon  equitable  terms  to  continue  as  long  as  the  sun 
and  moon  endure.  We  are  sensible  of  the  utility  and  necessity  of  such 
a  union  to  our  present  exertions  and  the  success  of  them,  as  welfcis  for 
the  strength  and  flourishing  condition  of  these  States  hereafter.  We 
would,  therefore,  be  as  distant  as  possible  from  offering  anything  to  ob- 
struct the  speedy  accomplishment  of  a  thing  so  desirable;  yet  we  are 
constrained  to  desire  explanation  of  the  4th  paragraph  in  the  fifth  article 
which  determines,  that,  in  deciding  questions  in  the  United  States  in 
Congress  assembled,  each  State  shall  have  one  vote,  which,  if  it  exclude 
a  voice  in  Congress  proportioned  to  the  number  or  estate  of  the  differ- 
ent States,  we  apprehend,  would  be  very  unequal  and  not  to  be  by  any 
means  consented  unto,  '-tc." 

After  stating  specific  objections  to  some  other  arti- 
cles, the  report  concludes, — 

"With  the  foregoing  emendations  and  explanations  we  desire  yon  to 
use  your  endeavors  that  the  Delegates  in  Congress  be  impowered  to 
ratify  the  aforesaid  Articles  of  Confederation  and  Perpetual  union.  As 
to  the  Resolves  of  the  most  Hon'ble  Congress,  we  only  observe  upon  the 
fifth  and  sixth  resolves,  that  the  regulating  bill  formerly  enacted  and 
since  repealed,  though  framed  with  an  honest  and  good  design,  yet  was, 


540 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL  COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


as  we  apprehend,  very  inj  u  rious  to  the  good  and  honest  people  of  this  State, 
and  was  of  no  use  to  restrain  oppressors  and  monopolizers,  but  rather 
put  an  advantage  of  oppression  into  their  hands,  and  was  a  great  means 
of  sinking  the  value  of  our  money,  and,  therefore,  we  expect  and  desire 
you  to  oppose  the  carrying  of  the  said  resolutions  into  execution." 

At  the  same  meeting  a  committee  was  appointed  to 
draft  a  petition,  which  was  sent  to  the  General  Court, 
earnestly  praying  for  the  repeal  of  an  act  culling  in 
the  bills  of  credit,  or  State  money.  In  this  petition 
the  people  expressed  their  fears  of  the  consequences 
which  would  result  from  that  act  to  the  interests 
of  the  poor,  etc.  "  We  have  waited  a  long  time," 
say  they,  "  in  hopes  that  you  would  repeal  that  act 
without  our  troubling  you  with  petitions  ;  but  as  we 
have  hitherto  been  disappointed,  we  are  obliged,  in 
justice  to  ourselves  and  to  our  posterity,  earnestly  to 
pray  for  the  speedy  repeal  of  that  act."  They  ex- 
press their  opinion  that  the  money  ought  to  be  called 
in  by  degrees  as  it  was  issued, — that  is,  one  emis- 
sion at  a  time,  by  taxing  the  inhabitants  of  the  State 
until  the  whole  is  withdrawn. 

March  17th.  The  Committee  of  Correspondence, 
etc.,  were  Elkanah  Wilmarth,  Ebenezer  Tiffany,  and 
Ephraim  Allen,  Jr. 

May  12th.  Voted  to  pay  thirty  pounds  to  each  sol- 
dier who  shall  enlist  in  the  Continental  army  to  com- 
plete the  number  (thirteen)  required  of  this  town  by 
a  late  resolve  of  the  General  Court ;  also  voted  to 
give  thirty  pounds  more  as  a  bounty. 

May  21st.  The  committee,  chosen  at  a  former  meet- 
ing to  consider  the  constitution 1  lately  submitted  to 
the  people,  not  agreeing  upon  a  report,  the  town  ap- 
pointed another  committee  of  seven,  viz.,  Rev.  P. 
Thatcher,  Rev.  Habijah  Weld,  Elder  Job  Seamans, 
Dr.  Bezaliel  Mann,  Col.  John  Daggett,  Col.  Stephen 
Richardson,  Capt.  John  Stearns,  who  finally  made  a 
report.  The  vote  in  town  stood  fifty-one  affirmative, 
seventy-six  negative. 

March  16, 1779.  The  Committee  of  Safety  were  Capt. 
Caleb  Richardson,  John  Damon,  Elijah  Wellman. 

May  18th.  Elisha  May,  Esq.,  was  chosen  representa- 
tive. Voted  to  empower  our  representative  to  vote 
for  the  calling  of  a  convention  for  the  sole  purpose  of 
framing  a  new  constitution. 

June  21st.  Voted  to  raise  thirteen  soldiers  (to  serve 
nine  months)  as  this  town's  proportion  of  the  fifteen 
battalions  furnished  by  this  State  to  fill  up  the  Con- 
tinental army.  On  the  question  of  having  a  new 
constitution  there  were  one  hundred  and  twenty-one 
votes  in  favor,  and  none  in  the  negative  recorded. 

Aug.  2d.  This  town  sent  three  members  to  the  con- 
vention which  formed  the  present  constitution  of 
Massachusetts. 

"  Chose  Col.  John  Daggett,  Capt.  John  Stearns, 
and  Maj.  Elisha  May  to  attend  the  convention2  at 

1  This  was  the  first  frame  of  government  submitted  to  the  people  of 
this  State.  It  was  framed  by  a  convention,  1778-79,  and  is  commonly 
called  the  Rejected  Constitution. 

2  This  convention  met  at  the  meeting-house  in  Cambridge,  September, 
1779,  continued  till  the  7th,  and  then  adjourned  to  October  28th  ;  then 


Cambridge  on  the  1st  of  September  next  for  the  sole 
purpose  of  framing  a  new  constitution. 

The  town  then  took  into  consideration  the  proceed- 
ings of  the  convention  held  at  Concord  for  regulating 
articles  of  merchandise  and  country  produce,  and 
voted  unanimously  to  accept  of  the  doings  of  said 
convention  and  to  conform  ourselves  to  the  proposed 
regulations. 

Chose  Col.  Stephen  Richardson,  Mr.  Levi  Maxcy, 
and  Mr.  Edward  Richards  members  of  the  conven- 
tion to  be  held  at  Concord  on  the  first  Wednesday  of 
October  next. 

March  21,  1780.  The  Committee  of  Safety  were 
David  Richardson,  Capt.  Moses  Wilmarth,  and  Wil- 
liam Morsel 

May  2.  The  new  constitution  was  referred  to  a 
committee. 

June  14.  Voted  to  raise  twenty-nine  soldiers  for 
six  months,  as  this  town's  quota  to  reinforce  the  Con- 
tinental army,  according  to  a  resolve  of  the  General 
Court  of  June  5,  1780.  They  were  to  be  paid  by  a 
tax  on  the  town. 

Sept.  4.  Voted  to  raise  twelve  thousand  pounds  to 
defray  the  expenses  of  the  town  the  current  year. 
Also  voted  to  raise  fourteen  hundred  pounds,  hard 
money,  to  pay  the  soldiers  who  may  engage  to  serve 
in  the  Continental  army  for  three  and  for  six  months, 
according  to  resolves  of  the  General  Court  of  June 
5th,  22d,  and  23d.  Elisha  May,  Esq.,  was  chosen  rep- 
resentative the  two  following  years,  which  brings  us 
to  the  close  of  the  Revolution.  There  were  no  trans- 
actions of  particular  interest  relating  to  the  war  during 
these  two  years. 

Military  Services. — To  furnish  a  full  statement 
of  the  military  services  which  the  citizens  of  this 
town  rendered  during  the  Revolutionary  war — to  as- 
certain the  number  of  soldiers  who  enlisted  and  the 
time  for  which  they  served — is  not,  perhaps,  possible 
at  this  day.  But  some  general  accounts  may  be  col- 
lected which  will  afford  a  tolerable  view  of  their 
services. 

It  appears  from  the  following  anecdotes  that  they 
were  not  slow  in  acting  up  to  the  resolutions  which 
they  had  adopted. 

In  December,  1774,  the  Committee  of  Safety  gave 
notice  that  one  Nathan  Aldis,  a  Tory,  who  lived  in 
Franklin,  Mass.,  was  selling  British  goods,  contrary 
to  the  resolutions  of  the  General  Court.  Col.  John 
Daggett,  of  this  town,  a  determined  and  resolute 
patriot,  immediately  issued  orders  to  the  several 
companies  of  this  town  to  furnish  a  certain  number 
of  men,  who  being  collected,  marched  in  a  bitter  cold 
night  for  the  place  of  Aldis'  residence,  to  put  a  stop 
to  his  business.  They  were  joined  on  the  way  by 
volunteers  from  the  neighboring  towns.    They  arrived 

met  and  continued  till  November  11th,  and  adjourned  to  Jan.  5, 1780,  at 
the  representatives'  chamber,  Boston;  then  met  and  continued  till 
March  2d,  and  adjourned  to  June  7th  ;  then  met  and  continued  till 
June  16th,  when  it  was  dissolved. 


ATTLEBOROUGH. 


5-11 


late  at  night,  and  surrounding  his  house,  ordered  him 
out.  He  (and  his  associates  who  had  assembled  to 
defend  him)  at  first  attempted  to  resist  with  arms, 
threatening  to  fire  upon  them  from  the  windows  ;  and 
assuming  a  tone  of  confidence  ordered  them  to  depart. 
Upon  tli is  the  besiegers  were  directed  to  point  their 
guns  towards  the  house.  But  finding  that  his  oppo- 
nents were  in  earnest,  and  that  threats  could  not  in- 
timidate them,  Aldis  at  last  came  out.  He  was  or- 
dered to  pull  off  his  hat  while  in  the  presence  of  the 
people's  soldiers!  Here,  before  the  whole  company, 
he  was  compelled  to  enter  into  an  engagement  not  to 
"vend  anymore  British  goods  during  the  present 
unhappy  controversy  between  the  king  and  his  colo- 
nies." The  prisoner  was  then  released.  The  next 
morning  he  fled  to  Boston,  and  was  never  after  known 
in  these  parts. 

The  captains  from  this  town  who  were  engaged  in 
this  adventure  were  Capt.  S.  Richardson,  of  the 
Northeast  Company  ;  Capt.  Moses  Wilmarth,  South- 
east Company ;  Capt.  Jacob  Ide,  Southwest  Company ; 
Capt.  Jonathan  Stanley,  Northwest  Company. 

Assonett  Expedition. — Information  having  been 
received  from  the  vigilant  Committees  of  Safety  that 
the  British  had  made  a  deposit  of  arms  and  ammuni- 
tion at  Assonett  village  (Freetown),  for  the  use  of  the 
loyalists,  Col.  Daggett,  of  this  town,  on  the  9th  of 
April,  1775,  undertook  an  expedition  for  the  purpose 
of  seizing  these  arms  and  breaking  up  the  combina- 
tion which  had  been  formed  to  favor  the  royal  cause. 
He  was  accompanied  by  the  several  companies  from 
this  town  with  their  captains  (as  before  named,  ex- 
cept Elisha  May  in  the  room  of  Jonathan  Stanley), 
and  by  some  of  the  militia  from  Rehoboth  and  other 
towns.  How  many  others  were  concerned  in  the  ad- 
venture is  not  known. 

They  discovered  forty  stands  of  arms  and  equip- 
ments in  the  possession  of  the  Tories,  together  with 
a  large  quantity  of  ammunition,  the  whole  of  which 
was  taken  by  the  patriots.  All  who  were  suspected 
of  favoring  the  British  interest  were  required  to  swear 
not  to  bear  arms  against  their  country.  Nine  stanch 
Tories  who  refused  to  take  the  oath  of  fidelity  to  the 
colonies  were  made  prisoners  and  put  under  the 
charge  of  the  company  from  East  Attleborough,  and 
forthwith  marched  to  Taunton.  Here  their  captors 
threatened  to  convey  them  to  Sullivan's  mines  in 
Connecticut  if  they  would  not  comply.  To  avoid 
this  alternative  they  at  last  submitted,  and  took  the 
oath  of  allegiance.     They  were  then  dismissed. 

This  expedition  deserves  commemoration  from  the 
circumstance  of  its  having  been  accomplished  pre- 
vious to  the  commencement  of  open  hostilities  in  any 
other  part  of  the  country.  It  preceded  a  few  days 
the  first  scene  in  the  great  drama  which  opened  on 
the  plains  of  Lexington.  It  was  appearing  in  arms 
(though  on  a  comparatively  small  scale)  against  the 
royal  government.  The  patriots  expected  resistance, 
and  were  prepared  with  sufficient  force  to  meet  it. 


The  company  of  minute-men,  sixty  in  number, 
under  the  command  of  Capt.  Jabez  Ellis,  Enoch 
Robinson,  lieutenant,  on  the  day  of  the  battle  at 
Lexington  received  orders  to  march  instantly  to  Rox- 
bury.  We  set  out  at  night,1  stopped  a  short  time  at 
Maxcy's,  now  Hatch's  Tavern,  then  went  directly  to 
Dedham,  where  we  found  two  tables  by  the  roadside 
generously  provided  with  food  for  the  soldiers  who 
might  pass  that  way,  thus  arranged  to  prevent  any 
unnecessary  delay.  We  snatched  a  hasty  breakfast 
and  marched  on  ;  reached  Roxbury  about  daylight, 
and  were  then  marched  round  and  round  Roxbury 
meeting-house,  to  make  as  much  show  of  numbers  as 
possible  in  view  of  the  British.  Our  company  re- 
mained there  seven  or  eight  days,  and  then  were  per- 
mitted to  return  home.2 

The  same  company  went  down  to  Roxbury  the  day 
of  Bunker  Hill  battle  ;  stayed  about  a  fortnight. 
While  there  a  small  party  of  us  went  round  to  the 
Cambridge  side  to  look  at  the  British,  but  soon  the 
captain  of  a  fort  called  out  to  us  that  we  had  better 
not  go  in  company,  for  the  enemy  would  see  us  and 
fire  at  us ;  and  sure  enough,  in  a  minute  or  two,  a 
cannon-ball  came  whizzing  along  close  by  us.  and 
soon  after  they  sent  us  a  bomb. 

May  1, 1775.  A  company  of  sixty- four  men  enlisted 
for  eight  months,  under  Capt.  Caleb  Richardson,  in 
the  Massachusetts  line  (so  called),  and  were  stationed 
at  Roxbury. 

July,  1776.  Another  company,  principally  from 
this  town,  enlisted  five  months  in  the  recruits  called 
the  new  levies,  under  Capt.  Caleb  Richardson, 
and  Stephen  Richardson,  lieutenant,  both  of  Attle- 
borough, in  the  regiment  of  Col.  Cary,  of  Middle- 
borough,  Brig.-Gen.  Fellowes,  and  did  duty  in  and 
about  New  York,  and  were  at  the  disastrous  retreat 
from  Long  Island,  etc.3  Some  of  the  other  members 
of  this  company  were  from  the  neighboring  towns. 

September,  1776.  Another  company  was  raised  (part 
from  Attleborough  and  part  from  Norton)  under  Capt. 


1  The  circumstances  are  given  as  related  to  the  author  by  one  of  the 
survivors. 

2  Of  one  of  these  soldiers  an  anecdote  was  current  among  the  sur- 
vivors of  that  day.  One  Henry  Richardson,  of  this  town,  a  bold  and 
honest  but  heedless  fellow,  on  his  way  to  Roxbury  swore  he  would  have 
one  of  the  red-coats  before  he  went  back.  On  his  arrival  at  headquarters, 
the  moment  he  bad  opportunity,  he  charged  his  long  musket,  and  not 
thinking  with  Falstaff  that  "discretion  is  the  better  part  of  valor," 
coolly  marched  down  in  frontof  our  lower  guard,  and  taking  deliberate 
aim  at  the  opposite  British  sentinel,  discharged  bis  musket,  and  badly 
wounded  him,  as  his  companions  were  seen  to  lead  him  off  the  ground, 
and  his  place  was  supplied  by  another.  Much  to  his  astonishment,  our 
hero  was  immediately  arrested  (for  doing,  as  he  thought,  so  good  a  ser- 
vice) and  put  under  guard  ;  hut,  on  the  representations  of  his  friends, 
was  soon  after  discharged  without  further  punishment,  in  consideration 
of  his  good  intentions  ! 

On  meeting,  afterwards,  one  of  his  townsmen,  he  exclaimed,  with  ex- 
ultation, "There,  I  told  you  I'd  have  one  of  them  are  British  rascals." 

3  Capt.  Moses  Wilmarth,  though  he  had  served  as  a  captain  at  home, 
yet  from  a  spirit  of  patriotism  entered  the  service  as  a  private  soldier  in 
the  expedition  to  New  York.  He  was  afterwards  promoted,  and  con- 
tinued much  attached  to  the  service  during  the  war. 

Joel  Rend  of  this  town  was  wounded  at  New  York. 


542 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Elisha  May,  of  this  town,  in  the  regiment  of  Col. 
Thomas  Carpenter,  of  Rehoboth,  and  arrived  at  White 
Plains  before  the  battle. 

In  October,  1777,  a  whole  company  from  this  town 
marched  to  Rhode  Island,  under  Capt.  Stephen  Rich- 
ardson, and  served  one  month  in  Spencer's  "  secret 
expedition,"  so  called. 

Several  men  from  this  town  were  drafted  in  the  ex- 
pedition against  Ticonderoga  in  1776 ;  served  also  at 
Saratoga. 

Some  of  our  soldiers  enlisted  for  three  years,  and 
others  during  the  war. 

The  above  accounts  do  not  include  the  many  indi- 
vidual enlistments  into  the  Continental  army  from 
this  town  during  the  war. 

Militia— Rhode  Island.— The  militia  in  this  town 
and'  the  vicinity  were  subject  to  frequent  drafts  of 
men  (more  or  less)  from  December,  1776,  until  after 
the  evacuation  of  Rhode  Island.  Drafts  were  made 
in  January,  February,  March,  May,  June,  July,  and 
August,  1777,  and  at  many  other  times.  The  men 
were  stationed,  the  most  of  the  time,  at  Hovvland's 
Ferry  (Tiverton)  and  at  Warwick. 

The  British  took  possession  of  Rhode  Island  in  De- 
cember, 1776,  and  kept  the  surrounding  country  in  a 
continual  state  of  alarm.  They  occupied  it  above  two 
years. 

Gen.  Sullivan,  during  his  expedition  to  Rhode  Is- 
land, requested  the  government  of  Massachusetts  to 
send  him  a  reinforcement  in  consequence  of  the 
French  forces  having  abandoned  him.  In  compliance 
with  this  request  the  following  orders  were  issued  by 
the  Council  of  this  State,  directing  Col.  Daggett,  of 
the  Fourth  Regiment  (including,  as  now,  Attle- 
borough,  Mansfield,  Norton,  and  Easton),  to  take 
charge  of  the  detachment : 

"State  of  Massachusetts  Bay, 

"  Council  Chamber,  Aug.  IS,  177S. 

"  Whereas,  Maj.-Gen.  Sullivan  lias  represented  to  this  Board  that  by 
reason  of  the  absence  of  the  French  troops,  which  he  expected  would 
co-operate  with  him,  he  is  in  pressing  need  of  a  reinforcement,  there- 
fore, 

"  Ordered,  that  the  following  colonels  be  and  hereby  are  directed  to 
detach  from  their  respective  regiments  the  several  numbers  of  men  here- 
after mentioned,  and  form  tbem  into  companies  of  sixty-eight  men 
each,  including  one  captain,  two  subalterns,  four  sergeants,  four  corpo- 
rals, one  drummer,  and  one  fifer,  and  see  that  they  be  equipped,  armed, 
and  accoutred  as  the  law  directs,  and  order  them  to  march  immediately 
to  the  island  of  Rhode  Island,  and  there  to  do  duty  during  the  campaign 
on  said  island,  viz.:  From  Col.  Hawes'  regiment,  one  hundred  and  fifty 
men,  including  officers  and  one  major  ;  from  Col.  Carpenter's  regiment, 
one  hundred  and  fifty  men,  including  officers;  from  Col. Daggett's  regi- 
ment, one  hundred  and  fifty  men,  including  officers  and  one  colonel; 
from  Col.  Hathaway's  regiment,  one  hundred  and  fifty  men,  including 
officers  and  one  lieutenant- colonel ;  from  Col.  Sproat's  regiment,  one 
hundred  and  fifty  men,  including  officers;  from  Col.  'Williams'  regiment, 
one  hundred  and  fifty  men,  including  officers, 

"  And  make  return  to  the  Council  without  loss  of  time. 
"A  true  copy. 

"Attest :  John  Avery,  Dy.  Sec'y." 

In  obedience  to  these  orders  a  regiment  (consisting 
of  nine  hundred  men)  was  formed  out  of  the  several 
regiments  above  named,  which  repaired  to  Rhode 
Island,  and  served  under  the  command  of  Col.  Dag- 


gett, of  this  town,  during  the  remainder  of  the  cam- 
paign. The  company  furnished  by  this  town  as  its 
quota  under  this  levy  was  commanded  by  Capt.  Caleb 
Richardson.  It  was  on  the  island  at  the  time  of  the 
battle,  and  was  partially  engaged  in  it.1 

Col.  Daggett  also  commanded  the  regiment  (of 
which  this  town  furnished  a  portion)  from  Bristol 
County  in  Spencer's  expedition.  This  regiment  was 
supplied  by  alternate  drafts  from  the  companies  in 
the  northerly  and  middle  parts  of  the  county. 

During  the  occupation  of  the  island  by  the  British, 
as  before  observed,  the  militia  from  all  the  towns  in 
the  vicinity  were  frequently  called  upon  to  defend  the 
shore,  as  constant  apprehensions  were  entertained  that 
the  enemy  would  attempt  to  land.  Attempts  were 
indeed  often  made,  but  as  often  failed.  Orders  would 
sometimes  come  for  all  the  militia  to  appear  at  some 
place  near  the  island.  All  hands  would  accordingly 
muster  (whether  by  night  or  day)  and  make  all  haste 
for  the  scene  of  parade.  They  were  sometimes  thus 
detained  a  week,  three  weeks,  and  even  six  weeks  at 
a  time.  On  the  appearance  of  a  sufficient  force  the 
enemy  would  for  the  time  relinquish  their  design,  and 
the  greater  part  of  the  militia  obtain  leave  to  go  home. 
But  sometimes  before  they  arrived  home  orders  would 
come  for  their  immediate  return.  The  yeomanry  were 
thus  often  obliged  to  leave  the  plow  in  the  furrow, 
the  mown  hay  untouched,  and  the  harvest  rotting  in 
the  field. 

While  Sullivan  was  retreating  from  the  island, 
Fayette,  who  brought  up  the  rear,  just  as  he  was 
leaving  the  field,  espied  a  pickaxe  belonging  to  the 
American  army  which  had  been  accidentally  left  on 
the  ground  ;  he  instantly  went  back,  dismounted  and 
picked  it  up,  exclaiming  in  broken  English  as  he 
rode  off  with  it  on  his  shoulder,  "They  sha'n't  have  de 
pickaxe /" 

The  cannonade  (which  was  heavy)  between  the  two 
armies  was  distinctly  heard  and  felt  in  this  town, 
and  produced  extreme  anxiety  in  every  family. 

The  time  of  Bunker  Hill  battle  was  likewise  a  day 
of  solemn  feeling  and  fearful  expectation.  The  can- 
nonade was  distinctly  heard  at  this  distance  (thirty- 
five  miles),  and  the  occasion  of  it  was  fully  recognized. 
The  town  was  almost  deserted  by  all  able  to  bear 
arms.  Women  were  in  tears  for  the  fate  of  fathers, 
husbands,  and  brothers  who  had  gone  to  the  scene  of 
action. 

From  the  preceding  account  of  the  civil  transac- 
tions and  the  military  services  of  this  town  it  ap- 
pears satisfactorily  that  our  citizens  furnished  their 
full  proportion  to  the  ranks  of  the  patriot  army,  and 
did  their  duty  faithfully  in  the  day  of  trial. 

In  reviewing  the  proceedings  in  that  contest  which 
agitated  the  country  previous  to  the  commencement 
of  the  Revolution  one  thing  struck  me  as  worthy  of 

1  Two  men  from  this  town  who  had  belonged  to  the  Continental  army 
were  killed  in  that  action,  viz.,  Lamed  Hall  and  one  John  Dwyer,  for- 
merly of  Rehoboth. 


ATTLEBOROUGH. 


543 


remark  (though  not  particularly  noticed  by  histo- 
rians), that  the  citizens  of  this  State  generally,  the 
people  as  a  body,  felt  a  deeper  interest,  took  a  more 
active  part,  and  exerted  a  more  direct  influence  in  the 
transactions  of  the  day  than  the  people  of  any  other 
State.  The  whole  mass  of  our  citizens  seemed  to  be 
acting  in  concert,  animated  with  one  spirit,  and  in 
pursuit  of  one  object.  Other  States  were  indeed  as 
zealously  engaged  in  the  great  work,  but  it  was  rather 
through  the  Legislature  or  the  government  than  by  | 
the  direct  influence  of  the  people.  But  the  citizens  of 
this  State  intrusted  it  not  to  a  few  leaders  or  to  any 
body  of  men  to  vindicate  their  violated  rights, — they 
were  willing  to  do  their  part  and  to  bear  the  burden 
themselves.  Every  town  and  almost  every  individual 
felt  it  a  duty  to  put  forth  an  effort  in  the  cause. 

It  may  be  here  remarked  that  previous  to  this 
period,  viz.,  1745,  Cumberland  was  separated  from 
Attleborough  by  royal  charter  and  annexed  to  Rhode 
Island.1 


CHAPTER   XLIV. 

ATTLEBOROUGH.— ( Continued.) 

Genealogical  Notices  of  Some  of  the  Early  Settlers — List  of  Representa- 
tives  of  the  Town  from  its  Incorporation — Biographies  of  Daggett, 
Maxcy,  Mann,  May,  Ide,  and  Others — List  of  Graduates  in  Brown  Uni- 
versity, etc. — Dr.  Hebert  Mann's  Death,  and  Wreck  of  the  Brig  "  Gen- 
eral Arnold" — Miscellany — Topography,  etc. — Character  of  Early  In- 
habitants— Their  Condition,  etc. — Conclusion. 

Genealogy. — A  brief  genealogy  of  some  of  the 
earliest  settlers  in  the  town  is  annexed,  which  is  in- 
tended to  include,  so  far  as  I  have  been  able  to  ascer- 
tain, the  names  of  those  who  came  into  town  previous 
to  1730,  with  the  names  of  their  children  of  the  first 
generation  (space  not  permitting  me  to  extend  it  any 
further),  and  also  the  previous  place  of  their  settle- 
ment when  known.  This  will  not  contain  the  names 
of  many  who  have  all  either  removed  from  town  or 
whose  families  have  become  extinct.  These  sketches 
must  necessarily  be  imperfect,  from  the  defects  in  the 
records  and  the  general  neglect  of  most  families  to 
preserve  any  knowledge  of  their  remote  ancestry. 
The  discovery  of  many  of  these  facts  connected  with 
the  history  of  our  ancestors  has  been  the  result  of 
fortunate  accident. 

Many  of  the  first  proprietors  (who  belonged  to  Re- 
hoboth)  or  their  descendants  became  the  occupants  of 


1  The  new  boundaries  established  by  this  charter  took  from  Massa- 
chusetts and  annexed  to  Rhode  Island  a  fine  tract  of  land,  including  all 
Bristol  County,  R.  I.,  Tiverton,  Newport  Co.,  and  Cumberland,  Provi- 
dence Co.  Cumberland  comprised  nearly  half  of  the  original  town. 
Its  area  is  about  twenty-eight  square  miles,  and,  taken  together,  is  an 
excellent  tract  of  land.  It  is  good  for  grain  and  orcharding,  and  espe- 
cially for  grass,  which  is  cut  in  great  abundance.  Some  parts  of  the 
town,  however,  are  light  and  sandy.  It  was  incorporated  in  1746.  It 
was  previously  called  Attleborough  Gore.  It  is  well  adapted  to  manu- 
facturing purposes,  having  three  streams,  Abbott's  Bun,  Mill  and  Peter's 
Rivers,  besides  the  Blackstone,  which  is  its  western  boundary. 


the  lands  which  they  had  purchased  ;  but  in  process 
of  time  the  cheapness  of  the  land  invited  many  emi- 
grants from  various  parts  of  the  colonies  of  Massachu- 
setts and  Plymouth,  who  either  became  shareholders 
or  purchased  rights.2 

Allen,  Nehemiah,  sou  of  Isaac  Allen  (1st),  of  Rehoboth,  married  Anne 
Wilmarth,  daughter  of  Thomas  Wilmarth  (2d),  of  that  town,  came  to 
Attleborough  about  1710.  He  had  five  children,  viz.,  Isaac,  John,  Ne- 
hemiah, Daniel,  Annie,  who  were  born  between  the  years  1711  and 
1726. 

Atwell,  Richard,  married  Sarah  Bolkcom,  daughter  of  Alexander  Bolk- 
com,  had  five  children  by  her,— Sarah,  Amos,  Anne,  Richard,  Icbabod, 
1728-39.  His  second  wile  was  Mary  Lawrence,  by  whom  he  had  one 
son,  William,  born  1741. 

Barrows,  Benajah,  ancestor  of  all  of  that  name  in  this  town.  He  came 
here  about  1708  from  Rehoboth,  where  he  had  resided  for  a  short  time. 
His  wife  was  Lydia  Bucklin,  daughter  of  Joseph  Bucklin,  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  that  town.  Had  nine  children,— John,  born  in  Reho- 
both, 1707  ;  Deborah,  born  1711  ;  Joseph,  1713;  Nehemiah,  1715;  Benja- 
min, March,  1717-18;  Elijah,  March,  1719-20;  Lydia,  1722;  Icbabod, 
1724.    He  died  Jan.  5, 1754. 

Blackinton,  Penticost,  the  ancestor  of  all  the  Blackingtons  in  town, 
came  to  Attleborough  previous  to  1702,  from  what  place  is  not  known. 
His  wife's  name  was  Mary.  He  had  at  least  four  children, — Penticost, 
Mary,  Benjamin,  who  came  with  him,  and  Hepzibeth,  who  was  born 
here  December,  1702,  and  John  and  Penelope,  twins,  born  1705,  and  both 
died  1706.  Penticost  (1st)  died  Sept.  24,  1715.  His  son  Penticost  mar- 
ried Rebeccali  Figgett,  had  eight  children, — Penticost,  born  1716;  Re- 
beccah,  born  1717;  George,  bom'  1720;  Anne,  born  1722;  Mary,  born 
1724  ;  Jubn,  born  1727 ;  Othniel,  born  1729;  Peter,  born  1731. 

Blanding,  Obediah,  came  from  Rehoboth,  son  of  William  Blauding, 
first  of  that  name  in  Rehoboth,  married  Elizabeth  Weeks,  had  five  chil- 
dren,— Ephraim,  Samuel,  Obediah,  Elizabeth,  Mehitabel,  1719-27.  Sev- 
eral others  afterwards  came  here  from  that  town,  descendants  of  William 
(1st),  viz.,  Daniel,  Noah,  Lamack,  etc. 

Bishop,  William,  appears  to  be  the  first,  came  from  Beverly  or  Salem 
about  1703.  His  wife's  name  was  Dorothy.  He  had  eight  children, — 
Edward,  Elizabeth,  William,  Martha,  Rebecca,  Baily,  Dorothy,  John, 
1701-15.    His  second  wife  was  Tabitha  Hadley,  married  1719. 

There  were  several  others  of  this  name,  some  of  them,  perhaps,  brothers 
of  the  above,  viz.,  Daniel,  who  married  Elizabeth  Brown,  1734;  Sam- 
uel, married  Mary ;  Joseph,  married  Miriam  Hodges;  Thomas,  who 

married  Sarah  Hobel,  of  Pequonick,  and  had  one  daughter,  born  in  New 
Brookfield,  N.  Y.,  1744. 

Bolkcom,  Alexander  (1st),  who  came  to  Attleborough  previous  to 
1692,  from  whom  all  in  town  are  descended.  He  married  Sarah  Wood- 
cock, daughter  of  John  Woodcock,  Sr.,  and  had  seven  children, — Wil- 
liam, born  Sept.  3,  1692  ;  Katharine,  born  Feb.  7,  1694  ;  Alexander,  born 
April  4,  1696  ;  John,  born  April  29,  1699;  Baruck,  born  June  12,  1702; 
Sarah,  born  Feb.  8, 1703-4 ;  Joseph,  born  Feb.  23, 1705-6. 

He  died  Jan.  31,  1727-28.  His  son  William  married  Mary  Tyler,  Oct. 
3,  1713  ;  Alexander  married  Martha  Obiuton,  May  14, 1725  ;  Baruck  mar- 
ried Patience  Blake;  John  married  Mary  Grover,  by  whom  he  had  five 
children,  and  afterward  Sarah  Grover,  by  whom  he  had  eight  children  ; 
Joseph  married  Mary  Parminter,  March  21,  1733-34. 

Capron,  Banfield,  was  the  first  of  that  name  who  came  to  this  country 
From  him  all  the  Caprons  in  this  vicinity  are  descended.     The  name  of 
his  first  wife  was  Elizabeth.     His  children  were  Banfield,  Joseph,  Eliza- 
beth Banfield  (born  Oct.  22, 1684),  Edward,  John,  Jonathan  (born  March 
10,1705-6),  Sarah  (born  March  11,  1708-9). 

His  wife,  Elizabeth,  died  March  10, 1735.  He  married,  Dec.  16,  1735, 
Mrs.  Sarah  Daggett  (relict  of  Deacon  John  Daggett),  and  died  Aug.  25, 
1752,  at  a  very  advanced  age.  He  settled  where  the  late  Joab  Daggett 
lived,  and  laid  out  the  lands  there.  Tradition  says  he  came  to  this 
country  alone  when  he  was  quite  a  lad,  as  a  cabin-boy,  to  seek  his  for- 
tune. 

Carpenter,  Josiah,  Noah,  William,  Obediah,  etc.,  came  to  Attleborough 
from  Rehoboth,  and  were  all  descendants  of  Samuel  and  William  Car- 
penter, two  of  the  earliest  of  that  name  in  Rehoboth.  William  Carpen- 
ter was  admitted  an  inhabitant  of  that  town  March  28,  1645.  He  was 
admitted  a  freeman  of  Massachusetts  May  13,  1640. 


-  Usually  new-comers,  if  they  could  not  purchase  a  share  in  the  undi- 
vided lands,  bought  a  right  to  lay  out  a  definite  number  of  acres  in  a 
division  already  granted. 


544 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Noah  was  the  son  of  William,  of  Rehoboth,  horn  March  28,1672,  mar- 
ried Sarah  Johnson,  Dec.  3,  1700,  by  whom  he  had  thirteen  children  — 
Noah,  Miriam,  Sarah,  Stephen,  Asa,  Mary  (born  in  Rehoboth),  Margaret, 
Simon  (died  infant),  Isaiah,  Simon,  Martha,  Elisha,  Amy.  He  married 
Kuth  Follet,  May,  1727,  by  whom  he  had  one  daughter,  born  May,  1728. 
Claflin  (formerly  McClaflin  1),  Antipas,  came  here  from  Sudbury,  Mass. 
Had  three  children  after  his  arrival  in  this  town,  viz.,  Hepzeleth  (born 
Nov.  17,  1717),  Antipas  and  Ebenezer,  twins  (born  Feb.  8. 1720-21).  His 
wife's  name  was  Sarah.  Other  sons  probably  came  with  him,  Noah, 
Phinehas,  etc. 

Cutting.  The  first  and  only  one  of  this  name  who  came  here  was  Aaron. 
His  son,  Aaron,  Jr.,  married  Ruth  Pratt,  1749  (who  died  July  26,  1753), 
and  for  his  second  wife,  Sarah  Tucker,  by  both  of  whom  he  had  nine 
children. 

Daggett,  John,  ancestor  of  all  the  Daggetts  here  and  in  Connecticut, 
came  to  Attleborough  from  Chilmark,  Martha's  Vineyard,  about  1709, 
with  his  wife  Sarah  and  nine  children,  four  sons  and  five  daughters,  viz., 
Mayhew,  Elienezer,  Thomas,  Napthali,  Abigail  (who  married  Ebenezer 
Guild,  Oct.  12,  1714),  Jane  (married  Caleb  Hall,  Nov.  9,  1721),  Zilpha 
(married  Nathaniel  Robinson,  July  18,  1721),  Patience  (married  Noah 
Robinson,  Oct.  4, 1723),  Mary  (married  John  Titus,  Jan.  18, 1727-28),  all 
of  Attleborough.  • 

Ebenezer  married  Mary  Blackinton,  daughter  of  Penticost  the  1st, 
Nov.  9,  1721 ;  Mayhew  married  Joanna  Biven,  of  Deerfield,  Mass.,  Oct. 

11,   1709  ;   Thomas  married   Sarah  Stanley,  daughter  of  Stanley, 

March  21,1722-23.2 

John  the  1st,  of  Attleborough,  was  the  son  of  Thomas  Daggett,  Esq., 
of  Edgartown,  who  married  Hannah,  the  oldest  daughter  of  Governor 
Mayhew,  and  was  brother  to  Thomas,  Samuel,  Joshua,  Israil,  Mercy. 

Thomas,  the  father  (who  was  brother  of  John  the  1st,  of  Rehoboth), 
is  supposed  to  be  the  son  of  John  Daggett  the  1st,  who  came  to  this 
country  in  1630,  and  was  settled  in  Watertown  in  1642,  and  probably 
removed  to  Martha's  Vineyard  with  Governor  Mayhew  when  he  settled 
the  island  in  1644.  There  is  reason  to  believe  that  John  the  1st,  of 
Watertown,  had  a  brother  Thomas,  who  came  to  New  England. 

Day,  Samuel,  appears  to  be  the  first,  came  from  Rehoboth.  His  wife 
was  Priscilla.  He  had  several  children, — Samuel,  Edward  (born  June 
9,  1705),  John  (born  Sept.  29.  1708),  Priscilla  (horn  Nov.  22,  1711),  Ben- 
jamin (bom  in  Attleborough,  April  28,  1720),  and  perhaps  others. 

One  Bobert  Day  was  admitted  freeman  of  Massachusetts  May  6,  1635, 
and  Balph  Day  May,  1645. 

Foster,  John,  came  from  Dorchester  about  1712,  married  Margaret 
Ware,  had  thirteen  children,— John  (born  1700),  Bobert  (born  1707), 
Ebenezer  (born  1709), — these  three  born  in  Dorchester, — Margaret  (born 
in  Wrentham  in  1712),  Benjamin  (horn  1714),  Jonathan  (born  1715), 
Sarah  (born  1718),  Timothy  (born  1720),  Nathan  (born  1722),  Esther 
(born  1724),  Michael  (bora  1725  and  died  1726),  Michael  (born  1727), 
Mary  (born  1729). 

Foster,  Alexander  (another  who  came  to  town),  whose  wife's  name 
was  Suanna,  had  six  children, — Elizabeth,  Sarah,  Alexander,  Edward, 
Suanna,  Jane,— from  1734  to  1746. 

Freeman,  David  and  Jonathan,  inhabitants  of  Eehoboth,  came  to 
Attleborough,  probably  the  ancestors  of  all  the  Freemans  in  this  town. 
The  name  of  David's  wife  was  Mary.  Some  of  his  children  were  Eben- 
ezer (born  April  13,  1684),  Hannah  (born  April  24,  1686),  Margaret 
(born  Feb.  9,  1688-89). 

Jonathan's  children  were  William,  Mary,  Jonathan,  Mercy,  Samuel, 
Anne,  David,  1690-1704. 

French,  John,  son  of  John  French  (1st),  of  Eehoboth,  came  from  that 
town  about  1710,  married  Martha  Williams,  had  five  children, — John 
(born  in  Behoboth),  Ephraim  and  Martha  (twins,  died  infants),  Hannah, 
Samuel,  1709-14.  His  second  wife  was  Abigail  White,  married  May  23, 
1728,  by  whom  he  had  two  children, — John  (born  1729),  Thomas  (born 
1730). 

Thomas,  brother  of  the  preceding,  also  came  from  Behoboth,  married 
Mary    Brown,   Jan.   5,    1720-21,   had   children, — Thomas,  Christopher, 
Mary,  Joseph,  Elizabeth,  Bridget,  Sarah,  Hannah,  1722-38. 
Fuller.     This  name  is  numerous.     The  first  are  not  all  known.     One 


1  Sometimes  spelt  Meclothlin,  and  in  one  place  (B.  N.  P.  Bee,  p.  336) 
Mack  Cleaulan,  a  proof  of  the  variation  which  names  undergo  in  the 
course  of  a  few  generations.  Tradition  says  the  family  originated  in 
Scotland. 

2  By  a  recent  research  I  am  able  to  trace  this  family  still  further  back, 
and  give  the  result  for  the  information  of  numerous  descendants  here 
and  elsewhere. 


was  John,  whose  children  were  Ithaman,  Abigail,  John,  Joduthan, 
Abial,  Joanna,  1802-19.  His  second  wife  was  Mary  Follet,  had  one 
daughter  Sarah,  born  1721. 

Jonathan  Fuller  was  an  early  settler  of  Behoboth.  Bobert  and  Wil- 
liam Fuller  admitted  freemen  Massachusetts  June  2,  1641. 

Guild,  Ebenezer,  came  from  Dedham,  married  Abigail  Daggett,  daugh- 
ter of  Deacon  John  Daggett  (1st),  12th  October,  1714,  had  several  chil- 
dren,— Joseph,  Naphtali,  Ebenezer,  1716-22.  John  and  Benjamin  also 
came  with  him. 

Hall,  Edward  and  John,  came  from  England,  soon  to  Taunton,  thence 
to  Behoboth.  Ephraim,  sou  of  John,  came  to  Attleborough.  John  was 
admitted  freeman  of  Massachusetts  14th  May,  1634;  Edward,  2d  May, 
1638.  John  married  Mary  Newell,  of  Boxbury,  18th  November,  1684. 
Edward  died  27th  November,  1670. 

Christopher  Hall  also  came  to  Attleborough,  had  two  sons.  Caleb  and 
Joshua. 

Ide,  Nicholas,  Lieut.,  son  of  Nicholas  (1st),  of  Behoboth,  who  was 
there  as  early  as  April  9,  1645,  was  born  November,  1654,  married  Mary 
Ormsby  Dec.  27,  1628,  had  seven  children, — Nathaniel,  Jacob,  Martha, 
Patience,  John,  Benjamin,  1678-93  (all  born  in  Eehoboth),  Nicholas  (by 
his  second  wife,  Eliza,  horn  in  Attleborough,  July  25,  1697).  Nicholas, 
Sr.,  died  5th  .June,  1723.     Nathaniel  died  14th  March,  1702-3. 

Jacob  (second  son)  married  Sarah  Perry.  His  children  were  Sarah, 
(born  Dec.  13,  1712),  Jacob  (Sept.  26,  1723). 

John  (third  son)  married  Mehetable  Bobinson,  May  14, 1719,  had  four 
children, — Sarah,  John,  Benjamin,  Amos,  1720-29. 

Ingraham,  Joseph,  Benjamin,  Jeremiah,  Elijah,  descendants  of  Benja- 
min and  of  Jarrett,  whose  name  is  on  the  list  of  purchasers,  came  from 
Behoboth.    Joseph  married  Mary  Shenardson. 

Elijah  married  Sarah  Ide,  had  eight  children, — Elijah,  Jabez,  Sarah 
and  William  (twins),  Betty,  Bemember,  Comfort,  Jeremiah,  1734-46. 

Maxcy,  Alexander,3 came  from  Gloucester,  Mass.,  with  his  family  about 
1721,  settled  on  John  Woodcock's  farm  and  continued  the  public-house. 
His  wife's  name  was  Abigail.  He  died  Sept.  20, 1723.  His  children  were 
Alexander  (who  died  April  2,  1724),  Joseph,  Josiah,  Abigail  (who  mar- 
ried Jacob  Hascall,  of  Gloucester),  Mary  (who  married  William  Ware, 
May  4, 1726),  Esther  (who  married  Nehemiah  Ward,  Dec.  3,  172S),  and 
Benjamin. 

Josiah  married  Mary  Everett,  daughter  of  Joshua  Everett,  had  eleven 
children.  His  second  sou,  Levi  (whose  wife  was  Ruth,  daughter  of  Ja- 
cob Newell),  was  the  father  of  Jonathan,  Milton,  and  Virgil,  graduates 
of  Brown  University,  eminent  in  literary  and  professional  life.  Levi, 
another  son,  who  possessed  superior  talents,  though  not  liberally  educa- 
I    ted,  died  at  the  South. 

Martin,  John,  Bobert,  and  Timothy,  came  from  Behoboth.  Timothy 
married  Mary,  daughter  of  John  Fuller,  then  of  Eehoboth,  afterwards 
of  Attleborough,  had  three  children, — Timothy,  Sarah,  Abel. 

Three  of  tliis  name  were  admitted  freemen  Massachusetts, — Thomas 
Martin,  22d  May,  1639  ;  John  and  Bobert,  13th  May,  1640.  John  settled 
in  Behoboth. 

Moore,  Alexander,  married  Alice  Chaffee,  had  eight  children,— Sam- 
uel, Comfort,  Jane,  Betsey,  Esther,  Alice,  Rate,  Hannah. 

Newell,  Jacob,  came  here  from  Boxbury  or  Dorchester  about  1715, 
bringiug  with  him  his  family  of  several  sons, — Jacob,  Joseph,  Ephraim, 
etc.  Jason,  born  here  Dec.  12,  1717.  His  wife's  name  was  Joyce.  He 
settled  near  the  first  meeting-house  and  bought  a  part  of  Willet's  farm, 
and,  according  to  tradition,  distributed  it  among  his  seven  sons,  which 
still  remains  in  seven  divisions. 

Peck,  Hezekiah  (sou  of  Nicholas  Peck,  of  Behoboth),  came  to  Attle- 
borough about  1700,  with  his  family ;  married  Deborah  Cooper,  of  the 
former  place,  had  6even  children,— Deborah,  Judith,  Hannah,  Heze- 
kiah, Rachel,  born  in  Rehoboth  ;  Petronella,  Perthenah,  1687-1711. 

Several  other  Pecks  came  here  from  Rehoboth,  viz  ,  John  and  Elisha, 
brothers  of  Hezekiah  ;  Daniel  and  Ichabod,  sons  of  Jathniel,  who  was 
the  son  of  Joseph  (1st).4 

3  It  is  said  that  a  brother  came  with  him  to  this  country  and  settled  in 
one  of  the  Southern  Slates. 

4  He  came  to  Rehoboth  from  Hingham,  Mass.,  and  probably  to  that 
place  from  Hingham,  England. 

Mr.  Joseph  Peck  and  Mr.  Robert  Peck  were  admitted  freemen  Massa- 
chusetts March  13,  1638-39.  Robert  was  ordained  teacher  at  Hing- 
ham Nov.  8,  1638,  and  Oct.  27,  1641,  returned  to  England  with  his 
family.  Joseph's  name  appears  on  the  Rehoboth  records  April  9,  1645. 
On  his  way  from  Hingham  the  following  accident  befell  him: 

1645,1.25.     "Another  strange  accident  happened  by  fire  about  this 


ATTLE BOROUGH. 


545 


Read,  Daniel,  came  from  Behoboth  about  171G,  with  five  children, — 
Beriali,  Ichabod,  Hannah,  Abigail,  Esther,  Daniel  (died  infant),  1707- 
13.  His  first  wife  was  Elizabeth  Bosworth ;  his  second  was  Elizabeth 
Ide,  by  whom  he  had  eight  children, — Daniel,  Noah,  Elizabeth,  Samuel, 
Abigail,  Rachel,  Benjamin,  Thankful,  1716-34. ' 

At  least  two  other  Reads  came  here  from  Rehoboth,  Moses  and  Ezra. 
Those  of  this  name  have  been  very  numerous  in  this  town. 

Richards,  Edward  and  Nathan,  came  from  Dedham.  From  them  are 
descended  those  of  that  name  in  this  town.  The  first  in  Dedham  was 
Edward,  who  was  admitted  freeman  1(341. —  U'orlhiiititoH's  Hist.  Ded. 

Richardson,  Stephen,  John,  William,  brothers,  came  to  Attleborough. 
Stephen  married  Mary  Brown.  His  children  were  Stephen,  Seth  (died), 
Mary,  Abigail,  Sarah,  S>-th,  Phebe,  1714-25. 

Several  others  also  came  to  this  town, — Timothy,  Francis,  etc.  Ezeki'el 
Richardson,  Freeman  Massachusetts  May  18,  1631  :  Samuel,  May  2,  1638. 

Robinson.  Six  of  this  name  came  to  Attleborough  from  Rehoboth, 
viz.,  Nathaniel,  Noah,  John,  Timothy,  Samuel,  Ebenezer.2 

Nathaniel  married  /alpha  (third  daughter  of  Deacon  John  Daggett, 
1st),  July  18,  1721  ;  had  nine  children, — Nathan,  Nathaniel,  George, 
Zilpha,  Elizabeth,  Elihu,  Amos,  Abigail,  Margaret,  1722-39. 

Noah  married  Patience  (fourth  daughter  of  John  Daggett,  1st),  Oct. 
4,1722;  had  seven  children, — Zephaniah,  Mary,  Elijah,  William,  Hill- 
dab,  Enoch,  Comfort,  1723-40. 

John  married  Thankful  Newell  and  had  several  descendants.  Timothy 
married  Elizabeth  Grant.  Samuel  married  Mary  Cooper,  first  wife; 
Mary  Ide,  second  wife. 

Ebenezer  married  Elizabeth  Read,  and  had  eight  children, — Meheta- 
ble,  Sarah,  Ebenezer,  Samuel,  Elizabeth,  Ezekiel,  Dan,  Martha,  1721- 
38. 

Stanley,  Thomas,  Nathaniel,  Joseph,  Samuel,  Jacob,  John  came  from 
Topsfield,  Mass.,  and  settled  near  the  Falls.  The  last  three  were 
brothers.  Thomas  and  Samuel  were  here  iu  1707  ;  Jacob  came  about 
1717.  Thomas  married  Mary  Gould;  had  twelve  children, — Thomas, 
Mary,  Phebe,  Nathaniel,  Samuel,  Daniel,  David  (died  infant),  Martha, 
William,  Abigail,  Priscilla,  David. 

Jacob  married  Elizabeth  Guild.  His  children  were  Jacob,  Benjamin, 
Elizabeth  (died  infant),  Deborah,  Jonathan,  Elizabeth,  Solomon,  Abi- 
gail. 

Nathaniel  married  Sarah  Blackinton.  His  children  were  Servian, 
Sarah,  Hepzibeth,  Abner,  Amy,  Sibula,  Israel,  Penticost,  Anne,  Na- 
thaniel, 1721-44. 

Starkey,  Andrew,  came  here  about  1708.  His  first  wife  was  Mehitable 
Waite,  by  whom  he  had  two  children, — Mehitable,  born  May,  1709; 
John,  born  July,  1712.  His  second  wife  was  Catharine,  daughter  of 
Alexauder  Bolkcom,  by  whom  he  had  three  children, — Jemima,  Andrew, 
Thomas,  1722-33.     Andrew,  Sr.,  died  Aug.  16,  1740. 

Sucet,  Henry,  was  here  about  1690,  had  five  children, — John,  Philip 
(died  infant),  Thomas,  Michael  (died  infant),  Dorothy.  He  was  one  of 
the  earliest,  if  not  the  first,  of  that  name.  Died  Dec.  8,  1704.  Probably 
a  descendant  of  John,  admitted  freeman  1641. 

Sweetland,  John,  came  from  Marblehead  with  several  others  of  that 
name.  Three  of  his  children  were  Benjamin,  Deborah,  Samuel,  1703- 
11.     He  died  June  9,  1711. 


time.  One  Mr.  Peck  and  three  others  of  Hingham,  being  about  with 
others  to  remove  to  Seaconk  (which  was  concluded  by  the  commis- 
sioners of  the  united  colonies  to  belong  to  Plymouth),  riding  thither, 
they  sheltered  themselves  and  their  horses  in  an  Indian  wigwam, 
which  by  some  occasion  took  fire,  and  (although  they  were  all  four  in 
it,  and  labored  to  their  utmost,  etc.)  burnt  three  of  their  horses  to  death, 
and  all  their  goods  to  the  value  of  50  pounds." 

One  John  Peck  was  in  Rehoboth  as  early  as  March  29,  1645. —  Win. 
Jour.,  ii.  216. 

Nicholas,  John,  Joseph,  Jr.,  are  supposed  to  be  sons  of  Mr.  Joseph, 
who  came  with  him  to  Rehoboth  ;  if  this  supposition  be  true,  then  all 
of  the  name  are  descended  from  him. 

1  Thomas  Read,  admitted  freeman  Massachusetts  April  1,1634;  John, 
May  13,  1640  ;  William,  Dec.  14,  1638;  Esdras,  June  2,  1641.  John  and 
Thomas  (perhaps  sons  of  John)  settled  in  Rehoboth,  and  were  the  an- 
cestors of  the  numerous  progeny  of  Reads  in  that  town  and  Attle- 
borough. 

2  They  were  descendants  of  George  Robinson  (1st),  of  Rehoboth, 
whose  name  is  on  our  list  of  purchasers.  He  married  Joanna  Ingra- 
ham. 

William  Robinson,  freeman,  Massachusetts,  at  Salem,  Dec.  27, 1642- 
John,  June  2, 1641. 

35 


Tyler,  Ebenezer,  had  nine  children,— Ebenezer,  Elizabeth,  Phebe, 
Catharine,  Hannah  (died),  John,  Hannah,  William,  1714-31.3 

Samuel  married  Mary  Capron,  had  eleven  children, — Mary  (died), 
Samuel  (died),  Moses,  Samuel,  Mary,  Nathan,  Huldah,  Habijah  and 
Elizabeth  (twins),  Ebenezer,  Benjamin  (died). 

Wilkinson,  John,  came  here  about  1700,  married  Rachel  Fales.  His 
children  were  eight, — John,  Joseph,  Rachel,  Mary,  Hepzibeth,  Abigail, 
Sarah,  Hannah,  1702-23.  He  purchased  Capt.  Willett's  share  in  the  un- 
divided lands,  probably  of  his  son  Andrew.     Died  Jan.  24,  1724-25. 

John  Wilkinson,  Maiden,  died  December,  1675 — Far.  Reg. 

Wilmarth,  Thomas,4  came  to  Attleborough  about  1708,  married  De- 
borah Peck,  had  seven  children, — Mary,  Thomas,  Deborah,  Elizabeth, 
Anne,  Ebenezer,  Eliphalet,  1709-28. 

Several  other  Wilmarths  came  from  that  town, — Samuel  (son  of 
Thomas  (2d)  of  Rehoboth),  Jonathan,  Nathan,  Stephen  (sons  of  Jonathan, 
of  that  place),  Daniel,  etc. 

The  Deanes  came  from  Taunton ;  Ellises,  Drapers,  etc.,  from  Dedham, 
subsequent  to  1730. 

It  is  not  expected  that  the  foregoing  list  includes  all  who  came  pre- 
vious to  that  period.  The  names  of  the  original  ancestors  of  some 
could  not  be  ascertained. 

One  name  was  omitted  in  its  proper  place.  Bourne,  Andrew,  came 
(it  is  supposed  from  Great  Britain)  to  Attleborough  about  1720,  and  set- 
tled in  the  east  part  of  the  town.  All  of  that  name  in  this  vicinity  are 
descended  from  him. 

List  of  Representatives  from  this  town  from  its 
incorporation  in  1694  to  1883.  Elections  were  in 
May  unless  otherwise  designated. 

1709-11.  David  Freeman.5 


1712.  Capt.  Joseph  Brown.6 

1713.  Mr.  David  Freeman. 
Lieut.  Nicholas  Ide.' 

1714.  Lieut.  Nicholas  Ide. 
1715-18.  David  Freeman. 

1719.  Jeremiah  Whipple. 

1720.  Deacon  John  Daggett. 
David  Freeman." 

1721.  David  Freeman. 

1722.  No  one  would  accept. 

1723.  Capt.  John  Foster. 

1724.  Mr.  Nathaniel  Carpenter. 
1    1725.  Capt.  John  Foster. 

,    1726-28.  Capt.  Joseph  Brown. 
,   1729.  Mr.  Nathaniel  Carpenter. 

1730-32.  Capt.  John  Foster. 
j    1733.  Nathaniel  Carpenter. 

1734.  Sent  an  excuse. 
!    1735.  Nathaniel  Carpenter. 
i   1736.  Capt.  Mayhew  Daggett. 
!    1737.  John  Robinson. 

Capt.  Mayhew  Daggett. 
John  Foster,  Esq. 
Timothy  Tingley. 
Samuel  Tyler. 
Ahasel  Read. 
1738.  John  Foster,  Esq. 
1739-40.  John  Robbins. 
1741-42.  Capt.  Mayhew  Daggett. 


1743.  Maj.  John  Foster. 

1744.  Capt.  Mayhew  Daggett. 

1745.  Capt.  Samuel  Tyler. 

1746.  Perez  Bradford,  Esq.9 
1747-49.  Capt.  Samuel  Tyler. 
1750-53.  Benjamin  Day. 
1754-55.  Name  not  on  record. 
1756-58.  Lieut.  Josiah  Maxcy. 

1759.  Deacon  Benjamin  Day. 

1760.  Japhesh  Bicknell. 
1761-63.  Stephen  Fuller. 
17H4-67.  Deacon  Ebenezer  Lane. 
1768-75.  John  Daggett. 
1776-77.  Capt.  John  Stearns. 

William  Stanley. 
1778-79    Capt.  Elisha  May. 

1780.  Capt.  Elisha  May. 
John  Daggett. 

1781.  Elisha  May. 
17S2.  Name  not  found. 

1783.  Col.  Stephen  Richardson. 

1784.  Elisha  May,  Esq. 

1785.  Col.  Stephen  Richardson. 

1756.  Capt.  Ebenezer  Tyler. 

1757.  William  Stanley. 

1788.  Elisha  May,  Esq. 

1789.  Capt.  C.  Richardson. 

1790.  Maj.  Ebenezer  Tyler. 

1791.  Elisha  May,  Esq. 

1792.  Maj.  Ebenezer  Tyler. 


3  Tyler,  Abraham,  Haverhill  1650,  died  May  6,  1673.  Job,  Andover, 
1653,  had  a  son  Moses,  who  died  1727,  aged  eighty-five,  having  had  ten 
sons.   Nathaniel,  Lynn,  1642. — Far.  Reg. 

4  Grandson  of  Thomas  Wilmarth,  Sr.,  who  came  into  Rehoboth  as 
early  as  March  28,  1645,  with  his  wife  and  children.  This  name  was 
anciently  spelled  Wilmot. 

5  The  reader  will  perceive  that  no  representative  was  chosen  during 
the  first  fourteen  years  after  the  incorporation.  The  reason  is  given  in 
the  extracts  from  the  town  records. 

6  Sou  of  Mr.  John  Brown,  of  Rehoboth  (well  known  in  the  history  of 
the  Old  Colony),  came  here  (1709)  from  Kingston,  R.  I.,  to  which  he  had 
removed  about  1702.  In  this  list  the  titles  generally  given,  according  to 
the  custom  of  the  times,  are  retained  as  they  appear  on  record. 

7  November,  1713. 

8  June,  1720. 

!l  July  22, 1746,  Capt.  Mayhew  Daggett  was  chosen. 


546 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


179:5-98.  Elisha  May,  Esq. 

1799.  Cul.  Ebenezer  Tyler. 
1800-1.  Elisha  May,  Esq. 
1802-1.  Maj.  Ebenezer  Tyler. 
1805.  Ebenezer  Bacon. 

1800.  Joel  Read,  Esq. 
1807.  Ebenezer  Bacon. 
1808-10.  Joel  Bead. 

1811.  Joel  Read. 

John   liichardson. 
Benjamin  Bolkcom. 

1812.  John   Richardson. 
Joel  Read. 
Benjamin  Bolkcom. 

1813.  Joel  Read. 
Benjamin  Bolkcom. 
John  Richardson. 

1814.  Capt.  Thomas  French. 
Jabez  Newell. 

1815.  A.  Richardson,  Jr. 

1816.  Ebenezer  Daggett,  Esq. 
1817-19.  Sent  no  one. 
1820-21.  A.  Richardson,  Jr. 
1822-23.  Ebenezer  Daggett,  Esq. 
1824.  Sent  no  one. 

1825-26.  William  Blackinton. 

1827.  George  Ellis. 
Elkanah  Briggs. 
A.  Ricbardsou,  Jr. 

1828.  George  Ellis. 
Elkanah  Briggs,  Esq. 

1829-30.  Elkanah  Briggs,  Esq. 
1831-34.  Abijah  M.  Ide. 

1835.  David  E.  Holnian. 

1836.  John  Daggett. 
David  E.  llolman. 
Lemuel  May. 

1837.  John  Daggett. 
Lemuel  Slay. 

1838.  John  Daggett. 

1839.  Carlos  Barrows. 
Jonathan  Bliss. 
John  Daggett. 

1840.  Carlos  Barrows. 
Jonathan  Blis-i. 

1841.  Willard  Blackinton. 
Artemas  Stanley. 

1S42.  Artemas  Stanley. 

William  Blackinton. 
1843.  Daniel  Wilmarth. 


1843.  Calvin  Richards. 
1844-45.  Lemuel  May. 

Forrest  Foster. 
1846^7.  George  Bacon. 

Harvey  Clafin. 

1848.  None. 

1849.  George  D.  Hatch. 
Samuel  Carpenter. 

1850.  Samuel  Carpenter. 
George  1).  Hatch. 

1851-53.  Lyinan  W.  Daggett. 

1854.  None. 

1855.  Charles  Cravens. 

1856.  Elkanah  Briggs. 

1857.  Henry  M.  Richards. 

1858.  Horatio  N.  Richardson. 

1859.  . . 

1800.  George  D.  Hatch. 

Elisha  Wilmarth. 
1861.  Gardner  C.  Hodges. 
18G2.  William  D.  Earl. 

E/.ekiel  Bates. 

1863.  Horatio  N.  Richardson. 
John  Thompson. 

1864.  Handel  N.  Daggett. 
Mina  B.  Daggett. 

1865.  Henry  K.  W.  Allen. 
Ira  N   Conaut. 

1866.  John  Daggett. 
Edmund  Ira  Richards. 

1867.  Joseph  A.  Perry. 

1868.  Willard  Blackinton. 

1869.  Joseph  D   Pierce. 

1870.  Gardner  C.  Wright. 

1871.  John  T.  Bates. 

1872.  ObedC.  Turner. 
187:;.  Edward  Sanford. 

1874.  Samuel  S.  Ginnodo. 

1875.  Felix  G.  Whitney. 

1876.  Henry  'J.  Read. 

1877.  George  Asa  Dean. 

1878.  George  Pi  ice. 
Abijah  T.  Wales. 

1879.  John  Stanley 

1880.  Edwin  J.  llorton. 

1881.  George  N.  Crandall. 
Bui  rill  P.. iter,  Jr. 

1882.  John  Whitehill. 

1883.  John  Whitehill. 


Biographical  Sketches.— Rev.  Naphtali  Daggett, 
D.D.,  president  of  Yale  College,  was  the  son  of  Eben- 
ezer Daggett  and  Mary,  his  wife,  and  was  born  in  At- 
tleborough  (at  the  residence  of  the  late  Ebenezer 
Daggett,  Esq.),  Sept.  8,  1727.  He  was  the  second  son 
among  eight  children.  His  father  dying  while  he 
was  yet  young,  he  was  left  under  the  direction  of  a 
mother,  who  was,  however,  in  every  respect  peculi- 
arly qualified  to  discharge  the  duties  which  devolved 
.upon  her.  He  soon  after  commenced  studies  prepara- 
tory to  college.  Rev.  Solomon  Reed  became  acquainted 
with  him  while  he  was  a  youth,  and  forming  a  high 
opinion  of  his  talents  took  him  under  his  patronage, 
and  advised  and  assisted  him  in  preparing  for  college. 
He  entered  Yale  College  in  1744,  and  graduated  in 
1748,  at  the  age  of  twenty-one.  He  was  distinguished 
during  his  college  life  for  industry  and  close  applica- 
tion. 

He  was  settled  as  minister  at  Smithtown,  and  was 
ordained  over  the  church  there  Sept.  18, 1751.  During 


his  settlement  on  Long  Island  he  married  Miss  Sarah 
Smith,  daughter  of  the  third  Richard  Smith,  Dec. 
19,  1753,  by  Rev.  Ebenezer  Prime.  She  was  born 
Sept.  16  (O.  S.),  1728,  and  died  at  New  Haven,  March 
25,  1772,  aged  forty-three  years  and  six  months.  He 
says  in  his  memorandum,  which  the  author  has,  that 
he  was  dismissed  from  his  pastoral  charge  at  Smith- 
town,  Nov.  6,  1755,  for  the  purpose  of  removing  to 
Yale  College.  In  September,  1755,  he  was  elected 
the  first  Professor  of  Divinity  in  Yale  College,  which 
was  denominated  the  Livingston  Professorship  of 
Divinity  ;  this  appointment  he  accepted,  and  removed 
to  New  Haven,  and  was  inducted  into  office  on  the 
4th  of  March  following,  1756.1  This  office  he  held 
during  the  remainder  of  his  life.  After  the  resigna- 
tion of  Mr.  Clap,  Sept.  10,  1756,  he  officiated  as  presi- 
dent till  April  1,  1777,  about  eleven  years,  when  he 
resigned  the  office,  but  still  continued  to  hold  that  of 
Professor  of  Divinity.  The  learned  Dr.  Stiles  was  his 
successor  in  the  presidency.  Rev.  Payson  Williston 
says  of  him,  "  President  Daggett  was  one  of  my 
father's  intimate  friends.  His  social  qualities  were 
such  as  to  render  him  more  than  ordinarily  attractive. 
The  college  was  eminently  prosperous  under  his 
presidency." 

Dr.  Stiles  delivered  a  sermon  on  his  death.  It  is  a 
remarkable  circumstance  that  Dr.  Daggett  and  Dr. 
Stiles  each  delivered  a  funeral  sermon  on  his  imme- 
diate predecessor. 

During  the  barbarous  attack  on  New  Haven  by  the 
British  army,  in  July,  1779,  he  took  an  active  part  in 
the  defense  of  the  country,  and  was  distinguished  for 
his  resolution  and  intrepidity.2    He  was  taken  prisoner, 


1  The  foundation  of  this  professorship  was  laid  in  1746  by  a  donation 
from  the  Hon.  Philip  Livingston,  of  New  York,  and  having  received  a 
cons  derable  addition  by  another  donation  from  Mr.  Gershom  Clark,  of 
Lebanon,  with  some  appropriations  by  the  cnllege,  it  afforded  a  sufficient 
salary  for  the  support  of  such  an  office,  which  was  accordingly  established 
in  1755.  A  house  for  the  use  of  the  incumbent  was  erected  by  subscrip- 
tion, and  finished  in  1758. 

2  He  had  made  himself  obnoxious  by  bis  open  and  active  opposition  to 
the  British  cause.  He  had  often  inculcated  upon  the  students  under  his 
charge — in  the  pulpit  and  in  the  lecture-room — the  duty  of  resistance  to 
British  oppression.  He  had  therefore  incurred  the  special  displeasure  of 
the  invaders.  He  had  openly  preached  and  prayed  against  the  success 
of  their  cause.  He  knew  no  difference  between  preaching  and  prac- 
ticing, and  when  the  crisis  came  he  carried  his  own  principles  into 
action.  He  shouldered  his  musket  and  went  into  the  field  with  the  rest 
to  repel  the  invaders.  He  was  taken  prisoner  by  the  enemy.  They  beat 
and  bruised  him,  and  offered  him  every  indignity  in  their  power.  His 
clerical  character  in  their  eyes  was  no  exemption  from  the  most  outrage- 
ous abuses.  They  demanded  of  him  what  he  was  doing,  and  who  he 
was;  he  unhesitatingly  replied,  "Exercising  the  rights  of  war.  lam 
Naphtali  Daggett,  of  Yale  College.  I  demand  of  you  to  release  me." 
But  they  refused,  and  detained  him  as  a  prisoner,  ami  marched  him  back 
to  New  Haven,  nearly  dead  with  the  wounds  and  abuse  be  bad  received, 
and  from  which  he  never  fully  recovered. 

He  was  at  first  left  for  dead.  He  was  saved  by  the  intrepidity  of  the 
lady  into  whose  house  he  had  l>een  conveyed.  After  the  British  had  re- 
tired, an  officer  and  a  file  of  soldiers  were  sent  back  to  convey  him  a 
prisoner  on  board  their  transports.  They  came  to  the  house  and  in- 
quired for  him,  and  were  answered  by  the  lady  (who  appeared  at  the 
door,  and  resolutely  refused  to  admit  them)  that  he  was  so  badly  wounded 
it  would  be  impossible  to  convey  him  on  board  alive  "  My  orders," 
said  the  officer,  "are  positive  to  take  him  with  me."    "  But  you  would 


ATTLE  BOROUGH. 


547 


and  came  near  losing  his  life.  Dr.  Daggett  died  (in 
consequence  of  the  wounds  he  had  received  on  that 
occasion)  Nov.  25,  1780,  at  the  age  of  fifty-three.  He 
presided  over  the  university  about  eleven  years,  and 
held  the  office  of  Professor  of  Divinity  twenty-five 
years.  Possessed  of  a  strong,  clear,  and  comprehen- 
sive mind,  he  applied  himself  with  assiduity  and  suc- 
cess to  the  various  branches  of  knowledge,  particu- 
larly to  the  learned  languages  and  divinity.  Dr. 
Holmes,  in  his  life  of  President  Stiles,  says,  "  He  was 
a  good  classical  scholar,  well  versed  in  moral  philos- 
ophy, and  a  learned  divine."  He  received  the  hon- 
orary degree  of  Doctor  in  Divinity  from  Yale  College, 
and  in  1771  the  degree  of  S.T.D.  from  Harvard  Col- 
lege. He  published  a  sermon  on  the  death  of  Presi- 
dent Clap,  1767  ;  another  delivered  at  the  ordination  of 
Rev.  Ebenezer  Baldwin,  1770  ;  a  third  delivered  at  the 
ordination  of  Rev.  J.  Howe,  1773;  a  funeral  sermon 
on  the  death  of  Job  Lane,  a  tutor  in  the  college,  1768. 

Col.  John  Daggett,  an  elder  brother  of  the  preced- 
ing, born  Sept.  2,  1724  or  1725,  was  one  of  the  prin- 
cipal public  characters  and  leading  men  of  the  town, 
especially  during  the  trying  period  of  the  Revolution. 
He  and  Col.  May  were  the  two  on  whom  the  town 
placed  the  utmost  reliance.  He  was  possessed  of  a 
strong  and  sound  mind,  and  was  marked  by  a  reso- 
lute and  decided  character.  He  was  a  Puritan  in  the 
plainness  and  simplicity  of  his  manners,  and  was  a 
firm  friend  to  the  civil  institutions  and  republican 
customs  of  New  England.  His  wife  was  Mercy  Shep- 
ard,  daughter  of  the  centenarian,  John  Shepard, 
then  of  Wrentham,  afterwards  of  Foxborough. 

He  was  commissioned  one  of  his  Majesty's  justices 
of  the  peace  under  the  provincial  government  before 
the  Revolution.  He  took  an  early  and  decided  stand 
(with  many  other  patriotic  citizens  of  this  town)  in 
the  commencement  of  those  proceedings  which  pro- 
duced the  Revolution.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Provincial  Congress  which  assembled  at  Cambridge. 
For  a  long  succession  of  years  he  was  elected  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Legislature,  and  was  also  a  member  of  the 
convention  which  formed  the  constitution.  He  was 
generally  called  to  serve  on  the  most  important  com- 
mittees which  were  raised  in  town-meeting  to  con- 
sider the  many  difficult  subjects  which  were  then 
brought  before  the  people  during  and  subsequent  to 
the  Revolution.  Col.  Daggett  commanded  the  regi- 
ment from  the  county  of  Bristol,  both  in  Spencer's 
and  Sullivan's  expeditions  on  Rhode  Island,  in  1777 
and  1779. 

At  home  he  was  extensively  employed  as  a  sur- 
vivor, ami  was  engaged  in  various  other  kinds  of 
public  business,  such  as  the  ordinary  transactions  of 
life  require  between  citizens.  He  died  universally 
respected  Jan.  20,  1803,  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine. 

not  surely  carry  away  a  dying  man  :  lie  is  now  in  the  agonies  of  death." 
After  repeated  demands  and  refusals,  the  officer  finally  determined  to 
return  ami  report  the  case  to  his  superior  and  ask  for  further  orders. 
But  he  never  came  hack  after  his  prisoner. 


A  third  brother,  Dr.  Ebenezer  Daggett,  was  a  re- 
spectable physician,  who  settled  in  Wrentham  village, 
where  he  acquired  an  extensive  practice.  He  married 
Miss  Susanna  Metcalf,  daughter  of  Timothy  Metcalf, 
Esq.,  of  Wrentham,  May  25,  1758,  by  whom  he  had 
several  children. 

His  son,  Rev.  Herman  Daggett,  graduated  at 
Brown  University  in  1788,  and  pursued  his  profes- 
sional studies  with  Dr.  Emmons,  of  Franklin.  He 
was  settled  in  the  ministry  on  Long  Island.  While 
there  he  was  pastor  first  at  Southampton.  He  was 
there  settled  in  1791,  and  in  the  course  of  a  few  years 
he  removed  to  the  parish  of  Middletown,  in  the  town 
of  Brookhaven,  supplying  a  part  of  the  time  the 
church  at  Fireplace.  This  was  in  1801.  He  married 
Miss  Sarah  Mathewson,  of  Providence,  who  died 
Nov.  20,  1843.  During  the  eighteen  years  he  resided 
on  Long  Island  he  made  four  changes.  One  in  giv- 
ing his  character  says  of  him,  "Mr.  Daggett  was  a 
man  of  sterling  talents,  respectable  acquirements,  and 
peculiar  excellence  of  character.  To  all  his  other 
acquirements  as  a  scholar  he  added  singular  neat- 
ness of  person  and  an  exact,  systematic  arrangement 
of  all  his  various  duties.  He  was  remarkably  digni- 
fied in  his  manners  and  circumspect  in  his  deport- 
ment. All  his  traits  of  character  are  comprehended  in 
Dr.  Beecher's  remark  '  that  he  was  just  a  fit  man  to 
preach  to  ministers.' "  He  died  May  19,  1832.  He 
was  the  first  principal  and  teacher  of  the  Indian  mis- 
sion school  at  Cornwall,  and  afterwards  removed  to 
Ridgefield,  Conn.,  and  finally  to  Cornwall,  where  he 
died. 

Dr.  Bezaleel  Mann,  a  well-known  and  worthy 
physician  of  this  town,  deserves  a  notice  in  these 
sketches.  He  was  a  descendant  of  Rev.  Samuel 
Mann,  the  first  minister  of  Wrentham.  He  studied 
his  profession  with  Dr.  Hewes,  of  Foxborough,  and 
commenced  business  in  this  town  some  time  previous 
to  1750.  Dr.  Mann  had  the  reputation  of  being  a 
skillful  physician,  and  had  acquired  an  extensive 
circle  of  practice.  His  character  is  justly  portrayed 
in  his  epitaph, — 

"  Bezaleel  Mann  mort  die  Octo.  tert.  1796,  an  setat.  74.  Early  im- 
hued  with  the  principles  of  moral  rectitude,  he  sustained  through  the 
diversified  concerns  of  a  long  and  active  life  the  character  of  an  honest 
man.  As  a  physician,  In-  commanded,  during  the  period  of  near  50 
years  that  unlimited  confidence  and  respect  which  talents  alone  can 
inspire.  The  features  of  his  mind  were  sketched  by  the  glowing  pencil 
of  nature,  filled  up  with  qualities  that  adorn  humanity,  and  shaded 
with  lew  infirmities  the  frequent  attendants  ou  mental  excellence. 

"  Bebe  Mann,1  his  wife,  mort.  die  Octo.  tert.  1793,  a-tat.  61.  She  was 
a  person  of  bright  genius,  of  few  winds,  and  much  reserved  in  mind. 
From  early  youth  she  marked  all  her  paths  with  virtue,  and  timely 
took  the  advice  Christ  gave  to  his  disciples,  and  made  to  herself  a  friend 
of  the  mammon  of  an  righteousness,  and  when  she  failed  could  with 
Christian  confidence  say  that  her  witness  was  in  heaven  and  her  reward 
on  high. 

"This  stone  is  erected  by  the  grateful  hand  of  filial  piety  to  protect 
the  awful  dust  of  revered  parents." 

These  inscriptions  may  be  found  in  Alden's  valuable 
collection  of  epitaphs. 

1  She  was  a  daughter  of  Mr.  Ezekiel  Carpenter,  of  this  town. 


548 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Dr.  Mann  had  several  sons  who  entered  the  pro- 
fessions. His  son  Preston,  who  was  a  physician,  was 
graduated  at  Brown  University,  and  settled  in  New- 
port, R.  I.,  where  he  was  living  in  1834.  Another 
son,  John  Milton,  was  also  a  graduate  at  Brown 
University,  became  a  physician,  and  removed  to  the 
State  of  New  York,  where  he  was  drowned  in  at- 
tempting to  cross  the  river  Hudson.  His  daughter 
Eunice  married  one  of  his  students,  Dr.  Seth  Capron, 
of  this  town,  who,  with  another  son,  Newton,  re- 
moved to  the  State  of  New  York,  where  they  were 
living,  1833.  His  second  son,  Herbert,  was  educated 
a  physician,  and  entered  as  surgeon  on  board  the 
privateer  "  General  Arnold,"  Capt.  Magee,  and  was 
lost  in  that  terrible  storm  which  ensued  in  Plymouth 
Harbor,  Dec.  26,  1778.  The  stone  which  is  here 
erected  to  his  memory  contains  the  following  epi- 
taph : 

"In  memory  of  doctor  Herbert  Mann,  who,  with  119  sailors,  with 
Capt.  James  Magee,  master,  went  on  board  the  brig  General  Arnold,  in 
Boston  Harbor,  25th  Dec,  1778,  hoisted  sail,  made  for  sea,  and  were  im- 
mediately overtaken  by  the  most  tremendous  snow  storm  with  cold, 
that  was  ever  known  in  the  memory  of  man,  and,  unhappily,  parted  their 
cable  in  Plymouth  harbor,  in  a  place  called  the  Cow-yards, and  he,  with 
about  100  others,  was  frozen  to  death  ;  sixty-six  of  whom  were  buried 
in  one  grave.  He  was  in  the  21st  year  of  his  age.  And  now  Lord  God 
Almighty,  just  and  true  are  all  thy  ways,  but  who  can  stand  before  thy 
cold?" 

In  Dr.  Thacher's  "  History  of  Plymouth"  is  found 
a  graphic  description  of  this  most  terrific  storm  and 
awful  wreck  known  in  history,  which  seems  unparal- 
leled in  human  suffering: 

"  In  1778,  December  26th,  27th,  the  inhabitants  of 
this  town  were  called  to  witness  a  catastrophe  truly 
appalling  to  humanity.  The  brig  '  General  Arnold,' 
mounting  twenty  guns,  having  a  crew  of  one  hundred 
and  five  men  and  boys,  commanded  by  Capt.  James 
Magee,  of  Boston,  sailed  from  that  port  on  Thursday, 
24th  of  December,  bound  on  a  cruise.  On  Friday 
anchored  off  Plymouth  Harbor,  being  destitute  of  a 
pilot.  In  the  night,  a  heavy  gale,  drove  on  the  White 
Flat.  She  soon  filled  with  water,  and  it  became  ne- 
cessary to  cut  away  the  masts.  Unfortunately,  a  great 
disturbance  was  occasioned  by  intoxication  among 
some  of  the  seamen  in  the  steerage,  which  was  with 
difficulty  quelled  by  the  officers.  A  tremendous  storm 
of  wind  and  snow  came  on,  and  a  considerable  num- 
ber of  men  died  on  Saturday  afternoon  and  in  the 
night.  Three  men,  not  of  the  crew,  being  on  board, 
took  the  yawl  and  passed  eight  or  ten  rods  to  the  ice, 
and  were  taken  on  hoard  a  schooner  that  was  frozen 
in.  Had  the  boat  been  returned  as  promised  many 
lives  would  have  been  saved. 

"Sunday  morning  the  vessel  was  seen  in  a  most 
distressful  situation,  enveloped  in  ice  and  snow,  and 
the  whole  shore  was  frozen  to  a  solid  body  of  ice,  the 
winds  and  waves  raging  with  such  dreadful  violence 
that  no  possible  relief  could  be  afforded  to  the  miser- 
able sufferers.  The  inhabitants  made  every  effort  to 
reach  the  wreck  in  boats,  but  were  obliged  to  put 
back,  although  aware  that  the  seamen  were  in  the 


arms  of  death,  and  when  the  miserable  victims  on 
board  saw  the  boats  returning,  leaving  them  in  a  con- 
dition of  utter  hopelessness,  their  spirits  were  ap- 
palled, and  numbers  were  seen  to  fall  dead  on  the 
deck. 

"  On  Monday  the  inhabitants  passed  over  the  ice  to 
the  wreck.  Here  was  presented  a  scene  unutterably 
awful  and  distressing.  It  is  scarcely  possible  for  the 
human  mind  to  conceive  of  a  more  appalling  specta- 
cle. The  ship  was  sunk  ten  feet  in  the  sand ;  the 
waves  had  been  for  about  thirty-six  hours  sweeping 
the  main  deck ;  the  men  had  crowded  to  the  quarter- 
deck, and  even  here  they  were  obliged  to  pile  together 
dead  bodies  to  make  room  for  the  living.  Seventy 
dead  bodies,  frozen  into  all  imaginable  postures,  were 
strewn  over  the  deck  or  attached  to  the  shrouds  and 
spars;  about  thirty  exhibited  signs  of  life,  but  were 
unconscious  whether  in  life  or  death.  The  bodies  re- 
mained in  the  posture  in  which  they  died,  the  features 
dreadfully  distorted  ;  some  were  erect,  some  bending 
forward,  some  sitting  with  the  head  resting  on  the 
knees,  and  some  with  both  arms  extended,  clinging  to 
spars  or  some  parts  of*  the  vessel.  The  few  survivors 
and  the  dead  bodies  were  brought  over  the  ice  on 
sleds  and  boards,  and  the  dead  were  piled  on  the  floor 
of  the  court-house,  exhibiting  a  scene  calculated  to 
impress  even  the  most  callous  heart  with  deep  humility 
and  sorrow.  It  has  been  said  that  the  Rev.  Mr.  Rob- 
bins  fainted  when  called  to  perform  the  funeral  cere- 
monies. Those  bodies  that  were  to  be  deposited  in 
coffins  were  first  put  into  the  town  book ;  a  consider- 
able number  were  seen  floating  on  the  water  fastened 
by  ropes,  that  their  form  might  be  made  to  conform 
to  the  coffin,  but  about  sixty  were  thrown  into  a  large 
pit  as  they  were  taken  from  the  vessel.  This  pit  is  in 
a  hollow  on  the  southwest  side  of  the  burial-ground, 
and  remains  without  a  stone.  The  greater  part  of 
those  who  were  found  alive  expired  soon  after.  Capt. 
Magee  survived,  and  performed  several  profitable 
voyages  afterwards.  He  abstained  entirely  from 
drinking  ardent  spirits,  but  was  of  opinion  that  he 
was  greatly  benefited  by  putting  rum  into  his  boots. 
Those  who  drank  rum  were  the  more  immediate  vic- 
tims, several  being  found  dead  in  the  very  spot  where 
they  drank  it. 

"  A  man  named  Downs,  belonging  to  Barnstable, 
was  apparently  dead,  but  on  being  seen  to  move  his 
eyelids  was  put  into  a  vessel  of  cold  water  for  several 
hours,  by  which  he  was  resuscitated,  but  with  the 
most  exquisite  pain.  He  lost  both  of  his  feet,  but 
lived  many  years  after.  Among  those  who  perished 
were  Dr.  Mann,  of  Attleborough ;  Dr.  Sears,  Capt. 
John  Russell,  of  Barnstable,  commander  of  the  ma- 
rines, and  Lieut.  Daniel  Hall.  The  last  two  were 
buried  in  one  grave  on  the  south  side  of  the  burial- 
hill."1 

1  It  should  be  observed  that  when  persons  are  exposed  to  intense  cold 
there  is  always  a  propensity  to  sleep,  but  the  moment  it  is  indulged  it 
becomes  the  sleep  of  death. — Dr.  Thacher's  Plymouth,  216. 


ATTLEBOROUGH. 


549 


There  was  one  Marchant  from  the  Vineyard,  who 
survived  with  crippled  feet.  He  was  employed  many 
years  in  the  registry  of  deeds  and  probate  offices  in 
Dukes  County.     He  was  living  in  1830. 

Hon.  Elisha  May  was  a  distinguished  citizen  of 
this  town,  who  was  often  employed  in  public  office, 
and  whose  name  is  still  held  in  reverence  by  those 
who  remember  him.  Courteous  and  gentlemanly  in 
his  manners,  and  honorable  and  upright  in  his  prin- 
ciples, he  was  universally  esteemed.  Intelligent  and 
active  in  business,  he  was  well  qualified  to  fulfill  the 
various  offices  to  which  he  was  elected.  He  dis- 
charged the  various. duties  which  devolved  upon  him 
with  ability  and  entire  satisfaction  to  his  constituents. 
He  was,  in  fine,  one  of  the  most  valuable  citizens  of 
this  town.  He  died  Nov.  15,  1811,  in  the  seventy- 
third  year  of  his  age.  His  character  is  justly  though 
briefly  described  by  one  who  was  personally  ac- 
quainted with  him.  The  following  extract  is  from  a 
discourse  delivered  at  his  interment  by  the  Rev.  John 
Wilder,  then  the  pastor  of  the  First  Congregational 
Church  in  this  town  : 

"  His  memory  will  lung  be  precious,  not  only  to  his  near  relatives  and 
friends,  but  likewise  to  his  intimate  acquaintances,  to  his  neighbors,  to 
the  religious  society  in  this  place,  and  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  town, 
for  he  is  the  man  whom  his  fellow-citizens  have  delighted  to  honor.  Nor 
was  he  unworthy  theirrespect  and  confidence;  for,  blessed  with  a  sound 
mind,  a  retentive  memory,  a  quick  discernment  of  men  and  things,  a 
polite  address,  an  honest  heart,  and  an  education  considerably  above 
mediocrity,  he  was  singularly  qualified  for  public  employment  of  various 
kinds.  And  his  worth  was  early  discovered,  for  at  the  time  of  the  Revo- 
lutionary war  he  was  an  active  and  useful  member  both  in  the  military 
and  civil  departments.  Since  that  period  he  was  employed,  without  op- 
position, as  a  legislator  or  a  counselor  until  he  chose  to  retire.  For 
about  twenty-seven  years  in  succession,  one  excepted,  he  was  called  to 
a  seat  in  the  Legislature,  and  chiefly  in  the  Upper  House.  For  almost 
forty  years  together  he  has  been  moderator  of  the  town-meetings  in  this 
place,  in  which  office  he  was  equaled  by  few  and  exceeded  by  none.  He 
had  the  honor  of  being  an  elector  of  the  President  of  the  United  States. 
As  a  magistrate,  throughout  the  commonwealth  he  did  much  business, 
and  to  very  general  satisfaction.  He  was  justly  celebrated,  both  at  home 
and  abroad,  for  his  wisdom  in  adjusting  and  settling  differences  between 
contending  parties.  As  a  politician,  he  was  a  friend  and  disciple  of 
Washington;  as  a  man,  he  was  prepossessing  and  engaging;  as  a  friend, 
he  was  faithful  and  constant;  as  a  neighbor,  he  was  kind  and  obliging; 
as  a  husband,  he  was  attentive  and  tender;  as  a  parent,  he  was  pleasant 
and  affectionate  ;  as  to  his  religion,  he  was  a  firm  believer  in  the  Chris- 
tian system,  and  a  very  constant,  attentive,  and  apparently  devout  at- 
tender  on  public  worship  all  his  life." 

David  Daggett  was  son  of  Thomas  Daggett  and 
Elizabeth  Blake.  He  was  born  in  Attleborough, 
Dec.  31,  1764.  He  was  a  direct  descendant  of  that 
John  Daggett  who  emigrated  in  Winthrop's  company 
in  1630,  and  of  the  John  Daggett  who  came  to 
Attleborough  from  the  Vineyard  in  1707.  He  fitted 
for  college,  and  entered  Yale  at  the  age  of  sixteen, 
in  the  junior  class,  two  years  in  advance,  and  gradu- 
ated in  1783  with  high  honors. 

He  commenced  his  legal  studies  with  Charles 
Chauncy,  Esq.,  of  New  Haven.  In  January,  1786, 
he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  settled  in  that  city, 
where  he  ever  afterwards  made  his  home.  He  was 
elected  tutor  in  the  college,  but  declined  the  appoint- 
ment in  order  to  devote  himself  to  his  profession. 


He  rose  rapidly  to  distinction,  and  his  fellow-citizens 
claimed  him  for  civil  service. 

In  1791  he  was  elected  a  representative  from  New 
Haven  to  the  General  Assembly,  and  was  the  youngest 
member,  and  was  re-elected  successively  for  six  years. 
In  1794,  three  years  after  his  first  election,  he  was 
chosen  Speaker,  at  the  age  of  twenty-nine.  In  1797 
he  was  transferred  to  the  Senate,  and  retained  his 
seat  there  for  seven  years  in  succession. 

In  1813  he  was  elected  United  States  senator,  and 
filled  the  office  with  distinguished  ability.  At  the 
end  of  his  term  he  returned  to  his  practice  in  New 
Haven.  In  1824  he  was  connected  with  Judge  Hitch- 
cock in  the  law  school  there,  and  in  1826  he  was 
appointed  Kent  Professor  of  Law  in  Yale  College. 
These  positions  he  held  till  his  advanced  years  in- 
duced him  to  resign. 

In  1826,  Yale  College  bestowed  on  him  the  hon- 
orary degree  of  LL.D.  In  May,  1826,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-two,  he  was  chosen  judge  of  the  Superior  Court 
of  that  State,  and  in  May,  1832,  lie  was  appointed  its 
chief  justice. 

He  died  April  12,  18j>l,  at  the  age  of  eighty-six 
years,  three  months,  and  twelve  days,  honored  and 
beloved  for  his  great  abilities,  his  public  services,  and 
his  social  qualities. 

Rev.  Jonathan  Maxcy,  S.  T.  D.,  president  of  Rhode 
Island,  Union,  and  Columbia  Colleges,  was  one  of  the 
most  eminent  pulpit  orators  of  this  country.  He 
was  born  in  this  town,  Sept.  2,  1768.  He  prepared 
for  college  in  the  school  of  the  Rev.  William  Wil- 
liams, of  Wrentham,  which  was'then  the  most  cele- 
brated institution  in  the  vicinity,  and  the  resort  of  a 
great  many  young  men  for  the  pursuit  of  classical 
studies.  He  graduated  at  Brown  University  in  1787, 
and  was  immediately  appointed  a  tutor.  He  was  or- 
dained pastor  of  the  First  Baptist  Church  in  Provi- 
dence Sept.  8,  1791,  and  at  the  same  time  was  ap- 
pointed the  first  Professor  of  Divinity  in  that  college.1 
After  the  death  of  President  Manning  he  was  unani- 
mously elected  president,  a.d.,  at  the  early  age  of 
twenty-four!  He  presided  over  this  university  for 
eleven  years,  with  distinguished  success  and  with  a 
splendid  reputation  for  eloquence  and  learning.  His 
administration  was  marked  by  mildness,  urbanity, 
and  dignity.  Under  his  guardianship  the  university 
acquired  a  distinguished  name  for  oratory.  Guided 
by  his  fostering  genius  it  sent  forth  a  constellation  of 
eloquent  and  accomplished  speakers,  who  have  shone 
in  various  departments  of  public  life,  and  whose  elo- 
quence has  been  felt  in  the  pulpit,  at  the  bar,  and  in 
the  halls  of  legislation,  many  of  whom  have  acquired 
a  national  renown.  He  was  peculiarly  fitted  to  stamp 
impressions  of  his  own  character  on  the  minds  of 
those  around  him,  and  to  infuse  his  own  spirit  into 
theirs.     He  acquired  a  salutary  influence  over  the 


i  He  was  the  first  and  only  professor  of  divinity  ever  appointed  in 
Brown  University. 


550 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


youth  committed  to  his  charge.  He  imbued  their 
hearts  with  a  taste  for  literature  and  with  a  love  of 
truth  and  moral  beauty,  and  excited  in  their  bosoms 
the  most  ardent  aspirations  after  excellence.  He 
knew  well  how  to  kindle  and  fan  the  flame  of  genius. 
His  memory  is  cherished  by  all  his  pupils  with  pecu- 
liar affection  and  gratitude.  In  speaking  of  the  uni- 
versity it  has  been  truly  said  that  he  was  one  "whose 
name  and  fame  are  identified  with  its  reputation, 
and  whose  mingled  mildness,  dignity,  and  goodness 
equaled  only  by  his  genius,  learning,  and  eloquence, 
subdued  all  envy,  made  all  admirers  friends,  and  gave 
him  an  irresistible  sway  over  the  minds  of  those 
placed  under  his  care."  * 

Though  accomplished  in  every  department  of  learn- 
ing, he  was  distinguished  more  particularly  as  a 
belles-lettres  scholar.  His  oratory  was  in  some  re- 
spects peculiar.  There  was  nothing  in  it  like  rant  or 
affectation,  no  appearance  of  that  popular  declama- 
tion which  is  so  often  employed  to  captivate  the  mul- 
titude. There  was  apparently  no  attempt  in  it  to 
produce  effect,  no  labored  display,  but  everything 
appeared  easy,  natural,  and  unstudied.  It  was  deep, 
impassioned,  but  not  declamatory.  His  voice  was 
not  naturally  powerful,  but  he  had  it  perfectly  under 
his  control  through  all  its  intonations.  He  usually 
commenced  in  a  calm  and  moderate  tone,  but  grew 
warmer  and  more  animated  as  he  advanced  in  his  dis- 
course, and  gradually  and  imperceptibly  gained  upon 
the  attention  and  feelings  of  his  hearers,  until  every 
one  present  was  wholly  engrossed  upon  the  subject 
of  the  speaker.  Indeed,  he  himself  seemed  com- 
pletely absorbed  in  his  own  subject,  and  by  the  in- 
fluence of  sympathy  carried  his  audience  with  him. 

His  delivery  was  remarkably  expressive.  '  Every 
sentiment  he  uttered  came  from  the  heart  and  vibrated 
through  his  whole  frame.  Every  cord  and  muscle 
was  an  echo  to  his  soul.  His  elocution  was  full  of 
grace;  yet  his  power  was  not  in  this,  it  was  in  the 
life,  the  soul,  which  he  infused  into  his  voice,  his 
gestures,  and  his  countenance,  all  expressive  and 
harmonious.  His  eloquence  was  at  once  graceful 
and  forcible.  In  a  word,  he  had  in  perfection  what 
Demosthenes  called  action. 

He  did  not  neglect  to  cultivate  the  minor  graces  of 
elocution.  He  never  made  a  prayer  or  delivered 
anything  in  public,  extempore,  even  on  the  most  ordi- 
nary occasions,  in  which  every  sentence  and  every 
word  were  not  accurately  arranged  and  in  their  right 
place.  Though  his  voice  was  naturally  feeble,  it  was 
able  to  occupy  a  large  compass,  and  every  word  and 
every  syllable  he  uttered,  in  the  largest  audience,  fell 
distinctly  on  the  ear  of  the  most  distant  auditor. 

1  Hon.  Virgil  Maxcy's  Discourse  before  the  Phi  Beta  Kappa  of  Brown 
University,  Sept.  4, 1833. 

He  was  also  a  native  of  Attleborough,  and  a  brother  of  President 
Maxcy.  He  settled  in  Maryland,  held  the  office  of  Solicitor  of  the  Treas- 
ury, and  was  killed  by  the  explosion  on  board  the  United  States  steamer 
"Princeton." 


The  following  extract  will  show  the  estimation  in 
which  he  was  held  at  the  South.  It  was  written  but 
a  short  time  previous  to  his  death,  and  contains  a 
brief  but  lively  description  of  the  impressive  effects 
of  his  eloquence,  even  when  his  powers  were  impaired 
by  advancing  age  and  feeble  health. 

From  the  Charleston  City  Gazette.  Extract  of  a 
letter  from  a  gentleman  residing  in  Columbia  to  his 
friend  in  Charleston : 

"Columbia,  6th  July,  1819. 
"  Last  Sunday  we  went  to  hear  Dr.  Maxcy.  It  being  the  4th  of  July, 
it  was  a  discourse  appropriate  to  that  eventful  period.  I  had  always 
been  led  to  believe  the  Doctor  an  eloquent  and  impressive  preacher,  but 
had  no  idea  till  now  that  he  possessed  such  transcendent  powers.  I 
never  heard  such  a  stream  of  eloquence.  It  flowed  from  his  lips  even 
like  the  oil  from  Aaron's  head.  Every  ear  was  delighted,  every  heart 
was  elated,  every  bosom  throbbed  with  gratitude.  Such  appropriate 
metaphor!  such  grand,  such  sublime  descriptions!  such  exalted  ideas 
of  Deity  !  and  delivered  with  all  the  grace,  the  force,  the  elegance  of  a 
youthful  orator!  I  was  sometimes  in  pain  lest  this  good  old  man  should 
outdo  himself  and  become  exhausted,  but  as  he  advanced  in  his  dis- 
course he  rose  in  animation,  till  at  length  he  reached  heights  the  most 
sublime,  and  again  descended  with  the  same  facility  with  which  he 
soared.  So  tar  as  I  can  judge  (and  your  partiality,  I  know,  will  allow 
me  to  be  no  mean  critic)  there  was  not  heard  the  slightest  deviation 
from  the  most  correct  enunciation  and  grammatical  arrangement;  all 
the  powers  of  art  seemed  sub-ervient  to  his  absolute  control.  In  short, 
I  never  heard  anything  to  compare  to  Dr.  Maxcy's  sermon  in  all  the 
course  of  my  life,  and,  old  as  I  am,  I  would  now  walk  even  twenty 
miles  through  the  hottest  sands  to  listen  to  such  another  discourse  I 
am  persuaded  I  shall  never  hear  such  another  in  this  life.'" 

His  most  celebrated  performance  while  he  presided 
over  Brown  University,  regarded  as  a  specimen  of 
pulpit  oratory,  was  his  sermon  on  the  existence  and 
attributes  of  God,  delivered  at  Providence  in  1795, 
which  is  frequently  spoken  of  even  at  this  day,  and 
produced  at  the  time  the  most  lively  and  striking 
effect  on  the  audience.  Those  who  heard  it  will 
never  forget  it.  The  impression  it  produced  was  the 
result  in  a  great  degree  of  the  manner  of  its  delivery. 
Such  a  brilliant  effort  of  eloquence  has  seldom  been 
witnessed  in  any  house  of  public  worship.  This  dis- 
course, though  enlivened  by  a  bold,  luxuriant,  and 
brilliant  imagination,  and  a  loftiness  of  conception,  is 
yet  characterized  by  his  usual  neatness  and  simplicity 
of  language.  Indeed,  in  his  highest  flights  his  style 
of  writing  was  always  remarkable  for  a  pure  English 
idiom  and  a  classical  simplicity  of  language.  In  fine, 
he  was  an  eloquent  orator  and  a  learned  scholar. 

In  1802,  Dr.  Maxcy  resigned  the  presidency  of 
Brown  University,  and  accepted  that  of  Schenectady, 
N.  Y.,  where  he  remained  till  the  establishment  of 
the  new  college  in  Columbia,  S.  C,  in  1804,  of  which 
he  was  appointed  the  first  president,  and  immedi- 
ately removed  to  that  place,  where  he  continued  till 
the  day  of  his  death,  June  4,  1820,  at  the  age  of  fifty- 
two.  He  was  appointed  to  the  office  of  president  the 
youngest,  and  presided  the  longest,  in  proportion  to 
his  years,  of  any  person  in  this  country.  He  was  con- 
nected with  some  college,  either  as  student  or  officer, 
nearly  thirty-eight  out  of  the  fifty-two  years  of  his 
life.  " 

In  1801  he  was  honored  with  the  degree  of  D.D. 
from  Harvard  University. 


ATTLEBOROUGH. 


551 


His  wife  was  Susan  Hopkins,  a  daughter  of  Com- 
modore Esick  Hopkins,  of  Providence,  by  whom  he 
had  several  daughters  and  four  sons,  all  of  whom 
have  been  liberally  educated. 

He  published  a  discourse  on  the  death  of  President 
Manning,  1792;  a  sermon  on  the  existence  of  God, 
demonstrated  from  the  works  of  creation,  1795.  His 
published  sermons  and  addresses  were  numerous.  A 
collection  of  his  writings,  in  one  volume,  was  published 
in  1844  by  Rev.  Dr.  Romeo  Elton,  formerly  professor 
in  Brown  University.  A  selection  was  republished 
in  England. 

This  is  necessarily  a  brief  and,  I  fear,  an  imperfect 
sketch.  It  requires  an  abler  pen  than  mine  to  por- 
tray the  amiable  and  brilliant  character  of  Maxcy, 
and  to  do  justice  to  his  splendid  talents  as  an  orator. 
Those  only  who  knew  him  in  the  meridian  of  life, 
and  who  have  seen  and  felt  the  power  of  his  elo- 
quence, can  give  an  adequate  description.  His 
memory  demands  a  tribute  of  filial  affection  from 
some  one  of  his  many  distinguished  pupils,  who  are 
so  deeply  indebted  to  his  example  and  instructions 
for  the  eminence  which  they  now  enjoy  in  public  life. 

Hon.  Ebenezer  Daggett,  who  died  recently  while 
a  member  of  the  Senate  from  Bristol  district,  affords 
the  example  of  a  life  worthy  of  imitation  by  his 
fellow-citizens.  He  was  the  youngest  son  of  Col. 
Daggett,  whose  life  has  been  previously  noticed,  and 
was  born  April  16,  1763.  Few  men  in  this  town 
have  devoted  so  large  a  portion  of  their  time  to  the 
public  service.  He  held  a  commission  of  the  peace 
for  nearly  thirty  years,  and  honorably  discharged  its 
most  important  duties.  He  served  the  town  at  vari- 
ous times  in  the  capacity  of  selectman,  and  town  clerk 
upwards  of  twenty  years.  He  represented  the  town 
several  years  in  the  General  Court.  A  large  part  of 
the  last  thirty  years  of  his  life  was  occupied  in  some 
public  employment.  In  various  ways  he  rendered 
himself  serviceable  to  his  fellow-citizens.  In  the 
spring  of  1831  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Senate 
for  this  district.  At  the  succeeding  November  elec- 
tion he  was  rechosen  to  the  same  office,  and  while  in 
the  discharge  of  the  honorable  and  responsible  duties 
of  this  station,  he  was  called  by  the  order  of  Provi- 
dence to  close  his  life,  at  Boston,  on  the  4th  of  March, 
1832,  in  the  sixty-ninth  year  of  his  age. 

The  following  remarks  on  the  character  of  the  de- 
ceased are  extracted  from  a  funeral  discourse  deliv- 
ered at  Attleborough,  22d  April,  1832,  by  Rev.  Mr. 
Ferguson  : 

"  Where  is  that  venerated  husband  and  father,  that  highly-esteemed 
and  useful  citizen,  win.  scarce  four  months  ago  stood  bending  under  the 
bereavement  of  Providence,  an  unexpected  yet  quiet  and  submissive 
mourner1  in  the  house  of  the  Lord?  Alas!  he  has  gone  down  to  the 
grave  unto  his  son,  mourning.  The  last  opportunity  which  I  enjoyed 
of  conversing  with  our  departed  friend  was  on  the  eve  of  his  leaving 
home  to  attend  to  his  official  duties  in  the  Legislature  as  a  member  of 
the  Senate.  I  mention  this  circumstance  because  it  was  then  abun- 
dantly evident  that  those  official   honors  which  are  generally  sought  as 

1  For  the  sudden  and  violent  death  of  a  beloved  son. 


the  rewards  of  successful  competition  may  come  to  be  regarded  as  a 
burden  rather  than  an  honorable  distinction.  During  our  conversation 
he  lamented  that  official  duties  obliged  him  at  such  a  time  to  leave 
home,  anil  to  mingle  in  scenes  so  foreign  to  the  state  of  his  mind.  He 
regretted  that  the  choice  of  the  people  had  not  fallen  upon  somo  other 
candidate,  and  remarked  that  such  scenes  were  better  adapted  to  gratify 
those  who  were  young  and  aspiring  than  the  aged  ami  afflicted.  It  is 
known  to  you  all  that  from  that  tour  of  duty  he  never  returned.  To 
an  observer  it  must  have  been  evident  that  to  commune  with  his  own 
heart,  to  mingle  his  sympathies  with  those  of  his  family,  and  to  prepare 
himself  for  his  own  great  change  would  have  been  more  congenial  to 
his  mind  than  the  balls  of  legislation  and  the  investigation  of  our 
political  relations.  In  his  ease,  moreover,  political  employments  had 
long  ceased  to  be  a  novelty.  He  was  emphatically  a  public  man_ 
Twenty  years  of  his  life  had  been  occupied  in  superintending  the  inter- 
ests of  the  town.  Twice  he  was  elected  to  the  Senate,  and  perhaps  no 
man  among  us  has  been  more  called  upon  to  administer  upon  the  es- 
tates of  the  deceased,  and  to  act  as  the  guardian  of  the  orphan.  The 
general  character  which  he  sustained  through  life  was  that  of  uni- 
formity, uprightness,  and  moderation.  In  the  hottest  strife  of  parties, 
although  a  public  and  a  decided  man,  he  never  could  be  regarded  as  a 
partisan.  He  had  been  an  actor, and  in  some  respects  a  public  character 
from  the  time  of  the  Revolution,  but  through  all  the  changes  of  the 
eventful  times  in  which  he  lived,  he  continued  to  the  last  to  stand  forth 
before  his  fellow-citizens  in  the  character  of  an  honest,  upright,  and 
consistent  man. 

"His  last  sickness  commenced  on  the  23d  of  February.  lie  had  the 
day  before,  in  apparent  health,  attended  the  centennial  celebration  of 
the  birth  of  Washington,  and  walked  in  procession  with  the  other  mem- 
bers of  the  Senate,  but  all  beyond  was  his  dying  sickness.  Early  on  the 
succeeding  morning  he  was  violently  attacked  with  a  fever,  which  ter- 
minated in  death  on  the  4th  of  March. 

"  I  have  felt  it  my  duty,  in  view  of  bis  public  character,  to  enter  into 
details  which  in  other  circumstances  might  have  been  inexpedient.  In 
the  relations  of  life,  in  his  intercourse  between  man  and  man,  in  the 
maintenance  of  a  character  for  uniformity,  uprightness,  and  self-posses- 
sion, his  works  praise  him,  and  he  is  with  us  for  an  example." 

There  were  many  other  worthy  and  useful  citizens 
who  deserve  commemoration  in  this  place,  who, 
though  dead,  yet  live  in  their  works.  But  at  this 
distance  of  time  it  is  difficult  to  ascertain  the  pecu- 
liar traits  of  their  character  and  the  events  of  their 
lives.  The  retired  but  useful  employments  in  which 
they  were  engaged,  and  the  "  even  tenor  of  their  lives" 
supply  but  few  prominent  incidents  for  the  pen  of 
the  biographer.  The  sketches  already  given  afford  a 
respectable  list  of  public  men  for  a  country  town 
like  this. 

A   LIST    OF    THE    GRADUATES   AT    BROWN   UNIVERSITY 
FROM    THIS  TOWN. 

1776.  Preston  Mann,  A.M.,  son  of  Dr.  Bezeliel  Mann,  physician  ;  settled 

in  Newport,  R.  I. 
1783.  Othniel  Tyler,  A.M.,  son  of  John  Tyler,  lawyer,  East  Sudbury, 

Mass.,  now  Wayland. 
1787.  John  Milton  Mann,  son  of  Dr.  Bezeliel  Mann,  physician ;  settled 

in  Hudson,  N.  Y.,  and  was  drowned  in   crossing  the  river  of  that 

name. 

1787.  Jonathan  Maxcy,  S.T.D.,  son  of  Levi  Maxcy ;  born  Sept.  2,  1708  ; 
president  of  Providence  College,  Union,  Schenectady,  N.  V.,  and 
Columbia  College,  S.  C  ;  died  at  the  latter  place  June  4,  1820,  aged 
fifty-two. 

1788.  Jesse  Blackinton,  son  of  Peter  Blackinton  :  resided  in  Ashtabula, 
county  of  Ashtabula,  Ohio. 

1788.  William  May,  son  of  rOlishaMay;  born  Jan.  26,  1764;  student  of 
law  ;  died  July  12,  1790,  in  the  twenty-seventh  year  of  his  age. 

1789.  Paul  Draper,  A.M.,  son  of  Stephen  Draper;  born  Sept.  19, 1767 ; 
entered  on  board  an  American  man-of-war,  and  was  never  after 
heard  of. 

1790.  Aaron  Draper,  son  of  Josiah  Draper;  born  Nov.  29,  1764;  never 
studied  a  learned  profession  ;  settled  in  Providence,  R.  I.,  where  he 
died. 


552 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


1802.  Gardner  Daggett,  A.M.,  son  of  Elijah  Daggett;  born  Dec.  20, 1782 ; 
lawyer,  Providence,  R.  I.,  where  he  died. 

1802.  Milton  Maxcy,  son  of  Levi  Maxcy ;  born  Jan.  1, 1782;  lawyer  in 
Beaufort,  S.  C,  where  he  died  of  the  yellow  fever  in  1818. 

1803.  Jason  Sprague,  A.M.,  son  of  John  Sprague;  was  for  some  time 
preceptor  of  the  High  School  in  Newport,  R.  I.;  died  in  the  United 
States  army. 

1804.  Virgil  Maxcy,  son  of  Levi  Maxcy;  lawyer  in  Baltimore,  Md.; 
late  solicitor  of  the  Treasury  of  the  United  States,  Washington 
City. 

1807.  Lorenzo  Bishop,  son  of  Zephaniah   Bishop;  born  Aug.  20,  1785; 

student  of  law  ;  died  in  Attleborough,  May  26,  1809,  aged  twenty- 
three. 
1809.  Rev.  Jacob  Ide,  A.M.,  son  of  Jacob  Ide ;    minister  in  Medway, 

Mass. 
1809.  Rev.  William  Tyler,  A.M.,  son  of  Ebenezer  Tyler;  minister  at 

Weymouth,  and  at  South  Hadley,  Mass. 
1811.  Benjamin  Cozzens,  A.M.,    son  of  Benjamin  Cozzens ;     formerly 

lawyer  at  Pawtucket;  resided  at  Providence,  R.  I. 
1811.  Hartford  Sweet,  A.M.,  son  of  Gideon   Sweet;  born  Oct.  30,  1790; 

had  not  finished  studying  his  profession  ;  died  at  the  South  in  18 — . 
1817.  Everett  Bolkcom,  son  of  Jacob  Bolkcom  ;  born  September,  1796  ; 

lawyer,  Attleborough  ;  died  Dec.  19,  1823,  aged  twenty-seven. 
1821.  Rev.  James  0.  Barney,  son  of Barney,  of  Providence,  R.  I.; 

minister  at  Seekonk  Centre,  Mass. 

1821.  Rev.  Moses   Thacher,  A.M.,  son   of Thacher;    minister  in 

North  Wrentham,  Mass. 

1822.  Rev.  Preston  Cummings,  son  of  David  Cummings;  minister  in 
Dighton,  Mass. 

1822.  Rev.  Henry  H.  F.  Sweet,  son  of  Henry  Sweet ;  born  Nov.  1,1796; 
minister  in  Palmer,  Mass. ;  died  Feb.  20,  1827,  aged  thirty. 

1822.  Rev.  John  Wilder.  A.M.,  son  of  John  Wilder;  minister  in  Charl- 
ton, in  Concord,  Mass.;  deceased. 

1823.  Rev.  Benoni  Allen,  son  of Allen  ;  preacher  in  Ohio. 

1824.  Ira  Barrows,  M.D.,  son  of Barrows;  physician,  Pawtucket, 

Mass. 

1825.  Hermon  Bourne,  M.D.,  son  of  Andrew  Bourne;  physician,  Boston, 
Mass. 

1825.  William  S.  Stanley,  M.D.,  son  of  Thomas  Stanley;  physician  in 
Mamaroneck,  N.  Y. ;  removed  to  Philadelphia. 

1825.  Samuel  T.  Wilder,  son  of  John  Wilder;  lawyer,  Rochester,  N.  Y. ; 
deceased. 

1826.  Jason  B.  Blackinton,  A.M.,  son  of  William  Blackinton ;  lawyer 
in  Hulden,  Mass.,  and  in  Ohio. 

1826.  John  Daggett,  A.M.,  son   of  Ebenezer  Daggett;    lawyer,   Attle- 
borough. 
1832.  Rev.  Solomon  Carpenter  Perry. 

1837.  John  Shepard  Ingraham. 

1838.  Rev.  Ezekiel  Gilman  Robinson,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  president  of  the  uni- 
versity. 

1844.  Rev.  Richards  Cushmau. 

1844.  Isaac  Diaper,  M.D. 

1847.  James  Fletcher  Blackinton,  teacher  in  Boston,  Mass. 

1849.  Thomas  Drew  Robinson,  lawyer. 

1851.  Rev.  Brainard  Wayland  Barrows,  D.D.,  trustee  of  the  university. 

1852.  George  Augustus  Allen,  teacher  in  Missouri. 
1855.  Charles  Phelps,  M.D.,  New  York. 

1857.  William  Albert  White. 

1858.  Rev.  Comfort  Edwin  Barrows. 

1862.  Rev.  Josiah  Nelson  Cushing,  D.D.,  a  distinguished  missionary  in 

Burmah. 
1861.  Frank  Herbert  Carpenter. 
1864.  Henry  Clarke  Bowen. 
1864.  Seabury  Warren  Bowen,  M.D. 
1868.  John  Mayhew  Daggett,  lawyer. 
1868.  George  Roswell  Read,  lawyer. 
1870.  Rev.  Eugene  Ellis  Thomas. 

1873.  Alvin  Grover  Sauler,  educated  a  lawyer  ;  not  now  in  practice. 
1876.  David  Emory  Holman,  M.D. 
1876.  Edward  Otis  Stanley. 
1880.  Richard  Bartlett  Esten. 

1882.  John  Augustus  Sanford. 

1883.  Ira  Burrows. 

There  are  fifty-eight  graduates  from  Brown  Uni- 
versity alone,  besides  many  at  other  colleges. 


Rev.  J.  N.  Cushing,  D.D.,  son  of  Alpheus  Cushing, 
a  native  of  this  town  and  a  graduate  of  Brown  Uni- 
versity in  1802,  was  a  member,  and  ordained  here  a 
foreign  missionary  to  India,  and  continues  in  the  ac- 
tive and  successful  duties  of  his  mission. 

There  have  been  graduates  from  this  town  at  sev- 
eral of  the  other  New  England  colleges.  A  full  list 
of  their  names  has  not  been  obtained.  Among  them 
was  John  Barrows,  who  graduated  1766  at  Harvard 
College  ;  was  son  of  John  Barrows.  He  married  his 
wife  in  Cambridge,  and  settled  as  a  schoolmaster  in 
Dighton,  Mass.,  where  he  died. 

At  Yale  College,  in  1748,  Naphtali  Daggett,  of 
whom  a  sketch  has  been  already  given.  In  1762, 
Philip  Daggett,  brother  of  the  last  named ;  was  born 
Sept.  11,  1739;  he  settled  and  died  in  New  Haven. 
Henry  Daggett,  who  graduated  at  Yale  College  in 
1771,  son  of  Elder  Elihu  Daggett,  was  born  April  9, 
1741  ;  settled  at  New  Haven,  where  he  was  at  first  a 
merchant,  subsequently  police  magistrate,  alderman 
of  the  city,  etc.  He  died  Aug.  11,  1830.  In  1783 
graduated  the  Hon.  David  Daggett,  LL.D.,  the 
present  distinguished  and  learned  chief  justice  of 
the  Supreme  Court  of  Connecticut.  He  was  for- 
merly a  senator  of  the  United  States,  and  has  been 
for  several  years  Professor  of  Law  in  Yale  College,  etc. 

In  1761  graduated  Rev.  Pelatiah  Tingley,  A.M., 
son  of  Timothy  Tingley.  He  was  a  Baptist  preacher, 
and  was  settled  in  Sanford,  Me.  About  1780  he  be- 
came a  seceder  from  the  prevailing  sect  of  Baptists, 
and  was  the  first  minister  who  united  with  Elder 
Benjamin  Randall,  the  founder  of  the  new  sect, 
usually  denominated  Arminian  or  Free-Will  Bap- 
tists, who  rejected  the  leading  doctrines  of  Cal- 
vinism.1 

Names  of  Several  Former  Physicians  in  Attle- 
borough. —Dr.  Joseph  Daggett,  of  Rehoboth ;  Dr. 
Joseph  Hewes,  Dr.  Abijah  Everett,  Dr.  Bezeliel 
Mann,  Dr.  Richard  Bowen,  of  Rehoboth  ;  Dr. 
Joseph  Bacon,  Dr.  Comfort  Fuller,  son  of  Noah 
Fuller;  Dr.  Comfort  Capron,  surgeon  in  the  Revo- 
lutionary war;  Dr.  Thomas  Stanley,  Dr.  Phineas 
Savery. 

Miscellaneous,  Topography,  Statistics,  etc.— 
This  town  was  incorporated  in  1694.  It  derived 
its  name,  without  doubt,  from  the  town  of  Attlebor- 
ough, in  Norfolk  County,  England,  whence  probably 
some  of  our  early  inhabitants  emigrated  to  America, 
and  settled  first  at  Hingham  or  Weymouth,  thence 
removed  to  Rehoboth,  and  afterwards  became  pur- 
chasers and  settlers  of  this  town,  and,  in  remem- 
brance of  their  native  place,  selected  this  name. 
This  origin  of  the  name  is  confirmed  by  the  circum- 
stance that  in  the  English  town  there  is  a  river  called 
Bungay,  of  about  the  same  size  as  the  one  of  the  same 
name  in  this  town. 


1  See  Benedict's  Hist.  Baptists,  vol.  ii.  410,  where  he  is  erroneously 
said  to  be  a  graduate  of  Rhode  Island  College. 


ATTLEBOROUGH. 


553 


At  the  time  of  the  incorporation  it  contained  up- 
wards of  thirty  families,  which,  if  we  assumed  only 
six  as  the  number  in  each  family  (which  is  probably 
too  low  for  that  period),  would  make  180  inhabitants. 
In  1790  the  town  contained  2166  inhabitants;  in 
1800,  2480  ;  in  1810,  2716  ;  in  1820,  3055;  and  at  the 
last  census,  in  1830,  3215,  exclusive  of  twelve  fami- 
lies, containing  about  fifty  persons,  which,  since  1820, 
have  been  set  off  to  Wrentham  by  the  establishment 
of  a  new  boundary  between  the  towns,  or  rather  by 
restoring  it  to  the  ancient  line.  It  has  already  ap- 
peared that  there  was  for  many  years  a  dispute  be- 
tween Massachusetts  and  Plymouth  respecting  the 
dividing  line  of  the  two  colonies.  It  was  a  straight 
line  from  Bound  Rock,  in  the  middle  of  Accord 
Pond,  on  the  line  between  the  towns  of  Scituate 
and  Cohasset,  to  a  point  on  the  Rhode  Island  bound- 
ary, "  three  English  miles  south  of  the  southernmost 
part  of  Charles  River."  The  commissioners  in  run- 
ning the  line  on  one  occasion  found  their  course  quite 
a  distance  south  of  the  true  line ;  therefore,  they 
marked  a  great  white-oak-tree,  called  "the  Angle 
Tree,"  and  there  changed  the  course  farther  north, 
and  thus  ran  to  the  intended  point.  This  was  not  a 
straight  line,  and  it  cut  off  a  large  quantity  of  land 
from  the  Old  Colony.  It  is  now  of  no  practical  con- 
sequence, but  only  a  matter  of  historical  curiosity. 
At  this  station  a  stone  monument  has  since  been  erec- 
ted by  authority  of  the  Legislature,  under  the  direc- 
tions of  Attleborough  and  Wrentham,  with  the  follow- 
ing inscription  :  On  the  north  is  written  "  Massachu- 
setts Colony  ;"  on  the  south,  "  Plymouth  Colony." 

"This  Monument  by  order  of  Government  to  per- 
petuate the  place  on  which  the  late  Station  or  Angle 
Tree  formerly  stood.  Lemuel  Rossick,  Esq.,  was  ap- 
pointed agent  to  cause  this  monument  to  be  erected. 
By  order  of  the  General  Court. 

"  The  selectmen  of  the  towns  of  Wrentham  and 
Attleborough  were  present,  viz.,  Elisha  May,  Eben- 
ezer  Tyler,  and  Caleb  Richardson,  Esqs.,  of  Attle- 
borough ;  and  Samuel  Fisher,  John  Whiting,  Nathan 
Hawes,  Nathan  Comstock,  and  Nathaniel  Ware,  of 
Wrentham.  From  this  stone  the  line  is  east  twenty 
degrees  and  a  half  north  to  Accord  Pond. 

"  Done  at  Wrentham,  Nov.  29,  1790,  by  Samuel 
Fisher  &  Son." 

The  stone  is  fourteen  feet  in  height  and  two  feet  in 
width,  and  of  great  weight. 

The  whole  area  of  the  town,  according  to  a  survey 
ordered  by  the  Legislature,  is  twenty-nine  thousand 
acres;  by  valuation,  twenty-six  thousand.  When 
Attleborough  included  Cumberland  it  must  have 
contained  sixty  thousand  acres. 

Number  acres  of  woodland,  2158 ;  fresh  meadow, 
1767;  tillage  lands,  including  orchards,  1205;  pas- 
ture lands,  4703;  unimproved  and  unimprovable1 
land,  12,740;  covered  with  water,  360  acres. 

1  This  is  a  large  estimate,  doubtless  more  than  truth  will  warrant. 
There  is  strictly  but  little  land  in  this  town  which  is  absolutely  unim- 


Rivers. — They  are  worthy  of  notice  not  so  much 
for  their  size  as  for  the  valuable  water  privileges 
which  they  afford,  and  which  are  now  occupied  for 
manufacturing  purposes.  There  are  several  streams 
of  water  in  this  town,  the  principal  of  which  is  the 
Ten-Mile  River.  It  rises  in  the  southerly  part  of 
Wrentham,  on  the  farm  of  Mr.  John  Fuller,  and 
running  in  a  southerly  course  through  this  town  and 
through  Seekonk,  empties  into  Seekonk  Cove,  an  arm 
of  the  Narragansett.  Its  length  in  this  town  is  thir- 
teen miles ;  its  whole  length  is  about  twenty-five 
miles.     Its  average  width  is  two  rods  and  a  half. 

This  stream  is  exceedingly  important  to  the  inter- 
ests of  the  town,  for  on  this  are  our  principal  manu- 
facturing establishments. 

There  is  another  stream  of  considerable  size  called 
the  Seven-Mile  River,  which  crosses  the  road  near 
Newell's  Tavern,  and  bearing  a  southerly  direction 
unites  with  the  Ten-Mile  River  a  little  above  Kent's 
factory,  near  the  line  of  Pawtucket.  Its  length  is 
about  ten  miles. 

Another  small  stream,  called  Abbott's  Run,2  rises 
in  the  northeasterly  part  of  Cumberland,  and  cross- 
ing the  line  several  times  between  that  town  and  this, 
falls  into  the  Blackstone  River  just  below  the  Valley 
Falls. 

The  third  or  fourth  in  size  is  Bungay  (or  sometimes 
Bungee)  River,  which  has  its  source  in  the  northerly 
part  of  the  town,  near  Mansfield  line,  a  little  below 
the  Witch  Pond,  and  after  a  journey  of  about  five 
miles  over  an  unusually  level  bed,  falls  into  the  Ten- 
Mile  River  nearly  in  the  centre  of  the  town,  between 
the  Farmers'  and  Mechanics'  factories.  Originating 
in  a  number  of  springs,  it  is  an  unfailing  stream  at 
all  seasons  of  the  year.  This  pond  (as  it  is  called) 
is  an  extensive  quagmire,  including  about  fifteen 
acres,  only  a  small  part  of  which  is  covered  with 
water.  It  is  rather  singular  in  its  appearance,  and 
may  be  justly  considered  a  curiosity.  A  hard  bottom 
has  never  been  discovered  in  any  part  of  it.  In  some 
places  it  will  at  first  bear  the  weight  of  a  man,  but  if  he 
stands  for  a  time  he  will  gradually  sink  till  he  is  un- 
able to  extricate  himself. 

The  topography  of  the  town  contains  nothing  pe- 
culiar, and  it  is  therefore  needless  to. enlarge  upon  it, 
as  is  often  done  in  the  sketches  of  our  towns.  Suffice 
it  to  say  that,  in  this  respect,  it  is  similar  to  most  towns 
in  this  vicinity — that  its  surface  presents  the  usual 
diversity  of  hills  and  vales,  that  its  soil  embraces 
much  land  that  is  poor  and  considerable  that  is  good, 
and  that  its  natural  and  agricultural  products  are  the 
same  as  those  of  neighboring  towns. 


provable  for  purposes  of  agriculture,  for  tillage  or  grazing.  There  is, 
however,  a  large  quantity  which  is  not  actually  under  constant  cultiva- 
tion ;  but  there  is  only  asmall  proportion  of  this  which  is  not  occasion- 
ally cultivated. 

2  Said  to  have  derived  its  name  from  one  Abbott,  a  boy  who  was 
drowned  there  in  the  early  settlement  of  the  place.  It  is  supposed  by 
some  that  the  Indian  name  of  this  stream  was  Wawepoonaeag,  but  this 
is  doubtful  conjecture. 


554 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


In  the  winter  and  spring  of  1816  this  town  was  vis- 
ited by  a  strange  and  the  most  fatal  sickness  ever 
known  in  these  parts.  It  extended  to  several  other 
towns  adjoining,  but  did  not  prove  so  fatal  as  here. 
It  swept  off  in  the  short  space  of  ninety  days  about 
one  hundred  inhabitants,  a  large  proportion  of  them 
heads  of  families,  and  many  of  them  the  most  useful 
and  respectable  citizens  of  the  town.  It  was  com- 
monly called  the  cold  plague.  It  generally  terminated 
in  a  few  days.  Very  few  who  were  attacked  with  it 
recovered.  No  disease  of  the  same  kind  has  ever 
been  known  here  either  before  or  since  that  period. 

No  bills  of  mortality  have  been  regularly  kept  till 
recently,  and  the  average  age  of  the  inhabitants  in 
any  given  period  cannot  be  ascertained.  There  have 
been  several  instances  of  very  long  lives.  Deacon 
Elkanah  Wilmarth  died  at  the  age  of  ninety-nine 
years  and  seven  months.  Mary  Freeman,  relict  of 
John  Freeman,  died  March  4,  1762,  aged  about  one 
hundred  years. 

Widow  Sarah  Claflin,  relict  of  Antipas  Claflin,  died 
in  September,  1777,  supposed  to  be  one  hundred  years 
and  six  months  old.  Capt.  Samuel  Robinson  lived 
to  approach  very  near  the  age  of  one  hundred.  Zeph- 
aniah  Robinson  also  reached  a  very  advanced  age. 

John  Shepard  (who  was  a  native  of  Foxborough, 
where  he  lived  till  a  few  years  before  his  death)  died 
in  this  town  on  April  5,  1809,  at  the  extreme  age  of 
one  hundred  and  five  years  and  twenty-nine  days. 
He  retained  all  his  faculties  of  mind  and  body,  ex- 
cept his  eyesight,  to  the  last,  and  was  just  able  to 
walk,  with  a  little  assistance,  till  a  few  days  before 
his  death.1  He  lived  over  a  hundred  years  on  his 
native  spot.  He  was  a  man  of  pious  character,  cheer- 
ful in  disposition,  jocose,  witty,  and  of  a  quick  under- 
standing. He  was  deprived  of  his  eyesight  on  a 
sudden  during  the  night,  and  was  not  himself  aware 
of  it  until  the  next  morning,  when  he  sought  in  vain 
for  the  light  of  day.  He  could  distinctly  recollect 
events  which  had  occurred  a  century  before. 

He  had  one  son  and  several  daughters.  Two  of  his 
daughters  lived  to  upwards  of  eighty  years,  and  an- 
other, Mrs.  Mary  Mann,  wife  of  Jason  Mann,  of  Wren- 
tham,  who  died  in -1828,  lived  to  the  age  of  ninety- 
seven  years.  She  retained  all  her  faculties  and  usual 
cheerfulness  and  vivacity  till  the  last  fifteen  years  of 
her  life.  She  abstained  almost  wholly  from  animal 
food,  and  never  was  in  the  habit  of  drinking  tea  or 
coffee,  and  wondered  how  people  could  relish  either. 
Her  most  common  food  was  milk.  She  adhered  to 
the  same  fashion  in  dress  during  life. 

The  original  title  to  the  North  Purchase,  as  already 
stated,  was  derived  from  Alexander,  the  son  of  Mas- 
sasoit,  and  the  elder  brother  of  the  celebrated  Philip, 
sachem  of  Pockanoket.    His  original  name  was  Moo- 


1  It  is  of  him  that  the  well-known  anecdote  is  told,  that  lie  lived  in 
two  counties  (Suffolk  and  Norfolk)  and  four  different  towns  (Dorchester, 
Stoughton,  Wrentham,  Foxborough),  and  yet  never  moved  during  that 
time  from  the  spot  where  he  was  born. 


anam,  afterwards  Wamsutta  or  Wamsitta,  and  finally 
Alexander  Pockanoket,  which  last  name  was  be- 
stowed upon  him,  and  that  of  Philip  upon  his  brother, 
by  the  Plymouth  Court  on  occasion  of  the  death  of 
their  father,  Massasoit.  It  appears  to  have  been  a 
custom  with  the  aborigines  in  this  part  of  the  coun- 
try, at  least  with  their  chiefs,  to  assume  new  names 
on  the  decease  of  any  one  of  the  family  to  which 
they  belonged.  This  custom  may  perhaps  be  traced 
to  some  Eastern  origin,  as  many  of  the  Indian  cere- 
monies have  already  been  by  historians. 

On  a  visit  which  these  two  sons  made  to  Plymouth, 
June  10,  1660,  during  a  session  of  the  court  which 
commenced  June  6th,  their  English  names,  by  which 
they  were  generally  known  to  us,  were  bestowed  upon 
them. 

A  record  of  this  ceremony  is  preserved  on  the  Old 
Colony  Book,  which  is  here  copied.  This  record 
clearly  proves  that  Massasoit  (concerning  the  time  of 
whose  death  there  has  been  much  controversy)  died 
a  short  time  previous  to  June  10,  1660 : 

"  June  10,  1660.  At  the  earnest  request  of  Wam- 
sitta, desiring  that,  in  regard  his  father  is  lately  de- 
ceased, and  he  being  desirous,  according  to  the  custom 
of  the  natives,  to  change  his  name,  that  the  court  would 
confer  an  English  name  upon  him,  which  accordingly 
they  did,  and  therefore  ordered  that  for  the  future  he 
shall  be  called  by  the  name  of  Alexander  Pockano- 
ket; and  desiring  the  same  in  behalf  of  his  brother, 
they  have  named  him  Phillip." 

This  is  the  origin  of  his  modern  name ;  with  the 
honor  of  being  called  after  the  great  warriors  of  an- 
tiquity the  two  were  greatly  pleased. 

The  colonists,  during  this  friendly  intercourse  with 
the  two  sons  of  the  faithful  Massasoit,  could  not  have 
anticipated  that,  in  the  course  of  a  few  years,  the 
younger  brother,  upon  whom  they  were  then  confer- 
ring the  name  of  an  ancient  conqueror,  and  who  pos- 
sessed all  the  natural  talent  and  ambition  of  his  great 
namesake,  though  not  his  power  or  good  fortune, 
would  soon  become  their  most  dangerous  enemy  and 
the  terror  of  all  New  England. 

It  appears  that  among  some  tribes  of  the  natives 
the  custom  prevailed  of  changing  their  habitations  as 
well  as  their  names  on  the  decease  of  a  member  of 
the  family.  I  have  learned  from  a  reliable  source 
the  following  instance  :  On  a  part  of  the  farm  of  the 
late  Ebenezer  Daggett,  previous  to  its  occupation  by 
the  whites  and  for  some  years  after,  resided  several 
families  by  the  name  of  Read,  who  were  said  to  be  of 
a  mixed  race,  Indian  and  negro,  and  who  were  al- 
ways observed  to  change  the  location  of  their  huts 
on  the  death  of  any  one  of  their  number.  This  oc- 
curred several  times  within  the  observation  of  the 
early  settlers.  This  custom  they  probably  derived 
from  their  Indian  descent. 

The  survivors  who  lived  till  after  the  "  East  Bay 
road"  was  laid  out,  which  passed  near  their  dwell- 
ings, requested  that,  when  they  died,  they  might  be 


ATTLEBOROUGH. 


555 


buried  near  that  road,  with  their  heads  towards  it, 
"so  that  they  could  hear  the  newes  when  the  great  post- 
stage  passed." 

Their  request  was  complied  with,  and  they  were 
buried  a  few  rods  from  the  route  where  the  old  road 
passed,  with  their  heads  iu  that  direction.  The  place 
where  they  were  buried  is  still  pointed  out  in  a  small 
valley,  on  elevated  ground.  The  hillocks  over  their 
graves  (four  in  number)  were  distinctly  visible  within 
the  remembrance  of  the  author. 

The  postman's  horn  has  never  disturbed  their 
slumbers,  and  the  "  newes"  of  the  great  post-stage, 
for  which  they  longed,  has  never  reached  their  ears. 
The  plowshare  of  the  husbandman  has  long  since 
leveled  the  mounds  that  covered  their  graves.  The 
postman's  stage  has  long  ago  disappeared,  and  his 
horn  has  ceased  its  echoes  over  these  hills  and  val- 
leys. The  sleepers  still  wait  for  the  coming  of  the 
"  newes"  from  the  changed  scenes  around  them. 

The  circumstance  of  the  bestowment  of  these 
names  upon  these  brothers  is  mentioned  by  ancient 
historians,  but  not  the  occasion  of  it,  and  without 
fixing  any  precise  date.  They  have  usually  assigned 
a  date  several  years  earlier  as  the  period  of  Massa- 
soit's  death  ;  but  modern  biographers  and  historians 
have  generally  supposed  it  several  years  later  than 
the  true  period.1 

In  many  of  the  ancient  towns  in  the  colonies  there 
were  occasionally  found  original  and  eccentric  char- 
acters, who  preferred  the  wilderness  to  the  more  cul- 
tivated parts  of  the  country.  Among  the  early  in- 
habitants in  this  town  was  one  Joseph  Chaplin,  who 
became  a  proprietor  and  a  large  landholder.  He  was 
of  respectable  descent.  He  came  here  from  Rowley, 
Mass.,  and  was  a  descendant  from  Rev.  Hugh  Chap- 
lin, who  came  over  in  1638,  and  lived  and  died  in  that 
town. 

He  was  a  man  of  peculiar  tastes  and  habits,  and 
eccentric  in  his  conduct.  He  laid  out  a  large  quan- 
tity of  land  (in  the  whole  about  seven  hundred  acres), 
including  the  most  of  that  large  tract  of  land  called 
the  "Half- "Way  Swamp,"  and  his  other  lands  were 
located  on  the  "  East  Bay  road"  and  vicinity.  His 
mania  seemed  to  be  the  acquisition  of  land,  but  he 
could  cultivate  only  a  small  portion  of  his  extensive 
possessions,  and  could  derive  no  profits  from  the  rest. 
He  lived  alone  a  hermit's  life,  abjuring  all  society, 
especially  that  of  the  female  sex.  The  cause  of  this 
seclusion  is  not  positively  known,  but  tradition  says 
it  was  the  faithlessness  of  a  young  lady  to  whom  he 
was  attached  in  early  life.  Chaplin  was  not  morose, 
but  naturally  benevolent  and  kind.     He  planted  sev- 


1  B.  B.  Thatcher,  in  his  "  Indian  Biography,"  lately  published,  main- 
tains that  Massasoit'e  death  must  have  occurred  several  years  subse- 
quent tolC61.  His  words  are,  "Their  father  not  being  mentioned  as 
having  attended  them  at  the  observance  of  the  ceremony  (the  confirma- 
tion of  a  treaty,  etc.)  has  probably  occasioned  the  suggestion  of  his 
death.  It  would  be  a  sufficient  explanation  of  his  absence,  however, 
that  he  was  now  an  old  man,  ami  that  the  distance  of  Sowams  from 
Plymouth  was  more  than  forty  miles.-'   (Vol.  i.  chap.  vii.  p.  141.) 


eral  orchards,  and  raised  a  variety  of  fruits.  He  would 
permit  the  neighboring  women  to  come  and  partake 
the  abundant  fruits  of  his  orchards,  but  was  always 
careful  to  retire  out  of  sight  on  the  occasion,  and  so 
remained  till  they  were  gone.  He  kept  a  large  stock 
of  cattle,  built  his  own  house,  cooked  his  own  food, 
and  made  his  own  clothes.  His  only  companions 
were  a  number  of  large  cats,  who  lived  luxuriously 
on  his  abundant  stores.  His  name  is  found  on  several 
committees  relating  to  the  public  lands,  of  which  he 
was  a  shareholder.  He  died  about  1750  at  an  ad- 
vanced age.  His  property  was  divided  among  his 
heirs-at-law,  two  nephews  and  a  niece.  They  sold  his 
estate  here,  and  none  of  them  remained  in  town. 

In  the  most  ancient  burying-ground,  laid  out  by 
Woodcock,  and  where  the  first  interment  was  made 
the  last  of  April,  1676,  is  the  celebrated  epitaph  on 
Caesar.  He  was  given  by  his  mother,  while  he  was  an 
infant,  to  Lieut.  Josiah  Maxcy.  When  the  latter 
died,  Cresar  came  into  the  hands  of  Levi  Maxcy. 
Being  a  waiter  in  the  public-house  so  long  kept  on 
the  site  of  the  "  Old  Garrison,"  and  which  in  those 
days  was  the  resort  of  many  travelers  on  that  route, 
he  was  "  known  to  all  the  region  round."  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  Church  at  North  Attleborough. 
Tradition  has  preserved  numerous  anecdotes  of  him. 
He  proved  through  a  long  life  a  remarkably  honest 
and  faithful  servant  in  the  family  where  he  lived.  He 
survived  his  first  master,  and  after  his  own  death,  Jan. 
15,  1780,  was  buried  in  the  same  yard.  A  decent 
stone  was  raised  over  his  grave  by  his  younger  master, 
Levi  Maxcy,  in  whose  care  he  was  left,  with  the  fol- 
lowing inscription,  which,  in  its  graphic  lines,  will 
long  preserve  the  memory  of  "Caesar,  the  faithful 
Ethiopian"  : 

"  Here  lies  the  best  of  slaves, 
Now  turning  into  dust; 
Cassar,  the  Ethiopian,  craves 
A  place  among  the  just. 

His  faithful  soul  has  fled 

To  realms  of  heavenly  light, 
And  by  the  blood  that  Jesus  shed 

Is  changed  from  Black  to  White. 

January  15  he  quitted  the  stage, 
In  the  77th  year  of  his  age. 

"  1780." 

Many  of  the  people  of  this  town  have  emigrated  to 
other  parts  of  the  country.  Nearly  a  hundred  years 
ago  a  company  of  young  men  from  our  town,  called 
the  "  Nine  Partners,"  went  into  the  wilderness  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  purchased  a  tract  of  land  in  Sus- 
quehanna County;  a  number  of  families  from  this 
place  soon  followed,  and  thus  they  founded  the  town- 
ship of  Harford,  and  the  enterprise  and  the  honorable 
career  of  their  descendants  have  done  no  discredit  to 
the  town  of  their  nativity. 

Various  families  at  different  periods  removed  to 
Vermont,  New  Hampshire,  Ohio,  and  Western  New 
York,  and  some  ninety  years  ago  many  emigrated  to 


556 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


different  towns  in  Maine,  and  laid  the  foundation  for 
some  of  them. 

The  first  inhabitants  of  the  town  were  a  substantial 
and  respectable  class  of  persons.  They  were,  like 
most  of  the  settlers  of  the  other  towns  in  the  Old  Col- 
ony, emigrants  from  England,  seldom  any  of  them 
from  Scotland  and  Wales.  They  were  the  right  men 
and  women  to  subdue  and  cultivate  a  new  country, 
and  plant  the  civilization  of  their  native  land  in  this 
wilderness ;  to  introduce  here  the  institutions,  polit- 
ical and  religious,  in  which  they  had  been  educated 
at  home.  Many  of  the  first  planters  had  been  pre- 
viously living  in  old  Rehoboth.  It  would  be  inter- 
esting to  dwell  longer  and  more  in  detail  on  the 
ancient  history  of  the  town,  to  which  I  have  devoted 
the  most  labor,  and  which  is  the  most  valuable  to  the 
present  generation,  and  the  most  liable  to  perish 
unless  rescued  now,  but  that  task  must  be  left  to 
another  occasion,  and  avoid  extending  this  article 
beyond  the  limits  I  had  assigned  myself. 

At  the  time  our  forefathers  took  possession  of  the 
North  Purchase  it  was  almost  destitute  of  population, 
there  being  only  a  small  plantation  of  Indians  at 
Sinuichitaconet,  near  the  north  line  of  Attleborough 
Gore,  now  Cumberland.  The  first  white  population 
were  mostly  engaged  in  agriculture,  with  only  the 
mechanic  arts  necessary  among  such  a  people.  There 
being  so  much  vacant  territory  within  reach  of  all 
emigrants,  the  population  of  the  town  at  first  increased 
slowly,  but  since  manufactures  were  introduced  and 
their  kindred  arts,  with  the  inventive  genius  of  many 
of  its  citizens,  it  has  increased  rapidly  with  its  valu- 
ation and  amount  of  business.  But  few  towns  have 
a  more  interesting  early  history,  or  a  more  honorable 
list  of  useful,  learned,  and  distinguished  public  men, 
biographical  sketches  of  some  of  whom  have  been 
already  given  in  this  history. 


CHAPTER    XLV. 

ATTLEBOROUGH.i— (Continued.) 
Schools — Industries — Societies,  etc. 

Public  Schools. — Among  the  early  votes  of  the 
towns  in  Plymouth  Colony  we  always  find  the  record, 
"The  meeting-house  shall  stand  in  the  midst  of  the 
town."  So  it  was  in  Rehoboth,  whose  inhabitants 
two  hundred  years  ago  were  the  lawful  owners  of 
Attleborough  and  Cumberland,  and  whose  votes  fur- 
nished all  the  schooling  that  the  children  enjoyed 
down  to  the  incorporation  of  the  town.  Our  ances- 
tors were  determined  to  lay  the  foundations  of  a  re- 
ligious commonwealth,  and  as  often  as  they  were  with- 
out a  pastor,  so  often  they  "  voted  and  agreed  to  seek 

1  By  B.  Porter,  Jr. 


an  able  man  for  the  work  of  the  ministry,  such  an  one 
as  may  be  satisfactory  to  the  generality." 

But  our  forefathers  were  no  less  earnest  to  found  an 
intelligent  commonwealth.  Whenever  lots  were  drawn 
for  a  division  of  land  among  the  proprietors,  the 
schoolmaster,  as  well  as  the  pastor  or  teacher,  had 
allotments  assigned  to  him.  Hardly  did  they  fix 
upon  the  territory  for  their  habitations  ere  they  began 
to  plant  a  college  for  the  education  of  their  sons. 
Rehoboth  was  not  behind  other  towns  in  this  respect, 
for  we  find  one  of  her  townsmen  was  instructed  to 
write  to  the  young  gentleman  at  Dorchester  "  to  sig- 
nify to  him  that  it  is  the  town's  desire  that  he  would  be 
pleased  to  come  up  and  teach  a  school."  Not  long 
after  the  townsmen  acquainted  the  town  that  they 
had  agreed  with  Mr.  Edward  Howard  to  teach  school 
"  at  twenty  pounds  a  year  and  his  diet,  besides  what 
the  court  doth  allow  in  that  case."  In  the  spring  of 
1699,  Thomas  Robinson  kept  a  reading  and  writing 
school,  it  is  inferred,  for  boys  only,  since  in  December 
following  the  selectmen  agreed  with  Robert  Dickson 
to  keep  school  for  six  months,  "  he  engaging  to  do  his 
utmost  endeavor  to  teach  both  sexes  of  boys  and  girls 
to  read  English  and  write  and  cast  accounts.  In  con- 
sideration of  such  service  the  said  selectmen,  in  the 
town's  behalf,  do  engage  to  pay  him  thirteen  pounds, 
one-half  in  silver  money,  and  the  other  half  in  good 
merchantable  board  at  the  current  and  merchantable 
price." 

Ten  years  afterwards  the  course  of  study  was  en- 
larged, since  we  find  the  record  that  "  the  schoolmas- 
ter agreed  to  instruct  in  reading,  writing,  grammar, 
and  arithmetic."  All  these  votes  were  in  accordance 
with  the  law  of  1647,  providing  for  the  taxing  of  the 
people  of  the  towns  for  the  support  of  free  public 
schools,  to  which  every  child  might  have  access, — 
the  first  legislative  act  in  the  world  affording  free 
public  instruction,  through  a  general  taxation  of  all 
the  people,  to  the  children  of  all  the  people. 

In  1744  it  was  made  imperative  on  towns  contain- 
ing one  hundred  families  or  more  to  support  a  teacher 
who,  in  addition  to  all  the  English  branches,  had  a 
competent  knowledge  of  the  Greek  and  Latin  lan- 
guages. This  was  the  origin  of  the  famous  grammar 
school.  Rehoboth  complied  with  the  law,  and  voted 
thirty  pounds  "  for  the  upholding  of  a  grammar  school 
in  town." 

Thus  far  the  history  of  our  public  schools  is  inti- 
mately connected  with  the  ancient  town  once  em- 
bracing Attleborough  in  its  limits.  The  first  record 
in  relation  to  schools  after  the  incorporation  of  the 
town  is  March  20,  1716,  as  follows  :  "  It  was  voted  and 
agreed  upon  that  Deacon  Daggett  should  be  school- 
master." In  the  same  year  it  is  also  recorded,  "  At  a 
town-meeting  Lawfully  warned  the  17th  of  December, 
1716,  for  to  Consider  and  Resolve  what  they  will  do 
with  Respect  to  the  Hireing  of  A  School-master  and 
see  whether  they  accept  of  Mr.  Josiah  Jacques  as 
school-master  on  any  of  those  terms  Mr.  Freeman 


ATTLEBOROUGH. 


557 


has  agreed  for  him  the  said  Jacques,  it  was  voted  to 
hire  Mr.  Jacques  of  Mr.  Freeman  for  one  year  for 
a  School-master,  and  to  pay  Mr.  Freeman  twenty 
pounds,  in  current  money  of  this  province,  or  propor- 
tionally for  less  time,  if  he  should  not  stay  so  long.'' 
As  the  Mr.  Freeman  here  referred  to  was  David  Free- 
man, who  lived  near  the  graveyard  at  South  Attle- 
horough,  it  is  evident  that  the  school  was  kept  in  that 
section  of  the  town.  At  this  time,  and  for  nearly  one 
hundred  years  afterwards,  the  schools  of  Attleborough 
were  kept,  not  in  school-houses,  but  in  the  dwellings 
of  the  inhabitants. 

During  the  year  1717,  Thomas  Cathcart,  of  Mar- 
tha's Vineyard,  served  the  town  as  schoolmaster  for 
thirty  pounds,  for  which  he  gave  his  receipt,  closing 
with  the  emphatic  words  of  the  time,  "  I  say  received 
by  me,  Thomas  Cathcart."  At  this  time  the  popula- 
tion of  Attleborough,  including  the  Gore,  as  Cum- 
berland, R.  I.,  was  then  termed,  did  not  exceed  five 
hundred,  and  only  one  school  was  kept.  The  records 
always  speak  of  it  as  the  school,  and  the  teacher  is 
invariably  called  the  school-master. 

Dec.  5,  1818,  it  is  recorded,  "  The  meeting  then  held 
to  consider  what  may  be  done  respecting  the  school, 
to  see  where  the  town  will  place  it ;  whether  by  a 
committee  that  may  then  and  there  be  chosen  to 
manage  that  affair,  or  any  other  way  that  may  be 
thought  proper.  The  Town  voted  and  agreed  that  ye 
school  should  be  kept  seven  months  in  one  quarter  of 
ye  Town  at  a  time,  and  that  Quarter  shall  have  power 
to  place  the  school  as  they  shall  think  most  proper 
and  convenient."  The  town  likewise  chose  a  com- 
mittee of  five  men  to  divide  the  town  into  four  quar- 
ters,— H.  Peck,  Ensigns  Whipple  and  Read,  John 
Lovell,  and  Samuel  Day.  This  committee  had  power 
to  order  which  quarter  should  begin,  and  which 
quarter  next  should  have  the  school,  till  all  have  had 
their  proportion,  viz.,  seven  months. 

There  is  no  record  that  this  committee  ever  re- 
ported, and  it  is  probable  that  no  considerable 
change  was  made  in  the  method  of  public  instruc- 
tion until  the  year  1737,  when  the  town  was  divided 
into  four  districts,  Northwest,  Southwest,  Northeast, 
and  Southeast.  It  appears  from  the  records  of  the 
orders  on  the  treasurer  that  George  Allen  was  the 
schoolmaster  during  the  years  1724,  '26,  '28,  and  '32„ 
his  compensation  varying  from  thirty  to  fifty  pounds. 
Besides,  it  is  inferred  that  he  was  entitled  to  convey- 
ance to  the  scene  of  his  labors,  inasmuch  as  Mr.  Eb- 
enezer  Tiler  was  paid  several  times  for  "horse  hire 
going  to  fetch  ye  schoolmaster."  He  had  likewise 
"his  diet,"  for  the  warrants  for  town-meetings  in 
those  days  frequently  called  upon  the  town  "  to  see 
if  they  will  do  anything  towards  boarding  the  school- 
master." What  branches  of  study  the  youth  pursued 
does  not  appear,  but  probably  reading,  writing,  and 
casting  accounts.  Some  years,  notably  in  1735-36, 
no  school  was  kept,  the  record  being,  "  In  ye  first 
place,  it  was  put  to  vote  to  see  whether  the  town  will 


hire  a  schoolmaster,  and  the  vote  passed  in  the  neg- 
ative." The  teachers  at  this  time,  as  far  as  known, 
were  John  Gratrax,  Benjamin  Ide,  and  John  Rob- 
bins,  Jr.  The  latter  was  evidently  a  prominent  man 
in  his  generation,  as  he  held  the  office  of  town  clerk 
and  selectman  several  years. 

The  next  advance  in  education  in  Attleboroug-h 
was  in  the  spring  of  1745.  This  was  the  year  follow- 
ing the  act  of  the  Legislature  authorizing  the  division 
of  towns  into  school  districts,  and  making  it  obliga- 
tory upon  towns  to  provide  a  teacher  for  all  English 
branches  when  the  number  of  families  equaled  fifty, 
and  adding  Latin  and  Greek  when  the  number  of 
families  reached  one  hundred. 

The  record  says,  "At  a  town-meeting  lawfully 
warned  and  held  ye  14th  day  of  January,  1745, 
voted  to  choose  a  committee  to  divide  the  town 
into  five  parts  and  the  Gore  to  be  one  part.  Voted 
also  that  the  school  be  kept  in  two  places,  six 
months  each  in  each  part,  during  the  next  two  years 
and  six  months."  This  committee  made  the  di- 
vision and  named  the  houses  where  the  school 
should  be  kept.  This  was  the  first  step  towards 
the  district  system,  though  its  inception  was  still 
in  the  future.  By  this  plan  the  school  "  ambulated" 
from  quarter  to  quarter,  and  when  one  quarter  had 
had  its  six  months'  schooling,  three  months  in  each 
of  the  two  places,  it  waited  two  years  and  six  months 
before  its  turn  came  again  to  drink  at  the  fount  of 
knowledge. 

Besides  this  districting  the  town,  another  action 
occurred  at  the  same  time  indicating  that  the  cause 
of  education  received  a  new  impetus  from  some 
source.  The  record  says  the  warrant  contained  the 
following  article  :  "To  see  if  the  town  will  vote  any 
money  to  be  expended  in  keeping  women  schools." 
That  so  important  an  innovation  might  have  due 
consideration,  the  article  was  laid  over  to  an  ad- 
journed meeting,  when  it  was  "  voted  to  raise  thirty 
pounds  old  tenor  money  to  encourage  ye  keeping  of 
women  schools." 

During  several  years  the  records  contain  but  little 
in  regard  to  the  subject  of  schools.  Some  years  ap- 
propriations for  their  support  were  not  apparently 
made.  The  usual  item  for  "  diet"  disappears.  In 
1771  the  east  part  of  the  town  was  granted,  for  some 
unexplained  reason,  one  week's  additional  schooling. 
But  what  women  schools  were  taught,  and  with  what 
success,  we  are  left  in  the  dark. 

With  increasing  population  and  enlarged  areas  of 
occupied  territory,  increased  facilities  for  educational 
advantages  were  required.  In  November,  1771,  the 
town  voted  to  choose  a  committee  "to  divide  the 
town  into  twelve  parts,  and  appointed  the  places 
where  the  school  shall  be  kept."  This  committee 
attended  to  the  duty  assigned  them,  and  after  careful 
consideration  of  the  territory  and  the  wants  of  the 
people  they  decided  to  divide  the  town  into  thirteen 
parts.     They  performed   the  work,  and  submitted  a 


558 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


report  to  that  effect  Oct.  14,  1771.  In  accordance 
with  the  committee's  recommendation,  the  voters, 
then  assembled,  rescinded  the  vote  to  divide  the  town 
into  twelve  parts,  and  then  agreed  and  voted  to  divide 
into  thirteen  parts,  naming  the  houses  wherein  the 
schools  should  be  kept. 

The  schoolmasters  of  the  time  were  men  not  un- 
known to  fame.  Prominent  among  them  was  Elisha 
May,  who  often  held  public  office,  both  civic  and 
military,  during  the  Revolution,  and  was  the  friend 
of  Washington.  His  name  appears  as  schoolmaster 
as  early  as  1768.  The  term  dollars  appears  in  the 
town  records  for  the  first  time  in  connection  with  the 
payment  of  his  salary,  but  at  the  same  time  the 
amount  received  is  stated  in  pounds,  shillings,  and 
pence. 

In  1769,  Ephraim  Starkweather  kept  the  grammar 
school  one  year.  He  was  a  native  of  Rehoboth, 
where  he  did  duty  on  the  Committee  of  Correspond- 
ence in  the  early  days  of  the  Revolution.  He  served 
two  years — 1775  and  1778 — as  representative  to  the 
General  Court,  and  was  three  years  senator  from 
that  town. 

In  1776  the  record  is,  "  Voted  to  divide  the  school 
money,  that  each  one  may  have  his  equal  part.  Voted 
that  no  person  shall  send  out  of  his  own  quarter. 
Voted  that  any  quarter  that  neglects  to  improve  his 
money  within  the  year  shall  lose  it.  Voted  that  each 
quarter  shall  draw  one-thirteenth  of  the  money  raised 
for  schooling."  But  what  sum  of  money  was  raised 
for  that  purpose  does  not  clearly  appear. 

For  ten  years  the  division  of  the  town  into  thirteen 
parts  was  accepted  with  but  little  dissent,  then 
agitation  commenced.  The  old  thirteen  districts  lost 
prestige  with  the  close  of  the  Revolution,  and  in 
1787  the  town  "  voted  to  make  twenty  quarters."  Be- 
fore this  action  was  put  into  practice,  and  at  the  next 
town-meeting,  it  was  "  voted  and  agreed  to  let  the 
quarters  stand  as  they  be,  and  the  money  shall  be  di- 
vided among  the  quarters  according  to  the  number  of 
children  in  said  town  from  four  to  sixteen  years  old." 
This  is  the  first  time  that  school  money  was  appor- 
tioned according  to  the  number  of  pupils  in  a  dis- 
trict,—a  method  of  division  which  obtained  with 
some  interruptions  and  various  modifications  until 
the  abolition  of  the  district  system. 

The  question  of  increasing  the  number  of  quarters, 
as  they  were  persistently  called,  did  not  rest,  and  in 
1789  the  town  was  divided  into  twenty  quarters.  This 
arrangement  continued  until  1808,  when  the  town 
chose  a  committee  and  "districted,"  according  to  a 
late  law  of  the  commonwealth,  into  eighteen  districts. 
The  "  metes  and  bounds"  are  accurately  entered  in 
the  records  in  the  words  and  over  the  signatures  of 
the  committee. 

The  records  give  no  clue  to  the  time  when  school- 
houses  were  erected,  or  of  the  erection  of  any  pre- 
vious to  1804.  The  town  then  voted  authority  to  the 
quarters  to  raise  money  to  build  houses,  to  select  "  a 


spot  where  to  build,"  and  "  to  act  upon  any  other 
matter  that  may  be  deemed  beneficial  to  said  districts 
and  not  contrary  to  law." 

This  authority  seems  to  have  been  first  employed 
by  the  Old  Town  district.  The  district  at  the  falls 
soon  after  took  steps  to  erect  a  house  by  a  warrant 
over  the  signatures  of  the  selectmen,  and  after  1808 
most  of  the  quarters  received  at  different  times  simi- 
lar dispensations  at  the  hands  of  the  town  fathers. 
The  town  annually  elected  prudential  committees  for 
the  districts,  who  received  and  disbursed  the  school 
money,  and  previously  to  1827  contracted  uncondi- 
tionally with  teachers.  At  this  time  committees  were 
chosen  by  the  town,  sometimes  one  person  from  each 
district  and  at  other  times  two  persons,  '"  to  view  and 
inspect  the  schools."  But  their  actions  and  reports 
have  not  been  handed  down  to  this  generation. 

In  1804,  for  the  first  time,  a  committee  was  chosen 
to  select  and  recommend  a  uniform  list  of  text-books 
for  all  the  schools. '  This  committee  consisted  of  Rev. 
John  Wilder,  Rev.  Nathan  Holman,  Rev.  James 
Read,  Ebenezer  Bacon,  John  Richardson,  Jr.,  Dr. 
William  Blanding,  Joel  Read,  Elijah  Ingraham,  and 
Peter  Thacher.  This  supervisory  committee  was  re- 
elected, with  some  resignations  and  changes,  two  or 
three  times. 

The  appropriations  for  "tuition  and  schooling" 
after  the  Revolution  for  forty  years  were  made  per 
capita,  the  children  from  four  to  sixteen  years  of  age 
being  numbered  usually  the  1st  of  November.  The 
sum  voted  and  allowed  increased  from  fifty-eight  cents 
to  each  child  in  1798  to  seventy-five  cents  in  1801,  and 
one  dollar  in  1807,  at  which  sum  it  continued  until 
1820.  The  several  districts  received  an  amount  of 
money  determined  by  the  number  of  scholars  in  the 
district,  except  in  1815,  when  one-half  was  divided 
equally  among  the  eighteen  districts  and  the  other 
half  distributed  by  the  scholars.  But  how  much 
money  was  raised  or  the  number  of  weeks'  schooling 
it  furnished  is  not  made  evident  by  the  town  records. 

Since  1827  the  history  of  the  public  schools  is  writ- 
ten in  the  reports  of  the  several  superintending  com- 
mittees the  town  has  annually  elected.  The  details 
would  fill  several  pages.  The  gradual  increase  of  the 
appropriations  for  educational  purposes  from  one 
dollar  per  scholar  to  eight  dollars,  the  erection  of 
school-houses,  the  interest  or  lack  of  interest  in  the 
cause,  the  increase  of  the  number  of  scholars  from 
six  hundred  to  more  than  two  thousand,  are  facts 
known  to  every  citizen.  The  pertinacious  adherence 
to  the  district  system  established  in  1789,  and  contin- 
ued modified  and  perfected  during  seventy  years,  until, 
outliving  its  usefulness,  it  was  abolished  by  the  State 
at  the  commencement  of  the  year  1883,  and  the  early 
withdrawal  of  pupils  from  the  grammar  and  even  the 
intermediate  schools,  to  the  manifest  injury  of  the 
child,  are  equally  well  known. 

The  establishment  of  two  high  schools,  one  at  At- 
tleborough  and  one  at  North  Attleborough,  in  May, 


ATTLE  BOROUGH. 


559 


1867,  was  the  most  marked  advance  in  this  period  of 
the  town's  school  history.  These  schools  furnish  all 
who  wish  and  are  qualified  to  enjoy  their  advantages 
thorough  instruction  in  the  higher  branches  of  learn- 
ing, according  to  the  laws  of  the  commonwealth. 
During  the  fifteen  years  of  their  existence  they  have 
continued  the  even  tenor  of  their  way,  not  always 
with  full  ranks,  but  with  steady  beneficial  influence. 

The  East  School  has  had  during  this  time  four  prin- 
cipals—Calvin  G.Hill,  William  Wilkins,A.F.  Wood, 
and  J.  Osmond  Tiffany,  and  is  now  in  a  prosperous 
condition.  Its  average  membership  has  been  about 
forty-five.  The  assistant  teachers  have  been  Mrs.  C. 
G.  Hill,  Misses  Tonks,  Kelton,  Sheffield,  Hawes,  and 
Helen  W.  Metcalf,  the  present  efficient  teacher. 

The  North  High  School  has  had  two  principals, — 
Burrill  Porter,  Jr.,  from  May,  1867,  to  July,  1879; 
and  Henry  M.  Maxson,  from  1879  to  the  present 
time.  There  have  been  six  assistants, — Miss  Lucy  L. 
Holden,  Mrs.  Sarah  Austin,  Mary'I.  Hinkley  (now 
Mrs.  E.  A.  Hall),  Elizabeth  K.  Goss  (now  Mrs. 
Albert  Dodge,  of  Minneapolis,  Minn.),  and  Miss 
Agnes  Peirce.  Its  average  membership  has  been 
fifty  pupils,  and  its  graduates,  numbering  about  one 
hundred  and  fifty,  are  among  the  best  scholars  in 
town. 

The  appropriations  for  the  support  of  schools  have 
increased  from  eight  thousand  dollars  in  1867  to 
twenty-four  thousand  in  1883.  The  State  has  abol- 
ished the  school  districts.  The  town  erected  two 
new  high  school  buildings  in  1881  and  1882  at  a  cost 
of  thirty-one  thousand  dollars.  The  town  has  taken 
possession  of  the  property  of  the  former  districts, 
which,  exclusive  of  high  school  buildings,  is  valued 
at  one  hundred  thousand  dollars.  A  superintendent 
of  public  instruction  has  been  chosen,  and  the  schools 
are  in  a  fair  way  to  enter  upon  a  new  career  of  pros- 
perity. 

The  present  superintending  committee  are  Samuel 
P.  Lathrop,  chairman;  Charles  E.  Bliss,  secretary; 
Henry  Bice,  George  A.  Adams,  Rev.  John  White- 
hill,  and  Rev.  George  E.  Osgood;  Superintendent, 
Francis  E.  Burnett. 

In  closing  this  monograph  of  the  public  schools  of 
Attleborough,  I  would  not  forget  to  record  that  some 
of  the  old  school  districts  have  funds  whose  income  is 
applied  to  prolonging  and  otherwise  benefiting  the 
schools.  The  school  recently  known  as  District  No.  8 
receives  annually  the  interest  of  seven  hundred  dol- 
lars, devised  nearly  fifty  years  ago  by  a  Mr.  Richards. 
He  was  born  in  Marseilles,  France,  came  to  this  coun- 
try, and  settled  in  South  Attleborough,  where  he  kept 
a  store  for  nearly  a  century.  He  was  never  married, 
and  this  property  was  given  to  the  district,  provided 
it  should  not  be  called  for  within  six  years  by  a 
nephew,  supposed  to  be  living  in  France.  In  senti- 
ment he  was  a  deist.  His  will,  dictated  by  himself, 
disavows  a  belief  in  the  divinity  of  Christ  and  the 
Christian  religion.     He  declared  also  a  disbelief  in 


Mahomet,  and  asserted  a  reliance  in  the  only  living 
and  true  God,  to  whom  he  commended  his  spirit. 
He  was  warmly  attached  to  republican  democracy, 
and  of  choleric  temperament,  and  quite  eccentric. 

The  school  in  the  Holmes  neighborhood  has  the 
income  of  twelve  hundred  dollars. 

In  1843,  Mr.  Abiather  Richardson  died,  conferring 
a  legacy  of  eleven  thousand  dollars  upon  the  ten  dis- 
tricts in  the  East  parish.  His  will  requires  real  estate 
security  for  the  invested  fund,  and  provides  for  a  trien- 
nial election  of  twelve  trustees,  in  whom  the  manage- 
ment of  the  fund  and  the  distribution  of  its  income  are 
vested.  By  careful  management  the  legacy  has  been 
considerably  increased,  and  its  income  materially  pro- 
longs the  schools.  His  gravestone  bears  the  inscrip- 
tion, "  His  legacy  to  common  schools  is  his  best  epi- 
taph and  most  enduring  monument." 

Thus  the  record  shows  that  true  progress  has  been 
made  along  the  years  whose  flight  has  brought  us 
hither,  and  it  may  still  continue  to  be  made  provided 
we  observe  the  Baconian  apothegm  and  "  make  haste 
slowly." 

"Pa/mam  qui  meruit  ferat." 

Industries  — The  means  and  energies  of  the  first 
settlers  were  devoted  to  clearing  up  their  farms.  In 
the  wilderness  which  then  covered  the  territory  of 
Attleborough,  our  fathers  had  neither  time  nor  need 
in  their  simple  living  to  turn  themselves  to  manufac- 
tures. Only  the  arts  necessary  to  living  and  farming 
got  a  footing  in  town  until  near  the  close  of  the  last 
century.  At  that  time  new  industries  commenced 
which  have  had  an  important  influence  upon  the 
character  and  prosperity  of  the  town. 

While  the  war  of  the  Revolution  was  still  in  prog- 
ress, and  its  results  not  foreseen  except  in  the  faith 
of  the  patriots  who  carried  it  ou,  the  manufacture  of 
jewelry  was  begun  by  a  simple  Frenchman  in  the 
year  1780.  This  pioneer  in  the  business  was  known 
as  "  the  foreigner," — perhaps  he  was  the  only  alien  in 
town  at  that  early  period, — and  his  name  cannot  now 
be  ascertained. 

From  this  humble  origin  the  manufacture  of  jew- 
elry has  received  yearly  more  and  more  attention, 
until  now,  in  1883,  Attleborough  is  one  of  the  chief 
places  where  this  industry  flourishes. 

Although  a  hundred  years  have  passed  since  the 
commencement  of  making  jewelry,  yet  as  its  most 
rapid  strides  have  been  made  during  the  last  twenty- 
five  years,  or  more  accurately  during  the  last  decade, 
antiquity,  never  at  peace  with  growth,  has  not  yet 
incrusted  anything  connected  with  it.  Its  success 
has  been  reached  not  by  the  aid  of  united  capital 
under  the  corporate  system,  but  by  the  organizing 
ability  and  most  intelligent  personal  direction  of  in- 
dividual enterprise.  The  industry  has  grown  by  a 
process  of  evolution  from  the  handicraft  of  the  shop 
until  it  has  become  a  rare  combination  of  mechanism 
and  manual  skill  and  dexterity.  Human  ingenuity 
is  taxed  to  its  utmost  to  devise  new  lines  of  novelties 


560 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


and  new  styles  of  staple  goods,  and  the  most  cun- 
ningly-devised machinery  is  employed  in  their  pro- 
duction. Hence  the  well-paid  masters  of  this  art 
have  always  displayed  a  marked  intellectual  activity, 
which  exerts  a  beneficial  influence  upon  the  history 
of  the  town,  a  result  which  always  accompanies  well- 
remunerated  labor  and  the  better  conditions  of  life. 

Progress  has  not  always  been  made  with  equal  step, 
but  it  has  always  brought  large  returns.  Intelligent 
judges  have  estimated  the  value  of  the  product  during 
the  year  1882  at  nearly  ten  millions  of  dollars.  Cer- 
tain it  is  that  during  the'  past  five  years  this  industry 
has  made  an  unusual  stride.  During  this  time  the 
number  of  firms  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  jew- 
elry in  some  of  its  numerous  branches  has  doubled, 
and  the  value  of  the  products  has  increased  in  still 
greater  ratio.  The  goods  produced  find  a  ready 
market  all  over  the  country  and  across  the  Atlantic. 
Whatever  the  varying  demands  of  the  market  may 
be,  whether  for  solid  gold  work  or  for  that  class  in 
which  "  all  is  gold  that  you  see,"  they  are  here 
speedily  met. 

H.  F.  Barrows  &  Co.  is  one  of  the  oldest  firm- 
names  now  engaged  in  the  jewelry  business  in  Attle- 
borough.  Mr.  H.  F.  Barrows,  the  senior  member  of 
the  firm,  began  business  in  1853  in  the  old  shop  south 
of  the  braid-mill,  Attleborough  Falls.  The  next  year 
he  associated  with  him  James  H.  Sturdy,  under  the 
style  of  Barrows  &  Sturdy.  They  moved  to  the  Rich- 
ards manufactory,  North  Attleborough,  in  1856,  and 
in  1857,  Mr.  Sturdy  withdrew,  and  L.  A.  Barrows  and 
E.  S.  Richards  associated  themselves  with  H.  F.  Bar- 
rows, under  the  name  of  H.  F.  Barrows  &  Co.  The 
members  now  are  H.  F.  Barrows  and  H.  F.  Barrows, 
Jr.  For  the  last  twenty-one  years  they  have  occupied 
their  present  factory  on  Broad  Street.  He  was  one 
of  the  first  manufacturers  of  rolled-plate  jewelry  in 
this  section  of  the  town,  and  continues  to  make  the 
finest  goods  of  this  class,  of  all  varieties  and  patterns, 
which  the  market  demands.  They  employ  an  average 
of  one  hundred  and  fifty  hands,  with  a  yearly  pay- 
roll of  seventy-five  thousand  dollars.  New  York 
office,  177  Broadway. 

F.  G.  Whitney  &  Co.  began  business  in  1849, 
when  F.  G.  Whitney  and  E.  W.  Davenport  formed  a 
partnership  to  manufacture  jewelry  in  the  building 
which  now  stands  on  East  Street.  In  1852  they  built 
and  used  for  a  shop  the  building  now  occupied  by 
John  Stanley  &  Son  for  a  carriage-shop.  Mr.  Whit- 
ney, after  several  changes  in  the  firm,  moved,  July, 
1856,  to  E.  I.  Richards  &  Co.'s  factory,  where  he  did 
a  successful  business,  often  employing  from  one  to  two 
hundred  operatives.  In  1876  he  built  the  brick  fac- 
tory on  Chestnut  Street,  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  in 
length  by  thirty-five  feet  in  width,  and  three  stories  in 
height,  recently  destroyed  by  fire,  but  now  rebuilding. 
The  old  firm  manufactured  fancy  brass-work,  novel- 
ties, specialties,  and  fancy  goods,  which  the  market  in 
its  varying  needs  calls  for.     The  same  business  is  now 


conducted  by  his  sons,  George  B.  Whitney  and  Edwin 
F.  Whitney,  under  the  firm-name  of  F.  G.  Whitney 
&  Co.  They  are  manufacturing  successfully  a  large 
line  of  goods  for  the  domestic  and  foreign  markets. 

The  firm  of  Ira  Richards  &  Co.  will  long  be 
memorable  in  the  history  of  the  jewelry  industry  in 
Attleborough.  In  1833,  H.  M.  and  E.  Ira  Richards 
formed  a  copartnership.  In  1834,  Ira  Richards,  then 
a  member  of  the  firm  of  Draper,  Tiff't  &  Co.,  with- 
drew from  that  firm  and  entered  into  partnership 
with  his  son  and  cousin  as  Ira  Richards  &  Co.  The 
new  firm  began  well.  It  invested  two  thousand  dol- 
lars, ran  twenty  weeks,  and  cleared  twenty  thousand 
dollars.  Then,  Dec.  14,  1836,  H.  M.  Richards  with- 
drew, and  George  Morse  and  Virgil  Draper  were  re- 
ceived as  partners.  In  1841  both  of  the  last-named 
gentlemen  in  their  turn  withdrew,  and  Abiel  Cod- 
ding, Jr.,  the  skillful  foreman  of  the  factory,  was 
admitted  to  one-third  interest  in  the  business.  Ira 
Richards  died  in  1845,  and  Josiah  D.  Richards  re- 
ceived a  one-third  interest  in  his  father's  place.  E. 
Ira  Richards,  Abial  Codding,  Jr.,  and  Josiah  D.  Rich- 
ards, with  equal  interests,  under  the  firm-name  of  Ira 
Richards  &  Co.,  carried  on  business  together  with 
remarkable  success  for  thirty  years,  until  the  firm  ac- 
quired a  national  reputation.  The  number  of  their 
employes  averaged  for  many  years  from  two  hundred 
to  two  hundred  and  twenty-five.  The  variety,  quan- 
tity, and  excellence  of  their  goods  has  never  been 
surpassed  by  any  firm  in  town. 

F.  B.  Richards  &  Co.  manufacture  jewelry  in  the 
new  factory  building  of  E.  Ira  Richards,  occupying 
the  entire  second  floor.  They  make  the  first  quality 
of  rolled-gold  plated  goods,  in  bracelets,  bangles,  sets, 
and  novelties,  to  meet  the  comprehensive  demands  of 
the  trade.  They  employ  one  hundred  and  forty  hands, 
with  a  yearly  pay-roll  of  sixty-five  thousand  dollars. 
The  firm-name  in  New  York  is  E.  Ira  Richards  &  Co. 
They  are  the  successors  of  the  well-known  firm  of  Ira 
Richards  &  Co.,  the  members  of  the  firm  being  E.  Ira 
Richards,  F.  B.  Richards,  and  E.  Ira  Richards,  Jr. 

The  firm  of  Stephen  Richardson  &  Co.  dates  back 
to  the  year  1837,  when  Stephen  Richardson  and 
Abial  Codding  manufactured  jewelry  on  the  south 
side  of  Elm  Street,  near  the  Ten-Mile  River.  Here 
they  employed  ten  hands.  In  1840  went  into  the 
factory  of  Calvin  Richards,  near  the  present  residence 
of  Abial  Codding.  Here  the  number  of  workmen  was 
doubled.  Moved  thence  to  the  factory  of  Draper, 
Lifft  &  Co.,  near  Barden's  store.  At  this  time  David 
Capron,  who  had  been  in  company  with  Mr.  Rich- 
ardson, retired,  and  Samuel  R.  Miller  was  admitted  as 
Richardson  &  Miller.  At  this  time  the  goods  were 
sold  at  Western  hotels  until  Miller  opened  an  office 
in  Maiden  Lane,  New  York,  but  in  1856  he  withdrew 
from  the  firm.  Stephen  Richardson  continued  alone 
until  1859,  when  his  son,  Clarence  H.  Richardson,  be- 
came his  partner,  and  the  office  was  removed  to  177 
Broadway,   New    York,    where   it   remained    twenty 


f  I  r-fe^ 


ATTLEBOROUGH. 


561 


years.  The  firm  was  now  styled  Sephen  Richardson 
&  Co.  Their  factory  was  owned  by  Stephen  Richard- 
son, on  East  Street.  The  building  was  burned  in 
August,  1870,  and  immediately  rebuilt.  Stephen 
Richardson  died  in  1877,  and  his  son  continues  the 
business.  During  the  last  twenty  years  they  have 
manufactured  a  large  variety  of  goods,  chains,  and 
novelties, — gold,  silver,  copper,  or  brass, — anything 
the  market  calls  for.  They  are  the  only  firm  that 
ever  shipped  goods  to  Japan,  and  were  the  first  to 
open  an  export  trade  in  jewelry  with  Europe. 

F.  S.  Draper  was  in  company  with  Draper,  Tifft  & 
Co.  six  years  before  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  the 
other  members  of  the  firm  being  his  father,  Josiah 
Draper,  John  Lifft,  and  George  Horr.  George 
Horr  died,  and  Joseph  Bacon  became  a  member  of 
the  linn,  which  was  now  styled  Draper,  Tifft  &  Bacon. 
In  1862,  Mr.  F.  S.  Draper  sold  his  interest  to  the  rest 
of  the  firm  and  entered  the  army.  Returning  from 
th,e  war  in  1865,  in  connection  with  F.  S.  Bailey  and 
F.  G.  Pate,  he  organized  the  firm  of  Draper,  Pate  & 
Bailey,  carrying  on  business  first  in  E.  Ira  Richards' 
manufactory,  and  then  in  the  stone  building  of  the 
Whiting  Manufacturing  Company.  In  1875,  Mr. 
Pate  withdrew,  and  two  years  later  Mr.  Draper  bought 
out  F.  S.  Bailey's  interest,  and  continued  the  business. 
The  original  firm  was  located  in  Plain ville,  and  em- 
ployed one  hundred  and  fifty  hands  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  fine  gold  jewelry.  Draper,  Pate  &  Bailey 
increased  from  twenty-five  to  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  hands  in  two  years,  and  did  a  most  successful 
business.  F.  S.  Draper  now  employs  sixty-five  hands, 
with  an  annual  pay-roll  of  fifty-five  thousand  dollars, 
in  the  manufacture  of  plated  charms  and  fire-gilt 
chains. 

Theron  Ide  Smith,  son  of  Stephen  and  Mercy  S. 
(Ide)  Smith,  was  born  in  the  south  part  of  Attle- 
borough,  April  9,  1836. 

Stephen  Smith  was  born  in  Mansfield,  Mass.,  in 
January,  1796.  He  married,  first,  Ruth  Hodges,  by 
whom  he  had  one  son,  Stephen  N. ;  second,  Mercy  S., 
daughter  of  Nathaniel  Ide,  who  married  Hannah 
Daggett,  daughter  of  Col.  John  Daggett,  an  officer  in 
the  American  Revolution.  Mercy  was  named  after 
Mercy  Shepard,  wife  of  the  aforesaid  Col.  John  Dag- 
gett, and  daughter  of  John  Shepard  "  the  ancient," 
who  lived  to  the  great  age  of  one  hundred  and  five. 
(Of  this  John  Shepard,  we  extract  from  John  Dag- 
gett's "Sketch  of  the  History  of  Attleborough,"  1834, 
the  following:  "John  Shepard,  who  was  a  native  of 
Foxborough,  where  he  lived  until  a  few  years  before 
his  death,  died  in  this  town  in  1809,  aged  one  hun- 
dred and  five  years.  He  retained  all  his  faculties  of 
mind  and  body,  except  his  eyesight,  to  the  last,  and 
was  able  to  walk,  with  a  little  assistance,  till  a  few 
days  before  his  death.  He  lived  over  one  hundred 
years  on  his  native  spot,  and  during  this  time  lived 
in  two  counties  and  four  different  towns.  He  was  a 
man  of  pious  character,  cheerful  in  disposition,  jocose, 
36 


witty,  and  of  a  quick  undertanding.  He  was  deprived 
of  his  eyesight  on  a  sudden  during  the  night,  and  was 
not  himself  aware  of  it  until  the  next  morning,  when 
he  sought  in  vain  for  the  light  of  day.  He  had  one 
son  and  several  daughters,  two  of  whom  lived  to  be 
over  eighty  years  old,  another,  Mrs.  Mary  Mann,  of 
Wrentham,  died  in  1828,  aged  ninety-seven.") 

Stephen  Smith  was  a  farmer,  purchased  the  old 
Joel  Read  farm  of  eighty  acres,  in  Attleborough,  and 
resided  there  during  life.  He  took  quite  an  interest  in 
town  and  county  affairs.  He  was  a  Free-Soiler  when 
but  three  or  four  in  the  town  advocated  those  prin- 
ciples. He  was  strict  in  his  religious  belief,  Calvinist 
Baptist,  and  a  prudent,  temperate,  reserved  man,  of 
few  words,  honest  in  his  dealings,  and  of  sterling  in- 
tegrity. From  the  small  farm  of  six  or  seven  hundred 
dollars  his  thrift  accumulated  a  fine  property,  valued 
at  his  death  at  six  thousand  dollars.  He  had  by  his 
wife,  Mercy,  Ruth  A.  (deceased),  Maria  (deceased), 
Josephine  (Mrs.  William  Gooding,  deceased),  Han- 
nah D.  (married  George  Crawford,  of  Pawtucket,  and 
died,  leaving  one  son,  Eugene  A.,  who  is  now  clerk 
for  Mr.  Smith),  Eliza  E.  (married  (1)  John  Shurtleff, 
(2)  George  F.  Crowninshield,  and  died,  leaving  two 
children),  and  Theron  Ide. 

Theron  had  the  common  school  advantages  of  a 
farmer's  boy,  working  on  the  farm  until  he  was  eigh- 
teen, when,  feeling  that  there  was  a  more  congenial 
and  profitable  life  for  him  than  agriculture,  he  came 
to  North  Attleborough  and  entered  the  employ  of 
Ira  Richards  &  Co.  as  an  apprentice  to  the  jewelry 
trade.  After  remaining  one  year  business  became 
dull,  and  he  only  worked  eight  hours  a  day  at  six 
cents  an  hour.  He  then  went  to  work  for  J.  T.  Bacon 
&  Co.,  Plainville,  "  chasing"  jewelry  at  one  dollar  per 
day,  which  price  was  soon  voluntarily  raised  by  his 
employers  to  one  dollar  and  twenty-five  cents.  Re- 
maining here  six  months,  by  illness  he  was  compelled 
to  stop  work  for  several  months  and  entirely  quit 
"chasing."  His  next  employment  was  work  at  the 
bench  for  Barrows  &  Sturdy,  where  he  remained  until 
his  marriage,  May  16,  1856,  to  Emily  C,  daughter  of 
Abiel  and  Chloe  (Daggett)  Codding.1  She  was  born 
Feb.  4,  1839. 

In  June  he  commenced  work  for  Merritt  &  Draper, 
and  stayed  until  he  started  in  business  for  himself, 
June  1,  1859,  with  D.  D.  Codding,  as  Codding  and 
Smith,  in  a  small  room  on  the  lower  floor  of  the 
same  building  now  occupied  by  them.  After  one 
year  they  removed  to  Mansfield  Centre,  and  con- 
tinued in  a  small  way  until  1861,  when  the  war  broke 
up  the  business  and  they  gave  up  manufacturing. 
They  could  collect  no  money  on  goods  sold,  and  left 
their  tools  idle,  and  in  May,  1861,  lost  everything  by 
the  burning  of  the  building  containing  them.  Mr. 
Smith  obtained  employment  from  William  Boyd,  of 
Mansfield,  making  cap-boxes  for  the  army,  and  con- 

1  See  biography  of  Abiel  Codding. 


562 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


tinued  there  until  times  began  to  improve,  and,  in 
the  spring  of  1862,  he  returned  to  North  Attlebor- 
ough  and  resumed  work  with  Merritt  &  Draper,  jew- 
elry manufacturers,  and  took  charge  of  the  shop 
from  July,  1862,  to  July,  1865,  when  he  started  busi- 
ness again  for  himself  in  North  Attleborough,  in 
jewelry  manufacturing,  with  his  old  partner  and  C. 
H.  Ames  as  partners,  under  the  firm  name  of  Cod- 
ding, Smith  &  Co.,  in  S.  Richardson's  building.  This 
firm  lasted  two  years  and  made  some  money.  Then 
Mr.  Ames  retired,  and  Mr.  A.  E.  Codding  came  in 
as  partner,  firm-name  continuing  unchanged.  They 
were  now  in  good  tide  of  business,  employing  fifty 
hands.  In  January,  1867,  they  removed  their  factory 
into  Dennis  Everett's  building,  and  for  three  years  con- 
tinued, doing  a  prosperous  business  there.  They  then 
moved  into  Mr.  Richardson's  new  building,  continued 
there  three  years,  when  Mr.  Smith  bought  the  interests 
of  his  partners,  and  for  one  year  conducted  it  alone; 
then  sold  one-half  interest  to  D.  D.  Codding,  and 
formed  the  firm  of  T.  I.  Smith  &  Co.,  which  still  is 
in  business. 

In  July,  1880,  they  removed  to  their  present  com- 
modious quarters,  and  they  have  had  a  steadily  in- 
creasing demand  for  their  goods,  and  employ  from 
ninety  to  one  hundred  and  ten  hands.  Their  special- 
ties are  bracelets,  pins,  charms,  etc.  January,  1881, 
Henry  H.  Curtis,  who  had  been  salesman  for  three 
years,  became  a  partner. 

The  only  child  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  is  Eva  C, 
born  May  16,  1860.  She  married,  Nov.  12,  1879, 
Henry  H.  Curtis.  They  have  two  children, — Fannie 
S.  and  Eva  Blanche. 

Mr.  Smith  has  always  been  in  the  ranks  of  intelli- 
gent and  independent  thinkers.  He  has  ever  been 
in  accord  with  Republican  principles,  and  voted  for 
Lincoln.  Steady  and  reliable  in  his  business,  pleasant 
and  affable  in  his  intercourse  with  others,  unassuming 
and  modest  in  his  demeanor,  Mr.  Smith  is  considered 
one  of  Attleborough's  solid  citizens,  and  a  man  of 
unobtrusive  worth. 

Young  &  Bennett  commenced  business  in  1876, 
under  the  style  of  Young,  Bennett  &  Co.,  the  mem- 
bers of  the  firm  being  Charles  P.  Young,  A.  F.  Ben- 
nett, and  E.  Sieger,  of  Pennsylvania.  At  the  end  of 
three  years  Sieger  withdrew,  and  Young  and  Bennett 
have  since  conducted  the  business.  Their  place  of 
business  was  in  Whitney's  manufactory  until  Dec. 
28,  1882,  when  they  were  burnt  out,  and  moved  to 
Whiting's  factory.  They  employ  seventy-five  hands, 
with  a  pay-roll  of  thirty-five  thousand  dollars  per 
year,  in  the  manufacture  of  fine  rolled-gold  plated 
chains. 

E.  I.  Franklin  &  Co.  began  the  manufacture  of 
jewelry  in  October,  1874,  Elton  I.  Franklin,  Hiram 
S.  Lomes,  and  Clarence  W.  Fisher  composing  the 
firm.  Their  first  place  of  business  was  in  the  factory 
of  Stephen  Richardson,  on  East  Street;  moved  to  F. 
S.  Draper's  shop,  June,  1876.     In  June,  1878,  occu- 


pied their  present  quarters  in  the  factory  of  the  Whit- 
ing Manufacturing  Company.  Franklin  &  Fisher 
purchased  the  interest  of  H.  S.  Lomes  in  1881,  and 
now  manufacture  gold  front  and  plated  ladies'  goods. 
Number  of  hands  employed,  eighty,  with  an  annual 
pay-roll  of  thirty-eight  thousand  dollars. 

Sandland,  Capron  &  Co.  started  business  in  E.  Ira 
Richards'  back  factory  in  1876.  They  moved  to  the 
Union  Power  Company's  building  in  1881,  where 
they  give  employment  to  seventy-five  hands,  in  the 
manufacture  of  a  general  line  of  plated  goods. 

"  The  E.  A.  Bliss  Company,"  an  incorporated  stock 
company,  manufacture  chains  and  novelties  in  the 
Union  Power  building.  The  business  was  com- 
menced by  E.  A.  Bliss  and  James  E.  Carpenter,  in 
September,  1878,  at  Attleborough  Falls.  The  present 
location  was  occupied  Jan.  1,  1881.  Incorporated 
July,  1882.  This  company  employs  seventy-five 
hands,  with  a  pay-roll  of  forty  thousand  dollars. 

S.  E.  Fisher  &  Co.,  in  the  same  factory,  commenced 
manufacturing  in  Stephen  Richardson's  factory,  the 
firm  then  being  Demarest,  Fisher  &  Co.  In  1877 
the  firm  dissolved  and  reorganized  under  its  present 
name,  Samuel  E.  Fisher,  William  W.  Fisher,  and 
Edwin  D.  Sturtevant  being  the  partners.  Moved  to 
the  Union  Power  Company's  building  in  1881.  Spe- 
cialty, fine  gold-plated  ladies'  goods — bracelets,  pins, 
and  drops.  Number  of  hands  employed,  ninety,  with 
an  annual  pay-roll  of  fifty-five  thousand  dollars. 

The  history  of  the  firm  of  R.  Blackinton  &  Co. 
dates  from  1863,  when  R.  Blackinton,  T.  S.  Mann, 
and  Walter  Ballou  commenced  business  at  Attlebor- 
ough Falls.  In  1867,  T.  S.  Mann  retired  from  the 
firm,  and  in  1873  the  business  was  moved  to  larger 
rooms  in  the  manufactory  of  E.  Ira  Richards.  They 
employ  one  hundred  and  forty  hands  in  the  manu- 
facture of  all  kinds  of  plated  jewelry.  They  are  now 
among  our  most  successful  manufacturers. 

Oscar  M.  Draper  commenced  business  in  1862, 
under  the  style  of  O.  M.  Draper  &  Co.,  E.  Ira  Rich- 
ards being  the  company.  The  firm  became  O.  M. 
Draper  in  1868,  and  in  1876  occupied  the  whole  of 
the  first  floor  in  E.  Ira  Richards'  new  manufactory. 
His  specialty  from  the  commencement  of  business  has 
been  fire-gilt  and  nickel  chains.  He  was  the  first 
manufacturer  of  "  swedged  goods.''  His  machinery 
is  the  most  complete  and  ingenious  used  in  the 
manufacture  of  this  line  of  goods.  He  employs  eighty 
hands,  and  goods  of  his  manufacture  find  a  ready  sale. 
J.  J.  and  J.  M.  Richards  started  business  as  E.  S. 
Richards  &  Co.,  in  1864.  The  members  of  the  firm 
were  E.  S.  and  J.  M.  Richards.  E.  S.  Richards  died 
in  1866,  and  J.  J.  Richards  transferred  his  interest  to 
his  son.  They  are  now  located  in  Totten's  shop  on 
East  Street,  where  they  give  employment  to  twenty- 
five  hands  in  the  manufacture  of  the  best  gold  front 
goods. 

H.  D.  Merritt  &  Co.,  who  are  now  located  in  the 
third   story   of  E.  Ira  Richards'    new  manufactory, 


ATTLE BOROUGH. 


563 


commenced  business  as  Merritt  &  Draper  in  1855, 
the  members  of  the  firm  being  H.  D.  Merritt  and  J. 
B.  Draper.  In  March,  1870,  they  moved  to  Mans- 
field, where  Mr.  Draper  retired,  and  John  Shepard- 
son  entered  the  firm,  which  was  then  styled  H.  D. 
Merritt  &  Co.  This  firm  returned  to  North  Attle- 
borough  in  1872,  and  went  on  doing  an  increasing 
business  until  Jan.  20,  1878,  when  Mr.  Merritt  died, 
and  Mr.  Shepardson  associated  with  him  C.  H. 
Miller.  The  name  of  the  firm  remains  the  same. 
They  employ  fifty  hands  in  the  manufacture  of  silver 
and  plated  chain. 

Thomas  Totten  &  Co.  are  now  located  in  a  factory 
of  their  own  on  East  Street,  North  Attleborough, 
near  the  railroad  station.  This  firm  commenced  bus- 
iness in  1879,  in  F.  S.  Draper's  factory,  on  Broad 
Street.  They  moved  to  Stephen  Richardson's  factory 
on  East  Street,  and  were  burned  out  in  March,  1882. 
They  manufactured  rolled-gold  plated  chains,  chain 
trimmings,  and  chain  bracelets.  The  first  two  years 
they  made  plated  flat  chains,  and  are  very  successful 
manufacturers  of  that  form  of  goods.  They  employ 
about  sixty  hands,  with  a  yearly  pay-roll  of  twenty- 
five  thousand  dollars. 

The  history  of  the  firm  of  F-.  G.  Pate  &  Co.  dates 
from  January,  1876,  when  George  O.  Cowell,  Edric 
A.  Hall,  and  Albert  W.  Pherson  formed  a  copartner- 
ship for  the  manufacture  of  jewelry  in  the  factory  of 
the  Whiting  Manufacturing  Company.  In  Febru- 
ary, 1876,  Pherson  retired,  and  F.  G.  Pate  joined  the 
firm  under  the  style  of  Pate,  Cowell  &  Hall.  In 
July,  1877,  E.  A.  Hall  sold  his  interest  to  his  part- 
ners, and  the  name  of  the  firm  became  F.  G.  Pate  & 
Co.  In  November,  1879,  George  O.  Cowell  withdrew, 
and  Anthony  H.  Bliss  and  F.  S.  Gilbert  became 
members  of  the  firm,  which  occupied  the  first  floor  of 
the  Union  Power  Company  building  January,  1881. 
This  firm  manufactures  fire-gilt  and  nickel  chain, 
and  plated  charms.  They  give  employment  to  thirty 
hands,  with  an  annual  pay-roll  of  fourteen  thousand 
five  hundred  dollars. 

Charles  E.  Smith  manufactures  a  full  line  of  fine 
solid  gold  jewelry,  and  is  doing  an  extensive  and 
profitable  business.    • 

Cheever,  Rhodes  &  Co.  employ  thirty-five  hands  in 
the  manufacture  of  rolled  plated  chain,  with  an 
annual  pay-roll  of  sixteen  thousand  dollars.  The 
firm  started  as  F.  S.  Bailey  &  Co.  in  1876.  In  1878, 
J.  G.  Cheever  entered  the  firm,  and  E.  D.  Rhodes 
became  a  partner  in  January,  1883. 

Daniel  Crotty  employs  eight  or  ten  hands  in  the 
manufacture  of  jewelry.  Commenced  business  in 
electro-plating. 

Clark  &  Coombs  manufacture  rings  of  all  grades 
from  electro-plate  to  fire-gilt.  The  firm  consists  of 
Oren  L.  Coombs,  William  O.  Clark,  and  W.  Osmond 
Clark.  They  employ  twelve  hands,  with  a  pay-roll 
of  six  thousand  dollars  a  year. 

Demarest  &  Brady  make  a  specialty  of  sets,  drops, 


studs,  and  scarf-pins,  and  furnish  employment  for 
twenty  hands.  Firm  is  composed  of  George  Dema- 
rest and  Bernard  Brady.  Mr.  Demarest  commenced 
business  in  1872,  with  nine  associates,  on  the  stock 
plan,  in  Witherell's  factory,  in  Plainville.  In  1874 
sold  his  interest  to  his  associates,  and  organized  a 
second  stock  company,  with  five  associates,  as  Dema- 
rest &  Fisher,  in  the  factory  of  Stephen  Richardson. 
In  1877,  Mr.  Demarest  having  again  sold  out,  started 
in  his  present  location,  the  manufactory  of  the 
Whiting  Manufacturing  Company.  He  is  the  orig- 
inator of  the  stock  plan,  which  others  have  success- 
fully followed. 

Barrows,  Thompson  &  Short,  manufacturers  of 
plated  chains,  bracelets,  and  pins,  employ  sixty 
hands,  with  an  annual  pay-roll  of  forty  thousand  dol- 
lars. The  firm  was  formed  Jan.  1,  1883,  by  the  union 
of  the  firms  of  E.  E.  Barrows  &  Co.  and  T.  W.  Short 
&  Co.  The  former  commenced  business  in  1875,  and 
the  latter  in  1881.  They  are  in  E.  Ira  Richards' 
manufactory. 

John  Etzensperger  employs  fifty-five  hands  in  the 
manufacture  of  rolled  plated  chains  and  bracelets, 
with  an  annual  pay-roll  of  thirty  thousand  dollars. 

Norteman,  Hemple  &  Co.  may  be  found,  with  a 
dozen  hands,  in  the  old  clock  factory,  so-called,  of  the 
Whiting  Manufacturing  Company.  They  make  chain, 
shawl-pins,  and  novelties. 

George  W.  Cheever  &  Co.  manufacture  fire-gilt 
and  nickel  chain.  They  employ  twenty-five  hands, 
with  a  yearly  pay-roll  of  twelve  thousand  dollars. 

John  C.  Bonnett,  electro-plater,  carries  on  business 
where  the  old  tannery  formerly  stood,  near  the  Ten- 
Mile  River,  North  Attleborough.  Employs  eight 
hands. 

W.  G.  Clarke  &  Co.  commenced  business  in  Mr.  F. 
S.  Draper's  manufactory,  March  1,  1881,  the  partners 
being  W.  G.  Clarke  and  John  F.  Makinson.  Their 
specialty  is  ladies'  plated  goods, — bracelets,  drops, 
pins,  and  sets.     They  employ  forty  hands. 

T.  G.  Frothingham  &  Co.  started  in  the  same  manu- 
factory in  June,  1879,  the  firm  being  composed  of  T. 
G.  Frothingham  and  William  E.  Smith.  They  em- 
ploy eighteen  hands  in  the  manufacture  of  studs, 
drops,  and  pins. 

In  the  village  of  Attleborough  several  large  fac- 
tories have  recently  been  built,  and  they  are  occupied 
by  some  of  the  largest  and  most  successful  manufac- 
turers in  town.  The  first  large  building  was  built  by 
the  Steam-Power  Company.  In  1873,  Hayward  & 
Briggs  erected  a  large  and  conveniently-arranged 
manufactory,  in  which  they  conduct  a  successful  busi- 
ness. In  1872,  A.  Bushee  &  Co.  built  a  factory  on  the 
Ten-Mile  River,  on  County  Street,  where  they  manu- 
facture sleeve  and  collar-buttons.  In  1875,  E.  A.  Rob- 
inson, of  West  Attleborough,  came  from  Providence  to 
Attleborough,  and  has  subsequently  erected  two  large 
and  complete  jewelry  manufactories.  During  the  last 
three  years  J.  M.  Bates  has  erected  two  manufactories. 


504 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Altogether,  the  people  of  this  section  of  the  town  are 
well  supplied  with  this  class  of  buildings. 

Among  the  oldest  manufacturers  are  C.  E.  Hay- 
ward,  A.  W.  Sturdy,  A.  Bushee  &  Co.,  and  Bliss  & 
Dean.  The  firm  of  W.  &  L.  Blackinton  employs  one 
hundred  and  fifty  hands  in  the  manufacture  of  plated 
chain,  with  a  pay-roll  of  eight  thousand  dollars  per 
month.  Their  annual  production  amounts  to  two 
hundred  'and  fifty  thousand  dollars. 

Horton,  Angell  &  Co.  commenced  business  here  in 
1860,  the  members  of  the  firm  being  Edwin  J.  Hortonj 
Gideon  M.  Horton,  and  B.  J.  Angell.  Jan.  1,  1881, 
Everett  S.  Horton  was  admitted  to  the  firm  in  place 
of  his  brother,  Edwin  J.  Horton,  who  was  lost  on 
Long  Island  Sound.  They  are  the  original  manufac- 
turers of  the  separable  sleeve-button.  The  average 
number  of  hands  employed  is  one  hundred,  with  an 
annual  pay-roll  of  sixty  thousand  dollars. 

The  firm  of  Sturdy  Brothers  &  Co.  commenced 
business  in  the  spring  of  1859,  when  C.  H.  and  A.  W. 
Sturdy  formed  a  partnership  in  the  steam-power 
building.  In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  they  moved 
to  Mansfield.  Returned  to  Attleborough  in  1862; 
and  Albert  W.  Sturdy  went  into  the  army.  Charles 
H.  Sturdy  retired  from  the  firm  in  1871,  and  E.  G. 
Webster,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  was  admitted.  They 
employ  from  thirty  to  seventy  hands,  with  an  annual 
pay-roll  of  forty  thousand  dollars.  Their  sales  reach 
one  hundred  thousand  dollars  per  year,  consisting  of 
a  general  variety  of  gold  plate  jewelry.  Other  large 
manufacturers  here  are  Bates  &  Bacon,  Bliss  &  Dean, 
Cummings  &  Wexel,  Hayward  &  Witherell,  Short, 
Nerney  &  Co.,  Smith,  Crosby  &  Smith,  Streeter 
Brothers,  Watson  &  Newell,  W.  H.  Wilmarth  &.Co., 
and  D.  H.  Smith.  They  manufacture  in  great  variety 
a  fine  line  of  valuable  goods. 

Bliss  Brothers  &  Everett  commenced  business  in 
1873,  C.  E.  Bliss,  E.  B.  Bliss,  and  A.  E.  Everett  com- 
posing the  firm,  in  the  steam-power  building.  They 
moved  to  Robinson's  Factory  in  1876,  where  they  now 
make  a  general  variety  of  ladies'  and  gents'  gold- 
plated  goods.  They  employ  forty  or  fifty  hands,  with 
a  pay-roll  of  thirty-five  thousand  dollars  per  year. 

B.  S.  Freeman  commenced  his  career  as  a  manufac- 
turer of  jewelry  in  1846  in  a  small  shop  adjacent  to 
the  homestead  at  Attleborough  Falls.  He  then  made 
a  cheap  class  of  finger-rings.  His  business  steadily 
increased,  and  in  1849  he  formed  a  copartnership  with 
a  younger  brother,  Joseph  J.  Freeman,  under  the 
name  of  Freeman  Brothers,  and  moved  in  1850  to  the 
old  shop  near  the  Braid  Mill.  Here  the  firm  began 
the  manufacture  of  rolled  plated  goods,  being  among 
the  first  makers  of  such  goods  in  Attleborough.  They 
contiuued  to  make  various  lines  of  plated  vest-chains 
and  sets  during  the  succeeding  five  years.  About 
1855  they  took  Virgil  Richards  into  the  firm,  which 
now  became  Freeman  Brothers  &  Co.  Two  years 
afterwards  they  bought  the  Robinsouville  property, 
and  moved  there  Jan.  1,  1858.     At  this  time  B.  S.  & 


J.  J.  Freeman  bought  the  interest  of  Virgil  Richards, 
and  the  firm  again  became  Freeman  Brothers.  They 
very  soon  began  the  manufacture  of  curb-chain.  J. 
J.  Freeman  first  bought  an  imported  curb-chain,  ex- 
perimented with  it,  and  constructed  machinery  and 
finally  succeeded  in  making  the  first  rolled  plated  curb- 
chain  made  in  Attleborough.  These  goods  were 
known  as  "  Freeman's  curb-chains,"  and  had  a  wide 
and  extensive  sale.  In  the  fall  of  1861  the  name  of 
the  firm  was  changed  to  Freeman  &  Co.,  and  the  line 
of  goods  manufactured  adapted  to  the  exigencies  of 
the  times, — war  badges,  military  buttons,  and  brass 
chain  for  the  soldiers.  Oct.  6,  1879,  J.  J.  Freeman 
died,  and  the  style  of  the  firm  became  B.  S.  Freeman 
&  Co.,  Jan.  1,  1879,  and  so  continues  at  the  present 
time,  the  only  change  in  the  firm  being  the  admission 
of  B.  S.  Freeman,  Jr.,  Jan.  1,  1882.  About  eighty- 
five  hands  are  given  employment  in  the  manufacture 
of  plated  goods  suited  to  the  demands  of  the  trade. 

In  the  success  achieved  by  this  firm  no  small  share 
of  the  credit  is  due  to  the  extraordinary  mechanical 
skill  and  ingenuity  of  Joseph  J.  Freeman.  He  was 
a  man  of  original  ideas,  an  inventor  by  nature's 
patent,  and  several  valuable  patents  and  the  pros- 
perity of  the  firm  bear  witness  to  his  skill. 

Rolled  stock  plated  chain  has  one  of  its  largest 
manufacturers  in  R.  F.  Simmons  &  Co.  The  original 
firm  consisted  of  R.  F.  Simmons  and  Albert  Briggs, 
who  started  business  at  North  Attleborough.  The 
second  year  moved  to  Attleborough  Falls,  and  took 
into  partnership  E.  L.  Hixon,  and  in  the  following 
year  J.  L.  Sweet.  In  1875  they  occupied  their  pres- 
ent location  in  Freeman's  Factory  at  Robinson ville. 
They  employ  one  hundred  and  fifty  to  one  hundred 
and  seventy-five  hands,  with  pay-roll  of  ninety  thou- 
sand dollars  per  year. 

The  firm  of  Mason,  Draper  &  Co.  commenced  busi- 
ness in  1870,  in  the  manufacture  of  ladies'  goods, 
bracelets  and  sets.  They  give  employment  to  seventy- 
five  hands,  all  men.  The  members  of  the  firm  are 
M.  H.  Mason,  C.  T.  Draper,  and  S.  D.  Mason. 

Davidson  Brothers  commenced  manufacturing  in 
Attleborough,  in  the  Whiting  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany's Factory  in  1870.  In  1875  they  moved  to  Rob- 
insonville,  where  they  employ  one  hundred  hands  in 
the  manufacture  of  vest  and  ladies'  chain, — fire  gilt, 
silver,  and  electro-plated.  New  York  office,  44  Maiden 
Lane. 

The  firm  of  Stanley  Brothers  dates  its  origin  from 
May  1,  1871,  when  Stephen  Stanley,  Benjamin  Stan- 
ley, and  E.  C.  Knapp,  formed  a  partnership  to  manu- 
facture rolled  and  stock-plated  chain.  July  1,  1875, 
E.  C.  Knapp  withdrew.  They  commenced  business 
in  the  old  jewelry-shop  near  the  Braid  Mill,  Attle- 
borough Falls,  and  still  remain  there.  They  employ 
fifty  hands,  and  have  a  prosperous  and  steadily-in- 
creasing business. 

W.  D.  Fisher  &  Co.,  in  the  same  factory,  manufac- 
ture spring  swivels  and  rings,  rolled  plate,  and  coin 


ATTLEBOROUGH. 


565 


silver.  W.  D.  Fisher  began  manufacturing  in  1879, 
and  in  1881  associated  with  him  his  son,  W.  N. 
Fisher,  and  A.  R.  Mackreth.  They  employ  forty 
hands,  with  a  pay-roll  of  thirty  thousand  dollars. 

U.  A.  Hall  started  at  the  same  time,  and  makes  the 
same  class  of  goods  ;  employs  fourteen  hands.  Pay- 
roll, three  thousand  dollars  a  year. 

E.  Whitney  &  Co.  commenced  business  in  1871 — 
the  members  of  the  firm  being  Edwin  Whitney  and 
William  A.  Eead — in  the  same  factory,  but  moved  to 
Daggett's  new  building  in  1882.  They  first  made 
album-  and  Bihle-clasps,  then  novelties  and  chains ; 
now  they  are  making  pins,  drops,  and  bracelets. 
Number  of  hands,  forty;  annual  pay-roll,  eighteen 
thousand  dollars. 

J.  F.  Sturdy  &  Sons,  Attleborough  Falls,  employ 
forty  hands  in  the  manufacture  of  curb-chain.  The 
firm  consists  of  J.  F.  Sturdy  and  three  sons,  H.  K. 
Sturdy,  F.  M.  Sturdy,  and  F.  E.  Sturdy.  The  senior 
member,  J.  F.  Sturdy,  and  J.  H.  Sturdy,  were  the  first 
men  who  made  stock  plate  in  this  town.  They  dis- 
covered by  experiment  the  plating  process  in  Provi- 
dence, and,  coming  to  Attleborough,  introduced  the 
manufacture  of  plated  goods.  The  original  name  of 
the  firm  was  Draper,  Sturdy  &  Co.,  Sept.  7,  1849,  its 
members  being  J.  F.  Sturdy,  J.  H.  Sturdy,  and  Her- 
bert M.  Draper.  Sept.  6,  1850,  J.  H.  Sturdy  retired, 
and  James  A.  Mason  was  admitted  Sept.  16,  1851. 
After  some  changes,  J.  F.  Sturdy,  J.  A.  Perry,  and  F. 
Doll  commenced  the  manufacture  of  curb-chain  in 
1861,  under  the  name  of  J.  F.  Sturdy  &  Co.  This 
firm  dissolved  in  about  a  year,  and  J.  F.  Sturdy  con- 
ducted the  business  alone  until  1879,  when  his  sons 
became  partners,  as  at  the  preseut  time. 

Other  firms  at  Attleborough  Falls  are  D.  F.  Briggs, 
who  makes  swivels  and  rings  ;  employs  ten  hands  ; 
pay-roll,  five  thousand  dollars  annually;  and  Dag- 
gett &  Clap,  F.  W.  Hodges,  agent.  They  make  a 
specialty  of  bracelets,  initial  buttons,  pins,  and  drops. 
Number  of  hands  employed,  forty,  with  an  annual 
pay-roll  of  fifteen  thousand  dollars. 

V.  H.  Blackinton  has  carried  on  business  at  Robin- 
sonville  since  ls">7.  He  bought  the  old  school-house, 
turned  it  into  a  jewelry  manufactory,  and  began  a 
line  of  jet  goods  for  ladies'  wear.  As  the  business  in- 
creased additions  were  made  to  the  shop  until  the 
building  was  hurned,  Feb.  15,  1869.  He  imme- 
diately rebuilt,  and  continued  the  manufacture  of 
jewelry  and  novelties,  military  goods,  society  em- 
blems, and  jet  goods.  Employs  an  average  of  forty 
hands. 

Healy  Brothers  &  Co. — the  members  of  the  firm 
being  Healy  brothers  and  E.  L.  Cheever — manufac- 
ture jewelers'  supplies.     They  employ  twenty  hands. 

South.  Attleborough. — The  principal  business  at 
South  Attleborough  is  the  manufacture  of  leather. 
The  business  has  been  carried  on  here  for  many  years. 
The  present  manufacturers  are  William  H.  Coupe  & 
Co.     This  firm  was  organized  as  Coupe  &  Knowles, 


its  members  being  William  H.  Coupe  and  F.  W.  H. 
Knowles.  In  a  few  months  Mr.  Coupe  bought  out 
his  partner,  and  in  1866,  Edwin  Evans  succeeded  to 
his  place.  In  1869  the  senior  member  of  the  firm 
purchased  his  partner's  interest,  and  Edwin  A.  Bur- 
gess, son  of  Alexander  Burgess,  of  Providence,  R.  I., 
became  associated  with  Mr.  Coupe.  Under  their 
management  the  industry  has  steadily  grown  in  ex- 
tent and  perfection  until  the  goods  of  the  firm  have  a 
high  reputation. 

They  were  burned  out  in  1872,  but  immediately 
erected  a  new  tannery,  to  which  successive  additions 
have  been  made  until  now  it  is  one  of  the  largest 
buildings  in  town.  The  works  are  supplied  with 
first-class  machinery,  some  of  which  bears  Mr.  Coupe's 
patent,  and  furnish  employment  to  an  average  of 
fifty  hands,  with  an  annual  pay-roll  of  thirty  thou- 
sand dollars.  The  establishment  uses  yearly  fifty 
thousand  sides  of  leather.  Their  specialties  are  lace 
leather,  picker  leather,  and  belting  manufactured 
from  raw  hides  by  a  process  patented  by  Mr.  Coupe 
himself. 

The  oldest  manufacturers  of  jewelry  at  South  Attle- 
borough are  White  &  Shaw,  who  commenced  business 
in  1852,  and  have  continued  without  change  for  thirty- 
one  years.  They  first  manufactured  brass  jewelry. 
Their  specialty  now  is  jewelers'  findings.  Employ 
seven  hands. 

George  W.  Sadler  and  Daniel  O.  Stanley  formed  a 
copartnership  here  in  1863  under  the  name  of  Sadler 
&  Stanley.  Stanley  withdrew,  and  A.  D.  Sadler  en- 
tered in  1867.  Six  years  after  A.  D.  Sadler  died,  and 
George  W.  Sadler  &  Co.  succeeded.  The  firm  makes 
gold-plated  bracelets.     Number  of  hands,  fifteen. 

Another  industry  at  South  Attleborough  is  carried 
on  by  Orr  Brothers.  They  first  com  menced  business  at 
Smithfield,  R.  I.,  but  came  to  Attleborough  in  1865. 
They  employ  twenty-five  hands,  with  a  pay-roll  of 
ten  thousand  dollars  yearly.  Their  business  is  dye- 
ing and  bleaching  yarns,  threads,  and  braids. 

West  Attleborough.— At  West  Attleborough,  Rob- 
inson &Co.  carry  on  the  manufacture  of  jewelry  in  one 
of  the  oldest  factories  in  town,  the  brick  shop  built  by 
W.  H.  Robinson,  in  1837.  The  firm  at  that  time  was 
Daggett  &  Robinson,  the  members  being  S.  L.  Dag- 
gett and  W.  H.  Robinson.  William  Guild  was  ad- 
mitted in  1840,  and  in  1850  the  firm  took  its  present 
name,  Robinson  &  Co.  In  1868  the  firm  consisted 
of  W.  H.  Robinson,  Jr.,  D.  H.  Robinson,  and  E.  A. 
Robinson.  The  latter  retired  in  1870,  and  \Y.  H. 
Robinson  withdrew  in  1876.  D.  H.  Robinson  now 
conducts  the  business,  employing  fifteen  hands. 

Buttons. — The  first  manufacturer  of  buttons  in 
this  town,  if  not  in  this  part  of  the  country,  was  Ed- 
ward Price,  who  came  from  Birmingham,  England, 
in  1793,  bringing  with  him  machines  for  the  manu- 
facture of  metal  buttons.  He  commenced  their  man- 
ufacture in  a  small  shop  near  the  residence  of  John 
T.  Bates.     In  a  short  time  he  moved  to  Attleborough, 


566 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


and  in  1880  came  to  North  Attleborough,  where  he 
carried  on  business  successfully,  living  in  the  old 
"  Guild  House."  He  acquired  considerable  prop- 
erty, and  tempted  by  the  general  prosperity,  went 
into  the  manufacture  of  cotton  in  1811,  and  was  un- 
successful. 

At  this  time  Col.  Obed  Robinson  was  manufac- 
turing carbon  jewelry  at  Robinsonville,  and  he,  in 
connection  with  Otis  Robinson,  employed  Mr.  Price, 
and  commenced  the  manufacture  of  metal  buttons  in 
1812.  Thus  Edward  Price,  Obed  and  Otis  Robinson 
ran  the  first  button  manufactory  in  the  United  States. 
Glass  buttons  were  made  by  their  successors,  Rich- 
ard Robinson,  Virgil  Blackinton,  and  Willard  Rob- 
inson, in  1813,  under  the  name  of  Richard  Robinson 
&  Co.  This  firm  was  followed  by  Robinson,  Jones  & 
Co.,  composed  of  Richard  Robinson,  Willard  Robin- 
son, William  H.  Jones,  and  H.  M.  Draper.  In  1826 
they  began  to  work  on  the  gilt  button.  In  1827  they 
erected  the  brick  factory  at  Robinsonville,  and  their 
business  required  its  enlargement  in  1828.  In  1832 
they  built  another  factory  and  commenced  the  man- 
ufacture of  all  the  varieties  of  buttons  which  the 
market  demands, — the  common  button,  the  navy, 
the  military,  the  fancy,  and  the  sporting  button, — 
all  of  which  were  acknowledged  superior  to  any 
others  in  the  market  in  the  beauty,  finish,  and  dura- 
bility of  the  work.  They  received  silver  medals  and 
diplomas,  and  all  the  contested  premiums  offered  by 
institutes  in  New  York,  Philadelphia,  and  Boston. 
The  company  brought  the  manufacture  of  this  article 
to  perfection,  and  the  various  improvements  made  in 
their  machinery,  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Willard 
Robinson,  aided  by  the  skill  of  their  workmen,  en- 
abled them  to  compete  fully  with  all  their  domestic 
or  foreign  rivals. 

Cotton  Manufacture. — At  the  close  of  the  year 
1809  the  number  of  cotton-mills  built  in  the  United 
States  was  eighty-seven.  Many  more  mills  were  in 
process  of  erection  everywhere,  and  the  prospect  of 
industrial  prosperity  stimulated  speculation,  and  the 
war  of  1812  gave  additional  impulse  to  this  branch  of 
manufactures.  It  is  believed  that  in  the  rapid  exten- 
sion of  this  industry  Attleborough  did  her  part.  The 
old  Beaver  Dam  Factory,  which  stood  on  the  race- 
way of  Whiting's  pond,  was  turned  into  a  cotton- 
factory  by  Capt.  Chester  Bugbee  in  1809,  and  he,  in 
company  with  John  Richardson,  George  Blackinton, 
David  Shepard,  Ebenezer  Draper,  Lemuel  May,  and 
Samuel  Lifft,  manufactured  cotton  goods,  running 
twenty  looms  and  five  hundred  spindles.  Their 
business  prospered  until  the  panic  of  1817,  after 
which  time  it  had  a  somewhat  checkered  experience. 
Lemuel  May  and  Daniel  Cobb  soon  bought  the  fac- 
tory, and  continued  the  business  ten  years,  until  1828. 
They  were  succeeded  by  Capt.  Bugbee  and  William 
Haven.     Their  factory  was  consumed  by  fire  in  1833. 

The  Falls  Factory,  so  called,  was  erected  at  this 
time,  work  being  commenced  in  the  autumn  of  1809 


by  the  Falls  Manufacturing  Company.  In  the  win- 
ter of  1811  this  factory  was  burned,  but  was  immedi- 
ately rebuilt,  seventy  feet  in  length,  thirty-four  feet 
in  width,  and  three  stories  high.  The  company  em- 
ployed forty  hands,  consumed  one  hundred  and  fifty 
bales  of  cotton  per  year,  and  manufactured  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  thousand  yards  of  calico  print  cloths. 
An  addition  was  made  to  the  factory  in  1831,  a  stone 
structure  sixty-eight  feet  long,  thirty-eight  feet  wide, 
and  four  stories  high,  and  connected  with  the  estab- 
lishment were  a  grist-mill,  machine-shop,  blacksmith- 
shop,  and  saw-mill.  Work  was  carried  on  at  this  time 
by  Jonathan  and  George  Bliss.  Up  to  1814  the  work 
of  the  cotton-factory  in  New  England  was  confined  to 
spinning  yarn,  which  was  woven  upon  hand-looms  in 
the  homes  of  the  people.  Such  was  the  course  pur- 
sued in  this  factory. 

This  era  witnessed  the  erection  of  the  Mechanics' 
Factory,  in  1811.  Ingraham,  Richardson  &  Co.  was 
the  first  firm  ;  the  second,  Whitaker,  Richardson  & 
Co. ;  third,  the  Mechanics'  Manufacturing  Company; 
then  Samuel  and  Jesse  Carpenter.  Under  their  man- 
agement it  had  forty  looms,  one  thousand  and  thirty- 
six  spindles,  and  they  employed  forty  hands  and  pro- 
duced two  hundred  and  ninety  thousand  yards  of 
calico  prints  per  annum. 

In  1854  the  present  owners,  Lewis  S.  Foster  and 
John  K.  H.  Nightingale,  under  the  firm-name  of 
Foster  &  Nightingale,  purchased  the  property,  the 
building  being  then  eighty-four  feet  long,  thirty-two 
feet  wide,  and  three  stories  high.  They  have  made 
extensive  additions,  and  conducted  the  business  very 
successfully.  The  mill  now  employs  one  hundred 
and  fifty  hands,  runs  seven  thousand  five  hundred 
spindles  and  one  hundred  and  sixty-five  looms  in  the 
manufacture  of  print  cloths  and  sheetings,  consuming 
four  hundred  thousand  pounds  of  cotton,  and  making 
two  and  a  half  million  yards  of  cloth  yearly.  Super- 
intendent, Nehemiah  Hicks. 

The  Farmers'  Factory,  now  occupied  as  a  foundry, 
was  established  in  1813  by  the  Farmers'  Manufac- 
turing Company.  In  1834  the  factory  was  owned 
and  the  business  conducted  by  Jonathan  and  George 
Bliss,  who  employed  twenty-three  hands  and  manu- 
factured one  hundred  and  thirty-five  thousand  yards 
of  cloth. 

On  the  Seven-Mile  River  the  City  Factory  was 
built  at  South  Attleborough  in  1813.  It  was  burnt 
in  1826,  but  rebuilt  immediately,  forty  feet  long, 
thirty-four  feet  wide,  three  stories  high.  Daniel 
Reed  &  Co.  carried  on  business  here  with  twenty 
looms  and  seven  hundred  spindles,  making  ninety- 
five  thousand  yards  of  cloth  each  year. 

The  Lanesville  Mill  was  built  in  1826,  on  Abbott's 
Run.  In  1834  it  was  owned  by  Milton  Barrows  and 
others,  and,  like  other  mills  of  that  day,  was  devoted 
to  the  manufacture  of  calico  print  cloths,  ran  two 
thousand  spindles  and  fifty  looms,  and  turned  out 
four  hundred  thousand  yards  of  cloth.     Recently  the 


ATTLEBOROUGH. 


56V 


factory  has  been  owned  and  occupied  by  John  F. 
Adams,  of  Paw  tucket,  R.  I.  It  was  burned  in  1880, 
but  he  has  rebuilt  it,  and  it  is  now  in  successful 
operation. 

The  embargo  of  1807-8  benefited  manufacturers  at 
the  expense  of  commerce,  and  much  of  the  capital 
and  effort  engaged  in  the  latter  were  directed  to  in- 
dustrial channels.  The  effect  of  the  embargo  is  evi- 
denced by  the  fact  that  prior  to  it  there  were  but 
fifteen  cotton-mills  in  the  United  States,  running 
eight  thousand  spindles,  while  at  the  end  of  the  year 
1809  the  number  in  operation  was  sixty-two,  with 
thirty-two  thousand  spindles.  Among  the  fifteen 
mills  was  the  Dodgeville  cotton  manufactory,  estab- 
lished in  Attleborough  in  1801  by  Ebenezer  Tyler, 
and  running  thirty  looms  in  the  manufacture  of 
print  cloths. 

During  the  period  of  the  last  war  with  England, 
and  up  to  Feb.  10,  1815,  manufacturers  throughout 
the  country  continued  to  progress  with  unprecedented 
activity.  Maj.  Tyler  pursued  his  business  alone  until 
the  protection  of  the  war  was  withdrawn.  About  the 
year  1815  he  sold  an  interest  in  his  business  to  Nehe- 
miah  Dodge,  who  became  a  partner,  with  his  son, 
John  C.  Dodge,  as  superintendent.  Four  years  later, 
in  1819,  Nehemiah  Dodge  purchased  Tyler's  interest 
and  took  in  his  son  as  a  partner.  The  firm  thus 
formed  continued  unchanged  until  1840,  when  the 
son  bought  out  the  father  and  carried  on  business 
alone.  He  enlarged  the  factory  and  increased  the 
number  of  looms  to  one  hundred  and  thirty-six,  but 
in  June,  1854,  his  property  was  sold  at  auction.  B.  B. 
and  R.  Knight  were  the  purchasers.  In  1870,  Stephen 
A.  Knight  was  admitted,  and  the  owners  were  in- 
corporated, with  a  nominal  capital  of  one  hundred 
thousand  dollars,  under  the  name  of  the  Hebron 
Manufacturing  Company,  with  factories  at  both  He- 
bronville  and  Dodgeville.  The  first-named  factory  was 
during  many  years  known  as  the  Atherton  Factory, 
and  was  established  in  1812  on  the  Ten-Mile  River, 
at  a  spot  known  as  Chaffee's  Mills,  where  in  early 
times  the  saw-mill  and  grist-mill  of  the  fathers  stood. 
Here  the  Atherton  Manufacturing  Company,  under 
the  lead  of  Thomas  Harkness  and  Thomas  J.  Stead, 
of  Providence,  yearly  manufactured  four  hundred 
thousand  yards  of  print  cloths.  Number  of  looms, 
forty-two;  spindles,  sixteen  hundred. 

The  Hebron  Manufacturing  Company  does  a  large 
business  both  at  Hebronville  and  Dodgeville. 

One  of  the  most  prominent  manufacturers  in  town 
is  Handel  X.  Daggett,  and  none  have  had  a  more 
varied  experience.  Indeed,  he  is  the  pioneer  and 
founder  of  one  branch  of  the  textile  arts  in  this 
country — the  manufacture  of  domestic  braids.  The 
power-loom  was  introduced  and  applied  to  cotton 
fabrics  about  1815.  The  braider  came  some  years 
later,  and  is  said  to  be  the  invention  of  a  native  of 
Attleborough  named  Thorpe.  These  braiders  Mr. 
Daggett  was  using  in  1848  in  the  production  of  shoe- 


lacings  and  stearine  candle-wicking.     Afterwards  he 
braided  covering  for  hoop-skirts. 

In  1861,  after  the  Rebellion  broke  out,  he  furnished 
cavalry  sabres  and  scabbards  for  the  United  States 
government.  The  sabres  were  made  for  him  in  Maine. 
The  scabbards  he  manufactured  in  the  steam-power 
building  at  Attleborough.  He  furnished  about  fif- 
teen thousand  sabres. 

Up  to  the  year  1861  no  one  had  succeeded  in  produ- 
cing a  domestic  braid  of  good  quality  in  America.  The 
braids  consumed  in  this  country  were  imported  from 
Germany  and  England,  and  American  manufacturers 
could  sell  their  wares  only  with  the  greatest  difficulty. 
The  war  of  the  Rebellion  cut  off  importations,  and 
compelled  the  trade  to  seek  American  braids.  At 
this  time  Mr.  Daggett  entered  into  an  arrangement 
with  John  C.  Morse,  of  New  York,  to  manufacture 
domestic  braids.  The  business  was  carried  on  first  at 
Attleborough,  then  at  the  Farmers',  and  since  1865  in 
its  present  location,  the  Falls  Factory,  at  Attleborough 
Falls.  The  value  of  the  goods  produced  reached 
eight  hundred  thousand  dollars  yearly. 

In  1869,  Mr.  Morse  retired,  and  Mr.  Daggett  formed 
a  copartnership  with  Austin  Dunham,  of  Hartford, 
Conn.,  and  George  S.  Moulton,  of  New  York,  which 
lasted  until  1873.  Then  he  conducted  the  business 
alone  until  1879,  at  which  time  the  Gold  Medal 
Braid  Company  was  formed.  The  company,  which  is 
incorporated,  consists  of  T.  N.  Ide  and  Q.  A.  Atwood, 
of  New  York,  George  A.  Tarbell,  of  Boston,  and  H. 
N.  Daggett  and  Harvey  Clap,  of  Attleborough.  Cap- 
ital, sixty-five  thousand  dollars.  They  employ  an 
average  of  one  hundred  operatives,  and  manufacture 
yearly  two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars'  worth 
of  braids.  Their  worsted,  cotton,  and  silk  braids  of 
the  finest  quality  and  all  varieties  have  an  extensive 
sale  all  over  the  country.  They  also  do  a  large  busi- 
ness in  braided  silk,  linen,  and  cotton  fish-lines,  and 
make  pure  mohair  goods  from  the  best  imported  mo- 
hair. H.  N.  Daggett,  Attleborough  Falls,  is  treasurer 
and  manager  of  the  company. 

For  several  years  silver-ware  was  manufactured  at 
North  Attleborough  with  great  success.  In  1866.  Wil- 
liam D.  Whiting  organized  the  Whiting  Manufactur- 
ing Company,  as  a  corporation  under  the  laws  of  New 
York,  for  the  manufacture  of  standard  silver-ware. 
Their  manufactory  was  at  North  Attleborough,  where 
for  ten  years  they  gave  employment  to  one  hundred 
and  fifty  hands  in  the  production  of  the  finest  silver- 
ware. The  company  was  incorporated  with  a  capital 
of  one  hundred  thousand  dollars,  which  was  subse- 
quently increased  to  one  hundred  and  seventy-five 
thousand  dollars.  Some  years  the  value  of  their 
products  amount  to  one  million  dollars.  This  com- 
pany now  conducts  its  entire  business  at  Broadway 
and  Fourth  Street,  New  York  City. 

The  first  efforts  of  the  jewelers  of  Attleborough  to 
refine  their  sweepings  was,  like  the  commencement  of 
the  manufacture  of  jewelry  itself,  through  the  aid  of 


568 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


a  Frenchman.  This  person  used  to  travel  through 
the  town  to  Boston,  and  he  was  in  the  habit  of  stop- 
ping at  North  Attleborough  to  collect  the  material, 
which  he  always  carried  in  a  pocket-handkerchief. 
Later  the  clippings  and  sweepings  were  sent  to  New 
York  for  refining,  until,  in  1855,  C.  E.  W.  Sherman, 
who  understood  the  jeweler's  trade,  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  a  Mr.  Davis  to  carry  on  the  refining  busi- 
ness in  North  Attleborough.  They  built  the  shop 
now  standing  in  the  rear  of  the  dwelling-house  just 
across  the  river  from  F.  G.  Whitney's  factory.  Their 
business  was  immediately  prosperous  and  remunera- 
tive. In  two  years  Mr.  Sherman  bought  out  his  part- 
ner and  transferred  his  business  to  a  new  refinery  on 
Elm  Street.  He  was  sole  proprietor  for  twenty  years, 
until,  in  September,  1875,  he  associated  with  him  his 
son,  W.  W.  Sherman,  under  the  style  of  C.  E.  W. 
Sherman  &  Son.  They  have  twice  enlarged  their 
accommodations,  and  they  now  get  out  from  clippings 
and  sweepings  about  one  hundred  thousand  dollars' 
worth  of  gold  annually.  They  are  lineal  descendants 
in  the  eighth  and  ninth  generations  from  Miles  Stan- 
dish,  the  first  captain  of  Plymouth,  and  in  industry, 
integrity,  and  square  dealing  they  worthily  represent 
their  illustrious  ancestor. 

Col.  Willard  Blakinton  commenced  the  manufac- 
ture of  power-loom  shuttles  at  Attleborough  in  the 
fall  of  1827,  and  continued  it  until  his  death.  In  the 
earlier  years  of  the  business  he  employed  twelve 
hands  and  made  twenty-five  dozen  shuttles  per  week, 
besides  a  large  amount  of  shuttle-mountings  which  he 
supplied  to  other  makers.  During  the  first  ten  years 
of  the  industry  the  average  yearly  production  of  the 
establishment  was  about  ten  thousand  dollars'  worth 
of  shuttles.  But  in  that  time  the  product  secured  an 
extensive  sale  throughout  the  United  States.  In  1842 
the  firm  became  W.  Blakinton  &  Sons.  The  work,  at 
first  all  done  by  hand,  is  now  done  by  machines,  and 
fifteen  hands  turn  out  two  hundred  shuttles  per  day. 
The  shuttles  were  sold  at  first  for  twelve  dollars  a 
dozen.  The  price  since  the  Rebellion  has  been  four 
dollars  and  fifty  cents  a  dozen. 

The  first  known  instance  of  jewelry  manufacture  in 
Attleborough  was  by  the  Frenchman  above  men- 
tioned, who  carried  on  the  business  at  a  brick  forge 
wdiere  the  old  shop  stands  on  the  premises  of  the  late 
Jesse  F.  Richards.  He  also  made  brass  butts.  Later, 
but  by  a  few  years,  was  the  manufacture  of  carbon 
jewelry  at  Robinsonville  by  Maj.  Robinson.  His 
shop,  said  to  have  been  the  first  built  in  town  ex- 
pressly for  that  purpose,  is  now,  remodeled,  the  French- 
roof  cottage  directly  opposite  the  residence  of  R.  F. 
Simmons. 

Manning  Richards,  the  father  of  H.  M.  Richards, 
commenced  his  business  career  about  1810,  on  the 
Cumberland  road,  but  soon  moved  into  North  Attle- 
borough, and  continued  the  manufacture  with  such 
success  as  to  become  the  wealthiest  man  in  town. 

In  182L  the  firm  of  Draper,  Tifft  &Co.  began  work,  i 


the  members  being  Josiah  Draper,  John  Tifft,  and 
Ira  Richards. 

John  Richardson,  John  Fuller,  and  William  Black- 
inton.  They  made  all  kinds  of  cut  nails,  running 
two  cutting-machines  and  three  or  four  heading-tools. 
The  business  here  ceased  in  1709,  two  years  after 
Jesse  Reed,  of  Boston,  took  out  his  patent  for  a  ma- 
chine for  cutting  and  heading  nails  by  one  operation. 

The  other  locality  was  at  the  upper  end  of  the 
Falls  Pond.  Here,  too,  gun-barrels  were  polished. 
Some  of  the  persons  interested  in  this  work  were 
Sylvester  Everett.  Jonas  Richardson,  James  Richard- 
son, and  Dr.  Thomas  Stanley. 

Bricks  have  been  made  in  several  places  in  town, 
but  few  towns  with  so  large  a  population  have  so  few 
brick  buildings  within  their  limits.  Joseph  Eldredge 
carried  on  their  manufacture  from  1860  to  1870, 
making  two  hundred  thousand  per  annum. 

Paper  boxes  were  first  manufactured  by  Daniel 
Babcock  in  a  shop  below  the  Farmer's  factory.  The 
business  is  also  carried  on  by  his  son,  Cyrus  S.  Bab- 
cock, in  the  old  high  school  building  near  the  North 
Attleborough  depot. 

Some  time  about  the  beginning  ot  the  present  cen- 
tury Roger  Farnum  had  a  distillery  on  the  south  side 
of  Elm  Street,  between  the  large  elm-tree  and  the  Ten- 
Mile  River.  Neither  history  nor  tradition  has  given 
the  amount  of  business  done.  The  building  was  blown 
down  in  the  gale  of  1815  and  never  rebuilt. 

Opposite,  on  the  north  side  of  Elm  Street,  was  a 
tannery,  the  vats  being  in  the  low  ground  by  the  Ten- 
Mile  River.  At  this  period  leather  gloves  and  leather 
breeches  were  not  an  uncommon  line  of  manufactured 
goods,  but  we  are  not  aware  that  any  of  the  leather 
tanned  here  was  used  for  that  purpose. 

Near  by,  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  David  Whit- 
ing occupied  the  first  shop  built  on  the  company's 
privileges.     Here  he  turned  hubs  and  wheels. 

Farther  down  Elm  Street,  but  northwest  of  the 
railroad  bridge,  iron  ore  has  been  quarried  within  the 
memory  of  men  now  living.  The  ore  was  carted  to 
an  adjoining  town  and  smelted.  This  industry  soon 
ceased. 

Nails  have  been  made  in  at  least  two  localities  in 
town.  The  first  was  at  the  old  factory  at  Whiting's 
Pond,  by  a  firm  composed  of  George  Blackinton. 

Other  Facts. — Cigars  are  manufactured  at  Attle- 
borough Falls  by  Randall  H.  Peirce,  and  at  North 
Attleborough  by  Martin  McDonald. 

Combs  were  made  in  the  State  in  the  early  part  of 
the  century.  This  industry,  having  its  chief  seat  at 
Leominster  and  West  Newbury,  was  represented  in 
this  town,  Tifft  &  Whiting  being  the  leading  makers. 

Bliss  &  Dean  is  one  of  the  leading  firms  of  Attle- 
borough. The  business  now  conducted  by  them  was 
commenced  in  1856,  when  A.  M.  Everett,  G.  A.  Dean, 
R.  Bliss,  S.  L.  Morse,  and  E.  S.  Capron  associated 
themselves  for  the  manufacture  of  jewelry  in  the  old 
car-shop,  under  the  name  of  Everett,  Dean  &  Co. 


ATTLEBOROUGH. 


569 


When  this  shop  was  burned,  in  1858,  they  moved  to 
the  manufactory  of  Archibald  Thompson.  L.  L. 
Morse  and  E.  S.  Capron  sold  out  in  1858,  and  B.  B. 
Day  came  into  the  firm  in  1859.  The  firm-name  was 
changed  to  Everett,  Day  &  Co.,  and  the  place  of  busi- 
ness was  established  in  its  present  location,  "The 
Steam-Power  Building."  A.  M.  Everett  sold  his  in- 
terest in  July,  1867,  and  the  firm  was  now  Day,  Bliss 
&  Dean.  B.  B.  Day  withdrew  in  1871,  shortly  before 
his  decease,  and  the  name  of  the  firm  became  Bliss  & 
Dean.  The  class  of  goods  manufactured  in  the  early 
days  of  the  business  was  ladies'  sets,  bracelets,  and 
sleeve-buttons.  During  the  last  fifteen  years  they 
have  made  a  specialty  of  chains,  lockets,  and  brace- 
lets, all  rolled-gold  plated  goods.  They  employ  eighty 
hands. 

Short,  Nerney  &  Co.  commenced  business  in  the 
fall  of  1876,  in  the  manufactory  of  E.  A.  Robinson, 
near  the  depot.  Moved  in  September,  1881,  to  the 
new  manufactory  of  Joseph  M.  Bates.  The  members 
of  the  firm  are  M.  B.  Short,  Philip  Nerney,  and  J.  J. 
Horton.  They  make  a  specialty  of  rolled  gold  gents' 
vest-chains.     They  employ  eighty  hands. 

J.  H.  Hodges  entered  upon  the  manufacture  of 
jewelry  in  E.  A.  Robinson's  shop  in  1874.  In  July, 
1877,  P.  M.  Carpenter  was  admitted  to  partnership, 
under  the  style  of  Hodges  &  Carpenter.  In  1881 
the  firm  moved  to  the  manufactory  of  J.  M.  Bates, 
where  they  now  make  a  specialty  of  gold  Masonic 
emblems.     They  give  employment  to  forty  hands. 

Hayward  &  Witherell  employ  twenty  hands  in  the 
manufacture  of  collar-buttons  and  a  variety  of  plated 
goods.  This  firm  was  organized  Jan.  1,  1873,  when 
Henry  L.  Hayward  and  Kelson  Carpenter  formed  a 
copartnership.  Mr.  Carpenter  sold  his  interest  to 
Proctor  E.  Witherell,  Oct.  21,  1879,  and  the  present 
firm-name  was  adopted,  with  an  increasing  business. 

Nelson  Carpenter,  since  withdrawing  from  the  firm 
of  Hayward  &  Carpenter,  has  carried  on  business 
alone,  first  in  D.  H.  Smith's  shop  and  afterwards  in 
his  present  location,  the  manufactory  of  J.  M.  Bates. 
He  successfully  employs  thirty-five  hands  in  the 
manufacture  of  pins,  ear-rings,  and  scarf-pins. 

W.  H.  Wilmarth  commenced  business  in  1872, 
when  W.  H.  &  J.  C.  Wilmarth  entered  upon  the 
manufacture  of  jewelry  in  Robinson's  old  shop,  under 
the  name  of  Wilmarth  Brothers.  In  May,  1873,  J. 
W.  Luther  became  a  member  of  the  firm,  which  was 
then  styled  Luther  &  Wilmarth  Brothers.  Soon  after 
Willard  Wheeler  was  taken  into  partnership,  and  the 
business  was  couducted  under  the  style  of  Luther, 
Wilmarth  Brothers  &  Wheeler.  J.  C.  Wilmarth, 
Luther,  and  Wheeler  successively  retired,  and  in 
1876  the  whole  business  came  into  the  hands  of  W. 
H.  Wilmarth.  They  first  manufactured  rolled  plated 
chain,  then  brass  and  fire-gilt  chain,  afterwards  but- 
tons, and  the  present  specialty  is  sleeve-buttons  and 
electro-plated  chain.  They  employ  one  hundred  and 
thirty-six  hands. 


Harris  &  Fisher  are  carrying  on  business  in  Robin- 
son's Union  Street  shop.  The  firm  commenced  work 
in  Robinson's  old  shop  in  1880.  In  the  same  year  J. 
K.  Ryder  entered  the  firm,  which  became  Harris, 
Fisher  &  Ryder.  Ryder  soon  retired,  and  the  orig- 
inal name  of  the  firm  was  resumed.  They  employ 
fifty-five  hands  in  the  manufacture  of  chains  and 
lockets. 

Oct.  5, 1864,  Dr.  J.  R.  Bronson,  who  had  previously 
bought  the  coffin-trimming  business  of  Mr.  Dilling- 
ham at  North  Attleborough,  associated  with  him 
William  D.  Wilmarth,  under  the  name  of  Bronson 
&  Wilmarth.  Continuing  business  there  for  a  few 
months,  the  firm  moved  to  the  old  shop  on  County 
Street,  Attleborough.  Dr.  Bronson  retired  April  4, 
1868,  and  Mr.  Wilmarth  continued  alone  until  his 
death,  March  6,  1872.  The  same  business  is  now 
conducted  by  W.  W.  Wilmarth  &  Co.,  the  members 
of  the  firm  being  William  Howard  Wilmarth  and 
Louis  J.  Lamb.  They  manufacture  coffin-trimmings 
and  ornaments,  employing  an  average  of  twenty-five 
hands. 

A  Busbee  &  Co.  commenced  the  manufacture  of 
jewelry  in  1868  in  one  of  the  old  shops  near  the  sta- 
tion of  the  Boston  and  Providence  Railroad  Com- 
pany, the  firm  then  being  Busbee  &  Bacon.  The 
partners  were  A.  Busbee  and  E.  Bacon.  In  three 
years  Charles  H.  Busbee  joined  the  firm  under  the 
present  style  of  A.  Busbee  &  Co.  They  built  and 
occupied  their  present  shop  in  1872.  They  manu- 
facture gilt  and  plated  jewelry,  their  specialty  being 
the  original  separable  sleeve-  and  collar-buttons. 
They  furnish  employment  to  seventy  hands,  and 
do  a  large  business. 

Smith,  Crosby  &  Smith  manufacture  fine  gold- 
front  plated  goods  of  all  kinds.  They  employ  fifty 
hands  and  fifteen  engravers.  Their  business  was 
established  in  1872,  the  members  of  the  firm  being 
W.  H.  Smith,  A.  R,  Crosby,  and  C.  E.  Smith. 

Streeter  Brothers  started  the  manufacture  of  jew- 
elry in  the  steam-power  building  in  the  fall  of  1867. 
They  moved  to  the  manufactory  of  W.  D.  Wilmarth. 
They  employ  twenty-five  hands  in  the  manufacture 
of  gilt  jewelry,  their  specialty  being  chains. 

The  firm  of  S.  W.  Gould  &  Co.  commenced  business 
in  January,  1880,  in  Robinson's  old  shop,  and  moved 
to  J.'M.  Bates'  Union  Street  shop  Jan.  1, 1881.  They 
employ  sixty  hands  in  the  manufacture  of  rolled- 
gold  plated  goods  for  ladies'  wear, — pins,  drops,  and 
sets. 

Cummings  &  Wexel  started  in  1871,  as  E.  II.  Cum- 
mings  &  Co.,  in  Robinson's  old  shop.  They  first 
manufactured  fine  sets  and  buttons.  Now  they  em- 
ploy seventy-five  hands  in  the  manufacture  of  sleeve- 
buttons  and  charms. 

The  Attleborough  Bank  was  chartered  in  1836,  and 
opened  a  banking-room  at  Attleborough.  In  1858  it 
was  removed  to  North  Attleborough,  where  it  is  now 
located.    The  presidents  of  the  institution,  with  their 


570 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


dates  of  election,  are  N.  W.  San  ford,  May  9,  1836; 
Samuel  Carpenter,  Oct.  2,  1837;  L.  M.  Wheaton, 
Oct.  4,  1852;  E.  Ira  Richards,  Feb.  11,  1856;  and 
Daniel  Evans,  Jan.  27,  1875.  The  bank  was  organ- 
ized as  a  national  bank  in  1865,  with  a  capital  of  one 
hundred  thousand  dollars.  The  institution  is  very 
successfully  managed.  Daniel  Evans,  president; 
Edward  R.  Price,  cashier. 

The  First  National  Bank  of  Attleborough  was 
organized  in  1875.  Capital,  one  hundred  thousand 
dollars.  The  first  president  was  Col.  Willard  Black- 
inton.  The  banking-rooms  are  in  Sturdy's  building, 
Attleborough,  where  the  bank  does  a  good  business. 
President,  Joseph  M.  Bates ;  Cashier,  Homer  M. 
Daggett. 

D.  H.  Smith  commenced  the  manufacture  of  jew- 
elry in  1865,  in  company  with  S.  N.  Carpenter,  H. 
Capron,  and  S.  Morse.  Within  a  few  years  he  bought 
the  interest  of  his  partners,  and  since  1869  has  con- 
ducted the  business  alone.  He  now  employs  thirty- 
five  hands  in  the  manufacture  of  charms  and  brace- 
lets. 

R.  B.  Macdonald  began  the  manufacture  of  swivels 
at  his  house  on  County  Street,  Attleborough,  soon 
after  the  war,  as  Edward  &  John  Macdonald.  On  the 
death  of  his  father,  R.  B.  Macdonald  entered  upon 
the  manufacture  of  swivels  at  Attleborough,  which 
business  he  continued  until  1881.  when  he  com- 
menced the  manufacturing  of  gold-plated  chain  in 
the  manufactory  of  J.  M.  Bates  on  Union  Street. 
Number  of  hands  employed,  twenty-eight. 

Watson  &  Newell  date  the  commencement  of  their 
business  from  1873,  when  C.  D.  Cobb,  S.  W.  Gould, 
F.  A.  Newell,  C.  L.  Watson,  and  W.  A.  Battey  formed 
a  copartnership  under  the  style  of  Cobb,  Gould  &  Co. 
W.  A.  Battey  retired  in  1874,  C.  D.  Cobb  in  1879,  and 
S.  W.  Gould  in  1880,  when  the  style  of  the  firm  be- 
came Watson  &  Newell.  They  manufacture  a  large 
line  of  gold-plated  goods, — cuff,  shawl,  and  lace  pins, 
and  collar-  and  sleeve-butions.  They  furnish  employ- 
ment to  one  hundred  hands. 

J.  W.  Luther  &  Co.,  lapidaries,  employ  ten  hands 
in  lapidary  work  in  Robinson's  manufactory.  They 
have  been  engaged  in  the  business  fourteen  years. 

Aside  from  Sunday-school  libraries  the  town  has 
the  library  of  the  Attleborough  Library  Association. 
This  is  a  subscription  library  of  fifteen  hundred  vol- 
umes, and  was  founded  in  1864. 

The  public  library  of  the  Union  Improvement  Dis- 
trict was  established  by  subscription  in  1869.  In 
1876,  the  subscribers  gave  their  property,  consisting 
of  one  thousand  volumes  of  standard  works,  to  the 
Union  Improvement  District,  North  Attleborough, 
and  since  that  time  the  library  has  been  supported 
by  taxation,  and  is  free  to  all  residents  in  the  village 
of  North  Attleborough.  The  number  of  volumes  is 
about  three  thousand.  Prudential  Committee,  Jo- 
seph G.  Barden,  Francis  G.  Pate,  and  B.  Porter,  Jr. 
Librarian,  John  Ward. 


In  addition  to  these  libraries  the  town  enjoys  the 
advantages  of  two  excellent  weekly  papers,  the  Attle- 
borough Chronicle  and  the  Attleborough  Advocate.  They 
with  pen  and  pencil  portray  the  busy  life  of  Attle- 
borough and  furnish  memorials  on  which  the  future 
explorer  may  lean  as  he  takes  up  and  brings  forward 
the  chain  of  history.  The  former  was  established 
Feb.  2,  1872,  by  Walter  Phillips.  Before  the  close  of 
the  year  E.  K.  Dunbar  was  admitted  to  partnership, 
and  the  firm  became  Phillips  &  Dunbar.  They  were 
succeeded  by  Dunbar  &  Quinn.  Then  E.  K.  Dunbar 
became  the  editor  and  proprietor.  Eliot  Hunt  became 
a  partner  and  owner,  and  eventually  bought  out  E. 
K.  Dunbar.  The  paper  is  now  published  by  Eliot 
Hunt  &  Co.  The  Advocate  is  published  by  E.  H. 
Sweet  &  Co.,  at  Attleborough. 

Altogether  Attleborough  is  a  very  busy  place,  where 
loafing  finds  it  difficult  to  resist  opportunities  for  work, 
and  it  has  possibilities  of  progress  unsurpassed  by  any 
town  in  the  State. 

Social  Organizations. — The  social  organizations 
of  Attleborough  are  numerous.  The  oldest  and  the 
only  one  which  dates  back  into  the  last  century  is 
Bristol  Lodge,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons.  The 
lodge  began  its  existence  June  14,  1797,  under  a 
charter  granted  by  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the  Most 
Ancient  and  Honorable  Society  of  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  to 
a  membership  residing  in  Attleborough,  Mansfield, 
Norton,  Pawtucket,  Rehoboth,  and  Taunton.  This 
charter  bears  the  signature  of  the  famous  Revolu- 
tionary worthy,  Paul  Revere,  Grand  Master  of  the 
order  at  that  time.  Its  speech  is  thus  "  of  patriotism 
and  courage,  of  civil  and  religious  liberty,  of  free 
government,"  as  often  as  the  eye  rests  upon  the  an- 
cient charter. 

The  lodge  was  established  at  Norton,  where  it  held 
its  meetings  until  Dec.  11,  1811,  when  it  was  removed 
to  Attleborough.  March  10,  1830,  the  Grand  Lodge 
authorized  it  to  assemble  at  North  Attleborough. 

In  1833  the  prosperity  of  Bristol  Lodge  waned, 
and  its  charter  was  returned  to  the  Grand  Lodge ; 
but  upon  the  petition  of  old  members  the  time-honored 
document  was  restored  Sept.  14,  1859,  since  which 
time  the  lodge  has  steadily  advanced  in  membership 
and  influence.  Its  finely-appointed  hall  was  appro- 
priately dedicated  Feb.  9,  1876. 

The  names  of  the  Past  Masters  since  the  restora- 
tion of  the  charter  are  Willard  Blackinton,  Samuel 
S.  Ginnode,  Charles  E.  Smith,  John  B.  Maintain, 
Thomas  G.  Sandland,  Obed  C.  Turner,  Francis  S. 
Fairbanks,  Samuel  H.  Bugbee,  Arthur  E.  Codding, 
and  James  A.  Codding.  The  present  officers  are : 
W.  M.,  Theodore  B.  Hazzard;  S.  W.,  Walter  E. 
Barden  ;  J.  W.,  Elton  I.  Franklin  ;  Treas.,  George  E. 
Hawes ;  Sec,  Rev.  W.  Henry  Kling. 

Ezekiel  Bates  Lodge  was  organized  at  Attleborough 
by  Master  Masons  from  Bristol  Lodge,  Jan.  12,  1870, 
under  a  dispensation  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Massa- 


ATTLEBOROUGH. 


571 


chusetts.  At  the  expiration  of  the  dispensation  the 
grand  officers  came  to  Attleborough,  instituted  the 
lodge,  and  installed  its  officers,  Sept.  0,  1871.  The 
growth  of  the  lodge  has  been  continuous  and  rapid, 
and  it  now  numbers  one  hundred  and  thirteen  mem- 
bers. Officers:  W.  M.,  William  J.  Thompson  ;  B.W., 
D.  E.  Makepeace;  J.  W.,  N.  Justin  Smith;  Treas., 
Fred.  G.  Mason  ;  Sec,  0.  P.  Richardson,  Jr. 

All  the  other  ranks  known  to  the  craft  have  flour- 
ishing organizations  in  the  Attleborough  Council, 
Bristol  Commandery  of  Knights  Templar,  and  King 
Hiram  Royal  Arch  Chapter. 

The  Independent  Order  of  Odd-Fellows  com- 
menced their  history  here  thirty-seven  years  ago, 
Aurora  Lodge,  No.  107,  having  been  instituted  Jan. 
293  L846.  The  charter  members  were  Abraham  Hay- 
ward,  Thaddeus  Phelps,  Alfred  Barrows,  Joseph  D. 
Peirce,  Lemuel  Bishop,  Daniel  Evans,  Benjamin  F. 
Ham  mar,  and  Samuel  D.  Forte.  The  first  elective 
officers  were  Abraham  Hay  ward,  N.  G. ;  Thaddeus 
Phelps,  V.  G. ;  Albert  Tifft,  Treas.;  and  Daniel 
Evans,  Sec.  The  first  lodge-room  was  the  second 
story  of  a  school-house  at  West  Attleborough.  The 
second  was  Howard  Hall,  now  completely  remodeled, 
the  home  of  Bristol  Lodge,  Washington  Street,  North 
Attleborough.  The  third  and  last  is  Odd-Fellows' 
building,  which  both  in  appearance  and  construction 
is  one  of  the  best  structures  in  town,  and  a  monument 
to  the  works  of  the  order.  Its  cost  was  twenty  thou- 
sand dollars. 

The  lodge  now  numbers  one  hundred  and  fifty 
members.  Officers:  N.  G.,  H.  Eugene  Coombs; 
V.  G.,  William  D.  Wennell ;  Permanent  Sec,  Am- 
brose Kurtz ;  Treas.,  Thomas  C.  Sandland ;  Sec, 
David  Thompson. 

In  process  of  time,  with  the  growth  of  the  town 
and  increase  of  membership,  there  came  a  demand 
for  a  lodge  of  the  order  at  Attleborough,  and  Orient 
Lodge,  Xo.  165,  was  instituted  Oct.  2,  1873,  with 
nearly  one  hundred  members,  zealous  followers  of 
friendship,  love,  and  truth.  The  lodge  is  making  a 
creditable  record  in  the  charities  of  Odd-Fellowship. 
The  officers  are:  N.  G.,  Herbert  A.  Clark;  V.  G., 
Frank  S.  Sweet;  Treas.,  Nehemiah  Hicks;  Perma- 
nent Sec,  John  Slater;  Rec  Sec,  Charles  W.  Black- 
inton. 

The  Patriarchal  branch  of  the  order  was  organ- 
ized in  Attleborough,  Aug.  5,  1840,  when  Howard 
Encampment,  No.  19,  commenced  its  somewhat 
checkered  existence.  Some  time  after,  in  the  fluc- 
tuations of  Odd-Fellowship,  it  weakened  and  died. 
The  charter  was  restored  and  the  encampment  re- 
instituted  Feb.  21,  1876,  since  which  time  it  has  en- 
joyed a  healthy  growth,  and  now  numbers  sixty 
members.  Officers:  C.  P.,  John  P.  Bonnett;  H.  P., 
John  Ward;  S.  W.,  David  Thompson;  F.  S.,  G. 
Frank  Jackson  ;  Treas.,  Francis  G.  Pate;  S.,  Albert 
Totten. 

The  Knights  of  Pythias  have  in  Sumner  Lodge, 


No.  62,  an  active  lodge  of  sixty  members.  The  lodge 
occupies  a  hall  in  Barrow's  block,  North  Attleborough, 
where  they  have  every  advantage  that  such  an  or- 
ganization requires.  The  officers  are:  Chancellor 
Commander,  Frank  A.  Bates;  Vice-Chancellor,  Frank 
W.  Gardner;  P.,  Thomas  McAlpine;  M.  of  E.,  Dex- 
ter E.  Hawkins;  M.  of  F.,  Obediah  Lyon;  K.  of  R. 
and  S.,  Thomas  J.  Halliday  ;  M.  at  A.,  H.  R.  Packard. 

Among  the  more  recently  organized  beneficial  as- 
sociations are  Washington  Lodge,  No.  1840,  Knights 
of  Honor;  Magnolia  Council,  No.  121,  and  Massasoit 
Council,  No.  270,  American  Legion  of  Honor;  and 
Attleborough  Council,  No.  366,  Royal  Arcanum.  All 
are  of  recent  origin,  but  at  a  reasonable  cost  afford 
the  best  life  insurance. 

Washington  Lodge,  No.  1840,  Knights  of  Honor, 
was  organized  by  the  authority  of  the  Grand  Lodge 
of  Massachusetts  with  nineteen  charter  members. 
The  officers  are  Thomas  Schofield,  Dictator;  F.  S. 
Fairbanks,  Vice-Dictator;  Gardner  Warren,  Assistant 
Dictator;  J.  J.  Morse,  Treasurer;  L.  H.  Pherson, 
Financial  Reporter;  Rev.  W.  Henry  Kling,  Chap- 
lain ;  George  W.  Cheever,  Guide ;  Henry  C.  Cowell, 
Guardian ;  W.  E.  Barden,  Sentinel.  The  present 
number  of  members,  April,  1883,  is  twenty-seven. 

The  Attleborough  Council  of  the  Royal  Arcanum 
was  instituted  by  officers  of  the  Grand  Council  of 
Massachusetts  Aug.  8,  1879,  with  twenty  charter 
members.  The  council  is  in  a  highly  prosperous 
condition,  with  a  membership  of  fifty  persons.  By  its 
laws  each  full  rate  member  has  an  insurance  of  three 
thousand  dollars;  half-rate  members,  fifteen  hundred 
dollars.  The  officers  of  the  council  are  Regent, 
Charles  E.  Hay  ward ;  Vice-Regent,  S.  R.  Briggs; 
Orator,  Benjamin  P.  King;  Past  Regent,  Charles  O. 
Sweet;  Chaplain,  Warren  Parker;  Guide,  William 
Nerney ;  Secretary,  Job  B.  Savery ;  Treasurer,  J. 
Shepard  Richards  ;  Collector,  Charles  A.  Witherell ; 
Warden,  Charles  H.  Power;  Sentinel,  Henry  B.  Lin- 
nell. 

Magnolia  Council  of  the  American  Legion  of  Honor 
was  organized  March  16,  1880,  with  thirty  charter 
members.  The  present  officers  are  :  Commander,  Wil- 
liam H.  Blaney ;  Vice-Commander,  M.  J.  Angell ; 
Past  Commander,  Dr.  George  Mackie;  Treasurer, 
Job  B.  Savery  ;  Collector,  A.  F.  Thompson  ;  Chap- 
lain, M.  F.  Whitney  ;  Warden,  E.  A.  Fuller;  Sentry, 
George  P.  Williams. 

Massasoit  Council,  No.  270,  of  the  same  order,  was 
instituted  at  North  Attleborough,  July  30,  1880,  with 
nineteen  charter  members.  Officers:  Commander, 
Thomas  R.  Jones  ;  Vice-Commander,  Obediah  Lyon  ; 
Orator,  Charles  T.  Guild  ;  Past  Commander,  William 
H.  Barnes;  Secretary,  A.  R.  Morse;  Collector,  H.  M. 
Scribner;  Treasurer,  H.  K.  Sturdy;  Chaplain,  H.  R. 
Kendall;  Guide,  F.  W.  Holmes;  Warden,  W.  P. 
Whittemore;  Sentry,  Samuel  B.  Hamblin.  The 
number  of  members  has  increased  since  its  organiza- 
tion to  thirty. 


572 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL  COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Dionys  Lodge,  No.  317,  is  a  similar  association, 
composed  of  citizens  of  German  descent.  Officers : 
O.  B.,  Charles  Albert;  U.  B.,  Anton  Braunwart ; 
Corresponding  Secretary,  Martin  Klaus;  Financial 
Secretary,  Augustus  Schubert;  Treasurer,  Robert 
Scholtze. 

The  North  Attleborough  Board  of  Trade  dates  its 
existence  from  December  27,  1880.  It  numbers  sixty 
members,  among  whom  are  many  of  the  wealthy  and 
influential  business  men  of  Attleborough  Falls,  North 
Attleborough,  and  Plainville.  Its  officers  are:  Presi- 
dent, Handel  N.  Daggett;  Vice-Presidents,  Henry  F. 
Barrows,  Samuel  E.  Fisher,  and  Edward  R.  Price ; 
Secretary,  Fred.  B.  Byram ;  Treasurer,  Randolph 
Knapp. 

Turning  away  from  these  benevolent  institutions  of 
the  enlightened  nineteenth  century,  but  pursuing  our 
research  on  hospitable  thoughts  intent,  we  come  to 
the  Attleborough  Farmers'  and  Mechanics'  Associa- 
tion. This  society  was  formed  in  1869,  near  the  close 
of  the  most  eventful  decade  in  our  country's  history. 
The  association  soon  after  purchased  grounds  and 
erected  exhibition  buildings  at  Attleborough  Falls. 
The  buildings  and  grounds  are  in  excellent  condition, 
and  the  track  is  one  of  the  best  in  New  England. 
The  number  of  members  is  three  hundred  and  fifty, 
comprising  many  of  the  leading  citizens  of  Attlebor- 
ough and  adjoining  towns.  The  annual  fairs  of  the 
association  are  looked  forward  to  as  the  harvest  festi- 
val of  the  year.  The  officers  of  the  society  are :  Presi- 
dent, Charles  E.  Hay  ward;  Treasurer,  John  Thacher; 
Secretary,  Frederick  B.  Byram. 

These  extensive  industries  sustain  two  national 
banks  and  a  savings-bank,  and  the  institutions  are 
successfully  managed. 

The  Attleborough  Savings-Bank  was  incorporated 
by  an  act  of  the  Legislature  Feb.  2,  1860. 

In  about  a  year  from  that  time  the  corporators  or- 
ganized by  the  choice  of  Ezekiel  Bates  as  president 
and  W.  H.  Robinson  as  vice-president.  The  corpo- 
ration became  depositors  and  workmen,  and  men  of 
business  soon  recognized  the  advantages  of  a  secure 
place  for  the  saving  and  investing  of  the  unemployed 
receipts  of  their  industry.  The  number  and  amount 
of  the  deposits  have  rapidly  increased  from  the  first 
year  of  its  existence.  The  corporators  are  men  of 
business  sagacity,  and  under  their  careful  manage- 
ment this  savings-bank  has  often  been  pronounced 
one  of  the  soundest  in  the  State.  Total  deposits, 
$500,000.  President,  Abial  Codding ;  Secretary  and 
Treasurer,  Edward  R.  Price. 

An  Ancient  Building. — Attleborough  owns  one 
historic  building,  the  Old  Powder-House  at  West 
Attleborough.  The  building  is  circular  in  form, 
about  twelve  feet  in  diameter,  and  capped  with  a 
conical  roof.  It  is  built  of  brick,  and  the  order  of 
the  selectmen  for  payment  shows  that  six  thousand 
were  used  in  its  construction. 

Its  erection  was  authorized  by  a  town-meeting  held 


Sept.  20,  1768,  when,  in  the  language  of  the  record,  it 
was 

"  Voted  to  build  a  house  for  Keeping  the  town 
stock  of  Ammunition  in  for  the  futer,  and  proseaded 
to  chose  a  commety  for  that  purpose,  namely,  Capt. 
John  Stearns,  Capt.  Daniel  Read,  and  Capt.  Henry 
Sweate  ware  chosen  a  Commety  for  that  purpos,  and 
then  the  commety  went  and  looked  a  place  to  set  sd 
house  and  they  said  that  they  found  a  place  in  Jacob 
Newell's  land  which  sd  Newell  said  he  would  give 
the  land  to  build  the  house  upon." 

To  confirm  a  promise  then  given,  and  to  secure  the 
rights  of  "  ye  People,"  Jacob  Newell,  who  was  at 
that  time  town  treasurer,  made  the  following  entry  in 
the  town  records  in  his  own  hand  : 

"  Where  as  ye  Town  of  Attleborough  have  agreed  to  Bnld  a  Powder 
house  and  set  sd  house  on  ye  High  Hill  eastardly  from  ye  Meeting-House 
on  my  Land  I  give  liberty  to  set  sd  House  their,  and  also  for  my  Heirs 
and  assigns  I  agree  ye  People  shall  have  Liberty  to  Pass  to  and  from  sd 
House  to  carry  their  Powder  or  any  other  anmiinition  and  bring  of 
again  ye  same  at  any  time  or  times  so  that  they  in  Passing  Regurly  Not 
to  Leve  Down  fence  or  any  Enclosen  thing  to  Do  Damage 

as  witness  my  baud —  Jacob  Newell. 

"  Attleborough,  Oct.  ye  4th  1768." 

It  is  inferred  that  the  committee  above  chosen  had 
full  powers,  inasmuch  as  they  proceeded  to  build  the 
house  in  October  and  November,  and  settled  their 
account  in  December. 

How  much  ammunition  was  stored  in  the  edifice 
the  records  do  not  state.  In  1775,  Col.  John  Daggett 
supplied  his  command  from  its  stores  to  capture  the 
Tories  in  the  Assonett  expedition,  and  the  quantity 
taken  was  replaced  by  a  vote  of  the  town  the  next 
year.  It  was  a  place  of  security  for  materials  of  war 
during  the  Revolution  and  the  war  of  1812. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


HERVEY  M.  RICHARDS. 

Hervey  M.  Richards  was  born  on  the  11th  of  July, 
1812.  His  father,  Manning  Richards,  owned  and 
worked  a  small  farm  about  two  miles  from  the  village 
of  North  Attleborough,  and  at  the  same  time,  having 
considerable  knowledge  of  the  business,  augmented 
his  income  by  the  manufacture  of  jewelry,  for  which 
purpose  he  had  erected  a  small  shop  on  the  farm. 
He  subsequently  removed  to  the  village,  and  while 
keeping  a  small  country  store,  continued  in  a  small 
way  the  manufacture  of  jewelry,  with  others  laying 
the  foundation  on  which  the  town  has  since  became 
the  principal  seat  of  this  industry  in  New  England. 

In  1S26,  Manning  Richards  died,  and,  having  met 
with  reverses,  left  his  family  without  means,  and 
upon  the  son,  then  a  lad  of  fourteen  years,  devolved 
the  duty  of  supporting  his  widowed  mother  and  his 
sisters.  Cheerfully  essaying  the  task  he  apprenticed 
himself  to  his  uncle,  Ira  Richards,  who  soon  after 
became  a   partner  with    Draper,    Tifft   &  Co.,  with 


■C.  <,<- 


/^:/^  -V 


ATTLEBOROUGH. 


573 


whom  he  finished  his  trade  at  the  age  of  eighteen 
years.  Having  learned  the  art  of  jewelry  manufacture, 
and  having  during  that  period  saved  a  little  money, 
he  entered  into  business  for  himself.  Supplying  in 
energy  and  industry  what  he  lacked  in  capital,  the 
prospects  of  his  success  and  the  ultimate  enlarge- 
ment of  his  business  were  very  promising,  but  disas- 
ter overtook  him.  His  little  shop  was  burned  to  the 
ground,  and  nothing  remained  for  him*  but  to  begin 
the  struggle  anew.  He  immediately  entered  into 
partnership  with  George  Morse,  a  good  mechanic, 
under  the  firm-name  of  Morse  &  Richards,  and  con- 
tinued the  manufacture  of  jewelry.  In  this  second 
venture  he  was  more  successful,  realizing  handsomely 
on  the  goods  manufactured  by  the  firm,  a  result 
largely  due  to  his  sagacity  as  a  salesman.  It  was  the 
custom  in  those  days  for  manufacturers  personally  to 
carry  the  products  of  their  labor  and  skill  to  the  com- 
mercial centres  of  the  country,  and  there  find  pur- 
chasers for  them.  This  course  Mr.  Richards  pursued 
with  excellent  success.  Subsequently,  Ira  Richards, 
his  son  E.  Ira,  and  H.  M.  Richards,  formed  a  new 
firm  under  the  firm-name  of  Ira  Richards  &  Co. 
About  1837,  H.  M.  Richards  sold  his  interest  and  re- 
moved to  Philadelphia,  where  he  was  at  first  very 
successful,  but  owing  to  unfortunate  speculations  he 
lost  all  his  property. 

In  1843  he  returned  to  North  Attleborough,  and, 
with  the  assistance  of  his  uncle  Ira,  again  entered 
into  the  business  of  jewelry  manufacture  with  suc- 
cess. From  that  time  until  1857,  Mr.  Richards  did 
much  to  promote  the  growth  and  general  prosperity 
of  Attleborough.  But  in  the  latter  year,  having  built 
the  extensive  stone  factory  at  Attleborough  Falls,  now 
owned  and  occupied  by  H.  N.  Daggett,  and  holding 
a  large  amount  of  real  estate  on  which  he  could  not 
realize,  he  was  obliged  to  succumb  to  the  panic  of 
that  eventful  year. 

After  recovering  in  a  measure  from  this  misfortune, 
Mr.  Richards,  in  1863,  removed  his  business  to  No.  7 
Green  Street,  Boston,  and  receiving  his  son,  E.  H. 
Richards,  into  partnership,  under  the  firm-name  of 
H.  M.  Richards  &  Co.,  a  large  and  prosperous  busi- 
ness in  the  manufacture  of  jewelry  and  fancy  metal- 
work  has  been  established.  In  1856-57,  Mr.  Richards 
was  elected  to  the  lower  branch  of  the  Legislature  of 
Massachusetts,  and  in  1862-63  he  was  a  member  of 
the  Senate. 

Mr.  Richards  has  been  twice  married ;  first  to  Juline, 
daughter  of  David  Capron,  June  3,  1833.  They  had 
no  children  of  their  own,  but  they  kindly  adopted 
Eugene  H.  Richards,  a  notice  of  whom  appears  in  this 
work,  and  Marion  Fell  Richards,  wife  of  Charles  A. 
Gilchrist,  a  jeweler  at  43  Haverhill  Street,  Boston. 
He  was  at  one  time  in  business  with  Mr.  Richards. 
They  have  four  children, — Ellen  J.,  Carrie  L.,  Juline 
C,  and  Grace  M.  Mr.  Richards  married  for  his  second 
wife,  November,  1857,  .Mrs.  Anjanett  P.  Balcom, 
daughter  of  Remember  Carpenter,  of  Pawtucket.  R.  I. 


STEPHEN   RICHARDSON. 

StepTien  Richardson,  son  of  Noah  and  Irene  (Bacon) 
Richardson,  was  born  in  Attleborough,  Mass.,  Nov. 
10,  1815. 

The  Richardson  family,  originally  of  Scandinavian 
origin,  came  from  England  to  America  among  the 
settlers  of  Massachusetts  and  Plymouth  colonies,  and 
has  been  a  numerous  one  in  Attleborough.  Several 
different  families  of  this  name  settled  here  early. 
Four  brothers — Stephen,  John,  William,  and  Seth, 
— were  of  this  line,  coming  probably  from  Woburn, 
as  we  find  the  name  Stephen  and  Daniel  prominent 
for  several  successive  generations  in  that  town.  From 
Stephen  came  Daniel,  born  March  1741-42.  He  mar- 
ried Sarah  Read,  and  had  three  sons, — Daniel,  Alfred, 
and  Noah.  Noah,  father  of  the  subject  of  our  sketch, 
was  born  June  27,  1780.  Noah  was  a  farmer  and  nail- 
maker  in  fair  circumstances,  and  lived  on  the  east  road 
from  East  Attleborough  to  North  Attleborough,  al- 
most immediately  opposite  the  present  residence  of 
John  T.  Bates.  This  old  home  of  his  ancestors  was 
his  residence  during  life,  and  is  still  in  possession  of 
the  family.  He  had  children, — Sylvester,  Alfred,  Si- 
lena  (married  Charles  P.  Day),  Stephen,  Charles  B., 
Eliza  (married  Angus  McDonald)  and  Mary  C.  He 
died,  aged  fifty-five  years.  His  wife  survived  him 
long,  dying  in  1864,  aged  eighty-four.  Noah  was  an 
unpretentious,  quiet  citizen,  liberal  withal,  and  well 
liked.  He  was  buried  at  Attleborough,  but  the  re- 
mains of  himself  and  wife  were  transferred  to  Mount 
Hope  Cemetery. 

Stephen  remained  with  his  father  until  he  was  past 
fifteen,  when  he  went  to  learn  the  jewelry  trade  with 
Calvin  Richards,  at  North  Attleborough,  in  the  fac- 
tory located  on  the  grounds  adjoining  the  Calvin 
Richards  homestead,  now  occupied  by  Abiel  Codding. 
Here  he  remained  acquiring  a  good  practical  knowl- 
edge of  his  trade  for  several  years,  when  he  formed  a 
partnership  with  Abiel  Codding  to  manufacture  jew- 
elry. This  was  in  1836.  They  first  occupied  a  small 
building  on  Elm  Street,  near  Ten-Mile  River,  oppo- 
site the  old  Bark  house,  belonging  to  Samuel  Dra- 
per; second,  a  small  building  adjoining  the  Preston 
Draper  house,  opposite  the  Wamsutta  House.  This 
firm  was  Richardson  &  Codding,  and  continued  one 
year.  In  1837,  Mr.  Richardson  married  Ann  Janette 
F.,  daughter  of  Manning  and  Susan  (Everett)  Rich- 
ards. She  was  born  in  North  Attleborough.  The 
young  couple  resided  with  her  mother,  a  widow,  until 
some  time  after  the  birth  of  their  oldest  child,  Clar- 
ence H.,  who  was  born  Jan.  18,  1838.  They  then  re- 
moved to  a  tenement  owned  by  Dennis  Everett,  lo- 
cated on  Washington  Street,  in  the  rear  of  Richard 
Everett's  residence  on  Elm  Street.  Here  Frank  was 
born  in  1841.  After  Mr.  Codding's  retirement  from 
the  firm,  Mr.  Richardson  continued  business  alone. 
When  C.  Richard  retired  from  business,  he  took  his 
shop,  and  removed  his  residence  at  the  same  time.  He 
associated  with  him  in  business  David  Capron,  under 


574 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


the  firm-name  of  Stephen  Richardson  &  Co.  While 
here  Edgar  was  born.  Their  business  extending, 
after  some  time  they  moved  their  factory  to  the  build- 
ing previously  occupied  by  Draper  &  Tifft,  on  the  site 
where  now  stands  C.  B.  Thompson's  store.  Mr.  Rich- 
ardson then  changed  his  residence  to  a  part  of  John 
Tifft's  house.  Here  Janette  Everett,  his  daughter, 
was  born.  She  married  Eugene  K.  Dunbar,  son  of  Rev. 
Melzar  Dunbar,  of  Machias,  Me.  Her  husband  was 
the  founder  of  the  Attleborough  Chronicle,  which  he 
conducted  successfully  for  some  time.  They  now  re- 
side in  Boston. 

Stephen  Richardson  &  Co.  continued  here  in  busi- 
ness until  1848  making  goods,  and,  as  was  then  the 
general  custom,  traveling  around  the  county  to  dis- 
pose of  them,  sometimes  selling  and  sometimes  trading 
for  other  articles.     They  were  fortunate.     They  made 
good  work,  were  lucky  in  their  designs,  which  were 
quite  popular,  and  made  money.     On  one  "  hit,"  a 
new  style  of  ring,  they  made  about  ten  thousand  dol- 
lars.    Their  limited  quarters  becoming  far  too  small, 
in  1848  Mr.  Richardson  erected  a  factory  two  stories 
high,  forty  by  thirty  feet,  and  moved  thither  the  same 
year.     This  building  necessitated  the  opening  of  a 
new  street,  which  was  called  East  Street.     The  same 
year  he  built  the  beautiful  residence  on  the  front  of 
the  same  lot,  which,  altered  in  some  respects,  is"  now 
the  residence  of  his  son  Clarence.     This  was  at  that 
time  the  finest  residence  in  the  place.      His  family 
removed  thither  on  its  completion,  and  this  was  his 
home  during  life,  and  here  was  born  his  youngest 
son,  Stephen,  who  died  early.     The  partnership  with 
Mr.  Capron  continued  several  years.     They  employed 
about  forty  hands,  and  did  the  largest  business  in 
their  line,  which  soon  compelled  doubling  the  capacity 
of  their  factory.     After  Mr.  Capron's  retiring  from 
the  firm,  Mr.  Richardson  continued  alone,  and  with 
Samuel  R.  Miller,  as  Richardson  &  Miller,  until  1856. 
Previous   to   this   nearly  all   the   representatives   of 
manufacturing  jewelers  in  New  York  City  were  ex- 
hibiting their  goods  in  rooms  in  the  Western  Hotel, 
well  remembered  by  those  in  the  trade  of  those  days. 
Mr.  Richardson  was  among  the  first  to  make  the  new 
departure  of  a  separate  office  and  a  constant  supply  of 
goods,  and  the  firm  opened  an  office  at  No.  21  Maiden 
Lane,  corner  Nassau,  changing  its  location  to  177 
Broadway  about  1857.     In   the  first  of  his  business 
career   Mr.  Richardson    manufactured   a    variety  of 
rino-s,  pins,  and  chains.     Afterwards  a  line  of  novel- 
ties was  taken  up,  and  this  house  was  perhaps  the 
very  first  to  depart  from  the  legitimate  jewelry  busi- 
ness and  take  up  the  making  of  novelties.     Besides 
their  own  make  of  goods  they  handled  the  work  of 
one  factory  at  Attleborough  Falls,  two  at  South  At- 
tleborough, one  at  Wrentham,  and  became  one  of  the 
largest,  if  not  the  largest,  importing  house  of  French 
jewelry  in  America,  employing  a  resident  buyer  in 
Paris.      A  Philadelphia  office  was   also  established. 
From  1856,  Mr.  Richardson  continued  alone,  confining 


himself  to  domestic  goods,  and  giving  the  importing 
business  to  others.  July  1,  1859,  Clarence  became 
associated  with  his  father,  and  they  formed  the  firm 
of  Stephen  Richardson  &  Co.,  which  soon  employed 
one  hundred  and  more  hands  in  factory,  besides  many 
outside.  While  in  the  full  tide  of  successful  and  re- 
munerative business,  in  August,  1870,  their  factory 
was  totally  destroyed  by  fire.  This,  until  1856,  had 
been  supplied  with  horse-power,  then  steam-power 
had  been  introduced.  After  the  fire  Mr.  Richardson, 
with  characteristic  energy  and  promptitude,  took 
rooms  in  the  Whiting  Manufacturing  Company's 
building,  and  in  ten  days'  time  was  at  work  in  those 
quarters,  and  immediately  began  a  new  building  on 
the  site  of  the  burned  factory,  to  be  three  stories, 
main  building  with  an  L.  The  length  of  the  main 
building  was  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet,  width  thirty- 
three  feet,  containing  a  twenty -five  horse-power  en- 
gine. This  building  was  vigorously  constructed,  and 
they  occupied  it  Feb.  1,  1871,  with  one  hundred  and 
thirty-five  operatives.  The  business  continued  pros- 
perous. They  established  a  large  export  trade  in 
Cuba  and  European  ports,  and  to  this  business  all 
Mr.  Richardson's  active  efforts  were  given  until  his 
death,  March  1,  1877.  His  first  wife  died  in  July, 
1862,  and  in  1868  he  married  Mrs.  Sarah  M.  Richards, 
widow  of  Egbert  S.  Richards,  who  survives  him. 

Mr.  Richardson  was  a  public-spirited  citizen,  and 
did  much  to  build  up  the  various  worthy  enter- 
prises of  his  town.  He  was  a  large  owner  of  real 
estate ;  opened  up  Fisher  Street  and  built  several 
buildings.  He  was  one  of  the  promoters  and  a 
director  of  the  Gas  Company ;  also  of  the  Branch 
Railroad ;  was  also  stockholder  and  for  many  years 
director  of  the  Wrentham  Bank ;  was  a  stockholder 
of  the  Northern  Bank  of  Providence;  and  purchased 
the  site,  and,  with  his  fellow-members  of  the  North 
Attleborough  Building  Association,  erected  the  Wam- 
sutta  Block.  We  can  give  no  better  tribute  to  his  char- 
acter than  that  contained  in  the  following  extract  from 
an  article  written  by  H.  N.  Daggett,  who  knew  him 
intimately  for  years  as  boy  and  man:  "He  received 
from  his  parents,  who  were  in  humble  circumstances, 
no  property,  and  was  compelled  to  struggle  during 
his  minority  for  the  support  of  himself  and  parents. 
He  was  schooled  in  all  the  trials  of  poverty  and  want 
in  his  youth,  and  arose,  unaided,  superior  to  both.  He 
was  truly  and  in  every  sense  of  the  word  a  self-made 
man.  His  early  educational  advantages  were  limited 
in  the  extreme,  compared  with  the  advantages  and 
facilities  of  the  present  day.  Notwithstanding  these 
deprivations  he  acquired,  by  contact  with  the  world 
and  self-culture,  a  good  business  education.  He  pos- 
sessed good  natural  abilities,  a  mind  active  and 
evenly  balanced,  a  kind  and  generous  disposition. 
At  his  majority  he  became  anxious  to  rise  in  the  world 
and  improve  the  talents  God  had  given  him.  With- 
out money  or  friends »to  help*  him,  by  dint  of  energy, 
perseverance,  and  honesty  of  purpose,  he  succeeded 


n 


t     /-J/Sr/ 


ATTLEBOROUGH. 


575 


in  attaining  a  fortune  and  a  good  name.  He  used  his 
wealth  for  his  own  and  others'  good.  He  possessed 
one  virtue  which  was  pre-eminent,  charity.  He  was 
truly  benevolent  and  generous  to  a  fault,  and  was  a 
dispenser  of  charity  all  the  days  of  his  life.  Many  a 
poor  plodder  of  earth  will  sadly  miss  his  heneficence. 
He  was  unostentatious  in  his  distributions  to  the  poor 
and  needy.  Of  these  he  kept  no  record  on  earth,  but 
are  they  not  recorded  in  the  book  of  God's  remem- 
brance ?  His  fellow-citizens,  reposing  confidence  in 
his  integrity  and  honesty,  selected  him  for  places  of 
honor  and  trust.  For  nearly  twenty  years  he  was  a 
director  of  a  banking  institution,  and  held  many 
other  offices.  As  a  friend,  he  was  constant  and  sin- 
cere ;  as  an  adviser,  he  was  conscientious  and  true ; 
as  a  neighbor,  kind  and  obliging.  .  .  .  No  business 
man  has  gone  from  earth  leaving  a  purer  record,  a 
nobler  work  finished,  a  name  more  beloved,  or  a 
character  more  unblemished  than  he." 

After  Mr.  Richardson's  death  his  son  Clarence  con- 
tinued the  business  under  the  same  name.  In  April, 
1882,  the  factory  was  again  burned,  and  the  business 
was  removed  to  the  Whiting  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany's building,  where  the  business  is  continued 
prosperously,  awaiting  the  erection  of  a  new  factory. 


WILLARD    ROBINSON. 

Willard  Robinson  was  born  in  Attleborough,  Mass., 
June  15,  1799.  He  and  his  father,  Obed  Robinson, 
were  for  years  identified  with  the  pioneer  manufac- 
turing of  Attleborough,  and  a  personal  history  of  the 
family  seems  not  inappropriate  in  this  connection. 

Obed  Robinson,  one  of  the  founders  of  the  now 
extensive  jewelry  business  of  this  town,  was  at  first  a 
blacksmith.  On  the  outbreak  of  the  American  Rev- 
olution, however,  he  began  the  manufacture  of  gun- 
locks,  under  a  sub-contract  to  furnish  them  for  the 
Continental  army.  This  did  not  prove  remunerative, 
and  at  the  close  of  the  war  he  began  to  make  kitchen 
clocks.  He  first  established  himself  as  a  manufac- 
turer of  jewelry  at  Attleborough  in  1807,  employing 
David  Brown,  a  skilled  workman  in  that  art.  From 
this  he  began  to  make  gilt  buttons,  which  business 
soon  became  very  prosperous.  His  three  sons,  Otis, 
Richard,  and  Willard,  learned  of  their  father  his 
trade,  and  Willard,  the  youngest,  bringing  to  the 
business  a  natural  aptitude  for  mechanics,  entered  his 
father's  workshop,  and  manifested  much  skill  and 
paid  special  attention  to  the  manufacture  of  gilt 
buttons.  In  1821  he  started  in  this  branch  for  him- 
self, and  ultimately  became  very  largely  engaged  in 
the  button  industry,  and  formed  a  partnership  with 
his  brother  Richard,  under  the  firm-name  of  R.  & 
W.  Robinson.  Their  operations  were  extended,  and 
prosperity  followed  their  earnest  and  skilled  labors. 
Willard  constructed  new  dies  and  introduced  im- 
proved machinery,  and  having  seen  an  "iris"  button, 
he  set  to  work  to  discover  the  method  of  producing 


it.  In  this  he  succeeded,  and  its  manufacture  was 
added  to  the  features  of  the  enterprise.  Mr.  Robin- 
son gave  the  name  of  "  opal  button"  to  his  new 
product.  Richard  Robinson  died  in  1838,  and  Wil- 
lard Robinson  continued  the  business  under  the  old 
firm-name  for  the  five  succeeding  years.  In  1843  the 
fashion  of  gilt  and  brass  buttons  passed  away,  except 
for  military  clothing,  black  buttons  becoming  the 
style.  This  deprived  Mr.  Robinson  for  a  while  of  a 
market,  and  he  was  forced  to  suspend  operations. 

Before  Mr.  Robinson's  failure,  Mr.  Hatch,  a  skilled 
mechanic  in  his  service,  had  conceived  the  idea  of  a 
machine  capable  of  doing  all  parts  of  the  work  on  a 
trowsers-button,  beginning  with  the  tin  in  bulk  and 
following  step  by  step  to  completion,  without  alter- 
ation in  the  adjustment  or  automatic  working.  By 
the  combined  study  and  experiments  of  Mr.  Hatch 
and  Mr.  Robinson,  a  machine  was  perfected  and  pat- 
ented. When  the  style  of  buttons  changed,  Mr. 
Robinson  saw  that  this  "  Hatch  pantaloon-button  ma- 
chine" might  come  into  profitable  use,  and,  forming 
a  partnership  with  Mr.  Hatch,  he  entered  into  the 
manufacture  of  trowsers-buttons  with  it.  During  the 
civil  war  they  filled  many  contracts  with  the  United 
States  government  for  these  buttons,  one  great  ad- 
vantage of  which  lies  in  the  fact  that  they  do  not  cut 
the  threads  by  which  they  are  attached  to  the  gar- 
ment. On  the  death  of  Mr.  Hatch,  Mr.  Robinson, 
purchasing  his  interest,  conducted  the  business  alone 
on  a  large  scale  until  his  death,  Dec.  24,  1879.  It  is 
now  carried  on  by  his  son  Arthur.  During  his  life 
Mr.  Robinson  received  five  medals  from  different  ex- 
hibitions, testimonials  of  value  to  the  merits  of  his 
goods. 

He  married,  Oct.  25,  1825,  Rebecca  W.,  daughter 
of  Edward  and  Amy  Richards,  who  was  born  at 
Attleborough,  March  31,  1805.  Their  children  were 
Ellen  B.  (married  John  C.  Douglass,  of  Leavenworth, 
Kan.  She  died  Nov.  8,  1880,  leaving  two  children, 
Willard  R.  and  Harriet  R.),  Jarvis  W.  (married  J. 
Amelia  Williams,  of  Pawtucket.  She  died  Dec.  24. 
1873,  leaving  four  children,  Gertrude  A.,  Willard  H., 
Edith  J.,  and  Ellen  L.),  Isabel  E.  (married  Joseph 
Cushman,  and  has  one  child,  Willard  R.),  Arthur  B. 
(married  Abby  B.  White,  of  Fall  River,  who  died 
Oct.  2,  1867),  Adelaide  R.  (married  M.  B.  Mackrith. 
and  has  one  child,  Fannie). 

Mr.  Robinson  was  not  only  a  representative  manu- 
facturer, he  was  more.  He  made  his  mark  in  every 
sphere  with  which  he  was  connected.  A  public- 
spirited  citizen,  he  did  much  to  benefit  and  improve 
his  town.  The  beautiful  village  of  Robinsonville  is 
largely  indebted  to  him  for  its  growth  and  prosperity, 
and  had  he  been  willing  to  sacrifice  private  interests 
for  public  positions,  he  could  many  times  have  occu- 
pied them,  for  he  was  often  urged  to  accept  them.  A 
kind  husband  and  father,  it  was  in  the  home  life 
that  his  nature  blossomed  in  fullest  perfection,  al- 
though when  he  passed   from  life  a  large  circle  of 


576 


HISTORY    OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


friends  sincerely  mourned  his  loss.  In  political  creed 
Whig  and  Republican,  he  stood  with  earnestness  by 
the  Union  and  the  cause  of  humanity,  and  never 
deviated  from  the  support  of  law,  order,  and  justice. 
His  widow  survives  him,  and,  like  her  lamented  hus- 
band, occupies  a  high  place  in  the  hearts  of  the  com- 
munity.   

THE  BLACKINTON  FAMILY. 
William  Blackinton,  son  of  Col.  Willard  and  Clar- 
issa (Sweet)  Blackinton,  was  born  June  10,  1822,  in 
Attleborough,  Mass.,  where  for  several  generations 
his  ancestors  have  been  prominent  and  honored  citi- 
zens. 

Pentecost  Blackinton,  the  first  of  the  name  in  At- 
tleborough, came  from  Marblehead  about  1700.     His 
wife's  name  was  Mary.    He  had  at  least  four  children 
attaining  maturity ,— Pentecost2,  Mary,  Benjamin,  born 
in  Marblehead,  Hepzibeth,  born  in  Attleborough  in 
December,  1702.     He  had  two  acres  of  ground,  cot- 
tage, and  orchard  on  Nine-Mile  River  in  1711.     He 
was  a  man  of  push  and  decision,  and  served  his  day 
and  generation  well,  dying  Sept,  24,  1715.    Pentecost2 
married  Rebecca  Figgett,  and  had  eight  children,— 
Pentecost3,  born  1716;  Rebecca,  born  1717;  George, 
born  1720 ;  Anne,  born  1722  ;  Mary,  born  1724  ;  John, 
born  1727;    Othniel,  born  1729;    Peter,  born  1731. 
The  father  of  Deacon  William   Blackinton,  grand- 
father of  the  present  William  Blackinton,  was  Peter. 
He  was  a  farmer,  and  was  possessed  of  prudence, 
thrift,  and  economy,  and  was  a  good  citizen,  law- 
abiding  and  God-fearing,  and  died  at  a  good  old  age. 
William  Blackinton,  born  Nov.  2,  1758,  was  a  manu- 
facturer of  guns  during  the  Revolution,  in  which  he 
also  was  a  soldier,  and  wounded  in  battle  of  White 
Plains.     After  the  war  he  became  interested  in  cot- 
ton-mills with  his  son  William,  first  at  North  Attle- 
borough, next  at  Falls  village.      He  was  a  farmer 
also,  with  quite  an  estate  in  Wrentham,  on  which  he 
always  resided.     He  was  known  to  every  one  as  Dea- 
con Blackinton.     He  married,  Nov.  29,  1781,  Eliza- 
beth Babcock,  of  Westerly,  or  Hopkinton,  R.  I.,  born 
Jan.   29,  1764.     Their   children    attaining   maturity 
were  William,  born  Sept.  20,  1782 ;  Virgil,  born  May 
12,  1796,  married  Hannah,  daughter  of  Obed  Robin- 
son, and  was  connected  with  Willard  and  Richard 
Robinson   in    manufacturing   buttons;    Jason,    born 
Aug.  24,  1798,  a  graduate  of  Brown  University,  who, 
after  receiving  a  legal  education,  passed  most  of  his 
life  as  teacher  in  Ohio,  Kentucky,  and  Tennessee; 
and  Willard.    Deacon  Blackinton  died  of  the  terrible 
disease,  the  "plague,"  about  1816.     He  left  his  sons 
about  three  thousand  dollars  each,  a  handsome  prop- 
erty for  those  days. 

Col.  Willard  Blackinton,  born  Oct.  26,  1800, 
after  his  father's  sudden  decease,  remained  with  his 
brother  William,  a  farmer,  on  the  old  homestead  ;  re- 
ceived the  advantages  of  a  common-school  and  aca- 
demic education  ;  had  a  mercantile  taste,  and  early 


commenced  business  for  himself  as  a  merchant  in 
general  country  trade  at  Attleborough.  Continuing 
this  a  few  years,  he  began  in  1827  the  manufacture  of 
power-loom  shuttles.  This  soon  became  an  extensive 
business,  filling,  as  it  did,  a  long-felt  want,  and  fur- 
nished goods  to  parties  not  only  throughout  New 
England  but  all  the  way  west  to  Ohio,  and  south  to 
Georgia  and  Alabama,  He  married,  in  1821,  Clarissa, 
daughter  of  Amos  and  Sally  Sweet,  of  an  old  and 
honorable  family  of  Attleborough.  They  had  six 
children, —  William  and  Willard  (twins),  Clarissa  E. 
(married  N.  C.  Luther,  and  lives  in  Attleborough), 
John,  Charles  A.,  Amos  S. 

Mr.  Blackinton  was  not  merely  a  manufacturer,  he 
was  more.     During  fifty  years  of  his  life  he  was  one 
'■  of  Attleborouo-h's  most  active  and  honored  citizens 
in  almost  every  line  of  enterprise,  business  activity, 
and  public  service,  and  few  of  her  sons  have  ever  been 
more  successful  or  so  fully  executed  public  trusts.  In 
early  life  he  took  great  interest  in  militia  matters.    Of 
active  and  vigorous  temperament,  large,  and  physi- 
cally well  proportioned,  with  a  resonant,  full  voice, 
he  presented  a  fine  appearance,  and  held  the  position 
|  of  adjutant  and  colonel  of  a  regiment  of  troopers  for 
years.    The  same  qualities  brought  him  into  position 
I  as  moderator  of   town    meetings,  and    chairman    of 
I  popular  or  political  assemblages,  and  these  places  he 
was  almost  universally  called  on  to  fill.      He  held 
at  various  times  every  office  in  the  gift  of  his  fellow- 
townsmen,  served  with  credit  in  both  branches  of  the 
State  Legislature,  and  never  did  malice  breathe  one 
word  against  his  honor  or  integrity.     In  politics  a 
Whig  and  Republican,  he  was  ardent  in  support  of 
his  convictions,  and  probably  no  better  evidence  can 
be  given  of  his  personal  popularity  and  the  esteem  in 
which  he  was  held  than  to  state  the  fact  that  when- 
ever there  were  doubts  of  the  success  of  his  party  in 
\  an  election  he  was  the  one  to  be  given  the  nomina- 
tion, and  never  was  he  defeated.     He  was  a  valued 
member  of   the  Masonic  fraternity,  was  Master  of 
Bristol   Lodge  in  the  dark  days  when  the  Morgan 
excitement  spread  anti-masonry  like  wild-fire  across 
the  country,  causing  an  almost  entire  suspension  of 
lodges;  and  when,  after  a  long  torpidity,  his  lodge 
was  revived,  he  was  again  elected  to  the  same  position. 
!  In  these  days,  when  chicanery,  malfeasance  in  office, 
embezzlements,  breaches  of  trusts,  and  frauds  are  so 
prevalent,  it  is  pleasant  to  write  of  such  a  man  as  he 
who  kept  himself  free  from  any  kind  of  stain  on  his 
integrity.     Of  great  business  capacity  and  pre-emi- 
nent ability,  he  was  of  a  social  nature,  a  perfect  gen- 
tleman in  his  intercourse  with  others,  a  tender  hus- 
band, a  loving  father,  and  none  had  a  greater  number 
or  stronger  friends  than  he. 

He  was  postmaster  at  Attleborough  for  years,  re- 
ceiving his  first  appointment  in  1835,  and  was  uni- 
versally popular.  He  was  cautious  in  adopting  new 
ideas,  weighed  all  matters  in  the  balance  of  a  fine 
judgment,  and  after  forming  an  opinion  was  very  de- 


WU^d  t  /ffl<04^0l' 


'/Tits 


^ 


/  ^K^/// 


^^^>f/ 


/*y^tL. 


ATTLE  BOROUGH. 


577 


cided,  rarely  rinding  any  reason  to  alter  it.  He  was 
liberal  to  suffering,  and  in  support  of  religious  and 
charitable  objects,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  were 
worthy  members  of  the  Second  Congregational 
Church.  He  was  often  requested  to  advise  in  busi- 
ness affairs,  and  was  a  valuable  counselor,  and  always 
in  the  interests  of  peace.  He  was  successful  as  a 
financier,  was  a  director  and  one  of  the  chief  origi- 
nators of  the  old  Attleborough  Bank,  and  one  of  the 
promoters  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Attle- 
borough, of  which  he  was  at  once  elected  director 
and  president.  He  died  suddenly  of  heart-disease 
while  sitting  in  a  meeting  of  the  board  of  directors 
at  the  bank,  and  acting  as  president,  Jan.  1,  1877. 

William  Blackinton  had  an  academic  education, 
and  early  engaged  with  his  father  in  shuttle  manu- 
facturing, which  was  carried  on  for  ten  years  as  W. 
Blackinton  &  Sons,  the  sons  being  William,  John, 
and  Willard.  (Charles  afterwards  bought  an  interest, 
and  now  (1882),  as  sole  proprietor,  conducts  the  busi- 
ness under  the  original  firm-name.)  About  1834, 
William  struck  out  for  himself,  and  went  into  cot- 
ton manufacturing,  and  for  three  years  continued 
this  at  Attleborough  and  Pawtucket.  This  was 
not  remunerative,  and  in  1857  he  commenced  to 
make  jewelry  at  Attleborough.  His  business  was 
small  until  1869,  when  he  took  up  the  making  of 
plated  chains,  and  originated  a  new  line  of  these 
goods,  which  speedily  proved  popular,  and  was  in 
great  demand,  increasing  his  business  rapidly.  From 
this  small  beginning,  under  Mr.  Blackinton's  personal 
superintendence,  it  has  grown  to  be  one  of  the  largest 
and  most  profitable  businesses  in  the  town,  with  an 
office  at  No.  11  Maiden  Lane,  New  York  City. 
The  specialties  are  chains  and  lockets.  It  was  con- 
ducted by  Mr.  Blackinton  alone  until  1873,  when  his 
oldest  son,  William  S.,  became  a  partner,  and  the 
firm  was  changed  to  W.  &  S.  Blackinton.  In  1881 
his  son  Lewis  became  a  partner.  His  two  other  sons 
are  also  engaged  in  the  shop.  They  employ  about 
one  hundred  and  sixty-five  operatives,  and  do  a  busi- 
ness of  nearly  four  hundred  thousand  dollars.  This 
has  been  built  by  the  careful  attention  of  Mr.  Black- 
inton, and  he  has  shown  great  business  ability  and 
sagacity  in  bringing  it  to  its  present  high  standing  as 
a  firm.  He  has  worked  himself,  always  saw  that  his 
goods  were  the  best  of  their  kind,  personally  super- 
intended each  department,  was  always  prompt  to 
meet  every  engagement,  was  truthful  and  honest,  and 
won  the  esteem  of  all  with  whom  he  dealt.  This  is 
the  key  to  his  success,  and  shows  that  honesty,  skill 
properly  applied,  and  personal  industry  and  business 
integrity  will  always  deserve  and  win  success.  He 
has  been  a  man  of  one  work,  has  never  had  time  nor 
inclination  to  drift  into  politics  or  speculation,  and 
stands  to-day  one  of  the  most  liberal  and  public- 
spirited  citizens  of  his  native  town.  In  home  life  he 
is  a  loving  and  kind  husband  and  father,  and  his 
home  shows  the  evidences  of  refinement  and  taste. 
37 


Mr.  Blackinton  married  Rebecca  C,  daughter  of 
Josiah  and  Rowena  (Tingley)  Allen.  Her  mother 
was  a  Cushman,  of  the  family  of  that  name  so  promi- 
nent in  the  annals  of  Plymouth.  She  was  born  Oct. 
3,  1825.  Their  children  are  William  Sumner,  Charles 
F.,  Harry  C,  Louis  A.,  and  Ada  R. 

Mr.  Blackinton,  true  to  his  education,  has  never 
deviated  from  the  political  creed  of  his  father,  but 
has  been  a  Whig  and  Republican  through  life.  He 
has  a  polite  address,  a  quick  discernment  of  men  and 
things,  and  stands  high  in  the  regards  of  the  best 
element  of  society.  He  is  now,  with  unimpaired 
faculties,  in  the  mature  prime  of  life,  with  many 
years  of  business  life  before  him,  and  is  of  too  active 
a  nature  to  think  of  retiring  and  passing  his  time  in 
idleness.  Almost  the  only  recreation  he  has  taken 
was  the  trip  to  California,  which  he,  in  company  with 
his  family,  enjoyed  the  past  summer. 


GEORGE    PRICE. 

George  Price  was  born  in  North  Attleborough, 
Nov.  14,  1806.  He  was  the  second  son  of  Edward 
and  Sarah  (Daggett)  Price.  Edward  Price  was  born 
in  Birmingham,  England,  Nov.  19,  1776,  came  to 
America  in  1794,  and  two  years  later  married  Sarah, 
daughter  of  Daniel  and  Margaret  (Woodcock)  Dag- 
gett. He  was  a  skilled  button  manufacturer,  and  es- 
tablished at  Robinsonville  the  first  button  factory  in 
this  country.  He  founded  the  business  now  carried 
on  by  D.  Evans  &  Co.,  manufacturers  of  brass  mili- 
tary buttons.  He  lived  in  different  houses,  but  vari- 
ous circumstances  point  to  the  house  that  stood  on 
the  site  of  Wamsutta  Block  as  the  birthplace  of  his 
son  George.  He  acquired  a  considerable  property  in 
real  estate. 

The  early  death  of  his  father  made  the  boyhood  of 
George  Price  a  laborious  one.  From  the  night  when 
his  father  was  suddenly  stricken  down,  and  he  ran 
out,  jacket  in  hand,  after  a  physician,  his  life  was  one 
of  care,  activity,  and  responsibility.  One  year  in  the 
common  school  constituted  his  educational  advan- 
tages. He  carried  on  the  farm  in  his  early  years, 
and  found  time  as  well  to  work  at  brass-founding. 

He  finally  chose  the  jewelry  business,  which  was 
then  becoming  a  prominent  industry,  and  served  his 
apprenticeship  with  Draper,  Tifft  &  Co.  For  a  few 
years  he  carried  on  the  manufacture  of  jewelry  with 
Calvin  Richards,  under  the  firm-name  of  Richards  & 
Price.  In  1830  he  built  the  shop  which  now  stands 
opposite  the  homestead,  a  very  large  structure  for 
those  times,  and  the  third  jewelry  factory  erected  in 
Attleborough.  Here  Mr.  Price  took  as  partner  S.  S. 
Daggett,  and  began  the  manufacture  of  fire-gilt  jew- 
elry. He  retired  from  the  business  in  1856,  and  de- 
voted himself  to  his  farm,  to  which  he  had  been  add- 
ing acre  after  acre.  From  that  time  forth  he  was 
largely  identified  with  town  affairs. 

He  did  not  hold  a  town  office  until  he  was  fifty  years 


578 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


old.  His  career  shows  that  twenty-five  years  after 
fifty  is  just  as  long  as  twenty-five  years  before,  and 
that  some  men  can  employ  both  to  equal  advantage. 
In  1855  he  was  chairman  of  a  committee  appointed 
to  consider  the  expediency  of  dividing  the  town. 
This  committee  reported  the  next  spring  in  favor  of 
such  division,  urging  as  a  reason  the  fact  that  there 
were  more  than  one  thousand  voters  in  town.  Mr. 
Price  could  not  see  that  the  town  was  so  populous  as 
to  be  unwieldy,  and  the  report  did  not  receive  his 
signature.  From  1856  to  1860,  Mr.  Price  served  on 
the  boards  of  selectmen,  assessors,  and  overseers  of 
the  poor.  From  1860  to  1863  he  was  town  treasurer, 
to  which  office  he  was  re-elected  in  1869,  and  held 
until  his  death.  During  the  winter  of  1877-78,  Mr. 
Price  represented  his  district  at  the  General  Court. 

From  its  start  Mr.  Price  was  one  of  the  most  earnest 
members  and  workers  in  the  Attleborough  Farmers' 
and  Mechanics'  Association.  He  was  the  first  presi- 
dent, which  office  he  held  until  January,  1877.  He 
was  among  the  first  to  move  in  the  direction  of  secur- 
ing a  hall  and  grounds  where  to  hold  annual  fairs,  and 
labored  untiringly  to  secure  for  the  association  the 
most  of  its  present  accommodations.  As  earnest, 
also,  was  he  ever  in  his  endeavors  to  rid  the  associa- 
tion of  its  indebtedness,  and  much  of  his  time  and 
means  were  devoted  to  its  wrelfare. 

So  far  we  have  u-poken  of  George  Price  only  in  his 
business  and  public  life,  but,  as  is  ever  the  case,  that 
life  is  the  most  real  and  important  of  which  the  pub- 
lic sees  but  little,  and  can  know  but  little,  the  life 
each  man  lives  in  his  own  family.  In  October,  1829, 
Mr.  Price  married  Martha  Galusha  Grant,  of  Swan- 
sea, Mass.,  with  whom  he  passed  more  than  fifty  years 
of  happy  wedded  life.  Their  children  were  Martha 
S.  (who  married  Rev.  J.  D.  Pierce),  George  G.,  Sarah 
A.  (Mrs.  S.  N.  Newcomb),  William  M.,  Corisande 
(Mrs.  George  A.  Brock,  deceased),  Mary  G.  (de- 
ceased), Edward  R.  (cashier  of  Attleborough  National 
Bank),  Caroline  T.  (Mrs.  Roswell  Blackinton),  and 
Alice  M.  Such  are  the  salient  facts  of  Mr.  Price's 
family  history,  but  how  much  a  husband's  and  father's 
love  has  done  to  weave  about  each  life  influences, 
principles  and  aspirations  that  have  served  to  elevate, 
comfort  and  control,  they  who  stand  in  the  deepest 
shadow  of  bereavement  can  best  say. 

If  we  were  to  select  any  traits  of  character  for  which 
Mr.  Price  was  especially  remarkable,  it  would  be  his 
activity,  honesty,  and  fidelity  to  what  he  believed  to 
be  right.  His  mental  activity  was  wonderful,  and 
ceased  only  with  his  life.  His  honesty  made  him  not 
less  exacting  with  himself  than  with  others.  His  ac- 
counts were  always  correct,  his  dealings  always 
square.  Crookedness  in  others  he  considered  abso- 
lutely without  excuse,  and  dishonesty  of  any  kind  he 
despised  beyond  measure.  He  was  not  hasty  in  his 
judgments,  but  a  conclusion  once  reached  by  what 
seemed  to  him  sufficient  data  was  rarely  abandoned. 
He  was  faithful  to  his  convictions.    This  is  illustrated 


by  his  adherence  to  the  doctrines  of  the  old  Whig 
party  ;  he  voted  the  Republican  ticket  as  the  least 
objectionable  alternative,  but  at  heart  he  was  a  loyal 
Whig  to  the  last.  In  religion  Mr.  Price  upheld  the 
fundamental  principles  of  Christianity,  yet  took  ex- 
ception to  the  partitions  of  sect,  and  never  accepted 
the  dogmas  of  any  particular  denomination. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  Washington  Rifle  Com- 
pany, filling  every  grade  from,  and  including,  private 
to  captain. 

.     STEPHEN   0.  STANLEY. 

Sylvan  Stanley,  who  spent  a  long  time  in  searching 
for  the  genealogy  of  the  Stanley  family,  says  the  first 
American  Stanley,  Matthew,  came  from  England  to 
Martha's  Vineyard,  from  whence  some  of  his  family 
went  to  the  Connecticut  Colony,  and  one  branch  to 
Topsfield,  Mass.  This  last  produced  the  immediate 
line  of  ancestry  of  Stephen  O.  Stanley.  "  Thomas, 
Nathaniel,  Joseph,  Samuel,  Jacob,  and  John  came 
from  Topsfield,  Mass.  The  last  three  were  brothers, 
and  settled  near  the  Falls  (Falls  village,  Attlebor- 
ough). Thomas  and  Samuel  were  here  in  1707." 
Jacob  came  about  1717,  married  Elizabeth  Guild, 
and  had  children, — Jacob,  Benjamin,  Elizabeth,  Deb- 
orah, Jonathan,  Eliza,  Solomon,  Abigail,  Rebecca, 
and  one  other.  Benjamin  married  Abigail  Spear, 
and  had  three  children, — Jesse,  Stephen,  and  Abigail. 
Stephen  Stanley  was  born  in  Attleborough,  was  a 
cabinet-maker,  carrying  on  farming  also,  and  was 
agent  for  the  Attleborough  Falls  Manufacturing 
Company  for  many  years.  He  married  Martha, 
daughter  of  Jonathan  Stanley  and  Martha  Pond, 
and  had  three  children, — Herman,  Stephen  0.,  and 
Marietta.  He  was  an  energetic  and  successful  man, 
and  lived  to  be  old.  His  wife  survived  him  several 
years. 

Stephen  Olney  Stanley  was  born  June  11,  1801,  in 
Attleborough,  in  the  house  opposite  No.  5  school- 
house,  where  his  widow  still  (1883)  resides.  He  was 
educated  at  common  schools  and  academies,  but  early 
became  clerk  for  his  father  in  the  company's  store  at 
Falls  village,  aud  continued  in  that  occupation  for 
some  years,  working  during  the  summer  at  farm  labor. 
He  commenced  housekeeping  in  the  house  where  he 
was  born,  his  parents  living  in  the  same  house,  and 
resided  there  all  his  days.  He  married,  Sept.  28, 1830, 
Betsey  S.,  daughter  of  Artemas  and  Betsey  (Daggett) 
Stanley.  She  was  born  Nov.  24,  1808.  Her  father 
was  born  1795,  and  represented  Attleborough  in  the 
State  Legislature  in  1841-42.  His  father,  Jonathan 
Stanley,  son  of  Jacob  Stanley,  was  deacon  of  the 
First  Congregational  Church  of  Attleborough.  Mr. 
Stanley  and  his  father  closed  their  connection  with 
the  company,  and  Mr.  Stanley  devoted  himself  to 
farming,  taking  charge  of,  and  finally  securing  the 
ownership  of,  his  father's  farm,  and  for  the  greater 
part  of  his  life  was  in  this  avocation.  Farming  in 
New  England  means  plenty  of  hard  work,  which  the 


tn-\ 


y^^Lc 


t .  ,Jt 


7'     7  7    /  / 


'*&wf-& 


ATTLEBOROUGH. 


579 


sterile  soil  does  not  reward  with  much  more  than 
a  bare  subsistence,  and  this  was  the  experience  of 
Mr.  Stanley.  He  was  an  honest,  upright  man,  per- 
fect!}' "  square"  in  all  his  dealings  with  mankind, 
and  was  said  to  be  "  too  honest  for  his  own  good." 
He  was  an  unassuming  and  useful  member  of  so- 
ciety, reserved  in  demeanor,  and  enjoyed  the  esteem 
of  all,  and  probably  had  not  an  enemy  during  his 
entire  life.  He  attended  divine  service  regularly, 
but  was  not  a  church  member,  as  he  did  not  consider 
himself  good  enough  to  belong.  He  died  in  1875  or 
1876.  His  children  were  Martha  and  Mary  (twins), 
born  Feb.  11,  1836  ;  Stephen  0.  (died  young),  Abby 
(deceased),  Stephen,  born  June  11,  1842;  and  Ben- 
jamin, born  June  3,  1848.  Martha  married  Edward 
C.  Knapp,  lives  in  Attleborough,  on  the  old  home- 
stead, and  lias  six  children  ;  Mary  married  Andrew  J. 
Thomas,  and  died  in  1863.  Stephen  lived  at  home 
until  1861,  when  he  enlisted  as  musician  in  the  Sev- 
enth Regiment  Massachusetts  Volunteers,  and  served 
fourteen  months,  when,  with  all  other  musicians,  he 
was  discharged.  He  returned  to  Attleborough,  and 
after  a  few  months'  stay  went  to  Taunton,  then  to 
Yonkers,  N.  Y.,  to  work  in  an  armory,  next  to  Water- 
bury,  Conn.,  where  he  learned  the  machinist's  trade, 
and  alter  following  that  about  four  years,  went  into  a 
large  brass  factory  there  as  tool-maker,  and  stayed 
until  1871,  when  he  returned  to  Attleborough,  and 
with  his  brother  Benjamin  and  E.  C.  Knapp  started 
the  jewelry  manufactory  of  Stanley  Brothers  &  Co., 
now  conducted  by  and  known  as  Stanley  Brothers. 
This  has  been  the  title  since  the  purchase  by  them  of 
Mr.  Knapp's  interest  in  1875.  Benjamin  has  always 
lived  near  the  old  home.  He  married  Ella  Briggs, 
and  has  three  children.  Stephen  married  Sylvia  A. 
Stanley,  and  has  two  children. 

They  have  a  well-established  and  prosperous  busi- 
ness, but,  like  all  things  of  value,  it  has  been  of  slow 
growth,  and  has  required  of  both  of  them  close  and 
persevering  labor  for  years,  but  their  energy  and  in- 
dustry met  with  its  appropriate  reward,  and  they  are 
doing  well,  with  bright  prospects  for  the  future. 


SAMUEL  P.  FISHER. 

On  the  old  records  we  find  Joseph  Fisher,  in  1664, 
one  of  the  commissioners  appointed  by  Plymouth 
and  Massachusetts  colonies  to  run  and  establish  a 
boundary  line  between  the  two.  The  noted  angle 
line  was  the  result  of  their  labors,  and  the  angle  tree 
marked  by  them  was  long  standing.  It  was  .suc- 
ceeded in  1790  by  a  stone  monument,  which  was 
erected  to  mark  the  boundary  of  Attleborough  and 
Wrentham.  Samuel  Fisher  was  selectman  of  Wren- 
tham  at  this  time,  and  the  monument  was  built  by 
Samuel  Fisher  &  Son.  Thus  from  early  days  the 
Fisher  family  has  been  a  factor  of  civilization  in 
this  section. 

Richard1  and  Samuel  Fisher,  probably  sons  of  Jo- 


seph, the  commissioner,  came  to  Wrentham  from 
Salem  about,  or  prior  to,  1700.  Richard  died  in  1748, 
leaving  two  children,  Samuel2  and  Abigail.  Samuel2, 
born  in  1732,  was  astone-cutter  by  trade ;  was  a  captain 
of  militia  in  the  Revolution,  being  called  to  the  field 
while  attending  church  with  his  company.  He  mar- 
ried Sibyl  Farrington  in  1764,  and  had  five  children, 
Samuel3,  Darius,  Schuyler,  Betsey,  and  James.  He 
died  in  1816,  aged  eighty-four  years.  SamueP,  born 
in  1768,  became  a  stone-mason,  and,  like  his  father, 
was  a  diligent,  hard-working  man  of  honesty  and 
thrift.  He  married,  in  1789,  Olive  Ellis,  daughter 
of  Capt.  Jabez  Ellis,  who  was  a  brother  soldier  of 
Capt.  Fisher  in  the  Revolution.  Both  he  and  his 
wife  died  in  December,  1815,  of  the  terrible  plague 
(spotted  fever)  which  proved  fatal  to  so  many.  They 
had  nine  children,  Ellis,  Susan  (died  young),  Samuel 
P.*,  Amanda  (married  Elijah  Bacon),  Sally  (first  wife 
of  Hon.  Elisha  May),  Olive  (second  wife  of  Hon. 
Elisha  May),  Schuyler,  Lucy  (married  D.  Hall), 
Caroline  (married  Albert  Miller).  Ellis,  born  1791, 
married  Hannah  Williams,  of  Taunton,  had  four 
children  ;  Mary  (married  Edward  Rhodes),  Frances 
(married  Joseph  Sherman),  George  E.,  and  Sarah  M. 
(married  (1)  Egbert  Richards,  (2)  Stephen  Richard- 
son). His  descendants  are  numerous  in  this  vicinity. 
He  was  one  of  the  pioneer  jewelers  and  a  valued  citi- 
zen. Schuyler  became  a  prominent  manufacturer 
and  citizen  of  Exeter,  was  a  man  of  great  ability, 
candidate  for  Lieutenant-Governor  on  the  Democratic 
ticket,  and  filled  numerous  trustworthy  positions. 
He  is  now  living  at  Hopkinton,  R.  I.,  aged  seventy- 
eight.  Many  of  the  facts  of  this  sketch  were  given 
by  him. 

Samuel  P.*  was  born  in  Wrentham,  Mass.,  Aug.  4, 
1795.  His  education  was  derived  from  the  limited 
advantages  of  the  common  school  of  those  days,  and 
learned  the  blacksmith's  trade  of  Enoch  Arnold,  un- 
der the  old  system  of  apprenticeship  ;  and  in  1818 
moved  to  Attleborough  and  commenced  a  long  and 
busy  life  as  a  blacksmith  in  a  shop  near  Hatch's 
tavern.  He  married  Charlotte,  daughter  of  Othniel 
and  Chloe  Blackinton,  in  1820.  They  had  two 
children,  Harriet  (deceased)  and  Ann  (died  young). 
Harriet  married  Milton  W.  Blackinton  and  had 
three  children  ;  Juline  F.  married  E.  B.  Waldron,  of 
Rondout,  N.  Y.  ;  Laura  F.  married  C.  M.  Thompson, 
has  one  child,  Hattie ;  and  Anna  G.  Mrs.  Fisher 
died  in  1832,  and  the  next  year  Mr.  Fisher  married 
Susan  G.,  daughter  of  George  and  Judith  (Guild) 
Blackinton.  They  had  five  children, — Win.  W., 
Carrie  A.  (Mrs.  H.  S.  Somes),  Samuel  E.,  Charles  E., 
and  Mary  E.  (Mrs.  T.  E.  Sloan). 

Mr.  Fisher  carried  on  blacksmithing  until  1851, 
when  he  gave  it  up  to  attend  to  his  farm  and  real 
estate  business.  His  blacksmith-shop  on  Main  Street, 
North  Attleborough,  was  one  of  the  old  landmarks, 
and  in  stage-coach  times  was  a  common  stopping- 
place,  and  the  only  place  of  the  kind  in  this  part  of 


580 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Attleborough.  He  was  a  man  of  strong  convictions 
and  fixed  principles.  It  was  hard  to  convince  him 
that  he  was  wrong,  but  when  convinced  he  yielded  at 
once.  He  was  a  pronounced  and  active  temperance 
advocate,  and  consistent  in  his  practice  with  his  prin- 
ciples. He  was  a  kind  husband  and  father,  and  did 
for  his  children  all  that  his  means  would  allow.  He 
inclined  towards  Universalism  in  religious  belief,  but 
never  connected  himself  with  any  church.  He  was 
an  old-line  Whig,  and  a  Republican  from  the  first. 
He  was  an  honest  man,  much  respected  by  his  ac- 
quaintances, and  straightforward  in  everything.  No 
one  ever  had  difficulty  in  denning  his  position  on 
any  subject,  or  could  accuse  him  of  the  least  dissimu- 
lation or  deceit.  He  died  Jan.  6,  1863,  aged  sixty- 
seven. 

William  W.5,  oldest  son  of  S.  P.  and  Susan  (Guild) 
Fisher,  was  born  in  Attleborough,  July  19,  1834, 
had  a  common  school  education,  early  learned  the 
jeweler's  trade,  and  has  worked  at  it  ever  since,  with 
the  exception  of  two  years  passed  in  working  in 
Springfield  Armory.  He  married,  Dec.  22,  1859, 
Nettie,  daughter  of  William  B.  Pilcher,  of  Norfolk,  Va. 
She  died  in  December,  1863.  In  1870  he  married 
Lizzie  E.,  daughter  of  George  Miller,  of  East  Hamp- 
ton, L.  I.  They  have  two  children, — Mattie  L.  and 
Susie  M.  He  is  a  member  of  Hampden  Lodge,  F. 
and  A.  M.,  Springfield,  Mass.,  and  of  Massachusetts 
Charitable  Association.  He  is  a  member  of  the  firm 
of  S.  E.  Fisher  &  Co. 

Samuel  E.  Fisher5,  second  son  of  S.  P.  and  Susan 
Fisher,  was  born  at  North  Attleborough,  Mass.,  Nov.  9, 
1839,  and  educated  at  the  common  schools  of  his  native 
town  and  Green  Mountain  Liberal  Institute,  South 
Woodstock,  Vt.  He  was  clerk  in  employ  of  T.  A. 
Barden  five  years  and  until  1861.  During  the  Rebel- 
lion he  was  employed  by  the  United  States  govern- 
ment as  clerk  in  quartermaster  and  commissary  de- 
partments in  Virginia  and  Texas.  In  1869  went  to 
New  York  City  as  clerk  in  the  office  of  H.  F.  Barrows, 
and  continued  there  until  he  commenced  business  on 
his  own  account  in  1874.  (This  business,  now  S.  E. 
Fisher  &  Co.,  manufacturing  jewelers,  was  begun  in 
July,  1874,  with  a  capital  of  seven  thousand  five  hun- 
dred dollars,  as  Demarest,  Fisher  &  Co.,  which,  in  1877, 
was  succeeded  by  S.  E.  Fisher  &  Co.,  with  S.  E. 
Fisher,  W.  W.  Fisher,  and  E.  D.  Sturdevant  part- 
ners. The  specialties  made  are  fine  ladies'  sets,  pins, 
drops,  lockets,  and  bracelets.  Their  New  York  office 
is  No.  2  Maiden  Lane,  and  they  employ  from  seventy- 
five  to  ninety  hands.  They  are  doing  a  successful 
and  flourishing  business.)  S.  E.  Fisher  married,  in 
1872,  Georgie  S.,  daughter  of  Henry  Clark,  of  New 
Bedford.  He  is  a  member  of  Bristol  Lodge,  F.  and 
A.  M.,  North  Attleborough,  and  King  Hiram  Chapter, 
of  Attleborough. 

Charles  Everett  Fisher,  third  and  youngest  son  of 
Samuel  P.  and  Susan  G.  Fisher,  was  born  in  North  At- 
tleborough, Mass.,  Jan.  7, 1842.     Received  a  common  i 


school  education  at  his  birthplace  and  at  the  Provi- 
dence Conference  Seminary  at  East  Greenwich,  R.  L, 
for  about  one  year.  Was  employed  in  dry-goods  house 
for  about  two  years,  and  on  the  outbreak  of  the  Rebel- 
lion enlisted  in  Company  I,  Seventh  Massachusetts 
Volunteer  Infantry,  serving  the  full  period  of  enlist- 
ment in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  On  discharge 
(in  July,  1864)  was  employed  in  the  War  Depart- 
ment in  various  capacities  until  April,  1868,  when  he 
was  appointed  an  internal  revenue  officer  in  Virginia. 
Resigned  September,  1870,  and  went  to  Arizona,  em- 
ployed by  the  War  Department  in  the  quartermaster's 
department.  Left  Arizona  in  1874,  and  went  to  Wash- 
ington, D.  C.  (in  same  capacity),  and  remained  in 
service  until  August,  1882.  Resigned  and  went  to 
Wyoming  Territory,  and  engaged  in  cattle  business, 
which  is  now  his  present  occupation. 

Married,  Nov.  7, 1876  (in  Philadelphia),  Mrs.  Hattie 
F.  Pierson,  daughter  of  Dr.  J.  Q.  A.  and  Catherine  L. 
Tresize. 

Carrie  A.  Fisher,  born  July  2,  1836,  married  H.  S. 
Somes,  and  has  three  children, — Fred.  C,  Nettie  F., 
and  Frank  P. 

Mary  E.  Fisher,  born  Feb.  4,  1849,  married  T.  E. 
Sloan,  and  has  one  child, — Estelle  L. 


JOSEPH    W.  CAPRON. 

Joseph  Willanl  Capron,  son  of  Otis  and  Hannah 
Capron,  was  born  at  Attleborough,  Mass.,  Sept.  24, 
1802.  He  belongs  to  one  of  the  oldest  families  of  the 
town,  Banfield  Capron,  his  first  American  ancestor, 
coming,  a  youth  of  fourteen,  from  England  about 
1675,  and  settling,  after  his  first  marriage,  in  Bar- 
rington,  Mass.,  whence,  after  a  residence  of  twenty 
years,  he  moved,  with  a  large  family  of  children, 
"  away  back  into  the  woods,"  to  what  is  now  Attle- 
borough, where  he  purchased  a  large  quantity  of 
land,  becoming  a  large  land-owner.  Here  he  resided 
until  his  death,  Aug.  20,  1752,  at  ninety-two  years. 
He  had  eleven  children, — Banfield,  Joseph,  Edward, 
Walter,  John,  Jonathan,  Betsey,  Mary,  Hannah, 
Margaret,  Sarah.  These  all  married  and  reared  fam- 
ilies. He  was  married  (1)  to  a  Miss  Callender,  (2)  to 
Elizabeth  Blakinton,  (3)  to  Mrs.  Sarah  Daggett, 
widow  of  Deacon  John  Daggett.  Both  of  the  last 
wives  were  Attleborough  women. 

Capt.  Joseph  Capron  was  a  farmer  and  a  man  of 
repute  in  Attleborough  in  his  day.  He  was  born 
Sept.  12,  1691 ;  married  (1)  Judith  Peck,  (2)  Bethiah 
Burt,  (3)  Mary  French,  who  survived  him.  He  died 
Oct.  14,  1776,  in  his  eighty-sixth  year.  He  had  nine 
children, — Amey,  Diedema,  Judith,  Joseph,  Rhoda, 
Judith,  Hezekiah,  Ebenezer,  Elijah. 

Joseph  Capron,  Jr.,  son  of  Capt.  Joseph  and  Ju- 
dith Peck,  was  born  in  Attleborough,  November, 
1722,  and  died  Aug.  1,  1784.  He  was  twice  married, 
(1)  to  Sarah  Robeson,  by  whom  he  had  seven  chil- 
dren,— Ezra,  Samuel4,  Samuel2,  John,  Judith,  Sarah, 


^7?  Wz^^v 


ATTLEBOROUGH. 


581 


Joseph;  (2)  to  Sarah  Foster,  by  whom  he  had  eight 
children, — Asenath,  Susannah,  Otis,  Tabitha,  Sabra1, 
Sabra3,  Esther,  Milla  (five  of  these  died  young). 

Otis  Capron  was  born  in  Attleborough,  April  17, 
1767,  and  died  March  3,  1845.  He  was  a  farmer  and 
an  honored  and  useful  citizen,  and  served  his  day  and 
generation  well.  He  was  honest,  industrious,  and 
simple  in  his  habits,  and  unostentatious  in  his  life. 
He  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  serving 
at  Newport.  He  married  (1)  Rachel  Sweet,  who 
died  Dec.  15,  1799,  leaving  three  children, — Sally 
(Mrs.  T.  French),  Nancy  (Mrs.  Lucius  Daggett),  Otis 
(died  young)  ;  (2)  Mrs.  Hannah  Bliss,  widow  of  Jon- 
athan Bliss,  whose  maiden  name  was  Kent.  Their 
children  were  Joseph  Willanl,  Maria  (deceased),  Sa- 
bra A.  (deceased),  Hannah  K.,  Rachel  Cemantha. 

Joseph  W.  Capron,  of  whom  we  more  particularly 
write,  had  the  educational  advantages  of  the  common 
schools  of  Attleborough,  supplemented  by  attendance 
at  the  preparatory  department  of  Brown  University. 
He  was  an  apt  student,  paying  particular  attention  to 
surveying,  and  when  but  seventeen  years  old  began  to 
teach  school  at  sixteen  dollars  per  month.  As  a 
teacher  he  was  successful,  but  he  soon  was  employed, 
even  while  a  student,  as  a  surveyor,  and  from  1818  to 
the  present  has  every  year  done  more  or  less  in  that 
capacity,  and  early  won  a  valuable  reputation  for 
thoroughness  and  accuracy.  He  has  made  it  his 
principal  business  through  life.  In  1827  he  surveyed 
all  the  roads  in  Attleborough,  Pawtucket,  Seekonk, 
and  Rehoboth,  and  in  this  work  he  was  engaged  about 
a  year.  The  same  year  he  was  elected  and  qualified 
as  town  surveyor.  In  1828  he  was  employed  by  the 
State  of  Massachusetts  as  assistant  surveyor  on  the 
route  of  what  is  now  the  Boston  and  Providence  Rail- 
road. He  has  ever  been  a  Democrat,  and  unswerv- 
ingly has  followed  the  teachings  of  the  great  apostles 
of  that  faith,  Jefferson  and  Jackson,  and  has  ever  be- 
lieved that  the  perpetuity  of  the  republic  depended 
on  a  strict  adherence  to  the  principles  enunciated  by 
them,  and  has  voted  for  every  Democratic  candidate 
for  President  since  his  first  vote,  which  was  cast  for 
Jackson  in  1823.  His  fellow-citizens  have  honored 
him  not  infrequently  with  important  trusts.  He  has 
been  justice  of  the  peace  (appointed)  for  over  fifty 
years,  was  elected  county  commissioner  three  terms, 
selectman,  overseer  of  the  poor,  and  assessor  several 
terms.  He  has  been  a  careful  and  shrewd  financier, 
and  enjoys  a  handsome  competency  to  supply  the 
needs  of  life's  last  years.  He  has  been  president  of 
the  Attleborough  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company  for 
years,  was  president  of  Loan  and  Fund  Association 
of  Attleborough,  and  is  now  the  president  of  its  suc- 
cessor, "The  Loan  and  Savings  Association  of  Attle- 
borough," and  is  treasurer  of  the  Norfolk  and  Bristol 
Horse-Thief  Detective  Society,  and  president  of  the 
Gas-Light  Union  Company  of  Attleborough  since  its 
organization.  He  married,  in  1824,  Adeline  Bliss, 
granddaughter  of  the  reputable  Dr.  James  Bliss.    She 


died  March  19,  1872.  Their  surviving  children  are 
Isabella  A.  (Mrs.  Amos  Ide)  and  Ellen  Maria  married 
(1)  George  E.  Payson,  (2)  George  W.  Curren.  He  mar- 
ried, Oct.  14,  1872,  Cynthia,  daughter  of  Joseph  and 
Betsey  Blossom,  of  Fairhaven,  Mass. 

Mr.  Capron  has  ever  possessed  vigorous  health, 
which  has  largely  been  promoted  by  his  active  life. 
He  has  never  employed  a  physician  for  himself,  and 
never  has  known  a  sick  day.  He  will  now,  at  eighty 
years,  with  his  favorite  instruments,  go  out,  and, 
without  apparent  fatigue,  do  days'  works  that  would 
appall  much  younger  men.  A  short  time  since  he 
walked  from  Pawtucket  to  his  home  in  Attleborough, 
nearly  nine  miles,  after  eight  p.m.,  and  he  says 
"  could  have  walked  back  easily  without  resting." 

For  over  half  a  century  Mr.  Capron  has  been  per- 
sonally identified  with  the  public  interests  of  his 
native  town,  and  largely  instrumental  in  its  pros- 
perity, and,  to-day  with  much  of  the  vigor  and  elas- 
ticity of  early  manhood,  is  actively  engaged  in  what- 
ever may  tend  to  elevate  or  improve  its  business  or 
its  population.  He  enjoys  the  esteem  of  all  the 
better  elements  of  the  community  for  his  personal 
worth  and  business  integrity  and  ability. 


LYMAN  W.  DEAN. 

In  slightly  tracing  the  biographies  of  most  of  the 
men  of  whom  special  notice  has  been  taken  in  this 
department  of  our  work,  we  have  had  occasion  to 
note  the  fact  that  many  eminent  among  them  were 
much  more  indebted  to  their  own  unaided  efforts 
than  to  adventitious  circumstances,  not  of  their  own 
direction,  for  the  high  social  and  political  distinction 
to  which  some  of  them  have  been  called. 

We  have  also  explained  what,  in  our  opinion,  has 
been  the  influencing  cause,  namely,  that  the  genius 
of  republicanism  creates  the  will  to  do  homage  to  the 
aristocracy  of  mind  alone,  while  the  advantages  of 
family  or  wealth  are  held  as  nothing  if  not  blended 
with  an  intelligent  virtue  in  the  possessor.  Mind 
makes  its  own  elevation,  commands  its  own  recogni- 
tion and  admiration,  be  its  source  from  among  the 
depths  of  poverty  or  cradled  among  the  down  of 
wealth  and  luxuriance.  It  is  the  glory  and  strength 
of  this  great  republic.  Its  power  is  ratified  by  the 
people,  whenever  its  object  is  seen  to  be  good  and 
properly  directed,  and  the  case  of  the  gentleman 
whose  name  heads  this  article  stands  as  a  prominent 
evidence  of  a  popular  appreciation  of  a  self-gleaned 
intelligence,  honorable  alike  to  the  possessor  and 
those  who  have  recognized  it. 

Ephraim  Dean,  grandfather  to  the  subject  of  our 
sketch,  removed  from  the  town  of  Taunton  in  early 
life,  and  became  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  the 
district  now  known  as  Attleborough.  The  place 
where  he  pitched  his  tent  in  the  then  wilderness  is 
now  known  by  the  name  of  Deanville,  of  which  he 
became   proprietor,  as  also  of  a  large   surrounding 


582 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


tract  of  land,  on  which  several  very  valuable  water 
privileges  were  to  be  had.  This  patriarch  married  a 
lady  (Martha  Balcomb)  worthy  to  be  a  helpmeet  to 
a  man  of  enterprise  such  as  he  proved  himself,  and 
bore  him  children,  Asa,  Ephraim,  Patty,  and  Sarah. 
The  sons  long  conducted  a  manufacturing  business 
upon  the  estate  alluded  to,  under  the  name  of 
Ephraim  and  Asa  Dean,  the  latter  of  whom  was  the 
father  of  Lyman  Washington  Dean.  Asa  Dean  was 
born  at  Deanville  in  1759,  and  died  Dec.  25,  1815. 
He  was  twice  married,  first  to  Phebe  Wilmarth,  by 
w7hom  he  had  six  children,  five  of  whom  are  living; 
second,  to  Chloe  Bourn,  daughter  of  Andrew  Bourn, 
and  had  seven  children,  four  of  whom  were  living  at 
his  death.  Asa  Dean  was  a  leading  business  man  in 
his  day,  and  a  Democrat  in  politics. 

Lyman  W.  Dean  was  born  on  the  22d  of  February, 
1805  (the  birthday  of  the  immortal  Washington),  con- 
sequently he  was  seventy-seven  years  of  age  last  birth- 
day.    When  eleven  years  of  age  his  father  died,  leav- 
ing him  and  three  sisters,  two  younger  than  he,  to  the 
care  of  a  surviving  mother,  who  also  had  devolved  on 
her  the  charge  of  a  large  and  unproductive  real  estate. 
Mr.  Dean  remained  on  the  farm,  spending  his  time 
in  rural  pursuits  until  he  was  about  seventeen  years 
of  age,  when  his  mother  gave  up  the  care  of  the  estate 
and  removed  to  a  factory  in  the  vicinity,  where  two 
members  of  the  family  found  employment.     The  only 
pride  Mr.  Dean  was  taught  to  possess  was  that  which 
arose  from  the  exercise  of  an  honest  industry,  and  he 
found  full  scope  for  its  indulgence  during  eighteen 
months  when  he  worked  in  the  mill  at  the  trade  of  a 
mule-spinner,  which  was  then  a  more  lucrative  busi- 
ness than  it  is  now.     During  that  period,  although 
not  then  of  age,  he  was  permitted  to  act  for  himself 
and  to  dispose  of  the  fruits  of  his   own    industry. 
Every  subsequent  step  he  thenceforth  took  in  life  ex- 
hibited to  him  the  disadvantage  of  very  much  neg- 
lected education  he  had  received,  and  which  neglect 
he  attributed  solely  to  himself  and  his  unwillingness 
to  profit  by  the  privileges  he  had  at  one  time  within 
his  power. 

Thus  seeing  his  neglect,  he  set  about  regaining 
lost  ground  with  a  diligence  characteristic  of  the 
future  man.  For  one  year  he  devoted  himself  to  a 
varied  course  of  study  in  the  common  school  prima- 
rily, and  latterly  in  the  seminary  at  AVrentham.  Such 
was  his  natural  ability  to  study,  aptitude  to  learn,  and 
commendable  diligence  at  his  tasks,  that  on  leaving 
the  academy  he  had  a  recommendation  from  the  prin- 
cipal to  teach  the  English  branches  in  the  common 
schools.  He  taught  school  first  in  Rehoboth,  where 
he  conducted  his  duties  much  to  the  satisfaction  of 
his  constituents.  In  the  spring  of  that  year  his  mother 
returned  to  the  farm,  and  he  left  his  situation  as  in- 
structor to  undertake  its  management.  From  that 
period  up  to  1835  he  continued  to  labor  at  farming 
during  the  open  seasons,  and  to  teach  in  the  winter 
months.     In  the  intervals  he  taught  school  in  Attle- 


borough,  Taunton,  Canton,  and  Dedham,  where  he 
was  peculiarly  happy  in  giving  satisfaction  to  the 
parties  interested.  A  more  important  duty,  also,  mean- 
time devolved  upon  him.  He  married  Maryette  In- 
graham,  daughter  of  Ezra  and  Eloisa  Richardson, 
April  8,  1833.  She  was  born  May  31,  1807,  in  Attle- 
borough.  They  had  four  children, — Henry  L.,  born 
April  17,  1834,  died  July  3,  1857  ;  he  left  one  daugh- 
ter, Mary  W.,  who  died  at  sixteen  ;  Frank,  born  Dec. 
29, 1837  ;  Sebra,  born  Dec.  9, 1839,  died  Dec.  11,  1842  ; 
and  Sebra  Ingraham,  born  Nov.  4,  1849,  died  Nov. 
24,  1849. 

The  temperance  cause  found  in  Mr.  Dean  one  of 
its  most  enthusiastic  advocates,  and  in  1835  he  was 
solicited  by  the  proprietors  of  a  temperance  hotel  in 
Attleborough  to  take  charge  of  the  establishment. 
This  solicitation  was  founded  on  a  thorough  knowl- 
edge of  the  sterling  character  for  integrity  he  pos- 
sessed, as  well  as  on  his  reputation  as  an  unwavering 
supporter  of  the  temperance  movement.  He  was  in- 
duced to  accept  the  offer  made  him,  and  entered  upon 
his  occupation  in  connection  with  the  hotel,  which  he 
now  owns  and  manages. 

It  is  but  justice  to  Mrs.  Dean's  reputation  to  state 
here  that  her  peculiar  qualifications  to  manage  the 
domestic  details  of  a  large  establishment  of  the  sort 
furnished  a  liberal  share  of  the  inducement  prompting 
the  proprietors  to  offer  the  charge  of  the  hotel  to  Mr. 
Dean. 

Soon  after  entering  on  this  business  the  post-office 
was  placed  under  his  charge  in  1837,  and  this  he  con- 
tinued to  hold  for  twenty-four  years  except  a  short 
interval.  He  was  also  appointed  agent  at  the  rail- 
road station,  and  held  the  same  for  thirteen  years.  A 
freak  of  fortune,  as  a  friend  of  his  designated  it,  ena- 
bled Mr.  Dean  to  make  a  purchase  of  his  hotel  in 
1837,  which  transaction  involved  a  large  sum  of  money, 
as  the  estate  was  then  very  valuable,  and  is  much  more 
so  now.  Up  to  1850,  Mr.  Dean  continued  to  fill  his 
offices  of  host,  station  agent,  and  keeper  of  the  post- 
office,  from  the  latter  of  which  he  was  removed,  in 
opposition  to  the  almost  unanimous  remonstrances  of 
his  fellow-townsmen,  in  the  year  mentioned.  The 
situation  was  Avorth  about  three  hundred  dollars  per 
annum.  The  station  agency  he  resigned  on  account 
of  the  pressure  of  his  other  duties.  The  propriety  of 
this  step  will  be  recognized  when  we  state  that,  besides 
the  above  occupations,  he  kept  a  livery-stable  in  con- 
nection with  his  hotel  establishment,  ran  the  first 
line  of  stages  eight  miles  from  the  railroad  station  (it 
takes  a  railroad  to  do  the  business  to-day),  and  acted 
for  fifteen  years  as  a  bank  director.  He  received  the 
appointment  as  a  notary  public,  which  appointment 
came  unsolicited  by  him  from  the  late  Governor 
Briggs,  and  which  he  held  for  more  than  forty  years. 
Receiving  such  an  important  privilege  from  a  party 
opposed  to  Mr.  Dean  in  political  matters,  must  be 
considered  highly  complimentary  to  him  as  a  citizen. 
With  such  a  variety  of  offices,  and  the  responsibili- 


*/  /W  M-c 


0a./W2fc 


ATTLEBOROUGH. 


583 


ties  they  included,  it  is  not  wonderful  that  Mr.  Dean 
refused  to  accept  various  local  public  offices  offered 
him.  So  soon,  however,  as  his  leisure  seemed  to  tol- 
erate the  hope  of  accepting  his  public  trusts,  his 
friends  nominated  him  a  candidate  for  the  Senate  in 
1848.  The  divided  state  of  political  parties  at  that 
period  hardly  held  out  even  a  remote  hope  of  success, 
and  disappointment  was  consequently  not  great  on 
account  of  failure.  In  1849  he  again  received  the 
senatorial  nomination,  but  was  compelled  to  decline 
the  honor.  He  was  a  third  time  nominated  for  the 
same  office  in  1850,  shortly  after  having  been  removed 
from  the  post-office,  and  when  public  interest  was  ex- 
cited in  his  favor  to  a  more  than  usual  degree  on  that 
account,  and  was  elected,  and  accepted  the  honorable 
position  assigned  him  by  the  citizens  of  his  native 
county. 

We  have  now  to  add  a  few  words  relative  to  his 
political  character,  as  it  is  appreciated  by  all  parties. 
One  prevailing  feature  in  the  public  conduct  of  Mr. 
Dean  was  strict,  open-handed  honesty  of  purpose. 
He  was  appreciated  as  a  Democrat  of  the  most  liberal 
stamp,  and  was  well  known  as  not  ashamed  or  afraid 
to  utter  his  sentiments  in  behalf  of  his  party  tenets. 
His  advocacy  of  the  more  important  questions  before 
the  Senate  while  senator  was  on  behalf  of  a  Demo- 
cratic principle  which  he  desired  to  ramify  all  his 
public  acts.  In  expressing  his  views  on  any  article 
of  public  policy  he  had  peculiar  facility  in  the 
choice  of  language,  and  a  very  happy  mode  of  apply- 
ing it.  His  general  knowledge  of  the  details  of  public 
affairs  enables  him  to  speak  often  and  always  with 
acceptance.  Some  may  argue  more  logically,  and 
construct  their  theories  on  a  more  strictly  mathe- 
matical basis,  but  few  have  the  power  of  rendering 
their  arguments  more  plain  to  the  general  compre- 
hension. He  was  sheriff  of  Bristol  County  under 
Governor  Boutwell  for  the  years  1851  and  1852  ;  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  more  than  thirty  years ;  collector  of 
internal  revenue  three  or  four  years,  and  collector 
of  pensions  and  bounties  till  the  present  time.  He 
voted  for  Abraham  Lincoln  for  President  of  the 
United  States  in  the  fall  of  1860,  and  has  since  acted 
and  voted  with  the  Republican  party,  though  he  still 
maintains  the  same  general  principles  he  always  ad- 
vocated. He  is  one  of  those  who  holds  that  the 
Democratic  party  has  left  him,  and  he  not  the  party. 
In  1871  he  settled  in  the  house  where  he  now  resides. 
He  has  made  his  money  principally  in  real  estate  and 
stocks,  and  is  now  considered  one  of  the  wealthy  men 
of  Attleborough. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dean  are  members  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church,  of  which  she  has  been  a  member  for 
more  than  fifty  years.  The  accompanying  portrait 
represents  him  in  the  prime  of  life. 


LYMAN    WHITE    DAGGETT. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  like  most  of  the  name 
in  this  town  and  in  Connecticut,  are  descended  from 
John  Daggett,  who  came  to  Attleborough  from  Chil- 
mark  about  1709  with  a  family  of  nine  children,  con- 
sisting of  Mayhew,  Ichabod,  and  others. 

Deacon  Mayhew  was  the  father  of  Elihu,  who  be- 
came a  very  respectable  elder  in  the  Baptist  Church. 
He  also  held  a  commission  as  captain  in  the  provin- 
cial militia,  and  with  two  of  his  sons,  Mayhew  and 
Ichabod,  was  engaged  in  the  fight  in  1758  of  Col. 
Bradstreet,  which  resulted  in  the  capture  of  Fort 
Frontenac,  together  "  with  nine  armed  vessels,  sixty 
cannon,  sixteen  mortars,  and  a  vast  quantity  of  am- 
munition." The  circumstance  of  the  elder's  partici- 
pation in  this  battle  is  given,  as  frequently  related  by 
his  son  Elihu,  then  a  lad  of  some  thirteen  years. 
The  two  sons  had  been  absent  some  time  in  the  war, 
and  no  news  had  been  received  from  them.  The 
father  said,  in  his  anxiety,  "  If  I  hear  nothing  in  a 
week  I  will  go  and  find  them."  Nothing  was  heard. 
He  shouldered  his  musket,  reached  the  seat  of  war, 
found  a  battle  raging,  entered  the  action,  and  after 
the  victory  discovered  his  sons  as  participants  with 
himself  in  its  glory. 

From  the  elder  sprang  Adjt.  Elihu  Daggett,  born 
Dec.  4,  1745,  an  industrious  and  upright  citizen,  for 
many  years  a  faithful  teacher  of  youth,  long  engaged 
in  the  culture  of  his  estate,  where,  in  1796,  he  erected 
the  dwelling-house  lately  so  beautified  and  improved 
by  its  present  occupant,  H.  N.  Daggett,  Esq.  The 
adjutant  was  a  minute-man  in  the  Revolution,  and  as 
such  started  for  the  field  at  the  alarm  given  from 
Bunker  Hill.     He  died  June  14,  1833. 

Capt.  Elihu  Daggett  was  the  son  of  the  above 
named,  born  Feb.  24,  1785.  He  pursued  for  years  the 
culture  of  the  soil  as  a  means  of  his  livelihood  ;  was  a 
faithful  husband  and  a  tender  parent.  He  was  a  de- 
voted member  of  the  Masonic  institution,  walking  in 
its  light  and  rejoicing  in  its  promises.  Nov.  28, 1810, 
he  married  Miss  Lucinda  White,  of  Pembroke,  Plym- 
outh Co.,  Mass.,  a  lineal  descendant  of  Peregrine  White. 
Her  father  was  Capt.  William  White,  a  faithful  soldier 
of  the  Revolution,  present  at  the  surrender  of  Corn- 
wallis,  and  engaged  in  many  battles  during  that  fear- 
ful struggle. 

Capt.  Elihu  Daggett  was  exceedingly  fond  of  mili- 
I  tary  exercises.  Few  employments  afforded  him  more 
pleasure  than  trainings  and  the  discipline  of  soldiers. 
In  the  war  of  1812  and  1815  he  commanded  a  com- 
pany for  a  brief  period,  stationed  at  Plymouth,  Mass., 
and  after  the  close  of  that  strife,  on  his  return  home, 
;  was  instrumental  in  the  formation  of  the  Washington 
Rifle  Company,  for  some  time  under  his  command, 
distinguished  as  one  of  the  finest  and  best-disciplined 
companies  in  the  brigade.     He  died  Jan.  25,  1871. 

Lyman  White  Daggett  was  the  only  son  of  Capt. 
Elihu,  born  July  28,  1812.  He  was  educated  in  the 
schools  of  his  own  town,  eagerly  seeking  the  benefit  ot 


584 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


all  within  his  reach,  and  finding,  as  such  multitudes 
have  before  him,  the  fountains  of  knowledge  ever  open 
to  all  faithful  seekers. 

After  availing  himself  of  all  the  advantages  afforded 
at  home  for  an  education,  he  became  a  member  of 
Phillips  Classical  Academy,  at  Andover,  Mass.,  en- 
joyed its  rich  opportunities,  faithfully  improved  the 
facilities  there  afforded  the  honest,  struggling  student, 
and  left  with  the.  respect,  benediction,  and  warm  rec- 
ommendation of  its  renowned  principal,  the  late  Os- 
good Johnson,  Esq. 

For  some  eight  years  subsequent  to  this  period 
Mr.  Daggett  was  successfully  engaged  as  a  teacher 
in  public  and  private  schools,  then  he  became  pas- 
tor of  the  Universalist  Church  and  parish  in  Hollis- 
ton,  Mass.,  and  June  8,  1842,  married  Miss  Nancy  G. 
Fuller,  daughter  of  John  and  Nancy  Fuller,  a  lead- 
ing and  influential  family  of  Wrentham,  Mass.  Mr. 
Fuller's  mother  was  Mary  Maxcy,  a  daughter  of  Jo- 
siah  Maxcy,  and  a  near  relative  of  the  distinguished 
Jonathan  Maxcy,  president  of  Brown  University. 
Three  children  have  been  born  to  them,  of  whom 
only  one  remains,  since  two  have  been  already  called 
to  the  home  above. 

Subsequently  Mr.  Daggett  preached  in  Andover, 
Mass.,  and  in  Woodstock  and  Hartland,  Vt.  As  a 
preacher,  he  was  regarded  clear  and  sound  in  the 
exposition  of  his  subjects,  apt  and  close  in  the  appli- 
cation of  truth  to  the  hearer's  heart.  His  faith  was 
strong  and  unchanging  in  God,  Christ,  and  immor- 
tality. In  pastoral  labors  he  was  ever  faithful,  visit- 
ing his  people  to  do  them  good,  seeking  their  homes 
in  periods  of  sadness,  misfortune,  and  sickness,  to  per- 
form labors  of  love,  to  spend  and  be  spent  in  their 
service. 

On  the  death  of  his  mother,  in  1848,  he  resigned 
his  place  at  Hartland,  Vt.,  removing  to  Mileton 
Falls.,  Mass.,  where  he  has  since  resided,  engaged  in 
the  successful  pursuit  of  agriculture. 

Like  many  others,  Mr.  Daggett  has  been  to  a  mod- 
erate extent  in  public  life,  having  filled  the  offices  of 
selectman,  overseer  of  the  poor,  assessor,  and  town 
clerk  for  several  terms.  He  has  also  often  been  a 
member  of  the  school  committee.  In  1851, 1852,  and 
1853  he  represented  the  town  in  the  Legislature.  As 
a  member  of  the  Legislature,  he  was  a  friend  and  ad- 
vocate of  prohibition,  of  the  mechanics'  lien  law,  of 
homestead  exemption,  of  the  secret  ballot,  in  fine,  of 
all  enactments  calculated  to  promote  home  rule,  free 
votes,  and  honest  counts.  He  has  always  been  true 
to  temperance,  speaking  on  all  suitable  occasions  in 
its  advocacy,  and  living  in  the  practice  of  total  absti- 
nence from  all  intoxicants  for  more  than  fifty  years 
past.  It  need  hardly  be  added  that  Mr.  Daggett 
voted  for  Mr.  Sumner  for  United  States  senator  with 
hearty  pleasure,  and  contemplates  his  act  with  ever- 
increasing  satisfaction. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  now  in  the  enjoyment 
of  good  health,  pursuing  his  peaceful  calling  as  a  cul- 


tivator of  the  soil  under  his  own  vine  and  fig-tree, 
"  having  none  to  molest  or  make  him  afraid,"  while 
he  awaits  the  summons  of  the  Divine  Spirit. 


W.  D.  WHITING. 

The  earliest  recorded  mention  of  a  member  of  the 
Whiting  family  is  that  of  "  William  Whytyng,"  who 
was  in  the  year  1333  taxed  as  a  citizen  of  Boston,  in 
England. 

John  Whiting  was  mayor  of  that  borough  in  1600 
and  in  1608  ;  he  also  held  the  office  of  vice-admiral 
of  Lincolnshire  in  1602.  His  son  Samuel  was  a  min- 
ister of  the  Established  Church,  but  being  unwilling 
to  conform  to  all  the  usages  of  that  church,  and  be- 
ing complained  of  therefor  to  the  Bishop  of  Norwich, 
finally  emigrated  to  the  American  colonies,  and  set- 
tled (1636)  in  Lynn,  Mass.  His  posterity  constitute 
one  branch  of  the  American  family  of  Whitings. 

Nathaniel  Whiting,  of  Dedham,  Mass.,  emigrated 
from  Boxford,  Suffolk  Co.,  England,  in  the  year  1635. 

Most  of  those  bearing  the  name  of  Whiting  origi- 
nating in  Wrentham,  Hingham,  Plymouth,  etc.,  as 
well  as  all  the  Dedham  stock  in  that  line,  have  de- 
scended from  this  Nathaniel. 

He  was  undoubtedly  related  to  Samuel,  above  men- 
tioned. He  (Nathaniel)  was  one  of  the  sixty-eight 
proprietors  of  land  in  the  infant  settlement  of  "  Con- 
tentment," afterwards  called  Dedham,  the  land  being 
described  in  the  deed  or  grant  of  conveyance  (1642) 
as  "  upland  ground,  fit  for  improvement  with  the 
plow." 

He  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  the  town  (1635). 
In  1641  a  foot-path  was  laid  out  to  the  first  "  water- 
mill"  that  had  been  established  in  the  precinct,  and 
soon  after  the  mill,  and  all  lands,  privileges,  and 
appurtenances  thereto  belonging,  were  conveyed  by 
deed  to  Nathaniel  Whiting  by  Rev.  John  Allin  and 
John  Dwight.  For  more  than  two  centuries  grist- 
and  saw-mills  located  on  this  same  site  have  been 
owned  and  improved  in  propria  persona  by  lineal 
descendants  of  the  grantee. 

In  Mann's  "Annals  of  Dedham"  repeated  mention  is 
made  of  members  of  the  Whiting  family.  Isaac 
Whiting  was  town  clerk  at  the  beginning  of  the 
Revolutionary  war.  His  term  of  service  was  con- 
tinued for  six  years.  Others  were  selectmen,  assessors, 
and  overseers  of  the  poor,  and  were  continued  in  these 
responsible  positions  for  many  years.  As  a  general 
thing,  the  family  have  been  devoted  to  agricultural 
pursuits,  and  some  of  the  finest  tracts  of  lands  in  the 
town  have  been  owned  by  them  for  many  successive 
generations.  Nov.  4,  1643,  Nathaniel  Whiting  mar- 
ried Hannah  Dwight.  The  Dwights  were  among  the 
original  settlers,  and  presumably  of  considerable  note, 
from  the  fact  that  the  stream  connecting  Charles 
River  with  Neponset  had  from  the  first  been  known 
as  Dwight's  Brook.  The  ancient  church  records  say 
of  Capt.  Timothy  Dwight  that  "  he  was  a  gentleman 


ATTLEBOROUGH. 


585 


truly  serious  and  godly ;  one  of  an  excellent  spirit, 
peaceful,  generous,  charitable,  and  a  promoter  of  the 
true  interests  of  the  church  and  town."  His  son 
Timothy  was  a  much-respected  president  of  Yale 
College. 

Nathaniel  Whiting  and  Hannah  Dwight,  of  Ded- 
ham,  were  married  Sept.  4,  1643. 

Samuel,  son  of  Nathaniel  and  Hannah,  was  born 
Oct.  20,  1649. 

Samuel  Whiting  and  Sarah  Metcalf,  both  of  Ded- 
ham,  were  married  Sept.  23,  1676. 

David,  first  son  of  Samuel  and  Sarah,  was  born 
July  30,  1709. 

David1  was  married  to  Mary  Fuller  by  Rev.  Samuel 
Dexter,  Dec.  4,  1732,  all  of  Dedham. 

David,  second  sou  of  David1  and  Mary  Fuller,  was 
born  Feb.  22,  1735. 

David2  and  Hannah  Wallcott,  daughter  of  Moses 
and  Mary  Wallcott,  were  married  October,  1766,  all 
of  Attleborough. 

David,  grandfather  of  William,  died  January,  1800. 

David1  and  Mary,  his  wife,  came  from  Dedham  to 
Attleborough,  probably  in  1733  or  1734;  they  bought 
a  farm  and  woodland,  which  remained  in  the  Whiting 
family  until  a  few  years  ago. 

The  children  of  David  and  Hannah  Whiting  were 
John,  born  Nov.  15,  1767;  David3,  born  July  19, 
1770  ;  Hannah,  born  May  14,  1772  ;  John,  born  March 
13,  1773;  Lemuel,  born  Dec.  12,  1776;  Lewis,  born 
Dec.  4,  1778 ;  Alice,  born  Feb.  3,  1783.  Alice  died 
June  7,  1810. 

Lemuel  and  Nancy,  daughter  of  Oliver  and  Polly 
(Daggett)  Blackinton,  were  married  July  2,  1811. 

Lemuel  died  Sept.  30,  1823 ;  Nancy  died  October, 
1868. 

The  children  of  Capt.  Lemuel  and  Nancy  were 
Mary  Ann,  born  May  7,  1812  ;  William  Dean,  born 
Dec.  23,  1815 ;  Levi  Willard,  born  1821. 

William  Dean  Whiting,  son  of  Lemuel  and  Nancy 
(Blackinton)  Whiting,  was  born  in  Attleborough, 
Mass.,  Dec.  23,  1815.  His  father  was  a  farmer,  was 
an  industrious  and  hard-working  man,  who  prided 
himself  on  the  superiority  of  his  cattle,  of  which  he 
had  very  fine  ones,  mostly  oxen,  with  which  he  did  a 
large  amount  of  moving  buildings.  He  married 
Nancy  Blackinton,  of  the  honorable  family  of  that 
name  which  has  from  1700  been  prominently  con- 
nected with  Attleborough.  They  had  four  children, 
— Mary  A.  B.  (Mrs.  Samuel  Kent,  of  Seekonk,  de- 
ceased),  Nancy  (died  young),  William  D.,  and  Levi 
Willard  (deceased).  He  died  when  William  was 
about  seven  years  old,  leaving  his  wife  in  limited 
circumstances  to  bring  up  her  young  family,  which, 
like  a  true  New  England  mother,  she  succeeded  in 
doing.  Young  William  was  early  compelled  to  rely 
on  himself  for  support,  and  commenced  a  life  of 
many  years  of  successful  labor  when  eight  years  of 
age  by  doing  chores,  riding  horse,  etc.,  for  his  uncle, 
Artemus  Stanley,  for  his  board.     Here  he  stayed  one 


year.  When  ten  years  old  he  engaged  with  Mr. 
Whittemore,  a  farmer,  to  work  for  his  board,  and 
remained  with  him  two  years.  Returning  then  to 
his  mother's  home,  he  began  to  work  by  the  day,  as 
opportunity  offered,  for  twenty-five  cents  a  day  until 
he  was  fourteen.  He  was  then  apprenticed  to  Draper 
&  Tints,  jewelry  manufacturers,  to  learn  their  trade, 
and  for  six  years  he  steadily  applied  himself  to  thor- 
oughly master  it.  Mr.  TifTts,  his  uncle  by  marriage, 
pleased  with  his  attention  to  their  interests,  took 
especial  pains  with  him,  and  he  became  very  profi- 
cient in  all  departments. 

After  learning  his  trade  Mr.  Whiting  remained  with 
the  firm  one  year  as  journeyman,  then  dull  times 
came  on  and  work  was  scarce,  so  he  employed  himself 
in  chasing  gilt  buttons  for  R.  &  W.  Robinson  for  a 
time;  then  for  a  short  period  was  employed  by  Dra- 
per &  Blackinton  in  chasing  gilt  jewelry.  In  or  about 
1837  he  had  acquired  such  a  reputation  for  skill, 
steadiness,  and  reliability  that  he  was  offered,  and  ac- 
cepted, the  position  of  foreman  in  the  shop  of  H.  M. 
Richards,  at  East  Attleborough.  Mr.  Richards  made 
enameled  jewelry,  imitations  of  French  goods.  Not 
long  after  this  he  removed  his  business  and  machinery 
to  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  and  thither  Mr.  Whiting  ac- 
compauied  him,  superintending  the  removal  and  set- 
ting up  the  works  in  the  new  location,  and  continuing 
as  superintendent.  He  stayed  two  years  in  this  ca- 
pacity with  Mr.  Richards  and  his  successor,  Mr.  Gar- 
rett. He  then  began  business  for  himself  in  a  modest 
way,  manufacturing  jewelry,  principally  hearts  and 
crosses.  This  was  in  probably  the  most  depressed 
financial  times  this  country  ever  saw,  and  there  was 
almost  nothing  done,  and  that  poorly  remunerated,  so 
in  a  few  months  he  had  come  fully  to  the  conclusion 
of  removing  to  St.  Louis  and  trying  his  fortunes  in 
the  great  West.  This  he  was  not  to  do,  however,  for 
just  then  Albert  C.  TifTt,  an  old  Attleborough  ac- 
quaintance, made  him  a  proposition  to  return  to  that 
town  and  join  him  as  partner  in  the  jewelry  business 
there,  Mr.  John  Tifft  (of  the  old  firm  of  Draper  & 
Tifft)  to  be  their  financial  backer.  Up  to  this  time, 
owing  to  the  dullness  6f  the  times,  the  labor  of  Mr. 
Whiting  had  not  given  much  substantial  result;  but 
the  value  of  faithful  working  and  systematic  economy 
had  been  so  strongly  impressed  upon  his  nature  as  to 
affect  his  whole  subsequent  life.  This  time  was 
doubtless  the  pivotal  period  of  his  life.  After  careful 
thought  and  mature  deliberation  he  gave  up  his  con- 
templated Western  trip,  and  accepted  Mr.  Tifft's  pro- 
posal. In  1840  they  formed  the  firm  of  Tifft  & 
Whiting,  manufacturing  jewelers.  Two  aspiring, 
honest  young  men,  "chock  full  of  day's  work,"  with 
a  joint  cash  capital  of  five  hundred  dollars,  they  de- 
spised not  the  day  of  small  beginnings,  and  laid  the 
foundations  of  future  success  by  industry  and  care. 
They  began  to  make  gold  goods, — hearts,  crosses, 
ladies'  and  gentlemen's  finger-rings.  Their  shop  was  a 
small  room  in  an  old  blacksmith-shop  on  the  bank  of 


586 


HISTORY    OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Ten-Mile  River,  on  the  Boston  and  Brovidence  turn- 
pike, in  North  Attleborough.  Mr.  Tifft  wasamachinist, 
and  knew  nothing  of  practical  work  in  jewelry,  so 
Mr.  Whiting  had  all  the  responsibility  of  the  shop. 
They  had  two  workmen,— Willard,  brother  of  Mr. 
Whiting  (who  had  previously  learned  his  trade  of 
him),  and  Peter  Bishop,  a  former  employe  of  his  in 
Philadelphia.  As  a  contrast  to  the  present,  we  would 
say  that  all  Mr.  Whiting  paid  Mr.  Bishop,  a  skilled 
workman,  on  first  hiring  him,  was  five  dollars  per 
week.  Mr.  John  Tifft  first  sold  their  goods,  but  after 
a  short  time  Mr.  A.  C.  Tifft  would  go  to  New  York  as 
salesman,  and  on  his  return  Mr.  AVhiting  would  go  to 
Boston  and  other  markets  in  New  England.  They 
determined  not  to  run  in  debt.  All  the  monetary  aid 
they  received  was  from  Mr.  Tifft,  as  promised  before 
they  entered  into  business,  and  all  he  did  was  to  get 
one  note  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  discounted 
at  the  Wrentham  Bank,  and  this  they  paid  out  of  their 
business  when  it  matured. 

Their  trade  soon  became  too  large  for  their  small 
shop,  and  in  eighteen  months'  time  had  assumed  such 
proportions  that  they  were  forced  to  build  a  new 
building.  This  they  were  determined  to  build  large 
enough  to  contain  room  for  their  work  for  all  time, 
and  they  erected  a  two-story  building  twenty-five  by 
forty,  for  which  they  paid  eight  hundred  dollars.  Into 
this  they  moved,  and  soon  found  they  needed  some 
power  to  supersede  the  slow  process  of  hand  labor 
and  facilitate  the  manufacture  of  goods.  By  this 
time  they  were  employing  thirty  to  forty  men  and 
doing  a  good  business.  Previously  to  this  the  Beaver 
Dam  Cotton-Mill  and  Factory  of  Draper  &  Tifft 
had  burned,  and  in  February,  1847,  Tifft  &  Whiting 
purchased  the  site  and  water  privilege,  paying  two 
thousand  dollars  for  it.  They  at  once  put  up  a  por- 
tion of  the  present  Whiting  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany's building,  making  it  of  stone,  ninety  feet  long, 
forty  feet  wide,  and  three  stories  high.  Mr.  Whiting 
gave  this  building  his  personal  superintendence,  and 
put  in  improved  machines  for  polishing,  rolling,  etc., 
by  power.  They  occupied  it  the  same  year,  opening 
it  with  seventy-five  operatives,  which  soon  became 
one  hundred  and  one  hundred  and  fifty. 

Wishing  a  safe  depository  for  their  goods,  they 
added  forty  feet  more  in  length  to  their  building,  and 
in  one  corner  constructed  a  strong  stone  safe  eight 
feet  by  twelve  and  the  height  of  the  building,  with 
doors  in  each  story.  Mr.  Tifft,  after  some  years'  con- 
tinuance of  the  firm,  was  satisfied  with  the  fortune  he 
had  amassed,  and  wishing  to  retire  sold  his  interest 
to  Mr.  Whiting,  Jan.  1,  1853,  for  which  he  was  paid 
ninety  thousand  dollars  in  cash.  The  business  was 
in  the  full  tide  of  success,  and  was  very  profitable. 
It  stood  in  the  front  rank  of  the  business  firms  of 
the  country,  and  with  Sackett,  Davis  &  Potter,  of 
Providence,  was  the  first  jewelry  manufactory  to  es- 
tablish an  office  in  New  York  City.  These  firms  took 
offices  side  by  side.     In  his  own  name,  and  afterwards 


as  W.  D.  Whiting  &  Co.,  Mr.  Whiting  continued 
to  do  a  flourishing  business  for  years,  with  offices  in 
Philadelphia  and  Boston  also.  Soon  after  removing 
to  the  stone  building  he  had  added  the  manufacture 
of  silver  combs  for  ladies ;  gradually  other  articles 
were  added,  until  this  branch  became  an  immense 
business  of  itself,  and  resulted  in  what  is  now  one 
of  the  largest  houses  in  the  country,  the  Whiting 
Manufacturing  Company.  This  was  organized  as 
a  stock  company  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand 
dollars  capital,  and  afterwards  the  capital  stock  was 
increased  to  two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dol- 
lars. Mr.  Whiting  was  elected  president,  and  the 
manufacture  of  silver  entirely  superseded  the  jewelry 
business,  which  was  closed.  The  duties  of  his  posi- 
tion kept  Mr.  Whiting  busily  employed,  and  he  had 
but  little  leisure.  After  the  burning  of  their  works 
in  1875,  the  building  was  rebuilt  as  it  now  stands,  two 
hundred  and  fifteen  feet  in  length  ;  but  they  soon  re- 
moved to  New  York  City,  whither  Mr.  Whiting  re- 
moved also  to  give  his  personal  attention  to  the  fit- 
ting up  of  shops,  removal  and  putting  up  of  machin- 
ery, engine,  and  boiler,  etc.  Commencing  Jan.  1, 
1876,  in  February  of  the  same  year  the  new  works 
were  occupied  and  rapidly  turning  out  work.  After 
a  residence  of  five  years  in  New  York,  Mr.  Whiting 
returned  to  North  Attleborough. 

He  married,  Dec.  17,  1839,  Rebecca  Damon,  daugh- 
ter of  Pitt  and  Lucy  (Damon)  Butterfield,  of  Dedham, 
Mass.,  where  she  was  born  May  8,  1818.  They  had 
three  children, — William  Osborne  (a  beautiful  child 
of  brilliant  promise,  who  met  an  untimely  death  by 
drowning  at  four  years  of  age),  Frank  Mortimer, 
Josephine  S.,  and  Florence  R. 

With  the  exception  noted  above,  Mr.  Whiting  has 
all  his  life  resided  in  his  native  town,  and,  known  of 
all  men,  is  universally  esteemed  for  his  sterling  worth, 
honesty  of  dealing,  integrity,  modesty,  and  unosten- 
tation.  He  has  stood  on  every  round  of  Fortune's 
ladder,  and  in  his  old  age,  with  all  the  wealth  his 
faithful  labor  and  business  ability  of  years  has  brought 
him,  can  look  back  and  proudly  say  that  not  one  dollar 
has  been  acquired  unjustly.  He  is  one  of  the  best 
types  of  a  self-made  man ;  has  started  many  "  boys" 
on  the  same  road  he  has  trod,  first,  by  taking  them 
as  apprentices;  secondly,  by  his  kind  and  fatherly 
advice,  giving  them  more  valuable  aid  than  that  of 
money;  and  to-day  many  of  them  hold  a  loyal  friend- 
ship for  the  kind  old  friend  whom  they  reverence 
almost  as  a  father.  Mr.  Whiting  is  in  accord  with 
the  highest  elements  of  society,  and  is  one  of  Attle- 
borough's  most  valued  citizens.  His  success  is  the 
result  of  steady  industry,  careful  economy,  business 
thrift  and  enterprise  reaching  over  a  long  period 
of  years,  coupled  with  a  determination  to  give  honest 
value  to  whatever  he  made.  He  has  never  had  time 
to  meddle  either  with  politics  or  speculation,  and  has 
steadily  refused  all  public  positions,  but  is  a  Repub- 
lican in  political  belief. 


^^^^>?  & 


ATTLEBOROUGH. 


587 


Frank  M.  Whiting,  born  April  21,  1849,  was  edu- 
cated at  Norwich  Military  University,  at  Northfield, 
Vt.,  and  graduated  in  the  class  of  1868.  He  entered 
his  father's  shop,  where  he  worked  about  a  year,  then 
he  was  called  as  assistant  in  the  office,  first  in  Attle- 
borough  then  in  New  York,  and  afterwards  was  trav- 
eling salesman  for  several  years.  He  started  in  busi- 
ness in  North  Attleborough,  in  1878,  with  two  others, 
in  the  manufacture  of  jewelry,  under  the  firm-name  of 
Holbrook,  Whiting  &  Albee.  This  firm  continued 
two  years,  when  his  father  bought  the  interests  of 
Holbrook  and  Albee,  and  the  firm  became  and  still 
continues  Frank  M.  Whiting  &  Co.  Its  specialties 
are  small  silver-wares,  novelties,  and  jewelry.  They 
employ  about  forty  hands.  While  Frank  attends  to 
the  traveling  and  selling,  his  father  superintends  the 
shop. 

Frank  married,  June  21,  1881,  Florence  L.,  daugh- 
ter of  Edwin  and  Dorcas  (Doane)  Hancock,  of 
Wrentham.  They  reside  with  his  father  in  the  beau- 
tiful home  he  built  on  the  William  Blackinton  home- 
stead in  North  Attleborough,  where  he  has  lived  since 
October,  1857.  They  have  one  daughter,  Marion  D., 
born  Dec.  17,  1882.  " 


ABIEL    CODDING. 


Abie/  Codding,  eldest  son  of  Abiel  and  Cloe  (Daggett) 
Codding,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Rehoboth,  Mass., 
Jan.  29,  1817,  and  at  one  year  of  age  came  with  his 
parents  to  the  eastern  part  of  Attleborough.  His 
paternal  grandfather  was  James  Codding,  a  native  of 
Taunton,  Bristol  Co.,  Mass.,  whither  his  ancestors  had 
come  at  an  early  day.  James  was  a  farmer  by  occu- 
pation. He  was  a  true  American,  and  fought  for  our 
independence  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  He  mar- 
ried Joanna  Eddy,  and  had  three  children,  viz. : 
David,  Abigail,  wife  of  Wheaton  Barrows,  and  Abiel, 
father  of  the  subject  of  our  sketch.  Both  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  James  Codding  spent  their  last  days  with  their 
son  Abiel  in  Attleborough,  Mass.  They  lived  to  be 
far  advanced  in  years,  and  their  children  attained  the 
remarkable  age  of  nearly  ninety  years.  Abiel  Codding, 
youngest  son  of  James,  was  born  in  Taunton,  Mass., 
Oct.  27,  1792,  and  died  in  Attleborough,  Oct.  3,  1881. 
His  boyhood  was  spent  at  home  on  his  father's  farm 
till  he  was  fourteen  or  fifteen  years  of  age,  when  he 
came  to  Attleborough,  and  worked  on  a  farm  by  the 
month  for  Seneca  Sanford.  He  was  very  industrious 
and  frugal,  and  strictly  temperate  in  all  his  habits. 
He  married  Cloe,  daughter  of  Elihu  Daggett,  and  to 
them  were  born  thirteen  children,  of  whom  eight 
grew  to  maturity,  viz.,  Cloe  (deceased),  Abiel,  Al- 
mira  (deceased),  Joanna  (deceased),  Mary  Ann,  David 
D.,  Harriet  N.,  and  Emily.  Mr.  Codding  was  a  well- 
to-do  farmer  in  Attleborough,  where  he  lived  for  more 
than  sixty-three  years,  leaving  an  example  of  in- 
dustry and  sobrietv  well  worthv  the  imitation  of  the 


present  generation.  In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat 
of  the  Jeffersonian  school.  He  was  a  soldier  of  the 
war  of  1812,  and  drew  a  pension  for  his  services.  His 
name  will  long  be  remembered  as  one  of  the  most 
upright  and  honorable  men  in  town.  His  wife,  born 
Dec.  12,  1792,  died  March  22,  1855. 

Abiel  Codding,  the  immediate  subject  of  our  sketch, 
was  reared  on  the  farm  in  East  Attleborough  till  he 
was  sixteen  years  of  age.  His  advantages  for  an  ed- 
ucation were  such  as  the  common  schools  of  his  town 
afforded.  Being  of  a  mechanical  turn  of  mind,  he 
early  turned  his  attention  to  the  jewelry  business. 
Hence  at  sixteen  we  find  him  in  the  employ  of  H. 
M.  Richards,  one  of  the  pioneers  in  the  jewelry  busi- 
ness of  this  town.  He  remained  with  him  some 
three  years,  when  he  formed  a  copartnership  with 
Stephen  Richardson  (deceased),  under  the  firm-name 
of  Richardson  &  Codding,  and  was  thus  employed  a 
short  time  when  they  dissolved  partnership,  and  Mr. 
Codding  continued  his  trade  as  a  journeyman,  mak- 
ing valuable  improvements  in  the  different  kinds  of 
tools  used  in  the  jewelry  business.  In  1839  he  went 
to  Philadelphia  to  work  for  his  old  employer,  H.  M. 
Richards,  but  remained  but  a  few  months,  when  he 
returned  to  North  Attleborough  and  entered  the  em- 
ploy of  Ira  Richards  &  Co.  In  1842  he  formed  a 
copartnership  with  Ira  Richards  &  Co.,  the  firm  re- 
taining the  old  and  well-known  title.  This  firm  had 
a  house  in  New  York  City,  and  was  there  known  as 
Ira  Richards  &  Co.,  but  their  interest  in  Attlebor- 
ough was  known  as  Richards,  Codding  &  Co.  This 
firm  manufactured  all  kinds  of  jewelry,  besides 
"  hooks  and  eyes."  It  grew  from  a  very  small  begin- 
ning to  be  one  of  the  largest,  if  not  the  largest,  man- 
ufacturing interest  in  Attleborough,  employing  some 
two  hundred  and  twenty-five  hands  some  of  the  time, 
and  their  sales  amounted  to  many  thousands  every 
year. 

Mr.  Codding  was  naturally  a  mechanic,  and  by 
close  application  to  his  business  he  attained  a  degree 
of  success  acquired  by  few.  He  made  valuable  im- 
provements in  manufacturing,  and  obtained  several 
patents  for  new  tools.  About  1850  he  built  his  pres- 
ent fine  house  in  North  Attleborough,  where  he  has 
since  resided. 

In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat,  but  seldom  takes  a 
lively  interest  in  political  matters.  He  is  a  director 
of  the  First  National  Bank  of  North  Attleborough, 
and  president  of  the  Savings-Bank  of  Attleborough  ; 
also  president  of  the  North  Attleborough  Gas-Light 
Company.  It  will  thus  be  seen  that  the  people  of 
his  town  repose  confidence  in  him. 

He  married  Ann  Maria,  daughter  of  Calvin  and 
Olive  (Blackington)  Richards,  Oct.  28,  1841.  She  was 
born  in  Attleborough,  Aug.  16,  1819.  Of  this  union 
the  following  children  have  been  born,  viz.:  Arthur 
E.,  Ella  M.  (deceased),  James  A.,  Edwin  A.,  and  Ellen 
L.  (deceased).  All  the  sons  are  in  the  jewelry  busi- 
ness, under  the  firm-name  of  Codding  Bros. 


588 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


H.  N.  DAGGETT. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Attleborough, 
Jan.  27,  1821.  His  father,  Hon.  Ebenezer  Daggett, 
was  largely  interested  in  the  manufacture  of  cotton 
goods,  was  prominent  in  local  affairs,  and  at  the  time 
of  his  death  represented  his  district  in  the  State  Sen- 
ate. The  son,  after  completing  his  education  at 
Wrentham  Academy,  moved  to  Boston,  where  he 
served  a  short,  unprofitable  apprenticeship  with  a 
relative,  after  which  he  returned  to  Attleborough, 
formed  a  partnership  with  his  brother,  H.  M.  Dag- 
gett, and  together  they  purchased  the  mills  at  the 
Falls  and  carried  on  the  manufacture  of  print  cloths 
for  a  number  of  years.  This  partnership  terminated 
in  1856.  About  this  time  Mr.  Daggett  conceived  the 
idea  of  making  braid  in  this  country,  and  started  a 
few  braiders  at  the  Power  Company's  shop  in  Attle- 
borough. Requiring  more  room,  he  had  moved  into 
the  mill  at  Farmer's,  and  was  also  occupying  the 
shop  atrDeantown. 

The  braid  business  had  never  before  been  attempted 
on  this  side  the  Atlantic,  but  now  the  time  seemed 
most  opportune  for  it.  The  civil  war  seriously  inter- 
fered with  the  importation  of  these  goods,  but  the  de- 
mand for  them  was  constantly  increasing.  Mr.  Dag- 
gett saw  his  golden  opportunity  and  grasped  it.  He 
must  have  more  room.  He  repurchased  the  mill 
property  at  Attleborough  Falls,  which  he  had  sold  to 
H.  M.  Richards  in  1855,  and  filling  it  with  the  best 
of  American  braid  machinery  he  commenced  the 
work  which  has  resulted  so  advantageously  to  both 
the  individual  and  the  public. 

On  moving  to  Falls  village,  as  it  was  called,  Mr. 
Daggett's  first  business  was  to  establish  order.  Pre- 
vious to  his  coming  it  was  no  uncommon  thing  for  the 
rowdy  element  to  take  possession  of  streets,  side- 
walks, stores,  or  public  meetings,  to  the  terror  and  ex- 
clusion of  better  people.  Under  his  energetic  treat- 
ment the  roughs  either  left  town  or  subsided  into 
peaceful  citizens.  Through  his  influence  a  post-office 
was  established,  and  with  his  aid  a  church  was  built, 
and  other  public  improvements  pushed  to  comple- 
tion. 

Up  to  1868  a  stage-coach  was  the  only  passenger 
conveyance  between  North  and  East  Attleborough, 
and  all  freight  for  the  former  was  hauled  over  the 
road  in  teams.  In  January  of  that  year  Mr.  Dag- 
gett requested  a  few  gentlemen  to  meet  at  his  resi- 
dence, the  purpose  being  to  secure  a  railroad  between 
the  two  villages.  This  was  the  origin  of  the  Attle- 
borough Branch  Railroad.  Within  one  year  from  the 
time  these  gentlemen  held  the  meeting  the  work 
was  completed,  and  the  cars  were  running  over  the 
road. 

In  the  mean  time  American  braids  had  outgrown 
the  prejudices  of  the  consumer,  and  the  demand  for 
them  had  so  increased  as  to  require  the  mill  to  be  run 
both  day  and  night,  employing,  of  course,  two  sets  of 
hands,  and  the  annual  product  had  reached  to  up- 


wards of  sixty  thousand  miles  of  braid.  At  this  time 
Mr.  Daggett  had  an  arrangement  with  J.  C.  Morse, 
of  Boston,  under  which  the  manufactured  goods  were 
sold  by  Mr.  Morse  on  joint  account,  he  supplying 
the  yarn  and  Mr.  Daggett  furnishing  labor  and 
machinery.  In  1869,  Mr.  Morse  became  seriously 
embarrassed,  necessitating  an  abandonment  of  this 
arrangement.  Mr.  Daggett's  fortune  went  down  with 
the  wreck,  but  he  had  an  ample  capital  in  his  energy, 
courage,  and  determination.  He  at  once  formed  a 
partnership  with  Austin  Dunham,  of  Hartford,  and 
George  S.  Moulton,  of  New  York.  This  connection, 
a  very  happy  and  successful  one,  terminated  in  1873, 
and  thereafter  until  1879,  Mr.  Daggett  conducted  the 
business  alone,  when,  feeling  the  need  of  relief  from 
the  engrossing  cares  of  business,  he  disposed  of  the 
stock  and  machinery  to  a  company,  in  which  he  re- 
tains a  large  interest,  and  of  which  he  is  president 
and  treasurer. 

Mr.  Daggett  has  added  largely  to  the  value  of  his 
mill  property,  and  improved  the  appearance  of  the 
village  by  building  a  number  of  tasty  cottages  and 
three  large  jewelry-shops,  and  one  fine  store. 

The  shops  get  their  power  from  the  mill,  which  is 
equipped  with  a  powerful  steam-engine,  although  its 
main  dependence  is  upon  the  water-power,  which  for 
ten  months  in  the  year  is  one  of  the  best  in  the  State. 

Mr.  Daggett's  home  is  one  of  the  most  attractive 
in  the  town,  from  without  giving  evidence  of  taste 
and  refinement,  and  from  within  of  healthful  home 
and  social  influences. 


THE  RICHARDS  FAMILY.- 

Thomas  Richards,  the  first  of  his  name  in  New 
England,  was  born  in  Dorchester  about  1590,  and 
according  to  Rev.  Abner  Morse,  who  compiled  a  his- 
tory of  the  Richards  family  in  1861,  was  a  man  of 
standing  in  the  mother-country  and  one  of  the  prin- 
cipal men  in  the  new.  He  was  a  merchant  and  dig- 
nified by  the  title  of  "  Mr.,"  a  high  honor  in  colonial 
days.  He  was  a  lineal  descendant  in  the  seventh 
generation  of  James  Richards,  of  either  Somerset  or 
Devon  County,  England,  and  hence  a  descendant  of 
Sir  Richard  Richards,  "  Lord  Chief  Baron  of  the  Court 
of  Exchequer  and  often  President  of  the  House  of 
Lords,"  an  inheritor  of  the  Richards  manor  in  Wales, 
and  whose  ancestors  were  spoken  of,  says  Mr.  Morse, 
as  the  "  ancient  possessors"  in  1550.  This  old  man- 
sion is  still  standing,  and  with  it  is  connected  an  ex- 
tensive estate. 

Thomas  Richards'  children  were  John,  "  Worship- 
ful and  Major/'  who  married  a  daughter  of  Governor 
Winthrop,  and  who  was  one  of  the  most  eminent  men 
of  his  time  in  the  colonies  (Judge  Richards  died  in 
1694);  Thomas,  "Esq.,"  who  died  in  1648-50;  Mary, 
who  married  Thomas  Hinckley,  Governor  of  Plym- 
outh;  Alice,  who  married  Maj.  William  Bradford, 
Deputy  Governor  of  Plymouth,  and  several  others. 


J*n£    t^B^I 


^^^^€  £~v 


ATTLEBOROUGH. 


589 


Edward  Eichards,  a  nephew  of  Thomas,  Sr.,  came  to 
Dedham  in  1635-36,  when  that  place  was  colonized 
by  the  "principal  planters"  from  Cambridge  and 
Watertown.  Mr.  Morse  says,  "  He  was  received  as 
one  of  the  proprietors  of  Dedham  in  1636-37,  then 
embracing  the  territory  of  nine  present  townships, 
and  became  the  sixty-second  signer  of  her  social 
compact.  On  ye  17d.  of  ye  5  mo.,  1640,  he  was  re- 
ceived into  ye  church,  giving  good  satisfaction,"  and 
his  wife  Susan  was  received  19  (11),  1644.  With  this 
church  they  walked  blameless  through  life. 

In  1641  he  took  the  freeman's  oath,  and  in  1646  was 
chosen  selectman,  and  by  annual  elections  served  nine 
years.  Edward  Richards  began  life  with  more  means 
than  most  of  the  planters  of  Dedham,  and  left  his 
descendants  good  estates.  The  proprietors  having 
adopted  the  rule  of  dividing  their  lands  generally 
according  to  estate,  he  drew  an  uncommon  amount 
in  no  less  than  fourteen  lots.  In  1648  his  county 
rate  was  above  the  average,  and  in  1651  his  house 
was  valued  at  eighteen  pounds,  when  only  twelve  in 
Dedham  were  valued  higher.     He  died  in  1684. 

John  Richards  (2d)  son  of  Edward,  was  born  in  1641 
and  died  in  1688.  In  1667  he  was  received  into  the 
church  in  Dedham,  and  took  the  freeman's  oath  in 
1670.  In  1672  he  married  Mary  Colburn,  of  Dedham, 
a  daughter  of  Nathaniel  and  Priscilla  Colburn. 

John  Richards  (3d),  first-born  of  "the  seven  chil- 
dren of  John  (2d),"  the  Rev.  Mr.  Morse  says,  "mar- 
ried Judith  Fairbanks,  had  the  homestead  of  his 
father  in  Dedham."  Of  one  of  their  sons,  Mr.  Morse 
says,  "Joseph,  Col.,  A.M.,  M.D.,  settled  in  Dedham 
and  became  her  principal  citizen.  He  married, 
Aug.  10,  1726,  Mary  Belcher.  She  was  born  July 
23,  1701,  died  Jan.  19,  1746-47.  She  was  the  daugh- 
ter of  Rev.  Joseph  and  Abigail  Belcher,  a  minister 
of  Dedham.  He  married  second,  March  2,  1748-49, 
Elizabeth  Dudley,  daughter  of  William  and  Eliz- 
abeth Dudley,  of  Roxbury.  She  was  born  May  16, 
1724,  died  Nov.  1, 1805.  Joseph  died  in  1761.  John 
Richards  (4th  generation),  son  of  John  Richards  (3d), 
was  born  June  12, 1698,  and  married  Abigail,  daugh- 
ter of  Robert  and  Elizabeth  Avery.  He  had  two 
sons — Edward  and  Nathan — who  were  the  first  of 
the  name  to  settle  in  Attleborough.  He  had  other 
sons  and  daughters. 

Edward  Richards5,  the  first  of  the  name  in  Attle- 
borough, was. born  in  Dedham  in  1724,  and  married, 
in  1756,  Mary,  daughter  of  James  and  Hannah 
Fisher,  of  Dedham. 

From  what  we  can  learn  of  the  family  it  appears 
that  Edward  Richards  came  from  a  race  of  gentle- 
men, who  were  so  by  race,  education,  and  association. 
His  sires  in  their  several  generations  had  been  men 
of  wealth  and  social  position,  receiving  homage  not 
only  for  their  own  worth  but  for  their  lineage  also. 
He  must  have  been  known  by  reputation  by  the  citi- 
zens of  Attleborough  before  his  advent  among  them, 
for  he  seems  to  have  taken  a  foremost  position  among 


them  immediately  upon  his  arrival.  During  the 
Revolution  he  was  especially  prominent,  and  served 
his  adopted  town  most  faithfully  in  the  many  im- 
portant positions  of  trust  he  was  called  to.  Sept.  12, 
1774,  Attleborough  chose  a  committee  to  join  with 
the  committees  of  the  other  towns  of  Bristol  County 
"  to  consult  the  safety  and  peace  and  prosperity 
thereof,  as  well  as  the  whole  government  and  conti- 
nent upon  any  emergency."  Of  the  five  chosen  for 
this  committee,  Edward  Richards  was  the  first.  To 
the  convention  held  at  Concord  in  October,  1779, 
Edward  Richards,  with  Col.  Stephen  Richardson  and 
Mr.  Levi  Maxcy,  were  chosen  by  Attleborough.  And 
upon  the  committees  of  correspondence,  and  among 
the  judges  of  the  Superior  and  Inferior  Court,  created 
by  the  town  during  the  war,  Mr.  Richards  was  either 
the  first  or  among  the  first. 

His  four  sons,  Edward,  Calvin,  etc.,  settled  in  At- 
tleborough, and  from  thence  came  the  bee-hive  race 
of  Richards  in  North  Bristol  County.  Calvin  Rich- 
ards (sixth  generation),  son  of  Edward,  seems  to  have 
been  a  quiet,  peaceful  citizen  in  the  place  where  his 
race,  before  and  after,  made  so  much  stir.  But  his 
progeny  in  the  next  and  succeeding  generations  fully 
made  up  for  their  sire's  lack.  His  son  Manning, 
who  was  father  of  the  Hon.  H.  M.  Richards,  of  At- 
tleborough, was  one  of  the  earliest  of  the  jewelry 
manufacturers,  and  in  about  1815  employed  what  was 
then  the  great  number  of  twenty  operatives. 

Another  son,  Calvin,  as  well  as  Spencer,  was  asso- 
ciated with  his  brother  Ira  in  various  business  en- 
terprises, notably  of  the  Richards  Manufacturing 
Company,  which  carried  on  to  a  large  extent  the 
manufacture  of  brass  door-knobs  and  catches.  Ira 
Richards7,  the  father  of  E.  Ira  and  Josiah  D.  Rich- 
ards, was  the  son  of  Calvin,  grandson  of  Edward,  the 
first  in  Attleborough  and  the  seventh  generation  in 
lineal  descent  from  Edward  Richards,  who  settled  in 
Dedham  in  1636  or  1637. 

Ira  Richards  was  born  in  North  Attleborough,  and 
was  fifty-three  years  old  at  his  death.  He  was  very 
reserved  and  stem,  but  so  notably  a  just  and  honored 
man  that  matters  of  dispute  among  his  neighbors,  if 
unable  to  be  settled  peacefully,  were  invariably  left 
to  his  decision. 

During  an  active  life  of  many  years  of  business  as 
one  of  the  old  firm  of  Draper,  Tifft  &  Co.,  Ira  Rich- 
ards &  Co.,  and  in  other  business  enterprises,  his  repu- 
tation for  honor  was  so  bright  and  shining  that  the 
saying  "  his  word  is  as  good  as  his  bond"  was  univer- 
sally applied  to  him,  and  to  this  day  this  saying  is 
brought  up  in  association  with  his  name.  He  was 
one  of  the  original  directors  in  the  old  Attleborough 
State  Bank,  and  in  all  of  his  positions  of  trust  and 
honor  was  never  found  wanting. 

Josiah  D.  Richards,  whose  steel  portrait  accom- 
panies this  sketch,  is  the  son  of  Ira  and  Fanny 
(Draper)  Richards,  and  was  born  in  Attleborough, 
Mass.,  July  7,  1827. 


59U 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Just  previous  to  his  attaining  his  majority  he  as- 
sumed his  father's  interest  in  the  firm  of  Ira  Rich- 
ards &  Co.,  in  the  manufacture  of  jewelry,  and  con- 
tinued until  1876,  when  he  retired,  since  which  time 
he  has  not  been  engaged  in  any  active  business. 
Politically,  he  is  a  Democrat. 

Mr.  Richards  takes  an  active  interest  in  everything 
that  pertains  to  the  welfare  of  his  native  town.  He 
is  still  in  the  prime  of  life,  and  is  surrounded  with  all 
the  comforts  of  a  happy  home.  He  married,  Jan.  19, 
1848,  Harriet  E.,  daughter  of  John  Draper,  a  jeweler, 
of  Attleborough.  She  was  born  in  New  York,  Aug. 
26,  1826.  Their  children  were  Ira  and  Clara  D.,  who 
died  Oct.  16,  1857. 

Ira  Richards,  son  of  J.  D.,  was  born  in  Attleborough, 
March  5, 1852,  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  that  town  and  in  Phillips  Academy,  Andover,  Mass. 
Immediately  on  leaving  school  he  made  a  pleasure 
trip  through  California  and  the  West.  Jan.  1,  1877, 
went  into  partnership  with  Messrs.  Sandland  &  Ca- 
pron,  for  the  manufacture  of  jewelry  in  North  Attle- 
borough, under  the  firm-name  of  Sandland,  Capron 
&  Co.,  which  relation  still  continues.  He  is  a  Demo- 
crat, and  member  of  Bristol  Lodge,  F.  and  A.  M.  He 
married,  Jan.  2,  1879,  Lydia  R.,  daughter  of  William 
H.  Reynard,  of  New  Bedford. 


BURRILL    PORTER,    Jr. 

Burrill  Porter,  Jr.,  was  born  in  Charlestown,  N.  H., 
Feb.  22,  1832.  His  paternal  grandfather  was  Asahel 
Carpenter  Porter,  a  farmer  from  Coventry,  Conn., 
and  his  maternal  grandfather  was  John  Garfield,  a 
lineal  descendant  of  the  Garfields  who  early  settled 
in  Spencer,  Mass.  He  is  a  son  of  Burrill  Porter  and 
Susan  Garfield  Porter,  and  is  the  oldest  of  a  family 
of  nine  children,  all  of  whom  reached  the  age  of 
manhood,  and  eight  of  whom  are  now  living  indus- 
trious and  useful  lives. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  his  early  educa- 
tion on  his  father's  farm  and  in  the  public  schools  of 
Lano-don,  N.  H.,  and  after  pursuing  preparatory 
studies  in  academies  at  Westminster  and  Saxton's 
River,  Yt.,  entered  Dartmouth  College  in  March, 
1853.  From  that  institution  he  graduated  in  the 
class  of  1856.  After  graduation  he  entered  upon, 
and  for  twenty-three  years  pursued  the  profession  of 
teaching.  During  this  time  he  was  principal  of 
academies  at  Canaan,  Alstead,  and  Swansea,  N.  H., 
teacher  of  public  schools  in  Cleveland  and  Fostoria, 
Ohio,  and  principal  of  high  schools  in  Braintree  and 
Attleborough,  Mass.  He  was  the  first  principal  of 
the  North  High  School  in  Attleborough,  and  held 
that  position  twelve  years  and  a  half,  during  which 
time  there  were  graduated  from  the  school  one  hun- 
.  dred  and  thirty  students. 

Resigning  in  February,  1879,  he  was  elected  select- 
man and  assessor,  and  appointed  collector  of  taxes 
the  same  year,  and  was  chosen  overseer  of  the  poor 


in  1880,  which  offices  he  now  holds.  He  was  elected 
representative  for  the  First  Bristol  District,  which 
includes  the  towns  of  Attleborough,  Norton,  and 
Mansfield,  in  the  Legislature  of  Massachusetts,  for 
the  year  1881,  when  the  public  statutes  were  adopted. 
He  served  as  a  member  of  the  first  committee  of 
the  North  Attleborough  Library  Association,  and  is 
now  a  member  of  the  Prudential  Committee  of  the 
Union  Improvement  District,  which  supports  the 
library  thus  established  as  a  free  public  library.  He 
has  been  a  member  of  the  parish  committee,  and 
treasurer  of  the  First  Universalist  Society  of  Attle- 
borough, and  is  now  one  of  the  building  committee 
of  the  parish,  which  is  erecting  a  new  church  and 
parsonage  at  a  cost  of  nearly  thirty-five  thousand 
dollars. 


HENRY    D.    MERRITT. 


Henry  D.  Merritt  was  born  in  Hartland,  Vt.,  Jan. 
16,  1826,  and  died  at  his  residence  in  North  Attle- 
borough, Mass.,  Jan.  20,  1878.  His  advantages  for 
an  education  were  confined  to  the  common  schools  of 
his  native  town  in  Vermont,  yet  by  that  same  energy 
which  was  one  of  his  distinguishing  characteristics 
through  life  he  acquired  by  reading  and  reflection  a 
good  practical  education.  At  about  eighteen  years  of 
age  he  left  home  to  seek  his  fortune  in  Boston,  where 
he  learned  the  tailor's  trade.  After  remaining  in 
Boston  some  time  he  came  to  North  Attleborough, 
Mass.,  and  entered  the  employ  of  H.  M.  Richards  as 
clerk.  In  this  capacity  he  was  industrious  and  faith- 
ful, proving  to  be  one  of  the  most  successful  salesmen 
in  Mr.  Richards'  employ.  About  1858  he  commenced 
the  manufacture  of  jewelry  witli  Mr.  Joseph  B.  Draper, 
under  the  firm-name  of  Merritt  &  Draper,  and  con- 
tinued in  business  at  North  Attleborough  a  few  years, 
when  they  transferred  their  business  to  Mansfield, 
Mass.  Soon  after  Mr.  Merritt  retired,  being  suc- 
ceeded by  John  Shepardson,  who  became  a  partner 
of  Mr.  Merritt's,  March,  1870,  under  the  firm-name 
of  H.  D.  Merritt  &  Co.  In  1872  the  business  was 
transferred  to  North  Attleborough.  The  firm  did  a 
successful  business  manufacturing  plated  and  silver 
chains.  They  employed  some  fifty  hands,  and  their 
sales  amounted  to  many  thousands  every  year.  (See 
"  Manufactures  of  North  Attleborough.")  Since  Mr. 
Merritt's  death  the  firm-name  continues  the  same,  and 
it  employs  from  sixty  to  seventy-five  hands.  About 
1876,  Mr.  Merritt  bought  a  residence  in  North  Attle- 
borough, and  removed  his  family  here.  His  exten- 
sive business  often  called  him  to  New  York,  where  he 
spent  the  larger  portion  of  his  time.  In  politics  he  was 
a  Republican.  Nov.  26,  1860,  he  married  Marietta, 
daughter  of  Warren  and  Harriet  Aldrich.  Of  this 
union  two  children  have  been  born,  viz.,  Clara  R. 
and  Henry  D. 

As  a  business  man,  Mr.  Merritt  was  very  successful. 
He  carried  into  every  department  a  methodical  mind, 


^rrtfrrS 


SP^ 


€■■<£ 


Lea  c( 


ATTLEBOROUGH. 


591 


untiring  industry,  and  sterling  honesty.  In  private 
life  he  was  a  man  of  quiet,  unassuming  maimers,  un- 
exceptionable habits,  and  upright  in  his  intercourse 
with  others. 


II.  C.  READ. 


The  first  ancestor  of  this  line  was  Brianus,  a  noted 
man  of  Lincolnshire,  England,  who,  in  1139,  was 
registered  as  "  Brianus  de  Reed."  He  left  two  sons, 
who  were  respectively  named  Robert  of  Reed  and 
Thomas  of  Reed-dale.  This  new  Reed  family  occu- 
pied nearly  the  same  locality  for  several  centuries. 
From  it  descended  William  Rede,  an  eminent  math- 
ematician, who  in  1369  was  made  Bishop  of  Chiches- 
ter. William  Read,  born  1450,  was  a  great-grandson 
of  the  bishop,  and  had  this  lineal  descent :  William, 
born  1490  ;  William,  born  1510  ;  William,  born  1545  ; 
William,  born  1572.  This  last-named  William  had 
two  sons, — William,  born  1596,  and  John,  born  1598. 
These  brothers,  with  many  others  of  standing  and 
substance,  became  participants  in  the  great  Massa- 
chusetts Land  Patent,  of  which  Governor  Winthrop 
(connected  with  the  Reads  by  intermarriage)  was 
the  leader,  and  in  1630  came  with  Winthrop's  expe- 
dition from  near  Boston,  England,  to  the  place  which 
they  named  Boston  also,  and  which  is  now  the  metrop- 
olis of  New  England.  John  resided  a  short  time  in 
Dorchester,  Braintree,  and  Weymouth,  and  in  1643, 
with  others,  emigrated  to  Rehoboth,in  the  Plymouth 
Colony,  to  found  a  new  settlement.  He  was  third  on 
the  list  of  original  proprietors,  and  was  taxed  on 
three  hundred  pounds,  a  very  large  estate  for  those 
days.  He  had  been  a  freeman,  and  held  important 
positions  in  the  Massachusetts  Colony,  and  was  re- 
garded as  a  man  of  substance  and  responsibility.  In 
Rehoboth  he  became  at  once  a  leading  citizen.  In 
1654  he  was  appointed  sheriff  of  Rehoboth,  a  very 
important  position,  which  he  held  for  several  years. 
He  was  an  active  and  influential  member  of  the  civil 
and  religious  society  of  the  times,  was  much  re- 
spected through  life,  enjoyed  a  green  old  age,  and 
at  eighty-seven  years  was  called  from  earth,  Sept.  7, 
1685.  His  estate  lay  on  the  east  side  of  what  is  now 
Seekonk  Common.  He  has  numerous  descendants, 
who,  as  a  body,  are  thrifty,  law-abiding,  and  indus- 
trious, doing  honor  to  their  noble  pioneer  ancestor. 
The  line  of  descent  from  John  to  H.  C.  Read  is  this  : 
Daniel,  born  1655;  Daniel,  born  1680;  Daniel,  born 
1716  ;  Levi,  born  1762;  Henry  C. 

Henry  Clifford  Read,  son  of  Levi  and  Nancy 
(Hunt)  Read,  was  born  May  8,  1810,  in  Attlebor- 
ough,  Mass.,  on  the  place  where  he  now  (1882)  re- 
sides. His  father  was  a  farmer,  honest,  industrious, 
and  a  supporter  of  all  good  causes.  Unpretentious, 
he  was  content  with  the  quiet  and  useful  life  of  agri- 
culture, and  from  nature  and  its  communion,  with  a 
heart  in  deep  accord  with  nature's  God,  he  drew  in- 
spirations of  health  and  happiness,  and  never  cared 


to  exchange  his  simple  home;  the  centre  of  all  his 
earthly  affections,  for  the  most  gorgeous  mansion  in 
the  rushing  activities  of  the  city.  He  was  for  sixty 
years  deacon  of  the  First  Congregational  Church  of 
Attleborough,  very  prominent  in  church  matters,  and 
a  liberal  giver  to  all  religious  and  other  benefactions. 
He  married  Nancy,  daughter  of  Joseph  Hunt,  of  At- 
tleborough, and  had  eight  children, — Rufus  C,  Clem- 
ent O.,  Esther,  Charlotte  A.,  Henry  C,  Cynthia  M., 
Levi  A.,  Nancy  W.  Henry  is  the  sole  survivor. 
Mr.  Read  died  in  1853,  having  attained  the  remark- 
able age  of  ninety-one  years,  and  left  the  record 
of  an  untarnished  life  of  Christian  activity  and  good 
works. 

Henry  lived  at  home  till  he  was  twenty-three,  re- 
ceived common  school  advantages,  taught  two  terms 
of  school  when  about  twenty-one,  became  a  farmer, 
and  also  a  machinist,  which  trade  he  pursued  for 
three  years  in  Worcester  and  Providence.  He  mar- 
ried, during  these  years,  Eunice  D.,  daughter  of 
Samuel  Tylor,  a  prominent  citizen  of  Attleborough. 
Their  two  children — Samuel  T.,born  1836  ;  and  Eunice 
T.,  born  1840 — are  both  dead.  Samuel  was  a  young 
man  of  ability.  He  held  commission  as  captain  on 
Gen.  Butler's  staff  at  the  commencement  of  the  great 
Rebellion.  At  Gen.  Butler's  request  he  returned  to 
Boston,  raised  a  company,  and  going  into  the  service, 
attained  the  rank  of  colonel.  After  the  war  he  mar- 
ried Kate  Schofield,  of  Natchez,  Miss.,  settled  in  New 
Orleans,  became  an  insurance  collector,  afterwards  a 
lawyer,  and  died  in  1880,  leaving  two  children, — Katie 
and  Mattie.  Eunice  married  George  Crawford.  Her 
only  surviving  child,  Lincoln,  was  adopted  by  an 
aunt,  whose  name  (Hayward)  he  assumes.  Two 
years  after  this  marriage  Mr.  Read  removed  to  Bond 
County,  111.,  and  was  a  farmer  there  for  ten  years, 
wrhen  he  returned  to  the  old  home,  where  he  has 
since  resided.  He  married,  Jan.  3,  1856,  Mrs.  Abbie 
H.  Sherman,  daughter  of  Shadrach  and  Nancy  (Sim- 
mons) Davis,  of  New  Bedford.  Her  children  are  one 
by  her  first  husband,  William  H.,  and  two  by  Mr. 
Read, — Henry  C,  born  April  10,  1864,  and  Rufus  C, 
born  March  23,  1874. 

Mr.  Read  has  been  Whig  and  Republican  in  politi- 
cal belief;  has  as  such  been  elected  selectman  and 
member  of  the  Legislature  (1875-76).  He  has  been 
an  honored  and  worthy  citizen,  stands  high  in  the 
esteem  of  his  townsmen,  has  discharged  all  trusts 
placed  in  his  hands  conscientiously  and  well,  and  is 
accounted  a  very  liberal  man,  who  never  turns  a  deaf 
ear  to  suffering  or  to  any  enterprise  for  the  betterment 
of  humanity,  or  withholds  pecuniary  aid  from  any 
worthy  object.  Formerly  an  orthodox  Congrega- 
tionalist,  of  later  years  he  has  found  great  solace  in  its 
spiritual  philosophy,  and,  supported  by  this  faith  and 
the  ministrations  of  a  loving  wife  and  children,  he  is 
passing  down,  with  much  of  the  vigor  of  early  man- 
hood, contentedly  towards  the  evening  twilight  of 
earth,  in  the  rectitude  of  a  life  well  spent,  and  "  with 


592 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


malice  towards  none,"  leaving  the  rich  legacy  of  "a 
good  name,  which  is  rather  to  be  chosen  than  great 
riches,"  to  his  descendants.  He  has  a  pleasant  home, 
which  has  been  in  the  family  from  his  grandfather's 
days,  comprising  in  all  about  two  hundred  acres  of 
fertile  land,  and  which  bears  the  evidence  of  refined 
taste.  It  is  worthy  of  special  mention  that  neither 
Henry  C.  Read  nor  any  of  his  father's  family  ever 
used  tobacco  in  any  form  or  liquor  of  any  kind. 

Clement  O.  Read,  formerly  of  Attleborough,  died 
at  Perth  Amboy,  N.  J.  Mr.  Read  was  the  son  of 
Levi  Read,  who  owned  and  lived  upon  the  farm  now 
owned  by  H.  C.  Read.  Mr.  C.  O.  Read  was  the  pi- 
oneer in  the  screw  business.  He  started  in  the  busi- 
ness of  manufacturing  wood  screws  in  this  town,  at 
the  mill  known  as  the  Attleborough  City  Mill,  with 
the  machinery  that  he  invented.  His  pecuniary 
means  being  limited,  he  associated  Rhode  Island  capi- 
talists with  him,  and  removed*  his  works  to  Provi- 
dence, at  the  corner  of  -Hewes  and  Charles  Streets, 
where  the  American  Screw  Company's  mills  are  now. 
The  difficulty  of  putting  a  new  article  upon  the  mar- 
ket at  a  price  within  the  reach  of  the  consumer  was 
an  obstacle  that  the  company  could  not  overcome, 
and  Mr.  Read  suffered  the  loss  of  what  money  he 
put  into  the  business.  But  this  enterprise  has  since 
grown,  and  the  screws  manufactured  by  the  company 
that  grew  out  of  this  effort  of  our  worthy  and  inge- 
nious townsman  have  acquired  a  world-wide  reputa- 
tion. After  disposing  of  his  interest  in  his  Provi- 
dence business,  Mr.  Read  removed  to  New  Jersey, 
where  he  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine  years.  He 
was  a  thorough  mechanic,  and  during  his  long,  exem- 
plary, and  useful  life  was  the  author  of  a  large  num- 
ber of  useful  pieces  of  mechanism.  He  was  a  firm 
friend  of  temperance,  a  kind  father,  a  true  citizen 
and  friend,  and  a  man  whose  memory  will  be  revered 
and  loved  by  all  who  knew  him.  He  had  two  brothers 
and  two  sisters,  all  of  whom  are  now  dead,  except  Mr. 
Henry  C.  Read,  who  resides  at  the  old  homestead  es- 
tate.   

E.  G.  MAY. 

Hon.  Elisha  May,  the  first  of  the  name  in  Attle- 
borough, was  born  in  1729,  probably  in  Barrington, 
and  settled  in  the  west  part  of  Attleborough.  He 
was  a  distinguished  citizen  of  the  town,  often  em- 
ployed in  public  office.  He  was  an  active  and  use- 
ful member  of  both  military  and  civil  departments 
throughout  the  Revolution,  and  after  that  was  chosen 
legislator  or  counselor  without  opposition  till  he 
would  serve  no  longer.  With  the  exception  of  one 
year,  he  held  a  seat  in  the  Legislature  for  twenty- 
seven  consecutive  years,  and  chiefly  in  the  Senate. 
For  almost  forty  years  he  was  chosen  "  moderator," 
and  at  one  time  was  chosen  Presidential  elector.  Of 
quick  discernment  of  men  and  things,  a  sound  mind, 
a  retentive  memory,  an  affability  to  win  friends,  an 
education  considerably  above  ordinary,  he  was  well 


qualified  for  public  employment,  and  discharged  all 
his  duties  with  signal  ability.  Courteous  in  his  man- 
ners, honorable  and  upright  in  his  principles,  in  every 
relation  of  life,  family,  social,  or  public,  he  was  al- 
ways the  same  true  friend,  loving  companion,  and 
faithful  official.  He  died  Nov.  15,  1811,  aged  nearly 
seventy-three.  Of  his  eleven  children,  Tulhj,  born 
May  24,  1787,  was  youngest.  He  was  a  quiet  farmer, 
and,  unlike  his  father,  had  no  desire  for  official  tur- 
moil and  preferment.  He  had  strong  political  pref- 
erences, being  an  old-fashioned  Whig.  He  married 
Hannah  Gay  (born  Oct.  6, 1791,  died  March  28, 1875), 
and  had  four  children, — Cynthia  (Mrs.  Carlos  Bar- 
rows), Elisha  G.,  Henry  F.,  and  Catherine  (deceased). 
He  died  June  19,  1872. 

Other  sons  or  descendants  of  Elisha  May  became 
distinguished  in  public  life. 

William,  born  Jan.  26,  1764,  graduated  at  Brown 
University,  1788 ;  a  student-at-law ;  died  July  12, 
1790,  in  the  twenty-seventh  year  of  his  age. 

Jesse,  another  son,  was  bred  a  lawyer,  and  prac- 
ticed at  Pawtucket,  R.  I.  (then  in  Massachusetts), 
but  died  Feb.  24,  1815,  aged  thirty-six  years. 

John,  another  son,  removed  to  Maine,  and  settled 
in  Winthrop.  His  son  Seth  became  a  lawyer,  and 
was  for  many  years  a  distinguished  judge  of  the 
Superior  Court  of  that  State. 

Lemuel,  another  son,  was  a  prominent  man  in 
town,  held  various  town  offices,  was  repeatedly  a 
member  of  the  Legislature  and  also  of  the  Governor's 
Council. 

The  second  son  of  Lemuel  is  John  Wilder  May, 
graduated  at  the  college  in  Burlington,  Vt.,  settled  as 
a  lawyer  in  Boston,  was  for  some  time  city  attorney, 
and  is  now  one  of  the  judges  of  the  Municipal  Court 
of  that  city.  He  is  the  author  of  several  popular 
law  works. 

Elisha  Gay  May,  born  in  Attleborough,  Oct.  6, 
1812,  was  reared  a  farmer,  with  only  a  country  boy's 
school  advantages  for  schooling.  After  becoming  of 
age,  he  worked  as  a  journeyman  maker  of  buttons  for 
three  years,  then  returned  to  his  father's  farm,  where 
he  remained  for  a  number  of  years.  In  the  spring  of 
1854  he  began  the  manufacturing  of  plated  and  gilt 
jewelry,  as  one  of  the  firm  of  William  H.  Robinson  & 
Co.  In  1858  this  firm  was  dissolved,  and  Mr.  May 
retired  to  the  pleasant  home  where  he  now  resides, 
and  which  he  purchased  in  1851.  Here  he  has  been 
a  farmer,  and  has  demonstrated  that  to  be  a  good 
farmer  a  tract  of  large  acreage  is  not  necessarily  re- 
quired. He  married,  in  October,  1839,  Ann  Janette, 
daughter  of  James  and  Sarah  (Perry)  Draper,  born 
in  Attleborough,  Oct.  17,  1814.  She  comes  of  an  old 
and  reputable  family  of  this  section,  which  reaches 
back  into  the  early  days  of  "  Merry  England"  for  its 
European  origin. 

Mr.  May  has  been  a  trustworthy  citizen,  honored 
both  by  the  trust  and  esteem  of  his  townsmen,  and 
maintains  well  the  character  for  honesty  and  integrity 


7£t^/A*cx~  w 


m 


ATTLEBOROUGH. 


593 


held  by  his  honored  grandfather.  For  about  forty 
years  he  has  been  justice  of  the  peace.  He  has  been 
selectman,  assessor,  overseer  of  the  poor,  etc.  In  pol- 
itics he  is  a  Republican.  He  has  been  treasurer  of 
Attleborough  Fanners'  and  Mechanics'  Association, 
and  in  all  stations  has  won  the  commendations  of  his 
constituents.  Kind-hearted  and  generous,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  May  have  been  liberal  supporters  of  church  or- 
ganizations and  benevolence,  and  the  suffering  and 
distressed  have  often  been  relieved  by  their  unosten- 
tatious ministrations.  They  have  a  large  place  in  the 
regards  of  a  circle  of  numerous  friends. 


C.  E.  W.  SHERMAN. 

Charles  Edwin  Wallace  Sherman  was  born  in 
Plympton,  Mass.,  Aug.  1,  1827.  From  the  records  of 
that  town  we  take  the  following  concerning  his  ances- 
tors :  "  William  Sherman  was  son  of  Mr.  Thomas 
Sherman,  of  Plymouth,  Mass.,  and  was  born  there 
June  10,  1798.  Irene  Shaw  Staridish,  his  wife,  was 
daughter  of  Mr.  Jonathan  Standish,  by  Irene  Shaw, 
his  wife,  and  was  born  in  Middleborough,  Mass.,  Oct. 
6,  1800.  This  Jonathan  Standish  was  son  of  Moses 
Standish,  Jr.,  sixth  in  descent  from  Capt.  Miles  Stan- 
dish, of  'Mayflower'  fame,  and  whose  parents  were 
Lieut.  Moses  and  Rachel  Standish.  Lieut.  Moses 
was  son  of  Ebenezer  and  Hannah  Standish,  who  were 
among  the  first  settlers  of  Plympton.  Ebenezer  was 
son  of  Alexander  and  Sarah  Standish.  This  Alex- 
ander was  the  son  of  the  old  Puritan  warrior,  one  of 
the  '  Mayflower'  emigrants  in  1620,  and  who  settled 
in  Duxbury."  "  Irene  Standish,  first  wife  of  Jona- 
than Standish,  was  the  daughter  of  Joshua  Shaw, 
who  was  son  of  Samuel  and  Desire  Shaw.  Samuel 
was  son  of  Lieut.  Jonathan  Shaw  and  his  first  wife, 
Mehetabel.  He  was  son  of  Deacon  Jonathan  Shaw 
and  his  wife,  Phebe.  Deacon  Jonathan  was  one  of 
the  first  settlers  of  Plympton,  and  one  of  the  first 
deacons  of  the  church  there.  He  and  his  descend- 
ants lived  in  that  part  of  Plympton  now  called 
Carver."  Thomas  Sherman  was  born  in  Plymouth, 
was  a  hatter,  married  Priscilla  Cottonwood,  and 
died  previous  to  1850  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  His  son 
William,  above  spoken  of,  was  a  dyer  by  trade,  and 
was  also  connected  with  the  manufacture  of  woolen 
goods.  He  was  married  Jan.  5,  1823.  His  children 
were  Irene  Inez  Standish,  William  Francis,  Charles 
E.  W.  (born  in  Plympton),  and  Helen  Maria  (who 
was  born  in  Dighton).  He  came  to  Dighton  prior  to 
1830,  lived  later  in  Halifax,  Mass.,  and  died  May  18, 
1873,  aged  seventy-three.  His  wife  died  Dec.  5, 1863, 
aged  sixty-three. 

Charles  became  a  factory-boy  at  an  early  age  in  his 
father's  employ,  and  worked  at  nearly  all  parts  of 
woolen  manufacturing  from  the  wool  in  the  fleece  to 
the  "  finish."  His  health  becoming  poor,  however, 
he  was  obliged  to  quit  this  business  and  seek  some 
lighter  employment.  He  secured  a  place,  by  the  aid 
38 


of  friends,  in  a  jewelry  manufactory  in  Attleborough, 
where  he  passed  two  years  learning  engraving.  He 
came  to  Attleborough,  where  he  has  since  resided, 
April  1,  1848,  being  then  nearly  twenty-one.  He 
followed  engraving  six  years,  and  in  July,  1854,  in 
connection  with  George  K.  Davis,  formed  the  firm  of 
George  K.  Davis  &  Co.,  gold  and  silver  refiners,  as- 
sayers,  and  smelters.  This  copartnership  continued 
two  years,  when  Mr.  Sherman  erected  a  shop  and 
carried  on  business  for  himself  until  the  fall  of  1875, 
when  his  son  William  W.  became  a  partner,  and  the 
firm  became,  as  it  now  is,  C.  E.  W.  Sherman  &  Son. 
Mr.  Sherman  has  been  all  his  life  a  hard-working 
man,  and  by  the  results  of  his  own  industry  enjoys  a 
comfortable  property.  He  is  a  social  companion,  a 
warm  friend,  and  a  useful  member  of  society. 


MAJ.  E.  S.  HORTON    AND    EDWIN   J.  HORTON. 

From  the  best  information  attainable  we  learn  that 
about  or  prior  to  1640,  three  Horton  brothers  came 
from  England.  One  was  John  Horton  (first  genera- 
tion), who  settled  in  Rehoboth,  married  Mehetabel 
Gamzey,  and  had  five  sons — John,  Jothan,  Nathaniel, 
Jonathan,  and  David — and  three  daughters.  Jotham 
(second  generation)  married  a  Rounds,  and  had  seven 
children, — Sara,  Rhobe,  James,  Nathan,  Barnett, 
Jothan,  and  Joseph.  James  and  Barnett  lived  in 
Rehoboth,  and  served  in  the  Revolution,  James  being 
a  lieutenant.  James  (third  generation)  was  born  July 
18,  1741,  and  died  Aug.  10,  1833,  in  his  ninety-third 
year.  He  was  a  very  active  man.  He  married 
Freelove  Pierce,  or  Price,  born  Nov.  8,  1742,  died 
Feb.  13,  1809.  They  had  eleven  children,— Jane, 
Nathan,  Mercy,  Lydia,  Polly,  Freelove,  James,  Crom- 
well, Rhobe,  Jarvis,  and  Chloe,— all  of  whom  lived  to 
be  old  except  Jane  and  Polly,  who  died  young. 
Cromwell  (fourth  generation)  was  born  Feb.  23, 
1777,  married,  Sept.  20,  1801,  Percy  Martin,  born  Oct. 
28,  1780,  and  died  in  February,  1861.  They  had 
seven  children, — Ellis,  Gideon  M.,  Mary,  Freelove, 
Belinda,  James,  and  Sylvia.  Gideon  Martin  Horton 
(fifth  generation)  was  born  in  Rehoboth,  May  4, 1804, 
and  died  in  Attleborough,  March  7,  1861.  He  mar- 
ried Mary  Smith,  Nov.  4,  1832.  She  was  born  April 
3,  1811,  and  died  Sept.  2,  1844.  They  had  four  chil- 
dren^— Everett  S.,  Edwin  J.,  Gideon  M.,  and  Jane  J. 
He  married  for  his  second  wife  Mrs.  Julia  Jackson, 
of  Middleborough,  Mass.  He  was  an  upright  man 
and  honest  citizen,  ever  ready  to  aid  and  forward  any 
good  work.  He  kept  a  country  store  in  Attlebor- 
ough for  years.  He  was  never  possessed  of  much  of 
this  world's  goods,  but  gave  his  children  the  wealth 
of  good  advice  and  the  example  of  honest  industry, 
coupled  with  true  charity  and  Christian  devotion,  a 
legacy  more  precious  than  gold. 

Everett  Southard  Horton  (sixth  generation)  was 
born  in  Attleborough,  Mass.,  June  15,  1836.  He  had 
the   advantages  of  the  public  schools  until  he  was 


594 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


sixteen,  when  he  entered  the  store  of  his  father  as  his 
assistant,  and  continued  with  him  until  his  health 
failed  him,  and  the  business  was  relinquished  to 
Everett,  who  continued  it  until  the  breaking  out 
•of  the  great  civil  war.  He  married,  June  12,  1861, 
Mary  Ann,  only  daughter  of  Jesse  R.  and  Mary  Car- 
penter, of  Attleborough.  They  had  one  child,  Mary 
Edith,  born  June  22,  1862.  In  the  spring  of  1862  he 
disposed  of  his  business,  and  with  others  recruited  a 
company  of  nine  months'  men,  which  elected  its 
officers  Sept.  18,  1862.  They  were  L.  T.  Starkey, 
captain  ;  F.  S.  Draper,  first  lieutenant ;  E.  S.  Horton, 
second  lieutenant.  They  were  soon  commissioned 
by  Governor  Andrew.  Lieut.  Horton  took  hold  of 
military  matters  with  the  earnestness  so  characteristic 
of  him,  and  soon  became  familiar  with  the  drill 
and  his  official  duties.  The  company  went  into  camp 
at  Buxford,  Mass.,  and  were  mustered  into  United 
States  service  Sept.  23,  1862,  and  organized  as  Com- 
pany C,  Forty-seventh  Regiment  Massachusetts 
Volunteer  Infantry.  They  were  soon  ordered  to 
New  York,  and  went  into  camp  on  Long  Island. 
The  regiment  embarked  Dec.  21,  1862,  for  New 
Orleans,  which  they  reached  Jan.  1,  1863.  About 
this  time  the  captain  resigned,  and  Lieut.  Horton, 
by  a  large  majority  of  the  votes  of  the  company,  was 
chosen  to  succeed  him.  They  were  assigned  provost 
duty  in  and  around  New  Orleans,  and  remained  in 
service  even  after  their  term  of  enlistment  had  ex- 
pired. They  left  New  Orleans  for  home  via  Missis- 
sippi River  Aug.  5,  1863.  At  Cairo  took  cars  for  the 
East,  and  were  enthusiastically  met  and  feted  at  every 
stopping-place  along  the  route.  On  arriving  home 
the  whole  town  gave  the  returning  soldiers  a  grand 
ovation.  But  the  war  was  not  over  ;  more  men  were 
needed,  and  the  Governor  called  for  more  troops. 
Mr.  Horton's  patriotic  nature  again  responded,  and 
in  October  he  was  commissioned  second  lieutenant, 
and  made  recruiting  officer  for  the  Fifty-eighth  Mas- 
sachusetts Volunteers.  He  opened  an  office  in  Attle- 
borough, but  was  soon  ordered  into  camp  to  take 
charge  of  recruits  for  the  regiment.  He  was  com- 
missioned captain,  and  mustered  into  service  as 
commander  of  Company  C,  Fifty-eighth  Massachu- 
setts Veteran  Volunteers.  They  remained  in  camp 
at  Redville  until  April  23,  1864,  when  they  went  at 
once  to  participate  in  the  ever  to  be  remembered 
battle  of  the  Wilderness,  reaching  the  field  May  6th. 
They  were  in  the  long  and  bloody  march  from  the 
Wilderness  to  Petersburg,  where  almost  every  hour 
was  a  battle,  and  well  did  Company  C  perform  its 
duty. 

After  the  battle  of  Cold  Harbor,  Lieut.-Col.  J.  C. 
White,  commanding  regiment,  recommended  Capt. 
Horton  for  promotion,  and  he  was  mustered  into  ser- 
vice as  major.  The  commander  of  the  regiment  was 
wounded  in  a  charge  June  3d,  and  until  Sept.  30, 
1864,  the  command  devolved  on  Maj.  Horton.  On 
the  last-mentioned  day,  while  leading  the  regiment 


in  action  a  few  miles  south  of  Petersburg,  he  was  made 
a  prisoner,  and  October  3d  reached  Richmond  and 
Libbij.  After  being  confined  in  succession  at  Libby, 
Salisbury,  and  Danville,  he  was  selected  as  a  "  host- 
age" and  sent  to  Libby,  reaching  there  July  28, 1864. 
He  remained  in  that  terrible  confinement  until  Feb. 
22,  1865,  when,  with  many  others,  he  was  paroled. 
We  give  the  major's  own  language  in  speaking  of  the 
horrors  of  Libby  :  "  Pen  never  can  write  the  whole 
truth,  and  if  it  could  be  told,  no  one  could  believe 
that  it  was  possible  for  men  to  survive  it,  or  possible 
that  any  one  in  the  nineteenth  century  could  be  guilty 
of  such  barbarities."  We  again  quote  the  major's 
words  as  to  his  feelings  when  once  more  under  Amer- 
ican colors :  "  I  can  never  forget  that  day,  never, 
never,  NEVER.  No  one  that  has  not  experienced 
the  same  sensations  can  know  aught  of  the  peculiar 
emotions -and  thoughts  that  came  in  throngs  in  see- 
ing and  knowing  that  once  more  I  was  under  the 
'Star-Spangled  Banner.'  Under  their  influence  I 
wrote  this  letter  to  my  family  from  the  deck  of  the 
flag-of-truce  boat,  where  each  of  us  was  handed  a 
sheet  of  paper  and  envelope.  My  family  had  not 
heard  from  me  for  five  months,  and  the  newspapers 
had  reported  me  dead  :  '  On  board  God's  flag-of-truce 
boat,  James  River,  Feb.  22,  1865.  Dear  wife, — Out 
of  the  jaws  of  death,  out  of  the  gates  of  hell.  Once 
more  in  the  land  of  the  living.  Well.  Love  to  all. 
Everett.' "  He  was  granted  a  furlough  of  thirty  days, 
was  soon  exchanged,  and  left  Attleborough  to  rejoin 
his  regiment  in  Virginia  on  the  day  that  Petersburg 
was  captured;  was  soon  ordered  to  Washington,  where 
they  were  on  duty  until  mustered  out  of  service. 
During  his  service  Maj.  Horton  received  seven  com- 
missions, and  was  mustered  into  service  on  six  of 
them.  He  was  a  gallant  soldier,  doing  all  his  duty, 
and  as  an  officer,  while  strict  in  discipline,  he  looked 
well  after  the  comfort  of  his  men,  and  was  universally 
popular  both  with  officers  and  soldiers.  There  is  in 
his  nature  that  which  indicates  the  impetuosity,  dash, 
and  rapidity  of  execution  of  a  successful  cavalry  offi- 
cer, with  a  coolness  of  judgment  which  prevents  bold- 
ness from  degenerating  into  rashness.  Since  the  war 
Maj.  Horton  has  been  much  interested  in  and  active 
in  maintaining  the  organization  of  the  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic,  of  which  there  is  a  flourishing  post 
at  Attleborough. 

The  major  has  been  commander  of  the  post  several 
times,  and  now  (1883)  is  commander  of  Bristol  County 
Association  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 
The  people  of  Attleborough  have  always  dealt  boun- 
tifully with  the  Grand  Army  "boys,"  and  especially 
so  on  Decoration-day. 

In  politics  Maj.  Horton  is  a  Republican.  He  is  a 
commissioner  of  the  Attleborough  Water  Supply  Dis- 
trict Sinking  Fund.  He  is  a  trustee  of  the  Richard- 
son School  Fund,  and  secretary  of  the  same ;  also 
director  of  Attleborough  Savings  and  Loan  Associa- 
tion. 


• ..  s.. 


m 


'sfop*?^^ 


iThy     _ 


ATTLE  BOROUGH. 


595 


His  first  wife  died  June  21,  1871,  and  Sept.  24, 
1873,  he  married  Eliza  Dutton  Freemont,  of  Ames- 
bury,  Mass.  They  have  had  two  children, — Gertie 
E.,  born  May  29,  1876,  and  Addie  D.,  who  died  an 
infant.  Not  long  after  returning  home  Maj.  Horton 
entered  the  employ  of  Davids  &  Cornell,  of  Provi- 
dence, R.  I.,  as  manager  of  their  establishment  (the 
largest  wholesale  grocery-house  in  the  State),  and  re- 
mained there  until  after  the  death  of  his  brother 
Edwin,  when  he  succeeded  to  his  interest  in  the 
manufacturing  house  of  Horton,  Angell  &  Co.,  where 
he  is  now  senior  partner.  The  active  nature  of  Maj. 
Horton  is  shown  in  his  devotion  to  anything  tending 
to  build  up  the  interests  of  his  native  town,  and  he  is 
always  one  of  the  leaders  in  such  matters.  Socially 
he  is  one  of  the  most  pleasing  of  companions,  a  strong 
and  a  stanch  friend,  and  a  valuable  citizen  and  suc- 
cessful business  man.     He  has  a  host  of  friends. 

Edwin  J.  Horton  was  born  in  Attleborough,  Nov. 
10,  1837,  and  was  drowned  June  11,  1880,  a  victim  of 
the  fatal  collision  between  the  steamers  "Stonington" 
and  '"  Narragansett,"  on  which  last  vessel  he  was  a 
passenger.  Mr.  Horton  was  the  senior  member,  and 
can  be  termed  the  originator,  of  the  firm  of  Horton, 
Angell  &  Co.,  which  rose  rapidly  from  a  small  manu- 
facturing business  to  be  one  of  the  largest  in  this 
town  of  large  manufactories.  He  was  an  uncommon 
man  in  many  ways,  as  a  business  man  with  wonder- 
ful fertility  of  resource  and  skill  of  execution,  as  a 
deeply  conscientious  and  highly  religious  nature,  and 
a  man  of  unbounded  charity.  It  seems  almost  unac- 
countable that  just  in  the  prime  of  life,  when  the 
activities  of  his  being  were  accomplishing  so  much 
good,  the  chapter  of  his  life  should  close  so  sadly  and 
abruptly,  leaving  many  to  mourn  his  untimely  death, 
but  to  the  question  "Why?"  comes  no  answer.  As 
a  better  sketch  of  the  man  than  we  can  write  we  give 
the  following,  written  by  one  who  knew  him  well: 

With  the  exception  of  three  years  given  to  the  ser- 
vice of  his  country,  his  life  was  spent  in  the  town  of 
his  nativity.  He  received  his  education  through  the 
public  schools,  but  possessing  an  active  and  inquiring 
intellect,  and  improving  his  exceptional  opportuni- 
ties for  study  and  observation,  he  became  in  reality  a 
thoroughly  informed  man.  Mr.  Horton  was  blessed 
with  an  exuberant  flow  of  animal  spirits.  His 
breezy  and  genial  disposition,  his  love  of  and  skill  in 
quick-witted  repartee,  made  him  welcome  in  every 
business  and  social  circle.  He  was  quite  marked  for 
the  generosity  of  his  heart  and  life.  While  with  all 
the  strength  of  his  strong  nature  he  could  and  did  re- 
buke wrong  and  wrong-doers,  employing  for  that  pur- 
pose the  keenest  of  irony  and  the  severest  terms 
of  denunciation,  yet  to  the  poor,  the  unfortunate, 
and  the  sorrowing  he  was  the  kindliest  of  advisers 
and  the  most  generous  of  benefactors.  No  one  ever 
sought  him  for  counsel  or  aid  and  was  turned  away 
with  stern  rebuff.  If  within  his  power  he  would 
grant  the  desired  boon.     It  may  safely  be  recorded 


that  no  business  man  of  Attleborough  bestowed  more 
of  his  material  substance  for  the  support  of  public  in- 
stitutions and  for  the  friendly  succor  of  individuals 
than  Mr.  Horton.  The  Young  Men's  Christian  Asso- 
ciation, of  which  he  was  president  during  the  last 
year  of  his  life,  looked  to  him  for  the  larger  portion 
of  the  money  needed  for  its  support.  The  same  lib- 
erality was  manifested  in  his  gifts  to  the  church,  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  and  other  organiza- 
tions of  which  he  was  a  member.  He  was  emphat- 
ically a  "  self-made"  man.  He  arrived  to  a  position 
of  wealth  and  influence  by  dint  of  indomitable  energy 
and  perseverance  in  the  short  space  of  ten  years. 
Few  men  have  prospered  so  rapidly,  and  few  men 
have  shared  their  prosperity  so  freely  and  unstintedly 
with  the  community  in  which  they  lived.  He  was  a 
prominent  actor  in  municipal  affairs.  He  was  bold 
and  outspoken  upon  every  question  which  involved 
principle.  No  amount  of  criticism  or  opposition 
could  deter  him  from  a  purpose  to  espouse  what  he 
considered  to  be  the  right.  He  served  his  townsmen 
as  representative  to  the  General  Court  in  1879-80. 
He  was  much  beloved  in  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Re- 
public, to  the  interests  of  which  he  was  devotedly 
attached.  On  the  Decoration-day  immediately  pre- 
ceding his  death  he  expressed  the  desire  that  his 
commander  might  perforin  burial  rites  over  his  re- 
mains. Little  did  he  think  that  so  soon  his  earthly 
career  would  be  closed.  He  enlisted  Aug.  17,  1862, 
as  a  member  of  Company  H,  Fortieth  Regiment  Mas- 
sachusetts Volunteers,  and  was  discharged  June  17, 
1865.  He  was  a  member  of  Ezekiel  Bates  Lodge  of 
F.  and  A.  M.,  and  was  at  his  death  the  Noble  Grand 
of  Orient  Lodge  of  Odd-Fellows.  He  joined  the 
Second  Congregational  Church  in  1867,  and  honored 
it  with  a  true  heart  and  pure  life  until  called  to  the 
church  triumphant. 

On  May  8,  1862,  Mr.  Horton  was  married  to  Miss 
Addie  Lee.  In  his  home  he  was  an  affectionate  hus- 
band and  indulgent  father.  To  make  his  residence 
attractive  for  wife  and  children  he  made  generous 
expenditures  of  money  and  time.  One  of  his  chil- 
dren, a  bright  and  promising  boy,  preceded  him  to 
the  better  world.  Another,  Raymond  M.,  remains 
to  comfort  her  for  whom  he  cherished  such  fond  de- 
votion. The  funeral  obsequies  of  Mr.  Horton  were 
observed  in  the  Second  Congregational  Church,  June 
15,  1880.  Rev.  W.  A.  Spaulding,  the  pastor,  and 
Rev.  Francis  N.  Peloubet,  a  former  pastor,  paid  fitting 
tribute  to  the  character  of  the  deceased,  and  Rev. 
Samuel  Bell,  a  former  pastor,  offered  a  most  tender 
petition  for  the  bereaved  family  and  community. 
More  than  eleven  hundred  people  viewed  the  re- 
mains, which  were  then  entombed  in  Woodlawn 
Cemetery  with  the  usual  rites  of  honor  by  the  Grand 
Army. 


59G 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL  COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


ALFRED    PIERCE. 

Alfred  Pierce  is  descended  from  the  Pierce  family, 
who  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  Rehoboth,  Mass. 
His  grandfather,  Barnard  Pierce,  was  a  resident  of 
that  town  and  a  much-respected  citizen.  (In  the  his- 
torical part  of  this  volume  will  be  found  references 
to  the  ancient  Pierce  family  in  Rehoboth.)  Jeremiah, 
the  father  of  Alfred,  was  born  in  Rehoboth,  Aug.  29, 
1786.  By  occupation  he  was  a  carpenter  and  farmer. 
He  was  a  successful  business  man.  honorable  and 
upright,  and  a  useful,  much-loved  citizen  of  the 
town.  He  married,  Nov.  9,  1806,  Candace  Wheeler. 
She  was  born  Sept.  30,  1789.  They  had  eleven  chil- 
dren,— five  boys  and  six  girls, — of  whom  ten  are  yet 
living. 

Mr.  Pierce  died* March  23,  1837.  Mrs.  Pierce  died 
Oct.  18,  1882,  having  attained  the  remarkable  age  of 
ninety-three  years  and  eighteen  days. 

Alfred  Pierce  was  born  in  Rehoboth,  Mass.,  Dec. 
31,  1821.  He  had  only  such  opportunities  for  edu- 
cation as  were  afforded  by  the  district  schools  of  his 
town  at  that  time,  and  at  an  early  age  he  applied 
himself  to  learning  the  practical  duties  and  require- 
ments of  business,  being  apprenticed  to  learn  the  car- 
penter's trade  when  only  fifteen  years  of  age.  At  the 
age  of  nineteen  he  engaged  in  business  for  himself  as 
a  carpenter  at  Pawtucket,  B.  I.,  where  he  continued 
about  four  years.  He  then  returned  to  Rehoboth, 
where  he  divided  his  time  between  farming  and  his 
trade  for  about  two  years  more,  when  he  removed  to 
Attleborough  and  devoted  himself  to  carpentering 
till  1851,  when  he  yielded  to  the  flattering  induce- 
ments then  held  out  for  hardy,  adventurous  spirits  by 
the  newly-discovered  gold  fields  of  California.  To 
that  country  he  went,  and  after  gratifying  his  curios- 
ity and  trying  his  luck  in  the  mines  a  year  and  a  half 
on  the  Pacific  slope,  he  embarked  for  Melbourne, 
Australia.  Upon  his  arrival  in  that  country  lie 
engaged  in  mining,  and  met,  as  he  had  in  Califor- 
nia, with  very  fair  success.  After  remaining  there 
some  ten  months  he  embarked  on  his  return  trip  to 
his  native  land.  At  Aspinwall  he  stopped  some 
weeks  and  worked  at  his  trade  of  carpentering,  when 
he  then  returned  to  Attleborough,  Mass.,  where  he 
has  since  resided,  with  the  exception  of  about  eigh- 
teen months  which  he  spent  in  Illinois. 

When  Mr.  Pierce  first  commenced  business  in  At- 
tleborough it  was  as  a  carpenter,  but  about  1869  he 
engaged  in  lumbering  and  coal-dealing,  associating 
with  himself  Mr.  A.  B.  Carpenter,  under  the  firm- 
name  of  Pierce  &  Carpenter,  which  copartnership 
exists  at  the  present  time.  They  have  been  emi- 
nently successful,  and  the  business  has  now  assumed 
large  proportions  and  is  one  of  the  solid  concerns  of 
that  enterprising  and  thriving  town.  On  Dec.  6, 
1865,  he  married  Martha  B.  Williams,  daughter  of 
Thomas  and  Polly  (Bichardson)  Williams,  of  Attle- 
borough. She  was  born  July  23,  1837.  They  have, 
but  one  child,  Marian  W.,  born  May  24,  1867.     Mrs. 


Pierce  is  descended  on  the  maternal  side  from  an 
honorable  and  celebrated  family  (Bichardson).  For 
extended  account  of  ancestry,  see  "  Genealogy  of 
Bichardson  Family." 


ISAAC    ALGER. 

Isaac  Alger  is  a  lineal  descendant  of  the  seventh 
generation  from  Thomas  Alger,  and  was  born  in  At- 
tleborough, Mass.,  June  5,  1830.  Thomas  Alger,  the 
first  of  the  name  in  this  country,  was  one  of  eight 
men  bearing  the  name  of  Alger  who  settled  in  New 
England  during  the  seventeenth  century.  The  exact 
time  of  his  arrival  is  not  known,  but  it  was  some  time 
previous  to  1665,  as  at  that  date  we  find  him  at  Taun- 
ton, Mass.,  near  the  Three-Mile  Biver,  a  stream  flow- 
ing through  the  eastern  part  of  Taunton.  On  the  14th 
of  November,  1665,  he  married  Elizabeth  Packard, 
a  daughter  of  Samuel  Packard,  of  Wymondham, 
England,  who  with  his  wife  and  child  came  to  Amer- 
ica in  1638,  in  the  ship  "  Diligent,"  settled  in  Hing- 
ham,  then  in  Bridgewater,  Mass.,  where  he  died  about 
1684.  Thomas  Alger  settled  towards  the  close  of  his 
life  within  the  limits  of  Bridgewater,  where  it  is  sup- 
posed he  died. 

He  had  at  least  two  children,  perhaps  more,  viz., 
Israel  and  Deliverance. 

Israel  Alger  was  a  farmer  on  the  north  side  of  the 
"Town  Biver,"  in  Bridgewater.  He  was  a  man  of 
influence  and  wealth  for  those  days.  He  married 
Patience,  daughter  of  Nathaniel  Hayward,  and  grand- 
daughter of  Thomas  Hayward,  one  of  the  original 
proprietors  and  first  settlers  of  Bridgewater.  Her 
uncle,  Hon.  Thomas  Hayward,  Jr.,  was  a  judge  of 
the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  and  one  of  the  Gov- 
ernor's Assistants.  She  died  before  1730.  He  died 
about  1726.  His  children  were  Israel,  Joseph, 
Thomas,  Nathaniel,  and  John. 

Joseph  Alger,  born  Oct.  6,  1694  (Israel2,  Thomas1), 
was  a  farmer  in  Bridgewater,  Mass.,  near  or  at 
"  Flaggy  Meadow  Brook."  He  married  Mary,  daugh- 
ter of  William  Ames,  in  1719.  Their  children  were 
Mary,  Joseph,  Patience,  Bethiah,  John,  Susanna,  Na- 
than, and  Edmund,  born  Sept.  16,  1739. 

Edmund  Alger  (Joseph3,  Israel2,  Thomas1)  was  a 
farmer  in  West  Bridgewater,  was  twice  married,  first 
to  Ruth,  daughter  of  Deacon  Isaac  Willis,  in  1761. 
She  died  April  22, 1794,  aged  fifty-seven,  and  he  mar- 
ried for  his  second  wife  Molly  Thompson  in  1796. 
She  died  Feb.  23,  1798,  aged  fifty-two,  without  issue. 
He  died  Nov.  21,  1817,  aged  seventy-eight.  His  chil- 
dren were  Edmund,  Isaac,  Nathan,  Ruth,  and  Willis. 

Isaac  Alger  (Edmund1,  Joseph3,  Israel2,  Thomas1) 
was  born  Aug.  10,  1764,  in  Bridgewater,  Mass.,  and 
settled  in  Attleborough,  Mass.,  about  1810  to  1815, 
on  the  farm  now  (1882)  owned  by  his  grandson,  Isaac 
Alger.  He  married  Susanna  Johnson  in  1788.  She  was 
born  in  1772,  and  was  the  daughter  of  Joseph  John- 
son, who  married  Bethiah  Alger  (Joseph4,  Joseph1, 


2^£^_. 


jZ^C^rt       ^2^-^— 


ATTLEBOROUGH. 


597 


Israel2,  Thomas1).  Isaac  Alger  died  in  1842,  leaving 
children,— Hannah,  Susanna,  Willard  J.,  and  Louisa, 
who  died  in  the  fifteenth  year  of  her  age 

WiUnnl  .J.  Alger  (Isaac'.  Edmund'4,  Joseph3,  Israel2, 
Thomas'),  a  farmer  in  Attleborough,  Mass.,  married 
Lois  Brown,  of  Foxborough,  April  12, 1828.  He  died 
Sept.  26,  1855,  and  his  widow  is  now  (1882)  living  on 
the  old  Alger  homestead  in  Attleborough  with  her 
son  Isaac.  She  is  a  Methodist.  Their  children  are 
Isaac,  Ella,  Eliza,  born  Sept.  26,  1832,  married  Joseph 
Gleason ;  Nathan  S.,  born  May  14,  1835,  married 
Olive  J.Tripp;  and  Mary  V.,  born  July  11,  1839, 
died  Feb.  13,  1858. 

Isaac  Alger  (Willard  J.6,  Isaac5,  Edmund4,  Joseph3, 
Israel2,  Thomas1)  received  a  common  school  educa- 
tion. At  fourteen  he  was  obliged  to  leave  school,  no 
more  to  return  to  it.  At  eighteen  he  commenced 
taking  charge  of  the  farm,  and  how  well  he  has  suc- 
ceeded the  following  story  will  tell. 

He  married  Susan  Matthewson,  Jan.  7,  1857.  Of 
this  union  three  children  have  been  born,  viz.,  Susan, 
born  Oct.  19,  1857,  married  Eugene  F.  Pearce,  June 
17,  1875 ;  Isaac,  born  Jan.  8,  1868 ;  and  John  Willis, 
born  Aug.  17,  1870. 

In  politics  he  was  a  Republican  till  1878,  when  he 
became  a  Democrat,  and  has  since  affiliated  with  that 
party. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Alger  are  members  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church  of  Attleborough.  We  quote  the  fol- 
lowing from  the  Attleborough  Chronicle: 

For  the  past  three-quarters  of  a  century  the  premises 
now  considered  have  been  known  as  the  Alger  farm. 
A  portion  of  the  premises  we  should  have  said,  for 
the  present  owner  has  trebled  the  original  farm,  which 
was  purchased  of  Isaac  Tiffany  by  Isaac  Alger,  grand- 
father to  the  present  owner.  The  farm  then  contained 
one  hundred  acres,  mostly  devoted  to  woodland.  Mr. 
Alger  was  a  moderate  farmer,  who  did  not  endeavor 
to  make  much  more  than  a  living  for  himself  and 
family  by  his  labors.  At  his  death  the  premises 
passed  into  the  hands  of  his  son,  Willard  J.,  and 
through  him,  by  will  from  the  grandfather,  to  the 
present  Isaac  Alger.  Under  the  management  of  W. 
J.  Alger  the  farm  was  allowed  to  run  down,  the  wood 
being  cut  and  sold  to  pay  indebtedness,  while  the  till- 
age lands  and  pastures  were  annually  robbed  of  their 
crop  without  receiving  compensation  for  the  same. 

Isaac  had  remained  on  the  place  after  his  grand- 
father's death,  much  against  his  inclination,  at  the 
earnest  desire  of  his  family.  At  the  age  of  twenty- 
six  years  he  found  himself  possessed  of  this  farm  of 
one  hundred  acres  of  positively  bare  land,  on  which 
there  was,  for  those  times,  a  heavy  mortgage.  There 
was  not  at  the  time  vitality  enough  in  the  whole 
amount  of  broken  land  to  produce  six  tons  of  poor  hay. 
With  this  legacy,  which  was  several  hundred  dollars 
worse  than  nothing,  Mr.  Isaac  Alger  commenced  his 
career  as  a  New  England  farmer.  To-day  his  farm  is 
among  the  very  best  to  be  seen  in  the  town,  and  he 


himself  is  reckoned  among  our  most  prosperous  and 
well-to-do  citizens. 

Now  the  farm  comprises  three  hundred  acres,  from 
a  small  portion  of  which  he  cuts  an  annual  supply  of 
fifty  tons  of  hay.  Of  the  three  hundred  acres  the 
greater  part  is  woodland.  There  are  from  thirty  to 
forty  acres  in  pasturage,  forty  acres  in  tillage,  ten 
acres  of  cultivated  cranberry  land,  and  ten  acres  of 
natural  cranberry  meadow.  The  buildings  on  the 
place  consist  of  the  home  house, — a  roomy,  comforta- 
ble cottage, — a  large  roomy  barn,  built  with  a  view  to 
having  no  waste  space,  the  cranberry  house,  and  five 
houses  for  rental.  To  run  the  farm  Mr.  Alger  employs, 
beside  his  own  boys,  the  oldest  of  whom  is  the  salesman 
for  the  place,  three  men,  hired  by  the  month  the  year 
round,  and  extra  help  by  the  day  as  is  required,  two 
horses  and  two  pair  of  oxen.  Of  the  latter-named 
stock  the  pair  we  saw  standing  in  the  stalls  would 
make  most  farmers  envious.  They  are  perfect  mates, 
weighing  about  three  thousand  four  hundred,  and 
are  better  beef  to-day  than  much  that  finds  itself  to 
our  markets  as  first  quality.  To  the  stock  named 
should  be  added  from  four  to  six  cows.  The  milk 
from  these  is  delivered  to  Mrs.  Alger,  who  has  the 
entire  charge  of  it  and  all  the  money  derived  from 
this  product  of  the  place.  Several  families  are  sup- 
plied, the  household  is  kept  in  butter,  and  what  milk 
is  left  is  eagerly  taken  up  by  the  milkmen. 

But  the  leading  crop  and  greatest  source  of  revenue 
is  the  cranberry  crop.  When  Mr.  Alger  took  the 
farm  he  tried  to  persuade  a  younger  brother  to  remain 
with  him  and  go  into  raising  cranberries,  believing 
there  was  money  in  the  proper  cultivation  of  that 
berry.  The  brother  declined,  believing,  on  the  con- 
trary, that  it  never  could  be  made  to  pay.  Mr.  Alger 
commenced  alone.  Having  limited  means  he  began 
in  a  small  way,  "  making"  but  a  small  piece  of  land 
each  year.  The  process  of  "  making"  consists  of  re- 
moving from  the  natural  meadow  all  the  turf,  and 
filling  in  to  the  depth  of  from  four  to  six  inches  with 
gravel,  in  which  the  plants  are  set.  This  is  all,  but 
this  done,  and  you  may  wait  four  or  five  years  for  any 
profit.  The  land  thus  "  made"  is  made  for  years,  and 
requires  little  labor  beyond  an  occasional  coating  of 
sand,  and  little  attention  to  keep  it  clear  from  grass 
or  weeds.  The  land  first  made  by  Mr.  Alger  is  in  as 
good  condition  to-day  as  when  it  first  came  to  bear- 
ing twenty  years  ago.  In  this  manner,  by  degrees, 
Mr.  Alger  has  reclaimed  ten  acres  of  natural  meadow. 
The  crop  takes  care  of  itself  pretty  much,  and  only 
during  picking  time  is  there  any  rush.  Picking 
begins  usually  about  September  10th,  and  lasts  into 
October.  The  average  yield  for  the  past  three  years 
has  been  two  thousand  bushels.  To  pick  these 
requires  the  help  of  about  one  hundred  pickers. 
Pickers  get  fifty  cents  a  bushel,  and  earn  from 
one  dollar  to  three  dollars  per  day  according  to 
their  activity.  Mr.  Alger  had  one  young  man  em- 
ployed who  picked  five  pecks  of  clear  berries  in  fifty- 


598 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


seven  minutes  by  the  watch.  The  berries  are  taken 
from  the  field  to  the  dry-house,  where  they  are  spread 
and  allowed  to  remain  until  they  are  brought  to  a 
uniform  color,  when  they  are  ready  for  market.  In 
preparing  the  fruit  for  shipment  the  greatest  care  is 
used  in  grading,  and  nothing  is  put  upon  the  market 
that  is  not  marked  in  the  grade  for  which  it  is  sold. 
Mr.  Alger  finds  his  market  principally  in  Chicago, 
but  ships  to  New  York  and  Philadelphia.  He  sells 
all  his  fruit  for  cash  delivered  on  the  cars  at  Attle- 
borough,  and  has  no  trouble  with  freights. 

As  with  other  fruit  there  are  varieties, — the  "  Bell," 
the  "Bugle,"  the  "  Cherry."  The  latter  is  the  best 
selling  of  the  three.  But  Mr.  Alger  has  originated  a 
variety  which  he  terms  the  "  Black  Pond  Seedling," 
which  for  his  use  he  has  found  to  be  superior  to  either 
of  the  others.  It  is  of  good  size,  solid,  and  its  keep- 
ing properties  are  par  excellence.  His  Western  market 
is  later  than  the  New  York  market,  and  this  quality 
of  the  Black  Pond  makes  it  desirable  for  shipment  to 
Chicago. 

Thus  we  have  presented  to  our  readers  the  work- 
ings of  a  farm  run  to  make  money,  and  that  in 
twenty-five  years  has  been  brought  from  a  barren 
tract  of  waste  land  to  a  farm  of  the  most  fertile  acres. 
It  is  refreshing  to  hear  a  man  talk  with  regard  to 
New  England  farming  in  the  manner  Mr.  Alger  does. 
In  answer  to  the  question,  "  Does  your  farm,  aside 
from  the  cranberry  crop,  pay?"  Mr.  Alger  replied, 
"  The  one  helps  the  other ;  the  farm  supplies  teams 
to  work  on  the  meadows,  and  the  meadows  furnish 
material  to  be  put  upon  the  farm.  If  you  want  to 
ask  the  question,  '  Does  farming  pay?'  I  say,  most  as- 
suredly, yes  ;  just  as  good  a  profit  as  any  other  busi- 
ness with  the  same  amount  of  capital  and  labor  ex- 
pended. There  is  not  a  crop  you  can  put  into  the 
ground  but  will  pay  a  handsome  profit,  rightly  man- 
aged," and  he  added  with  considerable  earnestness, 
"  especially  in  Attleborough.  Attleborough  is  the 
best  market  in  the  United  States." 

Not  every  farmer  in  and  about  Attleborough  will 
indorse  his  occupation  as  enthusiastically  as  does 
Mr.  Alger,  and  some  may  citicise  him  for  so  doing, 
but  Mr.  Alger  knows  whereof  he  affirms,  and  has 
demonstrated  his  statements  to  be  correct,  so  far  as 
they  concern  himself  at  least. 


CHARLES  E.  HAYWARD. 
On  the  main  line  of  the  Boston  and  Providence 
Railroad,  at  East  Attleborough,  is  situated  the  jew- 
elry manufactory  of  Hayward  &  Briggs.  Charles  E. 
Hayward,  senior  member  of  this  firm,  was  born  at 
North  Attleborough,  Mass.,  Aug.  28,  1824,  and  was 
the  son  of  Capt.  Abraham  Hayward,  who  was  son  of 
Abraham  Hayward,  who  lived  in  Boston  and  was 
clerk  of  King's  Chapel  in  that  city,  under  which  he 
lies  buried.  Capt.  Abraham  Hayward  was  captain 
of  a  privateer  in  the  war  of  1812.     He  knew  no  fear, 


and  hated  the  British  as  only  a  strong,  positive  nature 
could  do.  He  was  thirty  years  a  sea-captain.  He 
married  Mariette  Daggett,  and  had  seven  children. 
Charles  had  a  common  school  education,  and  at  the 
age  of  seventeen  was  apprenticed  to  the  firm  of  Tifft 
&  Whiting,  which  was  the  first  to  commence  the 
manufacture  of  gold  jewelry  in  North  Attleborough  ; 
with  them  he  continued  five  years.  He  worked  after- 
wards as  a  journeyman  for  two  or  three  years,  then 
on  his  own  account  for  two  or  three  years  more  in 
North  Attleborough,  and  in  1851  moved  to  East 
Attleborough,  when,  with  others,  he  established  the 
firm  of  Thompson,  Hayward  &  Co.  This  firm  soon 
acquired  a  good  reputation  and  a  profitable  trade. 
This  copartnership  was  dissolved  in  1855,  and  Mr. 
Hayward  formed  a  partnership  with  Mr.  Briggs.  under 
the  firm-name  of  Hayward  &  Briggs.  This  firm  has 
continued  to  the  present  time  (1883).  The  inventive 
talents  of  Mr.  Hayward  have  been  active  and  suc- 
cessful in  arranging  patterns  and  designs  for  new  and 
artistic  sets  of  jewelry,  while  the  factory  has  been 
supplied  with  ample  and  excellent  machinery  for  the 
making  of  these  articles.  Mr.  Hayward  has  not  con- 
fined his  capital  or  energies  to  the  manufacture  of 
jewelry  at  East  Attleborough.  About  1867,  with 
three  others,  he  founded  the  New  York  Watch  Com- 
pany at  Providence,  R.  I.,  which  was  afterwards  re- 
moved to  Springfield,  Mass.,  where  it  is  now  estab- 
lished. 

Mr.  Hayward  married,  June  14, 1854,  Charlotte  E., 
daughter  of  George  and  Eliza  (Wakefield)  Wheel- 
wright, of  Boston.  They  have  two  children, — Florenei 
M.,  married  Joseph  L.  Sweet,  of  Attleborough,  and 
has  one  child,  Harold  E. ;  and  Walter  E.,  a  graduate 
of  1883  at  Harvard  University. 


EUGENE  H.  RICHARDS. 

Eugene  H.  Richards  was  born  Nov.  17,  1843.  He 
graduated  from  Tuft's  College  in  July,  1862,  and  im- 
mediately enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company  H,  For- 
tieth Regiment  Massachusetts  Volunteers.  He  was 
commissioned  second  lieutenant  Aug.  15,  1862,  and 
promoted  to  first  lieutenant  July  2,  1863.  He  took 
part  in  all  the  battles  that  his  regiment  did,  served 
with  credit  to  himself,  and  was  honorably  discharged 
in  1864. 

Upon  his  entirement  from  the  army  he  immediately 
entered  the  employ  of  his  father,  who  had  removed 
his  business  to  Boston  in  March,  1863.  In  1870,  Mr. 
Richards  entered  into  partnership  with  his  father  un- 
der the  firm-name  of  H.  M.  Richards  &  Co.,  manu- 
facturers of  jewelry  and  novelties  in  metal,  No.  7 
Green  Street,  Boston.  In  1880  he  succeeded  his 
father  in  the  business,  but  still  retains  the  old  firm- 
name.  He  is  doing  a  good  business.  He  is  a  prom- 
inent and  active  member  in  Masonry,  and  has  held 
and  now  holds  important  offices  in  both  York  and 


I  ^  fl 


MP 


^2^^yi^^^ 


NORTON. 


599 


Scottish  Rites.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Second  (Uni- 
tarian) Church,  Boston.  Oct.  18,  1869,  he  married 
Frances  A.  Jordan,  of  Boston.  They  have  no  chil- 
dren. 


CHAPTER   XLVI. 


NORTON. 


Geographical — Original  Purchasers — Original  Bounds — Petition  for  Pre- 
cinct— Incorporation  of  Town — The  First  Settlements — Extracts  from 
Records — Early  Settlers. 

The  town  of  Norton  lies  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
county,  and  is  bounded  as  follows :  On  the  north  by 
Mansfield  and  Easton,  on  the  east  by  Easton  and 
Taunton,  on  the  south  by  Taunton  and  Rehoboth, 
and  on  the  west  by  Attleborough. 

Norton  originally  comprised,  in  addition  to  its 
present  territory,  the  present  towns  of  Mansfield  and 
Easton.  Easton  and  the  greater  part  of  Mansfield, 
with  a  portion  of  Norton,  comprised  what  was  known 
as  the  "  North  Purchase,"  which  was  purchased  June 
6,  1668,  of  Thomas  Prence,  Josias  Winslow,  Thomas 
Southworth,  and  Constant  South  worth  ("the  country's 
agents"),  by  Richard  Williams,  Walter  Dean,  George 
Macey,  James  Walker,  Joseph  Wilbor,  William  Har- 
vey, Thomas  Leonard,  John  Turner,  Henry  Andrews, 
John  Cob,  George  Hall,  John  Hall,  Samuel  Hall, 
James  Leonard,  Sr.,  Nathaniel  Williams,  Thomas 
Williams,  Nicholas  White,  Sr.,  Nicholas  White,  Jr., 
Hezekiah  Hore,  Alice  Dean,  Israel  Dean,  Robert 
Crossman,  Shadrack  Wilbor,  Thomas  Caswell,  John 
Macomber,  John  Smith,  Edward  Rew,  John  Parker, 
Samuel  Paule,  Thomas  Lincoln,  Sr.,  Thomas  Harvey, 
Sr.,  Nathaniel  Thayre,  Thomas  Lincoln,  Jr.,  Peter 
Pits,  Jonah  Austin,  Sr.,  John  Richmond,  Samuel 
Williams,  Christopher  Thrasher,  Mrs.  Jane  Gilburt, 
George  Wats6n,  Samuel  Smith,  James  Burt,  Richard 
Burt,  John  Tisdell,  Sr.,  John  Tisdell,  Jr.,  James 
Phillips,  Edward  Bobbot,  John  Hathway,  Jonathan 
Brigs,  Increase  Robinson,  John  Brian t,  Thomas  Har- 
vey, Jr.,  and  was  called  "  Taunton  North  Purchase."1 

This  tract  was  bounded  as  follows :  "  Begining  on 
the  north-west,  att  the  bounds  of  the  lands  formerly 
sold  by  us  unto  the  Town  of  Rehoboth,  and  to  be 
bounded  on  the  northerly  syde  by  the  Massachusetts 
line,  untill  it  cometh  to  beare  with  the  Western 
bounds  of  the  Town  of  Bridgewater ;  and  soe  from 
the  said  Massachusetts  line  by  a  south  line  home  to 
the  bounds  of  Taunton,  and  thence  by  a  Westerly 
line  untill  it  meets  with  the  bounds  of  Rehoboth 
aforesaid  :  and  so  to  follow  the  said  bounds  of  Reho- 
both untill  it  comes  unto  the  bounds  first  mentioned 
upon  the  Massachusetts  line  ;  all  the  lands  within 
this  compas,  excepting  onely  a  small  parcel  granted 
unto  John    Bundey,  and    alsoe  a  grant   made   unto 

1  "  March  8,  1681-2. — By  order  of  ye  Court,  Mr.  George  Shove  his 
name  was  affixed  to  the  sd.  deed  as  a  proprietor." 


Thomas  Briggs,  the  son  of  Clement  Briggs,  together 
with  the  meddows,  woods,  waters,  and  other  benefitts, 
privileges, emoluments,  proffitts,and  emunities  thereto 
appertaining  and  belonging." 

Incorporation  of  the  Town.— The  first  move  to- 
wards the  formation  of  a  precinct  was  under  date 
Nov.  27,  1707,  as  follows: 

"  We  whose  names  are  underwritten,  being  part  of  the  Inhabitants 
of  Taunton  old  Town,  and  part  of  Taunton  north  purchase,  being  all 
very  sensible  of  the  great  difficulty  that  we  are  under  in  liveing  so  re- 
mote from  the  publick  worship  of  God,  and  great  need  of  haveing  it 
settled  amongst  us,  that  so  our  children  and  those  under  our  care  & 
charge,  as  well  as  ourselves,  may  injoy  the  nieens  of  grace,  and  in  order 
theirto,  we  have  this  27th  day  of  novem.,  1707,  met  together,  and  made 
choice  of  George  Leonard  and  Nicholas  White,  whome  we  chuse  as  our 
agents  to  act  in  our  behalf  in  makeing  Request  to  the  town  to  bound  us 
out  a  presink  for  the  maintainnence  of  a  minister;  and  that,  when  we 
have  procured  a  minister  to  dispence  the  word  of  God  amongst  [us,j  we 
might  be  freed  from  paying  to  the  minister  &  Schoolmaster  at  town,  and 
we  do  also  give  our  sd.  agents  full  power  to  do  any  further  act  or  acts, 
thing  or  things,  that  they  shall  see  needfull  to  be  dun  for  ye  bounding 
of  sd.  precink,  and  procureing  an  able  orthodox  minister  to  be  orderly 
Settled  amongnst  us,  whether  it  be  by  petitioning  to  the  General  court 
to  Settle  the  bounds  of  sd.  precink,  or  by  any  other  way  or  nieens  what- 
soever; as  witness  our  hands,  the  day  and  year  above  written,  we 
further  promise,  that  in  case  a  minister  be  procurde  as  abovesd.,  that  we 
will  each  of  us  pay  our  proportion  by  way  of  rate  for  his  maintainance. 
witness  our  hands,  George  Leonard,  Nicholas  White,  John  Lane,  Thomas 
Braman,  sen.,  Thomas  Stevens,  Selvanis  Gamble,  John  Briggs,  John 
Hodges,  Nathaniell  Hodges,  Samuell  Hodges,  Jabez  Pratt,  Thomas  Bra- 
man,  jun.,  William  Hodges,  Robert  Tucker,  Ephraim  Grover,  Mathew 
White,  Seth  Dorman,Ebenezei'  Hall,  John  Caswell,  jun.,  Benjamin  Cas- 
well, John  Wetherell,  Ebenezer  Edy,  Samuel  Brintnell,  John  Caswell, 
sen.,  Eliezer  Fisher,  Richard  Briggs,  William  Wetherell,  sen.,  Eliezer 
Edy,  John  Cob,  Andrew  Grover,  Peter  Aldrich,  Israel  Fisher,  Thomas 
Grover,  Nathaniel  Fisher,  Joseph  Briggs,  Benjamin  Williams,  Nathaniell 
Harvey,  John  Briggs,  jun.,  Nicholas  Smith,  John  Newlaud,  William  Cob, 
Benjamin  Newland,  John  Skinner." 

Petition  to  the  Town  of  Taunton. — "March  ye  23d,  1708.— Whereas  di- 
vers Inhabitants  of  Taunton  north  purchase,  together  with  divers  of  the 
Inhabitants  of  Taunton  old  township,  bordering  on  the  north  purchase, 
made  choice  of  we,  the  subscribers,  whome  they  chose  as  thare  Agents 
to  make  request  to  the  town  to  bound  us  out  a  precinct  for  the  main- 
tenance of  a  minister;  we,  whose  names  are  underwritten,  do  therefore, 
in  the  behalf  of  our  friends  and  neighbours,  humbly  A  earnestly  desire 
the  town  seriously  to  consider  of  the  vary  difficult  circumstances  that 
we  are  under  in  liveing  so  remote  from  the  publique  worship  of  God, 
that  great  part  of  the  year  we  cannot  come  to  meeting;  and  that  we  can 
at  no  time  of  the  year,  without  very  great  dificulty,  bringing  allmost 
any  of  our  children  to  meeting:  so  that,  if  we  continue  long  after  this 
manner,  the  sowls  of  our  children,  and  those  under  our  care  and  charge, 
will  be  in  danger  of  perishing  for  lack  of  knowledge,  for  it  is  Evident 
from  sciiptre  that  faith  comes  by  heering,  and  heering  by  the  word 
preacht.  Tho  we  are  not  insencable  of  our  poverty,  and  great  difficulty 
that  we  shall  thereby  meet  with  in  carrying  on  such  desire,  yet,  on  the 
other  hand,  we  have  cans  to  be  thankful!  that  our  neighbours  an-  gener- 
ally very  forward  to  promote  so  good  a  work  ;  and  our  povertye  can  be 
no  Argument  to  have  our  precink  Iesened,  but  rather  Enlarged,  wbare- 
fore  we  Earnestly  desire  and  hope  that  the  town  will  forward  and  in- 
corage  so  good  a  design,  and  giant  thai  tin-  military  line  maybe  the 
bounds  of  the  precint,  which  is  hurt's  brook,  and  from  the  mouth  of  sd. 
brook  to  the  bridge  neer  William  wetherell,  and  from  sd.  bridge  uorth- 
Estardly  to  the  north-purchase  line  ;  that  so  we  may  not  have  one  line 
for  the  military,  and  another  for  the  minister,  anil,  in  hopes  you  will 
grant  us  this  our  request,  we  subscribe  ourselves  your  humble  pe- 
ti  oners, 

"Geobge  Leonabd. 
"  John  Wetherell. 
"Nicholas  White." 

Not  receiving  the  desired  encouragement  from  the 
old  town  they  petitioned  the  General  Court  as  follows, 
under  date  Oct.  20,  1708: 


600 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


"  To  his  Excellency  Joseph  Dudley,  Esquire,  Capt.-Generall  and  Gover- 
nor-in-chief in  and  over  her  majestie's  province  of  the  Massachusetts 
bay  in  New  England;  And  to  the  Honored  councill  and  Representa- 
tives now  convened  in  Generall  court  this  20  day  of  October,  1708: 
"The  humble  petition  of  Diverse  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Taunton 
North  purchase,  and  Diverse  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Taunton  old  Town- 
ship bordering  on  said  north  purchase,  humbly  sheweth,  that  sd.  Inhabi- 
tants being  vary  sensible  of  the  great  difficulty  they  are  now  under  in 
liveing  so  remote  from  the  publick  worship  of  God,  and  the  great  tieed 
of  having  it  settled  amongst  them,  that  so  their  children,  and  those 
under  their  care  and  charge,  as  well  as  themselves,  may  Injoy  the 
meens  of  Grace,  They  made  choice  of  us,  the  subscribers,  to  be  their 
agents,  to  make  known  their  desire  to  the  town  of  Taunton  to  have  a 
precinct  bounded  out  to  them  for  their  maintenance  of  a  minister  to 
dispence  the  word  of  God  among  them;  and  also  to  petitiou  the  Gen- 
erall Court  to  settle  the  bounds  of  sd.  precinct ;  and  also  to  procure  an 
able  orthodox  minister  to  be  orderly  settled  among  them,  as  may  appear 
by  a  writeing  under  their  hands,  dated  November  the  27th,  1707,  and 
also  on  the  23d  of  march,  1708;  by  which  writing  they  also  promise  to 
pay  their  proportion  by  way  of  rate  for  the  maintenance  of  sd.  minister 
provide  as  abovesd.  In  pursueauce  of  sd.  power  and  trust  committed  to 
us,  we  have  communicated  this  matter  to  the  town  of  Taunton,  at  a 
town  meeting;  and  although  we  have  Great  Incorragement  that  the 
most  considerable  Leading  men  will  be  and  are  for  it,  yet  there  is  some 
few  that  do  hesitate  about  the  bounds  That  we  desire  for  sd.  precinct; 
so  that  hetherto  nothing  of  that  nature  is  finished,  and  seeing  our 
young  ones  increase  and  grow  up  apace,  and  that  the  Lord  hath  in 
marcy  (as  we  hope  it  is  in  marcy)  so  Inclined  the  hearts  of  our  neigh- 
bours so  earnestly  to  desire  and  seek  after  this  thing,  we  therefore,  the 
subscribers,  as  agents  for  and  in  the  behalf  of  sd.  Inhabitants,  do  hum- 
bly pray  this  Generell  Court  to  grant  this  our  humble  petition,  and  the 
bounds  of  sd.  precinct  which  we  desire  is,  the  line  or  bounds  of  the  military 
company  called  the  North-purchase  company  may  be  the  bounds  of  the 
said  precinct,  which  is  a  brook  called  hurt's  brook,  and  from  the  mouth  of 
sd.  brook  to  wennaconnit  bridge,  and  from  sd.  bridge  northeasterd  to  the 
North-purchase  line,  but  leaveing  out  of  sd.  precinct  all  the  inhabitants 
in  the  North  purchase  that  commonly  go  to  Bridgewater  meeting,  who 
live  on  the  Estardly  side  of  the  rhode  that  Leeadeth  from  winnacunnit 
to  the  bay,— for  they  in  time  hope  to  be  a  precinct  with  part  of  Bridge- 
water,  which  we  shall  not  oppose, — but  takeing  into  sd.  precinct  all  be- 
longing to  Taunton  old  Township  within  the  bounds  above  mentioned, 
but,  if  all  the  North  purchase  ware  Enexed  to  Taunton  for  the  present, 
we  think  it  woald  be  best  for  the  manageing  of  public  concerns;  only 
that  the  lands  within  the  bounds  settled  and  agreed  on  between  the  pro- 
priators  of  Taunton  North  purchase  and  thair  neighbours,  on  all  parts, 
be  confirmed  to  said  proprietors,  and  the  abovesaid  precinct  settled  for 
the  maintainance  of  the  ministry  in  said  precinct,  and  we  farther  pray 
that  this  honored  court  woald  also  apoint  a  committee  to  order  where 
the  meeting-house  shoald  be  sett,  all  which,  if  this  honoured  court 
please  to  grant,  your  humble  petitioners  shall,  as  in  duty  they  are 
bound,  ever  pray. 

"George  Leonard,  \  Agents  for  and  in  the  behalf 


"Nicholas  White, 


of  said  Inhabitants." 


The  following  action  was  taken   by  the   General 
Court  upon  this  petition  : 

"22  0cto.,  1708.— Read  in  Council;  and  Ordered,  that  the  Selectmen 
of  Taunton  be  served  with  a  copy  of  this  Peton.,  and  heard  thereupon 
before  this  Court  upon  the  Second  Tuesday  of  the  next  Session  of  ye  sd. 
Court,  if  any  thing  they  have  to  say  why  the  prayer  of  the  within  Peti- 
tion should  not  be  granted. 

"  Isa.  Addington,  Secretary. 
"Sent  down  for  concurrence." 

"In  the  House  of  Representatives,  Oct.  25,  1708.— Read  and  Passed  a 
concurrence,  And  that  the  Hearing  be  upon  the  Second  Tuesday  of  the 
next  Session  of  this  Court. 

"  Agreed :  "  Thomas  Oliver,  Speaker. 

"Consented  to:  "J.  Dudley." 

May  25,  1709,  the  town  answered  to  the  General 
Court  as  follows : 

"  To  his  Excellency  Joseph  Dudley,  Esquire,  Captain-Generall,  Gov- 
ernor-in-chief in  and  over  her  majestie's  Province  of  the  Massachusetts 
bay,  and  the  rest  of  the  honorable  Councill  and  Representatives  Con- 
vened in  Generall  Court,  May  the  25,  1709,  humbly  Sheweth: 


"That  whereas  the  Honoured  Court  sent  to  the  Selectmen  of  Taunton 
to  show  their  reasons  (if  any  they  have)  why  Taunton  North  purchase 
and  South  Purchase  should  not  have  their  prayer  granted, — 

"  In  answer  whereunto  we  say  that  although  it  hath  pleased  God  to 
Increase  our  numbers, — which  we  hope  is  in  mere}', — yet  must  say  that 
through  the  providence  of  God,  a  great  many  are  so  extream  poor,  and 
rates  and  taxes  so  high,  that  we  find  it  hard  and  dificult  to  rub  along, 
and  the  Generality  of  the  North  purchase  are  so  poor  that  we  ffear  they 
will  not  be  able  to  build  a  meeting-house  and  to  maintain  a  minister." 

"The  North  purchase  we  think  it  better  ffor  them  to  be  a  Township 
than  a  precinct. 

"  This  is  our  last  and  finall  answer  uppou  mature  concideration. 

"  Israel  Thrasher, 
"  John  Spur, 
"  Ezra  Dean, 

"  Selectmen." 

"  We,  whose  names  are  underwritten,  are  of  the  same  mind  with  those 
above, — 

"Thomas  Leonard,  Henry  Hodges,  Samuel  Deane,  Seth  Williams,  Jo- 
seph Williams." 

At  the  same  time  the  "  precinct  committee"  were 
urging  their  cause  before  the  General  Court. 

June  4,  1709,  Taunton  appeared  at  the  General 
Court  with  a  remonstrance  against  the  prayer  of  the 
petitioners,  signed  by  James  Leonard,  Philip  King, 
Thomas  Gilbert,  Thomas  Harvey,  and  Jonathan  Pad- 
dleford.  Finally,  after  various  petitions  and  remon- 
strances, the  precinct  was  formed  Sept.  19,  1709. 

The  following  order  in  relation  to  the  organization 
of  the  precinct  as  a  town  is  under  date  March  17, 
1710-11 : 

"  The  following  Order  passed  by  the  Council  and  Assembly  respectively 
upon  the  Petition  of  the  North  Precinct  in  Taunton,  Praying  to  be  made 
a  Town,  having  the  consent  of  Taunton  therefor,  viz., — 

"Ordered,  That  the  North  Precinct  in  Taunton  be,  and  hereby  is 
granted  to  be  a  Town,  distinct  from  the  Town  of  Taunton,  by  the  name 
of  Norton,  and  have  and  enjoy  the  Powers,  Immunities,  and  Privileges 
by  law  granted  to  Townships,  and  that  a  bill  be  projected,  and  brought 
in  at  the  next  Session  of  this  Court,  fully  to  perfect  the  sd  Grant.  Pro- 
vided that  the  East  End  of  the  North  Purchase  shall  have  half  the  said 
Purchase  as  their  Precinct  when  they  are  able  to  maintain  a  minister 
and  this  Court  judge  them  so. 

"  Consented  to. 

"  J.  Dudley." 

Act  of  Incorporation. — The  following  is  the  act 
of  incorporation : 

"  An  Act  for  raising  a  new  Town  by  the  name  of  Norton,  within  the  County  of 
Bristol  : 

"  Whereas,  The  tract  of  Laud  commonly  called  and  known  by  the 
name  of  the  North  Purchase,  Lying  situate  within  the  Township  of 
Taunton,  in  the  county  of  Bristol,  circumscribed  within  the  Lines  and 
Bounderies  prescribed  by  a  committee  some  time  since  appointed  by  the 
General  Assembly,  as  follows,  viz.:  Beginning  at  the  Line  between  the 
two  late  Colonies  of  the  Massachusetts  and  Plymouth,  in  the  line  of  the 
said  North  purchase  and  Attleborough ;  from  thence  Running  South- 
ward to  Rehoboth  North-East  Corner;  and  from  thence  Eastward,  on 
the  North-purchase  Line,  to  Taunton  bounds;  thence  eastward  to  the 
Mouth  of  the  Brook  calld  Burt's  Brook,  and  extending  from  tho  mouth 
of  Burt's  Brook  to  the  Bridge  over  the  Mill  River,  near  Wm.  Witherel's; 
and  from  thence  North-eastward  to  the  North-Purchase  Line;  and,  from 
the  North-purchase  Line,  the  Road  that  leads  from  the  said  Bridge  to- 
wards Boston  to  be  the  Bounds  till  it  come  to  the  Line  betwixt  the  two 
Late  Colonies  aforesaid;  which  Line  to  be  the  bounds  to  Attleborough 
aforesaid  was  set  off  from  Taunton  by  and  with  the  consent  of  that 
Town,  and  by  an  order  of  the  General  Assembly,  passed  at  their  Session 
in  March,  1710,  made  a  distinct  and  separate  Town  from  Tawnton,  con- 
taining a  sufficient  quantity  of  Lands  and  a  competent  number  of 
Inhabitants  for  that  purpose,  and  named  Norton  ;  the  full  perfecting  of 
the  said  Grant  being  adjourned  and  refered  to  the  present  Courts. 

"In  pursuance,  therefore,  of  the  afore-recited  Order  and  Grant,  and 
for  the  completing  and  perfecting  of  the  same,  Be  it  enacted  by  his  Ex- 


NORTON. 


601 


cellency  the  Governor,  Council,  and  Representatives  in  General  Court 
assembled,  and  by  the  authority  of  the  same,  That  the  aforesaid  Tract 
of  Land  commonly  called  the  North  Purchase,  circumscribed  and 
bounded  as  above  expressed,  Be  and  is  Granted  to  be  a  Township  Dis- 
tinct and  separate  from  Taunton;  the  Town  tube  named  Norton,  and 
the  Inhabitants  thereof  to  have,  Use,  Excercise,  and  enjoy  all  such  Im- 
munities, Powers,  and  Privileges  as  other  Towns  within  this  Province 
have  and  do  by  Law  excercise  and  enjoy,  so  that  the  said  Inhabitants 
settle  an  aide,  Learned,  Orthodox  .Minister  in  the  said  Town,  and  from 
time  to  time  allow  him  a  Comfortable  support. 

"Provided  Nevertheless,  That  the  Inhabitants  in  the  east  end  of  the 
said  North  Purchase  shall  have  one-half  of  the  said  Purchase  as  their 
Precinct,  when  they  are  able  to  maintain  a  minister,  and  this  Court 
judge  them  so. 

"June  12th,  1711. 

"  This  Bill,  having  been  read  three  several  times  in  the  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives, passed  to  be  enacted. 

"John  Burrill,  Speaker. 

"Read  three  several  times  in  Council,  Concured,  and  passed  to  be 
enacted. 

"  Isaac  Addington,  Sectry. 

"  By  his  Excellency. 

"I  consent  to  the  enacting  of  this  Bill. 

"  J.  Dudley." 

The  First  Settlements.— To  William  Wetherell 
is  due  the  honor  of  having  been  the  first  settler 
within  the  bounds  of  the  present  town  of  Norton. 
He  located  in  1669  on  the  easterly  side  of  Winnecon- 
net  Pond.  Rev.  Mr.  Clark,  in  his  excellent  "  History 
of  Norton,"  says, — 

"  By  an  examination  of  the  Proprietors'  Records  of 
the  old  town  of  Taunton  (p.  50),  I  find  that  on  the 
29th  of  April,  1669,  William  Wetherell  sold  several 
parcels  of  land  situated  on  and  near  Mill  River 
(which  is  the  stream  that  runs  out  of  Winneconnet 
Pond),  and  included  in  this  sale  were  '  five  accres, 
more  or  less,  which  was  granted  to  him  by  the  town 
for  a  home-lotte.'  And  on  the  same  day  was  laid  out 
to  him,  in  four  lots,  about  sixty  acres  of  land  on  the 
easterly  and  northerly  side  of  the  pond ;  and  the 
bounds  of  these  lots  can  be  pretty  generally  identi- 
fied at  the  present  time.  Hence  we  think,  in  the  ab- 
sence of  all  testimony  to  the  contrary,  that  in  the 
spring  of  1669,  and  on  the  east  side  of  the  pond,  only 
a  few  rods  from  the  meadow,  was  erected  the  first 
habitation  in  our  town. 

"  Tradition  says  that  this  William  Wetherell,  whose 
name  will  ever  be  a  household  word  to  the  people  of 
Norton,  came  from  England  in  the  capacity  of  a 
cabin-boy,  with  William  Dunn,  the  master  of  the 
vessel,  and  one  of  the  original  proprietors  of  Taun- 
ton, who  is  said  to  have  soon  returned  to  England, 
leaving  his  cabin-boy  in  charge  of  his  proprietary, 
with  the  understanding  that  if  he  (Dunn)  did  not 
return  to  claim  it,  the  right  should  escheat  to  young 
Wetherell,  and  such  was  the  result.  Of  the  exact 
time  Capt.  Dunn  arrived  in  America  we  have  no  re- 
liable account;  it  might  have  been  just  before  the 
settlement  of  Taunton,  and  he  might  have  brought 
over  in  his  vessel  many  of  the  first  settlers  of  the 
town,  and  as  most  of  these  were  from  the  vicinity  of 
Taunton,  in  England,  it  is  possible  that  the  birthplace 
of  Wetherell  was  in  that  neighborhood.  All  this  is, 
however,  mere  conjecture.    The  first  reliable  evidence 


we  have  of  William  Wetherell  being  in  Taunton  is 
in  1643,  when  his  name  appears  on  a  list  of  males, 
between  the  ages  of  sixteen  and  sixty,  subject  to  mil- 
itary duty.  He  was  one  of  the  inhabitants  of  Taun- 
ton who,  on  the  28th  of  December,  1659,  had  a  divis- 
ion, of  land  made  in  the  proportion  of  two  acres  on 
each  shilling  of  the  rate  paid  by  the  individual,  two 
acres  on  each  head  in  the  family,  and  two  acres  to 
the  lot.  Mr.  Wetherell's  rate  was  seven  shillings  and 
ten  pence,  and  there  were  five  heads  in  his  family 
(supposed  to  be  himself,  wife,  and  three  children), 
and  twenty-eight  acres  of  land  were  assigned  him. 

His  wife's  name  was  Dorothy .    When  they  were 

married  is  uncertain,  but  it  is  supposed  to  have  been 
about  1650,  for,  in  1672,  William  Wetherell  and  Wil- 
liam Wetherell,  Jr.  (supposed  to  be  his  son),  were 
among  the  proprietors  of  the  South  Purchase  of 
Taunton,  including  what  is  now  Dighton  and  a  por- 
tion of  Berkley. 

"  He  was  admitted  a  freeman  at  the  Plymouth 
Court  in  June,  1658.  June  6,  1664,  William  Weth- 
erell and  three  others,  of  Taunton,  were  fined  '  twenty 
shillings  for  an  abuse  done  to  a  saw-mill  att  Taunton 
belonging  to  James  Walker  and  others,  by  coming  in 
the  night  and  breaking  downe  some  parte  of  the  said 
mill,  and  for  takeing  away  sevuerall  thinges  from  the 
same.'  It  is  presumed  that  this  difficulty  grew  out  of 
the  fact  that  the  dam  to  this  mill  was  so  built  as  to 
prevent  'the  alewiues  from  goeing  vp'  the  river,  and 
hence  was  not  legally  built,  for  on  the  same  day  that 
Wetherell  and  others  were  fined  the  owners  of  the 
mill  were  required,  before  '  the  next  season  of  the 
fishes  goeing  vp,'  to  make  '  a  free,  full,  and  sufficient 
passage  for  the  said  fish.' 

"  Just  before  the  commencement  of  Philip's  war  in 
1675,  a  list  of  the  proprietors  of  Taunton  was  made, 
and  on  this  list  is  the  name  of  William  Wetherell, 
who  owned  'on  his  own  rights  and  that  which  was 
Mr.  Dunn's.'  His  name  appears  several  times  on  the 
Grand  Inquest  between  1650  and  1690.  He  was  a 
constable  in  Taunton  for  the  years  1662  and  1676. 
In  1671  and  1685  he  was  a  '  deputy'  or  representa- 
tive from  Taunton  to  the  Plymouth  Colony  Court. 
He  was  also  a  deputy  at  a  special  court  held  on  the 
last  day  of  October  and  first  of  November,  1676.  In 
1685  he  was  one  of  the  selectmen.  In  1671  he  was 
one  of  a  committee  '  appointed  in  each  town  to  see 
to  the  gathering  in  of  the  Minister's  Maintainance,' 
etc.  In  1679-80  he  was  one  of  the  court's  committee 
'  to  bound  the  meddowes  on  Assonett  Neck.'  June  2, 
1685,  he  was  licensed  'to  retaile  cider,  beeir,  and 
strong  liquors.'  It  is  presumed,  as  he  lived  at  this 
time  on  the  road  leading  from  Taunton  to  Boston, 
and  known  then  and  now  as  the  '  Bay  road,'  that  he 
kept  a  sort  of  'ordinary'  or  victualing-house  for  trav- 
elers; and  hence  he  no  doubt  kept  the  first  public- 
house  within  the  limits  of  Norton.  May  25,  1680,  he 
was  appointed  one  of  a  committee  of  the  town  '  to 
revise  the  town  orders,  records  of  land,'  etc. 


602 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


"Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  he  was  a  man  of  some 
consequence,  and  possessed  a  good  reputation  among 
the  early  settlers  of  Taunton.  From  an  old  deed  now 
in  possession  of  our  townsman  (descendant  of  the  first 
settler),  William  D.  Wetherell,  given  by  John  Weth- 
erell,  son  of  William,  to  his  son  Jonathan,  it  appears 
that  William  Wetherell  was  an  '  Eldest  Sergeant  in 
Capt.  Gorrom's  (Gorham's)  Company  in  the  great 
Narragansett-Swamp  fttt,'  which  took  place  Dec.  19 
(?),  1675,  in  the  present  town  of  South  Kingston, 
R.  L,  and  that  a  grant  of  land  was  made  by  the 
court  to  the  soldiers  who  were  wounded  in  that  ever- 
memorable  battle.  From  the  Plymouth  Colony  Rec- 
ords, vol.  vi.  p.  119,  it  appears  that  '  Sergt.  Witherly' 
and  'other  Taunton  men'  came  wounded  to  the  house 
of  Peleg  Sanford,  Dec.  24,  1675,  and  that  he  re- 
mained till  Oct.  17,  1676.  His  wound  must,  there- 
fore, have  been  of  a  pretty  severe  character  to  have 
confined  him  almost  a  year  before  he  was  able  to  re- 
turn home.  It  was  in  consequence  of  his  wounds  re- 
received  in  the  battle  of  Narragansett  Swamp,  we 
presume,  that  the  court  granted  Mr.  Wetherell  ten 
pounds  in  1685,  and  five  pounds  in  1686. 

"  From  all  the  facts  that  we  can  gather  relating  to 
Mr.  Wetherell,  he  seems  to  have  been  a  man  blessed 
with  a  good  share  of  worldly  goods,  holding  two 
rights  in  the  original  purchase  of  Taunton  (his  own 
and  Mr.  Dunn's),  one  right  in  the  South  Purchase  of 
Taunton,  and,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  half  a  right 
in  the  North  Purchase.  In  the  year  1690  he  deeded 
most  of  his  property  to  his  children  and  grandchil- 
dren, and  in  his  will,  dated  Aug.  15,  1691,  and  pro- 
bated November  18th  of  the  same  year,  he  makes 
some  little  legacies  to  his  children,  and  confirms  the 
deeds  he  had  previously  given  of  his  lands.  He 
mentions  in  his  will  his  sons  William,  John,  and 
Ephraim  (who  was  dead  at  the  date  of  the  will), 
and  his  daughter,  Dorothy  Wood,  who  was  the  wife 
of  William  Wood  (her  second  husband),  to  whom  she 
was  married  April  1,  1686.  Her  first  husband  was 
Elias  Irish,  and  they  were  married  Aug.  26,  1674. 
He  lived  only  about  three  years,  for,  in  October, 
1677,  William  Wetherell  was  appointed  administrator 
of  his  estate." 

The  next  settler  in  the  North  Purchase  was  Thomas 
Brintnell,  in  1685,  in  what  is  now  Mansfield. 

"  Dec.  6,  1695,"  says  our  excellent  authority  before 
quoted,  "Thomas  Leonard,  Sr.,  and  James  Leonard, 
Sr.,  received  a  deed  from  the  proprietors  of  the  North 
Purchase  of  two  hundred  acres  of  land  at  Stony 
Brook,  '  on  the  westward  side  of  Coweesset  River,' 
as  an  '  Incouragement'  '  to  set  up  and  build  a  forge 
to  make  iron  at  said  place,'  and  it  was  '  to  be  built 
and  in  some  considerable  forwardness'  before  Dec.  1, 
1696,  or  the  grant  of  land  was  to  be  null  and  void.  I 
have  in  my  possession  the  affidavits  of  two  persons, 
taken  in  1717,  who  declare  that  the  iron-works  or 
forge  near  the  dwelling-house  of  Maj.  George  Leon- 
ard, deceased,  was  begun  in  1695,  and  in  some  con- 


siderable forwardness  in  1696.  To  these  Leonards 
was  also  given  the  liberty  to  take  their  next  division 
of  one  share  in  the  North  Purchase  lands  'in  the 
best  of  iron-oare  that  they  can  find.'  They  were  also 
allowed  the  privilege  of  digging  ore  on  any  other 
man's  land  for  the  use  and  benefit  of  said  works  by 
'  paying  the  owner  of  such  land  one  shilling  a  tun  for 
every  tun  of  iron-oare  they  shall  dig.'  George  Leon- 
ard, the  son  of  Thomas  and  the  nephew  of  James 
Leonard,  to  whom  this  grant  was  made  (probably  as 
their  agent),  set  up  a  forge  or  'bloomery,'  as  it  was 
called,  at  the  place  designated,  which  was  nearly  in 
front  of  the  spot  where  the  old  Leonard  mansion- 
house  now  stands  ;  and  the  establishment  of  this  iron 
forge,  together  with  the  energy  and  business  tact  of 
young  George  Leonard,  soon  gave  new  life  and  vitality 
to  this  neighborhood.  The  lands  in  the  vicinity  were 
speedily  taken  up,  the  population  rapidly  increased, 
and  everything  seemed  to  prosper  beyond  the  most 
ardent  expectations  of  the  proprietors  of  this  move- 
ment." 

Documentary  History. — The  following  vote  in  re- 
lation to  wild-cats  is  under  date  of  March  30,  1724: 

"  Voted,  that  they  would  Pay  out  of  the  treasury  of  Norton  five  shil- 
lings a  head  to  any  Person  or  Persons  that  shall  Bring  any  wildcat's 
head  to  the  Jowne  Clerk  :  and  if  the  said  clerk  any  ways  scruples 
whether  they  ware  cilled  in  the  sd.  towne  or  Present,  that  then  they 
shall  make  oath  that  they  ware  before  the  towne  Clerk  ;  and  then  the 
said  clerk  shall  Give  an  order  to  the  towne  treasurer  for  sd.  sum  or 
sums,  who  shall  Pay  it  accordingly.  And  there  shall  be  a  rate  made 
upon  the  Poles  and  estates  of  sd.  towne  and  Present  to  supply  the  treas- 
ury for  that  Purpose." 

Sept.  14,  1724,  the  town  and  East  Precinct  "  voted 
to  pay  Benjamin  Drake  for  killing  one  wild-cat,  £00. 
05s.  Qd."     He  probably  was  of  the  East  Precinct. 

"  Marcb  ye  1st,  1724-5.— Joseph  Godfrey,  John  Caswell,  and  Eben- 
ezer  White,  Brought  Each  of  them  a  wild-cat's  Head  to  me,  and  I  cut 
the  Ears  of  from  them  ;  and  the  towne  of  Norton  was  to  pay  five  shill- 
ings a  head  for  each  of  them. 

"  Per  me,  Geokgk  Leonard,  Clerk." 

Oct.  6,  1725. — "  Voted  to  Raise  five  shillings  more  in  said  Rate  to  pay 
to  Thomas  Skinner,  Sen.,  for  a  wild-cat's  head,  which  he  ciled." 

March  28,  1726.— "Voted,  that  they  would  not  Pay  for  Killing  of  wild- 
cats the  year  ensueing,  nor  for  the  wild-cats  which  have  been  Killed 
sence  ye  act  about  said  cats  was  out." 

May  23,  1715,  the  town  "  voted  to  pay  three  half- 
pence a  head  for  every  flying  blackbird  or  Jaw's 
head  that  shoald  be  kild  in  this  town,  and  the  heads 
brought  to  the  selectmen,  or  John  Smith  or  Eliezer 
fisher,  between  this  time  and  next  March." 

"  Sept.  the  19th,  1715,  voted  to  pay  — 

s.  d. 

To  Robert  Tucker,  for  killing  birds 02  09 

To  Benjamin  Williams,  for  killing  19  birds 02  02 

To  Tho.  Stephens,  for  killing  11  birds.  01  03 

To  John  Hall,  for  killing  six  birds 00  09 

To  Ensign  Wetherell,  for  killing  7  birds 00  10 

To  Simeon  Wetherell,  for  killing  6  birds 00  09 

To  John  Newland,  Senior,  for  killing  10  birds 01  03 

To  Seth  Babit,  for  killing  four  birds 00  06 

To  Benjamin  Newland,  for  killing  5  birds 00  07 

To  John  Hodges,  for  killing  20  birds 02  06 

To  Nicolas  Smith,  for  killing  four  birds 00  06 

To  Lt.  Brintnall,  for  killing  38  birds 04  09 

To  John  Austin,  for  3  birds 00  04." 

March  20,  1717,  "  Voted  three  ha'pence  for  black- 
birds' heads,  and  Jayes  and  Woodpeckers." 


NORTON. 


603 


March  19,  1718,  by  a  vote  of  the  town,  "The  act 
Revised  Conserning  the  kiling  of  birds  ;"  and  it  is 
supposed  that  for  several  years  a  premium  was  thus 
paid  for  the  destruction  of  these  birds. 

In  September,  1741,  the  town  "  voted  to  raise  £40 
for  the  Suport  of  the  Scoole,  and  for  the  birds'  and 
Squrils'  heads,  and  the  poor."  We  suppose  this  was 
for  the  support  of  "  the  poor,"  and  not  a  bounty  of- 
fered for  cutting  off  their  "  heads." 

April  4,  1803,  "  Voted  to  give  25  cents  for  every 
old  crow  that  should  be  killed  in  the  town  of  Norton 
and  carried  to  the  Town  Treasurer." 

First  Settlers. — The  following  is  a  list  of  the  first 
settlers  of  Norton,  all  of  whom,  with  one  exception, 
are  known  to  have  been  here  prior  to  or  in  1711,  con- 
densed from  Rev.  Mr.  Clark's  "  History  of  Norton" : 

Peter  Aldrich  was  one  of  the  original  members  of 

the  church.     His  wife  was  Experience ,  married 

before  1702,  and  they  had  three  children. 

Deacon  John  Andrews  might  have  been  the  son  of 
Henry  and  Mary  (Deane)  Andrews,  who  were  mar- 
ried Feb.  17,  1685-86,  and  was  born  about  1686.  He 
is  supposed  to  have  been  a  grandson  of  Henry  An- 
drews, one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Taunton. 

John  Austin  was  the  son  of  Jonah  Austin,  Jr.,  of 
Taunton,  and  was  born  1st  July,  1671.  He  lived  at 
the  east  part  of  the  town.    When  he  died  is  unknown. 

Samuel  Bayley  lived  at  the  east  part  of  Mansfield. 
He  married,  Aug.  28,  1711,  Elizabeth  Caswell,  and 
had  eight  or  nine  children.  He  died  previous  to 
March  5,  1754. 

Thomas  Braman,  Sr.,  might  have  been  the  son  of 
Thomas,  who  with  his  Avife  were  at  Taunton  June, 
1653.  He  died  June  7,  1709;  his  widow  died  Sept. 
18, 1714* 

Thomas  Braman,  Jr.,  is  supposed  to  have  been  the 
s6n  of  Thomas,  Sr.,  just  mentioned,  and  to  have  been 
born  about  1686.  He  was  dead  previous  to  May  1, 
1725. 

Daniel  Braman  was  the  son  of  Thomas,  Sr.,  and 
Hannah  (Fisher)  Braman,  and  was  born  Oct.  11, 
1688.     He  lived  at  the  place  where  his  father  settled. 

Deacon  John  Briggs  was  the  son  of  Richard  and 
Rebecca  (Haskins)  Briggs,  of  Taunton,  and  was  born 
Feb.  26,  1669  (79?).  He  is  presumed  to  have  lived 
near  the  Centre,  as  he  used  to  sweep  the  meeting- 
house, and  was  several  times  chosen  "  Clark  of  ye 
Market." 

Joseph  Briggs  (brother  of  Deacon  John,  last  named) 
was  born  15th  June,  1674. 

Richard  Briggs  was  the  brother  of  Deacon  John 
and  Joseph,  just  mentioned,  and  was  born  12th  Jan- 
uary, 1679. 

Deacon  John  Briggs,  Jr.,  is  supposed  to  have  been 
the  son  of  William  and  Sarah  (Maeomber)  Briggs,  of 
Taunton,  and  was  born  19th  March,  1680. 

Samuel  Briggs  was  an  early  settler.  He  married, 
July  27,  1692,  Mary  Hall,  and  had  several  children. 
He  died  about  1705. 


Capt.  Samuel  Brintnell  was  the  son  of  Thomas  and 
Esther  Brintnell  (the  first  settlers  of  what  is  now 
Mansfield),  and  born  Dec.  2  (?),  1665.  He  lived  at  the 
homestead  of  his  father,  and  was  a  very  influential 
man  in  the  early  history  of  the  town,  much  em- 
ployed in  public  affairs  as  selectman  and  representa- 
tive to  the  General  Court. 

Samuel  Brintnell,  Jr.,  was  the  son  of  Samuel,  just 
mentioned,  and  was  probably  born  about  1690,  and 
lived  near  the  old  homestead. 

Sylvanus  Cambell  settled  probably  before  1700. 

John  Caswell,  Sr.,  was  the  son  of  Thomas  Caswell, 
of  Taunton,  and  was  born  July  1,  1656.  He  settled 
at  the  east  part  of  what  is  now  Mansfield. 

John  Caswell,  Jr.,  was  the  son  of  John,  just  named, 
and  was  born  July  19,  1690.  He  settled  at  the  east- 
erly part  of  Mansfield. 

Benjamin  Caswell  was  probably  the  son  of  Thomas, 
and  the  grandson  of  Thomas,  Sr.,  of  Taunton,  and 
was  born  Nov.  16,  1675.  He  probably  lived  some- 
where in  the  east  part  of  Mansfield. 

James  Caswell  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  brother 
of  Benjamin,  and  was  born  May  17,  1681. 

John  Cobb  might  have  been  the  son  of  John  and 
Jane  (Woodward)  Cobb,  of  Taunton,  and  was  born 
March  31,  1678. 

William  Cobb  was,  perhaps,  a  brother  of  John. 
He  lived  in  the  easterly  part  of  the  town. 

Seth  Dorman  settled  in  the  east  part  of  what  is 
now  Mansfield. 

Joseph  Dunham  lived  on  Lockety  Neck. 

Ebenezer  Eddy  was  the  son  of  John  and  Deliver- 
ance (Owin)  Eddy,  of  Taunton,  grandson  of  Samuel 
and  Elizabeth  Eddy,  of  Plymouth,  great-grandson 
of  Rev.  William  Eddy,  a  Non-conformist  minister  of 
Cranbrook,  Kent  Co.,  England,  and  was  born  16th 
May,  1676  (?).     He  settled  near  Crane's  Depot, 

Eleazer  Eddy  was  a  brother  of  Ebenezer,  and  was 
born  16th  October,  1681. 

Joseph  Elliot  lived  at  the  east  part  of  Mansfield. 

Samuel  Fisher  was  the  son  of  Daniel  and  Hannah 
Fisher,  of  Taunton,  and  was  born  3d  December,  1669. 

Eleazer  Fisher  was  the  brother  of  Samuel,  and  was 
born  12th  May,  1673. 

Israel  Fisher  was  born  27th  March,  1680,  and  is 
supposed  to  have  settled  near  his  brothers,  Samuel 
and  Eleazer.  He  was  one  of  the  original  members  of 
the  church. 

Nathaniel  Fisher  was  a  brother  of  those  just  men- 
tioned, and  was  born  9th  February,  1681.  He  proba- 
bly lived  near  Barrowsville. 

Thomas  Grover  was  the  son  of  Thomas  and  Sarah 
(Chadwick)  Grover,  of  Maiden,  and  was  born,  accord- 
ing to  records,  March,  1668  (1669?).  He  settled  near 
what  is  now  West  Mansfield. 

Andrew  Grover,  the  brother  of  Thomas,  was  born 
October,  1673. 

Deacon  Ephraim  Grover,  a  brother  of  those  previ- 
ously mentioned,  was  born  about  1675. 


«04 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


John  Hall  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  son  of 
Samuel  Hall,  of  Taunton,  and  born  19th  October, 
1666.  He  lived  in  the  Mansfield  part  of  Norton,  near 
to  Cobbler's  Corner,  probably  on  the  east  side  of  Rum- 
ford  River. 

Ebenezer  Hall  was  the  brother  of  John,  born  19th 
of  March,  1677. 

Nathaniel  Harvey  has  left  behind  him  but  very  few 
traces.     His  wife's  name  was  Susannah. 

John  Hodges  was  the  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
(Macy)  Hodges,  of  Taunton  (grandson  of  William 
Hodges,  who  was  at  Taunton  in  1643),  and  was  born 
5th  of  April,  1673. 

Nathaniel  Hodges  was  the  brother  of  John,  and 
was  born  2d  of  April,  1675. 

Samuel  Hodges  was  a  brother  of  the  above,  and  was 
born  20th  of  May,  1678. 

William  Hodges  was  also  a  brother  of  those  just 
mentioned,  and  was  born  6th  of  June,  1682.  He  set- 
tled near  the  common  graveyard,  just  beyond  Austin 
Messenger's. 

John  Lane  was  the  son  of  Andrew  and  Tryphena 
Lane,  of  Hingham,  and  grandson  of  William  Lane, 
who  came  to  Dorchester  from  England  (?)  in  1635- 
36,  and  died  about  1654. 

"  Hon.  George  Leonard,  the  son  of  Judge  Thomas 
and  Mary  (Watson)  Leonard,  of  Taunton,  grandson 
of  James  and  Margaret  Leonard,  who  came  to  Taun- 
ton in  1652,  and  great-grandson  of  Thomas  Leonard, 
of  Pontypool,  Wales,  was  born  18th  of  April,  1671. 
This  family  of  Leonards  claimed  descent  from  Len- 
nard  Lord  Dacre,  one  of  the  most  distinguished  fami- 
lies of  the  nobility  of  the  United  Kingdom,  and  de- 
scended in  two  lines  from  Edward  III.  through  two 
of  his  sons,  John  of  Gaunt,  Duke  of  Lancaster,  and 
Thomas  Plantaganet,  Duke  of  Gloucester.  There  ap- 
pears to  be  some  ground  for  this  claim,  from  the  fact 
that  the  arms  of  the  Lennard  and  Leonard  families 
were  the  same.  Near  the  close  of  the  last  century 
the  last  Lord  Dacre,  bearing  the  name  of  Lennard, 
died,  and  it  is  supposed  that  the  late  Judge  Leonard, 
who  was  a  grandson  of  George,  who  first  settled  in 
Norton,  could  have  claimed  the  title.  At  any  rate, 
there  was  some  consultation  among  the  Leonards  in 
this  vicinity  upon  the  propriety  of  claiming  it;  but  I 
am  told  the  matter  ended  by  the  judge  saying  that 
'  he  preferred  to  be  lord  of  acres  in  America  rather 
that  Lord  Dacre  in  England.' 1  Whether  descended 
from  Lord  Dacre  or  not,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  and 
his  descendants  lived  very  much  in  the  style  of  the 
English  nobility,  being  the  owners  of  an  immense 
tract  of  land,  and  surrounded  by  their  tenantry. 
Probably  no  family  in  New  England  were  lords  of 
more  acres  than  the  Norton  Leonards.  The  ances- 
tors of  George  Leonard  were  interested  in  the  iron- 
works both  in  England  and  America,  and,  as  we  have 


1  For  more  particulars  of  the  Leonard  family  than  are  given  here,  see 
Genealogical  Register,  vol.  v.  p.  403  and  onward. 


already  stated,  he  acted  as  the  agent  of  his  father  and 
Uncle  James  in  setting  up,  in  1695,  the  first  bloomery 
or  iron-forge  within  the  limits  of  our  town.  The 
house  (built  before  1700)  in  which  George  Leonard 
lived  is  still  standing,  and  is  said  to  have  been  the 
first  framed  house  erected  in  town." 

Benjamin  Newland,  the  son  of  Jeremiah  and  Kath- 
erine  Newland,  of  Taunton,  was  born  about  1670  (?). 

John  Newland  was  a  brother  of  Benjamin. 

Jabez  Pratt  was  perhaps  the  son  of  Jonathan,  of 
Plymouth,  born  Nov.  1,  1673. 

Ejdiraim  Sheldon  settled  in  the  westerly  part  of 
Mansfield. 

Isaac  Shepard  was  the  son  of  Thomas  and  Hannah 
(Ensign)  Shepard,  and  was  born  at  Charlestown  in 
April  or  May,  1682. 

Thomas  Skinner,  the  son  of  Thomas  and  Mary  (?) 
Skinner,  and  grandson  of  Thomas,  who  came  from 
Chichester,  England,  about  1650,  and  settled  in  Mai- 
den, was  born  November,  1668.  He  settled  in  the 
westerly  part  of  the  North  Purchase,  now  Mansfield, 
as  early  as  1695. 

John  Skinner  was  a  brother,  or  perhaps  only  half- 
brother,  of  Thomas,  for  Mary,  the  wife  of  Thomas 
Skinner,  died  at  Maiden,  April  9,  1671,  and  John 
was  born  April,  1673.  He  settled  in  the  west  part  of 
the  North  Purchase  about  the  time  Thomas  did. 

Nicholas  Smith  was  the  "  step-child"  of  Farmer 
Smith,  of  Taunton,  and  was  born  21st  February,  1672. 

John  Smith  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  son  of 
John  and  Jael  (?)  (Parker)  Smith,  of  Taunton,  and 
to  have  been  born  6th  December,  1680. 

Thomas  Stephens  was  the  son  of  Richard  Stephens, 
of  Taunton,  and  was  born  3d  February,  1674.  He 
is  supposed  to  have  lived  near  the  centre  of  the  town. 
In  1712  he  had  land  laid  out  to  him  on  Lockety 
Neck,  near  the  junction  of  Rumford  and  Wading 
Rivers.     He  was  one  of  the  first  board  of  selectmen. 

Robert  Tucker  was  here  as  early  as  1698. 

William  Wetherell  was  the  son  of  the  first  settler 
of  Norton,  and  was  born  about  1650  (?).  He  lived 
at  the  place  where  his  father  is  supposed  to  have  first 
"pitched"  his  habitation  within  the  limits  of  Norton, 
near  the  outlet  of  Winneconnet  Pond. 

William  Wetherell,  Jr.,  was  the  son  of  William 
last  named,  and  grandson  of  the  first  settler. 

Jeremiah  Wetherell  was  the  son  of  William  and 
Elizabeth  (Newland)  Wetherell,  but  when  born  is 
unknown.  He  lived  at  the  east  part  of  the  town,  and 
afterwards  moved  into  Taunton. 

John  Wetherell  was  the  son  of  William,  the  first 
settler,  and  was  born  in  1664. 

John  Wetherell,  Jr.,  the  son  of  John,  already  men- 
tioned, was  born  Oct.  8, 1688,  and  is  said  to  have  been 
the  first  child  born  within  the  limits  of  Norton.  He 
lived  at  the  east  part  of  the  town,  upon  the  old  home- 
stead. 

Deacon  Nicholas  White  was  the  son  of  Nicholas 
and   Ursilla    (Macomber)   White,   of   Taunton,  and 


NORTON. 


605 


grandson  of  Nicholas,  of  Taunton,1  and  was  born  Feb. 
3,  1675.  He  settled  within  the  limits  of  Mansfield, 
close  to  the  line  between  the  old  town  of  Taunton  and 
the  North  Purchase. 

Matthew  White  was  a  brother  of  Deacon  Nicholas, 
and  was  born  Oct.  25,  1676.  He  lived  not  far  distant 
from  his  brother,  in  Mansfield. 

Edward  White  lived  at  the  east  part  of  the  town. 

Deacon  Benjamin  Williams  was  the  son  of  Joseph 
and  Elizabeth  Williams,  of  Taunton,  grandson  of 
Richard  and  Francis  (Dighton)  Williams,  and  was 
born  15th  October,  1681.  He  settled,  about  the  time 
of  his  marriage,  at  the  northerly  part  of  Mansfield. 


CHAPTER    XLVII. 

NORTON.— ( Continued.) 

MILITARY   HISTORY— THE  HEROES  OF  FIVE   WARS. 

The  Old  French  War — The  French  and  Indian  War — War  of  the  Revo- 
lution—War  of  1812— War  of  the  Rebellion,  1861-65. 

The  Old  French  War. — "A  company  of  soldiers 
for  this  war  was  raised  in  Norton  and  vicinity,  with 
John  Caswell  as  ensign ;  and,  there  being  no  lieuten- 
ant, he  was  soon  promoted  to  that  office. 

Those  from  Norton  were, — ■ 

Drummer,  Thomas  Brayman  ;  Philip  Atherton,  Jeremiah  Cambell, 
Micajah  Dorman,  Abijah  Fisher,  John  Fisher,  Eleazer  Fisher,  John  For- 
rist,  Isaiah  Forrist,  Samuel  Forrist,  Thomas  Grover,  Zepheniah  Lane, 
Ephraim  Thayer. 

"  Seven  men  were  transferred  from  Maj.  Hodges'  to 
Nathaniel  Williams'  company.  Three  of  these,  viz., 
John  Finny,  John  Finny,  Jr.,  and  Jonathan  Lane, 
are  supposed  to  have  belonged  to  Norton.  From 
this  expedition  Maj.  Hodges  never  returned.  One 
account  says,  '  He  died  in  the  early  part  of  the  war, 
when  stationed  on  the  lines  between  the  present  State 
of  Maine  and  Canada.'  Another  account  says  "  that, 
on  his  returning  voyage  (from  Cape  Breton)  in  a 
French  vessel  he  died  suddenly,  and  there  was  sus- 
picion that  he  was  poisoned.' 

"  He  is  represented  '  as  a  man  of  a  brave,  chivalrous 
spirit.' 

"  This  war  extended  from  1756  to  1763.  To  assist  in 
carrying  it  on,  Norton  furnished  her  full  quota  of 
officers  and  soldiers.  In  Capt.  Nathaniel  Perry's 
company,  of  Easton,  on  service  in  1754,  employed  for 
the  defense  of  the  Eastern  frontier,  we  find  the  follow- 
ing men  belonging  to  Norton  : 

"Jonathan  Eddy,  William  Rogers,  Levi  Lane,  Samuel  Pratt,  Elijah 
Smith,  John  Thayer,  George  Wretherell,  Elisha  Thayer,  and  Ephraim 
Briggs. 


1  He  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  same  person,  made  a  freeman  in 
1642,  who  married  Susannah,  daughter  of  Jonas  and  Frances  Humphrey, 
and  was  at  Dorchester  in  1652. 


"  In  the  autumn  of  1755,  in  an  expedition  to  Crown 
Point,  were  the  following  persons,  either  born,  or  re- 
siding at  the  time,  in  Norton: 

"  Samuel  Eddy,  Eleazer  Eddy,  Nicholas  White,  Jr.,  Benjamin  Bailey, 
Joseph  Mitchell,  Seth  Gilbert,  Ephraim  Briggs,  John  Cobb,  Daniel  Tif- 
fany, Nathan  Lawrence. 

'  The  following  were  in  the  '  expedition  against 
Crown  Point:' 

"Capt.  Joseph  Hodges;  Ensign,  Gideon  Basset;  Sergeants,  Oliver 
Eddy,  John  Thayer  ;  Corporals,  George  Braman,  Obediah  Eddy  ;  Thomas 
Winchel,  John  White,  Martin  Dassance,  Joseph  Tucker,  Samuel  Brir.t- 
nell,  Josiah  King,  Joseph  Brintnell,  Jonathan  Newland,  Jotham  Bas- 
set, Elkanah  Wellman,  Elisha  Thayer,  Isaac  Day,  David  Coleson,  John 
Holmes,  John  Martin,  Thomas  Nichols,  David  Smith,  Jacob  Grover, 
James  Pearson. 

"  The  following  also  served  in  this  war  : 

"Clerk,  John  Basset;  Nathaniel  White,  William  Merry,  Ebenezer 
Turner,  Nicholas  Smith. 

"Lieut.  Nathan  Hodges,  Josiah  Tucker,  Thomas  Ray,  Joseph  Wood- 
ard,  Joseph  Mitchell,  Robert  Craig,  Job  Tucker. 

"Philip  White,  George  Wheaton,  First  Lieut. 
Ephraim  Lane,  Nathaniel  Lane,  Simeon  Cobb,  Abiel 
Lane. 

"  From  May  12, 1759,  to  Jan.  2, 1760,  Capt.  Nathan 
Hodges,  of  Norton,  was  out  with  a  company  of  men 
from  this  town,  whose  names  we  here  record : 

"Second  Lieutenant,  Elijah  Hodges;  Ensign,  John  King;  Sergeants, 
Ephraim  Hodges,  Silas  Cook,  Israel  Trow,  Abiel  Eddy;  Corporals,  Wil- 
liam Puffer,  Hezekiah  King;  Privates,  Elkanah  Bishop,  John  Cook,  Wil- 
liam Dean,  Record  Franklin,  David  Fisher,  Joseph  Hart,  David  Hodges, 
Abraham  Martin,  Benjamin  Morey,  Soloman  Trow,  Ebenezer  Titus,  Na- 
than Wood,  Benjamin  Willis,  Josiah  White,  Nathaniel  Wood,  Henry 
White. 

"  John  Hall,  of  Norton,  was  out  in  Capt.  Burt's 
company,  of  Milton. 

"  In  Capt.  Job  Williams'  company,  of  Taunton, 
from  Feb.  13  to  Dec.  26,  1760,  there  were,  belonging 
to  Norton, — 

"Benjamin  Briggs,  Benjamin  Cole,  Jonas  Caswell,  Hezekiah  Drake, 
Jacob  Grover,  Joseph  Mitchell,  Stephen  Ranger,  Isaac  Tucker,  Henry 
White. 

"  In  1760  and  1761  there  enlisted,  for  the  total  re- 
duction of  Canada,  from  Norton, — 

"Isaac  Tucker,  Jacob  Hoor,  Joseph  Mitchell,  Daniel  Wetherell,  Wil- 
liam Dean,  Jr.,  Henry  White,  Jr.,  Jonathan  Caswell,  Samuel  Ranger, 
Obediah  Brintnell,  and  Abiel  Caswell.'' 

Revolutionary  War.— The  first  reference  to  the 
war  of  the  Revolution  found  in  the  old  town  records 
is  under  date  Jan.  16,  1775,  when  it  was  "  voted  to 
adhear  to  the  advise  and  Recommendations  of  the 
association  of  the  Continental  Congress."  They  also 
chose  a  committee  "to  see  to  the  faithful  performance 
of  the  Recommendations  of  the  Continental  Congress; 
only  the  said  Committee,  or  the  major  part  of  them, 
[should]  not  expose  any  person  but  by  order  of  said 
town."  The  Committee  of  Correspondence  and  In- 
spection consisted  of  John  King,  Benjamin  Morey, 
William  Smith.  Isaac  Smith,  and  Israel  Trow.  March 
6th  added  to  this  committee  James' Hodges,  Noah 
Wiswall,  Eleazer  Walker,  Elkanah  Lane,  Benjamin 


606 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Pearson,  David  Lincoln,  Isaac  Hodges,  and  Eleazer 
Clap.     It  was  then 

"Voted  that  the  committee  of  Inspection  be  Directed  to  take  particular 
notice  of  all  persons  that  should  sell  any  kind  of  provisions  to  any  per- 
son or  persons  that  they  think  is  bying  with  a  view  to  distress  the  In- 
habitants of  this  province." 

Thus  far  all  had  been  preparation,  though  no 
actual  hostilities  had  commenced,  but  the  ever-mem- 
orable 19th  of  April  came,  when  the  streets  of  Lex- 
ington and  Concord  drank  up  the  first  blood  of  the 
Revolution.  The  alarm  quickly  spread  through  the 
country.  It  reached  Norton  some  time  during  the 
day,  and  ere  the  morrow's  sun  had  risen  Capt.  Silas 
Cobb  and  Capt.  Seth  Gilbert,  each  with  a  detach- 
ment of  men,  were  on  their  march  to  join  with  others 
in  repelling  the  invasion.  All  of  Capt.  Cobb's  com- 
pany left  home  April  19th,  and  their  term  of  service 
varied  from  four  to  ten  days.  It  is  proper  that  their 
names  go  down  to  posterity,  and  we  therefore  record 
them  : 

John  Allen,  second  lieutenant;  Nathaniel  Prior,  sergeant ;  Nathaniel 
Stone,  corporal;  John  Hodges,  corporal;  Abner  Tucker,  drummer; 
Abiel  Hodges,  Tisdale  Hodges,  Isaac  Haradon,  Abiel  Lincoln,  Jonathan 
Franklin,  Noah  Woodward,  Josiah  Woodward,  Joseph  Hodges,  Abijah 
Fisher,  Phillip  Hor,  Josiah  Hodges,  Samuel  Hodges,  David  Hodges,  pri- 
vates. 

The  term  of  service  of  Capt.  Gilbert's  men  was 
from  four  to  twelve  days  : 

George  Makepeace,  first  lieutenant;  Noah  Wiswall,  Seth  Smith,  Elea- 
zar  Clap,  William  Makepeace,  sergeants;  David  Clap,  Jonathan  Leonard 
(20),  Samuel  Hunt  (27),  corporals;  privates,  Isaac  Smith,  John  Hall, 
Seth  Smith,  Jr.,  Jacob  Shepard,  Seth  Shepard,  Stephen  Jennings,  Noah 
Wiswall,  Jr.,  Jacob  Shaw,  Antha.  Newland  (21),  Eben  Wetherell  (21), 
William  Copeland,  Noah  Clap  (20),  Stephen  Briggs,  Phineas  Briggs,  Levi 
Babbit,  Nathaniel  White,  Elisha  Cobb,  Edw.  Kingman,  John  Cook  (21), 
Joseph  Newcomb  (21),  John  Crane,  Jr.  (22),  Samuel  Newcomb,  2d  (27), 
Simeon  Wetherell,  2d  (26),  William  Clark  (26),  Solomon  Wetherell, 
Timothy  Briggs,  2d  (z0),  Jonathan  Briggs,  Elijah  Briggs,  Israel  Trow, 
Seth  Williams,  Simeon  Briggs,  Elijah  Danforth,  Eleazar  Walker,  Samuel 
Copeland  (20),  Edw.  Babbit,  Reuben  Tisdale  (27),  James  Boldery,  Jr. 
(27),  John  Austin  (27),  Abijah  Lincoln  (27),  John  Newcomb  (27),  Samuel 
Godfrey  (27),  Joel  Briggs  (27),  Nathan  Babbit,  2d  (27),  William  Cobb, 
Jr.  (26). 

May  8,  1775,  the  citizens  "  voted  to  bye  teen  guns 
and  Bagonets  for  the  use  of  said  Town."  At  the  ad- 
journment, May  22d, — 

"Voted  to  pay  so  many  men  as  to  make  half  the  number  of  men  in 
the  Training-Lists,  which  are  to  be  raised  out  of  the  Laram  and  Train- 
ing Lisls  for  miuit  men  ;  and  to  be  paid  for  the  time  they  shall  be  neces- 
sarily Detained  in  service  upon  any  Emergency,  as  much  as  the  said 
town  shall  think  proper." 

The  following  is  the  return  of  Capt.  Silas  Cobb's 
company,  made  Oct.  6,  1775.  The  men  were  enlisted 
for  eight  months : 

Officers. — Silas  Cobb,  captain;  Isaac  Smith,  lieutenant ;  Isaac  Fisher, 
ensign. 

Sergeants.— Edmund  Hodges,  Nathaniel  Lane,  Jonathan  Hodges, 
Nathaniel  White. 

Corporals. — Jonathan  Franklin,  Richard  Cobb,  Stephen  Jennings. 

Drum  and  Fife.— Abner  Tucker,  Jabez  Briggs. 

Privates. — Joshua  Atherton,  Jacob  Allen,  John  Austin,  Stephen 
Briggs,  Phineas  Briggs,  James  Boldery,  John  Boldery,  Isaac  Basset, 
Benjamin  Braman,  Levi  Babbit,  Elisha  Cobb,  John  Capron,  Abiel  (?) 
Derby,  Abner  Derby,  Abijah  Fisher,  John  Hodges,  David  Hodges,  John 
Hodges  (2d),  Lanson  (?)  Hodges,  Isaac  Harridon,  Stephen  Kelly,  Abiel 


Lincoln,  Rufus  Lincoln,  Amos  Martin,  Joseph  Pratt,  Daniel  Pratt, 
Joshua  Pond,  Oliver  Smith,  Abiathar  Smith,  Seth  Smith,  Nathan  Shaw, 
Jacob  Shaw,  Abiathar  Shaw,  Abel  Wetherel,  Noah  Wiswall. 

In  the  return  of  Capt.  Masa  Williams'  company,  of 
Easton,  made  Oct.  6,  1775,  were  the  following  men 
from  Norton  : 

Officers. — Samuel  Lane,  lieutenant;  John  Cook,  ensign  ;  Samuel  Cope- 
land, sergeant ;  Benjamin  Morey,  corporal. 

Privates. — James  Newcomb,  James  Cook,  Abiel  Knapp,  Robert  Hagin, 
Edward  Kingman,  Amos  Tucker,  Moses  Downing,  Jedediah  Tucker, 
Zephaniah  Newland,  Isaac  Morey,  Daniel  Morey,  William  Merry,  John 
Newcomb,  Acors  Hewitt. 

Capt.  Josiah  King,  of  Norton,  was  also  in  the  eight 
months'  service  in  1775.  In  his  company  were  the 
following  men  from  Norton  : 

Thomas  Bass,  Josiah  King,  Comfort  Eddy,  Josiah  Smith,  Benjamin 
Tucker. 

There  were  also  out  in  three  different  companies, 
in  the  eight  months'  service,  the  following  persons 
from  Norton  : 

Peletiah  Day,  David  Balcom,  Jonathan  Pidge,  Israel  Smith,  Samuel 
Newcomb. 

Elijah  Eddy,  of  this  town,  was  in  Peter  Pitt's  com- 
pany, of  Dighton,  three  months  and  six  days  during 
this  year,  and  Nathan  Morey  was  chaplain  of  Timothy 
Walker's  regiment. 

"Sept.  18,  1775,  Voted  to  Eleazar  Clap,  which  he 
paid  for  mending  a  gun  for  the  town's  use,  £0.  3s. 
6d.;  also  to  the  same,  for  carrying  blankets  to  the 
army  for  said  town's  use,  £0.  2s.  /  also  to  the  same, 
for  thirty-two  days'  service  at  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress, £4.  4s.  4'1.;  also  to  Capt.  William  Homes,  for 
one  hundred  days'  attendance  at  said  Congress,  £12. 
18s." 

In  1776  the  Committee  of  Correspondence,  Inspec- 
tion, etc.,  were  William  Homes,  Andrew  Hodges, 
David  Lincoln,  John  Hall,  Noah  Woodward,  Ele- 
azer Clap,  and  Israel  Trow. 

During  1776  the  following  men  were  from  Norton, 
in  the  Rhode  Island  service,  in  Capt.  George  Make- 
peace's company  : 

Lieutenants. — Seth  Smith,  Ephraim  Lane,  Jr. 

Sergeants. — Daniel  Knap,  Daniel  Dean,  Hezekiah  Willard,  Abiel  Eddy. 

Corporals. — Edward  Darby,  Timothy  Briggs,  Elisha  Cobb,  Abiel 
Lincoln. 

Fife. — Abiathar  Shaw. 

Drum. — Jabez  Briggs.  ^ 

William  Makepeace,  John  Briggs,  John  Patten,  David  Arnold,  Eph- 
raim Eddy,  Oliver  Smith,  Ezra  Eddy,  John  Gilbert,  Benjamin  Blandin, 
Jeremiah  Cambell,  Phineas  Briggs,  Jacob  Shaw,  John  Clark,  John  Hall, 
Seth  Gilbert,  Timothy  Smith,  Isaac  Smith,  John  Cook,  Samuel  Lane, 
Amasa  Williams. 

There  also  went  from  Norton  to  Rhode  Island,  in 
Capt.  Isaac  Hodges'  company, — 

Nathaniel  Wood,  sergeant;  Rufus  Hodges,  John  Derry,  William  Car- 
penter, Joseph  Newcomb,  Job  White. 

Capt.  Isaac  Hodges  also  had  the  command  of  a 
company  in  the  Tiverton  alarm.  The  names  of  his 
men  (whether  all  from  Norton  is  uncertain)  were, — 

Lieut.  Brian  Hall ;  Jonathan  Hodges,  Amos  Martin,  Elkanah  Lin- 
coln, Benjamin  Braman,  John  Wetherell,  Josiah  Braman,  Sylvanus 
Braman,   Thomas   Braman,  Silas  Cobb,  Abisha   (?)   Capron,  Abraham 


NORTON. 


607 


Deny,  Aliijali  Fisher,  James  Hodge*,  Jesse  Hodges,  Rufus  Hodges,  Na- 
tliaiiiel  Hodges,  Simeon  Hodges,  Philip  Hore  (?), Stephen  Kelly,  Samuel 
Lincoln,  Josiah  Willis,  Timothy  Wellman,  Isaac  Stone,  William  Stone, 
Daniel  Phillips,  Ichabod  Perry,  Benajah  Tucker,  Meletiali  Washburn, 
Isaac  Fisher. 

In  a  secret  expedition  from  September  25th  to  Oc- 
tober 31st,  Capt.  Hodges  was  again  on  duty,  with  these 
men  under  his  command,  most  of  whom  were  from 
Norton : 

Nathaniel  Prior,  Elijah  Danforth,  Ebenezer  Titus,  Comfort  Day, 
Abie]  Eddy,  James  Fillebrown,  John  Clap,  Samuel  Fillebrowu,  James 
Newcomb,  William  Leonard,  William  Stone,  Daniel  Phillips,  Sylvester 
Cobb,  Abijah  Fisher,  Joseph  Braman,  Elias  Eddy,  Amasa  Lincoln, 
Joseph  Andrews,  Alexander  Balcom,  Peter  Derry,  John  Derry,  Eliab 
Derby,  John  Hodges,  George  Hodges,  Stephen  Kelly,  John  Wartm,  Asa 
Newcomb,  Elijah  Eddy,  Moses  Fisher,  George  Briggs,  Stephen  Briggs, 
Abijah  Lincoln,  Abijah  Wetherell,  Simeon  Briggs,  Samuel  Copeland, 
Josiah  Vining,  Solomon  Wetherell,  Nathaniel  Wood,  Ephraim  Eddy,  I 
Ezra  Willis,  Samuel  Pratt,  David  Lovit,  Abijah  White,  Amini  Kimball, 
Daniel  White,  Asa  Clap,  Jonathan  White,  Jedediah  Grover,  Nathaniel 
Sweeting,  Thomas  Skinner,  Zebulou  Hodges,  Nathaniel  Hodges,  Samuel 
White,  Jonathan  Lane,  Benjamin  Skinner,  Joseph  Titus,  Stephen  Pond, 
Isaac  Skinner,  Benjamin  Blandin,  William  Axtell  (?),  Abisha  Smith, 
Joshua  Pond,  Ichabod  Willis,  Beujamin  Fuller,  Levi  Babbit,  Ichabod 
Eddy,  Jonathan  Franklin,  Silas  Wellman,  Royal  White,  Caleb  Dunham, 
Nehemiah  Leonard,  Elisha  Thayer,  John  Harden,  Jesse  Grover. 

Dec.  8,  1776,  Capt.  Israel  Trow  marched  to  Rhode 
Island  at  the  head  of  the  following  men,  all  from 
Norton : 

Lieutenants. — David  Clap,  Edward  Babbit. 

Sergeants. — Seth  Williams,  Samuel  Hunt,  Jacob  Shepard,  Benjamin 
Wild. 

Corporals. — David  Lincoln,  John  Newcomb,  Jonathan  Briggs. 

JrYwafes.— David  Austin,  Simeon  Briggs,  Eleazer  Clap,  Noah  Clap,  Asa 
Copeland,  Abijah  Lincoln,  Joseph  Hunt,  Rufus  Lincoln,  Samuel  New- 
comb, Mase  Shepard,  Seth  Tisdale,  Reuben  Tisdale,  John  Tisdale,  Thomas 
Storey,  Thomas  Storey,  Jr.,  Solomon  Wetherell. 

Sept.  8,  1777,  the  town  "  voted  to  George  Cobb  for 
going  to  Milton  for  paper-cartridges  12s. ;  the  cost  of 
paper,  18s.  lOd. ;  for  a  box  to  stow  the  cartridges  in, 
3s.  ;  for  two  days  himself,  and  three  days  and  a  half 
of  Seth  Smith  and  Joshua  Pond,  to  make  cartridges, 
£4  2s. ;  for  thread  for  the  cartridges,  Is."  Also  "  voted 
that  the  selectmen  procure  the  town's  proportion  of 
arms  allowed  by  the  State,  and  that  tney  should  have 
the  money  to  purchase  said  arms  with."  Sept.  15, 
"  voted  that  ten  of  the  firearms  sent  to  this  town 
should  be  kept  as  a  store  for  said  town." 

In  April  and  May  of  this  year  Capt.  Israel  Trow 
had  the  command  of  the  following  men  in  the  Rhode 
Island  service.  Most  of  them  were  from  Norton,  but 
probably  not  all  : 

Lieutenants. — Isaac  White  and  Jonathan  Pratt. 

Sergeants. — John  White,  Jacob  Newland,  Amos  Martin,  Thomas  Eason. 

Corporals. — Samuel  Filbbrown,  Jesse  Hodges,  John  White,  Asa 
Williams. 

Drum. — Joel  Briggs. 

Fife.— John  White  (3d). 

Asa  Clap,  Abijah  Clap,  Asa  Copeland,  Eleazer  Eddy, -Nathan  Finney, 
ThomaB  Gibbs,  Benjamin  Hodges, Thomas  Bass,  Masa  Bassett,  Benjamin 
Cobb,  Jr.,  Mason  Cobb,  Josiah  Ciossinan,  William  Dunham,  Elias  Eddy, 
Levi  Francis,  David  Grover,  Philip  Horr,  Thomas  Hewit,  Zebulon 
Hodges,  Bethuel  Hack,  Amasa  Lincoln,  Timothy  Leonard,  Nehemiah 
Leonard,  Oliver  Lincoln,  Joel  Martin,  Benjamin  Merrifield,  Isaac  Make- 
peace, Ebenezer  Newcomb,  Daniel  Phillips  (2d),  Ebenezer  Richardson, 
Nathan  Richard,  Abisha  Smith,  Asa  Smith,  Nathaniel  Sweeting,  Benja- 
min Skinner,  Jonathan  Smith,  Joseph  Titus,  Amos  Shepardson,  Benja- 


min Trow,  Stephen  Thayer,  Ichabod  White,  John  White  (2d),  Job  White, 
Isaac  White,  Samuel  White,  Royal  White,  Silas  Williams,  Jacob  Wil- 
liams, John  Thayer. 

In  the  summer  of  the  same  year  Capt.  Trow  was 
again  in  service,  with  these  men  under  his  command, 
most  of  them  from  Norton, — 

Lieutenants.— Isaac  White,  Michael  Sweet,  Amos  Martin,  Amos  Ide, 
Thomas  Eason,  Daniel  Hewet,  Joel  Briggs,  John  White,  Christopher 
French,  Mason  Cobb,  Lemech  Blandin,  Thomas  Bass,  Isaac  White, 
Noah  Robinson,  Masa  Basset,  David  Balcom,  Asa  Clap,  Abijah  Clap, 
Asa  Copeland,  William  Carpenter,  David  Cooper,  Joseph  Dagget,  Eleazer 
Eddy,  Nathan  Finney,  Thomas  French,  David  Grover,  Thomas  Gibbs, 
Thomas  Hewit,  Thomas  French,  Jr.,  Zebulon  Hodges,  Isaac  Jackson, 
Amasa  Lincoln,  Timothy  Leonard,  Oliver  Lincoln,  Joel  Martin,  Eben- 
ezer Newcomb,  Henry  Peck,  Isaac  Perry,  Daniel  Reed,  Benjamin  Rich- 
ardson, Abisha  Smith,  George  Stanley,  Gideon  Stanley,  Ebenezer  Tyler, 
Abel  Titus,  Zelotes  Tyler,  Noah  Tiffany,  Benjamin  Trow,  Ichabod  Wil- 
lis, Samuel  White,  Royal  White,  Jacob  Williams,  Job  White,  Jonathan 
Wilmarth,  John  White,  Asa  W illianis,  Oliver  Wellman,  Asa  Smith. 

Capt.  George  Makepeace  had  the  command  of  a 
company  in  the  Rhode  Island  service  this  year.  In 
it  were  from  Norton, — 

Hezekiah  Willard,  Daniel  Knap,  William  Makepeace,  Edward  Darby, 
Timothy  Briggs,  Simeon  Wetherell,  George  Cobb,  John  Briggs,  Phineas 
Briggs,  John  Clark,  Abner  Tucker,  Seth  Smith. 

In  December,  Capt.  Silas  Cobb  had  the  command 
of  a  company.     In  it  were  these  men  from  Norton, — 

John  Allen,  second  lieutenant;  Nathaniel  White,  Amos  Martin,  Abiel 
Lincoln,  Benjamin  Hodges,  Jabez  Briggs,  Daniel  Hodges,  Samuel  Nor- 
ton, Elkauah  Hall,  George  Harvey,  Nathaniel  Prior,  Phillip  Horr,  Ed- 
mund Tucker,  Josiah  Smith,  Masa  Basset,  Thomas  Bass,  John  Hall  2d, 
Paul  Cook,  Joel  Martin,  Jonathan  Smith,  William  Makepeace,  Rufus 
Lincoln,  William  Carpenter,  Joseph  Harridon,  John  Hall,  Timothy  Well- 
man,  Jonathan  Clark,  Thomas  Hewit,  Ephraim  Knap,  Snellum  Babbit. 

In  1777  the  persons  whose  names  are  here  recorded 
enlisted  into  the  army  for  three  years.  All  did  not, 
however,  serve  the  full  time  of  their  enlistment.  The 
figures  attached  to  the  names  show  the  number  of 
months  the  individual  was  in  service. 

Benjamin  Morey  (36),  William  Merry  (10),  Csesar  Makepeace  (32), 
Ca;sar  Morey  (44),  Jonathan  Morey  (5),  Isaac  Morey  (10),  Nathaniel 
Morey  (36),  Daniel  Morey  (15),  Jedediah  Tucker  (33),  Josiah  Tucker 
(36),  Jacob  Allen  (37),  Jeremiah  Cambell  (36),  Ezekiel  Clap  (3),  John 
Capron  (20),  James  Dorsey  (?)  (46),  Francis  Guil low,  John  Harridon  (36), 
Josiah  King  (45),  Josiah  King  (39). 

For  1778  the  Committee  of  Correspondence,  etc., 
were  Jonathan  Clap,  David  Arnold,  Isaac  Smith, 
John  Hall,  and  Seth  Gilbert. 

March  9,  1778,  "  voted  that  the  selectmen  should 
procure  powder,  flints,  lead,  and  gun-locks  of  the 
board  [of]  war." 

May  11th,  "voted  that  the  officers  of  the  several 
companies  should  raise  the  men  sent  for  by  the  Gen- 
eral Court  on  the  best  terms  they  can ;  and,  if  they 
cannot  procure  them  for  thirty  pounds  granted  by 
said  Court,  that  the  town  will  pay  the  overplus." 
The  officers  were  further  directed  "  to  hire  the  money 
to  procure  said  men  with,  if  thirty  pounds  will  not." 

We  give  below  the  members  of  Capt.  Israel  Trow's 
company,  drafted  for  three  months'  service  in  Rhode 
Island,  commencing  Jan.  1,  1778.  Most  of  them  are 
known  to  have  belonged  to  this  town : 


608 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Lieutenants. — Ebenezer  Brintnell,  Ephraim  Lane. 

Sergeants. — Jonathan  Newcomb,  William  Bonney,  William  Wetherell, 
Jonathan  Briggs. 

Corporals.— Theophilus  Crossman,  Joseph  Spurr,  Joel  Briggs,  William 
Arerry. 

Drum. — John  Wetherell. 

Privates. — Masa  Basset,  Thomas  Bass,  Samuel  Bailey,  John  Bates, 
Obadiah  Brintnell,  Jonathan  Clark,  Ebenezer  Cane,  Banfield  Capron, 
Caleb  Dunham,  Abraham  Berry,  Peter  Derry,  John  Dunbar,  Ichabod 
Eddy,  Ezra  Eddy,  John  Field,  Israel  Fisher,  Calvin  Fillebrown,  William 
Hodges,  Zebulon  Hodges,  John  Hall,  Jr.,  William  Lane,  Ephraim  Knap, 
Timothy  Leonard,  Paul  Lincoln,  Jonathan  Meburen  (?),  Daniel  Phillips, 
Ichabod  Kandall,  Solomon  Skinner,  Enoch  Story,  Asa  Smith,  William 
Story,  Benajah  Tucker,  Jesse  Tupper,  Stephen  Thayer,  Benjamin  Trow, 
Ichabod  Willis,  Permer  (?)  Wood,  John  White,  Timothy  Wellman, 
Josiah  Willis,  Ezra  Willis,  Levi  Woodward,  Abiathar  Shaw,  Seth 
Tiffany. 

The  following  men  from  Norton  enlisted  for  one 
year,  from  Jan.  1,  1778,  in  Capt.  Joseph  Cole's  com- 
pany, of  Bridgewater : 

Seth  Smith,  Asa  Newcomb,  Elkanah  Hall,  Ichabod  Eddy,  Levi  Wood- 
ward, John  Cobb,  John  White,  Timothy  Skinner,  Elias  Eddy,  Simeon 
Wetherell,  John  Gilbert,  Masa  Basset. 

In  Capt.  Isaac  Hodges'  company,  engaged  in  Rhode 
Island  service,  we  find  these  names.  Most  of  them 
were  from  this  town  : 

David  Keith,  Isaac  White,  Lewis  Sweeting,  Nat.  Freeman,  Alexander 
Keith,  James  Newcomb,  John  White,  Eliab  Darby,  Edmund  Macomber, 
Abiel  White,  Joel  Briggs,  Thomas  Grover,  Alexander  Balcom,  Thomas 
Braman,  Samuel  Bailey,  Obadiah  Brintnell,  Stephen  Briggs,  Benjamin 
Braman,  Levi  Babbit,  Rufus  Clap,  Abijah  Clap,  Asa  Clap,  William  Clark, 
William  Dunham,  James  Fillebrown,  Asa  Fillebrown,  Cornelius  Gibbs, 
George  Hodges,  Elijah  Hodges,  Abial  Leonard,  Isaac  Lincoln,  Isaac 
Lathrop,  John  Newland,  Nathaniel  Prior,  Seth  Pitts,  John  Patten,  Phillip 
Pratt,  Jesse  Randall,  Benjamin  Shaw,  Joshua  Stearns,  Eliphalet  Sweet- 
ing, Robert  Skinner,  Mase  Shepard,  Asa  Smith,  William  Stone,  James 
Stone,  Benjamin  Tiffany,  Seth  Tisdale,  William  Yerry,  Peter  Wellman, 
Royal  White,  Asa  Wellman,  Abijah  Wetherell,  Simeon  While,  Seth 
Williams,  Benjamin  Homes,  Ebenezer  Burt,  Samuel  Copeland,  Stephen 
Cilley,  Daniel  Pratt. 

These  men  were  drafted  from  Norton  in  1778  for 
nine  months'  service : 

Thomas  Jenkins,  Peter  Derry,  David  Hodges,  Joshua  Smith,  Thomas 
Bass,  Ephraim  Knapp,  London  Morey  (negro,  rejected),  William  Axtell. 

Ephraim  Lane  was  a  lieutenant-colonel  in  Col. 
Thomas  Carpenter's  regiment,  Rhode  Island  service, 
from  July  24  to  Sept.  9,  1778.  He  was  also  a  lieu- 
tenant-colonel in  Col.  John  Daggett's  regiment  in 
1775,  called  out  by  the  alarm  at  Lexington,  19th  of 
April. 

For  1779  the  Committee  of  Correspondence,  etc., 
were  William  Cobb,  William  Homes,  Esq.,  Daniel 
Dean,  Noah  Wiswall,  Noah  Woodward,  Silas  Cobb, 
and  Eleazer  Clap.  June  22d,  "  Voted  that  the  eight 
Continental  men  now  called  for  for  nine  months,  and 
the  three  men  for  the  Lines  at  Rhode  Island,  be  raised 
by  way  of  a  tax  on  the  ratable  polis  and  estates  in  sd. 
Norton  ;"  and  a  committee  were  appointed  to  raise 
"the  above  men." 

August  30th,  "Voted  to  Silas  Cobb  two  pounds, 
nineteen  shillings.  L.  my.,  for  keeping  seven  High- 
landers one  night,  and  finding  them  all  a  breakfast." 

In  the  roll  of  Capt.  Joseph  Franklin's  company,  of 
Rehoboth,  engaged  in  a  four  months'  service  in  Rhode 


Island  in  the  autumn  of  1779,  we  find  a  few  names  of 
men  from  this  town  which  we  here  record  : 

Israel  Fisher,  Francis  Guillow,  Isaac  Stone. 

For  1780  the  Committee  of  Correspondence,  etc., 
were  William  Cobb,  William  Homes,  and  Daniel 
Dean. 

October  9th,  the  town  "  voted  to  raise  £1108  5*., 
in  silver  money,  to  pay  the  Bounty  to  the  soldiers  that 
were  hired  the  summer  past."  Also  "  voted  to  Mr. 
Nathaniel  Prior  210  pounds,  old  continental  money, 
for  going,  himself  and  team,  to  Tiverton  with  the 
soldiers  last  August."  The  same  day,  "Voted  to 
choose  a  person  to  purchase  the  beef  called  for  (by 
a  Resolve  of  Gen.  Court)  from  this  town  ;"  and  Maj. 
Silas  Cobb  was  chosen  to  make  the  purchase. 

October  16th,  it  was  "voted  to  raise  £1100,  for  to 
pay  for  the  beef  and  trouble."  December  25th, 
"  Voted  to  raise  such  a  sum  of  money  as  to  enable  the 
town  to  pay  each  soldier  that  shall  enlist  into  the 
continental  service  for  three  years,  or  during  the  war, 
three  hundred  silver  dollars  each  ;  one  hundred  paid 
soon,  one  hundred  paid  in  one  year,  and  the  other 
hundred  in  two  years,  with  interest." 

In  the  alarm  of  August,  1780,  Capt.  Israel  Trow 
marched  to  Rhode  Island  at  the  head  of  a  company 
of  men,  whose  names  we  here  record,  all  of  whom 
are  supposed  to  have  belonged  to  this  town  : 

Joseph  Hodges,  first  lieutenant;  Jacob  Shepard,  second  lieutenant; 
Benjamin  Wild,  Elkanah  Lincoln,  David  Lincoln,  Jonathan  Newland, 
James  Newcomb,  Joshua  Pond,  Rufus  Hodges,  Joseph  Andrews,  Syl- 
vanus  Braman,  Samuel  (?)  Blandin,  George  Briggs,  Daniel  Bassett,  Jo- 
seph Burt,  Elijah  Briggs,  David  Balcom,  Noah  Clap,  John  Clap,  Jere- 
miah Cambell,  Theophilus  Crossman,  Paul  Cook,  Tisdale  Hodges, 
George  Hodges,  Elijah  Hodges,  Joseph  Howard,  Abijah  Lincoln,  Levi 
Lincoln,  Seth  Pitts,  Thomas  Story,  Asa  Smith,  Aiaunah  Smith,  Zebulon 
White,  Joel  White,  Abijah  Wetherell,  David  Wetherell,  Josiah  Welling- 
ton, Elkanah  Wilmarth,  Abiathar  Macomber,  Amos  Martin,  Nathan 
Perry,  Elijah  Danforth,  Samuel  Hunt,  Seth  Williams,  Eleazer  Walker, 
Jacob  Shaw,  Nathaniel  Freeman,  Noah  Woodward,  Jesse  Hodges,  Wil- 
liam Copeland,  Samuel  Copeland,  Josiah  Hodges,  William  Stone,  Wil- 
liam Norton,  Jonathan  Hodges,  Peletiah  Day,  Joseph  Wellman,  Ichabod 
Perry,  William  Wetherell,  Ebenezer  Wetherell,  Elisha  Capron,  Daniel 
Phillips,  James  Davis,  Nathan  Dean,  Nathaniel  Wood,  Silas  Cobb,  John 
King. 

Capt.  Seth  Smith  commanded  a  company  in  the 
Rhode  Island  service  this  year,  probably  all  Norton- 
ians,  whose  names  were, — 

Ephraim  Lane,  lieutenant;  Hezekiah  Willard,  William  Makepeace, 
Nathan  Cobb,  Daniel  Knapp,  Isaac  Hodges,  Edward  Darby,  George 
Cobb,  Benjamin  Stanley,  John  Hodges,  Jabez  Briggs,  David  Arnold, 
Phineas  Briggs,  Thomas  Braman,  Benjamin  Blandin,  Joseph  Matthews, 
John  Briggs,  Isaac  Basset,  Nathan  Dean,  Ephraim  Eddy,  Ezra  Eddy, 
John  Hall,  Zephauiah  Hodges,  Abiel  Lincoln,  Oliver  Leonard,  Calvin 
Morey,  William  Stone,  Nat.  Stone,  Seth  Smith,  Benajah  Tucker,  Benja- 
min Tiffany,  William  Verry,  Simeon  Wetherell,  John  Wetherell,  David 
Woodward,  Samuel  Willis. 

Capt.  John  Allen  was  also  absent  six  days  with  a 
company  in  Rhode  Island  service.  We  give  the  names 
of  those  from  this  town  : 

Jacob  Shepard,  lieutenant;  Isaac  Hodges,  Jonathan  Briggs,  Rufus 
Hodges,  Nathan  Dean,  John  Hodges,  Joseph  Andrews,  John  Arnold, 
David  Balcom,  Sylvanus  Braman,  Isaac  Bassett,  Benjamin  Blandin, 
William  Carpenter,  Paul  Cook,  Noah  Clap,  Ephraim  Eddy,  Elijah  Eddy, 
Tisdale  Francis,  Zephaniah   Hodges,  Joseph   Howard,  Oliver  Leonard, 


NORTON. 


609 


Levi  Lincoln,  William  Newcomb,  Solomon  Newcomb,  Josiah  Newcomb, 
Nat.  Prior,  Abisha  Smith,  Araunah  Smith,  Thomas  Story,  Samuel  Ste- 
vens, John  Tisdale,  Jacob  Tiffany,  Elkanah  'Woodward,  James  White, 
James  Wetherell,  Simeon  Wetherell. 

In  Capt.  Jabez  Barney's  company,  of  Swansea,  at 
West  Point,  August,  1780,  were  the  following  men 
from  this  town.  The  first  two  served  for  the  town  of 
Mansfield,  the  remainder  for  Swansea  : 

Isaac  Morey,  lieutenant;  Levi  Francis,  Jr.,  John  Cambell,  John 
Prior,  Brian  Hall,  Vincent  Cambell,  Benjamin  Holmes,  John  Martin. 

In  the  six  months'  service,  in  1780,  I  find  the  fol- 
lowing list  of  men  from  Norton,  made  up  by  the 
selectmen  : 

Jedediah  Tucker,  Daniel  Hodges,  Ichabod  Pitts,  Jabez  Newland,  Isaac 
Stone,  Vincent  Cambell,  Henry  Howard,  Samuel  Willis,  John  Hill,  Ben- 
jamin Holmes,  Israel  Smith,  Daniel  Hodges  (2d),  Daniel  Burr,  Jonathan 
Hodges,  Benjamin  Fuller. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  men  raised  in  Nor- 
ton, agreeably  to  a  resolve  of  the  General  Court 
passed  Dec.  2,  1780,  the  term  of  service  three 
years : 

Samuel  Sherman,  Benjamin  Fuller,  Elisha  Capron,  Joshua  Fuller, 
Timothy  Tucker,  Abiathar  Macomber,  Henry  Hayward,  Jacob  Briggs, 
Samuel  Eddy,  Francis  Guillow,  Seymour  Burr,Seth  Capron,  Benjamin 
Chotaey  (?),  Cuff  Freeman,  Jedediah  Tucker,  Ezra  Hodges. 

Jan.  8,  1781,  the  town  "voted  so  far  to  comply 
with  the  Resolve  of  the  General  Court  Respecting 
Beef  as  to  procure  sa  Beef  or  the  money;"  also  voted 
to  raise  £204  3s.,  silver  money,  in  addition  to  the 
£1108  5s.  raised  Oct.  9,  1780,  to  be  devoted  to  the 
same  purpose.  The  Committee  of  Correspondence, 
etc.,  for  1781,  were  Silas  Cobb,  Israel  Trow,  and  Noah 
Wiswall. 

March  5th,  "  voted  to  give  the  men,  called  for  to 
go  to  Rhode  Island  for  forty  days,  four  pounds  and 
ten  shillings  per  month,  including  whatever  shall  be 
given  them  from  this  commonwealth,  or  any  other 
way  from  the  publick." 

In  the  summer  the  General  Court  called  upon  the 
town  to  supply  the  army  with  six  thousand  seven 
hundred  and  sixty-eight  pounds  of  beef,  twenty-eight 
shirts,  twenty-eight  pairs  of  shoes  and  stockings,  and 
fourteen  blankets.  July  16th,  it  was  "voted  to  com- 
ply with  the  requisition  of  the  General  Court  respect- 
ing beef,  and  one  hundred  and  twenty  pounds  silver 
money  was  raised  to  pay  for  it,  and  Capt.  Ephraim 
Burr  was  authorized  to  purchase  it  at  four  pence  per 
pound,"  and  it  was  ordered  "  that  there  be  a  clause 
inserted  in  the  warrant  for  our  fall  meeting  to  raise  a 
sum  of  money  to  pay  for  clothing."  It  was  also 
"voted  to  give  the  men  that  shall  go  into  the  three 
months'  service  twenty  silver  dollars  per  month,  and 
the  town  to  receive  their  wages  from  this  common- 
wealth, and  that  each  man  have  five  dollars  advance 
pay." 

We  find  but  few  names  of  soldiers  to  record  for  the 
year  1781.     In  January  of  this  year  there  were  in  the 
Continental  army  from  Norton,  enlisted  in  the  years 
1777-80,  for  three  years  or  during  the  war, — 
39 


Josiah  King,  Ctesar  Morey,  Joseph  Pratt,  Lathrop  Knapp,  John  Har- 
ridou,  Josiah  King,  Anthony  Morey,  Jacob  Allen,  William  Wellman. 

Military  Companies. — Between  the  years  1781  and 
1834  there  were  two  infantry  companies  in  Norton, 
one  on  the  east  and  one  on  the  west  side  of  Rumford 
River.  The  captains  of  the  east  side  company  were 
as  follows : 

Joseph  Hodoes,  July  1,1781;  Ebenezer  Titus,  Aug.  4,1789;  Zebulon 
White,  Aug.  20,1792;  William  Morey,  Sept. 25, 1797;  Jonathan  Hodges, 
March  26, 1798 ;  Kufus  Hodges,  May  5,  1801 ;  Seth  Hodges,  Dec.  3,  1804 ; 
Asa  Arnold,  March  23, 1807  ;  Lemuel  Arnold,  Nov.  21,  1808 ;  Sanforth 
Freeman,  June  15.  1815;  Alvin  Perry,  May  1,  1819;  Ichabod  Perry,  Jr., 
June  26, 1821;  Isaac  Braman,  May  30,  1822;  Mason  Stone,  March  30, 
182G;  Almond  Tucker,  Oct.  25, 1828  ;  Thomas  Carpenter,  May  14,  1832. 

The  captains  of  the  company  east  of  Rumford  River, 
from  1781  to  1834,  were  — 

David  Clap,  July  1, 1781 ;  Reuben  Tisdale,  May  28, 1789 ;  Isaac  Make- 
peace, July  16,  1790 ;  James  Godfrey,  Sept.  26,  1803 ;  Lysander  Make- 
peace, March  24,  1806;  Asa  Knowles,  Feb.  15,  1808;  Terry  Crane,  May 
18, 1811  ;  Jacob  Shepherd,  May  17, 1812;  Laban  Lincoln,  Aug.  9,  1819; 
Thomas  Copeland,  June  6,  1820 ;  Lyman  Eddy,  May  6,  1824 ;  Daniel 
Briggs,  Jr.,  Aug.  26, 1826;  Henry  Newcomb,  April  30,  1830;  George  B. 
Crane,  April  16, 1833. 

"  In  1776  the  Norton  Artillery  Company  was  organ- 
ized, and  George  Makepeace  was  commissioned  as 
captain.  This  company  remained  in  Norton  (a  por- 
tion of  its  officers  and  members  belonging  to  other 
towns)  till  1854,  when  its  name  was  changed  to  Light 
Infantry,  and  the  company  was  removed  to  Foxbor- 
ough.  The  two  field-pieces  in  the  possession  of  the 
company  were  returned  to  the  State,  and  the  gun- 
house,  near  the  pound,  was  sold.  At  the  time  the 
name  was  changed  and  the  company  removed  to  Fox- 
borough  it  was  the  oldest  military  company  in  the 
State.  The  following  are  the  names  of  its  commanders 
(with  the  date  of  their  commissions)  who  have  be- 
longed to  Norton.  A  few  captains,  whose  residence 
was  in  other  towns,  we  have  omitted  from  this  list" 
(Clark) : 

George  Makepeace,  Oct.  31,1776;  Ephraim  Lane,  Jr.,  1787;  Daniel 
Knapp,  March  26, 1790;  Benjamin  Blandin,  Dec.  28,  1795;  John  Gilbert, 
May  7,  1799  ;  Samuel  Hunt,  March  9,  1802 ;  Thomas  Danforth,  2d,  Aug. 
27,1804;  Elisha  Crossman,  June  14,  1810;  Isaac  Lane,  May  14, 1812 ; 
David  Lane,  Aug.  22, 1814 ;  George  Walker,  May  20, 1817  ;  Lemuel  Perry, 
Sept.  22, 1821 ;  Calvin  Lane,  March  31, 1824 ;  George  Lane,  Feb.  5, 1827  ; 
Simeon  Blandin,  March  8,  1828;  Ira  Richardson,  April  16,  1833;  Earl 
Hodges,  Sept.  24,  1836;  Carlos  Freeman,  April  9,  1836;  Don  F.  Lane, 
July  4,  1839;  Benjamin  S.  Hall,  April  24,  1841 ;  Luen  C.  Leonard,  May 
13,1843;  Carlos  Freeman,  May  24,  1844;  Jacob  T.  Shepherd,  Aug.  30, 
1851 ;  Benjamin  M.  Round,  April  27,  1853. 

There  was  also  for  some  years  a  hose  company,  a 
portion  of  whose  members  belonged  to  Norton,  and 
the  following  Nortonians  were  captains  of  it  : 

Tisdale  Hodges,  Dec.  16,  1793;  Daniel  Smith,  May  24,  1810;  Pliny 
Puffer,  Aug.  22,  1823. 

The  following  comprise  a  list  of  those  from  this 
town  who,  since  the  Revolution,  have  risen  above  the 
post  of  captain,  or  held  a  commission  of  the  same 
rank  : 

Brijadier-General. — Silas  Cobb,  Aug.  2,  1792. 

Colonels.— Silas  Cobb,  May  26, 1  TsS ;  Isaac  Braman,  Sept.  9, 1826 ;  Mason 
Stone,  Nov.  3,  1832. 

Lieutenant- Colonel. — Simeon  Wheeler,  Jan.  14,  1819. 

Majors.— Thomas  Fobes.Sept.  26, 1794;  Zebulon  White,  Aug.  1, 1803; 


610 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Brian  Hall,  April  20,  1797;  Isaac  Braman,  Oct.  1,1825;  Earl  Hodges, 
July  10,  1844.1 

AdjutanU.— Isaac  Morey,  Oct.  2,  1788;  Ephraim  Raymond,  June  14, 
1791 ;  George  Palmer,  Aug. 30, 1797 ;  William  Lane,  May  7, 1799 ;  Thomas 
W.  T.  Bicknell,  Oct.  4, 1812 ;  Ephraim  A.  Raymond,  April  23, 1829 ;  John 
B.  Newcomb,  March  30, 1833. 

The  latter  part  of  June,  1814,  the  Norton  Artillery 
Company,  Isaac  Lane,  captain,  were  called  out  to 
guard  New  Bedford.     They  were  absent  about  twelve 

days. 

The  following  persons  from  Norton  were  called  into 

service  during  the  war  of  1812  : 

Isaac  Lane,  David  Lane,  Lemuel  Perry,  Asa  Danforth,  Samuel  Hunt, 
George  Walker,  Josiah  Hodges,  Allen  Lane,  Calvin  Lane,  Samuel  Cope- 
land,  Enos  Dean,  Ebenezer  Burt,  Thomas  Sweet,  George  Wetherell,  Eb- 
enezer  M.  Lincoln,  Daniel  Morey,  Stillman  Smith,  Newton  Sweet,  Henry 
B.  Dyer,  Thomas  Braman,  Jr.,  Ezra  Macomber,  Moses  Hunt,  John  Harris, 
Noah  Cooper,  Eliab  Thompson,  Samuel  Hunt  (2d),  Joel  Wilbur,  Jonathan 
Knowles,  Elijah  White,  John  T.  Whiting,  Joseph  Fuller,  Simeon  Dean, 
Allen  Deny,  Alfred  French,  Amherst  Guild,  Asa  Patton,  Spencer 
Morse,  James  Wiswall,  Henry  B.  Hodges,  Abijah  Dean,  John  Gilbert, 
Stephen  Hodges,  Daniel  Guillow,  John  Penno,  Peleg  West,  Williams 
Keith,  Sylvanus  B.  Braman,  Andrews  Braman,  Perry  Atherton,  Sylves- 
ter Round,  John  Russell,  Levi  Bowen,  Nathaniel  Danforth,  Ichabod 
Perry,  Jr.,  Seabury  Woodward,  Horatio  Field,  Kingman  Richmond, 
Reuben  Wilbur,  John  Wild,  Jr.,  Jesse  Blandin,  Elijah  Eddy,  Barnard 
Dean,  Lyman  Eddy,  Solomon  Lothrop,  Jr.,  Benjamin  Blandin,  Jr.,  Jo- 
siah Wilbur,  Abiather  Knapp,  Tisdale  Lincoln,  George  Hodges,  Jr., 
Charles  Danforth,  Leonard  Hill,  Jr.,  William  Lane,  Jr.,  Adoniram 
Hodges,  Elisha  Crossman,  Nathan  Dean,  Jr.,  William  Dean,  Gulliver 
Dean,  Albert  W.  Godfrey,  Solomon  Leonard,  Jedediah  Packard,  Daniel 
Lane,  Asaph  White,  Philip  Andrews,  William  Sweet,  Zelotes  Wetherell, 
Lawrence  Hunt,  Oliver  Hunt,  George  Lane,  John  Freeman,  Jr.,  Zopher 
Skinner,  David  Godfrey,  Alanson  Cobb,  Ephraim  French,  Augustus 
White. 

Military  Record,  1861-65.2— The  following  men 
enlisted  from  Norton  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion : 

William  F.  Adams,  Sauford  B.  Austin,  Alonzo  P.  Holmes,  George  C. 
Hunt,  Isaac  R.  Burchard,  Benjamin  F.  Sweet,  William  H.  Lane, 
Shepard  L.  Field,  George  B.  Stanley,  Charles  F.  Carpenter,  Barney 
Coyle,  Ransom  W.  Town,  Elisha  H.  Crosby,  Daniel  Crosby,  George 
E.  Hunt,  William  Bruce,  Henry  Burchard,  Charles  W.  Hicks,  James 
H.  Wall,  Joseph  N.  Drake,  James  Card,  William  T.  Elliott,  George  M. 
Freeman,  Edgar  A.  Freeman ,  Samuel  G.  Hicks,  George  W.  Hamliu, 
Zelotus  T.  Hewit,  Edwin  A.  Lane,  James  Ramsey,  Jason  L.  White, 
Joseph  H.  Washburn,  William  D.  Washburn,  Jason  White,  Calvin 
White,  John  H.  White,  Emery  E.  Willis,  Thomas  B.  Wetherell, 
Charles  H.  Wetherell,  Loren  B.  Willis,  Alexander  D.  Washburn, 
Albert  A.  Austin,  Granville  D.  Austin,  Edwin  Barrows,  Abbott  H. 
Bland ing,  WilliamS.  Bolton,  Derick  W.  Cobb,  Robert  Dixon,  Charles 
D.  Freeman,  Darius  B.  Field,  Alfred  B.  Hodges,  David  L.  Hodges, 
Henry  B.  Ide,  Artemas  C.  King,  Jr.,  Theodore  W.  Keith,  William 
A.  Lane,  Joseph  Liucoln,  Zacheus  Macomber,  Benjamin  H.  Rich- 
mond, Bernard  L.  Ripley,  Charles  W.  Sprague,  Charles  T.  Smith, 
Cyril  S.  Sweet,  Lewis  H.  Sweet,  George  N.  Tucker,  Henry  0.  Titus, 
Henry  Sherman. 


CHAPTER    XLVIII. 

NORTON.— ( Continued.) 
ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY— EDUCATIONAL. 

The  Congregational  (Unitarian)  Church— The  Trinitarian  Congrega- 
tional Church— The  Baptist  Church— Wesleyan  Methodist  Church— 
The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church — Roman  Catholic  Church— Wheaton 
Seminary. 

The  Congregational  (Unitarian)  Church.— Coin- 
cident with  the  organization  of  the  town  was  the 


organization  of  this  church,  and  its  first  minister  was 
Rev.  Samuel  Phillips,  who,  however,  was  not  or- 
dained. He  commenced  preaching  Jan.  1,  1710,  and 
remained  but  a  few  months. 

As  a  portion  of  the  old  township  of  Taunton  was 
incorporated  into  the  North  Precinct,  and  as  many 
of  the  settlers  of  the  said  precinct  were  either  pro- 
prietors or  intimately  connected  with  the  proprietors 
of  the  old  town,  the  latter  naturally  felt  some  interest 
in  the  prosperity  of  the  precinct,  and  especially  in  the 
settlement  and  support  of  a  minister.  Hence  divers 
of  them  made  each  a  small  contribution  of  land  for 
whatever  minister  should  be  settled  in  the  new  parish. 
Here  is  the  proof: 

"  We,  the  subscribers  for  the  Encouragement  of  a  Learned,  orthodox, 
pious  minister  to  settle  in  the  Sacred  employ  of  the  ministry  in  Taun- 
ton North  precinct,  Do  hereby  Give  and  Grant  the  severall  quantities  of 
land  annexed  to  our  names,  hereunder  written,  unto  the  first  minister 
who  shall  settle  in  said  North  precinct;  Desiring  of  the  proprietors  of 
Taunton  old  Township  that  it  may  be  layed  out  on  the  next  Division  of 
land  in  said  Township,  Either  in  one  Entire  tract  or  more,  in  such  place 
or  places  where  it  may  be  most  convenient  and  pleasing  to  the  first 
minister  that  shall  there  settle,  on  any  lands,  as  yet  common  or  undi- 
vided, in  that  part  of  the  old  Township  landi  which  now  ffall  to  be 
within  the  line  of  the  North  precinct;  and  particularly  on  land,  now 
common,  which  lyes  near  the  place  appointed  by  Authority  for  the 
meeting-house  to  be  sett  upon,  on  the  north  and  south  side  of  the  way 
as  shall  be  most  convenient. 


l  He  did  not  accept  the  commission. 


-  By  Austin  Messenger,  Esq. 


No.  of 
Acres. 

John  Pool 12 

Robert  Godfrey 1 

Joseph  Hall 1 

James  Hall 1 

Isaac  Marrick 1 

Increase  Robinson 2 

Phillip  King 1 

James  Walker,  Senior 2 

Abram  Jones 1 

James  Phillips 1 

Shadrack  Wilbore 1 

Benjamin  Wilbore 3 

James  Burt 1 

Samuel  Blake....  2 

Joseph  Willis 2 

Nicholas  Stephens 1 

Benjamin  Hall 1 

Samuel  Knap 1 

John  Mason  1 

Nathaniel  Williams 1 

James  Tisdale 1 

John  Crossman 1 

Thomas  Willis ^ 

Ebenezer  Robinson 1 

Jo-eph  Tisdale 2 

Mr.  Giles  Gilbert 1 


No.  of 
Acres. 

1% 
1 

1 
1 
1 
1 

1 


Samuel  Danforth 

Henry  Hodges 

Thomas  Uarvey,  G.  Senior 

Nicholas  White 

John  Andrews 

John  Tisdale 

John  Hodges 

Thomas  Leonard 3 

John  Smith,  G.  Senior 4 

James  Leonard,  Jun 1 

Thomas  Lincoln,  G  Senior...         % 

John  Macomber 1 

Thomas  Dean 1 

Seth  Williams 1 

John  Smith,  Junior % 

Joseph  Wilbore 1 

John  White 14. 

John  Leonard 

Ezra  Dean.  Senior 

Jonathan  Williams 

Willam  Haskins 

William  Wetherell,  Sen... 

Edward  Leonard 

John  Richmond,  Senior... 

Ens.  Thomas  Gilbert 

Joseph  Williams 


"  All  these  severall  parcells  of  land  mentioned  in  this  paper  is  Granted 
to  the  first  minister  that  shall  settle  in  the  work  of  the  ministry  in  the 
north  precinct,  on  both  sides  of  the  way  that  goeth  from  Nathaniel 
Hodges'  to  the  meeting-house  in  said  precinct,  and  on  both  sides  of  the 
way  that  leadeth  from  the  meeting-house  in  said  precinct  to  Samuel 
Hodges'  house,  and  partly  on  the  northerly  side  of  said  meeting-house, 
running  up  towards  the  land  of  Major  Leonard,  to  be  laid  out  as  may 
be  most  convenient  for  the  first  minister  that  shall  settle  in  said  precinct, 
the  whole  sum  granted  is  seventy-three  acres  and  three-quarters, on  the 
sixty-four-acre  division. 

"Granted  January  the  fifth,  1710,by  the  Committee  for  the  sixty-four- 
acre  division. 

"Attest:  "Thomas  Leonard,  Clerk." 

Judge  Thomas  Leonard,  one  of  the  proprietors  of 
the  iron-works,  and  the  father  of  George,  who  took 
so  conspicuous  a  part  in  securing  the  grant  of  a  pre- 
cinct, in  his  will,  dated  Jan.  29,  1711-12,  and  pro- 
bated Feb.  5,  1713-14,  gave  to  the  first  minister  that 
should  be  "  orderly  settled"  in  the  western   part  of 


NORTON. 


611 


Taunton  North  Precinct,  and  continue  there  in  the 
ministry  seven  years,  twenty  acres  of  land,  and  in 
case  he  continued  fourteen  years  in  the  ministry, 
twenty  acres  more,  hut  if  he  did  not  remain  fourteen 
years,  then  the  second  settled  minister  who  should 
remain  seven  years  was  to  have  the  last  twenty  acres. 
The  departure  of  Mr.  Phillips  compelled  the  pre- 
cinct to  look  ahout  for  a  new  candidate. 

"December  the  23d,  1710.— At  a  meeting  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Taun- 
ton North  Purchase,  [('"'J'.]  21y,  made  choice  of  Mr.  Joseph  Avery  to 
settle  with  them  in  the  work  of  the  ministree,  and  to  be  their  minister, 
if  lie  see  Cause  to  Exceept. 

"31y,  they  made  choice  of  George  Leonard  and  Nicholas  White  to  go 
and  acquaint  Mr.  Avery  that  they  have  chose  him  for  their  minister, 
and  also  to  treet  with  him  ahout  his  settleing  with  them  in  the  work  of 
the  ministree. 

"4,  the  meeting  was  adjourned  to  the  third  day  of  January  next." 

'■  Jan.  3d,  1710-11,  they  voted  to  Give  Mr.  Avery  15s.  a  sabath,  for  the 
time  that  he  shall  trantiently  Preach  among  them,  before  they  have 
come  to  any  certin  Bargaine  with  him;  and  also  15s.  for  ye  Last  Sab- 
ath." 

"  feb.  2nd,  1710-11,  ye  comitee  ware  ordered  to  make  their  Proposals 
to  Mr.  Avery." 

A  tax  was  levied  upon  the  town  to  assist  the  min- 
uter in  providing  a  habitation.  The  following  were 
the  persons  taxed :  George  Leonard,  Lt.  Samuel 
Brintnell,  Samuel  Hodges,  John  Cob,  Selvanis  Cam- 
bell,  Nathaniel  fisher,  Andrew  Grovier,  Ephreim 
Grovier,  Thomas  Grovier,  John  Hodges,  Nathaniell 
hodges,  Thomas  Stevens,  Eliezer  Edye,  Benjamin 
Newland,  Robert  Tucker,  Nicolas  White,  John 
Skiner,  John  hall,  Peter  Aldrich,  Joseph  Briggs, 
Richard  Briggs,  Eliezer  fisher,  Israeli  fisher,  Benja- 
min Williams,  John  Wetherell,  Sen.,  William  Weth- 
arell,  Sen.,  John  Austin,  Nicolas  Smith,  John  Brigs, 
Jun.,  John  Caswell,  Sen.,  Benjamin  Caswell,  John 
Newland,  Seth  Dorman,  Joseph  Eliot,  William 
Hodges,  Mathew  White,  Isaac  Sheapard,  Samuell 
fisher,  John  Smith,  John  Lane,  Ebenezr  Edye,  Dau- 
iell  Braman,  William  Wetharell,  Jun.,  William  Cobb, 
Nathaniell  Hervey,  John  Wetharell,  Jun.,  Samuell 
Brintnell,  Jun.,  Samuell  Bayley,  John  Brigs,  Sen., 
James  Caswell,  Edward  White,  Samuell  Blake,  Sen., 
Widow  Smith,  Benjamin  Willis,  Samuel  Alline, 
Robert  Woodward,  Thomas  Hervey,  Sen.,  William 
Hervey,  Jun.,  Morgan  Cobb,  Jonathan  Lincoln, 
Jeremiah  Newland,  Hanah  Deen,  William  pratt, 
Jonathan  Williams,  James  Leonard,  Jun.,  George 
Hodges. 

"This  rate,  being  to  pay  Mr.  Avery  32  pounds  towards  building  his 
house,  was  made  by  us,  the  subscribers,  this  first  day  of  January,  1711 
-12.  it  contains  32.  8.  0.,  Besides  0.  16.  6.  put  iu  for  the  constable,  the 
eight  shillings  is  for  niakeiii  the  rate. 

"Geokge  Leonard, 
"John  Wktiif.rel, 
"Thojias  Stephens, 

"Assessors." 

Those  whose  heads  are  not  rated  were,  no  doubt, 
non-residents.  The  house  was,  we  presume,  erected 
soon  after  the  rate  was  made,  though  not  entirely 
finished  for  some  years.  This  house,  thus  early  built 
for  Mr.  Avery,  stood  on  the  land  already  given  to  and 
laid  out  for  the  first  minister. 


While  preparations  for  building  him  a  house  are 
going  on,  no  response  to  the  call  came  from  the  min- 
ister, who  is  still  preaching  to  the  people.  The  town, 
"Sept.  17,  1712,  voted  to  Mr.  Avery,  for  his  salary 
45—0 — 0."  This  was  five  pounds  more  than  the  year 
previous,  a  further  evidence  that  the  town  are 
anxious  to  hear  a  favorable  answer  to  their  invita- 
tion. Another  year  passes  away,  and  still  Mr.  Avery 
gives  no  answer.  He  certainly  was  a  very  deliberate 
man.  The  town,  however,  "let  patience  have  its  per- 
fect work,"  and  "  Oct.  6,  1713,  voted  to  Mr.  Avery,  for 
his  salary  for  this  year,  45 — 0 — 0." 

Almost  another  entire  year  passed  away  before  we 
find  the  following  record  : 

"On  the  13th  of  September,  1714,  Mr.  Avery  Gave  his  answer,  which 
was  Excepted  by  ye  town  ;  and  on  that  day  thay  voted  to  Mr.  Joseph 
Avery  his  salary,  50—0—0."  l 

"  A  church  was  gathered  in  Norton  on  the  28th  of 
October,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  seven 
hundred  and  fourteen."  2  The  names  of  "those  who 
covenanted  as  members"  are  there  given.  They  are 
the  same  as  those  who  signed  the  covenant  October 
4th  ;  "  and,"  says  the  record,  "  on  the  same  day,  Oct. 
28,  1714,  was  ordained  Mr.  Joseph  Avery  as  pastor  of 
the  Church  of  Christ  in  Norton."  He  was  the  first 
minister  in  Norton. 

A  town-meeting  was  held  Aug.  4,  1719,  and  from 
the  records  of  it  we  take  the  following  extracts: 

"31y,  According  to  the  warrant  for  sd.  meatingfor  to  Rayse  monis  for 
to  finish  the  ministr's  nous,  accordingly  Proseded  to  give  twenty  pounds 
by  way  of  rate,  &  Sum  by  way  of  freewill  ofring  or  Gift  at  sd.  meeting. 

"  41y,  Voted  to  give  ye  minister  twenty  pounds  for  the  finishing  of  his 
hous,  to  be  raised  on  ye  inhabitanc  by  way  of  rate,  nicolas  Smith,  and 
Benjamin  Williams,  and  Ebenezer  Eddy,  having  given  already,  are  to 
be  Excepted  in  sd.  act;  and  John  Briggs,  gran.  Sen.,  on  his  promis  to 
Give  Bricks,  is  Excepted  also. 

"Nicolas  Smith  promised  to  Give  Mr.  Avery  ten  shilinds  iu  two 
months,  in  money  or  grain,  at  money-price. 

"  Ebenezer  Eddy  has  given  0—5 — 0  already. 

"  Benjamin  Williams  has  given  0 — 10 — 0  already. 

"John  briggs,  Grand  Sen.,  promis  to  give  five  shillius'  worth  of  good 
wether  brick  at  the  kill  at  John  Gilbard's  at  taunton. 

"  Nathaniel  fisher  promis  to  give  ten  shillinds  in  two  months  in  worck. 

"  John  Newland,  Sen.,  promis  to  give  ten  shilinds,— five  in  money,  & 
five  in  worck. 

"John  Austen  promis  to  give  ten  shilinds, — five  in  money  &  five  in 
worck. 

"  Thomas  Skinner  and  his  suns  gives  twenty  shilinds,— ten  in  money 
&  ten  in  worck. 

"Uriah  Leonard  gives  five  shilinds  by  promis. 

"John  briggs,  Sen.,  promis  to  give  twenty  shillinds  in  worck  in  two 
months.  Jeremiah  Newland  promis  to  give  three  shilinds  in  two  months. 
John  Harvey  promis  to  give  twenty  shilinds  (ten  in  money  &  ten  in 
worck)  in  two  months.  Joseph  Hodges  gave  five  shilinds  money  &  two 
pare  of  Hocks  &  hinges,  at  six  shilinds'  price,  in  two  months.  John  New- 
land, sen.,  or  benianin  Newland,  promis  to  give  five  shilinds  iu  worck 
in  two  months.  Jonathan  Linkoln  promis  to  lath  the  west  Chamber. 
John  Andrus  promis  to  lath  the  East  Chamber.  John  Hodges,  sen,  gives 
twenty  shilinds  in  money  Mr.  avery  oes  said  Hodges.  Left.  Nicolas 
White  promis  to  give  twenty  shilinds  money  in  two  months." 

1  From  his  settlement  to  1720  his  salary  was  £50 ;  from  1721  to  1734  it 
was  £60;  in  1735  and  1736  it  was  £80;  in  1737,  £100;  in  1738,  £160. 
From  1739  to  1742  he  had  £120 ;  then  for  three  years  he  had  £130.  From 
1746  to  his  dismission  his  salary  was  £140. 

2  This  was  in  old  style.  In  the  new  style  the  date  would  be  Nov.  8, 
1714. 


612 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


The  first  pastor  of  the  church  was  Rev.  Joseph 
Avery,  who  was  ordained  Oct.  28, 1714.  and  remained 
as  pastor  until  1748.  He  died  here  April  23,  1770. 
For  some  time  after  the  dismissal  of  Mr.  Avery  the 
church  had  no  settled  pastor,  but  was  supplied  by 
the  following:  Jos.  Roberts,  Thomas  Jones,  Naphtali 
Daggett,  Jonathan  Dorby,  Jos.  Green,  Jr.,  and  Sam- 
uel Angier.  In  1752  a  call  was  extended  to  Rev. 
Joseph  Palmer,  which  was  accepted,  and  Nov.  10, 
1752,  the  church 

"Voted,  they  would  ordain  Mr.  Joseph  Palmer  as  sune  as  they  could 
conveniently. 

"31y,  the  church  voted  that  the  church-covenant  should  be  red;  and 
it  was  red:  and  they  gave  their  assent  to  it  by  the  sine  of  lifting  the 
hand." 

Jan.  3,  1753,  Mr.  Palmer  was  ordained,  and  re- 
mained as  pastor  until  his  death,  April  4,  1791.  Oct. 
12,  1792,  the  church  voted  to  invite  Rev.  Pitt  Clark. 
Jan.  7, 1793,  it  was  "voted  to  give  Mr.  Pitt  Clark  one 
hundred  and  fifty  pounds,  as  an  encouragement  to 
settle  with  us  in  the  Gospel  Ministry  as  a  settlement." 
"  Voted  to  give  said  Mr.  Clark  80  pounds  salary  Pr. 
year,  so  long  as  he  remains  our  minister  and  supplies 
the  pulpit." 

As  a  further  encouragement  for  him  to  settle  with 
them,  a  subscription  paper  was  drawn  up  April  1, 
1793,  and  £79  8s.  was  pledged  "  in  addition  to  the 
Encouragement"  above  mentioned,  "provided  he 
settle  as  the  minister  of  sd.  Parish."  The  names  of 
the  donors,  with  the  sums  given,  are  as  follows : 


i,  s. 

George  Leonard 20  0 

Daniel  Dean 4  10 

Joseph  Hodges 1  10 

Silas  Cobb 1  10 

Jonathan  Leonard 1  10 

Ebenezer  Titus 1  10 

Daniel  Knap 1  0 

Samuel  Morey 3  0 

Josiah  Hodges 1  10 

John  Hall 4  10 

William  Cobb 1  0 

Ephraim  Lane 1  10 

Noah  Wiswall I  10 

Seth  Smith,  Jr 2  0 

Ephraim  Raymond 3  0 

Samuel  Morey,  Jr 1  10 

Joshua  Pond 1  0 

Elijah  Cobb 1  0 

Elijah  Danforth 0  12 

Thomas  Braman 2  0 

William  Lane 0  G 

Elijah  Lane 0  6 

Asa  Copeland 1  10 

Laban  Smith 0  6 


Benjamin  Pearson 0  6 

Eleazer  Clapp 1  10 

Ephraim  Lane,  Jr 1  10 

David  Clapp 1  10 

Daniel  Parker 1  10 

Isaac  Basset 1  0 

Isaac  Stone 0  6 

William  Martin 0  6 

Jonathan  Briggs 0  6 

Thomas  Danforth 0  6 

•Daniel  Lane 0  G 

Isaac  Lane 0  6 

George  Palmer 0  12 

Samuel  Hunt 0  12 

Stephen  Jennings 3  0 

Isaac  Hodges,  Jr 0  12 

Abel  Franklin 0  6 

Samuel  Copeland 1  4 

John  King 1  0 

Brian  Hall o  12 

Michael  Sweet 0  12 

Laban  Wheaton 1  0 

Joseph  Phillips 0  6 

Isaac  Braman 1  Iq 


Mr.  Clark  was  ordained  July  3, 1793,  and  continued 
as  pastor  until  his  death,  Feb.  13,  1835.  He  was 
born  in  Medfield,  Jan.  15,  1763.  Until  August,  1835, 
the  following  preached  as  supplies :  A.  Davis,  D.  C. 
Sanders,  U.  Whitman,  Mr.  Lakeman,  and  Mr.  Eich- 
ardson.  August  2d  of  this  year,  Rev.  Asarelah  M. 
Briggs  commenced  preaching  as  a  candidate,  and  was 
ordained  as  pastor  Jan.  27,  1836,  and  remained  until 
Nov.  1,  1840.  The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  William  P, 
Tilden,  from  April  21,  1841,  to  June  30,  1844.  The 
pulpit  was  then  supplied  by  Revs.  William  H.  Fish, 
William  C.  Tenney,  T.  H.  Dorr,  and  A.  D.  Jones 
until  July  6,  1845,  when  Rev.  Amory  Gale,  M.D., 


commenced  supplying  the  pulpit  and  continued  until 
Jan.  1,  1848.  After  Mr.  Gale,  Rev.  John  N.  Ballows 
preached  a  short  time,  and  Sept.  24,  1848,  Rev.  Fred- 
eric Hinckley  was  installed  as  pastor,  and  remained 
until  Oct.  27,  1850. 

The  parish  committee  were  authorized,  Dec.  30, 
1850,  to  invite  Mr.  George  A.  Carnes  to  preach  till 
the  annual  meeting  in  March,  and  he  did  so. 

From  the  1st  of  April,  1851,  to  the  middle  of  No- 
vember of  the  same  year  the  following  persons 
preached,  probably  not  all  of  them  as  candidates : 
Charles  Robinson,  Francis  B.  Knapp,  Benjamin  Kent, 
George  W.  Lippitt,  Charles  Briggs,  William  W.  Heb- 
bard,  Herman  Snow,  F.  A.  Whitney,  D.  W.  Stevens, 
and  J.  K.  Waite.  George  Osgood  supplied  from 
Nov.  16,  1851,  to  Jan.  26,  1852.  From  that  time  to 
the  middle  of  April,  Josiah  K.  Waite,  Warren  Burton, 
Samuel  F.  Clark,  Solon  W.  Bush,  and  Charles  Briggs 
supplied  the  pulpit. 

Rev.  George  Faber  Clark,  after  the  society  had 
heard  some  twenty  candidates,  more  or  less,  com- 
menced preaching  April  18, 1852.  He  remained  four 
Sundays.  Rev.  N.  Whitman,  in  accordance  with  a 
previous  arrangement,  preached  the  last  three  Sun- 
days of  May. 

Mr.  Clark  returned  on  the  1st  of  June  to  fulfill  an 
engagement  of  four  weeks  more.  On  the  26th  of 
June,  1852,  having  preached  here  seven  Sundays,  the 
parish  "voted  unanimously  to  invite  the  Rev.  George 
F.  Clark  to  settle  with  said  society  as  their  teacher 
and  pastor."  He  accepted  the  call,  and  was  installed 
Aug.  11,  1852,  and  remained  until  Aug.  3,  1861. 

In  addition  to  his  duties  as  pastor  he  found  time  to 
indulge  in  other  literary  pursuits,  and  in  1859  he 
wrote  an  elaborate  "  History  of  Norton,"  which  is  an 
invaluable  contribution  to  the  historic  literature  of 
New  England.  He  was  also  town  clerk  of  Norton 
from  1858  to  1861. 

Rev.  George  Faber  Clark  was  the  twelfth  child  and 
eighth  son  of  Jonas  and  Mary  (Twitchel)  Clark,  of 
Dublin,  N.  H.,  and  was  born  Feb.  24,  1817.  He  was 
the  grandson  of  William  and  Sarah  (Locke)  Clark,  of 
Townsend,  Mass.,  great-grandson  of  William  and 
Eunice  (Taylor)  Clark,  of  Townsend,  and  the  great- 
great-grandson  of  Samuel  Clark  (whose  wife  was  Re- 
becca Nichols?),  who  settled  at  Concord,  Mass.,  about 
the  year  1680,  and  who  was  probably  born  in  London, 
and  came  to  America  with  his  father  about  1660,  when 
a  small  boy. 

The  mother  of  Rev.  G.  F.  Clark  was  the  daughter 
of  Abel  Twitchel,  of  Dublin,  N.  H.,  who  was  the  son 
of  Joseph  and  Deborah  (Fairbanks)  Twitchel,  of 
Sherborn,  Mass.,  grandson  of  Joseph  and  Elizabeth 
(Holbrook)  Twitchel,  of  Sherborn,  great-grandson 
of  Joseph  and  Lydia  Twitchel,  of  Sherborn,  great- 
great-grandson  of  Benjamin  and  Mary  Twitchel,  of 
Sherborn  and  Lancaster,  and  great-great-great-grand- 
son of  Joseph  Twitchel,  who  probably  came  from  Dor- 
setshire, England,  about  1633,  and  settled  at  Dorches- 


NORTON. 


613 


ter,  Mass.,  and  was  admitted  to  the  freeman's  oath 
May  14,  1634. 

Jonas  Clark,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  a  clothier  by  trade,  and  built  the  first  clothier's 
shop  or  fulling-mill  in  Dublin,  N.  H. 

In  the  excellent  and  somewhat  celebrated  common 
schools  of  that  town  Rev.  Mr.  Clark  was  educated  till 
his  fifteenth  year.  He  subsequently  entered  Phillips 
Exeter  Academy,  and  later  the  Theological  Depart- 
ment of  Harvard,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1846. 

The  following  have  preached  here  since  Mr.  Clark  : 
Rev.  Daniel  S.  C.  M.  Potter,  of  West  Bridgewater, 
from  May  11,  1863,  and  closed  July  1,  1869;  Rev. 
Isaac  Kelso,  of  Dighton,  from  Oct.  23,  1869,  to  winter 
of  1870  ;  Rev.  John  B.  Willard,  of  Still  River,  from 
March  28,  1870,  to  fall  of  1871 ;  Rev.  J.  E.  Bruce,  of 
Marion,  fall,  1871,  to  March,  1872;  candidates  from 
March,  1872,  to  1873;  Rev.  S.  C.  Beach,  of  Charles- 
town,  pastor  from  March,  1873,  to  Jan.  1,  1876;  Rev. 
J.  M.  Trask,  of  New  Salem,  preached  from  January 
to  March,  1876;  Rev.  L.  W.  Manning,  of  Dighton, 
from  September,  1876,  to  July  1,  1880 ;  Rev.  W.  H. 
Reeby,  of  Dighton,  from  March,  1881,  present  pas- 
tor. 

The  first  church  edifice  was  erected  in  1710,  and 
was  occupied  until  1753,  when  the  second  house  of 
worship  was  erected,  and  dedicated  January  3d  of  the 
same  year. 

The  rate  bill  for  building  the  first  house  contains 
the  following  names :  George  Leonard,  Samuell  Brint- 
nell,  Samuell  Hodges,  John  Cob,  John  Smith,  Sel- 
vanis  Cambell,  Nathaniell  Fisher,  Andrew  Grovier, 
Ephreim  Grovier,  Thomas  Grovier,  Nathaniell 
Hodges,  John  Hodges,  Thomas  Stevens,  Eliezer  Edy, 
Ebenezer  Edy,  Benjamin  Newland,  Robert  Tucker, 
Nicholas  White,  John  Andrews,  John  Skiner,  John 
Hall,  Joseph  Brigs,  Richard  Brigs,  Eliezer  Fisher, 
Israeli  Fisher,  Benjamin  Williams,  John  Wetharell, 
William  Wetharell,  John  Austin,  Nicholas  Smith, 
John  Brigs,  Jr.,  John  Caswell,  Benjamin  Caswell, 
John  Newland,  Seth  Dorman,  Jeremiah  Wetherell, 
Joseph  Eliot,  William  Hodges,  Mathew  White, 
Ephreim  Sheldon,  Isaac  Shapard,  William  Wetharell, 
Jr.,  John  Brigs,  Sr.,  Daniel  Braman,  John  Lane, 
Peter  Aldrich,  Nathaniell  Hervey. 

The  following  was  voted  concerning  the  second 
meeting-house: 

Nov.  28,  1753,  the  parish  "  Voted  that  the  standing  Comitte  Shall 
take  care  of  the  meating-house,  and  keep  it  lokt;  and  also  that  theire 
be  no  chares  seet  in  the  alleys  of  sd.  meating-house  when  the  new  seats 
are  made  Below." 

Dec.  11,  1780,  it  was  "  Voted  to  Sell  so  much  of  the  floor  in  the  meet- 
ing-house as  to  make  Six  pews  Back  of  the  men's  and  women's  Body  of 
Seats,  and  a  roe  of  pews  in  the  Back  of  the  front  galery.'' 

March  15, 1784,  it  was  "  Voted  that  one-third  part  of  the  front  Galery 
be  devoted  for  the  wimen  to  set  in,  and  be  divided  off." 

Jan.  5,  1789,"  Voted  to  sell  the  Ground  for  pews  on  the  back-side  of 
side-galarys,  except  about  six  or  seven  feet  at  the  back-corner  for  ne- 
groes; and  also  the  Ground  whore  the  negroes'  Seats  now  are." 

This  house  was  occupied  until  Jan.  9,  1836,  when 
the  present  church  edifice  was  dedicated.    The  move- 


ment for  the  erection  of  the  new  church  commenced 
in  March,  1834,  and  September  27th  same  year  it  was 

"Moved  and  Voted,  that  this  Parish  build  a  new  Meeting-house  by 
the  sale  of  the  Pews  and  individual  donation,  &  set  it  on  the  ground 
gratuitously  offered  by  Mrs.  Peddy  Bo  wen,  according  to  her  direction, 
near  the  front  of  this  house;  and  said  house  shall  be  for  the  use  of  the 
Congregational  Incorporated  society  of  which  the  Rev.  Pitt  Clarke  is 
the  present  Minister,  or  his  successor  in  office.     28  for,  6  against." 

Mrs.  Bowen  gave  the  land  and  all  the  timber  for  the 
house,  on  condition  that  it  should  be  cut  and  carried 
from  her  land  according  to  her  particular  directions. 
The  present  house  has  been  several  times  repaired. 

Deacons. — The  deacons  of  the  church  have  been 
as  follows :  Nicholas  White,  John  Briggs,  John 
Briggs  (2d),  Joseph  Hodges,  John  Andrews,  Benjamin 
Hodges,  Benjamin  Copeland,  Samuel  Dean,  Benja- 
min Pearson,  Seth  Smith,  Asa  Copeland,  Lysander 
Makepeace,  Daniel  Lane,  Stillman  Smith,  Almond 
Tucker,  A.  D.  Hunt. 

The  Trinitarian  Congregational  Church.1— This 
church,  comprising  twenty-two  members,  eleven  of 
whom  withdrew  from  the  original  church  in  this  place, 
was  organized  and  orderly  recognized  by  an  ecclesias- 
tical council  April  3,  1832. 

Their  first  and  subsequent  meetings  for  prayer  and 
conference  were  held  in  the  east  front  room  of  the 
dwelling  and  present  residence  of  Mrs.  Eliza  B. 
Wheaton,  and  their  Sabbath  assemblies  in  a  hall  that 
stood  near  the  spot  where  now  is  the  store  of  Maynard 
Newcomb.  For  a  time  these  services  were  conducted 
by  clergymen  from  abroad,  including  members  of  the 
"Taunton  and  Vicinity  Association,"  who  each  gave 
a  Sabbath  service,  and  others,  and  previous  to  the  or- 
ganization of  the  church  by  Dr.  Lyman  Beecher,  of 
Boston,  Dr.  Richard  S.  Storrs,  of  Braintree,  and  Rev. 
John  West,  of  Taunton. 

As  the  weeks  passed  by  they  were  much  encour- 
aged. Considerable  accessions  were  made  to  their 
number,  and  the  Sabbath  congregation  steadily  in- 
creased. They  decided  at  once  to  secure  as  soon  as 
possible  a  gospel  minister  who  should  live  among 
them,  and  to  build  a  meeting-house. 

The  means  to  build  were  obtained  by  the  self-sacri- 
ficing contributions  of  all  of  them,  by  the  aid  to  some 
extent  of  friends  from  abroad,  and  especially  by  the 
generous  and  large  gifts  of  the  Hon.  Laban  Wheaton, 
and  of  his  son,  the  Hon.  Laban  M.  Wheaton,  to  whom 
and  their  families  this  church  has  ever  been  under 
obligations  of  gratitude  for  their  liberal  and  oft-re- 
peated benefactions.  The  building  lot,  one  of  the 
finest  locations  in  the  village,  was  given,  and  a  neat 
and  comely  meeting-house  erected.  This  house  was 
dedicated  on  the  1st  day  of  January,  1834,  Dr.  R.  S. 
Storrs,  of  Braintree,  preaching  the  sermon  from  the 
text,  "  Behold,  a  king  shall  reign  in  righteousness,  and 
princes  shall  rule  in  judgment.  And  a  man  shall  be 
as  an  hiding-place  from  the  wind,  and  a  covert  from 
the  tempest;  as  rivers  of  water  in  a  dry  place,  as  the 


i  By  Rev.  J.  P.  Lane. 


614 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


shadow  of  a  great  rock  in  a  weary  land."  (Isaiah 
xxxii.  1  and  2.)  The  prayer  of  dedication  was  offered 
by  Rev.  Erastus  Maltby,  of  Taunton. 

That  year  the  Wheaton  Seminary  was  founded, 
and  its  interests  have  been  from  the  first  closely  re- 
lated and  identified  with  this  church  and  congrega- 
tion. Two  years  later,  in  1836,  it  became  necessary 
to  enlarge  the  meeting-house,  and  this  was  done  by 
extending  its  length  about  one-third. 

This  house,  for  the  time  in  which  it  was  built,  was 
finished  and  furnished  in  a  manner  satisfactory  to  a 
cultivated  taste,  and  as  befitted  the  house  of  God. 
In  the  basement  there  was  a  large  vestry  for  the 
Sabbath-school,  and  for  prayer  and  conference  meet- 
ings, and  other  rooms  conveniently  arranged  for 
various  social  uses  and  occasions.  Various  improve- 
ments on  the  edifice  itself  and  in  its  furnishings  were 
made  from  time  to  time.  A  belfry  and  spire,  after 
the  fashion  of  the  time,  surmounting  the  roof  at  the 
west  end,  were  built,  and  a  fine-toned  bell  of  a  net 
weight  of  twelve  hundred  pounds,  cast  to  order  at  the 
foundry  of  Holbrook  &  Son,  East  Medway,  was  sup- 
plied. Carpets,  pew  cushions,  new  and  improved 
facilities  for  heating  and  other  furnishings  were  ob- 
tained as  they  were  needed  or  desired  for  greater 
comfort  or  convenience.  In  1851,  by  donation  or 
purchase,  all  the  pews  which  were  previously  owned 
by  individuals  became  the  property  of  the  church,  to 
be  held  free  to  all  or  annually  rented  for  the  support 
of  church  services.  An  excellent  organ  from  the 
manufactory  of  Simmons  &  Co.,  Boston,  was  obtained 
the  same  year  and  given  to  the  church  by  Mrs.  E.  B. 
Wheaton.  Ten  sheds  for  the  protection  of  horses 
and  carriages  were  also  erected  the  same  year  and 
given  to  the  church  by  the  Hon.  Laban  M.  Wheaton, 
to  be  annually  rented  as  the  pews. 

In  1878  a  neat  and  attractive  chapel,  formerly  the 
gymnasium  of  Wheaton  Seminary,  was  finished,  ad- 
joining the  church  edifice,  and  on  the  day  of  its  ded- 
ication, the  18th  of  September,  was  given  to  the 
church  by  Mrs.  E.  B.  Wheaton.  The  sermon  on  this 
occasion  was  by  Rev.  H.  K.  Craig,  of  Falmouth,  a 
former  minister  of  the  church,  and  the  dedicatory 
prayer  was  by  Rev.  W.  N.  T.  Dean,  the  acting  min- 
ister. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1882,  in  a  communication  to 
the  church,  they  were  tenderly  informed  that  it  was 
in  the  heart  of  her  who  had  so  often  bestowed  liberal 
gifts  for  their  benefit  to  make  some  changes  and  im- 
provements in  the  church  and  chapel  edifices,  and 
she  asked  permission  to  carry  out  the  benevolent  de- 
sire of  her  heart,  with  the  counsel  and  advice  of  those 
whom  she  might  choose.  This  request  so  modestly 
made  comprehended  much.  Few  knew  the  largeness 
of  its  meaning.  It  was  of  course  gratefully  and  unan- 
imously granted. 

After  consultation  and  consideration,  a  plan  and 
specifications,  drawn  by  Stephen  C.  Earle,  architect,  of 
Worcester,  Mass.,  were  adopted.  Contracts  were  made, 


and  the  work  completed.  The  renovated  chapel  was 
reopened  and  dedicated  by  special  services  on  Sunday 
evening,  Nov.  26,  1882;  sermon  by  the  pastor  from 
the  text,  "At  the  gate  which  is  called  Beautiful." 
(Acts  iii.  1-10.)  The  church  was  completed  ready  for 
occupancy  and  was  dedicated  on  Sunday,  Dec.  17, 
1882,  the  other  congregations  in  town,  with  their  pas- 
tors, uniting  in  the  service,  and  the  pastor  preaching 
from  the  text,  "  This  is  none  other  but  the  house  of 
God,  and  this  is  the  gate  of  heaven."  (Genesis  xxviii. 
17.)  Previous  to  the  sermon  the  property  was  pre- 
sented to  the  church  in  the  following  communica- 
tion : 

"  To  the  Trinitarian  Congregational  Church  of  Norton  : 

"Dkar  Christian  Friends,— Having  obtained  your  permission  last 
March  for  making  such  changes  as  I  should  see  fit  in  our  church  and 
chapel,  and  at  a  later  time  including  the  organ  in  this  permit,  after 
unlocked  for  delay,  I  am  now  permitted,  through  the  divine  blessing, 
to  return  to  you  the  property  remodeled,  all  of  which  I  trust  you  will 
find  sufficiently  improved  to  compensate  for  the  inconveniences  to  which 
you  have  been  subjected. 

"These  improvements  with  furnishings  complete — together  with  out- 
side repairs  in  sheds  and  grounds,  policies  of  insurance,  and  a  deed  of 
land  sufficient  for  your  wants — I  give  to  you  in  the  name  of  your  dea- 
cons, Jesso  H.  Blandin  and  David  R.  Winter,  and  their  successors  in 
office,  for  your  use  and  benefit  forever. 

"  In  furnishing  a  tower  clock  (though  given  to  you)  I  have  had  a 
special  desire  to  gratify  the  citizens  of  Norton. 

"In  the  early  progress  of  the  work  the  architect  asked  if  I  should 
have  a  memorial  window.  I  replied,  '  No,  for  all  I  am  doing  is  memo- 
rial work.' 

"  Yet  I  do  not  claim  this  as  a  Memorial  Church,  for  should  I,  there 
are  timbers  left  in  the  church  edifice  and  foundation-stones  that  might 
appropriately  claim  a  loving  remembrance  for  many  others  who  helped 
build  this  house  who  long  since  passed  away. 

"When  the  tower  clock  strikes  out  its  clear,  sweet  strokes  for  the 
hours,  I  am  pleasantly  reminded  that  they  fall  on  the  bell  presented  by 
my  lamented  Mother  Wheaton  some  forty  six  years  ago. 

"In  this  gift  I  wish  most  devoutly  to  join  you  in  offering  it  to  the 

Lord,  praying  that  through  it  He  may  be  greatly  honored. 

"Yours,  in  Christian  love, 

"Eliza  B.  Wheaton. 
"  Norton,  Dec.  16, 1882." 

The  day  was  one  of  the  pleasantest;  the  audience 
was  large,  filling  the  house  completely,  and  the  ser- 
vices, in  which  all  the  ministers  of  the  town  partici- 
pated, were  impressive  and  satisfactory. 

The  church  had  been  lengthened  about  ten  feet  at 
each  end,  and  with  its  new  tower  and  spire  and  its 
new  roof  is  virtually  a  new  building,  the  interior 
above  the  basement  being  entirely  new.  The  chapel 
had  been  but  slightly  changed  in  itself,  but  was 
moved  to  a  new  location,  so  that  its  length,  which 
was  parallel  with  that  of  the  church,  is  now  at  right 
angles  to  it,  and  an  additional  building  had  been 
made  connecting  the  two.  The  principal  entrances 
of  the  church  are  at  the  west  end,  two  steps  up  from 
the  ground,  with  a  large  step  of  cut  granite  at  each 
entrance.  Inside  the  vestibule  easy  flights  of  stairs, 
with  a  landing  midway,  lead  to  the  main  floor,  which 
maintains  its  old  position  about  five  or  six  feet  above 
the  ground.  In  the  vestibule  there  is  also  a  flight  of 
steps  opposite  each  entrance  leading  to  the  basement, 
which,  with  the  exception  of  new  windows  and  gen- 
eral repairs,  remains  as  it  was,  being  devoted  to  the 


NORTON. 


615 


heating  apparatus,  etc.,  and  rooms  for  social  use  on 
occasion.  A  stairway  in  the  tower  leads  from  the 
vestibule  to  the  gallery  over  it,  and  other  stairs  lead 
on  up  to  the  clock-room  and  bell-deck.  The  old  bell 
does  service  in  the  new  tower,  and  in  addition  to  its 
former  duties  now  notes  each  passing  hour  in  connec- 
tion with  the  four-dial  Howard  clock.  The  vestibule 
occupies  the  addition  at  the  front  end,  and  that  at  the 
east  end  is  devoted  to  the  platform.  By  means  of 
these  additions  the  entire  floor  as  it  was  is  given  to  the 
auditorium.  At  the  north  end  of  the  platform  is  the 
organ,  practically  a  new  instrument,  having  been  en- 
tirely rebuilt  by  E.  L.  Holbrook,  of  East  Medway. 
It  has  a  front  of  wood  pipes  on  the  side  towards  the 
congregation,  and  metal  ones  richly  decorated  with 
gold  on  the  side  towards  the  platform.  On  this  side 
is  placed  the  key-board,  and  directly  adjacent  the 
choir.  At  the  south  end  of  the  platform  the  pastor's 
room  occupies  a  space  similar  in  dimensions  and 
architectural  treatment  to  that  taken  by  the  organ. 
The  old  slightly-arched  ceiling  has  been  superseded 
by  the  full  semicircular  new  one.  This  carries  the 
finished  space  up  into  the  roof  so  as  to  expose  the 
timber-work,  which  consists  of  three  trusses,  each  of 
a  tie-beam,  which  makes  the  diameter  of  the  ceiling 
curve,  and  three  other  beams  on  radii  of  that  curve. 
These  trusses  are  finished  with  California  red-wood, 
of  which  also  are  the  pews  and  finish  of  the  church 
generally,  though  cherry  has  been  used  for  the  pulpit, 
ministers'  seats,  and  communion-table,  the  top  of  the 
latter  being  of  St.  Alban's  red  marble.  The  windows 
are  of  rolled  cathedral  glass  in  colors,  and  that  above 
the  platform  is  a  specially  rich  design.  The  walls 
and  ceilings  throughout  both  the  church  and  chapel 
are  decorated  in  oil  by  Philip  A.  Butler,  artist,  of 
Boston.  The  decoration  is  rich  in  color,  though  the 
treatment  is  very  simple  and  in  excellent  taste.  The 
pews  are  fitted  up  with  patent  elastic  cushions,  covered 
with  dark  maroon  damask,  and  made  by  Osterman 
&  Son,  of  New  York.  The  upholstery  of  the  pulpit 
and  ministers'  seats  has  plush  covering  of  a  similar 
color.  The  building  is  heated  by  Magee  furnaces  in 
the  basement,  and  is  brilliantly  lighted  with  gas,  as 
is  also  the  chapel,  by  means  of  a  Walworth  gas-ma- 
chine. The  gas-fixtures  are  of  dark  bronze,  and  were 
made  by  Hollings  &  Co.,  of  Boston. 

The  chapel,  always  a  pleasant  room,  is  made  more 
so  by  its  new  position,  and  particularly  by  the  color 
given  to  the  walls  and  ceiling.  Between  the  church 
and  chapel  a  new  section  is  built,  which  contains  a 
parlor  or  infant  class-room,  fifteen  by  twenty  feet,  con- 
necting by  wide  doors  with  the  chapel ;  a  small  vesti- 
bule on  the  east  connects  with  the  chapel  and  parlor, 
and  a  larger  porch  or  vestibule  with  a  western  entrance. 
The  latter  also  serves  as  a  library-room,  and  is  fur- 
nished with  a  handsome  roller  front  book-case  made 
by  Smith  &  Co.,  Boston.  From  this  room  is  an  en- 
trance to  the  church  and  pastor's  room,  and  a  flight 
of  stairs  leads  directly  to  the  kitchen  in  the  basement. 


New  carpets,  new  hymn-books,  etc.,  and  a  new  silver- 
plated  communion  service  of  a  rich  design  complete 
the  equipment. 

The  contractors  and  builders  were  Mead,  Mason  & 
Co.,  Boston,  Mr.  G.  W.  Myers,  foreman.  The  work 
was  under  the  care  and  general  supervision  of  the 
architect,  Mr.  S.  C.  Earle,  of  Worcester,  but  back  of 
it  all  the  loving  heart,  patient  spirit,  painstaking  and 
wise  judgment  of  Mrs.  Wheaton,  who  with  a  marvel- 
ous strength  and  devotion  regarded  and  carried  every 
detail  of  her  generous  undertaking.  And  all  employed 
in  the  work  were  animated  by  a  pride  to  do  their  best, 
and  by  an  oft-expressed  appreciation  of  the  self-deny- 
ing spirit  and  noble  beneficence  of  the  Christian 
woman  who  was  providing  for  the  people  she  loved 
this  costly  benefit. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  several  ministers  and 
pastors  of  this  church,  with  the  dates  of  their  terms 
of  service  : 

Rev.  Spencer  F.  Beard,  1832-35 ;  Rev.  Cyrus  W. 
Allen,  installed  July  8,  1835,  dismissed  March  1, 
1842 ;  Rev.  Homer  Barrows,  1842-45 ;  Rev.  William 
Barrows,  ordained  Sept.  4,  1845,  dismissed  June  4, 
1850  ;  Rev.  Franklin  Holmes,  ordained  Sept.  15, 1852, 
dismissed  Dec.  20,  1859 ;  Rev.  Samuel  Beane,  in- 
stalled Sept.  26,  1860,  died  May  8,  1865 ;  Rev.  Henry 
C.  Fay,  1865-68 ;  Rev.  H.  K.  Craig,  1869-71 ;  Rev. 
T.  Atkinson,  1872-75 ;  Rev.  W.  N.  T.  Dean,  187G-81 ; 
Rev.  James  P.  Lane,  installed  Jan.  10,  1882. 

The  original  members  were  Nathan  Perry,  Leavit 
Bates,  Hannah  Bates,  Lysauder  Makepeace,  Sarah 
Makepeace,  John  Patten,  Nancy  Patten,  Phebe  Pat- 
ten, Lydia  Shepard,  Elizabeth  Briggs,  Rhoda  Lo- 
thrope,  Jesse  Blandin,  Laban  M.  Wheaton,  Eliza  B. 
Wheaton,  Josiah  King,  Clarissa  King,  Mason  Stone, 
Abigail  M.  Stone,  Harriet  Patten,  Polly  Goodwin, 
Allen  Tucker,  Emma  Field. 

The  Baptist  Church.— The  old  Baptist  Church,  the 
first  in  this  town,  was  organized  in  1761.  The  fol- 
lowing are  extracts  from  the  early  records : 

"  March  ye  5,  1761.— Elder  William  Carpenter  was  baptised  by  im- 
mersion by  Elder  Backus,  and  at  the  same  time  Patience  Cook  was  bap- 
tised by  immersion." 

"  March  ye  18, 1761.— At  a  church  meeting  held  in  Norton  after  solemn 
prayer  to  God,  [and]  after  some  discourse  on  many  points,  the  church  by 
vote  adjourned  ye  sd  meeting  till  March  ye  24." 

"March  ye  24,  1761.— Ye  Church  met,  and  after  opening  ye  meeting 
by  solemn  prayer  to  God, — 

"First,  ye  Church  voted  the  Confession  of  Faith  and  Covenant  of  the 
Baptist  Constitution.  Then  a  number  signed  sd  Covenant,  viz.,  William 
Carpenter,  John  Finney,  Peter  Soulard,  Gershom  Cambell,  Daniel  Niles, 
Eben  Jones,  Jabez  Briggs,  Abigail  Austin,  Sarah  Cambell,  Patience 
Cook,  Mary  Jones,  Mary  Phillips. 

"2nd,  The  Church  made  fresh  choice  of  William  Carpenter  to  be  the 
elder  of  this  Church. 

"IS,  The  Church  voted  that  the  first  of  April  should  be  the  day  for  to 
set  apart  our  Pastor  to  the  work  of  the  ministry  in  the  Baptist  Consti- 
tution, and  to  send  to  the  Baptist  Churches  in  Middleborough  (viz.) 
Elder  Backus  and  Elder  Hinds." 

"  April  ye  1,  1761.— Mr.  William  Carpenter  was  set  apart  to  the  work 
of  the  ministry  and  Church,  [and]  settled  in  the  gospel  order  in  the  Bap- 
tist Constitution,  by  Elders  Backus  and  Hinds,  Elders  of  the  Baptist 
Churches  in  Middleboro',  with  their  assistance  from  sd  churches,  by 
fasting  and  prayer  and  the  laying-on  of  hands,  giving  his  charge  and 


616 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


the  right  hand  of  fellowship.     [The  same  day]  Beuajah  Smith,  Mary 
Finney,  Mary  Poick  (?),  and  Tabitha  Briggs,  signed  the  covenant." 

This  church  was  really  the  continuation  of  the  dis- 
senting church,  or  rather  those  who  left  the  First 
Church  during  the  ministry  of  Rev.  Mr.  Avery. 

The  old  church  was  dissolved  Oct.  13,  1835,  and  on 
the  same  day  the  present  church  was  organized,  and 
the  pastors  have  been  as  follows:  Revs.  Henry  C. 
Coombs,  Nathan  Chapman,  Samuel  J.  Carr,  John 
Holbrook,  John  C.  Bowen,  William  Read,  H.  C. 
Coombs,1  S.  A.  Collins,1  John  J.  Bronson,  F.  H.  Mil- 
ler, Seth  Ewer,  Nathan  Chapman,  Washington  L. 
Coburn,  William  A.  A.  Millerd,  John  Blaine,  Isaac 
Smith,  George  Carpenter,  J.  H.  Tilton,  Charles  F. 
Nicholson,  William  S.  Walker. 

Wesleyan  Methodist  Church.— This  church  was 
organized  May  3,  1850,  with  the  following  members: 
Rev.  S.  P.  Snow,  Maria  J.  Snow,  Joseph  Snow,  Nancy 
Snow,  David  Cummings,  Roxellana  R.  Cummings, 
Albert  S.  Tucker,  Abigail  Tucker,  Jonathan  J. 
Stanley,  Polly  Jones.  The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  S. 
P.  Snow.  Their  house  was  dedicated  May  8,  1854, 
with  appropriate  services,  by  Rev.  J.  W.  Horton,  of 
Taunton;  Rev.  William  H.  Brewster,  of  Lowell; 
Rev.  G.  Clark,  of  Attleborough  ;  and  Rev.  S.  P.  Snow, 
the  pastor.  Bev.  Mr.  Snow  continued  his  labors  as 
pastor  until  April,  1854,  when  Lewis  P.  Atwood,  a 
licentiate,  was  engaged  to  labor  with  them  one  year. 
In  April,  1855,  Rev.  John  A.  Gibson  commenced  his 
labors  among  them.  He  remained  till  April,  1858, 
and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  James  Dixon,  who  re- 
mained from  1858-61 ;  Rev.  George  Wallace,  1861 
-64  ;  Rev.  R.  H.  Cobb,  1864-65  ;  Rev.  Lowell  Parker, 
1865-66;  Rev.  George  W.  Wallace,  1866-67;  Rev. 
Guardiner  Clark,  1867,  six  months ;  Rev.  John  Braley, 
1867,  six  months;  Rev.  Lowell  Parker,  from  1868-69; 
Rev.  John  Blanchard,  Rev.  Reuben  Cook ;  between 
1869  and  1875  not  steady  preaching;  Rev.  Thomas 
Brown,  1875-76  ;  Rev.  A.  R.  Bradley,  1876-78  ;  Rev. 
W.  N.  T.  Dean,  1878-80;  Rev.  Byron  Williams,  1880 
-81 ;  Rev.  J.  P.  Lane,  1881-83. 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church.2 — About  the  year 
1874,  Rev.  E.  D.  Hall,  pastor  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  in  East  Attleborough,  began  hold- 
ing meetings  in  the  part  of  Norton  around  Lane's 
Station.  These  meetings  were  held  in  private  houses, 
in  the  depot  building,  and  in  the  first  jewelry-shop, 
since  destroyed  by  fire.  A  Sunday-school  was  organ- 
ized, and  Brother  Freeman  Robbins,  of  Attleborough, 
acted  as  superintendent.  The  interest  continued  and 
increased.  Rev.  Mr.  Gowan,  successor  to  Mr.  Hall, 
continued  the  work,  and  at  length  it  was  decided  to 
build  a  house  for  the  worship  of  God.  This  was  con- 
sidered a  great  undertaking,  but  was  finally  accom- 
plished by  the  energy  and  self-sacrificing  spirit  of  the 
people.  It  would  be  unfair  to  the  smaller  contribu- 
tors to  give  the  names  of  the  larger  ones,  for  many 


Supply. 


By  Rev.  Frank  S.  Townsend. 


gave  just  as  cheerfully  from  their  small  means  as 
others  did  from  their  larger  ones.  Perhaps  from  the 
divine  point  of  view  they  are  equal.  It  is  pleasant 
to  find  on  the  old  subscription  papers  evidence  that 
the  giving  was  not  circumscribed  by  denominational 
lines.  The  builder  of  the  chapel  was  Mr.  John  Har- 
vey. Work  was  begun  in  November,  1875,  and  the 
house  was  dedicated  to  the  worship  of  God  in  Febru- 
ary, 1876.  The  building  is  small  and  plain  but  neat, 
and  dedicated  free  from  debt.  Several  ministers  were 
present.  The  sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  J.  W. 
Willett.  A  collection  was  taken  by  Rev.  E.  D.  Hall. 
At  first  those  in  this  neighborhood  who  became  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  were  recorded 
on  the  books  of  the  Attleborough  Church.  At  the 
session  of  the  Providence  (now  New  England  South- 
ern) Conference  in  1876,  R.  T.  Stevenson,  a  student 
in  the  theological  school  of  Boston  University,  was 
appointed  to  supply  the  work  at  Lane's  Station. 

On  June  10,  1876,  a  separate  church  organization 
was  effected.  On  July  23,  1876,  Rev.  George  W. 
Brewster,  presiding  elder  of  the  district,  held  the 
first  Quarterly  Conference  of  the  new  church.  Since 
then  it  has  been  a  regular  appointment  of  the  Con- 
ference, though  a  small  one.  The  small  size  of  the 
church  has  rendered  it  unable  to  always  secure  the 
services  of  a  resident  pastor,  and  hence  there  have 
been  more  frequent  changes  of  the  pastoral  relation 
than  would  have  been  produced  by  the  system  of 
Methodism  alone.  Most  of  the  preachers  have  been 
students  in  the  theological  school  at  Boston.  The 
following  have  held  the  relation  of  preacher  in 
charge:  R.  T.  Stevenson,  Francis  M.  Kirgan,  W. 
D.  Gray,  W.  N.  Groome.  At  the  Conference  session 
of  1881,  M.  F.  Colburn,  a  graduate  of  the  theological 
school  and  member  of  the  Conference,  was  appointed 
as  resident  pastor.  His  health  failing  after  a  few 
months  he  retired,  and  George  H.  Trever,  of  the 
theological  school,  completed  the  year.  At  the  Con- 
ference session  of  1882,  Frank  S.  Townsend,  then  a 
student  in  Wesleyan  University,  Middletown,  Conn., 
was  appointed  as  resident  pastor,  and  continued  his 
labors  through  the  year. 

At  present  the  society  'consists  of  thirty-seven 
members  and  three  probationers.  An  interesting 
Sunday-school,  with  an  average  attendance  of  forty, 
is  maintained.  The  situation  of  the  church,  it  being 
some  distance  from  any  other,  brings  into  attendance 
and  sympathy  with  it  some  Christians  of  other  de- 
nominations who  do  not  choose  to  unite  as  members. 
It  is  a  power  for  good  in  its  community,  and  the  earn- 
est prayer  of  its  members  is  that  it  may  continue  as 
a  beacon-light  of  ever-increasing  radiance. 

A  Catholic  Church  was  built  in  this  town  in 
1865.  The  church  has  never  had  a  settled  pastor, 
but  was  in  the  Taunton  parish  nine  years,  and  in  the 
North  Attleborough  parish  nine  years,  and  was  sup- 
plied with  preaching  from  these  parishes. 

Educational. — Not  only  did  the  pioneers  of  Nor- 


NORTON. 


617 


ton  early  interest  themselves  in  religious  matters,  but 
the  cause  of  education  also  early  received  their  atten- 
tion.    As  early  as  April  28,  1719, 

"the  town  made  chois  of  Thomas  Skinner,  Sen.,  to  Be  thare  Seoolinas- 
ter,  and  to  begin  n  at  ye  first  day  of  June,  1719,  and  to  eontinu  one  quar- 
ter, and  his  salary  not  to  Excead  two  pounds  for  said  quarter.'' 

In  1791,  Patience  Leach  was  the  schoolmistress,  at 
a  salary  of  three  shillings  per  week.  Jonathan  Hunt 
boarded  the  schoolmistress,  and  received  three  shil- 
lings per  week.     Abigail  Morey  taught  in  1792. 

"  May  13,  1720. — The  town  made  choice  of  Jeremiah  Bassett  for  to  be 
Scoolmaster  ;  &,  accordingly,  lie  have  agreed  &  excepted  of  the  same  for 
one  quarter  of  a  year,  after  the  Rate  of  thirty  pounds  Per  year, — one- 
third  money,  the  other  two-thirds  other  pay.  first  beginning  at  the 
public  meeting-house,  the  scool  to  be  moving,  If  continued  the  other 
part  of  the  year,  the  second  quarter  [to  be]  at  that  part  of  the  town 
called  Scottlin  ;  and  the  third  quarter  taking  in  Tiump's  &  White's  and 
Skinner's  naiborliood;  and  the  fourth  quarter  at  Winnaconick." 

This  practice  of  "  moving"  the  school,  as  it  was 
termed,  continued  for  several  years,  most  probably 
till  the  town  was  redistricted. 

"Aug.  14,  1721. — At  a  towne-meeting  Legally  warned  [for  that  pur- 
pose], chose  Jeremiah  Basset  to  be  Schoolemaster  to  Keep  Schoole  in  sd. 
towne  one  year  next  enceuing;  and  sd.  Bassett  is  to  have  thirty  Pounds 
in  ye  Produce  of  ye  town,  at  the  Price  allready  Sett." 

June  20,  1723,  at  a  legal  town-meeting,  it  was — 

"Voted  that  Simeon  Wetherell  shall  be  schoolmaster  to  keep  school 
at  his  father's  or  his  one  house,  to  teech  children  to  Keed,  Right,  and 
Cifer,  for  one  quarter  of  a  year  next  after  the  Last  of  august  next;  and 
the  selectmen  shall  agree  with  sd.  Wetherell  for  his  service,  and  he  is 
to  be  Paid  in  ye  Produce  of  ye  towne.  Sd.  Wetherell  shall  Keep  School 
at  but  one  of  the  Places  all  sd.  quarter.  And  sd.  Wetherel  Excepted  of 
his  being  Schoollmaster  on  sd.  terms." 

In  looking  at  the  record,  it  would  seem  that  in 
addition  to  teaching  the  children  "  to  Reed,  Right, 
and  Cifer,"  the  teacher  might  profitably  have  spent 
his  "  noonings,"  at  least,  in  teaching  the  recorder  of 
the  above  vote  how  to  spell,  yet,  in  charity  to  the 
town  clerk,  we  should  remember  how  exceedingly 
limited  were  the  educational  privileges  of  that  day. 

"Jan.  G,  1723  or  4,  voted  that  the  selectman  shall  Go  forthwith  and 
agree  with  Othnial  Cambell,  of  Taunton,  to  Keep  School  in  Norton  for 
one  quarter  of  a  year  now  following,  and;  if  he  cannot  be  had,  then  to 
Geet  some  other  Sutable  Persone  to  Keep  School  sd.  quarter  of  a 
year." 

At  a  legal  town-meeting,  July  13,  1724, — 

"They  voted  that  the  scholl  shall  he  Keept  ye  next  quarter  in  that 
part  of  the  towne  which  Goes  by  the  name  of  Winecunet. 

"Sept.  14,  1724. — Voted  to  pay  Mr.  John  Sumner,  for  Keeping  School, 
£11—8—0. 

"Oct.  12,  1724. — They  made  choice  of  William  Caswell  to  be  our 
Schoolmaster,  to  Keep  Scholl  in  the  towne  of  Norton  one  year  next  En- 
seuing;  and  that  he  shall  have  thirty-four  Pounds,  in  current  money  of 
sd.  Province,  for  his  wages  to  Keep  scholl  sd.  year;  and  the  sd.  Towne  of 
Norton  to  be  at  no  inure  cost  Consarning  his  Being  Borded  sd.  year. 
Provided,  allso,  that  he  shall  move  in  Keeping  Scholl  as  the  Towne  shall 
agree.  And  they  made  choice  of  Mr.  John  Hodges  to  go  and  agree  with 
sd.  William  Caswell  to  Keep  scholl  in  ye  town. 

"Dec.  30,  1724.— 21y,  They  voted  that  the  Schollmaster  shall  Keep 
Scholl,  the  first  quarter  of  a  year,  at  the  house  of  Eliezer  fisher;  and 
the  second  quarter  at  the  house  of  Left.  Nicholas  White;  and  the  third 
quarter  at  Winecunit,  or  in  that  Part  of  the  town  ;  and  the  Last  quarter 
at  the  meetiug-House. 

"  March  29,  1727.— Voted  that  Josiah  Briggs  shal  bo  schollmaster  to 
Keep  Scholl  in  Norton,  .  .  .  Provided  he  will  Keep  scholl  for  201b.  a 
year,  and  his  dyett;  and  that  he  shall  Keep  Scholl,  the  first  quarter,  at 


ye  middle  of  the  towne  ;  anil  the  second  quarter  at  Winecunett ;  and  the 
third  quarter  on  the  south  side  of  ye  way  which  is  towards  Elezer 
fisher's;  and  the  fourth  quarter  at  Left.  White's,  or  theyrabouts. 

"Nov.  30,  1727. — Voted  to  pay  John  Briggs,  ye  eldist,  for  dyeting  of 
the  Schollmaster  14  weeks,  at  6s.  a  week,  041b. — 04s. — Od. 

"Sept.  20,  1731. — Voted  to  Samuel  Vesey,  for  Diating  ye  Scollemaster, 
2—05—0. 

"Sept.  18,  1733. — Voated  to  Joseph  Hodges,  for  hording  the  Scolle- 
master, Mr.  Bacon,  ye  Mini  of  ill — 16—0. 

"It  was  voated  to  Joseph  Hodges,  for  earring  &  fetching  sd.  colemas- 
ter,  ye  sum  of  0 — 14 — 0. 

"It  was  voated  to  Daniel]  Braman,  for  Keeping  the  scollmaster  fower 
weaks,  at  Eight  shillind  pur  weake.     It  came  to  01 — 12 — 0. 

"Voated  to  Samuel  Clap,  for  treating  with  the  collmaster,  the  sum  of 
00—03—00. 

"  Aug.  31, 1736. — Voated  that  the  Selectmen  shuld  hire  a  scoolemaster. 

"  Sept.  28, 1736.— Voted  to  Mr.  Samuel  Clap,  the  1,  for  to  pay  to  Scoole- 
master Vesey,  the  sum  of  5 — 1 — 0. 

"  [Also]  voated,  that  what  is  wanting  for  sculling  for  this  present  year, 
and  for  the  pore,  is  to  be  dran  out  of  the  present  tresury. 

"  May  14,  1742  — Theyr  was  a  voate  called  for  to  Know  whether  the 
Scoole  shuld  be  Kept  on  the  west  sid  of  the  teen-Mile  River,  in  said 
Preesent;  and  it  past  in  the  affirmative* 

"November,  1742. — Voated  to  Capt.  Hodges,  for  carying  the  Scoole- 
master to  Cambridge,  01 — 05 — 0. 

"Nov.  27,  1751. — Voted  that  the  Selectmen  agree  with  Deacon  John 
Briggs  to  Keep  School,  provided  they  can  agree  with  him  on  Reasonable 
Conditions." 

He  probably  kept,  for  the  next  year  the  town  voted 
him  sixteen  shillings  "  for  hording  himself  when  he 
kept  school." 

"Dec.  30,  1751.— Voted  to  Ephraim  Leonard,  Esq.,  for  Boarding  ye 
schoolmaster  6}4  weeks,  and  feching  him  from  Concord,  £11 — 00 — 0,  old 
Tenor;  £1 — 9 — 4,  Lawful  money. 

"Nov.  21, 1755. — Voted  to  Capt.  William  Stone,  for  boarding  of  the 
Schoolmaster,  Stephen  Farow  (Farrar?),  £2—12—0." 

Mr.  Farrar  probably  belonged  to  that  part  of  Con- 
cord which  is  now  Lincoln.     The  same  day, — 

"Voted  to  Daniel  Braman,  for  boarding  Samuel  Dean,  Jun.,  School- 
master, £2—08." 

"This  was  probably,"  says  Mr.  Clark,  "he  who 
was  afterwards  the  Rev.  Dr.  Deane,  of  Portland,  Me." 

There  is  every  reason  to  believe  that  most  of  the 
teachers  heretofore  mentioned  belonged  to  Norton. 

After  the  close  of  the  Revolution  the  town  assumed 
a  renewed  interest  in  the  schools,  and  from  that  time 
to  the  present  Norton  has  kept  abreast  with  the  rapid 
strides  made  in  educational  matters  throughout  New 
England.  Her  public  schools  have  ever  been  excel- 
lent, while  Wheaton  Academy  has  long  ranked  among 
the  leading  literary  institutions  in  the  State. 

Wheaton  Female  Seminary  was  founded  in  1834 
by  Hon.  Laban  Wheaton,  of  Norton,  in  memory  of 
his  daughter.  The  endowment  funds  were  increased 
by  his  son,  Hon.  Laban  M.  Wheaton,  and  since  his 
death  large  additions  have  been  made  by  his  widow, 
Mrs.  Eliza  B.  Wheaton.  The  grounds  are  spacious 
and  attractive,  with  green  lawns,  fine  shade-trees,  and 
pleasant  walks,  while  the  quiet  and  secluded  situation 
allows  greater  freedom  than  would  be  possible  in  a 
larger  town.  The  seminary  building  is  of  fine  archi- 
tectural proportions,  and  the  boarding-houses,  just 
beyond,  are  conveniently  arranged  to  accommodate 
the  entire  school,  having  separate  suites  of  rooms  for 
teachers,  pupils,  steward  and   family,  and   servants, 


618 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


with  dining-hall,  drawing-room,  parlors,  offices,  etc., 
all  finished  and  furnished  in  excellent  taste  to  make 
the  home  pleasant  and  attractive  to  all. 

It  is  not  a  large  school,  and  gives,  therefore,  oppor- 
tunity for  familiar  personal  intercourse  between  teach- 
ers and  pupils.  It  has  a  carefully-selected  reference 
library  of  nearly  four  thousand  volumes,  one  of  the 
best-furnished  laboratories  in  the  country,  ample 
philosophical  apparatus,  an  observatory  with  a  fine 
telescope,  and  choice  cabinets  of  natural  history.  In- 
struction in  all  branches  is  thorough  and  systematic, 
and  provision  is  made  for  lectures  on  scientific,  his- 
torical, and  literary  subjects. 

The  design  of  the  school  is  to  afford  opportunities 
for  an  accurate  and  practical  education  ;  it  especially 
aims  to  base  such  education  upon  a  hearty  faith  in 
the  Bible  and  a  conscientious  Christian  life.  Its  influ- 
ence for  good  is  wide  and  permanent. 


CHAPTER    XLIX. 

NORTON.— (Continued.) 
MANUFACTURING   INTERESTS. 

In  1695  Thomas  and  James  Leonard  commenced 
the  erection  of  an  iron  forge  on  Stony  Brook,  nearly 
in  front  of  the  old  Leonard  Mansion  House,  westerly 
of  Wading  River,  which  in  a  few  years  passed  into 
the  hands  of  Maj.  George  Leonard  (son  of  Thomas), 
and  by  him,  his  son  George,  and  grandson  George, 
the  business  of  smelting  the  ore  and  the  manufacture 
of  iron  was  carried  on  at  this  place  till  near  the  close 
of  the  last  century. 

For  many  years  a  great  amount  of  business  was 
done  here  by  the  enterprising  family  whose  name  is 
so  honorably  and  permanently  associated  with  the 
early  iron-works  of  this  continent.  The  late  Judge 
Leonard  built  a  grist-mill,  nearly  on  the  site  of  the 
old  forge,  in  1805.  It  continued  in  operation  till 
since  the  year  1825.  George  L.  Barnes  (a  descendant 
of  Maj.  George  Leonard),  who,  by  the  death  of  Mrs. 
Bowen,  came  into  possession  of  the  Leonard  home- 
stead, erected  in  1855,  at  great  expense,  a  saw-  and 
shingle-mill,  etc.,  near  the  site  of  the  old  forge.  He 
occupied  the  mill  about  a  year,  and  since  then  till 
January,  1859,  it  stood  idle,  most  of  the  machinery 
having  been  taken  out.  It  subsequently  passed  into 
the  hands  of  H.  S.  Freeman,  and  later  came  into  the 
possession  of  C.  D.  and  C.  H.  Lane,  and  is  now  owned 
by  the  Norton  Steam  Power  Company. 

The  Norton  Steam  Power  Company,  Charles  D. 
Lane,  president,  was  organized  in  1871.  The  follow- 
ing year  a  factory,  engine-  and  boiler-house,  and  rail- 
road depot  were  built  at  a  cost  of  thirty-eight  thousand 
dollars  ;  the  company  was  incorporated  Feb.  25, 1873  ; 
capital  stock,  thirty  thousand  dollars.  The  factory 
was  first  occupied  Sept.  1,  1872,  on  the  first  floor  by 


William  A.  Sturdy  &  Co.,  jewelers.  In  1873  and  1874 
Bodman  &  Hussey,  plane  manufacturers,  occupied 
the  third  floor.  It  was  burned  Dec.  26,  1874,  rebuilt 
in  the  spring  and  summer  of  1875  at  a  cost  of  fourteen 
thousand  dollars,  and  sold  at  public  auction  Feb.  28, 
1879,  to  William  A.  Sturdy  and  C.  S.  and  George  L. 
Wetherell. 

It  is  at  present  owned  by  William  A.  Sturdy,  and 
used  by  him  for  the  manufacture  of  jewelry. 

There  was  a  saw-mill  on  Mulberry  Meadow  Brook, 
a  short  distance  above  where  Thomas  Copeland  now 
resides,  as  early  as  1710,  owned  by  James  Leonard, 
Jr.,  and  John  (?)  Austin,  and  might  have  been  the 
first  saw-mill  erected  in  town.  In  1746,  and  for  some 
years  subsequently,  it  was  owned  by  Samuel  Clapp, 
and  afterwards  by  his  son,  Jonathan  Clapp,  but  pre- 
vious to  1771  it  passed  into  the  hands  of  John  Cook 
and  Samuel  Godfrey.  About  1719  the  mill  was 
burned;  it  was  then  owned  by  James  Godfrey,  and 
Avas  soon  rebuilt  by  him.  Its  present  owners  are 
Benjamin  and  Moses  Lincoln. 

As  early  as  1714  there  was  a  "  corn-mill,"  owned  by 
George  Leonard,  on  Wading  River,  at  what  is  now 
Barrowsville.  It  had  then  probably  stood  several 
years,  and  no  doubt  was  the  first  grist-mill  erected  in 
town.  On  the  death  of  Mr.  Leonard  in  1716,  he  de- 
vised this  privilege  to  his  son  Nathaniel,  afterwards 
minister  at  Plymouth,  and  it  remained  in  his  posses- 
sion till  his  death  in  1761.  There  was  then  a  grist- 
mill and  saw-mill,  which  were  given  to  his  son  George. 
On  the  12th  of  January,  1770,  George  Leonard  deeded 
to  Jonathan  and  John  Amory  a  hundred  and  thirty- 
five  acres  of  land,  and  "  all  the  houses,  mills,  and 
other  buildings  thereon  erected."  He  also  deeded  to 
them  one-half  of  the  potash-house  and  utensils  stand- 
ing on  the  land  belonging  to  John  White.  When 
this  potash  was  built,  or  how  long  it  remained,  we 
have  no  information.  In  a  little  more  than  two  months 
(or  March  31,  1770)  the  Amorys  sold  the  mills  and 
land,  and  half  of  the  potash  standing  thereon,  to 
William  Homes.  June  13,  1783,  he  sold  to  Thomas 
Dawes,  of  Boston;  and  he  (Homes)  soon  returned  to 
Boston,  from  which  he  was  probably  driven,  in  1770, 
on  account  of  his  hostility  to  the  despotic  acts  of  the 
British  government.  Dawes  mortgaged  these  mills, 
etc.,  in  1788  to  Josiah  Waters  and  others,  of  Boston, 
who,  Nov.  18,  1790,  conveyed  the  property  to  Ephraim 
Raymond,  a  very  energetic  business  man,  who  soon 
after  erected  an  iron  forge,  and  carried  on  that  busi- 
ness for  some  years. 

In  1810,  Mr.  Raymond  and  his  father-in-law,  Josiah 
Dean,  of  Raynham,  erected  the  cotton -factory.  Mr. 
Raymond  probably  owned  three-fourths  of  the  estab- 
lishment. The  firm  was  known  as  the  "  Norton  Manu- 
facturing Company."  March  10,  1821,  Raymond 
bought  of  the  executors  of  Mr.  Dean  one-fourth  of 
the  factory,  and  between  the  6th  of  November,  1821, 
and  the  26th  of  August,  1833,  at  four  different  times 
he  sold  portions  of  it  to  Samuel  Crocker  and  Charles 


NORTON. 


619 


Richmond,  amounting  to  seven-eighths  of  the  whole 
establishment.  Albert  Barrows  bought  one-fourth  of 
the  factory  Oct.  1,  1833,  and  owned  it,  with  Crocker 
and  Richmond,  for  several  years.  March  12,  1837, 
the  "Norton  Manufacturing  Company,"  consisting  of 
Crocker,  Richmond,  and  Barrows,  was  incorporated  by 
the  General  Court,  with  the  privilege  of  holding- 
capital  to  the  amount  of  fifty  thousand  dollars.  After 
the  failure  of  Crocker  &  Richmond  the  property  was 
sold  at  auction.  Feb.  3,  1844,  the  "  Wheaton  Manu- 
facturing Company,"  consisting  of"  Albert  Barrows, 
Samuel  B.  King,  and  Laban  M.  Wheaton,  their  asso- 
ciates and  successors,"  was  incorporated  by  the  Legis- 
lature for  the  purpose  of  making  "  cotton  and  woolen 
goods,"  and  were  authorized  to  hold  personal  and  real 
estate  to  the  amount  of  fifty  thousand  dollars.  The 
company  organized  under  the  charter  March  12, 1854. 

The  Wheaton  Manufacturing  Company  being  un- 
successful in  business  sold  to  the  Newbury  Manufac- 
turing Company  in  1865,  who  used  it  for  manufac- 
turing cotton  cloth  until  1871,  when  they  sold  it  to 
Lafayette  Godfrey,  who  used  it  in  the  same  until 
1875,  when  he  sold  it  to  the  Stafford  Manufacturing 
Company  of  Fall  River,  who  own  it  at  the  present 
time,  and  use  it  for  manufacturing  cotton  yarn. 

Previous  to  1745,  Jonathan  Hodges  erected  a  mill 
on  Goose  Brook,  a  few  rods  below  the  bridge,  and 
carried  on  the  business  of  "  fulling,  dyeing,  and  dress- 
ing cloth."  This  was  the  first  mill  for  that  business 
erected  in  Norton. 

More  than  a  hundred  years  ago  a  saw-mill  was 
built  by  Deacon  John  Andrews  on  Burt's  Brook. 

On  the  30th  of  August,  1783,  Nathan  and  Edward 
Babbit,  of  one  party,  and  Amies  Newcomb,  of  the 
other,  entered  into  an  agreement  to  build  a  dam  for 
a  grist-mill  and  fulling-mill,  the  Babbits  to  build  each 
one-fourth  of  the  dam,  and  one-half  of  the  grist-mill, 
and  Newcomb  to  build  the  other  half  of  the  dam  and 
the  whole  of  the  fulling-mill,  and  the  buildings  were 
soon  after  erected  on  Canoe  River,  on  opposite  sides 
of  the  stream,  a  short  distance  from  Easton  line.  On 
the  18th  of  November,  1794,  Nathan  Babbit  being 
dead,  his  son  Edward  deeded  to  Levi  Babbitt  one- 
half  of  the  grist-mill,  the  other  half  being  then 
owned  by  Asa  Newcomb.  Previous  to  Jan.  5,  1795, 
the  fulling-mill  had  passed  into  the  hands  of  Asa 
Newcomb,  who  was  a  brother  of  Annes,  and  a  saw- 
mill had  been  built,  for  on  that  day  he  (Asa)  sold 
one-half  of  the  fulling-mill  and  one-half  of  the  dam 
to  Thomas  Danforth,  reserving  the  water  not  needed 
for  the  grist-mill  and  fulling-mill  for  his  (Newcomb's) 
saw-mill,  which  shows  that  the  saw-mill  was  stand- 
ing at  that  time.  In  February,  1811,  Danforth  sold 
to  Jonathan  Smith,  Simeon  Presbery,  Jr.,  Daniel 
Presbery,  Stimson  Austin,  and  Alanson  Cobb,  re- 
serving to  himself  three-eighths  of  a  water  privilege, 
and  they  built  thereon  a  factory  for  making  cotton 
yarn.  This  factory  was  owned  by  different  individ- 
uals up  to  1822,  when  Nathaniel  Newcomb  bought 


the  whole  of  it,  and  made  yarn  for  a  time,  then 
thread,  and  finally  wadding  and  batting.  In  De- 
cember, 1831,  the  factory  was  burned,  and  Mr.  New- 
comb rebuilt  on  the  same  spot  in  April,  1832.  In 
1812,  James  Beaumont,  of  Canton,  received  a  patent 
on  a  certain  kind  of  wadding.  Mr.  Newcomb  bought 
of  him  the  right  and  manufactured  that  wadding. 
The  grist-mill  went  into  disuse  about  1814,  the  full- 
ing-mill about  1820.  This  mill  is  now  leased  by 
Maynard  Newcomb,  who  built  in  1881  a  large  addi- 
tion, introduced  steam-power,  and  continues  the  man- 
ufacture of  batting  and  wadding. 

Not  far  from  1790,  William  Carpenter  built  a  mill 
for  cutting  nails  on  the  westerly  side  of  Rumford 
River. 

Ansel  Keith  and  Jonathan  Smith  were  among  the 
first  to  commence  the  hat  business  here  about  1808. 
George  Gilbert  commenced  the  manufacture  of  bon- 
nets, etc.,  about  the  same  time.  Soon  after  Thomas 
Danforth  (2d)  entered  into  the  business,  and  carried 
it  on  quite  extensively.  Hiram  H.  Wetherell,  either 
alone  or  with  his  brother  Horace  B.,  carried  on  the 
business  from  1833  to  1844.  Sept.  3, 1850,  the  Norton 
Straw  Manufacturing  Company,  consisting  of  the 
Wheaton  Manufacturing  Company,  L.  M.  Wheaton, 
Zeno  Kelly,  L.  D.  Anthony,  and  A.  Barrows,  was  or- 
ganized, with  a  capital  of  seven  thousand  dollars,  and 
made  bonnets,  hats,  etc.  Jan.  14,  1854,  the  company 
was  dissolved,  and  the  Norton  Straw  Company  was 
formed,  consisting  of  L.  M.  Wheaton,  Zeno  Kelly, 
and  T.  T.  Rockwood,  with  a  capital  of  fourteen  thou- 
sand dollars.  Nov.  12,  1855,  another  change  took 
place,  T.  T.  Rockwood,  A.  Dunham,  and  D.  S.  Har- 
don  assuming  the  business  under  the  name  of  the  Nor- 
ton Manufacturing  Company.  Oct.  6,  1856,  Dun- 
ham and  Hardon  retired  from  the  film  and  C.  M.  Dean 
became  a  member,  and  in  the  spring  of  1857  the  com- 
pany stopped  business. 

The  first  tannery  in  town  is  supposed  to  have  been 
between  the  school-house  in  District  No.  3  and  Burt's 
Brook,  and  was,  perhaps,  built  soon  after  the  incorpo- 
ration of  the  town  by  John  Andrews,  who  settled 
thereabouts.  But  the  first  tannery  of  which  we  have 
any  authentic  account  was  built  about  1740,  by  Dea- 
con Benjamin  Copeland,  between  the  house  of  Thomas 
Copeland  and  Mulberry  Meadow  Brook.  It  continued 
in  the  Copeland  family  till  it  went  to  decay,  about 
1845.  About  1758,  David  Arnold,  who  learned  his 
trade  of  Deacon  Copeland,  set  up  a  tannery  on  Burt's 
Brook,  and  did  a  large  amount  of  business  for  many 
years.  Before  the  Revolution  a  tannery  was  built 
near  Rumford  River,  at  the  place  where  Mason  Free- 
man lives,  by  a  Mr.  Basset.  It  was  afterwards  owned 
by  George  Walker. 

Within  the  present  year  (1858)  Austin  Messinger 
has  commenced  the  manufacture  of  a  very  superior 
kind  of  friction  matches. 

Talbot's  wool-scouring  mill  is  on  the  Rumford  River, 
about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  north  of  the  Trinitarian 


620 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Congregational  Church  in  the  Centre  village  of  Nor- 
ton. 

The  water  privilege  was  formerly  owned  by  Eben- 
ezer  Burt,  who  in  1744  deeded  to  William  Stone  forty 
and  a  half  acres  of  land  adjoining,  and  in  1766  to  his 
son,  Nathaniel  Stone,  all  the  rights  and  privileges  in 
the  stream  reserved  in  the  deed  of  1744.  This  prop- 
erty remained  in  the  Stone  family  many  years,  and 
the  water  privilege  was  utilized  for  an  iron  forge,  a 
saw-  and  a  grist-mill. 

Some  time  previous  to  1812  the  property  came  into 
the  possession  of  Deacon  Daniel  Lane  and  sons,  who 
that  year  rebuilt  the  saw-mill.  In  1828  the  Lanes  as- 
sociated with  themselves  Messrs.  Daniel  Patten,  Lem- 
uel Perry,  John  and  David  Arnold,  and  Simeon  Derry, 
and  built  a  cotton-factory  known  as  the  "  Centre 
Mills."  This  was  run  for  several  years  under  the 
superintendence  of  Capt.  Lemuel  Perry,  who  built 
and  occupied  the  dwelling  now  owned  and  occupied 
by  Mr.  G.  H.  Talbot,  who  has  recently  enlarged  and 
thoroughly  renovated  it,  introducing  modern  conven- 
iences. 

In  1846  the  property  passed  into  the  hands  of  La- 
ban  M.  Wheaton,  Esq.,  who  continued  the  business 
of  cotton  manufacture  until  his  death.  In  1864  it 
was  sold  to  Nathan  Smith,  who  for  a  short  time  de- 
voted a  part  of  it  to  the  manufacture  of  cotton  bat- 
ting. In  1867,  Messrs.  Story  and  Talbot  hired  the 
mill  and  introduced  machinery  for  wool-scouring. 
After  two  or  three  years,  the  business  prospering, 
they  purchased  the  property  and  ran  the  mill  exclu- 
sively for  wool-scouring.  Mr.  Story's  health  failing, 
he  soon  retired  from  the  business,  and  it  has  since 
been  conducted  by  Mr.  Talbot  as  sole  proprietor. 

The  original  mill,  built  in  1828,  was  thirty  by  fifty- 
five  feet,  and  three  stories  high.  In  1875  it  was  en- 
larged by  an  additional  building  forty-five  feet  square, 
and  again  in  1881  by  another  thirty  by  seventy  feet. 

Up  to  the  time  of  this  last  enlargement  the  water- 
power  was  sufficient  to  run  the  mill.  With  this  en- 
largement it  became  necessary  to  supplement  this 
with  steam-power,  and  double  boilers  with  an  engine 
of  sixty  horse- power  were  put  in. 

The  business  is  a  good  and  steady  one,  and  for  the 
most  part  comes  without  solicitation.  There  are  only 
three  competing  mills  of  the  kind  in  the  country,  ex- 
cepting that  a  few  large  wool  manufacturers  scour 
their  own  wool  instead  of  buying  it  all  prepared. 
One  at  Waipole,  one  at  North  Chelmsford,  in  this 
State,  and  one  at  New  Brunswick,  N.  J. 

The  Diamond  Match  Company,  consolidating  all 
the  match-factories  in  the  United  States  excepting 
that  of  the  Portland  Star  Match  Company,  was  in- 
corporated under  the  laws  of  Connecticut  in  January, 
1880,  with  a  capital  of  two  and  a  half  millions  of 
dollars. 

The  business  here  was  started  in  1857  by  Austin 
Messinger,  Esq.  At  his  cottage  home  he  dipped  and 
packed  the  match-cards,  which  were  sawed  elsewhere, 


and  peddled  them  about  the  country.  From  this 
humble  beginning  the  business  grew  until  he  had 
near  his  home  a  mill  for  sawing  the  lumber  and  mak- 
ing the  match-cards,  and  improved  facilities  for  dip- 
ping and  packing  them  for  the  market.  A  partner- 
ship was  formed  with  Andrew  H.  Sweet,  Esq.,  who 
attended  to  the  sales,  having  an  office  in  Boston,  while 
Mr.  Messinger  had  charge  of  the  manufactory.  As 
the  business  prospered  new  buildings  and  machinery 
were  added,  and  the  force  of  hands  increased.  In  the 
vicinity  a  thriving  little  village  sprung  up,  fittingly 
called  Messingerville  after  him  whose  enterprise  and 
industry  gave  it  being  and  life. 

The  factory  is  about  a  mile  west  of  the  Centre 
village,  on  the  main  road  to  Lane's  Station  and  Attle- 
borough. 

This  is  a  representative  establishment,  and  employs 
when  business  is  brisk  from  thirty  to  forty  hands. 


CHAPTER    L. 

NORTON.— ( Continued.) 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

Physicians — College  Graduates — Stocks  and  Whipping-Post — Gas-Worka 
— Runaway  Wife — Witchcraft — Masonic — Post-Office — The  Town 
Hall. 

Physicians. — Dr.  Samuel  Caswell  was  the  first 
resident  physician  within  the  ancient  limits  of  Nor- 
ton, and  was  born  Oct.  6,  1695.  Oct.  17,  1726,  the 
town  "  voted  to  Pay  to  Doctr.  Saml.  Caswell,  for  doc- 
tering  Goode  Merry,  0 — 15 — 0."  He  bought  land  in 
Norton  in  1723,  and  was  then  called  a  "  Practitioner 
of  Physick."  Probably  about  that  time  he  established 
himself  here  as  a  physician  and  farmer. 

Dr.  Nicholas  White  was  the  son  of  Deacon  Nicholas 
and  Experience  White,  and  was  born  about  1705. 
He  was  a  practicing  physician  for  several  years,  and 
resided  sometimes  in  the  North  and  sometimes  in  the 
South  Precinct  of  Norton.  He  married  Sarah  King, 
May  1,  1728,  and  they  had  six  children.  He  died  in 
the  North  Precinct,  June  29,  1751. 

Dr.  William  Ware  was  the  son  of  John  and  Me- 
hitable  Ware,  of  Wrentham,  and  was  born  July  4, 
1697.  He  was  a  "  Practitioner  of  Physick"  here  for 
several  years,  and  also  kept  a  public-house  from  1728 
to  1740. 

Dr.  John  Wild,  Jr.,  was  the  son  of  John  and  Abi- 
gail Wild,  and  was  probably  born  in  Braintree  in 
1727.  He  married,  May  1,  1746,  Anna  Hodges,  and 
had  two  or  three  children. 

Dr.  Lewis  Sweeting  was  undoubtedly  the  son  of 
Lewis  and  Zibiah  (Whiting)  Sweeting,  of  Wrentham, 
who  were  married  in  1721,  and  were  afterwards  of 
Rehoboth.  He  probably  came  to  Norton  soon  after 
reaching  his  majority,  and  seems  to  have  lived  a  part 
of  the  time  within  the  present  limits  of  the  town,  and 
a  part  of  the  time  in  Mansfield,  in  which  town  he  was 


NORTON. 


621 


one  of  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  and  Safety 
in  1776.  He  married,  Nov.  21,  1744,  Abiah  Cobb,  by 
whom  he  had  ten  children. 

Dr.  George  Wheaton  was  the  son  of  Ephraim  and 
Abigail  Wheaton,  of  Swansea,  grandson  of  Deacon 
Ephraim  and  Mary  (Mason)  Wheaton,  of  Swansea, 
great-grandson  of  Robert  (who  was  in  Rehoboth  as 
early  as  1643),  and  was  born  Aug.  18, 1728.  He  came 
to  Norton  and  commenced  practice  as  a  physician 
previous  to  1750.  In  1758  he  was  surgeon's  mate  in 
an  expedition  for  "  the  total  Reduction  of  Canada." 
He  was  much  employed  in  public  life  as  selectman, 
assessor,  representative  to  the  General  Court,  justice 
of  the  peace,  etc. 

Dr.  Jonathan  Pratt  is  supposed  to  have  been  the 
son  of  Jonathan  and  Abigail  (Morse)  Pratt,  and  was 
born  Oct.  17,  1729.  He  lived  in  the  Mansfield  part 
of  Norton,  some  distance  to  the  southeast  of  Mans- 
field Centre. 

Dr.  Gideon  Tiffany  was  the  son  of  James,  Jr.,  and 
Elizabeth  (Allen)  Tiffany,  of  Attleborough,  where  he 
was  born  Sept.  19,  1737.  His  grandfather,  James 
Tiffany,  came  from  England.  He  married  Mrs.  Sarah 
Farrar,  the  widow  of  Rev.  George  Farrar,  of  Easton, 
Feb.  8,  1759. 

Dr.  Adam  Johnstone  was  a  Scotchman  by  birth, 
and  probably  came  to  Norton  about  1772.  He  mar- 
ried, Oct.  14,  1773,  Sarah  Hodges.  She  "died  sud- 
denly, Oct.  29,  1781,  in  her  thirty-first  year."  He  is 
said  to  have  been  a  surgeon  in  the  Revolution. 

Dr.  Daniel  Parker  was  the  son  of  Rev.  Jonathan 
Parker,  of  Plympton,  and  was  born  about  the  year 
1750.  He  was  here  as  early  as  1773.  Feb.  17,  1794, 
he  was  commissioned  a  surgeon  of  the  regiment  to 
which  the  militia  of  this  town  belonged,  which  office 
he  held  for  several  years. 

Dr.  Nathaniel  Cook  was  the  son  of  Paul  and  Jo- 
anna Cook,  and  was  born  May  29, 1752 ;  he  died  Oct. 
22,  1778. 

Dr.  Timothy  Smith  was  the  son  of  Timothy  and 
Hannah  (Hall)  Smith,  grandson  of  Seth  and  Eliza- 
beth Smith,  and  was  born  Oct.  17,  1754.  He  married 
Anna  Morey,  Oct.  20,  1778,  and  had  five  children. 
He  was  a  surgeon  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  but 
never  had  a  very  extensive  practice  in  town.  He 
died  Jan.  9,  17«.»4. 

Dr.  Nathan  Babbit  was  the  son  of  Nathan,  Jr.,  and 
Abigail  (Cobb)  Babbit,  grandson  of  Nathan  and 
Sarah,  and  great-grandson  of  Nathan,  who,  with  his 
brother  Edward,  is  supposed  to  have  come  from  Eng- 
land and  settled  in  Berkley.  Dr.  Babbit  was  born 
in  Norton,  March  6,  1755.  In  the  year  1778  and  the 
early  part  of  1779  he  was  surgeon's  mate  in  the  mil- 
itary hospital  at  Providence,  R.  I.  June  24,  1779,  he 
married  Anna  Newcomb,  and  located  himself  at  the 
east  part  of  the  town. 

Dr.  Samuel  Morey  was  the  son  of  Samuel  and 
Mary  (Hodges)  Morey,  grandson  of  George  and  Eliza- 
beth Morey,  and  was  born  June  4,  1757.     He  gradu- 


ated at  Yale  College  in  1777.  He  soon  after  entered 
the  Revolutionary  army  as  surgeon.  After  the  close 
of  the  war  he  was  a  practicing  physician  for  many 
years  in  town. 

Dr.  Lewis  Leprilete  was  a  Frenchman  by  birth, 
and  was  uaturalized  by  an  act  of  the  General  Court, 
March  6,  1790.  He  probably  came  to  this  town  about 
the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  war.  He  was  a  dis- 
tinguished physician,  and  had  quite  a  number  of 
medical  students  while  he  resided  in  town.  He  re- 
mained here  till  about  1792. 

Dr.  Leavit  Bates  was  the  son  of  Leavit  and  Eliza- 
beth (Pain)  Bates,  of  Mansfield,  and  was  born  May 
6,  1770.  He  came  to  this  town  and  established  him- 
self as  a  physician  about  1796.  He  died  Dec.  16, 
1850. 

Dr.  Guilford  Hodges  was  the  son  of  Tisdale  and 
Naomi  (Hodges)  Hodges,  and  was  born  Jan.  25, 
1778.  He  fitted  for  college,  and  was  one  year  at 
Brown  University.  He  studied  medicine  with  Dr. 
Willard,  of  Uxbridge.  He  was  a  practicing  phy- 
sician here  in  1803. 

Dr.  Asa  M.  Adams  was  the  son  of  Asa  and  Martha 
(Metcalf)  Adams,  and  is  believed  to  have  been  born 
in  Natick  about  1795.  He  came  to  Norton  about 
1819,  and  commenced  practice  as  a  physician,  and 
rode  quite  extensively  for  some  years. 

Dr.  Richard  F.  Sweet  was  the  son  of  John  and 
Eunice  (Tucker)  Sweet,  and  was  born  March  11,1801. 
In  August,  1831,  he  settled  in  Norton,  and  had  quite 
an  extensive  practice  till  his  death,  March  21, 1841. 

Dr.  Ira  Barrows  was  born  at  Attleborough  in  1804, 
son  of  Ezra  and  grandson  of  Ichabod  Barrows.  He 
came  to  Norton  in  1841,  and  was  quite  popular  here 
and  in  this  vicinity  till  1851,  when  he  removed  to 
Providence,  R.  I. 

Dr.  Benjamin  M.  Round  was  born  in  Rehoboth, 
Aug.  11,  1816,  son  of  Benjamin  and  Devena  (Harvey) 
Round.  He  came  to  Norton,  Sept.  9,  1843,  and  is 
still  in  practice  here. 

Dr.  George  H.  Randall,  son  of  Dr.  M.  R.  and  Eliza 
Randall,  was  here  from  June  I,  1851,  till  April,  1854. 

Dr.  George  W.  Wild  was  born  in  Norton  on  the 
11th  of  October,  1854,  and  is  the  son  of  George  and 
Elizabeth  (Tucker)  Wild.  He  received  preliminary 
instruction  from  Rev.  D.  S.  C.  M.  Potter,  of  Norton, 
and  at  Bristol  Academy,  in  Taunton.  From  there  he 
entered  Boston  University,  whence  he  was  graduated 
in  the  class  of  1878  with  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Med- 
icine. He  located  in  Ipswich,  Mass.,  staying  there 
about  a  year,  when  he  removed  to  Norton,  where  he 
is  still  in  practice. 

College  Graduates.— The  following  natives  of  Nor- 
ton were  graduates  of  colleges  :  Rev.  Nathaniel  Leon- 
ard, Harvard,  1719;  Rev.  Samuel  Veazie,  Harvard, 
1736  ;  Hon.  George  Leonard,  LL.D.,  Harvard,  1748  ; 
Rev.  Abiel  Leonard,  D.D.,  Harvard,  1759;  Rev. 
Samuel  Dean,  D.D.,  Harvard,  1760;  Hon.  Daniel 
Leonard,    Harvard,    1760;    Hon.    Ephraim    Briggs, 


622 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Harvard,  1764;  Hon.  Daniel  Newcomb,  Harvard, 
1768 ;  Dr.  Thomas  Leonard,  Harvard,  1769 ;  Rev. 
George  Wheaton,  Harvard,  1769;  Nathan  Morey, 
Harvard,  1774;  Hon.  Laban  Wheaton,  Harvard, 
1774;  Isaac  Hall,  Harvard,  1775;  Rev.  James  Briggs, 
Yale,  1775 ;  Rev.  George  Morey,  Harvard,  1776 ;  Dr. 
Samuel  Morey,  Yale,  1777;  Rev.  John  Crane,  D.D., 
Jacob  White,  Harvard,  1780;  Calvin  Crane,  Dart- 
mouth, 1785;  Rev.  Mase  Shepard,  Dartmouth,  1785; 
Dr.  Oliver  Tiffany,  Dartmouth,  1786;  Hon.  George 
Tiffany,  Dartmouth,  1786;  Oliver  Leonard,  Esq., 
Brown,  1787';  Rev.  John  Briggs,  Brown,  1788;  Rev. 
Stephen  Palmer,  Harvard,  1789  ;  Daniel  Wheaton, 
Harvard,  1791;  Rev.  Isaac  Braman,  Harvard,  1794; 
Timothy  Briggs,  Brown,  1794;  Daniel  Gilbert,  Har- 
vard, 1798  ;  Rev.  G.  B.  Perry,  D.D.,  Union,  1804;  Dr. 
Tisdale  Hodges,  Brown,  1804;  Capt.  Dauphin  King, 
Burlington  College,  Vt.,  1810;  Dr.  William  Perry, 
Harvard,  1811  ;  Hon.  Nathaniel  G.  Babbitt,  Middle- 
burgh  College,  Vt.,  1811;  Rev.  Thomas  Shepard, 
D.D.,  Brown,  1813;  Earl  Percy  White,  Brown,  1813; 
Benjamin  Copeland,  Brown,  1815;  Hon.  Laban  M. 
Wheaton,  Brown,  1817 ;  Rev.  Daniel  Le  Baron 
Goodwin,  Brown,  1822;  Hon.  John  J.Clarke,  Har- 
vard, 1823;  Rufus  Hodges,  Brown,  1823;  Dr.  Rich- 
ard F.  Sweet,  Brown,  1824;  Rev.  Bradford  Goodwin, 
Brown,  1825;  Rev.  John  D.  Sweet,  Brown,  1829; 
Rev.  Joseph  Hodges,  Waterville  College,  Me.,  1830; 
Rev.  James  B.  Goodwin,  1833;  George  W.  Make- 
peace, Dartmouth,  1836;  Manlius  S.  Clarke,  Har- 
vard, 1837  ;  Dr.  Edward  H.  Clarke,  Harvard,  1841  ; 
Rev.  Thomas  S.  Goodwin,  Kenyon  College,  Ohio, 
1845  ;  Rev.  George  Esdras  Allen,  Brown,  1850  ;  Ben- 
jamin Braman,  Brown,  1854;  Edwin  Barrows,  Yale, 
1857  ;  Henry  W.  Lincoln,  Lloyd  E.  White,  Tufts ; 
Robert  E.  Lane,  Tufts ;  William  N.  White,  Brown ; 
and  E.  J.  Conaty,  Holy  Cross. 

Stocks  and  Whipping-Post.—"  In  1693  the  Gen- 
eral Court  enacted  that  '  Breakers  of  the  Peace,  Pro- 
phaners  of  the  Sabbath,  unlawful  Gamesters,  Drunk- 
ards, prophane  Swearers  or  Cursers,'  should  be 
punished 'by  setting  m  the  Stocks,  or  putting  into 
the  Cage,  not  exceeding  Three  Hours,  or  by  whipping 
not  exceeding  Ten  Stripes.'  Accordingly,  in  most 
towns,  the  stocks  were  set  up,  and  the  whipping-post 
erected  in  some  conspicuous  position, — generally  near 
the  meeting-house,  or  place  of  public  gatherings. 
The  stocks  were  made  of  two  pieces  of  timber,  from 
six  to  eight  feet  long,  laid  one  upon  the  other,  the 
bottom  one  resting  upon  the  ground,  with  two  grooves 
cut  iu  them,  a  foot  or  two  apart,  sufficiently  large  to 
admit  a  man's  ankle.  When  wanted  for  use,  the  upper 
timber  was  removed.  The  offender  was  then  made  to 
sit  down  on  the  ground,  and  place  each  ankle  in  one 
of  these  grooves.  -Then  the  upper  timber  was  re- 
placed, and  the  two  parts  were  firmly  locked  together ; 
and  thus  there  was  no  escape  till  the  time  of  sentence 
had  expired.  It  is  supposed  Norton  did  not  have 
this  instrument  of  the  law  for  some  years  after  her 


incorporation.  The  first  allusion  to  the  matter  on  the 
town  records  is  under  the  date  of  Nov.  1,  1723,  when 
it  was  '  voted  to  pay  Robert  Tucker,  for  setting  the 
Stocks  up,  00*%.— 2s. — 0d.'  These  probably  did  not 
last  more  than  ten  years;  for,  Sept.  18,  1733,  it  was 
'  voted  to  Samuel  Clap,  for  macking  a  pare  of  stocks, 
00.— 15.— 0.'  Sept.  11, 1769,  '  Voted  to  Salvenus  Bra- 
man, for  mending  the  stocks,  0. — 2. — 0. — 0.'  These 
stocks  continued  to  be  used  in  many  towns  for  the 
punishment  of  minor  crimes  till  the  close  of  the  last 
century.  There  are  persons  living  in  town  who  dis- 
tinctly recollect  seeing  the  stocks  on  the  Common,  near 
where  the  old  meeting-house  stood.  We  know  not 
whether  the  whipping-post  was  ever  erected  here  or 
not;  but  we  do  know  that  offenders  were  sometimes 
sentenced  to  be  whipped,  as  well  as  put  into  the  stocks. 
The  cage  is  not  known  to  have  been  used  here."— 
Clark's  History. 

Ear  Marks. — "  Sept.  13,  1718. — Thomas  Harvey  his  Ear-marck  fur  all 
his  Creatures  Is  two  slits  In  the  Hinder-part  of  the  Right  Eyer." 

"  May  29th,  1719. — Joseph  Hodges  his  Eyer-marck  for  all  his  Oeaturs 
is  a  Holl  threw  The  midel  part  of  Each  year,  and  a  hind-gad  in  the 
hinder-part  of  the  Right  year." 

"  Dec.  2nd,  1729. — Ephraeim  Lane  his  Eyear-marck  forall  his  Oeaturs 
is  a  Halpeney,  Cut  out  of  the  fore-side  of  the  Right  Eyer." 

"1722. — Mr.  Joseph  Avery  His  ear-mark  is  a  slit  in  the  under  side  of 
the  Right  Eare." 

"  May  23rd,  1738. — Thomas  Shepard's  Eyer-marck  for  all  his  creators 
Is  a  Crop  of  the  top  of  the  Left  Eyer,  aud  a  swallow's  taile  in  the  top  of 
the  Right  Eyr." 

"Nov.  10th,  1747. — John  Gilbert's  Jnner,  Eare-mark  for  all  his  Cre- 
tures  is  a  swallow's  Taile  in  ye  top  of  the  Right  Eare,  and  a  half-Penney 
in  the  under  side  of  ye  Left  Eare." 

"May  6th,  1758. — Ebeuezer  White's  Ear-mark  for  all  his  Creatures  is 
one  hole  through  Each  Ear." 

"  April  2nd,  17GG—  The  Revend.  Mr.  Roland  Green's  Ear-mark  for  all 
his  creatures  Is  a  half-peny,  cut  out  of  the  upper-side  and  under-side  of 
the  Right  Ear,  and  the  top  of  the  same  ear  cut  of,  and  a  slit  in  the  top 
of  the  left  ear." 

Runaway'  Wife. — In  the  Boston  Neivs-Letter  of 
March  1,  1750,  is  the  following  advertisement: 

"  Feh.  15,  1749-50. — Whereas  Rebecca  Harris,  the  wife  of  me  the  Sub- 
scriber, livin  at  Norton,  has  unlawfully  absented  herself  from  me  and 
my  family,  and  carried  off  sundry  Effects  to  a  considerable  value,  and 
may  endeavour  to  run  me  in  Debt. — These  are  therefore,  to  caution  all 
Persons  whatsoever  not  to  entertain,  trust,  or  give  Credit  to  her,  the  said 
Rebecca,  upon  my  Account;  for  I  will  not  pay  any  Debt  contracted  by 
her  during  her  continuing  to  absent  herself. — As  witness  my  Hand, 

"Joseph  Harris. 

"N.B. — If  she  will  return  to  my  Family,  and  behave  as  a  virtuous  wife 
ought  to  do,  she  shall  be  kindly  received." 

Witchcraft.—"  Norton,"  says  Rev.  Mr.  Clark,  "  has 
not  been  exempt  from  believers  in  witches,  wizards, 
ghosts,  and  goblins;  and  there  are  some  yet  living 
who  hug  these  ideas  to  their  bosoms.  Tradition  has 
handed  down  to  us  the  important  intelligence  (we  do 
not,  however,  vouch  for  its  truth),  that  Maj.  George 
Leonard — the  first  of  the  name  in  town— made  a 
league  with  the  devil  in  order  to  acquire  great  wealth  ; 
and,  as  a  return  for  the  services  rendered,  Leonard 
promised  to  give  his  body  to  the  Devil  when  he  called 
for  it.  Accordingly,  in  1716,  while  Mr.  Leonard  was 
sick  with  a  fever,  of  which  he  died,  the  old  imp  came, 
claimed  his  body,  and  actually  carried  it  off!  As  he 
left  the  premises  with  it,  he  made  a  tremendous  jump, 


NORTON. 


623 


and  landed  on  some  rocks  situated  thirty  or  forty  rods 
back  of  the  house,  where  he  came  down  with  so  much 
force  as  to  make  his  foot-prints  in  the  rock,  which 
are  to  be  seen  at  the  present  day  !  At  the  funeral 
the  corpse  was  not  to  be  seen,  of  course;  and  the 
family  gave  out  word  that  it  was  not  proper  to  be 
seen ;  but  in  reality  there  was  nothing  in  the  coffin 
but  a  log  of  wood,  put  in  to  hill  all  suspicion  that 
the  body  was  not  there. 

"  Theodora,  or  Dora  Leonard,  as  she  was  generally 
called,  was  reputed  a  witch,  and  if  we  can  believe  the 
stories  of  some  now  living,  '  cut  some  curious 
capers.'  People  would  sometimes  go  to  the  barn  and 
tie  up  the  cattle,  and  before  they  could  get  away 
therefrom  the  cattle  would  be  all  unloosed  by  some 
mysterious  agency.  She  lived  some  two  miles  from 
the  Centre;  and  once,  when  up  in  town,  it  was  need- 
ful that  she  should  get  some  cloth  that  was  left  at 
home,  and  she  went  after  it,  but  soon  returned  with 
it,  not  having  had  time  to  have  gone  a  fourth  part  of 
the  distance.  One  day  some  boys  were  out  hunting 
squirrels  near  her  residence,  and  they  found  a  large 
one  in  the  top  of  a  tree,  and  fired  almost  numberless 
times  at  it  but  could  not  kill  it.  But  as  they  were 
going  home  they  encountered  a  strange  cat,  which 
was  believed  to  have  been  Dora  in  disguise,  who  had 
prevented  the  charges  fired  at  the  squirrel  from  taking 
effect.  She  was  supported  by  the  town  in  her  last 
days,  and  when  she  died  (about  1785)  there  was  such 
a  terrible  racket  all  about  the  house  that  no  one  dared 
to  remain  to  witness  her  death. 

"  Ann  Cobb  bad  the  reputation  of  dealing  in  the 
'black  art'  and  of  being  in  league  with  the  'Old 
Scratch,'  but  I  have  not  been  informed  of  any  specific 
mode  in  which  she  manifested  her  power.  She  was 
supported  by  the  town  some  time  previous  to  her 
death,  which  took  place  in  1798. 

"  Naomi  Burt  was  also  accounted  a  member  of  the 
mysterious  sisterhood  of  witches,  and  by  her  wonder- 
ful powers  gave  some  trouble  to  those  who  fell  under 
the  ban  of  her  displeasure.  Oxen  sometimes  turned 
their  yokes,  and  people  lost  wheels  off  their  wagons 
when  they  passed  her  house,  and  the  boys  always 
held  their  breath  and  ran  with  all  speed  when  they 
went  by  in  the  night.    She  hung  herself  July  4, 1808." 

Bristol  Lodge,  F.  and  A.  M.,  was  organized  in 
Norton,  June  14,  Anno  Lucis  5787,  with  the  follow- 
ing charter  members :  Job  Gilbert,  George  Gilbert, 
Ira  Smith, -Joshua  Pond,  Samuel  Morey,  Jr.,  Timo- 
thy Briggs,  Jr.,  Samuel  Day,  Seth  Smith,  Jr.,  Daniel 
Gilbert,  Benjamin  Billings.  March  10,  A..L.  5830,  the 
lodge  was  removed  to  Attleborough. 

Post-Office. — A  post-office  was  established  in  Norton 
in  about  1817,  with  Earl  P.  White  postmaster.  His 
successors  have  been  as  follows:  Laban  M.  Wheaton, 
Earl  Hodges,  Mrs.  Harriet  Hodges. 

The  Town  Hall. — The  present  town  hall  of  Norton 
was  the  generous  gift  of  the  late  Nathaniel  Newcomb, 
through  his  daughter,  Miss  H.  A.  Newcomb. 


The  origin  of  the  structure  and  the  circumstances 
of  the  presentation  will  behest  explained  by  inserting 
the  following  letter  from  Miss  Newcomb : 

"  Norton,  April  4, 1881. 

"Mb.  G.  B.  Perry;  Sir,— In  conversation  held  with  my  father,  the 
late  Nathaniel  Newcomb,  the  summer  previous  to  his  death,  lie  gave  me 
the  impression  that  ho  planned  to  some  time  make  the  people  of  Norton 
a  present,  showing  thereby  his  kindly  feeling  towards  them.  Among 
other  things  a  town  hall  was  mentioned. 

"  He  made  no  provision  to  that  effect,  but,  thinking  it  would  he  pleas- 
ing to  him,  I  now  propose,  in  memory  of  him,  to  build  a  town  hall  that 
I  think  will  be  suited  to  the  necessities  of  the  people. 

"I  send  you  tin-  plans  that  you  may  lay  the  proposition  before  them 
and  explain  what  I  intend,— a  plain,  substantial  building  above  the 
foundations,  requiring  that  to  be  made  ready  for  me,  and  I  do  not 
intend  to  furnish. 

"  If  they  are  pleased  with  the  proposal  I  would  like  them  to  appoint 
some  persons  with  whom  I  can  confer  regarding  situation,  foundation, 
etc  ,  as  it  must  be  commenced  as  soon  as  practicable,  that  there  may 
be  no  delay  in  building. 

"Please  inform  me  as  soon  as  possible  of  the  decision  of  the  town, 
that  I  may  make  my  arrangements. 

"  Yours,  respectfullly, 

"Miss  II.  A.  Newcomb.'' 

This  letter  was  read  to  the  people  of  Norton  assem- 
bled in  annual  town-meeting  on  the  same  day  it  was 
written,  and  in  acting  upon  it  the  town  accepted  the 
offer,  passed  a  unanimous  vote  of  thanks  to  Miss 
Newcomb,  chose  a  committee  to  confer  with  her  as 
she  desired,  and  instructed  the  selectmen  to  purchase 
a  site  for  the  building  at  the  proper  time,  and  cause 
the  foundation  to  be  laid  in  accordance  with  the  plans 
submitted. 

The  structure  is  conspicuously  located  on  an  ample 
lot  of  ground  directly  opposite  the  old  town-house. 
The  plan  was  drawn  by  Messrs.  C.  Hammond  &  Son, 
of  New  Bedford,  and  in  style  is  an  adaptation  of  the 
Queen  Anne  pattern  of  architecture.  It  is  a  wooden 
structure,  fifty  by  sixty-five  feet  on  the  ground,  and 
contains  a  main  hall  forty  by  fifty  feet,  a  front  pro- 
jection, two  stories  in  height,  eighteen  by  thirty-seven 
feet,  and  a  rear  projection  eight  by  thirty  feet.  It  is 
a  very  plain  building,  resting  on  a  neat  granite  foun- 
dation, and  covering  a  cellar  extending  under  the 
entire  area. 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  the  deed  from  Miss 
Newcomb  : 

"  In  consideration  of  the  attachment  of  my  father, 
the  late  Nathaniel  Newcomb,  to  his  native  town,  and 
knowing  that  he  desired  to  make  some  expression  of 
his  regard,  1  do  hereby  grant,  transfer,  and  deliver  to 
the  town  of  Norton  the  superstructure  of  the  town 
hall  just  erected  in  said  Norton,  hoping  that  it  may 
meet  with  the  approval  of  the  people,  and  that  they 
may  hold  him  in  kindly  remembrance." 

The  hall  is  an  ornament  to  the  town,  and  a  monu- 
ment of  the  public  spirit  of  Nathaniel  Newcomb  and 
of  Miss  Newcomb,  the  generous  donor. 


624 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTS,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


CHAPTER    LI. 

NORTON.— ( Continued.) 

CIVIL   HISTORY— MILITARY   HISTORY. 

Representatives— Selectmen— Town  Clerks— Deputy  Sheriffs— State  Sen- 
ators—Councilors—Judges of  Court  of  Common  Pleas— Judges  of  Pro- 
bate—Judge  of  Sessions— Register  of  Probate— Members  of  Congress 
—Taxes— Population— Military  Record. 


1715.  George  Leonard,  Esq. 

1716.  Voted  not  to  send. 

1717.  . 

1718.  John  Hodges,  Sr. 

1719.  Nicholas  White. 

1720.  Samuel  Hodges.1 

1721.  Capt.  Samuel  Brintnell. 

1722.  . 

1723.  John  Hodges.^ 

1724.  Samuel  Hodges. 

1725.  William  Stone. 
1726-27.  George  Leonard. 
1728-31.  Capt.  Samuel  Brintnell. 

1732.  George  Leonard. 

1733.  Mr.  Samuel  Clapp. 

1734.  George  Leonard. 

1735.  Capt.  Ephraim  Leonard. 

1736.  Ephraim  Leonard. 

1737.  Capt.  Joseph  Hodges. 

1738.  Ephraim  Leonard,  Esq. 

1739.  Lieut.  Benjamin  Williams. 
1740-42.  George  Leonard,  Esq. 

1743.  Ephraim  Leonard. 

1744.  Capt.  Josiah  Pratt. 
1745-46.  Capt.  Samuel  Caswell. 

1747.  Ephraim  Leonard,  Esq. 

1748.  Mr.  Benjamin  Cobb. 
1749-50.  Mr.  Josiah  White. 
1751-52.  Ephraim  Leonard,  Esq. 

1753.  Voted  not  to  send/1 

1754.  Ephraim  Leonard,  Esq. 
1755-63.  Thomas  Morey. . 
1764-66.  George  Leonard,  Jr.,  Esq. 
1767.  . 


REPRESENTATIVES. 

1768-69.  Dr.  George  Wheaton. 
1770.  George  Leonard,  Jr.,  Esq. 
1771-73.  Dr.  George  Wheaton. 

1774.  Thomas  Morey,  Esq. 

1775.  Mr.  Nathan  Hodges.4 

1776.  Noah  Woodward. 

1777.  Mr.  Noah  Woodward. 
Mr.  Daniel  Dean. 

1778-79.  Abraham  White. 

1780.  Capt.  Isaac  Hodges. 

1781.  Abraham  White. 

1782.  Capt.  Isaac  Hodges. 

1783.  Abraham  White. 
1784-85.  Capt.  Israel  Trow. 
1786-87.  Seth  Smith,  Jr. 
1788.  Capt.  John  Crane. 
1789-90.  Lieut.  Seth  Smith,  Jr. 

1791.  Voted  not  to  send. 

1792.  Seth  Smith,  Jr.,  Esq. 

1793.  Voted  not  to  send. 

1794.  Capt.  David  Clap. 
1795-98.  Seth  Smith,  Jr. 
1799-1800.  Capt.  David  Clap. 
1801-2.  Hon.  George  Leonard,  Esq. 
1803-8.  Laban  Wheaton. 
1809.  Maj.  Brian  Hall. 
1810-11.  John  Hall. 
1812-13.  Brian  Hall. 

Samuel  Morey. 
1814-15.  Isaac  Hodges. 
1816-19.  Voted  not  to  send. 

1820.  George  Walker. 

1821.  Ephraim  Raymond. 
1822-24.  Voted  not  to  send. 


i  At  a  meeting  for  the  choice  of  representative,  May  13, 1720,  "  Capt. 
Brintinal  had  28  Eight  vots,  being  the  megoletry  of  the  vols,  then  the 
Selectmen  ajurned  the  sd.  meeating  for  the  Space  of  two  ours,  A  Sent 
one  of  the  Selectmen,  &  another  man  with  Him,  to  cap.  Brintinal's  for 
his  answer;  &  Cap.  Brintinal's  wife  Told  the  Inbasidars  her  husband  was 
Gon  to  Coneticut  (nameley,to  Ashford),  &  she  did  not  Expect  him  home 
tell  the  next  tueseday ;  &  If  he  went  farther,  as  he  did  Expect  when  he 
went  from  dome,  not  So  soon.  Sd.  brintinal  left  a  note  Signeyfeying 
Bumthing:  but,  the  selectmen  not  understanding  what  it  ment,  Then 
said  meeating  was  called  a  Gain  ;  &,  by  the  megoletry  of  the  voters  then 
present,  Samuel  Hodges  was  chosen,  &  warned  In  by  the  Constaben  ;  & 
sd.  Hodges  Excepted." 

-  At  a  meeting  for  the  purpose  of  choosing  a  representative,  May  18, 
Samuel  Brintnell,  Nicholas  White,  and  John  Newland,  Sr.,  were  sever- 
ally chosen  representatives,  but  "  Refused  to  Sarve."  Then  "  they  called 
for  a  vote  for  another  ;  and  thare  was  not  one  vote  brought  in  for  any 
other  person."     So  the  town  was  unrepresented. 

s  May  14,1753,  the  selectmen  were  chosen  agents  to  memorialize  the 
General  Court  that  the  town  might  not  be  fined  for  neglecting  to  send 
a  representative,  on  account  of  the  great  expense  the  South  Precinct 
had  incurred  in  building  a  meeting-house  and  settling  a  minister.  The 
town  was,  however,  fined  twenty  pounds,  which  was  remitted  by  the 
General  Court,  May  31, 1754. 

*  From  1770  to  1775,  Norton  and  the  district  of  Mansfield  were  united 
for  the  choice  of  a  representative.  In  1775  a  petition  was  sent  from 
Mausfield  to  the  General  Court  for  a  new  precept  to  choose  representa- 
tives. They  had  leave  to  withdraw.  In  1857  the  State  constitution  was 
so  amended  as  to  choose  representatives  by  districts  instead  of  towns,  as 
formerly ;  and  Norton  and  Mansfield  were  made  District  No.  2,  of  Bristol 
County,  for  that  purpose. 


1825.  Laban  Wheaton. 

1826.  Jacob  Shepard. 

1827.  Laban  M.  Wheaton. 

1828.  Laban  M.  Wheaton. 
Lemuel  Perry. 

1829.  Jacob  Shepard. 
Lemuel  Perry. 

1830-31.  Cromwell  Leonard. 

1832.  Asa  Arnold. 

1833.  Asa  Arnold. 
Cromwell  Leonard. 

1834-36.  Cromwell  Leonard. 
John  Crane. 

1837.  John  Crane. 

1838.  Laban  M.  Wheaton. 

1839.  John  Crane. 

1840.  John  Crane. 
Hennary  Newcomb. 

1841-43.  John  Crane. 
1844-45.  Earl  Hodges. 
1846.  Rodolphus  H.  Williams. 


1847-48.  No  choice. 

1849.  Rodolphus  H.  Williams. 

1850.  No  choice. 

1851.  Austin  Messinger. 

1852.  Andrew  B.  Randall. 

1853.  Charles  W.  Hodges. 

1854.  Caleb  S.  Wetherell.^ 

1855.  Lysander  0.  Makepeace. 

1856.  George  B.  Crane. 

1857.  Leonard  Hodges. 

1858.  John  Crane. 

1859.  Daniel  S.  Cobb. 
1861.  Annis  A.  Lincoln,  Jr. 
1863-65.  Horatio  Bates. 

1868.  Augustus  Lane. 

1869.  William  D.  Wetherell. 

1872.  John  R.  Rogerson. 

1873.  Andrew  H.  Sweet. 
1876.  George  R.  Perry. 
1879.  William  D.  Wetherell. 
1882.  Austin  Messinger. 


SELECTMEN. 

1711.— George  Leonard,  John  Wetherell,  Thomas  Stephens. 

1712. — George  Leonard  (?),  Samuel  Brintnell,  Nicholas  White. 

1713. — George  Leonard  (?),  John  Hodges,  Thomas  Stephens. 

1714. — George  Leonard  (?),  Nicholas  White,  John  Hodges. 

1715. — John  Wetherell,  John  Briggs,  John  Skinner. 

1716. — George  Leonard,  Nicholas  White,  John  Hodges. 

1717— John  Hodges,  John  Wetherell,  John  Skinner. 

1718.— John    Hodges,  Sr.,  John  Wetherell,  Sr.,  John  Skinner.     "East 

End,"  Thomas  Randall,  John  Phillips. 
1719. — John  Wetherell.  John  Hodges,  John  Skinner. 
1720. — John  Hodges,  John  Wetherell,  John  Briggs,  Grand  Sr.     "East 

End,"  John  Phillips,  Josiah  Keith. 
1721. — John  Briggs,  Grand  Sr.,  Benjamin  Williams,  John  Smith,  Grand 

Sr.    "  East  End,"  John  Phillips,  Edward  Howard. 
1722. — Nicholas  White,  Thomas  Skinner,  Benjamin  Williams. 
1723. — Lieut.  Nicholas  White,  Thomas  Skinner,  Benjamin  Williams. 
1724. — Nicholas  White,  Samuel  Hodges,  Benjamin  Williams. 
1725.6 — George  Leonard,  Samuel  Hodges,  Ephraim  Grover. 
1726.— Capt.  Samuel  Brintnell,  John  Briggs  (2d),  Richard  Briggs. 
1727. — George  Leonard,  Nicholas  White,  Elea/er  Fisher. 
1728. — George  Leonard,  Lieut.  Nicholas  White,  Thomas  Skinner,  Sr. 
1729. — George  Leonard   Esq.,  Lieut.  Nicholas  White,   Ensign  Joseph 

Hodges. 
1730/ — Lieut.  Nicholas  White,  Benjamin  Williams,  Joseph  Hodges. 
1731. — John  Briggs  (2d),  Benjamin  Williams,  William  Stone. 
1732 — John  Wetherell  (1st),  Benjamin  Williams,  Samuel  Clap. 
1733. — Ephraim  Leonard,  Joseph  Hodges,  Samuel  Clap. 
1734. — Ephraim  Leonard,  Joseph  Hodges,  Benjamin  Williams,  Mr.  Sam- 
uel Clap,  John  Hodges. 
1735. — Samuel  Clap,  William  Stone,  Benjamin  Williams. 
1736. — George  Leonard,  Esq.,  William  Stone,  Benjamin  Williams. 
1737. — Ephraim  Leonard,  Esq.,  John  Hodges,  Simeon  Wetherell. 
1738. — Col.  George  Leonard,  Simeon  Wetherell,  Deacon  Nicholas  White. 
1739. — John  Hodges,  John  Gilbert,  Josiah  Pratt. 
1740. — George  Leonard,  Esq.,  John  Gilbert,  Josiah  Pratt. 
1741. — George  Leonard,  Ephraim  Leonard,  Joseph  Hodges,  John  Gilbert, 

Josiah  Pratt. 
1742. — George  Leonard,  John  Hodges,  John  Gilbert. 
1743. — George  Leonard,  Esq.,  Ephraim  Leonard,  Esq.,  William  Dean. 
1744. — Capt.  Simeon  Wetherell,   Lieut.   Josiah  Pratt,   Lieut.  William 

Stone. 
1745.— Capt.  Simeon  Wetherell,  William   Stone,  Benjamin   Williams, 

William  Dean,  John  Andrews. 
1746. — Capt.  Simeon    Wetherell,  Capt.  William   Stone,  Capt.   William 

Dean. 
1747. — Capt.  Simeon  Wetherell,  William  Dean,  William  Stone. 


'■>  After  serving  three  days  he  resigned  his  seat,  and  the  town  was 
unable  to  choose  a  successor. 

6  At  the  annual  meeting,  March  1st,  of  this  year,  "Thayer  was  a  vote 
caled  for,  for  those  that  ware  for  three  Selectmen  to  Go  into  the  Wimin"s 
Gaiety,  and  those  that  ware  for  five  Selectmen  to  Go  into  men's  Galery ; 
and  thare  ware  most  in  the  Wimin's  Galdry." 


NORTON. 


625 


174S. — Capt.  William   Stone,  Capt.  Simeon   Wetherell,  Capt.  William 

Dean. 
1749, — Capt.  Simeon  Wetherell,  Capt.  William   Stone,  Capt.  William 

Dean. 
1750.— Capt.   William  Stone,  Capt.  Simeon   Wetherell,   Capt.   William 

Dean. 
1751. — (leorge  Leonard,  Ephraim  Leonard,  Nathan  llorlges. 
1752. — George  Leonard,  Esq.,  Nathan  Hodges,  Joseph  Elliot. 
1753. — Hon.   George   Leonard,   Esq.,   Ephraim    Leonard,   Esq.,   George 

Leonard,  Jr. 
1754. — lion.   George   Leonard,   Esq.,   Ephraim   Leonard,   Esq.,   George 

Leonard,  Jr.,  Esq. 
1755. — Ephraim  Leonard,  Esq.,  Lieut.  Thomas  Morey,  Thomas  Shepard, 

Lieut.  Benjamin  I'ratt,  Lieut.  Benjamin  Cobb. 
1756. — Lieut.  Thomas  Morey,  Lieut.  Benjamin  Cobb,  Mr.  Thomas  Shep- 
ard, Mr.  Isaac  White,  Mr.  Nathan  Williams. 
1757. — Thomas  Morey,  Benjamin  Cobb,  Ebenezer  Burt. 
175S. — Lieut.   Thomas   Morey,   Lieut.   Benjamin    Cobb,   Mr.   Ebenezer 

Burt. 
1759. — Capt.  Thomas  Morey,  Capt.  Benjamin  Cobb,  Mr.  Ebenezer  Burt. 
1760. — Capt.  Thomas   Morey,  Capt.  Benjamin   Cobb,  Lieut.   Benjamin 

Pratt. 
1761. — George   Leonard,  jun.,  Esq.,  Mr.  Thomas   Shepard,  Mr.   Isaac 

White. 
1762. — George  Leonard,  jun.,  Esq.,  Capt.  William  Dean,  Capt.  Jonathan 

Eddy. 
1763. — George  Leonard,  jun.,  Esq.,  Mr.  Daniel   Leonard,  Mr.  William 

Cobb,  Ebenezer  Burt  (1st),  Dr.  George  Wheaton. 
17G4. — Lieut.  William  Cobb,  Dr.  George  Wheaton,  George  Leonard,  jun., 

Esq. 
1765. — Mr.  William  Cobb,  Dr.  George  Wheaton,  Mr.  Isaac  Hodges. 
1766. — Lieut.  William  Cobb,  Dr.  George  Wheaton,  Mr.  Isaac  Hodges. 
1767. — Lieut.  William  Cobb,  Dr.  George  Wheaton,  Mr.  Isaac  Hodges. 
176S. — Lieut.  William  Cobb,  Dr.  George  Wheaton,  Mr.  Isaac  Hodges. 
1769. — Lieut.  William  Cobb,  Dr.  George  Wheaton,  Mr.  Isaac  Hodges. 
1770. — George  Leonard,  jun.,  Esq.,  Dr.  George  Wheaton,  Mr.  Nathan 

Babbit. 
1771. — Hon.  George  Leonard,  jun.,  Esq.,  Mr.  John  Crane,  Mr.  Nathan 

Babbit. 
1772. — Hon.  George  Leonard,  jun.,  Esq.,  Mr.  Nathan  Babbit,  Mr.  John 

Crane. 
1773.— Capt.  William  Homes,  Capt.  John  Crane,  Mr.  Samuel  Newcomb. 
1774. — William  Homes,  Samuel  Newcomb,  Isaac  Hodges. 
1775. — Capt.  William  Homes,  Mr.  Isaac  Hodges,  Mr.  Eleazar  Clap. 
1776. — William  Homes,  Mr.  Isaac  Hodges,  Mr.  Eleazar  Clap. 
1777. — William  Homes,  Mr.  Daniel  Dean,  Mr.  Eleazar  Clap. 
1778. — William  Homes,  Esq.,  Lieut.  William  Cobb,  Mr.  Daniel  Dean. 
1779. — Lieut.  William  Cobb,  William  Homes,  Esq.,  Deacon  Daniel  Dean. 
1780. — Lieut.  William  Cobb,  William  Homes,  Esq.,  Deacon  Daniel  Dean. 
1781. — William  Homes,  Esq.,  Lieut.  William  Cobb,  Deacon  Daniel  Dean. 
1782. — Capt.  Seth  Smith,  Capt.  Israel  Trow,  Deacon  Daniel  Dean. 
1783. — Capt.  Seth  Smith,  Capt.  Israel  Trow,  Lieut.  David  Arnold. 
17*4. — Capt.  Israel  Trow,  Capt.  Seth  Smith,  Lieut.  David  Arnold. 
17S5. — Capt.  Seth  Smith,  Capt.  John  Crane,  Col.  Silas  Cobb. 
1786. — (apt.  John  Crane,  Capt.  Isaac  Hodges,  Lieut.  David  Arnold. 
1787. — Capt.  John  Crane,  Capt.  Isaac  Hodges,  Lieut.  David  Arnold. 
1788. — Capt.  John  Crane,  Lieut.  David  Arnold,  Lieut.  Jacob  Shepard. 
1789. — Capt.  John  Crane,  Capt.  Ephraim  Lane,  Lieut.  Jacob  Shepard. 
179U. — I  apt.  John  Crane,  Capt.  Ephraim  Lane,  Jacob  Shepard. 
1791. — Capt.  John  Crane,  Capt.  Ephraim  Lane,  jun  ,  Lieut.  Jacob  Shep- 
ard. , 
1792. — Capt.  John  Crane,  Capt.  Ephraim  Lane,  jun.,  Capt.  David  Clap. 
1793. — Capt.  Ephraim  Lane,  Capt.  Israel  Trow,  Capt.  David  Clap.       . 
1794. — Capt.  David  Clap,  Ephraim  Lane,  Capt.  Tisdalo  Hodges. 
1795. — Capt.  David  Clap,  Capt.  Tisdale  Hodges,  Isaac  Hodges,  jun. 
1796. — Deacon  Daniel  Dean,  Tisdale  Hodges.  Isaac  Hodges,  jun. 
1797. — Capt.  Tisdale  Hodges,  Isaac  Hodges,  jun.,  Elisha  Cobb. 
1798. — Isaac  Hodges,  jun.,  Elisha  Cobb,  David  Lincoln,  jun. 
1799. — Capt.  Tisdale  Hodges,  Isaac  Hodges,  jun.,  Lieut.  Elisha  Cobb. 
1800. — Isaac  Hodges,  Jr.,  Lieut.  John  Hall,  Capt.  Tisdale  Hodges. 
1801.— Isaac  Hodges,  Jr.,  Lieut.  John  Hall,  William  Burt. 
1802.— William  Burt,  Lieut.  John  Hodges,  Maj.  Brian  Hall. 
1803. — William  Burt,  Samuel  Sunt,  Jonathan  Hodges. 
1804. — William  Burt,  Capt.  Jonathan  Hodges,  Capt.  Samuel  Hunt. 
1805. — Capt.  Samuel  Hunt,  Capt.  Jonathan  Hodges,  Maj.  Brian  Hall. 
1806.— Capt.   Jonathan    Hodges,   Laban   Wheaton,  Esq.,  Capt.  Samuel 

Hunt. 
40 


1807.— Laban  Wheaton,  Esq.,  Capt.  Samuel  Hunt,  Maj.  Brian  Hall. 

1808.— Laban  Wheaton,  Brian  Hall,  Samuel  Hunt. 

1809. — Isaac  Hodges,  Maj.  Brian  Hall,  Capt.  Samuel  Hunt. 

1810. — Brian  Hall,  Isaac  Hodges,  Samuel  Hunt. 

1811. — Isaac  Hodges,  Samuel  Hunt,  Samuel  Copeland. 

1812. — Samuel  Copeland,  Isaac  Hodges,  Samuel  Hunt. 

1813. — Isaac  Hodges,  Samuel  Copeland,  Samuel  Hunt. 

1814. — Isaac  Hodges,  Seth  Hodges,  Jonathan  Newland. 

1815. — Isaac  Hodges,  Lysander  Makepeace,  Daniel  Lane. 

1816. — Isaac  Hodges,  Lysander  Makepeace,  Seth  Hodges. 

1817.— Isaac  Hodges,  Seth  Hodges,  Lysander  Makepeace. 

1818. — Seth  Hodges,  Lysander  Makepeace,  Daniel  Lane. 

1819. — Seth  Hodges,  Daniel  Lane,  Lemuel  Arnold. 

1820. — Daniel  Lane,  Seth  Hodges,  Lemuel  Arnold. 

1821. — Lemuel  Arnold,  Lemuel  Berry,  Jacob  Shepard. 

1822. — Lemuel  Arnold,  Lemuel  Perry,  Jacob  Shepard. 

1823. — Lemuel  Perry,  Jacob  Shepard,  Thomas  Braman. 

1824. — Lemuel  Perry,  Lemuel  Arnold,  Jacob  Shepard. 

1825. — Lemuel  Perry,  Jacob  Shepard,  Daniel  Patten. 

1826. — Lemuel  Perry,  Jacob  Shepard,  Daniel  Patten. 

1827. — Lemuel  Perry,  Daniel  Patten,  Oliver  Hunt. 

1828— Oliver  Hunt,  William  Hodges,  Calvin  Lane. 

1829. — Sylvester  Newcomb,  Cromwell  Leonard,  Jacob  Shepard. 

1830. — Sylvester  Newcomb,  Cromwell  Leonard,  Jacob  Shepard. 

1831. — Cromwell  Leonard,  Sylvester  Newcomb,  William  Lane,  Jr. 

1332. — Cromwell  Leonard,  Sylvester  Newcomb,  William  Lane,  Jr 

1833. — Cromwell  Leonard,  Sylvester  Newcomb,  William  Lane,  Jr. 

1834. — Cromwell  Leonard,  Sylvester  Newcomb,  William  Lane,  Jr. 

1835. — Cromwell  Leonard,  Simeon  Blandin,  Seth  Hodges. 

1836. — Seth  Hodges,  Cromwell  Leonard,  Simeon  Blandin. 

1837. — Cromwell  Leonard,  Simeon  Blandin,  Leonard  Hodges,  Jr. 

1S38. — Leonard  Hodges,  Jr.,  Hennary  Newcomb,  Richard  F.  Sweet. 

1839. — Henry  Newcomb,  Daniel  Briggs,  Leonard  Hodges,  Jr. 

1840. — George  C.  Crane,  Jacob  Shepard,  Earl  Hodges. 

1841. — George  B.  Crane,  Jacob  Shepard,  Earl  Hodges. 

1842. — George  B.  Crane,  Jacob  Shepard,  Earl  Hodges. 

1843. — George  B.  Crane,  Jacob  Shepard,  Almond  Tucker. 

1844. — Almond  Tucker,  Rodolphus  H.  Williams,  Hiram  J.  Hunt. 

1845. — Hiram  J.  Hunt,  Eddy  Lincoln,  Cyrus  White. 

1846. — George  B.  Crane,  Almond  Tucker,  Cyrus  White. 

1S47. — Seth  Sumner,  Jr.,  George  B.  Crane,  Almond  Tucker. 

1848. — George  B.  Crane,  Seth  Sumner,  Jr.,  David  Arnold. 

1849. — George  B.  Crane,  Seth  Sumner,  Jr.,  David  Arnold. 

1850. — George  B.  Crane,  Seth  Sumner,  Jr  ,  David  Arnold. 

1851.— Daniel  S.  Cobb,  Eli  Wood,  Benjamin  S.  Hall. 

1852.— Daniel  S.  Cobb,  Eli  Wood,  Benjamin  S.  Hall. 

1853. — Daniel  S.  Cobb,  Charles  II.  Briggs,  John  B.  Newcomb. 

1854. — Earl  C.  White,  Elkanah  Wheeler,  Augustus  Lane. 

1855. — Ebenezer  Tinkham,  Royal  P.  Hodges,  Hiram  H.  Wetherell. 

1856. — Augustus  Lane,  James  0.  Messinger,  James  Allen. 

1857. — Augustus  Lane,  James  0.  Messinger,  James  Allen. 

1858-59. — Augustus  Lane,  James  0.  Messinger,  James  Allen. 

1860. — Augustus  Lane,  James  O.  Messinger,  William  D.  Wetherell. 

1861-62. — Augustus  Lane,  William  D.  Wetherell,  Horatio  Bates. 

1863. — William  D.  Wetherell,  Horatio  Bates,  Benjamin  E.  Sweet. 

1864-65.— William  D.  Wetherell,  Horatio  Bates,  Charles  Spragne,  Jr. 

1866.— William  D.  Wetherell,  Horatio  Bates,  Henry  Hunt. 

1867. — Leonard  Hodges,  Augustus  Lane,  Alfred  Barker. 

1S68. — Leonard  Hodges,  Alfred  Barker,  John  W.  Wetherell. 

1S69-70. — Leonard  Hodges,  Enoch  Tibbetts,  Moses  Lincoln. 

1871. — Leonard  Hodges,  Enoch  Tibbetts,  Andrew  H.  Sweet. 

1872-73. — Andrew  H.  Sweet,  John  R.  Rogerson,  George  H.  Arnold. 

1874. — John  R.  Rogerson,  George  R.  Perry,  Joseph  Copeland. 

1875. — George  R.  Perry,  Joseph  Copeland,  George  B.  Crane. 

1876-77. — George  R.  Perry,  John  R.  Rogerson,  Isaac  T.  Braman. 

1878.— George  R.  Perry,  Horatio  Bates,  O.  E.  Walker. 

1879.— George  R.  Perry,  0.  E.  Walker,  Alfred  Barker. 

1880. — George  R.  Perry,  Alfred  Barker,  William  E.  Payson. 

1881. — William  A.  Lane,  Silas  A.  Stone,  Oren  E.  Walker. 

1882.— William  A.  Lane,  Silas  A.  Stone,  William  D.  Wetherell. 

TOWN   CLERKS. 

John  Briggs,  1711;  George  Leonard,  1712-16,  1721-30,  1743-50;  John 
Hodges,  1716-20,  1733;  John  Hodges  (1st),  1734-42;  George  Leon- 
ard, Jr.,  1751 ;  David  Williams,  1752-72;  John  King,  1773-78;  Capt. 
Silas  Cobb,  1779-84;  Seth  Smith,  Jr.,  1785-93,  1795-98;  Thomas 
Fobes,  1794;  Joseph   Hunt,   1799-1813;    George  Walker,  1814-20; 


626 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Thomas  Danforth  (2d),  1821-27;  John  Crane,  1828-57;  Rev.  George 
F.  Clark,  1858-60;  Austin  Messinger,  1861-83. 

Deputy  Sheriffs. — Benjamin  Williams  was  dep- 
uty sheriff  in  1757.  How  long  he  held  the  office  we 
know  not.  Ephraim  Burr  is  believed  to  have  been 
sheriff  from  some  years  previous  to  1784  up  to  1803  ; 
Isaac  Morey,  from  1791  to  1796  ;  Thomas  Fobes,  from 
1794  to  1796  ;  William  Verry,  most  of  the  time  from 
1800  to  1815;  George  Gilbert,  from  1803  to  1805; 
Ebenezer  Titus,  from  1803  to  1808;  Preston  Hodges, 
from  1818  to  1821 ;  Daniel  Smith  (2d),  from  1822  to 
1824;  George  Clapp,  from  1822  to  1824;  Daniel 
Morey,  in  1825;  Timothy  Smith,  from  1826  to  1834; 
Horace  B.  Wetherell,  from  1835  to  1850  ;  Austin  Mes- 
singer, from  1851  to  1853,  and  again  in  1856;  Cyril 
S.  Sweet  was  appointed  in  1858 ;  Artemas  C.  King 
and  George  H.  Arnold,  now  in  office. 

State  Senators. — Hon.  Abraham  White  was 
chosen  senator  in  1787,  and  again  in  1788.  He  is  be- 
lieved to  have  been  the  son  of  Thomas  White,  of 
Taunton,  and  tradition  says  he  was  descended  from 
Peregrine  White,  the  first  English  child  born  at  Ply- 
mouth. He  was  a  somewhat  eccentric  man,  and 
could  not  read  or  write,  but  was  possessed  of  much 
native  talent,  practical  good  sense,  and  sound  judg- 
ment. He  was  much  employed  in  public  life,  where 
energy  and  decision  of  character  were  needed.  Nu- 
merous anecdotes  are  related  of  him,  all  of  which 
illustrate  his  ready  wit,  keen  satire,  and  ability  to 
meet  any  emergency  that  arose.  He  lived  at  the 
easterly  part  of  the  town.  He  married  first  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  Holmes,  of  Taunton,  by  whom  he  had  a 
son,  who,  with  his  mother,  died  young.  For  second 
wife,  Mr.  White  married  Hannah,  daughter  of  Ed- 
ward White,  of  Easton,  and  had  by  her  eight  chil- 
dren. He  died  Feb.  20,  1801,  in  his  eighty-fifth  year, 
so  that  he  must  have  been  born  iu  1717. 

Hon.  George  Leonard  was  chosen  senator  in  1793, 
and  served  one  year  only. 

Hon.  Seth  Smith,  Jr.,  was  chosen  senator  in  1797, 
and  held  the  office  but  one  year.  He  was  the  son  of 
Deacon  Seth  Smith  by  his  first  wife,  Sarah  Cobb  (2d), 
and  was  born  Oct.  1,  1756.  He  married,  March  16, 
1780,  Rachel  Newcomb,  and  had  three  children.  He 
was  much  employed  in  public  business,  was  town 
clerk  many  years,  also  representative  to  the  General 
Court.  He  kept  a  store  in  the  centre  of  the  town  a 
few  years.  He  left  Norton  about  1799,  and  went  to 
New  York  city. 

Hon.  Cromwell  Leonard  was  chosen  senator  for 
the  year  1848,  and  rechosen  for  the  year  1849.  He 
is  the  son  of  Jonathan  Leonard  by  his  second  wife, 
Rebecca  Smith  (2d),  and  was  born  Dec.  1,  1788.  He 
is  the  grandson  of  Jacob  and  Mary  (Wild)  Leonard, 
and  is  descended  from  the  Taunton  Leonards,  who 
came  from  Pontypool,  Wales.  Mr.  Leonard  married, 
June  15,  1815,  Miss  Belinda  Copeland,  of  Mansfield. 
They  had  four  children.  She  died  Aug.  25,  1848. 
He  married   for  second  wife,  June  20,  1849,  Miss 


Harriet  Morse,  of  East  Cambridge,  daughter  of  the 
late  Dr.  Caleb  Morse,  of  Moultonborough,  N.  H.  He 
served  the  town  many  years  as  moderator  of  town- 
meetings,  selectman,  assessor,  representative  to  the 
General  Court,  and  other  positions  of  trust  and  re- 
spectability. 

Hon.  John  Crane  was  chosen  senator  for  the  year 
1852.  He  is  the  son  of  Terry  and  Rebecca  (Harvey) 
Crane,  grandson  of  John  and  Rachel  (Terry)  Crane, 
and  was  born  Jan.  11,  1799.  He  married,  March  28, 
1825,  Miss  Sally  Harvey,  of  Taunton,  and  had  two 
children.  He  held  the  office  of  town  clerk  and  treas- 
urer for  thirty  successive  years.  When  chosen  for 
the  thirtieth  time  in  1857  he  declined  a  re-election. 
He  has  represented  the  town  in  the  General  Court, 
wholly  or  in  part,  ten  years. 

Councilors. — Hon.  George  Leonard  was  a  royal 
councilor  twenty-five  successive  years,  commencing 
his  term  of  service  in  1741  and  closing  in  1766.  He 
was  the  son  of  Maj.  George  and  Anna  (Tisdale)  Leon- 
ard, and  was  the  first  male  child  born  in  the  westerly 
part  of  Norton.  His  advent  into  the  world  took  place 
March  4,  1698.  He  was  the  second  justice  of  the 
peace  in  town,  was  town  clerk  many  years,  and  also 
otherwise  much  employed  in  public  affairs  as  select- 
man, assessor,  moderator  of  town-meetings,  represen- 
tative to  the  General  Court,  etc.  He  was  also  much 
engaged  in  the  military  affairs  of  this  neighborhood, 
having  risen  from  a  subordinate  officer  to  the  com- 
mand of  the  regiment,  and  is  generally  known  as 
Col.  George  Leonard.  He  was  appointed  judge  of 
the  court  of  Common  Pleas  in  1725,  and  held  the 
office  till  1730.  He  was  reappointed  to  the  same 
office  in  1733,  and  held  it  till  1740,  when  he  was  dis- 
missed for  having  been  connected  with  the  Land 
Bank  scheme.  He  was  again  appointed  to  the  bench 
in  1746,  and  continued  in  office  till  about  the  com- 
mencement of  the  Revolution.  A  portion  of  the 
time  he  was  on  the  bench  he  was  chief  justice  of  the 
court.  He  was  appointed  judge  of  probate  for  Bris- 
tol County  Feb.  16,  1747,  and  held  the  office  about 
thirty-one  years. 

Hon.  George  Leonard,  Jr.,  was  councilor  from  1770 
to  1775.  He  was  the  son  of  Col.  Leonard  just  men- 
tioned. 

Hon.  Laban  M.  Wheaton  held  the  office  of  coun- 
cilor two  years,  viz.,  1857  and  1858.  (See  "  Collegi- 
ate History.") 

Judges  of  Court  of  Common  Pleas. — Hon. 
George  Leonard  was  appointed  to  this  office  Dec.  10, 
1715,  and  was  on  the  bench  only  a  few  months,  when 
he  died. 

Hon.  George  Leonard,  son  of  the  above,  was  judge 
most  of  the  time  from  1725  to  1775. 

Hon.  Ephraim  Leonard  was  appointed  judge  in 
1747,  and  was  in  office  till  about  the  commencement 
of  the  Revolution.  He  was  a  brother  of  George  Leon- 
ard, last  named,  and  was  born  Jan.  16,  1705-6.  He 
settled  in  the  North  Precinct  of  Norton. 


L^lr  .=—    LJ  L  e  .-.  r.  .  v 


NORTON. 


627 


Hon.  George  Leonard  was  appointed  judge  of  the 
Court  of  Common  Pleas  July  1,  1785.  In  1798  he 
was  chief  justice  of  the  court,  and  was  on  the  bench 
as  late  as  1804. 

Hon.  Laban  Wheaton  was  appointed  chief  justice 
of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  May  18,  1810,  but  did 
not  hold  the  office  long. 

Judges  of  Probate. — Hon.  George  Leonard  was 
commissioned  judge  of  probate  Feb.  16,  1747,  and 
held  the  office  till  his  death  in  1778. 

Hon.  George  Leonard,  son  of  the  above,  was  ap- 
pointed to  this  office  June  7, 1784,  and  held  it  several 
years. 

Judge  of  Court  of  Sessions.— Hon.  Laban 
Wheaton  was  appointed  judge  of  this  court  May  25, 
1819,  but  the  following  year  the  court  was  abolished. 

Register  of  Probate. — Hon.  George  Leonard, 
Jr.,  was  commissioned  register  April  18,  1749,  and 
held  the  office  till  1783. 

Representatives  in  Congress. — Hon.  George 
Leonard  was  chosen  in  1788  a  member  of  the  First 
Congress  of  the  United  States.  He  failed  of  an  elec- 
tion to  the  Second,  but  was  a  member  of  the  Third  and 
Fourth  Congresses. 

Hon.  Laban  Wheaton  was  representative  eight 
years,  from  March  4,  1809,  to  March  4,  1817. 

Taxes. — The  following  shows  the  tax  levied  upon 
the  town  from  1715  to  1800 : 


Years. 


Town 
Charges. 


Schools. 


Represen- 
tatives. 


High- 
ways. 


1715 

£2 

£8 

1716 

g 

... 

1717 

11 

1718 

9 

6J4 

1719 

9 

... 

6J^ 

1720 

20 

£30 

14        

1721 

14 

30 

15 

1722 

1723 

9 

14 

1724 

29 

12 

16        

1725 

12 

341 

10        

1726 

24 

10 

15 

1727 

31 

20 

1728 

33 

40 

1729 

31 

20 
19 

1730 

57 

1731 

20 

25 

20 

1733 

16 

30  2 

17:14 

14 

30  - 

1735 

22 

302 

1736 

20 

1737 

37 

37 

1738 

64 

30 

90 

20 

1740 

70 

20 

1741 

60 

1742* 

36 

1743 

1503 

1744 

1223 

1745  

803 

40 

1746 

1703 

1748 

3003 

174'.) 

4003 

1750 

40-t 

1751 

27 

1752 

50 

1753 

30 

1754 

50 

27 

... 

1756 

80 

1757 

100 

1758 

110 

... 

1759 

110 

1760 

11" 

1761 

Jio 

-  Including  £8^  of 

interest-money 

from  hank. 

2  Poor  and  schools. 

3  Old  tenor. 

4  Lawful  money. 

YearS-  Charges.    Sch0°18- 

1762 £120 

1763 70 

1764 ; 70 

1705 40 

1766 120 

1767 100 

1768 130 

1769 80 

1770 60 

1771 70 

1772 loo 

1773 80 

1774 75 

1775 90 

1776 120 

1777 180 

1778 1400 

1779 1180 

1780 6000 

1781 5005 

1782 100 

1783 300        60 

1784 150        60 

1785 250        60 

1786 200        60 

1787 150        60 

1788 150 

1789 180        40 

1790 120        60 

1791 195 

1792 252 

1793 300 

1794 300 

1795 300 

1796 $1200 

1797 1000 

1798 800 

1799 1000 

1800 1200 


Represen- 
tatives. 


High- 
ways. 


»£120 

122 

122 

122 

120 

120 

120 

120 

100 

S1000 

1200 

1000 

1000 

1000 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


HON.    LABAN    WHEATON. 

Hon.  Laban  Wheaton  was  born  in  Norton  (in  a 
part  of  the  town  which  is  now  in  Mansfield),  March 
13, 1754.  His  parents  were  Dr.  George  and  Elizabeth 
(Morey)  Wheaton.  Rev.  George  Wheaton  (H.  U., 
1769),  minister  of  the  Congregational  Church  in 
Claremont,  N.  H.,  and  Daniel  Wheaton,  Esq.  (H.  U., 
1791),  lawyer  and  first  postmaster  of  Norton,  for  the 
towns  of  Norton,  Easton,  and  Mansfield,  were  his 
brothers. 

He  fitted  for  college  at  Wrentham  Academy,  entered 
Harvard  University  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  and  gradu- 
ated in  1774,  at  the  age  of  twenty.  After  graduation 
he  taught  a  grammar  school  in  his  native  town,  but 
soon  relinquished  teaching  to  study  theology  under 
the  direction  of  Rev.  Abiel  Leonard,  D.D.,  pastor  of 
the  Congregational  Church  in  Woodstock,  Conn.  In 
May,  1775,  Dr.  Leonard  was  appointed  chaplain  in 
the  army,  where  he  received  the  special  commenda- 
tion of  Gens.  Washington  and  Putnam  for  his  great 
usefulness.  In  the  summer  following  this  appoint- 
ment of  his  teacher,  Mr.  Wheaton  commenced  to 
preach  at  Woodstock.  After  this  he  preached  in 
Oxford,  Walpole,  Dedham,  Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  and  in 
Boston.  He  was  invited  to  a  pastorate  in  Framing- 
ham,  at  what  was  then  deemed  a  very  liberal  sup- 
port, but  on  account  of  imperfect  health  he  declined 


5  Silver  money. 

o  This  was  the  first  rate  for  raising  a  highway  tax  that  we  find  recorded. 


628 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


to  settle,  though,  with  some  interruptions,  he  sup- 
plied the  pulpit  at  Framingham  about  four  years. 
On  account  of  failing  health  he  was  medically  ad- 
vised to  travel  and  to  relinquish  preaching.  Feeling 
the  necessity  from  limited  means  to  have  some  busi- 
ness to  meet  the  expense  of  traveling,  he  entered  into 
partnership  with  a  classmate  who  was  engaged  in 
mercantile  pursuits  at  Watertown,  and  in  the  interest 
of  the  firm  took  goods  to  Canada,  and  exchanged 
them  with  the  Indians  for  furs.  His  partner  becom- 
ing involved  in  financial  trouble  at  Watertown,  he 
withdrew  from  the  firm  at  the  end  of  four  years  with 
renewed  health,  but  with  loss  of  all  pecuniary  gains, 
and  a  debt  of  five  hundred  dollars. 

At  thirty-one  years  of  age  he  entered  the  law-office 
of  Squire  Kent,  of  Watertown,  to  study  law,  paying 
board  and  tuition  by  writing  and  copying  papers  and 
documents  for  his  teacher.  He  commenced  the  prac- 
tice of  law  at  Milton,  but  in  1788  removed  to  his 
native  town  and  established  himself  in  his  profession 
at  the  Centre  village.  With  a  very  high  order  of  in- 
tellectual strength,  acute  legal  knowledge,  and  un- 
tiring application  to  the  duties  of  his  profession,  he 
attained  eminence  at  the  bar,  and  had  extensive 
practice  in  the  courts  of  Worcester,  Norfolk,  Suffolk, 
Plymouth,  and  Bristol  Counties.  Seven  years  he  was 
sent  by  his  townsmen  a  representative  in  the  State 
Legislature,  and  was  frequently  elected  to  other 
offices.  Eight  years  he  represented  the  district  in 
which  he  lived  in  the  United  States  Congress.  In 
1810  he  was  appointed  chief  justice  of  the  Court  of 
Common  Pleas,  in  1819  chief  justice  of  the  Court  of 
Sessions,  and  he  filled  these  offices  with  dignity  and 
grace  and  to  the  honor  of  the  bench. 

During  his  Congressional  career,  which  was  marked 
by  fidelity  to  the  interests  of  his  constituents  and  the 
welfare  of  the  nation,  an  incident  of  debate  occurred 
which  is  worthy  of  permanent  record.  It  was  at  that 
period  when  the  slave  power  held  almost  absolute 
supremacy,  and  the  topic  of  slavery  was  tabooed  in 
Congress.  On  one  occasion,  in  the  progress  of  a  speech 
on  vital  issues,  Mr.  Wheaton  referred  to  this  topic 
with  pertinent  remark.  He  was  instantly  interrupted 
by  a  dozen  men  springing  to  their  feet  with  loud, 
rapid,  and  imperative  cries  of  "  Order !"  One  of  them, 
catching  the  eye  of  the  Speaker,  fiercely  renewed  the 
demand,  saying,  "  The  gentleman  from  Massachusetts 
would  excite  the  slaves  to  cut  their  masters'  throats !" 
Mr.  Wheaton,  still  keeping  the  floor,  calmly  replied, 
"  And  why,  Mr.  Speaker,  shouldn't  the  slaves  cut  their 
masters'  throats?  We  cut  our  masters'  throats  to 
secure  our  liberties,  and  why  shouldn't  they  cut  their 
masters'  throats  to  gain  their  liberties?  I  put  the 
question  to  the  honorable  gentleman  who  has  so  earn- 
estly called  me  to  order.  Will  he  have  the  goodness 
to  answer  it?"  The  boldness  of  this  response  and  its 
apt  home-thrust  silenced  his  opponents,  and  he  fin- 
ished his  speech  without  further  interruption.  None 
would  be  slower  than  he  to  incite  the  slaves  to  blood, 


yet  in  this  prompt  retort  he  poised  himself  on  the 
right  and  vindicated  it  with  manly  honor  when  the 
just  and  necessary  freedom  of  debate  was  domineer- 
ingly and  intolerantly  called  in  question.  In  that  re- 
tort he  not  only  reasserted,  by  a  question  full-fraught 
with  the  spirit  of  liberty,  the  inborn  and  inalienable 
right  of  the  enslaved  man  to  rise  to  the  dignity  of  a 
freeman,  but  he  rebuked  by  a  sarcasm  and  argument, 
against  the  edge  and  point  of  which  there  was  neither 
shield  nor  hope,  the  tyranny  that  brought  its  whip 
from  the  plantation  to  the  Congress  of  a  free  repub- 
lic. Mr.  Wheaton's  speeches  were  trenchant  and 
solid.  In  a  certain  weight  and  momentum  of  thought 
they  have  seldom  been  surpassed.  The  doctrines  of 
personal  and  political  liberty  have  seldom  found  in 
the  United  States  Congress  a  more  powerful  champion. 

In  1827,  at  the  age  of  seventy-three,  having  acquired 
an  ample  fortune,  he  retired  from  the  exacting  duties 
of  the  legal  profession  to  pass  the  decline  of  life  in 
the  care  of  his  private  affairs,  in  the  comfort  and  peace 
of  his  home,  and  the  circle  of  friends  whom  he  loved. 
In  1794,  at  the  age  of  forty,  he  was  married  to  Fanny 
Morey,  daughter  of  Samuel  Morey,  Esq.,  of  Norton. 
With  her  he  lived  fifty-two  years,  she  surviving  him 
a  few  years.  They  had  four  children,  but  two  of 
whom,  a  daughter  and  a  son,  lived  to  mature  age. 
To  these  children  he  gave  the  most  liberal  and  ample 
opportunity  for  a  refining  culture  and  thorough  edu- 
cation. The  daughter  married  Dr.  Strong,  of  Boston, 
but  not  long  after,  in  1834,  died  childless,  at  the  age  of 
thirty-eight  years. 

The  death  of  this  only  daughter  was  a  sore  bereave- 
ment. While  grieving  for  the  loved  one  gone,  it  was 
suggested  to  him  to  establish  a  female  seminary  in 
the  village  of  her  early  home,  and  thus  contribute  to 
make  the  daughters  of  others  what  she  had  been. 
The  thought  was  in  sweet  harmony  with  his  sorrow, 
and  he  gladly  accepted  it  and  immediately  made  ar- 
rangements to  carry  it  into  effect.  Buildings  were 
erected  and  put  in  charge  of  a  board  of  trustees  whom 
he  wisely  selected,  who  procured  teachers  and  opened 
the  school  on  the  basis  of  making  it  first-class  in  every 
respect  for  a  thorough  education  of  young  ladies, 
whose  success  and  usefulness  soon  brought  it  to  that 
rank  which  it  has  well  sustained  as  among  the  best  in 
New  England.  It  was  opened  in  1835,  and  by  the 
trustees  very  appropriately  named  "  Wheaton  Female 
Seminary,"  in  a  just  recognition  of  him  who  had 
founded  and  endowed  it  with  a  portion  of  his  prop- 
erty that  would  have  been,  had  she  lived,  the  inheri- 
tance of  his  beloved  daughter.  To  this  memorial 
work  the  father  and  mother  gave  their  tenderest  in- 
terest, and  to  the  close  of  their  lives  watched  its 
growth  and  prosperity  with  satisfaction,  and  cherished 
it  in  a  devoted  love.  On  the  23d  of  March,  1846,  at 
the  advanced  age  of  ninety-two  years  and  ten  days,  he 
died.  With  fitting  memorial  services  his  remains 
were  tenderly  laid  in  the  family  burying-ground 
beside  those  of  his  beloved  daughter. 


&*$iiy  AJI  Patchie 


NORTON. 


629 


HON.  LABAN    MITCHEL    WHEATON. 

Hon.  Labau  M.  Wheaton,  son  of  Hon.  Laban  and 
Fanny  (Morey)  Wheaton,  was  born  in  Norton,  Sept. 
14,  1796.  He  pursued  studies  preparatory  for  college 
at  Wrentham  and  Middleborough  Academies,  and 
immediately  before  entering  college  was  for  some  time 
a  pupil  in  the  University  Grammar  School,  Provi- 
dence, R.  I.,  then  under  the  tuition  of  Mr.  Joel  Hawes, 
who  afterwards  was  a  distinguished  Congregational 
pastor  in  Hartford,  Conn.  He  graduated  at  Brown 
University  in  1817  at  the  age  of  twenty-one. 

After  leaving  the  university  he  studied  law,  and 
entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  his 
native  town.  In  a  few  years  the  care  of  his  father's 
large  estate  requiring  his  assistance,  he  gave  his  at- 
tention chiefly  to  this  until  his  father's  death  in  1846, 
whose  estate  he  inherited.  He  was  married  June  25, 
1829,  to  Eliza  B.  Chapin,  of  Uxbridge. 

He  was  for  many  years  postmaster  of  Norton,  was 
several  times  elected  representative  in  the  State  Leg- 
islature, served  two  terms  as  member  of  the  Governor's 
Council,  and  was  a  trustee  of  the  State  Industrial 
School  for  girls  at  Lancaster.  Though  not  an  office- 
seeker  nor  ambitious  of  political  honors,  he  was  un- 
mistakably a  Christian  patriot,  gratefully  accepted 
the  honors  that  were  freely  bestowed,  and  faithfully 
discharged  the  duties  involved.  Throughout  his  life 
he  was  the  faithful  son  of  his  father  in  devoted  at- 
tachment to  the  cause  of  freedom.  He  was  warmly 
interested  in  the  cause  of  education  and  of  Christian 
institutions.  He  and  his  wife  were  in  cordial  sym- 
pathy with  the  father  in  the  founding  of  Wheaton 
Female  Seminary,  and  after  his  father's  death  were 
its  liberal  patrons,  making  large  additions  to  the 
original  endowment  funds. 

He  was  retiring  and  unobtrusive,  sensitively  ab- 
horred ostentation,  and  accordingly  preferred  to  dis- 
tribute his  charities  as  privately  as  possible.  In  this, 
his  chosen  and  habitual  mode  of  doing  good,  he  made 
many  individuals  and  society  in  general  greatly  his 
debtors.  Quiet  in  his  tastes,  with  sympathies  quick 
and  strong,  he  was  a  very  genial  man.  His  character 
was  marked  by  a  peculiar  spontaneity,  tenderness, 
and  constancy  of  humane  feeling  that  made  him 
prominently  the  young  man's  friend,  ready  to  com- 
mend the  worthy  and  to  aid  any  who  needed  his 
assistance.  A  lover  of  Christ  and  His  Church,  he 
was  a  liberal  supporter  of  the  gospel  at  home  and 
abroad,  and  was  ever  ready  to  contribute  generously 
to  the  cause  of  Christian  missions.  After  a  brief  but 
painful  illness  he  died  in  Norton,  Jan.  17,  1865,  at 
the  age  of  sixty-eight  years,  four  months,  and  three 
days,  greatly  lamented.  His  last  words  were,  "  I  am 
grounded  in  Christ." 


NATHANIEL    NEWCOMB. 

Nathaniel  Newcomb  was  born    in  Norton,  Mass., 
April  12,  1797,  and  he  was  sixth   in  direct  descent 


from  Francis  Newcomb,  who  was  born  probably  in 
Hertfordshire,  England,  about  1605,  and  came  to 
America  in  the  ship  "Planter"  in  1635,  accompanied 
by  his  wife,  Rachel,  then  aged  twenty,  his  daughter, 
Rachel,  of  two  and  a  half  years,  and  son,  John,  aged 
nine  months,  and,  after  residing  in  Boston  three  years, 
settled  in  Braintree  (now  Quincy,  Norfolk  Co.,  Mass.), 
where  he  died  May  27, 1692,  aged  about  eighty-seven. 
His  gravestone  says  "  aged  one  hundred  years."  Tra- 
dition says  he  came  from  Oxfordshire,  England,  and 
that  he  was  of  pure  Saxon  blood.  He  owned  several 
tracts  of  land  in  Braintree.  He  had  ten  children. 
His  son  Peter,  born  in  Braintree,  was  a  "husband- 
man," and  much  in  public  office.  By  his  wife  Su- 
sannah, daughter  of  Richard  and  Sarah  Cutting,  of 
Watertown,  he  had  nine  children.  His  estate  was 
inventoried  at  £740  Is.  His  son  Jonathan  (third  gen- 
eration), also  born  in  Braintree  in  1685-86,  was  a 
"  yeoman,"  and  owned  several  pieces  of  land.  He 
bought,  Jan.  22,  1727,  fifty-two  acres  of  land  in 
Norton  for  three  hundred  and  sixty  pounds,  and 
removed  thither  in  March,  1728.  The  same  year  he 
bought  thirty-five  acres  more  for  two  hundred  and 
forty-five  pounds,  and  in  1742  seventy  acres  for  two 
hundred  pounds.  He  served  in  the  memorable  expe- 
dition against  Louisbourg,  on  Cape  Breton,  and  died 
while  in  the  service  in  1745.  By  his  wife,  Deborah, 
he  had  eight  children.  She  died  in  1780,  aged  ninety- 
five.  Joseph  Newcomb  (fourth  generation),  son  of 
Jonathan,  was  born  in  Braintree,  but  removed  to 
Norton  with  his  parents  when  but  twelve  years  old. 
He  married  Judith  Pratt,  of  Mansfield,  Oct.  3,  1745, 
and  lived  in  Norton  until  his  death,  Oct.  2,  1778. 
He  served  in  the  old  French  war,  first  in  1749,  in  Z. 
Leonard's  company,  of  Raynham  ;  in  1757  was  in 
S.  Witherell's  company,  of  Norton.  He  had  seven 
children.  His  will  disposes  of  about  six  hundred 
and  fifty  acres  of  land,  and  his  personal  estate  in- 
ventoried at  £1286  6s.  8d.  Josiah  (fifth  generation), 
his  youngest  child,  was  born  in  Norton,  April  14, 1764, 
was  a  farmer  and  resided  during  his  life  in  Norton. 
He  was  a  soldier  of  the  Continental  army  of  the 
Revolution,  enlisting  July  27,  1780,  in  Capt.  John 
Allen's  company,  of  Carpenter's  regiment.  He  mar- 
ried (first),  in  1782-83,  Rebecca,  daughter  of  Joseph 
and  Rebecca  (Tisdale)  Godfrey,  who  was  born  in 
Easton,  Sept.  27,  1765.  She  died  Sept.  25,  1831; 
(second)  in  1834,  Charlotte  Forest.  He  had  four 
children,  all  by  his  first  wife. 

Nathaniel  Newcomb  (sixth  generation)  enjoyed 
the  advantages  of  common  schools  only  in  educa- 
tion, and  when  about  seventeen  entered  the  employ 
of  his  brother-in-law,  Simeon  Presbrey,  in  a  cotton- 
mill  in  Stoughton,  and  was  ever  after  identified  and 
connected  with  cotton-manufactory.  He  married, 
April  17,  1823,  Betsey,  daughter  of  Gen.  Thomas 
and  Esther  (Newland)  Lincoln,  of  Taunton,  where 
she  was  born  Feb.  10,  1795.  Their  children  were : 
(1)  Betsey  Thomas,  who  married  William  A.  Hay- 


630 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


ward,  of  Milford,  Mass.,  and  had  one  child,  Harriot 
B. ;  (2)  Harriot  A.,  who  resides  in  Norton. 

Mr.  Newcomb  began  business  for  himself  in  his 
native  town  as  one  of  the  earliest  manufacturers,  and 
was  successfully  engaged  for  a  few  years  in  the 
manufacture  of  cotton  thread.  He  then  bought  of 
James  Beaumont  the  patent-right  to  make  wadding, 
and  continued  in  the  wadding  and  batting  business 
till,  having  accumulated  a  handsome  fortune  by  his 
untiring  industry,  rigid  economy,  and  business  ca- 
pacity, he  retired  from  active  connection  with  manu- 
facturing in  1860,  and  was  at  that  time,  and  probably 
at  the  time  of  his  death,  the  oldest  cotton-thread 
manufacturer  in  America.  He  was  a  careful  and 
cautious  man,  and  the  road  to  wealth  to  him  was 
made  by  slow  and  steady  accumulation,  never  by 
brilliant  and  fortunate  speculation.  He  took  no  risk, 
and  the  result  showed  the  wisdom  of  his  course.  He 
was  often  asked  for  advice,  and  was  a  safe  counselor. 
During  his  life  he  used  his  money  for  business  pur- 
poses, but  often  expressed  a  desire  to  leave  at  his 
death  a  token  of  remembrance  to  the  town  with  which 
he  had  been  so  long  identified,  and  his  daughter  car- 
ried his  wish  into  execution  by  the  erection  of  the 
town  hall.  Mr.  Newcomb  was  a  Democrat  in  politics, 
and  by  no  means  desired  office.  His  wish  was  to  be 
free  from  all  official  position.  He  was  of  strong  and 
positive  nature,  and  successful  in  nearly  everything 
he  undertook. 

April  17,  1873,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Newcomb  celebrated 
the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  their  marriage,  and  enter- 
tained a  large  number  of  friends  from  various  places 
near  and  remote.  Their  wedded  life  continued  till 
the  death  of  Mr.  Newcomb,  Nov.  18,  1876.  Mrs. 
Newcomb  died  Aug.  16,  1878. 

The  history  of  Nathaniel  Newcomb  is  that  of  a 
self-reliant,  earnest,  and  successful  business  man. 
His  life  was  one  of  steady  and  active  devotion  to 
business,  and  his  success  was  the  natural  result  of  his 
ability  to  readily  comprehend  any  subject  presented 
to  him  and  courage  to  act  in  accordance  with  his  con- 
victions. He  was  a  cheerful  and  social  gentleman, 
possessing  sterling  qualities  of  character,  which  en- 
titled him  to  the  respect  of  all  who  knew  him.  He 
was  an  extensive  owner  of  real  estate,  not  only  in  his 
own  town,  but  in  other  places. 


HON.  CROMWELL    LEONARD. 

It  is  a  curious  fact  that,  in  certain  families,  a  predi- 
lection or  aptitude  and  inclination  for  a  certain  pro- 
fession or  occupation  seems  to  manifest  itself  through 
many  generations,  and  among  members  of  the  family 
in  widely  remote  parts  of  the  world,  and  under  perhaps 
diametrically  opposite  circumstances.  The  Leonards 
are  noted  throughout  this  country  and  Europe,  and 
have  been  so  for  generations,  for  their  connection  with 
the  iron  interests.  Although  the  particular  member 
of  the  family  of  which  we  write   chose  a  different 


field  for  his  life's  work,  yet  in  tracing  his  ancestral 
history  we  find  that  he  comes  from  a  family  who  were 
prominently  identified  with  iron  business  on  both  con- 
tinents. The  Leonards  have  been  a  family  of  consid- 
erable prominence  in  England  for  many  generations. 
They  are  descended,  so  several  authorities  inform  us, 
from  Leonard,  Lord  Dacre,  of  England,  and  through 
two  lines  from  Edward  III.,  viz. :  through  John  of 
Gaunt,  Duke  of  Lancaster,  and  Thomas  Plantage- 
net,  Duke  of  Gloucester.  James  and  Henry,  brothers, 
were  the  first  who  came  to  America.  They  were  sons 
of  Thomas  Leonard,  of  Pontypool,  County  Monmouth 
Wales,  which  place  is  famous  for  its  iron-works  and 
mines.  They  were  identified  with  the  first  three  iron- 
works established  in  America, — at  Braintree,  Lynn, 
and  Taunton.  They  finally  settled  at  Taunton,  and 
were  the  progenitors  of  the  family  of  Leonards  who 
have  been  more  or  less  prominently  identified  with 
the  history  of  Bristol  County  from  that  time  to  the 
present.  The  Leonards  have  almost  invariably  been 
men  of  great  wealth  and  high  position.  Hon.  George 
Leonard,  of  Norton,  a  descendant  of  the  same  family, 
owned  the  largest  estate  in  Bristol  County,  if  not  in 
New  England,  and  his  timber  lands  were  undoubtedly 
the  most  valuable  in  the  State.  The  keel  of  the  frig- 
ate "  Constitution"  was  taken  from  his  lands.  It  is 
said  that  he  "lived  in  baronial  style,  surrounded  by 
numerous  tenantry." 

The  famous  Daniel  Leonard,  antagonist  of  John 
Adams  in  the  questions  of  allegiance,  and  author  of  the 
famous  "Massachusettensis"  papers,  and  afterwards 
chief  justice  of  Bermuda,  was  of  this  family.  Hon. 
George  Leonard  and  his  father  were  judges  of  probate 
in  Bristol  County  many  years.  It  is  worthy  of  note 
that  the  first  genealogical  account  of  any  considerable 
extent  printed  in  New  England  was  Dr.  Forbes' 
"  Account  of  the  Leonard  Family."  We  have  not 
been  able  to  trace  the  direct  unbroken  line  from 
James  (1)  Leonard  to  Cromwell,  but  that  he  is  a  de- 
scendant of  James  there  can  be  no  reasonable  doubt, 
as  it  is  known  that  the  family  to  which  he  belonged 
descended  from  the  Taunton  Leonards. 

Hon.  Cromwell  Leonard  was  the  son  of  Jona- 
than Leonard  by  his  second  wife,  Rebecca  Smith. 
He  was  born  Dec.  1 ,  1788.  He  was  grandson  of  Jacob 
and  Mary  (Wild)  Leonard.  He  married,  June  15, 
1815,  Belinda  Copeland,  of  Mansfield,  by  whom  he 
had  four  children.  He  married  for  his  second  wife, 
June  20,  1849,  Harriet  Morse,  of  East  Cambridge, 
daughter  of  Dr.  Caleb  Morse,  of  Moultonborough, 
N.  H.  She  was  born  Oct.  19, 1810.  Her  mother  was 
Anna  (Ambrose)  Morse.  Her  father,  Dr.  Morse,  was 
one  of  the  pioneer  physicians  of  that  part  of  New 
Hampshire,  and  was  a  man  of  remarkable  mental  and 
physical  vigor.  He  lived  to  his  eighty-third  year, 
and  continued  in  active  practice  until  a  few  days 
prior  to  his  death.  Hon.  Cromwell  Leonard  was  one 
of  the  most  prominent  and  most  highly-esteemed 
men   Norton  has  produced.     He  enjoyed  in  a  very 


i  9. 


7  /  /Z< 


NORTON. 


631 


high  degree  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  his  fellow- 
townsmen.  He  served  for  many  years  as  moderator 
of  town-meetings,  selectman,  assessor,  representative 
to  General  Court,  etc.  Like  most  of  the  Leonards 
he  lived  to  a  good  old  age,  and  probably  no  man  who 
ever  lived  in  the  town  was  more  sincerely  mourned 
than  he  when  the  summons  came  "  to  join  the  innu- 
merable caravan."  Mrs.  Leonard  now  resides  in  West 
Somerville,  Mass.,  near  North  Cambridge  line. 


GEORGE    BOWERS   CRANE. 

Almost  if  not  quite  all  the  various  families  of  the 
name  Crane,  Crayne,  or  Crain  in  New  England  are 
descended  from  the  family  of  that  name  who  came 
from  England  to  America  in  the  early  days  of  the 
New  Haven  Colony,  and  were  among  the  most  active, 
enterprising,  and  intelligent  of  that  hardy  pioneer 
band  who  braved  so  many  dangers  and  encountered 
and  endured  so  many  privations  and  hardships  to 
win  for  themselves  and  their  posterity  a  home  in  the 
New  World.  (For  an  account  of  some  of  the  ances- 
tors of  the  Crane  family,  see  biography  of  A.  B. 
Crane  in  this  volume.) 

A  few  generations  ago  the  ancestors  of  George  B. 
resided  in  Berkley.  The  first  of  the  name  of  whom 
there  is  any  record  was  Henry1;  he  had  a  son  John2, 
who  had  a  son  named  Gersham3,  who  was  a  farmer  in 
Berkley,  and  from  frequent  mention  in  records  it  is 
presumable  he  was  a  man  of  some  note  in  his  time. 
He  had  a  son,  Capt.  John4,  who  became  one  of  the 
leading  men  of  his  community,  and  a  man  much  es- 
teemed for  his  integrity  and  sterling  worth.  He  was 
by  occupation  a  farmer  and  surveyor.  He  was  select- 
man of  his  town  and  member  of  the  Legislature. 
He  married  Rachel  Terry,  of  Freetown,  Mass.,  and 
was  the  first  of  his  family  to  settle  in  Norton.  He 
located  about  two  miles  southeast  of  the  village  of 
Norton,  and  built  the  house  now  occupied  by  his  de- 
scendant, George  B.  He  was  a  captain  of  militia, 
and  a  pioneer  in  all  reform  movements.  His  children 
were  John,  Rachel,  George,  Calvin,  Hannah,  and 
Terry.  Both  he  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the 
Society  of  Friends.  Capt.  Terry*  was  brought  up  a 
farmer,  married  Rebecca  Harvey,  daughter  of  Henry 
Harvey,  of  Taunton,  by  whom  he  had  one  child, 
Hon.  John  Crane,  who  became  senator  from  his 
county,  and  who  was  town  clerk  and  treasurer  in 
Norton  thirty  consecutive  years,  and  then  declined 
re-election.  Capt.  Terry's  second  wife  was  Matilda 
Macomber;  by  this  marriage  there  was  no  issue. 
His  third  wife  was  Roby  King,  by  whom  he  had 
Rebecca  (died  in  infancy),  Roby  K.  (married  Leonard 
Hall,  of  Taunton,  now  deceased),  Harriet  T.  (mar- 
ried Lemuel  Arnold,  of  Norton,  now  deceased),  Han- 
nah W.  (married  Andrew  H.  Hall,  of  Taunton,  now 
deceased),  George  B.,  Nancy  K.  (married  J.  Warren 
Dean,  of  Taunton,  now  living  a  widow),  Matilda  M. 


(married  James  W.  Hathaway,  of  Freetown,  now 
deceased),  Daniel  (married  Wealthy  Hodges,  of  Nor- 
ton, is  still  living),  Abigail  W.  (died  at  the  age  of 
seventeen),  and  Elizabeth  L.  (became  upon  her  sister's 
decease  the  second  wife  of  James  W.  Hathaway,  of 
Freetown,  and  is  still  living). 

Capt.  Terry  was  a  quiet,  unobtrusive  man,  choosing 
the  private  pastoral  life  of  a  farmer,  and  always  sedu- 
ously  avoiding  everything  savoring  of  publicity  or 
distinction.  The  only  office  he  would  ever  accept 
was  in  the  militia,  in  which  he  ranked  as  captain. 
He  was  a  Jeffersonian  Democrat  in  politics,  and  in 
religious  belief  a  Unitarian.  He  resided  all  his  life 
on  the  home  farm  where  he  was  born. 

George  B.,  the  fifth  child  and  eldest  son  of  Capt. 
Terry  by  third  wife,  was  born  in  Norton,  Bristol  Co., 
Mass.,  Nov.  10,  1810.  He  was  brought  up  a  farmer's 
boy,  and  while  he  did  not  enjoy  the  advantages  for  a 
scholastic  education,  now  so  common  among  the  better 
classes  of  New  England  people,  yet  he  had  whatever 
instruction  the  common  schools  of  his  town  afforded, 
of  which  he  made  the  most,  and  being  early  taught 
to  labor,  he  laid  the  foundation,  by  abundant  and 
healthful  outdoor  exercise,  for  a  rugged  constitution 
and  well-developed  physique,  which,  notwithstand- 
ing the  more  than  ordinary  amount  of  hard  labor  he 
has  performed,  he  has  maintained  to  his  old  age.  As 
soon  as  he  had  arrived  at  proper  age  he  taught  school 
winters  and  farmed  during  summer  months.  This  he 
continued  about  ten  years.  During  the  last  forty 
years  he  has  done  a  great  deal  of  surveying  in  his 
own  and  all  adjacent  towns.  In  addition  to  farming, 
which  has  been  the  principal  business  of  his  life,  he 
has  also  done  considerable  wood  and  lumber  business. 
He  married,  Jan.  31,  1849,  Martha  Jones,  of  Rayn- 
ham,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Mary  Jones.  (For 
ancestral  history  of  Jones  family,  see  biography  of 
Samuel  Jones  elsewhere  in  this  volume.) 

They  have  had  but  one  child,  George  Terry,  born 
Jan.  20,  1852.  He  grew  up  to  manhood  at  the  home 
of  his  parents,  married  C.  Amelia  Woodward,  daugh- 
ter of  Josiah  and  Cassandana  W.  (Peck)  Woodward, 
of  Norton,  Sept.  4,  1878.  They  have  one  child, 
Martha  J.,  born  April  7,  1881,  a  bright  little  sprite 
that  gladdens  the  household. 

George  T.  early  developed  an  inclination  for  work- 
ing in  iron  and  a  marked  Ingenuity  in  that  direction. 
As  he  grew  older  he  cultivated  this  aptitude,  and 
without  having  served  an  apprenticeship  he  became 
an  expert  blacksmith  and  carriage-builder,  established 
a  shop  of  that  kind  adjacent  to  his  father's  residence, 
and  now  resides  with  his  parents,  and  follows  black- 
smithing  and  carriage-building  as  his  occupation. 

George  B.  Crane  has  been  a  member  of  the  school 
committee  in  his  town,  selectman,  and  assessor  ten 
years,  justice  of  the  peace  since  1851,  member  of 
Legislature  in  1856,  and  in  1853  was  a  member  of  the 
State  Convention  to  revise  the  Constitution  of  Massa- 
chusetts.  This  convention  numbered  among  its  mem- 


632 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


bers  many  of  the  brightest  intellects  of  which  the  old 
Bay  State  could  boast. 

Mr.  Crane  has  always  been  a  Democrat  in  politics. 
In  religion  a  Unitarian.  He  has  done  a  great  deal  of 
probate  business  and  settled  many  estates.  He  is  a 
remarkably  well  preserved  man  for  one  of  his  years, 
his  step  being  as  elastic  and  his  carriage  as  erect  as 
most  young  men.  He  is  a  man  of  sterling  integrity, 
honest,  earnest,  and  sincere.  All  his  life  he  has  been 
energetic,  industrious,  and  progressive,  always  favor- 
ing whatever  tended  to  the  advancement  and  best 
interest  of  his  community.  He  is  a  man  of  modesty 
and  merit,  and  one  of  Norton's  most  useful  and  es- 
teemed citizens. 


LEWIS    BILLINGS   DEANE. 

The  name  Den  or  Dene,  which  was  the  original 
way  of  spelling  what  is  now  written  Deane  or  Dean, 
made  its  appearance  in  England  soon  after  the  intro- 
duction of  surnames.  It  was  apparently  derived  from 
the  Saxon  word  den  or  dene,  meaning  a  valley,  and 
being  first  given  to  estates  of  that  character,  soon 
passed  to  their  possessors.  The  family  is  probably  of 
Norman  origin,  as  the  first  of  the  name  of  whom  we 
have  any  account  was  Robert  de  Den,  butler  to  Ed- 
ward the  Confessor,  and  doubtless  one  of  his  "  Nor- 
man favorites,"  as  it  is  known  he  owned  estates  in 
Normandy.  Later  on  the  name  is  met  with  in  Essex, 
Northamptonshire,  Huntingdonshire,  Oxfordshire, 
etc.,  many  of  them  knights  and  nobles.  After  the 
abolition  of  feudalties  by  Henry  VII.,  the  terri- 
torial prefix  "  de"  dropped  into  disuse.  The  letter  a 
was  introduced  into  the  name  Dene  during  the  reign 
of  Queen  Elizabeth,  and  it  became  Deane.  The 
Deanes  of  England  have  been  a  highly  respectable 
and  prominent  family.  Henry  Dene,  Archbishop  of 
Canterbury,  and  Lord  Chancellor  under  Henry  VII. ; 
Sir  Richard  Deane,  mayor  of  London  in  1629;  Maj.- 
Gen.  Richard  Deane,  the  regicide;  and  Sir  Anthony 
Deane,  comptroller  of  the  navy,  were  of  that  fam- 

iiy. 

The  Deanes  have  resided  for  centuries  at  and  in  the 
vicinity  of  Taunton,  Somersetshire,  England,  and 
from  that  place  came  most  of  the  early  immigrants  of 
that  name  to  America.  Stephen  Deane  was  the  first 
of  the  name  to  land  in  America.  He  came  on  the 
ship  "  Fortune,"  November,  1621.  He  built  the  first 
corn-mill  in  Plymouth  Colony.  John  and  Walter 
Deane,  brothers,  who  came  to  America  in  1637  from 
Taunton  or  immediate  vicinity,  in  England,  were  the 
progenitors  of  most  of  the  present  extensive  Deane 
family  in  Massachusetts.  They  settled  at  Taunton, 
Bristol  Co.,  which  place  is  said  to  derive  its  name 
from  Taunton,  England.  "They  took  up  their  farms 
on  the  west  bank  of  the  river,  about  one  mile  from 
the  present  village  of  Taunton,"  and  their  descendants 
still  occupy  the  ancient  homestead.  Hon.  Silas  Deane, 
of  Connecticut,  minister  to  France,  1776,  and  a  de- 


scendant of  same  original  family,  was  the  one  who 
enlisted  the  sympathies  and  finally  the  services  of 
Lafayette  in  our  struggle  for  independence.1 

The  Deanes,  wherever  residing,  have  been  noted 
for  certain  characteristics,  among  which  may  be  men- 
tioned strong  will-power,  earnest  purpose,  untiring 
energy,  and  integrity  of  character. 

Lewis  B.  Deane,  of  whom  we  write,  is  the  youngest 
of  a  family  of  nine  children.  John  Deane,  his  father, 
was  born  June  4,  1774  ;  died  Jan.  7,  1841.  Betsey 
(Smith)  Deane,  the  mother,  was  born  March  9,  1785, 
died  March  18,  1832.  Their  children  were  John,  born 
Feb.  29,  1811.  He  married  a  Whiting,  of  Dedham, 
was  freight  agent  in  Boston  of  N.  B.  and  T.  Railroad, 
but  resided  in  Dedham.  He  died  Sept.  4,  1864, 
leaving  two  children.  Maria,  born  Oct.  27,  1813, 
married  Henry  Hunt,  of  Norton,  died  Dec.  22,  1871, 
leaving  one  child.  Isaac,  born  March  28,  1815,  died 
Sept.  3,  1860,  unmarried.  Elisa,  born  Dec.  23,  1816, 
married  Parker  Makepeace,  of  Norton  ;  has  two  chil- 
dren. Oliver,  born  June  11,  1818,  married  Eliza 
Hunt,  of  Norton  ;  resides  in  Canton,  where  he  is  en- 
gaged in  coal  and  ice  business  and  farming  ;  has  one 
child.  Calvin,  born  Feb.  27,  1821,  married  and  re- 
sides in  Canton  ;  runs  an  express  from  Canton  to 
Boston.  Cornelia,  born  Oct.  10,  1822,  unmarried,  re- 
sides with  Parker  Makepeace.  Laprellott,  born  April 
9,  1824,  died  Nov.  30,  1865,  unmarried. 

Lewis  Billings  Deane  was  born  Nov.  20,  1826. 
He  knew  but  little  of  a  mother's  love  or  tender  care, 
as  he  was  but  six  years  of  age  when  his  mother  died. 
He  was  brought  up  on  a  farm,  and  after  arriving  at 
manhood  continued  to  follow  that  occupation  till 
1853,  when  he  went  to  Boston  and  engaged  to  drive  a 
team  for  his  brother  John.  After  a  time  he  took  a 
partnership  in  the  business,  and  finally,  in  company 
with  his  brother  Laprellott,  he  purchased  his  brother 
John's  interest,  and  from  that  time  till  Laprellott's 
death  they  conducted  the  business  together.  After 
his  brother's  death  Mr.  Deane  took  Ambrose  Hardy, 
who  was  a  book-keeper  in  the  N.  B.  Railroad  office, 
in  partnership,  and  they  engaged  not  only  to  haul, 
but  to  load  the  freights  of  that  road  in  Boston.  The 
business  was  prosperous  and  successful.  In  1872, 
having  dissolved  partnership  with  Mr.  Hardy,  Thomas 
P.  Frost  became  a  partner  in  the  business,  and  two 
years  later  Mr.  Deane  sold  out  to  him  his  interest 
and  returned  to  his  home  in  Norton.  He  and  his 
brother  Laprellott  had  previously  purchased  the  in- 
terest of  the  other  heirs  in  the  home  farm,  and 
upon  the  decease  of  Laprellott,  Lewis  B.  inherited 
his  share.  The  homestead  consists  of  seventy-five 
acres  of  laud,  with  commodious  dwelling  and  out- 
buildings. Mr.  Deane  has  built  a  large  and  well- 
appointed  barn,  and  is  pleasantly  situated  in  life. 
His  home  is  in  the  suburbs  of  the  pleasant  little  vil- 


1  We  are  indebted  to  the  researches  of  William  R.  Deane,  of  Boston, 
for  much  of  the  data  above  given. 


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cziy. 


ryf^Lo  ($4  <rZ7%^< 


NORTON. 


633 


lage  of  Norton  Centre,  and  he  is  considered  one  of 
the  model  farmers  of  the  town. 

He  married,  Aug.  18,  1880,  Rose  Burns,  of  Provi- 
dence. They  have  no  children.  He  is  a  Whig  and 
Republican  in  politics,  and  an  attendant  of  the 
Unitarian  Church. 

Mr.  Deane  is  an  industrious,  honest,  respected  citi- 
zen of  his  town,  and  has  been  a  successful  man  in 
whatever  he  has  undertaken. 


SILAS   ALLEN    STONE. 

The'  men  who  came  to  New  England  in  the  early 
colonial  days  were  not  only  hardy,  courageous,  and  ad- 
venturous, but  many,  if  not  most,  of  them  were  men 
of  education  and  intelligence.  In  their  struggle  for 
existence  in  the  New  World,  however,  they  encoun- 
tered so  many  privations,  and  had  to  meet  and  over- 
come so  many  obstacles,  that  they  had  but  little  time 
to  devote  to  the  education  of  their  children,  and 
particularly  was  this  true  of  the  second  and  third 
generations.  One  result  of  all  this  was  that  of  the 
first  settlers  we  have  usually  quite  authentic  and  more 
or  less  complete  records,  while  of  their  children  and 
children's  children  we  can  learn  but  little  because  of 
their  inattention  to  literary  matters  and  the  consequent 
meagre  data  they  have  left  behind  them.  The  Stone 
family  furnishes  no  exception  to  this  general  rule. 

The  first  of  the  name  who  came  to  America  was 
Deacon  Simon  Stone,  who  embarked  at  London, 
England,  April  15,  1635,  in  the  ship  "  Increase," 
Robert  Lea,  master,  and  May  25,  1636,  he  was  ad- 
mitted a  freeman  at  Watertown.  He  was  at  that 
time  fifty,  and  his  wife  Joan  thirty-eight  years  of  age. 
The  place  of  his  homestead  was  just  south  of  Mount 
Auburn  Cemetery,  and  probably  embraced  part  of 
those  grounds.  The  records  of  the  Plantation  Office 
in  London  show  that  he  was  a  husbandman  in  Eng- 
land prior  to  his  removal  to  America.  He  became  a 
man  of  consequence  in  the  new  colony.  He  was 
selectman  seven  years,  and  was  a  leader  in  church 
and  State  affairs.  His  younger  brother,  Deacon 
Gregory,  came  to  Cambridge  and  settled  in  1637. 
Both  the  brothers  reared  families,  and  from  one  or 
the  other  of  them  (most  probably  Deacon  Gregory)  i 
the  particular  branch  of  the  Stone  family  of  which 
Silas  A.  is  a  member  was  descended. 

William  Stone  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  the 
town  of  Norton,  Bristol  Co.,  Mass.  His  son,  known 
as  ( 'apt.  William  Stone,  was  a  man  of  much  promi- 
nence in  the  early  history  of  that  town.  He  was 
town  treasurer  from  1726  to  1733,  inclusive.  He  was 
one  of  the  selectmen  ten  years,  between  1730  and 
1750.  He  represented  the  town  in  the  Legislature 
five  years,  ami  was  captain  in  the  militia.  His 
sword,  made  in  1745,  is  now  in  the  possession  of  his 
great-grandson,  Silas  A.  Stone.  His  wife  was  Me- 
hitable  Lane.  He  established  an  iron  forge  just 
above  where  Norton  Centre  Mills  now  stand,  nearly 


opposite  the  old  Stone  homestead.  He  had  children, 
of  whom  Nathaniel  was  one.  Nathaniel  was  born 
Sept.  2,  1753,  and  died  April  11,  1835.  His  wife  was 
Rebecca  Woodward.  She  was  born  June  26,  1758, 
and  died  Sept.  8,  1806.  Their  children  were  Sarah, 
born  Feb.  20,  1780,  died  Oct.  4,  1843;  Sybil,  born 
Dec.  1,  1781,  died  March  25,  1832;  Rebecca,  born 
Oct.  11,  1783,  died  May  1,  1857;  Nathaniel,  born 
June  26,  1785,  died  July  26,  1840;  Hannah,  born 
Aug.  18,  1787,  died  June  3,  1866;  Lydia,  born  Oct. 
14,  1789,  died  March  19,  1876;  Lucinda,  born  Dec. 
17,  1791,  died  July  20,  1870;  Betsey,  born  Aug.  4, 
1793,  died  Oct.  9,  1880;  Laniard,  born  Dec.  25, 1794, 
died  Sept.  12,  1859;  Earl  W.,  born  Oct.  15,  1796,  died 
Jan.  28,  1879 ;  Fanny,  born  July  24,  1798,  died  Jan. 
22,  1879;  Mason,  born  May  21,  1800,  now  resides  in 
Wisconsin. 

Nathaniel,  like  his  father,  was  one  of  the  leading 
men  of  his  town.  He  was  a  farmer,  and  also  con- 
tinued the  iron  forge  established  by  his  father,  Larn- 
ard  Stone.  His  son  was  brought  up  on  the  farm  and 
in  the  forge.  He  also  did  considerable  carpentering, 
and  for  many  years  drove  a  wagon,  peddling  dry- 
goods  through  the  adjacent  country.  He  married  first 
Caroline  Allen,  of  Mansfield.  She  was  born  Nov.  7, 
1806.  Their  children  were  Hiram  L.,  born  Oct.  23, 
1834;  Nathaniel  Davis,  born  Dec.  15,  1835;  Sarah 
Caroline,  born  Feb.  5,  1839 ;  Silas  Allen,  born  Feb.  3, 
1843;  and  George  Otis,  born  April  29,  1845.  Of 
these  all  are  dead  except  Silas  A.  Mr.  Stone  married 
for  his  second  wife  Mrs.  Roxey  Harris,  nee  Carpenter, 
of  Attleborough,  Mass.  By  this  marriage  there  was 
no  issue. 

Silas  A.  Stone  was  brought  up  on  the  farm  until 
the  age  of  nineteen,  when  he  went  to  Sharon,  Nor- 
folk Co.,  Mass.,  and  learned  blacksmithing  with  Dan- 
iel S.  Knapp,  with  whom  he  remained  over  three 
years.  Upon  leaving  Sharon  he  went  to  Providence, 
at  and  in  the  vicinity  of  which  place  he  remained  a 
year,  when  he  went  to  Norton,  opened  a  shop,  and 
carried  on  business  about  two  years.  In  1868  he 
went  to  Sharon,  built  a  blacksmith-shop,  and  began 
business,  himself  the  only  operative.  His  business, 
however,  soon  justified  him  in  hiring  an  assistant, 
then  another  and  another.  He  soon  added  a  car- 
riage-building department,  and  as  fast  as  his  business 
increased  he  employed  men  enough  to  run  it,  until 
he  had  built  up  quite  a  large  manufacturing  business. 
After  some  years  his  health  gave  way,  and  he  was 
compelled  to  relinquish  for  a  time  all  active  business. 
So  he  sold  (and  rented)  his  shops  to  C.  S.  Harper, 
and  removing  to  his  native  town,  Norton,  he  remod- 
eled and  refitted  the  old  homestead  of  his  grand- 
father, and  made  that  his  residence.  The  ensuing 
three  years  were  spent  farming  on  a  small  scale,  buy- 
ing and  selling  carriages,  etc. 

In  the  spring  of  1883,  having  measurably  recovered 
his  health,  he  sold  out  his  possessions  in  Norton  and 
returned  to  Sharon,  where  he  took  an  interest  in  his 


634 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


former  business  in  company  with  Mr.  Harper.  The 
business  in  the  mean. time  has  largely  increased,  and 
the  various  buildings  now  cover  considerable  ground, 
and  in  their  store-rooms  are  to  be  found  some  elegant 
carriages.  They  do  high  grade  work  only,  and  every 
vehicle  that  leaves  their  establishment  is  guaranteed. 

April  29,  1867,  Mr.  Stone  married  Mary  L.,  daugh- 
ter of  Sanford  and  Phebe  Billings,  of  Sharon.  Her 
great-grandfather,  Capt.  William  Billings,  was  one  of 
the  pioneers  in  that  section  which  is  now  the  town  of 
Sharon.  He  came  from  Dorchester.  He  had  a  son 
Jesse,  who  married  Abigail  Capen,  and  had  children, 
— Abigail,  Ann,  Harriet,  Elizabeth,  and  Sanford.  The 
latter  married,  first,  Caroline  Waters,  by  whom  he 
had  one  child,  Sanford  W.  His  second  wife  was 
Phebe  Lincoln.  Their  children  were  Phebe  A.,  Har- 
riet C,  Mary  L.,  and  Jesse  L. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stone  have  two  children, — Mary  C, 
born  April  25,  1869,  and  Allen,  born  Nov.  10,  1875. 

In  politics  Mr.  Stone  is  an  earnest  Republican. 
When  he  was  twenty-four  he  was  appointed  consta- 
ble, which  office  he  held  until  he  left  Norton.  Upon 
his  return  to  Norton  he  was  chosen  selectman,  and 
was  chairman  of  the  board.  He  was  selectman  two 
years  until  his  removal  to  Sharon.  He  is  a  man 
much  respected  in  whatever  community  he  has  lived. 


WILLIAM    A.  STURDY. 


William  A.  Sturdy,  son  of  William  and  Mercy 
(Keach)  Sturdy,  was  born  in  Blackstone,  Mass.,  Jan. 
7,  1840.  His  father  was  a  painter  by  trade,  and  Wil- 
liam remained  with  him,  working  to  assist  him,  with 
limited  common  school  advantages  for  education, 
until  he  was  seventeen,  when  he  was  indentured  to 
the  Union  Jewelry  Company  of  Attleborough  to 
learn  jewelry  manufacturing,  and  remained  with 
them  until  I860.  He  then,  in  a  small  way,  with  no 
capital  but  his  trade,  began  business  for  himself,  but 
the  great  civil  war  in  1861  brought  all  business  to  a 
pause,  and  Mr.  Sturdy,  deeming  his  country  stood  in 
need  of  his  services,  proved  his  patriotism  by  enlist- 
ing, July  27,  1861,  as  a  private  soldier  in  Company  I, 
Eighteenth  Regiment  Massachusetts  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, and  served  until  discharged  for  disability, 
Aug.  16,  1863.  He  served  throughout  McClellan's 
entire  Peninsular  campaign,  engaging  in  every  ac- 
tiou,  and  was  wounded  Aug.  31,  1862,  at  the  second 
battle  of  Bull  Run,  and  was  confined  to  the  hospital 
from  that  time  until  he  was  discharged.  He  has  never 
fully  recovered  from  the  wound,  which  produced  an 
injury  of  the  nerves,  causing  neuralgia  or  something 
akin  to  that,  and  partial  paralysis  of  the  sensory 
nerves  of  the  whole  arm.  Returning  to  Attle- 
borough, he  resumed  the  business  which  he  dropped 
on  going  into  service,  and  formed  a  partnership  with 
Ebenezer  Bacon,  who  became  a  silent  partner  for 
one  year,  when  Mr.  Sturdy  purchased  the  entire  busi- 


ness. After  one  year's  time  he  merged  his  business 
in  the  firm  of  Sturdy  &  Marcy,  with  which  he  was 
connected  two  years,  when  he  again  resumed  busi- 
ness for  himself.  Continuing  alone  two  years,  he 
then  formed  a  copartnership  with  Frank  E.  Gilbert, 
of  New  York  City,  under  firm-title  of  W.  A.  Sturdy 
&  Co.  They  established  a  branch  office  in  New 
York,  with  Mr.  Gilbert  as  resident  partner.  This 
firm  was  continued  five  years,  with  most  satisfactory 
results.  They  leased  in  1872  the  building  near  Lane's 
Station  erected  by  the  Norton  Steam-Power  Company, 
and  removed  their  works  to  that  place.  Previously 
to  this  their  capacity  was  limited  to  about  fifty  hands, 
but  in  the  new  location  they  had  much  greater  facili- 
ties, and  their  force  was  soon  raised  to  one  hundred 
employes.  Everything  was  moving  along  prosper- 
ously, when,  Dec.  26,  1874,  the  whole  establishment 
was  destroyed  by  fire.  The  enterprising  firm  imme- 
diately resumed  work,  for  a  temporary  period,  at 
Providence,  R.  I.,  and  as  soon  as  the  manufactory 
was  rebuilt,  removed  to  Norton.  Soon  after  the 
fire  Mr.  Gilbert  retired  from  the  firm,  and,  in  1879, 
Mr.  Sturdy  became  the  owner  of  the  building  where 
his  manufacturing  is  carried  on.  He  employs  as 
many  as  one  hundred  and  fifty  persons  in  his  busiest 
seasons,  ranging  from  that  number  down  to  eighty. 
His  specialty  is  electro-plate  jewelry,  and  he  has  been 
successful  and  prosperous  as  a  whole  since  first  en- 
gaging in  it.  He  has  been  more  or  less  affected  by 
panic  seasons,  but  never  has  discontinued  manufac- 
turing. 

Mr.  Sturdy  married,  May  1,  1867,  Rachel,  daugh- 
ter of  Mandly  and  Emily  (Thomas)  Pierce,  of  West 
Brookfield,  Mass.  They  began  housekeeping  in  At- 
tleborough, but  in  1873,  Mr.  Sturdy  was  induced,  by 
the  location  of  his  business  and  the  offer  of  ten  acres 
of  land  from  C.  D.  &  O.  H.  Lane  and  Caleb  S.  With- 
erell,  to  make  Norton  his  home,  and  as  one  condition 
of  the  gift  of  the  land  was  that  he  should  build  a  resi- 
dence thereon,  he  erected  in  that  year  the  pleasant 
home  where  he  has  ever  since  resided.  He  has  had 
seven  children, — Willie  Mandly,  born  April  5,  1868, 
died  in  infancy ;  Emily  Velona,  born  July  26,  1869 ; 
Alice  Winefred,  Aug.  16,  1871;  William  Mandly, 
Sept.  27, 1873  ;  Arthur  Thomas,  Nov.  28, 1875  ;  Louis 
Allen,  April  4,  1877;   Harry  Pierce,  Dec.  31,  1879. 

Mr.  Sturdy  has  been  a  wide-awake  and  active 
man,  and  has  paid  considerable  attention  to  agricul- 
ture. He  owns  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land, 
and  enjoys  himself  in  its  cultivation.  Republican  in 
political  sentiment,  he  leaves  to  others  the  struggles 
for  political  preferment,  attending  strictly  to  his  legit- 
imate business. 

He  is  now  in  the  prime  of  life,  a  good  type  of  a 
successful  "  self-made  man,"  and  enjoys  a  large  range 
of  acquaintance,  which  he  holds  as  friends  by  his 
pleasant  and  agreeable  nature.  He  is  considered 
one  of  Norton's  best  citizens,  and  stands  high  in 
public  estimation. 


'  (    y  i   / 


•  /■ 


SOMERSET. 


635 


GEORGE    H.    TALBOT. 

George  H.  Talbot  was  born  March  17,  1846,  in 
Dighton,  Bristol  Co.,  Mass.  He  is  tbe  son  of  Joseph 
and  Mary  L.  (Pratt)  Talbot,  of  that  town.  His 
mother  was  a  daughter  of  Lemuel  and  Alma  Pratt, 
and  was  born  Oct.  21,  1S11.  His  father,  Joseph  Tal- 
bot, was  the  son  of  Joseph  and  Anna  Talbot,  and 
was  born  Oct.  5,  1809.  He  was  a  farmer.  It  is  im- 
possible to  trace  with  certainty  the  ancestral  history 
of  this  particular  branch  of  the  Talbot  family,  as 
there  have  been  no  records  kept.  The  name  is  one 
that  has  figured  largely,  however,  in  the  affairs  of 
both  this  country  and  Europe,  and  some  of  the  early 
settlers  of  New  England  bore  that  cognomen. 

George  H.  was  one  of  a  family  of  six.  In  addi- 
tion to  the  common  schools  of  Dighton  had  the  ad- 
vantage of  an  attendance  of  two  or  three  sessions  at 
a  kind  of  select  school  in  Somerset.  He  had  the  mis- 
fortune to  lose  both  his  parents  early  in  life.  He  was 
only  twelve  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his  father's 
death,  and  three  years  later  his  mother  died.  The 
elder  brother,  however,  hired  a  housekeeper,  took 
charge  of  the  family,  and  thus  kept  them  together 
until  the  several  members  were  of  an  age  capable  of 
taking  care  of  themselves.  When  George  H.  was  fif- 
teen years  old  he  obtained  employment  in  the  Dighton 
Tack-Works,  where  he  remained  a  few  months,  when 
he  hired  to  work  on  a  farm.  After  a  year  spent  in 
this  occupation  he  engaged  with  the  Dighton  Woolen 
Company,  where  he  learned  wool-sorting.  He  re- 
mained with  this  company  (except  an  interval  of 
about  four  months)  until  their  works  were  destroyed 
by  fire  some  three  years  later.  During  the  interval 
above  mentioned  he  went  to  West  Buxton,  Me.,  and 
took  charge  of  a  wool-sorting  establishment.  After 
the  Dighton  works  were  destroyed  he  spent  a  few 
months  in  the  same  line  of  business  in  Stillwater  and 
Providence,  R.  I. 

In  the  autumn  of  1867  he  came  to  Norton,  and  took 
charge  of  the  sorting  for  Williams  &  Co.,  who  at  that 
time  were  doing  a  small  business  in  that  line  at  what 
was  known  as  Willis'  Mills.  About  a  year  later  they 
leased  the  property  where  Mr.  Talbot's  mill  is  now 
located,  and  which  was  then  known  as  Centre  Mills. 
In  1869,  Williams  &  Co.  sold  out  to  Daniel  S.  Pratt 
&  Co.,  of  Boston,  Mr.  Talbot  here  purchasing  his  first 
interest  in  the  concern, — a  one-ninth  share.  He  had 
entire  charge  of  the  mills,  however,  from  June,  1868. 

In  January,  1S70,  Pratt  &  Co.  dissolved  partner-  i 
ship,  Mr.  Talbot  purchasing  one-third  interest  in  the 
business,  and  Mr.  Story — Pratt's  former  partner — the 
other  two-thirds.  In  February,  1872,  they  purchased 
the  grounds  on  which  the  mills  are  located,  together 
with  all  improvements  thereon.  Their  business  had 
been  continually  increasing  from  the  first,  and  about 
1874  they  built  a  large  addition  to  their  works  and 
greatly  increased  their  facilities.  About  seven  years 
later,  owing  to  failing  health,  Mr.  Story  disposed  of 
his  two-thirds  interest  in  the  business,  and  Mr.  Talbot 


being  the  purchaser,  became  sole  owner  and  proprie- 
tor of  the  entire  concern.  In  1880  he  added  another 
three-story  building  to  his  already  large  works,  and 
by  putting  in  new  machinery  greatly  augmenting 
their  capacity  for  rapid  and  effective  work.  The 
business  is  exclusively  wool-washing  and  job-work. 
Their  capacity  for  cleansing  is  now  one  hundred  thou- 
sand pounds  per  week.  Mr.  Talbot  employs  about 
forty  men,  and  does  work  chiefly  for  Boston  and  New 
York  markets.  Considerable  work  is  done,  however, 
for  various  mills  throughout  New  England.  He  is 
one  of  the  live,  progessive,  enterprising  men  of  the 
day,  and  is  a  specimen  of  a  type  of  which  Massachu- 
setts is  justly  proud, — her  self-made  men.  He  mar- 
ried, Nov.  18,  1874,  Delia  M.,  daughter  of  George  W. 
and  Delia  M.  Storer,  of  Norton.  They  have  three 
children, — Walter  Howard,  born  August  15,  1875 ; 
Francis  Story,  born  March  2, 1878 ;  and  Alfred  Pratt, 
born  Oct.  15,  1882.  Mrs.  Talbot  was  born  May  28, 
1849. 


CHAPTER    LI  I. 


SOMERSET. 

Geographical— Shawomat  Purchase,  1680— The  First  Meeting  of  Pur- 
chasers— List  of  First  Purchasers — Early  Schools — Schoolmasters — 
Incorporation  of  Somerset — The  First  Town-Meeting — Officers  Elected 
— The  First  Representative  to  the  General  Court— Valuation  and  Tax- 
List  for  1833 — Present  Valuation — Somerset  in  184S — Representatives 
— Ecclesiastical  History — Society  of  Friends — The  First  Baptist  Church 
— Methodist  Episcopal  Church — Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South 
Somerset — The  First  Christian  Church — The  First  Congregational 
Church — Roman  Catholic  Church — Military  History. 

Somerset  is  one  of  the  western  tier  of  towns,  and 
is  bounded  as  follows  :  On  the  north  by  Swansea  and 
Dighton,  on  the  east  and  south  by  Taunton  River, 
which  separates  it  from  Berkley,  Freetown,  and  Fall 
River,  and  on  the  west  by  Swansea.  Mount  Hope 
bay  also  touches  it  upon  the  south. 

The  territory  embraced  within  the  bounds  of  the 
present  town  of  Somerset  was  originally  known  as 
the  "  Shawomat  lands,"  and  upon  the  incorporation 
of  Swansea  became  a  portion  of  that  town. 

The  original  record-book  of  the  "  Shawomat  Lands" 
is  still  extant,  and  upon  its  first  page  bears  the  fol- 
lowing inscription  :  "  This  Book  was  Begun  in  ye 
yeare,  1680,  By  Increase  Robinson,  Clark  for  The 
Said  purchasers." 

The  first  meeting  of  the  purchasers  of  "  Shawomat 
lands,"  as  recorded  in  the  book  of  records,  is  under 
date  March  6,  1677,  at  Plymouth. 

At  this  meeting  it  was  "  voted,  as  their  joint  agree- 
ment, that  the  said  lands  shall  be  divided  into  thirty 
and  one  shares,  whereof  one  of  the  said  shares  shall 
be  laid  out  in  a  convenient  place  for  a  minister,  and 
to  be  perpetually  for  the  use  of  the  ministry." 

"It  is  further  agreed  that  the  little  neck  called 
Boston  Neck  shall  be  laid  out  in  thirty-one  shares, 


636 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


every  man  enjoying  according  to  his  proportionate 
interest  in  the  purchase." 

"  It  is  likewise  agreed  that  the  great  neck  be  laid 
out  into  31  shares." 

"  It  is  likewise  agreed  that  the  lands  lying  in  Taun- 
ton river  from  the  said  neck  to  Taunton  bounds  be 
laid  out  into  thirty  one  shares,  each  share  extending 
in  length  from  the  sd  river  till  it  crosses  to  the  high 
way  which  is  to  be  left  between  these  lands  and  the 
two  miles  which  belong  to  Swansey."  A  committee 
of  three  men  were  chosen  to  call  a  meeting  of  the 
proprietors,  viz. :  Capt.  John  Williams,  Isaac  Little, 
and  Thomas  Linkcon. 

The  First  Purchasers  of  Shawomat  Lands. — In  the 
language  of  Samuel  Sprague,  "  clerk"  for  the  pur- 
chasers, "  Heare  foloth  ye  names  of  ye  purchars  of 
Shawomat  Neck,"  viz.:  Richard  Dwelby,  Isaac  Buck, 
Daniel  Damon,  Nathaniel  Winslow,  Samuel  Prince, 
W.  Briggs,  Jr.,  C.  Briggs,  Jonathan  Aldin,  Capt.  John 
Williams,  Isaac  Little,  Edward  Grey,  M.  Halloway, 
John  Briggs,  Richard  Winslow,  Thomas  Linkcom, 
John  Swift,  Capt.  Fuller,  John  McNuckley,  Jona- 
than Jackson,  Richard  Pronby,  Ephraim  Littelle, 
Samuel  Littelle,  John  Mendall,  William  Hatch,  Wil- 
liam Poaks,  Joseph  Wod,  Daniel  Wod  (Wood?),  Cor- 
nelius Briggs,  Increase  Robinson,  Thomas  Peirce,  John 
James,  Governor  Winslow,  and  Capt.  Benjamin 
Church." 

The  first  meeting  of  the  proprietors  was  held  at 
Plymouth,  but  after  the  division  of  the  land  and  the 
purchase  began  to  be  settled  the  business  was  trans- 
acted here  at  meetings  held  at  the  house  of  William 
Slade,  who  seems  to  have  been  a  prominent  man  in  the 
early  settlement  of  the  town.  Among  other  early  names 
at  Shawomat  at  about  this  period  we  find  Sylvanus 
Soule,  William  Chase,  Nathaniel  Winslow,  Samuel 
Shearman,  Joshua  Eddy,  William  Anthony,  John 
Eddy,  Thomas  Hemes,  John  Winston,  Joseph  Chase, 
William  Chase,  Jr.,  Jonathan  Slade,  and  others. 

Early  Schools. — The  attention  of  the  proprietors 
was  early  given  to  the  advancement  of  the  educational 
as  well  as  the  religious  interests  of  the  purchase,  for 
in  March,  1735,  we  find  that  "Win.  Hart,  school- 
master, was  paid  for  boards,  nails,  and  workmanship 
to  repair  the  house  on  the  fourscore  acre  lots." 

Feb.  11,  1743,  the  following  record  was  made: 

"  Received  of  the  Purchasers  and  Proprietors  full  satisfaction  for  my 
Salary  for  about  fifteen  years  Last  past  as  a  Schoolmaster  for  Shewam- 
mock  purchase  only  remaining  due  to  me  the  sum  of  fifty  one  pounds 
Sixteen  shillings  and  eight  pence  old  Tenor  to  Dec.  27  last. 

"  Witness  my  hand  Wm.  Hart." 

In  1746  a  "  warrant  was  lawfully  called  to  know 
the  minds  of  the  meeting  whether  a  small  addition 
to  the  school-house  where  the  master  lives  is  not 
needful,  as  many  in  the  Purchase  cannot  send  their 
great  children  when  the  school  comes  to  their  turn, 
and  could  have  an  opportunity  of  having  them  taught 
in  the  evenings  if  the  school-house  were  convenient, 
which  at  present  is  not."     This  warrant  was  signed 


by  John  Peirce  and  Job  Chase.  It  was  subsequently 
voted  "  to  build  an  addition  with  a  chimney  to  the 
house."  It  was  also  voted  to  have  a  "  small  cellar 
under  the  same,"  and  Mr.  Hart  was  engaged  for  an- 
other year. 

In  1751,  William  Hart  was  still  the  "  pedagogue"  of 
the  "  Purchase,"  for  at  a  meeting  held  that  year  it  was 
"  put  to  Vote  whether  William  Hart  the  School-master 
Should  have  one  Hundred  fifteen  pounds  old  tenor 
for  ye  year  ensuing.  Voted  in  the  ?iiggetive,"  Job 
Chase,  moderator.  In  1769  a  new  school-house  had 
superseded  the  pioneer  structure  with  a  "  small  cel- 
lar," for  in  that  year  the  purchasers'  meeting  was 
held  in  the  "  New  School-House  near  to  Cap.  Robert 
Gibbs." 

Incorporation  of  Somerset. — The  town  of  Somer- 
set was  set  off  from  Swansea  and  incorporated  as  a 
separate  town  Feb.  20, 1790.  The  following  is  a  copy 
of  the  act  of  incorporation  : 

"An  Act  for  incorporating  that  Part  of  the  Town  of  Sivanzry  known  by  the 
name  of  Shewamet,  in  the  County  of  Bristol,  into  a  Sejyarate  Town  by  the 
Name  of  Somerset. 

"  Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  in  General 
Court  assembled,  and  by  the  authority  of  the  same,  That  the  lands  here- 
after described  and  bounded  as  follows,  viz.:  Northerly,  partly  on  Digh- 
ton  and  partly  on  the  ancient  Swanzey  line;  Easterly,  on  Taunton 
Great  River,  so-called ;  Southerly,  on  Lee's  River,  so-called;  Westerly, 
Partly  on  Lee's  Uiver  and  partly  on  the  ancient  line  of  Swanzey,  inclu- 
ding all  the  lands  formerly  known  Shewamet  Purchase,  however  other- 
wise the  same  may  be  bounded,  with  all  the  inhabitants  thereon,  be  and 
hereby  are  incorporated  into  a  Town  by  the  name  of  Somerset,  and  the 
said  town  is  hereby  invested  with  all  the  powers,  privileges,  and  immu- 
nities to  which  towns  iu  this  Commonwealth  are  or  may  be  entitled 
agreeable  to  the  Constitution  and  Laws  of  this  Commonwealth. 

"  And  be  it  further  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid,  that  the  in- 
habitants of  the  said  Town  of  Somerset  shall  pay  all  the  arrears  of  taxes 
which  have  been  assessed  upon  them,  together  with  their  proportion  of 
all  Debts  now  due  from  the  Said  Town  of  Swanzey,  and  so  in  proportion 
shall  receive  all  dues  and  town  stock  whatsoever  from  the  said  town  of 
Swanzey,  and  that  all  persons  who  were  born  on  the  said  Shawamet 
Purchase  who  may  hereafter  become  chargeable  for  support  and  have 
not  gained  a  legal  settlement  iu  any  other  town  shall  be  the  proper 
poor  and  charge  of  the  said  town  of  Somerset,  and  that  in  the  appor- 
tionment of  all  charges  between  said  Towns,  together  with  the  poor  now 
at  the  charge  of  Swanzey,  the  same  shall  be  divided  according  to  their 
proportion  in  the  present  valuation  ;  and  be  it  further  enacted  by  the 
authority  aforesaid,  that  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Somerset  shall 
forever  hereafter  support  and  keep  in  good  repair  their  proportionable 
part  of  a  bridge  known  by  the  name  of  Miles' Bridge  iu  the  proportion  that 
the  town  of  Swanzey  and  the  town  of  Somerset  now  pay  on  the  present 
valuation. 

"And  be  it  further  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid,  that  Samuel 
Toby,  Esq.,  be  and  he  hereby  is  Empowered  to  issue  his  warrant  Directed 
to  some  principal  inhabitant  requiring  him  to  warn  and  give  notice  to 
the  inhabitants  of  the  said  town  of  Somerset  to  assemble  and  meet  at 
some  suitable  place  in  the  said  town,  to  choose  all  such  town  officers  as 
towns  are  required  to  choose  at  their  annual  town-meetings  in  the  months 
of  March  or  April  annually." 

In  accordance  with  the  above  act,  Samuel  Toby,  jus- 
tice of  the  peace,  notified  Preserved  Peirce  and  other 
inhabitants  to  meet  and  elect  town  officers. 

The  First  Town-Meeting  was  held  "  at  the  school- 
house  near  Capt.  Robert  Gibbs,"  Dec.  15,  1790,  when 
the  following  officers  were  chosen  :  Moderator,  Jerath- 
mel  Bowers ;  Town  Clerk,  Jonathan  Bowers ;  Select- 
men, Assessors,  and  Overseers  of  the  Poor,  Daniel 
Wilbur,  David  Luther,  and  Theophilus  Shove  ;  Treas- 


SOMERSET. 


637 


urer,  Preserved  Peirce;  Constables,  Jonathan  and 
Aaron  Baker ;  Fence  Viewers,  Capt.  Job  Slead  and 
Allen  Chase;  Field  Drivers,  Philip  Bowers  and  Dan- 
iel Chase,  Jr. ;  Hog  Reaves,  Peleg  and  Nathan  Chase  ; 
Surveyor  of  Timber  and  Plank,  Thomas  Marbel ; 
Cutter  of  Staves,  Ezra  Chase. 

At  an  election  held  April  5,  1790,  the  town  gave 
fifty-one  votes  for  John  Hancock  for  Governor. 

At  the  meeting,  Jerathmel  Bowers,  Preserved 
Peirce,  and  Daniel  Wilbur  were  chosen  a  committee 
to  settle  all  accounts  between  the  towns  of  Swansey 
and  Somerset. 

The  First  Representative  to  the  "  Great  and  Gen- 
eral Court"  was  Jerathmel  Bowers,  chosen  May  15, 
1790. 

In  1792  it  was  voted  to  "  prosecute  all  Persons  that 
brakes  the  Law  in  oystering  in  the  River  between 
Somerset  and  Freetown." 

A  humane  spirit  was  early  evidenced  by  the  many 
votes  which  the  early  records  show  providing  for  the 
poor.  One  "  Black  Kate"  was  the  subject  of  various 
votes.  In  1796  two  shillings  were  voted  for  a  "  Cooler 
for  black  cate,"  "six  shillings  for  two  shifts  for 
Black  Kate,"  "two  shillings  for  a  Pair  of  stockings 
for  Black  Cate,"  etc. 

In  1798  selectmen  were  allowed  three  dollars  each 
for  their  services. 

In  1801  the  town  voted  $6.29  for  the  expenses  at- 
tending the  burial  of  Edward  Brayton's  negro  man. 
One  of  the  items  was  "  for  oxen  to  Draw  the  Corps 
to  the  grave,  .40." 

Valuation  and  Tax-List,  1833.— The  following  is 
a  list  of  assessment  upon  the  real  and  personal  estates 
of  the  persons  herein  named,  each  one  his  proportion 
of  the  sum  of  one  thousand  and  three  dollars  and 
twenty-four  cents.  Eber  Chase,  Preserved  Read, 
Gideon  Chace,  assessors  of  Somerset.  Somerset,  July 
1,  1833. 

Real. 

Anthony,  David $14?42 

Anthony,  Edward  G...     1.24 

Anthony,  Jere.  W 2.79 

Androus,  Gardner  L 

Androus,  Gardner 

Androus,  Gardner  (for 

John  Anthony) 1.86 

Anthony,  Mary  B 31 

Buffinton,  Rebecca 86 

Brightman.  C.  D 1.24 

Bosworth,  Nathan 24.57 

Barher,  Elijah 

Buffinton,  David 17.21 

Brown,  David 

Bowers,  John 

Bowers,      John      (for 

George  Purington...    1.40 

Bowers,  Samuel 4.65 

Brown,  Daniel 93 

Bowers,  Hannah 1.24 

Brown,  Joseph 2.79 

Bowers,  Philip 7.13 

Buffinton,  Jonathan...     2.41 
Buffinton,  Henry  L...     6.05 

Bengers,  Elisha 4.96 

Bowland,  F.  (heirs)....     6.44 

Blittins,  Royal 3.18 

Bliffins,  Isaac  W 

Blittins,  Joseph  P 16      Chase,  Col  lings 6.51 

Birt,  Ruth 1.55     Chase,  D.  Chase   (for 

Buffinton,  Benjamin..     1.55         47  Robinson) 3.65 

Blanchard,  Sarah 1.01      Chase,  Eber 5.74 

Bowen,  Jona.  (heirs).    7.83         55      Chase,    Eber   (for   D. 
Buffinton,  Hannah....        55      I       Wilbur) 1.55 


Real.  Per- 
sonal. 


Per- 

sonal. 

$2.48 


16 
47 
16 


Real. 


Per- 
sonal. 

$0.16 


1.48 

"78 

2.02 
16 


39 
2.64 

7.13 
1.01 

8 

93 

2.25 

4.81 

8 
2.17 


1.09 

11.16 

3.10 


62 


Bumm,  William $0.93 

Bowers,  Ruth 2.02 

Bowers,     Ruth      (for 

Ruth  Robinson 1.71 

Buffinton,  Hiram 31 

Bowers,  Perry 8.53 

Bowers,  E.  T 5.35 

Brayton,  Sarah 1.55 

Brown,  John 1.09 

Cleveland,  Benjamin.     2  41 

Winslow,  E.  (heirs)...     1.86      

Cartwright,      S.       F. 

(heirs) 1.40 

Chase,  Jesse 5.27         47 

Chase,  Jesse,  Jr 47      3.65 

Chase,  Joseph  S 39      

Chase,  Samuel 3.65 

Chase,     Samuel     (for 

mother) 4.34 

Chase,  W.  (widow) 2.77 

Chase,  Nathan 3.18 

Brayton,  J.  (heirs) 17.60 

Brayton,  J.  (heirs) 23.10 

Brayton,  Sarah 20.23 

Anthony,  E.  G 8.45 

Chase,  Sarah  (widow).     1.40 

Chase,  Charles  F 2.79 

Chase,  Martha.... 


86 


8 
4.03 


3.41 

93 

9.1J 

"76 


Chase,  Gideon  (2d) $6.36 

Chase,  Moses 5.74 

Chase,  Robert 1.71 

Chase,  Joseph 9.6L 

Chase,    Perry   J.    (for 

Weaver) 1.17 

Chase,  William  Chase 

(2d) 3.96 

Chase,  Stephen 6.28 

Chase.  Clark 5.20 

Chase,  Gideon 2.56 

Gibbs,  Samuel 62 

Cartwright,  John 1.01 

Cartwright,  D.  John..  1.40 

Chase,  Nathan  (2d)....  13.80 

Cummings,  D.  (heirs).  3.72 

Chase,  Nathaniel 

Chace,  S.  (heirs) 13.49 

Chase,  Edward  (heirs)  2.49 

Bowson,  Abigail 1.09 

Chase,  Jeremiah 62 

Chase,  Loyed 

Chase,  Moses  (heirs)..  2.10 

Chase,  George  W 1.40 

Chase,  George  W.  (for 

John  Peirce) 2.02 

Chase,  Leonard 62 

Chase,  Leonard  (for  S. 

Gibbs) 62 

Chase,  Reuben 2.48 

Chase,  Reuben  (for  0. 

Peirce) 1.63 

Chase,  Sarah 

Cogshall,  Billings 93 

Cartwright,  Benj 62 

Davis,  Silvester 1.09 

Davis,  William 1.09 

Davis,  Nathan.. 47 

Davis,  Arthur 62 

Davis,  John 31 

Davis,  David 86 

Davis,  David  (2d) 86 

Runs,  R.  (heirs) 86 

Davis,  Lyman  H 

Davis,  Sarah 1.94 

Davis,  Wilber  J 56 

Davis,  James  (2d) 31 

Davis,  David,  Jr 7S 

Davis,  Baylis 70 

Davis,  George  B 47 

Earle,  Daniel 5.97 

Eddy,   Daniel   (for  C. 

Collins) 31 

Eddy,  Eleana  P 

Eddy,  Nancy 

Eddy,  William 

Gardner,  Hiram 93 

Gray,  Joseph 4.14 

Gardner,  P.  S 7.15 

Gibbs,  Henry  L 1.94 

Gibbs,  Henry 86 

Gibbs,  Samuel 7.44 

Gibbs,  Robert 7.13 

Gibbs,  Benj.  (heirs)...  93 

Gibbs,  Benj 62 

Gardner,     P.    (for    E. 

Slade) 70 

Hamlin,  Joseph 

Hamlin,   Joseph     (for 

Wilbur 10.70 

Hood,  John 5.27 

Hood,  G.  B 4.19 

Hood,  John,  Jr 3.10 

Harts,  Anthony 3.03 

Jansen,  William 2.48 

Jones,  Simpson 1.40 

Luther,  Barton 5.58 

Luther,  Barton  (for  J. 

Luther 2.64 

Lee,  John 2.25 

Lee,  John,  Jr 2.79 

Lewis,  Martin 1.40 


$2.79 
55 

2M 


1.01 
54 
70 
31 


1.71 

70 

2.36 

2.56 

'"24 

31 

28 


4.50 


1.55 

02 
8 
8 

47 


10 
16 


30 
93 

28 


39 
62 
31 


16 

78 

3.72 

L94 
1.86 

"'78 


31 


1.55 

6.59 

39 

1.32 
31 
56 


16 
24 
62 


Luthur,  W 

Mason,  Nathaniel 

Marble,  Joseph 

Marble,  Joseph,  Jr.... 
Monroe,  Nathaniel.... 

Marbel,  S 

Marbel,  John 

Marble,  John,  Jr.  (for 

Robinson) 

Marbel,  John  H 

Marbel,  Darling 

Marbel,  Thomas 

Marbel,  Bradford 

Marbel,  Samuel,  Jr... 

Marbel,  James 

Marbel,  Sabimus 

Neals,  Jane  (heirs).... 

Peirce,  Eber 

Peirce,  Abigail 

Peirce,  Asa 

Peirce,  Isaac 

Pettis,  William  B 

Peirce,  0 

Peirce,  D 

Peirce,  James 

Peirce,  Percis 

Peirce,  Syntha 

Purington,  Samuel.... 

Peirce,  David  (2d) 

Peirce,      David      (for 

James  Luther) 

Peirce,  John,  Jr 

Purington,  George 

Purington,  Jonathan. 

Peirce,  Mason 

Read,  William 

Read,  Preserved 

Slade,  William  (3d)... 
Slade,    William     (for 

ferry) 

Slade,  Edward 

Simmons,  Brown 

Simmons,  Brown,  Jr.. 

Swasey,  Jarathmel 

Simmons.  Nathan 

Slade,  Elisha 

Slade,  Elisha,  Jr 

Simmons,  Daniel 

Slade,  Nathan 

Shearman,  L 

Slade,  William 

Slade,  Zephauiali 

Slade,  John 

Slade,  Gardner 

Slade,  Caleb 

Slade,  Levi.... 

Slade,  Gardner  (2d)... 
Slade,  Peirce  (heirs)... 

Slade,  Elizabeth 

Shove,  Abraham 

Slade,  J.  E.  (2d) 

Slade,  Mary 

Sherman,  E 

Slade,  J.  B 

Slade,  Mary 

Slade,  Jonathan 

Simmons.  Joseph  (2d) 

Wilbur,  David  W 

Wilbur,  David  W.  (for 

W.  Slade,  3d) 

Wood,  George  S 

Weaver,  Nathan 

(first  wife's  heirs)... 

Wilbour,  Daniel 

Wilbour,  Barnaby 

Wilbour,  Mary 

Wilbour,  William 

Wilbour,  Hanson 

Wilbour,  Ambrous 

Winslow,  F 

Wilbour,  Jas.  (heirs).. 


Real.  Per- 
sonal. 

$3.10 

1.40 

5.58 

5.27 

24 


2.64 
2.02 

6.59 
39 
47 

93 
47 
39 
39 
39 

2.02 
55 
86 

5.89 

1.71 

16.20 

10.85 

1.32 

1.48 

6.20 

1.40 

86 

3.88 

2.79 

5.27 

3.34 
62 

3.26 
62 

2.02 
26.97 
15.50 
19.61 

18.14 

13.41 

6.51 

L24 

40 

9.77 

71 

70 

27.90 

20.46 

28.37 


93 


31 

62 

31 

1.86 

"'3'i 

93 

1.40 

10.31 

93 

8 

29 

8 

31 


39 
1.71 


78 
24 


1.86 
1.24 
1.09 

1.86 

1.79 

93 

1.40 


78 

10 

70 

8.53 

1.94 

24.88 

2.33 

39 


1.71 
62 
78 

2.79 

4.03 
93 

3.65 

78 

55 

16.20 

55 

3.57 

2.41 
47 

1.48 

8.37 
1.01 

47 

24.18 

24 

16.74 
12.71 

1.94 

62 


8 
16 

47 
47 

24 


1.94 
1.55 


47 
62 
55 


4.11 
8.26 
4.96 
9.77 
13.04 
1.41 
86 


The  following  were  taxes  for  polls  only :  Elijah 
Barker,  Bradford  Buffinton,  John  C.  Brown,  Daniel 
Chace,  P.  J.  Chace,  Benjamin  Chace,  E.  Chace,  Ben- 
jamin Chace,  Jr.,  Leonard  Chace,  B.  L.  Chace,  Na- 
than Davis,  Daniel  Eddy,  George  Gibbs,  J.  Luther 
(2d),  Samuel  Luther,  B.  Luther,  G.  Lane,  Nathaniel 
Monroe,  John  Marbel,  Jr.,  S.  Marbel,  H.  Paterson, 
D.  Purington,  Joseph  Simmons,  William  L.  Slade, 
C.  Slade  (2d),  Alex.  Slade,  A.  Slade,  Benjamin  Shove, 


633 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL  COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


George  S.  Smith,  Joseph  Smith,  Thomas  J.  Smith, 
Robert  Swazey,  Samuel  Slade,  E.  Simmons. 

In  addition  to  the  above  there  were  thirty-two 
non-resident  proprietors. 

The  present  valuation  of  the  town  is  as  follows  : 

Value  of  personal  property $265,545 

"        real  estate 760,515 

Total  valuation,  May  1, 1882 $1,026,060 

"  "  Slay  1,  1881 1,017,940 

Increase 88,120 

Number  of  polls,  1882 542 

"  "  1881 570 

Decrease 28 

Tax  on  each  poll,  $2. 

Bate  of  taxation,  $12  per  $1000. 

Amount  of  Tax. 

Appropriation $13,000.00 

Overlay 395.64 

Amount  committed  to  collector $13,395.24 

Interest 3.55 

Extra  committals 6.00 

$13,404.79 

Amount  paid  in  by  collector. $11,242.16 

abated 10.80 

"        discount 642.75 

"        uncollected 1,509.08 

$13,404.79 

Number  of  dwellings,  375;  horses,  395;  cows,  260;  sheep,  7;  acres  of 
land  taxed,  4626. 

William  P.  Hood, 
Alfred  Pratt, 
William  L.  Slade, 
Selectmen  of  Somerset. 

Barber,  in  his  "  Historical  Collections,"  published  in 
1848,  says,  "  Somerset  is  pleasantly  situated  on  the 
western  side  of  Taunton  River,  opposite  the  town  of 
Fall  River.  Previous  to  its  incorporation,  in  1790,  it 
formed  a  part  of  Swansea,  and  was  called  the  Shaw- 
amet  Purchase.  Taunton  River,  to  this  place,  is  nav- 
igable for  vessels  of  considerable  burden.  This 
place  is  thirteen  miles  from  Taunton,  sixteen  from 
Providence,  and  forty-five  from  Boston.  Population, 
1063.  In  five  years  preceding  1837  there  were 
twelve  vessels  built;  tonnage, six  hundred  and  niney- 
six.  This  town  has  about  twelve  hundred  tons  of 
shipping,  and  seven  potteries,  where  stone  and  earth- 
enware are  manufactured.  There  are  four  churches, 
— two  Baptists,  one  Friend,  and  one  Methodist." 

For  about  ten  years,  beginning  with  1849,  Somer- 
set was  the  scene  of  considerable  activity  in  ship- 
building. The  ship-yard  was  located  on  the  present 
site  of  the  Mount  Hope  Iron- Works.  Several  gov- 
ernment vessels  of  large  size  were  built  here,  the 
yard  being  under  the  supervision  of  James  M.  Hood. 

One  of  the  early  industries  of  the  town  was  an 
anchor  forge,  which  stood  on  the  site  of  the  Old 
Colony  Nail-Works. 

Representatives  from  1790  to  1884.— The  fol- 
lowing is  a  list  of  representatives  from  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  town  to  the  present  time : 

1790-93,  Jerathmel  Bowers ;  1794-98,  John  Bowers ; 
1800,  Philip  Bowers;  1801-3,  Francis  Borland;  1804, 
John  Bowers  ;  1805,  Clark  Purinton  ;  1806,  John  Bow- 
ers ;  1807,  Clark  Purinton  ;  1808-10,  William  Read  ; 


1811-12,  David  Anthony;  1813,  Thomas  Da  n  forth ; 
1814,  David  Anthony  ;  1815-18,  Billings  Coggshall ; 
1820,  David  Anthony ;  1821-24,  Edward  Slade ;  1825, 
Elisha  Slade ;  1827-28,  Wheaton  Luther ;  1829,  Gid- 
eon Chace;  1830,  Edward  Slade;  1831,  Wheaton 
Luther;  1832,  Edward  Slade  ;  1833,  Benjamin  Cleave- 
land;  1834-35,  Wheaton  Luther;  1836-37,  John 
Pierce;  1838-39,  Benjamin  G.  Chace;  1840,  David 
Brown;  1841,  Benjamin  G.  Chace;  1842,  Daniel 
Wilbur;  1844,  Benjamin  Cartwright;  1848-49,  Jona- 
than Slade;  1850,  Benjamin  Cartwright;  1851,  Wil- 
liam Lyman  Slade;  1852,  Edmund  Buffinton;  1853- 
54,  James  M.  Hood  ;  1858,  William  Lawton  Slade  ; 
1861,  William  P.Hood;  1864-67,  Job  M.Leonard; 
1870,  George  B.  Buffinton ;  1875,  William  Lawton 
Slade;  1878,  Daniel  Wilbur;  1881-82,  Job  M. 
Leonard. 

Society  of  Friends. — At  a  Quarterly  Meeting  held 
in  Rhode  Island  the  13th  day  of  8th  month,  1732, 
Samuel  Aldrich,  one  of  the  Friends  appointed  to  in- 
spect into  the  capacity  and  circumstance  of  Friends 
having  a  Monthly  Meeting  settled  at  Swansea  (now 
Somerset),  made  report  that  he  hath  been  among  the 
Friends  there,  and  find  them  very  unanimous  therein, 
and  is  of  the  belief  that  it  may  be  of  service.  This 
meeting  therefore  agree  that  a  Monthly  Meeting  be 
settled  at  Swansea,  to  be  held  on  the  first  Second-day 
of  the  week  in  each  month,  and  that  those  Friends 
who  dwell  on  the  northward  of  Tiverton,  and  are  be- 
longing to  this  Quarterly  Meeting,  shall  be  under  the 
care  of  said  Monthly  Meeting  in  Swansea. 

Copy  of  the  minutes,  Thomas  Richardson,  clerk. 

And  in  confirmation  to  the  Quarterly  Meeting  order 
and  settlement  as  aforesaid  Friends  have  met.  At 
our  Monthly  Meeting  held  in  Swansea  (now  Somer- 
set), the  6th  day  of  9th  month,  1732,  and  also  settled 
our  Preparative  Meeting  on  the  fifth  day  before  the 
Monthly  Meeting,  and  also  appoint  John  Earle 
clerk. 

At  our  Monthly  Meeting  held  ift  Swansea  the  4th 
of  10th  month,  1732,  representatives  are  Oliver  Earle 
and  John  Earle,  present,  and  settled  a  monthly  col- 
lection, and  appoint  Oliver  Earle  treasureman  to  re- 
ceive the  collection  as  aforesaid,  and  the  meeting 
collected  to  Oliver  Earle  £3  Is.  9d. 

The  present  officers  in  the  church  of  Somerset 
Meeting  of  the  Society  of  Friends  are  as  follows : 
Obadiah  Chace,  minister;  Joseph  Estes,  Eunice 
Estes,  Sarah  Slade,  Darius  Buffinton,  Esther  Chace, 
Charles  A.  Chace,  elders ;  Darius  Buffinton,  Benja- 
min A.  Chace,  Maria  Earle,  Rachel  P.  Chace,  over- 
seers ;  Albert  R.  Macomber,  clerk  of  the  Preparative 
Meeting  held  in  Somerset ;  Darius  Buffinton,  treas- 
urer. 

First  Baptist  Church.1 — In  the  year  1796,  Na- 
thaniel Lyons  came  to  reside  in  Somerset.  He  was 
a  poor   mechanic,  but  a  consistent  Christian  and  a 

i  By  Rev.  Gideon  Cole. 


SOMERSET. 


639 


firm  believer  in  the  doctrines  of  the  Bible  as  taught 
by  Baptists.  Finding  no  church  of  that  faith  in 
Somerset,  he  held  meetings  in  his  own  house,  where 
he  read  and  expounded  the  Scriptures  and  conversed 
and  prayed  with  all  who  came.  He  also  invited,  from 
time  to  time,  the  neighboring  ministers  to  his  home 
to  preach,  as  there  was  no  Baptist  Church  within  six 
miles.  These  meetings  resulted  in  good,  and  were 
soon  held  in  a  school-house,  and  when  no  preacher 
could  be  had  they  were  sustained  by  laymen.  Thus 
gradual  progress  was  made  until  it  was  found  that 
some  twenty  believers  were  ready  to  unite  in  forming 
a  Baptist  Church.  Before  this,  however,  Mr.  Lyons, 
who  started  the  enterprise,  had  removed  to  Warren, 
R.  I.  The  church  was  organized  Nov.  8,  1803,  at 
which  time  there  was  no  other  religious  organization 
in  town  except  the  Friends.  A  house  of  worship  was 
commenced  at  once  and  finished  during  1804.  Mr. 
Asa  Pierce  was  the  first  church  clerk,  and  Mr.  Wil- 
liam Barton  the  first  deacon.  In  the  deed  conveying 
to  them  the  lot  upon  which  the  house  of  worship  was 
built  their  purpose  was  clearly  defined,  as  follows: 
"To  be  holden  by  Asa  Pierce,  William  Barton,  and 
Francis  Bourne,  and  their  successors  forever,  in  trust, 
for  the  use  of  the  First  Baptist  Church  of  Somerset, 
holding  and  believing  in  the  doctrine  of  baptism  by 
immersion  only,  agreeable  to  the  principles  of  the 
churches  composing  the  Warren  Association,  for  a 
meeting-house  lot."  The  house  was  dedicated  Nov. 
8,  1804.  For  some  three  years  the  church  was  with- 
out a  pastor,  yet  fifteen  were  added  to  their  number, 
and  they  were  gradually  increasing  in  strength  and 
efficiency.  They  united  with  the  Warren  Association 
in  1804,  and  continued  with  them  until  1815,  when 
they  withdrew,  but  were  again  received  in  1821,  re- 
maining until  they  withdrew  to  unite  with  the  Taun- 
ton Baptist  Association  just  forming  in  1836.  With 
this  Association  they  still  remain  in  loving  bonds. 

In  1806  the  church  appointed  Mr.  William  Barton, 
Jr.  (the  deacon),  their  preacher.  For  some  six 
months  he  thus  served  them,  when  he  was  regularly 
ordained  as  pastor.  He  continued  his  services  as 
pastor  nearly  three  years.  On  March  4, 1809,  he  was 
dismissed  to  unite  with  the  First  Baptist  Church  in 
Swansea.  During  his  pastorate  fourteen  were  added 
to  the  church,  seven  were  dismissed,  and  three  ex- 
cluded. 

In  June  of  the  same  year  Mr.  Bela  Jacobs  was 
ordained  as  pastor.  Mr.  Jacobs  was  another  of 
the  constituent  members  of  the  church.  He  had 
preached  more  or  less  for  a  year.  He  remained  as 
pastor  about  two  years,  baptizing  four  and  losing  one 
by  death.  For  some  five  years  the  church  was  now 
destitute  of  a  pastor,  yet  their  meetings  were  con- 
tinued with  more  or  less  regularity,  while  but  little 
encouragement  was  seen.  During  this  time  three 
were  added  to  the  church,  and  ten  were  excluded, 
dismissed,  and  died.  It  was  a  time  of  trial.  Diffi- 
culties arose,  and  all  their  efforts   to  remove  them 


were  without  avail.  In  the  early  part  of  1816,  Rev. 
Win.  Barton,  their  former  pastor,  came  to  town,  and 
by  the  earnest  wish  of  the  church  began  again  regu- 
lar pastoral  work  among  them.  With  his  return 
prosperity  again  smiled  upon  them,  and  during  his 
first  year  he  was  permitted  to  baptize  twenty-six.  He 
remained  with  them  a  little  more  than  two  years,  and 
thechanges  were  :  Added  by  baptism,  forty  ;  excluded, 
dismissed,  and  died,  nine.  The  church  now  enters  upon 
another  period  of  discouragement  and  darkness,  and 
for  some  five  years  only  ten  were  added  to  the  church, 
while  twenty-two  were  excluded,  dismissed,  and  died. 

In  1823  they  appointed  Mr.  Elisha  Slade,  still 
another  constituent  member,  as  preacher.  He  con- 
tinued to  preach  for  seven  years,  when  he  was  regu- 
larly ordained  as  pastor,  which  relation  he  sustained 
for  thirteen  years.  Mr.  Slade's  whole  ministry,  there- 
fore, covers  a  period  of  twenty  years, — years  of  joy 
and  of  sorrow,  of  hope  and  of  fear,  of  prosperity  and 
of  adversity.  At  one  time  there  were  but  four  resi- 
dent male  members  and  about  thirty  females.  But 
again  the  breezes  of  heaven  came  upon  them  and 
they  were  encouraged  and  strengthened.  There  were 
five  precious  revivals  during  this  score  of  years.  The 
changes  in  the  church  were  :  Baptized,  sixty-three  ; 
added  by  letter,  fifteen ;  dismissed,  twenty-five  ;  ex- 
cluded, twenty-four,  and  twenty-three  died.  It  was 
during  Mr.  Slade's  pastorate  that  Mr.  Nathan  Davis 
was  chosen  deacon.  He  was  ordained  to  this  service 
in  1838,  and  is  still  holding  his  office. 

On  the  1st  of  November,  1843,  Rev.  Benjamin  C. 
Grafton  accepted  a  call  from  the  church,  and  entered 
at  once  upon  his  labors.  For  nearly  three  years  he 
served  the  church,  during  which  eight  were  added  and 
eleven  were  dismissed,  excluded,  and  died.  In  1846 
he  resigned,  and  was  followed  by  Rev.  E.  K.  Fuller, 
who  commenced  his  pastorate  September  10th  of  the 
same  year.  Mr.  Fuller  continued  as  pastor  for  about 
two  and  one-half  years,  during  which  twenty-two 
were  added  by  baptism  and  letters,  and  three  were 
dismissed  and  excluded. 

On  March  25,  1849,  Rev.  Charles  Randall  com- 
menced regular  work  as  pastor,  and  thus  served  the 
church  for  three  years.  Although  there  were  but  few 
changes  during  his  pastorate,  yet  he  is  spoken  of  as 
a  faithful  pastor,  and  his  memory  is  cherished  with 
interest  by  those  who  heard  him.  In  August,  1852, 
Rev.  J.  C.  Merrill  having  accepted  a  call  from 
the  church  entered  upon  his  work.  His  ministry 
proved  a  blessing,  and  was  continued  for  nearly  two 
years,  during  which  there  were  thirty-five  additions, 
and  seven  were  excluded  and  died.  For  a  little  more 
than  two  years  the  church  was  pastorless,  and  though 
preaching  was  provided  for  most  of  the  time,  the 
church  lost  rather  than  gained. 

On  Sept.  9, 1856,  Rev.  Samuel  J.  Carr  entered  upon 
the  work  of  pastor,  and  for  four  years  remained  true 
and  faithful  at  his  post.  His  was  a  pastorate  of  both 
pruning  and   fruit-bearing.     Sixteen  were  added  to 


640 


HISTORY    OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


the  church,  and  sixteen  were  dismissed,  excluded, 
and  died.  It  was  during  this  pastorate  that  Mr.  H. 
E.  Marble  was  chosen  deacon.  He  entered  upon  his 
services  in  1857,  and  still  continues. 

Rev.  George  Daland  was  the  successor  of  Mr.  Carr. 
During  his  pastorate  of  two  years  three  were  added 
by  letter  and  two  died.  He  closed  his  labors  in  1863, 
and  was  followed  by  Revi  T.  C.  Tingley.  Mr.  Ting- 
ley  served  as  pastor  more  than  five  years,  receiving 
into  the  church  by  baptism  and  letter  twenty-seven, 
and  twenty-three  were  dismissed,  excluded,  and  died. 

In  1869,  Rev.  L.  L.  Fittz  entered  upon  pastoral 
work.  During  his  ministry  tbe  church  was  much 
blessed.  Assisted  by  his  father,  the  Rev.  H.  Fittz, 
extra  meetings  were  held,  and  a  precious  revival  was 
enjoyed,  bringing  in  many  new  and  important  helpers 
into  the  church.  Fifty-two  were  added  by  baptism 
and  letter,  while  but  ten  were  dismissed  and  died. 
His  pastorate  continued  four  and  one-half  years,  and 
there  was  a  net  increase  of  forty-two  members. 

Mr.  Fittz  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  T.  M.  Butler  in 
1874.  His  was  a  peaceful  pastorate  of  two  years, 
during  which  four  were  added  and  four  died.  In 
about  two  months  from  the  time  of  Mr.  Butler's  leav- 
ing, a  call  was  extended  to  Rev.  Gideon  Cole,  who 
accepted,  and  entered  upon  his  regular  services  Dec. 
1,  1876.  He  is  now  in  his  seventh  year  of  labor,  and 
general  peace  and  harmony  prevail.  The  changes 
during  his  pastorate  thus  far  are  :  Baptized,  twenty 
two ;  received  by  letter,  seven ;  by  experience,  two ; 
total  gain,  thirty-one;  dismissed,  ten  ;  excluded,  two; 
and  died,  twelve;  total  loss,  twenty-four ;  leaving  a 
net  gain  of  seven. 

The  church  has  worshiped  in  three  different  houses. 
The  first  place  of  worship  was  a  school-house  that  is 
now  occupied  as  a  private  dwelling,  the  second  was 
the  present  house,  but  for  some  thirteen  years  it  was 
vacated,  while  they  built  and  worshiped  in  a  smaller 
house  on  Main  Street.  This  house  was  built  during 
the  pastorate  of  Rev.  E.  Slade,  and  he  was  the  main 
agent  in  doing  it.  It  was  dedicated  June  30,  1830. 
In  1844,  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  B.  C.  Grafton, 
the  former  house  was  refitted,  and  again  occupied  for 
their  church  home.  The  house  built  on  Main  Street 
is  now  used  for  a  dwelling.  Three  times  has  the 
present  house  been  dedicated, — in  1804,  when  first  com- 
pleted, in  1844,  when  they  began  anew  their  worship, 
after  thoroughly  renovating  it,  and  in  1855,  when 
again  refitted  under  the  ministry  of  Rev.  S.  J.  Carr. 
It  has  also  been  somewhat  extensively  repaired  and 
improved  under  the  pastorates  of  Revs.  L.  L.  Fittz 
and  Gideon  Cole. 

The  church  now  numbers  one  hundred  and  four. 
It  has  a  good  house  of  worship  and  a  fine  parsonage, 
all  in  thorough  repair  and  free  from  debt. 

The  present  officers  of  the  church  are :  Gideon 
Cole,  pastor;  Nathan  Davis,  Henry  E.  Marble,  dea- 
cons ;  F.  A.  Shurtleff,  M.D.,  clerk ;  Deacon  N.  Davis, 
treasurer. 


[Note. — Much  of  the  material  for  the  above  his- 
tory is  taken  from  a  history  of  the  church  as  pub- 
lished in  the  minutes  of  the  Taunton  Baptist  Associ- 
ation, and  from  a  history  prepared  by  Dr.  F.  A. 
Shurtleff,  and  read  at  its  seventy-seventh  anniversary. 
— Gideon  Cole. J 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church1  in  South 
Somerset,  known  historically  and  legally  as  the  First 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  Somerset,  is  one  of 
the  oldest,  if  not  the  oldest,  church  of  this  denomina- 
tion in  the  county  of  Bristol.  As  early  as  the  year 
1800,  Rev.  Joseph  Snelling,  then  stationed  on  the 
Warren  Circuit,  was  invited  by  Mr.  John  Wilbour, 
then  a  citizen  of  the  south  part  of  the  town  of  Som- 
erset, to  preach  in  his  house.  This  invitation  was 
accepted  gladly  and  with  characteristic  promptitude. 
For  several  years  prior  to  this  the  pioneer  itinerants 
had  occasionally  passed  through  the  adjoining  towns 
of  Swansea  and  Rehoboth  on  their  evangelistic  tours, 
and  it  is  also  probable  that  this  section  of  Somerset 
had  also  been  prospected  by  them  in  search  of  an 
opening  for  a  preaching  appointment.  Mr.  Wilbour 
had  heard  Mr.  Snelling  in  Warren,  R.  I.,  and  had 
become  deeply  interested  in  the  preacher  and  in  his 
message,  and  desirous  that  his  neighbors  also  should 
enjoy  the  privilege,  he  opened  his  doors  for  this  pur- 
pose. Thenceforward,  until  the  erection  of  a  house 
of  worship,  Mr.  Wilbour's  house  continued  to  be  the 
preaching-place  of  the  circuit  preachers.  Soon  a 
class,  consisting  of  seven  persons,  most  of  whom  re- 
sided in  Swansea,  was  organized  by  Mr.  Snelling. 
It  is  not  certainly  known  who  these  persons  were, 
but  there  are  good  reasons  for  believing  that  James 
Sherman  (afterwards  Capt.  James  Sherman),  Na- 
thaniel Lewin,  Diana  Lewin,  Sarah  Lewiu,  Jemima 
Lewin,  and  Gardner  and  Israel  Anthony  composed 
this  first  class,  the  germ  of  the  future  church.  Thus 
Somerset  was  included  in  the  elastic  boundaries  of 
the  Warren  Circuit.  James  Sherman,  mentioned 
above,  was  a  man  of  mark.  Inquisitive,  intelligent, 
familiar  with  the  theological  questions  then  most 
controverted,  possessed  of  considerable  dialectic  skill, 
well  versed  in  the  Scriptures,  fluent  in  speech,  zeal- 
ous in  spirit,  he  became  a  local  preacher  of  consider- 
able note,  and  was  especially  successful  in  defending 
the  new  "  sect,  everywhere  spoken  against,"  from  the 
assaults  of  its  fury,  and  often  turned  their  batteries 
against  themselves.  Having  never  married,  he  became 
an  inmate  of  the  Sailors'  Snug  Harbor,  Staten  Island, 
and  died,  at  an  advanced  age,  in  1862. 

In  1802  the  church  was  favorably  organized,  and 
other  additions  were  soon  made  to  the  little  band. 
Among  the  most  notable  of  these  was  Mr.  John  Bray- 
ton,  the  grandsireof  the  family  of  Braytons  who  have 
since  become  such  prominent  actors  in  the  social, 
business,  and  professional  life  of  the  neighboring  city 
of  Fall  River.     Mr.  Brayton  at  once  became  one  of 

1  Contributed  by  Rev.  J.  Livesey. 


SOMERSET. 


641 


the  most  influential  and  useful  of  the  members  of  this 
little  flock,  thoroughly  identifying  himself  with  all  its 
interests.  His  means  and  his  liberality  enabled  him 
to  contribute  freely  for  its  support,  and  his  hospitality 
disposed  him  to  keep  open  house  for  the  generous 
entertainment  of  the  weary  itinerants,  who  were 
always  sure  of  a  hearty  welcome  and  of  needed  rest 
beneath  his  hospitable  roof. 

In  1804,  it  having  become  apparent  that  a  house  of 
worship  was  not  only  a  necessity  for  the  welfare  of 
the  church,  but  that  its  erection  was  practicable,  this 
important  enterprise  was  entered  upon.  Many  friends 
had  been  raised  up  who,  though  not  members  of  the 
church,  were  deeply  interested  in  its  prosperity. 
Among  these  were  Dr.  John  Winslow,  of  Swansea, 
and  Capt.  William  Read,  who  had  retired  from  the  sea 
and  devoted  himself  to  agricultural  pursuits.  At  the 
northwestern  extreme  of  his  farm  was  a  beautiful  lot 
of  land,  on  the  summit  of  the  ridge  overlooking  Mount 
Hope  Bay,  the  Taunton  River,  and  the  magnificent 
landscape  which  spread  out  in  every  direction,  which 
he  generously  donated  as  the  site  of  the  contemplated 
church.  Here  was  erected  a  substantial  structure  in 
the  style  common  in  those  days.  The  house  was 
nearly  square,  with  a  spacious  projecting  vestibule  in 
two  stories,  the  upper  story  conducting  to  the  gal- 
leries, which  were  very  deep,  and  occupying  the  two 
sides  and  front  of  the  audience-room.  The  pulpit, 
lofty  and  circular,  with  the  chancel  or  altar,  occupied 
the  centre  of  the  rear  end  of  the  church.  The  pews 
were  straight-backed,  high,  and  not  constructed  for 
the  comfort  of  drowsy  worshipers.  This  undertaking 
was  successfully  pushed  forward  to  completion,  and 
before  the  year  ended  the  church  was  dedicated  by 
Rev.  Alexander  McLane,  the  circuit  preacher. 

For  forty-five  years  this  noble  monument  of  Chris- 
tian liberality  and  zeal  stood,  one  of  the  most 
prominent  features  in  the  splendid  landscape,  the 
gathering-place  of  the  devout  not  only  of  the  im- 
mediate neighborhood,  but,  on  Quarterly  Meeting  and 
other  special  occasions,  from  the  widely-extended 
circuit  to  enjoy  their  spiritual  feasts.  Here  some  of 
the  notable  pioneers  of  the  denomination,  men  of 
national  repute,  such  as  Bishop  Asbury,  Freeborn 
Garretson,  and  others,  preached  the  word  of  life  to 
the  multitudes  who  thronged  to  hear  them. 

Somerset  was  for  many  years  one  of  the  prominent 
societies  of  the  ever-varying  circuit,  sometimes  more, 
sometimes  less  extended,  to  which  two  or  three 
preachers  were  usually  appointed.  The  membership 
of  the  church  was  subject,  from  various  causes,  to 
considerable  fluctuations,  one  hundred  and  sixty-one 
being  at  one  time  reported,  but  shrinking  in  another 
report  to  fifty-seven.  S'ome  extensive  revivals  took 
place,  which  added  largely  to  the  numbers  and 
strength  of  the  society.  At  a  later  date  this  church 
was  recognized  as  a  charge,  with  a  minister  stationed 
as  its  pastor,  which  has  continued  to  be  the  case,  with 
occasional  changes,  to  the  present  time. 
41 


In  1841  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  Som- 
erset village  was  organized,  since  which  time  South 
Somerset  has  been  the  name  by  which  the  old  has 
been  distinguished  from  the  new  church. 

In  1849,  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  E.  B.  Hinckley, 
the  old  church  edifice,  which  had  so  admirably  served 
the  purposes  of  the  fathers,  was  torn  down,  and  the 
present  modern  and  tasteful  structure  was  erected 
upon  the  same  site,  the  dedicatory  sermon  being 
preached  by  Rev.  Daniel  Wise,  D.D.,  then  stationed 
in  Fall  River. 

In  1861  the  lot  of  land  directly  east  of  the  church 
lot  and  adjoining  it  was  purchased,  and  a  pleasant 
and  commodious  parsonage  was  erected  under  the 
supervision  of  Rev.  Joseph  Baker,  the  pastor,  at  a 
cost  of  about  sixteen  hundred  dollars.  This  great 
improvement  has  rendered  this  a  desirable  rural 
home  for  pastors  not  aspiring  to  heavy  city  charges, 
but  who  prefer  the  quiet,  the  simplicity,  and  the  nat- 
ural charms  of  suburban  life,  joined  with  the  pastoral 
work  required  by  an  intelligent  and  appreciative 
agricultural  though  not  very  numerous  flock. 

In  1870,  Rev.  E.  L.  Hyde  being  pastor,  the  church 
building  was  subjected  to  various  alterations  and  im- 
provements, involving  an  expense  of  about  one  thou- 
sand dollars.  It  was  reopened  with  appropriate  ser- 
vices, Revs.  E.  F.  Clark,  of  Providence,  E.  J.  Haynes, 
of  Fall  River,  and  V.  A.  Cooper,  of  Providence, 
preaching  sermons  suited  to  the  occasion.  The  next 
day,  Thursday,  at  about  half-past  two  P.M.,  during  a 
brief  but  sharp  thunder-storm,  the  house  was  struck 
with  lightning,  which  shattered  the  steeple  and  the 
plastering,  parted  the  links  of  the  chain  which  held 
up  the  stovepipe,  and  in  other  ways  inflicted  serious 
injury  to  the  building.  The  repairs  rendered  neces- 
sary by  this  calamity  subjected  the  society  to  a  heavy 
and  depressing  expense.  But  the  spirit  of  their  pas- 
tor and  the  practical  sympathy  of  sister  churches 
encouraged  them,  so  that  they  speedily  placed  their 
beautiful  church  home  in  as  good  condition  as  before. 

The  present  membership  of  the  church  (April,  1883) 
is  thirty-two  ;  of  the  Sunday-school,  fifty ;  books  in 
library,  four  hundred  and  fifty. 

The  following  is  the  list  of  pastors  who  have  served 
this  church  in  the  order,  of  their  appointment,  em- 
bracing those  who  were  appointed  to  the  circuit  as 
well  as  those  who  have  served  it  as  a  station,  viz. : 
1800,  Joseph  Snelling;  1801,  John  Finnegan  and  D. 
Fidler  ;  1802,  Reuben  Hubbard,  D.  Morris,  A.  Cobb  ; 
1803-4,  Alexander  McLane;  1805-6,  J.  Snelling; 
1807,  Joshua  Crowell ;  1808-9,  Levi  Walker ;  1810, 
John  Lindsay;  1811,  Thomas  Asbury;  1812-13,  Ar- 
temas  Stebbins ;  1814,  Edward  Hyde,  W.  Marsh; 
1815,  Benjamin  R.  Hoyt,  I.  Walker;  1816,  Richard 
Emery;  1817,  Nathan  Paine;  1818,  Isaac  Jamison; 
1819,  Isaac  Banny  ;  1820-21,  T.  W.  Tucker;  1822-23, 
Benjamin  Hazleton ;  1824,  Ebenezer  Blake ;  1825, 
Herman  Perry;  1826,  C.  Virgin,  N.  B.  Spaulding; 
1827-28,  D.  Culver;  1829,  N.  S.  Spaulding,  Robert 


642 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Gould;  1830,  N.  Paine,  H.  Walker;  1831,  F.  Dane, 
H.  Walden  ;  1832,  W.  Emerson,  J.  D.  Baldwin  ;  1833, 
James  Bicknell ;  1834-37,  no  pastor;  1837,  I.  Banney  ; 
1838,  I.  Banney,  W.  S.  Campbell ;  1839,  J.  T.  Sturte- 
vant;  1840,  William  S.  Simmons;  1841,  George  M. 
Carpenter;  1842,  Levi  Daggett,  Jr.;  1843,  S.  Fox; 
1844,  M.  J.  Talbott;  1845,  Benjamin  L.  Sayer ;  1846- 
47,  J.  E.  Gifford  ;  1848,  no  pastor;  1849,  E.  B.  Hinck- 
ley ;  1850,  J.  M.  Worcester;  1851-52,  Lawton  Cady ; 
1853-54,  Ormando  N.  Brooks;  1855,  J.  N.  Collier; 
1826,  John  Livesey  ;  1857-58,  Varnum  A.  Cooper; 
1859,  C.  Collard  Adams;  1860-61,  Joseph  Baker; 
1862-64,  Henry  H.  Smith  ;  1865-67,  William  Penn 
Hyde;  1868-70,  E.  L.  Hyde;  1871-72,  C.  S.  Morse; 
1873-75,  George  H.  Lamson  ;  1876-77,  George  W. 
Wright;  1878,  S.  H.  Day  ;  1879-81,  E.  Tirrell ;  1882- 
83,  John  Livesey. 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church.1— The  first  regular 
Methodist  services  in  Somerset  were  held  in  a  sail- 
loft  on  Burgess'  wharf  in  1841  by  Bryan  Morse,  a 
local  preacher  traveling  under  the  presiding  elder, 
Rev.  Bartholomew  Otheman.  Mr.  Morse  held  a  pro- 
tracted meeting,  in  which  he  was  assisted  by  Rev. 
George  M.  Carpenter,  of  South  Somerset,  and  Johu 
Livesey,  local  preacher,  from  Fall  River.  The  result 
of  this  meeting  was  an  extensive  revival.  The  or- 
ganization of  the. church  soon  followed,  and  in  1842 
a  church  edifice  was  erected  and  dedicated  by  Rev. 
David  Patten,  D.D. 

The  first  Conference  appointee  was  Rev.  Levi 
Daggett,  who  was  followed,  in  1844,  by  Rev.  E.  W. 
Stickney.  Then  followed  the  appointment  of  Israel 
Washburn,  local  preacher,  in  1845,  Rev.  John  W. 
Case  in  1846,  and  Father  Nathanial  Paine  in  1847-48, 
whose  labors  were  quite  successful.  At  the  close  of 
his  pastorate  he  left  a  membership  of  forty  names. 

Mr.  Paine  was  succeeded  in  1849  by  Rev.  Charles 
Hammond,  who  enjoyed  a  very  harmonious,  prosper- 
ous, and  pleasant  pastorate. 

In  1851,  Rev.  Carlos  Banning  was  appointed  to 
the  charge,  but  failing  to  appear,  his  place  was  sup- 
plied by  Father  Filmore  and  Samuel  Jackson,  under 
whose  zealous  efforts  the  membership  was  consider- 
ably increased. 

From  1852  to  1859  the  following  appointees  served 
the  church  with  varied  success  :  Revs.  E.  H.  Hatfield, 
William  H.  Richards,  John  Livesey  (local  preacher), 
Franklin  Gavitt,  James  McReading,  and  Edward  A. 
Lyon.  The  administration  of  Mr.  Lyon  was  success- 
ful and  generally  acceptable,  and  the  Sunday-school 
reached  the  highest  number  on  record,  but  a  ruling 
minority  objected  to  his  reappointment,  and  the  new 
Conference  year  brought  to  the  front  Rev.  C.  M.  Al- 
vord,  much  to  the  gratification  of  some  and  the  an- 
noyance of  others.  The  consequence  was  a  disruption 
and  the  withdrawal  of  twenty-one  members  with 
their  families,  who  formed  the  Congregational  Church 

1  By  Rev.  J.  D.  King. 


in  the  village,  leaving  the  Methodists  with  a  congre- 
gation of  twenty-eight  members,  which,  however,  at 
the  close  of  the  year  numbered  seventy-five,  with  a 
considerable  increase  of  church  membership. 

In  1862-63,  Rev.  William  Worth  filled  the  pastor- 
ate successfully. 

From  1864  to  1869  the  following  names  appear  on 
the  record  as  pastors:  Revs.  C.  S.  San  ford,  B.  K. 
Bosworth,  George  L.  Westgate,  Samuel  J.  Carroll, 
and  M.  J.  Talbot. 

The  last  of  these  five  years  the  church  was  suffering 
under  great  depression,  but  under  the  labors  of  Rev. 
H.  H.  Smith,  who  was  appointed  to  the  charge  in 
1870-71,  she  fully  recovered  herself. 

In  1872-73,  Rev.  O.  H.  Fernald  received  the  ap- 
pointment, by  whose  energetic  efforts  the  church  edi- 
fice was  rebuilt,  and  at  the  close  of  his  work  the 
church  numbered  eighty-four  members. 

From  1876  to  1883  the  following  names  appear  as 
pastors:  Revs.  S.  M.  Beal,  C.  M.  Dunham,  C.  E. 
Walker,  George  H.  Bates,  and  J.  D.  King,  the  pres- 
ent incumbent. 

The  First  Christian  Church. — This  church  was 
organized  in  1841  by  Rev.  Mr.  Shurtleff,  now  of 
Providence,  R.  I. 

Mr.  Shurtleff  remained  but  a  short  time,  and  was 
succeeded  by  several  preachers,  each  remaining  only 
a  few  years.  Among  the  number  were  Revs.  Mr. 
Briant,  B.  F.  Summerhell,  and  John  N.  Haley.  In 
1870,  Rev.  C.  A.  Tiliinghast  was  called,  and  remained 
pastor  nine  years,  during  which  time  the  church 
was  prosperous.  He  was  called  to  Broad  Street 
Christian  Church,  Providence,  R.  I.  In  1879  he 
was  succeeded  by  Z.  A.  Past,  who  remained  two 
years,  when  he  accepted  a  professorship  in  the  Suf- 
folk Collegiate  Institute  in  Virginia.  He  was  fol- 
lowed by  Rev.  R.  Osman  Allen,  the  present  pastor. 
There  has  been  in  the  forty-two  years  an  aggregate 
membership  of  two  hundred  and  thirty,  which  has 
been  depleted  by  deaths  and  removals,  until  now 
the  actual  membership  is  one  hundred. 

First  Congregational  Church.2 — Most  of  those 
who  at  first  formed  the  Congregational  Church  in 
this  village  had  been  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church. 

For  a  long  time  the  Conference  authorities  had 
appointed  or  removed  the  pastor  in  entire  disregard 
of,  and  sometimes  in  direct  opposition  to,  the  wish 
and  vote  of  the  majority  of  the  church.  The  fact, 
well  understood,  was  that  the  action  of  the  Confer- 
ence was  controlled  and  directed  by  one  or  two  men, 
— members  of  the  church  (Methodist  Episcopal)  lo- 
cated in  Somerset.  To  such  an  extent  had  this  man- 
ipulation been  carried  that 'many  of  the  people  felt 
it  was  time  for  decisive  action  in  opposition  to  what 
was  termed  "  one-man  power."  Accordingly,  a  re- 
monstrance was  sent  to  the  Conference.     The  Con- 

2  By  Rev.  J.  C.  Halliday. 


SOMERSET. 


643 


ference  paid  no  regard  to  it.  The  parties  aggrieved 
felt  that  there  was  no  redress  to  be  expected  from 
the  authorities  of  the  church.  After  much  thought, 
discussion,  and  prayer  the  act  of  withdrawal  was 
decided  on.  This  was  in  the  year  1860.  Those  with- 
drawing were  now  homeless  as  to  a  place  of  worship. 
No  definite  plan  as  to  the  future  had  been  determined 
upon,  either  as  to  the  form  of  church  government  to 
be  adopted  or  house  of  worship.  If  I  have  been 
correctly  informed,  a  second  Methodist  Church  was 
the  thought  in  a  few  minds  at  least.  The  motive  in 
withdrawing  was  not  dislike  of  the  church  in  which 
those  separating  from  her  had  been  nurtured,  but 
the  right  to  a  vote  and  voice  in  the  church  that  would 
count  something  in  the  management  of  church  affairs. 

The  spirit  of  those  who  withdrew  may  be  inferred 
from  the  following  statement,  which  I  copy  from  the 
records:  "Although  the  seceders  constituted  a  large 
majority  of  the  church  and  the  society,  and  although 
they  had  made  large  investment  in  pews,  they  with- 
drew, leaving  all"  with  that  part  of  the  church  and 
society  which  remained. 

They  first  hired  a  hall  named  Central  Hall,  and  fitted 
it  up  as  a  place  of  worship.  They  then  attempted  to 
secure  a  Methodist  preacher  on  their  own  respon- 
sibility. They  soon  learned  that  no  man  connected 
with  the  Conference  could  be  induced  to  accept  their 
invitation. 

They  therefore  began  to  look  in  another  direction. 
A  minister  of  the  Congregational  order  was  invited 
to  the  care  of  this  body  of  believers  and  others  inter- 
ested in  the  new  enterprise.  He  accepted  the  trust, 
and  for  something  over  a  year  ministered  to  this 
people,  who  were  all  this  time  without  church  organ- 
ization. In  the  early  summer  of  1861  the  decision 
was  reached  to  form  a  church  of  the  Congregational 
order.  It  will  be  seen  that  there  was  nothing  hasty 
in  the  movement.  It  was  one  of  very  serious  import 
not  only  to  the  parties  immediately  concerned,  but  to 
the  community  at  large  and  to  the  church  universal. 
Time  to  think,  to  deliberate,  to  pray  was  needed,  and 
it  was  taken,  and  a  decision  reached. 

The  writer  of  this  article  was  informed  that  a  goodly 
number  of  those  who  at  first  withdrew  went  back  to 
the  Methodist  Church  when  it  was  decided  to  form  a 
Congregational  Church.  Possibly  they  had  a  dread 
of  Calvinism  ;  possibly  they  thought  that  a  house 
of  worship  must  be  erected,  and  that  that  would  cost 
money ;  at  all  events  they  took  their  departure,  re- 
ducing the  number  about  to  form  themselves  into  the 
new  church. 

The  body  of  believers  worshiping  in  Central  Hall 
having  determined  to  organize  a  church,  and  having 
decided  what  denominational  name  to  assume,  issued 
letters  missive  to  neighboring  churches  of  that  name. 
In  response  to  the  letters  missive  there  convened  at 
Central  Hall,  July  3,  1861,  the  following-named 
churches  in  the  person  of  pastors  and  delegates : 
Churches  in   Taunton,    Berkley,    Dighton,  Assonet, 


Raynham,  Rehoboth,  and  Fall  River.  I  believe  all 
the  churches  invited  responded.  A  council  was 
formed  by  the  choice  of  Rev.  E.  Maltby,  of  Taunton, 
for  moderator,  and  Rev.  S.  T.  Fay,  of  Fall  River, 
scribe.  The  council  having  examined  all  the  papers 
presented,  having  listened  to  the  statements  of  dif- 
ferent parties,  and  having  carefully  examined  the 
church's  probable  future,  decided  unanimously  in 
favor  of  the  new  movement,  "and  voted  to  proceed  in 
the  afternoon  with  the  usual  public  services  of  recog- 
nition and  organization."  Twenty-two  persons  pre- 
sented themselves,  and  were  formed  into  and  approved 
as  "The  First  Congregational  Church,  Somerset." 

The  church  and  society  (for  there  was  a  society 
acting  conjointly  with  the  church  in  the  support  of 
the  gospel)  continued  to  worship  in  Central  Hall  till 
1865.  In  the  mean  time  preliminary  steps  were  being 
taken  towards  the  erection  of  a  church  edifice.  When 
the  pressure  of  work  and  of  giving  began  to  be  felt 
there  were  some  who  lost  their  enthusiasm. 

Thus  occurred  a  second  reduction  of  the  number 
on  which  must  devolve  the  care  of  the  new  enter- 
prise. Such  is  human  experience.  There  are  people 
in  the  world  who  are  ready  and  willing  any  time  to 
sit  by  your  fire,  to  read  by  your  light,  and  to  e*at  at 
your  table  if  you  furnish  all  the  money,  take  all  the 
care,  and  do  all  the  necessary  labor.  They  come,  not 
to  minister,  but  to  be  ministered  unto. 

In  March,  1865,  a  neat  and  comfortable  church 
edifice  was  completed  and  dedicated.  Seasons  of  ad- 
versity and  seasons  of  prosperity  have  fallen  to  the 
lot  of  this  church  and  society  since  that  time.  The 
people  at  times  adopted  a  custom  which  proved  detri- 
mental to  them  as  a  church  and  society,  a  custom  not 
uncommon.  I  refer  to  it  here  because  I  wish  to  put 
on  permanent  record  my  earnest  protest  against  it.  I 
refer  to  the  plan  of  having  pulpit  supplies  sent  from 
Sabbath  to  Sabbath  for  six  months,  a  year,  or  two 
years,  no  pastor  on  the  ground.  The  man  who  is  sent 
may  have  been  virtually  out  of  the  ministry  for  ten 
or  twenty  years,  may  be  in  some  other  calling;  he 
comes  Saturday  night  in  the  last  train,  and  goes  away 
Monday  morning  in  the  first,  and  knows  as  much 
about  the  wants  of  the  people  as  men  generally  know 
of  what  they  know  nothing.  If  the  sermons  are  not 
heavy  with  age,  the  paper  on  which  they  are  written 
has  a  color  that  is  suggestive  of  antiquity,  not  to 
speak  of  fossils. 

Churches  sometimes  follow  this  plan  with  the  idea 
that  it  is  economy  to  do  so.  It  is,  in  fact,  just  the  op- 
posite of  economy.  The  effect  generally  is  to  weaken 
the  power  of  the  church  in  her  divine  work,  to  loosen 
her  hold  on  the  community,  and  to  empty  her  coffers. 
When  a  pastor  is  called,  provided  the  church  survives 
the  torturing  ordeal,  he  has  double  work  to  do.  Years 
are  often  required  to  offset  the  evil  thus  unintentionally 
brought  upon  the  church  of  Christ.  Another  diffi- 
culty that  must  be  encountered  in  the  building  of  a 
new  church  enterprise  in  a  manufacturing  village  is 


644 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


the  ceaseless  coming  and  going  of  different  families. 
Sometimes  it  is  an  actual  gain  to  have  certain  fami- 
lies go,  if  they  would  only  stay  away.  In  the  case  of 
other  families  a  severe  and  heavy  loss  is  suffered 
when  they  go.  I  speak  of  these  matters  because  the 
Congregational  Church  of  Somerset  has  had  large 
experience  in  them.  Her  history  would  not  be  com- 
plete without  a  reference  to  them. 

The  number  enrolled  as  members  now  on  the 
church  records  is  fifty-four.  The  two  causes  con- 
tributing most  largely  to  the  slow  growth  of  the 
church,  as  it  seems  to  me,  have  been  alluded  to,  viz., 
the  fluctuating  population  and  the  Sabbath  supply. 
Perhaps  a  third  should  be  added, — the  many  ex- 
tremely (I  had  almost  said  unpardonably)  short  pas- 
torates ;  some  of  them  indeed  do  not  deserve  the  name 
of  pastorate. 

The  first  preacher,  Rev.  Charles  D.  Lathrop,  sup- 
plied the  pulpit  for  a  year  and  a  very  small  portion 
of  a  year.  He  was  followed  by  Rev.  Mr.  Butt,  of  Fall 
River,  who  supplied  a  short  time,  so  short  that  no 
record  was  made  of  the  time. 

From  January,  1862,  to  June,  1864,  Rev.  N.  Rich- 
ardson was  pastor.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  N.  H. 
Besson,  who  served  the  church  and  society  till  April, 
1865.  In  the  same  month  of  that  year  Rev.  Nelson 
Clark  began  his  labors  in  the  gospel  ministry  among 
this  people.  He  remained  with  them  five  years  and 
three  months.  His  work  did  much  to  strengthen  and 
increase  the  church.  The  years  of  his  ministry  were 
years  of  prosperity.  When  the  people  permitted  him 
to  go  away,  they  did  a  very  unwise  thing.  His  labors 
closed  with  this  church  in  July,  1871.  He  was  fol- 
lowed by  Rev.  L.  S.  Coan,  who  remained  one  year 
only.  Mr.  Coan  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  E.  J.  Ged- 
dings,  who  remained  just  as  long  as  his  predecessor. 
In  February,  1875,  Rev.  W.  N.  T.  Dean  was  installed 
as  pastor  of  this  church.  His  stay  was  short,  for  in 
July,  1876,  he  was  dismissed,  having  served  the 
church  not  quite  a  year  and  a  half.  Rev.  John 
Dodge  supplied  the  pulpit  for  three  months.  Rev. 
- —  Farnum,  of  Boston,  supplied  the  pulpit  for  a 
time  (I  know  not  how  long),  coming  Saturday  and 
going  Monday. 

The  present  pastor,  Rev.  J.  C.  Halliday,  began 
work  here  in  June,  1877.  He  has  held  the  office  of 
pastor  of  this  church  nearly  six  years.  Those  years 
have  been  years  of  gradual  growth,  numerically,  finan- 
cially, and  I  may  say  spiritually.  The  growth  has 
not  been  spasmodic,  nor  has  it  been  remarkable  at 
all,  but  steady.  The  transfer  of  the  nail-works  from 
East  Taunton  to  Somerset  has  added  a  goodly  num- 
ber of  worthy  members  to  the  congregation,  and  given 
us  some  good  workers  for  the  Master.  But  aside  from 
that,  we  can  tell  of  growth  in  church  and  society. 

The  Congregational  Church  of  Somerset  has  strug- 
gled hard  with  a  great  many  untoward  circumstances, 
and  has  overcome  them.  She  was  organized  with  a 
fixed  purpose,  to  continue  to  be.   With  God's  help,  and 


kindness  shown  her  by  other  churches  and  societies 
and  individuals,  she  has  continued  until  this  day, 
witnessing  to  small  and  great  the  power  of  divine 
grace,  and  seeking  to  say  none  other  things  than 
Moses  and  the  prophets  did  say  should  come.  We 
rejoice  in  a  prosperous  Sabbath-school,  the  happy, 
healthful,  helpful  child  of  the  church.  Home  and 
foreign  missions  receive  attention.  The  cause  of 
temperance  is  not  forgotten  in  our  church  work. 
The  order  of  services,  which  gives  most  general  satis- 
faction in  our  community,  is,  Sabbath-school  in  the 
A.M.,  beginning  at  half-past  ten ;  preaching  at  half-past 
two  in  p.m.,-  and  conference  meeting  in  the  evening. 
The  prospects  of  this  church  as  a  power  for  Christ 
were  never  better  than  they  are  to-day.  There  is 
harmony  in  her  counsels  and  unity  in  her  movements. 
No  note  of  discord  for  the  past  six  years  has  reached 
the  ears  of  the  pastor.     It  is  pleasant  to  sing, — 

"Blest  be  the  tie  that  hinds 
Our  hearts  in  Christian  love," 

but  it  is  pleasanter  to  feel  the  power  of  the  truth  em- 
bodied, to  feel  it  in  the  relation  of  the  people  to  each 
other,  and  in  the  relation  of  people  and  pastor. 

St.  Patrick's  Church1  was  built  eight  years  ago 
by  Rev.  William  H.  Brie,  of  Fall  River,  at  a  cost  of 
about  eight  thousand  dollars.  It  is  a  frame  building, 
eighty-five  by  forty-three  feet,  with  slate  roof.  The 
first  resident  pastor  was  Rev.  E.  E.  Nobert,  who  has 
officiated  to  the  present  time.  The  church  has  a 
membership  of  about  six  hundred. 

Post-Office. — Previous  to  1825,  Mr.  Isaac  Pierce 
had  charge  of  the  mail  for  Somerset,  which  was  left 
at  Swansea  village.  In  1825,  Elisha  Slade  was  ap- 
pointed postmaster,  and  held  the  office  until  1853, 
when  John  A.  Sayler  succeeded  him,  who  filled  the 
office  until  December,  1860,  when  the  present  incum- 
bent, Mr.  N.  S.  Davis,  was  appointed. 

In  consequence  of  the  loss  of  records  by  fire  in 
1875  the  exact  date  when  the  post-office  was  first  es- 
tablished cannot  be  given ;  but  for  some  time  after 
Mr.  Slade  was  appointed  the  mail  was  carried  on  a 
baggage-wagon,  which  made  about  weekly  trips  be- 
tween Bristol,  R.  I.,  and  Boston  ;  the  pouch  was  then 
left  at  Nathaniel  Mason's,  nearly  two  miles  from  the 
present  office,  and  the  postmaster  had  to  go  or  send 
some  one  there  after  it.  The  office  now  receives  and 
sends  five  mails  daily. 

The  Somerset  Co-Operative  Foundry  Company 
was  organized  Oct.  10,  1867  ;  officers  elected  Oct.  29, 
1867,  as  follows:  President,  William  M.  Bartlett; 
Treasurer,  William  P.  Marble;  Clerk,  E.  A.  Davis; 
Foreman,  R.  C.  Woodward ;  Directors,  R.  C.  Wood- 
ward, T.  A.  Marble,  H.  D.  Spinner,  E.  A.  Davis, 
John  O.  Babbitt,  C.  A.  Davis,  J.  H.  Luther,  W.  P. 
Hood,  G.  AV.  Nye,  and  William  P.  Marble.  Capital 
stock,  $15,000 ;  capital  stock  now,  $30,000,  with  sink- 
ing fund  of  $25,000.     First  year's  business,  $25,000, 

i  Contributed  by  Rev.  E.  E.  Nobert. 


SOMERSET. 


645 


has  increased  to  $75,000.  Present  officers  :  President, 
William  P.  Marble;  Treasurer,  E.  A.  Davis;  Fore- 
man, G.  H.  Sherman  ;  Directors,  C.  Fuller,  Joseph 
Cundall,  J.  Woodward,  Joseph  Shurtleff,  G.  L.  Davis, 
E.  P.  Hathaway,  and  D.  B.  Hood.  This  is  a  rep- 
resentative establishment,  and  manufactures  ranges, 
cooking,  parlor,  and  office  stoves  in  all  styles,  also 
hollow-ware,  sinks,  etc. 

This  company  has  been  very  successful,  and  has 
steadily  increased  its  volume  of  business ;  is  well  es- 
tablished, and  has  the  reputation  of  producing  the 
finest  goods  in  the  country.  Par  value  shares,  one 
hundred  dollars;  has  sold  as  high  as  one  hundred 
and  forty  dollars  per  share ;  has  paid  an  average  div- 
idend of  seven  and  a  half  per  cent.,  and  accumulated 
a  sinking  fund,  as  stated  before.  All  goods  manufac- 
tured are  made  from  patterns  made  and  designed 
under  their  own  supervision. 

A  writer  in  the  Providence  Star  of  May  6,  1883, 
speaking  of  Somerset,  says, — 

"  In  glancing  westward  from  Fall  River  across  the 
Taunton  River  people  get  a  glimpse  of  the  southern 
portion  of  the  town  of  Somerset,  which  portion  at  this 
time  is  entirely  devoted  to  agricultural  pursuits,  as, 
in  fact,  the  whole  town  was  mostly  until  within  forty 
years.  This  town  was  originally  a  portion  of  the  town 
of  Swansea,  and  is  what  was  known  formerly  as  the 
'  Showamut  Purchase.'  It  lies  along  the  river  men- 
tioned, and  forms  its  west  bank  for  about  eight  miles, 
and  is  very  narrow,  the  town  being  in  one  place  only 
about  a  half  a  mile  from  the  river  to  its  western 
boundary,  and  in  no  part  of  it  much  more  than  a  mile 
and  a  half  wide.  At  one  time  the  principal  business 
done  in  the  town  was  at  the  village  of  '  Egypt,'  so 
called,  where  quite  an  amount  of  ship-building  was 
carried  on,  and  it  is  within  the  memory  of  the  oldest 
inhabitants  when  '  Egypt'  was  the  important  point  of 
the  town.  But  those  days  have  gone,  and  the  people 
who  were  most  active  in  the  business  have,  alas ! 
passed  away,  and  now  all  that  remains  is  a  small 
cluster  of  houses,  with  nothing  to  remind  the  passer- 
by that  any  activity  ever  existed  there.  About  half 
a  mile  north  of '  Egypt'  is  the  village  of  Pottersville, 
so  called  from  the  fact  of  there  being  located  there  a 
pottery  for  the  purpose  of  making  earthen-  and  stone- 
ware. 

"This  industry  was  begun  many  years  ago  by  the 
Chase  family,  and  formerly  a  very  extensive  business 
was  done  there,  but  those  who  started  the  pottery  en- 
terprise have  long  since  died,  and  finally  the  business 
has  dwindled  down  to  a  small  amount,  comparatively 
speaking,  of  what  it  used  to  be,  and  the  company  be- 
coming seriously  embarrassed,  it  was  sold,  a  little  more 
than  a  year  ago,  to  a  new  company,  composed  princi- 
pally of  persons  from  Fall  River,  who  with  an  in- 
creased capital  will,  it  is  hoped,  make  a  success  of 
the  enterprise  in  the  future. 

"Somerset  Pottery  Company,  incorporated  in  1847 
with  a  capital  stock  of  twenty-five  thousand  dollars. 


In  1882  the  business  was  sold  to  a  new  company,  com- 
posed of  some  of  the  strongest  men  financially  in  this 
section  of  the  country.  The  stock  was  reduced  to  fif- 
teen thousand  dollars,  and  immediately  increased  to 
thirty  thousand  dollars.  Under  the  management  of 
the  officers  of  the  new  corporation  a  very  large  in- 
crease in  orders  was  made,  and  with  the  old  facilities 
they  were  troubled  for  a  time  to  meet  the  demand  for 
their  goods.  It  was  again  voted  to  double  the  capital 
stock,  making  it  sixty  thousand  dollars.  Mr.  Field, 
the  agent  and  general  manager,  then  began  in  a  sys- 
tematic manner  to  increase  their  facilities,  and  at  the 
same  time  hold  the  fast-increasing  trade.  A  person 
now  visiting  the  pottery  will  find  numerous  new 
buildings  for  the  old  kilns,  and  for  the  new  kilns 
which  have  taken  the  place  of  the  old  ones.  The 
place  that  was  once  noted  for  its  rusty  and  worn-out 
appearance  is  now  fresh  and  new.  In  fact,  a  complete 
regeneration  of  the  place  has  been  made.  The  point 
upon  which  the  company  base  their  success  is  in  their 
economy  in  manufacture.  One  thing  we  should  not 
forget  to  mention,  and  that  is  the  special  fire-bricks, 
cupola,  and  stove-linings  manufactured  with  proper 
mixture  of  granite  clay,  of  which  they  are  the  sole 
agents.  Although  they  are  but  commencing  the 
manufacture  of  these  articles,  large  orders  have  been 
received  and  filled,  which  give  in  all  cases  perfect 
satisfaction.  The  success  of  the  new  company  is 
already  assured. 

"  At  the  north  part  of  the  town  is  located  Somerset 
village,  or  what  was  formerly  called  Bowers'  Shore,  a 
quiet  rural  village  of  about  fifteen  hundred  inhabi- 
tants, and  which  is  now  about  all  there  is  of  Somerset  as 
regards  inhabitants  and  enterprise.  Previous  to  the 
year  1850  there  was  not  much  business  done  here,  ex- 
cept the  catching  of  oysters  in  the  spring  and  autumn 
of  the  year,  and  even  then  the  business  had  not 
assumed  the  proportions  that  it  has  now  attained. 
During  the  oyster  seasons  scores  of  men  and  boys  are 
employed  in  catching  and  assorting  the  bivalves  for 
shipment  to  other  places  for  '  plant,'  a  large  portion 
of  which  go  by  vessels  to  Providence,  where  they  are 
bedded  for  a  certain  length  of  time,  when  they  are 
again  fished  up  and  are  then  served  up  as  the  famous 
'  Providence  River  oysters.'  The  amount  shipped  dur- 
ing the  two  seasons  of  the  year  mentioned  will  aggre- 
gate thousands  of  bushels,  and  it  is  said  that  Somer- 
set sends  out  the  best  '  plants'  that  are  to  be  had, 
although  the  oysters  that  are  allowed  to  grow  to  their 
full  size  in  their  native  waters  are  not  considered  fit 
for  use,  the  most  of  them  having  a  coppery  taste, 
which  is  entirely  removed  by  lying  in  other  waters 
for  a  season. 

"  About  the  year  1850,  or  a  little  before,  Mr.  James 
Hood  began  the  business  of  ship-building  at  Somer- 
set village,  and  conducted  it  quite  successfully  until 
1854,  when  a  large  vessel  which  he  had  on  the  stocks 
nearly  completed  was  entirely  destroyed  by  a  sup- 
posed incendiary  fire,  which  caused  great  excitement 


616 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


at  the  time.  This  was  the  last  of  ship-building  in 
Somerset,  and  its  destruction  was  a  very  disastrous 
blow  to  the  place. 

"  In  the  year  1853  a  new  industry  was  commenced 
in  this  village  through  the  liberality  of  Mr.  J.  Q. 
Pierce,  who  gave  a  tract  of  land  lying  on  the  river, 
and  so  situated  as  to  be  available  as  a  wharf-privilege. 
A  company  was  formed  for  the  manufacture  of  ship- 
anchors  and  other  large  forgings.  This  company 
was  organized  as  the  Somerset  Iron-Works  Company, 
with  William  S.  Sampson  as  agent  and  treasurer, 
who,  after  erecting  buildings,  etc.,  necessary  to  carry 
on  the  business  and  running  for  a  short  time,  failed 
to  conduct  the  business  profitably,  and  in  two  years 
after  commencing  closed  entirely.  This  was  a  sad 
blow  to  the  industries  of  the  place  and  to  many  of  its  I 
inhabitants  financially,  as  the  capital  which  was  put 
into  the  business  was  mostly  furnished  by  Somerset  | 
residents,  who  not  only  lost  all  they  put  in,  but  those 
who  had  other  property  were  obliged  to  furnish 
money  to  pay  the  debts  of  the  concern.  From  the 
time  of  closing  of  the  works  to  1855  nothing  was  done 
with  them,  and  they  lay  as  a  monument  to  the  capital 
that  had  been  sunk  in  their  erection. 

"  In  the  year  1855  the  late  Albert  Field,  of  Taun- 
ton, in  connection  with  his  son-in-law,  Mr.  J.  M. 
Leonard,  bought  the  property,  and  fitted  it  up  for  a 
rolling-mill  and  nail-factory,  and  they  were  incor- 
porated under  the  name  of  the  Mount  Hope  Iron 
Company.  This  company,  notwithstanding  the  large 
outlay  of  money  and  the  extreme  depression  of  1857, 
passed  through  it  successfully  under  the  guidance 
and  direction  of  its  manager,  Mr.  Leonard,  and  did  a 
successful  business  until  the  fall  of  1866,  when  the 
rolling-mill  and  nail-factory  connected  therewith 
were  entirely  destroyed  by  fire,  leaving  only  the 
building  tributary  to  the  business  standing.  But  the 
company,  nothing  daunted  at  their  great  loss,  which 
was  not  fully  insured,  began  immediately  the  erec- 
tion of  a  larger  and  more  improved  mill  upon  the  site 
of  the  former  buildings,  and  in  about  one  year  from 
the  time  the  old  mill  was  destroyed  the  new  one  was 
running  successfully,  and  continued  operations  until 
1871,  when  it  was  sold  to  persons  belonging  to  and 
buying  in  the  interest  of  the  Parker  Mills,  of  Ware- 
ham,  Mass.,  a  large  and  prosperous  concern.  They 
continued  to  run  it,  with  Mr.  O.  A.  Washburn,  Jr., 
of  Providence,  as  agent  and  treasurer,  for  about  eight 
years.  The  extreme  depression  of  the  iron  business 
in  1875  and  later  forced  them  to  give  up  to  the  in- 
evitable, and  in  the  spring  of  1878  they  ceased  opera- 
tions entirely,  and  remained  quiescent  until  the  fall 
of  1881,  when  it  was  sold  to  the  Old  Colony  Iron 
Company,  of  Taunton,  who  have  and  are  still  running 
it  successfully. 

"  At  the  time  of  the  disposal  of  their  works  by  the 
Mount  Hope  Iron  Company,  it  was  the  purpose  of  | 
Mr.  J.  M.  Leonard,  who  had  been  its  manager  from 
their  starting,  to  retire  from  business  and  enjoy  his  ' 


ease,  he  having  acquired  a  competency  by  his  years 
of  industry;  but  having  been  actively  engaged  in 
business  for  so  long  a  time,  that  after  a  short  period 
ease  grew  to  be  so  monotonous  that  he  began  the 
erection  of  another  mill  on  some  property  a  short 
distance  from  the  old  one,  which  was  not  disposed  of 
at  the  sale  of  the  first  mill.  Mr.  Leonard  having  been 
engaged  so  long  in  the  business  was  enabled  to  build 
the  new  mill  on  a  much  improved  plan,  and  in  about 
three  years  he  started  his  new  mill  for  the  purpose»of 
not  only  making  nails,  but  also  a  very  superior  qual- 
ity of  tack  and  shovel-plate.  Mr.  Leonard  still  acts 
as  treasurer  of  the  concern,  and  he  is  ably  assisted  by 
his  son,  Mr.  H.  B.  Leonard,  who  is  the  agent  of  the 
company.  The  two  mills  employ  about  five  hundred 
men,  and  have  a  capacity  of  about  four  thousand 
casks  of  nails  per  week,  besides  a  large  quantity  ot 
plate,  which  is  used  for  the  purpose  of  making  tacks 
and  small  nails,  and  also  for  shovels  and  spades. 

"  Another  industry  was  begun  in  this  place  about 
1854,  known  as  the  Boston  Stove  Foundry,  for  the 
manufacture  of  stoves  and  hollow-ware.  This  was 
not  a  success  financially  at  the  commencement,  and 
was  run  at  a  loss  to  the  owners  until  about  the 
year  1867,  when  a  company  was  formed  called  the 
Somerset  Co-operative  Foundry  Company.  This  was 
composed  mostly  of  workmen,  who  at  once  began 
operations,  and  although  it  was  a  severe  struggle  at 
first,  yet  by  perseverance  and  energy  it  has  grown  to 
be  a  large  concern,  and  now  gives  'employment  to 
about  fifty  men,  most  of  whom  are  stockholders,  and 
manage  the  business  among  themselves. 

This  company  was  organized  and  its  first  officers 
chosen  as  follows:  President,  Wm.  M.  Bartlett; 
treasurer,  Wm.  B.  Marble;  Clerk,  E.  A.  Davis  ;  fore- 
man, R.  C.  Woodward  ;  Directors,  H.  D.  Skinner, 
George  W.  Nye,  J.  C.  Babbitt,  I.  A.  Marble,  and 
Wm.  P.  Hood.  The  capital  stock  was  fifteen  thousand 
dollars.  The  first  year's  business  amounted  to  twenty- 
five  thousand  dollars.  The  capital  stock  was  after- 
wards increased  to  thirty  thousand  dollars,  which, 
with  the  accumulated,  makes  a  working  capital  at 
present  of  about  fifty-five  thousand  dollars.  Last 
year's  sales  amounted  to  seventy-five  thousand  dol- 
lars, being  limited  only  by  the  capacity  for  produc- 
tion. The  company  has  not  been  able  during  the  past 
four  years  to  fill  its  orders,  and  its  business  is  con- 
stantly increasing.  It  has  the  reputation  of  producing 
the  best  goods  in  the  market.  All  goods  manufac- 
tured by  the  company  are  made  from  patterns  de- 
signed and  constructed  under  its  supervision.  The 
present  officers  of  the  company  are  :  President,  Wm. 
P.  Marble;  Treasurer,  E.  A.  Davis;  foreman,  Geo. 
H.  Sherman  ;  Directors,  James  Cundall,  C.  Fuller, 
J.  Woodward,  E.  P.  Hathaway,  David  B.  Hood,  J. 
L.  Shurtleff,  and  George  L.  Davis. 

"  Previous  to  the  extension  of  the  Old  Colony  Rail- 
road by  the  way  of  Taunton,  Somerset  was  completely 
isolated  from  the  outside  world  by  rail  communica- 


c 


/  /  /2  //'  & ;--  -£    ://}^  ^-^^ 


SOMERSET. 


647 


tion,  and  all  her  productions  had  either  to  be  shipped 
by  water  or  else  carted  to  Fall  River  or  Taunton  for 
shipment  by  rail.  But  with  the  completion  of  the 
railroad  through  to  Boston,  it  now  enjoys  complete 
rail  connections. 

"In  addition  to  the  industries  already  mentioned 
is  another  which  should  not  be  ignored,  and  that  is 
the  landing  of  coal  and  other  products  for  shipment 
by  rail  to  various  points.  This  business  has  grown 
until  the  quantity  now  landed  amounts  to  hundreds 
of  thousands  of  tons  yearly,  and  gives  employment 
to  many  men.  With  all  the  industries  running  there 
is  disbursed  about  twenty  thousand  dollars  monthly, 
so  that  any  one  may  readily  see  that  this  place  occu- 
pies no  mean  position  with  the  outside  world,  and 
with  her  water  and  rail  accommodations  is  destined 
in  the  future  to  grow  to  be  a  very  populous  and  busy 
community." 

Military  Record. — The  following  enlisted  from 
this  town  during  the  war  of  the  Rebellion :  George 
Allen,  Joseph  Allen,  John  Briggs,  James  O. 
Bryen,  P.  Beekton,  G.  O.  Bourne,  Daniel  Briggs, 
James  Cranage,  James  W.  Chace,  E.  D.  Connors, 
Edw.  Cleveland,  John  W.  Conroy,  B.  R.  Chace,  J. 
Chace,  Thomas  Conerty,  Charles  Caswell,  William 
H.  Clark,  N.  H.  Clark,  George  F.  Chace,  M.  P. 
Chace,  George  A.  Chace,  J.  B.  Carmichael,  M.  Car- 
roll, Benjamin  F.  Chace,  Charles  H.  Colwell,  S.  R. 
Davis,  E.  J.  Dyer,  Eugene  Dwight,  W.  Deckinton, 
N.  S.  Davis,  Hiram  Eldridge,  Ira  Emery,  Warren 
Ellis,  George  A.  Edson,  F.  P.  Evans,  W.  T.  Fields, 
George  Forrester,  A.  W.  French,  Robert  Gregory,  S. 
W.  Gibbs,  Jos.  Gibbs,  A.  T.  Sommers,  W.  H.  H. 
Hood,  C.  Hagerty,  Frank  Hatton,  M.  B.  Henry, 
Daniel  B.  Hood,  John  Hardy,  George  W.  Hathaway, 
John  R.  Holton,  M.  Holton,  N.  H.  Hall,  E.  Hancock, 
George  N.  Hood,  John  G.  Kendrick,  M.  Kendrick, 
John  Hane,  William  Herr,  George  E.  Leonard,  J.  S. 
Luther,  A.  C.  Luther,  Richard  Larry,  R.  Lahus,  J.  R. 
Lampson,  James  Murphy,  J.  H.  Mantier,  M.  Marks, 
Benjamin  Marble,  George  W.  Marble,  A.  H.  Marble, 
E.  F.  Mosher,  Daniel  Maines,  J.  M.  Moore,  George 
O'Neil,  James  O'Neil,  Charles  Nightingale,  O.  W. 
Phillips,  F.  A.  Percy,  W.  C.  Peirce,  S.  M.  Padleford, 
S.  C.  Purinton,  C.  B.  Peckham,  Charles  Rice,  William 
Regan,  P.  Swift,  H.  M.  Slade,  George  Swift,  P.  Swift, 
Jr.,  S.  A.  Sisson,  L.  H.  Sherman,  A.  Stefanski,  B.  D. 
Simmons,  William  Scott,  John  Shaw,  John  Shay,  Jr., 
A.  Smith,  J.  A.  Scoyles,  Peleg  Swift,  J.  Sullivan,  Ira 
M.  Sherman,  O.  Simmons,  J.  Shipman,  Frederick  W. 
Shaw,  P.  Sullivan,  W.  Thompson,  W.  H.  Talmon, 
Charles  Tompkins,  S.  Tryan,  B.  Terry,  John  AV. 
Wood,  Andrew  Wilmarth,  Thomas  Wrightington, 
< '.  M.  Wheaton,  J.  W.  Walsh,  J.  M.  Whitman,  John 
Wilson. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


JONATHAN   SLADE. 

Jonathan  Slade,  son  of  William  and  Phebe  (Law-. 
ton)  Slade,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Somerset,  Mass., 
Sept.  23,  1815.  His  father  was  a  son  of  Jonathan 
and  Mary  (Chace)  Slade,  and  was  born  in  Somerset 
(then  Swansea)  in  July,  1780.  (See  biography  of 
William  L.  and  John  P.  Slade.)  He  married  Phebe 
Lawton,  and  had  seven  children,  viz.,  Abigail  L., 
Lydia  A.,  Amanda,  Jonathan,  William  L.,  David, 
and  Mary,  all  born  in  Somerset  on  the  ancestral  farm 
now  in  the  possession  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 
William  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  in  connec- 
tion therewith  owned  and  operated  the  ferry  known 
as  Slade's  Ferry  until  the  bridge  was  built  in  Jan- 
uary, 1876.  This  ferry  has  been  in  the  family  since 
1680, — more  than  two  hundred  years, — and  has  been 
handed  down  from  father  to  son  during  that  long 
period. 

The  Slades  are  of  Welsh  origin,  being  descended 
from  Edward  and  William,  his  son,  who  were  both 
born  in  Wales,  and  came  to  Rhode  Island  prior  to 
1659,  at  which  date  the  records  Show  that  William 
was  admitted  a  freeman  of  the  colony.  Jonathan 
was  a  son  of  Edward,  of  the  third  generation,  the 
one  who  inherited  the  ferry  from  his  uncle,  Capt. 
Jonathan  Slade,  and  was  grandfather  of  our  subject. 
He  had  seven  children,  of  whom  William  Slade  was 
one.     (See  sketch  of  William  L.  Slade.) 

Jonathan  Slade,  the  immediate  subject  of  this 
notice,  received  a  common  school  education,  and  in 
addition  thereto  spent  a  few  months  at  the  Friends' 
Academy  in  Providence,  R.  I.  He  was  reared  a 
farmer,  and  has  always  followed  that  honorable  call- 
ing. His  father  died  Sept.  7,  1852,  and  his  mother 
March  18,  1874,  aged  nearly  ninety-three  years. 
They  were  members  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  as  had 
been  their  parents  before  them. 

Mr.  Slade  owned  and  managed  the  Slade  Ferry 
after  the  death  of  his  father,  until  it  was  superseded 
by  the  erection  of  the  bridge  in  1876.  He  owns  an 
interest  in  several  mills  in  Fall  River,  and  is  one  of 
the  directors  of  the  Slade  Mills,  of  which  his  brother, 
William  L.  Slade,  is  president,  also  one  of  the  direc- 
tors of  the  Davol  Mills,  and  of  the  Metacomet  Bank 
of  Fall  River. 

In  politics  he  is  a  Republican.  He  has  been  select- 
man of  his  town,  and  has  held  various  other  local 
offices,  and  served  as  a  member  of  county  and  other 
conventions.  In  1849  and  1850  he  was  a  member  of 
the  State  Legislature,  and  served  his  constituents 
with  acceptance  and  honor. 

He  has  been  twice  married, — first,  to  Caroline  B., 
daughter  of  Dr.  John  Winslow,  of  Swansea,  in  July, 
1841,  by  whom  he  has  one  son,  William  W.,  a  farmer, 
residing  in  Swansea.  She  died  Feb.  1,  1845,  aged 
thirty-three    years.      Second,   to    Emaline    Hooper, 


648 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


daughter  of  Salmon  and  Rebecca  Hooper,  of  Wal- 
pole,  N.  H.,  May  29,  1851.  She  was  born  in  Wal- 
pole,  N.  H.,  Feb.  23,  1820.  Of  this  union  there  is 
one  son,  David  F.  Slade,  born  Nov.  5,  1855.  He 
graduated  from  Brown  University  in  the  class  of 
1880,  and  from  the  Boston  Law  School  in  June,  1883. 


WILLIAM    L.    SLADE. 


The  first  ancestor  of  the  Slade  family  in  America 
was  Edward,  who  was  born  in  Wales,  Great  Britain. 
Little  is  known  of  him  except  that  he  lost  his  life  on 
a  voyage  between  this  country  and  England. 

He  had  a  son  William,  born  also  in  Wales,  who  set- 
tled first  on  the  island  of  Rhode  Island,  where  he  was 
admitted  a  freeman  in  1659,  and  in  1680  he  removed 
to  Slade's  Ferry,  in  Swansea,  now  Somerset,  Bristol 
Co.,  Mass.  He  was  a  large  land-owner  in  that  vicinity, 
and  portions  of  his  original  estate  are  now  owned  by 
his  descendants,  Jonathan  and  William  L.  Slade. 
William  Slade,  the  ancestor,  was  the  first  white  man 
to  own  and  keep  the  ferry  known  as  Slade's  Ferry, 
which  tradition  says  had  been  previously  run  by  the 
Indians.  He  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  Rev.  Oba- 
diah  Holmes,  of  Rehoboth,  and  had  ten  children, 
three  sons  and  seven  daughters.  William  Slade  died 
in  1729;  his  wife  Sarah  died  several  years  later,  and 
at  the  time  of  her  death  had  five  hundred  and  thirty- 
five  descendants. 

The  sons  of  William  and  Sarah  (Holmes)  Slade 
were  Jonathan,  Edward,  and  William.  The  descent 
of  William  L.  Slade  is  through  Edward,  the  second 
son  of  William  ;  then  Samuel,  son  of  Edward  ;  then 
Jonathan,  son  of  Samuel ;  then  William,  son  of  Jona- 
than ;  then  William  L. 

Edward,  the  ancestor  of  our  subject  in  the  third 
generation,  was  a  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends ; 
he  was  twice  married,  but  his  first  wife  was  the  mother 
of  all  his  children,  and  she  was  a  Chace. 

Samuel  Slade  was  a  native  of  Somerset.  He  mar- 
ried Mercy  Buffum,  of  Salem,  Mass.,  and  had  nine 
sons,  of  whom  the  eldest  was  Jonathan,  born  about 
1743.  Samuel  received  the  ferry  and  homestead  by 
bequest  of  his  uncle,  Capt.  Jonathan  Slade,  who  died 
without  issue,  and  besides  conducting  the  ferry  car- 
ried on  farming  and  blacksmithing. 

Jonathan  Slade  married  Mary  Chase,  and  had  nine 
children,  whose  names  are  as  follows  :  Jonathan,  Wil- 
liam, Nathan,  Mercy,  Mary,  Patience,  Lydia,  Annie, 
and  Phebe.  He  died  in  1811,  aged  sixty-eight.  His 
wife  Mary  died. 

William,  son  of  Jonathan  Slade,  was  born  in  July, 
1780;  he  married  Phebe,  daughter  of  William  Law- 
ton,  and  had  seven  children,  viz.  :  Abigail  L.,  Lydia 
A.,  Amanda,  Jonathan,  William,  David,  and  Mary, 
all  born  in  Somerset. 

William  Slade  was  one  of  the  original  proprietors 
of  the   Pocassett   Manufacturing   Company  of  Fall 


River,  and  also  of  the  Watuppa  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany. He  was  a  highly-esteemed  and  influential 
man,  and  held  several  offices  of  trust  in  his  town.  In 
1826  he  began  to  run  a  horse-boat  on  the  ferry,  and 
in  1846  put  on  a  steamboat. 

William  Lawton  Slade,  the  immediate  subject  of 
this  notice,  was  born  Sept.  6,  1817,  on  the  farm  in 
Somerset.  Here  he  was  brought  up,  working  as  a 
farmer  and  ferryman,  and  received  his  education  at 
the  Friends'  school  in  Providence.  In  1871  he  pur- 
chased the  ferry  property  on  the  East  Side,  which  he 
still  owns.  He  is  the  owner  of  several  fine  farms, 
and  has  followed  mainly  the  pursuit  of  an  agricultu- 
rist. 

In  1860  he  was  elected  a  director  in  the  Fall  River 
National  Bank.  He  is  the  originator  of  the  Slade 
Mills,  of  which  company  he  is  president;  also  a  di- 
rector in  the  Stafford  Mills,  and  president  and  director 
in  the  Montaup  Mills,  besides  owning  stock  in  various 
other  manufacturing  interests. 

In  his  political  principles  he  is  a  Republican,  and 
although  not  an  office-seeker  he  has  several  times 
been  elected  to  discharge  important  public  duties. 
For  many  years  he  has  served  his  town  as  selectman  ; 
was  a  representative  to  the  Legislature  in  1859,  a 
member  of  the  Senate  in  1863,  and  again  elected  to 
the  House  in  1874.  While  in  the  House  the  first 
term  he  served  on  the  Committee  on  Agriculture  ;  also 
served  on  the  same  committee  in  the  Senate,  and  in 
the  House  the  second  time  he  served  on  the  Commit- 
tee on  Public  Charitable  Institutions,  and  was  one  of 
the  committee  of  arrangements  for  the  burial  of  Hon. 
Charles  Sumner.  In  the  settlement  of  estates  Mr. 
Slade  has  had  considerable  experience,  and  he  is  at 
present  a  commissioner  for  dividing  estates. 

He  married  Mary  Sherman,  daughter  of  Asa  and 
Elizabeth  (Mitchell)  Sherman,  Oct.  5,  1842.  She  was 
born  in  Portsmouth,  R.  L,  Sept.  16,  1815.  They  have 
had  five  children,  viz. :  Caroline  E.,  married  Heze- 
kiah  A.  Brayton,  and  lives  in  Fall  River;  Abigail  L. 
(deceased),  married  James  T.  Milne,  of  Fall  River; 
Mary  (deceased),  married  Velona  W.  Haughwout, 
and  left  three  children  ;  Sarah,  died  at  two  years  of 
age,  and  Anna,  in  infancy. 


DANIEL  WILBUR. 


Daniel  Wilbur  is  a  lineal  descendant  in  the  seventh 
generation  from  Samuel  Wildbore,  of  Boston,  the 
name  being  differently  spelled  as  Wildbore,  Wilbore, 
Wilbour,  Wilbor,  Wilber,  Wilbar,  and  Wilbur,  the 
latter  being  now  the  most  common  orthography. 
The  original  American  ancestor  is  believed  to  have 
settled  in  Boston  in  1633,  as  the  records  of  the  First 
Church  contain  the  following  entry:  "Samuel  Wild- 
bore, with  his  wife  Ann,  was  admitted  to  this  church 
Dec.  1,  1633." 

The  line  of  descent  to  Daniel  Wilbur,  whose  name 


^^ 


tZ^Z^L 


SOMERSET. 


649 


stands  at  the  head  of  this  sketch,  is  as  follows : 
Samuel1,  William2,  Daniel3,  Daniel4,  DanieP,  Daniel6, 
Daniel7. 

William  Wilbor  (supposed  third),  son  of  Samuel, 
of  Boston,  settled  in  Portsmouth,  R.  I.,  on  lands  of 
his  father.  It  is  uncertain  whom  he  married,  hut  of 
his  nine  children,  Daniel,  born  in  Portsmouth,  R.  I., 
in  1(366,  was  the  first  settler  of  the  name  in  Somer- 
set, on  lands  purchased  by  his  father  in  1680.  He 
was  then  fourteen  years  of  age,  and  inherited  the 
property  upon  his  father's  death  in  1710.  His  wife's 
name  was  Mary  Barney.  They  had  several  children, 
among  whom  was  DanieP,  born  March  31,  1697.  He 
was  a  prominent  man,  and  held  various  town  offices. 
He  married  Ann  Mason,  and  had  two  children, — 
Daniel  and  Elizabeth.  His  death  occurred  in  June, 
1759.  Daniel5  was  born  in  Somerset,  April  26,  17-49. 
He  married  Mary  Barnaby,  of  Freetown,  and  had 
children,  viz.:  Daniel,  James,  Ambrose,  Elizabeth, 
Barnaby,  Mary,  William,  Hanan,  and  Anna.  All 
except  Ambrose  and  Anna,  who  died  in  infancy, 
lived  to  be  aged.  DanieP  died  March  2,  1821.  His 
wife  died  Dec.  21,  1826,  aged  eighty-four.  Daniel6 
was  born  Jan.  28,  1773,  and  died  Feb.  24,  1844.  He 
married  Sarah,  daughter  of  Zephaniah  Sherman,  of 
Somerset.  She  was  born  January,  1779,  and  died 
Feb.  11,  1860.  They  had  children  as  follows:  Am- 
brose B.,  Elizabeth  (Mrs.  Oliver  Mason,  of  Bristol, 
R.  Li,  Daniel,  Jr.  (died  at  eight  years  of  age),  Mary 
B.  (residing  with  her  brother  Daniel),  Daniel7,  and 
Sarah  (deceased),  all  born  in  Somerset,  Mass. 

Daniel  Wilbur,  son  of  Daniel  and  Sarah  (Sherman) 
Wilbur,  was  born  Nov.  14,  1818.  His  advantages  for 
an  early  education  were  such  as  the  common  schools 
of  his  neighborhood  afforded.  He  was  reared  a  farmer, 
and  remained  with  his  parents  till  their  death.  Upon 
the  decease  of  his  father  in  1844  he  came  into  pos- 
session of  the  ancestral  home,  which  had  been  in  the 
family  since  1680.  As  a  farmer  he  ranks  among  the 
best  of  his  town. 

He  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  though  liberal  or 
independent.  In  1843  he  was  a  member  of  the  State 
Legislature,  and  was  returned  to  the  same  body  in 
1879,  and  served  on  the  House  Committee  on  Prisons. 
While  in  the  Senate,  in  1854,  he  served  on  the  Com- 
mittee on  Engrossed  Bills,  and  as  chairman  of  the 
Committee  on  Capital  Punishment.  In  local  affairs 
he  has  had  much  experience,  having  been  selectman, 
delegate  to  county  conventions,  and  chairman  of  town- 
meetings  and  public  gatherings. 

Mr.  Wilbur  has  been  twice  married.  First  he  mar- 
ried Nancy  O.,  daughter  of  John  and  Rachel  (Horton) 
Blade,  Feb.  3,  1845.  They  had  four  children,  viz., 
Daniel  (residing  in  Somerset),  Angelina  (deceased), 
William  B.  (a  resident  of  Wisconsin),  Roswell  E. 
(deceased).  The  last  named  died  in  1870,  while  a 
student  at  college.  We  append  the  following  beauti- 
ful tribute  to  his  memory  by  a  committee  of  the  Alpha 
Delta  Phi  Society,  of  which  he  was  a  member: 


IN   MEMORIAM. 

"  With  sorrow  do  we  record  the  death  of  our  brother,  Koswell  E.  Wil- 
bur, who  died  at  his  home  in  Somerset,  Mass.,  on  the  20th  of  September, 
1876. 

"  He  entered  college  in  the  Class  of  1876,  and  continued  as  a  member 
until  the  beginning  of  his  Senior  year,  when  the  disease  which  finally 
terminated  his  life  compelled  him  to  relinquish  the  studies  he  had  so 
ardently  pursued.  In  his  college  course  he  distinguished  himself  by 
the  breadth  and  accuracy  of  his  scholarship.  He  had  a  clear,  well-bal- 
anced mind,  which  bespoke  for  him  a  brilliant  career. 

"  But,  above  all,  do  we  feel  compelled  to  speak  of  those  graces  of  char- 
acter which  shone  so  clearly  during  his  entire  college  course.  Pure, 
unselfish,  kind,  and  considerate,  he  made  friends  of  all  who  came  in 
contact  with  him. 

"  '  None  knew  him  but  love  him, 
None  loved  him  but  to  praise.' 

"  We,  the  members  of  this  society,  who  have  been  called  to  mourn  the 
loss  of  his  cherished  classmates,  Lincoln  and  Greene,  deeply  feel  our 
great  bereavement. 

"To  his  family,  bowed  down  with  grief,  we  bear  our  warmest  sympa- 
thies. May  He  who  brightened  your  home  so  many  years  with  so  kind 
a  brother  and  dutiful  a  son,  grant  you  consolation  in  your  hour  of 
trial . 

"  Charles  V.  Chapin, 
"  Benj.  W.  Steele, 
"  Charles  T.  Aldhich, 

"  Committee  for  the  Chapter.'1'' 

Mrs.  Wilbur  was  born  in  September,  1822,  and  died 
March  22,  1860. 

Mr.  Wilbur  married  his  second  wife,  Sarah  E., 
daughter  of  John  Mason,  of  Swansea,  Oct.  31,  1861. 
She  was  born  in  Warren,  R.  L,  in  1833.  They  have 
two  children,  Henry  E.,  of  Providence,  R.  I.,  and 
Sarah  S.,  living  at  home. 


AVERY    PARKER    SLADE. 

Avery  Parker  Slade  is  a  lineal  descendant  from 
Edward  Slade,  the  emigrant,  and  from  William  Slade, 
the  first  of  the  name  in  Somerset  in  1680.  (See  biog- 
raphy of  William  L.  Slade,  of  Somerset.)  His  great- 
grandfather was  Edward  Slade,  who  had  a  son  Baker, 
who  was  a  farmer  in  Somerset.  Baker  married  Han- 
nah Pierce,  and  had  nine  children,  one  of  whom  was 
Edward,  born  in  Somerset,  Jan.  8, 1787,  married  Mary 
A.,  daughter  of  Capt.  Benjamin  A.  Davis,  of  Som- 
erset, Mass.  They  had  four  children, —  (1)  Mary  A. 
(Mrs.  Edward  Edmonds) ;  (2)  Avery  P. ;  (3)  Eliza  D. 
(deceased),  wife  of  Rev.  Micah  J.  Talbot ;  (4)  George 
D.,  died  unmarried,  January,  1863.  Edward  Slade 
was  a  ship-builder  for  more  than  forty  years  of  his 
earlier  life,  but  subsequently  was  a  fanner.  Politi- 
cally he  was  a  Democrat  of  the  old  school,  till  the 
Republican  party  was  formed,  in  1856,  when  he  be- 
came one  of  its  stanch  defenders.  He  held  various 
offices  of  trust  in  his  native  town  during  the  war  of 
1812  to  1815,  and  subsequently  till  the  close  of  life. 
He  represented  Somerset  in  the  General  Court  from 
1819  to  1830,  a  period  of  eleven  years,  during  which 
time  he  served  on  important  committees.  Both  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Slade  were  active  members  of  the  Methodist 
Church.  She  died  in  September,  1868,  and  he  died 
February  14,  1878. 


650 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Avery  Parker  Slade,  named  for  Hon.  John  Avery 
Parker,  of  New  Bedford,  was  born  in  Somerset,  Mass., 
June  13, 1818.  He  received  a  common-school  and  aca- 
demic education.  He  began  teaching  at  the  age  of  six- 
teen at  Bristol,  R.  I.,  and  his  first  school  numbered  more 
than  seventy  pupils.  He  continued  teaching  until  he 
was  married.  He  was  taught  the  trade  of  his  father, 
that  of  ship-building,  and  followed  the  same  till  he 
was  some  twenty-three  years  of  age.  He  married, 
April  4,  1844,  Rebecca  W.,  daughter  of  Cassina  and 
Clarissa  (Walker)  Shaw,  and  has  had  four  children, — 
(1)  Edward  (deceased) ;  (2)  Edward  second  (de- 
ceased) ;  (3)  Nathan  D.,  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  iron  ;  (4)  Cassina  D.,  a  book-keeper  in  the  First 
National  Bank,  Fall  River. 

April  5,  1844,  Mr.  Slade  settled  on  his  present  farm, 
which  has  since  been  his  home.  It  contains  about 
fifty  acres,  which  are  in  a  fine  state  of  cultivation.  He 
has  excellent  buildings,  erected  by  himself.  He  is 
quite  extensively  engaged  in  the  growing  of  small 
fruits,  and  has  been  uniformly  successful.  He  is  one 
of  the  best  and  most  progressive  farmers  in  Somerset. 
In  politics  he  is  a  Republican.  In  1847  he,  with 
Joseph  Marble  and  Henry  B.  Parcels,  held  the  first 
anti-slavery  caucus  in  Somerset,  and  they  nominated 
as  their  representative  to  the  General  Court  Jonathan 
Slade,  Esq.,  who  was  at  home  sick  and  unable  to  at- 
tend. Mr.  Slade  has  been  justice  of  the  peace  for 
many  years,  and  has  held  various  other  town  offices. 
In  1866  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  State  Board 
of  Agriculture,  and  has  continued  to  serve  acceptably 
till  the  present  time,  except  one  term,  when  Judge 
Bennett,  of  Taunton,  took  his  place.  He  conducts 
"  Farmers'  Institutes,"  and  lectures  in  all  the  adjoin- 
ing counties  on  farming,  and  is  often  called  to  distant 
counties.  His  views  on  farming  and  horticulture  are 
considered  authority,  and  his  services  are  always  in 
demand  for  institute  work.  He  is  methodical  in  his 
work,  and  aims  to  carry  out  his  theories.  He  is  con- 
servative in  his  views  on  all  the  questions  of  the  day, 
and  is  respected  both  at  home  and  abroad. 

During  the  great  civil  war  he  was  enrolling  officer 
for  Somerset,  and  though  exempt  from  military  duty, 
yet  he  put  into  the  field  a  substitute  and  paid  for  the 
same  himself. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Slade  are  Unitarians  in  religious  be- 
lief, though  not  members  of  any  society.  Mr.  Slade 
possesses  sound  judgment  and  keen  foresight.  He  is 
very  cautious,  and  thinks  twice  before  he  acts.  He 
seems  to  enjoy  life  well,  and  is  surrounded  with  the 
comforts  of  a  pleasant,  happy  home. 


CAPT.  NATHAN  DAVIS  (2d). 
Capt.  Nathan  Davis  (2d)  was  born  in  Freetown, 
Mass.,  Jan.  17,  1803.  He  is  a  lineal  descendant  in 
the  fifth  generation  from  William  Davis,  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  Freetown,  Mass.  At  what  date  this 
William  Davis  settled  in  Freetown,  or  when  he  came 


to  America,  is  not  known  to  the  writer  of  this  sketch, 
but  from  data  contributed  to  the  "  Historical  and 
Genealogical  Register''  by  Gen.  Ebenezer  W.  Peirce, 
of  Freetown,  we  learn  that  William  Davis  (1st)  was 
a  grand  juryman  in  1697  ;  that  he  married,  March  1, 
1686,  Mary,  daughter  of  William  and  Ann  (Johnson) 
Makepeace,  of  Freetown,  Mass.  Ann  Johnson  was 
the  granddaughter  of  Thomas  Makepeace,  of  Boston. 

William  Davis  had  twelve  children,  the  fourth  of 
whom  was  Jonathan2,  who  married  Sarah  Terry,  and 
had  five  children,  the  second  of  whom  was  Jonathan3, 
born  May  26,  1736 ;  was  twice  married,  first  to  Mar- 
garet Baggs,  of  Freetown,  March  20, 1757  ;  second,  to 
Sarah  Treadwell,  of  Freetown,  Jan.  16,  1772.  He 
died  Jan.  1,  1808.  He  had  by  his  first  wife,  Margaret 
Baggs,  a  daughter,  Margaret,  who  died  young,  and  a 
son,  Jonathan*,  born  Jan.  7,  1770. 

Jonathan4  married  Chloe  Simmons,  daughter  of 
Zephaniah  and  Abigail  (Parker)  Simmons.  She  was 
born  June  29,  1779,  died. 

Their  children  were  Jonathan5,  Nancy5,  Abby5, 
Zephaniah  S.5,  Eliphatel5,  Nathan5,  Louisa5,  Chloe5, 
Bradley5,  Sarah5,  Harret5,  Russel5,  Sarah5  (2d),  Sybil 
P.5,  and  Phebe  A.5     Jonathan*  died. 

Nathan5  Davis,  whose  portrait  accompanies  this 
sketch,  has  spent  the  larger  portion  of  his  life  on  the 
water.  His  father  was  engaged  in  the  coasting  busi- 
ness, and  young  Nathan  was  early  made  acquainted 
with  that  business.  At  the  early  age  of  ten  years  he 
commenced  going  on  the  Taunton  River,  and  after  a 
service  of  seven  years,  in  which  he  had  become  so 
familiar  with  the  coasting  business  that  he  became 
master  of  the  sloop  "  Mary"  at  seventeen  years  of  age, 
he  commanded  her  some  five  or  six  years.  Soon  after 
he  built  the  sloop  "  Ranger,"  in  company  with  Capt. 
Joseph  Simmons,  and  ran  her  between  Fall  River 
and  Taunton.  After  a  few  years  he  built  another 
sloop,  which  he  named  "Temperance."  A  little  in- 
cident in  connection  with  the  dedication  of  this  sloop 
is  worthy  Of  a  place  here,  as  it  rears  to  his  memory 
a  monument  more  worthy  and  more  enduring  than 
granite  or  marble.  It  was  customary  in  those  days 
when  a  sloop,  bark,  or  vessel  of  any  kind  was  being 
dedicated  to  the  purpose  for  which  she  was  built  to 
break  a  bottle  of  rum  over  her  bow,  but  Capt.  Davis 
departed  from  this  time-honored  custom  and  ventured 
the  experiment  of  breaking  a  bottle  of  pure  water 
over  the  bow  of  his  sloop.  He  would  have  the  entire 
service  in  harmony  with  the  name  she  bore.  This 
was  probably  the  first  sloop  or  vessel  of  any  kind 
built  in  this  country  and  dedicated  to  commerce  in 
the  name  of  temperance.  Capt.  Davis  was  one  of 
the  pioneer  temperance  men  of  this  section,  and  has 
ever  been  a  consistent  advocate  of  that  cause.  It  is 
a  remarkable  fact  well  worthy  of  mention  that  Capt. 
Davis  and  his  five  sons  have  each  commanded  the 
sloop  "Temperance,"  and  she  has  proven  to  be  one 
of  the  most  profitable  sloops  that  ever  sailed. 

Capt.  Davis  continued  to  follow  the  coasting  busi- 


_^2#€^0     &J 


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</''  '//,>     'J**f/*  "  "'"^ 


SOMERSET. 


651 


ness  till  1873,  when  he  retired.  From  1845  to  1855 
he  was  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  in  Somerset, 
Mass.  He  became  a  member  of  the  First  Baptist 
Church  in  Somerset  in  the  prime  of  life,  and  in  1838 
he  was  ordained  deacon,  which  position  he  continues 
still  to  hold.  He  has  also  been  trustee  of  the  same 
for  a  great  many  years.  Politically,  he  is  a  Repub- 
lican. 

He  married  Clarissa,  daughter  of  John  Bowen,  of 
Fall  River,  Jan.  1,1826.  Their  children  are:  (1) 
Sarah  A.,  wife  of  William  P.  Hood,  of  Somerset;  (2) 
Nathan  S.,  postmaster  in  Somerset  since  1860;  (3) 
William  B.,  died  young;  (4)  Elijah  G.,  a  citizen  of 
Fall  River,  and  captain  of  a  steamer  on  the  Old  Col- 
ony Line ;  (5)  Mary  E.,  wife  of  John  A.  Chase,  of 
Fairhaven  ;  (6)  Amos  N.,  lost  at  sea,  March  20,  1867  ; 
(7)  Joseph  F.,  died  young;  (8)  Joseph  F.2,  master  of 
vessels,  and  one  of  Somerset's  most  respected  citizens ; 
(9)  Ellen  M.,  died  young;  (10)  William  H.  H.,  died 
young;  (11)  Jonathan  B.,  died  young;  (12)  Clarissa E., 
wife  of  James  F.  Gardiner,  of  Somerset ;  (13)  Corne- 
lius A.,  master  of  schooner  "  William  P.  Hood,"  and 
a  highly-esteemed  citizen  of  Somerset;  and  (14)  Ke- 
ziah  M.,  wife  of  Edward  Mosher,  of  Fall  River. 
Mrs.  Davis  was  born  in  1811.  In  cases  of  need  she 
was  always  ready  to  assist,  and  having  reared  a  large 
family  herself  she  was  peculiarly  well  qualified  to  care 
for  the  sick.  She  was  one  of  the  strongest  temperance 
persons  in  the  town,  and  much  credit  is  due  her  for 
the  position  the  town  took  on  that  question  during 
her  lifetime.  She  died  March  27,  1871,  in  the  sixty- 
first  year  of  her  age.  She  was  a  faithful  wife  and 
devoted  mother,  and  the  impress  of  her  Christian 
character  may  be  seen  to-day,  not  only  on  her  own 
children,  but  upon  all  those  with  whom  she  came  in 
contact. 

JOB    M.    LEONARD. 

Job  M.  Leonard  was  born  in  Raynham,  Bristol 
County,  Mass.,  Sept.  1,  1824,  and  is  a  direct  descend- 
ant of  one  of  the  Leonard  families  from  Wales,  who 
settled  in  Raynham  in  1652. 

He  was  educated  at  the  common  schools,  and  worked 
on  a  farm  until  about  sixteen  years  of  age;  then  he 
entered  a  hardware-store  in  Taunton  as  clerk  and  re- 
mained until  1844,  when  he  commenced  business  on 
his  own  account.  In  1849  he  established  an  office  in 
Boston,  which  has  continued  to  the  present  time. 

In  1850,  Mr.  Leonard  organized  the  East  Bridge- 
water  Iron  Company  and  continued  with  them  about 
five  years,  when  he  disposed  of  his  interest  in  that 
establishment  and  organized,  in  1855,  the  Mount 
Hope  Iron- Works  at  Somerset.  He  planned  and  built 
the  two  iron-works  in  that  town  for  the  manufacture 
of  nails  and  plate  iron.  The  old  works  were  sold  to 
the  Parker  Mills  in  186S,  and  subsequently  passed 
into  the  hands  of  the  Old  Colony  Iron  Company. 
The  present  works  of  the  Mount  Hope  Company  Mr. 
Leonard  erected  in  1872,  and  employs  from  two  hun- 


dred to  two  hundred  and  fifty  men.  Upon  the  organ- 
ization of  the  company  Albert  Field  was  elected 
president,  and  remained  as  such  until  his  death.  Mr. 
Leonard  has  been  treasurer  of  the  company  since  its 
organization.  His  son,  Mr.  Henry  B.  Leonard,  is 
now  the  agent  and  general  manager  of  the  new  Mount 
Hope  works. 

Mr.  Leonard  was  married  in  1848  to  Caroline, 
daughter  of  the  late  Albert  Field. 

The  iron  business  seems  to  have  been  an  heirloom 
in  the  Leonard  family.  From  1652,  when  the  first 
iron-works  on  this  continent  were  established  in  Rayn- 
ham by  James  and  Henry  Leonard  and  Ralph  Rus- 
sell, to  the  present  time  descendants  of  the  Leonards 
have  been  prominent  and  successful  iron  men  both  in 
this  and  other  States.  Not  only  were  Mr.  Leonard's 
father,  Job  Leonard,  and  his  grandfather,  Samuel, 
iron  manufacturers,  but  his  great-grandfather,  Russell 
Leonard,  was  also  engaged  in  the  same  industry,  em- 
bracing, with  Mr.  Leonard  and  his  son  Henry  B.,  five 
generations  in  direct  descent  who  have  been  engaged 
in  the  iron  industry. 

James  and  Henry  Leonard  and  Ralph  Russell  es- 
tablished the  first  iron-works  on  this  continent  in 
1652,  in  the  town  of  Raynham,  on  Two-Mile  River, 
so  called,  where  they  secured  the  privilege  of  cutting 
wood  to  make  charcoal,  and  to  dig  and  mine  ore  at 
Two-Mile  Meadows  or  any  other  common  property  of 
S  the  town.  This  business  continued  in  the  possession 
I  of  the  Leonards  and  their  descendants  for  over  one 
1  hundred  years.  They  were  enlarged  from  time  to 
time,  and  subsequently  converted  into  a  forge  for 
making  anchors.  Henry  and  James  Leonard,  at- 
tracted by  more  abundant  ores  in  New  Jersey,  re- 
moved there  and  established  the  first  iron-works  in 
that  province. 

Mr.  Leonard  has  been  four  times  elected  to  the 
State  Legislature,  and  has  held  various  minor  posi- 
tions of  trust  in  the  State,  always  discharging  lii- 
duties  with  credit  to  himself  and  to  the  entire  satis- 
faction of  his  constituents,  and  is  justly  regarded  as 
one  of  the  leading  men  of  Southeastern  Massachusetts. 


DARIUS    BUFFINTON. 

Darius  Buffinton  was  born  in  Swansea,  Mass.,  May 
29,  1829.  His  father  was  Moses  Buffinton,  who  was 
born  Jan.  25,  1799,  on  the  island  of  Prudence,  R.  I., 
and  was  a  son  of  Moses  Buffinton,  born  1768,  who 
married  Sarah  Chace,  and  whose  parents  were  Moses 
Buffinton  and  his  wife,  Isabel,  daughter  of  Daniel 
and  Sarah  Baker. 

Moses  Buffinton,  the  third  of  the  name,  was  a 
farmer,  and  lived  first  in  Prudence,  R.  I,  and  after- 
wards in  Swansea,  Mass.  He  was  a  birthright  mem- 
ber of  the  society  of  Friends,  and  married  Ruth 
Borden,  who  was  born  in  Swansea,  Jan.  25,  1795. 
They  had  five  children — Abner  (died  young),  Darius, 
Abner  (deceased),  Lois  (Mrs.  John  P.  Slade),  and 


652 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Susan  8.  (deceased).  Mr.  Buffinton  died  Nov.  2, 
1869.     His  wife  survived  him,  dying  Feb.  9,  1873. 

Darius  was  educated  at  common  schools,  and  had 
a  short  tuition  at  the  Friends'  school  at  Providence, 
R.  I.  He  became  a  farmer  and  resided  with  his 
father  on  the  homestead,  in  Swansea,  consisting  of 
about,  seventy  acres,  and  remained  there  until  his 
father's  death.  In  1870  he  built  his  f>resent  neat  and 
attractive  residence  on  the  place  of  seventeen  acres, 
which  he  purchased  in  Somerset,  and  removed  thither 
the  same  year.  He  married,  Jan.  15,  1861,  Julia  A., 
daughter  of  Frederick  and  Sarah  (Pierce)  Whitwell, 
who  was  born  in  Fall  River,  Mass.,  March  25,  1843. 
Their  children  were  Julia  E.  (died  an  infant),  Wil- 
liam S.  (died  young),  and  Henry  W.,  an  active  and 
promising  lad,  drowned  in  his  twelfth  year  while 
bathing. 

Mr.  Buffinton  has  combined  the  avocation  of  market- 
gardener  with  that  of  farmer,  and  has  sufficient  prop- 
erty to  enable  him  to  gratify  the  correct  taste  so 
nicely  shown  in  everything  connected  with  his  home. 
He  is  a  stockholder  in  Fall  River  National  and  Union 
Banks  of  Fall  River,  and  also  in  the  Shove  Mills. 
He  is  a  Republican,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  Friends'  Society.  He  stands  well  in 
the  esteem  of  the  community  and  is  a  valuable  citizen. 


CHAPTER     LIU. 

SWANSEA.1 

Geographical — Incorporation  of  the  Town  — "  Waunamoisett" — Docu- 
mentary History — Early  Inhabitants — Division  of  Lands — King  Phil- 
ip*s  War — Original  Grant — Capt.  Thomas  Williams'  "  Proposals" — 
Admission  of  Inhabitants — First  Deputy  Elected — John  Allen — Town 
Officers  of  1670 — Extracts  from  Early  Records — Revolutionary  War — 
Committee  of  Inspection — Various  Votes  concerning  the  Revolu- 
tionary Period — Election  of  1780 — Pioneer  Schools — First  School- 
master— John  Myles — 1702,  Town  Fined  for  not  Having  School. 

Swansea  lies  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the 
county,  and  is  bounded  as  follows:  On  the  north  by 
Seekonk,  Rehoboth,  and  Dighton  ;  on  the  east  by 
Dighton  and  Somerset;  on  the  south  by  Somerset 
and  Mount  Hope  Bay. 

A  portion  of  this  town  was  originally  comprehended 
within  the  limits  of  ancient  Rehoboth.  It  forms  a 
part  of  the  tract  called  by  the  Indians  "  Wanna- 
moisett,"  situated  in  this  town  and  Barrington,  R.  I. 
This  town  was  incorporated  in  1677,  and  then  in- 
cluded within  its  limits  the  present  towns,  Somerset, 
Barrington,  and  the  greater  part  of  Warren,  R.  I. 
The  town  derived  its  name  from  "Swan  sea,"  in 
Wales,  and  was  so  spelled  in  the  earliest  records.  In 
1649,  Obidiah  Holmes  and  several  others,  having  em- 
braced the  Baptist  sentiments,  withdrew  from  Mr. 
Newman's  church,  and  set  up  a  separate  meeting  of 

1  The  editor  acknowledges  his  indebtedness  to  Rev.  J.  W.  Osborn  for 
the  larger  portion  of  the  following  history  of  Swansea. 


their  own.  The  attempt  to  break  them  up,  and  the 
persecutions  they  met  with,  only  increased  their 
numbers.  In  1663  they  were  much  strengthened  by 
the  arrival  of  Rev.  John  Myles  and  his  church.  In 
the  same  year  Mr.  Myles  formed  a  Baptist  Church  in 
Rehoboth  (the  fourth  in  America).  It  was  organized 
in  the  house  of  John  Butterworth,  and  commenced 
with  seven  members.  These  and  subsequent  proceed- 
ings were  considered  such  an  evil  by  the  rest  of  the 
inhabitants  that  an  appeal  was  made  to  the  Plymouth 
Court  to  interfere.  Each  member  of  this  new  church 
was  fined  five  pounds,  and  prohibited  from  worship 
for  a  month.  They  were  also  advised  to  remove  from 
Rehoboth  to  some  place  where  they  would  not  preju- 
dice any  existing  church.  They  accordingly  moved 
to  Wannamoisett. 

Capt.  Thomas  Willett,  a  magistrate,  and  a  man  of 
great  ability  and  enterprise,  having  large  possessions 
at  Narragansett,  near  by,  came  and  settled  here. 
Hugh  Cole  and  some  others  followed.  Capt.  Willett 
became  subsequently  the  first  English  mayor  of  New 
York.  He  and  Mr.  Myles  may  be  justly  styled  the 
fathers  of  the  town. 

In  1670  it  was  ordered  that  the  lands  should  be 
proportioned  according  to  three  ranks.  Persons  of 
the  first  rank  were  to  receive  three  acres ;  of  the 
second,  two  acres ;  of  the  third,  one  acre.  In  admit- 
ting inhabitants,  the  selectmen  were  to  decide  to 
which  rank  they  should  be  apportioned.  This  sin- 
gular division  existed  nowhere  else  in  New  England. 

This  town  is  memorable  as  the  place  where  the 
first  English  blood  was  shed  in  "  King  Philip's 
War."2  On  Sunday,  June  20,  1675,  King  Philip 
permitted  his  men  to  march  into  Swansea  and  annoy 
the  English  by  killing  their  cattle,  in  hopes  to  pro- 
voke them  to  commence  the  attack,  for  it  is  said  that 
a  superstition  prevailed  among  them  that  the  side 
who  shed  the  first  blood  should  finally  be  conquered. 
The  Indians  were  so  insolent  that  an  Englishman 
finally  fired  upon  one  of  them,  and  wounded  him. 
The  Indians  upon  this  commenced  open  war.  As 
soon  as  the  intelligence  of  this  massacre  reached 
Boston,  a  company  of  foot  under  Capt.  Henchman, 
and  a  troop  under  Capt.  Prentice,  immediately 
marched  for  Mount  Hope,  and  being  joined  by 
another  company  of  one  hundred  and  ten  volunteers 
under  Capt.  Moseley,  they  all  arrived  at  Swansea 
June  28th,  where  they  joined  the  Plymouth  forces, 
under  Capt.  Cudworth.  Mr.  Miles'  house,  being  gar- 
risoned, was  made  their  headquarters.  About  a  dozen 
of  the  troop  went  immediately  over  the  bridge,  where 
they  were  fired  upon  out  of  the  bushes,  and  one  killed 
and  one  wounded.  The  English  forces  then  pursued 
the  enemy  a  mile  or  two,  when  the  Indians  took  to 
the  swamp,  after  having  lost  about  a  half-dozen  of 
their  number.  The  troop  commenced  their  pursuit 
of    the    Indians   next   morning.     They  passed   over 

2  For  Indian  history,  see  Chapter  II. 


SWANSEA. 


653 


Miles'  Bridge  and  proceeded  down  the  river  till  they 
came  to  the  narrow  of  the  neck,  at  a  place  called 
Keekamuit,  or  Kickamuit.  Here  they  found  the 
heads  of  eight  Englishmen,  that  the  Indians  had 
murdered,  stuck  on  poles  ;  these  they  buried.  On 
their  arrival  at  Mount  Hope,  they  found  that  place 
deserted. 

Documentary  History.— A  true  copy  of  the  grant 
of  this  township  of  New  Swansea,  lying  on  record  at 
the  court  of  New  Plymouth,  1G67  : 

"Whereas,  Liberty  hath  been  formerly  granted  by  the  Court  of  juris- 
diction of  New  Plymouth,  unto  Captain  Thomas  Willett  and  his  neigh- 
bors of  Wannamoisett,  to  become  'i  township  there  if  they  should  see 
good,  ami  that  lately  the  said  (.'apt.  Willett  and  Mr.  Myles,  and  others, 
their  neighbors,  have  requested  of  the  Court  that  they  may  be  a  town- 
ship there  or  near  thereabout,  and  likewise  to  have  granted  unto  them 
such  parcells  of  land  as  might  be  accommodate  thereunto  not  disposed 
of  to  other  Townships;  this  Court  have  granted  unto  them  all  such  lands 
that  lyeth  between  the  Salt  water  Bay  and  coming  up  Taunton  River 
(viz.),  all  thr  Land  between  the  Salt  water  and  river  and  the  bounds  of 
Taunton  and  Behoboth  not  prejudicing  any  man's  particular  Interest, 
and  forasmuch  as  Kehoboth  hath  meadow  lands  within  the  line  of  Wan- 
namoisett, and  Wannamoisett  bath  lands  within  the  line  of  Behoboth, 
lying  near  the  South  line  of  Kehoboth — if  the  two  townships  cannot 
agree  about  them  amongst  themselves,  the  Court  reserves  it  within  their 
power  to  determine  any  such  controversy. 

"  1607,  March.  The  Court  hath  appointed  Captaine  Willett,  Mr.  Paiue, 
Senr.,  Mr.  Brown,  John  Allen,  and  John  Butterworth,  to  have  the  trust 
of  admittance  of  Town  Inhabitants  into  the  said  town,  and  to  have  the 
disposall  of  the  Land  therein,  and  ordering  of  other  the  affairs  of  said 
Town.  The  Court  doe  Allow  and  Approve  that  the  Township  Granted 
unto  Capt.  Willett  and  others,  his  neighbors,  at  Wannamoisett  and  parts 
adjacent,  shall  henceforth  be  called  and  known  by  the  name  of  Swansea. 

"The  Enterys  above  are  a  Copy  taken  out  of  the  Court  Records  at 
Plymouth.  Nath'l  Clark.  And  above  Entrys  hereof  by  William  Iu- 
graham,  Town  Clerk. 

"  Whereas,  Capt.  Thomas  Willett,  shortly  after  the  grant  of  this  town- 
ship, made  three  following  proposals  unto  those  who  were  with  him,  by 
the  Court  at  Plymouth,  empowered  for  the  admission  of  inhabitants,  and 
of  granting  lots,  viz.: 

"1.  That  no  erroneous  person  be  admitted  into  the  township  as  an 
inhabitant  or  sojourner. 

"  2.  That  no  man  of  any  evill  behaviour  or  contentious  persons  to  be 
admitted. 

"3.  That  none  may  be  admitted  that  may  become  a  charge  to  the 
place. 

"The  church  here  gathered  and  assembling  did  thereupon  make  the 
following  address  unto  the  said  ('apt.  Willett  and  his  associates,  the 
Trustees  aforesaid. 

"We  being  engaged  with  you  (according  to  our  capacitj')  in  the  car- 
rying mi  of  a  township  according  to  the  grant  given  us  by  the  honored 
Court,  and  desiring  to  lay  such  a  foundation  thereof  as  may  effectually 
tend  to  God's  glory,  our  future  peace  and  comfort,  and  the  real  benefit 
of  such  as  shall  hereafter  join  with  us  herein,  as  also  to  prevent  all  fu- 
ture jealousies  and  causes  of  dissatisfaction  or  disturbance  in  so  good  a 
work,  doe  in  relation  to  the  three  proposals  made  by  our  much  honoured 
('apt.  Willett,  humbly  present  to  your  serious  consideration,  before  we 
•d  further  therein,  that  the  said  proposalls  may  be  consented  to  and 
subscribed  by  all  and  every  townman  under  the  following  explications: 
'1.  That  the  first  proposal  relating  to  the  non-admission  of  erroneous 
D8  may  In- only  understood  under  the  explications  following  (viz.), 
of  such  as  hold  damnable  heresies  inconsistent  with  the  faith  of  the 
Gospel,  as  to  deny  the  Trinity  or  any  person  therein,1  the  Deity  or  sin- 
less  Humanity  of  Christ,  or  the  union  of  both  natures  in  him,  or  his 
full  satisfaction  to  the  Divine  justice  by  his  active  and  passive  obedience 
for  all  bis  elect,  or  his  resurrection,  or  ascension  to  heaven,  intercession, 
or  his  second  personable  coming  to  judgment,  or  the  resurrection  of  the 
dead,  or  to  maintain  any  merit  of  works,  consubstantiation,  transub- 

1  The  Toleration  Act  passed  by  the  British  Parliament  twenty-two 
years  later,  while  relaxing  the  stringency  of  former  laws  against  dis- 
senters, expressly  denied  toleration  to  such  as  rejected  the  doctrine  of 
the  Trinity .— J.  W.O. 


stantiation,  giving  Divine  adoration  te  any  creature  or  any  other  anti- 
Christian  doctrine,  thereby  directly  opposing  the  priestly,  prophetical 
or  kingly  office  of  Christ,  or  any  part  thereof;  or  secondly  such  as  hold 
such  opinions  as  are  inconsistent  with  the  well-being  of  the  place,  as  to 
deny  the  magistrates  power  to  punish  evil-doers  as  well  as  to  punish 
those  that  do  well ;  or  to  deny  the  first  day  of  the  week  to  be  observed  by 
Divine  institution  as  the  Lord's  day  or  Christian  Sabbath,  or  to  deny 
the  giving  of  honor  to  whom  honor  is  due,  or  to  offer  those  civil  respects 
that  are  usually  performed  according  to  the  laudable  custom  of  our 
nation,  each  to  other,  as  bowing  the  knee  or  body,  etc.,  or  else  to  deny 
the  office,  use,  or  authority  of  the  ministry  or  comfortable  maintenance 
to  be  due  to  them  from  such  as  partake  of  their  teaching,  or  to  speak 
reproachfully  of  any  of  the  churches  of  Christ  in  this  country,  or  of 
any  such  other  churches  as  are  of  the  same  common  faith  with  us  and 
them. 

"2.  That  the  second  proposal!,  That  no  man  of  any  evill  behaviour, 
or  contentious  persons  be  admitted. 

"  We  desire  that  it  be  also  understood  &  Declared  that  this  is  not  un- 
derstood of  any  holding  any  opinion  different  from  others  in  any  dis- 
putable pt.  Yet  in  controversy  among  the  Godly  Learned,  the  beleefe 
thereof  not  essentially  necessary  to  salvation,  such  pado-baptism,  anti- 
pado-baptism,  church  discipline  or  the  like.  But  that  the  minister  or 
ministers  of  the  Town  may  take  their  liberty  to  baptise  Infants  or  grown 
persons  as  the  Lord  shall  persuade  their  consciences,  and  so  also  the  In- 
habitants of  the  town  to  take  their  liberty  to  bring  their  children  to 
baptism  or  forbear.  That  the  second  proposall  relating  to  nouerecep- 
tion  of  any  of  evill  behaviour,  such  as  contentious  persons,  &c,  may  be 
only  understood  of  those  truly  so  called,  and  not  of  those  who  are  differ- 
ent in  judgment  in  the  particulars  last-mentioned  and  may  be  therefore 
counted  contentious  by  some,  though  they  are  in  all  fundamental^  of 
faith  orthodox  in  .  .  .  and  excepting  common  Infirmities  blameless  in 
conversation. 

"  That  the  proposall  Relating  to  the  non-admission  of  such  as  may  be 
a  charge  to  the  Town  be  only  understood  so  as  that  it  may  not  hinder  a 
godly  man  from  comeing  among  us,  whilst  there  is  accommodation  that 
satisfie  him,  if  some  Responsible  Townsman  will  be  bound  to  see  the 
town  harmless. 

"These  humble  tenders  of  our  desires  we  hope  you  will  without 
offence  receive,  excusing  us  therein,  considering  that  God's  glory,  the 
future  peace  and  wellbeing,  not  only  of  us  and  our  posterity  who  shall 
settle  here,  but  also  of  those  severall  good  and  peaceable-minded  men, 
whom  you  allready  know  are  liked,  though  with  very  inconsiderable 
outward  accommodation  to  come  among  us  are  very  much  concerned 
therein.  Our  humble  prayers  both  for  ourselves  &  you  is  that  God 
would  be  pleased  to  cause  us  to  aim  more  &  more  at  his  glory  and  less 
to  our  earthly  concernment  that  so  we  may  improve  the  favors  that 
hath  been  handed  down  to  us  by  our  honoured  nursing  fathers  to  the 
advancement  of  the  glory  of  God,  the  interest  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
&  to  the  common  benefitt  both  of  the  Town  &  Colony,  wherein  he  bath 
providentially  disposed  of  us  to  serve  our  generation.  Your  Brethren 
to  serve  you  in  Christ. 

"Signed  in  behalf  A  in  the  name  of  the  church  meeting  in  Swansea 

by 

"John  Myt.es,  Pastor. 
"John  Butterworth. 

"  The  foregoing  proposalls  being  according  to  the  desire  of  the  church 
aforesaid,  fully  &  absolutely  condescended  to,  concluded  &  agreed  upon 
by  it  between  said  Captain  Willett,  al  his  associates  aforesaid,  & -the 
church  under  the  reservation  &  explications  above  written,  &  every  of 
them,  it  was  sometime  after  propounded  at  a  meeting  of  s1'  town,  law- 
fully warned  on  the  two  &  twentieth  day  of  the  twelfth  month,  L669, 
that  the  said  agreement  might  be  by  the  whole  town  ratified  A;  con- 
firmed &  settled  as  the  foundation  order,  to  which  all  that  then  wei  6  or 
afterward  should  be  admitted  inhabitants  to  receive  lands  from  the 
town,  should  manifest  their  assent  by  subscription  thereunto,  whereupon 
the  following  order  (the  said  Capt.  Willett,  al  his  associates  aforesaid 
being  present)  was  freely  passed  by  the  whole  town  nemine  contradicenie. 

"At  a  town  meeting  lawfully  warned,  on  the  two  &  twentieth  day  of 
the  twelfth  month,  commonly  called  February,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord 
1669,  it  is  ordered  that  all  persons  that  are  or  shall  be  admitted  inhabi- 
tants within  this  town,  shall  subscribe  to  the  three  proposalls  above 
written,  to  the  severall  conditions  &  explanations  therein  expressed, 
before  any  lot  of  land  be  confirmed  to  them  or  any  of  them. 

"  We,  whose  nanus  an-  hereunder  written,  do  freely,  upon  our  admis- 
sion to  be  inhabitants  of  this  town  of  Swansea,  assent  to  the  above 
written  agreement,  made  between   the  church   now  meeting   here  at 


054 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Swansea  &  Capt.  Thomas  Willett  &  his  associates,  as  the  s*  agreement  is 
specified  &  declared  in  the  three  proposalls  afore  written,  with  the  sev- 
eral conditions  &  explanations  thereof  concerning  the  present  &  future 
settlement  of  this  town.  In  witness  whereof  we  have  hereunto  sub- 
scribed." 

[Signed  by  fifty-five  persons.] 

(1674. — John  Harding  Smith,  refusing  to  sign  the 
"  fundamental  agreement,"  was  deprived  of  his  land, 
and  warned  "  to  go  out  of  the  Town.") 

"  At  a  Town-meeting  Lawfully  warned  ye  19th  of 
May,  1670,  John  Myles,  junr.,  is  chosen  Clerk  for  this 
present  year.  John  Allen,  senr.,  is  chosen  Deputy, 
Nath1.  Chafy  constable,  Samuel  Luther  grandjury- 
man,  Benj.  Alby  waywarden,  for  the  ensuing  year. 

"  Mr.  James  Brown,  Nicholas  Tanner,  and  John 
Allen,  sen1".,  were  chosen  selectmen  for  ye  ensuing 
year." 

"  At  a  Town-meeting  Lawfully  warned  on  ye  11th 
of  May,  1671,  Mr.  James  Brown  was  chosen  Deputy, 
and  Hugh  Colegrandjuryman,  and  John  Martin  Con- 
stable. Nathaniel  Peck,  Joseph  Carpenter,  and  Zech- 
ariah  Eddy  were  chosen  waywardens.  Mr.  James 
Brown,  Hugh  Cole,  and  Samuel  Luther  were  chosen 
selectmen." 

"  At  a  Town-meeting  lawfully  warned  November 
ye  8th,  1671,  John  Allen,  Snr.,  Hugh  Cole,  Nicholas 
Tanner,  &  Nathan1  Peck  are  chosen  Raters  for  a 
Town  Rate." 

"At  a  Town-meeting  Lawfully  warned  on  ye  21 
May,  1672,  Mr.  Brown  was  chosen  Daputy  &  Thomas 
Barnes  constable.  Thos.  Lewis  grandjuryman,  Nath1. 
Chafy  &  Jonathan  Bozworth,  &  Hezekiah  Luther, 
surveyors  of  highways  ;  Mr.  Brown,  Thos.  Luis  were 
chosen  selectmen." 

1670.  "  It  was  ordered  yt  whatsoever  inhabitant 
shall  absent  himself  from  any  Town-meeting  to  which 
he  shall  at  any  time  hereafter  be  Legally  warned,  he 
shall  forfeit  for  every  such  absent  four  shillings." 

"  It  is  ordered  that  all  lotts  &  divisions  of  land  that 
are  or  shall  be  granted  to  any  particular  person  shall 
be  proportioned  to  the  threefold  rank  underwritten, 
so  that  where  those  of  the  first  rank  have  three  acres, 
those  of  the  second  rank  shall  have  two,  and  those  of 
the  third  rank  shall  have  one." 

(Those  admitted  to  the  first  rank  are  recorded  as 
Mx. ;  the  others  with  no  title.  These  were  land- 
holders without  rank.) 

1671.  "Those  of  ye  first  rank  shall  pay  three 
pounds  twelve  shillings  apiece,  and  those  of  the 
second  rank  shall  pay  two  pWnds  eight  shillings 
apiece,  and  those  of  the  third  rank  one  pound  four 
shillings  apiece." 

Aug.  28,  1693.  "  The  warrant  from  ye  quarter  ses- 
sion was  read,  requiring  the  Town  to  chuse  a  minister 
according  to  law;  after  sum  Debate  the  meeting  was 
adjourned  for  half  an  hour.  The  church  by  Lieutnt. 
Cole  returned  and  replied  thus  :  that  they  had  a  min- 
ister they  apprehended  was  according  to  Law,  viz., 
Elder  Samuel  Luther,  and  desired  the  vote  of  ye 
Town  to  see  their  assent  and  approbation,  and  after 


som  debate  ye  meeting  was  adjourned  for  half  an 
hour,  and  then  againe  after  a  considerable  debate  the 
Town-meeting  was  adjourned  to  ye  3d  Tuesday  in 
October,  at  9  o'clock  in  the  morning  at  the  usual 
place  of  meeting." 

Oct.  17.  "Chose  Elder  Samuel  Luther  minister  for 
ye  Town." 

"  John  Pain  and  John  Cole,  son  of  Hugh  Cole,  to 
look  after  &  to  prosecute  any  breache  of  ye  acte  made 
about  Horses,  the  late  act  published  both  civil  and 
military." 

1711.  Referring  to  a  petition  for  the  division  of  the 
town  (that  a  Puritan  minister  could  be  supported  by 
taxation)  by  inhabitants  of  the  western  part,  "it 
passed  in  ye  negative  unanimously."  "  If  any  per- 
sons would  supply  ye  selectmen  with  money  for  ye 
present  management  of  sd  affairs  they  should  be  re- 
imbursed."   (£29  2s.  were  borrowed.) 

1712.  "  Granted  a  fund  or  bank  of  £500,  or  as  much 
more  as  there  may  be  occasion  of,  to  maintain  and 
defend  ye  Town  grant  and  foundation  settlement." 

1717.  On  a  petition  for  a  tax  of  "sixscore  pounds" 
to  support  a  Puritan  minister,  "  after  considerable 
fayer  and  loveing  conference  with  sd  petitioners,  it 
was  agreed  and  voted  and  concluded  that  the  inhab- 
itants should  enjoy  conscience  liberty  according  to 
the  foundation  settlement." 

The  representative  was  paid  £12  12s.;  school- 
master, £17  10s.;  assessors,  £4. 

1718.  "Every  householder  shall  kill  6  blackbirds 
or  six  squirrells,  or  one  crow  shall  count  for  two 
squirrells  or  blackbirds ;"  "  or  he  shall  forfeit  2  pence 
for  as  many  as  he  comes  short  of  six." 

In  1729,  "  voted  2d.  to  every  one  that  kills  a  crow, 
blackbird,  jaybird,  or  squirrell." 

In  1740  the  premium  was  increased  to  fourpence. 

In  1741  the  vote  of  1708  was  reaffirmed,  with  a 
proviso  that  for  every  one  above  the  required  number 
a  premium  of  fourpence  should  be  paid ;  for  killing  a 
grown  fox,  five  shillings;  a  young  fox,  two  shillings, 
in  1736. 

1715.  Voted  that  John  Devotion  should  "teach 
our  youth  to  Read  Inglish  and  Lattin,  and  write  and 
sifer,  as  there  may  be  ocation." 

(Capt.  Joseph  Mason,  the  Swansea  representative, 
was  the  only  member  of  the  General  Court  who  in 
1732  voted  in  favor  of  fixing  a  salary  for  Governor 
Belcher,  as  required  by  the  British  government.) 

1742.  Voted  that  until  the  king  decides  whether  to 
annex  Swansea  to  Rhode  Island  the  town  ought  to 
pay  no  tax  to  Massachusetts. 

1749,  Oct.  23.  "  It  being  a  very  rainy  day,  and  but 
few  men  met,  and  considerable  business  to  be  done, 
it  was  tho't  proper  to  adjourn  sd  meeting." 

"  It  was  voted  that  town  take  all  the  tickets  in  the 
lottery  granted  by  the  Great  and  General  Court  for 
building  the  great  bridge  not  sold  by  Feb.  26." 

1759.  "Voted  to  hire  a  house  to  put  the  French 
people  in  that  were  sent  to  our  town." 


SWANSEA. 


655 


1764.  Appointed  Jeruthamul  Bowers,  Esq.,  to  so- 
licit relief  from  the  General  Court  for  the  "great  suf- 
ferance in  the  smallpox."  Appropriated  ninety- 
pounds  for  care  of  patients. 

Three  hundred  pounds  lent  to  the  town  hy  the 
Province  ;  the  money  was  loaned  to  individuals,  and 
subsequently  many  of  the  poor  borrowers  received  by 
vote  of  town  the  gift  of  their  notes. 

This  year  and  several  years  in  succession  commit- 
tees were  chosen  to  prevent  the  killing  of  deer  out  of 
season. 

1766.  Voted  the  town  treasurer  five  shillings  for 
his  services. 

Revolutionary  War.— April  21, 1775,  "Voted  that 
40  guns,  250  fibs,  powder,  750  lbs  lead,  and  600  flints 
be  provided.  The  committee  of  inspection  shall  pro- 
vide provisions  and  all  other  necessaries  for  the  poor 
upon  any  special  emergency.  That  50  men  be  en- 
listed to  be  ready  at  a  minute's  warning,  and  pd.  3s.  a 
week  for  exercising  two  half  days  a  week,  and  6  dolls, 
bounty  if  called  out  of  town.  The  officers  to  have 
the  same  as  Rehoboth  pays  their  officers." 

'  That  we  keep  a  post  to  ride  to  Boston  (and  leave 
it  to  the  selectmen  how  often)  for  the  best  intelligence 
that  can  be  had  there." 

May  22.  Chose  a  committee  of  regulation  and  in- 
spection. "The  Town  will  secure  and  defend  the 
said  committee  and  empower  them  to  follow  and  ob- 
serve such  directions  as  they  shall  receive  from  time 
to  time  from  the  Provincial  Congress  or  Committee 
of  Safety." 

Five  shillings  penalty  was  imposed  for  wasting  a 
charge  of  powder,  and  the  offender's  ammunition  was 
forfeited  to  the  town. 

April,  1777.  "Voted,  in  addition  to  what  the  Gen- 
eral Court  pays,  £20  to  every  soldier  enlisted  in  the 
Continental  service  for  three  years  or  the  war;"  sub- 
sequently restricted  to  "  those  credited  to  the  quota  of 
the  town."  Later  the  town  treasurer  was  allowed 
to  pay  what  he  chose  to  secure  men  for  the  quota, 
"  and  the  town  will  make  him  complete  satisfaction 
for  his  trouble  therein." 

Chose  a  committee  to  provide  for  the  families  of 
"  soldiers  in  the  Continental  service." 

Jan.  5,  1778.  "  Voted  that  inoculation  shall  not  be 
set  up  in  Swansea,  by  a  unanimous  vote." 

January  26th.  "  Voted  that  inoculation  shall  be 
set  up  in  Swansea ;"  also  to  provide  a  hospital. 

Voted  to  buy  one  hundred  bushels  corn  for  soldiers' 
families. 

Voted  six  pounds  to  the  treasurer  for  his  services.. 

June  1st.  "  The  selectmen  shall  provide  warlike 
stores  for  every  man  in  the  town  and  distribute  the 
same  at  their  discretion." 

June  23,  1778.  "  By  unanimous  vote  promised  : 

"  1.  To  turn  out  upon  all  alarms  against  the  enemy. 

"  2.  To  throw  aside  all  partyship  for  the  future. 

"  3.  To  return  humble  and  hearty  thanks  to  Gen. 
Sullivan  for  his  company  and  good  institutions. 


'Voted,  August  31st,  to  provide  soldiers  with 
shirts,  stockings,  and  shoes." 

November.  "  Requested  Gen.  Sullivan  to  provide 
a  guard  against  the  enemy  on  Rhode  Island." 

May,  1779.  "  Voted  that  there  be  a  guard  on  each 
of  the  necks  for  the  safety  of  the  good  people  of  the 
town  ;  that  each  man  have  four  dollars  for  each  night's 
service  on  guard.  Capt.  Philip  Slead  to  go  to  the  Gen- 
eral Court  at  Boston  to  see  whether  the  court  would 
make  any  allowance  to  the  town  for  those  men  which 
the  town  hired  to  goon  the  line.  Chose  the  townclerk 
to  draw  up  something  for  Capt.  Philip  Slead  to  carry 
to  the  council." 

1779.  "  Voted  twenty-two  men  to  guard  the  shores, 
who  shall  have  four  dollars  per  night,  or,  if  they 
choose,  two  dollars  with  rations  and  Continental 
wages. 

"Voted  a  committee  to  visit  Gen.  Gates  to  see  if 
he  will  provide  for  the  safety  of  the  town. 

"The  Committee  of  Safety  to  go  to  Concord  to 
meet  with  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  in  Con- 
gress on  July  14,  1779.  The  selectmen  shall  send  to 
Boston  for  fire-arms." 

January,  1780.  "Voted  four  thousand  pounds  to 
buy  blankets,  according  to  the  order  of  the  court, 
and  to  pay  necessary  expenses." 

June,  1780.  "  Voted  three  hundred  pounds  Conti- 
nental money  to  all  who  enlist  for  six  months." 
This  was  at  the  next  meeting  increased  to  four  hun- 
dred pounds,  then  to  seven  hundred  pounds,  then  to 
one  thousand  pounds.  Then  "  one  hundred  and 
twenty  silver  dollars"  were  offered,  "  and  the  select- 
men have  power  to  increase  the  sum  if  necessary." 

1780.  "  For  gate  and  posts  for  the  pound  and  put- 
ting up  same,  one  hundred  dollars. 

"  Voted  eleven  thousand  seven  hundred  and  sixty 
dollars  for  the  purchase  of  horses  to  send  to  Taunton 
by  order  of  the  General  Court. 

"  Voted  one  hundred  and  forty  dollars  Continen- 
tal money  to  pay  for  an  ax  ;  the  selectmen  to  have 
fifty  dollars  a  day  in  Continental  money." 

1783.  "  Petitioned  General  Court  for  a  lottery  to 
rebuild  Myles'  bridge." 

1785.  "  Chose  a  committee  to  divide  the  school 
districts  to  accommodate  the  children." 

1791.  For  representative  to  Congress,  one  hundred 
and  seventy-seven  votes  were  cast,  of  which  Bishop 
had  one  hundred  and  seventy-one  votes. 

1804.  Presidential  election ;  the  electoral  ticket 
headed  by  James  Sullivan  had  one  hundred  and 
sixty-one,  and  that  headed  by  David  Cobb,  four 
votes. 

Sept.  4,  1804.  Election  for  State  officers:  John 
Hancock,  Esq.,  for  Governor,  seventeen  votes  ;  James 
Boardman,  Esq.,  Lieutenant-Governor,  seventeen 
votes;  Thomas  Durefey,  Esq.,  councilor,  seventeen 
votes  ;  Walter  Spooner,  Esq.,  councilor,  eleven  votes  ; 
Ephraim  Starkweather,  Esq.,  councilor,  seventeen 
votes;  Nathaniel  Leonard,  Esq.,  councilor,  six  votes. 


656 


HISTORY    OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Pioneer  Schools.— Dec.  19,  1673.  "  It  was  voted 
and  ordered,  nemine  eontradicente,  that  a  school  be 
forthwith  set  up  in  this  town  for  the  teaching  of  gram- 
mar, rhetoric,  and  arithmetic,  and  the  tongues  of 
Latin,  Greek,  and  Hebrew;  also  to  read  English  and 
to  write,  and  that  a  salary  of  forty  pounds  per  annum 
in  current  country  pay,  which  passeth  from  man  to 
man,  be  duly  paid  from  time  to  time,  and  at  all  times 
hereafter,  and  that  John  Myles,  the  present  pastor  of 
the  church  here  assembling  be  the  schoolmaster." 

1698.1 — Jonathan  Bosworth  was  employed  as  teacher 
at  £18,  one- fourth  in  money  and  the  rest  in  provisions 
at  money  prices. 

1702.  Tbe  town  was  fined  £5  for  not  having  a 
school,  and  employed  John  Devotion  at  £12  and  diet, 
and  £20  for  keeping  a  horse.  (Terms  of  school  were 
kept  in  different  parts  of  the  town.)  The  next  year 
his  pay  was  £16 ;  in  1709  he  was  employed  for  six 
years  ;  in  1715  for  twenty  years  more. 

Miles'  Bridge — Lottery. — One  of  the  earliest 
bridges  erected  in  this  section  of  Bristol  County  was 
the  one  at  this  point.  It  is  impossible  at  this  late  day 
to  ascertain  the  exact  date  of  the  building  of  the 
first  bridge  at  this  point,  but  it  was  doubtless  in  the 
early  part  of  the  last  century,  for  the  Provincial  stat- 
utes of  1736-37  refer  to  abridge  called  Miles'  Bridge 
in  a  country  road  had  theretofore  been  constructed 
and  had  fallen  into  decay,  and  the  towns  of  Swansea 
and  Barrington  were  ordered  "  to  build  a  good  and 
substantial  cart  bridge  across  the  said  river  in  the 
country  road  aforesaid  where  the  said  bridge  did 
stand." 

The  present  iron  bridge  was  built  in  1878.  It  is 
seventy-five  feet  long,  and  rests  on  two  abutments 
with  wing  walls. 

In  1749  an   act  was  passed  allowing  the  town  of 

Swansea  to  raise  funds  by  lottery  for  the  rebuilding 

of  this  bridge,  as  follows  : 

"The  Pboyince  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay, 

"  Dec.  11,  1749. 

•'  An  act  to  allow  the  toicn  of  Swansea,  in  the  county  of  Bristol,  to  set  up  and 

carry  on  a  lottenj  for  the  rebuilding  and  keeping  in  repair  Miles'  Bridge  in 

said  town  : 

"  Whereas,  By  a  law  of  this  province  made  iu  the  sixth  year  of  the 
reign  of  his  late  Majesty  King  George  the  First,  entitled, '  An  act  to 
suppress  lotteries;'  and  another  law  made  in  the  sixth  year  of  his  pres- 
ent Majesty's  reign,  in  addition  to  the  aforesaid  act,  the  setting  up  or 
carrying  on  lotteries  are  suppressed,  unless  allowed  by  act  of  Parliament 
or  law  of  this  province ;  and 

"  Whereas,  The  said  town  of  Swansea  have  represented  their  inability 
of  rebuilding  and  keeping  in  repair  the  great  bridge  and  causeway  in 
said  town,  called  Miles'  Bridge,  by  reason  great  part  of  said  town  is 
taken  off  to  Rhode  Island  by  the  late  settlement  of  the  boundary  line 
betwixt  the  two  governments,  and  pray  the  allowance  of  setting  up  and 
carrying  on  a  lottery  in  said  town  for  that  purpose,— 

"  Be  it  therefore  enacted  by  the  Lieutenant-  Governor,  Council,  and  House  of 

Representatives : 

"Sec.  1.  That  the  said  town  of  Swansea  be  and  hereby  is  allowed  and 
authorized  to  set  up  and  carry  on  a  lottery  within  said  town  for  the  use 
and  purpose  aforesaid,  of  the  amount  of  twenty-five  thousand  pounds, 
old  tenor,  drawing  out  of  such  prize  ten  per  cent.,  and  said  town  be  em- 


1  From  records  of  town  condensed. 


powered  to  make  rules  for  the  regular  and  practicable  proceeding  in  said 
affair,  and  to  appoint  times  and  places,  and  meet  persons  for  managers 
therein,  who  shall  be  sworn  to  the  faithful  discharge  of  their  trust. 

"  And  in  order  to  prevent  any  bubble  or  cheats  happening  to  the  pur- 
chasers or  drawers  of  the  tickets, 

"  Be  it  further  enacted  : 

"  Sec.  2.  That  said  Swansea  shall  be  answerable  to  the  purchasers  or 
drawers  of  the  tickets  for  any  deficiency  or  misconduct  of  the  managers, 
according  to  the  true  intent  of  lotteries." 

Deputies  and  Representatives  from  1670    to 
1884"  have  been  as  follows : 

1670,  John  Allen;  1671-72,  James  Brown;  1674-75,  Hugh  Cole;  1677- 
79,  Samuel  Luther;  1680,  Hugh  Cole;  1681-82,  Obadiah  Brown; 
1683-86,  Hugh  Cole;  168S,  Lieut.  Timothy  Brooks  and  William 
Howard;  1691,  Capt.  John  Brown;  1692,  "Representatives  to  a 
great  and  general  court  or  assembly  to  be  held  at  ye  town-house  in 
Boston,"  Capt.  John  Brown  and  Mr.  Samuel  Newman  ;  1693,  Eben- 
ezer  Brenton;  1697,  Ensign  Joseph  Kent;  169S-1705,  Ephraim 
Peirce;  1706,  Hezekiah  Luther;  1707-8,  Joseph  Mason;  1709-10, 
Ephraim  Pierce;  1711-12,  John  Thomas;  1716-18,  John  Rogers, 
Esq.;  1720,  Joseph  Mason,  Jr.,  and  William  Salisbury;  1724,  Capt. 
John  Brown;  1726-27,  Eph.  Pierce;  1728,  Hugh  Cole;  1730-33,  Jo- 
seph Mason,  Jr.;  1736,  Justice  BrandfOrd,  Esq.:  173S,  Justis  Ma- 
son; 1739,  William  Anthony;  1741,  Mr.  Ezek.  Brown;  1743,  Perez 
Brandford,  Esq. ;  1744,  "  Voted  not  to  have  a  Representative;"  1745, 
Ezek.  Brown  ;  1746,  Mr.  Caleb  Luther  ;  1747-50,  Mr.  Ezek.  Brown  ; 
1751-52,  William  Slade;  1754,  John  Anthony  ;  1756,  William  Slade; 
1757-58,  John  Anthony;  1759-74,  Jeruthamel  Bowers;  1775,  "  Jer- 
uthamel  Bowers  and  Philip  Slead  to  represent  the  Town  in  the  Pro- 
vincial Congress,  and  that  these  two  persons  have  no  more  than  the 
wages  of  one  ;"  1777,  Col.  Andrew  Cole  and  Mr.  Philip  Slead  ;  1778, 
Col.  Edward  Anthony;  1779,  Philip  Slead  and  Israel  Barney;  "Is- 
rael Barney,  delegate  to  the  Convention  at  Concord  in  October;" 
"  Capt.  Philip  Slead  and  Mr.  John  Mason,  delegates  to  represent  the 
town  at  Cambridge  in  forming  a  new  constitution  ;"  1780,  1783,  Ju- 
rathamel  Bowers,  "  John  Richmond  to  go  to  Boston  the  first  Wednes- 
day of  June;"  1781-82,  voted  not  to  send  a  Representative  ;  1784,  Sim- 
eon Potter  ;  1785-86,  Christopher  Mason;  1787,  Christopher  Mason 
and  James  Luther;  1789-18  3,  Christopher  Mason;  1806-7,  Daniel 
Hale;  1809-10,  Daniel  Hale  and  Edward  Mason;  1811-12,  Daniel 
Hale  and  Benanuel  Marvel;  1813-19,  Daniel  Hale;  1820,  Dr.  John 
Winslow;  1821-22,  John  Mason;  1823-25,  Benanuel  Marvel;  1S26, 
Benjamin  Taylor;  1827,  Daniel  Halo  and  John  Buffington.  "Voted 
that  D.  Hale  be  instructed  to  attend  the  Legislature,  and  if  in  his 
opinion  it  is  necessary  for  John  Buffi ngton  to  attend,  he  must  write 
or  send  to  him,  and  he  is  instructed  to  attend  if  called  for;"  1828, 
John  Mason  and  John  Buffington.  May,  1829,  "  Voted  to  exonerate 
John  Mason  from  paying  into  the  Treasury  tbe  sum  generally  ex- 
pended in  treating  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  at  a  choice  of  rep- 
resentatives, which  he  agreed  to  at  his  election  in  1828."  1829, 
Luther  Baker  and  Benajah  Mason.  "  Voted,  That  the  Reps  be  in- 
structed to  oppose  all  RR.  constructed  at  the  expense  of  the  State." 
1830,  L.  Baker  and  B.  Mason  :  1831,  John  Earl  and  B.  Mason  ;  1832, 
Benanuel  Marvel;  1833,  B.  Marvel  and  John  Earl;  1834,  James 
Cornell;  1835,  .1.  Cornell  and  Geur^e  Austin;  1S36-37,  George 
Mason;  1838-39,  Artemas  Stebbins;  1840,  Jonathan  It.  Brown; 
1841-42,  Stephen  Buffington;  1843,  James  Cornell;  1844-45,  Philip 
M.  Marvel;  1846-47,  Jonathan  Barney;  1848-49,  Ezra  P.  Short; 
1850,  William  T.  Chase;  1851,  Daniel  Edson  ;  1852,  no  choice;  1853, 
Horatio  Peck;  1854,  Allen  Mason;  1855,  Benjamin  S.  Earl;  1856, 
voted  not  to  send  a  representative. 

Representatives  from  the  district,  residents  of  Swansea  :  1859,  Edward 
F.  Gardner;  1862,  W.  H.  Pearse  ;  1865,  Ezra  P.  Short;  1868,  Rufus 
Slade;  1871,  Joh  Gardner;  1S74,  Nathan  M.  Wood;  1878,  James  E. 
Estabrooks;  1882,  James  H.  Mason  ;  1883,  Job  M.  Leonard. 

2  Compiled  by  Rev.  J.  W.  Osborn. 


SWANSEA. 


657 


CHAPTER   LIV. 
SWANSEA.— (Continued.) 

PIONEER   HISTORY— KING   PHILIP'S   WAR. 

The  following  chapter  was  contributed  by  Hon.  George  B.  Loring, 
being  an  address  delivered  by  him  in  this  town  in  1875,  at  the  two  hun- 
dredth anniversary  of  the  massacre  of  the  inhabitants  during  King 
Philip's  war. 

"  My  Friends  and  Fellow-Citizens, — I  have 
accepted  your  invitation  to  deliver  this  address  on  the 
occasion  of  the  second  centennial  anniversary  of  the 
great  tragic  event  in  the  history  of  your  town  with 
extreme  reluctance  and  with  many  misgivings.  I 
cannot  expect  to  share  with  you  all  those  hallowed 
memories  which  spring  up  in  your  minds  and  warm 
your  hearts  whose  homes  are  on  this  spot,  whose  an- 
cestors repose  beneath  this  sod,  whose  hearthstones 
are  here,  whose  eyes  have  beheld  the  domestic  scenes, 
and  whose  hearts  have  felt  the  joys  and  sorrows  which 
make  up  the  story  you  would  most  gladly  hear  to-day. 
To  you  who  enjoy  this  spot  as  home,  the  church,  this 
village-green,  these  farm-houses,  every  field  and 
wooded  hill,  the  highway  and  the  by-path,  the  valley 
and  the  brook,  all  tell  a  tale  of  tender  interest,  to 
you  who  remember  the  events  of  childhood  here,  to 
you  who  to-day  return  from  long  wandering,  to  you 
who  have  remained  and  have  brought  this  munici- 
pality on  to  an  honorable  era  in  its  history,  to  you  who 
turn  aside  to  linger  over  the  grave  of  a  beloved  pa- 
rent, and  to  you  who  still  pause  and  drop  a  tear  on 
that  little  mound  where  your  child  has  lain  so  long, 
and  from  which  through  all  the  years  that  have  passed 
since  it  left  you  its  sweet  voice  has  been  heard,  re- 
minding you  of  your  duty  in  this  world,  and  assuring 
you  of  the  peace  and  joy  of  the  world  to  come.  To 
me,  indeed,  the  domestic  record  of  this  town,  the 
most  sacred  record  to  you,  is,  as  it  were,  a  sealed  vol- 
ume, open  only  to  my  gaze  as  a  member  of  the  same 
human  family  with  yourselves,  and  as  one  feeling  that 
common  sympathy  which  binds  as  with  a  silver  cord 
all  the  sons  of  God  into  one  great  brotherhood. 
While,  therefore,  I  cannot  intrude  upon  the  sacred- 
ness  of  your  firesides,  nor  claim  a  seat  in  your  do- 
mestic circle,  nor  expect  to  be  admitted  within  the 
railing  of  your  altar,  I  can  call  to  your  minds  those 
events  in  the  history  of  your  town  which  have  estab- 
lished its  intimate  relations  with  that  interesting  ex- 
periment of  society  and  state  which  has  been  worked 
out  on  this  continent  during  the  last  two  hundred 
years. 

"  In  celebrating  the  two  hundredth  anniversary  of 
a  great  historic  incident  in  the  history  of  a  New 
England  town,  the  peculiar  and  extraordinary  nature 
of  a  civil  organization  of  this  kind  should  not  be 
forgotten,  especially  by  those  who  enjoy  the  high 
privileges  which  belong  to  it.  To  many  nationalities 
and  peoples  a  town  means  nothing  more  than  a  clus- 
ter of  houses  surrounded  by  a  wall  and  fortified,  or 
the  realm  of  a  constable,  or  the  seat  of  a  church.  But 
42 


to  us  in  New  England  the  town  was  in  the  beginning, 
as  it  is  now,  the  primary  organization,  sovereign  in 
itself.     '  The  colonists  had  no  sooner  formed  a  settle- 
ment and  erected  their  cabins  in  convenient  prox- 
imity to  each  other  than  they  organized  themselves  a 
town,  an  independent  municipality,  in  which  every 
citizen  had  a  voice  and  a  vote.'    The  first  duty  of  this 
organization,  in  the  minds  of  our  fathers,  was  the  es- 
tablishment of  a  church,  and  the  erection  of  a  meet- 
ing-house and  a  school-house  received  their  earliest 
care  and  attention.     It  is  remarkable  and  interesting: 
to  see  how  in  the  little  municipalities  of  New  Eng- 
land all  the  rights  of  citizenship  were  cherished,  and 
how  silently  and  unostentatiously  all  the  elements  of 
a  free  State  were  fixed  and  developed.     Starting  away 
from   the  original  colonies,  they  planted  themselves 
in    the  wilderness,   and   assumed  at  once   the   duty 
of  independent  organizations.    Their  citizens  in  town- 
meeting  assembled  had  the  control  of  all  matters  re- 
lating to  their  civil  and  criminal  jurisdiction.     In  the 
New  England  colonies  the  towns  were  combined  in 
counties  long  after  their  establishment   and   repre- 
sentation as  towns,  so  that  the  county  here  was  a  col- 
lection of  towns  rather  than  the  town  a  sub-division 
of  a  county.      This  system  of  town  organization  is 
maintained  throughout  New  England  to  the  present 
day,  constituting  one  of  the  most  interesting  features 
of  the  civil  polity  of  this  section   of  our   country. 
Says  Barry,  in  his  '  History  of  Massachusetts,'  '  Each 
(town)  sustained  a  relation  to  the  whole  analogous 
to  that  which  the  States  of  our  Union  hold  respec- 
tively to  the  central  power  or  the  Constitution  of  the 
United   States.'      Says   Palfrey,   in    his    'History  of 
New  England,'  '  With  something  of  the  same  pro- 
priety with  which  the  nation  may  be  said  to  be  a 
confederacy   of   republics   called   States,  each    New 
England  State  may  be  described  as  a  confederacy  of 
minor    republics    called    towns.'      Neither   in   New 
York,  with  its  great  landed  properties,  at  first  held 
and  occupied  by  a  kind  of  feudal  tenure  and  after- 
ward with  its  counties,  nor  in  the  Western  States, 
where  the  town  survey  carries  with  it  no  local  politi- 
cal authority,  nor  in  the  South,  where  the  county  or- 
ganization is  the  one  which  governs  local  matters, 
can    be   found  that  form  of  self-government  which 
gives   the   New  England  towns  their  individuality, 
and  which  has  enabled  them  to  enroll  their  names  on 
the  brightest  pages  of  American  history.      How  in 
the  olden  time  they  cherished  the  church  and  built 
the  meeting-house !    How  they  fostered  education  and 
erected  the  school-house!     How  they  selected  their 
wisest  and  bravest  men  for  the  public  councils !    How 
they   resolved    for  freedom   in   open    town-meeting! 
How   they    hurled    defiance    at    the   oppressor,   and 
sprang  up  an  army  of  defiant  communities,  each  one 
feeling  its  responsibility  and  ready  and  anxious  to 
assume  it!     Would  you  study  the  valor  of  your  coun- 
try in  its  early  days  ? — go  to  the  town  records  of  New 
England.     Would  you  learn  where  the  leaders  and 


658 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


statesmen  were  taught  their  lesson  of  independence 
and  nationality? — read  the  recorded  resolves  of  the 
New  England  towns. 

"  The  origin  and  organization  of  these  New  Eng- 
land towns  were  by  no  means  uniform.  In  some 
instances  they  were  founded  immediately  on  the 
landing  of  the  colonists  out  of  lands  conferred  upon 
them  by  their  charter ;  in  other  instances  they  were 
made  up  by  grants  of  land  to  an  offshoot  from  the 
parent  colony,  whose  enterprise  consisted  in  organiz- 
ing a  new  town ;  in  other  instances  grants  of  land 
made  from  time  to  time  to  individuals  and  corpora- 
tions for  farms  and  other  purposes,  which  grants  were 
consolidated  into  townships. 

"  The  proprietors  and  settlers  on  the  lands  of  Swan- 
sea, a  name  derived  from  the  town  of  Swansea,  in 
Wales,  from  whence  came  the  Rev.  John  Miles,  the 
first  minister,  in  1663,  secured  their  title  to  the  land 
here  from  the  Plymouth  Court,  or  by  Indian  deeds 
confirmed  by  grants  from  this  court.     For  a  long  time 
this  power  was  exercised  by  the  Plymouth  Colony, 
and  it  not  only  extended  its  possessions  in  the  direc- 
tion of  Mount  Hope,  whose  lands  were  vastly  more 
attractive  than   those  lying  towards  Cape  Cod,  but 
they  were  in  constant  controversy  with  the  colony  of 
Massachusetts  Bay  with  regard  to  the  boundary  line 
separating  them  along  the  towns  of  Hingham  and 
Cohasset.     The  lands  lying  within  the  limits  of  Swan- 
sea, which  then  included  Somerset  and  Barrington, 
were  in  this  manner  conveyed  to  Governor  Bradford, 
Samuel  Newman,  Peregrine  White,  Josiah  Winslow, 
Governor  Prince,  and  others,  and  were  by  them  held 
in  joint-stock  companies,  and  sold  to  those  who  de- 
sired to  become  actual  settlers.     It  is  the  record  of 
these  sales,  kept  by  the  clerk  of  the  court  at  Plym- 
outh, and  constituting  each  proprietor's  title  to  the 
lands  which  he  sold  and  each  settler's  title  to  the 
lands  which  he  occupied,  that  lies  at  the  foundation 
of  that  system  of  land-holding  known  now  as  being 
peculiar  to  America,  and  as  the  commercial  in  contra- 
distinction to  the  feudal  tenure, — a  system  in  which 
our  Pilgrim  fathers  were  more  than  two  centuries 
ahead  of  the  times  in  which  they  lived.     To  this 
liberal   system,  through    which   has   grown,  up   the 
division  and  sub-division  of  land  in  New  England 
from  the  earliest  period  of  its  history,  I  always  turn 
with  pride,  as  I  do  with  pride  and  gratitude  to  that 
provision  made  in  every  colony  for  endowing  with 
landed  possessions   the  institutions  of  religion  and 
learning.     But,  in   addition  to  this,  to  Swansea  be- 
longs the  curious  distinction  of  having  organized  a 
division  of  lands  based   upon  ranks  and  orders  in 
society.    The  selection  of  a  committee  of  five  persons 
to  classify  society,  and  to  indicate  how  much   land 
the  members  of  each  class  shall  hold,  with  power  also 
to  elevate  and  to  degrade  according  to  their  pleasure, 
is  a  novelty  in  popular  institutions  confined,  I  am 
happy  to  learn,  to  this  town,  and  abolished,  when  its 
despotic  and  feudal  characteristics  became  kn^wn  and 


understood,  with  more  promptness  than  it  was  adopted. 
Possessed,  however,  of  lands  in  this  manner,  and  un- 
doubtedly drawn  together  by  a  catholic  and  gentle 
religious  sentiment,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Miles,  Capt.  Thomas 
Willett,  James  Brown,  John  Allen,  and  others,  about 
the  year  1667,  organized  a  separate  town  corporation 
under  the  name  of  New  Swansea.  Mr.  Miles  was 
one  of  the  pure-minded,  earnest,  liberal  religious 
leaders  of  his  day, — a  man  full  of  religious  tolera- 
tion, based  upon  a  firm  and  abiding  religious  faith. 
Thomas  Willett  was  an  energetic,  brave,  intelligent, 
and  cultivated  friend  of  the  Pilgrims  both  in  Eng- 
land and  Holland,  and  was  considered  to  be  a  fit 
successor  of  Miles  Standish  in  the  command  of  the 
Plymouth  militia, — a  man  equal  to  any  heroic  occa- 
sion, any  emergency  calling  for  high  moral  and  men- 
tal powers.  John  Brown  stands  by  the  side  of  Capt. 
Willett,  his  peer  in  all  those  qualities  which  ennoble 
and  dignify  mankind.  He,  too,  was  brave,  intelli- 
gent, and  pious, — a  model  of  those  great  men  upon 
whom  has  fallen  from  age  to  age  the  high  duty  of 
founding  states  and  empires.  It  was  these  men,  with 
their  associates,  who  erected  that  first  primitive 
church  on  New  Meadow  Neck,  and  provided  liberally 
for  the  education  of  the  children  of  the  town,  upon 
whom  were  to  fall  the  obligations  and  services  of 
Church  and  State,  and  in  all  these  things  they  did 
their  work  well.  In  church  the  Rev.  John  Miles 
toiled  on  for  more  than  twenty  years,  setting  an  ex- 
ample of  fidelity,  purity,  charity,  and  honesty  worthy 
of  all  imitation,  and  securing  for  his  name  such  im- 
mortality on  earth  as  grateful  man  can  bestow. 

"  From  the  simple  and  unostentatious  institution 
of  learning  stepped  forth  Samuel  Myles,  a  graduate 
of  Harvard,  and  for  forty  years  an  able  and  be- 
loved rector  of  King's  Chapel,  Boston.  With  what 
thrift  and  economy  were  the  meeting-house  and  the 
school-house  of  that  day  erected  !  With  what  slender 
stipend  were  the  laborers  in  those  vineyards  re- 
warded !  What  the  Rev.  Mr.  Miles  received  does  not 
appear,  but,  among  the  schoolmasters,  Mr.  Bosworth 
got  twenty  pounds  per  annum  for  his  services ;  Mr. 
John  Devotion,  twelve  pounds,  agreeing  also  to  pay 
for  his  diet,  and  to  allow  him  twenty  pounds  for  the 
keeping  of  his  horse. 

"Of  the  motives  and  manners  and  customs  of  those 
who  founded  this  town  let  me  here  say  a  word.  They 
formed  a  part  of  that  large  body  of  dissenters  who 
under  various  names  came  to  New  England  and  set- 
tled the  colonies  of  Plymouth  and  Massachusetts 
Bay.  They  came,  it  is  true,  to  enjoy  religious  free- 
dom, but  they  also  sought  a  civil  organization  founded 
upon  the  right  of  every  man  to  a  voice  in  the  govern- 
ment under  which  he  lives.  In  the  charter  of  all  the 
towns  granted  by  the  General  Court  it  was  provided 
that  the  grantees  were  'to  procure  and  maintain  an 
able  orthodox  minister  amongst  them,'  and  to  build 
a  meeting-house  '  within  three  years.'  This  was  their 
i  motive.     In  all  their  customs  they  were  obliged    o 


SWANSEA. 


659 


exercise  the  utmost  simplicity,  and  they  voluntarily 
regulated  their  conduct  by  those  formal  rules  which, 
in  their  day,  constituted  the  Puritan's  guide  through 
the  world.  We  are  told,  as  an  illustration  of  their 
character  and  manners,  that  by  the  laws  of  the  colony 
in  1651  'dancing  at  weddings'  was  forbidden.  In 
1660.  '  William  Walker  was  imprisoned  a  month  for 
courting  a  maid  without  the  leave  of  her  parents.' 

"  In  1675,  because  '  there  is  manifest  pride  in  ap- 
pearing in  our  streets,'  the  wearing  of  'long  hair  or 
periwigs,'  and  also  'superstitious  ribands,'  used  to 
tie  up  and  decorate  the  hair,  were  forbidden  under 
severe  penalties.  Men,  too,  were  forbidden  to  '  keep 
Christmas,'  because  it  was  a  'popish  custom.'  In 
1677  an  act  was  passed  to  prevent  '  the  profaneness' 
of  'turning  the  back  upon  the  public  worship  before 
it  is  finished  and  the  blessing  pronounced.'  Towns 
were  directed  to  erect  '  a  cage'  near  the  meeting- 
house, and  in  this  all  offenders  against  the  sanctity 
of  the  Sabbath  were  confined.  At  the  same  time 
children  were  directed  to  be  placed  in  a  particular 
part  of  the  meeting-house,  apart  by  themselves,  and 
tithingmen  were  ordered  to  be  chosen,  whose  duty  it 
should  be  to  take  care  of  them.  So  strict  were  they 
in  their  observance  of  the  Sabbath  that  John  Ather- 
ton,  a  soldier  of  Col.  Tyng's  company,  was  fined  by 
him  '  forty  shillings'  for  '  wetting  a  piece  of  an  old 
hat  to  put  into  his  shoes,'  which  chafed  his  feet  upon 
the  march,  and  those  who  neglected  to  attend  meet- 
ing for  three  months  were  publicly  whipped.  Even 
in  Harvard  College  students  were  whipped  for  grave 
offenses  in  the  chapel,  in  presence  of  students  and 
professors,  and  prayers  were  had  before  and  after  the 
infliction  of  the  punishment.  As  the  settlers  of  Swan- 
sea are  described  as  being  of  '  sober  and  orderly  con- 
versation,' we  may  suppose  that  these  laws  and  cus- 
toms were  in  this  town  rigidly  enforced. 

"Perhaps  a  word  upon  the  subsistence  and  diet  of 
your  ancestors  may  interest  you  here.  Palfrey  tells 
us  that  'in  the  early  days  of  New  England  wheaten 
bread  was  not  so  common  as  it  afterwards  became, 
but  its  place  was  largely  supplied  by  preparations  of 
Indian  corn.  A  mixture  of  two  parts  of  the  meal 
of  this  grain  with  one  part  of  rye  has  continued  until 
far  into  the  present  century  to  furnish  the  bread  of 
the  great  body  of  the  people.  In  the  beginning  there 
was  but  a  sparing  consumption  of  butcher's  meat.  The 
multiplication  of  flocks  for  their  wool,  and  of  herds 
for  draught  and  for  milk  was  an  important  care,  and 
they  generally  bore  a  high  money  value.  Game  and 
fish  to  a  considerable  extent  supplied  the  want  of  ani- 
mal food.  Next  to  these,  swine  and  poultry,  fowls, 
ducks,  geese,  and  turkeys  were  in  common  use  earlier 
than  other  kinds  of  flesh  meat.  The  New  Englander 
of  the  present  time,  who,  in  whatever  rank  of  life, 
would  be  at  a  loss  without  his  tea  or  Coffee  twice  at 
least  in  every  day,  pities  the  hardships  of  his  ances- 
tors, who  almost  universally  for  a  century  and  a  half 
made  their  morning  and  evening  repast  on  boiled  In- 


dian meal  and  milk,  or  on  porridge,  or  broth  made  of 
peas  or  beans  and  flavored  by  being  boiled  with 
salted  beef  or  pork.  Beer,  however,  which  was 
brewed  in  families,  was  accounted  a  necessary  of  life, 
and  the  orchards  soon  yielded  a  bountiful  provision 
of  cider.  Wine  and  rum  found  a  ready  market  as 
soon  as  they  were  brought  from  abroad,  and  tobacco 
and  legislation  had  a  long  conflict,  in  which  the  latter 
at  last  gave  way. 

"  Population.— It  is  difficult  to  realize  how  feeble 
and  few  were  the  colonists  at  the  time  when  this  town 
was  passing  out  of  its  confederation  of  farms  into  an 
organized  corporation.     There  were  then  probably  in 
New  England  from  forty  thousand  to  forty-five  thou- 
sand English  people.     Of  this  number   twenty-five 
thousand  may  have  belonged  to  Massachusetts,   ten 
thousand  to  Connecticut  as  newly  constituted,  five 
thousand  to  Plymouth,  and  three  thousand  to  Ehode 
Island.     They  inhabited  ninety  towns,  of  which  four 
were  in  Rhode  Island,  twelve  in  Plymouth,  twenty- 
two  in  Connecticut,  and  the  rest  in  Massachusetts. 
.  .  .  Connecticut,  according  to  the  account  sent  home 
by  the  royal    commissioners,    had    many   scattering 
towns  not   worthy  of  their  names,  and  a  scholar  to 
their  minister  in  every  town  or  village.     In  Rhode 
Island,  they  said,   were  the  best  English  grass  and 
most  sheep,  the  ground  very  fruitful,  ewes  bringing 
ordinarily  two  lambs,  corn  yielding  eighty  for   one, 
and  in  some  places  they  had  had  corn   twenty-six 
years  together  without  manuring.     In  this  province 
only  they  had  not  any  places  set  apart  for  the  wor- 
ship of  God,  there  being  so  many  sub-divided  sects 
they  could  not  agree  to  meet  together  in  one  place, 
but,  according  to  their  several  judgments,  they  some- 
times associated  in  one  house,  sometimes  in  another. 
In  Plymouth  it  was  the  practice  to  pursuade  men, 
sometimes  to  compel  them  to  be  freemen,  so  far  were 
they  from   hindering  any.     They  had  about  twelve 
small  towns,  one  saw-mill  for  boards,  one  bloomery 
for  iron,  neither  good  river  nor  good  harbor  nor  any 
place  of  strength  ;  they  were  so  poor  they  were  unable 
to  maintain  scholars  to  their  ministers,  but  were  ne- 
cessitated to  make  use  of  a  gifted  brother  in  some 
places.     The  commodities  of  Massachusetts  were  fish, 
which  was  sent  into  France,  Spain,  and  the  Straits, 
pipe-staves,   masts,  fir-boards,    some  pitch    and   tar, 
pork,  beef,  horses,  and  corn,  which  they  sent  to  Vir- 
ginia, Barbadoes,  etc.,  and  took  tobacco  and  sugar 
for  payment,   which   they   often   sent   for   England. 
There  was  good  store  of  iron  made  in  this  province. 
In  the  Piscataqua  towns  were  excellent  masts  gotten, 
.  .  .  and  upon  the  river  were  above  twenty  saw-mills, 
and  there  were  great  stores  of  pipe-staves  made,  and 
great  store  of  good  timber  spoiled.     In  Maine  there 
were  but  few  towns,  and  those  much  scattered.   They 
were  rather  farms  than  towns.    In  the  Duke  of  York's 
province,   beyond  the   Kennebec,  there   were   three 
small  plantations,  the  biggest  of  which  had  not  above 
thirty  houses  in  it,  and  these  very  mean  ones  too, 


660 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


and  spread  over  eight  miles  at  least.  Those  people 
were,  for  the  most  part,  fishermen,  and  never  had  any 
government  among  them  ;  most  of  them  were  such 
as  had  fled  hither  to  avoid  justice. 

"  In  Boston,  the  principal  town  of  the  country,  the 
houses  were  generally  wooden,  the  streets  crooked, 
with  little  decency  and  no  uniformity;  and  there 
neither  months,  days,  seasons  of  the  year,  churches, 
nor  inns  were  known  by  their  English  names.  At 
Cambridge  they  had  a  wooden  college,  and  in  the 
yard  a  brick  pile  of  two  bayes  for  the  Indians,  where 
the  commissioners  saw  but  one.  They  said  they  had 
three  more  at  school.  It  might  be  feared  this  college 
might  afford  as  many  schismatics  to  the  church,  and 
the  corporation  as  many  rebels  to  the  king  as  for- 
merly they  had  done  if  not  timely  prevented. 

"  As  a  part  of  the  social   and  civil   organization 
which  I  have  described,  the  old  town  of  Swansea  is 
full  of  interest  and  significance ;  but  as  the  home  of 
the  Rev.  John  Myles,  it  is  connected  with  some  of  the 
most  important  religious  movements  of  a  time  made 
illustrious  by  its  great  protests,  and  by  its  heroic  de- 
votion to  freedom  of  conscience  in  matters  of  church 
and  state.     John  Myles  was  a  Baptist,  born  in  a  re- 
gion which  had  long  afforded  protection  to  the  perse- 
cuted and  oppressed,  and  which  was  the  birthplace 
of  Roger  Williams  and  Oliver  Cromwell.     A  leader 
of  his  denomination   in   Wales,  he  exercised  great 
power  among  the  churches  there  and  in  England; 
was  among  the  first  to  suffer  from  the  tyranny  of 
Charles   II.   after   the   restoration,  and   also  among 
the  first  to  seek  freedom   to  worship  God  on  these 
shores.      With    Nicholas   Tawner,    Obediah    Brown, 
John    Thomas,   and   others,    he   came    to   America, 
bringing  with   him  the  doctrines  of  his  church    in 
Wales,  a  devoted  heart,  and  a  calm  and  undying 
courage.      Taught  by    the    experience    of    Obediah 
Holmes,  who  was  excommunicated  by  the  church  in 
Salem   in  1646,  who  was  cruelly  condemned  by  the 
court   at  Boston  to   suffer   punishment   with   thirty 
lashes  from  a  three-corded  whip  for  preaching  heresy 
to  the  brethren  in  Lynn,  but  who  when  complained 
of  before  the  Plymouth  Court  was  simply  directed  to 
'refrain  from  practices  disagreeable  to  the  brethren,' 
taught,  morever,  by  the  similar  experience  of  Roger 
Williams  that  the  rights  of  conscience  were  not  uni- 
versally respected  even  in  New  England,  he  betook 
himself  to  this  region  of  liberality  where  we  now  sit, 
and    founded    here   the   second    Baptist   Church    in 
America,  the  first  having  been  gathered  not  long  pre- 
vious at  Rehoboth,  in  the  house  of  John  Butterworth. 
It  was,  however,  from  the  church  in  Swansea  that 
the  first  Holy  Covenant  emanated,  a  broad  and  liberal 
document,    in  which,  with   profound   piety  and  the 
warmest  Christian  charity,  it  is  declared  that,  "  So 
we  are  ready  to  accept  of,  receive  to,  and  hold  com- 
munion with  all  such   as  by  a  judgment  of  charity 
we   conceive  to  be  fellow-members  with  us  in  our 
head,  Christ  Jesus,  though  differing  from  us  in  such 


controversial  points  as  are  not  absolutely  and  essen- 
tially necessary  to  salvation."  It  is  difficult  to  realize 
in  this  day  the  difficulties  which  surrounded  such 
generous  sentiments  as  these,  and  the  bitter  persecu- 
tion exercised  towards  their   advocates  when  John 
Myles  sought  shelter  within  the  narrow  domain   of 
the  Plymouth  Colony,  and  availed   himself  of  the 
only  liberal  jurisdiction  then  on  earth — the  Plymouth 
Court — for  the  protection  of  himself  and  his  followers. 
And  we  are  filled  with  wonder  and  admiration  at  the 
powerful  influence  exercised  through  all  the  ages  that 
have  followed  by  this  narrow  Pilgrim  empire  of  inde- 
pendent conscience,  religious  freedom,  and  human  ele- 
vation and  equality.  The  pages  of  history  are  crowded 
with  records  of  national  power  and  renown,  and  of 
personal  heroism,  genius,  and  greatness,  but  they  all 
surrender  now  to  the  immortal  force  of  that  little  col- 
ony which  set  the  first  example  of  self-government, 
and  in  an  age  of  various  and   constant  persecution 
laid  down  the  law  of  personal   freedom  and  right. 
What  a  noble  instance  of  true  devotion  to  the  high- 
est principle  it  was  when  the  followers  of  John  Rob- 
inson, of  Leyden,  Calvinists  all,  opened  their  doors 
to  the  followers  of  Roger  Williams  and  John  Myles, 
and  manifested  their  grand  conception  of  the  true 
meaning  of  religious  toleration  !     What  a  lesson  they 
taught  the  world !     And  how,  as  by  the  guidance  of 
the  Divine  Father,  who  '  maketh  His  sun  to  rise  on 
the  evil  and  the  good,'  did  they  secure  to  themselves 
an  eternal  association  with  the  radiant  progress  of 
civil  and  religious  freedom  !     When  the  Pilgrim  at 
Plymouth  gave  the  protection  of  his  little  colony  to 
the  Baptist  driven  from  his  home  among  the  moun- 
tains of  Wales,  he  took  to  his  heart  the  pioneers  of 
human  progress  and  assertion,  and  became  one  in  an 
immortal  copartnership  engaged  in  liberalizing  and 
humanizing  and  elevating  the  church  and  the  state; 
for  of  their  associates  in  this  great  work,  the  friends 
of  Roger  Williams  and  John  Myles,  Sir  Isaac  New- 
ton says,  '  The  Baptists  are  the  only  body  of  Chris- 
tians that   has  not  symbolized  with   the  Church  of 
Rome.'     Of  them  Bancroft  says,  '  With  greater  con- 
sistency than  Luther,  they  applied  the  doctrines  of 
the  Reformation  to  the  social  positions  of  life,  and 
threatened  an  end  to  priestcraft  and  kingcraft,  spirit- 
ual  domination,   titles,  and    vassalage.     They   were 
trodden    under   foot  with  most  arrogant  scorn,  and 
their  history  is  written  in  the  blood  of  thousands  of 
the  German  peasantry,  but  their  principle,  secure  in 
their  immortality,  escaped  with  Roger  Williams  to 
Providence,  and  his  colony  is  witness  that  naturally 
the  paths  of  the  Baptists  are  paths  of  freedom,  pleas- 
antness, and  peace.'     Of  them  Mr.  Locke  has  said, 
'The  Baptists  were  from  the  beginning  the  friends 
of  liberty,  just  and  true  liberty,  equal  and  impartial 
liberty.'      Of  them    Dr.    Williams    says,    'To    this 
body  English   liberty  owes  a  debt  it  can   never  ac- 
knowledge.    Among  the  Baptists  Christian  freedom 
found  its  earliest,  its  stanchest,  its  most  consistent, 


SWANSEA. 


661 


and  its  most  disinterested  champions.'  Of  them 
Judge  Story  says,  '  In  the  code  of  laws  established 
by  them  in  Rhode  Island  we  read  for  the  first  time 
since  Christianity  ascended  the  throne  of  the  Caesars 
the  declaration  that  conscience  should  be  free,  and 
men -should  not  be  punished  for  worshiping  God  in 
the  way  they  were  persuaded  He  requires.'  Of  them 
the  world  may  now  say  that  their  spirit  has  become 
the  spirit  of  Christianity,  and  in  the  light  of  freedom 
which  poured  from  their  humble  abodes  all  denomi- 
nations, all  forms  of  faith,  all  believers  walk,  sup- 
ported and  bound  together  by  one  sublime  sentiment 
that  they  are  all  '  heirs  of  God  and  joint  heirs  with 
Christ.' 

"  Casting  our  eyes  now  over  the  numerous  colonies 
which  two  hundred  years  ago  had  been  organized  on 
this  continent,  and  which  were  engaged  in  all  the 
various  enterprises  for  which  colonies'are  founded, 
we  should  naturally  expect  for  this  fair  section  of  the 
Old  Colony,  founded  as  it  was  on  the  doctrine  of 
'  peace  on  earth  and  good  will  to  men,'  an  immunity 
from  those  conflicts  with  hostile  savages  which  per- 
plexed and  distressed  and  threatened  to  destroy  many 
of  their  less  humane  and  more  worldly-minded  neigh- 
bors. The  lands  which  the  colonists  occupied  here 
had  been  secured  by  fair  and  honest  purchase,  and, 
with  the  exception  of  the  natural  antagonism  be- 
tween a  stern  and  high-toned  and  self-sacrificing  and 
self-respecting  form  of  humanity  and  a  wild  and  abo- 
riginal and  selfish  and  cruel  and  self-indulgent  and 
low-minded  and  hollow-hearted  product  of  a  society 
without  principle  or  regulation  or  thought  or  high 
purpose,  with  the  exception  of  antagonism  like  this 
between  man  in  the  image  of  his  Maker  and  man  in 
the  image  of  a  beast,  the  relations  existing  between 
the  early  settlers  of  this  town  and  their  savage  pre- 
decessors were  such  as  seemed  to  promise  long-con- 
tinued and  unbroken  peace.  But  to  the  wild  man  of 
the  woods,  who  carried  his  law  in  his  quiver,  and  toma- 
hawked his  enemy  with  impunity,  and  knew  neither 
hearthstone  nor  altar,  and  drove  his  squaw  from  the 
servitude  and  social  vulgarity  and  filth  of  a  wigwam 
to  the  toil  and  heat  and  weariness  of  the  cornfield, 
the  just  punishment  of  crime  and  a  rebuke  for  a  mis- 
demeanor were  equivalent  to  a  declaration  of  war  and 
an  attack. 

"And  so  when  Sausaman,  an  Indian  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts tribe,  a  disciple  of  Eliot,  was  murdered  and 
his  body  concealed  beneath  the  ice  in  a  pond  at  Mid- 
dleborough,  and  his  murderers  brought  to  justice, 
Philip,  of  Mount  Hope,  considered  it  a  sufficient 
reason  for  a  rapid  development  of  the  murderous 
hostilities  for  which  he  had  long  been  preparing. 
Loaded  with  broken  promises,  black  with  treachery 
and  deceit,  thirsting  for  the  blood  of  those  whose  ad- 
vancing civilization  he  saw  was  developing  all  the 
arts  of  peace  and  the  health  and  joy  and  strength  of 
civilized  society  upon  the  lands  from  which  his  own 
debauched    and    war-stricken    and    plague-stricken 


tribes  were  gradually  being  exterminated,  he  struck 
that  fearful  blow  which  fell  two  hundred  years  ago 
upon  this  devoted  town.  It  was  on  a  day  of  fasting 
and  humiliation  and  of  prayer  to  Almighty  God  that 
He  would  avert  the  horrors  of  the  impending  war,  the 
24th  of  June,  1675,  that  the  savage  made  his  second 
attack  on  the  town.  The  people  here  had  been  lulled 
into  confidence  and  repose  by  a  consciousness  of  their 
own  honest  intentions,  and  by  daily  familiar  inter- 
course with  the  aboriginal  occupants  of  the  wigwams 
which  crowned  these  hills  and  sought  seclusion  and 
protection  in  these  valleys.  The  old  men  here  had 
taught  themselves  to  believe  that  their  gray  hairs 
were  safe  and  respected,  the  young  men  had  con- 
fidently applied  their  strength  to  a  better  service  than 
the  work  of  war,  the  mother  had  long  since  laid 
aside  all  fear  for  the  safety  of  her  child,  the  child 
had  not  yet  learned  that  the  red-skinned  maiden  was 
her  natural  foe  when  the  mask  fell  from  the  face  of 
the  savage  and  his  cruel  and  infernal  designs  became 
manifest.  The  doors  of  the  little  church  had  just 
closed,  and  the  worshipers  were  returning  to  their 
homes,  heavy  with  the  thought  of  the  danger  which 
hung  over  them  like  a  dark  and  threatening  cloud, 
when  the  attack  was  made.  We  are  told  that  one 
was  killed  and  others  were  wounded  ;  two  men  were 
killed  who  were  sent  for  a  surgeon,  and  near  Bourn's 
garrison  six  more  were  murdered,  upon  whose  bodies 
the  savages  '  exercised  more  than  brutish  barbarities, 
beheading,  dismembering,  and  mangling  them  and 
exposing  them  in  the  most  inhuman  manner,  which 
gashed  and  ghastly  objects  struck  a  damp  on  all  be- 
holders.' 

"  The  war  became  general  throughout  the  Massachu- 
setts and  Plymouth  Colonies.  Philip,  subtile,  vindic- 
tive, ambitious,  and  desperate,  united  all  the  tribes 
from  the  waters  of  the  bay  to  the  Connecticut  River 
in  what  he  called  a  desperate  struggle  for  the  land  of 
his  fathers.  For  a  time  the  conflict  was  confined  to 
the  Plymouth  Colony,  and  Middleborough,  Taunton, 
and  Dartmouth  had  suffered  from  attacks,  but  Philip's 
emissaries  were  everywhere.  An  attempt  of  the  Eng- 
lish to  treat  with  the  Nipmunks  resulted  in  a  most 
bloody  and  disastrous  fight  at  Brookfiekl.  The  In- 
dians in  the  valley  of  the  Connecticut  entered  the 
field,  and  Hadley,  Hatfield,  and  Deerfield,  Long 
Meadow  and  Westfield,  Springfield  and  Northamp- 
ton, all  suffered  severely.  Even  the  '  Praying'  Indians, 
who  for  a  long  time  either  aided  the  English  or  were 
neutral,  began  to  join  the  warlike  bands  of  Philip. 
The  commissioners  of  the  colonies  found  it  necessary 
to  issue  a  declaration  of  war,  and  agreed  to  raise  a 
•  thousand  troops,  of  which  Massachusetts  was  to  raise 
five  hundred  and  twenty-seven,  Plymouth  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty-eight,  and  Connecticut  three  hundred 
and  fifteen.  Plymouth  promptly  responded.  Maj. 
Cudworth  was  chosen  commander-in-chief.  A  com- 
mittee was  appointed  to  take  an  account  of  the  charges 
of  the   war,  '  the  salaries   of  the   commanders  and 


662 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


common  soldiers'  were  fixed,  '  and  during  the  time  of 
danger  it  was  ordered  that  every  one  should  take  his 
arms  to  meeting  on  the  Lord's  day  until  further  notice, 
furnished  with  at  least  five  charges  of  powder  and 
shot,  under  penalty  of  20s.  for  every  default.'  The  2d 
of  December,  1675,  was  designated  by  the  several 
courts  as  a  day  of  humiliation,  fasting,  and  prayer 
throughout  the  colonies,  and  on  the  8th  the  Massa- 
chusetts troops  under  Maj.  Appleton,  the  Plymouth 
forces  under  Maj.  Bradford,  and  the  Connecticut  forces 
under  Maj.  Treat  set  forth  to  unite  upon  an  attack 
upon  the  Narragansett  country,  the  home  and  head- 
quarters of  the  hostile  Indians.  The  hardships  of 
that  winter  march  through  deep  snows,  the  murderous 
fire  of  the  savages  from  their  fort,  in  assaulting  which 
Johnson  and  Davenport,  two  of  the  bravest  officers 
from  Massachusetts,  fell,  the  deadly  conflict  within 
the  walls  of  the  fortification,  the  fiendish  warfare  of 
the  savages,  their  desperate  struggles,  their  final  rout, 
the  destruction  of  their  entire  settlement,  in  which 
five  hundred  wigwams  were  burnt,  and  their  corn, 
stores,  and  utensils  were  destroyed,  and  many  of  their 
men,  women,  and  children  perished  miserably,  form 
a  picture  of  colonial  trials  and  distresses  from  which 
we  turn  our  eyes  in  horror,  and  whose  shadows  still 
fall  darkly  across  this  fair  land. 

'  The  war  was  now  transferred  to  the  interior.  The 
winter  campaign  was  trying  beyond  words  to  express, 
the  Indians  declaring  that  they  would  '  fight  to  the 
last  man  rather  than  become  servants  to  the  English,' 
and  the  colonies  feeling  that  they  were  struggling  for 
their  very  existence.  Lancaster  and  Groton  became 
battle-grounds,  Marlborough  was  burned,  the  un- 
speakable horrors  of  Long  Meadow  were  enacted, 
the  slaughter  at  Sudbury  filled  the  colonies  with 
dismay,  sorrow  returned  to  the  homes  of  the  Pil- 
grims, Plymouth  was  attacked,  and  the  remainder 
of  the  village  of  Middleborough  was  devoted  to 
destruction  ;  the  valley  of  the  Connecticut  was  again 
ablaze,  the  stream  ran  blood,  and  before  midsummer 
of  167G,  after  less  than  one  year  of  war,  Massachu- 
setts and  Plymouth  presented  one  sad  and  sicken- 
ing scene  of  the  atrocities  of  savage  warfare.  It 
is  difficult  now  to  describe  it.  A  people  thinly 
scattered  over  the  pleasant  land,  exposed,  feeble,  and 
few,  are  suddenly  swept  by  wild  and  raging  war. 
The  sky  was  red  with  the  flames  of  burning  towns 
and  hamlets,  the  forests  rung  with  the  shrieks  of 
agonized  women,  the  piteous  appeals  of  children  torn 
from  their  mothers'  arms,  the  yells  of  triumphant 
savages,  all  commingling  to  tell  those  dark  and  dis- 
mal solitudes  the  fearful  story  of  man's  inhumanity 
to  man.  The  tale  of  suffering  is  sad  indeed.  At 
least  thirteen  towns  were  wholly  destroyed,  more 
than  six  hundred  stalwart  and  brave  men  of  the 
colonists  fell  upon  the  battle-field,  many  of  the  sur- 
vivors were  disabled  by  wounds  received  in  the  des- 
perate and  bloody  encounters,  almost  every  family 
had  a   sufferer,  more    than    six    hundred    buildings 


were  consumed  by  fire,  and  the  feeble  and  exhausted 
colonies, — poor  indeed  before  the  war,  but  poverty- 
stricken  after  it, — were  left  with  a  heavy  and  bur- 
densome war  debt.  When,  on  the  12th  of  August, 
1676,  Philip  fell  and  the  war  ended,  a  land  bowed 
down  with  grief,  and  hung  everywhere  with,  the 
drapery  of  war,  turned  prayerfully  to  God,  and  en- 
tered once  more  upon  its  work  of  peace  aud  progress. 

"  As  we  rehearse  this  story  of  suffering  and  valor, 
my  friends,  how  our  hearts  are  filled  with  respect  for 
the  high  qualities  which  enabled  the  liberty-loving 
founders  of  this  town  to  bear  themselves  with  self- 
possession  through  such  trying  scenes.  We  muse 
upon  a  life  like  theirs,  and  we  learn  how  heroes  are 
made  and  sturdy  and  heroic  people  are  born.  The 
possession  of  those  high  moral  and  religious  faculties 
which  belonged  to  your  ancestors  seemed  to  be  assur- 
ance enough  that  human  rights  would  always  find 
here  warm  and  uncompromising  defenders,  and  the 
highest  doctrines  of  government  and  society  would 
find  able  and  fearless  advocates;  but  from  the  events 
which  fill  with  romantic  interest  the  early  pages  of 
your  history  we  may  learn  once  more  how  in  every 
crisis  American  nationality  and  American  institutions 
would  find  here  eager  and  ever-ready  defenders.  And 
so  it  has  proved.  The  experience  of  the  old  Indian 
wars  has  not  been  in  vain.  Do  you  turn  with  amaze- 
ment to  that  little  armed  band  gathered  at  midnight 
on  the  green  at  Lexington?  Are  you  filled  with 
wonder  and  admiration  at  the  calm  courage  of  the 
men  of  action  at  the  bridge  at  Concord  ?  Do  you 
look  with  breathless  astonishment  upon  the  self-pos- 
session displayed  by  the  patriots  at  Bunker  Hill  before 
the  imposing  approach  of  the  veteran  troops  of  Eng- 
land? Remember,  then,  that  the  citizen-soldiery  of 
Concord  and  Lexington  and  Bunker  Hill  were  heirs 
of  the  blood  and  traditions  of  the  great  Indian  cam- 
paigns, and  that  many  a  Revolutionary  soldier  learned 
his  lessons  at  Louisburg  and  Quebec.  The  land  was 
filled  with  men  who  had  seen  service,  or  whose  sires 
and  grandsires  had  told  them  of  the  adventures,  '  the 
hair-breadth  'scapes'  of  those  wild,  wintry  forest  cam- 
paigns.   Were  they  the  rangers  of  the  old  French  war  ? 

"The  half-tamed  savage,  borrowing  from  civiliza- 
tion nothing  but  its  maddening  vices  and  destructive 
weapons,  was  their  sworn  enemy.  Huntsmen  at  once 
and  soldiers,  their  supply  of  provisions  on  many  of 
their  excursions  was  the  fortune  of  the  chase  and  a 
draught  from  the  mountain  stream  that  froze  as  it 
trickled  from  the  rocks.  Instead  of  going  into  quar- 
ters when  the  forest  put  on  its  sere  autumnal  uniform 
of  scarlet  and  gold,  winter,  Canadian  winter,  dreary 
midwinter,  on  frozen  lakes,  through  ice-bound  forests 
from  which  the  famished  deer,  chased  by  the  gaunt 
wolf,  was  fain  to  fly  to  the  settlement,  called  the  poor 
rangers  to  their  field  of  duty.  .  .  .  Not  only  was  the 
foe  they  sought  armed  with  the  tomahawk  and  the 
scalping-knife,  but  the  tortures  of  the  fagot  aud  the 
stake  were  in  reserve  for  the  prisoner  who,  for  wounds 


SWANSEA. 


663 


or  distance,  or  any  other  cause,  could  not  readily  be 
sold  into  an  ignominious  slavery  among  the  Canadian 
French.  .  .  .  There  could  not  have  been  less  than 
twenty  or  thirty  of  the  citizens  of  Lexington  who  had 
learned  the  art  of  war  in  some  department  or  another 
of  the  military  colonial  service.  They  had  tasted  its 
horrors  in  the  midnight  surprise  of  the  savage  foe, 
and  they  had  followed  the  banners  of  victory  under 
the  old  provincial  leaders,  Gridley  and  Thomas,  and 
Buggies  and  Frye,  up  to  the  ramparts  of  Quebec. 
No  wonder  they  started  again  at  the  sound  of  the 
trumpet ;  no  wonder  that  men  who  had  followed  the 
mere  summons  of  allegiance  and  loyalty  to  the  shores 
of  Lake  Champlain  and  the  banks  of  the  St.  Law- 
rence should  obey  the  cry  of  instinct  which  called 
them  to  defend  their  homes.  The  blood  which  was 
not  too  precious  to  be  shed  on  the  Plains  of  Abraham 
in  order  to  wrest  a  distant  colony  from  the  dominion 
of  France  might  well  be  expected  to  flow  like  water 
in  defense  of  all  that  is  so  dear  to  man.  And  so  the 
sons  of  the  old  warriors  of  this  town  served  their 
country  well  in  the  great  war  of  independence. 

"  But,  my  friends,  while  we  turn  with  pride  to  the 
high  and  honorable  record  of  this  town  in  its  early 
heroic  days,  and  remember  with  pride  the  battle-fields 
of  the  Revolution,  we  are  filled  with  the  tenderest 
emotions  as  we  rehearse  the  gallant  deeds  performed 
by  our  sons  and  brothers  in  defense  of  the  flag  during 
the  trials  and  hardships  of  the  great  civil  war.  The 
events  of  this  imposing  chapter  in  our  national  his- 
tory have  passed  before  our  very  eyes.  We  heard  the 
gun  Avhich  was  fired  on  Sumter;  we  knew  the  boys 
who  fell  at  Baltimore ;  we  sat  down  with  Grant  before 
Yicksburg,  and  followed  him  in  his  weary  and  bloody 
march  through  the  Wilderness;  from  our  firesides 
went  forth  the  men  who  swept  through  the  valley 
with  Sheridan,  and  traversed  the  victorious  highway 
from  Atlanta  to  the  sea  with  Sherman,  and  ascended 
Lookout  Mountain  with  Hooker,  and  sailed  with 
Farragut  and  Winslow.  The  tears  shed  over  the  suf- 
ferings at  Andersonville  and  Salisbury  and  the  Libby 
are  not  yet  dry.  The  widows  are  not  gone ;  the  or- 
phans yet  remain  ;  the  wounded  soldier  still  walks 
our  streets.  Around  the  memory  of  many  who  are 
gone,  and  around  the  lives  of  many  who  are  still  with 
us  cluster  all  the  glories  of  that  conflict,  all  its  vic- 
tories and  defeats,  all  its  joys  and  sorrows,  all  its 
gloomy  morning  hours,  all  the  brilliant  achievements 
for  freedom  which  mark  its  close,  and  all  the  gentle 
associations  which  soften  the  savagery  of  war,  and 
which  especially  belong  to  this  great  conflict  for 
human  right.  History  has  immortalized  the  generous 
and  self-sacrificing  deed  of  Sir  Philip  Sidney,  as  he 
Btayed  the  hand  which  would  moisten  his  own  parched 
and  dying  lip  until  the  agony  of  his  expiring  com- 
rade had  been  relieved.  Shall  not  history  also  tell  of 
him  whose  last  words  were, '  Write  to  mother,  and  tell 
her  I  behaved  well ;'  of  him  whose  glazed  eye  was 
turned  upon  the  picture  of  his  child  so  far  away,  held 


there  in  his  stiffening  grasp;  of  him  who,  defiant  of 
wounds,  rushed  on  to  battle  still,  and  who  fell  at  last 
with  this  message  on  his  lips,  '  Tell  my  father  I  was 
dressing  my  line  when  I  was  hit ;'  of  him  who  clasped 
to  his  heart  in  its  last  throb  the  written  words  of  her 
whom  he  loved  ;  of  him  who  rejoiced  in  death,  and 
only  asked  that  he  might  be  buried  in  his  native  town  ; 
of  him  who  preferred  death  on  the  picket-line  to  a 
surrender ;  of  the  thousands  who,  we  are  told,  rose 
superior  to  the  agony  of  the  hospital  and  declared, 
as  the  holy  light  irradiated  their  pale  faces,  that  they 
could  die  without  regret  in  the  great  and  good  cause  ! 

"  Shall  not  all  this  be  told  of  the  heavenly  voice 
uttered  by  Christian  heroes  bearing  to  the  battle-field 
all  the  moral  obligations,  the  kind  affections,  the  pious 
sentiment,  the  intelligent  devotion  of  free  and  edu- 
cated Christian  heroes  from  their  Christian  homes? 

"  I  congratulate  this  town  upon  the  part  it  per- 
formed in  the  great  drama  of  this  continent,  perhaps 
of  this  age.  It  is  the  same  story,  I  know,  repeated 
so  often  in  the  thousands  of  towns  throughout  the 
North,  but  none  the  less  admirable  and  instructive. 

"  You  who  sit  here  have  not  forgotten  the  prompt 
and  ready  response  from  those  men  who  enrolled 
themselves  for  active  service  almost  before  the  sun 
which  rose  on  the  first  day  of  the  conflict  had  reached 
midheaven ;  those  who  started  forth  without  count- 
ing the  cost,  obedient  to  a  proud  sense  of  patriotic 
duty,  unmindful  of  doubt  and  hesitation,  and  forget- 
ful of  danger  and  death  ;  those  men  who  first  taught 
foreign  and  domestic  foes  that  the  Union  had  its  de- 
fenders, and  who  saved  the  capital  of  our  country 
until  the  great  armies  of  the  war  could  be  brought 
into  the  field. 

"  Year  after  year  the  call  was  made  on  you,  and 
year  after  year  the  same  response  was  given.  A 
hundred  and  thirty-four  of  your  men  were  enrolled 
in  the  army  and  navy.  Large  sums  were  expended 
in  bounties  to  the  soldiers,  partly  contributed  by  pri- 
vate liberality  and  partly  drawn  from  the  treasury  of 
the  town.  Your  charities  were  large.  Individuals 
and  associated  effort  was  unremitting  in  smoothing 
the  rugged  pathway  of  the  soldier,  in  providing  for 
those  whom  he  had  left  behind,  and  in  alleviating 
his  toil  on  the  field  and  his  sufferings  in  hospital  and 
camp.  From  your  firesides  to  every  battle-field  was 
stretched  the  silver  cord  of  affection  and  solicitude, 
bringing  home  close  to  your  hearts  the  great  events 
of  the  war,  and  binding  your  familiar  and  household 
names  to  every  far-off  spot  in  our  land  which  the 
war  clothed  with  immortal  renown,  for  your  sons 
were  on  every  field,  your  blood  was  spilled  in  almost 
every  conflict. 

"The  sacrifices  which  you  made  were  great.  Of 
those  who  went  forth  twenty  laid  down  their  lives  in 
their  country's  service,  defending  her  flag  on  many  a 
hard-fought  field,  and  filled  by  your  public  declara- 
tions with  the  loftiest  principles. 

"  Of  this  chapter  of  heroism  what  an  impressive 


664 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


beginning,  what  a  radiant  close  !  Far  back  through 
the  generations  I  see  thern  now,  those  earnest  and 
manly  sons  of  Puritan  warriors  and  teachers,  who  had 
filled  the  pulpits  and  town-houses  and  armies  of  our 
land  during  a  century  of  protest  and  trial  and  self- 
sacrifice  and  defiance,  rising  higher  and  higher  in 
their  indignant  sense  of  duty  as  the  fierce  periods  of 
our  popular  Declaration  were  launched  forth  upon 
an  approving  American  mind.  And  can  you  not  feel 
with  them  the  hot  blood  of  the  early  pioneers  cours- 
ing through  their  veins  as  the  ardent  appeals  went 
on?  The  memory  of  long  and  weary  trials  in  the 
cause  of  civilization  there  in  the  wilderness,  of  the 
precepts  of  those  old  teachers  who  were  gone,  of  the 
bloody  seas  through  which  they  had  been  brought  to 
their  great  assertions  of  the  wrongs  of  the  past,  this, 
and  their  glowing  understanding  of  the  promise  of  the 
present  hour  and  of  the  future,  all  inspired  their  minds 
with  wisdom  and  their  hearts  with  courage  for  the  oc- 
casion. From  their  humble  homes  they  had  stepped 
forth,  not  to  follow  but  to  lead,  not  to  listen  alone  but 
to  speak,  not  only  to  be  taught  but  to  teach  mankind 
to  be  true  to  the  highest  demands  of  a  free  and  inde- 
pendent spirit.  It  was  to  the  voice  of  the  popular 
assemblies  like  these  that  our  fathers  of  the  Revolu- 
tion listened.  It  was  the  wisdom  of  such  assemblies 
that  guided  their  councils  and  gave  the  American 
people  their  greatness.  It  was  this  spirit  that  made 
Swansea  heroic  when  the  first  shot  was  fired  at  Lex- 
ington, and  true  and  patriotic  when  the  first  gun  was 
aimed  at  Sumter. 

"And  now,  my  fellow-citizens,  this  brief  and  im- 
perfect story  of  the  piety  and  heroism  of  your  town 
for  two  centuries  is  told.  I  have  not  explored  the 
deepest  recesses  of  your  annals  for  marks  of  your 
eccentricity,  or  for  those  personal  details  which, 
while  they  amuse  for  the  hour,  make  no  appeal  to 
those  sentiments  of  pride  and  satisfaction  which 
should  fill  the  breast  of  every  man  who  muses  by 
the  graves  and  studies  the  high  qualities  of  his  an- 
cestors. 

"I  have  not  forgotten  the  errors  here,  the  local 
controversies,  the  short-comings,  the  temporary  irri- 
tations ;  but  I  have  passed  them  by,  and  have  en- 
deavored so  to  deal  with  your  history  as  to  fill  your 
minds  with  respect  for  your  ancestors,  and  with  a 
determination  to  transmit  in  more  radiant  form  the 
blessed  institutions  which  you  have  inherited  to  those 
whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  preserve  them,  and  to  cele- 
brate them  at  the  next  centennial  anniversary  of  the 
tragic  period  in  the  history  of  this  town." 


CHAPTER    LV. 

SWANSEA.— (  Continued.) 

ECCLESIASTICAL   HISTORY. 

The  First  Baptist  Church — The  Non-Sectarian  Christian  Church — 
Christ  Church,  Swansea  Village  —  The  Six-Principle  Baptist 
Church — The  Universalist  Church. 

The  First  Baptist  Church  in  Massachusetts  was 
constituted  at  Rehoboth,  Bristol  County,  in  the  year 
1663,  in  the  house  of  John  Butterworth.  The  names 
of  its  constituent  members  were  John  Myles,  pastor; 
James  Brown,  Nicholas  Tanner,  Joseph  Carpenter, 
John  Butterworth,  Eldad  Kingsley,  and  Benjamin 
Alby. 

As  this  is  the  first  Baptist  Church  formed  in  this 
State,  and  as  its  origin  was  peculiar,  had  the  events 
of  its  early  history  been  preserved,  it  would  have  been 
a  matter  of  unusual  interest  to  the  Baptists  of  the 
present  time.  Hitherto  churches  of  this  order  had 
been  kept  out  of  every  New  England  colony  except 
Rhode  Island.  An  attempt  was  made  to  form  one  in 
1639  in  the  town  of  Weymouth,  but  it  was  defeated 
by  the  magistrates,  and  those  concerned  in  it  were 
scattered.  After  this  no  further  effort  seems  to  have 
been  made  for  more  than  twenty  years. 

The  history  of  this  church  possesses  more  than  a 
local  and  temporary  interest,  as  it  relates  to  the  reli- 
gious and  secular  interests  of  all  this  region  of  country 
for  a  period  of  more  than  two  centuries.  Indeed,  its 
history,  with  that  of  some  of  its  pastors,  connects  it 
with  some  of  the  most  important  movements  in  the 
early  annals  of  these  colonies.  Several  of  the  con- 
tiguous towns,  including  Warren  and  Barrington,  now 
in  Rhode  Island,  and  Somerset  in  this  State,  formed 
a  part  of  Swansea,  and  the  people  were  generally  in- 
terested in  the  church,  many  of  them  as  members, 
and  most  of  them  as  adherents  and  coadjutors.  Lib- 
eral measures  were  provided  for  the  education  of  the 
young,  and  for  the  accommodation  of  all  the  people 
with  the  means  of  religious  instruction  and  worship. 
Among  the  most  active  of  the  men  thus  employed  was 
"Sir.  Myles  and  Capt.  Thomas  Willett,  the  latter,  who 
at  a  later  period  of  life  became  the  first  English  mayor 
of  New  York  on  its  cession  from  the  Dutch.  Happy 
would  it  have  been  for  the  social,  educational,  and 
moral  prosperity  of  the  town  of  Swansea  if  the  same 
principles  could  have  been  carried  to  their  maturity 
which  were  so  nobly  acted  on  in  the  first  period  of  its 
history. 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  church  was,  in  a  manner, 
the  reorganization  of  an  exiled  church  driven  from 
Swansea,  in  Wales ;  it  will  therefore  be  necessary  to 
go  to  the  history  of  that  church.  It  is  known  that 
from  the  earliest  times  there  were  many  friends  of 
Christ  in  that  country,  who  were  greatly  multiplied 
after  the  Reformation.  A  little  more  than  two  hun- 
dred years  ago  a  number  of  men  of  great  power  were 
raised  who  preached  with  much  success,  and  many 


SWANSEA. 


665 


people  were  turned  to  the  Lord.  Among  these  men 
was  Rev.  John  Myles,  the  founder  of  this  church. 
He  began  his  ministry  in  South  Wales  about  the  year 
1645,  and  was  instrumental  in  raising  a  church  in 
Swansea  in  1649.  This  was  the  first  year  of  the  Pro- 
tectorate of  Oliver  Cromwell,  under  whose  govern- 
ment the  Dissenters  were  indulged  with  greater  lib- 
erty than  before,  the  result  of  which  greatly  tended 
to  the  prevalence  of  religion.  This  church  was  greatly 
prospered,  so  that  in  ten  or  twelve  years  between  two 
and  three  hundred  were  added  to  it.  Mr.  Myles  seems 
to  have  accepted  a  support  from  the  government,  and 
his  place  was  registered  as  thus  supported. 

After  the  death  of  Cromwell,  Charles  II.  came  into 
power,  and  the  "  Act  of  Uniformity"  was  passed  in 
1662,  by  which  two  thousand  of  the  best  ministers 
were  ejected  from  their  places  because  they  refused  to 
conform  to  the  Church  of  England.  Among  these 
non-conformist  ministers  was  Mr.  Myles.  This  act, 
and  afterwards  the  Conventicle  Act  and  the  Oxford 
Act,  in  effect,  silenced  these  men.  This  was  a  time  of 
terror,  and  it  is  said  that  eight  thousand  persons  were 
imprisoned  and  reduced  to  want,  and  many  to  the 
grave.  In  this  state  of  things  Mr.  Myles  emigrated 
to  this  country  ;  whether  he  was  accompanied  by  any 
members  of  the  church  besides  Nicholas  Tanner  is 
uncertain.  By  whom  and  for  what  reason  the  records 
of  that  church  were  brought  here,  as  also  the  circum- 
stances of  his  departure  from  Wales,  and  his  arrival 
in  this  country,  are  matters  to  us  unknown.  The  first 
knowledge  we  gain  of  him  in  this  country  is  that  he 
was  in  Rehoboth  in  1663,  when  this  church,  now 
known  as  the  "  First  Baptist  Church  in  Swansea," 
was  organized. 

As  soon  as  the  fact  of  its  organization  and  that  it 
was  maintaining  the  institutions  of  Christianity  be- 
came known,  the  orthodox  churches  of  the  colony 
solicited  the  court  to  interpose  its  influence  against  it. 
This  movement  was  probably  led  on  by  the  same  per- 
sons who  instigated  proceedings  against  Holmes, 
Clark,  and  Crandal,  by  which  they  were  imprisoned, 
scourged,  and  fined  in  1651  for  holding  public  wor- 
ship in  the  town  of  Lynn.  The  same  sleepless  vigi- 
lance which  had  followed  them  pursued  this  little 
church,  and  each  of  its  members  were  fined  five  pounds 
for  setting  up  a  public  meeting  without  the  knowledge 
and  approbation  of  the  court,  to  the  disturbance  of 
the  peace  of  the  place.  They  were  ordered  to  desist 
from  their  meetings  for  the  space  of  a  month,  and  ad- 
vised to  remove  their  meeting  to  some  other  place 
where  they  might  not  prejudice  any  other  church. 
Upon  this  order  and  advice  Mr.  Myles  and  his  church 
removed  from  Rehoboth  to  New  Meadow  Neck,  a 
place  south  of  Rehoboth,  which  is  now  Barrington, 
R.  I.  Then  it  was  not  embraced  in  any  town.  They 
appear  to  have  erected  a  house  for  worship  soon  after 
their  removal  beyond  the  bounds  of  Rehoboth.  This 
house  seems  to  have  been  about  two  and  a  half  miles 
from  the  present  house,  west. 


In  1667  the  Plymouth  Court  granted  to  this  church, 
with  others,  a  grant  of  a  town  to  be  called  Swansea. 
The  grant  of  this  town,  that  the  Baptists  might  have 
a  resting-place,  shows  that  the  Plymouth  Colony  was 
much  more  tolerant  than  the  Massachusetts  Colony. 
We  now  find  our  fathers  of  this  church,  with  their 
pastor,  free  from  oppression.  On  the  incorporation 
of  the  town  the  church  entered  into  covenant  with 
each  other,  as  appears  by  the  covenant  itself  on  record. 
Whether  they  had  a  covenant  before  is  not  known  ; 
neither  have  we  any  means  of  knowing  whether  the 
church  increased,  diminished,  or  remained  stationary. 
In  1675  the  Indian  war  commenced,  under  King 
Philip,  of  Mount  Hope.  This  town  and  this  church 
first  felt  the  calamities  of  that  war,  which  spread  such 
devastation  over  much  of  New  Epgland.  Here  it  first 
began.  While  this  church  was  engaged  in  public 
worship,  the  Indians  were  preparing  to  attack  the 
people  of  this  new  and  unprotected  town  on  their  re- 
turn home.  They  killed  one  and  wounded  others. 
'<  Here  its  effects  fell  with  great  severity,  as  it  is  said 
;  one-half  of  Swansea  was  burned.  The  house  of  Mr. 
Myles  was  made  into  a  garrison.  As  to  the  state  and 
progress  of  the  church,  we  have  nothing  to  enlighten 
us.  From  the  nature  of  the  case  all  must  have  been 
gloomy. 

Mr.  Myles  preached  much  of  three  years  in  Boston, 
previous  to  1679,  and  whether  this  church  was  supplied 
during  his  absence  is  doubtful.  About  this  time  the 
town  voted  to  remove  the  meeting-house  to  the  lower 
end  of  New  Meadow  Neck.  It  seems  this  idea  was 
abandoned,  and  it  was  voted  and  ordered,  Sept.  30, 
1679,  "  that  a  meeting-house  of  forty  feet  in  length 
and  twenty-two  in  breadth  and  sixteen  feet  between 
joints  be  forthwith  built."  From  the  above  and  other 
records  it  appears  the  place  of  meeting  was  changed, 
and  that  the  minister  went  there  also. 

Feb.  3,  1683,  Mr.  Myles  closed  his  labors  on  earth, 
having  been  in  the  ministry  about  thirty-eight  years. 
His  age  and  the  place  of  his  burial  are  unknown,  but 
he  left  a  character  behind  that  will  be  honored  as  long 
as  Palmer's  River  shall  run.  He  was  succeeded  by 
Capt.  Samuel  Luther,  who  was  ordained  July  22,  1685, 
by  Elders  Emblen  and  Hull,  of  Boston.  He  was  a 
'  man  of  character  and  talents,  and  discharged  with 
J  exemplary  fidelity  the  duties  of  his  office  for  nearly 
thirty-two  years.  He  died  Dec.  20,  1716,  and  was 
buried  at  Kickamuit.  During  his  ministry,  probably 
about  1700,  the  meeting-house  was  removed  to  near 
Myles'  Bridge.  Perhaps  this  might  have  had  some 
connection  with  the  separation  of  Barrington  from 
Swansea,  and  its  formation  into  a  separate  town.  The 
church  seems  to  have  prospered  to  a  considerable  ex- 
tent during  the  whole  of  Elder  Luther's  ministry. 
We  cannot  say  how  large  it  was  with  certainty,  prob- 
ably about  two  hundred,  scattered  in  Rehoboth,  Mid- 
dleborough,  Bellingham,  Haverhill,  Taunton,  and 
what  is  now  Warren  and  Somerset. 

In  1704,  Mr.  Ephraim  Wheaton  became  associate 


666 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


with  Elder  Luther,  and  at  his  death  sole  pastor.  In 
1718  the  church  records  seem  to  begin.  Mr.  Wheaton 
appears  to  have  been  a  man  who  exerted  a  great  and 
good  influence  on  the  church,  and  on  others  also. 
His  ministry  was  eminently  successful,  and  the  church 
was  highly  prosperous.  According  to  the  records  we 
have,  about  one  hundred  were  added  to  the  church. 
He  died  April  26,  1734,  in  the  seventy-fifth  year  of 
his  age,  and  was  buried  in  Rehoboth. 

In  1733,  April  18th,  Mr.  Samuel  Maxwell  was  or- 
dained associate  with  Mr.  Wheaton,  and  at  his  death 
became  sole  pastor.  He  continued  till  April  15, 1739, 
when  he  was  dismissed.  About  fifty  were  added  to 
the  church  during  his  ministry. 

For  two  or  three  years  the  church  was  without  a 
pastor,  after  the  dismissal  of  their  former  one,  when 
the  labors  of  Elder  Benjamin  Harrington  was  ob- 
tained, and  he  was  installed  pastor  Aug.  15,  1742. 
He  was  dismissed  May  3,  1750. 

In  1748,  Mr.  Jabez  Wood,  of  Middleborough,  a 
member  of  this  church,  was  requested  to  supply  the 
pulpit.  Accordingly  he  supplied  three  years  and  a 
half,  and  was  ordained  pastor  Sept.  5,  1751. 

At  the  time  Mr.  Wood  was  ordained  the  church 
was  without  deacons.  Benjamin  Cole  died  in  1748, 
and  Jonathan  Kingsley  in  1750.  These  men  served 
in  this  office  from  1725  till  they  died  in  old  age, 
having  executed  important  trusts  for  the  church  in 
their  day.  The  first  notice  we  find  of  deacons  in  the 
records  is  that  John  Thomas,  Nathaniel  Luther,  and 
Richard  Harding  were  ordained  deacons  in  1718,  that 
the  two  first  named  died  in  the  discharge  of  their 
holy  trust,  but  when  they  died  we  cannot  say.  To 
supply  the  deficiency  of  these  necessary  officers,  Rob- 
ert Wheaton  and  Thomas  Peck  were  chosen  Aug.  6, 
1752.  Deacon  Peck  served  about  seven  years  till  the 
time  of  his  death,  in  1770.  He  was  a  useful  man. 
His  place  was  supplied  by  Nicholas  Thomas  till  1771, 
when  he  was  removed  from  his  sphere  of  usefulness 
on  earth  to  rest  with  God.  At  the  death  of  Deacon 
Thomas,  David  Kingsley  was  elected  clerk,  and 
served  forty-five  years.  In  1776  he  was  also  chosen 
to  the  office  of  deacon,  and  served  more  than  fifty 
years.  He  died  Oct.  25,  1830,  aged  ninety-two. 
Thomas  Kingsley  was  chosen  deacon  in  1771,  and 
served  till  his  death  in  1809,  aged  eighty-three.  The 
two  Deacons  Kingsley,  David  and  Thomas,  were  men 
unusually  free  from  fault,  and  good  men,  but  not  very 
efficient.  Deacon  Wheaton  lived  to  a  great  age,  and 
was  highly  esteemed.  He  was  the  son  of  Elder 
Wheaton,  and  died  Nov.  22,  1780,  aged  ninety-two 
years. 

The  interests  of  the  body  seemed  to  droop  and  de- 
cline for  a  length  of  time,  when  Elder  Wood  vacated 
his  office  in  1778  or  1779,  the  precise  date  not  being 
on  record.  The  state  of  the  church  was  now  de- 
pressed and  low.  The  number  of  members  when  he 
left  is  not  known,  as  no  list  of  members  had  ever 
been  kept,  and  the  alterations,  except  by  baptism, 


were  not  kept  with  accuracy.  The  whole  country 
was  now  in  perilous  circumstances,  being  involved  in 
the  Revolutionary  war.  Those  nearest  the  sea-shore 
suffered  the  most,  and  this  people  was  not  exempt. 
On  the  25th  of  May,  1778,  the  Baptist  meeting-house 
and  parsonage  in  Warren  were  burned  by  British 
troops,  and  Mr.  Thompson,  the  pastor,  taken  prisoner. 
In  this  afflicted,  depressed,  and  scattered  state,  the 
church  was  unable  to  sustain  public  worship.  It 
was  proposed  to  return  to  the  maternal  bosom,  till 
they  might  be  able  to  return  to  Warren  as  before. 
This  proposal  was  accepted,  and  the  brethren  in  that 
manner  joined  this  church.  Mr.  Thompson  became 
the  pastor,  and  settled  with  the  people,  Oct.  7,  1779. 

The  settlement  of  a  minister  so  deservedly  emi- 
nent, and  the  accession  of  help  from  Warren,  seemed 
to  put  new  life  into  this  body.  The  Lord  evidently 
came  with  the  new  pastor,  as  he  baptized  one  only 
three  days  after  his  election,  and  two  more  before 
the  1st  of  January,  1780.  During  that  winter  fol- 
lowing there  was  a  great  revival  of  religion,  not  only 
in  this  church  but  throughout  the  country.  This  has 
been  called  the  year  of  the  great  revival.  The  num- 
ber baptized  here  was  sixty-seven,  in  1781  five  more, 
making  seventy-five  since  Mr.  Thompson  became 
pastor.  About  this  time  the  remains  of  the  Oak 
Swamp  Church  joined  here  in  the  same  manner  the 
Warren  brethren  had  done.  These  accessions  ren- 
dered this  church  large,  and  in  some  respects 
strong,  though  there  is  no  means  of  knowing  the 
exact  number.  There  is  probability  that  it  was 
nearly  or  quite  two  hundred. 

In  1786  the  Warren  brethren  went  back,  were  re- 
organized, built  a  house  of  worship,  and  again  had 
the  institutions  of  the  gospel  at  home.  The  num- 
ber who  returned  was  twenty-eight. 

In  1789  the  Lord  was  pleased  to  appear  again  to 
build  up  Zion,  and  fifty-four  were  baptized,  which 
greatly  encouraged  the  hearts  of  both  pastor  and 
people.  This  was  a  very  interesting  revival,  and 
greatly  added  to  the  strength  of  the  church. 

In  1801  the  Lord  again  visited  his  people,  and 
twenty-six  were  baptized.  The  last  baptism  in  this 
place  by  Mr.  Thompson  occurred  Sept.  5,  1802 ;  with 
the  year  he  closed  his  pastoral  relation,  after  hav- 
ing served  with  ability,  fidelity,  and  success,  a  little 
more  than  twenty-three  years.  During  his  ministry 
one  hundred  and  seventy-six  were  baptized  by  him 
and  added  to  the  church.  The  first  seven  pastors 
occupied  a  term  of  one  hundred  and  forty  years, 
averaging  twenty  years  to  each.  Perhaps  this  pe- 
riod of  the  existence  of  the  church  is  by  far  the 
most  important,  not  only  for  its  general  historical 
interest,  but  for  the  influence  of  the  church  upon 
all  the  surrounding  community. 

Mr.  Thompson  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  William 
Northrup,  probably  in  the  spring  of  1804.  He  con- 
tinued four  years,  and  baptized  twenty-nine  and 
received  eight  others,  in  all  thirty-seven. 


SWANSEA. 


667 


He  was  followed  by  Rev.  William  Barton,  who 
preached  two  years  but  without  success.  He  was 
dismissed  at  his  own  request  in  the  spring  of  1810. 

In  1811,  Rev.  Abner  Lewis  became  a  member  and 
the  pastor  of  this  church,  and  preached  here  till 
April,  1819,  when  he  was  dismissed.  He  departed 
this  life  July  7,  1826,  aged  eighty-one,  and  is  in- 
terred in  the  burial-ground  connected  with  this 
house. 

After  his  dismissal  the  church  was  supplied  by 
Elder  Benjamin  Taylor,  a  preacher  of  the  Christian 
Connection,  who  continued  for  a  part  of  two  years, 
when  he  closed  in  the  spring  of  1821. 

The  next  minister  was  Rev.  B.  Pease,  until  1823; 
Rev.  Luther  Baker,  from  1824  to  1832;  Jesse  Briggs, 
two  and  a  half  years;  O.  J.  Fisk,  from  Oct.  1,  1835, 
to  April  1,  1836;  Abiel  Fisher,  from  1836  to  1846; 
J.  J.  Thacher,  1846  to  1854;  Silas  Hall,  1854  to 
1857;  J.  W.  Horton,  1857  to  1864;  Rev.  A.  W.  Ash- 
ley settled  as  pastor  July,  1864,  closed  his  labors  Oc- 
tober, 1867  ;  Rev.  J.  A.  Baskwell,  settled  May,  1868  ; 
closed  his  pastorate  September,  1870;  January,  1871, 
called  Rev.  C.  Bray  to  the  pastorate,  he  closed  his 
labors  May,  1874;  the  church  was  supplied  by  R.  E. 
Barrows  and  others  until  April,  1876,  when  Rev.  J.  W. 
Horton  was  settled  for  the  second  time;  he  closed  his 
labors  about  the  1st  of  January,  1882. 

The  present  pastor,  Rev.  G.  W.  Bixby,  commenced 
his  labors  in  February,  1882. 

Up  to  1846  this  church  occupied,  probably,  the 
oldest  church  in  this  county,  and  the  oldest  Baptist 
house  in  America.  Tradition  says  it  was  built  the 
year  after  Elder  Luther's  death, — that  is,  in  1717,  and 
in  1723  an  order  was  passed  by  the  church  for  raising 
money  to  complete  the  payment  for  building  the 
meeting-house.  It  was  forty-one  and  a  half  feet  long 
and  thirty-three  feet  wide,  about  twenty-two  feet  be- 
tween joints,  un plastered,  and  open  to  the  roof  till 
1802.  It  will  thus  be  seen  that  this  church,  the  first 
Baptist  Church  in  Massachusetts  and  the  fourth  in 
America,  has  maintained  its  visibility  over  two  hun- 
dred years.  Four  churches  have  been  formed  from 
this. 

The  church  is  now  in  a  low  state,  having  been  re- 
duced by  deaths,  removals,  and  exclusions,  numbering 
now  about  fifty.  Most  of  these  are  elderly  persons, 
invalids,  or  on  the  retired  list,  unable  to  do  much  for 
the  church  or  cause  of  Christ.  The  senior  deacon, 
who  for  nuuiy  years  had  been  the  leading  spirit  in  the 
church,  died  Nov.  29,  1882,  at  the  age  of  ninety-two. 

The  Non-Sectarian  Christian  Church.1— Swansea 
was  settled  by  men  who  believed  in  liberty  of  con- 
science. Probably  it  was  the  only  town  within  the 
territorial  jurisdiction  of  the  Pilgrims,  which  recog- 
nized the  right  of  free  thought.  While  all  desired 
freedom  for  themselves,  nearly  all  in  that  age  would 
"use  the  sword  of  the  civil  magistrate  to  open  the 

i  By  Rev.  J.  W.  Osborn. 


understandings  of  heretics,  or  cut  them  off  from  the 
State,  that  they  might  not  infect  the  church  or  injure 
the  public  peace." 

John  Myles,  the  first  minister  of  the  town,  while 
exposed  to  persecution  in  his  native  land,  had  learned 
the  lesson  of  tolerance.  Not  only  did  the  town  in  its 
organic  capacity  concede  freedom  of  religious  opinion, 
but  the  church  of  which  he  was  pastor,  although 
composed  of  Baptists,  admitted  to  communion  all 
persons  who  (the  original  covenant  declared),  "by  a 
judgment  of  charity,  we  conceive  to  be  fellow-mem- 
bers with  us  in  our  head,  Christ  Jesus,  although  dif- 
fering from  us  in  such  controversial  points  as  are  not 
absolutely  and  essentially  necessary  to  salvation." 
The  successors  of  Mr.  Myles  were  Calvinistic  Baptists, 
and  the  church  covenant  was  changed  to  harmonize 
with  their  views.  That  church  (now  under  the  pas- 
toral care  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bixby)  is  the  oldest  con- 
gregation of  the  Baptist  denomination  in  the  State  of 
Massachusetts. 

Perhaps  the  erection  by  the  town  of  the  "  new 
meeting-house  on  the  lower  end  of  New  Meadow 
Neck"  (in  what  is  now  Barrington,  R.  I.),  in  1680, 
may  have  been  one  reason  why  the  inhabitants  of  the 
"easternmost  part  of  the  town  upheld  a  religious 
meeting"  at  a  more  accessible  place.  Although  ser- 
vices were  maintained  from  "  about  the  year  1680," 
there  was  no  formal  church  organization  until  1693. 
In  the  original  record  book  (very  plainly  written  and 
still  in  excellent  condition)  the  church  is  styled 
simply  a  "  Church  of  Christ  in  Swansea."  No  doc- 
trinal tests  were  made  conditions  of  admission,  but  all 
Christians  were  recognized  as  possessing  equal  rights 
in  the  "household  of  faith."  Perhaps  there  was 
then  no  other  church  in  all  the  earth  which  received 
as  members  all  Christians  irrespective  of  divergent 
opinions  concerning  the  various  points  of  speculative 
theology.  In  1725,  nearly  half  a  century  after  the 
"  meeting"  was  established  and  a  third  of  a  century 
after  the  church  was  organized,  it  was  decided  to  re- 
ceive members  only  by  the  "  laying  on  of  hands." 
The  church  was  then  ecclesiastically  independent. 
From  the  year  1803  to  1819  it  was  represented  by 
"messengers"  in  the  "Yearly  Meeting  of  the  Six- 
Principle  Baptists."  After  a  connection  of  sixteen 
years  with  that  body  the  church  withdrew,  declaring 
"  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  the  great  head  of  the  Church 
to  be  their  leader,  and  the  Scriptures  a  rule  to  govern 
their  faith"  and  practice  by,  and  receive  their  princi- 
ples and  doctrine  from."  This  action  was  taken  Feb. 
10,  1820.  The  church  thereby  regained  the  freedom, 
says  the  record,  "  which  it  enjoyed  under  the  pastoral 
care  of  Job  and  Russell  Mason  before  it  was  consid- 
ered a  branch  of  the  yearly  meeting."  From  that 
time  to  the  present  all  persons  giving  satisfactory 
evidence  of  Christian  character  have  been  welcomed 
to  the  communion,  and  also  to  membership  in  the 
church.  A  few  years  ago  the  church  united  with  the 
"  Rhode  Island  and  Massachusetts  Christian  Confer- 


668 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


ence,"  but  this  relation  does  not  restrict  fellowship, 
as  the  Conference  discards  doctrinal  tests  in  regard  to 
subjects  concerning  which  Christians  differ  in  opinion. 
As  there  was  for  thirteen  years  a  congregation 
without  a  church,  so  there  was  a  religious  service 
without  a  clergyman.  The  record  book  says,  "  We 
upheld  a  religious  meeting  partly  by  some  improving 
their  gifts  among  us  and  partly  by  helps  from  other 
places."  In  1693,  Thomas  Barnes  was  ordained  pas- 
tor. It  has  been  represented  that  he  was  a  man  of 
some  note  in  Plymouth  Colony.  He  was  one  of  the 
original  proprietors  of  the  town,  although  a  very 
young  man  when  the  first  settlement  occurred.  Ac- 
cording to  the  system  of  "  ranking"  adopted  soon 
after  the  charter  of  Swansea  was  obtained,  Mr.  Barnes 
belonged  to  the  "second  class"  of  the  landed  aris- 
tocracy, as  did  also  Samuel  Luther,  who  succeeded 
John  Myles  as  pastor  of  the  Baptist  Church.  The 
Colonial  Records  afford  incidental  but  positive  proof 
that  the  "  court"  acknowledged  the  validity  of  his 
claim  to  be  recognized  as  a  clergyman,  notwithstand- 
ing he  was  a  "Separatist."  The  church  record  says,  [ 
"  Our  beloved  elder,  Thomas  Barnes,  continued  with 
us  till  June  8,  1706,  and  then  it  pleased  God  to  re- 
move him  by  death."  When  he  assumed  the  duties 
of  pastor  the  church  consisted  of  only  seventeen 
members.  There  is  no  statement  on  record  of  the 
number  received  in  the  thirteen  years  of  his  ministry, 
but  nine  years  after  his  decease  the  church  had  one 
hundred  and  twenty-nine  members.  Making  due 
allowance  for  losses  by  death  and  from  other  causes, 
it  will  be  perceived  that  the  increase  was  remarkable. 
This  growth  affords  evidence  of  the  efficiency  of  both 
Mr.  Barnes  and  his  immediate  successor. 

Among  the  former  soldiers  of  Cromwell  who  came 
to  this  country  at  the  time  of  the  restoration  of  the 
Stuart  family  to  the  English  throne  was  one  Samson 
Mason.  From  him  are  descended  most  of  the  rather 
numerous  families  of  that  name  now  residing  in  this 
vicinity.  Six  of  his  sons  were  living  in  or  near  Swan- 
sea when  the  youngest  was  seventy  years  old.  One  of  j 
the  sons,  Isaac,  was  the  first  deacon  of  this  church ; 
another  son,  Joseph,  succeeded  Mr.  Barnes  as  pastor; 
a  third  son  of  Samson  Mason,  Pelatiah,  was  the 
father  of  three  ministers, — Job,  Russell,  and  John, — 
two  of  them  serving  as  pastors  of  this  church,  as  also 
did  their  cousin  Benjamin,  son  of  Samson  Mason, 
Jr.,  these  prophets  not  being  without  honor  in  their 
own  country  and  among  their  own  kin. 

There  is  evidence  that  a  considerable  part  of  the 
increase  in  the  numerical  strength  of  the  church, 
already  mentioned,  occurred  in  the  early  part  of  the 
ministry  of  Joseph  Mason.  It  is  assigned  as  a  reason 
for  the  ordination  of  his  colleague,  John  Pierce,  in 
1715,  that  it  "  had  pleased  God  to  increase  our  num- 
bers." 

The  first  meeting  of  the  voters  of  the  parish  of 
which  there  is  a  record  took  place  in  1719,  the  con- 
gregation concurring  with  the  church  in  the  election 


of  Joseph  Mason  as  pastor.  He  had  long  served  in 
that  capacity,  and  this  action  was  taken  to  avoid  legal 
difficulties.  The  town  of  Barrington  had  not  long 
before  been  set  off  from  Swansea  that  a  Puritan 
minister  might  be  supported  therein  by  taxation,  re- 
peated efforts,  beginning  about  the  time  of  the  ordi- 
nation of  Mr.  Barnes,  having  failed  to  induce  or 
compel  the  undivided  township  to  conform  to  the 
custom  which  prevailed  elsewhere  throughout  the 
colony.  The  inhabitants  of  the  remaining  portion  of 
the  town  disliked  both  the  exclusive  spirit  of  Puri- 
tanism and  the  system  of  taxation  for  the  support  of 
religious  institutions.  When  Mr.  Mason  was  in  due 
form  pronounced  the  law  ful  pastor,  he  publicly  declared 
himself  satisfied  with  the  voluntary  contributions  of 
the  congregation  for  his  subsistence,  and  expressly 
waived  all  claim  to  support  by  taxation,  while  recog- 
nizing the  duty  of  all  "to  uphold  and  maintain  ye 
ministry  and  worship  of  God  in  ye  severall  churches 
or  congregations  where  they  respectively  belong  or 
assemble,"  "  and  not  in  any  other  church  or  congre- 
gation." It  was  while  Joseph  Mason  was  pastor  and 
John  Pierce  his  assistant  that  the  meeting-house  was 
built  (to  be  described  in  a  subsequent  paragraph), 
which  for  more  than  a  century  was  occupied  for  pub- 
lic worship. 

Joseph  Mason  died  in  1748,  John  Pierce  in  1750, 
each  attaining  "  the  great  age  of  about  ninety  years." 
They  had  "  in  January,  1737-38"  (in  January,  1738, 
"new  style"),  requested  the  church  to  provide  them 
a  colleague,  and  Job  Mason,  a  nephew  of  the  senior 
pastor,  was  selected.  Four  months  after  the  choice 
was  made,  in  May,  1738,  he  was  ordained.  A  few 
months  after  the  death  of  Joseph  Mason  the  legal 
voters  of  the  parish  ratified  the  action  of  the  church, 
and  Job  Mason  declared  that  he  was  satisfied  with 
such  support  as  his  hearers  should  "  freely  and  will- 
ingly" afford  him,  "also  denying  any  support  by  way 
of  a  tax,"  regarding  the  voluntary  system  "to  be 
most  agreeable  to  the  mind  of  God,  contained  in  the 
Scriptures." 

Favored  with  the  ministry  of  this  judicious  pastor 
and  able  preacher,  the  church  attained  a  great  degree 
of  prosperity.  In  later  times  many  of  the  older 
members  recalled  the  "days  of  Job  Mason"  as  the 
"golden  age"  in  the  history  of  the  church.  "She 
sent  forth  her  boughs  unto  J;he  sea  and  branches  unto 
the  river."  In  1753  thirty-three  members  residing 
in  or  near  Rehoboth  Avere  dismissed  at  their  own  re- 
quest to  constitute  a  church  to  meet  in  that  town. 
Daniel  Martin,  a  member  of  this  church,  was  or- 
dained pastor.  It  is  worthy  of  mention  that  the 
gentleman  who  now — one  hundred  and  thirty  years 
after — supplies  so  acceptably  the  pulpit  of  that  parish 
is  likewise  a  native  of  Swansea  and  a  son  of  this 
church.  In  1763  several  members,  with  others  from 
Rehoboth  and  some  from  Providence,  R.  I.,  emigrated 
to  "Sackville,  a  township  in  the  government  of  Nova 
Scotia"  (now  New  Brunswick).     Before  removing  to 


SWANSEA. 


669 


their  new  home  the  adventurers  met  at  Swansea  to 
be  organized  as  a  church,  and  Nathan  Mason,  of  this 
place,  a  son  of  the  second  Samson  Mason,  was  or- 
dained pastor. 

After  a  useful  ministry  of  many  years,  Job  Mason 
died  at  the  age  of  fourscore,  one  month  after  the 
battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  July  17,  1775.  Several  of  his 
descendants  are  members  of  the  church  at  this  time. 

Russell  Mason  was  chosen  colleague  with  his 
brother  Job  in  1752,  and  was  pastor  (and  also  much 
of  the  time  clerk  of  the  church)  until  his  death  in 
1799,  at  the  age  of  eighty-five  years.  The  period  of 
his  ministry  comprehended  the  stirring  scenes  of  the 
Revolutionary  war  and  all  those  important  events 
connected  with  the  transformation  of  the  American 
colonies  into  a  nation.  Undoubtedly  the  church  was 
somewhat  depleted,  perhaps  depressed,  in  "the  time 
that  tried  men's  souls,"  and  between  July  17,  1775, 
and  Dec.  28,  1780,  there  is  not  a  single  entry  in  the 
book  of  records ;  but  the  record  last  referred  to  im- 
plies that  public  worship  had  been  regularly  main- 
tained. In  1788  members  living  in  Dartmouth  were 
organized  "  for  religious  worship,"  and  John  Mason 
(a  brother  of  Job  and  Russell)  was  ordained  pastor. 
He  died  in  1801,  aged  eighty-five  years.  The  church 
speedily  recovered  much  of  its  former  strength,  for 
within  the  year  1789  there  were,  it  is  recorded, 
"  eighty-six  persons  baptized  and  added  to  the 
church."  The  widow  of  Russell  Mason  long  sur- 
vived him,  and  (in  accordance  with  a  vote  of  the 
church  after  her  husband's  decease)  continued  to 
occupy  the  parsonage  until  her  death. 

The  oldest  son  of  the  first  Samson  Mason  bore  his 
name.  He  remaiued  unmarried  until  about  seventy- 
three  years  of  age  ;  when  he  was  eighty  the  youngest 
of  his  four  children  was  born.  Like  Israel,  he  called 
the  son  of  his  old  age  Benjamin.  Like  his  brother 
Nathan,  already  mentioned,  Benjamin  Mason  became 
a  minister.  In  1784  he  was  ordained  to  assist  his 
cousin  Russell,  and  at  his  senior's  death  succeeded 
him.  He  died  in  1813,  at  the  age  of  eighty-three 
years.  It  will  be  noticed  that  the  posterity  of  the 
sturdy  soldier  evinced  by  their  longevity  the  posses- 
sion of  some  of  the  characteristics  which  gave  to  the 
adherents  of  the  Protectorthe  appellation  of  "Oliver's 
Ironsides."  For  more  than  a  century  the  successive 
pastors  bore  his  name,  and  the  one  who  died  youngest 
attained  the  age  of  eighty  years. 

Increasing  infirmities  prevented  Mr.  Mason  from 
preaching  statedly  for  several  years,  although  he  fre- 
quently participated  in  the  services  when  his  colleague 
preached.  An  aged  member  of  the  church,  recently 
deceased,  could  recall  but  one,  and  that  the  last  oc- 
casion on  which  he  addressed  the  people  of  his  charge. 
The  venerable  man,  after  alluding  to  that  feeling  of 
loneliness  which  sometimes  oppresses  the  aged  pastor 
when  he  realizes  the  changes  wrought  by  death,  as  he 
misses  so  many  of  the  attendants  on  his  early  minis- 
try, and  to  his  consciousness  of  the  decay  of  his  own 


powers,  preached  on  "  The  Perpetuity  of  Faith,  Hope, 
and  Love"  from  the  text,  "Now  abideth  faith,  hope, 
charity,  these  three." 

In  1801,  Philip  Slade   (ordained  as  an  evangelist 
fourteen  years  before)  became  assistant  minister ;  after 
:  Mr.  Mason's  death  he  sustained  the  relation  of  pastor 
;  until  the  close  of  1819.     He  had  been  unable,  how- 
,  ever,  to  perform  all  the  duties  of  that  position  for 
i  several    years,   even   the  Sunday  service    being  fre- 
quently omitted.    For  some  time  the  church  obtained 
transient  "  supplies"  for  the  pulpit.     Afterward,  with 
Mr.  Slade's  approbation,  Benjamin  Taylor,  then  pas- 
tor of  the  North  Christian  Church  in  New  Bedford, 
was  engaged  to  preach  at  a  special  service  on  Sunday 
afternoons,  the  pastor  continuing  the  stated  meeting 
in  the  morning.     But  the  great  congregations  which 
j  assembled  to  hear  Mr.  Taylor  so  contrasted  with  the 
I  meagre  attendance  at  the  forenoon  service  that  Mr. 
|  Slade,  who  was  not  aware  of  the  failure  of  his  own 
J  mental  faculties,  became  much  dissatisfied.     Eventu- 
ally the  church,  by  vote,  decided  to  dissolve  the  pas- 
toral relation,  as  the  "  beloved  elder  is  out  of  health 
both  in  body  and  mind." 

Although  this  action  was  taken  with  much  una- 
nimity, at  least  two  members,  both  deacons,  sympa- 
thized so  much  with  Mr.  Slade  that  they  withdrew 
from  the  church.  Some  others  followed  their  exam- 
ple, but  the  strength  of  the  parish  was  not  sensibly 
impaired,  for  in  less  than  a  year  afterwards  there 
were  two  hundred  and  ninety-eight  members  con- 
nected with  the  church. 

Soon  after  the  dismissal  of  Mr.  Slade  the  church 
(with  the  concurrence  of  the  congregation)  made 
choice  of  Mr.  Taylor  as  pastor.  The  position  was  a 
difficult  one,  and  it  was  with  some  reluctance  that  he 
accepted  the  call.  But  his  ministry  was  highly  suc- 
cessful. He  won  the  esteem  of  the  entire  commu- 
nity, and  often  officiated  in  the  pulpits  of  the  various 
denominations  in  the  vicinity.  He  remained  with 
the  parish  ten  years,  in  which  time  one  hundred  and 
thirty-three  persons  were  added  to  the  church. 

In  his  youth  Mr.  Taylor  made  several  voyages  at 
sea.  He  always  retained  an  interest  in  the  welfare 
of  seamen,  and  some  time  after  leaving  Swansea  he 
established  the  Mariners'  Bethel  at  Providence,  R.  I. 
Mr.  Taylor  was  born  at  Beverly,  Mass.,  in  1786,  and 
died  in  Michigan  in  1848.  He  had  three  brothers 
who  were  ministers,  and  a  sister  who  was  a  minister's 
wife. 

Richard  Davis  became  pastor  in  November,  1830, 
and  discharged  the  duties  of  that  office  two  years  and 
six  months.  He  died  at  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  in  1868. 
A  few  years  before  his  death,  and  a  third  of  a  cen- 
tury after  the  dissolution  of  his  connection  with  the 
parish,  the  church  sent  a  liberal  sum  of  money  to 
assist  him  in  his  old  age.  The  church  edifice  now  in 
use  was  built  while  Mr.  Davis  was  pastor,  although 
:  it  was  not  ready  for  occupancy  until  the  beginning  of 
the  ministry  of  his  successor. 


670 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY",  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Mr.  Davis  was  succeeded  by  James  J.  Thatcher. 
His  ordination  as  pastor  was  the  first  that  had  oc- 
curred since  1784.  He  remained  with  the  church 
nearly  eight  years.  His  ministry  here  was  very  suc- 
cessful, as  were  his  subsequent  labors  elsewhere.  Mr. 
Thatcher  was  born  in  Staffordshire,  England,  in  1811, 
and  died  in  the  town  of  Rehoboth,  Mass.,  in  1874. 
The  later  years  of  his  ministry  were  spent  with 
churches  of  the  Baptist  denomination,  and  at  one 
time  he  was  pastor  of  the  Baptist  Church  in  Swan- 
sea. 

In  October,  1842,  Isaiah  Haley  was  ordained  pas- 
tor. Although  a  worthy  man,  his  ministry  with  this 
church  continued  only  a  few  months.  His  death  took 
place  in  1869  in  the  State  of  Maine. 

The  next  pastor  was  Jonathan  Thompson.  He 
was  born  in  Vermont  in  1794,  and  entered  the  minis- 
try at  an  early  age.  In  New  York  State,  in  the  course 
of  nine  years,  he  organized  several  churches.  After 
leaving  New  York  he  was  pastor  at  Fall  River  two 
years,  and  at  Boston  two.  From  Boston  he  removed 
to  Swansea,  in  the  year  1843,  to  take  the  pastoral 
care  of  this  church.  At  the  end  of  five  years  he  ac- 
cepted a  call  to  Providence,  where  he  remained  until 
1850,  when  he  returned  to  this  place,  and  supplied 
the  pulpit  to  the  close  of  the  year  1851.  He  died  in 
New  York  in  1866,  at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years. 

The  Sunday-school  was  organized  in  the  early  part 
of  Mr.  Thompson's  ministry,  probably  in  the  spring 
of  1844.  In  that  year,  and  for  the  gratification  of  the 
members  of  the  infant  organization,  who  marched  in 
procession  from  the  church  to  the  grove,  each  wear- 
ing a  red  ribbon  as  a  badge,  was  instituted  the  "  clam- 
bake," still  recurring  annually  on  the  last  Wednesday 
of  August. 

Mr.  Thompson's  successors  are  all  living,  and  it 
will  suffice  to  mention  their  names, — H.  P.  Guilford, 
from  1848  to  1850;  between  1851  and  1864,  S.  Fel- 
lows, B.  F.  Summerbell,  S.  K.  Sweetman,  and  G.  H. 
Allen  ;  from  1864  to  the  present  time,  J.  W.  Osborn. 

In  former  times  this  church  was  known  as  a  mother 
of  churches ;  in  later  years  a  large  proportion  of  its 
young  members  have  made  their  homes  in  neighbor- 
ing cities,  and  in  this  way  it  has  helped  to  increase 
the  strength  of  many  congregations.  More  than 
twenty  of  its  members  have  been  ministers,  but  of  the 
number  only  one,  the  Rev.  William  Miller,  is  now 
living. 

The  first  deacon  of  the  church,  as  has  been  stated, 
was  Isaac  Mason.  Without  recording  the  names  of 
all  who  have  served  in  that  position,  it  may  be  men- 
tioned that  within  the  present  century  five  have 
borne  the  name  of  Buffinton, — three  brothers,  Gard- 
ner, John,  and  Stephen,  Martin,  a  son  of  John,  and 
Benjamin  T.,  a  son  of  Stephen.  The  last-mentioned 
father  and  son  still  survive,  although  Gardner,  the 
older  of  the  two  brothers  of  Deacon  Stephen  Buffin- 
ton, began  to  officiate  three-fourths  of  a  century  ago. 

It  is  of  interest  to  notice  in  the  early  records  how 


frequently  occur  the  names  of  members  which,  though 
borne  by  remote  descendants,  still  occupy  a  place  on 
the  list. 

The  religious  services  on  Sundays  in  the  olden 
times  consisted  of  a  meeting  for  preaching  at  eleven 
o'clock,  and  a  meeting  for  prayer  and  exhortation  at 
four  o'clock.  The  fashion  of  preaching  but  one  sermon 
on  Sunday,  so  common  now  but  generally  regarded  as 
an  innovation,  has  with  occasional  exceptions  long 
prevailed  in  this  church,  perhaps  from  the  time  of  the 
ordination  of  the  first  pastor.  There  is  a  tradition, 
on  which  the  church  records  throw  no  light,  that  at 
first  singing  was  excluded  from  the  services.  It  is 
certain  that  there  was  opposition  to  the  use  of  )iiusical 
notes  at  the  time  they  were  introduced  by  singers. 
When  the  "  service  of  song  in  the  house  of  the  Lord" 
came  to  be  regarded  as  an  important  part  of  public 
worship,  it  was  scarcely  possible  to  provide  books  for 
the  congregation.  From  what  was  perhaps  the  only 
hymn-book  in  the  parish  the  minister  read  a  hymn  ; 
he  then  passed  the  book  to  one  of  the  deacons  (those 
officials  then  occupying  elevated  seats  near  the 
pulpit),  and  he  read  a  line  or  couplet;  after  that  was 
sung  he  read  as  much  more,  and  thus  the  alternate 
reading  and  singing  continued  to  the  end  of  the  hymn. 

At  one  time  there  was  dissatisfaction  on  the  part  of 
several  members  because  the  majority  "  would  not 
approbate  women's  public  speaking  in  the  church  by 
way  of  exhortation."  The  church  censured  those 
disaffected  members,  but  subsequently  the  censure 
was  by  unanimous  vote  expressly  revoked. 

As  was  the  custom  also  in  the  Puritan  meeting- 
houses in  the  former  days,  the  sexes  occupied  oppo- 
site sides  of  the  audience-room. 

The  congregation  early  built  or  otherwise  obtained 
a  house  of  worship,  for  in  1719  a  parish-meeting  was 
held  "  in  the  meeting-house  near  William  Wood's," 
and  before  the  end  of  that  year  it  was  proposed  to 
"make  some  addition  to  the  meeting-house."  This 
project  was  not  carried  into  effect,  but  "  soon  after"  a 
new  house  was  built.  In  the  Puritan  Churches  of 
New  England  there  was  (even  within  a  time  quite 
recent)  a  strong  prejudice  against  kindling  fires  in  a 
house  of  worship.  But  the  builders  of  the  meeting- 
house of  1720  did  not  share  that  superstition.  Two 
platforms  of  brick  were  constructed,  each  surrounded 
by  a  row  of  bricks  turned  up  edgewise  (with  no  out- 
let for  smoke  or  gas),  and  in  cold  weather  charcoal 
fires  were  kept  burning  upon  them.  The  house  was 
built  of  oak  and  chestnut,  and  stood  until  the  church 
edifice  now  used  was  occupied.  In  the  "September 
gale"  (1815)  the  roof  was  blown  off.  The  building 
was  square  in  form,  and  when  the  roof  was  replaced 
it  was  so  turned  that  what  had  been  the  ends  of  the 
house  became  the  sides.  At  one  extremity  of  the 
audience-room  there  was  a  pulpit  large  and  high, 
flanked  by  the  "  deacons'  seats."  These  were  not 
merely  for  ornament  but  use,  for  it  is  recorded  that 
at  a  regular  church-meeting  for  the   transaction  of 


SWANSEA. 


671 


business  two  brethren  were  chosen  deacons,  but  as 
some  members  were  absent,  that  action  was  sub- 
mitted to  an  adjourned  meeting  on  the  following 
Sunday,  when  unanimous  approval  was  expressed  ; 
the  deacons-elect  (although  to  be  "  ordained"  on  a 
subsequent  occasion)  "  then  took  their  seats."  What 
better  example  can  be  found  of  a  recognition  of  both 
the  rights  of  voters  and  the  dignity  of  office?  At 
the  rear  end  of  the  room  and  on  both  sides  were  gal- 
leries capacious  enough  to  accommodate  a  large  part 
of  the  congregation. 

The  spacious  and  pleasant  edifice  now  occupied  was 
dedicated  April  10,  1833.  The  noted  Luther  Baker 
preached.  All  the  clergymen  who  participated  in 
the  services  have  passed  away  from  this  life.  The 
house  was  entirely  remodeled  and  somewhat  enlarged 
in  1873. 

The  land  comprised  in  the  churchyard  of  the 
former  house  was  given  "  for  the  accommodation  of  a 
meeting-house,"  by  Dr.  William  Wood  and  Capt. 
John  Brown.  The  portion  given  by  the  latter  is  de- 
scribed in  the  deed  as  a  triangular  lot  of  one-half 
acre.  An  adjoining  lot  was  given  for  a  parsonage  in 
1772  by  Deacon  James  Brown.  The  parsonage  was 
bought  for  thirty  pounds,  and  moved  to  the  place 
where  it  stood  until  torn  down  in  1865.  Previous  to 
that  purchase  the  church  had  received  bequests  from 
Edward  Luther,  Jonathan  Slade,  and  Anna  Monroe, 
and  soon  after  one  from  Sybil  Slade.  Borrowers  paid 
interest  in  some  cases  by  "sweeping  the  meeting- 
house" and  in  "coals  for  the  meeting-house."  The 
depreciation  of  the  currency  was  such  that  only  "  nine 
dollars  and  one-eleventh  in  silver"  were  realized  from 
a  debt  of  "fifty  pounds,  old  tenor."  One  of  the 
"communion  cups  of  solid  silver"  was  given  by 
Katherine  Tilley,  and  the  other  by  Elizabeth  Slade. 

In  times  more  recent  the  church  has  been  blessed 
with  benefactors.  Tamar  Luther,  Candace  Bright- 
man,  William  Mason,  Joseph  G.  Luther,  Elizabeth 
Bosworth,  the  sisters  Joanna,  Lydia,  and  Hannah 
Mason,  Mary  Gardner,  Phebe  Kingsley,  Samuel  and 
Patience  Gardner,  and  Betsy  Bushee  Pierce,  by  will 
or  otherwise,  have  given  money  or  pews,  the  income 
of  which  assists  in  defraying  the  current  expenses  of 
the  parish.  These  generous  persons  are  held  in 
grateful  recollection  by  those  who  enjoy  the  benefit  of 
their  considerate  kindness. 

Possibly  this  is  the  oldest  church  in  Massachusetts 
which  never  had  legal  connection  with  a  town.  A 
brief  outline  of  events  connected  with  its  history  has 
been  given,  but  the  real  history  of  a  church  (and  es- 
pecially of  one  including  among  its  members  so  many 
generations,  with  modes  of  thought  and  life  so  diver- 
gent) can  never  be  written.  The  effects  of  moral 
forces  no  man  can  chronicle,  for  no  man  can  compre- 
hend. 

The  Six-Principle  Baptist  Church— In  1820, 
after  the  termination  of  Elder  Philip  Slade's  con- 
nection with  the  parish  of  which  he  had  been  pastor, 


he  conducted  services  at  the  residence  of  Deacon  El- 
lery  Wood.  His  adherents  were  recognized  by  the 
Six-Principle  Baptist  Yearly  Meeting  as  a  church  of 
that  denomination.  Deacon  Wood  bequeathed  his 
homestead  for  the  maintenance  of  worship,  and  for 
several  years  after  his  decease  meetings  were  statedly 
held  on  Sundays  in  a  room  of  the  dwelling  which 
became  the  residence  of  the  pastor,  Elder  Comstock. 
Occasional  services  were  held  after  the  removal  of  Mr. 
Comstock  for  some  time,  but  not  in  the  few  years  past. 
The  farm  is  held  by  a  trustee  for  the  benefit  of  the 
Six-Principle  Baptist  denomination. 

Christ  Church,  Swansea  Village.1 — Bishop  East- 
burn,  in  his  official  report  of  1846,  says,  "For  the 
establishment  of  the  church  in  this  place  we  are  in- 
debted, under  God,  to  the  zealous  labors  of  the  Rev. 
Amos  D.  McCoy,  rector  of  the  Church  of  the  Ascen- 
sion, Fall  River." 

The  church  record  states  that  "  Mr.  McCoy  offici- 
ated in  this  village  on  Sunday  evenings  and  other 
occasions  from  the  second  Sunday  in  May,  1845, 
until  November,  1847." 

At  that  time  no  regular  religious  services  were  held 
in  the  community,  the  "  Union  Meeting,"  which  ded- 
icated its  house  of  worship  about  1830,  having  disin- 
tegrated. There  were  then  but  four  communicants  of 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  resident  in  the  town, 
and  they  were  members  of  St.  Mark's,  Warren,  R.  I., 
and  probably  it  was  at  the  suggestion  of  the  rector  of 
that  church  (the  Rev.  George  W.  Hathaway)  that 
services  were  first  held  in  Swansea. 

The  Sunday-school  was  organized  and  superin- 
tended by  Dr.  George  W.  Chevers  (then  a  practicing 
physician  in  Fall  River,  and  afterwards  a  successful 
clergyman  of  the  church),  "who  with  exemplary  self- 
denial  and  untiring  assiduity  devoted  himself  to  this 
labor  of  love.  This  gentleman,  for  the  nine  months 
previous  to  January,  1848,  conducted  lay-reading  on 
Sunday  mornings  and  afternoons.  He  also  engaged 
in  soliciting  funds  toward  the  erection  of  the  church," 
and  doubtless  his  labors  went  very  far  toward  making 
the  enterprise  successful. 

Prominent  among  the  first  organizers  of  this  parish 
were  the  Hon.  John  Mason,  Capt.  Preserved  S.  Gard- 
ner, John  A.  Wood,  John  E.  Gray,  Hon.  George 
Austin,  William  Pearse,  and  Benjamin  H.  Chase. 
Of  these  only  two  (the  last  mentioned)  were  ever 
communicants.  Capt.  Gardner  was  formerly  a  Bap- 
tist. But  they  were  all  men  of  integrity,  faithful 
supporters  of  the  church,  and  regular  attendants  at 
its  services. 

William  Pearse,  John  A.  Wood,  and  Capt.  Gardner 
at  their  decease  left  to  the  parish  five  hundred  dollars 
each  as  a  permanent  fund  for  the  support  of  the 
church. 

Mr.  William  Pearse,  though  residing*  three  miles 
from  the  village,  and  perhaps  more  naturally  con- 

i  By  Rev.  Otis  0.  Wright. 


672 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL  COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


nected  with  St.  Mark's,  Warren,  always  made  it  a 
point  of  honor  to  support  and  attend  with  his  family 
this  less  flourishing  church;  and  this  high  principle 
of  devotion,  characteristic  of  that  old  church  family, 
has  continued  to  be  exemplified  in  Mr.  William  H. 
Pearse  and  family,  who  came  in  time  to  take  the 
place  of  his  uncle. 

Mr.  John  A.  Wood,  though  never  a  communicant, 
was  devotedly  attached  to  the  services  of  the  church, 
and  for  many  years  voluntarily  assumed  the  care  of 
the  Lord's  house  without  compensation,  and  was 
always  particular  that  it  should  be  comfortable  and 
in  order.  And  after  his  decease  his  son,  Henry  O. 
Wood,  immediately  succeeded  him  as  a  vestryman, 
and  has  long  since  served  the  parish  as  warden,  treas- 
urer, and  clerk  with  a  faithfulness  worthy  of  his 
father's  example. 

Benjamin  H.  Chase,  the  only  survivor,  when  about 
forty  years  of  age,  prepared  for  the  ministry  and  work 
of  the  church,  to  which  he  was  ordained  by  Bishop 
Eastburn  in  1854,  and  at  this  present  time  (1883), 
after  a  term  of  nearly  thirty  years  of  active  and  suc- 
cessful labors,  is  the  highly-esteemed  rector  of  St. 
Paul's  Church,  Portsmouth,  R.  I.,  which  he  is  serving 
for  the  fifteenth  successive  year.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Chase 
did  much  toward  establishing  Christ  Church,  and  are 
still,  as  they  ever  have  been,  deeply  interested  for  its 
present  and  future  usefulness. 

The  loss  of  those  first  supporters  has  never  been 
fully  repaired  by  any  new  accessions  to  the  parish. 

Christ  Church,  Swansea,  was  duly  organized  as  a 
parish  under  the  statute  of  this  commonwealth  on 
the  7th  of  January,  1846.  The  first  vestry  was  com- 
posed as  follows  :  William  Pearse  and  John  Mason, 
Esq.,  wardens  ;  John  A.  Wood,  Joseph  D.  Nichols, 
Preserved  S.  Gardner,  Benjamin  H.  Chase,  and  John 
E.  Gray,  vestrymen. 

The  building  committee  were  John  E.  Gray,  John 

A.  Wood,  and  William  Pearse. 

The  services  of  the  church  were  held  at  first  in  the 
Union  meeting-house. 

The  church  edifice  was  built  largely  by  subscrip- 
tions outside  of  the  community,  and  was  consecrated 
the  2d  day  of  December,  1847,  at  ten  o'clock  a.m., 
by  the  Rt.  Rev.  Manton  Eastburn,  of  Massachusetts. 

There  were  present  of  the  clergy  the  Rev.  T.  W. 
Snow,  of  Taunton  ;   James  Henry  Eames  and  John 

B.  Richmond,  of  Providence;  James  Mulcahy,  of 
Portsmouth ;  Benjamin  Watson,  of  Newport ;  and 
George  W.  Hathaway,  of  Warren. 

The  building  is  a  neat  wooden  structure,  of  simple 
Romanesque  architecture,  finished  to  the  roof  inside, 
has  about  two  hundred  sittings,  and  cost  about  two 
thousand  dollars. 

The  bell  cost  one  hundred  and  sixty-three  dollars, 
and  the  handsome  pipe-organ,  which  «was  built  to 
order  in  1867,  cost  one  thousand  dollars.  These  were 
both  obtained  by  contributions  solicited  at  home  and 
abroad. 


The  font,  of  "  Pictou  stone,"  was  presented  by  the 
ladies  of  St.  Michael's  Church,  Bristol,  R.  I. 

"Five  infants  and  two  adults  received  baptism, 
and  five  persons  were  confirmed  during  the  time  Mr. 
McCoy  officiated  in  this  parish." 

The  first  rector  was  the  Rev.  John  B.  Richmond, 
of  Providence,  R.  I.,  who  served  from  Jan.  1,  1848, 
till  the  1st  of  January,  1852. 

He  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Benjamin  Austin, 
who,  at  his  request,  was  released  from  his  engage- 
ment after  the  1st  of  November  of  the  same  year. 

About  the  beginning  of  the  year  1853  the  Rev. 
William  Withington,  of  Boston,  took  charge  of  the 
parish,  and  remained  until  the  1st  of  January,  1856. 

He  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  William  B.  Colburn, 
of  whose  term  of  service  the  records  are  not  clear. 

The  Rev.  N.  Watson  Munroe  was  duly  elected  rec- 
tor March,  1859,  and  closed  his  official  relations  to 
the  parish  February,  1864. 

The  church  was  then  served  by  the  Rev.  A.  F. 
Wylie,  rector  of  the  Church  of  the  Ascension,  Fall 
River,  and  by  his  assistant,  the  Rev.  A.  E.  Tortat, 
until  April,  1868,  when  the  Rev.  George  Heaton, 
M.A.,  of  Cambridge,  England,  became  the  resident 
minister,  and  remained  until  August,  1869,  when  he 
resigned. 

In  June,  1871,  the  Rev.  N.  Watson  Munroe  re- 
sumed the  care  of  the  parish  and  remained  rector  ' 
until  Easter  Monday,  1877,  when  he  resigned. 

The  Rev.  William  T.  Fitch,  rector  of  the  Ascen- 
sion, Fall  River,  soon  assumed  the  charge  and  offici- 
ated most  of  the  time  until  about  the  1st  of  July, 
1881,  when  the  present  rector,  the  Rev.  Otis  O.  Wright, 
of  Providence,  R.  I.,  began  his  labors. 

The  valuation  of  the  parish  property,  including 
fifteen  hundred  dollars'  investments,  is  four  thousand 
five  hundred  dollars. 

The  membership  of  the  church,  which  has  always 
been  small,  at  present  numbers  but  fourteen,  and  the 
Sunday-school  has  twenty-six  scholars. 

The  population  of  the  community,  which  would 
naturally  be  considered  as  the  parish,  is  only  about 
two  hundred,  nearly  one-fourth  of  whom  are  con- 
nected with  other  Christian  bodies,  though  most  of 
them  take  more  or  less  interest  in  the  services  of  this 
church. 

As  in  most  of  the  agricultural  towns,  many  of  the 
young  people  leave  the-  parish  for  vocations  in  other 
places,  where  they  often  become  active  and  influential 
churchmen  because  of  their  early  home  training,  so 
that,  though  the  permanent  growth  of  Christ  Church 
has  been  both  slow  and  small,  the  work  of  the  parish 
has  been  vitally  important  both  to  the  community  and 
to  the  church  at  large. 

This  parish  has  always  received  financial  aid  from 
the  Diocesan  Board  of  Missions,  and  for  many  years 
its  various  interests  have  been  largely  sustained  by 
the  liberality  of  Mr.  Frank  S.  Stevens,  well  known  as 
the  principal  business  man  of  the  place. 


0*£* 


SWANSEA. 


673 


The  church  wardens  at  present  are  William  H. 
Pearse  and  Henry  O.  Wood,  and  the  vestrymen  are 
F.  S.  Stevens,  Dr.  J.  L.  Wellington,  T.  C.  Chace, 
Jonas  Altham,  and  Jeremiah  Gray. 

The  Universalist  Society  of  Swansea  and  Re- 
hoboth. — More  than  twenty  years  ago  Mr.  A.  M. 
Rhodes  began  to  preach  on  alternate  Sundays  in  the 
former  school-house  known  as  Liberty  Hall,  at  Swan- 
sea Factory.  Subsequently  Union  Chapel  was  erected, 
in  which  Mr.  Rhodes  still  officiates  once  in  two  weeks. 
The  late  James  Eddy,  Esq.,  a  well-known  and  highly 
esteemed  citizen  of  this  town,  was  accustomed  to  con- 
tribute liberally  for  the  support  of  this  society,  of 
which  he  was  a  steadfast  member  from  its  origin. 

Military  Record,  1861-65.— The  following  en- 
listed to  fill  the  quota  of  this  town  during  the  war  of 
the  Rebellion : 


Allen,  Charles  C. 
Allen,  Theodore  H. 
Ashton,  Henry  H. 
Alden,  Joseph. 
Bos  worth,  Otis. 
Bos  worth,  Joseph  F. 
Briggs,  Edward. 
Boyd,  Win.  A. 
Barney,  W.  T. 
Barney.  Charles. 
Buftintrton,  S.  L. 
Bufhngton,  G.  0. 
Blanding,  Frank. 
Brown,  Wm. 
Beanboucher,  Victor. 
Case,  D.  H. 
Chase,  Reuben  (2d). 
Chase,  Reuben  (3d). 
Chase,  Christopher. 
Chase,  F.  R. 
Chase,  C.  D. 
Chase,  Wni.  P. 
Collins,  Stephen. 
Calillian,  Dennis. 
Corthell,  James  H. 
Cassell,  Alexander. 
David,  Joseph  J. 
Dempsey,  Joseph. 
Dilson,  John. 
Eddy.C.  H. 
Eagan,  John. 
Follet,  John  J. 
Fo'let,  Win.  H. 
French,  Wm.  II. 
FouldB,  Robert. 
Frank  e,  Joseph. 
Fitzpatrick,  John. 
Graham,  Isaac. 
Graham,  Henry. 
Green,  Wm.  H. 
Gibbs,  Horatio. 
Godsoe,  George. 
Hamlin,  Wm. 
Heath,  Charles. 
Hunter,  George. 
Horton,  Horace. 
Handy,  W.  D. 
Holmes,  W.  H. 
Hart,  F.  B. 
Hatch,  Grafton. 
Hopkins,  William. 
Hodgdon,  Charles. 
Hanley,  Daniel. 
Knight,  B. 

43 


Kingsley,  Amos  N. 
King,  Wm.  T. 
Kelley,  James. 
Lawton,  A.  J. 
Lansing,  John. 
Libby,  Nelson. 
Lyon,  J.  A. 
Lepo,  Andrew. 
Ludwig,  Charles. 
Lufe,  Francis. 
Locke,  C.  W. 
Miller,  M.  L. 
Maker,  William  H. 
McNeil,  James. 
Mason,  Wm.  P. 
Martin,  A.  F. 
Miller,  William  H. 
Murray,  Edward. 
Magrath,  Lawrence. 
Munsher,  E. 
Mowry,  C.  M. 
Moise,  A.  D. 
Nolan,  Matthew. 
O'Chaloner,  Henry. 
O'Donovan,  Michael. 
O'Connor,  Michael. 
Pierce,  George  R. 
Pierce,  James  M. 
Pierce,  Ezra  V.  B. 
Peck,  Joseph  T. 
Peck,  A.  S. 
Peck,  George  E. 
Perkins,  L.  T. 
Petia,  James. 
Piper,  Joseph. 
Powers,  J.  P. 
Ray,  D.  S. 
Ray,  T.  S. 
Reekton,  Thomas. 
Ramsey,  Michael. 
Romeo,  John. 
Reynolds,  John. 
Ragan,  James. 
Shove,  Geo.  A. 
Snow,  C.  H. 
Smith,  Solomon. 
Smith,  John. 
Smith,  Andrew. 
Smith,  Newton. 
Slade,  Alfred  L. 
Sherman,  Edwin. 
Stevens,  Peter. 
Sweeney,  Michael. 
Seymour,  James  A. 


Tompkins,  Daniel. 
Tompkins,  James. 
Thurber,  Jonathan. 
Tripp,  John  E. 
Thurber,  James  F. 
Tower,  Lorenzo. 
Taylor,  George  A. 
Taylor,  James. 
Thompson,  William. 
Ueber,  William. 
West,  Edward  G. 


Whittemore,  George  W. 
Wheaton,  Joseph  H. 
Wheeler,  Joseph. 
Wood,  Adoniram. 
Wheldon,  Silas  H. 
Wallow,  Oliver  R. 
Whitney,  Franklin  T. 
Welsh,  Maurice. 
Weldou,  Henry. 
Woodman,  Edmund  E. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


ABNER   SLADE. 

Abner  Slade,  son  of  Benjamin  and  grandson  of 
Joseph  Slade,  was  born  in  Swansea  Oct.  2,  1792,  on 
the  homestead  of  his  father,  within  a  short  distance 
of  which  his  long  life  of  usefulness  was  passed.  He 
was  in  the  fifth  generation  from  the  first  of  the  family 
who  settled  in  Swansea,  and  the  line  of  descent  is 
(1)  William,  (2)  Edward,  (3)  Joseph,  (4)  Benjamin, 
(5)  Abner.  (For  ancestral  history  of  the  Slade  family, 
see  biography  of  William  Slade,  Somerset.)  Mr. 
Slade  was  reared  a  farmer  and  tanner,  and  succeeded 
his  father  in  business,  and  made  tanning  and  currying 
his  principal  avocation  during  life.  When  he  first 
began  it,  the  custom  was  for  the  tanner  to  travel 
through  the  country  on  horseback  and  purchase 
hides,  which,  when  tanned  into  leather,  were  sold, 
largely  on  credit,  to  the  farmers  and  traveling  shoe- 
makers of  the  period.  From  this  primitive  condition 
of  the  trade  Mr.  Slade  built  up  a  business  of  large 
proportions,  which  became  very  remunerative.  He 
was  one  of  the  most  industrious,  systematic,  and  per- 
severing of  men,  and  looked  sharply  after  the  minute 
details  of  every  transaction.  He  was  very  successful, 
and  this  success  may  be  attributed  to  his  sterling  in- 
tegrity, his  good  judgment,  and  his  earnest  and  steady 
persistency.  He  retired,  with  a  handsome  competency 
as  the  reward  of  his  application  and  energy,  from 
active  business  about  1856,  and  the  subsequent  years 
of  his  life  were  devoted,  in  a  business  way,  only  to 
looking  after  his  various  investments.  He  never  ac- 
cepted nor  wished  for  office  in  town,  nor  had  political 
aspirations.  He  was  a  director  of  Fall  River  National 
Bank  many  years,  and  was  interested  in  the  Old  Colony 
Railroad,  and  to  some  extent  in  the  Providence  and 
Worcester  Railroad.  He  was  also  stockholder  in 
various  corporations  and  manufactures  in  Fall  River. 
He  married,  Sept.  30,  1829,  Sarah,  daughter  of  Asa 
and  Elizabeth  (Mitchell)  Sherman,  who  was  born 
Feb.  20,  1810.  (Asa,  son  of  Samson  and  Ruth  Sher- 
man, of  Portsmouth,  R.  I.,  was  born  Dec.  22,  1779, 
and  died  in  Fall  River,  Mass.,  Dec.  29,  1863,  aged 
eighty-four  years.  He  was  a  lineal  descendant  of 
Philip  Sherman,  who  in  1636,  with  seventeen  others, 
purchased  from  the  Indians  the  islands  of  Rhode 
Island, — Patience,  Hope,  and  Conanicut.  Elizabeth, 
his  wife,  daughter  of  Richard  and  Joanna  Mitchell, 


674 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


of  Middletown,  R.  I.,  was  born  Oct.  17,  1782,  and 
died  in  Fall  River  April  22, 1858,  in  his  seventy-sixth 
year.  They  had  ten  children,  of  whom  Mrs.  Slade 
was  third.) 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Slade  began  housekeeping  in  a  house 
standing  on  the  site  of  the  present  residence  of  Mrs. 
Slade,  and  for  over  half  a  century  enjoyed  as  perfect 
felicity  as  can  come  from  marriage  of  congenial 
spirits.  Nothing  ever  cast  a  cloud  over  their  home, 
and  it  was  at  the  home  circle  where  Mr.  Slade  sought 
rest  and  comfort  after  the  toils  of  the  day  were  over. 
They  had  no  children,  but  they  adopted  a  little  girl 
of  about  two  years,  Sarah  Bowers  by  name,  to  whom 
they  gave  the  care  of  parents  until  her  death  in  her 
twentieth  year.  They  afterwards  adopted  Adeline 
F.  Cole,  when  a  girl  of  seven,  and  reared  and  edu- 
cated her.  She  has  lovingly  repaid  the  care  and  at- 
tention given  her.  She  was  born  March  29.  1849, 
married  Charles  A.  Chace,  son  of  Obadiah  and  Esther 
(Freeman)  Chace,  of  Warren,  R.  I.  They  have  three 
children,  Benjamin  S.,  Arthur  F.,  and  Warren  O. 
They  reside  with  Mrs.  Slade.  Mr.  Slade  passed 
through  the  years  of  life  to  a  hale  old  age,  in  which 
the  powers  of  thought  and  consolations  of  religion 
held  sway  until  the  last,  and  died  Dec.  2,  1879. 

At  a  special  meeting  of  the  board  of  directors  of 
Fall  River  National  Bank,  held  Dec.  4,  1879,  the  fol- 
lowing preamble  and  resolution  was  passed  : 

"Whereas,  It  has  pleased  our  Heavenly  Father  to  remove  by  death 
our  highly-respected  associate,  Abner  Slade,  at  the  ripe  age  of  eighty- 
seven  years,  who  has  been  identified  with  this  bank  as  director  for  more 
than  thirty-three  years,  giving  to  it  his  counsel  and  judgment.  A  man 
honored  for  his  sterling  integrity  and  Christian  character;  therefore, 

"  Resolved,  It  is  not  as  a  mere  formality  that  this  board  recognize  the 
loss  they  have  sustained,  and  in  token  of  respect  to  his  memory,  and  to 
manifest  our  sympathy  with  his  family,  this  board  will  attend  his 
funeral  in  a  body." 

Mr.  Slade  was  an  earnest  and  unassuming  member 
of  the  Society  of  Friends,  and  was  held  in  the  highest 
esteem  by  his  brethren.  The  Friends'  Review  gave 
this  just  and  well-deserved  notice  of  him  :  "  Abner 
Slade,  an  elder  of  Swansea  Monthly  Meeting  of 
Friends,  deceased,  twelfth  month,  second,  1879,  aged 
eighty-seven.  He  was  truly  a  father  in  Israel. 
While  we  deeply  feel  our  loss,  and  miss  his  sweet 
words  of  counsel,  we  can  but  rejoice  when  we  think 
of  his  triumphal  death,  and  remember  how  his  coun- 
tenance beamed  with  joy  when  he  told  us  he  was 
going  to  his  home  in  heaven." 


FRANK    SHAW   STEVENS. 

Frank  Shaw  Stevens  was  born  in  Rutland,  Vt., 
Aug.  6,  1827.  His  father,  Chauncey,  married  Lu- 
cinda  Weeks  and  had  four  children,  of  whom  Frank 
S.  is  the  second. 

Chauncey  Stevens  was  a  stage-man,  and  the  pro- 
prietor of  a  hotel,  stages,  and  livery  in  Westfield, 
N.  Y.    He  finally  settled  in  Willoughby,  Ohio,  where 


he  died  in  1858,  his  wife  having  died  in  1832,  when 
they  resided  at  Whitehall,  N.  Y. 

Frank  S.  received  a  common  school  education. 
After  the  death  of  his  mother,  when  he  was  in  his 
fifth  year,  he  lived  with  his  uncle  and  aunt,  Nathan 
Cushman  and  wife,  with  whom  he  resided  for  two  or 
three  years,  and  then  went  with  his  father  to  Ogdens- 
burgh  and  Oswego,  N.  Y.,  remaining  three  or  four 
years,  then  spending  the  balance  of  the  time  till  he 
was  thirteen  with  his  uncle  and  aunt  at  Cleveland 
and  Willoughby,  Ohio.  At  the  age  of  fifteen  he  en- 
tered the  store  of  George  T.  Camp  &  Co.,  at  West- 
field,  N.  Y.,  as  clerk,  and  was  engaged  in  that  ca- 
pacity about  four  years. 

This  ended  his  youthful  experience  in  these  pur- 
suits, for  about  this  time  the  fame  of  the  gold  discov- 
eries in  California  had  reached  him,  and  he  resolved 
to  try  his  fortune  in  a  new  field.  To  one  of  his  tem- 
perament the  adventures  of  an  overland  journey  to 
California  presented  unusual  attractions.  It  was  in 
the  spring  of  1849,  when  the  waste  of  mountain,  plain, 
and  wilderness  lying  between  the  Mississippi  and 
the  Pacific  Coast  had  been  almost  wholly  unexplored, 
except  by  such  bold  hunters  as  Carson  and  Fremont. 
A  few  of  the  "Argonauts  of  '49,"  had  sailed  for  the 
newly-discovered  El  Dorado  via  Cape  Horn  ;  a  shorter 
cut  had  been  explored  across  the  Isthmus  of  Panama, 
and  a  few  had  gone  that  way ;  a  few  caravans,  per- 
haps, had  been  fitted  out  to  cross  the  "  Great  Ameri- 
can Desert"  and  the  Rocky  Mountains,  but  scarcely 
had  a  path  been  opened  in  the  latter  direction  when 
Mr.  Stevens  and  his  company  set  out  in  the  spring  of 
1849. 

Their  destination  was  Sacramento,  Cal.,  via  the 
plains,  going  by  water  to  Chicago,  and  by  canal  and 
river  to  St.  Louis.  They  purchased  their  outfit  in  the 
latter  city,  and  packing  their  goods  in  boats  ascended 
the  Missouri  River  to  Omaha  ;  thence  by  teams  they 
passed  over  the  plains  and  the  Rocky  Mountains,  ar- 
riving at  Sacramento  the  last  of  August,  1849,  having 
left  Omaha  early  in  May. 

Mr.  Stevens  worked  a  short  time  at  mining,  but  did 
not  like  the  business.  He  returned  to  Sacramento, 
and  there  he  met  one  Durfee,  who  was  induced  to 
join  him  in  purchasing  four  yoke  of  oxen  and  an 
outfit  for  the  purpose  of  hauling  goods  and  provi- 
sions to  the  mountains  to  supply  travelers  and  miners. 
Their  team  and  equipments  cost  them  one  thousand 
and  fifty  dollars.  Yet  it  was  a  profitable  investment; 
the  enterprise  was  a  success  from  the  first,  but  after 
making  three  or  four  trips  high  water  came  on,  and 
they  were  compelled  to  give  it  up.  Then  he  em- 
barked in  the  restaurant  business,  and  was  successful. 
He  owned  and  ran  stages  from  Sacramento  to  Placer- 
ville  and  Jackson  until  1854,  at  which  time  the  Cali- 
fornia Stage  Company  was  organized  with  a  capital  of 
one  million  dollars,  composed  of  all  the  stage  lines  in 
the  State.  He  was  its  first  vice-president,  and  had 
charge  of  certain  divisions  of  the  road  until  1866.    In 


ft   IT-tCi* 


rfa-      1/1/  a~zy-t  L 


SWANSEA. 


675 


the  fall  of  1858  he  came  to  Washington,  D.  C,  to  look 
after  his  interests  of  the  company,  and  from  that  time 
till  1866  he  made  several  trips  back  and  forward.  He 
continued  in  the  livery  business  till  1858,  and  both  in 
that  and  in  "staging"  he  was  quite  successful.  In 
1858  he  came  to  Swansea,  and  since  1866  has  made 
it  his  principal  home. 

Tn  1862  he  became  engaged  with  Sherman  Paris 
and  Marshall  J.  Allan,  under  the  firm-name  of  Paris 
&  Allan  (now  Paris,  Allan  &  Co.),  wholesale  liquor 
dealers,  51  Broadway,  New  York.  Since  1869  he  has 
been  connected  with  the  firm  of  W.  A.  Gaines  &  Co., 
in  the  distilling  business  in  Kentucky. 

Mr.  Stevens  is  a  director  of  the  Mechanics',  Granite, 
Stafford,  Davol,  Osborn,  Slade,  Laurel  Lake,  Bourne, 
and  Globe  Yarn-Mills,  is  president  and  director  of 
the  Merino  Mills,  and  has  been  since  the  organiza- 
tion, also  president  of  the  Davol  Mills,  and  was  treas- 
urer for  three  years.  He  is  a  director  of  the  Meta- 
comet  Bank  of  Fall  Eiver. 

In  politics,  his  affiliations  were  with  the  Demo- 
cratic party  till  the  commencement  of  the  war  of  the 
Rebellion,  since  which  he  has  been  a  Republican, 
but  he  has  never  been  an  aspirant  for  political 
honors. 

He  has  been  twice  married.  First  he  married,  in 
July,  1858,  Julia  A.  B.,  widow  of  James  E.  Birch, 
and  daughter  of  David  Chace,  of  Swansea.  She  died 
in  February,  1871 ;  and  he  married  for  his  second 
wife,  in  April,  1872,  Elizabeth  R.,  daughter  of  Joseph 
and  Eliza  Case,  of  Swansea. 

Mr.  Stevens  is  an  attendant  and  supporter  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church. 

His  farm  in  Swansea  is  one  of  the  finest  in  the 
vicinity  of  Fall  River,  and  is  well  stocked  with  fine 
horses  and  cattle. 


XATIIAN    MONTGOMERY    WOOD. 

The  first  of  the  Wood  family  who  came  to  America 
of  whom  there  is  any  authentic  record  was  William1 
Wood,  who  came  from  England,  and  after  spending 
some  time  in  the  new  colonies  returned  to  England, 
and  in  1634  published  in  London  a  book  entitled 
"  New  England's  Prospects."  Very  meagre  records 
were  kept  in  those  clays,  and  it  is  not  positive  how 
many  children  this  William  Wood  had,  or  what  their 
names  were,  but  after  consulting  all  available  authori- 
ties relative  to  early  genealogical  data,  we  feel  justi- 
fied in  stating  as  most  probable  that  he  had  at  least 
one  son,  John'1,  who  came  to  Plymouth  Colony  in  the 
early  days  of  that  settlement,  married  and  had  two 
sons,  John  and  Thomas*,  who  were  great  hunters,  and 
possessed  of  that  hardy  adventurous  spirit  so  charac- 
teristic of  our  early  pioneers.  In  search  of  a  country 
where  game  was  plenty,  they  first  came  to  Seaconnet 
or  thereabouts,  and  soon  after  went  to  Swansea,  where 
Thomas  settled.  John,  so  tradition  says,  went  still 
farther  west  into  Connecticut,  which  was  then  a  wil- 


derness. Thomas  Wood3  was  evidently  a  man  of 
considerable  consequence  in  his  town.  He  was  a 
surveyor,  and  divided  and  surveyed  much  land.  He 
held  in  Swansea  a  large  landed  estate  containing  sev- 
eral hundred  acres.  Records  indicate  that  he  had 
two  sons,  Thomas  and  John*. 

This  John  had  two  sons,  Noah  and  John.  By  his 
will  he  bequeathed  the  mill-place  to  his  son  John5, 
and  to  Noah  he  gave  the  landed  property  west  of  the 
mill-farm,  consisting  of  three  farms,  one  of  which,  the 
homestead,  is  still  in  possession  of  the  family.  Noah 
had  four  sons, — Nathaniel,  Aaron,  Levi,  and  Jona- 
than. He  bequeathed  the  homestead  farm  and  the 
one  adjoining  to  his  son  Aaron,  and  to  the  others  he 
gave  farms  in  the  immediate  vicinity. 

Aaron,  son  of  Noah,  had  children, — Nathan,  Isaac, 
Levi,  Aaron,  Noah,  Mason,  Freelove,  Sarah,  Eliza- 
beth, Innocent,  Mary,  and  Polly.  In  the  distribution 
of  his  property  he  bequeathed  the  homestead  to  his 
son  Aaron.  This  Aaron  had  seven  sons, — Levi,  John, 
Nathan,  Benjamin,  Ira,  Hiram,  and  Pardon,  and  two 
daughters,  Polly  and  Sarah.  Upon  his  decease  the 
homestead  went  to  all  the  sons,  and  to  his  wife,  Polly, 
the  use  of  it  during  her  life.  She  died  March  12, 
1883,  in  her  ninety-ninth  year.  The  homestead  farm 
is  now  in  possession  of  Nathan  Wood,  son  of  Aaron, 
and  Benjamin  N.  Wood,  grandson  of  Aaron  Wood, 
and  nephew  of  Nathan  M.  Wood. 

John5  Wood,  who  inherited  the  mill  place  from  his 
father  John4,  had  four  sons, — John,  Isaac,  Nathan, 
and  Seth,  and  two  daughters, — Bethiah  and  Penelope. 
Seth6,  upon  his  father's  decease,  inherited  the  mill 
farm.  He  was  a  man  of  consequence  in  his  day ;  took 
much  interest  in  public  affairs,  and  during  the  war  of 
the  Revolution  was  commissioned  directly  from  the 
State  authorities  as  collector  of  taxes.  He  had  three 
sons, — John,  Seth,  and  Halle,  the  latter  by  a  second 
wife.  Col.  Haile7  inherited  the  ancestral  acres.  He 
was  one  of  the  leading  men  of  Swansea,  holding  va- 
rious town  offices  and  positions  of  trust  and  honor. 
He  was  an  enterprising  man,  and  one  of  the  original 
founders  of  the  Taunton  Britannia  Works,  now  known 
as  Reed  &  Barton's  Works.  He  resided  in  Taunton 
four  years.  He  was  colonel  of  militia,  and  took  much 
pride  and  interest  in  military  affairs.  He  was  said  to 
be  the  best  horseman  in  the  county.  He  was  a  man 
of  fine  physique,  stood  over  six  feet  high,  and  weighed 
over  two  hundred  pounds.  He  was  a  Whig  and  Re- 
publican in  politics,  and  an  ardent  prohibitionist.  He 
married  Mary,  daughter  of  Ebenezer  Howard,  of 
Woodstock,  Conn.,  and  had  eleven  children, — Haile N. 
(married  Marian  L.  Chace,  they  have  one  son),  Mary 
A.  (deceased  ;  married  E.  Brayman,  had  six  children, 
all  of  whom  are  dead),  William  (deceased;  married 
Harriet  Burbank,  of  Taunton,  had  three  children), 
Seth  (married  Mary  Carver,  of  Taunton,  had  four 
children),  Elizabetli  (married  Nathan  Wood,  of  Swan- 
sea, had  two  children),  Adeline  (deceased;  married 
Benjamin  B.  Wood,  of  Swansea,  had  five  children), 


(576 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Walter  H.  (married  Amanda  Gardner,  has  two  chil- 
dren), Augusta  (second  wife  of  Benjamin  Wood,  they 
have  one  son),  Laura  (deceased;  died  unmarried), 
Nathan  M.,  and  Angeline  (died  in  infancy).  Col. 
Haile  was  born  November,  1788,  and  died  May  6, 
1860.  His  wife  was  born  March,  1785,  and  died  Octo- 
ber, 1872. 

Nathan  M.  Wood  was  born  in  Swansea,  Mass., 
Jan.  16,  1825.  His  education  was  obtained  at  the 
common  schools  of  his  native  town.  His  father  was 
a  farmer  and  miller,  and  Nathan  was  brought  up  to 
the  same  business,  and,  with  the  exception  of  about 
one  year  passed  in  Maine,  he  has  always  resided  at 
his  home  in  Swansea,  which  has  been  in  the  family 
so  many  generations.  Nov.  7,  1848,  he  married  Abby 
M.  Kingsley,  second  child  and  eldest  daughter  of 
Elisha  and  Mary  (Mason)  Kingsley,  of  Swansea.  She 
was  born  April  10,  1828,  and  is  descended  on  the 
maternal  side  from  Samson  Mason,  who  was  an  Eng- 
lishman, and  an  officer  in  the  army  of  Oliver  Crom- 
well until  the  latter  was  made  lord  protector  of  Eng- 
land. About  1650  he  came  to  America,  and  was 
admitted  an  inhabitant  of  Rehoboth  Dec.  9,  1657. 
His  children  were  Samson,  Noah,  John,  Samuel, 
Bethiah  (who  became  the  wife  of  John  Wood),  Sarah, 
Mary,  James,  Joseph,  Isaac,  Peletiah,  Benjamin,  and 
Thankful.  Peletiah  had  three  sons,  all  of  whom  were 
ministers.  Job,  Russell,  and  John,  all  of  them  re- 
sided within  a  mile  of  each  other.  They  were  black- 
smiths by  occupation,  and  it  is  said  used  to  "  preach 
with  their  leather  aprons  on."  They  preached  at  a 
church  occupying  the  site  of  the  present  Christian 
Church  near  Luther's  Corners. 

Job  Mason  had  a  son  Job,  who  occupied  the  ances- 
tral home,  and  who  had  a  son  named  Gardner,  who 
was  a  seaman,  and  was  drowned  at  Providence,  R.  I., 
while  his  vessel  lay  at  that  port.  His  wife's  maiden 
name  was  Susanna  Vinnicum.  He  left  a  daughter, 
Mary  G.,  who  was  the  mother  of  Mrs.  Nathan  M. 
Wood. 

Nathan  M.  Wood  is  a  Republican  in  politics, 
but  liberal  in  his  ideas  in  political  as  in  all  other 
matters.  He  has  held  various  official  positions,  in- 
cluding nearly  all  the  principal  town  offices,  and  some 
of  them  for  more  than  twenty  years.  He  was  repre- 
sentative to  the  Legislature  in  1875.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Christian  Church,  and  is  also  a  member  of 
Washington  Lodge,  No.  3,  F.  and  A.  M.,  and  Webb 
Council,  Warren,  R.  I.;  Royal  Arch  Chapter,  Fall 
River  ;  and  Cavalry  Commandery,  Knights  Templar, 
Providence,  R.  I. 

He  has  five  children, — Nathan  Howard,  born  Feb. 
15,  1851,  died  in  infancy ;  Abby  Isabel,  born  Nov.  16, 
1854  (married  Hiram  E.  Thurston,  has  one  child, 
Louise,  resides  in  Providence,  R.  I.)  ;  Mary  R.  P., 
born  May  28,  1857  (married  Nathan  Slade,  has  one 
child,  Mary  A.,  resides  in  Somerset)  ;  Angeline  II., 
born  June  30,  1859  (married  Franklin  G.  Arnold,  and 
resides  with  her  parents)  ;  and  Eloise  K.,  born  Aug. 


19,  1861,  and  they  continue  the  business  of  the  farm 
and  mills. 

Mr.  Wood  is  one  of  Swansea's  most  prominent  and 
prosperous  men,  and,  aside  from  his  farming  and  mill- 
ing business,  is  largely  interested  in  a  manufacturng 
business  in  Fall  River. 


MARCUS  A.  BROWX. 
Marcus  Aurelius  Brown,  son  of  William  and  Free- 
love  (Wood)  Brown,  was  born  in  Swansea,  Mass., 
Dec.  19,  1819,  near  what  is  now  Cole's  Station.  He 
comes  from  an  old  New  England  family  of  conse- 
quence in  the  days  of  the  first  settlements.  From 
.old  records  and  historical  documents  we  ascertain 
that  John  Brown,  the  first  of  this  line  of  Browns, 
had  acquaintance  with  the  Pilgrims  in  Leyden,  Hol- 
land, before  the  sailing  of  the  "  Mayflower"  in  1620, 
in  which  vessel  he  probably  was  financially  interested. 
He  was  originally  from  England,  where  he  was  born 
in  1574,  but  we  cannot  definitely  trace  the  family  in 
that  country.  The  exact  year  of  his  coming  to 
America  is  unknown,  but  in  1636  he  was  living  in 
Duxbury,  and  in  1643  in  Taunton.  He  was  a  man  of 
importance  in  public  affairs,  and  one  of  the  leading 
men  of  Plymouth  Colony.  He  was  assistant  for 
seventeen  years  from  1636,  served  as  commissioner  of 
the  United  Colonies  for  twelve  years  from  1644,  and 
died  in  Swansea,  near  Rehoboth,  where  he  had  large 
estates.  Savage  gives  the  date  of  his  death  as  April 
10,  1662,  and  says  that  his  will,  made  three  days  be- 
fore his  death,  provides  for  the  children  left  to  his 
care  by  his  son  John,  and  names  his  wife  Dorothy 
and  son  James  executors.  This  is  doubtless  the  cor- 
rect date  of  his  death,  as  his  wife  Dorothy  died  Jan. 
27,  1673  or  1674,  aged  ninety.  John  Brown2,  born 
1636,  died  in  Rehoboth  in  1660.  He  married  a  daugh- 
ter of  William  Buckland,  and  had  five  children, — 
John?,  Joseph,  Nathaniel,  Lydia,  and  Hannah, — whom 
he  left,  as  above  mentioned,  to  the  care  of  his  father. 
He  was  a  strict  Puritan  and  a  devout  man,  standing 
high  in  community  and  colony  affairs.  John  Broivn3 
was  born  about  1657  in  Rehoboth,  married  Ann  Den- 
nis, of  Norwich,  Conn.,  and  had  two  children, — John'1 
and  Samuel.  He  died  in  1724.  He  was  a  man  of 
positive  nature,  unflinching  in  the  discharge  of  every- 
thing he  deemed  a  duty.  It  is  said  of  him  that  he 
was  so  enraged  at  his  son  (John)  when  he  joined  the 
Baptist  Church  that,  supposing  the  latter's  residence 
to  be  partially  on  his  land,  he  was  going  to  pull  the 
part  to  which  he  laid  claim  away  from  the  other,  thus 
aiming  to  destroy  the  house,  but  a  survey  made  to 
ascertain  the  fact  showed  that  no  portion  of  the  house 
touched  his  land.  Whether  the  tradition  be  true  or 
false,  it  tells  the  character  of  the  men  of  that  perilous 
pioneer  period.  Athletic,  strong-minded,  and  posi- 
tive in  character,  they  were  well  fitted  to  develop 
civilization  from  the  unpromising  and  savage  sur- 
roundings, and  to  contend  ably  with  its  foes.     Among 


W^<lC^Uf     I    /    .  :-J/S*/.'         ' 


SWANSEA. 


677 


these  settlers  the  Browns  were  leaders,  and  their  dif- 
ferent generations  were  prominent  in  chinch  and  local 
matters.  From  1672  to  1692  the  deputy  for  several 
years  was  a  Brown.  John  Brown'  was  born  April  23, 
1675,  in  Swansea,  married  Abigail,  daughter  of  James 
Cole,  July  2,  1696,  and  died  April  23,  1752,  leaving 
at  least  one  son,.  Jo hn:\  The  lands  bequeathed  to  Mrs. 
Brown  by  her  father  were  transmitted  from  their 
purchase  from  the  Indians  to  generation  after  genera- 
tion for  more  than  two  centuries,  and  never  were  con- 
veyed by  deed  until  their  purchase  by  H.  A.  Gardner. 
John"'  was  also  prominent,  held  a  captain's  commis- 
sion, and  was  an  earnest  and  consistent  man.  We 
extract  from  church  records  in  Swansea:  "The 
Church  of  Christ  in  Swansea,  soon  after  December, 
1719,  built  a  new  meeting-house  on  land  given  said 
church  by  Capt.  John  Brown  and  William  Wood  for 
that  purpose."  Lieut.  John  Brown5  was  born  in 
Swansea  in  1700,  married,  in  1722,  Lydia,  daughter 
of  Joseph  Mason.  She  was  born  in  Swansea  in  1704. 
They  had  five  children,  one  of  whom  was  William. 

John  Brown5  was  a  large  farmer,  owning  slaves.  He 
was  well  to  do,  and  was  honored  with  various  offices. 
He  is  recorded  as  Lieut.  John  Brown.  We  extract 
again  from  the  church  records :  "  June  14,  1753, 
James  Brown  was  on  a  committee  to  receive  in  be- 
half of  the  church  a  deed  of  some  land  which  our 
beloved  brother,  John  Brown,  proposes  to  give  to 
said  church  for  its  use  and  benefit  forever."  He  died 
May  18,  1754.     His  wife  died  Feb.  17,  1747. 

William  Brown  (sixth  generation)  was  born  April 
14,  1729,  in  Swansea,  was  a  farmer,  and  much  em- 
ployed in  public  matters ;  he  surveyed  land  for  years, 
settled  many  estates,  was  a  man  of  distinction  and 
ability,  and  much  esteemed  by  his  townsmen.  He 
owned  a  handsome  property  in  land  and  slaves.  He 
married  in  1753,  Lettice,  daughter  of  Hezekiah  Kings- 
ley,  who  was  born  in  1732.  They  had  eight  children, 
— Elizabeth,  married  Edward  Gardiner  (they  were 
grandparents  of  Mrs.  Marcus  A.  Brown) ;  Joseph 
(died  aged  twenty,  a  British  prisoner  on  one  of  the 
terrible  prison-ships)  ;  Luranella,  married  Reuben 
Lewis;  Amy;  Betty,  married  Aaron  Cole;  Mary, 
married  Benjamin  Buttenvorth ;  Sarah,  William-. 
Mr.  Brown  died  in  1805.  His  wife  survived  him  two 
years.  William  Brown,  Jr.  (seventh  generation),  was 
born  on  the  old  home  in  Swansea,  a  short  distance 
south  of  Cole's  Station,  Sept.  13,  1776.  He  was 
reared  a  farmer,  and  inherited  the  entire  landed 
estate  of  his  father  (about  one  hundred  and  forty 
acres).  He  was  an  unassuming,  hard-working  man, 
very  social,  with  a  remarkable  memory  (a  faculty 
possessed  by  many  of  the  family  in  a  large  degree). 
He  could  repeat  whole  chapters  from  the  Bible,  and 
had  no  need  to  refresh  his  memory  of  any  event 
by  memoranda.  He  devoted  himself  to  agriculture  ; 
married  Freelove,  daughter  of  Aaron  and  Freelove 
(Mason)  Wood,  of  Swansea,  in  1799.  She  was  born 
Sept.   28,  1780.     They  had  nine  children   attaining 


mature  years, — Marcia  W.,  Gardner,  Nathan  W., 
Mary  A.,  Samuel,  Aaron,  Mason,  Betsey  (Mrs. 
Charles  B.  Winslow),  and  Marcus  A.  All  are  now 
dead  but  Betsey  and  Marcus.  Nathan,  Gardner,  and 
Samuel  were  seafaring  men.  Gardner  became  cap- 
tain, and  died  in  Swansea,  May,  1848.  The  others 
were  young  men  of  promise,  but  died  young.  Mason 
was  a  farmer,  and  was  a  great  reader.  Of  strong 
memory,  he  was  well  versed  in  historic  and  gene- 
alogic  lore,  and  was  held  in  high  repute  by  the  com- 
munity. He  died  Dec.  9,  1882.  Mr.  William  Browr. 
held  a  high  place  in  the  esteem  of  the  community, 
although  a  plain,  unostentatious  man  of  strongly 
marked  honesty  and  fixed  principles.  He  was  a 
Whig,  but  never  sought  office.  In  religion  he  was 
independent,  rather  skeptical,  but  never  argued  with 
others,  and  considered  every  other  person  entitled  to 
freedom  of  belief  and  action.  He  died  April  8,  1840. 
Mrs.  Brown  died  Nov.  14,  1855.  They,  like  their 
American  ancestors  of  each  generation,  are  buried  in 
the  cemetery  in  North  Swansea. 

Marcus  A.  Brown  (eighth  generation)  stayed  on  the 
farm  until  he  was  twenty-four,  managing  the  farm 
after  his  father's  death,  having  limited  educational 
advantages  at  the  common  schools  in  summer  until 
nine  years  old  and  in  winter  until  fifteen,  the  last 
term  being  at  Warren  Academy.  He  then  learned 
the  mason's  trade  and  worked  at  that  several  years. 
He  then  purchased  a  farm  of  forty  acres  in  Somerset 
and  lived  there  eight  years,  selling  it  after  six  years, 
however.  His  whole  residence  in  Somerset  was  sev- 
enteen years,  following  his  trade  after  giving  up  farm- 
ing. He  passed  two  years  in  Maine,  working  as  a 
mason.  He  married,  Dec.  7,  1847,  Maria  Frances, 
daughter  of  David  and  Sarah  Wilbur.  She  was  born 
in  Warwick,  R.  I.,  July  10,  1828.  Like  her  hus- 
band, Mrs.  Brown  was  the  youngest  of  ten  children. 
Her  paternal  grandparents  were  residents  of  that  part 
of  Swansea  now  Somerset,  and  resided  about  one  mile 
west  of  the  village.  Their  children  were  James,  Ruth, 
Phebe,  Peleg,  Chloe,  Patience,  Polly,  Thomas,  and 
J>>iri<l.  David  Wilbur  was  a  machinist,  married  Sarah, 
daughter  of  Edward  and  Elizabeth  Gardner,  and 
had  ten  children, — Sarah  G.  (Mrs.  Charles  F.  Brown), 
Harriet  G.,  David  G.,  Thomas  B.,  Peleg  N.,  Caroline 
A.,  and  Maria  F.  Mr.  Wilbur  lived  in  Pawtuxet, 
R.  I.,  and  died  in  1837,  aged  fifty-three.  His  wife 
died  in  1856,  aged  seventy-two.  The  children  of 
this  marriage  are  Marion  F.  (born  Sept.  14,  1848, 
married  Daniel  Wilbur,  Jr.,  and  has  one  child,  Ber- 
tha F.)  and  Clarence  A.,  born  June  3,  1850.  He  mar- 
ried Emma  L.  Frost,  and  has  one  child,  Marcus  R. 

Mr.  Brown  removed  to  Fall  River  in  1866,  and  has 
since  resided  in  the  house  he  then  purchased.  He 
worked  steadily  and  faithfully  at  his  trade  until  com- 
pelled by  failing  health  to  relinquish  it  in  1873.  He 
is  an  honest,  modest  man  ;  has  held  the  even  tenor  of 
an  industrious,  hard-working  life,  and  is  a  law-abiding 
citizen,  caring  not  for  nor  meddling  with  official  hon- 


678 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


ors,  supporting,  however,  the  Whig  and  Republican 
tickets.  He  has  been  successful  in  business  and  en- 
joys the  esteem  of  his  acquaintance,  and  has  ever 
been  a  useful  member  of  society.    ■ 


STEPHEN    WEAVER. 

Stephen  Weaver  was  born  Dec.  9,  1826,  in  Mid- 
dletown,  R.  I.  He  was  son  of  Parker  and  Lydia 
(Manchester)  Weaver.  Matthew  Weaver,  father  of 
Parker  Weaver,  was  a  farmer  in  his  native  town, 
Middletown,  where  he  lived  to  be  quite  old,  dying 
about  1830.  Parker  was  a  farmer  also,  and  quite  a 
successful  and  active  man.  He  was  an  industrious, 
earnest,  honest  man,  strictly  temperate  in  all  things, 
and  noted  for  purity  and  strength  of  character.  He 
was  prompt  and  reliable  in  business,  of  active,  per- 
severing nature,  calm  and  deliberate  in  matters  of 
judgment.  He  attended  closely  to  his  own  personal 
matters,  never  aspiring  to  office,  but  avoiding  every- 
thing savoring  of  publicity.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Christian  Baptist  Church,  which  he  worthily  honored 
until  his  death,  March,  1870,  at  eighty-three  years. 

Stephen  attended  common  and  select  schools  in 
Middletown,  studied  much  at  home,  and  when  but 
nineteen  was  competent  to  teach,  which  he  did  for 
thirteen  years  with  marked  success.  He  studied 
hard  while  teaching,  improving  himself  greatly  while 
advancing  others.  The  relation  of  a  fact  to  illustrate 
the  filial  love  and  justice  of  Mr.  Weaver  may  not  be 
deemed  out  of  place  here.  When  he  was  young  his 
father  owned  a  large  farm,  but  became  financially 
embarrassed.  Stephen,  in  order  to  assist  his  father, 
worked  on  the  farm  during  summer,  and  gave  his 
labor  without  charge  towards  the  clearance  of  the  in- 
debtedness, clothing  himself  by  his  wages  as  teacher 
in  the  winter,  continuing  to  do  this  until  his  twenty- 
fourth  year.  He  married  Ruth  A.,  daughter  of  Bar- 
zillia  and  Ruth  (Chase)  Buffinton,  of  Swansea,  Nov. 
3, 1850.  She  was  born  April  8, 1830.  Their  children 
are  Anna  A.,  born  March  1,  1854,  married  Rowland 
G.  Buffinton,  had  one  child,  Wallace  W.,  and  died 
May  7,  1877  ;  Emma  B.,  born  Jan.  8,  1856,  married 
Thomas  H.  Buffinton,  has  one  child,  Mabel  L. ;  Ar- 
thur W.,  born  June  9,  1859,  married  Laura  R.  Peck; 
Lillian  F.,  born  Sept.  29,  1869. 

Immediately  upon  his  marriage  Mr.  Weaver  rented 
a  cottage  near  his  father's  residence,  and  for  three 
years  worked  on  the  farm,  teaching  school  during  the 
winter  seasons.  He  then  rented  a  farm  for  himself 
and  worked  that  two  years,  and  discontinued  it  for 
one  year  on  account  of  the  failing  health  of  his  wife, 
he  working  out  by  the  month.  He  then  removed  to 
Somerset,  where  he  rented  a  farm  and  remained  thir- 
teen years.  By  industry  and  economy  he  accumu- 
lated some  money,  and,  in  partnership  with  his  wife's 
father,  purchased  a  farm  and  mill  in  Swansea,  con- 
tinuing there  only  eighteen  months.  By  reason  of  ill 
health  he  was  compelled  to  relinquish  labor,  and  sell- 


ing out  his  share  of  the  mill,  he  went  and  resided 
with  Mr.  Buffinton.  Mr.  Weaver  suffered  from  severe 
nervous  prostration  for  two  years,  and  was  much 
broken  in  health,  but  finally  fully  regained  his  health, 
when  he  succeeded  to  the  management  and  possession 
of  the  farm  of  Mr.  Buffinton.  On  this  he  has  made 
valuable  improvements,  erected  a  splendid  barn,  and 
made  it  one  of  the  best-arranged  farms  in  the  town. 
He  is  a  pushing,  energetic  man  of  enterprise  and 
thought.  While  agriculture  has  been  his  avocation, 
he  has  kept  apace  with  the  thinking  minds  of  the 
day,  and  grapples  with  the  most  advanced  ideas.  He 
is  well  read  and  thoroughly  informed,  not  only  in  the 
events  of  the  day,  but  in  the  practical  and  useful  im- 
provements in  his  life-work,  agriculture.  He  culti- 
vates about  eighty  acres  of  land,  and  in  addition  has 
thirty  acres  of  woodland,  and  is  one  of  the  substan- 
tial citizens  of  Swansea. 

Barzillai  Buffinton  was  born  in  Swansea  in  1798, 
and  was  son  of  Job  and  Phebe  (Chase)  Buffinton. 
He  was  a  farmer  and  peddler  of  earthenware.  He 
was  a  hard-working  and  self-denying  man,  and  accu- 
mulated a  fine  property.  He  married  Ruth,  daugh- 
ter of  James  and  Rebecca  (Mott)  Pierce,  of  Somerset. 
They  had  five  children, — Amanda  M.  (deceased), 
married  William  Richardson,  of  Newport,  R.  I.,  had 
one  child  ;  Job  (deceased)  ;  Rachel  P.,  married  Ben- 
jamin A.  Chace,  has  two  children  ;  Philip,  has  two 
children,  and  lives  in  Warren,  R.  I.  ;  and  Ruth  (Mrs. 
Stephen  Weaver).  Mr.  Buffinton  and  wife  began 
housekeeping  at  Somerset  village,  but  finally  pur- 
chased the  place  now  occupied  by  Mr.  Weaver,  and 
removing  thither,  passed  his  life  there,  dying  May  7, 
1879,  aged  eighty-three.  He  was  a  birthright  Friend, 
and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Weaver  are  members  of  the  same 
society.  He  was  a  selectman  for  many  years,  and 
held  other  positions  of  public  trust.  He  was  a  calm, 
deliberate,  reserved  man  of  few  words,  but  good  judg- 
ment and  great  decision  of  character.  Possessing  a 
robust  constitution,  he  enjoyed  labor  and  worked 
hard.  He  was  a  man  of  great  exactness  in  money 
matters,  paying  for  all  things  on  the  spot  and  never 
running  a  bill.  He  made  deposits  in  the  Fall  River 
Savings-Bank  for  and  in  the  name  of  each  of  his 
children,  and  although  precise  and  accurate  in  finan- 
cial transactions,  desiring  every  dollar  due  him,  such 
was  his  justice  in  his  dealings  with  others  as  to  give 
him  the  reputation  of  possessing  strict  honesty  and 
integrity. 


CHAPTER    LVI. 

WESTPORT.1 


Westport  lies  in  the  southwestern  part  of  Bristol 
County,  and  is  bounded  as  follows:  Northerly  by  the 
city  of  Fall  River,  easterly  by  the  ancient  and  time- 

1  For  the  Revolutionary  and  ancient  history  of  this  town  the  reader 
is  referred  to  the  history  of  Dartmouth  and  New  Bedford,  elsewhere  iu 
this  history. 


%^2 


/^^z^^ 


WESTPORT. 


6T9 


honored  town  of  Dartmouth,  southerly  by  Buzzard's 
Bay,  and  westerly  by  the  towns  of  Tiverton  and  Little 
Compton  in  the  State  of  Rhode  Island. 

The  territory  embraced  within  the  bounds  of  the 
present  town  of  Westport  formed  a  portion  of  the  old 
town  of  Dartmouth  until  1787,  when  it  was  incor- 
porated as  a  separate  town  under  its  present  name. 

The  Indian  name  of  the  town  was  Acoaxet,  and  it 
was  early  settled  by  a  hardy,  industrious,  and  intelli- 
gent class,  who  have  left  the  impress  of  the  sterling 
New  England  character  upon  their  descendants. 

The  original  bounds  of  Westport  have  been  enlarged 
by  the  addition  of  a  portion  from  Dartmouth  Feb.  25, 
1798,  and  still  another  addition  from  the  same  town 
March  4,  1805,  and  a  part  of  Portsmouth,  R.  I.,  was 
also  annexed  in  1801. 

Documentary  History.— The  following  is  a  record 
of  the  first  town-meeting,  with  names  of  officers 
elected,  together  with  other  interesting  votes,  among 
which  appear  the  votes  concerning  the  location  and 
building  of  the  first  town-house,  which  seemed  to 
have  given  the  good  j>eople  of  the  town  considerable 
vexation : 

"  In  compliance  with  a  Warrant  issued  from  Benja- 
min Russel,  Esq.,  Directing  William  Almy  to  Notify 
and  warn  the  inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Westport  to 
meet  Together  at  some  suitable  place  in  said  Town  to 
choose  all  such  Town  Officers  as  Towns  are  required 
to  choose  at  their  annual  Town-meetings  in  the 
month  of  March  or  April  annually,  and  a  Committee 
to  settle  with  the  Towns  of  Dartmouth  and  New  Bed- 
ford agreeable  to  a  late  act  of  the  General  Court,  for 
incorporating  said  Town  of  Westport. 

"  The  inhabitants  of  said  Town  of  Westport  who 
were  qualified  by  law  to  vote,  being  legally  Notified 
and  Warned  by  the  said  William  Almy,  assembled 
at  the  Dwelling  house  of  William  Gifford,  in  said 
Westport,  on  Monday  the  Twentieth  day  of  August, 
1787,  at  ten  of  the  clock,  a.m. 

"And  proceeded  agreeable  to  the  directions  of  said 
warrant. 

"  1.  William  Almy  was  chosen  Moderator  of  said 
meeting. 

"  2.  Abner  Brownell  was  chosen  Town  Clerk  for  the 
year  ensuing,  and  was  duly  sworn  by  William  Davis, 
Justice  Pacis,  to  authorize  him  to  officiate  in  said 
office. 

"3.  William  Almy,  Richard  Kirby,  and  Edward 
Borden  were  chosen  Select  Men  for  the  year  ensuing, 
and  took  and  subscribed  the  Oath  of  Allegiance  to 
authorize  them  to  officiate  in  said  office.  Before  me 
Abner  Brownell,  Town  Clerk. 

"  4.  Richard  Kirby  was  chosen  an  Assessor  for  the 
year  ensuing,  and  was  duly  sworn,  to  authorize  him 
to  officiate  in  said  office.  Before  me,  Abner  Brownell, 
Town  Clerk. 

"  5.  Thomas  Tripp,  Stephen  Cornell,  and  Pardon 
Brownell  were  chosen  fence-viewers  for  the  year  en- 
suing, and  were  duly  engaged  to  authorize  them  to 


officiate  in  said  office.     Before  me,  Abner  Brownell, 
Town  Clerk. 

"  Abner  Brownell  was  chosen  Town  Treasurer  for 
the  year  ensuing,  and  was  duly  sworn  to  authorize 
him  to  officiate  in  said  office.  By  William  Davis, 
Justice  Pacis. 

"  7.  Stephen  Davis  Carpenter  and  Barjonas  Devol 
were  chosen  Surveyors  of  lumber  for  the  year  ensuing, 
and  were  duly  engaged  to  authorize  them  to  officiate 
in  said  office.  Before  me,  Abner  Brownell,  Town 
Clerk. 

"  8.  Thomas  Tripp  and  Stephen  Cornell  were  chosen 
Field  Drivers  for  the  year  ensuing. 

"  9.  Nathaniel  Kirby  was  chosen  Pound-keeper  for 
the  year  ensuing. 

"  10.  Benjamin  Brownell,  Sen.,  was  chosen  Sealer 
of  Weights  and  measures  for  the  year  ensuing. 

"  11.  Benjamin  Cory  was  chosen  sealer  of  Leather 
for  the  year  ensuing. 

"  12.  Abner  Brownell  was  chosen  warden  for  the 
year  ensuing. 

"  13.  Caleb  Earl  and  Edward  Boomer  were  chosen 
Tithingmen  for  the  year  ensuing. 

"  14.  Stephen  Davis,  Carpenter,  and  Barjonas  De- 
voll  were  chosen  measurers  of  wood  for  the  year  en- 
suing. 

"15.  George  Tripp  (2d)  and  William  Almy  were 
chosen  Hog  Reeves  for  the  year  ensuing. 

"  16.  Benjamin  Davis,  Innkeeper,  Israel  Bright- 
man,  Jonathan  Davis,  Wanton  Case,  Jonathan  Taber, 
Capt.  Sylvanus  White,  George  Lawton,  Job  Almy, 
Pardon  Brownell,  Samuel  Willcox,  Peleg  Cornell, 
Junr.,  and  Lemuel  Milk  were  chosen  Surveyors  of 
Highways  for  the  year  ensuing. 

"  17.  It  was  voted  to  have  three  men  chosen  for  a 
committee  to  settle  with  Dartmouth  and  New  Bedford 
agreeable  to  the  Act  of  Incorporation  of  said  Town  of 
Westport. 

"  18.  Stephen  Peckham,  Wesson  Kirby,  and  Wil- 
liam Davis,  Esq.,  were  chosen  said  Committee. 

"  19.  Lastly  it  was  voted  for  this  meeting  to  be  ad- 
journed to  Thursday  Sept.  20,  1787,  at  one  of  the 
Clock  p.m.  to  be  holden  at  the  dwelling  house  of 
Joseph  Gifford,  Inn-keeper." 

"In  compliance  with  a  Warrant  Issued  from  the 
Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Westport,  Requiring  any 
or  either  of  the  Constables  of  said  Town  to  notify  and 
warn  the  inhabitants  thereof  to  meet  at  the  dwelling 
house  of  William  Gifford  in  said  Town  on  Thursday, 
Novbr  22,  1787,  at  ten  of  the  clock  a.m.  for  the  pur- 
pose of  choosing  a  Delegate,  Agreeable  to  a  late  Re- 
solve of  the  General  Court,  to  Represent  this  town  in 
the  Convention  to  be  holden  at  the  State  House  in 
Boston,  the  second  Wednesday  of  January  next,  1788, 
for  the  purpose  of  Assenting  to,  and  Ratifying  the 
Constitution  of  the  United  States,  as  proposed  by  the 
Federal  Convention  lately  assembled  at  Philadelphia. 

"The  inhabitants  of  said  town  of  Westport  who 
are  qualified  by  law  to  vote  for  Representative,  being 


680 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


legally  Notified  and  Warned  by  Benjamin  Cory  one 
of  the  Constables  of  this  Town  Assembled  on  Thurs- 
day Novbr  22,  1787,  at  the  Dwelling  House  of  Wil- 
liam Giffbrd  at  ten  of  the  clock  a.m.  And  proceeded 
agreeable  to  the  directions  of  said  warrant, — 

"  1.  Job  Almy  was  chosen  Moderator  for  said  meet- 
ing. 

"  2.  William  Almy  was  chosen  a  Delegate  to  Repre- 
sent this  Town  in  Convention  at  the  State  House  in 
Boston  on  the  second  Wednesday  of  January  next, 
1788,  for  the  purpose  aforesaid." 

"At  a  Town  meeting  held  on  Monday  the  7th  day 
of  April,  1788. 

"  14.  The  Article  was  taken  up  Respecting  the 
building  of  a  Town  House  or  not,  and  it  passed  in 
the  Affirmative.  Nextly  it  was  Motioned  to  choose  a 
Committee  to  look  and  enquire  for  the  best  accommo- 
dations for  a  place  to  set  it  and  to  make  report  thereof 
to  the  next  Town  Meeting.  Also  a  vote  was  called 
how  many  the  Committee  should  consist  of,  and  it 
was  voted  to  have  three  upon  the  committee.  And 
William  Almy,  Wesson  Kirby,  &  Edward  Borden 
were  Nominated  to  be  of  the  Committee,  and  they 
were  Chosen  and  were  to  make  report  of  their  doings 
to  the  next  town  meeting. 

"  15.  The  Article  was  taken  up  Respecting  the 
Regulating  of  the  Fishery  and  a  vote  was  called 
whether  the  Town  would  Tolerate  the  inhabitants 
thereof  to  proceed  in  the  method  of  Seining  fish,  or 
not,  &  it  passed  in  the  Affirmative. 

"  Lastly  the  meeting  was  adjourned  to  the  second 
Monday  of  May  next  following  to  meet  at  the  same 
house  at  ten  of  the  Clock  a.m." 

"Agreeable  to  an  adjournment  of  the  meeting  of 
the  7th  of  April  last  past  that  was  adjourned  to  this 
day  &  house  (viz.:)  to  the  2nd  Monday  of  May,  1788, 
at  10  O'Clock  a.m.  at  the  House  of  Joseph  Giftbrd. 

"Voted  to  allow  those  accounts  brought  against 
this  Town,  viz. :  To  Mr.  Stokes  Potter,  for  keeping 
Job  Potter  from  the  2d  of  July,  1787,  to  May  16, 
1788,  forty-five  weeks  and  four  days,  at  5/  6d.  pr. 
week,  twelve  pounds,  ten  shillings,  and  Id.  To  Susa 
Dick,  for  keeping  Hannah  Simon  (a  Black  Woman  j 
from  July  2,  1787,  to  November  1,  1787,  Seventeen 
Weeks  and  an  half,  at  3/  pr  Week,  and  from  Novem- 
ber 1,  1787,  to  January  14,  1788,  ten  weeks  and  two 
days,  at  6/  pr  week,  Total  five  pounds  fourteen  shil- 
lings and  sixpence.  To  Abiel  Macomber,  for  keep- 
ing Ann  Worgin  when  Sick,  from  Jan.  28,  1788,  four 
weeks,  viz.,  one  week  at  12/,  next  at  9/  Do.,  at  5/,  and 
Do.  at  2/,  Total  £1  8/.  To  Edward  Borden,  for  some 
provisions  for  the  use  of  Ann  Worgin,  6/. 

"  To  William  Almy,  for  Funeral  Cloths  for  Han- 
nah Simon,  Jan.,  1788,  viz. :  to  1  sheet,  7/  6c/. ;  one 
shift,  6/;  one  cap,  1/;  one  handkerchief,  1/  6d. ;  to 
Cash  paid  Saml.  Fales,  Esq.,  for  a  Warrant,  &c,  1/ ; 
Total,  17/. 

"To  Levy  Sherman,  for  a  Coffin  for  Hannah 
Simon,  8/. 


"  The  Sum  total  of  the  above  Said  Accts.  is 
£21  4/  Id. 

"  Voted  that  the  Town  Clerk  Certify  upon  the 
Accts.  allowed  by  the  town  when  the  allowance 
thereof  is,  and  Record  the  same;  and  that  the  Town 
Treasurer  be  directed  to  issue  to  such  possessors  of 
accts.  allowed,  as  shall  apply  for  the  same,  a  certifi- 
cate or  certificates,  in  Lieu  of  such  accts.,  which  cer- 
tificates shall  be  received  in  payment  by  the  Town 
Treasurer  for  any  Town  Tax  not  all  payed  in  at  the 
time  of  the  date  of  the  Certificate,  equal  to  the  same 
sum  in  Gold  and  Silver. 

"A  further  proceeding  upon  the  article  respecting 
the  building  of  a  Town  House,  and  it  was  motioned 
that  the  committee,  which  was  chosen  for  the  pur- 
pose of  enquiring  for  the  best  accommodations  for  a 
place  to  erect  the  Town  House  should  be  called  upon 
to  make  a  report.  The  Committee  being  called  upon, 
reported  that  at  Stephen  Kirby's,  Northwest  corner  of 
his  Land  adjoining  the  Road,  was  the  best  place ; 
and  the  town  to  receive  of  the  said  Stephen  Kirby 
four  rods  of  land  each  way, — that  is,  Sixteen  Square 
Rods,  upon  the  condition  of  his  being  exempted 
from  paying  his  proportion  of  the  expense  of  build- 
ing said  Town  house. 

"Voted  that  the  Town  house  be  erected  at  the 
place  above  mentioned  on  the  said  condition  with 
Stephen  Kirby. 

"Motioned  that  a  Committee  be  chosen  for  the 
purpose  of  building  said  house,  and  George  Lawton, 
Wesson  Kirby,  and  William  Hicks  were  chosen. 

"  Voted  that  the  Committee  be  impowered  to  con- 
duct as  they  think  proper,  in  preparing  Materials  for 
said  house,  and  in  the  method  and  order  of  erecting 
it,  having  regard  to  the  manner  of  doing  of  it,  so 
that  the  inhabitants  of  said  town,  in  things  they  re- 
ceive of  them,  may  be  as  justly  proportioned,  according 
to  the  circumstances  of  the  Town,  and  apprized  by 
the  said  committee  in  as  near  an  equality  as  they  can 
come  at  it;  also  voted  that  the  committee  be  impow- 
ered, if  in  case  the  aforesaid  quantity  of  land  should 
not  be  enough  for  the  use  of  said  town  for  the  pur- 
pose of  a  Town  house  Lot  (in  their  opinion),  that 
they  purchase  as  much  more  as  will  be  sufficient. 

"At  a  town-meeting  held  Aug.  2,  1788,  acting  on 
the  following  article  of  the  warrant,  viz.:  1st.  To 
take  into  consideration  the  expediency  of  reconsider- 
ing the  former  vote  of  said  Town  respecting  the  place 
of  building  a  Town  House,  and  if  thought  proper  by 
said  town,  to  agree  on  a  more  suitable  place  for  the 
above  said  purpose,  or  otherwise,  for  the  town  to  act 
and  do  what  shall  be  thought  most  proper  respecting 
said  building. 

"The  matter  respecting  a  place  for  building  a 
Town-house  was  taken  up  and  a  vote  was  called 
whether  the  Town  would  reconsider  a  former  vote 
(which  was  for  erecting  said  house  at  the  Northwest 
corner  of  Stephen  Kirby's  land)  or  not,  and  it  passed 
in  the  affirmative. 


WESTPORT. 


681 


"  A  vote  was  called  whether  said  house  should  be 
erected  at  Stephen  Kirby's,  Southwest  corner  of  his 
land,  or  at  the  Northwest  corner  of  William  Gifford's 
land,  and  it  passed  to  have  it  erected  at  William 
Gifford's. 

"Voted  that  the  Committee  first  chosen  for  build- 
ing said  house,  viz.,  Capt.  William  Hicks,  Wesson 
Kirby,  and  George  Lawton,  be  further  impowered  to 
proceed  therein  agreeable  to  the  last  vote  for  said 
house,  and  according  to  the  former  instruction. 

"  At  a  town-meeting  held  at  the  house  of  Wesson 
Kirby,  Sept,  6,  1788, 

"  A  vote  was  called  whether  the  Town  would  re- 
consider the  former  vote  passed  for  building  a  Town 
House  at  the  Northwest  corner  of  William  Gifford's 
land  or  not,  and  it  passed  in  the  negative  not  to  re- 
consider it,  53  voting  for  and  63  against  reconsider- 
ing of  it. 

"  Voted  that  the  Committee  for  building  said  Town 
House,  viz.,  Capt.  William  Hicks,  Wesson  Kirby, 
and  George  Lawton,  be  further  instructed  to  proceed 
in  building  said  house,  so  far  as  to  inclose  it  Conve- 
nient &  Sufficient  for  holding  the  next  Annual  Town 
Meeting  in  March  or  April,  1789,  if  possible. 

"  At  a  town-meeting  held  at  the  house  of  Wesson 
Kirby  on  Monday,  Oct.  13,  1788, 

"  Voted  for  the  town  to  purchase  two  Eods  each  way 
of  land  of  Ichabod  Potter  in  the  Southeast  corner  of 
his  home  farm,  and  give  him  Six  Dollars  for  the  same. 

"  Voted  to  reconsider  the  former  vote  of  said  Town 
for  building  a  Town  House  at  the  Northwest  corner 
of  William  Gifford's,  and  to  build  it  at  said  Southeast 
corner  of  Ichabod  Potter's  land. 

"  Voted  that  the  Committee  chosen  for  building 
said  house  be  directed  to  build  it  at  this  place,  agree- 
able to  the  former  instructions. 

"  The  town-house  was  accordingly  built  at  the  last- 
named  place,  and  was  so  far  completed  that  a  town- 
meeting  was  held  therein  for  the  first  time  on  the 
sixth  day  of  April,  1789.  This  house  is  the  one  now 
in  use  by  the  town.  The  committee  were  paid  for 
their  service  and  attendance  in  building  the  house  at 
the  rate  of  3/  per  day  each.  The  workmen  were  paid 
4/  per  day  each.  The  timber  and  plank,  which  was 
mostly  of  oak,  was  purchased  of  twenty-five  different 
persons,  and  ten  other  persons  furnished  shingles  in 
quantities  of  from  250  to  519  shingles ;  and  the  nails, 
which  were  made  by  hand,  were  furnished  by  seven 
different  persons.  The  total  expense  of  the  house  for 
materials  and  labor,  so  far  as  finished  to  May  13, 
1789,  was  t:30  1/  5</." 

Deed  of  Stephen  Neck.— The  following  is  a  copy 
of  the  Indian  deed  to  Stephen  Neck,  contributed  by 
G.  Frederic  Davis : 

"  To  all  people  to  whom  these  presents  shall  come, 
Jonotus,  Sam  Parachus,  and  Sue  Codomoch,  sister  to 
said  Jonotus,  Indians  of  the  town  of  Little  Compton, 
in  the  county  of  Bristol,  in  New  England,  sendeth 
greeting : 


"Know  Ye,  that  we  the  said  Jonotus,  Sam  Para- 
chus, and  Sue  Codomoch,  for  and  in  consideration  of 
the  full  and  just  sum  of  One  Hundred  and  Twenty 
Pounds  of  current  lawful  money  in  New  England 
aforesaid,  to  us  in  hand  paid  before  the  sealing  and 
delivering  of  these  presents  by  Capt.  William  South- 
worth,  of  Little  Compton  aforesaid,  and  John  Rogers, 
some  time  an  inhabitant  of  Boston,  in  New  England, 
and  now  in  said  Little  Compton,  of  which  said  sum 
of  One  Hundred  and  Twenty  Pounds  we  the  said 
Jonotus,  Sam  Parachus,  and  Sue  Codomoch  do  own 
the  receipt  of,  and  thereof  and  every  part  and  parcel 
thereof  acquit,  exonerate,  and  discharge  the  said 
Wm.  Southworth,  John  Rogers,  them,  and  their,  and 
either  of  their  heirs,  Executors,  and  Administrators 
forever,  by  these  presents  have  given,  granted,  bar- 
gained, and  sold,  alienated  and  enfeoffed,  confirmed, 
and  by  these  presents  do  freely  and  absolutely  give, 
grant,  bargain,  sell,  alien,  enfeoff,  and  confirm  from 
us,  the  said  Jonotus,  Sam  Parachus,  and  Sue  Codo- 
moch, our  heirs,  and  each  of  our  heirs,  unto  Win. 
Southworth  and  John  Rogers,  their  heirs  and  each  of 
their  heirs  and  assigns  forever,  a  certain  Neck  of 
Land.  Said  Neck  lyeing  and  being  in  the  township 
of  Little  Compton  aforesaid,  and  in  that  part  of  the 
town  called  Coxit,  commonly  called  and  known  by 
the  name  of  Stephen's  Neck.  Bounded  as  followeth, 
viz.  : 

"On  the  North  side  or  end  partly  by  the  lands  of 
Isaac,  an  Indian  preacher,  now  deceased,  and  partly 
by  a  straight  line  drawn  from  the  South  East  corner 
bounds  of  said  Isaac's  land.  Eastly  by  a  shag  wood 
tree,  and  from  said  snag  wood  tree  bounded  on  the 
East  side  by  a  strait  line  running  southerly  to  the 
South  West  corner  of  a  great  rock  that  lieth  about 
two  rods  Eastward  of  a  little  brook,  the  bounds  of  a 
parcel  of  medow  land  formerly  sold  by  Mamanuah 
unto  Capt.  Wm.  Southworth  and  Wm.  Soale,  as  may 
appear  by  a  deed  under  the  hand  and  seal  of  the  said 
Mamanuah,  bearing  date  April  2,  1694,  and  then 
bounded  by  said  brook  on  the  East  side  of  the  brook 
until  said  brook  falls  into  the  pond  called  Coceast, 
and  then  bounded  on  the  East  side  of  said  pond  to 
the  place  where  said  pond  runs  into  the  sea.  Bounded 
on  the  West  side  from  the  said  Isaac's  South  West 
corner,  bound  Southerly  by  the  bounds  that  were 
formerly  the  land  of  Peter  Quashim,  until  it  comes  to 
a  pond  called  by  the  Indians  Nonoqueshago,  and 
then  said  pond  to  be  the  Bound  on  the  West  side  un- 
till  it  comes  to  the  place  where  said  pond  runs  into 
the  sea.  The  sea  being  the  bound  on  the  South  side 
or  end  of  said  Neck,  containing  about  Three  Hun- 
dred acres  of  land,  be  it  more  or  less,  with  all  the 
singular,  the  privileges,  and  appuranenses  thereunto 
belonging  in  Little  Compton  aforesaid,  called  Ste- 
phen's Neck,  with  all  and  singular  the  privileges  and 
appurtanenses  thereunto  belonging,  as  it  is  herein 
before  butted  and  bounded  unto  the  said  Wm.  South- 
worth  and  John   Rogers,  they  and  either  of  them, 


682 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


their  and  either  of  their  executors,  assigns  forever, 
to  the  only  proper  use  and  behoof  of  them  their  heirs 
and  assigns  forever,  free  and  clear,  clearly  acquitted 
of  and  from  all  other  and  former  grants,  bargains, 
sales,  leases,  mortgages,  dowers,  intangles,  aliena- 
tions whatsoever  made,  committed,  or  done  by  us  the 
said  Jonotus,  Sam  Parachus,  Sue  Codomock,  or  any 
of  us  or  our  heirs,  or  any  of  our  heirs  or  assigns 
whatsoever,  and  that  it  shall  and  may  be  lawful,  by 
virtue  of  these  presents,  to  and  for  the  said  Wm. 
Southworth  and  John  Rogers,  and  either  of  their 
heirs,  executors,  administrators,  or  assigns,  and  every 
of  them  from  time  to  time,  and  at  all  times  forever 
hereafter  freely,  peacably,  and  quietly  to  take  and 
possess,  occupy,  use,  and  enjoy  before  bargained 
premises  without  any  lawful  suit,  trouble  or  denial, 
interruption,  eviction,  or  disturbance  of  us  or  any 
of  us,  the  said  Jonotus,  Sam  Parachus,  and  Sue  Cod- 
omock, or  any  of  our  heirs  or  executors  or  assigns 
whatsoever,  and  that  we  the  said  Jonotus,  Sam 
Parachus,  and  Sue  Codomock  do  own  and  affirm  to 
be  the  true  proprietors  and  lawful  possessors  of  the 
above  Neck  of  land,  and  for  the  confirmation  of  the 
sale  thereof,  in  manner  and  form  above  expressed,  we 
the  said  Jonotus,  Sam  Parachus,  and  Sue  Codomock 
have  to  these  presents  set  our  hands  and  seals  this 
6th  day  of  April,  Anno  Domini  One  Thousand  seven 
Hundred,  in  the  twelfth  year  of  the  reign  of  William 
the  Third  of  England,  Scotland,  France,  and  Ireland, 
King. 

"  Signed,  sealed,  and  delivered  in  the  presence  of 
us  witnesses, 

"  John  Coe, 
"William  Pabodie,  Jr. 
"  Bristol,  ss.,  April  9,  1700.  The  above-men- 
tioned Jonotus,  Sam  Parachus,  Sue  Codomock  ap- 
peared before  me,  the  subscriber,  one  of  his  majesty's 
Justice  of  Peace  for  said  county,  and  acknowledged 
the  above  written  instrument  to  be  their  own  free  act 
and  deed. 

"  Thomas  Leonard. 
"  The  mark  of  Jonotus  and  a  [seal] 

"  The  mark  of  Sam  Parachus  and  a        [seal] 
"  The  mark  of  Sue  Codomock  and  a       [seal] 
"  Entered  April  the  11th  by  John  Cory,  Recorder. 
"  Bristol,  ss.,  11th.    May  12, 1703,  then  taken  out 
of  the   record    for   said  county  and  is   a  true  copy 
thereof. 

"Attest,  John  Cory,  Recorder." 

At  the  south  end  of  the  town  of  Westport  lies  a 
small  harbor,  at  the  mouth  of  Westport  River,  "for- 
tunate in  the  natural  position  of  its  boundaries,"  and 
favorable  for  a  good  harbor,  so  situated  that  one  of 
the  boundaries  of  the  harbor  laps  by  the  other  so  as 
to  completely  mislead  one  as  to  the  entrance  thereto. 
So  complete  is  the  deception  that  during  the  Revo- 
lutionary war  it  gained  the  name  of  the  "  Devil's 
Pocket-Hole,"  as  vessels  acquainted  could  enter,  sail 
up  the  river  a  short  distance,  and  drop  their  sails  at 


the  wharves  of  Westport  Point,  where  only  the  masts 
could  be  seen,  but  no  manner  of  admittance  thereto; 
and  such  was  the  anger  of  the  Britishers  at  being  thus 
foiled  of  their  prey  that  they,  after  cruising  back  and 
forth,  in  wrath  would  open  fire  upon  the  hamlets 
lying  along  the  shore,  and  during  one  of  these  flurries 
the  south  side  of  the  present  dwelling  of  G.  Frederic 
Davis  was  carried  away  by  a  shell  from  a  vessel  lying 
about  half  a  mile  off  the  shore,  marks  of  which  the 
ancient  building  carried  till  thoroughly  renovated  a 
few  years  since. 

Militia. — From  1664  until  1787,  a  period  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty-three  years,  the  local  militia  of 
that  section  of  country  now  Westport  formed  a  part 
of  the  military  forces  of  Dartmouth,  which  forces 
were,  in  1667,  by  the  Colonial  Court  ordered  to  sub- 
mit to  the  orders  of  Sergt.  James  Shaw  and  Arthur 
Hatherway,  who  by  the  authority  of  the  said  court 
were  appointed  to  exercise  the  men  in  arms  in  the 
town  of  Dartmouth.  About  six  years  later,  viz., 
March  4,  1673,  John  Smith  was  appointed  and  com- 
missioned lieutenant  commandant  of  all  the  local 
militia  of  Dartmouth,  and  consequently  of  those  re- 
siding within  the  limits  of  what  subsequently  became 
Westport.  Lieut.  Smith's  subordinate  officer  was 
Jacob  Mitchell,  who  was  commissioned  ensign-bearer. 

It  is  extremely  difficult,  and  in  some  cases  impos- 
sible, to  learn  who  were  the  military  leaders,  the 
"Train  Band  Captains"  of  the  local  militia  of  the 
different  towns,  as  very  meagre  records  of  these  ap- 
pear in  the  public  archives  in  the  office  of  the  Secre- 
tary of  State  in  Boston,  and  these  are  particularly 
deficient  for  the  century  commencing  at  the  date 
when  the  colonies  of  Massachusetts  Bay  in  New  Eng- 
land and  that  of  New  Plymouth,  now  called  Old 
Colony,  were  united.  Indeed  it  was  not  until  the 
adoption  of  a  State  Constitution,  near  the  close  of  the 
war  of  the  American  Revolution,  that  order  came  out 
of  confusion,  system  and  care  succeeded  irregularity 
and  neglect,  and  the  military  history  of  each  town 
can  be  definitely  and  easily  traced  in  the  offices  of 
the  Secretary  of  State  and  Adjutant-General  in  Bos- 
ton. 

While  the  French  and  Indian  war  was  progressing, 
Zacheus  Tobey  and  Ebenezer  Willis  were  captains  of 
Dartmouth  militia.  Capt.  Tobey  was  promoted  to 
major  of  the  Second  Regiment  in  1762,  and  Capt. 
Willis  was  promoted  to  major  of  the  same  regiment 
in  or  about  1771,  and  discharged  Sept.  19,  1775. 

As  early  as  1762,  the  militia  of  old  or  original  Dart- 
mouth had  become  so  numerous  as  to  be  divided  into 
five  companies,  one  of  which  doubtless  embraced  the 
train  band  and  alarm  list  of  what  is  now  Westport. 
The  commissioned  officers  of  these  companies  at  that 
date  were  as  follows : 

Captains. — Ebenezer  Aiken,  Job  Almey,  Ezekiel 
Cornell,  Benjamin  Sherman,  and  Elkanah  Winslow. 

Lieutenants. — Jonathan  Winslow,  James  Wilkey, 
William  Hix,  Thomas  Dennis,  and  Benjamin  Terry. 


WESTPORT. 


683 


Ensigns.— Elkanah  Tobey,  James  Richmond,  Sam- 
uel Brownell,  John  Babcock,  and  Jar i us  Clark. 

Nineteen  years  later  the  militia  of  ancient  Dart- 
mouth had  been  increased  to  nine  companies,  and 
that  part  of  these  forces  in  what  subsequently  be- 
came Westport  appeared  under  these  officers,  viz. : 
Robert  Earl,  captain  ;  Sylvester  Brownell,  lieutenant; 
and  John  Hix,  ensign. 

In  July,  1788,  Capt.  Robert  Earl  was  promoted  to 
major  of  the  Second  Regiment  of  the  Bristol  County 
brigade,  and  Lieut.  Sylvester  Brownell  advanced  to 
captain  of  the  Westport  company. 

May  20,  1794,  Capt.  Sylvester  Brownell  was  pro- 
moted to  major. 

Barber,  in  his  "  Historical  Collections,"  published 
in  1848,  in  speaking  of  Westport,  says,  "This  town, 
previous  to  its  incorporation  in  1787,  was  a  part  of 
Dartmouth.  There  are  two  small  villages  in  the 
town,  one  at  the  head  of  East  River,  the  other  at 
Westport  Point.  The  people  are  much  divided  in 
religious  sentiments.  There  are  five  meeting-houses  : 
two  for  Friends,  two  for  Baptists,  and  one  for  Meth- 
odists. There  is  also  a  small  society  of  Congrega- 
tional ists.  The  village  at  the  head  of  East  or  Nocha- 
cuck  River  is  about  eight*  miles  from  New  Bedford, 
eight  from  Franklin,  and  twenty-one  from  Newport. 
Formerly  considerable  quantities  of  timber  were  ob- 
tained in  this  town.  The  whale  fishery  is  now  an 
important  branch  of  business ;  eight  whaling  vessels 
now  go  out  from  Westport  Point.  There  is  a  cotton- 
mill  in  this  town  having  3072  spindles,  which  in  1837 
consumed  300,000  pounds  of  cotton  ;  270,000  pounds 
of  cotton  yarn  were  manufactured,  the  value  of  which 
was  $67,500." 

Westport  in  1883.— The  town  of  Westport  has 
five  post-offices,  viz. :  North  Westport,  Westport, 
South  Westport,  Central  village,  and  Westport 
Point.  The  principal  villages  are  Westport  Point, 
Head  of  Westport,  and  Westport  Factory. 

Westport  Point  is  situated  at  the  southerly  part  of 
the  town,  between  the  east  and  west  branches  of 
Westport  River.  It  contains  about  one  hundred  and 
fifty  inhabitants,  many  of  whom  are  engaged  in  fish- 
ing. Whaling  vessels  were  formerly  fitted  from  this 
port,  but  there  is  no  large  shipping  there  at  this  time. 

Head  of  Westport,  or  Westport  village,  is  situated 
at  the  head  of  the  east  branch  of  Westport  River, 
and  contains  from  one  hundred  and  fifty  to  two  hun- 
dred inhabitants. 

Westport  Factory  village  is  situated  one  and  a  half 
miles  northerly  from  Westport  village  and  partly  in 
the  town  of  Dartmouth.  It  contains  upwards  of  two 
hundred  inhabitants,  most  of  whom  are  employed  by 
the  Westport  Manufacturing  Company,  who  carry  on 
an  extensive  business  in  the  manufacture  of  carpet 
warp,  twine,  wicking,  cotton  batting,  etc. 

Westport  Harbor  is  situated  on  the  west  side  of  the 
West  River,  nearly  opposite  Westport  Point.  It  has 
a  large  boarding-house  and  several  cottages,  which 


are  occupied  by  visitors  from  abroad  during  the  sum- 
mer season.  The  New  Bedford  and  Fall  River  Rail- 
road passes  across  the  northerly  part  of  the  town,  but 
is  of  little  advantage  to  the  majority  of  the  inhabit- 
ants of  the  town. 

The  Fall  River  correspondent  of  the  Providence 
Journal,  in  speaking  of  Westport  Factory  village, 
says, — 

"One  of  the  most  quiet,  pleasing,  and  successful 
business    villages    in    the    vicinity   of   Fall   River  is 
Westport  Factory,  some  six  miles  out  from  this  city, 
on  Westport  River,  in  the  town  of  Westport.    A  long 
time  ago  capital  was  invested  there  and  a  cotton-mill 
of  medium  size  was  erected,  the  power  being   fur- 
nished   by   a   dam    across   Westport   River.      Some 
twenty   or   more  years  ago   this   property  was   pur- 
chased by  Mr.  William  B.  Trafford,  who  for  some 
years  previously  had  been  associated  with  Mr.  Au- 
gustus Chace,  of  this  city,  in  manufacturing  enter- 
prises.    Mr.  Trafford  reorganized  the  mill  and  in- 
fused a  new  life  into  every  department,  and  it  soon 
became  a  standing  success.     Mr.  Trafford  secured  the 
best  of  help,  discouraged  the  use  of  alcohol,  encour- 
aged the  operatives  to  build  themselves  permanent 
homes,  and  in  the  history  of  the  concern  there  has 
been  no  clashing  between  employer  and  employe  on 
the  questions  of  labor  or  wages.     No  strikes  are  said 
to  afflict  this  concern,  because  the  work-people  are 
contented  and  satisfied.    Many  of  them  own  their  neat 
little  homes,  and  on  riding  through  the  village  a  no- 
ticeable feature  is  the  cleanliness  of  everything  and 
the  quietness  surrounding  the  place.     A  neat  little 
chapel  has  been  erected,  which  is  occupied  half  of 
each  Sunday  by  a  Protestant  and  the  other  half  by  a 
Roman  Catholic  preacher,  if  they  choose  to  preach, 
and  as  there  is  no  liquor-shop  allowed,  there  is  no 
drunkenness  unless  the  victim  buys  his  liquor  abroad. 
In  fact,  it  is  a  strict  rule  that  the  work-people  must 
keep  sober,  and  the  rule  is  obeyed.     Mr.  William  B. 
Trafford  was  a  man  of  great  public  spirit,  and  paid 
out  of  his  own  pocket  half  the  expenses  of  a  new 
road  from  the  Narrows  to  the  Factory,  three  miles  or 
more,  some  ten  years  ago.     He  died  about  1880,  but 
fortunately   had    reared   his   sons    to    the    business. 
Within  a  year  after  his  death    the  oldest   son   was 
thrown  from  his  buggy  and  killed.  Mr.  Chapin  Traf- 
ford, another  son,  now  manages  the  concern.     The 
business   now  carried  on  is  buying  the  waste  of  the 
cotton-mills   in   Fall    River  and   cheap    cotton,  and 
manufacturing  cotton    batting   and   yarn    for  cheap 
goods.     All  their  supplies  are  hauled  from  this  city, 
and  the  finished  'goods  returned  the  same,  and  their 
heavy  teams  are  quite  a  feature  on  our  streets.     The 
business  has  been  highly  profitable.     Mr.  Trafford, 
the  manager,  completed  an  elegant  mansion  in  the 
Factory  village   last  year,  and  lives  neighbor  to  his 
operatives,  but  in  elegant  style.     It  is  rare  to  find  an 
established  business  that  has  done  better  than  this  in 
the  same  number  of  years." 


684 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTS,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


The  First  Christian  Church  in  Westport.'-— Near 

the  close  of  the  last  century  this  vicinity,  so  long 
under  the  influence  of  religious  tenets  of  the  Friends, 
was  inspired  with  a  desire  for  more  comprehensive 
religious  opinions,  and  as  the  Baptist  Church  at 
North  Dartmouth  (Hixville),  under  the  pastorship 
of  Elder  Daniel  Hix,  had  adopted  the  Bible  as  their 
only  rule  of  faith,  and  Christian  experience  their 
only  test  of  religious  fellowship  (so  considering  all 
creeds  unnecessary),  this  doctrine  of  gospel  liberty 
naturally  extended  itself  into  this  town,  where  Elder 
Hix  was  well  known  and  much  respected. 

In  1819  religious  meetings  were  held  at  the  Head 
of  the  River,  when  Peleg  Sisson,  Jonathan  Mosher, 
George  Mosher,  Thaddeus  Reynolds,  Catharine  Sowle, 
Sophia  Tripp,  Rachel  Tripp,  Susannah  Lawton,  Eliz- 
abeth Tripp,  and  Phebe  Mosher,  being  in  "fellow- 
ship, requested  Elder  Daniel  Hix,  of  Dartmouth,  to  i 
meet  with  them,  and,  agreeable  to  their  request,  ac- 
knowledged them  the  First  Christian  Church  in 
Westport,  Mass."  They  continued  to  worship  in  pri- 
vate dwellings  until  the  completion  of  their  house  of 
worship,  which  was  erected  under  the  following  call : 

"  Whereas,  It  is  essential  in  all  civilized  societies  that  some  suitable 
place  be  provided  for  public  worship,  and  as  there  is  none  near  the  vil- 
lage at  the  head  of  the  east  branch  of  Acoaxet  River,  in  Westport,  the 
subscribers  hereby  agree  to  pay  what  we  here  subscribe,  in  order  to  build 
a  house  for  public  worship,  said  house  to  be  free  for  all  denominations 
of  Christians  to  assemble  in  and  worship  in  their  own  way,  when  unoc- 
cupied by  the  church  and  society  established  at  that  place  by  the  name 
of  the  Christian  Church  and  Society. 

"Westport,  September,  1823." 

There  were  no  officers  chosen  until  November,  1825, 
"  when  they  made  choice  of  Peleg  Sisson  for  minis-  '' 
ter,  and  Brethren  George  M.  Brownell  and  Jonathan 
Mosher  for  deacons,  agreeable  to  the  directions  given 
in  the  Holy  Scripture,  by  fasting,  prayer,  and  laying 
on  of  hands.  Elder  Sisson  lived  about  eleven  months 
from  that  time.  His  days  were  filled  up  with  a  good 
degree  of  usefulness,  agreeable  in  life  and  lamented 
in  death."  He  was  succeeded  by  Elder  Howard 
Tripp,  a  young  man  whose  praise  is  in  all  the  church, 
under  whose  labors  the  membership  increased  to  one 
hundred  and  eighty-four.  Deacon  Mosher  moved  to 
New  Bedford  soon  after  his  appointment,  and  Deacon 
Brownell  died  Sept.  20,  1830.  They  were  succeeded 
in  office  by  Benjamin  Tripp,  whose  labors  continued 
until  his  death,  Jan.  17,  1874,  and  Howland  Tripp, 
who  united  with  another  church  in  1843.  Since  then 
other  members  have  served  as  occasion  demanded. 
Deacon  Howland  Tripp  was  chosen  first  clerk  Oct. 
16,  1830;  Robert  Lawton,  Aug.  20,  1841,  and  John  A. 
Smith,  the  present  clerk,  March  9,  1878. 

About  1833  they  were  troubled  with  Mormon  mis- 
sionaries, who  persisted  in  occupying  their  house  of 
worship,  and  in  1844  they  were  greatly  annoyed  by 
those  who  headed  the  cry,  "  Come  ye  out  of  Babylon," 
but  the  timely  counsel  of  Rev.  I.  H.  Coe,  and  the 


1  By  Curtis  I.  Pierce. 


adoption    of  the    following   resolution   presented  by 
him,  made  them  more  passive  : 

"  Whereas,  Some  of  us  have  followed  false  doctrines,  and  doctrines 
which  have  proved  to  be  false  ;  therefore 

"Resolved,  That  we  hereby  confess  our  mistake,  and  acknowledge  our 
regret  that  such  should  have  been  the  case,  and  thereby  the  feelings  of 
some  have  been  injured." 

The  first  mention  of  a  Sabbath-school  is  July  16, 
1842,  but  it  is  known  to  have  existed  before  this. 
Jan.  9,  1844,  the  society  was  incorporated,  and  in 
1854  pews  were  put  in  the  house  of  worship.  Pres- 
ent value  of  property  is  about  eight  hundred  dollars. 
In  1842,  Abner  G.  Devol  was  "licensed  to  improve 
his  gift."  Since  then  James  L.  Pierce,  John  G.  Gam- 
mons, Gideon  W.  Tripp,  as  ordained  ministers,  and 
Robert  A.  Lawton,  a  licentiate  from  this  church, 
have  joined  the  Rhode  Island  and  Massachusetts 
Christian  Conference,  the  church  joining  September, 
1862. 

This  church  has  enjoyed  a  number  of  revivals,  and 
as  the  nucleus  of  religious  effort  here  has  the  pleasure 
of  recognizing  the  following  societies  as  her  offspring : 
The  Second  Christian  Church  at  South  Westport,  or- 
ganized Sept.  18, 1838  ;  the  Third,  at  Central  Village, 
June  10,  1839;  the  Fourth,  at  BrownelPs  Corner, 
July  4,  1843;  and  the  Pacific  Union  Congregational, 
May,  1858.  Services  were  held  at  Westport  Factory 
for  many  years,  and  they  continued  with  us  until 
1871.  Since  then  a  respectable  congregation  of  Chris- 
tians assemble  regularly,  but  are  as  yet  unorganized. 

No  article  of  faith  has  ever  been  received  by  this 
body,  but  rules  for  business  have  been  adopted  when 
necessary,  all  of  which  passed  a  complete  revision 
March  9,  1878. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Tripp,  wife  of  Deacon  Benjamin, 
the  last  of  the  original  members,  died  in  the  year 
1883  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-two  years.  Three 
hundred  and  twelve  persons  have  joined  this  church, 
its  present  membership  being  eighty-one. 

The  following  have  been  pastors  and  supplies: 
Peleg  Sisson,  Howard  Tripp,  John  Phillips,  Isaac 
Smith,  William  W.  Smith,  Wesley  Burnham,  I.  W. 
Graffam,  R.  B.  Eldridge,  Samuel  White,  James  L. 
Pierce,  John  B.  Parris,  George  W.  Dyer,  John  G. 
Gammons,  Gideon  W.  Tripp,  A.  D.  Blanchard,  F.  P. 
Snow,  Gardner  Dean,  Curtis  I.  Pierce,  H.  P.  Guilford, 
and  Curtis  I.  Pierce. 

The  Second  Christian  Church  at  South  West- 
port  was  organized  Sept.  18,  1838,  with  the  follow- 
ing members:  Sanford  Brightman,  David  Brownell, 
Sarah  W.  Brownell,  Betty  Brightman,  Mary  Bright- 
man,  Myra  E.  Brightman,  and  Ann  Macomber,  Elders 
Moses  How,  Charles  Morgaridge,  and  Gardner  Dean 
participating  in  the  inaugural  services.  David 
Brownell  was  chosen  clerk,  and  was  the  only  officer 
until  Aug.  28,  1841,  when  Brethren  Jacob  Chase  and 
John  Allen  were  chosen  deacons  and  ordained  soon 
after.  With  the  decease  of  Deacon  Chase  the  office 
remained  vacant  until  Aug.  28,  1880,  when  Charles 


WESTPORT. 


(585 


R.  Allen  was  chosen  junior  deacon.  Deacon  Allen 
was  chosen  clerk  Nov.  2,  1849,  and  continued  thirty- 
one  years;  Abraham  Allen,  present  clerk,  Aug.  28, 
1880.  The  Sabbath-school  was  organized  June  5, 
1849.  Feb.  1,  1876,  they  dedicated  their  new  house  of 
worship,  valued  at  sixteen  hundred  dollars.  Aug.  28, 
1880,  they  revised  their  articles  of  church  government. 

This  church  has  enjoyed  a  good  degree  of  prosper- 
ity, even  without  much  pastoral  labor,  one  hundred 
and  forty-two  having  joined  since  its  organization, 
and  numbering  fifty-five  at  present. 

The  following  have  been  pastors  and  supplies  : 
Elder  Matthias  E.  Gammons,  Cephas  Chamberlain, 
Gideon  W.  Tripp,  Philip  Sanford,  Benjamin  Masher, 
Nathaniel  Lovering,  Charles  P.  Snow,  N.  S.  Chad- 
wick. 

The  Third  Christian  Church,  at  Brownell's 
Corner,  was  organized  July  4,  1843,  with  the  fol- 
lowing membership:  Howland  Tripp,  Gideon  Tripp, 
Philip  Devol,  Holder  Earl,  Thomas  Sanford,  Eliza- 
beth Tripp,  Sarah  Lawton,  Basheba  Earl,  Mary 
Sanford,  Maria  Devol,  Naomi  Briggs,  Betsy  Petty. 
The  house  of  worship  was  opened  and  dedicated  the 
same  day.  Elder  Howard  Tripp  delivered  the  dedi- 
catory sermon,  and  continued  as  pastor  until  the 
summer  of  1847.  Since  then  the  following  have 
served  as  pastors :  Elders  Frederick  Tripp,  John  W. 
Hunter,  Matthias  E.  Gammons,  Philip  Sanford, 
Ephraim  Burroughs,  Benjamin  F.  Masher,  Gould 
Anthony,  O.  F.  Woltze.  Howland  Tripp  and  Gideon 
Lawton  were  the  first  deacons.  Isaac  D.  Earl  and 
Edwin  Lawton  are  the  present  deacons ;  Isaac  D. 
Earl,  present  clerk.  Seven  years  from  its  organiza- 
tion it  numbered  seventy-five  members;  whole  num- 
ber who  have  joined  is  one  hundred  and  nineteen; 
present  membership,  fifty-one ;  value  of  property, 
eight  hundred  dollars.  There  are  six  of  the  first 
members  still  living.  The  oldest  is  Mary  Sanford, 
aged  ninety-one. 

The  First  Christian  Church,  North  Westport, 1 
was  organized  Jan.  1,  1858,  with  the  following  mem- 
bers: Joshua  Wordell,  Perry  Davis,  Gershom  Wor- 
dell,  Sylvia  Wordell,  Rachel  Davis,  Edmund  Wor- 
dell, Peleg  Dennis,  Mahaley  Dennis,  Mary  Blossom, 
Sarah  Ann  Crapo,  Patience  A.  Barney,  Isaac  A.  An- 
thony, Christiana  Anthony,  Abiel  Davis,  Rhoda 
Davis,  Abby  S.  Sherman,  David  D.  Petty,  Louisa 
Sherman,  Clarissa  Blossom,  Rosina  Sherman,  Martha 
Millard,  Ann  Mariah  Branley,  Ruth  B.  Davis. 

The  first  pastor  was  Elder  William  Faunce,  who 
served  the  church  until  Feb.  20,  1864. 

At  a  church-meeting  held  Sept.  10,  1864,  J.  B.  Par- 
ris  was  chosen  pastor,  and  at  a  meeting  held  April  10, 
1866,  Stephen  M.  Andrews  was  chosen  pastor,  and 
Jan.  26,  1873,  A.  H.  Francis  was  accepted  as  pastor 
of  the  church,  and  was  ordained  by  request  of  the 
church. 

>  By  Rev.  B.  F.  Mosher. 


The  next  account  of  a  pastor  is  in  1875,  when  Elder 
Elihu  Grant  commenced  his  work  the  second  Sabbath 
in  January,  and  resigned  in  March,  1879.  Rev.  B.  F. 
Mosher,  the  present  pastor,  was  chosen  the  same 
spring. 

The  society  has  a  fine  church  edifice,  free  from  debt. 

The  church  accepts  no  creed  but  the  Bible,  and  fel- 
lowships all  who  maintain  a  Christian  character. 
There  are  on  rolls  one  hundred  and  nineteen  names, 
twenty-four  of  whom  have  died,  eight  have  been  dis- 
missed, one  excommunicated,  leaving  seventy-six  on 
the  roil  at  present,  many  of  whom  are  non-residents, 
having  moved  from  the  place.  The  edifice  was  erected 
before  the  church  was  organized;  probably  completed 
in  1857.  There  is  no  date  of  the  dedication  of  the 
building,  but  probably  it  was  dedicated  on  the  same 
day  of  the  organization. 

The  Third  Christian  Church2  of  Westport  was 
organized  June  10,  1839,  with  the  following  mem- 
bers: Daniel  Tripp,  Abner  Tripp,  Gidean  W.  Tripp, 
Green  Allin,  Silva  Tripp,  Susanah  Tripp,  Pheby 
Potter,  Pheby  Allin,  Susan  T.  Brownell,  Christiany 
Allin,  Cathrine  Tripp,  and  Pheby  Tripp.  The  fol- 
lowing is  a  list  of  pastors  from  its  organization  to  the 
present  time:  Elder  Callogue,  Elder  George  Dyre, 
Elder  Gideon  W.  Tripp,  Elder  Isrel  Wood,  Elder 
Orrin  J.  Weight,  Elder  Bardon  M.  Bacer.  The 
church  building  was  erected  in  1842.  The  present 
officers  are:  Deacons,  Henry  Brighton  and  God  fry 
Cormet;  Clerk,  Henry  Brightman. 

Friends'  Church,  Central  Village.3— The  Friends' 
Meeting  at  Central  village  was  set  oft"  from  Dartmouth 
Meeting  in  the  year  1766,  under  the  name  of  Acoaxet 
Monthly  Meeting,— this  village  at  that  time  being  the 
western  part  of  Old  Dartmouth,  and  called  by  the  In- 
dian name  of  Acoaxet.  Several  years  afterwards  its 
name  was  changed  to  Westport  Monthly  Meeting. 
The  present  house  was  built  in  1814  at  a  cost  of 
eleven  hundred  and  ninety-eight  dollars.  This  was, 
however,  a  rebuild  (but  we  have  no  record  of  when 
the  house  was  built  which  was  occupied  previous  to 
this).  I  wish  I  could  give  you  a  picture  of  it.  It  is 
with  great  pleasure  I  look  back  to  my  childhood 
days,  and  think  of  that  large,  commodious  old  meet- 
ing-house, with  its  bright,  blazing  fires  in  the  large 
fireplaces,  and  its  rows  of  venerable  gray  heads 
arranged  along  on  the  high  seats.  No  paint  or 
marks  of  decoration  were  seen  upon  its  massive 
beams  or  walls,  no  stuffed  cushions  on  its  benches, 
or  carpets  covered  its  sanded  floors,  but  the  whole 
was  a  picture  of  neatness.  In  1872  the  old  meeting- 
house was  summoned  to  lay  aside  its  quaint  old 
garb  and  undergo  another  remodeling,  which  is  the 
present  house  now  occupied. 

The  first  members  were  Ichabod  Eddy,  Joshua 
Devol,  Mercy  Devol,  Israel  Wood,  Philip  Tripp, 
Margaret  Tripp,  Christian  Brightman,  Sarah  White. 


-  By  Henry  Brightman. 


3  By  Hannah  R.  Gilford. 


6S6 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


List  of  ministers:  Warren  Gifford,  Tabitha  Gifford, 
Jeremiah  Austin,  William  P.  Macomber,  Joseph 
Tripp,  Rebekah  Tripp,  Annie  Macomber,  Mary  E. 
Gifford. 

I  cannot  justly  leave  the  history  of  this  meeting 
without  making  particular  mention  of  one  of  its 
members.  I  allude  to  Capt.  Paul  Cuff,  whose  name 
has  been  handed  down  from  generation  to  generation 
as  a  man  of  great  worth  and  noble  character.  He 
was  born  on  Cuttyhunk,  one  of  the  Elizabeth  Islands, 
in  the  year  1759.  His  father  was  a  slave,  his  mother 
a  native  Indian  by  the  name  of  Ruth  Moses.  He 
was  tall  and  dignified  in  his  appearance,  his  hair 
straight,  and  his  complexion  was  not  dark.  A  man 
of  limited  education,  and,  in  traveling  over  the  world 
as  he  did,  sensibly  realized  what  a  loss  he  sustained 
by  this  privation.  Several  times  during  his  voyages 
he  took  home  with  him  poor  boys  from  foreign  ports 
to  educate  them.  In  two  weeks  he  learned  enough  of 
navigation  to  command  his  own  vessels,  of  which  he 
built  seven. 

At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  became  a  sailor,  and  made 
a  whaling  voyage  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  His  second 
voyage  was  to  the  West  Indies,  but  on  the  third  he  was 
captured  by  a  British  ship  during  the  Revolutionary 
war  (in  1776),  and  held  a  prisoner  three  months  at 
New  York.  He  joined  this  meeting  in  the  year  1808, 
and  often  appeared  in  the  ministry  with  deep  devo- 
tional feelings. 

In  1810  he  received  a  certificate  from  the  meeting 
to  visit  Africa;  later  he  had  one  to  go  to  Washing- 
ton ;  still  later,  two  others,  one  to  visit  Africa  the 
second  time.  He  had  a  strong  attachment  for  the 
people  of  his  own  color. 

It  was  this  same  Capt.  Cuff,  with  his  brother  John, 
who  sent  in  a  petition  to  the  Legislature  in  the  year 
1778  which  was  the  means  of  passing  the  law  giving 
all  free  persons  of  color  equal  privileges  with  other 
citizens,  also  rendering  them  liable  to  taxation,— a 
day  which  ought  to  be  gratefully  remembered  in 
connection  with  the  name  of  Paul  Curl'  by  all  the 
colored  people  of  Massachusetts. 

One  more  incident  of  this  worthy  man.  On  a  cer- 
tain time  he  visited  New  Bedford,  and  stopped  at  a 
public-house  with  some  friends,  and  was  sitting  in 
the  travelers'  room,  warming  himself  by  the  fire. 
When  the  hour  of  dinner  arrived  the  landlady  en- 
tered the  room  and  told  Capt.  Cuff  she  would  set  him 
a  separate  table.  He  politely  thanked  her,  and  then 
told  her  he  had  previously  accepted  an  invitation  to 
dine  with  Hon.  William  Rotch. 

He  owned  a  farm  in  Westport  of  one  hundred 
acres,  about  two  miles  south  of  Hix's  Bridge  ;  also  a 
store-house  and  wharf,  where  his  vessels  were  built. 

He  died  at  his  home  in  1817,  and  his  remains  lie 

buried  in  Friends'  burying-ground  at  Central  village. 

Pacific  Union  Congregational  Church.1— In  the 


1  By  J.  L.  Anthony. 


month  of  March,  1850,  Rev.  J.  B.  Parris  was  engaged 
to  supply  the  pulpit  of  the  Old  House  (so  called),  it 
being  the  first  Christian  Church  in  Westport  of  that 
denomination.  Mr.  Parris  labored  with  them  two 
years.  His  salary  was  small,  and  obtained  by  volun- 
tary subscription.  At  or  near  the  close  of  his  second 
year,  as  usual,  a  committee  was  chosen  to  solicit  sub- 
scriptions for  his  salary  the  coming  year.  The  day 
before  his  last  Sabbath  for  the  year  a  meeting  of  the 
church  and  society  was  held  to  hear  the  report  of  the 
committee.  The  committee  reported  they  had  been 
unable  to  obtain  the  amount  for  his  salary.  The 
moderator  of  the  meeting  (Dr.  B.  B.  Sisson)  suggested 
that  he,  Mr.  Parris,  be  informed  of  their  inability  to 
continue  his  labors  longer,  and  that  a  letter  of  recom- 
mendation be  given  him  to  other  sister  churches.  A 
letter  was  written  and  presented  to  the  meeting,  and 
a  vote  passed  that  the  clerk  inform  him  of  the  doings 
of  the  meeting,  and  present  to  him  the  letter  of  rec- 
ommendation. 

The  week  following  his  last  Sabbath  at  the  Old 
House  he  was  called  upon  by  three  gentlemen,  two  of 
whom  a  short  time  previous  had  returned  from  Cali- 
fornia, and  neither  of  the  three  had  been  an  attend- 
ant upon  his  ministry,  but  were  highly  pleased  with 
his  deportment  as  a  minister  of  the  gospel.  They 
questioned  him  to  know  if  he  would  continue  his  labors 
in  the  village  and  preach  in  Washingtonian  Hall 
if  they  could  obtain  subscriptions  to  the  amount  of 
his  salary,  assuring  him  that  no  effort  had  been  made 
to  obtain  it,  and  the  people  were  anxious  for  him  to 
continue  with  them.  His  answer  to  them  was  that  if 
the  people  wished  him  to  stay  and  preach  in  the  hall 
he  had  no  objection,  and  the  amount  raised  on  or  be- 
fore Saturday.  A  subscription  paper  was  started, 
and  before  Saturday  night  he  was  informed  the 
amount  had  been  obtained,  and  Sunday  he  commenced 
his  labors  in  the  hall,  it  being  March,  1852,  where 
most  of  the  church  members  from  the  Christian  Chuch 
and  all  the  congregation  followed  him. 

Mr.  Parris  continued  his  labors  in  the  hall  till  De- 
cember, 1855,  when  the  Pacific  Union  Church  build- 
ing was  completed  and  dedicated,  and  he  was  invited 
by  its  proprietors  to  occupy  its  pulpit,  which  he  did 
till  March,  1858,  when  he  informed  his  friends  and 
congregation  he  should  not  be  a  candidate  for  the 
pulpit  any  longer,  as  his  throat  had  troubled  him 
much  during  the  past  year,  and  several  Sabbaths  was 
unable  to  preach. 

In  the  month  of  December,  1853,  Zacheus  Gifford, 
an  attendant  at  the  hall,  after  the  close  of  the  services 
one  Sabbath-day,  stated  to  P.  W.  Peckham,  Stephen 
Howland,  and  C.  A.  Church,  in  my  presence,  that  a 
short  time  previous  he  attended  the  rededication  and 
sale  of  pews  at  the  church  at  Hix's  meeting-house, 
which  had  been  repaired  and  pewed  off  and  nicely 
fitted  up,  and  that  the  sale  of  the  pews  amounted  to 
more  than  the  expense  incurred,  leaving  a  balance  on 
hand,  and  that  a  new  house  was  needed  here,  and  he 


WESTPORT. 


687 


thought  one  could  be  built  and  paid  for  from  the  sale 
of  pews.  From  that  time  the  enterprise  commenced 
to  be  agitated,  and  as  the  hall  was  uncomfortably 
crowded  most  of  the  time,  it  was  concluded  to  call  a 
meeting  on  the  subject. 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  a  call  for  the  first  meet- 
ing on  the  proprietors'  records  : 

"  Notice. 

"All  persons  feeling  interested  in  the  cause  of  Christianity  in  this 
Village,  are  requested  to  meet  at  Washington  Hall  on  Thursday,  Feh.  2:?, 
1854,  at  2  o'clock  p.m.,  to  consult  together  upon  the  present  state  of  the 
causi'  ainl  the  best  means  for  its  promotion. 

"  Westport,  Feb'y  22d,  1854." 

The  meeting  was  held  and  a  vote  passed  that  one 
of  the  means  to  promote  the  cause  of  Christianity 
in  this  village  is  to  build  a  meeting-house.  A  com- 
mittee was  chosen  to  draft  and  report  resolutions  at 
the  next  meeting.  The  meeting  was  adjourned  to 
Wednesday,  March  1,  1854. 

March  1,  1854,  meeting  held,  and  committee  re- 
ported that  a  good  degree,  a  healthy  state  of  religious 
feeling  and  interest,  and  for  the  welfare  of  the  cause 
of  Christ  these  should  be  concentrated  in  some  form 
of  religious  association,  and  offered  the  following  res- 
olutions : 

"  That  in  the  opinion  of  the  committee  the  cause  of  Christ  would  be 
best  promoted  by  a  speedy  organization  of  a  church. 

"2d,  That  the  cause  would  be  promoted  by  the  formation  of  a  society 
to  co-operate  with  the  church.  And  that  it  would  be  promoted  by  the 
erection  of  a  building  suitable  for  a  place  of  worship.  That  it  is  expe- 
dient to  refer  the  choice  of  the  form  of  church  organization  to  such  as 
are  willing  and  ready  to  become  members  of  a  church.  And  that  such 
consult  together  and  come  to  some  decision,  and  report  to  the  adjourn- 
ment of  this  meeting." 

It  was  voted  that  the  committee,  of  which  Rev.  Mr. 
Parris  was  chairman,  be  instructed  to  give  a  general 
invitation  to  all  persons  desirous  of  becomiug  mem- 
bers of  the  proposed  church  to  meet  at  such  time  and 
place  in  said  village  of  Westport,  Head  of  the  River, 
as  said  committee  may  designate.  Said  notice  was 
given,  and  a  meeting  held  at  the  house  of  Hon.  N.  C. 
Brownell,  Esq.,  Saturday  evening,  March  4,  1854. 
Adjourned  to  meet  at  the  house  of  Stephen  Howland 
on  Tuesday,  March  9th,  and  from  there  to  the  house 
of  Thomas  Winslow.  , 

Meeting  called  to  order  by  Rev.  J.  B.  Parris.  C.  A. 
Church  chosen  chairman  ;  Stephen  Howland,  secre- 
tary. Prayer  offered  by  Rev.  J.  B.  Parris.  The  arti- 
cles, confession  of  faith,  and  covenant  of  a  Congre- 
gational Church  was  adopted.  At  this  point  of  the 
proceedings  Zacheus  Gifford  and  Adam  Gifford  with- 
drew from  the  enterprise,  they  wanting  the  church 
to  be  of  the  same  denomination  as  the  old  church, 
which  had  no  creed.  There  were  several  meetings 
held  during  the  year  and  the  matter  discussed,  but  no 
definite  action  taken  to  form  a  church,  some  taking 
the  ground  that  it  would  be  better  to  have  a  place  to 
worship  in  before  forming  a  church  organization. 

A  meeting  of  the  citizens  held  in  the  hall  March  8, 
1854.     Meeting  called  to  order  by  the  president,  B.  B. 


Sisson,  Esq.  The  report  of  the  doings  of  those  wish- 
ing to  join  a  church  was  presented  by  Mr.  Howland, 
in  the  absence  of  Mr.  Parris.  Remarks  were  made 
by  Mr.  Sisson,  Brownell,  Church,  and  others.  Voted 
that  the  report  made  by  the  committee  of  which  Mr. 
Parris  was  chairman  be  placed  on  file.  Voted  that  it 
is  expedient  to  form  a  society  to  act  in  consort  with  a 
church  to  be  formed  upon  the  plan  proposed  in  the 
report  of  said  committee,  or  something  similar. 

Voted  to  choose  a  committee  of  five  to  report  where 
a  lot  can  be  obtained  to  erect  a  house  of  public  wor- 
ship on  and  price  of  same,  the  size  of  the  house 
and  probable  cost,  and  the  mode  of  raising  the 
funds.  Ye  meeting  adjourned  to  Wednesday,  March 
22,  1854. 

Meeting  held  March  22d  by  adjournment.  N.  C. 
Brownell,  Esq.,  chairman  of  committee  appointed  at 
the  previous  meeting,  presented  the  report  of  com- 
mittee,— that  a  suitable  and  convenient  lot,  east  of 
Adam  Gifford's,  about  five  rods  front  on  the  street, 
and  extending  back  eight  rods,  may  be  had,  as  in- 
formed  by  Stephen    Howland,  for   $ ;    that   the 

committee  had  examined  several  houses  of  worship, 
and  are  of  opinion  that  a  house  suitable  for  the  pres- 
ent and  prospective  wants  of  this  village  and  vicinity 
should  be  about  forty  by  fifty  feet  in  size;  that  the 
probable  cost,  including  furniture,  would  be  from 
two  thousand  five  hundred  to  three  thousand  dollars. 
In  regard  to  raising  funds  for  the  object  proposed, 
your  committee  recommend  it  be  raised  by  subscrip- 
tion in  shares  of  twenty-five  dollars  each,  and  they  in- 
dulge the  hope  that  the  interest  felt  in  religious  obser- 
vances, the  welfare  of  the  rising  generation,  and  morals 
of  the  community  will  insure  a  subscription  commen- 
surate with  the  great  object  in  view.  Stephen  How- 
land then  presented  in  writing  that  he  wished  to  give 
the  association  the  lot  reported  on  the  following  condi- 
tions, viz. :  that  the  association  erect  a  meeting-house, 
make  and  maintain  an  inclosure  around  said  lot,  that 
the  meeting-house  be  on  the  plan  now  in  contempla- 
tion, with  a  vestry  to  be  on  the  floor  above  the  ground, 
and  that  if  any  soil  is  to  be  removed  from  the  lot  that 
is  not  needed  on  it,  that  he  should  have  the  refusal  to 
remove  said  soil  in  a  reasonable  time.  Also  at  any 
time  when  said  lot  is  not  occupied  for  a  meeting- 
house for  a  religious  church  or  society,  it  shall  then 
return  back  to  said  Howland  or  his  heirs  or  assigns, 
provided  that  in  case  of  fire  or  to  rebuild  a  new  house 
for  the  purpose  of  religious  worship  there  should  be 
time  allowed  to  build.  It  was  voted  unanimously  to 
accept  the  above  proposal.  A  subscription  paper  was 
drawn  up  with  certain  conditions,  and  a  committee 
chosen  to  obtain  subscriptions. 

A  clause  in  the  subscription  paper  provides  that  at 
the  first  meeting  after  the  subscriptions  are  obtained, 
such  officers  may  be  chosen  and  such  action  taken  as 
the  subscribers  then  present  may  deem  necessary  to 
accomplish  the  object  intended.  Also,  at  all  meet- 
ings of  subscribers  eaclr*shall  be  entitled  to  one  vote 


688 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


for  each  share  by  him  subscribed  for.     But  no  sub- 
scriber shall  be  entitled  to  more  than  ten  votes. 

The  committee  having  attended  to  their  duty,  at  a 
meeting  held  in  the  hall  on  the  7th  of  April,  1854, 
reported  one  hundred  and  twenty  shares  had  been 
subscribed  for  at  twenty-five  dollars  per  share,  amount- 
ing to  three  thousand  dollars.  The  said  meeting  chose 
P.  W.  Peckham,  treasurer,  and  Stephen  Howland, 
clerk. 

Voted  to  choose  a  committee  of  three  to  be  called 
the  building  committee,  and  C.  A.  Church,  J.  L. 
Anthony,  and  Daniel  H.  Waite  were  chosen. 

September  21st,  a  meeting  was  held  in  hall,  and  the 
building  committee  made  their  first  report.  They  re- 
ported they  had  advertised  for  proposals  and  visited 
many  carpenters  in  New  Bedford  and  Fall  River,  that 
but  five  carpenters  have  sent  in  their  proposals,  and 
these  they  deemed  all  too  high  in  warranting  them  to 
make  any  contract  this  fall. 

Voted  to  accept  their  report,  and  the  committee 
was  instructed  to  continue  their  effort  to  make  a  con- 
tract to  build  the  ensuing  year. 

March  5,  1855,  met  according  to  notice  in  the  hall 
at  6.30  P.M.,  B.  B.  Sisson,  Esq.,  in  the  chair. 

Voted  that  the  building  committee  are  hereby  in- 
structed to  go  on  and  contract  for  and  build  said 
meeting-house  according  to  plans  and  specifications 
furnished  by  Cleveland  &  Eaton,  and  they  be  author- 
ized to  raise  what  money  may  be  necessary  to  accom- 
plish the  object  beyond  the  amount  already  subscribed 
by  a  lien  on  the  house. 

On  the  28th  of  March,  Stephen  Howland,  the  largest 
subscriber  to  the  stock,  died  after  a  short  sickness ;  but 
before  his  death  directed  his  two  sons  to  carry  out  all 
his  intentions  in  regard  to  the  enterprise.  Then  fol- 
lows the  certificate  of  the  treasurer  that  the  subscrib- 
ers  had  all  paid  in  their  subscriptions  except  Mr. 
Howland,  which  was  paid  by  his  executors. 

Then  follows  the  certificate  of  Mr.  Church,  chair- 
man of  the  building  committee,  that  in  June,  1855, 
he  had  received  of  the  treasurer  twelve  hundred  dol- 
lars, and  in  the  month  of  September  the  sum  of  eigh- 
teen hundred  dollars,  it  being  the  whole  amount  sub- 
scribed. 

The  office  of  clerk  being  vacant  by  the  death  of 
Mr.  Howland,  a  meeting  was  called  on  the  16th  day 
of  November,  1855,  and  N.  W.  Winchester  was  chosen 
clerk. 

Voted  that  the  stockholders  have  the  privilege  of 
turning  in  what  amount  each  had  paid  into  the  treas- 
ury towards  the  payment  of  his  pew  or  pews  that  he 
may  purchase,  and  that  if  his  purchase  exceeds  the 
amount  already  paid  in,  the  balance  shall  be  paid  in 
cash  to  the  treasurer.  And  voted  that  all  votes  in- 
consistent and  conflicting  with  the  above  vote  are 
hereby  repealed. 

Voted  that  the  stockholders  offer  the  meeting- 
house to  the  public  upon  the  following  conditions: 
That  upon  the  conclusion  of  the  dedicatory  services 


the  pews  be  offered  for  sale,  and  all  purchasers  of 
pews  shall  come  together  and  organize  a  society,  each 
person  having  one  vote,  but  in  no  case  shall  one  pew 
be  represented  by  more  than  one  vote,  and  a  majority 
shall  govern,  giving  it  such  name  as  they  shall 
think  proper.  And  said  society  shall  make  such  rules 
and  regulations  as  they  shall  deem  best  for  its  future 
government.  And  shall  call  such  a  preacher  as  they 
shall  determine.  The  meeting  was  then  adjourned 
to  meet  that  evening  at  six  o'clock  at  the  same  place. 
The  adjourned  meeting  came  together,  the  chairman 
being  absent,  C.  A.  Church  was  called  to  the  chair. 

Voted  that  a  committee  of  five  be  chosen  to  ex- 
tend an  invitation  in  behalf  of  the  stockholders  to 
such  ministers  of  the  gospel  as  said  committee  shall 
think  proper  to  come  and  take  part  in  the  dedicatory 
services.  And  said  committee  shall  also  have  the 
management  and  superintendence  of  said  services. 

Voted  that  B.  B.  Sisson,  P.  W.  Peckham,  Stephen 
Tripp,  J.  T.  Thompson,  and  N.  W.  Winchester,  be 
that  committee. 

Voted  the  com'  on  dedication  carry  the  vote  into 
effect  respecting  the  offering  the  house  to  the  public. 
Voted  the  building  com*  and  the  com*  on  dedication 
be  a  com'  on  the  apprisal  of  the  Pews  in  said  house. 

Voted  to  adjourn  to  meet  on  Friday  evening,  Nov. 
30th,  at  6  o'clock.     N.  W.  Winchester,  Clerk. 

Then  follows  the  following  notice: 

"  To  the  Public. 

"The  undersigned,  a  com1  in  behalf  of  the  stockholders  of  the  Meet- 
ing-House  lately  erected  at  the  Head  of  the  River,  Westport,  would 
inform  the  public  that  Wednesday,  the  5th  of  December,  has  In  en  ap- 
pointed for  dedicating  it  to  the  worship  of  God,  and  it  is  expected  Rev. 
Mr.  Thurston,  of  Fall  River,  will  preach  the  sermon  on  the  occasion. 
Religious  services  will  be  continued  until  Friday  noon,  in  which  min- 
isters of  different  denominations  have  been  invited  to  participate.  A 
cordial  invitation  is  hereby  extended  to  all  to  attend  the  meetings; 
trusting  that  they  will  prove  both  interesting  and  profitable,  and  be  at- 
tended with  spiritual  good. 

"On  Friday  afternoon,  the  7th,  the  Pews  will  be  offered  for  Sale  upon 
the  following  liberal  conditions:  The  purchasers  or  owners  of  Pews 
shall,  as  soon  as  practicable  after  the  sale,  meet  together  and  proceed  to 
organize  a  Society  (each  person  having  one  voice,  and  a  Majority  of 
Voices  to  govern),  giving  it  such  name  as  they  may  deem  proper,  also  to 
enact  all  needful  rules  and  regulations  for  its  future  government  and 
management;  to  choose  such  Committees  and  Officers  as  may  be  neces- 
sary, and  to  make  such  arrangements  respecting  a  Pastor  as  in  their 
judgment  will  best  promote  the  welfare  of  all,  and  to  transact  such 
other  business  as  may  be  thought  expedient  and  proper. 

"The  committee  would  now  take  the  liberty  to  address  a  few  remarks 
to  the  friends  of  religion,  and  of  the  public  worship  of  God  in  this  com- 
munity. 

"  This  House  has  been  erected  under  peculiar  circumstances,  and  dif- 
fering essentially  from  houses  as  usually  erected  for  public  worship. 
They  almost  without  exception  originate  with  an  Organized  Church 
and  Society,  and  are  of  a  fixed  denominational  character. 

"  It  is  therefore  known  from  the  first  what  religious  views  govern 
them,  and  those  who  sympathize  with  those  views  readily  associate  to- 
gether. Not  so  with  us.  Seventeen  persons  in  this  community,  differing 
in  their  religious  views,  but  feeling  that  the  morals  and  religious  wants 
of  this  village  and  vicinity  demanded  a  new  house  for  public  worship, 
and  that  that  demand  could  only  be  supplied  by  laying  aside  minor 
differences  of  Opinion  and  acting  together,  adopted  that  course,  believ- 
ing that  a  just  and  discriminating  Christian  sentiment  would  in  the  end 
sustain  and  justify  their  Action.  The  result  of  their  united  efforts  is 
the  edifice  now  about  completed,  the  external  appearance  of  which  we 
think  will  add  somewhat  to  our  village,  while  its  interior  arrangements 


WESTPORT. 


G89 


and  completeness  of  finish  will  reflect  no  discredit  on  the  liberality  of 
the  Stockholders.  The  funds  for  its  erection  have  been  contributed 
wholly  by  them  ;  DO  pecuniary  aid  has  been  received  or  asked  for  from 
any  denomination  or  from  any  other  Source.  The  conditions  on  which 
it  is  offered  to  the  public  we  believe  to  be  just,  open,  and  fair  to  all,  and 
free  from  any  reasonable  objection. 

"  The  object  and  design  of  its  erection  are  to  subserve  as  far  as  possi- 
ble the  moral  and  religious  welfare  of  the  Community,  &  we  trust  and 
beliove  in  the  Providence  of  God  that  desirable  end  will  be  attained; 
but  to  accomplish  this  all  friends  of  moral  and  religious  improvement 
should  come  together  in  a  spirit  of  true  Christian  liberality,  all  minor 
differences  of  opinion  and  jealousies  must  bo  offered  a  willing  sacrifice 
on  the  Altar  of  charity,  concord,  and  kindly  feelings.  If  this  be  done 
may  not  hope  that  God  will  own  and  bless  our  efforts  and  crown  them 
with  success;  and  that  He  will  so  direct  and  govern  them  by  this  spirit 
as  will  redound  to  the  good  of  all  and  to  His  honor  &  Glory. 

"J.  B.  Parris, 
"B.  B.  SiSso.N, 
"P.  W.  Peck  ham, 
"J.  J.  Thompson, 
"  N.  W.  Winchester, 
"Stephen  Tripp, 

"  Committee. 
"Westport,  Nov.  23,1855." 

At  a  meeting  held  Nov.  30,  1855,  it  was  voted  that 
all  pews  remaining  in  the  hands  of  the  original  stock- 
holders unsold,  and  not  leased  by  them,  shall  be  ex- 
empt from  taxation  for  incidental  expenses  attending 
public  worship,  and  no  pew  shall  be  taxed  for  the 
support  of  the  ministry. 

Voted  that  the  house  be  appraised  at  four  thou- 
sand dollars,  and  the  pews  be  appraised  to  cover  that 
amount.  A  committee  of  three  was  chosen  to  sell  and 
convey  the  pews.  Adjourned  to  Tuesday,  Dec.  4, 1855, 
at  9  a.m.,  at  the  meeting-house.  At  this  meeting  it  was 
voted  that  the  stockholders  reserve  to  themselves  the 
privilege  of  inviting  a  preacher  to  officiate  until  a 
society  is  formed  and  a  preacher  called  by  it.  Ad- 
journed to  3  p.m.  Adjourned  to  Friday  morning, 
December  7th.  At  eight  and  a  half  o'clock  Friday 
morning  the  committee  on  appraisal  presented  their 
report,  which  was  accepted  by  the  meeting,  as  fol- 
lows :  That  the  apprisals  of  the  pews  shall  forever 
hereafter  be  the  basis  for  taxation. 

Voted  that  the  front  seats,  Nos.  19,  20,  43,  44,  be 
forever  free  seats.  Voted  that  the  committee  on  ded- 
ication be  a  committee  to  invite  a  preacher  to  supply 
the  pulpit  until  a  society  is  formed  and  a  preacher 
supplied  by  them.  Voted  to  adjourn  to  meet  in  the 
evening  at  six  and  a  half  o'clock. 

Rev.  Mr.  Parris  was  invited  from  the  hall  to  the 
new  house  by  said  committee. 

At  the  adjourned  meeting  held  on  Friday  evening, 
voted  that  the  committee  on  selling  pews  be  author- 
ized to  lease  the  unsold  pews  at  the  rate  of  eight  per 
cent,  on  their  appraised  value  and  payment  of  taxes 
for  incidental  expenses,  with  a  provision  that  should 
any  one  wish  to  purchase  said  pew,  the  lessee  shall 
have  the  first  privilege  of  purchase  ;  but  if  he  does 
not  wish  to  purchase,  shall  then  peacefully  surrender 
said  pew,  and  have  the  privilege  of  leasing  another. 
Voted  that  the  sale  of  pews  and  the  purchaser,  their 
valuation,  number,  and  premium  paid  for  choice  be 
recorded  in  the  stockholders'  records ;  also  each  pew 
44 


shall  bear  its  proportion  of  insurance,  to  be  paid  by 
its  purchaser,  one-third  of  purchase  money  to  be 
paid  on  delivery  of  deed,  and  one-third  in  thirty 
days,  and  one-third,  or  balance,  in  sixty  days  there- 
after. The  records  show  there  were  eighteen  sold 
and  sixteen  leased  out  of  the  forty-two  to  sell  or 
lease. 

Of  those  who  were  numbered  among  the  stock- 
holders that  purchased  one  or  more  pews  six  have 
died,  three  have  moved  away  and  sold  their  pews. 
Of  those  who  leased  pews,  six  have  died,  six  have 
left  town,  and  four  remain. 

It  was  also  voted  at  the  meeting  held  Friday  even- 
ing, December  7th,  that  the  superintendent  of  the 
Sunday-school  at  Washington  Hall  transfer  said 
school  to  this  vestry. 

Adjourned  to  Saturday  evening,  December  15th. 

Voted  to  have  the  records  revised  and  written  up 
in  consequence  of  the  sudden  death  of  our  respected 
and  lamented  friend,  Stephen  Howland,  a  former 
clerk  of  this  association.  Adjourned  to  Tuesday 
evening,  Dec.  18,  1855.  Meeting  held,  B.  B.  Sisson 
in  the  chair.  Clerk  read  the  records  of  the  last  meet- 
ing. Voted  that  the  committee  appointed  at  the 
last  meeting  on  revising  the  records  be  empowered 
to  take  such  action  as  shall  be  necessary  to  organize 
the  stockholders  into  a  legal  corporate  body.  Voted 
that  the  sum  of  two  thousand  dollars  be  assessed  on 
the  stockholders  for  the  purpose  of  paying  the  out- 
standing debts  against  the  house  and  preparing  the 
lot;  that  the  same  be  assessed  and  collected  and  paid 
into  the  treasury  on  or  before  the  15th  day  of  January, 
1856.  Voted  to  adjourn  to  meet  at  Washington  Hall, 
Dec.  26,  1855,  at  6.30  p.  m.  Meeting  held  according 
to  adjournment.  The  committee  to  organize  the  stock- 
holders as  a  corporate  body  report  they  are  engaged 
in  the  business,  and  will  report  as  soon  as  sufficient 
progress  shall  have  been  made  to  enable  them  to  do  so. 
Voted  to  adopt  the  book  of  records  now  present  and 
in  the  hands  of  the  clerk  as  the  book  in  which  to  re- 
cord the  doings  of  the  stockholders,  and  this  vote  be 
entered  at  the  commencement  of  the  records. 

Voted  that  all  meetings  in  the  future  be  called  by 
posting  up  notices  in  two  public  places  three  days  at 
least  before  the  time  for  holding  said  meetings.  Voted 
that  in  the  death  or  absence  of  the  clerk  the  meeting 
shall  be  called  by  the  treasurer. 

Voted  that  the  building  committee  be  authorized 
to  draw  on  the  treasurer  for  such  sums  as  may  be 
necessary  to  discharge  the  debts  against  said  house 
and  lot.  Voted  to  meet  at  Washington  Hall  on  the 
evening  of  December  26th,  at  six  and  a  half  o'clock. 

Dec.  26, 1855.  Meeting  called  to  order  by  the  clerk  ; 
chairman  being  absent,  J.  L.  A.  chosen  pro  tern.  The 
chairman  of  committee  appointed  to  revise  and  ex- 
amine the  records  as  left  by  Mr.  Howland,  the  former 
clerk,  made  their  report,  which  was  accepted.  Voted 
to  adjourn  without  day. 

N.  W.  Winchester,  Clerk. 


690 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


The  next  meeting  was  called  by  the  clerk  to  meet 
in  the  vestry  of  the  church,  Monday  evening,  20th, 
at  eight  o'clock  ;  first,  to  choose  a  moderator ;  second, 
to  hear  the  report  of  the  committee  on  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  proprietors ;  third,  to  hear  the  report  of 
the  building  committee.  C.  A.  Church,  chairman  of 
the  building  committee,  read  the  report : 

"  The  Com1  report  they  had  Erected  a  Meeting-house  for  the  public 
Worship  of  God  in  the  Village,  Having  from  time  to  time  made  partial 
report  as  all  were  aware  in  the  Work.  Having  as  they  believe  Com- 
pleted the  Work  assigned  or  Confided  to  them,  they  are  Now  prepared 
to  make  a  final  report  and  settlement  of  the  business  assigned  them. 
They  presented  to  the  Meeting  the  Accompanying  bills  of  Expendi- 
tures and  the  receipts  in  the  hand  of  Treasurer  to  show  what  became  of 
their  Money.  It  being  so  arranged  as  to  show  in  detail  the  amount  ex- 
pended in  the  Various  departments,  deeming  it  the  most  business  like 
and  probably  the  most  satisfactory  to  the  stockholders  who  have  a  right 
to  know,  where  &  for  what,  purpose  their  money  has  been  expended. 
The  Com4  thought  it  desirable  that  all  debts  against  the  House  should 
be  paid  with  as  much  promptitude  as  possible.  And  they  think  they 
may  Assert  with  Safety  that  rarely  has  a  house  of  the  Kind  been  erected 
where  the  debts  against  it  have  been  more  promptly  paid.  They  also  re- 
turn their  thanks  to  the  Stockholders  for  their  liberality  and  promptness 
in  furnishing  them  with  the  means  for  doing  so.  The  Com'  would  also 
say  in  conclusion  they  have  endeavored  to  discharge  the  duties  Assigned 
them  to  the  best  of  their  ability  and  that  all  will  agree  they  are  attended 
with  no  little  trouble  and  anxiety  and  responsibility,  and  that  better 
and  more  competent  persons  from  among  our  numbers,  could  have  been 
chosen,  we  do  not  doubt  ;  but  as  we  are  of  your  own  choosing  the  re- 
sponsibility you  have  to  assume.  We  charge  Nothing  for  our  Services 
and  if  they  are  worthless,  you  pay  Nothing  for  them.  It  they  have 
been  of  any  Value  whatever  it  may  be,  You  are  welcome  to  them.  And 
we  hope  that  he  who  governs  all  things  will  own  and  bless  the  Edifice 
that  we  all  have  contributed  to  erect ;  And  make  it  instrumental  in  pro- 
moting his  honor  and  Glory.  We  respectfully  submit  this  report  and 
accompanying  Account  and  ask  to  be  discharged  from  further  Service. 

"  Signed 

"  C.  A.  Church, 

"  J.  L.  Anthony, 

"Dan.  H.  Waite, 

"  Committee." 

The  bills  of  each  person  employed  in  preparing  the 
lot  for  the  foundation,  stone-work,  plans,  carpenter's 
bill,  masons,  painters,  furnace,  upholstery,  chairs, 
table,  sofa,  Bibles  for  vestry  and  auditorium,  insurance 
for  five  years,  dedication  expenses,  etc.,  amounted  to 
$5092.50.  The  above  account  and  report  was  accepted 
and  ordered  to  be  recorded. 

The  following  report  was  presented  on  organizing 
the  stockholders  into  a  legal  body  of  proprietors  as  a 
corporate  body : 

"  The  undersigned  a  Com'  appointed  to  present  some  plan  the  said 
organization  of  the  Stockholders  as  a  Corporate  body,  report  that  they 
have  examined  the  subject  and  consulted  Council  in  the  case,  and  they 
recommend  the  Stockholders  to  organize  under  the  43d  chapter  of  the 
Revised  Statutes. 

(Signed)  "Isaac  Howland, 

"P.  W.  Pf.ckham, 
"  C.  A.  Church, 

"  Committee. 
"  Westport,  July  28, 1856." 

Then  follows  a  copy  of  a  deed  given  by  James  B. 
Congdon  and  wife  to  owners  of  pews  of  the  lot  on 
which  the  house  stands,  said  lot  having  previously 
been  conveyed  to  him  by  the  heirs  of  Mr.  Howland, 
who  were  now  stockholders  in  common.  Said  deed 
conveys  to  each  stockholder  the  amount  of  his  share, 
also  naming  each  heir  of  Mr.  Howland,  the  share  of 


each  belonging  to  their  father,  who  was  the  largest 
shareholder  (and  his  heirs  being  five). 

Then  follows  the  petition  to  George  H.  Gifford, 
justice  of  the  peace,  representing  that  they  with  others 
are  the  proprietors  and  holders  in  common  of  certain 
real  estate  situated  in  Westport;  that  they  are  de- 
sirous of  forming  themselves  into  a  corporation  ac- 
cording to  the  statutes  in  such  cases  made  and  pro- 
vided. Wherefore  they  request  that  you,  the  said 
justice,  issue  your  warrant  calling  a  meeting  of  said 
proprietors  to  be  held  for  the  purpose  of  organizing 
themselves  as  a  corporation  under  the  provision  of 
the  law  in  such  cases  provided ;  and  to  choose  all 
necessary  officers,  and  to  determine  the  manner  of 
calling  all  future  meetings,  and  make  arrangements 
for  the  sale  or  transfer  of  their  property,  and  trans- 
act other  business  that  may  be  necessary  and  proper. 

Dated  July  28,  1856.  Signed  by  C.  A.  Church,  J. 
L.  Antliony,  and  seven  others. 

George  H.  Gifford,  the  justice,  issued  his  warrant 
to  the  said  holders  in  common,  directing  them  to 
call  a  meeting  of  said  proprietors  to  be  held  in  the 
vestry  of  the  new  meeting-house  at  the  Head  of  the 
Biver,  in  Westport,  on  Monday,  the  25th  day  of 
August,  in  the  year  1856,  at  seven  and  a  half  o'clock 
p.m.,  for  the  purposes  aforesaid,  by  posting  up  a  no- 
tice containing  the  substance  of  this  warrant,  signed 
by  you,  the  said  C.  A.  Church,  in  one  or  more  public 
places  in  said  Westport,  fourteen  days  at  least  before 
said  meeting,  and  also  by  publishing  the  same  in  a 
newspaper  printed  in  said  county  of  Bristol.  Given 
under  the  hand  and  seal  of  said  George  H.  Gifford, 
justice  of  the  peace.  Then  follows  the  certificate  of 
C.  A.  Church  that  he  had  complied  with  the  order  of 
the  warrant.  The  meeting  was  held  according  to  the 
warrant,  J.  L.  Anthony,  chosen  moderator;  N.  W. 
Winchester,  chosen  clerk,  and  sworn  by  the  mod- 
erator; P.  W.  Peckham,  chosen  treasurer;  Isaac 
Howland,  collector;  C.  A.  Church,  assessor  ;  J.  L.  A. 
I.  Howland,  J.  T.  Thompson,  chosen  a  committee  to 
sell  or  lease  unsold  pews,  and  make  the  necessary 
conveyances,  and  to  have  the  general  care  of  the 
house  and  lot. 

Voted  that  the  pews  now  sold  or  leased  by  the 
stockholders  be  approved  by  this  meeting. 

Voted  that  this  corporation  shall  be  known  by  the 
name  of  the  proprietors  of  the  Pacific  Union  Church. 
It  was  also  voted  that  the  clerk  shall  call  all  future 
meetings  of  the  corporation  by  posting  up  one  notice 
at  the  church  and  at  one  or  more  public  places  in  the 
village  seven  days  at  least  before  the  holding  of  the 
meeting,  and  in  case  of  death  or  absence  of  clerk, 
meeting  shall  be  called  by  treasurer. 

Voted  that  the  clerk  shall  call  a  meeting  at  any 
time  on  application  of  three  or  more  of  the  proprie- 
tors in  writing,  stating  the  object  of  said  meeting,  and 
at  all  other  times  when  he  shall  deem  it  expedient. 
Voted  that  five  shall  constitute  a  quorum  for  the 
transaction  of  business  of  this  association.      Voted 


WESTPORT. 


691 


that  each  share  shall  be  entitled  to  one  vote,  and  that 
no  person  be  entitled  to  more  than  ten  votes.  Voted 
to  reconsider  the  vote  for  treasurer,  and  that  the  col- 
lector, Isaac  Howland,  be  the  treasurer.  Voted  that 
the  committee  on  sale  of  pews  be  directed  to  erect  a 
suitable  fence  around  the  lot  as  soon  as  may  be,  in 
compliance  with  the  stipulations  in  the  deed  of  said 
lot.  Voted  to  adjourn  without  clay.  The  next  meet- 
ing of  interest  was  held  Friday,  March  6,  1857,  at 
which  the  treasurer  presented  his  report  for  the  past 
year,  showing  there  had  been  received  into  the  treas- 
ury the  sum  of  $189.49  from  taxes,  leases,  and  rents 
for  the  incidental  expenses,  and  he  had  sundry  bills 
to  the  amount  of  $186.56,  leaving  a  balance  in  the 
treasury  of  $2.93.  It  was  proposed  and  voted  that 
an  individual  account  be  opened  in  the  records  with 
the  proprietors,  and  that  each  proprietor  be  furnished 
with  a  statement  of  his  account.  Voted  to  adjourn 
without  day.     N.  W.  Winchester,  clerk. 

The  next  meeting  was  held  by  the  proprietors  on 
the  5th  day  of  March,  1859,  at  three  o'clock,  p.m., 
under  a  call  by  the  proprietors  to  the  clerk.  When 
the  necessary  officers  and  committees  were  chosen  for 
the  year.  There  was  presented  to  the  meeting  from 
a  committee  of  the  Union  Sewing  Circle  a  statement 
that  from  means  obtained  from  the  fair  held  by  them 
in  December  last,  and  from  the  aid  of  kind  friends  in 
and  out  of  our  village,  they  have  been  enabled  to 
raise  a  sum  sufficient  to  warrant  them  in  contracting 
for  a  bell  for  the  tower  of  the  church  and  a  clock  for 
the  vestry,  and  therefore  ask  of  the  corporation  their 
acceptance  of  the  same,  and  permission  for  them  to 
place  the  bell  and  clock  in  their  appropriate  places 
in  the  church.  Signed,  Westport,  March  5,  1859. 
Mary  A.  Church,  Lucilla  S.  Borden. 

Voted  that  the  proprietors  of  this  church  accept 
with  gratitude  and  pleasure  the  above  kind  donation 
of  a  bell  and  clock  from  the  ladies  of  the  Westport 
Union  Sewing  Society,  and  earnestly  hope,  with  the 
blessings  of  God,  that  the  donation  made  and  the 
edifice  which  may  contain  them  be  ever  used  to  pro- 
mote His  glory  and  the  moral  and  religious  welfare 
of  this  community ;  and  that  a  committee  consisting 
of  Capt.  Charles  Little  and  Isaac  Howland  be  ap- 
pointed to  accept  said  donation,  and  render  any  aid 
necessary  in  placing  the  bell  and  clock  in  their  ap- 
propriate places. 

Voted  that  a  copy  of  this  vote  be  given  to  the  com- 
mittee of  the  sewing  society.  The  meeting  was  then 
adjourned  to  March  11,  1859,  at  three  o'clock  p.m. 

At  the  meeting  held  March  11, 1859,  the  committee 
appointed  at  the  previous  meeting  reported  that  they 
had  given  the  subject  much  thought,  as  regards  the 
rights  and  duties  of  all  the  stockholders  and  the  gen- 
eral interest  of  this  community  in  which  the  church 
is  located.  They  are  of  an  opinion,  as  there  is  not 
much  probability  of  selling  the  pews  on  hand  at  their 
present  valuation  and  paying  the  indebtedness  to  the 
stockholders,  that  those  stockholders  to  whom  there 


is  a  balance  due  draw  out  the  amount  of  said  balance 
in  pews  and  dispose  of  them  as  they  shall  deem  best; 
and  those  of  the  stockholders  who  have  purchased 
pews,  the  value  of  which  exceeds  their  amount  of 
stock,  that  they  pay  up  their  balance.  This  will  close 
up  with  but  little  delay  the  whole  matter  of  the  stock- 
holders and  the  proprietorship,  and  the  business  can 
be  transferred  or  merged  into  the  society.  This  is 
very  desirable,  and  your  committee  earnestly  hope  it 
may  be  accomplished.  They  are  authorized  to  state 
that  those  stockholders  to  whom  there  is  a  balance 
due  are  ready  to  take  out  those  balances  in  pews  on 
reasonable  and  just  conditions,  and  hope  those  in- 
debted will  manifest  an  equal  promptness  in  settling 
their  balances.  The  next  consideration,  what  in  jus- 
tice should  be  done  with  those  pews  drawn  out  by  the 
stockholding  creditors,  in  regard  to  taxation  for  inci- 
dental expenses,  when  not  used  or  wanted  by  them. 
Having  purchased  pews  sufficient  for  themselves  and 
families,  the  stockholders  propose  to  surrender  them, 
or  such  of  them  as  they  do  not  wish  to  retain,  to  the 
use  of  the  proprietors  for  one  year,  for  them  to  be 
leased  at  auction  or  otherwise,  and  the  amount  re- 
ceived be  applied  towards  the  payment  of  the  inci- 
dental expenses  of  supporting  public  worship  in  the 
house,  reserving  the  right  of  selling  only  should  op- 
portunity offer. 

This  certainly  is  a  fair  and  liberal  offer,  and  will 
have  the  effect  to  reduce  materially  the  expenses  on 
the  single  pew-owners  of  the  stockholders.  There 
are  many,  your  committee  think,  in  the  community 
who  are  desirous  of  purchasing  or  leasing  pews  who 
cannot  afford  to  pay  the  present  valuation  prices  or 
lease  at  the  present  rates  ;  what  the  committee  desire 
is  a  price  within  their  reach.  The  stockholder  own- 
ing pews  can  sell  at  any  price  he  feels  disposed  to, 
and  those  surrendered  to  the  proprietors  can  be  leased 
at  rates  sufficiently  low  to  bring  them  within  the 
means  of  all  who  desire  to  rent.  Free  seats  will  be 
furnished  to  all  unable  to  purchase,  and  that  the  rea- 
sonable wishes  of  all  can  be  supplied.  The  great  ob- 
ject should  be  to  throw  open  as  widely  as  possible  the 
doors  of  the  sanctuary  of  public  worship,  that  the 
poor  as  well  as  the  rich  should  equally  partake  of  its 
blessings  and  privileges.  Your  committee  feel  it  their 
duty,  whether  acting  the  part  of  committee  or  stock- 
holder, to  do  all  they  can  to  accomplish  so  desirable 
an  end,  and  would  therefore  recommend  the  adoption 
of  the  following  votes  : 

The  first,  second,  and  part  of  third  article  in  the 
vote  recommended  is  to  cover  the  ground  in  the  re- 
port presented  with  the  following  items  of  additions, 
the  reservation  for  a  pew  for  the  use  of  the  minis- 
ter's family  :  That  the  money  received  from  pews 
leased  be  appropriated  towards  the  incidental  ex- 
pense, and  the  balance  shall  be  taxed  on  the  pews 
remaining  in  the  hands  of  stockholders,  owned  and 
retained  by  them,  according  to  the  established  valua- 
tion of  said  pews ;  and  that  no  lease  shall  interfere 


<692 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


with  right  of  any  stockholder  to  sell  his  pew  and  give 
immediate  possession,  the  lessee  only  paying  for  the 
time  occupied,  and  that  said  pew  sold  or  the  owner 
thereof  shall  be  liable  to  the  same  taxation  as  the 
pews  owned  and  used  by  the  stockholders  or  others. 
The  vote  also  recommends  that  the  committee  on  sale 
and  lease  of  pews  shall  give  public  notice  that  they 
will  lease  pews  at  public  auction  on  some  day  (they 
shall  name)  as  soon  as  practicable  for  the  term  of  one 
year  as  many  pews  (after  making  the  above  reserva- 
tion) as  the  community  shall,  by  offers  made,  evince 
a  desire  to  lease.  The  residue,  if  any,  may  be  leased 
thereafter  (if  opportunity  offers)  on  such  terms  and 
conditions  as  the  committee  shall  judge  best  for  the 
interest  of  all  parties  ;  and  that  all  pews,  when  not 
occupied  by  the  lessee  or  owner,  may  be  occupied  by 
others,  under  the  direction  of  the  committee  on  sale 
and  leasing  of  pews. 

Voted  to  adopt  the  report  of  the  committee. 
Voted  that  the  three  votes  recommended  by  the 
committee  as  recorded  be  adopted.     A  committee  of 
three  was  then  appointed  to  sell  and  lease  the  pews, 
as  follows:  C.  A.  Church,  J.  L.  Anthony,  and  Isaac 
Howland,  and  that  the  said  committee  be  authorized 
to  make  necessary  conveyance  to  the  stockholders  and 
others  of  those  pews  already  purchased  or  drawn  out 
by  them,  also  of  those  the  stockholders  may  hereafter 
draw  out ;  also  lease  such  pews  as  may  be  surrendered  to 
the  use  of  the  proprietors,  agreeable  to  the  vote  adopted 
in  the  report  of  said  committee  as  above  recorded, 
and  that  a  stockholder  be  permitted  to  exchange  his 
•pew  if  said  committee  deem  it  best;  also  arrange  for 
the  settlement  of  any  balance  due  to  the  stockholders 
on  pews  drawn  out,  on  such  terms  as  they  shall  deem 
for  the  interest  of  parties.     A  recpiest  from  the  pro- 
prietors to  the  clerk  to  call  a  meeting  to  be  held  in 
the  vestry  of  the  church  on  Monday,  April  11th,  at 
seven  o'clock  p.m.,  the  third  article  was  to  ascertain 
if  the  proprietors  will  sell  or  convey  the  house  and 
lot  to  the  Pacific  Union  Society  and  close  up  the 
affairs  of  the  corporation,  and  to  appoint  a  committee 
with  authority  to  make  the  necessary  conveyance  to 
accomplish  that  object,  and  to  repeal -any  former  vote 
of  the  proprietors  that  may  be  inconsistent  with  the 
above. 

Meeting  held ;  being  stormy  and  but  few  present, 
and  it  being  desirous  to  have  a  full  representation  of 
the  proprietors,  voted  to  adjourn  to  Tuesday,  April 
12th,  at  three  p.m. 

April  12, 1859.  The  proprietors  met  by  adjournment, 
a  full  representation  present.  The  committee  on  sale 
and  lease  of  pews  presented  their  report,  which  was 
accepted  and  adopted : 

"The  undersigned  appointed  a  Com1  at  a  Meeting  of  the  proprietors 
held  on  the  11th  day  of  March,  1859,  for  the  purpose  of  Conveying  to 
individual  proprietors  such  Pews  as  they  shall  see  fit  to  draw  out  to- 
wards the  ba1  due  them  of  stock  in  the  Corporation,  and  to  settle  and 
close  up  its  affairs  in  Order  that  the  control  and  management  of  the 
House  of  Worship  should  be  transferred  to  the  Pacific  Union  Society. 
Eeport  that  they  might  proceed  legally  &  Lawfully  in  the  matter  have 


taken  legal  advice,  and  that  it  is  recommended  that  the  proprietors  of 
the  Pacific  Union  Church  shall  convey  said  Church  &  Lot  by  deed  to 
the  Pacific  Union  Society,  and  that  said  Society  shall  make  the  division 
deeds  of  Pews  to  its  members.  And  as  the  members  of  said  Society  are 
also  proprietors  in  the  Church  &  Owners  of  the  larger  portion  of  the 
same;  and  are  desirous  of  drawing  out  their  bal.  due  them  in  Pews,  the 
division  of  Pews  will  be  so  arranged  by  the  Society  as  to  meet  the  views 
of  those  proprietors  as  well  as  if  done  by  the  Corporation.  This  course 
will  give  to  the  Society  the  same  control  of  the  House  as  is  now  pos- 
sessed by  the  proprietors  which  was  one  of  the  Objects  necessary  to  be 
attained  in  referring  the  subject  to  your  committee. 

"Your  Com' concur  in  the  above  recommendation,  and  regard  it  as 
the  proper  course  to  pursue  to  bring  about  the  wishes  and  intentions  of 
the  proprietors.  But  doubt  whether  you  have  conferred  on  them  the 
power  and  Authority  to  make  said  conveyance,  and  would  ask  that  you 
would  confer  upon  them  or  others  such  necessary  powers  &  Authority 
that  the  Object  desired  may  be  accomplished. 

(Signed)  "C.  A.  Church, 

"J.  A.  Anthony, 
"Isaac  Howland, 

"  Committee." 

It  was  voted  that  C.  A.  Church,  J.  L.  Anthony, 
Isaac  Howland  be  a  committee  with  authority  and 
power  to  sell  and  convey  to  the  Pacific  Union  Society 
in  Westport  the  house  of  public  worship  and  lot  be- 
longing to  the  proprietors  known  as  the  Pacific  Union 
Church,  and  to  make  all  necessary  conveyance  of  the 
same  and  to  close  up  as  soon  as  may  be  the  affairs  of 
the  corporation. 

Voted  that  any  vote  heretofore  passed  by  us  in  any 
way  inconsistent  with  the  preceding  vote  is  hereby 
repealed.  There  were  seventy-five  votes  cast  in  the 
affirmative  and  none  in  the  negative.  Voted  to  ad- 
journ to  April  19,  1859. 

April  19th.  A  meeting  held  ;  nothing  of  importance 
acted  on.     Voted  to  adjourn  to  April  26th. 

April  26th.  A  meeting  held ;  no  important  busi- 
ness done,  and  adjourned  to  meet  at  the  house  of  P. 
W.  Peckham,  May  6,  1859,  at  7.30  p.m. 

May  6,  1859.  Meeting  held  and  the  committee  re- 
ported they  had  leased  of  the  unsold  pews,  according 
to  the  instructions  given  them,  at  auction  and  other- 
wise, twenty  pews  for  the  sum  of  fifty-six  dollars  and 
twenty-five  cents.  That  they  have  also  assigned  pew 
No.  16  for  the  use  of  the  minister's  family,  and  seats 
for  persons  unable  to  hire,  and  five  pews  not  leased, 
but  the  committee  are  of  the  opinion  that  every  pew 
on  hand  will  be  leased  or  assigned  to  those  wishing  to 
attend  public  worship  in  the  church.  Though  the 
pews  have  been  leased  for  a  comparatively  small 
amount  for  the  coming  year,  yet  your  committee 
are  of  the  opinion  that  great  spiritual  blessings  will 
follow  the  course  which  the  proprietors  have  been 
pleased  to  pursue  to  enable  all  who  desire  to  attend 
public  worship  in  this  house  to  procure  a  seat  for 
what  they  please  to  give.  And  they  doubt  not  that 
as  the  interest  increases  from  a  regular  attendance 
upon  the  public  worship  of  God,  that  in  a  pecuniary 
point  of  view  we  may  with  hope  look  forward  for  the 
blessing  of  Almighty  God  to  attend  the  efforts  and 
sacrifices  made  by  the  proprietors  of  this  house  for 
the  moral  and  religious  welfare  of  this  place.  Signed, 
in  behalf  of  the  committee,  by  J.  L.  Anthony. 


WESTPORT. 


693 


The  committee  chosen  at  a  previous  meeting  re- 
ported that  they  had  sold  and  conveyed  said  house 
and  lot  by  the  following  deed,  a  copy  of  which  is 
hereto  annexed.  And  in  order  to  close  up  the  affairs 
of  the  corporation  the  undersigned  committee  have 
made  an  agreement  intended  to  accomplish  that 
result,  with  a  committee  duly  authorized  by  the  Pa- 
cific Union  Society  to  purchase  said  house  and  lot, 
and  to  adjust  and  settle  all  matters  in  relation  to  said 
purchase.  Said  deed  and  agreement  we  present  with 
this  report  and  ask  that  they  be  ratified  and  entered 
in  the  book  of  records  of  the  proprietors.  Then  fol- 
lows the  deed  and  agreement  on  the  part  of  the  two 
committees  as  recorded  in  the  proprietors'  records. 

Then  said  deed  and  agreement  was  ratified  and  ap- 
proved, and  the  clerk  directed  to  enter  them  in  the 
records  of  the  proprietors.  Voted  to  adjourn  without 
day. 

A  meeting  called  according  to  notice,  to  be  held  on 
Friday  evening,  3d  month  9,  1866,  was  adjourned  to 
April  3,  1866.  Meeting  held  April  3,  1866,  by  ad- 
journment, and  it  appearing  from  the  records  that 
there  has  been  a  final  distribution  of  the  common 
property  belonging  to  the  proprietors,  and  that  there 
are  no  debts  owing  from  the  proprietors  and  none  due 
them,  and  that  the  business  of  the  corporation  is 
closed  up,  therefore  voted  that  the  book  of  records  be 
deposited  with  the  clerk  of  the  Pacific  Union  Society, 
said  society  having  been  the  sole  purchasers  of  all  the 
property  formerly  belonging  to  the  proprietors. 

Voted  to  adjourn  sine  die. 

Attest :  N.  W.  Winchester,  Clerk. 

On  the  9th  of  May,  1858,  a  notice  was  read  from  the 
pulpit  by  Rev.  Isaac  Dunham  stating  that  it  was 
thought  necessary  to  have  an  organized  church  con- 
nected with  this  house  of  worship,  and  that  all  who  were 
willing  to  unite  in  the  formation  of  a  church  to  meet 
in  the  vestry  of  the  church  building  the  next  after- 
noon, May  10, 1858,  at  3.30  o'clock,  to  consider  upon 
the  subject,  and  to  take  steps  for  its  completion. 

The  meeting  was  held,  moderator  chosen,  as  also  a 
secretary.  There  were  seventeen  persons  present. 
Remarks  were  made  by  J.  L.  Anthony  setting  forth 
the  necessity  of  an  organized  church,  and  the  desires 
of  a  number  to  connect  themselves  with  it.  By  per- 
mission of  the  meeting  the  secretary  read  articles  of 
faith,  covenant,  and  standing  rules  of  a  Congrega- 
tional Church  which,  if  satisfactory,  would  recom- 
mend for  adoption,  if  thought  best  to  have  a  Congrega- 
tional Church.  As  there  were  persons  in  the  meeting 
that  thought  a  church  of  the  Christian  or  Methodist 
denomination  would  be  preferable,  it  was  concluded 
to  take  a  vote  and  have  the  majority  to  decide  the 
question.  The  vote  stood  :  for  the  Christian,  three ; 
for  Methodist,  two;  for  a  Congregational,  nine;  and 
three  not  voting  either  way.  It  was  voted  to  call  a 
council  for  the  organization  of  a  church  three  weeks 
from  that  day.     Meeting  then  adjourned  sine  die. 

On  the  26th  of  May,  1858,  letters  missive  were  sent 


to  the  following-named  churches  to  send  pastors  and 
delegates  to  meet  on  Monday,  May  31,  1858,  at  ten 
o'clock,  a.m.,  to  advise  and  aid  in  forming  a  church 
on  Congregational  principles,  and  publicly  to  recog- 
nize the  same,  if  in  the  judgment  of  the  council  it 
should  be  thought  expedient  so  to  do.  Signed,  J.  L. 
Anthony,  D.  H.  Kay. 

Pursuant  to  letters  missive  an  ecclesiastical  coun- 
cil met  at  the  meeting-house  in  Westport,  May  31, 
1858,  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  a  Congregational 
Church. 

Present,  North  Congregational  Church,  New  Bed- 
ford, Rev.  H.  W.  Parker,  pastor;  Brother  T.  R.  Den- 
nison,  delegate.  Trinitarian  Church,  New  Bedford, 
Rev.  Wheelock  Craig,  pastor;  Brother  Robert  Gibbs, 
delegate.  Pacific  Church,  New  Bedford,  Rev.  Tim- 
othy Stowe,  pastor;  Brother  J.  Freeman,  delegate. 
Central  Congregational  Church,  Fall  River,  Rev.  Eli 
Thurston,  D.D.,  pastor ;  Brother  Nathan  Durfee, 
delegate. 

The  council  was  organized  by  the  choice  of  Rev.  H. 
W.  Parker,  moderator;  and  Brother  Nathan  Durfee, 
scribe. 

Meeting  opened  by  prayer  by  Rev.  Mr.  Craig. 

Rev.  Mr.  Dunham  was  invited  to  take  a  seat  with 
the  council. 

J.  L.  Anthony  was  called  upon  to  give  an  account 
of  the  previous  prospects  of  the  society  ;  what  means 
were  at  command  to  sustain  the  ministry  provided  a 
Congregational  Church  was  organized. 

Mr.  C.  A.  Church  gave  his  views  in  regard  to  the 
control  of  the  house,  expressing  his  opinion  that, 
provided  a  church  was  formed,  most  of  the  stock- 
holders would  heartily  co-operate.  Rev.  I.  Dunham 
gave  his  opinion  that  the  time  had  come  for  the  or- 
ganization of  a  church. 

The  articles  of  faith  and  form  of  covenant  were 
presented  and  read,  whereupon  it  was  voted  that  the 
articles  of  faith  and  form  of  covenant,  together  with 
the  name  of  the  church,  and  their  rules  and  regula- 
tions now  presented,  are  satisfactory  to  the  council. 

The  following-named  presented  themselves,  and 
were  examined  upon  certificate  or  by  profession  of 
their  faith,  aud  the  examination  proving  satisfactory 
to  the  council,  it  was  Voted  to  proceed  to  the  organ- 
ization of  the  church  :  J.  L.  Anthony,  Rev.  J.  B. 
Parris,  Dr.  B.  R.  Abbie,  David  H.  Kay,  Miss  Caro- 
line Tallman,  Mrs.  Mary  Howland,  Elizabeth  G. 
Howland,  Mrs.  Mary  W.  Anthony,  Mrs.  Mary  J. 
Rowland,  Mrs.  Eliza  A.  Macomber,  Miss  Nancy  A. 
Cornell. 

Order  of  exercise  for  the  organization  of  the  church  : 
Reading  of  the  minutes,  by  the  scribe ;  invocation  and 
reading  the  Scriptures,  by  the  Rev.  J.  B.  Parris;  in- 
troductory prayer,  by  Brother  Dennison  ;  sermon,  by 
Rev.  Eli  Thurston, — text  was,  "  For  the  zeal  of  thine 
house  hath  eaten  me  up,"  Psalm  lxix.  9  ;  reading  con- 
fession of  faith  and  covenant,  by  Rev.  Timothy  Stowe ; 
recognition   of  church  and  consecration   prayer,  by 


694 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Rev.  H.  W.  Parker;  fellowship  of  church,  Rev.  Mr. 
Craig;  concluding  prayer,  Rev.  Mr.  Dunham. 

The  confession  of  faith,  covenant,  etc.,  in  pamphlet 
form,  is  herein  inclosed. 

A  meeting  of  the  church  was  held  Aug.  21,  1858, 
at  which  a  clerk  and  deacon  was  chosen.  It  was  also 
voted  that  this  church  extend  an  invitation  to  the 
Rev.  I.,  Dunham  to  serve  them  as  pastor  for  the  year 
commencing  June  1,  1858.  The  articles  of  faith, 
covenant,  and  standing  rules  of  the  church  were  read 
for  the  information  of  those  present  desirous  of  join- 
ing this  church.  Voted  that  those  persons  present 
who  wish  to  join  the  church  be  examined  on  their 
profession  of  faith. 

Mrs.  Hannah  Crocker,  Mrs.  Phebe  Tripp,  and  Miss 
Lucilla  Borden  presented  themselves,  and  were  exam- 
ined by  the  committee,  and  the  examination  proving 
satisfactory,  it  was  voted  that  they  be  propounded. 

Voted  that  the  clerk  inform  the  society  that  they 
had  concurred  with  them  in  extending  an  invitation 
to  the  Rev.  Isaac  Dunham  to  become  their  pastor. 
Rev.  Mr.  Dunham  accepted  the  invitation.  Voted  to 
adjourn  for  two  weeks.  At  the  meeting  held  on  Sept. 
4,  1858,  Brother  J.  B.  Parris  was  chosen  treasurer, 
which  office  he  has  held  to  this  day. 

On  Sunday,  September  5th,  to  which  the  last  meet- 
ing was  adjourned,  the  three  persons  previously  pro- 
pounded were  received  into  full  membership. 

Nov.  7,  1858.  Rev.  I.  Dunham  and  wife  were  re- 
ceived into  the  church  by  letter  from  Wesleyan  Meth- 
odist Church  in  Duxbury,  Mass. 

Jan.  1,  1860.  Mrs.  Alice  T.  Peckham  was  publicly 
received  into  membership  of  this  church. 

June  5,  1861.  Mrs.  Lucy  Adams  was  received  into 
this  church. 

June  30th.  Eleven  persons  were  received  into  the 
church. 

Dec.  29,  1861.  Matilda  Gifford  was  received  into 
membership  of  this  church. 

May  3,  1862.  Capt.  R.  W.  Crapo  and  wife  were  re- 
ceived into  membership  of  this  church. 

July  5,  1863.  Four  persons  were  received  into  mem- 
bership of  this  church. 

September  6th.  Seven  persons  were  received  into 
membership. 

July  10,  1864.  Mrs.  H.  Bosworth  was  received  into 
membership  by  letter  from  Middle  Street  Christian 
Church,  New  Bedford. 

March,  1866.  At  the  request  of  Sister  Hannah  Cobb 
to  join  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  in  Oswego, 
N.  Y.,  and  Sister  H.  W.  Bosworth  to  join  the  Middle 
Street  Christian  Church,  New  Bedford,  it  was  voted 
that  their  request  be  granted,  and  letters  given  them. 

August  9th.  The  ordinance  of  baptism  was  admin- 
istered to  the  infant  son  of  John  H.  and  Rebecca  A. 
Gifford,  and  infant  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Georgie 
R.  Cornell. 

May  13,  1866.  Mrs.  Nancy  Pool  was  admitted  a 
member  by  baptism  and  profession  of  faith. 


November  1st.  H.  C.  Sawin  was  received  by  letter 
from  Brookline,  N.  H.,  Church  of  Christ  recommend- 
ing him  to  P.  U.  Church  in  Westport. 

Sept.  1,  1867.  The  ordinance  of  baptism  was  ad- 
ministered to  Emma  Cowen,  and  she  was  admitted 
to  the  fellowship  of  this  church.  The  ordinance  of 
baptism  was  administered  to  Thomas  Ashly,  infant 
son  of  John  H.  and  Rebecca  A.  Gifford. 

January,  1868.  Rev.  Isaac  Dunham,  who  had  been 
the  acting  pastor  of  this  church  nearly  ten  years,  de- 
clined to  serve  it  longer,  as  he  wished  to  go  and 
build  up  a  church  at  Whittenden,  near  Taunton. 
His  year  expiring  April  1,  1868,  he  had  provided  a 
pastor  for  the  church,  if  they  should  unite  in  calling 
him,  by  the  name  of  Leonard,  who  came  and  preached 
{  a  sermon  Feb.  19,  1868,  and  the  call  was  given  Feb- 
ruary 22d.  For  many  other  items  of  interest,  they 
will  be  found  in  extracts  from  the  society  records.  A 
council  was  called  June  30,  1868,  and  Rev.  H.  P. 
Leonard  was  installed  as  pastor.  Brother  Leonard 
continued  his  pastorate  till  March  16,  1875,  when,  at 
his  request,  a  council  was  called  and  dissolved  his 
connection  with  this  church.  The  pulpit  was  sup- 
plied to  June  1,  1875,  by  Rev.  H.  P.  Gilford,  N.  S. 
Moore,  and  Rev.  N.  S.  Moore  engaged  for  six  months, 
or  to  Dec.  1,  1875,  after  which  the  pulpit  was  again 
supplied  to  Oct.  20,  1876,  by  Mr.  Bonnell,  Dyre,  Gil- 
ford, D.  D.  Campbell,  Pettee,  Smith,  Allen,  Bacon, 
Prescott,  Atwood,  and  Bristol. 

Oct.  20,  1876.  The  church  and  society  invited  Rev. 
F.  L.  Bristol  as  their  acting  pastor  for  one  year,  which 
was  accepted. 

At  the  request  of  Brother  H.  P.  Leonard  and  wife, 
the  usual  letters  from  this  church  to  the  Congrega- 
tional Church  at  East  Taunton  was  sent  him,  and 
notice  received  July  3,  1877.  Rev.  F.  L.  Bristol  gave 
notice  that  at  the  close  of  his  year  of  labor  with  this 
church  and  society  he  should  leave,  and  therefore 
should  not  be  a  candidate  for  acting  pastor  the  next. 
The  church  was  supplied  thereafter  till  Jan.  1,  1878, 
by  Mr.  Bonnell,  L.  P.  Atwood,  Mr.  Dodge,  Mr. 
Tenney,  Mr.  Willams,  and  William  P.  Alcott.  The 
committee  then  agreed  with  Rev.  L.  P.  Atwood  to 
supply  the  church  and  society  for  three  months  from 
Jan.  1  to  April  1,  1878.  He  (Mr.  Atwood)  was  en- 
gaged from  year  to  year  till  April  1,  1883.  He  then 
declined  to  be  a  candidate  to  supply  the4 church  and 
society  longer. 

Sept.  27,  1880.  At  the  request  of  Sister  Ellen  M. 
Leland  to  change  her  connection  from  this  dear  church 
of  her  childhood  to  the  West  Newton  Baptist  Church, 
the  letter  of  recommendation  'and  dismission  was 
granted  by  vote  of  the  church,  and  notice  received. 

Mrs.  Rebeccah  A.  Smith  having  signified  to  Rev. 
L.  P.  Atwood  her  desire'  for  baptism,  and  being  re- 
ceived into  this  church;  a  committee  waited  upon  her 
at  her  house,  she  being  sick  and  in  feeble  health,  and 
upon  examination  of  her  experience  and  profession 
of  faith,  and  it  proving  satisfactory  in  finding  her  in 


WESTPORT. 


695 


fellowship  with  the  articles  of  faith  of  this  church, 
and  of  her  hope  in  the  hlood  of  Christ  which  cleanseth 
from  all  sin,  a  vote  of  the  church  was  taken  on  the 
report  of  the  committee,  which  was  unanimous  to  re- 
ceive her  after  the  ordinance  of  haptism  had  been 
administered. 

Sabbath  afternoon,  July  2,  1882,  Rev.  Mr.  Atwood 
and  members  of  the  church  assembled  at  her  home, 
and  the  ordinance  of  baptism  by  sprinkling  was  ad- 
ministered, and  she  admitted  to  this  branch  of  Christ's 
visible  church  in  usual  form,  after  which  the  sacra- 
ment was  administered. 

On  the  31st  of  December,  1882,  a  letter  was  re- 
ceived from  Brother  Atwood  stating  that  he  respect- 
fully declined  the  candidacy  to  supply  the  pulpit 
after  expiration  of  his  present  year  of  labor,  ending 
the  last  Sabbath  of  March,  1883. 

Jan.  18,  1883.  The  letter  of  Rev.  Mr.  Atwood  read. 
On  motion  of  Brother  Dr.  J.  B.  Parris,  it  was  voted 
that  a  letter  of  recommendation  be  given  him  to  sister 
churches. 

The  following  preamble  and  resolution  and  letter 
were  offered  and  voted,  and  a  copy  furnished  Mr. 
Atwood: 

"  Whereas,  The  Rev.  Lewis  P.  Atwood,  who  has  labored  with  this 
church  and  society  for  more  than  five  years  past,  has  declined  to  be  a 
candidate  for  the  pulpit  the  coming  year,  it  is  therefore 

"Resolved,  That  we  deeply  regret  the  severing  of  the  Christian  and 
brotherly  ties  that  bound  our  hearts  together,  and  this  church  doth  cor- 
dially and  cheerfully  recommend  Brother  Atwood  to  the  confidence  and 
Christian  fellowship  of  sister  churches  who  may  be  in  want  of  a  pastor, 
he  being  an  earnest,  faithful,  and  devout  minister  in  his  Lord's  vine- 
yard, and  deeply  interested  in  Sabbath-schools  and  its  work,  for  which 

he  is  well  adapted. 

"  In  behalf  of  the  church, 

"J.  L.  Anthony,  Clerk." 


Representatives. — The 
sentatives  to  the  General 
present  time : 

1788.  William  Davis,  Esq. 

1789.  Mr.  William  Almy. 

1790.  Voted  not  to  send. 

1791.  Capt.  Sylvester  Brownell. 
1792-99.  William  Almy. 
1800.  Voted  not  to  send. 
1801-3.  Abner  Brownell. 

1804.  William  Almy. 

1805.  John  Blosher. 
1800-7.  William  Almy. 
1808-9.  Sylvester  Brownell. 

Abner  Brownell. 
1810-12.  Abner  Brownell. 

Sylvester  Brownell. 

Abner  Gifford. 
1  813.   Abner  Brownell. 

Abner  li.  Gifford. 

Is;i:ic  Cory. 

ISM.  Abner  Brownell. 

Abner  B.  Gifford. 

John  Anthony. 
1815-16.  Abner  Brownell. 

Sj  Ivester  Brownell. 

Abner  B.  Gifford. 
1817.  Voted  not  to  send. 
1818-19.  Sylvester  Brownell. 

1820.  Voted  not  to  send. 

1821.  Abner  Brownell. 

1822.  Voted  not  to  send. 


following  is  a  list  of  repre- 
Court  from   1788   to   the 


1823-24.  None. 

1825    Abner  B.  Gifford. 

Tillinghast  Almy. 

Nathan  C.  Brownell. 

1826.  None. 

1827.  Tillinghast  Almy. 
Nathan  C.  Brownell. 

1828.  Tillinghast  Almy. 
Aimer  B.  Gifford. 
Nathan  C.  Brownell. 

1829.  None. 

1830.  Abner  B.  Gifford. 
Nathan  C.  Brownell. 
Anselm  Bassett. 

1831.  Abner  B.  Gifford. 
James  H.  Handy. 

1832-34.  Abner  B.  Gifford. 

James  H.  Handy. 

Jonathan  Davis. 
1835.  James  H.  Handy. 

Jonathan  Davis. 

Christopher  A.  Church. 
1836-:i7.  Nathan  C.  Brownell. 

Jonathan  Davis. 

Christopher  A.  Church. 

1838.  Nathan  C.  Brownell. 
Jonathan  Davis. 

1839.  Nathan  C.  Brownell. 
Gamaliel  Church. 


1840.  Gamaliel  Church. 
John  Avery  Gifford. 

1841.  James  H.  Handy. 

1842.  John  Avery  Gifford. 

1843.  Gamaliel  Church. 

1845.1  Jonathan  Davis. 
1846-47.  Perry  Davis. 
1848.  Benjamin  B.  Sissou. 

1850.2  George  H.  Gifford. 
1851-52.  Frederick  Brownell. 
1853-54.  Isaac  A.  Anthony. 
1855.  Benjamin  B.  Sisson. 
1856-57.  Abiel  Davis. 
1858-59.  Ezra  P.  Brownell. 

1860.  Perry  Davis. 

1861.  Ezra  P.  Brownell. 

1862.  C.  A.  Church. 


1863-65.  Ezra  P.  Brownell. 
1866.  Andrew  Hicks. 
1867-68.  Ezra  P.  Brownell. 

1869.  Isaac  A.  Anthony. 

1870.  Ezra  P.  Brownell. 

1871.  Stephen  A.  Brownell. 
1872-73.  Giles  E.  Brownell. 
1874.  Joseph  C.  Little. 
1875-76.  Benjamin  Gifford. 
1877.3  George    B.  Reed,  of  Dart- 
mouth. 

1878.  Charles  Fisher  «  and  William 

P.  Macomber. 

1879.  William  P.  Macomber. 
1880-81.  Henry      A.    Slocum,    of 

Dartmouth. 
1882-83.  John  W.  Gifford. 


Town  Clerks  from  1787  to  1883.— The  following 
is  a  list  of  town  clerks  from  1787  to  the  present  time : 


1787-88.  Abner  Brownell. 

1790-91.  Robert  Earl. 

April  2,  1792,  to  May  14,  1792,  Na- 
thaniel Kirby. 

May  14,  1792,  to  Nov.  28,  1807, 
William  Almy. 

Nov.  28,  1807,  to  April,  1812,  Wil- 
liam White  (2d). 

1812-18.  Abner  B.  Gifford. 

1818-45.  Frederick  Brownell. 


1845-50.  Peleg  W.  Peckham. 
1850-56.  George  H.  Gifford. 
1856-62.  Israel  Allen. 
1862-64.  Isaac  Howland. 
1864-65.  Israel  Allen. 
1865-74.  Albert  C.  Kirby. 
1874-78.  John  A.  Macomber  (2d). 
1878-80.  Robert  A.  Lawton .  . 
1880-83.  John  A.  Macomber  (2d). 


Military  Record.— The 

names  of  the  soldiers  and 
Westport  during  the  war  of 

Averill,  William. 

Abbott,  Hiram  P. 

Adams,  C.  F. 

Allen,  Stephen  H. 

Anthony,  Nicholas  B. 

Andrews,  Thomas. 

Allen,  Albert  M. 

Allen,  George  E. 

Adison,  William. 

Angien,  John. 

Arthur,  Joshua. 

Burt,  Charles  A. 

Borden,  Peleg  S. 

Bullock,  Isaiah  B.  y 

Bowen,  Daniel  W. 

Bryant,  George  H. 

Broadhurt,  Thomas  R. 

Bannan,  James. 

Breck,  Elijah  F. 

Broadbent,  Samuel  S. 

Baker,  Abraham  M. 

Borden,  Isaac  S. 

Brown,  Samuel. 

Bradbury,  Robert. 

Baker,  Henry  C. 

Brightman,  John  H. 

Bradley,  George  E. 

Brownell,  Jirah  F. 

Boswoith,  Henry  L. 

Brown,  William. 

Burch,  Edward. 

Babbit,  Albert. 

Bean,  Elisha  B. 


following  is  a  list  of  the 
sailors  from  the  town  of 
the  Rebellion : 

Barton,  Franklin  A. 
Brightman,  Alexander  S. 
Borden,  John  S. 
Bogan,  John. 
Chappell,  Augustus  G. 
Crowley,  Patrick. 
Cary,  Michael. 
Cordingly,  Thomas  R. 
Curran,  James. 
Connick,  Henry. 
Cornell,  Stephen  B. 
Cutler,  Israel. 
Chappell,  John. 
Devoll,  George  R. 
David,  Solon. 
David,  Charles. 
David,  Edward. 
Dalton,  Warren  R. 
Devoll,  Henry  S. 
Demoranville,  Stephen  E. 
Dyer,  Stephen  K. 
Dillon,  John. 
Dolon,  Andrew. 
Dewire,  William. 
Davis,  James  F. 
Dutcher,  George  0. 
Dengan,  Sfhion. 
Durfeo,  James  D. 
Dollard,  Thomas. 
Dillingham,  Edward  H. 
Davis,  Pardon  E. 
Dean,  John  P. 
Davenport,  Charles  W. 


1  In  1844  William  G.  Slade  had  the  highest  number  of  votes  on  each 
of  four  ballotings,  and  the  polls  closed  at  sunset,  no  choice. 

-  In  1849,  George  H.  Gifford  had  the  highest  number  of  votes  on  each 
of  two  ballotings,  but  no  choice  was  made. 

3  Dartmouth  united  with  Westport  and  sent  but  one  representative. 

*  Charles  Fisher's  seat  contested  by  William  P.  Macomber,  who  was 
admitted. 


696 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Estes,  Daniel  B. 
Emerson,  Joseph  A. 
Easton,  Josiah  J. 
Earl,  Andrew  R. 
Eastlier,  John. 
Evenson,  Michael. 
Fay,  Edward  A. 
Fuller,  John  H. 
Forsyth,  John. 
Fiske,  Joseph. 
French,  Alfred. 
Feeney,  Patrick. 
Fegurade,  John  L. 
Fuller,  Piescott  H. 
Fair,  William  N. 
Fergueson,  Waldermann. 
Fitzgerald,  George. 
Fish,  Samuel. 
Frazier,  Peter. 
Gifford,  George  A. 
Gooding,  Charles  H. 
Greenhalgh,  Joseph. 
Gammons,  John  G. 
Gifford,  Abraham. 
Gifford,  James  B. 
Gammons,  Lemuel  T. 
Gifford,  Eli. 
Grey,  Sydney  N. 
Gifford,  Almenzo. 
Green,  Dennis. 
Gallagher,  Edward. 
Green,  John  C. 
Gahna,  Joseph. 
Gree,  James. 
Green,  Dennis. 
Gagin,  Edward. 
Graff,  Frederick. 
Galpin,  John  L. 
Gleason,  Daniel. 
Hedge,  Lemuel  M. 
Hedge,  Mortimer. 
Hasty,  Alvin  A. 
Harrington,  Daniel. 
Hoklin,  Michael. 
Harrington,  Timothy. 
Hekelsey,  John. 
Holmes,  John  J. 
Howland,  Albeit  F. 
Hartley,  James. 
Harrison,  Edward. 
Hart,  Philip  W. 
Harrington,  John. 
Hazzard,  John  H. 
Howard,  William. 
Humphre3's,  Richard. 
Howland,  Robert'  S. 
Ingraham,  Frederick  W. 
Jenks,  George  A. 
Jordan,  John  F. 
Jones,  John. 
Jenney,  Benjamin  K. 
Jackson,  William  S. 
Jennings,  Asa  M. 
Johnson,  William  H. 
Kendall,  John. 
Kearney,  Rufus  J. 
Keleyor,  William. 
Kelley,  Henry. 
Kelley,  John. 
King,  Stephen's. 
Kan  use,  Samuel  T. 
Kelley,  James. 
Kimball,  James  W. 
Kelley,  Patrick. 
Kelly,  Daniel  W. 
Keeler,  Andrew  J. 
Keenan,  John. 


Kerse,  Patrick. 
Litchfield,  James  A. 
Leary,  James. 
Lowden,  Edward. 
Libby,  Joshua. 
Lewis,  Charles. 
Lewis,  Edward  H. 
Macomber,  William  R. 
McCarthy,  John. 
Moido,  J.  A. 
Martin,  Peter. 
Manchester,  Edward  F. 
Manchester,  John. 
Munhall,  John. 
Miller,  George. 
McNaughter,  Charles. 
McGowan.  John. 
Manchester,  Gilbert. 
Mayhew,  Allen  G. 
Mosher,  Benjamin  F. 
Morisey,  John. 
Moore,  Sidney. 
Macomber,  Leonard  W. 
Macomber,'David  W. 
Macomber,  Richmond. 
Mosher,  Andrew  J. 
Mosher,  Willard  B. 
Mead,  Charles  F. 
Marshall,  Augustus  L. 
Manley,  Henry  B. 
Miller,  Louis. 
McCord,  Were. 
McDonald,  James  D. 
McCullay,  William. 
McCarty,  Mortimer. 
McLane,  Benjamin  L. 
Pool,  Edwin  R. 
Pettey,  James  H. 
Pettey,  Hiram  S. 
Pagan,  Jeremiah. 
Pickels,  James. 
Pierce,  George  F. 
Potter,  Charles  F. 
Pettey,  Daniel  A. 
Platree,  Henry. 
Pettey,  Charles  A. 
Pettey,  Pardon  Z. 
Page,  Charles  A. 
Peckham,  Israel. 
Perry,  William  H. 
Perry,  Orrin  G. 
Palmer,  Abner  D. 
Reed,  Pel  eg  P. 
Rowbotham,  James. 
Riley,  Henry. 
Reed,  Charles  W. 
Ryan,  William. 
Russell,  George  W.  G. 
Russell,  John  W. 
Sanford,  John  G. 
Sharon,  Edward. 
Sanford,  A.  H.,  Jr. 
Sherburne,  E.  G. 
Stoddart,  Sargent  L. 
Short,  Charles. 
Smith,  Robert. 
Sowle,  Robert  F. 
Shaw,  Charles. 
Sanford,  Daniel  M. 
Sanford,  Barnabas  B. 
Sowle,  James  H. 
Sutton,  Benjamin  0. 
Snider,  Asa. 
Sullivan,  James. 
Scott,  Charles  E.' 
Scott,  Thomas. 
Stephens,  John  A. 


Sisson,  Luscomb  F. 
Sanford,  Alexander. 
Simmons,  Abner. 
Tripp,  Joseph  H. 
Tripp,  James  A. 
Tripp,  Christopher  B. 
Tripp,  Charles  M. 
Tripp,  Allen  H. 
Tripp,  Charles  F. 
Tripp,  Daniel  H. 
Tripp,  Robert  L. 
Tripp,  Ephraim  T. 
Tripp,  David  R. 
Tripp,  Augustus  W. 
Tripp,  Alden  W. 
Tripp,  William  G. 
Tripp,  Edwin. 
Tripp,  Charles. 
Tripp,  Almenza. 


Tripp,  Theodore  J. 
Tracey,  William. 
Tracey,  John. 
Tabreta,  Robert. 
Wright,  Sylvanus. 
Wei  re,  Stephen. 
Waite,  Lshmael  S. 
Wise,  Whitlock. 
Wright,  William  H. 
Wilson,  James. 
Williams,  Edward. 
Wilbour,  Philander. 
Wood,  Horatio  M. 
Welch,  John. 
Wood,  George  P. 
Wolf,  Herman. 
Wier,  Frederick. 
Williams,  Jesse  L. 
Watson,  William. 


BIOGRAPHICAL     SKETCHES. 


ANDREW  HICKS. 

Robert  Hicks  came  from  England  in  ship  "  For- 
tune" in  1621.  His  wife,  Margaret  Hicks,  two  sons, 
Samuel  and  Ephraim,  and  two  daughters  came  in 
ship  "  Ann,"  August,  1623.  He  was  in  1618  a  leather- 
dresser  in  London.  He  died  March  24,  1647.  Samuel 
Hicks,  eldest  son  of  Robert,  Plymouth,  1643,  removed 
to  Eastham  ;  there  married  Lydia,  daughter  of  John 
Doane,  Esq.;  was  a  representative  in  1649;  removed 
later  to  Barnstable,  where  he  was  engaged  in  pro- 
moting the  settlement  of  Dartmouth.  He  was  among 
the  thirty-six  original  purchasers  of  that  town,  who 
met  at  Plymouth,  March  7,  1652,  to  divide  their  pur- 
chase. He  owned  one-thirty-fourth  of  the  town, 
where  he  removed  before  1670,  as  on  May  20th  of 
that  year  we  find  him  recorded  as  one  of  the  seven 
freemen  of  Dartmouth. 

His  descendant,  Jacob  Hicks,  who  married  Mary 
Earle,  was  a  farmer  in  that  part  of  Dartmouth  now 
Westport.  He  had  three  children, — Gabriel,  William, 
and  Mary  Durfee.  Gabriel  was  a  farmer  and  tanner, 
and  owned  about  one  hundred  acres  of  land.  He 
married  Mary  Manchester,  and  had  eight  children, — 
William,  who  married  Susannah  West;  Joseph;  Ben- 
jamin, married  Mary  Gibson;  John,  married  Mary 
Congdon  ;  Thomas,  married  Hannah  Sowle  ;  Comfort, 
married  John  Potter;  Elizabeth,  married  Constant 
Sisson  ;  and  Susan,  married  William  Macomber. 

Joseph  Hicks,  born  Feb.  22, 1722,  was  a  farmer  and 
tanner,  and,  like  his  father,  was  a  valued  citizen  and 
of  sound  judgment.  He  married  Elizabeth  Waite, 
and  reared  a  family  of  twelve  children.  They  were 
Benjamin,  married  Eunice  Briggs;  Oliver,  married 
Polly  Earle ;  Barney,  married  Sarah  Cook ;  Durfee, 
married  Susannah  Potter ;  Thomas,  married  Eliza- 
beth Davis  ;  Comfort,  married  Philip  Corey  ;  Mary, 
married  Stephen  Earle;  Lucy,  married  Philip  Taber; 
Priscilla,  married  Stephen  Earle  (second  wife)  ;  Deb- 


V?/J?<U 


WESTPORT. 


697 


orah,  married  John  Pearce ;  Prudence,  married  An- 
thony Almy;  and  Hannah,  married  Paul  Earle. 

Mr.  Hicks  died  Oct.  12, 1798.  Mrs.  Hicks  was  born 
Jan.  20, 1727,  and  died  Sept.  25, 1827,  having  attained 
the  remarkable  age  of  one  hundred  years,  eight 
months,  and  five  days. 

Barney   Hicks,  third   son  and  child  of  Joseph 
and  Elizabeth  (Waite)  Hicks,  was  born  in  1754.    Be- 
fore he  was  of  age  he  became  a  soldier  in  the  Revo- 
lutionary war,  enlisting  as   a   private  soldier  under 
Maj.  Manchester,  in  a  Rhode  Island  regiment  of  the 
colonial  army,  and  was  for  some  months  in  service. 
He  then  fitted  out  a  sloop  at  Westport  for  the  West 
India  trade,  and  started  on  a  voyage.     His  sloop  was 
captured  by  a  British  cruiser,  however,  before  night 
of  the  first  day  out.     The  weather  becoming  rough, 
the  sloop  could  not  be  carried  in  to  Newport,  as  the 
captors  desired,  and  they  bore  away  for  New  York. 
The  storm  continued,  and  they  were  cast  away  near 
Little  Egg   Harbor,  and   all  were   lost   except   Mr. 
Hicks,  one  other  man,  and  a  dog,  who  reached  a 
small    desert   island.     The   cold   was    intense.     Mr. 
Hicks'  companion  and  the  dog  were  frozen  to  death. 
Mr.  Hicks  was  so  badly  frozen  as  to  lose  both  feet 
from  this  cause  after  the  lapse  of  twenty  years.     At 
last  he  attracted  the  attention  of  the  residents  of  the 
Jersey  shore,  and   they  succeeded   in  rescuing   him 
from  his  perilous   condition.     He   remained   at   the 
house  he  first  reached  twelve  months  before  he  re- 
covered his  health  so  far  as  to  do  any  business.  Then 
going  to  Philadelphia,  he  engaged,  with  some  New 
Bedford  friends,  in  fitting  out  a  privateer.     In  three 
weeks  after  sailing   he  returned  to  Philadelphia  in 
charge  of  a  captured  vessel,  and  after  receiving  his 
share  of  the  prize-money  he  paid  for  his  year's  board 
in  New  Jersey.    He  soon  sailed  as  captain  of  another 
privateer.     On  the  first  voyage  the  vessel  was  cap- 
tured and  taken  to  Plymouth,  England,  and  after  a 
short  captivity-in  a  prison-ship,  Capt.  Hicks  was  sent 
to  America.     During  a  fog  he  incited  a  mutiny  and 
captured  the  vessel.     The  fog  lifting,  the  attempt  at 
escape  was  discovered,  and  the  vessel  retaken  by  the 
British.     Capt.  Hicks  again  succeeded  in  capturing 
the  vessel,  and  this  time  cut  her  out  from  the  fleet 
and  brought  her  safely  as  his  prize  into  Boston.  •  He 
made  other  privateering  cruises,  was  again  captured, 
and  held  for  nearly  two  years  a  prisoner  on  a  prison- 
ship  at  New  York.     When  the  war  closed  he  entered 
the  merchant  service,  which  he  followed  until  he  was 
about  forty  years  old,  when  he  returned  to  his  farm 
in  Westport,  where  he  spent  the  rest  of  his  life.     He 
made  forty-five  voyages  to  San  Domingo,  and  on  his 
last  voyage  sailed  to  Africa  and  the  East  Indies. 

He  married,  about  1798,  Sarah  Cook,  born  in  1776, 
and  had  twelve  children, — Betsey,  married  Nathaniel 
Tompkins;  Andrew;  Lydia,  married  Nathaniel 
Church,  and  now  lives  in  Fairhaven ;  Isaac,  married 
Huldah  Tompkins;  John,  married  Caroline  Almy; 
Hannah,  married  Edward  G.  Sowle  (their  children 


are  Sophia,  Francis,  Andrew,  Julia, — Mrs.  C.  B.  Tripp, 
and  Joseph);  Barney,  married  Catharine  Seabury; 
William,  married  Eliza  Seabury;  Reuben,  married 
Sarah  Kirby  ;  Alexander,  married  Elizabeth  How- 
land  ;  Sarah,  married  Ephraim  Brownell ;  Joseph, 
married  Betsey  Briggs.  Three  of  these  children,  An- 
drew, Isaac,  and  Lydia,  are  now  living,  each  over 
eighty  years  of  age.  Notwithstanding  his  privations 
and  vicissitudes,  Mr.  Hicks  attained  the  age  of  seventy- 
eight,  dying  in  1832,  showing  that  he  must  have  had 
an  unusually  strong  constitution.  He  was  prompt, 
decisive,  and  resolute,  and  was  esteemed  by  his  ac- 
quaintances.    His  wife  died  in  1826,  aged  fifty. 

Andrew  Hicks,  son  of  Barney  and  Sarah  (Cook) 
Hicks,  was  born  in  Westport,  Mass.,  June  17,  1799. 
His  boyhood  until  his  thirteenth  year  was  passed  on» 
the  farm.  He  then  engaged  as  clerk  in  a  store  in 
Adamsville,  R.  L,  where  after  eight  years'  service 
he  opened  a  store  of  his  own.  After  trading  three 
years  he  returned  to  the  farm  of  his  ancestors.  In 
1836  he  fitted  out  a  vessel  and  began  an  extended 
whaling  business,  continuing  from  that  time  down  to 
the  present.  He  has  owned  interests  in  eleven  ves- 
sels at  one  time.  He  has  seen  the  various  stages  of 
this  great  enterprise  of  other  days,  from  its  palmy  and 
prosperous  days  to  its  decay  and  subsidence.  He  has 
built  eight  vessels  for  whaling,  and  his  ventures  have 
met  with  very  satisfactory  results. 

Mr.  Hicks  was  in  former  days  a  Whig.  Since  the 
formation  of  the  Republican  party  he  has  been  active 
in  support  of  its  principles.  He  has  been  justice  of 
the  peace  for  twenty-eight  years,  and  represented 
Westport  in  the  Legislature  of  1866.  He  is  a  director 
of  the  Merchants'  Bank  of  New  Bedford,  and  is  uni- 
versally considered  a  sound  financier,  careful,  prudent, 
and  fortunate.  He  now  owns  sixty  acres  of  the  home- 
stead farm,  dating  back  over  two  hundred  years  in  its 
possession  in  his  family.  He  has  never  married,  and 
at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-four  years  has  a  re- 
markable memory  of  events  and  dates  and  unusual 
clearness  of  intellect. 


THE    GIFFORD    FAMILY. 

From  the  English  book  of  heraldry,  otherwise  called 

"  The  Doomsday  Book,"  we  extract  the  genealogy  of 

the  Gilford  family  down  to  the  emigration  of  the  first 

American  of  the  name  in  1630 :  "  The  family  of  Gif- 

ford  is  of  high  antiquity,  and  was  seated  at  Honfleur, 

!  in  Normandy,  three  hundred  years  before  the  conquest 

of  England  by  William  the  Norman.     At  the  battle 

!  of  Hastings  (1066),  'Sire  Randolph  de  Gifforde'  was 

J  one   of   the  Conqueror's   standard-bearers,  and    was 

rewarded    by  him  with    land    in   Somersetshire  and 

Cheshire,  which    was   created   into  a   barony,    from 

which  his  descendants  had  summons  to  Parliament. 

In  the  reign  of  Henry  II.,  Sir  Peter  Gilford  married 

Alice,  daughter  and  heiress  of  Sir  Guy  de  Corbuchin, 

with  whom  he  had   the  lordship  of  Chillington,  in 


698 


HISTORY   OF    BRISTOL  COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Cheshire,  which  was  the  seat  of  the  Dukes  of  Buck- 
ingham of  this  family.  Sir  Stephen  GifFord  was  one 
of  the  barons  accompanying  Richard  Co3ur  de  Lion 
to  the  Holy  Land,  and  was  killed  at  the  siege  of  Je- 
rusalem. His  son  Sir  Stephen  was  wounded  there. 
The  family  enjoyed  great  distinction  in  the  English 
court  for  several  centuries,  and  no  less  than  five  peer- 
ages existed  in  it  at  one  time.  Baron  George  GifFord 
was  made  Earl  of  Buckingham  by  Henry  V.,  but 
joining  the  House  of  York  against  that  of  Lancaster, 
and  being  one  of  the  prime  favorites  of  Edward  V., 
he  was  created  Duke  of  Buckingham,  and  married  the 
Princess  Maude  Plantagenet,  the  king's  cousin.  His 
son,  George  Gifford,  Duke  of  Buckingham,  was  one 
of  the  favorites  of  the  Duke  of  Gloucester,  afterwards 
Richard  III.  Being  detected  by  that  tyrant  in  the 
act  of  corresponding  with  the  Earl  of  Richmond 
(Henry  VII.),  he  was  attainted  of  high  treason  and 
beheaded  by  Richard's  orders.  This  Duke  of  Buck- 
ingham left  several  children,  but  as  they  had  been 
deprived  of  their  lands  and  titles,  the  mercenary  king 
(Henry  VII.)  found  it  more  convenient  not  to  restore 
them,  and  Humphrey  Stafford,  a  very  rich  and  pow- 
erful nobleman,  having  married  the  oldest  daughter 
of  Henry,  was  created  by  him  Duke  of  Buckingham. 
The  Staffords  followed  the  fate  of  their  maternal  an- 
cestor (Gifford),  for  the  grandson  of  Humphrey  was 
beheaded  and  his  family  deprived  of  their  vast  estates. 
Of  the  sons  of  the  last  George  Gifford,  Duke  of  Buck- 
ingham, George  continued  the  first  line,  and  continu- 
ally solicited  the  crown  and  Parliament  for  his  res- 
toration, but,  from  the  powerful  opposition  of  his 
brother-in-law  (Stafford),  was  always  defeated.  The 
Giffords,  in  the  reigns  of  Henry  VIII.  and  Queens 
Mary  and  Elizabeth,  ineffectually  put  their  claims 
before  the  English  Parliament,  never,  however,  being 
able  to  obtain  a  judgment.  In  the  reign  of  James  I., 
Sir  Ambrose  Gifford  claimed  before  the  House  of 
Peers  to  be  Duke  of  Buckingham,  and  in  the  second 
year  of  the  reign  of  Charles  I.  his  claims  were  disal- 
lowed on  account  of  his  poverty.  Walter  Gifford, 
the  son  of  Sir  Ambrose,  emigrated  from  England  to 
Massachusetts  Bay  in  1630,  and  was  the  originator  of 
the  American  branch  of  this  family."  All  those  bear- 
ing the  name  in  New  England  are  traceable  to  this 
ancestor,  and  the  descendants  in  America  are  found 
no  unworthy  bearers  of  the  honorable  name,  as  they 
have  distinguished  themselves  in  art,  literature,  and 
science.  Honesty,  sturdy  independence,  and  industry 
have  been  characteristic  of  the  name  in  Bristol  County, 
where  many  now  bear  it. 


GEORGE    H.    GIFFORD. 

George  Howland  Gifford,  son  of  Elihu  and  Barbara 
(Howland)  Gifford,  was  born  in  Westport,  Mass.,  Feb. 
9,  1806.  His  grandfather,  Stephen  Gifford,  married 
Rhoda  Anthony.  He  lived  on  the  line  of  Dartmouth, 
was  a  farmer,  and  died  advanced  in  years,  leaving  five 


sons  and  two  daughters.  Elihu,  one  of  his  sons,  was 
born  Jan.  9,  1783,  married  Barbara,  daughter  of  John 
and  Elizabeth  Howland,  about  1804.  She  was  born 
in  Westport,  Nov.  12,  1782.  They  had  five  children, 
—  George  H.,  Keziah  H.  (married  Henry  B.  Gifford, 
lives  iti  Providence,  R.  I.,  and  has  three  children  now 
living),  Elizabeth  (Mrs.  Isaac  Howland,  of  Westport), 
John  H.,  of  Springfield,  and  George  E.,  of  Westport. 
Elihu  was  a  blacksmith  of  that  early  day,  ran  a  forge, 
made  hoes,  axes,  and  other  cutting  instruments,  in 
connection  with  his  brothers  Job  and  John,  and 
worked  at  his  trade  until  his  early  death,  Dec.  26, 
1809.  He  was  a  nervous,  impulsive,  and  impetuous 
man,  hard-working,  social,  fond  of  his  family,  and  a 
member  of  the  Friends'  Society.  His  widow  married 
John  W.  Gifford,  and  died  Oct.  6, 1867,  in  her  eighty- 
fifth  year.  She  was  a  woman  of  great  strength  of 
character.  Very  thoughtful  of  others,  she  was  uni- 
versally loved,  and  was  called  by  every  one  in  her  old 
age  "  Grandmother  Barbara."  She  learned  the  trade 
of  tailoress  at  the  age  of  fifteen,  and  was  very  ingeni- 
ous, making  dresses,  coats,  vests,  bonnets,  etc.  She 
was  erect  and  quick  in  her  movements,  retained  her 
activity  until  her  death,  and  was  noted  for  her  superb 
horsemanship.  She  was  an  elder  of  the  Friends'  So- 
ciety and  held  in  high  esteem. 

George  H.  Gifford  was  educated  at  common  school, 
and  attended  the  select  school,  which  enjoyed  high 
reputation,  under  the  teaching  of  George  W.  Baker, 
fitting  himself  for  an  instructor.  He  began  to  teach 
in  1827,  and  devoted  himself  to  this  for  several  years, 
part  of  the  time  being  in  charge  of  a  high  school- 
He  married,  Dec.  3,  1826,  Rebeckah,  daughter  of  Jo- 
seph and  Judith  (Brightman)  Davis.  She  was  born 
at  Westport,  Sept.  18,  1806,  and  died  Dec.  21,  1879. 
Their  children  were  (1)  Henry  T.  (deceased),  mar- 
ried Mary  E.  Ramsdell,  and  had  one  child,  George 
H. ;  (2)  Julia  S.,  married  William  Davenport,  has 
two  children,  George  W.  and  James  H.,  and  lives 
in  Fall  River;  (3)  Nancy H.,  married  Edwin  R.  Pool, 
who  died  in  Salisbury  prison  while  serving  as  a  sol- 
dier in  the  Union  army  during  the  late  civil  war; 
they  had  two  children,  Augusta  D.  (married  C.  W. 
Tripp,  and  has  one  child,  Edwin  P.)  and  Carrie 
May  ;  (4)  George  D.,  died  in  infancy.  In  the  family 
of  Mr.  Gifford  was  reared  Frank  Seymour  Davis,  a 
son  of  Mrs.  Gifford's  brother  John  and  his  wife,  Emily 
Wilbur,  and  he  has  ever  been  considered  by  all  a 
member  of  the  family,  and  was  made  an  heir  of  Mr. 
Gifford  equally  with  his  children. 

After  the  death  of  her  husband  Elihu,  the  mother 
of  Mr.  GifFord  returned  with  her  children  to  her 
father's  home,  and  for  seventy  years  thereafter,  and 
until  his  death,  this  was  Mr.  GifFord's  home.  He 
became  a  farmer,  and  purchased  the  place  after  his 
grandfather's  death,  varying  this  avocation  by  sail- 
ing, Aug.  23,  1837,  on  brig  "Elizabeth,"  from  West- 
port,  on  a  whaling  voyage  which  lasted  nine  months. 
With  this  exception,  this  farm  was  Mr.  GifFord's  resi- 


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WESTPORT. 


699 


dence  for  seventy  years  and  until  his  death.  On  his 
return  from  this  voyage  he  engaged  in  manufacturing 
shingles  in  connection  with  farming,  and  also  became 
a  carriage-maker.  He  bought  the  Moose  Mill,  in 
Westport,  and  made  carriage  woodwork,  and  owned 
the  mill  at  his  death. 

But  it  was  his  long  and  active  career  in  public  af- 
fairs and  his  prominence  in  temperance  work  that 
most  deserves  perpetuation.  He  was  much  in  public 
life.  He  was  commissioned  justice  of  the  peace  about 
1845,  and  continued  in  that  office  until  his  death.  He 
held  every  town  office,  and  represented  his  town  in 
the  Legislature.  He  settled  many  estates,  and  also  was 
chief  surveyor  of  this  vicinity  for  many  years.  He 
was  often  called  upon  to  give  advice,  and  was  a  wise 
and  sagacious  counselor.  He  was  a  popular  auctioneer, 
and  continued  to  transact  some  kinds  of  business  till 
within  a  few  days  of  his  death,  May  19,  1882.  He 
acted  at  various  periods  of  his  life  with  the  Demo- 
cratic, Republican,  and  Prohibitory  political  parties. 
His  temperance  history  was  a  marked  one.  At  the 
formation  of  the  Washingtonian  Temperance  Society, 
in  1842,  he  was  somewhat  dissipated,  but  such  was  the 
interest  in  him  and  desire  to  secure  his  aid  that  when 
organizing  the  Westport  Society  the  office  of  vice- 
president  was  left  vacant  to  be  given  him  if  he  would 
take  the  pledge  and  join  them.  He  did  so,  became 
its  first  vice-president,  and  held  that  office,  or  that 
of  president,  so  long  as  the  society  existed.  He  took 
hold  of  temperance  with  all  the  ardor  of  his  positive 
nature,  and  fought  the  rum-demon  everywhere  and 
at  all  times.  He  was  a  forcible  speaker,  and  soon 
received  the  sobriquet  of  the  "  Old  Temperance  War- 
horse."  He  had  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that 
tangible  and  permanent  results  came  from  his  efforts. 
He  was  chief  officer  of  Sons  of  Temperance  and  Good 
Templars  for  a  number  of  terms.  In  religion  he  was 
liberal  and  independent,  inclining,  however,  to  the 
Friends'  belief.  He  was  accurate,  methodical,  and 
systematic  in  all  things,  and  correct  in  all  business 
matters,  and  successful  in  the  acquisition  of  property. 
He  was  a  kind  and  loving  husband  and  father,  covering 
a  warm  heart  by  an  appearance  of  austerity  and  gruff- 
ness.  He  was  an  agreeable  social  companion,  full  of 
humor  and  laughable  stories.  Honored  by  the  com- 
munity, his  death  was  deeply  regretted. 


WILLIAM    GIFFORD     VXD    WILLIAM    H.  GIFFORD. 

From  Eli  Wodell's  genealogical  work — a  rare  and 
really  ingenious  and  labored  production— we  glean 
something  of  the  North  Westport  Cliffords.  Ana- 
nias (?)  Gifford  had  at  least  five  children, — Benjamin, 
Etecompence,  Abigail,  Mary,  Kezia.  Benjamin  was  a 
cooper,  died  in  Westport  about  1817.  (E.  W.  says 
lie  was  son  or  brother  of  Ananias  Gilford.)  He  had 
children,— Nathaniel,  .lames,  Stephen,  John.  George, 
and  Ruth.     ("  George  Gifford,  son  of  Benjamin  and 


Susan  Sherman,  daughter  of  Sampson  Sherman,  his 
second  wife,  was  married  four  times,  and  barely  es- 
caped two  other  such  calamities.  He  was  to  marry 
Miss  Andrews,  who  died  bride  expectant.  He  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Wodell,  Susan  Sherman,  Ruth  Cottle, 
and  Mercy  Bullock,  and  escaped  Miss  Andrews  and 
Mrs.  Randall,  to  whom  at  his  death  he  was  con- 
tracted. He  was  a  good  and  sensible  man,  and  had 
considerable  literary  talent." — Eli  Wodell.)  George, 
born  Feb.  17,  1772,  in  Freetown,  was  a  farmer,  well 
read,  and  a  good  penman.  He  acted  as  clerk  at 
auctions,  town-meetings,  etc.  He  was  also  a  school- 
master, and  a  worthy  and  deeply-devoted  member  of 
the  Baptist  Church.  He  moved  in  later  life  to  Graf-, 
ton,  N.  H.,  and  in  that  new  country  was  very  useful, 
and  by  his  aid  in  forming  churches  and  religious  so- 
cieties, made  a  permanent  impress  on  the  place.  By 
his  first  wife  he  had  Elizabeth,  married  Samuel 
Thurston  ;  by  his  second  wife,  Susan,  he  had  William, 
Stephen,  and  Charles  (who  died  at  Fort  Mahon,  Aug. 
2, 1828,  while  in  the  United  States  naval  service) ;  and 
by  his  third  wife  he  had  one  daughter,  Caroline. 
He  died  at  an  old  age. 

William  Gifford  was  born  in  Westport,  Mass., 
Feb.  12,  1794.  He  was  reared  on  the  farm,  and  be- 
came a  farmer.  Married  Deborah,  daughter  of  Thomas 
Freelove,  of  Troy  (now  Fall  River).  She  was  born 
Oct.  12, 1791.  Their  children  attaining  mature  years 
were  Ruth  and  William  H.  Ruth  married  Jacob 
Hicks,  of  Fall  River,  Mass.  Her  only  surviving 
child,  Charles,  married  Catharine  Paine,  and  had  one 
son,  Charles  A.,  now  a  practicing  physician  in  Fall 
River.  Mr.  Gifford  was  an  energetic  and  an  indus- 
trious man,  and  possessed  good  intellect.  He  taught 
school  in  early  life  successfully,  and  was  a  farmer  the 
rest  of  his  days.  He  was  one  of  those  earnest  and 
devoted  yeomen  who  did  good  service  in  the  progress 
of  the  better  elements  of  civilization.  Quiet  and  un- 
demonstrative in  manner,  he  read  much,  and  had  clear 
and  original  thoughts  and  ideas.  His  judgment  was 
sound,  and  weighed  impartially  all  things,  and  rarely 
was  it  at  fault  in  its  conclusions.  He  was  a  Christian, 
a  worthy  member  of  Elder  Hicks'  (Baptist)  Church 
at  North  Dartmouth,  where  he  retained  his  member- 
ship during  life.  His  religion  was  not  the  pompous 
religion  that  flaunts  itself  obtrusively  in  all  unseemly 
places  with  a  Pharisaical  pride.  It  was  a  portion  of 
his  being,  and  his  heart  was  the  prompter  of  every 
thought,  word,  and  deed,  which  so  worthily  adorned 
this  modest  child  of  Christ.  It  modified  all  his  life. 
In  social,  family,  and  business  relations  it  gave  gen- 
tleness and  kindness,  and  a  sterling  love  of  right  for 
right's  sake,  and  made  him  the  steadfast  foe  of  every- 
thing tending  to  draw  men  downward.  Consequently 
we  find  him  an  active  member  of  the  first  temperance 
society  (the  Washingtonians)  organized  in  this  sec- 
tion, and  equally  as  strong  and  pronounced  was  he 
against  the  monster  evil  of  slavery.  He  was  uni- 
versally esteemed  for  his  many  good  qualities,  and 


700 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


none   were   more   sincerely    mourned   at   his    death, 
which  occurred  Dec.  22,  1865. 

William  Henry  Gifford,  son  of  William  and 
Deborah  (Freelove)  Gifford,  was  born  Jan.  19,  1827, 
in  Westport,  Mass.,  not  much  more  than  forty  rods 
from  his  present  residence.  He  had  common  school 
education  ;  became  a  farmer ;  inherited  his  father's 
real  estate  of  about  seventy  acres,  to  which  by  his 
industry,  economy,  and  thrift  he  has  added  largely, 
owning  now  about  seven  hundred  acres  of  laud  in 
this  vicinity,  beside  real  estate  in  Fall  River.  He 
has  been  a  worker.  From  early  morn  till  late  at 
night  he  has  wrought  diligently,  and  has  never  eaten 
the  bread  of  idleness.  He  has  invariably  sided  with 
the  political  and  moral  forces  which  promised  the 
elevation  of  the  lower  classes  and  the  benefit  of 
humanity.  Never  caring  for  nor  accepting  office, 
he  has  done  good  service  in  the  Republican  party, 
and  in  the  old  Washingtonian  Temperance  Society 
was  one  of  the  most  efficient  laborers,  and  secretary 
of  the  society  in  his  neighborhood  for  years.  To 
these  principles  he  still  tenaciously  adheres.  Al- 
though he  could  realize  larger  rents  for  various  prop- 
erties of  his  in  Fall  River  if  he  would  allow  liquor 
to  be  sold  on  the  premises,  he  was  true  to  his  princi- 
ples, refusing  to  let  to  such  parties,  even  if  they  re- 
mained vacant.  He  was  at  one  time  somewhat  inter- 
ested in  whaling,  owning  three-fourths  of  a  whaler; 
but  it  did  not  prove  profitable,  and  he  sold  out  in 
1881.  He  has  been  stockholder  and  director  of  the 
Barnard  Manufacturing  Company,  of  Fall  River, 
from  its  organization.  He  married  Ruth  L.,  daugh- 
ter of  David  and  Zilpha  (Devoll)  Brownell,  of  West- 
port.  .  After  a  short  wedded  life  she  died,  leaving  her 
infant  daughter  and  namesake,  Ruth  Louisa,  to  fol- 
low her  to  the  grave  in  three  short  months.  Although 
these  deaths  occurred  twenty-five  years  ago,  Mr.  Gif- 
ford has  remained  true  to  his  first  love  and  never  again 
married.  He  is  to-day  one  of  the  wealthy  and  pro- 
gressive citizens  of  his  town. 


CAPT.  BENJAMIN  GIFFORD. 
Capt.  Benjamin  Gifford,  son  of  Humphrey  and 
Phebe  (Davis)  Gifford,  was  born  in  Westport,  Mass., 
July  11,  1824.  He  commenced  coasting  voyages 
with  his  father  when  but  seven  years  old,  so  had  but 
little  advantages  for  education  except  that  given  by 
personal  application  on  board  of  ship,  where  he  was 
a  diligent  student.  He  sailed  on  his  first  whaling 
voyage  on  his  fifteenth  birthday  in  bark  "  Hope,"  his 
uncle,  Capt.  Gideon  Davis,  being  master.  He  re- 
turned in  November,  1840.  He  then  made  three 
voyages  in  brig  "  Mexico,"  and  two  in  "  Dr.  Frank- 
lin." The  last  one  he  commanded  the  vessel,  rising 
to  his  position  of  master  by  steady  promotion.  The 
wages  of  his  first  four  voyages  were  taken  by  his 
father,  for  he  was  under  age.  He  next  commanded 
the  bark  "  Marion,"  of  New  Bedford,  on  a  three  and 


one-half  years'  cruise.  His  next  vessel  was  the  bark 
"  Mattapoisett,"  of  Westport,  and  the  next,  in  which 
he  made  three  voyages,  was  the  bark  "  President,"  of 
New  Bedford.  He  afterwards  went  three  voyages  as 
captain  in  the  vessels  "Glacier,"  "Spartan,"  and 
"Sunbeam,"  of  New  Bedford.  He  returned  from 
his  last  voyage  Dec.  2,  1879,  having  accumulated 
quite  a  property  by  his  services.  He  was  very  con- 
scientious in  all  things,  so  much  so  that  an  acquaint- 
ance remarked  once,  when  the  captain  was  talking 
of  leaving  the  sea  and  engaging  in  merchandising, 
"  He  never  would  make  a  living,  for  he  was  too  hon- 
est." He  married,  Aug.  14,  1853,  Hannah  R.,  daugh- 
ter of  Stephen  and  Hannah  (Baker)  Allen,  an  esti- 
mable and  generous  lady  who  survives  him. 

Capt.  Gifford  was  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  as 
such  represented  Westport  two  terms  in  the  State 
Legislature.  He  died  April  18,  1881.  He  was  a  re- 
markably genial  man,  knowing  no  difference  in  his 
intercourse  between  the  high  and  the  low,  the  rich 
and  the  poor,  and  won  the  love  and  confidence  of 
all.  He  was  generous  to  a  fault,  and  never  refused 
to  assist  any  benevolent  object.  He  was  dignified  in 
appearance,  but  with  a  cheerful  courteousness  he  was 
a  pleasant  companion,  with  many  a  repartee  and 
ready  joke.  He  was  of  nervous  temperament,  and 
rarely  sat  down  an  hour  in  his  house,  but  was  busy 
in  something  he  wished  to  do.  He  was  a  devout 
Christian,  belonging  to  the  Friends'  Society.  When 
stricken  down  by  paralysis,  and  forced  to  leave  all 
active  labor  by  being  deprived  partially  of  the  use 
of  his  right  side,  he  never  murmured,  but  with  cheer- 
ful content  accepted  the  condition  with  the  remark, 
"  It  is  all  right ;  I  have  already  had  my  share  of 
good  health,"  and  during  one  long  year  of  invalid 
and  suffering  life  he  retained  the  same  cheerfulness, 
filling  the  hearts  of  all  who  were  near  him  with  sun- 
shine, and  when  he  died  a  host  of  friends  mourned, 
and  letters  of  condolence  came  to  his  widow  from  all 
quarters  of  the  globe.  The  New  Bedford  Mercury, 
April  19,  1881,  contained  this  short  tribute  to  his 
memory:  "Capt.  Benjamin  Gifford,  of  Westport 
Point,  died  of  paralysis  yesterday  morning,  aged 
fifty-six.  He  made  quite  a  number  of  voyages  suc- 
cessfully in  whaling,  his  last  one  being  in  the  '  Sun- 
beam,' of  this  city.  He  was  not  a  great  man  ;  he  was 
more  than  that,  he  was  a  good  man.  Honest  and 
straightforward  in  his  transactions,  and  of  pleasant 
disposition,  he  won  the  respect  of  all  who  knew  him. 
He  was  a  strong  advocate  of  temperance  and  a 
Friend.  He  was  a  member  of  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives of  Massachusetts,  1877-78." 


CHRISTOPHER    BORDEN. 

Christopher  Borden,  son  of  Abraham  and  Phebe 
(Barker)  Borden,  was  born  Oct.  20, 1815,  on  the  lands 
possessed  by  four  or  five  generations  of  his  ancestors 
in  Tiverton,  R.  I.,  now  Westport,  Mass.     (For  ances- 


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WESTPORT. 


701 


tral  history  of  Borden  family  see  biography  of  Cook 
Borden,  Fall  River.)  The  line  of  descent  to  Chris- 
topher from  Richard,  the  emigrant,  is  Richard1,  John2, 
Richard8,  Thomas4,  Christopher5,  Jonathan'5,  Abra- 
ham7, Christopher8.  Thomas  Borden  (fourth  genera- 
tion) gave  the  Cranberry  Neck  property  with  other 
woodlands  to  his  son  Christopher,  who  became  a 
farmer  there,  and  probably  built  the  first  saw-mill  on 
the  site  where  stands  the  mill  of  his  descendant 
Christopher.  He  was  a  man  of  respectability  and  sub- 
stance, owning  much  land  and  many  slaves,  married 
Hannah,  daughter  of  Stephen  and  Penelope  Borden, 
Dec.  24,  1748,  and  died  suddenly,  an  old  man.  His 
son  Jonathan,  born  May  5,  1761,  married  Elizabeth 
Bow  en,  and  had  Hannah,  Abraham,  Phebe,  Thomas, 
Rhoda,  Isaac,  and  Elizabeth.  He  was  a  farmer  and 
mill-owner,  held  some  offices,  and  was  social,  honest, 
straightforward,  and  always  lull  of  business,  which  he 
uniformly  conducted  to  a  successful  issue.  He  died 
May  19,  1848.  Abraham  was  born  near  the  present 
residence  of  Christopher,  July  20,  1792,  and  always 
lived  on  the  farm  where  he  commenced  housekeeping. 
He  was  a  man  of  quiet  and  undemonstrative  nature, 
yet  strongly  fixed  in  his  opinions.  He  never  cared 
for  office,  but  steadily  kept  the  even  tenor  of  his  way, 
undisturbed  by  political  turmoil.  By  purchase  and 
by  legacy  he  received  from  his  father  two  hundred 
and  seventy  acres  of  land.  He  was  engaged  in  lum- 
bering in  addition  to  farming.  He  married  Phebe, 
daughter  of  Lemuel  and  Maria  (Tripp)  Barker,  of 
Dartmouth,  and  had  three  children, —  Christopher, 
Rhoda  (Mrs.  Abiel  Davis),  and  Maria  R.,  who  died 
one  year  after  her  marriage  to  Capt.  Weston  Jenney. 
Mrs.  Borden  was  a  Friend,  and  Mr.  Borden  attended 
their  meetings  regularly,  although  not  a  member  of 
the  society.     He  died  Oct.  28,  1864. 

Christopher  Borden  (eighth  generation)  was  edu- 
cated at  common  schools  and  the  Friends'  school  at 
Providence,  R.  I.  He  remained  with  his  father  after 
returning  from  school,  and  became  associated  with 
and  finally  succeeded  him  in  charge  of  the  farm  and 
lumbering  interests,  which  latter  has  been  somewhat 
extensive  in  the  departments  of  cedar  and  shingles. 
He  married  Lucy  H.,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Sarah 
S.  (Howland)  Davis,  Feb.  11,  1839.  She  was  a  native 
of  Westport,  Mass.,  and  born  Feb.  11,  1818.  They 
have  had  six  children, — Jonathan,  married  Mary  M. 
(Snell)  Estes,  has  seven  children,  and  lives  on  the 
old  homestead ;  Alice  A.,  married  George  H.  Hicks, 
has  five  children,  and  lives  in  Fall  River;  Mary  E., 
married  Isaac  W.  Howland,  of  Little  Compton,  R.  I., 
and  has  one  child;  Othniel  T.,  a  youth  of  bright 
promise,  who  was  accidentally  and  fatally  shot  in 
his  twentieth  year,  Jan.  22,  1866  ;  Edwin,  married 
Mary  E.  Young,  has  five  children,  and  lives  near  his 
parents  ;  Phebe  S.,  married  Arthur  D.  Cornell,  has 
two  children,  and  lives  in  Fall  River. 

The  home  of  Mr.  Borden  has  always  been  on  the 
homestead  of  his  forefathers.     By  the  fluctuation  of 


boundary  lines  it  has  been  in  two  States  and  three 
towns, — Tiverton,  R.  I.,  Fall  River,  R.  I.,  and  West- 
port,  Mass. 

Mr.  Borden  has  been  much  in  public  service.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Town  Council  of  Tiverton,  has 
been  selectman  of  Westport  year  after  year,  has  been 
on  auditing  committee  for  several  years,  and  has  also 
held  minor  offices.  He  has  been  called  upon  to  ad- 
minister on  many  estates,  and  in  all  his  range  of 
official  duties  and  trusts  he  has  ever  acted  with  strict 
integrity,  directness  of  purpose,  and  rapidity  of  exe- 
cution. He  is  a  pleasant,  kindly  gentleman,  whose 
many  good  qualities  attract  numerous  friends.  Whig 
and  Republican  in  politics,  he  has  never  swerved 
from  support  of  those  principles.  He  has  been  pros- 
perous in  business,  has  been  a  farmer,  and,  with  his 
sons,  has  done  much  in  lumbering.  He  now  leaves 
the  principal  part  of  the  labor  on  younger  shoulders, 
and  looks  merely  after  the  investments  which  from 
time  to  time  he  has  made.  He  is  a  stockholder  in 
Metacomet,  Pocasset,  and  Union  Banks,  Fall  River, 
and  Commercial  Bank,  New  Bedford.  He  is  also  a 
stockholder  in  the  Flint,  Barnard,  and  Weetamoe 
Mills,  Fall  River,  and  is  interested  in  and  a  director 
of  the  Fall  River  Manufacturing  Company.  He  is 
held  in  high  esteem  by  his  fellow-townsmen  and 
entire  circle  of  acquaintance,  and  is  justly  considered 
one  of  Westport's  leading  citizens. 


LEONARD    MACOMBER. 

Leonard  Macomber,  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Slade) 
Macomber,  was  born  in  Westport,  Mass.,  Feb.  8, 1818. 
He  comes  on  both  sides  from  early  settlers  of  this  sec- 
tion, who  have  given  to  their  descendants  not  only 
good  estates  but  honorable  records.  His  grandfather, 
Nathaniel  Macomber,  was  a  native  of  Westport  (then 
Dartmouth),  and  was  a  farmer  and  nurseryman.  He 
married  Susanna  Macomber,  and  had  a  large  family 
of  children,  and  bequeathed  his  farm  and  nursery  to 
his  son  John,  who  for  many  years  carried  on  the  same 
business  as  his  father.  John  married  Mary  Slade,  of 
the  old  Swansea  (Somerset)  family.  (See  biographies 
of  William  L.  and  Jonathan  Slade,  in  history  of  Som- 
erset, in  this  volume.)  They  had  eight  children,  of 
whom  Leonard  was  the  fourth.  Leonard  had  com- 
mon school  education,  and  attended  the  Friends' 
school  at  Providence,  R.  I.  He  married  Esther  A., 
daughter  of  Joshua  and  Diana  (Manchester)  Austin, 
of  Little  Compton,  R.  I.  They  had  three  children, 
Elizabeth  S.,  John  A.,  and  Hannah  D.  (married  George 
E.  Tripp,  and  has  two  children). 

Leonard  lived  on  a  farm  adjoining  the  homestead 
of  his  father,  and  never  changed  -his  residence.  Like 
his  father  and  grandfather,  he  enjoyed  a  high  degree 
of  public  confidence,  which  has  been  in  each  genera- 
tion justly  deserved.  He  was  a  pleasant  neighbor, 
plain  and  straightforward  in  business,  and  a  good 
citizen.     He  was  of  irreproachable  character,  kind- 


702 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


hearted  and  generous,  and  a  friend  to  the  poor.  In 
all  his  public  and  private  transactions  he  manifested 
sound  judgment,  strict  integrity  and  ability,  and  his 
unostentatious  demeanor  won  him  many  friends. 

He  was  strictly  temperate  in  all  things,  and  gave 
his  influence  and  support  to  all  measures  which  tended 
to  promote  the  intelligence  and  welfare  of  his  fellow- 
citizens.  Although  not  aspiring  to  political  promi- 
nence, yet  the  people  of  Westport,  in  their  confidence 
in  his  integrity,  for  quite  a  number  of  years  intrusted 
to  his  care  the  treasury  of  the  town,  to  the  universal 
satisfaction  of  all.  He  was  also  tax  collector  several 
years,  and  was  often  called  to  administer  on  estates. 
In  these  onerous  and  complicated  duties  he  was  uni- 
formly successful  in  harmoniously  adjusting  whatever 
seemed  in  disorder,  and  his  clear  judgment  and  wise 
counsels  were  often  asked  for  others.  He  was  a  birth- 
right member  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  and  his  life 
was  an  example  of  their  peaceful  creed.  He  died 
Jan.  31,  1873. 

Mrs.  Macomber  was  born  Feb.  23, 1819,  and  is  now 
residing  at  Central  village,  surrounded  by  her  children 
and  grandchildren,  and  passing  a  kindly  and  cheerful 
old  age. 

John  A.  Macomber  (2d),  son  of  Leonard  and  Diana 
Macomber,  married  Esther  A.,  daughter  of  Stephen 
and  Ann  D.  Allen,  and  has  two  children.  He  is  at 
the  present  writing  town  clerk  of  Westport,  and  is 
an  honored  and  useful  citizen  of  his  native  town. 


EZRA  P.  BROWNELL. 
Ezra  P.  Brownell,  son  of  Jireah  and  Sarah  (Kirby) 
Brownell,  was  born  in  Westport,  Mass.,  Aug.  10. 
1819.  His  paternal  grandparents  were  Benjamin  and 
Abigail  (Milk)  Brownell.  His  early  education  was 
acquired  at  common  schools,  which  he  supplemented 
by  two  terms  at  Pierce  Academy,  Middleborough,  Mass. 
This  he  accomplished  by  teaching  in  the  winter,  and 
using  the  funds  thus  acquired  in  attending  the  sum- 
mer sessions  of  the  academy.  His  early  life  was  in 
no  respect  one  of  ease  or  wealth,  but  a  constant 
struggle  with  adverse  circumstances  to  attain  a  sat- 
isfactory position  in  society.  He  was  imbued  with 
a  desire  to  benefit  his  fellow-men,  and  every  action 
of  his  kind  and  philanthropic  nature  had  some  aim 
of  this  nature  in  view.  His  desire  to  aid  in  relieving 
the  sufferings  and  misfortunes  of  others  far  exceeded 
his  wish  for  wealth  or  personal  gratification,  as  many 
living  can  testify.  His  son  states  that  many  are  the 
instances  where  strangers  have  met  him  by  chance, 
and,  ascertaining  that  he  was  the  son  of  Ezra  P. 
Brownell,  have  with  great  emotion  recalled  some  act 
of  his  which  had  materially  assisted  them  in  some  of 
the  difficult  places  in  their  pathway. 

Mr.  Brownell  served  faithfully  in  every  station  of 
public  trust, — as  school  committee  nineteen  years 
(1845  to  1866),  auditing  committee,  selectman  ten 
years,  chairman  of  the  board  seven  years,  member 


of  the  Lower  House  of  the  State  Legislature  nine 
years  (1857  to  1869),  State  senator  in  1861.  He  was 
appointed  county  commissioner  in  1865,  and  served 
three  years.  As  a  member  of  the  Legislature,  he  won 
the  respect  and  confidence  of  all  his  associates,  and 
by  force  of  his  integrity  exerted  a  marked  influence. 
He  was  modest  and  unostentatious,  rarely  addressing 
the  House,  never  taking  the  floor  except  when  im- 
pelled by  duty,  and  then  speaking  with  a  simplicity 
and  directness  which  gained  attention.  Rarely  ab- 
sent from  his  seat,  he  entered  into  the  business  of  the 
session  with  conscientious  diligence,  advocating  those 
measures  he  deemed  best  for  the  public  good,  and 
sometimes  carrying  them  to  a  successful  issue  almost 
wholly  by  his  personal  efforts. 

His  love  for  his  country  and  its  free  institutions 
caused  him  to  take  a  deep  interest  in  aiding  the  gov- 
ernment in  its  efforts  to  suppress  the  Rebellion,  and 
in  the  capacity  of  recruiting  officer  he  was  one  of  the 
most  active  in  the  cause  of  the  Union.  To  this  he 
gave  his  thought  and  time  night  and  day.  He  advo- 
cated good  pay  and  large  bounties  for  the  enlisting 
soldiers,  guaranteed  that  their  families  should  be 
taken  care  of,  and  the  widows  and  orphans  supported, 
and  his  promise  was  by  him  fulfilled  down  to  the 
day  of  his  death.  His  untiring  efforts,  patriotic  labors, 
and  rare  discretion  attracted  the  notice  and  won  the 
hearty  commendation  of  Governor  Andrew.  He 
saved  the  town  from  draft  by  placing  in  service  the 
full  quota  of  men.  All  this  valuable  service  was 
done  without  any  compensation. 

As  a  county  commissioner,  he  enjoyed  the  implicit 
confidence  of  his  associates,  who  bear  willing  testi- 
mony to  his  soundness  of  judgment,  his  patience  in 
investigation,  his  wise  economy,  and  his-conscientious 
fidelity  to  every  trust.  He  did  not  escape  detraction, 
and  was  violently  assailed  at  one  time  with  the  charge 
that  he  had  not  accounted  for  money  of  the  town 
which  had  been  placed  in  his  hands.  His  vindica- 
tion was  complete,  however,  and  the  assault  only 
served  to  strengthen  him  in  the  regards  of  his  towns- 
men, who  answered  the  charges  by  re-electing  him 
the  same  year  to  the  Legislature,  casting  for  him  four 
hundred  and  seven  votes,  the  largest  number  ever 
given  any  one  in  the  town.  He  died  Sept.  6,  1870, 
from  shock  arising  from  amputation  of  his  left  leg, 
rendered  necessary  by  a  cancer  from  which  he  had 
suffered  seventeen  years.  He  was  a  Universalist  in 
religion,  and  no  stronger  proof  was  needed  of  the 
strong  hold  he  had  upon  all  classes  than  to  witness 
the  unanimity  with  which  his  townspeople  of  all 
parties  and  creeds  attended  his  funeral  services,  which, 
through  the  kindness  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  was 
held  in  their  meeting-house,  and  which  a  bereaved 
community  filled  with  mourners,  who  seemed  to  con- 
sider his  death  not  only  a  personal  bereavement  but 
a  public  calamity. 


ts&fty&wit/n. 


WEST  PORT. 


703 


B.  F.  TRIPP. 

Benjamin  Franklin  Tripp,  son  of  John  and  Beer- 
sheba  (Potter)  Tripp,  was  born  in  Westport,  Mass., 
March  23,  1804.  He  is  of  English  ancestry.  The 
name  was  early  connected  with  Dartmouth,  Joseph 
and  James  Tripp  being  among  those  who  were  named 
as  proprietors  in  the  confirmatory  deed  of  William 
Bradford,  Nov.  13,  1694.  The  descendants  of  these 
pioneer  settlers  are  very  numerous,  and  are  mostly 
worthy  scions  of  the  sturdy  stock  from  which  they 
sprung.  John  Tripp,  the  grandfather  of  Benjamin 
F.,  was  born  in  1727,  in  that  part  of  Dartmouth  now 
Westport;  was  a  farmer  on  a  few  acres,  a  diligent, 
thoughtful,  industrious  man,  of  deep  religious  princi- 
ples, which  were  perhaps  too  exaggerated.  He  was 
a  follower  of  Anna  Wilkinson,  and,  it  is  said,  so  in- 
jured his  health  by  trying  to  fast  forty  days  as  to  fall 
a  victim  to  measles,  in  consequence  thereof,  in  his 
sixty-fourth  year,  dying  in  1791.  He  married  Penel- 
ope Brightman,  and  had  five  children, — Phebe,  Mary, 
Thankful,  Peace,  and  John.  His  farm  of  about  forty 
acres  was  located  a  short  distance  north  of  Central 
village,  near  the  cemetery  where  he  and  his  wife  lie 
buried.  John,  his  son,  born  July  8,  1761,  was  a  far- 
mer, of  an  exceedingly  ingenious  mechanical  turn  of 
mind.  He  was  a  much  better  educated  man  than 
most  of  his  townsmen,  was  a  great  reader,  particularly 
of  history,  and,  in  connection  with  farming,  used  to 
make  the  wooden  plows  then  so  much  in  use.  He 
married,  in  April,  1786,  Beersheba,  youngest  daughter 
of  Stokes  and  Phebe  (Spoone'r)  Potter.  They  had 
eight  children  attaining  maturity, — Amy,  Penelope, 
Cynthia  (married  Christopher  Weston),  Carmi,  Ma- 
rina (married  Hilliard  Giffbrd),  Wilkeson,  Anna 
(married  William  Potter),  and  Benjamin  F.  All  of 
these  are  dead  but  Marina  and  Benjamin  F. 

Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tripp  were  independent  in  re- 
ligious thought;  were  members  of  no  church  organi- 
zation, although  regular  attendants  at  the  Friends' 
meeting-house.  Mr.  Tripp  had  imperfect  vision  in 
one  eye,  and  was  slightly  lame  from  birth.  These 
freed  him  from  military  duty.  He  brought  up  a  large 
family  well,  did  not,  although  a  hard-working,  indus- 
trious man,  accumulate  much  property.  He  was  a 
Whig  in  politics,  but  avoided  office.  His  oldest  son 
lived  with  him  in  his  latter  years  on  his  small  farm, 
where  he  died  June  30, 1851,  very  nearly  ninety  years 
old.  His  wife,  born  in  Westport,  Feb.  5,  1765,  was 
youngest  daughter  of  a  large  family.  Her  father, 
Stokes  Potter,  was  a  shoemaker,  and  died  about  1809. 
Mrs.  Tripp  died  in  1854. 

B.  F.  Tripp  had  only  the  very  meagre  opportunities 
of  book  education  afforded  by  a  few  weeks'  attendance 
each  winter,  from  the  time  he  was  nine  until  he  was 
fifteen,  at  the  country  schools  of  that  period.  Robust 
in  health,  he  was  fond  of  work,  and  aided  his  father 
in  his  farm-work,  the  older  brothers  being  away  at 
work  for  themselves.  He  remained  at  home  until  he 
was  of  age,  when  he  engaged  one  season  during  hay- 


ing to  mow  for  a  farmer  in  Little  Compton,  R.  1. 
The  next  year  he  worked  eight  months  for  John  Ma- 
comber,  near  Central  village,  on  the  farm  and  in  the 
nursery.  For  nine  consecutive  seasons  he  was  thus 
employed.  He  passed  the  winters  at  his  father's, 
chopping  cord-wood.  He  married,  Dec.  11,  1834, 
Patience,  daughter  of  Richard  and  Rebecca  (Cook) 
Giffbrd,  who  was  born  June  2,  1806,  in  Westport. 
Her  line  of  ancestors  on  her  father's  side  is  (1)  Chris- 
topher, (2)  William,  (3)  Richard,  (4)  Rebecca,  (5)  Pa- 
tience. William,  son  of  Christopher,  was  a  man  of 
consideration  and  inn-keeper  at  Hicks'  Bridge,  which 
he  owned  and  maintained  as  a  toll-bridge.  He  mar- 
ried Patience  Russell,  and  lived  to  be  old.  Of  his 
children,  Richard  lived  just  south  of  Westport  Centre, 
married  Rebecca,  daughter  of  Pardon  Cook,  of  Tiver- 
ton, R.  I.  He  had  five  children,  of  whom  Mrs.  Tripp 
was  youngest. 

The  children  of  B.  F.  and  Patience  Tripp  are  Re- 
becca Cook,  born  Dec.  9,  1835 ;  Phebe  Dwelly,  Sept. 
19,  1837;  Edwin  Irving,  Nov.  26,  1838;  Mary  Almy, 
June  16,  1840;  Cook  Giffbrd,  Feb.  16,  1844;  and 
John  Richard,  May  24,  1850.  Rebecca  married 
Barney  Giffbrd,  lives  in  Adamsville,  R.  I.,  and  has 
four  children, — Ella  V.,  Emma  C,  Frederick  B.,  and 
Lena  G.  Mary  married  Charles  H.  Brownell,  lives 
in  New  Bedford,  and  has  two  children, — Elma  W. 
and  Ulysses  G.  Cook  G.  married  Ellen  M.  Snell, 
and  has  two  children, — Anna  K.  and  Benjamin  F. 
Edwin  I.  married  Mary  E.  Brownell,  no  children. 
John  R.  married  Mary  E.  Mosher,  lives  on  his  father's 
place,  and  has  four  children, — Florence  D.,  Clara  P., 
Eddie  I.,  and  Lottie  E. 

Mr.  Tripp  began  housekeeping  the  summer  after 
marriage,  moving  to  the  house  he  now  occupies, 
which  he  has  changed  and  repaired  and  completely 
altered.  From  a  date  found  on  the  planking  the 
house  was  evidently  built  in  1727,  and  it  was  occu- 
pied, if  not  erected,  by  Capt.  Philip  Taber,  an  officer 
of  the  Revolution.  Mrs.  Tripp  died  Jan.  23,  1878, 
aged  seventy-one.  She  was  an  estimable  woman, 
ruled  well  her  household,  and  is  honored  by  her  de- 
scendants. Mr.  Tripp  has  been  highway  surveyor 
many  years,  and  was  one  of  the  committee  of  public 
landing  for  twenty-five  years.  He  has  never  sought, 
but  rather  avoided  office  of  importance,  but  has 
merited  and  enjoyed  the  confidence  of  both  political 
parties,  so  as  to  receive  the  full  suffrages  of  the  town 
when  he  was  a  candidate.  He  has  been  a  great 
reader  and  thinker,  and  an  inflexibly  honest  man. 
He  has  a  very  accurate  and  strong  memory,  and  a 
wonderful  fund  of  knowledge,  which  he  takes  pleas- 
ure in  giving  to  others.  He  is  an  amiable,  pleasant, 
warm-hearted  gentleman,  with  very  many  friends. 
He  is  independent  in  politics,  and  thoroughly  inde- 
pendent also  in  religious  thought,  with  strong  ten- 
dency to  Universalism.  He  has  been  a  hard-working 
man  all  his  life,  but  has  husbanded  his  strength  and 
health,  and  never  had  to  call  a  physician  but  twic 


704 


HISTORY  OF  BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


in  his  life.  He  has  built  a  great  deal  of  stone  wall, 
and  has  stoned  about  one  hundred  cellars.  He  has 
been  prosperous  financially,  owns  seventy-five  acres 
of  good  land,  and  has  a  competency  to  supply  all 
wants  of  his  declining  years.  Blest  with  a  cheerful 
disposition,  surrounded  by  affectionate  descendants, 
and  the  regards  of  all  who  know  him,  Mr.  Tripp  is 
passing  with  honor  to  the  close  of  an  active  and 
useful  life. 

SAMUEL   T.  SANFORD. 
Samuel  Tripp  Sanford,  son  of  Capt.  Thomas  San- 
ford  and  Charity  D.  Capron,  his  wife,  was  born  in 
Troy,  now  Fall  River,  Mass.,  May  2, 1825.    His  father 
was  born  in  Westport,  Jan.  15, 1772,  and  from  a  com- 
mon sailor  rose  to  be  master  before  he  was  twenty- 
one.     He  commanded  vessels  many  years,  mostly  on 
trading  voyages  to  South  America.     At  one  time  he 
invested  all  his  property  in  a  large  brig  and  cargo, 
which  was  almost  entirely  owned  by  himself.      She 
was  lost,  and  Capt.  Sanford  lost  everything,  not  even 
saving  a  suit  of  clothes.     There  was  no  insurance  on 
either  vessel  or  cargo,  and  the  labors  of  years  were 
swept  away.     Of  strong  mind  and  physique,  he  went 
to  work  with  a  will,  and  soon  more  than  made  good 
his.  loss.     He  married  Charity  Davis  Capron,  Oct.  2, 
1797.      She  was   born    in    Freetown,  Aug.  18,  1780. 
They  had  nineteen  children,  seventeen  of  whom  lived 
to  maturity.     They  were  Hannah  W.,  married  John 
Bowcock;    Ruth    Gifford,  married    John    Lindsay; 
John  C,  Thomas,  Edwin,  Rhoda,  Samuel  R.,  David, 
Hope,  Almanza,  Brunette,  married  George  W.Chase; 
Emmeline,  married  Lloyd  N.  Pierce;  Caroline,  mar- 
ried David  A.  Mason;  Hope  Ann,  Amanda  B.,  Mel- 
vina  F.,  married  John  H.  Wady  ;  Newton  F.,  adopted, 
and  Samuel  Tripp.     Capt.  Sanford  built,  in  1798,  the 
largest  house    in    Troy,   now   Fall    River,   and    he 
shrewdly  predicted  that  the  water-power  here  would 
build  up  a  large  city,  being  one  of  the  very  few  who 
were  clear-sighted  enough  to  see  this.      He  was   a 
positive  man,  of  much  originality  of  thought.     He 
was  skeptical  in  religion,  and  his  opposition  to  the 
creeds  of  the  churches  tended  to  injure  him  finan- 
cially.    He  was  a  good  logician  and  well  read  in  the 
Bible.     He  condensed  his  religion  into  this  nutshell: 
"Give  sixteen  ounces  to  the  pound,  keep  your  pigs 
and  chickens  out  of  your  neighbors'  yards,  help  your 
neighbors  when   in  need  without  telling  everybody 
you   meet  about   it."      He  died  Jan.  2,  1847,  aged 
seventy-four.      His   wife    died    Oct.  24,   1871,  aged 
ninety-one.     While  in  South  America  he  purchased 
a  very  valuable  recipe  far  preparing  a  blood-purifier, 
and,  under  the  name  of  "San ford's  Great  Spanish 
Remedy,"  it  won  success  in  this  country,  and  caused 
him  and  (after  his  death)  his  son  Samuel  to  devote 
much  time  to  its  manufacture. 

Samuel  T.  Sanford,  from  early  boyhood,  manifested 
a  great  inventive  genius.  He  was  always  suggesting 
an  easier  way  of  performing  work  or  of  lightening 


household  labor.  He  had  a  very  active  brain,  which, 
joined  to  a  not  very  vigorous  body,  made  his  health 
always  delicate.  He  invented  several  valuable  ma- 
chines and  improvements,  among  which  was  a  ma- 
chine for  punching  copper  (for  which  he  received 
five  thousand  dollars),  a  self-opening  and  closing 
gate,  a  shingle-cutting  machine,  an  apple-parer,  a 
shoe-fastener,  and  an  oscillating  water-meter,  which 
he  patented  in  April,  1879,  only  about  a  month 
before  his  death.  He  married,  Sept.  10,  1858,  Susan, 
daughter  of  Rescom  and  Henrietta  (Sanford)  Borden. 
She  was  born  at  Westport,  Mass.,  Sept.  10,  1837,  and 
studied  medicine  two  years  at  the  Women's  Medical 
College  of  Philadelphia.  Her  family  (the  Bordens) 
can  trace  its  ancestry  for  about  one  thousand  years 
back  through  England  and  the  Norman  conquest  to 
the  village  of  Bourdonnay,  France,  where  for  cen- 
turies they  were  landed  proprietors.  She  is  descended 
from  Richard  Borden,  who  came  to  America  in  1635. 
(See  biography  of  Cook  Borden,  Fall  River,  on 
another  page  of  this  work.)  This  union  was  blessed 
with  four  children,  —  Bordena ;  Charitta  L.,  born 
April  16, 1863 ;  Threlia  D.,  March  13, 1871 ;  and  Sam- 
uel N.  F.,  Aug.  2,  1872.  Mr.  Sanford  began  house- 
keeping in  the  same  house  where  his  mother  resided 
in  Fall  River  immediately  upon  his  marriage.  The 
house  is  still  standing,  yellow  in  color,  on  the  corner 
of  Bedford  and  Quarry  Streets,  on  the  same  lot  as  the 
Stafford  Mills.  Here  their  oldest  child,  Bordena,  was 
born,  Oct.  28,  1859. 

Mrs.  Sanford  having  inherited  a  large  lauded  prop- 
erty of  about  one  thousand  acres  from  her  father  (a 
portion  of  the  purchase  made  by  her  ancestors  over 
two  hundred  years  ago),  they  removed  to  Westport, 
both  to  look  after  her  property  and  for  Mr.  Sanford's 
health,  which  became  very  poor.  Here  they  lived 
about  ten  years,  Mr.  Sanford  following  agriculture  in 
connection  with  his  inventive  endeavors.  Here  also 
were  born  the  other  children.  Deeming  their  chil- 
dren worthy  of  better  education  than  Westport  could 
give  them,  in  the  fall  of  1873  they  removed  to  Nor- 
ton, and  for  five  years  gave  their  children  the  advan- 
tages of  the  celebrated  Wheaton  Seminary.  They 
then  removed  to  the  present  residence  of  Mrs.  San- 
ford in  Fall  River,  which  has  since  been  the  family 
home,  and  where  he  died  May  8,  1879.  Mr.  Sanford 
was  a  hearty  supporter  of  everything  tending  to  ad- 
vance, educate,  or  elevate  humanity.  He  took  an 
active  part  in  agricultural  matters,  and  was  a  close 
investigator  into  the  origin  and  philosophy  of  the 
operations  of  nature,  and  wanted  to  demonstrate  the 
truth  of  every  theory,  not  by  the  word  of  some  indi- 
vidual, but  by  logic,  reason,  and  science.  He  was  of 
a  warm  and  affectionate  nature,  fond  of  society,  and 
with  a  large  fund  of  vivacity,  was  the  gayest  of  the 
gay.  He  was  a  devoted  husband,  and  an  indulgent 
and  affectionate  father.  Loyal  in  his  friendships,  the 
closer  ties  of  the  family  relation  were  the  most  firmly 
attached  to  his  nature,  which,  sympathetic  and  loving, 


WEST  PORT. 


705 


drew  the  inspiration  for  bis  studies  (which  were 
largely  at  night  after  his  family  had  retired)  from  the 
happy  countenances  of  his  wife  and  children.  He 
was  a  law-abiding  and  useful  citizen,  one  who  never 
sought  office,  but  who  preferred  to  look  into  the  mys- 
teries of  nature  as  a  pleasurable  employment.  He 
studied  geology  and  chemistry  at  the  university  at 
Philadelphia  in  1857-58,  and  collected  quite  a  geo- 
logical cabinet.  He  was  a  good  chemist,  and  pos- 
sessed a  rare  fund  of  general  information,  which  he 
delighted  to  impart,  and  was  a  great  reader  of  solid 
and  scientific  works.  In  his  latter  days  he  was  an 
earnest  investigator  of  the  spiritual  philosophy. 


and  his  wife  were  birthright  members  of  the  Friends' 
Society.     He  was  emphatically  an  honest  man,  "  the 
noblest  work  of  God." 


NATHAN   SLADE. 


Nathan  Slade,  son  of  Henry  and  Elizabeth  (Chace) 
Slade,  was  born  Jan.  20,  1803,  in  Somerset,  Mass. 
His  father,  Henry  Slade,  was  born  also  in  Somerset, 
Feb.  5,  1775,  and  was  son  of  Robert  (see  history  of 
Slade  family  in  town  of  Somerset,  in  this  volume). 
Henry  was  during  his  early  life  a  seafaring  man,  and 
became  a  master.  He  lived  in  Fall  River  after  retir- 
ing from  the  sea.  He  built  Slade's  wharf  in  that  city, 
and  was  in  the  grain  and  commission  business  there 
until  1843.  He  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Na- 
than and  Lydia  (Anthony)  Chace,  of  Somerset,  Sept. 

24,  1801.  She  was  born  June  3,  1780,  and  died  Jan. 
8, 1843.  Their  children  were  Nathan,  Henry  Buffum, 
and  Lydia  A.  (died  young).  Henry  Slade  died  Nov. 
28,  1853. 

Nathan  had  the  usual  education  given  at  common 
schools  of  that  early  day,  and  as  a  youth  went  to 
Westport  and  learned  the  trade  of  blacksmithing,  as 
they  called  it  at  that  time,  but  which  combined  with 
blacksmithing  both  that  of  machinist  and  the  making 
of  edge  tools,  axes,  hoes,  etc..  After  learning  his  trade 
he  established  himself  in  Fall  River  as  a  machinist, 
and  married  Oct.  27,  1824,  Phebe,  daughter  of  Isaac 
and  Ann  (Weeden)  Macomber.  She  was  born  in 
Westport,  Mass.,  Dec.  12,  1803.  The  young  couple 
began  housekeeping  in  Westport,  where  they  lived 
six  years.  Closing  his  business  in  Fall  River,  Mr. 
Slade  purchased  a  farm  near  Westport  Point  and  re- 
sided there,  and  was  a  farmer  until  his  death,  Nov. 
21,  1870.     He  had  two  children,  Edwin,  born  March 

25,  1826.  He  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Capt. 
Joseph  Swift,  of  Falmouth,  Mass.,  and  is  a  druggist 
in  Sheboygan  County,  Wis.  Elizabeth  A.,  born  Jan. 
21,  1828,  married  April  20,  1882,  John  C.  Taylor,  of 
Belgrave,  Me.,  and  resides  in  Westport. 

Nathan  Slade  was  a  quiet,  retiring  man,  of  quick 
sensibilities,  and  great  love  of  home.  He  was  in 
accord  with  all  the  better  portion  of  the  community 
in  everything  tending  to  advance  or  improve  the  con- 
dition of  his  town,  but  never  sought  to  be  conspicu- 
ous in  any  matter,  and  never  desired  office.  He  Was 
Whig  and  Republican  in  political  faith,  and  both  he 
45 


ISRAEL    MACOMBER. 
The  name  Macomber  or  Macumber  is  variously 
spelled.     It  is  of  Gaelic  or  Highland  Scotch,  and  sig- 
nifies the  son  of  the  counselor  or  wise  man.     From 
records  we  find  that  two   brothers,  John  and  Wil- 
liam,  came   in   1638   from   Inverness,   Scotland,   to 
America.     John  settled  in  Taunton;  was  subject  to 
military  duty  in  1643;  was  a  land-owner,  and  in  1659 
was  permitted   to  build  a  saw-mill.     He  was  taxed 
seven  shillings  that  year  on  twenty-four  acres  and 
four  "  heads."     His  descendants  still  live  in  that  lo- 
cality.     William,  the  ancestor  of   Israel  Macomber, 
settled  in  Duxbury,  Mass.,  in  1638,  and  afterwards 
removed  to  Marshfield,  and  about  1750  removed  to 
Dartmouth  and  resided  there,  and  in  Tiverton,  until 
after  1686.     He  was  an  energetic  man,  of  great  pru- 
dence and  force  of  character,  and  was  esteemed  for 
his  probity.     He  was  a  great  Biblical  student,  and  a 
strict  Puritan.     His  descendant,  Timothy  Macomber, 
(third  generation),   resided   near  the   Massachusetts 
and  Rhode  Island  line,  and  was  connected  with  both 
States.     He  was  a  farmer  and  a  useful  citizen.     We 
can  say  but  little  of  him  further  than  that  he  was 
married,  and  had  children,  one  of  whom  was  William 
(fourth  generation).     This  William  located  in  Dart- 
mouth ;  married  Sarah  Brownell ;  was  a  farmer  and 
shoemaker,  tanning  and  currying  his   own  leather. 
He  was  an  honest,  hard-working  man.     Both  he  and 
his  wife    lived   to  be  old,  she  attaining  more  than 
ninety  years.     He  had  ten  children, — William,  Gil- 
bert, Rogers,  Thurston,  John,  Simeon,  Margaret  (Mrs. 
John    Palmer),    Mary    (Mrs.    Nath   Potter),    Eliza- 
beth, and  Sarah.   William  (fifth  son)  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Westport,  Nov.  28, 1771,  and  married  Rachel 
Brightman,  who  was  born  March  17, 1778.   He  started 
in  life  poor  and  was  truly  a  self-made  man.    In  those 
early  days  there  was  a  hard  struggle  with  the  hard 
climate  and  sterile  soil  of  New  England,  and  well  did 
William  Macomber  do  a  man's  work.    He  was  a  quiet, 
reserved,  and  unassuming  person,  never  seeking  office, 
but  devoting  his  energies  to  the  maintenance  of  his 
family.     He  was  a  Whig  in  politics,  and  a  worthy 
member  of  the  Methodist  Church.    He  died  April  15, 
1839.      Mrs.  Macomber  was  a  more  than  ordinary 
woman.     She  was  remarkable  for  her  active  and  vig- 
orous constitution  and  her  tenacious  and  active  mem- 
ory.    She  took  great  interest  in  matters  of  history 
and  genealogical  details  of  her  own  and  other  fami- 
lies of  her  acquaintance.     She  was  much  consulted 
as  an  unerring  informant  for  facts  and  dates  in  these 
and  kindred  matters  in  her  later  years.     She  died  in 
1873,  aged  ninety-four  years  and  five  months.     She 
was  one  of  the   three   constituent  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Westport  Point,  and 


706 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL  COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


remained  a  consistent  and  earnest  member  during  her 
life,  and  was  reverenced  as  a  "  mother  in  Israel."  She 
was  born  in  Westport.  Her  father,  Israel  Brightman, 
was  a  Revolutionary  soldier,  and  received  a  pension. 
To  him  and  his  wife  Bethany  were  born  six  children, 
—Christian,  born  Aug.  31,  1777;  Rachel,  March  17, 
1778;  Israel,  Feb.  15,  1780;  John,  April  29,  1782; 
Cornelius,  Nov.  29,  1783  ;  Lemuel,  Feb.  29, 1786  ;  and 
Bethany,  Jan.  13,  1792. 

Israel  Macomber  (sixth  generation),  only  son 
and  child  of  William  and  Rachel  (rBrightman)  Ma- 
comber, was  born  in  Westport,  Mass.,  March  24, 1810. 
He  had  but  limited  education  at  schools.    The  schools 
of  that  period  were  very  poor,  and  a  large  part  of  his 
knowledge  from  books  was  acquired  at  the  home  fire- 
side.    He  made  the  most  of  his  opportunities,  how- 
ever, and  became  quite  proficient  in  several  branches, 
particularly  so  in  arithmetic.    He  was  reared  a  farmer, 
and  a  farmer  he  has  remained  through  life.     In  1827 
his  father  removed  to  the  place  where  Israel  now  re- 
sides, and   ended   his  days  there,  Israel  succeeding 
him   on   the   place.     Here   be   done   his  work  well, 
shrinking   not   from    labor,    and    finding   his   efforts 
crowned  with  substantial  success.     He  is  an  unassum- 
ing man,  has  never  sought  or  held  office,  refusing  to 
leave  his  own  affairs  to  be  neglected  while  he  was  at- 
tending to  the  business  of  others.     He  has  been  more 
or  less  interested  in  whaling-vessels  for  the  past  forty- 
five  years.     He  married  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Hercu- 
les and  Abby  (Tripp)  Manchester,  May  7,  1834.    She 
was  born  Dec.  11,  1814.     For  nearly  half  a  century 
has  this  good  couple  walked  hand  in  hand,  bringing 
up  their  children  to  maturity  and  an  honorable  posi- 
tion in  life,  and  have  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that 
none  are  recreant  to  the  principles  inculcated  by  their 
ancestors.     Their  children  are  (1)   William  P.,  born 
Aug.  23,  1837.     (He  married,  first,  Abby,  daughter  of 
Godfrey  Cornell.     They  had  two  children,  Mary  C. 
and  Theresa  H.     After  her  death  he  married  Nellie, 
daughter  of  Edward  Tucker,  of  Dartmouth.     They 
have  one  child,  Edward.)     (2)  Isaac  £.,  born  Nov.  9, 
1839,  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  Godfrey  Cornell. 
They  have  two  children,  Bertha  and  Nason.    (3)  Adin 
H.  N.,  born  Aug.  12, 1845.     (4)  Elihue  G.,  born  Dec. 
20,   1846.     The   two   last  reside  with  their  parents. 
William  and  Isaac  passed  several  years  in  California, 
are  now  located  in  beautiful  homes  not  far  from  the 
paternal  mansion,  and  are  more  than  ordinarily  suc- 
cessful men. 

In  1868,  Mr.  Macomber  erected  the  residence  he 
now  occupies.  It  is  a  very  substantial  and  pleasant 
home.  Situated  as  it  is  on  the  highest  point  of  a 
beautiful  promontory,  surrounded  by  bays,  inlets, 
islands,  etc.,  with  Buzzard's  Bay  and  the  broad  At- 
lantic stretching  away  to  the  south,  and  on  either 
side  an  extended  view  of  a  more  than  usual  romantic 
coast-line,  it  presents  as  fine  a  view  as  can  be  ob- 
tained for  many  a  mile  of  distance. 
Mr.  Macomber  has  been   an   active   and   leading 


member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  for  more 
than  half  a  century.  He  has  been  class-leader,  stew- 
ward,  or  trustee  for  many  years,  and  has  been  a  lib- 
eral supporter  not  only  of  the  church  but  all  worthy 
objects.  Both  he  and  his  worthy  wife  have  been 
more  than  mere  spectators  in  the  cause  of  morality 
and  religion,  and  have  given  largely,  both  of  personal 
endeavor  and  their  possessions,  to  assist  the  good 
work.  Mrs.  Macomber  has  been  a  church  member 
since  1845.  In  politics  Mr.  Macomber  is  a  Republi- 
can. Among  his  townsmen  he  is  regarded  as  an 
honest,  successful  business  man,  a  good  and  law- 
abiding  citizen,  and  a  valued  friend  and  neighbor. 


GEORGE    LAWTON. 


George  Lawton,  son  of  Job  and  Hannah  (Kirby) 
Lawton,  was  born  in  Westport,  Mass.,  Feb.  8,  1804. 
He  is  of  good  English  stock,  and  his  American  ances- 
tors were  among  the  first  settlers  of  Portsmouth,  R.  I., 
and  George  seems  to  have  been  a  favorite  name  with 
them  ;  as  far  back  as  1650  there  were  two  or  three  of 
them  in  the  town.  In  1701,  George  Lawton,  of  Ports- 
mouth, R.I.  (we  cannot  ascertain  of  which  particular 
family),  purchased  one  hundred  acres  of  land  in  Dart- 
mouth, now  Westport,  Mass.,  in  the  north  part  of  the 
town,  for  thirty  pounds,  and  settled  upon  it.  This 
land  is  now  occupied  and  owned  by  one  of  his  de- 
scendants, Robert  Lawton,  and  has  never  been  out  of 
the  ownership  of  the  family.  This  George  married  a 
daughter  of  Gideon  Freeborn,  who,  for  his  second 
wife,  married  the  widow  of  a  George  Lawton.  She 
received  from  her  father  as  her  marriage  portion 
one-fourth  of  one  share  of  land  in  Westerly,  R  I., 
deeded  in  1697.  They  had  one  son,  John,  who  mar- 
ried a  Dennis.  He  built  the  first  grist-mill  at  the 
"  Head  of  Westport,"  a  short  distance  abqve  the 
present  village,  about  1750.  on  the  site  of  a  mill  now 
owned  by  Alden  Sisson.  He  had  one  son,  George, 
born  Nov.  8,  1739,  and  several  daughters.  It  is  said 
he  also  owned  a  small  coasting-vessel  plying  to  New- 
port. He  was  a  man  of  some  consequence,  a  hard- 
working, honest  man  of  good  reputation,  but  not  very 
successful  financially,  as  the  building  of  the  mill  in- 
volved him  much,  and  after  his  death  his  children 
redeemed  it  from  his  obligations.  He  died  May  2, 
1753.  His  son  George  was  brought  up  as  a  farmer, 
and  succeeded  his  father  in  the  possession  of  his 
homestead.  He  married  Patience,  daughter  of  Oba- 
diah  Mosher,  and  had  John,  David,  Job,  Adam,  Rich- 
ard, George,  Patience,  and  Hannah,  besides  three 
others.  He  was  prosperous,  and  brought  up  a  large 
family  in  good  circumstances.  He  was  a  man  of  in- 
telligence, industrious  and  prudent,  plain  and  direct 
in  speech,  and  was  a  very  useful  citizen,  popular  with 
all  classes,  and  generally  known  as  "  Uncle  George 
Lawton."  His  wife  was  a  member  of  the  Society  of 
Friends,  and  he  was  a  regular  attendant  of  their 


fiX/tfatt    gUWUtscon  A*^ 


RAYNHAM. 


707 


meetings.  He  died  Sept.  20,  1820,  nearly  eighty-one 
years  old,  surviving  his  wife  a  very  few  years. 

Job  Lawton,  his  son,  was  born  Nov.  12,  17G4.  He 
married  Hannah,  daughter  of  Weston  and  Hannah 
(White)  Kirby.  She  was  born  in  Westport  about 
1769.  They  had  three  children, — Silas,  Obadiah, 
and  George.  He  had  the  educational  advantages 
generally  given  their  children  by  the  New  England 
farmers  of  that  day,  and  combined  the  avocations  of 
farming  and  shoemaking.  He  settled  about  a  mile 
above  the  "  Head  of  Westport,"  buying  a  farm  of 
about  forty  acres.  He  resided  there  for  several 
years,  then  selling  this  he  purchased  another  of 
one  hundred  acres  farther  toward  Central  village, 
whither  he  moved  in  1815  or  1816.  He  was  always 
a  great  sufferer  from  asthma.  He  was  a  quiet  per- 
son, not  giving  to  notoriety  or  office-seeking.  He 
died,  of  cancer,  March  5,  1843.  The  George  Law- 
ton  whose  portrait  accompanies  this  sketch  lived 
with  his  father,  having  slight  school  privileges. 
After  he  was  twelve  he  attended  the  school  at  Cen- 
tral village  a  few  weeks  each  winter  for  a  limited 
period.  He  married,  Nov.  26,  1826,  Ruth,  daughter 
of  Joshua  and  Elizabeth  (Wood)  Potter.  She  was 
born  within  a  mile  of  the  Rhode  Island  line,  in 
AVestport.  Her  family  was  an  old  one  in  the  town. 
Her  father  was  a  farmer,  who  lived  to  be  very  old. 
He  had  fourteen  children,  of  whom  eleven  attained 
mature  years.  She  was  youngest  girl,  and  was  born 
April  25,  1809.  Her  grandfather  was  Abner  Potter, 
whose  wife,  Patience,  was  a  most  splendid  specimen 
of  true  womanhood,  bringing  cheer  and  happiness  to 
all  within  her  sphere  of  action.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Law- 
ton  had  nine  children, — Eli  Potter,  born  Sept.  20, 
1827,  married  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Jeremiah  and 
Barbara  Devol,  has  two  children,  and  lives  in  West- 
port  ;  Uriah  W.,  born  April  27,  1831,  married  Au- 
gusta King,  of  Taunton,  has  three  children.  He 
graduated  at  Brown  University,  and  is  now  super- 
intendent of  schools  in  Jackson,  Mich.  Mary  E., 
born  July  2,  1834.  She  married  George  J.  Allen, 
had  two  children,  Jacob  and  Ella,  both  of  whom  are 
married.  Jacob  lives  in  Providence,  R.  I. ;  has  four 
children, — Ella,  married  Thomas  Nye,  has  one  child, 
and  lives  in  West  Somerville,  Mass. ;  Hannah  A., 
born  Sept.  30,  1837,  married  William  J.  Chadwick, 
of  New  Bedford,  has  four  children;  Ann  M.  (died 
young) ;  George  F.,  born  Nov.  11,  1844,  lives  with 
his  parents;  Ruth  A.,  born  July  3,  1846,  married 
William  P.  Kirby,  lives  in  Jersey  City,  N.  J.,  and 
has  one  son  ;  William  O.,  born  March  16,  1850,  mar- 
ried Rachel  Wing,  lives  in  New  Bedford,  and  has 
one  child  ;  Amanda  31.,  born  June  21,  1854,  married 
T.  A.  Tripp,  of  New  Haven,  and  has  one  child. 

Mr.  Lawton  lived  with  his  father  for  several  years 
after  marriage,  then  purchased  a  small  farm  near 
Hicks'  Bridge,  for  which  he  agreed  to  pay  fourteen 
hundred  dollars.  His  capital  at  this  time  was  only 
eight  hundred  dollars.     After  a  stay  of  two  years  he 


sold  out,  removed  to  Westport  Point,  purchased  a 
farm  of  sixty  acres,  and  resided  there  from  1839  to 
1881.  The  four  youngest  children  were  born  here. 
Mr.  Lawton  and  his  wife  practiced  the  cardinal  vir- 
tues of  diligence  and  industry,  and  by  long  years  of 
toil,  in  which  there  was  perfect  harmony  between 
them,  they  built  up  a  handsome  competency.  Al- 
though economical  and  prudent,  they  were  not  nig- 
gardly. All  laudable  charities  met  a  hearty  re- 
sponse from  them,  and  all  along  life's  pathway  has 
the  same  generous  feelings  been  exhibited.  In  1847, 
Mr.  Lawton  erected  a  grist-mill  on  his  farm,  and 
attended  to  that  personally  for  the  many  years  he  re- 
sided on  the  farm.  He  sold  it,  however,  in  March, 
1881,  and  removed  to  the  Head  of  Westport,  where 
he  now  resides.  His  has  been  a  life  of  honest  labor. 
Every  dollar  he  possesses  has  been  paid  for  by  its  full 
equivalent  in  hard  work.  He  has  been  Whig  and 
Republican  in  politics,  and,  as  such,  has  been  over- 
seer of  the  poor  three  years,  and  selectman  during 
three  years  of  the  civil  war.  He  and  his  wife  belong 
to  the  Society  of  Friends.  Mr.  Lawton  has  the  honor 
of  being  the  second  resident  of  Westport  to  graduate 
a  child  at  college.  After  fifty-seven  years  of  connu- 
bial felicity,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lawton  are  passing  down 
the  declivity  of  life  with  the  esteem  of  a  large  circle 
of  friends,  and  enjoy  in  their  latter  years  the  results 
of  their  industry,  and  leave  lives  that  their  numerous 
descendants  may  worthily  emulate. 


CHAPTER    LVII. 
RAYNHAM. 

Geographical — Early  History — The  First  Iron-Works  in  America— The 
Leonards  —  Indian  History  —  Pioneer  Families  —  The  Old  Leonard 
House  —  The  Revolutionary  War — Votes  of  the  Town  —  Names  of 
Soldiers  —  Seth  Dean  —  Ecclesiastical  History — The  Congregational 
Church — The  Baptist  Church — The  Unitarian  Church — Educational 
— Early  Schoolmasters — Their  Salary — School  Money  in  1777 — List 
of  College  Graduates  —  Militia  Officers  —  Early  Merchants  —  Physi- 
cians—Longevity— Justices  of  the  Peace— High  Sheriffs— Villages 
— Incorporation  of  the  Town — First  Town-Meeting — Officers  Elected 
— Selectmen — Representatives  and  Town  Clerks  from  1731  to  1SS4 
— Early  Votes — Military  Record. 

The  town  of  Raynham  lies  in  the  northeastern 
part  of  the  county,  and  is  bounded  as  follows  :  On  the 
north  by  Easton,  on  the  east  by  Bridgewater  and 
Middleborough  in  Plymouth  County,  and  on  the 
south  and  west  by  Taunton. 

Much  of  the  early  history  of  Raynham  will  be 
found  in  the  history  of  Taunton,  of  which  it  origin- 
ally formed  a  part,  being  known  as  the  east  precinct 
of  Taunton. 

Although  Taunton  was  settled  in  1638,  no  settle- 
ment was  made  in  Raynham  until  1652,  when  James 
Leonard,  Henry  Leonard,  and  Ralph  Russel,  from 
Wales,  located  here  for  the  purpose  of  setting  up  a 
"  bloomary  work."     For   a   full   description   of   the 


708 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


pioneer  iron-works,  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  his- 
tory of  Taunton,  where  the  matter  is  fully  treated  by 
that  indefatigable  worker  in  historical  lore,  Capt.  J. 
W.  D.  Hall. 

Oct.  21,  1652,  the  following  entry  appears  in  the 
records  of  Taunton  :  "  It  was  agreed  and  granted  by 
the  town  to  the  said  James  and  Henry  Leonard  and 
Ralph  Russel,  free  consent  to  come  hither  and  join 
with  certain  of  our  inhabitants  to  set  up  a  bloomary 
work  on  the  Two-Mile  River."  Then  no  stranger 
could  become  an  inhabitant  without  permission. 
"  It  was  agreed  and  granted,  by  a  free  vote  of  the 
town,  that  such  particular  inhabitants  as  shall  con- 
cur with  said  persons  in  their  design  shall  have  free 
liberty  from  the  town  to  do  so,  to  build  and  set  up 
this  work,  and  that  they  shall  have  the  woods  on  the 
other  side  of  the  Two-Mile  River,  wheresoever  it  is 
common  on  that  side  of  the  river  to  cut  for  their 
cord-wood  to  make  coals,  and  also  to  dig  and  take 
mine  or  ore  at  Two-mile  meadows,  or  in  any  of  the 
commons  appertaining  to  the  town  where  it  is  not 
proprietary." 

"  In  accordance  with  this  vote  and  the  permission 
granted,  the  above-mentioned  individuals  erected 
works  for  the  extraction  of  iron  from  the  native  ore, 
being  the  first  iron  manufactory  established  on  the 
continent.  These  works  continued  in  the  possession 
of  the  Leonards  and  their  descendants  a  hundred 
years,  were  enlarged  by  additional  furnaces,  and 
subsequently  converted  into  an  anchor  forge. 

"  The  original  projectors,  Henry  and  James  Leon- 
ard, attracted  by  more  abundant  ores  in  New  Jersey, 
removed  there  and  established  the  first  foundry  in 
that  province." — SanforcPs  History  of  Raynham. 

"During  the  Indian  war  of  1675,  which  desolated 
many  of  the  towns  of  Plymouth  and  Massachusetts 
colonies,  the  inhabitants   of  Taunton    were   exempt 
from  attack.     Philip,  the  chief  instigator  of  that  war, 
had  a  summer  hunting-seat  near  the  Fowling  pond. 
The  Leonards  had  supplied  him  with  beef,  repaired 
his  muskets,  and   furnished  him   with   such  simple 
tools  as  the  Indians  could  use.     These  acts  of  friend- 
ship were  remembered,  and  when  other  towns  suffered 
from  savage  incursions,  Raynham  and  Taunton  es- 
caped.    Philip's  influence  and  friendship  protected 
them.     The  people,  however,  were  on  their  guard, 
and  constructed  fortified  houses  capable  of  resisting 
an    Indian   siege.      A   house    belonging  to   Samuel 
Leonard,  which  stood  a  few  rods  east  of  the  forge, 
was    surrounded  by  palisades  and  provisioned.     A 
fort  also  was  built.     The  towns  of  Barnstable,  Yar- 
mouth, and  Eastham,  on  account  of  their  position, 
were  secure  from  Indian  depredations.     The  inhab- 
itants  of  these   Cape  towns  invited   the   people  of 
Taunton,  Rehoboth,  Raynham,  and  Bridgewater  to 
leave  their  settlements  and  live  with  them  for  greater 
safety.     Taunton  replied  thus:  'We  bless  God  that 
he  hath  given  us  much  room  in  your  hearts,  that  you 
so  freely  tender  to  us  a  part  with  you  in  your  houses, 


fields,  and  provisions  at  such  a  time  when  the  Lord 
is  threatening  us  with  the  bereavement  of  our  own.  It 
much  comforteth  us  in  this  day  of  darkness  and  distress. 
We  shall  want  no  succor  you  are  able  to  afford  us.  We 
therefore  return  you  all  serious  thanks  for  your  sin- 
cere and  abundant  love,  beseeching  the  Lord  to  con- 
tinue and  increase  your  ability,  peace,  and  promptness 
to  relieve  distress  in  this  evil  day.  Nevertheless, 
upon  our  serious  and  mature  deliberation  upon,  and 
consideration  of,  your  great  offer,  we  cannot  at  pres- 
ent comply  with  a  motion  to  remove  and  quit  our 
places  and  leave  our  habitations  to  be  a  desolation, 
and  that  because  we  fear,  in  so  doing,  we  should  be 
wanting  to  the  name  of  God  and  interests  of  Christ 
in  this  place,  and  betray  much  difficulty  and  cow- 
ardice, and  give  the  adversary  occasion  to  triumph 
over  us  to  the  reproach  of  that  great  and  fearful 
name  of  God  which  is  called  upon  us.'  " 

This  reply  was  signed  by  Richard  Williams,  Walter 
Deane,  and  others.1 

First  Settlers. — Prominent  among  the  early  set- 
tlers and  a  leading  family  in  the  town  were  the 
Leonards.  The  Washburne  familes  were  also  promi- 
nent. Israel  Washburne,  the  third  of  that  name,  re- 
moved to  Maine,  and  had  three  sons  who  became 
members  of  Congress  from  three  different  States. 
One  was  Governor  of  Maine,  and  one,  Elihu  P.  Wash- 
burne, was  Secretary  of  State,  etc.  Among  other 
prominent  families,  the  following  are  mentioned : 
The  Kings,  the  Deans,  Shaws,  Halls,  Gushees,  Wil- 
liamses,  Gilmores,  Andrews,  Hathaways,  Whites, 
Tracys,  Knapps,  etc.  Hon.  Josiah  Dean  was  a  mem- 
ber of  Congress,  elected  in  about  1808.  He  was  a 
leading  man  of  the  town  and  county. 

The  pioneer  "  Leonard  House"  was  located  near 
the  forge,  and  was  probably  erected  in  about  1670. 

Dr.  Fobes,  in  his  "  History  of  Raynham,"  published 
in  1793,  in  referring  to  this  house,  says,  "  In  the 
cellar  was  deposited,  for  a  considerable  time,  the  head 
of  King  Philip  ;  for  it  seems  that  even  Philip  shared 
the  fate  of  kings ;  he  was  decollated,  and  his  head 
carried  about,  and  shown  by  one  Alderman,  the  In- 
dian who  shot  him. 

"There  is  yet  in  being  an  ancient  case  of  drawers 
which  stood  in  the  house,  upon  which  the  deep  scars 
and  mangled  impressions  of  Indian  hatchets  are  now 
visible.  Under  the  door-steps  of  the  same  house  lie 
buried  the  bones  of  two  young  women,  who,  in  their 
flight  here,  were  shot  by  the  Indians  ;  but  more  for- 
tunate was  the  flight  of  Uriah  Leonard,  who,  as  he 
was  riding  from  Taunton,  was  fired  upon  by  the  In- 
dians. But  he  swung  his  hat  around,  which  started 
his  horse  in  full  canter ;  he  reached  the  dam  without 
a  Avound,  but  bullets  passed  through  the  hat  and  the 
neck  of  the  horse  he  rode.  While  Deacon  Nathaniel 
Williams  was  at  work  with  some  others  in  the  fields 
on  the  south  side  of  the  road,  about  half  a  mile  from 


1  See  History  of  Taunton. 


RAYNHAM. 


709 


the  forge,  one  of  the  number  discovered  a  motion  in 
the  bushes  at  a  little  distance;  he  immediately  pre- 
sented his  gun  and  fired,  upon  which  the  Indians 
were  heard  to  cry,  '  Cocoosh  /'  and  ran  off;  but  soon 
after  one  of  the  Indians  was  found  dead  near  the 
Fowling  pond." 

The  house  was  demolished  about  thirty  years  ago. 
A  picture  of  this  ancient  mansion  may  be  found  in 
Barber's  "  Historical  Collections." 

Revolutionary  War. — The  first  reference  on  the 
old  town  records  to  the  war  of  the  Revolution  is  under 
date  of  Aug.  5,  1774,  as  follows  : 

"The  town  voted  £1  4s.  6(7.  to  pay  its  proportion 
towards  defraying  the  expenses  of  the  Continental 
Congress. 

"  July  18,  1775.  The  town  directed  the  purchase  of 
ten  guns. 

"November  20th.  Voted  £20  to  Lieut.  Benjamin 
King  for  services  as  delegate  to  Provincial  Congress. 
Zephaniah  Leonard,  Joseph  Shaw,  and  Seth  Jones 
were  chosen  as  committee  to  manufacture  saltpetre. 

"  March  4, 1776.  Israel  Washburn,  Joshua  Leonard, 
Benjamin  King,  and  Elijah  Leonard  were  chosen  a 
Committee  of  Safety. 

"Voted  that  every  person  from  sixteen  and  up- 
wards, except  those  whom  the  committee  shall  see  fit 
to  exempt,  contribute  £10  each  for  a  fund  from  which 
to  pay  soldiers. 

"  Ebenezer  King  and  Capt.  John  King  were  drawn 
jurors,  for  the  trial  of  Tories,  at  a  special  term  of 
court  at  Taunton. 

"July  29,  1778.  Voted  to  levy  a  tax  upon  the  pro- 
duce of  the  town  to  pay  six  Continental  soldiers  for 
nine  months'  service. 

"July  25,  1779.  Voted  to  raise  £111  to  pay.  for 
soldiers'  shirts,  shoes,  and  stockings.  Josiah  Dean 
was  chosen  delegate  to  convention  at  Concord. 

"  November  15th.  Voted  £407  lis.  for  the  commit- 
tee to  expend  in  hiring  soldiers  for  the  public  service, 
and  procuring  blankets. 

"  July  7th.  Made  appropriation  for  six  additional 
Continental  soldiers. 

"  In  1778  the  town  raised  $35,416  (depreciated  cur- 
rency) for  paying  soldiers,  and  $24,000  to  purchase 
six  thousand  pounds  of  beef. 

"September  27th.  Voted  to  buy  11,523  pounds  of  i 
beef  at  £3  lis.  per  hundred  in  new  emission  currency, 
or  in  old  currency,  at  equitable  exchange. 

"  In  1781  a  bounty  of  one  hundred  hard  dollars  was  I 
offered  annually  to  all  the  men  who  would  enlist  for 
three  years. 

"  Voted  to  assess  the  town  $80  in  hard  money  to 
pay  for  beef  called  for  by  the  General  Court.  Also, 
one  hundred  and  eighty-five  hard  dollars  to  pay  three 
soldiers,  enlisted  for  five  months,  to  serve  in  Rhode 
Island,  and  fifteen  dollars  a  month  for  the  three  men 
enlisted  to  serve  in  New  York." 

It  appears  that  the  quotas  of  Raynham,  paid  for  by 
the  town,  were  principally  from  other  places. 


The  following-named  citizens  of  the  town  served  in 
person :  Capt.  Abraham  Hathaway,  Elijah  Gushee, 
Gaius  King,  Job  Hall,  Benjamin  Cane,  Seth  Dean, 
Joseph  Shaw,  George  King,  Solomon  Leonard,  Ste- 
phen Williams,  Chaplain  Perez  Fobes,  Noah  Hall, 
and  Samuel  Hall. 

These  are  but  a  part  of  the  men  from  the  town  who 
belonged  to  the  Continental  army  of  the  Revolution. 

Rev.  Enoch  Sanford,  A.M.,  in  his  "  History  of  Rayn- 
ham," gives  the  following  sketch  of  Seth  Dean  : 

"  Mr.  Seth  Dean  volunteered  as  a  soldier  at  the  age 
of  seventeen,  when  the  British  force  occupied  Boston. 
Mr.  Joseph  Shaw  and  other  young  men  of  this  town 
were  enrolled  with  him  in  a  company,  of  which  John 
King  was  captain  and  Noah  Hall  lieutenant.  Seth 
Dean  was  thus  in  the  first  campaign  of  the  war, 
and  went  into  the  army  then  assembled  around  Bos- 
ton, under  command  of  Washington,  whose  head- 
quarters were  in  Cambridge.  He  then  served  during 
a  term  of  eight  months. 

"  He  was  on  Boston  Neck  when  Bunker  Hill  battle 
was  fought,  June  17,  1775,  and  saw  the  burning  of 
Charlestown.  During  that  battle,  and  on  several  suc- 
cessive days,  cannon-balls  were  flying  over  the  Neck, 
where  he  was  stationed. 

"Returning  home  in  January,  he  enjoyed  repose 
but  a  few  weeks,  for  in  the  inclement  month  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1776,  he  returned  again  to  the  army  and  served 
two  months  at  Cambridge,  Winter  Hill,  and  Dor- 
chester Heights. 

"  Mr.  Dean  was  with  the  troops  when  the  British 
evacuated  Boston.  The  cannonading  commenced  in 
the  town  at  twelve  o'clock  at  night,  and  created  much 
alarm  among  the  people.  At  daylight  he  saw  the 
British  go  on  board  their  ships  and  leave  the  harbor. 
This  was  a  day  of  rejoicing.  Then  Washington 
marched  in  his  forces  and  took  possession  of  the  town. 

"  Afterwards,  Mr.  Dean  was  in  the  army  on  Rhode 
Island  when  the  French  fleet,  under  Count  de  Grasse, 
had  come  to  our  assistance  and  taken  possession  of 
the  island. 

"  Subsequently  he  enlisted  on  board  the  privateer 
ship  '  Hazard,'  of  sixteen  guns,  and  was  on  a  cruise 
four  months.  The  '  Hazard'  came  into  action  with  a 
British  vessel  of  the  same  number  of  guns  and  men 
on  the  16th  of  March,  when,  after  a  severe  and  bloody 
struggle,  the  British  vessel  struck  her  colors.  The 
British  captain,  in  coming  on  board,  said,  '  You  have 
killed  half  of  my  men.'  The  captain  of  the  '  Hazard' 
replied,  '  You  should  have  struck  sooner.' 

"  In  that  sea-fight  Mr.  Dean  said  he  felt  death  near 
him,  when,  as  he  was  loading  a  cannon,  his  com- 
panion, Gaius  King,  brother  of  Asa  King,  was  shot 
through  the  head  and  fell  dead  at  his  side. 

"Finishing  this  voyage,  in  which  he  gained  but 
little  except  a  knowledge  of  the  ravages  of  war,  he 
returned  to  his  home  in  the  southeasterly  part  of  this 
town,  and  was  married  to  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Shaw 
in  1780. 


710 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


"  Mr.  Seth  Dean  had  two  military  commissions  of- 
fered him,  that  of  ensign  and  lieutenant,  and  after- 
wards was  chosen  captain  of  militia,  but  in  his  mod- 
esty declined  them  all. 

"  Though  in  his  early  youth  his  courage  led  him  to 
face  danger  in  the  field,  no  one  was  fonder  of  home 
or  more  calculated  to  make  home  pleasant.  A  man 
of  a  milder  spirit,  and  at  the  same  time  more  resolute 
against  disorder  or  indecorum,  cannot  easily  be  found." 
Educational. — Not  only  were  the  early  settlers  of 
Raynham  interested  in  the  religious  welfare  of  the 
town,  but  the  educational  interest  also  early  received 
their  attention,  and  in  1742  we  find  a  Mr.  Fisher  was 
schoolmaster. 

In  1744  Mr.  John  Lea  was  employed  to  teach  seven 
weeks  and  four  days  for  sixteen  pounds  and  sixteen 
shillings. 

In  1752  we  find  that  the  good  people  voted  not  to 
hire  a  teacher.  In  1753,  however,  sixteen  pounds 
thirteen  shillings  and  four  pence  and  board  at  four 
shillings  a  week  was  voted  for  teaching  six  months. 
In  1777  three  hundred  and  thirty-three  dollars  and 
thirty-three  cents  were  appropriated  for  schools. 

The  first  settlers  were  intelligent  and  virtuous,  and 
having  made  great  sacrifices  in  coming  to  the  wilder- 
ness, determined  to  give  their  children  opportunities 
for  instruction.  Until  after  the  Revolution  the  school- 
master instructed  the  children  in  reading,  writing, 
arithmetic,  and  morals  for  ten  pounds  a  year.  His 
school  was  occasionally  removed  from  one  section  of 
the  town  to  another  for  the  convenience  of  his  pupils. 
Some  of  the  intelligent  boys  studied  surveying,  and 
all  recited  weekly  from  the  Assembly's  Catechism. 

Many  school-teachers,  male  and  female,  have  origi- 
nated in  this  town,  and  some  of  them  have  attained 
superiority  in  the  profession. 

Of  those  who  have  received  college  degrees  there 
are  the  following: 

Zephaniah  Leonard  (Yale),  1785,  colonel  and  high 
sheriff,  Bristol  County. 

Joshua  Leonard  (Brown),  1788,  pastor,  Pompey, 
N.  Y. 

John  Hathaway  (Brown),  1793,  pastor. 

Zephaniah  Leonard  (Brown),  1793,  physician. 

William  Augustus  Leonard  (Brown),  1793,  mer- 
chant. 

Jahaziah  Shaw  (Brown),  1792,  lawyer. 

Mason  Shaw  (Brown),  1795,  lawyer. 

Lloyd  Bowen  Hall  (Brown),  1795. 

Elijah  Leonard  (Harvard),  pastor. 

Abiel  Williams  (Brown),  1795,  pastor. 

Abraham  Gushee  (Brown),  1798,  pastor. 

Samuel  Wales  (Yale),  professor  of  divinity. 

Samuel  King  Williams  (Brown),  1804,  lawyer. 

Jonathan  Gilmore  (Brown),  1800,  pastor. 

Philo  Hortensius  Washburn  (Brown),  1801,  lawyer. 

John  Gilmore  Deane  (Brown),  1806,  pastor. 

Melvin  Gilmore  (Brown),  1805. 

Silas  Hall  (Brown),  1809,  pastor. 


Eliab  Williams  (Brown),  1821,  lawyer. 

George  Leonard  (Brown). 

Abiel  Williams  (Yale),  1835,  M.D. 

Christopher  Williams  (Brown). 

Linus  Shaw  (Brown),  pastor. 

Edward  Sanford  (Harvard),  M.D. 

Enoch  Warren  Sanford  (Brown),  physician. 

Elliot  Sanford  (Amherst),  1861,  lawyer. 

Amos  Robinson  (Brown),  1861,  pastor. 

An  account  of  the  educational  and  intellectual  fea- 
tures of  Raynham  would  be  imperfect  without  an 
allusion  to  the  Lyceum,  or  debating  society,  existing 
thirty  years  ago.  Its  organization  embraced  most  of 
the  intelligent  residents  at  the  Centre,  and  the  active 
minds  of  the  time  participated  in  its  deliberations. 
During  the  winter  for  many  seasons  there  were  de- 
bates upon  the  topics  of  the  day  and  objects  of  liter- 
ary interest,  and  once  a  fortnight  a  lecture  was  ex- 
pected either  from  gentlemen  at  home  or  from  abroad. 
Hon.  Francis  Baylies,  of  Taunton,  sometimes  read  an 
address,  or  the  audience  listened  to  an  essay  from 
William  P.  Daggett,  the  talented  son  of  Rev.  Simeon 
Daggett. 

Mr.  Eli  K.  Washburn,  distinguished  for  sound 
sense  and  a  clear  understanding,  frequently  spoke. 
Once  or  more  Joseph  Dixon,  chemist  and  necro- 
mancer, then  of  Taunton,  lectured  before  the  Lyceum, 
and  the  neighboring  clergy  were  nearly  all  heard. 

In  1810  there  were  two  companies  of  uniformed 
militia  in  the  town.  The  south  company  was  com- 
manded by  Capt.  Barzillai  King,  and  the  north  com- 
pany by  Capt.  Simeon  Wilbur.  Their  uniforms  were 
caps  plumed  with  horse-hair  and  coats  faced  with 
red. 

The  following  attained  to  positions  in  the  local 
militia  higher  than  that  of  captain : 

Colonels.— Noah  Hall,  from  March  22,  1792,  to 
1795 ;  Warren  Lincoln,  from  Aug.  13,  1831,  to  1832. 

Lieutenant- Colonels. — Zephaniah  Leonard;  Jona- 
than Shaw,  from  1781  to  1788 ;  Noah  Hall,  from  May 
15,  1788,  to  March  22,  1792 ;  Warren  Lincoln,  from 
Sept.  23,  1829,  to  Aug.  13,  1831 ;  William  L.  Wilbur, 
from  Oct,  23,  1838,  to  April  24,  1840. 

Senior  Major. — John  Gilmore,  from  1805  to  1806. 
Majors.— Jonathan  Shaw,  from  1779  to  1781 ;  John 
Gilmore,  from  April  26, 1798,  to  1805 ;  Eliab  B.  Dean, 
from  Sept.  16,  1817,  to  1822;  William  D.  Robinson, 
from  May  13,  1837,  to  April  24,  1840. 

All  these  field-officers  held  their  military  positions 
in  the  Third  Regiment,  in  Second  Brigade,  Fifth 
Division,  except  Eliab  B.  Dean,  who  was  major  of  a 
battalion  of  cavalry. 

Early  Merchants. — Nehemiah  Jones  kept  a  vari- 
ety store  for  many  years  at  the  centre.  He  was  also 
postmaster.  Abisha  Lincoln  traded  at  the  north  end, 
Sylvanus  Makepeace  at  Prattville,  Hanscome  and 
Samuel  Robinson  at  Gilmoreville,  and  Theodore 
King  and  Edward  Wilbur  at  the  centre.  Richard 
Leonard,   postmaster,  was   associated   with   King  & 


RAYNHAM. 


711 


Wilbur.  At  the  south  end  were  David  Dean  and 
Chauncy  G.  Washburn  ;  at  the  east,  Silas  Shaw. 

Physicians. — Early  in  the  century  Dr.  Seth  Wash- 
burn practiced  to  some  extent.  Dr.  Walker  came 
here  in  1815  and  acquired  an  extensive  business, 
which  he  was  obliged  before  long  to  abandon  on 
account  of  ill  health.  In  1820,  Elisha  Hayward,  of 
Easton,  a  graduate  of  Brown  University  in  the  class 
of  1817,  commenced  practice.  He  studied  medicine 
at  New  Haven,  under  the  famous  Dr.  Smith,  and 
acquired  an  excellent  medical  education. 

He  soon  had  a  good  practice,  extending  into  the 
neighboring  towns.  His  personal  characteristics 
were  strict  integrity,  kindness  of  heart,  and  devotion 
to  the  interests  of  his  patients.  He  was  unselfish  in 
the  discharge  of  his  duties,  thinking  more  of  the  well- 
being  of  others  than  of  his  own  advantage.  With  an 
individuality  peculiarly  his  own,  with  no  ambition 
beyond  his  business,  farm,  and  home,  he  was  never- 
theless a  faithful  practitioner,  respected  for  his  steadi- 
ness of  purpose,  and  regarded  by  a  large  circle  of  pa- 
tients as  their  firm  friend  and  reliable  adviser.  He 
died  in  1868,  at  the  age  of  seventy-four,  and  Eev.  Mr. 
Sanford  pronounced  his  eulogy. 

Gaius  Dean,  M.D.,  resided  in  this  town  for  several 
years  towards  the  close  of  his  life,  which  had  been 
principally  spent  in  Virginia,  where  he  had  a  lucrative 
practice.  He  was  a  native  of  Taunton,  son  of  Deacon 
Ebenezer  Dean,  and  a  graduate  of  Brown  University 
in  the  class  of  1795.  As  his  health  became  infirm, 
he  removed  to  this  town  with  his  children,  and  re- 
sided near  his  sister,  Mrs.  Gushee.  His  motto  was 
"  Miser  miseris  succurrere  disco"  ("  Infirm  myself,  I 
learn  to  succor  the  miserable.") 

Longevity. — Two  persons  have  lived  beyond  a 
hundred  years, — Mrs.  Abigail  Leonard,  wife  of  Col. 
Zephaniah  Leonard,  and  Mrs.  Lydia  Snow,  whose 
home  was  with  Miss  Hannah  Jones,  near  the  forge. 

Justices  of  the  Peace. — Jonathan  Shaw,  at  the 
north  end,  was  an  acting  justice  for  many  years.  He 
was  a  firm  supporter  of  law  and  order,  and  criminals 
received  their  deserts  at  his  hands.  Capt.  Samuel  Wil- 
bur was  a  justice  and  deputy  sheriff,  and  once  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Legislature. 

High  Sheriffs. — Col.  Zephaniah  Leonard  was  high 
sheriff  of  the  county  about  thirty  years.  His  son, 
Horatio  Leonard,  succeeded  him,  and  held  the  office 
thirty-five  years. 

At  Squawbetty,  which  lies  on  both  sides  of  the 
Taunton  River,  partly  in  Taunton  and  partly  in 
Raynham,  are  the  Old  Colony  Iron-Works.  These 
are  extensive  works,  and  employ  a  large  number  of 
men. 

Benjamin  Shaw  had  a  saw-mill  in  1700  on  the 
Fowling  Pond  stream,  which  runs  into  Two-Mile 
River  a  mile  above  the  old  iron-works.  He  was  a 
shareholder  in  the  works,  and  was  the  ancestor  of 
the  Shaws  of  Taunton  (Raynham  in  1731).  He  died 
in  1723. 


In  1770,  James  Presbo  had  a  grist-mill  near  above 
location,  on  the  same  dam  and  stream,  at  the  head  of 
Two-Mile  River.  His  son,  Zadoc  Presbo,  who  was  a 
moulder,  was  associated  with  Capt.  Israel  Washburn 
in  carrying  on  a  furnace  at  the  same  dam  for  manu- 
facturing hollow-ware  for  many  years.  It  was  the 
oldest  hollow-ware  furnace  in  this  section,  except 
"King's  Furnace."  They  mined  all  their  ore  for 
years  on  the  banks  of  the  river,  in  the  "  Mine 
meadows  and  bogs"  in  that  vicinity. 

Capt.  Washburn  also  purchased  the  grist-mill  of 
James  Presbo  in  1784.  He  died  in  1796,  leaving  the 
furnace  and  mill  to  his  son,  Dr.  Seth  Washburn,  who 
continued  the  hollow-ware  business  with  Mr.  Presbo 
many  years,  the  latter  having  charge  of  the  furnace, 
in  which  Carmi  Andrews  and  others  were  moulders. 
In  1810,  Mr.  Presbo  sold  his  share  of  the  furnace  and 
privilege  to  Dr.  Washburn  and  removed  to  Vermont, 
the  latter  continuing  the  business  a  few  years.  He 
died  in  1837,  leaving  the  furnace  and  mill  to  his  son, 
Franklin  Washburn,  who  sold  the  privilege  and 
property  a  few  years  later  to  George  W.  King,  who 
for  many  years  manufactured  shovels,  forks,  and 
nails. 

Pending  the  noted  Shay's  rebellion  in  October, 
1786,  a  demonstration  was  made  in  this  county  by 
about  a  hundred  of  the  adherents  of  Shay,  under  one 
Col.  Valentine,  of  Freetown,  to  frighten  Gen.  Cobb, 
then  presiding  as  judge  of  the  Court  of  Sessions  in 
Taunton,  to  deliver  the  papers  of  the  court  and  break 
up  the  session  in  Bristol  County.  The  followers  of 
Shay  had  succeeded  in  two  counties.  Orders  had 
been  previously  issued  by  Gen.  Cobb  (then  in  com- 
mand as  well  as  judge)  for  the  militia  to  appear  at 
the  court-house  to  protect  the  court,  but  only  two 
companies  had  responded  that  morning,  both  from 
Raynham,  one  commanded  by  Capt.  Noah  Hall,  the 
other  Capt.  Israel  Washburn's  company,  but  being 
absent  Lieut.  Reuben  Hall  was  in  command.  The 
companies  performed  their  duty,  and  their  prompt 
response  has  gone  into  history.  Capt.  Noah  Hall 
had  served  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  closed  but 
a  few  years  before,  and  was  the  friend  of  Gen.  Cobb, 
accompanying  him  to  Goldsborough,  Me.,  where  he 
died  May  6,  1835,  in  his  ninety-fourth  year.  Capt. 
Israel  Washburn  was  the  grand-ancestor  of  the  Con- 
gressmen Washburn  brothers.  He  served  as  one  of 
the  commissioners  of  the  commonwealth  for  the  dis- 
posal of  "  confiscated  property"  of  the  "  Tories"  after 
the  war,  residing  in  Bristol  County.  A  number  of 
farms  were  thus  disposed  of,  as  records  show. 

The  Congregational  Church.1— Anticipating  the 
duty  of  supporting  public  worship,  the  people  had 
erected  and  partially  finished  a  meeting-house  two 
years  before  the  town  was  incorporated.  The  first 
town-meeting  for  choice  of  officers  was  held  April 
22,  1731.     On  the  10th  of  May  following  the  town 


i  Condensed  from  Rev.  Mr.  Sanford's  "  History  of  Kaynhain." 


712 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


voted  to  pay  all  the  expenses  which  individuals  had 
incurred  in  building  the  meeting-house,  and  a  tax 
was  levied  for  that  purpose.  At  the  same  meeting 
Mr.  John  Wales,  who  had  been  preaching  there  one 
year  and  a  half,  was  chosen  minister. 

His  salary  was  fixed  at  one  hundred  pounds  per 
annum  in  bills  of  credit,  and  two  hundred  pounds 
settlement.  His  income  was  subsequently  increased 
to  four  hundred  pounds,  equal  to  £53  6s.  8cL,  lawful 
money,  or  about  two  hundred  and  sixty-six  dollars. 
It  was  also  voted  to  finish  the  church  by  plastering 
it,  constructing  pews  and  a  gallery  floor. 

The  records  of  the  town  show  the  following  vote, 
Sept.  20,  1731 :  "  Agreed  to  set  apart  the  20th  of  Oc- 
tober next  for  the  ordination  of  Mr.  John  Wales,  our 
present  minister,  as  pastor  and  gospel  minister  of 
Christ  over  a  Church  of  Christ  in  this  town,  the  town 
having  heretofore  chosen  and  elected  him  thereto." 
Fifteen  pounds  were  appropriated  to  pay  Zephaniah 
Leonard  for  entertaining  the  council. 

The  church,  which  was  organized  the  day  before 
the  ordination,  consisted  of  fourteen  men  and  seven- 
teen women,  who  were  transferred  from  the  First 
Church  in  Taunton. 

The  following  record  from  the  church  books  of  the 
First  Congregational  Church  in  Taunton,  by  Rev. 
Thomas  Clapp,  pastor,  shows  the  names  of  the  per- 
sons constituting  the  new  church  : 

"  At  a  church  meeting  held  at  the  publick  Meeting- 
house in  Taunton,  October  7,  1731, 

"The  request  of  Abraham  Jones,  John  Staples, 
John  Leonard,  Samuel  Hacket,  Senior,  Joseph  Jones, 
Samuel  Leonard,  Seth  Leonard,  Samuel  White,  Eben- 
ezer  Campbell,  John  While,  Gabriel  Crossman,  Jona- 
than Hall,  Thomas  Baker,  and  Samuel  Hacket  (2d), 
as  also  the  request  of  Hannah  White,  Mary  Hacket, 
Katherine  Leonard,  Hannah  Campbell,  Susannah 
White,  Hannah  Staples,  Mehitable  White,  Ruth 
Crane,  Elizabeth  Shaw,  Mary  Jones,  Joanna  Leonard, 
Abigail  Hall,  Lydia  Britton,  Patience  Hacket,  Sarah 
Hall,  Rebecca  Leonard,  and  Abigail  Baker,  all  breth- 
ren and  sisters  in  full  communion  with  this  church, 
living  in  the  town  of  Raynham,  for  a  dismission,  was 
read  to  the  church,  in  order  to  their  being  incorporated 
into  a  church  state  by  themselves,  and  have  the  ordi- 
nances of  the  gospel  administered  among  them. 

"  The  church  taking  the  matter  into  consideration, 
and  approving  their  desires  to  be  regular,  voted  that 
they  be  dismissed  accordingly,  commending  them  to 
God  and  the  word  of  His  grace,  which  is  able  to  build 
them  up,  and  to  give  them  an  inheritance  among  all 
those  who  are  sanctified. 

"  At  the  same  time  the  request  of  several  persons 
who  had  only  renewed  their  baptismal  covenant  for  a 
dismission  was  read,  upon  which  the  church  voted, 
That,  if  any  of  them  did  desire  to  embody  in  a  church 
state  with  the  aforesaid  brothers  and  sisters,  they 
might  do  it  without  any  offence  to  this  church." 

Mr.  Wales'  ministry  continued  thirty-four  years. 


He  died  Feb.  23,  1765,  in  his  sixty-sixth  year.  His 
son  Samuel,  baptized  March  6,  1747,  graduated  at 
Yale  College,  received  the  degree  of  D.D.,  and  be- 
came Professor  of  Divinity  in  that  institution.  His 
son  John  was  a  member  of  the  United  States  Senate 
from  Delaware.  Catherine,  who  was  baptized  Nov. 
25,  1750,  married  Samuel  Montgomery,  a  graduate  of 
Yale,  a  surgeon  in  the  Revolutionary  army.  Her 
daughter  Catherine  married  Job  Godfrey,  Esq.,  of 
Taunton.  Mr.  Wales'  daughter  Prudence  became 
the  wife  of  Rev.  Dr.  Fobes,  her  father's  successor. 

Like  many  in  New  England,  this  church  early 
adopted  what  was  called  the  half-way  covenant. 

This  town  was  organized  in  the  belief  and  practice 
of  evangelical  doctrines.  The  people  were  true  sons 
of  the  Puritans,  respecting  whom  Hume,  though  not 
their  friend,  declared  that  they  were  the  first  people 
in  England  who  possessed  the  true  principles  of  lib- 
erty. 

July  29,  1776,  about  two  years  after  the  death  of 
Mr.  Wales,  Perez  Fobes,  of  Bridgewater,  was  chosen 
pastor.  The  town  concurred  in  the  choice,  and  voted 
him  a  salary  of  seventy-eight  pounds  per  annum, 
equal  to  about  three  hundred  and  ninety  dollars. 

Mr.  Fobes  graduated  at  Cambridge  in  1762.  Dur- 
ing the  Revolution,  notwithstanding  his  frail  health, 
he  served  as  a  chaplain  in  the  army.  In  1786  he 
acted  as  president  of  Brown  University  while  Presi- 
dent Manning  was  absent,  and  was  subsequently 
chosen  Professor  of  Experimental  Philosophy  in  the 
college.  In  the  deficiency  of  adequate  illustrative 
apparatus,  he  constructed  an  orrery  designed  to  ex- 
hibit the  mechanism  of  the  solar  system,  and  by  his 
energy  and  application  rendered  important  service 
upon  the  faculty  of  the  institution.  In  1787  he  was 
chosen  a  fellow  of  the  college,  and  in  1792  received 
the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Laws. 

The  advancement  of  education  occupied  much  of 
his  time.  It  has  been  said  "  that  the  schools  of  Rayn- 
ham, under  his  patronage  and  inspection,  were  for 
many  years  an  example  for  the  country,  and  bore  an 
honorable  testimony  to  the  public  of  the  importance 
of  a  learned  clergy  to  the  country."  But  Dr.  Fobes 
excelled  as  a  preacher.  By  his  own  bearing  he  illus- 
trated the  assertion  of  Euripides,  that  the  dignity  of 
a  speaker  adds  force  to  his  words.  He  had  a  marked 
talent  for  extemporaneous  speaking,  and  could  thrill 
an  audience  with  spontaneous  eloquence. 

During  Dr.  Fobes'  ministry  of  forty-five  years  one 
hundred  and  thirty-six  persons  were  admitted  to  the 
church,  three  hundred  and  four  infants  and  adults 
baptized,  and  about  two  hundred  and  twenty  marri- 
ages solemnized.  His  house  stood  one-fourth  of  a 
mile  east  of  the  church,  on  the  road  to  Tearall.  His 
farm  was  of  considerable  extent,  and  was  acquired 
through  his  wife,  the  daughter  of  Mr.  Wales.  The 
house  was  two  stories  in  front  and  one  in  the  rear,  after 
the  mode  of  that  day.  He  accumulated  property  and 
often  lent  money,  to  the  convenience  of  the  public,  in 


RAYNHAM. 


713 


the  absence  of  banks.  He  never  owned  a  riding  car- 
riage, but  made  all  bis  journeys  on  horseback,  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  custom  of  tbe  times. 

After  the  death  of  Dr.  Fobes  the  church  was  with- 
out a  pastor  seven  months.  Rev.  Stephen  Hull  was 
installed  Sept.  2, 1812.  Mr.  Hull  was  a  fluent  speaker, 
and  peculiarly  attractive  in  conversation.  In  May, 
1823,  he  was  dismissed  at  his  own  request.  He  died 
at  sixty,  and  was  buried  beside  his  first  wife  in  the 
Central  Cemetery  of  this  town. 

The  first  meeting-house  stood  a  fourth  of  a  mile 
east  of  the  forge,  on  the  north  side  of  the  road  lead- 
ing to  Squawbetty.  It  was  a  very  plain  structure, 
without  blinds,  steeple,  bell,  or  stoves.  It  cost  four- 
teen hundred  dollars,  and  was  conveniently  placed  for 
the  early  inhabitants.  Mr.  Wales  preached  in  it 
thirty-four  years,  and  Dr.  Fobes  eight  years. 

The  second  house  was  built  in  1773,  by  Mr.  Israel 
Washburn,  by  whom  the  pews  were  sold  to  purchasers. 
It  stood  at  the  centre  of  the  town,  and  as  originally 
constructed  had  no  steeple.  The  land  upon  which 
it  was  erected  belonged  to  Mr.  Amariah  Hall,  from 
whom  it  was  purchased.  It  continues  in  the  posses- 
sion of  the  parish,  and  upon  it  the  present  church 
stands. 

The  pews  were  square  and  high,  the  railing  around 
them  of  turned  balusters.  The  galleries  extended  on 
three  sides ;  there  were  no  blinds ;  the  pulpit  with  its 
sounding-board  stood  on  the  east  side.  The  front 
door  opened  into  the  broad  aisle,  but  there  were  end 
doors  with  entries.  A  steeple  and  bell  were  added  to 
the  house  some  years  after  its  erection.  It  had  no 
apparatus  for  warming  until  1830,  when  Gen.  Shepard 
Leach,  of  Easton,  gave  a  box-stove,  which  was  placed 
near  the  deacons'  seat  before  the  pulpit.  A  very 
correct  picture  of  this  house  is  in  the  possession  of 
the  writer.  It  is  the  only  one  in  existence,  and  time 
increases  its  value. 

There  was  opposition  to  the  proposals  of  Mr.  Wash- 
burn for  the  erection  of  this  house.  Thirty-four 
voted  to  adopt  the  plan  and  twenty-seven  opposed  it. 
The  objectors  lived  in  the  southerly  part  of  the  town, 
and  undertook  to  repair  the  old  house  and  continue 
worship  there.  A  council  ensued  to  heal  the  seces- 
sion. This,  the  first  church  built  in  Raynham,  stand- 
ing on  the  Squawbetty  road,  was  taken  down  about 
1780. 

The  disposition  made  of  its  venerable  pulpit  will 
be  seen  from  the  following  interesting  letter  by  Dr. 
Fobes,  written  in  choice  ecclesiastical  English,  re- 
cently discovered  by  Mr.  Eliot  Sandford,  of  New 
York,  among  the  forgotten  records  of  Dr.  Hopkins' 
church  at  Newport,  R.  I.  The  gift  of  a  pulpit  from 
Raynham  to  Newport  is  unique.  It  can  scarcely 
have  been  very  elaborate  in  structure.  The  entire 
cost  of  the  church  from  which  it  was  taken  reached 
but  fourteen  hundred  dollars,  and  a  pulpit  built  upon 
the  same  scale  of  expenditure  probably  was  not  of 
rosewood  or  mahogany.     It  had  been  seasoned,  how- 


ever, in  the  glow  of  sound  doctrines,  and  suffered 
no  declension  in  the  occupancy  of  Dr.  Hopkins. 

The  record  is  prefaced  as  follows,  in  Dr.  Hopkins' 
hand  : 

"  In  August,  1782,  this  church  received  a  decent 
pulpit,  sent  as  a  present  from  the  church  in  Rayn- 
ham, which  came  to  us  by  water,  without  any  charge, 
accompanied  by  the  following  letter,  viz. : 

"  Raynham,  July  28, 1782. 
"  The  Church  of  Christ  in  'Raynham  to  the  First  Congregational  Church  in 
Newport  sendeth  greeting  : — 

"Whereas  our  beloved  brother,  Mr.  Samuel  Vinson,  having  informed 
us  of  your  afflicted  state,  and  of  the  many  losses  you  have  in  the  time 
past  sustained  by  the  reason  of  the  British  troops  among  you,  and,  in 
particular,  the  destruction  of  the  pulpit  belonging  to  your  house  of 
worship : 

"  Holy  and  Beloved : — We  lament  your  calamity,  and  desire  as  your 
brothers  and  companions  in  the  kingdom  and  patience  of  Jesus  Christ, 
cordially  to  sympathize  with  you  in  your  affliction.  In  testimony  of 
this,  we  present  you  with  another  pulpit,  only  desiring  that  you  would 
accept  it  as  a  little  token  of  affection  and  communion  with  you.  It  was, 
we  would  inform  you,  the  joint  property  of  Col.  Shaw,  Mr.  Josiah 
Bean,  and  Capt.  John  King,  and  his  brother,  Capt.  Philip  King,  all  of 
this  town,  of  whom  the  two  first  are  brethren  in  the  church.  Upon  a 
representation  of  your  circumstances,  they  all  fully  relinquished  their 
rights  and  left  it  in  the  hands  and  at  the  disposal  of  the  church.  We 
most  gladly  received  it  for  your  sakes,  and  to  cast  it  into  your  treasury 
as  two  mites  of  a  poor  woman,  most  ardently  wishing  that  it  may  be 
always  filled  with  a  pious  and  successful  minister  of  the  gospel,  and 
that  the  word  of  life  may,  through  the  blessing  of  heaven,  prove  what 
the  blood  of  ancient  martyrs  did,  the  seed  of  the  church  from  genera- 
tion to  generation.  Asking  your  prayers  to  God  for  us,  we  conclude, 
praying  that  blessings  of  every  needed  kind  may  descend  from  the  great 
head  of  the  church  upon  you  and  your  children,  and  your  respected 
pastor  and  allot  the  dear  people  of  his  most  important  charge.  We 
subscribe  ourselves,  the  brethren,  in  the  faith  and  fellowship  of  God. 

"  Perez  Fobes,  Pastor." 

After  the  present  house  was  erected  in  1832,  there 
was  doubt  as  to  the  best  disposition  to  be  made  of 
the  old  church. 

This  house  stood  near  the  angle  of  the  common, 
leaving  an  abundance  of  room  and  a  better  site  for 
the  new  church  near  the  centre  of  the  lot.  When 
completed  the  old  bell  was  transferred  to  the  belfry 
of  the  new  house,  and  the  parish  voted  to  disestab- 
lish the  old  church  by  pulling  it  down,  when  some 
legal  impediments  were  urged  on  behalf  of  the  town, 
which  in  former  years  had  acquired  a  right  to  hold 
its  meetings  there,  in  consideration  of  having  once 
appropriated  money  for  repairs  made  upon  the  house. 
Up  to  that  time  town-meetings  had  been  holden  in 
the  church,  and  doubtless  many  remember  the  litter 
of  ballots  sometimes  seen  in  the  aisles  and  before  the 
pulpit,  remaining  unremoved  over  Sunday.  The 
town  had  no  other  place  to  assemble.  It  was  not 
probable  the  parish  would  consent  to  have  the  new 
house  used  for  municipal  purposes,  and  the  continu- 
ance of  the  old  edifice  upon  the  common  would  be 
inconvenient  and  unsightly.  Some  of  the  conserva- 
tives were  fearful  of  consequences,  and  threats  of  a 
suit  for  damages  for  removal  of  the  bell  had  already 
been  made. 

The  tower  stood  at  the  west  end,  fronting  upon  one 
of  the  streets  that  bounded   the  common,  and  was 


714 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


attached  to  the  church  by  one  of  its  sides  only.  Its 
dimensions  on  the  ground  were  probably  about 
twenty  feet  square,  and  tall  enough  to  overtop  the 
apex  of  the  main  building  in  a  very  commanding 
manner.  One  night  this  tower  was  severed  from  the 
church  and  overturned.  By  a  summary  process  some 
of  the  young  men  took  it  upon  themselves  to  cut  the 
knot  which  their  elders  thought  it  difficult  to  untie. 
In  the  morning  the  tower  lay  upon  the  ground,  ex- 
tending across  the  street,  interrupting  travel,  the 
spire  projecting  into  the  orchard  of  Mr.  Amos  Hall, 
complete  with  vane  and  lightning-rod.  What  the 
contiguous  dwellers  thought  of  the  crash  in  the  night 
it  is  impossible  to  say,  but  daylight  revealed  the  dis- 
membered church  and  the  prostrate  tower,  to  the  no 
small  surprise  of  many  lookers-on.  Subsequently  no 
serious  objection  was  made  to  the  removal  of  the 
building.  Its  relics  were  distributed  about,  and  some 
of  them  could  have  been  seen  until  recently. 

The  fourth  pastor  of  this  church  was  Rev.  Enoch 
Sanford,  of  Berkley,  who  graduated  at  Brown  Uni- 
versity in  the  class  of  1820,  and  was  subsequently 
tutor  in  that  institution  two  years.  He  studied  the- 
ology with  Calvin  Park,  D.D.,  Professor  of  Moral 
Philosophy  in  the  college,  and  was  admitted  to  orders 
in  the  ministry,  by  the  Old  Colony  Association  at 
Berkley,  in  1822.  He  had  preached  a  year  in  See- 
konk,  while  an  officer  in  the  college,  was  evangelical, 
but  not  high  Calvinistic,  and  conservative  in  his  sen- 
timents. As  there  were  in  Raynhain  a  number  verg- 
ing towards  Unitarianism,  it  was  thought  he  would 
not  be  unacceptable  to  the  different  parties,  and  after 
preaching  here  four  months  was  ordained  Oct.  2, 
1823.  The  vote  calling  him  was  unanimous,  and  the 
salary  five  hundred  dollars,  with  the  use  of  the  par- 
sonage and  glebe.  At  his  ordination  a  great  assembly 
collected,  filling  the  house  below  and  above. 

After  a  service  of  nearly  twenty-five  years,  Mr. 
Sanford  resigned  in  1847.  Notwithstanding  the  Uni- 
tarian withdrawal  during  that  period  the  church  in- 
creased and  prospered,  receiving  during  his  ministry 
one  hundred  and  twenty-five  new  members,  augment- 
ing its  numbers  from  eighty  to  one  hundred  and 
forty-nine.  Largely  through 'his  influence  the  so- 
ciety received  several  thousand  dollars  in  donations 
and  legacies.  The  Sabbath-school  was  instituted  in 
1723,  and  Deacon  E.  B.  Deane  became  the  first  super- 
intendent. Amicable  relations  were  maintained  with 
the  venerable  pastor  of  the  new  society,  and  no  dis- 
sonance ever  arose.  In  the  superintendence  of  the 
public  schools  where  Mr.  Sanford  was  active  for 
thirty  years,  and  in  sustaining  the  various  public  in- 
terests of  the  community,  the  two  pastors  acted  cor- 
dially together. 

In  1824,  Mr.  Sanford  was  married  to  Miss  Caroline 
White,  of  Weymouth.  They  lived  for  more  than 
twenty  years  in  the  parsonage  house,  and  there  five 
children  were  born. 

The  church  now  standing  was  commenced  in  1832. 


The  corner-stone  wTas  laid  in  May,  with  religious  ser- 
vices, and  the  house  soon  completed.  The  church 
contains  sixty-eight  pews,  and  cost  about  five  thou- 
sand dollars.  It  was  dedicated  in  March,  1834,  in  the 
presence  of  a  large  audience,  and  the  pews  were  sub- 
sequently sold  for  a  thousand  dollars  more  than  the 
cost  of  the  house. 

In  the  vestibule  of  the  house  where  the  stove  once 
stood,  before  a  furnace  for  warming  was  introduced, 
there  formerly  hung  a  glass  case,  interesting  to  the 
connubially  inclined,  in  which  the  publication  of 
the  banns  of  intended  marriages  was  made  in  accord- 
ance with  the  ancient  law.  For  many  years  the  in- 
strumental accompaniment  of  the  choir  consisted  of 
Deacon  Elijah  Gushee's  viol  and  the  double-bass  viol 
played  by  Mr.  C.  Sumner  Knapp.  When  an  organ 
was  introduced,  in  subsequent  years,  Mr.  Ruel  Hall 
and  (after  his  decease)  Mr.  Edward  King  played  the 
instrument. 

The  disposition  of  the  old  house,  which  was  per- 
mitted to  stand  until  the  completion  of  the  new  one, 
has  been  related  on  a  previous  page.  After  its 
destruction  the  town  had  no  place  to  assemble  until 
the  present  hall  was  built.  One  town-meeting  was 
warned  upon  the  site  of  the  demolished  church,  and 
convened  there  on  a  cold  clay  in  November.  After 
the  meeting  was  organized  in  the  open  air,  Major  E. 
B.  Deane  invited  the  assembly  to  adjourn  to  a  com- 
fortably warmed  building  in  the  vicinity.  The  suit 
which  the  town  brought  against  the  parish  for  dam- 
ages in  taking  down  the  church,  in  which  it  was  al- 
leged the  town  had  acquired  an  interest,  was  decided 
adversely  to  the  plaintiffs.  It  appeared  that  the  par- 
ish had  acted  legally  in  appraising  the  pews  and  ten- 
dering payment  to  each  owner. 

Rev.  Robert  Carver,  a  graduate  of  Andover  Theo- 
logical Seminary,  was  settled  in  1847. 

In  1853  he  was  elected  representative  to  the  Legis- 
lature, and  soon  after  resigned  his  pastoral  charge  to 
remove  to  Norton.  Subsequently  he  preached  in 
South  Franklin.  At  the  commencement  of  the  Re- 
bellion he  became  chaplain  of  the  Seventh  Massa- 
chusetts Regiment,  and  was  present  at  the  Seven 
Days'  battle  before  Richmond,  under  Gen.  McClel- 
lan,  from  the  suffering  and  exposure  of  which  his 
health  became  impaired  beyond  permanent  recov- 
ery. Rev.  Mr.  Maltby,  of  Taunton,  preached  his 
funeral  sermon,  and  he  lies  in  the  North  Cemetery 
at  Taunton. 

The  next  clergyman,  Rev.  John  Haskell,  devoted 
his  abilities  assiduously  to  the  ministerial  work.  In- 
stalled Jan.  15,  1859,  he  remained  about  five  years. 

The  Rev.  VV.  J.  Breed,  who  succeeded  Mr.  Haskell, 
was  a  native  of  Taunton  and  a  graduate  of  Yale  Col- 
lege in  the  class  of  1831.  He  died  April,  1869,  aged 
fifty-nine  years. 

Rev.  F.  A.  Fisk  succeeded,  and  was  inducted  to 
the  settlement  by  public  services,  at  which  Rev.  Dr. 
Blake,  of  Taunton,  preached.     After  officiating  one 


RAYNHAM. 


715 


year,  Mr.  Fisk  resigned  in  order  to  join  the  Episcopal 
Church. 

The  deacons  have  been  :  1731,  John  Staples  and 
Samuel  Leonard;  1741,  Jonathan  Shaw;  1750,  Jona- 
than Hall  and  Edmund  Williams;  1761,  Elijah 
Leonard  and  Israel  Washburn ;  1780,  Jonathan 
Shaw;  1797,  Abiel  Williams  and  Oliver  Washburn; 
1819,  Lloyd  Shaw;  1824,  Horatio  Leonard;  1828, 
Eliab  B.  Deane  and  Elijah  Gushee;  1850,  Samuel 
Jones.1 

The  Baptist  Church.— Dr.  Fobes  stated,  in  1793, 
that  there  were  one  thousand  inhabitants  in  Rayn- 
ham,  one-sixth  of  whom  were  Baptists.  When  there 
was  no  distinction  between  town  and  parish  all  the 
inhabitants  were  required  by  law  to  pay  the  assess- 
ments laid  for  ministerial  support.  In  1783  the  town 
voted  not  to  compel  those  who  professed  to  be  Baptists 
to  pay  the  clerical  tax  for  the  support  of  a  minister 
whose  preaching  they  could  not  conscientiously  at- 
tend, alleging  that  "  to  compel  them  to  pay  it  would 
endanger  that  peace  and  harmony  which  should  sub- 
sist in  a  town  society." 

The  Baptist  Church  was  organized  in  1839,  and  a 
house  of  worship  built  a  few  years  after.  Rev.  Eb- 
enezer  Briggs  became  the  first  pastor,  and  under  his 
ministrations  the  church  largely  increased.  He  for- 
merly lived  on  the  shores  of  Long  Pond,  in  Middle- 
borough,  where,  upon  his  own  farm,  he  maintained 
a  generous  hospitality.  His  preaching  was  earnest, 
faithful,  and  effective,  and  his  correct  life  reflected  the 
sincerity  of  his  heart. 

Rev.  Ephraim  Ward,  of  Middleborough,  a  gradu- 
ate of  Brown  University,  succeeded  Mr.  Briggs,  and 
preached  acceptably  three  years,  when  he  resigned 
and  removed  to  Illinois.  In  1846,  Rev.  Silas  Hall 
became  minister,  and  has  since  been  followed  by  a 
number  of  preachers,  who  remained  but  a  short  term 
each. 

The  deacons  of  this  church  are  Godfrey  Robinson, 
Esq.,  and  Capt.  William  King.  The  chief  benefactor 
and  patron  of  the  society  was  Mr.  Asa  King,  whose 
life  is  included  in  the  published  "Genealogy  of  the 
King  Family." 

Unitarian  Church.2 — For  several  years  Mr.  San- 
ford  maintained  pulpit  exchanges  with  the  neighbor- 
ing clergy  indiscriminately,  but  when  the  distinction 
between  orthodoxy  and  Unitarianism  became  more 
accurately  defined,  he  deemed  it  inconsistent  with  his 
duty  to  continue  exchanges  with  ministers  of  the  latter 
denomination.  This  refusal  raised  opposition  from  a 
portion  of  the  church  and  society,  which  presently 
took  a  definite  form  and  expression.  While  Mr.  San- 
ford  was  absent  at  the  anniversaries  in  Boston,  the 
dissatisfied  members  prepared  a  remonstrance  re- 
questing him  not  to  discontinue  such  exchanges, 
stating  therein  that  his  settlement  was  on  the  expec- 


1  See  Appendix. 

2  Condensed  from  Rev.  Mr.  Sanford's  "  History  of  Raynhani.'' 


tation  that  ministerial  intercourse  should  be  main- 
tained alike  with  liberal  and  orthodox  clergymen 
irrespectively. 

On  his  return  another  memorial  was  presented,  de- 
siring him  to  regulate  the  matter  of  exchanges  accord- 
ing to  his  own  judgment  and  discretion,  declaring  that 
his  settlement  was  not  on  the  expectation  that  he 
should  exchange  with  Unitarians.  This  pay>er  was 
signed  by  about  two-thirds  of  the  voting  members  of 
the  church  and  society.  Prior  to  this  time  the  line 
of  separation  had  never  been  so  clearly  drawn.  There 
were  articles  of  faith  adopted  and  formerly  used  by 
the  church  in  admitting  members.  This  creed  and 
covenant  was  similar  to  that  of  other  evangelical 
churches,  but  had  been  lost  or  suppressed  during  Mr. 
Hull's  ministry. 

These  discords  resulted  in  the  formation  of  a  Uni- 
tarian Society  in  1828,  comprising  twenty-five  of  the 
church  and  a  portion  of  the  society.  The  new  organ- 
ization, styled  the  Second  Congregational  Society, 
included  some  of  the  most  respected  and  influential 
families  in  the  town.  They  first  worshiped  in  Capt. 
Reuben  Hall's  public  hall,  and  at  length  built  a 
church  a  little  north  of  the  first  church,  on  land 
presented  by  Ellis  Hall,  Esq.,  and  engaged  Rev. 
Simeon  Doggett,  of  Mendon,  for  their  minister,  who 
continued  to  preach  while  the  organization  was  main- 
tained. 

The  new  society  received  few  accessions,  and  at  the 
end  of  a  dozen  years  services  were  discontinued,  and 
a  portion  of  the  congregation  and  their  pastor  atteuded 
public  worship  at  the  old  church. 

Before  the  separation  was  accomplished  various 
circumstances  occurred  tending  to  a  division.  Some 
wished  to  introduce  the  Unitarian  hymn-book.  The 
leader  of  the  choir,  Mr.  Otis  Washburn,  conferred 
with  Mr.  Sanford  upon  the  expediency  of  the  change, 
who  advised  to  leave  the  decision  to  the  church.  New 
books  were,  however,  distributed  among  the  choir 
without  further  consultation.  On  the  following  Sun- 
day, when  the  hymn  was  announced  from  Watts  as 
usual,  the  choir  remained  silent.  In  the  afternoon 
Mr.  Wheeler  Wilbur  volunteered  to  lead  the  tune, 
and  the  choir  followed  in  the  accustomed  hymn.  Soon 
after,  at  a  meeting  of  the  church  and  society,  a  ma- 
jority determined  to  make  no  change  in  the  hymn- 
book. 

Subsequently,  difficulties  arose  concerning  the  funds 
of  the  first  society,  the  trustees  of  which  were  Horatio 
Leonard,  Maj.  John  Gilmore,  and  others,  who  were 
all  among  the  seceders.  They  refused  to  pay  over 
the  income  of  the  investment.  Suit  was  brought,  and 
the  case  conducted  by  Z.  Eddy,  of  Middleborough, 
carried  before  the  Supreme  Court,  where  the  decision 
was  in  favor  of  the  first  society,  on  the  ground  that 
the  funds  were  originally  given  to  it,  and  those  who 
withdrew  from  the  society  could  not  lawfully  carry 
any  portion  of  the  funds  with  them.  The  income 
then  was  ahout  two  hundred  dollars,  formerly  it  had 


716 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


been  more.  Not  long  after  Capt.  Edward  Leonard 
left  to  the  society  by  his  will  a  legacy  of  one  thousand 
dollars  and  land  worth  eight  hundred  dollars.  He 
also  gave  one  thousand  dollars  to  the  Unitarian  So- 
ciety in  behalf  of  his  brother  Samuel,  who  intended 
to  make  the  bequest  had  he  executed  a  will. 

Rev.  Simeon  Doggett,  pastor  of  the  Unitarian 
Church,  came  from  Mendon  to  Raynham  soon  after 
the  formation  of  the  church  in  1828,  and  died  in  1852. 
He  was  the  first  preceptor  of  Bristol  Academy,  a 
scholarly  man  of  dignified  habits,  and  highly  re- 
spected for  his  worth.  He  married  a  daughter  of  Dr. 
Fobes,  and  lived  at  the  Centre,  in  the  house  now  oc- 
cupied by  E.  B.  Dean.  His  will,  on  record  at  the 
probate  office,  commences  thus:  "Impressed  with  the 
words  of  the  prophet  Isaiah,  who  said  to  Hezekiah, 
'  Set  thine  house  in  order,  for  thou  shalt  die  and  not 
live.' "  His  funeral  sermon  was  preached  by  Rev. 
Charles  Brigham,  of  Taunton. 

The  Union  Church  at  North  Raynham1  was  or- 
ganized in  1875,  the  following  being  the  original 
members  :  Willard  M.  Copeland,  Mrs.  W.  M.  Cope- 
land,  Lafayette  Dean,  Mrs.  Cassander  Gilmore,  Bar- 
num  Hall,  Edwin  B.  Hall,  Mrs.  Hiram  E.  Hall,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  J.  Frank  Hall,  Mrs.  Harriet  E.  Howard, 
Mrs.  Julia  A.  Kelly,  Mrs.  James  S.  Leach,  Mrs.  S. 
Russell  Lincoln,  Rev.  and  Mrs.  C.  A.  G.  Thurston, 
Mrs.  John  D.  Thompson,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ebenezer  B. 
Towne,  Mrs.  Charles  E.  Wetherell,  Mrs.  Sarah  E. 
Wilbur,  Barnum  Hall  and  E.  B.  Towne,  deacons, 
"Willard  M.  Copeland,  clerk  and  treasurer. 

This  society  was  established  in  accordance  with  a 
liberal  bequest  of  Martin  Luther  Hall,  of  Brookline, 
a  native  of  North  Raynham,  son  of  the  late  Seth  and 
Selina  Hall.  He  was  a  Boston  merchant,  and  died 
Feb.  19,  1875,  at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years,  leav- 
ing in  his  will  a  bequest  of  fifteen  thousand  dollars  to 
purchase  the  land  and  build  a  church  for  the  "  North 
Raynham  Religious  Society  for  Christian  worship 
forever,"  the  trustees  being  his  brothers,  Barnum 
Hall,  John  G.  Hall  (of  Boston),  and  Cassander  Gil- 
more,  of  North  Raynham.  A  handsome  and  tasteful 
church  edifice  was  erected  in  1876,  in  compliance  with 
bequest,  by  the  trustees  co-operating  with  Deacon  E. 
B.  Towne,  and  was  dedicated  in  November  of  that 
centennial  year.  The  two  latter  trustees  have  de- 
ceased since  the  church  was  completed.  Rev.  C.  A. 
G.  Thurston  was  called  as  first  pastor.  He  subse- 
quently resigned,  and  since  that  time  the  society  has 
had  no  settled  minister,  but  regular  services  are  held, 
and  the  Sunday-school  with  scholars  is  in  a  prosper- 
ous condition.  Edwin  B.  Hall  was  the  first  superin- 
tendent. 

Baptist  Church.1— The  Baptist  Society  in  Rayn- 
ham was  organized  in  1811.  Meetings  were  held  at 
the  house  of  Asa  King,  and  preaching  services  con- 
ducted by  Rev.  James  Barnaby,  Rev.  Silas  Hall,  and 


l  By  Capt.  J.  W.  D.  Hall. 


-  By  Mr.  J.  M.  Manning. 


others.  In  May,  1815,  Rev.  Ebenezer  Briggs,  pastor 
of  the  Fourth  Baptist  Church  in  Middleborough,  com- 
menced preaching  for  the  Raynham  Society  one- 
fourth  of  the  time,  and  thus  continued  his  labors  for 
fifteen  years.  From  1830  until  1843  he  preached  one- 
half  of  the  time.  Previous  to  1831  he  baptized  five 
or  six  of  the  Raynham  people.  These  joined  the 
Fourth  Baptist  Church  in  Middleborough.  In  1831 
he  baptized  twenty-two  in  Raynham.  From  this  date 
until  1839  the  Raynham  people  were  known  as  a 
branch  of  the  Fourth  Baptist  Church  in  Middle- 
borough. 

In  1832  the  church  edifice  was  erected  at  an  ex- 
pense of  about  two  thousand  five  hundred  dollars.  Asa 
King,  Nathan  Williams,  Godfrey  Robinson,  Dorme- 
nio  Hall,  Turner  E.  King,  and  Job  Robinson  were 
the  largest  contributors  to  this  object.  After  the  com- 
pletion of  the  edifice  the  pews  were  sold  and  the 
money  put  on  interest  for  the  benefit  of  the  society. 
Additions  were  afterwards  made  to  this  fund  by 
Joseph  Hall,  Alvin  Dean,  and  Bathsheba  Caswell. 
The  society  now  owns  twenty-seven  shares  in  the 
Bristol  County  Bank,  and  has  three  hundred  dollars 
in  the  Taunton  Saviugs-Bank.  The  income  is  annu- 
ally appropriated  for  the  support  of  preaching. 

In  1834  a  deep  religious  interest  prevailed.     Rev. 

D.  M.  Crane,  a  student  of  Pierce  Academy,  preached 
evenings  and  alternate  Sundays  for  a  year  or  more. 
In  the  summer  of  that  year  Elder  Briggs  baptized 
forty-seven  persons  in  Raynham.  From  this  date 
until  1843,  Professor  Briggs  or  students  from  Pierce 
Academy  frequently  occupied  the  pulpit  on  the  alter- 
nate Sundays. 

The  church  was  legally  organized  April  6,  1837. 
The  following  are  the  names  of  the  constituent  mem- 
bers, all  of  them  being  dismissed  from  the  Fourth 
Baptist  Church  in  Middleborough  :  Nathan  Williams, 
Lucy  Williams,  Turner  E.  King,  Charity  Washburn, 
Rebecca  King,  Thankful  King,  Philip  King,  William 
P.  King,  Lucinda  King,  Samuel  Shaw,  Jr.,  Rachel 
Shaw,  Mary  Leonard,  Serena  T.  Leonard,  Hannah 
Robinson,  Lucy  Hall,  Polly  Allen,  Mary  Allen,  Wil- 
liam King,  Ardelia  King,  Job  Robinson,  Abiather 
Leonard,  Alice  Leonard,  Morrill  Robinson,  Mary  S. 
Robinson,  Hannah  Hall,  Achsah  Reed,  Elvia  Ann 
White,  Philo  Leonard,  Serena  K.  Leonard,  Soranus 

E.  Leonard,  Augustus  L.  Pratt,  Vashti  Pratt,  Sidney 
Leonard,  Hannah  Leonard,  Amasa  Leonard,  Dorme- 
nio  Hall,  Anna  Hall,  Enoch  King,  Elvira  King,  Silas 
King,  Jr.,  Lucy  King,  Godfrey  Robinson,  Alanson 
Shaw,  Elijah  Dean,  Hannah  Dean,  Martha  S.  Wil- 
liams, Abigail  King,  Mary  Ann  Hall,  Phebe  K.  Hall, 
Eugenia  Hall,  Elizabeth  Ann  Waterman,  Silas  S. 
King,  Philip  K.  Dean,  Nancy  Dean,  William  R.  Rich- 
mond, Abigail  Richmond,  Bennet  Perkins,  William 
W.  King,  Fanny  Hooper,  Chloe  Leach,  Lerenda 
King,  Bathsheba  King,  Julia  K.  Leonard,  Keziah 
Leonard,  Sarah  Leonard,  Phebe  Leonard,  Sarah 
Waterman,  Susan  Hall,  Mary  Eaton,  Edward  Gushee, 


RAYNHAM. 


717 


Fanny   D.  Gushee,  Betsey   B.  Bump,  Abigail  Shaw, 
Caroline  E.  Shaw. 

Dec.  7,  1839,  Godfrey  Robinson  was  chosen  clerk  of 
the  church,  and  filled  that  office  nearly  thirty-five 
years.  At  the  same  date  William  King  was  chosen  for 
one  of  the  deacons,  and  Sept.  12,  1840,  Godfrey  Rob- 
inson was  chosen  for  the  other.  These  two  performed 
the  duties  of  this  office  for  many  years,  the  former 
most  of  the  time  until  Jan.  31,  1880,  when  the  present 
deacons  were  chosen.  Enoch  King  has  served  as 
deacon  for  several  years. 

Elder  Briggs  baptized  eleven  in  1840.  In  1842, 
Rev.  A.  W.  Carr,  a  student  from  Pierce  Academy, 
aided  the  pastor  in  an  extensive  revival.  Fourteen 
were  baptized  in  July  of  that  year. 

Feb.  22,  1843,  Rev.  Ephraim  Ward  was  ordained 
pastor  of  the  church,  and  continued  as  such  about 
three  years.  He  was  followed  by  Rev.  Silas  Hall  for 
one  year.  '  From  1847  to  1855  the  church  had  no 
pastor.  Rev.  Abijah  S.  Lion,  Rev.  Charles  Randall, 
Rev.  Richard  Lentell,  Rev.  Ebenezer  Briggs,  Rev. 
Silas  Hall,  and  others  supplied  the  pulpit. 

In  January,  1855,  Rev.  James  Andem  became 
pastor.  During  his  pastorate  five  were  baptized  and 
the  church  was  reorganized.  Only  those  who  signed 
the  covenant  anew,  thus  pledging  themselves  to  at- 
tend the  meetings  of  the  church,  were  afterwards 
considered  as  members. 

In  1855  the  present  parsonage  was  erected,  costing 
sixteen  hundred  dollars.  This  expense  was  borne  by 
individual  proprietors.  It  is  now  owned  in  part  by 
proprietors  and  in  part  by  the  Baptist  Society. 

In  May,  1857,  Rev.  William  Reed  entered  upon  his 
duties  as  pastor.  He  baptized  fifteen  in  1858,  and 
continued  his  pastoral  labors  until  January,  1860. 
Rev.  Thomas  Atwood  was  the  next  pastor.  Twenty- 
four  were  baptized  by  him  in  1860.  Rev.  John  Blain 
supplied  the  church  with  preaching  for  nearly  a  year, 
closing  his  labors  in  the  spring  of  1863.  In  the  July 
following  Rev.  Lumin  Kinney  was  chosen  pastor, 
and  remained  as  such  over  two  years.  In  1866,  Rev. 
Asa  Bronson  occupied  the  pulpit  from  April  until 
November.  Rev.  Ambler  Edson  was  pastor  from 
March,  1867,  until  January,  1870.  He  baptized  fif- 
teen. 

During  the  summer  of  1870  the  meeting-house  was 
thoroughly  remodeled  inside  and  provided  with  a 
furnace,  at  an  expense  of  about  two  thousand  dollars. 

Rev.  Albert  Colburn  served  the  church  as  pastor 
from  November,  1870,  until  May,  1873,  and  Rev.  J. 
W.  Lathrop  from  November,  1873,  until  November, 
1875,  baptizing  six  in  1874.  In  December,  1875,  Rev. 
T.  C.  Tingley  was  unanimously  chosen  pastor.  He 
baptized  eleven  in  1877.  The  church  then  numbered 
one  hundred  and  four. 

In  1863,  Amos  Robinson  was  licensed  by  the  church 
to  preach  the  gospel,  and  in  1877,  William  K.  Miller 
received  from  the  church  a  similar  license.  Both  have 
been  preaching  in  Iowa. 


W.  K.  Miller  served  as  church  clerk  for  two  years. 
Aug.  4,  1877,  the  present  clerk  was  chosen. 

In  1840  the  Raynham  Church  was  received  into  the 
Old  Colony  Baptist  Association,  and  remained  con- 
nected with  that  Association  until  1860,  then  it  united 
with  the  Taunton  Baptist  Association. 

The  present  officers  are  Rev.  T.  C.  Tingley,  pastor; 
J.  G.  Robinson,  O.  T.  Dean,  deacons;  J.  M.  Man- 
ning, clerk. 

Incorporation  of  the  Town.— Raynham  was  set 
off  from  Taunton  and  incorporated  as  a  separate  town 
April  1,  1731.  Among  other  things  the  act  of  incor- 
poration provided  "  that  the  inhabitants  of  said  town 
do,  within  the  space  of  three  years  from  the  publica- 
tion of  this  act,  procure  and  settle  a  learned  and  or- 
thodox minister  of  good  conversation,  and  make 
provision  for  his  comfortable  and  honorable  support, 
and  likewise  provide  a  schoolmaster  to  instruct  their 
children  to  read  and  write." 

The  council  ordered  Ebenezer  Robinson,  one  of  the 
principal  inhabitants,  to  warn  a  meeting  of  the  citi- 
zens to  choose  town  officers.  The  warrant  was  issued 
under  the  authority  and  in  the  fourth  year  of  the 
reign  of  His  Majesty  George  II. 

At  the  first  town-meeting  Samuel  Leonard,  Jr.,  was 
chosen  town  clerk,  and  John  Staples,  Samuel  Leonard, 
and  Ebenezer  Robinson  selectmen. 

In  1732,  John  White  was  chosen  clerk  of  the  market. 

Elijah  Dean  and  Thomas  Baker  were  elected  tith- 
ing-men. 

Selectmen,  Town  Clerks,  and  Representatives 
from  1731  to  18841  have  been  as  follows : 


SELECTMEN. 

1731. 

John  Staples. 

1795. 

Reuben  Hall. 
Abraham  Hathaway. 

Ebenezer  Robinson. 

1798. 

Shadrach  Wilbur. 

1802. 

Seth  Dean. 

1733. 

Joseph  Jones. 

William  Bvram. 

John  White. 

1804. 

Godfrey  Robinson. 

Jacob  Hall. 

1806. 

Nehemiah  Jones. 

1744. 

Jonathan  Shaw. 

Thomas  Leonard. 

1748. 

Josiah  Edson. 

1807. 

Barzillai  King. 

1751. 

Seth  Leonard. 

Edward  Leonard. 

Edmund  Williams. 

1813. 

Seth  Washburn. 

1754. 

Israel  Washburn. 

1814. 

Lloyd  Shaw. 

Joseph  Dean. 

1820. 

Capt.  Samuel  Wilbur. 

1756. 

Elijah -Leonard. 

1826. 

Amos  Hall. 

1760 

Ebenezer  Britton. 

Sylvester  Robinson. 

1762. 

Benjamin  King. 

1824. 

Nathan  Williams. 

1775. 

Joshua  Leonard. 

Silas  King. 

Joseph  Dean. 

1S26. 

Sylvester  Robinson. 

1776. 

Jonathan  Hall. 

1831. 

Warren  Lincoln. 

1778. 

Gamaliel  Leonard. 

1832. 

Silas  Shaw. 

Paul  Leonard. 

1833. 

Eli  K.  Washburn. 

1781. 

Stephen  Dean. 

1836. 

Leonidas  Dean. 

Josiah  Dean. 

Enoch  King. 

1782. 

Andrew  (Jilmore. 

1841. 

Ziba  Wilbur. 

Abiel  Williams. 

John  Tracy. 

Mason  Shaw. 

Job  Robinson. 

1785. 

Col.  Jonathan  Shaw. 

1842. 

Abisha  Lincoln. 

Amos  Hall. 

1845. 

Jahasiah  King, 

Thomas  I>eau. 

1846. 

Absalom  Leonard. 

1787. 

John  Gilmore. 

1847. 

Amos  R.  Hall. 

1792. 

George  Williams. 

1848. 

Charles  Robinson. 

1  For  continuation  of  Bepreseutatives  see  Appendix. 


718 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


1S48.  Henry  H.  Crane. 

Benjamin  F.  Dean. 
1850.  Nathaniel  B.  Hall. 

Philo  Leonard. 

1853.  Alpheus  Pratt. 

1854.  Martin  White. 

1855.  Thomas  F.  Cushman. 


1855.  Abiathar  Leonard. 

1856.  Kichard  G.  Robinson. 
1858.  John  D.  G.  Williams. 

Henry  H.  Crane. 

Enoch  Robinson. 
1865.  Thomas  B.  Johnson. 
1868.  Thomas  S.  Cushman. 


Many  members  of  the  board  of  selectmen  served  a 
number  of  years ;  the  date  of  election  only  is  given. 


1731.  Samuel  Leonard. 
1749.  Josiah  Dean. 
1764.  Zephaniah  Leonard. 
1777.  Mason  Shaw. 
1781.  Robert  Britton. 
1785.  Seth  Washburn. 

1805.  Josiah  Dean. 

1806.  Horatio  Leonard. 


TOWN  CLERKS. 

1821.  Abraham  Hathaway. 
1832.  William  Snow. 
1846.  Soranus  Hall. 
1857.  Samuel  Jones. 
1S65.  Dennis  Rockwell. 
1866.  Samuel  Jones. 
1868.  Arunah  A.  Leach. 


Representatives  to  the  General  Court. — 
"  By  reason  of  the  smallness  of  the  town"  no  repre- 
sentative was  chosen  for  the  first  thirty  years  of  its 
existence.  Then  each  town  paid  its  own  representa- 
tive. In  1759,  Zephaniah  Leonard  was  chosen  but 
declined  to  serve.  The  next  year  the  town  was  fined 
for  not  choosing  a  representative,  and  Josiah  Dean 
was  delegated  to  petition  the  General  Court  to  remit 
the  fine.  In  1768  and  1769,  Zephaniah  Leonard  was 
chosen  to  represent  the  town,  and  received  £7  7s.  6d. 
for  the  two  years'  service.  This  sum  he  gave  to  the 
public  for  the  purpose  of  purchasing  a  lot  for  the 
proposed  new  meeting-house. 

Benjamin  King  was  chosen  in  1774,  and  also  to  act 
as  delegate  to  the  Provincial  Congress  which  met  at 
Salem  in  October  of  that  year.  In  1775  he  was  again 
chosen,  and  in 


1777.  Zephaniah  Leonard. 

1780.  Israel  Washburn. 

17S2.  Noah  Hall. 

1792.  And     the     three     following 
years,  Josiah  Dean. 
To  the  convention  for  rati- 
fying United  States  Consti- 
tution, Israel  Washburn. 

1795.  Seth  Washburn. 

179S.  George  Williams. 

1799.  Josiah  Dean. 

1801.  Abraham  Hathaway. 

1803.  William  A.  Leonard. 

1804.  Israel  Washburn. 
1810.  Josiah  Dean. 
1S13.  John  Gilmore. 

1820.  Delegates  to  Convention  for 

revising  Constitution,  Rev. 
Silas  Hall. 

1821.  Samuel  Wilbur. 

1822.  Godfrey  Robinson. 
1825.  Amos  Hall. 


1828.  Samuel  Wilbur. 

1830.  Godfrey  Robinson. 

1831.  Ellis  Hall. 
1835.  William  Snow. 

1837.  Amos  Hall. 

1838.  Enos  L.  Williams. 
Absalom  Leonard. 

1839.  Amos  Hall. 

1841.  Carmi  Andrews. 

1842.  William  King. 

1843.  Abisha  Lincoln. 
1850.  Cassander  Gilmore. 

1852.  Soramus  Hall. 

1853.  Barzillai  King. 

1857.  Rev.  Robert  Carver. 

1858.  John  D.  G.  Williams. 

1859.  Hiram  A.  Pratt. 

1860.  Enoch  Robinson. 
1863.  Henry  H.  Crane. 
1805    Theodore  Dean. 
1869.  Enoch  King. 


;'  In  the  north  part  of  the  town  are  a  number  of 
intelligent  and  thrifty  families  of  African  descent. 
Their  ancestor  was  Tobey  Gilmore,  a  servant  of  John 
Gilmore  the  5th.  He  served  in  the  Revolutionary 
army,  was  servant  to  Gen.  Washington,  his  particular 
duty  being  the  care  of  the  general's  tents.  He  saved 
his  bounty,  bought  land,  and  founded  a  family.  He 
died  April  19, 1812 ;  lies  in  the  North  Cemetery,  under 


a  blue  headstone,  and  numerous  descendants  have 
preserved  his  name.  One  Boland,  who  became  a 
Tory  in  the  Revolution,  formerly  occupied  the  land 
confiscated  and  sold  to  Tobey.  It  subsequently  ap- 
peared that  Boland  held  only  a  life  interest  in  the 
land,  and  the  State  repaid  his  heirs  twenty  thousand 
dollars  about  the  year  1845,  to  indemnify  them  for 
the  sale. 

"  Cuff  Leonard,  a  colored  citizen  of  this  town,  who 
died  in  1825,  was  eight  years  in  the  Revolutionary 
army,  a  part  of  the  time  in  the  ranks,  and  a  part  of 
the  time  as  servant  of  Governor  Brooks.  Cuff  was 
brought  up  in  the  family  of  Capt.  Joshua  Leonard, 
from  whom  he  derived  his  surname.  Tradition  says 
he  captured  six  Hessians-one  night,  when  on  picket 
guard,  and  brought  them  into  camp.  He  was  at 
the  battle  of  Saratoga  and  surrender  of  Burgoyne. 
He  received  a  pension,  lived  comfortably  near  the 
house  of  Mr.  Macy  Williams,  and  left  a  son  Charles, 
famed  for  his  amiability,  intelligence,  and  debonair 
manners." 

For  many  years  after  the  organization  of  the  town 
few  debts  were  incurred.  Money  was  scant,  and  stren- 
uous efforts  were  made  to  avoid  liabilities.  In  1754 
the  town  voted  "  that  their  treasurer  receive  the  bar- 
iron  due  to  the  town  on  their  half-share  on  the  old 
iron-works,  and  that  he  dispose  of  a  part  of  it  to  buy 
a  funeral  pall  for  the  use  of  the  town,  and  keep  the 
remainder  till  further  ordered." 

"  It  was  put  to  vote  to  determine  if  the  town  would 
add  three  hundred  pounds,  old  tenor,  to  Rev.  Mr. 
Wales'  salary,  in  order  to  raise  it  to  four  hundred 
pounds,  one-third  to  be  paid  in  bar-iron  at  nine 
pounds  per  hundredweight,  the  other  two-thirds  in 
provisions, — Indian  corn  at  twenty  shillings  per 
bushel,  rye  thirty  shillings,  beef  eighteen  pence  per 
pound,  which  sum,  reduced  to  sterling  money,  is  fifty- 
three  pounds,  six  shillings,  eight  pence,"  and  was 
voted  in  the  affirmative. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


CHARLES    ROBINSON. 

As  the  orthography  indicates,  the  Robinson  family 
originated  in  the  Highlands  of  Scotland,  where  for 
many  years  they  bore  a  prominent  part  in  the  stir- 
ring events  of  that  country's  history.  Later  they 
emigrated  to  the  north  of  Ireland,  and  became  lead- 
ing Protestants  and  earnest  opposers  of  the  Papal 
power. 

Gain  Robinson,  the  first  American  ancestor,  brought 
to  this  country  with  him  recommendations  from  the 
leading  Protestant  churches  and  churchmen  in  Ire- 
land. He  landed  at  Plymouth,  lived  a  while  at  both 
Braintree  and  Pembroke,  but  finally  settled  in  East 
Bridgewater.  His  wife  was  Margaret  Watson,  by 
whom  he  had  several  children,  one  of  whom  was  a 


^l^<? ' -&■' 


^—t>- 


->- 


RAYNHAM. 


719 


sergeant  in  the  French  war,  under  Gen.  Winslow, 
and  died  in  Nova  Scotia.  Gain1  died  in  East  Bridge- 
water  in  1763,  aged  eighty-one.  His  wife  died  in 
1777,  aged  seventy-seven. 

Gain1,  son  of  Gain1,  was  born  in  1724.  He  married 
a  Dyer.  They  had  nine  children.  He  died  of  small- 
pox in  1778. 

Gain3,  son  of  Gain4,  married  a  Gardner,  by  whom 
he  reared  a  family,  of  whom  Dyer*  was  one.  He  was 
born  Feb.  28, 1765.  He  married  Abigail,  daughter  of 
Abishai  Stetson,  1787,  and  settled  in  South  Bridge- 
water.  Their  children  were  Clara,  born  Nov.  19, 
1787,  died  Oct.  12,  1859;  Increase,  born  Dec.  25, 
1789,  died  July  17,  1869;  Dyer,  born  Oct.  15,  1792, 
died  Feb.  15,  1873 ;  Gad,  born  Nov.  13,  1795,  died 
May  27,  1880;  Jacob,  born  Oct.  24,  1798;  Charles, 
born  Oct.  15,  1800;  Salome,  born  March  3,  1803; 
Nabby,  born  May  25,  1805;  Enoch,  born  July  31, 
1808. 

Dyer  was  by  occupation  a  forgeman  in  iron-works, 
and  his  sons  were  brought  up  to  the  same  business. 
Charles  and  Enoch  early  became  practical  iron-work- 
ers, and  Charles,  when  a  young  man,  was  employed 
in  the  office  of  Lazell  Perkins  &  Co.  (now  Bridge- 
water  Iron  Company).  He  was  also  at  one  time  en- 
gaged, with  an  uncle  of  his,  at  Marshfield,  Mass., 
trading,  and  when  about  twenty  years  old  spent  one 
winter  in  North  Carolina  on  a  trading  expedition. 
About  1828  he  came  to  East  Taunton  as  agent  for 
Horatio  Leonard  &  Co.,  the  then  owners  of  what  is 
now  Old  Colony  Iron-Works.  The  position  he  filled 
was  equivalent  to  general  manager  or  supervisor  of 
the  entire  works,  which  consisted  in  nail  and  tack 
manufacturing  and  rolling  iron,  together  with  a  store 
for  furnishing  supplies  to  the  operatives.  Some  years 
later  the  style  of  the  firm  was  changed  to  Taunton 
Iron  Company.  In  the  stock  of  this  company  both 
Charles  and  Enoch  Robinson  became  shareholders, 
and  Charles  still  retained  the  general  management. 
In  1842  the  works  suspended,  or  rather  an  assignment 
was  made  to  trustees,  in  order  to  have  the  affairs  of 
the  concern  looked  into  and  settled  up.  This  inves- 
tigation resulted  in  finding  the  business  solvent  and 
capable  of  paying  all  indebtedness.  In  1843  the 
works  were  sold  at  auction,  and  bought  in  by  a  syn- 
dicate, of  which  Charles  and  Enoch  Robinson  were 
members.  In  1844  it  was  reorganized  and  incor- 
porated as  Old  Colony  Iron  Company,  and  was  offi- 
cered as  follows:  Samuel  L.  Crocker,  president; 
Charles  Robinson,  as  agent  and  secretary ;  George 
A.  Crocker,  as  treasurer ;  and  Enoch  Robinson,  as 
superintendent.  About  1856,  Charles  was  chosen 
treasurer.  He  held  the  position  of  secretary  till 
1866,  when  his  son,  Charles  T.,  was  chosen  in  his 
stead.  He  continued,  however,  as  treasurer  of  the 
company  to  the  time  of  his  death.  Upon  the  reor- 
ganization of  the  company  in  1844  they  greatly  en- 
larged the  sphere  of  their  operations,  and  from  that 
time  to  the  present  they  have  year  by  year  added  to 


their  facilities  and  increased  their  production.  In 
August,  1881,  they  met  with  a  very  considerable  loss 
in  the  destruction  by  fire  of  their  nail-factory  and 
steam  tack-plate  mill.  Instead  of  rebuilding  the 
nail-factory,  they  purchased  what  was  known  as  the 
Somerset  Iron  Company's  works,  located  at  Somerset, 
Mass.  This  mill  is  now  a  part  of  and  conducted  under 
the  charter  of  the  Old  Colony  Iron  Company.  The 
tack-plate  mill  was  rebuilt,  and  that  department  pf 
the  business  is  continued  at  East  Taunton,  as  before. 
Prior  to  the  fire  they  manufactured  more  nails  than 
any  other  one  concern  in  New  England,  their  pro- 
duction having  reached  as  high  as  one  hundred  and 
thirty  thousand  kegs  in  one  year.  They  now  make  a 
specialty  of  shovels,  and  also  do  a  large  business  in 
rolling  all  kinds  of  iron  plates  for  the  manufacture  of 
tacks  and  for  various  other  purposes. 

Mr.  Robinson  was  at  different  periods  stockholder 
and  director  in  the  Bridgewater  Iron  Company,  Par- 
ker Mills,  Weymouth  Iron  Company,  Taunton  Loco- 
motive Manufacturing  Company,  and  Taunton  Oil 
Cloth  Company.  He  was  a  very  successful  business 
man,  and  continued  in  business  up  to  the  time  of 
his  death.  He  was  a  Whig  and  Republican  in  poli- 
tics ;  was  selectman  in  town  many  years,  and  was  a 
member  of  the  Unitarian  Church  at  Taunton.  He 
married  Ann  M.  Keith,  Nov.  24,  1825  ;  she  was  the 
daughter  of  Zenith  and  Jane  H.  (Carey)  Keith,  of 
East  Bridgewater.  They  had  five  children, — Charles 
T.,  Lucy  Ann,  Albert  Jenks,  Theodore  (deceased), 
and  Edgar.  Mr.  Robinson  died  Feb.  8,  1882,  in  the 
eighty-second  year  of  his  age,  he  having  been  born 
Oct.  15,  1800. 

Enoch  Robinson  was  born  July  31,  1808.  He  had 
even  less  opportunities  for  education  than  had  most 
boys  of  that  period,  as  he  only  attended  school  one 
three-months'  session,  but  by  applying  himself  dili- 
gently to  study  at  home  during  his  leisure  hours  he 
managed  to  obtain  a  very  fair  English  education. 

At  the  age  .of  seventeen  he  went  to  East  Bridge- 
water  and  worked  eighteen  months  for  his  brother 
Jacob ;  then  to  South  Bridgewater,  where  he  finished 
his  trade,  making  forgings  of  all  kinds  for  Lazell 
Perkins  &  Co. ;  then  in  1829  came  to  East  Taunton. 

Like  his  brother  Charles,  he  learned  his  trade  as 
iron  forger,  making  anchors,  etc.,  as  soon  as  old  enough, 
and  in  1829  he  came  to  East  Taunton  and  began  work 
in  the  mills  of  which  he  is  now  superintendent.  The 
development  of  this  industry  from  its  small  beginning 
to  its  present  large  proportions  has  been  largely  due 
to  the  efficient  management  and  superintendence  of 
the  Robinson  brothers,  and  it  stands  to-day  a  monu- 
ment to  their  skill,  enterprise,  and  ability.  Mr.  Rob- 
inson has  devoted  himself  strictly  to  his  business,  and 
has  sedulously  avoided,  so  far  as  in  his  power,  all 
offices.  He  has,  however,  been  one  of  the  selectmen 
of  his  town  since  1848,  and  was  a  member  of  the  State 
Legislature  in  1860.  He  has  been  ever  since  its  or- 
ganization one  of  the  directors  of  the  Old  Colony 


720 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL  COUNTY.  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Iron  Company,  and  is  also  director  of  the  Bridgewater 
Iron- Works,  the  Weymouth  Iron- Works,  Parker  Mills, 
the  Taunton  Locomotive- Works,  and  a  shareholder  in 
all  of  them  ;  also  in  the  Taunton  Oil  Cloth  Company. 
He  is  a  Republican  in  politics.  In  1834  he  married 
Sophia  V.  Saunders,  daughter  of  William  Saunders, 
of  Raynham,  by  whom  he  had  six  children, — Enoch 
(deceased),  Amanda  L.,  Henry  H.,  Nahum  S.  (de- 
ceased), Caroline  E.,  and  Nahum  S.2  Mr.  Robinson 
married",  second,  Nancy  T.  Jewett;  no  issue.  His 
third  and  present  wife  is  Julia  (King),  daughter  of 
Daniel  Hall,  of  Marion.  They  have  one  child, — 
Marie  Dyer. 

Of  the  children  above  named,  Nahum  S.  is  located 
at  Somerset,  and  is  one  of  the  proprietors  of  that 
branch  of  the  business.  Henry  is  with  his  father  in 
Raynham,  and  is  assistant  superintendent  of  the 
works.  Amanda  is  now  Mrs.  Charles  L.  Haskins,  of 
East  Raynham.  Caroline  E.  is  now  residing  with  her 
father. 

Mr.  Robinson  is  a  hale,  well-preserved  man,  and 
bids  fair  to  live  many  years. 


TOWNE    FAMILY. 
The  name  of  Towne,  Town,  or  Townes,  as  it  is 
sometimes  spelt,  is  one  of  not  frequent  occurrence. 
It  may  be  found  here  and  there,  generally  in  com- 
munities of  Anglo-Saxon  derivation,  and  though  sur- 
names began  to  be  used  in  England  about  the  time  of 
the  Norman  Conquest,  and  from  time  to  time  for  three 
or  four  centuries  continued  to  be  adopted  till  they 
came  into  general  use,  this  does  not  seem  to  be  one 
that  met  with  much  favor.     The  earliest  existence  of 
it  known  to  the  writer  was  a.d.  1274,  when  William  de 
la  Towne,  of  Abvely,  a  village  in  the  county  of  Shrop- 
shire, England,  about  twenty  miles  southeast  of  Shrews- 
bury, the  capital  of  the  county,  was  at  that  time  in 
the  prosecution  of  a  suit  at  law  against  one  of  the 
officers  of  the  parish,  and  the  following  year  was  on 
a  jury  at  Astley,  in  the  same  county.     The  next  we 
hear  from  it  is  one  hundred  and  thirty  or  forty  years 
later,  in  the  reign  of  Henry  IV.,  when  upon  the  win- 
dows of  the  church  in  Kennington,  Kent  County,  im- 
paled with  that  of  Ellis,  of  the  same  place,  were  the 
arms  of  a  family  by  this  name,  being  argent  on  a 
chevron,  sable,  three  cross  crossletts,  ermine.    Thomas 
at  Towne,  who  at  this  time  possessed  much  land  about 
Cheving,  and  who  bore  the  same  coat  of  arms,  married 
Benedicta,  only  daughter   of  John    Brampton,  alias 
Ditling,  of  Ditling  Court,  and  thereby  inherited  a 
manor  in  Throwley,  where  he  remained  and  erected 
a  seat  about  one-fourth  of  a  mile  from  the  church, 
and  named  it  Towne  Place,  soon  after  which  he  died, 
leaving  his  possessions  to  three  daughters,  coheiresses, 
of  whom  Eleanor  married  Richard  Lewknor,  of  Chul- 
lock.    Bennet,  or  Benedicta,  married  William  Wattin, 
of  Addington,  and  Elizabeth  married  William  Sernes, 
of  the  same  parish.   His  estate  was  divided  about  a.d. 


1446,  when  Throwley  was  allotted  to  Eleanor,  the  wife 
of  Richard  Lewknor.  From  the  manner  of  the  division 
it  is  quite  evident  that  he  died  without  leaving  de- 
scendants to  transmit  his  name  to  posterity.  The  next 
reference  to  this  name  known  to  the  writer  is  in  the 
county  of  Lincoln,  where  it  has  existed  for  more  than 
four  centuries.  In  a.d.  1459,  William  Towne,  D.D., 
was  collated  (became  the  clergyman  of  the  parish)  at 
Stow  in  Lindsey,  in  this  county.  In  a.d.  1470  he  was 
appointed  almoner  to  King  Henry  VI.  In  old  age 
he  accepted  an  income  from  the  parish,  and  died  A.D. 
149G.  In  1470,  John  Towne,  Professor  of  Divinity, 
succeeded  Alexander  Prowett,  of  Lincoln,  as  precentor 
(leader  of  the  choir  in  the  Cathedral),  which  place 
he  resigned  in  1473  for  the  prebend  of  Dunholme. 

John  Towne,  of  Irby,  county  of  Lincoln,  made  his 
will  Nov.  18, 1540.  To  be  buried  in  the  church  of  St. 
Andrews,  at  Irby.  Legacies  to  Anne,  Thomas,  and 
George  Towne,  his  brother  William,  of  Irby,  being 
principal  heir  and  executor.  His  will  was  proved 
June  1,  1541.  John  Towne,  of  Ludborough,  county 
of  Lincoln,  executed  his  will  under  date  of  Jan.  24, 
1637.  Sons,  Leonard,  John,  and  William,  and  brother 
Richard  Towne. 

Richard  Towne,  of  Braceby,  in  the  same  county, 
married  Ann,  and  had  children  as  follows :  Richard, 
who  died  1617,  leaving  wife  Alice,  son  Leonard,  and 
daughter  Helen,  not  twenty-one  years  of  age ;  Ed- 
ward, who  had  children  in  1630;  Elizabeth,  who  mar- 
ried   Phillips  ;  Helen,  who  married Oxman  ; 

Prudence,   who    married   Walton ;    Ann,    who 

married Armstrong ;  Ketherine,  baptized  Oct.  14, 

1599;  Mary,  baptized  April  15,  1601;  William,  bap- 
tized May  21,  1603,  and  Margery.  The  earliest  we 
find  the  name  in  this  country  is  in  1635,  when  Wil- 
liam Towne  was  an  inhabitant  of  Cambridge.  On 
the  18th  of  the  month  of  April,  1637,  he  appeared 
before  the  General  Court  and  took  the  oath  required 
to  become  a  freeman  or  voter.  He  was  town  clerk  in 
1639  ;  purchased  land  in  Cambridge  of  David  Stone 
and  Thomas  Danforth  in  1653,  and  in  1655  of  Ed- 
mund Goffee ;  was  tythingman  in  1680,  and  died  April 
30,  1685.  aged  eighty  years.  His  wife  Martha  died 
January,  1674.     His  children  were  Mary  and  Peter. 

We  come  now  to  William  Towne,  the  Anglo-Ameri- 
can progenitor  of  descendants  who  have  settled  in  a 
majority  of  the  States  in  the  American  Union.  Of 
his  birthplace  or  parentage  we  know  nothing  positive, 
though  he  may  have  come  from  the  county  of  Lin- 
coln, in  England,  and  may  have  been  the  son  of 
Richard  and  Ann  Towne,  of  Braceby.  The  earliest 
positive  information  we  have  relative  to  him  is  at 
Yarmouth,  Norfolk  County,  a  city  of  considerable 
maritime  importance,  situated  on  the  east  coast  of 
England,  one  hundred  and  eight  miles  in  a  direct  line, 
and  one  hundred  and  twenty  miles  by  railroad  north- 
east from  London. 

William  Towne  and  Joanna  Blessing  were  married 
in  the  St.  Nicholas  Church,  in  Yarmouth,  March  23, 


£     /  y  ,y  c-? ,-  7 ., , 


RAYNHAM. 


721 


1620,  and  had  their  first  six  children  baptized  there. 
The  next  we  hear  of  the  family  is  at  Salem,  Essex 
Co.,  Mass.  William  Towne's  residence  was  in  that 
part  of  Salem  known  as  the  North  Fields.  He  re- 
mained here  till  1651,  the  year  following  the  incor- 
poration of  the  town  of  Topsfield,  where  he  purchased 
a  tract  of  land  in  the  latter  place  of  William  Paine, 
of  Ipswich,  containing  about  forty  acres.  In  1652  he 
sold  his  property  in  Salem  to  Henry  Bullock  ;  in  1656 
purchased  additional  land  in  Topsfield,  and  in  1663, 
"in  consideration  of  mutual  affection  and  contem- 
plated marriage  of  their  son,  Joseph  Towne,  with 
Phebe,  the  daughter  of  Thomas  Perkins,"  he  and  his 
wife  conveyed  to  their  son  Joseph  two-thirds  of  their 
home  wherein  they  did  then  dwell,  with  barn,  out- 
buildings, yard,  gardens,  and  orchards,  lying,  situated, 
and  being  in  Topsfield,  together  with  one-third  of  all 
his  real  estate.  All  these  conveyances  being  made 
with  the  desire  that  this  said  son  should  have  the  first 
refusal  of  the  remaining  third  when  the  same  should 
be  sold.  He  died  about  1672.  The  six  children  bap- 
tized in  Yarmouth,  England,  were  Rebecca,  John, 
Susanna,  Edmund,  Jacob,  and  Mary;  Sarah  and 
Joseph  were  born  and  baptized  in  Salem. 

Joseph  Towne,  youngest  son  of  William  and 
Joanna  Towne,  was  born  in  1639,  and  married  Phebe, 
daughter  of  Deacon  Thomas  Perkins,  of  Topsfield. 
He  accompanied  his  father  in  his  removal  from  Salem 
to  Topsfield,  was  made  a  freeman  March  22, 1690,  was 
a  member  of  the  church  at  the  latter  place,  and  died 
1713,  aged  seventy-four  years.  Their  children  were 
Phebe,  Joanna,  Mary,  Susanna,  Joseph,  Sarah,  John, 
and  Martha. 

Joseph  Towne,  son  of  Joseph  and  Phebe  Perkins 
Towne,  was  born  in  Topsfield,  March  22,  1673,  and 
Nov.  9,  1699,  married  Margaret  Case,  of  Salem.  They 
were  admitted  to  the  church  in  1709.  He  gave  his 
estate  to  his  son  David  in  1749.  Children,  Margaret, 
Joseph,  Archilaus,  Israel,  Elisha,  Bartholomew,  Mary, 
David,  Abigale,  Phebe,  Hannah,  Martha,  Sarah,  and 
Joanna. 

[SRAEL  Towne,  son  of  Joseph,  and  third  descendant 
of  William,  who  came  from  England,  was  born  in 
Topsfield,  Mass.,  March  24,  1705,  and  May  23,  1729, 
married  Grace  Gardner,  of  Middleton,  Mass.  He 
was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Narragansett,  No.  3 
(Amherst,  N.  H.),  probably  1734.  Capt.  Israel 
Towne  died  in  Amherst  in  the  year.  1803,  aged  ninety- 
six  years.  Their  children  were  Thomas,  Archilaus, 
Israel,  Moses,  Gardner,  Elisabeth,  Susanna,  Mary. 

Israel  Towne,  son  of  Israel  Towne,  and  fourth  de- 
scendant of  William  the  first  settler,  was  born  in 
Topsfield,  Mass.,  Nov.  16, 1736,  and  when  very  young 
came  with  his  father  to  Amherst,  N.  H.,  where  he 
remained  till  about  1782,  when  he  went  to  Stoddard, 
N.  H.  He  was  an  enterprising,  active  man,  filled 
various  town  offices,  being  selectman  in  1769  and 
1773,  and  married  Lydia  Hopkins,  of  Milford,  July 
31, 1760.  She  was  born  April  27, 1737.  Israel  Towne, 
4<i 


Esq.,  died  in  Stoddard,  April  28,  1813,  aged  seventy- 
seven  years.  Their  children  were  Israel,  William, 
Gardener,  Benjamin,  Andrew  , Lydia,  Daniel,  Hannah, 
Lemuel. 

Gardner  Towne,  son  of  Israel  and  Lydia  Hop- 
kins Towne,  and  fifth  descendant  of  William  the  first 
settler,  was  born  in  Amherst,  May  1,  1765,  and  Jan. 
27,  1795,  married  Lucy  Bancroft,  of  Tyngsborough, 
Mass.,  daughter  of  Col.  Ebenezer  Bancroft.  She  was 
born  June  7,  1773.  In  1782  he  went  with  his  father 
from  Amherst  to  Stoddard.  At  an  early  age  he  began 
merchandising  and  the  keeping  of  a  public-house, 
in  both  of  which  he  continued  business  successfully 
until  his  death.  He  held  many  offices  in  town  and 
county  affairs,  was  justice  of  the  peace,  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Masonic  order  in  high  standing.  His 
official  docket  was  larger  than  any  other  justice  in 
the  county  of  Cheshire  at  that  time.  Col.  Ebenezer 
Bancroft,  the  father  of  Lucy  Bancroft  Towne,  was  a 
soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  He  was  last  but 
one  to  leave  the  intrenchments  of  Bunker  Hill,  June 
17,  1775,  and  in  making  his  escape  leaped  the  ranks 
of  the  British,  and  left  his  long  Indian  gun  on  their 
shoulders  and  ran.  In  his  flight  he  received  thirteen 
bullet-holes  in  his  clothes  and  lost  one  forefinger.  He 
claimed  to  have  shot  the  cannon-ball  that  struck  the 
Brattle  Street  Church,  Boston,  which  remained  there 
until  the  church  was  taken  down  a  few  years  since. 
The  British  soldiers  were  encamped  in  the  church  at 
that  time.  He  based  his  claim  to  this  honor  upon 
the  fact  that  he  fired  every  ball  that  was  thrown  into 
Boston  from  Cambridge  that  day. 

Gardner  Towne  died  in  Stoddard,  N.  H.,  Dec.  16, 
1815.  His  wife  died  in  the  same  place  April  14, 
1849.  Their  children  were  Christiana,  Rebecca,  Ban- 
croft, Susanna,  Oka,  Cleon  G.,  Orr  Noble,  Ebenezer 
Bancroft,  Lucy  Bancroft,  Solon,  Mary. 

Ebenezer  Bancroft  Towne,  son  of  Gardner  and 
Lucy  Bancroft  Towne,  and  sixth  descendant  of  Wil- 
liam the  first  settler,  was  born  in  Stoddard,  N.  H.,  Dec. 

J  14, 1809.  After  the  death  of  his  father,  he  lived  with 
his  mother  until  her  marriage  with  Levi  Warren,  of 
Alstead,  N.  H.,  and  was  afterwards  with  the  Rev.  Isaac 
Robinson,  of  Stoddard,  N.  H.,  about  two  years,  and 
with  Deacon  John  Farwell  and  his  son,  John,  Jr.,  of 
Tyngsborough,  Mass.,  six  years,  and  was  offered  an 
heirship  if  he  would  remain  with  the  latter  until 
twenty-one.     He  began  his  apprenticeship  with  Sam- 

;  uel  S.  Lawrence,  in  Tyngsborough,  at  fifty-two  dollars 

i  a  year  and  board,  and  finished  it  with  his  brother, 
Orr  N.,  in  Boston,  at  two  thousand  a  year.  He  was  a 
partner  with  his  brothers  Orr  Noble  (in  Boston)  and 

j  Cleon  Gardner  (in  Stoddard)  until  Orr  Noble's  re- 
tirement from  business.  He  then  associated  himself 
with  William  W.  Kendrick,  under  the  style  of  Towne 
&  Kendrick,  and  four  years  afterwards  George  W. 
Skinner,  another  of  the  salesmen,  was  admitted  as 
partner.  This  firm  carried  on  an  extensive  business 
in  hats,  caps,  buffalo  robes,  furs,  and  straw  goods,  in 


722 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Boston,  until  Mr.  Towne,  compelled  by  ill  health, 
retired  from  the  firm.  His  business  career,  in  city  and 
country,  covered  a  period  of  more  than  fifty  years, 
during  which  time  he  met  every  financial  obligation 
at  maturity,  and  never  had  a  bill  but  what  was  paid 
at  the  first  presentation,  when  just.  He  has  had  six 
partners  in  business, — three  in  his  Boston  business, 
two  in  a  country  store,  and  one  in  tanning  hides  into 
leather,— and  never  had  the  least  trouble  with  either 
of  them,  neither  did  they  at  any  time  show  him  the 
disrespect  to  use  a  profane  word  in  his  presence. 
Since  residing  in  Bristol  County  he  was  county  com- 
missioner six  years  (two  terms),  and  got  the  nomina- 
tion for  a  third  term,  but  declined  the  honor.  He  has 
been  connected  with  the  Bristol  County  Agricultural 
Society,  as  treasurer  and  in  other  responsible  posi- 
tions, about  ten  years.  He  at  the  present  time  (1883) 
is  engaged  in  no  business. 

Mr.  Towne  married  for  his  first  wife  Almeda  Wil- 
son, daughter  of  Joel  and  Polly  Wilson,  of  Stoddard, 
N.  H.  She  left  no  children.  She  died  in  Amherst, 
N.  H.,  Oct.  21,  1845 ;  and  for  his  second,  Mrs.  Chlora 
Adaline  Gilmore,  widow  of  the  late  H.  T.  Gilmore,  of 
Raynham,  Mass.,  and  daughter  of  Sylvanus  and  Polly 
Braman,  of  Norton,  Mass.,  who  is  still  living,  and  by 
whom  he  has  had  three  children, — Almeda  Wilson 
(who  died  at  two  years  old),  Edward  Bancroft  (who 
is  designated  E.  B.  Towne,  Jr.,  because  there  is  an- 
other in  a  brother's  family  having  the  same  initials), 
and  Etta  Buffington. 

E.  B.  Towne,  Jr.,  is  a  wholesale  dealer  in  hats, 
furs,  etc.,  in  Boston. 


XATHAX   W.  SHAAV. 


We  are  indebted  to  Capt.  J.  W.  D.  Hall  for  the  fol- 
lowing ancestral  history  of  the  Shaw  family. 

Benjamin  Shaw,  the  ancestor,  was  one  of  the  early 
settlers  of  Taunton  ;  was  a  shareholder  in  the  Taun- 
ton Iron-Works  in  16 — ,  and  had  a  saw-mill  on  the 
stream  above  the  works  now  Raynham ;  he  died  in 
1723  ;  wife  Hannah  and  son. 

Deacon  Jonathan  Shaw,  born  1705 ;  died  1768 ;  had 
wife,  Mercy,  who  died  Jan.  8,  1750 :  son. 

Deacon  Jonathan  Shaw,  married  (2d)  Mrs.  Han- 
nah, widow  of  Lieut.  Stephen  Dean. 

Col.  Jonathan  Shaw,  born  Feb.  14, 1732;  died  Nov. 
27,  1797  ;  married  only  daughter  of  Nehemiah  and 
Bethiah  (Williams)  Hall,1  born  1735;  died  1781: 
son. 

Col.  Jonathan  Shaw,  married  (2)  Lydia  Godfrey, 
of  Taunton,  who  married  (2d)  Dr.  George  Wheaton, 
of  Norton. 

Jonathan  Shaw,  who  was  a  justice  of  the  peace  and 


1  Nehemiah  Hall3,  son  of  Joseph3,  George1,  married  Bethiah  Williams3 
from  Richard  Williams.  Both  ancestors  were  among  the  chief  founders 
of  Taunton  in  1639. 


born    Sept.   6,   1758;   died   May   12,   1829;  married 
[  Lydia,  born  ;  son,  Cassini  Shaw. 

Cassini  was  a  farmer,  a  quiet  unobtrusive  man  who 
shrank  from  any  kind  of  publicity  or  official  position. 
A  useful,  meritorious,  and  much  respected  citizen.  He 
was  so  rigidly  strict  in  his  temperance  principles 
that  when  it  was  the  custom  of  the  county  to  have 
intoxicating  drinks  at  all  public  gatherings,  he  was 
the  first  man  to  raise  a  building  without  furnishing 
his  neighbors  who  helped  him  liquor  to  drink.  An- 
other fact  which  illustrates  the  consistency  and  per- 
sistency of  the  man  is  the  fact  that,  from  the  time  he 
was  twenty-one  years  of  age  to  the  day  of  his  death, 
he  never  failed  to  cast  his  vote  at  every  election  with 
the  Whig  and  Republican  party,  whose  opinions  he 
espoused.  He  was  a  great  reader,  and  especially  in 
his  declining  years  he  spent  most  of  his  time  perus- 
ing his  favorite  authors,  and  seemed  to  derive  great 
comfort  and  pleasure  from  his  books.  In  religious 
belief  he  was  a  Unitarian,  and  was  a  regular  attend- 
ant at  service.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812. 
He  married  Clarissa,  daughter  of  John  Walker,  of 
Dighton,  Nov.  2,  1817.  They  had  two  children,  Re- 
becca W.  (now  Mrs.  A.  P.  Slade,  of  Somerset, — see 
Slade  biography),  and  Nathan  W.,  born  Oct.  11,  1823. 
Mrs.  Shaw  died  March  27,  1863,  and  Mr.  Shaw  died 
Dec.  27,  1881. 

Nathan  W.  Shaw  had  what  educational  facilities 
were  afforded  by  the  common  schools  of  his  district, 
and  an  attendance  at  Bristol  Academy  and  Bridge- 
water  Normal  School.  He  was  brought  up  on  the 
farm,  and  when  twenty-one  years  of  age  began  teach- 
ing school.  This  he  continued  during  the  winter 
months  fourteen  years.  He  has  always  been  much 
interested  in  and  given  much  attention  to  educational 
matters.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  school  com- 
mittee of  Raynham  twenty-eight  years,  and  is  now 
superintendent  of  public  schools.  He  has  been  as- 
sessor fifteen  years,  and  has  been  justice  of  the  peace 
more  than  twenty  years.  He  has  been  several  years 
trustee  of  Bristol  Academy. 

He  married,  June  19,  1856,  Sarah  J.,  daughter  of 
Jahaziah  S.  and  Jane  (Sampson)  King,  oi' Raynham. 
She  was  born  Sept.  7,  1832.  They  have  but  one  son, 
Alexander  W.,  born  Sept.  14,  1868. 

Mrs.  Shaw  is  descended  from  one  of  the  oldest  and 
most  respectable  families  of  Raynham.  Concerning 
her  father,  we  clip  the  following  notice  of  his  death 
from  a  Taunton  paper : 

"  Mr.  Jaliaziah  S.  King  died  at  his  residence  in 
Raynham,  Wednesday  morning  last,  at  the  advanced 
age  of  eighty-three  years.  Mr.  King  was  of  a  retiring 
disposition,  a  kind-hearted  and  liberal  man.  He  had 
always  lived  in  Raynham,  being  born  on  the  same 
farm  on  which  he  died.  At  one  time  he  was  largely 
engaged  in  manufacturing,  and  in  the  early  days  of 
the  California  gold  discovery  he  had  a  large  trade  in 
shovels,  picks,  and  forks.  Mr.  King  was  a  man  of 
an  inventive  turn.     He  made  the  first  scoop-shovel 


/ 


^fLttm  mfi&MM 


RAYNHAM. 


723 


in  this  country,  and  also  invented  a  machine  for 
rolling  down  the  straps  on  shovels,  before  which  all 
were  hammered  down  by  hand.  He  afterwards  in- 
vented a  machine  for  making  sharp-pointed  clinch- 
nails." 


MARTIN    G.  WILLIAMS. 

Martin  G.  Williams,  third  son  and  child  of  Francis 
and  Louisa  (Gilmore)  Williams,  was  born  Dec.  11, 
1807,  on  the  old  home  of  the  Williams  family  in 
Taunton,  and  is  a  descendant  in  the  seventh  genera- 
tion from  Richard  Williams,  who  settled  in  Taunton 
in  1638.  (For  ancestral  history,  see  history  of  Taun- 
ton, heading,  "  The  Williams  Family.")  He  labored 
in  early  life  at  the  various  avocations  of  farming, 
brick-making,  and  lumbering,  and  had  advantages 
of  the  schools  of  his  native  town.  He  remained  at 
his  father's  home  until  he  attained  his  majority.  He 
then  passed  a  few  months  at  Ellsworth,  Me.,  and  then 
for  six  years  he  was  at  work  for  his  father.  In  1834 
he  came  to  Raynham,  and  settled  on  a  farm  of  forty 
acres  given  to  him  by  his  father.  He  assiduously 
applied  himself  to  agriculture,  and  has  been  very 
successful.  He  married  Tempe,  daughter  of  Joseph 
and  Zervia  (Dillingham)  Hamlen,  of  Barnstable, 
Mass.,  Feb.  16,  1842.  They  had  two  children,— 
Emma  Bathsheba  and  Melvin  Gilmore.  Emma  was 
born  Aug.  8,  1844,  and  was  married  to  Bradford  B. 
King,  of  Raynham,  Nov.  18,  1880.  They  reside  with 
Mr.  Williams,  whose  wife  died  March  23, 1877.  Mel- 
vin G.,  born  Nov.  23,  1846,  married  Mrs.  Susan  W. 
Greenough,  daughter  of  William  O.  Snow,  of  Rayn- 
ham, Sept.  27,  1882.     He  resides  near  his  father. 

In  1842,  Mr.  Williams  purchased  the  saw-  and 
grist-mills  of  John  and  Salmon  Washburn,  and  has 
kept  them  in  operation  until  the  present  time.  His 
son  and  son-in-law  are  the  active  workers  of  the  busi- 
ness now,  for  of  late  years  Mr.  Williams  has  been 
confined  most  of  the  time  to  his  house.  For  about 
twenty  years  of  his  life  he  was  engaged  in  the  man- 
ufacture of  boat-nails,  which  business  at  one  time 
assumed  quite  large  proportions.  Mr.  Williams 
inherits  the  caution,  prudence,  and  financial  skill  so 
largely  developed  in  his  father,  and  is  fond  of  safe 
investments,  never  being  dazzled  by  brilliant  specu- 
lations. He  is  stockholder  in  various  corporations 
and  railroads,  is  a  man  of  good,  practical  common 
sense,  and  sound  judgment.  Raynham  has  probably 
never  had  a  better  citizen,  or  one  who  more  highly 
respected  the  majesty  of  the  law.  He  is  Unitarian 
in  church  belief,  and  Whig  and  Republican  in  poli- 
tics, ever,  however,  preferring  the  ease  and  freedom 
of  his  quiet  home  to  the  cares  and  turmoil  of  official 
station. 


JOSEPH  W.  WHITE. 

There  are  many  conflicting  accounts  in  the  bio- 
graphical and  genealogical  records  of  most  of  the 
early  settlers  in  New  England,  owing  to  the  meagre 
data  which,  in  the  colonial  days,  was  placed  on 
record,  and  the  White  family  is  no  exception  in  this 
particular.  We  find  it  impossible,  from  the  authorities 
at  hand,  to  trace  with  positive  certainty  the  ancestral 
history  of  that  branch  of  the  White  family  now  re- 
siding in  Raynham.  The  first  one  of  whom  we  can 
obtain  reliable  information  was  John  White,  who  in 
1731  was  a  landholder  and  resident  of  that  part  of 
Taunton  now  Raynham.  That  he  was  a  man  of 
consequence  and  prominence  is  shown  by  the  fre- 
quent mention  he  receives  in  the  early  records  of  that 
town. 

He  had  a  son  named  Samuel,  born  in  Raynham, 
who  had  by  his  wife  Susan  a  son  also  named  Sam- 
uel. His  will,  dated  May  20,  1755,  is  still  in  exist- 
ence and  in  the  possession  of  his  descendant,  Joseph 
W.  White,  the  present  town  clerk  of  Raynham. 
This  Samuel,  Jr.,  married  Hannah  Andrews,  of  Rayn- 
ham, about  1760.  They  had  six  children,  the  oldest 
of  whom  was  Perez,  born  Feb.  1,  1762.  Samuel  was 
by  occupation  a  miller,  and  died  April  26,  1808. 
Perez  followed  the  same  avocation  as  his  father,  and 
succeeded  to  his  father's  possessions.  He  married 
Deborah  Leach,  of  Bridgewater,  Jan.  1,  1788.  Their 
children  were  Sybil,  Sidney,  Sybil2,  Daniel  L.,  Isaac 
K.,  Samuel  D.,  and  Deborah  L.  Perez  was  an  influ- 
ential and  much-respected  citizen  of  Raynham,  and 
was  sexton  of  the  old  Congregational  Church  of  that 
town  many  years.  In  1818  he  moved  to  Westmore- 
land, N.  H.,  where  he  engaged  in  farming,  and  there 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  days.  He  died  June  13, 
1850,  in  his  eighty-ninth  year. 

Isaac  K.  was  born  Aug.  29,  1801,  in  Raynham, 
Mass.,  grew  up  to  manhood  there,  and  when  a  young 
man  was  captain  of  militia.  He  removed  to  West- 
moreland, N.  H.,  and  married  Penelope  Knight,  of 
that  town,  Jan.  1,  1825.  They  had  ten  children, — 
Joseph  W.,  born  Oct.  1,  1825;  Eunice  K.  (deceased) ; 
Eunice  K.-  (deceased) ;  Lucy  A.,  born  Aug.  31,  1830 
(now  Mrs.  William  Patton,  of  Westmoreland,  N.  H.) ; 
Fanny  M.  (deceased),  born  Aug.  20, 1832;  Henry  K, 
born  Oct.  16,  1834  (now  a  farmer  in  his  native  town)  ; 
Damon  D.,  born  Nov.  28,  1836;  John  V.  (deceased), 
born  May  2,  1839 ;  Frances  M.,  born  June  20,  1842 
(now  the  widow  of  Rev.  Trueman  A.  Jackson,  who 
died  in  Andersonville  prison,  October,  1864.  She  is 
now  a  practitioner  of  medicine,  and  resides  in  Em- 
poria, Kan.  She  is  a  graduate  of  Medical  Depart- 
ment of  Boston  University) ;  Susan  E.,  born  Jan.  13, 
1845.     . 

In  politics  Isaac  K.  was  formerly  a  Whig,  but  upon 
the  dissolution  of  that  party  he  became  a  Democrat, 
and  was  twice  elected  to  the  New  Hampshire  State 
Legislature  on  that  ticket.  He  was  a  deacon  of  the 
Universalist  Church,  and  a  man  of  strict  morality, 


724 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


•sterling  integrity,  and  of  broad  and  liberal  views.  He 
died  in  Raynham,  Mass.,  while  on  a  visit  to  his  son, 
Damon  D.,  July  9,  1881.  Mrs.  White  had  preceded 
him  only  a  few  years;   she  died  Sept.  10,  1874. 

Joseph  W.  White  was  born  in  Westmoreland, 
N.  H.  When  a  young  man,  in  18-49,  he  came  to 
Raynham,  Mass.,  and  engaged  with  George  W.  King 
as  an  employe  in  his  tack-works.  In  1858  he 
changed  his  occupation  and  took  up  shoe  manufac- 
turing, which  has  been  his  pursuit  to  the  present  time, 
he  now  being  engaged  in  the  shoe  manufacturing  es- 
tablishment of  his  brother. 

He  is  one  of  the  most  respected  and  esteemed  citi- 
zens of  the  town.  In  1872  he  was  chosen  deacon  of 
the  Congregational  Church  of  Raynham.  In  1873  he 
was  chosen  town  clerk  and  treasurer,  and  has  held 
that  position  to  the  present  time.  In  1876  he  was 
elected  to  the  State  Legislature.  He  has  been  for 
many  years  and  is  now  justice  of  the  peace.  All  the 
various  trusts  reposed  in  him  by  his  fellow-townsmen 
have  been  conscientiously  discharged,  and  the  duties 
of  officer,  Christian,  and  citizen  faithfully  performed. 
He  married,  June  16, 1853,  Rowena  Hayward,  daugh- 
ter of  Dr.  Elisha  Hayward,  of  Raynham  They  have 
two  living  children,— Clarence  H.,  born  Oct.  8,  1863 
(graduated  at  Bristol  Academy  June,  1882,  and  now, 
1883,  a  student  at  Amherst  College),  and  Harry  T., 
born  Nov.  2,  1868. 

Damon   D.  White  was   born   in    Westmoreland, 
N.  H.,  Nov.  28,  1836.     He  was  brought  up  on  the 
farm  and  in    the   blacksmith-shop   with    his    father 
until   twenty    years   of  age.      In    1857   he   came   to 
Northern  Massachusetts,  and  worked  one  year  in  a 
chair-factory.     His  start  in  life  was  not  very  encour- 
aging, as  his  employer  failed  and  he  lost  the  most  of 
his  year's  wages.     In  the  autumn  of  1858  he  came  to 
Raynham,  and  soon  after  ccynmenced  work,  running 
a  pegging-machine  in  the  shoe-factory  which  he  now 
owns,  and  which  was  then  owned  by  Martin  White, 
and   run    as   a   "  bottoming-shop"    by    A.    &   A.    B. 
Keith.     This  factory  was  first  established  in  March, 
1859,  and  Mr.  White  was  one  of  the  first  operators. 
He  continued  in  this  establishment  until  the  spring 
of  1868.     Having  accumulated  some  money,  he  de- 
termined to  start  in  business  for  himself.     In  pursu- 
ance of  this  idea  he   spent  some  months  traveling 
through  the  West,  looking  for  a  location.     Not  find- 
ing a  satisfactory  site  he  returned  to  Massachusetts, 
and  engaged  with  Orr  &  Sears,  of  North  Bridgewater, 
as  a  shoe-bottomer,  where  he  worked  one  year.     He 
then  started  a  manufactory  of  his  own  in  that  town, 
which  he  conducted  about  a  year  and  a  half,  when  he 
closed  out  and  returned  to  Raynham.  Here  he  rented 
a   factory  of  William   Snow,   began   manufacturing 
shoes,  and  continued  in  this  place  till  1873,  when  he 
rented  of  Martin  White  the  factory  in  which  fourteen 
vears  before    he   had  learned  his  trade.     One  year 
later,  upon   the  decease  of  Martin  White,  he   pur- 
chased the  factory,  and  is  now  the  owner  and  pro- 


prietor. The  business  has  assumed  considerable 
proportions.  Mr.  White  manufactures  from  ten  to 
fifteen  cases  per  day,  and  employs  about  forty-five 
hands.  His  goods  are  chiefly  placed  in  the  New 
England  market,  and  his  trade  is  largely  to  Boston 
jobbers.  He  married  April  15,  1862,  Huldah  A., 
daughter  of  Zenis  and  Harriet  Britton,  of  West- 
moreland, N.  H.  They  have  one  child,  Hattie  M., 
born  Jan.  13,  1876. 


GEORGE  W.  KING. 
Philip  King,  the  first  American  ancestor  of 
George  Washington  King,  of  Raynham,  emigrated 
from  England  in  company  with  a  brother,  Cyrus, 
and  settled  at  Braintree  some  time  prior  to  1680. 
He  came  to  Raynham,  then  Taunton,  bought  land, 
built  a  house,  and  became  a  permanent  settler.  The 
deed  of  sale  to  him  of  this  land  bears  date  1680.  He 
married  Judith,  daughter  of  Rev.  William  Whit- 
man, of  Milton.  He  was  a  man  of  high  character, 
courage,  and  decision,  and  was  well  adapted  to  be  a 
leader  in  the  pioneer  days.  He  was  a  man  of  ster- 
ling honesty,  and  won  the  love  of  the  Indians  by  his 
just  dealings,  and,  during  all  the  troublous  times  of 
Indian  warfare,  was  never  molested  by  them,  nor  his 
property  injured.  He  was  captain,  and,  probably,  a 
deputy  to  Plymouth.  A  large  number  attended  his 
funeral,  which  was  conducted  with  military  honors. 
He  had  seven  children,  of  whom  John  was  youngest 
and  only  son.  He  was  born  about  1681,  and  died  in 
1741.  He  married,  in  1700,  Alice  Dean,  who  died  in 
1746.  He  was,  like  his  father,  a  very  devout  and  con- 
scientious man.  Rev.  Mr.  Sanford  says  of  him,  "  The 
contract  to  build  the  second  meeting-house  in  Taunton 
was  taken  by  John  King.  He  drew  logs  and  timber 
on  the  ice  of  Taunton  River,  and  landed  them  at 
Barney  Hill,  a  little  this  side  of  the  village.  The 
house  was  three  stories  high,  containing,  like  the  old 
South  Church,  Boston,  two  tiers  of  galleries  on  three 
sides.  It  was  built  in  1729.  The  expense  of  the 
house  much  exceeded  his  expectations,  and  to  make 
up  his  loss  the  town  made  him  a  present  of  the 
"Great  Neck,"  so  called,  in  Raynham.  John,  like 
his  father,  felt  a  great  interest  in  the  welfare  of  the 
Indians.  He  educated  two  men  at  his  own  expense 
to  become  missionaries  to  their  native  brethren. 
Their  names  were  Campbell  and  Occum.  He  had, 
according  to  Rev.  Mr.  Sanford,  six  sons  and  two 
daughters, — Philip,  John,  Josiah,  David,  Jonathan, 
Benjamin,  Hannah,  and  Abigail. 

Benjamin  King  (third  generation),  son  of  John 
and  Alice  (Dean)  King,  was  born  in  1720,  and  owned 
a  large  amount  of  land,  much  of  which  is  now  held 
by  his  descendants.  He  was  three  times  married,  (1) 
to  Abiah,  daughter  of  Deacon  Samuel  Leonard,  by 
whom  he  had  six  children  ;  (2)  to  Deliverance,  daugh- 
ter of  Joseph  Eddy,  of  Taunton,  by  whom  he  had 
six  children  ;  (3)  to  a  Mrs.  Cobb  (no  offspring).     He 


fe^fcr- 


RAYNHAM. 


725 


was  called  upon  to  do  much  public  business,  laying 
out  roads,  setting  off  farms,  establishing  and  build- 
ing meeting-houses,  etc.  He  contributed  forty  pounds 
toward  the  erection  of  the  Taunton  meeting-house, 
and  was  a  man  of  substance  and  respectability.  We 
quote  again  from  Eev.  Mr.  Sanford  :  "  Raynham  for 
many  years  did  not  send  a  representative  to  the  Gen- 
eral Court,  as  each  town  then  had  to  pay  its  own 
representatives.  In  1774  Benjamin  King  represented 
the  town  when  the  storm  of  the  Revolution  was 
gathering  and  the  General  Court  at  Boston  was 
harassed  by  the  Governor.  He  was  afterwards  a  dele- 
gate to  the  Provincial  Congress,  held  in  May  of  the 
same  year,  and  was  also,  in  1776,  one  of  the  Commit- 
tee of  Safety  in  the  State."  He  died  in  1803,  at  the 
advanced  age  of  eighty-three  years. 

Stephen  King  (fourth  generation),  oldest  child 
of  Benjamin  and  Deliverance  (Eddy)  King,  was  dis- 
tinguished for  enterprise  and  energy  of  character. 
He  owned  a  large  farm  near  King's  Bridge,  on  Taun- 
ton River,  and,  in  spite  of  great  opposition  from  the 
people,  who  contended  that  the  herring  fishery  would 
be  ruined  and  thousands  of  acres  of  meadow  land 
flooded,  he  obtained  authority  from  the  Legislature 
to  construct  a  dam  across  the  river,  and  in  a  few 
years  it  gave  power  to  iron-works,  giving  employ- 
ment to  hundreds  of  persons,  and  bringing  a  large 
population  to  the  village,  which,  in  consequence  of 
this  action  of  one  man  of  far-seeing  sagacity,  sprung 
up  like  magic.  This  village  was  called  "  Squawbetty," 
continuing  the  name  previously  applied  to  the  locality 
from  an  Indian  squaw  named  Betty,  who  formerly 
lived  there.  He  married  Hannah,  daughter  of  Mason 
Shaw,  Esq.  They  had  seven  children,  of  whom 
George  W.  was  fourth  son.  Stephen  King  was  a  firm 
supporter  of  religion  and  a  man  of  superior  ability, 
and  much  reverenced  in  the  community. 

George  W.  King  (fifth  generation)  was  born  in 
Raynham,  Mass.,  Jan.  24,  1800.  Like  most  boys  of 
that  period  he  had  but  very  meagre  educational  ad- 
vantages. There  was  a  school  taught  about  three 
months  each  year,  and  labors  at  home  frequently  de- 
tained the  young  scholar  from  its  instruction.  Being 
the  son  of  a  farmer  and  brickmaker  (which  he  carried 
on  besides  other  branches  of  industry)  he  was  early 
taught  to  labor,  and  thus,  although  debarred  from  a 
liberal  scholastic  education,  obtained  a  very  valuable 
practical  one,  which  he  has  through  a  long  and  busy 
life  used  to  advantage  and  made  the  foundation  of  his 
success.  The  priucipal  branches  of  this  education 
were  labor  and  economy.  These  brought  to  him  a 
hardy  and  robust  constitution  which  has  enabled  him 
to  retain  great  vigor  at  his  eighty-third  year.  Upon 
arriving  at  his  majority  he  entered  the  employ  of 
H.  Leonard  &  Co.,  as  forgeman.  In  this  capacity 
he  remained  two  winters.  He  then  engaged  to  do 
their  teaming,  which  he  did  for  seven  years.  He  was 
then  employed  in  their  shovel-factory  in  "  handle- 
ing"  shovels,  and  for  several  years  remained  at  this 


work.  In  1837  he  began,  in  a  small  way,  the  manu- 
facture of  shovels  on  his  own  premises  in  Squawbetty. 
His  business  increased,  and  he  added  to  his  produc- 
tions year  by  year  until  he  had  one  of  the  representa- 
tive manufactories  of  this  section.  In  1841  he  bought 
the  privilege  formerly  used  by  Raynham  Furnace, 
moved  his  business  thither,  and  changed  his  residence 
to  that  place  in  December,  1844.  In  the  spring  of 
1842  the  dam  and  buildings  of  his  manufactory  were 
carried  away  by  the  floods,  but  rebuilt  immediately. 
In  December,  1845,  the  works  were  entirely  burned, — 
no  insurance. 

At  the  time  of  the  breaking  out  of  the  great  Re- 
bellion of  1861,  he  was  making  shovels,  nails,  tacks, 
etc.,  and  employing  thirty  people.  About  this  time 
he  discontinued  making  shovels,  owing  to  heavy 
losses  caused  by  the  failure  of  large  New  York  houses 
with  whom  he  was  dealing.  He  struggled  along, 
however,  continuing  the  manufacture  of  nails.  This 
he  gradually  built  up  into  a  successful  business,  in 
which  he  was  engaged  until  the  autumn  of  1882, 
when  he  retired. 

In  connection  with  his  manufacturing,  Mr.  King 
has  always  been  a  farmer  on  a  small  scale.  When  a 
young  man  he  made  a  trip  to  South  Carolina  with 
two  of  his  brothers,  and  passed  some  months  in  getting 
out  hogshead  staves. 

Mr.  King  married  Susan  Young,  daughter  of  Asa 
and  Susannah  (Randall)  Howard,  of  Easton,  Mass. 
She  was  born  in  1813,  and  died  March  1.,  1879.  They 
had  two  children, — Susan  Howard,  born  May  6,  1836, 
and  Eliza  A.,  born  Dec.  20,  1838.  Susan  married, 
Jan.  30,  1861,  George  William  Andros,  of  Taunton, 
now  cashier  in  Taunton  National  Bank.  They  have 
five  children, — Susan  A.,  born  Dec.  25,  1861 ;  Annie 
H.,  born  Feb.  4, 1863 ;  Frederick  W.,  born  March  19, 
1865 ;  Charles  H.,  born  Nov.  29,  1869 ;  and  William 
N.,  born  Jan.  10, 1879.  (We  trace  the  Howard  family 
as  follows :  John  Howard  with  his  brother  James 
came  from  England  to  Duxbury,  and  was  registered 
as  one  able  to  bear  arms  there  in  1643.  In  1651  he 
was  one  of  the  original  proprietors  and  settlers  of 
West  Bridgewater.  He  was  young  when  he  came 
over,  and  it  is  said  lived  in  Capt.  Miles  Standish's 
family.  He  was  one  of  the  first  military  officers  in 
Bridgewater,  and  a  man  of  much  consideration.  He 
took  the  oath  of  fidelity  there  in  1657.  He  always 
wrote  his  name  Haward,  and  so  did  all  his  descend- 
ants until  1700,  and  it  is  thus  spelled  in  the  early 
town  records,  but  since  that  date  it  has  been  written 
invariably  Howard.  It  is  remarkable  that  the  names 
of  Hayward  and  Howard,  which  have  been  called 
distinct  names,  were  originally  pronounced  alike, 
Howard.  They  were  the  same  originally,  and  both 
Hayward;  but  in  writing  John  omitted  the  "  y." 
This  John  died  about  1700,  leaving  children,  one  of 
whom  was  Jonathan,  who  married  Sarah  Dean,  and 
was  a  major.  He  had  nine  children.  His  estate  was 
settled  in  1739.     His  sixth  child,  Ablet,  born  1704, 


726 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


graduated  at  Harvard  University  1729,  became  a 
physician,  married  Silence,  daughter  of  Nehemiah 
Washburn,  and  had  several  children.  He  died  Jan. 
10,  1777;  his  wife  died  Aug.  17,  1775.  Nehemiah, 
son  of  Dr.  Abiel  Howard,  born  in  1740,  married 
Hannah,  daughter  of  Dr.  Dean,  of  Easton,  born 
1745.  They  had  six  children,  and  resided  in  Easton, 
adjoining  the  Bridgewater  line.  Nehemiah  died  Sept. 
30,  1825,  and  his  wife  died  Nov.  2,  1820.  Asa,  son  of 
Nehemiah,  born  1775,  died  Jan.  1,1838;  married 
Susannah  Randall,  and  had  seven  children,  of  whom 
#  Susan  Young,  who  married  George  W.  King,  was 
fourth  child  and  eldest  daughter.) 


SAMUEL   JONES. 

Of  the  numerous  branches  of  the  Jones  family, 
both  in  England  and  the  United  States,  that  to  which 
Samuel  Jones  belongs  has  been  among  the  most 
prominent.  The  famous  Lieutenant-Governor,  Wil- 
liam Jones,  of  New  Haven  Colony,  was  a  descendant 
originally  of  this  same  family.  The  first  American 
ancestor,  however,  of  Samuel  Jones,  was  one  Thomas 
Jones,  of  Hingham,  England,  who  in  1638  emigrated 
to  America  in  the  ship  "  Confidence,"  was  made  a 
freeman  in  1646,  was  by  occupation  a  tailor.  His 
wife  was  named  Ann.  They  had  four,  children,  of 
whom  Joseph  was  one.  The  following  data  concern- 
ing the  ancestry  from  that  time  to  the  present  has 
been  contributed  by  Mr.  Jones  himself. 

The  ancestors  of  Samuel  Jones  and  Samuel  Gushee 
Jones,  his  son,  now  residing  in  Raynham,  Mass., 
1883,  were  as  follows  : 

First  generation  :  Joseph  Jones,  who  settled  in  that 
part  of  Taunton  now  Raynham.  By  Probate  Rec- 
ords, book  5,  pages  324  and  325,  it  appears  that  he 
died  in  1726.  He  must  have  lived  to  a  great  age,  as 
his  son  Abraham  was  then  sixty-seven  years  old. 
Joseph  Jones'  (his  son)  will,  proved  Dec.  18,  1740, 
(vol.  x.  p.  6),  shows  his  children  were  Benjamin, 
Nathan,  Elnathan,  Submit  (married  Partridge),  Sa- 
rah, Lidia  (married  Bosworth),  Rebeccah  (married 
Dyer),  and  Mary  Jones.  Their  posterity  have  scat- 
tered over  the  country  we  know  not  where. 

Second  generation  :  Abraham  Jones,  son  of  Joseph 
Jones  (1),  died  March  18,  1735,  aged  seventy-six 
years.  He  was  one  of  the  thirty-two  persons  dis- 
missed from  the  parent  church  in  Taunton  to  organ- 
ize the  First  Church  in  Raynham,  Oct.  19, 1731.  His 
residence  was  a  few  rods  southwest  of  the  late  anchor 
forge,  on  the  site  of  the  first  bloomery  in  the  country. 
His  children  were  Timothy,  Isaac,  Jacob,  Israel, 
Hatherly,  Ruth  (married  Dean),  Sarah  (married 
Pratt). 

Third  generation  :  Timothy,  son  of  Abraham,  died 
Sept.  16,  1781,  in  the  eighty-sixth  year  of  his  age. 
His  wife  was  Sarah  Shaw,  of  Raynham,  and  died 
1774.  Their  children  were  Timothy,  born  1727; 
Abraham,  born  1730  ;    Hannah,  born  1733 ;    Samuel 


Jones,  born  Nov.  15,  1738.  His  residence  was  on 
Pleasant  Street,  half  a  mile  northeast  of  the  First 
Congregational  Church,  and  it  is  now  standing  and 
has  been  the  birthplace  of  his  children  and  grand- 
children and  great-grandchildren  in  our  line.  His 
grandson,  Samuel,  then  about  eight  years  old,  at  the 
dark  day,  May  19,  1780,  remembered  how  calm  and 
composed  he  was  when  the  people  thought  the  last 
day  had  come. 

Fourth  generation  :  Samuel  Jones,  son  of  Timothy 
and  Sarah  Jones,  died  Sept.  15,  1808.  His  first  wife 
was  Mercy  Gushee,  daughter  of  Abraham  and  Han- 
nah Gushee.  Their  son,  Samuel  Jones,  was  born 
July  13,  1772.  He  often  remarked,  when  speaking 
of  his  youth,  that  he  was  four  years  a  subject  of  King 
George. 

Fifth  generation :  Samuel  Jones,  son  of  Samuel 
and  Mercy,  died  Dec.  26,  1854,  aged  eighty-two  years. 
His  wife  was  Mary,  daughter  of  John  and  Silence 
Williams.  She  died  July  11,  1847,  aged  sixty-six 
years.  Their  children  were  Samuel  Jones,  born  Sept. 
13,  1807;  Mary,  born  July  30,  1809  (married  Henry 
H.  Crane),  died  1863;  Mercy  Jane,  born  Aug.  28, 
1811  (married  Seabury  Thayer,  of  Taunton) ;  John 
W.  Jones,  born  Feb.  11,  1814,  died  September,  1842; 
Martha,  born  Dec.  30, 1816  (married  George  B.  Crane, 
of  Norton)  ;  Caroline  E.,  born  Dec.  6,  1819  (mar- 
ried James  T.  Bassett,  of  Taunton). 

Rebekah,  born  Feb.  10,  1823,  married  Adnah  Har- 
low. 

Sixth  generation :  Samuel  Jones,  son  of  Samuel 
and  Mary,  married  Martha  W.  Bliss,  daughter  of 
Asahel  and  Deborah  Bliss,  of  Rehoboth,  April  3, 
1838.  Their  children  were  Mary  A.  Jones,  born  Jan. 
10,  1839,  died  Dec.  5,  1866  ;  Abraham  Jones,  born 
March  13,  1841,  died  Aug.  14,  1843  ;  Caroline  E. 
Jones,  born  Oct.  18,  1843,  married  George  F.  Bloom, 
of  Remington,  Ind. ;  Abraham  Bliss  Jones,  born 
March  14,  1846 ;  Samuel  Gushee  Jones,  born  Oct. 
31,  1848  ;  Julia  E.  Jones,  born  Oct.  1, 1851,  died  July 
26,  1853;  Emma  E.  Jones,  horn  Oct.  16,  1854. 

Seventh  generation  :  Abraham  Bliss  Jones  married 
O.  Jane  Foster,  of  Kansas,  February,  1874.  Their 
children  are  Jesse  Samuel  Jones,  born  Dec.  8,  1874  ; 
Frederic  Clarance  Jones,  born  Jan.  26,  1879.  Their 
residence  is  at  White  Cloud,  Kan. 

In  looking  at  the  names  which  the  Pilgrims  gave 
to  their  children  we  see  how  strong  was  their  faith 
that  the  Lord  had  said  unto  them,  as  to  Abraham, 
"  Get  thee  out  of  thy  country,  and  from  thy  kindred, 
and  from  thy  father's  house,  unto  a  land  that  I  will 
show  thee  ;  and  I  will  make  thee  a  great  nation." 
And  may  we  not  say  of  them, — 
"  These  all  died  in  the  faith,  not  having  received 
the  promises,  but  having  seen  them  afar  off,  and  were 
persuaded  of  them,  and  embraced  them,  and  confessed 
that  they  were  Strangers  and  Pilgrims  on  the  earth." 

Samuel  Jones  did  not  receive  a  collegiate  education, 
but  he  has  always  been  a  great  reader,  and  of  an  in- 


Wu**  d/^^63 


RAYNHAM. 


727 


quiring  and  investigating  turn  of  mind.  The  result 
is  that  his  mind  is  well  stored  with  a  fund  of  miscel- 
laneous and  useful  knowledge,  and  he  is  conversant 
with  a  great  variety  of  topics.  Among  other  things 
he  has  studied  for  his  amusement  Pitman's  system  of 
phonography.  This  he  took  up  after  arriving  at 
middle  life,  and  yet  he  is  quite  a  proficient  shore-hand 
writer.  When  about  twenty  years  of  age  he  began 
teaching  school,  and  this  he  continued  during  the 
winter  months  for  more  than  thirty  years.  He  learned 
surveying  when  young,  and  has  done  most  of  the 
surveying  in  his  section  from  that  time  to  the  present. 
He  has  been  a  member  of  the  school  committee  many 
years ;  was  town  clerk  and  treasurer  during  the  war, 
when  the  duties  of  the  office  were  arduous  and  re- 
sponsible. He  has  been  justice  of  the  peace  more 
than  twenty  years,  and  has  done  considerable  probate 
business.  In  politics,  he  is  a  Republican.  His  resi- 
dence is  situated  a  few  rods  northeast  of  the.  old  ances- 
tral home,  where  lived  and  died  his  father  and  grand- 
father, and  on  land  which  has  been  in  the  family 
since  its  first  settlement.  He  was  chosen  deacon  of 
the  First  Congregational  Church  Oct.  1,  1848,  and 
from  that  time  to  the  present  has  held  that  position. 
He  is  a  man  of  sound  judgment,  much  thought, 
honest  convictions,  and  pure  and  exalted  character, 
modest,  dignified,  and  unassuming,  a  great  lover  of 
morality,  and  is  a  highly-esteemed  and  useful  citizen 
of  the  community. 

Mrs.  Jones  is  a  daughter  of  Deacon  Asahel  and 
Deborah  (Martin)  Bliss,  of  Rehoboth,  Mass.  She  is 
descended  from  one  of  the  oldest  and  best  families  of 
the  town.  (See  Bliss  genealogy.)  Her  father  was 
deacon  of  the  Congregational  Church  in  his  native 
town  nearly  fifty  years.  He  was  a  man  of  high  moral 
principles,  an  earnest  and  devoted  Christian,  and 
when  he  died,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-three, 
his  mourners  equaled  the  number  of  his  acquaintances. 


JOHN   TEACY. 

Many  of  the  New  England  Tracys  are  descended 
from  Sir  John  Tracy,  Knight  of  Tuddington,  county 
of  Gloucester,  England.  A  number  of  the  name 
came  from  England  and  settled  at  and  about  Nor- 
wich, Conn.  The  first,  however,  of  whom  there  is 
any  definite  knowledge  was  Stephen,  who  came  over 
in  the  "Ann,"  and  landed  at  Plymouth  in  1623  with 
his  wife  Tryphosa,  whom  he  had  married  at  Leyden, 
Jan.  2,  1621.  From  him  it  is  very  probable  John 
Tract/,  of  whom  we  write,  is  descended.  He  was  born 
in  Pembroke,  Mass.,  Nov.  11,  1798;  is  the  son  of 
Jacob  and  Hannah  (Ford)  Tracy,  grandson  of  Asaph 
and  Mary  (Jacobs),  and  great-grandson  of  Thomas, 
who  was  born  about  1695,  and  resided  in  Pembroke; 
he  died  1755.  But  little  is  known  of  him  further 
than  the  place  of  his  abode,  but  he  must  have  been  a 
man  of  some  consequence,  as  his  name  frequently  ap- 
pears in  the  early  records  of  that  town.     Asaph,  his 


son,  was  born  in  1723;  married  Mary  Jacobs,  1748, 
who  was  born  1725,  and  died  Dec.  6,  1786.  He  died 
July  6,  1799.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and 
was  a  Revolutionary  soldier.  They  had  children,  of 
whom  Jacob  was  one.  Jacob  was  born  Aug.  6,  1760, 
at  Pembroke,  was  a  farmer  and  mechanic.  He  mar- 
ried Hannah  Ford,  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  Ford, 
Feb.  24,  1788.  They  removed  to  Raynham,  Mass., 
where  their  latter  years  were  spent.  He  died  July 
21,  1831 ;  she  died  Oct.  24,  1852. 

John  Tracy  was  quite  young  when  brought  by  his 
parents  to  Raynham.  Here  he  grew  up  to  manhood, 
and  married  Huldah  Miles,  daughter  of  Joel  and 
Mary  Miles,  June  1,  1828,  in  Boston,  Mass.  She 
was  born  May  11,  1800,  at  Fitzwilliam,  N.  H.,  and 
died  July  21,  1878.  He  died  Dec.  10,  1875.  They 
had  no  offspring. 

Mr.  Tracy  was  a  representative  farmer  and  busi- 
ness man  of  Raynham,  and  one  of  its  most  respected 
citizens.  In  connection  with  his  farming  interests  he 
also  established  a  saw-mill,  which  is  still  owned  and 
operated  by  his  legal  successor,  James  R.  Tracy. 

In  politics,  he  was  a  Republican.  He  was  assessor 
and  selectman  of  his  town,  and  always  closely  identi- 
fied with  the  best  interests  of  the  community.  Though 
conservative  in  sentiment,  yet  he  was  liberal  and  pro- 
gressive in  his  ideas.  He  was  a  kind,  good  man,  one 
who  spoke  and  acted  fearlessly  and  from  conviction. 
He  was  very  charitable  to  the  poor  and  liberal  towards 
the  church.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church.  Mrs.  Tracy  was  a  noble  type  of  woman, 
pure  and  exalted  in  character,  and  kind  and  lovable 
in  disposition. 

As  they  had  no  children  of  their  own  they  adopted 
James  L.  S.  Russell,  who  now  bears  the  name  of  his 
adopted  parent.  He  was  born  in  Boston,  Aug.  25, 
1835,  came  to  reside  with  Mr.  Tracy  in  1847,  and  has 
since  been  a  citizen  of  Raynham.  He  married,  June 
7,  1863,  Mary  F.,  daughter  of  Col.  Franklin  and  Mary 
(Forbes)  Leach.  She  was  born  March  10, 1844.  They 
have  two  children, — Huldah  M.  and  Louise  M.  Both 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tracy  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  and  for  many  years  their  parlors 
have  been  used  weekly  as  a  place  of  public  worship. 
Mr.  Tracy  is  an  officer  in  the  church,  and  one  of  its 
most  liberal  supporters.  Their  daughters  are  bright, 
intelligent,  and  accomplished.  Rev.  David  Russell, 
father  of  James,  was  born  in  Hartford,  Conn.,  mar- 
ried Lydia  Thompson,  and  had  four  children— Mary 
E.,  Charles  G.,  James  Lawrence  Scott,  and  Edwin  B. 
He  was  an  exemplary  Christian,  and  a  gifted  minister 
of  the  Episcopal  Church.  He  died  in  New  York  City, 
August,  1871,  where  he  was  deeply  interested  in  the 
cause  of  missions.  His  son  Edwin  B.  is  rector  of  a 
church  in  Paterson,  N.  J.  Charles  G.  was  first  lieu- 
tenant in  Company  D,  Col.  Webster's  regiment,  and 
was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  July  3,  1863. 
Mrs.  Russell  died  Jan.  5,  1881,  aged  seventy-nine. 
James  R.  Tracy  is  of  active,  unobtrusive  character,  a 


728 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


good  citizen,  and  a  worthy  Christian.  He  pays  this 
tribute  to  the  memory  of  his  foster-father  that  his 
name  and  the  record  of  his  good  deeds  may  live 
through  the  coming  years. 


CHAPTER    LVIII.1 

TAUNTON. 
Boundaries — Topography — City  Organization — Population. 

[Prefatory  Note. — No  one  can  be  more  sensible  than  myself  of  the 
incompleteness  of  the  following  sketch.  It  is  not  claimed  to  be  a  his- 
tory;  at  the  best.it  is  but  a  contribution  towards  a  history.  But,  imper- 
fect as  it  is,  it  has  extended  much  further  than  was  contemplated  when 
I  consented  to  write  something  concerning  the  early  planting  of  the 
town  and  its  first  settlers.  No  history  of  Taunton  has  yet  been  written. 
Mr.  Baylies  furnished  much  interesting  and  important  matter  relating 
to  its  history  for  the  first  fifty  years,  and  Kev.  Mr.  Emery,  in  his  "  Minis- 
try of  Taunton,"  gave  a  great  deal  more,  covering  a  much  longer  period, 
which  is  of  great  value.  Sketches,  reminiscences,  and  single  items  have 
from  time  to  time  been  given  to  the  public,  but  all  this  has  necessarily 
been  fragmentary  and,  of  course,  unsatisfactory. 

In  what  is  here  presented  it  has  been  my  object,  so  far  as  possible,  to 
let  the  fathers  speak  for  themselves,  and  therefore  original  papers,  to  a 
greater  extent  perhaps  than  some  will  approve,  have  been  given  in  their 
integrity.  Some  of  the  more  important  laws  of  the  colonial  period,  de- 
fining the  duties  of  town  officers,  have  also  been  given  in  full  rather 
than  abstracts  from  them,  for  it  was  a  characteristic  of  the  early  legis- 
lation to  give  the  reasons  for  particular  enactments  in  the  enactments 
themselves  in  ample  and  explicit  phrase,  so  that  from  these  laws  a 
truer  and  more  graphic  picture  of  the  period  can  be  obtained  than  from 
almost  any  other  source.  "  The  reason  of  the  law  is  the  life  of  the  law." 
For  the  same  reason  the  orders  of  the  General  Court  and  the  votes  of  the 
proprietors  are  in  most  instances  given  at  length.  An  abstract  or  para- 
phrase might  be  more  brief,  but  the  original  flavor  would  be  gone. 

It  has  been  a  personal  satisfaction  to  commune  for  a  time  with  the 
fathers  and  founders  of  our  ancient  town  and  the  earlier  generations  of 
their  successors.  A  higher  appreciation  of  their  sturdy  manhood  and 
integrity  has  thus  been  gained.  If  it  shall  have  this  effect  in  any  degree 
upon  those  who  may  read  what  is  here  written,  my  best  expectations 
will  be  realized. 

James  Henry  Dean. 

Taunton,  May,  1883.] 

The  city  of  Taunton  lies  in  the  northeasterly  part 
of  Bristol  County,  and  is  bounded  on  the  northwest 
by  Norton,  on  the  northeast  by  Easton,  on  the  east 
by  Raynham,  Middleborough,  and  Lakeville,  on  the 
south  by  Berkley  and  Dighton,  and  on  the  west  by 
Rehoboth.  In  its  greatest  length,  from  northwest  to 
southeast,  it  measures  rather  over  ten  miles ;  its 
greatest  breadth,  being  across  its  northwesterly  por- 
tion, from  northeast  to  southwest,  is  nine  miles,  while 
across  its  central  portion,  between  Raynham  and 
Berkley,  it  is  less  than  two  miles.  Its  present  outline 
is  extremely  irregular  and  awkward,  the  result  of 
setting  off  several  new  towns  from  the  original  terri- 
tory, in  which  more  regard  seems  to  have  been  had 
for  the  symmetry  of  the  parts  thus  taken  than  of  the 
part  that  remained. 

It  has  few  marked  topographical  features,  the  sur- 
face being  generally  level.    Prospect  Hill,  two  and  a 


1  By  James  Henry  Dean. 


half  miles  north  of  City  Square,  is  one  hundred  and 
seventy-five  feet  above  City  Square,  and  is  the  highest 
point  within  the  city  limits.  At  its  southerly  base 
lies  Prospect  Hill  Pond,  a  beautiful  sheet  of  water, 
i  surrounded  by  high  land,  except  on  the  southerly 
side,  from  which  a  small  outlet  flows  easterly  into  the 
Fowling  Pond  in  Raynham.  Still  farther  northwest- 
erly are  Scadding's  and  Watson's  Ponds,  which  are 
connected  by  an  outlet  from  the  latter,  Scadding's 
also  receiving  a  small  stream  flowing  from  Winni- 
cunnett  Pond,  which  lies  just  across  the  northwest- 
erly boundary  in  Norton.  Mill  River  is  the  outlet  of 
Scadding's  Pond,  and  flows  in  a  southerly  direction 
through  the  manufacturing  villages  of  Whittenton, 
Britanniaville,  and  Hopewell,  affording  water-power 
to  each,  and  also  to  several  manufactories  in  the  cen- 
tre, and  empties  into  Taunton  River  at  the  Neck  of 
Land. 

Three-Mile  River,  formed  by  the  junction  of  Rum- 
ford  and  Wading  Rivers  in  Norton,  flows  through  the 
villages  of  Oakland  and  Westville,  in  the  westerly 
part  of  the  city,  to  the  village  of  North  Dighton, 
which  is  partly  in  Taunton,  and  from  there  it  forms 
the  boundary  between  Taunton  and  Dighton  for  a 
distance  of  a  mile  and  a  half,  until  it  empties  into 
Taunton  River.  It  furnishes  valuable  water-power 
in  each  of  the  villages  named. 

The  principal  stream  is  Taunton  River,  called  by 
the  inhabitants  the  Great  River,  to  distinguish  it 
from  Mill  River,  which  is  commonly  called  the  Little 
River.  It  has  its  sources  in  several  small  streams  in 
Plymouth  County,  forms  the  boundary  between  Rayn- 
ham and  Middleborough,  Taunton  and  Middlebor- 
ough, and  the  southerly  boundary  between  Raynham 
and  Taunton.  At  East  Taunton  there  is  a  dam  which 
furnishes  a  head  of  water  for  the  Old  Colony  Iron 
Company,  located  there.  The  tide  ebbs  and  flows  to 
this  point,  and  tugs  and  scows  ascend  thus  far  with 
freight.  The  head  of  navigation  for  sailing  vessels 
is  at  Weir  village,  which  has  a  large  and  important 
trade  in  iron,  coal,  and  grain.  Some  seventeen  miles 
below  this  place,  at  Fall  River,  it  empties  into  Mount 
Hope  Bay. 

In  the  easterly  part  of  the  city  there  are  several 
ponds,  known  as  Furnace  Pond,  Robinson  &  King's 
Pond,  Dean  Factory  Pond,  and  Bear-Hole  Pond, 
which  afford  by  their  outlets  water-power  for  several 
saw-mills. 

There  are  forests  of  considerable  extent  in  the  out- 
lying districts,  the  largest  being  the  Great  Cedar 
Swamp,  several  miles  in  extent,  which  covers  the 
northeasterly  corner  of  the  territory.  Apart  from 
this  the  prevailing  growth  is  white-pine,  although 
there  are  large  oak  and  maple  forests,  interspersed 
with  chestnut,  beech,  ash,  and  other  hard-wood  trees, 
and  pitch-pine  is  found  to  some  extent. 

On  the  first  Monday  of  January,  1865,  two  hundred 
and  twenty-eight  years,  at  least,  after  the  first  settle- 
ment of  Cohannet,  and  two  hundred  and  twenty-five 


TAUNTON. 


729 


years  after  receiving  the  name  of  Taunton,  a  city  or- 
ganization was  inaugurated,  and  the  territory  was 
divided  into  eight  wards.  The  population  at  that 
time  was  10,005.  In  1765  the  number  of  families  in 
the  town  was  493,  and  the  population  was  2745;  in 
1800  the  population  was  3860;  in  1810,  3907;  in  1820, 
4520.  Since  the  organization  of  the  city  the  popula- 
tion has  increased  as  follows:  1870,  18,629;  1875, 
20,445;  1880,  21,213. 


CHAPTER  LIX. 

TAUNTONi— ( Continued.) 
Early  Explorations— First  Settlement— Acquisition  of  Territory. 

Taunton  is  the  oldest  settlement  in  Bristol  County, 
and  the  third  in  order  of  time,  after  Plymouth  itself, 
in  Plymouth  Colony,  Scituate  having  been  incor- 
porated in  1636,  Duxbury  in  1637,  and  Taunton  in 
1639. 

A  romantic  interest  attaches  to  the  pioneers  in  any 
new  enterprise,  and  especially  to  those  who  found  a 
new  settlement  in  a  wild  and  uninhabited  region. 
And  when  such  enterprise  is  exposed  to  dangers  from 
savage  attack,  made  more  fearful  by  reason  of  dis- 
tance from  friendly  help,  our  admiration  is  kindled 
for  adventure  so  daring  and  heroic. 

Such  an  interest  in  the  first  settlers  of  Taunton 
must  always  be  felt  by  the  successive  generations  of 
dwellers  in  this  ancient  town.  Could  the  name  of  the 
very  first  settler  be  known,  the  date  when  he  "  sat 
down"  here,  the  location  of  the  lands  he  first  cleared, 
the  spot  on  which  stood  his  first  rude  dwelling,  it 
would  satisfy  that  strong  natural  desire  to  ascertain 
the  origin  of  things,  and  a  spot  so  interesting  would 
doubtless  be  marked  by  some  permanent  memorial. 
But  such  certainty  of  knowledge  is  now  probably  un- 
attainable by  the  most  patient  research.  The  settle- 
ment of  Plymouth  was  made  before  the  eyes  of 
the  world.  Every  detail  in  the  movements  of  the 
"  Mayflower,"  from  Provincetown  to  Plymouth  Har- 
bor, has  been  preserved,  and  the  rock  on  the  shore 
upon  which  her  immortal  ship's  company  stepped  as 
they  landed  has  become  the  "  head  of  the  corner"  in 
our  national  temple.  The  towns  north  and  south  of 
Plymouth,  upon  the  sea-shore,  were  settled  mostly  by 
Plymouth  men,  and  under  the  immediate  super- 
vision of  the  parent  colony,  and  so  their  very  earliest 
beginnings  are  known.  But  the  early  settlers  of 
Taunton  were  not  from  Plymoutb,  although  they 
were  men  of  a  like  spirit  with  those  colonists.  The 
location  was  far  inland,  and  they  had  no  annalist 
among  them  like  Winslow  or  Bradford  to  record  their 
doings.  Their  early  history  must  be  gleaned  from 
the  proprietary  records, — often  tantalizing  in  their 


1  By  James  Henry  Dean. 


character, — from  the  dealings  of  the  government  of 
Plymouth  Colony  with  the  town  after  its  incorpora- 
tion, and  from  deeds,  wills,  and  correspondence  that 
chance  has  preserved,  and  allusions  found  in  the 
dealings  of  other  towns  with  this. 

The  first  Europeans  who  traversed  the  territory 
were  undoubtedly  Edward  Winslow,  afterwards  Gov- 
ernor of  Plymouth  Colony,  and  Stephen  Hopkins,  on 
their  journey  to  visit  Massasoit  in  June  or  July,  1621. 
The  narrative  of  this  visit  in  "  Mourt's  Relation," 
written  most  probably  by  Winslow  himself,  has  been 
often  cited,  but  it  has  an  appropriate  place  in  this 
history,  and  is  here  given  in  part.  The  original  or- 
thography and  punctuation  are  retained  : 

"  It  seemed  good  to  the  Company  for  many  considerations  to  send 
some  amongst  them  to  Massasoyt,  the  greatest  Commander  amongst  the 
Savages,  bordering  about  us;  partly  to  know  where  to  find  them,  if 
occasion  served,  as  also  to  see  their  strength,  discover  the  Country,  pre- 
vent abuses  in  their  disorderly  comming  unto  us,  make  satisfaction  for 
some  conceived  injuries  to  be  done  on  our  parts,  and  to  continue  the 
league  of  Peace  and  Friendship  between  them  and  us.  For  these,  and 
the  like  ends,  it  pleased  the  Governour  to  make  choice  of  Steven  Hop- 
kins, &  Edward  Wiusloe  to  goe  unto  him,  and  having  a  fit  opportunitie, 
by  reason  of  a  Savage,  called  Tisquantum  (that  could  speake  English) 
comming  unto  us;  with  all  expedition  provided  a  Horse-mans  coat,  of 
red  cotton,  and  laced  with  a  slight  lace  for  a  present,  that  both  they  and 
their  message  might  be  the  more  acceptable  amongst  them.  The  Mes- 
sage was  as  followeth:  That  forasmuch  as  his  subjects  came  often  and 
without  feare,  upon  all  occasions  amongst  us,  so  wee  were  now  come 
unto  him,  and  in  witnesse  of  the  love  and  good  will  the  English  beare 
unto  him,  the  Governour  bath  sent  him  a  coat,  desiring  that  the  Peace 
and  Amitie  that  was  betweene  them  and  us  might  be  continued,  not 
that  we  feared  them,  but  because  we  intended  not  to  injure  any  desiring 
to  live  peaceably  :  and  as  with  all  men,  so  especially  with  them  our 
nearest  neighbours.  But  whereas  his  people  came  very  often,  and  very 
many  together  unto  us,  bringing  for  the  most  part  their  wives  and  chil- 
dren with  them,  they  were  wellcome;  yet  we  being  but  strangers  as  yet 
at  Patuxet,  alias  New  Plimmouth,  and  not  knowing  how  our  Come 
might  prosper,  we  could  no  longer  give  them  such  entertainment  as  we 
had  done,  and  as  we  desired  still  to  doe:  yet  if  he  would  be  pleased  to 
come  himselfe,  or  any  special!  friend  of  his  desired  to  see  us,  comming 
from  him  they  should  be  wellcome;  and  to  the  end  we  might  know 
them  from  others,  our  Governour  had  sent  him  a  copper  Chayne,  desiring 
if  any  Messenger  should  come  from  him  to  us,  we  might  know  him  by 
briuging  it  with  him,  and  hearken  and  give  credit  to  his  Message  accord- 
ingly. Also  requesting  him  that  such  as  have  skins,  should  bring  (hem 
to  us,  and  that  be  would  hinder  the  multitude  from  oppressing  us  with 
them,  and  whereas  at  our  first  arrivall  at  Paomet  (called  by  us  Cape  Cod) 
we  found  there  Come  buried  in  the  ground,  and  finding  no  inhabitants 
but  some  graves  of  dead  new  buryed,  took  the  Corne,  resolving  if 
ever  we  could  heare  of  any  that  had  right  thereunto,  to  make  satisfac- 
tion to  the  full  for  it,  yet  since  we  understand  the  owners  thereof  were 
fled  for  feare  of  us,  our  desire  was  either  to  pay  them  with  the  like  quan- 
titie  of  corne,  English  meale,  or  any  other  Commodities  we  had  to 
pleasure  them  withall;  requesting  him  that  some  one  of  his  men  might 
signifiesomuch  unto  them, and  we  would  content  him  for  his  paines.  And 
last  of  all,  our  Governour  requested  one  favour  of  him,  which  was,  that 
he  would  exchange  some  of  their  Corne  for  feede  with  us,  that  we  might 
make  fyall  which  best  agreed  with  the  soyle  where  we  live. 

"With  these  presents  and  message  we  set  forward  the  tenth  June, 
about  9  a  clocks  in  the  Morning,  our  guide  resolving  that  night  to  rest 
at  Namaschet,  a  Towne  under  Massasoyt,  and  conceived  by  us  to  bee  very 
neere,  because  the  Inhabitants  flocked  so  thicke  upon  every  slight 
occasion  amongst  us :  but  wee  found  it  to  bee  some  fifteen  English 
myles.  On  the  way  we  found  some  ten  or  twelve  men  women  and 
children,  which  had  pestered  us,  till  wee  were  wearie  of  them,  perceiv- 
ing that  (as  the  manner  of  them  all  is)  where  victual  1  is  easiliest  to  be 
got,  there  they  live,  especially  in  the  summer:  ly  reason  whereof  our 
Bay  affording  many  Lobsters,  they  resort  every  spring  tide  thither:  & 
now  returned  with  us  to  Namaschet.  Thither  we  came  about  3  a  clocke 
after  noone,  the  Inhabitants  entertaining  us  with  joy,  in  the  best  man- 
ner they  could,  giving  us  a  kinde  of  bread  called  by  them  Mausium.  and 


730 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


the  spawns  of  Shads,  which  then  they  got  in  abundance,  in  so  much 
as  they  gave  us  spooues  to  eate  them,  with  these  they  boyled  mustie 
Acorns,  but  of  the  Shads  we  eate  heartily.  After  this  they  desired  one 
of  our  men  to  shoote  at  a  Crow,  complaining  what  damage  they  sus- 
tained in  their  Corne  by  them,  who  shooting  some  fourscore  off  and 
killing,  they  much  admired  it,  as  other  shots  on  other  occasions.  After 
this  Tisquantum  told  us  wee  should  hardly  in  one  day  reach  Pakanokick, 
moving  us  to  goe  some  8  myles  furthur,  where  we  should  finde  more 
store  and  better  victuals  than  there  :  Being  willing  to  hasten  our  jour- 
ney we  went,  and  came  thither  at  Sunne  setting,  where  we  found  many 
of  the  Namaschencks  (they  so  calling  the  men  of  Namaschet)  fishing 
uppon  a  Ware  which  they  had  made  on  a  River  which  belonged  to 
them,  where  they  caught  abundance  of  Basse.  These  welcommed  us 
also,  gave  us  of  their  fish,  and  we  them  of  our  victuals,  not  doubting  but 
we  should  have  enough  where  ere  we  came.  There  we  lodged  in  the 
open  fields:  for  houses  they  had  none,  though  they  spent  the  most  of 
the  Summer  there.  The  head  of  this  River  is  reported  to  bee  not  fane 
from  the  place  of  our  abode,  upon  it  are,  and  have  been  many  Townes, 
it  being  a  good  length.  The  ground  is  very  good  on  both  sides,  it  being 
for  the  most  part  cleered :  Thousands  of  men  have  lived  there,  which 
dyed  in  a  great  plague  not  long  since :  and  pitty  it  was  and  is  to  see,  so 
many  goodly  fiekles,  &  so  well  seated,  without  men  to  dress  and  manure 
the  same.  Upon  this  River  dwelleth  Massasoyt:  It  commeth  into  the 
Sea  at  the  Narrohiganset  Bay,  where  the  French  men  so  much  use.  A 
shipp  may  goe  many  myles  up  it,  as  the  Salvages  report,  and  a  shallop 
to  the  head  of  it :  but  so  farre  as  wee  saw,  wee  are  sure  a  Shallop 
may. 

"But  to  returne  to  our  Journey:  The  next  morning  wee  brake  our 
fast,  tooke  our  leave  and  departed,  being  then  accompanied  with  some 
sixe  Salvages,  having  gone  about  sixe  myles  by  the  River  side,  at  a 
knowne  shole  place,  it  beeing  low  water,  they  spake  to  us  to  put  off  our 
breeches,  for  we  must  wade  thorow.  Heere  let  me  not  forget  the  vallour 
and  courrage  of  some  of  the  Salvages,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river, 
for  there  were  remaining  alive  only  2  men,  both  aged,  especially  the 
one  being  above  threescoure;  These  two  espying  a  company  of  men  en- 
tring  the  River,  ran  very  swiftly  &  low  in  the  grasse  to  meet  us  at  the 
banck,  where  with  shrill  voyces  and  great  courage  standing  charged 
upon  us  with  their  bowes,  they  demanded  what  we  were,  supposing  us 
to  be  enemies,  anil  thinking  to  take  advantage  on  us  in  the  water:  but 
seeing  we  were  friends,  they  welcomed  us  with  such  foode  as  they  had, 
and  we  bestowed  a  small  bracelet  of  Beades  on  them.  Thus  farre  wee 
are  sure  the  Tide  ebs  and  flows. 

"  Having  here  againe  refreshed  our  selves,  we  proceeded  in  our  Jour- 
ney, the  weather  being  very  bote  for  travel!,  yet  the  Country  so  well 
watered  that  a  man  could  scarce  be  diie,  but  he  should  have  a  spring  at 
hand  to  coole  his  thirst,  beside  small  Rivers  in  abundance;  but  the  Sal- 
vages will  not  willingly  drinke,  but  at  a  spring  head.  When  wee  came 
to  any  small  Brooke  where  no  bridge  was,  two  of  them  desired  to  carry 
us  through  of  their  owne  accords,  also  fearing  wee  were  or  would  be 
weary,  offered  to  carry  our  peeces,  also  if  we  would  lay  off  any  of  our 
clothes,  we  should  have  them  carried;  and  as  the  one  of  them  had 
foil  ml  more  speciall  kindnesse  from  one  of  the  Messengers,  and  the 
other  Salvage  from  the  other  so  they  shewed  their  thankefulnesse  ac- 
cordingly in  affording  us  all  helpe  and  furtherance  in  the  Journey. 

"  As  we  passed  along,  we  observed  that  there  were  few  places  by  the 
River,  but  had  beene  inhabited,  by  reason  whereof,  much  ground  was 
(lean,  save  of  weedes  which  grewe  higher  than  our  heads.  There  is 
much  good  Timber  both  Oake,  Waltnut-tree,  Firre,  Beech,  and  exceed- 
ing great  Chesnut-trees.  The  country  in  respect  of  the  lying  of  it,  is 
both  Chainpanie  and  hilly,  like  many  places  in  Kugland.  In  some 
places  its  very  rockie  both  above  ground  and  in  it:  And  though  the 
Countrey  bee  wilde  and  over  giowne  with  woods,  yet  the  trees  stand  not 
thicke,  but  a  man  may  well  ride  a  horse  amongst  them. 

''Passing  on  at  length,  one  of  the  company,  an  Indian,  espied  a  man, 
and  told  the  rest  of  it,  we  asked  them  if  they  feared  any,  they  told  us 
that  if  they  were  Narrohigganset  men  they  wonld  not  trust  them,  whereat, 
we  called  for  our  peeces  and  bid  them  not  to  feare ;  for  though  they  were 
twenty,  we  two  alone  would  not  care  for  them  :  but  they  hayling  him, 
hee  proved  a  friend,  and  had  onely  t\vo  women  with  him  :  their  baskets 
wen'  empty,  but  they  fetched  water  in  their  bottles,  so  that  we  dranke 
with  them  and  departed.  Alter  wo  met  another  man  with  other  two 
women,  which  bad  beene  at  Randevow  by  the  salt  water,  and  their  bas- 
kets were  full  of  rested  Crab  fishes,  and  other  dryed  shell  fish,  of  which 
they  gave  us,  and  wee  eate  and  dranke  with  them  :  and  gave  each  of  the 
women  a  string  of  Beades,  and  departed. 

"  After  wee  came  to  a  Towne  of  Massasoyls,  where  we  eat  Oysters  and 
other  fish.     From  thence  we  went  to  Packanokick." 


The  date  given  as  the  time  of  starting  on  this  ex- 
pedition is  probably  wrong,  as  the  10th  of  June  fell 
on  Sunday,  when  these  strict  observers  of  the  Lord's 
day  would  be  most  unlikely  to  undertake  such  a  jour- 
ney. Morton,  in  the  "  New  England  Memorial," 
gives  July  2d,  which  was  Monday,  as  the  time,  and 
Bradford,  in  his  "  History  of  Plymouth  Plantation," 
gives  the  same  date.  This  agrees  better  with  other 
events  narrated  by  Winslow,  and  is  probably  correct. 

Namaschet,  the  Indian  village  where  they  first 
stopped,  is  in  the  town  of  Middleborough,  upon  Na- 
masket  River,  which  is  an  outlet  of  Assowompset 
Pond,  and  empties  into  Taunton  River.  There  the 
first  English  settlement  in  that  town  was  made,  and  it 
still  bears  the  name  of  Namasket  village.  The  place 
where  they  spent  the  night  was  on  Taunton  River,  in 
the  northwesterly  part  of  Middleborough,  called  by 
the  Indians,  together  with  the  region  in  that  vicinity, 
Tetiquet.  A  pleasant  village  in  the  same  locality 
perpetuates  the  name  as  Titicut.  It  was  also  an- 
ciently known  as  the  Old  Indian  Wear.  From  there 
it  seems  they  followed  the  river  until  they  reached 
"the  knowne  shole  place,"  which  was  undoubtedly  at 
Squawbetty,  or  East  Taunton,  at  or  near  the  location 
of  the  Old  Colony  Iron-Works,  where  they  crossed 
the  river  and  continued  their  journey  on  the  northerly 
and  westerly  side,  probably  along  the  route  of  the  pres- 
ent road  from  East  Taunton  to  Taunton  Green,  through 
Dean  Street,  and  so  following  the  river  southerly, 
through  the  present  towns  of  Dighton,  Somerset,  and 
Swansea,  to  "  Packanokick,"  the  residence  of  "  Massa- 
soyt," in  what  is  now  Warren,  R.  I. 

In  March,  1623,  Winslow  made  another  visit  to 
Massasoit,  his  companion  being  John  Hampden, 
thought  by  Hon.  Francis  Baylies,  in  his  "History  of 
Plymouth  Colony,"  and  by  Dr.  Belknap,  in  "Ameri- 
can Biography,"  to  be  the  English  patriot  of  that 
name  so  prominent  in  the  time  of  Charles  I.  The 
first  part  of  Winslow's  narrative  is  as  follows: 

"  During  the  time  that  the  captain  (Standish)  was  at  Macomet,  news 
came  to  Plymouth  that  Massassowat  was  like  to  die,  and  that  at  the 
same  time  there  was  a  Dutch  ship  driven  so  high  on  the  shore  by  stress 
of  weather,  right  before  his  dwelling,  that  till  the  tides  increased  she 
could  not  be  got  off.  Now,  it  being  a  commendable  manner  of  the  In- 
dians, when  auy,  especially  of  note  are  dangerously  sick,  for  all  that 
profess  friendship  to  them  to  visit  them  in  their  extremity,  either  in 
their  persons  or  else  to  send  some  acceptable  persons  to  them ;  there- 
fore, it  was  thought  meet,  being  a  good  and  warrantable  action,  that  as 
we  had  ever  professed  friendship  so  we  should  now  maintain  the  same 
by  observing  this  their  laudable  custom;  and  the  rather  because  we  de- 
sired to  have  some  conference  with  the  Dutch,  not  knowing  when  we 
should  have  so  fit  an  opportunity.  To  that  end  myself,  having  formerly 
been  there  and  understanding  in  some  measure  the  Dutch  tongue,  the 
Governor  laid  this  service  upon  m3'self,  and  fitted  me  with  some  cordials 
to  administer  to  him ;  having  one  Master  John  Hamden,  a  gentleman 
of  London,  who  then  wintered  with  us  and  desired  much  to  see  the 
country  for  my  comfort,  and  Hobbamock  for  our  guide.  So  we  set  for- 
ward and  lodged  the  first  night  at  Nemasket,  where  we  had  friendly 
entertainment. 

"  The  next  day  about  one  of  the  clock  we  came  to  a  ferry  in  Conbat- 
ants'  country,  where  upon  discharge  of  my  piece  divers  Indians  came 
to  us  from  a  house  not  far  off." 

The  "  ferry"  referred  to  is  thought  to  have  been 
where  •  Slade's  Ferry  now  is,  between  Somerset  and 


TAUNTON. 


731 


Fall  River.  It  is  reasonable  to  suppose  that  Winslow 
took  the  same  route  as  on  his  former  visit,  stopping, 
as  he  says,  the  first  night  at  "  Nemasket,"  and  follow- 
ing the  river  till  he  reached  the  ferry. 

As  to  the  identity  of  his  companion  with  the  John 
Hampden  of  the  Englisli  revolution,  Drake,  in  his 
edition  of  Baylies,  says,  "  It  is  pretty  certain  that  the 
patriot  was  a  resident  of  London  between  1619  and 
1623.  On  a  survey  of  what  is  at  present  known  on 
the  subject,  it  seems  quite  probable  that  Dr.  Belknap 
conjectured  rationally,  and  that  there  is  more  than  a 
probability  that  the  afterwards  renowned  gentleman 
was  once  in  New  England."  Savage,  however,  in 
"  Genealogical  Dictionary,"  strongly  dissents  from  this 
conclusion,  and  rather  ridicules  the  idea.  In  this  bal- 
ancing of  probabilities,  aided  by  the  few  known  facts, 
the  preponderance  is  rather  in  favor  of  the  belief  that 
the  renowned  patriot  did  winter  in  Plymouth,  and 
desiring  much  to  see  the  country,  followed  the  course 
of  our  beautiful  river  from  Titicut  to  the  "  ferry" 
with  Winslow,  and  with  him  visited  the  sick  sachem 
of  the  Wampanoags. 

In  the  accounts  of  these  visits,  Winslow  gives  the 
only  original  description  we  have  by  an  actual  ob- 
server of  the  territory  of  Taunton  and  the  other  towns 
on  Taunton  River  as  it  appeared  before  any  settle- 
ments were  made  by  the  English.  His  graphic  pic- 
ture is  of  very  deep  interest.  The  ground  was  very 
good  on  both  sides,  springs  and  small  streams 
abounded;  thousands  of  men  had  lived  there  who 
died  in  a  great  plague ;  much  ground  was  clear,  save 
of  weeds,  which  grew  higher  than  their  heads;  there 
was  much  good  timber,  and  pity  it  was  to  see  so 
many  goodly  fields,  and  so  well  seated,  without  men 
to  dress  and  manure  the  same. 

The  vacant  ground,  deserted,  depopulated,  waited 
for  a  superior  race  to  enter  in  and  subdue  it  and 
multiply  therein.  Just  how  long  it  waited  for  the 
beginning  of  a  permanent  settlement  we  know  not. 
There  is  a  tradition,  mentioned  by  Mr.  Baylies,  that 
settlers  were  here  as  early  as  1626 ;  but  the  tradition  | 
fastens  upon  no  names  or  localities,  and  has  nothing 
to  support  it. 

In  Plymouth  Colony  Records,  vol.  i.  p.  53,  under 
date  of  March  7,  1636-37,  there  is  a  list  of  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty-three  names,  headed,  "The  names  of 
the  Freemen."  At  the  end  of  the  list,  inclosed  in  a 
bracket,  are  the  following  seven  names:  Mr.  William 
Poole,  Mr.  John  Gilbert,  Sr.,  Mr.  Henry  Andrews, 
John  Stronge,  John  Deane,  Walter  Deane,  Edward 
Case,  and  against  them  the  words,  "of  Cohannett." 
This  was  the  Indian  name  of  the  locality,  and  the 
name  by  which  the  settlement  was  at  first  designated. 
The  residence  of  no  others  in  the  list  is  designated, 
except  "  Mr.  John  Lathrop,  pastor  of  Scituate."  The 
best  of  evidence  is  thus  furnished  that  early  in  the 
year  1637  a  settlement  was  already  established  here 
having  at  least  seven  freemen.  In  vol.  xi.  of  the 
same   records  (Laws),  p.  27,  under   date  of  ,Oct.  2, 


1637,  in  the  margin,  are  these  words,  "  Taunton  began 
here  to  be  added  to  this  booke."  In  vol.  i.  p.  105, 
Dec.  4,  1638,  is  this  entry,  "  John  Strong  is  sworne 
constable  of  Cohannett  until  June  next."  In  vol.  xi. 
again,  p.  31,  March  5,  1638-39,  it  is  ordered,  "That 
Captaine  Poole  shall  exercise  the  inhabitants  of  Co- 
hannett in  their  armes." 

Ancient  Cohannett  had  thus  both  a  civil  and  mili- 
tary organization.  The  appointment  of  constable 
was  a  recognition  of  the  settlement  as  a  separate 
town.  No  formal  acts  of  incorporation  were  passed 
in  that  early  time,  as  was  the  custom  afterwards,  but 
when  a  community  had  acquired  the  quality  of  per- 
manence, had  sufficient  numbers  to  form  a  church 
and  support  a  minister,  and  a  reasonable  prospect  of 
being  able  to  defend  itself  against  Indian  attacks,  it 
was  allowed  by  the  government  at  Plymouth  to  have 
officers  and  an  organization  of  its  own,  and  was 
thenceforth  treated  as  a  political  unit.  The  only 
civil  officer,  intrusted  with  executive  functions  also, 
appointed  for  the  towns  for  a  long  time  was  the  con- 
stable. He  represented  the  power  and  authority  of 
the  General  Court.  He  was  the  right  hand  of  the 
government  in  each  separate  community.  He  per- 
formed the  duties  of  a  sheriff,  of  a  police-officer,  of 
a  collector  of  public  rates  and  taxes,  and  was  the 
guardian  of  the  good  order  and  morals  of  the  inhab- 
itants. The  importance  and  comprehensive  nature  of 
his  duties  may  best  be  seen  by  the  form  of  oath  pre- 
scribed, which  was  as  follows  : 

"You  shall  swear  to  be  truly  loyal  to  our  sovereign  lord,  King  Charles, 
his  heirs  and  successors.  You  shall  faithfully  serve  in  the  office  of  con- 
stable for  the  ward  of for  the  present  year,  according  to  that 

measure  of  wisdom,  understanding,  and  discretion  God  hath  given  you, 
in  which  time  you  shall  diligently  see  that  His  Majesty's  peace  com- 
manded be  not  broken,  but  shall  carry  the  person  or  persons  before  the 
Governor  of  this  corporation  or  some  one  of  his  assistants,  and  there 
attend  the  hearing  of  the  case,  and  such  order  as  shall  be  given  you. 
You  shall  apprehend  all  suspicious  persons  and  bring  them  before  the 
said  Governor  or  some  one  of  his  assistants  as  aforesaid.  You  shall  duly 
and  truly  serve  such  warrants  and  give  such  summons  as  shall  be  di- 
rected to  you  from  the  Governor  or  assistants  before  mentioned,  and 
shall  labor  to  advance  the  peace  and  happiness  of  this  corporation,  and 
to  oppose  anything  that  shall  seem  to  annoy  the  same  by  all  due  means 
and  courses.  So  help  you  God,  who  is  the  God  of  truth  and  punisher  of 
falsehood." 

After  the  civil  organization  was  effected,  the  next 
thing  to  be  done  was  to  appoint  a  military  officer, 
who  should  form  a  company  from  those  of  suitable 
age  and  exercise  them  in  their  arms.  And  so  Capt. 
Poole  was  appointed  to  that  duty.  Although  the 
treaty  made  by  the  Plymouth  Colony  with  Massasoit 
in  1621  had  thus  tar  been  faithfully  kept,  yet  as  the 
colonists  were  few  in  number  and  somewhat  widely 
separated,  and  the  Indian  character  was  not  entirely 
reliable,  common  prudence  dictated  the  necessity  of 
keeping  themselves  constantly  on  a  war  footing.  The 
General  Court  made  strict  regulations  as  to  the  num- 
ber of  arms,  the  amount  of  ammunition  and  other 
military  stores  that  should  be  kept  in  readiness  by 
the  towns,  and  prescribed  regular  days  for  the  train- 
ings. 


732 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Up  to  the  year  1639  the  whole  body  of  the  freemen 
had  been  required  to  attend  the  General  Courts  at 
Plymouth.  In  this  body  thus  constituted  resided  the 
authority  for  making  all  needful  regulations  and 
laws.  As  the  number  of  freemen  increased,  and  new 
settlements  sprang  up  at  considerable  distances  from 
Plymouth,  this  duty  became  not  only  inconvenient 
but  extremely  burdensome.  It  was  apparent  that  the 
system  must  soon  become  entirely  impracticable.  To 
meet  this  difficulty  the  General  Court  at  a  session 
held  March  5,  1638,  old  style  (1639,  new  style),  in- 
augurated the  representative  system  by  passing  an 
act  as  follows :  "  Whereas,  complaint  is  made  that 
the  freemen  are  put  to  many  inconveniences  by  their 
continual  attendance  at  the  courts ;  it  is  therefore 
enacted  by  the  court,  and  the  authority  thereof,  for 
the  care  of  the  several  towns  of  this  government,  that 
each  town  shall  make  choice  of  two  of  their  freemen, 
and  the  town  of  Plymouth  of  four,  to  be  committees 
or  deputies  to  join  with  the  bench,  to  enact  and  make 
all  such  laws  and  ordinances  as  shall  be  judged  to  be 
good  and  wholesome  for  the  whole,  provided  that  the 
laws  they  do  enact  shall  be  propounded  one  court  to 
be  considered  of  till  the  next,  and  then  to  be  con- 
firmed if  they  shall  be  approved  of,  except  the  case 
require  present  confirmation  ;  and  if  any  act  shall  be 
confirmed  by  the  court  and  committees  which  upon 
further  deliberation  shall  prove  prejudicial  to  the 
whole,  that  the  freemen  at  the  next  election  court, 
after  meeting  together,  may  repeal  the  same  and 
enact  any  other  useful  for  the  whole  ;  and  that  every 
township  shall  bear  their  committee's  charges,  which 
is  two  shillings  and  sixpence  a  day,  and  that  such  as 
are  not  freemen  but  have  taken  the  oath  of  fidelity, 
and  are  masters  of  families,  and  inhabitants  of  the 
said  town,  as  they  are  to  bear  part  in  the  charges  of 
the  committees,  are  to  have  a  vote  in  the  choice  of 
them,  provided  they  choose  them,  only  of  the  freemen 
of  the  said  town  whereof  they  are  ;  but  if  such  com- 
mittees shall  be  insufficient  or  troublesome,  that  then 
the  bench  and  the  other  committees  may  dismiss 
them,  and  the  town  to  choose  other  freemen  in  their 
places." 

At  the  next  session  of  the  General  Court,  June  4, 
1639,  deputies  were  present  from  Plymouth,  Duxbury, 
Scituate,  Sandwich,  Cohannett,  and  Yarmouth.  Capt. 
William  Poole,  Mr.  John  Gilbert,  and  Henry  Andrews 
are  named  as  the  deputies  from  Cohannett.  Among 
the  acts  passed  at  the  session  held  March  3d  follow- 
ing (1640)  appears  this  brief  statement :  "  That  Co- 
hannett shall  be  called  Taunton."  No  further  legis- 
lation upon  the  subject  appears.  By  these  few  words 
the  Indian  Cohannett  became  the  English  Taunton. 
In  a  report  made  by  a  committee  of  the  town  many 
years  after,  the  reason  for  the  change  of  name  is  given 
in  these  words  :  "  In  honor  and  love  to  our  dear  and 
native  country,  we  called  this  place  Taunton."  But 
this  act  was  not  the  incorporation  of  the  town,  although 
it  is  commonly  spoken  of  as  such.     No  new  powers 


were  thereby  conferred.  Under  its  former  name  civil 
and  military  officers  had  been  appointed,  and  it  had 
been  represented  by  deputies  in  the  General  Court. 
The  precise  date  when  the  settlement  became  a  town 
it  may  be  difficult  to  fix,  because,  as  has  already  been 
stated,  no  formal  act  creating  the  town  was  ever  passed. 
The  appointment  of  a  constable  in  December,  1638, 
is  a  significant  fact';  the  naming  of  the  seven  freemen 
in  March,  1637,  as  of  Cohannett  seems  to  be  such  a 
recognition  of  its  distinct  character  as  to  warrant  the 
belief  that  it  was  then  clothed  with  the  authority  of 
a  town. 

The  first  purchase  of  territory,  it  is  generally  agreed, 
was  made  in  1637.  The  names  of  the  purchasers,  with 
the  shares  owned  by  each,  stand  in  the  following 
order : 


Henry  Uxley 8 

Richard  Williams 12 

Joseph  Wilson 8 

Benjamin  Wilson 8 

William  Coy 8 

George  Hall 12 

David  Corwithy 12 

Mr.  William  Pool 12 

George  Macy 8 

William  Phillips 8 

William  Hailstone 8 

William  Parker 12 

John  Parker. 8 

John  Richmond 6 

William  Holloway 12 

The  Widow  Randall 6 

Francis  Doty 12 

William  Dunn 8 

William  Harvey 8 

Hezekiah  Hoar 8 

Walter  Dean 12 

John  Dean 12 

John  Strong 12 


Henry  Andrews 12 

Thomas  Cooke 6 

John  Smith 12 

Mr.  Thomas  Farwell 12 

Edward  Case 8 

John  Kingsley 12 

Richard  Paul 6 

Richard  Smith 12 

Mr.  John  Gilbert 12 

William  Scadding 12 

John  Bryant 6 

Anthony  Slocum 8 

John  Gengille 8 

Francis  Street 8 

Hugh  Rossiter 8 

John  Gilbert 12 

Thomas  Gilbert 12 

Robert  Hobell 6 

Richard  Burl 8 

John  Crossman 6 

John  Luther 6 

John  Drake 12 

Mr.  John  Brown 


The  foregoing  list  is  given  upon  the  authority  of 
Mr.  Baylies.  It  is  not  identical  with  the  list  now  to 
be  found  in  the  proprietors'  records,  which  is  the 
only  one  now  known  to  exist.  Mr.  Baylies,  writing 
fifty  years  ago,  probably  had  access  to  some  papers 
among  the  old  records  which  have  since  been  lost. 
The  most  of  the  names  on  both  lists,  however,  are 
the  same.  The  deed,  if  any  was  given  by  the  Indian 
owners  of  the  territory,  has  long  since  disappeared, 
and  no  copy  of  it  is  on  record. 

This  first  purchase  has  been  called  by  Mr.  Baylies 
and  by  others  following  him  the" Tetiquet  purchase," 
on  the  supposition  that  it  was  made  from  the  Tetiquet 
Indians.  There  are  not  sufficient  grounds  for  such 
belief,  as  will  hereafter  be  shown. 

In  1640  the  territory  thus  purchased  was  run  out 
and  bounded  by  a  committee  appointed  by  the  court, 
in  pursuance  of  the  authority  constantly  exercised 
over  purchases  of  lands  and  the  boundaries  of  towns. 
The  report  of  the  committee  is  found  in  Plymouth 
Colonial  Records,  vol.  ii.  page  99,  and  is  here  given : 

"  The  limits  and  bounds  of  the  town  of  Taunton, 
alias  Cohannett,  within  the  Government  of  Plymouth, 
bounded  and  ranged  for  length  and  breadth,  by  order 
of  the  Court,  by  Miles  Standish  and  John  Brown, 
gentlemen  assistants  in  the  government,  the  nine- 
teenth day  of  June,  anno  domini  1640,  in  XVI.  year 
of  our  sovereign  Lord,  Charles  etc.,  as  follows,  viz.: 


TAUNTON. 


733 


"Imprimis.  From  two  maiked  trees  near  unto  Assonet,  a  neck  of 
land  lying  between  Assonet  and  them  lying  southerly,  and  from  the 
said  marked  trees  ranging  east  and  by  south  four  miles;  ranging  also 
from  the  extent  of  the  four  miles  north  and  by  west;  also  from  two 
marked  trees  near  the  Three-Mile  River,  lying  southerly  of  Taunton,  the 
range  to  run  four  miles  west  and  by  north;  and  from  the  extent  of  this 
last-mentioned  four  miles,  the  range  to  run  north  and  by  west  eight 
miles;  moreover,  from  the  extent  of  this  eight  miles  range,  then  the 
range  to  run  on  the  east  and  by  south  line  to  meet  with  the  former  ex- 
pressed north  and  by  west  line  upon  a  long  square;  always  provided, 
that  if  these  ranges  do  not  take  in  a  place  of  Scbadingmore  meadows, 
the  said  Scbadingmore  meadows  to  be  included  as  belonging  to  the 
aforesaid  town  of  Taunton,  with  one  thousand  acres  of  upland  near  ad- 
jacent unto  said  meadows;  provided  likewise,  that  these  lines  do  not 
entitle  the  said  town  of  Taunton  to  intermeddle  within  two  miles  of 
Teightaquid. 

"  Miles  Standish. 
"John  Brown." 

John  Brown,  of  the  above  committee,  was  the  same 
person  as  Mr.  John  Brown  the  last  in  the  list  of  pur- 
chasers. He  afterwards  removed  to  Rehoboth,  and 
was  for  many  years  one  of  the  Governor's  assistants. 

The  only  permanent  monument  given  in  the  boun- 
daries of  the  town  is  Three-Mile  River.  The  starting 
point  was  undoubtedly  on  the  east  side  of  Taunton 
River,  opposite  to  and  somewhat  north  of  the  mouth  of 
Three-Mile  River.  From  thence  the  line  extended 
four  miles  east  and  by  south,  thence  north  and  by  west, 
making  an  acute  angle  twenty-two  and  one-half  de- 
grees less  than  a  right  angle.  Then  returning,  crossing 
the  river,  and  starting  from  a  point  near  Three-Mile 
River,  where  the  present  line  between  Taunton  and 
Dighton  first  strikes  the  river,  it  ran  four  miles  west 
and  by  north,  making  the  whole  line  eight  miles  in 
length.  Thence  running  eight  miles  north  and  by  west, 
making  an  obtuse  angle  twenty-two  and  one-half  de- 
grees more  than  a  right  angle,  and  from  thence  running 
again  east  and  by  south,  making  an  acute  angle  and 
meeting  the  first  north  and  by  west  line.  It  was  in- 
tended to  be  eight  miles  ou  a  side,  but  the  measure- 
ments in  those  days  were  liberal.  It  was  not  rectan- 
gular but  diamond-shaped,  and  was  hence  called  a 
long  square.  The  northerly  angle  was  within  about 
two  miles  of  the  Massachusetts  Colony  line,  and  near 
the  centre  of  the  present  town  of  Mansfield. 

It  was  not  long  before  a  request  was  made  for  an 
increase  of  pasture  and  meadow  lands,  and  in  March, 
1640,  the  court  answered  it  by  passing  the  following 
order : 

"  Whereas,  the  inhabitants  of  Cohannett,  now  called  Taunton,  have 
complained  of  their  great  want  of  meadow  grounds,  the  which  has 
been  seriously  weighed  and  considered  upon  special  order  of  the 
whole  court,  and  finding  their  want  to  be  such  that  unless  they  be 
supplied  of  meadow  lauds  they  cannot  comfortably  there  subsist, 
the  court  doth  therefore  now  order  and  grant  the  meadow  lands  at 
Assonet  and  betwixt  Taunton  and  Assonet  on  both  sides  of  the  river 
unto  the  said  inhabitants  of  Taunton,  provided  always  that  the  minis- 
ters and  people  now  there  which  are  fit  and  do  precede  and  continue  in 
a  church  estate  there  the  space  of  seven  years  next  ensuing  (except 
Bome  special  act  of  God  do  binder  the  same),  that  then  the  meadow 
lands  aforesaid  shall  be  to  them  and  their  heirs  forever.  And  the  court 
doth  further  order  that  they  will  see  Mr.  Hooke,  Mr.  Streete,  and  Mrs. 
Pool  shall  have  competent  meadow  and  uplands  for  farms  laid  forth  for 
them  about  May  next,  by  Capt.  Standish  and  such  others  with  him  as  I 
shall  be  especially  assigned  thereto." 

In  June,  1643,  another  grant  was  made,  as  follows  :  | 


"  Concerning  the  request  of  the  inhabitants  of  Taunton  for  wood  and 

lands. 

"  The  Court  is  willing  to  condescend  thus  far,  that  those  lands  which 
belong  to  Hesbone  may  be  procured  them  by  all  due  means,  and  with 
what  convenient  speed  may  be  ;  also,  that  the  best  and  speediest  means 
be  used  to  procure  them  further  enlargementou  that  side  the  main  river 
to  answer  Mr.  Hook's  and  Mr.  Street's  farms  on  the  other  side;  and 
whereas,  they  desire  the  neck  of  Assonet  for  pasturing  young  beasts,  it 
is  also  granted  by  the  Court,  provided  leave  can  be  procured  from  Ussa- 
mequin,  and  all  payments  to  be  made  by  themselves,  without  any  charge 
to  the  country;  but  whereas,  the  timber  is  requested  below  the  said 
bounds,  that  we  cannot  grant  without  great  detriment  to  another  plan- 
tation intended  below  that." 

Rev.  William  Hooke,  the  first  minister  of  Taunton, 
Rev.  Nicholas  Streete  settled  at  the  same  time  as 
teacher  of  the  church,  and  the  successor  of  Mr.  Hooke 
in  the  pastoral  office,  and  Elizabeth  Pool,  sister  of 
Capt.  William  Pool,  who  has  been  called  the  foundress 
of  Taunton,  are  the  persons  referred  to  by  those  names 
in  the  foregoing  grants. 

At  the  General  Court  held  Oct.  5, 1663,  an  enlarge- 
ment of  territory  on  the  southeast  was  granted,  as 
follows: 

"The  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Taunton  having  several  times,  for 
divers  years,  complained  of  the  straitness  of  the  bounds  of  their  town, 
and  having  petitioned  the  Court  for  some  enlargement,  the  Court,  having 
desired  some  to  take  a  view  of  what  they  have  desired,  and  finding  that 
it  is  not  likely  to  be  prejudicial  to  any,  they  grant  as  followetb,  viz.: 
that  the  path  which  goeth  from  Namasakett  to  Assonet  River  be  their 
bounds  on  the  southeast,  and  so  by  a  line  from  thence  to  Baiting  Brook 
and  from  Baiting  Brook  a  north  line  till  it  meet  with  their  opposite 
line  called  the  Long  Square,  provided  that  it  come  not  within  two  miles 
of  Tetacutt;  also  it  is  granted  that  the  inhabitants  of  Taunton  that  have 
interest  in  the  iron-works  there  shall  have  free  liberty  to  cut  wood  on 
those  lands  for  the  use  of  their  iron-works,  but  not  any  foreigner  ex- 
cepting Richard  Church,  of  Hingham." 

The  largest  addition  of  territory  was  made  in  June, 
1668,  and  was  called  the  North  Purchase.  It  com- 
prised all  the  lands  between  Bridgewater  on  the  east, 
Rehoboth  North  Purchase  (now  Attleborough)  on  the 
west,  the  Massachusetts  line  on  the  north,  and  Taun- 
ton first  purchase  on  the  south.  The  whole  of  the 
present  town  of  Easton,  nearly  all  of  Mansfield,  and 
almost  half  of  Norton  was  included  in  this  purchase. 
The  movement  culminating  in  this  purchase  com- 
menced as  early  as  1661.  In  October  of  that  year 
the  Plymouth  Court  made  this  order:  "The  Court 
have  granted  unto  the  ancient  freemen  of  Taunton,  . 
that  in  case  any  land  can  be  found  on  the  north  side 
of  Taunton  bounds,  towards  Secounke  cartway,  which 
will  not  fall  within  any  lands  already  put  in  for  by 
the  children  of  the  first  comers,  that  they  may  make 
report  thereof  to  the  Court ;  and  a  competency  shall 
be  granted  unto  them,  if  the  Court  shall  see  reason." 

The  matter  was  again  referred  to  by  the  court  held 
in  June,  1662,  when  the  major,  Capt.  South  worth,  and 
Capt.  Bradford  were  appointed  to  purchase  lands  on 
the  northerly  bounds  of  Taunton  of  the  Indians  in 
behalf  of  thirty-two  persons  named  in  the  order, 
several  of  whom  belonged  in  Plymouth.  In  October 
following  Capt.  Willett  and  some  others  whom  he 
should  think  best  were  requested  by  the  court  to 
view  the  bounds  of  Taunton,  wherein  they  desired  to 
be  enlarged,  and  if  he  should  see  it  convenient,  and 


734 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


not  prejudicial  to  others,  to  confirm  it  to  them. 
The  matter  then  seems  to  have  rested  until  1668, 
when  the  grant  was  made  as  follows  : 

"  Whereas  the  General  Court  of  New  Plymouth  have  empowered  Mr. 
Thomas  Prence,  Major  Josias  Winslow,  Capt.  Thomas  Southworth,  and 
Mr.  Constant  Southworth  to  take  notice  of  some  purchases  of  land 
lately  made  by  Capt.  Thomas  Willett,  and  to  settle  and  dispose  the  said 
lands  for  the  Colony's  use ;  know  therefore  all  whom  it  may  anyway 
concern,  that  the  above  named  Mr.  Thomas  Prence,  Capt.  Thomas  South- 
worth,  Mr.  Constant  Southworth,  and  Major  Josias  Winslow,  by  virtue 
of  power  by  and  from  the  said  Court,  devised  unto  them,  have  and  by 
these  presents  do  bargain,  sell,  grant,  alien,  allott,  confer  and  make 
over  unto  Richard  Williams,  Walter  Dean,  George  Macy,  James  Walker, 
Joseph  Wilbore,  William  Harvey,  Thomas  Leonard,  John  Turner,  Henry 
Andrews,  John  Cobb,  George  Hall,  John  Hall,  Samuel  Hall,  James 
Leonard,  sen'r.,  Nathaniel  Williams,  Thomas  Williams,  Nicholas 
White,  sen'r,  Nicholas  White,  jun'r.,  Hezekiah  Hoar,  Alice  Dean, 
Robert  Grossman,  Shadrach  Wilbore,  Thomas  Caswell,  John  Macomber, 
John  Smith,  Edward  Rew,  John  Parker,  Samuel  Paul,  Thomas  Liukon, 
sen'r.,  Thomas  Harvey,  the  elder,  Nathaniel  Thayer,  Thomas  Linkon, 
Jr.,  Peter  Pitts,  Jonah  Austin,  sen'r.,  John  Richmond,  Samuel  Williams, 
Christopher  Thrasher,  Mistress  Jane  Gilbert,  George  Watson,  Samuel 
Smith,  James  Burt,  Richard  Burt,  John  Tisdale,  sen'r.,  John  Tisdale, 
jun'r.,  James  Phillips,  Edward  Babbitt,  John  Hatheway,  Jonathan 
Briggs,  Increase  Robinson,  John  Bryant,  Thomas  Harvey,  jun'r., 
Proprietors  of  the  town  of  Taunton,  and  to  their  heirs  forever,  a 
certain  tract  of  land  lying  and  being  on  the  northerly  side  of  Taun- 
ton, aforesaid,  and  is  bounded  as  followeth,  viz.:  Beginning  on  the 
northwest,  at  the  bounds  of  the  lands  formerly  sold  by  us  unto  the 
town  of  Rehoboth,  and  to  be  bounded  on  the  northerly  side  by  the 
Massachusetts  line,  until  it  cometh  to  beare  with  the  western  bounds 
of  the  town  of  Bridgewater,  and  so  from  the  said  Massachusetts  line 
by  a  south  line  home  to  the  bounds  of  Taunton,  and  thence  by  a  west- 
erly line  until  it  meets  with  the  bounds  of  Rehoboth,  aforesaid,  and 
so  to  follow  all  the  lands  within  this  compass,  excepting  only  a  small 
parcell  grauted  unto  John  Bundy,  and  also  a  grant  made  unto  Thomas 
Briggs  (the  son  of  Clement  Briggs),  together  with  the  meadows,  woods, 
waters,  and  all  other  benefits,  privileges,  emoluments,  profits,  and  im- 
munities thereunto  appertaining  and  belonging. 
"  To  Have  and  to  Hold,"  etc. 

Dated  June  1,  1668.  The  consideration  paid  was 
one  hundred  pounds. 

The  name  of  Mr.  George  Shove  was  afterwards, 
March  8,  1682,  affixed  in  the  margin  by  order  of  the 
court  upon  satisfactory  proof  that  he  was  a  proprie- 
tor.    Mr.  Shove  was  the  third  minister  of  Taunton. 

Meantime  a  movement  had  been  set  on  foot  to  pro- 
cure lands  down  the  river  for  an  enlargement  in  that 
direction.  In  July,  1667,  the  court  granted  unto  some 
ancient  freemen  living  in  Taunton,  viz. :  Richard 
Williams,  Walter  Dean,  George  Hall,  Allis  Dean, 
(the  wife  of  John  Dean,  deceased),  Mr.  John  Pool, 
Peter  Pitts,  James  Walker,  and  Henry  Andrews,  that 
they  shall  have  some  supplies  of  land  upon  the  west 
side  of  Taunton  River,  if  not  already  granted  to  any 
other,  or  some  other  place  if  it  may  be  obtained. 

Again,  in  March,  1672,  "James  Walker  and  John 
Richmond  are  authorized  by  the  court  to  purchase 
the  land  of  the  Indians  in  the  behalf  of  the  town  of 
Taunton,  lying  on  the  west  side  of  Taunton  River, 
from  the  Three  Mile  River  down  to  a  place  called  the 
Store  House." 

The  town  also  took  action  in  the  matter  as  follows : 

"This  6th  of  May,  1669.  The  town  hath  voted  and  chosen  Lieut. 
George  Macy,  Henry  Andrews,  and  Joseph  Wilbore  to  go  down  to  Philip 
Sachem  and  confirm  with  him  about  buying  of  ye  land  from  the  Three 
Stile  Kiver  down  as  far  as  Store  House  point,  as  far  as  the  meadows, 


and  to  buy  it  of  ye  Sachem  as  far  as  they  can  into  ye  woods  from  ye 
Great  River,  and  what  bargain  the  above  said  men  shall  make  with  him 
the  town  doth  engage  to  perform,  aud  the  above  said  men  are  to  go 
down  about  the  abovesaid  design  the  next  week." 

"This  18th  of  December,  1671.  It  is  voted  and  agreed  upon  by  ye 
town  that  the  selectmen  now  in  being  are  now  empowered  to  use  the 
best  of  their  discretion  for  ye  procuring  of  ye  land  down  ye  river  from 
ye  Three-Mile  River  to  Store  House  point,  that  it  may  be  confirmed  to 
our  township  by  the  Court." 

"  This  19th  October,  1672.  It  is  voted,  aud  ye  town  hath  chosen  Lieut. 
George  Macy,  Ensign  Thomas  Leonard,  and  William  Witherell,  to  go  to 
Plymouth  to  act  for  ye  good  of  ye  town,  about  ye  new  purchase  down  ye 
river  as  need  may  require  for  ye  good  of  ye  town. 

"  This  2d  of  September,  1672.  The  purchasers  or  free  inhabitants  of 
Taunton  being  in  a  probable  way  to  purchase  a  certain  tract  of  land  lying 
down  ye  great  river,  of  Philip  Sachem,  therefore,  for  the  better  managing 
of  ye  purchase  of  ye  said  land,  and  for  the  procuring  of  firm  deeds  from 
ye  said  Sachem  and  for  ye  looking  to  ye  payment  of  ye  purchase  of  the 
said  land,  the  abovesaid  purchasers  hath  chosen  this  committee  follow- 
ing: William  Brenton,  Esq.,  Walter  Dean,  William  Harvey,  Lieut. 
George  Macy,  James  Walker,  John  Richmond,  Richard  Williams." 

This  committee  were  given  full  power  to  make  deeds 
of  the  Indians,  proportion  what  every  man  should 
pay,  and  if  any  man  should  fail  to  pay  he  should 
lose  his  right.  In  furtherance  of  the  plan  this  com- 
mittee obtained  a  deed  from  Philip,  the  son  of  Mas- 
sasoit  and  sachem  of  the  Pokanokets,  conveying  a 
tract  three  miles  by  four,  beginning  at  Three-Mile 
River,  and  extending  southerly  by  the  Great  River 
three  miles,  and  westerly  from  the  river  four  miles, 
for  the  consideration  of  one  hundred  and  forty-three 
pounds.  This  deed  was  dated  Sept.  28,  1672.  By  a 
deed  dated  Oct.  1,  1672,  Philip  conveyed  to  Mr.  Con- 
stant Southworth,  treasurer  of  the  colony,  "  the  other 
mile  in  breadth  and  four  miles  in  length,  adjoining 
the  three  miles  in  breadth  and  four  miles  in  length 
already  sold  to  Taunton  men,"  which  deed  Mr.  South- 
worth  assigned  to  the  committee.  The  consideration 
paid  was  forty-seven  pounds.  The  whole  tract,  four 
miles  square,  was  conveyed  by  the  committee  to  the 
associates  by  a  declaratory  deed,  which  is  recorded  in 
the  Taunton  Proprietors'  Records,  vol.  iv.  p.  232,  and 
is  as  follows : 

"Know  all  men  whom  it  may  concern,  that  whereas  we,  William 
Brenton,  Esqr.,  Richard  Williams,  Walter  Dean,  James  Walker,  Wil- 
liam Harvey,  and  John  Richmond,  hath  through  difficulty  obtained  of 
Philip,  Sachem,  and  of  Mr.  Constant  Southworth,  as  Treasurer  for  ye 
Colony  of  New  Plymouth,  a  tract  of  land  containing  four  mile  square, 
lying  and  situate  below  ye  Three-Mile  River  (so  called),  for  themselves 
and  their  associates,  as  appears  by  deeds,  we,  ye  abovesaid  William 
Brenton,  Esq.,  Richard  Williams,  Walter  Dean,  James  Walker,  William 
Harvey,  and  John  Richmond,  do,  by  these  presents,  declare  to  be  our 
associates,  and  to  be  equally  interested  in  ye  abovesaid  four  miles  of 
land,  the  now  living  free  inhabitants  of  ye  town  of  Taunton,  whose 
names  are  underwritten,  always  provided  that  all  these  associates  shall 
truly  and  faithfully  pay,  or  cause  to  be  paid,  their  full  proportion  to  ye 
purchase,  and  all  other  necessary  charges  expended  in  or  about  ye 
abovesaid  land,  as  they  shall  be  appointed,  both  to  ye  sum  and  specia 
and  time  and  place  of  payment;  but  if  any  of  these  associates  shall  re- 
fuse or  fail  to  pay  their  full  proportion  to  all  payments  as  abovesaid, 
they  shall  lose  their  right  and  interest  to  ye  abovesaid  land,  and  it  shall 
be  forfeited  to  ye  remainder  of  ye  associates.  3dly.  That  these  asso- 
ciates shall  not  make  any  alienation  of  their  part  or  interest  in  ye 
abovesaid  land  to  any  foreigner,  except  first  approved  by  the  town  of 
Taunton.     The  names  of  ye  associates. 

"John  Tisdale,  sen'r,  George  Shove,  Giles  Gilbert,  John  Macomber, 
sen'r,  John  Dean,  Peter  Pitts,  Mr.  John  Pool,  Edward  Rew,  Henry 
Andrews,  Jr.,  Nicholas  White,  sen'r,  Thomas  Leonard,  Thomas 
Dean,  James  Tisdale,  Thomas  Liukon,  sen'r,  Francis  Smith,  George 


TAUNTON. 


735 


Watson,  Shadrach  Wilbore,  Samuel  Smith,  Samuel  Holloway,  Joseph 
Hall,  George  Macy,  Hezekiah  Hoar,  James  Phillips,  Joseph  Wilbore, 
Thomas  Gilbert,  Christopher  Thrasher,  John  Cob,  Thomas  Caswell, 
Samuel  Pitts,  Samuel  Hall,  Nathaniel  Williams,  Joseph  Williams, 
Israel  Dean,  Thomas  Linkon,  Jr.,  James  Burt,  Richard  Stacy,  John 
Smith,  sen'r,  Robert  Crossman,  sen'r,  Malachi  Holloway,  Mary 
Street,  Henry  Andrews,  John  Hall,  John  Hathaway,  Aaron  Knap, 
Richard  Hurt,  John  Briant,  Edward  Bobit,  William  Wetherell, 
Samuel  Williams,  James  Leonard,  sen'r,  Robert  Thornton,  John 
Tisdale,  Jr.,  Jonathan  Briggs,  John  Turner,  Jonah  Austin,  sen'r, 
Johu  Hodges,  Thomas  Harvey,  sen'r,  William  Paull,  Easter  Gollop, 
Nathaniel  Thayer,  Increase  Robinson,  Ezra  Dean,  Peter  Walker, 
Nicholas  White,  Jr.,  James  Leonard,  Jr.,  Richard  Stephens,  Jonah 
Austin,  Jr.,  John  Smith,  Jr.,  Aaron  Knap,  Jr.,  Joseph  Willis, 
Thomas  Harvey,  Jr.,  William  Hailstone,  Israel  Thrasher,  James 
Bell,  John  Linkon,  Thomas  Williams,  Richard  Briggs,  John  Ma- 
comber,  Jr.,  ye  son  of  John  Macomber,  John  Eddy,  Isaac  Dean, 
James  Walker,  Jr.,  Samuel  Macy,  Jared  Talbut,  Stephen  Caswell, 
William  Witherell,  Edward  Cobb,  Thomas  Armsbee. 

"These  persons  named  we  acknowledge  to  be  our  associates  upon  the 
condition  above  written. 

"  November  26, 1672. 

"Walter  Dean,  "Richard  Williams, 

"William  Harvey,  "James  Walker, 

"John  Richmond." 

Assonet  Neck  was  conveyed,  Nov.  12,  1677,  by 
Constant  Southworth,  treasurer  of  the  colony,  to 
George  Shove,  James  Walker,  James  Tisdale,  Walter 
Dean,  William  Harvey,  and  Richard  Williams. 
This  and  several  other  unoccupied  tracts  of  territory 
in  this  part  of  the  colony  had  been  pledged  by  the 
government  for  the  payment  of  the  soldiers  engaged 
in  the  Indian  war  of  1675  and  1676.  The  lands  on 
the  east  side  of  Taunton  River,  between  the  bounds 
of  the  first  purchase  and  Assonet  Neck,  seem  to  have 
been  included  in  the  previous  grants  of  1640  and 
1643,  which  were  in  somewhat  indefinite  terms.  In 
July,  1682,  the  following  order  was  passed:  "This 
court  orders  the  land  called  Assonett  Necke,  being 
purchased  by  some  of  Taunton,  that  the  said  tract  of 
land  shall  be  in  the  township  of  Taunton."  This 
was  the  last  grant  of  territory  to  the  town  of  Taunton. 
It  now  included  the  present  towns  of  Dighton,  Berk- 
ley, Raynham,  Norton,  Easton,  and  Mansfield.  But  it 
was  not  until  1711,  when  Norton  was  incorporated, 
that  it  began  to  be  shorn  of  its  large  dimensions. 

As  to  the  question  of  whom  the  first  purchase  was 
made,  in  the  absence  of  the  original  deed  and  of  any 
copy,  other  proof  must  be  resorted  to  for  an  answer. 
In  the  first  place  the  purchase  was  made  under  the 
direction  and  bv  the  permission  of  the  Plymouth 
Court,  who  acknowledged  Massasoit  as  the  chief 
sachem  and  owner  of  all  the  territory  in  Plymouth 
Colony.  The  boundaries  as  fixed  by  Standish  and 
Browne  provide  that  these  lines  do  not  entitle  the 
said  town  of  Taunton  to  intermeddle  within  two  miles 
of  Titicut.  The  territory  of  Bridgewater  was  bought 
of  Massasoit.  The  North  Purchase  is  said  to  have 
been  made  of  King  Philip,  the  son  and  successor  of 
Massasoit,  by  the  committee  of  the  General  Court, 
who  conveyed  it  to  the  Taunton  proprietors.  The 
South  Purchase  was  also  made  of  Philip.  In  a  con- 
firmatory deed,  given  by  Governor  Hinckley  in  1685, 
intended  to  include  all  the  lands  then  belonging  to 


Taunton,  it  is  recited  that  "  the  first  settlers,  proprie- 
tors, and  some  of  the  said  inhabitants,  having  also 
purchased  the  said  lands  of  Woosoquequen  (alias 
Ousamequin,  Massasoit),  the  then  chief  sachem  of 
Mount  Hope  and  the  Pokanket  country,  and  since 
confirmed  unto  them  by  Philip,  his  son,"  etc.  This 
is  a  significant  recognition  of  the  fact  that  the  first 
purchase  was  made  of  Massasoit. 

Still  more  significant  is  the  confirmatory  deed  of 
King  Philip  given  in  1663.  Mr.  Baylies  simply  re- 
fers to  the  deed  without  giving  a  copy,  and  as  it  is 
interesting  in  itself  and  has  an  important  bearing 
upon  the  point  in  question  it  is  here  presented: 

PHILIP'S  CONFIRMATORY  DEED. 
"  March  23,  1663.  These  Presents  witnesseth,  That  whereas  there 
was  a  plantation  granted  by  the  Court  of  Plymouth  in  the  year  one 
thousand  six  hundred  thirty-eight  (named  Taunton)  to  sundry  per- 
sons who  there  sat  down,  viz.,  Capt.  William  Pool,  Mr.  John  Gilbert, 
Henry  Andrews,  John  Dean,  Walter  Dean,  and  suudry  others,  the 
bounds  of  which  plantation  are  expressed  in  the  grant  of  the  Court  of 
Plymouth  according  to  the  several  points  of  the  compass,  therein  ex- 
pressed, which  plantation  so  bounded  as  above  mentioned,  together 
with  the  meadows  upon  the  Great  River  downward  so  far  as  the  Store 
House  Point  so  called,  with  all  the  meadows  of  Assonett  and  Broad 
Cove,  with  a  small  tract  of  land  bought  of  Ishben  lying  betwixt  the 
marked  tree  at  the  pond  and  the  mouth  of  the  Nistoquahamock  on  the 
Three-Mile  River,  which  lands  and  meadows  with  their  appurtenances 
immunities,  and  privileges  whatsoever  so  bought  of  Ossamequin  by  the 
parties  above-mentioned  :  I  Philip  Sachem  do  therefore  by  these  pres- 
ents, ratify  and  confirm  for  myself  my  heirs  and  successors  the  granted 
premises  made  by  the  Court  of  Plymouth  and  also  assented  unto  by  Os- 
samequin my  father,  to  the  aforesaid  inhabitants  of  Taunton  and  their 
heirs  and  successors  forever,  peaceably  to  enjoy  without  molestation  or 
disturbance  from,  by  or  under  me.  Witness  my  hand  and  seal  the  day 
and  year  above  written. 

"Philip  the  Sachem 
"  his  P  mark 

"and   [seal]. 
"Witness 

"John  Sassomon,  Interpreter. 

"  The  mark  X  of  Pemichason  allis  Nimrod. 

"This  confirmation  was  signed  and  sealed  before  me  the  day  and  year 
above  expressed. 

"  Witness  my  hand,        Thomas  Willett." 

A  communication  from  John  Richmond,  son  of  the 
first  John  Richmond,  refers  to  the  first  purchase  as  to 
a  matter  within  his  personal  knowledge,  and  would 
seem  to  settle  the  question.  Such  parts  as  have  a 
bearing  upon  the  matter  are  as  follows: 

"Taunton,  April  30,  1698.  A  communication  from 
John  Richmond  addressed  to  Lieut.-Col.  Elisha 
Hutchinson,  Esq.,  Capt.  Samuel  Sewall,  Esq.,  and 
Elisha  Cook,  Esq.,  Boston." 

After  referring  to  a  dispute  with  Bridgewater  men 
about  town  bounds,  and  to  what  his  neighbor  Hatha- 
way had  said,  he  proceeds : 

"And,  first,  I  desire  it  may  be  considered  how 
inconsistent  to  justice  their  sense  is,  for  they  say  and 
sense  it  that  although  Taunton  hath  the  eldest  grant, 
yet  it  is  theirs  notwithstanding,  because  it  was  granted 
before;  and  although  it  be  Taunton's  by  purchase 
from  the  Indians  three  times  over,  for  we  bought  it 
first  of  Woosamequin  in  the  year  '39  or  '40  (this  was 
in  my  minority),  the  sum  paid  I  know  not;  then  we 
bought  all  again  of  Philip,  and  paid  him  sixteen 


736 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL  COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


pounds  for  it ;  then  we  bought  that  very  spot  of 
Josiah,  he  claiming  some  land  there,  as  appears  by 
his  deed  ;  then  we  bought  that  spot  again,  with  other 
lands,  of  Maj.  Bradford,  he  had  twenty  pounds  more ; 
and  they  have  owned  that  they  never  made  any  pur- 
chase, yet  theirs  because  granted  before,"  etc.  (State 
Archives,  vol.  cxiii.  p.  167.) 

The  evidence  to  support  the  contrary  view  consists 
of  a  statement  made  in  a  quit-claim  deed  given  in 
1686  to  a  committee  of  the  town  of  Taunton  by 
Josiah,  alias  Charles,  and  Peter  and  David  Hunter, 
three  Indians, — Josiah  being  the  great-grandson  of 
Chickatabut  and  the  other  two  Indians  of  Titicut. 
The  statement  is  as  follows  : 

"  Know  ye,  that  whereas  it  doth  appear  to  the  said  Josiah  aud  Peter 
and  David,  both  by  Indian  and  English  testimonies,  that  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Pool,  formerly  of  Taunton,  in  the  government  of  New  Plymouth  afore- 
said did,  for  and  in  behalf  of  the  said  town  of  Taunton,  purchase  the 
lands  of  Titicut  in  the  year  1637,  aud  that  the  right  owners  of  the  said 
lands  did  then  make  sale  thereof  to  the  said  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Pool  as 
abovesaid,  and  received  pay  of  her  for  it,  and  those  Indians  or  Indian 
Sachems  that  formerly  were  the  right  owners  of  those  lands  at  said  Titi- 
cut being  those  that  were  the  predecessors  of  the  said  Josiah,  alias 
Charles,  and  Peter  and  David.     Know  ye  therefore,"  etc. 

The  deed  purports  to  convey  "so  much  of  the 
lands  of  all  sorts,  formerly  called  Titicut  lands,  as 
are  and  do  lie  within  the  township  of  said  Taunton, 
by  virtue  of  agreements  made  between  the  agents  of 
said  Taunton  and  the  agents  of  Bridgewater,  on  the 
northwestwardly  side  of  Titicut  River,  and  between 
the  agents  of  said  Taunton  and  the  agents  of  Middle- 
bury  on  the  southeastwardly  side  of  said  river."  The 
object  of  this  deed  is  apparent.  There  had  been 
controversies  between  Taunton  and  Bridgewater  and 
Taunton  and  Middleborough  about  their  respective 
bounds.  These  controversies  had  been  mutually  set- 
tled by  the  agents  of  the  towns,  and  the  three  Indians 
named  claimed  that  the  bounds  of  Taunton,  as  thus 
established,  included  some  of  the  Titicut  lands  bor- 
dering on  the  Titicut  River.  The  Taunton  proprie- 
tors were  willing  to  pay  a  small  sum  to  quiet  the 
title,  and  so  the  deed  was  procured.  The  subject 
matter  of  the  deed  has  nothing  to  do  with  the  orig- 
inal eight-mile  purchase  of  the  territory  of  Taunton, 
and  whatever  else  it  may  prove  or  suggest,  it  has  no 
tendency  to  prove  that  Elizabeth  Pool  or  any  other 
person  made  that  purchase  of  the  Titicut  Indians. 

There  is  a  deposition  of  five  Indians  preserved  in 
the  Plymouth  Colony  Records,  vol.  ii.  p.  157,  re- 
lating to  the  extent  of  Chickatabut's  lands,  which 
tends  to  the  same  conclusion.     It  is  as  follows : 

"  Pecunke.  Alnumpum,  Catscimah,  Webacowett,  and  Masbanomett 
do  all  affirm  that  Chickatawbutt  his  bounds  did  extend  from  Nisha- 
magoquanett,  near  Duxbery  mill,  to  Teghtacutt,  near  Taunton,  and  to 
Nunckatatesett,  and  from  thence  in  a  straight  line  to  Wauamampuke, 
which  is  the  head  of  Charles  River;  this  they  do  all  solemnly  affirm, 
saying,  God  knoweth  it  to  be  true,  and  knoweth  their  hearts. 
"  Dated  the  1st  of  the  4th  month,  1650. 

"  Witness :  "  Encrease  Nowell. 

"John  Eliot. 
"John  Hoare." 

Upon  these  facts  there  is  a  moral  certainty  that  the 
original  purchase,  whether  made  directly  by  Henry 


Uxley  and  his  associates  or  by  a  committee  of  the 
Plymouth  government  who  conveyed  to  them,  was 
made  of  Massasoit. 

The  military  affairs  of  the  town  can  be  more  satis- 
factorily treated  in  a  separate  chapter,  which  will 
next  be  given,  and  afterwards  the  general  history  so 
far  as  practicable. 


CHAPTER   LX. 


TAUNTON.— ( Continued.) 
MILITARY   AFFAIRS  DURING  THE   COLONIAL  PERIOD. 

Military  organization  and  discipline  were  among 
the  very  earliest  matters  for  which  provision  was  made 
by  the  colony.  In  1634  it  was  ordered  "  That  all  and 
every  person  within  the  colony  be  subject  to  such 
military  order  for  training  and  exercise  of  arms  as 
shall  be  thought  meet,  agreed  on,  and  prescribed  by 
the  Governor  and  assistants."  In  1641  it  was  ordered 
that  a  barrel  of  powder,  and  lead  or  bullets  answer- 
able, be  provided  by  every  township.  In  1640  it  was 
required  that  there  be  six  trainings  a  year.  This  law 
was  re-enacted  several  times  until  1677,  when  the 
number  of  trainings  was  reduced  to  four  a  year. 

As  has  been  already  mentioned,  as  early  as  March, 
1638-39,  it  was  ordered  "  that  Capt.  Poole  shall  exer- 
cise the  inhabitants  of  Cohannett  in  their  amies." 
No  other  military  officer  seems  to  have  been  appointed 
until  June,  1651,  when  Mr.  Oliver  Purchase  was  "al- 
lowed and  approved  to  be  ensign-bearer  of  the  mili- 
tary company  of  Taunton."  In  October  following, 
James  Wyatt  was  similarly  appointed  to  be  lieu- 
tenant. 

Sept.  27,  1642,  a  special  session  of  the  court  was 
held  to  provide  forces  for  an  offensive  and  defensive 
war  against  the  Indians.  All  the  inhabitants  were 
warned,  yet,  in  the  language  of  the  record,  "they  ap- 
peared by  their  several  deputies  as  they  had  liberty 
to  do."  Capt.  William  Poole  and  Henry  Andrews 
appeared  for  Taunton.  Intelligence  had  been  re- 
ceived of  a  general  conspiracy  among  the  Indians  to 
cut  off  all  the  English,  and  prompt  and  vigorous 
measures  were  adopted  to  meet  the  danger.  The 
several  towns  were  rated  to  defray  the  charges  for 
the  soldiers  that  might  be  sent  forth.  Taunton's  rate 
was  two  pounds,  ten  shillings.  A  Council  of  War  was 
chosen,  consisting  of  the  Governor  and  eleven  other 
persons,  one  of  whom  was  Mr.  John  Browne,  of 
Taunton,  who  were  invested  with  extraordinary 
powers  in  all  matters  relating  to  the  military  forces 
of  the  colony. 

It  was  also  "  agreed  and  concluded  that  Mr.  Ed- 
ward' Winslow,  Mr.  Tymothy  Hatherly,  and  Capt. 
Miles  Standish  shall  be  sent  into  the  Bay  to  and  have 

1  By  James  Henry  Dean. 


TAUNTON. 


737 


power  to  agitate  and  conclude  with  them  for  a  present 
combination  with  them  in  the  present  wars,  and  to 
treat  with  them  about  a  further  combination  or  league, 
but  not  to  conclude  that  without  consent  of  the  court 
here."  This  was  the  first  step  taken  by  Plymouth 
Colony  towards  a  general  confederation  of  the  New 
England  colonies.  It  resulted  in  1643  in  the  adop- 
tion of  articles  of  confederation  between  the  colonies 
of  Massachusetts,  Plymouth,  Connecticut,  and  New 
Haven.  Plymouth  authorized  Edward  Winslow  and 
William  Collyer  to  subscribe  the  articles  in  the  name 
of  the  colony,  which  was  done  at  Boston,  Sept.  7, 
1043. 

One  of  the  articles  provided  that  the  commissioners 
for  each  jurisdiction  from  time  to  time  should  bring 
in  a  true  account  of  all  their  males  from  sixteen  years 
old  to  sixty  being  inhabitants.  The  charges  of  all 
just  wars,  both  in  men,  provisions,  and  all  other  dis- 
bursements, were  to  be  borne  by  the  members  of  the 
confederation  in  proportion  to  the  number  of  males 
thus  returned.  In  obedience  to  this  requirement  each 
of  the  towns  in  the  colony  sent  in  a  list  of  their 
males  between  the  prescribed  ages.  These  lists  are  | 
given  in  volume  viii.  of  Plymouth  Colonial  Records, 
and  are  of  very  great  value  as  showing  nearly  the  en- 
tire adult  population  of  the  colony  at  that  date.  The 
Taunton  list  is  here  given.  It  constituted  Capt.  j 
Pool's  company  : 

August,  1043. 

JMr.  John  Browne.  Walter  Deane. 

Mr.  William  Poole.  William  Hodges. 

John  Browne.  William  Phillips. 

James  Browne.  John  Macumber. 

James  Walker.  Thomas  Coggin. 

Oliver  Purchase.  James  Wyatt. 

Thomas  Gilbert.  Edward  Rew. 

Richard  Stacye.  Thomas  Harvey. 

William  Holhvay.  James  Chichester. 

Tymothy  Hollway.  William  Seward. 

William  Parker.  Aron  Knapp. 

Peter  Pitts.  John  Barratt. 

John  Parker.  Nicholas  Hart. 

William  Hailstone.  William  Powell. 

Edward  Bohhett.  William  Wetherell. 

Richard  Paule.  Hezekiah  Hole. 

Anthony  Slocome.  George  Macie. 

Edward  Case.  George  Hall. 

Thomas  Farewell.  John  Perry. 

Tobias  Saunders.  Benjamin  Wilson. 

Henry  Audrewes.  Mr.  Street. 

John  Gallop.  Richard  Williams. 

John  Gilbert,  Jr.  Willfam  Evans. 

John  Stronge.  Christopher  Thrasher. 

Thomas  Cassell.  Thomas  Cooke. 

John  Deane.  Thomas  Cooke,  Jr. 

Edward  Abbott.  John  Gingell—  54. 

Twenty-five  of  the  foregoing  names  are  found  in 
the  list  of  original  purchasers.  Of  the  twenty  other 
males  on  that  list  some  were  dead,  some  are  known  to 
have  left  the  town,  and  others  were  probably  above 
sixty. 

A  special  court  was  called  Oct.  10, 1643,  upon  occa- 
sion of  the  insurrection  of  the  Indians  against  the 
Dutch  and  English  at  Manhattan.  It  was  concluded 
and  agreed  upon  to  raise  and  make  ready  thirty  men 
47 


for  the  war,  according  to  their  proportion  with  the 
other  confederates.  "The  rule  which  was  thought 
most  equal  for  number  of  persons  in  every  township 
was  to  take  one  of  a  score  in  every  township."  Taun- 
ton was  to  furnish  three,  and  was  to  pay  a  rate  of  two 
pounds  ten  shillings  towards  the  charges.  John 
Strong  and  Richard  Williams  were  the  deputies  from 
Taunton  at  this  court.  The  proposed  expedition 
seems  not  to  have  been  sent  forth. 

At  the  court  held  Aug.  20,  1644,  "  Attachments  are 
to  be  sent  forth  to  bring  in  the  bodies  of  George 
Massy,  John  Maycumber,  Thomas  Coggen  &  Jacob 
Wilson,  for  non  appearance  this  Court,  for  making 
the  allarum  at  Taunton." 

Governor  Winslow  and  Mr.  John  Browne,  of  Taun- 
ton, were  chosen  commissioners  by  Plymouth  Colony 
for  the  year  1644,  to  treat  with  the  commissioners 
from  the  other  colonies  of  the  confederation,  each 
colony  being  allowed  to  send  two. 

There  was  another  alarm  of  war  in  1645,  occasioned 
by  the  threats  of  the  Narragansett  Indians  against 
Uncas,  sachem  of  the  Monheagans.  The  commis- 
sioners of  the  United  Colonies  met  in  Boston  in  July, 
and  determined  to  raise  a  force  of  three  hundred  men, 
of  wdiich  Plymouth  was  to  provide  forty.  These  were 
under  the  command  of  Capt.  Standish,  who  went 
forth  about  the  middle  of  August  to  the  relief  of 
Uncas,  and  marched  as  far  as  Rehoboth,  where  he 
was  to  meet  the  forces  from  Massachusetts.  But  the 
Narragansett  sachems,  becoming  alarmed,  in  the 
mean  time  repaired  to  Boston  and  sued  for  peace.  A 
treaty  was  the  result,  and  the  troops  were  recalled. 
"  The  towns  of  Taunton  and  Rehoboth  were  freed 
from  sending  forth  any  men  in  regard  they  are  fron- 
tier towns,  and  billeted  the  soldiers  during  the  time 
they  were  forth."  The  towns  were  rated  for  the 
charges  of  the  war.  Taunton's  rate  was  five  pounds, 
two  shillings,  and  sixpence.  The  court  for  special 
consideration  abated  twenty  shillings  to  Barnstable 
and  forty  shillings  to  Taunton,  adding  that  it  should 
not  be  a  precedent  for  after-times ;  "  and  Rehoboth 
was  not  rated  at  all,  both  because  it  was  a  new  plan- 
tation, and  billeted  all  the  soldiers  freely  during  all 
the  time  they  staid  there." 

July  7,  1646,  the  court  ordered  that  the  committees 
of  every  town  send  the  names  of  all  their  males  from 
sixteen  years  of  age  to  sixty  to  the  Governor,  sealed 
up,  by  the  1st  of  August  next.  If  such  lists  were 
sent  in  they  do  not  appear  on  the  published  records. 

At  the  General  Court,  June,  1649,  the  whole  body 
of  freemen  assembled,  and  on  account  of  the  unset- 
tled state  of  public  affairs  in  their  native  country, 
unanimously  concluded  not  to  proceed  in  the  election 
of  magistrates  and  other  officers,  and  that  all  officers 
should  continue  in  their  places  for  the  year  to  come. 
Charles  I.  had  been  beheaded  January  30th  of  that 
year,  and  the  sombre  shadow  of  the  English  revolu- 
tion fell  upon  the  young  colony. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  court  in  October  news  had 


738 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


been  received  that  the  Indians  had  been  murdering 
some  of  the  English  at  Stamford,  in  Connecticut,  and 
other  places,  and  threats  were  made  of  further  vio- 
lence. The  commissioners  for  the  United  Colonies 
had  signified  to  the  several  colonies  to  be  in  readiness 
with  their  forces  in  case  of  need.  The  court  there- 
fore ordered  that  due  provision,  both  of  men  and 
ammunition,  with  powder  and  shot  and  necessary  pro- 
vision for  forty  men  for  three  months,  be  forthwith 
made,  and  that  every  town  provide  for  their  own  men. 
Capt.  Standish  was  appointed  general  officer.  No 
further  action  in  the  matter  appears. 

March,  1652,  the  grand  jury  presented  the  town  of 
Taunton  for  not  having  a  common  stock  of  powder 
and  shot  according  to  order.  It  is  added  to  the  record, 
"They  will  endeavor  forthwith  to  provide."  Other 
towns  in  the  colony  were  frequently  presented  for 
their  shortcomings  in  failing  to  keep  up  military 
discipline,  or  in  not  having  the  required  stock  of  am- 
munition on  hand. 

In  April,  1653,  the  court  took  action  as  follows: 
"  Whereas,  We  have  intelligence  out  of  our  native 
country  of  danger  that  may  be  towards  us  in  regard 
of  the  great  variance  betwixt  the  two  nations  of  Hol- 
land and  England,  the  court  have  ordered  that  war- 
rants be  directed  to  every  town  within  the  government 
forthwith,  to  require  them  to  make  choice  of  two 
deputies  for  each  town,  to  meet  with  the  magistrates 
at  Plymouth,  on  Wednesday,  the  sixth  of  April  next, 
and  with  them  to  treat  and  conclude  on  such  military 
affairs  as  through  God's  blessing  may  probably  tend 
to  our  present  and  future  safety." 

Ensign  Purchase  appeared  as  deputy  from  Taunton. 
Lieut.  Wyatt,  the  other  deputy,  was  fined  for  his  non- 
appearance. Important  military  orders  were  adopted 
affecting  all  the  towns  in  the  colony,  the  principal  of 
which  were  these:  Fifty  pounds  to  be  raised  from  the 
several  towns  for  the  purchase  of  powder  and  shot, 
arms  and  locks  sent  out  of  England ;  the  military 
officers  of  every  company  to  present  the  defects  of  the 
arms  of  their  companies  at  the  next  Court  of  Assist- 
ants ;  a  military  watch  in  every  town  to  be  continued 
until  further  order  ;  all  men,  though  above  the  age  of 
sixty,  to  watch  in  their  turn,  except  such  as  through 
both  age  and  poverty  are  disabled,  either  by  finding 
a  sufficient  man  or  in  their  own  person ;  and  such 
widows  as  have  estates  to  bear  their  part  by  finding 
one  to  watch  according  to  their  proportions  ;  that  a 
considerable  company  of  half  pikes  be  provided  in 
every  town  at  the  charge  of  the  township;  that  every 
town  should  provide  a  barrel  of  powder' and  bullets 
in  proportion  for  every  fifty  soldiers ;  that  no  man 
make  an  alarm  without  apparent  danger,  one  gunshot 
in  the  night  to  be  taken  as  an  alarm  to  the  town,  to 
be  answered  by  any  man  hearing  the  same ;  three 
shots  or  continued  shooting,  or  the  beat  of  a  drum,  to 
be  an  alarm  to  be  taken  from  town  to  town  ;  that  in 
case  any  town  be  distressed  by  real  assault  upon  them, 
such  towns  as  have  certain  intelligence  thereof  to 


afford  relief;  that  one-third  of  every  company  bring 
their  arms,  with  powder  and  shot,  to  the  meetings  on 
the  Lord's  day,  forenoon  and  afternoon.  The  court 
also  recommended  to  every  town  to  provide  some  place 
of  security  whither  they  might  bring  their  wives  and 
children  in  times  of  imminent  danger.  They  also 
engaged,  in  behalf  of  the  country,  to  provide  the  sum 
of  thirty  pounds  to  hire  a  guard  for  the  Governor's 
person,  and  the  deputies  undertook,  in  behalf  of  their 
several  towns,  to  provide  their  proportions,  Ensign 
Purchase  engaging  for  Taunton.  In  regard  of  the 
many  appearances  of  danger  towards  the  country  by 
enemies,  and  the  great  necessity  of  counsel  and  advice 
in  that  respect,  the  court  thought  it  meet  to  make 
choice  of  a  Council  of  War.  Nine  persons  were  ac- 
cordingly elected.,  one  of  whom  was  Mr.  John  Browne, 
formerly  of  Taunton. 

This  Council  met  at  Plymouth,  May  12,  1653,  and 
having  received  intelligence  from  the  commissioners 
met  at  Boston  of  their  agitations  concerning  a  war 
with  the  Dutch  in  these  parts  of  America,  concluded 
after  due  deliberation  to  be  in  readiness,  through  the 
help  of  God,  to  assist  and  engage  therein  according 
to  their  proportions  and  utmost  abilities.  Warrants 
were  accordingly  issued  for  the  pressing  of  sixty  men 
able  and  fit  for  war,  if  need  shall  require,  to  be  taken 
from  the  several  towns  according  to  their  proportion. 
Plymouth  was  to  provide  seven,  Duxburrow  six,  Sci- 
tuate  nine,  Sandwich  six,  Taunton  five,  Yarmouth 
six,  Barnstable  six,  Marshfield  six,  Rehoboth  six, 
Eastham  three.  The  commanders  appointed  for  the 
expedition  were  Miles  Standish  for  captain,  Thomas 
Southworth  for  lieutenant,  and  Hezekiah  Hoar,  of 
Taunton,  for  ensign. 

A  query  was  proposed  to  be  made  to  the  next  court, 
whether  such  persons  as  are  pressed  to  go  forth  as 
soldiers  on  public  se&vice,  their  estates  shall  be  liable 
to  be  rated  towards  the  payment  of  their  wages  or 
not. 

It  seems  there  was  no  call  for  this  expedition  dur- 
ing the  year.  At  a  meeting  of  the  Council  at  Plym-, 
outh,  June  20,  165-4,  warrants  were  issued  in  the 
name  of  His  Highness  the  Lord  Protector  of  England, 
Ireland,  and  Scotland  for  the  pressing  of  fifty  men  to 
go  forth  with  Maj.  Robert  Sedgwick  and  Capt.  John 
Leveritt  on  an  intended  expedition  against  the  Dutch 
at  the  Monhatoes.  Of  this  number  Taunton  was  to 
furnish  five.  Matthew  Fuller  was  substituted  for 
lieutenant ;  the  other  officers  were  the  same  as  for  the 
first  expedition.  On  the  23d  of  June,  however,  tid- 
ings were  received  of  a  peace  between  England  and 
Holland,  and  all  further  preparations  ceased. 

At  the  court  held  Oct.  3,  1654,  the  commissioners 
for  Plymouth  informed  the  court  that  at  their  last 
meeting  it  had  been  determined  to  send  a  certain 
number  of  horse  and  footmen  on  a  special  message 
to  Ninnegrett,  the  Niantick  sachem,  and  in  case  there 
should  be  necessity  they  had  jointly  agreed  to  send  a 
second  supply  of  men  out  of  the  four  United  Colonies 


TAUNTON. 


739 


to  war  against  the  said  Ninnegrett.  Warrants  were 
accordingly  directed  to  the  constables  of  each  town 
to  press  the  due  proportion  of  men  out  of  each  town. 
Five  was  the  share  of  Taunton.  The  following  year 
the  towns  were  rated  to  pay  the  charges  of  the  expe- 
dition, Taunton's  amount  being  £3  14s. 

At  the  October  court,  1655,  "  In  answer  to  a  peti- 
tion preferred  by  three  men  belonging  to  the  iron- 
works at  Taunton,  requesting  that  they  may  be  ex- 
empted from  training,  the  court  doth  grant  that  at 
such  time  as  when  their  worke  is  in  hand  that  they  are 
exempted,  unless  upon  some  special  case  of  watching 
that  may  arise."  The  names  of  these  three  men  are  not 
given.  In  June,  1662,  appears  this  order  :  "  James 
Leonard,  of  Taunton,  was  freed  from  training  in  the 
military  company  of  Taunton  in  reference  to  his  call- 
ing, being  a  bloomer,  and  in  respect  to  a  former  order 
of  court  wherein  he  was  exempted  in  that  respect." 
By  the  reference  to  the  former  order  it  is  probable  he 
was  one  of  the  three  before  exempted.  James  Leon- 
ard was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  iron-works  in 
Taunton  in  1652,  said  to  be  the  first  establishment  of 
the  kind  in  North  America.  This  action  of  the 
court  shows  the  high  value  set  upon  the  enterprise  by 
the  government.  It  is  also  a  pleasant  and  significant 
foreshadowing'  of  the  policy  ever  since  pursued  by 
Massachusetts  in  fostering  her  manufactures. 

In  1656,  Capt.  Miles  Standish  died  at  an  advanced 
age.  In  all  military  matters  he  was  most  trusted 
and  relied  upon,  and  a  few  years  before  had  been  ap- 
pointed chief  military  officer  of  the  colony,  but  with- 
out any  other  distinctive  military  title  than  that  of 
captain.  In  1658  the  court,  by  joint  consent,  agreed 
that  a  chief  military  officer  should  be  chosen  to  be 
styled  a  major,  and  at  a  meeting  of  the  Council  of 
War  in  October  of  that  year,  Capt.  Josias  Winslow 
was  chosen  to  that  office  and  received  his  commission 
as  major.  A  council,  with  whom  he  was  to  be  ready 
on  all  occasions  to  advise,  was  also  appointed,  con- 
sisting of  nineteen  military  officers,  of  whom  Capt. 
William  Poole,  of  Taunton,  was  one. 

The  country's  stock  of  powder  and  lead  was  dis- 
posed of  among  some  of  the  towns  where  it  was 
thought  most  convenient  for  the  public  use.  A  barrel 
of  powder  and  a  quantity  of  lead  was  committed  to 
the  charge  of  James  Leonard,  of  Taunton. 

James  Wyatt,  the  lieutenant  of  the  Taunton  com- 
pany, was  found  dead  in  his  meadow,  July  5,  1664, 
and  a  jury  was  summoned  to  inquire  into  the  cause 
of  his  death.  The  jury  found  that  on  the  day  men- 
tioned he  rode  to  a  meadow  of  his  to  cut  grass,  a  ser- 
vant of  his,  an  Indian  boy,  following  him,  and  when 
he  came  to  the  meadow  he  found  his  master  dead. 
John  Hall,  Thomas  Deane,  and  James  Bell  rode  to 
the  meadow,  and  there  found  that  he  had  cut  some 
grass,  and  was  gone  out  of  the  meadow,  and  was  there 
fallen  down  dead  ;  and  upon  search  the  said  jury 
finds  not  any  cause  of  any  violent  death,  but  the 
immediate  hand  of  the  Lord. 


The  following  June  (1665),  Ensign  George  Macey 
was  appointed  lieutenant  and  Thomas  Leonard  en- 
sign. Oliver  Purchase,  the  former  ensign,  had  re- 
moved to  Lynn  as  early  as  1(560,  and  probably  some 
time  before,  as  in  that  year  he  was  a  deputy  from 
Lynn  to  the  General  Court  in  Boston. 

The  Council  of  War  met  at  Plymouth,  April  2, 1667, 
and  passed  a  number  of  important  orders.  From  the 
character  of  some  of  these  orders  the  meeting  seems  to 
have  been  occasioned  by  the  hostilities  then  in  prog- 
ress between  Charles  II.  and  the  Dutch  and  French. 
It  was  determined  "  that  Dutch  and  French  be  looked 
upon  as  our  common  enemy  while  so  to  our  nation, 
and  shall  be  resisted,  opposed,  and  expelled  by  the 
forces  of  this  jurisdiction  to  their  utmost  power,  and 
that  all  advantages  shall  be  used  to  that  end."  The 
Indian  sachems  were  advised  to  employ  their  men  in 
looking  out  to  sea  for  shipping,  and  give  speedy  intel- 
ligence to  the  English  of  any  vessel  and  their  mo- 
tions. It  was  ordered  that  every  town  provide  some 
"  place  of  retire"  for  their  women  and  children  in  case 
of  an  alarm,  as  the  discretion  of  each  place  may  guide 
them,  that  so  the  men  may  with  less  distraction  face 
an  enemy.  Men  were  appointed  to  be  of  council 
with  the  commissioned  officers  in  each  town,  and  it 
was  ordered  "that  it  shall  be  in  the  power  of  such  as 
are  appointed  a  council  in  every  town,  in  any  exigent 
or  sudden  occasion,  to  dispose  of  the  general  stock  of 
arms  and  ammunition  in  that  town,  or  any  part  of  it 
as  occasion  may  require."  James  Walker,  William 
Harvey,  and  Richard  Williams  were  appointed  to  be 
of  council  in  Taunton. 

In  1671,  James  Walker  was  chosen  one  of  the  gen- 
eral Council  of  War. 

Taunton  had  now  been  settled  for  more  than  thirty 
years.  It  had  gradually  increased  in  population. 
Settlements  had  been  pushed  northerly  as  far  as 
Winnicunnet  Pond,  where  in  1669,  William  With- 
erell  had  established  himself  on  its  southeasterly 
shore.  Southerly,  on  the  easterly  side  of  the  Great 
River,  the  settlements  had  extended  nearly  if  not 
quite  to  Assonet  Neck,  and  on  the  westerly  side  be- 
low Three-Mile  River,  while  to  the  eastward  they 
reached  beyond  Squabinauset  and  nearly  to  Titicut. 
Of  course  the  dwellings  were  scattered,  and,  in  the 
remote  parts  of  the  town,  widely  separated. 

While  during  all  this  time  military  discipline  had 
been  carefully  attended  to,  and  there  had  been  sev- 
eral occasions  when  soldiers  were  called  forth  upon 
some  alarm  of  war,  and  constant  watchfulness  had 
been  exercised  in  respect  to  their  Indian  neighbors, 
it  had  really  been  a  period  of  substantial  peace.  Of 
an  Indian  war  they  had  had  no  experience.  The 
possibility  of  such  a  war  was  perhaps  always  before 
them,  but  with  so  little  probability  that  it  occasioned 
no  uneasiness.  The  Pequot  war  was  over  before  the 
settlement  of  Taunton,  and  it  was  mainly  confined  to 
;  Connecticut.  During  the  lifetime  of  the  good  old 
i  Massasoit  the  treaty  made  by  him  with  Plymouth 


740 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


-was  faithfully  observed.  Upon  his  deatlvin  1661,  he 
was  succeeded  by  his  oldest  son,  Wamsutta  alias  Alex- 
ander. He  lived  only  about  a  year,  dying  some  time 
in  1662.  His  brother  Pometacom,  or  Metacomet,  as 
it  is  sometimes  written,  but  better  known  by  his  Eng- 
lish name  Philip,  then  became  the  chief  sachem  of 
the  Wampanoags.  It  soon  became  evident  that  Philip 
was  no  lover  of  the  English.  He  could  not  look  com- 
placently upon  the  rapid  growth  of  their  settlements, 
and  the  consequent  crowding  of  his  race  into  con- 
stantly narrowing  quarters.  The  Plymouth  govern- 
ment became  suspicious  of  him.  Rumors  came  to 
them  that  he  was  secretly  plotting  with  the  Narra- 
gansetts  and  other  tribes  against  them  for  their  ex- 
termination. He  was  sent  for  to  make  his  appear- 
ance at  Plymouth  on  the  6th  of  August,  1662,  that  he 
might  clear  himself  from  these  suspicions.  Philip 
appeared,  and  professed  himself  desirous  to  continue 
the  friendship  and  amity  that  had  formerly  subsisted 
between  them  and  his  deceased  father  and  brother, 
and  he  signed  a  treaty  of  submission  and  mutual 
friendship  and  helpfulness.  His  uncle  Uncompowett 
also  signed  the  treaty. 

In  the  summer  of  1667  he  was  again  sent  for  to 
clear  up  reports  that  he  had  expressed  himself  ready 
to  join  with  the  French  or  Dutch  against  the  Eng- 
lish.    He  again  succeeded  in  putting  a  fair  face  upon 
the   matter,  and   upon    his   earnest   protestations   of 
friendship  was  allowed  to  depart,  and  for  three  years 
nothing  occurred  to  occasion  any  special  apprehen- 
sion.    Early  in  1671,  from  some  real  or  pretended  in- 
jury to  his  planting  lands  by  the  English  he  began 
to  make  hostile  demonstrations,  and  the  Plymouth 
government,  taking   the  alarm,  sent   messengers   to 
Boston  with  a  request  that  the  Massachusetts  govern- 
ment would  use  its  endeavors  to  induce  Philip  to  be- 
come peaceable.     They  also  sent  messengers  to  Philip 
to  discover  his  intentions.     Massachusetts,  anxious  to 
prevent  a  rupture,  sent  word  to  Philip  to  meet  certain 
gentlemen  whom  they  would   appoint,  with  others 
from  Plymouth,  at  Taunton,  that  they  might,  if  pos- 
sible, reconcile  the  differences  that  existed  between 
them.    William  Davis,  William  Hudson,  and  Thomas 
Brattle  were  deputed  on  the  part  of  Massachusetts, 
and  Governor  Prence,  Josias  Winslow,  and  Constant 
Southworth,  with  some  others,  appeared  for  Plymouth. 
They  met  at  Taunton,  April  10th,  and  while  confer- 
ring together  a  messenger  from  Philip  arrived  with 
the   information  that    he  was  at  Three-Mile   River 
(some  four  miles  south  of  the  village),  and  wished 
the  Governor  of  Plymouth  to  meet  him  there.     This 
the  Governor  declined  to  do,  and  sent  Mr.  James 
Brown  and  Mr.  Roger  Williams  to  desire  Philip  to 
come  to  the  Green,  that  being  the  place  appointed 
for  the  meeting.     They  found   Philip  with  quite  a 
body  of  his  men  painted  and  equipped  as  if  expecting 
a  battle.     Philip  finally  consented  to  come  if  hostages 
were  left  with  his  men,  and  Mr.  Brown  and  Mr.  Wil- 
liams remained  with  a  part  of  his  men  as  hostages. 


He  then  came  accompanied  by  some  of  his  force  as 
far  as  the  grist-mill,  which  stood  on  the  west  side  of 
Mill  River,  between  the  present  Cohannet  and  Win- 
throp  Streets,  having  taken  the  precaution  to  post 
sentinels  on  Crossman's  Hill  in  his  rear,  and  again 
sent  for  the  Governor  to  meet  him  there.  The  towns- 
people with  the  Plymouth  men  becoming  exasperated, 
were  eager  to  attack  Philip,  but  the  Massachusetts 
commissioners  wisely  interposed,  and  prevented  so 
rash  an  outbreak,  and  prevailed  on  Philip  to  come  to 
the  Green,  he  stipulating  that  the  conference  should 
be  held  in  the  meeting-house,  he  and  his  men  to  oc- 
cupy one  side,  and  the  English  the  other. 

Never  before  had  the  old  meeting-house  witnessed 
so  remarkable  a  scene.  Civilization  and  barbarism 
were  arrayed  against  each  other,  and  the  result  could 
not  be  doubtful.  Our  sympathies  are  involuntarily 
awakened  for  the  proud  and  independent  race  des- 
tined to  fade  away.  But  it  was  a  crisis  for  the  broader 
and  more  important  interests  of  civilization  and  Chris- 
tianity. Had  Philip  succeeded  in  the  scheme  which 
he  was  then  engaged  in  maturing,  of  uniting  all  the 
native  tribes  of  New  England  and  New  York  for  the 
extermination  of  all  the  European  settlements,  its 
effects,  it  can  be  seen,  would  have  been  most  disastrous 
to  the  highest  interests  of  humanity. 

Philip,  being  confronted  with  the  charges  made 
by  the  commissioners,  at  first  denied  having  any  hos- 
tile designs,  and  averred  that  his  warlike  preparations 
were  directed  against  the  Narragansetts ;  but  upon 
being  told  that  they  had  proof  that  he  was  on  better 
terms  with  them  than  ever,  he  was  covered  with  con- 
fusion and  acknowledged  the  truth  of  the  charges. 
He  was  required  by  the  commissioners  to  make  repar- 
ation for  past  injuries  and  to  give  security  against 
such  injuries  in  the  future.  The  first  part  of  the 
requirement  was  abandoned,  but  he  was  required  to 
give  up  his  arms.  The  following  submission  was 
drawn  up,  which  he  signed.  It  may  be  found  in 
Mather's  "  Brief  History  of  King  Philip's  War." 

"Taunton,  April  10th,  1671. 

"  Whereas  my  father,  my  brother,  aud  myself,  have  formerly  submitted 
ourselves  and  our  people  unto  the  king's  majesty  of  England,  and  to  this 
colony  of  New  Plymouth,  by  solemn  covenant  under  our  hand;  but  I 
having  of  late,  through  my  indiscretion,  and  the  naughtiness  of  my 
heart,  violated  and  broken  this  my  covenant  with  my  friends,  by  taking 
up  arms  with  evil  intent  against  them,  and  that  groundlessly ;  I  being 
now  deeply  sensible  of  my  unfaithfulness  and  foil}',  do  desire  at  this  time 
solemnly  to  renew  my  covenant  with  my  ancient  friends,  and  my  father's 
friends  above  mentioned,  and  do  desire  (that)  this  may  testily  to  the  world 
against  me,  if  ever  I  shall  again  fail  in  my  faithfulness  towards  them 
(whom  I  have  now  and  at  all  times  found  so  kind  to  me)  or  any  other  of 
the  English  colonies  ;  and  as  a  real  pledge  of  my  true  intentions,  for  the 
future  to  be  faithful  and  friendly,  I  do  freely  engage  to  resign  up  unto 
the  government  of  New  Plymouth,  all  my  English  arms,  to  be  kept  by 
them  for  their  security,  so  long  as  they  shall  see  reason.  For  the  true 
performance  of  the  premises,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand,  together 
with  the  rest  of  my  council. 

"  The  mark  of  Philip  chief  sachem  of  Pocanoket. 

"Tbe  mark  of  Tavoser. 

"  The  mark  of  Woonkaponebcnt.  "  In  presence  of 

"The  mark  of  Capt.  Wispoke.  "William  Davis. 

"The  mark  of  Nimrod.  "William  Hudson". 

"  Thomas  Brattle." 


TAUNTON. 


741 


It  was  obvious  that  so  humiliating  a  submission 
would  not  result  in  a  permanent  peace.  Some  of  his 
captains  were  so  angry  at  him  on  account  of  it  that 
they  could  scarcely  forbear  seeking  immediate  ven- 
geance. Hubbard  says  that  one  of  them,  of  far  bet- 
ter courage  than  himself,  when  he  saw  his  cowardly 
temper  and  disposition,  flung  down  his  arms,  saying 
he  would  never  own  him  again  or  fight  under  him, 
and  immediately  joined  the  English,  and  fought  on 
their  side  throughout  the  war  that  followed. 

The  arms  of  the  Indians  were  not  sent  in  as  the 
Plymouth  government  claimed  they  ought  to  have 
been  by  the  terms  of  the  treaty.  It  could  not  rea- 
sonably have  been  expected.  Fire-arms  had  become 
a  necessity  to  the  Indians,  not  only  for  offensive  and 
defensive  warfare,  but  as  instruments  in  procuring  a 
livelihood.  It  is  not  strange,  then,  that  in  June  fol- 
lowing the  court  should  find  reason  to  complain  that 
Philip,  instead  of  influencing  his  subjects  to  bring  in 
their  arms,  had  taken  means  to  secrete  them  and 
carry  them  away  beyond  their  reach.  The  arms  that 
had  been  surrendered  were  distributed  among  the 
towns,  and  Philip  saw  that  his  own  arms,  instead  of 
being  returned,  were  likely  to  be  used  against  him. 

Active  measures  were  taken  by  the  government  at 
Plymouth  to  secure  the  submission  of  the  various 
small  tribes  in  their  vicinity.  At  a  meeting  of  the 
Council  of  War,  July  8,  1671,  it  was  agreed  that  one 
hundred  men  should  be  pressed  out  of  the  towns  to 
go  forth  under  command  of  Maj.  Winslow  against 
the  Seconet  Indians  in  case  they  should  fail  to  sub- 
mit themselves  and  give  up  their  arms.  Taunton  was 
to  send  twelve  men.  William  Witherell,  of  Taunton, 
was  one  of  the  "  sarjeants."  The  8th  day  of  August 
was  to  be  the  time  of  their  setting  forth,  "  on  which 
day  the  towns  of  Taunton,  Rehoboth,  Bridgewater, 
and  Swansey  are  to  cause  their  soldiers  that  are  to  be 
sent  forth  to  give  meeting  to  the  major  and  the  rest 
of  the  company,  at  or  near  Assonet,  about  John  Tis- 
dall's  farm." 

The  Council  of  War  met  again  the  23d  of  August. 
The  principal  subject  of  consideration  was  the  failure 
of  Philip  to  comply  with  the  terms  of  the  treaty  made 
at  Taunton.  It  was  determined  to  require  his  per- 
sonal appearance  "  to  make  his  purgation  in  refer- 
ence to  the  premises,"  and  in  case  of  his  refusal  to 
"endeavour  his  reducement  by  force."  Inasmuch  as 
a  war  with  Philip  would  concern  all  the  English 
plantations,  it  was  decided  to  send  letters  to  the 
neighboring  colonies  of  Massachusetts  and  Rhode 
Island,  as  well  as  to  Philip.  The  letter  to  Philip  was 
sent  by  Mr.  James  Walker  (of  Taunton),  one  of  the 
council,  "  and  he  was  ordered  to  request  the  company 
of  Mr.  Roger  Williams  and  Mr.  James  Browne  to  go 
with  him  at  the  delivery  of  the  said  letter,"  in  which 
Philip  was  required  to  make  his  personal  appearance 
at  Plymouth  the  13th  of  September  next. 

Philip  did  not  appear  in  answer  to  the  summons, 
but  instead  repaired  to  Massachusetts  and  there  made 


complaint  of  the  Plymouth  authorities.  A  letter  was 
sent  by  some  of  the  gentlemen  in  place  there  to  the 
Governor  of  Plymouth,  intimating  that  they  did  not 
understand  the  covenants  and  engagements  of  the 
treaty  as  their  Plymouth  brethren  did,  and  offering 
their  mediation  in  the  premises.  This  offer  was  ac- 
cepted, and  the  commissioners  of  Massachusetts  and 
Connecticut  (who  were  then  in  Boston)  and  some 
other  gentlemen  were  invited  to  come  to  Plymouth 
and  afford  their  help.  "  Accordingly  on  the  24th  of 
September,  1671,  Mr.  John  Winthrop,  Governor  of 
Connecticut,  Maj. -Gen.  Leverett,  Mr.  Thomas  Dan- 
forth,  Capt.  William  Davis,  with  divers  others  came 
to  Plymouth  and  had  a  fair  and  deliberate  hearing  of 
the  controversy  between  our  colony  and  the  said 
sachem,  Philip,  he  being  present,  at  which  meeting  it 
was  proved  by  sufficient  testimony  to  the  conviction 
of  the  said  Philip  and  satisfaction  of  all  that  audience, 
both  the  said  gentlemen  and  others,  that  he  had  broken 
his  covenant  made  with  our  colony  at  Taunton  in 
April  last  in  divers  particulars,  as  also  carried  very 
unkindly  unto  us  divers  ways."  A  series  of  articles 
was  then  drawn  up  and  read  to  him  for  his  acceptance 
or  rejection  as  he  should  see  cause,  the  substance  of 
which  was  that  he  and  his  subjects  acknowledged 
themselves  subjects  of  the  King  of  England  and  the 
government  of  New  Plymouth,  that  he  promised  to 
pay  one  hundred  pounds  damages  provided  he  could 
have  three  years  to  do  it  in,  that  he  would  send  in  to 
the  Governor  five  wolves'  heads  yearly,  that  he  would 
refer  any  difference  between  himself  and  the  English 
to  the  Governor  of  Plymouth  to  rectify,  that  he  would 
not  make  war  but  with  the  Governor's  approbation,  and 
that  he  would  not  dispose  of  any  of  his  lands  without 
the  approval  of  the  Plymouth  government.  Probably 
Philip  saw  no  other  way  out  of  his  present  difficulty 
but  to  yield,  and  accordingly  he  with  seven  of  his 
council  signed  the  articles.  But,  as  the  result  showed, 
he  went  on  to  perfect  his  vast  scheme  of  uniting  the 
Indian  tribes  in  a  general  war  with  the  English. 
This  was  the  last  agreement  or  treaty  made  by  Philip 
with  the  colonists. 

Another  speck  of  war  appeared  in  the  distance  in 
the  latter  part  of  1673.  At  the  meeting  of  the  Gen- 
eral Court  in  December  of  that  year  the  following 
action  was  taken  : 

"  This  court  upon  serious  consideration  of  the  injurious  actings  of 
the  Dutch,  our  neighbors  at  New  York,  in  the  surprisal  of  several  ves- 
sels and  goods  of  our  confederates,  and  refusing  to  make  just  satisfac- 
tion for  the  same  upon  demand,  .  .  .  minding  also  that  they  have  declared 
these  their  actings  to  be  grounded  on  the  national  quarrel  between  them 
and  us  in  Europe,  and  accordingly  declare  their  commission  and  orders  to 
be  to  do  all  possible  spoil  and  damage  to  the  States'  enemies  by  land  and 
water,  .  .  .  for  our  more  necessary  defense  we  judge  it  requisite  to  en- 
deavor their  removal,  and  to  raise  and  maintain  one  hundred  men  in 
the  expedition,  if  we  can  at  present  be  supplied  with  what  is  necessary 
for  their  march  or  voyage. 

"And  that  instructions  be  given  to  the  commanders-in-chief,  first  to 
gammon  them  to  yield,  with  their  promise  of  enjoying  their  estates  and 
liberties. 

"  The  names  of  the  commanders  chosen  by  the  court  were  Captaine 
James  Uudworth,  for  captaine;  Mr.  John  Gorum,  for  lieutenant;  Mr. 


.42 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Michaell  Peirse,  for  ensigne;  for  Sarjeants,  William  Witherell,  Thomas 
Harvey,  John  Witherell,  Phillip  Leonard. 

"The  Governor  bestows  a  drum  towards  the  expedition,  and  the  other 
to  be  had  at  Taunton ;  one  pair  of  colors  to  be  had  at  Swansey." 

From  the  names,  the  sergeants  all  seem  to  have 
been  Taunton  men.  As  had  been  the  case  with  sev- 
eral previous  expeditions  proposed  against  the  Dutch, 
this  appears  to  have  gone  no  further  than  the  prep- 
arations therefor. 

The  Indian  war-cloud  that  had  lain  so  long  on  the 
horizon  of  the  colonies,  at  times  causing  apprehension 
by  ominous  mutterings,  and  then  sinking  almost  out 
of  sight,  at  length  burst  with  terrible  suddenness 
over  the  town  of  Swansea.  On  Thursday,  June  24, 
1675,  as  the  best  authorities  agree,  the  first  English 
blood  was  shed  in  King  Philip's  war  in  that  town. 
It  was  a  day  which  had  been  set  apart  by  Governor 
Winslow  for  fasting  and  humiliation  in  view  of  the 
impending  dangers.  As  the  Swansea  people  were  re- 
turning from  meeting  the  Indians  fired  upon  them, 
killing  one  man  and  wounding  others.  Two  men, 
who  were  sent  for  a  surgeon,  were  killed  by  the  In- 
dians on  their  way,  and  in  another  part  of  the  town 
six  others  were  killed,  making  nine  in  all.  Thus  be- 
gan that  fearful  life  and  death  struggle  between  the 
Indians  and  the  English  which  lasted  more  than  a 
year,  and  carried  devastation  and  death  into  very 
many  of  the  towns  in  the  colonies. 

It  is  not  intended  here  to  give  a  history  of  that 
war.  It  belongs  to  the  history  of  Massachusetts  and 
Rhode  Island  and  Connecticut,  as  well  as  to  that  of 
Plymouth  Colony,  and  it  affected  several  other  towns 
in  Bristol  County  far  more  severely  than  Taunton.  A 
few  incidents  only  which  relate  particularly  to  Taun- 
ton will  be  given. 

On  the  Sunday  previous  to  the  outbreak  a  mes- 
senger had  carried  intelligence  of  the  threatened 
danger  to  the  authorities  at  Plymouth,  and  the  Gov- 
ernor had  ordered  that  the  captains  of  the  towns 
should  march  the  greater  part  of  their  companies  and 
rendezvous  at  Taunton,  Monday  night,  June  21st, 
where  Maj.  Bradford  was  to  receive  them.  We  should 
be  glad  to  know  what  Taunton  men,  if  any,  joined 
this  expedition  for  the  relief  of  Swansea  and  Re- 
hoboth,  but  no  information  upon  the  point  has  been 
found. 

June  27th,  the  Indians  (a  straggling  party  prob- 
ably) burnt  the  houses  of  John  Tisdall,  Sr.,  and 
James  Walker,  at  Taunton.  They  killed  Tisdall 
and  two  other  soldiers, — John  Knolles  and  Samuel 
Atkins,  of  Eastham.  TisdalPs  house  was  near  As- 
sonet,  Walker's  was  on  the  westerly  side  of  the  Great 
River,  and  probably  nearly  down  to  Three-Mile  River. 
At  the  March  Court,  1676-77,  three  Indians,  named 
Timothy  Jacked,  alias  Canjuncke,  Nassamaquat,  and 
Pompacanshe,  were  indicted  for  murdering  the  three 
men  above  named,  and  were  tried  by  a  jury  of  twelve 
men  after  the  manner  of  the  English.  The  verdict 
of  the  jury  concerning  Timothy  Jacked  and  Nassa- 


maquat was,  "  We  find  they  are  very  suspicious  of 
the  murder  charged  on  them.  And  in  reference 
unto  Pompacanshe,  we  find  nothing  against  him." 
No  further  evidence  appearing  to  clear  up  the  case, 
the  sentence  of  the  court  was,  "  That  the  two  former 
were  to  be  sent  out  of  the  country  speedily,  and  the 
other  likewise,  as  he  is  prisoner  taken  in  war." 

It  may  be  interesting,  as  showing  the  care  of  the 
court  concerning  the  proper  settlement  of  the  estates 
of  deceased  persons,  to  give  their  action  in  reference 
to  Tisdall's  estate.  Administration  was  committed  to 
his  four  sons, — John,  James,  Joshua,  and  Joseph. 
Subsequently,  in  answer  to  a  petition  of  John  Smith 
and  James  Dean  referring  to  the  settlement  of  the 
estate,  the  court  ordered  that  the  whole  estate,  being 
appraised,  should  be  distributed  as  follows:  To  the 
eldest  son  a  double  portion,  and  to  the  other  three 
sons  and  four  daughters  an  equal  proportion,  unless 
in  case  of  weakness  there  may  be  reason  to  advance 
to  any  for  their  necessary  supply.  And  for  the  better 
execution  thereof,  Mr.  James  Browne  (of  Swansea 
probably),  William  Harvey,  Richard  Williams,  and 
Lieutenant  George  Macey  were  appointed  a  com- 
mittee to  take  notice  of  the  whole  estate.  Further- 
more, in  reference  to  the  controversy  among  the 
children,  the  court's  advice  was,  that  concerning  the 
two  younger  sons,  in  regard  that  they  had  approved 
themselves  to  be  faithful  in  the  preservation  of  the 
estate  since  their  father's  death,  in  spending  much  of 
their  time  therein  to  the  endangering  of  their  lives, 
that  they  be  considered  by  the  committee  in  the  dis- 
tribution of  the  estate.  (See  Ply.  Col.  Rec,  vol.  v. 
pp.  212,  219,  224.) 

Taunton,  lying  in  the  direct  route  from  Boston  to 
Swansea  and  Mount  Hope,  and  also  in  the  most  con- 
venient way  from  Plymouth  thither,  was  frequently 
made  a  rendezvous  for  the  troops.  It  seems  that 
several  houses  had  been  turned  into  garrisons.  Mr. 
Baylies  speaks  of  the  march  of  the  Massachusetts 
troops,  who  were  under  the  command  of  Maj.  Savage, 
from  Swansea  to  Rehoboth,  in  pursuit  of  Philip,  and 
not  finding  him  there,  he  having  retired  to  a  swamp 
in  Pocasset,  they  proceeded  from  there  to  Taunton, 
which  they  reached  July  17th,  where  they  found  the 
people  secured  against  a  sudden  onset  in  eight  garri- 
soned houses. 

About  this  time  Philip,  being  closely  pressed,  made 
his  escape  into  the  Nipmuck  country,  comprising  the 
southerly  part  of  central  Massachusetts,  and  extend- 
ing into  the  northerly  part  of  Connecticut,  and  for 
several  months  the  towns  of  Plymouth  Colony  had  a 
respite. 

On  Dec.  19,  1675,  occurred  the  great  Narragansett 
Swamp  fight,  in  what  is  now  the  town  of  Kingston, 
R.  I.  In  preparation  for  this  great  struggle  the 
Council  of  War  held  a  meeting  at  Plymouth,  Decem- 
ber 6th,  at  which  volunteers  were  called  for,  and  the 
towns  were  urged  to  present  their  ablest  and  fittest 
men.     "  Such  as  cheerfully  tender  themselves  to  the 


TAUNTON. 


743 


expedition  or  to  presse  shall  be  looked  upon  with 
singular  respect."  Governor  Josias  Winslow  was  ap- 
pointed commander  of  the  united  forces,  and  Capt. 
Bradford  and  John  (Jorum  to  be  particular  command- 
ers of  the  Plymouth  forces.  The  forces  were  ordered 
to  rendezvous  at  Plymouth  on  the  7th,  atrTaunton  on 
the  8th,  at  Rehoboth  on  the  9th,  and  at  Providence 
on  the  10th.  Taunton  was  represented  in  Capt. 
Gorum's  company  (or  Gorham,  as  the  name  was 
afterwards  spelled)  by  William  Wetherell,  who  was 
first  sergeant.  Rev.  George  F.  Clark,  in  his  excellent 
"History  of  Norton,"  says  that  in  a  deed  given  by 
John  Wetherell,  son  of  William,  it  is  stated  that  he 
was  an  "  Eldest  Sergeant  in  Capt.  Gorrom's  Company 
in  the  great  Narragansett  Swamp  fitt,"  Dec.  19,  1675. 
In  an  account  rendered  by  Peleg  Sanford,  of  Rhode 
Island,  against  the  colony  for  various  disbursements 
on  account  of  soldiers  that  came  to  his  house  after 
the  fight,  is  the  following: 

"To  8  yds.  of  duffl3  to  Sergt.  Witherly,  James  Bell,  and  other  Taunton 
men  that  came  wounded  to  my  house,  Dec.  24,  £2:  08.  To  cash  to 
James  Bell  to  bear  his  charges  home,  4s." 

There  is  also  a  charge  for  the  hire  of  a  room  "  from 
the  24  of  Dec.  to  the  17  of  Oct.,  1676,  the  day  that 
Sergeant  Witherell  went  out  of  it,  at  £5  per  year, 
£4:0l:7j."  It  is  evident  from  this  charge  that 
Wetherell  must  have  been  severely  wounded,  as  it 
was  nearly  ten  months  before  he  could  be  carried 
home.  James  Bell  was  also  in  the  fight,  and  other 
Taunton  men,  as  mentioned  in  the  first  of  the  above 
charges,  but  in  which  company  is  not  known.  Gen. 
Ebenezer  W.  Peirce,  in  his  very  valuable  "  Indian 
History  and  Genealogy,"  p.  120,  states  that  William 
Hoskins,  of  Taunton,  was  in  the  Narragansett  expe- 
dition. The  names  of  the  other  Taunton  men  who 
went  wounded  to  Sanford's  house  have  not  been  as- 
certained. Wetherell  received  a  grant  of  ten  pounds 
in  June,  1685,  on  account  of  his  wounds,  and  in  July, 
1686,  the  court  gave  him  a  fine  of  five  pounds  in  the 
hands  of  Robert  Godfrey,  of  Taunton,  the  treasurer 
of  the  colony  to  give  order  for  the  payment  of  the 
same  to  said  Wetherell. 

During  the  progress  of  the  war  several  orders  for 
the  raising  of  men  and  money  were  made  by  the  Gen- 
eral Court  and  the  Council  of  War.  It  was  ordered, 
Oct.  4,  1675,  that  soldiers  be  pressed  out  of  each  town 
to  go  forth  as  occasion  may  require,  and  twenty-five 
for  the  garrison  at  Mount  Hope.  Taunton  was  to 
furnish  twenty  for  the  general  service,  and  three  for 
Mount  Hope.  At  a  meeting  of  the  Council,  Dec.  30, 
1675,  it  was  proposed  to  raise  one  thousand  men  out 
of  the  United  Colonies,  of  which  Plymouth  Colony 
was  to  furnish  one  hundred  and  twenty-two,  Taun- 
ton's share  being  thirteen.  March  29,  1676,  three 
hundred  soldiers  were  ordered  to  be  raised  and 
pressed  for  the  present  emergency,  Taunton  to  fur- 
nish thirty  men,  to  be  ready  by  the  11th  of  April 
next. 

June  7,  1676,  the  court  voted  to  raise  one  hundred 


and  fifty  English  and  fifty  Indians  with  the  best  speed, 
the  time  of  sending  forth  being  Wednesday,  June  20th, 
"  to  be  sent  forth  towards  the  frontier  parts  of  this  col- 
ony, to  be  upon  motion  to  scout  to  and  fro  for  the 
safety  of  the  colony."  Money  was  ordered  to  be 
raised  to  the  amount  of  £164  10s.  The  proportion  of 
Taunton  was  fifteen  men  and  £16  in  money.  In  Feb- 
ruary, 1675-76,  James  Walker,  William  Harvey,  and 
John  Richmond  were  appointed  the  Town  Council  of 
Taunton.  The  Council  of  War  at  their  meeting  in 
March,  1675-76,  imposed  fines  upon  a  number  of  de- 
linquent soldiers,  and  fined  the  constables  of  Taunton 
four  pounds  for  pressing  Joseph  Deane,  a  man  unfit 
to  go  forth  on  service.  They  were  afterwards  released 
from  the  fine.  At  the  same  meeting  a  rate  of  £1000 
was  assessed  upon  the  towns,  to  be  paid  in  clothing, 
provisions,  or  cattle,  for  the  payment  of  soldiers  who 
needed  other  supplies  rather  than  lands,  of  which 
Taunton's  proportion  was  £92  13s.  6d. 

Iu  the  spring  of  1676  the  Indians  kept  the  inhab- 
itants in  continual  uneasiness  and  fear  by  their  stealthy 
attacks,  burning  dwellings  and  barns,  and  killing  any 
whom  they  could  surprise  in  an  unguarded  situation. 
Bridgewater,  Taunton,  and  Rehoboth,  being  frontier 
towns,  were  peculiarly  exposed  to  these  attacks.  The 
Cape  towns,  Barnstable,  Sandwich,  Yarmouth,  and 
Eastham,  had  by  a  committee,  of  which  Thomas 
Hinckley  was  chairman,  invited  the  inhabitants  of 
these  towns  to  remove  and  take  up  their  residence 
with  them  until  the  termination  of  the  war.  But  the 
towns  each  sent  a  letter  declining  the  offer.  The 
reply  of  Taunton  by  its  committee  is  here  given : 

"Taunton,  April  15,  '76. 
"Honored  and  Beloved: 

"  We  have  received  your  affectionate  letter  full  of  hive  and  undeserved 
bounty  towards  us,  your  unworthy  brethren  and  neighbors,  and  we 
bless  God  that  He  hath  given  us  so  much  room  in  your  hearts,  that  you 
so  freely  tender  us  a  part  with  you  in  your  houses,  fields,  and  provisions 
at  such  a  time,  when  the  Lord  is  threatening  us  with  bereavement  of 
our  own.  It  much  comforteth  us  in  this  day  of  darkness  and  distress; 
we  assuring  ourselves  thereby  that  if  our  distresses  continue  and  in- 
crease, we  shall  want  no  succor  you  are  able  to  afford  us.  We  therefore 
return  you  all  serious  thanks  for  your  sincere  and  abundant  love,  be- 
seeching the  Lord  still  to  continue  and  increase  your  peace,  and  ability 
and  promptness  to  relieve  the  distressed  in  this  evil  day.  Nevertheless, 
upon  our  serious  and  mature  deliberation  upon  and  consideration  of 
your  so  great  offer,  we  cannot  at  present  comply  with  a  motion  to  re- 
move and  quit  our  places,  and  leave  our  habitations  to  beadesolati and 

that  because  we  fear  we  should  in  so  doing  be  wanting  to  the  name  of  God 
and  the  interest  of  Christ  in  this  place,  and  betray  much  diffidence  and 
cowardice,  and  give  the  adversary  occasion  of  triumph  over  us,  to  the 
reproach  of  that  great  and  fearful  name  of  our  God  that  is  called  on  us. 
Our  sins  are  already  such  as  might  render  our  friends  (did  they  know 
us)  afraid  to  entertain  us,  and  what  can  we  expect  as  the  issue  of  such 
an  addition  thereunto,  but  that  the  hand  of  the  Lord  would  follow  us 
and  find  us  out  whithersoever  we  tlee? 

"Besides,  if  the  Lord  have  any  pleasure  in  us,  and  will  so  far  favor  and 
honor  us,  we  judge  we  may  here  be  more  serviceable  to  our  country 
than  elsewhere,  and  hazards  of  removal  (as  great  as  of  abiding  where 
we  are)  avoided;  and  who  can  tell  but  that  the  Lord  may  make  way  for 
our  enjoyment  of  seed  time  and  harvest  here  by  prospering  our  forces 
which  are  coming  forth,  if  we  could  but  humble  ourselves  before  him? 
And  if  the  fjord  have  no  delight  at  all  in  us,  but  will  for  our  sins  (which 
were  but  just)  make  bis  dwelling  place  here  as  Shiloh,  we  are  in  His 
hands,  the  Lord  do  with  us  as  seemeth  good  iu  His  sight.  Here  we 
have  sinned,  and  here  we  submit  ourselves  to  suffer,  except  the  Lord's 
providence  and  order  or  advice  of  authority  should  plainly  determine 


744 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


us  to  removal:  in  case  whereof,  we  shall  esteem  it  an  undeserved  kind- 
ness to  find  shelter  among  yourselves,  and  comply  with  your  motion  for 
aught  yet  appears,  more  generally  than  with  any  course  we  can  propose 
to  ourselves.  As  a  pledge  whereof,  we  are  willing,  if  it  may  he  judged 
convenient  hy  you,  to  secure  some  of  our  cattle  in  your  parts,  that  they 
may  be  no  booty  or  succor  to  the  enemy,  if  the  Lord  spare  them  so  long 
as  that  we  may  have  opportunity  to  convey  them,  in  which  we  desire 
your  speedy  advice.  And  beseeching  you  not  to  cease  to  pray  for  us  that 
the  Lord  would  heal  our  backslidings,  and  prepare  us  for  what  measure 
of  the  cup  of  His  indignation  it  may  seem  good  to  Him  to  order  us  to 
drink,  we  present  you  with  our  respects,  service,  and  love,  and  sub- 
scribe ourselves  your  obliged  brethren  and  friends  and  servants  in  the 
Lord. 
"  To  this  we  subscribe  in  the  name  of  the  town. 

"Richard  Williams, 
"  Walter  Deane, 
"George  Macey, 
"Will  Harvey." 

Soon  after  the  sending  of  this  letter,  so  admirable 
in  its  spirit  of  gratitude,  humility,  courage,  and 
cheerful  confidence  in  God,  several  persons  were 
killed  by  the  Indians  in  Taunton,  a  contemporary 
account  of  which  is  given  in  a  letter  of  Gen.  Josiah 
Winslow  to  Thomas  Hinckley  and  John  Freeman. 
That  part  of  the  letter  which  refers  to  affairs  in  Taun- 
ton and  vicinity  is  as  follows : 

"  May  23,  76. 
"  Gentlemen, — My  respects,  <fcc.  It  pleaseth  the  only  wise  and  most 
just  God  still  to  keep  us  under  his  rod.  Since  the  damage  done  at  Bridge- 
water  and  Plymouth,  which  you  have  knowledge  of;  the  enemy  have 
killed  four  stout  men  at  Taunton,  and  carried  away  two  lusty  youths, — 
Mr.  Henry  Andrews,  James  Bell,  Sargt.  Phillips,  and  the  two  youths, 
all  at  one  time,  being  securely  planting,  two  or  three  miles  from  the 
town  ;  the  other  one,  Edward  Bobit,  killed  at  another  place;  the  four 
men  leaving  thirty-two  fatherless  children  in  a  hard  world.  The  last 
Tuesday,  they  killed  a  man  between  Hingham  and  Conohasset,  and  then 
fell  to  burning,  beginning  with  Mr.  Gilden's  saw-mill,  and  Jo.  Silvester's 
house  and  barn  ;  but  not  a  man  from  Scituate  would  stir  to  remove 
them.  But  fourteen  of  our  town's  wardens  marched  up  to  Jo.  Bares- 
toe's:  but,  being  unhappily  discovered  by  them  also,  they  ran  away, 
leaving  some  horses  and  cattle  they  were  about  to  carry  away,  and  those 
houses  at  that  time  spared  from  the  flames.  Taunton  and  Bridgewater 
men  are  confident  that  they  are  planting  about  Assawamset  or  Dart- 
mouth ;  and  did  yesterday  track  two  hundred  of  them,  as  they  judge, 
towards  Assawamset." 

Henry  Andrews,  one  of  the  men  killed,  was  the 
son  of  Henry  Andrews,  one  of  the  original  purchasers. 
James  Bell  was  in  the  Narragansett  fight,  and  was 
carried  wounded  to  Peleg  Sanford's  house  as  already 
stated.  Sergt.  (James)  Phillips  was  the  son  of  Wil- 
liam Phillips,  also  one  of  the  first  purchasers.  Gen. 
Peirce,  in  his  Indian  history  already  referred  to,  page 
246,  states  that  "  Edward  Bobit  was  slain  in  a  part 
of  Taunton,  now  Berkley,  and  the  spot  of  his  inter- 
ment is  still  pointed  out."  He  gives  the  tradition 
concerning  him  substantially  as  follows  :  that  he  had 
abandoned  his  home  at  "  the  farms,"  so  called,  in 
Berkley,  and  with  his  family  and  neighbors  had  taken 
refuge  in  a  garrisoned  house  at  "  the  Green,"  in  Taun- 
ton. On  his  return  from  a  visit  he  ventured  to  make 
to  his  home,  he  was  pursued  by  an  Indian,  hid  him- 
self among  the  leafy  branches  of  a  tree,  was  betrayed 
by  the  barking  of  his  dog,  when  his  pursuer  shot  at 
and  killed  him.  He  was  buried  near  the  spot  where 
he  fell.  Gen.  Peirce  further  says  that  he  "  visited 
the  grave  of  Edward  Babbett  June  17,  1878.     It  is 


not  far  from  the  Dighton  and  Berkley  Bridge,  and  on 
the  Berkley  side  of  Taunton  River.  On  his  grave- 
stone, after  considerable  labor  in  scraping  off  moss, 
I  was  able  to  decypher 

"  B  0  B  Be  T 
K  I  L  L  ed 
J  U  Ne  1676." 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Perez  Fobes,  in  a  topographical  his- 
tory of  Raynham,  published  in  1793,  in  vol.  iii.  of 
the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society  Collections,  in 
giving  some  account  of  occurrences  in  Philip's  war, 
says,  "  Deacon  Nathaniel  Williams  with  some  others 
were  at  work  in  the  field  when  one  of  the  number 
discovered  a  motion  of  the  bushes  at  a  little  distance  ; 
he  immediately  presented  his  gun  and  fired,  upon 
which  the  Indians  were  heard  to  cry  Cocoosh  !  and  ran 
off,  but  soon  after  one  of  the  Indians  was  found  dead 
near  Fowling  Pond.  Near  the  great  river  (Taunton 
River)  are  now  to  be  seen  the  graves  of  Henry  An- 
dras  and  James  Phillips,  who  with  James  Bell  and 
two  sons  were  killed  by  a  number  of  Indians  who 
lay  in  ambush.  This  happened  in  the  place  called 
Squabette."  Mr.  Baylies,  writing  in  1830,  says,  "  The 
graves  of  these  men  are  still  to  be  seen  near  the 
river."  The  place  is  still  pointed  out,  although  there  is 
a  growth  of  white  birch  and  underbrush  which  covers 
the  locality.  It  is  about  half  a  mile  above  the  dam 
at  East  Taunton  on  the  Raynham  side,  near  the  edge 
of  the  river.  The  writer  is  informed  by  Mr.  John 
Wales  Dean,  whose  father,  Jonathan  Dean,  owned 
the  premises  in  1820,  that  he  well  remembers  when  a 
boy  seeing  the  two  graves,  which  were  marked  by 
rough  stones  at  the  head  and  foot  of  each. 

Dr.  Fobes  further  says,  "  Uriah  Leonard"  (who 
was  a  son  of  James  Leonard,  Sr.),  "  as  he  was  riding 
from  Taunton  to  the  forge  in  this  place,  was  discov- 
ered and  fired  upon  by  the  Indians.  He  instantly 
plucked  off  his  hat  and  swung  it  around,  which  started 
his  horse,  and  in  full  career  he  reached  the  forge  dam 
without  a  wound ;  but  several  bullets  were  shot 
through  the  hat  he  held  in  his  hand  and  through  the 
neck  of  the  horse  near  the  mane,  from  which  the 
blood  on  both  sides  gushed  and  ran  down  on  both  his 
legs." 

Hubbard,  in  his  "  History  of  the  Indian  War,"  in- 
forms us  that  on  June  26,  1676,  the  Indians  killed 
Mr.  Hezekiah  Willett,  at  Swansea,  and  took  a  negro 
belonging  to  the  household  prisoner,  who,  afterwards 
escaping,  gave  information  of  an  intended  assault  by 
Philip  upon  Taunton.  Philip,  with  all  the  forces  he 
could  get  or  that  he  had  left,  having,  as  was  conceived, 
many  hundreds  in  his  company,  assaulted  Taunton 
July  11th  ;  but  his  design  being  discovered  by  this 
negro  they  provided  themselves  with  soldiers,  whereby 
they  were  able  to  repulse  the  enemy  upon  the  first 
approach,  so  as  he  only  fired  two  houses  and  then 
fled  away.  Dr.  Increase  Mather  gives  substantially 
the  same  account,  putting  the  number  of  Philip's  men 
at  about  two  hundred,  and  saying  they  fled  after  they 


TAUNTON. 


745 


had  fired  two  houses,  but  not  an  English  life  was  lost 
in  this  engagement. 

The  name  of  this  negro,  who  thus  saved  Taunton 
from  surprise,  and  perhaps  destruction,  was  Jethro, 
as  we  find  from  the  action  of  the  Plymouth  Court  in 
reference  to  him.  The  court  ordered,  and  agreed  with 
Mr.  John  Saffin,  administrator  of  Capt.  Willett's  es- 
tate, that  the  negro  should  serve  two  years  longer  in 
the  family  of  Capt.  Willett,  and  should  then  be  set 
at  liberty,  provided  that  during  said  term  he  should 
be  furnished  with  meat,  drink,  and  apparel  fitting  for 
one  in  his  degree,  and  at  the  end  of  his  service  that 
he  go  forth  competently  provided  for  in  reference  to 
apparel.  Not  very  liberal  treatment  for  one  who  had 
done  such  service. 

The  war  with  Philip  was  now  drawing  near  its 
close.  On  the  6th  of  August  an  Indian  deserted  from 
the  camp  of  Weetamoe,  the  widow  of  Philip's  brother 
Alexander,  and  came  to  Taunton,  where  he  offered  to 
conduct  a  party  to  her  hiding-place,  representing  that 
her  numbers  were  few  and  might  be  easily  taken. 
Twenty  men  started  out  and,  surprising  them,  cap- 
tured the  whole,  twenty-six  in  number.  But  Wee- 
tamoe escaped  upon  a  raft.  She  did  not  succeed  in 
reaching  the  opposite  shore,  however,  but  was  prob- 
ably drowned,  her  dead  body  being  found  not  long 
after  upon  the  shore  at  Mattapoisett,  now  called  Gard- 
ner's Neck,  in  Swansea,  near  the  place  where  she 
had  concealed  herself,  and  where  her  followers  were 
taken.  Her  head  was  severed  from  her  body,  carried 
to  Taunton  and  set  upon  a  pole,  where  the  sad  and 
barbarous  spectacle  caused  great  lamentations  among  j 
the  Indian  prisoners,  her  former  subjects.  Weeta- 
moe was  drawn  into  the  war  unwillingly  through  the 
influence  of  Philip,  and  her  melancholy  fate  must 
always  excite  our  pity.  A  few  days  after  this,  viz., 
on  August  12th,  Philip  himself  was  surprised  and 
slain  in  a  swamp  near  Mount  Hope.  On  August 
28th,  Annawan,  Philip's  chief  captain,  who  escaped 
from  the  swamp  at  Mount  Hope  with  some  fifty  or 
sixty  followers,  was  captured  by  Capt.  Church  in  Re- 
hoboth,  at  a  place  ever  since  called  Annawan's  Rock. 
Church  took  his  prisoners  including  Annawan  to 
Taunton,  where  his  unexpected  success  caused  great 
rejoicing.  The  prisoners,  except  Annawan,  were 
sent  under  guard  to  Plymouth,  Church  taking  the 
chief  to  his  home  on  Rhode  Island,  and  afterwards 
proceeding  with  him  to  Plymouth.  All  the  efforts  of 
Church  to  save  the  life  of  the  venerable  chief  were 
unavailing,  and  by  order  of  the  authorities  he  was 
beheaded.  The  death  of  Annawan  practically  ended 
the  Indian  war.  There  were  occasional  skirmishes 
with  scouting  parties,  and  Indian  prisoners  continued 
for  a  time  to  be  taken  in  small  numbers,  but  the 
power  of  the  native  tribes  was  completely  broken. 

As  has  been  stated,  Taunton  suffered  less  than 
most  of  the  towns  in  this  part  of  the  colony.  One 
reason  given  for  this  exemption  is  that  Philip  was  on 
friendly  terms  with  some  of  the  inhabitants,  especi- 


ally with  the  Leonard  family,  who  were  principal 
owners  in  the  iron-works,  and  who  had  accommo- 
dated him  by  repairing  his  guns  and  mending  his 
tools.  It  was  said  that  he  had  given  orders  that  none 
of  that  family  should  be  molested,  and  that  Taunton 
and  Bridgewater  should  be  spared  until  the  other 
towns  were  destroyed.  Philip  made  the  Fowling 
Pond  a  place  of  frequent  resort  in  the  summer  for  the 
purpose  of  hunting.  He  had  a  house  on  the  northerly 
side  of  the  pond,  which  was  called  Philip's  hunting- 
house.  The  winters  he  mostly  spent  at  his  seat  at 
Mount  Hope.  It  is  not  improbable  that  his  ac- 
quaintance with  some  of  the  Taunton  people,  and 
kindnesses  received  from  them,  influenced  him  in 
the  early  part  of  the  war  to  preserve  the  town  so  far 
as  he  could  from  attack. 

Dr.  Increase  Mather,  in  a  list  which  he  gives  of 
the  numbers  killed  in  the  various  towns  during  the 
Indian  war,  says  "  fifteen  persons  slain  by  the  In- 
dians at  Taunton, — eleven  men,  two  maids,  and  two 
youths,  besides  a  man  slain  in  the  fight  with  Capt. 
Beers, — some  in  the  year  1675  and  some  1676."  Dr. 
Fobes,  in  his  history,  already  referred  to,  says  that 
two  young  women  slain  in  King  Philip's  war  were 
buried  under  the  doorstep  of  the  ancient  Leonard 
house,  built  some  years  before  that  war,  and  which 
was  standing  at  the  time  he  wrote,  and  within  the 
recollection  of  persons  now  living.  He  also  mentions 
the  tradition  that  the  head  of  King  Philip  was  for  a 
time  deposited  in  the  cellar  of  the  house.  The  latter 
statement  or  tradition  is  probably  without  founda- 
tion, as  the  head  of  Philip  was  carried  to  Ply- 
mouth. 

The  war  had  been  a  very  costly  one  to  the  colonies, 
especially  Plymouth,  both  in  the  loss  of  lives  and 
property.  The  government  was  poor  and  weak,  and 
had  to  depend  upon  the  readiness  and  patriotism  of 
the  towns  in  times  of  emergency.  It  was  ordered  in 
June,  1676,  that  each  town  should  make  a  rate  to 
pay  all  their  soldiers  and  officers  which  have  been 
out  on  their  country's  service  from  first  to  last  their 
full  due,  and  that  an  account  of  their  particular  dis- 
bursements be  sent  in  to  the  July  court,  that  so  there 
might  be  a  right  proportioning  of  the  whole  charge 
upon  the  several  towns.  It  was  also  ordered  that 
each  town  should  send  one  man  to  meet,  July  1st, 
with  the  magistrates  and  adjust  their  accounts  re- 
specting the  charges  of  the  war.  Accounts  of  dis- 
bursements were  accordingly  sent  in,  amounting  for 
all  the  towns  to  £3692  16s.  2d.  Taunton's  disburse- 
ment was  £327  15s.  Q>d. 

A  contribution  was  made  by  divers  Christians  in 
Ireland,  supposed  to  have  been  procured  through  the 
efforts  of  Rev.  Nathaniel  Mather,  a  Congregational 
minister  at  that  time  residing  in  Dublin,  for  the  re- 
lief of  such  as  were  impoverished  in  the  Indian  war,  of 
which  Plymouth  Colony's  part  was  £124  10c/.  Com- 
mittees were  appointed  in  each  town  to  distribute  the 
fund.     William    Harvey,  James   Walker,  and  John 


746 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Richmond  were  the  committee  for  Taunton,  whose 
share  was  ten  pounds. 

In  1677  the  conquered  lands  of  Showamett  and 
Assonet  were  ordered  to  be  sold,  and  the  proceeds 
divided  among  the  towns  to  make  up  their  disburse- 
ments in  the  war.  In  1680  the  Mount  Hope  lands 
were  sold  to  John  Walley,  Esq.,  Col.  Nathaniel  Bye- 
field,  Stephen  Burton,  Esq.,  and  Nathaniel  Oliver,  of 
Boston,  who  immediately  proceeded  to  establish  a 
settlement  there,  which  was  incorporated  the  same 
year  as  the  town  of  Bristol.  The  proceeds  of  these 
lands  were  applied  to  the  same  purpose.  A  commit- 
tee of  twelve  was  appointed  by  the  General  Court  to 
hear  and  determine  all  claims  against  the  colony  by 
individuals  and  the  towns  concerning  the  war.  Taun- 
ton was  represented  on  the  committee  by  William 
Harvey. 

A  warrant  was  sent  by  the  court,  June,  1678,  to  the 
constables  of  Taunton,  requiring  them  to  warn  the 
town  to  come  together  to  make  a  rate  for  the  pay- 
ment of  some  charges  incurred  during  the  war  with 
the  Indians,  viz.  :  for  billeting  Capt.  Freeman  and 
his  men  and  horses,  for  billeting  some  men  left  in  the 
town  by  Mr.  Saberey,  and  some  of  the  town  soldiers 
after  they  were  pressed,  likewise  to  pay  for  beef  that 
was  disposed  of  when  Capt.  Freeman  was  there, 
either  by  Capt.  Freeman  or  any  of  the  selectmen,  for 
the  relief  of  some  of  the  poor  who  were  in  extremity, 
and  also  to  pay  for  carrying  Jane  Halloway  to  Plym- 
outh. "  The  court,  having  taken  these  things  into 
consideration,  doth  see  good  reason  to  place  the  charge 
of  these  forementioned  particulars  on  your  town ; 
therefore  fail  not  in  any  of  the  particulars." 

In  March,  1679-80,  the  court  ordered  four  pounds 
to  be  paid  by  the  treasurer  to  William  Hoskins,  of 
Taunton,  who  was  in  the  Narragansett  fight,  "  in  re- 
gard of  his  low  condition,  he  having  lost  all  he  had 
in  the  late  war,  and  being  grown  old  and  unable  to 
labor." 

In  July,  1681,  Jarud  Talbutt,  of  Taunton,  petitioned 
the  court  in  reference  to  moneys  claimed  to  be  due 
him,  which  was  in  the  hands  of  William  Harvey, 
James  Walker,  Sr.,  and  William  Wetherell,  a  com- 
mittee that  had  the  ordering  and  disposing  of  the 
charges  respecting  the  late  war.  The  court  ordered 
Mr.  Browne  and  Mr.  Smith,  assistants,  to  call  the 
committee  to  account  of  what  they  received  and  how 
it  was  disposed,  and  if  they  found  their  accounts  not 
to  be  just  to  cause  them  to  appear  and  answer  at  the 
next  court. 

Mr.  James  Walker,  of  Taunton,  was  appointed  one 
of  the  Council  of  War  again  in  1681. 

The  court  and  the  Council  of  War,  with  all  their 
urgency  and  strictness  in  managing  military  affairs, 
could  be  lenient  upon  occasion.  In  October,  1684, 
it  is  recorded,  "The  Council  of  War  see  cause  to  free 
Samuel  Hall,  of  Taunton,  from  training,  he  being 
hard  of  hearing,  and  having  three  sons  of  age  and 
able  to  bear  arms,  whom  he  engageth  they  shall  be 


ready,  if  life  and  health,  to  serve  the  country  upon 
any  such  occasion,  and  Nicholas  White,  Jr.,  if  Leif- 
tenant  Macye  and  Ensigne  Leonard,  of  Taunton, 
shall  see  cause." 

Upon  the  division  of  the  colony  into  three  coun- 
ties in  1685,  a  major  was  chosen  for  each  county  as 
follows  :  For  Plymouth,  Maj.  Wm.  Bradford  ;  for  Bris- 
tol, Capt.  John  Walley  ;  for  Barnstable,  Capt.  John 
Freeman.  Capt.  Walley  was  one  of  the  principal 
proprietors  and  early  settlers  in  the  town  of  Bristol, 
which  was  incorporated  in  1680,  and  was  made  the 
shire  town  of  Bristol  County. 

Soon  after  the  accession  of  William  and  Mary  to 
the  throne  of  England  in  1689,  the  war  known  as 
King  William's  war  commenced  between  England 
and  France.  It  extended  to  their  American  colonies. 
The  Indians  and  French  attacked  the  feeble  and  un- 
protected settlements  upon  the  coast  of  Maine,  and 
partially  destroyed  Dover,  in  New  Hampshire.  A 
party  of  three  hundred  French  and  Indians  were  sent 
by  Governor  Frontenac  from  Montreal  to  destroy 
Albany.  Through  deep  snows  in  the  month  of  Feb- 
ruary they  made  their  way  as  far  as  Schenectady, 
which  they  attacked  at  midnight,  burned  the  dwell- 
ings, and  murdered  more  than  sixty  of  the  inhab- 
itants. 

The  colonies  were  deeply  alarmed.  A  general  con- 
vention was  held  in  Boston  to  consider  measures  of 
defense.  Capt.  Church  was  prevailed  upon  to  take 
command  of  an  expedition  composed  of  English  and 
Indians,  and  volunteers  were  called  for.  The  mili- 
tary officers  of  each  town  were  ordered  to  use  their 
endeavors  to  encourage  English  and  Indians  to  a 
voluntary  going  out  in  the  expedition.  The  depu- 
ties and  selectmen  were  also  ordered,  in  such  way  as 
might  seem  to  them  most  suitable,  to  use  their  interest 
with  the  inhabitants  of  the  several  towns  to  lend  for 
the  colonies'  use  so  much  money  as  they  should  be 
willing  to,  and  not  to  be  less  than  a  certain  propor- 
tion. The  amount  expected  of  Taunton  was  six 
pounds  in  money,  four  men,  and  four  arms.  Each 
soldier  was  to  be  "provided  with  a  well-fixt  gun, 
sword,  or  hatchet,  a  borne  or  cartouch-box,  suitable 
ammunition,  and  a  snapsack."  If  a  sufficient  num- 
ber failed  to  volunteer  the  deficiency  was  to  be  made 
up  by  press  in  the  delinquent  towns.  Any  person 
being  pressed  and  refusing  to  go  upon  the  service 
was  to  be  fined  four  pounds,  or  otherwise  to  be  com- 
mitted to  prison  by  authority  of  the  Town  Council. 

A  levy  was  made  in  October,  1689,  upon  the  towns 
towards  the  charges  of  the  war.  The  amount  levied 
upon  Taunton  was  sixty  pounds.  It  was  to  be  paid 
one-third  in  money,  one- third  in  grain, — Indian  corn 
at  two  shillings  per  bushel,  rye  two  shillings  and  six- 
pence, barley  two  shillings,  wheat  four  shillings,— the 
other  third  in  beef  at  ten  shillings  per  hundred  and 
pork  at  two  pence  per  pound. 

In  December  a  committee  was  chosen  for  each 
county  to  settle  the  charges  and  disbursements  of  the 


TAUNTON. 


747 


war,  and  to  adjust  the  accounts  of  all  officers  and 
soldiers  engaged  therein.  The  committee  for  Bristol 
County  was  composed  of  Mr.  John  Saffin,  Capt. 
Thomas  Leonard,  and  Mr.  Joseph  Church. 

In  May  following  another  call  was  made  for  sixty 
men  ,  to  he  sent  by  water  to  Albany  or  elsewhere,  to 
joiu  with  the  forces  of  New  York,  Massachusetts,  or 
Connecticut,  etc.,  for  the  defense  of  said  places,  or 
other  service  of  their  majesties'  against  the  common 
enemy.  Taunton  was  to  raise  five  men.  In  June 
the  General  Court  resolved  to  raise  two  hundred  men, 
one-quarter  of  them  Indians,  for  the  expedition  to 
Canada.  Bristol  County  was  to  furnish  fifty-one  men 
and  eighteen  arms, — Taunton  fourteen  men  and  four 
arms,  a  larger  number  than  any  other  town  in.  the 
county. 

In  November  a  rate  of  £1350  was  laid  upon  the 
towns  in  the  colony  for  the  payment  of  soldiers' 
wages  and  for  other  charges,  the  amount  to  be  paid 
by  Taunton  being  £100  16s.  9d.  This  rate  was  doubled 
in  December.  Committees  were  appointed  for  the 
counties,  and  also  a  general  committee  for  the  whole 
colony,  to  receive  and  prepare  the  accounts  of  all  per- 
sons to  whom  the  colony  was  indebted,  and  to  adjust 
the  accounts  of  the  soldiers.  Capt.  Thomas  Leonard, 
of  Taunton,  was  a  member  of  the  committee  for  Bris- 
tol County,  and  also  of  the  committee  for  the  whole 
colony. 

A  controversy,  causing  much  local  excitement,  arose 
in  1690  concerning  the  military  company  of  Taunton. 
It  had  its  origin  in  an  order  of  the  General  Court, 
passed  Dec.  '25,  1689,  which  was  as  follows : 

"Ordered,  that  the  town  of  Taunton  have  liberty  to  be  two  companies, 
and  choose  officers  accordingly,  provided  they  can  agree  to  divide  by  the 
ground ;  otherwise  that  they  forthwith  come  to  an  orderly  choice  for  a 
captain  and  other  officers,  if  needed,  and  make  a  return  of  their  choice 
to  the  major  of  the  regiment  that  lie  may,  by  the  first  opportunity,  get 
them  allowed  and  commissionated." 

In  obedience  to  a  warrant  issued  by  Maj.  Walley, 
under  authority  of  the  foregoing  order,  an  election 
was  held  March  31,  1690,  the  result  of  which  was 
communicated  to  the  major  by  the  following 

( 'erlificale  of  Election. 

"We,  the  inhabitants  and  military  company  of  Taunton,  being  re- 
quired, by  a  warrant  from  our  honored  Major  Walley,  to  meet  together 
tin'  31st  day  of  March,  1690,  either  to  divide  by  ground, .or  to  come  to  an 
orderly  choice  ;  and,  upon  disagreement  of  the  ancient  inhabitants  and 
the  major  part  of  the  military  company  about  division  by  the  ground, 
we  therefore  proceeded  to  an  orderly  and  legal  choice  of  captain,  lieu- 
tenant, and  ensign,  according  to  an  act  of  the  General  Court,  holden,  in 
their  majesties'  names,  at  Plymouth,  the  25th  day  of  December,  1689; 
as  followeth  : — 

"First  for  captain  : — 

"Thomas  Leonard 88  votes. 

"George  Macey 3  votes. 

"Secondly,  for  lieutenant: — 

"James  Leonard,  Jim 68  votes. 

'•  Henry  Hodges 3  votes. 

"John  Hall,  Sen 4  votes. 

"George  Matey 1  vote. 

"Thirdly,  tor  ensign: — 

"  Henry  Hodges 70  votes. 

"John"  Hall,  Sen 1  vote. 

"James  Leonard,  Jun 1  vote. 


"  And  being  desired  by  the  ancient  inhabitants  of  this  town,  and  like- 
wise by  the  military  company,  to  take  an  account  of  the  votes  and  their 
orderly  proceedings  therein,  and  wo  both  being  personally  present,  did 
take  an  account  in  reference  to  the  votes  above  mentioned,  that  they 
were  orderly  and  legal;  and  to  make  return  hereof  to  our  honored 
major  on  their  behalf,  which  was  also  their  desire;  which  the  abovesaid 
is  the  return  by  us. 

"  SlIADUACH  WlI.HOEE, 

"  Town  Clerk  of  Taxinton. 

"  Robert  Grossman,  Jot., 

"  Clerk  of  the  Military  Company  of  Taunton. 
"Taunton,  the  31st  of  March,  1690." 

April  2d,  only  two  days  after  this  election,  the 
Council  of  War,  at  a  meeting  held  at  Plymouth,  took 
action  as  follows : 

"  In  order  to  a  present  settlement  of  the  militia  of 
the  town  of  Taunton,  and  for  composing  the  uncom- 
fortable differences  that  have  been  and  yet  continue 
there,  in  respect  to  their  chief  military  officers  it  is 
ordered  by  this  Council,  that  Mr.  George  Macey  is 
approved,  allowed  to  be,  and  sustain,  the  office  of  a 
captain  in  said  town,  and  such  soldiers  of  said  town 
as  desire  the  same  forthwith  to  list  themselves  under 
his  command  and  be  obedient  to  him  as  their  captain. 

"  Mr.  Thomas  Leonard  is  likewise  approved  of  per 
this  Council,  and  allowed  to  be  and  sustain  the  office 
of  a  captain  in  said  town,  and  such  soldiers  as  desire 
the  same  forthwith  to  list  themselves  under  his  com- 
mand and  be  obedient  to  him  as  their  captain. 

"  And  every  of  the  soldiers  of  said  town  or  place 
are  hereby  ordered  and  required  forthwith  to  list 
themselves  under  the  command  of  one  of  said  cap- 
tains; and  being  listed  as  aforesaid,  the  said  company, 
with  such  of  the  aged  inhabitants  or  others  of  said 
town,  who  by  law  are  allowed  to  choose  officers,  are 
hereby  allowed  and  have  liberty  to  choose  officers 
under  their  said  captains  in  their  respective  compa- 
nies, and  so  to  continue  until  the  General  Court  or 
Council  of  War  shall  otherwise  order,  and  that  colors, 
drums,  and  halberts  for  each  company  be  provided 
and  paid  for  by  all  the  ratable  inhabitants  of  said 
town. 

"  And  the  Council  advise  the  said  captains  not  to 
call  both  companies  together  for  ordinary  trainings 
on  one  day,  but  to  appoint  their  days  of  training  at 
distinct  times  or  days." 

It  is  obvious  from  the  cautionary  advice  given  in 
the  last  sentence  of  the  orders  that  there  were  two 
parties  formed,  and  trouble  was  anticipated  between 
them.  These  orders  of  the  Council  of  War,  so  incon- 
sistent with  the  orders  of  the  General  Court,  threat- 
ened to  produce  great  disturbance,  and  called  forth 
the  following  plain  and  spicy  letter  from  the  authori- 
ties of  the  town  to  the  Governor : 

"Taunton,  April  7,  1690. 
"  To  the  Honorable  Mr.  Thomas  Hinckley,  Governor  of  their  Majesties'  Col- 
ony of  New  Plymouth  : 

"HONORED  Sir,— It  is  our  great  joy  that  God  has  continued  you 
among  us,  hitherto  to  lie  the  stay  and  staff  of  church  and  state.  We 
bless  God,  that  has  restored  our  judges  as  at  the  first,  and  our  counselors 
as  at  the  beginning  ;  our  rulers  from  among  ourselves,  who  have  a  pa- 
ternal affection  to  us,  and  wish  our  welfare,  and  to  whom  we  may  freely 
speak  our  thoughts  without  such  danger  as  heretofore  we  stood  in;  yet 


748 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


desire  not  to  abuse  such  freedom  to  impudence,  as  some  do,  in  uncivil 
and  corrupt  disrespect  of  authority.  We  are  sensible  that  your  honor 
lies  under  a  great  burden,  on  whom  is  the  care  of  all  the  towns  and 
churches  among  us.  The  Lord  be  your  great  reward  and  the  renewer 
of  your  strength,  that  you  may  be  enabled  to  grapple  with  and  over- 
come this  difference  which  the  present  tottering  condition  of  our  State 
does  produce!  Our  design  is  not  (we  hope)  to  increase  your  burden  of 
care,  but  rather  to  lighten  it  if  we  could.  The  Lord  humble  us  for  our 
present  differences,  and  show  us  the  cause  of  them,  and  give  us  wisdom 
to  behave  ourselves  aright  before  Him!  Our  differences  are  most  un- 
seasonable and  unreasonable,  but  in  time,  we  trust,  the  dust  will  be 
allayed. 

"  Honored  sir,  although  we,  the  subscribers,  are  such  as  did  vote  for 
Capt.  Leonard,  yet  did  it  not  for  the  promoting  of  difference,  but  acted 
our  judgments  and  consciences  in  so  doing,  and  are  all  of  us  of  that 
principle,  that,  had  the  major  vote  fallen  on  the  other  person,  we  could 
have  submitted  to  him,  and  hope  can  all  of  us  sincerely  say  that  in  this 
manner  we  do  and  shall  abhor  division,  and  now  are  ready  to  join  with 
your  honor,  and  other  loving  fathers  in  government,  for  the  healing 
this  difference  among  us,  and  shall  accept  and  promote  all  your  whole- 
some counsel  and  advice  to  us  for  peace.  Your  honor  hitherto  has  been 
misinformed  concerning  the  distemper  of  our  body  politic,  which  till 
the  physician  doth  truly  know  the  poor  patient  can't  expect  a  cure. 
The  remedy  last  afforded  for  healing  has  not  that  effect  among  us,  and 
not  to  lose  our  scope  we  have  digested  our  thoughts  with  a  few  parts. 

"1.  That  the  liberty  granted  to  all  to  list  under  whom  they  pleased 
it  will  make  such  a  division  in  the  town  as  portends  nothing  but  confu- 
sion and  ruin.  No  man  of  either  part,  that  has  the  face  of  honesty,  will 
profess  himself  the  promoter  of  it.  Had  the  division  been  made  by  the 
ground,  or  some  other  orderly  way,  the  difficulty  had  been  less;  but  in 
this  way  there  seems  to  be  a  core  of  distance  and  contention  engen- 
dered in  men's  hearts.  All  the  good  men  of  the  place  (except  a  very 
few  that  may  labor  under  some  present  discontent)  do  heartily  pray 
it  may  be  prevented,  if  it  be  God's  will ;  yea,  otherwise,  some  threaten 
removing  out  of  town.  From  hence  will  come  continual  opposites  in 
town-meetings  and  all  other  affairs  of  a  civil  nature.  We  would  hope 
it  may  produce  none  in  the  church,  who  are  all  of  one  mind  (blessed  be 
God)  except  three  or  four,  and  they  will  submit  to  order  and  the  deter- 
mination of  the  Court. 

"  2.  That  hereby  is  increased  upon  us,  in  the  most  or  greatest  part, 
charges  to  procure  new  military  instruments.  The  other  party  (though 
they  falsely  feign  themselves  so  numerous)  are  some  of  them  main- 
tained, in  part,  by  the  town;  many  others  by  parents  and  masters,  be- 
ing yet  under  their  care  and  tuition  (though  drawn  away  by  seditious 
persons),  and  so  will  not  bear  the  twentieth  part  of  the  charge.  Tea, 
some  hot  persons  begin  to  say,  'How  can  the  Court  force  to  pay  such 
charges,  if  they  can't  make  others  vote,  and  submit  to  their  own  orders?' 

"3.  The  freemen  among  us  begin  to  grumble  that  the  order  of  a  Gen- 
eral Court  should  be  altered  by  a  Council,  and  talk  of  petitioning  to  the 
General  Court  about  it ;  which  we  hope  may  be  prevented. 

"4.  The  contempt  of  authority  by  one  party  seems  to  be  too  little  dis- 
countenanced ;  for  whereas  the  Court  ordered  the  people  should  vote, 
and  come  to  a  choice,  they  dismissed  the  company  and  dispersed  them- 
selves as  soon  as  they  saw  it  promoted,  and  by  such  doings  lose  an  in- 
terest in  our  hearts.  Thereby  they  would  have  brought  us,  with  them- 
selves, to  incur  the  penalty  of  a  fifty-pound  fine  for  neglect  of  it.  At 
this  time,  the  leading  men  among  them  said  they  were  not  for  division 
of  the  company,  and  owned  it  would  be  our  ruin  :  yet  at  the  sa[me  time] 
their  agents  promote  it,  and  readily  accept  of  commissions  ;  which  is 
nothing  .  .  .  if  they  can  have  their  own  wills,  they  care  not  if  the  whole 
be  .  .  .  of  their  petitioners,  which  they  subscribe  to  their  petitions,  your 
honor  .  .  .  they  have  still  in  multiplication.  Did  you  but  know  what 
pains  they  take  ...  as  they  call  it,  how  much  drink  is  spent  in  encour- 
aging weak  friends,  and  the  .  .  .  their  party  must  have  their  fill  of  cider 
in  the  morning  before  .  .  .  you  would  account  the  whole  matter,  from 
the  foundation,  .  .  ."  (Some  of  the  words  in  the  foregoing  clause  are 
obliterated  in  the  original,  as  also  the  whole  of  the  fifth  and  the  begin- 
ning of  the  sixth.) 

"5. 

"  6.  .  .  .  not  ratify  it,  for  good  reasons  well  known  to  themselves. 
But  now  the  case  is  altered.  Great  changes  have  been  in  the  world,  and 
sad  ones  among  us;  and,  among  the  rest,  our  former  reverend  pastor, 
Mr.  Shove,  is  taken  awi-iy  from  us  :  yet  we  trust  his  memory  is  precious 
to  your  honor.  We  suspect  some  friend  in  the  court  does  us  a  displeas- 
ure in  promoting  petitions.  But  good  men  miss  it.  We  can't  but  think 
of  Eli's  sin,  though  he  was  a  good  man. 

"  7.  If  the  Honored  Court  had  never  proposed  it  to  us  to  choose  a 


captain,  but  taken  the  power  of  placing  one  over  us  into  their  own  hands, 
though  most  would  have  grumbled  at  the  loss  of  their  liberty,  yet,  for 
our  parts,  we  would  have  yielded,  and  persuade  others  to  yield,  to  it; 
and  had  rather  still  that  the  court  would  put  in  whom  they  will,  pro- 
vided we  have  but  one  suu  in  our  firmament,  for  two  will  set  the  world 
on  fire. 

"  8.  The  generality  (we  perceive)  incline  not  to  list  themselves  under 
either  captain,  provided  it  might  not  be  construed  contempt  of  the 
Council ;  in  sending  which  they  will  rather  yield  to,  if  there  be  no  help 
for  it.  Many  are  persuading  Capt.  Leonard  not  to  accept  of  a  commis- 
sion on  these  terms,  but  rather  to  train  in  one  company,  though  as  a 
private  soldier.  Your  honor  by  this  time  sees  our  sore.  We  have  a 
great  deal  more  to  say,  but  shall  not  write  it  at  present.  Our  honored 
Maj.  Walley  has  been  an  eye-witness  to  our  state  (Your  Honor  but  an 
ear-witness  as  yet),  and  it  seems  a  reflection  on  our  major  that  one  or  two 
sorry  souls  should  have  such  credit  before  him  ;  but  he  is  able  to  plead 
his  own  cause.  We  are  far  too  bold  and  troublesome  to  your  Honor,  and 
crave  your  pardon.  Shall  finish  all  in  a  word  or  two.  We  humbly  pro- 
pose that  your  Honor  would  take  the  pains  to  visit  our  town  on  some 
time  appointed,  when  our  Maj.  Walley  may  be  present  also,  and  see  how 
our  state  has  been  exceedingly  misrepresented  by  such  as  may  truly  be 
called  factious  persons  and  turbulent  spirits.  We  doubt  not  but  your 
Honor  may  compose  matters  with  a  short  visit.  We  shall  be  heartily 
engaged  and  obliged  to  pay  you  due  service  for  it;  and  to  make  some 
alteration  in  under  officers  if  your  Honoradvise  to  it.  To  prevent  differ- 
ence the  people  would  yield,  though  our  town  doth  not  abound  with  men 
of  great  abilities,  and  we  should  be  at  some  loss  if  those  should  be  laid 
by  whom  we,  acting  with  best  judgment  and  discretion,  have  pitched 
upon. 

"  We  leave  the  clerk  of  the  company  to  treat  your  Honor  further, and 
with  hearty  prayers  for  your  Honor's  long  life  and  happiness,  begging 
yours  for  us,  we  rest  your  humble  supplicants, 

"Walter  Deane, 
"Nathan11  Williams, 

"  Deacons. 
"James  Walker,  Sr., 
"  William  Harvey, 
"John  Richmond, 

"  Of  the  Toivn  Council. 
"  Shadrach  Wilbore, 

"  Town  Clerk. 
"  Robert  Grossman,  Jr., 

"  Clerk  of  the  Military. 
"Peter  Walker, 
"Samuel  Hall, 

"  Constables. 
"John  Hathaway,  Sr. 

"We  sought  not  multitude  of  names  to  our  petition,  but  offices  or 
officers  (not  to  boast),  but  that  your  Honor  may  know  how  far  we  are 
engaged  in  acting  or  to  act  for  the  town,  and  that  many  eyes  are  upon 
us  to  lead  in  this  matter." 

The  trouble  assumed  so  much  importance  that  on 
the  16th  of  April.  Maj.  Walley  wrote  to  the  Governor 
about  it.  As  this  correspondence  gives  a  graphic 
picture  of  the  times,  so  much  of  his  letter  as  relates 
to  Taunton  affairs  is  also  here  given. 

The  originals  of  these  documents  are  found  in  the 
Governor  Hinckley  papers,  now  deposited  in  the 
Boston  Public  Library.  They  were  published  in 
the  collections  of  the  Massachusetts  Historical  So- 
ciety, fourth  series,  vol.  v.  : 

"  Bristol,  the  16th  April,  1690. 
"Honored  Sir, — I  received  yours  of  16th  instant,  and  do  think  that 
if  you  understood  the  motion  of  Boston  (which  might  be  some  direc- 
tion) it  would  be  proper  you  should  write  Leisler  an  answer.  I  under- 
stand they  have  sent  up  a  considerable  strength  to  Albany.  For  the 
management  of  the  affairs  of  Taunton  I  am  exceedingly  troubled,  and 
the  late  order  of  the  Council  of  War  will  be  of  very  bad  consequence, 
and  (if  you  will  pardon  me),  I  will  say,  contrary  to  the  order  of  the 
General  Court,  which  order  is  first  to  be  observed.  They  had  no  liberty 
to  be  two  companies,  unless  they  could  agree  to  divide  by  the  ground, 
which  they  could  not;  and  then,  by  order  of  the  General  Court,  they 


TAUNTON. 


749 


were  to  proceed  to  choice,  and  were  promised  the  major  vote  should  be 
accepted.  Now,  contrary  to  order,  to  go  about  to  please  a  minor  part, 
less  by  far,  both  in  weight  and  number;  a  pleasing  of  a  party  that  a 
great  many  of  them,  I  am  afraid,  will  be  angry  with  their  minister  ere 
long,  and  ready  to  oppose  all  that  doth  not  please  them.  Had  you  at- 
tended order  surely  it  had  been  the  safest  way.  You  have  given  sue  h  a 
precedent  as  never  was  in  N.  E.,  and  other  towns  are  a-pleading  for  the 
benefit  of  it ;  ami  we  shall  want  not  only  two,  but  ten  captains  in  a  town, 
But,  sir,  though  I  write  this  to  you,  yet  Intend  it  chiefly  for  the  gentle- 
men that  promoted  the  sending  of  two  commissions.  1  have  them  yet  both 
by  me,  and  at  present  shall  forbear  sending  either  of  them.  To  send  Cap- 
tain Leonard,  I  had  almost  said,  an  illegal  commission,  I  am  not  willing, 
and,  if  he  be  wise  (if  I  should),  he  would  not  accept  it.  Macey's  party, 
by  virtue  of  the  order  of  Council,  are  daily  listing  soldiers,  and  take  all 
opportunities  to  wheedle  in  all  the  youngsters  they  can.  The  other 
party  look  upon  proceedings  not  to  be  proper,  and  so  lie  still.  They  are 
grown  to  that  pass,  that  I  despair  of  any  success  of  giving  them  a  meet- 
ing; and  there  is  nothing  will  tend  to  peace,  but  for  some  (Mr.  Cotton, 
Ac.)  that  have  an  interest  in  Macey  to  persuade  him,  for  the  peace  of 
the  town,  to  lay  down,  which  I  believe  he  will  hardly  be  persuaded  to. 
I  could  enlarge,  but  I  must  forbear.  My  thoughts  are  to  keep  the  com- 
missions, and  acquaint  them  from  yourself  and  others  of  the  Council.  I 
am  advised  so  to  do  until  further  order,  and,  in  the  mean  time,  to  re- 
quire him  as  lieutenant,  and  Mr.  Leonard  as  ensign,  by  virtue  of  former 
order,  and  until  further  order  to  take  care,  with  the  rest  of  the  Town  Coun- 
cil, to  meet  and  order  watching,  warding,  and  scouting  as  they  judge 
needful.  Swansey  have  had  another  choice :  chose  Brooks,  captain  ; 
James  Cole,  lieutenant ;  and  Robert  Sanford,  ensign,  which  have  moved 
each  according  to  the  rules  of  discipline,  and  the  choice,  as  things  are 
circumstanced,  most  likely  for  peace.  But  Cole  and  his  party  are  dis- 
contented; they  are  the  least  part  and  least  considerable.  But  they 
will  want  Taunton  liberty,  if  that  may  go  for  a  precedent." 

In  order,  if  possible,  to  terminate  the  whole  diffi- 
culty, the  General  Court  at  their  meeting  May  20, 
1690,  passed  the  following  : 

"Whereas,  There  have  been  and  are  several  uncomfortable  differences 
in  the  town  of  Taunton  respecting  their  military  company,  especially 
relating  to  the  officers  thereof,  and  several  ways  have  been  propounded 
and  tried  for  the  r  conciling  and  healing  thereof,  all  which  have  proved 
ineffectual  to  accomplish  the  same,  and  there  having  been  several 
choices  of  officers  among  them,  against  all  of  which  there  have  been 
objections  made  as  to  the  legality  thereof,  it  is  therefore  ordered  by  this 
Court  and  the  authority  thereof  that  the  soldiers  and  inhabitants  of  the 
town  of  Taunton  meet  on  the  2  day  of  June  next,  at  ten  of  the  clock, 
the  soldiers  complete  in  their  arms,  and  that  they  make  a  choice  of 
military  officers  according  to  law,  and  that  their  choice  be  returned  to 
the  next  General  Court,  and  that  the  whole  company  be  under  the  com- 
mand of  Lieut.  Macey  as  chief,  and  Ensign  Leonard  under  the  major  in 
the  mean  time;  and  Mr.  Smith  and  Major  Walley,  one  or  both,  are  de- 
sired to  be  there  to  see  a  fair  choice.  And  this  notwithstanding  any 
former  act  of  the  General  Court,  or  order  of  the  Council  of  War." 

Nothing  further  of  interest  appears  in  the  Plymouth 
Colony  records  touching  the  military  affairs  of  Taun- 
ton. In  1691,  Plymouth  Colony  was  united  with 
Massachusetts  under  the  province  charter.  The  mil- 
itary history  of  the  town  beyond  this  period  will  be 
treated  by  other  hands. 


CHAPTEK    LXI. 

TAUNTON.1— {Continue,!.) 

Among  the  earliest  matters  that  received  attention 
by  the  General  Court,  when  new  settlements  began 
to  be  made  beyond  the  limits  of  Plymouth,  was  that 

1  By  James  Henry  Dean. 


of  regulating  the  receiving  in  of  persons  to  such 
plantations  or  neighborhoods  and  the  disposing  of 
lands  to  them.  A  form  of  deputation  or  committee- 
ship was  adopted  for  the  government  of  such  as  in  any 
of  the  new  plantations  might  be  intrusted  with  this 
duty.  They  were  to  receive  in  such  persons  as  might 
be  fit  to  live  together  in  the  fear  of  God  and  obedience 
to  the  king,  in  peace  and  love  as  becometh  Christian 
people,  and  they  were  to  dispose  of  such  equal  and  fit 
portions  of  land  unto  them  as  the  several  estates, 
ranks,  and  qualities  of  such  persons  as  the  Almighty 
in  His  providence  should  send  in  among  them  should 
require. 

It  seems  that  a  committee  for  this  purpose  had  been 
authorized  in  Taunton,  for  in  June,  1641,  the  General 
Court  passed  the  following  : 

"Whereas,  those  seven  first  freemen,  men  of  Taunton,  that  have  un- 
dergone great  travel  and  charges  about  the  attending  of  the  courts, 
laying  out  of  lands,  and  other  occasions  for  the  town,  it  is  thought  meet 
by  the  government  that  therefore  they  have  a  proportion  of  land  in  some 
convenient  place  lying  together  assigned  them,  so  that  it  exceed  not  the 
quantity  of  forty  acres  apiece,  besides  the  other  proportions  of  lands  in 
other  places  as  other  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  said  town  of  Taunton 
have,  when  the  said  lands  shall  come  to  be  divided  hereafter." 

A  reference  is  made  to  a  previous  book  for  their 
names,  upon  turning  to  which  we  find  they  were  Wil- 
liam Pool,  John  Gilbert,  Sr.,  Henry  Andrews,  John 
Strong,  John  Dean,  Walter  Dean,  and  Edward  Case. 
These  are  the  same  mentioned  in  the  list  of  1637  as 
freemen  of  Cohannett,  and  who  are  again  named  as 
admitted  and  sworn  in  December,  1638.  They  were 
the  only  freemen  in  Taunton  until  1641,  when  Wil- 
liam Parker  and  John  Parker  were  admitted.  The 
public  offices  were  filled  by  them  until  that  year. 
John  Strong  was  appointed  the  first  constable  in 
1638,  and  was  appointed  again  in  1639.  William 
Pool  was  appointed  the  chief  military  officer  of  the 
town,  with  the  title  of  captain,  in  1639,  and  seems  to 
have  retained  the  position  for  many  years.  William 
Pool,  John  Gilbert,  and  Henry  Andrews  were  chosen 
the  first  deputies  to  the  General  Court  in  1639,  and  in 
1640  Edward  Case  and  Walter  Dean  were  the  depu- 
ties, and  John  Dean  was  constable.  As  the  number 
admitted  to  the  privileges  of  freemen  increased  in  the 
town,  the  public  offices  were  shared  among  them. 
But  these  first  seven,  so  long  as  they  lived  and  re- 
mained here,  were  prominent  in  all  town  and  public 
affairs,  and  for  a  large  part  of  the  time  held  some  im- 
portant office.  They  gave  character  and  direction  to 
the  young  settlement,  and  to  them,  if  to  any  more 
than  to  all  the  first  purchasers,  belongs  the  honorable 
title  of  fathers  of  the  town. 

The  rights  and  duties  of  freemen  were  so  important, 
and  so  nearly  affected  the  management  of  all  town  as 
well  as  the  more  public  affairs  of  the  colony,  that  it 
may  not  be  out  of  place  to  give  here  the  laws  regu- 
lating their  admission  and  prescribing  those  rights 
and  duties.  Church  membership  does  not  seem  to 
have  been  made  a  condition  of  admission,  as  was  the 
case  in  the  Massachusetts  Colony,  although,  as  a  mat- 


750 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


ter  of  practice,  it  probably  amounted  to  very  nearly 
that.  In  1656  it  was  ordered  that  "  hereafter  such  as 
are  admitted  to  be  freemen,  the  deputies  of  such 
towns  where  such  persons  live  shall  propound  them 
to  the  court,  being  such  as  have  been  also  approved 
by  the  freemen  in  that  town  where  such  persons  live  ;" 
and  in  1657  it  was  ordered  that  "  upon  satisfying  tes- 
timony given  from  the  freemen  of  their  town  by  their 
deputies,  such  to  be  forthwith  received  without  any 
further  delay  at  the  same  court  where  such  testimony 
is  given."  But  in  1658  this  rule  seems  to  have  been 
thought  too.broad,  and  it  was  ordered  that  "  all  such 
as  shall  be  admitted  freemen  shall  stand  one  whole 
year  propounded  to  the  court,  viz.,  to  be  propounded 
at  one  June  court,  and  to  stand  so  propounded  until 
the  June  court  following,  and  then  to  be  admitted  if 
the  court  shall  not  see  cause  to  the  contrary." 

By  a  law  of  1674  lists  of  the  freemen  in  each  town 
were  to  be  kept  upon  the  town  record,  and  no  man's 
name  was  to  be  brought  into  the  court  to  be  pro- 
pounded unless  he  had  had  the  approbation  of  the 
major  part  of  the  freemen  at  home,  which  was  to  be 
signified  to  the  court  under  the  town  clerk's  hand  by 
the  deputies. 

In  1652  it  was  enacted  "  that  no  Quaker  rantor  or 
any  such  corrupt  person  shall  be  admitted  to  be  a 
freeman  of  this  corporation. 

"  That  all  such  as  are  opposers  of  the  good  and  wholesome  laws  of  this 
Colony,  or  manifest  opposers  of  the  true  worship  of  God,  or  such  as  re- 
fuse to  do  the  Country  service  being  called  thereunto,  shall  not  be  ad- 
mitted freemen  of  this  corporation,  being  duly  convicted  of  all  or  any 
of  these. 

"That  if  any  that  are  freemen  that  are  Quakers  or  manifest  encour- 
agers  of  such  and  so  judged  by  the  court,  or  such  as  shall  speak  con- 
temptuously of  the  court  and  the  laws  thereof,  and  such  as  are  judged 
by  the  court  grossly  scandalous,  as  liars,  drunkards,  swearers  &,c.  shall 
lose  their  freedom  of  this  corporation." 

At  first  the  whole  body  of  freemen  were  required 
to  be  present  at  every  court,  and  a  fine  of  three  shil- 
lings was  imposed  for  absence. 

In  1646  it  was  required  that  the  whole  body  of  free- 
men should  appear  at  the  Election  Court  the  first 
Tuesday  in  June  annually,  and  that  they  should  then 
present  such  deputies  as  had  been  chosen  by  their 
towns.  In  1660  the  fine  for  not  appearing  at  the 
June  court  of  election  was  ten  shillings,  unless  a 
reasonable  excuse  could  be  shown.  By  a  law  of  1646 
towns  were  fined  forty  shillings  for  not  sending  depu- 
ties, and  deputies  twenty  shillings  for  not  appearing, 
unless  they  had  a  reasonable  excuse. 

In  1669  it  was  enacted  that  none  should  vote  in 
town-meetings  but  freemen  or  freeholders  of  twenty 
pounds  ratable  estate  and  of  good  conversation,  hav- 
ing taken  the  oath  of  fidelity ;  and  in  1678  it  was 
further  provided  that  a  list  of  all  that  had  taken  the 
oath  of  fidelity  should  be  kept  by  the  town  clerk  of 
every  town. 

As  early  as  1636  it  was  enacted  "  that  an  oath  of 
allegiance  to  the  King  and  fidelity  to  the  Govern- 
ment and  the  several  Colonies  therein  be  taken  of 


every  person  that  shall  live  within  or  under  the  same  ;" 
and  in  1642  the  admission  of  inhabitants  was  regu- 
lated by  an  enactment  "  that  none  shall  come  to  in- 
habit without  leave,  and  any  intruding  themselves 
without  regard  to  such  order,  shall  forthwith  be 
warned  to  go  out  of  the  Colony,  which  if  they  shall 
not  speedily  do  then  every  offender  to  pay  five  shil- 
lings a  week  for  every  week's  continuance."  But  it 
was  also  provided  "  that  every  person  living  quietly 
in  a  place  and  not  excepted  against  for  three  months 
shall  be  reputed  an  inhabitant." 

The  oath  of  a  freeman,  as  established  in  1636,  was 
as  follows : 

"  You  shall  be  truly  loyal  to  our  sovereign  Lord 
the  King,  his  heirs  and  successors.  You  shall  not  do 
nor  speak,  devise  or  advise  anything  or  things,  act 
or  acts  directly  or  indirectly  by  land  or  water  that 
shall  or  may  tend  to  the  destruction  or  overthrow  of 
any  of  these  plantations  or  townships  of  the  Corpora- 
tion of  New  Plymouth  ;  neither  shall  you  suffer  the 
same  to  be  spoken  or  done,  but  shall  hinder,  oppose, 
and  discover  the  same  to  the  Governor  and  Assistants 
of  the  said  Colony  for  the  time  being  or  some  one  of 
them ;  you  shall  faithfully  submit  unto  such  good 
and  wholesome  laws  and  ordinances,  as  either  are  or 
shall  be  made  for  the  ordering  and  government  of  the 
same ;  and  shall  endeavor  to  advance  the  good  and 
growth  of  the  several  townships  and  plantations 
within  the  limits  of  this  Corporation  by  all  due  means 
and  courses;  all  which  you  promise  and  swear  by  the 
name  of  the  great  God  of  heaven  and  earth,  simply, 
truly,  and  faithfully  to  perform  as  you  hope  for  help 
from  God,  who  is  the  God  of  truth  and  the  punisher 
of  falsehood." 

These  stringent  requirements,  as  also  the  obliga- 
tion of  frequent  attendance  at  the  General  Courts  at 
Plymouth,  and  of  accepting  offices  requiring  much 
outlay  of  time,  under  penalty  of  a  fine  for  non-ac- 
ceptance, tended  to  keep  the  number  of  freemen, 
as  compared  with  the  whole  number  of  male  in- 
habitants, relatively  small.  The  oath  of  allegiance 
and  fidelity  was  required  of  all  male  inhabitants  of 
legal  age,  and  such  were  allowed  to  vote  in  town 
affairs  if  they  possessed  the  necessary  property  quali- 
fication. The  latter  qualification,  considerable  for 
those  of  small  means,  probably  cut  off  many  from 
participation  in  public  affairs  who  possessed  every 
other  qualification. 

For  convenience  of  arrangement  it  is  proposed  to 
give  the  history  of  the  town  during  the  colonial 
period  as  shown  by  the  action  of  the  General  Court 
touching  particular  individuals  as  well  as  town 
affairs,  and  afterwards  as  it  may  be  gathered  from 
the  proprietors'  records  and  from  other  sources. 

The  earliest  recorded  marriage  is  given  as  follows  : 
"  Richard  Paul  and  Margery  Turner,  of  Cohannett, 
were  married  the  8lh  of  November,  1638."  The  next 
two  are  "  William  Harvey  and  Joane  Hucker,  of 
Cohannett,    married    the    second   of   April,    1639." 


TAUxNTON. 


751 


"Thomas  Gilbert  and  Jane  Rossiter,  of  Taunton, 
married  the  23d  of  March,  1639"  (1640  new  style). 
Jane  Rossiter  was  the  daughter  of  Hugh  Rossiter,  one 
of  the  first  purchasers.  Paul,  Harvey,  and  Gilbert 
were  also  among  the  first  purchasers.  At  first  all 
marriages  seem  to  have  been  solemnized  at  Plymouth, 
before  the  Governor  or  some  one  of  the  magistrates. 
Afterwards  persons  were  appointed  in  the  different 
towns  to  perform  the  ceremony.  In  1650,  Mr.  Wil- 
liam Parker  was  deputed  by  the  court  to  marry  per- 
sons in  Taunton.  In  1657  the  court  "  deputed  some 
special  men  in  the  towns  of  Taunton,  Barnstable, 
and  Rehoboth,  in  regard  of  their  far  distance  of  place 
from  any  magistrates,  to  administer  marriage,  and  to 
administer  an  oath  to  give  true  testimony  and  infor- 
mation to  the  grand  inquest,  and  likewise  in  His  High- 
ness' name  to  issue  forth  warrants  to  subpoena  in  wit- 
nesses to  give  testimony  to  the  court  or  grand  inquest 
in  such  cases."  Mr.  William  Parker  was  appointed 
for  Taunton. 

In  1662,  James  Walker  was  authorized  to  admin- 
ister an  oath  as  occasion  should  require,  as  also  to 
marry  persons,  William  Parker  having  died  about 
that  time.  In  1684,  Thomas  Leonard  received  the 
same  authority,  which  he  continued  to  exercise  for 
many  years. 

In  March,  1655,  the  court  ordered  that  "  Whereas 
sundry  persons  have  died  at  Taunton,  whose  wills 
and  the  inventories  of  their  estates  have  not  been  or- 
derly proved,  in  regard  those  whom  it  concerneth, 
being  widows  cannot  conveniently  travel  to  the  court, 
Mr.  Browne  is  deputed  by  the  Court  to  require  them 
to  take  oath  to  such  wills  and  inventories  at  Taun- 
ton, that  so  they  may  be  recorded  according  to  order." 
This  Mr.  Browne  was  John  Browne,  whose  name 
stands  at  the  end  of  the  list  of  purchasers.  He  had 
moved  to  Rehoboth  before  the  above  date,  being  one 
of  the  first  settlers  in  that  town.  He  was  for  many 
years  one  of  the  Governor's  assistants,  and  held  other 
prominent  and  responsible  positions. 

Richard  Paul  was  licensed  to  keep  a  victimling- 
house  at  Taunton  in  1640.  He  was  propounded  to 
take  up  his  freedom  in  1647,  and  again  in  1653,  but 
there  is  no  record  that  he  was  ever  admitted. 

At  the  March  court,  1641,  "Mr.  Francis  Doughty, 
of  Taunton,  for  selling  a  pound  of  gunpowder  to  the 
natives  (contrary  to  the  acts  and  orders  of  the  court), 
which  was  confessed  by  himself,  is  fined  30  shillings." 
At  the  same  court,  "  Edward  Hall,  servant  to  Francis 
Doughty,  for  swearing  profanely,  is  sentenced  to  be 
set  in  the  stocks,  which  was  accordingly  done." 
Among  the  presentments  by  the  grand  inquest  was 
the  following :  "  We  present  .  .  .  the  son  of  widow 
Hoble  for  swearing.  Witness,  William  Evans,  John 
Golope."  The  widow  of  William  Hobell,  one  of  the 
first  purchasers,  was  probably  referred  to  by  "  widow 
Hoble." 

At  the  June  court,  1641,  "  the  town  of  Taunton  is 
granted  the  thirty  shillings,  the  fine  of  Mr.  Francis 


Doughty,  upon  condition  that  the  townsmen  of 
Taunton  shall  make  all  the  swamps  betwixt  Plym- 
outh and  Taunton  passable  for  man  and  horse." 
The  grant  of  this  sum  does  not  seem  to  have  proved 
a  sufficiently  powerful  inducement  for  the  town  to  do 
the  work,  for  at  the  court  in  October,  1647,  the  fol- 
lowing action  was  taken  :  "  Whereas,  the  township  of 
Taunton  had  a  line  of  thirty  shillings  given  unto 
them  for  and  towards  the  amending  of  their'  high- 
ways in  certain  swamps,  the  court  understanding  that 
they,  having  received  the  said  fine,  but  not  done  the 
said  work,  doth  order  that  the  work  be  forthwith 
sufficiently  done,  or  else  that  the  money  be  repaid  by 
them  to  the  treasurer  for  the  government's  use  by 
March  court  next.  Mr.  Browne  undertook  that  the 
one  of  the  two  should  be  done."  But  even  Mr. 
Browne's  undertaking  seemed  to  effect  nothing,  for 
two  years  after  "  the  town  of  Taunton  was  presented 
for  not  mending  the  highways  between  Taunton  and 
Plymouth,  which  they  are  ordered  by  the  court  to  do, 
or  to  return  the  thirty  shillings  fine  of  Francis 
Doughty  allowed  them  for  that  end."  In  March, 
1649,  again,  "  We  present  the  way  wardens  or  survey- 
ors of  Taunton  for  neglecting  to  mend  the  high- 
ways." The  surveyors  were  John  Dean  and  Richard 
Stasy.  It  appears  by  an  entry  in  the  margin  of  the 
record  that  they  were  cleared.  Whether  the  swamps 
between  Taunton  and  Plymouth  were  made  passable 
may  be  doubtful,  but  no  further  action  in  reference 
to  Mr.  Doughty's  fine  was  taken. 

In  March,  1645,  "  information  was  given  unto  the 
court  by  Mr.  Browne,  that  John  Gilbert,  Jr.,  of 
Taunton,  was  vehemently  suspected  of  felony  for 
divers  things,  and  obtaining  leave  to  go  for  England, 
made  over  his  estate  in  Taunton  and  elsewhere, 
amounting  to  the  sum  of  forty  pounds,  or  thereabouts, 
unto  Nathaniel  Sowther,  for  and  on  behalf  of  the 
government  of  New  Plymouth,  for  saving  this  gov- 
ernment harmless  concerning  such  things  as  might  or 
may  be  objected  against  him  for  or  concerning  any 
matter  or  thing  of  such  like  nature,  and  for  the  an- 
swering of  all  such  matters  the  next  court,  or  else 
the  next  General  Court  after  his  return  out  of  En<*- 
land,  to  answer  in  his  own  person,  which  is  to  be  in 
two  years  next  ensuing."  At  the  June  court  follow- 
ing he  was  called,  but  neither  he  nor  any  for  him 
made  answer.  At  the  same  court,  John  Maycumber, 
of  Taunton,  was  fined  five  pounds  "for  abusing  the 
magistrates  in  concealing  and  misinforming  the  last 
Governor  and  Mr.  Browne,  and  divers  other  of  the 
assistants  in  the  case  of  John  Gilbert,  Jr.,  whereby 
he  is  at  large,  and  divers  persons  are  deprived  of  re- 
ceiving their  goods  again,  and  the  said  Gilbert  is 
gone  into  England."  William  Parker  and  Richard 
Williams  became  bound  for  his  appearance  at  the 
next  court. 

William  Halloway  complained  to  the  court  in 
June,  1646,  that  an  old  woman  whom  he  brought  out 
of  England  was  chargeable  to  him,  whereupon  the 


752 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


The  reference  to  the  men  deputed  by  the  town  to 
order  their  special  affairs  shows  that  it  was  the  prac- 
tice thus  early  to  choose  selectmen,  although  it  was 
not  until  several  years  after  that  the  law  was  passed 
requiring  the  towns  to  do  so. 

At  the  court  in  March,  1654,  the  following  action 
was  taken  :  "  Whereas,  the  wife  of  Mr.  Thomas  Gil- 
bert hath  desired  by  her  letter  that  her  servant,  who 
hath  received  some  hurt,  and  is  now  in  Mr.  Street's 
family,  that  there  he  might  remain  until  her  husband 
return  from  England ;  the  court  hath  granted  her  re- 
quest, provided  that  Mr.  Street  be  freely  willing  to 
give  him  entertainment,  but  if  not  these  were  to  re- 
quire the  constable  of  Taunton  to  see  that  the  said 
servant  be  provided  for  in  some  convenient  place,  and 
that  he  return  not  unto  his  mistress  until  his  cause 
be  heard  and  further  order  taken  in  the  same." 


court  took  it  into  consideration  and  requested  him  to 
deliver  her  to  the  town,  or  whom  they  should  appoint 
to  receive  her,  with  her  clothes  and  bedding  and  such 
things  as  she  had,  and  the  town  was  to  take  order  for 
her  maintenance. 

At  the  June  court,  1649,  Edward  Bobbit,  of  Taun- 
ton, was  presented  for  receiving  pay  for  stolen  "wam- 
pom,"  and  Thomas  Gilbert,  constable  of  Taunton,  was 
presented  for  letting  go  of  one  whom  he  knew  to  have 
stolen  a  quantity  of  "  wampampege,"  and  was  sus- 
pected of  other  things.  But  their  reputations  were 
relieved  from  these  stains  by  being  cleared. 

At  the  October  court  following,  John  Hathaway, 
of  Taunton,  was  presented  for  lending  a  gun  to  an 
Indian.  He  was  cleared,  with  admonition  to  take 
heed  for  the  future.  William  Shepherd,  of  Taunton, 
at  the  court  in  May,  1650,  confessed  himself  guilty  of 
a  crime  not  so  readily  excused,  that  of  purloining  cer- 
tain goods  from  his  mother-in-law.  He  was  sentenced 
to  return  the  goods  and  to  be  whipped  at  the  post,  the 
latter  of  which  was  forthwith  performed. 

At  the  October  court,  1648,  James  Walker,  of 
Taunton,  informed  against  William  Hedggis,  for 
that  the  said  Hedggis,  knowing  of  one  that  had 
traded  shot  unto  the  Indians,  and  refusing  to  de- 
clare who  it  was,  by  a  summons  sent  unto  him  was 
required  to  appear  at  the  next  General  Court ;  ac- 
cordingly he  did,  and  was  cleared.  At  the  court  in 
June,  1651,  the  grand  jurymen  of  Taunton  were  pre- 
sented for  being  absent.  George  Macey  and  William 
Hailstone  were  the  delinquents. 

The  following  is  interesting  as  showing  the  minute 
care  exercised  by  the  court  regarding  paupers  and 
others  falling  into  distress  : 

June,  1653.  "Whereas,  complaint  is  made  of  Thomas  Brayman,  of 
Taunton,  that  by  reason  of  a  distracted  condition  in  which  he  is,  that 
both  himself  and  wife  are  out  of  any  employment  which  may  conduce 
to  their  maintenance  and  subsistence,  the  Court  have  ordered  that  such 
of  the  town  of  Taunton  who  are  deputed  by  the  said  town  to  order  the 
especial  affairs  thereof,  shall  dispose  of  the  said  Brayman  as  they  shall 
think  meet  for  one  in  such  condition,  and  that  his  wife  be  put  forth  to 
service,  being  young  and  fit  for  the  same,  and  having  no  other  way  so 
likely  to  procure  her  maintenance." 


The  matter  was  again  referred  to  in  March,  1658,  as 
follows:  "Concerning  Joseph  Gray,  servant  to  Mrs. 
Gilbert,  of  Taunton,  who  was  some  time  since  frozen 
on  his  feet,  and  still  is  lame  thereof.  These  are  from 
the  Court  to  the  town  of  Taunton,  to  request  them 
that  whereas  there  is  hopes  that  this  spring  he  may  be 
cured,  if  endeavors  be  used  for  that  end,  that  they 
would  please  to  take  some  course,  either  into  the  Bay 
or  elsewhere,  for  his  cure;  and  what  expense  they 
shall  be  at  about  the  same,  in  regard  that  his  said 
mistress  is  not  in  a  capacity  to  defray  the  charge,  in 
case  her  husband  do  come  again  into  the  country, 
and  be  found  able,  he  shall  satisfy  the  said  charge; 
if  not,  the  Court  hopes  it  will  not  be  unrewarded  of 
God."  In  May  following  the  court  ordered  that  a 
speedy  course  be  taken  for  his  cure,  and  that  the  town 
should  make  a  rate  to  defray  the  charge. 

Jonathan  Briggs,  servant  of  William  Hailstone,  of 
Taunton,  complained  to  the  court  in  June,  1654,  that 
his  master  had  not  performed  his  covenants  to  him, — 
in  that  he  did  not  learn  him  the  trade  of  a  tailor,  and 
the  court  ordered  that  Hailstone  should  pay  his  ser- 
vant fifteen  pounds  in  good  and  current  pay  with  all 
convenient  speed.  In  the  record  of  the  court  in  Oc- 
tober, 1655,  appears  the  following  : 

"  Whereas  an  execution  was  issued  out  of  the  Court  in  March  last 
against  William  Hailstone,  of  Tannton,  in  the  behalf  of  Jonathan 
Briggs,  of  Taunton  aforesaid ;  and  one  cow  and  two  steers  were  thereby 
seized  by  the  marshal,  being  in  the  custody  of  the  said  Hailstone  and 
known  to  be  his  cattle;  and  at  the  seizing  and  prizing  of  the  same  the 
said  Hailstone  did  not  at  all  make  any  intimation,  nor  any  else,  that 
any  other  person  had  any  title  to  any  of  them,  as  the  marshal  testifieth  ; 
but  after  they  were  delivered  unto  the  said  Briggs,  Nicholas  White,  of 
Taunton  hath  petitioned  the  Court  that  the  two  steers  were  not  Hail- 
stone's, but  his  by  a  former  bargain,  and  paid  for  by  him  without  any 
fraud,  as  he  saith.  The  court  hath  taken  the  same  into  consideration 
and  ordered  that  at  Mr.  Browue's  return  home  he  call  the  said  White 
and  Hailstone  before  him  ;  that  if  the  said  White  do  produce  testimony 
upon  oath  that  if  the  steer  was  bought  and  delivered  for  his  use  before 
the  execution  was  served,  then  the  steers  to  be  returned  to  White,  and 
Hailstone  caused  to  make  payment  in  other  goods,  else  the  steers  to  re- 
main as  the  goods  of  the  said  Briggs,  his  steers,  to  be  disposed  of  by  him 
to  his  best  advantage. 

"  William  Bradford, 
"Timothy  Hatherly, 
"John  Alden." 


It  is  probable  that  the  steers  were  found  to  belong 
to  White,  for  at  the  next  June  court  the  constable  of 
Taunton  was  ordered,  in  case  Hailstone  did  not  pay 
the  judgment,  to  attach  his  goods  in  satisfaction 
thereof,  and  for  want  of  goods  to  attach  his  person 
and  keep  him  safely  until  the  next  court.  This 
proved  effectual,  and  the  process  was  returned  satis- 
fied with  Briggs'  receipt  thereon  as  follows :  "  I, 
Jonathan  Briggs,  do  most  thankfully  certify  that  I 
have  received  full  satisfaction  of  William  Hailstone 
of  the  sum  of  fifteen  pounds,"  etc.,  "  and  hereunto  I 
have  set  my  hand  June  21,  1656."  The  following 
September  Briggs  appeared  at  court,  and  for  divers 
reasons  and  considerations  made  choice  of  Mr.  Thomas 
Prence,  of  Eastham,  to  be  his  guardian  until  he  was 
twenty-one.  The  court  afterwards  allowed  to  James 
Walker,  for  his  pains  and  charges  about  the  foregoing 


TAUNTON. 


753 


controversy  the  sum  of  twenty  shillings,  and  the 
court  conceived  that  Briggs  ought  to  satisfy  Walker 
further  what  was  meet  in  the  premises,  at  least  to 
make  it  up  to  forty  shillings. 

A  complaint  was  made  at  the  June  court,  1657, 
against  Robert  Crossman,  of  Taunton,  for  wronging 
an  apprentice  of  his,  and  the  selectmen  were  ordered 
to  take  course  about  the  same  so  that  the  said  servant 
be  heard  in  any  just  complaint,  and  relieved.  But  in 
case  it  could  not  be  so  settled,  both  master  and  ser- 
vant were  ordered  to  appear  at  tbe  court  of  assistants 
to  be  held  at  Plymouth  the  next  August.  At  the 
March  court,  1655,  appears  the  following  among  the 
presentments  of  the  grand  inquest:  "We  present 
Robert  Crossman  for  breaking  open  the  pound  by 
taking  down  a  rail  and  taking  out  his  calves,  tending 
to  breach  of  peace  and  disturbance  of  the  neighbor- 
hood." March,  1657,  we  find  it  thus  recorded,  "  Rob- 
ert Crossman,  for  attempting  to  strike  George  Macey 
with  a  fire  brand,  and  for  violently  thrusting  of  him 
out  of  his  house,  coming  in  with  his  leave,  fined  five 
shillings." 

Another  instance  of  violence  between  neighbors 
appears  among  the  presentments  at  the  June  court, 
1656:  "We  present  Timothy  Holway,  of  Taunton, 
for  his  evil  carriage  unto  Peter  Pitts,  tending  unto 
the  breach  of  the  peace ;  that  is  to  say,  that  if  Peter 
Pitts  did  stir  to  drive  the  oxen  which  then  he  had  in 
his  possession  going  to  work,  that  he,  that  is,  the 
aforesaid  Timothy,  would  strike  Peter  down,  having 
a  pitch-fork  in  his  hand,  although  he  should  be  pres- 
ently hanged  for  it."  In  the  margin  it  is  recorded, 
"since  cleared  with  admonition." 

About  this  time  the  town  commenced  action  to  rid 
themselves  of  certain  persons  of  ill  repute  and  con- 
versation, who  had  come  to  inhabit  among  them. 
The  first  action  taken  was  at  the  February  court, 
1656,  and  was  as  follows  : 

"At  this  Court  the  constable  of  Taunton  brought  a  certain  Scote,  a 
single  man,  and  an  Irish  woman  named  Katheren  Aimes,  whom  he  had 
apprehended  upon  suspicion  of  committing  adultery  each  with  other; 
but  the  Court,  having  examined  them,  could  not  proceed  to  punish 
them  for  want  of  clearer  evidence,  but  having  intelligence  that  sundry 
in  Taunton  could  give  evidence  in  the  case,  who  were  not  present,  the 
Court  committed  the  said  man  and  woman  to  the  custody  of  the  mar- 
shal until  the  next  Court,  and  summoned  in  the  witnesses  to  appear  at 
the  said  Court,  viz.,  Alexander  Aines,  John  Muckclay,  Daniell  Mac- 
keuey,  Scotsmen,  and  a  certain  Irish  woman  named  Elizabeth  ;  her 
other  name  none  present  do  know."' 

At  the  next  court  in  March  the  name  of  the  "  cer- 
tain Scote"  appears  as  William  Paule,  and  for  bis 
unclean  and  filthy  behavior  with  the  wife  of  Alexan- 
der Aimes  he  was  sentenced  to  be  forthwith  publicly 
whipped,  and  to  pay  the  officers  the  charges  of  his 
imprisonment  and  punishment,  which  accordingly 
was  performed.  Katheren  Aimes,  for  her  participa- 
tion in  the  crime,  and  for  the  blasphemous  words  by 
her  spoken,  was  sentenced  to  be  forthwith  publicly 
whipped  at  Plymouth,  and  afterwards  at  Taunton,  on 
a  public  training-day,  and  to  wear  a  Roman  B  cut 
out  of  red  cloth,  and  sewed  to  her  upper  garment  on 
48 


her  right  arm.  And  Alexander  Aimes,  for  his  leaving 
his  family  and  exposing  his  wife  to  such  temptations, 
and  being  as  bad  to  her  therein,  was  sentenced  to  sit 
in  the  stocks  the  time  said  Paule  and  Katheren  Aimes 
are  whipped,  which  was  performed  ;  and  he  was  further 
ordered  to  pay  the  charges  of  his  wife's  imprisonment 
and  punishment,  which,  because  he  was  very  poor,  he 
was  to  pay  by  twelve  pence  a  week  until  it  was  all 
paid,  and  James  Walker,  of  Taunton,  was  appointed 
to  receive  it  in  the  country's  behalf. 

At  the  court  in  October,  1657,  the  affairs  of  Taun- 
ton received  a  good  deal  of  attention,  as  appears 
from  the  record  following: 

"Whereas  complaint  is  made  to  the  Court  by  the  inhabitants  and 
townsmen  of  Taunton  that  sundry  unworthy  and  defamed  persons  have 
thrust  themselves  into  the  said  town  to  inhabit  there,  not  having  appro- 
bation of  any  two  magistrates,  according  to  an  order  of  Court,  and  con- 
trary to  the  minds  of  divers  of  the  inhabitants,  to  their  grievance,  the 
Court,  having  taken  their  condition  into  serious  consideration,  doth 
order, — 

"1.  That  no  such  person  be  entertained  by  any  inhabitant  of  the 
town,  on  the  penalty  of  forfeiting  twenty  shillings  for  every  week  that 
they  shall  entertain  them  without  the  approbation  of  the  five  selectmen 
appointed  to  order  the  public  affairs  of  the  town;  and  iu  special  that 
William  Paule  and  his  wife  be  forthwith  expelled  the  town. 

"2.  Likewise,  it  is  ordered,  that  you  give  warning  to  your  townsmen, 
that  no  person  or  persons  of  your  town  do  sell,  hire,  or  give  house  or 
land  to  any  person,  so  as  thereby  to  bring  them  in  to  be  inhabitants 
amongst  them,  but  such  as  have  approbation  of  two  of  the  magistrates 
at  least,  according  to  au  ancieut  order  of  Court,  as  they  will  answer 
their  contempt  in  doing  the  contrary. 

"  3  and  4.  For  your  third  and  fourth  grievance,  we  conceive  that  if 
your  constable  and  grandjurymen  do  their  duties,  there  will  be  a  full 
redress  of  such  abuses. 

"5.  Mr.  William  Parker,  being  deputed  by  the  Court  to  administer  an 
oath  to  give  true  testimony  to  the  grand  inquest,  and  likewise  in  his 
highness'  name  to  issue  forth  warrants  to  subpcena  in  witnesses  to  give 
testimony  to  the  Court  or  grand  inquest  iu  such  cases,  that  the  Court 
order  in  the  premises  be  improved  as  occasion  shall  require  as  a  prepar- 
ative way  to  further  justice. 

"  Lastly,  the  Court  doth  order  that  the  five  selectmen  of  your  town — 
viz.,  Capt,  William  Pole,  George  Hall,  Mr.  William  Parker,  Lieftenant 
James  Wyatt,  and  John  Dean — do  forthwith,  ou  receipt  hereof,  require 
your  constable  to  warn  a  town-meeting,  that  so  these  things  may  be 
published  in  your  town." 

For  the  General  Court  held  March  2,  1657-58,  spe- 
cial warrants  were  issued  to  the  constables  of  the 
towns,  commanding  them  in  the  name  of  his  high- 
ness, the  Lord  Protector  of  England,  Scotland,  and 
Ireland,  especially  to  warn  the  grand  jurymen  to  be  in 
attendance;  also  to  warn  their  townsmen  to  come  to- 
gether, and  to  declare  unto  them  that  forasmuch  as 
there  were  divers  persons  in  several  places  that  by  word 
and  act  represent  things  of  sad  consequence  to  the 
government,  they  should  make  choice  of  some  able 
and  fit  persons  for  deputies  to  attend  the  General 
Court,  to  whom  the  matters  complained  of  might  be 
more  fully  imparted.  William  Parker  and  James 
Walker  were  chosen  deputies  from  Taunton. 

During  the  session  the  case  of  William  Paule  again 
received  attention,  as  follows:  "Whereas  the  Court 
conceiveth  that  his  abiding  there  will  be  a  continued 
occasion  of  division  and  contention  amongst  the  in- 
habitants thereof,  they  do  therefore  order  that,  ac- 
cording to  a  former  order  sent  thither,  wherein  he  is 


754 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


requested  to  depart,  that  accordingly  he  do  so  with  all 
convenient  speed."  There  is  no  sufficient  reason  for 
supposing  this  William  Paule,  "  a  Scote,"  to  be  the 
son  of  Richard  Paul,  one  of  the  first  purchasers.  The 
•whole  dealing  of  the  court  and  the  town  with  him 
shows  that  he  was  a  new-comer  who  had  thrust  him- 
self in  without  the  required  approbation  of  two  mag- 
istrates, and  not  a  native-born  citizen  of  the  town. 

The  sanctity  of  the  Lord's  day  was  vigorously 
guarded  by  the  court.  At  the  session  in  October, 
1658,  it  is  recorded:  "  Leiftenant  James  Wiatt  to  be 
sharply  reproved  for  his  writing  a  note  about  com- 
mon business  on  the  Lord's  day,  at  least  in  the  even- 
ing somewhat  too  soon."  At  a  previous  court  the 
grand  jury  presented  "  John  Smith,  of  Taunton,  for 
needless  traveling  upon  the  Lord's  day  from  Taunton 
to  Nunckatateesett  and  so  back  again." 

The  court  took  care  that  wood  and  timber  should 
not  be  taken  and  carried  away  by  unauthorized  per- 
sons, as  the  following  order  passed  in  June,  1661,  will 
show  :  "  It  is  ordered  by  the  court  that  a  special  war- 
rant shall  be  directed  to  the  constable  of  Taunton  to 
attach  the  persons  or  estates  of  such  as  shall  come  up 
Taunton  River  to  fetch  away  the  timber  or  woods  to 
convey  it  out  of  the  government.  .  .  .  and  that  the 
like  course  be  also  taken  with  all  such  as  shall  come 
into  the  government  and  hire  or  buy  lands  of  the  In- 
dians without  order." 

The  following  order  in  reference  to  distribution  of 
lands  was  directed  to  the  town  of  Taunton  at  March 
court,  1662-63 : 

"Upon  the  complaint  of  some  of  the  inhabitants  of  Taunton,  that 
some  there  have  gone  about  to  alter  the  ancient  way  of  distribution  of 
lands  in  that  town  formerly  settled  and  long  practiced,  whereby,  besides 
many  other  inconveniences  that  do  arise  thereby,  some  Indians  that  by 
the  leave  of  the  town  had  liberty  to  plant  corn  in  the  remote  parts  of 
the  township  are  disturbed  in  the  improvement  of  the  said  lands,  to 
their  great  impoverishing,  by  such  persons  their  taking  up  such  great 
quantities  of  land,  which  is  ill  resented  by  us;  we  do  therefore  require 
them  to  desist  from  any  such  practice  as  that  which  we  fear  may  create 
much  trouble  and  inconveniency,  until  we  have  further  inquired  into 
the  same." 

Difficulties  arose  early  in  1664  concerning  certain 
injuries  done  to  the  saw-mills  at  Taunton  in  the  night 
time,  and  William  Witherell  and  Gyles  Gilbert  were 
suspected  of  being  concerned  in  those  injuries.  They 
were  bound  over  in  the  sum  of  twenty  pounds  each, 
to  be  of  good  behavior  towards  the  king  and  all  his 
liege  people,  and  especially  to  keep  from  libelling, 
and  to  appear  at  the  next  court.  Hezekiah  Hoar  was 
surety  for  Witherell  and  George  Watson  for  Gilbert. 
The  reason  for  requiring  the  bonds  is  given  in  these 
words  :  "  That  whereas  James  Walker,  being  a  part- 
ner in  the  saw-mills  at  Taunton,  complained  of  great 
hurt  done  to  the  said  saw-mill  by  some  persons  that 
came  in  the  night  in  a  felonious  manner  and  stole 
away  several  things,  and  did  great  spoil,  and  left  a 
libellous  paper  behind  them  ;  and  it  being  suspected," 
etc.,  bonds  were  required.  At  the  next  court  in  May, 
Joseph  Gray  and  Samuel  Linkorn,  being  summoned, 
appeared  to  answer  for  being  partners  in  doing  great 


hurt  to  the  saw-mill  at  Taunton,  and  being  examined 
in  the  premises  owned  that  they  were  guilty  therein. 
They  were  required  to  give  bonds  in  twenty  pounds 
each.  George  Watson  was  surety  for  Gray  and  Thomas 
Leonard  for  Linkorn. 

The  saw-mill  referred  to  was  upon  the  Mill  River, 
exactly  where  it  i?  not  easy  to  tell ;  Witherell  lived 
near  Winnecunnet  Pond,  and  he  and  Gilbert  owned 
woodland  there  and  perhaps  were  interested  in  some 
other  saw-mill,  and  so  were  jealous  of  Walker  and 
his  partners. 

It  may  have  been  by  way  of  retaliation  that  at  the 
same  court  complaint  was  made  of  James  Walker  as 
follows  : 

"Whereas,  at  this  Court,  the  above  bounden  Joseph  Gray  and  Samuel 
Linkorn,  together  with  George  'Watson,  complained  of  great  wrong,  sus- 
tained not  only  by  them,  but  by  the  whole  town  of  Tauuton,  by  James 
Walker  his  neglecting,  according  to  engagement,  to  leave  a  sufficient  pas- 
sage for  the  herrings  or  alewives  to  go  up  in  the  river  on  which  the  saw 
mill  standeth,  the  Court  directed  an  order  to  the  constable  of  Taunton 
to  require  him  to  signify  unto  the  said  James  Walker  that  he  speedily 
take  course  that  a  free  passage  be  left  for  the  going  up  of  the  alewives 
in  the  said  river  while  yet  some  part  of  the  season  remains  of  their 
going  up." 

At  the  June  court  a  further  order  was  made  to  the 
effect,  "  That  betwixt  this  date  and  the  next  season 
of  the  fishes  going  up,  they,  the  said  owners  of  the 
mill,  shall  make  or  cause  to  be  made  a  free,  full,  and 
sufficient  passage  for  the  going  up  of  the  said  fish,  or 
otherwise,  upon  the  further  complaint  of  the  town, 
the  court  will  take  an  effectual  course  that  the  same 
shall  be  clone." 

The  iron-works  received  the  attention  of  the  court 
at  the  June  session,  1665,  after  the  following  fashion  : 

"TO   THE   CLARKE   OF   THE   IRON-WORKS  AT    TAUNTON,    GREETING: 

"These  are  to  acquaint  you  that  the  Court  requires  you  to  signify 

unto  the  owners  that  are  partners  in  the  iron-works  at  Taunton,  that 

whereas  there  is  great  complaint  of  bad  iron  made  there,  that  the  Court 

requires  them  to  take  course  with  the  workmen  that  henceforth  the  iron 

that  shall  be  made  there  be  good  and  merchantable,  that  so  the  country 

be  no  more  wronged  on  that  behalf. 

"  The  Court's  order  per  me, 

"  Nath.  Morton,  Clarke." 

Iron  was  used  as  a  medium  of  exchange  and  for 
the  payment  of  debts  and  public  rates  to  a  consider- 
able extent,  which  will  explain  another  order  of  court 
passed  in  1677,  as  follows: 

"  The  constables  of  Taunton,  now  in  being,  are  required  by  the  Court, 
that  when  a  parcel  of  iron  shall  be  attached  by  them  for  the  defraying 
the  rate  for  the  soldiers'  wages,  that  they  require  Ensigne  Thomas 
Leonard,  or  James  Leonard,  to  draw  it  forth  into  merchantable  bars." 

In  July,  1667,  the  court  allowed  the  sum  of  ten 
pounds  towards  the  building  of  a  bridge  over  Taun- 
ton River.  The  locality  of  the  bridge  was  not  indi- 
cated. The  general  training  for  that  year  was  ap- 
pointed to  be  at  Taunton  on  Wednesday  in  the  second 
week  of  October. 

The  following  appears  in  the  records  of  the  court, 
June,  1669  : 

"In  reference  unto  a  gift  pretended  to  be  given  by  Philip,  the  sachem 
unto  James  Leonard,  sen  ,  the  court  have  granted  that  in  case  he  do 
produce  a  deed  of  gift  from  the  said  sachem  for  the  said  land,  under  his 
hand  and  seal,  at  the  Court  to  be  holden  at  Plymouth  the  first  Tuesday 
in  July  next,  that  then  he  shall  have  fourscore  or  a  hundred  acres  of  it." 


TAUNTON. 


755 


In  July  the  court  refer  to  the  matter  again  in 
nearly  the  same  terms,  granting  his  request  "  for  a 
small  neck  of  land,"  provided  he  can  procure  a  deed 
from  Philip,  and  that  it  prejudice  no  former  grant. 

The  manufacture  of  tar  was  an  industry  of  consid- 
erable importance  in  the  colony,  and  in  1670  the 
court  took  measures  to  prevent  its  indiscriminate  sale 
to  persons  outside  the  jurisdiction,  hy  providing  that 
for  the  term  of  two  years  it  should  be  sold  to  such 
within  the  colony  as  would  agree  to  give  eight  shil- 
lings in  money  for  every  small  barrel,  and  twelve 
shillings  for  every  great  barrel.  A  number  of  men 
contracted  to  buy  all  the  tar  made  in  the  colony  at 
the  above  price,  the  same  to  be  delivered  at  the 
water-side  in  each  town  in  good  merchantable  casks, 
and  the  towns  were  divided  among  them.  Edward 
Gray  and  William  Clarke  took  for  their  share  Ply- 
month  and  all  the  western  towns  of  the  colony, 
"John  Cobb's,  of  Taunton,  being  the  place  of  deliv- 
ery of  what  tar  shall  be  made  within  the  liberties 
thereof."  The  court  charged  and  required  all  coopers 
to  see  that  the  casks  they  made  were  sufficiently  good 
and  tight,  and  the  casks  were  not  to  be  less  than 
would  contain  sixteen  gallons,  beer  measure. 

William  Witherell  and  Samuel  Smith  were  ap- 
pointed in  1671  a  committee  for  Taunton,  to  see  to 
the  gathering  in  of  the  minister's  maintenance,  the 
same  to  be  paid  "  satisfactorily  and  seasonably  both 
for  time  and  specie." 

At  the  same  court,  June,  1671,  action  was  taken  to 
prevent  excessive  drinking  of  liquors  in  ordinaries 
or  taverns,  showing  that  the  regulation  of  such  places 
was  a  troublesome  problem  then  as  it  is  now.  The 
action  of  the  court  is  worth  quoting: 

"For  the  prevention  of  abuse  by  the  excessive  drinking  of  liquors  in 
ordinaries,  this  court  doth  order,  that  every  ordinary-keeper  in  this  gov- 
ernment shall  be  hereby  empowered  and  required  that  in  case  any  per- 
son or  persona  do  not  attend  order,  but  carry  themselves  uncivilly  by 
being  importunately  desirous  of  drink  when  denied,  and  do  not  leave 
the  house  when  required,  such  ordinary-keeper  shall  return  their  names 
to  the  next  court,  that  so  they  may  be  prosecuted  according  to  the 
nature  of  the  offence,  and  in  case  any  ordinary-keeper  shall  neglect  so  to 
do  he  shall  be  fined  five  shillings  for  every  default.  It  is  further  ordered 
by  this  court,  that  some  two  or  three  men  be  appointed  in  every  town 
of  this  jurisdiction  to  have  the  inspection  of  the  ordinaries,  or  in  any 
other  places  suspected,  to  take  notice  of  such  abuses  as  may  arise  in 
reference  to  the  premises,  or  otherwise,  and  make  report  thereof  to  the 
court." 

Men  were  thereupon  appointed  for  the  purpose  in 
each  town,  James  Walker,  Aaron  Knapp,  and  John 
Dean  being  named  for  Taunton. 

"  Speaking  evil  of  dignities"  was  narrowly  watched 
and  summarily  punished,  as  the  following  examples 
will  show:  June,  1671,  "Nathaniel  Woo  Iward,  for 
speaking  abusive  words  against  Mr.  Shove,  the  pastor 
of  the  church  of  Taunton,  was  sentenced  by  the  court 
to  sit  in  the  stocks  during  the  pleasure  of  the  court, 
which  accordingly  was  performed."  March,  1672, 
"Richard  Godfrey,  of  Taunton,  being  presented  for  j 
speaking  opprobriously  of  some  in  place  in  the  town 
of  Taunton,  was  sentenced  by  the  court  to  sit  in  the 


stocks  at  Taunton  on  a  training  day,  so  as  it  exceed 
not  two  hours."  If  similar  acts  received  a  like  pun- 
ishment now  there  would  be  a  scarcity  of  lumber  and 
a  fearful  multiplicity  of  courts. 

Frequent  complaints  were  made  to  the  court  by  the 
Indians  of  damage  done  to  their  corn  by  the  horses 
and  swine  of  the  English,  of  which  the  court  took 
commendable  notice,  punishing  the  owners  of  the 
animals  by  fines,  and  ordering  them  to  make  restitu- 
tion. In  1671  committees  were  appointed  in  the 
several  towns  to  view  the  damage  thus  done.  John 
Hathaway,  Edward  Babbitt,  and  James  Phillips 
were  the  Taunton  committee. 

A  controversy  of  long  standing  between  William 
Hailstone  and  James  Walker  was  referred  to  the 
court  in  July,  1672,  for  final  direction  and  settle- 
ment. The  trouble  arose  concerning  the  suit  of 
Jonathan  Briggs  against  Hailstone,  already  men- 
tioned. Hailstone  had  petitioned  the  court  for  a  re- 
view of  that  action,  and  his  petition  was  granted, 
but  he  failed  to  prosecute  his  review,  and  Avas  ac- 
cused of  falsifying  in  several  particulars  in  his  peti- 
tion. The  court  had  taken  up  these  accusations, 
whether  upon  the  complaint  of  Walker  or  not  does 
not  appear,  but  it  seems  Walker  had  made  or  repeated 
the  accusations,  and  this  was  the  occasion  of  the  dif- 
ficulty between  them.  The  matter  had  been  referred 
to  the  arbitration  of  Mr.  John  Wiswall,  Mr.  Richard 
Callicott,  and  Capt.  James  Johnson,  and  their  award 
was  now  brought  to  the  attention  of  the  court,  who 
directed  "  that  forasmuch  as  that  it  appears,  upon  ex- 
amination, that  the  said  James  Walker  hath  not  per- 
formed the  latter  part  of  the  said  arbitration,  viz.,  to 
repair  the  said  Hailstone  his  reputation  in  the  church 
.  .  .  the  court  do  therefore  order  that  he  shall  pay, 
or  cause  to  be  paid,  unto  the  said  Hailstone  the  sum 
of  five  pounds,  in  either  good,  merchantable  pork,  or 
good  bar  iron,  betwixt  this  date  and  the  fifteenth  day 
of  October  next,  at  price  then  current;  and  whereas 
the  said  James  Walker  did  openly  and  unadvisedly, 
on  a  Lord's  day,  accuse  the  said  William  Hailstone 
of  telling  several  palpable  lies,  and  founded  upon  a 
lie,  whereby  the  said  Hailstone  was  much  scandal- 
ized, this  Court  doth  hereby  advise  the  said  James 
Walker  publicly  to  acknowledge  the  wrong  he  hath 
done  him,  in  the  meeting,  on  the  Lord's  day,  in  the 
congregation ;  and  this  our  award  and  joint  deter- 
mination to  be  a  full  and  final  issue  of  all  such  differ- 
ences and  controversies  as  relate  unto  the  premises." 

Ensign  Leonard  and  John  Tisdale,  Sr.,  were  ap- 
pointed by  the  court  in  October,  1672,  as  a  committee 
for  Taunton,  to  see  to  the  execution  of  the  orders  of 
court  prohibiting  the  transporting  of  planks,  boards, 
bolts,  or  bark  out  of  the  government,  the  order  bear- 
ing date  June,  1672. 

October,  1674,  "  An  order  was  directed  from  this 
Courfto  require  several  persons  who  have  come  into 
the  colony  without  the  approbation  of  the  governor 
and   two    magistrates,    contrary   to   order,    living   at 


756 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Taunton  and  down  Taunton  River,  to  depart  the 
government  betwixt  this  date  and  the  28th  of  Feb- 
ruary next,  or  to  make  their  personal  appearance  at 
the  Court  of  his  majesty  the  first  Tuesday  in  March 
next,  to  answer  their  neglect  or  contempt  of  the  said 
order." 

October,  1678,  again,  "  Whereas  complaint  is  made 
by  some  of  Taunton  that  one  Samuel  Chivericke  is 
come  into  their  town  disorderly,  and  continueth  there 
contrary  to  the  mind  of  the  townsmen,  these  are 
therefore  to  require  the  said  Chivericke  either  speed- 
ily to  procure  their  approbation  to  stay  there,  or 
otherwise  forthwith  to  depart  the  said  town." 

At  the  above  court,  James  Walker,  James  Wilbore, 
and  Encrease  Robinson  were  appointed  "  to  take  no- 
tice of  such 'liquors  as  are  brought  in  disorderly  into 
the  town  of  Taunton,  and  to  make  seizure  thereof 
according  to  order."  Truly  the  seizure  clauses  in  our 
present  liquor  laws  can  claim  a  respectable  antiquity. 

Provision  was  made  at  this  court  in  the  following 
terms  for  the  widow  of  Lieut.  Wyatt,  who  was  found 
dead  in  his  field,  July,  1664,  as  related  in  another 
place  :  "  Whereas  it  doth  appear  to  the  Court,  that 
Mistress  Mary  Wyatt,  of  Taunton,  widow,  is  in  great 
necessity  and  a  very  low  condition,  in  want  of  main- 
tenance, notwithstanding  the  estate  of  her  deceased 
husband  came  by  her,  these  are  to  give  liberty,  and 
appoint  and  authorize  Mr.  James  Walker,  William 
Harvey,  sen.  and  Walter  Dean,  or  any  two  of  them, 
to  lease  out  some  of  the  lands  or  meadows  of  the  said 
Leiftenant  Wyatt,  and  the  pay  or  benefit  arising 
thereby  shall  be  improved  for  the  relief  of  the  said 
widow,  Mary  Wyatt." 

At  the  June  court,  1680,  notice  was  taken  of  a 
complaint  made  by  the  selectmen  of  Barnstable 

"  that  one  Ephraim  Phillips,  an  idle,  extravagant  man,  and  Marey,  his 
pretended  wife,  are  lately  come  into  Barnstable  without  their  consent, 
from  Taunton,  where  they  lately  for  some  year  or  years  have  had  their 
residence,  and  notwithstanding  the  selectmen  warning  them  not  there 
to  abide,  but  to  depart  out  of  the  said  town,  they  have  refused,  or 
quickly  returned  again  after  their  departure  out  of  the  said  town,  in- 
tending there  to  reside,  whereby  they  are  likely  to  be  charged,  and 
otherwise  annoyed  and  damnified;  and  whereas  the  selectmen  have, ac- 
cording to  order  of  Court  in  that  case  provided,  made  their  application 
to  this  Court  for  redress,  these  are  therefore  in  his  majesty's  name  to 
will  and  require  you  presently  on  receipt  hereof,  to  attach  the  said 
Ephraim  Phillips,  and  Marey,  his  wife,  and  them  to  carry  or  convey  to 
the  constable  or  selectmen  of  the  town  of  Taunton,  who  are  hereby  in 
his  said  majesty's  name  required  to  receive  them,  and  there  suffer  them 
to  abide  until  the  Court  shall  otherwise  order." 

The  oyster  fishery  was  attended  to  in  this  wise  at 
the  July  court : 

"  This  Court  doth  order,  that  all  such  as  are  not  of  our  colony  be 
hereby  prohibited  of  fetching  oysters  from  Taunton  River  with  boats  or 
any  other  vessels  ;  and  in  case  any  such  shall  persist  on  in  so  doing  after 
warning  given  to  the  contrary,  this  Court  doth  order  John  Hathway, 
of  Taunton,  and  do  hereby  empower  him  to  make  seizure  of  such  boats 
and  vessels  for  the  colony's  use." 

At  the  same  court  an  order  was  sent  to  Philip 
Pointing,  of  Taunton,  as  follows : 

"These  may  certify  unto  you,  Phillip  Pointing,  that  you  are«not  to 
prohibit  or  obstruct  John  Hathway,  of  Taunton,  in  his  egress  and  re- 
gress in  the  way  from  a  farm  that  was  formerly  Mr.  Street's,  and  from 
thence  to  the  town  of  Taunton." 


John  Hathway,  above  named,  was  in  September 
following  "  sworn  constable  of  the  neighborhood  or 
ward  of  the  Fall  River  and  places  adjacent,"  and 
John  Read,  of  Taunton,  was  ordered  by  the  court 
to  appear  at  the  next  court  to  take  the  oath  of  a 
grand  juryman  for  the  same  precincts. 

A  lengthy  pauper  case  was  begun  in  October, 
1680,  concerning  the  settlement  of  John  Harmon, 
described  as  "  a  decrepit  man  who  came  from  Taun- 
ton unto  this  Court,  concerning  whom  debate  hath 
been  had  before  the  Court  by  several  of  the  town  of 
Taunton,  and  several  of  the  town  of  Plymouth,  unto 
which  place  of  the  two  he  should  belong,"  and  the 
court  ordered  that  he  should  remain  at  Plymouth 
until  the  next  June  court,  one-half  of  the  charge  to 
be  paid  by  Taunton  to  Plymouth,  according  to  the 
engagement  of  John  Bichmond,  their  agent,  and  the 
court  would  then  make  a  final  determination.  Sub- 
sequently the  sum  fixed  for  each  town  to  pay  to  one 
Robert  Bawson  for  his  support  was  three  shillings  a 
week.  At  the  July  court,  1682,  the  town  of  Dart- 
mouth was  notified  to  send  an  agent  to  the  court,  with 
other  towns  where  the  said  Harmon  had  of  late  been 
residing,  that  their  allegations  might  be  considered 
pro  and  con  ;  but  it  was  made  to  appear  that  he  had 
for  a  considerable  time  immediately  before  the  war 
been  in  Dartmouth,  whereby  he  seemed  as  probably 
to  belong  to  that  town  as  to  any  other,  and  the  court 
therefore  ordered  Dartmouth  to  keep  him  until  the 
October  court.  In  July,  1683,  the  final  order  was 
made  that  Plymouth  should  maintain  him  until  their 
year  was  expired,  and  then  Taunton  to  take  him  for 
a  year,  and  so  they  were  to  entertain  him  alternately 
a  year  at  a  time,  until  it  should  be  found  just  and 
equal  that  some  other  town  should  bear  a  part 
therein.  No  more  sharply  contested  suits  are  tried 
in  our  courts  at  the  present  time  than  those  between 
towns  as  to  the  support  of  paupers.  The  method  of 
dividing  the  responsibility,  in  doubtful  cases,  be- 
tween two  or  more  towns,  however,  is  no  longer 
practiced. 

In  1683  the  profits  of  the  Cape  fishery  were  divided 
among  several  towns  for  the  benefit  of  the  schools  as 
follows :  "  To  Barnstable  scoole,  twelve  pound ;  to 
Duxburrow  scoole,  eight  pound ;  to  Behoboth  scoole, 
five  pound  ;  to  Taunton  scoole,  three  pound  ;  and  two 
pound  to  Mr.  Daniel  Smith."  Mr.  Smith  was  of  Be- 
hoboth, and  was  for  many  years  one  of  the  Governor's 
assistants,  as  also  several  times  chosen  one  of  the  com- 
missioners of  the  United  Colonies. 

At  the  court  in  July,  1685,  Moses  Knapp,  of  Taun- 
ton, appeared  and  gave  bonds  to  appear  at  the  October 
court,  to  make  further  answer  unto  such  particulars 
as  should  be  inquired  of  or  laid  to  his  charge  con- 
cerning the  death  of  Bichard  Stephens,  Jr.,  of  Taun- 
ton.    At  the  October  court  -this  is  the  record : 

"Moses  Knapp,  of  Taunton,  being  found  guilty  of  the  death  of  Rich- 
ard Stephens,  by  misadventure,  by  the  grand  jury  of  our  sovereign  lord 
the  King  for  this  colony,  he,  the  said  Knapp,  owning  the  same  and  re- 


TAUNTON. 


757 


ferring  himself  to  the  Court,  the  Court,  considering'  it  was  casual,  and 
he  cleared  hy  the  party  before  his  death,  and  no  relation  appearing 
against  him,  do  therefore  admonish  the  said  Knapp  and  dismiss  him." 

It  has  been  mentioned  that  Richard  Paul  was  li- 
censed in  1640  to  keep  a  victnaling-house  at  Taunton. 
That  included  the  privilege  of  selling  liquors  under 
the  strict  regulations  imposed  by  the  law.  In  June, 
1644,  it  is  recorded,  "  William  Parker  is  licensed  to 
draw  wine  at  Taunton." 

In  August,  1663,  "  liberty  is  granted  unto  Thomas 
Leonard,  of  Taunton,  sen'r,  to  sell  strong  liquors  and 
wine  in  the  said  town  betwixt  this  date  and  the  Court 
to  be  holden  at  Plymouth  in  June  next,  and  that  he 
observe  the  orders  of  Court  as  are  extant  about  selling 
liquors  and  wine,  and  that  he  keep  good  order  in  his 
house  with  them  to  whom  he  sells  any."  The  follow- 
ing March  the  court,  "  understanding  that  James 
Leonard,  of  Taunton,  having  buried  his  wife,  and  in 
that  respect  not  being  so  capable  of  keeping  a  publick 
house,  there  being  also  another  ordinary  in  the  town, 
do  call  in  the  said  Leonard  his  license." 

In  March,  1677,  Edward  Rew  was  granted  a  license 
to  keep  an  ordinary  at  Taunton,  and  it  was  enjoined 
upon  him  "that  he  keep  good  orders  in  his  house, 
that  so  no  abuse  be  suffered  by  him  on  that  account." 
July  following,  Nicholas  White,  of  Taunton,  was  fined 
thirty  pounds  for  selling  liquor  to  the  Indians  several 
times  contrary  to  law. 

In  June,  1679,  James  Walker  was  licensed  to  keep 
an  ordinary  at  Taunton,  with  the  usual  injunction  to 
keep  good  order  and  suffer  no  damage  to  be  done. 
Edward  Rew  had  died  the  previous  year  leaving  a 
widow,  whom  Walker  had  married,  he  having  lost  his 
wife  about  that  time. 

In  June,  1685,  we  find  it  recorded,  "  The  court  hath 
granted  liberty  to  Sergt.  William  Witherell,  of  Taun- 
ton, to  retail  cider,  beer,  and  strong  liquors,"  and  in 
October  following  "  the  court  have  granted  liberty  to 
Thomas  Leonard  and  Shadrach  Wilbore,  both  of 
Taunton,  to  sell  strong  liquors  by  the  gallon,  so  that 
they  are  careful  not  to  sell  to  such  as  will  abuse  the 
same."  In  the  proprietors'  records,  under  date  of 
Dec.  13,  1669,  "Thomas  Harvey,  of  the  ordinary,"  is 
spoken  of.  It  is  probable  that  others  not  mentioned 
in  the  records  sought  and  obtained  what  seems  to  have 
been  regarded  as  the  valuable  privilege  of  "  keeping 
tavern"  and  selling  liquor.  The  license-fee  fixed  for 
retailers  in  Taunton  in  1669  was  two  pounds. 

The  territory  of  the  colony  was  infested  with  wolves 
in  the  early  days  to  such  an  extent  that  vigorous 
measures  were  taken  by  the  General  Court  and  the 
towns  for  their  extermination.  As  early  as  1642  it 
was  enacted  by  the  court  that  all  the  towns  within 
the  government  should  make  wolf-traps,  a'nd  bait 
them,  and  look  to  them  daily  under  penalty  of  ten 
shillings  for  every  trap  that  should  be  neglected.  The 
number  required  to  be  made  by  the  several  towns  was, 
for  Plymouth,  five;  for  Duxburrow,  five  ;  for  Scituate, 
four;    for  Sandwich,  three;    for  Taunton,  two;    for 


Yarmouth,  three ;  for  Barnstable,  three ;  for  Mans- 
field, two.  In  1665  two  wolf-traps  were  required  in 
each  town  under  a  penalty  of  five  pounds  for  neglect 
therein.  Bounties  were  offered  for  trapping  and  kill- 
ing wolves.  Five  bushels  of  corn  for  every  wolf 
killed  were  at  one  time  allowed,  and  to  an  Indian 
half  a  pound  of  powder  and  two  pounds  of  shot. 
Afterwards  a  coat  of  trading  cloth  was  given  to  every 
Indian  killing  a  wolf,  and  fifteen  shillings  a  head  to 
the  English.  In  the  lay-out  of  lands  by  the  pro- 
prietors the  wolf-traps  are  often  mentioned  to  fix  a 
boundary  or  locality. 

A  few  names  of  such  as  claimed  the  bounties  for 
killing  wolves  are  given  in  the  Colonial  Records.  It 
may  interest  our  modern  sportsmen  to  know  who  some 
of  the  ancient  Taunton  wolf-hunters  were.  In  1690 
the  account  for  Taunton  was, — 

Henry  Hodges,  of  Taunton,  one;  Joseph  Leonard, 
of  Taunton,  killed  by  an  Indian,  one;  Richard  Steph- 
ens, of  Taunton,  one;  Thomas  Briggs,  Sr.,  of  Taun- 
ton, one. 

In  1691  the  following  was  the  list:  Daniel  Briggs, 
one;  Thomas  Briggs,  one;  Mr.  Giles  Gilbert,  one; 
Thomas  Briggs,  Sr.,  one;  Richard  Stephens,  four; 
Joseph  White,  two. 

No  more  important  local  office  was  created  by  the 
General  Court  than  that  of  selectman.  It  is  not  quite 
certain  when  the  first  law  relating  to  the  office  was 
passed.  In  1658  it  was  enacted  by  the  court  that  one 
or  two  of  the  selectmen  whom  the  court  should  ap- 
point in  each  township,  be  empowered  to  administer 
an  oath  in  all  cases  committed  to  them,  and  to  grant 
executions  for  the  collection  of  judgments,  and  that 
they  should  be  under  oath.  In  certain  action  taken 
by  the  court,  in  1653,  relating  to  Thomas  Brayman,  of 
Taunton,  already  referred  to,  "such  of  the  town  of 
Taunton  who  are  deputed  by  the  said  town  to  order 
the  especial  affairs  thereof"  are  mentioned.  Again, 
in  1657,  the  five  selectmen  are  referred  to  by  name. 
It  does  not  appear  that  any  law  was  passed  requiring 
the  towns  to  choose  selectmen  until  1662.  In  vol. 
ii.  of  Plymouth  Colony  Records,  which  is  a  volume  of 
laws,  the  date  of  this  law  is  given  as  1665.  It  is  not 
until  1666  that  lists  of  the  selectmen  for  the  several 
towns  are  given  in  the  above-named  records,  but  from 
that  time  forward  they  are  given  regularly.  The  first 
section  of  the  law  is  as  follows : 


"It  is  enacted  by  the  court,  that  in  every  town  in  this  jurisdiction 
there  be  three  or  five  selectmen  chosen  by  the  townsmen  out  of  the 
freemen,  such  as  shall  be  approved  by  the  court,  for  the  better  manag- 
ing of  the  affairs  of  the  respective  townships,  and  that  the  selectmen  in 
every  town  or  the  major  part  of  them,  are  hereby  empowered  to  hear 
and  determine  all  debts  and  differences  arising  between  person  and  per- 
son within  their  respective  townships  not  exceeding  forty  shillings;  as 
also  they  are  hereby  empowered  to  hear  and  determine  all  differences 
arising  betwixt  any  Indians  and  the  English  of  their  respective  town- 
ships about  damage  done  in  corn  by  the  cows,  swine,  or  any  other  beasts 
belonging  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  said  respective  townships,  and  the 
determination  of  the  abovesaid  differences  not  being  satisfied  as  was 
agreed,  the  party  wronged  to  repair  to  some  magistrate  for  a  warrant  to 
receive  such  award  by  distraint." 


758 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


By  another  section  they  were  authorized  to  issue 
summonses  to  persons  complained  of  and  to  summon 
witnesses. 

It  is  not  quite  accurate  to  say  that  this  law  created 
the  office  of  selectman.  It  was  rather  recognizing  a 
very  useful  class  of  officers  already  existing  in  the 
towns,  giving  them  the  sanction  of  the  general  law 
and  clothing  them  with  broader  and  more  compre- 
hensive powers.  In  1647,  "  the  seven  men  chosen  by 
the  inhabitants  of  Taunton  aforesaid,  to  order  the 
affairs  of  the  town  for  that  present  year,"  execute  a 
deed  in  behalf  of  the  town  to  Henry  Andrews.  It  is 
not  to  be  supposed  that  this  was  the  first  year  such 
officers  were  chosen.  The  inference  is  not  easily  re- 
sisted that  it  was  the  continuation  of  that  useful  body 
of  prudential  officers  spoken  of  in  an  order  of  the 
General  Court,  given  on  a  previous  page,  as  "  those 
seven  first  freemen,  men  of  Taunton,  that  have  under- 
gone great  travel  and  charges  about  the  attending  of 
the  courts,  laying  out  of  lands,  and  other  occasions 
for  the  town." 

The  adjoining  town  of  Rehoboth,  in  1644,  the  very 
first  year  of  their  organization  as  a  town,  made  choice 
of  nine  men  who  were  styled  townsmen,  for  the  de- 
ciding of  controversies  between  party  and  party,  the 
proposing  of  men's  levies  to  be  made  and  paid,  and 
for  the  well  ordering  of  the  town  affairs.  In  Blake's 
"  Annals  of  Dorchester,"  under  date  of  1633,  it  is  said, 
"  This  year  the  plantation  began  the  practice  of 
choosing  men  that  we  now  call  selectmen  or  towns- 
men. They  chose  twelve  this  year  to  order  the  affairs 
of  the  plantation."  In  the  Massachusetts  Colonial 
Records,  under,  date  of  1647,  selected  townsmen  are 
first  spoken  of.  In  all  these  references  there  can  be 
no  doubt  that  the  same  class  of  officers  is  intended. 
The  creation  of  such  a  class  of  officers  seems  to  have 
been  the  spontaneous  act  of  those  little  democracies 
called  towns.  And  nothing  more  strikingly  shows  the 
genius  for  self-government  possessed  by  the  early 
settlers  of  New  England. 

At  first,  and'  before  they  were  recognized  by  the 
general  law,  their  functions  and  duties  were  pruden- 
tial and  administrative.  Afterwards  their  powers  and 
responsibilities  were  widely  extended.  The  oath  of 
office  was  as  follows :  "  You  shall,  according  to  the 
measure  of  wisdom  and  discretion  God  hath  given 
you,  faithfully  and  impartially  try  all  such  cases  be- 
tween party  and .  party  brought  before  you,  as  also 
give  summons  respecting  your  trust  according  to 
order  of  the  Court  as  a  Selectman  of  the  Town  of 
for  this  present  year.     So  help  you  God." 

Besides  the  holding  of  courts  for  small  causes,  they 
were  to  take  notice  of  such  in  their  townships  as 
should  neglect,  through  profaneness  or  slothfulness, 
to  come  to  the  public  worship  of  God,  and  require  an 
account  of  them  ;  to  see  that  no  single  person  be  suf- 
fered to  live  by  himself  or  in  any  family  but  such  as 
they  should  approve  of;  to  have  a  vigilant  eye  over 
their  brethren  and  neighbors  ;  to  see  that  parents  and 


masters  have  their  children  and  servants  taught  the 
common  branches  of  education  ;  to  give  in  the  names 
of  such  as  misspend  their  time;  to  bind  out  neglected 
children  ;  to  take  notice  of  all  who  come  into  the 
government  without  the  approbation  of  the  Governor 
or  two  assistants,  and  to  make  provision  for  the 
poor. 

To  such  important,  responsible,  and  delicate  duties 
were  George  Hall,  Richard  Williams,  Walter  Dean, 
James  Walker,  and  William  Harvey  called,  when,  in 
1666,  they  were  approved  by  the  General  Court  as  se- 
lectmen of  Taunton.  The  peculiar  nature  of  these 
duties  suggested  the  apt  name  long  ago  applied  to 
these  officers  of  "  fathers  of  the  town." 

The  law  that  most  nearly  affected  Taunton  as  a 
town  was  that  passed  in  1685,  dividing  the  colony 
into  three  counties.  This  law  is  not  to  be  found  in 
the  published  volumes  of  Plymouth  Colony  Records. 
It  was  contained  in  a  revised  edition  of  the  colony 
laws  published  in  1685,  and  may  now  be  found  in  the 
"  Compact  Charter  and  Laws  of  the  Colony  of  New 
Plymouth,"  published  in  1836,  under  authority  of  a 
resolve  of  the  Massachusetts  Legislature.  It  is  there 
said  that  there  is  no  manuscript  copy  of  it  existing. 
Extracts  from  it  are  here  given. 

The  first  section  : 

"It  is  ordered  by  this  Court  and  the  Authority  thereof;  that  there 
shall  be  in  this  Colony  three  Counties,  and  that  in  each  County  there 
shall  be  kept  annually  two  County  Courts;  which  Courts  shall  be  kept 
by  the  Magistrates  living  in  the  several  Counties  or  by  any  other  Magis- 
trate that  can  attend  the  same,  or  by  such  as  the  General  Court  shall 
appoint  from  time  to  time,  and  to  make  a  Court,  there  shall  be  present 
not  less  than  three  Magistrates  or  Associates,  and  in  no  case  shall  judg- 
ment be  given  without  there  be  two  consenting,  or  the  major  part  of 
more  than  four  Judges;  and  in  the  absence  of  the  Governor  or  Deputy 
Governor,  the  eldest  Magistrate  shall  be  President  of  the  Court;  which 
Court  shall  have,  and  hereby  have  power  to  order  the  choice  of  Juries 
of  Grand  Inquest  and  trials  in  their  several  Counties,  and  to  constitute 
Clerks  and  other  needful  Officers ;  the  County  Treasurer  to  be  appointed 
and  allowed  of  by  said  Court  annually." 

"  It  is  Ordered,  That  each  County  Court  shall  have  and  hereby  have 
power  to  Hear,  Try  and  Determine  according  to  Law  all  matters,  Actions, 
Causes  and  Complaints,  whether  Civil  or  Criminal,  in  any  Case  not  ex- 
tending to  Life,  Limb  or  Banishment,  or  matter  of  Divorce." 

The  second  clause  of  the  third  section : 

"  It  is  further  Ordered,  That  Bristol,  Taunton,  Rehoboth,  Dartmouth, 
Swansey,  Little  Compton,  Free  Town,  Sowammit,  Pocasset,  Punkatest, 
and  all  such  Places,  Towns  and  Villages  as  are  or  may  be  settled  on  said 
Lands  shall  be  a  County,  Bristol  the  County  Town,  and  the  said  County 
shall  be  called  the  County  of  Bristol;  In  which  County  shall  be  kept 
two  County  Courts  annually  at  the  County  Town;  one  on  the  third 
Tuesday  in  May,  and  the  other  on  the  third  Tuesday  in  November." 

Section  thirteen : 

"That  a  Magistrate,  or  any  Court  shall  have  Power  to  determine  all 
such  matters  of  Equity  in  Cases  or  Actions  that  have  been  under  their 
cognizance  as  cannot  be  relieved  by  the  common  Law,  as  the  forfeiture 
of  an  Obligation,  breach  of  Covenants  without  great  Damage,  or  the  like 
matters  of  apparent  Equity." 

It  was  ordered  by  the  General  Court  "  that  in  the 
County  of  Bristol  there  be  three  Associates,  or  county 
magistrates — one  at  Taunton,  one  at  Little  Compton, 
and  one  at  Dartmouth."  Mr.  George  Macey,  of 
Taunton,  Mr.  Joseph  Church,  of  Little  Compton, 
and   Capt.  Seth  Pope,  of  Dartmouth,  were   chosen. 


TAUNTON. 


759 


The  same  number  were  to  be  chosen  in  each  of  the 
other  counties. 

The  manner  in  which  the  county  of  Bristol  was 
constituted  was  very  displeasing  to  Taunton,  as  is 
shown  by  the  following  vote  : 

"Taunton  ye  28th  of  May  1689.  The  town  of  Taunton  by  vote  elected 
Capt.  Thomas  Leonard  and  Nathaniel  Williams  Deputies  for  this  Court, 
and  order  and  improve  them  to  act  for  ye  good  of  ye  Colony  in  geueral 
and  for  us  in  this  town  in  particular,  and  to  do  their  utmost  endeavors 
to  get  this  town  free  from  under  ye  County  of  Bristol  which  the  town 
always  have  been  unwilling  to  submit  unto,  and  do  now  unanimously 
resolve  against  it  for  these  reasons; 

"1st  We  humbly  judge  that  neither  Court  or  Deputies  had  power  to 
sell  us  or  our  privileges  to  Bristol  no  more  than  to  sell  us  to  the  French 
without  our  knowledge  or  approbation  of  ye  town  ; 

"  2d  That  ye  County  rates  have'  been  made  upon  us  with  an  excess 
above  our  due  proportion,  and  more  than  we  apprehend  we  should  have 
been  rated  if  under  ye  County  of  Plymouth  ;  upon  these  grounds  we 
judge  it  behooves  us  to  labor  to  return  to  Plymouth  again  where  at  first 
we  were." 

Whatever  endeavors  were  made  by  the  deputies  for 
the  end  desired  proved  of  no  avail.  The  next  attempt 
made  was  to  procure  some  of  the  courts  to  be  held  at 
Taunton. 

"This  ll,h  day  of  May,  109:!,  the  town  hath  voted:  Whereas  we  the 
inhabitants  of  Taunton  judging  it  to  be  for  ye  public  benefit  of  ye  prov- 
ince that  at  least  one  of  ye  Superior  Courts,  if  not  some  of  ye  Inferior 
Courts,  be  kept  at  Taunton,  it  being  so  much  in  ye  centre  of  ye  colony, 
and  ye  greatness  of  our  number,  compared  with  our  neighbor  towns,  do 
order  the  selectmen  to  write  a  petition  to  ye  next  General  Court  to  be 
held  by  ye  Governor  Council  and  Representatives,  that  we  may  have 
one  or  more  of  ye  Courts  held  here  in  Taunton." 

Most  faithfully  did  the  selectmen  perform  the  duty 
assigned  them.  The  original  petition  is,  fortunately, 
preserved  in  the  State  archives,  and  is  well  worth  a 
place  here. 

"Divers  pleas  of  the  selectmen  of  Taunton  in  the  behalf  of  the  Town 
to  be  presented  to  such  as  are  willing  to  know  the  true  grounds  why 
the}'  make  claim  to  the  enjoyment  of  Courts  in  their  Town." 

The  committee  notice  first  Bristol's  principal  plea 
against  it,  viz.:  "Some  clause  inserted  in  their  deed 
from  our  former  government  that  they  should  be  the 
County  town  when  the  County  came  to  be  divided 
into  counties.  Thereupon  they  plead  they  bought 
the  privilege  with  the  soil." 

"  Ans.  They  gave  not  the  more  price  for  the  soil  on  account  of  that 
privilege  and  how  can  a  man  be  said  to  buy  a  thing  when  nothing  was 
to  be  paid  for  it." 

"2d.  The  General  Court  gave  no  instructions  to  Gov.  Winslow  and 
the  other  gentlemen  employed  in  that  affair  to  sell  or  promise  that 
privilege  to  Bristol." 

"The  promise  of  Gov.  Winslow  and  a  few  more  is  not  like  the  law  of 
the  Medes  and  Persians." 

"  Having  thus  answered  Bristol's  grand  argument  it  remains  to  show 
the  equity  and  conveniency  that  Taunton  do  enjoy  some  if  not  all  the 
Courts  held  in  this  County.  ■ 

"1st.  Taunton  is  the  most  ancient  plantation  in  the  County,  and  not 
man}'  in  the  Province  that  were  planted  before  it,  and  by  reason  of 
their  antiquity  Taunton  has  still  looked  upon  it  as  their  birthright  to 
enjoy  Courts  among  them.  And  some  have  observed  that  estates  seldom 
thrive  when  the  eldest  son  is  deprived  of  his  double  portion. 

"2d.  The  inhabitants  of  Taunton  being  the  first  adventurers  into  such 
inland  place  were  consequently  exposed  to  many  difficulties,  as  to  go  on 
foot  to  Plymouth  or  Dorchester  to  get  corn  ground  into  meal,  and  other 
hardships  too  many  here  to  relate.  Therefore  hoped  their  hazards  and 
hardships  should  have  been  rewarded  with  such  privileges  as  to  have 
Courts  among  them  in  their  own  Town. 


"3d.  Were  Bristol  a  populous  city  or  a  place  of  great  trade  by  land 
or  sea,  so  as  to  occasion  most  work  for  Courts,  as  was  hoped  at  the  first 
promising  settlement,  it  were  reason  then  that  they  should  be  con- 
Bidered  ;  but  seeing  it  is  not  so,  no  reason  that  the  other  inhabitants  of 
the  County  should  be  burthened  to  go  such  long  stony  journeys  for  the 
observance  of  formalities  of  law  and  order.  In  this  case  should  be  con- 
sidered rather  what  will  be  for  the  ease  of  the  major  part  of  the  people 
and  not  for  a  handful,  no  reason  the  greater  part  of  the  people  should 
ride  through  the  centre  of  the  County  into  the  most  remote  nook  in  the 
circumference  of  it,  as  they  do  when  they  ride  to  Mount  Hope  Neck  to 
Court.  It  would  be  greater  ease  to  Freetown,  Little  Compton,  and  Dart- 
mouth to  come  to  Court  to  Taunton  than  to  Bristol,  especially  consider- 
ing an  ungovernable  river  betwixt  Bristol  and  them,  so  that  they  must 
pass  over  two  ferries  to  get  thither,  and  if  a  storm  arise  on  the  Court 
day  morning  must  ride  many  miles  to  head  said  river  before  they  can 
get  to  Bristol,  and  expect  to  pay  a  fine  for  not  coming  soon  enough. 

"4th.  It  tends  to  the  creating  and  maintaining  good  respect  in  the 
minds  of  the  people  towards  their  authority  and  judges  when  the,'  are 
spectators  of  their  wise  and  orderly  administration,  and  puts  a  blast  on 
those  ill  reports  fomented  against  their  authority,  as  it  is  in  a  manner 
lost  when  the  most  populous  places  are  neglected  and  not  made  the 
theatre  of  their  actions  who  are  their  rulers,  but  they  ride  into  a  corner 
to  manage  the  great  affairs  of  the  County.  Why  should  a  candle  be  put 
under  a  bushel,  and  where  should  a  physician  be  but  where  there  is 
most  need  of  his  applications? 

"Most  of  the  actions  and  lawsuits  arising  in  any  Town  of  this  County 
(except  in  Bristol  itself)  are  concerning  the  titles  and  bounds  of  lands, 
in  which  cases  the  most  ancient  inhabitants  are  best  witnesses,  having 
been  present  at  the  bounding  of  most  lands,  and  whose  memories  are 
our  best  records,  through  the  brokenness  of  ancient  times.  These  ancient 
witnesses  are  too  old  to  travel  twenty  miles  to  Court,  and  the  presence  of 
a  grave  ancient  person  orally  attesting  to  what  he  knows  and  explain- 
ing his  testimony,  is  of  far  more  advantage  to  a  case  than  some  shat- 
tered evidence  he  sends  from  home  in  writing. 

"6th.  Taunton  is  nearer  to  Boston  than  Bristol  is  by  twenty  miles  at 
least,  which  will  save  so  much  riding  through  very  bad  way  for  the  hon- 
ored judges  of  the  Circuit  in  case  the  Superior  Court  be  removed  from 
Bristol  to  Taunton. 

"  Upon  these  grounds  our  Town  humbly  desires  that  they  may  enjoy 
at  least  one  or  more  of  the  quarter  Sessions  and  one  Superior  Court.  If 
they  cannot  obtain  more  they  hope  they  shall  not  be  put  off  with  less. 

"Subscribed  in  behalf  of  town  by  James  Leonard,  Henry  Leonard, 
Thomas  Dean,  Shadrach  Wilbore,  Peter  Walker,  Selectmen. 

"  Taunton,  May  29, 1693." 

But  this  request  met  with  no  better  fate  at  the 
hands  of  the  Legislature  of  the  Massachusetts  Prov- 
ince than  the  former  one  at  the  hands  of  the 
Plymouth  Court.  Taunton  had  to  wait  more  than 
fifty  years  for  the  advent  of  a  County  Court.  In 
1746  the  province  Legislature  passed  an  act  pro- 
viding that  "  from  and  after  the  thirteenth  day 
of  November,  1746,  the  town  of  Taunton  shall  be 
and  hereby  is  made  and  established  the  county  or 
shire-town  of  the  county  of  Bristol."  Under  this  act 
the  first  County  Court,  being  the  Inferior  Court  of 
Common  Pleas,  was  held  at  Taunton  the  second 
Tuesday  of  December,  1746,  being  the  ninth  day  of 
the  month.  The  magistrates  present  were  Seth  Wil- 
liams, George  Leonard,  and  Stephen  Paine.  Timo- 
thy Fales  was  the  clerk  of  the  court. 

The  rates  imposed  upon  the  several  towns  by  the 
court  for  the  payment  of  public  charges  affords  a 
basis  for  judging  of  their  comparative  wealth  and 
population.  In  1677  the  rate  of  Taunton  was  £16; 
that  of  Scituate,  £30  10s.  ;  of  Barnstable,  £24  5s. ; 
of  Sandwich,  £22  16s.;  of  Plymouth,  £19;  of  Yar- 
mouth and  Marshfield,  £18  10s.  each.  The  rates  of 
the  other   towns   were   less   than  that   of  Taunton, 


760 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL  COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Swansea,  the  least,  being  £5.  In  1689  the  court 
passed  the  following,  which  is  of  interest  as  show- 
ing the  value  of  various  kinds  of  personal  and  real 
property  : 

"October  ye  2d,  1689.  Ordered  by  the  Court  that  the  selectmen  of 
each  town  take  care  forthwith  to  take  a  valuation  of  the  estates  of  each 
town  and  village,  according  to  the  prices  hereafter  mentioned,  viz. : 

£    s.    d. 

Every  ox,  at 2  10  0 

Every  cow , 1  10  0 

Every  steer  and  heifer  of  three  years  old 1  10  0 

Every  two  year  old,  at 1  00  0 

Every  yearling,  at 0  15  0 

Every  horse  and  mare,  at 2  00  0 

Every  two  year  old  colt,  at 1  00  0 

Every  yearling  colt 0  10  0 

Every  swine  of  a  year  old  and  upwards 0  6  0 

Sheep  of  a  year  old  and  upwards  by  ye  score 5  00  0 

'  Land  in  tillage,  every  acre 0  5  0 

Meadow  and  English  pasture,  every  acre 0  5  0 

Vessels  and  trading  estate,  not  more  than  half  price. 

"Faculties  and  personal  abilities  at  will  and  doom;  the  like  where 
any  neglect  or  refuse  to  give  in  a  just  account  of  their  ratable  estate." 

In  1690  a  valuation  was  made  as  follows  : 

"  Ratable  estate  of  the  several  towns  accepted  by  the  General  Court 
for  to  proportion  the  rates  for  the  past  and  this  present  year,  1690. 

"Bristol  County. 

£. 

"Bristol 1049 

Taunton 2689 

Rehoboth 2117 

Dartmouth 2200 

Swansea 1500 

Little  ComptoD 2000 

Freetown 249." 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  valuation  of  Taunton  was 
larger  than  any  other  town  in  the  county,  and  more 
than  two  and  a  half  times  larger  than  Bristol,  which 
was  made  the  shire-town.  Bristol  had  been  incor- 
porated only  five  years,  Taunton  forty-six  years. 
It  it  no  wonder  that  Taunton  felt  dissatisfied  and 
wronged  by  the  preference  given  to  Bristol.  But 
Bristol  was  purchased  and  settled  by  Boston  gentle- 
men of  considerable  prominence,  and  attracted  thither 
men  of  wealth  and  enterprise,  who  expected  to  make 
of  it  an  important  seaport.  The  influence  of  these 
men,  with  their  promising  expectations,  doubtless 
secured  the  selection  of  Bristol  for  the  shire-town. 

Thus  far  the  records  of  Plymouth  Colony  have  fur- 
nished important  materials  for  this  history.  They 
have  given  a  graphic  picture  not  only  of  the  public 
affairs  of  the  towns  but  of  the  social  and  private  life 
of  the  inhabitants.  Those  whose  curiosity  would 
seek  further  to  disclose  the  faults  and  failings,  the 
frailties  even,  of  their  ancestors,  may  find  their  curi- 
osity abundantly  gratified  in  these  quaint  and  out- 
spoken records.  The  attempt  to  restrain  and  remove 
by  severe  and  degrading  punishments  evils  of  a 
social  and  private  nature  which  the  greater  practical 
wisdom,  or  the  looser  principles  of  this  age,  would 
withdraw  from  the  domain  of  legislation  and  the 
courts,  shows  how  high  was  our  fathers'  standard  of 
morality. 

The  charter  of  the  province  of  Massachusetts  Bay 
passed  the  seals  Oct.  7,  1691.  The  last  General  Court 
of  Plymouth  Colony  of  which  there  is  any  record 
was  held  July  7,  1691.     The  greater  and  more  ambi- 


tious colony  absorbed   the   less,  and  the  distinctive 
history  of  Plymouth  Colony  was  finished. 

From  the  old  proprietors'  records  such  extracts  will 
be  made  as  will  best  serve  to  illustrate  the  history  and 
progress  of  the  town.  For  many  years  there  seem  to 
have  been  no  separate  town  records  kept,  but  the  two 
were  combined  and  intermingled  without  reference  to 
order  or  chronology.  The  larger  part  of  the  ancient 
town  records  were  consumed  in  the  disastrous  fire  of 
1838,  and  there  is  no  one  now  living  who  can  tell  how 
far  back  they  extended  as  separate  records. 

Orders  concerning  dividing  of  lands. 

"March  11,1642.  Imprimis.  Whereas  there  was  a  rate  of  two  shil- 
lings for  an  acre  laid  upon  the  inhabitants'  home  grounds,  for  the  pa3-- 
ment  of  the  purchase  of  the  lands  of  the  township  to  the  Indians,  and 
other  persons  being  received  since  for  inhabitants,  were  not  rated  there- 
unto. 

"  It  is  therefore  ordered  that  the  said  latter  inhabitants,  or  others  that 
shall  hereafter  be  received  for  inhabitants,  shall  pay  for  their  home  lots 
that  shall  be  granted  unto  them  by  the  town,  the  said  proportion  of  two 
shillings  for  an  acre,  and  the  said  money  to  be  kept  for  a  public  stock 
for  such  uses  as  shall  be  requisite  for  the  use  of  the  plantation." 

"  Nov.  28,  165:5.  At  an  orderly  town-meeting  warned  by  the  constable 
it  is  acted  and  voted  that  there  shall  be  a  general  division  of  land  to 
every  inch,  and  to  whom  right  of  division  do  belong. 

"  2d.  It  is  agreed  that  the  rule  for  dividing  of  land  shall  be  by  lots, 
head-',  and  estates,  according  to  the  last  rate  made,  which  was  a  rate  of 
eight  pounds  made  for  public  charges,  to  country  charges  upon  every 
inhabitant  by  the  raters  that  made  that  rate,  ami  in  the  division  three 
acres  to  be  laid  toa  head,  and  three  acres  to  every  shilling  that  is  charged 
in  that  rate  contained  in  this  order,  and  three  acres  to  the  house  or  home 
lot,  and  those  that  are  single  men  to  be  looked  upon  as  two  heads.  This 
said  agreement  was  changed,  February  20th,  to  be  one-half  portion  in 
tho  division." 

"  Feb.  20,  1653-54.  It  is  voted  and  granted 'that  such  as  possess  the 
lands  that  those  that  removed  from  the  plantation,  or  have  been  received 
since,  shall  have  their  division  that  doth  belong  to  their  lots  only,  their 
persons  and  estates  being  departed  hence,  which  said  division  to  a  six- 
acre  lot  appertains  two  acres  and  a  half  and  twenty-six  pole. 

"  It  is  agreed  concerning  other  inhabitants  that  have  not  had  divi- 
sions shall  have  (right)  to  future  divisions  in  the  lands  yet  undivided, 
provided  they  pay  their  twelve  shillings  apiece  to  public  use,  as  former 
inhabitants  have  done,  according  to  town  agreement  in  that  case. 

"The  names  of  those  inhabitants  within  the  township  of  Taunton, 
who  are  to  have  their  division  of  land  now  agreed  upon,  Dec.  28, 1659, 
whose  proportion  is  to  be  according  to  the  rate  here  following,  together 
with  the  quantity  of  land,  lots,  and  heads,  at  two  acres  to  the  head,  two 
acres  to  the  shilling,  and  two  acres  to  the  lot." 


-The  Lots  are  Alike- 


The  Rate.                            £  s.  d. 

Msris  Winnefred  Gilbert 1  10  6 

James  Walker 15  7 

John  Tisdill 1  10  10 

Richard  Burt  18  2 

James  Burt 12  ... 

Francis  Smith 1  7  4 

Msrs  Jane  Gilbert 9  ... 

Francis  Street 6  7 

John  Briant 6  9 

Christopher  Thrasher 5  2 

John  Hathaway 10  7 

Jonah  Austin,  Sr 19  11 

William  Parker 15  3 

James  Phillips 13  4 

Peter  Pitts 1  ...  7 

William  Haylston 5  4 

Aaron  Knap., 7  9 

Thomas  Lincoln,  Jr 14  8 

Edward  Babbit 10  8 

James  Wiatt 1  8  11 

George  Macev 18  3 

William  Withrell 7  10 

William  Harvey 14  ... 

Thomas  Lincoln,  Sr 2  ....  3 

Capt.  Poole 1  2  3 

John  Macomber 7  ... 

Edward  Rew 7  ... 

Joseph  Wilbore 14  7 

Samuel  Howard 4  4 


Heads. 


Acres. 


8 

96 

9 

82 

4 

46 

6 

38 

6 

61 

7 

55 

5 

25 

2 

19 

7  . 

26 

7 

37 

2 

46 

9 

36 

2 

31 

6 

55 

2 

17 

7 

32 

6 

43 

4 

29 

2 

64 

7 

52 

5 

28 

i 

44 

6 

94 

8 

62 

4 

24 

2 

20 

3 

37 

9 

TAUNTON. 


761 


(/. 

Heads. 

Acres. 

3 

9 

42 

7 

o 

17 

(i 

3 

33 

8 

7 

33 

2 

30 

:; 

3 

44 

in 

8 

70 

l 

8 

44 

i 

f> 

36 

4 

6 

53 

:i 

7 

SO 

G 

10 

ill 

3 

3 

16^ 

10 

10 

10 

32 

10 

58 
6 

The  Rate.                             £  s. 

Thomas  Caswell 11 

Widow  Woody 5 

Shadrach  Wilbore 12 

Robert  Crossman 9 

JohnCobl) 12 

Henry  Andrews 18 

John  Deane 1  8 

Walter  Deane 13 

Hezekiah  Hear 12 

Anthony  Slocum 19 

George  Hal] I  15 

Richard  Williams 1  13 

Thomas  Jones 4 

Robert  Thornton  3 

William*  Shepard 5 

James  Leonard 18 

Nathaniel  Woodward 2 

Timothy  Holloway 


"Jan.  5,  1G59.  It  was  agreed  by  a  free  vote  of  the  town  that  all 
orphans  or  fatherless  children  shall  have  their  rights  in  all  divisions  of 
lands  which  are  due  unto  them  according  to  proportion." 

"Nov.  11,  1662.  It  was  voted  by  the  town  that  none  but  those  that  are 
real  purchasers  shall  be  rated  to  the  rate  which  is  to  be  made  to  defray 
the  charge  which  the  purchasers  are  liable  to  pay  for  the  measuring  or 
laying  out  of  the  town  bounds." 

"Nov.  11,  1662.  It  was  agreed  by  the  purchasers  of  the  town,  and 
fully  voted  in  a  public  town-meeting,  that  the  charges  of  the  laying-out 
of  the  town  bounds  shall  be  levied  upon  every  purchase  lot  equally 
alike." 

"  Dec.  9, 1662.  It  was  voted  by  the  town  that  the  former  act  of  divid- 
ing of  lands  by  heads  and  estates  shall  be  of  no  force  for  the  future." 

The  first  meeting-house  was  built  by  Henry  An- 
drews, at  what  date  is  not  known,  but  in  1647  the 
town  by  their  committee  conveyed  to  him  in  pay- 
ment thereof  the  calf  pasture  granted  to  the  town  in 
1646. 

A  copy  of  the  deed  is  here  given  : 

"Bradford  Gov'r. 

"  This  indenture  following  ivas  recorded  by  order  from  Ike  Court  : 

"This  Indenture  made  the  eleventh  day  of  the  second  month  in  the 
year  of  our  Lord  1647  between  the  inhabitants  of  Taunton  in  the  colony 
of  New  Plymouth  in  New  England  of  the  one  part;  and  Henry  Andrews 
inhabitant  of  the  said  plantation  of  Taunton  within  the  colony  of  New 
Plymouth  in  New  England  of  the  other  part,  witnesseth  that  whereas 
there  was  a  certain  parcel  of  land  or  neck  of  land  appertaining  unto  the 
inhabitants  of  Taunton  aforesaid  called  by  the  inhabitants  their  calves 
pasture,  That  this  said  parcel  or  neck  of  land,  it  lying  and  being  bounded 
by  the  Great  River  from  the  laud  of  Richard  Williams  inhabitant  of 
Taunton  heading  it  the  said  neck  at  the  upper  bounds  thereof,  and  the 
land  of  George  Hall,  inhabitant  of  Taunton  heading  it  the  lower  bounds 
thereof  or  near  unto  it,  This  parcel  or  neck  of  land  with  its  appurte- 
nances is  granted  and  sold  by  the  inhabitants  of  Taunton  aforesaid  unto 
him  the  aforesaid  Henry  Andrews  and  his  heirs  and  execntorsor  assigns, 
Tn  have  and  to  hold  forever  in  lieu  of  a  meeting  house  built  by  him  the 
aforesaid  Henry  Andrews  for  the  inhabitants  of  Taunton  aforesaid  for 
their  full  satisfaction  for  the  said  neck  of  land,  and  for  his  peaceable 
and  firm  enjoyment  thereof  by  him  the  said  Henry  Andrews  or  his  as- 
signs or  any  or  every  of  them,  it  is  further  promised  by  the  inhabitants 
aforesaid  that  all  such  manner  of  persons  as  have  been  heretofore  inhabi- 
tants resident  within  this  plantation  of  Taunton  them  or  their  heirs  or 
assigns  ever  shall  challenge  or  demand  any  part  or  portion  in  the  afore- 
said neck  of  land,  shall  be  either  satisfied  for  their  part  of  the  charge 
bestowed  thereon  by  the  town  in  fencing,  thereof  to  make  it  a  satisfac- 
tion or  else  be  satisfied  in  land  in  some  other  place.  As  also  it  is  by 
these  presents  witnessed  and  promised  by  the  inhabitants  aforesaid,  that 
this  said  parcel  or  neck  of  land  shall  not  be  rated  by  the  town  aforesaid  : 
and  for 'the  better  confirmation  of  this  deed  have  the  seven  men  chosen 
by  the  Inhabitants  of  Taunton  aforesaid  to  order  the  affairs  of  the  town 
for  that  present  year,  have  set  to  their  hands  for  the  day  and  year  first 
above  written. 

"John  Strong. 

"Oliver  Pvrchis. 

"  Walter  Peanl-. 

"Richard  Williams. 

"  Edward  Case." 


Further  votes  and  orders  of  the  town  are  as  fol- 
lows: 

"  Aug.  12, 1661.  The  five  men  to  lay  out  on  the  neck  of  land  on  the 
great  river  next  the  land  of  Jonah  Austin,  a  tract  of  the  town's  land  for 
the  landing  of  hay." 

"Dec.  9,  1662.  Voted  that  all  lands  that  are  yet  undivided  belonging 
to  the  town  shall  for  future  time  be  divided  by  way  of  purchase. 

"  Former  act  of  dividing  lands  by  heads  and  estates  canceled." 
■"March  22,  1002.  It  is  voted  and  granted  that  such  of  our  neighbors 
as  are  willing  to  build  and  erect  a  cart  bridge  at  the  neck  of  land  shall 
have  free  liberty  to  build  the  said  bridge  at  the  neck  of  land,  provided 
that  the  said  bridge  be  of  such  a  height  as  ordinary  carriage  of  hay  may 
pass  under,  or  boats  pass  under  when  they  lower  their  masts." 

"March  22,  1668.  At  a  town-meeting  it  is  voted  and  agreed  upon  by 
the  town  for  the  making  a  rate  of  six  pounds  for  the  building  of  a  horse 
bridge  over  the  Three-Mile  River  at  the  old  place  in  the  old  roadway  to 
Rehoboth." 

"Jan.  10,  1669.  It  is  voted  and  agreed  upon  by  the  town,  and  these 
ten  men  following  are  chosen  to  draw  a  list  of  the  purchasers  or  free  in- 
habitants here  in  town  as  followeth  :  James  Walker,  William  Harvey, 
Richard  Williams,  Walter  Dean,  Lieut.  Macey,  Ensign  Leonard,  Aron 
Knapp,  John  Hall,  Joseph  Wilbore,  John  Richmond. 

"  2d.  That  an  exact  list  he  taken  of  the  names  of  all  such  inhabitants 
amongst  us  that  have  right  in  division  of  lands,  that  so  these  and  none 
but  these  may  vote  about  the  disposing  of  lands ;  and  also  that  a  list 
be  taken  of  all  the  rest  of  the  inhabitants,  to  the  intent  that  we  may 
know  who  are  by  Court  order  allowed  to  vote  in  town-meeting,  and  who 
not. 

"3d.  And  in  the  beginning  of  each  town-meeting  the  list  of  all  the 
free  inhabitants  or  purchasers  shall  be  called  over,  and  if  sixteen  of  them 
with  the  Clerk  do  appear  at  the  time  and  place  appointed,  it  shall  be 
lawful  for  them  to  proceed  to  the  enacting  of  such  things  as  for  which 
the  town-meeting  was  appointed,  but  not  to  distribute  our  lands 
although  it  be  due,  except  sixteen  of  the  purchasers  appear." 

"Jan.  8,  1674.  It  is  voted  and  agreed  by  the  town  that  the  committee 
chosen  formerly  the  10th  January,  1669,  them  or  the  major  part  of  them 
shall  have  full  power  to  draw  up  a  list  of  the  purchasers  or  proprietors 
of  this  town,  and  how  lands  shall  be  settled  and  confirmed  to  the  pur- 
chasers or  proprietors  so  that  the  town  may  be  freed  from  future  dam- 
age, and  also  no  man  barred  of  his  just  right,  and  whatsoever  this  com- 
mittee, or  the  major  part  of  them,  shall  agree  upon  or  do  in  or  about  the 
premises  shall  stand  firm  and  good." 

Another  committee  composed  of  seven  persons,  five 
of  whom  were  members  of  the  first  committee,  was 
appointed  Jan.  21,  1678,  with  very  much  the  same 
powers  and  duties  imposed  upon  the  former  one. 
They  were,  in  addition,  to  rectify  their  supposed  lost 
grants  and  town  orders.  The  report*  of  both  com- 
mittees were  presented  to  the  town  and  accepted  on 
the  same  date,  and  seem  to  have  been  considered  as 
constituting  together*  a  complete  body  of  orders  for 
the  guidance  of  the  town.     They  are  here  given : 

"  To  our  beloved'  brethren   and  neighbors,  the  Inhabitants  of  the  toivn  of 

Taunton,  in  the  government  of  New  Plymouth  : 

"  The  committee  chosen  by  the  said  town  for  to  ratify  town  orders  and 
grants,  and  to  bring  them  into  a  formal  body  so  that  they  may  stand  in 
force,  and  also  to  determine  how  lands  shall  be  recorded  that  they  may 
be  confirmed,  both  to  ourselves  and  to  our  posterity. 

"The  committee  wisheth  grace,  mercy,  and  peace  in  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ. 

"Amongst  the  many  mercies  that  we  enjoy  hero  in  this  wilderness 
this  ought  to  be  accounted  none  of  the  least  that  we  enjoy  such  rulers 
chosen  from  amongst  om selves  (in  the  Commonwealth)  and  live  under 
such  Government,  by  means  whereof,  we  as  well  as  the  rest  of  the  towns 
in  this  Government,  enjoy  liberty  and  power  to  make  such  town  orders 
from  time  to  time  as  we  shall  find  needful  for  the  ordering  and  man- 
aging our  prudential  affairs  and  the  maintaining  the  worship  of  God 
amongst  us,  Provided  that  no  town  order  do  infringe  or  he  repugnant  to 
any  order  of  our  Government,  and  considering  that  God  is  a  God  of 
order  and  not  of  confusion,  anil  that  he  hath  in  some  measure  put  us 
into  a  capacity  to  observe  and  be  guided  by  good  and  wholesome  orders, 
it  hath  been  looked  upon  as  great  pity  and  neglect  that  our  town  orders 


762 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


have  not  before  now  been  brought  into  a  formal  body,  distinct  from  the 
records  of  our  lands,  which  our  town  having  well  considered  and  chosen 
us  to  do  such  a  needful  work.  Although  we  are  sensible  of  our  own 
weakness  and  of  the  many  difficulties  in  the  work,  yet  considering  the 
great  necessity  that  something  of  this  nature  ought  to  be  done  and  that 
the  records  of  our  lands  may  not  lie  in  a  confused  manner,  we  have 
through  much  difficulty  revised,  collected,  and  formed  this  following 
body  of  town  orders,  reduced  into  chapters,  as  may  be  seen  in  this  book, 
let  the  reader  take  notice,  that  first  after  this  epistle  he  hath  our  orders 
from  the  town  inserted,  and  next  after  that  some  instructions  for  those 
that  have  lands  to  be  recorded,  and  then  the  preface  that  is  before  the 
list  of  purchasers  or  proprietors,  and  then  the  said  list,  and  nextly  there 
followeth  the  several  chapters  of  town  orders.  It  hath  been  our  en- 
deavor to  compose  and  form  the  several  orders  in  this  book  as  they  may 
most  conduce  to  general  utility  and  profit,  yet  several  of  these  orders, 
intended  for  the  present  convenience,  may  probably  be  hereafter  altered, 
and  as  need  requireth  other  orders  added,  suitable  to  such  alternate 
changes  as  is  usual  in  affairs.  Respecting  town  and  commonwealth  af- 
fairs, probably  it  may  be  that  weakness  may  appear  in  what  we  here 
present  to  your  view,  for  want  of  such  able  instruments  as  others  are 
furnished  withall ;  however,  our  desires  are  that  you  will  be  pleased  to 
accept  of  what  we,  according  to  the  utmost  of  our  powers,  have  done. 
Endeavouring  to  promote  the  general  good  of  this  place,  and  that  you 
would  seriously  consider  that  if  such  a  work  as  this  is  of  so  great  im- 
portance to  us  at  such  a  time  as  this  is  should  be  retarded  and  hindered, 
what  would  be  the  event  thereof.  Therefore,  hoping  there  will  be  com- 
fortable concurrence  and  closure  with  us  in  this  work  considering  we 
aim  at  the  peace  and  tranquillity  both  of  the  present  and  rising  genera- 
tions, we  rest  your  friends  and  neighbors, 

"Walter  Deane. 
<  "James  Walker. 

"  Thomas  Leonard. 

"John  Richmond. 

"  William  Witherel." 

"At  the  Court  of  General  Sessions  of  the  Peace  held  at  Bristol  for  the 
County  of  Bristol  on  the  second  Tuesday  in  October  in  the  year  1702, 
Thomas  Leonard  and  John  Richmond,  two  of  the  committee  whose 
names  are  set  to  the  above  written  epistle,  made  oath  in  said  court  that 
the  above  written  epistle  and  what  said  epistle  doth  refer  the  reader 
unto,  and  all  contained  in  the  first  thirteen  chapters  in  this  book  (which 
chapters  do  end  in  the  twenty-sixth  page)  was  all  entered  in  this  book 
by  order  of  said  committee  before  the  twenty-fifth  day  of  May  in  the 
year  sixteen  hundred  and  eighty  (except  something  in  the  second  chap- 
ter and  something  in  the  sixth  chapter  both  which  may  plainly  appear 
by  their  dates  to  have  been  entered  since  said  twenty-fifth  of  May)  and 
on  said  twenty-fifth  of  May  sixteen  hundred  and  eighty  this  above 
written  epistle  and  that  was  entered  before  as  above  said,  was  read  to 
the  town  in  a  public  town-meeting  in  Taunton,  and  the  town  then  de- 
clared by  vote  their  acceptance  of  what  said  committee  had  done  as 
above  which  is  agreeable  to  the  said  town's  vote  which  is  entered  in  the 
third  page  in  this  book. 

"  Sworn  in  Court  October  14, 1702. 

"Attest  John  Cary,  Cleric." 

"Jan.  21,  1678.  A  committee  chosen  are  these  men  following  :  Wil- 
liam Harvey,  Walter  Deane,  Samuel  Smith,  John  Richmond,  James 
Walker,  Thomas  Leonard,  William  Withrell. 

"Jan.  21,  1678.  It  is  voted  and  agreed  upon  by  the  town  that  the 
committee  of  seven  men  above  named,  the  town  hath  chosen  them  for 
the  laying  out  what  commons  shall  perpetually  remain  commons,  both 
for  pasture  and  wood,  for  the  conveniency  and  supply  of  the  whole 
town,  the  first  clause  of  the  vote  respecting  the  commons  is  to  be 
brought  to  the  town  and  confirmed  by  the  major  part  of  them,  and  also 
to  take  the  best  care  they  can  for  the  settling  and  confirming  our  lands 
one  to  another,  both  to  ourselves  and  to  our  posterity.  And  also  to  see  to 
the  amending  or  rectifying  of  our  supposed  lost  grants  and  town  orders, 
and  to  bring  them  into  a  formal  body  to  stand  in  force  ;  and  this  com- 
mittee have  full  power  to  procure  what  help  is  needful  for  the  pursu- 
ing the  work,  if  they  see  need,  and  what  the  committee  shall  do  shall 
stand  firm  and  good,  and  this  work  shall  be  finished  to  the  best  of  their 
understanding,  and  brought  to  the  town  in  a  year's  time  after  the  date 
hereof." 

"Dec.  1,  1079.  The  town  hath  voted  and  agreed  that  whereas  the  town 
chose  a  committee.  21st  January,  1678,  of  seven  men,  and  they  were  to 
finish  their  work  there  appointed  in  a  year's  time  after  that  date;  now 
the  town  hath  agreed  that  this  committee,  or  the  major  part  of  them, 


shall  have  power  to  go  forward  with  their  work  there  appointed,  and  to 
finish  it  by  the  last'day  of  May  next  ensuing  the  date  hereof." 

"  Whereas,  By  the  providence  of  God,  in  the  year  1638,  and  the  year 
1639,  it  pleased  God  to  bring  the  most  part  of  us,  the  first  purchasers  of 
Taunton,  over  the  great  ocean  into  this  wilderness  from  our  dear  and 
native  land,  and  after  some  small  time  here  we  found  this  place,  called 
by  the  natives  of  the  land  Cohanack,  in  the  colony  of  New  Plymouth, 
and  of  the  court  of  said  colony  we  obtained  grants  of  tracts  of  land  for 
a  plantation  or  township,  as  by  the  records  of  said  court  it  may  and 
doth  appear,  and  then  we  also  made  purchase  and  bought  the  said  tracts 
of  land  for  our  money  of  the  right  proprietors  and  owners,  the  Indians' 
sachem  or  princes  of  that  part  of  the  country,  as  by  deed  under  their 
hands  it  may  appear,  and  in  honor  and  love  to  our  dear  and  native 
country  we  called  this  place  Taunton,  and  owning  it  a  great  mercy  of 
God  to  bring  us  to  this  place,  and  settling  of  us  on  lands  of  our  own, 
bought  with  our  money,  in  peace  in  the  midst  of  the  heathen,  for  a 
possession  for  ourselves, and  for  ourposterity  alter  us,  do  mutually  agree 
and  fully  determine,  as  an  undeniable  order  of  this  town,  without  any 
evasion  whatsoever,  that  all  lands  that  is  or  shall  be  granted  to  any  per- 
son or  persons,  whether  under  the  denomination  of  a  purchaser  or  free 
inhabitant  orderly  received  into  this  town,  shall  be  to  the  grantees  and 
their  heirs  and  assigns  forever,  in  a  good  perfect  estate  of  inheritance 
in  fee  simple,  and  that  all  titles  of  our  lands  within  this  township,  so 
to  stand  in  and  the  tenure  to  the  grantees,  and  so  to  descend  to  their 
survivors  as  aforesaid. 

"  Whereas,  It  is  the  expectation  of  this  town  that  we,  the  said  com- 
mittee, should  do  something  that  our  lands  may  be  confirmed  both  to 
ourselves  and  to  our  posterity,  the  town  having  empowered  us  so  to  do, 
we  do  therefore  agree  and  determine,  in  the  behalf  of  the  town,  that 
all  persons  enjoying  lands,  either  upland  or  swamp  or  meadow  within 
this  township,  when  they  would  record  such  land  they  shall  bring  a 
fair  copy  of  all  such  lands,  both  upland,  meadow,  and  swamp,  unto  the 
selectmen's  meeting,  mentioning  in  the  copy  the  bounds  or  quantity,  or 
both,  of  each  parcel,  and  how  they  possess'  it,  whether  by  purchase 
from  particular  persons,  or  by  gift  or  grant  from  the  town,  and  if  by 
grant  from  the  town,  that  they  mention  upon  what  purchase  right 
and  what  division,  if  it  may  be,  mentioning  also  what  they  have  sold, 
and  to  whom,  and  then  if  the  selectmen,  or  the  major  part  of  them, 
do  approve  of  the  copy  and  set  their  hands  thereunto,  the  town  clerk 
shall  record  all  such  lands  in  the  town  book  of  records,  overwriting  the 
record  thereof  thus  as  followeth : 

"The  records  of  the  lands  both  uplands  meadow  lands  and  swampy 
lands  of  such  a  person,  naming  of  him,  both  of  what  was  granted  him 
by  the  town,  and  what  he  bought  of  particular  persons,  and  also  what 
he  hath  sold,  all  and  every  parcel  thereof,  to  be  held  to  the  graptee,  his 
heirs,  successors,  and  assigns  forever,  according  to  the  tenor  of  our 
Charter  or  Patent." 

"  The  Preface  to  the  list  of  Purchasers  or  Proprietors. 

"  Whereas  the  General  Court  held  at  Plymouth,  in  July  the  10th,  1669, 
made  an  act  for  quieting  men's  estates,  avoiding  suits  in  law,  as  may 
appear  in  the  printed  law-book,  chap.  10,  page  35;  and  whereas  it  is  en- 
acted by  the  Court  that  all  grants  of  lands  shall  be  held  to  the  grantees> 
their  heirs,  successors,  and  assigns  forever,  according  to  the  most  free 
tenor  of  East  Greenwich,  in  the  County  of  Kent,  in  the  Realm  of  Eng- 
land, granted  to  us  in  our  Charter  or  Patent,  and  our  inheritances  to  de- 
fend according  to  the  tenor  thereof,  as  appears  chap.  10th,  page  34. 

"And  whereas  the  Court  formerly  gave  power  to  seven  men,  of  the 
ancient  inhabitants  of  this  town,  to  receive  inhabitants  and  to  dispose  of 
lands  to  them,  for  the  better  carrying  on  of  the  public  affairs,  and  main- 
taining the  worship  of  God  amongst  us,  but  several  of  those  persons  so 
received  into  this  town,  did  afterwards  leave  and  forsake  the  town, 
whereupon  it  was  the  practice  of  the  town  to  divide  lands  (viz.  such 
lands  as  such  persons  which  left  the  town  should  have  had,  if  they  had 
not  left  the  town  nor  alienated  their  rights)  to  such  inhabitants  as  enjoy 
thp  purchase  lots  (so  called)  of  those  that  left  the  town,  except  the  pur- 
chase-lot, and  the  purchase  rights  to  divisions  were  separated,  and  then, 
in  such  a  case  the  town  did  divide  lands  to  those  that  did  hold  the  pur- 
chase rights  to  divisions,  but  the  town  not  having  kept  an  exact  list  of 
those  admitted  to  be  purchasers,  nor  any  exact  record  of  their  manner 
of  settling  lands  upon  persons,  therefore  for  the  preventing  future  trou- 
ble and  inconveniences  the  town  chose  a  committee,  Jan.  10,  1699,  to 
draw  a  list  of  the  purchasers,  or  free  inhabitants  here  in  town  ;  the  town 
likewise  voted  and  agreed,  Jan.  18,  1674,  that  the  same  committee  shall 
have  full  power  (or  the  major  part  of  them)  to  draw  up  a  list  of  the  pur- 
chasers or  proprietors  of  this  town,  and  how  lands  shall  be  settled  and 
confirmed  to  the  purchasers  or  proprietors,  so  that  the  town  may  be 
freed  from  future  damage,  and  also  no  man  barred  of  his  just  right,  and 


TAUNTON. 


763 


whatsoever  this  committee,  or  the  major  part  of  them,  shall  agree  upon 
or  do,  in  or  about  the  premises,  shall  stand  firm  and  good;  we  therefore 
whose  names  are  underwritten,  being  the  major  part  of  said  committee, 
do  agree  and  conclude  that  lands  shall  be  recorded  unto,  confirmed,  and 
Bettled  upon  such  persons,  unto  whom  the  town  hath  already  granted  or 
divided  lands  by  virtue  of  their  enjoying  either  purchase  lots  or  pur- 
chase rights  to  divisions,  whose  names  are  on  the  list  which  we  have 
drawn,  notwithstanding  it  is  not  hereby  intended  to  deprive  any  person 
(that  removed  hence)  of  his  righls,  but  he  shall  have  free  liberty  to  de- 
mand and  recover  (according  to  the  aforementioned  law)  his  rights  of 
any  such  person  or  persons  to  whom  the  town  divided  lands,  by  virtue 
of  his  possessing  the  purchase  lot  or  purchase  rights  of  any  such 
ancient  inhabitant,  who  was  formerly  accepted  under  the  notion  of  a 
purchaser. 

•  "James  Walker. 

"John  Richmond. 
"  Thomas  Leonard. 
"  Joseph  Wilbore. 
"  John  Hall. 
"Richard  Williams. 
"  Walter  Deane." 

"This  25th  of  May,  1680.  The  town  hath  voted  that  they  accept  of 
what  the  committee  hath  done;  by  the  committee  is  to  be  understood 
those  that  did  this  day  present  what  they  had  caused  to  be  entered  on 
the  Town  book  of  Town  Orders,  concerning  settling  of  our  lands  and 
town  orders. 

"  A  list  of  the  names  of  the  present  purchasers  or  proprietors  of  the 
Town  of  Taunton  unto  whom  the  town  hath  already  granted  or  divided 
lands,  by  virtue  of  their  enjoying  either  purchase  lots  or  purchase  rights 
to  divisions  of  land,  as  followeth  : 

"  Richard  Williams  on  his  own  rights,  &  on  that  which  was  Henry 
Uxley's,  &  on  that  which  was  Anthony  Slocum's,  and  that  which  was 
John  Gingil's. 

"John  Hall  and  Samuel  Hall  on  their  two  rights  which  were  Joseph 
Wilson's  and  Benjamin  Wilson's. 

"Joseph  Hall  on  the  rights  that  was  his  father's. 

"Captain  William  Poole's  heirs  on  his  rights. 

"Lieutenant  George  Macey  on  his  own  rights  and  on  that  which  was 
Mr.  Bishop's. 

"  William  Harvey  on  his  own  rights. 

"Edward  Rew  on  the  rights  that  was  William  Coy's. 

"  Hezekiah  Hoar  on  his  own  rights. 

"  Walter  Deane  on  his  own  rights. 

'"  John  Deane  on  his  father's  rights. 

"Henry  Andrews  on  his  father's  rights. 

"Increase  Robinson  on  the  rights  that  was  Thomas  Cook's. 

"  John  Cobb  on  the  rights  that  was  John  Smith's. 

"  Mr.  Thomas  Farwell's  heirs  on  his  rights. 

"Shadrach  Wilbore  on  the  lights  that  was  Edward  Case's. 

"Thomas  Caswell  on  the  rights  that  was  John  Kingslow's. 

"James  Leonard,  Junior,  on  the  rights  that  was  Richard  Paull's. 

"Joseph  Wilbore  on  the  rights  that  was  Richard  Smith's. 

"John  Smith,  Senior,  on  half  the  rights  that  was  Mr.  John  Gilbert's. 

"  James  Phillips  on  the  rights  that  ,was  his  father's. 

"John  Richmond  on  the  rights  that  was  his  father's  &  on  the  rights 
that  was  Mr.  Francis  Doubtyes  (Doughty). 

"  Jonah  Austin,  Senior,  on  the  right  that  was  William  Holloway's. 

"Jonah  Austin,  Junior,  on  the  half  purchase  rights  of  the  widow 
Randil's. 

"William  Witherell  on  his  own  rights,  &  that  which  was  Mr. 
Dunn's. 

"John  Bryant  on  the  rights  which  was  his  father's  and  that  which 
was  William  Scadding's. 

"Mary  Streete  on  the  rights  that  was  her  father's. 

"Joseph  Willis  on  the  rights  that  was  Hugh  Rossiter's. 

"  Eleazer  Gilbert  on  the  rights  of  John  Gilbert. 

"  Thomas  Gilbert  on  the  rights  that  was  his  father's. 

"Malachi  Holloway  on  the  rights  that  was  Richard  Hart's. 

"  Francis  Smith  on  the  rights  that  was  Oliver  Purchase's. 

"Samuel  Smith  on  the  rights  that  was  Jacob  Wilson's. 

"James  Burt  on  his  own  rights. 

"  Richard  Burt  on  the  rights  that  was  his  father's. 

"James  Tisdil  on  the  rights  that  was  David  Greenman's. 

"John  Tisdil,  senior,  on  his  own  rights. 

"John  Tisdil,  Junior,  on  the  rights  that  was  Mr.  Drake's. 

"James  Walker,  senior,  on  his  own  rights,  &  on  that  which  was  Mr 
John  Brown's,  4  on  the  rights  that  was  John  Luther's. 


"  Mr.  John  Poole  on  the  rights  that  was  M'ris.  Elizabeth  Poole's. 

"James  Wiat's  heirs  on  his  rights. 

"Thomas  Harvey,  Junior,  on  his  father's  rights. 

"To  John  Strong's  rights  we  find  several  claimers. 

"Christopher  Thrasher  on  his  own  rights. 

"William  Shepard's  heirs  on  his  rights. 

"John  Hathaway  on  the  rights  that  was  his  father's. 

"Peter  Pitts  on  the  rights  that  was  Richard  Stasie'sand  on  the  rights 
that  was  William  Parker's. 

"  Thomas  Coggan's  heirs  on  his  rights. 

"John  Macomber,  Senior,  on  his  own  rights. 

"Israel  Dean  on  the  rights  that  was  Clement  Mayfield's. 

"  Richard  Stasio  on  the  rights  that  was  Edward  Rew's. 

"John  Hodges  on  the  rights  that  was  his  father's. 

"  William  Evans  his  heirs  on  his  rights. 

"Aaron  Knap's  heirs  on  his  rights. 

"  Henry  Hodges  on  the  rights  that  was  John  Gollup's. 

"  Richard  Godfree,  senior,  on  half  the  purchase  rights  that  was  Thomas 
Joan's. 

"Thomas  Lincoln,  senior,  on  his  own  rights. 

"Thomas  Lincoln,  Junior,  on  his  own  rights. 

"  George  Watson  on  the  rights  that  was  Giles  Gilbert's. 

"  Giles  Gilbert  on  the  rights  that  was  Joseph  Gilbert's. 

"  Robert  Grossman  on  his  own  rights. 

"Robert  Thornton  on  his  own  rights. 

"John  Turner  on  his  own  rights. 

"James  Leonard,  senior,  on  his  own  rights. 

"  Mr.  John  Paine  on  the  rights  that  was  Ralph  Russell's. 

"Thomas  Leonard  on  the  rights  that  was  Henry  Leonard's  &  on  half 
the  purchase  rights  that  was  Thomas  Jones'. 

"  Edward  Bobbitt  on  his  own  rights. 

"Samuel  Holloway  on  his  own  rights. 

"Jonathan  Briggs  on  the  rights  that  was  Benjamin  Dunham's. 

"  Nicholas  White,  senior,  on  the  rights  that  was  David  Curwithies  and 
on  the  rights  that  was  Giles  Slocum's. 

"John  Parker's  heirs  on  his  rights. 

"Mr.  George  Shove  on  his  own  rights. 

"William  Haylston  on  his  own  rights. 

"Mr.  William  Brenton  on  the  rights  that  was  Mr.  Nicholas  Street's. 

"These  purchasers  or  proprietors,  fore-mentioned,  are  hereby  and  by 
virtue  hereof  entitled  and  interested  only  unto  the  first  purchase  of  the 
township  of  Taunton  and  not  unto  any  later  purchases. 

"This  list  was  made  and  agreed  upon  and  concluded  and  confirmed 
by  us  whose  names  are  underwritten,  being  the  major  part  of  the  com- 
mittee chosen  by  the  town  for  that  end.     Dated  May  14, 1675. 

"Richard  Williams. 
"  James  Walker. 
"  Walter  Deane. 
"John  Richmond. 
"John  Hall. 
"Joseph  Wilbore. 
"  Thomas  Leonard." 

In  accordance  with  their  instructions  the  committee 
drew  up  a  body  of  rules  and  orders  for  the  guidance 
of  their  affairs,  the  more  important  of  which  here 
follow : 

"  Concerning  the  office  of  the  selectmen,  as  they  are  chosen  by  the 
town  to  manage  their  affairs  for  the  good  of  the  whole,  their  orders  are 
as  followeth: 

"  That  the  selectmen  or  the  major  part  of  them  shall  appoint  town- 
meetings  when  they  shall  see  a  just  occasion  for  it,  and  that  the  select- 
men shall  manage  the  affairs  of  the  meeting,  and  so  that  those  occa- 
sions for  which  the  Town-meeting  is  warned  be  first  dispatched  before 
any  other  matters  be  introduced. 

"2d.  That  none  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  town  shall  entertain  any 
foreigner  or  stranger  from  abroad,  except  first  they  get  the  approbation 
of  the  selectmen,  or  the  major  part  of  them,  upon  the  penalty  of  five 
shillings  per  week,  to  be  levied  on  the  estates  of  such  as  transgress  this 
order,  by  a  warrant  to  the  constable  from  some  oue  of  the  selectmen; 
likewise  none  shall  come  to  inhabit  in  this  town  contrary  to  the  appro- 
bation of  the  selectmen,  or  the  major  part  of  them,  on  the  penalty  of 
five  shillings  a  week,  to  be  gathered  as  aforesaid. 

"3d.  In  reference  to  Town  charges,  the  selectmen  to  take  an  account 
yearly  of  every  one  to  whom  the  Town  is  indebted  and  present  the  ac- 
count to  the  Town,  etc. 


764 


HISTORY  OF  BRISTOL  COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


"4th.  Two  of  the  selectmen  with  the  measurer  to  lay  out  lands,  ex- 
cept when  a  committee  is  chosen  for  the  purpose. 

"5th.  The  selectmen  to  seo  that  landmarks  are  kept  up  between  neigh- 
bor and  neighbor,  according  to  the  order  of  Court. 

"  6th.  It  is  ordered  that  the  selectmen  shall  give  an  account  yearly  to 
the  town,  both  of  the  town  stock  and  also  of  what  lands  they  lay  out. 

"7th.  That  the  selectmen  from  time  to  time  are  empowered  to  take 
care  of  the  poor,  and  to  that  end,  if  they  shall  see  cause,  to  call  a  town- 
meeting  to  make  a  rate  for  the  supply  of  such  as  are  or  shall  be  in  ne- 
cessity. 

"  8th.  Records  of  lands  to  be  brought  to  them  for  their  approval,  and 
if  they  set  their  hands  thereunto,  then  it  shall  be  clear  for  such  lands 
to  pass  to  record." 

"Concerning  the  saw-mill  on  the  Mill  River,  and  concerning  the  fish. 

"Jan.  5,  1659.  It  is  voted  and  agreed  by  the  town  that  Henry  Andrews 
and  John  Macomber  shall  have  liberty  to  erect  or  set  up  a  saw-mill  on 
the  Mill  River,  if  it  be  not  found  hurtful  to  the  grist-mill_,  upon  these 
terms  following,  that  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  shall  have  liberty  to 
bring  what  timber  they  shall  think  meet,  either  pine,  chestnut,  or  cedar, 
and  what  timber  any  of  the  inhabitants  shall  bring  as  above  said  they 
shall  deliver  the  one-half  of  it  again  to  him  that  brought  it,  sawing 
either  to  boards  or  planks  as  the  inhabitants  shall  see  cause. 

"And  what  other  boards  the  inhabitants  above  said  shall  need  for 
their  own  particular  use  the  said  Henry  Andrews  and  John  Macomber 
shall  sell  them  at  the  rate  of  four  shillings  to  a  hundred  ordinary  town 
pay,  and  this  above  said  mill  to  be  in  some  forwardness  within  one  year 
after  the  date  hereof,  or  else  this  order  to  be  of  no  effect." 

"Jan.  2, 1669.  It  was  voted  that  the  fish  6hall  have  a  convenient  pas- 
sage up  and  down  the  Mill  River." 

"  Concerning  Landing-Places. 

"  1st.  At  the  Neck  of  Land,  so-called,  from  the  bridge  down  the  river  to 
the  little  river,  and  up  the  little  river  to  the  land  of  John  Macomber, 
and  a  parcel  of  land  above  the  bridge,  sometime  called  Mr.  Street's 
landing-place. 

"2d.  Also  a  lariding-place  upon  the  great  river  at  the  foot  of  the  hill, 
as  goeth  up  to  the  pound,  and  from  the  land  of  Shadrach  Wilbore  up  the 
said  river  to  take  in  the  spring  on  the  upper  side  of  the  creek. 

"3d.  A  landing-place  on  the  great  river,  flanking  on  the  north  side  of 
John  Richmond's  land,  and  bounded  on  the  west  on  the  land  formerly 
in  the  possession  of  Jonah  Austin;  the  landing-place  on  Jonah  Austin's 
land  is  eleven  rods  on  the  great  river,  facing  on  the  said  river  in  length 
from  the  highway,  and  two  rods  and  a  half  in  breadth  from  the  brow  of 
the  hill  at  eighteen  foot  to  a  rod.  And  the  said  highway  between  Jonah 
Austin's  land  and  John  Richmond's  land  to  the  said  landing-place  is  to 
be  one  rod  and  a  half  broad,  as  it  is  now  fenced  on  both  sides. 

"4th.  A  landing-place  on  the  east  side  of  the  great  river,  southerly 
from  the  land  some  time  in  the  possession  of  John  Tisdell,  and  northerly 
from  a  hill  called  '  Fipes'  (Apes?)  hill  as  it  is  bounded  and  laid  out. 

"5th.  A  landing-place  on  the  west  side  of  the  great  river,  bounded 
southerly  by  the  land  of  Nathaniel  French,  and  northerly  up  the  river 
by  a  creek." 

'•  We  whose  names  are  under  written  have  in  the  fore  part  of  the  year 
1699,  laid  out  a  landing-place  legally  granted  near  the  house  of  Nathan- 
iel French,  containing  near  about  one  acre  of  land,  it  being  bounded  as 
followeth,  beginning  at  Taunton  Great  River  on  the  westerly  side  of  a 
creek  or  a  little  run  of  water,  and  ranging  on  a  line  northerly  upon  the 
westerly  side  of  said  creek  or  run  of  water  till  it  comes  to  a  valley  of 
low  laud,  and  so  ranging  westerly  till  it  comes  to  the  land  formerly 
granted  to  James  Tisdale,  now  in  the  possession  of  said  Nathaniel  French, 
and  from  thence  ranging  on  aline  along  by  the  house  of  said  French  till 
it  conies  to  the  above  said  Great  River,  and  so  up  by  said  river  till  it 
comes  to  the  above  said  westerly  side  of  said  creek,  and  likewise  a  high- 
way laid  out  northerly  forty  foot  wide  in  every  part  of  it  till  it  comes  to 
the  country  way  that  leadeth  from  Taunton  to  Bristol. 

"  Henry  Hodges. 
"  Thomas  Gilbert. 
"  Thomas  Harvey. 

"  Selectmen." 

"  Concerning  Rates,  Haters,  and  Constables. 

"1st.  When  order  for  the  country  rate  is  brought  to  the  town  yearly 
then  the  estate  of  the  town  is  to  be  carefully  taken  by  the  raters,  and 
that  estate  to  bear  the  charges  of  the  town  for  that  year,  and  the  Raters 
shall  have  fifteen  shillings  for  gathering  the  Town's  estate  successively." 
"  18th  Doc,  1671.  It  is  voted  and  agreed  upon  by  the  town,  whereas 
,it  proves  difficult  for  the  Raters  to  obtain  a  just  account  of  men's  lands, 


both  improved  and  dormant,  we  do  therefore  agree  and  order  that  there 
shall  be  upon  the  town  book  a  distinct  catalogue  of  all  the  meadows  and 
uplands  of  each  person  to  which  the  Raters  may  have  recourse,  and 
therefore  that  each  man  do  within  two  months  after  the  date  hereof 
bring  in  the  account  of  their  lands  to  the  clerke.  and  that  from  time  to 
time,  as  any  shall  alienate  any  parcel  of  lands,  they  shall  inform  the 
clerke,  that  so  it  may  be  entered  in  the  aforesaid  catalogue,  upon  the 
neglect  whereof  the  seller  thereof  must  expect  to  bear  the  rates  of  it 
himself. 

"2d.  And  if  any  man  shall  refuse  or  neglect  to  give  a  just  account  of 
his  estate  to  the  Raters  when  called  for,  nor  repair  within  six  days,  to 
give  it  to  the  Raters,  such  person  shall  stand  to  the  judgment  of  the 
RateiB. 

"3d.  The  valuation  of  lands  and  cattle  as  a  valuation  for  the  Raters. 
Improved  land  at  15s.  per  acre,  ratable  estale ;  meadows  and  pasture 
land  at  10s.  per  acre  ;  dormant  land  at  1  per  acre;  an  ox  at  £3  an  ox  ; 
a  cow  at  £2  5s. ;  three  year  old  cattle  at  £2  5s.  a  beast ;  two  year  old 
cattle  at  £1  10s.  a  beast;  one  year  old  cattle  at  15s.  a  beast;  a  sheep  at 
3s.  a  beast ;  a  horse  or  mare  at  £2  a  piece  that  is  above  three  year  old  > 
a  two  year  old  at  £1  a  horse  or  mare. 

"  4th.  And  every  Rater  shall  have  but  12s.  a  piece  for  making  of  a  rate 
and  paid  out  of  every  rate  they  make,  and  the  15s.  for  gathering  of  the 
town's  estate,  shall  be  paid  out  of  the  town  rate. 

15th  July,  1574.  It  is  voted  and  agreed  upon  by  the  town  that  such 
persons  of  the  town  as  pay  their  country  rate  in  money  shall  pay  noth- 
ing for  transportation,  but  such  as  pay  in  wheat,  Indian  corn,  or  barley 
or  hay  or  butter  or  iron,  shall  pay  so  much  in  the  same  specie  as  will 
pay  for  the  transportation. 

"5th.  It  is  ordered  for  the  future  that  all  rates  shall  be  recorded,  both 
the  sum  that  is  to  be  levied  of  the  town,  and  also  the  rates  when  made, 
before  delivered  to  the  constables,  and  the  constables'  account  at  the  end 
of  his  year  to  be  entered  on  record,  that  so  it  may  appear  what  money 
is  gathered  and  how  it  is  disposed,  and  also  the  bill  of  the  town's  debts 
to  be  yearly  entered  on  record. 

"  6th.  And  for  the  making  of  all  rates  there  shall  be  three  men  chosen 
at  least  by  the  town,  and  if  any  or  either  of  the  raters  orderly  chosen 
shall  neglect  or  refuse  to  make  the  rates  seasonably,  he  or  they  shall  pay 
a  fine  according  to  Court  order,  and  the  town  shall  choose  again,  and  no 
excuse  shall  be  accepted  but  sickness  or  lameness  or  bound  a  long  journey 
out  of  town. 

"7th.  That  the  constables  shall  have  nothing  for  gathering  the  coun- 
try rates,  but  only  to  go  rate  free. 

"8th.  They  shall  have  nothing  forgathering  the  minister's  rates,  but 
if  any  shall  refuse  or  neglect  to  bring  in  the  minister's  rates  to  the  place 
appointed  by  the  constable,  or  to  the  minister's  house,  so  that  the  con- 
stable is  put  upon  it  to  distrain,  then  the  constable  shall  distrain  so  much 
as  will  pay  the  principal  and  defray  the  transportation  of  it  to  the  min- 
ister's house,  besides  the  constable's  fees,  for  gathering  of  town  rates 
they  shall  have  Is.  per  pound  out  of  the  same  rate." 

"  Concerning  the  paying  of  Deputies  and  Grand  Jurymen. 

"  8th  Nov.,  1677.  By  order  of  the  town  and  former  practice,  the  Depu- 
ties and  Grand  jurymen  shall  be  paid  two  shillings  and  sixpence  a  day 
for  every  day  they  are  at  Court  ab^out  the  town's  business,  from  the  day 
they  go  from  home  until  they  return  home  again. 

"It  is  voted  and  agreed  upon  by  the  town  that  those  men  that  are  or 
shall  be  employed  at  Court  about  the  town's  business,  shall  have  the  one- 
half  of  their  pay  as  money  and  the  other  half  in  country  pay." 

"  Concerning  the  Towne's  stock  of  Ammunition. 
"22d  April,  1678.  It  is  voted  and  agreed  upon  by  the  town  that  the 
Commission  Officers,  with  the  council  of  war  of  this  town,  shall  have  the 
whole  disposing  of  the  town's  stock  of  powder  and  lead,  and  when  dis- 
posed of  to  give  an  account  to  the  towu  for  what  and  to  whom  they 
have  disposed  it." 

"  Concerning  Swine. 

"Jan.  18, 1671.  It  is  voted  and  agreed  upon  by  the  town  that  if  any 
swine  do  break  into  men's  grounds  and  do  damage,  that  the  owners  of 

said  swine  shall  pay  the  damage,  provided  the  fence  be sufficient  by 

indifferent  men." 

Rules  were  also  made  concerning  the  fencing  of 
meadows,  and  in  reference  to  commons  for  wood  and 
timber. 

By  a  law  enacted  in  1646  every  town  was  required 
to  have  a  clerk,  or  some  one  appointed  to  keep  a  reg- 


TAUNTON. 


765 


ister  of  the  day  and  year  of  the  marriage,  birth,  and 
burial  of  every  man,  woman,  and  child  in  the  town- 
ship. There  is  no  record  of  any  clerk  in  Taunton 
until  the  following: 

"Tlie  Town  Clerk  chosen  for  this  present  year  being  this  sixth  of 
March,  1G64  or  5,  is  Shadrach  Wilbore,  and  so  to  continue  as  long  as  he 
the  said  Clerk  and  the  town  shall  agree. 

"  And  it  is  voted  and  agreed  by  the  town  this  sixth  of  March.  1664/5, 
that  the  said  Clerk  shull  have  of  the  town  twenty  shillings  by  the  year. 

"  And  it  is  voted  and  agreed  by  the  town  at  a  town  meeting,  that  the 
said  town  to  commit  to  the  said  Town  Clerk  to  keen  the  Town  Book  and 
the  Registry  the  day  and  year  above  written." 

The  first  return  of  births,  deaths,  and  marriages  to 
the  Plymouth  Court  was  made  the  year  after  the  above 
appointment.  Mr.  Wilbore  held  the  office  for  more 
than  thirty  years,  and  it  is  probable  until  his  death 
early  in  1699.  The  following  vote  appears  in  the 
proprietors'  records : 

"Nov.  19, 1697.  The  town  doth  this  day  act  and  vote  that  the  Town 
Clerk,  Mr.  Sbadrach  Wilbore,  shall  deliver  up  to  Capt.  Thomas  Leonard, 
Our  Proprietors'  Clerk,  the  book  of  the  records  of  our  lands,  wherein 
also  our  lands  not  therein  recorded,  may  be  by  our  Proprietors'  Clerk, 
not  that  we  find  any  unfaithfulness  in  our  said  Town  Clerk,  but  only 
that  our  Proprietors'  Clerk  may  be  advantaged  to  perform  his  trust,  and 
that  our  land  may  still  be  recorded." 

Mr.  Wilbore's  handwriting  was  remarkable  for  its 
regularity  and  beauty.  Those  parts  of  the  records 
kept  by  him  are  still  in  a  fine  state  of  preservation. 

In  1687,  during  the  usurpation  of  Sir  Edmund  An- 
dros,  he  fell  under  his  displeasure,  was  brought  before 
his  Council,  and  condemned  to  be  imprisoned.  The 
warrant  for  his  imprisonment  and  his  petition  for 
release  are  here  given,  by  which  it  appears  that  it 
was  not  for  refusing  to  give  up  the  town  records  that 
he  was  imprisoned,  as  has  been  commonly  stated : 

"To  the  Sheriff  of  the  County  of  Suffolk: 

''  Whereas  Shadrach  Wilbore,  Town  clerk  of  Taunton,  hath  lately  in 
the  name  and  with  the  consent  of  the  said  Town,  written  and  published 
a  certain  scandalous,  factious  and  seditious  writing  therein,  very  much 
reflecting  upon  and  contemning  the  law,  authority  and  government  of 
this  his  Majesty's  Territory  and  Dominion  of  New  England.  The  which 
writing,  upon  his  examination  before  his  Excellency  in  Council,  he  hath 
confessed  and  owned.  These  are,  therefore,  in  his  Majesty's  name,  to 
require  and  command  you  to  take  into  your  custody,  the  body  of  the 
said  Shadrach  Wilbore,  and  him  safely  keep  in  his  Majesty's  jail,  until 
he  shall  have  answered  for  the  said  contempt  and  misdemeanor,  and  be 
from  thence  delivered  by  due  course  of  his  Majesty's  Laws.  Whereof 
fail  not.     And  for  so  doing,  this  shall  be  your  warrant. 

"  Dated  in  Boston,  the  30th  day  of  August,  1687. 

"  By  order  in  Council.'' 

"  The  humble  petition  of  Shadrach  Wilbore,  of  Taunton,  Town  Clarke, 
To  his  Excellency,  Sir  Edmond  Andrews,  Knight  Goveruor-in-Chief  of 
his  Majesty's  Territory  and  dominion  in  New  England. 

"  Humbly  shewetb  that  whereasyour  poorpetitioner(but  as  a  servant) 
did  in  the  name,  and  with  the  consent  of  the  Town  of  Taunton  (as 
Towne  Clarke),  as  by  virtue  of  his  office  judged  himself  obliged  to  do, 
did  write  a  letter  to  John  Usher,  Esq.,  the  contents  of  said  letter  or 
writing  proving  very  offensive  to  authority,  for  which  your  petitioner  js 
very  sorry  that  he  should  give  any  cause  of  offence  to  any,  either  by 
writing  or  any  other  way,  for  it  was  not  any  way  intended  by  your  pe- 
titioner either  to  offend  your  Excellency  or  the  government  his  Majesty 
hath  set  over  us,  and  therefore  wherein  your  petitioner  hath  offended 
auy  person  he  craveth  their  pardon,  entreating  your  Excellency  to  im- 
pute the  offensiveness  of  said  writing  to  the  ignorance,  weakness,  and  un- 
skilfulness  of  your  poor  petitioner  as  to  law  matters,  entreating  your  Ex- 
cellency to  grant  your  poor  petitioner  a  gracious  pardon  as  to  honorable 
Court's  sentence  against  him  here  at  Bristol  and  remit  it,  or  what  of  it 
your  Excellency  shall  think  fit,  beseeching  your  Excellency  to  consider 


what  your  poor  petitioner  hath  already  suffered  both  at  Boston  and  also 
here  at  Bristol,— at  Boston  his  imprisonment  there  and  charges  for  a  re- 
lease out  of  prison,  and  here  at  Bristol,  it  being  five  weeks  since  he  was 
first  committed  to  prison,  entreating  your  Excellency  to  consider  the  in- 
ability of  your  poor  petitioner  and  the  time  of  the  year  (it  being  very 
cold  for  a  poor  prisoner),  and  also  his  low  estate  and  a  great  family  of 
children  (not  needful  to  say  the  Town  of  Taunton  hath  already  an- 
swered the  matter  then  in  question),  and  for  the  future  your  petitioner 
hopes  he  shall  be  more  careful  what  he  writes.  So  craving  your  pardou 
for  giving  your  Excellency  the  trouble  of  reading  these  lines,  hoping 
for  your  Excellency's  gracious  Answer,  shall  rest  your  humble  pe- 
titioner. 

"  Shadrach  Wilbore. 
"Bristol the  14th  of  November,  1687." 

If,  as  he  intimates  in  his  "  humble  petition,"  he 
wrote  the  offensive  letter  by  authority  of  the  town,  or 
by  direction  of  the  selectmen,  the  town  granted  him 
tardy  justice,  for  it  was  two  years  after  his  imprison- 
ment that  the  following  vote  was  passed : 

"This  21  day  of  November,  1689,  Itwasvoted  and  granted  to  Shadrach 
Wilbore,  the  town  Clerk,  one  hundred  acres  of  land  joining  to  his  land 
at  Bareneed,  or  somewhere  thereabout,  in  consideration  of  his  imprison- 
ment and  suffering,  he  paying  whatmoney  is  due  at  that  account,  which 
is  to  say  the  five  and  forty  shillings  which  we  borrowed  of  William  Wil- 
bore of  Rhode  Island." 

Perhaps,  however,  the  town  thought  it  more  prudent 
to  wait  until  the  usurpation  of  Andros  was  at  an 
end. 

On  the  same  day  a  vote  was  passed  in  reference  to 
another  grist-mill  as  follows: 

"  Nov.  21,  1689.  Whereas  there  appears  a  great  necessity  of  a  good 
grist-mill' in  this  town  more  than  we  have  already,  and  finding  a  con- 
venient place  to  set  a  mill  on  below  the  old  mill,  and  in  case  the  town 
please  to  grant  the  privilege  of  the  stream  to  erect  a  mill  on,  then  Rob- 
ert Crossman,  Jr.,  will  speedily  build  a  good  mill  to  serve  the  town  to 
grind  their  corn.  This  above  said  was  voted  and  granted  to  Robert 
Crossman,  Jr.,  this  21st  day  of  November,  1689." 

For  several  years  previous  to  the  above  date  the 
town  seems  to  have  been  apprehensive  as  to  the 
security  of  their  title  to  their  lands.  There  had  been 
several  controversies  with  adjoining  towns  in  respect 
to  boundary  lines,  and  some  of  these  controversies 
were  not  yet  settled.  A  confirmatory  deed  was  de- 
sired from  Governor  Bradford,  and  various  votes  had 
been  passed  and  committees  appointed  to  effect  the 
desired  end.     Some  of  these  votes  are  here  given: 

'  "  This  8th  of  January,  1683.  The  town  hath  by  vote  chosen  John 
Hathaway,  senior,  and  John  Richmond  to  go  abroad  to  procure  evidence 
for  the  strengthening  and  further  confirmation  of  our  township." 

"This  6th  of  July,  16S5.  The  town  hath  voted  and  agreed  to  choose 
two  men  to  send  to  the  Court  at  Plymouth  to  do  their  best  endeavor  to 
procure  the  confirmation  of  our  township  as  it  is  already  drawn  up  by 
the  selectmen  and  by  some  others.  The  men  chosen  is  John  Hathaway, 
senior,  Thomas  Leonard." 

The  boundary  line  between  Taunton  and  Middle- 
borough,  which  has  been  a  bone  of  contention  until 
within  a  very  few  years,  and  perhaps  may  become  so 
again,  was  a  subject  of  controversy  in  1685  and 
earlier. 

"This  20th  of  October,  1685.  The  town  hath  by  vote  chosen  Ensign 
Leonard,  John  Hathaway,  and  John  Richmond  to  settle  the  bounds  be- 
tween Middleboro'  and  us,  from  Assonet  to  Baiting  Brook,  and  from 
Baiting  Brook  to  Titicut  River." 

May  18,  1686.  A  committee  was  chosen  to  see  as  to 
encroachments  of  Bridgewater  within  the  bounds  of 


766 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Taunton.     In  October  following  action  was  taken  in 
reference  to  the  two  miles  claimed  by  Swansea  men. 

The  subject  of  the  confirmatory  deed  is  again 
taken  up  : 

"  21st  May,  1G88.  The  proprietors  made  choice  of  the  selectmen  this 
day  chosen,  and  John  Hathaway,  the  commissioner,  to  be  a  committee 
to  act  in  all  matters  that  may  relate  to  the  confirmation  of  their  lands, 
or  defending  their  title  thereto,  and  agree  to  defray  the  charges  of  the 
said  committee,  and  Justice  Macey  and  Justice  Leonard  to  act  with 
them." 

"  At  a  town-meeting  on  the  first  day  of  July,  16S9.  Those  of  the  town 
that  were  at  the  meeting-house  did  by  a  full  and  free  vote  choose  Wil- 
liam Harvey,  John  Richmond,  Thomas  Leonard,  James  Walker,  senior, 
and  John  Grossman  to  be  helpful  to  Shadrach  Wilbore,  the  town  clerk, 
in  framing  and  drawing^a  release  and  confirmation  of  our  lands  from 
Major  Bradford,  to  take  in  all  Taunton  township  and  the  North  Pur- 
chase, according  to  deeds  and  grants." 

At  a  meeting  on  the  8th  of  July  the  town  voted  to 
give  Maj.  Bradford  twenty  pounds  for  his  release  and 
confirmation,  and  voted  to  make  a  rate  of  twenty-five 
pounds,  the  extra  five  pounds  to  defray  charges. 
Lieut,  Macey,  James  Walker,  Sr.,  Mr.  George  Good- 
ing, William  Harvey,  and  Thomas  Leonard  were  a 
committee  to  proportion  what  each  man  should  pay, 
including  proprietors  in  the  old  township,  the  North 
and  South  Purchases,  and  Assonet  Neck. 

Feb.  20, 1690-91.  The  town  took  action  in  reference 
to  obtaining  a  charter  for  this  colony,  and  expressed 
their  readiness  to  pay  their  proportion  of  the  cost  at- 
tending the  effort.  But  all  efforts  failed,  and  this 
year  proved  to  be  the  last  of  the  Plymouth  govern- 
ment. 

Oct.  15,  1692.  The  selectmen  were  directed  to 
bound  all  landing  places  and  draw  up  the  bounds  in 
writing  and  deliver  them  to  the  town  clerk  for  record. 

Other  votes  of  interest  were  as  follows : 

"This  11th  of  October,  1680.  The  town  hath  voted  and  granted  to 
James  Leonard,  Jr.,  three  acres  of  laud  lying  on  the  northeast  side  of 
his  land,  between  the  way  to  the  Fowling  pond  and  the  said  James 
Leonard's  laud,  on  the  condition  that  the  said  James  Leonard  shall  close 
all  the  beams  of  the  meeting-house  sufficiently  with  iron  bars,  that  is  to 
say,  all  the  beams  that  are  now  open." 

Dec.  11,  1685.  The  town  granted  to  Abel  Burt  six 
acres  of  swamp,  of  which  three  acres  were  in  lieu  of 
three  acres  formerly  granted  to  his  father,  "and  the 
other  three  acres  the  town  doth  give  to  the  said  Abel 
Burt  in  way  of  gratification  in  the  consideration  of 
his  loss  in  his  bargain  about  plastering  the  meeting- 
house." 

"This  9th  day  of  August,  1686.  It  is  voted  and  agreed  by  the  pur- 
chasers of  this  town  to  make  a  rate  of  two  shillings  to  a  purchase  in 
money  to  pay  for  the  defraying  of  the  charges  of  the  committee,  as  in 
reference  of  Titicut  laud,  to  procure  a  deed  of  the  Indians,  viz.,  Josiah, 
Peter,  and  David." 

"  This  10th  day  of  May,  1687.  The  town  hath  by  vote  expressed  their 
willingness  to  give  Mr.  Danforth  a  call  to  the  ministry  amongst  us  in 
this  town." 

"Feb.  27,1687.  It  is  voted  and  granted  that  Capt.  Tipping  shall  have 
ten  acres  of  land  adjoining  to  his  own  laud  formerly  laid  out  to  him  at 
a  place  called  Knmford,  for  his  labor  and  charge  to  fetch  up  to  our  town 
Mr.  Danforth." 

"Feb.  27,  1687.  We  whose  hands  are  hereunder  written  do  by  these 
presents  freely  give  for  ourselves  and  our  heirs,  to  Capt.  Bartholomew 
Tipping,  and  to  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever,  severally  and  jointly  the 
several  sums  of  land  as  is  underwritten  in  part  of  the  pay  for  the  house 


and  land  he  hath  sold  to  Mr.  Samuel  Danforth,  now  minister  of  our 
town  of  Taunton: 


Acres. 

"James  Walker,  Sr 10 

Peter  Walker 10 

John  Hall 5 

Thomas  Linkon,  Sr 5 

John  Richmond 5 

William  Witherell,  Sr 5 

James  Tisdale 5 

Elkanah  Bobit 2 

Peter  Pitts,  Sr 5 

Samuel  Holloway 2 

John  Dean 15 

Edward  Bobit 5 


Acres. 

John  Macomber,  Jr 5 

William  Paull 5 

Robert  Crossman,  Jr 3 

Joseph  Leonard 4 

Mary  Street 6 

Joseph  Willis 5 

Jonathan   Briggs 4 

Samuel  Hall 4 

John  Smith,  Jr 5 

John  Hathaway 10 

John  Bryant 10" 


A  petition  was  presented  to  the  General  Court  at 
Boston  in  May,  1697,  for  assistance  in  rebuilding  and 
supporting  a  bridge  at  the  southerly  part  of  the  town, 
formerly  built  by  certain  poor  men,  some  of  whom 
were  dead  and  the  others  were  unable  to  bear  the 
expense  of  rebuilding,  and  setting  forth  that  other 
towns  were  benefited  by  the  bridge.  The  petition 
was  signed  by  James  Leonard  and  Thomas  Williams. 

"  Oct.  16,  1697. 

"  In  the  House  of  Representatives. 
"  Voted,  That  the  bridge  be  supported  according  to  former  usage. 

"  Penn  Townsend,  Speaker." 

This  was  the  bridge  at  the  Weir.  In  March,  1699, 
a  petition  was  presented  to  the  General  Court  by  the 
selectmen,  viz.,  Henry  Hodges,  Thomas  Gilbert, 
Thomas  Harvey,  John  White,  Thomas  Williams, 
setting  forth  the  necessity  of  rebuilding  the  bridge 
and  the  justice  of  requiring  certain  other  towns  to 
contribute  to  the  expense  of  building  and  supporting 
it.  This  petition  met  with  better  success.  A  com- 
mittee reported  favorably  and  recommended  that  the 
bridge  be  built.  It  was  ordered  to  be  built  at  the 
expense  of  Taunton,  Freetown,  Tiverton,  Little 
Conipton,  and  Dartmouth.  Capt.  Jared  Talbut 
took  the  contract,  and  upon  a  report  to  the  court 
of  the  cost,  it  was  ordered  Nov.  5,  1702,  that  one- 
half  the  expense  should  be  paid  by  Taunton,  and 
the  other  half  by  the  other  four  towns  proportion- 
ately. 

It  does  not  come  within  the  scope  of  the  present 
sketch  to  give  the  general  history  of  the  town  beyond 
this  point.  The  reduction  of  its  territory  by  the  set- 
ting off  of  new  towns  will  be  briefly  narrated,  and 
some  items  of  interest  given  connected  with  the  se- 
lection of  Taunton  as  the  shire-town  in  the  place  of 
Bristol,  and  the  establishment  of  courts  here. 

For  nearly  forty  years  after  the  last  purchase  Taun- 
ton maintained  the  integrity  of  its  large  territory. 
Meantime  inhabitants  had  increased  in  the  North 
and  South  Purchases,  and  the  time  to  ask  for  sep- 
arate town  organizations,  sure  to  come  some  time,  at 
length  arrived. 

The  movement  as  to  setting  off  the  north  part  of 
the  town  began  in  the  sending  a  petition  to  the  Gov- 
ernor, Council,  and  House  of  Representatives  by  the 
inhabitants  of  the  North  Purchase  and  a  part  of  the 
old  township  of. Taunton,  praying  to  be  set  off  as  a 
precinct.  This  petition  was  dated  Oct.  20,  1708,  and 
was  signed  by  George  Leonard  and  Nicholas  White, 


TAUNTON. 


767 


as  agents  of  said  inhabitants.  It  was  read  in  Council 
Oct.  22,  1708,  and  ordered  that  the  selectmen  of 
Taunton  be  served  with  a  copy  and  heard  thereupon 
on  the  second  Tuesday  of  the  next  session.  A  town- 
meeting  was  held  to  consider  the  matter,  and  a  com- 
mittee was  appointed  to  prepare  a  remonstrance 
against  their  being  made  a  precinct,  but  favoring 
their  being  made  a  town,  provided  only  the  North 
Purchase  was  included.  This  remonstrance  was  dated 
June  4,  1709,  and  signed  by  James  Leonard,  Philip 
King,  Thomas  Gilbert,  Thomas  Harvey,  and  Jona- 
than Padelford,  as  committee. 

The  following  communication  was  also  sent  to  the 
court : 

"To  his  Excellency  Joseph  Dudley,  Esq.,  Captain-General  and  Gov- 
ernor-in-Chief  in  and  over  her  Majesty's  Province  of  the  Massachusetts 
Bay,  and  the  rest  of  the  Honorable  Council  and  Representatives  con- 
vened in  General  Court  May  the  25th,  1709,  humbly  sheweth : 

"That  whereas  the  Honored  Court  sent  to  the  selectmen  of  Taunton 
to  shew  their  reason  (if  any  they  had)  why  Taunton  North  Purchase  and 
South  Purchase  should  not  have  their  prayer  granted,  for  answer  where- 
unto  we  say,  That  although  it  hath  pleased  God  to  increase  our  numbers, 
winch  we  hope  is  in  mercy,  yet  must  say  that  through  the  providence  of 
God  a  great  many  are  so  extreme  poor,  and  rates  and  taxes  so  high,  that 
we  find  it  hard  and  difficult  to  rub  along;  and  the  generality  of  the 
North  Purchase  are  so  poor  that  we  fear  they  will  not  be  able  to  build  a 
meeting-house  and  to  maintain  a  minister;  and  as  for  the  South  Pur- 
chase, we  are  very  sensible  that  they  will  be  exposed  to  great  difficulty 
by  reason  of  the  (ireat  River  that  runs  through  the  middle  of  that  de- 
sired precinct,  which  will  be  difficult  to  pass  in  the  winter  by  reason 
that  the  ice  is  many  times  not  strong  enough  to  bear  and  too  hard  to 
break.  Yet  we  say  that  if  this  Honored  Court  in  their  wisdom  see  it 
convenient,  and  our  neighbors  and  friends  see  their  way  clear,  we  shall 
not  oppose  them  ;  so  that  the  Courtorder  it  that  webe  no  way  concerned 
with  any  of  their  charges,  but  they  hear  it  themselves.  But  as  for  the 
North  Purchase,  we  think  it  better  for  them  to  be  a  township  than  a 
precinct. 

"  This  is  our  last  and  final  answer  upon  mature  consideration. 

"  Israel  Thrasher, 
"John  Spur, 
"Ezra  Dean, 

"  Selectmen. 

"  We  whose  names  are  underwritten  are  of  the  same  mind  with  those 
above.  Thomas  Leonard,  Henry  Hodges,  Samuel  Deane,  Seth  Williams, 
Joseph  Williams." 

"In  Council,  June  7,  1709. 

"  I'pon  the  hearing  of  the  several  petitions  of  the  Inhabitants  0f  the 
North  and  South  Purchases  in  Taunton,  to  be  made  separate  precincts 
for  the  settling  and  support  of  the  ministry  in  the  respective  places: 

"Resolved,  That  Nathaniel  Thomas,  Nathaniel  Byfield,  and  James 
Warren,  Esqrs.,  be  a  committee  to  repair  to  Taunton  and  view  the  sev- 
eral purchases,  and  upon  consideration  of  all  circumstances,  to  set  off 
proper  precincts  to  encourage  the  good  ends  desired  by  the  petitioners, 
and  to  advise  and  direct  to  the  most  suitable  places  for  the  making  of 
their  meeting  houses.  And  to  make  their  report  to  the  next  session  of 
this  Court,  Nathaniel  Thomas,  Esq.,  to  appoint  the  time" 

Report  of  the  above  committee: 

"Taunton,  Aug.  31,  1709. 

"  Pursuant  to  an  order  of  the  Great  and  General  Court,  dated  June 
the  8th,  1709,  to  us  directed  to  repair  to  Taunton  and. view  the  several 
tracts  of  land  which  the  Inhabitants  of  the  North  and  South  Purchases 
in  Taunton  have  petitioned  to  be  made  separate  precincts,  for  the  set- 
tling and  support  of  the  ministry  in  the  said  respective  places. 

"  And  we,  the  subscribers,  having  viewed  the  said  several  tracts,  and 
heard  the  allegations  of  the  opposite  parties  thereto,  upon  considera- 
tion of  all  circumstances  have  set  the  bounds  of  the  said  several  pre- 
cincts as  followeth  : 

"That  is  to  say,  That  the  bounds  of  the  North  Precinct  (according  to 
their  petition)  shall  begin  at  the  line  between  the  two  late  Colonies  of 


the  Massachusetts  and  Plymouth,  in  the  line  of  the  bounds  between 
Taunton  North  Purchase  and  Attlebury,  and  from  thence  southward  to 
Rehoboth's  northeast  corner,  and  from  thence  eastward  on  the  said 
Nortli  Purchase  line  to  Taunton  bounds,  and  thence  eastward  to  the 
mouth  of  the  brook  called  Burt's  Brook,  leaving  out  Capt.  Hodges'  land 
at  Burt's  Brook,  and  extending  from  the  mouth  of  Burt's  Brook  to  the 
bridge  made  over  the  Mill  River,  near  William  Witherell's,  and  from 
thence  northeastward  to  the  North  Purchase  line,  and  from  the  North 
Purchase  line,  the  road  that  leads  from  said  bridge  towards  Boston,  to 
be  the  bounds  till  it  comes  to  the  line  between  the  said  late  Colonies, 
which  line  to  be  the  bounds  to  Attlebury  bounds  aforesaid,  and  that  the 
meeting-house  for  the  said  North  Precinct  shall  be  set  on  the  northward 
side  of  the  way  that  leads  over  Rumford  River  at  Crossman's  way,  at  the 
place  where  the  way  crosseth  it  that  leads  from  John  Hodges'  to  the 
Beech  Island. 

"And  the  bounds  of  the  Precinct  of  the  Sonth  Purchase  aforesaid, 
shall  (according  to  their  petition)  be  the  line  between  Taunton  Town 
old  bounds  and  the  said  South  Purchase,  and  from  the  mouth  of  Three- 
Mile  River  to  the  maple-tree  at  Assonet  River,  at  the  head  of  Freetown 
land.  And  that  the  meeting-house  for  the  said  South  Precinct  shall  be 
set  on  the  west  side  of  the  way  near  Capt.  Jared  Talbutt's  house,  ac- 
cording as  the  petitioners  have  agreed.  In  testimony  whereof  we  have 
hereunto  set  our  hands. 

"Nathaniel  Thomas. 

"N.  Byfield. 

"James  Warren." 

This  report  was  accepted  Sept.  19,  1709,  with  the 
proviso  "  that  the  east  end  of  the  North  Purchase 
shall  have  half  the  said  Purchase  as  their  Precinct 
when  they  are  able  to  maintain  a  minister,  and  this 
Court  judge  them  so." 

The  inhabitants  of  the  North  Precinct,  through 
George  Leonard,  Esq.,  their  agent,  petitioned  the 
court  early  in  1711,  setting  forth  that  they  had  erected 
a  meeting-house  which  was  in  a  considerable  state  of 
forwardness,  and  had  called  Mr.  Joseph  Avery  to  settle 
with  them  in  the  ministry,  and  praying  to  be  made  a 
distinct  town,  the  town  of  Taunton  having  assented 
thereto.  '  This  petition  was  granted  March  17,  1711, 
and  the  precinct  was  constituted  a  town  by  the  name 
of  Norton.  The  bounds  included  the  whole  of  the 
North  Purchase,  together  with  a  part  of  the  north- 
westerly angle  of  the  original  purchase. 

There  was  a  more  heated  controversy  over  setting 
off  the  South  Precinct.  The  petition  for  this  object 
was  dated  Oct.  11,  1708,  and  was  signed  by  John 
Reed,  Edward  Paull,  Ebenezer  Briggs,  Henry  Pitts, 
Nathaniel  Briggs,  Nicholas  Stephens,  Samuel  Talbut, 
Isaac  Paull,  Jared  Talbut,  Abram  Hathaway  John 
Paull,  James  Paull,  Ebenezer  Pitts,  Abraham  Blanch- 
ard,  Benjamin  Briggs,  John  Crane,  Isaac  Hathaway, 
Edward  Shove,  James  Tisdale,  Joseph  Dean,  Richard 
Hoskins,  Samuel  Waldron,  Ephraim  Hathaway, 
Thomas  Jones,  Hezekiah  Hoar,  Matthew  Brioo-s 
Thomas  Briggs,  David  Walker,  Amos  Briggs,  Joseph 
Poole,  Samuel  Whitmarsh. 

This  petition,  like  that  of  the  North  Precinct,  was 
referred  to  the  town,  and  was  acted  upon  at  the  same 
time.  The  same  committee  was  appointed  to  prepare 
a  remonstrance,  which  they  did.  In  the  remonstrance 
they  allude  to  a  town-meeting  held  Feb.  22,  1708-9, 
to  consider  the  petition,  at  which  meeting  Capt.  Jared 
Talbut  was  desired  to  show  the  petition  that  the  town 
might  know  what  they  were  to  act  upon,  and  he  re- 


763 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


fused  to  let  them  see  it,  so  that  the  selectmen  who 
were  appointed  a  committee  to  make  answer  could 
not  do  so,  and  therefore  named  another  meeting  to 
be  held  June  1,  1709,  at  which  this  committee  were 
appointed.  They  also  allude  to  a  previous  town- 
meeting  held  February  1st,  when  the  "  town  met  to- 
gether and  the  petitioners,  but  fell  into  such  a  heat 
of  spirit  by  such  a  striving  by  the  petitioners  to  break 
our  town  to  pieces,  the  day  was  spent  in  confusion, 
and  the  meeting  dismissed  and  nothing  done." 

The  report  of  the  committee  of  the  General  Court, 
already  given,  included  the  South  Purchase  in  their 
recommendation.  The  precinct  as  established  in- 
cluded the  southerly  part  of  the  present  town  of  Berk- 
ley. In  1712  this  precinct  was  incorporated  .as  a  town 
under  the  name  of  Dighton,  thought  to  have  been 
given  in  honor  of  Frances  Dighton,  the  wife  of  Rich- 
ard Williams. 

Encouraged  doubtless  by  the  success  of  the  inhab- 
itants of  the  North  and  South  Purchases  in  their  pe- 
titions to  be  set  off  as  precincts,  and  afterwards  as 
towns,  the  northeasterly  and  westerly  parts  of  the 
town  made  a  similar  attempt  a  few  years  later.  A 
petition  dated  Dec.  4,  1727,  of  sundry  of  the  north- 
easterly part  of  Taunton,  was  presented  to  the  court, 
praying  that  all  that  part  of  the  town  that  lieth  on 
the  northerly  side  of  the  Great  River  and  on  the 
easterly  side  of  the  Mill  River  may  be  made  a  pre- 
cinct, and  if  part  of  the  town  shall  oppose  the  peti- 
tion, that  they  may  have  a  committee  to  see  and  hear 
how  things  are  circumstanced.  This  petition  was 
signed  by  about  sixty  persons. 

Another  petition,  bearing  date  Dec.  11,  1727,  of 
sundry  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  westerly  part  of 
Taunton  was  presented  at  the  same  court,  praying 
that  the  court  would  grant  them  a  precinct,  bounded, 
beginning  at  Wenaconet  Bridge,  so  called,  on  Mill 
River,  near  William  Witherill's,  and  so  down  said 
river,  bounded  by  the  River  easterly  until  it  comes  to 
Street's  bridge,  so  called;  then  on  a  straight  line  to 
Three-Mile  River,  at  the  bridge  near  Peter  Walker's 
house,  which  is  the  bounds  between  Taunton  and 
Dighton  ;  then  by  Dighton  bounds  till  it  comes  to 
Rehoboth  ;  then  northward  by  Rehoboth  to  Norton  ; 
then  by  Norton  till  it  comes  to  said  bridge.  They 
also  ask  for  a  committee.  This  petition  was  signed 
by  some  seventy-five  persons. 

These  petitions  called  forth  a  strenuous  remon- 
strance, dated  Dec.  25,  1727,  which  begins  as  fol- 
lows : 

"  We,  the  subscribers  (aud  many  others),  inhabitants  of  Taunton  in 
the  several  parts  thereof,  humbly  offer  that  we  are  greatly  surprised  to 
hear,  that  notwithstanding  God's  awful  and  striking  providences,  and 
especially  that  awful  and  threatening  stroke  in  removing  from  us  by 
death  our  aged,  honored,  and  beloved  pastor,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Samuel  Ban- 
forth,  some  of  our  neighbors  are  making  this  dark  and  difficult  hour  an 
opportunity  to  carry  on  a  very  dangerous,  unhappy  design,  going  from 
house  to  house,  persuading  people  to  sign  a  petition  or  petitions  to  this 
Hon.  Court  to  divide  our  aged  town  into  precincts,  which  must  needs 
tend  to  our  utter  confusion  and  ruin  ;  obstructing  our  building  a  new 
meeting-house,  which  our  town  has  solemnly  voted  to  do." 


This  remonstrance  was  signed  by  one  hundred  and 
sixty-four  persons.  A  paper  containing  the  names  of 
thirty-nine  persons  living  in  the  easterly  part  of  the 
town  and  of  forty-eight  living  in  the  westerly  part  of 
the  town,  who  were  against  partitioning  the  town 
into  precints,  was  also  presented  to  the  court. 

The  following  record  also  appears  among  the  State 
archives : 

"January  25,  1727-8.  At  a  church  meeting  held  at  the  house  of 
Ephraim  Hodges,  present  the  Eev.  Mr.  Fisher  of  Dighton,  it  being  pro- 
posed to  the  church  there  met,  after  some  time  spent  in  prayer  to  God, 
whether  their  present  unsettled  circumstauces  did  not  call  them  to  sol- 
emnize a  day  of  prayer,  and  then  the  church  proceeded  to  appoint  a 
day,  and  the  day  fixed  on  was  the  15th  day  of  February  next  ensuing; 
aud  the  church  then  voted  that  the  congregation  should  be  notified  of 
it  and  asked  to  join  with  them  in  it. 

"  A  copy  taken  of  your  church  book  of  record  per  me 

"Nath'l  Fisher." 

A  formal  remonstrance  was  presented  to  the  Gen- 
eral Court,  Feb.  14,  1727-28,  by  Seth  Williams,  John 
King,  John  Mason,  Benjamin  Wilbore,  and  James 
Walker,  Jr.,  selectmen  of  the  town,  stating  therein 
that  they  had  not  time  to  call  a  regular  town-meeting, 
and  presenting  very  urgent  reasons  why  the  prayers 
of  the  two  petitions  should  not  be  granted. 

Upon  these  petitions  and  remonstrances  a  commit- 
tee, consisting  of  Nathaniel  Byfield,  John  dishing, 
Samuel  Thaxter,  Maj.  Quincy,  and  Maj.  Turner,  was 
appointed  to  go  to  Taunton,  hear  the  parties,  and 
report  thereon. 

It  is  no  wonder  that  the  town  vigorously  opposed 
these  petitions,  for  the  precincts  prayed  for  included 
more  than  two-thirds  of  the  territory  of  the  town 
and  two-thirds  of  the  whole  number  of  dwelling- 
houses.  A  map  of  the  town,  with  all  the  dwelling- 
houses  and  the  owners'  names  and  the  proposed 
boundaries  of  the  precincts  delineated  thereon,  was 
prepared  by  Morgan  Cobb  and  presented  to  the  court 
for  their  information.  Upon  this  map  it  is  stated  that 
the  number  of  dwelling-houses  in  the  easterly  precinct 
prayed  for  was  eighty-four,  in  the  westerly  one  hun- 
dred, and  in  the  remaining  part  of  the  town  ninety. 

The  committee  appointed  by  the  court  to  hear  the 
parties  reported  unfavorably  thereon,  and  the  petitions 
were  dismissed.  This  ended  the  matter  for  a  short 
time  only,  however.  Sept.  18,  1730,  another  petition 
was  presented  to  the  court  by  inhabitants  of  the  west- 
erly part  of  Taunton,  praying  to  be  made  a  separate 
parish,  which,  upon  the  report  of  a  committee  ap- 
pointed to  consider  the  matter,  was  dismissed  Feb. 
19,  1730-31. 

In-  the  remonstance  to  the  petitions  of  1727,  one 
reason  urged  against  granting  the  petitions  is  that 
it  would  obstruct  building  a  new  meeting-house, 
which  the  town  had  solemnly  voted  to  do.  Copies  of 
the  records  of  two  town-meetings  in  reference  to  the 
matter  have  fortunately  been  preserved  in  the  State 
papers,  and  are  here  given  : 

"At  a  legal  Town  meeting  warned  aud  held  at  Taunton  public  meet- 
ing-house on  the  21.  day  of  November  1726:  The  moderator  chosen  for 
said  meeting  was  Seth  Williams  Esq. 


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"Whereas  on  the  aforesaid  day  it  was  voted  by  the  Town  of  Taunton 
that  they  will  build  a  new  meeting-house  and  to  stand  within  three  or 
four  rods  of  the  old  meeting  house. 

"  2d  Voted  that  the  new  meeting-house  shall  be  fifty  six  footin  length, 
forty  six  foot  wide  and  twenty  seven  foot  stud  this  to  be  the  bigness  and 
proportion  of  said  house. 

"3d  Voted  that  Capt.  John  Andrews,  Cant.  Samuel  'Williams  and  Mr. 
Nathaniel  Crossman  be  a  committee  to  build  and  finish  the  new  meet- 
ing-house now  voted. 

"4,h  Voted  that  the  money  agreed  upon  by  said  town  to  repair  the 
old  meeting-house  or  at  least  that  part  thereof  not  yet  laid  out,  also 
what  any  particular  person  have  obliged  himself  to  pay  in  repairing 
our  public  meeting-house,  that  is  now  indebted  to  said  town,  be  laid  out 
in  building  of  a  new  one  now  voted. 

"5th  Voted  that  the  sum  of  three  hundred  pounds  be  raised  on  the 
rateable  inhabitants  of  Taunton  and  that  the  assessors  do  forthwith 
make  a  rate  on  said  inhabitants  for  the  raising  of  said  sum,  and  to  be 
improved  towards  the  building  of  the  new  meeting-house. 

"  A  true  extract  taken  out  of  the  abovesaid  day's  work. 

"  Attest— 

"  Benjamin  Wilbore,  Town  Cleric." 

"  At  a  legal  Town  meeting  warned  and  held  at  Taunton  public  meet- 
ing-house on  the  20.  day  of  November  1727. 

"The  moderator  chosen  for  said  meeting  was  Seth  Williams  Esq. 

"  Voted  that  there  be  a  rate  or  tax  made  upon  poles  and  estates  on 
the  inhabitants  of  Taunton  of  the  sum  of  fifty  pounds  for  the  support 
of  the  ministry. 

"  A  true  extract  taken  out  of  the  abovesaid  day's  work. 

"  Attest— 

"  Benjamin  Wilbore,  Town  Clerk." 

A  portion  of  the  northeasterly  part  of  the  town 
was  set  off  as  a  new  town  April  2,  1731,  and  received 
the  name  of  Raynham.  Its  limits  and  boundaries 
were  very  different,  however,  from  the  proposed  pre- 
cinct of  1727.  The  boundaries  between  the  old  and 
new  towns  were  described  as  follows  : 

"  Bounded  on  the  south  by  Taunton  Great  River, 
including  all  the  land  of  Lieut.  Ebenezer  Robinson 
on  the  southeasterly  or  south  side  of  said  river,  ex- 
cept that  piece  of  land  by  his  saw-mill  near  the  fur- 
nace, which  is  in  Middleborough  precinct,  thence 
down  said  river  to  the  bounds  between  the  lands  of 
Thomas  Dean  and  Nathaniel  Williams,  at  the  place 
called  Shallow  Water,  thence  in  a  straight  line  to  the 
east  end  of  Prospect  Hill  at  the  going  over  of  the 
way,  including  within  said  new  township  all  the  land 
of  Zephaniah  Leonard  and  that  which  was  formerly 
Capt.  James  Leonard's  which  joineth  to  and  is  on 
the  west  side  of  said  line,  and  excluding  the  land  of 
Nathaniel  Williams  joining  to  and  on  the  east  of  said 
line,  thence  to  run  northerly  by  said  way  to  the  great 
cedar  swamp  at  the  going  in  of  the  great-island  way, 
thence  to  cross  said  island  and  run  straight  to  Easton 
line,  at  the  nearest  place." 

Rev.  Dr.  Fobes  says  the  first  meeting-house  was 
built  the  year  preceding  the  incorporation  of  the  town, 
which  then  contained  about  thirty  families. 

The  territory  of  Berkley  was  set  off  and  incorpor- 
ated as  a  separate  town  April  18,  1735.  Since  that 
date  no  new  towns  have  been  taken  from  ancient 
Taunton.  Occasional  unimportant  changes  in  bound- 
ary lines  between  us  and  some  of  our  neighbors  have 
been  made,  and  in  1879  an  awkward  jog  at  Myrick- 
ville  was  taken  from  Taunton  and  added  to  Berkley. 
Our  present  boundary  lines  are  likely  to  be  perma- 
49 


nfent,  however  awkward  and  irregular  in  shape  the  ter- 
ritory they  encompass. 

The  earliest  matter  receiving  attention  after  Taun- 
ton was  made  the  shire  town  of  the  county  was  the 
providing  a  county  house  and  jail.  The  record  is  as 
follows  : 

"  At  his  Majesty's  Court  of  General  Sessions  of  the  Peace,  begun  and 
held  at  Taunton  within  and  for  the  County  of  Bristol  on  the  second 
Tuesday  of  December,  being  the  ninth  day  of  the  said  month,  a.d.  1746. 

"Justices  present:  Seth  Williams,  Thomas  Terry,  George  Leonard, 
Timothy  Fales,  Samuel  Willis,  Thomas  Bowen,  Stephen  Paine,  Silvester 
Richmond,  Jr.,  Ephraim  Leonard.John  Foster.Edward  Hayward,  Samuel 
Howland,  Samuel  Leonard,  John  Godfrey,  Samuel  White. 

"  Timothy  Fales,  Esq.,  chosen  Clerk  of  this  Court  and  Sworn. 

"  Ordered  by  the  Court  that  the  S.  hool  House  in  Taunton  shall  be  for 
the  present  impressed  for  a  Goal  and  that  Samuel  Leonard,  John  God- 
frey, and  Samuel  White,  Esqrs.,  be  a  committee  to  see  that  6aid  School 
House  be  made  as  secure  as  may  be  for  the  safe  custody  of  all  persons 
that  may  be  committed  thereto  with  the  utmost  dispatch,  and  that  Seth 
Williams  the  second  shall  take  care  to  secure  the  two  prisoners  now  in 
custody  and  all  others  that  shall  be  committed  in  the  mean  time. 

"  Ordered  by  the  Court,  that  Seth  Williams,  George  Leonard,  Samuel 
Leonard,  John  Godfrey,  and  Samuel  White,  Esqrs.,  be  a  committee  to 
look  out  a  suitable  place  for  the  standing  of  a  Goal  and  County  house 
in  the  Town  of  Taunton,  &  know  what  the  land  for  erecting  said  houses 
on  may  be  purchased  for  and  make  report  of  their  doings  thereon  at  the 
adjournment  of  this  Court." 

At  the  adjournment  on  the  second  Tuesday  of  Jan- 
uary, 1747, 

"The  committee  for  looking  out  a  suitable  place  for  County  house  and 
Goal  made  their  report  as  followeth  to  wit:  We  the  subscribers  appointed 
a  committee  as  within  mentioned  to  look  out  a  suitable  place  for  the 
standing  of  a  Goal  and  County  house  in  the  Town  of  Taunton  have  pur- 
suant to  the  within  orders  looked  out  a  suitable  place  as  we  apprehend 
which  is  towards  the  upper  end  of  the  old  Training  Field  a  little  below 
where  they  used  to  dig  gravel  and  is  to  be  sixty  foot  square  which  place 
we  look  upon  to  be  the  most  suitable  for  setting  a  County  house  upon 
provided  the  Town  Proprietors'  Committee  give  a  legal  conveyance 
thereof  with  a  suitable  and  convenient  way  to  pass  to  and  from  said 
place.  And  also  that  the  most  suitable  place  for  setting  a  Goal  and  Goal 
house  be  on  the  land  of  Samuel  White  and  Mr.  Simeon  Tisdale  at  a 
place  near  the  spring  (so  called)  adjoining  to  the  way  that  leads  from 
said  Tisdale's  to  Mr.  Grossman's  grist-mill  provided  the  said  White  and 
Tisdale  give  a  legal  conveyance  thereof. 

"  Seth  Williams, 
"George  Leonard, 
"Sam'l  Leonard, 
"John  Godfrey, 
"Samlel  White, 

"  Committee." 

Which  report  was  approved  of  and  accepted  by 
the  court. 

"Ordered  by  the  Court  that  John  Foster  Silvester  Richmond  Jr.  and 
John  Godfrey  Esqrs.  be  a  committee  to  provide  materials  and  build  a 
County  house  and  Goal  and  Goal  keeper's  house  with  suitable  dispatch. 
The  Goal  to  be  thirty  foot  long  and  fourteen  foot  wide  two  story  high 
and  fourteen  foot  stud,  to  be  studded  with  sawed  .stuff  of  six  inches  thick 
to  be  framed  close  together  with  a  chimney  in  the  middle  suitable  for  a 
Goal.  The  house  for  prison  keeper  to  be  seventeen  foot  wide  and  twenty 
three  foot  long  two  story  high  besides  the  entry  between  the  Goal  and 
dwelling  house  and  to  be  fourteen  foot  stud  with  a  suitable  chimney  and 
cellar." 

At  an  adjournment  Jan.  28,  1747,  Samuel  White 
was  appointed  on  the  committee  in  place  of  Silvester 
Richmond,  who  was  appointed  sheriff. 

"January  28,  1746-7.  Ordered  by  the  Court  that  George  Leonard, 
Ephraim  Leonard,  and  John  Foster,  Esqrs.,  be  a  committee  to  receive 
deeds  of  conveyance  from  the  committee  of  the  Town  of  Taunton,  and 
proprietors  of  said  Town,  of  the  lands  mentioned  in  the  committee's 
report  (as  on  file)  for  the  use  of  the  County  of  Bristol." 


770 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


The  following  appears  in  the  records  of  the  court 
in  June,  1647 : 

"  Upon  the  Court's  receiving  a  subscription  of  many  of  the  inhabitants 
of  the  Town  of  Taunton,  amounting  in  the  whole  to  the  sum  of  nine 
hundred  tweuty-two  pounds,  fifteen  shillings,  old  tenor,  from  the  sub- 
scribers' committee,  for  building  a  Court-house,  ordered  that  the  same 
shall  be  accepted,  and  that  the  committee  appointed  by  this  Court  shall 
be  joined  with  the  aforesaid  committee  of  the  subscribers  in  building 
the  Court-house  as  projected  by  the  subscribers,  and  what  further  may 
be  subscribed  on  the  land  given  by  the  proprietors  and  inhabitants  of 
the  Town  of  Taunton,  and  as  has  been  accepted  by  the  Court  of  General 
Sessions  of  the  Peace,  holden  at  Taunton,  by  adjournment  in  January 
last." 

At  the  March  court,  1748-49,  Seth  Williams,  Esq., 
was  desired  and  empowered  to  procure,  at  the  charge 
of  the  county,  proper  window-curtains  for  five  win- 
dows, and  five  cushions  for  the  court-house. 

At  the  August  court,  1749,  it  was  ordered  that 
eleven  hundred  pounds,  old  tenor,  he  paid  to  the 
committee  for  the  "gaol,"  to  enable  them  to  com- 
plete and  finish  it. 

At  the  September  term,  1750,  the  court  ordered  the 
committee  for  the  jail  to  deliver  to  the  sheriff,  or  to 
his  order,  the  northwest  room  below  and  room  above 
it,  and  the  southwest  room  below  and  the  room  above 
it,  and  the  southeast  room  above,  with  one-half  of  the 
cellar  under  the  other  part  of  the  house,  together 
with  the  yard  fenced  in  for  the  prison  yard,  and  that 
the  southwest  room  below  and  above,  with  the  south- 
east room  above,  are  determined  for,  and  shall  be 
known  to  be  his  majesty's  jail  in  Taunton,  in  and  for 
the  county  of  Bristol,  and  that  the  northwest  room, 
below  and  above,  with  liberty  of  using  the  stairs,  be 
for  the  use  of  the  keeper  of  said  jail,  during  the  court's 
pleasure. 

At  the  December  term  it  was  ordered  that  the 
northeast  room  below  and  room  above  it,  with  the 
southeast  room  below,  adjoining  to  the  jail  and 
under  the  same  roof,  be  for  the  House  of  Correction 
for  the  county  of  Bristol,  till  the  further  order  of  the 
court.  And  it  was  further  ordered  that  Jonathan 
Carver  shall  be  the  master  of  said  House  of  Correc- 
tion till  the  further  order  of  the  court. 

It  seems  that  the  jail,  being  a  wooden  structure, 
was  not  so  secure  as  was  desirable.  At  the  June 
term,  1753,  George  Leonard,  Timothy  Fales,  and 
Samuel  White,  Esqs.,  were  appointed  a  committee 
.by  the  court  "  to  endeavor  the  more  thorough 
strengthening  and  securing  the  Gaol,  that,  if  possi- 
ble, prisoners  may  not  be  able  to  make  their  escape 
by  reason  of  the  insufficiency  thereof." 

From  the  court  records  this  insufficiency  of  the  jail 
seems  to  have  been  a  chronic  source  of  trouble,  and 
committees  were  from  time  to  time  appointed  to  cure 
the  difficulty. 

In  October,  1751,  Kobert  Luscomb  was  allowed 
eight  shillings  for  finding  candles,  ringing  the  bell 
and  sweeping  the  court-house,  and  Daniel  Shaw  and 
William  Andrews  in  June  following  were  allowed  a 
like  sum  for  labor  and  trouble  in  hanging  the  court- 
house bell. 


Timothy  Fales  was  authorized  at  October  term, 
1752,  to  take  possession  of  the  county  house  as  a 
|"  court-house.  This  building  also  needed  attention. 
At  the  Oetober  term,  1753,  it  was  ordered  "that  the 
Hon.  Seth  Williams,  Esq.,  be  desired  and  is  empow- 
ered hereby  to  endeavor  to  secure  the  roof  of  the 
county  house  from  leaking,  by  covering  the  heads  of 
the  posts  with  sheet-lead  given  for  that  purpose,  or 
by  any  other  way  or  means  that  may  be  effectual  for 
the  purpose  aforesaid." 

At  the  March  term,  1754,  Seth  Williams,  George 
Leonard  and  Zephaniah  Leonard,  Esq.,  were  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  finish  the  court-house  in 
Taunton  and  arch  the  court-chamber  overhead,  fix 
the  justices'  seats  on  the  north  side  of  the  chamber, 
and  lath  and  plaster  the  same,  and  alter  the  stairs,  if 
the  committee  shall  think  best. 

The  old  jail  stood  about  where  the  Bristol  County 
Bank  building  stands.  It  was  long  ago  demolished. 
The  court-house  occupied  very  nearly  the  site  of  the 
present  one,  and  was  removed  to  make  place  for  a 
more  substantial  structure. 

Here  must  end  the  general  history  of  the  town  so 
far  as  the  work  of  the  present  writer  is  concerned. 
In  the  chapters  upon  the  ecclesiastical  history,  educa- 
tion, manufactures,  the  professions,  etc.,  it  is  hoped  a 
good  idea  of  the  progress  of  the  town  may  be  gained. 


CHAPTER    LXII. 

TAUNTON.1— (Continued.) 
The  Farms  of  Mr.  Hooke  and  Mr.  Street — Notices  of  early  Settlers. 

Notices  of  Rev.  William  Hooke  and  Rev.  Nicholas 
Street  will  be  found  in  the  account  of  ministers  and 
churches.  A  notice  of  the  large  tract  of  land  granted 
to  them  by  the  Plymouth  Court  may  be  of  interest, 
and  will  properly  find  a  place  here. 

No  record  of  the  farms  laid  forth  to  Rev.  Mr. 
Hooke  and  Rev.  Mr.  Street  is  to  be  found  in  the 
court  records  of  Plymouth  Colony,  or  in  the  Taunton 
proprietors'  records.  There  are  two  deeds,  however, 
recorded  in  the  Plymouth  Colony  Records  of  Deeds 
which  contain  a  description  of  those  lands,  and  as  it 
has  never  been  published  it  is  here  given.  The  first 
deed  containing  the  description  was  given  by  James 
Wyatt  and  George  Macey,  by  power  of  attorney  from 
Mr.  Nicholas  Street,  to  John  Hathaway,  Edward 
Babbitt,  and  Timothy  Holloway,  all  of  Taunton,  con- 
veying the  400  acres  granted  by  the  court  to  Mr.  Wil- 
liam Hooke  and  Mr.  Street,  and  was  dated day 

of  ■ -,  1658.     The  deed  was  witnessed  by  William 

Poole,  Walter  Deane,  and  William  Harvey.  It  is 
recorded  in  vol.  iii.,  p.  189,  of  the  above-named  records. 

The  second  is  a  confirmatory  deed  given  Feb.  9, 

1  By  James  Henry  Dean. 


TAUNTON. 


771 


1688-89,  by  William  Bradford,  son  of  Governor  Brad- 
ford, reciting  that  his  father  and  associates  in  the  year 
1638  granted  to  Mr.  Nicholas  Street  and  Mr.  Hooke 
jointly,  a  tract  of  land  for  a  farm  of  400  acres  of  up- 
land, and  about  30  acres  of  meadow.  And  at  the 
going  away  of  said  Hooke  from  Taunton,  he  sold  his 
part  of  said  farm  to  Mr.  Nicholas  Street.  And  when 
the  said  Street  went  from  Taunton  he  sold  the  farm 
and  aforesaid  land  to  John  Hathaway  and  Edward 
Babbitt,  and  Timothy  Holloway,  all  of  Taunton. 

And  in  consideration  of  two  pounds  conveys  to 
John  Hathaway,  Edward  Babbitt,  Samuel  Holloway, 
and  William  Phillips,  one  of  the  heirs  of  the  late 
deceased  James  Phillips,  which  said  Samuel  Hollo- 
way and  James  Phillips  purchased  Timothy  Hollo- 
way's  part  of  said  lands,  the  lands  aforesaid, 
"  Bounded,  lying  on  the  east  side  of  Taunton  Great 
River,  bounded  on  the  south  side  in  part  by  Assonet 
Neck,  and  in  part  by  the  line  of  Taunton,  and  on  the 
north  side  by  a  black  oak  marked  near  a  spring 
called  the  Iron  Spring,  one  end  butts  in  part  upon  the 
meadows  of  Capt.  William  Poole,  Mrs.  Jane  Farwell, 
and  William  Hailstone,  and  in  part  by  the  Great 
River,  running  along  by  the  river  side  as  far  as  As- 
sonet Neck,  and  so  running  along  by  the  side  of  said 
Neck  until  it  comes  to  the  head  of  a  meadow  called 
Smith's  Cove  to  a  marked  tree  by  the  side  of  said 
Neck,  and  from  said  tree  to  another  white  oak  marked 
at  the  head  of  said  cove,  and  from  said  white  oak  to 
run  to  Taunton  River  northerly,  so  that  Taunton 
River  and  that  line  makes  a  square  at  the  head  of 
said  Cove,  and  so  to  run  by  Taunton  River  to  Assonet 
Way,  and  so  to  run  upon  a  straight  line  a  little  above 
a  pine  tree  now  cut  down,  and  so  extends  about  three- 
quarters  of  a  mile  upon  that  line  near  John  Rich- 
mond's field,  and  then  turns  the  corner,  and  so  run- 
neth down  the  plain  along  by  a  pine-tree  fallen  down, 
and  from  thence  west  and  by  north  until  it  comes  to 
said  marked  tree  near  the  Iron  Spring."  Recorded  in 
said  records,  vol.  v.  p.  459. 

This  large  tract  of  land  came  to  be  designated 
almost  from  the  first  as  "  The  Farms."  It  is  so  referred 
to  in  ancient  deeds  and  divisions  of  land.  In  1670 
a  jury  was  appointed  to  lay  out  a  way  to  "  The  Farms." 
It  is  situated  in  the  present  town  of  Berkley,  and  the 
name  of  "  The  Farms"  clings  to  it  to  the  present  time. 

Elizabeth  Poole,  or,  as  she  wrote  her  name,  Pole, 
was  one  of  the  early  settlers  in  Taunton,  perhaps 
among  the  very  earliest.  There  is  record  evidence 
that  she  was  here  early  in  1638,  for  she  was  one  of  the 
appraisers  of  the  estate  of  John  Briant,  of  Taunton, 
who  died  April  28th  of  that  year,  and  whose  will  was 
presented  for  probate  to  the  Plymouth  Court,  June  4, 
1638.  She  was  born,  according  to  an  article  pub- 
lished in  Taunton,  England,  in  1879,  by  Eldwin  Slo- 
per,  Esq.,  Aug.  25,  1588,  being  the  third  daughter  of 
Sir  William  Pole,  of  Shute,  in  the  county  of  Devon, 
England.  William  Pole,  one  of  the  original  pur- 
chasers, whose  name  stands  first  in  the  list  of  the 


freemen  of  Cohannet  in  1637,  was  her  brother.  She 
and  her  brother,  with  many  others  of  the  first  settlers 
of  Taunton,  settled  first  at  Dorchester.  In  the  entire 
absence  of  definite  information  upon  the  point,  it  is 
most  reasonable  to  suppose  that  she  came  here  with 
her  brother,  for  she  was  unmarried,  and  at  that  time 
near  fifty  years  old.  In  the  grant  of  meadow  lands 
made  by  the  Plymouth  Court  to  the  inhabitants  of 
Taunton  in  1640  occurs  this  passage :  "  And  the  Court 
doth  further  order,  that  they  will  see  Mr.  Hooke,  Mr. 
Streete,  and  Mrs.  Poole  shall  have  competent  meadow 
and  uplands  for  farms  laid  forth  for  them  about  May 
next,  by  Captain  Standish  and  such  others  with  him 
as  shall  be  especially  assigned  thereunto."  From  this 
it  is  to  be  inferred  that  she  was  an  intimate  friend  of 
the  two  ministers,  and  interested  with  them  in  plant- 
ing a  church  of  Christ  in  the  new  settlement.  From 
other  sources  we  have  abundant  proof  that  she  was 
an  ardent  Puritan  of  deep  and  earnest  piety.  The 
lands  promised  to  her  above  were  laid  forth  to  her 
subsequently,  as  follows: 

"  Those  lands  which  by  order  of  Court  were  by  Miles  Standish  and 
John  Browne  assistants  in  the  government  of  Plymouth,  appointed  to  be 
laid  out  unto  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Poole  of  Taunton,  as  followeth  :  May,  1639. 

"  Imprimis.  At  her  farm  of  Littleworth  forty  acres  of  meadow,  being 
at  the  end  next  unto  her  house  there,  lying  at  that  end  between  the 
south  and  the  southwest  and  so  northerly. 

"Item.  Fifty  acres  of  such  upland  which  she  will  make  choice  of 
thereabouts. 

"Item.  Fifty  acres  of  upland  lying  near  the  Two  Mile  Brook,  joining 
to  the  marsh  on  the  south  side  thereof,  as  also  half  of  the  same  marsh 
for  quantity  and  quality. 

"Item.  An  hundred  acres  of  upland  lying  on  the  other  side  of  the 
Great  River  of  Taunton. 

"  Item.  For  her  home  lot  XV  acres  to  be  next  unto  Mr.  Hooke's  house 
lot,  as  also  to  the  mill  six  acres. 

"  Item.  That  these  lands  be  measured  out  in  a  convenient  time,  by  the 
freemen  or  some  of  them,  and  by  a  man  well  experienced  in  the  meas- 
uring of  grounds. 

"  Miles  Standish. 
"John'  Browne." 

Her  Littleworth  farm  was  in  the  extreme  easterly 
part  of  the  town,  near  the  bounds  of  Middleborough, 
not  far  from  Furnace  Pond,  so  called.  A  stream  or 
brook  running  from  one  of  the  ponds  in  that  vicinity 
is  still  remembered  as  Littleworth  Brook.  The  fifty 
acres  near  the  Two-Mile  Brook  was  near  the  Anchor 
Forge,  in  what  is  now  Raynham.  The  one  hundred 
acres  on  the  other  side  of  the  Great  River  is  not 
easily  located  at  the  present  time.  Her  home  lot, 
consisting  in  the  whole  of  twenty-one  acres,  was  on 
the  south  side  of  Main  Street,  extending  westerly 
nearly  to  Winthrop  Street,  easterly  to  Mr.  Hooke's 
house  lot,  near  the  east  end  of  Main  Street,  and  was 
bounded  on  the  south  by  Mill  River.  She  bought  a 
small  piece  of  ground  of  Mr.  Hooke  for  a  burial  lot, 
which  is  thus  described  in  the  description  of  John 
Pool's  lands,  who  was  her  nephew  and  devisee  : 
"  Item.  A  small  piece  of  land,  which  his  said  aunt 
purchased  of  Mr.  Hook  for  a  burying  place,  joining 
to  her  said  home  lot  on  the  east  side  of  it  by  the 
road,  and  is  bounded  by  a  stake  within  the  fence  by 
the  road,  and  from  said  stake  to  another  stake  towards 


772 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


the  river  standing  twenty  yards  from  his  orchard 
fence,  just  taking  in  a  little  thicket  of  apple-trees. 
This  range  is  five  yards  distant  from  the  eastward 
end  of  the  tomb  where  Mrs.  Pool  lies  buried." 

She  built  a  house  upon  her  home  lot,  and  lived 
there  until  1653,  the  year  before  her  death,  when  she 
bought  a  lot  with  a  house  upon  it  of  Robert  Thorn- 
ton, to  which  she  removed,  and  where  she  died  May 
21,  1654.  By  her  will  she  gave  the  most  of  her  real 
estate  to  her  brother,  William  Pole,  for  his  lifetime, 
and  after  his  death  to  his  eldest  son,  John  Pole,  whom 
she  made  executor.  A  few  items  from  her  will  are 
here  given : 

"  I  give  unto  the  church  of  God  at  Taunton,  for  the  furtherance  of 
any  special  service  thereof,  one  cow  whichsoever  the  overseers  shall  like 
best  to  take  for  that  end. 

"  I  give  unto  my  kind  and  old  friend,  Sister  Margery  Paule,  widow, 
one  yearling  heifer,  if  it  he  living  at  my  decease,  and  appoint  my  over- 
seers to  see  it  delivered  unto  her  after  my  decease. 

"I  appoint  and  make  my  cousin,  John  Pole,  to  be  my  sole  Executor, 
to  receive  all  and  to  pay  debts  and  any  engagements,  and  so  commend 
him  to  the  blessing  of  the  Lord. 

"  I  appoint  my  kind  friends,  Richard  Williams  and  Walter  Dean,  Dea- 
cons of  the  Church  in  Taunton,  and  Oliver  Purchis,  to  be  my  overseers, 
to  whom  I  commit  my  trust  and  care  to  see  this,  my  last  will,  be  ful- 
filled according,  and  as  it  is  expressed  in  all  the  parts  thereof,  and 
herein  I  rest. 

"  This  signed  by  me, 

"  Elizabeth  Pole. 

"Witnessed  by  James  Wiatt,  Oliver  Purchis,  Richard  Williams." 

The  lot  bought  of  Robert  Thornton  is  thus  alluded 
to:  "Also  the  house  wherein  I  now  dwell,  which  I 
bought  of  Robert  Thornton,  and  the  lot  thereunto 
appertaining, which  I  bought  of  him  therewith."  By 
the  aid  of  the  proprietors'  records  this  lot  can  be 
readily  located.  In  the  description  of  William  Har- 
vey's lands  his  home  lot  is  thus  described :  Four 
acres  of  upland,  more  or  less,  granted  to  him  for  a 
house  lot,  butted  and  bounded  as  followeth :  By  the 
highway  southward,  the  town  commons  northward, 
the  land  that  was  Lieut.  George  Macey's  eastward, 
the  land  of  Hezekiah  Hoar  westward;  also  about  one 
acre  bounded  by  the  highway  north,  the  Great  River 
south,  George  Macey's  land  east,  Hezekiah  Hoar's 
land  west.  Sold  of  these  lands  first  to  the  town  for  a 
common  way  two  pole  in  breadth,  the  whole  length 
of  the  first-mentioned  four  acres,  on  the  westerly  side 
of  said  lot.  2d.  Sold  to  George  Macey  a  small  quan- 
tity of  it  at  the  southerly  end  of  it  next  the  highway. 
The  remainder  of  these  parcels  was  sold  to  Walter 
Deane,  of  Taunton,  aforesaid. 

From  subsequent  deeds  of  these  premises  we  know 
that  the  common  way,  two  pole  in  breadth,  on  the 
westerly  side  of  the  first  described  lot,  was  called 
Hoar's  lane,  now  known  as  Winter  Street.  Hezekiah 
Hoar  owned  the  lot  on  the  west  side  of  the  lane  now 
owned  and  occupied  by  Mr.  N.  Bradford  Dean. 

From  the  description  of  George  Macey's  lands: 
Imprimis,  his  home  lot  four  acres,  more  or  less, 
bounded  by  the  lands  of  William  Harvey  on  the 
westward  side,  and  by  the  land  of  Capt.  William 
Poole  (formerly)  on  the  eastward  side,  the  highway 


on  the  southward  end,  and  the  commons  on  the 
northerly  end.  Also  one  acre,  more  or  less,  on  the 
other  side  of  the  highway,  bounded  by  the  land  of 
William  Harvey  on  the  west,  Capt.  Poole  on  the  east, 
the  Great  River  on  the  south,  and  the  highway  on 
the  north. 

In  1686,  Robert  Thornton  gave  a  confirmatory  deed 
to  John  Pole,  of  Boston,  whom  he  acknowledged  as 
the  right  heir  and  successor  of  Elizabeth  Pole,  re- 
citing that  in  or  about  the  year  1653  he  sold  said 
Elizabeth  Pole  one  four-acre  house  lot,  lying  between 
the  lands  of  William  Pole  on  the  east,  and  Walter 
Deane  on  the  west,  headed  by  the  Great  River  on  the 
south,  and  by  the  commons  on  the  north,  together 
with  one  house  thereupon  being;  the  deed,  if  any 
was  given,  being  lost. 

The  lot  thus  described  was  the  home  lot  of  George 
Macey,  including  the  land  on  the  south  side  of  the 
highway  and  the  small  piece  on  the  southerly  end  of 
William  Harvey's  lot  next  to  the  highway.  This  piece 
was  on  the  easterly  corner  of  Winter  and  Dean  Streets, 
and  joined  Macey's  original  home  lot  on  the  east. 
How  far  the  whole  lot  extended  on  Dean  Street  from 
the  corner  cannot  be  exactly  determined,  as  measure- 
ments are  not  given,  but  probably  somewhat  beyond 
the  middle  of  the  lot  owned  by  the  heirs  of  the  late 
Mrs.  Fanny  Dean.  Capt.  William  Poole's  lot  was 
the  next  on  the  east,  and  extended  to  the  brook  which 
crosses  Dean  Street  just  east  of  the  residence  of  the 
late  Capt.  Ezra  T.  Howland.  Somewhere  on  the  lot 
thus  conveyed  by  Robert  Thornton,  and  most  proba- 
bly near  its  Winter  Street  boundary,  stood  the  house 
in  which  Elizabeth  Poole  died. 

Her  remains  rested  in  her  own  tomb  until  1771, 
when  they  were  removed  by  John  Borland,  Esq.,  her 
next  of  kin,  to  the  Plain  burying-ground,  and  a  large 
slab  was  laid  upon  the  grave  bearing  an  inscription 
written  by  Hon.  Robert  Treat  Paine,  who  was  for 
several  years  a  resident  of  Taunton.  This  inscription 
is  here  given, — 

"  Here  rest  the  remains 

of  Miss  Elizabeth  Pool, 

a  native  of  Old  England, 

of  good  Family,  Frieuds,  and  Prospects, 

All  which  she  left,  in  the  Prime  of  her  Life, 

to  enjoy  the  Religion  of  her  Conscience 

in  this  distant  Wilderness; 

A  great  Proprietor  in  the  Township 

of  Taunton; 

A  chief  Promoter  of  its  Settlement, 

and  its  Incorporation,  1639-40, 

About  which  time  she  Settled  near  this  spot; 

And,  having  employed  the  opportunity 

of  her  Virgin  state, 

in  Piety,  Liberality, 

and  Sanctity  of  Manners, 

Died,  May  21,  a.d.  1654,  aged  LXV., 

To  whose  Memory 

this  Monument  is  gratefully  erected 

by  her  next  of  kin, 

John  Borland,  Esquire, 

a.d.  1771." 

Mr.  Baylies,  in  his  "  History  of  Plymouth  'Colony," 
claims  for  Elizabeth  Pool  the  great  honor  of  being 


TAUNTON. 


773 


the  foundress  of  Taunton,  and  the  first  purchaser  of 
its  territory  from  the  Indians.  "  Dux  fcemina  facti" 
is  the  motto  with  which  he  honors  her  achievement. 
He  claims  for  her  the  greater  honor  of  being  the  first 
of  the  English  who  practically  admitted  the  force  of 
that  moral  obligation  which  requires  the  consent  of 
the  owner  before  property  can  be  taken  from  his  pos- 
session and  appropriated  to  the  use  of  another  by 
paying  a  fair  equivalent  for  her  lands  before  occupa- 
tion. 

Resting  upon  the  great  reputation  of  Mr.  Baylies 
as  a  conscientious  and  accurate  historian,  these  claims 
have  only  recently  been  questioned.  The  Hon.  Henry 
Williams,  of  Taunton,  made  a  most  thorough  and  ex- 
haustive examination  into  the  historical  basis  for 
these  claims  in  a  very  able  paper  read  before  the 
Old  Colony  Historical  Society  Jan.  12,  1880,  in 
which  the  conclusion  is  reached  that  the  evidence 
fails  to  support  the  claims.  This  paper  was  pub- 
lished in  No.  2  of  the  collections  of  that  society. 
There  is  no  need  to  re-examine  the  question  here. 
The  present  writer  will  only  add  that  his  investiga- 
tions have  strengthened  the  conclusion  that  there  is 
an  entire  lack  of  evidence  to  warrant  the  claims. 

Tbe  propriety  of  honoring  the  alleged  foundress  of 
the  town  by  some  suitable  memorial  was  suggested  to 
the  women  of  Taunton  by  the  publication  of  Mr. 
Baylies'  memoir,  and  through  their  efforts  a  comely 
marble  monument  was  erected  in  Mount  Pleasant 
Cemetery,  then  recently  consecrated,  for  which  Mr. 
Baylies  is  understood  to  have  furnished  the  inscrip- 
tion, which  is  as  follows : 

"  The  females  of  Taunton 

have  erected  this  monument 

in  memory  of 

Elizabeth  Pool, 

Foundress 

of  the  town  of  Taunton, 

in  1639, 

Born,  before  the  settlement 

of  America, 

In  England,  1589. 

Died  at  Taunton 

May  21,1654." 

The  halo  of  romance  encircling  her  name  as  the 
virgin  foundress  and  mother  of  our  fair  town  may 
fade  away  in  the  light  of  better  information  ;  but  it 
will  leave  to  her  the  substantial  honor  belonging  to 
an  intrepid  Cbristian  woman  who  cheerfully  bore 
her  part  in  the  perils  and  privations  of  a  new  settle- 
ment undertaken  for  the  love  of  religion  in  the  fear 
of  God. 

William  Pool,  whose  name  stands  first  on  the  list  of 
freemen,  was  born  in  Shute,  in  Devon  County,  Eng- 
land, Dec.  4,  1593,  according  to  tbe  authority  already 
cited  in  reference  to  kis  sister,  Elizabeth  Pool.  He 
settled  first  in  Dorchester,  but  came  to  Taunton  cer- 
tainly as  early  as  1637.  In  1639  he  is  called  Capt. 
Poole,  and  ordered  to  exercise  the  inhabitants  of 
Cohannet  in  their  arms.  He  was  one  of  the  depu- 
ties to  the  Plymouth  Court  in  that  year,  the  first  year 


in  which  deputies  were  sent  instead  of  the  whole 
body  of  the  freemen,  and  again  in  the  years  1641-43. 
In  1646  he  was  chosen  one  of  the  Council  of  War, 
and  again  in  1658.  In  1657  he  is  named  as  one  of 
the  selectmen.  During  all  this  time  he  was  the  prin- 
cipal military  officer  in  town,  and  is  always  refe'rred 
to  as  Capt.  Poole.  Nov.  18,  1667,  an  inquest  was 
held  upon  the  body  of  his  son,  Timothy  Poole,  aged 
about  twenty-five  years,  who  was  found  drowned  in  a 
pond,  whither  he  had  gone  to  shoot  some  fowl.  His 
home  lot  was  on  Dean  Street  next  east  of  George 
Macey's,  and  extended  to  the  brook  crossing  the 
street  just  beyond  the  residence  of  the  late  Capt. 
Howland.  Late  in  life  he  returned  to  Dorchester, 
and  died  there.  In  Blake's  "  Annals  of  Dorchester," 
under  date  of  1674,  is  this  notice, — 

"This  year  died  Mr.  William  Pole,  of  whom  ye 
records  thus  speak  :  '  Mr.  William  Pole,  that  sage, 
revered,  pious  man  of  God,  departed  this  life  Feb. 
24,  1674.'  He  was  clerk  of  ye  writs  and  register  of 
births,  deaths,  and  marriages  in  Dorchester  about  ten 
years  ;  and  after  school-master  in  Dorchester." 

He  composed  an  epitaph  for  himself,  which  was  in- 
scribed upon  his  tombstone.  His  son,  John  Pool, 
married  Elizabeth  Brenton,  the  daughter  of  William 
Brenton.  Esq.,  who  was  a  prominent  proprietor  in  the 
South  Purchase,  and  afterwards  removed  to  Bristol. 
John  Pool  became  a  merchant  in  Boston.  In  the 
easterly  part  of  the  town  a  large  farm  was  laid  out 
and  received  the  name  of  the  "Shute  farm,"  doubt- 
less in  memory  of  tbe  town  of  Shute,  in  England, 
from  whence  the  family  came.  A  large  plain  in  that 
part  of  the  town  was  quite  early  called  "Mrs.  Pool's 
plain."  The  name  still  clings  to  it  as  "  Pole  Plain," 
taking  the  original  form  of  the  family  name. 

John  Gilbert,  Sr.,  came  from  Dorchester,  and  was 
a  freeman  of  Cohannet  in  1637.  Mr.  Savage  supposes 
he  may  have  come  from  England  in  the  "Mary  and 
John"  in  1630.  He  was  one  of  the  deputies  to  Plym- 
outh Court  in  1639.  At  this  time  he  was  probably 
somewhat  advanced  in  life,  as  his  name  is  not  in  the 
list  of  1643  of  those  between  sixteen  and  sixty  years 
of  age  subject  to  military  duty.  This  may  account 
for  the  fact  that  his  name  does  not  again  appear  in 
connection  with  any  public  office.  There  is  an  inter- 
esting deposition  touching  his  early  settlement  in 
Taunton,  recorded  in  the  Registry  of  Deeds  Book  2, 
page  32,  which  is  worth  transcribing : 

"The  testimony  of  .loh n  Richmond,  aged  about  sixty-seven  years. 
Testifieth  and  saith,  the  year  16:S9  I  very  well  remember  that  then 
when  we  came  first  to  Taunton,  which  was  in  1639  as  aforesaid.  Then 
Mr.  John  Gilbert  had  a  house  at  a  meadow  down  on  the  westward  side 
of  Taunton  Great  River,  and  there  wintered  cattle  for  some  years,  and 
some  years  after  did  use  to  fetch  hay  from  said  meadow  to  the  town,  and 
afterward  said  Mr.  Gilbert  sold  said  meadow  and  those  that  bought 
aforesaid  meadow  did  improve  it  many  years.  And  it  was  known  by 
the  name  of  Mr.  Gilbert's  farm  meadow;  and  when  the  proprietors  of 
the  South  Purchase  by  their  committee  went  to  set  bounds  between  said 
proprietors'  lots  and  the  meadows  on  the  westward  side  of  Taunton 
River,  I,  said  John  Richmond  was  one  of  said  committee,  and  when 
came  to  the  ahovesaid  meadow  formerly  called  Mr.  Gilbert's  farm  mea- 
dow, then  in  the  possession  of  John  Smith,  said  committee  ordered  the 


774 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


bounds  of  said  meadow  should  be  a  rod  from  said  meadow  ou  the  up- 
land for  the  convenience  of  fencing,  and  further  saith  not." 

Sworn  to  Jan.  6,  1696-97,  before  Thomas  Leonard, 
justice.  John  Hathaway,  of  the  same  age,  made  oath 
to  the  same  statement,  except  only  the  time  when  they 
first  came  to  Taunton,  or  when  Mr.  Gilbert  first  pos- 
sessed said  meadow.  John  Richmond  above  named 
was  the  son  of  the  first  John  Richmond. 

John  Gilbert  died  between  1654  and  1657,  leaving 
a  will,  recorded  at  Plymouth,  in  which  he  calls  him- 
self "  of  Pondsbrooke,  Taunton."  He  gave  to  his 
son  Gyles  his  farm  of  one  hundred  acres,  mentions 
sons  Joseph,  Thomas,  John,  daughter  Mary  Nor- 
cross,  and  wife  Winifred.  His  farm  was  in  the 
northerly  part  of  the  present  town  of  Berkley,  and 
can  still  be  identified.  The  name  Pondsbrooke  was 
probably  suggested  by  the  fact  that  there  is  a  pond 
with  a  brook  flowing  from  it  near  by.  It  occurs  oc- 
casionally in  old  descriptions  of  lands.  His  son  John 
was  suspected  of  felony  in  1645,  and  was  wanted  at 
court ;  but  having  obtained  leave  to  go  to  England, 
made  over  his  estate  in  Taunton  and  elsewhere  to 
Nathaniel  Sowther  in  behalf  of  the  government,  for 
answering  such  things  as  might  be  objected  against 
him.  He  was  to  return  from  England  in  two  years, 
but  there  is  no  record  that  he  ever  did  return. 

Thomas  Gilbert,  the  oldest  son,  married  Jane  Ros- 
siter,  the  daughter  of  Hugh  Rossiter.  He  was  ad- 
mitted a  freeman  in  1651.  In  1648  and  1649  he  was 
the  constable  of  Taunton,  and  in  1652  one  of  the 
deputies  to  Plymouth.  In  1653  certain  complaints 
were  made  against  him,  but  he  had  then  gone  to 
England,  leaving  his  wife  and  children  here.  He 
never  returned,  but  died  there  in  1676,  and  his  wife 
was  granted  administration  on  his  estate  the  follow- 
ing year. 

John  Strong  was  the  son  of  Richard  Strong,  of 
England,  and  came  to  this  country  in  the  "  Mary  and 
John"  in  1630.  He  settled  first  in  Dorchester,  was  a 
resident  of  Hingham  in  1635,  and  from  there  came 
to  Taunton,  where  he  was  a  freeman  in  1637.  He  was 
appointed  the  first  constable  in  1638,  and  was  again 
appointed  in  1639.  He  was  a  deputy  in  1641,  1642, 
and  1643.  He  removed  to  Windsor,  Conn.,  and  in 
1659  to  Northampton,  where  he  became  the  first 
ruling  elder  in  the  church,  and  died  there  in  1699, 
aged  ninety-four.  He  had  seventeen  children.  Caleb 
Strong,  from  1800  to  1807  Governor  of  Massachusetts, 
was  his  descendant.  His  house  lot  in  Taunton  was 
on  Dean  Street,  next  west  of  John  Dean's  lot.  Iu 
1689  he  gave  to  Walter  Deane,  who  married  his 
sister  Ellinor,  a  power  of  attorney  to  dispose  of  his 
real  estate  in  Taunton. 

Edward  Case  came  from  Watertown.  He  was  one 
of  the  first  freemen  in  1637,  and  one  of  the  deputies 
to  Plymouth  in  1640,  and  again  in  1647-48  and  1649. 
In  1645  he  was  appointed  on  a  committee  composed 
of  leading  men  from  the  several  towns  in  the  colony, 
and  of  which  Mr.  John  Browne  was  also  a  member. 


to  prepare  and  recommend  new  laws  for  the  redress 
of  present  abuses  and  the  preventing  of  such  in  the 
future.  His  lot  was  on  Dean  Street,  and  included 
probably  the  estates  now  owned  by  Mr.  Le  Baron  B. 
Church  and  Mrs.  Lovering,  and  extending  still  farther 
west.  He  sold  his  lands  in  Taunton  to  Samuel  Wil- 
bore,  of  Boston,  and  removed,  whither  is  unknown. 
Samuel  Wilbore,  according  to  Mr.  Baylies,  imbibed 
the  views  of  Mrs.  Hutchinson  and  became  one  of  her 
followers.  How  long  he  resided  in  Taunton  cannot 
be  told  exactly,  but  it  could  have  been  but  a  few 
years,  for  he  died  as  early  as  1657,  leaving  his  house 
and  lot  in  Taunton  to  his  son  Shadrach,  for  so  many 
years  the  town  clerk. 

Henry  Andrews  was  one  of  the  first  freemen  in 
1637,  and  one  of  the  deputies  in  1639.  He  was  a 
deputy  at  a  special  court  held  in  September,  1642, 
and  was  again  deputy  in  1643,  1647,  and  1649.  In 
1646  he  was  appointed  on  a  committee,  composed  of 
one  from  each  town,  "  to  consider  of  a  way  for  the  de- 
fraying the  charges  of  the  magistrates'  table,  by  way 
of  excise  upon  wine  and  other  things." 

He  built  the  first  meeting-house,  for  which  he  re- 
ceived in  pay  the  calf  pasture,  as  is  stated  elsewhere. 
He  with  John  Macomber  was  allowed  in  1659  to 
erect  a  saw-mill  on  Mill  River,  "if  it  be  found  not 
hurtful  to  the  grist-mill."  In  his  will,  which  is  dated 
March  13,  1652,  he  calls  himself  a  yeoman.  He 
gives  to  his  daughter,  Mary  Hedges  (wife  of  William 
Hedges),  a  dwelling-house  near  his  own  in  Taunton, 
and  after  her  to  his  grandson,  John  Hedges;  to  his 
daughters,  Sarah  and  Abigail,  one  hundred  and 
thirty  pounds  in  the  hands  of  John  Parker,  shoe- 
maker, of  Boston  ;  to  his  son  Henry  his  house.  His 
wife's  name  was  Mary.  His  son  Henry  was  killed  by 
the  Indians  in  1676.  His  home  lot  is  described  as 
bounded  by  the  lands  of  John  Strong  on  the  north, 
of  James  Wyatt  on  the  south,  faced  by  the  Great 
River  on  the  east  end,  and  containing  six  acres,  more 
or  less;  also  six  acres  on  the  farther  side  of  the 
Great  River,  lying  opposite  and  facing  the  home  lot. 
His  descendants  were  large  land-owners  in  the  east 
part  of  the  town. 

John  Browne  settled  first  in  Plymouth,  where  his 
name  appears  in  the  list  of  freemen  as  having  been 
admitted  in  1635.  The  name  of  his  brother,  Peter 
Browne,  is  in  the  list  of  1633.  '  In  the  records  of  the 
Governor  and  Company  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  in 
New  England,  before  the  removal  of  the  letters  pat- 
ent and  the  government  to  America,  under  date  of 
March  12,  1628,  appears  the  following  entry:  "John 
Browne,  gent,  and  Mr.  Samuel  Browne,  of  Roxwell, 
in  Essex,  take  their  passage  in  the  Company  ships  for 
New  England,  .  .  .  intending  to  plant  there,"  etc. 
In  1629  they  were  appointed  by  the  company  in  Eng- 
land assistants  to  Governor  Endicott,  and  were  highly 
recommended  in  letters  to  the  Governor  and  Council ; 
Mr.  John  Browne  being  spoken  of  as  "  a  man  ex- 
perienced in  the  laws  of  our  kingdom,  and  such  an 


TAUNTON. 


775 


one  as  we  are  persuaded  will  worthily  deserve  your 
favor  and  furtherance."  They  fell  into  some  differ- 
ences, however,  with  Governor  Endicottand  the  min- 
isters, Mr.  Skelton  and  Mr.  Higginson,  and  were  sent 
back  to  England.  (See  Records  of  Massachusetts, 
vol.  i.  pp.  34,  51-54,  387,  398,  407-9.) 

Was  not  this  the  John  Browne  afterwards  of  Plym- 
outh and  Taunton  ? 

Mr.  Browne  was  chosen  one  of  Governor  Winslow's 
assistants  in  1636,  while  living  in  Plymouth,  and  was 
annually  re-elected  until  1655.  He  was  chosen  one 
of  the  commissioners  of  the  United  Colonies  on  the 
part  of  Plymouth  Colony  in  1644,  the  year  after  the 
confederation  was  formed,  and  was  continued  in  the 
office  until  1655,  a  period  of  twelve  years.  This  was 
an  office  of  great  importance  and  responsibility.  Each 
colony  in  the  confederation  was  represented  by  two 
commissioners  only.  His  colleagues  in  the  office  dur- 
ing his  term  of  service  were  Governor  Winslow,  one 
year;  Timothy  Hatherly,  two  years;  Governor  Brad- 
ford, three  years ;  Thomas  Prence,  five  years.  He 
was  one  of  the  Council  of  War  in  1642,  1646,  and 
1653.  In  1655  he  was  deputed  by  the  court  to  take 
the  proof  of  wills  in  Taunton.  He  was  frequently 
appointed  on  important  committees  to  settle  difficul- 
ties between  towns,  to  run  boundary  lines,  and  to  act 
in  various  capacities  for  the  interest  of  the  colony. 
There  were  few  men  who  were  more  constantly  em- 
ployed in  public  affairs  than  he. 

It  is  not  easy  to  determine  just  how  long  he  was  a 
resident  of  Taunton.  In  the  list  of  those  subject  to 
military  duty  iu  Taunton,  in  1643,  his  name  stands 
first.  The  names  of  his  sons,  John  and  James,  also 
appear  in  the  list,  so  that  he  was  then  here  with  his 
family.  In  March,  1647,  the  Plymouth  Colonial  Rec- 
ords speak  of  "  Mr.  John  Browne,  of  Rehoboth,  one 
of  the  assistants  of  this  government."  In  1645  he 
was  the  first  named  of  seven  men  chosen  to  order  the 
prudential  affairs  of  that  town.  In  the  latter  part  of 
the  same  year  he  became  the  principal  proprietor  of 
Wannamoiset  Neck,  afterwards  the  town  of  Swansea. 
In  1655  he  made  a  deed  of  his  real  estate  in  Taun- 
ton, containing  the  following  description:  "I,  John 
Browne,  out  of  my  especial  love  and  good-will,  have 
heretofore  given  unto  my  cousin,  John  Tisdall,  that 

dwelling-house  which  I  bought  of  Goodman -,  with 

some  garden  and  a  lot  of  land  thereunto  belonging, 
containing  about  three  acres,  be  it  more  or  less;  and 
furthermore,  I  do  declare  that  for  divers  good  causes 
and  considerations  me  hereunto  moving,  did  bargain 
and  sell  that  dwelling-house  which  once  myself  lived 
in  at  Taunton,  with  barn  and  outbuildings,  and  all 
the  land  thereunto  belonging,  with  all  such  land  as 
by  any  way  appertaineth  unto  me,  the  said  John 
Browne,  unto  my  aforesaid  cousin,  John  Tisdall,  and 
my  cousin,  James  Walker,  his  brother-in-law."  In 
the  list  of  1675,  James  Walker  appears  as  the  owner 
of  Mr.  John  Browne's  rights. 

He  died  at  Wannamoiset,  April  10,  1662.     Morton, 


in  his  "  New  England's  Memorial,"  has  the  following 
notice  of  him,  pp.  275-277  : 

"This  year  Mr.  Jons  Brown  ended  this  life.  In  his  younger  years, 
travelling  into  the  low  countries,  he  became  acquainted  with  and  took 
guild  liking  to  the  reverend  pastor  of  the  church  of  Christ  at  Leyden,  as 
also  tu  sundry  of  the  brethren  of  that  church,  which  ancient  amity  induced 
him  (upon  his  coming  over  to  Now  England)  to  seat  himself  iu  the  juris- 
diction of  New  Plymouth,  in  which  he  was  chosen  a  magistrate,  in  which 
place  ho  served  God  and  the  country  several  years.  He  was  well  accom- 
plished with  abilities  to  both  civil  and  religious  concernments,  and  at- 
tained,  through  God's  grace,  unto  a  comfortable  persuasion  of  the  love 
and  favor  of  God  to  him.  He,  falling  sick  of  a  fever,  with  much  serenity 
and  spiritual  comfort,  fell  asleep  in  the  Lord,  and  was  honorably  buried 
at  Wannamoiset,  near  Rehoboth,  in  the  spring  of  the  year  abovesaid." 

The  description  of  his  houses  and  lands  in  the  deed 
cited  does  not  indicate  their  locality.  In  the  lay-out 
of  lands  in  early  times  "  Mr.  Browne's  Brook"  is  fre- 
quently named  as  a  well-known  landmark.  From 
this  and  from  the  deeds  of  subsequent  owners,  it  is 
probable  the  location  of  his  lands  was  on  the  west- 
erly side  of  the  Great  River,  between  the  Weir  and 
Dighton  line. 

John  Bryant  died  April  28,  1638,  while  the  plan- 
tation bore  its  Indian  name,  Cohannet.  His  will, 
which  was  nuncupative,  or  oral,  was  presented  to 
the  Plymouth  Court,  June  4,  1638,  by  Richard  Paul 
and  William  Scadding,  who  testified  that  two  days 
before  his  death  they  heard  him  declare  this  will. 
He  gave  all  his  goods  and  chattels  to  John,  his  son, 
except  a  platter  and  a  bottle,  which  he  gave  to  Richard 
Paul.  And  he  desired  Mr.  John  Gilbert  to  take  the 
goods  into  his  hands  and  manage  to  the  best  advan- 
tage for  his  son.  The  inventory  was  taken  by  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Poole,  Mrs.  Jane  Poole,  William  Scadding, 
and  Richard  Paul.  The  amount  was  forty-three 
pounds  three  shillings  and  three  pence.  The  property 
consisted  of  household  goods  and  a  stock  of  tools 
consisting  of  adzes,  saws,  etc.,  from  which  it  is  to  be 
inferred  that  he  was  a  wheelwright  or  a  carpenter. 
There  was  no  real  estate.  Nothing  more  is  known  of 
him.  This  is  the  first  will  on  the  records  from  Taun- 
ton. His  son  had  not  reached  the  age  of  sixteen  in 
1643,  as  his  name  does  not  appear  in  the  military  list 
of  that  year.  But  he  was  admitted  a  freeman  in  1654, 
and  was  entitled  to  a  division  of  lands  in  1659. 

Hezekiah  Hoar  was  the  brother  of  Leonard  Hoar, 
third  president  of  Harvard  College.  He  had  other 
brothers,— Daniel,  of  Boston,  John,  of  Scituate,  ac- 
cording to  Savage ;  and  Mr.  Baylies  says  that  Richard 
Hoar,  whose  name  is  on  the  military  list  of  Yarmouth 
in  1643,  was  his  brother.  His  house-lot  was  on  the 
westerly  corner  of  Winter  Street,  and  adjoined  Walter 
Deane's  lot  on  the  west.  This  street  was  anciently 
called  Hoar's  lane,  taking  its  name  undoubtedly  from 
him.  His  name  is  on  an  early  list  of  those  that  had 
taken  the  oath  of  fidelity  in  Cohannet,  and  in  1653 
he  was  propounded  as  freeman.  In  1655  his  name 
again  appears  among  those  propounded,  but  there  is 
no  record  of  his  admission.  He  was  a  constable  of 
the  town  in  1657,  1663,  and  1672.  and  one  of  the  sur- 
veyors of  the  highways  in  1651.     He  was  appointed 


776 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


an  ensign  in  the  expedition  proposed  in  1653  against 
the  Dutch  in  New  York.  In  1693  he  sold  his  house- 
lot  to  his  sons,  Edward  and  Hezekiah,  and  the  same 
year  they  conveyed  it  to  Ezra  Deane,  the  son  of  Wal- 
ter Deane.  The  family  seem  to  have  become  resi- 
dents in  the  South  Purchase,  afterwards  Dighton. 

William  Hailstone  was  made  a  freeman  in  1644. 
He  does  not  seem  to  have  held  any  public  office.  He 
was  a  tailor  by  trade,  and  his  difficulty  with  an  ap- 
prentice as  also  his  controversy  with  James  Walker 
are  elsewhere  referred  to.  In  1666  the  proprietors 
granted  him  two  or  three  acres  of  land,  provided  that 
he  should  not  sell  it  or  give  it  away  while  he  and  his 
wife  lived.  This  was  in  addition  to  the  divisions  of 
land  belonging  to  him  as  a  proprietor.  In  1667  he 
sued  the  selectmen  of  the  town  in  an  action  of  the 
case  for  non-performance  of  a  town  order  respecting 
land  due  to  him.  He  obtained  a  verdict  in  his  favor 
for  the  land  with  costs,  but  the  defendants  obtained  a 
review,  with  what  result  does  not  appear.  He  was 
living  in  1675.  There  is  nothing  in  the  records  of 
births  to  show  that  he  had  any  children.  Divisions 
of  land  after  his  death  were  made  upon  his  rights  to 
persons  of  a  different  name,  and  it  is  probable  that 
he  left  no  descendants,  and  was  the  only  one  of  the 
name  here. 

John  Gingell  was  among  those  of  Cohannet  who 
took  the  oath  of  fidelity.  The  name  appears  in  va- 
rious forms  as  Gingell,  Gungle,  Gengill,  and  Gingen. 
He  was  in  the  list  of  1643  as  John  Gingell,  subject  to 
military  duty.  But  little  is  known  of  him  as  a  resi- 
dent of  Taunton.  In  1646  the  name  appears  in  the 
list  of  freemen  of  Massachusetts  as  John  Gingen. 
Mr.  Savage  thinks  him  to  be  the  Taunton  man,  and 
says  of  him  that  he  removed  to  Dorchester,  thence 
after  many  years  to  Salem,  that  he  made  his  will 
April  10, 1685,  calling  himself  then  seventy  years  old, 
names  no  family  connections,  and  gives  five  pounds 
to  the  church  of  Dorchester,  and  the  same  sum  to  Mr. 
Lawson,  the  minister  of  Salem,  if  he  continues  there 
until  a  church  be  formed.  The  will  was  proved  March 
24, 1687.  Richard  Williams  became  the  owner  of  his 
lands  in  Taunton,  but  probably  received  no  deed. 
Several  years  after  the  death  of  Richard  Williams, 
the  following  affidavit  was  taken  and  recorded  in  the 
Registry  of  Deeds,  vol.  ii.  page  19: 

"  The  testimony  of  Mr.  John  Hath  way  and  John  Richmond,  sen.,  both  of 
Taunton,  being  of  lawful  age  testifieth  that  whereas  one  John  Gingell 
was  in  Taunton,  in  or  about  the  year  1639  or  in  the  year  1640,  and  about 
that  time  went  from  Taunton  and  was  never  since  in  said  Taunton  as 
we  ever  saw  or  heard  of.  And  that  Mr.  Richard  Williams  late  of  Taun- 
ton deceased  hath  demanded  and  received  lands  upon  the  right  of  the 
said  John  Gingell  for  above  fifty-six  years,  and  further  saith  not. 

"In  Taunton  in  Bristol  County  March  the  27<h  1699,  the  above  said 
John  Hathway  and  John  Richmond  made  oath  to  the  above  written 
evidence,  Before  me 

"Thomas  Leonard,  Justice." 

William  Dunn  appears  as  one  of  the  original  pur- 
chasers, but  no  mention  is  made  of  him  afterwards, 
except  in  the  divisions  of  lands,  in  which  William 
Witherell  claims  upon  his  rights.     Rev.  Mr.  Clark, 


in  his  "History  of  Norton,"  supposes  that  he  was 
master  of  a  vessel,  and  that  Witherell  came  from  Eng- 
land with  him  when  quite  young,  and  upon  Dunn's 
departure  he  gave  Witherell  his  share  in  the  purchase. 

John  Drake,  on  the  authority  of  Mr.  Savage,  prob- 
ably came  in  the  fleet  with  Winthrop  to  Dorchester 
or  Boston,  requested  to  be  made  a  freeman  in  October, 
1630,  but  was  never  admitted,  removed  to  Taunton, 
and  not  long  after  to  Windsor,  Conn.,  and  was  there 
killed  by  a  cart-wheel  running  over  him,  Aug.  17, 
1659.     John  Tisdall,  Jr.,  owned  his  rights  in  1675. 

John  Kingsley  probably  did  not  remain  long  in 
Taunton.  Whither  he  went  is  uncertain.  The  name 
appears  in  the  early  Norton  records,  but  whether  of 
the  same  family  is  uncertain.  Thomas  Caswell  be- 
came the  owner  of  his  rights. 

The  Widow  Randall  is  only  known  by  that  desig- 
nation. Whether  she  died  in  Taunton,  or  had  a 
family,  and  from  whence  she  came,  it  seems  now 
fruitless  to  inquire.  Jonah  Austin,  Jr.,  claimed  on 
what  was  called  "  the  half-purchase  rights  of  the 
Widow  Randill's." 

William  Phillips  was  one  of  the  older  men  of  the 
settlement.  In  his  will,  dated  April  16,  1654,  he  says 
he  is  threescore  years  and  ten  at  the  least.  He  gives 
his  house  to  his  wife  Elizabeth  and  his  son  James, 
whom  he  makes  executor,  and  provides  that  if  his 
son  die  without  issue,  it  might  descend  to  the  children 
of  his  son-in-law,  James  Walker.  His  son  James 
was  a  freeman  before.  1670,  and  in  1675  claims  on  his 
father's  rights. 

Hugh  Rossiter  came  from  -Dorchester,  where  he 
had  a  grant  of  a  small  lot  in  1635.  His  name  ap- 
pears on  the  list  of  "those  of  Cohannett  that  have 
taken  the  oath  of  fidelity,"  but  not  on  the  military  list 
of  1643.  Mr.  Baylies  says  he  had  then  gone  to  Con- 
necticut or  New  Haven.  His  daughter  Jane  mar- 
ried Thomas  Gilbert.  Joseph  Willis  was  the  owner 
of  his  rights  in  1675. 

Francis  Street  was  not  chosen  to  any  office  in  the 
town  so  far  as  known.  His  name  appears  among 
those  who  had  taken  the  oath  of  fidelity  in  1657,  and 
also  in  the  earlier  list  of  Cohannet.  He  was  subject 
to  military  duty  in  1643.  He  died  in  1665,  leaving  a 
widow,  Elizabeth,  who  married  Thomas  Lincoln,  and 
a  daughter  Mary,  who  inherited  her  father's  rights. 
It  does  not  appear  whether  he  was  related  to  Rev. 
Nicholas  Street. 

John  Luther  was  among  the  first  purchasers,  but 
his  name  does  not  elsewhere  appear.  He  probably 
removed  from  town  or  died  early.  He  had  a  son 
Samuel,  but  whether  any  other  family  is  not  known. 
The  following  votes  appear  on  the  proprietors' 
records  : 

"This  19th  of  October,  1672,  Samuel  Luther,  ye  son  of  John  Luther, 
hath  this  day  made  a  demand  of  his  father's  purchase  rights  of  ye 
town. 

"  This  25th  of  November,  1672,  James  Walker,  Sr.'s  answer  in  refer- 
ence to  Samuel  Luther's  demand  ye  19th  of  October,  1672,  is  that  he, 
ye  said  James  Walker,  or  his  predecessors,  hath  enjoyed  the  said  rights 


TAUNTON. 


777 


this  thirty  years,  and  hath  paid  all  charges  that  was  laid  upon  it.  And 
therefore,  ye  said  Samuel  Luther  hath  no  right  here  to  that  which  was 
his  father,  John  Luther's." 

John  Smith,  of  Cohannet,  was  propounded  as  a 
freeman  Sept.  3,  1639.  In  the  military  list  of  1643 
the  name  of  Smith  does  not  occur.  In  1651,  John 
Smith  was  admitted  a  freeman,  but  whether  he  was 
of  Taunton  is  not  certain.  Mr.  Savage  says  that  he 
removed  to  Newtown,  L.  I.,  and  his  children  dis- 
persed to  Hempstead  and  Jamaica,  on  that  island. 
In  the  list  of  1675,  John  Cobb  claims  on  the  rights 
that  were  John  Smith's. 

Richard  Smith  took  the  oath  of  allegiance  and 
fidelity  in  December,  1638,  and  in  September,  1639, 
he  was  proposed  as  a  freeman.  Mr.  Savage  thinks  he 
may  be  the  man  who  about  that  time  went  to  Rhode 
Island,  and  some  years  after  had  a  large  trading- 
house  on  the  Narragansett  land.  Joseph  Wilbore 
claimed  on  his  rights  in  1675.  The  name  was  repre- 
sented later  by  Francis  Smith,  who  was  a  constable 
in  1656  and  1664,  and  by  Samuel  Smith,  who  was  a 
constable  in  1663  and  1668,  one  of  the  selectmen  in 
1676  to  1679,  and  a  deputy  in  that  year.  Later  in 
the  century  there  was  a  John  Smith  who  was  a  large 
land-owner,  and  doubtless  there  were  other  branches 
of  this  family  who  cannot  now  be  designated. 

Richard  Burt  died  before  Oct.  26,  164Z,  for  on  that 
date  his  minor  son,  Richard  Burt,  made  choice  of  his 
uncle,  James  Burt,  as  his  guardian,  and  the  court  con- 
firmed his  choice.  His  name  does  not  appear  in  the 
list  of  1643,  so  that  he  was  probably  over  sixty  at  that 
time.  Nothing  more  can  be  stated  about  him.  His 
son  Richard  took  the  oath  of  fidelity  as  early  as  1657, 
and  was  afterwards  admitted  a  freeman.  He  made 
his  will  Sept.  7,  1685,  in  which  he  says  he  is  fifty-six 
years  old.  He  makes  devises  to  his  eldest  son,  Abel, 
to  his  other  sons,  Richard,  Joseph,  Ebenezer,  and 
Ephraim,  and  to  his  daughters  Mary  and  Abigail,  and 
makes  his  wife,  Charity,  his  executrix.  His  home 
lands  were  at  the  "  Ware,"  and  between  the  Ware 
and  "  the  farms."     His  will  was  proved  Oct.  29,  1685. 

James  Burt,  Sr.,  brother  to  Richard,  Sr.,  although 
not  an  original  proprietor,  was  here  early,  and  is 
mentioned  as  having  taken  the  oath  of  fidelity  in 
1657.  His  name  is  on  the  list  of  1659  as  being  en- 
titled to  divisions  of  land,  and  on  that  of  1675,  claim- 
ing on  his  own  rights.  He  was  a  surveyor  of  high- 
ways in  1645  and  1654.  In  his  will,  which  was  ex- 
hibited at  court  March  2,  1681,  he  gives  to  his  eldest 
son,  James,  his  dwelling-house  and  six  acres  of  land 
lying  between  the  brook  called  Mr.  Brown's  Brook, 
on  the  southwest  side  of  the  cartway  going  to  Thomas 
Lincoln's  house,  called  Thomas  Lincoln's  cartway, 
and  a  gore  of  land  lying  by  the  Three-Mile  River  be- 
low the  lower  falls,  in  a  place  called  the  Falls  Plain. 
He  gives  to  his  son  Thomas  his  share  in  the  South 
Purchase  and  other  lands.  His  home  lands  were  on 
the  westerly  side  of  the  Great  River,  and  his  descend- 
ants still  own  lands  in  that  vicinity. 


Thomas  Farwell  was  propounded  as  a  freeman  Sep- 
tember, 1639.  He  was  on  the  military  list  of  1643. 
In  the  list  of  1659,  of  those  then  living  in  town  to 
whom  divisions  of  land  were  due,  his  name  does  not 
appear.  His  heirs  are  mentioned  in  the  list  of  1675. 
The  date  of  his  death  does  not  appear.  His  son, 
John  Farwell,  went,  in  his  minority,  to  England,  and 
in  March,  1700,  Mr.  John  Pool,  merchant,  of  Boston, 
appeared  as  his  attorney  to  claim  the  lands  due  to 
him  in  Taunton.  In  the  description  of  his  lands  the 
following  are  mentioned  :  a  parcel  at  Assonett  Neck, 
an  island  in  the  Great  River  called  Grassy  Island,  a 
piece  on  the  eastward  side  of  the  river  at  Rocky  Nook, 
half  an  acre  on  the  eastward  side  of  the  river  near  a 
place  known  as  the  Needle's  Eye,  and  a  home  lot  in 
the  town  on  the  northwestward  side  of  Taunton  River 
bounded  northeast  by  John  Cobb's  land,  and  south- 
east by  land  of  Shadrach  Wilbore,  deceased.  His 
widow  became  the  third  wife  of  Rev.  George  Shove, 
Dec.  8,  1686. 

Thomas  Cooke,  and  his  son,  Thomas  Cooke,  Jr., 
were  subject  to  military  duty  in  1643.  Thomas  Cooke, 
Sr.,  took  the  oath  of  fidelity,  but  was  not  admitted  a 
freeman.  It  is  thought  they  both  removed  to  Ports- 
mouth, R.  I.,  where  the  father  was  called  captain.  In 
1659  he  was  a  commissioner  to  run  the  west  line  of 
the  colony.  Increase  Robinson  became  the  owner  of 
his  rights  in  the  township  of  Taunton. 

John  Crossman  probably  died  early,  as  his  name 
does  not  appear  on  the  list  of  1643,  1659,  or  1675.  He 
left  a  son  Robert,  who  was  quite  prominent  as  a  mill- 
owner  and  in  the  business  affairs  of  the  town. 

John  Richmond  was  one  of  the  older  men  of  the 
settlement.  His  name  does  not  appear  in  the  list  of 
1643,  although  he  was  probably  not  over  sixty  at  that 
time.  As  he  was  in  Rhode  Island  in  1655,  it  is  likely 
he  went  thither  before  1643.  He  took  the  oath  of 
fidelity  before  1640.  He  returned  to  Taunton  again, 
and  died  there  March  20,  1663-64.  In  his  will  he 
calls  himself  seventy  years  old.  Leaves  property  to 
eldest  son,  John,  to  son-in-law,  William  Paule,  and 
Mary  his  wife,  and  son-in-law,  Edward  Rew,  and 
Sarah  his  wife.  His  son,  John  Richmond,  is  on  a 
list  of  freemen  made  in  1683  ;  was  a  constable  in  1674 
and  1685,  one  of  the  town  council  in  1676,  and  one  of 
a  committee  to  distribute  the  contributions  of  Chris- 
tians in  Ireland  to  the  sufferers  in  the  Indian  war  in 
1677.  The  family  were  large  land-owners  in  the 
easterly  part  of  the  town,  and  gave  to  a  village  in 
that  section  the  name  of  Richmondtown,  which  it 
still  bears. 

Williajn  Holloway  became  a  freeman  in  1644.  His 
name  is  on  the  military  list  of  1643,  but  it  does  not 
appear  in  the  list  of  those  entitled  to  divisions  of  land 
in  1659.  Mr.  Savage  says  he  removed  to  Boston  about 
1650. 

In  the  State  archives,  under  date  of  May  7,  1662, 
may  be  found  the  answer  of  the  General  Court  "to 
the  petition  of  William  Holloway,  father  to  the  late 


778 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


John  Holloway,  that  served  the  Governor  as  sergeant 
near  two  years."  The  court  granted  to  the  father, 
administrator  of  the  estate  of  his  said  son,  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  acres  in  some  free  place  near  to  some 
plantation.  The  land  was  laid  out  in  1671.  In  1687, 
Malachi  Holloway,  of  Taunton,  presented  a  petition 
to  Governor  Andros  setting  forth  that  a  grant  was 
made  to  his  father,  William  Holloway,  by  the  Gen- 
eral Court  in  1662,  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  up- 
land and  meadow  lying  beyond  Wading  River,  near 
the  Plymouth  line,  and  praying  that  a  new  survey 
may  be  made  and  a  patent  for  confirmation  be  granted 
to  him.  There  can  be  little  doubt  that  the  William 
Holloway  referred  to  was  the  one  whose  name  appears 
on  the  list  of  original  purchasers.  Malachi  Holloway, 
his  son,  seems  to  have  been  a  large  land-owner  in 
Taunton.  The  name  of  Timothy  Holloway  appears 
in  the  list  of  1643,  and  also  in  that  of  1659.  In  the  list 
of  1675,  Malachi  Holloway  claims  on  Richard  Hart's 
rights,  and  Samuel  Holloway  on  his  own  rights. 
Whether  these  were  all  of  one  family  and  what  their 
relationship  was  has  not  been  ascertained. 

Richard  Paull  is  said  by  Savage  to  have  been  hired 
as  a  soldier  for  the  castle  in  1636,  as  mentioned  in 
"  Winthrop,"  vol.  ii.  p.  366.  His  name  is  on  the  list 
of  ancient  purchasers.  He  took  the  oath  of  fidelity 
while  the  plantation  was  called  Cohannet,  and  was 
there  married  to  Margery  Turner  the  8th  of  Novem- 
ber, 1638,  the  first  marriage  in  the  settlement.  He 
was  propounded  as  a  freeman  in  1647,  but  never  took 
the  oath.  In  1646  he  is  called  a  planter.  In  1640 
he  was  licensed  as  an  innholder.  In  1652  he  was  a 
surveyor  of  highways.  In  1651  he  was  upon  two 
juries  of  inquest,  one  upon  John  Slocum,  the  son  of 
Anthony  Slocum,  and  the  other  upon  William  Eng- 
land, servant  to  Joseph  Wilbore.  He  died  previous 
to  May  17,  1654,  when  the  will  of  Elizabeth  Pool 
was  ordered  to  be  recorded.  In  that  will,  Margery 
Turner,  the  Cohannet  maiden  of  1638,  is  tenderly  re- 
membered as  "my  kind  and  old  friend  sister  Margery 
Paule,  widow."  He  left  two  sons,  William  and 
Samuel.  William  married  Mary,  the  daughter  of 
John  Richmond,  and  had  a  large  family  of  children. 
He  was  an  extensive  land-owner,  especially  in  the 
southerly  and  easterly  part  of  the  town.  Samuel 
Paull,  it  is  thought,  removed  to  Dorchester. 

Joseph  Wilson  and  Benjamin  Wilson  were  prob- 
ably brothers.  But  little  is  known  of  them  except 
the  fact  that  they  were  among  the  first  purchasers. 
The  name  of  Benjamin  Wilson  appears  in  the  mili- 
tary list  of  1643,  but  neither  of  their  names  are  found 
in  the  lists  of  freemen,  or  of  those  taking  tl^e  oath  of 
fidelity,  or  among  the  officers  of  the  town.  In  the 
lists  of  those  having  rights  to  lands  in  1675,  John 
Hall  and  Samuel  Hall,  sons  of  George  Hall,  claim 
on  the  rights  which  were  Joseph  Wilson's  and  Ben- 
jamin Wilson's. 

William  Scadding's  name  appears  in  the  list  of 
those  that  had  taken  the  oath  of  fidelity  in  Cohannet. 


There  is  no  other  record  concerning  him.  John 
Bryant  bought  his  rights  in  the  Taunton  purchase, 
but  at  what  date  is  unknown.  He  probably  owned 
land  near  the  beautiful  pond  that  bears  his  name 
and  perpetuates  his  memory. 

Robert  Hobell  was  dead  before  March,  1641,  for  at 
that  date  the  grand  jury  presented  "the  son  of 
Widow  Hoble  for  swearing."  There  is  no  other 
mention  of  the  name  in  the  Plymouth  records.  His 
name  appears  but  once  in  the  proprietors'  records, 
and  that  is  in  the  list  of  original  purchasers.  No 
one  appears  to  claim  upon  his  rights.  The  name  and 
the  right  seem  alike  to  have  faded  out. 

William  Coy  was  another  of  the  first  purchasers 
who  seems  to  have  gone  from  the  settlement  leaving 
none  of  his  name  or  lineage  behind.  In  1675,  Ed- 
ward Rew  claimed  on  his  rights. 

David  Corwithy  was  proposed  as  a  freeman  Sep- 
tember, 1639,  with  several  others  from  Cohannet,  as 
the  town  was  then  called.  His  name  appears  as  Mr. 
David  Kerwythy.  No  other  mention  is  made  of  him 
in  the  court  records.  In  the  list  of  1675,  Nicholas 
White,  Sr.,  claims  on  his  rights.  From  some  allu- 
sions in  the  description  of  George  Hall's  lands  it 
seems  probable  that  Corwithy's  home  lot  was  on  Dean 
Street,  between  that  of  Hall  on  the  east,  and  Anthony 
Slocum  on  Uie  west. 

Anthony  Slocum  was  on  the  military  list  of  1643, 
and  was  admitted  a  freeman  in  1657.  He  was  a  sur- 
veyor of  highways  in  1654  and  1662.  Edward  Slo- 
comb,  who  was  a  surveyor  in  1647,  may  have  been  his 
son.  Somewhere  about  1664  he  removed  to  Dart- 
mouth, with  his  family,  of  which  town  he  was  one  of 
the  early  settlers.  There  is  a  letter  of  his  written  to 
William  Harvey  after  he  removed  to  Dartmouth,  and 
recorded  in  the  proprietors'  records,  vol.  i.  p.  14, 
which  is  of  some  local  interest.  Parts  of  it  are  here 
quoted : 

"An  difference  which  I  understand  is  unhappily  Brother  Harvey, 
the  occasion  of  my  writing  to  you  at  this  time  is  a  contest  between 
Nicholas  White  and  the  owner  of  Capt.  Poole's  land  (as  I  understand) 
Mr.  Increase  Robinson,  to  end  which,  if  men  will  be  governed  or 
ruled  by  truth,  and  that  which  follows'  is  nothing  but  the  truth,  God 
Almighty  is  my  witness.  First  sir,  it  being  urged  by  one  of  the  parties 
mentioned,  that  Mr.  Poole  and  I  have  changed  land.  I  do  declare  we 
never  did  change  any,  although  we  were  soone  about  so  to  do.  And 
secondly,  to  conclude  all,  our  dividing  line  runs  through  a  certain  saw- 
pit  without  the  head  of  my  fence  (that  was)  down  within  five  or  six  foot 
of  a  little  oak,  on  an  unmanured  (in  my  time)  hill,  (that  is  to  say,  the 
said  oak  is  five  or  six  foot  within  Capt.  Pool's  lot)  thence  straight  down 
to  the  bridge,  and  four  foot  further  towards  Capt.  Pool's,  from  where  all 
down  to  the  river  the  brook  is  the  line  or  bounds  between  us,  only  at 
the  mouth  next  the  river,  Capt.  Poole  hath  a  small  inconsiderable  piece 
of  ground  which  the  line  alloweth  him  on  that  side  I  was  seized  on. 

"To  the  church  of  Christ  in  .Taunton  and  Mr.  Shove  and  yourself 
in  particular  I  desire  to  be  recommended,  whose  prayers  I  doubt  not  I 
and  mine  are  the  better  for,  and  whose  welfare  I  also  earnestly  wish 
and  pray  for." 

The  letter  is  without  date,  but  a  line  was  run  be- 
tween the  parties  mentioned  by  the  selectmen  Oct. 
22,  1681.  The  lot  of  Anthony  Slocum  was  on  Dean 
Street,  where   Mr.  Joseph  A.   Hall   now  lives,  and 


TAUNTON. 


779 


extended  west  to  the  brook  which  crosses  the  street 
between  his  estate  and  Capt.  Howland's. 

William  Parker  was  most  probably  the  person  re- 
ferred to  by  Thomas  Lechford,  who  in  giving  an 
account  of  the  church  and  ministers  in  Taunton 
says,  "Master  Hooke  received  ordination  from  the 
hands  of  one  Master  Bishop,  a  schoolmaster,  and  one 
Parker,  a  husbandman."  He  has  the  honorable 
prefix  "  Mr."  attached  to  his  name  whenever  men- 
tioned in  the  court  records.  He  became  a  freeman 
in  1641,  and  the  same  year  was  appointed  constable. 
He  was  constable  again  in  1642,  1643,  and  1653,  and 
a  deputy  in  1645  and  1658.  In  1650  he  was  deputed 
by  the  General  Court  to  marry  persons  in  Taunton, 
and  this  authority  was  renewed  in  1657.  He  died  in 
1661,  leaving  a  will  dated  March  15,  1660,  in  which 
he  calls  himself  sixty  years  old,  names  his  wife, 
Alice,  but  no  child,  and  gives  a  legacy  to  his  nephew, 
James  Phillips,  who  was  the  son  of  William' Phillips, 
making  it  probable  that  his  sister  was  the  wife  of 
William  Phillips.  In  1675,  Peter  Pitts  claimed  on 
his  rights.  His  widow  in  1662  married  the  first 
Stephen  Paine,  of  Rehoboth.  After  her  marriage 
she  is  referred  to  as  owning  land  in  Taunton. 

John  Parker  is  thought  to  have  been  the  brother 
of  William.  In  June,  1641,  John  Parker  and  John 
Bushop,  of  Taunton,  were  propounded  to  be  admitted 
freemen  at  the  next  court.  This  John  Bushop  was 
doubtless  the  "  Master  Bishop,  a  schoolmaster,"  who 
assisted  at  the  ordination  of  Rev.  Mr.  Hooke.  There 
is  no  record  that  Bishop  was  ever  admitted,  but  Parker 
was  admitted  in  July,  1641.  In  1642  he  was  a  deputy 
to  the  Plymouth  Court.  There  is  no  record  of  his 
holding  any  other  office.  He  died  Feb.  26,  1667-68, 
leaving  a  will  in  which  he  speaks  of  his  house  at 
Boston.  He  gives  legacies  to  his  wife,  Sarah,  to  his 
wife's  sister's  son,  Nathaniel  Smith,  to  his  brother, 
Mr.  John  Summers,  minister;  to  Mary  Parker  and 
sister,  Elizabeth  Phillips  ;  to  James  Phillips,  of  Taun- 
ton ;  to  Cousin  James  Walker's  children,  and  to  the 
church  at  Taunton.  In  1675  his  heirs  claim  on  his 
rights.  Estate  valued  at  four  hundred  and  six  pounds. 
-  Francis  Doughty  was  the  minister  mentioned  by 
Thomas  Lechford  in  Plain  Dealing,  as  opposing  the 
gathering  of  the  church  in  Taunton.  The  whole 
passage  is  as  follows:  "  Cohannet  alias  Taunton,  is  in 
Plymouth  Patent.  There  is  a  church  gathered  of 
late,  and  some  ten  or  twenty  of  the  church,  the  rest 
excluded.  Master  Hooke,  pastor,  Master  Streate, 
teacher.  Master  Hooke  received  ordination  from 
the  hands  of  one  Master  Bishop,  a  schoolmaster,  and 
one  Parker,  an  husbandman,  and  then  Master  Hooke 
joined  in  ordaining  Master  Streate.  One  Master 
Doughty,  a  minister,  opposed  the  gathering  of  the 
Church  there,  alleging  that,  according  to  the  Cove- 
nant of  Abraham,  all  men's  children  that  were  of 
baptized  parents,  and  so  Abraham's  children,  ought 
to  be  baptized;  and  spake  so  in  public,  or  to  that 
effect,  which  was  held  a  disturbance,  and  the  minis- 


ters spake  to  the  Magistrate  to  order  him.  The  Mag- 
istrate commanded  the  Constable,  who  dragged  Master 
Doughty  out  of  the  Assembly.  He  was  forced  to  go 
away  from  thence,  with  his  wife  and  children." 

He  did  not  leave  Taunton  at  once,  however,  for  in 
March,  1641,  the  Plymouth  Court  fined  "  Mr.  Francis 
Doughty,  of  Taunton,  for  selling  a  pound  of  gun- 
powder to  the  natives,"  thirty  shillings.  At  the  same 
court  "  Edward  Hall,  servant  to  Francis  Doughty,  for 
swearing  profanely  is  censured  to  sit  in  the  stocks, 
which  was  accordingly  done."  His  name  is  not  in 
the  military  list  of  1643,  whether  because  he  was  a 
minister  or  because  he  had  then  left  town  may  be  un- 
certain. There  is  a  deposition  concerning  him  in  the 
proprietors'  records  which  is  as  follows : 

"This  writing  being  made  the  4  June  1667.  It  is  to  testify  concern- 
ing the  sale  of  Mr.  Doutie's  land  which  he  had  in  Taunton  his  whole 
right  in  the  town  of  Taunton  being  twelve  acres,  that  is  to  say  six  acres 
lying  by  the  land  of  Mr.  Holloway  on  the  Mill  River,  and  six  acres  over 
the  Great  River  lying  by  the  land  of  the  aforesaid  Mr.  Holloway.  James 
Burt  sen.  of  Taunton  being  appointed  by  a  letter  of  attorney  to  make 
sale  of  this  land  to  one  Richard  Hide  of  Taunton  for  the  sum  of  twelve 
pounds,  which  the  aforesaid  Richard  Hide  told  me  he  had  satisfied  the 
aforesaid  Mr.  Doutie  in  a  house,  the  which  the  aforesaid  Hide  had  of 
his  own  at  the  Dutch  plantation,  which  he  said  Mr.  Doutie  had  of  him, 
and  that  was  Mr.  Doutie's  satisfaction  for  his  land  for  ought  that  ever  I 
understood  ;  and  this  land  hath  been  quietly  enjoyed  by  those  that  have 
possessed  it  ever  since,  being  about  eighteen  or  nineteen  years  agone. 

"That  which  is  above  written  was  testified  upon  oath  June  the  5, 

1667  before  me 

"James  Walker." 

He  is  said  by  Rev.  Dr.  Dexter,  in  his  edition  of 
"  Lechford,"  to  have  been  with  the  Dutch  at  Man- 
hattan in  1641,  from  whom  he  and  his  associates  pro- 
cured, in  1642,  a  patent  for  Mespath  (since  Newtown, 
L.  I.),  that  he  was  fined  and  imprisoned  by  Kieft, 
threatened  with  this  and  that  by  Stuyvesant,  obliged 
to  quit  Mespath  for  Flushing,  and  driven  from  Flush- 
ing to  Virginia. 

George  Hall  was  propounded  as  a  freeman  in  1643, 
and  was  admitted  in  1645.  His  name  is  on  the  mili- 
tary list  of  1643.  He  was  a  constable  in  1645,  and 
one  of  the  selectmen  in  1666  and  until  1669.  His 
home  lot  was  on  Dean-  Street,  where  the  venerable 
Ebenezer  Hall,  one  of  his  descendants,  now  lives. 
He  was  a  large  land-owner,  his  rate  in  1659  being  the 
largest  on  the  list  except  that  of  Thomas  Lincoln,  Sr. 
Upon  the  establishment  of  the  iron  manufacture  by 
James  Leonard  and  his  associates,  he  became  an 
owner,  and  was  the  first  clerk  of  the  company.  His 
connection  with  this  business  is  more  fully  given  in 
the  articles  on  manufactures.  He  died  Oct.  30,  1669, 
aged  about  sixty-nine  years,  leaving  a  will,  which  was 
witnessed  by  Richard  Williams  and  Walter  Deane, 
in  which  he  makes  his  wife,  Mary,  executrix,  gives  to 
the  church  in  Taunton  forty  shillings  to  buy  cups, 
and  to  his  children,— John,  Joseph,  Samuel,  Charity, 
Sarah,  and  Mary, — various^  amounts  in  lands  and 
money.  His  descendants  are  numerous  in  Taunton 
and  the  towns  in  this  vicinity. 

George  Macey  was  made  a  freeman  in  1654,  having 
previously  taken  the  oath  of  allegiance  and  fidelity. 


780 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


He  was  on  the  military  list  of  1643.  He  was  one  of 
the  surveyors  of  the  highways  in  1649  and  1655,  a 
constable  in  1650,  a  deputy  from  1672  to  1677  inclu- 
sive, and  again  in  1686,  and  one  of  the  selectmen 
from  1671  to  1686  inclusive.  In  1665  he  was  ap- 
pointed lieutenant  of  the  Taunton  Company,  and 
held  the  office  through  the  Indian  war.  His  connec- 
tion with  the  military  affairs  of  the  town  is  given  in 
the  chapter  on  that  subject.  His  house-lot  was  on 
Dean  Street,  between  Capt.  Pool's  on  the  east  and 
William  Harvey's  on  the  west.  He  died  Aug.  17, 
1693.  His  will  was  dated  June  20,  1693,  and  proved 
Sept.  5;  1693.  In  it  he  mentions  his  daughters,  Eliza- 
beth Hodges,  Sarah  Blake,  Mary  Williams,  Rebecca 
Williams,  Deborah,  and  wife  Susannah;  also  his 
grandchild,  Samuel  Hodges.     He  left  no  sons. 

William  Harvey  was  probably  quite  a  young  man 
at  the  settlement  of  the  town.  He  was  married, 
April  2,  1639,  to  Joane  Hucker,  the  second  recorded 
marriage  in  Cohannet.  He  was  admitted  a  freeman 
in  1656,  but  strangely  his  name  is  not  on  the  military 
list  of  1643.  His  first  home  lot  was  on  the  easterly 
corner  of  the  present  Winter  Street,  fronting  on  Dean 
Street,  and  a  strip  two  rods  wide  was  sold  to  the  town 
for  the  townway,  then  called  Hoar's  Lane,  since 
Winter  Street.  He  was  chosen  constable  in  1661,  in 
1662  one  of  the  surveyors,  and  in  1664  a  deputy  to 
the  General  Court.  From  that  time  until  1690  there 
were  but  two  or  three  years  that  he  was  not  in  office 
as  a  deputy  or  selectman,  and  often  holding  both 
offices  the  same  year.  No  man  in  the  town  seems  to 
have  been  more  constantly  trusted  by  his  fellow- 
townsmen  with  the  responsibilities  of  public  office. 
He  died  in  1691,  leaving  a  will,  in  which  he  mentions 
his  sons  Thomas,  Jonathan,  and  Joseph,  a  deceased 
son,  and  Nathan  Thare,  Jr.,  who  was  the  son  probably 
of  a  deceased  daughter. 

Richard  Williams  was  born  probably  about  1606, 
for  in  his  will,  dated  May  6,  1686,  he  calls  himself 
about  eighty.  He  was  descended  from  a  family  of 
that  name  in  Glamorganshire,  in  Wales.  He  married 
Frances  Dighton,  of  Gloucestershire,  England,  sister 
of  Catharine  Dighton,  who  was  married  to  Governor 
Thomas  Dudley.  It  is  supposed  by  some  that  he, 
with  others  of  the  first  settlers,  was  here  in  1636  or 
earlier,  and  established  himself  in  his  business  of  a 
tanner.  His  name  is  on  the  military  list  of  1643,  but 
it  was  not  until  1644  that  he  was  admitted  as  a  free- 
man. At  a  special  court  held  in  October,  1643,  upon 
occasion  of  an  insurrection  of  the  Indians  against  the 
Dutch  and  English,  he,  with  John  Strong,  were  depu- 
ties from  Taunton.  He  was  a  deputy  again  in  1645, 
and  from  that  time  until  1665  was  deputy,  thirteen 
years.  In  1666  he  was  one  of  the  selectmen,  and 
from  that  time  until  1677  served  in  that  office,  eleven 
years.  After  that  year,  owing  doubtless  to  his  great 
age,  his  name  does  not  appear  in  connection  with 
public  office. 

He  was  evidently  a  man  of  large  organizing  power 


and  great  business  capacity,  and  held  a  large  landed 
estate.  In  1675  he  owned  the  right  of  Henry  Uxley, 
Anthony  Slocum,  and  John  Gingille.  He  was  for 
many  years  a  deacon  of  the  church.  Mr.  Baylies  re- 
lates concerning  him  that  "  when  blind  and  deaf  from 
age,  he  was  accustomed  to  attend  public  worship,  say- 
ing, 'that  although  he  could  neither  see  nor  hear,  yet 
it  was  consoling  to  his  feelings  to  know  that  he  was 
present  while  the  people  of  God  were  at  their  wor- 
ship.'" He  died  in  1692,  leaving  a  will  which  was 
proved  Oct.  10,  1693,  in  which  is  this  clause,  "To  my 
son  Nathaniel,  to  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever,  I  be- 
queath the  land,  house,  and  barn,  which  now  he  pos- 
sesseth,  being  part  of  the  lots  which  I  bought  of 
Henry  Uxley,  in  estimation  half  an  acre  more  or  less, 
with  rights  in  future  divisions  belonging  to  said  lots." 
His  home  lot  was  on  Dean  Street,  and  included  the 
estate  owned  by  the  late  Nathaniel  Williams.  He 
had  the  following  children  :  John,  Samuel,  Nathaniel, 
Joseph,  Thomas,  Benjamin,  Elizabeth,  and  Hannah. 
In  a  deed  he  calls  Samuel  a  tailor. 

John  Deane  was  the  grandson  of  Walter  Deane,  of 
South  Chard,  a  village  in  Somersetshire,  about  ten 
miles  south  of  Taunton,  in  England,  who  died  in 
1591,  and  the  son  of  William  Deane  of  the  same  place, 
who  died  in  1634.  He  came  from  Dorchester  to 
Taunton,  and  was  one  of  the  seven  first  freemen  of 
Cohannett,  already  referred  to.  His  wife's  name  was 
Alice.  He  was  the  constable  of  the  town  in  1640  and 
1654,  a  surveyor  of  highways  in  1640,  and  in  1657  one 
of  the  selectmen.  His  home  lot  was  on  Deane  Street, 
between  that  of  his  brother  Walter  on  the  east,  and 
that  of  John  Strong  on  the  west.  It  has  remained  in 
the  family  ever  since,  the  house  of  the  late  Joseph 
Warren  Deane,  and  the  new  house  of  Benjamin  T. 
Kinnieut,t  standing  on  the  original  lot.  He  died  in 
1660,  leaving  a  will  in  which  occurs  this  passage: 
"  My  will  is  that  these  my  overseers,  with  the  consent 
of  my  wife,  shall  in  case  there  be  no  settled  minister 
in  Taunton,  they  shall  have  full  power  to  sell  either 
the  whole  or  part  of  these  my  housings  and  lands,  so 
as  my  children  and  posterity  may  remove  elsewhere 
where  they  may  enjoy  God  in  His  ordinances." 

He  left  the  following  children  :  John  (born  about 
1639  ;  according  to  tradition,  the  first  white  child 
born  in  Taunton),  Thomas,  Israel,  Isaac.  Nathaniel, 
and  Elizabeth.  His  wife  Alice  survived  him.  He 
was  one  of  the  largest  land-owners  in  town. 

Walter  Deane  was  a  younger  brother  of  John,  no- 
ticed above,  and  came  with  him  to  Taunton.  He  was 
a  freeman  at  the  same  date  with  his  brother.  He 
married  Ellinor  Strong,  a  sister  of  John  Strong,  by 
whom  he  had  three  children,  viz.,  Joseph,  Ezra,  and 
Benjamin.  He  was  a  tanner  by  trade,  and  his  son 
Ezra  succeeded  to  his  business.  In  1640  he  was  a 
deputy  to  the  General  Court.  He  was  chosen  one  of 
the  selectmen  in  1666,  and  annually  thereafter  until 
1686,  a  period  of  twenty-one  years  of  continuous  ser- 
vice, unless  the  year  1670  be  excepted,  for  which  year 


TAUNTON. 


781 


the  Plymouth  records  mention  only  two  selectmen  for 
Taunton,  but  as  the  usual  number  was  five,  it  is  most 
likely  there  is  an  omission  in  the  record.  He  was  a 
deacon  in  the  church,  and  besides  filling  the  public 
offices  already  mentioned,  he  was  frequently  on  com- 
mittees for  apportioning  lands,  settling  disputed 
boundaries,  and  matters  of  that  nature,  and  appears 
to  have  taken  a  prominent  part  in  all  the  additional 
purchases  of  territory.  His  home  lot  was  on  Deane 
Street  between  that  of  his  brother  John  on  the  west 
and  Hezekiah  Hoar  on  the  east.  The  "  Old  Alger 
House,"  so  called,  stands  on  his  original  lot.  The 
date  of  his  death  is  not  certainly  known.  He  and 
his  wife  Ellinor  join  in  a  deed  to  Isaac  Dean,  dated 
Nov.  25,  1693,  and  that  is  the  latest  date  at  which 
we  know  that  he  was  living.  It  is  probable  that  he 
died  soon  afterwards.  No  record  of  any  settlement 
of  his  estate  has  been  found.  He  seems  to  have  con- 
veyed his  real  estate  to  his  children  before  his  death. 

Henry  Uxley.  whose  name  stands  first  on  the  list 
of  purchasers,  must  have  left  the  settlement  very  soon 
after  coming,  for  his  name  appears  nowhere  else  on 
any  public  record  as  being  an  inhabitant  of  Taunton. 
Neither  can  he  be  traced  to  any  other  settlement. 
He  passed  out  of  sight  and  out  of  knowledge  utterly. 
Were  it  not  that  Richard  AVilliams  gives  in  his  will 
to  one  of  his  sons,  a  house  standing  on  a  lot  he  bought 
of  Henry  Uxley,  we  might  almost  suspect  he  was  a 
myth  and  never  had  any  real  existence. 

James  Walker,  although  not  one  of  the  original 
purchasers,  joined  the  settlement  early,  probably 
while  in  his  minority.  His  name  first  appears  in  the 
list  of  1643  as  being  subject  to  military  duty.  He 
was  admitted  a  freeman  in  1650.  Rev.  James  B.  R. 
Walker,  in  his  history  of  the  Walker  family,  ex- 
presses the  belief  that  he  was  the  youth  of  fifteen 
years,  who,  with  his  sister  "  Sarra,"  aged  seventeen, 
embarked  in  London,  April  15,  1635,  in  the  "  Eliza- 
beth" for  this  country.  They  were  called  servants  to 
Mr.  John  Browne.  He  was  doubtless  their  uncle, 
although  in  his  deed  to  James  Walker  and  John 
Tisdale,  which  has  been  given  in  another  place,  he 
calls  Walker  his  cousin.  Rev.  Mr.  Walker  also  be- 
lieves that  the  brother  and  sister  were  the  children 
of  the  Widow  Walker  who  settled  in  Rehoboth. 
James  Walker  married  Elizabeth,  the  daughter  of 
William  Phillips,  and  his  sister  married  John  Tis- 
dale.  He  was  constable  of  the  town  in  1652  and 
1685.  He  was  chosen  a  deputy  in  1654,  and  served 
fourteen  years  in  all  in  that  capacity,  the  last  year 
being  1679.  He  was  one  of  the  board  of  selectmen 
eight  years,  1666  being  the  first  and  1679  the  last  year 
of  his  service.  He  was  also  one  of  the  Town  Council 
in  1667  and  1676.  In"1662  he  was  authorized  to  ad- 
minister oaths  and  to  marry  persons.  In  1664  he  was 
an  excise  officer,  in  1671  an  inspector  of  ordinaries, 
and  in  1677  one  of  the  committee  appointed  to  dis- 
tribute the  contributions  of  Irish  Christians  among 
the  sufferers  by  the  Indian  war.     It  will   be  seen  by 


this  enumeration  that  he  was  an  important  man  in 
the  town.  In  other  parts  of  this  history  this  fact  still 
further  appears.  For  his  second  wife  he  married 
Sarah,  the  widow  of  Edward  Rew,  and  daughter  of 
John  Richmond,  Sr.  He  died  Feb.  15,  1691,  aged 
seventy-three  years,  and  was  buried  in  the  Walker 
burying-ground,  in  the  southerly  part  of  the  city,  be- 
tween Somerset  Avenue  and  the  Great  River. 

Five  of  the  original  purchasers  outlived  the  Plym- 
outh government,  viz.,  William  Harvey,  Richard 
Williams,  Walter  Deane,  Hezekiah  Hoar,  and  George 
Macey.  The  place  of  their  graves  no  man  knoweth 
unto  this  day. 


CHAPTER    LXIII. 

TAUNTON.1-  ( Continued.) 

Ancient  Burying-Grounds  and  Inscriptions  from  Old  Gravestones- 
List  of  Officers,  1G38-1691. 

The  oldest  burying-ground  in  the  city  is  that  at 
the  Neck  of  Land.  Here  doubtless  "  the  rude  fore- 
fathers of  the  hamlet  sleep,"  the  graves  of  many  of 
them  now  unmarked  by  any  stone.  There  is  no 
record  of  the  laying  out  or  of  its  boundaries.  It  is 
probable  that  at  first  it  extended  across  the  present 
street  before  the  building  of  Neck  of  Land  bridge 
and  the  opening  of  the  road  to  it;  and  this  may  ac- 
count for  the  fact  that  the  graves  of  those  who  first 
died  cannot  be  found.  The  burying-grounds  in  Taun- 
ton and  vicinity  have  been  carefully  explored,  and 
the  inscriptions  on  the  stones  faithfully  copied  by 
Deacon  Edgar  H.  Reed,  and  by  his  kind  permission 
some  of  the  oldest  among  them  will  be  here  given, 
commencing  with  the  above-named  burying-ground: 

"  Elizabeth  Smith,  aged  40,  died  Jan.  31,  1G87." 

"Damaris  Smith,  aged  21  years,  died  29th  of  October,  1689." 

"  Abigail  Thayer,  died  the  20th  of  August,  in  the  year  1G91,  in  the  52d 
year  of  her  age." 

"Joseph  Leonard,  died  the  18th  of  October,  in  the  year  1692,  in  the 
44th  year  of  his  age." 

"  Here  lies  buried  Capt.  James  Leonard,  who  died  Nov.  1, 1726,  in  the 
84th  year  of  his  age." 

"Here  lies  buried  Mrs.  Lydia  Leonard,  ye  wife  of  Capt.  James  Leon- 
ard, who  died  July  4,  1705,  in  ye  47th  year  of  her  age." 

"  Here  lieth  ye  body  of  Major  Thomas  Leonard,  Esq.,  aged  72  years, 
died  Nov.  24,  1713." 

"  Here  lieth  the  body  of  Mary,  the  widow  of  Major  Thomas  Leonard, 
Esq.,  aged  81  years,  died  Dec.  1,  1723." 

"  Here  lieth  the  body  of  John  Deane,  aged  77,  died  in  the  year  1717, 
Feb.  the  18th." 

"  In  memory  of  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Dean,  died  March  ye  15th,  1749,  aged 
73." 

"  Here  lies  the  body  of  John  Dean,  died  July  ye  31,  1724,  in  the  50th 
year  of  his  age." 

"  In  memory  of  Mrs.  Hannah  Dean,  wife  of  Mr.  John  Dean,  died  July 
15,  1748,  in  the  71st  year  of  her  age." 

"  Here  lies  the  body  of  Israel  Dean,  aged  74,  died  in  the  year  1719, 
July  the  4th." 

"Erected  in  memory  of  Mr.  Israel  Dean,  who  died  Nov.  29,  1794,  in 
the  82d  year  of  his  age." 

1  By  James  Henry  Dean. 


782 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


"  In  memory  of  Mrs.  Sarah  Dean,  wife  of  Mr.  Israel  Dean,  who  died 
Sept.  3,  1773,  in  the  57th  year  of  her  age." 

"  In  memory  of  M.  D.  Joshua  Dean,  son  of  Mr.  Israel  Dean  &  Sarah 
his  wife,  died  Sept.  15, 1761,  in  the  25th  year  of  his  age." 

"In  memory  of  ye  Hon.  Seth  Williams,  Esq.,  who  died  May  ye  13th, 
1761,  in  ye  86th  year  of  his  age." 

"  In  memory  of  Mary,  ye  wife  of  ye  Hon.  Seth  Williams,  Esq.,  who 
died  June  8, 1746,  in  ye  66th  year  of  her  age." 

"  In  memory  of  the  Hon.  Benjamin  Williams,  Esq.,  who  died  March 
18, 1784,  aged  64." 

"  In  memory  of  Mrs.  Anna  Williams,  widow  of  the  late  Hon.  Benjamin 
Williams,  Esq.,  who  died  Jan.  12, 1793,  aged  68." 

"In  memory  of  Samuel  Williams,  Esq.,  who  departed  this  life  April 
ye  17, 1765,  in  the  86th  year  of  his  age, 

and  of 
Mrs.  Abigail  Williams,  his  wife,  who  departed  this  life  Feb.  23,  1779,  in 
the  94th  year  of  her  age." 

"  Here  lies  the  body  of  Elder  Henry  Hodges,  aged  65,  died  in  year 
1717,  Sept.  30." 

"  Here  lieth  the  body  of  Charity  Burt,  the  wife  of  Bichard  Burt,  aged 
76,  died  in  the  year  1711,  June  the  3d." 

"  Here  lies  the  body  of  Grace  Burt,  the  wife  of  Abel  Burt,  aged  43, 
died  17  (probably  1709),  Sept.  ye  19." 

"  In  memory  of  Lieut.  Abel  Burt.  He  died  Nov.  ye  16, 1766,  in  the 
75th  year  of  his  age." 

Here  lies  the  body  of  William  Briggs,  Cooper,  aged  62,  died  Apl.  21, 
1725. 

"John  White,  died  Sept.  3,  1726,  aged  77." 

"Here  lies  the  body  of  Ephraim  Burt, aged  31,  died  in  the  year  1704, 
Nov.  ye  5." 

"  Here  lieth  ye  body  of  Richard  Godfree.  He  died  Aug.  14, 1725,  aged 
74  years." 

"  Heare  leys  the  body  of  Mary,  the  wife  of  Bichard  Godfree,  ye  1st; 
died  Nov.  ye  5,  1732,  in  ye  78th  year  of  her  age." 

"  In  memory  of  Mr.  John  Godfree,  Esq.     He  died  Nov.  ye  4,  a.d.  1758, 

aged  67  years  and  4  days ; 

& 

Mrs.  Joannah,  his  wife.     She  died  March  ye  9,  1765,  aged  78   years, 

wanting  16  days." 

"  Erected  in  memory  of  George  Godfrey,  Esq.,  who  died  June  30, 1793, 
in  ye  73d  year  of  his  age." 

"Erected  in  memory  of  Mrs.  Bethiah  Godfrey,  wife  of  George  Godfrey, 
Esq.,  who  died  Jan'y  ye  27,  a.d.  1786,  in  ye  63d  year  of  her  age." 

"  Here  lies  the  body  of  Joseph  Hall,  aged  63,  died  in  the  year  1705, 
Apl.  17." 

"  Here  lies  the  body  of  Joseph  Willis,  aged  60,  died  in  the  year 
1704-5,  Jan.  31." 

"  Here  lies  the  body  of  John  Richmond,  aged  88,  died  in  the  year 
1715,  Octo.  ye  7." 

"Here  lies  the  body  of  Abigail  Richmond,  aged  86,  and  died  Aug.  1, 
1727." 

"  Here  lieth  ye  body  of  Sarah,  ye  wife  of  Edward  Cobb,  died  Aug.  13, 
1726,  aged  66  years." 

"  Here  lieth  the  body  of  Insigne  Thomas  Gilbert,  aged  82,  died  April 
ye  20,  in  ye  year  1725." 

"  Here  lieth  the  body  of  Annah  Gilbert,  the  wife  of  Ensign  Thomas 
Gilbert,  aged  71,  died  May  ye  9th,  in  the  year  1722." 

"Heare  Lyeth  ye  Body  of  John  Tisdale,  aged  57  years,  died  Jan'y  26, 
1728." 

"  In  memory  of  Mr.  Abraham  Dennis,  who  died  July  2,  1782,  in  his 
70th  year." 

"  In  memory  of  Mrs.  Sarah  Dennis,  wife  of  Mr.  Abraham  Dennis, 
who  died  April  8,  1794,  in  her  73d  year." 

"  In  memory  of  Capt.  Jonathan  Ingell,  who  departed  this  life  Feb.  8, 
1802,  in  the  82d  year  of  his  age." 

"In  memory  of  Mrs.  Bethiah  Ingell,  wife  of  Capt.  Jonathan  Ingell, 
deceased  Aug.  4, 1771,  in  the  44th  year  of  her  age." 

The  Walker  burying-ground,  on  Somerset  Avenue 
near  Dighton,  contains  the  gravestone  having  the 
oldest  legible  inscription  of  any  in  town,  marking  the 
grave  of  Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  the  first  James  Walker. 
This  and  other  of  the  older  ones  are  given  below : 

"  Here  lies  the  body  of  Elizabeth  Walker,  the  wife  of  James  Walker, 
aged  59,  died  in  the  year  1678,  Aug.  the  14th." 


"  Here  lies  the  body  of  James  Walker,  aged  73,  died  in  the  year  1691, 
Feb.  the  15th." 

"  Here  lieth  ye  body  of  James  Walker,  aged  72  years,  and  died  June 
ye  22, 1718." 

"  In  memory  of  Bathsheba,  wife  of  James  Walker,  died  Feb.  ye  24, 
1738,  in  ye  85th  year  of  her  age." 

"  In  memory  of  Mr.  Peter  Walker,  who  deceased  Jan'y  ye  25,  a.d. 
1770,  in  ye  81st  year  of  his  age." 

"In  memory  of  Sarah,  ye  wife  of  Mr.  Peter  Walker,  who  died  Nov. 
ye  22,  1760,  in  ye  72d  year  of  her  age." 

"  Here  lies  the  body  of  Peter  Walker,  aged  60,  died  in  the  year  1711, 
April  4th." 

"  Here  lieth  ye  body  of  Hannah  Walker,  the  wife  of  Peter  Walker, 
aged  44  years,  died  Jan.  15,  1704." 

"  Here  lies  the  body  of  Joseph  Atwood,  aged  47,  died  in  the  year  169f, 
Feb.  12." 

"Here  lieth  the  body  of  Esther  Atwood,  the  wife  of  Joseph  Atwood, 
aged  46  years,  died  in  the  year  1696,  in  April  ye  8th." 

"  Here  lies  the  body  of  Nathaniel  French,  aged  73,  died  June  the  14th, 
in  the  year  1711." 

"Here  lieth  the  body  of  Mary,  the  wife  of  Nathaniel  French,  died 
May  the  18, 1731,  in  the  73d  year  of  her  age." 

"  In  memory  of  Corneljus  White,  who  died  Apl.  ye  18,1754,  in  ye  79th 
;    year  of  his  age." 

"In  memory  of  Mrs.  Mehitabel  White,  wife  of  Mr.  Cornelius  White, 
who  died  Apl.  ye  13, 1759,  in  ye  74th  year  of  her  age." 

"  In  memory  of  Mr.  Edward  Blake,  who  died  July  25,  a.d.  1759,  in  ye 
70th  year  of  his  age." 

"  In  memory  of  Ann,  widow  of  Mr.  Edward  Blake,  who  died  Nov.  ye 
21, 1790,  in  ye  93d  year  of  her  age." 

"  In  memory  of  Mr.  Thomas  Baylies,  who  died  Mch.  5,  1756,  aged 
about  69  years." 

"  In  memory  of  Esther,  ye  wife  of  Thomas  Baylies,  who  died  May  7, 
1754,  in  ye  67th  year  of  her  age." 

"  In  memory  of  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Baylies,  wife  of  Mr.  Nicholas  Baylies, 
who  died  Feb.  ye  8,  1791,  in  ye  75th  year  of  her  age. 
"  The  best  of  wives 
And  the  best  of  mothers." 

The  Cooper  burying-ground,  half  a  mile  south  of 
the  Weir,  on  Berkley  Street.  Some  of  the  earlier  in- 
scriptions : 

"Here  lies  ye  body  of  Capt.  Nathaniel  Gilbert,  who  died  Aug.  17,1765, 
in  ye  83d  year  of  his  age." 

"In  memory  of  Mrs.  Hannah,  widow  of  Capt.  Nathaniel  Gilbert,  who 
died  Jan'y  ye  28th,  1772,  in  ye  82d  year  of  her  age." 
"  O  the  frailty  of  man. 

"Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Capt.  Samuel  Gilbert,  who  died  Aug.  7, 
1796,  in  the  73d  year  of  his  age." 

"  In  memory  of  Elizabeth,  ye  wife  of  James  Cooper,  died  Jan.  ye  5th, 
1750,  in  ye  39th  year  of  her  age." 

"  In  memory  of  Mrs.  Lydia,  wife  of  Capt.  James  Cooper,  who  died 
June  11, 1793,  aged  57  years." 

"In  memory  of  Lieut.  Israel  Tisdale,  who  died  Octo.  ye  27,  1769,  in 
ye  62d  year  of  his  age." 

"  In  memory  of  Mr.  John  Hart,  who  died  May  ye  20, 1757,  in  ye  30th 
year  of  his  age." 

"  In  memory  of  Mrs.  Hannah  Hart,  ye  wife  of  Mr.  James  Hart.  She 
died  April  ye  25th,  1776,  in  ye  45th  year  of  her  age." 

Burying-ground  on  Somerset  Avenue  near  Sandy 
Hill : 

"  In  memory  of  Mr.  James  Ingel,  who  died  Sept.  21, 1762,  in  ye  33d 
year  of  his  age." 

"  In  memory  of  Mr.  Abuer  Harris,  who  died  May  ye  19, 1756,  in  ye  46th 
year  of  his  age." 

"  In  memory  of  Doct.  Micah  Pratt,  died  Dec.  ye  31st,  a.d.  1758,  in  ye 
67th  year  of  his  age." 

"In  memory  of  Marey,  ye  wife  of  Doct.  Micah  Pratt,  died  April  ye 
26,  a.d.  1762,  in  ye  80th  year  of  her  age." 

"  Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Mrs.  Sarah,  widow  of  Doct.  Micah  Pratt. 
She  died  Jan.  26,  1805,  in  the  83d  year  of  her  age." 

"In  memory  of  Doct.  Micah  Pratt,  died  Octo.  ye  5,  a.d,  1765,  in  ye 
44th  year  of  his  age." 


TAUNTON. 


783 


The  old  Episcopal  Church  burying-ground  on  the 
Providence  Old  Eoad,  two  miles  west  of  the  Green  : 

"  In  memory  of  Ins"  Nathaniel  Burt,  who  died  Nov.  ye  12,  1765,  in  ye 
74th  year  of  his  age.  '  He  was  one  of  ye  first  erectors  of  ye  Church  of 
St.  Thomas  in  Taunton. '" 

"  In  memory  of  Mis.  Constance  Burt,  who  died  Nov.  24,  1777,  in  ye  82d 
year  of  her  age.     Widow  of  Mr.  Nathaniel  Burt." 

"  In  memory  of  Mr.  Peter  Walker,  who  died  Aug.  ye  G,  1767,  in  the 
58th  year  of  his  age." 

"  In  memory  of  Lieut.  Samuel  Andrews,  who  died  Feb.  ye  5th,  1799, 
in  ye  71st  year  of  li  is  age." 

"  In  memory  of  Mr.  Thomas  Burt,  who  died  Jan.  3d,  1801,  in  ye  81st 
year  of  his  age." 

"  In  memory  of  Capt.  Richard  Cohh,  who  died  Nov.  ye  8, 1772,  in  ye 
56th  year  of  his  age." 

"In  memory  of  Mr.  Benjamin  Crossman,  who  died  May  ye  24th,  1792, 
in  ye  85th  year  of  his  age." 

"  In  memory  of  Mrs.  Bethiah,  wife  of  Mr.  Benjamin  Crossman,  who 
died  Aug.  ye  26th  1786,  in  ye  67th  year  of  her  age." 

The  Oakland  Cemetery  on  Glebe  Street: 

"  In  memory  of  Loved  Tisdale,  who  died  May  19,  1755,  aged  47 
years." 

"In  memory  of  Abigail,  ye  wife  of  Loved  Tisdale,  died  Octo.  ye  31, 
1748,  in  ye  36  year  of  her  age." 

"In  memory  of  Ebenezer  Porter,  aged  39  years  &  3  months,  died 
March  26,  17.41." 

"  Here  lies  the  body  of  Samuel  Haskins,  2d,  died  Sept.  11, 1732,  in  the 
53d  year  of  his  age." 

"In  memory  of  Lieut.  Henry  Hodges,  who  died  Sept.  ye  18,  1755,  in 
the  70th  year  of  his  age." 

"  Here  lies  the  body  of  William  Briggs,  1st,  died  Jan.  3, 1728,  in  the 
83d  year  of  his  age." 

"  Here  lies  the  body  of  Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  William  Briggs,  Cooper, 
died  Nov.  27,  1729,  in  ye  59th  year  of  her  age." 

"  Here  lies  the  body  of  William  Briggs,  2d,  died  Feb.  20,  1731,  in  the 
54th  year  of  his  age." 

"  Here  lies  the  body  of  Mehitebell,  the  wife  of  William  Briggs  ye  2d, 
died  Octo.  ye  17,  1732,  in  the  62d  year  of  her  age." 

"In  memory  of  Lieut.  Nathaniel  Briggs,  who  died  Aug.  14, 1775,  in 
the  75th  year  of  his  age." 

"In  memory  of  Judath,  ye  wife  of  Nathaniel  Briggs,  who  died  Nov. 
22,  1774,  in  the  77th  year  of  her  age." 

"  In  memory  of  Mr.  Nathaniel  Ogden,  A.B.,  of  Fairfield,  New  Jersey, 
Preacher  of  the  Gospel,  who  died  July  11, 1796,  iE.  28.  He  had  preached 
only  seven  Lord's  days,  when  our  high  expectations  of  his  future  useful- 
ness were  suddenly  blasted. 

" '  When  friends  do  part,  or  where  their  ashes  fall, 
It  matters  not,  to  die  in  Christ  is  all.'  " 

"  In  memory  of  Mary,  wife  of  Nathaniel  Shores,  died  Dec.  20, 1753,  in 
the  74th  year  of  her  age." 

"In  memory  of  Mr.  David  Stacy,  who  died  Octo.  22, 1790,  in  the  76th 
year  of  his  age." 

"In  memory  of  Lucy,  wife  of  David  Stacy,  died  Aug  17,  1762,  in  the 
35th  year  of  her  age." 

"In  memory  of  Mrs.  Jean  Cobb,  relict  of  Mr.  John  Cobb,  deceased 
March  ye  19,  1736,  in  ye  85th  year  of  her  age.'" 

"  In  memory  of  Ensn.  Morgan  Cobb,  died  Sept.  30,  1755,  in  the  82d 
year  of  his  age." 

"  In  memory  of  Abigail,  wife  of  Ensn.  Morgan  Cobb,  died  Jan.  30, 
1765,  in  the  81st  year  of  her  age." 

"  In  memory  of  Mr.  Thomas  Burt,  who  died  March  ye  29,1774,  in  ye 
85th  year  of  his  age." 

"  In  memory  of  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Burt,  wife  of  Mr.  Thomas  Burt,  died 
July  ye  15th,  a.d.  1772,  in  ye  70th  year  of  her  age." 

"  In  memory  of  Dea.  Daniel  Wilde,  who  died  Aug.  11, 1792,  in  ye  74th 
year  of  his  age." 

"  Iu  memory  of  Mrs.  Sarah,  wife  of  Mr.  Daniel  Wilde.  She  died  Feb. 
24, 1777,  aged  42." 

"  In  memory  of  Mrs.  Auna,  widow  of  Deacon  Daniel  Wilde,  who  died 
Sept.  23, 1794,  in  the  64th  year  of  her  age." 

"  In  memory  of  Ensign  Ebenezer  Willis,  who  died  May  ye  30, 1790,  in 
ye  68th  year  of  his  age." 

"In  memory  of  Abigail,  wife  of  William  Briggs,  who  died  Sept.  2, 
1775,  in  the  71st  year  of  her  age." 


"In  memory  of  John  Reed,  who  was  born  March  29, 1752,  and  died 
Feb.  24, 1841, the  son  of  John  Reed,  who  was  born  in  1722,and  died  Dec. 
1788.  the  son  of  William  Reed,  who  died  about  1734,  the  son  of  John 
Reed,  who  was  born  in  1648  or  1649,  came  to  this  town  about  1680,  and 
died  in  Dighton  Jan.  13,  1720-1,  probably  the  son  of  William  Reade,  who 
was  an  inhabitant  of  Weymouth  in  1636." 

"In  memory  of  Mrs.  Mary,  relict  of  John  Reed,  Esq.,  died  Oct.  12. 
1843,  aged  91  years. 

From  an  old  burying-ground,  called  the  Walker 
burying-ground,  in  the  west  part  of  the  town,  the 
following  are  taken  : 

"Col.  Elnathan  Walker,  died  June  the  6th,  a.d.  1775,  in  the  69th  year 
of  his  age." 

"Bethiah  Walker,  the  wife  of  Capt.  Elnathan  Walker,  died  May  11, 
A.i).  1759,  in  the  49th  year  of  her  age." 

"  Eliakim  Walker,  died  Feb.  21,  a.d.  1785,  in  the  81st  year  of  his  age." 

"Mary,  wife  of  Eliakim  Walker,  died  Dec.  a.d.  1785,  in  the  79th  year 
of  her  age." 

The  two  following  are  from  a  burying-ground  half 
a  mile  northeast  of  the  almshouse: 

"  In  memory  of  Deacon  Samuel  Sumner,  who  departed  this  life  July 
ye  26,  a.d.  1671,  in  ye  64th  year  of  his  age. 

"  '  Blessed  are  ye  dead  that  die  in  ye  Lord.'  " 

"  In  memory  of  Rebecca  Staples,  died  Jan.  7, 1809,  aged  89  years.>3 
months,  and  4  days,  widow  of  Mr.  Seth  Staples." 

From  the  burying-ground  north  of  Prospect  Hill : 

"  In  memory  of  Mrs  Hepzibah,  wife  of  Mr.  Solomon  Wetherell.  She 
died  April  ye  1,  17S2,  in  ye  34th  year  of  her  age." 

"  In  memory  of  Mrs.  Rhoda  White,  wife  of  Mr.  Elijah  White,  who 
died  July  ye  17,  a.d.  1787,  in  ye  46  year  of  her  age." 

From  the  "  Richmond  Town"  burying-ground  : 

"  Hear  lies  interred  the  remains  of  Deacon  Edward  Richmond,  who 
departed  this  life  Feb.  16,  1771,  in  ye  75th  year  of  his  age." 

"  In  memory  of  Mr.  Edward  Richmond,  who  died  October  14,  1802,  in 
his  79th  year." 

"  In  memory  of  Mr.  Eleazer  Richmond,  who  died  Feb.  27,1802,  in  his 
66th  year." 

"In  memory  of  Mr.  Isaac  Richmond,  who  died  Dec.  ye  16,  a.d.  1784, 
in  ye  49th  year  of  his  age." 

"  In  memory  of  Mr.  Simeon  Richmond,  son  of  Mr.  Seth  Richmond. 
He  died  Nov.  7,  1793,  in  ye  23d  year  of  his  age." 

From  the  Caswell  Street  burying-ground,  East 
Taunton : 

"  In  memory  of  Mr.  Samuel  Wilbore,  who  died  March  21,  1773,  in  ye 
year  of  his  age." 

"  In  memory  of  Mrs.  Damaris,  wife  of  Mr.  Samuel  Wilbore,  who  died 
March  25, 1773,  in  ye  71st  year  of  her  age." 

"  In  memory  of  Mr.  Samuel  Wilbore,  who  died  June  29,  1774,  in  ye 
60th  year  of  his  age." 

"  Here  lies  the  body  of  James  Washburn,  died  the  4th  day  of  August, 
the  44th  year  of  his  age,  1741." 

"In  memory  of  Ensign  Jonathan  King,  who  died  March  ye  15th, 
1754,  in  the  42d  year  of  his  age." 

"  Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Mrs.  Bethsheba,  wife  of  Capt.  Jonah  King. 
She  died  Apl.  15,  a.d.  1780,  in  ye  35th  year  of  her  age." 

• 

From  the  Pine  Hill  Cemetery  in  East  Taunton  : 

"  In  memory  of  Lieut.  Israel  Dean,  who  deceased  March  23,  1760,  in 
ye  76th  year  of  his  age." 

"In  memory  of  Mrs.  Ruth  Dean,  ye  widow  of  Lieut.  Israel  Dean,  who 
died  April  ye  18, 1769,  in  ye  80th  year  of  her  age." 
■'  Memento  mortis. 

"In  memory  of  Lieut.  Noah  Dean,  who  departed  this  life  Aug.  24, 
a.d.  1794,  in  the  64th  year  of  his  age." 

"  In  memory  of  Capt.  Ebenezer  Dean.  He  died  Jan.  30,  1774,  in  ye 
72d  year  of  his  age." 

"  Here  lies  the  body  of  Mrs.  Rachel  Dean,  the  wife  of  Capt.  Ebenezer 
Dean,  who  deceased  Mch.  31,  1768,  in  ye  63d  year  of  her  age." 


784 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


"In  memory  of  Mrs.  Prudence,  wife-of  Capt.  Ebenezer  Dean,  who 
died  March  10, 1787,  in  ye  55th  year  of  her  age." 

"  In  memory  of  Mrs.  Sarah,  wife  of  Col.  George  Williams.  She  died 
Nov.  26,  a.d.  1797,  in  the  83d  year  of  her  age." 

"  In  memory  of  Capt.  Ephraim  Dean,  who  died  in  Gloucester  June 
23d,  1775,  in  the  75th  year  of  his  age." 

"  In  memory  of  Mrs.  Mary  Dean,  the  wife  of  Capt.  Ephraim  Dean, 
who  died  Octo.  ye  8, 1766,  in  ye  67th  year  of  her  age." 

"  In  memory  of  Mrs.  Martha  Dean,  the  wife  of  Capt.  Ephraim  Dean, 
she  died  May  ye  9,  1775,  in  the  72d  year  of  her  age." 

"In  memory  of  Mrs.  Abigail,  widow  of  Geo.  Godfrey,  Esq.,  and  form- 
erly wife  of  Mr.  Philip  Dean,  she  died  Jany  23d,  1820,  aged  84  years." 

"In  memory  of  Mr.  Abigail  Macomber,  who  died  Aug.  15, 1793,  in  ye 
71st  year  of  her  age.     This  was  the  wife  of  Mr.  John  Macomber." 

"In  memory  of  Lieut.  Joshua  Dean.  He  died  June  ye  10,  1772,  in  ye 
45th  year  of  his  age." 

"In  memory  of  Mrs.  Abigail,  wWw  of  Lreut.  Joshua  Dean,  who  died 
May  ye  20, 1800,  in  ye  72d  year  of  her  age." 

"  In  memory  of  Lieut.  Israel  Dean,  who  died  July  23, 1775,  in  ye  55th 
year  of  his  age." 

"  In  memory  of  Mrs.  Abiah  Dean,  wife  of  Mr.  Israel  Dean,  who  died 
Mch.  ye  1,  17.">0,  in  ye  25th  year  of  her  age." 

"In  memory  of  Mr.  Joshua  Deane,  who  died  Aug.  ye  27, 1773,  in  ye 
58th  year  of  his  age." 

"In  memory  of  Mrs.  Until  Macomber,  the  wife  of  Mr.  James  Macom- 
ber, who  deceased  Octo.  ye  10,  1770,  aged  42  years  &  11  months." 

"  In  memory  of  Miss  Silence  Richmond,  who  died  Sept.  18, 1790,  in 
her  31st  year." 

"Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Deacon  Benj.  Deane,  who  departed  this 
life  Apl.  14,  1799,  in  the  74th  year  of  his  age." 

"  In  memory  of  Mr.  Benjamin  Deane  who  died  Jan.  6, 1785,  in  ye  86th 
year  of  his  age." 

"In  memory  of  Mrs.  Ziporah,  wife  of  Mr.  Benj.  Dean,  who  died  Sept. 
27, 1778,  in  ye  75th  year  of  her  age." 

From  the  ancient  burying-ground  on  Staples  Street, 
in  the  easterly  part  of  the  town  : 

"Eliphalet  Williams,  1778  (footstone).      In  memory  of  Mr.  Samuel 
Williams,  who  died  Sept.  ye  7,  a.d.  1777,  in  ye  72d  year  of  his  age. 
"Waiting  the  resurrection  of  the  just." 

"  In  memory  of  Mr.  Abiel  Haskius  who  died  June  16,  1788,  in  ye  74th 
year  of  his  age." 

"Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Mr.  Stephen  Haskius  who  departed  this 
life  Dec.  20,  1799,  in  ye  59th  year  of  his  age." 

"  In  memory  of  Mrs.  Phebe,  wife  of  Mr.  Stephen  Haskins,  who  died 
May  ye  29th,  1787,  in  ye  37th  year  of  her  age." 

"Sarah,  daughter  of  Elijah  &  Sarah  Macomber,  and  relict  of  Joseph 
Atwood,  died  Octo.  30, 1867,  aged  104  years,  2  months  and  13  days." 

"  In  memory  of  Mr.  Jude  Hoar,  died  Feb'y  the  26th  day,  1761."  (No 
age.) 

"Samuel  Hoarde,  deceased,  Feb.  the  13th  day,  year  1746."     (No  age.) 

"  Samuel  Hoard,  Jr.,  April  5th  day,  year  1736."    (No  age.) 

"  Jacob  Hoar,  deceased,  March  24th  day,  year  1736."     (No  age.) 

"Sarah  Hoarde,  deceased,  Jan'y  13th  day,  year  1753."     (No  age.) 

"  Jacob  Hoar,  died  1756."     (No  more.) 

"  Elizabeth  Hoard,  died  Feb.  2  day,  1766."     (No  more.) 

"In  memory  of  Dea.  William  Hoard,  who  died  April  25,  1795,  aged 
73  years,  3  mos.,  &  14  days." 

"In  memory  of  Mrs.  Sarah  Hoar,  died  Nov.  15  day,  1774,  aged  47 
years,  11  mos.,  &  14  days." 

"  Nehemiah  Hoar,  died  1765."     (No  more.) 

"  Rebekah  Hoar,  deceased,  July  the  12  day,  1765."     (No  more.) 

"  In  memory  of  Dea.  Nathaniel  Macomber,  who  died  Nov.  10,  1787,  in 
ye  79th  year  of  his  age.    '  Blessed  are  the  dead  who  die  in  the  Lord."' 

"In  memory  of  Priscilla,  widow  of  Dea.  Nathaniel  Macomber.  She 
died  Oct.  30,  1793,  in  ye  84th  year  of  her  age." 

"In  memory  of  Mr.  John  Macomber,  who  died  Dec  ye  14, 1747,  in  ye 
67th  year  of  his  age." 

"In  memory  of  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Macomber,  wife  of  Mr.  John  Macom- 
ber, who  died  May  ye  2,  1732,  in  the  47th  year  of  her  age." 

"  In  memory  of  Mrs.  Esther  South  worth,  wife  of  Capt.  Ichabod  South- 
worth.     She  died  Feb.,  1760,  in  ye  82d  year  of  her  age." 

"  In  memory  of  Nathaniel  Staple,  who  deceased  Feb.  ye  26,  1769,  in 
ye  84th  year  of  his  age." 

"  In  memory  of  Macy,  ye  wife  of  Nathaniel  Staple,  who  deceased  Sept. 
ye  8,  1757,  in  ye  68th  year  of  her  age." 


"  In  memory  of  Hannah  Haskins,  died  Feb.  17,  1745."     (All.) 

"In  memory  of  Mrs.  Christian,  wife  of  Mr.  Samuel  Richmond,  who 
died  Feb.  ye  7th,  1784,  in  ye  58th  year  of  her  age." 

"  In  memory  of  Mr.  Samuel  Richmond,  who  died  March  10,  1790,  in 
ye  70th  year  of  his  age." 

"Thankful  Richmond,  wife  of  Samuel  Richmond,  died  Oct.  the  20th, 
1758,  in  the  37th  year  of  her  age." 

"  Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Lieut.  Josiah  Macomber,  who  departed  this 
life  Nov.  18,  a.d.  1801,  in  ye  91st  year  of  his  age." 

"In  memory  of  Mrs.  Ruth,  wife  of  Lieut.  Josiah  Macomber,  died 
Sept.  19,  1791,  in  the  81st  year  of  her  age." 

"  In  memory  of  Mrs.  Judith  Macomber,  wife  of  Mr.  Elijah  Macomber, 
who  died  Oct.  ye  1st,  1745,  in  ye  23d  year  of  her  age." 

The  Plain,  or,  as  it  is  now  mostly  called,  the  North 
burying-ground,  was  given  to  the  town  by  the  pro- 
prietors in  1748,  as  the  following  votes  show  : 

"  At  a  meeting  of  Proprietors,  20th  June,  1748, 
Voted,  To  ye  inhabitants  of  ye  old  township  of  Taun- 
ton, ten  acres  of  land,  etc.,  for  a  Burying-place  where 
Samuel  Danforth  is  buried. 

"  2d,  Voted,  That  John  Godfrey,  Esq.,  Capt.  James 
Leonard,  and  Capt.  Morgan  Cobb  be  a  committee  to 
lay  it  out." 

After  the  laying  out  of  this  ground  most  of  the 
burials  from  the  central  portion  of  the  to'wn  were 
made  there,  and  it  has  continued  to  be  used  until 
within  a  few  years,  when  it  became  so  crowded  that. 
a  large  tract  of  land  at  Mayflower  Hill  was  pur- 
chased and  laid  out  as  a  public  cemetery.  The  oldest 
inscription  found  in  the  North  burying-ground  is  the 
following: 

"In  memory  of  Hannah,  ye  wife  of  Capt'.  James  Leonard,  who  died 
Aug.  ye  2,  1725,  in  ye  60th  year  of  her  age." 

Rev.  Samuel  Danforth  died  in  1727,  and  was  there 
buried.  The  remains  of  Elizabeth  Pool  were  re- 
moved there  In  1771,  as  already  narrated.  Rev. 
Josiah  Crocker  and  Rev.  Chester  Isham  were  buried 
there.  The  families  of  Leonard,  Fales,  Padelford, 
Crocker,  and  others  who  were  distinguished  in  public 
affairs  the  latter  part  of  the  last  and  the  early  part 
of  the  present  centuries  rest  there.  As  it  is  so  near 
the  centre  of  the  town,  and  so  well  cared  for  by  the 
public  authorities,  there  is  not  the  same  need  of  copy- 
ing the  inscriptions  as  in  the  case  of  the  older  and 
more  distant  burying-grounds,  besides  the  graves 
are  so  numerous  that  it  would  be  impracticable.  A 
few  only  are  selected,  as  follows  : 

"Here  lies  ye  body  of  Samuel  Caswell,  M.D.,  who  died  Aug.  ye  13th, 
1755,  AE  Tolis  Sue  35. 

"In^eventeen  Hundred  aud  Fifty-Five, 
Relentless  Death  Did  us  Deprive 
of  a  very  Useful  Life 
to  Neighbor,  Friend,  to  child  and  wife, 
He  safely  Did  Administer 
As  a  Physician, 

Consulting  more  his  patient's  health 
Than  all  extorted  gain. 
We  that  do  love  his  memory 
Would  like  him  live,  y»  when  we  die 
We  may  enjoy  felicity." 
"  Here  lies  ye  body  of  Mrs.  Elizabeth   McKinstry,  basely  murthered, 
by  a  negro  boy  June  ye  4,  1763,  aged  28. 

"  Watch,  for  ye  know  not  the  manner  uorthe  moment  of  your  death." 
"Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Mrs.   Elizabeth,  relict   of  the   late  Rev. 
Samuel  Hopkins,  D.D.,  of  Newport,  R.  I.,  who  died  April  9,  1814,  aged 
75. 


TAUNTON. 


785 


"  Her  soul  was  charged  with  pleasing  hope, 
Those  hopes  hy  God  were  given, 
And  though  her  body  sleeps  in  dust, 
Her  soul  ascends  to  heaven." 

The  last  mentioned  was  the  last  wife  of  the  cele- 
brated Rev.  Dr.  Hopkins,  founder  of  the  school  of 
theology  bearing  his  name.  . 

In  the  list  of  burying-grounds  thus  far  noticed 
those  opened  since  1800  are  not  included.  They  are 
as  follows:  The  Westville  burying-ground,  the 
Mount  Pleasant  Cemetery,  the  cemetery  at  the  Weir, 
in  the  rear  of  Plain  Street,  Mayflower  Hill  Ceme- 
tery, the  Catholic  cemeteries,  and  probably  some 
others  in  private  grounds.  It  is  not  proposed  to 
notice  them  further. 


LIST   OF  OFFICERS— 1638-1691. 

1638. — John  Strong,  constable. 

1639. —  William  Pool,  John  Gilbert,  Henry  Andrews,  deputies;  John 
Strong,  constable. 

1640. — Edward  Case,  Walter  Deane,  deputies;  John  Deane,  constable. 

1641. — William  Pool,  John  Strong,  deputies;  William  Parker,  constable. 

1642. — John  Strong,  John  Parker,  deputies;  William  Parker,  constable. 

1643. — Henry  Andrews,  John  Strong  deputies;  William  Parker,  con- 
stable. 

1644. — William  Pool,  deputy  ;  James  Wyatt,  constable  and  surveyor. 

1645. — William  Parker,  Richard  Williams,  deputies;  George  Hall,  con- 
stable :  James  Burt,  surveyor. 

1646. — Richard  Williams,  deputy;  Oliver  Purchase,  constable;  James 
Wyatt,  excise  officer. 

1647. — Henry  Andrews,  Edward  Case,  deputies;  Oliver  Purchase,  con- 
stable; Edward  Slocomb,  Edward  Rew,  surveyors;  James  Wyatt, 
excise  officer. 

164S. — Richard  Williams,  Edward  Case,  deputies;  Thomas  Gilbert,  con- 
stable ;  John  Deane,  Richard  Stacy,  surveyors;  James  Wyatt,  ex- 
cise officer. 

1649. — Henry  Andrews,  Edward  Case,  deputies;  Thomas  Gilbert,  con- 
stable; James  Wyatt,  George  Macey,  surveyors. 

1650. — Richard  Williams,  Oliver  Purchase,  deputies;  George  Macey, 
consiable;  Thomas  Lincoln,  Edward  Case,  survivors. 

1651. — Oliver  Purchase,  Richard  Williams,  deputies;  William  Hodges, 
constable  ;  Hezekiah  Hoar,  John  Gallop,  surveyors. 

1652. — Thomas  Gilbert,  James  Wyatt,  deputies;  James  Walker,  consta- 
ble; Richard  PauT,  Clement  May  field,  surveyors 

1653. — James  Wyatt,  Richard  Williams,  deputies;  William  Parker,  con- 
stable; John  Cobb,  William  Phillips,  surveyors. 

1654. — Richard  Williams,  James  Walker,  deputies;  John  Deane,  consta- 
ble ;  Anthony  Slocum,  James  Burt,  surveyors. 

1655. — James  Wyatt,  Richard  Williams,  deputies;  John  Tisdall,  consta- 
ble ;  George  Macey,  Francis  Smith,  surveyors. 

1656. — James  Wyatt,  Richard  Williams,  deputies;  Francis  Smith,  con- 
stable ;  Henry  Andrews,  Robert  Thornton,  surveyors. 
.1657. — James  Wyatt,  Richard  Williams,  deputies;  Hezekiah  Hoar,  con- 
stable; Richard  Stacy,  Jonas  Austin,  surveyors. 

1658. — William  Parker,  James  Walker,  deputies;  Peter  Pitts,  consta- 
ble; John  Cobb,  Richard  Burt,  surveyors. 

1659. — Richard  Williams,  James  Walker,  deputies;  John  Tisdall,  con- 
stable. 

1660. — James  Wyatt,  James  Walker,  deputies ;  Heury  Andrews,  con- 
stable. 

1661. — James  Wyatt,  James  Walker,  deputies;  William  Harvey,  con- 
stable. 

1662. — James  Wyatt,  James  Walker,  deputies;  William  Witherell,  con- 
stable ;  Anthony  Slocum,  William  Harvey,  surveyors. 

1663. — Janus  Wyatt,  deputy  (one  deputy  was  returned  back);  Hezekiah 
Hoar,  constable  ;  James  Leonard,  Samuel  Smith,  surveyors. 

1664. — William  Harvey,  Richard  Williams,  deputies  ;  Francis  Smith, 
constable  ;  James  Walker,  Francis  Smith,  excise  officers. 

1665. — Richard  Williams,  William  Harvey,  deputies;  Joseph  Wilbore, 
constable. 

1666.— George  Hall,  Richard  Williams,  Walter  Deane,  James,  Walker, 
William  Harvey,  selectmen  ;  James  Walker,  William  Harvey,  dep. 

50 


"ties;  John   Hall,  constable;   John  Cobb,   Samuel    Williams,  sur- 
veyors. 
1667.— George  Hal],  Walter  Deane,  James  Walker,  Richard  Williams, 
William    Harvey,    selectmen  ;    William    Harvey,    James   Walker, 
deputies;  Richard  Burt,  constable. 
1668.— George  Hall,  Richard  Williams,  Walter  Deane,  William  Harvey, 
James  Walker,  selectmen  ;  James  Walker,  William  Harvey,  deputies ; 
Samuel  Smith,  constable;  George  Macey,  Peter  Pitts,  surveyors. 
1669.— George  Hall,   Walter  Deane,  William    Harvey,  James  Walker, 
Richard  Williams,  selectmen ;  William  Harvey,  James  Walker,  dep- 
uties; Israel   Deane,  constable;    Edward   Rew,  James  Leonard,  Jr., 
survey  ors. 

1670.— William  Harvey,  James  Walker,  selectmen.  (No  other  names 
given  in  the  record  ;  probably  an  omission  in  the  record.)  William 
Harvey,  James  Walker,  deputies;  Nathaniel  Williams,  constable. 
(No  surveyors  named). 

1671.— George  Macey,  Richard  Williams,  Walter  Deane,  James  Walker, 
William  Harvey,  selectmen ;  William  Harvey,  William  Witherell, 
deputies;  Joseph  Wilbore,  consiable;  John  Maycomber,  Encrease 
Robinson,  surveyors. 

1672.— George  Macey,  Richard  Williams,  Walter  Deane,  John  Tisdall, 
Sr.,  William  Harvey,  selectmen  ;  William  Harvey,  George  Macey, 
deputies;  Richard  Stevens,  Hezekiah  Hoar,  constables;  James 
Walker,  Thomas  Leonard,  surveyors. 

1673. — Walter  Deane,  Richard  Williams,  George  Macey,  William  Har- 
vey, John  Tisdall,  selectmen  ;  William  Harvey,  George  Macey,  dep- 
uties; Aaron  Knapp,  Sr.,  John  Deane,  constables;  John  Cobb,  Jo- 
seph Wilbore,  surveyors. 

1674. — Walter  Deane,  George  Macey,  Richard  Williams,  William  Harvey, 
John  Tisdall,  selectmen;  George  Macey,  John  Tisdall,  deputies; 
John  Richmond,  Shadrach  Wilbore, constables;  Edward  Rew, Israel 
Deane,  surveyors. 

1675. — Richard  Williams,  Walter  Deane,  William  Harvey,  George  Macey, 
John  Tisdall,  Sr.,  selectmen;  George  Macey,  William  Harvey,  depu- 
ties; James  Tisdall,  Thomas  Deane,  constables;  John  Turner,  John 
Bryant,  surveyors. 

1676. — Richard  Williams,  Walter  Deane,  George  Macey,  William  Harvey, 
Samuel  Smith,  selectmen;  George  Macey,  William  Harvey,  depu- 
ties; John  Hathaway,  William  Witherell.  constables. 

1677. — George  Macey,  William  Harvey,  Richard  Williams,  Walter  Deane, 
Samuel  Smith,  selectmen;  William  Harvey,  George  Macey,  depu- 
ties; Thomas  Gilbert,  Joseph  Hall,  constables;  Thomas  Lincoln, 
Isaac  Deane,  surveyors. 

1678. — George  Macey,  William  Harvey,  Walter  Deane,  James  Walker, 
Samuel  Smith,  selectmen  ;  James  Walker,  Samuel  Smith,  deputies ; 
Samuel  Williams,  Thomas  Harvey,  Sr.,  constables;  James  Tisdall, 
James  Leonard,  Jr.,  surveyors. 

1679. — George  Macey,  William  Harvey,  Walter  Deane,  James  Walker, 
Samuel  Smith,  selectmen;  James  Walker,  Samuel  Smith,  deputies; 
Joseph  Willis,  Isaac  Deane,  constables;  Robert  Grossman,  Thomas 
Gilbert,  surveyors. 

1680. — William  Harvey,  Walter  Deane,  George  Macey,  Thomas  Leonard, 
selectmen;  John  Hathaway,  Thomas  Leonard,  deputies;  Gyles  Gil- 
bert, Thomas  Williams,  constables;  Joseph  Hall,  Joseph  Wilbore, 
surveyors. 

1081, — George  Macey,  William  Harvey,  Walter  Deane,  John  Hathaway, 
Thomas  Leonard,  selectmen;  Thomas  Leonard,  John  Hathaway, 
deputies;  Heury  Hodges,  Ezra  Deane,  constables;  Thomas  Harvey, 
Joseph  Willis,  surveyors. 

1682. — George  Matey,  Thomas  Leonard,  William  Harvey,  Walter  Deane, 
John  Hathaway,  selectmen;  John  Hathaway,  Thomas  Leonard, 
deputies  ;  John  White,  James  Walker,  Jr., constables;  Robert  Cross- 
man,  Sr.,  Samuel  Thrasher,  surveyors. 

1(383 — William  Harvey,  George  Macey,  John  Hathaway,  Thomas  Leon- 
ard, Walter  Deane,  selectmen  ;  Thomas  Leonard,  John  Hathaway, 
deputies  ;  Samuel  Hall,  Sr.,  John  Smith,  Jr.,  constables  ;  Gyles  Gil- 
bert, John  Lincoln,  surveyors. 

1684. — George  Macey,  Thomas  Leonard,  Walter  Deane,  John  Hathaway, 
Sr.,  John  Hall,  selectmen  ;  Thomas  Leonard,  John  Hathaway,  depu- 
ties; Joseph  Wilbore,  John  Hodges,  constables. 

1685. — Walter  Deane,  William  Witherell,  John  Hall,  Thomas  Leonard, 
George  Macey,  selectmen  ;  Thomas  Leonard,  William  Witherell,  Sr., 
deputies;  John  Richmond,  James  Walker,  Sr.,  constables;  John 
Bryant,  Joseph  Tisdale,  surveyors. 

1686. — George  Macey,  Thomas  Leonard,  Walter  Deane,  William  Harvey, 
John  Hall,  selectmen;  George  Macey,  Thomas  Leonard,  deputies  ; 
James  Leonard,  Joseph  Tillden,  constables. 


786 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


During  the  usurpation  of  Andros  the  Plymouth 
government  was  suspended,  and  no  record  of  officers 
is  to  be  found  during  those  years,  1687-88. 

The  names  of  Henry  Hodges  and  William  Harvey 
as  selectmen  for  both  those  years  are  ascertained  from 
the  proprietors'  records  ;  the  names  of  their  associates 
do  not  appear. 

1689.— Thomas  Leonard,  William  Harvey,  Henry  Hodges,  Nathaniel 
Williams,  James  Leonard,  Jr.,  selectmen  ;  Thomas  Leonard,  Nathan- 
iel Williams,  deputies;  Thomas  Leonard,  John  Hall,  deputies  at 
August  court. 

1690.— William  Harvey,  Thomas  Leonard,  Nathaniel  Williams,  Henry 
Hodges,  James  Leonard,  Jr.,  selectmen  ;  Thomas  Leonard,  William 
Harvey,  deputies. 

1691.— Nathaniel  Williams,  Thomas  Leonard,  James  Leonard,  John 
Hall,  Henry  Hodges,  selectmen  ;  John  Hall,  John  Hathaway,  depu- 
ties. 

LIST  OF   FREEMEN. 

William  Poole,  John  Gilhert,  Sr.,  Henry  Andrews,  John  Strong,  John 
Deane,  Walter  Deane,  Edward  Case,  William  Parker,  1637;  John 
Parker,  1641;  John  Tisdall,  1643;  William  Hollo  way,  William 
Hailstone,  Richard  Williams,  1644;  George  Hall,  1645;  Oliver  Pur- 
chase, 1646;  James  Wyatt,  1648;  James  Walker,  1650;  William 
Hodges,  Thomas  Gilbert,  1651 ;  George  Macey,  John  Bryant,  1654; 
William  Harvey,  1656;  Anthony  Slocum,  1657;  William  Witherell, 
Peter  Pitts,  Thomas  Lincoln,  1658. 

Additional  from  List  of  1670. 

Jonas  Austin,  Edward  Babbitt,  John  Bryant,  Richard  Burt,  Jonathan 
Briggs,  John  Cobb,  Israel  Deane,  Thomas  Deane,  John  Hathaway, 
John  nail,  Aaron  Knapp,  Thomas  Leonard,  James  Leonard,  Jr., 
James  Phillips,  Samuel  Phillips  (1686),  John  Pole,  Encrease  Robin- 
son, George  Shove,  Francis  Smith,  Samuel  Smith,  John  Tisdall,  Jr., 
James  Tisdall,  Samuel  Williams,  Joseph  Williams,  Nathaniel  Wil- 
liams. 

Additional  from.  List  of  1683-84. 

John  Crossman,  Robert  Grossman  (1686),  Ezra  Deane,  John  Deane  (2d), 
Joseph  Deane,  Samuel  Danforth,  Gyles  Gilbert,  Thomas  Gilbert, 
John  Hathaway,  Jr.,  Samuel  Hall,  Sr.,  Thomas  Harvey,  Sr.,  Thomas 
Harvey,  Jr.,  William  Hall,  Henry  Hodges,  Edward  Richmond 
(1691),  John  Richmond,  Nathaniel  Shove,  Uriah  Leonard  (1690), 
Richard  Stevens,  Israel  Thrasher,  Joseph  Thrasher,  Joseph  Wil- 
bore,  Shadrach  Wilbore. 

Those  who  took  the  Oath  of  Fidelity  only. 

James  Bell,  James  Burt,  Richard  Burt,  Sr.,  Thomas  Brayman,  John 
Briggs,  Thomas  Cooke,  Thomas  Caswell,  Edward  Cobb,  John  Cloy. 
Thomas  Cilton,  Robert  Crossmau,  William  Earance,  John  Gungill, 
Hezekiah  Hoar,  Jabesh  Hackett,  Timothy  Halloway,  Thomas  Joanes, 
James  Lennett,  Daniel  Mokene,  John  Maycomber,  Jeremiah  New- 
land,  Richard  Paul,  Edward  Rew,  John  Richmond,  Sr.,  Hughe 
Rocester,  William  Scadding,  Nicholas  Streete,  Francis  Streete,  Rich- 
ard Smith,  William  Shepherd,  Richard  Stacye,  Peter  Stakenbury, 
Christopher  Thrasher,  John  Turner,  Thomas  Willington,  Nicholas 
White. 


CHAPTER    LXIV. 

TAUNTON.— (Continued.) 
ECCLESIASTICAL   HISTORY.i 

"  The  clergy,"  writes  the  Hon.  F.  Baylies,  historian 
of  Plymouth  Colony,  "the  clergy  were  the  principal 
instruments  in  keeping  alive  the  spirit  and  enterprise 
of  the  English  race  in  the  wilds  of  America."  The 
first  ministers  of  New  England  were  no  mean  men. 
They  were  highly  educated,  and  their  names  are  reg- 
istered among  the  foremost  of  that  or  any  other  age. 

i  By  Rev.  S.  Hopkins  Emery. 


Taunton  claims  that  her  two  ministers,  in  the  be- 
ginning of  its  settlement,  were  inferior  to  none  of 
them.  They  rank  in  ability,  scholarly  attainments, 
and  commanding  influence  with  Wilson  and  Cotton, 
of  Boston,  Higginson  and  Williams,  of  Salem,  and 
the  Mathers  of  Dorchester  and  Cambridge. 

It  was  in  1687,  Rev.  William  Hooke  was  instru- 
mental in  gathering  a  church  in  Taunton.  Mr.  Sav- 
age calls  him  "  the  spiritual  guide  of  the  settlement." 
He  was  its  first  pastor,  having  for  an  associate  in  the 
ministry,  according  to  the  custom  of  the  times,  another 
eminent  man,  Rev.  Nicholas  Street.  The  former  was 
known  as  pastor,  the  latter  as  teacher.  Their  church, 
according  to  Thomas  Lechford,  in  a  pamphlet  pub- 
lished in  England  in  1642,  numbered  "  ten  or  twenty." 
We  have  no  Taunton  record  giving  the  exact  number 
or  names  of  members.  Mr.  Hooke,  a  native  of  South- 
ampton, England,  in  1601,  at  the  early  age  of  twenty- 
two,  proceeded  to  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts  in 
Trinity  College,  Oxford,  "  at  which  time,"  remarks 
Wood,  "  he  was  esteemed  a  close  siudent  and  a  relig- 
ious person." 

Having  preached  several  years  in  the  mother-coun- 
try, he  was  attracted  to  New  England,  and  in  both 
lands  earned  such  a  reputation  that  Cotton  Mather 
could  say  of  him,  "  He  was  a  learned,  holy,  and  hum- 
ble man."  Dr.  Trumbull  also  makes  mention  of  him 
as  a  man  ':  of  great  learning  and  piety,  possessing 
excellent  pulpit  talents."  One  of  his  sermons, 
preached  in  Taunton,  July  23,  1640,  on  a  day  ap- 
pointed by  the  churches  for  public  humiliation  in  be- 
half of  England  in  time  of  feared  danger,  was  so  well 
liked  that  it  was  printed  in  London  in  1641,  bearing 
the  title  of  "  New  England's  Tears  for  Old  England's 
Fears." 

A  second  sermon,  "  preached  upon  a  day  of  general 
humiliation  in  the  churches  of  New  England  in  the 
behalf  of  Old  England  and  Ireland's  sad  condition, 
by  William  Hooke,  minister  of  God's  Word  at  Taun- 
ton, in  New  England,"  was  printed  in  London  in 
1645.  These  sermons  were  "  intrusted  in  the  hands 
of  a  worthy  member  of  the  honorable  House  of  Com- 
mons, who  desired  they  might  be  printed  for  the  pub- 
lic good."  Such  a  publication  was  a  rare  testimonial 
from  the  House  of  Commons  to  the  merit  of  the  Taun-" 
ton  preacher.  The  report  of  his  sermons  having 
reached  New  Haven,  the  church  and  people,  who  had 
listened  to  such  a  remarkable  man  as  John  Daven- 
port, call  him  to  serve  as  Davenport's  associate  in  the 
ministry,  after  serving  the  church  in  Taunton  seven 
years.  He  had  a  successful  ministry  of  twelve  years 
in  New  Haven,  when  he  returned  to  England,  led 
thither  by  his  interest  in  the  Commonwealth,  related 
as  he  was  to  the  Protector,  of  whose  family  he  became 
a  member,  acting  as  domestic  chaplain.  His  wife, 
sister  of  Whalley,  one  of  Cromwell's  trusted  friends, 
had  preceded  him. 

Rev.  Nicholas  Street,  the  colleague  and  successor 
of  Mr.  Hooke  in  the  ministry  of  Taunton,  was  also 


TAUNTON. 


787 


his  successor  in  the  church  of  New  Haven.  This 
was  on  the  "  26th  of  the  9th,  1659."  On  the  removal 
of  Mr.  Davenport  to  Boston  as  Wilson's  successor, 
Mr.  Street  became  sole  pastor  of  the  church,  so  con- 
tinuing until  his  death,  April  22,  1674.  It  is  not 
quite  certain  who  was  Mr.  Street's  first  wife.  Mr. 
Baylies'  statement  that  it  was  the  sister  of  Elizabeth 
Pool  lacks  confirmation.  We  are  sure,  however,  that 
his  second  wife  was  the  widow  of  Governor  Newman, 
and  his  descendants  are  numerous  in  Connecticut  and 
elsewhere.  The  earliest  Taunton  ministers  were  not 
only  eminent  in  their  profession,  but  influential  in  all 
town  affairs  both  in  Taunton  and  New  Haven.  They 
were  resorted  to  for  counsel,  and  their  words  on  all 
subjects  were  weighty.  Their  churches,  of  course, 
were  of  the  prevailing  New  England  order,  and  they, 
as  dissenting  ministers,  were  the  recognized  leaders 
of  the  people. 

The  third  Taunton  minister  was  Rev.  George  Shove. 
Ordained  in  1665,  he  remained  sole  pastor  till  his 
death  in  1687.  Little  is  known  of  his  work  as  a 
minister,  but  he  was  largely  interested  in  the  secular 
as  well  as  spiritual  affairs  of  the  town,  and  his  name 
appears  as  one  of  the  proprietors  in  the  Taunton 
North  Purchase,  as  also  one  of  the  six  original  pro- 
prietors of  Assonet  Neck  in  1680.  He  was  interested 
in  schools,  and  is  credited  with  the  statement  that  in 
1685  there  were  "eighty  scholars  on  the  list  of  Taun- 
ton school,  some  of  whom  had  entered  Latin."  His 
own  son  Seth  was  one  of  these,  a  graduate  of  Cam- 
bridge, and  the  first  minister  of  Danbury,  Conn. 
Rev.  Mr.  Shove  was  thrice  married,  his  first  wife  being 
the  daughter  of  Rev.  Samuel  Newman,  the  renowned 
minister  of  Rehoboth.  He  had  ten  children,  and  his 
descendants  are  numerous  in  New  England,  many  of 
them  belonging  to  the  Society  of  Friends. 

The  fourth  minister  of  Taunton  was  an  eminent 
man,  the  Rev.  Samuel  Danforth,  son  of  Rev.  Samuel 
Danforth,  the  minister  of  Roxbury.  His  mother 
was  the  daughter  of  Rev.  John  Wilson,  pastor  of  the 
First  Church  of  Boston.  He  was  graduated  at  Har- 
vard College  in  1683,  and  married  a  daughter  of  Rev. 
James  Allen,  a  colleague  of  Rev.  John  Davenport  in 
Boston.  "  The  town  was  extremely  anxious  to  obtain 
Mr.  Danforth,"  writes  Mr.  Baylies.  Capt.  Bartholo- 
mew Tipping,  for  his  services  in  securing  him,  re- 
ceived ".ten  acres  of  land  adjoining  his  own."  He 
afterwards  sold  Mr.  Danforth  his  house  and  lot,  which 
were  not  far  from  the  bridge,  on  what  is  now  Wash- 
ington Street,  and  which  included  the  water  privilege 
where  the  cotton-mill  stands.  Mr.  Danforth,  like  his 
predecessor,  receiving  but  a  small  salary,  by  economy 
and  industry  secured  a  considerable  estate.  He  was 
a  man  of  versatile  talents,  and  could  not  only  preach 
good  sermons,  but  as  occasion  required  counsel  and 
instruct  his  parishioners  in  law  and  medicine.  He 
was  influential  in  all  civil  and  religious  matters,  not 
only  in  his  own  town  but  in  the  colony.  Hence  we 
find  him  preaching  "a  sermon  before  His  Excellency 


the  Governour,  the  Honourable  Council,  and  Repre- 
sentatives of  the  Province  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay 
in  New  England,  on  May  26,  1714,  being  the  Anni- 
versary Day  of  the  Election  of  Councellors  of  the 
said  Province,"  and  "published  by  their  order." 

The  ministry  of  Mr.  Danforth  extended  from  1687, 
the  year  of  his  ordination,  to  his  death  in  1727,  a 
period  of  forty  years.  "  He  was  peculiarly  fortunate," 
writes  one  familiar  with  the  history  of  his  time,  "  in 
retaining  the  attachment  of  his  people.  They  were 
eager  to  settle  him,  and  their  interest  in  him  con- 
tinued to  the  end."  Mr.  Danforth  was  interested  in 
the  Indians,  visited  them  often,  acquired  their  lan- 
guage, and  prepared  an  Indian  dictionary,  a  copy  of 
which  is  in  the  library  of  the  Massachusetts  Histori- 
cal Society.  Mr.  Danforth,  like  his  predecessors,  in 
the  beginning  of  his  ministry  preached  to  the  scattered 
families  of  his  flock,  gathered  in  their  own  house  of 
worship,  where  now  stands  the  beautiful  stone  church 
of  the  First  Parish,  coming  from  what  are  now  Norton, 
Dighton,  Easton,  Raynham,  Berkley,  Assonet  Neck, 
and  Mansfield.  These  separate  townships  sprung  up 
for  the  most  part  during  his  ministry,  and  no  wonder 
they  felt  the  need  of  shortening  the  distance  between 
their  homes  and  the  coveted  sanctuary  for  themselves 
and  those  who  should  come  after  them.  We  have 
seen  the  correspondence  between  the  mother-church 
and  these  several  colonies,  conducted  in  a  Christian 
spirit,  but  revealing  the  extreme  reluctance  with 
which  these  colonies  are  sent  out. 

It  was  a  church,  therefore,  weakened  by  many  re- 
movals which  called  the  fifth  minister  of  Taunton, 
Rev.  Thomas  Clapp.  His  ministry  was  shorter,  ex- 
tending only  from  1729  to  1738,  less  than  ten  years. 
Mr.  Clapp  was  a  native  of  Scituate,  son  of  John 
Clapp,  born  in  1705,  and  a  graduate  of  Harvard  Col- 
lege in  1725.  He  was  married  to  Mary,  daughter  of 
Judge  George  Leonard,  of  Norton,  in  1731.  He  was 
cousin  of  the  eminent  President  Clapp,  of  Yale  Col- 
lege. On  concluding  his  ministry  in  Taunton  the 
office  was  laid  aside,  and  returning  to  Scituate,  his 
native  place,  he  becarhe  colonel  of  the  militia,  justice 
of  the  peace,  for  many  years  a  representative  of  the 
town,  and  also  judge  of  Plymouth  Colony.  The 
manuscript  sermons  of  Mr.  Clapp,  which  I  have  seen, 
show  him  to  have  been  no  mean  preacher.  He  is  de- 
scribed by  a  contemporary  as  "social  in  his  temper, 
extremely  fond  of  company,  and  very  hospitable." 
His  house  in  Taunton  was  pleasantly  situated  on  the 
river  near  the  head  of  Dean  Street,  now  occupied  by 
Col.  Gordon. 

The  sixth  Taunton  minister  was  Rev.  Josiah 
Crocker,  a  man  of  excellent  pulpit  talent,  and  emi- 
nent as  a  preacher  in  his  time.  He  was  a  son  of  Jo- 
siah and  Desire  Crocker,  of  Yarmouth.  His  grand- 
mother was  a  daughter  of  Governor  Hinckley,  and 
sister-in-law  of  Deputy  Governor  William  Bradford, 
and  through  him  related  to  Prince  and  the  Mayhews. 
His  mother  was  a  daughter  of  Hon.  John  Thacher, 


788 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


granddaughter  of  Hon.  John  Howland,  and  great- 
granddaughter  of  Hon.  John  Carver,  the  first  Gover- 
nor of  Plymouth  Colony.  Mr.  Crocker  graduated  at 
Harvard  College  in  1738.  When  nineteen  years  of 
age  was  ordained  in  Taunton,  May  19,  1742.  His 
pastorate  continued  till  Nov.  1, 1765,  a  period  of  more 
than  three-and-twenty  years.  He  continued  to  reside 
in  Taunton,  and  was  here  buried  in  1774.  "  Of  all 
the  preachers  I  ever  heard,"  once  remarked  Deacon 
Eddy,  of  Bridgewater,  who  remembered  his  sermons, 
"none  surpassed  Mr.  Crocker  in  his  earnest  yet 
tender,  persuasive  manner."  Chief  Justice  Parsons 
made  a  similar  remark,  many  years  ago,  to  the  Hon. 
Samuel  Crocker,  of  Taunton.  The  Taunton  minister 
was  a  great  friend  of  •Whitefield  and  the  Tennents. 
Mr.  Whitefield  preached  in  his  pulpit,  and  Mr.  Bay- 
lies is  accountable  for  the  remark,  "  Many  were  dis- 
pleased with  him  for  this."  The  people  in  Taunton, 
as  elsewhere,  were  divided  concerning  what  were 
called  "  new  measures."  But  Mr.  Crocker  entered 
into  them  most  heartily,  and  would  be  called  at  the 
present  time  a  revival  preacher.  He  was  often  in- 
vited to  preach  in  neighboring  towns,  and  persons 
came  from  a  long  distance,  even  as  far  as  Plymouth, 
to  listen  to  his  sermons.  The  story  is  told  of  a  woman 
who  quieted  her  baby,  weary  from  the  long  march,  by 
shouting  "  Crocker's  ahead." 

Mr.  Crocker  was  twice  married,  and  had  seven  sons 
and  two  daughters.  Josiah,  the  eldest  son,  settled  in 
Taunton,  and  married  a  daughter  of  Hon.  Zephaniah 
Leonard.  Their  children  who  reached  adult  age 
were  Samuel  and  William  Augustus,  the  former  so 
long  known  in  Taunton  as  the  senior  member  of  the 
manufacturing  firm  of  Crocker  &  Richmond,  the 
latter  father  of  the  Crocker  Brothers,  who  have  been 
identified  with  the  copper-works  and  other  large 
manufacturing  interests  of  Taunton  for  so  many 
years. 

After  the  dismission  of  Mr.  Crocker  in  1765,  sev- 
eral ministers  occupied  the  pulpit  as  candidates  for 
settlement,  but  Rev.  Caleb  Barnum  became  the  seventh 
pastor.  He  was  a  native  of  Danbury,  Conn.  His  first 
pastorate  was  at  Wrentham,  Mass.  He  was  installed 
in  Taunton,  Feb.  2,  1769.  He  is  particularly  remem- 
bered as  the  patriotic  minister  of  Taunton,  not  only 
advocating  the  cause  of  American  independence  with 
his  fervent  appeals,  but  entering  the  Continental 
army  as  a  chaplain  and  laying  down  his  life  in  the 
service.  He  endured  great  hardships  with  exem- 
plary Christian  fortitude,  and  when  obliged  by  the 
condition  of  his  health  to  leave  for  home,  rested  on 
the  way  at  Pittsfield,  where  he  died  the  23d  day  of 
August,  1776,  in  the  fortieth  year  of  his  age.  Rev. 
Mr.  Allen,  of  Pittsfield,  who  was  with  him  in  his  last 
hours,  dwells  gratefully  on  his  "  serenity  of  mind," 
his  "  most  exemplary  patience  and  submission  to  the 
will  of  heaven."  Being  asked  his  present  views  in 
the  approach  of  death  of  the  goodness  of  the  Amer- 
ican cause,  for  which  he  was  sacrificing  his  life,  his 


reply  was  the  most  memorable  one,  "I  have  no 
doubts  concerning  the  justice  and  goodness  of  that 
cause,  and  had  I  a  thousand  lives  they  should  all  be 
willingly  laid  down  in  it." 

Mr.  Barnum  left  a  widow  and  seven  children. 
Priscilla,  who  married  a  Vickery,  was  the  mother  of 
Charles  R.  Vickery,  Esq.,  and  Mrs.  Paddock  Dean, 
of  Taunton  ;  Anna,  who  married  a  Child,  was  the 
mother  of  Mr.  George  Child,  long  a  grocer  in  Taun- 
ton, and  his  sisters  Mary  and  Jane  Child. 

The  successor  of  Mr.  Barnum  was  Rev.  Elias 
Jones,  who  came  hither  from  Halifax,  Nova  Scotia. 
His  ministry  was  very  short,  hardly  a  year.  In- 
stalled in  April,  1777,  we  find  him  leaving  in  1778. 
"  A  young  man  of  prepossessing  manners  and  ad- 
dress and  fine  talents  for  the  pulpit,"  he  nevertheless 
"  fell  into  such  error,"  we  are  informed,  as  made  the 
church  willing  to  part  with  him.  Nothing  is  known 
of  him  afterward. 

Rev.  Ephraim  Judson  was  the  ninth  minister  of  the 
parish,  a  man  of  marked  ability  and  of  wide  influence. 
He  was  a  native  of  Woodbury,  Conn.,  a  graduate  of 
Yale  College  in  1763.  His  first  settlement  was  in 
Norwich,  Conn.  His  ministry  in  Taunton  com- 
menced in  1780,  where  he  continued  ten  years. 
His  eccentricities  are  remarkable,  many  instances 
of  which  are  remembered,  but  cannot  here  be  re- 
corded. He  was  blunt,  abrupt,  fearless,  uncompro- 
mising, made  many  friends  and  some  enemies. 

The  parish  was  divided  at  the  close  of  his  ministry 
in  1790.  For  a  time  he  continued  with  a  portion  who 
removed  their  meeting  to  the  west  part  of  the  town, 
but  subsequently  settled  in  Sheffield,  Mass.,  where  he 
continued  in  the  ministry  until  his  death,  Feb.  23, 
1813,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five.  Upon  the  stone 
which  marks  the  place  of  his  burial  may  be  found 
the  inscription,  "A  learned  Divine,  an  acute  logi- 
cian, and  an  evangelical  preacher.  He  was  mild, 
courteous,  and  hospitable.  By  his  numerous  friends 
he  was  deem'd  a  wise  counsellor,  an  active  peace- 
maker, and  a  sincere  christian.  What  he  was  in 
truth  the  Great  Day  will  disclose." 

The  successor  of  Mr.  Judson  in  the  First  Parish 
was  Rev.  John  Foster,  whose  career  was  not  alto- 
gether honorable  to  the  holy  office  he  held,  whilst  his 
abilities  in  certain  directions  were  of  a  high  order. 
But  his  ministry,  which  began  in  1792,  terminated  in 
1799,  to  the  relief  of  the  people. 

His  successor  was  an  altogether  different  style  of  a 
man,  whose  memory  is  very  precious,  even  to  the 
present  time,  Rev.  John  Pipon.  He  was  a  native  of 
Boston,  and  was  graduated  at  Cambridge  College  in 
1792.  In  1799  he  came  to  Taunton  as  a  candidate, 
and  was  ordained  in  January,  1800.  President  Kirk- 
land,  then  of  Boston,  preached  the  sermon.  Hon. 
Francis  Baylies,  who  loved  him  as  a  brother,  writes 
thus  affectionately  of  him  :  "  Guile  and  envy  had  no 
place  in  his  heart.  The  increasing  thrift  and  comfort 
of  his  neighbors  were  to  him  a  source  of  constant  grat- 


TAUNTON. 


789 


ification.  The  happiness  of  others  increased  his  own. 
He  would  have  banished  want  and  woe  and  suffering 
from  the  whole  human  race."  Many  instances  are 
given  of  his  disinterested  charity.  His  name  in  all 
the  region  was  a  synonym  for  sympathy  and  good 
will  to  all.  He  never  married.  His  parish  was  his 
family  ;  he  was  wedded  to  his  flock.  A  beautiful 
tablet  on  the  interior  wall  of  the  stone  church  of  the 
First  Parish  expresses  in  its  inscription  the  high  ap- 
preciation of  this  minister  by  the  parish  : 

"  In  memory  of  Rev.  John  Pipon,  for  21  years  minister  of  this  church. 
Born  in  Boston,  ad.  1702.  Ordained  in  Taunton,  Jan.  15,  1S00.  Died 
in  Taunton,  Jan.  7, 1821,  set.  59. 

"  In  his  intercourse  with  men,  the  most  genial  humor  was  joined  with 
the  most  tender  sympathy.  His  compassion  was  unbounded,  and  all  li is 
substance  was  given  to  the  needy.  While  many  knew  in  him  a  well- 
trained  and  accurate  scholar,  all  could  see  and  admire  the  humility, 
charity,  piety,  and  self-sacrifice  of  the  faithful  pastor. 

"  To  keep  here  his  name  in  honor,  friends  who  knew  him  have  erected 
this  tablet  a.d.  1860." 

Mr.  Pipon  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Luther  Hamilton. 
Born  in  Conway  in  1798,  he  was  graduated  at  Wil- 
liams College  hi  1817,  ordained  in  Taunton  in  1821, 
and  resigned  in  1832.  His  successor  was  Rev.  An- 
drew Bigelow,  CD.,  a  native  of  Groton  in  1795,  a 
graduate  of  Cambridge  in  1814,  and  a  pastor  in  Taun- 
ton from  1833  to  1842.  On  leaving  Taunton  he 
officiated  as  minister  at  large  in  Boston.  Dr.  Bigelow 
was  a  scholarly  man,  and  quite  influential  in  his 
denomination.  He  published  several  sermons  and 
addresses,  as  also  a  book  of  "  Travels." 

Rev.  Charles  H.  Brigham  followed  Dr.  Bigelow  in 
18-14.  Like  Mr.  Pipon,  whose  ministry  he  much  ad- 
mired, he  was  a  native  of  Boston,  a  graduate  of  Cam- 
bridge, and  never  married.  He  was  also  ardently 
devoted  to  his  parish  and  parish  work.  His  attach- 
ment to  the  people  was  reciprocated,  as  the  tablet  on 
the  church  wall  opposite  Mr.  Pipon's  in  its  inscrip 
tion  shows  : 

"  In  Memoriam. 

"Kev.  Charles  Henry  Brigham,  minister  of  this  church  a.d.  1844  to 
A.D.  18G6.  Born  in  Boston,  July  27,  1820.  Ordained  in  Taunton,  March 
27,  1844.  Died  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  19,  1879.  A  scholar  of  varied 
learning,  a  citizen  of  wise  public  spirit,  a  preacher  direct  and  sincere  in 
speech,  he  rendered  eminent  service  to  letters,  education,  and  religion, 
while  by  his  sagacity,  devotion,  frankness,  and  sympathy  he  made  his 
people  his  personal  friends. 

"  The  zeal  of  his  youth  and  the  energy  of  his  manhood  were  given  to 
this  society,  and  to  honor  his  memory  as  a  teacher  and  a  man  this  tablet 
is  placed  here  a.d.  1881." 

Mr.  Brigham  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Fielder  Israel, 
whose  pastorate  extended  from  Dec.  23,  1869,  to  July 
21,  1872.     He  is  now  settled  in  Salem,  Mass. 

The  next  minister  was  Rev.  Eli  Fay,  who  entered 
upon  his  work  Feb.  26,  1873,  and  resigned  to  accept 
a  pastorate  in  Sheffield,  England,  in  October,  1876. 

The  last  pastor  was  Rev.  Frederic  Meakin,  who 
commenced  his  labors  in  1878,  September  25th,  and 
closed  them  in  September,  1882,  for  a  visit  to  Europe 
with  his  family,  where  he  proposes  remaining  for 
some  time  for  rest  and  study.  The  parish  is  at  pres- 
ent without  a  pastor. 

The  "  Church  Green,"  as  it  is  called,  is  one  of  the 


most  charming  spots  in  the  city.  It  is  the  spot  se- 
lected by  the  first  settlers  of  Taunton  for  a  church 
site.  On  this  hallowed  ground  they  first  began  to 
worship,  in  a  rude  edifice,  of  course,  in  the  begin- 
ning. When  their  meeting-house,  as  they  called  it> 
was  begun  or  finished  we  know  not,  only  this  record 
remains,  "  In  1647  the  calf  pasture  was  sold  to 
Henry  Andrews  for  building  the  meeting-house." 
This  answered  the  purpose  till  May  19,  1729.  "  This 
day  we  began  to  raise  the  meeting-house  in  Taunton," 
an  extract  from  a  paper  in  the  handwriting  of  John, 
the  father  of  Brig.-Gen.  Godfrey.  This  was  the 
second  Taunton  meeting-house,  built  by  Samuel,  the 
son  of  Richard  Williams,  with  two  galleries,  accord- 
ing to  the  custom  of  the  times.  The  third  was  built 
in  1789,  by  Mr.  Demonds,  of  Scituate,  was  a  large 
wooden  structure,  removed  to  Spring  Street,  to  make 
room  for  the  building  of  the  present  substantial  stone 
edifice,  and  was  still  occupied  for  church  purposes, 
first  by  theUniversalist  Society,  next  by  what  is  now 
the  Winslow  Church,  and  then  by  the  Free-Will 
Baptist  Church,  until  in  1867  it  was  bought  and 
taken  down  by  Mr.  Francis  Dean,  to  enlarge  his 
homestead  between  Summer  and  Spring  Streets. 

The  Congregational  Church  in  West  Taunton  — 
The  division  of  sentiment  in  the  First  Parish  at  the 
close  of  Rev.  Mr.  Judson's  ministry  in  1790  led  to  a 
separation,  all  the  church  but  three  men  and  one 
woman  leaving  the  parish,  and  worshiping  apart  first 
in  Deacon  Isaac  Tubb's  barn,  and  afterwards  in  a 
meeting-house  built  in  the  west  part  of  the  town  be- 
yond the  Episcopal  glebe,  and  not  far  from  the  Oak- 
land burial-place.  This  place  of  worship  continued 
till  1824,  when  the  present  meeting-house  in  West- 
ville  was  built  in  what  was  considered  a  more  central 
location. 

Rev.  Mr.  Judson  supplied  the  church  for  a  time, 
followed  by  temporary  supplies  from  Messrs.  Preston, 
Wines,  Farrington,  and  Ogdon.  The  last  named  died, 
and  was  buried  in  the  churchyard,  his  stone  bearing 
the  following  inscription  :  "  In  memory  of  Mr.  Nath. 
Ogdon,  A.  B.,  of  Fairfield,  N.  J.,  Preacher  of  the 
Gospel,  who  died  July  11,  1796,  aged  28.  He  had 
preached  only  seven  Lord's  Days  when  our  high  ex- 
pectations of  his  future  usefulness  were  suddenly 
blasted." 

Rev.  Samuel  W.  Colburn  was  the  first  settled  min- 
ister, his  ministry  extending  only  from  1809  to  the 
hitter  part  of  1812.  On  the  19th  of  April,  1815,  Rev. 
A  Ivan  Cobb  was  ordained  and  installed  his  successor, 
whose  pastorate  was^a  long  and  most  useful  one,  ex- 
tending to  the  period  of  his  death  in  1861,  April  2, 
nearly  forty-six  years.  He  was  contemporary  and  in- 
timately associated  with  Rev.  Orin  Fowler,  of  Fall 
River  ;  Rev.  Sylvester  Holmes,  of  New  Bedford  ;  Rev. 
Thomas  Robbins,  D.D.,  of  Mattapoisett ;  Rev.  Con- 
stantine  Blodgett,  D.D.,  of  Pawtucket;  Rev.  Thomas 
Shepard,  D.D.,  of  Bristol;  Rev.  Thomas  Andros,  of 
Berkley  ;   Rev.  Philip  Colby,  of  North   Middlebor- 


790 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


ough ;  Rev.  Erastus  Maltby,  of  Taunton ;  and  Rev. 
Enoch  Sanford,  of  Raynham,  all  of  whom  but  the 
last  have  passed  away,  and  most  of  whom  were  for 
many  years  members  of  the  Taunton  Association  of 
Ministers. 

Mr.  Cobb  was  considered  the  equal,  if  not  superior 
of  them  all  in  theological  learning  and  accurate  Bib- 
lical scholarship.  He  had  a  theological  school  in  his 
house  in  West  Taunton,  and  many  young  men,  of 
whom  Eev.  Mr.  Richmond,  his  successor  in  the  pas- 
toral office,  was  one,  received  their  theological  train- 
ing with  him.  The  great  influence  of  the  man,  not 
only  in  his  parish  but  in  other  parts  of  the  town  and 
the  adjoining  country,  well  illustrated  the  power  of  a 
permanent  ministry. 

Mr.  Cobb  wrote  considerably  for  the  press,  and  sev- 
eral of  his  sermons  were  printed.  From  a  manuscript 
historical  discourse  I  learn,  "The  first  Sabbath-school 
in  Bristol  County  was  organized  in  connection  with 
this  church  in  1816.  Several  seasons  of  unusual  re- 
ligious interest  have  been  enjoyed, — the  first  in  1815, 
when  seventeen  were  received  to  the  church.  In 
1820  there  was  a  still  larger  accession  of  thirty.  In 
1825  the  new  meeting-house  of  the  society  was  dedi- 
cated by  a  memorable  season  of  the  outpouring  of  the 
Holy  Spirit,  when  the  whole  parish  was  reached  and 
nearly  sixty  brought  into  the  church.  Rev.  A.  Net- 
tleton  was  an  honored  instrument  in  doing  great  good 
at  that  time.  In  1830-31,  a  fourth  precious  awaken- 
ing occurred ;  as  the  fruit  of  it  thirty-six  professed 
religion,  and  united  with  the  church.  In  1838-39 
there  was  a  more  limited  season  of  refreshing ;  twenty- 
six  were  added  to  the  church.  In  1840  there  was  a 
further  addition  of  six." 

Mr.  Cobb  was  twice  married,  (1)  to  Mary  Ingraham, 
of  Pawtucket,  who  died  Sept.  13,  1846;  (2)  to  Abiah 
F.  H.  Cobb,  of  Boston,  who  died  March  15,  1875. 
His  only  son,  Alvan  Emmons,  is  dead,  leaving  two 
sons,  Zenas  and  Charles,  who  live  in  Attleborough, 
and  are  engaged  in  the  jewelry  business. 

On  the  decease  of  Rev.  Mr.  Cobb,  in  1861,  Rev. 
Thomas  T.  Richmond,  related  through  his  mother  to 
Rev.  Mr.  Tobey,  long  time  preacher  in  Berkley,  and 
who  studied  theology  with  Mr.  Cobb,  succeeded  him 
in  the  gospel  ministry.  He  was  the  choice  of  his 
predecessor  as  well  as  of  the  people,  and  the  wisdom 
of  their  choice  is  proved  by  the  permanency  of  the 
pastoral  relation,  which  continues  to  the  present  time. 
Mr.  Richmond's  ministerial  capacity  had  been  tested 
in  Dartmouth  and  Medfield,  of  this  State,  Newmar- 
ket, X.  H.,  and  other  fields  of  Uibor,  and  1882  com- 
pleted half  a  century  since  ordination  vows  were  first 
assumed,  making  the  West  Taunton  pastor  the  oldest 
in  active  service  in  the  State.  The  first  wife  of  Mr. 
Richmond  was  Relief,  daughter  of  Mr.  Jesse  Smith, 
of  Taunton.  His  present  wife  a  niece  of  Mrs.  Cobb 
and  daughter  of  Mr.  George  J.  Homer,  an  eminent 
merchant  of  Boston. 

The  Trinitarian  Congregational  Church,  Broad- 


way.— As  the  population  in  the  central  part  of  the 
town  increased,  and  the  few  who  attended  the  West- 
ville  Church  grew  weary  of  the  long  distance,  the 
proposition  for  another  Congregational  Church  was 
favored,  and  accordingly  organized  Aug.  17, 1821,  con- 
sisting of  twenty-nine  members,  of  whom  twenty-five 
were  women.  They  commenced  public  worship  in 
the  town  hall,  moved  thence  to  the  court-house, 
where  they  continued  till  the  spring  of  1833,  when 
they  took  possession  of  their  new  meeting-house, 
standing  nearly  opposite  the  present  City  Hotel,  and 
which  was  occupied  as  their  place  of  worship  for 
twenty  years,  when  they  removed  to  the  costly  stone 
church  on  Broadway. 

Their  first  pastor  was  Rev.  Chester  Isham.  He  was 
born  in  West  Hartford,  Conn.,  in  1798,  was  graduated 
at  Yale  College  in  1820,  and  was  a  classmate  and 
room-mate  of  Rev.  Leonard  Bacon,  D.D.,  so  long  of 
New  Haven.  Mr.  Isham's  settlement  in  Taunton  was 
Feb.  18,  1824,  and  he  died  in  Boston,  at  the  house 
of  Dr.  B.  B.  Wisner,  of  the  Old  South  Church,  April 
25,  1825,  the  day  after  his  return  from  a  trip  to  Cuba, 
where  he  spent  the  winter,  hoping  to  recover  his 
health.  Not  only  Taunton,  but  New  Haven,  Boston, 
and  the  country  generally  mourned  the  loss  of  a 
young  minister  of  great  promise.  As  the  news 
reached  Taunton,  and  the  bells  tolled,  there  was 
"great  lamentation  over  him."  His  very  dear  friend, 
Dr.  Bacon,  preached  the  funeral  sermon,  and  pre- 
pared the  inscription  on  the  stone  which  marks  the 
place  of  his  burial  on  "  the  Plain." 

Mr.  Isham  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Erastus  Maltby, 
who  died  Wednesday,  March  28,  1883,  a  pastor  emer- 
itus among  the  people  of  his  first  love.  Mr.  Maltby 
was  born  in  Northford,  Conn.,  graduated  at  Yale  Col- 
lege in  1821,  pursued  his  theological  course  at  An- 
dover,  was  ordained  and  installed  pastor  Jan.  18, 
1826. 

"The  whole  membership  of  the  church  at  the  time 
of  his  settlement,"  writes  the  compiler  of  the  Manual 
of  the  church  in  1881,  "  was  seventy-one,  and  the 
congregation  was  very  small.  But  they  were,  deter- 
mined, and  wrought  and  sacrificed  vigorously.  Giv- 
ing up  from  this  time  all  aid  from  the  Home  Mission- 
ary Society,  by  the  divine  blessing  on  the  efforts  of 
pastor  and  people  the  church  grew  and  the  meeting- 
house filled  up.  Seventy-four  were  added  the  first 
year,  and  the  next  year  the  house  was  enlarged  to 
accommodate  two  hundred  more  than  formerly. 
From  that  time  progress  was  assured.  Ten  years 
after  the  installation  of  Mr.  Maltby  the  house  was 
uncomfortably  full,  and  no  pews  could  be  obtained. 
At  this  time  the  question  of  colonizing  came  up,  and 
in  January,  1837,  forty-four  members  were  dis- 
missed and  organized  as  the  Spring  Street  Church. 
This  was  the  beginning  of  the  Winslow  Church. 
In  1850,  after  a  revival  which  added  sixty-nine  to  the 
church,  the  house  of  worship  again  proved  inade- 
quate, and  the  corner-stone  of  the  present  stone  edi- 


TAUNTON. 


791 


fice  was  laid  Aug.  19,  1851.  The  house  was  finished 
in  the  ensuing  year,  and  dedicated  Sept.  29,  1852." 
In  1853  and  1868  members  were  dismissed  to  aid  in 
constituting  churches  in  East  Taunton  and  Whit- 
ten  ton. 

"  In  1870,"  continues  the  Manual  from  which  we 
have  already  quoted,  "  after  forty-five  years  of  ser- 
vice with  the  one  church  of  his  ministry,  Mr.  Maltby 
resigned  the  active  duties  of  his  pastorate.  During 
his  long  service  he  had  received  eight  hundred  and 
sixty  members  into  the  church,  and  baptized  six 
hundred  and  eighty-six  persons.  By  vote  of  the 
church  the  pastoral  relation  was  not  formally  dis- 
solved, and  he  still  remained  pastor  emeritus. 

"  In  1871  the  church  extended  a  call  to  Mr.  Stephen 
M.  Newman,  a  member  of  the  graduating  class  of 
Andover  Seminary,  and  he  was  ordained  October 
17th. 

"  In  1872  a  parsonage  was  erected  on  School  Street, 
and  in  1877  some  important  alterations  and  improve- 
ments were  made  in  the  audience  room  of  the  house 
of  worship. 

"Mr.  Newman  was  dismissed  in  July,  1878,  and 
removed  to  Ripon,  Wis. 

"  After  an  interval  of  nearly  two  years,  Rev.  Her- 
man P.  De  Forest,  of  Westborough,  Mass.,  accepted 
the  call  of  the  church  and  society,  and  was  installed 
April  11,  1880. 

"The  whole  number  of  admissions  to  the  church 
during  its  history  is  one  thousand  and  twenty-two." 

The  memory  of  some  of  the  earlier  members  of  the 
church,  who  were  chosen  its  deacons,   is  still    very 
precious, — Jezaniah  Sumner,  William  Reed,  Joseph  ' 
Wilbar,  Richmond  Walker,  Francis  Richmond,  Ben- 
jamin C.  Hatch. 

The  Winslow  Church. — The  next  church  distinc- 
tively Congregational  organized  in  Taunton  was 
named,  after  the  street  where  it  worshiped,  the 
Spring  Street  Church.  Its  membership  of  forty-four, 
with  the  exception  of  two  from  the  West  Taunton 
Church,  came  entirely  from  the  Trinitarian  Congre- 
gational Church,  whose  history  has  just  been  given. 
Its  organization  was  in  1837,  January  12th.  S.  Hop- 
kins Emery,  who  studied  at  Amherst  and  Andover,  was 
ordained  and  installed  its  first  pastor  Nov.  23,  1837, 
continuing  in  that  relation  until  called  to  Bedford, 
January,  1841.  Rev.  Lathrop  Taylor,  a  graduate  of 
Middlebury  College  in  1839,  succeeded  him  May  16, 
1843,  and  resigned  in  July,  1845.  He  has  been  many 
years  a  most  successful  minister  of  the  gospel  in  Illi- 
nois. The  first  pastor  of  the  church  was  recalled  and 
reinstalled  Jan.  6,  1847,  remaining  pastor  until  the 
latter  part  of  1855,  when  he  left  to  take  the  pastorate 
of  the  First  Congregational  Church  in  Quincy,  111., 
where  he  remained  fourteen  years,  preaching  after- 
ward for  limited  periods  in  Chicago,  Providence, 
Bridgeport,  Conn.,  and  North  Middleborough,  Mass. 
He  was  called  to  Taunton  for  the  third  time,  and  is 
now  serving  as  secretary  and  superintendent  of  the 


Associated  Charities  of  Taunton.  The  Spring  Street 
Church  on  leaving  its  first  place  of  worship  in  1853, 
March  23d,  lor  its  new  sanctuary,  dropped  its  first 
name,  and,  in  memory  of  Governor  Edward  Winslow, 
who  in  1621  journeyed  through  the  place,  became  the 
Winslow  Church.  Rev.  Mortimer  Blake,  then  the 
minister  of  Mansfield,  was  called  to  this  church  in 
1855,  and  has  remained  its  pastor  twenty-seven  years, 
with  the  manifest  approval  of  heaven  upon  his  labors. 

Dr.  Blake,  born  in  Pittston,  Me.,  but  early  removed 
to  Franklin,  Mass.,  graduated  from  Amherst  College 
in  1835,  and  studied  theology  with  Rev.  E.  Smalley, 
D.D.,  of  Franklin,  afterward  of  Worcester  and  Troy, 
N.  Y.  He  was  first  installed  in  Mansfield  Dec.  4, 
1839,  and  over  the  Winslow  Church  Dec.  4,  1855. 

The  membership,  at  first  but  forty-four,  has  since 
increased  to  four  hundred  and  ninety-four,  of  whom 
more  than  half  have  died  or  removed,  leaving  now 
two  hundred  and  ten  members.  The  church  build- 
ing was  enlarged  in  1872  to  accommodate  its  growing 
congregation,  and  was  repaired  aud  modernized  within 
in  1882.  It  has  been  from  the  beginning  a  strong 
and  united  body,  ready  for  every  good  word  and  work. 
There  are  names  in  its  early  history  which  should 
never  be  forgotten, — Roswell  Ballard,  John,  William, 
and  Hodges  Reed,  Philander  W.  Dean,  and  their 
wives,  with  others  of  precious  memory.  The  present 
deacons  of  the  church  are  Edgar  H.  Reed  and  An- 
drew S.  Briggs. 

The  Congregational  Church1  (Trinitarian),  East 
Taunton. — This  was  the  next  church  of  this  order  in 
Taunton.  Organized  with  thirteen  members  the  16th 
of  June,  1853,  it  has  been  served  by  pastors  as  follows : 

Rev.  N.  Richardson,  who  commenced  labor  in  a 
school-house  in  the  month  of  April  prior  to  the  or- 
ganization. He  continued  with  the  church  only  one 
year,  preaching  in  a  chapel  built  by  the  Old  Colony 
Iron  Company. 

He  was  followed  by  Rev.  James  R.  Cushing,  who 
began  his  ministry  May  7, 1854,  and  closed  it  in  1861. 
A  church  edifice  was  built  and  dedicated  early  in  his 
ministry,  which',  with  some  alterations,  is  still  in  use. 

From  1861  to  1863  the  pulpit  was  supplied,  princi- 
pally by  Rev.  Mr.  Harding,  of  Boston,  without  be- 
coming a  resident  pastor. 

Rev.  G.  G.  Perkins  commenced  his  ministry  May 
5,  1863,  and  closed  it  in  May,  1866,  removing  to  the 
West. 

Rev.  Frederic  A.  Reed,  a  native  of  Taunton,  after 
supplying  the  pulpit  three  months,  became  pastor 
Nov.  1,  1866,  and  so  continued  till  June,  1876. 

lie  was  followed  by  Rev.  H.  P.  Leonard,  who 
began  his  ministry  in  September,  1876,  and  closed  it 
Aug.  31,  1879. 

Rev.  William  H.  Wolcott,  the  present  pastor, entered 
upon  his  labors  with  the  church  Feb.  1,  1880. 


i  For  the  facts  in  this  notice  I  am  indebted  to  Kev.  W.  H.  Wolcott, 
present  pastor. 


792 


HISTORY   OF    BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


The  present  membership  of  the  church  is  seventy- 


six. 


In  June,  1861,  E.  W.  Cain  and  Cyrus  Caswell  were 
chosen  deacons,  Deacon  Cain  having  served  in  that 
capacity  from  the  beginning  without  formal  appoint- 
ment. Deacon  Caswell  died  Feb.  11,  1875.  D.  C. 
Wentworth  was  chosen  to  that  office  March  7,  1875. 

The  Union  Congregational  (Trinitarian)  Church1 
in  Taunton  was  organized  in  the  year  1868.  For 
many  years  efforts  had  been  made  to  sustain  public 
worship  in  Whittenton  and  vicinity,  the  Baptist  and 
Methodist  denominations  having  occupied  the  ground 
at  different  times.  At  a  meeting  held  Nov.  14,  1867, 
the  Union  Society  of  Whittenton  was  formed  for  the 
maintenance  of  public  worship,  and  a  constitution 
was  adopted.  At  a  meeting  of  this  society  held  Dec. 
25,  1867,  it  was  voted  to  invite  Rev.  Isaac  Dunham, 
of  Westport,  Mass.,  to  preach  the  gospel  here.  Mr. 
Dunham  accepted  the  invitation,  and  commenced  his 
labors  early  the  following  year,  and  steps  were  at 
once  taken  towards  the  regular  formation  of  a  Church 
of  Christ. 

At  a  meeting  held  March  16,  1868,  at  the  house  of 
Charles  L.  Lovering,  Rev.  Isaac  Dunham,  chairman, 
and  C.  L.  Lovering,  scribe,  on  motion  of  Barnes  L. 
Burbank,  it  was  voted  to  adopt  a  confession  of  faith 
and  covenant  which  had  been  drawn  up  by  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Dunham.  The  substance  of  this  confession  and 
covenant  is  the  same  as  that  usually  adopted  by 
churches  of  the  same  faith.  It  was  then  voted  to 
send  invitations  to  the  Trinitarian  Congregational, 
Winslow,  and  West  (Taunton)  Churches,  to  the 
church  in  Assonet,  and  to  the  Second  Congregational 
Church  in  Dorchester,  and  also  to  the  Rev.  Henry  B. 
Hooker,  D.D.,  of  Boston,  to  assemble  in  council  here 
at  some  appointed  date  to  give  advice,  and  to  take 
action,  if  expedient,  in  the  matter  of  the  formation 
of  a  church. 

It  was  also  voted  that  a  committee,  consisting  of 
Rev.  I.  Dunham,  B.  L.  Burbank,  and  N.  N.  Gleason, 
be  appointed  to  issue  the  letters  missive,  and  to  make 
other  necessary  arrangements  for  the'  formation  of  a 
church. 

The  council  called  by  these  letters  missive  was 
convened  at  Whittenton,  Thursday,  April  2,  1868, 
and  consisted  of  the  individual  and  the  pastors 
and  delegates  of  the  churches  already  indicated. 
Rev.  E.  Maltby  was  chosen  moderator  of  the  council, 
and  Rev.  F.  H.  Boynton  scribe. 

The  usual  steps  being  taken,  the  persons  desirous 
to  constitute  a  new  church,  twenty-four  in  number, 
bringing  letters  from  other  churches,  were  consti- 
tuted an  Evangelical  Christian  Church. 

The  fellowship  of  the  churches  was  extended  to 
this  new  church  by  Rev.  M.  Blake,  D.D.  Prayer 
was   oifered   by    Rev.   Dr.  Hooker,  and   Rev.  T.  T. 


1  The  present  pastor,  Rev.  E.  N.  Porneroy,  has  kindly  furnished  the 
history  of  this  church. 


Richmond  gave  the  charge.  On  the  same  day  an 
evening  service  was  held,  and  a  sermon  preached  by 
Rev.  E.  Maltby. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  church  held  April  17,  1868, 
B.  L.  Burbank  was  chosen  deacon  ;  Rev.  I.  Dunham, 
clerk;  and  Messrs.  Dunham,  Burbank,  and  Lovering 
were  chosen  to  prepare  by-laws  and  make  regulations 
for  the  government  of  the  church,  which  by-laws  and 
regulations  were  duly  prepared  and  accepted. 

Rev.  Isaac  Dunham  resigned  his  office  as  acting 
pastor  of  the  church  Jan.  6,  1873,  and  Rev.  H.  Morton 
Dexter  was  called  to  the  pastorate,  his  ordination 
and  installation  taking  place  April  30,  1873.  At  the 
same  time  also  the  new  and  beautiful  house  of  wor- 
ship, at  the  corner  of  Britannia  and  Rockland  Streets, 
was  dedicated  with  appropriate  services. 

The  affairs  of  the  church,  temporally  and  spirit- 
ually, have  been  prosperous  from  the  first.  At  one 
time  twenty-four  persons  were  added,  at  another 
time  twenty-five,  and  on  another  occasion  forty-seven. 
This  increase  was  almost  wholly  "  on  confession." 

Rev.  Mr.  Dexter  resigned  his  office  November 
10th,  and  was  dismissed  by  council  Nov.  25,  1878. 

Rev.  John  W.  Ballantine  was  ordained  to  the  min- 
istry, and  installed  pastor  of  this  church  March  18, 
1879,  and  was  dismissed  Nov.  8,  1881. 

Rev.  Edward  N.  Porneroy  was  invited  to  serve  the 
church  as  acting  pastor  for  six  months,  commencing 
Jan.  1,  1882,  at  the  expiration  of  which  time  he  ac- 
cepted an  invitation  to  the  pastorate,  and  was  in- 
stalled Oct.  18,  1882. 

William  Holmes  was  elected  deacon  Nov.  26, 1873, 
and  Elijah  Tolman,  Nov.  23,  1876.  The  clerks  of  the 
church  have  been  Rev.  Isaac  Dunham,  Rev.  Morton 
Dexter,  Rev.  John  W.  Ballantine,  and  Frank  L.  Fish. 
Samuel  W.  Grimes  has  been  the  clerk  of  the  society. 
Charles  L.  Lovering  has  been  the  superintendent  of 
the  Sunday-school.  ' 

The  whole  number  of  names  upon  the  church  rolls 
is  (Jan.  1,  1883)  two  hundred  and  thirty-seven. 
The  actual  membership  is  one  hundred  and  eighty- 
five.  The  membership  of  the  Sunday-school  is  two 
hundred  and  twenty-five.  The  number  of  families 
connected  with  the  congregation  is  one  hundred  and 
fifty. 

We  have  alluded  to  the  separate  meetings  set  up  in 
the  new  towns  set  off  from  Taunton  in  1711,  1712, 
1725,  1731,  1735,  and  1736,  but  these  were  all  of  the 
Congregational  order.  Other  forms  of  polity  and 
faith  found  favor  with  the  people  in  due  time,  and  in 
different  parts  of  Taunton  other  denominations  of 
Christians  became  known.  Some  of  these  have  dis- 
appeared and  their  history  is  all  in  the  past.  Early 
as  1720,  Rev.  Mr.  Danforth,  in  a  letter  to  Cotton 
Mather  and  other  Boston  ministers,  alludes  to  a  meet- 
ing distinct  from  his  own  "  in  a  corner"  of  his  parish. 
This  was  a  meeting  of  a  Society  of  Friends,  which 
has  not  existed  for  many  years.     The  Sandemanians 


TAUNTON. 


793 


had  a  meeting  in  1785,  of  whom  Mr.  Daniel  Brewer 
was  a  leading  member.  This  has  long  ceased  to 
exist. 

A  Six-Principle  Baptist  Church  was  organized  in 
1789,  holding  their  meetings  first  in  North  Rehoboth, 
and  afterwards  in  West  Taunton,  to  which  Rev. 
Joseph  us  W.  Horton  preached  a  considerable  length 
of  time.  But  this  church  and  their  meetings  have 
come  to  an  end. 

So  also  in  the  present  century  the  Christian  Bap- 
tists built  a  church  and  worshiped  many  years  on 
Trescott  Street,  but  the  organization  no  longer  ex- 
ists, although  their  place  of  worship  remains  the 
property  of  Mr.  O.  S.  Wilbur. 

The  Free- Will  Baptists  for  some  years  struggled  to 
sustain  a  meeting  in  their  new  church  at  the  corner 
of  Weir  Street  and  Somerset  Avenue,  but  relin- 
quished the  field  to  the  Methodists. 

The  St.  Thomas'  Protestant  Episcopal  Church. 
— Fortunately  the  foundation  laid  in  about  1700  by 
Capt.  Thomas  Coram  for  a  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church  was  for  many  generations.  Coram  had  a 
ship-yard  in  South  Dighton.  Things  did  not  go  to 
suit  him  in  this  new  land,  and  he  returned  to  the 
mother-country,  founding  in  1739  in  the  city  of  Lon- 
don a  hospital  "  fpr  the  maintenance  and  education 
of  exposed  and  deserted  young  children."  Nor  did 
he  forget  New  England.  Before  he  left  it  he  "  em- 
ployed Mr.  Attorney-General  Newton,  of  Boston,  to 
prepare  amply  strong  and  in  due  form"  a  deed 
making  over  certain  lands  to  the  inhabitants  of  Taun- 
ton should  they  ever  become  "  sufficiently  civilized  to 
want  a  Church  of  England  built  among  them."  That 
time  came  at  length,  and  even  in  Coram's  lifetime, 
and  he  forwarded  to  the  church  from  England  a 
library  gathered  from  various  sources,  a  portion  of 
which  is  still  preserved,  including  a  "Book  of  Com- 
mon Prayer,  given  by  the  Right  Honorable  Arthur 
Onslow,  Esq.,  Speaker  of  the  Hon.  House  of  Com- 
mons." 

The  original  church  building  of  this  parish  was  on 
the  glebe,  in  Oakland,  West  Taunton.  It  is  remem- 
bered to  have  been  there  till  1815,  when  it  was  blown 
down  in  the  September  gale  of  that  year  and  never 
rebuilt.  The  sacred  inclosure,  where  He  the  buried 
dead,  marks  the  spot  which  should  be  held  dear  by 
the  flourishing  St.  Thomas'  Church,  who  now  worship 
in  a  costly  stone  edifice  elsewhere.  The  glebe  was 
conveyed  to  the  wardens  of  the  church  and  their  as- 
sociates by  deed  bearing  date  March  19,  1743.  It 
was  purchased  by  subscription  "  for  the  sole  benefit 
and  profit  of  the  Rector,  for  the  time  being,  of  St. 
Thomas,  standing  near  Three-Mile  River,  in  Taun- 
ton." The  subscribers  to  the  glebe  were  twenty-six, 
to  the  amount  of  £528  10s.  Thomas  Cobb  was  the 
largest  donor,  his  subscription  amounting  to  £120. 
Rev.  John  Lyon  was  the  "  first  resident  minister." 
There  were  occasional  supplies,  of  whom  Rev.  John 
Graves  is  mentioned.     Mr.  Lyon's  first  recorded  bap- 


tism was  in  1765,  but  he  may  have  begun  labor 
earlier.  The  people  paid  him  his  salary  "  to  his 
good  acceptance"  we  are  told,  an  example  of  prompt- 
ness which  was  needed  in  those  times. 

The  record  of  this  ministry  as  given  by  Rev.  Mr. 
Bent,  in  a  historical  discourse,  reads  well, — "  A  most 
estimable  man  and  exemplary  minister  of  Christ." 
He  was  mindful  of  the  good  morals  of  the  community, 
distributing  copies  of  a  tract,  entitled  "  Admonition 
to  the  Drinkers  of  Spirituous  Liquors."  He  left  some 
time  before  the  Revolution  and  went  South,  where 
he  died.  His  successor  was  Rev.  AVilliam  W. 
Wheeler,  whose  first  recorded  baptism  was  in  1786. 
He  preached  in  other  towns  as  well  as  Taunton, — 
"  an  estimable  man  and  an  intelligent  divine,"  but 
crippled  in  his  ministry  by  political  causes,  and  at 
length  removed  to  Scituate,  where  he  preached,  and 
died  in  1810.  The  St.  Thomas  Parish  had  no  resident 
rector  from  1798  to  1829,  when  Rev.  John  West,  a  na- 
tive of  Boston  and  a  graduate  of  Cambridge  in  1813, 
commenced  labor  with  good  success.  His  successors 
have  been  Rev.  Messrs.  Henry  Blackaller,  Samuel 
Hazzard,  Edmund  Neville,  N.  T.  Bent,  Theodore  W. 
Snow,  Edward  Anthon,  Edmund  Neville,  once  more, 
Thomas  H.  Vaill,  Robert  C.  Rogers,  and  the  present 
rector,  Charles  H.  Learoyd,  who  entered  upon  his 
rectorship  April  1,  1872. 

One  member,  and  the  last  of  the  committee,  ap- 
pointed in  1828  "  to  inquire  into  the  expediency  of 
establishing  Episcopal  worship  in  this  town,"  has 
just  passed  away  (Feb.  10,  1883),  the  Hon.  Samuel 
L.  Crocker.  He  and  his  brother  William  were 
largely  instrumental  in  the  reviving  of  the  Epis- 
copal Church,  which  had  slumbered  since  the  pres- 
ent century  came  in,  and  it  was  through  their  influ- 
ence a  church  building  was  erected,  at  a  cost  of 
seven  thousand  five  hundred  dollars,  and  conse- 
crated in  June,  1829.  "  Marcus  Morton  and  Fran- 
cis Baylies  were  wardens  of  the  parish,"  writes  Rev. 
Mr.  Learoyd  in  his  "  parochial  history,  embodied  in 
a  sermon  preached  the  Sunday  after  Christmas,  Dec. 
28,  1879,"  and  quoting  from  an  earlier  historical  ser- 
mon by  Rev.  Mr.  Bent,  "  then  rector,  delivered  on 
Easter  day,  1844." 

It  was  during  Mr.  Snow's  rectorship  that,  at  the 
suggestion  of  Mr.  Edmund  Baylies,  who  promised 
one  thousand  dollars,  a  rectory  was  built  on  Harri- 
son Street;  also  more  than  thirty  thousand  dollars 
were  subscribed  toward  a  new  church,  which  was 
not  completed,  however,  till  March  3,  1859,  when  its 
consecration  took  place  during  the  rectorship  of  Rev. 
Mr.  Vaill.  When  Dr.  Vaill  was  called  to  the  office 
of  a  bishop  elsewhere,  he  records  as  the  result  of  his 
ministry  of  five  years  and  nine  months  in  Taunton, 
the  baptism  of  one  hundred  and  forty-six  infants, 
thirty  adults,  and  the  confirmation  of  one  hundred 
and  seventeen.  The  number  of  communicants  on 
the  register  were  two  hundred  and  seventy-five. 

In  1871,  Christmas  eve,  a  chapel  and  annex  of  the 


794 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


church,  which  had  been  built  at  a  cost  of  fifteen 
thousand  dollars,  was  opened  with  appropriate  ser- 
vices. In  1873,  during  the  rectorship  of  Rev.  Mr. 
Learoyd,  the  church,  which  had  been  renovated  and 
decorated  at  an  expense  of  eleven  thousand  five  hun- 
dred dollars,  was  reopened,  the  bishop  of  the  diocese, 
with  many  of  the  clergy,  being  present. 

The  St.  John's  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  — 
"  As  early  as  1863,"  writes  Rev.  Mr.  Learoyd,  "  church 
services  began  to  be  maintained  at  Hopewell  by  a  lay 
reader,  and  a  Sunday-school  was  gathered  of  about 
fifty.  This  movement  resulted  in  the  formation  of 
the  parish  of  St.  John's,  and  in  building  the  fine 
church  it  now  occupies.  The  money  for  that  pur- 
pose, about  twenty-five  thousand  dollars,  was  contri- 
buted within  this  city  with  the  exception  of  about 
three  thousand  dollars."  For  the  following  facts  I 
am  indebted  to  Mr.  Henry  M.  Lovering: 

The  parish  was  organized  December,  1866.  Rev. 
George  D.  Miles  was  elected  first  rector  January, 
1867. 

The  corner-stone  of  the  church  was  laid  by  Bishop 
Vaill  Monday,  Nov.  9,  1868,  and  it  was  consecrated 
June  19,  1873. 

Rev.  Mr.  Miles  resigned  July,  1873.  Rev.  Louis 
De  Cormis  was  rector  from  July,  1873,  to  June,  1875. 
Rev.  Edward  H.  True  was  rector  from  July,  1875,  to 
Feb.  19,  1877.  Rev.  S.  S.  Spear  was  rector  from  July, 
1877,  to  July,  1881 .  Rev.  Francis  Mansfield,  the  pres- 
ent rector,  commenced  his  labors  April  2,  1882. 

The  parish  occupies  a  growing  part  of  the  city,  and 
has  great  promise  of  usefulness. 

The  Free-Will  Baptist  Church,  North  Taunton. 
— For  the  notice  of  this  church  I  am  largely  indebted 
to  the  faithful  researches  of  Rev.  Mr.  Tozer,  the  pres- 
ent pastor. 

There  were  a  few  Baptists  in  that  part  of  Taunton 
as  early  as  1747,  according  to  the  statement  of  Backus 
in  his  history  of  that  denomination.  Mr.  Jeremiah 
Bassett  obtained  permission  from  the  church  in  the 
northeastern  part  of  Rehoboth,  to  which  Elder  Rich- 
ard Round  ministered,  "  to  hold  worship  on  the  Lord's 
day  in  his  own  house."  This  house  was  situated 
about  thirty  rods  east  of  the  junction  of  Bay  and 
Field  Streets,  on  the  latter  street.  Here,  therefore, 
the  first  stated  preaching  of  the  gospel  in  North  Taun- 
ton was  established,  and  the  few  believers  of  the  place 
were,  as  in  primitive  times,  a  "  church  in  his  house." 
This  Mr.  Bassett  was  a  son  of  Joseph,  the  son  of  Wil- 
liam Bassett,  who  came  over  in  the  brig  "  Fortune" 
soon  after  the  first  landing  of  the  pilgrims.  Jeremiah 
had  a  son  bearing  the  same  name,  who  became  influ- 
ential in  the  church  and  occasionally  preached.  The 
descendants  are  numerous  in  this  region. 

The  little  company  to  whom  Mr.  Bassett  ministered 
were  so  prospered  that  in  1767  they  built  a  meeting- 
house on  the  corner  of  what  are  now  Bay  and  Field 
Streets,  which  remained  until  1837,  when  it  was  re- 
moved to  the  Weir,  and  became  a  warehouse,  at  pres- 


ent occupied  by  the  Messrs.  Church.  In  1769,  the 
proposition  came  from  the  Baptists  of  Norton,  who 
had  no  meeting-house  and  had  assembled  in  private 
houses  for  their  meetings  ever  since  they  left  Rev.  Mr. 
Avery's  church,  as  Separatists  or  New  Lights,  in  1747, 
to  unite  and  form  one  society.  The  proposition 
pleased  the  Baptists  of  Taunton.  Hence  the  union 
took  place  and  they  agreed  in  calling  to  the  pastoral 
work,  the  care  and  oversight  of  the  church,  Rev. 
William  Nelson,  who  married  the  daughter  of  Rev. 
Isaac  Backus,  pastor  of  a  church  in  that  part  of  Mid- 
dleborough  called  Titicut,  who  had  often  preached  in 
Norton  and  Taunton,  and  was  influential  with  the 
people.  Mr.  Nelson  was  one  of  three  brothers,  all 
preachers.  He  was  a  graduate  of  what  is  now  Brown 
University,  a  man  of  good  learning  and  excellent 
Christian  character.  He  was  ordained  by  council 
Nov.  12,  1772,  his  father-in-law,  Mr.  Backus,  giving 
the  charge,  and  Elder  Ebenezer  Hinds  preaching  the 
sermon.  His  pastorate  continued  more  than  thirteen 
years,  and  was  much  blessed.  Discipline  was  faith- 
fully administered,  and  great  care  taken  to  preserve 
the  purity  of  the  church.  Two  deacons  were  chosen 
in  Mr.  Nelson's  time,  Ebenezer  Burt  and  Joel  Briggs, 
the  last  of  whom  afterward  became  pastor  of  a  church 
in  Braintree. 

The  health  of  Rev.  William  Nelson  failing  in  1785, 
his  brother  Ebenezer  was  called  to  the  pastorate,  but 
he  was  not  installed  till  1790,  when  Elder  Backus 
was  again  present  with  other  ministers,  and  acted  as 
moderator.  This  pastorate  continued  to  March  10, 
1795,  and,  like  that  of  his  brother,  proved  one  of 
profit  to  the  people.  But  for  some  years  afterwards 
the  church  was  in  a  low  state  and  was  without  stated 
preaching.  In  1805  two  deacons  were  chosen,  Timothy 
Briggs  and  Noah  Clapp. 

About  this  time  Rev.  Zephaniah  S.  Crossman  was 
among  them,  who,  after  preaching  with  a  good  deal 
of  zeal  and  apparent  success,  drew  oiF  more  than  forty 
of  the  members  to  a  separate  meeting,  which  was  con- 
tinued two  years.  And  now  again  there  was  no  stated 
preaching  nor  settled  ministry  for  some  years,  but  oc- 
casional supplies,  among  whom  Rev.  Silas  Hall  and 
Dr.  Shubael  Lovell  are  mentioned.  It  was  through 
the  last  named,  as  acting  pastor,  the  request  of  seven 
members  was  presented,  in  May,  1819,  to  be  dismissed 
to  form  a  part  of  a  new  church  at  the  centre  of  Taun- 
ton. These  were  William  Stall,  Elias  Parry,  A.bia- 
thar  Phillips,  Mary  Johnson,  Rhoda  Godfrey,  Nancy 
Stall,  Mary  Hall. 

In  1822  an  element  which  had  been  at  work  many 
years  took  an  organized  form,  and  was  known  as  the 
Free-Will  Baptists,  occupying  the  meeting-house  al- 
ternate Sabbaths  with  the  Calvinist  branch,  which  in 
1835  removed  to  Norton  and  built  a  church,  under  the 
leadership  of.  Rev.  Henry  C.  Coombs.  The  pastor 
of  the  portion  which  remained  in  Taunton  was  Rev. 
Reuben  Allen,  who  was  succeeded  in  1832  by  Rev. 
James   F.   Mowry,   remaining  six   years.      He   was 


TAUNTON. 


795 


followed  April  7,  1838,  by  Elder  Folsoni,  remaining 
till  1840.  Then  came  Elder  Thomas  Brown  in  1841, 
continuing  till  184.3,  highly  esteemed  by  the  people. 
Rev.  T.  H.  Bachelder  was  his  successor,  remaining 
nine  years,  and  was  much  beloved.  He  closed  his 
labors  in  April,  1855.  Rev.  S.  D.  Church  was  the 
next  pastor,  remaining  six  years,  and  meeting  with 
good  success.  He  resigned  in  1861,  followed  by  Rev. 
George  G.  Hill,  who  remained  till  1866.  Rev.  George 
W.  Richardson  was  pastor  from  1868  to  1873.  Rev. 
J.  N.  Rich  and  Rev.  George  H.  Chappell  followed, 
the  former  for  two,  and  the  latter  for  one  year.  May 
13,  1876,  Rev.  S.  D.  Church  returned  to  the  church, 
remaining  till  1881,  when  the  pastorate  was  assumed 
by  Rev.  R.  H.  Tozer,  who  still  remains,  and  has  fur- 
nished the  writer  with  many  of  the  preceding  facts. 

The  Calvinist  Baptist  Church,  Winthrop 
Street. — This  church  at  its  organization,  June  16, 
1819,  was  called  the  "Second  Baptist  Church  in 
Taunton,"  recognizing  the  existence  of  the  earlier 
church  in  North  Taunton,  whose  history  has  just 
been  given.  Seven  of  its  original  sixteen  members 
came  from  that  church.  Previous  to  this  time  meet- 
ings had  been  held  with  the  occasional  help  of  min- 
isters from  abroad,  of  whom  Elders  William  Barton, 
William  Bentley,  Shubael  Lovell  are  particularly 
mentioned.  The  lay  brethren  who  encouraged  their 
coming  were  William  Stall,  James  Olney,  Elias  Parry, 
Thomas  C.  Brown,  Abiathar  Phillips,  and  Abiathar 
Hall.  The  meetings  were  held  "  iu  private  dwell- 
ings, school-houses,  and  sometimes  in  the  town  hall." 
They  resulted  in  the  calling  of  a  council  for  the  re- 
cognition of  the  church  as  above  stated,  of  which 
Rev.  Dr.  Stephen  Gano,  of  Providence,  was  modera- 
tor, and  Rev.  David  Benedict,  of  Pawtucket,  was 
scribe.  The  church  leased  and  occupied  Armory 
Hall  for  most  of  the  time  till  their  first  house  of  wor- 
ship was  built  on  High  Street,  near  the  corner  of 
Weir  Street,  in  1824.  "  Prayer  and  conference  meet- 
ings were  maintained,  and  occasional  preaching  as 
ministering  brethren  came  along."  It  was  not  till 
1825  a  stated  supply  was  enjoyed, — the  ministrations 
of  Caleb  Benson,  a  licensed  preacher.  The  first  pas- 
tor was  Rev.  Silas  Hall.  The  date  of  his  acceptance, 
Nov.  21,  1826.  The  date  of  his  dismission,  March  10, 
1830.  There  was  a  net  increase  of  eighteen  during 
his  ministry.  There  had  been  seasons  of  spiritual 
refreshing  in  1822  and  1826.  Rev.  Benjamin  C.  Graf- 
ton, the  second  pastor,  received  his  call  June  7,  1831, 
and  remained  until  May  26,  1834.  Eleven  members 
were  added  during  his  ministry,  and  the  church  re- 
moved from  High  Street  to  a  new  and  "  more  com- 
modious edifice,  sixty-five  by  forty-four  feet,  on  Mar- 
ket, now  Winthrop  Street.  This  meeting-house  was 
dedicated  Oct.  10,  1832,  and  for  the  following  thirty- 
three  years  was  the  Sabbath  home  of  the  church  and 
congregation  and  the  spiritual  birthplace  of  many 
souls." 

The  third  pastor  was  Rev.  William  G.  Trask.     He 


was  called  to  this  office  June  30,  1834,  and  ordained 
August  27th  of  the  same  year.  "The  settlement  of 
this  devoted  young  minister,"  remarks  Rev.  Andrew 
Pollard,  D.D.,  in  a  "historical  sketch"  of  the  church 
from  which  1  have  already  quoted,  "opened  a  new 
era  in  the  history  of  the  church.  His  hearty  conse- 
cration to  his  work,  bis  meek  and  gentle  spirit,  his 
sound  discretion,  and  his  earnest  labors  for  the  spir- 
itual welfare  of  his  people  won  their  love  and  confi- 
dence. And  though  his  earthly  labors  were  limited 
to  the  short  period  of  two  years,  his  influence  was 
eminently  favorable  to  religious  prosperity,  and  his 
memory  is  still  fragrant  and  blessed.  There  were 
added  to  the  church  under  his  ministry  thirty-seven 
members." 

Rev.  Henry  Clark,  the  fourth  pastor,  was  installed 
Dec.  29,  1836,  and  continued  his  official  labors  till 
June  30, 1839.  During  this  pastorate  forty-eight  were 
added  to  the  church. 

Rev.  John  F.  Burbank,  the  fifth  pastor,  remained 
less  than  a  year  in  1841. 

The  sixth  pastor,  Rev.  James  F.  Wilcox,  was  in- 
stalled Dec.  21,  1842,  continuing  in  that  relation  till 
Nov.  27,  1848,  nearly  six  years.  In  1845  the  parson- 
age on  Winthrop  Street,  nearly  opposite  the  church, 
was  provided,  largely  through  the  liberal  contribu- 
tion of  Mr.  Albert  Field,  and  in  1847  the  meeting- 
house was  enlarged  and  otherwise  improved. 

The  seventh  pastor,  Rev.  Andrew  Pollard,  D.D.,  was 
installed  Oct.  24,  1849.  During  the  first  year  of  his 
pastorate  fifty-four  were  added  to  the  membership. 
In  1858  there  was  a  powerful  work  of  grace,  which 
greatly  quickened  and  strengthened  the  church. 
More  than  one  hundred  were  added  to  its  number. 
The  large  increase  in  1862  suggested  the  need  of  a 
new  church  building,  which  was  begun  that  year,  and 
was  dedicated  Oct.  10,  1865,  just  thirty-three  years 
from  the  dedication  of  the  old  house.  It  was  built 
of  brick  and  freestone,  in  the  early  English  style  of 
architecture,  one  hundred  and  fifteen  feet  long  by 
sixty-four  wide,  of  fine  proportions,  beautiful  finish, 
a  credit  to  the  denomination  and  an  ornament  to  the 
city.  In  1866,  sixteen  years  after  his  settlement,  Dr. 
Pollard  reported  two  hundred  and  eighty-four  addi- 
tions to  the  church  as  the  fruit  of  his  ministry,  with 
a  present  membership  of  three  hundred  and  sixteen. 
The  deacons  of  his  church  were  Ebenezer  Staples, 
Edward  Wilcox,  Calvin  Woodward,  Anson  J.  Barker, 
Lemuel  L.  White. 

Dr.  Pollard's  was  a  long  and  useful  pastorate  of 
more  than  twenty-two  years.  His  connection  with 
the  church  and  society  closed  Dec.  31,  1871.  He  re- 
signed to  accept  a  call  to  the  Fourth  Street  Baptist 
Church,  South  Boston,  where  he  remained  until  he 
entered  upon  a  secretaryship  in  denominational  work, 
for  which  he  was  eminently  fitted  by  his  exact  method 
and  unusual  executive  ability,  a  position  which  he 

still  fills. 

He  was  succeeded   in  Taunton  by  Rev.  Joseph  C. 


796 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Wightman,  the  eighth  pastor,  April  1,  1873,  a  man  of 
fine  scholarship  and  eminent  pulpit  talents,  who 
served  the  people  faithfully  and  well  until  Aug.  6, 
1882,  when  he  was  invited  to  relinquish  the  pastoral 
office  for  a  public  trust,  that  of  preparing  a  new  ver- 
sion of  the  Scriptures,  for  which,  of  all  other  men  in 
the  denomination,  he  was  regarded  best  qualified. 
But  other  service  awaited  him.  He  had  a  call  to  go  \ 
up  higher.  While  his  family  were  on  their  way  to  j 
Europe,  and  before  he  had  entered  on  his  work  in  | 
New  York,  the  news  reached  Taunton  that  Rev.  Mr. 
Wightman  had  breathed  his  last  at  Tiverton.  It  was 
a  sorrowful  assembly  which  filled  the  Winthrop 
Street  Baptist  Church,  one  summer  day  in  August, 
1882,  when  one  minister  after  another  bore  testimony 
to  the  worth  of  the  departed,  and  with  "  much  lamen- 
tation devout  men  took  him  up  and  buried  him." 

In  December,  1882,  the  church  and  people  with 
great  unanimity  called  to  the  pastorate  Rev.  Joseph 
Kennard  Wilson,  of  New  London,  Conn.,  who  has 
entered  on  his  work  with  great  promise  of  success. 

The  Tlniversalist  Church,  corner  of  Spring  and 
High  Streets. — Rev.  Mr.  Quinby,  in  a  historical 
sermon  in  1851,  expresses  the  opinion  that  the  way 
was  prepared  for  such  a  church  by  the  preaching  of 
"  the  venerable  Murray"  some  sixty  years  before,  and 
Rev.  John  Foster,  a  minister  in  Taunton  at  the  be- 
ginning of  the  century,  is  credited  with  those  views. 
The  religious  society  was  incorporated,  with  Charles 
Foster  and  twenty-one  others  as  subscribers,  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1825.  Their  first  settled  minister  was  Rev. 
John  B.  Dods,  who  remained  with  them  from  1831  to 
1835.  He  organized  a  church  of  thirty  members  in 
1832.  Dr.  Alfred  Baylies,  a  leading  physician  of 
Taunton,  was  a  prominent  member  of  the  society, 
serving  as  its  clerk.  They  worshiped  in  the  old  meet- 
ing-house of  the  town  ;  removed  from  the  "  Church 
Green"  in  1831  to  a  spot  on  Spring  Street.  After  the 
resignation  of  Mr.  Dods,  in  1835,  preaching  services 
were  suspended  until  1839,  when  the  society  was  re- 
organized with  many  new  members,  and  Rev.  William 
Fishbough  was  called  to  the  pastorate.  Religious 
services  were  held  in  halls  hired  for  the  purpose, 
when  in  1842  the  parish  built,  on  the  corner  of 
Spring  and  High  Streets,  a  church  which  they  occu- 
pied for  nearly  forty  years.  On  the  removal  of  Rev. 
Mr.  Fishbough  in  1844,  Bev.  W.  B.  S.  Mellen  entered 
on  a  brief  pastorate.  He  was  followed  by  Rev.  George 
W.  Quinby,  of  Saco,  Me.,  who  remained  from  Octo- 
ber, 1846,  to  November,  1851.  He  was  called  to  Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio,  but  afterwards  returned  to  his  native 
State,  and  is  conducting  a  denominational  paper  in 
Augusta,  Me.,  influential  in  that  part  of  New  Eng- 
land. Bev.  J.  S.  Brown  was  his  successor  in  Taun- 
ton, who  died  in  the  pastoral  office,  abounding  in 
labors  which  endeared  him  to  the  people.  He  was 
followed  by  Bev.  Messrs.  James  E.  Bruce,  U.  M. 
Fiske,  and  Charles  Mellen,  the  last  named,  like  his 
predecessor,  Brown,  dying  in  his  Taunton  pastorate, 


to  the  great  grief  of  the  church,  and  his  grave  is  in 
Mount  Fleasant  Cemetery.  He  was  followed  by  Bev. 
Messrs.  Everett  L.  Conger  and  Bussell  P.  Ambler. 
It  was  during  Mr.  Ambler's  ministry  that  the  church 
edifice  of  1842  was  taken  down  and  on  the  same  spot 
a  new  building  erected,  attractive  and  pleasant.  Mr. 
Ambler  is  now  in  Medford.  with  the  church  of  which 
he  was  formerly  pastor,  and  the  Taunton  people  are 
united  in  Bev.  Alpheus  B.  Hervey,  who  came  hither 
from  Troy,  N.  Y.,  in  September,  1879. 

The  First  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Taunton. 
— This  church  was  organized  in  that  part  of  Taunton 
called  the  Weir  in  1830,  and  has  been  served  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  system  of  itinerancy  by  many  min- 
isters. Their  names,  as  I  have  learned  them,  are  Bev. 
Messrs.  S.  W.  Coggshall,  E.  B.  Bradford,  Lewis  Bates, 
J.  D.  Butler,  D.  Webb,  J.  Parkinson,  William  Livesey, 
J.  M.  Worcester,  Paul  Townsend,  S.  C.  Brown,  George 
M.  Carpenter,  Sanford  Benton,  Henry  Baylies,  Charles 
Nason,  J.  T.  Benton,  N.  P.  Philbrook,  J.  D.  King, 
Charles  H.  Titus,  L.  B.  Bates,  Charles  Young,  Angelo 
Canoll,  E.  McChesney,  H.  A.  Cleveland,  and  C.  W. 
Gallagher,  the  present  incumbent. 

This  church,  for  more  than  half  a  century,  has 
lived  and  wrought  a  good  work  under  the  leadership 
of  these  twenty-four  pastors  and  teachers  in  that  part 
of  the  city  called  the  Weir.  Other  denominations 
of  Christians  in  their  vicinity  have  co-operated  with 
them  in  a  friendly  spirit,  and  a  strong,  vigorous 
church  has  been  built  up,  one  of  the  largest  and  most 
influential  in  the  denomination.  Its  present  office- 
bearers are  William  H.  Merrill,  Henry  F.  Cobb,  Jacob 
Burt,  Lemuel  T.  Talbot,  Samuel  Miller,  George  W. 
Barrows,  Abel  W.  Parker,  William  N.  Parker,  Charles 
H.  Lincoln,  Luther  B.  West,  William  E.  Walker, 
Zenas  Knapp,  Abram  Simmons,  Job  C.  Chace,  Bich- 
ard  L.  Hewitt,  John  P.  Crane. 

The  Central  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Co- 
hannet  Street,  organized  in  1853.  Its  ministers  have 
been  Bev.  Messrs.  William  H.  Stetson,  C.  H.  Titus, 
A.  C.  Atwater,  S.  F.  Upham,  J.  A.  M.  Chapman,  J. 
Mather,  J.  Howson,  E.  H.  Hatfield,  F.  Upham,  J.  W. 
Willett,  H.  D.  Bobinson,  A.  Anderson,  A.  P.  Palmer, 
0.  H.  Fernald,  J.  E.  Hawkins,  and  Edward  Edson, 
the  present  incumbent. 

This  church  was  demanded  by  communicants  who 
could  not  visit  the  Weir,  and  finds  in  the  dense  popu- 
lation around  it  an  important  field  for  useful  labor. 
Its  present  office-bearers  are  J.  G.  Luscomb,  William 
Hutchinson,  Ezra  Hamlen,  J.  H.  Codding,  E.  H.  El- 
dridge,  J.  W.  Thayer,  Otis  L.  Baker,  J.  F.  Park,  A. 
S.  Bound,  James  Hailley,  G.  H.  Thayer,  L.  E.  Dick- 
erman,  G.  H.  Park,  Thomas  Lawrence,  John  Law- 
rence, George  E.  Dunbar,  W.  H.  Waitt,  F.  H.  Miett, 
Leonard  Luce,  S.  O.  Sherman. 

The  Grace  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  corner 
of  "Weir  Street  and  Somerset  Avenue,  organized  in 
1874.  Its  ministers  have  been  Bev.  Messrs..  William 
T.  Worth,  Samuel  J.  Carroll,  and  Edwin  D.  Hall,  the 


TAUNTON. 


797 


present  incumbent.  With  active  and  efficient  work 
this  church  has  grown  and  prospered,  recently  paying 
off  a  large  indebtedness,  and  with  better  promise  of 
permanency  than  ever  before.  Its  present  office-bear- 
ers are  Israel  Allen,  Asa  N.  Dyer,  John  L.  Merigold, 
Edward  F.  Anthony,  Joshua  Parsons,  H.  M.  H.  Tay- 
lor, Jonathan  J.  Stanley,  William  H.  Field,  William 
H.  Phillips,  J.  F.  Montgomery,  Peleg  B.  Hart,  Addi- 
son Taylor,  Samuel  G.  Hicks,  Ira  W.  Maxham,  Sam- 
uel T.  Turpin,  Henry  L.  Babbitt. 

Its  brick  church  building  was  first  occupied  by  a 
Free  Baptist  Church,  which  has  ceased  to  exist  as  a 
separate  organization.  Its  pastor,  Rev.  Mr.  McKeown, 
served  it  faithfully  for  several  years. 

The  Advent  Christian  Church. — It  is  but  recently 
this  church  has  been  organized  (in  1880),  and  its  only 
resident  minister  has  been  Rev.  A.  W.  Sibley,  who  is 
now  preaching  elsewhere.  Their  Sabbath  and  week- 
day services  are  held  in  Cedar  Street  Chapel,  and 
their  supplies  of  preaching  are  from  abroad. 

The  Roman  Catholic  Church.— The  parishes  of 
this  church  in  Taunton  belong,  as  do  some  others  in 
Massachusetts,  to  the  diocese  of  Providence,  of  which 
the  Right  Rev.  Thomas  Francis  Hendricken,  D.D.,  is 
bishop. 

The  first  occasion  of  divine  service  according  to  the 
ritual  of  the  Catholic  Church  of  which  we  hear  in 
Taunton  was  that  at  which  the  Rev.  Father  Woodley 
officiated  in  1827.  There  was,  however,  no  perma- 
nent pastor  until  some  time  in  1830,  when  the  Rev. 
John  Curry  celebrated  mass  in  a  private  house,  and 
about  fifteen  heads  of  families,  mostly  of  persons  em- 
ployed in  the  Taunton  Print- Works,  assisted.  After 
this  service  a  subscription  was  begun  looking  towards 
the  purchase  of  ground  and  the  erection  of  a  church. 
So  well  did  the  collections  succeed  that  before  the  close 
of  1831  a  lot  near  the  intersection  of  Washington 
Street  and  Broadway,  adequate  for  a  church  and 
burial-place,  had  been  bought,  and  the  old  St.  Mary's 
was  erected  thereon  during  the  same  winter.  In  about 
three  years  Father  Curry  found  it  necessary  to  en- 
large the  church,  and  an  addition  was  made  which 
brought  it  out  flush  with  the  sidewalk. 

No  subsequent  event  of  special  importance  appears 
to  have  occurred  in  the  parish  until  after  the  arrival 
of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Wilson  in  1846,  except  the  ever- 
recurring  one  of  accessions  from  abroad,  notably  from 
Ireland,  which,  if  appropriately  termed  the  "  Niobe 
of  Nations"  at  home,  it  may  with  equal  propriety  be 
said  has  reason  to  moderate  her  grief  in  view  of  the 
good  fortune  which  attends  her  children  in  other 
lands.  "Sunny  France"  did  not  furnish  her  contin- 
gent of  those  who  adhered  to  the  ancient  faith  till 
later  on,  and  then  through  the  overflow  of  her  more  im- 
mediate colonization  point,  Lower  Canada.  The  Por- 
tuguese and  other  nationalities  have  also  from  time  to 
time  found  homes  and  employment  here,  as  our  grow- 
ing manufacturing  enterprises  demanded  skilled  labor 
from  similar  establishments  in  Europe.     At  the  pres- 


ent time  it  may  be  observed  that  the  Catholics  of 
Taunton  are  creditably  represented  not  only  in  the 
mechanical  and  manufacturing  employments,  but  in 
mercantile  and  professional  pursuits  as  well. 

During  the  intermediate  period  St.  Mary's  was  sup- 
plied by  the  Rev.  Fathers  Wylie,  Ryan,  and  O'Byrne. 
An  auecdote  has  come  down  to  us  from  Father  Ryan's 
day  which  is  worth  preserving.  During  his  pastorate 
some  young  men  of  the  parish  called  on  the  late  Dr. 
Fenwick,  ,  Bishop  of  Boston,  to  which  diocese  St. 
Mary's  then  belonged,  for  the  purpose  of  asking  a 
change  of  pastors,  on  the  score  that  although  Father 
Ryan  was  a  worthy  priest  he  was  not  a  pulpit  orator. 
The  bishop  heard  their  request,  and  not  seeing  ade- 
quate reason  for  granting  it,  bade  the  young  gentle- 
men return  home  and  attend  to  their  own  spiritual 
duties  like  good  boys.  The  wisdom  of  this  decision 
was  shown  a  few  months  later,  when  the  bishop  found 
a  parish  in  greater  need  of  such  a  shepherd,  in  the 
reluctance  with  which  the  people  of  St.  Mary's  parted 
with  their  spiritual  director. 

In  consideration  of  the  increasing  numerical  strength 
of  the  parish,  Dr.  Wilson  determined  in  1849  on  the 
erection  of  a  brick  church,  having  purchased  the  lot 
on  the  opposite  side  of  Washington  Street  for  that 
purpose;  but  the  walls  when  built  were  deemed  in- 
secure, and  the  materials  were  consequently  used  in 
the  construction  of  the  present  St.  Mary's,  standing 
on  the  same  site,  the  erection  of  which  was  begun 
about  June,  1854,  during  the  succeeding  pastorate  of 
the  Rev.  Daniel  Hearne.  Father  Hearne  devoted 
himself  very  zealously  to  the  undertaking,  but  did  not 
live  to  finish  his  pious  work.  After  seeing  the  edifice 
inclosed  he  was  finally  laid  to  rest  beside  its  front  en- 
trance (his  body  having  been  temporarily  deposited 
in  Mayflower  Hill  Cemetery),  deeply  regretted  by  the 
people  he  had  served. 

There  was  still  much  to  be  done,  not  only  to  com- 
plete the  church — floors,  altars,  stained-glass  win- 
dows, pews,  etc. — but  also  to  reduce  a  double  debt 
arising  out  of  the  erection  of  two  structures,  all  of 
which  devolved  on  the  succeeding  pastor,  the  Rev. 
Thomas  H.  Shahan,  who  arrived  some  time  in  1864. 
This  legacy  of  debt  and  responsibility  was  resolutely 
met  by  the  formation  of  a  Church  Debt  Society, 
pledged  to  monthly  contributions,  and  by  holding  a 
church  fair,  to  which  generous  contributions  were 
made  by  Christians  of  other  names.1  The  church  as 
it  now  stands,  built  of  bluestone  in  the  Gothic  style 
of  architecture,  compares  favorably  with  any  similar 
edifice  in  New  England. 

Although  the  immediate  objects  were  accomplished, 
the  parish  was  so  weakened  by  the  then  general  busi- 
ness depression  that  Father  Shahan  did  not  attempt 
to  carry  out  a  project  which  he  had  very  much  at 
heart, — the  establishment  of  a  parish   school  ;    and 


i  This  last  remark  holds  gooil  with  regard  to  a  fair  held  for  a  similar 
purpose  in  the  succeeding  pastorate. 


798 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


having  been  called  to  Boston  in  1871,  the  Rev.  Ed- 
ward J.  Sheridan,  the  present  pastor,  was  sent  to  fill 
the  vacancy.  A  vigorous  effort  is  now  being  made 
in  the  parish  towards  the  attainment  of  the  latter 
object,  the  school  to  be  placed  under  the  charge  of 
one  of  the  religious  orders  which  have  proved  so  effi- 
cient elsewhere,  not  only  in  imparting  secular  knowl- 
edge, but  in  so  cultivating  the  moral  and  religious 
nature  of  their  pupils  as  to  exert  a  permanent  influ- 
ence for  good  on  their  lives  and  conduct. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Father  Hearae  his  mission, 
besides  Taunton  proper,  included  East  Taunton,  Mid- 
dleborough,  Norton,  Westville,  North  and  South 
Dighton.  During  Father  Shahan's,  Middleborough 
and  Norton  were  separated  from  the  Taunton  parish, 
and  during  Father  Sheridan's,  Weir  Village,  East 
Taunton,  and  Dighton  have  also  been  detached,  the 
Rev.  Hugh  J.  Smyth  having  v  been  appointed  the 
first  pastor,  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  James  K.  Beaven, 
the  present  incumbent,  and  a  school-house  having 
been  adapted  to  the  purpose  of  a  church  for  the  con- 
gregation. Recently  the  Rev.  James  Roach  has  been 
performing  mission  duty  among  the  French  and  other 
residents  in  Whittenton,  with  the  ultimate  intention 
of  erecting  a  church,  but  at  the  present  writing  no 
territorial  boundaries  have  been  assigned  him. 

Father  Wilson  was  assisted  by  Father  Elwards ; 
Father  Hearne  by  Fathers  McPhillips  and  J.  Tracy; 
Father  Shahan  by  Fathers  Foley,  F.  A.  Quinn,  M. 
J.  Burns,  Hugh  J.  Smyth,  Hugh  Smith,  and  Bruton  ; 
Father  Sheridan  by  Fathers  William  D.  Kelly,  James 
Smith,  Thomas  Grace,  William  Hines,  James  A. 
Ward,  James  Fogarty,  William  Pyne,  and  Martin 
F.  Kelly.  The  two  last-named  gentlemen  are  still 
connected  with  the  parish.  Father  Beaven  is  at 
present  assisted  by  the  Rev.  Michael  F.  Cassidy. 

During  Father  Hearne's  pastorate  the  Young  Cath- 
olics' Friend  Society  was  formed ;  during  Father 
Shahan's,  St.  Mary's  Benevolent  Society,  a  Young 
Men's  Lyceum,  and  a  temperance  society  ;  and  during 
the  present  pastorate  a  Conference  of  the  Society  of 
St.  Vincent  de  Paul  was  organized. 

The  present  Catholic  population  of  Taunton  is  es- 
timated at  six  thousand  souls.  For  the  preceding 
full  account  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church,  I  am  in- 
debted to  a  kind  friend  in  that  communion. 

The  Oakland  Union  and  Arlington  Street  So- 
ciety and  Sabbath-School.— Beside  the  regularly 
organized  churches  in  the  city,  there  are  union  meet- 
ings sustained,  as  at  Oakland  and  Arlington  Street 
Chapel.  There  was  once  a  Six-Principle  Baptist 
Church  in  that  part  of  Taunton  called  Oakland,  or- 
ganized in  Rehoboth  in  1789,  but  removed  to  Taun- 
ton on  the  death  of  Elder  Round,  in  1824,  and  wor- 
shiped in  a  school-house.  In  1840,  Rev.  Josephus 
W.  Horton  became  their  minister,  and  a  small  meet- 
ing-house was  built.  Mr.  Chesbrough,  connected 
with  the  Oakland  Mill,  was  instrumental  also  in 
building  a  small   chapel  where   Episcopal   services 


were  held.  Both  these  meetings  in  time  were  dis- 
continued, and  in  1874  what  was  called  the  Oakland 
Union  was  organized,  uniting  most  of  the  Christian 
elements,  and  sustaining  with  a  good  measure  of  suc- 
cess a  Sabbath-school  and  a  regular  Sabbath  preach- 
ing service  by  the  different  ministers  of  the  city.  The 
officers  of  the  union  the  present  year  are,  George  T. 
Bullock,  president;  L.  L.  Short,  vice-president;  J. 
Gegenheimer,  secretary;  John  Willis,  treasurer;  Jo- 
seph S.  Tidd,  Alfred  Stall,  Oliver  H.  Crossman,  S.  L. 
Reed,  E.  0.  Wilmarth,  Lorenzo  Bushee,  Alfred  Wil- 
marth,  executive  committee;  Allen  Burt,  trustee  for 
three  years. 

The  Arlington  Street  organization  is  on  the  same 
union  principle.  They  sustain  a  Sabbath-school,  but 
no  preaching  service  on  the  Sabbath,  only  on  Wednes- 
day evening.  Their  recently-elected  board  of  offi- 
cers are,  J.  A.  Matthews  Wilbur,  president;  George 
H.  Fairbanks,  vice-president;  George  Chace,  clerk; 
Edwin  M.  Hills,  treasurer ;  Frank  G.  Lindsey,  col- 
lector; William  Carsley,  Edwin  Leonard,  William 
McKendrick,  executive  committee;  Charles  L.  Lov- 
ering,  Seth  C.  French,  Dr.  J.  S.  Andrews,  Dr.  N.  M. 
Ransom,  Jeremy  B.  Dennett,  trustees. 

The  chapel  was  built  in  the  summer  of  1876,  and 
first  occupied  August  13th  of  that  year. 

The  officers  of  the  Sabbath-school  are,  Edwin  M. 
Hills,  superintendent;  Thomas  W.  Sherman,  assist- 
ant superintendent ;  Mrs.  Emma  Leonard,  secretary; 
George  H.  Fairbanks,  treasurer;  George  Williams, 
librarian;  William  Williams,  assistant  librarian-; 
Miss  Clara  Wilbur,  organist ;  Miss  Gertrude  Sher- 
man, assistant  organist ;  Mrs.  A.  F.  Hersey,  Mrs. 
H.  C.  Kennicutt,  Miss  Maria  D.  Hills,  William  Cars- 
ley,  Edwin  Leonard,  executive  committee  of  the 
school. 

The  Taunton  Union  Mission  and  the  Associated 
Charities — Cedar  Street  Chapel. — This  mission, 
which  included  no  church  organization  but  repre- 
sented all  the  churches,  was  organized  in  March, 
1861,  and  began  to  occupy  its  chapel,  built  by  Mr. 
Joseph  Dean,  in  1867.  It  has  been  served  by  Rev. 
Messrs.  Joshua  A.  Stetson,  Reuben  H.  Cobb,  George 
M.  Hamlen,  and  S.  Hopkins  Emery.  In  1881  the 
mission  carried  on  its  work  under  a  new  name, — The 
Associated  Charities  of  Taunton, — and  in  January, 
1883,  it  received  a  charter  of  incorporation  from  the 
commonwealth,  with  the  following  ,  list  of  officers: 
President,  Samuel  L.  Crocker;1  Vice-Presidents, 
Mortimer  Blake,  Joseph  Dean  ;  Secretary  and  Super- 
intendent, S.  Hopkins  Emery  ;  Treasurer,  Orville  A. 
Barker ;  Directors,  Samuel  L.  Crocker,  Henry  G. 
Reed,  A.  King  Williams,  A.  B.  Harvey,  George  A. 
Washburn ;  a  board  of  managers  consisting  of  the 
above-named   and  William   C.  Lovering,  H.  P.  De 

i  The  Hon.  Samuel  L.  Crocker  having  died  Feb.  10, 1883,  the  directors, 
March  12th,  unanimously  elected  as  president  Mr.  Henry  Goodwin  Reed, 
of  the  firm  of  Reed  &  Barton,  who,  from  the  beginning,  has  been  deeply 
interested  in  the  work  of  the  Mission  and  the  Associated  Charities. 


TAUNTON. 


799 


Forest,  Jeremy  B.  Dennett,  James  H.  Anthony, 
Charles  H.  Laroyd,  A.  J.  Lawrence,  Charles  Foster, 
William  H.  Merrill,  Job  G.  Luscomb,  William  H. 
Pleadwell,  William  H.  Wolcott,  Hezekiah  L.  Merrill, 
George  F.  Pratt,  George  C.  Wilson,  George  M.  Wood- 
ward, Frank  I..  Fish,  J.  B.  Briggs,  Andrew  S.  Briggs, 
Frederick  Farnsworth,  Robert  H.  Tozer,  Edward  K. 
Emerson. 

Its  aim  and  work,  approved  by  all  the  churches, 
are  well  expressed  in  the  "  agreement"  of  the  corpo- 
rators in  these  words,  "  To  assist  the  needy,  and  raise 
them  as  far  as  practicable  above  the  need  of  relief;  to 
prevent  street-begging,  imposition,  and  the  existence 
of  a  pauper  caste  ;  to  secure  the  united  action  of  the 
different  charities,  and  of  all  benevolent  persons  in 
one  harmonious  system  of  wise  aid  to  the  poor." 


CHAPTER    LXV. 

TAUNTON.— {Continued.) 

The  Educational  Interests — Bristol  Academy — Taunton  Water-Works — 
Taunton  Lunatic  Hospital — The  Old  Colony  Historical  Society— Public 
Library — Bible  Society — Good  Templars — Humane  Society — Early 
Physicians — Blount  Pleasant  Cemetery. 

The  Educational  Interests  of  Taunton.1— The 
first  settlers  of  Taunton,  as  of  other  New  England 
towns,  erected  not  only  the  meeting-house,  but  the 
school-house.  The  two  went  everywhere  together. 
If  Messrs.  Hooke  and  Street  were  the  first  ministers, 
the  schoolmaster  was  here  even  before  them,  and  his 
name  was  Bishop.  Some  have  presumed  to  question 
whether  there  ever  was  such  a  man,  or  at  least  that 
we  have  any  knowledge  of  him  ;  but  I  claim  we  know 
something,  although  we  might  wish  it  were  more. 

Thomas  Lechford,  "  of  Clement  Inne,  in  the  county 
of  Middlesex,"  was  a  visitor  to  this  country,  and  on 
his  return  to  England  he  published  a  pamphlet,  in 
which,  under  date  of  Jan.  17,  1641,  he  relates  con- 
cerning Taunton,  "  Master  Hooke  received  ordination 
from  the  hands  of  one  Master  Bishop,  a  school-master, 
etc."  Then,  as  now,  the  "  school-master"  was  a  per- 
son of  considerable  consequence  in  the  community. 
This  Bishop,  with  others,  was  deemed  worthy  to  "  lay 
hands"  on  "  Master  Hooke." 

Mr.  Winsor,  in  his  "History  of  Duxbury,"  p.  228, 
makes  mention  of"  an  ancient  freeman  of  Taunton" 
bearing  the  name  of  "  Mr.  John  Bushop,"  having 
that  "  honorable  prefix."  Mr.  Baylies,  in  his  "  His- 
tory of  the  Plymouth  Colony,"  Part  II.,  p.  277,  al- 
ludes to  a  "  Mr.  Boshop,  interested  in  the  first  pur- 
chase of  Taunton,  whose  '  rights'  in  1675  were  owned 
by  Lieut.  George  Macey." 

And  again,  Mr.  Baylies  calls  "  Mr.  Bishop,"  the 
schoolmaster,   "  one  of  the  earliest  proprietors  and 


i  By  S.  Hopkins  Emery. 


settlers,"  although  his  name  is  not  catalogued,  as  also 
the  names  of  other  proprietors  appear  not  to  have  been. 
(Part  II.,  p.  265.)  The  Bushop,  Boshop,  or  Bishop 
above  named,  Mr.  John  Dean,  of  the  New  England 
Genealogical  Society,  in  1854  (see  "Genealogical 
Register,"  April,  1854),  considered  one  and  the  same 
man,  and  also  the  John  Bishop,  who  afterward  went 
to  Stamford,  Conn.  Mr.  Baylies  was  of  the  opinion 
"he  went  to  New  Haven,"  which  was  not  far  from 
Stamford.  (Part  II.,  pp.  265  and  282.)  Mr.  Savage, 
in  his  "Genealogical  Dictionary  of  New  England," 
vol.  i.  p.  185,  asserts  the  John  Bishop,  of  Stamford, 
"  had  been  in  Taunton  as  early  as  1640,"  and  thinks 
he  was  before  that  in  Dorchester,  as  he  seems  to  have 
known  Richard  Mather,  writing  a  Latin  epitaph  on 
him,  which  maybe  found  in  the  "Magnolia,"  cap. 
xx.  of  III.,  p.  131,  signing  himself  "  J.  Episcopius," 
which  Savage  calls  a  pun  on  his  name.  All  this 
agrees  very  well  with  what  we  know  of  the  "young 
man  of  promise,"  as  the  historian  of  Stamford  (p.  119) 
calls  the  ministerial  supply,  whom  the  church  of  that 
place  sought  and  found  in  this  region  about  the  time 
Bishop  is  supposed  to  have  left.  Trumbull,  in  his 
"  History  of  Connecticut,"  vol.  i.  p.  299,  gives  an 
interesting  account  of  it  in  these  words  :  "  The  church 
sent  two  of  their  members  to  seek  them  a  minister. 
They  traveled  on  foot  to  the  eastward  of  Boston, 
where  they  found  Mr.  John  Bishop,  who  left  England 
before  he  had  finished  his  academical  studies,  and 
who  had  completed  his  education  in  this  country. 
They  engaged  him  to  go  with  them  to  Stamford.  He 
traveled  with  them  on  foot  so  great  a  distance.  The 
people  were  united  in  him,  and  he  labored  with  them 
in  the  ministry  nearly  fifty  years." 

Rev.  J.  W.  Alvord,  in  a  historical  address  at  Stam- 
ford (p.  17),  gives  the  names  of  the  "  members  of  the 
church"  who  "  traveled  on  foot  to  the  eastward  of 
Boston," — George  Slason,  Francis  Bell.  He  also  states, 
"  Mr.  Bishop  carried  his  Bible  under  his  arm  through 
the  wilderness  to  Stamford,"  which  Bible,  in  1841, 
was  in  the  possession  of  Noah  Bishop,  one  of  his  de- 
scendants. If  one  will  look  at  a  map  of  New  Eng- 
land he  will  see  that  this  journey  "  on  foot  through  the 
wilderness"  was  from  the  extreme  west  of  Connecticut 
to  wellnigh  the  extreme  east  of  Massachusetts,  no 
small  undertaking  for  even  such  resolute  souls,  and 
when  you  remember  that  their  regular  "wilderness" 
path  from  New  Haven  to  Boston  or  Plymouth  would 
lead  through  Taunton,  you  need  not  wonder,  if  find- 
ing John  Bishop  at  the  latter  place  and  recommended 
by  Hooke  and  Street,  they  were  willing,  footsore  and 
weary,  to  stop  short  of  either  Boston  or  Plymouth,  to 
accept  of  "  the  Taunton  schoolmaster,"  a  "  young  man 
of  promise,"  who  was  also  a  student  in  theology  with 
these  eminent  divines,  "completing,"  as  Trumbull 
tells  us,  "in  this  country  the  education"  which  had 
been  begun  in  the  motherland.  "Eastward  of  Bos- 
ton" may  sufficiently  describe  the  place,  although  it 
be  south  as  well  as  east. 


800 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


We  have  dwelt  thus  long  on  this  case  to  establish, 
if  nothing  more,  the  probability  that  the  first  Taun- 
ton schoolmaster  was  the  first  Stamford  minister. 

The  name  of  another  schoolmaster  of  the  town  in 
the  same  century  has  just  come  to  light  in  an  old  ac- 
count-book of  Thomas  Leonard,  found  in  a  box  hid 
away  in  some  part  of  a  chimney  in  the  house  of  a 
grandson,  lately  taken  down  in  East  Taunton,  near 
the  Forge.  The  schoolmaster  as  well  as  the  minister 
of  that  early  clay  was  paid  at  public  expense,  as  a 
public  benefactor  and  a  public  necessity,  in  the  cur- 
rency of  the  time, — iron.  Thomas  Leonard  kept  the 
account  with  him  in  this  book  from  1683  to  1687. 
His  name  was  James  Green.  It  would  be  interesting 
if  we  could  give  other  names,  but  the  record  is  not  at 
hand. 

We  know  the  provision  which  our  fathers  made 
for  the  education  of  their  children.  The  colonial 
laws  were  very  strict  on  this  subject,  and  made  it 
certain  every  town  should  have  not  only  a  minister 
but  a  schoolmaster.  The  town  was  one  school  dis- 
trict, owned  its  school  property,  and  controlled  the 
schools  through  a  superintending  committee.  This 
was  the  system  of  school  management  for  more  than 
two  centuries.  It  was  not  till  1826  the  district  system 
was  established  dividing  each  town  into  smaller  dis- 
tricts, which  should  own  their  school-houses  and  other 
school  property,  and  through  a  prudential  committee- 
man select  and  contract  with  the  teacher,  and  attend 
to  supplies  for  the  school.  There  were  still  a  town 
school  committee,  to  examine  and  indorse  the  teach- 
ers and  with  a  general  supervision,  but  their  author- 
ity, of  course,  was  weakened  and  their  guiding  influ- 
ence less  felt.  There  could  not  be  that  unity  of  action 
and  wise  method  of  administering  the  schools,  with 
so  many  varying  and  sometimes  conflicting  parties  to 
be  consulted  and  provided  for.  Thus,  in  1864,  when 
the  town  became  a  city,  the  people  were  probably 
glad  to  return  to  the  primitive  municipal  system  of 
caring  for  the  schools  through  one  general  committee, 
who  subsequently  appointed  a  superintendent  to  give 
all  his  time  to  the  work. 

This  superintendent,  Dr.  W.  W.  Waterman,  has 
recently  written  and  published  an  able  paper  on  the 
duty  of  a  commonwealth  to  educate  its  children, 
which  shows  him  to  be  thoroughly  acquainted  with 
his  business,  and  possessed  of  a  suitable  enthusiasm. 
His  school  report  also  in  1876  is  stored  with  much 
historical  matter,  from  which  I  gladly  draw  for  my 
present  use. 

His  remarks  on  the  classification  of  studies  and  the 
grading  of  the  schools  are  to  the  point.  Until  eigh- 
teen years  ago,  the  studies  adjudged  requisite  to  a 
common  school  education  were  all  taught  in  each 
separate  elementary  school.  Pupils  began  and  ended 
their  education  in  the  same  grade  of  school,  except 
when  they  resorted  to  the  classical  or  high  school  for 
more  thorough  instruction  or  further  advancement; 
but  whenever  a  school  occupied  two  or  more  school- 


rooms, or  was  taught  by  more  than  one  teacher,  the 
sections  into  which  such  school  was  divided  were  ar- 
ranged with  reference  to  the  relative  attainments  of 
the  pupils  and  an  economical  classification  of  instruc- 
tion. These  sections,  constituting  progressive  stages, 
were  commonly  known  as  lower  and  higher  depart- 
ments, sometimes  as  primary  and  grammar  depart- 
ments. With  the  large  growth  of  population  at  the 
Centre,  it  was  thought  that  the  philosophical  principle 
of  division  of  labor  and  concentration  of  ability  which 
had  been  applied  with  benefit  to  instruction  in  the 
larger  schools  might  be  embodied  advantageously  in 
a  more  comprehensive  system  of  school  as  well  as 
class  gradation.  Accordingly,  in  1858,  there  was  a 
consolidation  of  school  districts  contiguous  to  the 
Green,  containing  nearly  one-half  of  the  pupils  in 
town.  Next  the  schools  were  classified  in  grades.  A 
graduated,  consecutive  course  of  study  was  systemati- 
cally arranged,  and  an  appropriate  part  of  the  course 
was  assigned  to  each  grade.  The  classes  of  the  higher 
or  grammar  grade  occupied  a  portion  of  the  large 
central  building,  the  Cohannet  Street  school-house. 
A  part  of  that  building  and  the  smaller  school-houses 
were  appropriated  to  the  lower  classes.  The  high 
school  was  permanently  established  in  1849,  although 
previous  to  that  time  a  similar  school  had  been  kept 
temporarily  in  different  sections  of  the  town.  The 
present  system  of  graduated  classification  and  study 
•  was  instituted  in  1862,  and  in  1871  the  high  school 
became  a  part  of  the  system  of  school  gradation,  thus 
making  three  grades,  known  as  primary,  grammar, 
and  high.  The  larger  portion  of  the  primary  schools 
are  in  separate  buildings,  containing  from  one  to  six 
school-rooms  each.  Pupils  are  admitted  at  five  years 
of  age,  and  the  course  of  instruction  is  designed  for 
five  years.  The  grammar  schools  have  no  age  quali- 
fication, although  ten  or  twelve  years  would  be  the 
usual  age.  The  course  of  instruction  comprises  four 
steps,  each  requiring  about  one  year.  The  primary 
and  grammar  courses  together  comprise  the  complete 
course  of  elementary  instruction  designed  for  all  the 
pupils. 

The  high  school  constitutes  the  third  and  last 
grade  of- the  system.  The  course  of  instruction  com- 
prises four  steps,  each  designed  for  one  year.  The 
studies  are:  English  Language,  including  Grammar, 
Rhetoric,  English  Literature,  Reading,  Writing,  Or- 
thography, Orthoepy,  Composition,  Declamation; 
Latin,  French,  Greek ;  Algebra,  Geometry,  Trigo- 
nometry, Surveying,  Elementary  Mechanics,  Prac- 
tical Problems  in  Arithmetic,  Natural  Philosophy, 
Chemistry,  Physiology,  Physical  Geography,  Geology, 
Botany,  Zoology,  Astronomy;  Intellectual  Philosophy, 
Political  Economy,  and  Constitution  of  the  United 
States,  General  History,  Ancient  Geography,  and 
History  ;  Free-Hand  Drawing ;  Vocal  Music. 

Besides  the  foregoing,  the  system  comprises  also 
evening  elementary  schools  and  an  evening  drawing 
school. 


TAUNTON. 


801 


The  good  State  of  Massachusetts  intends  that  its' 
citizens  shall  be  educated,  at  least  so  as  to  read  and 
write  and  master  the  common  branches  of  education. 
Towards  this  end  its  legislation  has  tended,  and  every 
child  between  the  ages  of  eight  and  fourteen  must 
attend  the  free  school  provided  at  least  twenty  weeks 
of  the  year.  This  is  considerably  less  than  half  the 
year,  and  it  would  seem,  if  their  work  was  needed 
for  the  support  of  the  family,  thirty  weeks  should  be 
enough  for  this  purpose.  So  our  legislators  thought, 
and  no  employer  of  labor  has  the  right  to  hire  a  child 
between  these  ages  without  a  certificate  of  having  at- 
tended school  the  year  preceding  such  employment 
the  specified  time.  This  is  called  "compulsory  edu- 
cation," and  it  is  a  credit  to  the  commonwealth.  The 
number  of  children  in  Taunton,  according  to  the  cen- 
sus of  1882,  between  the  ages  of  eight  and  fourteen, 
was  two  thousand  four  hundred  and  forty-five.  The 
number  between  those  ages  in  the  public  schools  for 
the  school  year  ending  Aug.  31. 1882,  was  2387,  show- 
ing that  the  law  of  the  commonwealth  is  respected  in 
the  city  of  Taunton.  The  whole  number  of  different 
pupils  of  every  age  in  the  public  day  schools  for  the 
same  year  was  4004, — 2112  males,  1892  females.  The 
cost  of  the  public  schools  for  this  year  was  $50,190.60. 

The  number  of  teachers  employed  iu  the  twenty- 
nine  school-houses  proper  for  the  public  day  schools 
is  seventy-six,  with  occasional  temporary  help.  For 
the  evening  elementary  school  and  evening  drawing 
school  in  rooms  hired  for  the  purpose  eight  teachers 
are  employed.  In  the  Cohannet  Street  school,  which 
is  the  largest  grammar  school,  with  a  primary  de- 
partment, Mr.  Clarence  F.  Boyden  is  employed  as 
principal,  at  a  salary  of  fourteen  hundred  dollars,  with 
eleven  assistants.  At  the  Weir,  Mr.  Horatio  D. 
Newton  serves  as  principal,  at  a  salary  of  twelve 
hundred  dollars,  with  eight  assistants.  At  Whit- 
tenton,  Mr.  Edward  S.  Hersey  is  principal;  salary, 
eleven  hundred  dollars,  with  six  assistants.  The  high 
school  is  in  charge  of  Mr.  Charles  S.  Moore ;  salary, 
seventeen  hundred  dollars,  with  three  assistants.  The 
school  is  worthy  of  better  school  accommodations 
than  are  at  present  provided,  but  in  the  near  future  a 
high  school  building,  which  will  be  a  credit  to  the 
city  and  a  comfort  to  the  scholars,  is  certain.  The 
principals  of  the  high  school,  running  back  from  the 
present,  have  been  as  follows:  John  P.  Svvinerton, 
Laban  E.  Warren,  Charles  P.  Gorely,  Silas  D.  Pres- 
brey,  William  E.  Fuller,  John  Ruggles,  William  L. 
Gage,  Ozias  C.  Pitkin,  Justin  Field,  Frederic  Crafts. 

The  school  could  hardly  be  called  a  fixture,  but 
rather  a  foot-ball  under  Messrs.  Crafts  and  Field,  for, 
as  the  writer  well  remembers,  it  was  not  only  a  mov- 
able institution,  but  much  spoken  against,  as  the 
records  of  the  town-meetings  from  1838  onward  will 
show.  Under  the  wise  administration  of  Mr.  Pitkin, 
however,  from  1849  to  LS54,  who  was  an  eminent  ed- 
ucator, it  grew  in  favor  with  the  people,  and  they  at 
length  allowed  it  to  locate  and  live. 
51 


No  history  of  the  educational  interests  of  Taunton 
would  be  complete  without  the  Bristol  Academy, 
which  had  its  beginning  in  the  last  century  (in  1792). 
It  is  a  pleasure  to  acknowledge  my  indebtedness  for 
material  to  the  careful  research  of  my  friend,  Mr. 
Charles  W.  Hartshorn,  a  long  time  secretary  of  the 
board  of  trustees,  from  whose  notes  I  am  permitted 
to  draw.  The  academy  had  its  origin  in  an  agree- 
ment to  form  the  "Taunton  School  Society,"  to  pay 
certain  sums  named,  and  to  abide  by  some  ten  rules 
of  agreement  carefully  set  forth.  There  were  four- 
teen subscribers  to  this  agreement,  men  prominent 
in  Taunton  in  the  latter  part  of  the  last  century, 
James  Tisdale  heading  the  list  with  a  subscription  of 
thirty  pounds,  and  John  Bowers  closing  it  with  a 
like  sum,  Samuel  Leonard  the  same,  and  others  less, 
in  all  amounting  to  seven  hundred  and  ten  pounds. 

On  the  30th  of  June,  1792,  on  petition  of  David 
Cobb  and  others,  Walter  Spooner,  William  Baylies, 
David  Cobb,  Elisha  May,  James  Williams,  Apollos 
Leonard,  Seth  Padelford,  Samuel  Fales,  Samuel  Leon- 
ard, Simeon  Tisdale,  James  Tisdale,  Joseph  Tisdale, 
and  Jonathan  Cobb  were  appointed  trustees  of  Bristol 
Academy  and  incorporated  under  that  name,  "  for  the 
purpose  of  promoting  piety,  morality,  and  patriotism, 
and  for  the  education  of  youth,  etc."  The  first  meet- 
ing of  the  trustees  was  held  at  Josiah  Crocker's,  Sept. 
21,  1792.  James  Williams  was  chosen  secretary  ; 
Walter  Spooner,  president;  David  Cobb,  vice-presi- 
dent; Seth  Padelford,  treasurer.  A  committee  was 
chosen  to  "  form  a  coad  of  bye-laws,"  and  another  to 
provide  or  point  out  a  suitable  piece  of  ground  to 
build  upon,  and  each  trustee  directed  to  exert  him- 
self to  obtain  subscriptions. 

From  this  date  there  were  a  number  of  meetings 
and  votes,  showing  the  work  to  be  in  progress,  until 
March  7,  1796,  when  a  committee  was  appointed  "  to 
enquire  and  procure  an  Instructor,"  and  another  "  to 
make  enquiry  respecting  boarding  scholars."  The 
following  action  was  also  taken:  "Whereas  Bristol 
Academy  was  promoted  and  established  principally 
by  the  exertions  of  David  Cobb,  Esq.,  a  late  trustee 
of  said  academy  ;  therefore  voted  unanimously  that 
the  thanks  of  the  trustees  of  said  academy  be  presented 
to  the  said  David  Cobb,  Esq.,  for  his  great  and  friendly 
exertions  in  favor  of  said  academy,  and  that  he  be 
informed  by  the  secretary  that  the  trustees  do  con- 
sider him  entitled  to  the  honor  of  being  the  patron 
and  the  founder  of  the  same." 

At  an  adjournment  of  this  meeting,  April  6,  1796, 
"  the  trustees  made  choice  of  Mr.  Simeon  Doggett, 
Jr.,  for  a  preceptor." 

The  first  meeting  of  the  trustees  held  at  the  acad- 
emy appears  to  have  been  July  4,  1796,  when  "Miss 
Sally  Cady  was  chosen  preceptress."  The  academy 
tvas  formally  opened  July  18th,  when  an  address  was 
delivered  by  the  preceptor,  Mr.  Doggett,  which  by 
request  of  the  trustees  was  afterwards  printed.  No 
other  mention  is  made  of  the  opening  in  the  records, 


802 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


but  it  is  otherwise  learned  that  Deacon  Jeremiah 
Sumner,  of  Taunton,  composed  his  famous  "Ode  011 
Science"  for  that  occasion.  The  building  then  dedi- 
cated stood  nearer  the  northwest  corner  of  the  acad- 
emy lot  than  the  present  one,  and  fronting  towards 
Summer  Street.  It  answered  a  good  educational  pur- 
pose for  more  than  half  a  century,  when  it  was  sold 
and  removed  to  Broadway,  just  north  of  the  Catholic 
Church,  where  it  is  still  occupied  as  a  tenement- 
house. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  trustees,  Feb.  1,  1849,  a  com- 
mittee appointed  "to  suggest  improvements"  speak 
of  the  academy  building  as  "  not  so  well  adapted  to 
its  uses  as  it  ought  to  be."  Aug.  14,  1850,  the  pre- 
ceptor, in  his  report,  urgently  asks  for  a  new  build- 
ing, stating  the  number  of  pupils  to  be  "  one  hundred 
and  eleven."  George  A.  Crocker  was  appointed  com- 
mittee to  procure  subscriptions.  Feb.  19,  1851,  Mr. 
Crocker  reported  a  list  of  subscriptions  amounting  to 
five  thousand  eight  hundred  and  ninety-five  dollars, 
a  Tisdale  again,  this  time  Samuel  T.,  standing  at  the 
head,  with  Mr.  Crocker  himself,  for  one  thousand  dol- 
lars each,  and  a  committee  was  chosen  to  erect  the 
new  building.  "  1852,  August  25th,  the  board  met  at 
the  new  academy  at  10  A.M.  to  witness  the  exercises 
of  dedication.  At  10.15  the  exercises  began.  Rev. 
Mr.  Maltby  made  a  few  introductory  remarks.  A 
hymn  was  sung  by  a  select  choir,  led  by  William  B. 
Crandell.  Prayer  was  offered  by  Rev.  Mr.  Maltby. 
The  secretary,  Rev.  Mr.  Bingham,  read  a  short  his- 
torical sketch  of  the  institution.  The  '  Ode  on  Science,' 
written  for  the  first  dedication,  was  then  sung.  Next 
an  address  on  classical  education  was  delivered  by 
Professor  C.  C.  Felton,  of  Harvard  University,  and  a 
hymn,  written  for  the  occasion  by  Mr.  Hodges  Reed, 
closed  the  performances." 

It  is  difficult  to  ascertain  the  number  of  pupils  in 
the  earlier  years  of  the  academy,  as  it  was  not  gen- 
erally entered  upon  the  records. 

At  a  special  meeting  of  the  trustees,  Aug.  19,  1800, 
a  committee  was  appointed  "to  inquire  of  Mr.  Dog- 
gett  the  usual  emolument  of  his  office  as  preceptor." 
An  old  paper  is  found,  in  the  handwriting  of  Mr. 
Doggett,  which  gives  the  number  of  pupils  for  four 
years,  the  amount  received  for  tuition,  etc.  The 
average  of  pupils  for  the  first  year  was  94 ;  the 
second,  84;  the  third,  50;  the  fourth,  50.  During 
the  first  year  of  Mr.  Bellows'  service  as  preceptor  the 
number  of  pupils  for  the  first  term  was  52;  the 
second,  76;  the  third,  66;  the  fourth,  80.  At  the 
meeting  of  the  trustees,  Nov.  19,  1852,  at  the  close 
of  the  first  term  in  the  new  building,  it  is  recorded 
"the  whole  number  of  names  on  the  register  of  the 
fall  term,  148." 

The  preceptors  of  the  academy  from  the  beginning 
have  been  as  follows : 

Simeon  Doggett,  Jr.,  from  April  6,  1796,  to  April 
17,  1813;  Luther  Bailey,  from  April  17,  1813,  to  Oct, 
11,  1816;  Otis  Pierce,  from  Oct.  16,  1816,  to  April  1, 


1818;  John  Brewer,  from  April  27,  1818,  to  July  10, 
1818;  John  Hubbard  Wilkins,  from  July  20,  1818, 
to  Aug.  18,  1819 ;  Otis  Pierce,  from  Aug.  18,  1819,  to 
May  23,  1821 ;  John  Goldsbury,  from  May  23>  1821, 
to  April  8,1824;  John  Lee  Watson,  from  May  13, 
1824,  to  April  30,  1828 ;  Frederick  Crafts,  from  June 
23,  1828,  to  June  7,  1837;  John  N.  Bellows,  from 
June  7,  1837,  to  Aug.  23,  1838 ;  Mr.  Leach  {ad  in- 
terim), from  Sept.  6,  1S38,  to  Sept.  24,  1838;  Nich- 
olas A.  Clarke,  from  Sept.  24,  1838,  to  Aug.  17,  1842 ; 
John  D.  Sweet,  from  Dec.  1, 1842,  to  May  27, 1844 ;  Mr. 
Walker  (one  term),  from  June 5, 1844,  to  — ;  John  N. 
Bellows,  from  Aug.  21,  1844,  to  Feb.  9,  1846;  Samuel 
R.  Townsend,  from  March  2,  1846,  to  May,  1849; 
Henry  B.  Wheelwright,  from  Sept.  1,  1849,  to  Dec. 
20,  1854;  John  E.  Sanford,  from  Jan.  10,  1855,  to 
Aug.  3,  1855 ;  Henry  S.  Nourse,  from  Aug.  29,  1855, 
to  Aug.  7, 1857  ;  Joseph  A.  Hale,  from  Aug.  24, 1857, 
to  Feb.  15, 1859 ;  William  G.  Gordon,  from  Feb.  15, 
1859,  to  Feb.  3,  1864 ;  Robert  E.  Babson,  from  Feb. 
18,  1864,  to  March  22,  1864 ;  James  L.  Perry,  from 
March  22, 1864,  to  Feb.  10, 1865 ;  Henry  Leonard,  from 
March  3,  1865,  to  July  2,  1869 ;  William  H.  French, 
from  Aug.  27,  1869,  to  — ;  J.  C.  Bartlett,  from  July  1, 

1870,  to  July  30, 1871 ;  J.  Russell  Reed,  from  Oct.  13, 

1871,  to  July  3,  1874;  Arthur  Driver,  from  Aug.  12, 
1874,  to  July  11,  1877;  J.  C.  Barlett,  from  July  18, 
1877,  to  June  25,  1880 ;  Frederic  Farnsworth,  -from 
July  2,  1880,  the  present  preceptor,  under  whose 
management  the  academy  is  in  a  flourishing  condi- 
tion. His  assistants  are  George  F.  Chace,  A.M., 
Miss  Anna  L.  Bonney,  Miss  Julia  A.  Sampson, 
primary  department. 

"  The  present  year,"  writes  Preceptor  Farnsworth, 
"is  the  most  successful  in  point  of  numbers  and  in- 
come from  tuition  for  the  past  quarter  of  a  century. 
Average  number  attending,  about  ninety-three;  re- 
ceipts, about  four  thousand  dollars.  These  figures 
include  the  primary  department.  About  one-third 
of  the  pupils  come  from  out  of  the  city,  representing 
some  ten  different  towns.  Nearly  a  quarter  of  the 
pupils  are  fitting  for  college.  We  expect  to  send  six 
young  men  to  college  at  the  end  of  the  present  school 
year,  besides  several  others  who  expect  to  take  pre- 
liminary examination." 

It  would  be  an  interesting  list  of  names,  could  we 
find  it,  of  those  who  have  been  the  educators  of  the 
children  and  young  people  of  Taunton  during  the 
two  centuries  and  a  half  nearly  of  its  history.  To 
say  that  the  generations  of  men  and  women  have 
been  largely  fashioned  by  these  hundreds  and  per- 
haps thousands  of  school-teachers  is  not  speaking 
extravagantly.  Teaching  has  taken  its  rank  as  it 
should  among  the  "  learned"  professions.  Normal 
schools  educate  the  educators.  Republics  are  some- 
times charged  with  being  "  ungrateful,"  but  faithful, 
life-long  teachers  are  remembered  with  gratitude  by 
their  pupils  of  "  long  ago."  I  have  heard  the  names 
of  Taunton  teachers   spoken  of  with  affection,  and 


TAUNTON. 


8<J3 


familiar  as  household  words, — "Ma'am  Wilbur,  Mrs, 
Barney,  Harriet  Prentice,  Mercy  Crossnian,  the  Til- 
linghast  sisters, — Fanny,  Mary,  and  Joanna, — Fred- 
erick Crafts,  Elias  Morse."  These  represent  the 
teachers  of  both  sexes  of  a  past  generation,  who  have 
long  since  ceased  from  their  labors.  There  are  more 
recent  names,  some  of  them  among  the  living,  which 
represent  an  influence  beginning  with  early  child- 
hood and  entering  into  the  warp  and  woof,  the. 
texture  of  an  endless  being.  Such  names  are  George 
C.  Wilson,  A.  A.  Leach,  Luthera  H.  Leach,  Eliza 
Drake,  May  G.  Reed,  Ann  D.  Reed,  Emma  Payson, 
Ellen  Lusconib. 

Mr.  Alvin  B.  Winch  was  the  first  teacher  of  vocal 
music  in  the  public  schools,  commencing  about  1870. 
His  son,  William  I.,  and  brother,  John  F.,  are  emi- 
nent vocalists  in  Boston.  Mr.  Winch  was  distin- 
guished in  his  profession.  On  his  decease,  in  March, 
1881,  Mr.  Milton  R.  French,  of  rare  musical  ability, 
was  chosen  his  successor,  and  still  teaches. 

It  was  a  felicitous  thought  of  some  of  "the  boys" 
of  twenty  years  ago,  including  the  names  of  the  pres- 
ent mayor,  city  treasurer,  register  of  deeds,  and  rep- 
resentative business  men  of  this  and  other  cities,  to 
send  to  one  of  these  teachers,  Mr.  A.  A.  Leach,  a 
gold-headed  cane,  with  an  affectionate  note,  to  which 
he  thus  responded: 

"Taunton,  March  19, 1883. 
"  To  the  Boys: 

"Accept  my  heartfelt  thanks  for  your  valuable  and  wholly  unex- 
pected gift  and  for  the  kind  words  accompanying  the  same. 

"  These  words  and  the  names  of  so  many  of  my  former  scholars  recall 
to  mind  the  time  when  we,  as  teacherand  pupils,  sat  together  in  the  old 
school-room  ;  and  if  the  room  was  not  so  spacious  or  the  furniture  so 
elegant,  perhaps  the  lessons  there  learned  were  as  good  a  preparation 
for  the  battle  of  life  as  those  received  under  more  favorable  circum- 
stances at  the  present  day. 

"It  is  very  gratifying  to  me,  I  assure  you,  to  know  that  after  the 
lapse  of  so  many  years  you  have  not  forgotten  your  old  schoolmaster. 
And,  while  I  am  well  aware  of  my  many  imperfections  as  your  teacher, 
I  comfort  myself  with  the  reflection  that  it  was  always  my  earnest  en- 
deavor to  do  my  duty  faithfully  and  impartially. 

"  And  now,  my  dear  friends,  I  again  tender  to  you,  one  and  all,  my 
most  sincere  thanks  for  your  kind  remembrance,  and  my  best  wishes  for 
your  present  and  future  well-being. 

"Yours  very  truly, 

"A.  A.  Leach. 

"To  Horatio  L.  Cu  shin  an,  Henry  W.Colby,  Joseph  E.Wilbar,  Edward 
A.  Presbiey,  Bowers  Wood,  George  H.  Tanswell,  Charles  A.  Morse, 
Henry  B.  Washburn,  Daniel  H.Mason,  George  A.  Washburn,  Baylies 
W 1,  Gordon  H.  Godfrey." 

This  answer  to  "  the  boys"  moved  one  of  them  to 
pen  the  following  lines  : 

"  So  these  were  '  boys,' — these  with  the  care-worn  look 

Of  twoscore  years  or  more  upon  their  brow. 

Were  these  grim  fellows  we  are  greeting  now 
The  old-time  urchins  of  the  slate  and  book  ? 
Him  wiili  the  sober  phiz  and  trim  cravat, 

Whose  face  scarce  ever  breaks  into  a  smile, — 
Was  this  the  youth  who  donned  the  old  straw  hat 

And,  barefoot,  trudged  for  many  a  weary  mile? 

"  And  this  strong,  burly  chap  of  fourteen  stone, 
Who  romped  in  boyish  sport  upon  'the  Green' 
In  those  old  days, — didst  ever  think,  I  ween, 
Thy  work  should  be  the  saddest  task  of  all : 
To  shroud  and  decorate  the  funeral  pall 
Of  friends  and  schoolmates  thou  so  well  hadst  known? 


"  And  one,  whose  name  appeared  upon  the  list, 
Who  wandered  from  us  at  an  early  day; 

I  wonder  if  the  little  boy  we  missed 

lias  [aid  hie  youthful  looks  and  pranks  away  ? 

I  think  of  him  with  fresh  and  ruddy  check, — 
'I'll is  truant  bee  from  our  scholastic  hive, — 

I  have  in  mind  a  child  with  bearing  meek, 

And  not  thi'  bearded  man  of  forty-five. 

"And  thou,  whose  genial  look  and  pleasant  eye 
Foreshadowed,  even  in  that  youthful  time, 
The  fair  fulfillment  of  thy  manhood's  prime; 

Did  ever v  ;i  thought  possess  thy  brain 

That  thou  wouldst  play  the  soldier  o'er  again 
With  deadly  anus  and  earnest  battle  cry  '.' 
Didst  ever  think  that  on  some  hard-fought  field, 
When  either  combatant  disdained  to  yield, 
That  thou  wouldst  bear  away  the  cruel  scar 
That  marks  the  terrors  of  '  grim-visaged  war'? 

"  Ah  !  dear  old  comrades,  we  but  little  thought 

The  mimic  battles  that  we  daily  fought 

Were  embryotic  forms  of  real  strife 

To  paint  the  conflict  of  a  struggling  life. 
How  little  did  our  boyish  reasoning  mark 

The  ebb  and  flow  of  all  those  troublous  tides, 

Whose  narrow  channels  are  but  treach'rous  guides 
Upon  the  stream  where  human  lives  embark. 

"  And  yet  the  '  boy  is  father  to  the  man,' 

And  did  we  know  it,  each  of  us  might  trace 
Even  in  childhood,  the  imperfect  plan 
That  in  the  years  shall  stare  us  in  the  face. 
Alas  !  we  learn  the  question  quite  too  late 
To  shape  for  better  ends  our  earthly  fate. 
One  thing  alone  is  taught  us  hard  and  faBt, 
We  are  but  '  boys'  and  shall  be  to  the  last." 

Water-Works.1 — The  year  1875  was  a  fortunate 
one  for  Taunton.  It  was  the  birth-year  of  a  project 
for  supplying  the  city  with  an  abundance  of  pure  and 
wholesome  water.  The  early  history  of  the  enter- 
prise is  but  the  history  of  all  progressive  movements 
in  their  beginning.  The  plan  once  seriously  proposed, 
and  the  now  familiar  objections  were  at  once  put  for- 
ward. The  city  did  not  need  a  public  water  supply, 
the  people  were  not  ready  for  it,  the  condition  of  the 
public  treasury  would  not  permit  the  outlay  which 
would  be  required  if  water  were  introduced  in  unlim- 
ited quantities,  the  public  health  would  be  actually 
endangered  because  of  the  lack  of  any  sufficient 
sewers  and  drains  to  carry  away  the  flood, — these  and 
other  objections  more  or  less  fanciful  were  urged  by 
the  timid  and  conservative.  And  now,  eight  years 
later,  the  project  of  1875  is  an  accomplished  fact,  a 
thing  of  seven  years'  growth,  an  indispensable  depart- 
ment of  the  municipal  economy.  And  what  of  those 
who  opposed  the  scheme?  With  scarcely  an  excep- 
tion they  are  now  to  be  counted  among  the  strongest 
friends  of  the  water  department,  and  would  loudly 
protest  against  any  curtailment  or  restriction  of  its 
beneficent  operations. 

The  need  of  a  supply  of  water  more  abundant  and 
certain  than  that  furnished  by  wells,  public  reservoirs, 
or  private  cisterns  seems  first  to  have  been  felt  in'  the 
fire  department.  In  his  report  to  the  City  Council 
for  1871,  Chief  Engineer  Edward   Mott  says,  "We 


i  By  William  It.  Billings. 


804 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL  COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


have  reason  to  feel  thankful  for  the  liberal  appro- 
priation made  the  past  year  for  reservoirs,  yet  a  large 
fire  in  some  parts  of  our  city  would  demonstrate  the 
want  of  several  more.  As  this  is  a  matter  of  so  much 
importance,  I  would  respectfully  call  your  attention 
to  the  expediency  of  introducing  water  into  the  city 
from  some  neighboring  ponds,  which  would  be  a  great 
benefit  to  the  fire  department.  It  could  also  be  used 
for  domestic  and  mechanical  purposes."  But  this 
appeal  brought  no  response.  In  October,  1872,  the 
Albion  Lead- Works,  on  Walnut  Street,  were  wholly 
destroyed  by  fire.  All  the  available  public  reservoirs 
and  private  cisterns  were  pumped  dry,  and  as  a  last 
resort  a  line  of  hose  three  thousand  five  hundred  feet 
in  length  was  laid  to  the  river  in  order  to  get  water 
to  protect  surrounding  property. 

In  his  report  for  1872,  Chief  Engineer  Mott  calls 
attention  to  this  and  other  fires,  renews  his  appeal  for 
more  water,  and  appears  to  be  somewhat  discouraged, 
for  he  says,  "  In  the  absence  of  any  prospect  of  water 
being  introduced  into  the  city  for  a  long  time  to 
come,  it  will  be  necessary  to  build  several  reservoirs 
each  year." 

Mayor  Fox,  in  his  inaugural  for  1873,  says  that  the 
greatest  need  of  the  fire  department  is  a  sufficient 
supply  of  water,  but  he  makes  no  suggestion  as  to 
what  should  be  done. 

On  the  7th  of  May,  1873,  an  extensive  fire  occurred 
on  Broadway,  in  the  building  known  as  Jones'  Athe- 
naeum. The  fire  was  bravely  fought,  but  against  the 
heavy  odds  resulting  from  the  lack  of  sufficient 
water. 

At  last  the  attention  of  the  city  government  seems 
to  have  been  aroused,  for  on  May  14th,  seven  days 
after  this  last  conflagration,  we  find  that  in  the  board 
of  aldermen  it  was  "ordered  that  the  committee  on 
fire  department  be  requested  to  consider  and  report 
whether  any  steps  can  be  taken  to  provide  a  better 
supply  of  water  in  case  of  fire."  This  order  was 
received  from  the  Common  Council  and  was  adopted 
in  concurrence.  The  members  of  this  committee 
were  Aldermen  John  Holland  and  Charles  H.  At- 
wood,  Councilmen  Benjamin  L.  Walker,  Henry  S. 
Harris,  and  Onias  S.  Paige,  and  they  brought  in 
their  report  July  2,  1873. 

From  this  report  it  does  not  appear  that  the  com- 
mittee approached  the  subject  with  any  boldness  or 
with  any  intention  of  doing  more  than  the  immediate 
needs  of  the  fire  department  seemed  to  demand. 
They  admit  in  their  report  that  a  need  of  more  water 
in  time  of  fire  exists,  but  confine  themselves  to  two 
recommendations,  namely :  first,  that  openings  -be 
made  in  the  bridges  at  Winthrop  Street  and  at  Weir 
Street,  for  the  use  of  the  fire  department ;  and  sec- 
ond, that  such  alterations  be  made  upon  the  small 
reservoir  on  Winthrop  Street  as  will  afford  a  better 
supply  ;  the  expense  not  to  exceed  two  hundred  dol- 
lars, the  same  to  be  paid  from  the  appropriation  for 
public  improvements.  These  suggestions  were  adopted 


by  the  City  Council,  and  were  carried  out  under  the 
direction  of  the  committee  and  the  chief  engineer  of 
the  fire  department. 

That  these  measures  were  of  no  especial  value  is 
shown  by  the  fact  that  in  his  report  for  1873  Mr. 
Mott  again  brought  the  matter  forward,  and  asked 
for  a  special  committee  to  consider  the  subject.  Ap- 
parently no  attention  was  paid  to  the  request,  for  we 
find  no  record  that  any  such  committee  was  ap- 
pointed during  the  year  1874. 

But  even  now,  when  it  appeared  that  nothing  had 
been  done  to  secure  to  Taunton  the  many  benefits  be- 
longing to  a  public  water  supply,  the  city  had  un- 
wittingly taken  a  most  fortunate  step  toward  that 
end. 

With  the  co-operation  of  other  cities  and  towns  in 
its  district,  this  city  sent,  in  1874,  Hon.  William  C. 
Lovering  to  the  State  Senate.  Mr.  Lovering  was 
placed  upon  the  Committee  on  Drainage  and  Water 
Supply,  and  from  this  vantage  ground  he  could  see 
clearly  the  city's  need  of  pure  and  wholesome  water. 

No  definite  steps  were  taken  during  the  year  1874, 
but  subsequent  events  plainly  show  that  Senator 
Lovering  returned  to  his  seat  in  1875  with  the  firm 
conviction  that  the  time  had  come  when  prompt  and 
effective  measures  should  be  set  on  foot  to  secure  to 
the  city  by  charter  the  right  to  take  and  hold  the 
waters  either  of  Taunton  River,  or  of  some  of  the 
neighboring  ponds. 

We  are  now  brought  to  the  opening  of  the  year 
1875,  and  very  soon  we  find  the  question  of  water  or 
no  water  squarely  before  the  public.  Mayor  Babbitt 
in  his  inaugural  makes  no  mention  of  the  need  for 
water-works,  either  for  fire  or  domestic  purposes,  but 
Engineer  Mott,  in  his  report  for  1874,  speaks  of  the 
subject  at  greater  length  than  in  any  previous  report, 
and  intimates  that  he  has  received  suggestions  and 
encouragement  from  several  citizens  as  to  ways  and 
means.  For  the  first  time  the  Municipal  Board  of 
Health  seems  to  realize  that  the  question  has  some 
interest  from  its  point  of  view,  and  says  in  its  report, 
"  the  expediency  of  introducing  water  for  the  purpose 
of  flushing  drains  of  the  city  is  impressing  its  import- 
ance on  the  Board  of  Health  from  the  frequency  of 
the  complaints  of  nuisances  resulting  from  their  filthy 
condition." 

From  this  time  on  the  history  of  the  movement  in 
its  various  stages  is  fairly  told  in  the  columns  of  the 
Daily  Gazette.  In  this  journal  for  Jan.  11,  1875,  we 
find  an  anonymous1  article  urging  the  adoption  of  a 
system  of  water-works,  and  outlining  a  plan  which  is 
evidently  based  upon  the  Holly  system  of  direct 
pumping,  and  which  selects  the  Middleborough  ponds 
as  the  location  for  the  pumping-station. 

On  the  15th  of  February  there  appeared  in  the 
same  columns  a  vigorous  article  from  the  pen  of  Sen- 


1  This  article  was  probably  written  by  Percy  M.  Blake,  a  civil  engi- 
neer residing  in  Taunton. 


TAUNTON. 


805 


ator  Lovering.  In  exact  and  forcible  language  he 
calls  attention  to  the  city's  needs1,  declares  that  the 
investigations  made  by  other  cities  and  towns  have 
shown  the  uncertainty  which  exists  as  to  the  purity 
of  well-water  in  thickly-settled  communities,  and 
pointedly  asks  if  Taunton  can  suppose  that  it  is  any 
more  fortunate  in  this  respect  than  other  places.  He 
says  further  that  the  city  should  lose  no  time  in  se- 
curing the  right  to  the  Middleborough  ponds  or  Taun- 
ton River,  and  believes  that  as  posterity  is  to  reap  so 
large  a  share  of  the  benefits  of  the  plan,  that  it  should 
share  the  expense,  and  therefore  recommends  the  issu- 
ing of  thirty-year  bonds  and  the  creation  of  a  sink- 
ing fund  to  provide  for  their  payment  at  maturity. 

Public  attention  had  now  been  called  to  the  matter, 
and  a  petition  for  a  preliminary  survey,  headed  by 
Senator  Lovering,  was  soon  in  circulation.  Hon. 
Edmund  Baylies  gave  evidence  of  his  wise  public 
spirit  by  his  interest  in  the  scheme,  and  wrote  to  Mr 
Lovering,  expressing  his  readiness  to  bear  his  share 
of  the  expense  of  such  a  survey.  The  petition  found 
ready  signers  among  the  leading  manufacturers  and 
property-owners,  and  was  presented  to  the  Common 
Council  at  its  meeting,  March  3,  1875,  and  on  the 
same  evening  there  was  presented  in  the  Board  of 
Aldermen  an  order  directing  the  appointment  of  a 
joint  special  committee,  "with  instructions  to  ascer- 
tain from  what  ponds  or  other  sources  in  the  city  or 
vicinity  a  sufficient  supply  of  pure  water  to  meet  the 
present  and  future  wants  of  the  city  can  be  obtained, 
and  that  the  committee  be  authorized  to  have  such 
surveys  and  estimates  made  as  will  furnish  full  and 
reliable  data  relating  to  the  sources  of  supply  and  the 
cost  of  constructing  the  necessary  works,  and  report 
the  same  in  print  to  the  City  Council." 

Before  its  final  passage,  on  March  17th,  the  order 
received  two  amendments,  one  authorizing  the  com- 
mittee to  expend  the  sum  of  five  hundred  dollars,  the 
other  fixing  the  number  of  the  committee  at  eight, — 
three  aldermen  and  five  councilmen.  By  this  arrange- 
ment each  ward  in  the  city  secured  a  representative, 
and  the  committee  consisted  of  Aldermen  Henry  S. 
Harris,  Onias  S.  Paige,  N.  S.  Williams,  and  Council- 
men  Everett  D.  Godfrey,  George  P.  King,  Charles  P. 
White,  Zephaniah  Hodges,  and  Thomas  Leach. 

To  get  a  committee  appointed  from  the  City  Coun- 
cil is  no  difficult  matter,  but  the  attempt  to  secure  an 
appropriation  for  a  new  scheme  is  generally  consid- 
ered a  severe  test  of  the  strength  of  the  movement. 

The  friends  of  water  were  jubilant,  and  proceeded 
at  once  to  make  the  most  of  the  opportunities  given 
them.  New  names  were  added  almost  daily  to  the 
list  of  those  who  supported  the  scheme,  hut  from  the 
time  of  his  appointment  no  one  was  more  active  and 
earnest  in  the  work  of  pushing  forward  the  project 
than  Henry  S.  Harris,  the  chairman  of  the  joint  spe- 
cial committee. 

News  of  the  project  had  got  abroad  by  this  time, 
and  representatives  of  pump-builders  began  to  make 


their  appearance  in  the  city.  The  following  item  in 
the  Gazette  of  March  16th  indicates  the  condition  of 
the  public  mind:  "The  city  is  thoroughly  waked  up 
on  the  water  supply  question,  and  everywhere  it  is 
the  topic  of  conversation.  Advocates  of  river  water 
and  upholders  of  pond  water  meet  in  dire  wordy  bat- 
tles on  all  possible  occasions,  and  all  the  arguments 
that  can  be  begged,  borrowed,  or  stolen  are  duly  ven- 
tilated in  season  and  out  of  season.  If  the  agitation 
brings  us  in  the  fluid  no  one  will  be  sorry." 

Chairman  Harris  and  his  committee  found  plenty 
to  do.  They  prepared  a  series  of  questions,  which 
was  sent  to  a  large  number  of  cities  and  towns  then 
supplied  with  water.  It  would  seem  that  the  com- 
mittee were  already  favorably  impressed  with  the 
idea  of  dispensing  with  a  reservoir,  for  many  of  these 
questions  bore  directly  upon  the  merits  ami  defects  of 
the  so-called  Holly  system  of  direct  pumping.  They 
began  an  examination  by  chemical  analysis  of  the 
waters  of  Taunton  River,  of  Elder's  and  other  ponds 
in  Lakeville,  and  of  wells  in  various  portions  of  the 
city.  The  banks  of  the  river  were  examined  to  dis- 
cover their  value  for  the  construction  of  filter-beds, 
levels  were  taken  of  the  most  important  points  in  the 
city  and  vicinity,  and  the  preparation  of  a  water  act, 
which  the  Legislature  was  to  be  asked  to  enact,  was 
begun. 

The  chemical  analyses  were  made  by  Professor 
William  Ripley  Nichols,  the  leveling  was  done  by 
Engineers  Montgomery  and  Blake,  and  in  the  prepa- 
ration of  the  Water  Act  the  services  of  Senator  Lover- 
ing were  invaluable. 

At  its  meeting  April  7th  the  City  Council  authorized 
the  mayor  to  petition  the  General  Court  for  the  pass- 
age of  the  Water  Act  and  for  permission  to  issue 
twenty-year  bonds  to  the  amount  of  two  hundred 
thousand  dollars.  An  act  granting  both  of  these  re- 
quests was  approved  May  19,  1875.  The  right  to  the 
Middleborough  ponds  was  not  obtained  without  some 
opposition  from  Lakeville,  Middleborough,  and  New 
Bedford,  and  an  examination  of  sections  1  and  10  of 
the  Water  Act  will  show  that  certain  conditions  were 
affixed  to  the  privileges  accorded  to  Taunton 

On  the  7th  of  July  the  joint  special  committee 
made  its  report,  which  was  received  by  the  City 
Council  in  joint  convention,  and  one  thousand  copies 
were  afterwards  ordered  printed.  This  report  is  much 
too  long  to  be  quoted  here,  and  its  principal  point- 
can  only  he  named.  A-  to  the  quantity  of  water  re- 
quired, the  committee  say  that  though  the  present 
actual  need  is  nine  hundred  thousand  gallons,  they 
cannot  "recommend  any  source  which  would  not  at 
any  time  supply  twice  that  amount,  or,  in  round  num- 
bers, say  two  million  gallons  in  twenty-tour  hours," 
and  for  a  source  of  supply  they  are  evidently,  though 
cautiously,  inclined  to  favor  Taunton  River.  A  report 
from  Professor  Nichols  is  included  in  the  committee's 
report,  giving  the  results  of  his  examination  of  the 
samples  of  water  submitted  to  him,  and  Percy  M. 


806 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL  COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Blake,  C.E.,  presents  certain  plans  and  estimates 
with  an  accompanying  map.  Did  space  permit,  it 
would  be  interesting  to  compare  the  actual  figures 
with  the  committee's  table,  showing  the  estimated 
receipts  from  water  rates.  We  must  content  our- 
selves with  quoting  their  estimate  of  the  direct  annual 
income  of  $16,529,  and  saying  that  these  figures  were 
realized  in  1878.  The  following  estimates  for  various 
plans  were  presented:  Total  cost  of  reservoir  plan, 
$479,779.39;  total  cost  of  stand-pipe  plan,  $300,850.46; 
total  cost  of  Holly  plan,  $249,730;  and  the  report 
closes  with  a  letter  from  the  Bangor  Water  Committee 
giving  their  conclusions  as  to  the  best  methods  of 
supplying  cities  with  water. 

The  recommendations  of  the  joint  special  com- 
mittee are  in  substance  that  the  river  scheme,  by 
direct  pumping,  is  the  most  advantageous  for  the  city, 
that  the  present  is  a  most  favorable  time  to  contract 
for  the  building  of  the  work,  owing  to  the  low  price 
of  iron  and  of  labor,  and  they  "  earnestly  hope  that 
the  time  is  not  far  away  when  we  shall  all  rejoice  in 
its  perfect  consummation." 

During  the  month  of  July,  Engineer  Blake  had  on 
exhibition  at  the  City  Hall  and  in  a  room  in  Jones' 
Block,  Broadway,  apparatus  for  filtering  water  taken 
from  Taunton  River.  These  exhibitions  served  to 
keep  alive  popular  interest  in  the  subject,  and  showed 
that  good  results  might  be  obtained  by  artificial  filtra- 
tion of  water  taken  directly  from  the  river.  At  its 
meeting  of  Aug.  4,  1875,  there  was  laid  before  the 
City  Council  a  petition  signed  by  Hon.  Edmund  H. 
Bennett  and  many  others  asking  the  Council  to  cause 
warrants  for  ward  meetings  to  be  issued,  at  which  the 
citizens  should,  by  their  votes,  accept  or  reject  the 
water  act  passed  by  the  Legislature.  Warrants  were 
accordingly  issued  for  Tuesday,  Sept.  21,  1875. 

The  friends  of  water  made  systematic  efforts  to 
secure  a  full  vote.  Two  preliminary  business  meet- 
ings were  held  in  Bank  Hall  September  10th  and  14th. 
Rallying  committees  were  appointed  in  each  ward, 
and  arrangements  were  made  for  a  mass  meeting  in 
Music  Hall  on  the  evening  preceding  the  day  of 
election.  This  meeting  was  large  and  enthusiastic. 
Hon.  Wm.  C.  Lovering  presided,  and  the  National 
Band,  from  its  station  in  the  gallery,  enlivened  the 
scene  with  strains  of  music.  The  speakers  were  Mr.  J. 
A.  Richardson,  of  the  Holly  Company,  James  Brown, 
Esq.,  Hon.  E.  H.  Bennett,  Dr.  Joseph  Murphy,  Hon. 
Harrison  Tweed,  and  T.  T.  Flagler,  president  of  the 
Holly  Company. 

On  the  following  day  this  question  was  answered 
by  the  citizens  at  the  polls,  "  Shall  the  act  to  supply 
the  city  of  Taunton  with  pure  water  be  accepted?" 
and  in  this  manner: 


Yes.  No. 

Ward  1 278  60 

"   2 182  15 

"   3 285  24 

"   4 168  54 

"   5 12  103 


Yes 


Ward  6. 

"  7., 
"   8., 


No. 

98    107 

16    125 

155     82 


1194    570 

The  result  was  a  surprise  to  even  the  friends  of  the 


measure.  As  was  to  be  expected,  the  opposition 
came  mainly  from  the  outside  wards,  for  the  greatest 
benefits  of  the  proposed  scheme  would  not  imme- 
diately be  felt  by  residents  in  those  wards. 

In  Board  of  Aldermen,  October  6th,  the  joint 
special  committee  were  instructed  to  continue  their 
investigations,  to  make  definite  recommendations  as 
to  where  and  how  the  water  was  to  be  obtained,  to 
decide  upon  the  area  over  which  the  pipes  should  at 
first  be  laid,  and  to  present  estimates  of  the  cost  of 
construction,  and  in  this  order  the  Common  Council 
concurred. 

In  a  resolve  authorizing  a  water  loan  of  two. hun- 
dred thousand  dollars,  which  was  introduced  at  this 
meeting,  the  Common  Council  did  not  concur,  and  in 
the  Board  of  Aldermen  it  was  passed  only  by  the  cast- 
ing vote  of  Mayor  Babbitt.  Upon  this  same  evening, 
however,  the  City  Council  in  joint  convention  elected 
Marcus  M.  Rhodes,  Parley  I.  Perrin,  and  Henry  S. 
Harris  as  water  commissioners  for  periods  of  one, 
two,  and  three  years,  respectively,  from  January, 
1876.  To  aid  them  in  obtaining  the  information  re- 
quired by  the  City  Council,  certain  members  of  the 
joint  special  committee  visited,  in  company  with 
Commissioners-elect  Perrin  and  Rhodes,  several  cities 
and  towns  where  water  had  been  introduced,  and  in 
the  month  of  December  they  made  their  final  report. 
This  report,  though  shorter  than  that  of  July  7th,  is 
too  long  for  quotation,  but  in  it  we  find  the  following 
things  recommended  :  a  filter-bed  at  shallow  water  on 
the  northerly  side  of  Taunton  River;  a  twenty-four- 
inch  conduit  leading  therefrom  to  the  pump-well  at 
the  pumping-station ;  the  pumping-station  to  be 
located  on  the  lot  belonging  to  Ebenezer  Hall,  on 
Dean  Street,  near  the  old  wharf.  A  distributing 
system  consisting  of  a  twenty-inch  force-main  to 
City  Square,  with  twelve-,  ten-,  and  eight-inch 
branches  at  that  point  to  different  portions  of  the 
city,  and  enough  smaller  pipe  to  make  a  total  length 
of  about  twenty-four  miles,  with  one  hundred  and 
eighty  hydrants  and  seventy-five  gates.  The  stand- 
pipe  and  reservoir  plans  are  put  one  side,  and  the 
direct-pumping  system  is  emphatically  declared  to  be 
the  best  suited  to  the  city's  needs  and  circumstances. 
The  total  cost  is  placed  at  two  hundred  and  forty-five 
thousand  dollars.  The  committee  wish  it  distinctly 
understood  that  they  do  not  advocate  any  particular 
kind  of  pumping-machinery,  and  name  the  Worth- 
ington,  the  Holly,  or  the  Flanders  pump  as  being 
then  in  use  in  direct-pumping  systems. 

Things  so  far  had  in  the  main  gone  well  with  the 
friends  of  the  water-works  project,  but  there  was  one 
serious  obstacle  which  must  be  removed  or  conquered 
in  some  way.  The  public  statutes  regulating  muni- 
cipal indebtedness  required  a  two-thirds  vote  of  the 
City  Council  to  authorize  the  issue  of  a  water  loan. 
The  failure  to  get  from  the  City  Council  of  1875  a 
two-thirds  vote  in  favor  of  a  resolution  authorizing  a 
water  loan  of  two  hundred  thousand  dollars  showed 


TAUNTON. 


807 


that  the  task  of  conquering  the  opposition  was  to  be 
a  serious  one  ;  the  friends  of  the  measure,  therefore,  set 
at  work  to  remove  the  obstacle  by  direct  application 
to  the  General  Court. 

So  well  did  they  succeed  in  their  endeavors  that  by 
Feb.  28,  1876,  they  had  secured  the  passage  of  an  act 
which  permits  any  city  which  has  accepted  a  water 
act  by  a  two-thirds  popular  vote  to  contract  debts  and 
issue  bonds  for  the  purposes  named  in  said  act  by  a 
vote  of  the  majority  of  the  members  of  each  branch 
of  the  City  Council.  To  the  untiring  efforts  of  Hon. 
William  C.  Lovering  the  prompt  passage  of  this  act 
was  mainly  due,  and  a  most  important  step  it  was  in 
the  history  of  the  project,  for  had  the  City  Council  of 
1876  failed,  as  did  that  of  1875,  to  authorize  a  water 
loan,  the  success  of  the  scheme  would  have  been  in- 
deed doubtful.  Happily  for  Taunton,  however,  a 
serious  obstacle  to  its  progress  had  been  removed,  and 
on  March  1, 1876,  the  Board  of  Aldermen  by  a  vote  of 
five  to  three  passed  a  resolution  authorizing  a  two 
hundred  thousand  dollars  loan,  and  two  weeks  later 
the  same  resolution  received  in  the  Common  Council 
a  vote  of  sixteen  in  its  favor  to  seven  against  it. 

It  will  be  noted  that  this  loan  was  not  sufficient  to 
permit  the  city  to  enter  upon  the  construction  of 
works  as  extensive  as  those  suggested  by  the  joint 
special  committee  in  their  report  of  December,  1875. 

The  work  was  now  fairly  in  the  hands  of  the 
Water  Commissioners,  and  with  the  passage  of  the 
$200,000  appropriation  by  the  City  Council  their 
duties  really  began.  After  some  deliberation  the 
services  of  Mr.  George  H.  Bishop,  of  Middletown, 
Conn.,  were  secured  as  consulting  engineer.  With 
his  assistance  the  commissioners  entered  upon  the 
work  of  preparing  plans  which  could  be  executed 
for  the  sum  placed  at  their  disposal,  and  by  April 
24th  they  were  prepared  to  advertise  for  proposals 
for  furnishing  and  laying  the  main  pipe  and  distri- 
bution and  for  the  engines  and  pumping-machinery. 

These  plans  included  an  open  filter  basin  lying  in 
the  land  of  Alexander  H.  Williams,  on  the  southerly 
side,  of  Taunton  River,  and  separated  therefrom  by 
about  one  hundred  feet  of  the  natural  bank.  The 
length  of  this  basin  as  finally  constructed  is  four 
hundred  feet,  its  width  at  the  top  one  hundred  feet, 
and  at  the  bottom  seventeen  feet,  and  its  depth 
twenty-three  feet.  It  was  expected  that  the  river 
water  would  filter  through  the  natural  bank  into  this 
basin  to  the  amount  of  1,500,000  gallons  per  day. 
This  basin  or  canal  is  connected  with  the  pump-well 
located  under  the  engine-house  by  a  thirty-six-inch 
conduit,  having  the  usual  arrangement  of  screens 
and  gates.  In  addition  to  this  a  thirty-inch  wrought- 
iron  pipe  extends  from  the  pump-well  directly  into 
the  river,  terminating  in  a  double  crib,  built  of  two- 
inch  plank.  This  end  of  the  pipe  is  eight  feet  below 
mean  low  water  in  the  river,  and  the  space  between 
the  outer  and  inner  crib  is  filled  with  small  broken 
stone,  but  this  pipe  is  for  use  in  emergency  only. 


The  engine-  and  boiler-house  and  the  chimney  are 
of  brick  with  granite  underpinning,  and  the  chimney 
is  one  hundred  feet  in  height. 

There  are  three  boilers  sixty  inches  in  diameter 
and  sixteen  feel  long,  and  each  contains  fifty-four 
flues  three  and  three-quarter  inches  in  diameter. 

At  the  appointed  time  the  proposals  offered  were 
opened  and  the  several  propositions  examined.  It 
was  then  decided  to  be  for  the  interest  of  the  city  to 
divide  the  whole  work  into  two  contracts,  the  one  to 
embrace  the  entire  distributing  system,  including  hy- 
drants and  gates  laid  and  complete  in  the  ground, 
the  other  to  include  the  filter-basin,  the  engine-  and 
boilerdiouse  as  described  above,  together  with  the 
engines  and  pumping-machinery,  with  all  the  neces- 
sary fixtures  to  make  the  same  complete. 

The  proposition  of  R.  D.  Wood  &  Co.,  of  Phila- 
delphia, to  construct  the  distributing  system  accord- 
ing to  the  specifications,  and  guaranteed  to  stand  a  tesl 
pressure  of  two  hundred  pounds  to  the  square  inch,  for 
the  sum  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-four  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  was  the  lowest  bid, 
and  was  accepted.  The  other  contract,  which  in- 
cluded the  pumping-station  in  all  its  details,  was  given 
to  the  Holly  Manufacturing  Company,  of  Lockport, 
N.  Y.,  for  the  sum  of  sixty-two  thousand  dollars. 

These  two  contracts  were  awarded,  with  the  concur- 
rence of  the  City  Council,  on  the  10th  day  of  May, 
1876. 

Ground  was  broken  for  the  filter-basin  May  15th, 
and  immediately  afterwards  the  excavations  were 
begun  for  the  foundations  of  the  engine,  boiler-house, 
and  stack. 

Pipe-laying  was  begun  July  10th,  on  Alder  Street, 
by  Mr.  Chappell,  on  the  part  of  R.  D.  Wood  &  Co., 
and  was  completed  on  the  9th  of  October  following. 
The  engine  and  pumps,  with  all  their  appurtenances, 
were  completed  on  the  30th  of  November,  and  a  pub- 
lic trial  was  had  on  the  2d  day  of  December. 

As  before  stated,  the  appropriation  of  two  hundred 
thousand  dollars  required  a  modification  in  the  plans 
suggested  by  the  committee  in  their  report  of  Decem- 
ber, 1875.  The  necessary  reduction  was  effected  by 
cutting  down  the  amount  of  main  pipe  from  twenty- 
four  miles  to  sixteen,  and  by  changing  a  portion  of 
the  twenty-inch  main  to  sixtecn-inch.  As  completed 
October  9th  the  distributing  system  included  the  fol- 
lowing territory  :  The  twenty-inch  force-main,  start- 
ing from  the  pumping-station,  followed  the  southerly 
bank  of  the  river  to  a  point  opposite  Dean's  Wharf, 
here  it  crossed  the  river  on  the  bottom  to  Dean  Street, 
and  continued  in  an  unbroken  line  to  the  junction  of 
Spring  Street  at  the  rear  of  the  church  green.  At 
this  point  the  main  line  was  reduced  to  sixteen  inches, 
and  an  eight-inch  branch  was  carried  along  Spring 
Street.  The  sixteen-inch  became  twelve-inch  at  the 
corner  of  Weir  Street  and  City  Square,  and  the 
twelve-inch  was  reduced  to  ten-inch  at  the  corner  of 
Cohannet  and  High  Streets. 


808 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


From  City  Square  eight-inch  lines  reached  out  north 
and  south  to  Whittenton  and  the  Weir,  and  sub-mains 
covered  in  large  part  the  territory  bounded  on  the 
north  by  Whittenton  Street,  on  the  east  by  Union  and 
Summer  Streets,  on  the  south  by  Second  Street,  and 
on  the  west  by  Pine  Street. 

The  public  trial  of  the  works,  which  was  made  De- 
cember 2d,  was  an  unqualified  success,  and  the  men 
who  "had  always  said  that  a  system  of  water-works 
would  be  a  good  thing  for  Taunton"  were  out  in  full 
force.  During  the  forenoon  three  streams  at  the  Weir 
and  three  at  Whittenton  were  thrown  simultaneously 
in  order  to  show  the  ability  of  the  works  to  cover -fires 
at  two  widely  separated  points  at  once.  The  princi- 
pal display  began  at  1.30  p.m.,  when  six  one-inch 
streams  were  thrown  from  hydrants  on  City  Square. 
The  number  of  streams  was  afterwards  increased  in 
answer  to  signals  given  on  the  fire  bell,  until  at  two 
o'clock  fifteen  one-inch  streams  were  deluging  that 
part  of  the  city  extending  along  Main  Street  from 
Cedar  Street  to  the  junction  of  Winthrop  and  Cohan- 
net  Streets.  Later  in  the  afternoon  a  single  three- 
inch  stream  was  thrown  from  a  special  connection  on 
the  sixteen-inch  main  at  the  liberty  pole.  The  day 
was  a  cold  one,  the  mercury  showing  only  eight  de- 
grees above  zero  early  in  the  morning,  and  after  the 
trial  the  streets  looked  as  if  there  had  been  a  heavy 
snow-fall,  and  the  buildings  on  which  the  streams  had 
been  thrown  as  if  they  had  passed  through  a  second 
flood.  The  total  cost  of  the  works  as  they  stood  on 
this  day  of  the  public  trial  was  $203,936.83. 

The  loan  of  $200,000  had  been  negotiated  on  such 
favorable  terms  as  to  command  a  premium  of  over 
$20,00(J,  so  that  with  the  works  completed  there  was 
a  balance  in  the  city  treasury  of  $16,000.  And  now 
in  conclusion  let  us  state  as  briefly  as  possible  the 
condition  of  the  works  after  seven  years  of  growth 
and  extension.  The  original  filter-basin  or  canal  did 
not  meet  the  expectations  of  its  projectors  in  the 
amount  of  water  which  it  could  furnish,  and  in  1880 
an  additional  source  of  supply  was  opened  by  the 
construction  of  an  underground  filter  conduit.  En- 
gineer Bishop  was  recalled  to  give  advice  and  super- 
intendence in  this  work.  This  conduit,  its  form  and 
construction,  is  fully  described  in  the  fifth  annual  re- 
port of  the  water  commissioners.  It  is  of  brick,  egg- 
shaped  in  section,  five  feet  two  inches  in  height,  and 
four  feet  in  its  largest  transverse  diameter.  It  enters 
the  original  filter-basin  at  the  northeast  corner,  and 
follows  the  bank  of  the  river  up  stream  for  a  distance 
of  eight  hundred  and  sixty-three  feet.  The  commis- 
sioners instructed  Engineer  Bishop  to  build  this  con- 
duit as  near  the  river  as  safety  would  permit,  so  that 
as  large  a  supply  as  possible  might  be  received  from  | 
this  source,  and  accordingly  the  -bank  separating  the  | 
river  and  conduit  is  nowhere  more  than  thirty  or  forty 
feet  in  thickness.  The  cost  of  this  extension  was 
$15,512.23,  and  the  supply,  both  in  quality  and  quan- 
tity, gives  abundant  satisfaction.     In  the  year  1877  I 


seven  miles  of  pipe,  mostly  six-  and  four-inch,  were 
laid.  In  1880  a  second  force  main  of  twelve-inch  and 
ten-inch  pipe  was  brought  from  the  pumping  station 
into  the  city  by  way  of  Williams  and  County  Streets, 
crossing  the  river  on  the  Neck  o'  Land  Bridge,  and  in 
1882  the  village  of  Westville  was  supplied  through 
an  eight-inch  main  along  the  line  of  Cohannet  Street. 
And  finally  from  the  seventh  annual  report  of  the 
commissioners  we"  learn  that  the  original  sixteen  miles 
of  pipe  has  increased  to  forty-two  miles,  that  there 
are  in  the  city  367  hydrants  and  238  gates,  that  the 
number  of  private  services  taken  from  the  mains  is 
2062,  that  there  are  in  use  401  meters,  and  that  the 
water  rates  for  the  year  1882  brought  into  the  depart- 
ment $26,064.32,  exclusive  of  hydrant  service,  which 
amounts  to  $9330  more,  and  that  the  total  cost  is  set 
down  as  $422,224.66.  The  wildest  enthusiast  of  1875 
did  not  dream  of  such  a  growth. 

The  officers  of  the  water  department  have  been 
changed  to  some  extent  since  the  beginning.  Of  the 
original  commissioners,  Parley  I.  Perrin  is  the  only 
one  now  in  office,  April,  1883.  At  the  conclusion  of 
his  term  in  1879,  Commissioner  M.  M.  Rhodes  de- 
clined a  re-election,  and  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  Henry 
M.  Lovering,  who  still  holds  the  position.  On  the  16th 
of  March,  1881,  Commissioner  Harris  was  removed  by 
death,  and  his  place  was  filled  by  the  election  of  Silas 
D.  Presbrey,  M.  D.,  whose  term  expires  with  the  year 
1884.  In  October,  1876,  Mr.  H.  Frank  Bassett  was 
elected  clerk  of  the  board,  and  served  with  fidelity 
and  ability  in  that  capacity  until  July,  1879,  when 
he  resigned  to  engage  in  a  manufacturing  enterprise 
at  Appleton,  Wis.  The  office  of  clerk  thus  made 
vacant  was  filled  by  the  election  of  William  R.  Bil- 
lings. The  water  commissioners  at  a  regular  meeting 
held  Feb.  24,  1883,  voted  to  appoint  Mr.  Billings  as 
superintendent  of  the  works,  and  this  choice  was 
formally  ratified  by  the  Board,  of  Aldermen  at  its 
meeting  March  7th,  and  by  the  Common  Council  at 
its  meeting  March  12th. 

Taunton  Lunatic  Hospital,  the  second  State  hos- 
pital for  the  insane  in  the  commonwealth,  was  built 
under  an  act  of  the  Legislature  approved  May  24, 
1851,  the  State  appropriating  for  the  purpose  the  sum 
of  one  hundred  thousand  dollars,  and  at  subsequent 
periods  before  its  occupation  ninety  thousand  dollars. 
The  commissioners  appointed  to  carry  out  the  inten- 
tion of  the  Legislature  were  George  N.  Briggs,  James 
D.  Thompson,  and  John  W.  Graves.  After  a  careful 
examination  of  several  places  it  was  decided  to  locate 
the  hospital  in  what  was  then  the  town  of  Taunton. 
By  a  vote  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town,  and  by  vol- 
untary contributions  of  its  citizens,  the  sum  of  thir- 
teen thousand  dollars  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  the 
commissioners  for  the  purchase  of  the  valuable  and 
beautiful  site  upon  which  it  was  erected.  Many  of  the 
leading  citizens  of  Taunton  took  an  active  interest  in 
its  establishment  and  location,  chief  among  whom 
were  Governor  Marcus  Morton  and  the  late  Samuel 


TAUNTUN". 


.Sny 


C.  Crocker,  the  former  being  chairman  of  the  first 
board  of  trustees,  and  the  latter  a  trustee  at  the  time 
of  bis  death.  The  tract  of  land  on  which  the  hospital 
stands  contains  ahout  one  hundred  and  thirty-four 
acres,  and  is  exceedingly  well  adapted  to  the  purposes 
of  such  an  institution.  The  grounds  extend  in  a 
southerly  direction  from  the  buildings.  The  site  has 
many  natural  advantages.  A  beautiful  grove  of  more 
than  sixty  acres  lies  in  front  of  the  hospital,  through 
which  the  avenue  approaches  the  buildings.  Id  adds 
much  beauty  to  the  landscape,  and  affords  an  agree- 
able shade  to  the  patients  through  the  warm  season. 
In  addition  to«the  natural  advantages  of  the  location. 
much  has  been  done  to  improve  and  embellish  it,  and 
at  the  present  time  it  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
spots  in  Taunton.  In  July,  1853,  the  first  board  of 
trustees  was  appointed,  and  in  October  of  that  year  the 
first  superintendent,  Dr.  George  S.  C.  Cboat.  The 
buildings  and  property  were  delivered  into  the  hands 
of  the  trustees  by  the  commissioners  Feb.  2,  1854,  and 
in  the  month  of  April  following  the  hospital  was 
opened  for  the  reception  of  patients.  Since  that 
time,  during  the  twenty-nine  years  of  its  existence, 
more  than  eight  thousand  patients  have  been  received 
and  treated  within  its  wards  for  their  various  mental 
diseases. 

The  hospital  is  situated  on  a  gentle  eminence  at  the 
extreme  northerly  part  of  the  farm,  and  about  one 
mile  from  the  Green  or  business  portion  of  the  city. 
It  is  built  of  brick,  three  stories  high.  The  building 
fronts  south  or  a  little  west  of  south,  and  originally 
consisted  of  a  central  building  and  two  wings  on  either 
side.  The  centre  building  is  fifty-five  feet  in  width, 
and  projects  in  front  about  fifty  feet  from  the  wings. 
In  this  are  the  medical  and  business  offices,  reception- 
rooms,  dispensary,  apartments  for  the  superintendent 
and  his  family  and  the  other  officers.  It  is  surmounted 
by  a  dome  which  rises  seventy  feet  above  the  roof, 
from  which  may  be  seen  views  of  the  surrounding 
country  of  great  beauty.  In  the  rear  centre  building 
on  the  first  floor  are  the  kitchen,  bakery,  store-rooms, 
and  dining-rooms  for  the  employes;  on  the  second 
floor  the  chapel,  library,  work-rooms,  and  store-rooms 
for  dry-goods  ;  third  story  containing  dormitories  for 
the  employes. 

In  the  years  1873  and  1874,  during  the  superin- 
tendence- of  Dr.  W.  W.  Godding,  the  hospital  was 
enlarged  by  building  two  new  wings,  extending  one 
hundred  and  thirty-three  feet  east,  and  the  same  dis- 
tance west  from  the  extreme  limit  of  the  old  building, 
making  the  whole  extent  of  the  completed  building 
in  a  right  line  six  hundred  and  thirty-eight  feet.  The 
new  wards  are  very  light,  airy,  and  cheerful,  with 
beautiful  landscape  view--  from  the  windows  and  ver- 
andas. Since  the  building  of  the  new  wings  very 
material  changes  have  been  made  in  the  older  por- 
tions of  the  hospital,  some  of  the  wards  having  been 
almost  entirely  rebuilt,  which  have  rendered  them 
more  cheerful  and  pleasant,  more  light  having  been 


introduced  by  increasing  the  number  and  size  of  the 
windows,  and  the  ventilation  has  been  much  im- 
proved. As  originally  constructed  the  hospital  was 
designed  to  accommodate  two  hundred  and  fifty 
patients,  but  by  the  addition  of  the  new  wings  its 
capacity  has  been  increased  to  five  hundred  and  fifty. 

There  are  at  present  nine  wards  for  each  sex,  the 
patients  being  classified  according  to  their  mental 
state  rather  than  social  position,  or  the  rate  of  board 
per  week.  Each  ward  or  hall  consists  of  a  corridor 
with  rooms  on  either  side,  which  are  occupied  by  the 
patients  as  sleeping-rooms,  most  of  the  patients  being 
on  the  wards  by  day.  The  corridors  are  very  light  and 
pleasant,  the  light  being  admitted  from  one  or  both 
ends,  while  some  of  the  halls  have  besides  large  bay 
windows.  Connected  with  each  ward  is  a  dining-room, 
a  wash-room  with  set  wash-basins,  a  bath-room,  and 
water-closet.  The  food  is  cooked  in  one  centre 
kitchen,  and  taken  in  cars  through  the  basement, 
and  lifted  to  the  several  dining-rooms  by  elevators. 

The  out-buildings  consist  of  a  barn  of  ample  ca- 
pacity for  twenty  cows  and  six  oxen,  a  piggery,  a 
shed  for  storing  farming  utensils,  a  stable,  a  carriage- 
house,  a  laundry  building,. carpenter-  and  machine* 
shop,  boiler-house,  coal-house  and  bowling-alley. 
All  except  the  piggery,  shed,  and  bowling-alley  are 
built  of  brick  and  in  the  most  substantial  manner, 
the  carriage-house  having  been  enlarged  and  coal- 
house  rebuilt  in  1880.  The  present  laundry  building 
was  erected  in  1878,  the  State  appropriating  ten 
thousand  dollars  for  the  purpose,  for  which  sum  it 
was  built  and  furnished.  It  is  eighty  feet  by  thirty- 
eight.  It  is  fitted  up  with  all  the  modern  appliances 
for  doing  laundry-work,  and  is  considered  one  of  the 
best  laundries  in  the  State.  The  boiler-house,  erected 
in  1874,  contains  five  forty-horse  boilers  to  generate 
steam  for  heating  and  other  purposes,  all  the  build- 
ings being  heated  by  steam,  about  twelve  hundred 
tons  of  coal  being  consumed  each  year.  A  forty- 
horse  power  Corliss  engine  drives  the  machinery  in 
the  carpenter-shop  and  laundry. 

In  1882,  for  the  purpose  of  securing  more  conve- 
niences in  the  administrative  part  of  the  hospital,  an 
extension  was  built  to  the  rear  centre,  the  State  ap- 
propriating for  the  purpose  twenty-seven  thousand 
live  hundred  dollars.  In  this  building  the  hospital 
has  secured  good  store-rooms,  work-rooms  for  the 
patients,  and  dormitories  for  the  employes.  Under  it 
is  an  ample  cellar.  In  the  brick  tower  is  placed  an 
iron  tank,  with  a  capacity  of  eighteen  thousand  gal- 
lons of  water,  which  seems  a  large  amount,  but  is  less 
than  one-half  what  is  used  in  one  day.  During  the 
past  ten  years  the  capacity  of  the  hospital  has  been 
nearly  doubled  by  the  erection  of  new  buildings. 
All  parts  of  the  buildings  are  in  good  condition,  the 
older  portions  having  been  repaired  and  reconstructed 
in  a  great  degree.  The  hospital  may  now  he  called 
essentially  completed,  unless  the  State  should  decide 
to  make  further  provision  for  patients  by  the  erection 


810 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


of  detached  buildings.  This  it  is  to  be  hoped  will 
not  be  done,  as  the  institution  is  now  sufficiently 
large  to  secure  the  best  results  in  the  cure  and  treat- 
ment of  the  inmates. 

The  hospital,  although  a  State  institution,  has  been 
entirely  self-supporting  since  first  opened  for  the  re- 
ception of  patients.  It  has  not  only  paid  its  current 
expenses  from  the  income  derived  from  the  board  of 
patients,  but  it  has  expended  during  the  twenty-nine 
years  of  its  existence,  over  and  above  what  it  has  cost 
to  support  the  establishment,  above  two  hundred 
thousand  dollars  in  the  erection  of  new  buildings, 
and  in  general  repairs  and  improvements,  for  which 
the  State  has  received  the  benefit  in  the  increased 
value  of  the  property.  The  expense  of  building  the 
brick  barn,  stable,  piggery,  coal-house,  addition  to  the 
carpenter-shop,  and  the  reconstruction  and  repairs  of 
the  old  wings  and  centre  building  have  been  paid  for 
from  the  current  income  of  the  hospital.  The  whole 
amount  which  the  State  has  appropriated  to  the  hos- 
pital for  building  and  all  other  purposes  since  the  act 
authorizing  its  erection  down  to  the  present  time  is 
the  sum  of  four  hundred  and  seventy-one  thousand 
five  hundred  dollars,  which  is  less  than  one-half  the 
present  value  of  the  property,  and  less  than  one-third 
of  what  the  State  has  recently  expended  in  building 
either  of  the  new  hospitals  for  accommodations  but 
little  superior  in  extent  or  comfort  for  the  patients. 

The  general  direction  of  all  the  affairs  of  the  hospital, 
subject  to  the  approval  of  the  board  of  trustees,  in 
whom  is  invested  by  law  the  management  of  the  in- 
stitution, is  intrusted  to  the  superintendent,  who  is 
thus  made  the  head  of  the  institution,  and  is  respon- 
sible to  the  trustees  for  the  proper  conduct  of  all  its 
departments.  To  aid  him  in  the  medical  care  of 
the  patients  there  are  two  assistant  physicians,  one 
having  the  care  of  the  men  and  the  other  the  women, 
the  immediate  oversight  of  the  patients  being  con- 
fided to  four  superiors,  two  for  the  men  and  two  for 
the  women,  who  spend  most  of  their  time  in  the 
wards  to  nurse  the  sick,  look  after  the  general  inter- 
ests of  all,  and  to  see  that  the  attendants  are  attentive 
to  the  wants  of  the  patients,  and  treat  them  discreetly 
and  kindly.  The  personal  charge  of  patients  is  com- 
mitted to  the  attendants,  of  whom  there  are  two  or 
more  in  each  ward,  the  average  number  being  pne 
attendant  to  thirteen  patients.  The  duties  of  attend- 
ants are  responsible  and  arduous,  and  can  only  be 
discharged  properly  by  persons  who  have  peculiar 
natural  qualifications  for  the  work.  Besides  those 
who  are  in  immediate  connection  with  the  patients 
there  are  various  persons  employed  in  other  depart- 
ments of  the  hospital.  A  housekeeper,  who  has 
charge  of  the  kitchen  and  stores  and  who  superin- 
tends the  cooking  and  distribution  of  the  food;  a 
baker;  a  laundrer;  a  seamstress,  under  whose  direc- 
tion a  considerable  number  of  female  patients  are  em- 
ployed daily  in  making  up  clothing  for  the  inmates; 
an  engineer,  who  has  charge  of  the  steam-boilers,  the 


heating  apparatus,  and  the  water  supply;  and  a 
farmer,  who  has  charge  of  the  farm  and  stock,  which 
usually  consist  of  about  twenty  cows  and  from  four  to 
six  oxen, — the  twenty  cows  furnishing  about  half  of 
the  milk  used  by  the  hospital. 

The  physicians  of  this  hospital  have  kept  abreast 
ot  the  most  advanced  ideas  in  the  treatment  of  in- 
sanity, and  while  due  prominence  lias  been  given  to 
the  proper  use  of  drugs  and  other  medicines,  and  any 
new  discovery  which  promises  to  be  useful  in  the 
healing  art  is  fully  tested,  no  less  attention  has  been 
given  to  the  so-called  moral  treatment  of  the  insane, 
of  which  mental  occupation  is  made  the  leading 
feature,  combined,  when  it  can  be,  with  physical 
labor,  the  purpose  of  which  is  to  promote  physical 
improvement,  and  to  divert  the  morbid  fancies  and 
perverted  ideas  of  the  insane  mind  into  healthy  chan- 
nels of  thought.  Any  measure  which  will  promote 
this  becomes  curative.  All  cannot  be  reached  by  the 
same  means  and  method,  hence  the  importance  of  a 
variety  of  employments  and  occupations  to  meet  all 
cases.  For  most  of  the  male  patients  nothing  has 
been  found  more  conducive  to  mental  health  than 
labor  on  the  land,  and  to  that  end  effort  is  made  to 
have  as  many  of  them  work  on  the  farm  as  are  in  a 
suitable  condition,  many,  of  course,  being  unable,  by 
reason  of  physical  or  mental  disability,  to  perform 
any  labor.  Others,  who  prefer  it,  work  in  the  laun- 
dry, the  boiler-house,  the  carpenter-shop,  and  about 
the  house  or  grounds.  Many  of  the  women  find  con- 
genial employment  in  the  large,  pleasant,  and  airy 
sewing-room,  while  some,  who  are  unfitted  to  go  to 
the  sewing-room,  are  employed  in  the  halls  in  knit- 
ting and  sewing  under  the  direction  of  a  special  at- 
tendant. A  considerable  number  of  women  work  in 
the  kitchen  and  laundry  and  in  other  general  work 
about  the  hospital,  while  many  of  both  sexes  find 
employment  on  the  halls  and  in  the  dining-rooms 
assisting  the  attendants.  In  these  various  ways  thus 
indicated  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  are  employed 
more  or  less  constantly.  Some  others  busy  them- 
selves in  doing  fancy  work,  and  a  goodly  number 
while  away  their  time  in  reading  the  newspapers 
which  are  furnished  them,  and  books  and  magazines 
from  the  hospital  library,  about  ninety-five  books 
being  taken  from  the  library  each  week  ;  still  others 
amuse  themselves  by  playing  various  games.  During 
the  autumn  and  winter  months  a  variety  of  entertain- 
ments is  provided  in  the  chapel  each  week,  consisting 
of  gymnastic  exercises,  with  music,  exhibitions  of 
views  of  home  and  foreign  scenes  with  the  stereop- 
ticon,  accompanied  by  descriptive  lectures  on  the  lo- 
calities and  objects  represented,  amateur  theatricals, 
•musical  concerts,  readings,  social  dances,  and  other 
entertainments  as  they  can  be  secured,  make  up  the 
list  of  exercises  which  afford  mental  occupation  and 
direct,  the  mind  from  self  and  morbid  fancies.  Every 
Sabbath  afternoon  religious  services  are  held  in  the 
chapel    by  the    different   clergymen    from   the    city. 


TAUNTON. 


811 


Much  attention  is  given  to  out-door  exercise,  and 
when  the  weather  is  suitable  the  patients  walk  out 
daily.  During  the  warm  season  they  spend  much 
time  in  the  open  air  and  in  the  pleasant  grove,  which, 
besides  being  cool  and  shady,  is  made  attractive  by 
the  songs  of  birds  and  the  nimble  activity  of  the 
numerous  squirrels,  red  and  gray,  which  inhabit  the 
woods,  and  are  protected  in  their  rights  of  eminent 
domain  by  all  residents  of  the  hospital. 

The  institution  is  managed  by  a  board  of  five  trus- 
tees, appointed  by  the  Governor  and  Council,  who 
hold  their  office  for  a  term  of  five  years,  one  trustee 
being  appointed  each  year.  One  or  more  members  of 
the  board  visit  the  hospital  each  week,  and  make  a 
thorough  inspection  of  the  wards  and  other  depart- 
ments, consider  the  discharge  of  patients,  and  any 
other  business  relating  to  the  affairs  or  management 
of  the  hospital.  The  trustees  serve  without  compen- 
sation, and  give  much  valuable  time  to  the  careful 
oversight  of  the  institution.  There  have  been  but 
three  superintendents  since  the  opening  of  the  hos- 
pital. Dr.  George  S.  C.  Choate,  the  first  superinten- 
dent, was  appointed  October,  1853,  and  resigned  in 
April,  1870.  Dr.  W.  W.  Godding  succeeded  him, 
and  continued  in  the  position  until  July,  1877.  Dr. 
Godding  was  succeeded  by  the  present  superintendent, 
Dr.  John  P.  Brown. 

More  than  eight  thousand  patients  have  been 
treated  within  its  wards  for  their  various  forms  of 
mental  disease,  of  whom  not  less  than  thirty  per  cent. 
have  recovered  and  returned  to  their  families  and 
society,  while  a  still  greater  number  have  been  much 
improved  in  their  mental  condition,  and  others,  whose 
mental  infirmities  rendered  them  a  burden  to  their 
friends,  have  found  it  a  comfortable  home. 

The  present  trustees  are  Le  Baron  Russell,  Boston ; 
Oakes  A.  Ames,  Easton  ;  George  How-land,  Jr.,  New 
Bedford  ;  William  C.  Lovering,  Taunton,  and  Simeon 
Borden,  Fall  River.  Superintendent  and  Physician, 
John  P.  Brown,  M.D. ;  Assistant  Physicians,  William 
H.  Gage  and  Marcello  Hutchinson  ;  Treasurer,  John 
Hittredge. 

The  Old  Colony  Historical  Society  '  received  its 
act  of  incorporation  May  4,  1853,  Nathaniel  Morton, 
Samuel  Hopkins  Emery,  Hodges  Reed,  their  associ- 
ates and  successors,  being  made  such  a  corporation 
"for  the  purpose  of  preserving  and  perpetuating  the 
history  of  the  Old  Colony  in  Massachusetts,  and  of 
collecting  and  holding  documents,  books,  and  memoirs 
relating  to  its  history."  Its  first  officers  were:  Presi- 
dent, Nathaniel  Morton,  of  Taunton  ;  Vice-Presi- 
dents, S.  Hopkins  Emery,  of  Taunton,  John  Dag- 
gett, of  Attleborough  ;  Directors,  Mortimer  Blake,  of 
Mansfield,  Samuel  L.  Crocker,  of  Taunton,  Ellis  Ames, 
of  Canton,  Henry  B.  Wheelwright,  of  Taunton,  Wil- 
liam R.  Deane,  of  Boston,  Caleb  Swan,  of  Easton  ; 
Recording  Secretary  and  Librarian,  Edgar  H.  Reed, 


of  Taunton ;  Corresponding  Secretary,  John  Ordro- 
naux,  of  Taunton;  Treasurer,  Hodges  Reed,  of  Taun- 
ton. Of  these  twelve  original  members  and  officers 
seven  are  still  living,  three  only  in  Taunton.  The 
meetings  have  always  been  held  in  Taunton,  and  its 
collections  arc  here,  although  its  presenl  resident 
membership  of  eighty  arc  distributed  through  all  the 
towns  of  the  Old  Colony.  Interesting  historical  papers 
are  expected  at  the  quarterly  meetings,  and  already 
two  publications  have  appeared  giving  the  outside 
world  the  benefit  of  these  papers. 

Its  present  list  of  officers  are:  President,  Hon. 
John  Daggett,  of  Attleborough;  Vice-Presidents,  Rev. 
Mortimer  Blake,  D.D.,  of  Taunton  (vacancy  by  death 
of  Hon.  S.  L.  Crocker,  of  Taunton,  not  filled) ;  Record- 
ing and  Corresponding  Secretary,  Charles  A.  Reed, 
Esq.,  of  Taunton ;  Treasurer,  E.  U.  Jones,  M.D.,  of 
Taunton;  Librarian,  E.  C.  Arnold,  Esq.,  of  Taunton; 
Historiographer,  William  E.  Fuller,  Esq.,  of  Taun- 
ton ;  Directors,  Hon.  E.  H.  Bennett,  of  Taunton,  Rev. 
S.  Hopkins  Emery,  of  Taunton,  Hon.  John  S.  Bray- 
ton,  of  Fall  River,  Gen.  E.  W.  Pierce,  of  Freetown, 
James  H.  Dean,  Esq.,  of  Taunton. 

Public  Library.2 — The  Taunton  Social  Library, 
Young  Men's  Library,  and  the  Agricultural  Library, 
numbering  respectively  four  thousand  and  sixty, 
one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventy-five,  and 
one  hundred  and  seventy-three  volumes,  besides  five 
hundred  and  seventeen  volumes  of  public  documents 
which  had  been  donated  to  these  libraries,  all  of  which 
were  transferred  to  the  city,  formed  the  nucleus  of 
the  collection  now  known  as  the  Public  Library  of 
the  city  of  Taunton.  A  city  ordinance  and  an  ap- 
propriation gave  the  library  a  formal  existence  in 
1866.  It  will  thus  be  seen  that  two  years  alter  the 
incorporation  of  Taunton  as  a  city  a  public  library 
free  to  all  inhabitants  had  been  established. 

The  Taunton  Social  Library,  the  oldest  of  the  in- 
stitutions which  were  merged  in  the  Public  Library, 
was  started  in  1825.  Among  the  names  of  prominent 
original  shareholders  we  observe  that  of  Theophilus 
Parsons,  afterwards  Dane  Professor  of  Law  in  the  Har- 
vard Law  School.  The  proprietors  were  principal  In- 
dependent for  additions  to  the  shelves  to  May-day 
festivals,  and  to  that  unfailing  resource  of  young  pro- 
prietary libraries,  courses  of  lectures.  The  Young 
Men's  Library  Association  was  also  aided  in  its  en- 
terprise by  lecture  courses,  as  well  as  by  fairs  and 
levees  undertaken  by  the  ladies,  and  by  the  subscrip- 
tions of  public-spirited  citizens,  the  late  Samuel  1'-. 
King,  Esq.,  leading  in  this  direction  with  several 
gifts  of  one  hundred  dollars  each,  and  ending  with 
the  creation  of  the  "  King  Fund"  of  one  thousand 
dollars,  the  income  of  which  was  to  be  expended  in 
the  purchase  of  standard  works.  Since  the  transfer 
this  endowment  accrues  for  a  like  purpose  to  the 
benefit  of  the  Public  Library. 


'  By  8.  Hopkins  Emery. 


«By  E.  C.  Arnold,  librarian. 


812 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


The  sources  of  income  of  the  library  since  it  became 
a  city  institution  have  been  annual  appropriations 
and  the  dog  tax  from  the  city,  the  interest  of  the 
King  fund,  and  the  miscellaneous  receipts  of  the 
library  itself.  It  has  been  the  regular  recipient  of 
publications  from  the  Department  of  the  Interior  and 
other  departments  of  the  general  government,  from 
the  Smithsonian  Institution,  from  the  district  rep- 
resentative and  other  members  of  Congress,  from  the 
Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth,  the  Cobden  Club  of 
London,  and  from  various  institutions  and  individu- 
als throughout  the  country.  The  largest  donations  of 
books  from  private  individuals  were  those  made  by 
the  Hon.  Edmund  H.  Bennett,  LL.D.,  S.  O.  Dunbar, 
Esq.,  and  the  late  Mrs.  Harriet  Baylies  Morton. 
Among  early  donors  were  the  late  Rev.  Charles  H. 
Brigham,  who  during  his  residence  in  Taunton  and 
after  his  removal  always  manifested  an  interest  in  the 
prosperity  of  the  library,  the  late  Hon.  Charles 
Sumner,  J.  A.  Garfield,  M.C.,  and  also  the  late 
David  Paul  Brown,  the  eminent  Philadelphia  lawyer, 
who  spent  one  year  of  his  school  life  in  Taunton. 

A  catalogue  of  the  combined  libraries  was  pub-" 
lished  at  the  opening  in  1866,  and  two  supplements 
were  issued  in  1873  and  1874,  each  arranged  alpha- 
betically under  authors  and  titles.  In  1876  a  new 
catalogue,  embracing  an  alphabetical  arrangement  of 
authors,  with  a  classified  index  under  thirteen  gen- 
eral heads  and  two  hundred  and  forty-six  sub-heads, 
was  undertaken,  and  was  published  early  in  1878. 
To  this  a  supplementary  catalogue  was  added  in  1881. 

The  library  at  the  present  time  numbers  nearly 
twenty  thousand  volumes.  A  careful  examination  of 
the  catalogue  we  think  will  show  a  much  smaller 
proportion  of  ephemeral  literature  than  usual  in  such 
collections.  Indeed,  it  has  been  the  persistent  aim  of 
the  officers  not  only  to  keep  out  books  of  an  objec- 
tionable character,  but  to  provide  those  which  afford 
the  healthiest  stimulus  to  the  reader  both  in  his  studi- 
ous and  recreative  moods.  The  annual  circulation 
reaches  nearly  sixty  thousand  volumes,  besides  a 
large  number  of  books  which  are  consulted  in  the 
library  building.  The  reading-room,  which  is  sup- 
plied with  files  of  the  principal  newspapers  and 
periodicals  of  the  day,  is  largely  frequented. 

The  present  officers  of  the  library  are:  Trustees, 
ex  officio,  H.  L.  Cushman,  mayor,  president;  ex  officio, 
George  H.  Rhodes,  president  of  the  Common  Council ; 
Timothy  Gordon,  Esq.,  Charles  W.  Hartshorn,  Esq., 
secretary;  Hon.  William  H.  Fox,  Charles  H.  Car- 
ver, Esq.,  Edmund  H.  Bennett,  LL.D.,  Mortimer 
Blake,  D.D.;  Librarian,  E.  C.  Arnold;  Assistants, 
Miss  Hattie  B.  French,  Miss  Etta  Shannon. 

The  Bristol  County  Bible  Society,1  although  not 
existing  now,  was  for  many  years  active  in  raising 
money  for  the  American  Bible  Society,  and  supplying 
destitute  families  in  the  county.     Its  meetings  were 


1  By  Rev.  S.  Hopkins  Emery. 


generally  held  in  Taunton,  but  its  record  book  has 
disappeared  with  the  society,  and  no  full  account  can 
be  given  of  its  origin  or  its  doings. 

In  an  issue  of  the  Bristol  Cowity  Democrat,  "  Fri- 
day, September  6,  1839,"  on  file  among  the  papers  of 
that  enthusiastic  antiquarian,  Capt.  J.  W.  D.  Hall,  I 
find  a  printed  "  report  of  the  Taunton  and  vicinity 
Bible  Society,"  at  what  is  called  its  "  first  annual 
meeting,"  presented  by  "  S.  Hopkins  Emery,  Secre- 
tary." The  receipts  of  the  society  for  the  preceding 
year  had  been  $570.78.  Its  officers  appointed  for  the 
ensuing  year  were  Rev.  Erastus  Maltby,  president; 
Rev.  Edward  Neville,  Rev.  E.  B.  Bradford,  Silas 
Shepard,  Esq.,  Rev.  Alvan  Cobb,  Wm.  A.  Crocker, 
Esq.,  vice-presidents ;  Rev.  S.  Hopkins  Emery,  sec- 
retary;  William  Reed,  Esq.,  treasurer;  Rev.  S.  H. 
Emery,  William  Reed,  Solomon  Woodward,  Jr., 
John  R.  Hixon,  Hodges  Reed,  executive  committee. 
The  organization,  as  it  was  called,  "Oct.  22,  1838," 
was  really  a  reorganization,  as  there  was  a  society  in 
existence  quite  early  in  the  century. 

The  Good  Templars,2  as  they  are  called,  belonging 
to  the  secret  order  with  the  initials  I.  O.  G.  T.,  are 
organized  for  the  promotion  of  temperance,  and  exist 
in  two  lodges,  the  Taunton  and  the  Elizabeth  Pool, 
the  former,  the  oldest,  with  its  headquarters  on  Main 
Street,  nearly  opposite  Trescott  Street,  the  latter,  not 
long  in  existence  but  flourishing,  owning  the  build- 
ing which  it  occupies  in  Hopewell,  on  Maple  Avenue, 
out  of  Bay  Street. 

The  Taunton  Reform  Club  is  a  temperance  or- 
ganization of  several  years'  standing,  which  aims  at 
the  reformation  of  the  intemperate,  and  endeavors  to 
protect  reformed  men.  It  meets  in  Cedar  Street 
Chapel. 

The  Taunton  Women's  Christian  Temperance 
Union,  auxiliary  to  the  State  society  of  the  same 
name,  gives  its  attention  particularly  to  the  young, 
holding  monthly  meetings  with  them.  These  meet- 
ings are  in  Cedar  Street  Chapel. 

The  Taunton  Humane  Society-  was  organized  in 
1871,  and  has  for  its  object  the  prevention  of  cruelty 
to  dumb  animals  and  little  children.  Its  president, 
Hon.  Samuel  L.  Crocker,  recently  died,  and  the  va- 
cancy has  not  yet  been  filled.-  Wilbur  F.  Allen,  Esq., 
is  its  vice-president ;  Rev.  S.  Hopkins  Emery,  secre- 
tary ;  Mr.  N.  H.  Skinner,  treasurer ;  Mr.  Joseph  Dean, 
auditor.  Directors,  the  above  named  and  Mortimer 
Blake,  D.D.,  Rev.  A.  B.  Hervey,  Messrs.  J.  V.  Liv- 
ingstone, Alden  F.  Sprague  (and  one  vacancy  by 
death  of  Charles  R.  Vickery,  Esq.). 

Mr.  William  E.  Peck  has  been  for  some  years  the 
efficient  agent  of  the  society.  The  very  existence  of 
the  society  is  a  terror  and  a  restraint  to  those  who  are 
inclined  to  be  cruel. 

Early  Physicians.2 — Dr.  Ezra  Deane  sustains  the 
same  relation  to  the  profession  of  medicine  in  Taun- 

2  By  Rev.  S.  Hopkins  Emery. 


TAUNTON. 


813 


ton  as  Hon.  Samuel  White  to  the  profession  of  law. 
He  leads  the  list,  in  the  order  of  time,  so  far  as  the 
record  has  come  down  to  us.  He  died  July  1,  1737, 
according  to  an  old  registry  found  in  t  lie  Dan  forth 
family.  He  was  a  sou — the  eldest — of  Ezra,  t lie  sec- 
ond son  of  Walter  Deane,  and  was  horn  Oct.  14, 1680. 
His  mother  was  daughter  of  Deacon  Samuel  Edson, 
of  Bridgewater.  He  was  the  lather  of  the  family 
remarkable  for  its  longevity,  eleven  of  his  children 
living  more  than  a  thousand  years.  Whether  the 
medical  skill  of  the  doctor  had  anything  to  do  witli 
prolonging  these  lives  we  are  not  informed.  Theo- 
dora, who  married  Maj.  Richard  Godfrey,  "died  Jan. 
14,  1813,  aged  100  years,  14  days."  She  lived  to  see 
her  children  to  the  fifth  generation,  and  was  the 
mother  of  Dr.  Job  Godfrey. 

Dr.  Job  Godfrey,  the  son  of  Richard  and  Theodora 
(Deane)  Godfrey,  inherited  through  his  mother  a 
taste  for  the  profession  of  medicine.  It  had  so  con- 
duced, apparently,  to  the  long  life  of  her  father's 
family  that  it  had  attractions  for  her  son,  and  a  very 
eminent  member  of  the  profession  he  became,  so  mo- 
nopolizing the  business  that  he  might  well  have  been 
called  the  "  town's  physician."  He  acquired  so  much 
of  a  reputation  that  the  fame  thereof  has  come  down 
to  the  present  time.  The  inscription  on  his  monu- 
ment at  "the  Plain"  is  trustworthy:  "A  man  of 
great  worth,  whose  physical,  intellectual,  and  moral 
powers  were  remarkably  adapted  to  his  sphere  of 
action.  Fifty  years  of  unexampled  labor  and  suc- 
cess were  testimonials  of  his  excellencies  in  the  heal- 
ing art,  while  his  zeal  to  promote  the  general  good 
was  a  proof  of  his  benevolence.  His  heart  was  alive 
in  all  the  relations  of  life.  Honor,  punctuality,  and 
justice  marked  his  steps.  The  voice  of  pain  and  dis- 
ease from  the  obscurest  penury  reached  his  ear  and 
commanded  his  skill.  He  was  justly  entitled  to  the 
distinguished  appellation  of  the  disinterested  physi- 
cian,— a  father  to  the  poor.  He  died  Aug.  26,  1813, 
aged  70  years."  His  death  was  sudden,  being  found 
dead  in  his  bed.  His  wife,  Abigail  Jones,  of  Rayn- 
ham,  died  Nov.  28,  1814,  in  her  seventieth  year. 
They  had  six  children,  two  sons  and  four  daughters, 
— Abby,  married  Abiathar  Codding;  Betsey,  married 
Elisha  Padelford;  Sally,  married  Gilbert  Winslow, 
of  Freetown  ;  Hannah,  died  single  and  bequeathed 
one  thousand  dollars  to  the  noble  object  of  suitably 
inclosing  the  burial-place  on  the  Plain  ;  John,  the 
eldest  son  of  the  doctor,  lived  to  be  very  old,  and  was 
for  more  than  sixty  years  proprietors'  clerk,  better 
conversant  with  the  early  history  of  the  town  than 
any  other  man  of  his  time.  His  predecessors  in  office 
had  been  Brig.-Gen.  George  Godfrey,  Benjamin  Wil- 
liams, judge  of  probate  and  judge  of  the  Court  of 
Common  Pleas;  Seth  Williams,  son  of  Samuel,  the 
eldest  son  of  Richard  Williams,  also  a  judge  of  the 
Court  of  Common  Pleas;  Thomas  Leonard,  also  a 
judge,  and  whom  William  R.  Deane,  in  his  genealogi- 
cal account  of  the  family,  calls  a  "  physician,"  and  if  so, 


must  have  shared  the  practice  with  Dr.  Ezra  Deane  — 
our  list  of  proprietors'  clerks,  so  far  as  discovered  by 
us,  beginning  with  that  model  town  clerk,  Shadrach 
Wilbore. 

Contemporary  with  Dr.  Job  Godfrey,  in  the  earlier 
period  of  his  practice,  were  two  distinguished  nanus 
in  the  history  of  Taunton,— Hon.  David  Cobb,  M.D., 
and  Hon.  William  Baylies,  M.D.  But  Dr.  Cobb  is 
better  known  to  the  world  as  "  major-general,  judge 
of  the  courts,  president  of  the  Senate,  Speaker  of  the 
House,  member  of  the  Executive  Council,  and  Lieu- 
tenant-Governor of  the  State,"  filling  almost  every 
office  in  the  gift  of  the  people  during  his  eventful  life, 
the  story  of  which  is  familiar  to  every  Taunton  in  n  as 
a  twice-told  tale.  The  probability  is  Dr.  Cobb  was  so 
busily  engaged  in  public  affairs  that  he  little  inter- 
fered with  the  practice  of  Dr.  Godfrey.  Gen.  Cobb, 
of  whom  we  write,  the  son  of  Thomas  Cobb,  married 
Lydia,  the  eldest  daughter  of  the  Hon.  James  Leon- 
ard.    He  graduated  at  Cambridge  in  1766. 

The  Hon.  William  Baylies  was  also  a  man  of  affairs, 
— a  judge,  when  doctors  of  medicine  as  well  as  of  law 
were  called  to  the  bench  as  "  common-sense  judges." 
Dighton  has  a  joint  claim  to  the  reputation  of  Dr. 
Baylies,  as  his  residence  the  latter  part  of  his  life  was 
there.  The  son  of  Nicholas  Baylies,  who  married 
Elizabeth  Park,  of  Newton,  Mass.  William  graduated 
at  Harvard  University  in  1760,  and  studied  medicine 
with  Dr.  Tobey,  of  New  Bedford.  His  wife  was 
Bathsheba,  daughter  of  the  Hon.  Samuel  White,  of 
Taunton.  Their  daughter  Elizabeth  married  Hon. 
Samuel  Crocker,  of  Taunton.  Their  son,  Samuel 
White,  studied  law  with  Governor  Sullivan,  and  fol- 
lowed his  profession  in  Dighton,  and  died  single. 
Hon.  William  Baylies,  of  West  Bridgewater,  also  led 
a  single  life,  and  was  eminent  in  the  profession  of  law. 

Their  only  remaining  son,  Hon.  Francis  Baylies, 
achieved  a  great  reputation  as  a  man  of  culture  ami 
learning,  and  his  only  child,  Mrs.  Nathaniel  Morton, 
has  recently  died  without  issue.  Thus  the  family 
once  so  prominent  may  be  said  to  have  become  ex- 
tinct. 

We  visit  the  burial-places  of  Taunton  to  learn  the 
names  of  other  physicians  who  were  in  practice  in  the 
last  century.  On  the  Dighton  road,  half  a  mile  south 
of  the  Weir,  may  be  found  the  following  inscriptions: 

"  In  memory  of  Doct.  Micah  Pratt,  died  Decbr  ye  31st  A.D  ,  17".8  in  ya 
67th  year  of  li  is  age." 

"  In  memory  of  Mary,  ye  wife  of  Doct.  Micah  Pratt,  died  April  ye  26th 
A.  D.  1762,  in  ye  SOth  year  of  her  age." 

"In  memory  of  Doct.  Micah  Pratt,  died  Oct.  ye  5th,  A.  D.  176."),  in  ye 
44th  of  his  age." 

"Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Mis.  Sarah,  widow  of  Doct.  Micali  Pratt. 
She  died  Jan.  26th,  A.  D.  1805,  in  the  83d  year  of  her  age." 

These  inscriptions  prove,  we  think,  there  were  two 
physicians  by  the  name  of  Micah  Pratt,  father  and 
son,  who  practiced  medicine  in  Taunton  during  the 
lasl  century. 

"The  Plain"  holds  among  its  other  treasures  the 
name  of  Samuel  Caswel, — 


814 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


"  Here  lies  ye  body  of  Samuel  Caswel,  M.D.,  who  died  Aug.  ye  13th, 
1755.     Aetatis  Suae,  35. 

In  Seventeen  Hundred  &  Fifty-Five 

Eelentless  Death  Did  us  Deprive 

of  a  very  Useful  Life 

To  Neighbor,  Friend,  to  Child  &  Wife 

He  safely  Did  Administer. 

as  a  Physician, 

Consulting  more  his  patient's  health, 

Than  all  extorted  gain. 

We  that  do  love  his  memory 

Would  like  him  live,  yt  when  we  die 

We  may  enjoy  felicity." 

"  The  Plain"  has  another  record, — 

"William,  son  of  M.  D.  McKinstry,  and  Priscilla,  his  wife,  departed 
this  life  on  ye  day  of  his  birth  Dec.  18,  1761." 

Still  another  son, — 

"  John,  died  Dec.  21,  1768,  in  ye  5th  year  of  his  age." 

Another  inscription  reads, — 

"  Here  lies  ye  body  of  Mrs.  Elizabeth  McKinstry,  basely  munthered  by 
a  Negro  Boy,  June  ye  4th,  1763,  aged  28." 

The  woman  "  murthered"  was  Dr.  McKinstry's  sis- 
ter, the  details  of  which  tragic  event  the  aged  people 
of  the  last  generation  were  in  the  habit  of  narrating, 
as  also  how  Dr.  McKinstry,  the  Scotchman  and  Tory, 
was  forced  to  leave  town,  never  to  return. 

In  addition  to  the  names  of  McKinstry,  Caswel, 
Pratt,  we  have  heard  those  of  Ephraim  Otis,  a  gradu- 
ate of  Harvard  University  in  175G,  who  practiced  in 
Scituate  as  well  as  Taunton,  and  of  Dr.  Macomber. 

Dr.  Charles  Howe,  in  a  notice  of  Taunton  physi- 
cians, published  in  the  Bristol  County  Republican  in 
1868,  makes  mention  of  Dr.  Philip  Padelford,  son  of 
John  and  Jemima  Padelford,  born  in  Taunton,  1753, 
graduated  from  Brown  University,  1773,  who  studied 
with  Dr.  Tobey,  of  New  Bedford,  and  who  died  Aug. 
27, 1815,  in  the  sixty-second  year  of  his  age;  married, 
first,  to  Mary  Drown,  who  died  in  1780;  second,  to 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Elijah  Macomber,  to  whom 
were -born  eight  children.  The  doctor  practiced  in 
East  Taunton  and  the  vicinity,  living  on  the  Middle- 
borough  road,  just  beyond  the  Congregational  Church 
near  the  brook.  He  is  buried  in  a  private  yard  not 
far  from  where  he  lived.  His  son,  Elijah  M.,  was  also 
a  physician,  born  in  1785,  and  married  to  Mary  Good- 
win. They  had  one  child.  Dr.  Elijah  died  Feb.  13, 
1824,  aged  thirty-eight  years,  one  month,  two  days. 
He  is  supposed  to  have  succeeded  to  his  father's  prac- 
tice. His  house  was  two  miles  beyond  his  father's, 
on  the  Middleborough'  road,  at  its  junction  with  the 
Richmondtown  road,  near  Chase's  Station  on  the 
Taunton  and  Middleborough  Railroad. 

Dr.  Howe  also  gives  an  account  of  Dr.  Amos  Allen, 
born  in  Providence,  Nov.  7,  1783,  the  son  of  Amos 
and  Mary  (Macomber)  Allen,  graduated  from  Brown 
University  in  1805,  and  who  studied  with  Dr.  Miller, 
of  Franklin,  Mass.,  practicing  first  in  Franklin  and 
Berkley,  and  afterwards  removing  to  East  Taunton 
in  1824.  He  died  in  1836,  April  23d,  in  his  fifty-fourth 
year.  He  occupied  the  house  of  Dr.  Elijah  M.  Padel- 
ford, and  succeeded  to  his  practice. 


Dr.  Foster  Swift  practiced  as  a  physician  in  Taun- 
ton the  earlier  part  of  the  present  century.  He  was 
the  son  of  a  lawyer  in  Boston,  and  was  gifted  with 
much  wit  and  good  humor.  He  served  for  a  time  in 
the  renowned  apothecary  establishment  of  Dr.  Joseph 
Gardner  in  Boston.  He  married  a  Delano  of  Nan- 
tucket, and  first  settled  in  Dartmouth.  On  coming 
to  Taunton,  late  in  the  last  century,  he  opened  an 
apothecary-shop  opposite  the  northwest  corner  of  the 
Green,  not  far  from  the  present  police  headquarters. 

Mr.  Daniel  Brewer  had  an  earlier  drug-store,  coming 
to  Taunton  in  1785.  Dr.  Swift  was  one  time  very  in- 
timate with  the  eccentric  and  somewhat  erratic  John 
Foster,  but  losing  confidence  in  him,  preferred  charges 
against  his  ministerial  character,  seventeen  in  all. 
His  wily  antagonist  escaped  out  of  his  hands.  The 
doctor  left  for  Boston,  where  he  received  the  appoint- 
ment of  United  States  Hospital  surgeon,  which  he 
retained  until  he  died  in  1835,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
five. 

Dr.  Jones  Godfrey  was  the  son  of  Dr.  Job  Godfrey, 
so  long  the  leading  physician  of  the  place.  Graduated 
at  Brown  University  in  1793.  The  son  studied  with 
his  father,  and  was  associated  with  him  in  practice 
for  some  twenty  years,  succeeding  him  another  score 
of  years  nearly,  when  he  died  Dec.  11,  1831,  aged 
sixty-one.  He  occupied  the  house  of  his  father, 
still  standing,  venerable  for  age,  the  second  on  the 
right  beyond  the  Neck  o'  Land  Bridge.  Unlike  his 
father,  he  never  married,  and  had  a  contempt  for 
riches,  collecting  no  bills,  and  not  troubling  himself 
to  keep  any  accounts  with  his  patients.  He  had  the 
reputation  of  a  skillful  physician  and  a  most  humane 
man. 

Dr.  George  Leonard,  the  son  of  Samuel  Leonard, 
Esq.,  of  Taunton,  was  of  patrician  descent.  His 
father  was  one  of  Taunton's  most  eminent  citizens. 
He  was  an  "  enterprising  merchant."  The  "  Leonard 
house,"  at  the  "  Four  Corners"  in  Hopewell,  was  and 
still  is  one  of  the  landmarks  of  the  place.  The 
father  died  in  1807.  One  of  his  daughters,  Mary  B., 
married  Thomas  Bush,  Esq.  One  of  his  sons,  Ezekiel 
B.,  was  also  a  "  merchant"  in  Taunton.  Dr.  George, 
who  studied  with  Dr.  Thatcher,  of  Plymouth,  suc- 
ceeded to  the  practice  of  Dr.  Foster  Swift  in  1806. 
He  married  Eliza,  daughter  of  Judge  Fales.  Their 
home  was  at  the  corner  of  Broadway  and  Leonard 
Streets.  Dr.  Leonard  was  long  in  the  profession,  and 
had  a  large  practice.  He  was  considered  a  skillful 
physician.  Born  Feb.  12,  1783,  he  died  Feb.  28, 
1865.  His  wife  died  March  27,  1854.  They  had  four 
children.  The  doctor  lies  buried  on  "the  Plain,"  by 
the  side  of  many  other  Leonards,  thus  rendering 
true  the  rhyme  of  olden  time,  found  in  the  North 
burying-ground, — 

"Even  Leonards  undistinguished  fall, 
And  death  and  hovering  darkness  hide  us  all." 

Dr.  Ebenezer  Dawes  was  born  in  Scituate,  Mass., 
March  1,  1791,  the  son  of  Ebenezer  and  Elizabeth 


TAUNTON. 


815 


(Bailey)  Dawes.  The  father  was  pastor  of  the  Uni- 
tarian Church  in  Scituate,  a  native  of  Bridgewater, 
the  son  of  Samuel  Dawes.  Born  in  175(5,  he  grad- 
uated at  Harvard  College  in  1785,  and  studied  the- 
ology with  Dr.  Wigglesworth,  of  Cambridge.  He  was 
ordained  at  Scituate  in  1787,  and  married  to  Eliza- 
beth, daughter  of  Col.  John  Bailey,  of  Hanover,  Mass., 
in  1789.  Their  children  were  William  and  Ebenezer, 
the  father  dying  the  same  year  Ebenezer  was  born, 
and  a  little  more  than  two  years  after  marriage.  He 
was  amiable  and  of  excellent  Christian  character,  but 
of  delicate  constitution.  His  widow  was  afterwards 
twice  married, — first  to  John  Lucas,  of  Brookline, 
Mass. ;  second,  to  Dr.  Williams,  of  Deerfield,  Mass., 
whom  she  survived. 

Ebenezer  attended  school  at  Hingham,  Mass.,  Port- 
land, Me.,  and  elsewhere.  He  chose  medicine  as  his 
profession,  and  attended  medical  lectures  in  Boston 
in  1811. 

The  distinguished  Usher  Parsons',  M.D.,  of  Provi- 
dence, who  was  with  him  in  the  medical  college, 
writes,  "He  was  a  diligent  student  and  much  es- 
teemed by  the  class  for  his  close  application  and 
gentlemanly  deportment,  and  highly  respected  by  the 
professors."  He  opened  his  office  in  Taunton  in  1813. 
He  secured  a  large  practice,  which  he  retained  for 
half  a  century.  Dr.  Dawes  was  married,  March  7, 
1822,  to  the  widow  of  Oliver  Shepard,  merchant,  of 
Wrentham,  and  brother  of  Hon.  Silas  Shepard,  of 
Taunton.  Her  maiden  name  was  Sarah  Whitehorn 
Cooke,  daughter  of  Daniel  Cooke,  who  was  the  sixth 
son  and  tenth  child  of  Nicholas  Cooke,  Governor  of 
Rhode  Island,  1774-77.  Her  mother  was  Sarah 
Whitehorn,  of  Newport,  R.  I.  The  children  of  Dr. 
and  Mrs.  Dawes  were:  (1)  Sarah  Elizabeth,  wife  of 
N.  M.  Childs,  Esq.,  of  Syracuse,  N.  Y.;  (2)  Ebenezer, 
present  pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church  in  Lake- 
ville,  Mass.,  who  married  Anna  Maria  Bosworth  ;  (3) 
James  Lincoln,  residing  in  Englewood,  N.  J.,  who 
married  Eliza  Franklin,  of  Providence ;  (4)  Daniel 
Cooke,  who  married  Emily  Matilda,  daughter  of 
Judge  Morton,  and  resided  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  but  is 
not  living;  (5)  Charles  Edward,  who  died  in  infancy. 
The  family  homestead  was  on  Washington  Street,  not 
far  from  Pleasant.  Mrs.  Dawes  died  of  consumption 
Sept.  29,  1838,  aged  forty-nine. 

The  doctor  died  April  20,  1861,  about  seven  weeks 
after  he  had  completed  his  seventieth  year.  Dyspep- 
sia and  lung  troubles  had  required  strict  attention  to 
diet,  and  the  utmost  prudence  for  many  years.  But 
he  was  devoted  to  his  patients,  much  trusted  and  be- 
loved by  them.  Dr.  Parsons,  an  eminent  practitioner, 
said  of  him,  "  I  often  met  Dr.  Dawes  in  consultation. 
He  was  faithful,  laborious  and  successful,  and  strictly 
fair,  in  his  intercourse  with  professional  brethren  by 
whom  he  was  greatly  esteemed." 

Writes  his  son,  Rev.  Ebenezer  Dawes,  "  .My  father 
was  very  benevolent  and  kind-hearted.  He  visited 
poor  families  from  whom   he  could   not  expect  com- 


pensation. In  manner-  he  was  a  gentleman  of  the 
old  school.  He  was  very  polite,  according  to  the  best 
definition  of  politeness, '  benevolence  in  trifles.'  He 
always  possessed  and  evinced  in  all  his  language  and 
deportment  a  delicate  regard  to  the  feelings  of  others. 
It  seemed  impossible  for  him  to  do  a  rude,  ungentle- 
manly  act,  at  least  he  was  never  known  to  commit 
one.  In  the  sick-room  especially  his  natural  kindli- 
ness and  gentleness,  with  the  confidence  reposed  in 
his  skill,  made  him  most  welcome.  Seldom  has  a 
physician  been  equally  loved  by  his  patients."  This 
son  continues,  "My  father  had  always  a  great  respeel 
for  religion,  and  contributed  regularly  and  freely  for 
the  support  of  preaching,  and  so  far  as  he  could,  at- 
tended divine  service.  He  seemed  to  be  greatly  sus- 
tained and  comforted  in  his  last  years  by  trust  in 
God.  Among  his  last  words  were  these,  '  God  be 
merciful  to  me  a  sinner.'  " 

On  the  occasion  of  his  funeral  at  the  Congrega-, 
tional  Church,  Rev.  Mr.  Maltby  preached,  and  the 
physicians  of  the  city  acted  as  bearers.  Thus  the 
beloved  physician  was  laid  down  to  rest  in  the  family 
tomb  in  Mount  Pleasant  Cemetery. 

Dr.  Alfred  Baylies,  of  whom  a  notice  is  prepared 
by  another  hand,  filled  a  large  space  in  the  medical 
practice  of  Taunton  for  many  years.  The  writer  of 
this  has  a  distinct  and  tender  remembrance  of  him 
as  his  own  family  physician.  He  wishes  to  put  these 
few  lines  on  record  as  a  slight  tribute  of  respect  to 
his  memory,  a  token  of  affectionate  remembrance  of 
one  who  for  generations  was  a  familiar  and  most  wel- 
come attendant  on  the  sick  and  the  dying  in  so  many 
Taunton  homes.  His  house  was  the  simple,  unpre- 
tending cottage  on  Spring  Street,  not  far  from  the 
bridge,  toward  High  Street. 

Dr.  William  Gordon  was  in  practice  in  Taunton 
eight  or  nine  years,  and  died  in  1851,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-eight.  He  was  buried  in  Hingham.  Dr.  Gor- 
don had  seven  children,  two  of  whom  were  physicians, 
Charles,  in  Boston,  a  graduate  of  Brown  University, 
and  William  A.,  in  Taunton  and  New  Bedford,  a 
graduate  of  Harvard  University.  His  daughter  Helen 
was  the  wife  of  George  Augustus  Crocker,  of  Taun- 
ton, and  his  son,  Capt.  Timothy  Gordon,  has  long 
been  connected  with  the  house  of  Crocker  Brothers. 

Dr.  Henry  Babcock  Hubbard  has  been  noticed  in 
the  narrative  of  the  members  of  the  Massachusetts 
Medical  Society,  by  Dr.  Presbrey,  and  is' named  here 
as  prominent  in  the  practice  of  Taunton  in  a  preced- 
ing generation,  and  who  is  worthily  succeeded  in 
practice  by  his  son,  Charles  Thatcher. 

Dr.  Charles  Howe,  in  the  notice  of  the  profession 
to  which  I  have  already  referred,  writes  of  Dr.  Dan. 
King,  son  of  John  and  .lane  (Knight)  King,  of  Mans- 
field, Conn.,  born  Jan.  '27,  1791,  and  who,  after  prac- 
ticing in  Preston  and  <  rroton,  ( 'mm.,  and  Charlestown 
and  Woonsocket,  R.  I.,  came  to  Taunton  in  1848, 
remaining  till  1S5'I,  when  he  continued  practice  in 
Greenville,  R,  I.,  where  he  died  Nov.  13,  1864. 


816 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Dr.  George  Barrows  was  long  in  practice  in  Taun- 
ton, the  father  and  founder,  you  might  say,  of  the  j 
homoeopathic  school  in  the  place,  and  he  is  worthily 
noticed  by  another  hand  in  another  place.  We  would 
record  our  high  esteem  for  the  man,  and  recall  the  j 
"  loud  lamentation"  of  the  people,  as  they  accompa- 
nied all  that  was  mortal  of  the  man  they  loved  to  his 
last  resting-place  in  Mount  Pleasant. 

Besides  these  deceased  members  of  the  profession, 
there  are  at  present  in  active  practice  Stephen  A. 
Allen,  John  S.  Andrews,  Elton  J.  Bassett,  George  W. 
Bourne,  A.  Sumner  Deane,  Dautajne  Desnoyes,  By- 
ron L.  Dwinell,  E.  R.  Eaton,  Eugene  T.  Galligan', 
Michael  Charles  Golden,  Joseph  W.  Hayward,  Charles 
Howe,  Charles  Thatcher  Hubbard,  Frank  A.  Hub- 
bard, Simeon  P.  Hubbard,  Elijah  U.  Jones,  Joseph 
Murphy,  Nomus  Paige,  Emma  A.  Phillips,  Silas  D. 
Presbrey,  N.  M.  Ransom,  James  A.  Robinsen,  Wal- 
ter S.  Robinson,  Augusta  A.  Steadman,  Waldo  Stone, 
Caleb  Swan,  Frederic  D.  Tripp,  Alfred  W.  Wilmarth, 
Alfred  Wood.  The  following  gentlemen  are  con- 
nected with  the  State  Lunatic  Asylum :  John  P. 
Brown,  William  H.  Gage,  Marcello  Hutchinson. 

The  Mount  Pleasant  Cemetery.1— This  history 
has  to  do  with  the  dead  as  well  as  the  living.  Com- 
paratively few  of  Taunton's  inhabitants  are  above  the 
sod.  The  thousands  of  the  half  a  score  of  genera- 
tions who  have  come  and  gone  since  Taunton  had  a 
being  lie  entombed  in  her  many  consecrated  yards, 
of  some  of  which  a  fitting  account  has  been  given 
elsewhere.  It  is  proposed  in  this  brief  paper  to  make 
special  mention  of  only  one  of  them,  Mount  Pleasant 
Cemetery. 

"  In  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hun- 
dred and  thirty-six,  an  act  to  incorporate  the  propri- 
etors of  the  Taunton  Cemetery"  was  passed  and  re- 
ceived the  signature  of  the  Governor  (Edward  Ever- 
ett), "  23d  of  March."  The  names  of  the  incorpora- 
tors were  "  George  B.  Atwood,  Samuel  B.  King,  Sam- 
uel O.  Dunbar,  together  with  such  other  persons  as 
shall  become  proprietors  of  lots."  At  the  first  meet- 
ing of  these  "  proprietors,"  duly  called  "  the  6th  day 
of  April,  1836,"  H.  G.  O.  Colby,  Esq.,  was  chosen 
secretary,  and  the  following  persons  trustees :  Hon. 
Samuel  Crocker,  S.  O.  Dunbar,  Joseph  Wilbur,  George 
B.  Atwood,  H.  G.  O.  Colby,  Samuel  B.  King,  An- 
selm  Bassett. 

It  was  voted  to  call  the  cemetery  "  Mount  Pleasant." 
Also  voted  "  that  the  thanks  of  this  corporation  be 
given  to  the  Hon.  Samuel  Crocker,  for  his  gift  of  said 
lot  of  land  to  be  used  for  the  purpose  of  a  cemetery ; 
that  this  vote  be  recorded  by  the  secretary ;  that  a 
committee  be  appointed  to  communicate  the  same  to 
the  Hon.  Mr.- Crocker,  and  be  empowered  to  receive 
from  him  in  behalf  of  the  corporation  a  deed  of  the 
said  land,  procure  the  same  to  be  recorded,  and  that 
when  the  trustees  shall  have  laid  out  the  lots  in  said 

1  By  S.  Hopkins  Emery. 


cemetery,  they  shall  offer  to  Mr.  Crocker  the  first 
choice  of  lots  therein."  At  a  subsequent  meeting  of 
the  trustees,  the  Hon.  Samuel  Crocker  was  chosen 
president  of  the  corporation  and  Samuel  O.  Dunbar 
treasurer. 

The  consecration  of  the  cemetery  was  "  on  Mon- 
day, the  4th  of  July,  1836,  under  the  direction  of  the 
trustees,  and  with  the  following  services:  1.  Music 
by  the  choir.  2.  Prayer  by  the  Rev.  Erastus  Maltby. 
3.  Reading  of  Scripture  by  Rev.  Mr.  Hassard.  4. 
Singing  an  original  hymn,  by  Miss  Mary  W.  Hale. 
5.  An  address,  by  Hon.  Francis  Baylies.  6.  Conse- 
crating prayer,  by  Rev.  Andrew  Bigelow.  7.  An 
original  hymn,  by  Charles  R.  Atwood,  sung  by  the 
congregation  to  tune  of 'Old  Hundred.'  8.  Benedic- 
tion, by  Rev.  Mr.  McReading.  The  services  were  in 
Cypress  Dell,  and  in  presence  of  about  three  thousand 
persons." 

Immediately  after  the  public  meeting  the  corpora- 
tion met,  Hon.  Samuel  Crocker  presiding,  and,  on 
motion  of  Mr.  L.  B.  King,  "  Lot  No.  1  was  reserved 
for  a  monument  in  memory  of  Elizabeth  Poole,  the 
foundress  of  Taunton."  The  ladies  subsequently 
erected  a  monument. 

May  10,  1838,  it  was  voted  "  that  lots  numbered 
145,  146,  147,  148,  and  149,  situated  on  Pine  path,  on 
the  side  of  Mount  Crocker,  be  granted  to  the  Hon. 
Samuel  Crocker ;  that  the  secretary  be  directed  to 
prepare  a  deed  of  the  same,  tender  it  to  the  Hon.  Mr. 
Crocker,  with  a  copy  of  this  vote,  and  cause  it  to  be 
recorded  in  the  registry  of  deeds  of  the  corporation." 

For  more  than  a  dozen  years  there  was  apparently 
little  interest  taken  in  buying  lots  or  beautifying 
grounds  in  the  cemetery.  The  original  gift  of  Mr. 
Crocker  contained  six  acres,  forty-four  rods,  bounded 
by  Barnum  and  what  is  now  Cohannet  Streets,  but  in 
1852,  Mr.  Samuel  B.  King,  son-in-law  of  Mr.  Crocker, 
proposed  to  sell  the  corporation  two  acres  adjoining, 
which  should  be  bounded  by  a  new  street,  to  be  laid 
out  by  him,  called  Crocker  Street,  for  two  thousand 
dollars,  towards  which  he  would  subscribe  five  hun- 
dred dollars.  This  proposition  was  accepted,  as  it 
would  give  needed  additional  land,  and  the  accept- 
ance awakened  new  interest.  The  trustees  in  their 
next  report,  April  20,  1853,  speak  favorably  of  the 
enlargement;  recommend  that  the  "whole  grounds 
be  inclosed  in  one  lot,  with  a  suitable  permanent 
fence."  They  thus  close  their  report :  "  Within  a  few 
weeks  past  has  occurred  the  lamented  death  of  the 
Hon.  Samuel  Crocker,  the  president  of  this  corpora- 
tion from  its  first  organization.  To  his  munificence 
are  we  indebted  for  all  the  land  we  now  own,  except 
that  purchased  of  S.  B.  King  the  last  year.  The 
trustees  would  recommend  to  the  corporation  the 
erection  of  a  suitable  monument  in  token  of  respect 
to  his  memory." 

At  this  same  meeting  it  was  "  voted  that  the  trus- 
tees be  authorized  to  take  of  the  funds  of  the  cor- 
poration five  hundred  dollars,  if  it  be  necessary,  in 


TAUNTON. 


817 


order  to  erect  a  suitable  monument  to  the  Hon.  Sam- 
uel Crocker,  the  donor  of  the  land,  and  to  put  up  a 
fence  on  that  part  of  the  cemetery  bounded  on  Crocker 
Street,  provided  the  remainder  be  paid  by  subscrip- 
tion, and  that  the  treasurer  be  authorized  to  hire  the 
money  for  the  trustees."  The  fence  was  "put  up"  in 
due  time,  but,  unfortunately,  "  the  monument"  has 
never  been  "  erected." 

April  10,  1867.  A  vote  of  thanks  was  tendered 
Messrs.  S.  0.  Dunbar  and  A.  J.  Barker  for  their  inter- 
est in  improving  the  cemetery  grounds,  and  a  "  deed 
of  a  lot  on  the  top  of  Mount  Pleasant  was  presented  Mr. 
Barker  as  a  token  of  their  appreciation  of  his  services." 

May  13,  1867.  It  was  made  known  to  the  corpora- 
tion Charles  L.  Babbitt,  deceased,  bequeathed  one 
thousand  dollars,  "  the  income  of  which  should 
be  applied  to.  the  improvement  of  the  cemetery." 
Also  Hon.  Chandler  R.  Ransom  tendered  the  cor- 
poration his  tomb.  In  1870,  Horatio  Gilbert,  of 
Boston,  donated  his  tomb.  The  same  year  it  was 
voted  to  buy  of  Charles  Husband  the  land  adjoining 
the  cemetery,  between  Barnum  and  Cohannet  Streets, 
"  called  the  Cobb  Common,"  containing  a  little  more 
than  one  acre. 

April  13, 1881.  "  Thanks  were  extended  to  William 
R.  Potter  for  his  gift  of  $50  to  the  cemetery."  There 
is  also  the  record  of  a  gift  from  E.  H.  Bennett  of 
$94.50.  Much  interest  is  taken  in  the  improvement 
of  lots  at  the  present  time,  and  the  treasurer's  last 
report  indicates  a  good  condition  of  the  finances: 
Receipts  from  all  sources,  $4468.26 ;  expenditures, 
$2790.28 ;  balance  in  treasury  April  11,  1883,  $1677.98. 
The  present  officers  of  the  corporation  are,  President, 
William  Mason;  Secretary,  Treasurer,  and  Superin- 
tendent, Seth  L.  Cushman  ;  Trustees,  William  Mason, 
S.  N.  Staples,  N.  H.  Skinner,  Z.  Sherman,  Joseph 
Dean,  A.  King  Williams,  A.  J.  Barker,  E.  H.  Bennett, 
William  Cox. 

The  Mayflower  Hill  Cemetery  is  a  much  larger 
burial-place  of  more  recent  date,  which  is  attracting 
much  attention,  and  is  being  greatly  beautified.  It 
contains  not  far  from  sixty  acres,  is  bounded  by  Wash- 
ington, Thrasher,  and  East  Britannia  Streets,  and  be- 
longs to  the  city.  Liberal  grounds  are  appropriated  for 
the  poor.  A  new  Catholic  cemetery  is  laid  out  on  the  ; 
opposite  side  of  East  Britannia  Street.  Other  ceme- 
teries date  further  back  than  1800,  and  are  noticed 
elsewhere. 


CHAPTER    LXVI. 
TAUNTON.— (Continued.) 

Civil  History— Representatives  from  Taunton,  1693  to  1884— City  Officers 
— Postmasters — Councilors. 

REPRESENTATIVES   FROM    TAUNTON,  1693  TO   1884. 

1693.  Thomas  Leonard.  1696.  John  Hathaway. 

1694.  Capt.  Thomas  Leonard.  1697.  John  Hathaway. 

1695.  Philip  King.  1698-99.  Capt.  Thomas  Leonard. 

52 


1700.  No  representative. 

1701.  James  Leonard. 

1702.  Robert  Grossman. 

1703.  Benjamin  Crane. 

1704.  ('apt.  Henry  Hodges. 

1705.  Joseph  Tisdale, 
170<i-7.  Robert  Crossman. 
17o8.  James  Leonard. 
17olJ.  Robert  Crossman. 

1710.  Thomas  Leonard. 

1711.  Samuel  Williams. 

1712.  Robert  Crossman. 

1713.  Capt.  Henry  Hodges. 

1714.  Capt.  Samuel  Williams. 
1715-17.  Henry  Hodges. 

1715.  Robert  Crossman. 

1719.  Seth  Williams,  Esq. 

1720.  Robert  Crossman. 

1721.  James  Leonard. 

1722.  John  King. 
17'j:;.  Robert  Crossman. 
1724-26.  Seth  Williams,  Esq. 
1720.  James  Leonard. 
1727-29.  Seth  Williams. 

1730.  Ezra  Dean. 

1731.  Samuel  Williams. 

1732.  Capt.  Samuel  Williams. 

1733.  Capt.  James  Leonard. 

1734.  Capt.  Samuel  Williams. 

1735.  Capt.  James  Leonard. 
1736-38.  Samuel  Williams,  Esq. 
1739-40.  Capt.  James  Leonard. 
1741-44.  John  Godfrey. 
1745-48.  James  Williams. 
1749-52.  Samuel  White. 

1753.  Samuel  White. 
Capt.  Thomas  Cobb. 

1754.  Israel  Tisdale. 

1755.  Jonathan  Barney. 
1756-59.  Samuel  White. 
1760-63.  James  Williams. 
1764-65.  Samuel  White  (Speaker). 
1766-6S.  Joseph  Tisdale. 

1769.  James  Williams. 

Daniel  Leonard. 
1770-71.  Daniel  Leonard. 

George  Godfrey. 

1772.  George  Godfrey. 
Nehemiah  Lyscomb. 

1773.  Daniel  Leonard. 
Robert  Treat  Paine. 

1774.  Daniel  Leonard,  Jr. 
Robert  Treat  Paine. 

1775.  Robert  Treat  Paine. 
Col.  George  Williams. 

1776.  Col.  Nathaniel  Leonard. 
Maj.  Richard  Godfrey. 

1777.  Robert  Treat  Paine. 
Col.  Nathaniel  Leonard. 

1778.  Col.  Nathaniel  Leonard. 

1779.  George  Godfrey. 
Robei  t  Treat  Paine. 

1780.  Capt.  Icbabod  Leonard. 
Col.  Nathaniel  Leonard. 

1781.  [chabod  I tard. 

Nicholas  Baylies. 

1782-8::.  Job  Smith,  Esq. 
1784.  Job  Smith, 

George  Godfrey. 

1755.  Job  Smith,  Esq. 

1756.  Nicholas  Bayli 

1787-88.  Col.  Nathaniel  Leonard. 
1789-93.  Gen.  David  Cobb  (Speak- 
er). 

1793.  No  representative. 

1794.  Apollos  Leonard. 

1795.  Nicholas  Tillinghast. 


1796 
1797 
1801. 
1802. 
1803- 
1808. 
1809 


1810 


1811 


1812 


1813 


1814 


1815 
1817 
1818 
1819 
1820 
1821 
1825. 


1826 
1827 


1828 


1829 


1832 
L833, 
1-1. 


is:;;.. 


1836. 


Apollos  Leonard. 
L800.  Nicholas  Tillinghast. 

Stephen  Hathaway. 

Nicholas  Tillinghast. 
7.  Dr.  Jones  Godfrey. 
John  W.  Seabury. 
John  w.  Seabury, 

Is;iiali  King. 
Samuel  Crocker. 
John  w.  Seabury. 

Isaiah  King. 
Samuel  Crocker. 
Nathaniel  Leonard. 
Samuel  Crocker. 
Isaiah  King. 
Nathaniel  Leonard. 

.lames  Sproat. 
James  Sproat. 
Nicholas  Tillinghast. 
Samuel  Crocker. 
Nathaniel  Leonard. 
Joslah  King. 
Nicholas  Tillinghast. 
Josiah  King. 

John    Reeil  . 

John  Godfrey. 
.  James  Sproat. 

Nicholas  Tillinghast. 

John  Godfrey. 

Gideon  Williams. 

Jonathan  Ingell. 

16.  Thomas  Lincoln. 

Philip  Deane. 

Job  Godfrey. 

William  Reed. 

D.  G.  W.  Cobb. 

24.  Cromwell  Washburn. 

Samuel  Crocker. 

Dr.  Jones  Godfrey. 

Theophilus  Parsons. 

Win,  Seaver. 

Richard  Park. 
.  Job  Godfrey. 

Francis  Baylies. 

Jones  Godfrey. 

Allen  Presbrey. 

Icbabod  Lincoln. 

Abiathar  Leonard. 

Francis  Baylies. 

James  Godfrey. 

Rev.  Silas  Hall. 

Ichabod  Lincoln. 

Wm.  A.  F.  Sproat. 

Abiathar  Leonard. 

Francis  Baylies. 

Jacob  Chapin. 

Nathaniel  Fales. 

Abiathar  Leonard. 

Ichabod  Lincoln. 

James  Woodward. 
31.  Francis  Baylies. 

Samuel  i  Irocker. 
George  Walker,  Jr. 

[chabod  Lincoln. 
Allen  Presto  ey. 

s  Head. 
e  Walker,  Jr. 
Francis  Williams. 
Henry  Williams. 
Francis  Baylies. 
James  W.  Crossman. 
I. emu.  ]  Leonard 
Allen  Presbrey. 

■  Walker. 
Elislin  Wnlker. 
Apollos  Anthony. 
Leonard  Hall. 


818 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


1836.  Allen  Presbrey. 
George  Walker. 
Hodges  Head. 

1837.  Apollos  Anthony. 
Leonard  Hall. 
Stephen  L.  White. 
George  Walker. 

1838.  Seth  Presbrey. 
Samuel  A.  Dean. 
H.  G.  JO.  Colby. 
George  Danforth. 
Etheridge  Clark,  Jr. 

1839.  Alh'ii  Presbrey. 
Leonard  Hall. 

1840.  Allen  Presbrey. 
Leonard  Hall. 
Stephen  L.  White. 
Win.  Haskins. 
John  Pratt. 

1841.  James  W.  Ciossman. 
Samuel  A.  Dean. 
Joseph  W.  Strange. 

1842-43.  Allen  Presbrey. 

William  Haskins. 

Stephen  L.  White. 
1844.  Stephen  L.  White. 

Alphens  Sanford. 

Elias  Richmond. 
1845-46.  No  representative  chosen. 

1847.  Seth  Presbrey. 
Rev.  Alvan  Cobb. 
Samuel  Haskins. 

1848.  Rev.  Alvan  Cobb. 
James  M.  Williams. 
Samuel  Cain,  Jr. 

1849.  Samuel  Cain,  Jr. 
Chester  I.  Read. 
James  M.  Williams. 

1850.  Lewis  R.  Chesbrough. 
James  M.  Williams. 

1851.  Lewis  R.  Chesbrough. 
John  Andrews. 
James  M.  Williams. 

1852.  Harrison  Tweed. 
John  Andrews. 
Richmond  Walker. 

1853.  No  representative  chosen. 

1854.  Le  Baron  B.  Church. 
Enos  W.  Dean. 
Baylies  Sanford. 

1855.  Elias  A.  Morse. 
Allen  Presbrey. 
Hiram  B.  Witherell. 

1856.  Lawson  Blood. 
Job  M.  Godfrey. 
Andrew  Pollard. 

1857.  Lawson  Blood. 
Charles  Foster. 
Henry  H.  Fox. 

1858.  Charles  Foster. 
Harrison  Tweed. 
Marcus  Morton. 

1859.  Henry  H.  Fox. 
Henry  Sproat. 
Elisha  Copeland. 

1860.  Elisha  Copeland. 


1860.  Henry  Sproat. 
Solomon  Woodward,  Jr. 

1861.  George  Godfrey. 
Solomon  Woodward,  Jr. 
Charles  I!.  Atwood. 

1862.  James  Brown. 
Chas.  R.  Atwood. 
Elias  A.  Morse. 

1863.  John  W.  D.  Hall.1 
Zacheus  Sherman. 
John  E.  Sanford. 

1864.  Zacheus  Sherman. 
Thomas  J.  Lothrop. 
James  Brown. 

1865.  Willard  Lovering. 
Abram  Briggs. 
Chas.  F.  Johnson. 

1866.  Willard  Lovering. 
James  Brown. 
Chas.  F.  Johnson. 

1867.  Nathan  S.  Williams. 
Jeremy  B.  Dennett. 
Walter  S.  Sprague. 

1868.  Jeremy  B.  Dennett. 
Nathan  S.  Williams. 
Walter  S.  Sprague. 

1869.  Edgar  H.  Reed. 

Le  Baron  B.  Church. 
Alfred  M.  Williams. 

1870.  Alfred  M.  Williams. 
George  U.  Babbitt,  Jr. 
Alex.  H.  Champlin. 

1871.  John  E.  Sanford. 
John  II.  Church. 
George  H.  Babbitt,  Jr. 

1872.  John  E  Sanford 2  (Speaker). 
John  H.  Church. 

Win.  R.  Black. 

1873.  John  E.  Sanford  (Speaker). 
Wm.  R.  Black. 

Nathan  B.  Seaver. 
1874-75.  John  E.Sauford (Speaker). 

Cyrus  Savage. 

Frederick  L.  Bos  worth. 
1876-77.  George  C.  Wilson. 

Frederic  Hathaway. 

William  Watts. 

1878.  John  W.  Hart. 
William  Reed,  Jr. 
John  II.  Galligan. 

1879.  William  Reed,  Jr. 
John  W.  Hart. 
John  D.  Reed. 

1880.  John  D.  Reed. 
James  M.  Evans. 
John  H.  Galligan. 

1881.  James  M.  Evans. 
Chas.  A.  Reed. 
Lloyd  E.  White. 

1882.  Chas.  T.  Barnard. 
Chas.  A.  Reed. 
Francis  S.  Babbitt, 

1883.  Chas.  T.  Barnard. 
Francis  S.  Babbitt. 
Herbert  L.  Peck. 


SELECTMEN  FROM  1692  TO  1865. 
1692. — James  Leonard,  Henry  Hodges,  Nathaniel  Williams,  John  Hall, 

Thomas  Leonard. 
1693. — James  Leonard,  Henry  Hodges,  Peter  Walker,  Shadrack  Wilbore, 

Thomas  Dean. 
1694. — John  Smith,  Henry  Hodges,  Shadrack  Wilbore,  James  Leonard, 

Thomas  Dean. 

1  Appointed  provost-marshal  in  April,  1863. 

2  Was  Speaker  1872-75. 


1695.— James   Leonard,  Henry   Hodges,  Philip    King,  Israel   Thrasher, 

Thomas  Williams. 
1696. — Philip  King,  Henry  Hodges,  Thomas  Williams,  Thomas  Harvey, 

John  Smith,  and  Thomas  Gilbert. 
1697. — James  Leonard,  Henry  Hodges,  Peter  Walker,  Thomas  Williams, 

Thomas  Dean. 
1698. — James  Leonard,  Philip  King,  Henry  Hodges,  Thomas  Harvey. 
1699. — Henry   Hodges,  Thomas  Gilbert,  Thomas  Harvey,  John  Smith, 

Thomas  Williams. 
1700.— Henry  Hodges,  Thomas  Harvey,  Thomas  Williams. 
1701.— Henry  Hodges,  Thomas  Harvey,  Thomas  Williams. 
1702. — Joseph  Willis,  Ezra  Dean,  Thomas   Williams,  Thomas   Gilbert, 

John  Smith,  Thomas  Harvey. 
1703.— James    Leonard.    Thomas    Williams,   Henry    Hodges,  Thomas 

Harvey,  Thomas  Gilbert. 
1704. — Capt.  Henry   Hodges,  Thomas  Harvey,  Thomas  Williams,  John 

Witherell,  Nicholas  White. 
1705. — Henry    Hodges,  Thomas    Williams,  James    Leonard,   Thomas 

Harvey. 
1706. — Lieut.  James   Leonard,  Jared   Talbot,  Israel    Thrasher,  Thomas 

Harvey. 
1707. — Thomas    Harvey,  Henry    Hodges,   Thomas    Leonard,   Thomas 

Gilbert. 
1708. — Henry  Hodges,  Thomas  Harvey,  James  Leonard,  Thomas  Gilbert, 

Thomas  Leonard. 
1709.— James  Leonard,  Thomas  Harvey,  Henry  Hodges,  Thomas  Leonard, 

Thomas  Gilbert. 
1719. — James  Leonard,  Thomas  Harvey,  Thomas  Gilbert,  Robert  Cross- 
man,  Abraham  Jones. 
1711. — Henry  Hodges,  Thomas  Gilbert,  Thomas  Harvey. 
1712.— Thomas  Harvey,  Thomas  Gilbert,  John  Smith,  Henry  Hodges. 
1713. — Thomas  Harvey,  Nicholas  White,  Thomas  Gilbert,  Henry  Hodges, 

Robert  Crossman. 
1714. — Henry   Hodges,  Thomas   Harvey,  Nicholas  White,  John   Smith, 

Robert  Crossman. 
1715. — Thomas  Harvey,  Nicholas  White,  Thomas  Gilbert,  John   Smith, 

Henry  Hodges. 
1716. — Henry  Hodges,  Thomas  Harvey,  Seth  Williams,  John  Andrews. 
1717. — Thomas  Harvey,  John  Smith,  James  Leonard,  Nicholas  White. 
1718. — Thomas  Gilbert,  John   Smith,  Thomas  Harvey,  John    Williams, 

John  Mason. 
1719. — John  Mason,  John  Dean,  Thomas  Harvey. 
1720. — James  Leonard,  Seth  Williams,  Abraham  Jones,  Thomas  Harvey, 

John  Dean. 
1721. — James  Leonard,  John   King,  Abraham  Jones,  Samuel   Leonard, 

Morgan  Cobb,  Jr. 
1722. — James  Leonard,  John  King,  Abraham  Jones,  Samuel  Leonard, 

Morgan  Cobb,  Jr. 
1723. — James  Leonard,  Abraham  Jones,  Samuel   Leonard,  John  Dean, 

John  Mason. 
1724. — John   King,  Samuel   Leonard,  Samuel  Pratt,  Morgan  Cobb,  Jr., 

James  Walker. 
1726. — Nathaniel   Williams,  Israel   Dean,  Samuel    Pitts,  John  Mason, 

John  Andrews. 
1727. — Seth  Williams,  John   King,  John  Mason,  James  Walker,  Benja- 
min Wilbore. 
1728. — John  Andrews,  Richard  Godfrey,  Isaac  Merick,  Jeremiah  With- 
erell. 
1729. — John  Andrews,  James  Walker,  Benjamin  Wilbore,  John  Mason, 

Samuel  Pitts. 
1730. — John  Andrews,  James  Walker,  Benjamin  Wilbore,  John  Mason, 

Samuel  Pitts. 
1731. — John  Mason,  Samuel  Pitts,  Henry   Hodges,  Israel  Dean,  John 

Andrews. 
1732.— Henry  Hodges,  John  Willis. 
1733. — Samuel   Pitts,  Israel  Dean,  John   Mason,  Henry  Hodges,  John 

Willis. 
1734. — John  Willis,  Henry  Hodges,  John  Andrews,  John  Mason. 
1735. — John  Andrews,  Henry  Hodges,  John  Willis. 
1736. — James  Leonard,  Morgan  Cobb,  Jr.,  Nehemiah  Walker,  Jonathan 

Williams. 
1737.— John  Willis,  Henry  Hodges. 

1738-39.— Israel  Dean,  Samuel  Pitts,  John  Willis,  Henry  Hodges. 
1740. — Morgan  Cobb  (2d),  Richard  Godfrey,  Jonathan  Williams,  Nehe- 
miah Walker,  Seth  Williams. 
1741-42.— Record  lost. 
1743. — Thomas  Leonard,  James  Leonard. 


TAUNTON. 


819 


IT  14-55.— Records  lost. 

1755. — Henry  Hodges,  James  Walker,  Israel  Tisdale,  Richard  Godfrey, 
Samuel  Blake. 

1766-60.— Becords  Inst. 

17GO. — Israel  Tisdal'e,  Richard  Godfrey,  Simeon  Williams,  James  Walker, 
Ebenezer  Dean. 

1761.— Richard  Godfrey,  James  Walker,  Ebenezer  Dean,  Simeon  Wil- 
liams. 

1702. — Israel  Tisdale,  Richard  Godfrey,  Simeon  Williams,  Josiah   Ma- 
comber,  Henry  Hodges. 

1763.  —  Richard  Godfrey,  Israel  Tisdale, Simeon  Williams,  Henry  Hodges, 
Josiafa  Macomber. 

1764.— Israel  Tisdale,  Richard  Godfrey,  Simeon  Williams. 

ITi'."'. — Israel  Tisdale,  Richard  Godfrey,  Simeon  Williams,  Josiah    Ma- 
comber, James  Leonard. 

1706. — Richard  Godfrey,  Simeon  Williams,  James  Leonard. 

1767.— Records  lost. 

1768.— Richard  Godfrey,  Henry  Hodges,  Richard  Cobb. 

1770.— Richard    Godfrey,   Simeon   Williams,   Henry    Hodges,   Richard 
Cobb. 

1771. — No  record. 

1772.— John  Read,  Benjamin  Dean,  Jr.,  William  Thayer. 

177'..— Richard  Godfrey,  Benjamin  Dean,  Jr.,  Ichabod  Leonard,  Elisha 
Barney,  Ebenezer  Cobb. 

1774.— Richard  Godfrey,  Benjamin  Dean,  Jr.,  Elisha  Barney,  Ichabod 
Leonai  d,  Ebenezer  Cobb. 

1775-76.=— Richard  Godfrey,  Ichabod  Leonard,  Elisha  Barney. 

1777. — Richard  Godfrey,  Simeon  Williams,  Benjamin  Williams,  Elijah 
Lincoln,  Apollos  Leonard. 

1778.— No  record. 

1779. — Elijah  Lincoln,  Apollos  Leonard,  Solomon  Dean,  Cornelius  White, 
Nathaniel  Briggs. 

1780. — Apollos  Leonard,  Cornelius  White,  Nathaniel  Briggs,  Noah  Dean, 
Ebenezer  Dean. 

1781-87.— No  record. 

1788. — George  Godfrey,  James  Leonard,  Ebenezer  Dean. 

1789. — George  Godfrey,  Job   Smith,  James   Leonard,  Ebenezer  Dean, 
Eliakim  Walker. 

1790. — George   Godfrey,  Job  Smith,   James   Leonard,   Ebenezer  Dean, 
Eliakim  Walker. 

1791. — George   Godfrey,   Job   Smith,  James  Leonard,    Ebenezer  Dean, 
Peter  Walker. 

1792. — Job  Smith,  Ebenezer  Dean,  Seth  Padelford,  James  Hart,  Rufus 
Lincoln. 

1793-04. — Ebenezer  Dean,  James  Hart,  Ichabod  Leonard,  Rufus  Lincoln, 
James  Tisdale. 

1795. — Ebenezer  Dean,  James  Hart,  Ichabod  Leonard,  Rufus  Lincoln, 
James  Tisdale. 

1796. — Ebenezer  Dean,   James   Hart,   Rufus   Lincoln,   James   Tisdale, 
Nathaniel  Leonard. 

1797.— James  Tisdale,  Nathaniel  Leonard,  Joseph  Dean,  Joseph  Tisdale, 
Jonathan  Ingell,  Jr. 

1798. — Nathaniel  Leonard,  Joseph  Dean,  Joseph  Tisdale,  Jonathan  In- 
gell, Jr.,  Gideon  Hicks. 

1799.— Nathaniel  Leonard,  Joseph  Dean,  Joseph  Tisdale,  Jonathan  In- 
gell, Jr.,  Gideon  Hicks. 

1800. — Nathaniel  Leonard,  Joseph  Dean,  Joseph  Tisdale,  Jonathan  In- 
gell, Jr ,  Isaac  Tubbs. 

1801.— Joseph  lie  in,  Isaac  Tubbs,  Nicholas  Tillinghast,  Abiel  Macomber, 
.in  oh  Barney. 

1802.— Joseph  Dean,  Isaac  Tubbs,  Nicholas  Tillinghast,  Abiel  Macomber, 
Jacob  Barney. 
-Joseph  Dean,  Jacob  Barney,  Edmund  Anthony. 
1804  —Joseph  Dean,  Nicholas  Tillinghast,  Jacob  Barney,  Edmund  An- 
thony, John  Reed. 

1805-G.— Nathaniel  Leonard,  Edmund  Anthony,  John  Reed,  John  God- 
frey, Nathaniel  Williams. 
1807.— Nathaniel  Leonard,  Edmund  Anthony,  John  Read,  John  Godfrey, 

Nathaniel  w  illiams  (2d). 
1808.— Nathaniel    Leonard,   Edmund   Anthony,  John  Reed,  John  God- 
frey, Nathaniel  Williams  (2d). 
1809.— Nathaniel  Leonard,  Edmund  Anthony,  John  Reed,  John  Godfrey, 
Nathaniel  Williams  (2d). 

1810.— Nathaniel  I laid,  John  Godfrey,  Nathaniel  Williams  (2d),  Peter 

Walker,  Jeremiah  Paull. 
1811.— Nathaniel  Leonard,  John  Godfrey,  Peter  Walker,  Philip  Dean, 
Daniel  Brewer,  Jr. 


1812.— J.  dm  Godfrey,  Peter  Walker,  Philip  Dean,  Daniel  Brewer,  Jr., 
Gen.  Thomas  Lincoln. 

1813.— Peter  Walker,  Philip  Dean,  Thomas  Lincoln,  Robert  Dean,  Sam- 
uel Staples,  Jr. 

1814.— Samuel  Staphs,  Jr.,  Thomas  Lincoln,  Philip  Dean,  Seth  Sumner, 

Ichabod  Leonard. 
1815.— Philip   Dean,    Thomas    Lincoln,    Samuel   Staples,   Jr.,   Ichabod 

Leonard,  Ahiathar  Williams. 
1816.— Philip  Dean,  Thomas  Lincoln,  Samuel  Staples,  Ichabod  Leonard, 

Ahiathar  Williams. 
1817. — Philip  Dean,  Thomas  Lincoln,  Samuel  Staples,  Ichabod  Leonard, 

Ahiathar  Williams. 
1818. — Philip  Dean,  Thomas  Lincoln,  Samuel  Staples,  Ichabod  Leonard, 

Ahiathar  Williams. 
1819.— Philip  Dean,  Thomas  Lincoln,  Samuel  Staples,  Ichabod  Leonard, 

Ahiathar  Williams. 
1820. —  Philip  Dean,  Thomas  Lincoln,  Samuel  Staples,  Ichabod  Leonard, 

Ahiathar  Williams. 
1821. — Philip  Dean,  Thomas  Lincoln,  Samuel  Staples,  Ichabod  Leonard, 

Ahiathar  Williams. 
1822. — Philip  Dean,  Ichabod  Leonard,  Ahiathar  Williams. 
1823. — Philip  Dean,  Ichabod  Leonard,  Ahiathar  Williams. 
1824. — Joseph  Dean,  Jr.,  Ichabod  Leonard,  Ahiathar  Williams. 
1825. — Joseph  Dean,  Jr.,  Ichabod  Leonard,  William  Seaver. 
1826. — Ichabod  Lincoln,  Joseph  Dean,  Jr.,  William  Seaver. 
1827. — Ichabod  Lincoln,  Joseph  Dean,  Jr.,  William  Seaver. 
1828. — Ichabod  Lincoln,  Joseph  Dean,  Jr.,  William  Seaver. 
1829. — Ichabod  Lincoln,  John  P.  Dennis,  William  Seaver. 
1S30. — Ichabod  Lincoln,  John  P.  Dennis,  William  Seaver. 
1831. — Ichabod  Lincoln,  John  P.  Dennis,  William  Seaver. 
1832-34.— William  Seaver,  Joseph  Wilhar,  George  Walker,  Jr. 
1835-37. — Joseph  Wilhar,  George  Walker,  Stephen  L.  White. 
1838-40.— Joseph  Wilhar,  Luther  L.  Short,  Stephen  L.  White. 
1841-43.—  Joseph  Wilhar,  Allen  Presbrey,  Stephen  L.  White. 
1S44. — Joseph  Wilhar,  William  Haskins,  Charles  Presbrey. 
1845. — William  Seaver,  Noble  Canady,  David  Bassett. 
1846-49.— William  Seaver,  Andrew  H.  Hall,  Samuel  L.  Crocker. 
1850.— Elias  A.  Morse,  Andrew  H.  Hall,  Charles  R.  Atwood. 
1851.— James  M.  Williams,  Andrew  H.  Hall,  Edwin  Keith. 
1852-54 — Elias  A.  Morse,  William  F.  Macomber,  Edwin  Keith. 
1855. — Elias  A.  Morse,  Allen  Presbrey,  Ziba  Babbitt. 
185C-57. — Elias  A.  Morse,  Allen  Presbrey,  Isaac  G.  Carrier. 
1858. — Stephen  L.  White,  Allen  Presbrey,  Isaac  G.  Carrier. 
1859. — Allen  Presbrey,  Stephen  L.  White,  Isaac  G.  Carrier. 
1860-63. — Allen  Presbrey,  Cornelius  White,  Isaac  G.  Carrier. 
1864. — Allen  Presbrey,  Abram  Briggs,  Nathan  S.  Williams. 

Missing   Years  of  Selectmen.— 1658  to  1665,  inclusive;   1725,  1741,  1712, 
1744  to  1759,  except  1755;  1767,  1769,  1771,  1778,  1781,  1787. 


TOWN   CLERKS,  1G65-1S65. 
1665-94.  Shadrach    Wilbore,    who  I  1846-54.  James  P.  Ellis. 

died  about  1700. 
1708.  John  Wilbore. 
1725.  Benjamin  Wilbore. 
1740-1820.  James  Williams,  Jr. 
lS21-:'.4.  Alfred  Williams. 
1835-44.  Edmund  Anthony. 
1845.  Erancis  S.  Monroe. 


1855-58.  William  Brewster. 

1858-62.  Henry  C.  Porter. 

1862-65.  James  M.  Cushman,  ap- 
pointed September,  1862,  to 
the  termination  of  the  town, 
1865. 


TOWN  TREASURERS,  1757  TO  1864. 


1757.  Samuel  White. 
1704-74.  Benjamin  Williams. 
1775.  George  Godfrey. 
18D5-22.  Samuel  Crocker. 

1822-^5.  John  Seaver. 
lsj;,.  William  Reed. 
1826.  James  L.  Hodges. 
1827-34.  John  Baylies. 
1834-38.  Calvin  Woodward. 


1838-44.  Edmund  Anthony. 
1S44-47.   Lemuel  L.  White. 
1847-53.  Charles  Porter. 
1653-54.  James  P.  Ellis. 
1855-56.  George  B.  Atwood. 

1857.  Joseph  E.  Wilhar. 

1858.  Samuel  M .  Tinkham. 
1859-0:;.  Philip  T.  Brewster. 
1863-64.  George  A.  Washburn. 


ASSESSORS   FROM   1865   TO   1883. 

1865.— J.  Aloii/.o  Phillips,  Horace  Lewis,  Oliver  S.  Godfrey,  Benjamin 
Spinney,  Charles  K.  Johnson,  Benjamin  Porter,  Paran  F.  Smith. 

1866.— J.  Alonzo  Phillips,  Francis  S.  Monroe.  Oliver  S.Godfrey,  Benja- 
min Spinney,  Charles  F.  Johnson,  Charles  If.  Stephens,  Henry  N. 
Harvey,  Paiau   F.  Smith. 


820 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


1867-68.— Charles  H.  Stephens,  J.  Alonzo  Phillips,  Henry  N.  Harvey. 
1869  —George  H.  Babbitt,  Henry  N.  Harvey,  Charles  H.  Stephens. 
1870-71.— George  H.  Babbitt,  Henry  N.  Harvey,  Abram  Briggs. 
1872.— Abram Briggs,  Samuel  M.  Tinkham,  Henry  N.Harvey. 
1873-74.— Samuel  M.  Tinkham,  Henry  N.  Harvey,  Henry  S.  Hart. 
1875-76.— James  M.  Cushman  (chairman),  Henry  N.  Harvey,  Henry  S. 

Hart  (clerk ). 
1877.— James  M.  Cushman,  Henry  S.  Hart,  William  H.  Pleadwell. 
1878-80.— William  B.  Sproat  (chairman),  Henry  S.Hart  (clerk),  William 

H.  Pleadwell. 
1881-83.— William  B.  Sproat  (elected  for  three  years,  died),  William  B. 

Church  (elected  March  23, 1881),  Henry  G.  Hart. 
1883— Henry  S.  Hart  (chairman),  William   II.  Pleadwell,  William  B. 

Church  (clerk). 

CITY  OFFICERS. 

Taunton  became  a  city  in  18G5.  The  following 
are  the  city  officers,  mayors,  Board  of  Aldermen,  and 
councilmen  from  1865  to  the  present  time  (1883). 

1865.— Mayor,  Hon.  Edmund  H.  Bennett.  Aldermen,  Ward  1,  Edgar 
H.  Keed  ;  2,  Anson  J.  Barker;  3,  Nathan  Hand  ;  4,  Thompson  New- 
bury, 5,  Nathan  S.  Williams;  6,  Lebaron  B.  Church  ;  7,  Cornelius 
White  ;  8,  Charles  L.  Lovering  ;  James  M.  Cushman  was  elected  city 
clerk,  and  re-elected  annually  to  1883,  and  now  serving.  Common 
Council,  Horatio  Pratt,  president :  Ward  1,  John  T.  Carter,  Nathan- 
iel S.  Mason,  Henry  A.  Thayer;  2,  John  E.  'Sanford,  James  H. 
Sproat,  Nathan  Clark;  3,  Edwin  Keith,  E.  Dawes  Tisdale.  J.  W.  L. 
Wilbur;  4,  Horatio  Pratt,  Marcus  M.  Rhodes,  Charles  Foster;  5, 
John  W.  Hart,  Job  M.  Godfrey,  Elisha  Williams;  6,  Frederick 
Hathaway,  John  Paul),  Artemas  Briggs;  7,  Ezra  P.  Woodward, 
George  G.  Walker,  Joseph  W.  Hathaway ;  8,  Nathaniel  B.  Leonard, 
James  D.  Albro,  Ruel  Harvey  ;  Bernard  A.  Galligan,  clerk  ;  George 
A.  Washburn  was  elected  city  treasurer  in  1865,  and  has  been  unani- 
mously re-elected  annually  to  1883,  and  now  serving. 

1866.— Mayor,  Edmund  H.  Bennett.  Aldermen,  Ward  1, Edgar  H.  Reed; 

2,  Anson  J.  Barker  ;  3,  John  B.  Chase  I ;  4,  Thompson  Newbury;  5, 
Silas  S.  King;  6,  Lebaron  B.  Church;  7,  George  G.  Walker;  8, 
Charles  L.  Lovering.    Councilmen,  Charles  Foster,  president :  Ward 

1,  Nathaniel  S.  Mason,  Jonathan  J.  Stanley,  L.  J.  Wilmarth  ;  2,  John 
E.  Sanford,  Nathan  Clark,  William  R.  Davenport;  3,  Edwin  Keith, 
J.  W.  L.  Wilbur,  William  B.  Murphy  ;  4,  Charles  Foster,  Edmund 
W.  Porter,  Andrew  H.  Hall;  5,  George  Williams,  Ebenezer  Padle- 
ford,  H.  K.  Southworth;  6,  W.  B.  Presbrey,  W.  H.  Phillips,  Joseph 
L.  Presbrey ;  7,  Stephen  Pierce,  Zenas  F.  Bliss,  E.  P.  Woodward ;  8, 
James  D.  Albro,  John  Radley,  Ruel  Harvey;  B.  A.  Galligan,  clerk.2 

1867.— Mayor,  Edmund  H.  Bennett,3  Stephen  H.  Rhodes.4  Aldermen, 
Ward  1,  Stephen  H.  Rhodes,*  Abram  Briggs  ;  6  2,  Parley  I.  Perrin  ; 

3,  John  B.  Chase;  4,  Thompson  Newbury  ;  5,  Silas  S.  King;  6,  Le- 
baron B.  Church;  7,  George  G.  Walker;  8,  Nathaniel  Leonard. 
Councilmen,  John  E.  Sanford,  president:  Ward  1,  J.  J.  Stanley,  L. 
J.  Wilmarth,  Leander  Soule  ;  2,  John  E.  Sanford,  William  R.  Dav- 
enport, James  H.  Dean  ;  3,  Edwin  Keith,  William  B.  Murphy,  Wil- 
liam H.  Brown  ;  4,  E.  W.  Porter,  Andrew  H.  Hall,  C.  E.  Stephens; 
5,  J.  L.  Macomber,  George  Williams,  Elkanah  Pierce;  6,  S.  N.  Sta- 
ples, B.  H.  Baker,  John  H.  Church  ;  7,  Leonard  L.  Short,  N.  B.  Pratt, 
Alexander  H.  Champlin  ;  8,  Ruel  Harvey,  John  Radley,  Moses 
Nelson. 

1868.-iMayor,  Stephen  H.  Rhodes.    Aldermen,  Ward  1,  Leander  Soule ; 

2,  Parley  I.  Perrin  ;  3,  Daniel  L.  Mitchell;  4,  Thompson  Newbury  ; 
5,  Silas  S.  King;  6,  Lebaron  B.  Church;  7,  George  G.  Walker;  8, 
Paran  F.  Smith.  Councilmen,  John  E.  Sanford,  president:  Ward 
1,  J.  J.  Stanley,  Horace  M.  Hall,  Charles  Husband ;  2,  John  E.  San- 
foul,  William  R.Davenport,  James  H.  Dean  ;  3,  Edward  Galligan, 
H.  M.  Lovering.  Connor  Brady  ;  4,  Charles  Foster,  Edmund  W.  Por- 
ter, Thomas  11.  Bearse;  5,  George  Williams,  J.  L.  Jlacomber,  J.  C. 
Ilaskius;  6,  S.  N.  Staples,  Alfred  Paull,  Samuel  Miller;  7,  Leonard 

1  Elected  January  27th  in  place  of  Ezra  Davol,  resigned. 
-  March  7th,  resigned,  and  James  R.  Husband  elected  to  fill  vacancy, 
who  remained  clerk  until  1877. 
3  Resigned  June  19,  1867. 
*  Elected  by  City  Council,  June  19,  1807. 

5  Resigned  June  19,  1867. 

6  Elected  June  29, 1867. 


L.  Short,  N.  B.  Pratt;  8,  Moses  Nelson,  Philip  A.  Frazier,  Nathan 
Lawrence. 

1869.— Mayor,  Stephen  H.  Rhodes.  Aldermen,  Ward  1,  William  Tink- 
ham ;  2,  Parley  I.  Pen  in;  3,  Daniel  L.  Mitchell;  4,  Thompson 
Newbury;  5,  Silas  S.  King;  6,  Jacob  Burt;  7,  A.  H.  Champlin;  8, 
Charles  L.  Lovering.  Councilmen,  John  E.  Sanford,  president: 
Ward  1,  Silas  Dean,?  Albert  D.  Davol,  William  M.  Cowing;  2,  John 
E.  Sanford,  William  R.  Davenport,  James  H.  Dean  ;  3,  Edward  Gal- 
ligan, Henry  M.  Lovering,  James  Hanrahan ;  4,  Charles  Foster, 
Thomas  R.  Bearse,  Nomus  Paige;  5,  Julius  C.  Haskius,  John  A. 
Williams,  Isaac  W.  Leach  ;  6,Sylvanus  N.  Staples,  Billings  T.  Pres- 
brey, Henry  J.  Fuller;  7,  Peter  C.  Thayer,  Joseph  W.  Hathaway, 
William  L.  White,  Jr. ;  8,  Philip  A.  Frazier,  Charles  D.  McDuffie, 
William  W.  Swan. 

1870.— Mayor,  Daniel  L.  Mitchell.  Aldermen,  Ward  1,  William  Tink- 
ham ;  2,  Parley  I.  Perrin  ;  3,  Joseph  Murphy  ;  4,  George  M.  Wood- 
ward;  5,  Silas  S.King;  6,  John  H.  Church;  7,  Leonard  L.  Short; 
8,  Charles  L.  Lovering.  Councilmen,  John  E.  Sanford,  president: 
Ward  1,  Albert  D.  Davol,  S.  H.  Rhodes,  D.  W.  Wastcoat ;  2,  John  E. 
Sanford,  William  R.  Davenport,  Charles  E.  Monroe;  3,  H.  M.  Love- 
ring, Charles  Gallagher,  William  H.  Baker;  4,  David  D.  Perkins, 
George  F.  Seavor,  Nonius  Paige,8  Erastus  Morse  ; 9  5,  John  A.  Wil 
liams,  G.  H.  Holloway,  John  W.  Hart;  6,  Henry  J.  Fuller,  Billings 
T.  Presbrey,  James  M.  Evans;  7,  William  L.  White,  Jr.,  Stephen 
Pierce,  George  A.  Crane;  8,  William  W.  Swan,  John  C.  Macdonald, 
Palmer  Lincoln. 

1871.— Mayor,  Daniel  L.  Mitchell.  Aldermen,  Ward  1,  William  Tink- 
ham ;  2,  Parley  I.  Perrin  ;  3,  Joseph  Murphy;  4,  George  F.  Seaver; 
5,  Jahaziah  S.  King,  Jr. ;  6,  James  M.Evans;  7,  Stephen  Pierce;  8, 
Charles  L.  Lovering.  Councilmen,  John  E.  Sanford,  president: 
Ward  1,  John  E.  Sanford,  Peter  M.Vaughn,  Job  B.  Crossman ;  2, 
Charles  E.Monroe,  Horace  Lewis,  William  B.  Sproat;  3,  William 
H.  Baker,  James  A.  Tinkham,  Dennis  J.  Mehegan  :  4,  David  D.  Per- 
kins, Harrison  G.  0.  White,  Crawford  M.  Fairbanks;  5,  John  W. 
Hart,  George  II.  Holloway,  Lysander  Soper;  6,  Henry  J.  Fuller, 
Charles  II.  Paull,  Benjamin  B.  Hathaway ;  7,  George  A.  Crane, 
Nicholas  N.  Crapo,  Ezra  P.  Woodward;  8,  William  W.  Swan,  John 
C.  Macdonald,  William  Robert  Williams. 

1872.— Mayor,  Daniel  L.  Mitchell.  Aldermen,  Ward  1,  Albert  D.  Davol ; 
2,  Parley  I.  Perrin;  3,  Henry  M.  Lovering;10  4,  George  F.  Seaver; 
5,  Jahaziah  S.  King,  Jr. ;  6,  Henry  J.  Fuller;  7,  Ezra  P.  Woodward; 
8,  William  W.  Swan.  Common  Council,  John  E.  Sanford,  president : 
Ward  1,  John  E.  Sanford,  Peter  M.Vaughn,  Job  B.  Grossman;  2, 
Horace  Lewis,  Charles  H.  Atwood,  Francis  S.  Monroe  ;  3,  James  A. 
Tinkham,11  Onias  S.  Paige,  Dennis  J.  Mehegan  ;  4,  James  H.  Dean, 
Erastus  Morse,  Edmund  W.Porter;  5,  Lysander  Soper,  Oliver  A. 
Pierce,  Charles  H.  Macomber;  6,  Richard  Henry  Hall,  David  B. 
Cushman,  John  Tyler  Williams;  7,  James  T.  Bassett,  Abel  W.  Par- 
ker, James  G.  Walker;  8,  William  Robert  Williams,  G.  Everett 
Lincoln,  John  Holland. 

1873.— Mayor,  William  H.  Fox.  Aldermen,  Ward  1,  James  H.  Codding  ; 
2,  Charles  H.  Atwood;  3,  Joseph  Murphy;  4,  Lebaron  B.  Church; 
o.Frederick  L.  Boswurth;  G.Alfred  Paull;  7,  James  G.  Walker;  8, 
John  Holland.  Common  Council,  James  H.  Dean,  president  :  Ward 
1,  John  E.  Sanford,  Henry  S.  Harris,  William  B.  Murphy;  2,  John 
E.  Brown,  C.  E.  Richmond,  William  L.  Walker;  3,  Onias  S.  Paige, 
Edwin  Keith,  James  McCarty ;  4,  James  H.  Dean,  Edmund  W.  Por- 
ter, Samuel  R.  Townsend  ;  5,  Alexander  H.  Williams,  Charles  H. 
Macomber,  Oliver  A.  Pierce;  6,  Charles  H.  Steveus,  Asa  Williams, 
James  P.  Galligan  ;  7,  James  T.  Bassett,  Benjamin  L.  Walker,  Jason 
Morse;  S.Frederick  Thayer,  Manlius  B.  Leonard,  Henry  J.  Bur- 
bank. 

1874.— Mayor,  George  H.  Babbitt.  Aldermen,  Ward  1,  Charles  Hus- 
band; 2,  Charles  II.  Atwood;  3,  Joseph  Murphy;  4,  Lebaion  B. 
Church;  5,  Frederick  L.  Bosworth ;  6,  John  H.  Eddy;  7,  James  (.. 
Walker;  8,  James  A.  B.  Woodward.  Councilmen,  James  H.  Dean, 
president:  Ward  1,  Henry  S.  Harris,  William  B.  Murphy,  Otis 
Washburn;  2,  William  L.  Walker,  John  E.  Brown,  Charles  E.  Rich- 
mond ;  3,  Onias  S.  Paige,  Saul  W.  Eddy,  Owen  Galligan  ;  4,  James  H. 
Dean,  Samuel  R.  Townsend,  Timothy  C.  Baker;  5,  Alexander  H. 
Williams,  Charles  H.  Macomber,  Benjamin  S.  Bosworth  ;  6,  Charles 


"  Died  April  26th  ;  John  S.  Pinkerton  elected  May  29, 1869. 
s  Resigned  Jan.  5, 187U.        '-'  Elected  Jan.  15,  1870. 

10  Elected  Feb.  17,  1872,  in  place  of  Joseph  Murphy,  resigned. 

11  Elected  Jan.  10,  1S72,  in  place  of  Charles  W.  Hartshorn,  declined. 


TAUNTON. 


821 


H.Stevens,  James  P.  Galligan,  Frederick  Hathaway;  V,  Jason  Morse, 
James  T.  Bassett,  Benjamin  L.  Walker  ;  8,  Hear;  J.  Burbank,  Fred- 
erick Thayer,  Andrew  Leddy. 
1875. — Mayor, George  H.  Babbitt.  Aldermen,  Ward  1,  Henry  S.  Harris; 
2,  William  L.  Walker;  :!,  Onias  S.  Paige;  1,  Nathan  S.  Williams;  5, 
John  W.  Hart;  6,  Alfred  Paullj  7,  Abel  W.  Parker;  8,  Buel  Harvey. 

Councilmen,  James  H.  Dean,  president:  Ward  1,  Otis 'Washburn, 
Sluibael  P.  Bliss,  William  I!.  Murphy;  2,  John  K.  Browne,  Charles 

B.  Richmond,  Everett  D.Godfrey;  3,  Asaph  L.  Bliss, James  McCarty, 
Thomas  0.  Falvey  ;  1,  Timothy  ('.  Baker,  James  II.  Dean,  S.  R.  Town- 
send  ;  6,  Charles  F.  Paull,  Alexander  II.  Williams,  George  1'.  King; 
6,  James  P.  Galligan,  Charles  P.  White,  Frederick  Hathaway;  7, 
Henry  S  Culver, Zephanlah  Hodges,  Jason  Morse;  S,  Thomas  Leach, 
Wilbur  F.  Allen,  Charles  K.  Dean. 

187G. — Mayor,  George  H.  Babbitt.  Aldermen,  Ward  1,  William  B.  Mur- 
phy; 2,  William  L.  Walker;  3,  Asaph  L.  Bliss;  4,  N  Bradford  Dean; 
5,  John  W,  Hart ;  6,  Alfred  Paull ;  7,  Abel  W.  Parker;  8,  Wilbur  F. 
Alien.  Common  Council,  Charles  E.  Richmond,  president:  Ward  1, 
Otis  Washburn,  Horatio  L.  Cushman,  William  E.  Dean;  2,  Charles 
E.  Richmond,  John  K.  Browne,  Everett  D.  Godfrey  ;  3,  J.  W.  L.  Wil- 
bur,  John  II.  Galligan,  Patrick  Conaty;  4,  Timothy  C.  Baker,  Cor- 
nelius Wood,  Frederick  Mason;  5,  Alexander  II.  Williams,  George 
P.  King,  John  J.  O'Connor;  G,  William  S.  Baker,  A.  L.  Willard,  John 
Welch  ;  7,  Peter  C.  Thayer,  Ebenezer  Cobb,  Franklin  Pratt ;  8,  John 

C.  Macdonald,  William  II.  Pleadwell,  John  Power. 

1S77. — Mayor,  Onias  S.  l'aige.  Aldermen,  Ward  1,  Horatio  L.  Cushman  ; 
2,  William  II.  Bent;  3,  Thomas  0.  Falvey;  4,  Cornelius  Wood  ;  5, 
■  Charles  R.  Richmond  ;  0,  A.  Lyman  Willard  ;  7,  Franklin  Pratt;  8, 
Charles  E.  Dean;  Councilmen,  Ward  1,  John  E.  Sanford,  William 
E.  Dean,  John  J.  Barker;  2,  Charles  E.  Richmond,  Walter  S. 
Spragne,  George  II.  Rhodes;  3,  James  J.  Galligan,  James  A.  Tink- 
ham,  Patrick  Conaty;  4,  Frederick  Mason,  Elisha  T.  Jackson,  Jo- 
siah  Kinnicutt;  5,  Abiel  B.  Staples,  John  J.  O'Connor,  Arthur  W. 
Macomber;  G,  William  S.  Baker,  Abram  Simmons,  William  H. 
Cushman;  7,  Henry  S.  Culver,  Edwin  Haskins,  Perry  E.  Pierce; 
8,  John  Power,  Nelson  Thomas,  William  H.  Rankin;  President, 
John  E.  Sauford ;  Clerk,  Joseph  R.  Tallman,  re-elected  annually 
until  1883. 

1878. — Mayor,  Onias  S.  Paige.  Aldermen,  Ward  1,  Horatio  L.  Cushman  ; 
2,  William  H.  Bent;  3,  Thomas  0.  Falvey;  4,  Cornelius  Wood;  5, 
Charles  F.Johnson;  G,  A.  Lyman  Willard;  7,  Franklin  Pratt;  8, 
Elijah  Tolman;  Councilmen,  Ward  1,  John  E.  Sanford,  William 
Tinkham,  John  J.  Barker :  2,  Walter  S.  Spragne,  George  H.  Rhodes, 
Everett  D.Godfrey;  3,  Henry  B.  Leach,  Francis  P.  Conaty,  John 
Quinn;  4,  Frederick  Mason,  Josiah  Kinnicutt,  Edward  B.  Maltby; 
5,  Abiel  B.  Staples,  George  P.  King,  Arthur  W.  Macomber;  6,  Wil- 
liam S.  Baker,  William  B.  Church,  James  Hunt;  7,  Henry  S.  Cul- 
ver, Perry  E.  Pierce,  J.  F.  Dunlap;  8,  Thomas  R  Bearse,  Millard  F. 
Moore,  William  F.  Kennedy;  President,  John  E.  Sanford. 

1879.— Mayor,  Onias  S.  Paige.  Aldermen,  Ward  1,  Otis  Washburn;  2, 
Waller  S.  Spragne;  3,  Joseph  Murphy;  4,  Charles  E.  Richmond; 
5,  Charles  F.  Johnson;  6,  A.  Lyman  Willard;  7,  Henry  S.  Culver; 
8,  Moses  Nelson.  Councilmen,  Frederick  Mason,  president:  Ward 
1,  John  J.  Barker,  Charles  A.  Reed,  Martin  J.  Lincoln;  2,  George 
H.  Rhodes,  Everett  D.  Godfrey,  Alfred  C.  Place;  3,  Owen  Galligan, 
Laurens  N.  Francis,  William  C.Lawton;  4,  Frederick  Mason,  Josiah 
Kinnicutt,  James  Y.  Anthony;  5,  Winthrop  A.  Robinson,  Philip 
Williams,  Samuel  W.  Robinson;  6,  William  S.  Baker,  David  Padel- 
ford,  Flank  Paull;  7,  Joseph  W.  Hathaway,  Perry  E.  Pierce,  Joseph 
S.  Tidd;  8,  Thomas  R.  Bearse,  William  F.  Kennedy,  Theodore  P. 
Hall. 

1880.— Mayor,  Charles  F.Johnson.  Aldermen,  Ward  1,  Martin  J.  Lin- 
coln ;  2,  Walter  S.  Spragne;  .'!,  Thomas  0. Falvey  ;  4,  Nathan  S.  Wil- 
liams; ">,  Benjamin  S.  Bosworth;  G,  William  S. Baker ;  7,  Joseph 
W.  Hathaway;  8,  John  C.  Mai  d. mall.  Councilmen,  Frederick 
Mason,  president:  Ward  1,  Charles  R.  Mason,  James  K.  Perry, 
Daniel  Carey;  2,  George  II.  Rhodes,  Everett  D.  Godfrey,  Gamaliel 
Lane;  3,  Laurens  N.  Francis,  Michael  J.  Hoye,  Benjamin  Morris; 
4,  Frederick  Mason,  Josiah  Kinnicutt,  James  V.  Anthony  ;  ."'.Sam- 
uel W.  Robinson,  Winthrop  A.  Robinson,  Philip  Williams ;  6,  Frank 
Paull,  John  C  Chace,  Bernard  E.  Kiel  nan  ;  7,  Joseph  S.  Tidd,  Heze- 
kiah  L.  Merrill,  Eustus  C.  Bassett;  8,  William  F.  Kennedy,  John 
Field,  John  W.  Lincoln. 

1881. — Mayor,  Charles  F.  Johnson.  Aldermen,  Waul  1,  Martin  J.  Lin- 
coln; 2,  Walter  S.  Spragne;  '■'>,  Michael  J.  Hoye;  4,  James  Y.An- 
thony; 5,  Benjamin  S.  Bosworth;  G,  William  S.  Baker;  7,  Joseph 
W.  Hathaway;  8,  Elijah  Tolman.     Councilmen,  Frederick  Mason, 


president:  Ward  1,  Charles  R.  Mason,  James  E.  Perry,  Daniel 
Carey;  2,  George  II.  Rhodes,  Charles  A.  Monroe,  Gamaliel  Lane; 

3,  Benjamin  .Munis,  George  A.  Congdon,  Thomas  E.  McCormick; 

4,  James  II.  Dean,  Frederick  Mason,  Timothy  C.  Baker;  5,  Samuel 

W.  Robinson,  Horatio  Godfrey,  John  Murphy;  6,  (Jeorge  W,  Bar- 
rows, John  A.  McDonald,  Charles  F.  liaker;  7,  Joseph  Dunbar, 
Arthur  P..  Knapp,  J.  Mordecai  Lincoln;  S,  William  F.  Kennedy, 
John  W.  Lincoln,  Charles  II.  Lincoln. 
1882.— Mayor,  Charles  K.  .Johnson.  Aldermen,  Ward  1,  Martin  J.  Lin- 
coln: 2,  Walter  S.Sprague;  3,  Michael  J.  Hoye;4,  Henry  D.Atwood; 

5,  Benjamin  S.  Bosworth  ;  8,  A.  Lyman  Willard  ;  7,  Henry  S.  Culver  ; 
8,  Samuel  Lane.  Councilmen,  William  F.  Kennedy,  president: 
Ward  1,  Charles  R.  Mason,  Daniel  Carey,  James  II.  Bosworth;  2, 
George  II.  Rhodes,  Charles  A.  Munroe,  Gamaliel  Lane  ;  ::,  Benjamin 
Morris,  William  Quillen,  James  F.  Conefy ;  4,  Charles  Foster,  Edgar 
R.  Spragne,  A.  Gilbert  Williams;  5,  Samuel  W.  Robinson,  Winthrop 
A.  Robinson,  Horatio  Godfrey;  (i,  Charles  F.  Baker,  George  W. 
Barrows,  Thomas  C.  Shirley;  7,  Nathaniel  J.  Grossman,  Henry  A. 
Short,  Otis  A.  Thayer ;  8,  William  F.  Kennedy,  John  W.  Lincoln, 
John  O'Hearne. 

1883. — Mayor,  Horatio  L. 'Cushman.  Aldermen,  Walter  S.  Spragne, 
chairman:  Ward  1,  Albert  D.  Davol ;  2,  Waller  S.  Spragne;  3,  Mi- 
chael J.  Hoye;  4,  Cornelius  Wood;  5,  Benjamin  S.  Bosworth;  6, 
George  W.  Barrows ;  7,  Joseph  S.  Tidd;  8,  Frank  L.  Fish.  Council- 
men,  George  H.  Rhodes,  president :  Ward  1,  Daniel  Carey,  James  H. 
Bosworth,  William  H.  Wood  ;  2,  George  H.  Rhodes,  Henry  W.  Colby, 
Owen  Barker;  3,  Benjamin  Morris,  James  F.  Conefy,  George  K. 
Noyes;  4,  Charles  Foster.  Edgar  R.  Spragne,  A.  Gilbert  Williams; 
5,  Samuel  W.  Robinson,  Winthrop  A.  Robinson,  Horatio  Godfrey  ; 
G,  George  E.  Wilbur,  William  C.  Bowen,  Peter  H.  Corr ;  7,  Otis  A. 
Thayer,  Nathaniel  J.  Crossman,  Frank  K.  Chace  ;  8,  John  0'IIearne, 
Jr.,  Thomas  B.  Cottrell,  Edwin  M.  Hills. 

I 
CITY  MARSHALS. 

Robert  Crossman  (2d),  Jan.  25, 1865,  to  Aug. 27, 1867  (deceased);  Willis 
Potter,  Sept,  4,  1867,  to  Jan.  1,  1S74  ;  John  A.  Fay,  Jan.  1,  1S74,  to 
March  14, 1874;  Orrin  M.  Ingalls,  March  14,  1874,  to  Jan.  1.  1877  ; 
George  F.  Seaver,  Jan.  1,  1877,  to  Aug.  1,  1879  ;  Alfred  B.  Hodges, 
Aug.  1, 1870,  now  in  service. 

POSTMASTERS  OF  TAUNTON. 

Appointed. 

Nicholas  Tillinghast March  20,  1793. 

Samuel  Hodges July  1,  1803. 

James  Hodges 'an.  1,  1804. 

James  L.  Hodges Dec.  8,  1810. 

David  C.Hodges Sept.  9,  182C. 

Joseph  L.  Lord Aug.  19,  L829. 

Charles  R.  Vickery March  23,  1835. 

William  Brewster1 May  12,  1849. 

Abijah  M.  Ide,  Jr Tuly  1,  1853. 

Joseph  E.Wilbar1 Dec.  18,  1861. 

Abijah  M.  Ide Fan.  15,  1866. 

Samuel  0.  Dunbar' April  JJ,  1869. 

EliasE.  Fuller1 March  26,  1873.« 

Councilors  from  Taunton.—  The  only  members  of 
the  Executive  Council  from  Taunton  in  forty  years 
were  Hon.  Samuel  L.  Crocker  (1850),  under  the  admin- 
istration of  Governor  George  N.  Briggs,  and  Hon. 
Harrison  Tweed,  in  1876-78,  under  Governor  Alex- 
ander H.  Eice. 

Senators.— Gen.  David  Cobb  was  senator  in  1801 
to  1805,  and  president  during  four  years.  Chester  I. 
Reed  was  senator  from  Taunton  in  1862;  he  was 
attorney-general  in  18G1  to  1807,  and  judge  of  the 
Superior  Court  from  1867  to  1870.  John  E.  San- 
ford3 was  senator  in  1864,  A.  M.  Ide  in  1865,  Harri- 
son Tweed  in  1868-69,'  James  Brown  in  1873,  Wil- 
liam C.  Lovering  in  1874-75,  Ezra  Davol  in  1878-79, 
William  Reed  in  1882. 


i  Now  living  in  Taunton.  2  1883,  now  serving, 

a  Mr.  Sanford  has  since  been  Speaker  of  the  House  four  years,  from 
1872  to  1876. 


822 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL  COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


CHAPTER    LXVII. 

TAUNTON.1— (Continued.) 
MANUFACTURING   INTERESTS. 

Mill  River  Manufactories.— Whittenton.  — 
The  first  industrial  enterprises  on  Mill  River  at  Whit- 
tenton  were  the  saw-mill  on  the  ea3t  and  the  grist- 
mill on  the  west  side,  near  the  location  of  the  present 
dam,  and  were  chiefly  owned  by  James  Leonard. 
Mill  River  takes  its  rise  from  Winneconnet  Pond, 
and  the  rivulets  flowing  into  it  in  Norton  and  Easton. 
Before  the  numerous  mills  were  erected  thereon,  which 
gave  it  the  name  over  two  hundred  years  ago,  it  was 
called  "Canoe  River,"  being  forded  by  Indians  in 
their  canoes  from  mouth  to  source,  some  ten  miles 
distant,  who  all  along  occupied  its  bank's  through  their 
hunting-grounds.  About  1670,  James  Leonard,  Sr., 
who  introduced  the  manufacture  of  bar-iron  in  1656, 
at  the  old  forge  or  "  bloomery"  on  Two-Mile  River,  in 
Taunton  (now  Raynham),  with  his  sons  and  others, 
built  a  forge  on  the  west  bank  of  Mill  River,  near 
the  grist-mill  clam  at  Whittenton,2  with  its  one  hearth 
bellows,  chimney,  and  other  appurtenances  for  making 
iron.  His  sons,  Joseph,  Uriah,3  and  Benjamin,  who 
had  served  in  the  first  iron-works,  worked  the  forge. 
James,  Sr.,  died  in  1691,  leaving  a  portion  of  Whit- 
tenton works  to  Joseph,  and  another  to  Uriah,  with  the 
dwelling-house  adjoining;  Joseph  to  pay  his  mother- 
in-law,  Margaret,  widow  of  James1,  four  hundred  of 
iron  and  twenty  shillings,  and  Uriah  to  pay  her  six 
hundred  of  iron  annually  as  long  as  she  remained  their 
father's  widow.  Benjamin  received  lands,  including 
"meadows  and  mines,"  to  supply  the  forge  with  ore; 
to  James,  Jr.,  he  gave  some  land  and  his  "  half-share 
in  the  old  iron-works,"  of  which  his  eldest  son,  Thomas 
Leonard,  had  charge.  Joseph  died  in  1692,  leaving 
his  widow,  Benjamin,  and  Uriah  in  charge  of  Whit- 
tenton Iron-Works  and  Mills.  Two  years  later,  Mary 
(Joseph's  widow),  Benjamin,  and  Uriah,  entered  into 
"  an  agreement  that  the  grist-mill  be  removed  from 
the  place  where  it  now  standeth  on  the  east  side  of 
the  forge,  and  set  upon  the  west  side  below,"  upon 
land  purchased  of  Rev.  George  Shove,  that  each 
proprietor  "  shall  bear  the  expenses  of  removal  and 
the  building  of  a  new  house  for  the  grist-mill ;"  and 
furthermore,  that  "  the  said  mill  is  not  to  hinder  the 
improvement  for  making  of  iron,"  "  the  iron-works  to 
have  the  improvement  of  the  water"  in  the  dry  sea- 
son. They  also  "  covenanted  to  build  a  new  hearth," 
with  appurtenances,  on  the  east  side  of  the  forge,  and 

1  The  editor  acknowledges  his  indebtedness  in  the  preparation  of  this 
chapter  to  Capt.  J.  W.  D.  Hall.  We  are  also  indebted  to  Capt.  Hall  for 
much  valuable  assistance  on  the  county  generally,  which  has  greatly 
lessened  our  labor  in  the  preparation  of  the  work. 

2  Whittington,  in  the  more  ancient  records,  a  tradition  that  it  was 
named  after  John  Whittington,  an  emigrant  from  England. 

3  Uriah,  above  referred  to,  was  the  one  who,  when  a  young  man, 
worked  in  the  old  forge  with  his  father,  ran  the  gauntlet  under  fire  of 
the  Indians  while  returning  horseback  from  the  Centre  one  afternoon, 
escaping  without  a  wound,  as  tradition  says,  but  a  wounded  horse. 


Benjamin  to  be  master  workman;  thus  doubling  the 
capacity  of  the  forge  for  making  bar-iron,  which  was 
an  important  factor  in  those  early  days  of  Taunton. 

Uriah  sold  his  share  of  the  works,  in  1699,  to  his 
brother,  Capt.  James2,  with  the  iron  mine  near  the 
'•'eight-mile  pond"  (Winneconnet)  and  the  ore  in 
the  same,  for  three  hundred  pounds  ;  also  providing, 
as  James  became  a  partner,  "  that  Joseph's  widow 
shall  have  six  hundred  of  iron  annuallv  during  her 
life,  while  the  works  stand."  They  also  purchased  of 
John  Pole,  merchant  of  Boston,  "  50  acres  of  mine 
meadow,"  formerly  owned  by  Capt.  William  Pole,  his 
father,  "  bounded  on  the  west  by  Hoar's  highway 
(Winter  Street)  for  £50,  and  two  tons  of  good  mer- 
chantable bar-iron."  Some  years  later,  Widow  Mary 
having  married  Joseph  Willis,  the  brothers  "  cove- 
nanted that  she  have  the  improvement  of  her  late  hus- 
band's interest  in  the  forge  and  mill,  also  600  of 
iron,  four  barrels  of  cider,  and  twenty  bushels  of 
apples  from  the  orchard,4  annually  for  four  years." 
She  had  two  sons,  Edward  and  William,  employed 
about  the  works,  and  two  daughters.  Edward  after- 
wards became  an  owner. 

The  ancient  forge  and  mills  were  conducted  by  Capt. 
James  Leonard2,  his  sons,  and  other  members  of  the 
family,  to  Jonathan  and  James  of  the  fifth  genera- 
tion, the  latter  a  "  refiner,"  for  more  than  a  hundred 
years  after  the  foregoing  incidents  transpired  in  the 
early  history  of  making  charcoal  iron  by  James  Leon- 
ard1;  the  crude  ore  for  which  being  produced  along 
the  meadows  of  Watson's  pond,  "Scadding's  moire," 
to  the  vicinity  of  Winneconnet  Pond  five  miles  dis- 
tant, the  facts  conclusively  furnished  by  ancient  deeds 
and  records.  In  1699  Nicholas  Mowry,  ancestor  of 
many  of  the  name,  a  large  land-holder,  was  a  share- 
owner  in  the  forge,  and  in  1737,  Capt.  Thomas  Cobb, 
"mariner,"  became  an  owner,  increasing  another 
"  hearth"  and  furnishing  New  Jersey  ore  of  a  more 
profitable  percentage  than  "Scadding's  moire"  to  sup- 
ply the  forge.  In  1793  Capt.  James  Leonard5  con- 
veyed his  portion  of  the  works,  owned  jointly  with 
Abiather  and  Samuel,  to  his  nephew  Zadoc,  who  con- 
tinued the  business  to  1800.  Jonathan,  who  died  in 
1797,  conveyed  the  grist-mill  to  his  son,  Lee  Leonard, 
who  sold  the  mill  privilege  and  fifty  acres  of  land,  in 
1810,  to  Crocker,  Bush,,  and  Richmond  for  four  thou- 
sand dollars.  This  closed  the  Leonard  interest  in  that 
site  which  had  continued  about  one  hundred  and  fifty 
consecutive  years. 

Crocker,  Bush,  and  Richmond,  who  had  been  in  the 
employ  of  Samuel  Leonard,  Sr.,  as  clerks  and  assist- 
ants in  the  iron  business,  conceived  the  plan  of  utili- 
zing Ae  Mill  River  water-power  at  Whittenton  to  a 
better  advantage  than  accrued  from  the  ancient  forge 
and  grist-mill.  In  1805  they  built  a  nail-mill  of  one 
story  above  the  bridge,  where  nails  of  various  sizes 

4  The  "orchard"  occupied  the  east  side  of  the  river  (Warren  Bur- 
bank's  place),  at  Britanniaville,  now  largely  covered  with  spacious  build- 
ings of  Reed  &  Barton's  Works. 


TAUNTON. 


823 


were  cut  by  crude  machines  compared  with  the  pres- 
ent, and  the  heading  was  done  by  hand  ;  the  nails 
being  taken  out  in  job  lots  by  farmers  for  that  pur- 
pose. It  was  a  slow  process,  but  soon  after  machines 
were  invented  for  heading  by  a  jerk  of  the  foot  and 
blow  of  a  hammer.  A  few  years  later  machines  were 
made  by  Rogers  and  Odeon,  which  greatly  improved 
the  process  of  manufacture  by  cutting  and  heading 
the  nail  at  one  operation.  Melvin  Otis,  of  VVareham, 
invented  a  machine,  improved  by  Jesse  Reed,  of 
Marshfield,  in  1815,  which  made  still  further  im- 
provements, superseding  the  former  by  gripping  and 
spring  nippers  to  complete  the  heading  as  well  as 
pointing  of  nails.  These  machines  are  in  use  at  the 
present  day  in  all  nail  establishments.  There  was 
some  controversy  as  to  whom  the  merit  of  the  patent 
belonged,  but  both  have  shared  the  honor  and  benefit. 

In  1807  the  above  firm  added  another  story  to  the 
Whittenton  Nail-Mill,  and  put  in  machinery  for  spin- 
ning cotton  yarn.  This  was  packed  in  skeins  and 
taken  out  by  farmers'  families  within  a  radius  of  one 
to  fifteen  miles,  to  be  woven  into  cloth  by  the  domes- 
tic hand- loom  and  shuttle  generally  in  vogue  in  those 
days,  which  gave  employment  to  hundreds  of  women 
at  their  looms. 

In  November,  1811,  the  yarn  and  nail-mill  was 
burned  and  the  machines  destroyed.  The  enterpris- 
ing proprietors  immediately  erected  another  factory 
on  the  same  site,  seventy  by  thirty,  three  stories,  with 
mule-room  attic.  It  was  said  that  the  timber  growing 
two  months  before  was  converted  into  lumber  for  the 
factory  ready  for  the  machinery  for  spinning  cotton 
yarn.  It  was  then  war  embargo  time,  and  cotton 
fabrics  were  in  quick  demand. 

A  few  years  later  some  forty  power-looms  were 
added,  of  the  Slater  construction,  recently  imported 
by  patterns  from  England,  and  this  was  the  first  mill 
in  this  region,  it  was  said,  which  made  good  cloth 
by  the  power-looms.  Barney  Lincoln,  now  an  octo- 
genarian of  eighty-five,  was  an  overseer  in  the  spin- 
ning-room in  1818,  and  Elijah  Caswell,  since  an  in- 
genious tack  mechanic,  now  in  his  seventy-fifth  year, 
but  then  a  lad  of  ten  years,  worked  in  that  mill. 

Meanwhile  another  nail-mill  had  been  built  on  the 
east  bank  of  the  dam,  the  site  of  the  old  saw-mill  of  a 
century  before,  a  short  distance  above  the  present  office 
of  the  Whittenton  Mills  Company.  An  avenue,  with 
dwellings  thereon,  led  up  to  the  mill,  where  nails 
were  made  in  1821  by  the  modern  machines  super- 
seding the  former  slow  process.  Elisha  Gilmore  had 
charge  of  the  mill  and  the  previous  one  destroyed  by 
fire  for  eighteen  years.  Albert  Field,  Warren  Bur- 
bank,  and  others  were  employed,  and  made  their  first 
nails  there  by  the  modern  process;  the  former  has 
passed  away,  the  latter  is  a  veteran  of  seventy-eight. 
The  nail  business  was  relinquished  over  fifty  yens 
ago,  and  the  old  buildings  then  occupied  by  that  de- 
partment have  been  removed  some  distance  to  the 
rear,  and  are  used  for  storage  by  the  company. 


Whittenton  Mills.— In  1824  the  Whittenton  Mills 
became  incorporated  with  the  property  of  the  Taunton 
Manufacturing  Company,  but  under  the  management 
of  James  K.  Mills  &  Co.,  of  Boston.    In  1831-32  a  new  ■ 
stone  mill  was  built  a  short  distance  east  of  the  former, 

containing  seventy  looms  for  making  finer  g Is.   This 

mill  may  now  be  seen  segmented  between  the  large 
brick  structures  more  recently  erected.  The  property 
remained  under  the  control  of  the  Taunton  .Manufac- 
turing Company  until  May,  1835,  when  Mills  &  Co. 
severed  their  connection,  and  resumed  proprietorship 
of  the  mills  and  appurtenances. 

In  September,  1836,  the  late  Willard  Lovering,  a 
practical  manufacturer,  was  called  to  the  agency  of 
Whittenton  Mills,  and  becoming  joint  proprietor, 
made  many  improvements  in  the  manufacture  of 
goods.  In  January,  1839,  the  older  mill  referred  to 
was  destroyed  by  fire.  A  building  for  mule-spinning 
now  occupies  the  site  and  raceway  of  the  old  grist- 
mill and  forge  of  two  hundred  years  ago,  and  where 
stood  the  original  nail-  and  yarn-mill  of  1811,  and 
subsequent  cotton- factory  built  by  Crocker,  Bush  & 
Richmond  seventy  years  ago. 

The  legitimate  manufacturing  business  of  the  last 
proprietors  had  been  successful  and  prosperous  under 
Mr.  Lovering's  management;  but  James  K.  Mills  & 
Co.,  of  Boston,  having  embarked  in  larger  enter- 
prises elsewhere,  which  proved  unfortunate  in  the 
tidal  wave  of  disaster  of  1857,  they  yielded  to  the 
pressure  and  closed  their  business. 

In  1858,  the  estate  having  been  settled,  Mr.  Lover- 
ing, associated  with  his  sons,  purchased  the  franchise, 
property,  privilege,  dwellings,  and  appurtenances  of 
the  Whittenton  Mills  Corporation,  and  under  their 
management  commenced  a  career  of  improvement 
and  enlargement  of  unprecedented  record  in  manu- 
facturing enterprise.  A  few  years  before  the  death 
of  the  senior  proprietor,  Willard  Lovering,  which 
occurred  Dec.  15,  1875,  his  sons,  Charles  L.,  William 
C,  and  Henry  Morton  Lovering,  succeeded  to  the 
proprietorship  of  Whittenton  INI  ills,  which  now  in- 
cludes one  of  the  largest  and  most  capacious  estab- 
lishments in  New  England. 

It  includes  some  twenty  substantial  brick  and  stone 
buildings  two  to  four  stories,  besides  ten  or  twelve 
smaller  ones,  comprising  four  hundred  thousand 
square  feet,  or  nine  acres  of  flooring.  The  model 
weaving  shop  occupies  fifty-five  thousand  square  feet, 
over  an  acre  and  a  quarter  of  flooring,  and  contaius 
in  one  room,  lighted  by  electric  lamps,  nearly  one 
thousand  looms,  and  over  three  hundred  in  the  room 
beneath.  The  machinery  in  these  large  structures  is 
moved  by  five  Corliss  engines  aggregating  twelve 
hundred  horse-power, in  addition  to  the  water-wheels 
of  two  hundred  and  fifty  horse-power,  requiring  in 
the  establishment  the  consumption  of  about  eight 
thousand  tons  of  coal,  and  consuming  about  eight 
thousand  hales  of  cotton  annually  in  producing  the 
great  variety  of  textures  of  fabrics  of  innumerable 


824 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


styles, — cottonades,  ginghams,  dress  goods,  fancy- 
tickings,  shirtings,  canton  flannels,  denims,  etd, — 
providing  employment  for  eleven  hundred  hands,  a 
large  portion  of  whom  reside  in  the  dwellings  be- 
longing to  the  company,  of  which  there  are  over  a 
hundred,  and  two  hundred  tenements,  comprising 
a  large  village  of  residences.  The  yard  exclusively 
of  their  manufactories  occupies  an  area  of  fifteen 
acres,  and  about  eighty  acres,  conveniently  laid  out 
in  avenues,  is  the  area  for  the  dwelling-houses  and 
appurtenances,  a  vast  change  from  the  modest  Whit- 
tenton  Mills  village  of  half  a  century  ago.  The  Old 
Colony  Railroad  curves  directly  through  the  village  a 
convenient  distance  from  the  manufactories,  affording 
ample  facilities  for  delivering  coal,  cotton,  and  other 
materials,  and  transporting  thence  the  thousands  of 
cases  of  goods  annually  which  find  a  ready  sale  in 
all  the  markets  of  the  country. 

Britanniaville. — The  location  of  this  prosperous 
village  of  industrial  enterprise  on  Mill  River,  half  a 
mile  below  Whittenton,  was  occupied  a  century  and 
a  half  ago  by  a  grist-mill,  situated  on  the  south  of 
Britannia  Street  dam,  and  a  saw-mill  a  few  rods 
below,  owned  by  Capt.  James  Leonard3  and  others. 
He  conveyed  his  portion  of  the  privilege  and  mills 
in  1776,  for  one  hundred  and  sixty  pounds,  to  John 
Adam,  an  enterprising  merchant  of  Taunton,  who 
built  a  dam,  rolling-  and  slitting-mill,  some  distance 
below  the  above  mills,  by  Danforth  Street  crossing. 
There  was  also  a  small  saw-mill  and  fulling-mill  above 
this  bridge.  The  enterprise  of  Mr.  Adam  did  not 
prove  successful.  In  1791  he  disposed-of  the  slitting- 
mill,  dwelling-house  adjoining,  privilege  and  appur- 
tenances (a  portion  of  which  he  had  previously  pur- 
chased of  Abiather  and  Samuel  Leonard)  for  three 
hundred  and  thirty-seven  pounds. 

The  purchasers  were  Josiah  Dean,  of  Raynharn, 
and  Samuel  Leonard,  who  continued  the  business 
several  years.  Deacon  Lemuel  Leonard  had  charge 
of  the  mill  where  Russia  and  Swedes  iron,  imported 
in  bars,  was  rolled  and  slit  into  rods,  from  which 
wrought  or  hammered  nails  were  made  in  scores  of 
small  shops,  or  smithies,  in  the  surrounding  towns 
many  miles  distant.  Messrs.  Dean  and  Leonard 
finally  abandoned  the  iron-works  as  an  unprofitable 
enterprise.  Nothing  now  remains  to  indicate  its 
existence  but  the  foundation  and  dam,  submerged  by 
back  water  from  the  Hopewell  Mills  below,  which 
may  be  seen  at  low  water  at  said  crossing.  The  grist- 
mill above  referred  to  was  attended  a  hundred  years 
ago  and  over  by  Abram  Lincoln,  and  being  a  devoutly 
religious  man,  with  his  band  of  friends  held  meetings 
in  the  mill,  humblest  of  all  places,  except  a  stable,  for 
worship.  Mr.  Lincoln  removed  to  Tiverton,  R.  I.,  and 
died  there.  These  mills  were  finally  owned  by  Hora- 
tio and  Gustavus  Leonard,  until  they  gave  place  to  the 
extension  of  the  buildings  of  the  Britannia  Works. 

A  rolling-  and  slitting-mill  was  built  about  1800  by 
Samuel  Leonard,  at  the  dam  north  of  the  street,  and  i 


Samuel  and  William  A.  Crocker,  Sr.,  were  copartners. 
It  is  a  well-founded  tradition  that,  as  the  former  mill 
below  had  not  been  a  lucrative  investment,  when  the 
latter  was  completed  Mr.  Leonard  remarked  to  a 
friend,  "  I  hope  well  of  this  enterprise,"  thus  origin- 
ating the  historical  name  of  "  Hopewell"  to  the  near 
locality. 

In  this  mill  Messrs.  Leonard  &  Crockers  prosecuted 
a  large  business  in  rolling  plates  and  slitting  rods, 
which  were  packed  in  bundles  and  taken  out  to  be 
hammered  into  nails  by  hundreds  of  farmers  and 
mechanics,  as  before  mentioned,  who  had  their  little 
shops  in  the  surrounding  towns.  The  rolling-mill  of 
that  day  was  of  crude  construction, — the  rolls  set  in  a 
massive  wooden  frame  and  gearing  of  wood,  the  fur- 
nace of  huge  dimensions,  of  sufficient  capacity  for  a 
ton  of  iron  and  a  cord  of  pine  wood  to  a  heat,  re- 
quiring five  men  to  run  four  heats  per  day;  while  the 
iron  was  heating  the  men  bundled  the  rods  of  the 
previous  heat  ready  for  delivery  to  nail-makers. 

After  the  death  of  William  A.  Crocker,  the  junior 
partner,  which  occurred  Sept.  20,  1805,  and  that  of 
Samuel  Leonard,  the  senior,  in  1808,  Crocker,  Bush 
&  Richmond  were  successors  to  that  business.  Capt. 
William  Danforth,  who  formerly  owned  the  State 
Hospital  farm,  had  charge  of  the  mill,  and  his  son, 
Horatio  L.  Danforth,  employed  there  lost  an  arm, 
(referred  to  in  a  notice  of  Mr.  Danforth  in  the  Bristol 
bar  of  Taunton).  The  plates  and  rods  for  the  Whit- 
teuton  Nail-Works  were  rolled  and  slit  there;  the 
mill  was  afterwards  used  by  Crocker  Brothers  &  Co. 
many  years  for  rolling  their  copper  and  zinc  plates, 
also  for  making  copper  shells,  or  calico  rolls,  a  few 
years  previous  to  the  erection  of  their  works  at  Weir 
village.  The  old  slitting-mill  was  purchased  by  Ben- 
jamin Ingell,  3,nd  converted  into  a  furnace  for  the 
casting  of  small  wares.  After  the  death  of  the  latter, 
the  building  was  sold  to  Reed  &  Barton,  who  removed 
the  last  vestige  of  the  old  mill  except  the  dam. 

Britannia  Works. — The  britannia  and  plating- 
works  of  Reed  &  Barton,  which  occupies  the  site  and 
privilege  of  those  ancient  mills,  is  the  oldest  estab- 
lishment of  the  kind  in  the  United  States.  The  bri- 
tannia business  was  commenced  in  Taunton  nearly 
sixty  years  ago  by  Isaac  Babbitt,  in  a  small  shop  rear 
of  his  watch-maker's  store,  now  City  Square,  its  loca- 
tion about  midway  of  the  present  Union  Block,  where 
he  experimented  with  block-tin  and  other  metals. 
Being  a  very  ingenious  mechanic,  Mr.  Babbitt  enter- 
tained the  idea  that  many  articles  of  britannia  ware 
for  domestic  use  could  be  manufactured  in  Taunton 
instead  of  importing  them  from  Europe,  and  he  ac- 
cordingly was  successful  in  his  experiments.  He  en- 
tered into  copartnership  with  William  W.  Crossman, 
another  practical  mechanic,  and  leased  a  room  and 
power  of  Roswell  Ballard  in  his  fulling-mill  (formerly 
the  elder  James  Sproat's  snuff-mill),  below  the  dam 
on  Spring  Street,  and  commenced  the  business  in  a 
small  way. 


TAUNTON. 


825 


Babbitt  &  Crossman  there  produced,  in  1824,  the 
first  britannia  articles  manufactured  in  the  United 
States,  inkstands,  shaving-boxes,  looking-glass  frames, 
etc.,  furnishing  stores  with  a  stock  of  these  useful 
American  goods.  The  ware  for  tea-pots  and  other 
britannia  articles  was  afterwards  rolled  in  plates. 
Nathaniel  Leonard,  in  his  shop  on  Weir  Street,  over 
fifty  years  ago  made  the  first  set  of  rolls  for  that  use. 
These  rolls  may  now  be  seen  in  Reed  &  Barton's 
works,  and  there  was  first  made  the  first  wrought 
metal  goods.  Specimens  of  the  Babbitt  &  Crossman 
manufacture  may  still  be  occasionally  found  in  use. 
They  received  awards  for  their  productions  at  several 
of  the  Bristol  County  exhibitions,  and  their  success 
in  competing  with  foreign  manufactures  in  this  small 
way.  They  soon  required  larger  quarters  for  their 
business. 

A  brick  manufactory  was  built  in  1827  for  their  use 
on  School  Street,  and  they  removed  from  their  more 
humble  quarters.  The  location  is  now  "  Leo's  build- 
ing," and  was  once  occupied  by  William  Mason,  in 
making  his  first  "  ring  speeder,"  and  afterwards  by 
Dixon,  Atwood  &  Vickery,  in  developing  their  cruci- 
ble business.  In  1828,  William  Allen  West  and 
Zephaniah  A.  Leonard  associated  with  Mr.  Cross- 
man,  under  the  firm  of  Crossman,  West  &  Leonard, 
Mr.  Babbitt  remaining  as  metallurgist.  All  these  per- 
sons connected  together  in  the  early  days  of  the  bri- 
tannia business  have  passed  away,  Mr.  Crossman,  the 
last  one,  about  a  year  ago.1 

In  the  above  manufactory,  Henry  G.  Reed  and 
Charles  E.  Barton,  about  seventeen  years  of  age,  com- 
menced their  apprenticeship  in  1S28,  in  the  room  of 
which  William  W.  Porter,  the  retired  veteran  bri- 
tannia worker,  now  in  his  eighty-sixth  year,  had 
charge  as  foreman.  The  company  increased  their 
business,  manufacturing  coffee-  and  tea-pots  and 
many  domestic  articles,  but  perhaps  owing  to  inex- 
perience in  the  combination  of  metals  in  the  infancy 
of  the  business  they  were  not  fully  successful  in  se- 
curing the  market. 

To  obtain  a  more  economical  power  in  rolling  and 
finishing  their  goods,  in  1830  the  company  erected  a 
brick  manufactory  on  the  west  side  of  Mill  River, 
opposite  Leonard  &  Crocker's  slitting-mill  (the  oldest 
of  the  present  cluster  of  buildings  now  comprising 
Reed  &  Barton's  works,  but  much  enlarged),  and 
soon  organized  the  "Taunton  Britannia  Manufactur- 
ing Company,"  and  enlarged  their  business.  After  a 
few  years  of  unsuccessful  experimenting  to  compete 
in  the  great  markets  with  the  productions  of  skilled 
labor  of  foreign  manufacturers,  the  company  suspended 
business  and  disposed  of  their  stock,  leaving  a  por- 


1  Isaac  Babbitt,  after  retiring  from  the  Britannia  Works,  was  a  number 
of  years  superintendent  of  Alger's  foundry,  at  s..ntli  Huston,  ami  pro- 
duced the  first  brass  cannon  cast  in  the  United  Stiles.  He  was  Also  In- 
renter  of  the  well-known  "Babbitt   metal.''    A  man  ..f  remarkably 

mechanical  and  ingenious  mind.     He  died  ■ ,  Is— ,  from  over-activity 

of  a  prolific  brain.     He  deserves  more  than  this  tribute  as  a  testimonia 
from  Tauntonians. 


tiou  of  their  manufacturing  tools  in  the  custody  of 
their  former  apprentices,  Reed  and  Barton.  These 
young  men,  uniting  their  industry,  ability,  and  prac- 
tical experience  in  the  business,  with  a  small  capital 
and  an  agent,  hired  a  portion  of  the  building  and 
power  in  1835.  They  labored  patiently  under  the 
ineffective  discouragements  of  their  predecessors,  but 
they  experimented  successfully.  Associating  with 
them,  alter  two  years'  trial,  Gustavus  Leonard,  they 
purchased  the  buildings,  implements,  and  privilege, 
enlarged  their  business,  making  a  new  departure, 
under  the  firm  of  Leonard,  Reed  A:  Barton,  employ- 
ing a  dozen  or  more  hands,  still  laboring  themselves 
at  the  bench,  Mr.  Leonard  as  the  outside  business 
man. 

With  Mr.  H.  G.  Reed  as  metallurgist  their  wares 
gradually  obtained  a  high  reputation  ;  their  efforts 
were  no  longer  a  doubtful  experiment;  their  "metal 
had  the  right  ring."  Their  wares  were  exhibited  at 
the  exhibition  of  the  American  Institute  of  New  York 
in  1838. 

During  that  exhibition  a  prominent  member, 
Charles  H.Delavan,  sent  several  pieces  of  the  Reed  & 
Barton  ware,  with  the  same  number  of  English  man- 
ufacture to  Mr.  Wakeman,  the  secretary  of  the  insti- 
tute, accompanied  by  a  note,  saying,  "  I  am  satisfied 
that  the  Taunton  ware  will  bear  a  favorable  compar- 
ison with  any  in  Europe  for  neatness  and  elegance 
of  finish,  and  I  beg  leave  to  express  my  firm  convic- 
.tion  that  if  such  specimens  of  American  manufac- 
tures are  properly  encouraged  it  will  lead  in  a  few 
years  to  the  entire  independence  of  foreign  nations 
for  articles  of  necessity  and  use,  and  I  trust  the  time 
has  arrived  when  the  experiment  should  be  made." 
In  a  postscript  Mr.  Delavan  compared  the  cost  of 
each  set  of  ware, — Taunton  ware,  coffee-pot,  $2.65; 
sugar-  and  cream-pots,  $2  40  ;  tea-pot,  $1.78  ;  total, 
$6.83.  English  ware  (similar  patterns,  no  better 
quality),  coffee-pot,  $4.06;  sugar-  and  cream-pots, 
$2.57;  tea-pot,  $2.53;  total,  $9.16,  a  savin-  of  $2.33 
in  favor  of  the  Taunton  set,  which,  he  added,  "  every 
American  ought  to  be  proud  of."  A  gold  medal  was 
awarded  the  latter,  and  the  reputation  of  the  Taunton 
ware  established.  That  ware  was  exhibited  and  letter 
written  forty-live  years  ago  when  the  works  were  in 
their  infancy.  Since  that  time  the  company  have  in- 
vested half  a  million  of  dollars,  made  extensive  im- 
provements from  time  to  time  in  the  manufacture, 
quality,  and  style  of  their  goods,  which  have  entirely 
superseded  foreign  wares  in  the  leading  markets 
of  this  country,  and  found  their  way  in  successful 
competition  in  many  of  the  markets  of  the  Old 
World. 

After  the  decease  of  Mr.  Leonard  in  April,  1846, 
Henry  II.  Fish  purchased  his  interest,  and  succeeded 
him  in  joint  proprietorship  in  the  firm-name  of  Reed 
&  Barton.  In  1859,  George  Brabrook,  who  had  been 
intimately  associated  with  the  business  transactions 
of  the  firm,  was  admitted  as  a  joint  partner.     After 


826 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


the  death  of  Mr.  Barton,  Sept.  13, 1867,  Messrs.  Reed, 
Brabrook  &  Fish  purchased  the  interest  of  their  late 
associate,  and  became  sole  proprietors,  still  retaining 
the  widely-known  firm-name  of  Reed  &  Barton.  After 
the  decease  of  Mr.  Fish,  occurring  Jan.  13,  1882,  his 
sons,  George  H.  and  Frank  L.  Fish,  succeeded  to  the 
management  of  their  father's  interest  in  the  firm  and 
business. 

We  have  in  the  foregoing  sketched  one  of  our  lead- 
ing industries  from  its  humble  origin  in  that  little 
workshop  to  Deacon  Ballard's  mill,  more  than  half  a 
century  ago,  thence  to  the  room  where  Reed  &  Bar- 
ton first  worked  in  metal,  to  their  present  manufac- 
tory of  vast  proportions,  forming  a  cluster  of  sixteen 
spacious  and  substantial  brick  buildings,  erected 
from  year  to  year,  as  the  exigencies  of  their  in- 
creasing business  required,  from  one  to  five  hundred 
feet  in  length,  three  to  four  stories  in  height,  also  a 
dozen  lesser  appendage  buildings,  all  comprising  two 
hundred  and  sixty  thousand  square  feet,  or  about  six 
acres  of  flooring,  and  covering  an  area  of  territory 
within  their  yard  of  ten  acres.  Besides  their  supply 
of  water-power,  an  engine  of  three  hundred  and  an- 
other of  one  hundred  horse-power  moves  the  costly 
scientific  machinery  of  that  great  hive  of  industry, 
thus  furnishing  employment  of  eight  to  nine  hun- 
dred persons,  including  some  of  the  most  skilled 
artists  in  the  metal  line  in  the  world,  many  having 
been  upon  the  rolls  twenty,  some  thirty,  years,  while 
Deacon  Barnas  L.  Burbank,  Luther  Babbitt,  N.  Brad- 
ford Leonard,  William  W.  Thayer,  and  their  senior 
book-keeper,  Alfred  Brabrook  (now  a  salesman),  over 
forty  years,  and  Nathan  Lawrence,  superintendent,  J. 
A.  B.  Woodward,  John  C.  Macdonald,  Peleg  Francis, 
v  Charles  H.  White,  Abel  Palmer,  and  Edwin  Reed, 
nearly  that  length  of  time,  in  their  employ.  Such 
has  been  the  success  of  their  experimental  improve- 
ments in  metals  the  past  twenty  years,  since  britan- 
nia  ware  was  their  chief  production,  that  they  now 
manufacture  annually  hundreds  of  thousands  of  dol- 
lars' worth  of  the  richest  patterns  in  nickel  (or  Ger- 
man) silver  electro-plated,  gold-lined  ware  of  rare  artis- 
tic designs,  and  manifold  descriptions,  to  be  found  in 
any  market  of  the  world. 

A  visit  to  the  departments  of  this  model  establish- 
ment, and  an  inspection  of  the  interesting  processes  of 
production  of  the  many  articles  in  use  in  every  family 
residence  or  humble  cottage  in  the  land,  will  confirm 
all  we  have  said  of  its  merit  as  an  ornament  to  the 
industrial  achievements  of  our  city  and  county. 

Hopewell  Mills. — About  a  hundred  years  ago,  a 
third  of  a  mile  below  the  old  grist-mill  dam  (now 
Britanniaville),  on  Mill  River,  was  another  dam,  and 
a  small  "cutting-mill,"  owned  by  Samuel  Leonard,1 
where,  a  few  years  later,  Joseph  Burbank,  with  a  few 
ancient  machines  and  two  or  three  men,  cut  nails, 
such  as  were  headed  by  hand  in  those  days  of  simple 

1  "Squire  Sam.  Leonard"  was  his  familiar  title.  He  was  largely  en- 
gaged in  iron-works  and  was  a  large  real-estate  owner  eighty  years  ago. 


machinery.  It  was  said  to  be  the  first  nail-cutting 
mill  in  Taunton.  The  site  had  no  special  history  ; 
there  was  a  small  waterfall  and  a  rocky  ravine.  It 
was  the  site  of  the  present  Hopewell  Mills  and  sur- 
rounding  buildings.  Charles  Richmond,  with  his  ir- 
resistible energy  and  enterprise,  conceived  the  plan 
of  building  cotton-mills  there,  in  his  own  emphatic 
words,  "To  make  Hopewell  shine  with  industry." 

He  purchased  the  old  cutting-mill  dam  and  privi- 
lege, with  surrounding  land,  ravine,  and  rocks,  of  the 
heirs  of  Samuel  Leonard.  Then  he  purchased  the  old 
Leonard  &  Dean  slitting-mill,  and  saw-mill  dam  and 
privilege  above,  to  enable  him  to  make  back  flowage 
without  damage,  and  then  raised  the  dam  ten  feet. 
With  the  aid  and  experience  of  Silas  Shepard  and 
Samuel  Crocker  he  erected  a  cotton-factory  (stone  and 
brick)  one  hundred  feet  in  length,  completing  it  the 
season  of  1818.  The  basement  was  a  machine-shop 
and  nail-factory,  and  in  the  upper  stories  looms  and 
cotton  machinery.  In  1821  another  mill  was  built, 
near  the  dam,  about  the  same  size,  both  containing 
about  one  hundred  and  fifty  looms.  Some  years  later 
an  addition  was  built,  connecting  the  Mills,  for  a 
weave-shop.  Silas  Shepard  had  the  superintendence, 
until  he  left  for  building  his  Oakland  Mill  in  1827, 
and  was  succeeded  by  Ezekiel  B.  Leonard  and  Elisha 
Copeland.  Elias  Strange  had  charge  of  the  machine- 
and  nail-shop  before  he  removed  to  the  brick  mill. 
Horatio  Leonard  &  Co.  built  a  small  rolling-mill  at 
the  west  end  of  the  dam,  under  the  brow  of  the  hill 
(now  hospital  farm),  which  was  operated  a  few  years, 
when  the  machinery  was  disposed  of. 

This  mill  property  was  merged  in  the  capital  stock 
of  the  Taunton  Manufacturing  Company  in  1823,  and 
was  managed  in  that  interest  until  1843,  when,  after 
a  brief  control  by  William  A.  F.  Sproat,  it  came  into 
the  possession  of  Cyrus  Lothrop  in  1844,  for  about  ten 
years  thereafter.  After  the  accidental  death  of  Mr. 
Lothrop,  May  21,  1854,  the  property,  by  will,  passed 
into  the  hands  of  Charles  Albro,  who  had  been  super- 
intendent nearly  ten  years  previously.  Mr.  Albro  has 
been  the  manufacturer  of  various  cotton  fabrics  about 
twenty-eight  years. 

In  June,  1883,  a  new  arrangement  was  made  in  the 
proprietorship  of  Hopewell  Mills.  A  company  was 
organized  with  Charles  Albro  a  third,  and  Porte  W. 
Hewins  two-thirds  interest  in  the  property ;  Enoch 
Hewins  as  superintendent.  They  have  two  hundred 
and  twenty-five  looms,  employ  about  one  hundred  and 
fifty  persons,  and  manufacture  jeans,  satteens,  and 
shirtings.  • 

Over  sixty  years  have  passed  away  since  the  in- 
domitable spirit  and  energy  of  Charles  Richmond 
originated  the  enterprise  of  the  Hopewell  Mills,  the 
Brick  Mills,  the  Calico  Printing- Works,  and  other 
lesser  enterprises,  which  have  made  Taunton  what  it 
is  in  prosperity  and  wealth,  furnished  employment 
for  thousands,  built  up  hundreds  of  comfortable 
homes,  and  made  many  wealthy.    But  he  had  not  the 


TAUNTON. 


827 


million  reserved  to  carry  through  his  great  projects 
amid  the  reverses  and  misfortunes  which  beset  many 
human  undertakings,  and  his  remains  now  rest  with- 
out a  tablet  to  indicate  the  spot  where  they  were  in- 
terred in  the  far-off  land  whither  he  went  in  1849, 
hoping  to  repair  his  fortunes.  Charles  Richmond 
deserves  a  monument  at  home  contributed  from  the 
wealth  he  was  instrumental  in  building  and  making. 

Brick  Mill. — This  manufacturing  location,  on  Mill 
River,  is  one  of  ancient  origin,  almost  coeval  with  the 
settlement  of  Taunton.  It  was  a  portion  of  the  prop- 
erty sold  by  Bartholomew  Tipping,  a  merchant,  to 
Rev.  Samuel  Dan  forth  soon  after  his  settlement  in 
1688,  as  the  fourth  minister  of  Taunton,  for  his 
homestead.  He  died  in  1727.  He  had  a  grist-mill 
at  the  dam,  and  a  malt-house,  which  he  gave  in  his 
will  to  his  son  Samuel,  including  the  house  he  resided 
in  and  surrounding  land. 

In  1760,  Samuel  Dan  forth,  Jr.,  sold  to  Thomas 
Cobb,  of  Attleborough,  his  "  new  dwelling-house, 
grist-mill,  fulling-mill,  dam,  and  appurtenances,  with 
ponding  and  flowing,  with  the  utensils  of  both  mills 
and  four  acres  of  land,  for  four  hundred  and  sixty- 
five  pounds."  Capt.  Thomas  Cobb  was  the  father  of 
Gen.  David  Cobb.  He  returned  to  Taunton  in  1762, 
and  was  probably  engaged  in  the  iron  business  in  At- 
tleborough with  Thomas  Leonard.  He  built  a  roll- 
ing- and  slitting-mill  at  the  Danforth  dam,  and  fol- 
lowed the  business  until  his  death  in  1779,  leaving 
the  mills  and  privilege  to  his  son,  Jonathan  Cobb. 
He  also  engaged  in  the  iron  business,  and  died  in 
1801,  leaving  the  iron-works  and  mills  to  his  widow, 
who  gave  the  property  to  her  son,  Jonathan  B.  Cobb. 
In  1803  the  latter  sold  the  mills  and  privilege  to  Sam- 
uel Fales,  whose  son,  Sam.  Cook  Fales,  carried  on  the 
iron  business  a  few  years.  Job  King  occupied  the 
old  Danforth  Fulling-Mill  for  cutting  nails  several 
years  with  the  original  machine. 

Crocker  and  Richmond,  who  were  engaged  in  sev- 
eral large  manufacturing  enterprises,  including  Whit- 
tenton  and  Hopewell  Mills,  and  the  calico  printing  es- 
tablishment, purchased  a  large  portion  of  the  site  of  the 
Cobb  Mills  and  privilege,  and,  after  clearing  away  the 
old  mills  and  appurtenances,  erected  in  1823  the  Brick 
Mill  for  the  manufacture  of  printing  cloths  for  the 
new  calico-works.  This  mill  was  for  several  years 
under  the  superintendence  of  Jesse  Hartshorn,  and 
the  machine-shop  in  the  basement  was  in  charge  of 
Elias  Strange,  now  the  senior  mechanic  in  this  vicin- 
ity. 

Arrangements  were  matured  by  Crocker  and  Rich- 
mond, in  1823,  with  Boston  capitalists,  to  organize  a 
large  company,  and  the  Brick  Mill  property  was 
merged  in  that,  called  the  Taunton  Manufacturing 
Company,  and  remained  so  incorporated  until  1834, 
when  a  division  was  made,  and  the  Brick  Mill  reverted 
to  Mr.  Richmond  and  his  associate.  Mr.  Crocker. 
They  continued  the  business  of  manufacturing  cotton 
goods  and  machinery  until  the  memorable  panic  and 


reverses  of  1837  compelled  them,  from  severe  losses, 
to  suspend,  with  hundreds  of  other  manufacturers. 

After  a  few  years  of  trusteeship  and  liquidation  of 
the  large  estate  of  Crocker  and  Richmond,  the  latter 
repurchased  the  brick  mill  property  and  resumed  busi- 
ness. From  1837  to  1843,  Robert  S.  Dean  had  charge 
of  the  manufacturing  of  cotton,  and  Leach  and  Keith 
the  machinery  department.  After  they  retired,  the 
business  was  in  charge  of  Mr.  Dean  and  Lovett  Morse, 
a  capitalist,  for  a  few  years. 

In  1845,  Mr.  Richmond  built  the  new  brick  mill  in 
rear  of  the  old  one  for  the  manufacture  of  cotton,  ging- 
hams, etc.  Experiments  were  made  with  a  new  carpet 
loom,  which,  after  a  few  years'  trial,  was  transferred 
to  Thompsonville,  Conn.,  and  proved  a  remunerative 
success.  The  old  brick  mill  was  burned  in  1845,  then 
in  charge  of  his  son  Edward,  with  serious  loss  to  Mr. 
Richmond,  and  rebuilt  in  1846.  Two  years  later  the 
entire  property  passed  out  of  Mr.  Richmond's  con- 
trol, and  in  1849  he  went  to  California,  where  he  died 
December  19th  of  the  same  year. 

In  1848  a  new  company  was  organized,  with  Nahum 
Stetson,  president,  and  R.  S.  Dean,  agent  and  treas- 
urer, with  a  capital  of  $100,000,  called  the  Dean  Cot- 
ton and  Machine  Company,  for  the  manufacture  of 
cotton  cloth  and  machinery. 

In  1876  a  new  company  was  organized,  called  the 
Taunton  Cotton  and  Machine  Company,  with  a  capi- 
tal of  $65,500;  Nathan  S.  Williams,  president  ;  F.  B. 
Dean,  managing  agent  and  treasurer,  which  contin- 
ued several  years.  About  four  years  ago  another 
company  was  organized,  called  the  Park  Mill  Com- 
pany, with  the  same  officers,  having  control  of  the 
cotton  manufacturing  department  only,  the  machine- 
shop  still  remaining  under  the  former  name.  The 
new  brick  mill  was  leased  a  few  years  ago  to  L.  A. 
Rounds,  nail  and  tack  manufacturer. 

The  Old  Green  Mill. — The  first  manufactory  of 
cotton  goods  in  Taunton  was  called  the  Green  Mill, 
located  near  the  present  bridge  at  the  junction  of  Hill 
and  Weir  Streets,  on  Mill  River.  The  old,  or  "  Lower 
Slitting  Mill,"  stood  at  the  side  of  the  river,  owned  by 
Simeon  Tisdale  and  others,  who  in  1797  sold  their  in- 
terest in  the  premises  to  Samuel  Fales  (for  many 
years  clerk  of  the  courts  and  judge)  and  Samuel  Leo- 
nard. In  1806,  Silas  Shepard,  cotton  manufacturer 
from  Wrentham,  purchased  of  Samuel  Fales  his  share 
in  the  old  mill  and  privilege,  and  upon  the  site,  as- 
sociated with  Samuel  Leonard  and  Samuel  Crocker, 
erected  the  Green  Mill.  Jesse  Hartshorn  and  Thomas 
Bicknell,  then  expert  manufacturers,  assisted  Mr. 
Shepard  in  the  mill,  where  for  ten  or  twelve  years 
cotton  yarn  was  made,  partially  colored,  and  put  out 
in  families  where  they  had  the  hand-looms  for  weav- 
ing into  checks,  ginghams,  and  tickings,  which  fur- 
nished hundreds  of  women,  wives  and  daughter-  of 
farmers  and  mechanics,  employment,  and  this  home- 
made cloth  was  durable  for  years'  wear.  During  the 
war  of  1812-15,  and  days  of  the  embargo,  there  was 


828 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


great  demand  for  these  domestic  goods.  A  few  years 
later,  in  1818,  an  addition  was  built  to  the  mill,  and 
Capt.  Shepard  introduced  a  power-loom  (a  crude  ma- 
chine compared  with  the  "Scotch  loom," so  called),  af- 
terwards in  use,  which  was  succeeded  by  a  still  greater 
inprovement  in  the  modern,  compact,  iron  framed 
loom,  forty  years  ago  or  more  in  use.  The  manufac- 
turing business  of  this  mill  was  not  a  profitable  in- 
vestment, with  the  crude  loom  disadvantages,  aside 
from  the  line  of  cotton  yarn,  and  it  was  finally  given 
up. 

In  1824  the  Green  Mill  was  converted  into  an 
appendage  of  the  new  Print- Works,  where  machines 
with  copper  cylinders  were  introduced  and  used 
many  years  for  printing  calicoes  of  choice  qualities. 
Delaines  were  also  printed  in  this  old  mill  by  the 
Taunton  Manufacturing  Company  and  its  successor, 
the  Bristol  Print- Works.  After  the  discontinuance 
of  the  latter  works  in  1844,  the  old  mill  was  remod- 
eled into  a  bleachery  and  an  appendage  to  the  Taun- 
ton Paper  Manufactory  by  William  A.  Crocker  and 
others.  This  enterprise  was  discontinued  after  a  few 
years'  experiment  for  the  lack  of  that  indispensable 
agent  in  making  good  paper,  pure  spring  water.  The 
old  Green  Mill  came  into  the  possession  and  control 
of  the  late  Samuel  Crocker,  and  it  was  finally 
taken  down  and  the  brick  removed  or  utilized  for 
other  purposes,  leaving  its  tall  chimney  a  standing 
landmark  of  unsuccessful  enterprises. 

Dean  Cotton-Mill.— In  the  easterly  part  of  Taun- 
ton, on  a  stream  called  in  ancient  deeds  "  Littleworth 
Brook,"  which  takes  its  rise  from  the  springs  in  the 
vicinity  of  Elders'  pond,  in  Lakeville,  and  runs 
through  Barehole  Neck,  stood  Cain's  grist-mill  over 
a  century  ago,  owned  partly  by  Joseph  Dean,  Sr., 
Caleb  Turner,  and  Moses  Cain,  and  had  been  a  con- 
venience to  the  people  in  that  vicinity  many  years. 
In  1784  the  latter  owner  sold  his  share  of  the  mill  and 
privilege  to  Henry  Strobridge,  of  Middleborough, 
for  seventeen  pounds  and  fifty-five  shillings  in  sil- 
ver. A  few  years  later,  1792,  Mr.  Strobridge  conveyed 
the  same  portion  to  his  grandson,  Robert  Dean,  a 
merchant  of  Taunton,  son  of  Joseph,  Sr. 

In  May,  1812,  a  joint-stock  company  was  organized, 
consisting  of  Robert  Dean,  Jesse  Hartshorn,  Joseph 
Dean,  Jr.,  William  Strobridge,  and  Caleb  Turner, 
with  a  capital  of  $16,000,  to  build  a  mill  at  Barehole 
Neck,  for  manufacturing  cotton  yarn,  to  be  called  the 
Dean  Cotton-Mill.  During  that  season  the  little  mill 
— fifty  feet  in  length,  two  stories — was  built,  with  ac- 
commodating dwellings,  store,  etc.,  under  the  direction 
of  Mr.  Hartshorn,  the  manufacturing  agent  and  treas- 
urer of  the  company.  This  was  the  third  cotton-mill 
built  in  Taunton.  William  Read  and  Cyrus  Caswell 
became  stockholders.  The  capital  was  increased  to 
$25,000. 

The  yarn  made  there  was  taken  out  in  packages  by 
families  in  that  region  and  woven  into  cloth  by  the 
domestic  hand-loom,  several  of  which  were  operated 


in  the  mill.  Mr.  Hartshorn  retired  in  1818;  he  was 
succeeded  by  Benjamin  Lincoln  a  year  or  two,  and 
then  by  Harvey  Hartshorn,  brother  of  the  former 
agent,  the  latter  introducing  the  old-fashioned  power- 
looms. 

The  senior  proprietor,  Robert  Dean,  died  May  24, 
1822.  Robert  S.  Dean  was  the  next  agent  for  about 
eleven  years,  and  the  mill  with  its  twenty  power-looms 
made  domestic  goods.  Charles  R.  Atwood  and  Charles 
H.  Stephens  followed  in  succession  a  few  years  in  the 
agency  of  the  Dean  Mill,  when  it  was  closed  as  a 
cotton  manufactory. 

James  Sproat  and  Eleazer  Richmond  purchased  the 
factory  in  1838,  and  converted  it  into  a  circular  saw- 
ing and  box-board  and  stave  mill.  Mr.  Richmond 
succeeding  the  former  in  business  over  forty  years 
until  his  death,  Oct.  10,  1876;  some  twelve  years  of 
the  time  Nathan  S.  Williams  was  associated  with 
him,  until  he  retired  in  1851  to  the  mill  below. 
Charles  R.  Richmond  succeeded  his  father  in  the  box 
and  keg  manufacturing  business  to  the  present  time. 
The  location  has  been  familiarly  called  Barehole  a 
hundred  years  or  more,  but  the  tradition  name  is  a 
mystery. 

Littleworth  Brook  is  a  valuable  stream,  identified 
with  the  records  of  Littleworth  farm,  assigned  by 
Capt.  Miles  Standish  and  John  Brown,  Plymouth 
commissioners,  to  Elizabeth  Pool  in  1640,  and  prob- 
ably received  its  name  from  her  after  some  location 
near  Shute,  England,  whence  she  emigrated.  On  the 
same  stream  below  was  Williams'  mill  (grandson  of 
Richard1),  and  below  that  Turner  King's  saw-mill, 
now  operated  by  his  sons,  Earl  King  &  Co. ;  then 
Pool's  dam,  located  where,  tradition  says,  Elizabeth 
and  her  brother,  William  Pool,  had  a  grist-mill  over 
two  hundred  years  ago.  Littleworth  stream  thence 
passes  down  by  King's  Furnace,  an  old  saw-mill  near 
Robinson's  bridge  (which  unites  Raynham  and  Taun- 
ton), and  is  the  third  or  fourth  stream  in  size  which 
flows  into  Taunton  River  in  its  serpentine  course 
of  some  twenty  miles  to  its  confluence  with  Mill 
River. 

King's  Furnace. — The  oldest  hollow-ware  manu- 
factory in  this  county  was  King's  Furnace,  situated 
about  a  mile  from  the  present  village  of  East  Taun- 
ton. It  was  built  by  a  joint-stock  company  in  1723-24, 
under  a  unique  agreement,  abridged  as  follows: 

"  Know  all  men  by  these  presents,  that  it  is  agreed 
upon  by  John  King,  merchant,  Ebenezer  Robinson, 
yeoman,  of  Taunton,  county  of  Bristol,  in  New  Eng- 
land, Benjamin  Hodges,  carpenter,  Elkanah  Leonard 
(grandson  of  James1),  bloomer,  of  Middleboro',  Sam- 
uel Tubbs,  of  Pembroke,  founder,  and  William  Tubbs, 
of  Plympton,  founder,  all  of  the  county  of  Plymouth, 
to  build  a  furnace  upon  a  stream  commonly  called 
Littleworth  Brook,  in  the  township  of  Taunton.". 
Together,  also,  "  to  build  a  good  and  sufficient  dam 
across  said  stream,  convenient  for  said  furnace;"  and 
further   agreed   "  to  build   a  coal-house   thirty   feet 


TAUNTON. 


821) 


square  upon  the  site  of  said  brook,  as  convenient  as 
it  may  be  to  set  where  the  said  furnace  is  built." 
Also  agreed  that  "said  Robinson,  Hodges,  Leonard, 
and  Tubbs  each  to  be  owners  of  T^th  part,  and  said 
King  owner  of  all  the  remaining  part  of  said  dam, 
furnace,  and  appurtenances;"  and  the  said  owners 
"  bind  themselves  each  to  the  other  to  build  and 
complete  ye  said  furnace,  dam,  and  all  accoutrements 
thereunto  belonging  with  all  convenient  speed,  each 
to  bear  his  proportional  part,"  according  to  the  terms 
of  ownership.  It  is  also  "concluded  by  the  owners, 
that  when  the  premises  are  built  and  fully  completed, 
that  each  of  said  owners,  and  their  heirs,  executors, 
administrators  and  assigns  to  have  the  income  and 
profit  of  said  furnace  proportionally  to  his  and  their 
interest  and  part  thereof,  the  charge  of  stock,  work- 
men's wages,  repairing  of  said  furnace  or  any  of  the 
accoutrements  being  first  paid."  Also  "agreed  that 
ye  said  John  King,  being  ye  owner  of  the  land  and  ye 
said  stream,  doth  for  himself,  heirs,  executors,  and 
administrators  covenant,  promise,  and  engage  with 
ye  rest  of  ye  owners,  their  heirs,  etc.,  that  said  furnace 
shall  stand  and  remain  for  ye  full  term  of  twenty 
years,  unless  by  mutual  agreement  to  let  it  fall  be- 
fore." The  contract  and  covenant  is  signed  and 
sealed  by  the  above-named  parties,  "Feb.  25th,  1723, 
alias  24." 

When  the  furnace  and  appurtenances  were  com- 
pleted they  commenced  making  hollowware  from  the 
size  of  a  "  jobie  kettle  to  a  ten  pail  cauldron  or  more." 
The  ore  for  the  use  was  dug  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
furnace  at  "  Mine  brook,"  and  along  the  bogs  of 
Taunton  River.  It  required  several  hundred  bushels 
of  charcoal  and  about  two  weeks'  time  to  heat  up  the 
furnace  and  stack  before  melting  the  iron ;  and  when 
once  started  could  not  be  conveniently  stopped  until 
the  blast  of  live  or  six  months  was  through,  and  dur- 
ing this  time  "  the  men  knew  no  regular  days,  nights, 
or  Sundays,"  all  bunked  alternately  in  a  room  in  the 
furnace,  the  table  was  set  and  standing  in  the  "  cook 
house"  day  and  night,  and  the  cooks  constantly  on 
duty  to  serve  the  molders  and  men.  The  hollowware 
was  sold  in  stores,  peddled  by  teams  throughout  Bris- 
tol, Norfolk,  and  Plymouth  Counties,  and  sent  to 
Newport,  Providence,  and  New  York  by  sloops. 

In  later  years  the  furnace  was  run  by  Capt.  Josiah 
King  (grandfather  of  Col.  Nathan  King,  of  Middle- 
borough,  from  whom  we  have  the  original  'contract ), 
and  Ebenezer  Caswell,  grandfather  of  the  late  Samuel, 
Alexis,  Alvaris,  and  Benjamin  Caswell.  In  1816  the 
furnace  was  rebuilt  by  Washburn  &  King  (Gen.  Crom- 
well Washburn,  one  of  the  prominent  citizens  of 
Taunton  half  a  century  and  more  ago,  and  Col.  Na- 
than King,  of  Middleborough,  father  of  our  inform- 
ant), who  employed  a  force  of  molders,  etc.,  aboul 
thirty  men,  doing  a  large  business.  Their  ware  was 
mostly  consigned  to  Caswell  &  James,  merchants  of 
New  York,  the  sloops  at  Weir  village  taking  charge 
thence  and  returning  with  cargoes. of  the  New  Jersey 


ore.  While  a  portion  of  the  ore  for  many  later  years 
was  dug  in  the  vicinity  of  East  Taunton,  in  Free- 
town, along  the  meadows  of  Two-Mile  River,  and  near 
the  old  anchor  forge  in  Raynham,  these  combined,  it 
is  said,  made  the  best  metal ;  James  Leonard7  sold 
and  carted  hundreds  of  loads  of  the  "  moine"  from 
Ins  farm,  as  did  his  ancestor,  James1,  in  1060-70,  for 
the  old  forge  from  the  same  vicinity.  Col.  King  died 
in  1828,  and  Gen.  Washburn  in  1839.  The  furnace 
descended  to  the  heirs  of  the  former,  in  whose  interest 
the  furnace  was  continued  many  years.  It  was  re- 
tained in  the  King  family  over  a  hundred  years,  and 
the  grist-mill  and  saw-mill  about  the  same  length  of 
time ;  the  latter  was  burned  a  dozen  years  ago.  It 
ceased  to  be  a  blast  furnace  some  sixty  years  ago  on 
account  of  the  large  consumption  and  increased  price 
of  charcoal,  and  was  altered  to  a  cupola.  It  was  last 
conducted  as  an  iron-works  by  Col.  Nathan  King 
several  years.  The  furnace  was  afterwards  closed  and 
purchased  by  Eleazer  and  Benjamin  Richmond,  who 
converted  it  into  a  circular  sawing,  box-board,  and 
stave-mill,  and  run  by  them  until  1851,  when  Nathan 
S.  Williams  became  half  proprietor  until  1864.  He 
then  purchased  the  remainder  of  the  mill  and  prop- 
erty and  has  continued  the  business,  employing  from 
twenty  to  thirty  hands,  to  the  present  time  in  manu- 
facturing the  above  articles. 

Taunton  Manufacturing  Company.— The  Taun- 
ton Manufacturing  Company  was  one  of  the  large  en- 
terprises on  Mill  River  sixty  years  ago.  It  was  organ- 
ized in  January,  1823,  with  a  capital  of  two  hundred 
thousand  dollars  in  real,  and  four  hundred  thousand 
dollars,  in  personal  estate,  and  the  incorporators  were 
Samuel  Crocker,  Charles  Richmond,  Israel  Thorndike, 
Edmund  Dwight,  John  McLean,  Harrison  Gray  Otis, 
William  H.  Eliot,  William  H.  Prescott,  Israel  Thorn- 
dike,  Jr.,  Samuel  Henshaw,  Harrison  Gray  Otis,  Jr., 
with  such  other  persons  as  may  have  associated,  or 
may  associate  hereafter  with  them,  "for  the  purpose 
of  rolling  copper  and  iron,  and  for  the  manufacturing 
#of  cotton  and  wool,  in  Taunton."  James  K.  Mills 
and  Ezekiel  B.  Leonard  were  afterwards  stockhold- 
ers. The  stock  was  divided  into  six  hundred  shares. 
Samuel  Crocker,  Charles  Richmond,  and  James  W. 
Otis  were  chosen  agents,  and  H.  J.  Otis,  Jr.,  clerk, 
with  a  board  of  directors.  Samuel  Crocker  was 
elected  president  and  treasurer,  and  continued  by 
re-election  for  ten  years.  William  F.  Otis,  George 
West,  Gilbert  Walker,  and  H.  B.  Dearth  served  from 
time  to  time  as  clerks  of  the  corporation  and  board 
of  directors. 

The  real  and  personal  estate  of  the  Taunton  Manu- 
facturing Company  comprised  the  Whittcnton  cotton- 
mills,  nail-works,  dwelling-houses,  privilege,  and  ap- 
purtenances, the  Hopewell  Mills  property,  dwellings, 
etc.,  the  Brick  Mill  property,  machine-shops,  and 
dwellings,  also  the  extensive  Calico  Printing  Works, 
with  all  the  land  and  appurtenances,  covering  a  large 
area  of  land.     During  several  years  this   company 


830 


HISTORY   OF  BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


made  encouraging  dividends,— the  first  year  twelve 
per  cent.,  the  second  fifteen,  and  the  third  year  twenty 
per  cent. 

In  1826  the  directors  voted  to  "  make  a  fair  experi- 
ment of  the  machines  for  manufacture  of  pins  and 
wood-screws,"  and  that  it  is  expedient  to  discontinue 
the  manufacture  of  nails,  dispose  of  the  tools,  a*nd 
lease  the  mills.  In  1827  it  was  voted  to  remunerate 
Charles  Richmond  one  thousand  dollars  for  his  valu- 
able services  in  England  in  behalf  of  the  printing 
company  ;  also  that  the  business  be  conducted  under 
the  firm-name  of  Crocker,  Richmond  &  Co.;  also  to 
procure  a  practical  superintendent  of  the  print-works 
in  England  ;  to  cancel  the  order  for  the  "  pin-machines 
as  impracticable;"  also  to  fill  the  rooms  at  Hopewell 
Mil  Is  (made  vacant  by  the  removal  of  the  nail-machines 
to  Whittenton  and  East  Taunton)  with  cotton  spindles 
and  machinery. 

The  Calico  Printing  Works  were  started  in  1823,  by 
Crocker  and  Richmond,  under  the  auspices  of  this 
company,  by  an  importation  of  several  hundred 
skilled  and  other  workmen,  chiefly  from  the  printing 
establishments  of  England  and  Scotland, — men  of  all 
nations.  The  buildings  were  chiefly  of  brick,  and 
structures  were  added  from  time  to  time  as  the  in- 
creasing business  demanded  during  the  ten  years' 
progress,  until  an  area  of  about  three  acres  was  cov- 
ered on  Court  and  Weir  Streets,  employing  a  large 
number  of  persons  in  the  process  of  block  and  ma- 
chine-printing. Several  of  the  buildings  of  Court 
Street  were  afterwards  occupied  by  the  Bay  State 
Screw-Works,  and  are  now  owned  by  Anthony  & 
Cushman,  in  their  nail  and  tack  business. 

Although  an  auspicious  commencement,  this  calico- 
printing  department  proved  a  dissatisfactory  invest- 
ment. In  1833  the  Taunton  Manufacturing  Company 
voted  that  it  is  expedient  to  bring  the  calico-printing 
business  to  a  close  as  soon  as  practicable,  and  the 
directors  were  authorized  to  sell  the  water  privilege, 
buildings,  machinery,  and  land  of  the  printing  com- 
pany. 

In  1834,  Charles  Richmond  retired  from  the  Taun- 
ton Manufacturing  Company,  taking  as  his  share  the 
Brick  Mill  property,  machine-shops,  dwellings,  land, 
and  appurtenances.  In  1835,  James  K.  Mills  &  Co., 
who  had  been  associated  in  the  company  about  ten 
years,  retired,  purchasing  the  entire  Whittenton  Mills 
estate  as  their  share. 

Meanwhile,  a  new  company  had  been  organized  in 
1833,  under  the  name  of  the  "  Bristol  Print  Works," 
comprising  Samuel  Crocker,  Harrison  Gray  Otis, 
Charles  Richmond,  Edmund  Dvvight,  James  K.  Mills, 
Gorham  Brooks,-  Samuel  Eliot,  Horatio  Leonard, 
William  A.  Crocker,  George  A.  Crocker,  and  Benja- 
min W.  Chace  as  stockholders,  which  purchased  the 
entire  print  works  property  of  the  Taunton  Manu- 
facturing Company,  for  the  purpose  of  manufactur- 
ing delaines  and  calicoes.  Samuel  Crocker  was 
elected  president ;  H.  B.  Dearth,  clerk  ;  and  subse- 


quently Gilbert  Walker  was  clerk.  Charles  Porter 
was  clerk  and  treasurer  several  years.  The  superin- 
tendents were  John  H.  Grimshaw,  Caleb  Duxbury, 
James  and  Matthew  Monarch.  The  business  did  not 
prove  prosperous  under  the  competition  of  the  low 
tariff  with  foreign  manufacturers,  and  the  business 
was  brought  to  a  close  in  1845. 

The  panic  and  financial  crash  of  1837,  which  pre- 
vailed in  nearly  all  the  manufacturing  communities, 
brought  disaster  to  the  manufacturers  of  Taunton, 
and  a  large  portion  suspended,  which  was  followed  by 
a  suspension  for  a  while  of  the  banks. 

In  1840  the  entire  property  of  the  Taunton  Manu- 
facturing Company  had  been  -reduced,  by  exchanges 
and  sales,  to  the  franchise  of  the  Hopewell  Mills  and 
appurtenances,  and  were  owned  by  Harrison  Gray 
Otis  and  others,  of  Boston,  and  were  run  a  year  or 
two  in  their  interest.  They  disposed  of  the  property 
to  W.  A.  F.  Sproat,  who  was  elected  clerk  and  treas- 
urer, and  assumed  the  duties  of  agent  and  control  of 
the  mills  for  about  a  year,  but  under  the  pressure  cf 
the  prevailing  panic  and  protracted  disaster,  he  was 
compelled  to  surrender  the  property.  In  1844,  Cyrus 
Lothrop  held  a  claim  upon  the  mills  and  property, 
and  at  a  meeting  in  the  office  of  Samuel  Breck, 
Amyntas  Shaw  and  Parmenio  C.  Shaw,  of  Raynham, 
having  become  chief  stockholders,  the  former  was 
elected  president  and  director,  and  the  latter  a  direc- 
tor, and  Samuel  Breck  clerk,  when  this  last  remnant 
of  the  "Taunton  Manufacturing  Company  was  legally 
transferred  to  Cyrus  Lothrop,  of  Easton." 

Mason  Machine  Works. — In  the  year  1845,  Wil- 
liam Mason,  whose  biography  is  published  in  this 
work,  erected  the  first  buildings  upon  the  present  site 
of  these  works.  He  had  for  ten  years  previously  been 
engaged  in  building  machinery  in  various  localities 
in  this  town, — in  the  machine-shop  on  School  Street, 
and  the  Brick  Mill  machine-shop.  There  were  no 
shops  to  be  had  large  enough  to  supply  the  demand 
for  his  machinery  ;  he  had  acquired  a  reputation,  and 
obtained  valuable  patents  upon  his  self-acting  cotton 
mule,  which  he  thought  would  bring  him  a  large  busi- 
ness ;  thex-efore  he  determined  to  prepare  for  it.  He 
enlisted  capital  from  friends  who  were  engaged  in 
manufacturing  cotton  goods,  planned  and  built  what 
was  then  the  largest  works  for  the  manufacture  of 
machinery  exclusively  in  this  country,  and  was  soon 
doing  a  large  and  profitable  business,  under  the  firm- 
name  of  William  Mason  &  Co. 

This  original  plant  was  a  most  complete  establish- 
ment for  those  times,  and  of  such  great  size  as  to  ex- 
cite both  wonder  and  doubt.  It  did  not  seem  probable 
to  many  men  that  there  would  be  sufficient  demand 
for  machinery  to  insure  success  in  so  great  an  enter- 
prise. The  buildings  consisted  of  a  foundry  one  hun- 
dred feet  long,  fifty  feet  wide,  a  smithy  one  hundred 
feet  long,  thirty  feet  wide,  and  a  machine-shop  three 
hundred  and  fifteen  feet  long,  forty-five  feet  wide, 
three  stories  high.    These  buildings  were  all  of  brick, 


TAUNTON. 


831 


with  slate  roofs,  substantial  and  handsome.  They 
were  equipped  with  the  best  tools,  many  of  which  were 
built  from  Mr.  Mason's  own  designs  in  his  shops. 

From  1845  there  was  not  much  change  in  the  estab- 
lishment, except  an  additional  machine-shop,  one 
hundred  feet  long  and  fifty-six  feet  wide,  until  1852, 
when  preparations  were  made  for  building  locomo- 
tives in  addition  to  cotton  machinery.  Then  the 
foundry  and  smithy  were  enlarged  to  about  double 
their  original  size,  and  extensive  new  buildings  were 
erected,  consisting  of  boiler-shop,  machine-shops, 
locomotive-erecting  shop,  pattern-house,  etc.,  all  of 
brick,  with  a  new  stationary  engine  to  furnish  the 
power  built  on  the  premises. 

The  first  locomotive  was  turned  out  in  1853,  of  en- 
tirely novel  design,  attracting  much  notice,  and  mark- 
ing an  era  in  the  history  of  the  American  locomotive. 
For  some  years  Mr.  Mason's  new  ideas  and  improve- 
ments were  looked  for  with  great  interest  and  adopted 
by  many  builders.  The  result  was  that  these  works 
acquired  as  high  a  reputation  for  the  excellence  of 
their  locomotives  as  they  already  had  for  their  cotton 
machinery. 

All  went  well  until  the  financial  crisis  of  1857, 
when,  through  the  failure  of  the  Boston  partners,  Mr. 
Mason  was  so  much  involved  and  embarrassed  as  to 
be  compelled  to  suspend  business  for  a  few  months 
and  see  his  large  fortune  taken  from  him.  In  the 
early  part  of  1858  a  settlement  was  made  by  which 
Mr.  Mason  was  released  and  enabled  to  start  the  busi- 
ness again  in  his  own  name. 

In  1861,  after  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  it  was 
thought  that  all  regular  business  would  be  dull  ; 
therefore,  to  keep  the  works  running,  Mr.  Mason  ac- 
cepted a  contract  to  furnish  one  hundred  thousand 
Springfield  rifled  muskets  for  the  United  States  Gov- 
ernment. This  was  an  enormous  undertaking,  in- 
volving great  labor  and  large  outlays  of  money  for 
tools  and  machines  especially  adapted  to  the  work. 
The  larger  portion  of  these  were  designed  and  built 
by  Mr.  Mason,  some  of  which  were  great  improve- 
ments upon  the  machines  in  use  at  the  United  States 
armories,  notably  his  rifling  machines,  of  entirely  new 
design. 

After  making  these  costly  preparations,  a  change  in 
the  head  of  the  War  Department  brought  about  a 
new  order  of  things.  Government  contracts  were  can- 
celed or  cut  down  indiscriminately  all  over  the  coun- 
try, and,  among  others,  Mr.  Mason's  was  reduced  from 
one  hundred  thousand  to  thirty  thousand  guns.  This 
action  was  unjust  and  disastrous.  No  redress  or  relief 
could  be  obtained  from  the  government.  But  the 
preparations  to  fufill  the  original  contract  had  gone 
so  far  and  the  outlays  of  money  were  so  great  that  ! 
there  was  no  alternative  but  to  submit  to  the  reduc- 
tion and  make  the  thirty  thousand  muskets.  This 
was  done  amid  much  perplexity,  with  great  wear  and 
tear  of  mind  and  body,  and  involving  large  pecuniary 
losses. 


After  the  gun  contract  was  disposed  of  the  works 
were  restored  to  their  legitimate  business  of  build- 
ing cotton  machinery  and  locomotives,  for  which 
a  great  demand  had  sprung  up.  During  the  years 
succeeding  the  war  the  facilities  of  these  shops  and 
tools  were  tested  to  their  utmost  capacity,  and  found 
unequal  to  the  demand.  Consequently  a  radical 
change  and  great  improvement  was  undertaken,  the 
first  step  of  which  was  the  erection  of  a  larger  foun- 
dry. To  do  this,  more  land  was  purchased,  one  street 
closed  up  and  a  new  one  cut  through,  giving  a  lot  of 
about  ten  and  a  half  acres  of  land,  standing  by  itself. 

The  new  foundry  was  begun  early  in  1873;  prob- 
ably it  would  not  have  been  attempted  at  that  time 
could  the  approaching  panic  have  been  foreseen.  The 
changes  inaugurated  then  were  too  costly  to  be  car- 
ried out  during  the  years  of  depression  which  followed 
the  crisis  of  1873,  and  there  did  not  seem  to  be  any 
prospect  of  business  enough  to  require  them.  But 
with  the  revival  of  1879  and  1880  they  were  resumed, 
and  are  now  nearly  completed. 

In  1873  the  business  was  incorporated  under  the 
name  of  Mason  Machine  Works.  The  first  officers 
were  William  Mason,  president;  William  EL  Bent, 
treasurer;  and  Frederick  Mason,  agent,  all  of  whom 
have  continued  in  office  until  the  present  time. 

In  1879  a  new  branch  of  manufacture  was  added, 
viz.,  that  of  the  Campbell  printing-press.  These 
presses  had  been  built  by  the  owners  of  the  patents 
at  their  works  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  and  had  acquired 
a  good  name  by  their  novel  devices  and  superior 
qualities.  But  the  facilities  and  reputation  which 
the  Mason  Machine  Works  had  for  building  ma- 
chinery offered  such  advantages  that  the  owners  of 
that  press  were  induced  to  abandon  the  manufactur- 
ing of  their  presses  themselves  and  to  contract  with  the 
Mason  Machine  Works  for  the  manufacture  of  them 
here.  The  business  has  increased  rapidly,  until  now 
it  is  about  double  what  it  was  at  the  time  the  contract 
was  made.  Over  one  thousand  of  these  presses  have 
been  sent  out  from  the  works  to  all  quarters  of  the 
world. 

Mason  Machine  Works  has  grown  so  gradually 
that  there  are  but  few  persons  not  connected  with  it 
who  are  aware  of  its  size.  Their  plant  consists  of 
ten  and  a  half  acres  of  land  and  a  great  number  of 
buildings,  comprising  nine  acres  of  floors.  They  can 
employ  over  a  thousand  hands;  at  present  they  have 
nearly  nine  hundred.  Cotton-machinery  is  their 
largest  business.  They  can  turn  out  three  hundred 
looms  per  month,  with  carding  and  spiuning  ma- 
chinery to  supply  them.  With  their  increased  facil- 
ities they  can  build  about  one  hundred  locomotives 
per  year.  In  printing  presses  they  are  at  present 
building  thirty-two  per  month,  and  expect  to  increase 
to  thirty-six  per  month  before  another  year. 

There  is  probably  no  other  establishment  in  the 
country  engaged  in  such  a  variety  of  machine  manu- 
facturing on  so  large  a  scale.     Yet  every  department 


831' 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


is  conducted  independently  and  with  a  system  of  its 
own  under  special  supervision  and  separate  accounts. 

Its  products  have  a  reputation  for  superiority  in 
design,  workmanship,  and  materials  wherever  they  are 
known. 

From  its  gates  pour  forth  from  day  to  day  and  year 
a  procession  of  those  mighty  elements  of  civilization, 
— the  locomotive,  the  loom,  and  the  printing-press, 
the  products  of  active  brains  and  brawny  arms,  the 
persistent  pioneers  of  civil  and  social  improvement, 
carrying  wealth,  comfort,  and  knowledge  to  the  mil- 
lions of  our  great  people. 

William  Mason  died  May  25, 1883,  after  a  few  days' 
illness. 

The  Britannia  Manufactory  of  Eldridge  &  Co. 
was  established  in  1848  by  Eli  Eldridge,  who  com- 
menced business  in  a  small  building  on  Britannia 
Street.  An  increase  of  his  business  soon  after  caused 
au  addition  to  his  building  to  be  erected. 

A  few  years  later  his  son,  Eli  H.  Eldridge,  having 
bought  out  the  coffin-trimming  business  of  Strange 
&  Francis,  moved  the  same  into  his  father's  build- 
ing. 

They  continued  their  separate  kinds  of  business 
until  1863,  when  they  united  their  interests  under  the 
firm  of  Eldridge  &  Co. 

They  continued  until  the  death  of  Eli  Eldridge,  in 
September,  1875,  when  John  H.  Eldridge,  son  of  E. 
H.  Eldridge,  became  a  member  of  the  firm,  con- 
tinuing the  business  in  the  same  building  until  June, 
1882,  w-hen  they  removed  to  a  new  and  spacious  build- 
ing which  they  had  built  on  Eldridge  Street. 

The  Williams  Manufacturing  Company  is  one  of 
the  more  recent  enterprises  which  has  a  promising 
future.  H.  A.  Williams  commenced  business  here  in 
1877,  with  a  limited  capital  of  a  few  thousand  dollars, 
but  with  a  fertile  invention  and  a  persevering  energy. 
He  manufactures  a  great  variety  of  small  steel  tools, 
twist  drills,  etc.,  by  a  process  of  his  own  invention, 
and  the  business  has  proved  successful.  After  a  few 
changes  of  associate  proprietors  within  a  few  years,  a 
spacious  building  was  erected  in  1880,  near  the  Weir 
junction,  Old  Colony  Railroad;  the  machinery  is 
moved  by  steam-power.  In  February  last  a  new 
company  was  organized  under  the  above  title,  with  a 
capital  of  two  hundred  thousand  dollars,  to  prosecute 
the  increasing  business.  The  officers  are  Edmund 
Grinnell,  president;  Samuel  Ivers,  clerk  and  treas- 
urer; Leander  Plummer,  Charles  W.  Clifford,  and 
Jireh  Swift,  of  New  Bedford,  and  H.  A.  Williams,  of 
Taunton,  directors.  Mr.  Williams  is  the  managing 
agent.  The  company  are  enlarging  their#manufac- 
tory  to  three  hundred  and  fifty  feet  in  length  to 
facilitate  their  increasing  business. 

Oakland  Mills. — Capt.  Silas  Shepard  purchased  a 
privilege  in  1827  on  Rum  ford  River,  about  three 
miles  from  the  Centre,  built  a  dam,  and  erected  a 
stone  factory  one  hundred  and  sixteen  feet  in  length, 
completing  it  in  1828,  and  for  several  years  made 


cotton  yarn.  In  1831  he  put  in  about  sixty  looms  for 
making  cloth.  He  pursued  the  business  several  years, 
and  finally  changed  his  style  of  manufacture  to  cot- 
ton or  canton  flannels,  which  was  the  first  mill  that 
made  this  kind  of  goods  in  this  vicinity.  He  asso- 
ciated his  son-in-law,  Lewis  R.  Chesbrough,  with  him, 
and  they  enlarged  the  mill  under  their  management. 
Capt.  Shepard  died  in  December,  1864,  and  the  mill 
was  continued  a  few  years  by  Mr.  Chesbrough.  In 
1869,  Amos  F.  Howard  &  Son  purchased  the  Oak- 
land Mills  of  Mr.  Chesbrough  and  heirs  of  Capt. 
Shepard,  and  afterwards  made  extensive  improve- 
ments, adding  new  machinery  and  a  new  water-wheel, 
and  in  1880  erected  a  new  building  one  hundred  and 
thirty-eight  feet  by  sixty-eight  feet,  and  another, 
forty-six  feet  by  thirty-five  feet,  with  new  engine  and 
machinery,  doubling  the  capacity  for  manufacturing 
fabrics.  Mr.  Chesbrough  died  in  April,  1878,  in  New 
Jersey.  Mr.  Howard  died  May  7,  1881,  and  his  son 
and  copartner,  Bion  B.  Howard,  who  resided  in  Mill- 
bury,  died  in  December  of  the  same  year.  The  Oak- 
land Mills  have  since  been  conducted  by  Joseph  S. 
Tidcl,1  son-in-law  of  the  former  (who  is  a  large  owner), 
in  the  interest  of  the  heirs  of  Mr.  Howard.  The  mill 
contains  one  hundred  and  twenty-four  looms,  and 
manufactures  denims  and  tickings,  about  two  million 
five  hundred  thousand  yards  a  year.  Oakland  is  a 
neat  village.  The~company  owns  a  dozen  or  more 
of  the  dwelling-houses  for  residences  of  their  work- 
men. 

Taunton  Ancient  Iron-Works. — The  first  iron- 
works established  in  the  old  colony  was  commenced 
in  Taunton  in  1656.  A  bloomery  was  established  in 
Lynn  in  1644,  it  is  said,  and  another  in  Braintree  in 
1648,  but  iron  ore  being  found  deficient  in  both  places 
to  meet  with  the  demand  for  consumption  of  the  iron- 
works, the  enterprises  in  each  place  were  relinquished 
after  a  large  expenditure.  At  each  of  these  places 
James  and  Henry  Leonard,  who  were  skilled  and  ex- 
perienced iron  workers  from  Pontypool,  Wales,  had 
been  employed  to  inaugurate  the  business.  Large 
quantities  of  ore  having  been  discovered  in  numerous 
places  in  Taunton,  and  hearing  favorably  of  those 
iron  men,  the  citizens  assembled  in  town-meeting 
Oct.  21,  1652  (according  to  "  Baylies'  Old  Colony 
History"),  and — 

"  It  was  agreed  and  granted  that  James  Leonard, 
Henry  Leonard,  and  Ralph  Russell,  have  full  consent 
to  come  here  from  Braintree  and  put  up  a  bloomery 
on  Two  Mile  River."  They  accordingly  accepted  the 
invitation,  and  a  company  was  organized,  and  a  forge 
or  bloomery  was  built  on  Two-Mile  River,  now  Rayn- 
ham.  It  required  a  long  time  to  prepare  for  the 
manufacture  of  iron.  We  have^a  confirmatory  record 
in  an  old  ledger  kept  by  Capt.  Thomas  Leonard,  son 
of  James1,  who  was  clerk  and  manager  in  1683  of  the 
same  works.     The  following  is  in  his  own  hand : 

1  A  member  of  the  present  loaril  of  aldermen. 


TAUNTON. 


833 


"An  accompt  of  who  hath  been  clarke  of  Taunton 
Iron-Works  ever  since  George  Hall  was  first  clarke, 
with  some  others  joyned  with  him  for  a  time,  which 
began  Anno  1656  :  Also,  what  jiroduce  the  works  hath 
made  from  year  to  year." 

The  old  iron-works  were  not  commenced  until 
1656.  George  Hall  was  clerk  and  financial  manager, 
with  a  year's  exception  (1663,  James  Walker),  until 
the  time  of  his  death  in  October,  1669,  and  his  eldest 
son,  "John  Hall,  ye  end  of  ye  year;"  the  record 
adds,  "  John  Turner,  working  ye  forge,"  or  foreman. 
The  stockholders  included  the  early  settlers  of  Taun- 
ton, many  wealthy  men  in  Boston  and  other  places, 
as  follows:  Deacon  Richard  Williams,  John  Deane, 
Henry  Andrews,  James  Walker,  Deacon  Walter  Dean, 
Thomas  Burt,  William  Pole,  Elizabeth  Pole,  Shad- 
rach  Wilbore,  Nicholas  White,  Richard  Stephens, 
John  Pole,  Joseph  Tisdale,  John  Turner,  Hezekiah 
Hoar,  Bartholomew  Tipping,  James  Phillips,  Joseph 
Staples,  Town  of  Taunton,  Deacon  Henry  Hodges, 
John  Hall,  Samuel  Blake,  Peter  Walker,  and  others, 
a  share  each  or  more,  among  whom  will  be  recognized 
the  aucestors  of  many  descendants  in  Taunton ;  also 
Richard  Thayer,  of  Boston,  four  shares;  Richard 
Church,  of  Hingham,  Gen.  Leverett,  of  Boston,  two 
shares;  Peter  Noyes,  of  Sudbury,  Nathaniel  Paine, 
and  John  Saffin,  of  Bristol,  afterwards  judges  of  pro- 
bate, Stephen  Paine  and  John  Cary,  of  Bristol,  reg- 
isters of  probate;  John  Baker,  merchant  of  Dorches- 
ter, Samuel  Topliff,  the  Dorchester  Church,  Bene- 
dict Arnold,  merchant  of  Newport,  son  of  the  Gover- 
nor of  Rhode  Island,  and  many  others  were  share- 
holders. 

At  that  time  bar-iron  was  a  "  circulating  medium," 
owing  to  the  scarify  of  specie  in  the  growing  colony 
and  town. 

Numerous  pages  of  an  ancient  ledger,  two  hundred 
years  old,  show  the  transactions  of  bar-iron  barter  of 
those  interested  in  the  iron-works,  and  orders  "  for  iron 
as  money"  were  attached  as  vouchers  to  the  accounts. 
Ministers'  salaries,  town,  school,  highway,  and  other 
rates  were  discounted  by  orders  on  the  iron-works,  as 
all  these  pages  show.  Capt.  Leonard  was  a  method- 
ical man  in  his  transactions,  hence  the  careful  preser- 
vation of  the  orders.  The  following  are  a  few  of  the 
orders,  the  first  from  Deacon  Richard  Williams,  a  few 
years  previous  to  his  death,  with  his  own  auto- 
graph : 

"Ensign   Thomas  Leonard,   Please   to   pay   Bartholomew   Tipping, 
nine  shillings  and  3d.  in  iron  as  money. 

"  from  your  friend, 

"  Richard  Williams. 
"  Taunton  ye  16, 1st,  1685-86." 

There  are  a  number  from  Rev.  George  Shove,  the 
third  minister  of  Taunton.  One  is  a  barter,  as  fol- 
lows: 

"Ensign  Leonard, — Pray  deliver  to  Sam'l  Pitts,  one  hundred  of  iron 
and  charge  it  to  the  account  of  your  friend 

"  Geo.  Shove. 
"Sept,  19, 1685." 

53 


Then  follows: 

"  Ensign  Leonard,  pray  pay  to  Nath'l  Coddington  ye  above  bill  now 
due  me  already. 

"Samuel  Pitts. 
"Sept.  22,  16S5." 

The  following  is  from  Dorchester: 

"Capt.  Thomas  Leonard:  Sir:  these  lines  may  inform  you  that  the 
Selectmen  of  Dorchester  would  desire  you  to  deliver  all  that  iron  to 
Philip  Withington,  which  is  due  from  the  iron  works  to  the  ministry  of 
Dorchester. 

"  Samuel  Capen,  with  the 
"Consent  of  the  rest  of  the  selectmen. 
"  March  26th,  1705." 

Philip  Withington  acknowledges  receipt  of  "  700 
of  iron,  being  the  produce  of  the  ye  shares  for  ye 
years  1699  to  1703,  five  years." 

The  fourth  minister  of  Taunton,  Rev.  Samuel 
Danforth,  also  dealt  largely  in  orders  for  iron.  Here 
is  one,  dated  March  11,  1703 : 

"Capt.  Thomas  Leonard. 

"  1  would  pray  you  to  pay  to  Elizabeth  Gilbert  (my  late  servant  mayd) 
thirty  shillings  in  iron  at  18  shillings  prC,  to  her  or  her  order  and  place 
it  to  my  account. 

"  Your  friend  and  servt, 

"  Samuel  Danforth." 

Nathaniel  Smith  bought  an  ox  of  Thomas  Wil- 
liams, son  of  Richard,  so  he  draws  an  order  on  Smith 
to  pay  his  mother,  widow  of  Richard,  a  portion  of  the 
amount,  thus  : 

"  Nathaniel  Smith  this  is  to  desire  you  to  pay  my  Mother  Williams 
300  hundred  of  iron  ;  which  is  part  of  ye  price  of  ye  ox  you  bought  of 
me. 

"  Thomas  Williams. 

"  Taunton  ys  ye  16  of  Oct°.  1693." 

Then  follows  Smith's  order: 

"Capt.  Thomas  Leonard,  I  pray  you  be  pleased  to  pay  to  Old  Mother 
Williams  300  of  iron,  from 

"Nathaniel  Smith." 

Another  order  from  Rev.  Samuel  Danforth,  "to 
credit  William  Briggs  the  sum  of  2  shillings  and  4rf. 
in  iron,  for  his  rate  to  the  Weir  bridge." 

We  might  fill  a  page,  did  space  permit,  with  these 
unique  orders  drawn  about  two  hundred  years  ago, 
in  which  bar-iron  was  the  chief  factor  in  the  transac- 
tion of  business  in  Taunton.  Nicholas  White  was 
delegated  year  after  year,  from  1683  to  1693,  to  carry 
the  iron  due  from  the  works  to  the  Dorchester  Soci- 
ety, to  Madame  Leverett,  Madame  Tyng,  of  Boston, 
and  others,  over  thirty  miles,  then  through  the  wilder- 
ness. 

The  record  says  "in  1675  the  (Indian)  war  began; 
many  coals  destroyed  in  the  woods."  "  1676,  the 
works  garrisoned,  great  rates."  The  Indians,  how- 
ever, did  not  molest  the  forge.  The  clerks  who  suc- 
ceeded John  Hall  were  Henry  Andrews  and  Israel 
Dean.  In  1683,  Thomas  Leonard  became  manager, 
continuing  until  his  death,  in  1713.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Deacon  Samuel  Leonard,  who  managed 
the  works  until  he  died  in  1745.  In  his  will  he  gave 
Hasadiah  Wales,  his  daughter,  and  wife  of  the  first 
minister  of  Raynham,  Rev.  John  Wales,  £100  of  bar- 


834 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


iron  and  twenty  acres  of  land,  and  his  three  other 
daughters  similar  amounts.  Before  his  death  he 
added  a  codicil,  stating  that  they  should  "  have  £100 
in  money,  old  tenor,  as  good  as  merchantable  bar- 
iron  at  £3  per  C,  or  beef  at  8d.  per  lb.,  or  Indian 
corn  at  9s.  per  bushel."  He  was  the  father  of  Deacon 
Elijah  Leonard,1  who  built  the  house  next  east  of  the 
forge  (purchased  by  Mr.  Spinney  a  few  years  ago), 
where  the  old  ledgers  were  found,  which  was  destroyed 
by  fire  in  1881.  It  was  for  more  than  half  a  century 
the  residence  of  Capt.  Edward  Leonard,  of  Raynham. 
The  iron-works  were  conducted  by  the  son  of  Deacon 
Samuel  Leonard  for  many  years. 

In  1771  the  iron-works  came  into  the  possession  of 
Hon.  Josiah  Dean,  who  converted  them  into  a  rolling 
and  nail  works,  where  copper  bolts  for  ship-building 
were  rolled  and  made.  Mr.  Dean  died  in  1818,  when 
his  son,  Eliab  B.  Dean,  succeeded  to  the  business.  In' 
1825  Mr.  Dean  changed  the  works  into  an  anchor 
forge,  which  were  continued  in  that  line  of  business 
by  him  and  his  successor  and  son,  Theodore  Dean, 
about  forty  years,  when  the  works  were  abandoned. 
The  privilege,  which  is  a  valuable  one,  alone  remains 
of  the  ancient  iron-works  of  Taunton  of  two  hun- 
dred years  ago,  the  oldest  successful  bar-iron  manu- 
factory in  the  country. 

In  addition  to  the  manufacturing  establishments  of 
Taunton  and  its  industries,  which  have  been  noticed 
at  length,  should  be  named  the  Taunton  Stone  Lining 
Company,  corner  of  Somerset  Avenue  and  Highland 
Street,  in  charge  of  the  Messrs.  Parker ;  the  Taun- 
ton Crucible  Company,  Capt.  Wm.  H.  Phillips  its 
president;  the  Taunton  Iron-Works  Company,  with 
John  R.  Williams,  Wm.  H.  Phillips,  John  H.  Eddy, 
J.  F.  Montgomery,  Lewis  Williams,  directors  ;  Taun- 
ton Tack  Company,  treasurer  and  agent,  Thomas  J. 
Lothrop  ;  Sparta  Tack  Company,  rear  of  the  Brick 
Mill,  Washington  Street,  L.  A.  Rounds,  proprietor; 
the  new  stove-works  at  the  We;r,  run  by  Charles  F. 
Baker,  George  E.  Wilbur,  William  E.  Walker,  and 
Albert  H.  Hathaway,  who  have  just  erected  a  large 
foundry  two  hundred  feet  long,  and  employ  sixty 
hands ;  the  Williams  Brick  Company,  on  Williams 
Court,  off  Somerset  Avenue,  in  charge  of  Alexander 
H.  and  George  F.  Williams ;  the  Taunton  Brick  Com- 
pany, on  Winter  Street,  with  a  capital  of  $75,000 
and  Judge  Bennett  its  president ;  other  brick  manu- 
facturers are  Abiel  B.  Staples,  who  employs  a  capital 
of  85000  and  fifteen  hands;  John  W.  Hart  &  Co., 
capital  $3000,  employs  fifteen  hands ;  Isaac  H.  How- 
land,  has  a  capital  of  $1500,  employs  twelve  hands ; 
Horatio  Godfrey,  capital  $1200,  employs  twelve  hands. 

While  there  are  manifold  new  business  enterprises 
in  the  hands  of  new  and  enterprising  young  men, 
some  large  and  flourishing  branches  of  business  still 
exist  which  had  their  beginning  many  years  ago,  as 

1  His  son,  Rev.  Elijah,  was  the  minister  of  Marshfield  about  thirty 
years,  and  his  son,  Rev.  George,  was  successor  of  his  father  thirty  years, 
and  died  in  1882. 


has  been  noticed  by  Rev.  Mr.  Emery  in  his  "  Histori- 
cal Sketches  of  the  City,"  published  a  few  years 
since,  as  Edgar  H.  Reed,  in  1834,  in  crockery,  to 
which  have  been  added  carpets ;  S.  O.  Dunbar,  about 
the  same  time,  in  drugs  and  medicines,  ink  and  fluid 
magnesia;  Salmon  Washburn,  in  furniture  and  hard- 
ware ;  Chas.  F.  Davenport  and  Nathaniel  S.  Mason, 
in  the  express  business,  to  the  former  of  whom  Wil- 
liam R.  Davenport  succeeded,  followed  by  J.  S.  Bas- 
sett  and  William  L.  Walker,*  William  Hutchinson, 
in  the  stove  and  tin  business;  H.  W.  and  Le  Baron 
B.  Church,  in  wholesale  flour  and  grain  trade.  All 
these  have  been  in  business  more  than  forty  years, 
and  the  following  not  far  from  thirty  years :  A. 
Briggs  &  Co.,  Paul  &  Co.,  in  flour  and  grain  ;  Staples 
&  Phillips,  in  coal,  iron,  andageneral  shipping  busi- 
ness ;  N.  H.  Skinner  &  Co.,  the  successors  of  Jabez 
Rounds,  in  dry  goods,  carpets,  etc ;  Foster  &  Bar- 
nard, in  the  business  of  tailors;  Colby  &  Co.,  succes- 
sors of  Samuel  Colby,  in  ready-made  clothing ;  E.  D. 
Tisdale  &  Son,  in  watches  and  jewelry  ;  H.  C.  Perry 
&  Son,  in  hats,  caps,  and  shoes;  N.  S.  Hoard  &  Co., 
in  furniture  and  crockery;  Philander  Williams,  in 
groceries  ;  A.  J.  Barker,  in  drugs,  medicines,  books, 
etc. ;  I.  B.  Briggs,  in  stoves  and  tinware ;  White 
Brothers,  in  meats,  vegetables,  etc. ;  William  and 
John  D.  Reed,  in  groceries ;  B.  R.  Holt  &  Son,  in 
ready-made  clothing;  W.  H.  Gilmore,  in  curtains, 
pictures,  etc.  ;  J.  T.  French,  in  paints  and  paper- 
hangings.  Robert  Dean,  John  W.  Seabury,  Charles 
Godfrey,  James  W.  Crossman,  Charles  R.  Atwood, 
Calvin  Woodward,  Abiathar  Williams,  Allen  Pres- 
brey,  F.  S.  Monroe,  Lovett  Morse,  and  John,  Wil- 
liam, and  Hodges  Reed  were  well-known  business 
men  in  the  earlier  half  of  the  present  century. 

The  Phoenix  Manufacturing  Company  com- 
menced business  on  School  Street  over  forty  years 
ago.  The  proprietors  of  what  was  then  called  the 
Crucible  Company  were  Charles  R.  Vickery,  Charles 
R.  Atwood,  and  Joseph  Dixon.  To  enlarge  their 
business  they  removed  to  Weir  village,  and  in  1851 
were  incorporated  under  the  above  name.  Capital, 
$30,000.  Charles  R.  Vickery  was  president,  Charles 
R.  Atwood  agent  and  treasurer,  and  were  annually 
chosen,  though  many  changes  were  made  in  the 
directors.  In  1877,  Henry  D.  Atwood  was  chosen 
agent,  and  after  the  death  of  his  father,  C.  R.  Atwood, 
in  December,  1877,  he  was  elected  clerk  and  treas- 
urer, which  offices  he  holds  at  the  present  time. 
Mr.  Vickery  died  Jan.  16,  1883.  The  directors  are 
Arthur  Pickering,  Le  Baron  B.  Church,  H.  D.  At- 
wood, F.  B.  Dean. 

The  Cohannet  Mills  are  situated  on  the  bank  of 
Mill  River,  above  the  Brick  Mills ;  were  incorporated 
in  1847;  capital,  $100,000.  A  mill  for  spinning  cot- 
ton yarn  was  erected  the  following  season,  three  hun- 
dred and  thirty-three  long  by  fifty,  two  stories.  The 
officers  were  John  E.  Sanford,  president ;  E.  B. 
Maltby,  clerk;   C.  L.  Lovering,   treasurer,  who  re- 


TAUNTON. 


835 


signed  in  1878,  when  E.  B.  Maltby  was  elected.  In 
1881  the  capital  was  increased  to  $200,000,  and  a  new 
mill  (No.  2)  was  erected  parallel  with  No.  1,  three  hun- 
dred and  sixty-five  feet  long  by  seventy -two  in  width, 
three  stories,  also  for  spinning  cotton  yarn.  The 
present  directors  are  John  E.  Sanford,  Saul  Eddy, 
C.  L.  Lovering,  E.  B.  Maltby,  George  M.  Wood- 
ward. These  mills  do  the  largest  business  in  that 
line  in  the  county. 

Sproat's  Mill,  Weir  Village.— The  shingle  and 
grist-mill  of  James  Sproat  was  built  in  1837.  A  box- 
board  machine  was  added,  and  soon  afterwards  a 
machine  for  making  nail-keg  staves.  The  grist-mill 
was  superseded  by  machinery  for  box-making  and 
cutting  nail-keg  heads.  James  H.  Sproat  succeeded 
his  father  at  the  time  of  his  death  in  September, 
1857,  and  has  conducted  a  large  business  in  this  line. 
There  are  in  his  employ  several  men  whose  positions 
are  worthy  of  mention,  viz.:  Calvin  C.  Presbrey, 
forty-six  years ;  Frederick  Hathaway,  forty-four 
years ;  P.  B.  Campbell  and  Levi  P.  Talbot,  thirty- 
seven  years  ;  Abraham  Simmons,  George  Taber,  and 
John  McEnroe,  thirty-six  years,  and  several  others 
about  thirty  years.  Mr.  Sproat  continues  the  same 
business  he  has  followed  forty-six  consecutive  years, 
employing  about  thirty  hands. 

Old  Colony  Iron  Company. — Ln  1813,  Stephen 
King  obtained  a  grant  to  build  a  dam  across  Taunton 
River,  on  his  farm,  a  short  distance  above  the  present 
Old  Colony  Iron-Works,  and  laid  the  foundation. 
Horatio  Leonard  &  Co.  (Crocker  &  Richmond)  pur- 
chased Mr.  King's  right  and  removed  the  dam  to  its 
present  location,  and  built  a  forge  for  making  char- 
coal iron  (in  182-)  of  scraps  and  pig-iron.  Finally, 
coal  being  too  expensive,  a  few  years  later  (1827) 
they  obtained  the  services  of  experienced  workmen. 
James  Mitchell  and  his  brother,  Englishmen,  com- 
menced making  iron  with  bituminous  coal.  Increase 
and  Charles  Robinson,  having  some  experience,  came 
from  Bridgewater  in  1828  and  engaged  in  the  iron 
business  with  the  company.  Their  facilities  for  the 
manufacture  of  iron  for  nail-plates  and  shovels  were 
enlarged.  Enoch  Robinson,  who  had  also  served  at 
the  various  departments  for  producing  iron,  succeeded 
his  brother  Increase  in  1829,  who  returned  to  Bridge- 
water  and  became  superintendent  of  the  iron-works. 
Samuel  Caswell  had  charge  of  the  machinery.  The 
reverses  of  1837-42  caused  a  suspension  of  the  works 
for  over  a  year. 

A  new  company  was  organized  under  the  name  of 
the  Old  Colony  Iron  Company  in  1844,  with  a  capital 
of  two  hundred  and  sixty  thousand  dollars.  Samuel  L. 
Crocker,  president,  Charles  Robinson,  treasurer,  and 
they  remained  in  office  until  the  death  of  each, — the 
latter  Feb.  8,  1882,  the  former  Feb.  10,  1883.  The 
works  cover  several  acres  for  the  manufacture  of 
shovels  and  nails  and  nail-plates,  making  their  own 
iron.  The  officers  are  Charles  T.  Robinson,  clerk ; 
Oliver  A.  Washburn,  agent  and  treasurer ;    Enoch 


Robinson,  Nahum  Stetson,  Charles  T.  Robinson,  and 
O.  A.  Washburn,  directors  ;  Enoch  Robinson,  general 
superintendent. 

The  Taunton  Locomotive  Manufacturing-  Com- 
pany, located  near  the  central  depot  of  the  Old  Col- 
ony Railroad,  commenced  business  in  1846,  and  was 
incorporated  in  1847  by  Wm.  A.  Crocker,  Willard  W. 
Fairbanks,  Win.  Raymond  Lee,  and  their  associates, 
for  manufacturing  steam-engines,  railroad  cars,  and 
machinery  ;  capital,  fifty  thousand  dollars. 

Wm..  A.  Crocker  was  chosen  president;  W.  W. 
Fairbanks,  agent  and  treasurer ;  Charles  R.  Olney, 
clerk.  In  1847,  Harrison  Tweed  succeeded  Mr.  Olney 
as  clerk.  In  1854,  W.  W.  Fairbanks  succeeded  Mr. 
Crocker  as  president.  Robert  S.  Dean  succeeded  Mr. 
Fairbanks  as  treasurer  in  August,  1858,  and  resigned 
in  December.  Harrison  Tweed  was  his  successor  as 
treasurer  on  Sept.  25,  1861,  and  became  agent  in  place 
of  Mr.  Fairbanks,  resigned,  who  also  resigned  as 
president  Aug.  28,  1862,  and  Samuel  L.  Crocker  was 
elected,  serving  twenty-one  years,  until  his  death, 
Feb.  10,  1883. 

The  capital  had  been  increased  from  time  to  time 
until  1864,  when  it  was  established  at  two  hundred 
and  eighteen  thousand  five  hundred  dollars. 

P.  I.  Perrin,  who  had  been  superintendent  and  de- 
signer of  the  company  from  its  commencement,  in 
1846,  to  July,  1847,  was  elected  agent  and  treasurer  to 
succeed  Mr.  Tweed,  and  now  fills  the  position,  and 
E.  D.  Godfrey  was  elected  clerk  of  the  corporation. 

At  the  annual  meeting  May  23,  1883,  Nahum  Stet- 
son was  elected  president  in  place  of  Mr.  Crocker  de- 
ceased ;  Everett  D.  Godfrey,  clerk  ;  directors,  Enoch 
Robinson,  Harrison  Tweed,  P.  I.  Perrin,  Nahum  Stet- 
son ;  also  Robert  I.  Gamewell,  of  Providence,  in 
place  of  Mr.  Crocker. 

This  was  among  the  first  companies  established 
specially  for  manufacturing  locomotives  in  the  United 
States,  and  the  first  one  was  built  in  May,  1847. 
The  company  soon  attained  a  high  reputation  for 
their  locomotives,  and  the  first  one  that  found  its  way 
upon  the  great  thoroughfares  of  the  West  was  sent 
.from  this  establishment  in  May,  1852;  shipped  from 
Boston  for  New  Orleans,  thence  to  St.  Louis  in  charge 
of  Edward  Peirs,  engineer,  who  is  still  in  the  employ 
of  the  company.  Their  locomotives  are  now  a  pro- 
pelling power  from  Maine  to  California,  in  Canada, 
South  America,  and  Mexico. 

The  Taunton  Tack  Company  was  organized  in 
1850  by  a  few  practical  tack-makers,  and  others  that 
joined  them,  with  a  capital  of  twenty  thousand  dol- 
lars ;  shares  at  five  hundred  dollars.  They  located 
their  works  on  Union  Street,  purchasing  the  build- 
ings from  Stephen  Rhodes  &  Sons.  They  chose 
directors  :  Daniel  Reed,  Jr.,  Joseph  Dunbar,  Robert 
Crossman  (2d),  Gideon  Perkins,  Jr.;  and  Charles 
Foster  was  chosen  president,  Robert  Crossman  (2d) 
secretary,  and  Gideon  Perkins,  Jr.,  agent  and  treas- 
urer.    In  1855  the  company  became  incorporated, 


836 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


and  Gideon  Perkins,  Daniel  Reed,  Philander  W. 
Dean,  James  C.  Brown,  and  Albert  •  Hunter  were 
directors;  Robert  Crossinan,  clerk;  Daniel  Reed,  Jr., 
treasurer;  and  James  Brown,  president.  From  that 
time  there  was  a  change  in  the  officers  nearly  every 
year,  except  agent  and  treasurer,  which  L.  F.  Dudley 
held  several  years,  and  George  W.  White,  superinten- 
dent, who  remained  some  ten  years.  The  company 
were  doing  a  fair  business,  and  paid  a  dividend  until 
1857  of  four  and  a  half  per  cent. 

In  1866,  Lorenzo  Lincoln  was  elected  president, 
and  has  held  the  office  seventeen  years.  Thomas  J. 
Lothrop  was  elected  director  in  1867  and  agent  and 
treasurer  in  1868,  and  still  remains  treasurer  and 
manager.  In  1869  the  company  voted  to  erect  a 
new  manufactory  on  the  land  purchased  of  A.  E. 
Swasey. 

In  1870  the  company  increased  their  capital  to 
sixty  thousand  dollars,  removed  to  their  new  manu- 
factory on  Weir  Street,  and  authorized  the  sale  of 
their  property  on  Union  Street.  The  company  then 
began  to  add  to  its  machinery  not  only  tack-nail 
machines  but  for  the  manufacture  of  rivets  and  bolts. 
In  1873  the  capital  stock  was  increased  to  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  thousand  dollars.  In  1874,  George 
W.  White  resigned  as  superintendent.  In  July,  1878, 
the  fire  destroyed  a  large  portion  of  the  factory,  in- 
cluding the  machinery  for  stove-bolts,  and  that  busi- 
ness was  not  resumed.  The  factory  was  soon  rebuilt 
and  new  machines  added,  and  now  includes  one  hun- 
dred and  seven  tack-  and  shoe-nail  machines  and 
various  other  valuable  machines  required  in  the  es- 
tablishment; also  wire-drawing  apparatus  and  ma- 
chinery for  the  rivet  department.  The  establishment 
consumes  about  seven  and  a  half  tons  of  iron  per  day, 
and  furnishes  employment  to  one  hundred  and  ten 
hands  in  the  various  departments.  The  company 
manufactures  its  own  machines,  and  is  adding  wire 
nails  to  its  specialties  in  business.  It  has  a  branch 
store  in  Chicago  for  Western  trade. 

The  officers  are  Lorenzo  Lincoln,  president ;  Thomas 
J.  Lothrop,  treasurer  and  agent ;  Joseph  Philbrick, 
clerk ;  H.  B.  Wheelwright,  Thomas  J.  Lothrop,  Lo- 
renzo Lincoln,  Joseph  Philbrick,  Francis  H.  Wilbur, 
directors. 

Anthony  &  Cushman,  manufacturers  of  all  kinds 
of  tacks,  brads,  and  shoe-nails,  commenced  business, 
in  1864,  in  their  works  below  Weir  village  with  twenty- 
six  machines.  Their  business  increased  largely,  and 
in  1882  removed  into  their  spacious  manufactory, 
Court  Street,  formerly  Bay  State  Screw  Works,  where 
they  have  nearly  ninety  machines  running,  employing 
about  one  hundred  hands,  cutting  four  tons  of  metal 
per  day  of  various  kinds.  Capital,  sixty  thousand 
dollars. 

H.  L.  Cushman  &  Co.  commenced  the  manufacture 
of  tufting  and  shoe  buttons  in  April,  1882.  Capital, 
twenty-five  thousand  dollars.  They  employ  twenty- 
five  hands,  and  make  nearly  a  million  of  buttons  per 


day.  They  occupy  a  portion  of  Anthony  &  Cush- 
man's  building,  Court  Street. 

Strange's  Cylinder  Saw  and  Machine  Company,  on 
Tremont  Street.  The  senior  partner,  Elias  Strange, 
is  the  oldest  mechanic  in  this  vicinity,  having  been 
at  the  business  about  sixty  years  as  foreman  and 
manager  in  several  establishments.  Several  years 
since  he  directed  his  attention  to  the  manufacture  of 
machines  for  making  staves,  boxes,  barrels,  amateur 
steam-engines,  etc.,  of  which  company  Elias  Strange 
is  president,  Emerson  C.  is  secretary,  and  Elias  W. 
Strange  is  treasurer.  They  employ  about  twenty 
hands. 

Taunton  Copper  Manufacturing  Company.  — 
In  1826,  William  A.,  Samuel  L.,  and  George  A. 
Crocker  associated  together  as  Crocker  Brothers,  and 
commenced  the  manufacture  of  copper  upon  the 
Wading  River,  in  Norton,  a  privilege  which  their 
father,  William  Allen  Crocker,  formerly  owned,  a 
small  establishment  previously  occupied  by  Crocker 
&  Richmond  a  few  years  for  the  same  purpose.  In 
1831  the  above-named  William  A.,  Samuel  L.,  and 
George  A.  Crocker,  with  Daniel  Brewer,  Nathaniel 
Crandell,  and  such  others  as  they  may  associate  with 
them,  were  incorporated  as  the  Taunton  Copper 
Manufacturing  Company,  under  the  firm-name  of 
Crocker  Brothers  &  Co.,  with  a  capital  of  $200,000. 
The  works  were  enlarged  double  their  former  size  in 
Norton,  and  practical  skilled  workmen  were  obtained 
from  England  to  produce  the  less  costly  article  called 
yellow  metal,  and  by  chemical  arrangements  in  the 
manufacture  of  copper  and  yellow  metal  they  utilized 
the  oxide  of  zinc  for  various  mechanical  purposes ; 
they  also  contracted  for  the  manufacture  of  planchets 
for  copper  cents,  which  machines  were  worked  by 
William  Allen  West  many  years,  furnishing  the 
United  States  government  with  fifty  thousand  dollars 
annually.  In  1849  the  company  erected  a  large  estab- 
lishment at  Weir  village  for  the  manufacture  and 
rolling  of  copper,  yellow  metal,  and  zinc,  removing  a 
portion  of  the  machinery  from  Norton.  The  com- 
pany conducted  a  large  and  profitable  business  for 
many  years,  increasing  their  capital  to  $600,000,  and 
again  to  $900,000,  and  paying  large  dividends.  Wil- 
liam A.  Crocker  retired  from  the  firm  in  1854,  and 
George  A.  Crocker  died  in  February,  1864.  Few 
other  changes  have  taken  place  by  deaths  and  resig- 
nations. A  few  years  since,  in  consequence  of  busi- 
ness reverses  and  losses  on  stock,  and  the  inability  to 
pay  dividends,  the  capital  was  decreased  to  §450,000. 
During,  however,  all  the  panics  and  reverses  of  1837, 
1857,  and  1873,  the  company  continued  its  large  and 
costly  business  operations,  regularly  paying,  without 
intermission,  their  employes,  many  of  whom  have 
been  upon  the  rolls  in  their  service  thirty,  forty,  and 
fifty  years.  Within  the  past  year  (1882)  Charles  Rob- 
inson and  Ward  M.  Parker,  two  of  the  oldest  directors, 
died  ;  in  January  last  Charles  R.  Vickery,  another  of 
the   board,  and   president  of  company  many  years, 


TAUNTON. 


837 


and  in  February  last,  Samuel  L.  Crocker,  the  last 
surviving  brother,  director,  treasurer,  and  manager  of 
the  company  From  its  organization,  over  half  a  cen- 
tury, died.  Now  a  reorganization  is  taking  place  in 
this  old-established  and  wealthy  corporation.  E.  H. 
Bennett,  who  was  elected  president  to  succeed  Mr. 
Vickery,  has  resigned,  and  some  new  officers  will  be 
elected  to  fill  the  places  of  the  former  board.  Timothy 
Gordon  has  been  connected  with  the  copper  works 
over  forty-five  years  as  book-keeper,  clerk,  agent,  and 
treasurer;  also  R.  Henry  Hall  over  thirty  years,  as 
superintendent  and  agent,  which  offices  they  now  fill 
as  members  of  the  company. 

Leonard  Co-operative  Foundry. — In  1845,  Deacon 
Lemuel  Leonard  built  a  small  foundry  a  short  dis- 
tance below  Whittenton  Mills  for  casting  stoves  and 
small  ware.  A  few  years  later  his  son,  Lemuel  M. 
Leonard,  was  associated  with  him,  and  enlarged  the 
furnace,  continuing  several  years.  The  former  died 
in  1868.  The  latter,  to  extend  his  business,  built  a 
large  foundry  on  Wales  Street  and  removed  from 
Whittenton  in  1865,  and  continued  a  large  business 
until  his  death,  in  1876.  This  was  the  origin  of  the 
Leonard  Co-operative  Foundry  Company,  organized 
in  1877;  capital,  twenty-five  thousand  dollars.  The 
company  has  two  foundries  and  a  number  of  build- 
ings, covering  an  area  of  two  acres,  and  do  a  large 
business.  The  officers  are  L.  B.  West,  president ;  W. 
H.  Lindsey,  treasurer;  A.  J.  Holt,  traveling  agent; 
directors,  Win.  N.  Parker,  Charles  R.  Mason,  L.  B. 
West,  Win.  H.  Lindsey,  J.  M.  Pratt,  A.  W.  Hewitt, 
Jr.,  J.  B.  Grigor,  T.  N.  GofF,  C.  H.  Briggs. 

The  Eagle  Cotton-Mill  Company  was  incorporated 
in  1860 ;  capital,  sixty  thousand  dollars ;  President, 
Theodore  Dean ;  F.  B.  Dean,  clerk,  treasurer,  and 
agent;  Directors,  Joseph  Dean,  A.  K.  Williams, 
George  B.  Williams,  F.  B.  Dean,  Theodore  Dean. 
Wanton  Bouse,  one  of  the  directors  and  superinten- 
dents, died  recently. 

The  Taunton  Oil-Cloth  Company  was  incorporated 
in  1850,  with  a  capital  of  $25,000 ;  now  has  a  capital 
of  $55,000.  The  board  of  directors  are  John  E.  San- 
ford,  Enoch  Robinson,  Thompson  Newbury,  Charles 
T.  Robinson,  J.  J.  Whitmarsh. 

The  presidents  have  been  Charles  Robinson,  Bay- 
lies Sanford,  William  R.  Davenport,  John  E.  Sanford ; 
Clerks,  B.  Sanford,  John  E.  Sanford,  J.  J.  Whit- 
marsh. James  W.  Crossman  was  agent  many  years. 
The  present  officers  are  :  President,  John  E.  Sanford  ; 
Clerk,  J.  J.  Whitmarsh  ;  Treasurer,  Thompson  New- 
bury, who  has  been  treasurer  from  the  organization  of 
the  company.  They  manufacture  enameled  and  peb- 
bled oil  cloths. 

Presbrey  Stove-Lining  Company,  established  in 
1826  ;  incorporated  in  1866,  with  a  capital  of  $28,000; 
manufacture  fire-brick  and  stove-linings.  The  board 
of  directors  are  Henry  T.  Root,  B.  C.  Pierce,  J.  T. 
Maher,  William  A.  Miller,  D.  A.  Trefethen.  Henry 
T.  Root,  president;  B.  C.  Pierce,  treasurer  and  agent. 


Their  present  buildings  cover  nearly  two  acres  of 
ground,  having  been  recently  enlarged. 

Westville. — This  pleasant  village  in  the  westerly 
section  of  Taunton  was  named  for  one  of  its  enter- 
prising manufacturers,  John  West,  over  seventy  years 
ago.  Its  location  on  Three-Mile  River,  prominently 
identified  with  the  Baylies  Iron  Works  a  hundred  and 
forty  years  ago,  was,  half  a  century  previously,  the 
site  of  the  "Andrews'  grist-mill"  and  Lincoln's  saw- 
mill, the  former  owned  by  Capt.  John  Andrews,  the 
latter  by  Rufus  and  Ichabod  Lincoln ;  in  later  years 
by  Joseph  Andrews,  son  of  the  above,  and  Isaac  Lin- 
coln, grandfather  of  Deacon  Lorenzo  Lincoln,  the 
respected  veteran  paper  manufacturer,  whose  ances- 
tors resided  near  there. 

About  1788-39,  Thomas  Baylies,  Jr.,  had  a  forge 
and  iron-works  on  the  south  side  of  Three-Mile  River, 
for  making  charcoal-iron  from  ore  mined  in  the 
vicinity  and  from  New  Jersey.  He  died  in  July, 
1756,  at  forty-one  years  of  age,  a  few  months  after 
the  death  of  his  father. 

An  interesting  history  is  connected  with  the  owners 
of  the  Baylies  Iron  Works.  Thomas  and  Esther  Sar- 
geant  Baylies,1  ancestors  of  all  of  that  name  in  this  vi- 
cinity,— Nicholas,  Hodijah,  Dr.  William,  Hon.  Francis 
and  William,  Thomas  Sargeant,  Dr.  Alfred  Baylies, 
and  others  (of  whom  Mr.  Shove,  in  his  "  Digh- 
ton  History,"  gives  special  account), — came  from 
Colebrook  Dale,  Shropshire,  England,  in  1737,  with 
his  sons,  Thomas  and  Nicholas,  all  "  iron  masters."  2 
On  their  arrival  in  Boston,  Thomas,  Sr.,  proceeded  to 
West  Attleborough  "Gore"  (now  Cumberland,  R.  I.), 
to  superintend  an  iron-works  for  a  firm  of  Boston 
merchants.  He  resided  in  that  town  some  fifteen 
years,  and  was  probably  associated  with  Capt.  Thomas 
Leonard,  of  Raynham,  in  the  same  business  the  last 
portion  of  the  time. 

Thomas,  Jr.,  came  to  Taunton  and  Nicholas  went  to 
Uxbridge,  both  to  superintend  iron-works.  Thomas, 
Sr.,  subsequently  removed  from  Attleborough  to 
Taunton,  probably  to  assist  his  son  at  Baylies  Iron- 
Works,  where  soon  after,  his  wife  Esther  died,  May 
7,  1754,  in  her  sixty-fifth  year,  and  he  died  March  5, 
1756,  nearly  two  years  later,  in  his* sixty-ninth  year. 
They  were  buried,  with  sons,  Thomas,  Nicholas,  and 
grandson,  Thomas  Sargeant,  and  others,  in  the  "  Bay- 
lies Cemetery,"  in  Taunton,  below  Weir  village. 

After  the  death  of  Thomas  Baylies,  Jr.,  above  men- 
tioned, his  brother  Nicholas  came  from  Uxbridge  to 
administer   upon    the   estate   of    Thomas,    who   was 


i  They  were  Quakers,  and  on  the  day  of  their  marriage,  in  Warwick- 
shire, England,  6th  month  5th,  1706,  which  was  a  silent  ceremony,  a 
lock  of  hair  was  clipped  from  the  head  of  the  bride,  Esther  Sargeant, 
which  has  descended  through  lineal  generations  one  hundred  and  sev- 
enty-six years,  to  a  namesake,  daughter  of  the  late  Dr.  Alfred  Baylies, 
of  this  city.  It  was  in  the  possession  of  the  late  William  Baylies  some 
twenty  years  ago,  and  left  by  him  with  his  former  student,  Ellis  Ames, 
to  be  given  as  an  heirloom  to  the  namesake  of  Esther  Sargeant,  the 
maiden  name  of  their  ancestress. 

2  We  have  the  facts  from  a  descendant,  Mrs.  Eliza  B.  Wheaton. 


838 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


single.  He  relinquished  his  business  at  Uxbridge,  j 
after  residing  there  some  twenty  years,  and  removed  j 
here.  He  resided  in  Taunton  near  Dighton  line, 
and  conducted  the  forge  and  anchor  business  exten- 
sively, making  anchors  and  other  heavy  implements 
for  vessels  and  farmers'  use.  He  purchased  the 
grist-mill  of  Capt.  Joseph  Andrews  and  the  Lincoln 
saw-mill,  and  was  for  a  while  associated  with  Capt. 
Sylvester  Richmond,  of  Dighton,  for  several  years 
high  sheriff.  Nicholas  Baylies  was  a  prominent  man. 
At  the  close  of  the  last  century  he  represented  the 
town  in  the  Legislature  four  years  (1781-82,  1786-87), 
and,  though  by  birth  an  Englishman,  he  was  an  able 
supporter  of  the  American  cause  in  the  Revolution. 
He  was  the  father  of  Dr.  William,  Thomas  Sargeant, 
Maj.  Hodijah  Baylies,  and  other  children,  eight  in 
all.     He  died  July  6,  1807,  in  his  eighty-ninth  year. 

His  youngest  son,  Hodijah,  succeeded  him  in  the 
iron-works,  after  closing  an  honorable  career  in  the 
Revolution,  having  served  as  aid  to  Gen.  Benjamin 
Lincoln  (whose  daughter  he  married),  and  for  some 
time  upon  the  staff  of  Washington.  He  enlarged  the 
iron-works,  and  conducted  a  large  business  many 
years.  During  this  time,  among  other  large  con- 
tracts, he  made  the  anchor  for  the  frigate  "Constitu- 
tion," which  was  considered  a  great  event  in  manu- 
facturing iron  at  the  time.  It  required  (as  stated 
by  his  son,  late  Edmund  Baylies)  ten  yoke  of  oxen 
to  transport  the  anchor  to  tide-water,  Dighton,  thence 
to  be  taken  on  board  "Old  Ironsides,"  which  became 
a  terror  to  the  English  navy.  During  his  connection 
with  the  iron-works  he  was  appointed  collector  of  the 
port  of  Dighton,  the  first  under  the  Constitution.  He 
continued  in  the  iron  business  until  1810,  when  he 
received  the  appointment  of  judge  of  probate,  which 
office  he  held  twenty-four  years.  He  disposed  of  the 
privilege  and  old  mills  to  John  West  in  1809,  who 
built  the  paper-mill  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
river.  Mr.  West,  who  had  been  a  merchant  in  Boston, 
was  the  first  paper  manufacturer  in  the  Old  Colony. 

In  1823-24,  Mr.  West,  associated  with  Crocker  & 
Richmond,  built  a  cotton-mill  on  the  site  of  the  old 
iron-works,  and  the  business  was  continued  by  Mr. 
West  as  agent  of  the  cotton-  and  paper-mill  until  the  ! 
time  of  his  death,  in  December,  1827. 

The  cotton-mill  was  then  managed  by  Crocker  & 
Richmond  until  the  time  of  their  suspension  in  1837. 
The  paper-mill  was  conducted  by  Richard  Park,  by 
Park,  Lincoln  &  Park  (Caleb  M.  Lincoln  and  Edwin 
Park,  associates),  until  the  death  of  Richard  Park, 
senior  member,  in  1833.  Etheridge  Clarke  had  an 
interest  in  the  property  for  several  years  then  called 
the  Westville  Manufacturing  Company.  George  and 
Jonathan  Bliss  purchased  the  property  soon  after  the 
failure  of  Crocker  &  Richmond,  continuing  the  manu- 
facture of  cotton  cloth  for  several  years,  and  the 
paper-mill  was  conducted  by  Jonathan  Bliss,  Jr.,  & 
Co.  They  were  succeeded  by  Alexander  Hodges, 
who  purchased  the  cotton-  and  paper-mill,  when  the 


latter  was  discontinued  for  lack  of  sufficient  water- 
power.  The  machinery  was  sold  to  C.  M.  and  L. 
Lincoln  for  their  paper-mill  at  North  Dighton.  The 
whole  property  passed  into  the  possession  of  Lovering 
Brothers,  who  converted  the  mill  into  a  spinning- 
mill  to  supply  the  yarn  for  consumption  at  their 
Whittenton  mills. 

The  Most  Ancient  Mills  in  Taunton  were  Deacon 
Robert  Crossman's  grist-mill,  below  the  dam  at  the 
Cohannet  Street  crossing,  and  stood  in  the  bend  of 
the  street  for  a  century  or  more.  It  was  built  soon 
after  the  settlement  of  Taunton  in  1638-39.  In  1659, 
"  Henry  Andrews  and  John  Macomber  were  per- 
mitted to  erect  a  saw-mill,"  just  above,  on  the  oppo- 
site side  of  the  street,  "  if  it  was  not  hurtful  to  the 
grist-mill."  These  humble  mills  have  gone  into  his- 
tory by  Mr.  Baylies'  researches.  A  hundred  years 
later,  or  more,  a  fulling-mill  stood  near  the  site  of  the 
saw-mill,  which  John  Sturtevant  occupied  in  1812, 
and  in  which  Deacon  Roswell  Ballard  commenced 
the  business  before  he  converted  Sproat's  snuff-mill 
into  a  fulling-mill,  near  Street's  bridge. 

Elizabeth  Pool  Mills,  situate  on  the  bank  of  Mill 
River,  below  Hopewell  Mills,  organized  in  June, 
1877,  capital  $75,000.  The  main  mill  is  two  hundred 
and  eighteen  by  seventy  feet,  another  one  hundred 
by  forty,  each  two  stories.  Two  additional  since  built, 
one,  one  hundred  and  nineteen  by  seventy,  another 
one  hundred  and  fifty-five  by  forty-eight,  one  story 
each  ;  manufacture  cotton  flannels  of  fine  quality  as 
a  specialty.  The  officers  are  Ira  F.  Lawry,  president; 
Albert  E.  Swasey,  treasurer;  Charles  A.  Lawry,  clerk; 
Directors,  William  C.  Lovering,  I.  F.  Lawry,  A.  E. 
Swasey,  H.  M.  Lovering,  C.  A.  Lawry. 

Another  Ancient  Iron-Works  stood  nearly  two 
hundred  years  ago  near  the  site  of  the  Dighton  Fur- 
nace Company  upon  Three-Mile  River,  which  divided 
the  towns  of  Dighton  and  Taunton,  two  miles  below 
Westville.  Richard  Stephens,  one  of  the  early  set- 
tlers of  Taunton,  with  his  son  and  others,  in  1702, 
had  a  forge  for  making  iron  and  a  grist-mill  there. 
His  sons,  Nicholas  and  Josiah  Stephens,  and  Nicholas, 
Jr.,  afterwards  owned  the  forge  and  iron-works.  In 
1739,  Bollan  and  Laughton,  Boston  merchants,  having 
purchased  a  portion  of  the  privilege,  they  "leased  the 
falls,  dam,  land,"  etc.,  of  said  Stephens  in  1740  to 
erect  an  iron-works  and  refinery  thereon,  Stephens 
reserving  the  right  to  run  the  grist-mill.  In  1748, 
Bollan  and  Laughton  conveyed  the  privilege  and  iron- 
works to  Henry  Laughton,  Jr.,  nephew  of  the  former, 
and  the  business  was  continued  many  years.  Bollan 
and  Laughton  were  wealthy  merchants  (Englishmen), 
and  had  purchased  large  tracts  of  land  and  farms 
in  this  vicinity.  In' 1776  they  proved  to  be  "loyal- 
ists," or  Tories.  The  property  they  had  not  conveyed 
away  was  confiscated  and  sold  by  the  State  commis- 
sioners, Capt.  Israel  Washburn,  of  Raynham,  Judge 
Tobey,  of  Berkley,  and  Capt.  Henry  Hodges,  of 
Taunton,  including  several  farms  and  the  large  tracts 


TAUNTON. 


839 


of  land,  according  to  the  records,  in  the  adjoining 
towns  they  had  purchased. 

This  location,  the  last  employed  for  manufacturing 
purposes  on  Three-Mile  River,  was  owned  by  the  sons 
and  descendants  of  Richard  Stephens, — the  last  one, 
Elijah  H.  Stephens  (great-grandson  of  Richard),  who 
formerly  owned  a  portion  of  the  forge,  mills,  and  other 
adjacent  property,  but,  as  tradition  says,  was  defrauded 
out  of  a  large  portion  of  it  by  Boston  parties. 

The  Dighton  Cotton  Manufacturing  Company 
was  incorporated  in  1806,  and  built  a  cotton-mill,  and 
afterwards  went  into  the  foundry  and  cotton-machine 
business.  The  machine-shop  was  afterwards  leased 
to  T.  S.  Dunlap  in  1843,  who  converted  it  into  a 
woolen-mill,  occupying  it  a  few  years.  He  then  re- 
moved to  a  new  mill,  a  short  distance  below,  built  by 
the  Dighton  Manufacturing  Company  for  them  as  a 
woolen-mill,  which  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1848. 
After  Mr.  Dunlap's  removal  from  the  old  machine- 
shop  C.  M.  and  L.  Lincoln  leased  it  for  a  paper-mill, 
which  they  fitted  for  the  purpose.  After  the  death 
of  the  senior  partner,  Caleb  M.  Lincoln,  in  1836,  the 
firm  was  changed  to  L.  Lincoln  &  Co.,  and  has  re- 
mained so  for  twenty-seven  years.  Their  mills  were 
destroyed  by  fire  in  1881.  They  soon  rebuilt  a  fine 
brick  establishment,  much  enlarged,  and  with  im- 
proved machinery,  for  the  manufacture  of  various 
kinds  of  paper,  and  are  doing  a  prosperous  busi- 
ness. 

William  L.  Hathaway,  and  others  of  the  Dighton 
Furnace  Company,  who  occupied  the  old  furnace 
buildings  in  1858,  removed  to  the  Taunton  side  of 
the  river,  built  a  large  foundry  and  shop  for  the 
manufacture  of  iron  tubing,  called  the  Dighton 
Tube- Works,  which  were  discontinued  several  years 
since.  After  the  death  of  Mr.  Hathaway,  June  15, 
1870,  he  was  succeeded  by  George  F.  Gavitt  as  man- 
ager and  treasurer  many  years.  For  the  last  twelve 
years  James  H.  Codding,  who  succeeded  Mr.  Gavitt 
in  the  Dighton  Furnace  Company,  has  done  a  large 
business  in  the  range  and  stove  line  of  manufacture, 
the  largest  in  the  city,  has  extended  the  works,  cov- 
ering an  area  of  about  three  acres,  has  a  capital  of 
$75,000,  and  employs  over  a  hundred  hands. 

The  Industries  of  Taunton,  Products,  etc. — In 
Taunton  there  are  152  manufacturing  establishments 
of  all  kinds,  employing  6160  persons.  Capital  in- 
vested, $4,324,134;  stock  used,  $4,292,917;  value  of 
products,  $7,663,656  ;  annual  wages  paid,  $2,090,690. 
We  quote  from  last  census  report:  The  above  includes 
one  for  making  agricultural  implements,  capital, 
$1000;  product,  $1350.  Of  artisans'  tools,  2;  capital, 
$4000  ;  product,  $8000.  Of  boots  and  shoes,  7  ;  cap- 
ital, $2350;  wages  paid,  $4200;  stock,  $4325;  product, 
.-$12,350.  Of  brick-makers,  6  establishments;  capital, 
$98,000  ;  stock,  $11 ,500 ;  wages  paid  per  year,  $21,800 ; 
product,  $45,000.  In  building,  13  ;  capital,  $18,900  ; 
stock,  $29,300;  wages  paid,  $24,360;  product,  $70,950. 
Of  burial-caskets,  etc.,  2;  capital,  $19,000;  product, 


$17,000.  Of  buttons,  2  establishments;  capital,  $40,- 
000 ;  product,  $75,000.  In  carpetings,  1 ;  capital, 
$70,000 ;  product,  $166,800.  Of  carriages  and  wagons, 
11;  capital,  $42,300;  stock,  $20,000;  wages  paid, 
$22,100;  product,  $61,250.  Of  clothing,  4;  capital, 
$22,500;  stock,  $27,200;  wages  paid,  $10,750;  product, 
$44,600.  Of  cooking,  lighting,  and  heating  apparatus 
(stoves,  etc.),  12;  capital  invested,  $365,500;  wages, 
$204,906;  stock,  $188,137;  product,  $517,500.  In 
cotton  goods,  eight  establishments;  capital  invested, 
$1,000,000;  stock  used,  $995,200;  wages,  $391,195; 
product,  $1,856,884.  Crucibles,  2  ;  capital,  $60,000  ; 
product,  $68,450.  Of  earthen  and  stoneware,  1;  cap- 
ital, $10,000  ;  product,  $6500.  Of  food  preparations, 
butchers,  etc.,  11;  capital,  $62,500;  wages  paid, 
$20,198 ;  stock  used,  $296,900 ;  product,  $363,000.  Of 
furniture,  2;  capital,  $900 ;  product,  $7200.  Of  leather, 
5;  capital,  $5600 ;  wages,  $6250 ;  stock,  $4950;  prod- 
uct, $11,800.  Of  lumber,  4;  capital,  $34,000;  stock, 
$22,100  ;  wages,  $16,900 ;  product,  $50,500.  Of  ma- 
chines and  machinery,  8;  capital,  $843,800;  stock, 
$698,950;  wages,  $522,276;  product,  $1,309,700.  In 
metals  and  metallic  goods,  33 ;  capital,  $1,722,650 ; 
stock,  $1,750,800;  wages  paid  yearly,  $755,493;  prod- 
uct, $2,864,313.  In  models  and  patterns,  2 ;  capital, 
$4500;  product,  $2900.  Of  stone,  3;  capital,  $5880; 
wages,  $5942;  stock,  $3900;  product,  $14,598.  Of 
wooden  goods,  3;  capital,  $27,700;  stock,  $11,075; 
product,  $23,900.  Of  liquors  and  beverages,  1 ;  capital, 
st  ioOO;  product,  $20,000.  Blacksmiths,  capital  em- 
ployed, $13,000;  annual  product,  $30,000. 

Commerce  of  Taunton.— The  commercial  interests 
of  Taunton  were  comparatively  small  two  hundred 
years  ago,  yet  the  coasting  trade  was  inaugurated  soon 
after  the  settlement  of  the  enterprising  pioneers,  and 
their  small  shallops  and  sloops  of  ten  to  twenty  tons 
were  plying  with  cargoes  of  iron,  brick,  and  other  arti- 
cles to  and  from  Providence,  New  York,  and  Newport, 
where  a  large  trade  was  established.  Sloops  were 
built  on  the  banks  of  Taunton  River  as  far  up  as  Tit- 
ticut  by  the  Pratts  and  Holmeses,  and  at  Richard  Wil- 
liams' landing  by  Capt.  Joseph  Hall  and  others.  At 
the  commencement  of  the  present  century  there  was 
a  small  fleet  engaged  in  the  articles  of  commerce  of 
Taunton.  Iron,  hollow-ware,  and  brick  were  then  the 
chief  articles  of  export.  Capt.  Job  Smith,  a  large 
dealer  in  West  India  and  dry  goods,  had  a  large  store 
at  Neck  of  Land,  where  Capt.  Job  Godfrey  and  others 
landed  their  cargoes ;  the  wharf  may  now  be  seen. 
Schooner  "  Raynham,"  built  at  the  Dean  Street  land- 
ing, by  Capt.  Joseph  Hall,  for  Hon.  Josiah  Dean, 
who  then  conducted  the  iron-works;  the  sloop  "In- 
dustry," owned  by  Capt.  Perez  Hall  and  his  father; 
sloop  "  Sally,"  Capt.  Benjamin  Copper,  Josiah  Dean, 
and  Col.  George  Williams  owners  ;  sloop  "  Ranger," 
Capt. William  Presbrey,  owned  by  Capt.  Seth  Presbrey, 
Samuel  Leonard,  and  John  Presbrey  ;  sloop  "  Peace 
and  Plenty,"  Capt.  Seth  Presbrey  ;  sloop  "  Union," 
Capt.  Sylvester  Jones;  sloop  "Sally,"  Capt.  Jacob 


840 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL  COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Phillips;  sloop  "Hannah,"  Capt.  David  Vickery ; 
the  owners  of  these  were  Samuel  Leonard,  Jonathan 
Ingell,  James  Hart,  Capt.  David  Padelford,  Col.  Noah 
Hall,  Capt.  Abiathar  Williams,  Capt.  Jonathan  Ingell, 
and  others,  were  employed  in  the  coasting  trade  nearly 
a  century  ago.  Sloop  "Dove,"  owned  by  Eliphalet 
Williams,  John  West  and  others,  for  freighting  grain 
from  New  York  for  their  distillery  at  Weir  village,  was 
captured  during  the  embargo  of  the  war  of  1812-14. 
A  British  seventy-four  was  lying  off  the  Sound,  under 
Commodore  Harvey,  to  seize  the  Taunton  sloops  as 
they  plied  their  trade,  and  the  "  Dove"  with  six  or  eight 
hundred  bushels  of  corn  attempted  to  run  the  gaunt- 
let up  the  Sound,  but  was  seized  about  off  New  Lon- 
don, and  the  owners  were  required  to  pay  a  heavy 
ransom  in  specie  to  recover  her.  Many  of  the  shal- 
lops were  so  small  that  they  could  slip  into  the  inlets 
with  twenty  tons,  and  make  their  way  by  night  unmo- 
lested. 

At  the  period  we  mention  the  aggregate  tonnage  of 
the  Taunton  fleet  would  not  exceed  four  hundred 
tons. 

We  now  append  the  following  list  of  vessels  of  the 
Taunton  fleet  of  1883,  to  show  the  increase  of  our 
commerce  in  a  hundred  years  : 


Name. 


Master. 


Tons. 


Schooner  Whistler John  Keefe 90 

"        John  Lozier S.  L.  Tisdale 100 

"        Emma D.  M.  White 100 

"        Samuel  L.  Crocker A.  T.  Deering 150 

"        Salmon  Washburn A.  Hathaway 150 

"        Salle  W.  Ponder E.F.Lincoln 170 

"        Sylvester  Hale G.  L.  Coleman 180 

"        Robert  S.  Dean Lewis  0.  Coleman, 185 

"        Sallie  T.  Chartre Thomas  Spellman 200 

"        M.  M.  Merriman A.  Simmons 250 

"        Abel  W.  Parker William  H.  Dean 350 

"        William  F.Greene C.  F.  Heath 375 

"         Nathan  H.  Skinner J.  W.  Thrasher 450 

"        Theodore  Dean Capt.  Blake 500 

"        Wild  Pigeon .'.E.  H.  Doane 500 

,;        John  E.  San  ford J.  E.  Berry 600 

"        Oliver  Ames Capt.  Handy 600 

"        William  Mason Capt.  Chace 650 

"        William  D.  Marvel D.  Keefe 650 

"        Calvin  P.  Harris O.Benton 700 

"        Alfred  Brabrook J.  M.Phillips 800 

"         D.  M.  Anthony 800 

"        William  R.  Huston J.D.Crowley 900 

"        Bertha  F.  Walker J.  Westgate 1000 

"         C.  A.  Briggs 0.  G.  Hammett 1100 

"         Mabel  L.  Phillips Samuel  Berry 1200 

"        Hettie  S.  Williams J.  H.  Bray 1300 

"        Elliot  B.  Church William  Conary 1800 

"         Charles  N.  Simmons H..L.  Babbitt 1000 

"        B.  L.  Burt John  Sent 1100 

"        Bertha  Dean H.  F.Tripp 1100 

"         Nathan  Lawrence W.J.Harper L100 

"        Josie  Burt Alexander  Burt 1100 

"        Emma  F.  Angel  1 Aug.  Tripp 1300 

Barge  Advance J.  F.  Phillips 550 

"      Pioneer James  Cook 750 

"      Petersburg James  F.Rogers 8U0 

"      Star  of  the  East W.  W.  Paull 850 

"      Satanella Asa  Hathaway 1000 

"     Transport J.  S.  Cummings 1000 

"      Berkley J.  M.  Rogers 500 

"      H.  J.  Devenny Thomas  Crowley 900 

"     Island  Belle H.  A.  Dean 

Steamer  Empire  State J.  M.  Philllips 1700 

"        Cora  L.  Staples George  Cummings 150 

"        J.  P.  White Benjamin  Cobb 75 

"        Theodore  Brierly Asa  Hathaway 35 

"       George  A.  Dean F.  P.  Staples 150 

New  schooners  are  being  built  for  Capt.  H.  O.  Ben- 
ton, and  for  Capt.  Jonathan  Thrasher,  of  nine  hun- 
dred tons  each. 

The  above-named   large  class  vessels   are   owned 


chiefly  by  Taunton  parties  in  several  joint  companies, 
of  which  Capt.  Jacob  B.  Phillips  represents  one, 
Capt.  Samuel  Walker  another,  William  B„  Church 
another.  The  barges  and  steamers  are  mostly  owned 
by  Staples  and  Phillips,  who  also  own  largely  in 
schooners.  The  investment  in  the  above  fleet  is  about 
one  million  dollars;  the  aggregate  tonnage,  thirty- 
five  thousand  tons,  showing  a  great  contrast  with  the 
tonnage  and  investment  of  a  century  ago.  Within 
ten  years  there  have  been  added  to  the  Taunton  fleet 
over  twenty  vessels  averaging  one  thousand  tons 
capacity.  Of  these,  three  schooners,  "  Hattie  S.  Wil- 
liams," "  Eliot  B.  Church,"  and  "  William  S.  White," 
are  four-masters ;  the  latter,  a  splendid  craft,  was  run 
down  and  sunk  some  months  ago,  and  the  matter  is 
in  litigation.  In  addition,  two  more  schooners  of 
one  thousand  tons  are  now  on  the  stocks.  The  larger 
schooners  cannot  be  navigated  up  Taunton  River, 
owing  to  the  rocks  and  bars,  and  on  their  arrival  at 
Somerset  or  Dighton  their  cargoes  are  relieved  by 
cars  or  lighters.  The  owners  are  anticipating  further 
appropriations  from  Congress  for  improving  the 
channel  to  admit  of  a  portion  of  the  Taunton  fleet. 

The  large  freighting  business  carried  on  by  the 
above  Taunton  fleet,  besides  cargoes  to  and  from  all 
the  large  cities  in  New  England  and  New  York, 
Philadelphia  and  Baltimore,  may  be  stated  by  hun- 
dreds of  thousands  of  tons.  Some  600,000  bushels 
of  grain,  40,000  barrels  of  flour,  200,000  tons  of  coal, 
100,000  tons  of  iron  and  other  metals,  20,000  tons  of 
sand,  10,000  tons  of  other  merchandise,  thousands  of 
bales  of  cotton  and  feet  of  lumber  besides  are  freighted 
here,  while  hundreds  of  thousands  of  dollars'  worth 
of  manufactured  copper,  iron,  ranges,  stoves,  and 
linings,  nails,  tacks,  cotton  fabrics,  brick,  locomotives, 
machinery,  and  other  articles  produced  by  Taunton 
industrial  enterprises  are  conveyed  away  annually  to 
the  large  markets. 


CHAPTER    LXVIII. 

TAUNTON.— ( Continued.) 
CORPORATIONS,  BANKS,  SOCIETIES,  ETC. 

Taunton  Street  Railway  Company  was  organ- 
ized in  1871 ;  capital,  $-40,000.  The  company  has 
over  four  miles  of  track ;  points  of  travel,  Whitten- 
ton  to  Weir  village;  employs  15  men;  has  13  cars 
and  45  horses  ;  runs,  averaging  85,500  miles,  and  car- 
ries 461,000  passengers  a  year;  now  pays  a  dividend 
of  six  per  cent.  It  has  proved  a  great  accommoda- 
tion for  business  men,  for  women,  and  for  hundreds 
of  persons  employed  in  industrial  pursuits.  The 
officers  are  William  C.  Lovering,  president;  H.  M, 
Lovering,  treasurer;  Orville  A.  Barker,  clerk;  and 
George  C.  Morse,  superintendent.  Board  of  Directors, 
1883  :  Henry  G.  Reed,  A.  J.  Barker,  William  C.  Lov- 
ering, William  H.  Phillips,  Henry  M.  Lovering,  P.I. 


TAUNTON. 


841 


Perrin,  H.  W.  Church,  Charles  Foster,  N.  H.  Skin- 
ner, S.  N.  Staples. 

Taunton  Gas-Light  Company. — Organized  March 
1,  1853.  Capital,  $45,000.  Directors,  Gardner  War- 
ren, Samuel  L.  Crocker,  W.  W.  Fairbanks,  Albert 
Field,  H.  B.  Witherell,  William  Mason,  Lovett 
Morse;  Philip  E.  Hill,  clerk.  Dec.  1,  1853,  capital 
increased  to  $60,000,  and  in  1872  to  $80,000.  Direc- 
tors, 1855,  Willard  Lovering,  Lovett  Morse,  William 
Mason,  H.  B.  Witherell,  W.  W.  Fairbanks,  William 
Meade,  Jr.,  Albert  Field ;  Edwin  Keith,  clerk  and 
treasurer.  1856,  James  H.  Anthony,  elected  in  place 
of  Lovett  Morse ;  1857,  F.  S.  Monroe,  in  place  of 
H.  B.  Witherell ;  1858,  W.  B.  Crandell,  in  place  of 
Willard  Lovering;  1860,  John  E.  San  ford,  in  place 
of  William  B.  Crandell ;  1862,  Salmon  Washburn,  in 
place  of  W.  W.  Fairbanks  ;  1869,  George  A.  Field, 
in  place  of  Albert  Field  ;  1879,  William  E.  Fuller, 
in  place  of  F.  S.  Monroe  ;  1882,  Z.  Sherman  and  Ed- 
ward Mott,  in  place  of  William  E.  Fuller  and  George 
A.  Field. 

W.  W.  Fairbanks,  president  from  1853  to  1855 ; 
Albert  Field,  from  1855  to  1869;  John  E.  Sanford, 
from  1869  to  the  present  time.  William  Meade, 
clerk  from  1856  to  1869  ;  Edwin  Keith,  from  1869  till 
death,  1882.  Edwin  Keith,  agent  and  treasurer  from 
1855  till  death,  1882;  Henry  B.  Leach,  agent,  treas- 
urer, and  clerk,  1882,  at  present  time. 

The  Taunton  National  Bank.— The  Taunton 
Bank  was  incorporated  June  23,  1812,  with  a  capital 
of  $100,000.  There  was  a  provision  in  the  charter 
that  "one-tenth  part  of  the  whole  funds  of  said  bank 
shall  always  be  appropriated  to  loans  to  be  made  to 
citizens  of  this  commonwealth,  and  wherein  the  di- 
rectors shall  wholly  or  exclusively  regard  the  agricul- 
tural and  manufacturing  interest ;  which  loans  shall 
be  made  in  sums  not  less  than  one  hundred  dollars, 
nor  more  than  five  hundred  dollars,  and  upon  the 
personal  bond  of  the  borrower  with  collateral  security 
by  mortgage  of  real  estate  to  the  satisfaction  of  the 
directors,  for  a  term  not  less  than  one  year,  and  on 
condition  of  paying  the  interest  annually  on  such 
loan,  subject  to  such  forfeitures  and  rights  of  redemp- 
tion as  by  law  provided  in  other  cases." 

The  first  board  of  directors  and  corporators  were 
as  follows :  Simeon  Tisdale,  Samuel  Fales,  Joseph 
Tisdale,  Samuel  Crocker,  Eliphalet  Williams,  Job 
Godfrey,  Jr.,  Marcus  Morton,  John  West,  James  L. 
Hodges,  Nicholas  Tillinghast,  John  Presbrey,  Jona- 
than Ingell.  Samuel  Fales  was  elected  president, 
James  L.  Hodges,  cashier. 

The  next  board  of  directors  we  can  trace  was  elected 
in  October,  1820,  viz.,  Jonathan  Ingell,  Thomas  Sar- 
geant  Baylies,  Samuel  Crocker,  John  West,  Job  God- 
frey, Marcus  Morton,  Francis  Baylies,  Robert  Dean, 
Silas  Shepard,  Galen  Hicks.  Jonathan  Ingell,  presi- 
dent, and  James  L.  Hodges,  cashier. 

The  same  board  of  directors  were  elected  in  1821. 
Silas  Shepard  declined.     In  1822  the  board  was  re- 


elected except  Robert  Dean,  who  died  May  previous, 
and  Laban  Wheaton,  of  Norton,  was  elected  to  the 
vacancy.  The  records  from  1822  to  1827  are  missing. 
The  banking  capital  has  been  increased  several  times 
from  $100,000  to  its  present  capital,  $600,000.  In 
1865  the  bank  was  reorganized  as  the  Taunton  Na- 
tional bank. 

Directors. — Directors  elected  in  October,  1827.  How 
long  they  had  served  prior  to  this  election  cannot  be 
easily  determined.  John  West,  died  in  December, 
1827  ;  Job  Godfrey,  served  until  1831 ;  Marcus  Mor- 
ton, served  until  1835;  Francis  Baylies,  served  until 
1830 ;  William  Reed,  served  until  1831  ;  Daniel 
Brewer,  served  until  1837;  Nathaniel  Wheeler, 
served  until  1830;  Benjamin  Ingell,  served  until 
1833 ;  Samuel  Crocker,  served  until  1837 ;  Abiathar 
Williams,  December,  1827,  until  1838  ;  William  Bay- 
lies (of  Bridgewater),  October,  1830,  until  1831 ;  D. 
G.  W.  Cobb"  October,  1830,  until  1832;  John  M. 
Williams,  1828  until  1830;  Nathaniel  Crandell,  Oc- 
tober, 1830,  until  1838 ;  George  A.  Crocker,  October, 
1831,  until  1838;  Abizer  Dean,  October,  1831,  died 
1835;  Anselm  Bassett,  October,  1832,  until  1840; 
Thomas  J.  Coggeshall,1  October,  1833,  until  1838; 
James  M.  Williams,  October,  1835,  until  1838; 
Charles  Babbitt,  October,  1837,  until  1838;  Ellis 
Hall  (of  Raynham),  October,  1837,  until  1866;  Enos 
W.  Dean,  October,  1837,  until  1845;  Samuel  B.King, 
October,  1838,  until  1840;  Galen  Hicks,  October, 
1838,  until  1840;  Stephen  Rhodes,  Jr.,  October, 
1838,  until  1851 ;  Charles  Robinson  (of  Raynham), 
October,  1838,  until  1840;  John  Walker  (of  Digh- 
ton),  October,  1838,  until  1850;  Abraham  Gushee  (of 
Raynham),  October,  1840,  until  1848;  Edmund  Bay- 
lies, October,  1840,  until  1841;  Matthew  Briggs  (2d) 
(of  Dighton),  October,  1840,  until  1849;  Simeon  Wil- 
liams, October,  1840,  until  1846  ;  Lovett  Morse,  Octo- 
ber, 1841,  until  1845,  again  October,  1849,  to  1850,  again 
1851  to  1869;  Elkanah  Andrews,  October,  1841,  until 
1845;  Andrew  H.  Hall,  October,  1843,  until  1851; 
Charles  R.  Vickery,  October,  1845,  until  May,  1849; 
Charles  F.  Davenport,  October,  1845,  died  1847; 
Allen  Presbrey,  October,  1846,  died  1879;  Thompson 
Newbury,  October,  1847,  until  February,  1849 ;  Na- 
thaniel Newcomb  (of  Norton),  October,  1848,  until 
1850,  again  in  1851  to  1861 ;  George  M.  Woodward,1 
February,  1849,  until  present  time  (senior  director  in 
office) ;  Charles  L.  Babbitt,  June,  1849,  until  1861 ; 
James  M.  Williams,  October,  1850,  until  1851 ;  Philip 
E.  Hill  (of  Bridgewater),  October,  1850,  until  1877; 
William  R.  Davenport,  October,  1850,  died  1874; 
Thompson  Newbrey,  October,  1851,  until  1861 ;  Henry 
G.  Reed,1  October,  1851,  until  present  time ;  Samuel  C. 
West,  October,  1861,  until  1863;  John  S.  Brayton1  (of 
Fall  River),  October,  1861,  until  1863;  Chester  I.  Reed, 
October,  i863,  until  1865 ;  Henry  W.  Morse,1  Octo- 
ber, 1863,  until  1869;  William  Mason,1  May,  1865, 

i  Surviving  members  of  the  board  of  directors. 


842 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


until  present  time;  Harrison  Tweed,1  January,  1866, 
until  present  time  ;  Calvin  Kingman,1  January,  1866, 
died  1867  ;  John  E.  San  ford,1  January,  1866,  until 
present  time;  Thompson  Newbury,1  January,  1866, 
until  present  time ;  George  A.  Field,1  January,  1868, 
until  1879;  C.  J.  H.  Bassett,1  January,  1869,  until 
present  time;  Charles  F.  Johnson,1  February,  1869, 
until  present  time;  Frederic  L.  Ames1  (of  North 
Eastern),  January,  1875,  until  present  time;  Nathan 
H.  Skinner,1  January,  1882,  until  present  time ;  Mar- 
cus M.  Rhodes,1  January,  1882,  until  present  time. 
All  of  Taunton  except  towns  indicated. 

Presidents,  from  1812  to  1883.— Samuel  Fales,  1812 
-18  ;  Jonathan  Ingell,  1818-28  ;  Samuel  Crocker,  1828 
-37 ;  James  M.  Williams,  August,  1837,  to  October, 
1838 ;  Samuel  B.  King,  October,  1838,  to  March,  1840  ; 
Ellis  Hall  (of  Raynham),  March,  1840,  to  1846;  Ste- 
phen Rhodes,  Jr.,  October,  1846,  to  1851 ;  Lovett 
Morse,  October,  1851,  to  1869;  C.  J.  H.  Bassett,  Jan- 
uary, 1869,  to  present  time. 

Cashiers,  from  1812  to  1883. — James  L.  Hodges, 
from  1812  until  1827;  Samuel  B.  King,  1827  until 
October,  1838 ;  C.  J.  H.  Bassett,  October,  1838,  until 
April,  1853;  Charles  0.  Vickery,  April,  1853,  died 
same  year;  C.  J.  H.  Bassett,  October,  1853,  until 
January,  1869 ;  George  W.  Andros,  February,  1869, 
to  the  present  time. 

Bristol  County  National  Bank.  — The  Bristol 
County  Bank  was  incorporated  in  1832,  commenced 
business  in  January,  1833  ;  capital  of  $100,000  ;  capi- 
tal increased  in  1836  to  $200,000  ;  in  1853,  to  $250,000  ; 
in  1854,  to  $350,000 ;  and  in  1861  to  $500,000. 

Organized  as  the  Bristol  County  National  Bank  in 
1865,  being  the  first  with  a  national  charter  in  this 
city. 

The  following  is  the  list  of  directors,  presidents, 
and  cashiers  from  the  organization  of  the  bank  to  the 
present  time  (1883) : 

Charles  Richmond,  April,  1832,  until  1837  ;  Na- 
than Lazell,  Jr.,  April,  1832,  until  1835 ;  William  A. 
Crocker,  April,  1832,  until  1852;  Peter  H.  Pierce, 
April,  1832,  until  1836 ;  Samuel  L.  Crocker,  April, 
1832,  until  1846;  Artemas  Hale,  April,  1832,  until 
1847,  again  from  1853  until  1863;  Charles  Babbitt, 
April,  1832,  until  1833;  Jesse  B.  Smith,  April,  1832, 
until  1855;  Sylvanus  L.  Mitchell,  April,  1832,  until 
1836;  Philander  Washburn,  1833-47;  Barney  Dean, 
1833-39;  Horatio  Pratt,  1833-40;  Jesse  Hartshorn, 
1833-43;  Nahum  Stetson,  1835-38,  1839-53;  Benja- 
min B.  Howard,  1836-41, 1843-47  ;  Oakes  Ames,  1836 
-38;  Francis  Williams,  1837-38;  Willard  Lovering, 
1840-42;  Robert  S.  Dean,2  1841-43,  1849-51 ;  Charles 
Porter,  1842-45  ;  Henry  Washburn,  1843-44 ;  Horatio 
L.  Danforth,  1844-48  ;  James  W.  Crossman,  1845-50 ; 
Samuel  B.  King,  1846-48 ;  W.  W.  Fairbanks,  1847- 
56 ;  Lovett  Morse,  1848-49 ;  F.  S.  Monroe',  1848-65 ; 
James  M.  Williams,  1848-49;  H.  M.  Pool,  1848-51, 

1  Surviving  members  of  the  board  of  directors. 


1852-62  ;  H.  W.  Church,2 1849-83  ;  Elisha  T.  Wilson, 
1850-51;  Theodore  Dean,2  1851-83;  Edwin  Keith, 
1851-82 ;  Cromwell  Leonard,  1851-64 ;  Salmon  Wash- 
burn,2 1855-76;  Charles  Foster,2  1856-65,  1876-83; 
Oliver  Ames,  Sr.,  1862-77;  Albert  Field,  1863-70; 
Laban  M.  Wheaton,  1864;  James  H.  Anthony,2  1865 
-83;  Sylvanus  N.  Staples,2  1865-83;  William  La- 
tham,2 1865-76;  N.  Bradford  Dean,2  1870-79  ;  Josiah 
L.  Bassett,2  1876  ;  William  O.  Snow,2 1879-83  ;  Oliver 
Ames,2 1877-83;  Joseph  E.  Wilbar,2  1882-83. 

Presidents.— William  A.  Crocker,  1832-52  ;  Nahum 
Stetson,2  1852-53  ;  Theodore  Dean,2  1853-83. 

Cashiers.— Golden  Dearth,  1832-35;  William  Mueu- 
scher,  1835-57;  William  Brewster,2  1857-69;  A.  C. 
Place,2 1869-81 ;  S.  L.  Cushman,2  1881-83. 

The  Machinists'  Bank  of  Taunton  was  organ- 
ized in  1847  with  a  capital  of  one  hundred  thousand 
dollars ;  increased  in  1853  to  one  hundred  and  fifty 
thousand  dollars,  and  in  1854  to  two  hundred  thou- 
sand dollars.  On  the  4th  of  March,  1865,  it  was  or- 
ganized as  The  Machinists'  National  Bank  of 
Taunton.     The  officers  have  been  as  follows  : 

Presidents. — William  Mason,  June  2,  1847,  to  Oct. 
6,  1857  ;  Marcus  Morton,  Oct.  6,  1857,  to  his  death, 
Feb.  6,  1864;  James  P.  Ellis,  Feb.  11,  1864,  to  Oct. 
4,  1864;  Charles  R.  Vickery,  Oct.  4,  1864,  to  his 
death,  Jan.  12,  1883  ;  Edward  King,  Jan.  12,  1883,  at 
present. 

Cashiers. — Edward  R.  Anthony,  June  23,  1847,  to 
April  23,  1849 ;  Charles  R.  Vickery,  April  23,  1849, 
to  Oct.  4,  1864 ;  Benjamin  Church  Vickery,  Oct.  4, 
1864,  to  his  death,  Feb.  5,  1876  ;  Edward  King,  Feb. 
11,  1876,  to  Jan.  12,  1883;  William  C.  Davenport, 
Jan.  12,  1883,  at  present. 

Directors.— H.  W.  Church,  May,  1847,  to  Oct.  2, 
1847;  Jesse  Hartshorn,  May,  1847,  to  Oct.  8,  1850; 3 
George  B.  Hood,  May,  1847  ;3  C.  T.  James,  May, 
1847  ; 3  Cyrus  Lothrop  (2d),  May,  1847,  to  Oct.  2, 1847  ; 
Willard  Lovering,  May,  1847,  to  Oct.  6,  1857  ;3  Na- 
thaniel Morton,  May,  1847,  to  Oct,  7, 1856  ;3  William 
Mason,  May,  1847,  to  Oct.  6,  1857 ;  Simeon  Presbrey, 
May,  1847,  to  Oct.  5,  1852 ; 3  Horatio  Pratt,  May,  1847, 
to  Oct.  5,  1858  ; 3  Isaac  Pierce,  May,  1847  ;3  Samuel  C. 
West,  May,  1847,  to  Oct.  2,  1847 ; 3  Albert  Barrows, 
Oct.  2,  1847 ;  Artemas  Briggs,  Oct.  2,  1847,  to  his 
death,  May  23,  1876 ;  A.  J.  Barker,  Oct.  2,  1847,  to 
Jan.  13,  1880;  Edmund  H.  Bennett,  Oct.  5,  1858,  at 
present;3  Marcus  Morton,  Oct.  5,  1858,  to  his  death, 
Feb.  6,  1864  ;3  Horace  Lewis,  Oct.  5,  1858,  to  his 
death,  May  4,  1876;  Nathan  Rand,  Oct.  5,  1858,  to 
Oct.  4,  1864; 3  Thomas  R.  Drake,  Oct.  5,  1858,  to  his 
death,  May  13,  1873  ;3  George  B.  Atwood,  Oct.  4, 
1859,  to  his  death,  Aug.  4,  1874;  James  P.  Ellis,  Oct. 
4,  1859,  to  his  death,  Jan.  12, 1875  ; 3  Charles  R.  Vick- 


2  Indicates  surviving  officers,  the  senior,  H.  W.  Church,  having  served 
thirty-four  years;  Theodore  Dean,  thirty-two  years,  and  thirty  as 
president;  James  H.  Anthony  and  S.  N.  Staples,  eighteen  years  each; 
Charles  Foster,  sixteen  years;  others  from  nine  years  to  one  year. 

3  Deceased. 


TAUNTON. 


843 


ery,  Oct.  4,  1864,  to  his  death,  Jan.  12,  1883  ;  Cha'rles 
L.  Lovering,  Oct.  4,  1864,  to  Jan.  8,  1867  ;  Samuel 
Colby,  Jan.  8,  1867,  to  his  death,  Dec.  13,  1876  ;  B. 
Church  Vickery,  Jan.  13,  1874,  to  his  death,  Feb.  5, 
1876  ;  Samuel  L.  Crocker,  Jan.  9,  1877,  to  his  death, 
Feb.  10,  1883. 

Present  Directors. — Edmund  H.  Bennett,  Oct.  5, 
1858;  Albert  Alden,  Jan.  9,  1877  ;  Nathan  Wilmarth, 
Jan.  9, 1877 ;  Lemuel  L.  White,  Jan.  9, 1877  ;  Zaccheus 
Sherman,  Jan.  13,  1880;  Edward  King,  Jan.  12, 
1883;  Wm.  H.  Bent,  Feb.  26,  1883. 

The  Cohannet  Bank  was  incorporated  in  1829,  and 
went  into  operation  in  May,  1831,  with  the  following 
directors:  John  Mason  Williams,  Daniel  Wilmarth, 
Jr.,  William  Reed,  Henry  Washburn,  William  A.  F. 
Sproat,  William  Hodges,  James  W.  Crossman,  Benja- 
min Ingell,  Frederick  Crafts.  John  M.  Williams  was 
president,  and  Hiram  M.  Barney  cashier.  The  bank 
continued  in  operation  until  after  the  failures  of  1837 
-42,  and  was  compelled  to  close  business.  James  W. 
Crossman  and  William  A.  F.  Sproat  were  afterwards 
presidents,  and  the  latter  was  cashier  after  Mr.  Barney 
resigned. 

Bristol  County  Savings-Bank  was  organized  by 
an  act  of  incorporation  March  2,  1846.  Presidents, 
Silas  Shepard,  May  9, 1846,  to  January,  1865;  Joseph 
Wilbar,  Jan.  2,  1865,  to  January,  1882;  Joseph  E. 
Wilbar,  January,  1882,  to  present  time.  Vice-Presi- 
dents, Charles  R.  Vickery,  Jan.  1,  1877,  to  January, 
1883;  William  H.  Fox,  March  26,  1883,  to  present 
time.  Treasurers,  George  B.  Atwood,  May  16,  1846, 
to  January,  1872;  Charles  H.  Atwood,  Jan.  1,  1872, 
to  January,  1881 ;  Alfred  C.  Place,  Jan.  24,  1881,  to 
present  time.  Trustees,  first  board  and  incorporators, 
Joseph  Wilbar,  Stephen  Rhodes,  Jr.,  Horatio  Gilbert, 
Hezekiah  W.  Church,1  Horatio  Pratt,  Lovett  Morse, 
Sydney  Williams,  Allen  Presbrey,  Charles  R.  Vickery, 
Charles  F.  Davenport,  Samuel  L.  Crocker,  George  A. 
Crocker,  William  A.  Crocker,  Nathaniel  Morton. 
Present  board  (1883),  James  H.  Anthony,  Timothy 
Gordon,  Charles  Foster,  Anson  J.  Barker,  Joseph  E. 
Wilbar,  E.  Maltby  Reed,  R.  Henry  Hall,  Zaccheus 
Sherman,  Hezekiah  W.  Church,  William  H.  Fox, 
Philander  Williams,  Thomas  J.  Lothrop,  Silas  D. 
Presbrey,  Ezra  Davol. 

Taunton  Savings-Bank  was  organized  in  1869, 
with  the  following  members:  Willard  Lovering, 
Lovett  Morse,  Henry  G.  Reed,  C.  J.  H.  Bassett,  A. 
K.  Williams,  Ezra  Davol,  R.  S.  Dean,  F.  B.  Dean, 
H.  C.  Perry,  N.  S.  Hoard,  Edward  Mott,  Saul  W. 
Eddy,  P.  I.  Perrin. 

Presidents,  Willard  Lovering,  from  1869  until  his 
death  (1875) ;  John  E.  Sanford,  his  successor  and 
still  president;  Vice-President,  Charles  L.  Lovering; 
Treasurer,  Henry  R.  Wood,  from  its  organization  to 
present  time;  Trustees  (1883),  George  W.  Andros, 
William  H.  Bent,  L.  B.  Church,  William  E.  Fuller, 

1  All  deceased  but  one. 


N.  S.  Hoard,  E.  T.  Jackson,  Charles  L.  Lovering, 
William  F.  Maeomber,  Edward  Mott,  P.  I.  Perrin,  O. 
S.  Paige,  Nonius  Paige,  E.  H.  Reed,  Henry  G.  Reed, 
John  E.  Sanford,  N.  H.  Skinner,  S.  N.  Staples,  D.  A. 
Trefethen,  George  A.'  Washburn,  A.  K.  Williams, 
'  George  M.  Woodward. 

William  H.  Bartlett  Post  3,  G.  A.  R— Post  3  was 
organized  Jan.  2,  1867,  with  the  following  charter 
members:  Robert  Crossman  (2d),  Orville  A.  Barker, 
B.  F.  Cunningham,  Lowell  Maxim,  L.  O.  Barnard,2 
Alfred  B.  Hodges,  Henry  D.  White,  Alfred  M.  Wil- 
liams, E.  W.  Crossman,2  Z.  Sherman. 

The  commanders  in  rotation  have  been  Robert 
Crossman-  (2d),  Mason  W.  Burt,  Edgar  R.  Sprague, 
Alfred  M.  Williams,  Harrie  A.  Cushman,  Abner 
Coleman,  George  E.  Dean,  Charles  H.  Orchard, 
Henry  D.  White,  George  H.  Babbitt,  Jr.,2  William 
Watts,  David  H.  Cahoon,  Alfred  B.  Hodges,  Charles 
S.  Anthony,  T.  C.  Lucas,  J.  W.  Brewer,  the  present 
incumbent. 

The  object  of  the  organization  is  to  create  a  more 
fraternal  feeling  among  those  who  fought  side  by  side 
in  the  late  rebellion,  and  help  their  disabled  com- 
rades and  their  families  who  are  left  dependent  upon 
them  for  support. 

The  amount  paid  out  for  relief  of  members  and 
their  families  since  the  Post  was  organized  aggregates 
eleven  thousand  five  hundred  and  seventy-six  dol- 
lars. 

The  number  of  members  in  good  standing  at  the 
present  time  is  one  hundred  and  seventy. 

The  number  of  members  who  have  died  since  the 
Post  was  organized,  thirty. 

Masonic. — Taunton  Council  of  Select  and  Royal 
Masters. 

St.  Mark's  Royal  Arch  Chapter. 

King  David's  Lodge,  instituted  July,  1796. 

Alfred  Baylies  Lodge,  instituted  1866. 

Ionic  Lodge,  instituted  Dec.  18,  1867. 

Charles  H.  Titus  Lodge. 

Southern  Massachusetts  Masonic  Mutual  Relief 
Association.  President,  Edward  Mott ;  Vice-Presi- 
dent, Z.  Sherman  ;  Secretary,  George  F.  Pratt ;  Treas- 
urer, Alfred  C.  Place. 

Independent  Order  of  Odd-Fellows. —  King 
Philip  Lodge,  No.  44,  instituted  July  29,  1844. 

Naomi  Encampment,  No.  14,  instituted  March  30, 
1846. 

Good  Samaritan  Lodge,  No.  19,  reinstituted  Feb. 

22,  1877. 

Daughters  of  Rebecca. 

Knights  of  Pythias.— John  Hancock  Lodge,  No. 
40,  instituted  June  1,  1870. 

Eclecticism  and  Eclectics  in  Taunton. —  It 
may  seem  uncalled  for  to  define  the  principles  of 
eclecticism,  for  they  have  been  before  the  public  for 
three-fourths  of  a  century,  still  many  inquire  how  it 


2  Deceased. 


844 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


differs  from  other  systems  of  medicine  and  what  was 
the  occasion  of  its  existence.  These  questions  we 
will  briefly  answer. 

Early  in  the  present  century  there  was  a  wide- 
spread dissatisfaction  with  the  prevalent  "heroic 
treatment"  of  disease.  The  medical  practice  of  that 
day  consisted  largely  in  the  free  use  of  mercurials, 
drastic  purgatives,  blisters,  almost  indiscriminate 
venesection,  and  other  measures  calculated  to  depress 
the  vital  forces.  In  1825,  Samuel  Thompson  advanced 
the  theory  that  stimulants  and  relaxants  were  the 
true  agents  for  the  expulsion  of  disease.  Five  years 
later,  Dr.  Wooster  Beach  published  an  elaborate  work 
called  the  "  American  System  of  Medicine,"  sharply 
criticising  the  system  of  depletion  and  introducing 
many  new  remedies,  mostly  American  plants.  Copies 
of  his  work  were  presented  to  several  sovereigns  of 
Europe.  He  received  in  return  medals  struck  in 
honor  of  Dr.  Beach,  and  testimonials  eulogistic  of  the 
reformed  practice. 

In  1836,  a  college  of  reformed  medicine  was  in- 
augurated in  Ohio,  and  in  1845  a  similar  institution 
was  chartered  and  built  in  Worcester,  Mass.  At  a 
meeting  of  the  trustees  of  this  institution  the  name 
"  eclectic"  was  chosen  as  appropriate  to  the  new 
school  of  medicine.  Dr.  J.  S.  Andrews,  now  of 
Taunton,  was  then  a  member  of  this  board. 

There  are  now  in  the  United  States  six  eclectic 
medical  schools,  twice  as  many  State  societies,  a  score 
of  medical  journals,  and  a  literature  embracing  works 
on  all  the  branches  of  medicine.  In  therapeutics 
especially  eclecticism  has  added  largely  to  the  medi- 
cal knowledge  of  the  world. 

One  of  the  earliest  standard-bearers  of  eclecticism 
in  Taunton  was  Dr.  S.  P.  Hubbard,  who  has  a  large 
and  Avell-established  practice.  About  1860  Dr.  Paul 
W.  Allen  entered  upon  an  extensive  and  lucrative 
practice  in  this  city.  He  gave  it  up  to  accept  a  pro- 
fessorship in  New  York  College,  and  was  succeeded 
by  Dr.  J.  S.  Andrews.  Dr.  Andrews  was  at  one  time 
president  of  the  Massachusetts  Eclectic  Medical  So- 
ciety, an  association  of  physicians  if  less  in  numbers 
yet  equal  in  intellectual  acquirements  and  profes- 
sional standing  to  any  in  the  country. 


CHAPTER    LXIX. 
TAUNTON.— ( Continued.) 

Taunton  in  the  War  of  tho  Revolution— The  War  of  1812-15— Taunton 
Companies  and  Men  in  tho  Rebellion. 

Taunton  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution.— It  has 
always  been  known  that  one  of  the  "signers  of  the 
Declaration  of  Independence"  was  a  Taunton  man, 
Robert  Treat  Paine  ;  but  long  before  that  "  Declara- 
tion" Taunton  had  a  record  which  is  highly  credit- 
able to  her  patriotism  and  valor,  and  more  than  one 
man  was  ready  to  sign  that  "  Declaration"  and  stand 


to  it.  Fortunately,  "the  attic  of  Samuel  Godfrey," 
grandson  of  Brig.-Gen.  George  Godfrey,  was  a  safe 
repository  of  valuable  papers,  which  came  into  pos- 
session of  Mr.  Edgar  H.  Reed,  from  which  we  are 
permitted  to  draw  information  concerning  a  por- 
tion of  Taunton's  share  in  the  work  of  the  Revolution. 

"  At  a  meeting  of  the  commissioned  officers  of  the 
East  division  of  the  militia  of  Bristol  County  held  in 
Norton,  Nov.  9,  1774,  George  Godfrey  of  Taunton 
was  chosen  Colonel — George  Williams,  Lieutenant 
Colonel — Nathaniel  Leonard,  1st  major,  Zephaniah 
Keith,  2d  major.  This  Division  contained  the  com- 
panies from  Taunton,  Raynham  and  Easton.  The 
captains  of  the  various  companies  were  as  follows: 
Taunton,  Capt.  Nathaniel  Leonard,  Capt.  Simeon 
Williams,  Capt.  John  Reed,  Capt.  Cornelius  White, 
Capt.  James  Leonard,  Capt.  Israel  Dean,  2d,  Capt. 
Ebenezer  Dean." 

"  On  monday,  ye  21st  day  of  Nov.  1774,  the  East 
Division  of  the  third  Regiment  in  ye  county  of  Bris- 
tol, met  at  Taunton  and  drawed  up  in  a  Battalion  in 
Capt.  Thomas  Cobb's  shed  Lot  so  called,  by  ye  Adju- 
tant Major  Abijah  Hodges,  in  manner  hereafter  de- 
scribed, vis :  Ye  field  officers  came  in  on  the  right 
wing,  vis,  George  Godfrey  next  to  the  Battalion  and 
George  Williams  on  ye  right,  N.  Leonard  on  ye  left 
and  Z.  Keith  on  ye  right  and  so  marchd  round  sd 
Battalion  until  we  came  to  ye  centre — 3  of  sd  Field 
officers  with  their  hats  under  ye  arm  and  G.  Godfrey, 
his  hat  on  and  paid  his  compliments  to  each  cap- 
tain." 

The  citizens  of  Taunton  appointed  an  important 
committee,  called  "  a  Committee  of  Inspection  and 
Correspondence,"  July  3,  1775,  whose  duty  it  was  to 
promote  the  general  safety,  and  that  of  Taunton  in 
particular,  and,  fortunately,  when  the  fire  of  1838 
consumed  almost  everything  else  in  the  town  clerk's 
custody  the  records  of  this  committee  escaped.  From 
these  records  we  make  liberal  extracts. 

"  At  a  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  ot 
Taunton  on  Monday,  July  3,  1775,  said  town  made 
choice  of  George  Godfrey,  Esq.,  Capt.  Henry  Hodges, 
Lieut.  Solomon  Dean,  Maj.  Richard  Godfrey,  Capt. 
Simeon  Williams,  Insign  Ichabod  Leonard,  James 
Williams,  Jr.,  Lieut.  Elisha  Barney,  Lieut.  William 
Thayer,  Lieut.  Ebenezer  Cobb,  Mr.  Elijah  Lincoln, 
Lieut.  Benjamin  Dean,  Jr.,  Dr.  David  Cobb,  Mr. 
Nicholas  Baylies,  Mr.  John  Adam,  Benjamin  Wil- 
liams, Esq.,  Mr.  Josiah  Crocker,  Col.  George  Wil- 
liams, Robert  Luscomb,  Esq.,  Lieut.  Edward  Blake, 
and  Mr.  John  Keene  as  a  committee  of  inspection 
and  correspondence  for  said  town,  and  any  seven  to 
make  a  quorum. 

"This  committee  met  on  Monday,  July  10,  1775, 
and  made  choice  of  James  Williams,  Jr.,  for  their 
clerk.  Mr.  Nicholas  Baylies,  Col.  George  Williams, 
and  Capt.  John  Reed  were  chosen  a  committee  to 
take  into  their  care  the  effects  and  estate  of  Daniel 
Leonard,  Esq.,   lying  in  Taunton,  who  has  fled  for 


TAUNTON. 


845 


protection  to   Boston,  said  committee  to  improve  or 
let  the  same  to  the  best  advantage,  and  render  a  true 
account  of  the  profits  arising  therefrom  to  this  com- 
mittee, or  any  other  committee  of  correspondence  of 
this  town  that  shall  be  chosen  for  that  purpose. 

"  Voted,  that  George  Godfrey,  Esq.,  Capt.  Simeon 
Williams,  and  Col.  George  Williams  be  a  committee 
to  take  into  their  custody  the  pork  and  grain  now  in 
the  store  of  Dr:  McKinstry,  and  send  the  same  to  the 
army  as  soon  as  may  be,  and  take  an  account  of  the 
same  and  keep  an  account  of  the  cost  of  transpor- 
tation." 

Daniel  Leonard  and  Dr.  McKinstry  were  such  no- 
torious Tories  that  Taunton  was  not  considered  a  safe 
place  for  them,  and  they  took  refuge  in  Boston. 
Thomas  Gilbert  was  another,  or,  as  Gen.  George  God- 
frey styles  him,  "  the  notorious  Torie  Gilbert."  He 
considered  it  prudent  to  leave  Taunton. 

The  Committee  of  Inspection  and  Correspondence 
held  frequent  meetings,  and  had  much  business  on 
hand.  "  March  18, 1776,  the  committee  met  and  pro- 
ceeded as  follows,  viz.  : 

"  In  committee,  March  8,  1776,  Nathaniel  Bird,  a 
shop-keeper  in  this  town,  being  convicted  for  refusing 
paper  currency  in  his  payments,  the  committee  re- 
solved to  publish  him  to  the  world  agreeable  to  the 
order  of  the  Continental  Congress,  but  said  Bird  soon 
after  applied  to  the  committee,  desiring  their  par- 
don for  his  crime,  and  promising  reformation  for  the 
future.  They  therefore  have  stopped  all  proceedings 
against  him,  and  recommend  him  for  the  future  to 
the  good  opinion  of  the  Continental  Congress  on  the 
signing  the  following  paper."  Which  paper  is  given 
at  length  and  embodied  Nathaniel  Bird's  contrition 
for  his  offense  and  promise  of  amendment. 

The  report  that  eight  hundred  British  soldiers  had 
marched  from  Boston  on  the  night  of  April  18,  1775, 
by,  order  of  Gen.  Gage,  under  Maj.  Pitcairn,  to  Con- 
cord, to  destroy  the  military  stores  deposited  there, 
and  the  firing  upon  a  company  of  American  soldiers 
at  Lexington  on  their  way,  on  the  morning  of  the 
19th,  and  killing  eight  men,  spread  rapidly  over  Mas- 
sachusetts by  couriers  (they  had  no  telegraphs  or  tel- 
ephones in  those  days).  It  was  the  first  blood  shed 
in  the  Revolution,  and  it  aroused  the  people  to  arm 
fully  for  their  defense.  The  news  arrived  in  Taunton 
on  the  evening  of  the  19th,  and  Capt.  James  Williams 
rallied  a  company  and  was  on  the  march  in  a  few 
hours,  arriving  at  Roxbury  on  the  morning  of  the 
20th,  and  reported  for  duty.  His  lieutenant  was  Jo- 
siah  King;  Abial  Macomber,  ensign;  John  Shaw, 
John  Hall,  Abiathar  Hathaway,  and  Daniel  Briggs, 
sergeants;  Eben  Sumner,  drummer;  Eben  Pitts,  fifer.  \ 
Privates  Thomas  Andrews,  George  Andrews,  Jacob 
Burt,  Richard  Cobb,  Richard  Caswell,  Job  Caswell, 
John  Caswell,  Asahel  Crossman,  Job  Dean,  Nathan 
Dean,  Ebenezer  Dean,  Micah  Dean,  Abijah  Dean, 
Ebenezer  Dean,  Joseph  Eliot,  George  Eliot,  John 
Godfrey,  Seth  Godfrey,  Peter  Haskins,  George  King, 


Job  King,  Nathan  King,  Elijah  Knapp,  Atherton 
Knapp,  Sylvester  Lincoln,  James  Latham,  Benjamin 
Leach,  Jonathan  Macomber,  Edward  Paul,  Zachariah 
Padelford,  James  Padel ford,  James  Presbro,  Ebenezer 
Robinson  (2d),  Josiah  Robinson,  Gideon  Shaw,  Jo- 
seph Shaw,  Job  Smith,  Jr.,  James  Shaw,  Seth  Staples, 
Eben  Shelly,  A.  Shaw,  Shadrach  Wilbore,  Richard 
Williams,  Thomas  Williams,  Seth  Williams,  Na- 
thaniel Woodward,  of  Taunton  ;  Elijah  Gushee, 
Joshua  Hall,  Hezekiah  Hall,  of  Raynham ;  and  Daniel 
Lane,  of  Norton. 

They  served  twelve  clays,  and  forty  miles  travel  ; 
were  allowed  £1  3s.  M.  each  ;  captain,  £2  10s. ;  lieu- 
tenant, £1  16s.  M. ;  sergeants,  £1  16s. ;  total,  £76  4s. 

Corp.  Seth  Staples  and  Jabez  Carver,  of  Taunton, 
were  in  Capt.  Samuel  Tubbs'  company,  of  Berkley. 

Another  company  was  organized  in  Taunton  for 
Col.  Joseph  Reed's  regiment  in  1775,  the  year  preced- 
ing the  "  Declaration,"  as  follows  : 

Oliver  Soper,  captain;  Simeon  Cobb,  lieutenant; 
Thomas  Williams,  ensign;  Ephraim  Crossman,  George 
Woodward,  John  Richmond,  Rufus  Barney,  sergeants ; 
Job  Hoskins,  William  Williams,  Jonathan  Barney, 
corporals  ;  Joel  Drake,  fifer ;  Simeon  Crossman,  drum- 
mer; Ephraim  Briggs,  Prince  Caswell,  Richard  Cas- 
well, James  Cobb,  Simeon  Cobb,  James  Coggeshall, 
Robert  Davis,  Gideon  Dean,  Asa  Bliss,  Ard  Godfrey, 
Thomas  Graves,  Jacob  Hoskins,  Joel  Harvey,  Elk. 
Hodges,  James  Hodges,  John  Hodges,  Samuel  Hos- 
kins, Timothy  Hoskins,  Rufus  Harney,  Elijah  Leon- 
ard, Sylvester  Leonard,  Nedebiah  Lincoln,  Benja- 
min Leonard,  David  Lincoln,  Ichabod  Macomber, 
Seth  Pollard,  Nathaniel  Potter,  Jacob  Phillips,  Jo- 
siah Reed,  Seth  Richmond,  Benjamin  Richmond,  In- 
crease Robinson,  Abel  Stacy,  John  Smith,  Israel 
Smith,  George  Tisdale,  Benoni  Tisdale,  Zadoc 
Thrasher,  Perez  Thrasher,  Thomas  White,  Isaac 
Washburn,  Silas  Willis,  Benjamin  Woodward,  Na- 
thaniel Woodward,  Seth  Woodward,  Jonathan  Wil- 
liams, Nathan  Wetherell,  privates.  Served  April 
24th,  May  2d  to  August  1st;  averaged  £4  lis.  6d.  ; 
total,  £323  4s.  Ad. 

An  interesting  paper,  which  may  be  called  a  re- 
sponse to  the  "  Declaration  of  Independence,"  was 
recently  discovered  in  the  attic  of  the  late  Henry 
Hodges  Fox,  among  the  relics  left  by  his  ancestor, 
Capt.  Henry  Hodges,  a  prominent  officer  here  a  hun- 
dred years  ago.  It 'is  called  a  "covenant,"  and 
evinces  the  spirit  of  '76  in  Taunton,  as  follows: 

"  We,  the  subscribers,  do  each  of  us  severally  for  our- 
selves profess,  testify,  and  declare,  before  God  and  the 
world,  that  we  verily  believe  that  the  war,  resistance, 
and  opposition  in  which  the  United  American  Colo- 
nies are  now  engaged  against  the  fleets  and  armies  of 
Great  Britain,  is  on  the  part  of  the  said  Colonies  just 
and  necessary.  And  we  do  hereby  severally  promise, 
covenant,  and  engage  to,  and  with  every  person  of  this 
colony  who  has  or  shall  subscribe  this  declaration  or 


846 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


another  of  the  same  tenor  or  words,  that  we  will  not 
during  the  said  war,  directly  or  indirectly,  in  any 
way,  aid,  abet,  or  assist  any  of  the  naval  or  land 
forces  of  the  king  of  Great  Britain,  or  any  employ'd 
by  him,  or  supply  them  with  any  kind  of  provisions, 
military  or  naval  stores,  or  hold  any  correspondence 
with  or  communicate  any  intelligence  to  any  of  the 
officers,  soldiers,  or  marines  belonging  to  the  said 
army  or  navy,  or  inlist  or  procure  any  others  to  in- 
list  into  the  land  or  sea  service  of  Great  Britain,  or 
take  up  or  bear  arms  against  this  or  either  of  the 
United  Colonies,  or  undertake  to  pilot  any  of  the  ves- 
sels belonging  to  the  said  navy,  or  in  any  other  way 
aid  or  assist  them.  But  on  the  contrary,  according 
to  our  best  power  and  abilities,  will  defend  by  arms 
the  United  American  Colonies  and  every  part  thereof 
against  every  hostile  attempt  of  the  fleets  and  armies 
in  the  service  of  Great  Britain,  or  any  of  them,  ac- 
cording to  the  requirements  and  directions  of  the 
laws  of  this  colony  that  now  are  or  may  hereafter  be 
provided  for  the  regulation  of  the  militia  thereof." 

This  document  committed  those  who  signed  it  in  the 
"colony  of  Massachusetts  Bay"  to  the  Declaration  of 
Independence,  and  to  it  are  attached  in  their  own 
handwriting  the  signatures  of  Taunton  men,  as  fol- 
lows :  John  Godfrey,  John  Thayer,  Henry  Hodges, 
Jr.,  Abiathar  Hodges,  James  Hodges,  Jonathan 
Thayer,  Stephen  Haskins,  Jr.,  Luther  Haskins,  John 
Holmes,  Nathaniel  Briggs,  Abel  Burt,  Nedaliah  Lin- 
coln, Aaron  Pratt,  Ben  Washburn,  Timothy  Hodges, 
Nehemiah  Haskins,  Jr.,  William  Haskins  (3d),  Sam- 
uel Haskins,  James  Woodward,  Daniel  Briggs,  David 
Stacey,  Seth  Hodges,  Silas  Axtell,  Thomas  Hodges, 
Morgan  Cobb,  William  Hodges,  Samuel  Torrey, 
Nathaniel  Briggs  (2d),  Jacob  Burt,  Abraham  Burt, 
John  Hodges,  Simeon  Cobb,  David  Burt,  Peter  Has- 
kins, Isaac  Burt,  Isaac  Burt,  Jr.,  Ebenezer  Cobb, 
Levi  Harlow,  James  Codding,  Aaron  Knap,  Gideon 
Hicks,  Moses  Knap,  Edward  Knap,  Abiathar  Knap, 
Ephraim  Knap,  James  Tisdale,  Daniel  Short,  Henry 
Briant,  Nathaniel  Dean,  Abel  Burt,  Loren  Tisdale, 
Benoni  Tisdale,  Simeon  Cobb,  Timothy  Haskins, 
Pelatiah  Estey,  Samuel  Hay  ward,  Jonathan  Harvey, 
Stephen  Haskins,  Philip  Mason,  Samuel  Stacey,  Sam- 
uel Stacey  (2d),  Job  Stacey,  Job  Stacey,  Jr.,  George 
Woodward,  John  Briggs,  Amos  Stacey,  James  Har- 
vey, Ebenezer  AVillis,  John  Willis,  Levi  Torrey,  Na- 
than Dean,  Isaiah  Reed,  Zephaniah  Hodges,  Jona- 
than Barney,  Jacob  Barney,  Nehemiah  Dean,  Samuel 
Gardner,  Benjamin  Williams,  James  Leonard,  Zeph- 
aniah Gary,  Seth  Pollard,-  Joseph  Harvey,  Rufus 
Leonard,  Oliver  Dean,  Enos  Dean,  George  Reed,  Jr., 
Frye  Torrey,  —  eighty-seven  names  in  all.  Some 
names  also  appear  to  have  been  erased.  Whether 
their  courage  failed  them  when  came  the  tug  of  war 
or  what  was  the  reason  we  know  not.  Probably  this 
was  only  one  of  several  papers  for  signatures  which 
has  survived  the  wreck  of  time. 

Immediately  after  the  action  at  Concord  and  Lex- 


ington, April  19, 1775,  the  men  of  Massachusetts  were 
put  under  a  thorough  military  organization.  A  bri- 
gade was  formed  in  Bristol  County,  consisting  of  four 
regiments,  and  placed  under  the  command  of  Brig.- 
Gen.  George  Godfrey,  of  Taunton.  The  Third  Regi- 
ment of  this  brigade  was  raised  mainly  in  Taunton 
and  vicinity,  under  command  of  Col.  George  Wil- 
liams, of  Taunton ;  Lieut.-Col.  Zephaniah  Keith,  of 
Easton  ;  1st  Maj.  Abel  Mitchell,  of  Easton;  2d  Maj. 
James  Williams,  Jr.,  of  Taunton;  Adjt.  William 
Seaver,  of  Taunton.  The  organization  was  perfected 
during  March,  1776.  On  the  12th  of  September  of 
that  year  the  General  Court,  in  compliance  with  a 
recommendation  of  the  Continental  Congress,  had 
ordered  one-fifth  of  the  militia  to  be  drafted,  except 
in  the  remote  counties  and  seaport  towns,  and  when 
organized  to  be  marched  to  New  York. 

The  command  of  the  Massachusetts  troops  was  given 
to  Benjamin  Lincoln,  who  had  been  appointed  major- 
general  May  preceding,  and  in  less  than  three  weeks, 
October,  1776,  Gen.  Lincoln  arrived  in  camp,  West- 
chester County,  with  the  Massachusetts  troops,  in 
which  Taunton  was  represented. 

Adjt.  Seaver  was  detached  from  Col.  Williams' 
regiment  in  a  short  time,  and  assigned  to  the  posi- 
tion of  aide-de-camp  upon  the  staff  of  Gen.  Heath, 
whom  he  had  known  in  Roxbury  prior  to  the  war. 
While  on  duty  at  Westchester  County  Maj.  Seaver 
was  present  at  the  battles  of  White  Plains  and  Chat- 
terton's  Hill,  Oct.  28,  1776.  A  diary  kept  by  him  a 
century  ago  has  recently  been  published,  giving  in- 
teresting details  of  his  camp-life.  He  was  next 
transferred  to  Warren,  R.  I.,  as  brigade  inspector 
upon  the  staff  of  Brig.-Gen.  Godfrey.  He  was  pro- 
moted Aug.  3,  1779,  brigade  major.  His  reports  on 
file  at  the  State-House,  Boston,  show  that  service  was 
performed  by  Taunton  troops  in  Bristol  County 
brigade  in  that  vicinity. 

Returning  from  that  expedition,  Maj.  Seaver  was 
detailed  for  special  duty  in  different  localities,  one  of 
which  was  under  Count  De  Rochambeau  at  New- 
port, in  August,  1780. 

After  the  close  of  the  Revolution,  Maj.  Seaver  con- 
tinued his  connection  with  the  State  military,  and  for 
nearly  thirty  years  was  brigade  inspector  of  Bristol 
and  Plymouth  Counties,  serving  in  that  capacity 
under  Brig.-Gen.  Godfrey,  from  1776  to  1781 ;  Gen. 
James  Williams,  1781  to  1792;  Gen.  Silas  Cobb, 
1792  to  1802 ;  and  Gen.  Thomas  Lincoln,  from  1802 
to  1815.  He  was  the  oldest  son  of  William  Seaver, 
of  Dorchester,  born  May  8,  1748,  at  the  homestead  of 
his  great-grandfather,  Robert  Seaver,  of  Roxbury, 
and  resided  in  Dorchester  till  1772,  when  he  came  to 
Taunton. 

Among  the  Godfrey  papers  referred  to  is  the  fol- 
lowing: "Aug.  8,  1776,  a  list  of  the  soldiers  under 
my  command,  enlisted  by  order  of  the  Council  to 
march  to  Dorchester  Heights,  from  Col.  Williams' 
regiment,  in  the  county  of  Bristol.     Edmund  Rich- 


TAUiNTON. 


847 


mond,  William  Caswell,  Joshua  Staples,  Asa  Dean, 
Noah  Dean,  Philip  Knap,  William  Hay  ward,  Zeb- 
ulon  Field,  Robert  Pray,  Landon  Hood,  Peletiah 
Eddy,  Jr.,  Seth  Gushee,  Nathan  Dean,  Richard  Wil- 
liams, Seth  Richmond,  John  Dean,  Ebenezer  Dean, 
Samuel  Hood,  Samuel  Wild,  Jr.,  Samuel  Dean,  Jon- 
athan Wilbore,  Amariah  Richmond,  Samuel  Padel- 
ford,  Atherton  Knap,  John  Macomber,  Daniel  Keith, 
Jr.,  Abijah  Haskins,  Henry  Horr,  John  Caswell, 
Jacob  Willis,  Bela  Linkon,  Samuel  Codding  (2d),  and 
two  more  belonging  to  Taunton,  'Listed  with  Lieut. 
French.     (Signed)  per  Joshua  Wilbore,  Captain." 

Gen.  Godfrey's  papers  show  that  another  call  was 
made  upon  him  by  the  Council,  Nov.  29,  1776,  for 
one-fourth  part  of  his  men,  who  were  to  march  im- 
mediately to  the  town  of  Fairfield,  Conn.,  to  reinforce 
the  Continental  army  at  or  near  the  State  of  New 
York,  for  the  term  of  three  months. 

The  names  of  the  drafted  soldiers  from  Taunton 
are  given. 

It  appears  from  a  memorandum-book  kept  by  Gen. 
Godfrey  that  he  and  his  whole  brigade,  on  account 
of  what  he  styles  "  the  alarm  at  the  State  of  Rhode 
Island,"  marched  to  Warren,  Dec.  8,  1776,  and  were 
discharged  the  31st  of  the  same  month. 

The  Godfrey  papers  give  a  "  return  of  the  names  of 
the  men  enlisted  from  Capt.  Joshua  Wilbore's  Com- 
pany in  Col.  George  Williams'  Regiment,  with  the 
names  of  the  colonel  and  captain  enlisted  under  to 
the  Continental  service,"  dated  Sept.  2, 1777.  In  the 
spring  of  1778,  Taunton  contributed  toward  "  raising 
troops  to  be  sent  to  Fishkill,  N.  Y.,  to  serve  for  the 
period  of  nine  months." 

A  company  was  enlisted  into  the  service  of  the  United 
States  by  Capt.  Jacob  Haskins,  for  Col.  John  Jacobs' 
regiment  on  duty  in  New  York  for  one  year  from 
Jan.  1,  1778,  as  follows:  Jacob  Haskins,  of  Taunton, 
captain ;  Lieutenants,  Noah  Pratt,  Jacob  French, 
Matthias  McFornan,  Jonathan  Fletcher ;  Sergeants, 
Aaron  Turner,  John  Lawrence,  Jesse  Ellis,  Peter 
Smith,  Benjamin  Fuller,  Elijah  Fuller;  Corporals, 
Jonas  Humphrey,  Daniel  Chickering,  Parker  Earle, 
Increase  Pond,  Samuel  Cushing,  Daniel  Cook ;  Pri- 
vates, John  Smith,  Christopher  Smith,  Asa  Holbrook, 
Zach.  Bimbo,  Samuel  Williams,  Enoch  Darling,  Jere- 
miah Crocker,  William  Fuller,  Joseph  ,  Titus 

Metcalf,  Joel  Cleveland,  Warrick  Greene,  Luther 
Bullard,  Abraham  Crowley,  Isaac  Dagget,  William 
Horton,  Lemuel  Herrin,  Silas  Morse,  William  Seaver,1 
Ellis  Whiting,  Moses  Daggett,  Michael  Clark,  Benja- 
min   ,  Ephraim  Jackson,  Samuel  Hammond, 

Thaddeus  Stowell,  Oliver  Guild,  Isaac  Brown,  Na- 
thaniel Draper,  Nathan  Draper,  John  Dewee. 

Capt.  Haskins  raised  another  company  after  the 
above  for  Col.  John  Hathaway's  regiment,  to  serve 
from  the  13th  of  March  to  April  15,  1779,  as  follows: 
Jacob  Haskins,  of  Taunton,  captain  ;  Abiel  Macom- 

1  He  was  one  of  the  guard  detached  for  duty  at  the  execution  of  Andre. 


ber,  lieutenant;  Sergeants,  Seth  Paull,  Nathaniel 
Snell,  Perez  Drake,  John  McSouth,  Joshua  Staple; 
Corporals,  Nathaniel  Dean,  Edward  Dean,  Philip 
Dean,  Isaac  Hall  ;  Abiel  Hay  ward,  drummer;  Eben- 
ezer Smith,  fifer ;  Privates,  John  Burt,  Elijah  Briggs, 
George  Darby,  Abraham  Dean,  Zebedee  Hackett, 
Joseph  Hall,  Solomon  McSouth,  John  Phillips,  Abel 
Pain,  David  Padelford,  Elijah  Richmond,  Elkanah 
Smith,  Laban  Smith,  James  Williams,  Jr.,  Abiel 
Dean,  Nathan  Hall,  Nehemiah  Leonard,  Elezer  Wil- 
bur, Israel  Jones,  Zadoc  Turner,  Elisha  Garey,  Na- 
thaniel Hall,  John  Bolton,  Peleg  Osborn,  James  Gil- 
more,  John  Shaw,  Lemuel  Briggs. 

Sept.  6,  1778,  the  Council  being  informed  New 
Bedford  was  threatened  by  the  enemy's  ships,  Gen. 
Godfrey  was  called  upon  to  go  to  its  assistance. 

In  the  spring  of  1779  a  regiment  of  nine  hundred 
men  from  the  Bristol  County  brigade  was  sent  to  the 
assistance  of  Gen.  Sullivan  in  the  operations  on  Rhode 
Island. 

July  26,  1779,  Brig.-Gen.  Godfrey  received  the  fol- 
lowing letter  from  Maj.-Gen.  Gates: 

"  Sir,— It  being  immediately  necessary  that  there  should  be  a  train- 
ing of  the  militia  of  the  county  of  Bristol  that  the  exact  state  of  their 
arms,  ammunition,  and  accoutrements  may  be  known,  you  will  please 
to  send  each  colonel  one  of  the  printed  orders  herewith  transmitted  to 
you.  Upon  the  back  thereof  I  request  you  will  send  such  particular 
commands  from  yourself  as  you  think  requisite.  When  the  reyiew  is 
finished,  I  desire  to  be  favored  with  your  company  at  Providence  with  a 
report  of  each  regiment.  The  bearer  has  my  direction  to  attend  you  to 
carry  this  order  to  each  colonel.  His  expenses  I  shall  order  to  be  paid. 
I  am,  sir,  your  most  obedient,  humble  servant, 

"Horatio  Gates, 

^Major-General." 

July  4,  1781,  John  Hancock  wrote  from  Boston  to 
Brig.-Gen.  Godfrey,  as  follows  : 

"Sir,— Agreeable  to  the  request  of  the  General  Court,  I  herewith 
send  you  their  resolutions  for  detaching  a  number  of  men  from  your 
Brigade  to  reinforce  the  Continental  army.  You  are  hereby  required  to 
detach  without  loss  of  time  the  proportion  of  men  set  upon  the  several 
towns  in  the  County  of  Bristol,  with  a  suitable  number  of  officers  to 
command  the  companies  and  order  their  march  to  join  the  army  at 
West  Point  or  such  place  as  His  Excellency,  Gen.  Washington,  shall  di- 
rect. The  absolute  necessity  of  complying  with  this  order  immediately 
I  need  not  urge,  as  it  will  tend  to  carry  on  the  important  operations  of 
the  present  campaign,  under  Providence,  with  success.  Your  men  are 
to  be  joined  with  the  men  raised  in  the  Counties  of  Worcester  and 
Barnstable,  which  will  form  a  Regiment,  and  you  will  detach  a  Major 
for  the  same. 

"  I  am,  Sir,  Your  very  humble  servant, 

"John  Hancock." 

Taunton  was  one  of  the  first  towns  in  the  State  to 
pass  resolutions  cond'emnatory  of  the  course  of  the 
British  government  towards  the  colonies,  and  there 
was  no  backwardness  in  furnishing  men  and  material 
aid  in  carrying  on  and  consummating  the  Revolu- 
tionary struggle. 

The  War  of  1812-15.— The  following  is  a  record 
of  the  companies  from  Taunton  and  vicinity  per- 
forming sentinel  coast-guard  duty  at  New  Bedford, 
Fairhaven,  and  Dartmouth  during  the  war  of  181i'- 
15,  copied  from  the  late  Gen.  Benjamin  Lincoln's 
rolls : 


843 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


CAPT.  GILES   G.  CHASE'S  COMPANY,  BERKLEY. 

Daniel  Howlaud,  Darius  Harvey,  Frederic  Harvey,  Joseph  Hacket,  Gil- 
bert   Dean,  Cornelius    Dean,    Dean    Paul,  Ethan    Allen,  Arnold 
Newton. 
CAPT.  SILAS  SHEPARD'S  COMPANY  OF  TAUNTON. 

Nathan  King,  Samuel  Gulliver,  Oliver  Soper,  William  Haskins,  Zeph. 
Walker,  Benjamin  King,  Ziba  Wilbour,  Lewis  Wade,  Solomon 
Austin,  Gilbert  Leonard,  James  H.  Blake,  Ed.  Knapp  (2d),  Elisha 
Walker,  George  L.  Hood,  Ephraim  Atwood,  Palmer  Austin,  Royal 
Burt,  Isaac  Bixby,  Benjamin  Burlington,  James  Bulloch,  Jr.,  Ed- 
mond  Briggs,  Jr.,  Charles  Briggs,  Alanson  D.  Briggs,  David  Bassett, 
Clothier  Pierce.  Peleg  Coffin,  George  Caswell  (2d),  William  Cross- 
man,  William  W.  Crossman,  James  P.  Crossman,  Elijah  B.Coleman, 
Lineas  Dean,  Azael  Eliot,  Edward  B.  Francis,  Albert  Godfrey,  Rich- 
ard Hewit,  Job  Hathaway,  Ebenezer  Haskins,  William  P.  Haskins, 
Leonard  Hathaway,  Nathaniel  Haskins,  David  Harvey,  Jr.,  Rufus 
Holmes,  Job  Knapp,  Jonathan  King,  Samuel  King,  Alfred  Leonard, 
Nedebiah  Lincoln,  Lewis  Leonard,  Eben.  Leonard,  Elijah  Lincoln, 
A.  Lincoln,  Jr.,  Wm  Lucas,  B.  Macomber,  E.  Mirick,  E.  McFarlane, 
Epos  Pratt,  Jr.,  William  Park,  James  Padelford,  Jr.,  William  Reed, 
George  H.  Reed,  Jonathan  Reed.  Amariah  Reed,  Beza  Richmond, 
Daniel  Staples,  Allen  Staples,  Eliphalet  Staples,  Noah  Staples,  Libeus 
Shelley,  Elkanah  Thrasher,  Sylvester  Thayer,  Abiather  Thayer, 
Benjamin  Williams,  William  Wilbour,  Richmond  Walker,  Nath. 
Wetherell,  Jr.,  Abiather  White,  Robert  Woodward,  Samuel  Wood- 
ward, Samuel  Gilbert,  Alanson  Burt,  Benjamin  Norcut,  Jra  Ma- 
comber, Danl'ortli  Lincoln.  4 

CAPT.  JOSEPH  REED'S  COMPANY,  OF  TAUNTON. 

Edward  Blake,  Barney  Pratt,  George  Richmond,  William  Stoddard, 
Jno.  Curtis,  Daniel  Cresswell,  Abiather  Austin,  Gilford  Barrows, 
David  Bradford,  Darius  Caswell,  Allen  Dean,  Lewis  Dean,  Samuel 
Dunham,  William  Godfrey,  Rufus  Godfrey,  Jr.,  Hervey  Haskins,  Jr., 
Seth  H.  Wilbour,  Nathan  King,  Jr.,  Amaziah  Reed,  Seth  Rider, 
Gideon  Reed,  Daniel  Staples,  Eliphalet  Staples,  Job  Sockel,  Eliphalet 
Willson,  Weston  Westcoat,  Nathaniel  Witherell,  Nathaniel  Whit- 
cum. 

CAPT.  SETH  STAPLES'  COMPANY,  OF  TAUNTON. 
Benjamin  Dean,  Paul  Staples,  Rufus  Crossman,  Seth  Hart,  Lot  Shelley, 
Elisha  W.  Tubbs,  John  Neal,  William  C.  Hood,  Elijah  B.  Coleman 
Abraham  Caswell,  Alfred  Blake,  Hathaway  Briggs,  Nathaniel  Burt, 
Davis  Baker,  James  Bullock,  Arumah  Burt,  Lyman  Barney,  Inoreau 
Chace,  Willard  Clark,  William  Clark,  Arnold  Chace,  A  lick  F.  Dean, 

Abiather  Field,  John  G. ,  Eben  Haskins,  William  Head,  James 

Hood,  Barnabas  Harvey,  Lionel  Harvey,  Daniel  Hack,  William 
Hathaway,  Job  Hathaway,  Jas.  Howard,  Elijah  King,  Jr.,  Ephraim 
King,  Jr.,  Robert  King,  Nicholas  H.  Lincoln,  Zadock  Leonard,  Solo- 
mon Leonard,  Philip  Mason,  John  Marvel,  Otis  Nicholls,  Ebenezer 
Pratt,  James  Pain,  Micab  Paul,  Nathan  Paine,  James  Pratt,  Asa 
Presbrey,  Nathaniel  Phillips,  William  Rudel,  Charles  Reed,  George 
W.  Reed,  King  Richmond,  Lemuel  Savory,  David  Stacy,  John  Seek- 
ell  (2d),  Antipa  Taber,  Noah  Thrasher,  Elk.  Thrasher,  Amos  Wade, 
William  Wilbour,  Stephen  Wilbour,  Stillman  Williams,  William 
Williams,  Benjamin  Williams,  Samuel  White,  Abijah  White,  Benja- 
min Seaver. 

CAPT.  SAMUEL  WILBUR'S  COMPANY,  RAYNHAM. 
AppolloB  Eddy,  Jr.,  Libeus  Shelly,  Wilbor  Smith,  Isaac  White,  Rayn- 
harn;  Thomas  W.  T.  Bicknell,  Dightou;  Capt.  Giles  G.  Chace,  Berk- 
ley ;  Lieut.  Enos  Williams,  Job  Dean,  William  Gushee,  Eliab  Dean, 
Asa  White,  Briarius  Hathaway,  Andrew  Bachus,  Job  W.  Dean, 
Raynham;  John  Perkins,  Berkley  ;  Chandler  Dean,  Raynham; 
Isaac  Paul,  Jr.,  Berkley;  Ira  Britain,  Joseph  Bent,  Benjamin  S. 
Boodry,  Charles  Frazer,  Abner  Holmes,  Ebenezer  Holmes,  Isaac 
King,  Jr.,  Joseph  Place,  Abiel  Robinson,  Lewis  Snow,  Ebenezer 
Snow,  Joseph  Reading,  Joshua  Wilbour,  Elkanah  Wilbour,  Jarvis 
White,  James  Warren,  John  W.  Whitmore,  Raynham  ;  John  Pitts, 
David  Palmer,  John  Wright,  Silas  Peckham,  Cromwell  Hoard 
Henry  Millard,  Nathan  Simmons,  David  Fish,  Surrannus  Philips, 
Ephraim  Philips,  David  Philips,  Dighton  ;  MiricSeer,  Joseph  French, 
Ebenezer  Newell,  Peter  Briggs,  Bonet  Briggs,  Luther  Hathaway, 
Weston  Westcoat,  Robert  Goff,  Philip  Caswell,  Elisha  Pierce,  James 
French,  Jr.,  Berkley  ;  John  King,  Jr.,  Raynham ;  Gilbert  Hoard,  Digh- 
ton ;  Ziba  Wilbur,  Joseph  Bent,  Raynham  ;  Bennet  Briggs,  Berkely  ; 
John  Bower,  Dightou ;  Howard  Cummins,  George  A.  French,  Berk- 


ley;  James  White,  Otis  Wilbur,  Jarvis  Hoard,  Isaac  King,  Rayn- 
ham; Aaron  Lewis,  Isaiah  Philips,  David  Philips,  Dighton  ;  Eben- 
ezer Mirick,  Berkley;  Samuel  Shaw,  Jr.,  Raynham  ;  Stephen  Swasey. 
Oliver  Shaw,  John  Pierce,  Jr.,  James  Bosworth,  Dighton. 

CAPT.  SAMUEL  WILBOR'S  COMPANY,  RAYNHAM. 
Joseph  Hall,  Daniel  Wilbor,  John  D.  Gilmore,  Calvin  Washburn,  Ben- 
jamin D.  Richmond,  Cassina  D.  Shaw,  Warren  Lincoln,  Daniel 
Dean,  Simeon  Robinson,  John  Robinson  (2d),  Thomas  Simmons, 
Jr.,  Ambrose  Lincoln,  Jr.,  Isaac  Hall,  Benjamin  L.  Boodry,  Jona- 
than Dean,  Reuben  L.  Frazer,  Godfrey  Robinson,  Jr.,  Enoch  Wil- 
liams, Eli  Williams,  Philo  Williams,  Stephen  Williams,  Raynham  ; 
John  Philips,  Samuel  Dean,  Joseph  Dean,  Benjamin  Hathaway, 
Elkanah  Hathaway,  Samuel  Newhall,  Levi  L.  Crane,  Abijah  Bab- 
bit, Berkley;  John  B.Talbot,  Edward  Terry,  Palemon  Pidge,  Aaron 
Chace,  Jr.,  Surrannus  Philips,  Frederick  Briggs,  Jonathan  Palmer, 
Dighton. 

CAPT.  GILES   G.  CHACE'S  COMPANY,  BERKLEY. 

George  Burt,  Benjamin  C.  French,  Venus  Macomber,  John  Belton,  Bar- 
zillai  Crane,  Berkley;  Ebenezer  Talbot,  Dighton;  Job  Dean,  Jr., 
Enos  Williams,  Raynham  ;  Benjamin  Burt,  Adoniram  Crane,  Berk- 
ley;  Darius  Perry,  Dighton;  John  King,  Jr.,  Raynham;  Daniel 
Burt,  George  Crane,  Berkley;  Matthew  Briggs,  Jr.,  Richard  Jones, 
Dighton  ;  Capt.  Jonathan  Wilbor,  Raynham. 

TAUNTON   COMPANIES   AND   MEN   IN   THE   REBELLION. 

Company  G,  Fourth  Regiment  M.  V.  M.  (Taun- 
ton Light  Guard). — This  company  was  organized  in 
1855,  and  attached  to  the  Fourth  Regiment  Massa- 
chusetts Volunteer  Militia.  Its  first  commander  was 
Timothy  Gordon,  who  continued  from  its  organiza- 
tion until  the  close  of  the  three  months'  campaign  in 
Virginia. 

On  the  morning  of  April  16,  1861,  the  members 
were  notified  to  report  at  their  armory  for  immediate 
service  in  response  to  the  call  of  President  Lincoln 
for  seventy-five  thousand  men,  and  on  the  same  day 
left  Taunton  and  arrived  in  Boston  and  rendezvoused 
in  Faneuil  Hall,  awaiting  with  other  companies  of 
the  Fourth  Regiment  further  orders.  On  the  17th  the 
regimental  column  was  ordered  to  Fortress  Monroe, 
Va.,  and  departed  that  day  via  the  Old  Colony  Rail- 
road and  steamer  "  State  of  Maine"  from  Fall  River 
for  that  post,  where  it  arrived  on  the  morning  of  April 
20th,  and  at  day  dawn  disembarked  with  the  Taun- 
ton Light  Guard  on  the  right  of  the  line,  Capt.  Gor- 
don being  the  senior  officer,  whereby  this  company 
acquired  the  honor  of  being  the  first  from  the  North 
to  enter  Virginia  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion. 

The  company  participated  in  the  duties  and  for- 
tunes of  the  regiment,  and  on  the  27th  of  May  em- 
barked for  Newport  News,  where  earthworks  were 
thrown  up  and  an  intrenched  camp  established. 
Here  the  company  remained  until  June  9th,  when  a 
detachment,  of  which  Company  G  was  a  part,  marched 
toward  "  Big  Bethel,"  and  on  the  10th  occurred  the 
engagement  known  as  the  "  battle  of  Big  Bethel." 

On  the  2d  of  July  the  Fourth  Regiment  embarked 
for  Hampton,  where  it  remained  until  July  17th, 
when  it  departed  for  home  at  expiration  of  service, 
arriving  at  Boston  on  the  19th,  and  encamped  at 
Long  Island.  It  was  mustered  out  July  22d.  On 
the  24th  it  marched  to  Boston  Common,  and  was 
dismissed,  arriving  in  Taunton  the  same  day.  The 
people  turned  out  en  masse,  and  the  company  was  ac- 


TAUNTON. 


849 


corded  a  hearty  welcome  home.  On  the  25th  they 
were  given  a  more  formal  reception.  Forming  in 
their  armory,  they  marched  to  the  Green,  and  were 
welcomed  in  an  address  by  ex-Governor  Marcus 
Morton,  Hon.  Samuel  L.  Crocker  presiding.  The 
company,  with  invited  guests,  then  proceeded  to 
Central  Hall,  where  dinner  was  served  and  brief 
addresses  were  made  by  citizens  and  members  in 
response  to  sentiments,  and  poems,  by  Hon.  A.  M. 
Ide,  Messrs.  Hodges  Reed  and  B.  F.  Presbrey,  were 
read. 

Company  G  subsequently  se(rved  with  the  Fourth 
Massachusetts  Regiment  for  nine  months  in  Lou- 
isiana. It  furnished  for  different  organizations 
twenty-three  commissioned  officers,  viz. :  one  lieu- 
tenant-colonel, two  majors,  nine  captains,  and  eleven 
lieutenants. 

COMPANY  G. 

Timothy  Gordon,  capt. ;  must,  in  April  22,1801;  must,  out  July  22,1861. 
Zacheus  Sherman,  1st  lieut. ;  must,  in  April  22,  1861  ;  must,  out  July  22, 

1861. 
Frederic  A.  Harrington.  2d  lieut.;  must,  in  April  22,  1861;  must,  out 

July  22,  1861. 
Mason  W.  Burt,  1st  sergt. ;  must,  in  April  22,  1861;  must,  out  July  22, 

1861 ;  re-entered  the  service  as  captain  of  Co.  C,  22d  Regt.  Mass. 

Vols.;   pro.  to  major,  and  disch.  with  that  rank;   was  afterwards 

breveted  colonel. 
Charles  H.  Paull,  sergt.;  must,  in  April  22,  1861;  must,  out  July  22, 

1861 ;  re-entered  the  service  as  captain  of  Co.  G,  4th  Mass.  Regt. 

(nine  months),  and  was  discharged  with  that  rank. 
William  H.  Bartlett,  sergt.;  must,  in  April  22, 1861;  must,  out  July  22, 

1861;  re-entered  the  service  as  captain  Co.  K,  4th  Mass.  Regt.  (nine 

months),  and  was  killed  at  Port  Hudson  June  14,  1863. 
George  A.  AVashburn,  sergt. ;  must,  in  April  22, 1861 ;  must,  out  July  22, 

1861  ;  re-entered  the  service  as  first  lieutenant  Co.  C,  22d  Mass.  Regt., 

and  was  disch.  with  the  rank  of  captain. 
Isaac  Dean   Paull,  Corp.;   must,  in  April  22,  1861;  must,  out  July  22, 

1861 ;  re-entered  the  service  as  first  lieutenant  of  Co.  F,  39th  Mass. 

Regt.,  and  was  killed  May  8,  1864,  at  the  Wilderness. 
Edward  J.  Vose,  corp. ;  must,  in  April  22,  1861 ;  must,  out  July  22, 1861 ; 

was  afterwards  commissioned  1st  lieut.  33d  Mass.  Regt.  Vol. 
James  Brown,  corp.;  must,  in  April  22,  1861  ;  must,  out  July  22,  1861 ; 

re-entered  the  service  as  captain  of  Co.  B,33d  Regt.  Mass.  Vols.,  and 

was  pro.  to  major  of  same  regiment. 
Willard  D.  Tripp,  corp.;  must,  in  April  22, 1S61  ;  must,  out  July  22, 1861'; 

re-entered  the  service  as  captain  of  Co.  F,  29th  Mass.  Regt ;  was  pro. 

to  lieutenant-colonel  of  same  regiment. 
Wm.  Mark  Lord,  musician;  must,  in  May  22,  1861 ;  must,  out  July  22, 

1861 ;  died  at  Haverhill,  Mass.,  Feb.  3,  1879. 

Privates. 

Lloyd  W.  Austin,  must,  in  April  22,  1861 ;  must,  out  July  22,  1861. 

George  W.  Barnes,  must,  in  April  22, 1861,  and  was  appointed  quarter- 
master-sergeant same  day. 

Wm.  R.  Black,  must,  in  April  22,  1861 ;  must,  out  July  22, 1861 ;  re-en- 
tered the  service  as  captain  of  Co.  F,  4th  Mass.  Regt.  (nine  months). 

John  C.  Briggs,  must,  in  April  22, 1861 ;  must,  out  July  16,  1861 ;  served 
as  foreman  of  the  government  machine-shop  at  Fortress  Monroe  dur- 
ing his  time  as  above,  and  remained  for  several  years  afterwards  in 
that  position. 

Wm.  J.  Briggs,  must,  in  May  6,  1861 ;  must,  out  July  22, 1861  ;  re-entered 
the  service  as  first  lieutenant  of  Co.  G,  4th  Mass.  Regt.  (nine 
months). 

John  H.  Buck,  must,  in  April  22, 1861 ;  must,  out  July  22,  1861;  died  at 
Taunton  Sept.  16,  1863. 

John  H.  Church,  must,  in  April  22, 1861;  must,  out  July  22, 1861 ;  re- 
entered the  service  as  1st  lieut.  of  Co.  K,  4th  Mass.  Regt.  (nine 
months). 

John  W.  Clapp,  must,  in  May  6,  1861 ;  must,  out  July  22,  1861. 

Isaac  S.  Clark,  must,  in  April  22, 1861;  must,  out  July  22,  1861. 

John  R.  Coleman,  must,  in  April  22, 1861;  must,  out  July  22,  1861. 

James  M.  Cusbman,  must,  in  April  22,  1861  ;  must,  out  July  22,  1861. 
54 


Gustavus  L.  Dean,  must,  in  April  22,  1861 ;  must,  out  July  22,  1861;  was 
afterwards  commissioned. 

Perez  L.  Dunbar,  must,  in  April  22, 1861 ;  must,  out  July  22, 1861. 

Edward  Eayres,  must,  in  April  22,  1801  ;  must,  out  July  22,  1861. 

Allen  A.  Fisher,  must,  in  April  22,  1S61  ;  must,  out  July  22,  1861. 

Henry  Galligan,  must,  in  April  22,  1861 ;  must,  out  July  22,  1861 ;  re- 
entered the  service  in  Co.  C,  22d  Mass.  Regt.,  and  died  June  2,  1862., 
at  New  Bridge,  Va. 

William  C.  Gent,  must,  in  April  22,  1801 ;  must,  out  July  22, 1861. 

Horace  S.  Gilmore,  must,  in  April  22,  1861;  must,  out  July  22,1861; 
re-entered  the  service,  company  and  regiment  not  known  to 
writer. 

Elijah  D.  Goddard,  must,  in  April  22,  1861;  must,  out  July  22,  1861; 
re-entered  the  service  in  Co.  G,  4th  Regt.  Mass.  (nine  months) ;  died 
at  Taunton  April  26,  1S82. 

Enos  P.  Hale,  must,  in  April  22,1863;  must,  out  July  22,  1863;  re-en- 
tered the  service  as  2d  lieut.  Co.  C,  22d  Mass.  Regt. ;  pro.  to  1st 
lieut.,  and  died  at  Taunton  June  1,  1868. 

William  D.  Hatch,  must,  in  May  6,  1861;  must,  out  July  22,  1861;  re- 
entered the  service  as  1st  sergt.  Co.  C,  22d  Mass.  Regt.,  and  was 
pro.  lieut.  and  capt.  same  regiment. 

Marshall  D.  Hathaway,  must,  in  April  22,  1S01  ;  must,  out  July  22, 
1861. 

Adoniram  J.  Holt,  must,  in  April  22,  1861  ;  must,  out  July  22,  1861. 

Henry  W.  Horton,  must,  in  April  22,  1861 ;  must,  out  July  22,  1861. 

Edward  Hunt,  must,  in  April  22,  1861 ;  must,  out  July  22,  1801. 

Thomas  H.  Husband,  must,  in  May  0,  1861 ;  must,  out  July  22, 1801 ;  re- 
entered the  service  as  lieutenant  Co.  F,  29th  Mass.  Regt. ;  died  in 
Taunton  Jan.  31,  1SS3. 

Charles  H.  Jones,  must,  in  April  22,  1801;  must,  out  July  22,  1801;  re- 
entered the  service  as  sergeant  Co.  C,  22d  Mass.  Regt.,  and  pro.  to 
first  sergeant. 

Daniel  S.  Jones,  must,  in  April  22,  1801  ;  must,  out  July  22,  1861;  after- 
wards held  a  commission,  company  and  regiment  unknown. 

Seril  Knight,  must,  in  May  0,  1801  ;  must,  out  July  22, 1861. 

George  A.  Leonard,  must,  in  April  22,  1861 ;  must,  out  July  22,  1861. 

John  L.  Merigold,  must,  in  April  22,  1861 ;  must,  out  July  22,  1861;  re- 
entered the  service  in  Co.  G,  4th  Mass.  (9th  Mass.). 

Peter  McNeill,  must,  in  April  22, 1861;  must,  out  July  22,  1861 ;  re-en- 
tered the  service  in  a  New  York  regiment,  and  died  at  David's 
Island  Hospital. 

William  H.  H.  Monroe,  must,  in  April  22, 1861 ;  must,  out  July  22,1861 ; 
re-entered  the  service  as  lieutenant  of  Co.  G,  4th  Regt.  Mass.  Vols, 
(nine  months). 

Abraham  Naylor,  must,  in  April  22, 1861 ;  must,  out  Jnly  4, 1861 ;  disch. 
for  disabilitj',  temporary  insanity. 

Joseph  O'Neill,  must,  in  April  22,  1801 ;  must,  out  July  22,  1861 ;  re-en- 
tered the  service  as  first  sergeant  Co.  F.  29th  Regt.  Mass.  Vols.;  was 
pro.  first  lieutenant,  and  res.  March  19,  1863;  re-entered  the  service 
as  captain  of  Co.  D,  60th  Mass.  Regt. 

John  B.  Pizer,  must,  in  April  22,  1861;  must,  out  July  22,  1861 ;  re-en- 
tered the  service  in  the  29th  Regt.,  and  was  pro.  captain;  died  in 
Chicago  Jan.  13, 1882. 

Robert  J.  Plant,  must,  in  May  0, 1801;  must,  out  July  22,  1801 ;  re-en- 
tered the  service  as  sergeant  of  Co.  C,  22d  Mass.  Regt. 

Asa  K.  Reed,  must,  in  April  22,  1861 ;  must,  out  July  22,  1861. 

Cyrus  B.  Richardson,  must,  in  April  22,  1861 ;  must,  out  July  22,  1861. 

Frederick  Richardson,  must,  in  May  22, 1861 ;  must,  out  July  22, 1861; 
re-entered  the  service  in  Co.  C,  22d  Regt.  Mass.  Vols. 

John  Rock,  must,  in  April  22,  1861;  must,  out  July  22,  1861 ;  re-entered 
the  service  as  sergeant  of  Co.  C,  22d  Mass.  Regt,;  was  pro.  to  first 
lieutenant  and  captain  ;  at  exp.  of  service  in  the  22d  Regt.  he  was 
commissioned  in  a  New  York  regiment. 

Squire  Sanford,  must,  iu  April  22, 1801 ;  must,  out  July  22,  1861. 

Benjamin  F.  Simmons,  must,  in  May  6,  1801 ;  must,  out  July  22,  1861. 

William  W.  Smith,  must,  in  April  22,  1861 ;  must,  out  July  22,  1861. 

Charles  S.  Thomas,  must,  in  April  22,  1801 ;  must,  out  July  22,  1801 ;  re- 
entered the  service  in  Co.  F,  39th  Mass.  Regt.,  and  served  three 
years. 

Edgar  S.  Thayer,  must,  in  April  22,  1861 ;  must,  out  July  22,  1861;  re- 
entered the  service  in  Co.  F,  39th  Mass.  Regt.,  and  afterwards  pro. 
to  captain  U.  S.  colored  troops. 

Thomas  C.  Vail,  must,  in  April  22,  1861 ;  must.  out^July  22,  1861. 

Michael  W.  Valentine,  must,  in  May  6,  1861  ;  must,  out  July  22,  1801; 
died  at  Taunton  Aug.  25, 1878. 

Joseph  Walker  (2),  must,  in  May  6,  1861 ;  must,  out  July  22, 1861 ;  re- 
entered the  service  in  Co.  G,  4th  Regt.  (9th  Mass.) 


850 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Frederick  A.  Washburn,  must,  in  April  22,  1861 ;  must,  out  July  22, 
1861. 

J.  Colby  Weston,  must,  in  April  22,  1862 ;  must,  out  July  22,  1862. 

Thomas  Whiteley,  must,  in  April  22, 1861 ;  must,  out  July  22, 1861. 

Simeon  T.  Wilbur,  must,  in  April  22,  1861 ;  must,  out  July  22,  1861. 

Daniel  F.  Wood,  must.  In  April  22,  1861 ;  must,  out  July  22, 1861 ;  re- 
entered the  service  as  1st  lieutenant  of  Co.  C,  4th  Mass.  Regt.  (9th 
Mass.) 

David  Wood,  must,  in  April  22,  1861;  must,  out  July  22,  1861;  re-en- 
tered the  service  in  Co.  F,  39th  Mass.  Regt.,  and  was  discharged  as 
first  sergeant. 

COMPANIES  G   AND  K  (NINE   MONTHS'  MEN). 

Company  G  (Taunton  Light  Guard),  Capt.  Paull, 
and  Company  K,  Capt.  William  H.  Bartlett,  went 
into  camp  (Joe  Hooker)  at  Lakeville  Sept.  15,  1862, 
and  were  mustered  into  the  United  States  service  on 
the  23d,  in  the  Fourth  Regiment,  Col.  Walker  in 
command,  for  nine  months'  duty.  The  regiment  left 
for  New  York  September  27th,  and  on  their  arrival 
there  embarked  on  board  the  ship  "George  Peabody" 
for  New  Orleans,  as  a  portion  of  the  "  Banks  expe- 
dition." One  death  occurred  on  their  passage,  Wil- 
liam B.  Pratt,  at  Fortress  Monroe,  and  another  at  the 
quarantine  hospital  on  their  arrival  at  New  Orleans, 
viz.,  Oscar  A.  Harvey.  After  a  passage  of  forty-seven 
days,  the  regiment  disembarked  at  Carrollton,  and 
left  March  1st  for  Baton  Rouge  by  steamer,  on  their 
arrival  taking  part  in  the  demonstration  against  Port 
Hudson  in  aid  of  Commodore  Farragut's  exploit  of 
passing  the  rebel  batteries.  Left  April  3d,  by  steamer, 
for  Algiers,  thence  (8th)  to  Brashear  City,  and  on  the 
13th  and  14th  were  in  the  battle  at  Bisland  ;  no  cas- 
ualties. Returned  to  Brashear  City,  acting  as  a  gar- 
rison for  that  place,  which  was  of  some  importance  as 
the  base  of  supplies  for  Gen.  Banks'  army  corps,  then 
on  a  circuitous  route  for  the  investment  of  Port  Hud- 
son. Company  G  was  detailed  for  duty  under  the 
provost-marshal,  and  charged  with  preserving  peace 
and  good  order,  as  about  two  thousand  rebel  prisoners 
were  received  and  forwarded  thence  to  New  Orleans. 
Capt.  Paull  acted  as  deputy  provost-marshal,  with  a 
portion  of  his  company,  at  a  station  sixteen  miles 
below  on  the  line  of  the  railroad,  whose  delicate 
duty  it  was  to  persuade  the  contrabands  to  remain  on 
the  plantations,  instead  of  following  the  army,  as 
they  were  inclined,  that  section  of  Louisiana  being 
excepted  in  the  Emancipation  Proclamation ;  at  the 
same  time  the  law  of  Congress  made  it  a  punishable 
offense  for  an  officer  to  assist  in  the  rendition  of  a 
slave  to  his  master. 

On  the  30th  of  May  the  regiment  (with  Companies 
G  and  K)  left  for  Port  Hudson,  where  they  had  a  full 
share  in  the  siege  of  that  place.  On  the  14th  of  June 
followed  the  hand-grenade  slaughter  of  the  brave 
men  under  Capt.  Bartlett,  whose  death  has  been  duly 
noticed,  in  the  attempt  to  take  that  fort.  It  was  one 
of  the  deplorable  mistakes  of  the  Banks  campaign, 
as  a  few  days'  time  must  have  compelled  a  surrender 
of  the  rebels  without  the  reckless  loss  of  valuable 
lives,  accomplishing  nothing. 
Capt.  Paull,  the  senior  captain  in  the  regiment,  was 


frequently  acting  major  commandant  in  the  absence 
of  the  regimental  officers  on  detached  duty  or  from 
illness.  The  command  of  Company  K  devolved  upon 
Lieut.  John  H.  Church  after  the  death  of  the  lamented 
Capt.  Bartlett.  Lieut.  Philander  Williams  was  quar- 
termaster, after  the  promotion  of  Lieut.  T.  J.  Lothrop 
to  the  brigade  quarters.  Companies  G  and  K  had 
the  confidence  of  the  officers  of  the  regiment,  as  they 
were  detailed  to  serve  on  all  difficult  and  dangerous 
occasions  during  the  campaign.  The  regiment  re- 
turned home  in  August,  and  Companies  G  and  K 
were  received  in  Taunton  with  hearty  demonstrations 
of  "  welcome  home." 

COMPANY  O,  FOURTH  REGIMENT,  M.  V.  M. 

Charles  H.  Paull,  capt.  ;  com.  Sept.  6,  1862. 

William  R.  Black,  1st  lieut.;  pro.  to  capt.  Co.  F,  Dec.  15,  1862. 

William  J.  Briggs,2d  lieut.;  pro.  to  1st  lieut.  Dec.  20,  1862. 

William  H.  Monroe,  1st  sergt. ;  pro.  to  2d  lieut.  Dec.  20, 1862. 

Lewis  B.  Hodges,  2d  sergt.;  pro.  to  1st  sergt.  Dec.  20,  1862. 

George  Murray,  3d  sergt.;  died  July  15,  1881,  in  Taunton. 

Ansel  Balcom,  Jr.,  4th  sergt.;  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

Henry  A.  Paull,  5th  sergt. ;  died  June  8, 1871,  in  Taunton. 

James  L.  Tisdale,  corp. ;  died  in  service;  pro.  to  sergt.  Dec.  20,  1862. 

William  L.  Walker,  corp. ;  wounded  at  Port  Hudson  June  15, 1863. 

Lemuel  C.  Porter,  corp. ;  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

Laughlin  Walsh,  corp.;  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

Thomas  C.  Brown,  corp.;  died  in  service  Aug.  17,  1863. 

Jeremiah  C.  Turner,  corp. ;  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

Lorenzo  O.  Barnard,  corp.;  died  March  4,  1875. 

James  L.  Presbrey,  corp. ;  pro.  from  private  Dec.  20,  1862. 

Charles  H.  Briggs,  Dighton,  corp.;  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

William  H.  Paine,  musician;  drowned  April  7,  1867. 

Horatio  Raymond,  wagoner  ;  disch.  for  disability  Jan.  14,  1863. 

Privates. 

William  B.  Allyn,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

Luther  G.  Ashley,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

Jerome  B.  Burt,  died  in  service. 

Alden  H.  Blake,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

Francis  T.  Burns,  died  Feb.  7,  1881. 

Thomas  C.  Bliss,  died  May  18, 1863. 

James  Butler,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

Hiram  T.  Cain,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

Isaac  H.  Carpenter,  died  Aug.  15,  1866. 

William  B.  Carpenter,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

William  H.  Case,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

Sylvester  J.  Clements,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

Benjamin  O.  Colwell,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

John  Conaty,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

Daniel  A.  Congdon,  died  April  7, 1874. 

Levi  K.  Congdon,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

George  A.  Crane,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

John  Cunningham,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

Charles  W.  Dean,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

Edward  B.  Durfee,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

Marcus  M.  Field,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

Charles  H.  Gibbs,  dead. 

Elijah  D.  Goddard,  died  April  6, 1882. 

Seth  W.  Godfrey,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

James  W.  Gulliver,  died  in  service  April  3,  1863. 

Samuel  M.  Gushee,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service;  dead. 

George  B.  Harvey,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

Oscar  A.  Harvey,  died  in  service  Feb.  15,  1863. 

Laban  Hodges,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

Patrick  Hogan,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

Isaac  H.  Howland,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

Albert  H.  Hunter,  died  Feb.  25,  1864. 

Marcus  E.  Jones,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

Timothy  J.  Lincoln  (Raynham),  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

Timothy  C.  Lucas,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

Edward  F.  Macomber,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

George  A.  Macomber,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 


TAUNTON. 


851 


William  E.  Macomber,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

William  F.  Macomber,  Jr.,  died  in  service  July  20,  1863. 

Henry  Martin,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

George  R.  Marshall,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

John  L.  Merrigold,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

George  M.  Nichols,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

William  D.  Packard,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

Lyman  Palmer,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

George  W.  Peck,  died  July  17, 1865. 

Henry  C.  Phillips,  died  in  service  June  2,  1863. 

Andrew  W.  Pierce,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

Willis  S.  Potter,  wounded  at  Port  Hudson  Juue  15,  1863. 

Enos  A.  Pratt,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

William  B.  Pratt,  died  in  service  Jan.  9,  1863. 

Edwin  F.  Presbrey,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

Josiah  E.  Presbrey,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

Albert  F.  Smith,  died  on  steamer  Aug.  12,  1863. 

Andrew  J.  Smith,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

William  H.  Stall,  killed  in  service  June  23,1863. 

Edwin  S.  Thayer,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

Josiah  A.  Til  den,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

James  A.  Tinkham,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

Edward  E.  Tisdale,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

Franklin  D.  Tripp,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

George  W&ldron,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

Daniel  B.  Walker,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

Edsell  H.  Walker,  died  in  service  May  11,  1863. 

Elnathan  Walker  (2d),  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

Joseph  Walker  (2d),  disch.  for  disability  May  5,  1863. 

William  Watts,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

Alexander  White,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

Charles  P.  White,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

George  E.  Wilbur,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

Joseph  W.  Wilbur,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

Joseph  H.  Wilcox,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

George  F.  Williams,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

Lemuel  A.  Williams,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

Frederick  A.  Washburn,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

Henry  P.  Worsley,  died  on  his  way  home  Sept.  27, 1863,  on  steamer. 

COMPANY   K,  FOURTH   REGIMENT   INFANTRY  M.  V.  M. 

William  H.  Bartlett,  capt. ;  killed  June  14, 1863,  at  Port  Hudson,  La. 
John  H.  Church,  1st  lieut.  commandant;  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  Aug. 

28,  1863. 
Philander  Williams,  2d  lieut.';  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  Aug.  28, 1863. 
Simeon  G.  Blandin,  lstsergt. ;  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  Aug.  28,1863. 
Caleb  C.  Collins,  sergt. ;  disch.  at  exp  of  service  Aug.  28,  1863. 
Michael  Murphy,  color  sergt.;  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  Aug.  28,  1863. 
Samuel  H.  Morse,  sergt.;  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  Aug.  28,  1863. 
George  E.  Payson,  sergt. ;  died  April  4,  1863,  at  Baton  Rouge,  La. 
Edgar  R.  Sprague,  Corp.;  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  Aug. 28, 1863. 
William  R.  Morris,  corp. ;  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  Aug.  28,  1863. 
Stephen  Sweetser,  Corp.;  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  Aug.  28,  1S63. 
Tilson  Fuller,  Corp.;  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  Aug.  28,  1863. 
Ebenezer  Bowman,  Corp.;  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  Aug.  28,  1863. 
Williams  Dean,  Jr.,  corp. ;  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  Aug.  28,  1863. 
Nathan  A.  Simmons,  corp.;  disch.  by  President's  proclamation. 
James  A.  Bracken,  musician  ;  died  at  Taunton  May  7, 1870. 
Allen  K.  Bassett,  musician  ;  died  April  6,  1879. 
Manning  W.  Fox,  wagoner;  died  at  Bridgewater  Oct.  22, 1882. 

Privates. 

Haynes  C.  Aldrich,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  Aug.  28, 1863. 
Zepbauiah  G.  P.  Andrews,  died  May  7,  1S63,  at  New  Orleans,  La. 
David  I).  Babbitt,  disch.  at  exp  of  service  Aug.  28,  1863. 
Charles  H.  Barrows,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  Aug.  28, 1863. 
Oren  L.  Bassett,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  Aug.  28,  1863. 
Nelson  Billington,  died  at  Tauutou. 
Reinhold  Bubser,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  Aug.  28, 1S63. 
Charles  H.  Burt,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  Aug.  28,  1863. 
William  Carr,  died  at  Taunton. 

John  Cassidy,  died  July  18,  1863,  at  Port  Hudson,  La. 
Charles  H.  Caswell,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  Aug.  28,  1863. 
Otis  Caswell,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  Aug.  28,  1863;  since  died. 
Ezekiel  W.  Chamberlain,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  Aug.  28, 1863. 
Alvin  R.  Dean,  died  of  wounds  July  22,1863,  at  Port  Hudson,  La. 
Charles  E.  Deau,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  Aug.  28,  1863. 


George  E.  Dean,  wounded  at  Port  Hudson,  La.;  disch. at  exp.  of  service 

Aug.  28,  1863. 
Alexander  Drape,  died. 
William  M.  Eddy,  died  Aug.  8,  1863,  on  board  steamer  on  Mississippi 

River. 
Reuben  Ellis,  disch.  Nov.  21, 1S62,  disability. 
George  W.  Field,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  Aug.  28,  1863. 
Lewis  B.  Field,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  Aug.  28, 1863. 
Michael  Gaffney,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  Aug.  28,  1863. 
James  Galligan,  died  at  Taunton  Jan.  20,  1864. 
Thomas  Gibbons,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  Aug.  28,  1863. 
William  J.  Gilbert,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  Aug.  28,  1863. 
Oliver  C.  Guruey,  died  at  Taunton  Oct.  1,  1863. 
Charles  H.  Hamilton,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  Aug.  28, 1863. 
George  H.  Handy,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  Aug.  28,  1863. 
James  B.  Hathaway,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  Aug.  28,  1863. 
Charles  H.  Hewitt,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  Aug.  28,  1863. 
Thomas  Larkin,  wounded  at  Brasbear  City,  La.  ;  lost  a  leg;  disch.  at 

exp.  of  service  Aug.  28, 1863. 
John  Maloy,  died  at  Taunton. 
Edgar  L.  Morse,  wounded  at  Port  Hudson,  La.;  lost  an  arm;  disch.  at 

exp.  of  service  Aug.  28, 1863. 
Gilbert  M.  O'Neil,  wounded  at  Port  Hudson,  La.;  died  at  Taunton  June 

16,  1871. 
Peter  W.  Packer,  died  at  Taunton  Jan.  8,  1874. 
Edwin  Park,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  Aug.  28, 1863. 
Benjamin  F.  Paull,  died  Aug.  27,  1863,  at  Taunton,  Mass. 
Henry  C.  Porter,  died  at  home  Sept.  8,  1863. 
William  Quill  an,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  Aug.  28, 1863. 
John  R.  Reed,  died  at  St.  Mary's  Hospital  Sept.  14,  1S63. 
John  Reynolds,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  Aug.  28,  1863. 
Edward  P.  Roach,  died  at  Taunton. 

William  II.  Rothwell,  disch. at  exp.  of  service  Aug.  28,  1863. 
Hanson  L.  Smart,  died  Aug.  4,  1S63,  at  Port  Hudson,  La. 
George  W.  Standish,  died  of  wounds  June  29,  1863,  at  New  Orleans,  La. 
Charles  E.  Strange,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  Aug.  28,  1863. 
William  E.  Tisdale,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  Aug.  28, 1863. 
Edwin  R.  Townsend,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  Aug.  2S,  1863. 
Joseph  F.  Tripp,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  Aug.  28,  1863. 
Patrick  Ward,  died  at  Taunton.  , 

Alfred  M.  Williams,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  Aug.  28,  1863. 
William  E.  Wilcox,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  Aug.  28, 1863. 
William  Wood,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  Aug.  28,  1863. 
William  C.  Wood,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  Aug.  28,  1863. 
John  G.  Wright,  disch.  at  exp. of  service  Aug.  28, 1863. 
John  E.  Young,  died  March  30,  1870. 

Raynham  Volunteers  of  Company  K. 

Alex.  R.  Cain,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  Aug.  28, 1863 ;  died  April  1, 1867. 

Francis  R.  Hall,  killed  June  14,  1863,  at  Port  Hudson,  La. 

Alden  Whitman,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  Aug.  28,  1863. 

Sylvester  S.  Whitman,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  Aug.  28,  1863. 

Killed  in  action,  1  officer,  2  privates;   died  of  disease  and  wounds,  1 

officer,  23  privates  ;  disch.  at  exp.  of  service,  2  commissioned  officers, 

10  non-commissioned,  and  51  privates. 

Taunton  Companies  in  the  Seventh  Regiment. 
— The  following  companies,  C,  D,  and  F,  were  in  Col. 
Couch's  regiment,  which  left  Taunton  in  June,  1861, 
an  account  of  which  regiment  is  given  elsewhere : 

COMPANY   C,   SEVENTH   REGIMENT   INFANTRY,  M.  V. 
Charles  T.  Robinson,  capt. ;  com.  June  15,  1861 ;  res.  Nov.  12,  1861. 
Edgar  Robinson,  1st  lieut.;  com.  June  15,1861;  pro.  to  capt.  Aug.  1, 

1861  ;  res.  Feb.  1863. 
William  H.  Gurney,  pro.  to  capt.;  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 
William  O'Neal,  2d  lieut. ;  com.  June  15, 1861 ;  res.  Nov.  6,  1861. 
Albert  A.  Tilson,  1st  lieut. ;  killed  at  Fredericksburg.i 
Henry  S.  Benton,  1st  sergt.;   disch.  to  re-enl.  Dec.  26,  1863;   died  of 

wounds  July  10,  1864. 
William  M.  Dunham,  1st  sergt. ;  killed  May  3,  1863,  Salem  Heights. 
Christopher  C.  Weston,  1st  sergt.  ;  pro.  to  2d  lieut.  June  18,  1862,  to  1st 

lieut.  1862;  to  capt.  May,  1863;  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

1  There  were  other  first  and  second  lieutenants,  but  not  Taunton 
men. 


852 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


George  L.  Dunham,  1st  sergt. ;  died  on  gunboat  "  Cincinnati"  Feb.  6, 

1863. 
Leonard  Hathaway,  sergt.;  pro.  to  2d  lieut.  July  23, 1S62;  to  1st  lieut., 

to  capt. 
John  Nichols,  sergt.;  missing. 

Levi  K.  Paine,  sergt.;  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  June  27, 1864. 
Henry  H.  Robinson,  sergt. ;  disch.  by  order  War  Department  July  4, 

1861. 
Hiram  Rogers,  sergt. ;  trans.  June  14,  1864,  to  37th  Inf. 
Edward  C.  Staples,  sergt. ;  trans.  June  14,  1864,  to  37th  Inf. 
DaDiel  D.  Andrews,  corp.;  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  June  27, 1864. 
William  C.  Cahoon,  corp. ;  disch.  Jan.  21,  1864,  to  re-enl. 
Alex.  J.  Dennis,  corp. ;  disch.  for  disability  Aug.  27,  1862. 
Hiram  R.  Hazeltine,  corp. ;  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  June  27, 1864. 
William  E.  Hathaway,  corp  ;  trans.  June  15,  1864,  to  37th  Inf. 
John  L.  Hamilton,  corp. ;  killed  May  6,  1864,  Wilderness. 
Salmon  W.  Perkins,  corp.  ;  disch.  for  disability  Sept.  4,  1862. 
John  H.  Pitts,  corp. ;  disch.  to  re-enl.  Jan.  20,  1864;  killed  at  Bethesda 

Church,  Ya. 
David  Ross,  corp. ;  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  June  27,  1864. 
Charles  Sckhean,  Corp.;  disch.  by  President's  proclamation. 
Charles  E.  Staples,  corp.;  trans.  June  24,  1864,  to  37th  Inf. 
Thomas  Dolan,  musician  ;  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  June  27,  1864. 
George  M.  Mars,  musician  ;  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  June  27,  1864. 
Harrison  A.  Wade,  musician  ;  disch.  for  disability  Jan.  3, 1863. 
Roger  C.  Guthrie,  wagoner  ;  disch.  by  President's  proclamation. 

Privates. 

Wesley  Adams,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  June  27, 1864. 

Charles  E.  Andrews,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  June  27,  1864. 

Isaac  Ariel,  trans,  to  37th  Inf. 

Roland  W.  Briggs,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  June  27, 1864. 

Alexander  Burns,  disch.  by  President's  proclamation. 

Michael  Carey,  died  Oct.  4,  1861,  Brightwood. 

Lambert  C.  Caswell,  disch.  for  disability  Sept.  11,  1861. 

Michael  D.  Casey,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  June  27, 1864. 

Baylies  R.  Chace,  disch.  for  disability  Sept.  11,  1861. 

Joseph  A.  Chace,  disch.  by  President's  proclamation. 

Joseph  H.  Chace,  disch.  for  disability  June  8, 1862. 

George  N.  Cole,  trans,  to  37th  Inf. 

Owen  Conlin,  disch.  for  disability  Jan.  21, 1863. 

Patrick  Coogan,  disch.  for  disability  May  5,1862. 

Daniel  Corcoran,  disch.  by  President's  proclamation. 

William  Corrigan,  disch.  by  President's  proclamation. 

Andrew  Cronin,  disch.  for  disability  Feb.  2, 1863. 

Robert  Cummings,  disch.  by  President's  proclamation. 

Henry  J.  Cushing,  trans.  May  7,  1864,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps. 

John  Q.  A.  Dean,  trans.  May  7, 1864,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps. 

Samuel  W.  Drake,  disch.  for  disability  Aug.  8, 1862. 

Peter  Dyer,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  June  27,  1864. 

John  Eagan,  disch.  by  President's  proclamation. 

Warren  Ellis,  disch.  by  President's  proclamation. 

Gustavus  T.  Fisher,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  June  27, 1864. 

James  Foley,  killed  at  Salem  Heights  May  3, 1863. 

John  Fox,  died  of  wounds  May  19,  1864,  at  Fredericksburg,  Va. 

George  W.  Fuller,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  June  27, 1864. 

Patrick  Gilchrist,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  June  27, 1864. 

David  Grinnell,  disch.  by  President's  proclamation. 

Michael  Hand,  disch.  by  President's  proclamation. 

William  Hauprick,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  June  27,  1864. 

John  Hart,  killed  May  6,  1864,  in  the  Wilderness. 

Henry  E.  Hathaway,  disch.  by  President's  proclamation. 

Patrick  Hickey,  disch.  by  President's  proclamation.  « 

James  H.  Hinds,  disch.  for  disability  Nov.  13,  1862. 

John  B.  Hinds,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  June  27,  1864. 

Patrick  Holland,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  June  27,  1864. 

James  Kelley,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  June  27,  1864. 

James  Kelley,  disch.  for  disability  May  19, 1862. 

Morty  Kelley,  disch.  by  President's  proclamation. 

John  Leddy,  trans.  Dec.  15,  1863,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps. 

Joseph  Lee,  disch.  by  President's  proclamation. 

Michael  Littleton,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  June  27,  1864. 

Elbridge  Martin,  disch.  by  President's  proclamation. 

Frank  Marshall,  disch.  by  President's  proclamation. 

Kinsley  Martin,  disch.  by  President's  proclamation. 

Andrew  McGuire,  disch.  for  disability  Dec.  25,  1862. 

Andrew  McManus,  disch.  for  disability  May  29, 1863. 


John  McMann,  disch.  for  disability  Sept,  22,  1S62. 
Theophilus  H.  Medbury. 

Dean  Melville,  disch.  for  disability  April  30,  1862. 
Patrick  Monaghan,  disch.  by  President's  proclamation. 
Robert  Moore,  disch.  by  President's  proclamation. 
Ezra  Morse,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  June  27,  1864. 
Patrick  Murray,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  June  27, 1864. 
James  Nixon,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  June  27,  1864. 
George  O'Neil,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  June  27, 1864. 
Alpheus  S.  Orcutt,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  June  27,  1864. 
Henry  Phillips,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  June  27,  1864. 
Isaac  0.  Pierce,  disch.  for  disability  March  26,  1862. 
Cornelius  Powers,  disch.  by  President's  proclamation. 
John  Powers,  disch.  for  disability  Feb.  18,  1863. 
William  Powers,  disch.  for  disability  Feb.  18,  1863. 
James  E.  Rawson,  disch.  by  President's  proclamation. 
Lewis  T.  Sanders,  disch.  for  disability  Oct.  22,  1862. 
James  Scandlan,  died  at  Newport  News  Sept.  7,  1S62. 
James  E.  Smith,  died  at  Newport  News. 
James  Smith,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  June  27,  1864. 
Thomas  J.  Smith,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  June  27, 1864. 
Henry  C.  Talbot,  disch.  by  President's  proclamation. 
Thomas  A.  Tracy,  disch.  by  President's  proclamation. 
George  A.  Warren,  killed  May  5,  1864,  in  the  Wilderness. 
Thomas  A.  Welch,  disch.  by  President's  proclamation. 
George  Whittemore,  disch.  for  disability  Feb.  25, 1862. 
Silas  C.  Williams,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  June  27,  1864. 

Company  C  was  engaged  in  the  same  battles  and 
skirmishes  as  others  of  the  regiment. 

COMPANY   D,  SEVENTH   REGIMENT  INFANTRY,  M.  V. 

Joseph  B.  Leonard,  capt.;  com.  June  15,  1861;  pro.  to  major,  Oct.  25, 

1862;  disch.  at  exp.  of  service,  1864. 
William  B.  Stall,  1st  lieut.;  com.  June  15, 1861 ;  pro.  to  capt,  Nov.  13, 

1861;  res.  Nov.  11,  1862. 
William  M.  Hale,  2d  lieut.;  com.  June  15,  1861  ;  pro.  to  1st  lieut.  Nov. 

8,  1861 ;  to  capt.  July  23,  1863 ;  resigned  for  disability  ;  recommis- 

sioned  April  1,1864;  transferred  to  37th  Inf.;  wounded  Aug.  21, 

1864;  disch.  at  exp.  of  service,  Dec.  19,  1864. 
Bright  Bisbee,  capt.;  com.  June  11,1863;  wounded  Feb.  12,  1864;  re- 
signed. 
Charles  F.  Lee,  1st  lieut. ;  com.  May  8,  1863 ;  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 
Edward  L.  Langford,  2d  lieut. ;  com.  Nov.  8,  1861 ;  pro.  to  1st  lieut.  Oct. 

26,  1862;  transferred. 
William  M.  Wade,  2d  lieut.;  com.  May  8,1863;  pro.  to  capt.  June  11, 

1863  ;  disch.  at  exp.  of  service,  May  5, 1864. 
John  P.  Staples,  1st  sergt ;  enl.  June  15,  1861 ;  disch.  at  exp.  of  service, 

1864. 
George  M.  Hatch,  sergt. ;  enl.  June  15, 1861  ;  pro.  to  1st  sergt.  1862;  2d 

lieut,  Feb.  2,  1863;  disch.  at  exp.  of  service,  June  27,  1S64. 
Charles  A.  Peyton,  sergt.;  enl.  June  15,  1861;  died  Sept.  23,  1862,  at 

Newport  News,  Va. 
James  W.  Gilmore,  sergt. ;  enl.  June  15, 1861;  disch.  at  exp.  of  service, 

June  15, 1864. 
William  0.  Braman,  corp.;  enl.  June  15, 1861;  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 
Abner  J.  Pierce,  corp. ;  enl.  June  15,1861;  pro.  to  1st  sergt.;  disch.  at 

exp.  of  service,  1864. 
James  E.  Seaver,  corp. ;  enl.  June  15,1861;  pro.  to  1st  sergt.,  1862;  to 
2d  lieut.  Co.  F,  Nov.  22,  1862;  to  1st  lieut.  Co.  G,  May  5,1863; 
wounded  ;  res.  Nov.  6,  1863. 
Enoch  Macomber,  corp.;  enl.  June   15,  1861;   trans.  April  4,  1864,  to 
navy. 

Enlisted  in  service  June  15,  1861. 
Rollin  H.  Babbitt,  sergt. ;  disch.  at  exp.  of  service,  1864. 
Samuel  0.  Blake,  sergt. ;  wounded  at  Wilderness,  1864;  disch.  at  exp.  of 

service,  1864. 
Ebenezer  Cory,  sergt.;  disch.  by  President's  proclamation. 
James  Laug,  sergt. ;  disch.  at  exp.  of  service,  1864. 
James  H.  Macomber,  sergt. ;  disch.  Dec.  26,  1863,  to  re-enl.;  trans.  April 

8  to  navy. 
James  B.  Allen,  Corp.;  died  of  wounds  May,  1864. 
Matthew  Bliss,  corp. ;  disch.  for  disability  Jan.  5,  1864. 
James  H.  Luther,  corp.  ;  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  June,  1864. 
George  G.  Peck,  corp.;  trans.,  1863,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps. 
Benjamin  F.  Williams,  corp. ;  died  of  wounds  at  Wilderness,  1864. 


TAUNTON. 


853 


Charles  L.  Wilbur,  Corp.;  died  of  wounds  at  Fredericksburg,  1863. 

Edward  W.  Chamberlain,  musician  ;  disch.  for  disability,  1861. 

John  Neal,  musician;  disch.  for  disability,  1863. 

Everett  N.  Mason,  wagoner;  disch.  at  exp.  of  service,  1864. 

Lewis  B.  Barton,  trans.  Feb.  12,  to  U.S.A. 

William  J.  Barrows,  disch.  for  disability,  1861. 

Henry  H.  Beach,  died  Jan.  22,  1864. 

Christopher  C.  Besse,  trans.  June  14, 1864,  to  37th  Inf. 

Cyrus  B.  Bidwell,  disch.  for  disability,  1861. 

Andrew  Bliss,  disch.  by  President's  proclamation. 

George  W.  Boston,  died  of  wounds  at  Wilderness,  1864. 

George  J.  Briggs,  disch.  to  re-enlist,  1864. 

Joel  Briggs,  trans,  to  37th  Inf.,  1864. 

William  C.  Brown,  trans,  to  37th  Inf. 

Mark  W.  Bubser,  disch.  bj'  President's  proclamation. 

Charles  Burt,  died  at  White  House  Landing,  Va.,  1862. 

William  H.  Carpenter,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service,  1864. 

George  E.  Caswell,  disch.  for  disability,  1863. 

Orville  S.  Chace,  died  at  Camp  Brightwood,  1862. 

Reuben  Chace,  trans,  to  37th  Inf.,  1864. 

Henry  H.  Codding,  clerk  adj. -gen.  staff;  trans,  to  37th  Inf.,  1864  ;  disch. 

at  exp.  of  service. 
James  Conlin,  died  June  4,  1864. 
James  Cornes,  disch.  by  President's  proclamation. 
William  H.  Craig,  died  at  Hagerstown,  Md.,  1862. 
Nelson  Dary,  disch.  for  disability,  1862. 
Thomas  Davis,  died  of  wounds  May,  1864. 
James  A.  Dean,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service,  1864. 
James  J.  Dean,  disch.  for  disability,  1862. 
John  Dewsnap,  died  on  government  transport,  1862. 
Jeremiah  Dorgan,  died  of  wounds,  1864. 
John  F.  Eddy,  disch.  for  disability,  1863. 
Jeremiah  Eldredge,  trans,  to  37th  Inf.  June,  1864. 
Benjamin  Farrell,  died  at  Harrison's  Landing,  1862. 
Edward  Feneu,  disch.  by  President's  proclamation. 

Benjamin  V.  Frazier,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service,  1864. 

Noel  B.  Fuller,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service,  1864. 

Michael  Galligan,  disch.  by  President's  proclamation. 

Augustus  F.  Gammons,  disch.  for  disability,  1863. 

Edward  Gammons,  disch.  by  President's  proclamation. 

Charles  Gay,  disch.  for  disability,  1861. 

James  L.  Gay,  died  at  Newport  News,  1862. 

Ralph  Gibbs,  disch.  for  disability,  1861. 

James  Goodwin,  killed  at  Wilderness,  1864. 

Alonzo  M.  Guild,  disch.  for  disability,  1862. 

Nanian  D.  Hamilton, disch.  for  disability,  1862. 

Edward  B.  Hathaway,  disch.  by  President's  proclamation,  1865. 

Isaac  F.  Hathaway,  trans,  to  37th  Inf.,  1864. 

Royal  Hathaway,  died  at  Swansea,  Mass.,  1862. 

William  Hathaway,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service,  1S64. 

Richard  L.  Hewitt,  trans,  to  Signal  Corps;  disch.  at  exp.  of  service. 

Eugene  Hickey,  disch.  for  disability,  1861. 

Horatio  Hudson,  died  of  wounds,  1864. 

George  R.  Ingells,  disch.  for  disability,  1862. 

Alexander  Irving,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service,  1S64. 

Henry  H.  Jones,  died  at  Washington,  1862. 

Horatio  Leach,  disch.  for  disability,  1862. 

George  J.  Lee,  died  at  Fredericksburg,  1S63. 

Patrick  Leddy,  discharged  by  president's  proclamation. 

Andrew  Leonard,  died  at  Newport  News,  1862. 

John  J.  Lockwood,  disch.  by  President's  proclamation,  1S65. 

Jeremiah  McCarthy,  disch.  for  disability,  1862. 

John  McLee,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service,  1864. 

George  L.  McLean,  disch.  by  President's  proclamation,  1S65. 

James  McMahon,  disch.  for  disability,  1861. 

Patrick  Milan,  1S63. 

Charles  H.  Mitchell,  disch.  by  President's  Proclamation,  1865. 

James  D.  Mitchell,  died  at  Taunton,  Mass.,  1862. 

James  Mulligan,  disch.  by  President's  proclamation,  1865. 

Philip  Murphy,  died  at  Andersonville,  Ga.,  1864. 

William  Packer,  died  at  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  1863. 

Albert  M.  Paull,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service,  1864. 

Marcus  R.  Peck,  disch.  by  President's  proclamation,  1865. 

George  N.  Perry,  disch.  by  President's  proclamation,  1865. 

Charles  B.  Pierce,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service,  1864. 

Phiueas  M.  Pratt,  disch.  for  disability,  1861. 

Rufus  Raymond,  died  from  wounds,  1864. 


Levi  S.  Raymond,  disch.  for  disability,  1864. 

Henry  E.  Reed,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  1864. 

John  Rothwell,  disch.  by  President's  proclamation. 

James  Ryan,  disch.  by  President's  proclamation. 

Joseph  E.  Sanford,  died  of  wounds  at  Washington,  1864. 

Frederick  W.  Shaw,  disch.  July,  1861. 

Charles  H.  Sherman,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service,  1864. 

James  L.  Sherman,  disch.  for  disability,  1861. 

James  N.  Simmons,  disch.  at  exp,  of  service,  1864. 

Henry  B.  Smith,  died  at  Taunton,  1862. 

John  B.  Smith,  disch.  by  President's  proclamation,  1S65. 

William  N.  Smith,  disch.  for  disability,  1861. 

Barzillia  F.  Staples,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service,  1864. 

John  Telford,  1862. 

George  R.  Trafton,  wounded ;  trans,  to  37th  Inf.,  1864. 

William  E.  Walker,  trans,  to  37th  Inf.,  1864. 

Thomas  J.  Whelan,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service,  1864. 

Darius  M.  Wilbur,  disch.  by  President's  proclamation,  1865. 

Bildad  Williams,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service,  1864. 

Israel  Williams,  disch.  at  exp.  of  service,  1864. 

Isaac  Wilson,  disch.  by  President's  proclamation,  1865. 

William  Willey,  disch.  by  President's  proclamation,  1S65. 

COMPANY  F,  SEVENTH   REGIMENT  INFANTRY   MASS.   VOLS. 

Zeba  F.  Bliss,  capt. ;  com.  June  15,  1861 1  wounded;  acting  major  by 
brevet ;  disch.  at  exp.  of  service  June  27,  1864. 

James  M.  Lincoln,  1st  lieut. ;  com.  June  15,  1861;  res.  Dec.  19,  1862. 

Wright  Bisbee,  1st  lieut.;  com.  Dec.  20,1862;  wounded;  pro.  to  capt.; 
res.  Feb.  12,  1864. 

James  R.  Mathewson,  2d  lieut.;  com.  July  15,1861;  pro.  to  1st  lieut. 
Nov.  13,  1861 ;  pro.  to  capt.  Oct.  25,  1862;  disch.  at  exp.  of  service 
June  27, 1864. 

James  E.  Seaver,  2d  lieut.;  com.  Nov.  22, 1862 ;  pro.  to  1st  lieut.  May  5, 
1863  ;  wounded ;  res.  1864. 

Charles  B.  Hathaway,  2d  lieut.;  com.  May  6, 1863;  disch.  at  exp.  of  ser- 
vice June  27, 1864. 

The  following  members  were  mustered  into  service 
June  15,  1861: 

Sergeants. 

1.  David  0.  Bancroft,  pro.  to  2d  lieut.  Co.  E  June  19, 1863  ;  and  capt. 

Feb.  1863. 

2.  Charles  T.  Lee,  pro.  to  2d  lieut.  Co.  K  Jap.  10, 1863. 

3.  Charles  B.  Hathaway,  pro.  to  2d  lieut.  Co.  F  May  6, 1863. 

4.  John  H.  Walker,  disch.  Aug.  10,  1862,  for  disability. 

5.  Samuel  A.  Angier,  trans.  Feb.  15, 1864,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps. 

Corporals. 

1.  Edward  A.  Pierce,  wounded  at  Wilderness  May  6,  1864 ;  must,  out 

July  5, 1864. 

2.  Charles  F.  Dean,  pro.  to  sergt. ;  killed  at  Fredericksburg  May  3, 1863. 

3.  Webster  Wardell,  died  Sept.  10,  1862,  at  David's  Island,  N.  Y. 

4.  William  H.  Harmon,  killed  at  Fredericksburg  May  3, 1863. 

5.  Francis  E.  Davis,  disch.  Aug.  15, 1861. 

6.  Benjamin  F.  Cunningham,  wounded  at  Fredericksburg  May  3, 1863; 

disch.  Aug.  10,  1863. 

7.  Lowell  M.  Maxham,  wounded  at  Fredericksburg  May  3,  1863,  in 

color-guard ;  disch.  Aug.  18,  1863. 

8.  Theodore  N.  Aldrich,  pro.  to  sergt.;  must,  out  July  5,  1864. 
James  E.  Dickens,  drummer;  must,  out  July  5,  1864. 
Greenleaf  Bassett,  fifer;  disch.  Aug.  15,  1861,  for  disability. 
Henry  D.  Moulton,  wagoner;  must,  out  July  5,  1864. 

Privates. 
Levi  Adshead,  disch.  by  President's  proclamation. 
William  H.  McAvoy,  disch.  Aug.  10,  1862,  for  disability. 
John  W.  Bartlett,  must,  out  July  5,  1864. 
James  M.  Barton,  must,  out  July  5,  1864. 
George  B.  Burt,  pro.  to  Corp.;    wounded  at  Fredericksburg  May  3,  1863  ; 

must,  out  July  5, 1864. 
John  Brown,  killed  at  Fredericksburg  May  3, 1863. 
John  Buckley,  died  at  Fortress  Monroe,  Va.,  Oct.  16,  1862. 
James  Burns,  wounded  at  Wilderness  May  5,1864;  re-enlisted;  trans. 

to  37th  Mass.  June  14,  1864. 
James  Boyle,  disch.  by  President's  proclamation. 
Wesley  Bridges,  wounded   at  Fredericksburg  May  3, 1863  ;  died  May, 

1863,  at  Potomac  Creek,  Va. 


854 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Joseph  W.  Byram,  pro.  to  1st  sergt.;  must,  out  July  5, 1S64. 

Alexander  Black,  disch.  March  20,  1862,  for  disability. 

Charles  H.  Corbett,  died  Aug.  5,1862. 

John  C.  Chace,  must,  out  July  5,  1864. 

Joseph   D.  Calahan,  pro.  to  corp. ;  wounded  at  Fredericksburg,  May  3, 

1863;  re-enlisted  ;  pro.  to  2d  lieut.  37th  Mass.  Vols.,  June  14,  1864. 
Jerome  W.  Coe,  must,  out  July  5,  1864. 
James  Cooper,  must,  out  July  5,  1864. 
Jacob  Chandler,  disch.  Dec.  28, 1863,  for  disability. 
Abraham  H.  Caswell,  disch.  Aug.  18,  1863,  for  disability. 
Harrie  A.  Cushman,  pro.  to  sergt.;  re-enlisted;  pro.  to  2d  lieut.  37th 

Mass.  Vols.  Oct.  13, 1864 ;  wounded  at  Sailor's  Creek,  1864. 
Alvin   Cook,  wounded  at  Wilderness  May  5,  1864 ;  must,  out  July  5, 

1864. 
Edward  Conners,  disch.  by  President's  proclamation. 
David  H.  Dean,  wounded  at  Fredericksburg  May  3,1863;  trans.  Sept. 

12,  1863,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps;  disch.  July  1,  1864. 
Edwin  E.  Douglas,  wounded  at  Fredericksburg  May  3,  1863;  must,  out 

July  5,  1864. 
Barney  S.  Dean,  disch.  Aug.  10,  1861,  for  disability. 
William  H.  Estes,  pro.  to  corp. ;  must,  out  July  5,  1864. 
William  L.  Eddy,  disch.  Aug.  15,1861,  for  disability. 
Louis  D.  Eames,  disch.  July  20, 1862. 
Duncan  S.  Elliott,  wounded  May  3, 1863 ;  trans  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps. ;  disch. 

July  1, 1864. 
Joseph  Elliott,  pro.  to  sergt.;  died  of  wounds  received  at  Wilderness 

May  6,  1864. 
George  W.  Forkett,  must,  out  July  5, 1864. 
Lucien  F.  Francis,  disclv.  July  20,  1862,  for  disability. 
Leonard   A.  Francis,  disch.  July  20, 1862,  for  disability  ;  died   Nov.  6, 

1862,  at  Philadelphia. 
Henry  W.  Francis,  disch.  for  disability,  Feb.  15,  1863. 
Albert  Field,  must,  out  July  5,  1864. 
William  H.  Foulds,  disch.  Aug.  15,  1863. 
Elijah  A.  Godfrey,  disch.  by  President's  proclamation. 
John  F.  Godfrey,  disch.  Nov.  26,  1862,  for  disability. 
Henry  T.  Gifford,  disch.  Aug.  26,  1862,  for  disability. 
Joseph  G.  Gregory,  disch.  Aug.  8,  1862,  for  disability. 
Joseph  M.  Gardner,  wounded  at  Wilderness  May  5,  1864 ;  died  in  1866. 
James  Groves,  died  of  wounds  received  at  Fredericksburg  May  3, 1863. 
Thomas  Hunt,  disch.  by  President's  proclamation. 
Edward  W.  Hall,  died  Aug.  16,  1862. 
James  Holden,  wounded  May  3, 1863 ;  must,  out  July  5, 1S64. 

Albert  Hoskins,  disch.  Aug.  15,  1861,  for  disability. 

James  Hannan,  disch.  for  disability. 

Frederic  Hall,  must,  out  July  5,  1864. 

John  W.  Hall,  pro.  to  corp. ;  must,  out  July  5,  1864. 

Joseph  T.  Hancock,  must,  out  July  5,  1864. 

John  Holt,  disch.  Feb.  15,  1863. 

John  Howarth,  pro.  to  sergt. ;  wounded  at  Wilderness  May  6, 1864. 

John  F.  Hathaway,  disch.  by  President's  proclamation. 

Charles  A.  Hardy,  must,  out  July  5, 1864. 

Edward  T.  Knowles,  must,  out  July  5, 1864. 

Charles  F.  Miller,  must,  out  July  5,  1864. 

Thomas  Mullen,  disch.  Dec.  1,  1863,  for  disability. 

Gideon  E.  Morton,  killed  at  Fredericksburg  May  3,  1863. 

James  McCormick,  killed  at  Wilderness  May  6, 1864. 

Levi  Osborne,  disch.  by  President's  proclamation. 

Charles  L.  Percival,  wounded  at  Wilderness  May  6,  1864. 

Evander  Pray,  wounded  at  Wilderness  May  6, 1864 ;  must,  out  July  5, 
1864. 

Lloyd  W.  Pratt,  killed  at  Fredericksburg  May  3, 1863. 

William  Park,  pro.  to  corp.  Dec.  1,  1863,  on  color-guard  ;  must,  out  July 
5,  1864. 

George  H.  Park,  disch.  Jan.  16, 1863,  for  disability. 

Nathaniel  Perry,  must,  out  July  5,  1864. 

Charles  B.  Pain,  must,  out  July  5,  1864. 

Charles  H.  Peck,  must,  out  July  5,  1804. 

William  Packer,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps;  disch.  July  1,  1864. 

Samuel  W.  Richmond,  disch.  Aug.  15,  1861,  for  disability. 

Hiram  H.  Stevens,  wounded  at  Fredericksburg  May  3,  1863 ;  trans,  to 
Vet.  Res.  Corps  Jan.  14,  1864;  disch.  July  1, 1864. 

William  0.  Stowell,  must,  out  July  5,  1864. 

George  Studley,  wounded  at  Fredericksburg  May  3, 1S63;  trans,  to  Vet. 
Res.  Corps  Sept.  12, 1863;  disch.  July  1, 1864. 

John  W.  Stowell,  re-enl.;  trans,  to  37th  Mass.  June  14, 1S64. 

William  Shaw,  disch.  by  President's  proclamation. 


Luther  Smith,  died  Nov.  28,  1862. 

Edward  D.  Seymour,  disch.  Nov.  16,  1861,  for  disability. 

William  C.  Smith,  disch.  Jan.  16,  1863,  for  disability;  died  1863. 

Everett  Shaw,  must,  out  July  5, 1864. 

Henry  Thrasher,  disch.  Nov.  16,  1861. 

Edwin  H.  Trickey,  must,  out  July  5,  1864. 

Edwin  S.  Thayer,  re-enl.;  trans,  to  37th  Mass.  June  14, 1864. 

Charles  S.  Wescott,  pro.  to  corp. ;  disch.  Aug.  26,  1862,  for  disability. 

Seth  Wordell,  re-enl.;  trans,  to  navy. 

Edward  Williams,  must,  out  July  5,  1864;  died  Jan.  15, 1880. 

John  White,  killed  at  Fair  Oaks  June  25,  1S62. 

Samuel  K.Williams,  wounded  at  Wilderness  May  5,  1864;  must,  out 

July  5,  1864. 
Erastus  T.  Williams,  disch.  Nov.  16, 1861. 
James  Ward,  disch.  by  President's  proclamation. 
Philo  B.  Wilbur,  died  March  18, 1862. 
William  V.  Whitcomb,  died  March  20,  1863. 
Everett  Washburn,  disch.  by  President's  proclamation. 

One  hundred  and  eleven  mustered  into  service;  thirty-four  mustered 
out  of  service  July  5, 1864. 

(Lieut.  James  E.  Seaver  rendered  valuable  aid  in  furnishing  the  rolls 
of  this  regiment.) 

The  above  companies  were  engaged  in  battles  at 
Yorktown,  Va.,  April  3,  1862;  at  Williamsburg,  May 
5th;  at  Fair  Oaks,  May  31st ;  at  Seven  Pines,  June 
1st;  again  at  Fair  Oaks,  June  25th;  at  Charles  City 
Cross-Roads,  June  20th;  at  Malvern  Hill,  July  1st; 
at  Antietam,  September  17th  ;  at  Williamsport,  Sep- 
tember 19th  ;  at  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  Dec.  13  and 
15,  1862;  at  Marye's  Heights,  Va.,  May  3,  1863; 
at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  3d;  at  Eappahannock  Sta- 
tion, November  7th ;  at  Chancellorsville  and  Fred- 
ericksburg, May  3, 1863  ;  in  Wilderness,  May  5th  and 
6th ;  at  Spottsylvania,  May  9,  1864  ;  at  North  Anna 
River,  Hanover  Court-House,  and  Cold  Harbor  in 
May  and  June,  1864. 

These  companies,  with  the  regiment,  under  Col. 
Johns,  returned  home  at  the  expiration  of  service, 
arriving  in  Taunton  June  20,  1864,  and  on  the  Fourth 
of  July  were  given  a  grand  reception  on  the  Agri- 
cultural Grounds,  where  they  formed,  drilled,  and 
whence  they  departed  three  years  before. 

Hon.  Harrison  Tweed  presided,  making  an  elo- 
quent speech  of  welcome  to  the  veterans  of  twenty 
battles,  followed  by  addresses  by  Hon.  S.  L.  Crocker 
and  by  Maj.  Brown,  and  a  poem  was  read  by  Hon.  A. 
M.  Ide. 

COMPANY   C,  TWENTY-SECOND   REGIMENT    MASS.  VOLS. 

This  company  was  recruited  in  Taunton  in  the 
summer  of  1861,  and  its  officers  and  non-commis- 
sioned officers  had  seen  service  in  Company  G, 
Fourth  Regiment,  in  the  three  months'  campaign  then 
just  ended.  It  was  named  the  "  Gordon  Guard," 
after  Capt.  Timothy  Gordon,  and  was  attached  to  the 
Twenty-second  Massachusetts  Regiment,  Col.  Henry 
Wilson,  and  served  for  three  years  in  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac.  Hon.  Henry  Williams,  Hon.  S.  L. 
Crocker,  Capt.  Timothy  Gordon,  Messrs.  S.  N.  Staples 
and  William  H.  Phillips,  with  many  others,  contrib- 
uted money  and  aided  in  other  ways  in  raising  this 
company,  and  it  cost  the  town  of  Taunton  nothing, 
neither  bounty  nor  recruiting  expenses.  The  roster 
includes  only  those  men  who  resided  in  Taunton. 


TAUNTON. 


855 


Mason  W.  Burt,  capt. ;  must,  in  Oct.  1,  1861 ;  pro.  major  Oct.  17,  1861  ; 

must,  out  as  brevet  colonel  Oct.  17,  1864. 
George  A.  Washburn,  1st  lieut. ;  must,  in  Oct.  1, 1S61 ;  pro.  captain  July 

10,  1862;  disch.  for  gunshot-wound  Jan.  5,  1863. 
Enos  P.  Hale,  2d  lieut.;  must,  in  Oct.  1,  1861 ;  pro.  1st  lieutenant  May 

7,  1862;  res.  Sept.  25,  1862. 
William  D.  Hatch,  1st  sergt. ;  must,  in  Sept.  2,  1861 ;  pro.  2d  lieutenant 

June  15, 1862  ;  pro.  1st  lieutenant  Sept.  26,  1862  ;  pro.  captain  Jan. 

6, 1863;  disch.  Feb.  19,  1864  (resigned). 
Charles  H.  Jones,  1st  sergt. ;  must,  in  Sept.  2, 1861 ;  disch.  Oct.  17, 1864 ; 

discharged  for  expiration  of  service. 
Joseph  Knott,  1st  sergt.;  must,  in  Sept.  2,  1861;  disch.  Sept.  24,  1863; 

2d  lieut.  56th  Inf. 
James  N.   Black,  sergt.;  must,  in  April  1,  1864;  disch.  Oct.  26,  1864; 

trans,  to  32d  Inf. 
William  H.  Carpenter,  sergt.;  must,  in  Sept.  2,  1861;  disch.  June  5, 

1863,  disability. 
Levi  L.  Crane,  sergt. ;  must,  in  Sept.  2, 1861 ;  disch.  Dec.  12, 1863 ;  trans. 

to  V.  R.  C. 
Thomas  Lynch,  sergt.;  must,  in  Sept.  2,  1861;  disch.  Oct.  17,  1864,  ex- 
piration of  service. 
Robert  J.  Plant,  sergt. ;  must,  in  Sept.  2,  1861;  disch.  Dec.  1, 1862,  for 

disability. 
John  Rock,  sergt.;  must,  in  Sept.  2, 1861;  1st  lieut.  Jan.  6,  1863;  capt. 

Nov.  15,  1863;  disch.  Oct.  17,  1864. 
Cornelius  B.  Chase,  corp. ;  must,  in  Sept.  2, 1861 ;  disch.  Oct.  17, 1864,  at 

exp.  of  service. 
John  J.  Jones,  corp.;  must,  in  Sept.  25,  1861 ;  disch.  Aug.  28, 1862,  for 

disability. 
Charles  H.  O'Neil,  corp.;  must,  in  Oct.  4,  1861;  disch.  Oct.  26,  1864; 

trans,  to  32d  Infantry. 
Daniel  Rankin,  corp.;  must,  in  Sept.  19,  1861;  disch.  Oct.  17, 1864,  at 

exp.  of  service. 
Frederick  L.  Thayer,  corp. ;  must,  in  Sept.  2, 1861 ;  disch.  Nov.  1,  1862, 

for  disability. 

Edward  L.  Darling,  musician  ;  must,  in  Sept.  2,  1861;  disch.  Sept.  16, 

1862,  for  disability. 

Privates. 

Hartwell  Atkins,  must,  in  Oct.  4,  1861  ;  died  of  wounds  at  Mechanics- 
ville,  Va.,  June  28,  1862. 

James  N.  Black,  must,  in  Sept.  2,  1861  ;  disch.  March  31,  1864. 

John  Brady,  must,  in  Oct.  4,  1861  ;  disch.  for  disability. 

Bela  F.  Brown,  must,  in  Aug.  8,  1862 ;  died  of  wounds  at  Washington, 
D.  C,  May  17, 1864. 

John  Brown,  must,  in  Oct.  4,  1861 ;  disch.  Oct.  17, 1864,  at  exp.  of  ser- 
vice. 

John  W.  Buchanan,  must,  in  Oct.  4, 1861;  disch.  Oct.  4, 1864,  at  exp.  of 
service. 

Philip  F.  Chase,  must,  in  Aug.  14, 1862  ;  disch.  Oct.  17,  1864,  at  exp.  of 
service. 

George  Clark,  must,  in  Aug.  29,  1863 ;  disch.  April  7,  1864. 

Charles  T.  Dale,  must,  in  Oct.  4,  1861 ;  died  at  Yorktown,  Va.,  June  15, 
1862. 

Andrew  G.  Dean,  must,  in  Oct.  4,  1861 ;  disch.  Dec.  6,  1862,  for  disa- 
bility. 

Daniel  N.  Dean,  must,  in  Aug.  14, 1862 ;  disch.  Oct.  17,  1864,  at  exp.  of 
service. 

Zephaniah  Dean,  Jr.,  must,  in  Sept.  2, 1861 ;  disch.  Oct.  17,  1864,  at  exp. 
of  service. 

Ezra  L.  Dickerman,  must,  in  Sept.  2, 1861 ;  disch.  Feb.  11,  1864,  for  dis- 
ability. 

John  E.  Foulds,  must,  in  Sept.  19,  1861  ;  disch.  Dec.  22,  1862,  for  dis- 
ability. 

James  0.  French,  must,  in  Aug.  14, 1862;  disch.  Oct.  24, 1862,  for  dis- 
ability. 

Joseph  Gaynor,  must,  in  Sept.  2,  1861  ;  disch.  Oct.  17,  1864,  at  exp.  of 
service. 

Johu  Glynn,  must,  in  Sept.  11,1861;  disch.  March  24,  1863.  for  dis- 
ability. 

Richard  H.  C.  Godfrey,  must,  in  Sept.  24,  1861 ;  disch.  Oct.  17,  1864,  at 
exp.  of  service. 

John  Green,  must,  in  Oct.  4,  1861 ;  killed  at  Gaines'  Mill,  Va.,  June  27, 
1862. 

Francis  F.  Hager,  must,  in  Sept.  24,  1S61 ;  disch.  March  29,  1863,  for  dis- 
ability. 

Chandler  M.  Hall,  must,  in  Sept.  17,  1861 ;  disch.  June  23, 1862,  for  dis- 
ability. 


Elisha  B.  Harridon,  must,  in  Oct.  4, 1861;  killed  at  Gaines'  Mill,  Va., 

June  27,  1862. 
Owen  Hart,  must,  in  Oct.  4,  1861 ;  disch.  Oct.  17,  1864,  at  exp.  of  service. 
Preston  B.  Harvey,  must,  in  Sept.  11, 1861 ;  disch.  Oct.  17, 1864,  at  exp. 

of  service. 
Thomas  Hathaway,  must,  in  Sept.  19, 1861;  disch.  Dec.  17, 1861,  for  dis- 
ability. 
John  Haurehan,  must,  in  Sept.  25,1861;  disch.  Jan.  24,  1863,  for  dis- 
ability. 

Thomas  Heaver,  must,  in  Sept.  12,  1861 ;  disch.  Dec.  8,  1862,  for  dis- 
ability. 

Joseph  E.  Hopkins,  must,  in  Sept.  2,  1861 ;  disch.  Oct.  17,  1864,  at  exp. 
of  service. 

Benjamin  W.  Howard,  must,  in  Sept.  2, 1861 ;  died  of  wounds  near  Rich- 
mond, Va.,  July  9, 1862. 

Joseph  A.  Howard,  must,  in  Oct.  4, 1861 ;  disch.  June  27, 1862 ;  killed  at 
Gaines'  Mill,  Va. 

Alman  S.  Johnson,  must,  in  Sept.  2, 1861:  disch.  Aug.  18,  1863,  for  dis- 
ability. 

Daniel  Lane,  must,  in  Sept.  4, 1862;  disch.  Oct.  17, 1864,  at  exp.  of  ser- 
vice. 

Patrick  Leddy,  must,  in  Sept.  12, 1861 ;  disch.  May  8, 1862,  for  disability. 

Charles  G.  Lincoln,  must,  in  Sept.  2,  1861;  died  of  wounds  at  Washing- 
ton, D.  C,  Dec.  24, 1862. 

Elmer  C.  Macomber,  must,  in  Sept.  2, 1861 ;  disch.  Feb.  3,  1863,  for  dis- 
ability. 

Thomas  Mahar,  must,  in  Sept.  28, 1861 ;  disch.  Jan.  18, 1863,  for  disability. 

William  McBridge,  must,  in  Aug.  31, 1863;  disch.  Oct.  16, 1863;  disch. 
by  President's  proclamation. 

Matthew  Meayer,  must,  in  Sept.  2,  1861 ;  disch.  Sept.  30,  1862,  for  dis- 
ability. 

Jacob  W.  Munsey,  must,  in  Sept.  2, 1861 ;  disch.  April  16, 1862. 

David  Murray,  must,  in  Sept.  2, 1861 ;  disch.  Oct.  17,  1864,  at  exp.  of 
service. 

Joseph  H.  Nichols,  must,  in  Aug.  14, 1862;  disch.  Oct.  12,  1863,  for  dis- 
ability. 

William  O'Neil,  must,  in  Oct.  4, 1861 ;  disch.  Oct.  21,  1862,  for  disability. 

Edwin  C.  Perkins,  must,  in  Sept.  20, 1861 ;  disch.  Sept.  19, 1864,  at  exp. 
of  service. 

Thomas  W.  Phillips,  must,  in  Sept.  2, 1861 ;  disch.  Oct.  17,  1864 ;  trans, 
to  32d  Inf. 

Abraham  R.  Pontin,  must,  in  Aug.  22, 1862;  disch.  Oct.  17, 1864,  at  exp. 
of  service. 

James  W.  Rankin,  must,  in  Sept.  2, 1861 ;  disch.  Oct.  17, 1864,  at  exp.  of 
service. 

Stillman  E.  Raymond,  must,  in  Sept.  20,  1861 ;  disch.  Nov.  14,  1862,  for 
disability. 

John  A.  Read,  must,  in  Sept.  2,  1861 ;  disch.  Oct.  17,  1864,  at  exp.  of 
service. 

Samuel  W.  Richmond,  must,  in  Sept.  2, 1861;  died  at  Alexandria,  Va., 
Jan.  8,  1863. 

Thomas  Smith,  must,  in  Sept.  14, 1861 ;  disch.  1862,  for  disability. 

Alfred  W.  Stoddard,  must,  in  Feb.  2,  1864;  disch.  Oct.  26,  1864;  trans,  to 
32d  Inf. 

Henry  B.  Walker,  must,  in  Aug.  14, 1862;  disch.  Oct.  17,  1864,  at  exp.  of 
service. 

Henry  E.  Williams,  must,  in  Oct.  4,  1861 ;  died  at  New  York  Harbor, 

May  30, 1862. 
Virgil  H.  Wilde,  must,  in  Sept.  2,  1864;  disch.  March  31,  1863,  for  dis- 
ability. 

This  company  was  in  the  battles  before  Richmond, 
Antietam,  Fredericksburg,  Chancellors ville,  Gettys- 
burg, Wilderness,  Laurel  Hill,  Spottsylvania,  Jericho 
Ford,  Little  River,  Shady  Grove  Church,  and  other 
places. 

COMPANY  F,  THIRTY-NINTH    REGIMENT   MASS.  VOLS. 

This  company  was  mustered  into  the  United  States 
service  in  the  Thirty-ninth  Regiment,  Col.  P.  S.  Davis, 
at  Camp  Boxford,  Aug.  27, 1862. 

Joseph  J.  Cooper,  capt.;  wounded  Feb.  7,  1865,  at  Hatcher's  Run,  Va. ; 
brev.-maj.  April  1,  1865 ;  disch.  June  2,  1865. 

Isaac  D.  Paull,  1st  lieut. ;  wounded  and  captured  May  8,  1864,  at  Spott- 
sylvania, Va. ;  died  May  9, 1864. 


856 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


John  D.  Reed,  2d  lieut.;  wounded  Aug.  19,  1864,  at  Weldon  Railroad, 
Petersburg,  Va. ;  pro.  to  1st  lieut.  Oct.  8, 1863;  tocapt.  Sept.  6,1864; 
disch.  June  2, 1865. 

Edgar  S.  Thayer,  1st  sergt.,  Aug.  22,  1862;  disch.  Oct.  22,  1862,  to  ac- 
cept com.  as  capt.  in  7th  U.  S.  Col.  Troops. 

David  Wood,  2d  sergt.,  Aug.  22,  1862;  1st  sergt.  Sept.  21,  1863;  cap- 
tured Aug.  19,  1864,  at  Weldon  Railroad  ;  disch.  June  2,  1865;  hon. 
com.  of  2d  lieut.  June  7,  1865. 

George  H.  Babbitt,  3d  sergt.,  Aug.  22,  1862;  returned  to  ranks  Feb. 
3,  1863;  disch.  June  2,  1865;  died  Dec.  9,  1877. 

Lucius  Crooker,  4th  sergt.,  Aug.  22,  1862;  sergt.-maj.  Oct.  8,  1863; 
disch.  Dec.  22,  1863,  to  accept  commission  as  captain  77th  U.  S.  Col. 
Troops;  died  in  Washington,  D.  C,  Feb.  19, 1882. 

William  Doherty,  5th  sergt,  Aug.  22,  1862;  captured  Aug.  19,  1864, 
at  Weldon  Railroad;  disch.  June  2,  1865. 

Charles  S.  Thomas,  1st  corp. ;   Aug.  22,  1862 ;   returned  to  ranks  Jan. 

1,  1863  ;  disch.  June  2, 1865. 

Otis  Washburn,  2d  corp.,  Aug.  22,  1862;  sergt.  March  2,  1S63;  disch. 

Oct.  20,  1863;  died  Feb.  7,  1881. 
J.  Percival  Townsend,  3d  corp.,  Aug.  22,  1862 ;  returned  to  ranks  May 

5,1863;  disch.  June  2,  1865. 
Horace  B.  Horton,  4th  corp.,  Aug.  22,1862;  sergt.  Nov.  1,1863 ;  wounded 

and  captured  Aug.  19,  1864,  at  Weldon  Railroad;  disch.  June  2, 

1865. 
Solamon  Washburn,  Jr.,  5th  corp.,  Aug.  22,1862;  sergt.  Sept.  4, 1863; 

disch.  May  19,  1865. 

George  L.  Knapp,  6th  Corp.,  Aug.  22,  1862 ;  disoh.  June  3,  1864. 

Charles  W.  Brewster,  7th  corp.,  Aug.  22,  1862;  disch.  March  31,  1864. 

Arthur  H.  Sproat,  8th  corp.,  Aug.  22,  1862;  returned  to  ranks;  disch. 

May  18, 1865. 

Privates. 

George  F.  Adams,  disch.  June  2, 1865  ;  died  July  27, 1882. 

Charles  B.  Austin,  captured  May  10,  1864,  at  Spottsylvania,  Va. ;  disch. 

June  2,  1865. 
Orville  A.  Barker,  Corp.,  Jan.  1,  1863;   hosp.  steward   Oct.  13,  1863; 

2d  lieut.  Dec.  10,  1863;  1st  lieut.  Oct.  24, 1864  ;  adjt.  Dec.  18,1864; 

capt.  April  3,  1865  ;  disch.  June  2,  1865. 
Charles  E.  Babbitt,  killed  May  8,  1864,  at  Spottsylvania,  "Va. 
Clark  P.  Borden,  wounded  May  8,  1864,  at  Spottsylvania,  Va. ;  disch. 

July  5,  1865. 
Frank  S.  Babbitt,  trans,  to  Signal  Corps  Sept.  1,  1863  ;  disch.  June,  1865. 
George  L.  Barrows,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps  Marcli  15,  1865. 
Preserved  Briggs,  disch.  June  2,  1865;  died  Aug.  20, 1872. 
Alfred  Boardmau,  trans  to  U.  S.  Navy  April  1,  1864. 
Henry  A.  Burt,  wounded  May  10, 1864,  at  Spottsylvania,  Va. ;  disch.  June 

2,  1865. 

James  Betagh,  appointed  corp.  Jan.  1, 1864;  wounded  May  10,  1864,  at 

Spottsylvania,  Va. ;   captured  Aug.  19,  1864,  at  Weldon  Railroad; 

disch.  June  2,  1865. 
Charles  H.  Cole,  disch.  June  2,  1865. 
Joseph  Delphin,  Jr.,  disch.  June  6,  1865. 
Erastus  L.  Dean,  killed  May  8, 1864,  at  Spottsylvania,  Va. 
Anson  J.  Dean,  appointed  corp.  March  1,  1865;  wounded  Juno  18,  1S64, 

at  Petersburg,  Va.;  wounded  March  31,  1865,  at  Hickanoc  Creek, 

Va. ;  disch.  May  25,  1865. 
William  E.  Dean,  captured  Aug.  18, 1864 ;  disch.  June  6, 1865. 
Cyrus  O.  Elmes,  wounded  Aug.  19,  1864,  at  Weldon   Railroad  ;  disch. 

May  26,  1865. 
George  W.  Gay,  captured  Aug.  18,  1864,  at  Weldon  Railroad;  disch. 

June  13,  1865. 
John  G.  Hewitt,  disch.  Jan.  13,  1863. 
Alfred  B.  Harris,  trans,  to  Signal  Corps  Jan.  12,1864;  died  April  7, 

1865. 
Eben  A.Hall,  appointed  corp.  Sept.  1,  1863;  sergt.  Feb.  1,1865;  cap- 
tured Feb.  7,  1865,  at  Hatcher's  Run  ;  disch.  June  2,  1865. 
Isaac  N.  Holloway,  wounded  Aug.  18,  1864,  at  Weldon  Railroad;  disch. 

May  12,  1865  ;  died  April  11, 1876. 
Rufus  W.  Hall,  captured  May  8,  1864,  at  Spottsylvania,  Va. ;  recaptured 

May  26,  1864  ;  disch.  April  28,  1865. 
Benjamin  J.  Hall,  appointed  corp.  May  8,  1864;  captured  Aug.  19,  1864, 

at  Weldon  Railroad ;  died  at  Salisbury,  N.  C,  while  a  Confederate 

prisoner,  Dec.  11, 1864. 
Daniel  Hall,  trans,  to  Signal  Corps  Feb.  14,1863;  sergt.  Signal  Corps 

Jan.  1,  1865;    disch.  July  5,  1865;  previously  in  navy,  May  27, 

1861-62. 
James  A.  Hathaway,  captured  Aug.  19,  1864,  at  Weldon  Railroad;  died 

at  Salisbury  prison,  N.  C,  Jan.  10,  1865. 


William  F.  Harvey,  disch.  Jan.  2,  1864;  died. 

Jesse  G.  Jewett,  appointed  corp. ;  disch.  June  2, 1S64,  and  com.  lieut.  in 

U.  S.  Col.  Troops. 
William  B.  Kelley,  died  at  Bucks  County  Hospital,  Pa.,  Aug.  30,  1864, 

from  wounds  received  in  action. 
William  Kelly,  disch.  March  4, 1863;  died. 
Edward  King,  disch.  June  2,  1865. 

David  Kane,  taken  prisoner  Aug.  19,  1864;  disch.  July  24, 1865. 
William  E.  Leonard,  disch.  June  2,  1865. 
Henry  F.  Leonard,  disch.  June  2,  1865. 

Daniel  Lincoln,  died  May  10,  1S64,  at  Laurel  Hill,  Va.,  from  wounds  re- 
ceived May  8,  1864,  at  Spottsylvania,  Va. 
Jeremiah  Leahy,  disch.  Dec.  3,  1864;  died  Dec.  6, 1875. 
Henry  A.  Lane,  appointed  corp.   March   2,  1863;  sergt.  Jan.  1,1864; 

wounded  June  19,  1864,  at  Petersburg,  Va. ;  disch.  June  8,  1865 ; 

previously  in  navy,  May  27,  1861-62. 
James  A.  Lawlor,  captured  Aug.  19,  1864;  paroled  and  disch.  from  Gen- 
eral Hospital  June  13,  1865  ;  died  Nov.  20,  1881. 
William  W.  Mason,  appointed  corporal  Oct.  9,  1S62;  disch.  June  2,  1865. 
Archibald  McClarence,  disch.  June  18,1863. 
Norman  G.  Makepeace,  wounded  May  5,  1864,  at  Wilderness,  Va. ;  disch. 

May  20.  1865. 
Charles  E.  Monroe,  appointed  hospital  steward  Feb.  17,  1863;  hospital 

steward,  U.  S.  A.,  Feb.  27, 1864 ;  assistant  surgeon,  174th  Ohio  Vols., 

1865;  disch.  June,  1865;  died  May  21,  1880. 
Edward  Mitchell,  Jr.,  disch.  Oct.  13,  1863. 
Nathan  Mitchell,  died  Sept.  27,  1862,  at  Edward's  Ferry,  Md. 
Abraham  Naylor,  wounded  Aug.  18,  1864,  at  Weldon  Railroad;  disch. 

June  2,  1865  ;  previously  in  navy,  1861-62. 
William  Nelson,  captured  May  8, 1864,  at  Spottsylvania,  Va. ;  recaptured 

May  26,  18(14 ;  wounded  Aug.  18,  1S64,  at  Weldon  Railroad;  disch. 

April  18,  1865 ;  died  Jan.  14,  1881. 
William  L.  Nichols,  appointed    corp.  Dec.   1,  1864;    wounded    Feb.  7, 

1865,  at  Hatcher's  Run;  disch.  June  2, 1865. 
Charles  A.  Pierce,  appointed  Corp.  ;  disch.  Oct.  22,  1864. 
States  Packer,  wounded  May  8,  1864,  at  Spottsylvania;  captured  Aug. 

19,  1864,  at  Weldon  Railroad;  died  Jan.  4, 1865,  in  Salisbury  prison, 

N.  C. 
Thomas  W.  Paull,  captured  Aug.  19, 1864,  at  Weldon  Railroad;  disch. 

June  13,  1865. 
Dyer  S.  Paull,  disch.  Nov.  18, 1864. 

Charles  E.  Pearson,  appointed  corp.  Nov.  1,  1863;  disch.  June  2,  1865. 
Ira  B.  Quimby,  disch.  Feb.  2,  1864,  and  com.  lieut.  in  U.  S.  Col.  Troops. 
William  H.  Reynolds,  drummer;  disch.  May  12,  1865. 
James  Riley,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps  Sept.  30, 1863. 
James  Rockett,  disch.  March  4,  1863. 

Benjamin  F.  Staples,  Jr.,  disch.  June  2, 1865  ;  died  March  28,  1868. 
James  Smith,  captured  Aug.  19,  1864,  at  Weldon  Railroad;  disch.  May 

12,  1S65. 

Fernando  C.  Skinner,  wounded  May  8,  1864,  at  Spottsylvania,  Va. ;  cap- 
tured Aug.  18,  1864.  at  Weldon  Railroad;  disch.  June  2,  1865; 
drowned  at  sea. 

Benjamin  F.  Sherburne,  disch.  by  President's  proclamation. 

Edwin  H.  C.  Smith,  wounded  May  10,1864,  at  Spottsylvania,  Va.;  cap- 
tured Aug.  19,  1864,  at  Weldon  Railroad ;  disch.  June  6,  1865. 

John  M  Stall,  wounded  May  8,  1864,  at  Spottsylvania,  Va. ;  disch.  Dec. 

13,  1864;  died  April  14,  1882. 

Charles  H.  Snow,  disch  June  3,  1865  ;  died  March  6,  1869. 

George  L.  Titus,  wounded  May  8,  1864,  at  Spottsylvania,  Va. ;  captured 

Aug.  19,  1864,  at  Weldon  Railroad  ;  disch.  June  2,  1865. 
Henry  F.  Thayer,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  Feb.  15,  1864. 
Terrence  Teigh,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  Sept.  25,  1863. 
Samuel  L.  Tisdale,  trans,  to  United  States  Navy,  April  1,  1S64. 
Charles  Thomas,  captured  May  21,  1864,  near  Guinea  Station,  Va.  ;  died 

a  prisoner. 
Herbert  E.  Tinkham,  disch.  June  2,  1865  ;  died  Nov.  25,  1877. 
George  Turner,  disch.  March  4,  1863. 
Apollos  P.  Terry,  captured  Aug.  19,  1864,  at   Weldon    Railroad;  disch. 

June  13,  1865. 
George  W.  Taylor,  disch.  Feb.  1,  1864. 
Edward  Whitters,  disch.  June  2,  1865. 
Albert  R.  White,  disch.  Dec.  10,  1862. 
Harold  Walsh,  clisch.  by  President's  proclamation. 
Reuben  B.  P.  Williams,  died  June  26,  1863,  at  Washington,  D.  C. 
George  W.  Wilson  (2d),  disch.  Jan.  3,  1864;  drowned  Oct.  15,  1882. 
Charles  E.  Wheeler,  wounded  May  8,1864,  at  Spottsylvania,  Va. ;  disch. 

June  2, 1865. 


TAUNTON. 


857 


Andrew  A.  Westcott,  appointed  Corp.,  1803  ;  wounded  and  captured,  May 
8,  1864,  at  Spottsylvania,  Va.  ;  died  June  1,  1864,  a  prisoner  in  Rich- 
mond, Va. 

Jesse  Wood,  disch.  Dec.  29,  1863. 

Roland  P.  Woodward,  wounded  May  5,  1864,  at  Wilderness,  Va.  ;  disch. 
June  2,  1865. 

Edward  M.  Woodward,  appointed  Corp.,  Nov.  1,  1863;  wounded  May  10, 
1864,  at  Spottsylvania,  Va. ;  disch.  June  2, 1865;  died  April  10,  1879. 

George  T.  Woodward,  trans,  to  Signal  Corps  Aug.  12,  1863;  died  in 
Taunton,  Sept.  17,  1865. 

Matthew  Woodward,  bugler,  chief  musician,  Nov.  1,  1863  ;  disch.  June 
2, 1865. 

Charles  A.  Barnes,  recruited  Dec.  28, 1863;  died  July  14, 1864. 

This  company  participated  in  the  battles  at  Mine 
Run,  Wilderness,  Laurel  Hill,  Spottsylvania,  Tolo- 
potomy  Creek,  Bethesda  Church,  North  Anna,  Cold 
Harbor,  White  Oak  Swamp,  Petersburg,  Weldon 
Railroad,  Bellfield,  Hatcher's  Run,  Gravelly  Run, 
Five  Forks,  Lee's  Surrender. 

VOLUNTEER  RECRUITS  AND  DRAFTED  MEN 

Who  passed  through  the  provost-marshal's  office  into  the  United  States  service 
from  Taunton  in  1864  and  1865.1 

Lewis  E.  Harvey,  1st  Cav. ;  enl.  Aug.  8,1864. 
Ira  A.  White,  1st  Cav.;  enl.  Aug.  8,  1864. 

Oliver  A.  White,  23d  Unattached  Heavy  Art.;  enl.  Aug.  23,  1864. 
Marcus  W.  Wheeler,  29th  Unattached  Heavy  Art. ;  enl.  Aug.  29, 1864. 
John  Foulds,  2d  Batt.  Light  Art. ;  enl.  Sept.  2, 1864. 
George  W.  Sweet,  2d  Batt.  Light  Art. ;  enl.  Sept.  3, 1864. 
Frank  L.  Thayer,  2d  Batt.  Light  Art. ;  enl.  Sept.  2, 1864. 
Warren  Woodward,  2d  Batt.  Light  Art. ;  enl.  Sept.  2, 1864. 
Charles  R.  Dean,  2d  Heavy  Art. ;  enl.  Sept.  3,  1864. 
William  H.  Phillips, 29th  Mass.  Vols.;  enl.  Sept.  3,  1864. 
Enos  L.  Williams,  2d  Batt.  Light  Art. ;  enl.  Sept.  5,  1864. 
John  E.  Gill, 2d  Batt.  Light  Art.;  enl.  Sept.  5,  1864. 
George  B.  Harvey,  2d  Batt.  Light  Art.;  enl.  Sept.  5,  1864. 
James  L.  Leonard,  2d  Batt.  Light  Art. ;  enl.  Sept.  5,  1864. 
Elias  P.  Woodward,  2d  Batt.  Light  Art. ;  enl.  Sept.  6, 1864. 
Benjamin  F.  Brown,  3d  Heavy  Art. ;  enl.  Sept.  26,  1864. 
Francis  L.  Carpenter,  2d  Batt.  Light  Art.;  enl.  Dec.  1,  1864. 
Frank  T.  Burns,  18th  Unattached  Mass.  Vols. ;  enl.  Dec.  7,  1864. 
•  William  T.  Boyd,  18th  Unattached  Mass.  Vols.:  enl.  Dec.  7, 1864. 
Edwin  E.  Douglass,  18th  Unattached  Mass.  Vols.;  enl.  Dec.  7,  1864. 
William  L.  Eddy,  18th  Unattached  Mass.  Vols. ;  enl.  Dec.  7, 1864. 
Charles  F.  Glynn,  18th  Unattached  Mass.  Vols. ;  enl.  Dec.  7, 1864. 
Sanford  A.  Morse,  lSth  Unattached  Mass.  Vols.:  enl.  Dec.  7,  1864. 
David  McVay,  18th  Unattached  Mass.  Vols. ;  enl.  Dec.  7, 1864. 
William  H.  Paine,  18th  Unattached  Mass.  Arols. ;  enl.  Dec.  7, 1864. 
Hodijah  L.  Tisdale,  18th  Unattached  Mass.  Vols. :  enl.  Dec.  7,  1864.' 
William  C.  Wood,  18th  Unattached  Mass.  Vols. ;  enl.  Dec.  7,  1864. 
Charles  A.  Boardman,  Capt.  Keith's  Company,  Mass.  Vols. ;  enl.  Dec.  8, 

1864. 
Warren  Gushee,  Capt.  Keith's  Company,  Mass.  Vols.;  enl.  Dec.  14,  1864. 
Joseph  McMahon,  Capt.  Keith's  Company,  Mass.  Vols. ;  enl.  Dec.  14, 1864. 
Francis  H.  Thayer,  Capt.  Keith's  Company,  Mass.  Vols.;  enl.  Dec.  14, 

1864. 
Charles  Gavin,  Capt.  Keith's  Company,  Mass.  Vols.;  enl.  Dec.  16, 1864. 
Timothy  A.  Welch,  13th  Bat.  Light  Art.;  enl.  Dec.  20,  1864. 
Andrew  G.  Dean,  Bat.  Cav.  for  frontier  defense  ;  enl.  Dec.  29,  1864. 
Alfred  A.  Dean,  Bat.  Cav.  for  frontier  defense ;  enl.  Dec.  29, 1864. 
William  Dean,  Jr.,  Bat.  Cav.  for  frontier  defense;  enl.  Dec.  29,  1864. 
Charles  W.  Dean,  Bat.  Cav.  for  frontier  defense  ;  enl.  Dec.  29,  1864. 
Otis  B.  Pierce,  Bat.  Cav.  for  frontier  defense  ;  enl.  Dec.  29,  1864. 
Edward  B.  Baldwin,  Bat.  Cav.  for  frontier  defense;  enl.  Dec.  30, 1864. 
Albert  L.  Carpenter,  Bat.  Cav.  for  frontier  defense  ;  enl.  Dec.  30,  18G4. 
George  W.  Macker,  Bat.  Cav.  for  frontier  defense  ;  enl.  Dec.  30,  1864. 
Nathan  0.  Walker,  62d  Mass.  Vols. ;  enl.  Jan.  23,  1865.  / 

William  L.  Dean,  62d  Mass.  Vols.;  enl.  Jan.  24,  1865. 
Manlius  B.  Leonard,  62d  Mass.  Vols.;  enl.  Jan.  28,  1865. 
Frederick  T.  Nelson,  62d  Mass.  Vols. ;  enl.  Jan.  31,  1865. 
Theodore  Eayes,  Sheridan's  Cavalry ;  enl.  Dec.  7,  1864;  died  in  service 

at  New  Orleans. 


1  No  record  sent  of  discharge,  all  three  years  or  during  the  war. 


Lucien  E.  Francis,  Cavalry  frontier  defense;  enl.  Dec.  29,  1864. 
John  Keys,  rep.  recruit  for  Edmund  Baylies  ;  enl.  Aug.  1,  1864. 
Edward  Hickey,  13th  Light  Art.  rep.  recruit  for  Mr.  Ed.  Baylies;  enl. 

Aug.  6, 1864. 
George  Studly,  2d  Heavy  Art.;  enl.  July  29,  1864. 
Charles  S.  Anthony,  2d  Light  Art.;  enl.  Sept.  2,  1864. 
Charles  H.  Hamilton,  2d  Light  Ait.;  enl.  Sept.  2,  1864. 
Jeremiah  Sulivan,  61st  Mass.  Vols.;  enl.  Sept.  3,  1864. 
Lorin  Feren,  2d  Light  Art. ;  enl.  Sept.  3,  1864. 
John  Kirby,  2d  Heavy  Art.;  enl.  Sept.  3,  1864. 
Peleg  B.  Whitemore,  2d  Light  Art. ;  enl.  Sept.  2,  1864. 
George  W.  Peck,  2d  Light  Art. ;  enl.  Sept.  5, 1864. 
Willis  S.  Potter,  2d  Light  Ait. ;  enl.  Sept.  5,  1864. 
David  Annis,  2d  Light  Art. ;  enl.  Sept.  6,  1864. 
Rufus  F.  White,  12th  Heavy  Art.;  enl.  Sept.  14,  1864. 
Thomas  Morgan,  2d  Heavy  Art. ;  enl.  Sept.  21, 1864. 
George  W.  Fuller,  7th  Light  Art.;  enl.  Sept.  21,  1864. 
Charles  E.  Brown,  1st  Mass.  Cav. ;  enl.  Sept.  26, 1864. 
John  C.  Maynard,  10th  Light  Bat.;  enl. Sept.  28,  1864. 
Henry  Kean,  1st  Mass.  Cav. ;  enl.  Nov.  1,  1864. 
Oscar  Rabethge,  19th  Mass.  Vols.;  enl.  Nov.  3,  18G4. 
Daniel  I.  McAskill,  1st  Regt.  Heavy  Art.;  enl.  Nov.  11,  1864. 
Patrick  H.  Couche,  19th  Mass.  Vols. ;  enl.  Nov.  12, 1864. 
Moses  Mercier,  10th  Bat.  Light  Art. ;  enl.  Nov.  21, 1864. 
Levi  K.  Congdon,  18th  Unattached  Inf.  ;  enl.  Dec.  7, 1864. 
Nelson  R.  Read,  18th  Unattached  Inf.;  enl.  Dec.  7,  1S64. 
Asa  Safford,  18th  Unattached  Mass.  Vols. ;  enl.  Dec.  7,  1864. 
Patrick  Murphy,  13th  Bat.  Light  Art. ;  enl.  Dec.  26, 1864. 
Stillman  D.  Eddy,  12th  Unattached  Heavy  Art.;  enl.  Aug.  29, 1864. 

George  Austin,  2d  Heavy  Art. ;  enl.  Sept.  3,  1864. 

Alonso  P.  Sanford,  18th  Unattached  Mass.  Vols. ;  enl.  Dec.  7, 1864. 

William  A.  Wheeler,  18th  Unattached  Mass.  Vols. ;  enl.  Dec.  7, 1864. 

William  C.  Wood,  18th  Unattached  Mass.  Vols. ;  enl.  Dec.  7, 1S64. 

Weston  Wordell,  18th  Unattached  Mass.  Vols. ;  enl.  Dec.  7, 1864;  disch. 
Jan.  24, 1865. 

George  A.  Fiske,  61st  Regt.  Mass.  Vols. ;  enl.  Dec.  8, 1864. 

John  Entsenberger,  19th  Regt.  Mass.  Vols. ;  enl.  Dec.  9,  1864. 

Henry  T.  Bond,  Capt.  Keith's  Unattached  Company  Mass.  Vols.;  enl. 
Dec.  14, 1864. 

Andrew  W.  Delano,  Capt.  Keith's  Unattached  Company  Mass.  Vols. ;  enl. 
Dec.  14, 1864. 

Reuben  F.  Delano,  Jr.,  Capt.  Keith's  Unattached  Company  Mass.  Vols. ; 
enl.  Dec.  14, 1864. 

James  O'Conners,  Capt.  Keith's  Unattached  Company  Mass.  Vols.;  enl. 
Dec.  14, 1864. 

James  D.  W.  Seymour,  Capt.  Keith's  Unattached  Company  Mass.  Vols. ; 
enl.  Dec.  14, 1864. 

Frank  P.  White,  Capt.  Keith's  Unattached  Company  Mass.  Vols. ;  enl. 
Dec.  14,  1864. 

Joseph   Garrity,  Capt.  Keith's  Unattached  Company  Mass.  Vols.;  enl. 
Dec.  16, 1864. 

James  E.  Conley,  13th  Bat.  Light  Art. ;  enl.  Dec.  19,  1864. 

Numan  D.  Hamilton,  13th  Bat.  Light  Art.;  enl.  Dec.  19,  1864. 

John  Hanrahan,  13th  Bat.  Light  Art. ;  enl.  Dec.  19,  1864. 

Thomas  Noris,  13th  Bat.  Light  Art. ;  enl.  Dec.  19,  1864. 

Ansel  L.  Cain,  13th  Bat.  Light  Art. ;  enl.  Dec.  20,  1864. 

Archibald  McClarence,  Jr.,  13th  Bat.  Light  Art. ;  enl.  Dec.  20,  1864. 

Bradford  D.  Albro,  13th  Bat.  Light  Art. :  enl.  Dec.  21,  1864. 

Patrick  Callahan,  13th  Bat.  Light  Art.;  enl.  Dec.  22,  1864. 

Edward  Gallagher,  13th  Bat.  Light  Art.;  enl.  Dec.  22,  1864. 

Timothy  O'Shey,  13th  Bat.  Light  Art. ;  enl.  Dec.  22,  1864. 

Roger  Hadfield,  Bat.  Cav.  for  frontier  defense;  enl.  Dec.  27,  1864. 

Simeon  F.  Hall,  Bat.  Cav.  for  frontier  defense  ;  enl.  Dec.  29,  1864. 

Henry  Holland,  Bat.  Cav.  for  frontier  defense;  enl.  Dec.  29,  1864. 

Charles  B.  Hathaway,  Bat.  Cav.  for  frontier  defense,  enl.  Dec.  29, 1864. 

Alpheus  S.  Orcutt,  Bat.  Cav.  for  frontier  defense  ;  enl.  Dec.  29,  1864. 

Edward  Rock,  Bat.  Cav.  for  frontier  defense  ;  enl.  Dec.  29,  1864. 

Thomas  L.  Smith,  Bat.  Cav.  for  frontier  defense  ;  enl.  Dec.  29,  1864. 

Charles  H.  Goff,  Bat.  Cav. -for  frontier  defense;  enl.  Dec.  30,  1864. 

Edward  C.  Harvey,  Bat.  Cav.  for  frontier  defense;  enl.  Dec.  30, 1864. 

William  A.  Morse,  Bat.  Cav.  for  frontier  defense  ;  enl.  Dec.  30,  1864. 

James  A.  Morse,  Bat.  Cav.  for  frontier  defense  ;  enl.  Dec.  30,  1864. 

( (sborne  E.  Eaton,  Bat.  Cav.  for  frontier  defense;  enl.  Dec.  31, 1864. 

Truman  N.Goff,  Bat. Cav.  for  frontier  defense;  enl.  Dec.  31,  1864. 

John  Lansdale,  Bat.  Cav.  for  frontier  defense;  enl.  Dec.  31,  1864. 

James  McGhay,  Bat.  Cav.  for  frontier  defense;  enl.  Dec.  31,  1864. 

Thomas  Riley,  Bat.  Cav.  for  frontier  defense;  enl.  Dec.  31,  1864. 


858 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


John  R.  Trafton,  Bat.  Cav.  for  frontier  defense';  enl.  Dec.  31,  1864. 
John  Griffin,  27th  Regt.  Mass.  Vol.;  enl.  Jan.  12,  1865. 
Elias  Frawley,  Co.  B,  58th  Regt.  Mass.  Vol. ;  enl.  Jan.  24,  1865. 
Samuel  M.  Gushee,  37th  Regt.  Mass.  Vol. ;  enl.  Feb.  4,  1865. 
Timothy  Dorgan.  Co.  C,  56th  Regt.  Mass.  Vol.;  enl.  Feb.  24,  1865. 
John  E.  Spencer,  62d  Regt.  Mass.  Vol.;  enl.  March  23,  1865. 
Thomas  R.  Gay,  62d  Regt.  Mass.  Vol. ;  enl.  March  31, 1865. 
Charles  Eldridge,  62d  Regt.  Mass.  Vol. ;  enl.  April  1,  1865. 
James  W.  Rankin,  1st  Army  Corps  ;  enl.  April  8,  1865. 

The  following  table  exhibits  the  number  of  men 
furnished  by  Taunton  as  her  quota  under  specific 
calls.  It  does  not  include  those  who  enlisted  out  of 
the  State,  or  to  the  credit  of  other  towns.  The  cost 
was, — 


For  bounties $182,193.00 

For  other  expenses 14,526.23 

Total  cost $196,719.23 

Of  this  sum  there  was  contributed  by  citizens 62,383.00 


Cost  to  the  town $134,336.23 

The  close  of  the  war  found  the  (now)  city  of  Taun- 
ton indebted  in  the  sum  of  $112,000.  $102,000  has 
been  paid  and  $10,000  has  become  merged  in  the  ex- 
isting municipal  debt  of  the  city. 

Total  number  recruited 1493 

Navy,  men  assigned 159% 


Total  number  credited  on  quota 1652 


Date  of  President's 
Call. 


April  16,  1861... 

May  3,1801 

June  17,  1861... 
May  28,  18b2.... 

July  4,  1862 

Aug.  4,  1862 

July  1,  1863 

Oct.  17,  1863 

Feb.  1,  1864 

March  14, 1864.. 
July  19,  1864.... 


Date  of  General  Orders. 


No.  of  Men 
Furnished. 


Term  of  Service. 


April  17,1861 

May  22,  1861 

June  25,1861 

May  29,  1862. ) 

July  7,  1862.   J  

Aug.  21,  1862 

Draft  by  Provost-Marshal,  Capt.  J.  W.  D.  Hull... 


Bounty 
Paid. 


67 
272 
154 

170 

166 
80* 

228 

120 
236t 


Three  months. 
Three  years 


Other 
Expenses. 


Total 
Expenses. 


Nine  months. 
Three  years! . 


81,005.00        $2,885.65  $3,890  65 

4,080.00  I       9,896.63  13,976.63 

(These  men  cost  the  town  nothing.) 

49,200.00    1       500.00 

16,600  00     f 


66,300.00 


All  terms  of  service... 


1493 


26,505.00 
84,803.00? 


439.56 
804.39 


$182,193.00     $14,526.23 


26,944.56 
85,607.39 


$196,719.23 


*  Of  this  number  (80)  60  furnished  substitutes,  15  paid  commutation,  5  went. 

t  These  drafted  men  many  of  them  were  provided  with  substitutes  by  private  subscription,  included  in  the  $26,505. 

|  In  addition  to  this  number  (236),  159%  men,  who  had  enlisted  in  the  navy  in  the  beginning  of  the  war  and  never  credited,  were  assigned  to 
Taunton. 
I  Of  this  sum,  $35,878  was  contributed  by  citizens. 


BIOGRAPHICAL     SKETCHES. 


HON.   SAMUEL    L.    CROCKER. 

Samuel  Leonard  Crocker  was  born  in  Taunton, 
Mass.,  on  March  31,  1804.  He  is  the  second  son  of 
William  Augustus  Crocker,  who  was  the  second  son 
of  Josiah,  the  eldest  son  of  Rev.  Josiah  Crocker,  the 
sixth  minister  of  Taunton,  and  successor  of  Hooke, 
Street,  Shove,  Danforth,  and  Clapp.  The  mother  of 
Mr.  Crocker  was  Sally,  daughter  of  Capt.  Jonathan 
Ingell,  who,  as  a  widow,  was  the  first  wife  of  Charles 
Richmond,  the  partner  of  Samuel  Crocker,  of  the 
well-known  business  firm  of  Crocker  &  Richmond. 
The  grandmother  of  Mr.  Crocker,  on  his  father's  side, 
was  Abigail,  daughter  of  Hon.  Zephaniah  Leonard, 
judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  and  grandson 
of  James  Leonard,  who  was  concerned  in  the  early 
Taunton  Iron- Works. 

At  an  early  age  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  put 
to  school  with  Rev.  Edward  Richmond,  of  Stough- 
ton,  and  Rev.  Pitt  Clark,  of  Norton,  finishing  his 
course  of  preparation  for  college  in  the  Bristol  Acad- 
emy at  Taunton,  when  Mr.  Simeon  Daggett  was  prin- 
cipal. With  his  elder  brother,  William,  he  entered 
Brown  University  in  1818,  under  the  presidency  of 
Rev.  Dr.  Messer,  and  graduated  in  1822,  at  the  age 
of  eighteen. 

Not   caring  to  study  a  profession,  and   inheriting 


from  their  ancestry  on  both  sides  a  business  turn  of 
mind,  the  sons,  two  years  after  their  graduation,  de- 
termined on  starting  copper-works  at  Norton'.  This 
was  in  1824,  although  their  act  of  incorporation  as 
the  Taunton  Copper  Manufacturing  Company  was 
not  obtained  till  1826.  A  younger  brother,  George 
Augustus,  was  associated  with  them  as  a  member  of 
the  firm. 

The  business  in  Norton  had  a  steady  growth,  which 
led  to  the  enlargement  of  the  works,  creating  a 
branch  of  them  at  the  Weir  in  Taunton  in  1845.  Mr. 
Samuel  L.  Crocker  has  always  been  the  active  man- 
ager of  this  large  business,  which  consists  in  smelt- 
ing and  the  manufacture  of  copper  and  yellow  metal. 
These  works  are  not  only  among  the  oldest,  but  the 
largest  and  most  prosperous  in  the  country,  and  their 
success  is  due  in  a  great  measure  to  the  skill  and 
careful  oversight  of  Mr.  Samuel  L.  Crocker. 

He  associated  himself  with  others  in  starting  the 
Taunton  Locomotive- Works,  of  which  he  is  president, 
and  the  Old  Colony  Iron  Company,  of  which  he. has 
always  been  a  director,  and  for  many  years  president, 
and  who  have  built  up  a  large  business  in  East  Taun- 
ton, a  rolling-mill  and  shops  for  the  manufacture  of 
shovels,  nails,  etc. 

The  railroad  interests  of  Taunton  have  not  been 
overlooked  by  Mr.  Crocker.  He  was  interested  in 
securing  the  Taunton  Branch  Railroad  in  1835,  the 
first  connection  by  rail  which  Taunton  had  with  Bos- 


/^&-i 


TAUNTON. 


859 


ton,  Providence,  and  New  York ;  and  the  accommo- 
dations of  the  Old  Colony  Railroad,  connecting  Taun- 
ton with  Fall  River,  New  Bedford,  Cape  Cod,  the 
South  Shore,  as  well  as  with  New  York  and  Boston, 
were  brought  about  very  much  through  the  wise  man- 
agement of  Mr.  Crocker,  one  of  its  directors. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Crocker  was  a  member  of  the  old 
Whig  party,  and  as  such  served  as  a  member  of  the 
Executive  Council  in  1849,  during  the  administration 
of  Governor  George  N.  Briggs.  In  1853  he  was 
elected  a  representative  to  Congress,  and  served  in 
that  body  from  Dec.  5,  1853,  to  March  3,  1855.  He 
was  on  several  committees,  and  won  a  good  reputation 
as  a  wise  counselor  and  a  faithful  representative.  In 
local  municipal  affairs  he  has  always  taken  an  active 
and  leading  part.  He  has  been  a  director  in  both  the 
Bristol  County  and  the  Machinists'  Banks  of  Taun- 
ton, and  for  several  years  a  trustee  of  the  insane  hos- 
pital at  the  same  place.  He  is  at  present  a  trustee  of 
Brown  University,  and  of  the  General  Theological 
Seminary  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  located 
in  New  York  City. 

Although  the  direct  descendant  of  an  early  Con- 
gregationalist  minister,  he  early  expressed  a  prefer- 
ence for  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  and  he  and 
his  brother  William  erected  about  1826  and  virtually 
sustained  for  many  years  the  first  church  of  this  order 
in  Taunton.  From  the  founding  of  the  church  to  the 
present  time  he  has  acted  in  the  capacity  of  either 
warden  or  vestryman,  and  has  served  as  a  delegate  to 
the  Diocesan  Conventions  at  different  times,  and  also 
has  thrice  been  a  member  of  the  General  Convention 
of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church.  The  beautiful 
stone  edifice  of  St.  Thomas  parish,  the  finest-finished 
church  building  in  Taunton,  has  been  erected  largely 
through  Mr.  Crocker's  instrumentality. 

For  sixty  years  Mr.  Crocker  has  been  an  active  and 
earnest  advocate  of  temperance,  and  has  delivered 
lectures  on  the  subject  to  great  acceptance  in  various 
localities.  His  influence  has  always  been  exerted  in 
favor  of  this  important  reform,  as  well  as  in  behalf  of 
sound  morals  and  practical  religion. 

In  1854,  Mr.  Crocker  retired  from  active  politics, 
but  was  steadily  engaged  in  business  up  to  the  time 
of  his  death. 

William  and  Samuel  L.  Crocker  married  sisters, 
granddaughters  of  the  distinguished  Isaiah  Thomas, 
of  Worcester,  Mass.,  founder  of  the  American  Anti- 
quarian Society,  and  sisters  of  Judge  Benjamin  F. 
Thomas,  of  that  city.  The  first  wife  of  Mr.  Samuel 
L.  Crocker  was  Hannah  Weld  Thomas,  whom  he 
married  June  15,  1825,  and  who  died  Nov.  22,  1827. 
His  second  wife  was  Caroline,  sister  of  the  first,  whom 
he  married  April  13,  1830,  and  who  departed  this  life 
Jan.  28,  1875.  Their  children  are  Mary  Caroline, 
who  married  Gen.  Darius  N.  Couch,  commander  dur- 
ing the  late  war  of  one  of  the  grand  divisions  of  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  subsequently  of  the  De- 
partment of  the  Susquehanna;    Sally,  wife   of  Ed- 


mund H.  Bennett,  for  the  past  twenty-five  years 
judge  of  probate  and  insolvency,  and  at  present  dean 
of  the  Boston  University  of  Law;  and  Ellen  Louisa 
and  Samuel  L.  Crocker,  Jr.  The  latter  graduated  at 
Brown  University  in  1856,  was  admitted  to  the  Suffolk 
bar  in  1859,  and  has  resided  for  many  years  abroad. 
(Since  the  above  was  written  Mr.  Crocker  has 
passed  away.     He  died  in  Boston,  Feb.  10,  1883.) 


WILLARD    LOYERING. 

Among  the  representative  men  of  Taunton,  those 
who  have  largely  advanced  her  material  prosperity, 
and  left  an  impress  never  to  be  obliterated,  we  must 
mention  Willard  Lovering.  He  was  son  of  William 
and  Mehitabel  (Claflin)  Lovering,  and  was  born  in 
Franklin,  Mass.,  Nov.  18,  1801.  His  father  was  a 
farmer,  and  his  early  years  were  passed  in  farm-work, 
and,  toward  his  majority,  his  winters  in  teaching.  He 
began  his  long  and  active  business  career  by  serving 
an  apprenticeship  in  the  City  Mills  at  Franklin,  where 
he  was  employed  for  several  years,  rising  step  by  step, 
until  he  had  charge  of  the  entire  establishment.  He 
took  charge  of  the  business  of  the  Blackstone  Canal 
corporation  of  Providence,  R.  I.,  in  1833,  and  re- 
mained in  that  position  three  years,  retiring  to  take 
the  agency  of  the  Carrington  Mills,  at  Woonsocket, 
R.  I.  Here  he  was  for  three  years  also.  Then,  in 
1836,  he  removed  to  Taunton,  and  was  manager  of  the 
Whittenton  Mills,  which  position  he  occupied  for  over 
twenty  years,  until  the  failure  of  C.  H.  Mills  &  Co. 
in  1857.  In  1858,  associated  with  his  sons,  he  pur- 
chased the  Whittenton  Mills,  and  successfully  con- 
ducted it,  much  enlarging  the  works  and  business, 
until  1864,  when  failing  health  admonished  him  to 
retire,  which  he  did,  leaving  the  business  to  the  suc- 
cessful management  of  his  sons,  the  Lovering  Broth- 
ers of  the  present  extensive  manufacturing  establish- 
ment. 

Mr.  Lovering  represented  Taunton  in  the  State 
Legislatures  of  1865-66,  and  was  always  interested  in 
and  consulted  in  all  the  important  interests  of  Taun- 
ton during  his  entire  residence  here.  He  was  twice 
married,  first  to  Susan  Loughead,  adopted  daughter 
of  John  Croade,  of  Warren,  R.  I.  They  had  two  chil- 
dren,— Charles  and  William.  Second,  Jan.  1,  1839, 
to  Sarah  C,  daughter  of  Governor  Marcus  and  Char- 
lotte (Hodges)  Morton.  They  had  two  children, — 
Henry  M.  and  Charlotte  M.  Mr.  Lovering  sustained 
a  high  rank  as  a  manufacturer.  A  man  of  rare  good 
judgment,  executive  ability,  and  systematic,  practical 
business  talent,  he  maintained  a  character  of  unblem- 
ished integrity  through  life,  and  died  Dec.  15,  1875, 
sincerely  mourned  by  an  unusually  large  circle  of 
friends  of  every  rank  in  life.  He  was  at  one  time 
president  of  the  Taunton  Branch  Railroad,  and  at 
his   death   was   president   of  the   Taunton  Savings- 


860 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Bank.  He  was  prominently  connected  with  the 
Episcopal  Church  for  nearly  half  a  century,  and  in 
his  latter  years  a  devoted  member  of  St.  Thomas 
Church. 


JOSEPH    WILBAR. 


Joseph  Wilbar,  whose  portrait  accompanies  this 
sketch,  was  born  in  Easton,  Mass.,  Dec.  13,  1792,  and 
died  at  his  residence  in  Taunton,  Mass.,  July  16, 
1881.  He  was  seventh  in  lineal  descent  from  Samuel 
Wildbore,  who  with  his  wife,  Ann,  daughter  of 
Thomas  Bradford,  of  Dorchester,  England,  settled 
in  Boston  as  early  as  1633.  The  name  is  variously 
spelled  (see  sketch  of  Hon.  Daniel  Wilbur,  Somerset, 
Mass.).  Samuel  Wildbore's  second  wife,  Elizabeth, 
was  admitted  a  member  of  the  first  church  in  Bos- 
ton Nov.  29,  1645.  Mr.  Wildbore  was  admitted  a 
freeman  of  Boston  in  1634  (Boston  records).  He 
settled  in  Taunton  at  an  early  day,  and  became  one 
of  its  largest  landholders.  He  had  residences  in 
Boston  and  Taunton.  He  with  some  associates  built 
and  put  in  operation  an  iron  furnace  in  that  part  of 
Taunton  now  Raynham  (see  sketch  of  Theodore 
Dean).  "He  was,  a  man  of  wealth  for  the  times, 
and  evidently  of  very  respectable  standing  in  society, 
exerting  a  wide  influence  in  each  of  the  places  where 
he  dwelt."     . 

He  died  Sept.  29,  1656. 

His  children  were  Samuel,  Jr.,  Joseph,  William, 
Shadrach,  and  Sarah. 

After  the  death  of  their  father  the  children  by  com- 
mon consent  dropped  the  "  d"  in  the  first  syllable  and 
generally  the  "  e"  final,  spelling  the  name  "  Wilbor." 

Shadrach  Wilbor,  son  of  Samuel  Wildbore,  settled 
in  Taunton  (afterwards  Raynham),  on  lands  received 
probably  from  his  father.  He  was  evidently  a  man 
of  wealth  and  influence  in  his  time.  He  held  several 
important  trusts,  representing  his  town  in  the  pro- 
vincial government,  and  served  as  town  clerk  for 
thirty-five  successive  years.  For  lifting  his  voice, 
however,  in  opposition  to  the  evils,  as  he  deemed 
them,  in  the  government  of  Sir  Edmund  Andros, 
he  was  apprehended  and  imprisoned  in  Boston,  Aug. 
30,  1687,  but  it  is  not  probable  that  he  long  remained 
there.  He  married  Hannah  -- — -,  and  had  ten  chil- 
dren, of  whom  Shadrach,  Jr.,  born  Dec.  5,  1672,  was 
the  third  son  and  sixth  child.  He  died  in  1696  or 
1697. 

Shadrach  Wilbor,  Jr.,  son  of  Shadrach,  was  born  in 
Taunton  (now  Raynham),  and  was  a  farmer  by  occu- 
pation. It  is  not  known  whom  he  married.  He  had 
five  sons,  viz.  :  Shadrach,  Meshach,  Joseph,  Jacob) 
and  Abijah.  The  first  two  sons  settled  in  Taunton, 
but  it  is  not  certain  where  the  other  three  settled. 

Meshach  Wilbor,  Sr.,  second  son  of  Shadrach,  Jr., 
was  born  in  Taunton  (now  Raynham),  married  Eliz- 
abeth   ,  who  died  Nov.  30,  1776,  in  the  seventieth 

year  of  her  age.     They  had  six  sons,  the  youngest  of 


whom  was  George,  a  native  of  Raynham,  as  the  town 
was  now  called. 

The  date  of  Meshach's  death  is  not  known.  Nothing 
is  known  of  George  Wilbor,  or  Wilbur,  as  he  now 
spelled  his  name,  except  that  he  settled  in  Titient 
parish,  Bridgewater,  Mass.,  and  was  a  farmer  by  oc- 
cupation. He  had  a  son  George,  who  settled  in  Eas- 
ton, Mass.,  and  followed  farming.  This  George  Wil- 
bur was  twice  married,  first  to  Betsey  Packard,  and 
had  eleven  children,  of  whom  Joseph  Wilbar,  the  sub- 
ject of  our  notice,  was  one.  Mr.  George  Wilbur 
married  for  his  second  wife  Widow  Mary  Francis,  by 
whom  he  had  two  children.  The  name  began  to  be 
spelled  with  an  "  a"  instead  of  a  "  u,"  thus  "  Wilbar." 

Joseph  Wilbar  was  of  the  sturdy  New  England 
yeomanry  ;  educated  in  the  New  England  common 
schools  of  two  generations  ago,  and  starting  out  in 
life  from  thence  to  make  his  own  way,  he  belonged  to 
that  great  class  which  was  so  common  fifty  years 
since,  but  is  fast  passing  into  a  traditional  type  as 
our  civilization  grows  complex.  In  1820  he  married 
Elizabeth  Capen,  and  two  years  later,  at  the  age  of 
thirty,  came  with  her  to  Taunton.  The  following 
year  his  wife  died,  and  in  1825  he  was  again  married 
to  Miss  Huldah  W.  Briggs,  who  only  survived  her 
wedding-day  a  year  and  four  months,  leaving  behind 
a  daughter,  Elizabeth  W.,  wife  of  Lovett  Morse  (de- 
ceased). 

In  August,  1827,  he  married  Miss  Fanny  M.  Lin- 
coln, who  survives  him  after  a  wedded  life  of  almost 
fifty-four  years.  Of  this  union  there  were  four  chil- 
dren ;  three  died  in  infancy,  one  only,  Joseph  E., 
present  register  of  deeds,  attaining  maturity. 

During  his  earlier  residence  here  his  principal 
business  was  land  surveying,  by  which  he  became 
familiar  with  the  real  estate  of  the  town.  He  very 
soon  became  prominent  in  town  affairs,  and  from 
about  1830  was  on  the  board  of  selectmen,  most  of 
the  time  chairman,  until  he  was  appointed  register  of 
deeds  in  the  spring  of  1841.  He  was  a  leader,  by  the 
simple  strength  of  his  convictions,  in  the  politics  of 
the  time,  and  his  connection  with  the  public  interest 
increased  constantly.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Con- 
stitutional Convention  in  1852,  with  Governor  Morton 
and  Hon.  Henry  Williams.  He  held  the  office  of 
register  of  deeds  for  almost  thirty-three  years  until 
the  end  of  1873.  Familiar  with  the  town  affairs, 
with  its  real  estate  and  its  men,  becoming  widely 
known  throughout  the  region,  and  as  widely  respected 
for  his  wisdom  and  sagacity,  and  trusted  for  his  in- 
tegrity, he  found  business  increasing  to  the  limit  of 
his  ability,  and  had  he  not  been  very  moderate  in  his 
charges  he  might  have  reaped  a  rich  pecuniary  har- 
vest. Probably  no  man  has  had  so  much  to  do  with 
the  settlement  of  estates  and  the  adjustment  of  differ- 
ences of  opinion,  or  been  so  often  called  upon  to 
serve  on  boards  of  reference  and  counsel.  From  the 
beginning  of  the  Bristol  County  Savings-Bank  he  was 
one  of  its  pillars,  his  sagacity  and  knowledge  of  real 


, 


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TAUNTON. 


861 


estate  proving  .of  inestimable  service.  In  1865  he 
succeeded  Capt.  Silas  Shepard  as  president,  and  re- 
tained the  position  during  his  life,  his  resignation  a 
year  or  two  before  his  death  being  refused,  not  as  a 
mere  matter  of  courtesy,  but  because  of  the  worth  of 
his  name,  even  after  his  activity  had  ceased  by  reason 
of  age  and  infirmity. 

He  united  with  the  Broadway  Congregational 
Church  in  September,  1826,  at  the  age  of  thirty-four, 
although  for  some  years  previous  he  had  been  a  steady 
attendant  upon  its  worship.  He  never  was  able  to 
fix  the  date  of  his  conversion.  Religiously  educated, 
always  serious  and  conscientious,  his  religious  life 
began  like  the  light  of  dawn,  and  grew  and  bright- 
ened as  the  years  went  by.  Possessed  of  strong  feel- 
ing, he  was  yet  not  a  man  of  superficial  emotions  ;  he 
believed  the  truth,  and  quietly  and  decisively  accepted 
it,  opening  all  the  windows  of  his  soul  Godward,  and 
so  the  light  that  was  in  him  grew  and  broadened ; 
but  men  never  saw  any  flare  of  lamps  or  any  flashing 
of  lightning. 

In  August,  1828,  he  was  chosen  deacon,  which  office 
he  held  for  almost  fifty-three  years,  though  for  the 
last  few  years  relieved  from  its  active  duties.  This 
term  far  exceeds  that  of  any  other  deacon  of  that 
church. 

But  his  deaconate  is  measured  by  deeds,  not  years, 
long  as  it  was.  From  the  first  he  felt  and  accepted  a 
heavy  share  of  responsibility  in  the  church.  His 
post  in  the  prayer-meeting  was  not  vacated.  Week 
by  week  and  year  by  year  the  church  knew  where  to 
find  him  Thursday  night.  All  his  life  he  taught  in 
the  Sabbath -school  until  eighty-seven  years  old,  and 
the  influence  he  has  exerted  on  the  young  men  whom 
he  has  taught  goes  on  now  that  he  has  fallen  asleep. 

For  thirty  years,  until  nearly  eighty  years  old,  he 
was  treasurer  of  the  society,  and  in  that  arduous  and 
responsible  position,  if  he  expected  others  to  do  their 
duty,  he  spared  himself  least  of  all.  Year  after  year, 
if  a  deficit  occurred,  he  gathered  a  few  on  whom  he 
could  depend,  stated  the  amount,  and  called  upon 
them  to  make  it  up,  his  own  subscription  never 
lagging  behind. 

So  he  walked  in  the  light,  as  God  is  in  the  light, 
and  they  had  fellowship  together,  until  at  last  to  us 
he  was  not,  for  God  took  him. 

Joseph  E.  Wilbar,  the  present  register  of  deeds,  is 
the  only  surviving  son  of  Joseph  and  Fanny  M.  (Lin- 
coln) Wilbar,  and  was  born  in  Taunton,  July  9, 1832. 
The  line  of  descent  has  been  as  follows : 

(1)  Samuel  Wilbore,  (2)  Shadrach  Wilbor,  Sr.,  (3) 
Shadrach  Wilbor,  Jr.,  (4)  Meshach  Wilbor,  Sr.,  (5) 
George  Wilbor,  (6)  George  Wilbar,  Jr.,  (7)  Joseph 
Wilbar,  and  (8)  Joseph  E.  Wilbar. 

Mr.  Wilbar  received  his  education  at  the  local 
schools  in  his  native  town.  At  the  age  of  seventeen 
he  entered  the  office  of  register  of  deeds  as  clerk  for 
his  father  for  the  Northern  District  of  Bristol  County. 
He  served  in  that  capacity  till  December,  1861,  when 


he  was  appointed  postmaster  of  Taunton,  and  served 
for  more  than  four  years.  He  then  again  entered  the 
register  of  deeds'  office,  this  time  as  clerk  and  assistant 
register  of  deeds,  and  continued  in  that  relation  till 
Jan.  1,  1874,  when  he  was  elected  register  of  deeds  to 
take  his  father's  place.  This  position  he  has  filled 
with  credit  to  himself  and  satisfaction  to  his  constit- 
uents till  the  present  time  (1883).  He  is  Republican 
in  politics,  trustee  of  Bristol  County  Savings-Bank 
since  1874,  and  president  since  January,  1882.  He  is 
also  a  director  in  Bristol  County  National  Bank. 

He  married  Emma,  daughter  of  Albert  and  Harriet 
(Ide)  Barrows,  of  Norton,  Dec.  26,  1861.  Of  this 
union  there  are  five  children,— Albert  E.,  Arthur  L., 
Charles  B.,  Helen  M.,  and  Louise  R. 

Mrs.  Wilbar  was  born  in  Norton,  June  25,  1839. 
Her  father  was  an  agent  for  many  years  of  Barrows' 
factory,  at  Barrowsville,  in  Norton.  Her  grandfather 
was  named  Carlos  Barrows. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wilbar  are  members  of  the  Broadway 
Congregational  Church  in  Taunton. 


EDMUND  BAYLIES. 
The  Baylies  family  in  this  country  come  of  Quaker 
stock  in  England,  where  Nicholas  Baylies  appears  on 
June  5,  1706,  as  a  witness  to  the  marriage  of  his  son 
Thomas,  and  is  described  as  "of  the  parish  of  Aloe- 
Church,  county  of  Worcester."  Thomas  married 
Esther  Sargeant,  daughter  of  Thomas  Sargeant,  of 
Ffullford-Heath,  in  the  parish  of  Soby-Hull,  county 
of  Warwick.  He  carried  on  iron-works  in  England 
first  at  Colebrook-dale,  and  afterward  at  some  place 
on  the  Thames.  With  his  son  Nicholas  and  daugh- 
ter Esther  he  came  to  Boston  from  London  in  June, 
1737,  then  returned,  and  the  year  after  brought  over 
his  wife  and  two  daughters.  He  settled  at  Uxbridge, 
Mass.,  about  1738,  and  established  iron-works  there. 
His  son  Nicholas  was  interested  in  iron-works  at 
Taunton,  to  which  place  he  removed  from  Uxbridge, 
probably  not  earlier  than  1745.  He  married  Eliza- 
beth Parks,  of  Newton,  Mass.,  in  1738,  and  by  her 
had  seven  sons  and  one  daughter.  He  was  a  noted 
patriot  at  the  time  of  the  Revolution,  and  died  in 
1807.  Two  of  his  sons,  William  and  Hodijah,  were 
educated  at  Harvard  College.  The  former  was  dis- 
tinguished for  eminent  talent,  both  as  a  physician 
and  for  varied  acquirements  in  other  departments. 
The  latter,  born  Sept.  17,  1756,  was  one  of  the  same 
class  at  college  as  Rufus  King  and  Judge  Dawes, 
with  whom,  throughout  their  lives,  he  maintained  a 
close  and  cordial  friendship.  On  graduating  from 
college  in  1777,  he  obtained  a  commission  as  lieuten- 
ant of  infantry,  enlisted  a  company,  and  his  first  ser- 
vice after  recruiting  was  on  the  Hudson,  where  he 
was  attacked  by  a  fever  which  nearly  proved  fatal. 
When  Gen.  Lincoln  was  appointed  to  the  command 
of  the  Southern  Department  he  selected  Hodijah 
Baylies  as  one  of  his  aides-de-camp,  and  in  that  ca- 


862 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


pacity  he  participated  in  the  unsuccessful  attempt  to 
storm  Savannah.  When  Gen.  Lincoln  capitulated  at 
Charleston,  May  12,  1780,  Maj.  Baylies  became  a 
prisoner  of  war,  and  as  soon  as  his  exchange  was  ef- 
fected he  rejoined  the  army,  aud  in  1782  became  one 
of  the  aides-de-camp  of  Gen.  Washington,  with  the 
rank  of  lieutenant-colonel  by  brevet.  He  was  with 
the  commander-in-chief  at  the  surrender  of  Cornwal- 
lis  at  Yorktown,  where  Washington  appointed  Gen. 
Lincoln  to  receive  the  English  general's  sword.  He 
remained  in  Washington's  military  family  until  the 
end  of  the  war,  after  which  he  spent  some  time  at 
Mount  Vernon,  and  in  1784  returned  to  the  North 
and  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Mary  (Cushing) 
and  Maj. -Gen.  Lincoln. 

After  a  short  residence  at  Hingham  he  removed  to 
Taunton,  where  he  owned  iron-works  which  he  su- 
perintended, making  bar-iron  and  afterwards  an- 
chors, and  continuing  this  business  until  1806.  In 
1785  he  removed  to  Dighton,  where  he  bought  land, 
on  which  was  a  house  which  had  been  a  hotel  during 
the  war,  and  which  he  remodeled.  About  that  time 
he  was  appointed  collector  of  the  port  of  Dighton, 
and  held  this  office  for  many  years,  resigning  it  in 

1833.  In  1810  he  was  appointed,  by  Governor  Gore, 
judge  of  probate  for  the  county  of  Bristol,  and  in 
1814  he  was  elected  by  the  General  Court  of  Massa- 
chusetts a  member  of  the  Hartford  Convention.     In 

1834,  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight,  and  in  the  full  vigor 
of  his  mental  faculties,  he  resigned  the  office  of  judge 
of  probate,  and  retired  from  all  public  employments. 
He  died  April  26,  1843,  in  the  eighty -seventh  year  of 
his  age.  His  wife  died  at  Dighton  in  1823.  They 
had  three  sons  and  one  daughter:  William,  who  was 
a  graduate  of  Harvard  College  and  died  early ;  Ed- 
mund, the  subject  of  this  sketch  ;  Amelia,  who  mar- 
ried Dr.  Alfred  Wood,  of  Dighton,  and  died  without 
issue  in  1862 ;  and  Benjamin  L.,  who  died  in  1869. 
William  and  Benjamin  never  married.  Edmund 
Baylies  was  born  at  Hingham,  Sept.  22,  1787,  and 
attended  school  there,  and  later  at  Dighton,  until  he 
was  sixteen  years  of  age,  when,  having  no  taste  for  a 
classical  education,  he  went  to  Boston,  entering  as 
apprentice  the  commercial  house  of  Cunningham 
Brothers.  His  first  successful  adventure  was  in  1805, 
as  supercargo,  in  charge  of  a  vessel  for  Hamburg 
with  a  cargo  of  sugar  and  colonial  products,  which 
he  sold  at  high  prices  just  before  the  battle  of  Auster- 
litz  and  the  closing  of  the  European  ports  by  Napo- 
leon. After  this  he  made  several  voyages  to  Arch- 
angel, landing  there  goods  which  he  undertook  to 
have  delivered  in  Paris,  which  he  did  in  spite  of 
Napoleon's  police.  He  also  took  part  of  a  contract 
for  supplying  flour  to  the  English  peninsular  army 
under  Wellington,  and  in  carrying  this  out  he  went 
to  Lisbon  with  a  cargo  of  flour.  He  afterwards 
formed  a  partnership  with  Mr.  Thomas  B.  Curtis,  of 
Boston,  for  carrying  on  trade  with  Russia,  and  retired 
from  business  in  1836.     In  1835  he  purchased  land  at 


Taunton,  from  Dr.  Alfred  Williams,  and  built  on  it  a 
stone  house.  Up  to  this  time  he  had  resided  in  Mount 
Vernon  Street,  Boston,  but  in  1838  he  removed  to 
Taunton,  generally  passing  the  winter  in  the  city  and 
the  summer  in  the  country  until  1848,  when  he  sold 
the  house  in  Boston  and  remained  permanently  at 
Taunton,  with  the  exception  of  occasional  trips  to 
Europe.  In  1819  he  married  Elizabeth  Ann,  daugh- 
ter of  Ruth  (Larkin)  and  Phillips  Payson,  of  Charles- 
town,  Mass.  Mrs.  Baylies,  was  born  in  1799,  and  died 
at  Boston,  Oct.  10, 1846.  She  was  possessed  of  great 
personal  beauty,  and  was  universally  beloved  for  her 
kindness  of  disposition,  her  amiable  manners,  and  her 
unaffected  piety.  Three  children  were  the  issue  of 
this  marriage, — two  daughters  and  one  son. 

Elizabeth,  the  eldest,  married  Wickham  Hoffman, 
of  New  York,  a  lawyer,  and  a  son  of  Judge  Murray 
Hoffman.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the  civil  war  he 
entered  the  army,  and  occupied  many  positions  of 
distinction,  first,  on  the  staff  of  Brig.-Gen.  Thomas 
Williams,  at  Hatteras,  then  with  Gen.  Butler  at  New 
Orleans,  and  afterwards  as  assistant  adjutant-general 
on  the  staff  of  Gen,  Sherman,  and  of  Maj. -Gen. 
Franklin.  In  1865  he  held  the  same  position  on  the 
staff  of  Maj. -Gen.  Canby,  resigned  in  1866,  and  in 
the  same  year  was  appointed  Secretary  of  Legation  at 
Paris,  where  he  remained  for  nine  years  under  Minis- 
ters Dix  and  E.  B.  Washburne,  and  through  the  siege 
and  the  commune.  In  1875  he  was  transferred  to 
London,  in  1877  to  St.  Petersburg,  and  in  February, 
1883,  was  appointed  minister  to  Denmark. 

The  second  daughter,  Ruth,  married  Maturin  Liv- 
ingston, of  New  York,  a  grandson  of  Gen.  Morgan 
Lewis,  of  Revolutionary  fame,  and  of  Gertrude  Liv- 
ingston, sister  of  Chancellor  Livingston. 

The  son,  Edmund  Lincoln,  married  Nathalie  E., 
daughter  of  Cornelia  (Prime)  and  Robert  Ray,  of 
New  York,  and  died  at  Geneva,  Switzerland,  in  1869, 
while  traveling  for  his  health.  His  widow  now  re- 
sides on  the  homestead  at  Taunton. 

In  early  life  Edmund  Baylies  belonged  to  the  Or- 
thodox denomination,  but  after  his  marriage  he  be- 
came a  member  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  and  was 
for  many  years  a  vestryman  of  St.  Thomas'  Church 
at  Taunton,  as  well  as  one  of  those  who  gave  most 
liberally  towards  the  building  of  the  present  stone 
edifice.  In  politics  he  was  an  old-fashioned  Whig,  and 
when  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  broke  out,  he  warmly 
supported  the  government ;  was  in  favor  of  active 
measures  against  the  South,  and  being  too  advanced 
in  years  to  serve  his  country  in  the  field  procured  an 
able-bodied  substitute,  whom  he  sent  to  the  front  as 
his  representative. 

Of  medium  height  and  fine  appearance,  with  clear 
blue  eyes  and  a  florid  complexion,  he  strongly  resem- 
bled the  Duke  of  Wellington,  for  whom  he  has  been 
mistaken  in  Europe.  He  retained  his  strikingly  erect 
carriage  until  his  death,  in  his  ninety-first  year.  He 
was  not  more  remarkable  for  his  courtly  manners 


TAUNTON. 


863 


than  for  his  uprightness  of  character  and  invariable 
truthfulness.  He  was  most  liberal  where  his  heart 
and  his  judgment  approved,  but  as  unostentatious  in 
his  charities  as  in  his  manner  of  life.  He  always  re- 
gretted not  having  been  forced  to  go  to  college,  was  a 
great  reader,  had  a  wonderful  memory,  and  was  a 
charming  conversationalist.  A  man  of  rare  judg- 
ment and  business  capacity.  As  a  director  of  the 
Taunton  National  Bank,  the  Old  Colony  Iron  Com- 
pany, the  Taunton  Copper  Manufacturing  Company, 
the  Taunton  Locomotive  Manufacturing  Company, 
and  other  corporations,  he  gave  wise  and  prudent 
counsel.  He  was  for  many  years  a  trustee  of  the 
Taunton  Public  Library,  and  was  a  member  of  the 
Massachusetts  Society  of  the  Cincinnati.  His  farm 
interested  him  deeply,  and  he  was  especially  success- 
ful in  setting  out  trees,  many  hundreds  of  which,  by 
their  vigorous  growth  and  commanding  size,  bear 
witness  to  his  skill.  At  the  death  of  his  brother 
Benjamin,  in  1869,  the  family  estate  at  Dighton  re- 
verted to  him,  and  he  devoted  himself  to  its  improve- 
ment. He  retained  his  faculties  unimpaired  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  at  Taunton,  May  16, 1878,  after 
a  short  illness.  His  remains  were  interred  in  the 
family  plot  at  Dighton,  by  the  side  of  his  wife,  and 
near  the  other  deceased  members  of  his  family. 


ALFRED    BAYLIES,  M.D. 

Alfred  Baylies,  son  of  Thomas  and  Bethia  (Godfrey) 
Baylies,  was  born  in  Dighton,  Mass.,  Sept.  16,  1787. 
He  was  brought  up  a  farmer,  and  retained  a  warm 
love  for  rural  life  and  horticulture  all  his  days.  He 
attended  private  schools  and  studied  medicine  with 
his  uncle,  the  celebrated  Dr.  William  Baylies,  in  his 
native  town.  In  those  days  the  young  student  visited 
the  bedsides  of  the  sick  from  the  first,  and  experience 
and  observation  were  instructors  equal,  if  not  supe- 
rior, to  those  furnished  by  the  most  munificently-en- 
dowed college  at  the  present  day.  His  studies  finished, 
about  1813,  he  commenced  the  practice  of  medicine 
in  Taunton,  and  from  the  first  had  marked  success. 
He  married  Rebecca  Dennis,  daughter  of  James 
Sproat,  Esq.,  of  Taunton,  Dec.  4,  1813.  They  had 
four  children, — Alfred  S.,  who  became  a  physician ; 
married,  December,  1844,  Jane  Ingell  Richmond,  and 
died  in  August,  1847,  leaving  two  children, — Alfred 
Wood  and  William  Sargent  (deceased);  Amelia  F., 
married  Samuel  Southgate ;  resides  in  Plymouth,  and 
has  two  children  ;  Ann  S.  (Mrs.  Charles  R.  Vickery)  ; 
and  Adaline  S.  Mrs.  Baylies  was  born  in  1789,  and 
died  July  24, 1843.  Dr.  Baylies  married  for  his  second 
wife  Frances  A.,  daughter  of  Abiathar  and  Nancy 
Dean  Williams,  Nov.  21,  1847.  Their  children  are 
Maria  W.  and  Esther  S.  He  died  July  2, 1873,  in  his 
eighty-sixth  year.  Dr.  Baylies  was  one  of  the  plain, 
unassuming  gentlemen  which  we  class  as  belonging 
to  the  old  school.  He  was  social,  methodical,  and 
systematic.     By  diligence  and  faithful  though  ardu- 


ous endeavors  he  acquired  a  large  and  lucrative  prac- 
tice. The  people  had  great  confidence  in  him,  and 
his  presence  in  a  sick  room  was  a  curative  agent  in 
itself.  He  despised  all  ostentation,  and  cared  little 
for  personal  appearance.  He  was  of  positive  and  de- 
termined nature,  and  fixed  in  his  ways.  He  possessed 
such  sound  judgment  that  he  was  generally  right,  and 
was  very  popular.  He  was  active  in  all  society  mat- 
ters; was  an  ardent  Freemason,  and  held  in  high 
honor  by  the  craft.  He  was  secretary  of  King  David 
Lodge,  F.  and  A.  M.,  of  Taunton  for  over  thirty 
years,  and  during  the  dark  days  of  the  Morgan  ex- 
citement was  the  guardian  of  the  charter  of  the  lodge. 
The  brethren  at  Weir  named  their  lodge  "  Alfred 
Baylies  Lodge,"  in  honor  of  his  masonic  virtues. 

He  was  very  fond  of  pets,  and  never  without  some 
one  of  the  lower  animals  on  which  to  lavish  attention. 
He  was  noted  for  his  knowledge  of  horticulture,  in 
the  pursuit  of  which  he  built  many  greenhouses. 
He  grew  many  and  rare  varieties  of  grapes,  and 
manufactured  a  large  amount  of  wine.  He  was  a 
great  reader,  keeping  himself  fully  abreast  of  the 
times.  His  reading  was  solid  and  substantial,  largely 
professional,  historical,  and  scientific.  Of  sterling 
honesty,  he  never  made  an  appointment  or  a  promise 
of  any  kind  that  was  not  rigidly  and  promptly  kept. 
His  word  was  as  good  as  his  bond,  and  neither  was 
ever  protested.  He  was  an  affectionate  husband  and 
a  loving  father,  and  he  particularly  enjoyed  the  hap- 
piness of  the  home  circle,  although  he  never  mur- 
mured when  called  from  it  to  face  wintry  storms 
for  the  relief  of  suffering.  He  gave  his  children 
advantages  of  good  education,  and  was  in  favor  of 
everything  tending  to  improve,  elevate,  or  instruct 
humanity.  He  was  for  years  a  trustee  of  Bristol 
Academy,  and  none  did  more  hearty  or  valuable 
labor  than  he  in  the  cause  of  higher  education.  He 
was  Unitarian  in  religious  belief,  and  Whig  and  Re- 
publican in  politics.  Although  prized  as  a  citizen 
and  a  social  companion,  his  memory  will  be  longer 
cherished  as  the" beloved  physician,"  who  for  over 
half  a  century  filled  a  place  in  Taunton  and  sur- 
rounding towns  none  other  can  ever  fill.  He  was  a 
man  who,  in  all  the  walks  of  life,  was  of  inflexible 
integrity.  This  was  his  pre-eminent  characteristic. 
His  object  in  all  the  varied  demands  of  life  was  to 
ascertain  his  duty,  and  then  to  do  it  at  whatever  cost. 
No  higher  encomium  on  any  man's  memory  could  be 
written.  Thus  he  honored  his  domestic  relations,  his 
professional  position,  his  social  and  civic  obligations, 
and  exemplified  the  teachings  and  requirements  of 
the  church  of  his  choice. 


HON.  CHARLES    RICE    VICKERY. 

Hon.  Charles  Rice  Vickery  was  born  in  Weir  vil- 
lage, Taunton,  Mass.,  Nov.  24,  1800,  and  died  at  his 
residence  in  this  city,  Jan.  16,  1883.  He  was  a  son 
of   Capt.    David   and    Priscilla    (Barnum)    Vickery. 


864 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


His  mother  was  the  daughter  of  Caleb  Barnum,  the 
seventh  minister  of  Taunton,  who  died  in  1776,  while 
on  his  way  to  join  a  regiment  of  Continentals  as  chap- 
lain, soon  after  the  outbreak  of  the  Revolution. 

Mr.  Vickery  was  best  known  to  the  present  gener- 
ation by  his  years  of  service  as  cashier  and  president 
of  the  Machinists'  Bank,  but  prior  to  those  duties  he 
was  an  energetic  merchant,  and  one  of  the  best  auc- 
tioneers that  ever  wielded  a  hammer  in  Bristol 
County.  Mr.  Vickery  was  also  an  old-fashioned 
Democrat,  and  for  many  years  an  active  politician 
and  leader  of  that  party  in  this  county.  His  service 
in  State  duties  was  as  senator  from  this  district  in 
1852.  He  was  postmaster  of  Taunton  for  more  than 
twenty  years,  and  held  many  offices  of  trust.  His 
geniality  and  pleasant  manners  made  him  a  wide  cir- 
cle of  friends  during  his  long  life. 

He  was  twice  married,  first  to  Rebecca  Church, 
and  had  four  sons, — Charles  O.,  John  M.,  Benjamin 
C,  and  James  E., — all  of  whom  were  born  in  Taun- 
ton, grew  to  maturity,  and  all  died  before  their  father. 
Mr.  Vickery  married  for  his  second  wife  Ann  S., 
daughter  of  Dr.  Alfred  Baylies,  of  Taunton,  Nov.  30, 
1858.     She  survives  him. 

Mr.  Vickery  was  for  many  years  a  prominent  mem- 
ber of  the  First  Congregational  Society,  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  building  committee  of  the  present  church. 

Mr.  Vickery  was  a  man  of  unblemished  character, 
spotless  integrity,  sound  and  discriminating  judg- 
ment, keen  foresight,  and  conservative  in  all  his 
views.     He  lived  respected  and  died  regretted. 


THEODORE   DEAN. 


Theodore  Dean  is  a  lineal  descendant  in  the  seventh 
generation  from  John  Deane,  who  came  from  Chard, 
England,  in  1637,  and  settled  in  Taunton,  then  called 
Cohannet.  The  line  of  descent  from  John  Deane  ( for- 
merly spelled  with  an  "  e"  final)  to  Theodore  Dean 
is  as  follows  :  John1  and  Alice  Deane  had  several  chil- 
dren, the  second  son  of  whom  was  Thomas1,  born 
1642,  died  1690.  He  married  Katharine  Stephens, 
who  died  in  1726.  Their  second  son  was  Thomas*, 
born  1673,  died  Sept.  10,  1747.  He  married  Mary 
Kingsley,  of  Milton.  She  died  Feb.  1,  1749,  aged 
seventy-four  years.  Their  second  son  was  Josiah*, 
born  1699,  died  March  23, 1778.  He  married,  in  1737, 
Jane,  daughter  of  Capt.  Nehemiah  Washburn,  of 
Braintree.  She  was  born  in  1715,  and  died  in  1790. 
They  had  children,  the  fourth  son  of  whom  was  Hon. 
Josiah5,  born  March  6,  1748.  He  was  member  of 
Congress  from  1807-9;  died  Oct.  14,  1818.  He  mar- 
ried Sarah  Byram,  who  was  born  in  1750,  and  died 
Jan.  13,  1849,  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-nine 
years.  They  had  eight  children,  the  seventh  of  whom, 
Eliab  Byram,  born  1788,  died  Nov.  2, 1871.  He  mar- 
ried Charlotte  Williams,  of  Taunton,  and  had  twelve 
children,  one  of  whom  is  Theodore.     For  a  more  com-  i 


plete  history  of  John'Deane,  the  ancestor,  see  "Pio- 
neer History  of  Taunton." 

Eliab  Byram  Dean1  was  a  native  of  Raynham,  was 
a  manufacturer  of  iron  in  early  life,  but  toward  the 
close  was  a  farmer.  He  was  a  Whig  and  Republican, 
but  never  an  aspirant  for  political  honors.  For  more 
than  fifty  years  he  was  a  deacon  of  the  Congregational 
Church  in  Raynham,  and  his  faithful  wife  was  a  mem- 
ber until  her  death. 

Theodore  Dean  was  born  in  Raynham,  Dec.  31, 
1809.  He  received  a  common  school  and  academic 
education  at  Bristol  Academy,  Taunton,  Mass.  At 
eighteen  he  commenced  teaching,  and  taught  four 
winters  with  credit  to  himself  and  satisfaction  to  his 
constituents.  He  was  reared  a  farmer  and  manufac- 
turer of  iron,  and  continued  with  his  father  until 
1848,  when  he  purchased  his  father's  interest  in  the 
"old  iron  forge"  at  Raynham,  and  continued  to 
conduct  a  successful  business  until  1873.  This  forge 
was  the  first  in  the  Old  Colony,  and  one  of  the  first 
in  America,  those  at  Lynn  and  Braintree  having  been 
established  at  an  earlier  date.  This  forge  or  bloomery 
was  established  by  Messrs.  Henry  and  James  Leonard 
and  Ralph  Russell  as  early  as  1656.  "  The  forge  at 
Raynham  was  the  great  joint-stock  company  of  that 
vicinity  and  period."  These  works  were  undoubtedly 
very  profitable,  and  the  records  say  that  "  my  share" 
or  "  shares  in  the  iron-works"  were  transmitted  from 
father  to  son,  or  other  heirs,  for  several  generations. 
This  old  forge  is  now  (1883)  owned  by  Theodore  Dean. 
It  has  been  several  times  remodeled,  and  was  in  suc- 
cessful operation  for  more  than  two  hundred  years. 
Mr.  Dean  is  also  a  descendant  from  the  Leonards  on 
his  father's  side  and  through  his  grandmother,  Sarah 
Byram,  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Eliab  Byram. 

Mr.  Dean  removed  to  Taunton,  Aug.  15,  1866,  and 
has  continued  to  reside  here  since.  He  is  a  Repub- 
lican in  politics,  and  represented  Raynham  and 
Easton  in  the  State  Legislature  in  1866,  serving  on 
the  Committee  of  Banks  and  Banking.  In  1851  he 
was  chosen  a  director  of  Bristol  County  Bank,  and, 
September,  1853,  was  chosen  its  president,  and  has 
served  in  that  capacity  till  the  present  time.  In 
1865  the  name  of  this  bank  was  changed  to  "  Bristol 
County  National  Bank."  He  is  a  director  in  various 
manufacturing  interests  both  at  home  and  abroad, 
and  in  all  of  his  varied  interests  has  been  successful. 
Mr.  Dean  is  one  of  Taunton's  most  respected  and 
wealthy  citizens.  He  is  a  man  of  energy  and  deci- 
sion of  character,  with  strong  convictions,  which  he 
does  not  lack  the  courage  openly  to  avow,  and  in  all 
matters  of  business  and  finance  his  rare  judgment 
and  sagacity  are  unquestioned.  He  married  Lydia 
A.  Lord  in  November,  1854.  They  have  had  three 
children:  (1)  Florence,  born  Nov.  13,  1856,  married, 
Oct.  25,  1876,  Charles  D.  Stickney,  of  Fall  River,  and 
has  two  children,— Harold  D.  and  Adelaide  L. ;  (2) 
Charles  Theodore,  born  March  1,  1860,  and  died  Aug. 
27,  1865;  and  (3)  Bertha,  born  Sept.  15,  1866. 


/u   -  /  - 


TAUNTON. 


865 


WILLIAM   MASON. 

William  Mason,  the  founder  of  the  Mason  Machine- 
Works  at  Taunton,  Mass.,  belongs  to  that  class  of  in- 
telligent and  vigorous  mechanics  who,  in  spite  of 
early  disadvantages  and  by  the  force  of  native  genius, 
leave  their  impress  upon  the  age  in  which  they  live. 
New  England  has  been  especially  fruitful  in  such 
men,  and  they  in  turn  have  rewarded  her  by  making 
her  the  pride  and  glory  of  America.  The  following 
sketch  of  the  life  of  Mr.  Mason  is  taken  mainly  from 
"  The  History  of  American  Manufactures,"  by  J. 
Leander  Bishop,  A.M.,  M.D.,  and  "  Representatives 
of  New  England,"  by  J.  D.  Van  Slyck,  published 
respectively  in  1864  and  1879. 

William  Mason  was  born  at  Mystic,  Conn.,  in  1808, 
and  was  the  son  of  a  blacksmith  and  small  farmer. 
His  boyhood  was  passed  in  his  father's  shop  and  on 
the  farm  two-thirds  of  each  year,  and  the  remainder 
in  the  country  school.  When  he  was  three  years  old 
the  family  removed  to  a  small  island  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Mystic  River.  Here  they  remained  for  three  years, 
and  then  removed  to  Stonington,  where  the  father 
cultivated  a  small  farm  and  worked  at  his  trade  as  a 
blacksmith.  William's  mechanical  aptitude  early 
manifested  itself.  He  fashioned  his  toys  himself, 
using  his  father's  jack-knife,  and  when  eight  years  of 
age  made  jew's-harps,  afterwards  some  skates  and 
sleds.  He  also  succeeded  in  making  musical  instru- 
ments of  various  kinds. 

At  thirteen  years  of  age  he  left  home,  and  going 
to  Canterbury,  Windham  Co.,  Conn.,  he  entered  the 
spinning-room  of  a  small  cotton -factory  as  an  opera- 
tive. William  worked  at  cotton-spinning  for  about 
four  years,  spending  one  year  at  Lisbon  in  a  cotton- 
thread  factory.  While  at  Lisbon,  one  of  the  more 
complicated  machines  needed  repairs,  and  it  was 
found  that  young  Mason  alone  could  make  them. 
This  fact  becoming  known  at  East  Haddam,  where  a 
mill  for  the  manufacture  of  thread  was  about  to  be 
established,  he  was  sent  for  to  start  the  machines, 
though  only  fifteen  years  of  age.  While  employed  at 
cotton-spinning  at  "Canterbury  he  amused  himself  by 
making  a  "  hurdy-gurdy."  This  instrument  is  still 
retained  by  Mr.  Mason  as  a  memento  of  his  early  me- 
chanical recreations. 

At  seventeen  he  entered  the  machine-shop  attached 
to  the  cotton-mill  at  Canterbury  to  learn  the  details 
of  machine-work,  and  devoted  himself  to  it  three 
years,  when  he  closed  his  apprenticeship  and  went  to 
New  Hartford,  near  Utica,  N.  Y.  Here  he  obtained 
work  in  a  machine-shop,  but  within  a  month  the 
company  failed  and  the  shop  was  closed.  The  busi- 
ness, however,  was  soon  started  again,  though  on  a 
more  limited  scale,  and  young  Mason  was  re-engaged. 
After  having  been  there  about  six  months  he  returned 
to  his  old  employer  at  Canterbury,  and  soon  had 
finished  and  set  up  the  first  power  loom  used  in  this 
country  for  the  manufacture  of  diaper  linen.  He  also 
constructed  an  ingenious  loom  for  weaving  damask 
55 


table-cloths,  the  figures  of  the  middle  and  borders 
being  interwoven;  but  this  machine,  unfortunately, 
had  a  short  career,  as  his  employer  soon  failed.  Mr. 
Mason,  who  had  always  possessed  a  taste  for  art,  es- 
pecially for  the  art  of  painting,  established  himself 
for  a  short  time  as  a  portrait-painter.  This,  however, 
was  not  to  be  his  life-work. 

In  1832  he  received  an  order  from  John  Hyde,  of 
Mystic,  for  some  diaper-looms.  He  had  neither  shop 
nor  means  to  warrant  his  taking  the  contract,  but  ob- 
taining an  advance  on  the  job,  he  contracted  for  the 
necessary  frames  at  a  shop  in  Willimantic,  with  the 
privilege  for  himself  and  assistant  of  working  there. 
Thus  he  realized  a  profit  of  about  ten  dollars  a  day. 
This  was  the  turning-point  of  his.  career,  and  he 
thenceforward  devoted  himself  to  the  manufacture 
of  machinery. 

The  reputation  gained  by  the  fulfillment  of  this 
contract  with  Mr.  Hyde  was  the  means  of  securing 
for  Mr.  Mason  an  engagement  with  Asel  Lanphear, 
who  had  a  machine-shop  in  Killingly,  Conn.,  and 
was  at  work  on  a  new  device  for  spinning,  which  has 
become  well  known  as  the  ring  and  traveler,  or  ring- 
frame.     It  was  the  invention  of  John  Thorp,  of  Prov- 
idence, R.  I.,  by  whom  it  was  patented  Dec.  31,  1828. 
This   invention   had  been   attempted   several  times 
before,   but   without    success.     Mr.    Lanphear    soon 
failed,  and  Mr.  Mason  took  charge  of  the  establish- 
ment on  account  of  the  creditors,  receiving  a  per- 
centage on  the   business.     In  the   ring-traveler,  un- 
developed and  unskillfully  made  as  it  was,  he  saw  the 
germ  of  a  most  important  improvement,  and  he  at 
once  constructed  a  machine  for  making  it  more  per- 
fectly and  of  an  improved  form.     He  remodeled  and 
perfected  the  "ring,"  and  designed  a  new  and  taste- 
ful iron  frame  in  place  of  the  clumsy  affair  previously 
made.     There  was  at  first  a  limited  demand,  owing 
to   the   prejudice  created  by  the  failure  of  the  old 
machine.     The  new  device,  however,  soon  acquired  a 
reputation  which  it  has  retained  to  the  present  time. 
Having    remained    at    Killingly   two    years,    Mr. 
Mason  entered  the  employ  of  Crocker  &  Richmond, 
then  doing  a  large  business  in  the  manufacture  of 
cotton  machinery  at  Taunton,  Mass.     For  the  next 
twelve  months  he  worked  steadily  on  his  ring-frames. 
In  the  financial  crisis  of  1837  Crocker  &  Richmond 
failed,   and    were   largely  indebted    to   Mr.   Mason. 
Not  discouraged,  however,  by  this  disaster,  he  at  once 
devised  a  "  speeder"  or  "  roving-machine."     Shortly 
afterwards  the  old  machine-shop  of  Crocker  &  Rich- 
mond was  started  up  again  by  Leach  &  Keith,  and 
Mr.  Mason  was  employed  as  foreman,  with  his  pat- 
ented speeder  as  a  specialty.     The  building  of  this 
machine  soon  gave  way  to  the  manufacture  of  the 
great   invention  of  his  life,  the  "  self-acting  mule." 
On  this  he  experimented  about  two  years,  and  re- 
ceived his  patent  Oct.  8,  1840.     About  the  same  time 
the  machine  known  as  the  "  Scotch  mule"  was  intro- 
duced into  this  country,  and  a  more  formidable  rival 


866 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


appeared  in  1841  in  the  "Sharp  &  Roberts  mule," 
imported  by  Maj.  Bradford  Durfee,  and  patented  in 
this  country  Oct.  11,  1841.  The  latter  machine  was 
in  some  respects  superior  to  that  of  Mr.  Mason,  and 
he  set  himself  to  make  an  entirely  new  mule.  In 
this  he  succeeded,  receiving  a  patent,  Oct.  3, 1846,  for 
what  is  known  among  cotton  manufacturers  as 
Mason's  self-acting  mule.  Just  before  completing 
this  machine,  in  the  winter  of  1842,  he  was  taken  ill, 
and,  to  add  to  his  trouble,  Leach  &  Keith  failed, 
owing  him  a  large  amount. 

On  his  recovery  he  determined  to  engage  in  busi- 
ness on  his  own  account,  and  through  the  friendly 
assistance  of  James  K.  Mills  &  Co.,  of  Boston,  he  be- 
came the  principal  owner  and  manager  of  the  works. 
The  prosperous  times  which  succeeded  the  tariff  of 
1842,  and  the  confidence  of  cotton  and  other  manufac- 
turers in  his  mechanical  abilities  at  once  established  a 
business  which  in  a  very  few  yearsenabled  him  to  erect, 
after  his  own  design,  the  noble  buildings  known  as  the 
Mason  Machine-Works,  the  largest,  it  has  been  said, 
ever  erected  at  one  time  for  the  manufacture  of  ma- 
chinery. The  main  shop  was  three  hundred  and  fifteen 
feet  long  and  three  stories  high,  but  addition  after  ad- 
dition has  been  made  to  accommodate  a  constantly  in- 
creasing business  until  now  the  buildings  cover  an  area 
of  ten  acres.  His  business  for  many  years  comprised 
the  manufacture  of  cotton  and  woolen  machinery,  ma- 
chinists' tools,  blowers,  cupola  furnaces,  gearing  and 
shafting,  but  the  branch  in  which  he  was  especially 
successful  was  the  manufacture  of  cotton  machinery. 
In  this  department  he  labored  indefatigably  to  devise 
and  introduce  those  various  improvements  which 
have  contributed  to  increase  the  production,  extend 
the  consumption,  and  diminish  the  price  of  cotton 
fabrics. 

In  1852,  having  placed  his  business  as  a  manufac- 
turer of  cotton  and  woolen  machinery  and  of  the 
iron-work  just  named  on  a  solid  basis,  he  resolved  on 
a  new  and  additional  enterprise.  The  first  locomotive 
was  brought  into  this  country  from  England  early  in 
1830  by  Horatio  Allen,  of  New  York  ;  and  the  first 
American  mechanic  to  engage  successfully  in  their 
manufacture  was  Matthias  W.  Baldwin,  of  Philadel- 
phia, who  built  the  first  engine  in  1832,  and  was  fol- 
lowed by  Thomas  Rogers,  of  Paterson,  N.  J.,  in  1837. 
Both  of  these  mechanics  made  important  improve- 
ments in  the  details  of  their  locomotives.  These, 
however,  were  still  built  on  the  general  plan  and 
model  of  the  English  locomotives.  Mr.  Mason  de- 
termined to  contrive  a  new  model,  and  in  1853  he 
brought  out  his  first  locomotive,  which  at  once  at- 
tracted attention  for  its  beauty  and  taste,  as  well  as 
for  its  workmanship.  The  general  form,  as  well  as 
numerous  improvements  in  details  presented  by 
him,  has  since  been  adopted  by  locomotive-builders 
throughout  the  country.  He  had  erected  in  1852  ad- 
ditional buildings,  and  he  now  entered  vigorously  into 
this  new  field. 


One  of  the  improvements  introduced  by  Mr.  Mason 
was  the  casting  of  truck-wheels  for  locomotives  and 
tenders  with  hollow  or  tubular  spokes  and  rims,  in- 
stead of  the  plate  or  solid  wheels  then  in  use.  This 
secured  greater  strength  to  the  truck-wheels,  and 
made  them  uniform  with  the  driving-wheels  of  the 
locomotives.  The  first  locomotives  brought  out  by 
Mr.  Mason  in  1853  were  furnished  with  these  im- 
proved truck-wheels. 

In  1857  the  Boston  firm  with  which  Mr.  Mason 
was  connected  in  business  failed,  and  for  a  short  time 
he  was  obliged  to  suspend  payments.  He,  however, 
soon  started  again  on  his  own  account,  and  conducted 
the  business  alone  until  1873,  when  an  incorporated 
company  was  formed  for  the  purpose  of  perpetuating 
the  business  in  the  hands  of  his  heirs  and  successors. 
It  has  since  been  known  as  the  Mason  Machine- 
Works. 

In  1879  there  was  added  to  the  other  works  the 
manufacture  of  the  Campbell  printing-press,  for  the 
accommodation  of  which  the  capacity  of  the  shops 
has  been  greatly  enlarged,  and  new  machinery  put  in 
adapted  to  that  branch.  The  works  produce  an 
average  of  one  press  a  day,  and  employ  in  all  depart- 
ments about  a  thousand  hands.  The  officers  of  the 
company  are  William  Mason,  president;  William  H. 
Bent,  treasurer;  Frederick  Mason,  agent. 

(Since  the  above  was  written  Mr.  Mason  has  passed 
away.     He  died  May  21, 1883.) 


HENRY   G.  REED. 

The  family  of  Reed,  spelled  variously  Reade,  Rede, 
Reid,  Read,  and  Reed,  traces  its  lineage  back  to  the 
Norman  conquest.  Among  the  names  contained  on 
the  muster-roll  of  William  the  Conqueror  in  1050  was 
John  Rede,  or  John  of  Rede.  (See  biography  of 
Henry  C.  Read,  of  Attleborough.) 

William  Reade,  supposed  to  be  the  son  of  William 
Reade  and  Lucy  Henage,  was  born  in  1605,  and  sailed 
from  Gravesend,  in  the  County  of  Kent,  in  the  "  As- 
surance de  Lo"  (Isaac  Broomwell  and  George  Persey, 
masters),  in  1635.  He  settled  in  Weymouth,  Mass., 
and  was  made  freeman  Sept.  2,  1635.  He  bought  a 
house  and  land  of  Zachary  Bicknell,  for  seven  pounds, 
thirteen  shillings,  and  four  pence,  in  1636. 

Mr.  Reade  was  among  the  early  settlers  of  Wey- 
mouth, it  having  been  made  a  plantation  May  8, 
1635,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Hull  and  twenty-one  families  set- 
tled there.  He  was  representative  from  Weymouth 
in  1636  and  1638. 

The  Christian  name  of  his  wife,  it  is  supposed,  was 
Avise.  Their  children  were  William,  Esther,  Thomas, 
John,  Mary,  and  Margaret. 

John1,  son  of  William1,  of  Weymouth,  was  born  in 
1649,  married  Bethiah  Frye.  Their  children  were 
John,  William,  Thomas,  George,  Mary,  Ruth,  and 
Hannah. 

Mr.  Reade  was  a  house-carpenter,  and  appears  to 


j  ,<  ,    /  / 


( 


TAUNTON. 


867 


have  been  a  man  of  considerable  property  and  an 
extensive  dealer  in  land.  The  records  describe  about 
a  dozen  pieces  of  land  bought  by  him  in  Taunton, 
and  several  parcels  sold  by  him.  He  was  quite  a 
business  man  in  Taunton,  but  removed  from  there  to 
Digliton,  where  he  died  Jan.  13,  1720-21.  His  wife 
died  Oct.  20,  1730.  They  were  buried  in  Dighton, 
on  Burying  Hill,  between  Upper  and  Lower  Four 
Corners.     He  was  the  ancestor  of  the  Taunton  Reeds. 

William3  (John2,  William1),  of  Taunton,  married 
Mary  Richmond,  June  8,  1721.  Their  children  were 
John,  William,  Mary,  and  Abigail.  He  was  a  pious 
man.  He  died  in  1734.  The  homestead  is  owned 
and  occupied  by  one  of  his  descendants  at  the  present 
time  (1883). 

His  widow  married  Stephen  Andrews,  Nov.  6, 1738, 
a  man  of  learning  and  piety,  known  by  his  neighbors 
as  "  St.  Stephen,"  who  lived  to  the  age  of  nearly  one 
hundred  years. 

John*  (William3,  John2,  William1)  was  born  in 
1722.  He  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  and  a  man  of 
considerable  business;  was  one  of  the  Committee  of 
Inspection  and  Correspondence  in  the  Revolution,  and 
was  also  a  religious  man.  He  was  above  the  middle 
stature,  and  rather  stern  in  his  manners.  He  married, 
Dec.  30,  1746,  Dorothy  Pinneo.  Their  children  were 
Ruth,  Lois,  John,  Mary,  Dorothy,  Hannah,  Zilpah, 
Enos,  and  Lydia. 

He  married  for  his  second  wife,  Jan.  9,  1771,  Mrs. 
Hannah  Austin.  Their  children  were  Nathan,  Phebe, 
David  and  Jonathan,  twins.  Mr.  Reed's  first  wife, 
Dorothy,  was  the  daughter  of  James  Pinneo,  a  French 
Huguenot,  who  had  escaped  from  France  during  the 
persecutions  of  that  pious  and  devoted  band,  and 
after  having  been  secreted  in  dens  and  caves  in 
France,  he  finally  made  his  way  to  America  and  set- 
tled in  Lebanon,  Conn.  The  Rev.  Bazaliel  Pinneo, 
of  Milford,  Conn.,  is  his  great-grandson.  Mr.  Reed 
died  December,  1788. 

John5  (John4,  William3,  John2,  William1)  was 
born  March  29,  1752.  He  was  above  the  middle 
stature,  athletic,  and  uncommonly  regular  in  his 
habits;  was  known  in  public  life,  having  been  select- 
man and  representative  several  years.  He  was  often 
chosen  as  arbitrator  between  parties,  and  was  known 
as  Esquire  Reed.  He  was  likewise  distinguished  for 
piety,  and  filled  an  important  place  in  the  society  to 
which  he  belonged.  He  married  Mary  Godfrey,  Nov. 
21,  1775.  Their  children  were  John,  born  Aug.  11, 
1776;  William,  born  Oct.  6,  1778;  Polly,  born  Aug. 
31,  1782;  Dolly,  born  May  31,  1785;  Marshall,  born 
Jan.  17,  1788;  Hodges,  born  June  3,  1790;  Sophia, 
born  Sept.  2,  1792 ;  Zilpah,  born  Dec.  22,  1796.  Mr. 
Reed  died  Feb.  24,  1841,  and  his  wife  died  Oct.  12, 
1843.  She  was  a  woman  of  superior  sense  and  prac- 
tical piety. 

John6  "(John5,  John4,  William3,  John2,  William1) 
was  born  Aug.  11,  1776.  He  was  a  merchant  in 
Taunton  more  than  fifty  years.     He  married  Rebecca 


Gooding,  of  Dighton,  May  31,  1804.  She  was  born 
Sept.  28,  1782.  Their  children  were  Mary  Ann,  born 
May  20,  1805 ;  John,  born  June  17,  1808 ;  Henry  O., 
born  July  23,  1810;  Rebecca,  born  April  12,  1813; 
William  A.  (deceased),  born  Sept.  2,  1816;  Sophia, 
born  Nov.  9,  1818;  Elizabeth  G.,  born  Sept,  4,  1822. 
Mr.  Reed  died  Nov.  9,  1864;  his  wife  died  Jan.  31, 
1872. 

Henry  G.7  (John6,  John5,  John4,  William3,  John2, 
William1)  was  born  July  23,  1810.  He  attended  the 
public  schools,  and  afterward  the  academy  in  Taun- 
ton. During  school  vacations  he  helped  his  father  in 
his  store.  In  his  early  life  he  made  a  collection  of 
wood-working  tools,  and  spent  much  of  his  leisure 
working  with  them,  making  useful  articles  for  the 
family  and  neighbors,  and  miniature  vessels  and  other 
toys  for  his  mates.  When  eighteen  years  of  age  he 
entered  the  shop  of  Babbitt  &  Crossman  as  an  ap- 
prentice, and  continued  with  that  firm  and  its  succes- 
sors until  he  attained  his  majority  in  1831. 

During  his  apprenticeship  he  had  become  the  master 
of  his  trade,  so  that,  continuing  in  the  employ  of  the 
Taunton  Britannia  Manufacturing  Company  as  a 
journeyman,  working  at  first  at  the  lathe  and  after- 
wards in  various  departments,  he  was  in  time  intrusted 
with  the  oversight  of  the  work  of  others,  and  was  ap- 
pointed time-keeper  and  superintendent.  These  rela- 
tions he  sustained  when,  in  1835,  the  firm  was  com- 
pelled to  suspend  operations,  and  the  managing  agent 
contracted  with  him  and  Mr.  Barton  to  continue  the 
business.  He  began  the  manufacture  of  britannia- 
ware,  in  connection  with  Charles  E.  Barton  and  Gus- 
tavus  Leonard,  in  1837,  employing  twelve  hands.  The 
business  now  is  chiefly  the  manufacture  of  electro- 
plated silver-ware,  and  in  times  of  ordinary  prosperity 
eight  hundred  people  are  employed  in  the  mills.  There 
is  no  plate-ware  which  has  a  better  reputation.  The 
company  is  at  present  composed  of  Henry  G.  Reed, 
Henry  H.  Fish  (deceased),  and  George  Brabrook. 

Mr.  Reed  has  been  a  director  in  the  Taunton  Bank 
twenty  years,  trustee  in  the  Taunton  Savings-Bank 
nine  years,  a  director  in  the  City  Mission  ten  years, 
and  president  of  the  Reed  Association  five  years.  He 
is  a  very  conscientious  man,  of  generous  sympathies, 
and  a  valuable  citizen. 

He  married  for  his  first  wife  Clara,  daughter  of  Isaac 
White,  of  Mansfield.  She  died  Sept.  27,  1847.  His 
second  wife,  Frances  L.,  daughter  of  Jared  Williams, 
of  Dighton,  died  May  9,  1857.  He  married,  Oct.  27, 
1858,  Delight  R.,  daughter  of  Christopher  Carpenter, 
of  Rehoboth.  His  children  are  Clara  I.,  Henry  A. 
(deceased),  Ida  F.  (deceased),  Fannie  L.,  and  Henry 
Francis. 


THE    BRABROOKS. 
Connected  with  the  firm  of  Reed  &  Barton— the 
elder  as  a  traveling  agent,  and  the  younger  as  a  part- 
ner— are  the  two  brothers,  Alfred  and  George  Bra- 


868 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


brook.  These  gentlemen  are  now  widely  known  as 
having  been  many  years  efficiently  connected  with 
the  business,  and  having  developed  qualities  which 
render  their  services  of  great  value.  Both  entered 
the  employ  of  the  company  young,  and  both  have 
attained  to  large  spheres  of  trust  and  responsibility 
in  their  respective  departments. 

Of  the  ancestors  of  the  family  in  this  country  little 
is  known,  except  that  they  are  believed  to  have  emi- 
grated from  Scotland.  Joseph  Brabrook  and  Thomas, 
his  brother,  were  of  Concord,  Mass.,  in  1669.  From 
Joseph  have  descended  all  who  bear  the  name  in 
America. 

The  progenitors  from  Joseph1  were  Joseph2,  Ben- 
jamin3, Benjamin*,  and  Joseph5.  The  last-mentioned 
was  the  father  of  Alfred  and  George  Brabrook  ;  also 
of  Joseph  Adams  Brabrook,  of  Lowell,  Mass.,  of  Rev. 
Benjamin  F.  Brabrook,  a  Baptist  clergyman,  who  died 
June  9, 1853,  at  Davenport,  Iowa,  and  of  Sarah  E.  A. 
Brabrook,  of  Taunton,  Mass.  Their  mother's  maiden 
name  was  Sally  Adams. 

Alfred  Brabrook  entered  the  service  of  Reed  & 
Barton  as  early  as  1837,  and  subsequently  secured  a 
place  for  his  brother  George.  It  is  only  justice  to  the 
former  to  say  that  he  has  been  a  most  efficient  and 
active  worker  for  the  interest  and  prosperity  of  the 
house  for  nearly  fifty  years,*  and  that  his  agency  has 
contributed  in  no  small  degree  to  extend  its  business 
in  the  cities  where  he  has  traveled.  Alfred  married 
Martha  Dorrence,  and  has  two  daughters  living. 

George  Brabrook,  whose  portrait  appears  on  another 
page,  was  born  at  Acton,  Mass.,  Nov.  9,  1828.  He 
was  brought  up  on  his  father's  farm  at  Acton,  and 
received  his  education  at  the  common  schools.  He 
remained  on  the  farm  until  he  had  attained  his  ma- 
jority, and  in  1850  became  an  employe  in  the  shipping- 
room  of  Reed  &  Barton,  the  firm  with  which  he  is  at 
present  connected.  It  would  hardly  be  worth  while 
to  enter  into  details  here  of  the  different  positions 
since  filled  by  Mr.  Brabrook.  He  has  devoted  him- 
self to  business  in  whatever  branch  he  has  pursued 
with  untiring  diligence  and  energy,  and  it  is  not  too 
much  to  say  that  his  success  and  the  honors  which 
are  accorded  him,  both  by  employes  and  associates, 
are  commensurate  with  his  exertions  and  with  the  in- 
telligence and  genius  which  he  has  displayed  in  his 
work.  After  being  in  the  employ  of  the  house  a 
short  time,  he  traveled  and  sold  goods  as  their  agent. 
In  1859  he  became  a  partner  in  the  business,  and  so 
remains  at  the  present  time. 

Oct.  25, 1860,  Mr.  Brabrook  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Eliza  H.  Knowles.  She  is  a  descendant  on  her 
mother's  side  of  Rev.  Samuel  Danforth,  the  fourth 
minister  of  Taunton,  and  came  to  Taunton  from  her 
native  city  of  Boston  when  quite  young.  They  have 
two  sons, — Carleton  and  George  Hale. 


MAJ.  HENRY  HUDSON  FISH. 

Maj.  Henry  Hudson  Fish  was  the  son  of  Isaac  and 
Sarah  Barker  Fish,  and  was  born  in  Providence, 
June  5,  1807.  He  first  attended  school  in  Provi- 
dence, and  was  then  sent  to  the  academy  at  Wren- 
tham,  Mass.,  and  then  to  the  school  of  Rowland 
Greene,  in  Plainfield,  Conn.  On  leaving  school  he 
entered  the  store  of  Frederic  Carpenter,  of  Provi- 
dence, and  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Carpenter  he  be- 
came a  clerk  of  Mr.  Henry  Barton.  He  then  went 
to  Boston,  into  the  auction  and  commission  store  of 
Whitewell,  Bond  &  Co.,  where  he  remained  until 
1827,  when  he  went  to  Fall  River,  where  he  formed 
a  copartnership  with  W.  H.  Hawkins  in  the  dry- 
goods  business,  one  of  the  earliest  houses  established 
there  in  that  business. 

After  several  years  of  prosperous  business  he  was 
elected  treasurer  of  the  Fall  River  Savings  Institu- 
tion, and  while  holding  this  office  was  in  1836  elected 
cashier  of  the  Fall  River  Bank.  In  this  way  he  was 
connected  with  the  business  interests  of  the  city  for 
nearly  forty  years. 

In  1863  ill  health  compelled  him  to  resign,  after 
holding  the  last-named  position  twenty-seven  years. 

After  about  two  years'  rest  and  travel,  with  im- 
proved health  he  went  into  active  business  with 
Reed  &  Barton,  of  Taunton,  Mass.,  in  Which  concern 
he  had  been  a  partner  for  many  years. 

From  that  time  he  resided  in  Boston  and  Taunton 
until  October,  1881,  when  he  went  to  Fall  River, 
making  his  home  there  with  one  of  his  married 
daughters. 

He  married  Eliza  A.  Glasier,  of  Fall  River,  Feb- 
ruary, 1830,  by  whom  he  had  seven  children,  five  of 
whom  are  still  living. 

Soon  after  becoming  a  citizen  of  Fall  River,  he 
was  elected  ensign  in  a  rifle  company  there,  and  sub- 
sequently was  elected  major  of  the  regiment.  Hebe- 
came  a  member  of  the  infantry  Sept.  9,  1821. 

He  was  much  interested  in  music,  and  was  very  in- 
strumental in  forming  the  first  military  band  and  in 
introducing  the  first  organ,  and  formed  a  society  for 
the  study  and  practice  of  church  music. 

He  was  a  Sabbath-school  teacher  over  fifty  years, 
and  maintained  to  the  last  a  warm  interest  in  all 
philanthropic  efforts,  particularly  the  education  of 
the  freedmen  and  Indians. 

He  died  Jan.  13,  1882,  and  was  buried  in  Oak 
Grove  Cemetery,  Fall  River. 


ABIEL  B.  STAPLES. 
A.  B.  Staples  was  born  in  Taunton,  Mass.,  Jan.  19, 
1819.  He  is  the  son  of  Ebenezer  and  Susannah 
(Booth)  Staples.  His  grandfather  and  great-grand- 
father were  also  named  Ebenezer.  The  ancestors  for 
several  generations  have  resided  at  or  in  the  imme- 
diate vicinity  of  Taunton.  His  father  was  by  occu- 
pation a  brick-maker,  and  reared  quite  a  numerous 


IMife- 


TAUNTON. 


869 


family.  His  children  were  Benjamin  F.,  Susannah 
P.,  Ebenezer  P.  (deceased),  Abiel  B.,  Fanny  M., 
Salome,  Lydia  M.,  Charity,  John  H.,  Henry  B.,  Ann 
G.,  Edward  W.,  and  Silas  L. ;  all  living  except  Eben- 
ezer, and  all  in  Bristol  County.  Ebenezer,  the 
father,  was  a  deacon  in  the  Baptist  Church,  and  one 
of  seven  who  founded  the  First  Baptist  Church  in 
Taunton.  The  family  for  several  generations  have 
been  Baptists. 

The  only  educational  advantage  enjoyed  by  A.  B. 
Staples  in  bis  youth  was  an  attendance  of  about  three 
months  of  each  year  at  the  common  school  of  his 
town,  the  other  nine  months  he  worked  in  his  father's 
brick-yard. 

In  April  of  the  year  in  which  he  attained  his 
majority  (1840)  he  started  business  for  himself.  He 
began  in  a  small  way  making  brick,  and  from  that 
time  to  the  present  this  has  been  his  business.  From 
year  to  year  he  added  to  his  facility,  and  increased 
his  capacity  for  manufacturing  until  he  is  now  one 
of  the  largest  brick  manufacturers  in  the  town.  He 
is  also  quite  a  large  contractor,  and  sells  a  great  many 
brick  for  other  parties,  as  the  demand  upon  him  fre- 
quently exceeds  his  capability  for  making.  It  is 
worthy  of  remark  that  Mr.  Staples  has  never  stopped 
his  business  on  account  of  hard  times  or  financial  de- 
pression, and  never  discharged  his  men  because  his 
business  was  not  at  that  particular  time  remunerative, 
but  every  season  he  has  worked  the  season  through. 
From  the  first  it  was  his  ambition  to  excel  in  the 
quality  of  his  goods,  and  to  this  ambition  may  be 
attributed  the  very  favorable  reception  his  bricks  meet 
with  at  the  hands  of  all  masons  using  them. 

Mr.  Staples  was  for  several  years  a  member  of  the 
City  Council  of  Taunton,  but  has  never  sought  politi- 
cal office.  He  has  chosen  to  devote  himself  earnestly 
and  entirely  to  his  business.  He  is  a  shareholder  in 
two  or  three  coasting  vessels,  is  a  charitable  man  so 
far  as  his  means  allow,  and  a  liberal  supporter  of  the 
church. 

He  married  April  20,  1842,  Mercy  J.,  daughter  of 
Haven  and  Hannah  Spooner,  of  Barre,  Worcester 
Co.,  Mass.  She  was  born  Jan.  3,  1818.  They  have 
had  four  children, — Abiel  W.,  died  in  infancy  ;  Mary 
J.,  now  Mrs.  Levanseller,  of  West  Washington,  Me., 
she  has  one  child,  Clinton  W. ;  Emma,  died  in  infancy ; 
Hannah  F.,  now  Mrs.  Anthony  Hall,  of  Taunton; 
she  has  two  children,  Flora  F.  and  Albert  A. 


WILLIAM    H.  PHILLIPS. 

From  the  best  data  at  hand  we  think  that  Capt. 
William  H.  Phillips  is  a  lineal  descendant  from  one 
William  Phillips,  who  was  one  of  the  first  purchasers 
in  Taunton  in  1637  or  1638.  But  little  is  known  of 
him.  In  his  will,  dated  April  16,  1654,  he  calls  him- 
self threescore  and  ten  years  of  age.  He  gives  out 
his  small  estate  to  his  wife  Elizabeth  and  son  James, 


who,  if  he  dies  without  issue,  then  to  his  daughter 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  James  Walker. 

This  James  Phillips  had  children,  however,  but 
their  names  are  not  known  to  the  writer.  He  prob- 
ably had  a  son  William,  and  certainly  a  grandson 
William,  who  was  a  native  of  Martha's  Vineyard. 
He  married  Lucy  Holly,  a  native  of  Nantucket. 
Their  children  were  John,  grandfather  of  Capt.  Wil- 
liam H.,  another  son  died  young,  and  four  daughters, 
who  obtained  maturity. 

John  Phillips,  son  of  William,  was  born  in  Taun- 
ton, Mass.,  March  20,  1781,  and  died  in  March,  1824. 
He  married  Deborah  Phillips.  She  was  born  in 
Taunton,  Dec.  11,  1781,  and  died  Oct.  6,  1840.  From 
the  best  information  obtained  the  writer  is  of  the 
opinion  that  this  John  Phillips  was  a  cousin  to  the 
father  of  the  well-known  Wendell  Phillips,  and  this 
corresponds  to  the  tradition  of  the  family. 

John  Phillips  was  a  brickmaker  at  one  time  at 
Daversport,  but  finally  returned  to  Taunton  in  De- 
cember, 1812,  where  he  carried  on  that  business  quite 
extensively,  and  was  somewhat  engaged  in  farming 
also.  He  was  a  very  energetic  man,  a  great  worker, 
and  called  by  his  friends  "working  John."  He  was 
a  soldier  for  a  short  time  in  the  war  of  1812.  His 
children  were  William  Stoddard ;  Lucy  A.,  wife  of 
Benjamin  Stevens,  of  Pawtucket,  R.  I. ;  Robert,  lost 
at  sea  when  a  young  man  ;  James ;  Sarah  W.  and 
Ann  M.  (twins) ;  Sarah  W.,  wife  of  Reuben  Pratt ; 
and  Ann  M.,  married  Eben  Paull. 

Capt.  William  H.  Phillips  is  also  a  great-grandson, 
on  his  mother's  side,  from  Jacob  Haskins,  who  was 
born  June  20,  1736,  and  on  the  6th  of  April,  1759,  we 
find  him  an  enrolled  soldier  in  "  His  Majesty's  ser- 
vice" against  the  French  and  Indians.  They  marched 
from  Taunton  on  the  16th  of  April,  1759,  to  Boston, 
and  then  took  ship  on  the  10th  of  May  for  Louisburg, 
arriving  there  on  the  24th.  He  served  with  distinc- 
tion through  that  and  all  subsequent  wars  till  his 
death,  Jan.  4,  1819. 

The  first  of  his  ancestors  that  we  know  of  was  one 
William  Haskins  (or  Hoskins,  as  the  name  was 
sometimes  spelled).  He  was  at  Scituate,  Mass.,  in 
1634,  afterwards  at  Plymouth.  We  know  but  little 
of  him.  His  children  were  William,  born  Nov.  30, 
1647  ;  Samuel,  Mary,  Sarah,  Benjamin  E.,  and  Eliza- 
beth. 

William  (the  second)  was  the  one  who  settled  in 
Taunton  ;  married,  July  3,  1677,  Sarah,  daughter  of 
Thomas  Casewell,  and  had  children, — Ann,  Sarah, 
William,  born  June  30,  1681 ;  and  Henry,  born 
May  13, 1683. 

Gen.   Jacob   Haskins,  above   mentioned,  married 

Mercy ,  June  26,  1754.     She  died  Feb.  17,  1839. 

Their  children  were  Betsey,  and  Hannah,  born  Dec. 
13,  1774,  and  died  May  11,  1843.  She  married  Enos 
Burt,  born  Sept.  3,  1760,  and  died  April  4,  1822. 
Of  their  ten  children,  Hannah,  born  May  12,  1799, 
was  the  third  child.     She  became  the  wife  of  William 


870 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Stoddard  Phillips,  and  mother  of  Capt.  William  H. 
Phillips;  Hannah  M. ;  John  M.,  whose  portrait  and 
biography  are  in  this  work ;  James  O. ;  Enos  B. ; 
Frances  D.,  died  in  infancy ;  Deborah  F, ;  Jacob, 
who  died  young ;  and  Mary  E. 

William  H.  Phillips,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
is  a  son  of  William  Stoddard  and  Hannah  (Burt) 
Phillips.  On  the  paternal  side  he  is  the  grandson  of 
John  Phillips,  of  Boston,  who  came  to  Taunton  and 
married  Deborah,  a  daughter  of  Capt.  Jacob  Phillips, 
a  well-known  and  highly-respected  citizen  of  Taun- 
ton, who  carried  on  an  extensive  trade  by  means  of 
coasting  vessels  with  the  neighboring  seaport  towns. 
John  Phillips,  the  grandfather  of  William  H.,  and 
also  his  father,  William  Stoddard  Phillips,  were  manu- 
facturers of  brick,  and  followed  the  coasting  business, 
principally  in  vessels  of  their  own.  They  were  enter- 
prising and  successful  men,  particularly  the  latter, 
who  accumulated  considerable  property. 

William  H.  Phillips,  on  his  mother's  side,  is  de- 
scended from  the  Burts  of  Taunton.  His  maternal 
great-grandfather  was  Stephen  Burt,  born  Jan.  26, 
1722,  and  died  August,  1760.  His  wife's  name  was 
Abigail.  She  survived  him  till  March  15,  1791,  when 
she  died  in  the  seventieth  year  of  her  age.  Enos  Burt, 
born  Sept.  3,  1760,  died  April  4,  1822,  and  Hannah, 
his  wife,  born  Dec.  13,  1774,  died  May  11,  1843,  were 
the  parents  of  Mr.  Phillips'  mother.  The  latter  was 
Hannah  Burt,  born  May  12,  1799,  and  died  Dec.  13, 
1872. 

William  H.  Phillips  was  born  on  an  island  in  the 
Blackstone  River,  at  or  near  Central  Falls,  R.  I., 
March  29,  1825.  When  he  was  a  child  his  parents 
returned  to  their  native  town  (Taunton),  and  here 
William  was  brought  up  and  attended  the  common 
schools  till  the  age  of  fourteen.  At  this  period  he 
began  to  go  to  sea  in  coasting  vessels  owned  by  his 
father,  trading  at  Providence,  Fall  River,  New  Bed- 
ford, and  other  neighboring  seaboard  towns.  Wil- 
liam took  charge  of  one  of  the  vessels  as  captain 
before  he  had  attained  the  age  of  eighteen.  He  con- 
tinued to  go  to  sea  until  1857,  when,  on  account  of 
the  increase  of  his  business,  he  left  the  water  and  as- 
sociated himself  with  Capt.  S.  N.  Staples,  of  Taunton, 
under  the  firm-name  of  Staples  &  Phillips.  They 
have  since  been  engaged  in  the  shipping  and  hand- 
ling of  coal  and  iron,  and  in  general  commercial 
business. 

As  a  shipmaster,  Capt.  Phillips  was  eminently  suc- 
cessful. Since  his  association  with  Capt.  Staples  the 
firm  have  carried  on  a  large  and  increasing  business, 
notwithstanding  heavy  losses  in  consequence  of  the 
monetary  panic  of  1873.  They  have,  however,  by 
their  characteristic  energy,  surmounted  their  difficul- 
ties and  met  all  their  obligations.  Few  local  firms 
are  more  prosperous  than  they  are  at  the  present 
time. 

Mr.  Phillips  has  been  a  Republican  in  politics 
since  the  organization  of  the  party  in  1856.     In  the 


last  municipal  election  he  took  strong  ground  in 
favor  of  prohibition,  and  with  the  friends  of  the 
temperance  cause  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  their 
representative,  Hon.  H.  L.  Cushman,  elected  mayor 
of  Taunton.  He  was  an  active  worker  in  securing 
the  charter  for  the  city  government  of  Taunton,  and 
was  a  member  of  the  first  City  Council.  He  and  his 
partner  have  taken  an  active  interest  in  all  measures 
looking  to  the  growth  and  prosperity  of  the  city. 
Among  other  interests  may  be  mentioned  their  ac- 
tivity in  behalf  of  the  horse  railroad  which  runs 
through  the  heart  of  the  city,  connecting  Weir  vil- 
lage and  Whittington. 

In  religious  faith  and  practice,  Mr.  Phillips  is  an 
earnest  and  devoted  Methodist,  and  his  zeal  and  lib- 
erality in  behalf  of  the  cause  have  been  evinced  in 
the  enlargement  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
at  Weir  village,  and  the  founding  of  Grace  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  at  Taunton. 

He  married  Fanny  W.,  daughter  of  Joshua  and 
Sally  (Richmond)  Shaw,  of  North  Middleborough, 
Mass.,  Jan.  17,  1848.  She  was  born  Oct.  13,  1823,  in 
North  Middleborough,  Mass.  Their  children  were 
Henry  S.,  who  died  in  infancy,  and  Isadore  L.,  born 
Aug.  20,  1852.  She  married  John  F.  Montgomery, 
of  Taunton,  Jan.  27,  1875.  They  have  three  chil- 
dren, viz.:  Fanny  W.,  Hugh,  and  Mary  P. 


JOHN    MARSHALL    PHILLIPS. 

John  Marshall  Phillips,  a  younger  brother  of 
William  H.  Phillips,  was  born  in  Taunton,  Mass., 
April  8,  1829.  He  was  brought  up  partly  on  the 
farm  and  partly  as  a  sailor  on  coasting  vessels  be- 
longing to  his  father,  and  began  to  go  to  sea  at  about 
twelve  years  of  age.  Up  to  this  time  he  had  been  a 
regular  attendant  at  the  common  schools ;  but  be- 
tween twelve  and  twenty  his  time  was  divided  be- 
tween sailing  in  summer  and  going  to  school  in 
winter.  During  this  period  of  his  seafaring  life 
he  developed  much  independence  of  character,  and 
was  a  mate  at  seventeen  and  a  captain  at  nineteen 
years  of  age. 

In  1849,  at  the  age  of  twenty,  he  was  among  the 
first  adventurers  to  California,  making  the  voyage 
thither  via  Cape  Horn  in  the  brig  "Triumph,"  com- 
manded by  his  uncle,  Capt.  Hiram  Burt.  It  required 
two  hundred  and  sixty  days  to  make  the  voyage. 
His  life  of  two  years  in  the  mines  was  comparatively 
uneventful,  or  at  least  partook  of  those  character- 
istics of  mining  life  which  are  now  commonly  under- 
stood and  familiar  to  most  readers.  During  his  so- 
journ in  Camp  Saco,  a  Mexican  town,  an  incident 
deserving  of  record  occurred.  Capt.  Phillips  ob- 
served that  among  the  flags  floating  from  the  build- 
ings in  the  mountains  there  was  no  flag  of  the 
United  States,  to  whom  the  country  belonged,  and 
he  determined  to  raise  the  symbol  of  America  in 
the  town.     There  was  no  American  flag  to  be  found, 


Vn#?i  "hie 


TAUNTON. 


871 


and  no  materials  to  make  one  of  could  be  procured 
short  of  a  distance  of  one  hundred  and  seventy-five 
miles ;  yet  such  was  the  ardor  and  patriotism  of  Capt. 
Phillips  that  these  difficulties  were  not  considered  too 
great;  the  distance  was  traveled,  the  materials  pro- 
cured at  whatever  cost,  and  in  due  time  a  "  star-span- 
gled banner,"  made  by  his  own  hands,  with  the  assist- 
ance of  his  partner,  was  flung  to  the  Pacific  breeze 
and  floated  proudly  among  the  emblems  of  other 
nationalities.  This  was  the  first  American  flag  ever 
raised  in  that  town. 

Returning  home,  Capt.  Phillips  purchased  a  vessel 
and  engaged  in  the  coasting  trade.  This  business  he 
has  since  followed,  with  varying  fortunes  and  inci- 
dents, till  within  a  few  years  past.  He  has  built 
several  vessels  of  late  years,  among  which  may  be 
mentioned  the  "  Calvin  P.  Harris,"  launched  at 
Bath,  Me.,  in  August,  1871,  and  the  "Alfred  Bra- 
brook,"  launched  in  October,  1873,  from  the  same 
yard, — that  of  Goss,  Sawyer  &  Packard,  Bath,  Me. 

He  owns  an  interest  in  a  number  of  vessels,  and  is 
part  owner  and  master  of  the  new  excursion  steamer 
"  Empire  State,"  plying  in  Boston  and  adjacent  waters 
as  a  summer  excursion  boat.  "  The  Hand-Book  of 
Boston  Harbor"  speaks  of  this  steamer  thus  : 

"  One  of  the  chief  features  of  the  summer  pleasure 
of  Boston  is  the  immense  three-decked  steamer  '  Em- 
pire State,'  of  seventeen  hundred  tons,  with  a  length 
of  three  hundred  and  twenty  feet,  and  eighty  feet 
beam,  and  spacious  and  beautiful  saloons,  dining- 
rooms,  promenade  deck,  and  other  luxuriant  appur- 
tenances." 

Capt.  Phillips  is  a  self-made  man,  and  is  noted  for 
his  liberality,  being  free  to  bestow  of  his  means  upon 
charitable  and  worthy  objects.  He  and  his  family  are 
members  of  the  Universaljst  Church,  of  Taunton, 
Mass. 

He  married,  Jan.  15,  1854,  Martha  E.  Morton, 
daughter  of  Isaac  and  Hannah  Morton,  of  Gorham, 
Me.  They  have  had  five  children,  three  sons  and  two 
daughters,  the  latter,  viz.,  Agnes  L.  and  Minerva  R., 
are  living ;  two  sons  died  in  infancy,  and  M.  Walter, 
the  second  son,  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-three, 
March  1,  1881.  He  had,  three  years  previous  to 
his  death,  been  clerk  of  the  steamer  "  Empire 
State."  

REV.  MORTIMER  BLAKE,  D.D.1 
Rev.  Mortimer  Blake,  D.D.,  was  born  in  Pittston, 
Me.,  June  10,  1813,  the  son  of  Ira  Blake,  a  native 
of  Wrentham,  and  descendant  of  John  Blake,  of  Sand- 
wich, who  removed  to  Wrentham  with  the  returning 
settlers  after  its  destruction  in  King  Philip's  war. 
The  mother  of  the  subject  of  our  sketch  was  Laura 
Mowry,  descendant  of  Nathaniel  Mowry,  one  of  the 
first  settlers  of  Providence,  R.  I.  The  parents  met 
and  married  in  Maine,  where  the  father  was  teaching, 

1  Prepared  by  S.  Hopkins  Emery. 


and  returned  thence  to  Franklin,  Mass.,  when  the  son 
was  about  four  years  old,  and  there  they  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  their  days.  The  father  was  a  bright, 
clear-headed  man,  given  to  books,  and  the  mother  a 
woman  of  keen,  quick  intellect,  remarkable  memory, 
fond  of  old  ballads  and  poetry  generally. 

Their  son  Mortimer  had  a  strong  passion  for  books, 
and  devoured  all  the  libraries  within  his  reach.  When 
about  ten  years  old  he  fell  in  with  a  Latin  grammar, 
and  began  study  without  any  teacher.  His  grand- 
father Blake,  a  good  deacon  of  the  church,  for  the  en- 
couragement of  the  lad,  offered  to  pay  the  minister 
if  he  would  hear  him  recite.  A  bargain  was  soon 
made  with  Rev.  Mr.  Smalley  (afterward  Dr.  Smalley, 
of  Worcester),  and  the  boy  mastered  Virgil  and  Cicero, 
and  was  all  ready  to  start  out  on  Greek  before  the 
thought  of  college  had  entered  his  mind. 

When  fifteen,  a  German  Jew,  by  the  name  of  Seixas, 
visited  the  place  to  form  a  class  among  the  ministers 
of  that  region  for  the  study  of  Hebrew.  He  occupied 
a  part  of  Dr.  Emmons'  house.  Young  Blake  was  in- 
vited to  join  the  class.  He  consented,  not  without 
fear  and  trembling  among  so  many  ministers.  But 
Seixas  was  a  fine  teacher,  and  those  lessons,  taught  by 
a  new  method,  on  written  sheets,  inhere  to  this  day. 
All  this  time  there  was  no  college  visible  ahead.  But 
the  good  grandfather  had  it  in  mind,  and  he,  a  man 
of  faith  and  prayer,  was  hoping  and  expecting  a  min- 
ister might  come  of  all  this.  And  so  when  Abijah 
R.  Baker  (afterwards  Rev.  and  D.D.)  opened  an  acad- 
emy in  Medway  village,  young  Blake  was  sent  there 
with  the  purpose  of  fitting  for  college,  with  the  full 
consent  of  his  parents  and  all  concerned.  He  en- 
tered Amherst  College  in  1831,  and  graduated  in 
1835.  It  was  in  the  winter  of  1834  he  became  a  de- 
cidedly Christian  man,  and  thus  answered  the  prayer 
of  the  godly  grandfather,  who  had  his  education  so 
much  at  heart.  In  his  college  course,  which  the 
writer  well  remembers,  being  only  in  the  class  before 
him,  those  rare  qualities  of  mind  and  heart  were  de- 
veloped which  have  done  so  much  for  the  ministry 
and  the  church.  As  is  not  uncommon  with  college 
students,  the  graduate  of  1835  turned  aside  for  a  sea- 
son to  teach.  He  had  tried  his  hand  at  this  in  Hop- 
kins Academy,  Hadley,  for  a  term  in  his  senior  year. 
His  many  friends  in  Franklin  urged  him  to  open  a 
school  there.  A  stock  company  erected  a  large  build- 
ing for  the  purpose,  and  in  the  course  of  three  years 
nearly  a  thousand  different  scholars  came  under  his 
instruction,  many  of  them  now  well  known  in  the 
pulpit  and  at  the  bar.  Meanwhile  he  was  studying 
theology  with  the  pastor  of  the  Franklin  Church, 
Rev.  E.  Smalley,  and  he  was  approbated  to  preach  by 
the  Mendon  Association,  April  24,  1838. 

This  same  year  (1838)  he  received  and  accepted  a 
very  urgent  invitation  from  the  trustees  of  the  Hop- 
kins Academy,  Hadley,  who  remembered  his  teaching 
qualities  in  1835,  to  take  charge  of  their  institution. 
He  served  them  only  one  year.     He  was  beginning  to 


872 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


be  hungry  for  the  ministry,  to  which  he  had  been  set 
apart.  His  first  pastorate  was  with  the  Congrega- 
tional Church  in  Mansfield,  Mass.,  where  he  was  or- 
dained and  installed  Dec.  4,  1839.  The  church  was 
young  and  struggling,  a  missionary  church,  but  dur- 
ing the  sixteen  years'  pastorate  of  their  minister  was 
built  up  in  knowledge  and  good  doctrine,  and  well 
established  in  the  sisterhood  of  churches.  It  was  a 
trial  to  them  when,  in  1855,  Dec.  4,  Mr.  Blake,  having 
accepted  a  call  to  the  Winslow  Church,  Taunton,  was 
installed  their  pastor.  But  the  removal  was  not  to  a 
distance,  and  no  minister  has  a  warmer  greeting  in  the 
Mansfield  pulpit  than  their  pastor  of  1839-55. 

The  record  of  the  long  and  most  useful  ministry  of 
already  eight-and-twenty  years  (with  promised  con- 
tinuance) in  Taunton  is  not  yet  complete.  Its  finished 
history  cannot  be  writtten.  Enough  is  known  of  it, 
however,  to  warrant  the  assertion  that  not  only  has 
one  church  felt  the  quickening  influence  of  such  a 
protracted  pastorate,  but  all  the  churches  of  every 
order,  and  the  entire  city  as  well  as  the  adjoining 
towns,  have  been  reached  and  blessed  by  it.  The 
church  conferences,  the  Sabbath-school  conventions, 
the  ministerial  associations,  the  public  gatherings  of 
every  name  have  become  accustomed  to  the  presence, 
and  feel  lost  without  the  wise  counsel  and  easy  direc- 
tion of  this  one  man.  The  young  find  in  him  a  sym- 
pathizing, helpful  friend  in  all  their  attempts  to  im- 
prove time  and  get  knowledge.  The  Agassiz  Club, 
organized  by  young  students  to  promote  the  study  of 
mineralogy  and  natural  science,  has  no  more  active, 
whole-souled  member  than  Dr.  Blake.  The  Wheaton 
Female  Seminary  at  Norton  leans  upon  the  president 
of  its  board  of  trustees  more  than  any  one  else  for 
sympathy  and  advice.  The  State  societies  of  the 
Congregational  order  have  appreciated  the  value  of 
Dr.  Blake's  services,  since  for  several  years  he  was 
one  of  the  executive  committee  of  the  Massachu- 
setts Home  Missionary  Society  and  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Board  of  Publication  (its  secretary  at  the  time 
of  the  union  of  the  latter  with  the  Massachusetts 
Sabbath-School  Society  under  the  new  name  of  the 
Congregational  Publishing  Society,  and  since  that 
union  one  of  the  managers  and  now  the  secretary  of 
the  new  society).  Amherst  College,  his  Alma  Mater, 
honored  herself  as  well  as  her  son  in  conferring,  in 
1868,  the  honorary  degree  of  D.D. upon  this  graduate 
of  1835.  It  was  a  just  recognition  of  services  ren- 
dered, of  attainments  made,  and  eminence  reached 
by  the  Franklin  boy  of  1817. 

The  publications  of  Dr.  Blake  have  been,  in  1844, 
a  16mo  volume  entitled  "Gethsemane  and  Calvary," 
which  has  passed  through  several  editions;  in  1853 
a  12mo,  "  Centurial  History  of  the  Mendon  Associa- 
tion ;"  in  1878  an  8vo,  "History  of  the  Town  of 
Franklin,"  beside  several  pamphlet  sermons  and 
magazine  publications.  Dr.  Blake  has  the  reputa- 
tion of  being  a  zealous  and  accurate  historian,  has 
long  been  a  member  of  the  New  England  Historical 


and  Genealogical  Society,  and  is  one  of  the  vice- 
presidents  of  the  Old  Colony  Historical  Society. 

He  married,  Feb.  21,  1837,  Miss  Harriet  L., 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Susan  (Fisher)  Daniels,  of 
Franklin,  Mass.,  a  descendant  of  Joseph  Daniels,  of 
Medfield. 

They  have  four  children, — 

(1)  Evelyn  Laura,  married  to  Bradford  F.  Morse, 
of  Franklin,  and  now  engaged  in  the  straw  business 
in  Taunton.  They  have  two  daughters,  with  their 
parents,  church  members. 

(2)  Percy  Mortimer,  married  to  Miss  Phebe  Shef- 
field, of  Lyme,  Conn.,  who  resides  in  Hyde  Park,  and 
is  actively  employed  as  sanitary  and  civil  engineer  in 
introducing  pure  water  into  cities  and  towns.  They 
have  three  children. 

(3)  Lucien  Ira,  a  graduate  of  Amherst  College  in 
1877,  and  of  the  Royal  University  of  Berlin,  Ger- 
many, where  he  has  received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of 
Philosophy.  He  is  about  returning  to  the  United 
States,  and  has  already  overtures  from  several  literary 
institutions  regarding  a  professorship. 

(4)  Harriet  Daniels,  a  graduate  of  the  Wheaton 
Seminary,  Norton,  in  1878,  and  a  teacher  of  private 
classes  in  natural  science  and  literature. 


REV.    SAMUEL    HOPKINS    EMERY.' 

Rev.  Samuel  Hopkins  Emery  was  born  in  Boxford, 
Mass.,  Aug.  22,  1815,  and  is  the  fifth  son  of  Joshua 
and  Elizabeth  (Welch)  Emery,  a  descendant  of  John 
Emery,  of  Newbury,  who  came,  with  his  brother  An- 
thony, from  Romsey,  England,  in  1635.  His  mother 
was  daughter  of  Col.  Joseph  Welch,  of  Plaistow,  N.H., 
a  commander  of  New  Hampshire  troops  in  the  Revo- 
lution, and  a  friend  of  Washington.  He  lived  to  be 
ninety-seven,  and  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Emery,  ninety- 
two.  Mr.  Emery's  protonym  was  given  from  his 
mother's  high  regard  for  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  Hopkins, 
of  Newport,  R.  I. 

The  war  of  1812  and  a  destructive  fire  in  Newbury- 
port  so  crippled  the  Emery  family  that  they  removed 
to  Boxford,  and  afterwards  to  North  Andover.  In 
1824  the  father  was  elected  the  steward  of  the  Ando- 
ver Theological  Seminary,  an  office  which  he  held  to 
universal  satisfaction  for  twenty-five  years.  Young 
Emery  entered  Phillips  Academy,  and  on  the  grad- 
uation of  his  brother  Joshua  from  Amherst  College, 
in  1831,  he  entered  as  sophomore  in  the  same  institu- 
tion. He  graduated  in  1834  with  the  second  honors 
of  his  class  of  forty,  and  was  immediately  invited  to  a 
professorship  in  the  State  Institution  for  Deaf  Mutes 
in  New  York  City,  which  offer  he  declined  and  en- 
tered the  Theological  Seminary  at  Andover.  In  his 
last  year  he  delivered  the  Master's  oration  at  Am- 
herst, on  taking  the  degree  of  A.M.  On  the  Sabbath 
after  his  graduation  at  Andover,  in  1837,  he  preached 

1  Prepared  by  Rev.  Mortimer  Blake,  D.D. 


tc-yyi.o>s     0/ 


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T(  I  C  ( 


TAUNTON. 


873 


to  a  newly-formed  church  in  Taunton,  and  was  in- 
stalled its  pastor  on  the  23d  of  November,  1837.  It 
was  a  missionary  church  of  few  members,  but  they 
were  earnest,  and,  under  the  zealous  young  pastor, 
flourished  as  the  Spring  Street  Church  until,  after 
three  years,  he  was  induced  to  go  to  the  church  in 
Bedford,  Mass.  But  love  for  his  first  church  soon 
called  him  back  to  it,  pastorless  and  struggling,  and 
he  was  reinstalled  on  the  6th  of  January,  1847.  Mr. 
Emery's  persistent  energy  infused  a  new  life,  and  the 
church  moved  its  location,  built  a  new  and  fine  edifice, 
and  changed  its  name  to  that  of  Winslow  Church. 

In  October,  1855,  Bev.  Mr.  Emery  received  and 
finally  accepted  the  pastorate  of  the  First  Congrega- 
tional Church  in  Quincy,  111.  He  remained  there  as 
pastor  for  fourteen  years,  acting  meanwhile  as  regis- 
trar of  the  State  Association  of  Churches  for  ten  years, 
and  during  the  war  of  the  Bebellion  serving  as  hos- 
pital chaplain  in  six  hospitals  in  Quincy,  but  in  1869 
his  love  for  the  old  Bay  State  drew  him  back  to  the 
East.  On  his  way  he  preached  three  months  to  the 
New  England  Church  in  Chicago,  until  their  pastor- 
elect  was  ready  to  fill  his  office.  After  his  return  he 
preached  two  years  in  Bichmond  Street  Church, 
Providence,  B.  I.,  until  the  rearrangement  of  the 
Congregational  Churches  in  that  city  was  completed. 
While  there  he  was  called  to  a  new  church  enterprise 
in  North  Bridgeport,  Conn.,  which  became  firmly  es- 
tablished during  his  three  years'  pastoral  care.  In 
May,  1874,  Mr.  Emery  accepted  a  call  to  supply  the 
church  in  North  Middleborough,  Mass.,  where  he 
labored  with  marked  acceptance  until,  in  October, 
1876,  at  the  united  solicitation  of  the  churches  in 
Taunton,  he  consented  to  take  the  superintendence 
of  their  Union  City  Mission,  where  he  has  since 
been  fully  occupied,  the  mission  now  bearing  the 
name  of  the  Associated  Charities  of  Taunton,  of 
which  he  is  secretary  and  superintendent.  It  is  a 
position  for  which  he  is  eminently  fitted  by  his  warm- 
hearted sympathy,  his  devoted  fidelity,  and  ever- 
ready  helpfulness,  and  he  has  the  highest  confidence 
and  respect  of  the  community,  and  the  love  and  bless- 
ing of  the  poor  and  troubled,  to  whom  he  is  a  never- 
failing  helper  and  adviser. 

Bev.  Mr.  Emery  married  on  the  7th  of  March,  1838, 
Miss  Julia  Beed,  of  Taunton,  a  graduate,  and  after- 
wards teacher,  in  the  Ipswich  Female  Seminary.  She 
is  the  daughter  of  Deacon  William  Beed,  of  this 
city,  a  descendant  of  one  of  its  oldest  families.  In 
March  last  their  large  circle  of  friends  unexpectedly 
celebrated  with  them  by  suitable  rites  their  forty- 
fifth  marriage  anniversary  with  great  delight. 

Mr.  Emery  has  had  four  sons,  of  whom  three  still 
live, — Samuel  Hopkins,  Jr.,  married  Mary,  daughter 
of  Bev.  Dr.  A.  W.  McClure,  first  of  Maiden  and  af- 
terwards of  Jersey  City,  N.  J.,  and  is  now  a  lawyer  in 
Boston,  and  a  lecturer  in  the  Concord  School  of  Phi- 
losophy ;  Francis  Wolcott  Reed,  married  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Theophilus  Sproat,   of  Taunton.      His 


health  was  injured  by  his  long  service  in  the  Union 
army,  and  especially  by  his  nine  months'  confinement 
in  Andersonville  prison,  and  he  is  seeking  recovery 
by  farming  and  wheat-raising  in  Dakota;  Joseph 
Welch,  married  Effie  Stillwell,  of  Hannibal,  Mo.,  and 
still  lives  in  Quincy,  111.,  where  he  is  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  Channon  &  Emery,  stove  manufacturers. 

Bev.  Mr.  Emery  has  been  an  industrious  explorer 
of  local  history,  and  has  published  in  two  thick  vol- 
umes a  "History  of  the  Ministry  of  Taunton,"  as  also  a 
"  History  of  the  Congregational  Church  of  North  Mid- 
dleborough," besides  shorter  articles  of  local  interest 
too  many  to  mention.  He  was  one  of  the  charter  mem- 
bers of  the  Old  Colony  Historical  Society,  incorpo- 
rated the  4th  of  May,  1853,  of  which  he  was  the  first 
recording  and  corresponding  secretary,  a  correspond- 
ing member  of  the  Chicago  Historical  Society,  and  a 
resident  member  of  the  New  England  Historical  and 
Genealogical  Society,  Boston. 


AMOS    FREEMAN    HOWARD. 

Amos  Freeman  Howard  was  born  in  Alfred,  Me., 
Nov.  7, 1810.  He  was  the  son  of  Pomfret  and  Mehit- 
able  (Scamman)  Howard.  Pomfret  was  probably  a 
native  of  Dover,  N.  H.  He  settled  in  Maine  when  a 
young  man,  and  there  followed  the  hatter's  trade. 
He  married  Feb.  20,  1791.  The  children  were  seven 
in  number, — Sarah,  Mehitable,  Samuel  S.,  Mary, 
Humphrey,  Joseph  B.,  and  Amos  F.  Of  these  Mehit- 
able died  at  twenty-four;  Samuel  S.  married  and  set- 
tled at  New  Orleans,  where  he  died ;  Mary  married 
James  Shaw,  of  Augusta,  Me. ;  Humphrey  died 
young ;  Joseph  B.  settled  in  New  Orleans,  where  he 
died  at  the  age  of  twenty-one;  Sarah  and  Humphrey 
died  young.  Pomfret  died  May  27,  1826;  the  date 
of  his  birth  is  unknown.  His  wife,  who  was  born 
Aug.  19,  1770,  died  Sept.  4,  1844.  Her  father,  Dea- 
con Samuel  Scamman,  was  a  man  of  prominence,  and 
the  owner  of  large  landed  property,  and  from  him  are 
descended  a  large  and  intelligent  family,  which  are 
scattered  all  over  the  country.  He  and  his  wife  died 
at  Saco,  Me.,  where  they  had  lived  a  long  and  useful 
life,  and  where  their  memory  is  still  reverently  cher- 
ished. Their  daughter  Mehitable  was  a  most  worthy 
lady,  of  sound  judgment,  strong  will,  and  earnest 
piety.  Her  strength  and  purity  of  character  was 
recognized  by  all  who  knew  her. 

The  educational  advantages  enjoyed  by  Amos  F.  in 
his  youth  were  meagre  indeed,  but  by  the  exercise  of 
that  indomitable  courage  and  enterprise  which  never# 
deserted  him  through  life  he  obtained  through  read- 
ing and  reflection  a  fund  of  useful  information  and 
intelligence  which  in  after-years  placed  him  on  a 
plane  with  the  most  intelligent  men  of  the  various 
communities  in  which  he  lived.  When  but  a  boy  he 
learned  type-setting,  and  at  the  age  of  fifteen  went  to 
Dover,  N.  H.,  and  obtained  employment  in  a  print- 
ing-office.     Here  he  remained   only  a  short  while, 


874 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


however,  as  he  was  called  home  by  the  death  of  his 
father.  He  immediately  entered  the  office  of  register 
of  deeds  as  a  copyist.  In  this  office,  and  those  of  the 
clerks  of  the  different  courts,  he  employed  himself 
till  his  twenty-second  year,  when,  in  copartnership 
with  William  G.  Conant,  he  began  merchandising  at 
Alfred,  under  the  firm-name  of  Conant  &  Howard. 
Here  he  continued  some  three  years,  when  he  went 
to  Sanford,  Me.,  as  clerk  for  the  Franklin  Manufac- 
turing Company,  which  was  located  at  Springvale. 
At  this  place  he  remained  some  ten  years,  but  as  the 
Franklin  Manufacturing  Company  failed,  the  most  of 
this  time  was  spent  in  trade.  In  1846  he  went  to 
Saco,  Me.,  and  engaged  as  overseer  in  the  dyeing  and 
finishing  department  with  the  York  Manufacturing 
Company.  He  remained  with  this  company  some 
twelve  years,  when  he  removed  to  Manchester,  N.  H., 
where,  however,  he  only  remained  a  short  while,  then 
went  to  Biddeford,  Me.,  where  he  became  superin- 
tendent of  the  Pepperill  Mills.  One  year  later  he 
came  to  Warren,  Mass.,  as  agent  for  the  Warren 
Cotton  Mills,  in  which  capacity  the  next  nine  years 
of  his  life  were  spent.  In  the  spring  of  1869  he  came 
to  Taunton,  and  in  partnership  with  his  son,  Bion  B., 
he  purchased  the  Oakland  Cotton  Mills,  and  here  re- 
mained till  the  close  of  his  life,  May  7,  1881.  On 
Nov.  7,  1833,  Mr.  Howard  married  Mercy,  daughter 
of  Capt.  Joseph  and  Susan  (Varrell)  Lowe.  She  was 
born  Nov.  30,  1808,  at  York,  Me.  Their  children  are 
Bion  B.  (deceased) ;  Mary  B.,  now  Mrs.  William  W. 
Stevenson,  of  Greenville,  N.  H. ;  Helen,  now  Mrs. 
Joseph  S.  Tidd,  of  Taunton,  Mass. ;  Susan  L.,  MarciaA. 
(deceased),  Charles  A.  (deceased),  Marcia2  (deceased). 
All  of  the  children  were  born  in  Maine.  In  politics 
Mr.  Howard  was  a  Whig,  afterwards  Republican.  He 
was  selectman,  justice  of  the  peace,  and  held  other 
minor  offices,  but  avoided  so  far  as  he  might  con- 
sistently with  his  duty  as  a  citizen  all  official  place  or 
distinction.  He  was  a  worthy  member  of  the  Union 
Congregational  Church  at  Taunton,  and  was  a  deacon 
in  Congregational  Church  at  Warren,  Mass.  Mr. 
Howard  was  a  man  of  sterling  good  qualities,  but  it 
was  in  the  family  circle  his  virtues  shone  brightest. 
His  home  was  the  dearest  spot  on  earth  to  him,  and 
it  seemed  to  be  the  great  object  of  his  life  to  render 
all  around  him  happy. 

Oakland  Mills,  of  which  Mr.  Howard  died  pro- 
prietor, were  first  established  by  Silas  Shepard  more 
than  half  a  century  ago,  and  were  known  throughout 
the  country  as  "Shepard's  Factory,"  which  name  is 
still  applied  by  many.  It  is  situated  on  Three-Mile 
River,  two  and  a  half  miles  from  Taunton  Green. 
The  principal  business  was  the  manufacture  of  cotton 
flannels.  Upon  the  death  of  Mr.  Shepard  the  mills 
became  the  property  of  L.  R.  Chesbrough,  his  son-in- 
law,  and  from  him,  in  1869,  Mr.  Howard  and  his  son 
purchased  the  property.  When  they  took  charge  of 
the  mills  they  dropped  the  manufacture  of  cotton 
flannels  and  began  making  denims  and  tickings.    They 


also  began  at  once  remodeling  and  improving,  adding 
new  machinery,  substituting  the  latest  improved 
looms,  etc.,  for  the  more  antiquated  affairs  then  in 
use ;  and  by  availing  themselves  of  modern  advantages 
were  able  to  successfully  compete  with  other  enter- 
prising concerns.  In  1880  they  made  such  additions 
to  their  buildings  and  machinery  as  to  increase  their 
capacities  about  one-haTf.  Upon  the  death  of  Amos  T. 
Howard,  his  son,  Bion  B.,  succeeded  to  the  manage- 
ment, but  lived  only  a  short  while,  dying  in  December 
of  the  same  year  (1881).  He  was  possessed  of  excel- 
lent business  capacity,  as  was  evidenced  by  his  eigh- 
teen years'  successful  career  as  agent  for  the  Cordis 
Mills,  Millbury,  Mass.  He  was  a  man  of  high  char- 
acter, and  thoroughly  upright  and  honorable  in  all 
business  relations.  A  wife  and  two  children,  Bessie 
B.  and  Bion  B.,  survive  him.  After  his  decease,  Mr. 
J.  S.  Tidd  bought  out  the  interest  of  the  heirs  of  Bion 
B.  Howard,  and  assumed  the  management.  The  prop- 
erty is  now  owned  by  Mr.  Tidd  and  the  heirs  of  A.  F. 
Howard  jointly.  They  now  furnish  employment  to 
about  one  hundred  and  thirty  hands,  run  six  thousand 
spindles,  one  hundred  and  forty-four  looms,  and  manu- 
facture about  ten  thousand  yards  of  cloth  daily.  The 
business  under  Mr.  Tidd's  management  has  been  very 
successful  indeed.  They  have  the  latest  and  best 
machinery,  and  keep  apace  with  the  times  in  every 
particular. 

Mr.  Tidd  was  born  in  Warren,  Worcester  Co., 
Mass.,  Jan.  23,  1843.  He  is  the  son  of  Samuel  and 
Maria  E.  Tidd,  and  was  brought  up  on  the  farm,  and 
at  nineteen  years  of  age  he  enlisted  for  one  year  in 
the  United  States  army,  Forty-third  Massachusetts 
Infantry,  was  in  a  number  of  minor  engagements  in 
North  Carolina,  and  was  honorably  discharged  at 
expiration  of  service.  He  returned  home  and  became 
an  employe  in  the  counting-room  of  A.  F.  Howard 
in  Warren  Cotton-Mills.  He  continued  in  the  employ 
of  same  concern  until  1873,  when  he  accepted  a  place, 
again  in  the  employ  of  Mr.  Howard,  at  Oakland  Mills, 
of  which  he  is  now  general  manager  and  treasurer. 
In  December,  1867,  he  married  Miss  Helen,  daughter 
of  A.  F.  Howard.  They  have  three  children  living, 
Joseph  Howard,  Winthrop  L.,  and  Marjorie,  and  one 
deceased,  Lawrence  A.,  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Tidd 
has  been  a  member  of  City  Council  of  Taunton  two 
years,  and  is  now  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Alder- 
men, representing  Ward  7.  A  Republican  in  politics, 
and  a  member  of  the  Union  Congregational  Church 
at  Taunton. 


NATHAN   HACK    SKINNER. 

Nathan  Hack  Skinner  was  born  in  Troy,  N.  Y., 
Nov.  1,  1828,  the  fourth  of  a  family  of  six  sons  and 
three  daughters.  His  boyhood  was  spent  at  home, 
and  his  educational  advantages  were  limited  to  the 
common  school.  He  went  to  Fall  River  in  1846,  and 
spent  three  years  in  the  dry-goods  trade.     Removing 


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TAUNTON. 


875 


to  Taunton  in  1849,  he  engaged  in  the  employ  of  J. 
S.  Rounds,  becoming  associated  as  partner  in  about 
three  years,  and,  on  the  death  of  Mr.  Rounds,  in 
1860,  succeeded  to  the  entire  business. 

He  is  now  conducting  successfully  the  largest  mer- 
cantile business  in  Southeastern  Massachusetts.  Not 
being  an  aspirant  for  political  honors,  he  has  never 
filled  any  public  office,  but  has  given  faithful  service 
in  places  of  trust  in  mercantile,  educational,  and 
church  affairs.  He  is  a  member  of  the  First  Congre- 
gational (Unitarian)  Church,  and  is  identified  with 
the  Republican  party.  His  wife  is  Mrs.  Lucy  P. 
Skinner,  by  whom  he  has  one  daughter,  Addie  W. 

Josephus  Skinner,  father  of  Nathan  H.,  was  born 
in  Mansfield,  Mass.,  June  15,  1796.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-five  he  moved  to  Troy,  N.  Y.,  and  remained 
three  years.  He  spent  the  same  length  of  time  in 
Attleborough,  Mass.,  and  then  removed  to  Norton, 
Mass.,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  married  Re- 
becca, daughter  of  Nathan  and  Olive  (Crossman) 
Hack,  born  in  Taunton,  Aug.  10,  1802.  Thomas 
Skinner,  father  of  Josephus,  was  born  in  Mansfield, 
Aug.  17,  1751,  living  there  until  his  decease  in  1844, 
with  the  exception  of  the  time  spent  in  active  service 
in  the  army  of  the  Revolution.     Occupation,  farmer. 


THE    EARLY   HISTORY   OF  THE    PRESBREY  FAMILY 
AND    LIFE    OF   SILAS    DEAN"  PRESBREY. 

Among  the  papers  that  came  officially  into  the 
hands  of  the  administrator  of  the  estate  of  the  late 
Capt.  Seth  Presbrey,  of  Taunton,  was  a  document 
bearing  across  its  back  the  following  inscription  :  "  To 
the  generations  of  Presbreys  in  coming  time  I  be- 
queath this  genealogical  document."  This  paper 
bears  date  Taunton,  April,  1845,  and  the  statements 
made  therein  are  undoubtedly  trustworthy.  From  it 
is  condensed  the  history  of  the  first  three  generations 
as  given  in  this  article.  The  name  is  generally 
spelled  Presbrey,  but  some  scholars  claim  that  as 
there  is  no  such  spelling  in  books  of  heraldry  it  is 
erroneous  and  should  be  spelled  Presbury,  and  there 
are  those  of  the  family  who  adopt  the  spelling, 
whether  or  not  with  justice  it  is  difficult  with  our 
present  light  to  say. 

William  Presbrey,  the  great-grandfather  of  the 
writer  of  the  "  genealogical  document"  described 
above,  was  born  in  the  city  of  London  about  the  year 
1690,  and  when  ten  years  of  age  was  impressed  on 
board  a  man-of-war,  where  he  remained  until  he  was 
about  twenty-one  years  of  age.  One  summer,  while 
the  ship  was  lying  in  the  harbor  of  Boston,  he  with 
others  of  the  crew  were  permitted  to  go  on  shore, 
when  he  took  occasion  to  stray  away  from  his  com- 
panions. Passing  through  what  was  afterwards 
called  Roxbury,  he  pushed  on  through  fields  and 
woods,  subsisting  upon  berries,  and  continued  his 
traveling  for  four  days,   when  he  found  himself  in 


Taunton.  He  first  stopped  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Na- 
thaniel Crossman,  on  what  is  now  called  Cohannet 
Street,  at  a  point  nearly  opposite  White's  Music  Hall, 
perhaps  a  little  farther  down  the  hill  towards  the 
river.  Mr.  Crossman  was  a  farmer,  miller,  and  shoe- 
maker, and  hired  the  young  stranger  for  a  year  or 
two  as  man-of-all-work.  It  is  said  that  Presbrey 
rigged  the  first  properly-equipped  vessel  on  Taunton 
River,  which  was  a  sloop  built  at  Benjamin  King's 
landing  in  Raynham.  He  eventually  bought  land 
and  built  a  house  near  "  Spring  Brook,"  where  he 
lived,  after  taking  for  his  wife  one  Hannah  Smith,  till 
he  reached  the  ripe  age  of  eighty-one  years.  They 
had  two  sons,  William  and  Joseph,  and  one  daughter, 
Hannah,  who  died  a  young  woman.  The  older  son, 
William,  was  a  coaster  and  shoemaker,  and  lived  in 
that  part  of  Taunton  known  as  the  Weir.  He 
married  Mary  White,  and  died  at  about  the  age  of 
forty-five,  leaving  five  sons  and  four  daughters,  as 
follows :  William,  Seth,  John,  Simeon,  Levi,  Lydia, 
Mary,  Abigail,  Betsey,  "  who  all  married  and  left 
families." 

William,  a  coaster  and  trader,  married  Lydia  Pratt, 
and  lived  at  the  Weir,  and  died  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
two,  leaving  children,  grandchildren,  and  great-grand- 
children. 

Seth,  coaster  and  trader,  married  Sarah  Pratt;  lived 
at  the  Weir,  and  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-one,  leaving 
children  and  grandchildren. 

John,  having  the  same  business  as  his  brothers,  was 
living  in  1845,  and  was  eighty-five  years  old.  He  mar- 
ried Prudence  Pratt,  and  they  became  the  parents  of 
a  large  family. 

Simeon,  a  carpenter,  lived  in  Norton ;  married  Abi- 
gail Newton,  and  died  at  the  age  of  about  seventy- 
five.     They  too  had  a  large  family. 

Levi  was  a  land  surveyor;  married  Lina  Pratt; 
went  to  Canada  to  survey  a  tract  of  land,  and  was 
frozen  to  death,  while  traveling  on  horseback,  in  the 
winter  of  1800.  He  was  thirty  years  old,  and  left 
children. 

Lydia  married  Samuel  Haskins;  removed  to  Cayuga, 
and  lived  and  died  there,  aged  seventy-five,  leaving  a 
family. 

Mary  married  Francis  Goward,  and  lived  in  Easton, 
and  died  aged  about  eighty.     She  too  had  a  family. 

Betsey  married  Jail  Hathaway,  and  lived  in  Free- 
town, now  Troy,  and  died  at  about  eighty,  leaving 
children  and  grandchildren. 

Abigail  married  Abijah  Leonard,  and  lived  in  Mans- 
field, and  died  at  about  eighty,  leaving  children  and 
grandchildren. 

The  other  son  of  the  original  William,  Joseph,  was 
a  carpenter ;  lived  at  the  Weir ;  married  Molly  Baker, 
and  died  aged  about  seventy-five  years,  leaving  two 
sons  and  four  daughters, — Elisha,  Joseph,  Sarah, 
Patty,  Mary,  and  Hannah.  Elisha  passed  the  earlier 
years  of  his  life  near  the  Weir ;  was  a  carpenter ; 
married  Wealthea  Wilbar,  and  had  several  children; 


876 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


he  afterwards  removed  to  Westmoreland,  and  there- 
after nothing  is  known  of  him. 

Joseph,  a  carpenter,  went  to  Connecticut;  married 
Patty  Perkins ;  removed  to  Lenox,  Mass.,  and  after- 
wards to  Lanesborough,  where  he  died  at  the  age  of 
seventy-eight,  leaving  one  son  and  one  daughter. 

Sarah  married  a  Mr.  Makepeace,  and  resided  in 
Taunton  ;  had  several  children,  and  died  at  an  ad- 
vanced age. 

Patty  married  Solomon  Wilbar ;  lived  many  years 
in  Taunton,  and  afterwards  removed  to  Troy,  N.  Y., 
where  she  died,  in  advanced  years,  the  mother  of  sev- 
eral children. 

Alary  married  Timothy  Leonard,  and  like  her  sister, 
removed  to  Troy,  N.  Y.  Her  after  history  is  not 
given. 

Hannah  lived  in  Troy  with  her  sisters,  and  there 
married  a  Mr.  Andrews.  She  had  a  large  family,  and 
was  living  in  1845. 

Seth,  the  second  son  of  William  and  grandson  of 
the  first  William,   was  born  in  Taunton,  Sept.   17, 

1752.  He  married  Sarah  Pratt,  who  was  born  Feb.  7, 

1753.  Seth  died  Dec.  15, 1833,  aged  eighty-one  years, 
three  months,  and  twenty-eight  days.  His  widow  died 
May  21, 1834,  aged  eighty-one  years,  three  months,  and 
fourteen  days.  Their  children  were  seven,  as  follows  : 
Seth,  Jr.,  born  Nov.  11,  1780,  died  April  8,  1862; 
Sarah,  born  Oct.  1,  1782,  died  Feb.  20,  1826;  Barney, 
born  June  28,  1785,  died  Feb.  12,  1835;  Allen,  born 
Jan.  19,  1788,  died  March  15,  1788;  Allen,  born  May 
27,  1790,  died  Dec.  6,  1879 ;  Billings,  born  Jan.  14, 
1793,  died  May  23,  1815 ;  Samuel,  born  Sept.  8,  1796, 
died  Oct.  6,  1834. 

Seth  Presbrey,  Jr.,  oldest  son  of  Seth,  married  Mary 
Dean,  Jan.  19,  1808.  Mary,  first  born  of  James  and 
Hannah  Dean,  was  born  in  Taunton,  Dec.  17,  1783. 
James,  her  father,  was  born  Feb.  15,  1762,  and  was 
the  fourth  in  descent  from  Walter  Dean. 

To  Seth,  Jr.,  and  Mary  were  born  four  children,  as 
follows :  Silas  Dean  Presbrey,  born  Dec.  3,  1808,  lost 
at  sea  Nov.  23,  1837 ;  Benjamin  Franklin  Presbrey, 
born  Oct.  23,  1810,  died  Nov.  2, 1869;  Billings  Troop 
Presbrey,  born  Aug.  28,  1815,  living;  Harriet  Ma- 
lancey  Presbrey,  born  Oct.  23,  1823,  married  Isaac  R. 
Hadwen  Oct.  15,  1845. 

Billings  Troop  Presbrey,  on  Jan.  18,  1838,  married 
Clarissa  Burt  Dean,  daughter  of  Col.  Israel  Dean,  of 
Taunton.  Their  issue  has  been  but  one  child,  Silas 
Dean  Presbrey,  who  was  born  in  Taunton,  Oct.  19, 
1838.  He  passed  his  boyhood  days  in  Taunton,  living 
in  that  part  of  the  town  known  as  the  Weir.  At- 
tended public  school,  when  he  was  prepared  for  the 
Taunton  High  School.  He  was  admitted  to  the  high 
school  in  the  spring  of  1852,  being  then  thirteen  years 
of  age.  The  high  school  was  then  held  in  the  "  Old 
Spring  Street  Church,"  and  was  in  the  charge  of 
Ozias  Pitkin,  as  principal,  and  Miss  Mary  Read  and 
Miss  Emiline  Lathrop  as  assistants.  In  this  school 
he  was  prepared  for  college,  under  the  direction  of 


the  principal  mentioned  above  and  his  successors, 
who  were  Mr.  Ruggles,  Mr.  William  L.  Gage,  and 
Mr.  William  E.  Fuller,  the  last  of  whom  was  princi- 
pal only  for  the  last  six  months  of  his  pupilage,  but 
had  the  important  and  not  easy  task  of  completing 
his  preparation  for  college  examination.  In  July, 
1856,  he  was  admitted  to  Harvard  College  "  without 
conditions."  The  next  four  years  were  those  of  the 
ordinary  college  student,  who  enjoys  his  privileges, 
but  feels  a  duty  to  help  to  bear  the  expense  of  such 
a  course.  In  the  winter  of  sophomore  year,  1857-58, 
he  taught  school  on  High  Street,  in  Taunton ;  also 
during  the  winters  of  his  junior  and  senior  years  he 
left  his  studies  to  teach  as  principal  of  the  East  Weir 
School,  in  Taunton.  For  the  last  two  years  of  his 
college  course,  by  his  standing  in  his  class,  he  became 
entitled  to  one  of  the  State  scholarships,  which  was 
granted  him.  During  his  college  course  he  had  the 
following  honorary  "  parts"  :  Junior  exhibition,  May 
3, 1859,  a  Latin  version,  from  Tennyson,  "The  Lotos- 
Eaters"  (translation  into  Latin  hexameters) ;  Se- 
nior exhibition,  Oct.  18,  1859,  a  dissertation,  "  The 
Poetic  and  Scientific  Love  of  Nature."  His  "  part" 
at  Commencement,  July,  1860,  was  a  disquisition, 
"  Parliamentary  Manners."  He  maintained  a  good 
rank  in  his  class,  notwithstanding  the  fact  that  the 
overwork  required  of  one  who  "  went  out  to  teach" 
so  depressed  his  vitality  that  he  was  obliged  to  lose 
six  weeks  of  his  senior  year  by  reason  of  an  attack  of 
pneumonia.  At  his  graduation  he  was  chosen  a 
member  of  the  Phi  Beta  Kappa  of  Harvard. 

On  his  return  to  Taunton  he  immediately  entered 
his  name  with  the  late  Dr.  Henry  B.  Hubbard  as  a 
student  of  medicine,  and  commenced  the  study  of  his 
chosen  profession.  In  October  of  the  same  year  he 
joined  the  class  in  the  Harvard  Medical  School,  and 
was  thus  well  started  in  his  new  work.  It  so  hap- 
pened that  early  in  the  following  winter  Mr.  William 
E.  Fuller,  who,  it  will  be  remembered,  was  the  teacher 
who  had  the  completion  of  Presbrey's  college  prepara- 
tion, and  who  had  since  that  time  remained  principal 
of  the  Taunton  High  School,  resigned  this  position  to 
study  the  law,  his  chosen  profession.  The  position 
thus  made  vacant  was  offered  to  Presbrey,  who,  after 
some  consultation  with  friends  and  advisers,  and  much 
disappointment  at  the  interruption  to  his  studies  that 
it  would  cause,  accepted  the  office  of  principal  of  the 
Taunton  High  School.  The  school  was  then  large  and 
prosperous,  but  was  what  might  be  called  a  "  mixed 
school,"  having  no  regular  curriculum  of  study. 
During  his  principalship  the  school  was  regularly 
graded,  and  a  systematic  order  of  study  covering  a 
four  years'  course  adopted  and  put  in  successful  opera- 
tion. He  remained  as  principal  of  the  school  till 
June,  1863,  when  he  resigned  to  return  again  to  his 
studies.  During  the  time  of  his  teaching,  while  he 
had  devoted  his  best  thought  and  zeal  to  that  work, 
he  did  not  neglect  to  keep  his  interest  in  his  chosen 
profession,  and  to  devote  to  it  all  his  spare  time,  so 


-rift. 


^£&<7 


TAUNTON. 


877 


that  the  time  passed  as  teacher  was  not  entirely  lost  to 
his  professional  studies. 

Oct.  19,  1863,  he  married  Sarah  Williams  Briggs, 
second  daughter  of  Artemas  and  Susan  Shaw  (Wil- 
liams) Briggs,  and  immediately  again  joined  his  class 
in  the  Harvard  Medical  School,  and  continued  his 
studies  till  the  time  of  his  graduation  in  medicine  in 
the  spring  of  1865.  In  the  fall  of  1864  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  the  Governor  resident  physician  (under- 
graduate) at  the  Tewksbury  State  Almshouse,  where 
he  got  the  first  real  experience  in  the  every-day  work 
of  his  profession.  Soon  after  his  graduation  he  opened 
an  office  in  Taunton,  and  was  appointed  the  first 
"city  physician,"  an  office  which  he  filled  till  Janu- 
ary, 1870.  In  1865  he  was  admitted  as  a  member  of 
the  Massachusetts  Medical  Society,  and  has  held  offi- 
ces in  that  society  and  in  the  Bristol  North  District 
Medical  Society,  of  which  he  was  president  in  1869— 
70.  In  May,  1868,  he  removed  to  his  present  resi- 
dence at  the  corner  of  Weir  and  Harrison  Streets. 
In  1866  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  school  com- 
mittee, which  office  he  held  till  January,  1872,  and 
after  a  respite  of  five  years  was  again  elected  to  the 
same  office,  and  has  been  a  member  of  the  school 
committee  since  that  time.  During  each  year  of  his 
membership  in  the  board  he  has  been  one  of  the 
standing  committee  on  the  high  school,  and  this  is 
the  sixth  year  of  his  service  as  chairman  of  that 
committee.  He  was  chairman  of  the  board  of  school 
committee  during  the  year  1868  ;  and  has  been  for  five 
years  a  trustee  of  Bristol  Academy.  In  July,  1877, 
he  was  appointed  by  the  Governor  one  of  the  medical 
examiners  of  Bristol  County,  the  appointment  to  last 
seven  years.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  and  is  now 
president  of  the  Massachusetts  Medico-Legal  Society, 
founded  in  October,  1877.  This  society  is  composed 
of  the  medical  examiners  of  the  State,  and  holds  its 
meetings  every  fourth  month  in  Boston. 

Besides  attending  to  a  large  and  responsible  prac- 
tice, he  has  found  time  to  publish  some  articles  in  the 
medical  journals.  In  the  Boston  Medical  and  Surgi- 
cal Journal,  July  13,  1876,  he  published  "  Notes  of  a 
Successful  Case  of  Extirpation  of  the  Uterus  and 
both  Ovaries  for  Fibro-Cystic  Disease" ;  also  in  the 
same  journal  in  August,  1882,  and  in  the  Transactions 
of  the  Massachusetts  Medico-Legal  Society  will  be 
found  the  address  by  the  president  on  "  What  Con- 
stitutes a  Medico-Legal  Autopsy  ?" 

In  the  spring  of  1881  he  was  chosen  one  of  the 
Board  of  Water  Commissioners  of  Taunton,  a  position 
which  he  still  occupies.  Close  application  to  his  pro- 
fessional and  many  other  duties  made  it  necessary  for 
him  to  take  a  vacation  for  rest  and  change  in  1881. 
Accordingly  he  joined  one  of  Mr.  Tourjee's  admirable 
excursion  parties,  and  passed  the  summer  in  a  de- 
lightful trip  through  England,  Scotland,  and  portions 
of  the  continent,  and,  returning  in  September,  again 
applied  himself  to  his  work. 

He  has  three  daughters, — Clara  Briggs,  born  Aug. 


26,   1864;    Florence  Nathalie,  born  Aug.  20,   1869; 
Laura  Edith,  born  Aug.  24,  1871. 


JOHN    P.    BROWN,    M.D. 

John  P.  Brown,  M.D.,  superintendent  of  Taunton 
Lunatic  Hospital',  was  born  in  Raymond,  N.  H.,  Oct. 
12,  1833. 

He  was  prepared  for  college  at  Andover,  Mass.,  and 
at  Hampton  and  Pembroke,  N.  H.,  and  graduated  at 
Dartmouth  College  in  1860.  In  1865  he  received  his 
medical  degree  at  Harvard  College.  Soon  after  his 
graduation  he  was  appointed  assistant  physician  at 
the  asylum  for  the  insane  in  Concord,  N.  H.,  where 
he  remained  until  he  was  elected  superintendent  of 
the  Taunton  Lunatic  Hospital  in  1878. 

Dr.  Brown  has  had  large  experience  in  his  specialty 
of  mental  diseases  and  in  the  cure  and  treatment  of 
the  insane,  having  devoted  eighteen  years  of  his  pro- 
fessional life  to  that  work. 

He  is  emphatically  a  self-made  man,  having  ac- 
quired his  education  and  achieved  his  success  in  life 
by  his  own  unaided  exertions.  He  supported  himself 
through  his  preparatory  course  and  while  in  college 
by  teaching  school.  As  superintendent  and  physician 
of  the  insane,  he  has  acquainted  himself  with  the  most 
advanced  discoveries  of  science  relating  to  the  care 
and  treatment  of  that  class,  and  has  acquired  a  high 
reputation  in  the  special  work  to  which  his  profes- 
sional life  has  been  devoted. 

» 

Dr.  Brown  was  married  March  16, 1865,  to  Caroline 
A.  Stevens,  of  Mount  Vernon,  N.  H.  They  have  one 
daughter,  Gertrude  Stevens. 


THOMAS  JACKSON   LOTHROP. 

Thomas  Jackson  Lothrop  was  born  in  Taunton, 
March  2, 1834.  After  a  preparatory  course  in  Bristol 
Academy,  Taunton,  he  entered,  in  1850,  Harvard  Col- 
lege. Immediately  after  graduation  he  sailed  for 
Fayal,  one  of  the  Azores  Islands,  where  he  remained 
three  years,  being  employed  as  tutor  in  the  family  of 
the  vice-consul  of  the  Azores.  Returning  home  he 
began  the  study  of  law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  Iowa  in  1858.  Soon  after  he  returned  to  Taunton 
and  was  admitted  to  the  Massachusetts  bar.  In  1859 
he  formed  a  law  partnership  with  Hon.  John  Daggett, 
of  Attleborough. 

In  1862  he  was  appointed  quartermaster  of  the 
Fourth  Regiment  Massachusetts  Volunteers,  and 
served  in  Louisiana  under  Gen.  Banks,  being  mus- 
tered out  with  the  regiment  in  September,  1863. 

In  politics  he  was  a  Republican  from  the  organiza- 
tion of  that  party  till  1876,  when  he  became  identified 
with  the  Prohibition  party.  In  November  of  1863  he 
was  elected  to  the  Legislature,  and  in  1864  was  chosen 
county  treasurer,  which  office  he  held  nine  years.  He 
has  held  the  position  of  agent  and  treasurer  of  the 
Taunton  Tack  Company  since  June,  1868,  and  has 


878 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


been  a  member  of  the  school  committee  of  Taunton 
for  eighteen  years.  He  married,  Aug.  24, 1858,  Cath- 
arine Prescott  Webster,  of  Cambridge.  Children, — 
Harriet  E.,  Arthur  P.,  Olivia  D.,  Cornelius  R.,  and 
Thomas  M.  Cornelius  W.  Lothrop,  father  of  Thomas 
J.,  born  in  Taunton,  March  28,  1812,  was  for  a  time 
engaged  in  the  straw  business,  and  afterwards  in  farm- 
ing. He  married,  Feb.  20,  1831,  Eleanor  Lincoln, 
daughter  of  James  and  Hannah  Smith,  of  Taunton. 
Mrs.  Smith  was  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Wilbur,  a  direct 
descendant  of  Shadrach  Wilbur,  who,  while  holding 
the  office  of  town  clerk  of  Taunton,  was  imprisoned  by 
Sir  Edmund  Andros  for  refusing  to  give  up  the  records 
of  the  town.  (See  sketch  of  Joseph  Wilbur.)  Both 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cornelius  W.  Lothrop  took  great  inter- 
est in  the  cause  of  education,  and  were  highly  es- 
teemed. 

He  was  killed  in  a  saw-mill  in  Raynham,  Dec.  8, 
1847.  His  father,  Howell  Lothrop,  born  in  Norton, 
April  16,  1787,  married  Sally  White,  daughter  of 
Timothy  White,  of  Taunton,  and  resided  on  his  farm 
in  Taunton  until  his  death,  June  9,  1857.  His  father, 
Solomon,  born  in  Easton,  Feb.  9,  1761,  married  Me- 
hetable  White,  of  Taunton,  Sept.  18,  1782,  and  re- 
sided in  Norton.  Jonathan,  father  of  Solomon,  born 
in  Easton,  March  11,  1722,  married  Susanna  Johnson, 
and  resided  in  his  native  town.  His  father,  Mark, 
lived  in  Easton,  and  married  Hannah  Alden,  of  Mid- 
dleborough,  a  great-granddaughter  of  John  Alden, 
one  of  the  passengers  of  the  "  Mayflower."  His 
father  was  Samuel,  and  his  grandfather  Mark,  who 
came  from  England,  settled  first  in  Salem,  afterwards 
in  Duxbury,  and  then  in  Bridgewater  some  time  pre- 
vious to  1660.  He  was  a  brother  of  Rev.  John  Loth- 
rop, who  settled  in  Barnstable,  and  was  the  eighteenth 
child  of  Thomas  Lothrop,  of  Elton,  in  England. 
This  Thomas  was  the  son  of  John,  of  the  parish  of 
Lowthorpe,  in  the  East  Riding  of  York,-  which  gave 
name  to  the  family. 


ELIJAH  UTLEY  JONES,  M.D.i 
Elijah  Utley  Jones,  M.D.,  was  born  in  Augusta, 
Me.,  May  2,  1826,  the  eldest  son  of  Ebenezer  and 
Clara  (Mandell)  Jones.  His  father  was  a  native  of 
Charlton,  his  mother  of  Hardwick,  both  in  Worcester 
County,  Mass.  His  grandfather  Mandell  is  remem- 
bered as  a  brave  patriot  in  Revolutionary  times. 
Elijah  Utley  was  fitted  for  college  when  fourteen,  but 
did  not  enter  Waterville  College  (now  Colby  Uni- 
versity) till  September,  1841.  He  was  dependent  on 
his  own  resources  for  support  during  his  college 
course,  and  these  were  not  sufficient  to  furnish  him 
suitable  food.  He  boarded  himself.  Poor  diet  and 
too  much  study  left  him  an  invalid  when  he  was 
ready  to  leave  college.  After  his  graduation  he  per- 
severed  notwithstanding  his  ill  health,  and  taught 

}  Prepared  by  S.  Hopkins  Emery. 


school,  first  in  Uxbridge,  Mass.,  in  1845,  in  Slaters- 
ville,  R.  I.,  in  1846,  and  in  East  Douglass,  Mass.,  in 
1847,  where  he  remained  a  year,  as  principal  of  the 
academy,  in  exceeding  poor  health,  with  cough  and 
symptoms  of  consumption  upon  him.  Obliged  to 
stop  for  a  while,  after  a  little  rest  he  tried  teaching 
again  in  North  Brookfield  in  1848.  Once  more  driven 
from  the  school-room  by  failing  health,  he  tried  a 
life  insurance  agency,  so  as  to  have  the  open  air,  and 
the  town  of  Dartmouth,  so  as  to  be  near  the  salt 
water.  But  all  expedients  failed,  and  with  little  hope 
of  living  young  Jones  goes  back  to  his  father's  house 
in  Augusta  to  die.  All  the  family  were  soon  taken 
sick  with  a  mild  form  of  fever,  but  a  severe  typhoid 
took  fast  hold  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  For  a 
long  time  his  life  trembled  in  the  balance.  The  old 
and  the  new  disease  appeared  to  be  contending  for 
the  mastery.  The  new  in  conquering  spent  all  its 
force.  Of  the  old  disease  a  chronic  laryngitis  was 
left,  which  decided  the  choice  of  a  profession,  medi- 
cine instead  of  the  ministry,  for  which  the  father  had 
always  expressed  a  preference. 

The  advice  of  Rev.  Dr.  Tappan,  the  pastor  at  Au- 
gusta, and  Drs.  Shepard  and  Pond,  of  the  Bangor 
Theological  Seminary,  confirmed  them  in  this  de- 
cision. The  study  of  medicine  was  commenced  at 
once,  even  before  full  recovery,  under  the  direction 
of  Dr.  William  F.  Jackson,  of  Gardiner,  Me.,  to 
whose  substantial  and  ever  kind  assistance  young 
Jones  was  greatly  indebted  for  the  success  of  his 
student  life.  From  his  father's  house  in  Augusta  to 
the  office  in  Gardiner  was  a  distance  of  seven  miles, 
which  he  walked  morning  and  night.  His  health 
continued  to  improve,  and  his  long  walk  grew  shorter 
to  him  daily.  During  the  winter  of  1851-52  he  acted 
as  reporter  in  the  Maine  State  Senate  for  the  Augusta. 
Age.  With  the  money  thus  earned  he  paid  for  two 
full  courses  of  lectures  at  the  Maine  Medical  School. 
In  1853  he  went  to  Concord,  N.  H.,  as  assistant  to 
Dr.  Alpheus  Morrill,  but  early  in  the  autumn  of  that 
year  a  favorable  opening  occurring  at  Dover,  N.  H., 
he  settled  there.  In  February,  1854,  he  went  to 
Philadelphia,  where  he  fully  graduated  at  the  Homoe- 
opathic Medical  College  of  Pennsylvania.  His  prac- 
tice at  Dover  was  all  he  could  wish,  but  at  the  earnest 
solicitation  of  Dr.  George  Barrows,  and  by  the  advice 
of  all  his  friends,  the  1st  of  September,  1854,  he  re- 
moved to  Taunton,  Mass.,  where  he  has  been  in  full 
practice  the  past  twenty-nine  years. 

September  26th  of  this  same  year  he  married  Sarah 
S.  Crofoot,  daughter  of  Theodore  Stone,  of  East 
Douglass,  Mass.,  who  still  survives  with  one  daughter, 
Kate  Handell,  married  to  Edward  P.  Washburn,  of 
Taunton.  A  little  later  he  transferred  his  church 
relation  from  Waterville,  Me.,  where  he  professed 
religion  in  1844,  and  with  his  wife  united  with  the 
church  under  the  pastoral  care  of  Rev.  Mr.  Maltby. 
Of  this  church  he  has  always  been  an  active  member 
in  its  Sabbath- school  and  general  church  work.     For 


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TAUNTON. 


879 


several  years  he  was  on  its  "standing  committee," 
and  was  its  treasurer.  Nine  years  ago,  when  a  Con- 
gregational Club  was  organized  in  the  city,  he  was 
chosen  its  first  vice-president,  which  office  he  retained 
for  five  years,  and  then  served  as  president  two  years, 
declining  a  re-election. 

In  1855  he  joined  the  Homoeopathic  Fraternity,  a 
small  society,  which  grew  into  the  present  large  and 
prosperous  Massachusetts  Homoeopathic  Medical  So- 
ciety, of  which  Dr.  Jones  has  been  an  active  and 
influential  member.  For  fifteen  years  he  was  on  its 
board  of  management,  for  seven  consecutive  years 
was  its  secretary,  and  in  1876  was  elected  its  presi- 
dent. He  edited  and  published  its  first  and  third 
volumes  of  Transactions,  the  first  covering  a  pe- 
riod of  twenty  years.  His  monograph  in  this  first 
volume  on  the  "Early  History  of  Homoeopathy  in 
Massachusetts,"  is  especially  valuable  as  a  record 
of  facts  not  obtainable  elsewhere.  Dr.  Jones  has 
been  a  constant  contributor  to  the  magazines  and 
periodicals  in  his  department  of  knowledge  the  last 
thirty  years,  being  assistant  editor  for  two  years  of 
the  New  England  Gazette,  still  published  in  Boston. 
In  1854  he  became  a  member  of  the  American  In- 
stitute of  Homoeopathy,  of  which  he  is  now  an  hon- 
ored "  senior."  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  American 
Public  Health  Association.  He  has  recently  been 
nominated  and  confirmed  as  chairman  of  the  city 
Board  of  Health.  He  is  also  treasurer  of  the  Old 
Colony  Historical  Society. 

In  1879  he  was  appointed  lecturer  on  sanitary 
science  and  malarial  diseases  in  Boston  University 
Medical  School,  a  position  which  he  still  continues 
to  fill  with  great  acceptance.  Professionally  and 
socially,  Dr.  Jones  is  in  the  foremost  ranks,  and  has 
hosts  of  friends.  His  wife  is  secretary  of  the  Female 
Charitable  Association,  and  one  of  the  managers  of 
the  Old  Ladies'  Home. 


THE    WILLIAMS    FAMILY. 

None  of  the  many  important  families  of  the  ancient 
town  of  Taunton  have  been  connected  with  its  history 
for  so  long  a  period,  and  none  have  been  more  prom- 
inently identified  with  its  business  interests  and  pros- 
perity than  the  Williams  family. 

Richard  Williams  may  be  considered  as  in  some 
measure  the  father,  although  not  the  founder,  of 
Taunton.  He  certainly  was  in  the  town  before  the 
purchase  by.  Miss  Pool.  Tradition  says  he  was  ac- 
companied by  a  brother,  and  came  from  Scituate. 
He  might  have  come  immediately  from  Scituate,  but 
there  is  a  strong  probability  that  he  was  one  of  those 
who  accompanied  Governor  Endicott  to  Salem,  for 
his  wife,  Frances  Dighton,  was  sister  to  Endicott's 
first  wife.  He  might  have  gone  from  Salein  to  Scit- 
uate, and  thence  to  Taunton.  Richard  was  a  Welsh- 
man, and  was  born  as  early  as  1599.  It  is  not  im- 
probable that  he  was  a  relative  of  Roger  Williams, 


and  a  tradition  has  always  existed  among  his  descend- 
ants that  he  was  a  blood  relation  of  Oliver  Cromwell-, 
whose  family  name  was  Williams,  and  changed  to 
Cromwell  for  an  estate.  It  is  positively  known  that 
one  of  Oliver's  ancestors  was  a  Richard  Williams. 
The  Richard  settling  at  Taunton  was  a  man  of  no 
mean  abilities.  He  was  deputy  to  the  General  Court 
of  Plymouth  for  Taunton  in  1646,  '48,  '50,  '51,  and 
several  subsequent  years.  He  was  first  on  the  list  of 
those  who  made  the  South  Purchase  (Dighton),  and 
also  of  those  who  made  the  North  Purchase,  viz., 
Easton,  Norton,  Mansfield,  and  a  part  of  Attlebor- 
ough.  He  outlived  the  Plymouth  government,  dying 
in  1692.  He  was  a  rigid  Puritan.  When  blind  and 
deaf  from  age  he  was  accustomed  to  attend  public 
worship,  saying,  "  Although  he  could  neither  see  nor 
hear,  yet  it  was  consoling  to  his  feelings  to  know  that 
he  was  present  while  the  people  of  God  were  at  their 
worship."  He  settled  in  Taunton  in  1637,  and  the 
estate  he  then  purchased  is  largely  in  possession  of 
his  descendants  at  this  day.  His  children  were  John, 
Samuel,  Joseph,  Nathaniel,  Thomas,  Benjamin,  Eliz- 
abeth, and  Hannah.  The  children  of  Joseph  were 
Richard,  Joseph,  Benjamin,  Ebenezer,  and  Mehitable. 
Richard  had  children, — George,  Richard,  and  Eben- 
ezer; George  had  children, — George,  Ebenezer,  Rich- 
ard, Phebe,  Sarah,  and  Anna.  This  last-mentioned 
George  was  the  father  of  Francis  Williams,  and  the 
line  of  descent  from  the  Richard  who  settled  in  Taun- 
ton is  Richard1,  Joseph2,  Richard3,  George4  (a  captain 
and  colonel  in  American  army  in  the  Revolution), 
George5,  Francis6. 

George  Williams  (fifth  generation)  was  born  in 
Taunton,  Aug.  18,  1745,  and  died  Feb.  25,  1814.  He 
married  Bathsheba  King  (born  in  Raynham,  March 
31, 1744,  died  in  Taunton,  May  26, 1839),  Oct.  2, 1766. 
Their  children  were  Sarah,  George,  Abiathar,  Bath- 
sheba, Melancy,  Francis,  Narcissus,  Enoch,  and 
Samuel  K.,  all  born  in  Raynham,  Mass.  He  was  a 
man  of  hardy  constitution,  of  force  and  energy,  and 
was  of  repute  and  consequence.  He  was  of  fine  per- 
sonal appearance,  and  during  the  Revolution  was  ad- 
jutant of  a  Continental  regiment.  After  the  war  he 
labored  diligently  to  improve  his  estate,  and  enjoyed 
a  handsome  property,  which  was  largely  the  result  of 
his  thrift  and  industrious  habits. 

Francis  Williams,  son  of  George5  and  Bathsheba 
(King)  Williams,  was  born  in  Raynham,  Mass.,  Oct. 
13,  1779,  and  inherited  one  of  the  numerous  farms  of 
his  father.  He  married  a  worthy  daughter  of  an  old 
family,  Louisa,  daughter  of  John  Gilmore,  of  Rayn- 
ham, May  6,  1804.  She  was  born  Sept.  30,  1782. 
They  had  eleven  children,  as  follows:  Francis  K. 
William  H.,  Martin  G.,  George  A.,  Louisa,  Elizabeth 
D.,  John  R.,  Edwin,  Catharine,  Alexander  H.,  and 
Ruth  C.  Mr.  Williams  carried  on  extensive  farming 
operations,  was  a  large  manufacturer  of  brick,  and 
this  was  his  principal  business  for  over  half  a  centurv. 
He  was  a  large  and  vigorous  man,  well  proportioned, 


880 


HISTORY    OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


and  possessed  of  great  vitality,  with  wonderful  powers 
of  endurance.  He  was  social  in  his  intercourse,  pos- 
sessed strong  intellect,  and  was  of  such  an  active 
temperament  as  never  to  have  known  an  idle  day. 
He  was  one  of  the  first  men  in  every  public  enterprise, 
and  did  more,  perhaps,  than  any  other  man  of  Taun- 
ton in  his  day  to  develop  the  resources  of  the  country, 
and  gave  employment  to  many  in  his  numerous  and 
widely-varied  departments  of  industrial  enterprise. 

He  was  connected  prominently  with  the  establish- 
ment of  the  Taunton  Copper-Works  and  various 
manufactures  in  Wareham,  Dighton,  and  Providence. 
He  helped  establish  every  bank  founded  in  Taunton 
during  his  business  life  ;  was  quite  extensively  in- 
terested in  whaling.  He  got  out  large  quantities  of 
oak  and  pine  for  ship-timber,  and  was  very  successful 
in  all  departments  of  his  business.  He  was  an  old- 
liue  Whig  in  politics,  and  held  various  positions  of 
public  trust,  although  not  a  politician,  and  preferred 
attending  to  the  many  details  of  his  extensive,  private 
business,  and  avoided  public  life  as  much  as  prac- 
ticable. He,  however,  represented  Taunton  in  the 
Lower  House  of  the  Legislature,  and  was  called  upon 
to  settle  many  estates.  He  was  a  great  lover  of  equal 
and  exact  justice  to  all,  and  he  enjoyed  to  a  very  high 
degree  the  confidence  of  the  community  for  his  strict 
integrity,  unassuming  ways,  and  strong,  practical 
judgment.  He  was  broad  and  liberal  to  all  deserving 
causes,  and  a  Unitarian  in  religious  belief.  He  was 
in  a  great  many  respects  a  remarkable  man,  and  his 
great  industry,  foresight,  judgment,  far-reaching  sa- 
gacity, and  constant  attention  to  business  resulted  in 
great  wealth.     He  died  July  11,  1868. 

Francis  K.  Williams,  eldest  son  of  Francis  and 
Louisa  (Gilmore)  Williams,  was  born  Jan.  1,  1805. 
He  was  educated  at  the  schools  of  Taunton,  and  from 
a  very  early  period  in  life  was  accustomed  to  hard  labor 
in  brick-making,  lumbering,  and  farming,  remaining 
at  his  father's  home  until  he  was  twenty-three,  or 
rather  making  that  his  home,  for  when  but  eighteen 
he  went  on  a  trip  to  New  York  on  a  vessel  partially 
owned  by  his  father,  under  Capt.  Francis  D.  Williams, 
plying  between  Taunton  and  New  York,  and  that  was 
followed  by  another  trip  to  the  same  port,  and  that  by 
others  to  New  Bedford  and  other  ports  of  coasting 
trade.  In  1828  he  took  command  of  the  "  Hamil- 
ton," a  coasting  vessel,  sailing  between  Taunton  and 
New  Bedford,  of  which  he  was  master  for  four  years. 
In  1833  he  commanded  the  "  Spy"  in  the  coasting 
trade,  and  remained  as  its  master  for  eight  seasons, 
sailing  out  from  New  Bedford.  He  then  purchased 
the  farm  where  he  now  resides  in  his  seventy-eighth 
year,  and  soon  after  made  it  his  home.  He  has  since 
been  a  farmer  and  brick  manufacturer.  This  last 
business  he  carried  on  for  fourteen  years.  He  has 
been  a  Whig  and  Republican  in  politics  ;  never  de- 
sired office,  but  has  taken  several  minor  public  posi- 
tions as  a  duty.  He  has  been  a  consistent  and  active 
member  of  the  Sons  of  Temperance  since  the  first 


organization  of  that  society,  and  in  the  local  society 
has  held  the  highest  offices  and  been  trustee  for  many 
years.  He  married,  April  17,  1836,  Rhoda  King, 
daughter  of  Thomas  and  Rhoda  (King)  Tisdale.  She 
was  born  in  Berkley,  Mass.,  Oct.  4,  1805.  Their  chil- 
dren are  Catharine  (died  young)  ;  Israel  F.,  who  died 
Sept.  4, 1864,  in  his  twenty -sixth  year  (he  was  a  grad- 
uate of  Harvard  University  and  Cambridge  Law 
School,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  a  settled 
minister  of  the  Unitarian  Church  at  Yonkers,  N.  Y. ; 
he  was  agent  of  the  Sanitary  Commission  during  the 
Rebellion,  and  while  at  City  Point,  Va.,  on  the  duties 
of  that  office,  contracted  the  seeds  of  the  disease  from 
which  he  died) ;  Samuel  K.  (served  three  years  in 
Company  F,  Seventh  Regiment  Massachusetts  Vol- 
unteers, in  the  great  Rebellion,  was  a  brave  soldier, 
and  resides  now  in  Taunton,  engaged  in  manufac- 
turing), Edward  (died  in  infancy),  Emily  C,  Seth 
E.,  and  Charles  H.  (both  of  these  are  now  farmers  in 
Berkley). 

Thomas  Tisdale  was  born  in  Berkley ;  was  twice 
married,  first  to  Rhoda,  daughter  of  Philip  King,  of 
Raynham.  They  had  four  children, — Julia  A.,  Caro- 
line L.  (died  young),  Rhoda  K.  (Mrs.  F.  K.  Williams), 
and  Israel  (drowned,  aged  twelve  years).  Mrs.  Tis- 
dale died  in  1814,  and  Mr.  Tisdale  married,  second, 
Mary  Benton,  by  whom  he  had  one  child,  Caroline 
M.  Mr.  Tisdale  by  occupation  combined  farming 
with  brick-making,  and  in  early  life  carried  his  own 
brick  to  market  by  water,  commanding  his  own  ves- 
sel. He  died  in  1850,  aged  seventy-five  years.  His 
father,  Ephraim  Tisdale,  was  a  farmer  in  Taunton,  on 
a  part  of  the  farm  now  owned  by  F.  K.  Williams  and 
wife.  The  title  comes  down  to  Rhoda  (Mrs.  Wil- 
liams) direct  from  her  great-grandfather  (name  not 
known),  through  her  grandfather,  Ephraim,  and 
father,  Thomas.  Her  great-grandfather  was  a  large 
land-owner  and  a  prominent  and  active  man. 

Mr.  Williams  never  was  a  witness  in  any  court  other 
than  that  of  probate,  never  had  a  lawsuit  with  any 
one,  and  never  had  to  secure  a  bondsman  for  any  other 
purpose  than  the  customary  bonds  of  a  sailing-mas- 
ter. He  is  a  generous,  warm-hearted  man,  and  stands 
high  in  the  regards  of  community,  doing  no  discredit 
on  the  honored  name  he  bears.  He  is  Unitarian  in 
sympathy  and  belief,  and  a  supporter  of  that  church 
organization.  He  is  a  stockholder  of  Taunton  Na- 
tional Bank,  Bristol  County  National  Bank,  and 
holds  as  an  heirloom  a  few  shares  of  Boston  and  Al- 
bany Railroad  left  him  by  his  father.  Mr.  Williams 
has  been  for  forty-four  years  a  sufferer  from  rheuma- 
tism, which  has  greatly  crippled  him,  but,  with  a  great 
fund  of  cheerfulness,  he  is  passing  down  to  the  twi- 
light of  life  with  resignation,  cheered  in  his  declin- 
ing years  by  a  loving  wife  and  affectionate  daughters. 

John  Reed  Williams,  fifth  son  and  seventh 
child  of  Francis  and  Louisa  Williams,  was  born  on 
the  old  Williams  homestead  in  Taunton,  Mass.,  June 
18,  1817.     He  was  brought  up  like  his  other  brothers' 


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TAUNTON. 


881 


to  work  diligently  and  well  at  any  labor  coming  to 
hand,  and  early  was  inured  to  labor.  None  of  his 
father's  household  were  allowed  to  eat  the  bread  of 
idleness,  but  all  were  trained  to  know  the  necessity 
and  value  of  the  saying,  "By  the  sweat  of  thy  face 
shalt  thou  earn  thy  bread."  These  industrious  habits 
were  not  only  good  acquirements  in  themselves,  but 
they  were  preventives  of  all  the  various  kinds  of  dis- 
sipation which  have  ruined  so  many  reared  in  idle- 
ness. He  received  common  school  and  academic 
education,  teaching  one  term  of  school  when  twenty 
years  old.  The  fall  after  he  was  of  age  he  went  to 
Savannah,  Ga.,  and  engaged  in  brick-making,  and 
there  made  the  brick  from  which  Fort  Pulaski,  after- 
wards to  become  so  historic,  was  constructed.  He 
stayed  there  two  winters,  and  returning  home  worked 
for  his  father  until  1842,  when,  purchasing  the  place 
where  he  now  resides,  he  moved  thither  in  the  spring 
of  1843.  For  two  years  he  made  red  brick,  and  since 
then  has  been  engaged  in  manufacturing  fire-bricks 
and  stove-linings.  Commencing  in  a  small  way  with 
only  his  own  personal  labor,  he  now  employs  about 
twenty  men,  and  in  1882  the  production  of  his  works 
amounted  to  fourteen  thousand  dollars.  He  has  re- 
ceived from  them  in  some  years  twenty  thousand  dol- 
lars. He  made  many  improvements  on  his  land,  now 
consisting  of  one  hundred  acres,  and  in  1857  com- 
pleted the  commodious  and  beautiful  residence  in 
which  he  now  lives.  This  is  delightfully  situated  on 
a  gentle  eminence,  and  presents  a  charming  view  of 
the  surrounding  country  in  almost  every  direction, 
and  from  its  retired  situation  is  extremely  desirable 
as  a  home.  Mr.  Williams  is  a  director  and  president 
of  Taunton  Iron-Works,  which  offices  he  has  held 
for  several  years ;  he  is  stockholder  in  two  banks,  in 
copper-works,  iron-works,  etc.,  always  choosing  some 
manufacturing  interest  at  home  for  investment.  He 
is  an  active,  wide-awake,  and  progressive  man,  public- 
spirited  and  generous  in  support  of  anything  tending 
to  build  up  his  native  town  and  city.  Whig  and  Re- 
publican in  politics,  he  has  never  been  an  aspirant 
for  office.  He  is  Unitarian  in  religion,  and  connected 
with  the  Congregational  Unitarian  Church  of  Taun- 
ton. He  is  member  of  King  David  Lodge  of  Free- 
masons at  Taunton,  and  King  Philip  Lodge  of  Odd- 
Fellows.  He  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  Abner  and 
Eleanor  (Sanford)  Pitts,  of  Taunton.  Their  children 
are  Francis  (died  in  infancy),  Joseph  S.,  Sarah  E., 
E.  Louisa,  John  G.,  and  Sophia  P.  They  all  live 
with  their  parents,  and  form  a  pleasant  and  intelli- 
gent family  group.  Mr.  Williams  has  a  full  appreci- 
ation of  the  value  of  mental  culture  and  develop- 
ment, and  has  given  his  children  good  opportunities 
for  education,  which  have  not  been  neglected.  Sarah 
and  Louisa  are  successful  and  highly -appreciated 
teachers.  Joseph  is  the  manager  and  engineer  in  his 
father's  works.  John  G.  is  traveling  salesman  for  the 
business. 
Alexander  Hamilton  Williams,  youngest  son 
56 


of  Francis  and  Louisa  Williams,  was  born  on  the  an- 
cestral home  of  his  great  ancestor,  Richard,  Dec.  26, 
1823.  He  received  the  same  lessons  of  thrift,  in- 
dustry, aud  economy  as  his  elder  brothers,  and  early 
worked  at  brick-making,  farming,  or  lumbering,  as 
occasion  demanded.  His  education  was  derived  from 
the  common  schools  of  his  native  town  and  its  acade- 
mies. Being  the  youngest  son,  it  devolved  on  him 
to  succeed  his  father  in  his  business  operations  when 
the  active  brain  was  tired  with  age  and  the  worn 
frame  succumbed  to  the  weight  of  years,  and  during 
his  last  years  his  father  lived  with  Alexander.  Mr. 
Williams  was  about  twenty-five  years  old  when  he 
assumed  the  management  of  his  father's  affairs,  and 
under  his  energetic  labors  and  youthful  ambition  they 
did  not  lose  in  magnitude!  His  has  been  an  active 
life.  Always  outspoken  and  frank  in  expressing  his 
views,  he  has  labored  with  earnestness  to  carry  them 
into  practical  results.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Unita- 
rian Church,  a  member  also  of  King  David  Lodge  of 
Free  and  Accepted  Masons.  Although  not  a  politi- 
cian, and  avoiding  as  much  as  possible  official  pre- 
ferment, he  has  held  strong  political  opinions,  and 
was  a  pronounced  Whig  and  Republican.  He  has 
been  called  on  to  serve  as  counselor  in  the  city  gov- 
ernment of  Taunton,  is  now  director  in  Taunton 
Brick  Company,  and  also  stockholder  in  various  cor- 
porations and  institutions. 

Mr.  Williams  is  the  largest  manufacturer  of  bricks 
(outside  the  Taunton  Brick  Company)  in  this  section, 
so  noted  for  its  production  of  this  building  material, 
keeping  himself  the  leader  in  this  direction.  He 
started  the  Taunton  Brick  Company  in  the  summer 
of  1868,  and  organized  the  Williams  Brick  Company 
in  1872.  This  business  has  attained  enormous  pro- 
portions, and  his  son,  Capt.  George  F.  Williams,  has 
been  connected  with  him  in  this  company  since  1873. 
Their  production  of  brick  in  1882  was  two  million 
nine  hundred  thousand.  In  1880,  Mr.  Williams  con- 
tracted with  the  Conant  Thread  Company  of  Paw- 
tucket,  R.  I.,  to  furnish  them  five  million  brick. 
This  he  filled,  and  also  furnished  them  with  quite  a 
quantity  beside  which  they  needed  to  complete  their 
work.  This  was,  beyond  question,  the  largest  con- 
tract for  brick  ever  taken. 

Mr.  Williams  is  in  possession  of  about  ninety 
acres  of  the  more  than  one  hundred  which  consti- 
tuted the  homestead  farm  of  Richard  Williams.  This 
historic  place  is  highly  valued  by  him,  and  affords 
him  a  beautiful  and  comfortable  home.  It  used  to 
be  in  early  times  the  principal  fording-place  of  the 
people,  and  was  noted  for  the  shallowness  of  the 
river.  Mr.  Williams  married,  Jan.  16,  1851,  Jane 
Knight  King.  She  was  daughter  of  Dr.  Dan  King 
and  Cynthia  Pride,  his  wife.  She  was  born  in  Charles- 
town,  R.  I.,  June  4,  1826.  Their  children  are:  (1) 
George  F.,  who  is  book-keeper,  overseer,  and  general 
business  manager  of  the  Williams  Brick  Company. 
He  was   chosen    captain   of  Company   G,   Taunton 


882 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Light  Guards,  Massachusetts  States  Militia.  He 
married  Adella,  daughter  of  Shubael  Bliss,  of  Taun- 
ton, and  has  one  daughter,  Emma;  (2)  Cynthia  P., 
born  June  18,  1856,  who  resides  with  her  parents. 
Mr.  Williams  is  of  fine  personal  appearance,  tall 
and  well  proportioned,  of  light  complexion,  showing 
strong  Saxon  characteristics,  and  is  social  and  genial 
by  nature,  and  although  careful  in  financial  matters, 
is  at  the  same  time  generous  and  hospitable.  He 
enjoys  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  a  large  circle  for 
his  solid  worth  and  many  good  qualities. 


A.  K.  WILLIAMS. 
Abiathar  King  Williams,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
is  descended  from  Richard  Williams1,  the  first  settler 
of  Cohannet,  now  Taunton,  Mass.  This  memorable 
pioneer  was  from  Glamorganshire,  Wales,  and  settled 
at  Cohannet  in  1637.  Two  years  later  he  was  one  of 
the  founders  of  Taunton.  His  wife,  Frances  Dighton, 
was  from  Somersetshire,  England.  Their  third  son, 
Joseph2,  and  wife  Elizabeth,  had  a  son  Richard3,  who 
had  a  son,  Col.  George  Williams4,  who  resided  at 
South  Raynham,  and  was  the  father  of  Abiathar 
Williams5.  The  latter  was  born  in  Raynham,  and 
married  Naucy  Dean.  They  had  eleven  children,  of 
whom  our  subject  was  the  seventh  in  the  order  of 
birth.  (See  history  of  the  Williams  family,  Taunton.) 
Abiathar  Williams  was  known  as  "  Capt.  Wil- 
liams." He  ran  a  sloop  from  Taunton  to  New  York 
from  the  time  he  was  thirteen  years  of  age  till  he  was 
fifty-five.  He  was  a  successful  and  influential  citi- 
zen, represented  his  town  in  the  General  Court,  and 
held  various  local  offices.  He  died  in  June,  1856,  and 
his  wife  in  1858. 

A.  K.  Williams,  son  of  Abiathar  and  Nancy  (Dean) 
Williams,  was  born  in  Taunton,  Mass.,  March  11, 
1815.  He  received  his  education  at  the  common 
schools,  and  at  an  academy  in  his  native  town.  In 
1828  his  father  began  the  lumber  business  in  partner- 
ship with  D.  W.  G.  Cobb  (firm  of  Williams  &  Co.), 
and  in  connection  with  this  interest  young  A.  K.  was 
brought  up,  and  in  1849  was  received  by  his  father 
as  a  partner  in  the  firm,  which  then  became  A.  Wil- 
liams &  Son.  It  remained  under  this  style  till  about 
1853,  at  which  time  the  firm-name  was  changed  to 
A.  K.  Williams  &  Co.,  the  company  being  George  B. 
Williams,  and  so  remained  till  A.  K.  Williams  re- 
tired in  1877. 

Mr.  Williams  is  reputed  to  be  wealthy,  and  is  a 
large  stockholder  in  various  manufacturing  enter- 
prises, both  at  home  and  abroad. 

He  married  Sarah  G.  Andrews,  daughter  of  Henry 
R.  and  Sarah  Parker  (Hill)  Andrews,  of  Boston, 
Mass.,  Dec.  17,  1857.  Their  only  son,  Everett  A., 
died  at  the  age  of  seven  years. 


SYLVANUS    NELSON   STAPLES. 

Sylvanus  Nelson  Staples,  son  of  Sylvanus  Staples, 
was  born  in  Taunton,  Mass.,  Aug.  2, 1811.  His  father 
was  born  in  the  same  town  Nov.  24, 1783,  and  married, 
Aug.  25, 1805,  Sally,  daughter  of  Capt.  Jacob  Phillips. 
She  was  born  June  25,  1783,  in  Taunton,  Mass.  Of 
this  union  eleven  children  were  born,  viz.,  (1)  Ase- 
nath  (deceased),  married  Robert  Abell ;  (2)  Sally  A. 
(deceased),  married  Jabez  Irish;  (3)  Rebecca  A., 
married  Albert  Carpenter ;  (4)  Sylvanus  N. ;  (5)  Eliza 
N.,  married  Adam  Reed;  (6)  Abiathar  I.  (deceased), 
married  Esther  Jones ;  (7)  Hopy  T.  (deceased),  mar- 
ried George  Edgar;  (8)  Tila  Ann,  married  Nathan 
Maker;  (9)  Deborah  (deceased),  married  Abel  Reed; 
(10)  Henry,  died  unmarried;  and  (11)  John,  who  was 
drowned  at  the  age  of  nine. 

Mr.  Staples  was  a  brick-maker  by  trade,  and  a 
Democrat  in  politics.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Staples 
were  members  of  the  Baptist  Church  at  Pawtucket, 
R.  I.,  whither  they  had  gone  to  live  in  1830,  and 
where  their  two  youngest  children  were  born.  Mrs. 
Staples  died  Sept.  25, 1851,  aged  sixty-eight  years  and 
three  months,  and  Mr.  Staples  died  Feb.  24,  1852, 
aged  sixty-eight  years  and  three  months  also. 

Sylvanus  Staples,  father  of  Sylvanus,  and  grand- 
father of  Sylvanus  N.,  was  a  native  of  Taunton,  mar- 
ried a  Miss  Peirce,  and  had  four  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters, of  whom  Sylvanus,  father  of  Sylvanus  N.,  was 
the  eldest  son.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and 
died  at  a  ripe  old  age.  Sylvanus  Nelson  Staples  traces 
his  maternal  history  back  through  Sally  Phillips  and 
Capt.  Jacob  Phillips,  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary 
war.  He  was  several  times  taken  prisoner,  and  suc- 
ceeded in  escaping  twice  at  great  peril  of  his  life. 
He  was  master  of  vessels,  and  for  many  years  was 
engaged  in  the  coasting  trade  between  Taunton,  New 
York,  Boston,  and  many  Southern  ports.  He  died  at 
I  seventy-six  years  of  age. 

Sylvanus  N.  Staples  received  a  common  school 
education,  working  with  his  grandfather,  Capt.  Jacob 
Phillips,  summers,  and  attending  school  winters.  He 
commenced  a  seafaring  life  as  a  cabin-boy  when  not 
more  than  ten  years  of  age,  and  gradually  rose  through 
the  various  grades  till  he  became  master  of  a  sloop  at 
the  early  age  of  eighteen.  He  continued  in  the  coast- 
ing trade,  visiting  the  West  Indies  and  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico  till  he  was  twenty-eight.  In  the  mean  time  he 
had  several  vessels  built  for  his  trade.  In  1836  he  com- 
menced dealing  in  wholesale  and  retail  commission 
flour  and  grocery  business  with  Francis  D.  Williams 
as  partner,  under  the  firm-title  of  F.  D.  Williams  & 
Co.  After  a  few  years  Mr.  Staples  purchased  his 
partner's  interest,  and  the  business  was  carried 
on  under  the  title  of  S.  N.  Staples  &  Co.,  Hiram 
Burt,  a  brother-in-law,  being  the  company,  though  not 
actively  engaged  in  the  business,  as  he  was  constantly 
at  sea.  After  several  years  Mr.  Staples  bought  his 
partner's  interest,  and  associated  with  him  Messrs. 
James  M.  and  Horatio  Williams.     They  had  places 


cy^fff^^ 


nZtsyw^O 


TAUNTON. 


883 


of  business  at  this  place  (Weir,  Mass.),  S.  N.  Staples 
&  Co. ;  at  New  Bedford,  James  M.  Williams  &  Co. ; 
and  at  Norfolk,  Va.,  under  the  firm-name  of  Williams, 
Staples  &  Williams.  Their  business  was  extended  to 
the  West  Indies  and  all  along  the  Atlantic  seaboard. 
Their  West  India  enterprise  did  not  prove  altogether 
successful,  and  in  1850  the  partnership  was  dissolved. 

Mr.  Staples  began  life  again  at  the  bottom  of  the 
ladder,  and  by  the  friendly  aid  of  his  friends,  built  a 
vessel  called  the  "  William  Mason,"  named  after  Wil- 
liam Mason,  one  of  Taunton's  most  enterprising  and 
wealthy  citizens.  Mr.  Staples  ran  her  a  few  years, 
was  successful,  and  gave  her  to  his  brother,  Abiathar, 
who  ran  her  until  she  was  sunk  in  a  collision  with  the 
"  Queen  of  the  West,"  off  Tortugas,  in  1801.  She  was 
laden  with  a  cargo  of  sugar,  and  was  the  last  vessel 
that  left  Louisiana  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  civil 
war.  Mr.  Staples  began  commercial  business,  dealing 
in  iron,  coal,  lime,  and  the  general  freighting  business 
with  William  H.  Phillips  in  1857,  under  firm-title  of 
Staples  &  Phillips.  They  have  been  very  successful 
in  their  business,  selling  three  thousand  tons  of  coal 
the  first  year,  which  has  steadily  increased,  till  now 
(1883)  they  sell  more  than  one  hundred  and  sixty 
thousand  tons  annually.  The  iron  trade  has  increased 
also.  They  are  also  extensively  engaged  in  the  ship- 
ping trade,  and  are  large  owners  in  a  great  many  ves- 
sels and  steamers.  Mr.  Staples  is  also  interested  in 
various  manufacturing  enterprises,  in  all  of  which  he 
has  been  successful.  He  is  a  director  in  the  Bristol 
County  National  Bank,  trustee  of  the  Taunton  Savings- 
Bank,  president  and  director  of  the  Dighton  Furnace 
Company,  director  in  Taunton  Cracker  Company, 
director  in  Taunton  Iron-Works,  and  Walliston 
Foundry,  near  Boston,  president  and  director  of  Globe 
Coal  Company,  Fall  River,  president  and  director  of 
Forest  Hill  Garden,  Fall  River,  director  of  Park 
Mills,  Taunton,  director  of  Taunton  Cotton  Machine 
Company,  and  president  and  director  of  Empire  State 
Steamboat  Company. 

In  politics  he  is  a  Republican.  He  has  held  some 
local  offices,  but  never  aspired  to  official  honors,  pre- 
ferring to  attend  to  his  own  business. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Unitarian  Church  at  Taun- 
ton, and  one  of  its  liberal  supporters.  He  married, 
May  22, 1835,  D.  Adeline  Hood,  daughter  of  Nathaniel 
and  Fanny  Hood,  of  Taunton.  They  have  children, 
viz.,  (1)  Elizabeth  A.  (deceased),  married  Stephen  A. 
Jenks,  of  Pawtucket;  (2)  Adeline  N.,  married  Lewis 
Williams;  (3)  Edwin  S.  (deceased),  married  Cora 
F.  Cook  ;  (4)  Herbert  M.,  married  Alice  M.  Presbrey  ; 
(5)  Harriet  F.  (deceased) ;  (0)  AdellL.,  resides  at  home. 


J.  F.  WHEELER. 

Jeremiah  Fisher  Wheeler,  son  of  Russell  and  Mary 
D.  Wheeler,  was  born  in  Rehoboth,  Mass.,  Jan.  8, 
1811.  He  comes  of  some  of  the  best  New  England 
families  of  early  colonial  days,  and  was  himself  a  good 


representative  of  this  active,  industrious,  and  enter- 
prising race.  His  father,  Russell,  was  eighth  child 
in  the  family  of  twelve  children,  and  was  son  of  Jer- 
emiah and  Betsey  Wheeler.  He  married  Mary  Da- 
vis, daughter  of  Joseph  and  Elizabeth  Mason.  She 
was  oldest  in  a  family  of  fifteen  children.  He  was 
for  many  years  a  manufacturer  of  cotton  with  his 
brother  Nathaniel,  a  noted  manufacturer,  in  Digh- 
ton, and  was  of  esteemed  worth  and  a  useful  citizen. 
He  had  eight  children, — Elizabeth  Troop,  Joseph 
Russell,  Mary  Davis,  Ann  Mason,  Jeremiah  F.,  Sub- 
mit Anthony,  Augustus  Mason,  and  William  Mason. 

J.  F.  Wheeler  studied  civil  engineering  and  me- 
chanics, and  became  a  machinist.  He  went  to  New' 
Orleans  as  a  civil  engineer,  and  took  charge  of  the 
construction  of  the  canal  leading  to  Lake  Pontchar- 
train,  where  he  employed  over  two  hundred  men.  He 
afterwards  established  an  iron  foundry  and  machine- 
shop,  in  connection  with  others,  and  for  nearly  forty 
years  devoted  himself  strictly  and  closely  to  his  busi- 
ness. He  was  senior  partner  of  the  well-known  house 
of  Wheeler,  Geddes  &  Co.,  which  did  an  extensive 
business  in  the  manufacture  of  st^am-engines,  sugar- 
mills,  and  all  kinds  of  machinery  and  iron-work  at  208 
Girod  Street,  New  Orleans.  He  amassed  a  large  prop- 
erty, and  retired  about  1859.  He  died  Jan.  4,  1804, 
aged  fifty-three  years.  He  owned  a  large  estate  in 
New  Orleans. 

He  married,  first,  Martha  Marshall,  of  Tennessee, 
who  died  in  1850,  leaving  one  son,  Albert  W.,  who 
married  Mary  Manders,  and  died,  leaving  one  son, 
also  Albert.  Dec.  12,  1853,  Mr.  Wheeler  married 
Louisa,  daughter  of  Ebenezer  and  Betsey  (Crane) 
Hathaway.  The  Hathaway  family  of  the  entire  sec- 
tion of  New  England  traces  its  origin  to  Arthur  and 
John  Hathaway,  who  came  to  America  in  1030,  from 
one  of  the  Welsh  counties  of  England.  Arthur  set- 
tled in  Plymouth,  had  a  son,  Arthur,  who  married 
Sarah,  daughter  of  John  Cooke,  one  of  the  large 
land-owners  of  Dartmouth,  Nov.  20,  1652;  lived  first 
in  Duxbury,  then  in  Dartmouth,  and  died  in  1712. 
He  had  sons,  John,  Thomas,  Jonathan,  and  numerous 
daughters.  John,  his  son,  lived  on  the  New  Bedford 
side  of  the  river,  and  had  sixteen  children.  John 
Hathaway,  the  emigrant,  in  1638  was  a  landholder  in 
Taunton  (now  Berkley),  where  he  died.  HissonJb/m2 
had  two  wives  and  several  children,  among  them 
Johns.  He  settled  in  Freetown,  had  wife  Christian 
and  ten  children.  Isaac  (fourth  generation)  married 
Sarah  Makepeace,  and  had  eight  children.  Nicholas 
(fifth  generation),  his  second  son  (born  1722,  died 
1800),  married  Rebecca  Myrick,  and  had  numerous 
children,  among  them  Stephen  (sixth  generation), 
who  was  born  1745,  died  1819,  married  Hope  Pierce, 
Feb.  12,  1767,  and  had  twelve  children.  His  son 
Ebenezer  (seventh  generation),  born  Aug.  21,  1779, 
married  Betsey  Crane,  daughter  of  Ebenezer  and  Si- 
lence (Pitts),  Sept.  22,  1805.  She  was  "born  March 
15, 1786,  and  died  June  7, 1853.     Mr.  Hathaway  died 


884 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


March  14,  1842.  They  had  ten  children,  of  whom 
Louisa  (eighth  generation)  was  seventh.  She  was 
born  in  Dighton,  Mass.,  May  29,  1819. 

Mr.  Wheeler's  only  surviving  child  by  his  second 
marriage  is  Eleanor  B.,  who  lives  with  her  mother, 
and  resembles  in  personal  appearance  her  father. 

Mr.  Wheeler  was  of  erect  and  dignified  bearing, 
fine-looking,  commanding  presence,  and  an  aristo- 
cratic mien.  He  said  few  words,  but  no  one  ever 
misunderstood  him,  and  under  this  reserve  he  car- 
ried a  warm  and  kindly  nature.  He  was  one  of  the 
best  types  of  "  self-made"  men,  of  acknowledged 
probity  and  integrity  and  sterling  worth.  He  had 
a  large  circle  of  friends.  Since  June,  1864,  Mrs. 
Wheeler  has  made  her  home  in  Taunton.  She  car- 
ries her  years  lightly,  and  is  an  agreeable  social  com- 
panion.   

PERLEY  IDE  PERRIN.* 
Perley  Ide  Perrin  was  born  in  Seekonk,  Bristol 
Co.,  Mass.,  March  1,  1812.  He  is  a  lineal  descend- 
ant in  the  seventh  generation  from  John  Perryn,  who 
came  from  London  in  the  ship  "  Safety,"  Aug.  10, 
1635,  and  settled  in  Braintree  or  Weymouth,  Mass. 
His  wife's  name  was  Ann.  They  had  five  children, 
of  whom  Mary,  born  in  Braintree,  Dec.  22,  1640,  was 
probably  the  oldest.  She  is  the  only  one  whose  birth 
is  recorded  in  the  Braintree  records.  The  family  soon 
after  removed  to  Behoboth,  Mass.,  where  John  Per- 
ryn was  buried,  Sept.  13,  1674,  and  his  widow,  Ann, 
March  11,  1688.  The  line  of  descent  from  John 
Perryn  to  the  subject  of  this  sketch  is  as  follows: 
John1,  John,  Jr.2,  Daniel3,  Daniel,  Jr.4,  David*, 
John6,  Parley  Ide7. 

They  have  been  farmers  throughout  their  genera- 
tions. David5  married  Abigail,  daughter  of  Thomas 
Cooper,  of  Attleborough,  Mass.,  and  had  twelve  chil- 
dren, of  whom  John,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
one.  David  died  Feb.  15,  1825,  aged  eighty-five 
years,  three  months,  and  twenty-three  days.  His 
wife,  Abigail,  died  Feb.  3,  1830,  aged  eighty-five 
years,  three  months,  and  twenty-five  days.  John6, 
son  of  David,  was  born  Feb.  6, 1786  ;  married  Huldah, 
daughter  of  Capt.  Jacob  Ide,  of  Attleborough,  Mass., 
and  had  two  sons,— A.nson  E.  and  Perley  Ide.  He 
married  for  his  second  wife  Widow  Hannah  W. 
Bucklin,  daughter  of  Ephraim  Walker,  of  Seekonk, 
Mass.  He  was  a  Republican  in  politics  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Congregational  Church.  He  died  at  about 
seventy-eight  years  of  age,  July  1,  1864,  and  was 
buried  in  East  Providence  Cemetery. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  a  common 
school  education,  and  has  always  been  a  thoughtful 
reader  and  a  close  observer.  He  is  therefore  well 
informed  on  all  the  current  events  and  questions  of 
the  day.  His  mother  died  when  he  was  about  two 
years  old,  and  he  was  cared  for  by  his  aunt,  Sarah 

1  Spelled  variously, — Perryn,  Perriu,  Perain,  Periu,  Perram,  Peren, 
and  various  other  ways. 


Kent,  and  his  grandmother,  Perrin.  At  nineteen  he 
left  home  for  Pawtucket,  R.  1.,  where  he  spent  three 
years  in  learning  the  trade  of  a  machinist,  when  he 
went  to  Bridgewater,  Mass.,  and  at  the  expiration  of 
one  year  to  Lowell,  and  thence  to  Newark,  N.  J.  In 
Lowell  he  had  worked  at  locomotive  building,  and 
this  was  also  his  occupation  in  Newark,  where  he  was 
among  the  first  employes  of  Seth  Boyden.  After  sev- 
eral years  he  returned  to  Pawtucket,  R.  I.,  where  he 
worked  on  the  farm  and  in  the  shop  until  he  went  to 
Philadelphia  and  worked  a  while  on  stationary  en- 
gines, returning  again  to  Pawtucket,  where  he  estab- 
lished a  small  shop  in  the  spring  of  1841.  He,  how- 
ever, conducted  this  business  only  about  a  year,  when 
he  was  called  to  his  native  town  to  take  care  of  his 
uncle  David,  a  farmer  and  bachelor.  After  his  uncle's 
death  he  married  Eunice  Kent,  daughter  of  Seba  and 
Abigail  Kent,  Oct.  10,  1843.  She  was*born  in  See- 
konk, May  27,  1812.  Their  children  are  Emily 
Frances,  born  July  28,  1-S44 ;  Huldah  Ide,  born  Dec. 
16,  1846,  married  Everett  D.  Godfrey  Oct.  7,  1868, 
and  has  two  children,  Edith  I.  and  Chester  S. 

Mr.  Perrin  remained  on  the  farm  some  two  years 
after  his  marriage,  and  then  went  to  Providence, 
R.  I.,  where  he  again  embarked  in  the  business  of  a 
machinist,  remaining  till  June,  1846,  at  which  time 
he  removed  to  Taunton  in  the  employ  of  the  Taun- 
ton Locomotive  Manufacturing  Company  as  foreman 
and  draughtsman.  He  next  became  general  superin- 
tendent, and  succeeded  to  the  position  of  agent  and 
treasurer  in  1877.  After  a  few  years  he  became  in- 
terested in  the  business,  and  is  now  one  of  the  stock- 
holders of  the  company.  For  five  years  Mr.  Perrin 
served  efficiently  as  an  alderman,  in  the  City  Council, 
and  for  six  years  was  president  of  the  board  of  direc- 
tors of  the  Taunton  Water-Works.  He  is  one  of  the 
trustees  of  the  Taunton  Savings-Bank,  and  a  liberal 
supporter  of  the  Baptist  Church,  of  which  he  is  a 
member. 

One  of  the  strongest  personal  traits  of  Mr.  Perrin 
is  energy  of  character,  and  this  is  guided  by  good 
sense  and  sound  judgment.  Few  men  are  more 
highly  esteemed,  and  few  enjoy  more  fully  the  com- 
forts of  a  happy  home. 


ELI   H.  ELDRIDGE. 

Eii  H.  Eldridge,  senior  partner  in  the  firm  of  El- 
dridge  &  Co.,  was  born  in  Taunton,  Mass.,  May  26, 
1828.  He  is  the  son  of  Eli  and  Charlotte  (Curtis) 
Eldridge,  of  Barnstable  County,  Mass.,  where  the 
ancestors  have  for  several  generations  resideil.  Like 
most  young  men  of  his  day  in  that  part  of  the  coun- 
try where  he  was  brought  up,  Mr.  Eldridge  had  but 
limited  educational  advantages.  About  three  months 
of  each  year  at  the  public  school  of  his  town  (Har- 
wich) was  the  most  he  could  hope  for,  and  after  his 
fifteenth  year  even  that  was  denied  him.  His  early 
boyhood  was  spent  on  the  farm ;  at  about  fourteen 


_ 


<$**UdS***L 


C*^ts*-iaJi__ 


TAUNTON. 


885 


years  of  age  he  sought  and  obtained  employment  in 
the  britannia-works  of  Reed  &  Barton,  at  Taunton,  as 
a  general  employe,  learning  the  different  branches  of 
the  trade.  Here  he  continued  till  seventeen  years 
old,  when  he  went  to  Dorchester,  Mass.,  and  obtained 
employment  with  Roswell  Gleason,  in  whose  shop 
Eli  Eldridge,  Sr.,  was  superintendent.  Here  he  spent 
the  next  three  years,  when  both  he  and  his  father  re- 
turned to  Taunton  and  began,  in  a  small  way,  the 
manufacture  of  various  small  articles  in  britannia. 
In  1860  they  began  making  a  specialty  of  coffin- 
plates,  which  to  the  present  time  has  been  one  of  the 
leading  features  of  their  business.  Upon  the  decease 
of  Mr.  Eldridge's  father,  in  September.  1875,  he  took 
his  son  John  H.  into  partnership  with  him.  They 
operate  under  the  firm-name  of  Eldridge  &  Co.,  and 
manufacture  coffin-plates,  hinges,  lining-tacks,  etc. 
They  employ  a  number  of  hands,  and  their  trade 
reaches  all  through  the  Eastern,  Middle,  and  Western 
States  to  California.  They  have  the  latest  improved 
machinery  adapted  for  their  particular  kind  of  work, 
and  are  continually  adding  to  and  increasing  their 
facilities.  They  do  first-class  work  only.  Mr.  El- 
dridge married,  May  2,  1850,  Lydia  A.,  daughter  of 
John  and  Deborah  Thrasher.  They  have  two  chil- 
dren living,  one  deceased, — John  H.,  born  Jan.  7, 
1853;  Alice  B.  (deceased) ;  Albert  S.,  born  Nov..  15, 
1859.  Both  of  the  sons  are  married,  and  are  con- 
nected with  their  father  in  the  manufacturing  busi- 
ness. Mr.  Eldridge  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and 
an  ardent  temperance  man. 


men  of  Taunton  to-day,  and  can  and  does  perform  a 
hard  day's  work  with  greater  ease  than  many  men 
much  his  junior  in  years.  He  is  conservative  and 
cautious,  and  is  a  thoroughly  successful  "self-made" 
man,  enjoying  the  satisfactory  results  of  his  energy, 
economy,  and  thrift.  In  politics,  like  his  father  and 
grandfather,  he  is  Democratic.  He  would  never  ac- 
cept office,  other  than  highway  surveyor.  He  married, 
first,  Caroline,  daughter  of  George  and  Hopy  (Payne) 
Briggs,  of  Freetown.  They  had  six  children, —  Charles 
F.,  who  went  into  the  military  service  during  the  last 
war  in  a  Rhode  Island  regiment,  and  has  never  re- 
turned ;  Andrew  G.1  (died  young)  ;  Gustavus  L.,  a 
soldier,  also  in  the  Rebellion,  now  a  farmer  in  Rayn- 
ham.  He  went  out  as  a  private,  served  three  and  a 
half  years,  and  when  mustered  out  was  a  lieutenant. 
He  received  a  wound  in  the  foot  from  which  he  still 
suffers.  Andreio  G.2;  Alfred,  now  with  his  father,  as- 
sisting in  brick  manufacturing  and  farming ;  Ann 
Janette,  married  Henry  Lincoln,  and  lives  in  Norton  ; 
and  Georgianna  (died  young).  Mrs.  Dean  died  March 
19,  1872.  In  February,  1879,  Mr.  Dean  married  Mrs. 
Sarah  A.  Chase,  widow  of  Robert  Chase,  and  daugh- 
ter of  David  Perkins,  of  Freetown.  She  has  one  son, 
Algernon,  by  her  first  marriage. 


ELBRIDGE    G.   DEAN. 

Elbridge  G.  Dean,  son  of  Abel2  and  Mehitable 
Dean,  was  born  in  Taunton,  Mass.,  Dec.  9,  1811.  His 
father  was  only  son  of  Abel1  Dean,  a  farmer  and  shoe- 
maker, and  a  worthy  member  of  the  Baptist  Church, 
who  was  son  of  Ezra  Dean.  Thus  for  several  gener- 
ations has  this  branch  of  the  Dean  family  been  among 
the  reputable  citizens  of  Taunton.  Abel  Dean2 
served  as  a  private  soldier  in  the  Mexican  war,  and 
married  Mehitable,  daughter  of  Elkanah  Dean,  and 
was  a  carpenter  by  trade.  Elbridge  had  limited  com- 
mon school  education.  He  was  early  taught  to  labor, 
and  being  of  robust  frame  enjoyed  it,  and  followed 
brickmaking  until  he  was  nineteen,  when,  in  company 
with  Joseph  A.  Hall,  he  began  the  manufacture  of 
brick.  This  partnership  continued  two  years.  Mr. 
Dean  then  for  thirteen  consecutive  years  followed  this 
laborious  avocation,  becoming  practically  familiar 
with  every  department,  and  shrinking  from  none  even 
the  heaviest  labor.  Since  then  he  has  coupled  other 
departments  of  business  which  his  shrewd  practi- 
cality could  see  would  be  remunerative.  He  has  been 
a  farmer,  conducted  milk  business,  and  dealt  largely 
in  real  estate.  He  now  owns  numerous  houses  in 
Taunton,  and  several  farms  in  different  parts  of  the 
county.     He  is  one  of  the  money-making,  practical 


SAMUEL    0.  DUNBAR. 

Samuel  O.  Dunbar  was  born  atTittecut,  Mass.,  Aug. 
9,  1800.  He  is  the  son  of  Samuel  and  Abigail  (In- 
gall)  Dunbar,  and  grandson  of  Samuel  Dunbar.  The 
ancestors  were  originally  from  Scotland. 

In  the  day  of  Mr.  Dunbar's  youth  there  were  very 
limited  opportunities  afforded  for  obtaining  an  educa- 
tion. Owing  to  serious  and  protracted  illness  in  his 
father's  family,  Mr.  Dunbar  was  deprived  of  even 
the  very  limited  advantages  offered  by  the  common 
schools,  and  his  education,  scholastic  as  well  as  busi- 
ness, was  chiefly  acquired  outside  the  school-room. 
In  1818  he  went  to  Boston  and  engaged  as  a  salesman 
in  a  dry-goods  store.  He  continued  with  this  same 
employer  until  1834,  when  he  came  to  Taunton  and 
embarked  in  the  drug  business,  which  he  has  con- 
tinued from  that  time  to  the  present.  At  that  time 
Taunton  was  comparatively  a  small  place,  and  Mr. 
Dunbar's  business  was  very  small  compared  with 
what  it  afterwards  became.  By  diligent  and  earnest 
application  to  his  chosen  pursuit  he  soon  won  his  way 
to  the  confidence  of  the  people,  and  while  he  was 
building  up  his  fortune  in  the  shape  of  a  profitable 
business,  he  also  built  up  a  much  more  valuable  and 
rare  fortune  in  the  esteem,  good  will,  and  good  opin- 
ion of  his  fellow-townsmen.  He  is  now  the  oldest 
druggist  in  Bristol  County,  and  yet  gives  his  personal 
attention  and  supervision  to  his  business  every  day. 
He  is  a  hale,  hearty,  well-preserved  man  for  one  of 
his  great  age,  and  in  full  possession  of  all  his  facul- 
ties. He  has  made  it  his  rule  through  life  to  attend 
strictly  to  the  business  he  had  chosen,  and  to  this 


886 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


strict  and  prompt  attention  may  be  attributed  bis 
success.  He  could  never  be  persuaded  to  assume  the 
duties  of  any  official  station,  preferring  to  leave  to 
others  the  high  places  in  the  land;  his  ambition 
has  been  to  faithfully  and  worthily  perform  his  duties 
as  a  private  citizen. 

March  11,  1827,  he  married  Eliza  W.  Taylor,  of 
Boston.  Mass.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Levi  and 
Mary  (Kitchen)  Taylor,  of  that  city.  Their  union 
was  not  blessed  with  any  issue,  yet  they  have  reared 
and  educated  quite  a  considerable  family.  Upon  the 
death  of  Mrs.  Mary  R.^Moore  (Mrs.  Dunbar's  sister), 
in  1843,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dunbar  assumed  the  care  of  her 
orphaned  children,  five  in  number,  reared  and  edu- 
cated them,  and  has  lived  to  see  all  but  one  of  them 
pass  away  to  the  spirit  land.  Charles  A.,  the  only 
surviving  one,  grew  to  manhood,  migrated  to  St.  Paul, 
Minn.,  where  he  is  now  a  successful  lumber  merchant. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Dunbar  has  always  been  a  Whig 
and  Republican,  stanch  and  true,  and  was  an  earnest 
supporter  and  grgat  admirer  of  that  great  son  of  New 
England,  Daniel  Webster.  In  1869  he  was  appointed 
postmaster  of  Taunton,  which  position  he  held  the 
ensuing  four  years. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dunbar  are  in  many  respects  a  re- 
markable couple.  They  have  passed  over  fifty-six 
years  of  life  hand  in  hand  together,  and  during  all 
those  long  years  the  harmony  of  their  union  has  not 
been  marred  by  a  dispute,  disagreement,  or  harsh 
word.  The  united  current  of  their  lives  has  flowed 
peacefully  and  happily  on,  and  now,  as  they  near  the 
great  ocean  of  eternity,  they  can  look  confidently  for- 
ward with  the  pleasing  assurance  that,  if  separated 
at  all,  it  will  be  but  briefly  ;  that  in  the  great  beyond 
that  union  of  heart  and  spirit,  so  long  and  happily 
maintained  here,  shall  there  be  but  the  more  firmly 
established  as  the  ages  roll  by. 


EDWIN    KEITH. 


Edwin  Keith  was  born  in  Bridgewater,  Mass.,  Aug. 
3, 1804.  He  is  the  son  of  Jonathan  and  Sarah  (Leach) 
Keith.  Being  brought  up  on  the  farm,  he  had  only  such 
education  as  the  schools  of  his  town  afforded.  When 
eighteen  years  of  age  he  came  to  Taunton  and  ap- 
prenticed himself  to  his  uncle,  James  Leach,  to  learn 
the  trade  of  machinist,  and  afterwards  became  a  part- 
ner with  him  in  business  under  the  Arm-name  of  Leach 
&  Keith.  Upon  the  dissolution  of  this  firm  he  en- 
gaged for  some  years  in  insurance  business,  and  from 
1855  to  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  superintendent, 
clerk,  and  treasurer  of  the  Taunton  Gas-Light  Com- 
pany. He  was  selectman  of  Taunton  four  years, 
member  of  the  Common  Council,  and  a  director  of 
the  Bristol  County  Bank,  and  always  prominently 
identified  with  the  business  interests  of  his  adopted 
town.  His  death,  which  occurred  April  30, 1882,  was 
sudden  and  unexpected.     He  was  stricken  with  heart- 


disease,  and  died  almost  instantly.  Although  in  his 
seventy-eighth  year,  yet  he  was  in  active  business, 
and  the  news  of  his  sudden  decease  produced  a  shock 
in  the  community  where  more  than  sixty  years  of  his 
business  life  had  been  spent.  Mr.  Keith  was  noted 
and  beloved  for  his  genial  temperament  and  amiable 
disposition.  Though  his  life  was  a  quiet,  undemon- 
strative one,  yet  it  was  eminently  a  useful  one.  In 
the  home  circle  it  was  said  of  him  that  his  kindly 
nature  carried  always  sunshine  and  peace,  and  with 
this  sunny  temperament  was  united  incorruptible  in- 
tegrity and  moral  worth.  While  he  was  temperate, 
moral,  strictly  virtuous,  and  rigidly  correct  in  his  own 
deportment,  yet  his  kindly  heart  was  always  lenient 
in  judgment  of  the  erring,  and  his  opinions  of  his 
fellow-men  were  tinged  with  the  inborn  charity  of  his 
nature. 

Edwin  Keith  was  a  man  to  whose  moral  worth  all 
who  knew  him  attest,  and  Taunton  sustained  a  severe 
loss  in  his  death.  His  judgment  was  considered 
sound,  and  his  opinions  were  always  sincerely  given 
when  called  for,  hence  his  counsel  was  much  sought 
in  business  circles.  He  was  a  successful  man,  and 
one  who  rightfully  earned  success.  His  portrait, 
which  accompanies  this  sketch,  will  recall  to  hun- 
dreds of  his  friends  and  acquaintances  memories  of 
kindly  words  and  generous  acts  performed  from  a 
sense  of  duty,  and  with  a  delicacy  characteristic  of 
the  man. 

He  married,  June  5,  1831,  Betsey,  daughter  of 
Zebulon  and  Abigail  (Leonard)  Field,  of  Taunton, 
and  granddaughter  of  Zebulon  Field,  Sr.  She  was 
born  Jan.  18,  1807.  They  had  but  one  child,  a  daugh- 
ter, Sarah  E.  Both  Mrs.  Keith  and  the  daughter 
reside  at  the  homestead  in  Taunton. 


JOHN   W.  D.  HALL. 


John  W.  D.  Hall  was  born  in  Raynham  in  1807. 
After  attending  school  he  served  at  printing  with  a 
cousin,  Barnum  Field,  in  Providence;  was  publisher 
of  the  Literary  /Subaltern  of  that  city;  resigned  the 
command  of  the  Providence  Cadets  in  1835,  and  re- 
moved to  Taunton  to  engage  in  business ;  an  officer 
of  the  Cohannet  Rifle  Corps,  and  retiring  from  the 
command  in  1841;  editor  of  the  Taunton  117;/'/  and 
Republican,  and  its  publisher  twenty  years,  retiring  in 
1861;  associate  editor  of  the  Daily  and  Weekly  Gazette, 
Republican  papers,  several  years ;  a  member  of  the 
Massachusetts  Legislature  of  1863;  United  States 
provost-marshal  of  Second  Massachusetts  District, 
under  President  Lincoln,  until  the  close  of  the  war 
in  1865;  resumed  associate  editorial  duties  on  the 
Gazette,  and  was  for  several  years  its  publisher ;  com- 
piler of  the  Taunton  and  Raynham  descendants  of 
George  and  Mary  Hall,  and  a  contributor  of  indus- 
trial interests,  etc.,  to  the  "  History  of  Bristol  County" 
in  1883. 


THE   COURTS   AND   BAR   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY. 


887 


CHAPTER   LXX. 

A  SKETCH   OF   THE   COURTS   AND   BAR   OF   BRISTOL 

COUNTY.! 

Ox  the  12th  day  of  January,  a.d.  1680,  King  Charles 
II.  granted  unto  the  inhabitants  of  Plymouth  Colony, 
in  consideration  of  their  loyalty  and  good  conduct 
during  King  Philip's  war,  the  territory  of  Mount 
Hope,  containing  about  seven  thousand  acres. 

The  grant  was  upon  the  condition  that  the  Colony 
should  yield  and  pay  therefor  seven  beaver  skins  to  be 
delivered  at  Windsor  Castle  every  year  on  the  feast 
of  St.  John  the  Baptist,  or  in  default  thereof  fourteen 
marks  to  be  paid  into  the  royal  exchequer. 

On  the  14th  day  of  September,  of  the  same  year,  the 
colony  sold  this  territory  to  John  Walley,  Nathaniel 
Oliver,  Nathaniel  Byfield,  and  Stephen  Burton,  of 
Boston,  for  the  sum  of  eleven  hundred  pounds.  Mr. 
Baylies,  in  his  "History  of  Plymouth  Colony,"  says 
the  price  was  three  hundred  pounds,  but  according  to 
the  deed  of  purchase  the  former  sum  was  the  amount 
paid.  By  a  vote  of  the  General  Court,  passed  on  the 
28th  day  of  the  same  month,  "three  hundred  pounds 
of  the  prise  of  Mount  Hope"  was  ordered  to  be  dis- 
tributed among  the  several  towns  of  the  colony. 

The  original  purchasers  immediately  formed  a  set- 
tlement on  their  lands,  and  on  account  of  their  inti- 
mate relations  with  Bristol,  in  England,  gave  it  the 
name  of  Bristol.  It  soon  became  one  of  the  most 
flourishing  towns  in  the  colony. 

In  the  year  1685  Plymouth  Colony  was  divided  into 
three  counties, — Plymouth,  Barnstable,  and  Bristol ; 
these  names  were  given  to  the  counties  from  their 
several  shire  towns.  At  the  time  of  its  incorporation 
Bristol  County  comprised  not  only  its  present  area, 
but  in  addition  the  territory  of  the  towns  of  Cum- 
berland, Barrington,  Warren,  Bristol,  Tiverton,  and 
Little  Compton,  now  in  the  State  of  Rhode  Island. 

From  the  records  in  the  office  of  the  clerk  of 
courts,  and  from  information  from  other  sources,  we 
are  furnished  with  much  that  is  interesting  concern- 
ing the  earlier  judicial  history  of  Bristol  County. 

The  records  from  1685,  the  year  in  which  the 
county  was  incorporated,  to  1702,  covering  a  period 
of  nearly  seventeen  years,  are  wanting.  The  first 
record  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  is  of  that  term 
which  was  holclen  in  Bristol  commencing  on  the  13th 
day  of  October,  1702.  In  this  record  there  are  ref- 
erences made  to  the  courts  which  were  held  at  an 
earlier  day.  From  this  and  other  reasons  it  is  evi- 
dent that  the  courts  were  in  successful  operation  soon 
after  the  incorporation  of  the  county. 

The  courts  consisted  of  the  Superior  Court  of  Ju- 
dicature, the  Court  of  the  General  Sessions  of  the 
Peace,  and  the  Inferior  Court  of  Common  Pleas. 

The  Court  of  the  General  Sessions  of  the  Peace  had 
charge  of  the  prudential  affairs  of  the  county  and  a 

1  By  Hon.  John  S.  Brayton. 


general  jurisdiction  in  all  criminal  matters,  the  pun- 
ishment of  which  did  not  extend  to  life,  member,  or 
banishment.  As  an  illustration  of  the  business  which 
came  before  this  court,  a  few  of  the  orders  passed  and 
the  sentences  imposed  are  herewith  presented. 

On  the  14th  of  April,  1702,  William  Earle,  of 
Swansea,  being  presented  for  profane  swearing  and 
summoned  to  appear  to  answer  for  the  same,  came 
and  pleaded  the  province  law,  to  wit,  such  offenses 
must  be  proved  against  the  offender  within  thirty 
days  after  the  offense  is  committed,  was  admonished 
therefore  and  dismissed. 

July  14,  1702.  "Samuel  Waldron,  of  Taunton, 
being  presented  for  not  attending  public  worship  of 
God  on  the  Lord's  day,  appeared  upon  summons  and 
pleaded  that  he  was  of  the  way  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land, but  did  not  go  to  hear  Mr.  Danforth,  but  to  other 
meetings  as  often  as  he  could,  was  admonished  for  his 
neglect,  and  dismissed  with  paying  costs  taxed  at  two 
shillings." 

"Samuel  Watfield,  Keeper  of  the  jail  in  Bristol, 
having  served  the  year  past  in  that  office  for  the  sum 
of  five  pounds,  desires  to  have  an  order  pass  this  Court 
to  the  County  Treasurer  for  the  receiving  of  the  said 
sum  ;  it  was  passed  acccordingly." 

April  13, 1703.  "Ordered  thatCapt.  Samuel  Gallup 
have  and  receive  of  the  County  Treasurer  eight  shil- 
lings for  his  trouble,  expense,  and  pains  in  going  to 
Swansey  to  fetch  the  order  for  the  Thanksgiving,  and 
notifying  the  people  in  Bristol  thereof  the  day  be- 
fore."    Capt.  Gallup  was  then  sheriff  of  the  county. 

April  13,  1713.  "  Frank  Townsend  being  bound  by 
the  way  of  recognizance  to  appear  at  this  Court  upon 
complaint  of  his  wife,  who  complains  that  he  had  left 
her,  and  had  taken  another  woman  to  be  his  wife, 
and  he  being  convicted  thereof  by  his  own  confession, 
it  is  ordered  that  he  be  whipt  twenty  lashes  on  his 
bare  back,  well  laid  on,  and  to  stand  committed  till 
sentence  be  performed." 

John  Weaver,  in  court,  "owning  that  he  has  been 
guilty  of  a  breach  of  the  Sabbath  by  husking  corn 
on  the  Lord's  day ;  ordered  to  pay  a  fine  of  ten  shil- 
lings as  the  law  directs,  and  costs  of  Court." 

In  the  year  1745,  John  Briggs,  Jr.,  of  Berkley, 
petitioned  the  court  that  he  might  be  licensed  to  keep 
a  ferry  at  a  place  called  the  Needles,  on  Taunton 
Great  River,  and  among  other  reasons  stated  "  that  it 
will  be  very  convenient  for  those  jurymen  who  come 
from  the  last  side  of  the  river  to  go  to  Court." 

In  1746,  Col.  Jerathmeel  Bowers,  of  Swansea,  was 
ordered  into  the  king's  service  by  Capt.  Jonathan 
Slade.  Col.  Bowers,  instead  of  joining  the  troops, 
ran  over  to  Rhode  Island.  He  was  afterwards  brought 
before  Peres  Bradford,  Esq.,  and  entered  into  a  recog- 
nizance for  his  appearance  at  the  Court  of  Sessions  to 
answer  for  his  conduct.  After  his  arrest,  and  previous 
to  the  session  of  the  court,  Col.  Bowers  presented  to 
Governor  Shirley  a  document  signed  by  Dr.  Win- 
slow,  of  Freetown,  which  stated  that  Bowers  had  had 


888 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


his  collar-bone  broken  recently,  and  that  it  was  not 
properly  set,  and  that  he  was  thereby  disabled  and 
rendered  unfit  for  military  duty.  Governor  Shirley 
thereupon  issued  a  warrant  exempting  Bowers  from 
military  duty.  Capt.  Slade  then  caused  the  affidavits 
of  several  of  the  neighbors  of  Col.  Bowers  to  be 
taken,  who  testified  that  "  he  is  quick  of  foot  and  every 
way  able  to  perform  military  duty."  These  were 
presented  to  the  Governor,  who  issued  a  writ  of  super- 
sedeas, revoking  his  warrant  of  exemption  and  author- 
izes the  court  to  proceed  in  the  matter. 

Col.  Bowers  is  brought  before  the  court,  is  adjudged 
guilty,  and  "  ordered  to  be  imprisoned  for  six  months 
or  pay  a  fine  of  fifteen  shillings,  to  be  delivered  to  the 
town  of  Swansey  for  the  purchasing  arms,  etc.,  as  the 
law  directs." 

Samuel  Howland,  Esq.,  of  Bristol,  was  appointed 
king's  attorney  at  each  term  from  1702  to  1746.  This 
office  is  now  known  as  that  of  district  attorney. 

As  early  as  1740  a  dispute  had  arisen  between  the 
colonies  of  Massachusetts  and  Rhode  Island  respect- 
ing the  eastern  boundary  of  Rhode  Island.  This  dis- 
pute was  made  known  to  the  King  of  England,  who 
appointed  commissioners  to  visit  the  spot  and  deter- 
mine where  the  boundary  line  should  run.  These  com- 
missioners met,  and,  after  due  examination,  decided 
that  the  line  should  be  run  so  as  to  include  the  present 
town  of  Tiverton,  Little  Compton,  Bristol,  Warren, 
Barrington,  and  Cumberland  in  Rhode  Island.  From 
this  decision  Massachusetts  appealed  to  the  King  in 
Council,  who  confirmed  the  decision  of  the  commis- 
sioners, and  in  May,  1746,  George  II. in  Council  ordered 
that  Rhode  Island  and  Massachusetts  should  appoint 
commissioners  to  run  the  lines  setting  off  the  above- 
named  towns  to  Rhode  Island.  Massachusetts  was 
so  dissatisfied  that  she  sent  no  commissioners  on  her 
part,  but  commissioners  appointed  by  the  General 
Assembly  of  Rhode  Island  met  and  ran  the  line. 

The  county  seat  having  thus  been  set  off  to  Rhode 
Island,  "  it  was  enacted  by  the  Governor,  Council,  and 
House  of  Representatives,  that  from  and  after  the 
13th  day  of  November,  1746,  the  town  of  Taunton 
shall  be  and  hereby  is  made  and  established  the  county 
or  shire-town  of  the  County  of  Bristol  instead  of  the 
town  of  Bristol,  and  that  all  the  Courts  for  the  County 
shall  be  held  in  said  Taunton,  and  that  all  the  records 
and  papers  of  the  Courts  now  in  the  town  of  Bristol 
shall  be  forthwith  delivered  to  George  Leonard,  Esq., 
Mr.  Thomas  Foster,  and  Jonathan  Shepard,  Esq.,  or 
to  the  major  part  of  them,  who  shall  cause  them  im- 
mediately to  be  conveyed  to  the  said  town  of  Taunton, 
and  there  safely  deposited  under  the  care  of  the  same 
persons  as  heretofore,  or  others,  as  the  said  committee 
shall  judge  best,  who  shall  serve  in  their  offices  with 
full  power,  and  shall  give  the  same  obligations  and 
be  under  the  like  penalties  as  they  or  others  had  or 
were  under  heretofore,  until  this  Court  shall  further 
order,  or  others  shall  be  duly  appointed  in  their 
steads." 


The  same  act  required  all  persons  living  in  Bristol 
who  have  in  their  custody  any  records  belonging  to 
the  county  to  deliver  the  same  to  the  said  committee, 
and  the  act  also  authorized  the  sheriff  of  the  county 
to  remove  all  prisoners  in  his  majesty's  jail  at  Bristol 
to  Taunton,  and  there  put  them  under  safe  custody  in 
some  proper  place  until  the  county  shall  provide  a  jail. 

There  is  a  tradition  that  the  people  in  Bristol  who 
had  the  custody  of  the  court  records  refused  to  give 
them  up,  and  that  James  Williams,  of  Taunton,  was 
deputed  to  get  them  by  stratagem.  He  is  said  to  have 
succeeded  in  his  efforts,  brought  the  records  to  Taun- 
ten,  and  that  he  was  rewarded  for  this  act  by  being 
appointed  county  register,  an  office  now  called  regis- 
ter of  deeds,  which  office  he,  his  son,  and  his  grandson 
held  successively  for  a  period  of  ninety-five  years. 

The  Rev.  George  F.  Clark,  of  Norton,  in  his  re- 
searches among  old  papers  for  materials  for  a  history 
of  that  town,  found  in  a  house  occupied  for  many 
years  by  the  Leonard  family  reapers  giving  an  account 
of  the  removal  of  the  court  records.  Although  there 
is  no  signature  to  the  documents,  they  are  in  the 
handwriting  of  Judge  George  Leonard,  one  of  the 
persons  named  in  the  act  authorizing  the  transfer  of 
the  records  from  Bristol  to  Taunton. 

In  addition  to  the  following  document,  which  we 
copy  verbatim,  there  is  another  paper,  giving  a  sum- 
mary of  their  expenses.  Each  charges  £5  for  horse 
and  horse  hire;  Leonard  charges  £9  for  himself; 
Foster,  £10  10s.;  Shepard,  £12;  making  the  whole 
expense  of  removing  the  records,  £53  4s. 

"An  account  of  the  charges  of  the  Committee  in  going  to  Bristol,  By  order  of 
the  Great  and  General  Court,  and  removing  the  Records  from  Bristol  to 
Taunton,  November,  1740. 

£      s.      d. 

Cash  pd.  at  mr.  Robins  ye  Tavern,  by  Shepard 0      6  G 

Cash  pd.  at  Bristol  at  potters  ye  Tavern  by  Foster 0      6  6 

pd.  at  Do.  at  mr.  tronp's  by  Col.  Leonard 10  0 

pd.  at  Child's  ye  Tavern  at  Swanzey  by  Col.  Leonard  ..     16  0 

pd.  at  harden's  in  Do.  by  Sheppard 12  8 

pd.  at  Capt.  wheeler's  in  Rehoboth 

pd.  at  hill's  in  Do.  by  Sheppard 0      3  6 

pd.  at  Brig's  in  Do.  by  Sheppard 0     18  8 

pd.  by  Shepard  29s.  by  Foster 15  0 

Given  on  ye  Road  by  Capt.  Sheppard 6      8")    0     15  2 

By  foster 6       6  )-  6     74  0 

By  Col.  Leonard 2      ..]    3      7  0 

1     13  6 

li  Nov.  18th,  1746,  Delivered  the  Records  of  ye  County,  -viz.  of  Deeds, 
&c.  to  mr.  Thomas  Troop,  the  Late  Registre  of  Deeds,  at  ye  house  of  ye 
Honorable  Seth  Williams,  Esqr.  at  Taunton,  *  have  taken  bonds  with 
Surtys  for  his  keeping  ye  books  &  his  office  also  at  Taunton  till  ye  fur- 
ther order  of  ye  General  Court,  or  till  a  Registre  be  chosen,  ye  Same 
day  Committed  the  Books  of  Record  and  papers  belonging  to  ye  Probate 
Register  to  Stephan  paiue,  Esqr.,  at  the  house  of  Samuel  white.  Esqr., 
and  have  taken  Bonds  with  Surties  for  ye  Safe  keeping  sd.  Books  & 
papers  in  sd.  Town. 

"ye  same  day  appointed  mr.  Nathaniel  Fales  Clerk  of  ye  Inferior 
Court  of  Comon  pleas  &  Court  of  General  sessions  of  ye  peace,  who  yus 
sworn  to  ye  fathful  dishard  of  sd.  office  &  Committed  ye  Books  &  papers 
belonging  to  sd.  Courts  to  ye  sd.  Nath'll  Fales,  at  ye  House  of  ye  Hon- 
orable Seth  Williams,  Esqr.,  &  have  taken  Bonds  with  Surtys  for  his  Safe 
keeping  sd.  books  in  the  Town  of  Taunton,  &c,  the  same  day  appointed 
James  Williams,  Esqr.,  Treasurer  for  sd.  County,  who  has  Recod  the 
papers  &.  all  accounts,  &  was  Sworn  to  ye  faithful  discharge  of  sd.  office.'' 

The  first  session  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  held 
in  Taunton  was  on  the  9th  day  of  December,  A.D. 
1747,  the  Hon.  Seth  Williams,  George  Leonard,  and 


THE   COURTS   AND   BAR   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY. 


889 


Stephen  Paine  presiding.  The  Court  of  Sessions, 
which  consisted  of  all  the  justices  of  the  peace,  held 
its  first  session  on  the  same  day,  the  following  justices 
being  present:  Seth  Williams,  Thomas  Terry,  George 
Leonard,  Timothy  Fales,  Samuel  Willis,  Thomas 
Bowers,  Stephen  Paine,  Ephraim  Leonard,  John 
Foster,  Edward  Hayward,  Samuel  Howland,  Samuel 
Leonard,  John  Godfrey,  Stephen  White,  Sylvester 
Richmond,  Jr.  Timothy  Fales  was  appointed  clerk 
of  both  courts  and  was  duly  sworn. 

The  first  object  to  be  accomplished  was  to  prepare 
and  erect  suitable  buildings  for  county  purposes.  It 
was  ordered  by  the  court  "  that  the  school-house  be 
made  as  secure  as  may  be  for  the  safe  custody  of  all 
persons  that  may  be  committed  thereto,  with  the  ut- 
most dispatch,  and  that  Seth  Williams,  the  second, 
shall  take  care  to  secure  the  two  prisoners  now  in 
custody,  and  all  others  that  shall  be  committed  in  the 
mean  time." 

It  was  also  ordered  "  that  Seth  Williams,  George 
Leonard,  John  Godfrey,  and  Samuel  White,  Esquires, 
be  a  committee  to  look  out  a  suitable  place  for  the 
standing  of  a  gaol  and  county-house  in  the  town  of 
Taunton,  and  know  what  the  land  for  erecting  said 
house  on  may  be  purchased  for,  and  make  a  report  of 
their  doings  thereon  at  the  adjournment  of  this  court." 

At  the  Court  of  Sessions  held  on  the  second  Tues- 
day of  January,  a.d.  1747,  this  committee  made  the 
following  report:  "We  the  subscribers,  appointed  a 
committee  to  look  out  a  suitable  place  for  the  stand- 
ing of  a  gaol  and  county-house  in  the  town  of  Taun- 
ton, have  pursuant  to  the  written  orders  looked  out  a 
suitable  place  as  we  apprehend,  which  is  towards  the 
upper  end  of  the  old  training  field,  a  little  below 
where  they  used  to  dig  graves,  and  is  sixty  foots 
square,  which  we  look  upon  to  be  the  most  suitable 
for  setting  a  county-house  upon,  provided  the  town's 
proprietors  committee  give  a  legal  conveyance  thereof 
with  a  suitable  and  convenient  way  to  pass  to  and 
from  said  place;  and  also  that  the  most  suitable  place 
for  setting  a  gaol  and  gaol-house  be  on  the  land  of 
Samuel  White  and  Mr.  Simeon  Tisdale,  at  a  place 
near  the  spring  (so  called),  adjoining  the  way  that 
leads  from  said  Tisdale's  to  Mr.  Crossman's  grist-mill, 
provided  the  said  White  and  Tisdale  give  a  legal 
conveyance  thereof." 

The  site  designated  by  this  committee  for  the 
county  house  is  the  front  yard  of  the  present  court- 
house, and  for  the  gaol,  upon  the  land  now  occupied 
by  the  Bristol  County  National  Bank. 

At  the  same  session  of  the  court  it  was  "  ordered 
that  John  Foster,  Sylvester  Richmond,  Jr.,  and  John 
Godfrey,  Esquires,  be  a  committee  to  provide  mate- 
rials, and  build  a  County  House  and  gaol,  and  gaol- 
keeper's  house,  with  suitable  despatch.  The  gaol  to 
be  thirty  foot  long  and  fourteen  foot  wide,  two 
story  high  and  fourteen  foot  stud,  to  be  studded  with 
sawed  stuff  of  six  inches  thick,  to  be  framed  close 
together,  with  a  chimney  in  the  middle,  suitable  for 


a  jail.  The  house  for  prison-keeper  to  be  seventeen 
feet  wide  and  twenty-three  feet  long,  two  story  high, 
besides  the  entry  between  the  gaol  and  dwelling  house, 
and  to  be  fourteen  feet  stud,  with  a  suitable  chimney 
and  cellar." 

At  an  adjourned  session  of  the  court  held  on  the 
twenty-eighth  day  of  the  same  month,  Samuel  White, 
Esq.,  was  appointed  on  the  committee  for  building 
the  jail  instead  of  Sylvester  Richmond,  who  was  ap- 
pointed sheriff.  Mr.  Richmond  lived  in  Dighton,  and 
was  the  first  sheriff  appointed  after  the  removal  of 
the  shire  town  to  Taunton. 

On  the  9th  of  June,  1774,  the  court  received  a  sub- 
scription from  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Taunton 
amounting  to  £922.15  for  building  a  court-house. 

The  first  county  tax  of  four  hundred  pounds  was 
ordered  by  the  court  on  the  8th  of  September,  1747, 
to  be  levied  on  the  inhabitants  of  the  several  towns. 

Soon  after  the  assessment  of  the  county  tax  in  1747 
work  was  commenced  on  the  first  court-house  erected 
in  Taunton.  The  edifice  stood  directly  in  front  of 
the  present  structure,  and  served  the  purpose  for 
which  it  was  built  for  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century. 
On  the  17th  of  December,  1771,  the  court  ordered 
"  that  a  new  court-house  be  built,  to  be  forty-eight 
feet  square  and  twenty-four  feet  post,  and  George 
Leonard,  Jr.,  Benjamin  Williams,  Robert  Treat 
Paine,  and  Daniel  Leonard,  Esquires,  or  either  two 
of  them,  are  appointed  a  committee  to  proceed  and 
erect  a  court-house,  and  to  dispose  of  the  now  stand- 
ing court-house  by  sale  thereof  or  by  taking  it  down 
and  disposing  of  the  timber."  This  committee  was 
instructed  "  to  make  application  to  the  selectmen  of 
the  town  of  Taunton  to  call  a  town-meeting  to  see 
whether  the  town  will  grant  twenty  feet  more  of  the 
town's  land  back  of  the  now  court-house  to  the 
county  to  set  the  new  house  on."  The  town  of 
Taunton  in  1772  conveyed  to  the  county  the  land  de- 
sired, and  thereupon  the  committee  sold  the  old 
house,  which  was  removed  across  the  street  and  con- 
verted into  a  dwelling.  This  committee  proceeded 
to  erect  the  second  court-house  upon  the  site  now  oc- 
cupied by  the  present  court-house.  This  house,  like 
its  predecessor,  was  built  of  wood.  The  lower  story 
was  appropriated  to  offices,  and  a  flight  of  long  broad 
stairs  led  from  a  platform  in  front  of  the  court-room 
doors  to  the  level  of  the  street.  In  after-years  it 
was  pronounced  to  be  too  small  and  inconvenient  to 
accommodate  the  growing  business  of  the  county, 
and  it  was  sold  and  removed  to  the  foot  of  Court 
Street,  where  it  now  stands,  and  is  occupied  by  sev- 
eral tenants,  and  upon  its  site  was  erected  the  present 
brick  edifice,  a  substantial  structure. 

The  first  gaol  which  was  built  was  used  for  that 
purpose  till  1785,  when  it  having  become  so  insecure 
that  a  number  of  the  prisoners  escaped  therefrom,  the 
court  directed  a  new  jail  to  be  built,  and  the  legisla- 
ture authorized  the  assessing  of  a  county  tax  of 
£1500  to  meet  the  expenses.      The  second  jail  was 


S!)0 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


erected  upon  the  same  site  as  the  first  jail,  and  cost 
£621.7.  It  was  built  of  wood  and  painted  red,  and 
is  remembered  by  many  persons  now  living.  The 
stone  jail  on  the  corner  of  Court  and  Washington 
Streets  was  erected  in  1821.  The  stone  used  in  its 
construction  were  quarried  in  Fall  River.  The  jail 
now  used  as  such  in  Taunton  was  completed  in  1873, 
and  cost  one  hundred  and  sixty  thousand  dollars. 

We  now  pass  over  for  a  number  of  years  the  rec- 
ords of  the  courts,  which  are  replete  with  interest 
and  instruction,  stopping  only  to  give  a  description 
of  the  chief  justices,  as  drawn  by  John  Adams  when 
on  a  professional  visit  to  Taunton  on  the  8th  day  of 
June,  1762:  "Went  to  Taunton  Court,  the  land  of 
Leonards,  three  judges  of  the  Common  Pleas  of  that 
name,  each  of  whom  has  a  son  who  was  bred  at  col- 
lege. The  Hon.  George  Leonard,  the  first  justice, 
seems  to  me  arbitrary.  He  committed  two  old  gentle- 
men who  were  nearly  eighty  years  old  to  the  custody 
of  an  officer  only  for  speaking  loud,  when  they  were 
both  deaf  and  not  conscious  that  they  did  speak.  A 
check,  a  reproof,  an  admonition  would  have  been 
enough." 

"  He  was  unwilling  that  the  sessions  should  adjourn 
for  an  hour  to  take  the  verdict  of  the  jury  in  a  trial 
upon  a  presentment  for  a  riot,  but  would  have  that 
jury  kept  together  all  night,  till  the  court  should  set 
again  the  next  morning.  No  other  court  in  the  prov- 
ince, superior  and  inferior,  would  have  thought  of 
keeping  the  jury  up.  He  broke  in  most  abruptly 
upon  Bob  Paine:  '  He  did  not  think  it  was  right  to 
run  out  against  the  king's  witnesses ;  for  his  part  he 
did  not  like  to  hear  it  three  or  four  times  over.' 
Thus  the  haughty  tyrant  rules  the  county." 

In  March,  1773,  a  cause  was  tried  wherein  Nehe- 
miah  Liscome,  of  Taunton,  sued  Jerathmeel  Bowers, 
of  Swansey,  in  a  plea  of  trespass,  "  that  whereas,  on 
the  11th  day  of  March  last  past,  at  Taunton,  a  certain 
discourse  was  had  between  the  said  Nehemiah  and 
Jerathmeel  concerning  the  election  of  the  person  who 
should  be  chosen  to  represent  the  town  of  Taunton 
at  the  next  election,"  Bowers  promised  that  if  Lis- 
come was  elected  representative  he  would  give  him 
one  hundred  gallons  of  Jamaica  rum,  and  if  Lis- 
come was  not  elected  he  was  to  give  Bowers  fifty  dol- 
lars. Liscome  was  elected  and  demanded  the  rum  of 
Bowers,  who  refused  to  pay,  and  this  suit  was  brought 
to  recover  the  same  or  the  value  thereof  in  money. 
The  jury  returned  a  verdict  for  the  defendant. 

Upon  the  breaking  out  of  the  Revolution  the  colo- 
nial courts  were  dissolved,  and  more  than  a  year 
elapsed  before  the  courts  were  reorganized.  This 
want  of  courts  of  justice  was  in  some  places  supplied 
by  the  establishment  of  local  tribunals.  As  an  illus- 
tration, at  a  town  meeting  held  in  Attleborough  it 
was  voted  to  have  a  Superior  and  Inferior  Court  in 
that  town,  and  four  men  were  chosen  to  serve  as 
superior  judges,  and  seven  as  judges  of  the  Inferior 
Court. 


There  was  a  large  number  of  the  inhabitants  of  the 
American  Colonies  who  did  not  espouse  the  popular 
cause  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  but  adhered  to 
the  crown.  They  were  called  Loyalists  or  Tories. 
Some  of  these  persons  remained  almost  neutral,  and 
looked  upon  the  changing  fortunes  of  their  country 
with  the  coldness  of  a  stoic,  while  others  took  up 
arms  in  support  of  the  king,  and  endeavored  by  every 
artifice  and  stratagem  to  defeat  the  plans  of  the  colo- 
nists. On  the  12th  day  of  March,  1776,  a  large  num- 
ber of  these  persons  with  force  and  arms  prevented 
the  court  from  meetiug  at  the  court-house  in  Taun- 
ton, and  other  quarters  had  to  be  provided  in  which 
to  hold  the  session  of  the  court. 

During  the  Revolutionary  war  the  courts  were  busy 
in  the  examination  of  persons  who  were  in  any  way 
disposed  to  favor  the  side  of  the  mother-country.  If 
any  one  was  supposed  to  be  an  enemy,  he  was  brought 
before  a  Committee  of  Correspondence  and  Safety 
which  was  in  every  town. 

The  committee  would  send  the  suspected  persons  to 
the  Court  of  Sessions,  where  they  would  be  ordered  to 
enter  into  a  recognizance  in  the  sum  of  two  hundred 
pounds,  not  to  join  the  enemy  or  render  any  assist- 
ance thereto. 

In  1777,  Jerathmeel  Bowers,  of  whom  we  have  here- 
tofore spoken,  and  who  was  at  this  time  one  of  the 
justices  of  the  Court  of  Sessions,  was  convicted  before 
the  Committee  of  Correspondence  and  Safety,  "  for 
undervaluing  the  paper  currency  of  the  United  States 
and  refusing  to  take  the  same,  and  for  saying  that  he 
had  rather  give  one  thousand  dollars  than  to  have 
any  soldiers  raised  in  Swansea.  He  was  ordered  to 
be  committed  to  the  gaol  and  there  remain  till  he  was 
discharged  by  the  order  of  the  State;  at  the  next 
term  of  the  Court  of  Sessions  he  was  ordered  to  be 
discharged  on  his  own  recognizance. 

Col.  Bowers  was  elected  a  representative  from 
Swansea  to  the  General  Court  in  1783.  The  select- 
men of  Rehoboth  and  sundry  inhabitants  of  Swansea 
petitioned  that  he  might  be  excluded  from  a  seat,  on 
the  ground  that  "  he  had  not  shown  himself  friendly 
in  the  late  struggle  with  Great  Britain,"  and  also  that 
he  was  disqualified  by  virtue  of  a  resolve  of  a  former 
General  Court.  This  petition  was  referred  to  a  com- 
mittee of  the  house  which  subsequently  reported  that 
"  by  a  resolve  of  the  General  Court  passed  April  7, 
1777,  the  said  Jerathmeel  Bowers  was  disqualified 
from  holding  any  post  of  honor  or  profit  in  the  com- 
monwealth, which  resolve  in  the  opinion  of  the  com- 
mittee was  still  in  force,  and  that  Mr.  Bowers  was 
therefore  disqualified  from  holding  a  seat."  This  re- 
port was  accepted  by  the  House  and  Bowers  quitted 
his  seat  accordingly. 

In  the  year  1785,  during  the  Shays  rebellion,  the 
courts  in  this  county  were  again  interrupted.  A 
large  number  of  persons  armed  with  clubs  and  stones 
assembled  at  Taunton,  intending  to  prevent  the  Court 
of  Common  Pleas  from  doing  any  business.     At  this 


THE   COURTS   AND   BAR   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY. 


891 


time  Gen.  David  Cobb,  of  Taunton,  was  one  of  the 
justices  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas.  Geu.  Cobb 
had  been  an  aid  to  Gen.  Washington,  and  was  then 
major-general  of  militia  of  the  Old  Colony.  During 
the  riot  Gen.  Cobb  made  his  way  through  an  angry 
mob  to  the  court-house,  uttering  the  memorable 
words,  "  I  will  either  sit  as  a  judge  or  die  as  a  gen- 
eral." This  bold  and  determined  attitude,  of  Gen. 
Cobb  carried  dismay  and  fear  to  the  rioters,  they  im- 
diately  dispersed,  and  the  court  proceeded  with  its 
business  without  further  molestation.  Gen.  Cobb 
afterwards  became  the  chief  justice  of  the  Court  of 
Common  Pleas  in  Maine. 

In  the  colonial  days,  and  in  the  earlier  days  of  the 
republic,  Samuel  White,  Robert  Treat  Paine,  Daniel 
Leonard,  Seth  Bradford,  Nicholas  Tillinghast,  Daniel 
L.  Barnes  and  others,  who  were  residents  of  the 
county,  with  James  Otis,  Timothy  Ruggles  and  other 
distinguished  lawyers  now  residents,  were  members 
of  the  Bristol  bar  and  practiced  in  the  courts  at 
Taunton. 

Samuel  White  was  appointed  king's  attorney  in 
1747,  and  at  every  term  of  the  court  thereafter  till 
his  death  in  1769.  He  was  an  eminent  lawyer,  and 
"  famed  for  his  accuracy  in  making  writs."  He  was 
Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives  during  the 
period  of  the  stamp  act,  and  as  presiding  officer  of 
the  House  he  signed  the  circular  which  called  to- 
gether the  first  Congress  that  assembled  in  New  York 
in  1765. 

Robert  Treat  Paine  settled  in  Taunton  in  1761,  and 
continued  to  reside  there  for  nineteen  years.  He  was 
one  of  the  ablest  lawyers  of  his  day,  and  his  practice 
was  probably  not  exceeded  by  that  of  any  attorney 
in  the  State.  In  1770,  the  prosecution  of  Capt.  Pres- 
ton and  others  "for  the  Boston  massacre  was  con- 
ducted by  him  with  marked  ability,  and  he  won  a 
wide  reputation.  As  a  signer  of  the  Declaration  of 
Independence  he  rendered  his  name  immortal.  In 
1779  he  was  a  member  of  the  State  Constitutional 
Convention,  and  one  of  the  committee  which  pre- 
pared the  draft  of  the  Constitution.  In  1780,  upon 
the  acceptance  of  the  constitution,  he  was  made  the 
first  attorney-general  of  the  State,  which  office  he  re- 
tained for  ten  years,  when  he  was  appointed  one  of 
the  justices  of  the  Superior  Court.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  court  for  fourteen  years  when  he  resigned. 

Upon  the  death  of  Samuel  White  the  court  ap- 
pointed Daniel  Leonard  king's  attorney.  Mr.  John 
Adams,  his  contemporary,  has  given  us  a  graphic  de- 
scription of  Mr.  Leonard.  Mr.  Adams  says,  "  He 
was  a  scholar,  a  lawyer,  and  an  orator,  according  to 
the  standard  of  those  days.  As  a  member  of  the 
House  of  Representatives,  even  down  to  the  year 
1770,  he  made  the  most  ardent  speeches  in  that  House 
against  Great  Britain,  and  in  favor  of  the  colonies. 
His  popularity  became  alarming.  He  married  a 
daughter  of  Mr.  Hammock,  who  had  left  a  portion, 
as  it  was  thought  in  that  day.     He  wore  a  broad  gold 


lace  around  the  rim  of  his  hat.  He  had  made  his 
cloak  glitter  with  laces  still  broader.  He  had  set  up 
his  chariot  and  constantly  traveled  in  it  from  Taun- 
ton to  Boston.  Not  another  lawyer  in  the  province, 
of  whatever  age,  reputation,  or  station,  presumed  to 
ride  in  a  coach  or  chariot." 

Robert  Treat  Paine  and  Daniel  Leonard  were  col- 
leagues as  representatives  from  Taunton,  and  on  one 
occasion,  as  they  were  going  to  Boston  together  to  at- 
tend to  their  legislative  duties,  when  approaching  the 
summer  residence  of  Governor  Hutchinson,  in  Milton, 
Mr.  Leonard  remarked  to  Mr.  Paine  that  he  was  de- 
sirous of  calling  on  the  Governor,  and  requested  Paine 
to  accompany  him.  Paine  declined  the  invitation  and 
added,  "  If  you  stop  I  shall  proceed  to  Boston  with- 
out you."  And  there  they  parted  company.  Of  what 
was  said  and  done  at  this  interview  between  Governor 
Hutchinson  and  Mr.  Leonard  history  is  silent,  but  from 
that  hour  Mr.  Leonard  ceased  to  support  the  American 
cause  and  became  a  bitter  Tory.  He  commenced  a  se- 
ries of  articles,  which  were  published  in  the  Massa- 
chusetts Gazette  and  Post-Boy.  These  articles  attracted 
much  attention,  and  were  afterwards  answered  by 
John  Adams. 

Mr.  Leonard  lived  in  the  dwelling-house  which  ad- 
joins the  court-house  on  the  east.  A  mob  attacked 
his  house,  and  a  musket-ball  was  fired  through  the 
window  into  a  room  in  which  Mr.  Leonard  was  seri- 
ously ill.  He  fled  to  Boston,  and  in  1776  he  accom- 
panied the  British  army  to  Halifax,  and  was  prohib- 
ited from  returning  to  the  State,  by  the  statute  of  1778, 
under  the  penalty  of  death.  He  was  appointed  by 
the  British  government  chief  justice  of  the  Bermuda 
Islands,  and  died  in  London  in  1829,  aged  eighty-nine 
years. 

Samuel  Fales,  of  Taunton,  was  the  second  clerk  of 
the  courts ;  afterwards  he  became  chief  justice  of  the 
Court  of  Common  Pleas  ;  he  was  subsequently  an  ex- 
ecutive councilor  of  the  commonwealth.  His  eldest 
son,  Nathaniel,  succeeded  him  as  clerk  of  the  courts 
in  1804. 

James  Sproat,  Sr.,  followed  Mr.  Fales  in  the  clerk's 
office.  "  Mr.  Sproat  was  a  man  of  ready  wit.  While 
at  the  bar  Daniel  L.  Barnes,  Esq.,  was  at  one  time 
addressing  the  jury,  he  had  occasion  to  quote  the  fol- 
lowing passage  from  Scripture,  the  address  of  Satan 
to  the  Lord,  '  Skin  for  skin,  yea  all  that  a  man  hath 
will  he  give  for  his  life,'  adding,  in  his  ignorance  of 
authorities,  '  saith  our  Saviour.'  Sproat  in  an  instant 
was  on  his  feet,  and  turning  to  the  court  said,  '  He 
may  be  Brother  Barnes'  Saviour,  but  he  is  not  mine.' ' 

James  Sproat,  Jr.,  succeeded  his  venerable  father, 
and  performed  the  duties  of  clerk  of  the  court  till 
June,  1856,  when  he  resigned,  and  his  brother,  Wil- 
liam A.  F.  Sproat,  was  appointed  by  the  court. 

Mr.  William  A.  F.  Sproat  continued  as  clerk  till 
January,  1857,  when  the  office,  by  an  amendment  to 
the  constitution,  became  elective.  John  S.  Brayton, 
of  Fall  River,  who  was  elected  at  the  November  elec- 


892 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL  COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


tion  in  1856  clerk  of  the  Courts,  assumed  the  duties 
of  that  office  on  the  first  Wednesday  of  January, 
1857.  Mr.  Bray  ton  was  re-elected  in  the  autumn  of 
1861,  and  resigned  January  5,  1864.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Simeon  Borden,  Esq.,  of  Fall  River,  who 
has  held  the  office  by  successive  elections  till  the 
present  time,  and  has  proved  himself  to  be  an  effi- 
cient, able,  and  accomplished  officer. 

For  eighty-two  years  all  the  courts  of  this  county 
were  held  in  Taunton.  The  Legislature  of  1828  au- 
thorized the  holding  of  one  term  of  the  Supreme  Ju- 
dical Court  and  two  terms  of  the  Court  of  Common 
Pleas  annually  in  New  Bedford.  In  June,  1828,  the 
first  term  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  was  held  in 
New  Bedford,  in  what  was  then  the  town  hall,  now 
the  District  Court  room.  The  present  court-house 
and  other  county  buildings  in  New  Bedford  were 
subsequently  erected.  The  last  term  of  the  Court  of 
Common  Pleas  for  Bristol  County  was  holden  in  New 
Bedford,  the  term  ending  on  the  27th  day  of  June, 
1859.  Regular  sessions  of  that  court  had  been  held 
either  at  Taunton  or  New  Bedford,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  the  interregnum  heretofore  alluded  to,  for  one 
hundred  and  thirteen  years.  From  the  time  of  its 
organization  to  the  year  1810,  the  Court  of  Common 
Pleas  was  strictly  a  County  Court,  its  justices,  three  in 
number,  being  residents  of  the  county.  All  the  jus- 
tices were  present  at  its  sessions  and  participated  in 
the  business  of  the  court.  In  1810  the  State  was 
divided  into  circuits,  the  Southern  circuit  being  com- 
posed of  the  counties  of  Norfolk,  Plymouth,  Barn- 
stable, Bristol,  Dukes,  and  Nantucket.  In  1821  the 
courts  were  again  reorganized  and  the  Court  of  Com- 
mon Pleas  became  a  State  Court,  like  the  Supreme 
Judicial  Court.  On  the  1st  day  of  July,  1859,  the 
Court  of  Common  Pleas  was  abolished,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  the  Superior  Court. 

The  Bristol  bar,  as  we  have  seen,  during  the  colo- 
nial era  and  the  earlier  days  of  the  republic,  had 
among  its  members  distinguished  men,  who  stamped 
their  characters  upon  the  times  in  which  they  lived, 
and  who  gave  to  the  bar  a  reputation  for  ability,  in- 
telligence, and  statesmanship  second  to  none  in  the 
commonwealth.  The  reputation  thus  early  estab- 
lished has  been  maintained  to  this  day.  During  the 
present  century  the  Bristol  bar  has  furnished  to  the 
several  courts  of  the  commonwealth  judges,  who  as 
jurists  have  become  noted  for  their  broad,  general 
knowledge  of  jurisprudence  and  for  their  sound 
judgment  and  legal  acumen. 

Samuel  S.  Wilde,  of  Taunton,  was  an  honored 
member  of  the  Supreme  Judicial  Court  for  thirty-five 
years,  the  longest  term  of  service  of  any  judge  in  the 
State  ;  and  for  twenty  years  there  sat  by  his  side 
Marcus  Morton,  another  member  of  this  bar.  These 
two  jurists,  with  their  associates,  Shaw  and  Putinan, 
gave  weight  and  character  to  the  decisions  of  our 
Supreme  Judicial  Court,  and  its  decisions  have  been 
adopted  as  the  common  law  of  our  country  and  are 


quoted    as   authority  in   the  courts  of  Westminster 
Hall. 

Judge  Merrick,  who  was  a  justice  of  the  Supreme 
Court  for  eleven  years,  commenced  the  practice  of 
his  profession  in  this  county.  He  first  settled  in 
Swansea,  and  afterwards  removed  to  Taunton. 

And  now  Marcus  Morton,  the  junior  of  that  name, 
born  and  bred  in  this  county,  fills  with  distinguished 
ability  the  seat  upon  that  bench  which  has  been 
graced  by  a  Parsons  and  a  Shaw. 

John  Mason  Williams,  a  native  of  New  Bedford, 
an  honored  member  of  this  bar,  was  upon  the 
bench  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  twenty-four 
years,  five  years  of  which  he  was  chief  justice. 
Charles  H.  Warren,  Harrison  Gray  Otis  Colby  each 
have  won  here  enviable  reputations,  and,  having 
acceptably  filled  the  office  of  district  attorney,  were 
promoted  to  seats  upon  the  same  bench. 

The  present  chief  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court, 
Lincoln  Flagg  Brigham,  for  six  years  discharged, 
with  eminent  ability  the  duties  of  prosecuting  officer 
of  this  district,  and  was,  upon  the  organization  of  the 
court,  appointed  one  of  its  associate  justices,  and  in 
1869  commissioned  chief  justice.  The  late  Ezra 
Wilkinson,  of  Dedham,  upon  his  admission  to  the 
bar,  settled  in  Seekonk,  and  afterwards  removed  to 
Assonet.  He  subsequently  became  a  resident  of 
Dedham,  was  for  many  years  district  attorney  of  his 
district,  and  when  the  Superior  Court  was  established 
he  was  appointed  a  judge,  and  remained  on  the  bench 
till  his  death,  in  1882. 

Chester  I.  Reed,  of  Taunton,  who  was  cut  off  by 
death  in  the  midst  of  his  usefulness,  was  taken  from 
the  office  of  attorney-general  and  placed  upon  the 
bench  of  the  Superior  Court.  One  of  the  present 
eminent  judges  of  that  court  is  the  Hon.  Robert  Car- 
ter Pitman,  who  was  in  full  practice  at  the  Bristol  bar 
when  appointed  to  the  bench. 

Besides  the  two  attorney-generals  of  whom  we  have 
spoken  in  another  connection,  the  Bristol  bar  has 
furnished  that  office  with  one  who,  by  his  marked 
ability  and  great  forensic  powers,  has  given  even  to 
the  bar  of  Massachusetts  a  broader  and  more  enviable 
reputation,  the  late  Hon.  John  Henry  Clifford,  of  New 
Bedford. 

George  Marston,  of  New  Bedford,  was  for  eighteen 
years  the  prosecuting  officer  of  the  Southern  District, 
and  was  then  elected  attorney-general  of  the  common- 
wealth. He  held  that  office  for  four  years,  and  it  is 
sufficient  to  say  he  maintained  its  high  reputation  for 
ability,  learning,  and  character. 

The  office  of  attorney-general  was  re-established  in 
1849,  and  it  is  a  fact  to  be  named  with  honest  pride 
that  for  fifteen  of  the  thirty-four  years,  which  have 
since  elapsed,  the  attorney-general  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Bristol  bar. 

In  the  national  councils  this  bar  has  been  ably 
represented  by  William  Baylies,  for  many  years  its 
acknowledged  leader ;  by  his  brother,  Francis  Baylies, 


HOMOEOPATHY   IN   BRISTOL   COUNTY   AND   ITS   PRACTITIONERS. 


893 


the  author  of  the  "  History  of  Plymouth  Colony," 
and  who  was  at  one  time  the  United  States  minister 
to  Brazil  ;  hy  Lemuel  Williams,  of  New  Bedford,  and 
Henry  Williams,  of  Taunton  ;  by  Laban  Wheaton, 
of  Norton  ;  and  by  Thomas  Dawes  Eliot,  of  New 
Bedford.  Mr.  Eliot  was  in  Congress  thirteen  years, 
and  has  left  his  impress  upon  the  legislation  of  his 
country. 

William  Wallace  Crapo,  also  of  New  Bedford,  has 
just  closed  a  successful  career  of  eight  years  in  Con- 
gress, and  has  made  for  himself  a  national  reputation. 

Mr.  George  T.  Davis,  recently  deceased,  and  Mr. 
Kasson,  of  Iowa,  formerly  belonged  to  this  bar,  and 
have  each  been  members  of  Congress,  Mr.  Kasson 
from  the  State  of  his  adoption,  and  Mr.  Davis  from 
one  of  the  districts  in  this  State. 

Two  chief  magistrates  of  the  commonwealth,  Gov- 
ernors Morton  and  Clifford,  as  has  been  previously 
stated,  were  members  of  this  bar,  and  David  Cobb,  of 
Taunton,  who  was  Lieutenant-Governor  in  1809,  was 
for  a  time  a  judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas. 

If  we  had  the  space  and  time  we  would  speak  more 
fully  of  Professor  Theophilus  Parsons,  who  practiced 
at  Taunton  ;  of  Timothy  G.  Coffin,  who  obtained  the 
foremost  rank  in  his  profession  as  a  nisi prius  lawyer; 
of  that  able  advocate,  Nathaniel  Morton  ;  of  the  two 
Hathaways,  Elnathan  B.  and  Joseph  ;  of  the  two 
Cushmans,  Apollos  and  Hercules ;  of  the  genial 
Stone,  the  judge  of  the  Court  of  Insolvency  ;  of 
Charles  J.  Holmes,  A.  Bassett;  of  Messrs.  Battelle, 
Williams,  Lapham,  Boomer,  Pratt,  Bacon,  and  others, 
who  have  sustained  the  honor  and  added  lustre  to  the 
Bristol  County  bar. 

Governor  Emory  Washburn  enunciated  an  axiom 
when  he  said  "  that  a  free  people,  for  an  impartial 
administration  of  justice,  and  the  security  of  personal 
rights,  depend  upon  the  labors  of  an  honorable,  en- 
lightened, and  independent  bar."  The  bar  of  Bristol 
County  is,  to-day,  what  it  has  been  in  the  past,  hon- 
orable, enlightened,  and  independent. 

By  the  statute  approved  March  19, 1877,  the  justices 
of  the  Superior  Court  were  authorized  to  adjourn  any 
of  the  established  terms  of  that  court  from  Taunton 
and  New  Bedford  to  Fall  River.  The  county  com- 
missioners thereupon  made  arrangements  to  have  the 
large  and  eligible  hall  in  the  Borden  Block,  in  Fall 
River,  which  block  had  just  been  erected  and  fitted 
up  for  the  accommodation  of  the  Superior  Court. 
This  hall  and  the  adjoining  rooms  are  now  used  for 
that  purpose,  and  in  their  appointments  and  con- 
venience are  not  surpassed  by  any  court-house  in  the 
commonwealth. 

The  first  session  of  the  Superior  Court  convened  in 
Fall  River  was  held  in  the  afternoon  of  the  27th  day 
of  June,  1877,  the  Hon.  P.  Emory  Aldrich  presiding. 
The  session  of  that  day  was  devoted  to  the  dedication 
of  the  hall.  Addresses  were  made  by  several  gentle- 
men of  the  bar,  and  were  responded  to  by  the  pre- 
siding judge. 


We  bring  this  article  upon  the  history  of  the  courts 
of  Bristol  County  to  a  conclusion  by  quoting  the 
closing  portion  of  the  historical  address  delivered  on 
the  occasion  of  the  dedication  of  the  hall  in  Fall 
River : 

"  How  fitting  and  proper  it  is  that  we  should  be 
here  and  for  the  purposes  of  this  day.  The  land 
upon  which  this  stately  edifice  stands  was  once  the 
property  of  Col.  Benjamin  Church,  the  famous  war- 
rior and  conqueror  of  King  Philip,  and  who  during 
the  administration  of  Governor  Andros  was  one  of 
the  judges  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  for  this 
county.  As  we  look  out  of  these  windows  to-day  we 
can  behold  the  scene  of  his  brilliant  exploits,  the 
place  where  by  his  strategy  and  prowess  the  blow 
was  given  which  put  an  end  to  that  bloodiest  of 
bloody  wars,  and  finally  resulted  in  the  downfall  of  a 
great  Indian  empire. 

"  It  was  here  that  that  Spartan  band,  under  the 
lead  of  Col.  Joseph  Durfee,  the  son  of  Hon.  Thomas 
Durfee,  who  was  a  judge  of  the  Court  of  Common 
Pleas,  on  that  ever  memorable  Sunday  morning  re- 
pulsed the  British  in  their  cowardly  attack  upon  the 
then  little  hamlet.  Upon  this  spot  the  first  blood 
was  shed  by  the  English  in  this  county  in  the  Revo- 
lutionary war.  Once  a  part  of  the  broad  acres  of  a 
judge,  defended  with  heroic  valor  by  the  son  of 
another  judge,  the  present  clerk  of  the  courts  and  his 
kinsmen,  the  worthy  children  of  an  honored  sire, 
have  erected  this  edifice,  whose  halls  we  this  day 
dedicate  to  justice  and  to  truth." 


CHAPTER    LXXI. 

HOMCEOPATHY  IN  BRISTOL  COUNTY  AND  ITS  PRAC- 
TITIONERS.* 

The  very  terms  of  living  fifty  years  ago  were  so 
different  from  those  of  the  present  that  comparison 
between  them  is  impossible,  mainly  because  of  the 
multiplicity  of  the  causes  which  have  led  to  these 
changes,  each  having  its  due  weight  and  influence. 
Hence  this  article  can  only  indicate  the  rise,  progress, 
and  influence  of  one  part  of  the  therapeutic  art. 

Fifty  years  ago  ci  vi  lization,  the  civilization  of  merely 
living,  was  very  different  from  what  it  is  to-day.  A 
large  part  of  the  life  was  not  so  completely  shut  out 
from  the  clear  air  of  heaven.  Wood  was  the  common 
fuel,  and  the  generous  fireplaces  formed  ventilators 
which  carried  off  through  their  roaring  throats  every 
form  of  impurity,  not  permitting  it  to  linger  long 
enough  to  attack  the  inhabitants.  Hence  the  condi- 
tions of  disease  also  were  entirely  different,  for  there 
is  no  more  powerful  disinfectant  known  than  the 
oxygen  of  the  atmosphere,  when  it  can  reach  the 

1  By  E.  U.  Jones,  M.D.,  Tauuton,  Mass. 


894 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


threatening  nocua  in  sufficient  quantity.  The  "  filth" 
which  now  frightens  us,  and  which  truly  seems  the 
home  of  all  disease,  which  is  truly  the  ally  of  every 
known  disease-producer,  and  which  we  are  now  fight- 
ing with  all  the  energy  of  a  known  enemy,  was  not 
such  a  disease-cause  with  them,  because  of  its  quick 
diffusion  and  minimizing  by  the  very  ease  with  which 
oxygen  got  access  to  it.  When,  however,  the  wings 
of  the  wind  bore  the  invading  epidemic  from  other 
lands  and  other  places,  the  people  fell  before  it,  as 
much  from  fright,  perhaps,  as  from  the  disease  itself. 
In  the  last  visitation  of  cholera,  truly  fright  killed  as 
many  as  filth.  The  fright  of  the  people  was  not  so 
much  dread  of  the  disease  itself,  as  a  lack  of  confi- 
dence in  the  power  to  oppose  it. 

Moreover,  if  I  may  use  the  phrase,  there  was  at 
this  time  a  great  coarseness  in  the  science  of  medicine, 
from  which  it  was  just  beginning  to  emerge.  This 
coarseness  was  most  noticeable  in  the  two  branches  of 
diagnosis  and  therapeutics.  In  the  larger  cities,  and 
among  those  who  had  facilities  of  intercourse  with 
other,  and  especially  with  foreign,  physicians,  this 
coarseness  was  fast  giving  away  to  physiological 
medicine,  diagnosis  was  becoming  far  more  accurate, 
diseases  which  had  always  been  classed  as  one  were 
being  separated,  and  in  proportion  as  delicacy  and 
accuracy  of  diagnosis  existed,  so  polypharmacy  began 
to  give  way  to  a  more  scientific  therapeutics, — that  is 
to  say,  an  effort  was  made  by  which  the  new  obser- 
vations and  facts  in  physiology  should  be  thrown  into 
a  theoretical  form,  and  on  that  theory  a  new  thera- 
peutics be  constructed.  But  for  a  long  time  the  teach- 
ing remained  the  same,  and  the  close  of  the  remedial 
statement  of  every  serious  disease  remained  the  same, — 
"  mercury,  in  some  of  its  forms,  is  our  sheet-anchor  in 
this  disease."  The  light  of  schools  and  colleges  was 
being  rapidly  diffused,  but  the  physicians  of  a  pre- 
ceding generation,  then  in  active  practice,  could  not 
see  or  comprehend  this  light.  A  physician  of  this 
class,  whose  death  occurred  a  few  years  since,  was  ac- 
customed to  maintain  that  the  only  proper  treatment 
for  phthisis  was  copious  and  repeated  venesections. 

Under  these  circumstances  homoeopathy  was  intro- 
duced to  the  notice  of  the  profession  and  the  people. 
Its  remedies,  so  markedly  diverse  in  form  and  ap- 
pearance from  those  in  vogue,  so  minute  as  almost  to 
claim  the  power  of  magic,  and  withal  so  effectual  as 
to  defy  disproof,  at  once  gave  rise  to  serious  questions 
in  the  minds  of  both  the  profession  and  the  laity. 
These  questions  presented  themselves  as  it  regards 
the  self-limitation  of  disease,  the  Heedlessness  of  the 
huge  doses,  the  actual  injuries  inflicted  by  the  action 
of  remedies  pushed  to  their  pathological  results,  the 
value  of  diet  in  disease,  and  the  removal  of  the  causes 
of  disease.  In  proportion  as  the  refinements  of  phys- 
iological medicine  had  not  reached  the  mass  of  the 
people  and  the  profession,  so  did  the  wonderful  re- 
finement of  homoeopathy  strike  them  the  more  forci- 
bly.    The  sufferers  from  the  coarseness  of  the  one  flew 


with  extreme  hope  to  the  subtilty  of  the  other.  The 
long-suffering  infant  world  was  the  first  to  experience 
the  benefit  of  the  change,  and  the  limitation  put  to 
their  diseases  and  death  was  the  most  marked  and 
wonderful.  The  power  of  the  new  therapeutics  was 
shown  still  more  decidedly  in  the  cures  of  virulent 
diseases,  and  cholera,  dysentery,  the  exanthematic 
and  continued  fevers,  choreas,  and  all  forms  of  neu- 
rotic diseases,  convulsions,  etc.,  owned  its  sway.  The 
educated  and  intelligent  classes  were  among  the  first 
to  accept  the  new  method,  from  the  positive  proofs 
with  which  it  was  accompanied,  and  they  are  its  best 
patrons  to-day. 

It  was  extremely  unfortunate  that  homoeopathy 
was  introduced  as  a  new  system  of  medicine,  rather 
as  a  new  system  of  therapeutics  based  upon  the  eluci- 
dation of  a  formerly  well-known  law,  but  perhaps  the 
present  great  advance  in  the  science  of  medicine 
could  not  otherwise  have  been  attained.  Perhaps, 
too,  the  true  position  of  its  guiding  law  could  not 
have  been  shown  so  effectually,  and  could  not  have 
been  so  great  a  boon  to  humanity,  nor  be  adopted  so 
thoroughly  as  the  one  great  law  of  therapeutics  as 
it  is  at  the  present  day,  by  any  other  means  than 
by  being  thrown  upon  its  own  resources.  The  ridi- 
cule with  which  it  was  met,  the  attempted  argument 
by  which  it  was  to  be  annihilated,  and  the  ostracism 
meted  out  to  its  supporters  and  its  professional  ex- 
ponents accomplished  more  for  its  introduction  into 
the  true  science  of  medicine  than  any  other  methods 
could  possibly  have  done.  Although  a  portion  of  the 
old  rancor  still  holds,  expressing  itself  in  the  ethical 
formularies  of  many  societies,  yet  this  article  will  not 
be  ten  years  old  when  all  that  will  have  practically 
passed  away,  and  the  science  of  medicine  will  have 
bowed  its  head  to  homoeopathy  in  proud  acknowledg- 
ment of  the  wonderful  gain  made  in  therapeutics  by 
its  aid. 

The  men  who  in  Bristol  County  championed  this 
system  were  mostly  physicians  in  the  true  and  full 
sense  of  the  word,  who,  in  working  for  homoeopathy, 
were  working  for  the  ultimate  advancement  of  medi- 
cal science.  Hence,  while  their  business  and  the 
necessarily  close  study  occupied  the  greater  part  of 
their  time,  they  still  keptthemselves  posted  thoroughly 
in  all  the  theories  and  advanced  ideas  of  the  dav. 
Homoeopathy  was  not  taken  by  them  simply  as  a 
theory  of  disease,  but  as  the  best  practical  method  of 
prescribing  for  disease,  and  its  law  as  the  only  one 
which  seemed  to  have  a  perfectly  practical  and  uni- 
versal bearing.  Their  principal  labor  was  in  the  line 
of  the  development  of  this  law ;  for  this  they  were 
willing  to  suffer  ostracism,  and  for  this  and  its  re- 
wards were  they  anxious  to  labor.  Safe  in  the  fold 
of  their  own  medical  society,  safer  in  the  love  and 
confidence  of  their  patients,  safest  in  the  certainty  of 
the  results  which  were  sure  to  follow  their  labors, 
they  could  well  afford  to  wait  the  results  of  the  truth 
of  the  law  to  which  they  had  given  their  allegiance. 


HOM(EOPATHY   IN   BRISTOL   COUNTY   AND   ITS   PRACTITIONERS. 


895 


Later  years  have  proved  the  justice  of  these  claims, 
for  pari  passu  with  their  presentation  has  been  the 
acknowledgment  of  their  rights,  and  homoeopathic 
physicians  now  stand  in  the  eyes  of  the  communities 
and  the  local  governments  on  a  level,  at  least,  with 
the  educated  men  of  any  school. 

The  first  of  these  physicians,  in  point  of  time,  to 
settle  in  the  county,  was  Dr.  Manning  B.  Roche.  He 
was  a  pupil  of  Dr.  Constantine  Hering,  and  was  a 
graduate  of  the  Allentown  Academy.  No  one  could 
be  a  pupil  of  Dr.  Hering  and  not  be  thoroughly 
versed  in  all  that  pertains  to  the  education  of  the 
physician,  and  Dr.  Roche's  education  was  complete, 
and  especially  so  in  the  matter  of  the  Materia  Medica. 
He  was  a  man  of  strong  character,  and  well  calculated 
to  command  the  respect  and  attention  of  those  with 
whom  he  came  in  contact.  He  settled  in  New  Bed- 
ford in  1841,  and  though  at  first  he  met  with  little 
encouragement,  he  gradually  acquired  a  foothold,  and 
at  length  obtained  a  large  practice.  He  retired  on 
account  of  failing  health  in  1861,  and  died  at  River- 
side, N.  J.,  July  5,  1862,  aged  seventy-three  years. 

Dr.  Roche  met  with  but  little  active  opposition  to 
his  practice,  which  may  have  been  due  to  the  liberal 
example  of  the  late  Dr.  Lyman  Bartlett,  who,  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  had  stood  for  a  quarter  of  a  century 
at  the  head  of  his  school  in  this  locality.  He  stead- 
fastly refused  to  be  bound  by  the  bigoted  rules  of  the 
Massachusetts  Medical  Society,  and  always  met  ho- 
moeopathic physicians  in  consultation  whenever  re- 
quested so  to  do. 

At  this  same  time,  in  the  northwestern  portion  of 
the  county,  in  the  little  town  of  Norton,  Dr.  Ira 
Barrows  was  practicing  "  after  the  straitest  sect  of 
allopathy."  But  in  1842  his  attention  was  called  to 
the  new  theory  of  therapeutics  by  his  friend,  Dr.  P. 
P.  Wells,  now  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  But  he  was  not 
a  man  to  take  things  on  any  one's  statement,  and  he 
accordingly  obtained  the  "  Organon"  and  Hull's  Jahr, 
and  commenced  his  experiments.  The  result  of  these 
experiments  filled  him  with  wonder,  and  he  very  soon 
gave  in  his  adherence  unreservedly  to  the  new  school. 
It  has  been  a  mistaken  notion  that  all  of  those  who 
practice  homoeopathically  must,  of  necessity,  give  in 
their  whole  adherence  to  all  of  the  theories  by  which 
Hahnemann  tried  to  account  for  the  action  of  reme- 
dies ;  but  in  every  case  individual  opinion  has  been 
duly  exercised,  and  the  facts  of  the  master  taken 
without  regard  to  the  theories  which  he  advanced. 
Hence  the  far  larger  part  of  the  converts  which  were 
made  to  homoeopathy  were  those  who  had  previously 
been  firm  adherents  of  the  theory  of  the  dominant 
school,  and  while  putting  their  whole  faith  in  the 
power  of  the  therapeutic  law,  nevertheless  did  not 
feel  themselves  required  to  adopt  all  of  the  theory  of 
disease  presented  by  Hahnemann.  Homoeopathy  in 
Bristol  County  was  represented  by  these  same  inde- 
pendent thinkers,  and  facts,  not  theories,  were  required 
for  their  guidance. 


In  August  of  1842  an  epidemic  dysentery  spread 
very  generally  over  the  region  around  Norton,  and 
|  Dr.  Barrows  treated  sixty-three,  cases  with  the  loss  of 
but  one,— a  very  wonderful  showing  for  that  disease 
and  those  times.  The  knowledge  of  his  method  of  treat- 
ment spread  very  rapidly  over  the  adjacent  towns, 
and  soon  his  circuit  extended  to  at  least  twenty 
miles.  He  was  the  pioneer  of  homoeopathy  in  Taun- 
ton, Middleborough,  Raynham,  the  Bridgewaters, 
Easton,  Mansfield,  Foxborough,  Wrentham,  Attlebor- 
ough,  Seekonk,  Rehoboth,  Dighton,  and  Pawtucket. 
He  met  with  a  great  deal  of  opposition  from  his  pro- 
fessional brethren,  and  was  finally,  without  a  fair  hear- 
ing and  on  a  technical  charge,  expelled  from  the  Mas- 
sachusetts Medical  Society,  the  first  martyr  in  this 
section  of  the  country  to  the  bigotry  of  medical  intol- 
erance. This  action  of  the  society,  and  the  fact  that 
it  was  based  technically,  not  really,  on  "  gross  immor- 
ality," was  exceedingly  galling  to  Dr.  Barrows,  and 
he  never  could  afterwards  speak  of  it  with  composure. 
It  was  a  gross  libel  on  the  life  of  a  man  whose  whole 
life  was  given  to  the  relief  of  suffering  humanity.  He 
soon  left  Norton,  and  commenced  practice  in  Provi- 
dence, which  he  held  to  the  day  of  his  death.  He 
died  Oct.  14,  1882,  and  his  funeral,  held  in  church, 
was  attended  by  crowds  of  interested  professional  lay 
friends. 

He  graduated  at  Brown  University  in  1824,  and  re- 
ceived his  medical  diploma  from  Harvard  in  1827. 

It  was  not  till  1845  that  Fall  River  was  settled 
by  homoeopathy.  In  that  year  Dr.  Isaac  Fiske  be- 
came interested  in  it,  and  the  more  that  he  studied 
the  law  and  the  more  that  he  put  it  into  practice  the 
more  did  he  love  it,  till  finally  he  practiced  under  its 
aegis  solely.  At  this  time  Fall  River  was  a  small 
manufacturing  town,  with  its  great  possibilities  not 
yet  developed,  and  its  population  almost  wholly  made 
up  of  those  who  were  connected  with  the  mills.  With 
this  class  homoeopathy  was  not  popular,  and  Dr.  Fiske 
met  with  much  and  unreasonable  opposition  in  his 
new  practice,  both  from  his  professional  brethren  and 
the  people.  But  his  own  high  scholarly  attainments, 
his  social  power,  and  his  love  for  his  newly-found 
truth,  enabled  him  to  overcome  all  difficulties,  and  to 
establish  himself  in  a  good  practice. 

Although  the  town  of  Taunton  had  weekly,  and 
oftener  if  needed,  the  services  of  Dr.  Ira  Barrows,  yet 
there  was  no  settled  homoeopathic  physician  here  till 
the  advent  of  Dr.  George  Barrows,  in  1846.  Dr.  Bar- 
rows was  a  graduate  of  Amherst  in  1840,  and  of  Berk- 
shire Medical  College  in  1843,  which  he  had  entered 
as  a  sturdy  allopath.  But  his  attention  had  been 
drawn  to  homoeopathy  by  the  increased  success  of  his 
brother  since  his  change  of  practice,  and  by  the 
urgency  of  Dr.  William  Peck,  of  Cincinnati.  While 
at  Pittsfield  he  made  the  change,  and  openly  avowed 
and  practiced  the  new  way,  and  it  was  perhaps  then 
that  the  college  first  heard  the  truth  so  plainly 
uttered. 


896 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Upon  his  graduation  lie  came  to  Taunton  and  began 
business.  He  met  with  a  great  deal  of  opposition, 
but  it  was  not  malignant,  and  his  kindly  ways,  his 
gentlemanliness,  and  his  quiet  persistence  in  asking 
his  opponents  "  to  come  and  see,"  made  him  hosts  of 
friends  and  compelled  to  be  respected  the  practice  of 
which  he  was  almost  the  sole  exponent.  In  difficult 
cases  he  had  the  experience  of  his  brother  to  aid  him, 
and  the  remembrance  of  him  as  a  physician  and  a  man 
stands  high  in  this  community  to-day. 

He  was  always  ready  to  welcome  the  young  physi- 
cian, and  to  give  him  all  the  aid  in  his  power,  some- 
times to  his  own  professional  hurt,  but  homoeopathy 
was  his  enthusiasm,  and  to  its  advancement  he  was 
ready  to  sacrifice  everything. 

He  died  Jan.  19,  1878,  and  those  who  regretted  his 
loss  filled  the  large  church  in  which  his  funeral  was 
held. 

Such  were  the  men  who  were  the  actual  pioneers 
of  homoeopathy  in  Bristol  County,  men  of  thorough 
education,  of  good  social  standing,  of  high  religious 
and  moral  sentiment,  and  those  whom  their  profes- 
sional brethren  could  not  ignore  or  relegate  to  the 
class  of  quack  or  charlatan. 

The  homoeopathic  literature  of  those  days,  to 
those  who  could  not  read  German,  was  limited  to 
the  copy  of  Hull's  "Jahr,"  and  the  "  Symtomen 
Codex," — blessed  be  its  memory, — and  to  sundry  re- 
ports of  cases  which  were  scattered  through  the  little 
periodical  literature  which  was  then  printed.  Hence 
most  of  the  time  of  the  homoaopathist  was  used  in 
the  endeavor  to  find,  among  the  moderate  number  of 
the  remedies  then  "  proved,"  the  simillimum  of  the 
disease  under  consideration.  But  little  time  was  left 
for  other  study  than  that  of  the  materia  medica,  for  the 
disease  in  hand  must  be  cured,  all  other  things  to  the 
contrary  notwithstanding,  and  it  must  be  cured  homoeo- 
pathically,  or  else  the  failure  would  be  used  as  a  long 
lever  against  the  truth  of  the  law,  a  thing  which 
could  not  be  endured  by  one  of  those  sturdy  pio- 
neers. 

In  1847,  after  Dr.  Barrows  had  left  Norton  for 
Providence,  Dr.  Benjamin  M.  Rounds  commenced 
practice  in  Norton,  and  has  been  its  principal  physi- 
cian to  the  present  time. 

In  1850.  Dr.  G.  M.  Matthes  made  New  Bedford  his 
permanent  residence.  He  received  his  degree  from  the 
united  universities  of  Halle  and  Wittenberg  in  March, 
1836,  but  continued  his  studies  for  two  years  longer 
in  Vienna,  Prague,  and  Berlin.  He  commenced  prac- 
tice in  the  latter  place  in  1838,  but  in  1841  moved  to 
his  native  place,  Schwedt,  Prussia.  Notwithstanding 
he  had  all  of  the  usual  bitter  prejudices  against  Hah- 
nemann, yet  in  1845  his  attention  was  compelled  to 
his  theories  by  the  favorable  results  obtained  by  the 
neighboring  owners  of  the  large  and  costly  herds  of 
merinos,  who  had  entirely  discarded  their  profes- 
sional veterinary  physicians  and  adopted  the  homoeo- 
pathic practice.     He  soon   became  a  thorough  stu- 


dent of  the  despised  practice.  In  1849  he  came  to 
this  country,  located  for  a  short  time  in  Boston,  and 
became  a  member  of  the  Massachusetts  Medical  So- 
ciety. He  continues  in  New  Bedford,  a  highly-es- 
teemed practitioner. 

In  1851,  Charles  Harris,  M.D.,  came  to  Taunton, 
and  remained  for  several  years.  He  was  a  graduate  of 
Berkshire  Medical  College  in  1847.  He  had  a  good 
and  successful  practice,  but  was  obliged  to  return  to 
Wareham,  where  he  had  formerly  practiced,  on  ac- 
count of  ill  health.  He  is  now  located  at  East 
Bridgewater,  where  he  has  many  and  lasting  friends. 

In  1852,  Henry  B.  Clarke,  a  graduate  of  the 
Homoeopathic  Medical  College  of  Pennsylvania,  com- 
menced practice  in  New  Bedford,  and  soon  took  the 
high  rank  which  he  has  since  maintained. 

The  year  1854  was  an  eventful  one  to  homoeopathy 
in  Bristol  County.  In  that  year  three  young  physi- 
cians, all  supplemental  graduates  of  the  Homoeopathic 
Medical  College  of  Pennsylvania,  took  up  their  resi- 
dence in  three  different  cities  of  the  county.  They 
were  educated  to  the  full  extent  of  the  knowledge 
that  could  be  furnished  by  the  allopathic  schools  of 
the  country,  and  yet  deliberately  chose  to  practice 
according  to  the  despised  law  of  the  new  school.  In 
order  to  fit  themselves  for  this  work  they  took  gradu- 
ation from  the  only  homoeopathic  school  of  eminence 
in  the  land.  This  school,  while  teaching  the  whole 
curriculum  of  the  old  school  in  self-defense,  made  the 
peculiar  tenets  of  homoeopathy  its  prominent  point. 
Its  hospital  enforced  these  points,  and  its  daily  clinic 
made  evident  the  wonderful  power  of  the  attenuated 
doses.  The  proof  could  not  be  ignored,  and,  once 
accepted,  the  proof  of  daily  practice  made  it  only  the 
stronger.  These  graduates  accepted  fully  the  proof 
thus  offered,  and  the  fact  that  during  a  practice  of 
thirty  years  they  have  not  swerved  from  it  is  proof 
that  it  has  never  failed  them. 

In  the  spring  of  1854,  Dr.  John  L.  Clarke  com- 
menced practice  in  Fall  River,  and  at  once  took  a 
very  high  stand  among  the  practitioners  of  the  place. 
Owing  to  the  peculiar  construction  of  the  population 
homoeopathy  did  not  spread  much  among  the  general 
people,  but  was  received  by  the  intelligent  portion, 
and  its  hold  upon  them  has  never  been  lost.  There 
are  in  Fall  River  now  six  homoeopathic  physicians, 
all  of  them  in  full  practice,  and  all  of  them  men  who 
have  come,  not  merely  to  try  the  situation,  but  who 
have  come  to  stay,  and  no  one  of  whose  experience 
there  has  been  less  than  five  years. 

In  1872,  Dr.  Thomas  A.  Capen,  a  graduate  of  the 
Massachusetts  Agricultural  College  and  of  the  Hahne- 
mann Medical  College  of  Philadelphia,  commenced 
practice,  and  to-day  remains  a  successful  practitioner. 

In  1874,  Dr.  David  W.  Vanderburgh  commenced 
practice  in  Fall  River.  Dr.  Vanderburgh  was  grad- 
uated in  the  regular  course  in  Ann  Arbor  in  1866. 
In  August  of  1862  he  passed  examination  for  medical 
cadet,  United  States  Army,  and  served  as  such  till 


MISCELLANEOUS. 


897 


April,  1863,  when  he  was  appointed  assistant  sur- 
geon, Tenth  Regiment,  Michigan  Infantry,  which 
post  he  held  till  he  was  mustered  out,  Aug.  1,  1865. 
After  his  graduation  he  was  appointed  acting  assistant 
surgeon  in  the  United  States  Army,  serving  with  the 
Seventeenth  United  States  Infantry.  A  year  after  he 
took  up  the  study  of  homoeopathy. 

Dr.  D.  A.  Babcock  graduated  from  the  New  York 
Medical  College  in  1874,  was  in  partnership  with  Dr. 
Clarke,  of  New  Bedford,  till  1878,  when  he  succeeded 
to  the  practice  of  Dr.  George  Barrows,  of  Taunton. 
After  the  death  of  his  uncle,  Dr.  J.  L.  Clarke,  he  re- 
moved to  Fall  River,  where  he  has  largely  increased 
the  practice  and  has  made  his  permanent  residence. 

Drs.  Stowe,  Finch,  and  Walker  are  also  settled  in 
the  city,  and  are  finding  good  practices. 

In  1854,  Dr.  Edward  Sisson,  a  student  with  Dr. 
Roche,  and  a  graduate  both  of  the  Berkshire  Medical 
School  and  of  the  Homoeopathic  Medical  College  of 
Pennsylvania,  completed  his  studies,  and  commenced 
a  very  successful  practice,  which  he  still  maintains. 

There  are  several  other  physicians  in  New  Bedford 
who  have  recently  settled  there,  who  will  do  honor  to 
the  cause.  Among  them  may  be  mentioned  Helen 
M.  Wright,  M.D.,  a  graduate  of  Boston  University 
School  of  Medicine,  1881. 

In  this  same  eventful  year  Dr.  E.  U.  Jones  came 
to  Taunton,  at  the  repeated  and  urgent  request  of 
Dr.  Barrows,  and  for  two  years  was  his  assistant 
befoi'e  commencing  practice  on  his  own  account. 
Previous  to  this  Dr.  Jones  had  been  in  a  good  prac- 
tice in  Dover,  N.  H.  It  was  in  this  summer  that 
cholera  was  a  dread  visitant  to  the  town,  but  the 
pages  of  homoeopathy  stand  with  but  one  death  re- 
corded upon  them.  The  practice  of  Dr.  Jones  has 
been  among  the  best  and  most  intelligent  of  the  citi- 
zens. He  was  for  seven  years  secretary  of  the  Mas- 
sachusetts Homoeopathic  Medical  Society,  and,  as  an 
especial  honor,  was  elected  its  centennial  president  in 
1876.  He  is  the  chairman  of  the  first  board  of  health 
of  the  city  of  Taunton.  He  is  also  Lecturer  on  Sani- 
tary Science  and  Malarial  Diseases  in  Boston  Uni- 
versity Medical  School.  His  experience  of  thirty 
years  is  not  without  its  value  to  a  large  clientage  at 
the  present  day. 

Joseph  W.  Hayward,  M.D.,  was  graduated  from 
the  Medical  School  of  Maine  in  1864,  but  was  en- 
tered as  medical  cadet  in  the  regular  army  in  1863 ; 
served  in  general  hospitals  till  March,  1864;  re- 
entered in  June  of  the  same  year  as  assistant  surgeon 
United  States  Volunteers.  After  passing  the  regular 
army  board  served  in  the  field  in  front  of  Richmond 
until  Nov.  25,  1865.  He  then  came  to  New  York, 
took  lectures  at  Bellevue,  and  came  to  Taunton  in 
March,  1866.  He  is  at  present  Lecturer  at  Boston 
University  School  of  Medicine,  a  member  of  the  city 
school  board,  and  in  a  large  and  successful  practice. 

Dr.  B.  L.  Dwinell  is  a  graduate  of  Tuft's  College, 
1876,  and  of  Boston  University  School  of  Medicine, 
57 


1878.     Immediately  after   graduation    he   settled   in 
Taunton,  and  is  having  a  very  successful  practice. 

Dr.  Fred.  D.  Tripp  is  a  graduate  of  Boston  Uni- 
versity School  of  Medicine,  1881 ;  spent  one  year  in 
the  hospital  at  Ward's  Island,  and  in  March,  1883, 
became  city  physician. 

Dr.  Caleb  Swan,  a  grandson  of  Dr.  Caleb  Swan,  of 
Easton,  and  son  of  Dr.  James  C.  Swan,  of  Brockton, 
coming  from  a  line  of  physicians,  is  recognized  as  one 
who  will  be  prominent  in  the  future  history  of  medi- 
cine in  the  county. 

His  grandfather  was  among  the  earliest  of  those 
who  recognized  the  value  of  the  new  therapeutics, 
and,  while  not  taking  a  decided  stand  upon  the 
point,  yet  practiced  it  more  and  more  till  his  death, 
and  claimed  himself  as  a  homoeopath.  His  circuit 
extended  over  the  whole  county,  and  his  judgment 
was  much  relied  upon. 


CHAPTER    LXXII. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

The  French  Canadians  in  the  County  of  Bristol.1 

— About  one-sixteenth  of  the  population  of  Massa- 
chusetts is  composed  of  French  Canadians.  Of  all 
the  cities  in  the  State,  Fall  River  and  Lowell  have 
the  largest  French  Canadian  population.  Although 
we  lack  certain  data  for  an  accurate  determination 
of  their  numbers,  yet  a  reliable  estimate  may  be 
reached  by  reference  to  their  church  records,  the 
opinions  of  their  journalists,  and  the  last  Federal 
census. 

Relying  upon  these  sources  of  information  we  may 
state  that  there  are  one  hundred  thousand  French 
Canadians  in  Massachusetts,  and  from  ten  to  twelve 
thousand  both  in  Lowell  and  Fall  River. 

Most  of  these  immigrants  have  come  here  since  the 
war.  Like  other  aliens  they  come  to  better  their 
condition,  and  while  the  majority  of  them  come  to 
work  in  our  manufactories,  yet  they  are  followed  by 
a  relative  number  of  professional  men,  physicians, 
clergymen,  and  lawyers,  as  well  as  educated  mer- 
chants. The  latter,  especially,  bring  some  capital 
with  them,  while  the  larger  number  of  the  others 
trust  to  whatever  opportunity  there  may  be  here  for 
persons  able  and  willing  to  work. 

It  is  the  opinion  of  those  who  are  acquainted  with 
this  class  of  people  that  they  are  orderly,  sociable, 
and  intelligent,  and  that  sooner  or  later  their  influ- 
ence will  be  felt  in  the  society  and  politics  of  this 
State. 

The  French  Canadian  is  very  much  attached  to  his 
language.  French  is  spoken  in  the  family  and  in  the 
church.  It  is  not  true,  as  some  suppose,  that  the 
French  Canadian  speaks  a  patois  unintelligible  to  a 

1  Contributed  by  Hugo  A.  Dubuque. 


.-MS 


HISTORY  OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


person  well  versed  in  the  French  language.  The 
curriculum  of  schools  and  colleges  in  Canada  is  based 
upon  that  of  the  lyceums  and  colleges  of  France,  and 
any  one  familiar  with  the  literary  works  produced  by 
French  Canadians  is  well  aware  that  the  French  lan- 
guage has  been  preserved  with  remarkable  vigor  and 
purity  by  all  the  descendants  of  the  Cartiers,  Maison-  j 
neuves,  and  Champlains.  We  shall  have  occasion 
later  on  to  refer  to  Mr.  Louis  Frechette,  the  French 
Canadian  poet-laureate,  whose  works  were  crowned 
by  the  French  Academy  (Paris,  1880). 

The  first  French  family  came  to  Fall  River  about 
the  year  1859,  but  it  was  not  until  1866-68  that  the 
French  from  Canada  came  here  in  large  numbers. 

We  often  hear  that  these  people  return  to  Canada 
after  a  few  years'  sojourn  here.  It  may  have  been  so 
before  1870,  but  since  then  the  French  population  has 
increased  rapidly  in  every  city  and  county  of  the 
commonwealth. 

Let  us  now  glance  at  the  social  and  religious  con- 
dition of  this  element.  While  some  thirty  or  forty 
families  attend  Protestant  churches,  the  remainder 
belong  to  the  Catholic  Church. 

The  French  Protestants  meet  for  worship  in  the 
mission  chapel  on  the  corner  of  Pleasant  and  Sixth 
Streets. 

The  first  French  Catholic  Church  (called  Ste.  Anne) 
was  built  in  1870,  on  Hunter  Street,  Rev.  A.  de  Mon- 
taubricq,  a  native  of  France,  being  its  first  pastor. 

In  1867-68,  Rev.  A.  J.  Derbuel,  another  native  of 
France,  at  present  pastor  of  the  French  Church  in 
West  Boylston,  Mass.,  was  ministering  to  the  wants 
of  the  French  families  then  in  Fall  River.  He  was 
then  one  of  the  assistants  in  St.  Mary's  (Irish)  parish. 
Another  church  (Notre  Dame)  has  since  been  built 
on  Bassett  Street  to  accommodate  the  residents  of  the 
eastern  portion  of  the  city.  Rev.  P.  J.  B.  Bedard  has 
been  its  pastor  from  the  first. 

There  is  a  part  of  the  city  of  Fall  River  called 
French  village  (Petit  Canada,  or  Little  Canada,  as  the 
French  themselves  name  it),  which  includes  all  the 
houses  of  the  American  Linen  Company,  and  is 
bounded  on  the  east  by  Broadway  and  on  the  north 
and  south  by  Division  and  Bay  Streets.  It  received 
that  appellation  because  the  early  French  Canadian 
immigrants  lived  mostly  in  that  vicinity. 

The  French  in  Fall  River  have  since  1870  organ- 
ized, and  they  maintain  to  this  day,  various  national, 
benevolent,  and  literary  societies.  The  most  impor- 
tant of  them,  called  the  St.  Jean  Baptiste,  was  founded 
in  1874,  as  a  national  and  mutual  relief  association ; 
it  was  reorganized  in  1878,  and  is  now  in  existence. 
It  has  taken  the  lead  in  the  celebration  of  the  24th 
of  June,  the  national  holiday  of  the  French  Cana- 
dians, St.  John  the  Baptist  being  their  patron  saint. 
An  event  of  some  importance  to  the  French  popula- 
tion of  Fall  River  was  the  publication  in  the  French 
language  of  a  weekly  paper  called  L'Echo  du  Canada 
(1873).     It  was  owned  and  edited  by  Dr.  Alfred  Mig- 


nault  and  H.  Beaugrand.  The  former  practiced  as  a 
physician  in  Fall  River  for  some  nine  or  ten  years, 
and  died  recently.  The  latter  is  the  proprietor  and 
manager  of  a  large  and  successful  daily,  La  Patrie,  in 
Montreal  (P.  Q.  Canada). 

Mr.  Beaugrand  was  educated  in  a  French  Canadian 
college,  and  came  to  this  country  while  young.  He 
enlisted  in  the  French  army  in  Mexico,  and  after- 
wards settled  in  Fall  River,  and  worked  at  the  trade 
of  a  printer  until  he  commenced  the  publication  of 
L'Echo  du  Canada.  He  was  very  active,  studious, 
and  enterprising.  He  sold  his  paper  to  Mr.  Archam- 
bault  (a  photographer,  now  in  Montreal),  who  trans- 
ferred it  to  Mr.  Remi  Benoit,  who  in  turn  became  its 
editor.  This  paper  was  succeeded  by  Le  Protect  ear 
Canadien,  edited  by  contributors.  Before  that,  in 
1874,  Mr.  Benoit  had  successively  edited  Le  Charivari, 
a  comical  paper,  and  L'Ouvrier  Canadien,  which  was 
a.  rival  to  L'Echo  du  Canada.  While  Mr.  Beaugrand 
lived  in  Fall  River  he  wrote  a  book  entitled  Jeanne 
La  Films?  (Jane  the  Spinner). 

It  is  an  interesting  novel.  The  heroine  is  an  or- 
phan, who  leaves  Canada  and  comes  to  Fall  River,* 
works  in  the  mills,  and  has  two  lovers,  one  in  Canada, 
the  other  in  Fall  River;  the  latter  saves  her  life  in 
the  Granite  Mill  fire  in  1874,  but  dies  in  consequence 
of  injuries  received  in  the  performance  of  that  self- 
sacrificing  deed.  Jeanne  marries  the  former.  The 
book  contains  a  faithful  description  of  the  life  and 
manners  of  the  French  natives  of  Canada  at  home 
and  abroad. 

In  September,  1873,  the  French  Canadians  had  a 
large  meeting  to  rejoice  over  the  withdrawal  of  the 
last  German  troops  from  French  territory,  after  the 
payment  of  the  last  installment  of  the  war  indemnity 
(September  5th).  The  French  Canadian  is  a  great 
lover  of  France,  which  he  calls  the  mother-country. 

In  1876-77,  Mr.  H.  Beaugrand  published  another 
weekly  paper  in  Fall  River,  entitled  La  Repuhlique. 
In  1877,  Le  Cercle  Montcalm,  a  literary  society,  was 
founded.  In  1878,  Mr.  Louis  Frechette,  the  poet- 
laureate  of  Canada,  was  invited  to  deliver  a  lecture  in 
French,  under  the  auspices  of  that  society,  in  Concert 
Hall.  Mr.  Beaugrand  composed  L'Hijmne  Montcalm 
for  the  occasion.  Dr.  Mignault  adapted  the  words  to 
music,  and  he  was  also  the  leader  of  the  orchestra, 
called  Le  Septuor.  Mr.  Frechette,  who  formerly  lived 
in  Chicago,  spoke  on  the  future  prospects  of  his  com- 
patriots in  their  adopted  country,  and  recited  some  of 
his  poetry  on  Papineau  (the  French  leader  of  the 
insurrection  in  1837)  and  on  the  discovery  of  the 
Mississippi.  In  1881,  Mr.  Frechette  was  again  invited 
to  deliver  a  lecture,  in  Waverly  Hall,  on  Washington 
and  the  duties  of  citizenship.  The  audience  was  so 
large  that  many  were  unable  to  gain  admission  to  the 
hall.  In  the  same  year  the  Club  Frechette  was  founded, 
with  the  object  of  giving  theatrical  entertainments 
in  the  French  language.  It  was  incorporated  in  the 
Cercle  Sataberry,  which  society  has  given  a  number  of 


MISCELLANEOUS. 


899 


performances  on  the  stage  of  the  Academy  of  Music. 
Before  that,  however,  the  French  clerks  formed  a 
society  to  further  their  own  interests,  under  the  name 
of  La  Societe  des  commis-marchands. 

It  should  be  noticed  that  the  principal  business 
houses  of  the  city  are  obliged  to  secure  the  services 
of  French  clerks  to  wait  upon  those  customers  who 
are  unable  to  speak  the  English  language. 

There  are,  however,  French  Canadian  merchants 
engaged  in  almost  every  branch  of  trade  in  Fall 
River. 

In  the  professions,  the  French  in  Fall  River  are 
represented  by  two  clergymen,  one  lawyer,  nine 
physicians,  and  one  veterinary  surgeon. 

There  are  two  convents  attached  to  the  French 
churches  noticed  above ;  they  are  under  the  control 
of  Catholic  Sisters.  An  orphan  asylum,  which  gives 
refuge  to  orphans  of  any  creed  or  nationality,  is  con- 
nected with  the  convent  Notre  Dame  on  Mason 
Street. 

There  is  a  parochial  school  for  each  congregation, 
and  a  commercial  college  taught  by  laymen  on  Bas- 
sett  Street.  The  English  and  French  languages  are 
equally  taught  in  the  schools,  the  convents,  and  the 
college.  A  large  percentage  of  French  children, 
however,  attend  the  public  schools. 

In  1883  the  college  on  Bassett  Street,  the  convent  of 
Notre  Dame,  and  the  orphanage  connected  with  it 
were  organized  under  the  State  laws  as  the  Corpora- 
tion Notre' Dame.  , 

P.  J.  B.  Bedard,  who  was  the  promoter  of  these  in- 
stitutions, has  conveyed  to  the  new  corporation  a 
large  parcel  of  land  and  valuable  buildings  on  the 
same  in  trust  for  religious,  charitable,  and  educa- 
tional purposes.  He  intends  to  build  a  large  hos- 
pital for  the  sick,  the  aged,  and  the  infirm  on  the 
land  of  this  corporation. 

A  new  organ  of  the  French  Canadian  population 
of  Fall  River,  New  Bedford,  and  Taunton,  Le  Castor, 
is  published  in  the  first  named  city.  It  was  started 
in  1882,  and  is  owned  by  H.  Boisseau.  It  is  edited 
in  a  very  clever  manner  by  a  small  circle  of  contrib- 
utors. The  title,  Le  Castor,  means  "  the  beaver," 
which  is  one  of  the  national  emblems  of  the  French 
Canadians.  The  term  "  beaver"  was  given  by  the 
English  to  the  French  in  Canada  as  an  injurious 
epithet.  But  the  French,  considering  it  a  compliment 
to  be  called  beavers  on  account  of  their  industry,  have 
always  looked  upon  it  as  representing  one  of  their 
national  traits,  and  hence  made  it  an  emblem  of  their 
own.  The  other  national  emblem  of  the  French 
Canadians  is  the  maple-leaf.  This  represents  the 
quality  of  the  wood  coming  from  the  maple-tree, 
which  compares  in  its  durability  with  the  enduring 
characteristics  of  the  French  Canadian  nationality. 

In  1876,  the  centennial  year,  the  French  Canadians 
took  a  prominent  part  in  the  celebration  of  the  Fourth 
of  July.  A  fine  allegorical  car,  over  which  floated 
the  tri-color  by  the  side  of  the  stars  and  stripes,  was 


filled  with  personages  attired  in  the  traditional  garb 
of  the  early  French  settlers,  discoverers,  and  Gov- 
ernors of  Canada.  But  it  was  on  June  24,  1878,  that 
the  most  important  demonstration  of  the  French 
people  took  place. 

The  local  press  pronounced  the  festivities  and  pro- 
cession on  that  day  as  most  complete,  and  reflecting 
great  credit  upon  the  French  people.  On  such  occa- 
sions the  French  have  orators  who  speak  to  the  as- 
sembled multitude  in  their  own  tongue.  And  if 
Americans  needed  that  any  of  their  adopted  citizens 
should  teach  them  the  true  love  of  country  and  of 
republican  institutions,  they  could  learn  a  lesson 
from  the  spontaneous  outbursts  of  impassioned  elo- 
quence flowing  from  the  lips  of  these  descendants  of 
Lafayette  and  Rochambeau. 

And  while  the  French  Canadian  is  thoroughly 
possessed  of  that  never-dying  sentiment  which  binds 
one  to  his  native  land,  yet  he  finds  in  the  American 
republic  so  much  to  the  credit  of  his  ancestors  and 
such  generous  hospitality,  that  he  always  shares 
freely  his  amor  patriee  between  the  land  of  his  birth 
and  that  of  his  adoption. 

The  French  Canadians  are  naturally  conservative, 
yet  quick  to  learn.  In  the  mills  they  are  well  liked 
by  the  manufacturers,  and  during  the  last  four  or  five 
years  some  have  been  placed  in  positions  of  trust. 
There  are  some  twelve  French  Canadian  overseers, 
and  about  one  hundred  assistant  overseers  (called 
second-hands),  in  the  mills  of  Fall  River.  It  must  be 
remembered  that  the  French  immigrants  have  never 
engaged  in  the  manufactures  before  coming  to  this 
country.  Most  of  them  have  been  born  and  brought 
up  on  farms.  Some  of  these  farmers  sell  their  land 
in  Canada  to  purchase  lots  and  build  homes  in  the 
manufacturing  cities  of  New  England.  A  great 
many  are  becoming  owners  of  real  estate  in  Fall 
River.  Those  who  come  when  they  are  ten  or  twelve 
years  old  can  learn  the  English  language  well.  The 
older  ones  do  not  speak  it  so  plainly,  and  many  never 
can  pronounce  it  at  all.  They  are  fond  of  their  lan- 
guage, and  even  those  who  speak  English  as  well  as 
French  always  prefer  the  vernacular.  After  a  sojourn 
of  some  few  years  among  us  they  naturally  appre- 
ciate our  institutions  and  become  interested  in  our 
politics. 

At  various  times  some  of  their  leaders  have  spoken 
to  them  of  naturalization  at  meetings  called  for  that 
purpose,  but  it  was  not  until  1882  that  a  permanent 
society,  called  Le  Club  de  Naturalisation  (the  Natural- 
ization Club),  was  formed  for  that  special  purpose. 
It  has  done  effective  work  in  a  short  time.  It  meets 
once  a  week  over  Concert  Hall,  on  Pleasant  Street. 
All  the  proceedings  and  speeches  are  in  French. 
The  members  have  debates  on  historical  and  literary 
subjects.  The  club  has  now  over  one  hundred  and 
fifty  members,  and  the  audiences  average  from  two 
to  four  hundred  every  week. 

In  1875,  Frank  Cote  was  made  a  constable  and 


900 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL  COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


qualified  to  serve  civil  process.  In  1881-82,  Mr. 
Edward  J.  L'  Herault  succeeded  him  in  that  capacity. 
In  1880,  Victor  Geoffrion  (a  brother  of  the  Hon.  F. 
Geoffrion,  one  of  the  leaders  of  the  liberals  in  the 
province  of  Quebec,  a  former  member  of  the  federal 
cabinet  at  Ottawa,  and  of  C.  A.  Geoffrion,  Esq.,  a  lead- 
ing lawyer  of  Montreal,  province  of  Quebec)  was 
elected  to  the  Common  Council  in  the  old  Ward  Four. 
Others  have  been  candidates  for  various  offices. 

In  October,  1881,  a  French  Canadian  national  con- 
vention was  held  in  Music  Hall,  in  Fall  River.  These 
conventions  are  composed  of  three  delegates  from 
every  French  congregation,  society,  or  group,  and 
meet  annually  in  a  place  designated  one  year  in  ad- 
vance. 

The  subjects  of  debate  are  the  various  questions 
affecting  the  social  and  material  welfare  of  the  French 
Canadians  in  the  United  States.  Here  again  French 
is  the  official  language. 

There  are  some  five  or  six  hundred  French  Cana- 
dian families  in  New  Bedford.  They  have  a  church 
(Sacred  Heart),  whose  first  pastor  was  Rev.  G.  Pager, 
who  died  in  1882.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Mr. 
Provost.  There  are  some  ten  or  fifteen  French  fami- 
lies at  Westport  Factory,  between  Fall  River  and 
New  Bedford. 

Within  three  or  four  years  about  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  French  families  have  settled  in  Taunton. 
They  have  already  purchased  land  to  build  a  church, 
and  have  one  physician,  Dr.  Desnoyers.  Some  of  the 
most  skillful  workmen  in  a  silver-plating  and  engrav- 
ing establishment  are  French  Canadians. 

County  Officers. — Judges  of  Probate. — Prior  to 
the  division  of  the  county  in  1746  the  probate  office 
and  registry  of  deeds  was  held  in  Bristol,  then  the 
capital  of  the  county,  now  in  Rhode  Island.  The 
judges  of  probate  were  Nathaniel  Byfield,  1686-93; 
John  Saffin,  1693-1703  ;  Nathaniel  Byfield,  1703-10 ; 
Nathaniel  Paine,  1710-15;  Nathaniel  Byfield,  Jr., 
1715-17;  Nathaniel  Paine,  1717-24;  Nathaniel  Pla- 
grove,  1724-44;  Nathaniel  Hubbard,  1744-47 ; x  George 
Leonard,  1747-78;  Benjamin  Williams,  1778-83; 
George  Leonard,  Jr.,  1783-90  ;  Seth  Padelford,  1790- 
1810;  Hodijah  Baylies,  1810-34;  Oliver  Prescott, 
1834-58;  Edmund  H.  Bennett,  1858-83. 

Registers  of  Probate. — In  Bristol :  Stephen 
Burton,  1686-92;  John  Cary,  1692-1715;  Ebenezer 
Brenton,  1715-17;  John  Cary,  1717-21;  Stephen 
Paine,  1721-49.  In  Taunton :  George  Leonard, 
1749-83;  Dr.  William  Baylies,  1783-1812;  Francis 
Baylies,  1812-21;  David  G.  W.  Cobb,  1821-33; 
Anselm  Bassett,  1833-51;  Henry  Williams,  1851- 
53;  John  Daggett,  1853-64;  A.  S.  Cushman,  1864- 
69 ;  William  E.  Fuller,  1869-83. 

Registers  of  Deeds. — The  office  of  registrar  of 
deeds  was  in  Bristol,  the  shire  town  of  the  county, 
from  its  organization  in  1685  to  1746,  when  a  division 

1  Probate  office  in  Taunton,  1747. 


was  made  setting  off  Bristol  to  Rhode  Island.  The 
registers  were  Stephen  Burton,  1686-93 ;  John  Cary, 
1693-1721 ;  Samuel  Howland,  1721-41  ;  Thomas 
Throope,  Jr.,  1741-47  ;2  James  Williams,  1747-79; 
James  Williams,  Jr.,  1779-1826;  Alfred  Williams, 
1826-41;  Joseph  Wilbar,  1841-74;  Joseph  E.  Wil- 
bar,  1874-83.  Judge  James  Williams,  Gen.  James 
Williams,  son,  and  Dr.  Alfred  Williams,  grandson, 
held  the  office  ninety-five  years.  Joseph  Wilbar  and 
Joseph  E.  Wilbar,  son,  have  held  the  office  forty-two 
years  ;  the  latter  is  the  present  incumbent.  Registers 
of  deeds  in  New  Bedford :  Benjamin  G.  Congdon, 
Benjamin  K.  Sayer,  Charles  C.  Sayer,  George  B. 
Richmond. 

Treasurers. — 1732,  Samuel  Howland  ;  1744,  Jo- 
seph Russell;  1746,  James  Williams;  1751,  Robert 
Luscomb ;  1770,  George  Godfrey,  Taunton ;  1783, 
Seth  Padelford,  Taunton;  1784,  George  Godfrey, 
Taunton  ;  1794,  Apollos  Leonard,  Taunton ;  1801, 
Samuel  Crocker,  Taunton ;  1826,  James  L.  Hodges, 
Taunton;  1831,  Horatio  L.  Danforth,  Taunton; 
1843,  Foster  Hooper,  Fall  River;  1846,  Richard  S.  S. 
Andros,  Taunton  ;  1848,  James  P.  Ellis,  Taunton  ; 
1854,  Samuel  R.  Townseud,  Taunton  ;  1856,  George 
M.  Woodward,  Taunton ;  1865,  Thomas  J.  Lothrop, 
Taunton;  1874,  George  F.  Pratt,  Taunton. 

Clerks  of  Courts. — 1702,  Timothy  Fales;  1746, 
Timothy  Fales ;  1774,  Samuel  Fales,  Taunton  ;  John 
Tucker,  signed  records  of  Supreme  Judicial  Court 
from  October,  1797,  to  October,  1804;  October,  1804, 
Nathaniel  Fales,  Taunton  ;  1813,  Nathaniel  Fales, 
Taunton ;  1816,  James  Sproat,  Taunton ;  Oct.  17, 
1822,  James  Sproat,  son  of  the  previous  James, 
Taunton  ;  April,  1856,  William  A.  F.  Sproat,  Taun- 
ton ;  Jan.  7,  1857,  John  S.  Brayton,  Fall  River;  Jan. 
5, 1864,  Simeon  Borden,  Fall  River. 

Sheriffs. — May  27,  1692,  Nathaniel  Payne;  Dec. 
22,  1692,  to  June  30,  1710,  Samuel  Gallop;  Dec.  10, 
1715,  William  Troop,  Bristol ;  March  31,  1718,  Seth 
Williams,  Taunton  ;  April  16,  1718,  to  June  22,  1733, 
Charles  Church,  Dighton ;  Jan.  14,  1746,  to  Nov.  24, 
1761,  Sylvester  Richmond,  Dighton  ;  1774,  Zephaniah 
Leonard,  Raynham  ;  1809,  Horatio  Leonard,  Rayn- 
ham;  1812,  Noah  Claflin,  Attleborough ;  1813,  Ho- 
ratio Leonard,  Raynham  ;  1845,  Horatio  L.  Dan- 
forth, Taunton  ;  1852,  Lyman  W.  Dean,  Attlebor- 
ough;  1853,  Robert  Sherman,  Pawtucket;  1855, 
George  H.  Babbitt,  Taunton  ;  1863,  Chr.  B.  H.  Fes- 
senden,  New  Bedford ;  1869,  William  S.  Cobb,  New 
Bedford  ;  1878,  Andrew  R.  Wright,  Fall  River. 

Attleborough. — Rev.  Jacob  Ide,  a  native  of  this 
town,  was  a  descendant  from  Nicholas  Ide,  who  came 
to  this  country  previous  to  1645,  and  settled  in  Re- 
hoboth,  where  he  died.  His  son,  Nicholas,  Jr.,  came 
to  Attleborough  about  1696  and  purchased  lands 
here,  and  some  of  his  descendants  remain  in  town  to 
this  day. 

2  Removed  to  Taunton,  1747. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 


901 


Jacob,  the  subject  of  this  memoir,  was  the  son  of 
Jacob,  and  was  born  March  29, 1785,  in  the  south  part 
of  the  town,  in  what  is  popularly  called  the  "Read  and 
Ide  neighborhood."  His  father  was  a  farmer  of  the 
New  England  stamp,  a  man  of  good  judgment  and 
respectable  character,  and  a  worthy  citizen.  His 
father's  ancestors  had  been  farmers  ever  since  the 
lauding  in  the  country.  He  was  robust  in  health  in 
his  younger  days,  and  was  employed  on  his  father's 
farm,  and  was  able  to  perform  the  hardest  and  most 
laborious  work,  and  continued  in  this  employment 
till  he  entered  college.  In  early  life  he  became 
anxious  to  obtain  a  liberal  education  to  prepare  him- 
self for  the  gospel  ministry.  His  father  had  not  the 
ready  means  of  meeting  the  expenses  of  his  education, 
or  rendering  him  much  assistance  in  his  preparation 
for  college.  He  resorted  to  many  self-denials  and 
laborious  means  to  accomplish  his  purpose.  He  em- 
ployed every  leisure  moment  in  the  intervals  of  farm 
work,  and  on  evenings  and  rainy  days,  in  the  study  of 
the  languages.  He  traveled  on  foot  five  miles  to 
make  his  recitations  to  Rev.  Nathan  Holman,  who 
was  then  pastor  of  the  second  parish  at  East  Attle- 
borough.  He  followed  this  course  for  a  year,  and 
this  was  his  only  means  of  preparation.  At  the  end 
of  this  term  he  entered  college. 

But  in  his  case  this  was  not  so  great  a  disadvantage 
as  it  would  have  been  to  many  others.  He  studied 
his  tasks  thoroughly  by  patient  and  laborious  work ; 
he  aimed  to  be  accurate  in  everything  he  undertook ; 
the  midnight  oil  was  no  offense  to  him.  His  mind 
was  clear  and  vigorous ;  he  was  devoted  to  the  duties 
of  the  moment  and  persevering  in  his  labors.  Hence 
he  became  in  after-life  a  close  student,  a  thorough 
scholar,  and  a  deep  thinker. 

He  entered  the  college  at  Providence  (which  was 
only  about  eight  miles  from  his  father's  house)  in 
September,  1805,  and  graduated  in  1809  with  the 
highest  honors  of  his  class. 

By  his  severe  intellectual  labors  for  the  four  or  five 
years  of  his  life  before  leaving  college,  his  health  at 
that  time  had  become  much  impaired,  and  his  natu- 
rally strong  constitution  enfeebled.  It  was  then  con- 
sidered doubtful  whether  he  would  ever  be  able  to 
sustain  the  duties  of  a  pastoral  life,  but  after  a  short 
vacation  and  leisure  his  health  somewhat  improved, 
aud  he  concluded  to  resume  his  studies.  After  spend- 
ing some  time  in  the  study  of  theology  under  the  in- 
structions of  Dr.  Emmons,  of  Franklin,  he  entered 
the  Andover  Theological  School,  where  he  went 
through  the  regular  course,  and  graduated  there  in 
1812. 

He  was  installed  over  the  church  at  West  Medway 
Nov.  2,  1814,  wdiere  he  finished  his  pastoral  life,  and 
died  Jan.  5,  1880,  at  the  age  of  ninety-four  years  and 
nine  months.  Previous  to  his  settlement  in  Medway 
he  had  preached  in  several  places,  one  of  which  was 
Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  where,  though  distrusting  his 
own  ability  as  a  preacher  and  feeling  discouraged 


himself,  he  attracted  the  favorable  notice  of  Daniel 
Webster,  then  residing  in  that  city,  and  who  heard 
him  several  Sabbaths. 

He  had  lived  a  very  studious  life,  filling  his  whole 
career  with  constant  labor,  even  down  to  his  latest 
years.  The  farm  which  he  purchased  when  he  settled 
in  Medway  afforded  him  abundance  of  healthful  ex- 
ercise of  the  kind  which  his  constitution  needed,  and 
which  tended  to  prolong  his  life  to  so  late  a  period. 

In  1864  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  his  settlement  in 
Medway  was  celebrated,  and  he  delivered  a  historical 
discourse  on  the  occasion,  in  which  he  furnishes  the 
experiences  of  his  pastoral  life,  and  which  was  his 
first  and  only  one.  On  that  occasion  there  was  a 
large  attendance  of  clergymen  in  the  vicinity  and 
from  different  parts  of  the  State,  and  other  friends  of 
the  pastor,  who  bestowed  on  him  the  honors  he  had 
justly  won  by  the  faithful  labors  of  an  active  pastor 
for  more  than  fifty  years.  Several  original  poems 
were  written  for  the  occasion,  one  by  Hon.  Charles 
Thurber,  and  another  by  Rev.  William  M.  Thayer. 
There  was  a  large  congregation  of  people  during  the 
whole  day  and  in  the  evening,  and  he  received  many 
tributes  of  respect  and  veneration  from  his  own  peo- 
ple and  the  distinguished  friends  from  abroad.  He 
remained  the  pastor  of  this  people  for  more  than 
sixty-five  years,  and  to  the  day  of  his  death. 

In  some  remarks  which  Dr.  Park,  of  Andover, 
made  on  this  anniversary,  he  condensed  his  whole 
character  in  a  few  lines  : 

"Thus  does  the  influence  of  a  good  man  diffuse 
itself  through  the  community,  and  a  faithful  preacher, 
even  if  he  be  an  invalid,  is  a  city  set  upon  a  hill, 
which  cannot  be  concealed.  Dr.  Ide  has  been  an  in- 
valid throughout  his  entire  ministerial  life,  but  by  his 
example  in  his  parish,  by  his  judicious  and  thought- 
ful sermons,  by  the  essays  and  discourses  which  he 
has  published,  by  the  volumes  which  he  has  edited, 
by  the  young  men  whom  he  has  educated  for  the 
ministry  he  has  exerted  an  influence  which  has  been 
felt,  and  will  continue  to  be  felt,  in  distant  parts  of 
our  own  land  and  on  the  other  side  of  the  sea." 

His  funeral  occurred  on  the  8th  of  January,  1880, 
and  was  attended  by  a  large  concourse  of  clergymen 
and  others.  A  sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  John 
W.  Harding,  of  Long  Meadow,  in  which  he  truth- 
fully portrayed  the  character  and  services  of  the  de- 
ceased, and  his  peculiar  merits  as  a  preacher  and 
pastor.     The  discourse  has  been  published. 

In  1827,  Brown  University  bestowed  on  him  the 
honorary  degree  of  S.T.D.  In  1815  he  married  Miss 
Mary  Emmons,  youngest  daughter  of  Dr.  Emmons, 
of  Franklin.  He  left  several  children  at  his  death. 
His  oldest  son,  Rev.  Jacob  Ide,  Jr.,  graduated  at 
Amherst,  and  is  now  the  genial  and  acceptable  pastor 
of  the  church  at  Mansfield,  Mass.     His  second  son, 

Mexis ,  is  now  in  the  ministry,  but  has  never 

accepted  any  pastoral  charge.  His  daughter  Mary 
was  the  wife  of  Rev.  Charles  Torrey,  who  perished 


902 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


in  prison  at  Baltimore,  Md.,  under  sentence  for  aiding 
the  escape  of  slaves.  He  left  two  children.  He  was 
born  in  Scituate,  son  of  Mr.  Charles  Torrey. 

During  his  life  forty-one  theological  students  at 
different  times  were  educated  for  the  ministry  under 
his  instructions.1 

His  published  discourses  were  numerous.  In  the 
number  may  be  counted  twelve  funeral  sermons,  ten 
ordination  sermons,  twenty-two  occasional  sermons 
and  addresses,  and  several  articles  in  periodicals. 
Besides  these,  he  edited  and  published  the  works  of 
Dr.  Emmons,  of  Franklin,  in  seven  octavo  volumes. 


ATTLEBOROUGH 

Spaulding  H.  Abbott. 
George  R.  Adams. 
Henry  S.  Adams. 
San  ford  B.  Adams. 
Alden  H.  Albro. 
Asa  Aldrich. 
Charles  II.  Aldrich. 
James  H.  Aldrich. 
Howard  Alger. 
George  Allen. 
Isaac  Allen. 
James  C.  Allen. 
Leonard  Altreith. 
John  F.  Ashley. 
Albert  Atwood. 
Augustus  Bailey. 
Robert  H.  Bailey. 
Varanus  S.  Bailey. 
Charles  F.  Baker. 
James  Ballard. 
Christian  Ballaup. 
Caleb  W.  Ballou. 
James  A.  Ballou. 
Perry  A.  Ballou. 
Stephen  Ballou. 
John  Barker. 
Samuel  G.  Bassett. 

Henry  Bennett. 
Joseph  Bigler. 

William  W.  Bishop. 

Henry  A.  Blackiuton. 

Julius  S.  Blake. 

William  A.  Blake. 

Joseph  E.  Blanding. 

Everett  B.  Bliss. 

Fred.  D.  Bliss. 

Harlan  P.  Bliss. 

Samuel  P.  Bliss. 

Abel  R.  Block. 

George  E.  Bowen. 

Thomas  Bowen. 

James  Boyle. 

William  Bradford. 

Charles  W.  Bragg. 

Edwin  C.  Bragg. 

John  Brayshaw. 

Alfred  A.  Briggs. 

Albert  E.  Briggs. 

Arthur  Briggs. 

Charles  H.  Briggs. 

Edward  S.  Briggs. 

Albert  F.  Briggs. 

Charles  Brig  ham. 

George  W.  Brockett. 

Charles  E.  Brotherton. 


MILITARY   RECORD." 

George  Brown. 
John  Brown. 
John  S.  Brown. 
John  D.  Bullock. 
Henry  A.  Burchard. 
Joseph  H.  Burlingame. 
George  W.  Burt. 
Frederic  Cabbott. 
William  F.  Cady. 
Elijah  F.  Callard. 
Isaac  Campbell. 
Frank  E.  Capron. 
Hugh  Carney. 
William  Carnes. 
Alden  Carpenter. 
C.  Francis  Carpenter. 
Edward  E.  Carpenter. 
Joseph  B.  Carpenter. 
John  Cassiday. 
Thomas  Cassiday. 
Marshall  J.Chaffee. 
William  Chapman. 
Alvah  R.  Chace. 
Lurad  H.  Chadwick. 
George  A.  Christy. 
Albert  F.  Claflen. 
George  H.  Claflen. 
Charles  E.  Clapp. 
George  W.  Clark. 
James  Clark. 
James  F.  Clark. 
Henry  N.  Cobb. 
Albert  Coffin. 
Frank  Cole. 
Frank  W.  Cole. 
Henry  W.  Cole. 
Loring  Cole. 
William  A.  Cole. 
David  Collar. 
John  P.  Couley. 
Francis  Coulin. 
Francis  Cooley. 
Hugh  A.  Conway. 
Thomas  Corcoran. 
Alexander  Corey. 
Adolph  Coupe. 
George  W.  Cowden. 
William  II .  Cowden. 
Edwin  L.  Crandall. 
Oscar  B.  Cummings. 
John  C.  Cummings. 
George  Cutting. 
Lucius  P.  Cutter. 
Nathan  H.  Darling. 
Orville  L.  Dary. 


JA   list  of  their   names  may  be  found   in   Dr.  Blake's   "History  of 
Mendon  Association." 
s  Furnished  by  B.  Porter,  Jr. 


Jeffrey  R.  Davis. 
James  Day. 
James  B.  Day. 
Benjamin  F.  Davenport. 
Henry  F.  Davenport. 
Albert  D.  Dean. 
David  S.  Dean. 
Edward  N.  Dean. 
Charles  F.  Dean. 
Charles  P.  Drake. 
Charles  B.  Despardina. 
George  Dollery. 
William  P.  Donnell. 
Francis  Doran. 
John  G.  Doran. 
Peter  Dowd. 
Michael  Devier. 
James  Divine. 
Adam  Debus. 
Lowell  A.  Drake. 
Halsey  W.  Draper. 
George  L.  Draper. 
Theodore  Draper. 
Francis  S.  Diaper. 
William  E.  Dunham. 
Henry  G.  Dunham. 
Joseph  Edgar. 
William  Elwin. 
Nathaniel  Emerson. 
James  Eunis. 
Benjamin  E.  Evans. 
Amos  W.  Farnsworth. 
Charles  E.  Farrar. 
Andrew  Farroll. 
John  Fay. 
Robert  C.  Fellows. 
S.  A.  Ferguson. 
Thomas  Fiele3r. 
James  I.  Field. 
Richard  Field. 
William  W.  Fisher. 
Charles  E.  Fisher. 
Ezra  A.  Fisher. 
Joel  A.  Fisher. 
Tisdale  E.  Fisher. 
Benjamin  F.  Fisher. 
Ebenezer  Fiske. 
Peter  Flanagan. 
Lawrence  Flanagan. 
Thomas  Flanagan. 
George  H.  Follette. 
Franklin  Foster. 
Avery  Forbes. 
Michael  Foy. 
Daniel  K.  Franklin. 
Herbert  N.  French. 
George  W.  French. 
Henry  Frowley. 
Charles  L.  Fuller. 
Joseph  Fuller. 
William  F.  Gardner. 
James  Garen. 
Lemuel  Gay. 
Samuel  F.  Gay. 
Jabes  S.  Gay. 
Sperry  Gay. 
Isaac  W.  Giles. 
Joseph  F.  Gifford. 
George  W.  Giles. 
James  Giles. 
Gilbert  A.  Goff. 
Samuel  N.  Goff. 
William  H.  Goff. 
Jacob  Goetter. 
John  H.  Godfrey. 
Lewis  Gonyen. 
Peter  Gormley. 


Michael  Gorman. 
Frederic  Gottschalk. 
Charles  Gourdier. 
Henry  Graff. 
Henry  Grefine. 
Peter  P.  Grefine. ' 
Charles  C.  Greene. 
John  H.  Greene. 
Charles  Griffin. 
Henry  C.  Gross. 
John  W.  Gross. 
Henry  A.  Guild. 
Allen  W.  Guild. 
Edgar  Guild. 
Charles  E.  Guild. 
Mortimer  A.  Guild. 
Ciiarles  Hackett. 
Robert  Hall. 
John  N.  Hall. 
Arthur  C.  Hall. 
Willard  E.  Hall. 
Alcott  Hardon. 
George  Harris. 
Robert  E.  Harris. 
Orrin  W.  Harris. 
J' dm  Harris. 
William  H.  Harrison. 
George  Hartshorn. 
Albert  W.  Hatton. 
William  Hasslem. 
George  S.  Hatten. 
Henry  L.  Hayward. 
John  Healey. 
William  II.  Hill. 
William  Higgens. 
Henry  M.  Hodges. 
John  Holbrook. 
David  E.  Holmes. 
Lloyd  Hodges. 
Joseph  G.  HodgsoD. 
James  I.  Hood. 
Patrick  Holland. 
Charles  Hoyle. 
George  W.  Horton. 
Edwin  J.  Horton. 
George  S.  Horton. 
Everett  S.  Horton. 
James  Hughes. 
George  Hubbard. 
Joseph  S.  Hunt. 
George  H.  Ide. 
Welcome  A.  Irons. 
John  Jack. 
Charles  Jackson. 
George  B.  Jackson. 
Edward  Jencks. 
Edward  E.  Jennings. 
John  E.  Jewett. 
George  L.  Jillson. 
Charles  H.  Johnson. 
Daniel  L.  Johnson. 
Isaac  N.  Johnson. 
Charles  E.  Johnson. 
Robert  Jones. 
Dexter  S.  Jordon. 
Alvin  A.  Joslin. 
Leonard  Joslin. 
Walter  Katon. 
Alfred  Y.  Keats. 
James  Keenau. 
William  Keenan. 
Ensign  E.  Kelley. 
Patrick  Kelley. 
James  Kelley,  Jr. 
Martin  Kennedy. 
Roger  Kennedy. 
Terrence  Kennedy. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 


903 


William  H.  Kingsley. 
Edward  C.  Knapp. 
Ephraim  W.  Knapp. 
Otis  H.  Knapp. 
James  B   Knight. 
Herman  Krahe. 
Bernard  Louglilin. 
Robert  Longhlin. 
James  Lee. 

George  A.  Leddingham. 
Benjamin  Lewis. 
Benjamin  F.  Lincoln. 
Horace  E.  Lincoln. 
Frank  C.  Luther. 
Ezra  Lyon. 
Benjamin  \V.  Llufrio. 
Edward  Nelson. 
Nicholas  Nerney. 
Henry  Nickerson. 
Dean  Nickerson. 
Charles  Niles. 
George  H.  Norton. 
William  A.  Nye. 
William  A.  Macdouald. 
John  F.  Makinson. 
James  Mason. 
Henry  Martin. 
Homer  Metcalf. 
John  Mitchell. 
David  N.  Mills. 
Leonidas  Mock. 
Charles  M.  Morse. 
Frank.  B.  Mott. 
Edgar  A.  Morse. 
William  Morrison. 
Royal  W.  Moulton. 
Earnest  Myers. 
Barney  Mullen. 
Thomas  Murray. 
Matthew  Murphy. 
Michael  McGann. 
James  McDonald. 
Thomas  McKenna. 
Barney  McTague. 
Joseph  McNamee. 
William  McKinley. 
Daniel  O'Brien. 
William  O'Conner. 
Alexander  O'Donovan. 
Michael  O'Regan. 
Thomas  O'Neal. 
William  O'Neal. 
Luther  Olney. 
John  Quinley. 
Charles  Quinn. 
Michael  Quiuu. 
John  E.  Page. 
Edward  K.  Paine. 
Edward  D.  Parmenter. 
Augustus  Patt. 
Wisner  Park. 
Henry  W.  Park. 
John  D.  Peacock. 
George  0.  Peck. 
George  R.  Pearce. 
Horatio  N.  Perry. 
James  A.  Perry. 
Charles  H.  A.  Percy. 
Lorenzo  F.  Pidge. 
Ellis  Pierce. 
Joseph  W.  Pierce. 
Benjamin  Pierce. 
•Lester  A.  Perkins. 
Eugene  C.  Pike. 
John  H.  Place. 
Allen  L.  Potter. 
Rhodes  H.  Profet. 


Christian  Prozella. 
Frank  E.  Read. 
Elijah  R.  Read,  Jr. 
Nathan  H.  Read. 
S.  Tyler  Read. 
Edmund  Read. 
George  R.  Read. 
J.  B.  Reynolds. 
William  Renilinger. 
Baylies  B.  Richards. 
Frank.  A.  Richards. 
Andrew  J.  Richards. 
Eugene  H.  Richards. 
Edwin  C.  Richardson. 
Edgar  Richardson. 
William  0.  Richardson. 
Thomas  Rohn. 
James  H.  Roberts. 
George  H.  Robinson. 
William  II.  Rogers. 
Gershon  R.  Rounds. 
George  W.  Rollins. 
Charles  E.  Ryonson. 
Thomas  G.  Sandland. 
Job  B.  Savery. 
Abraham  B.  Savery. 
Charles  Scuse. 
Edward  Seavey. 
Charles  Seidler. 
Edwin  G.  Shepardson. 
George  W.  Simmons. 
Philip  Shields. 
James  B.  Sherman. 
Dennis  Shanuon. 
James  Short. 
John  Slater. 
Willard  E.  Slade. 
Gideon  C.  Slade. 
John  N.  Smith. 
Frank.  G.  Smith. 
Daniel  H.  Smith. 
Charles  Smith. 
William  H.  Smith. 
George- Smith. 
Eben  S.  Smith. 
William  N.  Smith. 
Granville  S.  Smith. 
William  0.  Smith. 
Lewis  Smidt. 
Charles  W.  Snell. 
Orinton  L.  Soles. 
John  J.  Solomon. 
James  H.  Springer. 
Albert  Standish. 
Frank  Stanley. 
Stephen  Stanley. 
Artemus  W.  Stanley. 
Timothy  A.  Stanley. 
Milton  Stanley,  Jr. 
Amos  C.  Stanton. 
Frank  W.  Stanton. 
Samuel  T.  Starkey 
William  Stone. 
John  F.  Streeter. 
Henry  A.  Streeter. 
William  Streeter. 
Michael  Sullivan. 
Thomas  C.  Sweet, 
William  Swift. 
Eeben  L.  Sylvester. 
Edward  E.  Starkey. 
Seth  Talbott. 
Ephraim  Tappan. 
William  S.  Tappan. 
Abraham  Tappan. 
William  B.Thayer. 
Abiathar  H.  Thayer. 


John  Thomas. 
Thomas  Thompson. 
Samuel  Thompson. 
James  W.  Thomas. 
Arthur  W.  Thornton. 
John  Toban. 
Frank  H.  Tisdale. 
Charles  F.  Tirrell. 
James  B.  Tisdale. 
John  Trainor. 
Almon  H.  Tucker. 
Roscoe  L.  Tucker. 
Chester  L.  Turner. 
William  H.  Wade. 
Martin  Walch. 
Abijah  T.  Wales. 
Lewis  Walker. 
Charles  0.  Wallace. 
George  F.  Wallace. 
Elliot  M.  Wallace. 
Henderson  Watson. 
Jacob  Weis. 
Patrick  Welch. 
Charles  H.  Weaver. 


Manfred  H.  Weaver. 
John  A.  Whaley. 
Robert  E.  Whipple. 
Prentiss  M.  Whiting. 
Henry  M.  White. 
Otis  H.  White. 
Silas  Whitney,  Jr. 
Horace  M.  Whitney. 
John  G.  White. 
Horatio  G.  Whittier. 
John  F.  Wilkinson. 
Edwin  S.  Williams. 
Erastus  F.  Williams. 
Charles  F.  Williams. 
Henry  Williams. 
Rounseville  Williams. 
George  H.  Willis. 
A.  G.  Wilson. 
Joseph  Wilson. 
John  0.  Wilmarth. 
George  H.  Wilmarth. 
John  0.  Wilmarth. 
William  Worger. 
James  Winsor. 


Berkley. — Barnabass  Crane  (erroneously  on  the 
tombstone  Bernice)  was  born  in  1744,  and  was  an 
only  child,  his  mother  a  widow.  He  came  to  Berkley 
from  Sandwich,  Mass.,  when  young.  "Was  married  to 
Joanna  Axtel,  of  New  Jersey.  He  was  a  soldier  in 
the  war  of  the  Revolution,  and  lived  to  the  age  of 
eighty-six  years.  Died  November,  1830.  Joanna,  his 
wife,  was  born  March  20,  1746,  and  died  May  5, 1846, 
aged  one  hundred  years,  one  month,  and  fifteen  days. 
They  had  six  children, — Abiathar,  Benjamin,  Lurana, 
Jemima,  Barnabass,  and  William. 

Benjamin  Crane,  the  second  son  of  Barnabass  and 
Joanna  Crane,  was  born  Sept.  11,  1768.  In  his  boy- 
hood he  worked  on  a  farm.  He  had  no  opportunity 
to  obtain  an  education,  excepting  a  few  weeks  in 
winter.  After  a  few  years  he  became  a  sailor-boy, 
and  feeling  the  need  of  education  to  advance  him  in 
his  calling  he  studied  mathematics  and  navigation. 
He  soon  after  became  a  sea-captain,  and  followed  the 
coasting-trade  until  two  or  three  years  after  his  mar- 
riage, when  he  abandoned  that  pursuit  and  purchased 
a  small  farm  three-quarters  of  a  mile  east  of  Berkley 
Common.  On  this  rocky  farm  of  about  seventy  acres 
he  and  his  wife  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives. 
Alinda  Crane  died  Sept.  3,  1854,  in  the  seventy-sixth 
year  of  her  age.  Benjamin  Crane  died  Oct.  10,  1855, 
in  the  eighty-eighth  year  of  his  age.  They  had  ten 
children  ;  nine  of  them  grew  up,— Silas  Axtel,  Benja- 
min, Daniel,  Abiel  Briggs,  Asahel  Hathaway,  Thomas 
Briggs,  Caroline,  Abiathar,  and-  Lucy.  Although 
without  the  advantages  of  an  education  themselves, 
yet  they  somehow  from  the  beginning  stimulated  all 
their  children  to  unusual  mental  effort.  The  little 
farm-house  was  a  house  of  books  and  study  for  their 
children.  Benjamin  Crane  was  an  honest  and  just 
man,  and  entered  heartily  into  all  the  plans  of  his 
children  for  their  advancement.  His  wife,  Alinda, 
during  many  years  of  her  married  life,  had  the  cares 
of  a  large  family  with  all  the  other  labors  of  a  New 
England  farmer's  wife,  yet  she  retained  through  her 


904 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


whole  life  a  cheerful  and  wonderful  elasticity  of 
spirits.  She  was  ever  alive  to  the  intellectual  growth 
of  her  children,  and  very  much  of  their  success  in 
life  was  due  "to  faithful  training  in  moral  and  religious 
instruction.  From  the  little  one-story  farm-house  they 
sent  forth  their  children. 

Silas  A.  Crane  was  born  Oct.  21,  1799.  In  1823  he 
graduated  from  Brown  University,  having  fitted  him- 
self for  college  and  paying  his  way  through  by  teach- 
ing. He  was  an  excellent  scholar,  taking  the  second 
honors  of  his  class,  and  for  a  time  was  tutor  in  the 
university.  He  became  an  Episcopal  clergyman,  re- 
ceived the  degree  of  doctor  of  divinity,  and  for  a  few 
years  was  president  of  Kemper  College,  in  St.  Louis. 
The  last  thirty  years  of  his  life  he  was  rector  of  St. 
Luke's  Church,  East  Greenwich,  R.  I.  He  was  a 
profound  scholar,  an  earnest  Christian,  respected  and 
venerated  by  his  people  and  all  who  knew  him. 
Among  the  bishops  and  clergy  of  the  Episcopal 
Church  there  was  no  abler  or  wiser  counselor.  He 
died  July  16,  1872.  He  married  Mary  Elizabeth 
Martin,  of  Providence,  R.  I. 

Benjamin  Crane  was  born  Sept.  13,  1804,  and  was 
educated  at  Brown  University.  He  had  an  acute 
logical  and  analytical  mind,  with  an  aptness  and 
clearness  of  explanation  and  demonstration  that 
made  him,  for  all  who  desired  instruction,  a  most  ad- 
mirable educator.  He  followed  the  profession  of  a 
teacher  for  many  years,  was  a  merchant  for  a  time, 
and  then  retired  to  his  farm.  He  was  a  devoted  dis- 
ciple of  his  Master,  and  in  active  life  and  usefulness 
he  passed  away,  Nov.  11,  1861.  He  married  Sephro- 
nia  Paull,  of  Berkley,  Mass. 

Daniel  Crane  was  born  Oct.  6,  1806.  He  was  edu- 
cated at  Brown  LTniversity  and  at  Union  College. 
Much  of  his  life  has  been  spent  away  from  the  ordi- 
nary intercourse  of  men  and  business.  He  has  ac- 
quired a  vast  amount  of  information  from  books,  has 
a  good  knowledge  of  Greek  classics,  is  an  excellent 
Latin  scholar,  and  has  read  in  the  original  many  of 
the  best  Italian,  Spanish,  and  French  authors.  In 
ancient  and  modern  history,  in  the  English  classics, 
poets,  and  in  Old  English  he  is  thoroughly  versed. 
He  has  stored  his  retentive  memory  from  childhood 
to  old  age  with  knowledge,  and  is  now  as  guileless  as 
a  child,  spending  the  remainder  of  his  days  with  a 
relative  in  Akron,  Ohio.  He  married  Margaret  Cam- 
eron, of  Taunton,  Mass. 

Asahel  H.  Crane  was  born  April  15, 1811.  He  was 
engaged  in  teaching  school  for  a  number  of  years, 
then  entered  into  mercantile  business,  and  was  in  the 
Union  army  until  its  close.  He  married  Jerusha  G. 
Nichols,  of  Taunton,  Mass.,  and  after  her  death  was 
married  to  Asenath  Mitchell,  of  Bridgewater,  Mass. 
He  died  June  10,  1880. 

Thomas  B.  Crane  was  born  June  16,  1814.  He 
began  life  as  a  clerk,  subsequently  going  into  busi- 
ness for  himself.  Several  years  he  was  in  Nantucket 
under  the  firm  of  Pratt  &  Crane.     He  was  associated 


with  his  brother  Abiathar  in  mercantile  business  in 
Greencastle  and  Bainbridge,  in  Indiana,  during  which 
time  he  was  in  California  for  a  year  or  two.  A  few 
years  after  he  purchased  a  farm  near  Terre  Haute, 
Ind.,  remaining  there  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred May  19,  1882.  He  married  Maria  D.  Andros, 
of  Berkley.  After  her  death  he  married  Emily 
Wood,  of  Middleborough,  Mass. 

Caroline  Crane  was  born  Dec.  1,  1816.  She  was 
educated  by  her  brother,  the  Rev.  Silas  A.  Crane, 
D.D.,  and  was  married  to  the  Hon.  George  P.  Marsh 
in  1839.  From  1842  to  1849  her  husband  was  in 
Congress;  from  1850  to  1854  United  States  minister 
at  Constantinople.  In  1861  he  was  appointed  min- 
ister plenipotentiary  to  Italy,  which  office  he  held 
until  his  death,  in  July,  1882.  Mrs.  Marsh  is  now 
residing  in  Florence,  Italy.  She  was  peculiarly 
fitted  to  be  the  companion  of  this  extraordinary 
man,  one  of  the  most  eminent  linguists  and  philolo- 
gists in  our  country.  This  intellectual  and  culti- 
vated woman,  speaking  several  languages  and  con- 
versant with  the  literature  of  several  others',  has  been 
much  admired  for  her  personal  attractions,  her  great 
conversational  powers,  and  accomplishments.  Her 
many  charities  and  efforts  for  the  education  and  im- 
provement of  the  poorer  classes  in  Italy  have  greatly 
endeared  her  to  the  people. 

Abiathar  Crane  was  born  April  24,  1819.  After 
teaching  school  for  a  number  of  years,  he,  with  his 
brother  Thomas,  went  to  Greencastle,  Ind.,  engaging 
largely  in  mercantile  business,  subsequently  entering 
into  the  lumber  trade  in  Bainbridge,  Ind.,  running 
two  steam  saw-mills.  He  also  built  a  large  flour-mill 
in  Bainbridge  at-  a  cost  of  about  forty  thousand  dol- 
lars ;  but  in  less  than  a  year  after  it  was  in  operation 
he  was  attacked  with  brain  fever  and  lived  but  a  few 
days,  dying  in  the  prime  of  life.  As  a  business  man 
he  was  widely  and  reputably  known  throughout  the 
State.  He  died  March  24,  1856.  He  married  Caro- 
line, daughter  of  Levi  L.  Crane,  of  New  Bedford, 
Mass. 

Lucy  Crane  was  born  April  3,  1822,  and  was  edu- 
cated under  the  guidance  of  her  sister,  Mrs.  George 
P.  Marsh.  She  was  married,  in  Constantinople,  to 
Dr.  Adolph  Wislizenus,  at  the  residence  of  the  Hon. 
George  P.  Marsh,  then  United  States  minister  to  Tur- 
key.    They  now  reside  in  St.  Louis. 

Dr.  Wislizenus  is  a  cultivated  gentleman,  is  well 
known  as  a  naturalist  and  scholar,  and  is  a  careful 
and  successful  physician.  Mrs.  Wislizenus  is  an  at- 
tractive and  educated  woman,  and  speaks  fluently 
French  and  German.  She  has  a  good  knowledge  of 
music,  and  is  an  accomplished  performer  on  the  piano 
forte. 

Abiel  B.  Crane  was  born  June  18,  1808.  At  the 
age  of  seventeen  he  was  employed  as  clerk  in  New- 
berne,  N.  C,  remaining  there  for  three  years  with  the 
exception  of  the  summer  months,  which  were  spent 
at  his  father's.    When  twenty  years  of  age  he  opened 


MISCELLANEOUS. 


905 


a  store  in  Berkley.  He  was  married  to  Emma  T. 
Porter  Sept.  21,  1829.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Tis- 
dale  and  Rebecca  Porter,  of  Berkley.  During  the 
next  few  years  he  was  in  business  in  Newberne,  N.  C, 
Valley  Falls,  R.  I.,  Assonet  village,  Mass.,  and  Talla- 
hassee, Fla.  In  the  fall  of  1839  he  entered  into  co- 
partnership with  Caleb  Bryant.  They  conducted  a 
wholesale  and  retail  store  in  Boston  until  a  building 
had  been  fitted  up  for  their  business  in  Taunton. 

Mr.  Crane  continued  doing  business  in  Taunton 
under  the  firm  of  Bryant  &  Crane,  or  A.  B.  Crane, 
until  the  year  1850,  when  he  was  chosen  to  repre- 
sent the  town  of  Berkley  in  the  General  Court  to 
meet  in  Boston  January,  1851.  A  part  of  the  fol- 
lowing three  or  four  years  were  spent  in  Indiana  with 
his  brother  Abiathar.  In  October,  1855,  he  and  his 
brother  Benjamin  opened  a  store  at  Weir  village, 
Taunton,  but  subsequently  he  bought  his  brothers 
interest,  and  for  a  time  his  son  Samuel  was  with  him. 
In  the  fall  of  1864  he  was  one  of  the  two  elected  to  rep- 
resent the  district  composed  of  Fairhaven,  Acushnet, 
Freetown,  and  Berkley  in  the  General  Court  of  1865. 
For  a  number  of  years  he  was  in  company  with  William 
Babbitt,  in  the  manufacturing  of  juniper  shingles  in 
North  Carolina.  In  1873  he  retired  from  business, 
having  at  that  time  a  cataract  on  both  eyes.  Three 
years  later  his  eyes  were  operated  upon  by  Dr.  Wil- 
liams, an  eminent  oculist  of  Boston,  the  operation 
being  so  far  successful  as  to  restore  the  sight  of  one 
eye.  From  his  early  life  he  had  a  taste  for  music, 
attending  the  singing-schools  of  those  days,  and  ac- 
quiring some  knowledge  of  vocal  music.  Since  then 
his  leisure  time  has  been  spent  in  the  study  of  the 
science  of  music.  He  is  well  known  as  a  composer 
of  sacred  psalmody. 

Mr.  Crane  is  one  of  those  rare  men  in  this  age 
whose  integrity,  honesty,  and  unselfishness  are  such 
that  he  decides  in  matters  involving  his  personal  in- 
terests with  the  same  impartiality  as  between  neigh- 
bors. Under  the  administration  of  President  Jack- 
son he  was  postmaster  of  Berkley  for  a  number  of 
years.  He  was  appointed  by  the  Governor  and  Coun- 
cil a  justice  of  the  peace  for  the  county  of  Bristol,  in 
which  capacity  he  served  many  years.  As  a  friend 
to  public  improvements  in  the  town  he  is  distin- 
guished. He  gave  largely  for  the  building  of  the 
Trinitarian  Chapel,  and  was  a'  large  contributor 
towards  the  building  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  so  much  needed  in  this  place.  He  has  been 
one  of  the  trustees  and  one  of  the  board  of  stewards 
since  the  organization  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  It  is  over  fifty  years  since  Mr.  Crane  and 
wife  were  first  united  to  the  church.  They  celebrated 
their  golden  wedding  September,  1879,  their  children, 
grandchildren,  and  many  other  connections  and 
friends  were  present  to  enjoy  that  festal  day. 

They  have  had  six  children, — Emma  Porter,  Alex- 
ander Baxter,  Samuel  Newhall,  Asahel  Porter,  Helen 
Harrison,  and  Rebecca  Porter. 


Emma  P.  Crane  was  born  July  20,  1830.  She  was 
educated  by  her  uncle,  the  Rev.  Silas  A.Crane,  D.D., 
of  East  Greenwich,  R.  I.  She  was  a  fine  student, 
possessed  of  a  thoughtful  mind,  and  her  perceptive 
and  reflective  faculties  are  of  a  high  order.  With  a 
natural  taste  for  music,  she  acquired  a  good  knowl- 
edge of  that  science,  and  for  twenty  years  or  more 
has  been  the  organist  at  the  Trinitarian,  now  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church,  in  Berkley,  where  she  is 
prominent  in  her  liberality  and  in  her  untiring  efforts 
to  sustain  the  church,  and  to  carry  forward  the  cause 
of  Christ.  She  was  married  to  Charles  Bissett,  July 
4,  1854,  a  skillful  mechanic  of  Taunton. 

Alexander  B.  Crane  was  born  April  23,  1833.  He 
graduated  at  Amherst  College  in  1854,  studied  and 
practiced  law  in  Terre  Haute,  Ind.,  and  was  prose- 
cuting attorney  of  the  county  one  term.  In  1862  he 
entered  the  army  as  captain  in  the  Eighty-fifth  Indi- 
ana Infantry,  became  lieutenant-colonel,  and  then 
colonel  of  the  regiment.  The  regiment  was  in  the 
Army  of  the  Cumberland  until  the  fall  of  Atlanta. 
Then  with  Gen.  Sherman  on  his  march  through 
Georgia  and  the  Carolinas.  He  was  captured  in 
1863,  and  was  in  Libby  Prison  several  weeks ;  partici- 
pated in  the  battles  of  the  campaign  in  Tennessee 
and  Georgia,  leading  to  the  capture  of  Atlanta  and 
Savannah,  then  through  South  and  North  Carolina. 
During  the  war  he  was  on  detached  service  as  pro- 
vost-marshal at  Nicholasville,  Ky.,  and  afterwards  at 
Nashville  as  a  member  of  the  board  for  the  examina- 
tion of  officers  for  the  colored  regiments.  At  the 
close  of  the  war  he  married  Miss  Cornelia  Mitchell, 
of  New  York  City,  July  12,  1865,  and  has  since  been 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  law  in  the  city  of  New 
York. 

Samuel  N.  Crane  was  born  Oct.  6,  1835.  He  went 
to  Indiana  at  fourteen  years  of  age  with  his  uncle, 
Abiathar  Crane,  and  there  pursued  his  studies,  also 
assisting  his  uncle  in  business  until  his  uncle's  death. 
He  then  returned  home  and  was  in  business  with  his 
father  a  few  years.  At  the  beginning  of  the  war  he 
was  in  Colorado,  and  there  enlisted  as  a  private  in ' 
the  First  Colorado  Regiment,  was  soon  promoted  to 
second  lieutenant,  and  then  to  first  lieutenant.  He 
accompanied  this  regiment  on  its  wonderful  march- 
ing and  fighting  campaign  through  New  Mexico. 
During  the  last  year  of  the  war  he  was  on  detached 
service,  acting  assistant  quartermaster  at  Fort  Zarah, 
Kan.,  and  acting  assistant  commissary  of  subsistence. 
After  the  war  closed  he  married  Miss  Clara  Rhodes, 
of  Mansfield,  Mass.,  Sept.  6, 1865,  and  is  now  residing 
in  the  city  of  New  York  engaged  in  the  management 
of  real  estate. 

Asahel  P.  Crane  was  born  Feb.  18,  1838.  He  at- 
tended school  at  an  academy,  and  prepared  himself 
to  fill  the  position  of  a  clerk  in  his  father's  store  at 
the  age  of  seventeen.  He  was  very  active,  industri- 
ous, and  faithful,  but  was  only  in  the  business  about 
one  year,  when  he  was  taken  sick,  and  lived  about 


906 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


four  weeks.  He  died  Oct.  29,  1856,  in  his  nineteenth 
year. 

Helen  H.  Crane  was  horn  Feb.  9, 1842.  She  has  had 
rare  opportunities  for  study  and  improvement  from 
having  been  much  of  her  life  in  the  family  of  her 
uncle,  the  late  Hon.  George  P.  Marsh.  For  several 
years  she  was  in  Rome  during  Mr.  Marsh's  long  resi- 
dence there  as  United  States  minister  to  Italy,  re- 
ceiving the  advantages  of  European  travel  and  sur- 
rounded by  all  that  Italy  holds  dear.  She  has  given 
special  attention  to  the  study  of  modern  languages, 
and  has  a  vivid  appreciation  of  music.  Since  1878 
she  has  spent  much  time  in  Providence,  R.  L,  giving 
private  instruction  in  the  French  language. 

Rebecca  Porter  Crane  was  born  March,  14,  1844. 
She  was  educated  at  the  female  college  then  in  Wor- 
cester, Mass.,  and  at  a  select  school  for  young  ladies 
in  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

She  is  possessed  of  a  bright  intellectual  mind,  and 
is  remarkable  for  her  social  qualities.  During  her 
studies  she  gave  some  attention  to  music,  and  having 
a  natural  musical  voice  she  became  a  fine  singer. 
She  was  married,  Nov.  15,  1870,  to  the  Rev.  Lucius 
R.  Eastman,  Jr.,  a  Trinitarian  Congregational  clergy- 
man settled  in  Framingham,  Mass. 

Fall  River. — Post-Office. — A  post-office  was  first 
established  in  this  town  Jan.  31,  1811,  with  Charles 
Pitman  as  postmaster.  March  26,  1813,  the  office 
was  removed  to  Steep  Brook,  and  there  was  no  office 
in  what  was  then  the  village  of  Fall  River  until 
March  18,  1816,  when  the  present  office  was  estab- 
lished, and  Abraham  Bowen  was  appointed  post- 
master, who  held  the  office  until  his  death,  in  April, 
1824.  He  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  James  G. 
Bowen,  who  continued  until  July,  1831,  when  he  was 
succeeded  by  Benjamin  Anthony.  Mr.  Anthony  held 
the  office  until  within  a  few  days  of  his  decease,  June, 
1836.  Caleb  B.  Vickery  was  soon  after  appointed, 
and  continued  until  Dec.  31,  1849,  when  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  James  Forde,  who  held  the  office  until  July 
1,  1853.  He  was  succeeded  by  James  M.  Morton, 
who  held  the  office  until  Oct.  1,  1857.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Ebenezer  Slocum,  who  held  the  office  until 
Dec.  18,  1861.  He  was  succeeded  by  Edwin  Shaw, 
who  served  until  March  1,  1875.  He  was  succeeded 
by  Chester  W.  Greene,  who  served  until  April  15, 
1881.     William  S.  Greene  is  the  present  incumbent. 

Unitarian  Church.1 — Early  in  1832  it  was  ascer- 
tained that  a  considerable  number,  and  among  them 
some  of  the  most  enterprising  and  wealthy  men  of 
the  place,  had  become  disaffected  with  the  measures 
and  services  of  the  orthodox  denominations,  and 
would  unite  in  forming  a  society  for  a  more  rational 
worship.  Immediate  measures  were  adopted  for  the 
incorporation  and  organization  of  such  a  society. 
Seventy-four  persons  signed  an  agreement,  of  which 
the  following  is  an  extract: 

i  By  J.  M.  Aldrich,  M.  D. 


"The  undersigned,  being  desirous  of  securing  to  themselves  the  ines- 
timable privileges  of  religious  fellowship,  unfettered  by  arbitrary  creeds 
and  confessions  of  faith  of  human  imposition,  and  to  obtain  for  this 
community  the  high  advantages  and  purifying  influences  of  enlight- 
ened instruction  in  morals  and  religion,  and  of  the  intelligent  and  ra- 
tional worship  of  Almighty  God,  do  associate  ourselves  for  the  purpose 
of  forming  a  religious  society,  to  be  called  the  Unitarian  Society  of  Fall 
River." 

The  above  extract  is  copied  from  a  circular  subse- 
quently issued,  but  our  historian  has  been  unable  to 
find  the  official  records  of  the  society  for  the  first  few 
years  of  its  existence.  Of  the  seventy-four  subscribers 
referred  to  it  has  been  ascertained  that  the  following 
names  were  among  the  number,  although  possibly 
some  of  them  may  not  have  united  with  the  society 
until  the  following  year:  Nathaniel  B.  Borden,  Pat- 
rick Wright,  Peleg  H.  Earl,  Joseph  Rice,  Horatio 
N.  Gunn,  Caleb  B.  Vickery,  A.  G.  Shearman,  Joseph 
S.  Cook,  Samuel  S.  Allen,  Otis  Lincoln,  Ebenezer 
Luther,  Lewis  L.  Arnold,  James  C.  Anthony,  Alvin 
Clark,  Samuel  S.  Thaxter,  Foster  Hooper,  Hezekiah 
Battelle,  Joseph  Gooding,  Daniel  Paine,  Thomas  J. 
Pickering,  Thomas  Tasker,  Samuel  Hathaway,  Ezra 
Marvell,  William  Read,  David  A.  Valentine,  William 
H.  Hawkins,  Benjamin  B.  Sisson,  W.  W.  Nye,  Charles 
Pease,  James  Ford,  Bradford  Durfee,  John  Mason, 
John  Lindsey,  Daniel  Goss,  John  Bowcock,  I.  S. 
Bliven,  S.  D.  Cragin,  Israel  Brayton,  Oliver  S.  Hawes, 
Joseph  Nye,  William  T.  Wood,  Nathan  Pratt,  Thomas 
D.  Chaloner,  Phineas  W.  Leland,  John  Chatburn, 
James  S.  Warner,  Moses  Lawton,  Willard  Winter, 
Leander  Borden,  Holder  Borden,  Abel  Borden,  Jr., 
Richard  H.  Smith,  John  B.  Winchester,  Jesse  Eddy, 
Edmund  Davis,  Walter  C.  Durfee,  Davis  A.  Blake, 
Samuel  West,  Warren  Carpenter,  Hugh  Gaul,  Ben- 
jamin B.  Sisson,  William  Munday,  Israel  Borden, 
Robert  C.  Brown,  Abraham  S.  Newell,  Gideon  Hatch, 
Henry  Lyon,  Stephen  Davol,  Benjamin  Sweet. 

These  seventy-four  subscribers  were  owners  of 
property  to  more  than  double  the  amount  of  that 
which  was  possessed  by  members  of  either  of  the 
six  other  religious  societies  then  in  the  village. 
Measures  were  soon  taken  to  build  a  more  elegant 
and  commodious  house  for  worship  than  was  at  that 
time  in  the  town,  which,  after  many  delays,  was  ac- 
complished in  the  spring  of  1835.  During  the  three 
years  intervening  the  society  hired  for  a  time  the  old 
Baptist  meeting-house,  which  stood  on  the  then  di- 
viding line  between  Massachusetts  and  Rhode  Island, 
just  north  of  the  head  of  Columbia  Street,  and  sub- 
sequently the  Presbyterian  Church  on  Anawan  Street, 
recently  vacated,  which  occupied  the  site  of  the 
present  school-house. 

No  regular  pastor  was  secured  until  1834,  when 
Rev.  George  W.  Briggs,  a  recent  Harvard  graduate, 
was  ordained,  and  began  his  labors  on  Anawan 
Street.  The  following  year  the  new  building  was 
completed  and  formally  dedicated.  This  handsome 
edifice  was  located  on  the  southeast  corner  of  Second 
and  Borden  Streets,  and  cost,  with  the  organ,  nearly 


MISCELLANEOUS. 


907 


twenty  thousand  dollars.  Unfortunately  for  the  wel- 
fare of  the  society,  before  the  completion  of  the  house 
two  of  the  most  interested  and  wealthy  members  died, 
and  their  property,  amounting  to  several  hundred 
thousand  dollars,  passed  to  those  belonging  to  other 
denominations,  several  more  had  removed  from  the 
town,  and  quite  a  number,  during  a  period  of  religious 
excitement,  which  appeared  to  be  directed  against  the 
new  sect  particularly,  finally  returned  to  the  orthodox 
fold,  leaving  the  society  financially  in  a  crippled  con- 
dition. Assistance,  however,  was  obtained  from  other 
towns  and  cities,  and  money  enough  eventually  raised 
to  nearly  pay  off  the  debt.  Mr.  Briggs,  who  some 
years  since  received  the  honorable  title  of  D.D.,  re- 
mained with  the  society  until  1837.  He  was  an  able 
preacher  and  an  excellent  pastor,  and  his  resignation 
was  received  with  much  sorrow  and  regret.  Mr. 
Briggs  was  temporarily  succeeded  by  Rev.  Warren 
Burton,  and  in  1840,  A.  C.  L.  Arnold  was  installed. 
His  services,  however,  not  being  acceptable,  he  re- 
mained but  a  short  time,  and  was  followed,  in  1843, 
by  John  F.  W.  Ware.  The  other  pastors  were  as 
follows  :  Samuel  Longfellow,  ordained  Feb.  16,  1848  ; 
Josiah  K.  Waite,  installed  Sept.  15, 1852;  William  B. 
Smith,  ordained  in  I860;  Charles  W.  Buck,  in  1864; 
Joshua  Young,  in  1869;  Charles  H.  Tindell,  in  1875; 
and  Edward  F.  Hayward,  in  1877.  The  latter  sent  in 
his  resignation  in  December,  1882,  to  take  effect  the  1st 
of  the  following  month,  and  at  the  time  of  this  writing, 
May,  1883,  no  one  has  been  called  to  fill  the  vacancy. 

In  the  early  part  of  1859  a  proposition  was  made 
to  remove  the  church  edifice  to  some  place  north  of 
the  stream,  in  order  better  to  accommodate  a  majority 
of  the  members  who  resided  in  that  part  of  the  city. 
This  project  met  with  decided  opposition  from  mem- 
bers residing  in  the  vicinity  of  the  house,  some  of 
whom  were  the  most  liberal  supporters  of  the  so- 
ciety. After  holding  many  meetings  and  much  dis- 
cussion, it  was  voted,  at  a  special  meeting  held  for 
the  purpose,  Oct.  19, 1859,  that  the  building  be  taken 
down,  and  removed  to  its  present  fine  location  on 
North  Main  Street,  a  proceeding  which  caused  a  loss 
to  the  society  of  at  least  one  of  its  oldest  and  most 
2>rominent  members.  This  project  was  carried  into 
effect  the  following  year,  and  some  changes  made  in 
its  internal  arrangement,  making  it  a  pleasant  and 
commodious  house  of  worship. 

The  present  officers  of  the  society  are  :  Moderator, 
William  F.  Hooper;  Clerk,  Samuel  Hadfield  ;  Treas- 
urer, Edward  S.  Adams  ;  Standing  Committee,  Jo- 
seph Healey,  James  M.  Aldrich,  Nathaniel  B.  Bor- 
den. 

Fall  River. — A  free  public  library,  where  the 
people  of  both  sexes,  and  all  classes  may  have  easy 
and  constant  access  to  a  large  and  well-stored  treas- 
ury of  the  world's  lore  in  literature,  science,  and  art, 
is  the  crowning  glory  of  that  system  of  public  educa- 
tion which  has  been,  from  her  earliest  history,  the 
pride  of  Massachusetts.     The  system  of  public  in- 


struction in  the  common  schools,  excellent  as  it  is, 
closes  with  the  period  of  childhood.  The  great  and 
important  work  of  educating  the  people  demands  an 
agency  which  shall  continue  its  operation  after  the 
school-days  are  over,  and  when  the  active  duties  of 
mature  age  have  been  reached.  To  meet  this  demand 
the  system  of  public  libraries  was  inaugurated,  the 
first  institution  of  the  kind  known  to  the  world  being 
established  in  Massachusetts  in  1853. 

In  1860  an  ordinance  was  passed  by  the  city  gov- 
ernment of  Fall  River  for  the  establishment  of  a  free 
public  library,  and  an  appropriation  made  for  its 
maintenance.  A  library-room  was  provided  in  the 
City  Hall  building,  and  properly  fitted  for  the  pur- 
pose. The  Fall  River  Athenaeum,  established  in 
1835,  transferred  to  the  city  its  collection  of  some 
2400  volumes  ;  other  contributions  were  made  by  as- 
sociations and  individuals,  and  the  library  was  opened 
to  the  public  May  1,  1861.  During  the  first  year  the 
subscribers  numbered  1248,  to  whom  were  delivered 
30,252  volumes,  at  an  average  of  nearly  100  volumes 
per  day. 

The  successful  experience  of  each  year  since  its 
organization  has  afforded  conclusive  evidence  of  the 
usefulness  and  stability  of  the  institution.  The  num- 
ber of  volumes  rapidly  increased,  and  the  original 
space  assigned  to  the  library  soon  became  too  limited 
for  its  use,  and  various  expedients  were  resorted  to 
for  temporary  relief,  but  no  adequate  provision  was 
made  until  the  completion  of  the  alterations  of  the 
City  Hall  building  (1872-73),  when  the  lower  floor 
was  arranged  and  fitted  with  every  convenience  for 
the  purpose  of  a  library  and  reading-room.  The  latter 
is  one  of  the  finest  in  the  State,  being  light,  pleasant, 
cheerful,  and  spacious,  and  easy  of  access  to  the  public. 
The  government  of  the  library  is  vested  in  a  board  of 
trustees  consisting  of  the  mayor,  ex  officio,  and  six 
other  citizens.  The  present  librarian  is  Mr.  W.  R. 
Ballard. 

Raynham. — Clergymen    in    Raynham    since   Rev. 

Fisk :  Rev.  Asa  Mann,  from  1873  to  1875  ;  Rev. 

Francis  H.  Boynton,  from  1875  to  1879.  Only  sup- 
plies from  Sabbath  to  Sabbath  since. 

Representatives  to  General  Court. — 1868, 
Enoch  King;  1870,  Gineason  H.  Lincoln;  1873, 
Thomas  S.  Cushman  ;  1875,  Joseph  W.  White ;  1878, 
Elmer  Lincoln;  1880,  William  O.  Snow. 

In  1869,  1871,  1872,  1874,  1876,  1877,  1879,  1881, 
1882,  representatives  from  Easton. 

Selectmen. — 1868,  Enoch  Robinson,  Thomas  P. 
Johnson,  Thomas  S.  Cushman ;  1869-70,  same  board 
re-elected  ;  1871,  Thomas  S.  Cushman,  Enoch  Robin- 
son, Braddock  Field;  1872-73,  re-elected;  1874,  El- 
mer Lincoln,  Enoch  Robinson,  Samuel  W.  Robinson; 
1875,  1876,  1877,  1878,  and  1879,  re-elected;  1880, 
William  O.  Snow,  Enoch  Robinson,  Thomas  P.  John- 
son ;  1881,  1882,  and  1883,  re-elected. 

Town  Clerks  and  Treasurers. — 1868-72,  A.  A. 
Leach;  1873-83,  Joseph. W.  White. 


908 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Hon.  Marcus  Morton,  LL.D.,1  the  son  of  Na- 
thaniel and  Mary  (Carey)  Morton,  was  born  in  Free- 
town, in  the  county  of  Bristol,  Mass.,  the  19th  of 
February,  1784.  At  an  early  age  he  gave  marked  in- 
dications of  talent  and  love  of  learning,  determining 
his  father,  a  man  of  great  respectability  and  worth, 
to  give  his  son  a  liberal  education.  He  was  accord- 
ingly placed,  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years,  under  the 
instruction  of  Rev.  Calvin  Chad  wick,  of  Rochester, 
an  accomplished  teacher,  where  he  pursued  his  studies 
with  such  industry  and  success  as  to  enter  Brown 
University  in  the  autumn  of  1801,  a  year  in  advance. 
He  graduated  in  1804  with  the  second  appointment 
in  his  class,  having  the  reputation  of  a  talented,  bril- 
liant young  man.  He  at  once  commenced  the  study 
of  law  with  Judge  Padelford,  of  Taunton,  but  supple- 
mented his  studies  with  him  in  the  Law  School  at 
Litchfield,  Conn.,  then  in  charge  of  Judge  Reeves, 
one  of  the  most  learned  lawyers  of  his  time.  Here 
Mr.  Morton  was  associated  in  study  with  John  C. 
Calhoun  and  other  men  afterward  of  eminence,  with 
whom  he  formed  a  lasting  acquaintance.  They  ex- 
pressed an  admiration  for  the  abilities  of  the  student 
from  Taunton. 

On  completing  his  course  of  study  in  Litchfield,  Mr. 
Morton  re-entered  the  office  of  Judge  Padelford,  and 
on  being  admitted  to  the  bar  showed  such  remarkable 
ability  that  Governor  Sullivan  offered  him  the  ap- 
pointment of  county  attorney,  which  he  honorably 
declined  through  his  high  respect  and  friendship  for 
Judge  Padelford,  who  then  held  the  office. 

In  1811,  however,  he  was  appointed  by  Governor 
Gerry,  when  he  accepted  and  held  the  office  for  six 
years.  Some  one  who  was  familiar  with  his  profes- 
sional career  at  that  period  has  said  of  him  :  "  With 
the  skill  and  vigilance  of  the  faithful  prosecutor  were 
always  blended  the  kinder  feelings  and  sympathies  of 
the  man.  A  love  of  conviction,  irrespective  of  the 
guilt  of  the  accused,  never  was  his  governing  motive. 
He  had  no  less  pleasure  in  the  acquittal  of  the  inno- 
cent than  in  the  conviction  of  the  guilty."  Mr.  Mor- 
ton was  offered  the  clerkship  of  the  courts,  which  he 
declined  on  account  of  his  large  and  lucrative  prac- 
tice. In  1816  he  was  elected  a  member  of  Congress, 
which  was  considered  complimentary  to  a  Democrat, 
as  the  district  gave  large  federal  majorities  to  candi- 
dates for  other  offices.  He  was  re-elected  in  1818. 
On  the  question  of  the  admission  of  Missouri  as  a 
slaveholding  State,  Mr.  Morton  took  ground  against 
slavery.  In  1823  he  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  Ex- 
ecutive Council,  and  in  1824  was  elected  Lieutenant- 
Governor  on  the  same  ticket  with  Governor  Eastis, 
by  whose  death  while  in  office  Mr.  Morton  became 
chief-magistrate.  In  1825  he  was  re-elected  Lieu- 
tenant-Governor on  the  ticket  with  Governor  Lin- 
coln, and  in  July,  1825,  was  appointed  by  Governor 
Lincoln  a  judge  of  the  Supreme  Court,  and  entered 

1  By  S.  Hopkins  Emery. 


on  the  duties  of  the  office  the  5th  of  that  month. 
The  distinguished  ability  with  which  he  discharged 
his  judicial  duties  for  fifteen  years  gave  him  rank 
among  the  ablest  judges  our  State  has  ever  produced, 
— the  associate  and  peer  of  Shaw,  Story,  and  Wilde. 
His  judgeship  expired  when  he  entered  on  his  office 
as  Governor  of  the  commonwealth,  in  1840.  He  was 
again  Governor  in  1843.  He  acted  also  as  collector 
of  Boston  four  years.  A  graduate  of  Brown  Univer- 
sity, his  Alma  Mater  honored  herself  and  him  by  the 
honorary  degree  of  LL.D.  in  1826,  which  Harvard 
University  repeated  in  1840. 

Three  sons  of  Governor  Morton  graduated  with  the 
highest  honors  at  Brown  University  in  1838,  1840, 
1843.  His  son,  Marcus,  is  present  chief  justice  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  Massachusetts.  Other  notices  of 
the  family  may  be  found  in  our  account  of  the  Bench 
and  Bar  of  Bristol  County  in  a  preceding  chapter. 

Charles  Henry  Warren  was  born  at  Plymouth, 
Mass.,  Sept.  29, 1798,  of  the  old  "  Mayflower"  stock,  his 
father's  ancestor  being  the  Pilgrim  Richard  Warren, 
while  his  mother  was  a  direct  descendant  of  Governor 
Edward  Winslow.  Born  before  the  close  of  the  eigh- 
teenth century,  as  a  youth  he  had  full  opportunity  of 
meeting  and  conversing  with  many  of  the  prominent 
men  of  the  Revolution  who  gathered  at  the  fireside  of 
his  grandparents,  Gen.  James  Warren,  of  Plymouth, 
and  his  distinguished  wife  Mercy  Otis  Warren,  whose 
lives  were  prolonged  nearly  to  the  time  of  his  enter- 
ing college.  On  his  mother's  side  the  Winslows  were 
of  strong  Tory  convictions,  and  this  blending  of  the 
Whig  and  Tory  curiously  reappeared  in  Charles' 
character,  which  developed  in  after-life  a  strong  ten- 
dency to  radicalism  on  many  points  tempered  by  a 
cautious  conservatism  on  others. 

Graduating  at  Harvard  College  in  1817,  he  began 
the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Judge  Thomas,  at 
Plymouth,  Mass.,  and  completed  his  studies  with 
Governor  Levi  Lincoln  at  Worcester.  After  leaving 
Governor  Lincoln's  office  he  entered  into  a  law  part- 
nership at  New  Bedford,  Mass.,  with  Lemuel  Wil- 
liams, then  and  for  many  years  afterwards  an  eminent 
member  of  the  Bristol  bar.  Mr.  Warren's  success  at 
the  bar  was  very  early  assured,  his  acknowledged 
ability  and  brilliant  forensic  talent  obtained  for  him 
a  large  practice  and  conspicuous  position.  In  1832 
he  was  appointed  district  attorney  for  the  counties 
of  Bristol,  Barnstable,  Plymouth,  Nantucket,  and 
Dukes,  and  held  that  position  until  1839,  widely 
known  for  his  skill  in  the  trial  of  causes.  He  was 
chosen  a  member  of  the  Massachusetts  Senate  for 
Bristol  County,  and  was  an  active  worker  in  political 
life  as  a  member  of  the  Whig  party.  His  quick  wit 
and  readiness  in  debate  gave  him  great  popularity,  and 
indicated  for  him  early  prominence  in  political  life, 
but  an  appointment  as  judge  of  the  Court  of  Com- 
mon Pleas,  in  1839,  led  him  to  withdraw  from  public 
matters.  This  latter  office  he  filled  with  distinction 
until  1844,  when  he  resigned,  and  after  resuming  the 


MISCELLANEOUS. 


909 


practice  of  law  for  a  short  time  in  Boston,  accepted, 
in  1846,  the  presidency  of  the  Boston  and  Providence 
Railroad  corporation,  which  he  held  until  just  before 
his  death.  In  1851  he  again  took  part  in  public  life  as 
a  member  of  the  Massachusetts  Senate,  and  in  1853 
was  president  of  that  body.  Quick-  witted,  thoroughly 
versed  in  Parliamentary  law,  and  courteous  in  man- 
ner, his  influence  was  most  extensive  in  public  life, 
but  it  was  not  to  his  taste,  and  he  again  withdrew, 
and  devoted  the  remainder  of  his  life,  until  1867,  to 
the  interests  of  the  railroad  corporation,  failing  health 
compelling  him  then  to  resign,  when  he  removed  to 
his  native  town  of  Plymouth,  and  died  there  June 

29,  1874. 

In  social  life  Mr.  Warren,  perhaps,  achieved  his 
greatest  success,  for  he  possessed  rare  conversational 
powers,  and  attracted  a  most  brilliant  circle.  At  his 
home  in  New  Bedford,  and  subsequently  at  Boston, 
were  gathered  all  the  great  wits  and  eminent  talkers  in 
social,  political,  and  literary  life,  and  his  numberless 
bon-mots  and  witty  stories  are  still  fondly  remembered 
and  quoted  by  surviving  friends.  His  marked  char- 
acteristics were  a  retentive  memory,  great  logical  skill, 
keen  wit,  and  a  quickness  which  enabled  him  to  apply 
legal  principles  to  cases  on  trial  with  overwhelming 
force,  to  which  were  added  at  the  bar  an  intense  de- 
votion to  the  interests  of  his  client,  and  an  upright 
and  fearless  administration  of  the  law  upon  the  bench. 

The  Perry  Family. — The  following  data  con- 
cerning the  ancestors  of  the  Perry  family  was  con- 
tributed by  Charles  Perry  : 

Children  of  Anthony  and  Elizabeth  Perry :  Samuel,  born  Sept.  10, 
1648;  Elizabeth,  born  Oct.  25, 1650;  Jasiel,  born  Oct.  18,  1652;  Mary, 
born  Dec.  9,  1654;  Mehittable,  born  Sept.  23,  1657;  Nathaniel,  born  Oct. 
8, 1660. 

Samuel  Perry  married  Mary  Miller,  Dec.  12,  1678.  Children  of  Sam- 
uel and  Mary  Perry;  Mehittable,  born  April  30,  1680;  Jasiel,  born  May 
6,1682;  Mary,  born  Aug.  17, 1684 ;  Elizabeth,  born  Jan.  7,  1686;  Sam- 
uel, born  Feb.  14,  1688;  Rebecca,  born  Jan.  24, 1691 ;  Sarah,  born  July 

30,  1693. 

Jasiel  Perry  married  Rebecca  Wilmarth,  Jan.  3,  1706.  Children  of 
Jasiel  and  Rebecca  Perry:  Mary,  born  April  19,1708;  Daniel,  born  May 
9,  1710  ;  Mehittable,  born  April  2,  1713  ;  Jasiel,  born  Aug.  15,  1715  ;  Re- 
becca, born  May  27,  1717;  David,  born  Aug.  16,  1719;  Ichabod,  born 
April  3,  1722;  Keziah,  born  Aug.  7, 17 — . 

Daniel  Perry  married  Mary  Walker  March  9,  1737.  Children  of  Dan- 
iel and  Mary  Perry:  Daniel,  born  Jan.  15, 1739  ;  Ezra,  born  May  22, 
1741;  Noah,  born  Oct.  3, 1743;  Mary,  born  Aug.  5,  1745;  Daniel,  born 
April  3,  1748  ;  Lydia,  born  April  30,  1750  ;  Elijah,  born  Nov.  19,  1752  ; 
Samuel,  born  Sept.  18,  1756. 

Ezra  Perry  married  Jemmima  Titus.  Children  of  Ezra  and  Jemmima 
Perry  :  Mary,  born  Aug.  22,  1763  ;  Jemmima,  born  Nov.  29,  1764  ;  Ezra, 
born  Jan.  15,  1767;  Abel,  born  May  20,  1770;  Molly,  born  April  11, 
1772;  Esther,  born  Feb.  21,  1774;  Lydia,  born  June  24,  1776;  Olive, 
born  Aug.  13,  1779 ;  Elias,  born  May  18,  1781 ;  Tirzah,  born  July  11, 
1783. 

Ezra  Perry,  Jr.,  married  Betsy  Bliss,  Dec.  10, 1786.  Children  of  Ezra, 
Jr.,  and  Betsy  Perry  :  Ezra  (3d),  born  April  3,  1788  ;  Betsy,  born  June 
26,  1790;  Hezekiah,  born  Jan.  29,  1793;  Sarah,  born  March  16,  1795  ; 
James,  born  June  15, 1798 ;  Otis  Thompson,  born  Oct.  22,  1800;  Daniel 
Bliss,  born  Dec.  17,  1802;  Mima,  born  Jan.  31,  1805  ;  Otis,  born  Feb.  17, 
1807  ;  Nancy.  Bliss,  born  Aug.  31, 1809  ;  William,  born  Dec.  22, 1811. 

The  Newspapers  of  Taunton. — The  first  news- 
paper that  we  have  note  of  published  in  Taunton  was 
a  small  weekly  called  the  Saturday  Miscellany,  twelve 


by  eighteen  inches,  edited  and  published  by  a  coterie 
of  ladies,  commenced  in  August,  1813.  The  first 
number  contained  an  "original  letter"  of  the  cele- 
brated Robert  Treat  Paine,  just  before  his  marriage, 
written  in  the  eloquent,  poetic,  florid  style,  of  which 
he  had  a  reputation.  The  editors,  in  their  solicitation 
to  the  public,  say,  "  When  we  acknowledge  ourselves 
a  band  of  females,  we  at  the  same  time  declare  that 
while  it  affords  us  innocent  gratification,  we  sacrifice 
no  domestic  duty  in  thus  opening  a  humble  spring 
whence  more  capacious  minds  may  at  some  future 
period  derive  a  more  noble  stream."  It  was  pub- 
lished at  fifty  cents  a  quarter.  How  long  it  was  con- 
tinued we  are  not  apprised.  The  next  was  a  regular 
weekly  paper  called  the  Old  Colony  Reporter,  pub- 
lished by  Jacob  Chapin,  a  young  man  of  thirty,  and 
member  of  the  bar,  and  printed  by  Allen  Danforth. 
Its  size  was  twenty  by  twenty-four,  and  its  second 
number  contained  the  notes  on  the  important  amend- 
ments to  the  constitution  of  that  year,  the  first  votes 
in  the  election  of  Governor  Brook,  the  re-election  of 
Samuel  Crocker  as  county  treasurer  almost  unani- 
mously, and  John  M.  Williams  to  the  State  Senate 
from  Taunton.  In  a  succeeding  paper  the  population 
of  Bristol  County  for  1820  is  given  as  forty  thousand 
nine  hundred  and  eight  inhabitants,  including  Taun- 
ton with  four  thousand  five  hundred  and  twenty,  being 
then  the  largest  town  in  the  county,  New  Bedford 
having  three  thousand  nine  hundred  and  forty-seven, 
and  Troy  (now  Fall  River)  with  only  one  thousand 
five  hundred  and  thirty-four,  now  nearly  fifty  thousand. 

In  1822,  the  second  year,  the  paper  was  enlarged 
and  the  name  changed  to  Columbian  Reporter  and  Old 
Colony  Journal.  The  third  year,  April,  1823,  Allen 
Danforth  retired  as  printer  to  commence  a  newspaper 
in  Plymouth,  called  the  Old  Colony  Memorial,  whence 
he  removed.  He  resided  there  fifty  years,  holding 
many  responsible  positions,  and  died  May  28,  1872, 
in  his  seventy-sixth  year.  He  was  son  of  Asa  and 
Deborah  Danforth,  a  lineal  descendant  of  Rev.  Sam- 
uel Danforth,  fourth  minister  of  Taunton,  in  1688. 

In  1823,  Charles  G.  Greene,  from  Boston,  started  a 
paper  called  the  Free  Press,  which  was  edited  by 
Theophilus  Parsons  and  Pliny  Merrick,  young  law- 
yers, who  had  made  Taunton  their  residence  for  a 
while,  advocating  the  election  of  William  H.  Craw- 
ford for  the  Presidency,  and  Dr.  William  Eustis  for 
Governor,  and  Marcus  Morton  for  Lieutenant-Gov- 
ernor, who  were  elected.  This  paper  continued  about 
a  year.  The  following  year  Governor  Eustis  died, 
and  Lieutenant-Governor  Morton  was  Governor,  and 
Levi  Lincoln  was  elected  Governor,  and  appointed 
Governor  Morton  to  the  Supreme  bench.  He  also 
appointed  Pliny  Merrick  district  attorney  of  Worces- 
ter County,  and  he  returned  to  Worcester.  Mr.  Par- 
sons returned  to  Boston,  and  became  a  very  eminent 
jurist. 

James  Thurber  and  George  Danforth  commenced 
a  weekly  paper  in  1827,  called  the  Commonwealth  Ad- 


910 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL  COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


vacate,  which  espoused  the  cause  of  Masonry ;  it  con- 
tinued about  three  years,  changing  its  name  to  the 
Advocate,  and  in  1834  was  disposed  of  to  Maj.  George 
Leonard,  who  made  it  a  Democratic  paper  called  the 
Sun.  Mr.  Thurber  retired  and  removed  to  Plymouth, 
succeeded  Mr.  Dan  forth  in  the  Memorial,  publishing 
it  some  twenty  years.  The  Sun  with  its  patronage  a 
few  years  later  was  turned  over  to  Mr.  Anthony,  and 
uniting  the  two  became  a  Democratic  paper. 

There  were  in  addition  to  the  regular  weekly  news- 
papers the  Star  of  Bethlehem,  a  religious  paper,  issued 
from  the  Reporter  office  in  1825,  edited  by  Lorenzo  T. 
Johnson  ;  a  small  paper  called  the  Aurora,  published 
in  1829  by  H.  A.  Lowell,  a  young  lawyer ;  the  Cabi- 
net, a  little  six  by  eight  paper,  by  W.  S.  Tisdale,  who 
worked  in  the  Reporter  office;  the  Village  Fire-Fly, 
by  Thomas  Prince,  a  little  paper  issued  from  the  Ad- 
vocate office  in  1832. 

We  return  to  the  Reporter.  George  Danforth, 
brother  of  Allen,  succeeded  him  as  printer  until 
April,  1825,  when  Samuel  W.  Mortimer,  from  Eng- 
land, became  printer  until  1827.  C.  A.  Hack  and 
Edward  Anthony,  who  had  been  apprentices  in  the 
office,  succeeded  as  printers  from  1828  to  1829,  when 
Mr.  Hack  retired,  and  Anthony  became  joint  pub- 
lisher with  Mr.  Chapin  until  January,  1832.  Mr. 
Anthony  then  retired  to  commence  the  publication 
of  the  Independent  Gazette,  with  Henry  Williams,  a 
young  lawyer  and  member  of  the  bar,  as  editor.  This 
was  in  the  height  of  the  anti-Masonic  excitement, 
and  the  Gazette  took  strong  ground  on  that  side  of  the 
controversy,  while  the  Reporter  was  a  passive  sup- 
porter of  the  Masonic  cause.  There  are  many  who 
revert  to  that  crusade  of  1832-34  as  a  disturbing 
dream.  There  are  now  hundreds  of  the  order  to  one 
at  that  time.  Mr.  Hack  again  became  printer  of  the 
Reporter  until  October  following,  when  Mr.  Chapin 
assumed  entire  charge,  with  sundry  assistants,  until 
December,  1832,  when,  owing  to  declining  health,  he 
disposed  of  the  Reporter  to  Franklin  Dunbar,  book- 
seller, uniting  its  subscription  and  interests  with  the 
Old  Colony  Whig,  which  he  had  commenced  on  the 
first  of  the  above  month,  1832. 

Mr.  Chapin  retired  after  his  editorial  career  of  nearly 
twelve  years,  which  he  had  pursued  with  discretion 
and  ability.  His  health  still  declining,  he  afterwards 
removed  South  to  Augusta,  Ga.,  to  engage  in  the  cot- 
ton business,  but  the  fatal  disease  prevented,  as  he 
died,  in  the  prime  of  life,  Jan.  25,  1835,  at  the  age  of 
forty.  The  press  spoke  in  high  terms  of  him  as  an 
honored  member  and  worthy  citizen. 

Mr.  Dunbar  continued  the  weekly  paper  under  the 
name  of  the  Old  Colony  Whig  and  Columbian  Re- 
porter until  his  death,  in  1834,  when  it  came  into  pos- 
session of  his  brother,  Samuel  O.  Dumbar,  and  was 
published  about  a  year  by  Hiram  Martin.  He  made 
the  first  experiment  of  a  daily  paper  in  1834,  called 
the  Daily  Whig,  which  was  continued  a  few  weeks 
only.     In  December,  1834,   the    Whig  and  Reporter 


was  disposed  of  to  Israel  Amsbury,  Jr.,  and  Seth 
Bradford,  who  were  publishers  until  December,  1837, 
when  Mr.  Bradford  retired,  and  Mr.  Amsbury  became 
publisher. 

During  the  great  fire  of  1838,  which  swept  away  sq 
many  buildings  on  Main  Street,  the  offices  of  the 
Gazette  and  Reporter  were  entirely  destroyed,  includ- 
ing the  town  records  of  nearly  two  hundred  years; 
but  the  publishers  soon  obtained  new  type  and 
presses  and  resumed  their  papers.  Mr.  Amsbury 
dropping  a  portion  of  the  name,  issued  the  Taunton 
Whig,  which  he  continued  until  September,  1841, 
when  J.  W.  D.  Hall,  who  had  aided  him  in  the  edi- 
torial department  a  few  years,  purchased  the  office, 
subsequently  changing  the  name  to  American  Whig, 
and  in  1857  to  American  Republican,  sustaining  the 
same  Republican  cause  for  twenty  years.  In  1861  he 
disposed  of  his  establishment  to  Messrs.  Wilbar  and 
Davol,  uniting  the  paper  with  the  Bristol  County 
Telegram,  which  they  had  published  a  few  years  from 
1858,  and  changed  the  name  to  Bristol  County  Re- 
publican, which  has  been  retained  over  twenty  years. 
Rev.  E.  Dawes  subsequently  became  an  owner  and 
co-editor  of  the  Republican,  and  continues  to  the  pres- 
ent time.  The  paper  is  now  in  its  sixty-second  year. 
Ezra  Davol  is  publisher  and  manager.  The  Republican 
is  one  of  the  leading  weekly  journals  in  the  State,  and 
justly  merits  its  present  prosperity. 

The  Bristol  County  Democrat,  the  name  assigned 
for  the  Weekly  Gazette  in  1837,  after  the  anti-Masonic 
and  Democratic  parties  had  coalesced,  was  continued 
by  Mr.  Anthony,  the  original  publisher,  seventeen 
years,  until  1849,  when  he  disposed  of  the  paper  and 
office  to  A.  M.  Ide,  Jr. 

Mr.  Ide  had  the  year  previously  (1848)  commenced 
a  new  Democratic  paper  called  the  True  Democrat,  in 
advocacy  of  the  election  of  Gen.  Lewis  Cass  for  the 
Presidency,  and  the  pro-slavery  cause  as  antagonistic 
to  the  free-soil  movement,  espoused  by  Governor 
Morton,  Mr.  Anthony,  and  a  large  portion  of  the 
Democrats  of  Massachusetts  ;  the  movement  divided 
the  Democratic  party,  and  defeated  the  election  of 
Gen.  Cass.  On  merging  the  two  papers  above  men- 
tioned, Mr.  Ide  adopted  the  name  of  the  Taunton 
Democrat  for  his  weekly,  continuing  it  until  1862. 
Mr.  Ide  received  the  appointment  of  postmaster  under 
President  Pierce  in  1853,  and  held  it  for  eight  years. 

After  disposing  of  his  papers  Mr.  Anthony  removed 
to  New  Bedford,  in  1849,  and  commenced  a  new  daily 
paper,  the  Standard,  which  proved  a  very  successful 
change  in  his  life,  and  a  lucrative  business.  He  con- 
tinued the  daily  and  weekly  Republican  Standard,  as- 
sociated with  his  sons,  until  his  death,  Jan.  23,  1877. 
He  was  also  postmaster  of  New  Bedford  four  years, 
member  of  the  City  Council  and  other  organizations, 

The  Taunton  Daily  Gazette  was  issued  from  the 
office  of  the  Bristol  County  Democrat  June  10,  1848, 
published  by  Mr.  Anthony  and  edited  by  Amos  Kil- 
tou,  who  had  served  his  time  in  the  above  office.     It 


MISCELLANEOUS. 


911 


was  neutral  in  politics,  and  continued  by  Mr.  An- 
thony until  its  disposal  with  the  office  to  Mr.  Ide, 
who  edited  and  published  it  from  the  office  of  the 
Taunton  Democrat,  becoming  a  little  biased  to  favor 
the  Democratic  cause  as  it  grew  in  years. 

In  1862,  J.  W.  D.  Hall  became  associated  with  Mr. 
Ide  in  the  publication  of  the  above-named  papers. 
The  name  of  the  weekly  was  changed  to  the  Union 
Gazette  and  Democrat,  both  papers  zealously  advo- 
cating the  Republican  cause,  State  and  national,  hence- 
forth. Mr.  Ide,  in  1866,  again  received  the  appoint- 
ment of  postmaster  from  President  Johnson.  In 
April,  1867,  he  disposed  of  the  Daily  and  Weekly 
Gazette  to  J.  W.  D.  Hall,  and  at  the  termination  of 
his  term  of  office  retired  to  his  paternal  farm  in 
Attleborough,  where  he  died.  He  was  a  man  of 
rare  poetic  gifts  and  ability,  reflecting,  conservative, 
courteous,  and  cautious  in  his  intercourse  with  men. 
Mr.  Hall  continued  the  publication  of  the  Daily  and 
Weekly  Gazette  until  1872,  when  Reed  Brothers  (Wil- 
liam and  Milton  Reed,  of  Fall  River)  became  editors 
and  publishers,  and  continued  until  1882,  meanwhile 
changing  the  name  of  the  weekly  to  Household  Ga- 
zette. 

In  1882  William  Reed,  Jr.,  assumed  control  of  the 
Gazette,  and  has  continued  as  its  editor  and  publisher 
to  the  present  time.  The  Gazette  is  ably  conducted, 
has  a  large  circulation,  and  is  one  of  the  leading 
dailies  in  the  commonwealth  outside  of  the  city  of 
Boston. 

Besides  the  earlier  mentioned  papers  there  was  pub- 
lished at  the  office  of  the  Independent  Gazette,  in  1834, 
a  semi-weekly  paper  called  the  Temperance  Sentinel, 
edited  by  Rev.  Samuel  Presbrey,  an  able  advocate 
of  the  cause,  which  was  closed  at  the  end  of  the  year, 
soon  after  his  death  in  1835.  The  Working  Men's 
Journal,  a  campaign  paper,  was  issued  at  the  same 
office  in  1837. 

In  1840  the  Harrison  Eagle  was  published  at  the 
office  of  the  Whig,  edited  by  C.  R.  Atwood  and  J.  W. 
D.  Hall,  which  closed  with  the  campaign  after  six 
months'  service  in  the  Republican  cause,  when  Gen. 
Harrison  carried  nearly  all  the  States.    Another  tem- 
perance paper,  the  Dew  Drop,  was  published  in  1843 
by  B.   W.   Williams,    edited   by   himself  and   lady  \ 
friends,  which  continued  four  or  five  years,  and  was  i 
then  merged  in  a  Worcester  paper.     In  1844  a  paper 
called  the  Beacon  of  Liberty,  in  advocacy  of  the  anti-  ; 
slavery  party,  was  published  by  Hack  &  Bradbury, 
edited  by  Hodges  Reed  and  other  friends  of  the  cause, 
continuing  about  two  years. 

The  Old  Colony  Republican,  a  weekly  Whig  paper, 
was  also  issued  in  1846  from  the  office  of  Hack,  King 
&  Howard,  edited  by  C.  I.  Reed,  B.  F.  Presbrey,  and 
others.  Mr.  Howard  retiring,  Hack  &  King  con- 
tinued the  paper  about  two  years,  closing  in  1848,  i 
after  the  election  of  Gen.  Taylor  to  the  Presidency. 
A  small  paper  called  the  Temperance  Advocate  was 
also  published  about  six  months,  edited  by  Rev.  S. 


A.  Collins,  Jr.,  closing  in  January,  1850.  We  may 
have  omitted  some  ephemeral  papers  in  the  above 
list,  but  unintentionally. 

Taunton.— A.  Field  &  Sons'  Nail-  and  Tack- 
Works  are  among  the  largest  establishments  of  the 
kind  in  the  United  States.  After  the  removal  of  the 
originators  of  the  Britannia  Works  from  Deacon  Bal- 
lard's fulling-mill,  which  stood  on  the  site  of  the  pres- 
ent capacious  tack  and  nail  manufactory  of  the  above 
company  off  Spring  Street,  Albert  Field  in  1827  hired  a 
small  room  of  his  friend  Ballard.  With  two  machines, 
prepared  by  Elijah  Caswell,  his  faithful  and  ingeni- 
ous mechanical  assistant  for  fifty  years,  commenced 
his  humble  trade.  He  had  previously,  while  at  work 
at  Hopewell  Mills  at  five  shillings  a  day,  gained  a 
little  insight  to  the  business  of  making  brads  and 
nails.  From  that  humble  beginning  Mr.  Field  went 
on  enlarging  from  year  to  year,  extending  his  busi- 
ness and  field  of  customers  until  the  buildings  are 
over  one  thousand  feet  in  length,  and  the  works  and 
appurtenances  cover  an  area  of  two  acres.  The  com- 
pany manufacture  two  thousand  five  hundred  kinds 
of  tacks,  nails,  etc.,  consume  about  three  thousand 
tons  of  nail-plates,  some  thirty  tons  of  copper  and 
steel  plates,  one  hundred  tons  of  zinc  and  yellow- 
metal  stock,  which  are  converted  into  thirty  thou- 
sand or  more  kinds,  or  thirty  millions  of  eyelets, 
tacks,  and  nails  daily. 

William  R.  Potter,  formerly  of  the  firm  of  Bart- 
lett  &  Potter,  which  was  dissolved  by  the  death  of 
Capt.  Bartlett  in  1864,  has  a  brick  mill  on  Porter 
Street  for  the  manufacture  of  cotton  yarn,  which  he 
has  followed  successfully  about  ten  years.  He  has 
also  a  machine-shop  and  foundry ;   capital,  $10,000. 

M.  M.  Rhodes  &  Sons,  manufacturers  of  shoe- 
buttons,  have  a  spacious  and  convenient  brick  manu- 
factory on  Porter  Street,  where  they  make  buttons  on 
an  extensive  scale.  They  commenced  business  in 
1871,  and  employ  a  capital  of  thirty-three  thousand 
five  hundred  dollars.    , 

Taunton  Fire  Department. — The  fire  depart- 
ment of  Taunton  compares  favorably  with  that  of  any 
other  city  in  the  State,  and  for  promptness  and  effi- 
ciency cannot  be  excelled.  The  fire  district  was  or- 
ganized before  the  city  government  existed.  The 
chief  engineers  since  its  organization  are  as  follows  : 

The  first  being  Samuel  O.  Dunbar,  now  an  octoge- 
narian, serving  three  years,  succeeded  by  Lovett 
Morse  in  1847,  one  year;  A.  E.  Swasey,  1848,  one 
year;  William  Mason,  from  1849  to  1855;  Francis 
Tisdale,  from  1855  to  1857 ;  Abram  Briggs,  from 
1857  to  1858 ;  William  Mason,  from  1858  to  1861  ; 
Edward  Mott,  from  1801  to  1881,  twenty  years  ;  Abner 
Coleman,  from  1881,  at  present  serving. 

The  department  has  four  steamers,  a  hook-and-lad- 
der  company,  six  hose-reels,  two  hand  engines,  and  a 
competent  force  of  men.  They  have  the  great  aid 
and  facility  for  extinguishing  fires  in  nearly  four  hun- 
dred hydrants  of  our  Taunton  Water- Works. 


912 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


The  fire  alarm  telegraph  has  twenty  signal  boxes  to 
give  the  alarm.     Abner  Coleman  is  superintendent. 

The  Southern  Massachusetts  Telephone 
Company  was  organized  in  1877.  There  are  two 
hundred  and  ten  subscribers,  besides  sixty  telephones 
on  private  lines ;  connections  with  Boston,  Providence, 
New  Bedford,  Fall  River,  Brockton,  and  several  other 
places.     Abner  Coleman  is  superintendent. 

The  Agassiz  Association  is  devoted  to  the  study 
of  the  natural  sciences,  and  made  up  largely  of  young 
persons  connected  with  the  academy  and  high  school, 
although  Rev.  Dr.  Blake  and  some  other  adults  belong. 
Mrs.  C.  F.  Hanscom  is  president.  Miss  Annie  Dean, 
Miss  Parthia  Crocker,  Frank  Lothrop,  Harrie  White, 
Frank  Dickerman,  Fred  Skinner,  and  Harry  South- 
worth  are  prominent  members. 

There  are  two  co-operative  saving  fund  and  loan 
associations,— one  is  called  the  Mechanics',  Elijah 
Tolman  president,  and  Charles  L.  Lovering  treas- 
urer ;  the  other,  called  the  Taunton,  Henry  M.  Lov- 
ering president,  and  Charles  Foster  treasurer, — in- 
stitutions which  have  encouraged  and  helped  many 
to  make  for  themselves  pleasant  homes. 

Among  the  industrial  enterprises  worthy  of  notice 
is  that  of  George  Williams  &  Sons,  in  the  lumber 
and  steam  planing-mill  line,  the  former  successor 
to  his  father,  Capt.  Abiather  Williams,  one  of  the 
pioneers  in  the  lumber  business  sixty  years  ago; 
they  not  only  provide  lumber  for  public  uses,  but 
build  a  number  of  buildings  annually,  for  tenantry, 
of  handsome  architectural  finish  ;  not  cheap  tenement 
houses ;  employing  a  capital  of  $100,000  or  more  ; 
they  have  already  over  twenty  dwellings. 

L.  B.  West  &  Co.,  also  an  enterprising  firm  in  the 
manufacture  of  stoves  and  tinware,  employ  a  capital 
of  $10,000  in  trade,  and  Mr.  West  is  president  of  one 
of  the  large  foundry  companies. 

Brownell  &  Burt,  a  young  enterprising  firm  in  the 
manufacture  of  carriages,  employ  a  capital  of  $10,000, 
and  have  a  spacious  manufactory  on  Washington 
Street. 

Peck  &  White  also  do  a  large  business  as  builders 
of  carriages,  employing  a  capital  of  $25,000,  and  have 
a  smithery  in  connection  on  Weir  Street. 

The  Bristol  County  Agricultural  Society  was 
organized  at  a  meeting  held  at  Atwood's  Hotel,  in 
Taunton,  June  21,  1820,  by  a  few  friends  gathered 
from  various  towns  in  the  county.  A  constitution 
was  adopted  providing  for  a  choice  of  officers,  life 
membership,  and  other  matters.  Samuel  Crocker,  of 
Taunton,  Otis  Thompson,  of  Rehoboth,  and  Thomas 
Kinnicut,  of  Seekonk,  were  chosen  a  committee  to 
transact  the  business  in  maturing  the  society,  and  an 
address  was  issued  setting  forth  its  objects. 

The  annual  meeting  was  held  in  October,  but  there 
not  being  a  sufficient  number  to  authorize  a  choice  of 
officers,  that  was  deferred  to  the  next  annual  meeting 
in  October,  1821.  Hon.  Samuel  Crocker  was  elected 
president;  Rev.  Otis  Thompson,  Rev.  Pitt  Clark,  of 


Norton,  Nathaniel  Morton,  of  Freetown,  and  Thomas 
Almy,  of  Dartmouth,  vice-presidents  ;  Horatio  Leon- 
ard, of  Raynham,  recording  secretary ;  James  L. 
Hodges,  of  Taunton,  corresponding  secretary  ;  Peter 
Thatcher,  treasurer.  Hon.  Francis  Baylies,  Samuel 
Crocker,  and  James  L.  Hodges  were  appointed  to 
select  agents  to  visit  the  several  towns  to  solicit  names 
and  aid  in  behalf  of  the  society.  The  term  of  life 
membership  was  established  at  five  dollars.  An 
urgent  appeal  was  made  to  the  farmers,  manufac- 
turers, and  artisans  of  Bristol  County  to  aid  in  build- 
ing up  the  society. 

At  a  meeting  in  April,  1822,  the  soliciting  commit- 
tee was  enlarged  to  one  in  each  town  ;  also  a  commit- 
tee to  apply  for  an  act  of  incorporation  and  make  ar- 
rangements for  an  exhibition  the  ensuing  fall.  The 
annual  meeting  was  held  in  October,  1822,  but  the 
requisite  sum — one  thousand  dollars — not  having 
been  raised,  the  exhibition  was  postponed  another 
year. 

An  address  was  delivered  by  Rev.  Otis  Thompson, 
and  the  members  partook  of  a  dinner  at  Sturtevant's 
Hotel.  The  officers  were  re-elected  with  one  excep- 
tion (Mr.  Morton),  and  the  soliciting  committee  re- 
ported that  eight  hundred  dollars  had  been  raised. 
In  April,  1823,  at  a  special  meeting,  it  was  an- 
nounced that  a  fund  of  one  thousand  dollars  had 
been  raised.  It  was  then  voted  to  hold  a  public  ex- 
hibition the  ensuing  October,  and  a  list  of  premiums 
was  prepared  for  the  coming  festival. 

An  act  of  incorporation  was  obtained  of  the  Legis- 
lature for  the  Bristol  County  Agricultural  Society  in 
1823,  as  follows : 

"Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Refiresentatives  in  General 
Court  assembled,  That  Samuel  Crocker,  Alban  Cobb,  David  G.  W.  Cobb, 
James  L.  Hodges,  Luther  Hamilton,  Jesse  Smith,  Jr.,  Dan.  Wilmarth 
(of  Taunton),  Pitt  Clark  (of  Norton),  Horatio  Leonard  (of  Raynham), 
Peter  Thacher  (of  Attleborough),  Roland  Howard  (of  Easton),  Asahel 
Bliss  (of  Rehoboth),  with  such  others  as  are  now  associated,  or  here- 
after may  associate  with  them,  and  their  successors,  be  and  they  are 
hereby  made  a  corporation  by  the  name  of  the  Bristol  County  Agricul- 
tural Society,  and  for  this  purpose  shall  have  the  same  powers  and 
privileges  and  be  subject  to  like  duties  and  restrictions  as  other  incorpo- 
rated agricultural  societies  in  this  commonwealth.  And  the  said  corpo- 
ration may  lawfully  hold  and  possess  real  estate  not  exceeding  twenty 
thousand  dollars,  and  personal  estate  the  annual  income  from  which 
shall  not  exceed  five  thousand  dollars.  Also  to  have  power  to  sell,  alien, 
and  dispose  of  the  same  estate,  real  or  personal,  not  using  the  same  for 
trade  or  commerce." 

The  act  was  amended  in  1875  to  hold  one  hundred 
thousand  dollars'  worth  of  property.  ' 

The  second  section  provided  that  Samuel  Crocker, 
of  Taunton,  be  authorized  to  notify  and  call  the  first 
meeting  of  said  society  for  the  purpose  of  organiza- 
tion, establishing  rules,  etc.,  which  was  done,  and  the 
first  annual  exhibition  was  held  Oct.  21,  1823,  with  a 
success  which  augured  well  for  its  permanence.  Thus, 
after  three  years'  delay,  perseverance,  and  energy  of 
the  fast  friends  of  agricultural  progress,  manufac- 
turing enterprise,  and  mechanical  arts,  the  Bristol 
County  Agricultural  Society  was  organized,  the  fifth 
in  the  State.     In  looking  over  the  long  list  of  names 


MISCELLANEOUS. 


913 


of  the  originators,  officers,  and  incorporators  of  the 
society  who  fostered  its  interests  in  its  infancy,  fifty 
years  ago,  not  one  is  now  living. 

The  society  in  its  early  years  bore  a  strange  con- 
trast with  its  present  magnitude  in  receipts,  expendi- 
tures, and  emoluments.  Its  meetings  were  frequently 
held  in  sitting-rooms  of  members  or  anterooms  of 
hotels. 

At  the  first  annual  exhibition,  in  1823,  the  amount 
of  premiums  was  $161,  and  total  expenses  $200.  Its 
capital  was  $1100.  Ten  years  afterwards,  in  1838, 
the  society  still  laboring  in  its  infancy,  the  amount 
of  premiums  awarded,  $260;  expenses,  including 
premiums,  $335  ;  its  capital,  $1600  ;  and  drawing  the 
State  bounty,  $340  (this  was  reduced  a  few  years  later 
to  $315)  ;  total  amount  of  premiums  awarded  the  first 
ten  years  was  only  $2600 ;  aggregate  received  from 
the  State,  $2950. 

A  decade  later,  in  1843  (with  twenty  years  of 
struggling  existence),  the  premiums  had  increased  to 
only  $283,  its  fund  not  largely  increased,  the  State 
bounty  being  only  $380.  The  expenses  had  increased 
in  the  same  ratio,  consequently  its  condition  had  not 
much  improved  by  age. 

At  this  time  there  were  no  receipts  from  exhibi- 
tions, no  trotting-course  belonging  to  the  society, 
although  there  might  have  been  some  swapping 
horses  at  its  gatherings.  The  old  town  hall,  or  per- 
chance a  school-house,  in  the  various  towns,  was 
opened  with  a  little  array  of  counterpanes,  bed-quilts, 
homespun  webs  of  woolen  and  flaxen  fabrics,  and 
some  choice  exhibitions  of  needlework,  presented  by 
the  industrious  wives  and  daughters,  to  show  what 
could  be  done  in  the  homes  of  old  Bristol.  There 
were  rivalries  in  those  days  in  the  manufacture  and 
style  of  bonnets,  as  there  ever  will  be.  It  was  in  the 
day  of  the  celebrated  Leghorn  hat.  Awards  were 
made  year  after  year  of  six  and  four  dollars  to  ladies 
who  were  so  expert  with  fingers  and  needle  as  to  make 
a  straw  bonnet  rival  an  imported  Leghorn,  and  those 
straw  hats  were  worn  with  more  conscious  pride  than 
the  ten-dollar  Leghorn,  then  at  such  an  enormous 
price  that  few  could  purchase.  A  few  agricultural 
products,  a  tub  or  two  of  butter,  a  few  cheeses,  and  a 
few  pounds  of  honey,  chiefly  made  up  what  was  then 
termed  an  agricultural  hall  exhibition.  No  fee  was 
asked  to  witness  these  contributions,  all  were  invited 
to  come  and  examine,  and  a  modest  award,  or  a  com- 
plimentary "remark  of  excellence,"  was  all  the  con- 
tributors anticipated.  There  were,  outside  of  the 
hall,  a  dozen  pens  of  cattle,  "  natives,"  horses,  swine, 
and  sheep,  but  nothing  towards  making  a  splendid 
poultry  show  like  that  of  modern  days.  The  ruling 
price  was  then  twenty-five  to  fifty  cents  for  the  best 
fowls,  now  twenty-five  to  fifty  dollars  for  a  "  choice 
pair  of  birds,"  and,  with  a  fancy  pedigree,  sometimes 
of  such  perfection  (Mr.  Williams'  birds,  for  instance) 
as  to  bring  one  hundred  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  dol- 
lars per  trio.  The  price  of  a  fine  colt  rarely  exceeded 
58 


one  hundred  dollars,  while  at  the  present  day  the  best 
bloods  range  from  five  hundred  to  five  thousand  dol- 
lars. The  price  of  a  good  cow  was  then  fifty  dollars ; 
now  the  choice  breeds  —  Durhams,  Ayrshires,  Dev- 
ons,  and  Jerseys — range  from  one  hundred  to  five 
thousand  dollars,  not  to  refer  to  the  fabulous  prices  of 
imported  breeds  with  pedigrees  traced  back  to  Noah's 
ark. 

During  the  first  ten  years,  with  a  single  exception, 
the  society  held  its  exhibitions  in  Taunton.  It  after- 
wards became  a  portable  institution.  In  1834  it  was 
held  in  Attleborough  ;  in  1835  in  Mansfield.  In  1837 
it  returned  to  Taunton  in  not  a  very  prosperous  con- 
dition. In  1838  it  was  again  held  in  Mansfield;  1839 
in  Taunton ;  1840  in  Attleborough.  The  State  bounty 
was  $314,  and  the  expenses  full  up  to  the  entire  in- 
come. Serious  considerations  were  entertained  of 
relinquishing  the  charter,  but  the  advice  of  firm 
friends  and  supporters  who  had  a  pride  in  sustaining 
the  society  prevailed,  and  for  several  years  exhi- 
bitions were  held  in  Taunton.  In  subsequent  years 
it  resumed  its  peregrinations, — to  New  Bedford  in 
1854-55,  to  Fall  River  in  1856-57,  and  each  year  re- 
turning with  an  increased  membership  but  an  ex- 
hausted treasury.  The  society,  with  no  local  habita- 
tion, had  no  special  interests  nor  property  to  hold  it 
together  and  make  it  thrive.  Its  fund  was  the  small 
gratuity  from  the  State  and  the  occasional  aid  of 
memberships,  having  no  convenient  arrangements 
for  exhibiting  articles  of  mechanical  ingenuity  and 
manufacturing  enterprise. 

The  treasurer  and  other  friends  of  the  institution 
believed  that  it  could  be  made  prosperous,  raised  its 
fund  by  increasing  its  membership  and  by  contribu- 
tions to  $2500,  producing  a  corresponding  increase 
of  State  bounty.  In  1853  the  fund  was  increased  to 
$3000,  and  State  bounty  at  $600,  where  it  has  since 
remained  as  a  permanent  resource. 

In  1858  a  vote  was  passed  to  locate  permanently 
and  take  a  position  like  kindred  societies.  In  1859-60 
the  present  location  was  purchased  for  $5000,  and 
spacious  buildings  erected,  since  which  time,  not- 
withstanding large  outlays  year  after  year  for  build- 
ings and  additional  purchases  of  territory  have  been 
demanded  by  its  increasing  exhibitors  and  patrons 
in  the  various  departments,  the  society  has  grown 
and  prospered,  and  now  stands  without  a  rival  in 
extent  of  receipts  and  number  of  visitors,  exceeding 
twelve  thousand  on  the  festival  days.  On  its  fiftieth 
anniversary  exhibition  its  receipts  exceeded  $11,600, 
in  1874  about  the  same,  and  its  net  profits  would 
have  paid  the  entire  expenses  of  the  first  ten  or 
twelve  years  of  its  existence  when  a  portable  insti- 
tution. 

•At  the  annual  exhibitions  for  twenty  years  past  the 
income  has  been  from  seven  to  ten  thousand  dollars, 
exceeding  the  expenses,  and  many  years  a  profit  of 
one  thousand  to  three  thousand  dollars.  In  1874,  Wil- 
liam Mason,  then  president,  presented  to  the  society  a 


914 


HISTORY  OF  BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


band  and  judge's  stand.  In  1882  a  grand  stand  was 
erected  to  hold  and  protect  three  thousand  visitors 
from  sun  or  rain.  Its  agricultural  hall  and  stables 
are  spacious  and  convenient.  Its  grounds  and  track 
are  kept  in  improving  order,  raising  annually  more 
hay  and  grain  than  is  consumed  here.  The  water  is 
of  the  best  quality.  Improvements  are  annually  made 
for  the  benefit  of  visitors,  and  good  order  prevails  on 
the  grounds. 

The  presidents  of  the  society  for  sixty-two  years 
have  been  Samuel* Crocker,  1821-28;  Roland  How- 
ard, 1828-33;  Marcus  Morton,  1833-38;  John  C. 
Dodge,  1838-39;  Peter  Thacher,  1839-42;  James 
Blanding,  1842-44;  Cromwell  Leonard,  1844-47; 
Johnson  Gardner,  1847-50;  J.  H.  W.  Page,  1850- 
55;  Nathan  Durfee,  1855-60;  John  Daggett,  1860- 
61;  Theodore  Dean,  1861-66;  Oliver  Ames,  1866- 
68;  William  Mason,  1868-75;  Theodore  Dean, 
1875-83. 

The  treasurers  have  been  as  follows  :  Peter  Thacher, 
1821-27  ;  James  Sproat,  1827-29  ;  Samuel  L.  Crocker, 
1829-33  ;  W.  A.  F.  Sproat,  1833-42  ;  Samuel  A.  Dean, 
1842-59;  Timothy  Gordon,  1859-63;  E.  B.  Towne, 
1863-68;  William  Reed,  1868-70;  William  C.  Lov- 
ering,  1870-72;  Philander  Williams,  1872-82;  Wil- 
liam White,  1882-83. 

The  secretaries  have  been  as  follows :  Horatio 
Leonard,  R.  S.,  1821-25;  James  L.  Hodges,  C.  S., 
1821-34;  W.  A.  F.  Sproat,  R.  S.,  1825-33;  Sidney 
Williams,  R.  S.,  1833-35 ;  George  B.  Atwood,  R.  S., 
1835-38;  S.  A.  Dean,  R.  S.,  1842-50;  George  A. 
Crocker,  C.  S.,  1834-38;  T.  Gorden,  R.  and  C.  S., 
1850-52 ;  Lemuel  T.  Talbot,  R.  and  C.  S.,  1852-65 ; 
Charles  Talbot,  R.  S.,  1865-69;  Ezra  Davol,  C.  and 
R.  S.,  1867-72;  James  M.  Cushman,  C.  and  R.  S.', 
1872-75  ;  Daniel  L.  Mitchell,  1875-83. 

Taunton  Men  in  the  Rebellion  in  Miscellaneous 
Companies. 

FIRST   MASSACHUSETTS  VOLUNTEERS. 
Compa»y  K. 
Patrick  McGuire,  must,  in  Aug.  12, 1862;  died  June  10, 1864,  at  Wash- 
ington, D.  C. 

SECOND  MASSACHUSETTS  VOLUNTEERS. 
Company  I. 

Creigliton   Hanscom,  must,  in   Aug.  26,  1862;  killed   May  3,  1863,  at 
Cliancellorsville,  Va. 

SEVENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  VOLUNTEERS. 
Company  A. 
James  Hannaford,  must,  in  Aug.  27,  1861 ;  discb.  April  1,  1862,  for  dis- 
ability. 

Company  B. 

Wm.  H.  Jackson,  musician ;  must,  in  June  15, 1861  ;  discb.  Aug.  11, 1862, 

by  order  of  War  Department. 
George  C.  Smith,  musician ;  must,  in  June  15, 1861 ;  disch.  Aug.  11, 1862  ; 

died  at  home  Nov.  10,  1864. 
George  Soule,  musician  ;  must,  in  June  15, 1861  ;  disch.  June  18, 1862, 

for  disability  ;  died. 
Horatio  N.  Wood,  musician ;  must,  in  June  15,  1861 ;  died  Aug.  7,  1862, 

at  Fortress  Monroe. 
John  Lannagan,  must,  in  June  15, 1861 ;  disch.  June  27, 1864,  at  exp.  of 


Andrew  York,  must,  in  June  15,  1861 ;  trans.  Jan.  15,  1864,  to  Vet.  lies. 

Corps. 
Abram  Brakan,  must,  in  Jan.  20,  1862  ;  disch.  Dec.  26, 1863,  to  re-enlist ; 

trans.  June  14,  1864,  to  37th  Inf. 
John  Cunningham,  must,  in  Feb.  19,  1862;  disch.  Feb.  27,  1864,  to  re- 
enlist;  trans.  June  14,  1864,  to  37th  Inf. 
Phiueas  D.  Fletcher,  must,  in  June  15,1862;  disch.  June  27,  1864,  at 

exp.  of  service. 
Hartley  Galligan,   must,  in  June  15,  1862 ;  died  Oct.  21, 1862,  at  Taun- 
ton, Mass. 
Edward  Mauley,  must,  in  June  15,  1862;  disch.  June  27,1864,  at  exp.  of 

service. 
Patrick  Meaney,  must,  in  June  15.  1862;  disch.  Dec.  26,  1863,  to  re-en- 
list ;  trans.  June  14,  1864,  to  37th  Inf. 
Joseph  Rullerri,  must,  in  June  15.  1862;  trans.  March  31, 1864,  to  Vet. 
Res.  Corps. 

Company  E. 
Daniel  H.  Cahoon,  must,  in  June  15,  1861 ;  disch.  June  27, 1864,  at  exp. 

of  service. 
Dennis  Carey,  must,  in  June  15,  1861 ;  disch.  by  President's  proclama- 
tion. 
Enos  L.  Williams,  must,  in  Aug.  28,  1861 ;  disch.  June  14,  1862,  for  dis- 
ability. 
William  E.  Tisdale,  must,  in  Aug.  27,  1861;  disch.  March  11,  1862,  for 

disability. 
George  Sager,  musician  ;  must,  in  Feb.  19,  1864  ;  trans.  June  14,  1864,  to 
37th  Mass.  Regt. 

Company  G. 
Michael  Birmingham,  must,  in  June  15, 1861 ;  disch.  June  27, 1864,  at 

exp.  of  service. 
John  B.  Dean,  must,  in  June  15, 1861 ;  disch.  June  27,  1864,  at  exp.  of 

service. 
Thomas  Heavers,  must,  in  June  15,  1861;  disch.  Aug.  6,  1S61,  for  dis- 
ability. 
Oliver  I.  Horton,  must,  in  Aug.  28,  1861 ;  disch.  by  President's  procla- 
mation. 
Otis  D.  Le  Barron,  must,  in  July  11,  1861 ;  died  Sept.  17,  1862,  at  Phila- 
delphia, Pa. 
Francis  McKenny,  must,  in  June  15,  1861  ;  disch.  June  27,  1864,  at  exp. 

of  service. 
Terrence  McMullin,  must,  in  June  15,  1861;  disch.  June  27,1864,  at 

exp.  of  service. 
Charles  Quiun,  must,  in  June  15,  1861 ;  disch.  by  President's  proclama- 
tion. 
Thomas  Quinn,  must  in  June  15,  1861  ;  disch.  Sept.  22,  1861,  for  dis- 
ability. 
Michael  Rooney,  must,  in  June  15,  1861;  disch.  by  President's  procla- 
mation. 
Daniel  Ruby,  must,  in  June  15,  1861;  disch.  by  President's  proclama- 
tion. 
Bryant  Ryan,  must,  in  June  15,  1861 ;  disch.  by  President's  proclama- 
tion. 
George  R.  Stanly,  must,  in  July  1,  1861 ;  disch.  Sept.  22,  1862,  for  dis- 
ability. 
Wm.  H.  Staples,  must,  in  July  11, 1861 ;  disch.  June  27,  1864,  at  exp.  of 

service. 
Henry  B.  Woodward,  must,  in  June  15,  1861 ;  died  June  14,  1862,  at 
Baltimore,  Md. 

Company  H. 

Simeon  S.  Wood,  must,  in  June  15,  1861 ;  disch.  June  27,  1864,  at  exp.  of 
service. 

Wm.  II.  Atwood,  must,  in  June  15,  1861 ;  disch.  Aug.  27,  1862,  for  dis- 
ability. 

John  Downing,  must,  in  June  15,  1861 ;  disch.  Sept.  24,  1862,  for  dis- 
ability. 

Michael  Eagan,  must,  in  June  15, 1861 ;  disch.  June  27,  1864,  at  exp.  of 
service. 

Wm.  Gray,  must,  in  June  15,  1861  ;  disch.  June  27,  1864,  at  exp.  of  ser- 
vice. 

Barney  McCourt,  must,  in  June  15,  1861 ;  disch.  June  27,  1864,  at  exp. 
of  service. 

Andrew  McGee,  must,  in  June  15,  1861  ;  died  Oct.  30,  1862,  at  Taunton, 
Mass. 

Patrick  McGinnis,  must  in  Aug.  26,  1862;  disch.  June  27,  1864,  at  exp. 
of  service. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 


915 


James  Palmer,  must,  in  June  15, 1864;  discli.  June  27,  1864,  at  exp.  of 
service. 

Charles  Seagraves,  must,  in  June  15, 1864;  disch.  June  27, 1864,  at  exp. 
of  service. 

Dennis  Slattery,  must,  in  June  15, 1864;  discli.  June  25, 1864,  for  disa- 
bility. 

Philip  Smith,  must,  in  June  15,1864;  disch.  by  President's  proclama- 
tion. 

NINTH   MASSACHUSETTS   VOLUNTEERS. 

Lewis  Zuller,  musician;  must,  in  June  17,  1861;  disch.  Aug.  10,  1862, 

by  order,  of  War  Department ;  absent,  sick. 
Lawrence  Archpool,  Co.  B  ;  must,  in  Aug.  20,  1863  ;  killed  May  8, 1864, 

at  Wilderness,  Va. 
Dennis  Callahan,  Co.  G ;  must,  in  Aug.  9, 1862;  disch.  Jan.  29,  1863,  for 

disability. 
George  Way,  Co.  I ;  must,  in  Aug.  21,  1863  ;  trans.  June  10, 1864,  to  32d 

Inf. 
Michael  Birmingham,  must,  in  Feb.  16,  1864  ;  trans,  to  32d  Inf.  ;  disch. 

by  President's  proclamation. 

ELEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS   VOLUNTEERS. 

Company  E. 

Michael  Carmody,  must,  in  July  19,  1803;  disch.  July  14, 1865,  at  exp. 

of  service. 
John  White,  must,  in  Aug.  19, 1863;  disch.  May  25, 1865,  for  disability. 
Jonah  Francis,  must,  in  Aug.  14,  1863;  disch.  by  President's  proclama- 
tion. 

TWELFTH    MASSACHUSETTS    VOLUNTEERS. 

Benjamin  L.  Howland,  Co.  C;  must,  in  Oct.  16,  1863;  trans.  June  25, 

1864,  to  39th  Inf. 
Patrick  Donovan,  Co.  E  ;  must,  in  July  28,  1863 ;  disch.  July  8, 1864,  at 

exp.  of  service. 
John  Daly,  Co.  F;  must,  in  Oct.  28,  1863;  trans.  April  20,  1864,  to  navy. 
John   Pierce,  Co.   G;   must,  in  Aug.  4,  1863;  trans.  April  13,  1864,  to 

navy. 
Peter  F.  Scott,  Co.  G;  must,  in  July  25,  1863;  trans.  June  25,  1864,  to 

39th  Inf. 
Warren  F.  Dean,  Co.  I;  must,  in  Sept.  23, 1863 ;  died  Dec.  27, 1863,  at 

Richmond,  Va. 
William  Jones,  Co.  I;  must,  in  Aug.  4,  1S63;  trans.  June  25,  1863,  to 

39th  Inf. 
Billings  T.  Leonard,  Co.  I ;  must,  in  Oct.  10, 1863;  trans.  March  1, 1864, 

to  Vet.  Res.  Corps. 
Thomas   Stuart,  Co.  I ;  must,  in  Aug.  4,  1863;  trans.  June  25,  1864,  to 

39th  Inf. 

THIRTEENTH    MASSACHUSETTS   VOLUNTEERS. 
George  King,  Co.  B;  must,  in  July  25,  1863;  disch.  by  President's  proc- 
lamation. 
Henry  Cbace,  Co.  C;  must,  in  July  25,1863;  disch.  Oct.  29,  1863,  for 

disability. 
William  Henderson,  Co.  C  ;  must,  in  July  25, 1863;  disch.  by  President's 

proclamation. 
Thomas  Sullivan  (1st),  Co.  D;  must,  in  July  24,  1863;  trans.  July  13, 

1864,  to  39th  Inf. 
Edward  Coleman,  Co.  E  ;  must,  in  July  25,  1863;  trans.  April  22, 1864, 

to  navy. 
Thomas  Cooper,  Co.  E ;  must,  in  Aug.  3,  1863;  trans.  July  13,  1864,  to 

39th  Inf. 
Charles  Hayes,  Co.  E;  must,  in  July  25,  1S63;  disch.  by  President's 

proclamation. 
James  King,  Co.  E;  must,  in  July  23,  1863;  trans.  April  22,  1864,  to 

navy.  , 

Charles  A.  Williams,  Co.  E;   must,  in  July  25,  1863;  killed  May  11, 

1864. 
John   Hanson,  Co.  F;  must,  in  July  27,  1863;  trans.  April  22,  1864,  to 

navy. 
James  Martiens,  Co.  F;  must,  in  July  2S,  1863;  trans.  April  22,  1864,  to 

navy. 
Michael  Murphy,  Co.  F;  must,  in  July  28, 1863;  trans.  April  22,  1864, 

to  navy. 
Henry  O'Neil,  Co.  F;   must,  in  July  23.  1863;    disch.  by   President's 

proclamation. 
Perry  Seymour,  Co.  F;   must,  in  July  28,  1863;  disch.  by  President's 

proclamation. 
George  Waterman,  Co.  F ;  must,  in  July  23,  1863 ;  disch.  by  President's 

proclamation. 


George  Forke,  Co.  G;  must,  in  July  28,  1863;  disch.  by  President's 
proclamation. 

Alfred  Lapurve,  Co.  G  ;  must,  in  July  27,  1863 ;  trans.  July  13, 1864,  to 
39th  Inf. 

Jake  Winter,  Co.  H;  must,  in  Aug.  5, 1863;  disch.  by  President's  proc- 
lamation. 

Augustus  Morrison,  Co.  I;  must,  in  July  28, 1863;  trans.  April  21, 1864, 
to  navy. 

Thomas  Murphy,  Co.  I;  must,  in  Aug.  5, 1863  ;  trans.  July  14,  1864,  to 
39th  Inf. 

Christian  Patterson,  must,  in  July  24,  1863;  rejected;  recruit  unas- 
signed. 

FIFTEENTH   MASSACHUSETTS  VOLUNTEERS. 

Jacob  Dockwiller,  Co.  C;  must,  in  July  24, 1863  ;  disch.  by  President's 
proclamation. 

John  Grey,  Co.  D;  must,  in  July  30, 1863;  disch.  April  IS,  1864,  for  dis- 
ability. 

Edmond  Krenn,  Co.  F;  must,  in  July  30,  1863;  disch.  by  President's 
proclamation. 

William  Streidell,  Co.  I;  must,  in  July  31, 1863;  died  Feb.  17, 1864,  at 
Richmond,  Va. 

SIXTEENTH   MASSACHUSETTS  VOLUNTEERS. 
Rufus  M.  Ashley,  Co.  A  ;  must,  in  July  24, 1863;  trans.  April  28, 1864, 

to  navy. 
John  White,  Co.  B  ;  must,  in  July  19, 1863  ;  trans.  July  11, 1864,  to  11th 

Inf. 
Michael  Carmody,  Co.  D ;  must,  in  July  17, 1863 ;  trans.  July  11, 1864,  to 

11th  Inf. 

SEVENTEENTH   MASSACHUSETTS  VOLUNTEERS. 
George   Austin,  Co.  B;  must,  in  Sept.  3,  1864;  disch.  June  30,  1865; 

drowned  Feb.  17, 1874. 
Thomas  Cain,  Co.  C ;  must,  in  Feb.  25, 1864 ;  discli.  July  11, 1865,  at  exp. 

of  service. 
James  Cummings,  Co.  C;  must,  in  Jan.  12, 1865;  disch.  July  11, 1865,  at 

exp.  of  service. 
George  Atwill,  Co.  D;  must,  in  Sept.  5, 1864;  disch.  June  30,  1865,  by 

order  of  War  Department. 
John  Kirby,  Co.  D  ;  must,  in  Sept.  3, 1864;  disch.  July  27, 1865,  in  Co.  C. 
Thomas  Morgan,  Co.  G;  must,  in  Sept.  21, 1864;  disch.  July  11, 1865,  at 

exp.  of  service. 
David  T.  Marston,  Co.  K;  must,  in  Aug.  29, 1862;  disch.  Aug.  3,  1864,  at 

exp.  of  service. 
John  S.  Smith,  Co.  K ;  must,  in  Oct.  26, 1862 ;  disch.  Feb.  11, 1861,  to  re- 
enlist. 

EIGHTEENTH   MASSACHUSETTS  VOLUNTEERS. 
John  Q.  Chace,  musician;  must,  in  Aug.  24,  1801 ;  disch.  Aug.  11, 1862, 

by  order  of  War  Department. 
William  T.  Fields,  musician;  must,  in  Aug.  24,  1861;  disch.  Sept.  16, 

1861,  by  order  of  War  Department. 
Henry  P.  Baker,  Co.  A;   must,  in  Aug.  26,  1S63 ;  traus.  May  1, 1864,  to 

navy. 

Company  B. 

James  Ruby,  1st  sergt.;  must,  in  Aug.  24, 1861;  disch.  March  27,  1863, 

for  disability. 
Thomas  Smith,  1st  sergt. ;  must,  in  Aug.  24, 1861 ;  disch.  Sept.  2,  1864,  at 

exp.  of  service. 
Theodore  Eayrs,  sergt.;  must,  in  Aug.  24, 1861;  disch.  Sept.  2,  1864,  at 

exp.  of  service. 
Stephen  Littleton,  sergt. ;  must,  in  Aug.  24, 1861 ;  disch.  Sept.  2, 1864,  at 

exp.  of  service. 
Patrick  Walsh,  sergt.;   must,  in  Aug.  24,  1861;   disch.  by  President's 

proclamation. 
Edward  Coyle,  Corp.;  must,  in  Aug.  24, 1861 ;  disch.  Sept.  2,  1864,  at  exp. 

of  service. 
William  Green,  corp. ;  must,  in  Aug.  24,1861 ;  disch.  Sept.  2, 1864,  at  exp. 

of  service. 
Patrick  Galligau,  must,  in  Aug.  24, 1861;  died  Sept.  18, 1864,  at  Ander- 

sonville,  Ga. 
George  D.  Dean,  musician  ;  must,  in  Aug.  24, 1861 ;  disch.  Sept.  2,  1864, 

at  exp.  of  service. 
William  Ball,  must,  in  Aug.  24,  1861 ;  disch.  by  President's  proclama- 
tion. 
Benjamin  F.  Boren,  must,  in  Aug.  24,  1S61 ;  killed  Aug.  30,  1S62,  at  Bul[ 

Run,  Va. 


916 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


Dennis  Brady,  must,  in  Aug.  24, 1S63 ;  killed  Sept.  20,  D363,  at  Shep- 
hardstown,  Va. 

Jolm  Brown,  must,  in  Aug.  24, 1863;  disch.  by  President's  proclamation. 

Matthew  Callahan,  must,  in  Aug.  24, 1863  ;  died  Aug.  12,  1864,  at  Hani- 
son's  Landing,  Va. 

John  Callery,  must,  in  Aug.  24, 1863;  disch.  by  President's  proclama- 
tion. 

James  Cannon,  must,  in  Aug.  24,  1863;  disch.  May  28,  1864,  for  dis- 
ability. 

William  Condon,  must,  in  Aug.  24,  1863  ;  trans.  Dec.  15,  1863,  to  Vet. 
Res.  Corps. 

Benjamin  J.  Coombs,  must,  in  Aug.  24, 1863 ;  returned  Sept.  2, 1863,  to 
2d  Maine  Vols. 

Edward  Corr,  must,  in  Aug.  24,  1863;  disch.  Dec.  16,  1863,  for  disability. 

Timothy  Daly,  must,  in  Aug.  24,  1863 ;  trans.  March  7,  1864,  to  Vet.  Res. 
Corps. 

John  Dolan,  must,  in  Aug.  24,  1863 ;  disch.  Dec.  26, 1865. 

Leonard  L.  Field,  must,  in  July  29, 1862;  disch.  April  14, 1864,  for  dis- 
ability. 

Thomas  Fitzpatrick,  must,  in  Aug.  24,  1S61 ;  disch.  Nov.  16, 1863,  by 
order  of  War  Department. 

James  Fitzpatrick,  must,  in  Aug.  24,  1861 ;  disch.  Nov.  16,  1863,  by  order 
of  War  Department. 

Martin  Flinn,  must,  in  Aug.  24,1861 ;  killed  June  3,  1864,  at  Bethesda 
Church,  Va. 

Henry  Galligan,  must,  in  Aug.  24, 1861;  disch.  Sept.  2, 1864,  at  exp.  of 
service ;  absent,  sick. 

Michael  Gill,  must,  in  Aug.  24, 1861 ;  killed  Aug.  30,  1862,  at  Bull  Run, 
Va. 

James  Gleason,  must,  in  Aug.  24,  1861 ;  trans.  Sept.  6, 1863,  to  Vet.  Res. 
Corps. 

Patrick  Goff,  must,  in  Aug.  24,  1861 ;  trans.  Nov.  13, 1863,  to  Vet.  Res. 
Corps. 

John  Griffin,  must,  in  Aug.  24, 1861 ;  disch.  Sept.  2, 1864,  at  exp.  of  ser- 
vice. 

James  Griffin,  must,  in  Aug.  24,  1861 ;  disch.  by  President's  proclama- 
tion. 

Thomas  H.  Griffin,  must,  in  Aug.  24,  1861 ;  disch.  Sept.  2,  1864,  at  exp. 
of  service. 

Michael  Greese,  must,  in  Aug.  24, 1861 ;  died  Sept.  7, 1862. 

Jonathan  J.  Geen,  must,  in  Aug.  24, 1861;  disch.  Nov.  26,  1862,  for  dis- 
ability. 

John  Harrington,  must,  in  Aug.  24, 1861 ;  disch.  Feb.  22,  1862,  for  dis- 
ability. 

Dudley  B.  Hathaway,  must,  in  Aug.  24,  1861 ;  disch.  Jan.  6,  1862,  for  dis- 
ability. 

John    Hughes,  must,  in  Aug.  24,  1861;  disch.  March  1,  1864,  for  dis- 
ability. 
Daniel  Love,  must,  in  Aug.  24, 1861 ;  disch.  Dec.  11, 1S62,  for  disability. 

dipt.  George  C.  Rubi/a  Company  (B). 

Dennis  Lynch,  must,  in  Aug.  24, 1861 ;  disch.  by  President's  proclama- 
tion. 

James  McGowan,  must,  in  Aug.  24, 1861;  disch.  by  President's  procla- 
mation. 

Peter  McGuire,  must,  in  Aug.  24, 1861 ;  disch.  Sept.  2,  1864,  at  exp.  of 
service. 

Patrick  McGuire,  must,  in  Aug.  24, 1861 ;  disch.  Jan.  18, 1862,  for  disa- 
bility; died  June  16,  1864. 

John  McKenny,  must,  in  Jan.  4,1864;  disch.  Oct.  21,  1864;  trans,  to 
32d  Inf. 

James  McKenny,  must,  in  Aug.  24,  1S61  ;  disch.  Jan.  19,  1864,  for  disa- 
bility. 

Patrick  McMullen,  must,  in  Aug.  24,  1861;  disch.  Sept.  2,  1864,  at  exp. 
of  service. 

Patrick  Meagher,  must,  in  Aug.  24,  1861 ;  disch.  Sept.  2,  1864,  at  exp.  of 
service. 

James  Murphy,  must  in  Aug.  24,  1861;  disch.  by  President's  proclama- 
tion. 

Arthur  O'Leary,  must,  in  Aug.  24, 1861  ;  disch.  Dec.  12,  1862,  for  disabil- 
ity. 

Francis  O'Rafferty,  must,  in  Aug.  24,  1861;  died  March  19,  1864,  at 
Washington,  D.  C. 

Michael  Otis,  must,  in  Aug.  24, 1861 ;  disch.  Sept.  2, 1864,  at  exp.  of  ser- 
vice. 

Alexander  Patterson,  must,  in  Aug.  24,  1861 ;  disch.  Nov.  16,  1863,  by 
order  of  War  Department. 


Abisha  S.  Perry,  must,  in  Aug.  24, 1861 ;  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps. 

William  H.  Potter,  must,  in  Aug.  24, 1861 ;  disch.  by  President's  procla- 
mation. 

Madison  L.  Priest,  must,  in  Aug.  24, 1861 ;  disch.  Jan.  20,  1863,  for  disa- 
bility. 

Francis  Reilly,  must,  in  Aug.  24,1861;  disch.  Jan.  30,  1864,  for  disabil- 
ity. 

Daniel  Sales,  must,  in  Aug.  24,  1861  ;  disch.  Sept.  2,  1864,  at  exp.  of  ser- 
vice. 

Philip  Smith,  must,  in  Aug.  24,  1861 ;  trans.  April  28,  1864,  to  Vet.  Res. 
Corps. 

John  A.  Smith,  must,  in  Aug.  24, 1861  ;  disch.  by  President's  proclama- 
tion. 

Andrew  Stevens,  must,  in  Aug.  24, 1861;  disch.  by  President's  proclama- 
tion. 

Joseph  Thacker,  must,  in  Aug.  24,  1861 ;  disch.  by  President's  proclama- 
tion. 

Patrick  Tierney,  must,  in  Aug.  24, 1861 ;  killed  Aug.  30, 1862,  at  Bull 
Run,  Va. 

Patrick  Walsh,  must,  in  Aug.  24,  1861 ;  trans.  April  6, 1864,  to  Vet.  Res. 
Corps. 

Edmond  Whalley,  must,  in  Aug.  24,  1861 ;  disch.  April  25, 1863,  for  dis- 
ability. 

John  White,  must,  in  Aug.  24, 1861 ;  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps. 

John  Wiggins,  must,  in  Aug.  24,  1861 ;  disch.  Feb.  28,  1863,  for  disabil- 
ity- 
William  H.  Miller,  must,  in  Aug.  24, 1861 ;  disch.  Feb.  28, 1863,  for  dis- 
ability. 

John  Wood,  must,  in  Aug.  24,  1861  ;  disch.  Nov.  30, 1862,  for  disability. 

George  Wrinn,  must,  in  Aug.  24, 1861;  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps. 

Company  F. 
Mortimer  Sherman,  must,  in  Jan.  2,  1864  ;  disch.  Sept.  20, 1864,  at  exp. 

of  service,  as  supposed. 
Charles  I.  Bryant,  must,  in  Aug.  24, 1861 ;  disch.  Sept.  2,  1864,  at  exp.  of 

service. 
Alexander  R.  Woodward,  must,  in  Aug.  24,  1861 ;  disch.  for  disability. 

Company  H. 

John  F.  Hogan,  must,  in  Feb.  16, 1864;  trans.  Oct.  21, 1864,  to  32d  Inf. 
James  S.  Finch,  must,  in  Aug.  24,  1861  ;  disch.  Sept.  2,  1864,  at  exp.  of 

service. 
Joseph  McMahan,  Co.  K  ;   must,  in  Aug.  24, 1861 ;  trans.  Sept.  15,  1863, 

to  Vet.  Res.  Corps. 

NINETEENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    VOLUNTEERS. 
Philip  Carey,  Co.  B  ;  must,  in  July  25, 1863  ;  trans.  Jan.  23, 1864,  to  20th 

Inf. 
Andrew  Cronan,  Co.  B;  must,  in  Aug.  3,  1863;  disch.  Dec.  8,  1863. 
Patrick  H.  Couch,  Co.  C  ;  must,  in  Nov.  12,  1864  ;  disch.  June  30,  1865, 

at  exp.  of  service. 
James  Dunn,  Co.  D  ;  must,  in  Aug.  3, 1863;  trans.  Jan.  14,  1864,  to  20th 

Inf.;  died  while  prisoner. 
John  Entrensbirger,  Co.  E ;  must,  in  Dec.  8, 1864  ;  disch.  June  23,  1865, 

at  exp.  of  service. 
Henry  K.  Martin,  Co.  E;  must,  in  July  26, 1861;  disch.  April  24,  1863, 

for  disability. 
Thomas  Caine,  must,  in  Feb.  25,1864;  disch.  March  1,1864;  recruit  un- 

assigned. 
John  Harwood,  must,  in  Jan.  11, 1864;  disch.  Jan.  19,  1864;  recruit  un- 

assigned. 
Patrick  O'Niell,  must,  in  July  31,  1863;  disch.  May  6,  1865;  recruit  un- 

assigned. 
George  H.  Smith,  must,  in  July  25,  1863  ;  trans,  to  20th  Inf. 

TWENTIETH   MASSACHUSETTS   VOLUNTEERS. 
Philip  Carey,  Co.  A  ;  must,  in  July  25,  1863  ;  disch.  July  16,  1865,  at  exp. 

of  service. 
Andrew  Cronin,  Co.  B;  must,  in  Aug.  1,1863;  disch.  Dec.  7,  1863,  for 

disability. 
William  C.  Gaboon,  Co.  C ;  must,  in  Jan.  21,  1864;  disch.  July  16,1865, 

at  exp.  of  service. 
John  Cunningham,  Co.  C;  must,  in  Feb.  28,  1864;  disch.  July  16,  1865, 

at  exp.  of  service. 
Jeremiah  C.  Eldridge,  Co.  C ;  must,  in  Jan.  21, 1864 ;  disch.  July  16, 1865, 

at  exp.  of  service. 
George  Sager,  Co.  C ;  must,  in  Feb.  19,  1864 ;  disch.  July  16, 1865,  at  exp. 

of  service. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 


917 


Robert  Sheehan,  Co.  C ;  must,  in  Feb.  28,  1864 ;  disch.  July  16,  1865,  at 

exp.  of  service. 
Joseph  C.  Dowel,  Co.  E;  must,  in  March  10,  1S64;  disch.  July  16, 1865, 

at  exp.  of  service. 
James  H.  Spencer,  sergt.,  Co.  F;  must,  in  Aug.  24, 1861 ;  pro.  to  1st  lieut. 

Sept.  9,  1863;  now  in  regular  army. 
Edward  W.  Jenkins,  Co.  F;  must,  in  Sept.  4,  1861;  disch.  Feb.  4, 1863, 

for  disability. 
John  Logue,  sergt.,  Co.  G ;  must,  in  March  23, 1864 ;  disch.  July  16, 1865, 

at  exp.  of  service. 
George  \V.  Pitts,  Co.  G;    must,  in  July  30,1863;  disch.  by  President's 

proclamation. 
John  McGuire,  Co.  H ;   must,   in   Aug.  7,  1863 ;   disch.  by   President's 

proclamation. 
Samuel  M.  Gushee,  Co.  K;  must,  in  Feb.  4,  1865;  disch.  July  16,  1865,at 

exp.  of  service. 
William  E.   Hathaway,  Co.  K;  must,  in  Dec.  26,  1863 ;  disch.  July  16, 

1865,  at  exp.  of  service. 

Charles  H.  Peck,  Co.  K ;  must,  in  Dec.  16, 1863;  disch.  July  16, 1865,  at 

exp.  of  service. 
Hiram  Rogers,  Co.  K;  must  in  Dec.  26, 1863;  disch.  July  27,1865,  at  exp. 

of  service. 
Joseph  E.  Sanford,  Co.  K ;  must,  in  Jan.  26, 1864  ;  died  June  16, 1864. 
Edward  E.  Staples,  Co.  K  ;  must,  in  Jan.  21,  1864;  disch.  July  16,  1864, 

at  exp.  of  service. 

TWENTY-SECOND   MASSACHUSETTS   VOLUNTEERS. 

John  A.Wright,  1st  sergt.,  Co.  A;   must,  in  Feb.  2,  1864;  trans.  Oct.  26, 

1864,  to  32d  Inf. 
George  B.  Martis,  sergt.,  Co.  A;  must,  in  Feb.  2,  1S64;  trans.  Oct.  26, 

1864,  to  32d  Inf. 
Edward  C.  Young,  Co.  A;  must,  in  Feb.  2, 1864;  trans.  Oct.  26, 1864,  to 

32d  Inf. 
William  D.  Hatch,  1st  sergt.,  Co.  C;  must,  in  Sept.  2, 1861 ;  pro.  to  2d 

lieut.  June  15,  1862. 
Charles  H.  Jones,  1st  sergt.,  Co.  C;  must,  in  Sept.  2,  1861 ;  disch.  Oct.  17, 

1864,  at  exp.  of  service. 
Joseph  Knott,  1st  sergt.,  Co.  C;  must,  iu  Sept.  2, 1861 ;  pro.  to  2d  lieut. 

56th  Inf. ;  disch.  Sept.  24,  1863. 
James  N.  Black,  sergt,,  Co.  C;  must,  in  April  1,1864;  trans.  Oct.  26,1864, 

to  32d  Inf. 
William  H.  Carpenter,  sergt.,  Co.  C ;  must,  in  Sept.  2, 1861 ;  disch.  Jan. 

5, 1863,  for  disability;  died  May  14, 1877. 
Levi  L.  Crane,  sergt.,  Co.  C;  must,  in  Sept.  2, 1861;  trans.  Dec.  12, 1863, 

to  Vet.  Res.  Corps. 
Thomas  Lynch,  sergt.,  Co.  C;  must,  in  Sept.  2,  1861;  disch.  Oct.  17,1864, 

at  exp.  of  service. 
Robert  I.  Plant,  must,  in  Sept.  2,  1861;  disch.  Dec.  1,  1862,  for  disa- 
bility. 
John  Rack,  Co.  0  ;  must,  in  Sept.  2,  1861 ;  pro.  to  1st  lieut.;  disch.  Jan.  6, 

1863. 

TWENTY-FOURTH   MASSACHUSETTS  VOLUNTEERS. 

James  Matherson,  sergt.,  Co.  D;  enl.  Sept.  17,1861 ;  re-eul.  Jan.  4,1864; 

disch.  Jan.  20, 1866,  at  exp.  of  service. 
Stephen  Weeks,  corp.,  Co.  G;  must,  iu  Jan.  3,  1865  ;  disch.  Jan.  3, 1866, 

at  exp.  of  service. 
Frederick  S.  Cunnings,  Co.  D;  must,  in  Jan.  4,  1S64;    disch.  Jan.  20, 

1866,  at  exp.  of  service. 

Abiathar  Dean,  Co.  G;  must,  in  Oct.  11,  1861;  disch.  Oct.  12,  1864,  at 

exp.  of  service. 
Charles  F.  Fales,  Co.  G;  must,  in  May  20,  1862;  disch.  Jan.  3,  1864,  to 

re-enlist. 
Henry  S.  Gilmore,  Co.  G ;  must,  in  Sept.  12, 1861 ;  disch.  April  7, 1863, 

for  disability. 
Jerry  A.  Beedle,  Co.  B;  must,  in  May  8,1862;  disch.  Dec.  18,  1863,  to 

re-enlist. 
William  H.  Lindsey,  Co.  B;  must,  in  May  13,1862;  disch.  Dec.  19,1863, 

to  re-enlist. 
George  Monserill,  Co.  C;   must,  in  Oct.  19,  1861 ;  disch.  Dec.  29, 1861,   j 

for  disability. 
Wilson  D.  Bowen,  Co.  D;  must,  in  Sept.  25,  1861;  disch.  Jan.  1,  1864,  to 

re-enlist;  re-enl.  Jan.  2, 1S64;  disch.  Jan.  20, 1866,  at  exp.  of  service. 
Thomas  Walton,  Co.  F;  must,  in  Oct.  30,  1861 ;  disch.  Oct.  30,  1864,  at 

exp.  of  service. 
Frederick  Heyward,  sergt.,  Co.  D  ;  enl.  Sept.  17, 1861 ;  re-enl.  Jan.  4, 

1864;  disch.  Jan.  20,  1866,  at  exp.  of  service. 


Charles  Riley,  Co.  G;  must,  in  Dec.  8, 1863  ;  disch.  Jan.  3, 1864,  to  re-en- 
list ;  re-enl.  Jan.  4,  1S64;  disch.  by  President's  proclamation. 

John  Riley,  Co.  G;  must,  in  Sept.  18,  1861;  disch.  Sept.  18,  1864,  at 
exp.  of  service. 

John  A.  Welb,  Co.  G;  must,  in  March  1,1864;  disch.  Jan.  20,  1S66,  at 
exp.  of  service. 

James  Williams,  Co.  0  ;  must,  in  Dec.  1,1861 ;  disch.  Dec. 4, 1864,  at  exp. 
of  service. 

Francis  Allen,  Co.  H;  must,  in  Jan.  4, 1864:  disch.  Jan.  20, 1866,  at  exp. 
of  service. 

George  Reed,  Co.  H  ;  must,  in  Nov.  1, 1864 ;  disch.  Jan.  20, 1866,  at  exp. 
of  service. 

Peter  Glancey,  Co.  K  ;  must,  in  Oct.  28, 1861 ;  disch.  Jan.  5, 1863,  for  dig- 
ability. 

TWENTY-SIXTH   MASSACHUSETTS   VOLUNTEERS. 

James  Clark,  Co.  G;  must,  in  Sept.  15,  1861;  disch.  Jan.  1,  1864,  to  re- 
enlist;  re-enl.  Jan.  2,  1864;  disch.  Aug.  26, 1865,  at  exp.  of  service. 

TWENTY-EIGHTH    MASSACHUSETTS  VOLUNTEERS. 

Jacob   Brown,  Co.  A;   must,  in  Aug.  10,  1863;   disch.  by  President's 

proclamation. 
Aretus  Hall,  Co.  A ;  must,  in  Aug.  10, 1863  ;  disch.  June  30, 1865,  at  exp. 

of  service. 
William  Kelly,  Co.  A  ;  must,  in  March  9, 1864  ;  killed  May  5, 1864,  at 

Wilderness,  Va. 
John  Smith,  Co.  B ;  must,  in  March  9, 1864  ;  missing  since  May  5, 1864. 
George  Morris,  Co.  D;  must,  in  March  10,1864;  absent  (wounded)  since 

May  28,1864. 
Thomas  Raney,  Co.  F;  must,  in   March  7,1864;  disch.  by  President's 

proclamation. 
James  Murphy,  corp.,  Co.  I;  must,  in  Dec.  13,  1861 ;  disch.  Dec.  19, 1S64, 

at  exp.  of  service. 
Philip  Rand,  Co.  I ;  must,  in  Dec.  13, 1861 ;  trans.  July  1,  1863,  to  Vet. 

Res.  Corps. 
James  Keeler,  unassigned  recruit;  must,  in  March  9,  1864  ;  trans.  Juno 

11,  1864,  to  navy. 

TWENTY-NINTH   MASSACHUSETTS   VOLUNTEERS. 

John  Brown,  Co.  A  ;  must,  in  Aug.  25,  1864  ;  disch.  Feb.  11,  1865,  for 
disability. 

Alexander  Hughes,  Co.  C ;  must,  in  Aug.  20, 1864  ;  disch.  by  President's 
proclamation. 

Capt.  Wittard  Tripp's  Company  (F). 

George  W.  Childs,  corp. ;  must,  in  Dec.  11,  1861;  disch.  Dec.  22,1862, 
for  disability. 

John  Goodwin,  corp. ;  must,  in  Jan.  2, 1864;  disch.  July  29, 1865,  at  exp. 
of  service. 

William  H.  Tyndall,  corp. ;  must,  in  Nov.  25,  1861 ;  disch.  Jan.  1,  1864, 
to  re-enlist;  re-enl.  Jan.  2,  1864;  disch.  July  6,  1865,  for  disability. 

James  Booth,  musician  ;  must,  in  Jan.  2,  1864;  disch.  July  29,  1865,  at 
exp.  of  service. 

Edward  Belcher,  must,  in  Dec.  9,  1S61  ;  disch.  Nov.  1,  1862,  at  exp.  of 
service. 

Alexander  Brickell,  must,  in  Dec.  9,  1861 ;  disch.  Aug.  27, 1862,  for  dis- 
ability. 

William  H.  Burns,  must,  in  Aug.  7,  1862  ;  disch.  March  29,  1864,  to  re- 
enlist. 

Hugh  D.  Conaty,  must,  in  Nov.  7,  1861 ;  died  July  28,  1862. 

Joseph  Davis,  must,  in  Dec.  2, 1861 ;  disch.  April  4,  1863,  for  disability. 

James  Dugan,  must,  in  Dec.  5,  1861 ;  disch.  Sept.  23, 1862,  for  disability. 

Alonzo  Garvin,  must,  in  Nov.  7,  1861;  disch.  Jan.  1,  1864,  to  re-enlist; 
re-enl.  Jan.  2,  1864;  discti.  July  29,  1865,  at  exp.  of  service. 

Benjamin  T.  Godfrey,  must,  in  Dec.  11, 1861 ;  died  Sept.  7,  1862,  at  Phil- 
adelphia, Pa. 

Detlef  Dothkoft,  must,  in  Nov.  30,  1861  ;  disch.  Jan.  1.1864,  to  re-enlist. 

Joseph  Hainer,  must,  in  March  8,1862;  died  Sept.  9, 1862,  at  Mile  Creek, 
Va. 

Owen  McManus,  must,  in  Dec.  7,  1861 ;  disch.  April  11,  1862,  of  old  age. 

William  H.  Philips,  must,  iu  Sept.  3, 1864;  disch.  May,  1865,  at  exp.  of 
service. 

Lewis  R.  Pierce,  must,  in  Nov.  7,  1861;  disch.  May  22,  1862,  for  disa- 
bility. 

John  B.  Piser,  must,  iu  Feb.  27,  1862  ;  com.  sergt.  March,  1862;  died  Jan. 
13,  1882. 

Thomas  S.  Sherman,  must,  in  Dec.  2,  1861 ;  disch.  Sept.  8,  1862,  for  disa- 
bility. 


918 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


James  Simmons,  must,  in  Nov.  12,  1861 ;  died  Oct.  22, 1862,  at  Harwood 
Hospital,  Washington,  D.  C. 

James  W.  Smith,  must,  in  Nov.  30,  1861. 

Leander  Tripp,  must,  in  Nov.  2S.  1861 ;  disch.  Oct.  13,  1862,  at  exp.  of 
service. 

Adolph  Vrage,  must,  in  July  23,  1864;  disch.  July  29,  !865,  at  exp.  of 
service. 

0.  A.  White,  must,  in  Nov.  25, 1861 ;  disch.  Sept.  23,1862,  for  disability. 

T.  W.  Writington,  must,  in  Nov.  30,  1861 ;  disch.  by  President's  procla- 
mation. 

THIRTY-SECOND   MASSACHUSETTS  VOLUNTEERS. 

William  Duggan,  Co.  A;  must,  in  Nov.  29,1864;  died  May  17,  1865. 
Alfred  Lepire,  Co.  A;  must,  in  July  27,1863;  disch.  June  29,  1865,  at 

exp.  of  service. 
Thomas  Waltham,  Co.  A  ;  must,  in  Sept.  12,  1864  ;  disch.  July  5, 1865,  by 

order  of  War  Dept. 
John  Miller,  Co.  B ;  must,  in  Nov.  12,  1864  ;  disch.  June  29, 1865,  at  exp. 

of  service. 
Daniel  Morris,  Co.  B;  must,  in  Aug.  31,  1864;  disch.  May  26,  1865,  by 

order  of  War  Dept. 
Jacob  Schwarts,  Co.  B;  must,  in  July  28,  1863;  disch.  June  29,  1865,  at 

exp.  of  service. 
Michael  Birmingham,  Co.  C;  must,  in  Feb.  16,  1864;  disch.  by  Presi- 
dent's proclamation. 
William  Jones,  Co.  C;  must,  in  Aug.  4,  1863;  disch.  June  29,  1865,  at 

exp.  of  service. 
Thomas  Kennedy,  Co.  F;  must,  in  Sept.  12, 1864;  disch.  June  29, 1865, 

at  exp.  of  service. 
Benjamin  L.  Howland,  Co.  G;  must,  in  Oct.  16,  1863;  disch.  June  27, 

1865,  by  order  of  War  Dept. 
John  McKenny,  Co.  G;  must,  in  Jan.  4,  1864;  disch.  June  29,  1865,  at 

exp.  of  service;  absent,  sick. 
Henry  Pope,  Co.  G ;  must,  in  Jan.  5,  1864  ;  disch.  July  S,  1865,  by  order 

of  War  Dept. 
Gilbert  Reed,  Co.  G ;  must,  in  Sept.  7,  1863 ;  disch-  June  29, 1865,  at  exp. 

of  service. 
Francis  Wheeler,  Co.  G;   must,  in  Oct.  1,  1864;  disch.  by  President's 

proclamation. 
Warren  F.  Dean,  Co.  H;  must,  in  Sept.  23, 1863;  died  Dec.  27,  1863,  at 

Richmond,  Va. 
John  Meigs,  Co.  H  ;  must,  in  Sept.  19, 1864 ;  disch.  June  9, 1865,  by  order 

of  War  Dept. 
George  Way,  Co.  H ;  must,  in  Aug.  21, 1863 ;  disch.  June  29,  1865,  at  exp. 

of  service. 
Henry  W.  Whiting,  Co.  H;    must,  in  Feb.  8, 1864;  disch.  June  29,1865, 

at  exp.  of  service. 
Thomas  Cooper,  Co.  I;  must,  in  Aug.  3,  1863;  disch.  June  29,  1865,  at 

exp.  of  service  ;  absent,  sick. 
Charles  G.  W.  H.  Ellick,  Co.  I ;  must,  in  Sept.  12, 1864;  disch.  by  Presi- 
dent's proclamation. 
David  Glines,  Co.  I ;  must,  in  Jan.  2, 1864  ;  disch.  June  29, 1865,  at  exp- 

of  service. 
Jacob  Marts,  Co.  I;  must,  in  July  27,  1863;  disch.  June  29, 1865, at  exp. 

of  service. 
John  A.  Wright,  1st  sergt.,  Co.  L  ;  must,  in  Feb.  1, 1864;  disch.  Nov.  4, 

1864;  supernumerary. 
George  Martis.  sergt.,  Co.  L ;  must,  in  Feb.  1, 1864  ;  disch.  June  27,  1865, 

by  order  of  War  Dept. 
Charles  O'Neil,  Corp.,  Co.  L ;  must,  in  March  31, 1864 ;  disch.  June  29, 1865, 

at  exp.  of  service. 
Edward  C.  Young,  corp.,  Co.  L;  must,  in  Feb.  1,  1S64;  disch.  June  29, 

1865,  at  exp.  of  service. 
James  A.  Black,  Co.  L ;  must,  in   March  31,  1864 ;  disch.  June  29,  1865, 

at  exp.  of  service. 
George  Clark,  Co.  L;  must,  in  Aug.  29,  1863;  disch.  June  29,  1865,  at 

exp.  of  service. 
Alfred  W.  Stoddard,  Co.  L  ;  must,  in  Feb.  1,  1864;  disch.  June  29,  1865, 

at  exp.  of  service. 
William  H.  Johnson,  1st  sergt.,  Co.  M;  must,  in  Feb.  1,  1864;   disch. 

June  29, 1865,  at  exp.  of  service. 
James  M.  Allen,  sergt.,  Co.  M  ;  must,  in  Feb.  1, 1864;  disch.  Nov.  1, 1864  ; 

supernumerary. 
Thomas  B.  Willie,  sergt.,  Co.  M  ;  must,  in  Feb.  1,  1864 ;  disch.  June  11, 

1865,  by  order  of  War  Dept. 
James    Mitchell,  Corp.,  Co.  M;  must,  in  Feb.  1,  1864;  disch.  June  29, 

1865,  at  exp.  of  service. 


THIRTY-THIRD   MASSACHUSETTS  VOLUNTEERS. 
Capl.  James  Browning's  Company  (B). 

Francis  C.  Lawton,  1st  sergt.;  must,  in  Aug.  5,  1862  ;  pro.  to  1st  lieut. 
Sept.  13,  1864  ;  died  Aug.  2,  1879. 

Henry  F.  Eldridge,  sergt. ;  must,  in  Aug.  5,  1862  ;  disch.  June  11,  1865, 
at  exp.  of  service. 

Noah  H.  Maxim,  sergt.;  must,  in  Aug.  5, 1862  ;  disch.  June  11,  1865,  at 
exp.  of  service. 

Edgar  G.  Blandin,  corp. ;  must,  in  Aug.  5,  1862;  disch.  June  11, 1865,  at 
exp.  of  service. 

Edward  R.  Hood,  corp. ;  must,  in  Aug.  5,  1862 ;  disch.  July  20,  1865,  by 
order  of  War  Dept. 

Albert  E.  Bishop,  musician  ;  must,  in  Aug.  5,  1862  ;  disch.  June  11, 1865, 
at  exp.  of  service. 

Henry  E.  Atwell,  must  in  Aug.  5, 1862;  disch.  June  11,  1863,  for  dis- 
ability ;  died  Nov.  24, 1807. 

George  B.  Bramhall,  must,  in  Aug.  5,  1S62  ;  killed  May  16,  1864,  at  Re- 
saca,  Ga. 

Rollen  N.  Corlew,  must,  in  Aug.  5,  1862  ;  disch.  June  11 ,  1865,  at  exp.  of 
service. 

Calvin  C.  Dean,  must,  in  Aug.  5,  1862  ;  trans  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps  Sept.  1, 
1863. 

Andrew  Deering,  must,  in  Aug.  5,  1862;  disch.  Dec.  6,  1862,  for  dis- 
ability. 

Abner  S.  Domty,  must,  in  Aug.  5,  1862  ;  disch.  June  11, 1865,  at  exp.  of 
service. 

John  Foster,  must,  in  Aug.  5, 1862;  disch.  by  President's  proclamation. 

James  Gavan,  must,  in  Aug.  5,  1862;  disch.  June  11,  1865,  at  exp.  of 
service. 

James  Gillespie,  must,  in  Aug.  5,  1862;  disch.  June  11,  1865,  at  exp.  of 
service. 

0«ren  Gill,  must,  in  Aug.  5, 1862;  disch.  June  11,  1865,  at  exp.  of  service. 

Patrick  Jones,  must,  in  Aug.  5,  1862;  disch.  June  11,  1865,  at  exp.  of 
service. 

Freeman  W.  King,  must,  in  Aug.  5,  1862 ;  disch.  March  7,  1863,  for  dis- 
ability. 

Alonzo  I).  Laflin,  must,  in  Aug.  5, 1862;  disch.  by  President's  proclama- 
tion. 

Jarvis  D.  Leonard,  must,  in  Aug.  5,  1862  ;  trans.  Jan.  15,  1864,  to  Vet. 
Res.  Corps. 

James  W.  Lockwood,  must,  in  Aug.  5, 1862;  disch.  June  1, 1865,  at  exp, 
of  service. 

John  Lynch,  must,  in  Aug.  5,  1862;  disch.  June  11, 1865,  at  exp.  of  ser- 
vice. 

George  A.  Monroe,  must,  in  Aug.  5, 1862;  disch.  Jan.  18,  1863,  for  dis- 
ability. 

Jacob  W.  Munsey,  must,  in  Aug.  5,1862;  trans.  Aug.  1,1863,  to  Vet. 
Res.  Corps. 

Merton  Nay  lor,  must,  in  Aug.  5,1862;  disch.  Aug.  14,  1863,  for  disa- 
bility. 

Thomas  W.  Nevins,  Jr.,  must,  in  Aug.  5,  1S62 ;  disch.  June  11,  1865,  at 
exp.  of  service. 

David  Noonan,  must,  in  Aug.  5,  1862;  disch.  June  11,  1865,  at  exp.  of 
service. 

George  F.  Reed,  must,  in  Aug.  6, 1862  ;  disch.  June  11, 1865,  at  exp.  of 
service. 

Patrick  Robertson,  must,  in  Aug.  5,1862;  disch.  March  19,  1863,  for 
disability. 

William  Roth  well,  must,  iu  Aug.  5,  1862;  disch.  by  President's  procla- 
mation. 

George  Smith,  must,  in  Aug.  5,  1862;  disch.  June  11,  1S65,  at  exp.  of 
service. 

Francis  H.  Thayer,  must,  in  Aug.  5,  1862;  disch.  March  30,  1864,  for 
disability. 

Alexander  C.  White,  must,  in  Aug.  5,  1862;  died  Sept.  29,1862,  at  Alex- 
andria, Va. 

Company  K. 

William  H.  Crocker,  must,  in  Aug.  8,  1862;  disch.  June  11,  1865,  at  exp. 
of  service. 

Michael  Doyle,  must,  in  Aug.  8, 1862 ;  disch.  July  2,  1865,  by  order  of 
War  Department. 

David  B.  Lincoln,  must,  in  Aug.  8,  1862;  disch.  June  11,  1865,  at  exp. 
of  service. 

Michael  McAvoy,  must,  in  Aug.  12,  1862  ;  trans.  June  1,  1865,  to  2d  Inf. 

George  Brown,  unassigned  ;  must,  in  Aug.  18,  1864;  disch.  by  Presi- 
dent's proclamation. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 


919 


THIRTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS  VOLUNTEERS. 

William  C.  Cahoon,  Co.  A ;  must,  in  Jan.  21,  1804  ;  trans.  Jan.  21,  1865, 

to  20th  Inf. 
James  Burns,  Co.  A  ;  must,  in  Feb.  19, 1864;  disch.  by  President's  proc- 
lamation. 
John  Cunningham,  Co.  A;  must,  in  Feb.  27,  1864  ;  trans.  June  21,  1865, 

to  20th  Inf. 
Robert  Sheehan,  Co.  B ;  must,  in  Feb.  25,  1864;  trans.  June  19,  1864,  to 

20th  Inf. 
Joseph    D.  Calehan,  1st  sergt.,  Co.  C;  must,  in  Feb.  10,  1864;  pro.  to  2d 

lieut.  Oct,  13,  1864. 
George  Sager,  musician,  Co.  D  ;  must,  in  Feb.  18,  1864;  trans.  June  21, 

1865,  to  2oth  Inf. 
Harry  A.  Cushman,  Co.  E;  must,  in  Dec.  26,  1863  ;  pro.  to  2d  lieut.  Oct. 

13,  1864. 
William  E.  Hathaway,  Co.  H;  must,  in  Jan.  20,1864;  trans.  June  21, 

1865,  to  20th  Inf. 
Thomas  Dolan,  musician,  Co.  K;  must,  in  Feb.  24, 1864;  trans.  June  21, 

1865,  to  20th  Inf. 

Vnassigned  Recru  its. 

Henry  S.  Benton,  1st  sergt.,  must,  in  Dec.  26, 1863  ;  died  of  wounds  July 

10,  1864,  at  Alexandria,  Va. 
Henry  H.  Codding,  must,  in  Aug.  28,  1861 ;  trans.  June  21,  1865,  to  20th 

Inf. 
Jeremiah  C.  Eldridge,  must,  in  Jan.  20,1864;  trans.  June  21,  1865,  to 

20th  Inf. 

THIRTY-EIGHTH   MASSACHUSETTS   VOLUNTEERS. 

William  Finn,  Co.  B ;    must,  in  Feb.  11,  1864 ;    disch.  by  President's 

proclamation. 
Eugene  C.  Wells,  Co.  F  ;  must,  in  Jan.  27,  1864;  trans.  Jnne  22,  1865,  to 

26  th  Inf. 

THIRTY-NINTH   MASSACHUSETTS   VOLUNTEERS. 

Jacob  Schwarts,  Co.  A;  must,  in  July  28,  1863;  trans.  June  2, 1865,  to 

32d  Inf. 
Thomas  Stuart,  Co.  B  ;  must,  in  Aug.  4,  1863;  died. 
Thomas  Murphy,  Co.  G;  must,  in  Aug.  5,  1863;  died  Jan.  1,  1865,  at 
.     Salisbury,  N.  C. 
Jacob  Marty,  Co.  II ;  must,  in  July  27,  1863  ;  trans.  June  2,  1865,  to  32d 

Inf. 
Thomas  Sullivan  (1st),  Co.  I ;  must,  in  July  24,  1863  ;    trans.  June  2, 

1865,  to  32d  Inf. 

FORTIETH   MASSACHUSETTS   VOLUNTEERS. 

Daniel  Mickell,  Co.  A;  must,  in  Aug.  23,  1862  ;  killed  July  30, 1SU4,  at 

Petersburg,  Va. 
Eugene  Millerd,  Co.  F;  must,  in  Sept.  3,1862;  disch.  Jan.  16,  1865,  at 

exp.  of  service. 
Albro  W.  Aldrich,  Co.  H  ;  must,  in  Sept.  1,  1862 ;  killed  June  24,  1864, 

at  Petersburg,  Va. 
George  H.  Robinson,  Co.  H  ;  must,  in  Sept.  1,  1862  ;  disch.  June  16, 1865, 

at  exp.  of  service. 
James  H.  Springer,  Co.  II;  must,  in  Sept.  1,  1862;  trans.  Jan.  15,  1864, 

to  Vet.  Res.  Corps. 
Stephen  Weeks,  Co.  I;  must,  in  Jan.  3,  1865;  trans,  to  24th  Inf. 

FIFTY-FOURTH   MASSACHUSETTS   VOLUNTEERS. 
Thomas  Gilson,  Co.  A ;  must,  in  Oct.  10, 1863 ;  disch.  Sept.  12,  1865,  at 
exp.  of  service. 

FIFTY-SIXTH   MASSACHUSETTS   VOLUNTEERS. 
Patrick  Danohoe,  Co.  C ;  must,  in  Dec.  28,  1863 ;   disch.  July  12,  1865, 

at  exp.  of  service. 
Robert  F.  Noonhan,  Co.  C;  must,  in  Dec.  28,  1863  ;  disch.  July  24, 1865, 

by  order  of  War  Dept. ;  died  in  Omaha  May  9, 1875,  in  2d  U.  S.  Cav. 
James  Ward.  Co.  C;  must,  in  Dec.  28,  1863;  died  of  wounds  June  22, 

1864,  at  Anuapolis,  Md. 
Charles  B.  Staples,  Co.  F;  must,  in  March  1,  1864;  disch.  July  12, 1865, 

at  exp.  of  service. 
Samuel  Shepard,  Co.  I;  must,  in  Feb.  4,  1864;  killed  June  27,  1864,  at 

Petersburg,  Va. 
Herbert  V.  Worcester,  Co.  I ;  must,  in  Feb.  4,  1864;  died  Sept.  13,  1864, 

at  Andersonville,  Ga. 
John  H.  King,  Co.  K ;  must,  in  Feb.  25, 1864 ;  disch.  by  President's  proc- 
lamation. 


FIFTY-SEVENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  VOLUNTEERS. 
George  E.  Dearborn,  musician,  Co.  G;  must  in  March  4,  1S64;  disch. 

July  30,  1865,  at  exp.  of  service. 
Isaac  P.  Trask,  Co.  I;  must,  in  April  2,  1864;  disch.  July  30,  1865,  at 

exp.  of  service. 

FIKTY-EIGHTH   MASSACHUSETTS   VOLUNTEERS. 
Company  B. 

Barillia  F.  Staples,  must,  in  Feb.  8,1864;  pro.  to  lieut.  May  3,  1865. 

Brown  D.  Higging,  sergt.  ;  must,  in  Feb.  8,  1864;  disch.  July  14,  1865, 
at  exp.  of  service;  died  July  21,  1865. 

Albert  A.  Harvey,  corp.;  must,  in  Feb.  8,  1864  ;  disch.  July  14,  1865,  at 
exp.  of  service. 

Marcenah  B.  Wilcox,  Corp.;  must,  in  Feb.  8, 1864  ;  disch.  July  14,  1865  ; 
died  in  Raynham  Sept.  9,  1865. 

John  C.  Harding,  musician ;  must,  in  Feb.  8,  1864;  disch.  July  14,  1865, 
at  exp.  of  service. 

John  Batey,  must,  in  Feb.  8,  1864;  died  at  Salisbury,  N.  C. 

Feansant  Beaureanby,  must,  in  Feb.  8,  1S64;  disch.  by  President's  proc- 
lamation. 

Alphonso  Bliss,  must,  in  Feb.  8,  1864;  disch.  April   18,  1865,  for  dis- 
ability. 

William  Bores,  must,  in  Feb.  8,  1864;  disch.  May  19,  1865,  by  order  of 
War  Department. 

Nathaniel  L.  Breley,  must,  in  March  26, 1864;  disch.  Feb.  20,  1865,  for 
disability. 

Antoine  Brouseau,  must,  in  Feb.  8,1864;  disch.  by  President's  proclama- 
tion. 

John  Burns,  must,  in  Feb.  8,  1S64 ;  disch.  July  18,  1865,  at  exp.  of  ser- 
vice. 

Charles  H.  Caswell,  must,  in  Feb.  8,  1864;  disch.  July  14,  1865,  at  exp. 
of  service. 

William  H.  Caswell,  must,  in  Feb.  8,  1864;  disch.  Nov.  17,  1864,  for  dis- 
ability. 

George  E.  Caswell,  must,  in  Feb.  8,  1864;  disch.  July  14,  1865,  at  exp. 
of  service. 

John  Cavanagh,  must,  in  Feb.  8,  1864;  disch.  by  President's  proclama- 
tion. 

George  Couell,  must,  in  March  26,  1864;  disch.  July  14,1865,  at  exp. 
of  service. 

Andrew  Cronan,  must,  in  Feb.  8, 1864;  disch.  May  18, 1865,  by  order  of 
War  Department. 

Edward  W.  Crossman,  must,  in  Feb.  8,  1864;  disch.  July  20,  1865,  by 
order  of  War  Department;  died  June  25,  1870. 

Capt.  Robert  Grossman's  Company  (B). 

Austin  Cuniffee,  must,  in  Feb.  8,  1S64 ;  died  Dec.  23,  1864,  at  Annapolis, 
Md. 

Hiram  L.  Danforth,  must,  in  March  26,1864;  disch.  July  14,  1865,  at 
exp.  of  service. 

William  H.  Dean,  must,  in  March  26,  1864;  died  Jan.  24,  1865,  at  Salis- 
bury, N.  C. 

John  De  Forrest,  must,  in  Feb.  8,  1864;  disch.  July  14,  1865,  at  exp.  of 
service. 

John  Denny,  must,  in  Feb.  8, 1864 ;  disch.  March  9,  1865,  for  disability. 

Patrick  Dugan,  must,  in  March  26,  1864  ;  disch.  July  25,  1865,  by  order 
of  War  Department. 

Mitchell  Dumar,  must,  in  Feb.  8,  1864;  disch.  by  President's  proclama- 
tion. 

Arthur  Durgin,  must,  in  Feb.  8,  1864;  disch.  by  President's  proclama- 
tion. 

Patrick  I.  Edgar,  must,  in  Feb.  8, 1864;  killed  May  6, 1864,  at  Wilder- 
ness, Va. 

Eli  Eldridge,  must,  in  Feb.  8, 1864;  disch.  July  20, 1865,  by  order  of  War 
Department. 

Peter  Fagan,  must,  in  Feb.  8,  1864;  trans.  Jan.  1,  1865,  to  Vet.  Res. 
Corps. 

Richard  Faux,  must,  in  Feb.  8, 1864;  died  June  3,  1864,  of  wounds  at 
Washington,  D.  C. 

James  Francis,  must,  in  Feb.  8,  1864;  disch.  July  14,  1865,  at  exp.  of 
service. 

Lyman  R.  Francis,  must,  in  Feb.  8, 1864;  disch.  Jan.  18,  1865,  for  dis- 
ability. 

Thomas  Gibbons,  Jr.,  must,  in  Feb.  S,  1864;  disch.  by  President's  proc- 
lamation. 

William  I.  Gilbert,  must,  in  Feb.  8,  1864;  disch.  July  14,  1865,  at  exp.  of 
service. 


920 


HISTORY   OF   BRISTOL   COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


David  B.  Hill,  must,  in  Feb.  8, 1S64 ;  disch.  June  17,  1865,  by  order  of 
War  Department. 

Levi  S.  Howland,  must,  in  Feb.  S,  1864  ;  killed  June  3,  1864,  at  Cold 
Harbor,  Va. 

Alfred  Jeffery,  must,  in  April  20, 1864;  died  Aug.  7,  1864,  at  Anderson- 
ville,  Ga. 

Patrick  P.  Leddy,  must,  in  Feb.  S,  1864 ;  died  Aug.  22,  1864,  at  Salis- 
bury, N.  C. 

John  K.  Lee,  must,  in  Feb.  8,  1864;  disch.  May  25,  1865,  by  order  of 
War  Department;  died  Aug.  4,  1871. 

Albert  E.  Leonard,  must,  in  Feb.  8, 1864;  disch.  July  14,  1865,  at  exp.of 
service;  died  Jan.  15, 1876. 

Frank  R.  Marigold,  must,  in  Feb.  8, 1864;  disch.  May  18, 1865,  by  order 
of  War  Department. 

Alexander  McKee,  must,  in  Feb.  8, 1864  ;  disch.  July  14, 1865,  at  exp.  of 
service. 

John  McKinley,  must,  in  Feb.  8, 1864;  disch.  July  14,  1865,  at  exp.  of 
service. 

James  H.  McVay,  must,  in  March  26, 1864;  disch.  July  14, 1865,  at  exp. 
of  service. 

Gideon  Mosher,  must,  in  Feb.  8,  1864;  disch.  Aug.  18,  1864,  for  disa- 
bility. 

Michael  Murphy,  must,  in  April  20, 1864 ;  disch.  by  President's  procla- 
mation. 

Henry  Packer,  must,  in  Feb.  8,  1864 ;  died  Dec.  28, 1864,  at  Salisbury, 
N.  C. 

Jacob  Packer,  must,  in  Feb.  8,  1864 ;  died  June  5,  1864,  at  Cold  Harbor, 

Va. 
Francoi3  Paneton,  must,  in  Feb.  8, 1S64 ;  disch.  July  27, 1864,  for  disa- 
bility. 
Francis  Parrent,  must,  in  Feb.  8, 1864;  disch.  May  23, 1865,  by  order  of 

War  Department. 
Stephen  H.  Pierce,  must,  in  March  26,  1864 ;  disch.  Aug.  23,  1864,  for 

disability. 
Patrick  Quigley,  must,  in  Feb.  8,  1864;  disch.  July  14, 1865,  at  exp.  of 

service. 
Timothy  Qninn,  must,  in  Feb.  8, 1864 ;  disch.  July  14, 1865,  at  exp.  of 

service. 
Edward  P.  Roach,  must,  in  March  26, 1864  ;  disch.  July  14,  1865,  at  exp. 

of  service. 
Alvin  B.  Rounds,  must  in  Feb.  8, 1864;  disch.  May  18, 1865,  by  order  of 

War  Department. 
Richard  L.  Sherman,  must,  in  Feb.  8, 1864;  died  March  28,  1865,  at  East 

Taunton. 
William  A.  Sherburner,  must,  in  Feb.  8,  1864;  disch.  July  14, 1865,  at 

exp.  of  service. 
George  F.  Shurtliff,  must,  in  March  26, 1864;  disch.  June  22,  1865,  by 

order  of  War  Department. 
Charles  W.  Smith,  must,  in  March  26, 1864 ;  disch.  May  18, 1865,  by  order 

of  War  Department. 
Asa  W.  Stedman,  must,  in  Feb.  8,  1864;  disch.  June  15, 1865,  by  order 

of  War  Department. 
Joseph  Stone,  must,  in  Feb.  8,  1864;  died  May  6,  1865,  at  Washington, 

D.C. 
Charles  W.  B.  Tucker,  must,  in  Feb.  8, 1S64;  disch.  July  22,1865,  by 

order  of  War  Department. 
Henry  D.  White,  must,  in  Feb.  8, 1S64 ;  disch.  July  20,  1S65,  by  order  of 

War  Department. 
David  W.  Bassett,  Co.  C ;  must,  in  April  20, 1864  ;  died  June  13, 1864,  of 

wounds  at  Arlington,  Va. 
James  F.  McDonald,  Co.  D  ;  must,  in  April  2,  1864 ;  died  June  29, 1864. 
James  Sherman,  Co.  D;  must,  in  March  1,  1864  ;  disch.  July  14,  1865,  at 

exp.  of  service. 
Edwin  R.  Burr,  Co.  C  ;  must,  in  March  1, 1864;  disch.  July  14,  1865,  at 

exp.  of  service. 
Michael  U'Niel,  Co.  E  ;  must,  iu  March  1,  1864 ;  died  Sept.  1,  1864,  at 

Alexandria,  Va. 
Thomas  O'Niel,  Co.  E;  must,  in  March  1,  1864;  disch.  July  14,  1865,  at 

exp.  of  service. 
James  Rocket,  Co.  E;  must,  in  March  1, 1864;  disch.  June  20, 1865,  by 

order  of  War  Department. 
George  P.  Freeman,  Co.  F;  must,  in  March  12,  1S04;  died  June  26, 1864, 

at  Washington,  D.C. 
George  11.  Handy,  Co.  G  ;  must,  in  March  26,  1864;  disch.  by  President's 

proclamation. 
Janice  F.  Mareden,  Co.  G  ;  must,  iu  March  20, 1864;  disch.  July  25, 1865, 
by  order  of  War  Department. 


Edward  Rhodes,  Co.  G;  must  in  March  26,  1864;  disch.  July  14, 1865.  at 

exp.  of  service. 
Barney  Trainor,  Co.  G;  must,  in  March  26,  1864;  disch.  July  14,  1865,  at 

exp.  of  service. 
John  Westgate,  Co.  G ;  must,  in  March  26,  1864  ;  disch.  July  14, 1865,  at 

exp.  of  service. 
John  Boyce,  Co.  H  ;  must,  in  April  IS,  1864 ;  disch.  July  14, 1S65,  at  exp. 

of  service. 
Thomas  Ryan,  Co.  H ;  must,  in  April  18,  1864 ;  disch.  July  14,  1865,  at 

exp.  of  service. 
John  Smythe,  Co.  H  ;  must,  in  April  IS,  1864;  disch.  March  31, 1865,  for 

disability. 
William  Wise,  Co.  H;  must,  in  April  18,  1864;   disch.  by  President's 

proclamation. 

FIFTY-NINTH   MASSACHUSETTS   VOLUNTEERS. 

Charles  Lambert,  Co.  F  ;  must,  iu  Feb.  4,  1864  ;  died  Aug.  1, 1864,  at  New 
Haven,  Conn. 

John  Smith,  Co.  F;  must,  in  Feb.  20,  1864;  disch.  by  Presidents  proc- 
lamation. 

George  E.  Dearborn,  Co.  G ;  must,  in  March  4,  1864  ;  trans.  June  1,  1865, 
to  57th  Infantry. 

Isaac  P.  Trask,  Co.  I;  must,  in  April  2,  1864;  trans.  June  1,1865,  to  57th 
Infantry. 

SIXTY-FIRST   MASSACHUSETTS  VOLUNTEERS. 
Jeremiah  Sullivan,  principal  musician,  Co.  D;  must,  iu  Sept.  14,  1864; 

disch.  March  1,  1865. 
Frederick  H.  Woodman,  Co.  D;  must,  in  Sept.  5,  1864;  disch.  June  4, 

1865,  at  exp.  of  service. 
George  H.  Fiske,  Co.  H;  must,  in  Dec.  8, 1864;  disch.  July  16, 1865,  at 

exp.  of  service. 

SIXTY-SECOND   MASSACHUSETTS  VOLUNTEERS. 

Company  B. 

Nathaniel  0.  Walker,  corp. ;  must,  in  March  23, 1865  ;  disch.  May  5, 1865, 

at  exp.  of  service. 
Willard  L.  Dean,  must,  in  March  24, 1865 ;  disch.  May  5,  1865,  at  exp.  of 

service. 
Charles  Eldridge,  must,  in  April  1,  1865  ;  disch.  May  5,  1805,  at  exp.  of 

service. 
Thomas  K.  Gay,  must,  in  March  31,  1865 ;  disch.  May  5, 1865,  at  exp.  of 

service. 
Manlius  B.  Leonard,  must,  in  March  28, 1805;  disch.  May  5, 1865,  at  exp. 

of  service. 
Frederick  T.  Nelson,  must,  in  March  31,  1865  ;  disch.  May  6,  1S65,  at 

exp.  of  service. 
John  E.  Spencer,  must,  in  March  23,  1865  ;  disch.  May  5, 1S65,  at  exp.  of 

service. 
Joseph  W.  Allen,  Co.  D ;  must,  in  April  7,  1805  ;  disch.  May  5,  1865,  at 

exp.  of  service. 
George  F.  Seaver,  enl.  April  16,  1861,  in  the  1st  Marine  Corps  of  Art., 

Rhode  Island ;  pro.  to  lieut.  Bat.  C,  3d  Rhode  Island  Art.,  Feb.  11, 

1863;  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  28, 1863. 

New  Bedford  Fire  Department. — The  force  of 
this  department  consists  of  one  chief,  four  assist- 
ant engineers  and  clerk,  twelve  men  permanently 
employed,  and  one  hundred  and  thirty-two  call  mem- 
bers, twenty-two  of  whom  are  attached  to  No.  9  at  the 
Head  of  the  River,  making  a  total  of  one  hundred 
and  fifty  men. 

Onward  Steam  Fire  Engine  Company,  No.  1. — House 
on  Purchase  Street,  foot  of  Franklin  Street.  Engine 
built  by  Amoskeag  Manufacturing  Company,  Man- 
chester, N.  H. ;  capacity,  500  gallons  per  minute ; 
weight  of  engine,  as  drawn  to  fires,  6950  pounds ; 
weight  of  hose-carriage,  with  1050  feet  of  Boyd's 
cotton  hose,  2850  pounds ;  put  into  service  Aug.  26, 
1869.  Company  organized  Jan.  1,  1870.  Allen  W. 
Tinkham,  foreman;  Henry  J.  O'Neal,  first  assistant; 
Harris  N.  Tinkham,  second  assistant ;  Eben  C.  Milli- 
ken,  clerk. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 


921 


Progress  Steam  Fire  Engine  Company,  No.  2. — House 
corner  Purchase  Street  and  Mechanic's  Lane.  Engine 
built  by  the  Silsby  Manufacturing  Company,  Seneca 
Falls,  N.  Y. ;  capacity,  600  gallons  per  minute; 
weight  of  engine,  as  drawn  to  fires,  6800  pounds  ; 
weight  of  hose-carriage,  with  1050  feet  Boyd's  cotton 
hose,  2850  pounds ;  put  in  commission  Sept.  4,  1879. 
Company  organized  Oct.  27, 1860.  Charles  S.  Paisler, 
foreman ;  John  Downey,  first  assistant ;  John  H. 
Dollard,  second  assistant;  James  D.  Allen,  clerk. 

Cornelius  Howland  Steam  Fire  Engine  Company,  No. 
4. — House  corner  Sixth  and  Bedford  Streets.  Engine 
built  by  the  Amoskeag  Manufacturing  Company, 
Manchester,  N.  H. ;  capacity,  600  gallons  per  minute; 
weight  of  engine,  as  drawn  to  fires,  8550  pounds ; 
weight  of  hose-carriage,  with  1050  feet  Boyd's  cotton 
hose,  2850  pounds ;  put  into  service  Feb.  1,  1867. 
Company  organized  Feb.  1,  1867.  Henry  A.  Gray, 
foreman ;  Edgar  S.  Gilbert,  first  assistant;  Benjamin  F. 
Hinkley,  second  assistant;  William  A.  Gibbs,  clerk. 

Zachariah  Hillman  Steam  Fire  Engine  Company,  No. 
5. — House  corner  of  County  and  Hillman  Streets.  En- 
gine built  by  Messrs.  Clapp  &  Jones,  Hudson,  N.  Y. ; 
capacity,  500  gallons  per  minute  ;  weight  of  engine,  as 
drawn  to  fires,  7250  pounds;  weight  of  hose-carriage, 
with  1050  feet  Boyd's  cotton  hose,  2850  pounds ;  put 
into  service  Dec.  13,  1873.  Company  organized  Dec. 
13,  1873.  Robert  S.  Lawton,  foreman;  William  T. 
King,  first  assistant;  Isaiah  H.  Wilcox,  second  assist- 
ant; O.  Frank  Bly,  clerk. 

Frederick  Macy  Steam  Fire  Engine  Company,  No.  6. 
— House  on  Fourth  Street,  head  of  Potomska  Street. 
Engine  built  by  Amoskeag  Manufacturing  Company, 
Manchester,  N.  H.;  capacity,  500  gallons  per  minute; 
weight  of  engine,  as  drawn  to  fires,  7100  pounds; 
weight  of  hose-carriage,  with  1050  feet  Boyd's  cotton 
hose,  2850  pounds ;  put  into  service  Nov.  1,  1882. 
Company  organized  Oct.  31, 1882.  George  W.  Parker, 
foreman  ;  Herbert  B.  Gardner,  first  assistant ;  Felix 
Cavenagh,  second  assistant ;  George  S.  Hoyt,  clerk. 

Franklin  Hose  Company,  No.  1. — House  corner  of 
Purchase  Street  and  Mechanic's  Lane.  Carriage  built 
by  the  Amoskeag  Manufacturing  Company,  Manches- 
ter, N.  H. ;  weight  of  carriage  and  900  feet  vulcanized 
rubber  hose,  2790  pounds  ;  put  into  service  Jan.  1, 
1872.  Company  organized  Dec.  31,  1871.  David  W. 
Howland,  foreman;  Daniel  H.  Burns,  first  assistant; 
Thomas  B.  Rowe,  second  assistant ;  James  S.  Hatha- 
way, clerk. 


Pioneer  Hook  and  Ladder  Company,  No.  1. — House 
corner  Purchase  Street  and  Mechanic's  Lane.  Car- 
riage built  by  Joseph  T.  Kyan,  of  Boston  ;  put  into 
commission  Aug.  4,  1877.  Lysander  W.  Davis,  fore- 
man;  Charles  J.  Johnson,  first  assistant;  James  Con- 
way, second  assistant ;  Charles  E.  Pierce,  clerk. 

Hancock  Engine  Company,  No.  9.— House  located  at 
Acushnet.  Engine  built  by  John  Agnew,  of  Phila- 
delphia, in  1843.  Engine  removed  to  Acushnet  Jan. 
18, 1861,  aud  a  company  was  organized  to  man  her  at 
that  time.  Company  orgauized  Dec.  14,  1878.  John 
A.  Russell,  foreman ;  George  W.  Bennett,  first  assist- 
ant; Israel  Peckham,  second  assistant ;  Allen  Russell, 
Jr.,  clerk. 


New  Bedford 

Francis  T.  Akin. 
Gilbert  Allen. 
Gideon  Allen,  Jr. 
Edward  H.  Allen. 
Charles  Almy. 
William  B.  Anthony. 
Charles  A.  Case. 
Samuel  H.  Cook. 
R.  C.  P.  Coggeshall. 
John  H.  Denison. 
Henry  C.  Denison. 
Edwin  Dews. 
Heman  Ellis. 
Edward  R.  Gardner. 
H.  A.  Gifford,  Jr. 
George  R.  Gray. 
Charles  A.  Gray. 
A.  W.  Hadley. 
Jonathan  Handy. 
Charles  M.  Haskell. 
Charles  B.  Hillman. 
Ezra  Holmes. 
John  J.  Howland. 
Charles  M.  Hussey. 
G.  D.  Kingman. 


Protecting  Society. 

Charles  S.  Kelley. 
Thomas  H.  Knowles. 
Charles  H.  Lawton. 
Edmund  F.  Maxfield. 
George  F.  Parlow. 
Arthur  E.  Perry. 
Edward  T.  Pierce. 
William  F.  Potter. 
Charles  W.  Plummer. 
William  F.  Reed. 
Wm.  A.  Robinson,  Jr. 
Morgan  Rotch. 
Gardner  T.  San  ford. 
R.  W.  Swift, 
William  T.  Swift. 
Leander  H.  Swift. 
Charles  M.  Taber. 
Henry  J.  Taylor. 
Joseph  Tillinghast, 
Alfred  G.  Wilbor. 
William  H.  Willis. 
Alfred  Wilson. 
Thomas  G.  Wing. 
Horace  Wood. 
William  O.  Woodman. 


The  present  officers  of  the  department  are  as  fol- 
lows :  Chief  Engineer,  Frederick  Macy  ;  First  Assist- 
ant Engineer,  Michael  F.  Kennedy;  Second  Assist- 
ant Engineer,  Loring  T.  Parlow ;  Third  Assistant 
Engineer,  Pliny  B.  Sherman  ;  Fourth  Assistant  En- 
gineer, Augustus  A.  Wood ;  Clerk  of  Board  of  En- 
gineers, Luther  G.  Hewins,  Jr. 


EEEATA. 


Note  byS.  Hopkins  Emery.— I  have  been  unable  to  read  the  proof  of  the 

larger  portion  of  the  copy  furnished  for  this  book  on  account  of  distance 

from  the  press,  which  must  serve  as  my  apology  for  any  errors  which 

may  be  discovered. 
Page  23,  line  31  from  top,  for  "  James  Sproal"  read  "James  Sproat." 
Page  24,  second  paragraph,  should  read,  "Hon.  Samuel  Fales  was  a 

native  of  Bristol,  R.  I.,  born  Sept.  15,  1750,— the  sou  of  Nathaniel  and 

Sarah  Fales, — and  a  graduate  of  Harvard  University  in  1773,"  etc. 
Page  26,  line  5  from  bottom  of  first  column,  for  "  Francis  Wood,"  read 

"  Frances  Wood." 
Page  32,  "  Charles  Holmes"  should  read  "  Charles  J.  Holmes." 
Page  228,  sixth   line  from   bottom,  "Thodijah"   Baylies  should   be 

"Hodijah"  Baylies. 

Page  229,  eighteenth  line  from  top,  "  Simmon's"  should  read  "  Sim- 
mons'." 
For  "John  C.  Perry,"  in  note,  page  229,  read  "John  P.  Perry." 
Page  239,  line  15  from  bottom,  for  "  Will"  read  "  Hill." 
Page  242,  line  8  from  top,  for  "  Wicks"  read  "  Hicks." 
Page  243,  line  25  from  top,  for  "  Andern"  read  "  Anderm." 
Page  245,  first  line  of  poetry,  for  "  whenever"  read  "  wherever." . 
Page  252,  ninth  line  from  bottom,  for  "  Price"  read  "  Pierce." 
Page  256,  nineteenth  line  from  top,  after  "people"  insert  "would." 
Page  419,  last  sentence  in  first  paragraph  should  read  "a  windmill 

for  grinding  grain  was  built,  but  did  not  prove  a  success." 
Page  423,  third  line  from  top,  for  "1785   or  1786"  read  "1775  or 

1776." 
Page  428,  twenty-second  line  from  top,  for  "two  years"  read  "four 

years."     Same  page,  line  24,  for  "  1813"  read  "  1814." 
Page  435,  line  15  from  bottom,  for  "  noonday"  read  "  dog-day." 
Page  436,  second  line,  for  "Groves"  read   "Grovers";  line  15,  for 

"presented   their  nays"    read   "mounted  their   nags";    line   27,    for 

"  James  W.  Cable"  read  "  James  W.  Cobb." 
Page  437,  line  22,  for  "admiring"  read   "admitting";   line  28,  for 

"supply"   read   "overply";    line   53,   for  "Thomas  Tillebrown"   read 

"Fillebrown";  last  line,  for  "Rev.  Mr.  White  stayed  but  a  few  years" 

read  "Rev.  Mr.  White  was  twenty -four  years." 
Page  439,  line  23,  for  "  May  B.  Pratt"  read  "  Mary  B.  Pratt" ;  line  47, 

for  "Givins"  read  "Grover";  line  48,  for  "  Reilly"  read  "  Bailey"  ;  line 

49,  for  "  Mahlon"  read  "  Nahum." 
Page  440,  line  14,  for  "Rayerson's"  read  "  Rogerson's"  ;  line  23,  for 

"Ames"  read  "  Amos." 
Page  441,  line  29,  for  "  rule  was  favorably"  read  "vote  was  partly"; 


line  33,  for  "  Michael"  read  "Micah";  last   column,  for  "Tillebrown" 
read  "  Fillebrown" ;  for  "  Beeley"  read  "  Baley." 

Page  442,  third  line  from  bottom,  for  "no  desire"  read  "so  done"; 
line  26  from  bottom,  for  "  sose"  read  "  sarse"  ;  sixth  line  from  bottom, 
for  "  reverend"  read  "  presented." 

Page  443,-line  23,  for  "thence"  read  "either";  line  29,  for  "Grove" 
read  "  Great." 

Page  444,  line  20,  for  "  Grove"  read  "  Green" ;  third  line,  for  "  Buzby" 
read  "  Bayley." 

Page  445,  last  line,  for  "  buring  field"  read  "  training  field." 

Page  448,  line  13,  for  "Tasker"  read  "Foster." 

Page  450,  line  17,  for  "  Hellitt"  read  "  Hallett" ;  line  21,  for  "  deeds" 
read  "  dates." 

Page  451,  line  16  from  bottom,  for  "  Mansfield"  read  "  Medfield." 

Page  452,  line  10,  for  "valuable"  read  "  available." 

Page  453,  line  3,  for  "Cracken"  read  "Crocker";  line  3,  second  column, 
for  "  Rayman"  read  "  Kingman" ;  line  13,  for  "  Mr.  Benjamin  Frank 
Shaw"  read  "Mr.  Kingman  and  Frank  Shaw";  line  28,  for  "W.  O.  Co- 
ferem"  read  "  W.  O.  Capron." 

Page  454,  line  14,  for  "  Perryman"  read  "  Kingman,"  and  for  "claim" 
read  "dam";  line  20,  for  "  Main  Street"  read  "Union  Street";  second 
column,  line  15,  for  "  F.  M.  Cabot"  read  "F.  W.  Cabot." 

Page  514,  in  fourth  line  of  note  at  bottom  of  first  column,  it  should 
read,  "It  was  ordered  by  Plymouth  Court  to  be  within  the  jurisdiction 
of  that  town  until  it  should  be  incorporated.  'July  5,1761,  the  town 
have  ordered,' "  etc. 

Page  516,  line  32,  for  "  progenitor"  read  "proprietor." 

Page  520,  line  26,  for  "  1801"  read  "1701." 

Page  524,  line  44,  read  "remains  common,  1833,  on  Cuttings  Plain,  on 
the  road  from  East  Attleborough  to  Wrentham,  but  is  now  exhausted." 

Page  527,  sixth  line  from  bottom,  for  "1788"  read  "1688." 

Page  535,  line  12  from  bottom,  for  "served"  read  "survived." 

Page  538,  line  9,  for  "  Laree"  read  "  Lane." 

Page  543,  line  26,  for  "Dr.  Hebert  Man"  read  "  Dr.  Herbert  Man." 

Page  546,  line  15,  for  "  Henry  M.  Richards"  read  "  Hervey  M.  Richards." 

Page  549,  line  41,  after  "  a.d."  read  "  1792." 

Page  552,  for  "  Rev.  Solomon  C.  Perry"  read  "  Salmon  C.  Perry' 
page,  for  "  Alvin  G.  Sauler"  read  "  Sadler." 

Page  553,  "  Lemuel  Rossick"  read  "  Rottick." 

Page  802,  first  line,  for  "Jeremiah"  read  "Je^aniah";  line  30,  for 
"  Bingham"  read  "  Brigham." 


same 


922 


Page  892,  second  column,  first  line  in  fourth  paragraph,  should 
read  "The  present  Chief  Justice  of  the  Superior  Court"  instead  of 
"  Supreme." 


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